#colossal scallops

[dogtoling]

do you think a colossal squid would exist in splatoon? id imagine theyd definitely be a lot smaller but still noticeably taller/bigger than other inkfish

(I got carried away so for answers to the ACTUAL QUESTION, skip to paragraph 5.)

Given how many other "repeat species" there are in Splatoon (for example many different types of crab, and separate species of jellyfish and anemone that are similar in physique but still distinct species, and now different species of Octoling) i definitely see them in the realm of possibility. This opening segment isn't really relevant to the ask, but I got too caught up in the "do you think (x) would exist" concept, so now i feel the need to evaluate what makes a species "likely" to exist in the Splatoon world. There's some animals that wouldn't exist on account of being extinct (Including marine mammals unless they randomly decide to do a plot point with a hidden dolphin society like they did with Mr Grizz). Different Octoling and Inkling species seemed pretty unlikely before because there wasn't much canon evidence that it COULD be a thing, but now there is, so it's a whole new ball park.

Generally, with how much variety there has been and continuously is in terms of species coming up in band art, even "unlikely" species that don't make sense as anthropomorphic creatures just kinda are there, which means the whole "would this and this exist" conversation is kind of pointless now in my opinion? For example anemones, urchins and worst of all, CORALS and seaweed. None of those really make sense as Guys but they evolved, so at this point if a sea creature exists, it can be a Guy. It can be a bunch of other things, too, as we know there's bug-like flying scallops and split evolution within very similar species is present. And like a major species in the game are sentient, severed limbs of another species, which btw would be great to get an actual canon origin explanation on that is STRAIGHTFORWARD and explains how Octarians are created.

There's some semi-aquatic and questionable sea creatures that don't really fit the "aquatic creature" niche that might still exist, like frogs or reptiles in general, which i DON'T think would fit at all as anthropomorphic. But this is more on a basis of thematic fitting and tropes from the game. If an animal is even a little bit terrestrial and not deliberately known to humans as something aquatic, it would probably be unchanged for the most part. Birds are a very good example of this as there's technically no reason they couldn't have evolved (before someone brings up the crystals and ocean pollution causing rapid evolution, those would've travelled up to the birds through the food chain) but it feels much more natural for them to still be animals.

The same in my head goes for something like crocodiles or turtles, which can be sea creatures, but they're not **really** sea creatures and I feel making them anthropomorphic wouldn't feel very Splatoon. Those are creatures you often seen anthropomorphized in general furry media, and Splatoon is a pretty specific type of setting where the creatures are largely unconventional and bizarre fully aquatic Things. This isn't related to the topic at all anymore and I don't know if it's just me, but it's how I feel about it. And for the record, if they did decide to include an anthro saltwater crocodile in a future game, i WOULD NOT COMPLAIN because crocodilians are my second favorite animals, but I WOULD think it's very odd. TL;DR i think crocodiles evolving to be a guy would be really strange because it's kinda on the same page as a Mallard or Swan having evolved. (They're both semi-aquatic vertebrates.)

(PARAGRAPH 5) Now the actual topic at hand. I COULD see colossal squid existing in Splatoon! if you read the rest of this ask it pretty much explains why at this point I think it's pretty rare for an animal to fall into the "definitely not" category. I imagine they would be much like you said in the ask, definitely NOTICEABLY larger than other inkfish, but waaaayyyy smaller proportionally than even their real-life counterparts. I made a post on a few squid sizes earlier this year and I can't be bothered to find it right now but I listed Giant Squid on that one and with them being in the same general size class, I imagine they would be very similar functionally too - not inkfish that could really participate in turf wars because they absolutely would not have the agility, but they would have ridiculous muscle mass and be able to wrangle pretty much anything with their tentacles.

Generally when it comes to Turf Wars, there's probably a very clear-cut upper size limit for different inkfish species when it comes to their abilities. Basically, the smaller an inkfish is the more agile it is, the faster it's able to move and change forms, and those are very important skills in ink battles, of course including lighter inkfish being able to climb walls very fast. On the other hand, the smaller an inkfish is the easier it is to splat. So where a smaller inkfish is typically more nimble, a large squid like a Humboldt squid can produce way more ink faster, cross more distance faster, scale terrain like it's nothing and most importantly take more hits before getting splatted. Realistically with a bunch of different species sizes smacked in a match together (and also realistically there'd be size brackets in some instances), there absolutely would not be a universal "3 Splattershot droplets splat you"-rule.

Where something like Giant squid and Colossal squid would fall on this scale? I don't think they could do Turf Wars at all, even if they on-average teetered somewhere around the 2,5 meter mark. I have to assume the bigger a squid is, the longer it takes them to change forms, and a giant inkfish taking 5 seconds to fully change forms if not more just doesn't really work in a fast-paced battle. They would probably very likely be way too heavy to Super Jump, especially giant squid with their TINY fins. Basically these deep-sea squid would be large and intimidating, but they're much slower paced than the average inkfish. I imagine they would also be pretty solitary by nature, generally speaking.

(And if we go out on a limb and assume *most* of Inkopolis and Splatsville is Inkling-scaled, like it tends to be in game, they would also not be a common sight in the city because they don't fit in any of the buildings. Seriously have you guys looked at the scale of the architecture? The "accessible" escalator to the train station in Inkopolis Plaza can fit like one Inkling at a time and I don't even think Marigold would fit on that.)

#mailbox

[southeastasianists]

“Đi ăn nhậu tối nay không?” is a phrase you’ll hear often throughout Vietnam. In literal terms, it translates to “let’s go eat and drink tonight,” but the use of the word nhậu evokes something deeper. To nhậu is to come together over plentiful food, typically eaten with your hands, and drink, typically generous amounts of beer. It’s the quintessential act of daily celebration, for no reason at all, that often lasts for hours and sometimes includes spontaneous sidewalk karaoke. 

This is the ritual on display at Nhớ Tuyết, which literally means “missing or remembering snow,” though it’s really named after the owner, whose name is Tuyết. Come as the locals do: with a big group of friends. And enjoy a vast selection of seafood ranging from clams in lemongrass broth, to scallops topped with scallion oil and crushed peanuts, to colossal river prawns all cooked via your preferred preparation, whether that’s salt-toasted or tossed in a wok with tamarind sauce. 

Beyond the seafood, Ms. Tuyết is known for her proprietary recipe for pâté, which comes in a thinner-than-usual texture with a sheet of burnt rice for scooping up as sort of a dip. There are also plenty of options for vegetarian diners, including an off-menu tofu in salted egg sauce. Your meal here will typically come with a full case of beer. At the end of the meal, they’ll count how many cans are left and charge accordingly.

#Southeast Asia #Vietnam #Viet Nam #food cw

[diabolus1exmachina]

Ferrari LaFerrari 'Signal Green' (for six years it was owned by Jay Kay.  For sale in 2019). 

Unveiled at the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show as a replacement for the Enzo, the Ferrari LaFerrari was a technological tour de force that took the world by storm. Maranello's first production model to be equipped with a hybrid power unit, the sixth-generation hypercar was the fastest and most powerful road-going Ferrari ever. It was, and remains, one of the greatest achievements in the marque's 75-year history.

Compared to contemporaries such as the Porsche 959 and Bugatti EB110, the first Ferrari hypercars had been conservative designs. For all their astonishing pace, the 288 GTO and F40 had lacked headline innovation, focusing instead on a back-to-basics ethos of minimal weight and colossal power. With the subsequent F50, the Prancing Horse had abandoned the traditional spaceframe in favor of a more futuristic carbon fiber tub, but there was little else to whet the appetite of techno freaks. Its successor, the Enzo, upped the technological ante. The first Ferrari hypercar to feature an automated paddle-change transmission and active aerodynamics, it represented a radical leap compared to the outgoing F50. The Enzo was an up-to-the-minute interpretation of what a flagship sports car should be all about. And then along came the game changer.

Based around a carbon fiber monocoque designed by F1 technical director Rory Byrne, the Type F150 LaFerrari adopted an enhanced version of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), which had been used in Grands Prix since 2009. Like any other hybrid set-up, KERS employed electric motors in addition to a traditional petrol engine. With an electric motor delivering maximum torque from zero rpm, the benefits included noticeably stronger acceleration. Kimi Räikkönen had emphatically proven this in Formula 1 when his KERS-equipped Ferrari stormed past Giancarlo Fisichella to win the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix—Fisichella attributing Räikkönen's win to the hybrid system.

Dubbed HY-KERS, the production version in the LaFerrari mated a 120-kilowatt motor to a 6,262 cc 65-degree V-12 to deliver quite extraordinary results. Delivering a combined 950 horsepower and 715 lb ft of torque through a seven-speed dual-clutch Getrag transmission, the car could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in a mere 2.9 seconds. The manufacturer claimed that 0-300 km/h could be dispatched in 15 seconds, while top speed was an astonishing 350 km/h. Even more startling, however, was the car’s pace around the Fiorano test track, where it was said to lap more than five seconds quicker than the Enzo. Such pace was in no small part down to the brilliance of the hybrid set-up. With HY-KERS taking care of low-down torque, the engine could be tuned for maximum power at high revs without the car becoming a temperamental prima donna. As a result, Ferrari engineers were able to produce an engine that was more potent than the Scuderia’s last V-12 single-seater, in a car able to cope with city traffic.

To ensure the thundering performance was accessible, electronic traction control was integrated with the hybrid system, and there was a third-generation electronic differential. The double-wishbone front- and multilink rear suspension was equipped with active damping, while the Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes measured a huge 398 mm at the front and 380 mm at the rear. The Pirelli P-Zero front tyres were an equally vast 265/30 R19, but were nonetheless dwarfed by the 345/30 R20 rears.

Drawing from the Grand Prix team’s expertise in computational fluid dynamics, the composite body continued the high-tech theme. Produced in-house alongside the Scuderia’s F1 racers, it was as aerodynamically efficient as it was beautiful. The vast scallops on each flank served to extract air from around the front wheels, increasing the downforce created by the active front diffuser, as well as channelling air to the rear-mounted radiators. A guide vane in the underbody automatically reduced flow to the front radiator to reduce drag, while dynamic air intakes on the haunches boosted ram effect for an additional 5 horsepower at speed. At the rear, a computer-controlled spoiler optimised drag and downforce, while dynamic diffuser flaps helped “suck” the car onto the road. This electronic gadgetry added up to 360 kilograms of downforce when cornering at 200 km/h, reducing it to 90 kilograms in a straight line at the same speed.

Remarkably, the carbon fibre monocoque boasted a 27 per cent improvement in torsional stiffness compared to the Enzo, yet was some 20 per cent lighter. In spite of the HY-KERS with its eight 15-cell battery modules, the LaFerrari was no larger than its predecessor, while the centre of gravity was lowered by 35 mm—providing further improvements to balance and stability. Visually, the whole was tied together into a tautly styled berlinetta that combined hints of classic racing icons such as the 330 P4 and 312 P with exciting flourishes from the modern Formula 1 era. In creating the LaFerrari body, form very much followed function, yet never has the application of science looked quite so stunning.

#Ferrari LaFerrari #'Signal Green' #Jay Kay #Geneva International Motor Show #Porsche 959 #Bugatti EB110 #288 GTO #F40 #F50 #Enzo #KERS #Räikkönen

[lstnrr]

#kaori kurihara #ceramics #texture #color #want #art #sculptures

[icleanedthisplate]

Dine-Out Meals of September 2023, Ranked

I ranked the following based on taste alone. I made no consideration for ambiance or the general dining experience or whatever. I included meals I got to go. I included food trucks, catered meals, and fast food.

There are two legitimate contenders for the top 10 meals of the year list, and four for the top 10 Arkansas meals. And probably a couple for the most disappointing 10 meals list.

Should you be interested in the pictures or reading the few words I had to say about each meal, click on the home page and scroll down or see the archives.

Farmer’s Hash, Sweet Potato Pancake. Farmer’s Table Café. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 9.22.2023.

Orange Roughy Special, Shrimp Crepe Special (shared both). Brave New Restaurant. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.29.2023.

Potato Leek Vichyssoise, BBQ Glazed Duck Leg Confit, Pan-Seared Nantucket Sea Scallops. (Shared all.) Ciao Baci. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.8.2023.

Rib Plate w/Mac & Cheese, Baked Beans. Wright’s BBQ. Springdale, Arkansas. 9.19.2023.

Colossal Country Salad w/Brussels sprouts. North Bar. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.7.2023.

Sushi Rolls (Kemuri, Alaska,  Zarigani, Princess). Kemuri. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.10.2023.

Chicken Wings, Broccoli & Cheese Casserole, Green Beans. Platnum BBQ (River Market). Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.12.2023.

Premium Chirashi Bowl. Meiji. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 9.21.2023.

Black & Blue Salad. 42 Bar & Table. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.4.2023.

Creole Soaked Salad, Gumbo. The Faded Rose. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.17.2023.

Rotary Club Lunch (Chicken, Salmon, Mediterranean things). 42 Bar & Table (Catering). Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.26.2023.

Vermicelli Noodles w/Pork. Mike’s Café. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.15.2023.

Harissa Avocado Bowl, Side of Roasted Eggplant. CAVA. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 9.21.2023.

Harvest Salad w/Grilled Chicken. Feed & Folly. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 9.11.2023.

Chashu Ramen w/Pork. Gold Bowl. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.1.2023.

Herb-Roasted Airline Chicken Breast, Salad. 42 Bar & Table (Catering). Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.13.2023.

Taco Salad. Cache. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.5.2023.

Pollo Tropical (to go). Santo Coyote. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.3.2023.

Platillo de Carnitas. Taqueria Guadalajara. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.28.2023.

Rotary Club Lunch (Chicken, Shrimp Skewers, Salad, Dessert Plate). 42 Bar & Table (Catering). Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.19.2023.

Bowl of Pork & Greens, Ceasar Salad. 42 Bar & Table. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.25.2023.

Cheeseburger w/Fries. Buffalo Grill. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.19.2023.

Cheeseburger w/Fries. Slick’s Sandwich Shop. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.16.2023.

South of the Border Sandwich w/Chips. Trio’s. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.14.2023.

Baby Spinach & Strawberry Salad w/Chicken. All Aboard. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.30.2023.

Hummus Fattoush Wrap. Fidel & Co. Little Rock, Arkansas. 9.27.2023.

Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich. Starbucks. Conway, Arkansas. 9.11.2023.

Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich. Starbucks. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 9.21.2023.

Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich. Starbucks. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 9.22.2023. (No photo.)

Grilled Chicken Sandwich w/Chips. Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 9.20.2023.

#september 2023

[biglisbonnews]

Rugged Rocks Anchor Delicate Glass Coral in Elena Fleury-Rojo’s Sculptures Exquisite aquatic specimens sprout from craggy stones in Elena Fleury-Rojo’s Reef Formations sculptures. The British artist interprets the spindly shoots, scalloped-edge growths, and grooved tentacles of coral in clear or green borosilicate glass, which she fastens to rugged hunks of rock or marble. Melding land and sea and delicate and durable materials, the works draw parallels between the rapid death of the marine creatures and the disappearance of traditional glassblowing techniques, both of which Fleury-Rojo sees as having potential for a “hopeful regeneration into full bloom.” The sculptures shown here are part of the first volume of Reef Formations, some of which will be on view at Essex’s The Sentinel Galley for a dual exhibition opening on April 4. More Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Rugged Rocks Anchor Delicate Glass Coral in Elena Fleury-Rojo’s Sculptures appeared first on Colossal. https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2023/03/elena-fleury-rojo-coral-sculpture/

#Art #coral #Elena Fleury-Rojo #glass #sculpture #stone #Grace Ebert #Colossal

[mommaviv]

Birthday dinner by request of the birthday lady. I made from scratch braised short ribs in red wine over mashed potatoes, scallops, and colossal shrimp. Cannoli cake courtesy of @livotisoldworldmarket 🎂Dinner was a huge success and I’m glad we were able to celebrate our mom/nana as she deserves!! ❤️❤️❤️ https://www.instagram.com/p/CjhEJbMNIOz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[vprprajakta]

[foodglorious-food]

Pesto colossal scallops in brown butter over sage linguini with grilled shrimp

#foodglorious-food #foodporn #yummy #foodblogger #foodgloriousfood #lunch #dinner #foodblog #food #breakfast #colossal scallops #scallop #scallops #sage #shrimp #grilled shrimp #linguini #pasta #seafood

[letseatgoodfood]

Delicious seafood boil I prepared this weekend 😋🍤🌽🥔

Colassal Shrimp

Jumbo Scallops

Yellow Potato

Sweet Corn

Sausages

& a homemade spicy 🌶 garlic lemon butter sauce

#seafood #boil #oldbay #colossal #shrimp #jumbo #scallop #yellow #potato #sausage #corn #cob #lemon #butter #seafood sauce #garlic #seasoning #sea #yummy #delicious #food #big

[symbiotic-science]

PLS TOP 5 MOLLUSCS

I will admit, I have a slight bias towards gastropods in general because they're adorable, but I tried to get a mix of mollusks for this.

1) Nembrotha cristata

2) Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni)

^Image is actually a giant squid but you get the idea.

3) Nautilus (Nautilus pompilius)

4) Cuban Painted Snail (Polymita picta)

5) Scallops (Pectinidae)

Images: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

#mollusks #biology #science #mollusca #sciblr #scienceblr #top 5s

[lobstertalesblog]

S&P Oyster Restaurant & Bar, Mystic CT.

Colossal Shrimp & Sea Scallops-

wood grilled, green chili sauce, pecorino romano poblano polenta, grilled asparagus

S&P Oyster Restaurant & Bar is located right in downtown Mystic on the Mystic River. Mystic is one of my favorite coastal towns in New England. It is a beautiful town with a lot of shops, restaurants and bars. Each season they offer festivals and activities for the whole family to enjoy!

The shrimp and sea scallop dish at S&P was almost too pretty to eat 😉 But of course we were there for the food not just the pictures! The Shrimp and Scallops were nice and fresh and they melted in your mouth when you ate them. The scallops were just breaking apart with my fork and were very tender. The polenta was a great pair with the seafood and asparagus, adding a different texture to the dish. The green chili sauce tied all the great taste together. It helped the taste of the polenta stand out with all the delicious of the seafood. This was my first experience at S&P but I can’t wait to go back and try more, probably the crab!

Based on presentation and taste of this dish I would rate it a 10 out of 10.

#lobstertales #lobstertalesblog #seafood #seafooddishes #newengland #newenglandseafood #lobster #ct eats #ct foodies #Connecticut #Connecticut eats #new england foodie #new england eats #ct seafood #shrimp #scallops #travel New England #travel ct

[ms-mani]

Fisherman's Platter**colossal naked shrimp, sea scallops, local catch & calamari

https://www.legalseafoods.com/restaurants/somerville-legal-on-the-mystic-150

#happy hump day #food mood #Wednesday dinner #ladies night #food porn #food photography #we love to eat #food makes everything better

[riessimmobilien]

Creating an Appropriate Custom Business Card

Various people are tempted to get custom business cards created in a wide display of shapes and materials to help them with isolating themselves from the resistance. While on a shallow level this is a shrewd idea, there are a couple of cautions to consider if you need to successfully pull off what can truly be a beautiful fascinating suggestion.

The issue with most custom business cards is how they are nonstandard, so people you are offering them to don't have even the remotest clue how to oversee them. Consider this, wallets and Rolodexes are planned to oblige rectangular business cards. If you give someone a gem or even triangle shaped business card chances are they will not understand how to store them and end up discarding your contact information as opposed to keeping it.

Accordingly, if you need to use a remarkably formed business card you should remain with a shape that fits inside the standard business card square shape. For instance, you could start with a standard square shape and thereafter cut the corners off to make something with extra interesting edges, or you could scallop the edges to have a wavy effect. Both of these options achieve a business card that is novel yet will regardless fit inside the rectangular standard that a large number individuals are familiar with.

Picking custom materials for a business card tends to another entrancing situation. There is no holding the brilliance and intricacy back from getting business cards that are made out of wood or metal. They are astonishing to look at and obviously will get people's attention. Comparable similarly as with custom shapes, regardless, custom materials can present an issue. As often as possible they are thicker than their paper accomplices. This can address an issue with respect to limit. A lot of this can be diminished by picking custom materials that are almost pretty much as thin as paper. This is exceptionally easy to do with metal business cards at any rate more problematic with wooden ones. The more thin you shave wood the less extreme it becomes; and in that lays the issue. Because of this you should all around make an effort not to disseminate wooden business cards other than as masterpieces things to your most noticeable clients.

With custom shapes and materials also comes the issue of cost. Such business cards cost an unpleasant bundle to manufacture thusly they are not something you would haul around in your pocket to give out at a blended beverage party. Save these cards for your most conspicuous business contacts or as gems for around your work territory. There is just no genuine method to legitimize the colossal cost of gathering these cards for use in your regular activities.

Requiring a metal business card? Mike look out the best free business cards , and posts them on the site every week. At first arranged printable free business cards are moreover available, if you have a printer open.

#metal business cards #internet marketing #business cards #cards #metal

[icleanedthisplate]

Dine-Out Meals of February 2023, Ranked

I ranked the following based on taste alone. I made no consideration for ambiance or the general dining experience or whatever. I included meals I got to go. I included food trucks, catered meals, and fast food.

El Sur will be a top ten meal. And I will eat there more moving forward.

Should you be interested in the pictures or reading the few words I had to say about each meal, click on the home page and scroll down or see the archives.

Baleados Con Todo w/Carnitas. El Sur Street Food Co. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.19.2023.

Oysters, Crab Cakes, Steak Tartare (shared apps), Burrata & Beets Salad, Surf & Turf Special, Asparagus, Crab Fried Rice, Brussels Sprouts (shared sides). Eddy V’s. Denver, Colorado. 2.28.2023.

Portobello Fries (Shared), The Wedge, Pan-Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops. Local 463. Ridgeland, Mississippi. 2.10.2023.

Lunch Catering (Beef, Salmon, Chicken, Veggies, Peach Dessert, Chocolate Dessert). Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (Catering). Grapevine, Texas. 2.1.2023.

Sushi Rolls (Furakaki, Kemuri, Princess, Princess w/o Jalapeno, Zarigani, Kiss Me, Hawaiian, Miami)(Shared). Kemuri. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.4.2023.

Colossal Country Salad. North Bar. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.9.2023.

Flank Steak Sandwich w/Salad. Buenos Aires Grill & Café. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.8.2023.

Flank Steak Sandwich w/Salad. Buenos Aires Grill & Café. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.22.2023.

Ahi Tuna Niçoise Salad. Modern Market Eatery. Denver, Colorado. 2.28.2023.

Lunch Catering (Beef, Shrimp, Indian Salad, Assorted Desserts). Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (Catering). Grapevine, Texas. 2.2.2023.

Chicken Mushroom Soup, Roasted Veggie Wrap w/Chips. 42 Bar & Table. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.17.2023.

Taco Salad. Cache. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.21.2023.

Caprese Panini w/Side Salad. Blackberry Market. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.11.2023.

Chicken Pesto Soup, Chopped Salmon Salad. Cheers. Maumelle, Arkansas. 2.23.2022.

Dinner Catering (Poke Station, Gyro Station, Paella Station). Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (Catering). Grapevine, Texas. 2.1.2023.

Filet Mignon Crostinis (Shared), Jimmy’s Salad w/Salmon. Nardello’s Pizza Tavern. Mount Pleasant, Texas. 2.13.2023.

Grilled Trout w/Veggies, Rice & Beans. Flying Fish. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.7.2023.

Pineapple Pizza. Papa John’s. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.17.2023.

Pizza Assortment. (Shared All). Pizza Café. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.24.2023.

Chicken Spaghetti, Salad, Brownie. Trio’s (Catering). Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.8.2023.

Mexican Ramen (Birria Style). Camp Taco. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.27.2023.

Breakfast Catering (Breakfast Burrito, Fruit, Banana Nut Bread). Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (Catering). Grapevine, Texas. 2.3.2023.

Breakfast Catering (Breakfast Burrito, Fruit, Banana Nut Bread). Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (Catering). Grapevine, Texas. 2.2.2023.

Kelp Cacio de Pepe. Flora Jean’s. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.15.2023.

Unplugged Roll, Eel Roll. Rock’N’Roll Sushi. Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.16.2023.

Caesar Salad, Short Rib Sugo, Ricotta & Cinnamon Roulade. Zeppole (Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center). Grapevine, Texas. 2.2.2023.

Spicy Chicken Deluxe Combo. Chick-fil-A. (Markham) Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.16.2023.

Queso Blanco (Shared), Gabriella’s Chop Chicken Salad. 2.0 Taco & Tequila Bar (DFW Airport). Dallas, Texas. 2.3.2023.

Pizza Assortment. Sal & Mookie’s. Jackson, Mississippi. 2.10.2023.

Italian Beef Sandwich w/Fries. Portillo’s. Frisco, Texas. 2.13.2023.

Breakfast Buffet. Springhill Suites. Ridgeland, Mississippi. 2.10.2023.

Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich. Starbucks (Airport). Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.1.2023.

Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich. Starbucks (Airport). Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.13.2023.

Red Pepper Sous Vide Egg Bites. Starbucks (Airport). Little Rock, Arkansas. 2.28.2023. (No Photo.)

#food rankings #february 2023

[shame-cubed]

the fantassy au pile

I started this forever ago but haven’t made any progress in a long time. I’m trying to focus on Invitations, so, I’m projectile vomiting all my other ideas up here in an attempt to get them out of my head. I don’t know if it’s working. 

---

It's blacker than midnight in the thickness of forests, and comfortably silent, like footsteps on moss—until it's not.

"Once upon a time," Speaks a warbling voice, airy but grizzled with age, it boldly echoes from a loft unseen; then halts abruptly. 

"Oh, you know how it goes... Let's just cut to chase, now, shall we? I’m not getting any younger." The words seem to ring, punctuated with a croaking laugh that fades with the dark, all but banished by the flick of a switch just as invisible. 

Beaming spotlights glare from above and behind, settling upon weighty velvet curtains charmingly spring-like in colour. A cascading pair of blossoming pink and eggshell blue, upheld by tassels that shine, so similar, to the sparks of dust floating within the bright tracks dutifully illuminating those deep-seated wrinkles of fabric. They part like the seas of another tired tale, then ascend in a deliberately slow, undulating wave. This scalloping formation led by embroidered edges of taught, silver ropes; rises in a swell to unveil a stunning diorama of marbled brick, embellished with a labyrinth of vines, adorning a castle far too colossal to be merely a prop.

The mirage-like structure wavers and gleams, its pearly stonework reflecting the lights at a blinding intensity. Catching its sheen, the drifting filaments glitter akin to a powder snow; multiply, accumulate, and replace the fleeing shadows with a blizzard that stings the eyes. An avalanche of white soon packs every corner, amounting in heaps so infinitely immense and so overwhelmingly bleached, that it hurts. 

---

“Get back here yah dirty lil’ miscreant!” An ireful yell bellows overhead, followed by the hurried thudding of mud-caked boots barely held together by faded strips of leather. Their unkempt owner dips beneath the cloth-draped counter of a flimsy marketplace stall, slides along the dusty cobblestones, rolls into a crawl, then breaks into a long-legged sprint as he shoves through the clamorous mob of meandering bourgeois claiming their daily bread. 

“Someone stop that wretched lad!! The gangly imp! That swindling bastard!!” The fiery roar of expletives launched by his pursuer is gradually extinguished by the sheer distance between them. Keeping his pace as he rounds a corner, the boy glances over his shoulder for signs of the shopkeep, then, like whiplash, instantly jerks forward when his body makes sudden impact with a smaller one that he failed to notice ahead. Both parties fly backwards and hit the ground flat on their asses.

This obstacle of a girl, about his age, pushes her thick hair out of her eyes; a coal-black cut of jagged bangs, half-parted to the side, half-pinned back. Icy blue irises thin beneath their lids, not unlike the slight pout of her lips, revealing no emotion other than mild irritation. 

“Watch where yer goin.” Her voice is monotonous, flat as her expression, and rough with a linguistic bite he'd never heard before. Adorned with ink-dyed leathers and angular iconography only recognizable from a tapestry he once saw—evidently, she wasn't of local blood. 

He narrows his eyes back at her, frowns, but says nothing; choosing instead to break the stare-down by searching for the loot he'd dropped in their collision. Someone could still be after him, so he hasn't the time to waste on petty interactions with outsiders. The girl rights herself and peers into her pockets, then joins him in scanning the ground, appearing to have lost something of her own, too. 

A small satchel of coin lies near, and as he picks it up, he palms the weight to be sure none of the meager sum within has left its confines. He stashes it back into his fraying trousers, clambering to his knees as he plucks two bruised apples from the cobblestone that were to be his lunch and dinner. His grimace deepens, as his prime acquisition eludes his vision.

“Ah, there ya are, Morpeko.” 

Wary, the disheveled thief turns his head at the sound of an unfamiliar name spoken by this unfamiliar girl, and his violet eyes blow wide at the sight of a tri-coloured mouse clinging to the pilfered pastry he’d been searching for. 

"This fancy goodie yers?" She says with a hint of disbelief, gingerly lifting both the snack and its vermin passenger from the ground.

“It is, now get your disgusting rat away from my breakfast.”

---

One after the other, the group of squires pass row upon row of marble pillars as they follow Oleana into their King’s immense throne room. 

Bronze statues of elephants tower from each corner, splendidly engraved in a paisley motif, each gripping a gilded rose at the tip of their raised trunks. The metal behemoths point towards a convex roof, its dome intricately painted with the climax of an age-old fairy tale. Swirls of vibrant colour span the ceiling—red and blue brushstrokes establish the fluttering forms of twin princes in flamboyant outfits, sinking their swords deep into the hide of a dual-winged dragon. The villainous creature dwarfs the heroes in comparison; swathed in scales of white-gold, its prismatic eyes set with sizable gemstones that flicker in the candlelight, seeming to scrutinize the soon-to-be knights as they gather below.

---

His head hits stone as her full weight slams into him, eyes screwed shut in a pained wince. Slotted between his gorget and his chin, the cold metal of her blade grazes his throat with every shaky gasp and tentative swallow. She’s so close. There’s nothing between them but shells of armour; pulses racing beneath plates pressed together. Heaving against each other, breath short from their battle, he can feel her warmth bleeding into him. 

Held tight against the wall, steel kissing his neck; Bede decides he’s perfectly fine with dying if it’s by her hand. He resolves to gaze into her eyes like it’s his last chance, his best attempt at a smoldering stare—like in the novels he’s read—completely thrown out the window when her leg wedges itself between his thighs.

Gloria still manages to crack a grin at him despite the situation. ”Giving yourself up to me so easily, now?” Her smile is confident, or it was until a blush takes over her face, seeming to only realize the sort of words she’s speaking several moments after they’ve left her lips. It’s almost charming. 

“Just kill me, already.” Bede groans. Why did she have to resort to psychological torture? Was it not enough to defeat him? He’s pinned in place by her sword, subject to her whim... There's not much he can muster other than to let his eyes wander. He notes the sheen of sweat on her skin and knows quite factually that he isn’t in any better condition.

“You know I don’t want to do that.”

---

it ain’t much but it’s honest werk... maybe one of these days i’ll get my shit together aaaaa

#cubewrites #bederiafantasyAU #take this as penance for my sins