#clois season 10

[superliz6]

One of my little pleasures in life is watching season one of Smallville and then immediately skipping to a season 10 episode to get the absolute heroin hit of seeing he ends up with Lois Lane.

#Lois lane #Clark Kent #Clois #Smallville #early seasons are cute but I always miss Lois roasting these nerds #feels like a wave of relief seeing her March into a scene 10 years later and take the piss out of everyone

[purpledreamerbutterfly]

● Clark & Lois | 𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

After a while, I made a new clois video. I hope you’ll like it!

#clois #smallville #clark kent #lois lane #true love #season 4 - 10 #otp #my video

[legendarydreamer4ever]

Clark & Lois in every episode ► 10.07 “Ambush”

SEE ALL HERE

#clark and lois #clois #clois smallville #Smallville Clois #Clark x Lois #clark kent #Lois and Clark #Clark Kent and Lois Lane #clark kent smallville #ch: clark kent #smallville #tv: smallville #smallville season 10 #otp: clois #CLOIS FOREVER #superman smallville #tom welling superman #lois lane erica durance #Erica Durance #tom welling #clark kent tom welling #smallville superman #superman #clois gifs #Lois Lane Smallville #ch: Lois Lane #Lois Lane

[ciaonicole85]

Neighbor Series: Ch. 4 Part 2

A Delicate Ecosystem

Part 2: Carmen is obviously down bad, but does Sydney feel as deeply? Is her career or love most important?

I think this might be the last in this series.

The rest of the day and night went smoothly. Sydney tried to dismiss that stupid conversation with Richie from her mind. Carmy was the same as ever. She supposed he didn't have "the talk" with him. Typical that Rich thought it was her responsibility to control the actions of a grown man.

The next day Sydney walked past Marcus and Fak huddled in conversation and thought she heard her name. She shrugged it off, put away her stuff in her locker and joined them.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt. Marcus can we talk for minute?"

Fak who usually had something quirky to say, just waved at her and scuddled away.

"Yeah, anything wrong?" Marcus asked with an odd, no an irritated look, on his face.

"Well, yes. Our bread supplier isn't going to come through for the rest of the week. A death in the family. Carmy wanted me let you know that we'll have to make it in-house today, but we have a backup ready for tommorrow."

"Got it."

"Okay, let me know if you need anything."

"I said I got it."

Sydney was thrown off by his tone. Yes, Marcus had asked her out several months ago and it was weird for that night. Afterwards, they'd moved on and were back on good terms. She racked her brain trying to think if she'd done or said something recently to offend him.

"Um, is there a problem?"

"Nope."

Marcus's face was now unreadable and he walked away to his station. It was eerie, but Sydney had many other things to do so she shelved it for now.

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

The following day Carmy stood behind the restaurant for a his "smoke" break right before nightly service. He quit cigarettes a shortly after The Bear opened because he had caught pneumonia and missed two days of work. His doctor told him that she'd seen a lot of pneumonia cases in her elderly and smoking patients that season. So now he chewed Nicorette and pretended that it was just as satisfying. While he stood there enjoying the solitude, Anna, a new hostess came out and began smoking her vape pen. She had a one of those warm, generic voices that was perfect for customer service, but she could instantly switch to a cloying Kardashian-esque accent. She used it whenever she could talk to Carmy alone. However, today she didn't immediately begin speaking when she saw him. He decided to not waste the chance to escape. Just as he was about to go back in Anna spoke up.

"So…do you like know of any nice apartments around here?"

Carmy was facing the door so he could roll his eyes, without her seeing. Then he turned around trying to look neutral.

"Uh, no. Well, I like mine. It's 10 minutes from here, but there's almost never anything available."

"Oh, really? Didn't Sydney just get a place there? Or did she move in with you?"

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, I just thought I heard like you were maybe together?"

Anna kept her voice light, but she seemed nervous. One hand was gripping her vape pen and the other was twirling her long brown hair.

"No, we don't live together. What does that have to do with you finding an apartment?"

"No? Well, I didn't think so. Sydney is great and all, but she's…like you could like date anyone here, you know?" Anna replied choosing to ignore his question.

Carmen couldn't believe he was having this conversation. This time he couldn't help rolling his eyes in her face. The unmitigated gall of this women to talk about Sydney and to approach her employer in this manner.

"Anna, my dating life is not up for discussion."

Carmen wanted to say more, but he knew that it would be best to discuss it with Natalie first. She came from corporate America and knew the proper HR way of dealing this stuff.

"Oh, oh yeah. Like, okay. Um, I better get back" Anna stammered, blushing and darted through the door.

That night Carmy was on alert. It was one minor incident, but he had to suppress his compulsion to spiral with doubt and worry that Sydney would be hurt because of him. He hadn't really thought much about how others might view their potential relationship. He probably blocked it out because there was already so much to worry about. Also, their kitchen "mind-meld" flow was getting better all the time. It was exhilarating how they had become more and more attuned with one another during service. Often while working side by side they would hand each other the very thing they needed without even having to speak, much less look at each other. They could plate a dish together faster than a pit crew could replace a tire. With a glance Carmy knew when Sydney needed a break on their most insane evenings. He'd just squeeze her shoulder and she'd move so he could take over for a quick five. He did the same for others though.

However, what happened the other night might have raised some eyebrows. He was asked to greet a congressperson who was dining there and he beckoned for Sydney to join him. Before they went out he grabbed a towel to pat her dewy forehead, retied her chef's coat and smoothed it down like he was her personal valet. This was in front of the entire kitchen. He hadn't meant to do anything that would make Sydney a target. His intention was to support her, not romance her at work. Of' course there were slip ups. He just hoped the conversation with Anna was a one-off. To be on the safe side during service he tried not to do anything extra with her besides their usual telepathic routine. Sydney followed his lead avoiding making unnecessary remarks or touching him.

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

Later he walked her home. They were silent at first, their stride in perfect harmony.

Carmy cleared his throat.

"Sydney, has anyone been treating you differently?"

Sydney paused in surprise for a second, but then she answered "Am I that easy to read?"

Carmen was now very concerned.

"No, it's just that I had a weird conversation before service with one of the front staff."

"Was it about us?"

"Yeah, has anyone said anything to you?"

"Yes, Richie did. A couple others are just being a little icy this week. It's no big deal."

Carmen took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers.

"What did Richie say?"

"Oh, Mr. Richard had a speech. He wanted to make sure I kept the "shop" closed until you and Nat could pay back Cicero. He's afraid I'll mess up the ecosystem. "

Carmy's froze for a second, then he blushed scarlet from the mention of him getting anywhere near Sydney's "shop" and from Richie's audacity to address Syd instead of him.

She continued.

"At the time I thought he was just being Richie. Now, I don't know. I don't want to mess anything up for you, for us. The Bear is so new and we are on track to paying off the debt and maybe even getting a star."

"Sydney. We make an excellent team and nothing that we've done or will do together outside of The Bear will change it. I promise you, that I won't let it change. Your dreams are first priority."

"So are yours, Carmy."

Carmy's focused on his breathe for a moment, his heart pounding in his ears. His dream was doing this with HER. He meant it when he said he wouldn't even want to do it without her. Each day together wove a new thread from his heart to hers, but he wouldn't force it on her.

"Sydney, I like you. More than anyone I've ever…."

He stopped unsure if she was ready to hear how deep his feelings ran.

"But I understand if you want me to back off. Whatever you decide I will talk to them and fix this. You deserve nothing but respect."

They reached the front of their building and Sydney turned to face him. He was visibly trembling. Tenderness for him surged from her heart. Carmen was the most sincere man she'd ever met. He couldn't fake happiness, indifference, or confidence unless that was how he truly felt. Past the anxiety, occasional moodiness, and temper, at his core she saw someone who desperately desired to serve and to be understood.

He stood there defenseless.

She put a hand over his heart as if to speak to it.

"No, don't back off. I don't care what any of them think as long as we're good."

Carmy breathed again, took her hand in his and kissed her palm, nuzzling it against his cheek.

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

Sydney lay in bed that night thinking. She knew down to her bones that her foundation was stronger than his. It was not due to any fault of his own. Her home had been filled with safety and love. It was her nature to be a perfectionist, but even when she failed she knew that she had intrinsic value as a person. What she lacked that Carmen had was the courage to be vulnerable. He was open to her about Mikey within the first few weeks of their meeting despite not knowing how she would respond. This and his consistent effort to know her, drew her in despite the chaos of early days at The Beef. She knew that he would actually listen and give her an opportunity to grow. There was another intangible factor, which scared and thrilled Sydney. When she often found him gazing at her, there was a feeling that he was not only moved by her beauty, but for who she was. It reminded of her of how her father looked at her mom, even when she was sick. It was one of her few memories that hadn't faded. She also knew there were no strings attached when he promoted her to CDC, but her heart demanded more with each passing day. She wanted to be Carmen's refuge and release in every way. This knowing was overwhelming and she was grateful that he moved slowly despite the hunger in his eyes.

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

The next day Natalie was working on-site when Carmen came into her office and closed the door.

"Hey Carm, how are you?"

"I'm good. Sorry, I didn't respond to your text last night. Baby PJ looked very cute in his White Sox outfit"

"Well, at least send a smiley face or something! But what's up?"

"So, I don't know if you've noticed but I'm interested in someone who works here."

"Oh, bro I know…so are you and Sydney official?"

Carmy brushed his hair back with his fingers and shook his head.

"Were you never going to say anything?" he asked.

"The best thing a sister can do is stay out of it. It's brothers who get involved with their sister's romantic choices. Thank God, you couldn't run off Pete."

"Okay. No, we're not rushing into anything. So far, she allows me to walk her to and from work. And we talk everyday."

Natalie clutched her chest and sank down further into her chair.

"She allows you to…I CAN'T! I had no idea my baby brother was this sweet!"

"SUGAR, the point of me bringing this up is that some of the staff have been going behind my back to talk to her, icing her out, and there's been a rumor that we live together. I won't have it! Anyways, I figure you know the corporate way to handle it."

"Okay, we were going to discuss health insurance options for the next enrollment period during family service, but I can slide in a talk about relational professionalism."

"Thank you."

Natalie sighed and squeezed Carmy's hand.

"She allows you to walk with her! Oh, Pete is going to melt."

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

For old time's sake Sydney prepared Mikey's spaghetti recipe for family service. Carmy saved her a seat and she sat down next to him feeling Anna's bitter glances and Richie's disapproval. Marcus ignored them. As they ate Natalie gave the insurance presentation and then her politically correct professionalism talk. She took care to make it not obviously about Sydney and Carm. When she was done and people started to file out, Carmen asked for the original Beef staff to remain behind. They took their seats again looking intrigued.

He moved to stand at the head of the table.

"Alright, great…Okay. So I asked Natalie to give that talk. And thank you Nat, but I have something I need to say. too"

"So, You've all been here a long time. Before I came you already had each other's backs and then I took over. It was an adjustment. Then Sydney came and I had a partner from my world. There more changes but somehow we found a way to work together. Then we found the money and we started this. You all choosing to stay and gain new skills, means so much me and I know it does to you too.

The Bear is a special place because it's a family business. And not just because of Natalie and I, but it's all of you too. The thing is we got to have each other's backs. It's not enough to to get through service, get the reviews, a star, whatever, but we got to respect each other. You know that without Sydney and Natalie giving it everything they had during the reno, none of this would have happened. Where we're sitting would be a parking lot or a Dunkin's. Anyways, I'm disappointed that some in here saw everything Sydney did to help get us here and they're giving her crap because I like her. In HERE I respect all of you, everyone is paid fairly, given opportunities, and I care about you…your lives. She didn't do anything, but her job and she deserves your respect. Out THERE I hope to spend as much time with her as she'll let me. But in HERE we're a business and we're a family.

The silence was palpable. Sydney's eyes never left Carmy's face while he spoke and when he took the courage to meet them, he saw admiration there and her beautiful smile.

Tina broke the heavy mood.

"So, Jeff. Are y'all together? Are we what they a call a "mom and pop" now?"

Carmy grinned, still looking at Sydney.

"I'm working on it."

#the bear #sydcarmy #sydney x carmy #sydney adamu #carmy the bear #carmen berzatto #carmy x sydney #carmy berzatto #fan fiction #syd adamu #syd x carmen #syd x carmy #mushy stuff #fan fic

[smallcloisville]

The urge to break tv after this scene.

This scene is so beautiful as we see Clois dancing for the very first time. Lois looks so vulnerable, we can see that on her face (Erica is so phenomenal). She standing right there opening her heart and soul which she have never done before. Clark actually starts to realize here there's something between them. It just cuts deep inside💘 when try you try to soak up in the moment.

I think orange is their color, idk why. Maybe due to the fact that Lois is wearing it. In 9 or 10 season when they are together, there's is this orange filter (sometimes yellow) and it it just feels warm and familiar 🧡

#smallville #smallville edit #my edit #lois lane #clark kent #clois #erica durance #tom welling #superman #bride #thank you for listening to my rant #they could've just made Doomsday interrupt their moment #and that would've been fine

[alteon77]

Updated Masterlist of Writing and Art

About the writer/artist: I like to write and paint. My current obsession is Sandman, but I enjoy most fantasy fandoms as well as anime (I think I’m on season seven billion of One Piece right now 🤣). I'm also weird as they come (and awkward, too), so just please ignore my oddball (coughTERRIBLEcough) sense of humor.

On a more personal note, I have PTSD and suffer from severe manic depressive episodes. Writing and art are my most familiar coping mechanisms, and I need them like I need oxygen. Seriously, there were times in my life that knowing I had to finish a story or a piece of art was the only thing stopping me from ending up dead. So, I don't take part in fandom drama. Having my peace and protecting my mental health are very big deals to me, and I won't risk those for anything if I can help it.

As for my writing, it ranges from short one-shots to ridiculously long novel series. I use third person POV (on longer series) as well as second person (on shorter things). I also try to always exclude physical descriptions when writing main character OCs and assign them nicknames to avoid using Y/N. I love to read Y/N fics, but writing them makes me feel like I'm at work. And who actually wants to ever feel like they're at work when they're engaging in a hobby? Definitely not me.

Lastly, there's usually more stuff on my AO3 page than I have listed here, because I forget to post it pretty often. Oops. I'll get around to moving it all over one day. Probably. Maybe.

Feel free to leave an ask if you want or just drop by my DMs. <3

Artwork links are at the bottom of this list, so if you're here for those, that's where they are.

Sandman 'Verse

All the Precious and Fragile Things (so easily do they break)

After banishing his lover from the Dreaming for her betrayal, Morpheus learns that she is pregnant with his child.

And that she’s been captured by a revenge-seeking Alexander Burgess.

What the both of them are unaware of is that this will set in motion a cascade of unfavorable events, causing a chain reaction that threatens the whole of existence itself.

PART I: All of This Past

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

PART II: These Tender, Loving Mercies

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

PART III: When It All Falls Down

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

PART IV: The Dark of War

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Epilogue

Sometimes He's Sweet

Morpheus hates the holidays.

As excited as she seems to experience the mortal holiday, he's… less so. Much less so. With the entire collective unconscious contained within him, this time of year can be wholly overwhelming, a miasma of too much red and green, too much worry, too much loneliness, too much excitement, too many similarly themed dreams, too many similarly themed nightmares, and far far too many holiday songs. It all bleeds out from the collective unconscious into his own mind, sticks there like weeping sap to a tree until he feels half-mad with the unrelenting presence of it, with his inability to get free from its cloying trespass upon his very being.

This is just a little sweet fluff for the holiday season. It takes place between chapters 19 and 20 of "All the Precious and Fragile Things". No spoilers here if you've read that far!

The Dog Debacle (or how best to sneak a dragon into the dreaming)

Morpheus' daughter gets a new dog.

Well..... kind of.

That Familiar Feeling of Family (or how Hob Gadling ended up as an uncle to his stranger's oftentimes feral children)

It's a pretty universally known thing that families are just strange. As Hob is quickly figuring out, however, this little fact is magnified by AT LEAST a billion when the family in question is Endless.

(A lighthearted story in which Hob Gadling finds out his stranger has married, makes friends with a homicidal maniac/ruler, and manages to become an exemplary uncle to a pack of magically mischievous children. Really, now all he has to do is convince everyone to stop calling his and Dream's weekly meetups "playdates", and then his life would be practically perfect.)

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

The Maker, the Muse, and the Sundered Song

In his temple, what remains of Orpheus waits in trepidation. Something is changing. Something that he knows might alter the very fabric of the world as he understands it.

Finally freed from captivity, Calliope struggles to make any meaningful changes to the laws that saw her bound and taken in the first place. When the strange woman appears on Mount Parnassus and offers help, Calliope knows she would be a fool not to accept it. Even if she thinks that she's being lied to.

Meanwhile in the peace of the Dreaming, Morpheus grapples with guilt over his son's fate. As he basks in the love of his new children, he can't help but to regret his own failings where Orpheus is concerned.

And as for May, she's really just got a job to do. And her own traumatic issues to deal with. And if it's all hella awkward because she's having to work alongside her husband's ex-wife, she'll see it done anyway. There's even the small possibility that she might eventually admit to Calliope the truth about her identity. That is if she can ever actually work up the courage to say it aloud.

Chapter 1

Nothing in This Closet but Boots and a Boy

Morpheus is wildly protective of his daughter.

That's probably bad for the boy in said daughter's closet.

AU's and Other Stuff in the Sandman 'Verse

Of Exes, Hellhounds, and Waffle Fries

Morpheus shows up to rescue the woman he probably loves (though he won't admit it) from hellhounds and ends up getting roped into helping with her family. This is one of those extras that doesn't fit into the main story, but it's fun, so I'm posting it.

The Bizarre Breeding Habits of Anthropomorphic Personifications

It's a tale as old as time.

Two idiots fall in love. Two idiots fall out of love.

Neither one of them is expecting a baby to come along and derail their unhappily ever after.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Original Fanart

I like to play around with different styles and to try new things with my artwork. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. I'm still learning, and I am so far from being a professional that it's laughable. But I only post things that I think look decent or that I think others might enjoy.

The Lover's Argument (Morpheus x oc)

Oneiros (Morpheus in Grecian garb)

Because I could not stop for Death, she kindly stopped for me... (Regency era Dream and Death)

#sandman fic #morpheus x oc #morpheus #morpheus x reader #morpheus fanfiction #sandman fanfiction #sandman oc #dream of the endless #dad!morpheus #dragons in the dreaming #preciousfragilethings #PFT #bbhap #fanart #fan art #alteon77 fan art

[crypticbeliever123]

My Adventures With Superman is a show that goes from 0 to 60 at fucking lightspeed. Episodes 1 and 2 are the standard origin. Episode 3 is progression of Clark developing his powers and Lois's quest to find answers. All's good. Pacing is fine.

Then episode 4 has Lois discover Clark is Superman while Jimmy gets 3rd-wheeled, progressing his narrative.

Episode 5 Clark faces the main bad guys and finds out they've been kidnapping the other bad guys this season. Lois confronts him about his secret identity by jumping off a building. Jimmy gets abandoned by his friends who were supposed to join him on a Bigfoot hunting camping trip.

Episode 6 we learn he's been captured by Bigfoot, actually Monsieur Mallah and the Brain who used to work for Cadmus, the rival science group to the main bad guys Task Force X. Lois and Clark team up to rescue Jimmy who reveals he's known Clark's secret THE WHOLE DAMN TIME!

Episode 7 Clark and Lois plan a date only to get shanghaied into multiversal shenanigans by Mr. Mxyzptlk and the League of Lois Lanes who are hunting Mxy. The Loises hate Superman and attack him with Kryptonite (his first exposure to the stuff). Mxy causes chaos and name drops Krypton. Lois finds out about the evil Clarks of the multiverse whilst obtaining a shard of Kryptonite and Mxy escapes jail to tell Lois he knows what the Kryptonite is but he'd have more fun watching her figure it out, hinting that some shit's gonna go down with that shard and Lois.

Meanwhile episode 8 is shown in the promo to have Clark discover super hearing and develop super burnout from trying to answer every call for help for days on end.

There are 10 episodes this season to my knowledge and the first 7 have:

Revealed Clark's secret to his friends

Started the Clois romance with plenty of drama beforehand

Set up Task Force X as a major threat

Set up Kryptonite as a chekovs gun

Hinted at evil Supermen, suggesting that might come up later again

All of this in just 7 episodes! Whoo boy! I can only imagine how they'll wrap up the season with only 3 episodes left.

#maws #my adventures with superman

[pedanticat]

Okay, so the season finale of MAWS was good, but it also felt rushed, which is how I would describe season one overall. There's a lot to enjoy about the show such as the characters, art style and humor. Clois is adorable, the changes made to the Superman mythos are interesting, and I love the internal conflict Clark goes through as he tries to figure out who/ what he is. However, this season really needed more episodes. We never get much of a chance to really digest the information we get or any downtime. It's just plot plot plot with some things feeling rushed. Like don't get me wrong, I love Clois, and obviously we all knew they were going to get together. But while I appreciate them not wanting to drag out the romance , I wouldn't have minded waiting a bit longer. Season 1 is also very Clois centric.

Season 2 will apparently have only 10 episodes well, but I hope things are better paced and now that Clois is canon, the show can take a step back and explore other things in depth. Show the main trio being reporters, delve more into Jimmy character and his relationship with Clark (season 1 was mainly Clark/Lois or Lois/ Jimmy) and just let us catch our breath.

#pc thoughts #my adventures with superman #clois #superman #maws #jimmy olsen #clark Kent #lois lane

[angelltheninth]

Its so funny too cause other versions of Lois have done way more drastic things to prove that Clark was Superman (one version literally shot him point blank) but the one who was worried sick about him and hurt about him lying is the one that people are mad about lmao

I do also get Clark because at this stage he's still figuring things out about his powers and he wants to protect Lois and his other friends from all the craziness happening around him

I also do understand Lois being upset because remember, this is right after he's just gotten back from a fight, clearly hurt with Lois worrying about him and he still lied, even though he already planned on telling her before

I understand both sides, I respect both sides and I think it will be resolved. This is episode 5 out of 10 that we have for this season and I don't think this conflict will be drawn out for long with the limited time the season has. My best guess is maybe 2-3 episodes for the Clois drama to be resolved. But no, people don't want that, they want it resolved right away and yet complain that its resolved too quickly.

Sorry, I don't usually rant like this but this "who is right and who is wrong" thing is really stupid and exposing the misogynistic and toxic parts of this fandom, which I honestly thought we ditched with this specific version but clearly not.

#my adventures with superman #clark kent #superman #lois lane #clois #fandom rant

[nofacednerd]

Wait a Clois shipping second here! If the show is only 10 episodes long, and Lois finds out in ep. 5, than this is basically a mid-season finale!

Yup! Most animated shows now-a-days seem to be only having 10 episode seasons

mostly because streaming services cut 20 episode seasons into 2 and then cancel them after the 'second' season which is what happened to Inside Job on Netflix

So yes, that's another reason why the reveal (and also their relationship starting) happened so quickly in context of the show. They're probably getting it out of the way quickly so they can focus more on the Krypton/Slade/Waller plotlines in the second half of season 1

#my best guess is they'll take 1 more episode for Lois secret identity reveal shenanigans #then probably another episode or 2 before the two of them start officially dating #my adventures with superman spoilers #my adventures with superman

[rabdoidal]

statnick? spare statnick???

OKAY SO this is elaborating on an idea i had like years ago that i drew (the art of nick cradling static man's face) but i thought itd be really interesting for there to be a post-left of the dial / season 4 pitch fanfic where nick is trying to make another ritual, but he keeps failing at it - maybe theres more brutal consequences, but some just fizzle out completely. theres this dichotomy building of the two of them getting closer as friends but also a sense of not wanting to disappoint the other person - nick promised static man a body, and static man promised to be his protector and collaborator. with no rituals to do and no enemies to fight, both struggle to admit defeat or connect to the other on a personal level.

after months, nick has exhausted his fathers library, and the small collection of reading materials hes bartered for from other sorcerers. as a last ditch attempt, nick says fuck it, i have dads money burning a hole in my pocket, lets travel the world and try find a ritual.

so it becomes an extended trip, kinda like left of the dial, but all over the place - first the states, driving around in the same car they used 10 months ago on the blacktop, then to mexico, chile, and bolivia - then to france, to germany, to italy and spain and then egypt, syria, turkey, then pakistan, nepal, and the torres strait islands. whatever sparse luggage nick bought with him, he suddenly finds himself having to buy another suitcase just for the books and textiles and trinkets he buys along the 9 weeks they spend doing a tour around the world, following tips from other people connected to magic along the way.

all the while, nick is searching, but more than that, hes reconnecting with the human beings around him. he used to be a shut in before all the magic, and he got even worse after it, so getting out and meeting people and getting into mischief is a breath of fresh air, all the while, bringing static man along for the journey when he can make excuses for the being made of static walking next to him

eventually, they find their answers, and its so simple, but nick wasnt thinking outside himself for so long he didnt realise it - he couldnt help static man because he was impure, carrying around magical baggage and trauma on the inside, festering in his flesh, and being unable to help because of it. and that same magical rot inside nick is what static man is covered in - dark magic, gnashing teeth, entropy - and it is like dirt sticking to both of them

so he comes up with a ritual - for a week, he drinks dandelion tea 3 times a day, he meditates in the sun, he fills the house with soft music, and he thinks hard about humanity, all for static man.

then, he buys a clawfoot bathtub and drags it to the basement, fills it with water and jojoba oil and dandelion leaves and a litre of his own blood that turns it black as night - there is soft-burning incense and the very beginning rays of dawn poking through the small window just above ground level. static man sits in the tub, or whatever the approximation he can do with his mass to appear to be sitting, and nick starts

and its simple - static man suddenly comes into awareness of flesh under static - a body buried. nick washes away the cloying static from the man underneath, and it feels like peeling dead skin, like sensation before pain, all sensitivity and raw edges

it takes hours, the water is long cold by the time theyre done, but when they are, the water is crystal clear, and static man is static no longer.

#personal #long post #statnick #a81 #ok to rb #magic was socialism all along #its about putting time in #and introspection #and becoming better so you can better help others #its about loving the soft animal of your body #its the washing of feet before religious ceremonies #its take me by my hand even though you will stain me with blood #i care too much about you to care about being bloody #my blood is your blood #its about what we owe each other #its about all textures and sensations coming with the raw edge of pain without any of the follow through #its about eating fucking baklava with your best friend #and minding his sharp teeth #and loving him anyway

[theragamuffininitiative]

2, 6, 10, 20 and 22 for unfinished fic asks!

hiiiii!

2. How did you get the idea to write this? [Based on the other questions, I'm gonna talk about my urban fantasy novel here] As best as I can remember, the inspiration for Cloy came from 1) the part in Bandstand where Julia says "I don't need saving!" and Donny says "yeah, well maybe I do" and 2) Needtobreathe's song "Banks" and 3) the ending of Jessica Day George's Dragon Slippers, and 4) a couple random pinterest pins including an animated gif of a human!Starscream from Transformers I guess?? and something from the first season of Nikita??, and lots of stuff I had no pre-existing context for and hodgepodged together. 😂

6. Is there any specific ship you're planning to include? Ok, I don't ship much and I definitely don't write romance for the sake of it, but this story has a very important romance between the two protagonists, River and Captain. [sudden giggling over how their names basically suggest a ship anyways] Anyways, I ship them so hard, and they're so good for each other, and I put them through so much. 😭 The dynamic can definitely be found in the NTB song from the first question.

10. If unpublished, can you show a sneak peek of what you've written?

"Why am I here?” Tyler frowned. “You don’t remember.” “No, I don’t, that’s why I’m asking –” “No, that’s what I meant. You’re here because you don’t remember. You were attacked. You lost some of your memory. You were awake when Professor Lewis brought you here… you don’t remember that either?” Tyler looked as though he were concentrating on Captain’s answer, as if it were suddenly not a casual check-up, but a report he had to give. Captain frowned, thinking hard. “I think…" Something itched at the back of his mind. “Mathen brought me here after… after the hospital?” Tyler grinned, relaxing a little. “Yeah, the hospital.” “But why was I…” Captain looked down at his arms and suddenly noticed the skin was scraped and raw. A wide bandage had been wrapped around his left forearm and horrifying purple bruises completely encircled both of his wrists. He sat down hard on the bed. “What…” Fear stabbed at his gut, twisting his insides. He thought he was going to throw up. “Where did…” He looked back up at Tyler, who was staring at the marks as well, but shook himself and met Captain’s gaze. “I don’t understand.” Tyler's brow furrowed with concern. “I’m going to call Professor Mathen and tell him you’re awake. Can I leave you here, you’re alright for a minute?” He seemed afraid Captain might do something unpredictable and insane if he left him alone. Captain shook his head slowly. “Please, go call him. Is there anyone else here?” “No, sir. Just us. I’ll be right back.” And, with that, Tyler turned and sprinted off, his hand already going to his pocket to dig out a cell phone before he was even out of view of the door, which he left cracked open. The electric light of the hall was comforting and Captain appreciated Tyler’s thoughtfulness, or perhaps absentmindedness, for leaving the door open. He looked down at his hands again, trying to comprehend what had happened and why he couldn’t remember. Panic escaped his lungs in a sharp exhale, immediately forcing him to breathe in again - a sort of desperate gasp to fill his body with oxygen again. The gasp, the intake of fresh sweet air, brought a stab of recollection to him and if he hadn’t already been sitting down he would have staggered under its blow. It wasn’t a memory exactly, but like the feeling of realizing after a long night of troubled sleep, that all the trouble had been because of a dream. There was no memory of the dream itself, just the idea of having had the dream in the first place, and whatever he had been feeling in the dream. But whatever this was, it had not been a dream. Dreams didn't leave bruises around his wrists. You were attacked, Tyler said. Again, he thought he was going to throw up. The echo of memory passed as soon as it had come and he sat on the edge of the bed in the silent room trying to catch hold of the last thing he did remember. What had happened to him?

20. Give a vague description of something that will happen without revealing too much. [I wanna say something funny and cleverly vague here but have no braincells, just gonna share the little logline/teaser/synopsis I have.] "The worlds of fae and humankind are collapsing in on themselves, as a half-fae daughter of war and the scientist assigned to test her magic must choose to save their own in the division, or lose everything together."

22. Will this fic include more angst or more fluff? Probably more angst. Bit of world-ending stuff going on. But not devoid of fluff. 😊

#thanks for the ask! #unfinished wips ask #aster friend #wip: cloy #ft. an unoriginal amnesiac scene bc that is what i scrolled to in the document lol

[stuckyevanstanfan]

I'm reassured sometimes by other pairings that the show tried to wreck and then redeemed later (Clois getting interrupted by the 8x13 - 8x14 Clana mess then having seasons 9-10 after), so I know things aren't hopeless with Buddie.

Then I remember what I've heard of other pairings like Bellarke or Braime (not totally sure of these names) that never got a satisfactory ending.

#911 spoilers #Buddie #Clois #Bellarke #Braime #I didn't watch The 100 or GoT so I know next to nothing about those pairings #I could be mistaken about what I've heard

[legilimensims]

it’s half past 10 pm, i’m dining. you know what screams “christmas” to me, besides pandoro ofc…mostarda and mascarpone combo on a piece of bread. it takes me back to my childhood, to the holiday season with my mom and my grandparents.

mostarda, if you don’t know, is kind of a spicy fruit-based spread - mostarda veneta from my region specifically is the one i eat; the fruits are mostly apple, quince, and pear and it has like this sweet cloying smell but it is also slightly pungent. mascarpone is just plain mascarpone that’s why it’s the purrfect mawwiage. it’s so nostalgic.

#can u tell im lonely oooof #as of two years now my mother spends every holiday with her partner so it’s just me myself and i. and my cat. #i don’t mind being alone generally but it sucks during christmas time..meh #personal #nonsims #saviorhide

[roegadynroost]

FFXIVwrite 2023 - 10 Fondness

It had been a day like many others for Thyn'a Sindyrl. A return to Gridania after a long stretch of time on the road with the scions. She caught an airship from one side of the great continent to her shaded home in the Shroud. The air was cooler than it had been on her last visit, a sign of the seasons change. It was not as cold as she would have liked, but then again, few places had been as cool as the chilly little valley she called home in her youth. Still, she dressed a little warmer for her visit, a handsome loose white smock belted over her favorite pale blue leathers. 

Thyn'a had finished up the most pressing of her business already, She'd made sure all was in order with her retainers finances. She gave them a generous tip for their services, and when she made to say her goodbyes Faustigent refused to let her go before she'd let him buy her a drink at the Carline Canopy. She was very happy to catch up with the amorous Elezen. He listened to her stories with great interest, and told a few of his own from his retainer escapades. 

Before Thyn'a knew it, it was noon and Faustigent was shooing her off to go enjoy her leave. She was always happy to see him she couldn't deny, but she couldn't lie to herself that his presence at times could be cloying. Her social energy was running a tad low. It would be nice to get a chance to disengage for a short while, which is why she loved Gridania to begin with. 

Thyn'a greeted Gontrant with the warmest smile she could muster. He had a fierce face that might leave some to think he was a grouchy old man, but she found the enthusiasm he had for inspiring and encouraging Adventures to take up work to be energizing. A quick peek at the leves for the day gave her a fine choice of tasks and she accepted  a couple of them with vigor, waving goodbye as she made to away.

Thyn'a was taking a break from champion work but she did not wish to be idle for her entire trip. She wouldn't go far, just out to Central Shroud to do some gathering while she decompressed from the days hustle and bustle. Going out and getting her hands dirty in the loamy soils always calmed her.

The first of the days quests was filling an order of Latex that Frondale's Phrontistery placed with the Greatloam Growery and emphasized that the product must be of the utmost purity. Not that she would ever deliver anything of subpar quality, but Thyn'a made a mental note anyways. While tapping for latex was one of the first things she learned from the Botanist's guild, it was always a time intensive task, but she filled the pots calmly and carefully. 

The sun had dipped quite a bit lower by the time she set out to deliver the lot to Miruaule to be transported. The charming Elezen woman attempted to get Thyn'a to accept more work, but she declined, set on finishing her last task before retiring for the night. She thanked her and accepted her payment. The gil wasn't a lot, but she would never turn her nose up at it. It was honest work.

Thyn'a's next task took her to the banks of the West Vein where she would be taking on a job for the Seedseers themselves, and it was of the utmost importance. After the destruction the Calamity waged on the Twelveswood, there had been an effort at reforestation. Her job today was to help said effort by collecting samples from the new growth. The specimens would then be studied by the Growery.

Thyn'a was to gather from the plants along the west bank, specifically mistletoe and ash saplings. She started in the north and worked her way south along the river, past Bentbranch and to where the West Vein joined the East Vein, widening and flowing off to the Mirror. The sun's glow was waning as she collected and tagged the last of her spoils, but it cast everything in the most beautiful orange light that added to the magical feel of the place.

The delivery point for this lot was the Bentbranch levemete named Tierney, Thyn'a could spy the building from her spot. She decided that the samples would hold up long enough for her to take a moment to just breathe and take in the twilit moment. Before long her gloves, boots, and pack had been shed, and she was descending the rocks down to the gently flowing waters.

Feet submerged in the cool stream, Thyn'a sat and listened to the sounds of the Black Shroud. The leaves rustling above, the water flowing all around her. The aether pulsed from everything, soothing away the tightness in her shoulders. She watched fireflies dance in the distance, and the nearby water sprites swirled elegantly about the river. It was tranquility brought alive.

She stayed like that in the twilight for was seemed like forever, an uninterrupted moment of peace. The sun was still making its steady descent in the distance, but not yet gone. And Thyn'a wondered if she might just turn in those samples quickly and then come back to this spot to enjoy herself. 

The ears atop her head swiveled and flicked. In the distance Thyn'a heard what she surmised was a chocobo as it trotted over the bridge into Bentbranch. She could not see it from where she sat, the rocks blocking her view but it didn't matter. She just wanted to enjoy her moment a little bit longer.

---

Honeyrust had taken on a late afternoon job for the Greatloam Growery. It was last minute, but it was simple enough and he had finished his retainer tasks for the day so he'd figured he would try and get in a bit of extra work for a bit of extra gil. Working for his current patron he was allotted more time than he expected, and he wanted to make the most of it.

Wanting to get back within the city walls before dusk, Honeyrust hurried to the Chocobokeep and gathered up Biscuits, his clients loyal steed, and left through Blue Badger Gate. Though it was getting late he still allowed himself the pleasure of taking the scenic route, the call of the forest at eventide was too much for him to resist enjoying, even if these boughs were not the ones that bore him.

The trip was short, ten minutes by Honeyrust's measure, to get to the Bentbranch stables where he left Biscuits with a tasty treat. Someone had planted a patch of Krakka roots in the Growery thinking they were carrots, and when the mix-up was discovered the bitter roots had been given out to any one that wanted them. They were not very palatable to most, but chocobo loved them, so he grabbed one for his feathered friend.

Honeyrust knew just where to go, he'd gathered here before. The order called for lavender and carnations. There was something in the note about it being needed for a ceremony at the Sanctum of the Twelve in the morning, but he was to just gather it and take it to a levemete to be delivered by someone else. So he followed the dirt path to the river where his memory recalled seeing the plants before.

There at the foot of a great tree was a patch of lush vegetation, glimmering in the sunset glow. Honeyrust already had his sickle out as he waded through the grass, movements careful and practiced as to not crush the greenery, his eyes sharply observing. He had just spotted a bit of lavender when something further yet caught his gaze.

There along the bank of the river was a backpack, next to it a pair of neatly placed gloves. They looked much like the ones he used for his botany work, and he wondered if one of his colleagues might have forgotten their things out in the woods. Keen ears twitched atop Honeyrust's head as he forsook his task to get a closer look at the abandoned gear, but the only sound was that of the forest, the rushing of the water and him moving through the brush.

Honeyrust crept closer to the edge, more and more of the river coming into view with every step. A few harmless water sprites floated along the other shore of the river, but still there was not yet anyone in sight until he was right upon the bag. There down below, a pair of familiar ears perked at the sound of his boots shuffling through the leaf-litter, and his eyes widened as they met a mirroring pair.

"Thyn'a?" Came Honeyrust's inquisitive timbre, a smile taking his lips and excitement brightening his eyes. 

"Oh" Thyn'a remarked and sat a little straighter as she recognized him, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. She was perched on a rock near the bottom, her bare feet in the water. "Honeyrust! I thought you a diremite strayed too far north for a moment. Hello my friend!" A well-worn pair of boots was next to her, socks carefully stored with them away from the rushing water. She stood and made to grab them in one hand before scaling the rocks to get back up.

For a quick moment a pang of guilt shot through him. He'd seemingly come across her taking a moment to relax. The guilt evaporated however when he saw the look of equal excitement on her face. He shook the feeling, tucking his sickle away and then reaching out a hand to help her as she made her way up. She looked surprised at the offer of his assistance for just a fraction of a second, but she did not try to press on by herself, her larger hand tentatively reaching up to grasp his as she stepped up the rest of the way.

"Bet it's not every day someone gets to look down on you?" The quip was leaving Honeyrust's mouth before he could think about it, thankfully it earned him a lovely chuckle from her, a rich and mirthful sound delighting his ears as he watched her shoulders shake. 

"No, it's not." Thyn'a said simply, her eyes crinkling as her grin widened yet still. "Those that do dare look down on me oft find themselves cut down a size or so, best be careful to not get too use to it." the words themselves might have been threatening, but her tone had no bite, no warning, no coldness to it. 

Even still, Honeyrust's following chuckle may have held the tiniest tinge of fear.

Thyn'a let go of his hand and Honeyrust watched curiously as she shuffled over to her bag carefully depositing her boots next to it, as neatly as ever. She settled on the ground next to it legs dangling over the side. Looking up to him she never lost her smile and she motioned to the spot open beside her. She looked to not be in any hurry to quit this reunion.

Honeyrust didn't feel like he was in any hurry either, and he coolly took a seat, one leg dangling like hers, the other bent for him to prop an arm on. She returned her attention to the water once more, seemingly pleased as they settled into silence. It didn't seem that today Thyn'a was keen on stirring up conversation, though she was as warm a presence as ever. Honeyrust was equally happy with enjoying the ambiance with her quietly until a thought crossed his mind. 

"Sorry about the other day." Honeyrust began, recalling the day a week or so ago that he'd seen her at the harvest for All Saints' Wake at the Greatloam Growery. "I wanted to catch up, but if I didn't get back to it I'm sure Sandre would have keeled over without me."

"Mmm" Thyn'a gave him a side glance, the sound that escaped her was soft and thoughtful, and her eyes seemed the slightest bit befuddled. Honeyrust's eyes held hers, trying to decipher the confusion, but as quickly as it was there, it was gone, replaced the with soft warmth that she often wore in her expressions when they spoke.

"Don't worry about it. The old man always needs all the help he can get." Thyn'a replied finally a playful lit to her voice. "We'll have all the time to catch up now, and there's no place I'd rather be my friend." 

Honeyrust for a moment wondered if Thyn'a was just being polite, but as he watched her he thought better of it. She'd never given him cause to believe she was anything less than honest. Even after he'd quit the guild and avoided her, she'd only continue to seek him out and shared her adventures with him as if naught had changed.

"What brings you out into this part of the woods then?" Honeyrust asked, nodding to her pack and gloves. "Doing menial botany work? That's not something I'd expected of a warrior such as yourself." He knew she was a master botanist and didn't expect she'd be out doing, well, whatever would bring her to this part of the forest.

"My work is of the utmost importance today." Thyn'a beamed. "I was gathering samples for the Seedseers of the new growth planted after the Calamity, for some folks at the Growery to study." There was not a hint of sarcasm in her tone that Honeyrust could glimpse.

Their conversation continued on. Thyn'a recounted her day and her upcoming work with the Adventurer's guild for All Saint's Wake. Of course Honey asked of her adventuring as well, and he listened with excitement. She also asked after his well being, and he was able to tell her about his work as a retainer. She was seemingly ecstatic at the news and even listened with interest as he told her of all the things he was learning as a Botanist. 

A fondness lit her two-toned eyes as she looked at him. It was easy for Honeyrust to loose track of time as they continued to trade stories well after the sun had disappeared. When he realized the time he began to worry that he wouldn't be able fulfill his order in the dark. 

"Worry not my friend. What is it that you need? I'm sure between the two of us we can get it done in no time." Thyn'a managed to calm him long enough for him to give her the information she needed to get gathering. 

"Carnations and lavender." Honeyrust spoke, unsure of her suggestion. He stood still, watching as she went about putting her socks shoes and gloves back on, followed by her backpack. Only then did she pull out her sickle and get straight to work.

In the darkness Honeyrust began to feel a pang of fear at the thought of something waiting a lurking in the shadows, a great fiend waiting for the perfect moment to devour them when their backs were turned. However, as Thyn'a's voice rang out again, warm and clear, he found her own ease contagious. She continuing their conversation, picking up on where they left off as they'd never stopped.

---

"I'm sorry, it's so easy for me to loose track of time out here, and I seldom feel as at ease anywhere as I do here." Thyn'a apologized to Honeyrust as she tied off her fifth and final bouquet of carnations, gathering them into one arm as they made to return to Bentbranch. He had looked so genuinely worried for a moment she could feel the concern rolling off of him. 

"I should be the one apologizing. I didn't pay attention to the time and now you're having to waste yours helping me." The guilt in Honeyrust's voice was heartbreaking. 

"Banish the thought Honey, spending time with my friends is never a waste." Thyn'a reassured him. "We seldom know what life has in store for today, or tomorrow, and I like to not take for granted my chances to enjoy someones presence. No matter how busy or tired I get." Though she found it easy to share stories of adventure, at times she found it hard to be eloquent when speaking on her feelings. She hoped her words would be enough to placate him though.

"...Thank you, Thyn'a" Honeyrust's tense shoulders sagged as he seemed to accept her words. Thyn'a was relieved.

They gathered Biscuits up, the chocobo Honeyrust had come on. He told her the steed was his patron's. Thyn'a couldn't resist giving him a treat and a pat as they secured the flowers to his pack. Then she was untying her own feathered friend Aiseidin. She only stopped once more to deliver the samples to the levemete, and then she escorted Honeyrust back to Gridania proper.

Thyn'a stayed with Honeyrust to deliver the flowers and then escorted him to West Shore Pier where she finally wished him a good evening.

"Thank you very much Thyn'a." Honeyrust smiled at her, his earlier trepidation seemingly melted away.

"Of course!" Thyn'a said as she lingered at the top of the stairs leading down to the water. She would be staying in the city tonight, at her room in the Carline Canopy. It was less travel time and she was hoping to meet with one of the investigators for the Adventurer's Guild bright and early to begin planning their operations for All Saint's Wake. 

"I hope that you won't be a stranger Honey! I'll be in the city till about a week following the festival." Thyn'a added, smiling hopefully as she looked down at him. "If you'd like, and if your work allows for it, don't hesitate to call on me for anything at all. Whether that be a need of assistance or perhaps tea and good conversation?" 

Honeyrust had stopped on the other side of the gate. He seemed tired from the busy day, but still he did not hurry down to the boats. He smiled and nodded to her.

"I think I'd be fond of that."

#ffxiv #final fantasy xiv #final fantasy #roegadyn #femroe #roegadame #ff14 #bunny ears #final fantasy 14 #female roegadyn #Viera #male viera #Botany #BTN #Thyna #Thyn'a #Thyn'a Sindyrl #Thyna Sindyrl #friends #Gridania #chocobo #krakka root #the black shroud #ffxiv writing #ffxiv fic #FFXIVwrite #ffxivwrite2023 #levequests

[mattohonbung]

kulan cafe

🇸🇴 somali

📍 skyline aka build america plaza in bailey's crossroads, falls church, virginia

📅 dinner; July 2023. 1st time

😋 overall: I literally have no metric for somali food but since it's the only one of its kind in the area, I hope it sticks around. I love getting surprise sides, and they know how to season their damn meat!!!! I'd come back in a heartbeat.

more food pix + detailed review under the cut!

🍵 not pictured is the tea we ordered, 1 cup each. it came out PIPING HOT so we had to wait a bit, but it was so wonderfully spiced (cardamom?). sweet too, but a little too sweet that it got a little cloying once it cooled down. at room temp, all the spices made it taste a little medicinal; reminded me of a natural cough syrup or something. I'd order it again but drink it while it's still hot.

🍚🐔 rice w/ chicken suqar - this was my fav dish! the chicken was soooo tender and well-spiced (not much else you can say about it when you can't identify spices that well lmfao all I know is that i loved every bite). the rice took up half the plate and then some! I loved that it came with raisins; it reminds me of afghan pulao.

I would SO get this again!!!!!!

🥗 didn't take a separate photo of the salad that came with this dish but it was pretty good. I liked taking bites of it in between these heavier meat dishes. the vinaigrette helped lift it! I'd get it again.

it reminds me of the side of salad that kabob places usually include. I wonder if salads are a western influence and what kinds of vegetables are native to Somalia.

🫓🐑 sabaya w/ lamb - it's always a gamble getting lamb or goat from restaurants but I'm so glad I did cos this lamb wasn't dry whatsoever and I loooved the spice rub on it. there were some chewy parts that I had to spit out but it was prob tendon so that's to be expected.

also I was drooling the moment I saw them bring out this plate cos the flatbread looked sooo flaky BUT it ended up being chewy and dry af 😔 it was difficult to pull apart 😢😢😢 I'm genuinely so sad about this cos it prevented this whole meal from being a solid 10

I wouldn't get a dish with sabaya again. I'd have a dish with lamb again tho! maybe I'll try their pasta next time.

🥘 unknown side that has potatoes, peas, and ??? - lol right after the cashier/server brought out the sabaya w/ lamb, he was like "I'm not done!!!" and brought out THIS DISH. and then he was like "NOW the dish is complete." thank god he did cos that sabaya needed moisture... badly

didn't even know that the dish even had sides so i'm not sure how to get it again... but I definitely want it again. I love tasting a delicious spice combination for the first time 🥰

they brought this out a little late into the meal but they also gave us a bowl of their house-made hot sauce, which was made of jalapenos. it wasn't that spicy (tbf the server told us that as he put it down) but its freshness helped lift some items.

-----

💲 price - $17-$20 for each plate, which I think is fair given the generous portion sizes. definitely stuffed 2 people, with some food left over (mostly carbs haha)

🗒️ other notes - it didn't taste salty or anything while I was eating but once I got home, i was SO THIRSTY i downed half my water bottle like a whale. 🐋

anyway the cashier/server was really friendly to us. after he asked us to rate the food, he made a point to tell us that everyone cooking this food is family and actually from somalia, not like "other restaurants" (who most likely have latino people working in the back).

this plaza feels like the ethiopian version of eden center. hoping i'm not cursing the place as I write this but I wonder when fairfax county will start drooling over the land as ripe for redevelopment and ethiopians will have to organise for anti-gentrification like viet folks are rn (if you're reading this, follow viet place collective)

#somali #bailey's crossroads #falls church #virginia #dinner