#hint: sea cucumbers

[419mhz]

Break the cycle

Elster model by MagpiePlus3D on Bluesky

[moonydustx]

The Night of Confessions.

masterlist | requests

Summary: After finding the ship's crew member who was invading the kitchen at night, Sanji and the reader become friends. What can please a cook to thank for the good friendship?

Warnings: lots of flashbacks (all in italic), takes place a few weeks after part 1. reader with some insecure thoughts. a hint of a sad reader, fluff in general. sorry for possible errors, story not proofread.

WC: 3.3k

Pairing: Sanji x F!Reader (more thought of as OPLA!Sanji, but I've been loving the anime, so feel free with your choice).

A/N: A total of zero people asked and I still did it! In fact, I had thought of 3 parts for the story (the last one would be a smut that I'm still really thinking about, since I have an idea for the same theme for Zoro). That's it, I hope you like it and who knows, maybe I'll come back with more of this soon.

Read part 1 here

Before you even opened your eyes, your hands involuntarily searched for something on the other side of the bed, unfortunately finding only the unoccupied sheet.

"Good morning, Miss." Sanji's voice reached your ears before you could even open your eyes. "

Good morning. Wait, is it daytime?"

"Yes. I believe someone managed to sleep well tonight, no nightmares." he turned towards you. Even though you were drowsy, you leaned on one of your elbows, getting closer to him.

"Yeah, I believe so." You didn't know where your eyes would go, to the disheveled blonde locks, to the almost shy smile or the clear eyes that stared at you.

You could see his eyes looking at you too, but neither of you took the right action. At least the attitude you expected. Sanji could feel your breath on his face, your eyes shone when you looked into his, enough for him to come to his senses and move away.

"I-I..." he stood up, adjusting his shirt. "My dear, I will prepare breakfast and as soon as it is ready, I will call you." he headed towards the door.

"Sanji?"

"Yes mon amour."

"Thanks."

You were unused to sleeping alone, at least compared to before. Not that you would accept any company in your room.

It was just a few nights that he spent in your company. With each one, you discovered a new thing in common.

It was difficult to understand what you felt, it was strange. It was as if all the breezes coming from the sea surrounded your stomach, or even as if it didn't matter that they were still far from the Grand Line. It was okay to take longer to achieve your goals, as long as you stayed with your crew, everything was okay. What you didn't expect was the distance.

Damn, damn distance. Little by little you noticed him moving away from you. He wouldn't leave you alone, ever, but something was slowly cooling down and that was much more intriguing than anything else the other seas could bring to you.

Even though you weren't ready to face the day, you stood up and walked to the kitchen, finding the person responsible for so many doubts in your mind. How could a damned cook leave you lost like that? Had you asked too much of his help? Or had he simply gotten tired of being your friend? What was that strange feeling again? Damn, this wasn't the time to think about that.

"Good morning Ji." Your voice caught his attention, and he smiled in your direction.

"Good morning darling. I hope you slept well." you sat in front of him, watching him cut some fruit. An idea, perhaps not the smartest, crossed your mind.

"Too much. And you?"

"Good." He remained silent for a few seconds, focused on something that looked like just a simple apple.

"Finally fell out of bed." Zoro walked past you, sitting next to you and grabbing some breakfast.

"Look who's talking, you're a walking mummy. You're constantly bandaged up and sleep everywhere." you retorted, laughing at his face.

"Let's see if you say that later." Zoro's words immediately reached Sanji, who no longer insisted on pretending not to be listening to the conversation.

"Let's see who lasts longer, cucumber head. Don't forget my order." you lightly elbowed the swordsman, who just grunted. "You promised!"

"Why don't you take it yourself? I was thinking about spending some time on other things."

"I don't think I'm going to disembark today. I'm not feeling very well." As soon as the words left your lips, Sanji's attention became all yours.

"Is there anything I can help with, ma'am?"

"No, no Sanji. Women's problems."

"One more reason for me to win today!" Zoro returned the elbow, this time making you groan. Before Sanji could curse him for the measly push, he had already left you alone.

"Maybe I can make some tea, get something ready. All you have to do is tell me, darling."

"Don't worry about it. I'll rest a little longer." You left, leaving him alone, watching you and questioning why you refused help.

You just couldn't say it was part of your plan. As they were already used to, whenever they anchored in a town or city, they would spend a day exploring the nearest areas and return to the boat at dusk - if they weren't lost in a bar - to decide whether to stay longer in the place.

You waited until you were sure everyone had left the boat to put your plan into action. Would it be a good idea to cook to please a chef? Maybe not, but it would be worth a try. At least, you already understood a little of the recipe you needed to make.

"You won't eat cold lunch food again." once again, you were scared by Sanji's presence in the kitchen. He soon stood next to you, taking the plate. "What do you want?"

"To cook!"

"Now I'm surprised. The night's sneaking out for a snack really inspired you. What are we going to do then?"

"How about some pasta?" you suggested, already eager for the answer. "I know this isn't the best time to eat this, but..."

"If it's pasta my girl wants, we'll make pasta. What will we need?" He left it up to you to respond, laughing loudly when he noticed your confusion. "You really don't do well in the kitchen, do you? I'm glad I'm here."

Flour, eggs, salt. Okay, the first ingredients were easy. Maybe it was too early to start the recipe, but you didn't want to run the risk of him arriving early and catching you in the kitchen.

It took hours for you to get the right doneness, but the pasta strands looked perfect, now all that was left to do was cook it and add it to the sauce, which you had a vague idea of ​​what to do.

"How much longer do we have to wait?" you indicated to the pan full of water.

"Until it boils." Sanji warned, adding generous spoonfuls of salt to the water.

"Wouldn't it be too salty?"

"No, honey. When we make this kind of pasta, the water needs to be hot as hell and salty as the sea." he took a spoon and poured in some of the liquid, blowing gently as the smoke dissipated. "Try it."

His laughter upon seeing your disapproving face filled the entire ship and certainly must have disturbed the other crew members who were sleeping there.

"Hot as hell, salty as the sea. Got it."

"I knew someone sweet like you would hate this, but in the end, the recipe will be delicious. Someday, I'll make the seafood version, you'll love it, it's my favorite."

Tomatoes, shrimps and tuna. It was enough to make the sauce. You didn't want to invent much more than you knew how to do and even so, you were already feeling afraid of what might come out of it.

The day was already ending when you finished making the dish. Pasta with seafood sauce. Probably a much simpler version of what the crew cook would make. You arranged some cutlery on the table, prepared a juice with tangerines and tried to get as many things ready as possible.

"What are you doing?" the scream that came out of your throat was almost involuntary when you heard Nami.

"What, are you guys back already?"

"Just me for now." she explained, coming around the table. "Who did all this?"

"Not the official cook."

"Weren't you feeling bad?" She laughed when she saw you disconcerted. "I knew it was a lie. You asked me for help with that two weeks ago, remember?"

"Okay, maybe I was just trying to get the boys off my back."

"What I don't understand is that we already have a cook..." she put her hand on her chin, analyzing you "Do you want to take his place..."

"Never! I love Sanji's cooking!" you responded almost immediately, leaving her euphoric with the conclusion.

"I knew it! You want to impress him. You like him! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it, more money for me."

"What do you mean Nami?"

"You didn't deny it, so I'm right." trying to leave the topic of money aside, she turned you around, pushing you towards your room. "And for that, you'd better take off your soaked clothes. Get ready, I'll cover you if any of them show up."

Before you could question anything, Nami was already leading you into the room. And she was almost right, in every proposition. Firstly, you didn't just want to impress Sanji, you wanted to thank him for the time he spent being a great friend and maybe make it up to him for you upsetting him so much the last few weeks. And second, you didn't just need to change, you would need a shower to remove all the shrimp smell from your body.

With a speed you didn't yet know, you managed to do everything. Take a shower, fix your hair and choose your favorite outfit. You were ready, which made you even more nervous.

As soon as you left your room, you could see Nami breathe a sigh of relief, at the same time as the other crew members rushed into the kitchen.

"Finally. I thought I was going to need to yank you away from the door." Zoro was the first to enter, soon followed by Luffy and Usopp.

"What's that smell? Sanji, did you leave a feast ready for us?" Luffy already went straight to the table, earning a slap from Nami. "I'm hungry."

"With that smell, it's impossible not to be." Usopp added, getting slapped as well.

"Everyone eat together." she warned.

"What does it smell like..." Sanji was the last to enter, finding the table set. "What is that?"

"Well, um." you took the lead, feeling your legs tremble. Your eyes were lost in Sanji's "You've been... I mean, you've all been great friends. I wanted to prepare some delicious food for us."

"But Sanji already does that." Luffy spoke and you knew it was in the best interests, which made you laugh when you saw Nami's face at him.

"I know, I just wanted to maybe surprise you with something different."

"Then let's fill our bellies, because later I intend to fill myself with drink." Zoro settled down, picking up one of the plates. "And if it turns out good, your drink is on me today."

"Oh, of course." you replied and despite smiling, you were focused on something else.

Sanji was still standing at the door, observing the table and almost without meaning to, his gaze crossed yours. You could see them glow from afar and at the same time, you could feel your stomach churn with anticipation to know if he had liked the little surprise.

Everyone sat down to dinner and from what you heard, you were satisfied with the food and eager to tell you everything you had seen in the village. Except Sanji. He seemed intent on eating from his plate, savoring every bite.

"It was incredible!" Luffy said, finishing turning the plate into his mouth "It's good to know that we have someone who knows how to cook besides Sanji."

"Best food I've ever tasted." Zoro said and it didn't take much for you to know that he was just saying that to provoke the other cook.

"You never said that about my dishes!" Sanji's grumble made everyone at the table laugh, including you, partly because of the comment, but mainly because he had finally said something.

"You've never done anything good like this. I think now you can go back to being a waiter."

"Both foods are amazing, maybe you'll work well together." the malicious tone didn't go unnoticed in Usopp's words, making your face burn with embarrassment.

Before you could find words to respond, Nami noticed your little desperation and stood up.

"Belly full, time for Zoro to buy our drinks."

"It wasn't you I promised. Let me go, woman!" he grunted as Nami pulled him to his feet.

"We go ahead and they find us later." she suggested, hoping everyone would understand who should remain on the boat.

"But I'm still hungry." Luffy complained and one look from Nami was enough for him to stand up. "Okay, I'll go with you, but I better have some snacks."

"I'll stay here, help our cook organize things and we'll meet you there." Sanji spoke, causing Usopp to also get up and follow the three others.

As they left, you took the opportunity to start taking the dishes off the table and as soon as they were alone, you saw Sanji leave the kitchen. The anxiety that maybe you had been too clingy gnawed at you.

"Have you seen Sanji?" you asked Nami, who seemed distracted doodling something.

"Nah, he's probably stuck in the kitchen, inventing something."

You hurried along, playing cards dancing between your fingers until you found Luffy attacking the fridge. "

Ah, hi! I was just checking to make sure everything was ok here." He spoke with a mouth full of meat, making you laugh.

"Have you seen Sanji?" "It must be in his room. If you can, please don't tell him what you just saw." he smiled, amidst the pile of food.

"Leave it captain."

You went to his room, gaining the courage to knock on the door three times and hear a "Come in" from inside.

"Excuse me." you hung your body inside the room. "Everything is fine?"

"Of course, miss. Is there anything you need?"

"I wanted to know if you wanted to play cards with me. I almost didn't see you today." you proposed excitedly, a feeling that didn't last long.

"I'm sorry, I think I'd rather be alone for a bit."

After that, the late-night cooking trips stopped, and he seemed to flirt less with you, which gave you less space to respond. Maybe you were a very clingy friend, and maybe Sanji didn't like that.

The water ran while you stood still, immersed in your thoughts. What you didn't expect was to feel two arms around your body, turning off the tap and pulling your arms away from the sink.

"Leave it, mon cher." He turned to you and with some gentleness, took off the apron you had just put on. "You already made dinner, I'll take care of it later."

"Did you like it?" The words left your lips involuntarily, leaving you disconcerted under his gaze.

"Pasta with seafood sauce?" he waved with a smile, as he picked up two glasses.

You leaned against the counter opposite Sanji's and only then did you notice the bottle of wine next to you. Now his little disappearance made sense.

"The best dinner I've had in a long time." he placed the glasses next to you.

The two of them were alone there, just the two of them in the entire huge ship. Why was he so close to your body? Only a few centimeters separated them as he filled both glasses.

"Serious?" Sanji could melt right there when he saw the light in your eyes when he heard the praise. And he didn't make a point of hiding his smile because of it. "I mean, I just followed your recipe from that day."

"You said..." his smile faded, taking on a more serious tone as he took a sip of his drink. You, a nervous chaos, had almost completely turned the glass over. "You said you did all this, that it was because we were good friends..."

"Let me explain." you interrupted him, touching your hand to his chest involuntarily. Again, your brain seemed not to follow your feelings. "I know I didn't explain it well at the time, but you've been a great friend. Helping me with my sleepless nights, teaching me new things. I mean, I know I'm a little clingy and I understand you wanting some space . But today I just wanted to do this to thank you for everything you've done for me these days. You've been an incredible friend."

Before answering, he immediately put his glass aside. The hand that held the drink soon found your chin, gently lifting it so he could look you in the eyes. His hands gently cupped your face, in an affable gesture.

"I don't want to be just that. I don't want space either." he laughed, as if it were a joke that only he understood.

Your eyes were lost on Sanji's face. It was as if something pulled you and left you immersed in it, almost hypnotized.

"I don't want to see you awake at night scared, I don't want to have to leave you here alone on the ship when you're not well. I-I don't want to see you making appointments with that idiot swordsman. I-I..." all the his euphoria seemed to fade, the end coming out as just a whisper. "I don't just want to be your friend."

No warning, no permissions or no questions. Almost immediately his lips found yours softly. A long peck, testing the waters ahead. Your hands, previously hanging, found the face of your favorite cook, giving him the little courage he still lacked.

You could feel his kiss invading your mouth and heavens, that was what you expected. His hands dropped from your face and ran down the side of your body, until they reached your waist. The small cry of fright was muffled by Sanji's lips as he grabbed you by the waist and placed you on the counter, fitting himself between your legs.

You could sink there, you could let the air escape from your body and you would still die happy, but soon you felt it invade your lungs in a quick sigh, as Sanji's lips descended towards your neck, proving a path of goosebumps.

"Sanji." the damn heaven was there, hearing your voice calling him like that. Not even All Blue itself would be better than that. "Ji, wait."

His lips moved away from yours, but he didn't make a point of taking you off the bench, or taking his hands away from your body or at least disguising the fact that he couldn't stop looking at your lips, or your eyes, or any part your.

"So, you're not tired of me?"

"I just needed to get my head straight." he replied, his fingers exchanging some misunderstood pattern on your hips. "All I could think about was you and I was afraid that maybe it would go too far. That's why I took distance."

Instead of responding with words, you just sealed your lips with his, who seemed unable to contain a smile with such action.

"Even though I like it here, I think we should go. They're probably waiting for us." you warned, but Sanji just pressed your body tighter against his.

"We have drinks here and from what I remember missus, the herbal tea worked that day, so you owe me a drink."

"You have no proof." you teased him, already anticipating the comment he would make.

"If you don't remember, I slept next to you that night." he replied, as you predicted. "If you prefer me to remind you, I can sleep today, and tomorrow, and then..." with each word, he stole another kiss from your lips.

"But, I believe we should stay here, from what I remember, you weren't feeling very well today."

"Haven't you realized yet that it was a lie to stay alone on the ship? It seems easy, but that dough gave me a hard time, it took me all day to make it and..." you saw him threaten to open his lips for a laugh or some comment sarcastic about his culinary skills. "One word about this and I will now accept the drink Zoro was going to buy me."

"Lucky for you, your boyfriend is a great cook and you'll never have to worry about that."

"Boyfriend, hm?"

"For now. I don't plan on letting you go anytime soon." your lips were captured again and you finally understood that damn feeling. The sea breeze inside your stomach, the tremor in your hands and the heat in your body.

"Better not let go, cook."

[tobiasdrake]

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy 36 - Making Mountains out of Moderately Sized Hills

Can't believe this is on my shoulders but okay. Here we go. Let's figure out what we can do to save the Holdouts.

Each with something different that's holding them back.

I think you are sorely underestimating whatever's going on with her, my dude. She's made it very clear that it's not that she doesn't want to, but that she feels for some reason or another that she physically cannot fight the Invaders.

But sure, we can start there. Maybe I'm wrong and she's scared. That'll be a weight off my mind.

Bait has been deployed. Now to reel her in.

Smooth. I sincerely mean that; Throwing Hiruko under the bus like this is a good way to get our foot in the door.

Aaaaaand we're in. Can't wait to see how Tsubasa's decorated the place. Other students' rooms are usually overloaded with personality.

And I am not disappointed.

It's hard to see behind the text box but she's got an engine and toolbox down on the floor. Plus wall racks of tools and whatever that is she's working on at her desk. This is pretty much what I expected our mechanic's room to look like.

Okay, so Hiruko has been letting them have the dry bread. That's important context that we did not possess until this moment. She hasn't been starving them any more than Sirei was.

That was not so smooth. In fact, it's kinda creepy to just come up to someone and say that.

You ruined it, Takumi. You ruined it because you're incapable of being cool for five minutes.

Fortunately, you didn't completely ruin it so the plan can still move forward! Such is the power of quid pro quo.

Okay, whew. She is not pregnant. It's just a weird physiological puking thing. I was making a mountain out of a... Well, not a molehill, but a moderately sized hill of average height.

This isn't going to be easy to resolve but it's going to be more resolvable than the worst-case scenario. We can work with this.

You could... Uh... aim for the Invaders.

Or Takemaru, in a pinch. He can't hit girls so he has no options for retaliation.

Maybe the Blood Cocoon will fix it. Maybe your Magical Girl powers will turn you into a sea cucumber! They fight by ejecting all of their guts and organs at enemies. It's super gross!

Fucking told you this wasn't going to be easy. We may have dodged the worst-case scenario but it's still not something a pep talk is going to fix.

I can't believe you were actually surprised by this, Takumi. I may have wildly overestimated the extent of her troubles but you wildly underestimated them, so who's the real fuckup here?

Hint: It's you. Because I am the judge of fuckuppery and I said so.

[deathnguts]

What I think marauders era peeps smell like:

Regulus: green apple, mint, black tea, ink, rain but specifically that which falls during a thunderstorm

Barty: axe cologne (loser) and cigarettes drowning out all else, but patchouli and lime if you catch him at the right time and you’re close enough

Evan: sandalwood, vetiver, iron, some stupid expensive cologne that smells distinctly clean overall like latex almost

Pandora: burnt sage, jasmine tea, moss, ginger, dandelions, boiled lemongrass

Dorcas: bluebells scented perfume, vanilla, blackberry, castor oil

Lily: strawberry shortcake perfume, daffodils, cardamom, white sand

James: cinnamon, leather, cedarwood

Sirius: bergamot, pine, amaretto, small hints of coffee

Remus: bitter dark chocolate, firewood, old paper, but a rusty twinge overall

Peter: eucalyptus oil, oat milk, lychee

Marlene: old spice deodorant, orange, sea salt

Mary: Apple blossom perfume, coconut, nutmeg, amber

Alice: rosemary, lily of the valley flowers, cloves, wind through the forest

Frank: mechanic oil, sesame, freshly cut wood, sheep wool

Sybill: lavender, morning dew, pollen, dust, labdanum

Narcissa: green tea, yellow roses, lemon zest

Lucius: narcissus flowers, cucumber, agarwood cologne that masks it all

[hws-asiapacific]

APH MBTI Asians Headcanons PT. 4

(~This now the last part for the Mbti series with Macau, Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong kong. If I got some interpretations wrong, please feel free to correct mee. Credits to Hima)

💜Hong Kong: INTP (The Logician) 💜 Hong Kong is usually depicted as somewhat "aloof" with a hint of mischief. In his character description it was noted that he's quite unreadable. INTPs are more on "processing" than "expressing" thoughts, this is his Ti function in control. Which embraces a more logical and thoughtful approach in life, though he may seem "a little detached." His famous trait is how he deeply holds onto his own beliefs, described as "a going-my-way" type of person. Similarly, INTPs value personal truth. Like how he chose to be naked rather than wearing a maid's dress in one of the comic strips, this illustrates his desire to follow his own beliefs rather than conforming to the ideals. But this doesn't mean he isn't the person to embrace new activities, no, Hong Kong is thrilled with exciting things. This is his Ne function that brings chaos and a "fun factor" to his character. This is shown by his love for new fashion, tech, rumors, and wild ideas. As well as interesting. theories, strange deals, and random memes. He's also known to meddle with China and England, probably not out of pure malice but for an intellectual challenge. The fact that he's afraid of the dark, showcases how an INTP feels nostalgia and how they cling onto their comfort zones. Lastly, Hong Kong is usually misinterpreted in the fandom as "emotionless", when it's far from the truth as we analyze his MBTI. INTPs are quiet individuals, they may not be as expressive as the other personality types, but you can count on them whenever you need them the most. That's because Fe is the weakest function of INTPs. They show their affection in more quiet and subtle ways. Hong Kong is the type of friend who shows their care in little ways, like showing, helping behind the scenes, or even playful banter.

💙Thailand: ISFJ (The Defender) 💙 Most commonly seen as a calming figure in a chaotic environment, Hetalia's Thailand embodies an ISFJ. He's usually gentle in presence but deeply rooted in purpose. Being a Si dominant personality, Thailand embraces his traditions as well as keeping the harmony around the people around him. We can see this by his mannerisms as he preferably uses "jibun", a more traditionally and formally grounded way to refer to himself. He's humble and isn't all that interested with flashy leadership, he believes in consistency in efforts while still being grounded in the present. He can also be seen to prioritize unity, showing empathy towards his loved ones. Like how he taught Vietnam to smile in a Christmas event. He's a natural peace maker, the calm to the storm, offering a graceful smile, until someone crosses the line. ISFJs are protectors at heart, when boundaries are crossed, they won't hesitate to intervene.

💛Malaysia: ESFP (The Entertainer) 💛 Sociable and effortlessly charming, Malaysia may be described as someone who desires people to stay intact, almost as a glue to his ASEAN family. According to his character profile he challenges himself to pull SEA together while looking amazing, though he still doesn't know how to do it. ESFPs, having Ni as their inferior function seeps through as Malaysia feels that the future is fragile but doesn't know to handle it. Ni when under stress, may over-idealize things, same to how Malaysia dreams about unity and optimism without clear structure. He moves through life with emotional sincerity and sensory flair, balancing lightheartedness with hidden and deeply felt dignity and integrity. Similarly, ESFPs lead with presence and not control, they live in the moment and always fueled with charisma. This is his Se, allowing him to be emotionally attuned to his surroundings, and enjoy unique and wild experiences (like how he brought sea cucumbers to the Asean meeting when he was late). He's grounded in the physical world and responds with what he feels is right. However, under that bright exterior is his Fi, allowing him to feel things on a deeper level. His persistence on making Singapore call him and recognize him as his "big brother" is illustrated by this function, and how he insists he's Singapore's one and only person, even if others can't see it. That's his emotional compass that's driving him. He also values harmony and is described as a country of "Budi Bahasa Budaya Kita" which means "Courtesy is our culture." ESFPs don't lead with pure logic and statistics but still wins the heart of many. Like how Indonesia praises his positivity despite being confused with him.

💙Macau: ISFJ (The Defender) 💙 A graceful man who has an aura of sophistication yet simplicity. He values his family and is a stated older brother figure to Hong Kong. ISFJs are known to be warm-hearted and responsible who holds a strong commitment in relationships. They have a strong sense of duty that allows them to be empathetic towards their loved ones. He's the one to adapt with harmony and not for show. ISFJs lead with Si, and in his case, this shines to how he manages his cultural complexity, balancing his traditions with China and Portugal. He also gives way, that friend who prefers watching you from the sidelines as you shine. Like how instead of trying to compete with Hong Kong, he became proud of him and strived to evolve in his own terms, all with no malice nor envy. Similarly, ISFJs invest a big deal in their relationships, known for giving their all at each one. We can also connect this to what was stated in the Collezione by Hima, that when you cry to him, he's surprisingly strong and would so something about it behind the scenes. ISFJs are energized and most effective when someone needs their help.

Hi hi, this is the last part for the MBTI series!! I hope you liked it:)) If I made some significant errors, kindly let me knoww. And if you want to see more headcanons, you're always welcome to send me a request hehe. Thank you so much! ~Author🩵

[twistedisciple]

"Oh hey! You're that weird guy from the ball!" Is it just the beach, or does this guy never wear a proper shirt? Tormod's not one to talk right now, but he's a sight to behold. The chains seem like they'd hurt in the sun, but this dude's such a freak he probably likes that. "Looks like we're gonna have to work together this time. Funny how things work out!"

Tormod hasn't forgotten the whole 'unhinged threat display' thing from earlier, no. But at this point, he's accepted the fact that The House of Mouse is filled with guys like this, for whatever reason. Briefly, he wonders who'd make it out alive if you locked Valter and Griss in a room.

Whaaaatever. He grins, tugging at his bandana. He's heard some choice things already about Griss's entrance, and boy-oh-boy.

"Seems you're popular around here."

By now, Griss has wandered away from the cluster of old cabins set up to house them all for the rest of the month and set his sights on more interesting ventures: like the tide pools and their fascinating ecosystem of prickly, slimy, and bizarre little critters. Tormod finds him with his arm plunged elbow-deep into one.

“Huh?” With an arc of water, Griss reels back and up onto his feet again, far more agile than he seems. “Oh.” Expression shifts into some semblance of recognition mixed with hints of surprise and, ultimately, disappointment (for what reason, he doesn’t even fully know).

“What’s up, short stuff?”

He’s popular? What a weird word, he thinks. Popular has never exactly been something he’s strived for. The opposite, in fact, if all the spikes and dangerous looks are anything to go by. So he snorts.

“Jealous? ‘Cause I got just the trick.”

He grabs Tormod by the wrist—

shlap.

And now he’s got a big, wet sea cucumber in his hand. No further explanation.

“There ya go.”

Griss flashes a grin, gives a wave (although it could very easily be that he’s slinging cucumber slime and water off of his hand), and turns on his heel to venture inland again, bored once more.

“See ya.”

[ve1il]

Here is a list of perfumes that i think Nanami would wear.

Before starting let me explain my vision. The perfumes on this list vary between very strong scents and fresh ones, i feel he would have this big collection of perfumes and he would choose very wisely and planned for which occasion or when he feels like using it and of course he has a very refined taste.

(Everything here came from the sephora site, if you guys want to check it out)

TOM FORD Ombré Leather

Fragrance Family: Warm & Spicy

Scent Type: Woody Spices

Key Notes: Black Leather, Violet Flower, Jasmine Flower

Fragrance Description: A distinct floral leather, Ombre Leather Parfum intensifies the original scent, fusing heated leather florals with woods. This perfume merges black leather with powerful violet leaf and sensual cedarwood laced with a hint of green tobacco—capturing the unbridled sensuality of the American west.

$275.00

JO MALONE Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne

Fragrance Family: Earthy & Woody

Scent Type: Earthy Green & Herbs

Key Notes: Ambrette Seeds, Sea Salt, Sage

Fragrance Description: Enwrapping and joyful. Windswept walks along the beach, the air fresh with sea salt, the mineral scent of rugged cliffs and earthiness of sage.

$165.00

CLEAN RESERVE Reserve - rain

Fragrance Family: Fresh

Scent Type: Fresh Aquatics

Key Notes: Bergamot, White Flower, Vetiver

Fragrance Description: This unique unisex perfume captures the dewy scent that lingers in the air after a lush rainfall. Crisp, watery cucumber notes and airy musk blend with vetiver and patchouli adding a touch of earthiness to create the calming scent you inhale walking in the woods after a passing rain.

$110.00

ARMANI BEAUTY Armani cold parfum

Fragrance Family: Earthy & Woody

Scent Type: Citrus & Woods

Key Notes: Mandarin Essence, Bergamot Essence, Rosemary Essence, Vanilla Extract, Cedar Wood Essence

Fragrance Description: The Code Le Parfum rewrites the code of a timeless masculine fragrance, infusing the powerful and seductive signature tonka bean with fresh scent notes of iris, sage, and bergamot, to create a woody aromatic fragrance blend that is long-lasting and uniquely distinctive.

$144.00

YVES SAINT LAURENT L'Homme

Fragrance Family: Earthy & Woody

Scent Type: Citrus & Woods

Key Notes: Bitter Orange, Oakwood, Vetiver

Fragrance Description: L’Homme Eau de Parfum is a warm and woody men's cologne inspired by an orange bourbon sour. Sparkling bitter orange creates tension with the warmth of bourbon notes from oakwood infusion and vetiver, reinventing the iconic L'Homme signature in a more intense version with a sensual trail.

$129.00

TOM FORD Oud wood

Fragrance Family: Earthy & Woody

Scent Type: Classic Woods

Key Notes: Rare Oud Wood, Sandalwood, Chinese Pepper

Fragrance Description: A composition of exotic, smoky woods including rare oud, sandalwood, rosewood, eastern spices, and sensual amber—revealing oud‘s rich and compelling power.

$295.00

(I’m planning on doing with other jjk’s character too so stay tuned)

[alolynn-heart]

🚿 for your muse to come across my muse in the shower... reversed !

Nudity Roleplay Scenarios @rankingtwentysix / Kendria

It was still something she needed to get use to. Waking up in a bed that wasn't part of a hotel room. She had spent the night over Kendria's seaside home. The cool sheets were comforting and yet she knew she had to drag her ass out of bed. Hell, even her pyukumuku had managed to escape out of his pokeball and plop right on her exposed shoulder causing Lynn to perk immediately up. the sea cucumber like pokemon being scooped up in his trainer's hands.

The weather was warm enough for her to wear her usual spaghetti strap tank top with pajama boxers. The top adorn with printed images of wishiwashi. While her hair was still in a ponytail, it was in a haphazard mess. Clearly a sign she was never a morning person.

Lynn made her way through the studio apartment, not seeing Kendria around anywhere. Perhaps they went out? Were they an early bird? They mentioned that, right? Either way, Lynn did have to wash up so that she could get ready for a performance she had later that evening.

Maaaaybe the sound of running water should have hinted at -something-??? The delivery girl pushed open the bathroom door. Almost a little too casually.

!!!???

"Ehhhh! I didn't realize you were in here" she flustered out. There was no doubt she saw her friend's nude silhouette barely visible from behind the shower curtain. A soft ahem followed. "Actually y..you're good. I'm just going to freshen up at the sink"..she said turning to face the mirror ...her hands reaching up to undo her ponytail in an effort to fix it over again. Moments prior Daisuke was placed just within the bowl of the sink. Really they had to be carried around like a spoiled cat. Of course with looking into the mirror she could still the shower stall within its reflection.

But that was beside the point. She was coming to terms she had not only walked in on Kendria showering...but she hadn't exactly left the bathroom either.

"Sooooo how long have you been up?~"

[buffetlicious]

For the Braised Fried Fish Maw Seafood Treasure Soup, the staff portioned it into ten smaller bowls before serving it to us. Not sure if it is because I am holding a camera, but my bowl came with more chunks of crab meat and fish maw. Basically, a seafood soup thickened with starch so the ingredients seem to be suspended/frozen in the soup. Black vinegar and white pepper accompanied this soup so feel free to add some to it.

Well, the Roasted Crispy Chicken with Prawn Crackers was warm and tender to eat, it however wasn’t crispy at it. And just like everywhere else in Singapore, they referred to this deep-fried chicken as a roasted chicken. Sprinkle a bit of the salt & pepper before putting it into the mouth. A lacklustre dish but thank goodness, the prawn crackers were crispy though.

This Steamed Hybrid Garoupa in Hong Kong Style was cut into sections just before they served it to us. This hybrid grouper is probably a cross between the giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) and brown-marbled grouper or tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) and given the Dragon Tiger Grouper (龙虎斑) name. The fish got to be very fresh to be steamed and cooked with just a simple condiment of soya sauce, julienned spring onions and cilantro leaves for garnish. The end result, sweet springy flesh with collagen like skin that is so good to eat.

The Braised Whole 10-Head Abalone with Sea Cucumber and Spinach was up next but the process of waiting for the next dish to be served was a long one as in-between the hosts are showing us video stories of the newly married couple and plus the live singing by the friends and band. Ten pieces each of the abalone and sea cucumber sitting atop a bed of blanched Popeye’s favourite green vegetable. Why 10 you may ask? Because a table usually seat ten people so the food portions are divided equally so each get a piece of everything (for the expensive ingredients that is). The only complaint for this dish is that the spinach is on the bitter side.

Like an overturned basket or nest, spilling out Deep-Fried Prawns with Black Truffle Mayonnaise Sauce. If there is anything to change for the presentation, I would move the red and green coral lettuces from under the eatable nest and placed it in the nest for a more dramatic effect. Anyway, these truffle gratings lend an aromatic and earthy fragrances to the classic mayo prawns topped with orange flying fish roe. My colleague and I detected a mild spicy hint of wasabi in it but another colleague said it is from the truffle and mayo combo. Differences aside, this is one dish I won’t mind having again.

I always love this noodle served at the end of the dinner courses just before dessert. The Braised Ee-Fu Noodles with Yellow Chives and Straw Mushrooms is a usual staple at wedding due to the fact it is also known as longevity noodles (寿面). Normally, I would consume more than a bowl of the yi mein (伊面) but that night I was already quite stuffed from the dishes served and I was leaving room for dessert. :D

By the time the last dish was up and the clock was ticking closer to 11pm. The warm Teochew Yam Paste with Gingko Nut and Coconut Milk with its gooey and smooth yam (taro) paste and whole gingko nuts smothered in thickened coconut milk is bursting with sweetness and a great comfort to many of us Singaporeans. I liked the fact that the chef tuned the sugar level to just sweet enough as I preferred mine not too saccharine. Anyway, I just had to ask for another bowl as it was just too good to pass up.

Dinner is now over and after shaking hands with the groom, bride and their respective parents, it is time to head to the train station to catch the train home.

[linedol2]

Aqualand fruits

1. Bubblefruit

Appearance: A round, transparent fruit filled with bubbly liquid, floating slightly above its stem.

Flavor: Fizzy blue raspberry and coconut water.

Fun Feature: Pops like a bubble in your mouth, releasing a splash of juice and giggles.

2. Coralberry

Appearance: Grows like coral branches with glowing red-pink berries that pulse gently.

Flavor: Tart pomegranate with hints of hibiscus.

Fun Feature: Each berry makes a faint underwater chime sound when picked.

3. Tidalmelon

Appearance: Oval fruit with a gradient of seafoam green and aquamarine stripes.

Flavor: Refreshing cucumber-watermelon blend.

Fun Feature: When cut, the juice flows like tiny ocean waves across the surface.

4. Seabreeze Citrus

Appearance: Star-shaped citrus with translucent skin and tiny sea-bubble patterns.

Flavor: Zesty lime and yuzu with a salty sea twist.

Fun Feature: Eating it gives a momentary cool breeze effect around the eater.

5. Glimmerkelp Pod

Appearance: A glowing, jelly-like pod growing among glowing kelp strands.

Flavor: Aloe-honeydew with a hint of mint.

Fun Feature: Slightly bouncy when touched and softly lights up in the dark.

6. Aquaberry Pearl

Appearance: Smooth, pearl-sized fruits in blues and purples with a luminous gleam.

Flavor: Grape and vanilla-cream fusion.

Fun Feature: Eating one gives a short sparkle effect around your mouth like glinting sea stars.

7. Splashapple

Appearance: Shaped like a teardrop, with a glossy deep-blue skin and glistening scales.

Flavor: Crisp apple with a hint of sea salt and mint.

Fun Feature: Squirts a gentle splash of water with each bite.

8. Sirendew Drop

Appearance: Delicate, heart-shaped fruit with a crystal dew coating and soft pastel colors.

Flavor: Lychee, peach, and ocean flower nectar.

Fun Feature: Its scent lingers in the air, and the eater hears faint singing (like siren whispers) for a few moments.

[trainsinanime]

Just a teensy tiny hint for Miraculous Ladybug fanfic: If you reassign the Miraculouses to different characters, and give them new superhero names, that can be a lot of fun. But please, please, please, let me know who is who! Same goes for new Miraculouses. I am not going to magically guess that Anserina, holder of the Miraculous of the Goose, is Lila or whoever. Just like half a sentence or something. And not down in the bottom Author's Notes either.

Obviously if confusion is the point, then that's different. E.g. if Anserina is the POV character and she doesn't know that Holothurian is Nino with the Miraculous of the Sea Cucumber, that's fine, but we should at least know that she doesn't know that.

If I go through the entire story wondering, "wait, who is that!?", then it'll distract me from everything else, and everything that happens will make me wonder, "is this supposed to be a hint?". Good if that happens on purpose! Bad if it happens accidentally.

Oh, and related, if you have a chat fic and everybody changes their user names to whatever characters from Star Trek Deep Space Nine you think matches them best, I'm sorry, I'll just close the tab, because I am not going to keep that straight in my head. I'm not saying it's wrong to do so, I just know I personally won't be having a good time trying to keep this straight.

[caffeinated-beverage]

HETALIA SMELL HEADCANONS (I worked super hard on this, so pls look at it, appreciate it, and reblog? esp with comments bc i love seeing ur comments ^u^)

N. Italy: Garlic-flavored armpits

Germany: Normally, he just smells like sugar and cinnamon.

Japan: Rainwater

America: Hot dogs and bacon

England: Nosebleeds

Fr*nce: cheese

China: Braised pork belly and warmth

Russia: A mixture of booze and warmth

Canada: Poutine

Belgium: Chocolate chip waffles with a hint of strawberry

Luxembourg: Blackberrie-scented cologne

Netherlands: Money

Austria: Rose-scented perfume

Hungary: Warmth and fresh bread

Liechtenstein: https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Sanrio/Hello-Kitty-71771.html

Poland: Cream soda

Prussia: Snow cones

Slovakia: Fresh-baked cheesy bread

Switzerland: Goat milk

Estonia: TV static

Latvia: Hot cocoa & cookies

Lithuania: Lithuania.

Belarus: Mint

Bulgaria: He smeel like he boozin' & loosin'

Moldova: Halloween candies & cheese puffs

Romania: Red-flavored kool-aid

Ukraine: Fresh-baked blueberry bread and warmth

Denmark: Hairgel

Finland: Christmas!!!!!!!!!

Iceland: Hot cocoa & cookies

Norway: Fish-flavored snacks

Sweden: Coffee

Cyprus: Shark.. :/

Greece: Cats

Monaco: Money

Romano: Italian pizza

Spain: Tomatoes & olives

Portugal: Olive oil

Turkey: Roasted turkey

Egypt: Sourdough bread

Cameroon: Fresh-cut grass

Seychelles: the ocean

Hong kong: Mango pudding

Macau: Something sweet

Korea: Milk chocolates

Taiwan: Japanese Cherry Blossom™️

Thailand: Mangoes

Vietnam: Japanese cherry blossom™️

Philippines: A mixture of mangoes and Cucumber Melon™️

Indonesia: Hibiscus and rose hips

Singapore: Strawberries

India: Indian food and warmth ❤️❤️❤️

Australia: Cucumber melon™️ and sea water

New Zealand: Milk chocolates

Cuba: ICE CREAAAM!!!

[roachliquid]

Was Lovecraft Ableist? An Examination of "Lovecraftian Madness", Part 1: At the Mountains of Madness

Those passingly familiar with the writings of H.P. Lovecraft are probably familiar with some version of these claims:

"Lovecraft was ableist! He wrote all the time about characters being 'driven to madness' by incomprehensible revelations, which is basically like saying you can get mental illness from looking at something scary."

"Actually, Lovecraft wasn't being ableist. He wasn't even thinking of mental illness when he wrote that; he was talking about (emotional distress/alien influences/whatever was happening at the end of Flatland)."

So I decided to do some digging into these claims. I checked out a couple of Lovecraft's stories best known for their association with mental shenanigans: The Call of Cthulhu, known for its titular character's brain-melting impact on several people in the story, and At the Mountains of Madness, which, as one might imagine, uses the word a whole awful lot.

Now first off, I would like to acknowledge that this does not constitute a comprehensive review of Lovecraft's work. However, when it comes to people's understanding of Lovecraft's takes on madness/mental illness/etc., it is these two stories in specific that people tend to think of, alleging scenes from one or the other where characters see Things Man Was Not Meant To See and lose their entire minds about it.

So how accurate are these claims?

Well, before I get into it, I should mention that there are going to be spoilers here. For At the Mountains of Madness in this post, and The Call of Cthulhu later. So if you want to hop off and read them first, now's your chance.

(Be aware, though, that The Call of Cthulhu is one of the most vilely racist and disfigurmisic of Lovecraft's stories. Read at your own discretion.)

So, to start with, I thought I'd look into the claim about "Lovecraftian madness", particularly regarding its alleged meaning within the context of the stories. And to do that, I cracked open At the Mountains of Madness. If you're not familiar with the plot of this book, or need a refresher, it's about members of an Antarctic geology expedition who accidentally discover the remains of a pre-human civilization of large alien sea cucumbers, also known as "Great Old Ones".

(Inb4 "nuu, the Great Old Ones are gods, these were Elder Things!" This is a popular misconception that At the Mountains of Madness does not bear out. It uses both terms interchangeably.)

This story, as you might imagine, uses the word "madness" quite liberally. It appears 20 times throughout the story, mostly in a mix of repeated title drops and the narrator speculating on the cause of a particularly shocking event that occurs midway through the story.

So let's look at the title drops first. The phrase "mountains of madness", or some variation thereof, appears ten different times in the text, disconnected from any allegations of mental illness or bizarre behavior. So what on Earth is the narrator talking about?

Well, here's an explanation in his own words:

Little by little, however, they rose grimly into the western sky; allowing us to distinguish various bare, bleak, blackish summits, and to catch the curious sense of phantasy which they inspired as seen in the reddish antarctic light against the provocative background of iridescent ice-dust clouds. In the whole spectacle there was a persistent, pervasive hint of stupendous secrecy and potential revelation; as if these stark, nightmare spires marked the pylons of a frightful gateway into forbidden spheres of dream, and complex gulfs of remote time, space, and ultra-dimensionality. I could not help feeling that they were evil things—mountains of madness whose farther slopes looked out over some accursed ultimate abyss. That seething, half-luminous cloud-background held ineffable suggestions of a vague, ethereal beyondness far more than terrestrially spatial; and gave appalling reminders of the utter remoteness, separateness, desolation, and aeon-long death of this untrodden and unfathomed austral world.

As we can see from this description, the narrator is having a bit of a reaction to the sight of these mountains. They seem impossible and half-real, in a way that he finds both threatening and almost awe-inspiring, and he suspects that they contain all manner of hidden secrets that he and his team could discover if they probed further.

So initially, the titular madness is just the projection of his own reaction, which he's mistaken for an objective quality - a belief that seems to be borne out when the mountains do, in fact, turn out to be full of weird shit. They're the Mountains of What The Fuck Is Going On Here. The Mountains of Things That Make No Rational Sense.

One might argue that this is still code for mental illness, as the term "madness" is frequently used to imply that nonsensical thoughts stem from a fundamentally damaged mind - but this would be an anachronism, as I learned when researching the history of the term. The neutral usage came first; people didn't really start to use "madness" in that way until well after Lovecraft's time.

(To be fair, the term 'madness' was absolutely used to discredit and pathologize people, especially women and minorities who objected to mistreatment by those with more power - but through a somewhat different lens, as I go into in more detail below.)

This leads us to the second way the word is used, which at first blush does look like a synonym for mental illness:

We had by that time agreed not to transmit anything suggesting madness on the part of Lake’s men, and it surely looked like madness to find six imperfect monstrosities carefully buried upright in nine-foot snow graves…

…the madness of a lone survivor might have conceived the inconceivable—a wild trip across the monstrous mountains and a descent into the unknown primal masonry—

But, because of the aforementioned research, I am now aware that that is not exactly true. This is certainly referring to mental phenomena - specifically, a (speculated) pattern of nonsensical behavior stemming from a state of mental irrationality. However, based on the way 'madness' was used in literature, this was not the same as an accusation of mental illness. It wasn't even an accusation of a specific problem; any number of irrational episodes could be considered madness, from panic attacks to dissociation. It was simply a way of saying that someone was not in their right mind at the moment, which is the narrator's best guess for why a bunch of people would massacre each other but also lovingly bury the valuable research specimens they had unearthed just a day before.

This is the kind of "madness" that was used against vulnerable people - not the concept that they were mentally ill, but accusations that they were simply In No State To Be Rational. It was essentially the same as how "hysteria" is used today. Of course, attributing an event you can't explain to Some Kind Of Hysteria(TM) is still a dick move, but it's not the same as insinuating mental illness.

Now, before I wrap this part up, I want to touch on another common misconception that just bugs me - the idea that a character in the story was just overwhelmingly terrified by what he saw in the mountains, to the point where it drove him mad!!!

The character in question is Danforth, the narrator's companion during the final leg of the story where he explores the ancient ruins. And to an extent, these claims are true, but the circumstances are stripped of context to the point where Danforth looks like a blithering xenophobe, and not a guy who had just suffered a harrowing brush with death and then, while fleeing for his life, accidentally noticed something that made the experience even worse.

Because that's what actually happened. The journey through the ruins is actually mostly free of terror - sure, there's some disparaging commentary about "decadence" on the part of the narrator (being used here as a synonym for degeneracy), but the overall tone is one of fascination. The things they've found are unexplainable and bizarre, but they're also the archaeological find of the millennium, and that is the spirit that the characters approach their exploration in.

So what is it that actually tips Danforth over the edge? Well, if you mind spoilers, here's the part where the post ends for you. Otherwise, read on:

As they are exploring the ruins of the Old Ones' city, the protagonists find their way into a path that leads down into an underground cave system. Having found evidence that the creatures they're tracking has gone into those caves, they follow, eventually tracking down a majority of the creatures who have been slaughtered horribly. Still, they hear the Old Ones' greeting call in the distance - "Tekeli-li!" so they continue deeper into the caves.

It is here they encounter the Shoggoth, either one of the beings that overthrew the Old Ones' enslavement, or one of their descendants. This is the creature they saw in a fresco some time back, messily decapitating their former masters, the same style of execution that the freshly dead Old Ones had suffered. The creature advances on them with unknown intent, and it is around then that the protagonist remembers a fact about Shoggoths:

They are excellent vocal mimics.

The sound the characters were following wasn't a potentially friendly alien at all. It was the thing that killed them.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we look into the other Lovecraft story most commonly pointed to for this topic: The Call of Cthulhu, a story that's notorious for being racist but not so much for what we'll be looking at.

[studentinpursuitofclouds]

Submarine fishing

The story of how Julian and Bo (@boinurmom13 OC) decided to go fishing at the bottom of the sea during the Night Market.

The descent into the depths of the sea was longer than Julian had expected, but even during this half hour of descent the young man's multicolored eyes gazed out the porthole with interest and delight. An amazing variety of marvelous fish, squid and other sea creatures that Julian had never seen in his life. Combined with the darkness on the sea floor, the passing sea fish were even a little frightening, but also mesmerizing in their own right.

He had agreed to Bo's offer to go fishing with him in the submarine for a reason, because even if Julian didn't catch anything, at least the impressions from his first visit to the submarine would remain pleasant. Although it was a little late for underwater adventures, the time was already 11 p.m...

Under Willi's mentorship and thanks to Bo's advice, Julian was able to catch more fish that he had never been able to hook before. But he knew nothing about the local sea life: what kind of bait to choose for them, how difficult it was to pull the fish out? And how would they even fish in a submarine? Wouldn't water fill the bilge if there was a hole in it?

"We've reached the sandy bottom, boys!" The bass voice of the Captain made Bo and Julian pay attention to him. "Get your fishing rods ready," he added with a smile.

"Finally!" Bo, tired of waiting, took two iridium rods out of his bag: one was his, and the other was handed to Julian. He added, "I've been waiting all year to fish here again." With their rods, the two young farmers signaled to the Captain that they were ready.

"Then let's open the hatch!" Captain pulled the switch with one tug, and the huge iron door on the floor began to open. Julian jumped a little with worry and said to Bo with a hint of panic:

"Wait, wait wait wait! The water will fill the room, and-"

Bo only snorted quietly, and placing his hand on Julian's right shoulder, replied:

"Relax, bro, we'll be fine. Don't worry about the water, nothing in the hold will fill up." Seeing that his words didn't convince his friend to calm down, Bo smiled softly. "Hear about such a meaning as a "moon pool'?"

It was a good thing that curiosity was stronger that Julian's worry, so he shook his head and listened intently to Bo's explanation.

"Useful thing, serves to provide access underwater to do diving work. It's the same here, look," Bo points with his hand to a completely open area of seawater. To Julian's relief, the water really didn't fill the submarine room, which made it finally calm down. The white-haired farmer was the first to cast his fishing rod into the sea water, and the young man with heterochromia followed suit.

"So, what exactly are we going to catch?" Julian asked, shifting his attention from the float to Bo standing next to it.

"Anything we can get our hands on. There's plenty of fish, and they're not too picky about bait, but getting them out is a pain in the ass," Unlike Julian, Bo's attention was focused on the float of his rod. "All the fish could be very profitable. I'd better get some money for next spring and buy cauliflower and parsnip seeds after all. Otherwise that old fart's gonna tell me again that 'if I'm fishing instead of farming, I should be called a fisherman and not the farmer', bla bla bla." Bo parodied Lewis's voice in his own way, and so well that Julian couldn't help but chuckle quietly in response. Bo continued:

"It's mostly sea cucumbers and seaweed that get caught here, but there can also be night squid and blobfish. If you're lucky at all, you might even pull out one pearl." The white-haired fisherman was a little deep in dreamy thoughts, and did not notice at once that Julian's rod was no longer in the water, and in his hand he held as many as two large, snow-white pearls, wet with salt water.

To say that Bo was stunned is an understatement. He had so much experience in catching fish, and his friend and coworker had caught two - not one, but two! - pearls. Bo was so shocked by this that he didn't even notice that the fish that had been pecking at his hook had already managed to get off.

"Wow, Bo, look how beautiful" Like a kid who had been in a candy store, Julian kept his eyes fixed on his very lucky catch.

"Yup, very lucky... Beginner's luck." Bo muttered a bit grumpily, giving a little in to his envy.

Julian, however, had had time to look at the beautiful pearls, and held one out toward Bo. "Here."

"Huh?"

"These are for you."

"Why?"

"Why not?" smiled Julian radiantly. "Consider it a thanks for all the lessons and fishing tricks you've taught me." Bo was surprised a little at his friend's generosity, but accepted the pearls.

"Thank you," he said a little shy. Then he became sharply inspired.

"Yo, let me catch you at least that squid after all." With the same smile on his face, he once again cast the rod into the water. "Especially since I know a great recipe for fried squid rings, and with the special sauce I learned in the Gotoro Empire, it'll be a real treat." Julian only nodded in agreement and watched the professional show a master class in catching the difficult fish.

As soon as Bo felt the rod's line tighten, he quickly spooled up the reel, anticipating a rather large catch.

Only to his and Julian's surprise, a head popped up on the surface of the water.

Head... What?

Blue hair, eyes like azure shore, snow-white smile. The young mermaid was holding a caught squid, which still had a hook from Bo's fishing rod. The mermaid looked from one farmer to another and quickly removed the hook from what she thought was her prey and sank back into the abyss of sea waters. All the while, Julian and Bo stood stiffly, not uttering a word.

Bo was the first to break the silence:

"Damn... Like, If she wanted squid so badly, she could have asked for it, sheesh..." A little indignantly, he said.

Julian only snorted and shook his head. First fishing trip on a submarine for the young farmer would definitely be remembered forever.

[shwoo]

Looks like Metazooa got an update a few days ago. It now has two annelids (earthworm and leech), and two myriapods (centipede and millipede), among other things. There's also now enough snakes that the puzzle no longer feels as much like it's about trying to think of every snake in existence until one finally comes up as a possibility. The amount of fish has improved, too.

But a few answers were also removed, for some reason. One of them was "lizard", which I'm in favour of, but the others included more specific stuff like brown crab and whale shark. Maybe whale shark was removed because its closest shared group in this system (Galeoidea) doesn't have a Wikipedia page? You can still get it to come up, though, because the remaining sharks are all in it.

Also, they removed two birds, and added zero. Maybe because the classification they're using splits Neognathae, the clade that most modern birds are in, into twenty-eight direct subgroups? The game only has birds from eleven of those (twelve before the current changes), but that's still enough to justify using a hint if it's not a passerine or fowl.

This game is a cool idea, which is why I just spent so much time rambling about some fairly minor changes, but I still think it could use a lot of improvement.

Actually, here's a probably full list of what was added and removed, just in case anyone else cares! I got the names from the page source, which lists them so they can pop up as suggestion. I had a list to compare from for reasons. In total, unless I missed something, there were thirty-two additions, and eight removals.

Added: Earthworm (annelid) Leech (annelid) Mussel (bivalve) Nautilus (cephalapod) Giant octopus (cephalapod) Bigfin squid (cephalopod) Centipede (myriapod) Millipede (myriapod) Barnacle (crustracean) Pillbug (crustacean) Mantis shrimp (crustacean) Prawn (crustacean) Mayfly (insect) Hercules beetle (insect) Sea cucumber (echinoderm) Sand dollar (echinoderm) Goblin shark (cartilaginous fish) Tiger shark (cartilaginous fish) Tuna (ray-finned fish) Guppy (ray-finned fish) Anglerfish (ray-finned fish) Boa constrictor (lepidosauran reptile) Rattlesnake (lepidosauran reptile) Viper (lepidosauran reptile) King cobra (lepidosauran reptile) Tortoise (archelosaurian reptile) Snapping turtle (archelosaurian reptile) Caiman (archelosaurian reptile) Opossum (mammal) Possum (mammal) Chipmunk (mammal) Moose (mammal) Yak (mammal)

Removed: Brown crab (crustacean) Shrimp (crustracean) Whale shark (cartilaginous fish) Lizard (lepidosauran reptile) Albatross (bird) Rockhopper penguin (bird) Naked mole-rat (mammal) Snow leopard (mammal)

[townofcadence]

"What are you cooking?" From Lexus to Grayson

My Muse will Make Them a Meal

The plates were each placed with the utmost grace in front of Lexus as their time came to be presented, for a four course meal.

The first was an appetizer of sorts; home-made bread and salty butter churned from locally-sourced cream. It was comprised of half a loaf that appeared to have been braided with a few floral designs before it was cooked, and a golden wedge of butter beside it. Several slices had been perfectly cut to rest artistically on the plate from both. The bread's crust was a deep golden brown and had a crispy texture, but the inside was perfectly soft, aerated to be fluffy without losing any substance. With a smear of butter added, the combination was creamy and rich, melting in the mouth and flavoring the bread with a delicate, savory tang and an herbaceous freshness. There was just a pinch of salt in the butter as well, to highlight the balance of soft, almost-sweetness of the bread, and the light but savory flavor of the butter.

The next course, also an appetizer were raviolis, a set of six, placed on the plate in a circle. The pasta it was cooked in was translucent, allowing you to see the filling inside where it lay, a medley of greens and reds. a slight extra lip to the pasta also gave it the appearance of seashells, with the filling packed at the base. Their flavor is delicate, something bright with citrus and flavorful but earthy like basil and ricotta and a hint of beet or celery, depending on the color ravioli chosen. All of it was garnished with pest and a swirl of olive oil, one of the finer brands. Inside the ring of Raviolis were finely sliced, thin sea scallops, served chilled and garnished with colorful beets of red and green, as well as several herbs and lemon, for a refreshing flavor that was both light and unobtrusive, almost seamless with the similar flavors of the ravioli. The warm and chilled temperatures played together, as did the soft skin and filling of the ravioli, the bouncy yet tender texture of the scallop, and the soft crunch of thinly sliced beet and cucumber, drizzled with scallions and an tart, citrus vinaigrette.

The main course provided was pan seared duck, the outside crisped to perfection with a golden glazed crust decorated in an array of herbs and spices. The meat is topped with a garnish of an expensive serbian cheese, a crumbly feta-like textured cheese that bring a nutty, earthy flavor to the dish with a pinch of salt, carefully balanced with a rich, buttery taste that overall tastes quite clean. The duck itself is crisp, but on the inside it's divinely tender, flavorful and almost sweet from the sauce it is served with, that has a honey and fig flavor to balance against the savory of the meat. The duck is cooked perfectly as well, with no additional oiliness.

Several mushrooms, cut into coins also join the dish to form a small ring around the duck breasts, and they have a meaty texture that adds an almost autumnal, spiced flavor to the dish. There is also mashed potatoes on the plate, buttery soft and finely processed to the softest, cloud-like texture, but still with a weight on your tongue with each bite. A small sprinkle of truffle is added atop the potatoes as well, grated finely so it melts into the warm softness of the potato, bringing with it a robust, woodsy flavor. Sliced baby tomatoes, cooked confit with garlic and herbs, are also on the plate, as well as grilled slices of fresh squash and zucchini. The tomatoes bring a distinct texture that melts in your mouth almost immediately due to their small size and how they were cooked, but they pack a wallop of fresh flavor. The other vegetables bring a similar flavor in their own way with a slightly crispier texture and clean taste, with only salt and pepper to augment them slightly, to balance against the spiced starches and sweet-and-savory meat from the rest of the dish. The main course is served with a glass of aged brunello, a drink that adds a dark, fruity but acidic flavor, tannin heavy to pair with the fattiness of the duck, also with notes of fig, cherry, and hazelnut to tie it to the dish's flavor.

The final dish, dessert, is brought out; a square of chocolate pudding, separated into four distinct layers, each a chocolatey delight born from different styles of Belgian chocolate. It is creamy, soft, and layered with a fine topping of champagne jelly, which adds something fresh to the chocolate to keep it from being too rich. It appears to be dusted with a fine glitter. All of which is hidden beneath a dome of chocolate drizzled with the thinnest layer of salted caramel. A drink is also provided with the last dish, a saffron cordial, called Safran Şerbeti, a Turkish drink known for it's floral, fruity, and sweet elements, turned a beautiful shade of gold by the saffron threads dissolved in the sugar. It is served chilled, and has notes of lemon and orange, as well as honey and a pinch of spiced ginger. It is served in a long glass, which also contains an additional lemon slice submerged inside.