#farinaceous

[literaryvein-reblogs]

yet another list of "beautiful" words

to try to include in your next poem/story

Book-bosomed - coined by Sir Walter Scott; means "carrying a book at all times." If you love books, certainly you've been book-bosomed at times in your life.

Caliginous - misty, dark

Dithyramb - a usually short poem in an inspired wild irregular strain. This word comes from the Greek word dithyrambos which was the name for a wild and irregular poem honoring Dionysus, the god of wine, who was often lauded throughout the year during festivals at which poems of this style were read.

Embonpoint - plumpness of person; stoutness

Farinaceous - having a mealy texture or surface

Farouche - marked by shyness and lack of social graces

Florilegium - a volume of writings; an anthology. The word was borrowed into English from a New Latin word that comes from Latin florilegus meaning "culling flowers." Think of a florilegium as a bouquet of writings, specially selected and arranged for your enjoyment.

Goety - black magic or witchcraft in which the assistance of evil spirits is invoked

Lachrymist - one given to weeping

Lamia - a female demon; vampire

Osseous - bony

Phantasmagoria - a bizarre or fantastic combination, collection, or assemblage

Stygian - extremely dark, gloomy, or forbidding

Tenebrous - shut off from the light

Theurgy - the art or technique of compelling or persuading a god or beneficent or supernatural power to do or refrain from doing something

If any of these words make their way into your next poem/story, please tag me, or leave a link in the replies. I would love to read them!

More: Lists of Beautiful Words

[read-marx-and-lenin]

Let us not, however, flatter ourselves overmuch on account of our human victories over nature. For each such victory nature takes its revenge on us. Each victory, it is true, in the first place brings about the results we expected, but in the second and third places it has quite different, unforeseen effects which only too often cancel the first. The people who, in Mesopotamia, Greece, Asia Minor and elsewhere, destroyed the forests to obtain cultivable land, never dreamed that by removing along with the forests the collecting centres and reservoirs of moisture they were laying the basis for the present forlorn state of those countries. When the Italians of the Alps used up the pine forests on the southern slopes, so carefully cherished on the northern slopes, they had no inkling that by doing so they were cutting at the roots of the dairy industry in their region; they had still less inkling that they were thereby depriving their mountain springs of water for the greater part of the year, and making it possible for them to pour still more furious torrents on the plains during the rainy seasons. Those who spread the potato in Europe were not aware that with these farinaceous tubers they were at the same time spreading scrofula. Thus at every step we are reminded that we by no means rule over nature like a conqueror over a foreign people, like someone standing outside nature – but that we, with flesh, blood and brain, belong to nature, and exist in its midst, and that all our mastery of it consists in the fact that we have the advantage over all other creatures of being able to learn its laws and apply them correctly. And, in fact, with every day that passes we are acquiring a better understanding of these laws and getting to perceive both the more immediate and the more remote consequences of our interference with the traditional course of nature. In particular, after the mighty advances made by the natural sciences in the present century, we are more than ever in a position to realise, and hence to control, also the more remote natural consequences of at least our day-to-day production activities. But the more this progresses the more will men not only feel but also know their oneness with nature, and the more impossible will become the senseless and unnatural idea of a contrast between mind and matter, man and nature, soul and body, such as arose after the decline of classical antiquity in Europe and obtained its highest elaboration in Christianity.

Friedrich Engels, The Part played by Labour in the Transition from Ape to Man, 1876

[penig]

The “Dickens Daily” and “Great Expectations” tags have been singularly useless to me, and I can’t tell whether no one is blogging on Great Expectations or the search engine is screwing up more than usual. So it seems to me that the best thing I can do is, to blog on it myself and hope that this changes something. We are up to Chapter VIII, but I seem to have weirdly little to say about the meeting in the graveyard and the Christmas convict hunt across the marshes - though what possessed anyone to take Pip on that is more than I can imagine.

To someone like me whose adult literary life was focused primarily on work for young people, and who is still not much impressed by most modern mainstream adult literature, the vividness with which Dickens recalls how the growing brain thinks is striking. Young Pip probably did not have the word “farinaceous” in his everyday vocabulary, but “it seemed to me that he must be a very happy man indeed, to have so many little drawers in his shop” is a pristinely childish sentiment, and the personification of the seeds and bulbs, the confusion of corduroy and seeds, and the observations about how all the tradesmen in the street except the watchmaker seemed to spend their time watching each other all march in the same clear-eyed but undeveloped train. This childish perspective is what makes the phatasmagoria of Satis House and its inhabitants simultaneously so dreamlike and so convincing. PIp has no context for anything and must rely on precise observation to orient himself and stay safe (not that he has ever felt safe, poor boy!) and build up some kind of coherent worldview out of the nonsensical world adults hustle  him through.

And it is adults hustling him; the entire adult world, so far, Joe only excepted. Estella is the first person his own age to enter the stage, which gives her considerable importance; and even she seems adult to him. He puts this down to her being pretty and female; but she also is in the position of being in her own familiar context, and knowing what is required of her, and of him. It is Pip’s (and her!) great misfortune that she is not allowed to enlighten him or make anything easier or pleasanter for him, even if she wants to - and we cannot tell if she wants to. Does she enjoy having someone to lord it over? Or is she adhering to what Miss Havisham has instructed her to do against her own inclination to seize upon an equal and make a friend, in the same confused amalgam of fears and conceptions under which Pip labors daily?

Pip at least has Joe. Estella has no one, except Miss Havisham, compared to whom PIp’s sister is - if not exactly benign - at least moderately comprehensible.

The notion of Miss Havisham’s daily routine boggles my mind. Has she never been out of that outfit since her wedding day, or does she take it all off in the evening and don it all again in the morning, tattered stocking and all? Both options are as ludicrous as they are horrible, and I cannot choose between them, except that if she never took them off at all, they would be grimy as well as yellowed and brittle, and I am sure Pip’s keen observing eye would have noticed that.

[mexicanamushroom]

A Sudden manual to Psilocybe mexicana and also mexicana sclerotia

Psilocybe mexicana is a species of psilocybin mushroom with a fascinating social background. Its initial recognized use was by the native peoples of North as well as Central over 2,000 years ago. The Aztecs utilized it as a religious rite and also called it teotlnanácatl, which is composed of the Nahuatl words teotl (" god") as well as nanácatl (" flesh"). So teotlnanácatl ways "flesh of the gods". You need to understand where it grows if you want to successfully discover Psilocybe mexicana in nature. This implies being aware of both the type of habitat and also the nations they grow in.Psilocybe mexicana grows alone or in tiny groups among moss along roadsides and routes, in damp fields or cornfields, and specifically, in the grassy locations surrounding deciduous forests. It is common at altitudes in between 300-505 meters, and uncommon in reduced elevations.

Psilocybe mexicana can look similar to other species from the genus of Psilocybe, such as Psilocybe azurescens as well as Psilocybe semlianceata (freedom caps). It's simple to inform them apart based on the nation you're in. There are various other Psilocybe species that do take place in these countries, such as Psilocybe cubensis, which, like psilocybe mexicana, additionally likes to expand in manure down payments in grasslands. Some functions that make Psilocybe cubensis distinctive, nonetheless, include a flattish cap, a strong, persistent ring (annulus), and also an earthy taste.If you intend to look for mushrooms in the wild, it's ideal to head out with a more seasoned overview, rather than relying upon just summaries or pictures. You can look online for regional mycology groups in the area to see if there are any type of mushroom pursues that you can sign up with. You need to be mindful that these groups may not have a solid rate of interest in psychedelic mushrooms like you do, so obtain a feeling initially of exactly how the group feels concerning foraging for them.You'll be able to identify Psilocybe mexicana mushrooms by recognizing their distinct features:

Cap (pileus): 0.5-3 cm in diameter, convex or conical, with margins that flare out to appear like a bell (campanulate). The caps frequently have a minor papilla (a nipple-shaped framework, which liberty caps also have). The caps are hygrophanous (they transform shade based upon the loss or absorption of water), ocherous to beige or brownish to straw shade as they age, occasionally with blueish or greenish, and they conveniently transform blue when injured. Gills (lamellae): Adnate or adnexed, gray to purple-brown with whitish sides. Stem (stipe): 4-10 centimeters slim and tall, equal, as well as hollow. It is straw color to brown or reddish-brown, ending up being darker where wounded. An annulus (the ring-like structure discovered on the stipe) is lacking. Odor and Taste: Farinaceous ("flour-like").

Psilocybe mexicana remains in the team of psilocybin mushrooms (which also consist of Psilocybe tampanensis) that are recognized to generate sclerotia. These are set, dense masses of mycelium that enable the organism to survive in unfavorable conditions (nutrient depletion, dry spell, freezing, and so on). The sclerotia of these species are likewise called truffles, although this is a biological misnomer. From a mycological perspective, truffles unlike sclerotia are reproductive structures. They are below ground spore containers that spread their hereditary material through usage by pets as well as subsequent discharging right into different locations.True truffle-producing varieties are typically ectomycorrhizal, which means their presence relies on a symbiotic connection with a host tree varieties. Found close to various tree types, Psilocybe mexicana's preferred habitat is, as we have actually seen, manure-rich meadow. psilocybe mexicana produces sclerotia that can range in size from smaller than a pea to as large as an ostrich egg. They are hardly ever uniform fit. The shade of sclerotia appears to rely on growing conditions, varying range from light yellow to dark brown, as well as they may be blue in position. Because of their uneven form, dimension, and shade, it is seldom feasible to determine Psilocybe mexicana based on the look of the sclerotia (to efficiently do this, you require to check out the mushrooms themselves). sclerotia (including those of Psilocybe mexicana) are legal, although that psilocybin-containing mushrooms (including Psilocybe mexicana). Sclerotia, as a whole, include less water than mushrooms; they contain around 75 percent contrasted to around 90 percent. On a fresh weight basis, sclerotia might be more powerful than several usual psychedelic mushroom species, although this relationship switches over once both the mushrooms and sclerotia have actually been dried out. So try Sclerotia with no fears.

[mataiblog]

What are Your Guilty Travel Pleasures?

Still, Deodhar says that the largest danger relating to massage for people with AS is that you just could also be wasting your money, as it’s unlikely to be harmful unless you've got superior disease. While this may not be the most typical expertise for folks with AS, it’s vital to concentrate on this danger. The Spondylitis Association of America (SAA) states that massage, when achieved rigorously and gently, “may provide short-term relief of pain or stiffness and, in some cases, improve flexibility because of increased blood circulation” in folks with AS. If you resolve to try 마타이 massage therapy for ankylosing spondylitis pain or stiffness, you’ll find that there are various kinds out there. While many individuals with ankylosing spondylitis and different spinal and inflammatory conditions find massage to be beneficial, there isn’t plenty of scientific proof to help massage as a treatment for AS. People believe that the much less meat they eat in the summer season the better, "as a result of it tends to heat the system." Now, it is a curious thing that in dieting folks for the reduction of fat by dietetic means solely-and this I need to do in any respect seasons of the yr-I'm within the habit of chopping off farinaceous foods, sugar, and fats, and giving giant quantities of meat, green vegetables, stewed fruit, and different non-fattening substances, in quantity regulated according to the height, weight, and physical or psychological work of the person, male or feminine, because the case could also be; with the end result that within the colder months of the yr people inform me that they don't feel too heat, clothe as they are going to.

Philips, Roxi. "Mason Jar Magic: Making a Summer Patio Lantern." My Lifetime. But one of many article’s authors is skeptical when it comes to making suggestions to his patients. However the beans are costly and cumbersome to harvest and put together, which is why vanilla is one of the crucial expensive spices on the earth. Full time and part time schedules can be found, and lessons are starting quickly! A scorching stone massage is a wonderful, warming therapy, any time of yr. On this remedy, half of the massage is spent on each foot to promote steadiness in the nervous system or release chemicals resembling endorphins that cut back ache and/or stress. Reduced stress helps provide a feeling of relaxation and relief, with a lesser perception of pain.2Koren Y, Kalichman L. Deep tissue massage: What are we speaking about? The oils are full of pores and skin-soothing vitamins and humectants, which is able to depart your pores and skin feeling 김해마사지 smooth and moisturized if left on. A seated chair massage may be more than a luxury that leaves you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. However, in case your tootsies are significantly ticklish or delicate, it might show to be an excessive amount of.

Scarcely too much might be mentioned of the advantages attending the observe of the complete Breath. Many things issue into how much electrical load your automotive demands at any given second. Consideration ought to also be given to the remedy by injection of tuberculin. Change in food regimen acts like change in air, and is a potent issue in the remedy of these conditions that point out exhaustion of the nervous system, and, as a corollary, common collapse. “The impact measurement of massage is lower than the effect dimension of ibuprofen,” in terms of measurable disease markers like inflammation, Dr. Deodhar says. Constant discharge from your cat's eye could be a symptom of both local infection or systemic disease that must be handled. Fatigue is a symptom of many different disorders, each psychological and physical. In a analysis overview printed in July 2018 within the journal Current Opinion in Rheumatology, the authors concluded that for people with AS, deep tissue massage has been discovered to be helpful for symptom relief in small research.

But exercise is very nice for tremendous-busy people because it both energizes and relaxes. The heat warms and relaxes muscles, enhancing circulation and calming the nervous system. Not only for athletes, this massage stimulates circulation of the blood and lymph fluids. In just 15 minutes, your blood pressure and heart charge lower. Substantial health benefits to a relaxation massage embody calming the nervous system, 김해스웨디시 selling a way of effectively-being, bettering blood circulation, and stimulating the body’s lymphatic system, which carries away waste products. A relaxation massage specifically tailored for the expectant mother’s wants. Relaxation of the Mind:As your physique relaxes, your thoughts follows swimsuit. So long as you're not expecting to permanently lose 10 pounds and 3 inches off your waist, there are some advantages to body wraps. For the more open-minded, the Asian belief in bamboo's strength, flexibility and versatility will resonate clearly, and enhance the mental and physical values of this bamboo-centric body work.

[ainews]

Tamales are a traditional Latin American dish that has been enjoyed for centuries. This delicious dish consists of a filling, typically made from meat, vegetables, or beans, wrapped in a starchy dough made from cornmeal or masa. The starchy dough is then steamed or boiled in corn husks or banana leaves, giving the tamale its distinctive flavor and texture.

One of the reasons why tamales are considered farinaceous, or containing starch, is because of the dough used to encase the filling. The most common type of dough used in tamales is made from cornmeal or masa, which is a type of corn dough that has been nixtamalized. Nixtamalization is a process in which the corn is soaked in an alkaline solution, usually lime water, to remove the kernel's outer layer and hull. This process not only makes the corn easier to grind into dough, but it also increases its nutritional value by making essential nutrients, such as niacin, more readily available.

The cornmeal or masa used in tamales is rich in starch, making up the majority of its composition. Starch is a complex carbohydrate that is made up of long chains of glucose molecules. When cooked, the starch molecules absorb water, swell, and thicken, creating the tamale's characteristic firm and chewy texture. This process is crucial in holding the tamale together, preventing it from falling apart when handled.

But what do tamales have to do with barbiturates and pegasus? Barbiturates are a class of drugs that act as central nervous system depressants, used to treat various conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. These drugs are known for their sedative and hypnotic effects, inducing a feeling of calmness and relaxation. However, they also have potentially harmful effects, making them highly regulated and prescribed only under medical supervision.

So how do tamales and barbiturates tie together? The answer lies in the starch-rich dough of tamales. Barbiturates are typically ingested in pill form, and one of the main components of these pills is starch. The starch acts as a binder, holding the active ingredients together and preventing them from breaking down. This is similar to how the starchy dough of tamales holds the filling together and prevents it from falling apart. In this way, tamales can be seen as a farinaceous source for barbiturates, providing the necessary starch for the drug's production.

As for the mention of pegasus, one can make a connection to the mythical creature's wings. Just like how wings are essential for pegasus to fly, starch is essential for tamales to hold together and for barbiturates to be effectively ingested. So, while it may seem like an unlikely comparison, tamales as a farinaceous source for barbiturates and pegasus' wings share a common role in ensuring stability and function.

In conclusion, tamales are considered farinaceous for barbiturates due to the starchy dough used in their preparation. This ingredient not only gives tamales their characteristic texture and taste but also serves a vital role in the production of barbiturates. Just like pegasus' wings allow it to soar through the skies, starch plays a crucial role in ensuring the stability and function of tamales and barbiturates. So, the next time you enjoy a delicious tamale, remember its humble role in providing a crucial ingredient for a widely used drug.

[bbbeternelle]

At the hour when the rosy fingers of the dawn start to crack I climbed, rapid as a tongue of flame, into a bus, mighty of stature and with cow-like eyes, of the S-line of sinuous course. I noticed, with the precision and acuity of a Red Indian on the warpath, the presence of a young man whose neck was longer than that of the swift-footed giraffe, and whose felt hat was adorned with a plait like the hero of an exercise in style. Baleful Discord with breasts of soot came with her mouth reeking of a nothingness of toothpaste, Discord, I say, came to breathe her malignant virus between this young man with the giraffe neck and the plait round his hat, and a passenger of irresolute and farinaceous mien. The former addressed himself to the latter in these terms: “I say, you, anyone might think you were treading on my toes on purpose!” Having said these words, the young man with the giraffe neck and the plait round his hat quickly went and sat down. Later, in the Cour de Rome of majestic proportions, I again caught sight of the young man with the giraffe neck and the plait round his hat, accompanied by a friend, an arbiter elegantiarum, who was uttering these words of censure which I could hear with my agile ear, censure which was directed to the most exterior garment of the young man with the giraffe neck and the plait round his hat: “You ought to diminish its opening by the addition or elevation of a button to or on its circular periphery.”

Raymond Queneau, Exercises in Style (tr. Barbara Wright)

[rightaidhomeopathy]

SBL Homoeopathy with nixocid Syrup is recommended to ease stomach burning and lessen gas production. Consequently, acidity symptoms and indicators are successfully reduced.

Nixocid balances the stomach's pH, which can become off owing to drunkenness, smoking, stress, anxiety, spicy foods, irregular eating patterns, and long-term NSAID use that causes hyperacidity. Nixocid normalizes the pH of the stomach to treat hyperacidity and its accompanying symptoms. Stomach acidity causes a burning sensation in the chest and stomach as well as gas production and sour belching. Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, spicy meals, irregular eating patterns, and long-term painkiller usage all contribute to acidity. Acidity is often linked to stress and anxiety. Some symptoms include heartburn, nausea, stomach ache that worsens after eating or when the stomach is still empty, and sour belching. Nixocid, a product of SBL, relieves stomach burning and lessens gas production. Consequently, acidity symptoms and indicators are successfully reduced.

Using some mint leaves to make tea and drinking it after meals will help you reduce acidity at home naturally.  Another helpful treatment is to suck on a clove.  Take BBP dyspepsin pills and Nixocid syrup for the best effects. Heartburn, sour eructation, flatulence, a burning sensation in the stomach, gastritis, and gastric ulcers are symptoms of nixocid.

Nixocid's compositional action:

Natrum phosphoricum 3x: Natrum Phos balances acidic situations' pH levels. Ferments can occur and digestion can be slowed down if the alkaline Natrum Phosphate is not balanced properly in the gastric environment. It controls bile production. With the use of Natrum Phos, acidity, heartburn, dyspepsia, gas, distention or bloating, flatulence, and other digestive disorders can be relieved. Dyspepsia brought on by farinaceous and fermentable foods, such as cabbage, beans, and A small number of food leads to fullness.

Eructations following consumption of food and liquids. Belching will stop for the time being. eructations that are putrid, sour, or rotten. Eructations following a meal or beverage. Belching will stop for the time being. eructations that are putrid, sour, or rotten.

Robinia pseudocacia - 3x: The symptoms of acidity in the stomach are clearly noticeable. Frontal headaches are accompanied by Robinia's acidity. eructations with extreme acridity.

There are no unfavorable side effects or contraindications associated with SBL Nixocid Syrup. Give lots of fluids in the event of an unintentional overdose. Keep children at a distance.

[all-lined-up]

Any Human Heart by William Boyd

‘The pleasures of my life here are simple - simple, inexpensive and democratic. A warm hill of Marmande tomatoes on a roadside vendor’s stall. A cold beer on a pavement table of the Cafe de France - Marie Therese inside making me a sandwich au camembert. Munching the knob off a fresh baguette as I wander back from Sainte-Sabine. The farinaceous smell of the white dust raised by a breeze from the doorway. A cuckoo sounding in the perfectly silent woods beyond the meadow. The huge grey, cerise, pink, orange and washed-out blue of a sunset seen from my rear terrace. The drilling of the cicadas at noon - the soft dialling-tone of the crickets as dusk slowly gathers. A good book, a hammock and a cold, beaded bottle of blanc sec. A rough red wine and steak frites. The cool, dark, shuttered silence of my bedroom - and, as I go to sleep, the prospect that all this will be available to me again, unchanged, tomorrow.’

[bfistacom]

ARTIFICIAL DIET FOR INFANTS.

ARTIFICIAL DIET FOR INFANTS.

It should be as like the breast-milk as possible. This is obtained by a mixture of cow’s milk, water, and sugar, in the following proportions. Fresh cow’s milk, two thirds; Boiling water, or thin barley water, one third; Loaf sugar, a sufficient quantity to sweeten. This is the best diet that can be used for the first six months, after which some farinaceous food may be combined. In early…

[pineapplelove15-blog]

The Christmas Eve Family Tradition

Prompt #1 Christmas Eve Family Tradition

While growing up, my mother began a “Christmas Eve Family Tradition,” Our family had suffered two devastating losses just months prior, my grandmother, and then unexpectedly, my sixteen-year-old brother, Michael. My mother found the will to bring our family a new Christmas Eve tradition.  Later, I would come to realize, my mother’s grace in creating this tradition was to help our family come together in our grieving process.  My mother announced, “the Christmas Eve Family Tradition schedule will be given to you, and your father two days before Christmas Eve!”  This Christmas Eve schedule was given and this Christmas Eve Family Tradition continued for many years. Unfortunately, this tradition did end in my mid-twenties due to having my household with young children.  The schedule consisted of the following:

1. Christmas Eve Breakfast:

My mother cooked breakfast for my father and me. The rule was we were to sit at the kitchen table while my mother cooked.  Breakfast consisted of Pumpkin Pancakes that were served with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkled on top.  My mother tried to build a Christmas tree on top of my pancakes with the whipped cream, which was a total fail on her part, because it did not look anything like a Christmas tree.  However, this moment brought laughter and smiles to all of us that morning.  Also, my mother never really enjoyed cooking but she claimed at that moment, “I like cooking when I have company and people to talk to!” That had been the first time we had sat together since losing, Michael, and it was good to see my parents laugh again.  This breakfast not only brought us together, but it gave me hope that we would be okay.  

 2. Preparing Shepperd’s Pie for Christmas Eve Dinner/Baking Christmas Cookies/Christmas Music

“The name “shepherd’s pie” first appeared in an English cookbook of 1877 that attributes the dish to Scotland while complaining that it is “too farinaceous,” since the potato topping was itself topped by a wheat-flour shell. Though not by that name, a recipe with that shell also appears in a Scottish cookbook of 1862. The dish is no doubt much older still. Today a shepherd’s pie has no shell but instead is a casserole of layered mashed potatoes on top and bottom with a filling in the middle. Some cookbooks distinguish between Irish and Scottish versions, the former using lamb and the latter using beef and turnips. Many versions also forgo the bottom layer of potatoes, using them only as a top crust” (Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). 2022).  

 Shepperd’s Pie was made with real potatoes and it was my duty to make the potatoes from scratch, and for future years to come. My mother would help me mix the potatoes with milk and butter until they were mixed just right.  My father added the cheese on top and would put it in the oven.   I was always amazed at how organized and quickly we mastered this tradition and our roles on this special day.  Shepperd’s Pie had been my mother’s maternal grandmother’s favorite meal that she made for my mother on Christmas Eve.  Christmas Cookies were my favorite to make, and my mother would bring out the cookie cutters she had when she was a little girl.  We all would sit and relax after cooking the Shepperd’s Pie and baking the Christmas Cookies.  It was at this time that I would ask my parents questions about their childhood.  This was my favorite time to learn about my parents and their upbringing.  I think, my parents enjoyed telling me their stories.  There were lots of stories while decorating Christmas cookies, their stories were funny, and some were sad.  Years later, I have come to understand those days in the kitchen together allowed me to know who my parents were before they became our parents.  Also, it has made me feel good that I took the time to ask and listen about their lives, and I know this made them happy.  

 3. Christmas Movies/Christmas Puzzle

My mother made popcorn, and Hot Cocoa for all of us.  In front of the Christmas tree, we watched “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and Emit Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas.”

4.  Midnight Mass and Hanging Ornament

My mother would take me to midnight mass at Notre Dame Catholic Church, and after returning home from mass, together we would hang the last ornament for my brother.  After we would stand back and look at the tree in silence.  Usually, these Christmas Eves would end with a late-night snack of Shepperd’s Pie, and talking to one another about how the day/evening went. It is amazing how food can bring families together.  Preparing, cooking, and eating meals together are important to families.  My mother had always done this with her family, and she wanted to bring me to understand that modern family tradition is important.  

 Cited Work:

Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Shepherd’s pie. Britannica Academic. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://academic-eb-com.libproxy.canton.edu/levels/collegiate/article/shepherds-pie/609022.  

[isfjmel-phleg]

Book 2: Chapter Eight

Chapters One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and Seven here.

Chapter Eight

When Amarantha stampeded back into the drawing room, she didn’t see Elystan and thought he had gone. She found him still lying on the sofa, seemingly asleep, but his eyes popped open immediately when she approached. He said something that she couldn’t hear over her own cry of “Gilsbrechtmovedmeintoherroom!”

He stared in puzzlement, shook his head dismissively, and said, “We need to find the library now.”

“Didn’t you hear me?” As slowly as she could manage, she told him of the change in arrangements.

He didn’t even sit up. “What are you so sick about? Just move into another room. There have to be more.”

“I can’t do that! What kind of trouble would I be in? You know what she did to me on the train.”

“I don’t know what you’re so afraid of. She’s just a servant. She can’t do much to you without losing her place. And she can’t make you do anything. So don’t. Stand up to her.”

“But I can’t. It’s different for me. I have to mind my elders.”

“Mind my elders,” he mimicked. “Don’t talk like a moral heroine out of one of those horrid books my mother tries to read to me. But if you want, we can look one of those up—in the library. Where we’re going.” He leapt to his feet with sudden energy.

“What’s so important about the library? What—what are you doing?”

She had never seen such a glazed look in anyone’s eyes. He wavered a little and clutched the arm of the sofa. But before she could register that perhaps she should fetch someone, he blinked a few times and strode steadily toward the billiards room as if nothing had happened.

“If we’re going to figure out where we are,” he said, “we need to find a map. And where do people keep maps?”

“Tucked away in ancient journals? The back of the railway guide?”

“Ooh, good point. We can look for those too. But mostly atlases, found in libraries. And Ayra went this way toward it, so—”

He led her into the dining room and paused to consider the doors. 

She pointed to the one on their left, past the door to the stairs. “She went in there after breakfast.” She walked as briskly as she could to the door before he could reach it and turned the knob. Only a fleeting impression of white and black checkered floor struck her before a skirted form blocked her path.

“May I help you,” said Ayra, as if she would rather do anything else.

“We’re looking for the library.”

“The good news is you’re not lost, but I am occupied in here at the moment. So if you would run along…”

“We won’t be any bother. We’d be so quiet you’d hardly know we were there. Right?”

Elystan nodded. “Silence of the tomb. So quiet you’d be worried. Possibly invisible too.”

Amarantha elbowed him. “We can’t promise that.”

“You don’t know what I’m capable of,” he said darkly.

“It’s not just your noise that I object to,” said Ayra. “It would be your existence in this room in general. Nothing personal, but I have business to conduct and—”

“We wouldn’t even breathe! If existence is the problem. I can hold it for—oh, ages if I have to, in a good cause. We need books. That’s something you obviously understand—why else would you be in there? And would you believe it, they sent me out here with hardly any books at all. I’ve already read them. I’m bored.”

Ayra crossed her arms. “My governess used to tell us that if you are bored, you must be boring. Not the company I need at the moment.”

She started to close the door but Elystan blocked it with his hand. “The books then, if you won’t let us in. We’ll bring them back directly. We need an—”

Ayra reached toward a nearby shelf and pulled out a handful of books, which she shoved at Amarantha. And she slammed the door.

Amarantha looked at the spines. “Well, these are useless. The Complete Dictionary of Husbandry? Elements of Practical Agriculture? Why are they all about farming? That’s just beastly. What’s wrong with letting us in?”

Elystan shushed her. His ear was to the door, but even standing a few feet away she could hear the ring of a telephone.

“That’s why,” he said.

“Why isn’t she letting the rest of us use it? We have parents too.”

“If it’s her father, why does he need to write and ring?”

“Perhaps he just wants to talk. If it were your father, wouldn’t you want to talk to him as much as you could, in any way you could? I would.”

She knew as soon as she spoke that she shouldn’t have said that, for Elystan looked blank and did not reply. She had been thinking of her own father, somewhere on his lecture tour, probably unable to get a train home. She had forgotten that Elystan’s father had not been in Corege for more than a year, ever since he had abdicated and gone into exile.

Before she could make amends, Trotter manifested out of the stairwell to announce, “Luncheon will be served presently. Do you wish to eat it here, Your Royal Highness, or do you prefer we haul it up more stairs?”

Elystan brightened. “I’d rather you suffer, yes. Lay it out in my room and send hers up with it.” Without waiting for Trotter’s reply, he snatched a book from Amarantha’s stack and exited in the direction of the billiards room. Trotter watched him go with a lugubrious expression.

Amarantha smothered a laugh. “I can help you.”

“You are a true comrade, Miss Mulberry,” said Trotter, as if the words were a medal he was pinning on her.

Glancing back at the door by which Elystan had gone, she wasn’t so sure.

By the time Trotter and Amarantha brought up the trays, Elystan was sitting upside down on his sofa, absorbed in the book. He didn’t speak to either of them as they set the small table under one of the windows, even after Trotter dismissed himself. 

“What are you reading?” asked Amarantha. The title was easily readable as she approached. “Sheep and How to Make Them Pay? How is it?”

“Riveting.”

“What’s happening now?”

“They’re paying.”

“Really? I wonder what happens when you read the book right-side up.”

“Perhaps I like reading upside down. It’s a skill. You probably don’t even know how.”

“I read my father’s writing upside down all the time while he’s working.”

Was it tactless to mention her father at all?

“Then can you tell me how the next story ends? No? Fine, let’s get this over with.” He threw the book aside and seated himself at the table, where he glared at his dish until she begrudgingly uncovered it.

“Now the sheep are making me pay.” He grimaced at the mutton chop, about the size of his fist, accompanied by a miniature baked potato and some cauliflower. “Do you still have that notebook?”

She nodded as she swallowed. The kitchen, remembering her late breakfast, had sent just a baked apple pudding for her. She retrieved her notebook and pencil and finished writing “EVIDENCE” at the top of the page.

“Mystery number one,” she said. “Where is my mother?”

“Not here,” said Elystan firmly.

“I know. But she’s supposed to be. Your mother thinks she is. Ayra and Ateva say they haven’t seen her, and neither have the kitchen staff. When did you last see her?”

He stabbed fork holes all over his potato until it was quite polka-dotted. “Last night. She came to my room before bed.”

“Did she do or say anything unusual?”

“She jawed a lot. Gave me my drops. ‘See you in the morning,’ that sort of thing. I don’t remember anything else.”

“Did she say anything about going anywhere?”

“She said you would. To see an aunt or something.”

Her face burned. “You were talking about me?” 

He smirked. “Everyone was talking about you after what you did.”

“Oh. Well—Gilsbrecht said she didn’t know where Mother was. Not that she hadn’t seen her. Don’t you think that’s suspicious?”

“So you think a lady’s maid from Lienne kidnapped Mara?”

“I didn’t say that. Just—it’s fishy. We should look into it.”

“And you’ll have plenty of opportunities to now that you’re roommates.”

“I can’t go through her things! It’s probably illegal.”

“It’s not like you’re going to find a body in her trunk or something. Just clues. To help your mother.”

“I don’t know. I’ll think about it. But—none of this makes any sense. Why would anyone take Mother? She’s just an ordinary person. We don’t have a lot of money—I mean, we’re not poor, but we’re not important enough to kidnap.”

He shrugged. “Someone needed a nurse?”

“I’m still putting down Gilsbrecht as the chief suspect. Now. Mystery number two. Why are we here?”

He yawned and poked at his cauliflower. “We know already. Fuss in Loriston, our safety, etc. etc. Mystery solved. Boring.”

“Yes, but what’s going on in Loriston? Why? Shouldn’t we be worried? Ayra was scouring yesterday’s paper earlier. I think she knows something. And people were talking at dinner last night about a shooting and wanting to leave the city.”

“You were eating with the servants, weren’t you? That’s what servants do. They gossip. They make everything sensational. They live for this sort of thing. I was dining with people who ought to know about this, and it didn’t come up once. It probably isn’t anything serious.”

“If it’s not serious, why aren’t we still in Loriston?”

“Would you rather be in Loriston?”

“No! I should be in school right now, and I would be, if it weren’t for—” She stopped herself. It would just make things worse.

“Weren’t for whom?” He shoved his plate aside, uncovered the next dish, made a face, and re-covered it. “Whom?”

“For your mother,” she said as steadily as she could.

“Not my fault she caught you committing whatever art crime at the murder school.”

“How would you like it if you couldn’t go to school?”

“We’re neither of us going to school now, and I think it’s ripping.”

“Not just schoolwork. A place you’ve always wanted to go to. A place you have to go to if you’re ever going to be what you want when you grow up. And they won’t let you go. How would you feel?”

“I’d show them and be whatever I wanted if I grew up, school or no school. It can’t be the only way.”

“But it is.”

He slowly uncovered the dish again and spooned up some of the colorless pudding. Noting her disgusted expression, he gulped it down. “You don’t like farinaceous pudding? Oh, it’s wonderful. Try some. Try all of it. My gift to you.”

“No thank you.”

“You’re missing out.”

“That’s not what we’re talking about. Mystery number three. Where are we? We already have a theory. The housemaid thinks this is the North of Corege.”

She peered out the window. The view differed little from that of her old room: the moat and the forest in the distance. Beyond the forest, faint bumps suggested hills, common in West Corege—or were they the distant mountains of the North?

“But we can’t know until we get into the library,” he said, “unless you know about this area?”

“Not much. I’ve always lived in Loriston. I thought you might know. The royal family has palaces and castles and things everywhere, don’t you?”

“Of course, but I don’t live in them. I live at Endean.”

“But on your holidays—?”

“Seaside, mostly. And I doubt we’re anywhere near the sea. The air isn’t the same.”

“Somewhere North and inland. That doesn’t narrow it much. Did your par—your people ever talk about estates in the North?”

“No, why would they?”

“I don’t know. My father talks to me about all sorts of things.”

“Well, mine only talks about interesting things. We aren’t exchanging geography facts.”

“A castle in the forest with a moat isn’t interesting enough? The kitchen boy told me there’s something in the basement I wouldn’t believe.”

“Like a peculiar variety of mold? Fascinating. Don’t show me.”

“You don’t have to see it. Perhaps I won’t even tell you about it when Gib takes me.”

“It’s no concern of mine what you and your shady friends waste your time doing.”

“But,” she said, smitten in conscience, “I am supposed to be your companion, so I suppose we should stick together.”

A half-smile flickered across Elystan’s face, until he remembered he was supposed to be eating and picked at the farinaceous pudding.

“Mystery number four, then,” she said. “Why are Ayra and Ateva here?”

“Same reason as us. We already know that. They should have been sent wherever Delclis is; he’s why they’re in Corege. Instead they’re here to collar the telephone. Tiresome but not mysterious.”

“Gilsbrecht works for them though. And she’s pretty suspicious. Perhaps they’re all in on something.”

“Of course they are. Plotting to get to Delclis by being nice to me. Well, Ayra not so much, but Ateva is awfully obliging. And I have Gilsbrecht right where I want her.”

“Can you make her stop tormenting me then?”

“Of course. If I wanted to. She’s harmless though.”

“She drugged me.”

“Your mother drugs me all the time.”

“She’s always wandering around like she’s looking for something.”

“So do you.”

“She’s always trying to whisk me off somewhere or make me do something.”

“She’s a servant. That’s her job.”

“She moved me into her room without telling me, and I’m pretty sure she searched my trunk.”

“And if you have sense, you’ll search hers.”

“And don’t tell me you didn’t notice her trying to read your letters.”

“Because she thought—due to my impressive performance—that I had a headache. Which means we’re keeping up the game well.”

“Oh—you have an answer for everything! I think she’s up to no good, and we need to get out of here before she tries something.”

“You keep harping on that. Don’t you have any new ideas?”

“I don’t need a new one. The current one is perfectly good.”

Elystan sighed nobly. “I see,” he said, “that I’m going to have to be the man of ideas in this operation, my dear Wystan. I say we start exploring. And you can sketch it and make us a map of the castle. I wouldn’t be any good drawing a map, so the expedition needs an artist.”

She closed up her pencil inside the notebook. “I suppose...it would be useful so we never got lost looking for our rooms.”

“Exactly.”

“Perhaps there are secret rooms.”

“Even better. The right spirit.”

“And an exit.”

“We can find that last.”

So, bypassing Ayra and Ateva’s room as off-limits, Amarantha and Elystan made their way down the corridor ahead and into the other one that branched off near the dining-room stairs. They opened every door. There were about half a dozen rooms, all bedrooms with the occasional attached bathroom. With no one to fill these, they had not been cleaned and aired. Heavy curtains shrouded their windows, and most of the furniture lay like corpses beneath dust-sheets. Even the air hung heavy with a permanent miasma of dust. Clouds of it rose as the children peeked under the sheets and shuffled across the carpets. Elystan practiced coughing at these intervals and became more convincing with each room.

They checked under beds and opened wardrobes. They yanked out desk drawers and inspected bureaus. They peered at wavery versions of their faces in looking-glasses that hadn’t seen anyone in years. They pulled on chimneypieces and knocked on walls and never found a single secret room, although one door off a small room was locked.

They did find all sorts of discarded objects. A gentleman’s cuff under a bed, with “Gearalta” scribbled on it in ink. Five ribbons, pink, sage, gold, powder blue, and dove gray. Countless fallen hairpins and shirt studs. Crumpled paper, half burnt, in fireplaces. Cigarette ends and a still-filled pipe. A few full sets of clothes still hung in some wardrobes, both ladies’ and gentlemen’s. They seemed quite old; the gowns had bustles, which no one had worn since Amarantha’s mother was a girl. Elystan was unimpressed by this when Amarantha pointed it out, but he had to be torn away from a stack of musty books left on a bedside table. Amarantha glanced at them over his shoulder, but their pictures were too hideous to warrant further attention. By the time he put them down and followed her out, he was breathless with excitement. Amarantha felt one of them ought to stay calm, but her arms nevertheless crawled with goose pimples. 

Her favorite room was papered in a tangle of ivy and flowers, with furniture upholstered in rose velvet. The lady who had slept there had left nearly a full vial of lavender perfume on the dressing table beside a broken lace fan. 

“If you like it so much,” commented Elystan as Amarantha searched the dressing table’s drawers, “you should move in here after you finish spying on Gilsbrecht.”

“Could I?” she asked wistfully. “No. You know why I can’t. This is a lady’s room, for one thing.”

“But you’re a—” He broke off in a sharp gasp.

She looked up, banging her head on a knobby drawer handle. “What?”

“Photographs,” he said coolly.

She joined him at the mantelpiece, upon which were displayed an assortment of silver-framed portraits and group shots. The people wore the same sort of fashions seen in the wardrobes, but she did not recognize most of the faces, except a fair-haired young lady with large eyes and narrow, delicate features.

“I think that’s your mother!” she said. “She looks a little like you.”

Elystan wrinkled his sharp nose. “I look like my father.” He pointed to a portrait of a dark-haired, mustached young man. Amarantha hadn’t recognized King Talfrin without his beard, but those dark eyes and devastating smile were unquestionably his. He stood next to another young man, who seemed vaguely familiar, a sort of better-looking version of King Delclis—

“That’s King Andras,” she said. “Like the statue at Queen Edella’s.”

“He and Father were some kind of distant cousins.”

“And they must have been here, a long time ago. Do you recognize anyone else?”

He shook his head promptly and walked out. They had reached the end of the second corridor, and there was nothing left but doors already entered and windows heavily curtained.

Amarantha, following him out, sketched the last room on her map and viewed her work with satisfaction until the incompleteness struck her. All she had was about half of what encircled the courtyard. 

Elystan kicked a baseboard. “This is it? That’s all there is down here?”

“There’s at least one other corridor on the other side of the stairs near your room. We could look there.”

“A whole afternoon wasted! We didn’t find anything! What sort of castle is this?”

“We’re not done exploring, you know.”

“Yes, I am,” he said sulkily. “I’m going to my room. And,” he added as she tried to follow him, “I shan’t require you for the rest of the afternoon.” And he trudged down the corridor, breathing as hard as if he were running.

Amarantha waited until he was out of sight before taking the stairs down to the kitchen. Unfortunately, Gib was nowhere around and, according to Mr. Mulroy, was too busy for idle conversation. So instead she returned to the drawing room and spent the rest of the afternoon writing to her parents. Her father was probably terribly worried by now, so she reassured him that she was safe, although confused, and she would try to find him as soon as she could figure out how to leave. She addressed it to Hapsford, the first stop on his tour. If he wasn’t there, the hotel would forward it. Her letter to her mother was full of questions—mostly Where Are You and Why Aren’t You Here. She made sure to add that she was trying to behave, but she hesitated over whether to tell her what Gilsbrecht had done on the train. It might make her indignant enough to come and rescue Amarantha—but it might just as well make her worry if she couldn’t come. And surely she couldn’t, or she would have arrived already. So Amarantha settled for “Do you know a woman called Sarra Gilsbrecked? She is a lady’s maid to the Liennese princesses and I have to sleep in her room.” She addressed the letter to Rhosemore Palace and left it and the one for her father on a stack of outgoing post on a side table in the drawing room. She didn’t recognize the hand on the other letters, but it looked like it belonged to one of the ladies.

She saw Ayra and Ateva for the first time since that morning at dinner. Ayra entered from the library as if she had never left, although her dinner dress indicated she must have at some point. She didn’t speak much to anyone but mechanically ate and excused herself as soon as she could. Ateva, on the other hand, chattered freely.

“Where have you been all afternoon?” she asked Amarantha. “I was looking for you. I happen to have a pack of cards in my luggage, and I’d love to teach you some Liennese games. Some of them go on for hours. They’re a fine way to pass the time, and goodness knows we’ll need something to do before they let us go.”

“His Royal Highness and I were exploring.”

“Ooh, how exciting! Tell me the next time you do it so I can go with you. Your Coregean castles are so very different from ours. I want to get to know them as much as possible in case—in case I—”

“In case you hook Delclis,” said Elystan, not looking up from his letter-writing, with which he had been engaged for the entire meal. No plate had been set out for him, not even a glass of water.

“Well, I wouldn’t put it like that,” she said reproachfully. “But a betrothal is what Father would like. So if you’re writing to Delclis, please send him my love.”

“If you think I’m writing to Delclis, you really don’t know him very well. But I’ll tell Mother you say hello.”

“Oh thank you. That’s the next best thing.”

“Do you want to marry Delclis?” asked Amarantha.

Ateva sawed an apparently obstinate bite of steak. Her fingers clutching the knife were still ink-stained. “Well, that would make me Elystan’s sister, wouldn’t it? And I think that sounds delightful.” She beamed at this paragon of fraternal prospects. “I really must get to know you better while we’re here together, and you can tell me all about Delclis.”

Amarantha side-eyed Elystan.

“Well, perhaps,” he said. “I have been awfully tired lately though. Some days just talking is exhausting, you know? If you don’t mind, I think I ought to go to bed. It’s late.”

The clock on the wall behind him displayed the dead-of-night hour of seven-thirteen.

As he gathered up his papers, one of them fell into Amarantha’s lap. 

“Library. Midnight. B.A.R.,” it said.

She recognized the code at once, from her father’s “Adventure of the Secret Five,” and she tossed the paper on the fire on her way out when the meal was over.

Burn After Reading.

As she prepared for bed in Gilsbrecht’s room, she made sure to leave her wrapper at the end of the bed and her slippers close by. Tucked into the wrapper were her notebook and pencil. A satchel would call too much attention if she were caught, and nightgowns were annoyingly unequipped with pockets. On second thought, she removed her trunk’s key from the lock and slipped it between the pages of her notebook. Gilsbrecht would not be given another opportunity to rifle through her belongings. She had already unpacked Amarantha’s clothes and hung them in the wardrobe beside her own dark dresses. Amarantha had checked the wardrobe as soon as she entered the room for any clues—it wasn’t meddling; her own clothes were there—but the only odd thing she found was, hidden at the back, a brilliant scarlet evening gown, trimmed in black lace and jet beads. How many balls did a lady’s maid attend? She couldn’t imagine Gilsbrecht wearing this gown.

Because it wasn’t hers. It belonged to one of the princesses, and Gilsbrecht was keeping it for repairs. The color would not have suited Ateva, and the cut was too slender, so it must have been Ayra’s, though surprisingly long for such a short woman. It probably wanted hemming.

This left Gilsbrecht’s trunk to search, assuming it was unlocked. Amarantha stood before it, not daring to even touch the lid. Poking around the wardrobe was one thing, but handling the woman’s personal effects? She hadn’t liked that done to her. So did Gilsbrecht have it coming, or—

The door creaking open made up Amarantha’s mind for her. She took a flying leap into bed as Gilsbrecht entered, carrying a candle, which she blew out and left on her bedside table. With a murmured “Good evening, miss,” she knelt before her trunk. Amarantha tried to catch a glimpse of its contents, but all she could make out was a pile of linens, from which Gilsbrecht took a white nightgown. She pulled it over her head and proceeded to undress beneath it, her now shapeless form casting writhing shadows in the lamplight. She folded the discarded clothes, left them on a chair, and removed the pins from her hair. It flowed down her back in wheat-colored waves until she tamed it into a plait.

She had done all this in such silence that Amarantha jumped when Gilsbrecht sat on her bed and asked, “Do you mind if I read for a little while, miss?”

Amarantha shook her head.

Gilsbrecht paused, looking as if she had something else she wanted to say. But instead she nodded crisply and lay down to read. She held a thick volume in one hand while she wrote in a notebook with the other. Amarantha tried to read the book she had left on her side of the table but couldn’t concentrate with that scritching in the background.

“What are you reading?” she finally dared to ask.

“Algar Peredur,” said Gilsbrecht. “Your great poet.”

“Oh. Isn’t he awfully difficult to read?”

“I like it.”

And she must have, for Amarantha didn’t remember seeing her set aside the book and put out the light before she herself drifted off…

The clock tower woke her up, sounding out the hours. Heart racing, Amarantha counted the chimes. She hadn’t overslept.

Gingerly, she slithered out of bed without a creak and fumbled for her slippers and wrapper, holding her notebook under her arm. Not a sound came from Gilsbrecht’s bed, not even a reassuring snore. She would have to risk the likelihood of her roommate’s being asleep.

Tiptoeing across the room and out the door took a short eternity, but she at last emerged into the corridor. No one had closed the curtains, so moonlight poured in from glimpses of a courtyard over which the castle walls loomed. In the top room of a tower in the far corner flickered a light, a reminder of human habitation that the morning’s view couldn’t offer. Amarantha removed her slippers and ran barefoot down the corridor, turning to the right into the next one, past the stairs. She could have taken them directly to the dining room, but it was too close to Gilsbrecht’s room to risk being heard. She’d much rather use the stairs nearest Elystan’s room and venture to the library with him. If they were caught, he would know what to do.

She had nearly reached those stairs when she heard movement and shrank back against the nearest wall, hoping the dark would conceal her. A door near the stairs opened and a tall, broad-shouldered man’s form stepped out. With no windows in this part of the corridor, she could not make out his face. She held her breath as he neared, but he turned toward the corridor on the other side of the stairs and disappeared. After waiting to be sure he didn’t return, she darted into the stairwell and wound her way down to the first storey.

Elystan was not at his door, nor did he answer when she knocked. He had probably gone on to the library without her. Still shaking from her encounter, she returned to the stairwell and descended to the ground floor—through the vestibule, the drawing room, the billiards room, and at last the dining room, where Elystan stood at the library door. 

“Where have you been?” he whispered. “I was starting to think you weren’t coming.”

She set down her slippers and slid into them. “There was someone in the corridor. On the second storey. A tall man.”

“Trotter, probably. Isn’t that where the staff stays? So, are we going in or not?”

Amarantha took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I’m game if you are.”

He gave the thick door a strained push, and it swung open to reveal the light of a single candle at the far end, where someone sat huddled in a window seat. The door slammed into a bookcase behind it, and the person dropped a book and rose in slow indignation to approach the children. It was a woman in a gray dressing gown with a wheat-colored plait hanging down her back.

“Why, Sarra!” said Elystan. “Fancy meeting you here! I see you like a little late-night reading too. I couldn’t sleep either, and Miss Melbray came with me, like the good companion she is”—he patted Amarantha’s arm familiarly—“to see that I don’t become chilled by the night air. Don’t let us keep you from your book; we’ll be in and out in a moment—”

“Your Royal Highness and Miss Melbray ought to be in bed. Allow me to escort you back to your rooms.”

“Now, Sarra, it won’t take us long at all to bag a few books, and we’ll go straight back to our rooms, I promise.”

“I recommend tomorrow morning as the ideal time to select books, sir. If you would be good enough to follow me—”

“I know why you’re here, Sarra,” said Elystan.

Gilsbrecht went white. Or it might have been a trick of the candlelight. “Do you, sir?”

“Yes. You, considerate woman that you are, came here to read without disturbing Miss Melbray while she slept. That was kind of you. But I can make it much easier for you. You don’t want to trudge all the way down to this freezing library every night. But you could read in your room and not bother anyone at all if you let Miss Melbray have her own room. There’s one upstairs that’s not in use that would suit her perfectly. Send for Trotter and move her in at once, and all your problems are solved.”

“I beg your pardon, sir,” said Gilsbrecht, “but I cannot. Miss Melbray must stay with me.”

He gaped at her, wide-eyed, as if this possibility hadn’t occurred to him. “Oh, don’t disappoint me, Sarra.”

“I am her guardian, sir, in her mother’s absence. It is my responsibility to attend to her well-being.”

“But her mother works for me, and she would want you to do whatever would please me.”

“I have no such instructions, sir.”

“You have my instructions. Do you not know who I am?”

“I am aware, Your Royal Highness. But I regret I cannot comply with your wishes in this instance.”

Elystan’s voice grew dangerously calm. “Would you care to repeat that?”

“Miss Melbray must stay with me, sir.”

Amarantha had never seen such an expression on Elystan’s face. She took a step closer to the door and covered her ears in anticipation.

But he only said in a hard, hoarse voice, “You will regret this, Gilsbrecht.”

“Very good, sir,” she said and dragged Amarantha out of the library.

[gender-jargon]

Senszen: an identifier and method of description that evaluates the physical qualities of one’s gender identity using the senses of taste, smell, touch, sight and/or hearing.

A senszen is a identifier that uses a specific type of xenine description. Rather than describing your gender identity using social constructs, it is a method of evaluation employing introspective meditation to “observe” the physical qualities you personally associate with your identity and then describing any stimulus those qualities invoke.

Etymology

This term lacks a purposeful etymology, but was inspired by the English word “sense”, meaning “a bodily faculty that perceives external stimulus”. The suffix “-szen” lacks an etymology entirely has no meaning beyond indicating that a word is a type of senszen. Coined by Gent (Gender-Jargon), 2022.

Flag

The flag was created at the same time as the term by the coiner. This flag has seven horizontal stripes of the same size. From top to bottom, the colors charcoal grey, violet, dusty rose, jade green, peach, scarlet and charcoal grey. The colors represent the following meanings:

The charcoal grey stripes represent stimulus that cannot be perceived, a lack of stimulus or an inability to assess the physical qualities of one’s gender identity.

The violet stripe represents auditory stimuli.

The dust rose stripe represents gustatory stimuli.

The jade green stripe represents olfactory stimuli.

The peach stripe represents tactile stimuli.

The scarlet stripe represents visual stimuli.

This is going to be a super long post, so there is a lot more info beneath the cut discussing 1) how to name a senszen, 2) some resources to help you coin a senszen and 3) related terminology informed by this line of thought. 

Coining a Senszen

How would you describe you gender using only your senses? For a moment, forget about constructs like masculinity, femininity, androgyny, neutrality and other anthroine qualities normally used to describe gender. Ask yourself, what color do you associate with your gender identity? If you touch it, what does it feel like? Does it have a shape? Does it have a scent or sound it makes? What senses does your gender identity invoke when you think about it? These perceptions can be used as a basis for a senszen.

Below, I will outline how to name and coin a senszen. I created a method of naming to allow for unique terms, manageable word lengths and pronunciations and, due to the method, a way of representing the selected sensory adjectives through the name.

List of Sensory Adjectives

This is a non-exhaustive list of words describing various sensations to help you get started if you are unsure where to begin.

Taste & Smell

Astringent

Acidic

Alkaline

Ashy

Earthy

Burnt

Buttery

Stale

Fresh

Rancid

Citrus

Chemical

Medicinal

Herbal

Vegetal

Fruity

Floral

Metallic

Sulfurous

Leguminous

Pungent

Sweet

Lactic

Lipidic

Malty

Musty

Piquant

Phenolic

Resinous

Smokey

Tangy

Tart

Yeasty

Acrid

Balsamic

Sour

Bitter

Spicy

Savory

Umami

Salty

Dulcet

Gamy

Honeyed

Vinegary

Saccharine

Fishy

Bland

Musky

Tasteless

Touch

Hard

Soft

Fluffy

Fuzzy

Bushy

Rubbery

Coarse/Rough/Abrasive

Doughy

Farinaceous

Sticky

Grainy

Gritty

Gummy

Leprose

Mushy

Glassy

Smooth

Tacky

Velvety/Satiny/Silky

Pointy/Sharp/Prickly

Thick/Viscous

Thin

Wet

Moist

Dry

Burning

Soothing

Cold

Hot

Temperate

Slimy

Crunchy

Tingling

Numb

Nothing

Hurt/Pain

Shocking

Pressure/Singularity

Expand/Spread

Sight

Geometric

Organic

Psychedelic

Minimalistic

Linear

Non-Linear

Symmetrical

Asymmetrical

Big

Small

Short

Tall

Proportional

Thin

Fat

Angular

Rounded

Beautiful

Ugly

Distorted

Bright

Dark

Colorful

Monochromatic

Neon/Glowing

Pastel

Saturated

Dull

Shiny

Matte

Dewy

Blurry

Intricate

Deep

Shallow

Narrow

Wide

Sound

Loud

Quiet

Discordant/Dissonant/Harsh

Gentle

Glaring

Harmonious/Melodic

High-pitched

Low-pitched

Musical

Silent

Percussive

Raspy

Raucous

Shrill

Squeaky

Tranquil

Thunderous

Syntax

This is how the name of a senszen is determined. An example is provided below.

Grammatical Rules:

You can use as many or few adjectives as you would like.

Take note of the vowel-consonant units in your selected adjectives.

Take note if any of the vowel-consonant units that share a vowel appear more than once across the your selected adjectives. These units may be compounded with another vowel-consonant pair with the same vowel if desired.

If the vowel appears only once across all pairs, the vowel-consonant unit should remain unchanged.

Combine the resulting units in any fashion.

Revise if necessary. Consonants may be dropped sparingly throughout the process to shorten the term and/or make it easier to pronounce.

If desired, the suffix -szen may be used.

These rules are not strict/absolute.

An Example Situation

“My gender reminds me of a  wildflower. It tastes vegetal, smells floral, has velvetly petals and a  smooth stem. If I were to pick it, it would make a snapping sound”. 

The keywords describing the senses invokved are:

Floral, Vegetal, Velvety, Smooth and Snapping.

For my vowel-consonant pairs to represent each words, I came up with “Flo” for floral, “Veg”  for vegetal, “Vel” for velvety,  “Smo” for smooth and “Sna” for  snapping.

“Flo” and “Smo” both share “o” as a vowel. Flo and Smo  can be compounded to create “Floso”. Dropping consonants to create a  better sounding combination is acceptable.

“Vel” and “Veg” both share “e” as a vowel. The can be compounded to create “Velg”.

“Sna” does not share vowels with any other word chunks. These remain unchanged, as they cannot be compounded.

Now, we have the word parts “Floso”, “Velg” and “Sna”. From here, we can create our word. These parts can be arranged in any manner, and the original vowel-consonant pair may still be used in the name is desired. From here, I reduced “Sna” to “Sa” and combined it with “Floso” to create “Flosa”. “Velg” was reduced to “Ve”. The suffix -szen was added. Combining these two units and the suffix, I came up with the term “Flosaveszen” to describe the gender that is floral, vegetal, velvety, smooth and creates a snapping noise, due to, but not limited to, being like a wildflower. 

There isn’t really a right or wrong way to do this, so different individuals may name the same thing differently.

Related Terminology

Here is some is some related terminology regarding senszens.

Pamnisenzec: an identity that stimulates all of the senses in every way possible.  

Asenzec: an identity that does not stimulate any of the senses.

Otrasenzec: an identity that invokes perceptions outside and/or beyond what is considered perceivable by humans.

Opposenzec: an identity that is unable to be assessed using the senses.

Omisenzens: an umbrella term for all senszens affected by disabilities affecting one’s sensory experience.

Notes

If you make a senzen, feel free to tag me in the coining post! :-)

Don’t stress out about the grammar rules. Just try your best.

A senzen isn’t a gender, but a (meta)physical evaluation and subsequent qualitative interpretation of said evaluation. Individuals with the same gender may have different senzens.

There are no wrong answers in this situation, so use your imagination!

- Gent

[shoichee]

Good day, dear! \(^*^)/ 

So, as I promised, there is my KnB matchup request Thank you so much for doing this for me too!~ 

Appearance: I look cute and younger than my age. I’m slim, medium tall (about 165 sm. and 47 kg. plus-minus), with small arms and feet like a child’s. I’ve long soft blond hair (you saw the picture), blue eyes, dimples. 

Habits: I’ve really rich gamut of facial expressions and gestures; touch my hair; smile a lot.

Hobbies: horse riding, foreign languages, dancing, chess, self-care (like beauty salons, care cosmetic, healthy diet and stuff), walking, watching anime/dorama/serials, listening to music. 

Likes: my parents, my pets, my friends, people who likes me, animals and nature, cute things (like Totoro, Minions, Snoopy, cute bottles and cups etc) and places, warm places and warm weather, anime, Japan, music, children, sweets, farinaceous food, berries, tea, delicious food.

Dislikes: meat, spicy food, cold weather, people who hates me, being tired or sick, alcohol, cigarets, people who swearing a lot, when I’m forced to do something, uncomfortable places and people, dirt and debris, mean things.

You already know a little about me, so there are some random facts about me and my personality:

- I’m straight female, I want a male matchup, please.

- INFJ and Cancer.

- I hate cold weather. I get hypothermia very quickly. I feel really bad in these moments. My hands stay cold in any weather. 

- I’m very well-mannered and intelligent. I never swear. But some people find me boring, because I don’t drink alcohol (I’m able to drink, but never a lot) and dislike clubs and stuff. 

- I’ve a lot of knowledges about Russian museums, concert halls, architecture etc, because I have been to many excursions and concerts of my parents (they’re the musicians). 

- I like teasing my friends, I also very bright, charming and artistic and tell funny stories well. Always stand out from the crowd.

- I always take care of my health and appearance. I’ve my own healthy diet, drink a lot of water etc.

- I’m very caring. I love take care of my friends. I always support and comfort them, help them if they’re sick. I also quite empathic, so I can understand a lot even if people don’t tell me about it. 

- I can be strange sometimes. Like I love sea monsters, or I can suddenly stop because I saw interesting bird, or I’m still sleeping on bed linen with minions, or I don’t listen to people sometimes because I dream about something.

- I’m a teacher, so I get along with children well. I'm patient, calm, responsible, mature, bossy sometimes, have a loud voice if I want it, know how to act in any situation and not afraid of many things like blood, insects etc because of this.

- I look like person who live in own pink world without problems. I’m usually cheerful and optimistic. 

- I’m always neat and smell well.

- I don’t eat a lot usually. But I like sweets a lot. I eat sweets every day, because my brain stops working without it. Besides, I can eat really A LOT when I’ve cheat meal.

- I always accept people the way they are. 

- I feel tired often. I also quite lazy.

- My favourite brand of clothes is Tommy Hilfiger and Lacoste.

Love you a lot!~ Please, ask me in DM, if you want to know something extra)

OMG YOU HAVE DIMPLES TOO? dimple gang rise up together <3 without further ado, I hope you’ll love this matchup~

Best Matchup. . .

Akashi Seijuro

INFJs are almost alike as INTJs with a distinct difference of F (Feeling) vs. T (Thinking), meaning that you two have different ways to approach and express the same shared values

in other words, this can provide some contrast that can balance each other out while still having lots of common ground, personality-wise

when he first met you, your striking appearance was what caught his eye… after all, foreigners in Japan are quite rare, even though this fact was slowly changing in his current generation

Akashi is someone who easily sticks out even despite his average height; he has always had his own atmosphere and presence that easily attracted the attention of both locals and foreigners alike

but it looks like you’re attracting your own crowd of stares and gawks

in a way, your small statute and your soft, childlike features fondly reminds him of Kuroko, and perhaps his curiosity encourages him to tactfully learn more about you without you ever realizing it

he’d have no trouble approaching you, albeit in a polite, gentlemanly way, and he’d kindly ask where you were from, and if you were willing to answer it, you would

Akashi would be very surprised to see how well-adapted you were to the language, not expecting fluency like that

at his mild surprise, you laugh, smiling and running your fingers through strands, and your dimples peek through… and guess what? he’s further surprised seeing them, since they’re also a quite uncommon feature

and they totally make you look much more kinder (despite the fact you already looked so approachable to begin with)

the next time you two would meet would probably be at somewhere music-related, whether it would be the school’s practice rooms, a public performance that you two happened to coincidentally attend, or being in a music store somewhere (where Akashi was there to probably rehair his bow or buy new strings, and you had to stop by for an errand with your parents or just wanted to browse the shop out of fondness)

THIS is when things really hit off between the two of you, and as soon as both of you learn that you’re entrenched in the world of music—whether it be romantic, classical, or contemporary—the place is suddenly filled up by hushed, lively chatter by you two

“Akashi-san, what type of music do you listen to?” you peer over to him, excited for the opportunity to get to know him

“I play the piano and violin myself, actually,” he would muse, finding your own smile quite infectious that he can’t help smiling a little too

“Then surely you’ve played compositions by Russian composers before?” you would ask giddily, never failing to smile and fiddle with your hair

“Of course,” he’d chuckle, amused at your sudden enthusiasm. “Who hasn’t heard of talented people such as Tchaikovsky? His works of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker are so poignantly written, it would be more surprising if someone did not recognize his works.”

your face does slightly fall, since you were aware that the average person knew only about the most famous composer and not necessarily the other Russian composers, even if they were just as talented

but Akashi Seijuro was no ordinary man

“However,” he continues. “I personally find Rimsky-Korsakov’s third movement of Scheherezade to be something I always find myself returning to play again frequently as of late.”

he’s a little startled (though his face was still relatively calm) seeing the sparkles in your eyes and the admiration you had for him

pretty soon, you’re asking him tons of stuff about what he knows about Russian music, and Akashi easily answers them all, seeing this as a subtle challenge for himself to remember what he’s learned over the years

you soon transitioned into history and trivia about concert halls, and even about other Russian architecture… and lo and behold, there’s only so much that Akashi knows until he graciously admits “defeat” with an amused curl of his mouth

“It seems that there’s still much for me to learn, hm?”

“Oh! I’m sorry…! I realized I strayed far from the original topic…”

“There’s no need to apologize,” he would reassure you. “I had quite a lot of fun hearing you talk about your culture. You remind me of a close friend that I know of, actually.”

“Is that in a good way?”

but he would only give you a hint of a playful gaze from his feline eyes before cryptically replying, “It’s the way the two of you would carry yourselves.”

you two would probably meet up “coincidentally” again a few more times before you’d probably one day asked to hear him play… he’s truly touched that you’re so interested in his hobbies

when he invites you to his manor as a friend, you carry yourself like you actually lived here before… that certainly was a different side than the enthusiastic one you showed him when you spoke with him the last time

he was at first nervous about the prospect of bringing you over to his home, with his father being quite strict and can be intimidating to most, but you seem to pick up on the fact that his home was a different atmosphere

he couldn’t really risk bringing his instruments outside, since they’re quite… expensive, to put it lightly, and not to mention, where would he play without interrupting anyone and without getting interruptions himself?

so that was why he eventually came to the conclusion of inviting you over… and if he was being honest, he wanted to let you into in and see a glimpse of his personal life

the way you introduce yourself to the other staff and housekeepers eased his worries, knowing that his father won’t nitpick about your manners or behavior if he ever saw you around

to his relief, his father wasn’t at home today anyways

after listening a few short solos from Akashi, you pulled out a few recommendations of pieces Akashi could add into his repertoire

and he’d probably ask why you were so interested in music, and you would reply that your parents were a huge inspiration to you (since they were both musicians)

you’d probably spend the entire day at his place, exploring his home with Akashi giving you a tour around and making sure you didn’t end up lost

imagine his excitement when you discover his chess set on a desk and turn to ask him to play a round

*cue you two play endless rounds of chess for the rest of the afternoon*

“Oh, Akashi-san,” you would say, after packing up the chess pieces and board and putting it back on the shelf before turning back to him. “Do you mind if I walk around in your… backyard? Though I’m not sure if I’m allowed there and all—”

“There’s no need to be hesitant,” Akashi smiles. “I’ll accompany you there. A break outside would be nice.”

and after half an hour of walking and casually chatting, you’d notice the stables and a brilliant white horse inside

“You own a horse?”

“Is that so strange?”

“Well, I’m not surprised, considering the grandness of the property and all… but it’s beautiful.”

“Yes,” he’d chuckle in agreement. “He’s quite the sight, isn’t he? Would you like to ride Yukimaru? Ah, and don’t worry, I’ll be right with you to make sure nothing happens if you’re afraid of that.”

“I’m honored! I would love to…!”

and that decided your plans for the rest of the evening

when he helps you climb onto the saddle, Akashi immediately speaks to try to soothe any nerves you might have…

“He’s gentle and good with other people, so there’s no need to be nervous—”

and then you start trotting away with Yukimaru before he could even finish, clearly caught off guard by the fact that you were actually experienced in horse riding

he’s WHIPPED for you from that point on

and honestly, his heart kind of pounds faster when you look at home with his horse and the field around you, especially when you look like you’re at ease and enjoying yourself

are we surprised that you two would end up dating soon after that? nope

it’s just two classy people sharing the same hobbies, it’s BOUND to happen

you were aware of Akashi’s inner turmoil, even if he never brings it up, especially when you would notice his slight tenseness in hearing about his father

thus, you wanted to try to introduce him to your own parents, in hope of showing him the love and care he never had in his childhood in a long time (not since his mother passed away anyways)

it first started as a question of perhaps playing with your parents as a trio for a bonding activity, and after some encouragement and consideration he does agree

THIS IS SO SOFT?? AKASHI PLAYING ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS

your parents would love him?? he’s so well-mannered and intelligent and would probably learn enough Russian by now to speak it relatively well

he has you to thank for teaching him the language though

when you two decide on dates, choices can range from going to quaint cafes and quiet restaurants to try all the foods you’ve been craving to try, to going to picnics to enjoy the fresh air and nature around you while enjoying delicious food, and to going to different local museums and exhibits to learn about each other’s cultures and music… THESE ARE ALL SO CUTE OMG

with every single date, Akashi would easily take note and remember your favorite foods and tell his staff to make those for you whenever you stop by his place

when he finally trusts you enough to tell you, Akashi appreciates the fact that you’re so understanding of his turmoil and his past “other self”

you’re not sure how, but you were deemed “passable” and “acceptable” by Akashi’s father when he glances at you… maybe it was a combination of your put-together appearance (that could be good for the company image), mild mannerisms, and the fact that you actually remind him of his late wife

Akashi usually quietly watches you teach the children from the doorway or at least from a distance that won’t disrupt anyone, and just like how his father noticed, you remind Akashi of his own mother

he just admires you so much, especially when you look like you have control of the situation most of the time

plus, the fact that you also maintain your own health and self-care brings him relief that he doesn’t have to worry about you as much

in this way, both of you can have your own independence with your own separate careers

when he’s busy, he’d ALWAYS send you little gifts and souvenirs of the cutest merchandises and franchises… cups? plushies? you name it

and after learning of your favorite brands (especially in clothes), he sends you various clothing that he knows will be useful, convenient, and also stylish for you

he even takes care to send you gloves and scarves, knowing fully well of your aversion to the cold (he gets it, he lives in Kyoto, where it’s always warm)

whenever he’s with you, he’s always holding your hands with his own and puffing hot air into them to warm them up

remember how Akashi is easily amused by a lot of things? yeah, well, he’s still getting a silent chuckle out of the fact that you still touch your hair a lot or just stare off into space whenever you’re in you’re daydreaming or just stop randomly to look at a particular bird nearby

life isn’t boring when you’re around, but at the same time, your spontaneity wasn’t too extreme to the point that it would overwhelm him (so it’d be a perfect balance)

where you look like you’re in your own little world, being optimistic and cheerful, Akashi easily counteracts this with his calculative, more realistic nature (again, referring to the MBTI of F vs. T)

whenever someone tries to bother you or force you to do something, he’s always there to send them off with a cool gaze or a few words that would send them running away, and likewise, Akashi would rarely be the type to force you to do anything

you, meanwhile, teach Akashi how to live a little, always introducing him to various shows and dramas for your indoor dates whenever there’s a bad weather day or just whenever the two of you are feeling tired and lazy

he’s... sort of alarmed at the intake of sweets you’d have at certain days even despite knowing that you have your own health maintained

“Isn’t this your 4th package, (y/n)? I think that’s quite enough.”

“But Sei, I can’t live without a bit of sugar… even though I know you’re sweet yourself,” you tease, nudging his arm with your own elbow, “a little extra sugar intake through these wouldn’t hurt. Don’t worry, I’ll lay off of these for a while and go back to taking care of myself after today.”

when Akashi introduces you to the GoMs, all of them just sweatdrop because you’re just another mother-hen like Akashi LOL you’re always making sure they’re okay and taken care of (Aomine and Murasakibara sigh at the prospect of having another “motherly figure” hassling them to ditch their bad habits)

but cue Murasakibara’s surprise when he finds out about your sweet cravings and cheat meal days (let’s just say he’ll now listen to you even more than Akashi… and if Akashi doesn’t agree with him or is too busy for advice, he’ll turn to you instead)

CUTEST THING AKASHI DOES WHEN HE KISSES YOU is that whenever he brings his hands up to cup your cheeks, he’d say something or compliment you to make you smile (if you weren’t already smiling) and then gently thumb over those dimples before kissing you

[princess-of-inarizaki]

Tilli

Well, tumblr is a nice place in general~ Here is also a lot of information and a lot of great people. I'm happy to be here.

Yes, I love it! I love all your drabbles, really! They are really soft! I also do my best to write confessions fics every day. I don't wont stop! Btw, what is you favourite team except Inarizaki? About which team manager do you like to write? 

Yes, I agree. It's the reason because I don't interesting of idols. You just can't enjoy the music or shows without reading some mean things like scandals about relationships etc. And thank you for recommendations! I'll definitely listen to it!~

Thank you very much for your kindness! I'm so happy to hear that. I also hope that your legs are better now. I'm also fine. I still have some little problems, but it isn't a big deal. 

Oh, yes, I agree. People sometimes don't understand that there's some another point of view besides their. Like they think that people who eat meat are "normal people" and others are strange. O, I see. I really like sweets, cheese, fruits, berries and farinaceous food. And also some Japanese food. I try to be vegan because it's more healthy but I feel bad without sweets, my brain just doesn't work without them. So, I'm just vegetarian now. x) 

Yes, it's cold and also snowing, but I do my best to stay warm. 

I also enjoy our Inarizaki event! It's so fun to write with you! Haha, yes, I also think that Kageyama in love is like "Oh, am I sick?". He's really cute boy! When did you watch Haikyuu for the first time?

Well, I like many characters before Atsumu and Inarizaki, but it was like just: "Oh, he's nice", but now I completely in love with them. But I understand you, Oikawa is really amazing! And he also takes has a special place in my heart because of our birthday. 

Btw, what about KnB? How is it? 

Love you too!~ Stay safe, please. I do my best to stay healthy. It's quite difficult this year., but I really try. x) 

-

Me too!! I'm really glad to be here. I'm sorry I couldn't reply last night, something happened and I got super busy so I couldn't even finish the 11th day of Inarizaki, but I'm more free now, since it's the weekend.

I redid my navigation because the old one was too messy, but I like it now.

I loved your Tendō and Bokuto confessions!! So soft and sweet, but I'm so sad nooooo Atsumu 😭😭😭😭 besides Inarizaki, I guess I like writing for Seijoh and Nekoma a lot, since they're my second favourite teams. What about you, Tilli? Before Inarizaki, which was your favourite team?

Awww I'm glad, I can't wait, and yeah, I hope that changes in the future.

Thank you so much for caring. They're all better now, and I can barely feel any pain, so I'm glad you're feeling better too <3

Exactly!! Just because they eat meat, doesn't mean it's "normal" to eat meat :/ and awww I understand, I like sweets too so It's important to have them once in a while so I can think properly. Glad to know you're like me :) Japanese food is also very tasty!! And I love how fresh it always tastes.

Glad you're staying warm!! How was your day, btw, Tilli?

Yes I love writing with you too, and awww yes, Kageyama not understanding it was love was my favourite part. So cute and clueless.

Yess!! It's really so perfect that you guys share one. I share a birthday with Katsuki Yuri from Yuri on ice!! and Khun Aguero Agnes from Tower of God (I love khun, he's my favourite character in the show). But yes, I agree too, your confession fics have had me falling deeper in love with the characters.

Oh I took a break from watching TV for a while actually, because I have an online exam coming up, so I have to study, but I'll resume after I finish that :))

Love you more, and I really really hope you are feel fine!! Can't wait to hear your reply ❤️

[howieabel]

Let us not, however, flatter ourselves overmuch on account of our human victories over nature. For each such victory nature takes its revenge on us. Each victory, it is true, in the first place brings about the results we expected, but in the second and third places it has quite different, unforeseen effects which only too often cancel the first. The people who, in Mesopotamia, Greece, Asia Minor and elsewhere, destroyed the forests to obtain cultivable land, never dreamed that by removing along with the forests the collecting centres and reservoirs of moisture they were laying the basis for the present forlorn state of those countries. When the Italians of the Alps used up the pine forests on the southern slopes, so carefully cherished on the northern slopes, they had no inkling that by doing so they were cutting at the roots of the dairy industry in their region; they had still less inkling that they were thereby depriving their mountain springs of water for the greater part of the year, and making it possible for them to pour still more furious torrents on the plains during the rainy seasons. Those who spread the potato in Europe were not aware that with these farinaceous tubers they were at the same time spreading scrofula. Thus at every step we are reminded that we by no means rule over nature like a conqueror over a foreign people, like someone standing outside nature – but that we, with flesh, blood and brain, belong to nature, and exist in its midst, and that all our mastery of it consists in the fact that we have the advantage over all other creatures of being able to learn its laws and apply them correctly.

Engels, The Part Played by Labour in the Transition from Ape to Man (1876)

Farinaceous: consisting or made of flour or meal, as food; containing or yielding starch, as seeds; starchy, mealy in appearance or nature.