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dreamworxexteriorspa · 2 years

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Where to Eat in Dillsburg, PA

Dillsburg is the ultimate small town with no traffic lights, fast food chains or big box stores to be found — instead, you will find charming restaurants that serve up genuine food and fun. It may be located within a two-hour drive of Philadelphia, but Dillsburg is worlds away from it in its charm and hospitality. Here is a brief guide to some of the best restaurants in Dillsburg.

Wolfe's Diner

Wolfe's Diner is a popular restaurant and bar with a casual, diner-style ambiance. The restaurant offers a wide variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, as well as an extensive drink menu. Wolfe's Diner also has a large outdoor patio with live music on weekends.

Wolfe's Diner is located on Main Street in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. The restaurant has been open since 1956 and features a classic American menu with lots of diner favorites like burgers, sandwiches, and wraps.

The menu at Wolfe's Diner has something for everyone, including breakfast all day long (including pancakes), lunch classics like steak sandwiches and Philly cheesesteaks, and dinner options like chicken parmesan or spaghetti with meatballs.

Wolfe's Diner also has an extensive drinks menu that includes beer on tap, wine by the glass or bottle, mixed drinks such as martinis or margaritas, as well as non-alcoholic beverages like sodas and milkshakes.

Wolfe's Diner is family-friendly with two levels: the main level features booths and tables while the upper level has more seating options for larger parties or for those who want to watch games on TV

The Dairy Barn

The Dairy Barn is a great place for families with kids. There are picnic tables and grassy areas for kids to run around. There is also a playground, but it is not very big and can get crowded quickly. The food at The Dairy Barn is pretty good, but it can be very expensive if you are not careful. The service can be slow, so be prepared to wait on your food.

If you visit The Dairy Barn during the summer months, they offer milkshakes made with real ice cream! The milkshakes are fantastic! They have many different flavors and sizes to choose from. If you have never had an ice cream milkshake before, this is the place to try one!

The Dairy Barn has been around since 1952 and has been owned by the same family since then. They have known for their homemade ice cream as well as their fried foods like funnel cakes, french fries, onion rings, etc.

Bert's Pizza

Bert's Pizza is a family-friendly, casual restaurant in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. Bert's Pizza has been serving the community since 1968. Bert's Pizza serves up delicious pizza, pasta, salads, and sandwiches. They also have a large selection of beer on tap and in bottles. The menu at Bert's Pizza is reasonably priced and they offer takeout as well as delivery services. Their menu includes items such as:

Pizza - Bert's Pizza has a large variety of pizzas including pepperoni pizza, cheese pizza, sausage pizza, Hawaiian pizza, and more!

Pasta - Bert's Pizza offers a variety of pasta including spaghetti with meatballs or chicken alfredo pasta for those who want something more than just regular noodles with tomato sauce!

Sandwiches - Bert's Pizza offers several different kinds of sandwiches including Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, chicken parmesan sandwiches, and even hot dog options!

Salads - If you're looking for something lighter than your typical Italian fare then Bert's Pizza has several salad options to choose from including chicken Caesar salad, Greek salad, and more!

Baker's Diner

When you're in the mood for good times and great cuisine, be sure to check out Baker's Diner. The restaurant is located in one of the area's most pleasant settings and is known for its delightful staff and superb cuisine. The menu at Baker's Diner features a wide array of great selections, made from only the freshest and highest quality ingredients, with something sure to please every member of your group. In addition to its convenient take-out menu, this restaurant also offers delivery, and can even cater events in the area. Whether you're a local looking for a delicious meal or simply passing through the area, a trip to Baker's Diner is definitely worth your while!

Baker's Diner is located near many parking lot options as well as street parking. For those who prefer to travel by bike, Baker's Diner is a great option due to its generous bike parking options.

Tom's Diner

Tom's Diner is a great place to grab a bite to eat when you're in the Dillsburg area.

Tom's Diner serves breakfast all day long, which is great for those who have an early morning or late night shift and want to get some grub before hitting the road. It has been a staple of the community for years, so locals know that it's a good place to go for some comfort food.

The diner has a retro vibe with its booths and jukebox, but it also features modern amenities like free Wi-Fi and a big-screen TV that plays sports games on weekends. The restaurant offers plenty of seating options, including booths and tables, so you can choose where you want to sit based on your mood at the time.

The menu includes sandwiches and burgers as well as other lunch items like salads and soups. There are also several specialty burgers available that come with toppings like cheese sauce or mushrooms.

If you're looking for breakfast options, Tom's Diner has plenty of those too! The menu includes pancakes, waffles, and French toast along with other breakfast staples like omelets and hash browns.

Takeaway: If you're looking for a great evening out in a small town, look no further than Dillsburg. There are a variety of restaurants to choose from and something for everyone here. Whether you live in the area or are visiting the town for the first time, you can't go wrong with any of the restaurants listed above.

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squid--inc--writes · 4 years

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purgatory

so, I decided to finally finish writing that piece from a really fucked up dream I had. this probably doesn`t cover a quarter of it, but I enjoyed it, and its the first solid writing piece I`ve had in 2 years, so I`m proud.

@schwarzekatzen @wettthepottterheadss4120

warning: gore, gross descriptions, vague psychological bullshit, bullying, violence, etc.

word count: 2281

summary: you follow Trith (not mentioned in the story) on her first round to meet some of the residents within this particular realm of purgatory. Because, frankly, who else can?

My eyes open to a hollow ceiling, peering right into an attic where a familiar rocking hair rocks away. Not a care in the world about how it's up there. That would be Granny Gin. Don't know her real name, but still. She's there. Dead as ever, and knitting away. Sometimes I sleep in long enough that her scarf reaches the floor.

Standing up, groggy, I make my way to do my rounds. Someone's got to make sure the dead don't panic. The first round doesn't have to be me all dressed up. Not like they care about the smell. At least I don't think they do. Can the dead smell? I don't know. At Kirby's request, I started keeping a journal so he can remember what last happened and get one step closer to getting out of here. I also want to help everyone else out of purgatory, so this is why I'm writing this. Brand spanking new. Right up on a blank page. Yep.

So, I guess my next ghastly figure is Heidi. She stands in the bathroom all day. Touching up her makeup, not changing a thing. Aside from the usual changes extended stays can cause. I think she starved to death. Couldn't tell you. She's standing there, takes a glance at me in the mirror, nods, then tries another colour of lipstick. She's been here a while, so that means three eyes, each one a distinct colour of red, blue or yellow. She also has glowing skin, and her legs are becoming more horse like. Maybe her puzzle would be solved by getting her life a little STABLE. Hah. Get it? Why would I write down my laugh?

Whatever, I'm not going to erase anything or cross it out. The thoughts of the living might help, even abstractly.

The next is the hallway. Bert walks along, holding a gas can thing. Y'know, an old timey thing they used to gas bugs? I'm not sure, I can't recall ever needing an exterminator.

He tips his hat to mean, "hey there, lil' lady. Didn't the landlord tell ya to keep out of the building for the next day or so? Don't worry. I'll wait to do my work until you get out. I'll just let 'im know I'll be a bit late starting."

I nod, "thank you." Sometimes it's easier to play along. I feel he's been a tad testy, so I try not to agitate him. Usually I can pass by just fine. Maybe he had anger issues. Try and work his puzzle out like that. Ironically, he resembles a cockroach by now. He doesn't have hands, but the rigid limbs that should have been his hands were made of a hardened skin. It chipped away from his bones like it knew it wasn't supposed to look like that. I rarely look him in the face, both because he looks… interesting, but also because it tends to aggravate him. Maybe it's the way I look at him. He's yelled at me for being a large bug before, not always a roach. I just don't want to get hit again. Maybe I shouldn't help him.

Next up, Theodore and Teddy. They have the same name, and they yell at each other from across the hall. They each have their own rooms. Sometimes they switch rooms. They seem to be connected at this point, literally. They have long strings of flesh swinging from between their bodies. At one point, they got cut, and you see everything pouring out. They acknowledge it in their recent arguments, getting mad at the other for not making enough of an effort to keep it all in. Theodore usually doesn't have a jaw anymore, since it melted down, combined with his clothes. I can't check on Mindy anymore thanks to them. I don't think I want to.

However, I think the problem revolves around they're communication. But that's an obvious point. Maybe they need to accept their own responsibility for their misfortunes.

Mindy… last time I saw her, she had dolls connecting to her through thousands of strands of veins, and nerves, and all other sorts of things. They aren't all made of plastic anymore, last time I saw her.

Theodore says to me, as if his chin wasn't sitting where his stomach would be, "hello dear. How are you today?"

"I'm doing well. Thank you. How are you and Teddy today?"

Teddy snorts from the other room, dusting off an old hat, and placing it on his head, "I'm fine. Perfectly."

Theodore rolled his eyes, "we're as well as ever. Just a lovers' quarrel."

Teddy got offended, ripping the hat off, "oh, NOW we're lovers?"

I nod, and quickly leave before they start trying to pull their guts to their respective sides, and spitting insults. It never ends well.

Next up, Patty and Simone, standing on the stairs. They are actually quite friendly with each other. Patty asking Simone about her husband, Simone asking how Patty's been, after her being widowed and all. They swap recipes regularly. Patty very much seems like she killed her husband. And some of the recipes they swap sound as if Simone is trying to kill her husband. If what she says is true, he deserves it. God do I hope it's not.

Simone has morphed into the railing at this point, spine jutting from bloodless flesh so she can lean on the staircase. I feel the one they used to talk at was a lot lower, considering Simone is almost nine feet in the air. Patty, however, seems to be turning to a bone statue. Her legs can no longer move, not that she moved much to begin with. Wait, no, this time she seems to be turning to ice. Her legs are quite transparent, but there's a layer of frost surrounding her feet. They never used to acknowledge me, but Simone seems to have spread to the stairs, and she'll scold me for walking too roughly. Patty gives me the most judgmental look. I think if they could move on from husband's they'd probably be home free. But that is what their lives revolved around for so long, so I'm not sure that could be easy.

Once I sneak down the stairs without slipping, or getting yelled at, it's into the kitchen I go. Sid is at the fridge constantly stuffing his face. Somehow, he's a part of the fridge. Everything drops out of his stomach back into the fridge, into a pile of slop. Like something a pig would eat. If he's particularly frantic, he'll tear chunks out of himself. I don't think they can feel it when they hurt themselves. Not unless they're supposed to…

I have no clues as to how Sid can save his puzzle. He doesn't tend to talk. I'm not sure he has vocal cords anymore. He barely has eyes.

Moving from the kitchen is the parlor. I'm not sure how this place works, so I'm not sure this is in the right place. Either way, the parlor has about seven people in here. Kirby plays checkers with Daniel, Maud watches TV with Lainey, Paula and Shess pick on Lily.

Paula and Shess would probably be gone if they could stop, and just sincerely apologize. I'm not sure Lily is really a person though, because she's never changed once. I think she kind of looks like a mannequin, but moving. She's meant to play a part, being small, and easy to pick on. Shess shattered her arms at one point, and now just has gooey, bloody stumps with bone shards sticking out that she uses to punch lily with, and her head is being engulfed by her own skin, but her eyes seemed to have multiplied, hair having started to attach and grow off of the eyes. Like the world's grossest ice-cream cone. Paula, on the other hand, started turning into blades. Her fingernails are long and sharp, her arms have started to thin at the edges, and splinter into more blades, even her nose resembles a knife. I passed her once, her hair brushed my cheek, and I had a long cut from my temple to my chin. That wasn't fun. I can't talk to either of them. They're always caught up in bloodlust.

Lainey and Maud try to ignore Shess and Paula as much as possible. They are actually aware of their surroundings. I don't think they need my help out, because they've been fading lately, so maybe they're ready to pass on. They generally talk about the movie they're watching. Sometimes they get new snacks from an unknown source. Usually they just coo at each other about how much they love each other, and what signs to look for to find each other again. They told me that Purgatory allows you the chance to return to when you died, the chance to fade completely, or to join the better place in whatever you believed in. Purgatory is for learning lessons. They both believe in reincarnation, and fully believe they'll still love each other, no matter the timeline. It's one of the nicer conversations.

Daniel and Kirby are next up. Daniel has no idea what's going on ever. His skin seems to be made from webs, and these small black creatures weave over him all the time, anytime something starts breaking down. Which happens at every move. Daniel seems actually peaceful here. Maybe he needs to take a stand. Especially with Kirby always cheating. He doesn't even do it subtly, he straight up takes pieces, and places them where they shouldn't be. Daniel would probably tear all his 'skin' off at this point if he tried to do something.

Kirby, however, seems to increasingly be made of greasy Hawaiian print shirts. Yes, you are made of shirts. I almost slip when I pass your table because it's not, like, slightly caked on grease, it's literally dripping, and doesn't spread past a three foot radius. Maybe if you apologized for Dan, it would help. How's that sound?

Okay, three more rooms, then I start getting ready. So, I leave the other side of the parlor, head into the hall, and head to the basement. Shimi is down here. They're just a long, skinny eel at this point. With multiple heads that bite at Shimi's main body. I'm not even sure when Shimi showed up, and I've never seen much else, so I'm not sure they can leave. I don't try to go into the water. Too scared. It's undefinably deep. Some places you can see the ground, others are holes, others are so obfuscated by flesh that has yet to melt down and turn into water. I'm sure Shimi's been here for thousands of years.

Heading back upstairs, I check on the, what I can only assume, ballroom. It's huge, and usually has a few dancing couples. This room changes a lot, and has the least mutated people in it. I remember I helped one couple realize the intense emotion they couldn't move on from was rage, at the fact that they had cheated on each other. They both felt wronged, but they were both no better than each other. The puzzle they solved involved them no longer dancing together, and finding new partners. Today it stood completely empty. Not unusual, but still. The room always unnerves me.

Next up, I like to call the nook. It's not quite in the library, but it's very cozy right outside it.

A rough, sweet voice says, "what took you so long?"

I smile at Ronnie. She's very nice. I think she is, maybe was, actually my age when she died. We're both around seventeen. She however has skin made from literal porcelain, although that does mean when she moves too much, her body starts leaking blood, like from her eyes and joints . Her hair is nearly laid around her head, a warm auburn. And I don't mean that figuratively. It literally feels the way a room with plenty of blankets and a fireplace would feel like. The nook doesn't have a fireplace, it just has Ronnie.

She rasps out, "well, are we going to have a nap? You're my favourite snuggle buddy, and I can't have one without you."

I'm pretty sure she can't leave because she's trapped in her childhood. She's told me about all her dolls, and toys. I think her house might have burned down, and she wouldn't leave them behind. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get her to leave.

I give her a closed mouth smile, and step forward, "yeah, I can help you take a nap."

I wind up cuddling up to her. And, I think I won't write much until after I get ready. Too tired. Need to wake up more.

When I'm finally up, I look up to see the hollow attic. No floor at all. Grandmother Gin rocking away in her rocking chair, completely unaware of the lack of floor.im not sure if that's actually her name. Sometimes I get up so late that her blanket actually gets in my way trying to get up. At least I don't usually get dressed up to do my first round. I don't think the dead care about when the living stink. They don't seem to care about much. I do. Speaking of stink, I am doing this for my pal Kirby. Try to keep a record and write down everything that happens. Maybe I can help him, and some of the others, out of here. That's why I'm writing this. Right here. Blank page. Well, not blank anymore. But, hey, first page, first to go.

#violence #tw violence #tw gore #gore #writblr #writing #my writing #vaguely horror #horror #short story #tw mutilation #gross descriptions #predictable but still fun

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grandilcquently-a-blog · 5 years

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REAL OR FAKE, THE SOCIETY OF ESOTERICA?

Dedicated to finding information on the ever elusive individuals who associate themselves with Thayne Whittal. Post your stories here, discuss your questions with other believers, and find answers within!

MY STORY. (Posted by avery_monaghan763 on 12/27/18) Sorry if it’s a bit long, there’s a lot to unpack here. tl;dr: He’s been in my life for years and I only found out about why on my wedding day. I’m confused and want answers.

I, for one, have never believed in magic.

My loving parents raised me in a very straight-backed Christian household; anything that broke the mold of what they thought was 'proper' got a one-way ticket to the Satanism basket, never to be heard from again. This meant a lot of Veggie Tales, and absolutely no Sesame Street because Bert and Ernie were a little too friendly. Of course, as I got older, I began to break the mold, and after three or four excursions to Jesus camps, they gave up in trying to make me fit the idyllic lifestyle they had set out for me.

Harry Potter was my first exposure to the idea of magic that wasn't Christ-related. I thought it was a load of bullshit, but Hermione was cute, so my thirteen year-old-mind was able to keep up with the series well enough. After that came Lord of the Rings, and I liked it enough as any seventeen-year-old going through their D&D phase. But, I soon came to the realization that the magic in these worlds wasn't even close to the truth.

I first met Thayne Whittal in college. He was sitting on a bench, on the same path I took to get to Calc from my dorm-room, and I was already ten minutes late. Looking back at it, I dismiss my wishes of waking up earlier that morning, else I might not have met this extraordinary individual. There was a stack of books next to him, and despite the heavy winds that afternoon, they didn't budge. In his hand he held a copy of what I now know to be the Canterbury Tales, reading to himself quietly in the original Olde English. The only reason I stopped and pair enough attention to notice this, was the fact that I felt completely and utterly compelled to do so. It was an epiphany at noon, expanded only by my panicked, still half-awake mind; and so utterly clear that it broke me out of this state.

This man was something worth looking at.

He was lumbering tall, broad in his shoulders; Hagrid with more care to manscaping, I thought; and he wore a long, beige Chesterfield. I couldn't see his shirt underneath at the time, but I could see that it was very colorful, contrasting against the loosely-wrapped navy blue scarf around his neck. When I stopped to gawk at him, his eyes flickered up to look at me, and he smiled. As if he'd known me his entire life, he smiled, and it was inviting and warm and kind all at the same time; unnerving, but comforting. A contradiction of contradictions within itself. The only words he'd said to me this day were, "Good afternoon," before going back to reading his collection of tales. After he spoke, my brain started again, and I simply sputtered out an awkward, "You too," before going on my way.

The next time I met him, I was on my way to get coffee with my now Husband, who was incredibly understanding of my situation and allowed me a pass for missing our date that day. Thayne sat about four blocks away from the niche place, and looked exactly the same as he had when I'd seen him four years previous. This time, however, I saw his shirt clearer; a gaudy Hawaiian button-up, baby blue with near-fluorescent flamingos and palm trees spattered about. I might have laughed at him, if he weren't already laughing. He still held Canterbury Tales, and was chuckling to himself as he turned the page. His voice was a deep, gravelly thing, and though he hadn't spoke, I could hear the lilt of his accent atop it all. Once again, I felt compelled to stop in front of him, except this time, I spoke first.

"Do I know you?" I blurted out, almost yelling over the bustle of the street before us.

Thayne looked at me, perplexed, and squinted; scrutinizing my face for a moment before nodding. "I worked at WSU," he said. "You might have been a student of mine."

My alma mater, where I'd seen him first. I shook my head, daring to step closer. "No, I don't think I was. You, God, this sounds crazy; you were reading that," I gestured to the book in his hands. "And bid me a good afternoon."

As if he'd struck some wondrous part of his mind, he closed the book without marking his page, and beckoned me over. I sat next to him, carefully, as he spoke. "Ah, right! You looked horrible."

He wasn't wrong, I thought, but I was still offended.

"You looked horrible, but; did you at least pass the class?"

"I did." I told him. "Took some time, but I did."

"You're welcome." He said, a verbal nudge to my side as if we were friends catching up.

"I'm sorry?" I asked, completely and utterly confused by this enigma of a man.

"Do you recall what happened that day, in your class? Specifically, what happened to your professor?"

I did, "He was... late, showed up at the same time as me."

"You're welcome."

"I'm not following."

"Not many people do. You're a leader, Avery Monaghan, keep leading. I must be going, though; I'll see you in a few years."

I blinked at him, rapidly, but between the darkness, he had disappeared. Just like that; a breath of wind took him once more, and I was left with many questions. What did he do to make my professor late, that day? Was this man dangerous? And, why did he refer to me with a last name that wasn't my own?

Monaghan is my husband's surname; one that I'd take in the coming years. I didn't know it at the time, so it didn't stand out to me until much later. From that day forward, I could not get Thayne Whittal off of my mind, despite not knowing his name, or anything about him other than the fact that he was the strangest individual I had ever met.

But, things began to happen in my life that I could not explain. Not the kind of things in the realm of ghosts knocking things off of shelves, or UFOs in the sky, but things that seemed too convenient, too good to be true. Like before, if I were terribly late to something important, the person (or people) attending would be late, too. The night my husband and I got engaged, it was a completely clear sky, not too cold; but it began to snow. I loved the snow, and I remember my husband remarking that it was perfect. It was magical.

I saw Thayne again at my wedding. He didn't have his great stack of books this time, and instead wore a crisp white shirt with a bow-tie made of black velvet instead of a scarf. He was out of place, yet blended in perfectly like my friends and family. My grandmother was deep in conversation with him when I noticed him, and he raised a single hand to wave at me. Grandma motioned me over, and I broke away from my husband to make my way toward them.

"You know Thayne?" Grandma asked, accusatory, once I was in ear-shot. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"We were colleagues in college," Thayne interjected. "And you know, with degrees like ours, there isn't time to remember everyone. I'm sure Avery didn't mean to keep you in the dark, Matilda."

"Right, I... uh, can I talk to you alone, for just a moment?" I asked him, and Grandma looked absolutely affronted that I was tearing her away from him. He simply smiled, nodded, gave her a peck on the cheek, and made a promise that he'd be back in a 'tiff.'

We walked outside of the tent that my small, happy-ending wedding was held in, and Thayne looked at the stars as he spoke, wonder in his eyes. "I'm happy for you," he said, and then looked down at me. "Jason's a good man."

"I—Thank you, but—"

"You have a lot of questions." He cut me off, again, and this time, it annoyed me.

"I do; can you just, let me talk?"

He raised a brow, but stayed silent.

I then recounted everything that I could remember; the lateness, the snow, how everything fell into place and how it wasn't right. Something was off, and I knew he had something to do with it, and if he ever thought of hurting anyone I knew, I'd call the cops in a second. He didn't look hurt by my words, but his eyes softened considerably, and he bobbed his head in agreement to them.

"It was me," He said, clearly, as if it were obvious the entire time. "But you've only just started to notice, haven't you?"

I didn't know what he meant.

Thayne seemed to know this, and continued. "When you were seven years old, you were playing baseball with a cousin in the back yard of your grandmother's home. You knew Matilda would be furious if you broke anything, so you took care to make sure you tossed the ball gently to Henry; but he hit it too hard, and the window shattered. You were devastated, and thought for sure, your baseball-rights would be taken away the second she noticed."

"I... I remember, but the ball didn't shatter the window, it—"

"Bounced off." He finished my sentence. "And the time when you were about to spill sangria all over your Aunt Jennifer's new carpet because you wanted to try the adult's drink,"

"The nozzle stopped before anything got out," I finished.

"And, nobody saw you."

"I don't understand." I finally said, and Thayne looked to the stars again.

"You weren't allowed to believe in anything as a child," He said, and he almost sounded sad. "So you didn't see it. You didn't remember it. I don't blame you; who could? But, as you got older, you saw it more often. Saw me, more often. I hoped you'd notice eventually, and you have. You... remind me of my daughter, Charlie. So did Matilda. And your mother. The only difference," He placed a hand on my shoulder, impossibly warm. "Is that you and Matilda believed. You believed, even if you thought you didn't; even if all odds said you shouldn't. You allowed yourself to, and I tried to help in every way I could; between time, and hardships, and everything in between."

There was a long silence between us, and I looked to the sky, too. Millions of stars stared back at me, and for the first time, I saw it all; the belt of the universe, dusky hues of space making themselves known to me, and I started to cry. Thayne said nothing, only holding onto my shoulder and squeezing it, gently, despite his size. "It's beautiful, what the mind can do when we open ourselves to the truth." He said, and I could tell he was looking at me again, even if I didn't look at him.

"Thank you," I said.

"You're welcome."

That was the last of what I saw of Thayne Whittal. Grandma was furious that he was gone again, but, once she saw my tears; it was as if she knew what had happened. She hugged me, for the first time in years, that night, and my wonderful husband let me spend the rest of the reception with her; talking about Thayne, what he had done for her, for my mother. She told me that on the night we buried Mom, he was there, and the stars were brighter than they had ever been that night. He had told her that it was because she was with them, and her fire fueled them all.

This is why I write on this forum, now. I want to know if anyone out there is like me; I've read some of your stories and have marveled at them for hours upon hours, at the kindness of this man, and claims you all make. I don't know how much of it is real, how much of it is bullshit, and how many of you are trolls looking for a good time with stories of time travel and magic.

But, I believe in it now. And I want answers, like the rest of you. Who, or what Thayne is; what he can do; and who else is like him. Thank you, for your time, and I hope we can all try to come to some sort of consensus about this all.

EDIT [12/31/18]: To answer your questions, no, my husband has never seen him. I asked him about it all, told him my story; I don't think he believes it all, but told me that he's never seen or heard about Thayne. My son, who will be three this upcoming January, hasn't seen him, either. I asked simple questions, like if he'd seen a big man in a big coat, and he completely disregarded it all in favor of paying attention to Doc McStuffins. Toddlers. Go figure.

EDIT [1/24/19]: My grandmother passed away today. It broke all of our hearts, but it was a long time coming, and as my husband put it, "She's in a better place." Where that place is, I don't know, but I'm glad she's there. Thayne wasn't at the funeral, like I hoped he'd be. I wonder if he knows. If he knew, and that's why he didn't come. Grief is a heavy thing on the heart, and I'm going to miss her loads. I just wished that he might have been there to help ease the heaviness.

EDIT [1/26/19]: Thank you for your well-wishes. It's my son's birthday, today, and we're trying to smile through the pain. There's been a raven on our balcony the entire morning, and I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the Bird Theory? Message me, if you do, and I'll update the post if anything happens with it.

#—&. lore.#—&. what's life without adventure? (thayne)#parental death tw #family death tw #death tw #religion tw #thayne is an absolute madman #have some in-universe lore for thayne's stuff #there's an entire website forum dedicated to thayne and figuring out who he is #this is just one of those posts

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livinginlandmarketing · 3 years

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Do you love guacamole? Would you eat it every day if you could?

Enter El Pollo Loco’s new contest and you could be eating free chips and guacamole every day in August.

In honor of National Avocado Day (Saturday, July 31), El Pollo Loco is teaming up with Avocados from Mexico to offer limited-edition Guac Passes, which grant a free order of chips and guacamole every day in August.

How can you enter? Join the chain’s Loco Rewards program (join or download the app here: www.elpolloloco.com/rewards), and make any purchase through Saturday (July 31).

To qualify, place the order via the app, scan your account’s QR code at the register, or scan the receipt’s bar code into the app.

Alternatively, you can follow El Pollo Loco on Instagram, and reply with an avocado emoji on the chain’s National Avocado Day post.

El Pollo Loco will randomly choose 5,100 winners who will be notified via email, and a new coupon for a free small order of chips and guacamole will be loaded into their Loco Rewards account every day in August.

For all the details, visit www.elpolloloco.com/guacpass.

Taco ’bout breakfast

Last week, Del Taco expanded its breakfast menu with a trio of new double cheese breakfast tacos.

All three feature both grated cheddar and Queso Blanco.

Here’s what’s on offer:

$1 Egg and cheese taco: Features scrambled eggs with grated cheddar cheese and Queso Blanco, in a warm flour tortilla.

$1.39 Hash browns and beef taco: Includes hash brown sticks, seasoned beef, grated cheddar cheese, Queso Blanco and scrambled eggs in a warm flour tortilla.

$1.69 Hash browns and bacon taco: Features crispy bacon, hash brown sticks, grated cheddar cheese, Queso Blanco and scrambled eggs in a warm flour tortilla.

The new tacos are available during breakfast hours only at participating locations. Prices may vary.

Dog Haus fights hunger

Dog Haus has rolled out a limited-time burger and is dedicating a portion of its sales to help solve childhood hunger in America.

The Big Kahuna burger, created in collaboration with King’s Hawaiian’s Executive Chef Bert S. Agor Jr., is available through Aug. 31.

Dine 909: New Arby’s open in Rialto; Riverside’s University Village gains two eateries

Dine 909: Two Inland Empire breweries celebrate anniversaries while another changes its name

Dine 909: New Ontario shopping center offers new eateries, with more — including a brewery — to come

Dine 909: San Bernardino Long John Silver’s reborn as The Pin Seafood House, plus more new restaurants

The $11.99 burger features an Angus beef patty, topped with American cheese, smoked bacon, miso ranch, wild arugula, pickled jalapeños, pickled peppers, scallions, onion rings and bang bang sauce, and is served on grilled King’s Hawaiian rolls.

The chain will donate $1 of each Big Kahuna burger sale to No Kid Hungry, an organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger here in America.

Dog Haus has previously raised more than $100,000 for No Kid Hungry.

Inland Empire Dog Haus locations include Chino Hills, Claremont, and Rancho Cucamonga. An Eastvale location is in the works.

A year in Yucaipa

Hops and Spokes Brewing Company in Yucaipa will celebrate its first anniversary this weekend.

Plenty is planned, including a new beer release, food, giveaways and musical entertainment.

On Friday, July 30, Cousins Maine Lobster will serve food from 2-8 p.m., and Psycho Punx will perform at 7 p.m.

Saturday, July 31, Hoja Blanca will serve food all day. The Honey is set to perform at 2 p.m., and The Blues Buzzards at 7 p.m.

On Sunday, Aug. 1, The Decades is set to perform at 4 p.m., and Josh’s Front Yard Barbecue will be serving food.

The brewery will also release First Offender, a Citra single-hop India Pale Ale.

Attendees can purchase a 25-ounce anniversary stein for $15 and get $7 refills all weekend, plus receive a surprise gift. One person will win a free beer every day for a year.

Hops and Spokes is at 34324 Yucaipa Blvd., Suite A.

Dunkin’ update

Dunkin’ has introduced Popping Bubbles, fruit-flavored bubbles that can be added to any iced or frozen drink for a burst of strawberry flavor.

The chain has also rolled out several doughnuts that are exclusive to Central and Southern California.

Available locally are French Cruller, Chocolate Long John, Maple Long John, Chocolate Butternut, Sour Cream and Bavarian Crème.

And to help you fight the Monday blues, the chain is offering its DD Perks members a free medium or hot iced coffee Mondays through Aug. 17.

Simply order ahead in the Dunkin’ app (available for iOS and Android), or scan your DD Perks QR code in-store.

-on July 28, 2021 at 03:05AM by John Plessel

#riversidenews

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batz · 6 years

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1, 18, 39 🍓

1. what’s your favorite way to dress? it depends how im feeling that day bc i switch from super feminine to super masculine with no warning DKFJGDF i like to dress like both! but honestly my fav most ideal outfit is a leather bomber jacket, hawaiian t shirt (or any 90s button up dad shirt) tucked into jeans w mens dress shoes! followed by big ol circle shaped sun glasses and a cross body purse that matches the outfits color scheme. its comfy colorful and inviting ! very Me

18. what animal would you keep as a pet, if you could? most realistically i want to get two pet rats! and name them bert and ernie... or a cute bulldog/pitbull named wilbur ....... but if i could have Any Animal As A Pet, Ever... i’d probs have a pet tawny owl... or a skunk!

39. earbuds or headphones? i love the Look of headphones but my skull is fuckign HUGE so they dont fit perfectly,,, earphones r easier...plus i like the sound to go IN my ears rather the sound to go ON my ears ..jus makes more Sense(tm)

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android-for-life · 4 years

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"2019 in review: Stories from Google this year"

This is (probably) our last Keyword post of 2019 (and the decade). It’s cliche to talk about the passage of time, but as a new parent—my son was just a few weeks old at the time of this wrap-up post last December—I have an especially keen sense of how much can happen in a year. I also know it’s important to savor the individual moments. In that spirit, let’s look back at the stories that we shared from Google in 2019.

1. We invested in the communities around us, with a new Grow with Google Learning Center in New York and an expansion to libraries. We made investments in housing in the Bay Area and in data centers and offices across the U.S. In places like Chile, India, Mexico and Nigeria, our products and initiatives are helping connect more people to the opportunities afforded by the internet. And we officially reached 10 million people across Europe and the Middle East with digital skills training.

2. We continued our work to connect young people with digital skills and computer science education. Code with Google brings together CS resources for educators and coding programs for students. Our fourth annual Tech Day brought hundreds of students to Google to learn about CS, and partnerships with 4-H and The Boys and Girls Club encourage young people to learn about digital skills.

Youth development professional Basha Terry helps the teens in Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta get the most out of Applied Digital Skills.

3. With our sustainability efforts, we’re also investing in the future of our planet. This year, we made the biggest corporate purchase of renewable energy in history. We broke down exactly what goes into keeping our data centers green, and how we’re making sustainability the centerpiece of our hardware products. Beyond Google, we saw people use our products to find bike-sharing options, map climate change with Google Earth Engine, and track air quality across the globe.

4. What do a pharmacy-turned-local landmark in Chicago, a greeting card shop in Colorado, and a Hawaiian food spot in Oahu have in common? They’re all using Google products to promote and grow their businesses. Meanwhile, developers are building on our open-source platforms to address problems like youth unemployment in Capetown and crop-destroying pests in Uganda.

5. We continue to be amazed by the various applications of AI. AI was put to work to improve recycling, discover planets, add color to black-and-white photos, help conservationists monitor wildlife, write a song, create a Doodle and improve road safety in Iowa. Organizations around the world submitted ideas for how they’d use AI to address societal challenges. And our quantum computing breakthrough shows the potential of the technology to solve problems ranging from climate change to disease.

Parisian coder Emil Wallner built a program that uses machine learning to learn how to add color to black-and-white photos.

6. Stadia, our new video game platform, launched to provide instant streaming access to games on any type of screen, without a console. With BERT, we made one of the biggest leaps forward in the history of Search, while Android 10 brought a new look, and a new way of naming releases, to our mobile operating system.

7. We shared tips to help you master your email, add mindfulness to your everyday routine, set up your home Wi-Fi network, get more out of Chromecast, get things done at home with Nest Hub Max, and even soothe your dog’s anxiety with Nest Cam. For help finding more balance with technology, we tapped a Googler to show us how she puts our digital wellbeing tools to work.

8. Action Blocks, Live Caption, Project Euphonia and Live Transcribe are just a few of this year’s many updates to make technology more helpful for people with disabilities. We also heard from people both inside and outside of Google about why accessible technology matters—including a member of the Google Maps team, a business analyst who helped create a new Maps feature, a developer in the U.K. and a Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Ambassador.

9. We celebrated the 15th anniversary of Gmail and reflected on how 1GB of email storage seemed like SO MUCH back in 2004. We turned the page on the newest design for Google Books, and asked Google’s own Vint Cerf, one of the original architects of the internet, for his take on the 50th anniversary of the “first packet sent.” While we’re on the subject of technological achievements, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the moon landing with an out-of-this-world tribute to Margaret Hamilton.

Margaret Hamilton led the team that developed the onboard flight software for Apollo 11’s historic moon landing. This 1.4-square-mile portrait—bigger than New York's Central Park—was created by positioning over 107,000 mirrors at the Ivanpah Solar Facility in the Mojave Desert to reflect the light of the moon.

10. John Legend and Issa Rae lent their voices to the Google Assistant, while Google Nest gave us a glimpse into Martha Stewart’s smart home and a taste of a new recipe from Ayesha Curry. Google Arts & Culture worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda to bring artifacts from the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña online. And just last week we heard from Chance the Rapper about the opportunities kids have when they learn to code.

11. We met so many Googlers, including Academy Award winners, a concert pianist and the world record holder for calculating the most accurate value of pi. We heard from one of Google’s first interns—now the SVP of Google Maps—about our 20th intern class (the most representative ever), and followed along with Take Your Kids to Work Day and Take Your Parents to Work Day. Googlers shared their stories of coming out at work, writing a book about racial stereotypes, and keeping the hackers out of Google.

12. We welcomed new emoji to our Android phones and took a look at the year in GIFs. We discovered the right way to peel a sticky note—and learned more about how Wi-Fi, spreadsheets and spam calls work. And as ever, we turned to Search to answer important questions, about BBQ sauce and why cats like boxes.

That was quite the year. And my kid is quite literally trying to take my keyboard away from me, so I’ll take that as a sign to wrap things up. Catch you in 2020!

Source : The Official Google Blog via Source information

#jeprog

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latitudelongitudegratitudein · 7 years

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M.A.S.H at 27

M.A.S.H.

Mansion, Apartment, Shack and House

I don’t know any decent millennial that didn’t play MASH growing up, who wouldn’t want to predict their future on a piece of paper? In Mexico (I am a born and raised Mexican), we’d switch the apartment for a trash can because that can actually happen back home–but hey! It can happen here too, just substitute the trash can for a camping tent for two in your friendliest neighborhood, Skid Row. I remember one of the five times I’ve shit myself was when I wandered around Downtown LA in the company of me, myself and my shadow and ended up in Skid Row with 2% battery life on my phone. But, that’s a story for another day.

Back to Mexican MASH. You could end up living in a trash can, so the stakes were high as fuck. I mean we were talking about our future! Playing MASH, you find out who will you marry, the number of babies you’re gonna pop out, the kind of car you will drive, the pets you will have, and your job. Most importantly (drum roll please), the age you will be by the time you amass all those goodies. That number was everything–mine was 24. ALWAYS. I had that number engraved in my brain (finger and uterus), I was going to be happily married by 24, live in a mansion, drive a Lamborghini Diablo (yeah whatever, I was 10 years old, don’t judge me), have 7 kids, 10 dogs, be a vet/model, have the most handsome husband, and a big fucking rock on my finger to prove it. Everything by 24 because M.A.S.H said so.

Introducing Mr. and Mrs…insert record scratch. Nope that didn’t happen. I am 27 and have reached the point that the idea that I haven’t found the love of my life yet doesn’t traumatize me anymore. (I was severely traumatized, I’m talking pre-marital PTSD, as in started having panic attacks at 23 because I KNEW I had failed and would end up alone with 25 alley cats. I fucking hate cats) I wish I could time travel and tell my 20 year-old self “relax bitch” or even better, tell my 9 year old self, who is probably alive right now in some parallel universe, that MASH doesn’t mean anything. Being married at 24 doesn’t equal success and that I’d put my index finger over my luscious, prepubescent lips and tell her “hush my child”, you don’t have to worry. (If the butterfly effect is real, I may be saving her a lot of trouble).

I also remember I thinking that MASH was a commitment that I made to myself–a promise. If you know me, you know I keep all my promises. I promised I would walk down the aisle, filthy rich and happily ever after at 24. Period.

Growing up, I remember constantly thinking about being 24, I knew that in 2014 I would cross a magical threshold that would lead me straight to happiness, hand in hand with my Leonardo DiCaprio look alike husband. (That has changed too. I’m now looking for Ben Dalhaus’ doppelgänger).

In middle school and high school, I noticed my friends had superpowers, they could find boyfriends anywhere and for some reason I just didn’t. My superpower was being unboyfriendable. They were like Wonder Woman (secretly dating Superman) and I was like Catwoman doomed to remain in the shadows. (Fuck there go those cats again).

In my mind, I thought it was because I was not pretty and there was something wrong with me (The real reason being I never gave anyone a real chance and I was to busy making out with tons of boys to prove myself I wasn’t ugly. Don’t get me wrong I did it because that was super fun too). Those days turned me into the amazing kisser that I am today.

Sidebar: It’s funny how I see pictures of me at 14 and think, “ Nope you weren’t that bad. It was just the horrors of puberty passing by and there is nothing that a hairstylist and wax strip wouldn’t have fixed”. Mind you I slicked my hair back with shit tons of gel just like Michael Corleone from the Godfather (it was a thing at my school ‘kay).

See below a picture of me at and Lorenza at 13.

“ My glorious days as a member of the Corleone-Kahlo clan.”

10 years later, all “grown-up” playing with fireworks. Te amo Lorenz

I eventually took matters into my own hands when my mom told me I was too young to wax my eyebrows. She’d only let me wax my uni-brow. Yep, as a proud descendant of Frida Kahlo. By taking matters in my own hands I mean freeze framing on Elisha Cuthbert while watching The Girl Next Door and copying her eyebrow shape (just a piece of advice if you are a Latina and your eyebrows are bushy as fuck don’t go copying porn star eyebrows). Really you should just imagine Bert from Sesame Street shooting for Jessica Rabbit’s eyebrows. Not good. I managed to have shaped eyebrows–squares are a shape right?

So yeah the years went and I left my days as a member of the Corleone Clan behind by high school my hair style and eyebrows recovered.

One day at 18, I felt a little better about myself and actually thought “okay maybe I can land someone”. I tried to be open to meeting someone but no one really came. It’s as if I left the bread crumbs for the guy to find me and he decided he was going no carb. I mean boys came, but not looking for something serious. I guess those were the vibes I put out, but deep down I just wanted to be asked out on a nice date, and not lured onto the dance floor for a make out sesh.

At some point I asked one of my best friends with superpowers if she thought I’d be single forever. She didn’t so but explained that nightclubs weren’t the best place to meet the kind of boys I wanted to date. That always stuck with me.

I began to understand how the clubbing scene wasn’t such an ideal place to meet someone. It’s a hub of predators ready to pounce on their prey. Let me clarify by saying that I don’t think wanting to “get some” at a club makes you a bad person (coming from the biggest predator I know), it makes you a visibly horny person. So “aha” moment–meet boys in other places.

Days as a young 20 year-old predator. Very proud of my fake ID and my almost exposed private parts.

Ever since then, I thought I’d meet him at a museum, frolicking at the beach, or maybe at the library (but that would mean I’d have to physically get my books instead of using The Prime). Honestly, most guys I’ve seen in public libraries either look like they just pissed their pants, are part of a gang or are serial masturbators. (Look at me judging a book by its cover…I know, I know, I’m being superficial. I’m working on my flaws). However, I do spend a lot of time at Barnes and Noble fantasizing about some guy walking up to me and striking up a conversation about the book I’m reading. Afterwards, he pins me against the bookshelves and kisses me senseless.

In all my fantasies, the guys had to HURRY THE FUCK up because I needed my ring by 24. I was held hostage by the 10 pieces of paper I saved in my third grade pencil case that read M.A.S.H.

I had another dream where a guy would show up at my door professing his love for me, but I was usually awakened by Carl asking me if I’d ordered the thin crust Hawaiian pizza from Domino’s. He is the most stable relationship I’ve had in my life and I am totally okay with that.

Enough about my fantasies and Carl (he’s mine, so don’t think about luring him to your door with an order). My point is that throughout my early 20’s I felt like the guy who ended up with me would think his luck was mediocre at best, and I that should consider myself lucky that someone would actually see some value in me. But I held on to what MASH said–that I would have my huge ass mansion and shiny things. MASH kept me distracted from focusing on myself and my non-existent self-esteem (it’s kinda sad but true). I don’t believe that anymore and I am okay with being alone because I have the privilege of my own company and newsflash I am fun as fuck.

By 27:

* I am nowhere near having a rock adorn my finger that’s okay. For the longest time I tortured myself thinking I would end up alone because there was something fundamentally wrong with me. I kept blaming myself for not being pretty enough or good enough to have a boyfriend. But, that isn't true. It took a lot of work and I changed the perception about me. Im capable of many things, there isn't anything wrong with me and I am at peace.

* The asshole depression that stole my personality and started creeping on me at 23 (aka panic attacks) is finally gone. I am not scared anymore. The panic attacks no longer seize control of my mind or my body.

* Now I see that meeting the love of your life isn’t all there is to life. Loving yourself and your life is vital to your happiness.

* I don’t get frustrated when I see all my friends getting engaged, pregnant, or married. (Not that in the past I wasn’t fucking stoked to see my friends walk down the aisle, but there were moments when I felt like “ Omg. Catwoman, you have failed, what if it’s the same story from high school played over and over again? Everyone gets married while I get drunk and make out with their younger cousins in the bathroom” Yeah it sounds amazing but after a certain age a hot mess isn’t cute anymore. There’s an expiration date for that shit). I’m getting rid of my Catwoman costume (burn baby burn).

* Turns out 27 was the magic number after all. Three years after the deadline I break a lifelong promise to my 9-year-old self and I couldn’t be freer. I can see that I am a keeper and he will come when the time is right (I believe that to be true and not just a generic line people say to sound hopeful). I used to be super bitter about it. Today, I can only work on becoming a better person.

I am actually grateful for everything I have been through because it has taught me a lot about myself and now I know I am wiser and I will choose better things for me; Including a stable relationship with a nice bro ( Sorry Carl, it’s not you, it’s me)

Funny enough the definition of Mash is:

Reducing (Something) to a uniform mass by crushing it. Thanks Wikipedia. Yeah, I got owned and crushed by it.

So yeah, I recently ripped all the M.A.S.H’s I had saved for 16 years to pieces (I save everything and no I won’t have a separate entry for compulsive hoarding). I tore MASH a new one. And with that a new meaning came to light…

M.A.S.H. is just B.U.L.L.S.H.I.T

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tbehartoo · 7 years

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Summer Days pt.6

Characters: Levy McGarden x Lisanna Strauss (Levanna)- Characters from Fairy Tail by Hiro Mashima

Rating: General? Teen? I don’t know, where do you stand on fluff?

Summary: Modern AU vignettes where Lisanna and Levy spend a summer together for @filiadcorblog

on AO3

*Down on the Boardwalk- Being “tourists” for the day

Levy checked Lisanna’s handiwork. “I think the baseball cap would be better than the fedora.”

“Well okay, but the fedora really screams ‘tourist’ to me,” Lisanna said as she switched the hats.

“How do I look?” Levy asked before turning to check herself in the mirror.

“You look like the perfect example of every stereotype of a seaside tourist I’ve ever seen,” Lisanna assured her.

They were dressed in tank tops with Hawaiian print shirts over top, khaki Bermuda shorts, white ankle socks, and sandals. They topped off their look with silvered sunglasses and hats. Their visit to the Blue Pegasus Thrift Shop had yielded most of their outfits, the challenge had been to spend less than five dollars and Lisanna had enough change left over to buy the hideous orange handbag that now hung across her body.

“Let me grab my camera and then we can go,” Levy said as Lisanna continued to fidget with the purse strap.

They arrived early at the boardwalk taking ridiculous amounts of pictures as if they had never heard of the ocean or, presumably, seen storefronts before in their entire existence. Levy had reserved wristbands that allowed them unlimited access to the all the rides along the boardwalk, so they made sure to grab them right away.

They were first in line for the rollercoaster which Lisanna had begged to ride, and since she enjoyed it so much they rode it three more times. Levy insisted that Lisanna try the twirling dragon ride claiming that was infamous as the ride that will make you vomit. They took a moment to enjoy the ferris wheel and let their stomachs settle, while getting a magnificent view of the ocean. They decided to try their luck on a few of the carnival games in the arcade. Lisanna won the steeplechase game while Levy won skeeball. They racked up what seemed to be quite a few tickets, but when they turned them in found that they could get a couple of yo-yos or a tiny, stuffed cat on a keychain. They chose the blue cat. Levy told Lisanna that she should keep it as a memento of their trip to the beach. They took one last turn on the roller coaster before taking a ride on the swirling chain swings. Lisanna declared that she needed to stop turning in circles and get some lunch.

They shared an order of fish and chips with a side of fried calamari at the Mermaid Heel, a restaurant that gave women in difficult circumstances marketable skills and protection until they were able to make it on their own. Lisanna had wanted to get cookies at Makarov’s Marvelous Macaroon, but Levy begged off saying she really didn’t want to go in on her one day off this week. She promised her a better place for a sweet treat further along the promenade.

“Time for some shopping!” Levy declared when lunch was over.

She lead Lisanna into a nearby antique store and they window shopped the beautiful objects it contained, making guesses on the age of certain pieces, and questioning if something was original, restored, or faked. Lisanna insisted on having her picture taken with the dancing mascot for the Red Lizard that was out on the sidewalk to drum up attention for his store. Levy made sure to dive into the Orochi’s Fin, a surf gear shop, to check out several pieces of equipment. She asked Lisanna to model a couple of different windbreakers and some quick drying tops while she took photos. Lisanna demanded that Levy model a wetsuit next to a longboard in front of the window for her to take a picture muttering words like ‘juxtaposition of objects’ and ‘mimetic images’ as she framed the scene. A couple of doors down was the Dwarf Gear Shop and both women cooed over the tiny wetsuits and surfboards made for children. Then they had a competition to come up with the cutest beach outfit for a toddler from the items in the store. Lisanna loved the outfit that Levy put together and bought it for her niece declaring, “Evergreen will be the best dressed kid at the pool.”

“I’m craving something sweet,” Lisanna said as they walked the uneven boards. “I think I’m going to need some sugar soon,” she said not too subtly.

“Can you wait a few more minutes?” Levy asked. “We’re nearly there.”

“Where?”

“Lamia Scale Sweets,” Levy replied. “It has the best chocolate and peanut butter fudge on the boardwalk.”

“Do they have saltwater taffy?” Lisanna said as she recalled something. “I always get Elfman taffy when we go to the beach, and I’ve been missing him a little.”

“Oh they have tons of taffy flavors, many that can’t be found anywhere else,” Levy assured her. “They also have specialty candies from around the world as well as retro candies from back in the day.” She began to chuckle darkly. “They even have a corner with what they label revenge sweets. Atomic level cinnamon bears, lollipops with scorpions inside, chocolate covered ants, and truffles covered in roasted grasshoppers.”

“Oooh, sounds perfect,” Lisanna said, a mischievous smile on her face. “That will teach him to be a responsible adult and stay home to ‘work’ instead of coming to play with me.”

“Well if you need help with that, today’s your lucky day,” Levy said. “My little sister works there and there’s no one better at looking entirely sweet and innocent while internally being full of guile and deceit.”

“There’s a story behind that last statement,” Lisanna said, looking at Levy questioningly.

“I’m still not over it,” Levy said with a huff, “Let’s just say that Wendy has been the family’s reigning April Fool’s prankster for the last four years and it doesn’t look like she’s losing her crown anytime soon.”

Lisanna laughed. “I think she and Mira would get along like a house on fire,” she thought for a moment then said, “but the house would not survive.”

Levy began to snicker. “I can see the headline now ‘Fiore in Flames Thanks to Dastardly Duo’ as the world smolders around them.”

Both women were still giggling together when they walked into the candy shop.

“Levy!” the cry came clearly across the store.

Levy waved at the teenager behind the counter. She was dressed in the uniform of the store: A white shirt with frills down the front, large red bow at the neck, a black skirt that was just at knee length, and the no-skid black shoes that seemed to be standard issue in any food service establishment.

“How’s your day been going?” Levy asked.

The girl shrugged then said, “It was busy earlier, but it’s kind of slacked off now.”

“Does that mean you’d be able to help us out with choosing some particular goodies for Lisanna to send home?”

“Yeah, sure,” she said as she brightened up and came out from behind the counter. “Did you grab a basket at the front?”

“No, we didn’t,” Lisanna replied, “I’ll go get one.” She hurried to the stack of baskets.

“So?” Wendy asked. “How’s your date going?”

“It’s not a date Wendy,” Levy said quickly, “It’s just two people hanging out at the boardwalk.”

“Who paid for the ride bracelets?” Wendy demanded.

“I did.”

“And the arcade games?”

“I guess that was mostly me,” Levy admitted.

“Uh-huh,” she said with a leer. “Who paid for lunch?”

“We split the check,” Levy replied reluctantly, “but only because we shared the food.”

They watched as Lisanna stopped at a display of rainbow lollipops. Trying to decide between the various sizes available before choosing several of each.

“And just how often did you accidentally reach for the same french fry?” There was a wolfish grin on her face.

Levy blushed. “Maybe more than could be considered statistically probable,” she admitted.

“Ha!” Wendy crowed triumphantly as Lisanna rejoined them. “So, what kind of sweets are you in the market for?”

“Well I always get my brother taffy when we come to the beach, but he had to stay home and work, so I want a present that says something like ‘Thinking of you, you big lovable jar head, but don’t think I’ve forgiven you just yet for your betrayal.’ Do you have anything like that?”

Wendy chortled, “Oh I’ve got you covered. Just follow me.”

She lead them over to a corner to a barrel filled with taffy, the sign above it asked, “Do You DARE?”

Wendy began, “You are no doubt familiar with a certain book about a young man who is dramatically told that he’s a wizard.” She looked at Lisanna, “His name rhymes with Larry Gott-Her.” Wendy easily slipped into the oft repeated spiel. “There is a certain confection in the books that has an unknown taste until eaten.”

“You mean Bert-” Lisanna began, but Wendy held up a hand to stop her.

“We do NOT say that name in this shop as we are not affiliated with the author, nor the confectioners that have been licenced to sell the less magical version to the common consumer, thank you.” She gestured to the candy behind her. “This barrel contains a mix of look alike taffies, but I assure you they do not taste alike. So now, intrepid explorer, a challenge lies before you. Glory and cavities await, but...DO YOU DARE?” She stopped her presentation with a flourish in the barrel’s direction while Levy and Lisanna gave polite golf claps.

Lisanna looked at the candies, “Is there any way to know what's what?”

“Not really,” Wendy answered. “We can give you a list of the flavors we use, but that's about the best we can do. There's new batches made every hour and the flavors and colors are randomly selected so the reds you get today that turns out to be grape or lime flavor, are not going to match the reds tomorrow that might be grass or chili pepper.“

“That sounds ingeniously devious,” Lisanna said.

Wendy smiled, “Thank you. I got a big bonus for coming up with the idea.”

“I told you she's not to be trusted where pranking is involved,” Levy said.

“On the contrary, she's just the woman for the job,” Lisanna argued. “I told her the situation and she had the exact solution I needed. How much do you think I should get?“

“Probably two or three of each color, they try to make sure there's two different flavors per color, if not more,” Wendy informed her.

Levy helped her sift through the candy while Lisanna recounted their day. “Oooh, show her the pictures while I look around at what else they have here,” she said as she eyed the consumer warning on the Habanero Hot Cinnamon Bears.

Wendy waved them out of the store twenty minutes later grumbling under her breath, “Not a date? Whatever.”

They made it to the far end of the boardwalk just as the sun reached the horizon and decided to head back to the car. Levy suggested that the sky ride would get them back quicker and let them sit for a bit. Lisanna looked through her bag from Lamia Scale for something unique for them both to try. Levy had sampled most of the candies, sometimes unwittingly, but finally Lisanna found one.

“It’s a new candy meant to seem retro,” Lisanna said as she opened the package.

“What’s it called?”

Lisanna blushed before saying, “Love Potion No.9.”

“Oh?” Levy laughed. “I’ve never tried that one before.”

“Well here’s your chance,” Lisanna said holding the box toward her. “But,” she waggled her eyebrows, “Do you dare?”

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#ft femslash #fairy tail #levy x lisanna #Summer Exchange Gift

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