#the matrix cookbook

[boin-de-bindery]

The Matrix Cookbook - Peterson & Pedersen

This one came in as a request from my fiancé, after bearing witness to the blood, sweat and hair-tearing that binding PAPER DOLL resulted in. Fiancé works in academia and this is a useful reference for them, so they asked me to make them a bound copy. I've promised to also do their PhD thesis at a later date, provided they do the spell checking and typesetting. Spotting errors in formulas, plots and dense academic text ain't in my wheelhouse.

The Matrix Cookbook is described by its authors as "a collection of facts (identities, approximations, inequalities, relations, …) about matrices and matters relating to them". Because it's an existing typeset, this felt like a breeze to make compared to other binds. Typesetting is the most labour intensive part of fanbinding for me, although I enjoy it.

This is an 80-page casebound untrimmed textblock with five signatures and handsewn headbands. The paper is "chamois" Q-Connect printer paper which (you guessed it) is a darker yellow IRL than it looked online. Cover is black bonded leather, with leftover green from my Borrasca bind. I'm really happy with the shape of the spine this time around, even if it's not super defined. I haven't levelled up to rounding textblock spines yet.

I printed out a lil copy of my jank homedrawn logo on sticker paper for the heck of it 🐞

This time, I put the bookmark ribbon under the headbands, but it's a little messy looking. The headbands themselves were tricky due to how narrow the textblock is, but adhered reasonably well with the help of additional PVA.

This marks baby's first rodeo with heat transfer vinyl. Unfortunately, this also coincided with the blade on my Cricut wearing out and me not realising. In short: many panels of badly cut vinyl later, I partially succeeded in transferring the tiny author names onto the cover, but mucked up the leather in the process. It's messy, but fiancé is happy and I learned something new.

[moviehousenow]

The iconic green code in The Matrix was made out of Japanese sushi recipes!

[exhausted-archivist]

Books I Wish to Read in the Coming Year

Not specifically da related, but I was tagged by @pinayelf and all my planned reading is da adjacent lol

They aren't novels but I think they still count! Naturally given my Thedas Cookery project they're all cookbook or cooking related haha.

Above is a list of books:

The Flavor Bible by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg

The Vegetarian Flavor Bible by Karen Page

The Flavor Matrix by James Briscione

Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat and art by Wendy MacNaughton

The Food Lab by J. Kenji López-alt

Bones: Recipes, History, and Lore by Jennifer McLagan

Registrum Coquine: A Medieval Cookbook: Historical Italian Cooking by Johannes Bockenheim, Introduction, Translation, and Glossary by Marco Gavio De Runeis

The Sultan's Feast: A Fifteenth-Century Egyptian Cookbook by Ibn Mubārak Shāh, Edited, Translated, and Introduced by Daniel L. Newman

I already have Salt Fat Acid Heat and The Food Lab, so I'm going to start there. I'm looking forward to them breaking down a lot of the theory/science behind cooking. I grew up with a mom for a chef so a lot of the stuff I know, I know through her and its less "we do this cause x".

Which has already gotten me tripped up a couple of times when writing recipes because I haven't thought to mention it (luckily my friends testing and trying things out have caught the "I think this is common knowledge so I didn't mention it" moments) haha.

The Flavor Bibles and Flavor Matrix books I'm looking forward to reading because it will definitely help with me figuring out flavour combinations when I'm drafting/brainstorming recipes.

I'm really looking forward to the Bones book if I can get my hands on it because it looks like it will give me some really good ideas and build on knowledge I already have, Think it would be really good for Fereldan, Avvar, Chasind, and Dalish recipes to be honest.

Registrum Coquine and The Sultan's Feast are cookbooks I've had on my wishlist for years now. I want to try and push for them this year because I'm drawing from a lot of historical flavour combinations and recipes and these are really helpful. I have a book similar to them, its called Scents and Flavors: A Syrian Cookbook. Its been really educational and inspirational. And the notations and translation notes are super helpful in figuring out context and purpose.

Tagging @whoisnotmyname @haunteddollco and uh... anyone else who would like to share potential reading lists. No pressure if this stuff isn't your jam or anything! (I don't know which mutuals are cool with me tagging them sorry 😂)

[1solone]

Some lesser-known facts about The Matrix (1999):

Kung Fu Training: The main cast, including Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Hugo Weaving, underwent extensive martial arts training for four months before filming began. They trained for up to ten hours a day under the guidance of choreographer Yuen Woo-ping, who initially didn't want to work on the film but agreed after the Wachowskis insisted.

Code Symbolism: The iconic green code that appears on the screen throughout the movie was actually created by scanning characters from a Japanese cookbook owned by Simon Whiteley, the film’s production designer. The code includes reversed characters and numbers, which were later colorized in post-production.

Influence of Philosophy: The Wachowskis were heavily influenced by philosophical works when writing the script. Some of the key influences include Jean Baudrillard's "Simulacra and Simulation," which appears as a prop in the movie, and concepts from Plato's "Allegory of the Cave," which the film's premise mirrors in its exploration of perceived reality.

Red Pill/Blue Pill Choice: The choice between the red pill and the blue pill has become one of the most iconic moments in film history. Interestingly, the red pill was used as a metaphor for awakening and seeing the world as it truly is, and this concept has since been widely adopted in internet culture to describe a moment of revelation or awakening.

Neo's Passport: Neo's passport, which can be briefly seen in the film, expires on September 11, 2001. While this was purely coincidental, it's a chilling fact given the significance of that date in history.

Keanu Reeves' Injury: Before filming, Keanu Reeves underwent surgery for a two-level fusion of his cervical spine, which was beginning to cause paralysis in his legs. This limited his ability to kick during fight scenes, so many of Neo’s movements were adjusted to accommodate his condition.

Bullet-Dodging Scene: The famous bullet-dodging scene was accomplished using an innovative technique called "bullet time," which involved filming 120 still cameras arranged in a circle around the actor. The effect created a slow-motion, rotating shot that had never been seen before in film and has since been widely imitated.

Trinity’s Rooftop Jump: Carrie-Anne Moss performed the rooftop jump stunt herself. She insisted on doing it without a stunt double, which involved jumping across a substantial gap between buildings. This dedication to authenticity helped elevate the film's realism and intensity.

Smith’s Sunglasses: Hugo Weaving’s character, Agent Smith, has slightly different sunglasses from the other agents. His sunglasses are more angular and aggressive-looking, symbolizing his character’s distinct personality and his evolution from being just another agent to a rogue program with its own agenda.

Neo’s Name Origin: The name "Neo" is an anagram for "One," highlighting his role as "The One" within the Matrix universe. Additionally, "Neo" means "new" in Greek, which aligns with his role as a new beginning or savior in the storyline.

Read more>>> https://tinyurl.com/y83f5ppy

[morgenlich]

initial thoughts after reading through the stardew cookbook (haven’t made anything from it yet ofc):

i think it’s a solid cookbook overall with some recipes i’m very eager to try and some i know i probably never will (most of the seafood ones, if i’m being honest, especially the shellfish recipes lol), and some that are like yeah i’ll try it eventually probably

overall i think they did a pretty good job adapting the game recipes? the seafoam pudding is much closer than i expected it to be to the in-game recipe lmao (it’s squid ink congee with cod). it’s sort of an in-universe book, so it’s written as though the queen of sauce wrote it. there’s little notes from the different characters which can be a little cheesy at times but kinda what you’d expect from something like this lol. i think most of the recipes seem pretty solid but i don’t think anyone who doesn’t like the game would particularly like it (again, what you’d expect), especially imo because the recipes are divided based on Season rather than like food category

my main critiques are that, because of the emphasis on Fresh Food (not a bad thing!), there are a lot of ingredients that i do not think will necessarily be easy to find for many people (hell, in my town, we never see rhubarb in stores….). also, i think some recipes are a little…needlessly complicated? not all, some are very simple, but there’s some that require fairly advanced techniques or at least a LOT of patience….i found myself wishing it had taken two notes from claire saffitz’s book(s), namely the “recipe matrix” (graph plotting each recipe according to time it takes to prepare on one axis and difficulty level on the other)—or at least like a quick difficulty rating on each recipe page—and photos (or illustrations) breaking the more complicated things down step by step. the instructions for Bread (baguettes) especially threw me—and i make bread regularly! i don’t even think what’s described is that complicated to actually do, it’s various things to make sure the baguettes retain their shape mostly, but reading it without a visual aid was 😵‍💫

but in general if you both like to cook (especially with vegetables) AND like stardew valley, i’d recommend it. if you only like one or the other thing, i’d say give it a pass

[mahayanapilgrim]

Why "The Matrix" is my favorite Buddhist film by Jessica Pimentel

There are many references in The Matrix to Buddhist philosophy and the journey to enlightenment.

The main theme of the film is that reality is not what it appears to be-it is a result of our perceptions and to know the true nature of all things requires us to

"wake up" and to "free our mind."

This is a beautiful parallel to the Buddha, who is referred to as "The Awakened One." The idea that the world around us can change if we learn to conquer our mind is an essential teaching of Buddhism.

While there are messages in The Matrix that echo all schools of Buddhism, the one that resonates with me the most is the theme of the teacher and the student.

They say when the student is ready the teacher appears. Neo feels a deep discontent with the world around him and knows something is not right. As many of us who enter the Buddhist path do, he literally hacks his way through his reality to try to get the answers. Then he is met with the words of his teacher, Morpheus: " Wake up, Neo."

The teacher has the map, the cookbook, the training.

The teacher is the one who advises, teaches, disciplines, and encourages us to go beyond our comfort zone in order to gain deeper levels of understanding.

We will find ourselves having to take leaps of faith, as Neo does-literally-because the instructions of the teacher must be experienced directly to fully grasp their meaning and gain understanding.

But in the end the teacher can only show us the way.

It is the student alone who must go forward.

[radical-revolution]

Why “The Matrix” is my favorite Buddhist film by Jessica Pimentel

There are many references in The Matrix to Buddhist philosophy and the journey to enlightenment. The main theme of the film is that reality is not what it appears to be—it is a result of our perceptions and to know the true nature of all things requires us to “wake up” and to “free our mind.” This is a beautiful parallel to the Buddha, who is referred to as “The Awakened One.” The idea that the world around us can change if we learn to conquer our mind is an essential teaching of Buddhism.

While there are messages in The Matrix that echo all schools of Buddhism, the one that resonates with me the most is the theme of the teacher and the student.

They say when the student is ready the teacher appears. Neo feels a deep discontent with the world around him and knows something is not right. As many of us who enter the Buddhist path do, he literally hacks his way through his reality to try to get the answers. Then he is met with the words of his teacher, Morpheus: ��� Wake up, Neo.”

The teacher has the map, the cookbook, the training. The teacher is the one who advises, teaches, disciplines, and encourages us to go beyond our comfort zone in order to gain deeper levels of understanding. We will find ourselves having to take leaps of faith, as Neo does—literally—because the instructions of the teacher must be experienced directly to fully grasp their meaning and gain understanding.

But in the end the teacher can only show us the way. It is the student alone who must go forward.

by Jessica Pimentel / www.lionsroar-com

[elmalo8291]

Absolutely! Let’s crack open the alchemical cookbook and combine real-world culinary science with the mad genius of Fizzlewick's enchanted chemistry set to craft some truly bizarre, flavorful, and oddly delicious meat combinations.

Here’s what Fizzlewick’s lab is working with:

Fizzlewick’s Flavor Lab: Unusual Meat Combinations & Chemistry-Powered Delights

1. Meat + Candy Acids = Tangy Umami Pops

Combo: Duck breast + tamarind + citric acid + smoked maple syrup

Science: Duck is fatty and rich. When cured lightly and paired with tamarind pulp (high in tartaric acid) and a dash of citric acid, the result is a tangy, umami-rich explosion that dances on the tongue. Maple syrup caramelized with a smoking wand seals it like a meat-candy shell.

Magic Side Effect: These pops glow faintly in the dark and sing when bitten.

2. Fat-Splosion Spheres (Sous-Vide & Spherification Fusion)

Combo: Pork belly + Szechuan pepper oil + rendered bone marrow + sodium alginate/calcium bath

Science: The pork belly is cooked sous-vide until ultra tender, then blended with bone marrow and pepper oil into a mousse. Using molecular gastronomy, Fizzlewick spheres it into juice-like orbs that burst in the mouth, releasing fatty, numbing, spicy glory.

Alchemy Bonus: Creates temporary invulnerability to boredom.

3. Candy-Cured Venison with Nitro Cocoa Crust

Combo: Venison loin + honey powder + crushed cocoa nibs + liquid nitrogen flash-crust

Science: Venison is lean and gamey—curing it in a mixture of honey powder, salt, and clove draws out moisture while infusing sweetness. It’s flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen and rolled in crushed cocoa nibs, giving it a crispy crust that shatters with heat.

Flavor Profile: Think molé venison jerky but ethereal.

Side Effect: The cocoa crust "whispers" flavor notes as you chew.

4. Spiced Brain Taffy (Yes, Really)

Combo: Lamb brain + cardamom oil + miso + saltwater taffy matrix

Science: Lamb brain is delicate and custardy. Fizzlewick emulsifies it into a miso-cardamom butter, folds it into a sugar taffy mix, and flash-freezes pieces into soft, chewy bites.

Why it works: Umami, spice, and brain’s rich texture form an oddly comforting savory-sweet candy.

Warning: Can cause philosophical insights mid-chew.

5. Smoke-Cured Octopus Bacon

Combo: Octopus tentacle + pink curing salt + molasses glaze + cold-smoke infusion

Science: Octopus is massaged and pre-cooked, then treated like bacon: cured with nitrate salts, smoked with applewood vapor, and finished with a sticky molasses-anise glaze. The texture becomes silky-meaty, like smoked ham crossed with eel.

Flair: Fizzlewick adds a drop of oceanic essence to enhance salt-water freshness.

Outcome: Tastes like Poseidon’s pantry. Excellent sliced thin on crackers.

6. Reverse-Rot Roast Beast

Combo: Aged ribeye + blue cheese crust + activated carbon + mushroom umami powder

Science: Ribeye is dry-aged then encrusted in blue cheese and mushroom powder. A light brushing of activated carbon adds depth and eerie black color. The outside looks burned—but the taste is layered, funky, and rich.

Cooking Method: “Reverse-seared” via Fizzlewick’s lava wand and cooled in moonlight.

Result: A meat so deep in flavor, it might whisper secrets of the cosmos.

7. Bacon-Wrapped Ice Cream Bomb

Combo: Candied bacon lattice + smoked brisket ice cream + ghost pepper caramel

Science: Smoked brisket is churned into a savory-sweet custard ice cream. It's dropped into a shell of candied bacon and drizzled with ghost pepper caramel for heat and sweetness.

Technique: Cryo-chamber chill locks the structure until serving.

Flavor: Salty, smoky, creamy, spicy—a decadent dessert for carnivores.

Bonus: Fizzlewick calls this the “Endgame of Meats.”

Would you like to theme these dishes for a feast in the Meat Candy Kingdom? Or want to build a mad-science meat candy cookbook for players to use as magical gear and buffs?

[living400lbs]

"I had always thought that I did what I loved and just got lucky along the way. In fact, when I was given a Matrix Award for women in media, that’s exactly what I said. Addressing my fellow honorees—amazing women like Tina Fey and Sheryl Crow—and the audience, I spoke about how lucky I was at each phase of my career because it seemed that whatever I was most interested in doing was exactly what the world wanted at that time. I was lucky that I was interested in food and cookbooks at a time when the world was interested in food and cookbooks. I was lucky that Food Network was looking for home cooks when they found me, and lucky that they refused to take no for an answer. Lucky.

I finished and took my seat on the stage, right next to Oprah. Immediately, she turned and smacked me on the arm, saying, “You weren’t lucky. You make your own luck.” Did Oprah just smack me in front of a thousand people? “Actually, I have been lucky,” I started to say. And then she smacked me again.

When Lesley Stahl got up to introduce the next person, she said, “Why do successful women always say they’re lucky, and successful men say they got there by the force of their talent?”

Wait? Did Lesley Stahl just smack me, too? I kept thinking, Am I crazy? Haven’t I been lucky? How much does luck really count in success?

[...]

I had dinner with my friends Rob Marshall and John DeLuca, and Rob shared a story that answered that very question. When he was all of twenty-three and the dance captain of The Rink, the Tony Award–winning Broadway show starring Liza Minnelli, she told him something that stayed with him his entire life—and I’m paraphrasing here—“Be ready when the luck happens.”

[...]

My story was about hard work and luck. I never had a five-year plan when I taught myself how to cook, bought the store, got up in the middle of the night to make a thousand baguettes, tested recipes for thirteen cookbooks, or agreed (reluctantly!) to do a television show. I concentrate on what’s in front of me and work hard because I love what I do, and I have fun doing it.

And then I leave the door open, so I’ll be ready when the luck happens."

- from Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten

[the-starry-seas]

okay SO

Having been, y'know, Matrixed into a freezer for a few years, Echo has a lot of shit to work through. Body image issues. Autonomy issues. Insomnia. Paranoia. Years of tube feeding. Digestive issues. Your standard GAR-issue PTSD.

Tech starts getting worried about the fact that Echo isn't recovering the way he should, according to Tech's ✨ research ✨ which is like a truly startling amount of space-googling and breaking into locked medical research databanks.

Turns out that Echo is in dire need of 1) a hobby where he can chill for five minutes 2) a hobby where he makes something with his hands it's good for you 3) a specialised diet that cannot include a few rather common ingredients.

Echo doesn't know where to start with finding any of those things, and honestly, with his chronic fatigue? He's not dealing with that shit, he's taking a nap. They can figure it out later. It's Tech who does a truly startling amount of more space-googling. And after forgetting to sleep for about two days, he comes up with the perfect solution.

To share this solution, he bursts through the door to the cockpit while excitedly yelling I HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL MIND, to which Echo gets the shit scared out of him and beans Tech in the face with a juice carton.

Once they both calm down a little, Tech sits down across from him, and pulls up a meticulously researched powerpoint. Echo gets that kind of squished-up face that everyone usually gets when they see 'SLIDE 1/53' at the bottom of one of Tech's presentations. Echo starts fidgeting about three slides later, because Tech goes through all of his sources first, and Echo just cannot handle three more slides of links to various inaccessible and incomprehensible medical papers.

Tech sighs and skips to slide 48, which is a set of bullet points that summarises how Echo baking/cooking will 1) give him a hobby 2) give him a hobby where he makes something with his hands 3) give him complete control of his diet and its ingredients, eliminating the ones that will make Echo feel like shit.

It's at this point that Echo points out that he doesn't know how to do any of that. And also that the Marauder doesn't have an oven. Or a stovetop. Or even a rice cooker.

Tech has an exceptional mind, so he's handled that. Or rather, he has a plan for how to handle that. His plan is to go to a local junkyard and disappear from civilisation for eighteen days while he faithfully recreates the exuberant glee that you see in those videos of ferrets in snow. He comes back out with a surprisingly shiny and new-looking oven that is custom built to be entirely remotely controlled. And custom built to fit into some weirdly-shaped and tiny nook in the ship, but mostly remote controlled. Echo asks why that's a thing, and Tech proudly says that with the code he put in, Echo is the only one who can change the various dials and controls. (Remember those autonomy and paranoia issues? Ya boy Tech has got those covered.)

Echo is still not entirely sure that this is the best plan, because Tech can't invent his way into giving Echo the skills to use that fancy new oven without setting something on fire. it does not help that Wrecker's one and only question is "if it says to bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, can't you do it for 15 minutes at 700 degrees?"

With Wrecker banned from their new kitchen under threat of being tased by Tech, Echo settles in to read the whopping 427 gigabytes of instructions and cookbooks that Tech found on the holonet. He doesn't get through all of it in one sitting, because who could, but he does begin to realise that it's not as intimidating as it seems.

He's still uncertain about it, though. So Tech puts on an apron, picks up a spatula, and says, "My research indicates that a teammate can increase confidence by 43.7% and efficiency by 83.2%. I am here to bake with you."

Echo has to tell him that spatulas aren't used much in baking. Once they get the spatula switched out for a stirring spoon, Echo feels a bit more confident in Tech's ability to help. A very small bit. Okay, he doesn't really, but he's not going to say that because he knows that Tech is only here to support him, and he does appreciate that.

Tech also comes bearing gifts! Which are a bunch of brand-new hand attachments that are all baking-themed. Who needs a stand mixer when you have a motorised whisk hand? ('Who has room for a stand mixer?' is the more accurate question.)

Unfortunately, Tech gets banned from the kitchen about four minutes later, because he's a detail-oriented micromanager/backseat driver, and Echo's about to shove him in that oven if he doesn't shut up. Tech is physically incapable of shutting up, so banishment it is.

About an hour and a half later, Echo comes up with his first batch of blondies. Which turn out great, because he is also detail-oriented, and Tech ensured that Echo has a fully-stocked supply cabinet. The result is something that the entire Batch is pleased with once they get a taste... and until Tech chases them off because those are for Echo, shoo. (*taser sounds*)

Echo appreciates Tech being willing to manhandle the entire Batch on his behalf, and may encourage it a little because he thinks Tech's hot. Tech is happy to be encouraged, and promptly chases Crosshair around for nearly two hours. They get into the vents and everything. Echo has his feet up and is not helping.

The next attempt is a shortbread that turns out poorly because Tech kept distracting Echo and the eggs got left out of the recipe. (One got cracked over Tech's head when he tried to pull a panel off the oven while it was heating and they both got distracted over that.) Echo is rather hurt by the failure, but Tech is his #1 Hype Man and gets him to try again the next day.

Tech's there for emotional support (and to lick the spoon). To prevent any further tomfoolery, he is also handcuffed to the door, out of reach of the oven. It turns out great for both of them when he licks off the spoon and it gives Echo some ideas. The oven can preheat for a while, it'll be fine.

Eventually, after several false starts and several more months, Tech has graduated to not needing to be handcuffed away from the oven. Instead he gets a chair to match Echo's, cause sometimes Echo wants to fiddle around in the kitchen but just isn't up to standing.

Sometimes Tech wakes up in the middle of the night (or a project ends in the middle of the night) and smells food. Every so often it's because it's the only thing that could distract Echo from a bad night. But sometimes, on the better nights, Echo simply can't sleep.

As much as Tech would like for Echo to have a normal sleep schedule, because he's thoroughly researched the benefits of it even though he doesn't have it himself...

He really likes those nights when they sit together in the kitchen and laugh quietly over a plate of blondies. Tech is fully incapable of letting Echo beat any of his high scores on their space Switch, but they have a Paleo Pines-style multiplayer game that they only play with each other. Parallel play!

Sometimes, Echo leans over and kisses him at the end of the night. And as much as Tech likes Echo's baking, everything tastes better when it's from Echo's lips.

omg you're a techo enjoyer too??? blessed 🥺 do you have any hcs or plot tribbles about them you'd be willing to share?

So Tech is the person that Echo spends the most time with, when he first goes with the Batch. This isn't because of any desire to connect on Tech's part - the only reason nobody calls him unfriendly is cause Crosshair is right there, in much the way that your neighbour's snarly dog isn't much of a problem compared to a rabid T Rex.

Instead, it's because the Bad Batch realise that, y'know, Echo's been Matrixed into a freezer for a while (timeline is not my strength but it was a few years, I think). Somebody's gotta figure out those cyborg parts and how to fix them, preferably before something breaks. And of course for something that serious, you choose the smart one.

At first, Echo is very awkward about this. The last thing he wants is someone digging around in his parts, even if it's for a good reason. But he also knows that it's going to be even worse for everybody if he has some sudden breakdown that disables him. So he grits his teeth and bears it.

(Tech does not notice shit about this. He has new science to explore, new problems to figure out, and human interaction has never been his strong suit. Autism King <3)

There's definitely some initial awkwardness, but Echo figures out pretty quickly that if he gets Tech rambling about something, the sound of his voice is soothing. Echo thinks nothing of it. (lol. lmao even.) He also comes to find it vaguely endearing when Tech gets distracted in the middle of something because he thinks of some cool upgrade that he can do. The Iron Man-style rocket boots are a total success. Tech is fully convinced his sensation of affection and pride is just because he got the boots working, and nothing to do with Echo himself (again: lol. lmao even.)

Tech pokes at the dataport, frowns, and looks down at his datapad. "Can you give me a hand with this?" A metal arm clatters to the floor next to him. Echo, across the room, hasn't moved from his co-pilot's seat and is still watching the latest episode of his holodrama. "Technically," he begins, adjusting his goggles with an indignant sniff, "yes, that is what I asked for. But I expected better of you."

Echo suddenly has some fucking thoughts about the possibility of Tech praising him, let me tell you. Still, he also has some reservations, because there's times where Tech gets too invested in the ✨ science ✨ and Echo starts feeling kind of like an experiment all over again.

Anyway the two of them are getting along pretty well and Tech is remaining fairly oblivious to both their feelings. (This is not a dig at Tech, I'm simply a huge sucker for ships where one of them doesn't realise their feelings until a Dramatic Moment, generally involving a near-death experience.) Except that Echo doesn't much like talking about his past and all the Clone Trauma™, especially pertaining to his lost Fives, and Tech's a nosy bitch who wants to know everything.

So Tech finds a way to get Echo's file. If the reg's not gonna talk, well, when has Tech ever respected a 'no access' sign? He reads through it and takes some notes, and it seems as though things are fine.

Except once Echo actually does start opening up about his past, Tech jumps in to fill in some details. Details that Echo certainly never told him. And Echo wants to know how Tech knows, and Tech's a shit liar, so the truth comes out.

Echo is not pleased with the truth.

(pain incoming)

"Well, I've... read your file," Tech says, hesitantly. He reaches up to adjust his goggles. A nervous tic, one that Echo usually finds endearing. But hearing that Tech was reading his file makes something twist in his stomach - what's left of it. Especially with Tech nervous about it. Echo's never really seen him like that. Not with him. "Okay," he replies, fighting to keep his voice and expression as close to 'calm' as possible. "And?" "I know it's been, well, hard. For you. For the other reg- the other clones." Echo stares at him, too shocked to attempt a look of neutrality any more. Tech must be joking. He must be. Not about reading his file, Echo had assumed that the Batch had all dug into him to find out who he was. But thinking that he knows anything about what it was like? Just because he read a file? He's seen the kinds of files that are kept on clones. They're dry, succinct, and mention nothing about who a clone is, just a service record like the kind you'd see kept about a machine. Because that's just about all they were, to the people in charge. The clones certainly weren't people to anyone but themselves. "So what's it like, Tech? Go on, you read the file." He waits. It's harsh, he knows, maybe even cruel, but he's not much in a laughing mood any more. "Maybe I... missed a few things," Tech hedges, looking very much like he wants to escape. "How much more do you want to know? Because they carved me out of myself, but they left the memories, and I see all of it every single night, so I can tell you more than the devil himself could stomach." He waits, but Tech doesn't say anything, just shifts his weight, eyes wide, fingers curling and uncurling around his datapad. Finally, Echo says, "You don't know shit, Tech. Don't ever pretend you do. Especially not around me." He leaves. For once, Tech's not distracted. For once, Tech watches him go.

So there's a bump in the road, as it were. Well, more like hitting a moose with your janky 90s sedan. You walked away from it physically fine but you have an overwhelming feeling about how oh god you're so fucked. Also who do you call about that???

Echo calls Rex. Rex does not know what to do about this. He lets Echo vent until they've been sitting quietly for a few minutes, and then suggests that maybe that was just Tech's way of trying to connect to Echo. Not exactly normal, "but you always did say, when you called, that he always paid attention to you and wanted to know more about you. Maybe this is an extension of that, and he didn't realise that he was crossing some lines."

(Yes, in my head, Rex is lowkey playing matchmaker. He's heard the way Echo's voice changes when he talks about Tech, and he wants to see where this goes.)

Meanwhile, Tech is bothering the shit out of Hunter because 'you know how people work, what did I do?'

This is the first that Hunter is hearing about any of this. He doesn't have the slightest idea what's going on, but he does have some experience with relationship difficulties caused by inadvertent assholery *inserts my Cross/Hunter agenda here*

So Rex helps Echo calm down, and Hunter helps Tech figure out how to apologise. Tech doesn't do shit with that knowledge because emotional conversations suck and he'd much rather pretend that just never happened, thank you goodbye. He's just a huge anxious mess because he doesn't know why people think he's being weird or mean or rude when he thought they were Just Vibing.

It takes like two months for Tech to make a move to fix this, is what I'm saying.

"Echo?" Tech asks hesitantly. He stands with his hands clasped in front of him, one thumb rubbing over the knuckles of his opposite hand. "Fuck off." Tech winces, but, well - with the way he inadvertently treated Echo, it's not like he can complain. "I- when I mentioned your file-" "Don't." "I was just trying to say that you didn't have to hide anything from me. That you were one of us. And we'd do our best to understand. I didn't- I'm not good at apologies, I'm sorry, I'll go-" "Wait." Tech freezes in the doorway, even more uncertain now. Echo sighs and looks at him. If his gaze is supposed to be communicating something, it's not in a language that Tech speaks. Maybe his uncertainty shows on his face, or maybe Echo was just waiting to collect his thoughts. "Thanks, Tech." Despite the awkward seriousness of their conversation, Tech smiles. "You're welcome, Echo. And if there's- I wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to, you know, but if there's anything you wanted to talk about, um, well, I'm only so far away. The Marauder's not a big ship." Echo doesn't say anything else, but he nods, and Tech feels like he actually managed to make some progress as he slips back out to the kitchen.

Anyway Echo has to comm Rex and send him ten bucks because Rex was right about Tech not being an asshole. Rex is only a little smug about this.

Echo slowly starts gravitating back towards Tech after that, and Tech is all !!!! not entirely sure what's happening but apparently the hot one Echo doesn't hate him any more so that's great!

They eventually get back into their groove and Tech makes him those kickass rocket boots to apologise for the whole... whatever that was. Words are hard, inventing is easy. He's still not 100% sure what went down, but Echo seems to have forgiven him, so he doesn't want to bring it up again. (He does, but it's like... a full year later, once he's definitely sure that Echo's not mad at him about it any more.)

Good thing that they do find their way back together, because one of Echo's legs breaks. And of course Tech's the one who immediately gets a little googly-eyed about finally being able to take Echo's leg apart. (He was strictly forbidden from Tinkering while Echo was wearing them, because Echo doesn't completely trust Tech to be able to resist the siren call of becoming a mad scientist. He adores the man, but he also knows Tech's weaknesses.)

Tech does indeed get a little mad scientist-y when he gets his hands all over those legs. He spends a week with a diet of space Red Bull, dry instant ramen, and no sleep, and comes up with Legs 2.0.11.8. He almost blows the ship up once or twice, but nothing seriously affects the life support systems, so it's fine, leave the lab alone.

Legs 2.0.11.8 are lighter, more durable, fit more comfortably, and have not only the fancy rocket boosters, but the ability to switch out normal treads for heavy ones and even climbing crampons! And a thousand other upgrades, but he's talking so fast that Echo genuinely has no idea what's going on. He figures that he can ask to read Tech's file about em later (yes he jokes about that, no Tech doesn't know if he can laugh).

When Echo first tries out his new legs, he loses his balance and goes straight into Tech's arms. Tech catches him and murmurs You're doing great, Echo.

Echo is running on an emotional high of having his legs back, having much better legs than the last ones, being caught by a hot nerd, and being praised by a hot nerd.

There's nothing to do about all that except kiss Tech.

He briefly thinks he's encountered a massive problem when Tech doesn't kiss back, and just stands there with a thoughtful look on his face. There's about a thousand things crossing Echo's mind in that moment, none of them exactly good. Can he get kicked off a squad for kissing someone???

Tech calmly says, "That was unexpected but perfectly acceptable. I commend your technique."

Echo isn't entirely sure what that means for a second, but then Tech pulls him in with both hands and tongues him, and Echo figures he doesn't need to ask.

The Batch is entirely unaware of this until three weeks later, when Echo joins them in the cockpit and sits right down in Tech's lap with his legs crossed. Wrecker wants to know why Echo's not in his usual co-pilot's chair. Echo just says figure it out and nudges Tech's chin up to kiss him.

Okay I've got so many headcanons too hold on

Tech's bunk is full of half-forgotten-about wires, metal sheets, pieces of rebar, loose screws, and the occasional shard of glass. Echo will not get into that bunk, they cuddle in Echo's hammock.

Tech will lay on top of Echo like a living weighted blanket and is perfectly happy to stay there for 12+ hours if he gets really invested in something on his datapad. This is often some design for another improvement to Echo's implants, so double bonus!

Strip chess

They love crosswords but they manage to get really competitive. Usually this means they make out about it, but sometimes they get mad at each other. Scrabble is banned after a few Incidents that resulted in yelling and a little blood, Hunter burned the tiles.

Tech keeps begging Echo into picking up dangerous insects, snails, frogs, and poisonous plants with his metal hand. Echo doesn't have to worry about getting bitten/poisoned and Tech can get a close-up look. Best of both worlds!

LEGO couple. If you haven't seen them for 16 hours? They got deeply invested into space version of some NASA set with 4000 pieces. Echo will bite you if you interrupt them.

Echo doesn't handle cold weather, it reminds him too much of being stuck as a POW. This means that the Batch leaves him on the ship on arctic missions but it also means Tech gets him eight pairs of fluffy socks because he read on the holonet that those are the best for keeping warm. Nobody's allowed to point out that Echo no longer has feet to keep warm. Echo wears them anyway and has favourites.

Sometimes Echo uses his USB hand to lock Tech's datapad when Tech won't go to sleep

He has a body pillow because it helps when his hips hurt. It's custom printed to look like Tech. Tech gets irrationally jealous over seeing Echo cuddle it.

Tech can do that finger skateboard thing and Echo uniroincally thinks it's really clever of him and admires his tricks

Tech makes Echo a new arm that has a human-shaped hand on the end so it has a wider range of function. The USB comes out of the tip of Echo's middle finger, at Echo's request.

Echo shakes hands/takes things from people with his metal hand. Tech is the only exception.

Tech likes crouching and crawling around, instead of walking 'normally'. There's been a few times that his head's popped up from where he's been crawling around on the floor like a snake, and Echo almost kicked him in the face because it scared him.

Echo can do some Black Widow shit with his new metal legs. He tries them all out on Tech cause it gets Tech real hot and bothered

There's been several times that Tech runs away from making out because he had a breakthrough thought on some project. Echo is always a little mad about it.

Tech snores. Loudly. Echo always turns off his hearing aids and lets that be everyone else's problem. He likes the way Tech's chest moves against his when they're sleeping together.

Echo keeps the lights off and his shirt on when they're getting intimate for years. Lot of self-esteem issues related to how his body looks. It's Tech's unfailing admiration for the occasional shirtless look, that eventually helps Echo start to accept himself.

Tech's name in Echo's phone is 'cyare' and Echo's name in Tech's phone is 'Echo 💙'

Echo once casually refers to a 'honey-do list' and Tech needs a reboot because holy shit he's honey!!!

Everyone can always tell when they were making out because Echo has hickeys everywhere. At first he was embarrassed about it but nowadays he shows them off.

Rex once commented 'oh, wow, did Echo get hit in the throat?' and Tech spat his water across the table. That was how Rex found out they were hooking up.

Rex said he was going to give Tech the shovel talk and Tech immediately started talking over him about the types of screws used to connect shovel heads. Rex never got around to his part.

Tech and Echo always walk holding hands. Sometimes the rest of the Batch stops or changes directions, and Tech doesn't notice with his datapad two inches from his face, so Echo gently tugs him in the right direction.

Sometimes the rest of the Batch didn't stop or change direction, and Echo is pulling him into an alley to make out.

Tech still hasn't lived down the time he came back from a detour with Echo and then had to go back to find his codpiece.

They stargaze whenever they're planetside. Tech loves infodumping about the stars and Echo loves to listen. Tech custom-built a two-person lawn chair so they can put their feet up. Echo's fallen asleep cuddled up to him more times than even Tech can count.

Echo has to be physically direct with flirting, cause if he just says something like "wow you're hot", then Tech just says "yes thank you", and keeps doing what he's doing. Gotta distract him from his project by kissing him or sitting in his lap or something before Echo can get to the words part.

[hmhbooks]

Recipe of the Week: Sesame Seed and Avocado Salad with Cocoa and Chile-Rubbed Beef

Sesame Seed and Avocado Salad and Cocoa and Chile-Rubbed Beef are excerpted from THE FLAVOR MATRIX © 2018 by James Briscione. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Sesame Seed and Avocado Salad

Serves 4

Classic pairings for avocado—chile and lime—meet some unexpected new friends in this dish. Fig plays up the avocado’s natural fruitiness, so don’t overlook the fig vinegar; it’s a hidden gem in this recipe and a flavorful secret weapon to keep in your pantry. Serve this salad on its own or with the Cocoa and Chile–Rubbed Beef (below).

2 avocadoes, cut in half, pitted, and peeled 1 lime Cocoa and Chile Rub (below) ¼ cup white sesame seeds, toasted 4 radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced 2 cups baby arugula 2 tablespoons extra- virgin olive oil Kosher salt Fig Vinegar (recipe below)

1) Cut the avocado into wedges, 4 pieces per half. Squeeze a bit of lime juice over the avocado wedges, then season them with the cocoa-chile mixture. Let the wedges stand for 1 minute.

2) Spread the sesame seeds on a shallow plate. Dip one cut side of each wedge into the sesame seeds, pressing to make sure they stick. Set the wedges aside on another plate.

3) Toss the radishes and arugula with the olive oil and salt to taste. Divide among four plates and top with the avocado wedges. Drizzle each plate with fig vinegar.

Fig Vinegar

Makes 2 cups

¼ cup chopped dried figs 1 cup water 2 cups white wine vinegar

1) Combine the figs and water in a small saucepot. Bring to a simmer and cook until the pot looks nearly dry. Add the vinegar and return to a simmer. Remove the pot from the heat and cover tightly. Set aside for 30 minutes to infuse.

2) Mash the figs with a fork, then press the mixture through fine-mesh sieve. (Discard the seeds and any remaining pulp.) Transfer the vinegar to a glass jar and seal tightly. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

Cocoa and Chile–Rubbed Beef

Serves 4

Like most meats, beef derives a lot of flavor from the Maillard reactions that take place during cooking. In this recipe, cocoa and dried chiles augment those roasted aromas, packing even more flavor into the beef.  

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tablespoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons ancho chile powder 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional, but excellent) 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 pounds flank steak, trimmed of excess fat 1 tablespoon canola oil

1) Make the rub: Combine the cocoa, salt, ancho powder, sesame seeds (if using), and pepper in a small bowl and mix well.

2) Season the steak on both sides with the rub. You may not use all of it. Store any leftover rub in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place.

3) Position a wire rack over a baking sheet. Heat the canola oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and sear the steak on both sides until golden brown, 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Or heat a grill for direct grilling until hot and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Cook more or less if you prefer a different doneness. Transfer to the rack to rest for at least 4 minutes. Slice into thin pieces, cutting against the grain.

[allwaysfull]

Mark Bittman’s Kitchen Matrix

[foxingpeculiar]

Since the only movie I'm watching tonight is 200 Cigarettes, I've got my list of movies I watched for the first time this year. It's a little low (158 instead of the usual +/- 200) but... well, it's been a year.

Property is No Longer a Theft (1973, Ello Petri)

Zola (2021, Janicza Bravo)

The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021, Michael Showalter)

A Face in the Crowd (1957, Elia Kazan)

Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (2021, William Eubank)

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (2015, Gregory Plotkin)

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014, Christopher Landon)

Paranormal Activity 4 (2012, Ariel Schulman & Henry Joost)

The Nun (2018, Corin Hardy)

Hell-Bound Train (1930, Eloyce & James Gist)

Family Plot (1976, Alfred Hitchcock)

The Witch of King’s Cross (2020, Sonia Bible)

Teknolust (2002, Lynn Hershman Leeson)

Giant (1956, George Stevens)

Castle in the Sky (1986, Hayao Miyazaki)

Messiah of Evil (1973, Willard Huyck & Gloria Katz)

House (1986, Steve Miner)

The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014, Adam Robitel)

A Woman is a Woman (1961, Jean-Luc Godard)

Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021, Kier-La Janisse)

The Tragedy of MacBeth (2021, Joel Coen)

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun (2021, Wes Anderson)

Last Night in Soho (2021, Edgar Wright)

Thelma (2017, Joachim Trier)

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956, Alfred Hitchcock)

Pig (2021, Michael Sarnoski)

In the Earth (2021, Ben Wheatley)

Truman and Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation (2021, Lisa Immordino Vreeland)

9 (2009, Shane Acker)

Chimes at Midnight (1966, Orson Welles)

WeWork, or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn (2021, Jed Rothstein)

Enemies of the State (2020, Sonia Kennebeck)

A Glitch in the Matrix (2021, Rodney Ascher)

Citizenfour (2014, Laura Poitras)

The Cremator (1969, Juraj Herz)

Angst (1983, Gerard Kargl)

Death on the Nile (1978, John Guillerman)

The Power of the Dog (2021, Jane Campion)

Nightmare Alley (2021, Guillermo Del Toro)

Mirror (1974, Andrei Tarkovsky)

House of Gucci (2021, Ridley Scott)

Free Guy (2021, Shawn Levy)

A Letter to Three Wives (1949, Joseph L Mankiewicz)

Say Amen Somebody (1982, George T Nierenberg)

Poison Ivy (1992, Katt Shea)

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964, Jacques Demy)

Zatoichi (2003, Takeshi Kitano)

Pale Flower (1964, Masahiro Shinoda)

Nobody (2021, Ilya Naishuller)

A Time to Kill (1996, Joel Schumacher)

Murder by Numbers (2002, Barbet Schroeder)

Antlers (2021, Scott Cooper)

Drive My Car (2021, Ryusuke Hamaguchi)

Ready Player One (2018, Steven Spielberg)

Superman II (1980, Richard Lester)

West Side Story (2021, Steven Spielberg)

Licorice Pizza (2021, Paul Thomas Anderson)

The Batman (2022, Matt Reeves)

You Can’t Kill Meme (2021, Hayley Garrigus)

Being the Ricardos (2021, Aaron Sorkin)

Summer of Soul (2021, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson)

Talk to Me (2007, Kasi Lemmons)

The Night House (2021, David Bruckner)

Here Comes the Devil (2012, Adrián Garcia Bogliano)

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010, Paul W.S. Anderson)

The Ritual (2017, David Bruckner)

The Bye Bye Man (2017, Stacy Title)

Creep (2014, Patrick Brice)

From Within (2008, Phedon Papamichael)

X (2022, Ti West)

Moonfall (2022, Roland Emmerich)

Dead Man (1995, Jim Jarmusch)

The Purge (2013, James DeMonaco)

Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies (2020, Danny Wolf)

Caligula (1979, Tinto Brass, Bob Guccione & Giancarlo Lui)

Merrily We Go to Hell (1932, Dorothy Arzner)

The Alchemist Cookbook (2016, Joel Potrykus)

Spoor (2017, Agnieszka Holland)

Cliffhanger (1993, Renny Harlin)

Runaway Jury (2003, Gary Fleder)

A Scanner Darkly (2006, Richard Linklater)

Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954, Hiroshi Inagaki)

Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (1955, Hiroshi Inagaki)

Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956, Hiroshi Inagaki)

Mikey and Nicky (1976, Elaine May)

Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022, Akiva Schaffer)

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022, Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert)

Men (2022, Alex Garland)

Old (2021, M. Night Shyamalan)

Saint Maud (2019, Rose Glass)

Bernie (2011, Richard Linklater)

Pineapple Express (2008, David Gordon Green)

Voyeur (2021, Myles Kane & Josh Koury)

Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985, Alan Metter)

Conspiracy Theory (1997, Richard Donner)

Experiment in Terror (1962, Blake Edwards)

The Nightingale (2018, Jennifer Kent)

Leave Her to Heaven (1945, John M. Stahl)

Black Widow (1954, Nunnally Johnson)

The Bob’s Burgers Movie (2022, Loren Bouchard & Bernard Derriman)

Incantation (2022, Kevin Ko)

All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989, Don Bluth)

Nope (2022, Jordan Peele)

House of Bamboo (1956, Samuel Fuller)

Jurassic World: Dominion (2022, Colin Trevorrow)

The Black Phone (2022, Scott Derrickson)

The Presidio (1988, Peter Hyams)

Barbarian (2022, Zach Creeger)

Elvis (2022, Baz Luhrmann)

Vengeance (2022, BJ Novak)

Crimes of the Future (2022, David Cronenberg)

Don’t Worry Darling (2022, Olivia Wilde)

Band of Outsiders (1964, Jean-Luc Godard)

The Slumber Party Massacre (1982, Amy Holden Jones)

Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022, Halina Reijn)

Dead and Buried (1981, Gary Sherman)

Blonde (2022, Andrew Dominik)

Phantasm II (1988, Don Coscarelli)

Hellraiser (2022, David Bruckner)

The Keep (1983, Michael Mann)

Next of Kin (1982, Tony Williams)

The Funhouse (1981, Tobe Hooper)

Dream Demon (1988, Harley Cokeliss)

The Hidden (1987, Jack Sholder)

Prince of Darkness (1987, John Carpenter)

White of the Eye (1987, Donald Cammell)

Halloween (2018, David Gordon Green)

Halloween Kills (2021, David Gordon Green)

Halloween Ends (2022, David Gordon Green)

Terror Train (1980, Roger Spottiswoode)

The House by the Cemetery (1981, Lucino Fulci)

Strange Behavior (1981, Michael Laughlin)

Road Games (1981, Richard Franklin)

Final Destination (2000, James Wong)

Daughters of Darkness (1971, Harry Kümel)

Matango (1963, Ishiro Honda)

Thirst (2009, Park Chan-Wook)

Wolfen (1981, Michael Wadleigh)

The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon)

Hud (1963, Martin Ritt)

The Dark Corner (1946, Henry Hathaway)

Encino Man (1992, Les Mayfield)

The Good Nurse (2022, Tobias Lindholm)

Son in Law (1993, Steve Rash)

Madame X: An Absolute Ruler (1978, Ulrike Ottinger)

Henri-Georges Cluzot’s “Inferno” (2009, Serge Bromberg & Ruxandra Medrea)

The Blue Dahlia (1946, George Marshall)

Pearl (2022, Ti West)

Amsterdam (2022, David O. Russell)

Memories of Murder (2003, Bong Joon-ho)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022, Rian Johnson)

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022, Martin McDonagh)

Song of the Thin Man (1947, Edward Buzzell)

Shadow of the Thin Man (1941, W.S. Van Dyke)

RRR (2022, S.S. Rajamouli)

Another Thin Man (1939, W.S. Van Dyke)

Saaho (2019, Sujeeth)

Triangle of Sadness (2022, Ruben Östlund)

[ohnotom]

My payday treat to myself arrived early 😍😍

I have no idea what I'm going to try first. But I certainly know that I need a recipe matrix in every cookbook I buy from now on

[wheremytwinwatches]

[Where My Twin Watches]: Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood Episode 12

Episode 12 - “One is All, All is One” We open with whoawhoawhoa it’s Beardy from the intro. Papa Elric? Do we finally get backstory on Absent Dad this episode?

Beardy doesn’t look happy about something. And Ed wakes up in shock. More points towards it being Papa Elric, and also it not being the healthiest of families. But hey, this is anime, good luck finding any Protagonist families without Drama. Al says they’re almost at Dublith, asks if Ed was having a bad dream. Then stays oddly quiet when Ed says it was about ‘him’. Jeez, what’s with this guy? In town, both boys are very unenthusiastic about seeing Teacher again. And now the screens suddenly shaking, the door creaks open ominously gah bloody knife what the Oh dear. A very very big man has just stepped outside. Seriously, this guy looks like he could give Armstrong himself a run for his money. [Ed]: “Um… hello, Sig.” [Al]: “Long time no see.” Ah, a butcher! Got it. He’s rather chill about seeing the Elrics after so long, just patting them on the head and commenting on how they’ve grown (and can I just say how it’s adorable for the Giant Fanged Suit of Armor to be happy about having his head rubbed? Daw.) Sig pokes his head through a window, tells “Izumi” that the “Elric Shrimps” have come for a visit, she puts down an Alchemy book and says that she’s feeling a little better today. You’re right Al, that doesn’t sound good. What’s wrong with Teacher? Oh. Oh dear. Ed just got done kicked in the face across the street. I believe I have a good read on Teach, now.

To menacing music, McKickyFace steps outside, looking down on Ed with shadowed face and glowing red eyes. [McKickyFace]: “Hello, my stupid pupil! I hear you’ve become one of the military’s dogs!” And then the creaky door betrays Al’s hiding spot, she turns… and Al’s cuteness factor is unstoppable, McKickyFace instantly transforms to Izumi, commenting on how Al has grown. Aw, that’s nope never mind just a ruse to easily throw Al to the dirt. Jeez, for someone “not feeling well” you’re tossing these chumps around like ah that’s blood. No Teach, I don’t think you’re “perfectly fine.” Sig tells her not to exert herself and oh they’re married. One, that’s adorable, and two, ok that explains why they went to Sig. But above all else that’s adorable. Also funny how their love is so overpowering that Ed’s just standing there unnerved, getting bumped in the head by floating hearts. Inside, the four are sitting around a table, the conversation as typical being about the Philosopher’s Stone. Teacher doesn’t know much about it though, says it doesn’t hold much interest for her. Why’s that, do you know the secret or just have that much faith in your own abilities? Sig contributes that there was one guy in Central who knew about it. A guy called Hohenheim? Whoa Ed what’s wrong? And Al, do you recognize it too? Ah, image of Beardy! Teacher asks why the reaction to the name, Al confirms that it is indeed Papa Elric. Who “ran out” on them when they were little? Damnit man, why do you have to perpetuate the trope of Absent Anime Father? Flashback! Mama and Papa Elric are standing at the door, Baby!Ed and Baby!Al happened to be up early in the morning. Mama’s of course all over her children, but Papa Elric… just glares down at Ed, that’s the only description I can use for that look. Then he turns without a word, and walks out the door. ...seriously? Dude, dick move. So Mama Elric did say later that Papa left, but not with any finality. Then we get various scenes of Mama Elric and the Babies being cute, until… Mama Elric collapsed on the floor. Back in the present, with Ed still lost in Flashback-Land, Ed asks if Papa Elric had said anything about the Stone. Teacher says it was something about a life-long dream coming true. Even happy when he said it. Then she gets up, punches Ed out his sulk, and says that they’re going to eat.

At the dinner, Sig offers Al some food… uh oh. Have the Brother’s really not explained about Al’s state? Wow, really subtle attempt to change the subject to the last episode there Ed. I can tell Sig’s not buying it, he just looks to Izumi drinking her tea. Another flashback? A big storm in their hometown, the young Elrics are looking down with the other townsfolk as men try to keep a sandbag barrier holding against a flood. The wall’s breaking, everyone’s pulling back- except for Teacher, who’s striding past them as the epic string music picks up. With a clap of her hands (ooh, so Ed picked up on not using TCs from her!), she earthbends a bunch of walls up to hold back the river. And then Sweetie Sig walks over with an umbrella as she turns to the crowd. Who don’t recognize her? Ah right, a passerby, she lives in Dublith after all. And then she vomits blood again. Oh dear. Ah, so the boys were too short to see the blood this first time, all they saw was someone being Awesome and Saving The Town. So of course they run up and ask her to be their teacher. Buuut maybe don’t call her “Old Lady”. She refuses at first, she doesn’t teach and she’s just passing through, but when she’s told that they two boys clinging to her arm are orphans? [Pretty Lady]: “How am I supposed to say no to that?” And now for the first lesson: apparently, getting dropped off on an island and left to fend for themselves. Without any alchemy, even. Lady, I have to question your teaching methods.

Titledrop! “One is all… and all is one.” They have- one month?! Good Leto woman, you’re leaving them on their own for a freaking month? Yeah, the boy’s aren’t doing too well their first night. Trying (and failing) to sleep on some palm leaves, stomach’s rumbling. A lesson in wilderness survivalism, then? Ad-break picture of Sig and Izumi looking ready for a fight, shows last name of ‘Curtis’. So what’s their story? Sig seems to be working away as a butcher, a proper butcher unlike a certain Pudgy we’ve met before. But what about Izumi? Where did she get her training, and learn how to do non-TC Alchemy? Aaand where the first picture was of them looking tough, the second is of Big Tough Sig fanning his blood-spitting wife. Lady, maybe you should get that looked at. Oh, show’s answering my question already, apparently they work the butcher shop together. Sig’s wondering if they’re doing alright, Izumi stands by her lesson as being the best way to learn the essentials of alchemy. The same way she was taught, even. Casual throw of sharpened knife to Sig who does a two-finger catch (making me wonder if he has any training?), Big Butcher says he’s more concerned about their lives being in danger. Izumi scoffs, saying her training began with fighting bears for a whole month in the mountains. In winter, no less! ...couldn’t help but notice that you look a bit older that the Elrics in that picture, Izumi. On the island itself, the Brothers have just caught a rabbit in a snare! However, it leaves them with a live rabbit, so they’ll have to kill it themse- Oh that is just not fair. Rabbit’s going full Cute Anime Mode to avoid being dinner. The Brothers are playing Hot Potato with the knife to avoid using it. Until a passing fox takes advantage of the easy meal, and runs off with the rabbit. But look! The fox took the rabbit to feed its cubs! Aw, that’s sweet. Then the cubs start eating, and the Brother’s quickly decide to try fish instead. Yep, kinda hard to fish without rods. Maybe you can carve a spear? Or just build a lean-to, and go without food for a few more days. Yeesh, Ed’s not doing too well. Had a moment where he hallucinated Al as food and chomped, and now is alternating between nomming on ants and screaming about how gross they are. Oh, turning point! Ed’s talking about how he’s alive because he ate the ants. Um, no? I seriously doubt those few bugs gave you enough calories to make up for a few days foodless. Or rather it’s a metaphorical thing, how Ed’s alive because he consumed life. And then I guess he resolves that if he’s going to eat life to live, and by Leto he’s going to be at the top of the food chain! Cue montage of the Brothers going all Lord of the Flies, fashioning tools, chasing down a rabbit and killing it before a passing fox this time, starting a fire. They even get to the point that they toss some cooked food to the fox cubs in passing. Finally, it’s the night before Teacher’s to come back. Al asks Ed if he’s figured out what she meant by “One is all, and all is one.” Ed confirms that after he ate the ants, he thought his body feeding the ants, going to earth and becoming grass that the rabbits would eat... ...if I wasn’t doing a Professor Moody theme this episode, this would be a perfect spot for a Lion King gif. So yeah, Ed thought about the food chain. But also the island, how long ago it was under water, and thousands of years from now it could be the top of a mountain. It’s an “all things are connected” lesson, how in the span of the cosmos even our Main Characters are smaller than ants are to them. Test time! Teacher arrives and asks for their answer. [Al]: “All is one!” [Ed]: “And one is me!” Teacher… bursts out laughing? But she accepts the answer, and says the real training starts now. Now in Dublith, Teach is casually reading a cookbook while she lectures about TCs as the basis of Alchemy and absently spars with the Brothers. Sick moves lady, her technique seems to be all about deflecting and redirecting their attacks. That’s Judo, I think? Reviewing the lesson, Al calls her out on not using TCs when she casts, they ask how she does it. Teacher says something cryptic about herself being the matrix, that it might be something they learn if they see the truth. Wait… truth, or ‘Truth’? And yup, Ed wakes up with a realization: Teacher has seen the truth too. The next day, the Brothers are meeting with Teacher in the front yard, presumably to ask her. But she suddenly Alchemizes a spear from the wall, strikes out at Ed who has to TC-less change his arm to a blade in defense. That, on top of Al being armor and Ed missing two limbs confirms it for her: Edward’s seen it too. Which begs the question: how did Izumi see the Truth? Did she try Human Transmutation too? Yep, she did. And the rebound struck her… stomach. And in the center… Ah. That’s who she was trying to bring back. Izumi confirms the sad tale, why she committed the taboo. And when she says that it must have been awful for them, the Elrics adopt their customary bravado about it. ‘Not a big deal’, Al’s got his list of stuff to do, ect ect... [Izumi]: “You darling little idiots. It’s ok to hurt.” ... [Ed]: “Forgive us.” [Al]: “We’re so sorry, Teacher.” [Ed]: “Please forgive us.” [Al]: “We’re so sorry.” [Ed]: “Please forgive us.” [Al]: “We’re so sorry.” Flashback to the island, the young brothers expounding on living being the deconstruction and reconstruction of old life to new life [Ed]: “Alchemy is part of that flow. And the flow is life itself.” End-credits. Oof. Started out as a mostly amusing episode, was mostly looking for details on Absent Papa Elric. But nope, Brotherhood continues to be brutal to my emotions.

[captrecipe]

Mayonnaise (from Bourdain cookbook)

Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients:

2 egg yolks

1½ tablespoons white wine vinegar 

½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste 

½ teaspoon dry mustard 

1¾ cup vegetable, canola, or grapeseed oil 

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, or to taste 

Method

In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks well with a whisk. 

Whisk in ½ tablespoon of the vinegar, then add the salt and mustard and whisk well. 

Begin to add the oil, in a very slow and steady stream, whisking constantly. 

You may wish to enlist the help of a friend—one of you whisks while the other pours. 

Once you see the emulsion begin to form, you can add the oil a little faster, but do not dump it in. 

The emulsion breaks when the matrix is overloaded with oil. 

If the mixture starts to become too thick to beat, you can thin it with some of the remaining vinegar. 

Continue to add the oil, then whisk in any remaining vinegar. 

Taste the mixture and adjust with the lemon juice and additional salt if desired.