Poem: "And You Became Like Coffee"
Sep. 1st, 2020 08:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis is today's freebie, prompted by mylittleangel. It also fills the "Family Support Makes a Difference" square in my 9-1-20 card for the I Want Fries With That! Bingo fest.
"And You Became Like Coffee"
Steve was dishing out oatmeal
so hot that it still bubbled in the bowls.
"Let that cool first," he warned
as Loki reached for one.
It had become a habit,
because Bruce had
advised Loki to avoid
foods that were too hot.
Part of that came from
knowing his Jotunn heritage
and part from noticing that
Loki tended to let his food
cool down to lukewarm
before starting to eat.
Loki didn't take Bruce
very seriously, though,
because Thor teased Loki
about his 'silly table habits'
and Loki was sensitive about it.
"Do you want cream or yogurt
on that?" Phil said diplomatically.
Loki looked at him through dark lashes.
"What was Tony using on the fruit?"
"Crème fraîche," said JARVIS.
"It is in the refrigerator." The door
popped open and a tiny spotlight
pointed to a glass container
with a local dairy label.
"Thank you, JARVIS, I'll
get it," Phil said, because
Steve had just sat down
and needed to eat.
Phil passed the tub
to Loki with a spoon.
Loki scooped out
a generous portion
of crème fraîche and
stirred it into his oatmeal.
Steve passed him the bowl
of sliced strawberries without
even needing to be asked.
Phil had gone with granola
himself, but he had noticed
Loki's fondness for anything
with grains or fresh fruit.
Indeed, Loki was devouring
breakfast at a rapid rate.
Bucky sat down and
took the bowl that Steve
had already fixed for him.
Loki's head came up.
"What is that?" he said.
"It smells divine."
"Coffee," said Bucky,
setting down the cup
held in his metal hand.
"Tony buys the good kind."
"I want some," Loki said.
"Try a sip first," Bucky said.
"I drink mine black, and
this is pretty strong stuff."
"Let it cool first," Phil said,
since Bruce wasn't there.
Loki ignored him, liberating
Bucky's coffee to take a sip.
His eyebrows went up.
"Oh, that really is divine."
Then he chugged the whole cup.
No sooner had he finished than
Loki doubled over in pain,
clutching his stomach.
"What's wrong?" Phil said,
reaching out to him.
"Hurts," Loki hissed
through his teeth.
"JARVIS --" Bucky said.
"Calling Dr. Banner,"
JARVIS said instantly.
"Let's get Loki onto
the couch," Phil said.
"I've got him." Bucky
scooped Loki into his arms
and headed to the living room.
They were settling Loki on
the couch when Clint trotted in,
looking distinctly worried.
"I thought something might
be up," Clint said, perching
on the coffee table. "Now what?"
"Hot coffee," Bucky explained,
jerking a thumb at Loki.
"Oh, that's -- that's
not good," Clint said.
Loki snapped something
that wasn't in English, but
Clint was undeterred.
The relationship between
the two of them was tangled
at best, and not helped by
the exchange of memories.
Fortunately Dr. Banner came in
then, with his greater expertise.
"JARVIS told me that Loki had
a problem with coffee," he said.
Loki just gave him a tight nod.
"Tell me what you're feeling, Loki,
nausea or real pain?" Dr. Banner said.
"Real pain," Loki admitted. "It feels
like a burn -- but Bucky was drinking it!"
Dr. Banner shook his head. "Don't use
Bucky or Steve as role models when it
comes to temperature," he said.
"They're a bit ... skewed."
Which was to say they'd
both bathe in water that was
a few degrees short of scalding
and eat things right out of the oven.
"Do your mouth and throat
hurt too?" Dr. Banner said.
"Yesss," Loki hissed.
Dr. Banner poked gently
at Loki's stomach, looked
at a tablet computer, and
gave a thoughtful hum.
"You probably scalded
yourself a bit," he said. "I've
got an idea for something that
might help. Don't mind the noise."
Dr. Banner went into the kitchen.
A couple minutes later, there was
a low growl rising to a shriek.
Loki and Bucky covered
their ears, wincing.
Soon Dr. Banner
came back with
a glass of something.
He took a sip, then offered it
to Loki. "Here. It's aloe juice
with a lot of ice plus lemon
and mint to make it drinkable."
Loki gave him a suspicious look,
but cautiously sampled the stuff.
"That is ... surprisingly not bad,"
Loki said. "Thank you." He
drank it carefully but steadily.
When he set down the empty cup,
Dr. Banner said, "Feel any better?"
"Yes, I think the ice helped," Loki said.
"I hoped it would," Dr. Banner said.
"That and your healing factor mean
you should be fine. Just try to be
more careful about hot things, okay?
We don't want you to get hurt."
"I will take more care," Loki said.
Then he sighed. "It just tasted
so good. It seems that I am ever
drawn to things which are bad for me."
"I know that feel, bro," Clint said,
patting Loki on the shoulder.
"What is that supposed
to mean?" Loki said.
"You took me," Clint said,
"and you became like coffee,
in the deliciousness, and
the bitterness, and the addiction."
"Oh," Loki said. He licked his lips.
"I suppose ... you are not wrong."
Definitely a complicated relationship,
and there wasn't much Phil could
do to make it any easier on them.
"There are other things made
from coffee beans," Phil said,
hoping to lighten the mood some.
"I'm sure Tony has Kahlúa."
"Indeed," said JARVIS. "There
is a bottle in the kitchen cabinet
intended for culinary purposes."
"Maybe later," Loki said. He
looked as tired as he sounded.
"I know just the thing," Clint said,
bounding into a chair. "JARVIS,
pull up Ice Age for us, please."
"Shall I notify the other Avengers,
or is this a private viewing only?"
JARVIS asked as the screen lit.
"Sure, pass the word," Clint said.
A moment later, JARVIS said,
"Betty and Natasha are out shopping,
but the others will join us shortly."
Steve came out of the kitchen,
drying his hands on a towel.
He and Bucky made a nest of
pillows and blankets on the floor.
Tony scampered in just as
the movie started, worming
his way between them.
"Good idea, Clint,"
Phil said with a smile.
The antics of the characters
went a long way toward
lifting everyone's mood.
The credits were rolling
when Natasha strolled in
and handed Loki a cup.
His eyes narrowed.
"What is this?" he said.
"This is mocha frappuccino,"
Natasha said. "It contains
coffee that is mostly frozen.
It should be safe for you."
Loki sampled it, then curled
his hands around the cup.
"This is splendid," he said.
"Thank you most kindly."
Tony, however, was
staring at them in horror.
"You have brought evil
into my house!" he roared.
Loki looked up, startled.
Natasha rolled her eyes.
"Oh, not this again.
Grow up, Tony."
"EVIL!" Tony said
as he pointed at
the Starbucks cup.
"Eeeeevillllll."
Phil just chuckled.
Such was life in
Avengers Tower.
* * *
Notes:
And you became like coffee,
in the deliciousness,
and the bitterness,
and the addiction.
-- Mahmoud Darwish
Crème fraîche is a cultured cream product that is sweeter than sour cream.
EDIT 9/2/20 --technoshaman adds:
Tony's reaction to the Evil Mermaid of Corporate Coffee tells me EXACTLY where he gets his coffee. DevociĆ³n, from the shop in the Flatiron district, 3 stops south on N/Q from the Tower. TEN DAYS from origin to roast. Fresher'n a whole FIELD of dasies; probably so damn gassy he has to let it age for a week or so so it doesn't overflow the brewer. (It also doesn't hurt that some of the growers were former customers of Tony's; when Tony decided blowing up the world wasn't for him anymore, he convinced these guys to quit doing so too, and make him coffee (Srsly, read the description. Former guerrillas, making coffee.)
Bruce, however, prefers Gimme! Coffee, which he gets shipped in from Ithica; he's helping them do genome analysis on the arabica bean to give it the disease resistance of robusta without the harsh taste... (yes, they're actually doing that this side of the Tef.) Bruce probably uses a pour-over into a borosilicate (lab-grade) double-walled glass mug, handle-less so the Green Guy won't have issues.
Aloe vera juice provides a variety of benefits, among which is soothing the stomach. It can be made into refreshing slushies with a blender or ice cream maker.
Kahlúa is a coffee liqueur.
Ice Age is an animate movie about prehistoric characters.
Frappuccino is a blended coffee drink that can be dressed up with various additions. Enjoy a recipe for mocha frappuccino.
mylittleangel. It also fills the "Family Support Makes a Difference" square in my 9-1-20 card for the I Want Fries With That! Bingo fest."And You Became Like Coffee"
Steve was dishing out oatmeal
so hot that it still bubbled in the bowls.
"Let that cool first," he warned
as Loki reached for one.
It had become a habit,
because Bruce had
advised Loki to avoid
foods that were too hot.
Part of that came from
knowing his Jotunn heritage
and part from noticing that
Loki tended to let his food
cool down to lukewarm
before starting to eat.
Loki didn't take Bruce
very seriously, though,
because Thor teased Loki
about his 'silly table habits'
and Loki was sensitive about it.
"Do you want cream or yogurt
on that?" Phil said diplomatically.
Loki looked at him through dark lashes.
"What was Tony using on the fruit?"
"Crème fraîche," said JARVIS.
"It is in the refrigerator." The door
popped open and a tiny spotlight
pointed to a glass container
with a local dairy label.
"Thank you, JARVIS, I'll
get it," Phil said, because
Steve had just sat down
and needed to eat.
Phil passed the tub
to Loki with a spoon.
Loki scooped out
a generous portion
of crème fraîche and
stirred it into his oatmeal.
Steve passed him the bowl
of sliced strawberries without
even needing to be asked.
Phil had gone with granola
himself, but he had noticed
Loki's fondness for anything
with grains or fresh fruit.
Indeed, Loki was devouring
breakfast at a rapid rate.
Bucky sat down and
took the bowl that Steve
had already fixed for him.
Loki's head came up.
"What is that?" he said.
"It smells divine."
"Coffee," said Bucky,
setting down the cup
held in his metal hand.
"Tony buys the good kind."
"I want some," Loki said.
"Try a sip first," Bucky said.
"I drink mine black, and
this is pretty strong stuff."
"Let it cool first," Phil said,
since Bruce wasn't there.
Loki ignored him, liberating
Bucky's coffee to take a sip.
His eyebrows went up.
"Oh, that really is divine."
Then he chugged the whole cup.
No sooner had he finished than
Loki doubled over in pain,
clutching his stomach.
"What's wrong?" Phil said,
reaching out to him.
"Hurts," Loki hissed
through his teeth.
"JARVIS --" Bucky said.
"Calling Dr. Banner,"
JARVIS said instantly.
"Let's get Loki onto
the couch," Phil said.
"I've got him." Bucky
scooped Loki into his arms
and headed to the living room.
They were settling Loki on
the couch when Clint trotted in,
looking distinctly worried.
"I thought something might
be up," Clint said, perching
on the coffee table. "Now what?"
"Hot coffee," Bucky explained,
jerking a thumb at Loki.
"Oh, that's -- that's
not good," Clint said.
Loki snapped something
that wasn't in English, but
Clint was undeterred.
The relationship between
the two of them was tangled
at best, and not helped by
the exchange of memories.
Fortunately Dr. Banner came in
then, with his greater expertise.
"JARVIS told me that Loki had
a problem with coffee," he said.
Loki just gave him a tight nod.
"Tell me what you're feeling, Loki,
nausea or real pain?" Dr. Banner said.
"Real pain," Loki admitted. "It feels
like a burn -- but Bucky was drinking it!"
Dr. Banner shook his head. "Don't use
Bucky or Steve as role models when it
comes to temperature," he said.
"They're a bit ... skewed."
Which was to say they'd
both bathe in water that was
a few degrees short of scalding
and eat things right out of the oven.
"Do your mouth and throat
hurt too?" Dr. Banner said.
"Yesss," Loki hissed.
Dr. Banner poked gently
at Loki's stomach, looked
at a tablet computer, and
gave a thoughtful hum.
"You probably scalded
yourself a bit," he said. "I've
got an idea for something that
might help. Don't mind the noise."
Dr. Banner went into the kitchen.
A couple minutes later, there was
a low growl rising to a shriek.
Loki and Bucky covered
their ears, wincing.
Soon Dr. Banner
came back with
a glass of something.
He took a sip, then offered it
to Loki. "Here. It's aloe juice
with a lot of ice plus lemon
and mint to make it drinkable."
Loki gave him a suspicious look,
but cautiously sampled the stuff.
"That is ... surprisingly not bad,"
Loki said. "Thank you." He
drank it carefully but steadily.
When he set down the empty cup,
Dr. Banner said, "Feel any better?"
"Yes, I think the ice helped," Loki said.
"I hoped it would," Dr. Banner said.
"That and your healing factor mean
you should be fine. Just try to be
more careful about hot things, okay?
We don't want you to get hurt."
"I will take more care," Loki said.
Then he sighed. "It just tasted
so good. It seems that I am ever
drawn to things which are bad for me."
"I know that feel, bro," Clint said,
patting Loki on the shoulder.
"What is that supposed
to mean?" Loki said.
"You took me," Clint said,
"and you became like coffee,
in the deliciousness, and
the bitterness, and the addiction."
"Oh," Loki said. He licked his lips.
"I suppose ... you are not wrong."
Definitely a complicated relationship,
and there wasn't much Phil could
do to make it any easier on them.
"There are other things made
from coffee beans," Phil said,
hoping to lighten the mood some.
"I'm sure Tony has Kahlúa."
"Indeed," said JARVIS. "There
is a bottle in the kitchen cabinet
intended for culinary purposes."
"Maybe later," Loki said. He
looked as tired as he sounded.
"I know just the thing," Clint said,
bounding into a chair. "JARVIS,
pull up Ice Age for us, please."
"Shall I notify the other Avengers,
or is this a private viewing only?"
JARVIS asked as the screen lit.
"Sure, pass the word," Clint said.
A moment later, JARVIS said,
"Betty and Natasha are out shopping,
but the others will join us shortly."
Steve came out of the kitchen,
drying his hands on a towel.
He and Bucky made a nest of
pillows and blankets on the floor.
Tony scampered in just as
the movie started, worming
his way between them.
"Good idea, Clint,"
Phil said with a smile.
The antics of the characters
went a long way toward
lifting everyone's mood.
The credits were rolling
when Natasha strolled in
and handed Loki a cup.
His eyes narrowed.
"What is this?" he said.
"This is mocha frappuccino,"
Natasha said. "It contains
coffee that is mostly frozen.
It should be safe for you."
Loki sampled it, then curled
his hands around the cup.
"This is splendid," he said.
"Thank you most kindly."
Tony, however, was
staring at them in horror.
"You have brought evil
into my house!" he roared.
Loki looked up, startled.
Natasha rolled her eyes.
"Oh, not this again.
Grow up, Tony."
"EVIL!" Tony said
as he pointed at
the Starbucks cup.
"Eeeeevillllll."
Phil just chuckled.
Such was life in
Avengers Tower.
* * *
Notes:
And you became like coffee,
in the deliciousness,
and the bitterness,
and the addiction.
-- Mahmoud Darwish
Crème fraîche is a cultured cream product that is sweeter than sour cream.
EDIT 9/2/20 --
technoshaman adds:Tony's reaction to the Evil Mermaid of Corporate Coffee tells me EXACTLY where he gets his coffee. DevociĆ³n, from the shop in the Flatiron district, 3 stops south on N/Q from the Tower. TEN DAYS from origin to roast. Fresher'n a whole FIELD of dasies; probably so damn gassy he has to let it age for a week or so so it doesn't overflow the brewer. (It also doesn't hurt that some of the growers were former customers of Tony's; when Tony decided blowing up the world wasn't for him anymore, he convinced these guys to quit doing so too, and make him coffee (Srsly, read the description. Former guerrillas, making coffee.)
Bruce, however, prefers Gimme! Coffee, which he gets shipped in from Ithica; he's helping them do genome analysis on the arabica bean to give it the disease resistance of robusta without the harsh taste... (yes, they're actually doing that this side of the Tef.) Bruce probably uses a pour-over into a borosilicate (lab-grade) double-walled glass mug, handle-less so the Green Guy won't have issues.
Aloe vera juice provides a variety of benefits, among which is soothing the stomach. It can be made into refreshing slushies with a blender or ice cream maker.
Kahlúa is a coffee liqueur.
Ice Age is an animate movie about prehistoric characters.
Frappuccino is a blended coffee drink that can be dressed up with various additions. Enjoy a recipe for mocha frappuccino.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-02 01:57 am (UTC)Wait.. you can drink Aloe vera?! How did I not know this!!
I suffer from heartburn and acid reflux, and consider how well aloe does on acid burns externally..
Thank you!!
Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-02 02:01 am (UTC)Yeah, I didn't know it at first either, it's only become common in the last decade or so.
>> I suffer from heartburn and acid reflux, and consider how well aloe does on acid burns externally.. <<
It's supposed to be good for those things. Sources suggest starting in small amounts, a tablespoon or so at a time, because too much can upset digestion.
>> Thank you!! <<
*bow, flourish* Happy to be of service.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-02 02:04 am (UTC)Thanks for the advice too.. I'll go easy at first, and not chug an entire bottle.
Oh.. and I look forward to Loki being an addition to the merry band at the Avengers tower.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-02 02:17 am (UTC)Yeah, I'm not sure drinking vast quantities like some people do is necessarily a good idea. Aside from the stimulating effect, aloe is also very high in vitamins and minerals. More isn't always better. I suggest reading across multiple sources.
But if aloe works on burns for you, it's well worth trying. I can actually undo mild burns with it if I keep applying more whenever it dries out.
>> Oh.. and I look forward to Loki being an addition to the merry band at the Avengers tower.<<
I've written a few tidbits like this, but I haven't done the actual introduction. People prompt out of order, which is fine, because I have a good idea what happens.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-02 02:20 am (UTC)Be careful with your sources, as it is becoming more popular, the less reputable sources of the juice are cheaper but sometimes not as good in terms of quality and purity.
It does help with heartburn and reflux, but can be difficult to actually drink as it turns the carrier liquid kind of...well jelly and slimy and thick. I drank it for about a month and a half, for my situation it helped initially but then became an irritant to my system and caused mouth discomfort, nausea, and stomach pain so I had to stop drinking it.
At the time I was drinking it where I lived, there was also really only one reputable source which meant that the price was very steep. The market is more competitive now and prices have fallen a lot.
Hopefully it works well for you
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-02 02:30 am (UTC)Not slippery elm, though. :P I took one sip, then dumped the mug down the sink and the box in the trash. It was like drinking snot.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-02 02:15 am (UTC)Bruce's coffee to take a sip.<<
Should be Bucky's coffee.
Fixed!
Date: 2020-09-02 02:20 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-02 03:09 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-02 02:12 am (UTC)[Grumbling cat walks around with flat eyes & ears and lashing tail]. Grrrr...
Yes ...
Date: 2020-09-02 02:27 am (UTC)Think about Thor and the Warriors Three and Sif with the chip on her shoulder always trying to outdo them. Plus Loki with his very different biology, no matter how he looks.
Recipe. For. Disaster.
Then Loki comes to Avengers Tower and doesn't realize how different the various members are from each other, let alone from himself, and he doesn't know his own parameters exactly either. He just knows stuff he likes when he can get it and stuff it's better to avoid. With a tendency to mimic people, naturally he gets into trouble copying Bucky. *sigh*
On the bright side, Bruce and JARVIS can help a lot, and Bucky will belt anyone who teases Loki about food.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2020-09-02 02:55 am (UTC)https://www.google.com/amp/s/aminoapps.com/c/steven_universe/amp/blog/garnets-chocolate-chip-cookies/wpvG_6ocouBqKrQGVvpr2332nnjWL44wqb
(Context: Garnet is fireproof & can swim in lava, but is helping raise a not-fireproof Half-Human Hybrid.)
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2020-09-02 03:03 am (UTC)That's a thought. Steve actually has light-up faucet extensions that indicate temperature so he doesn't accidentally reach into cold water, for instance.
Part of the problem, though, is that Loki was raised by aliens and does not know his special needs or limitations. It's all been trial-and-error for him. He was Asgardian enough that he survived, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's in good shape. Like say, the fact that even in Jotun form he's about half the size he should be, and I'm not buying Odin's "runt" story because WTF does he know about Jotun babies anyway?
>> Like Garnet wearing oven mitts:
(Context: Garnet is fireproof & can swim in lava, but is helping raise a not-fireproof Half-Human Hybrid.) <<
That is so adorable. :D Thank you for sharing.
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2020-09-02 05:07 am (UTC)- interspecies frendships, romances and chilrearing are deconstructed and reconstructed
- they are very safety concious - wear seatbelts before looking for UFO spacecraft, turn off the stove before playing in the rain, and pay attention if someone is acting OOC _even if you are enemies_. (That last one saved the world once. Or twice.)
- it is one of the few things I've seen where the aliens don't get human safety concerns,, until they've been run into or explained, often several times
- the human drama is just as important as the fantasy alien weirdness drama
- the main characters best skill is EFA, not magical alien powers
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2026-03-07 12:01 am (UTC)This is making me want to go taste my aloe plant. I shoo the cats off the houseplants one day, and the next day I'm the one nibbling...
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2026-03-07 12:11 am (UTC)Re: Yes ...
Date: 2026-03-07 12:44 am (UTC)Instead I made a pear crumble with fruit that would otherwise have been thrown out. >:( Plus lemon zest, ginger, cinnamon, touch of molasses, splash of almond extract to bring up the pear flavor, some cornstarch to help it hold together...and crushed walnuts in the crumble topping. :D
Rereading LIFC increases the odds of me eating mindfully! :)
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2026-03-07 01:31 am (UTC)Yeah, some squash skin oozes sticky white stuff too.
Some references on aloe juice:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-aloe-vera-drink
https://www.goodnature.com/recipes/aloe-vera-juice
You are supposed to avoid the latex part. Presumably commercial aloe juice is safe.
https://freshcap.com/blogs/growing/aloe-vera-juice
>>Instead I made a pear crumble with fruit that would otherwise have been thrown out.<<
Go you!
Any time I'm shopping a farmer's market for ingredients to be cooked, I look for "seconds" -- the half-price or dollar a pound stuff that is damaged. It makes mass quantity cooking like spaghetti sauce way cheaper.
>>Rereading LIFC increases the odds of me eating mindfully! :)
My work here is done. \o/
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-02 02:19 am (UTC)Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-02 02:35 am (UTC)No shit.
However, Thor grew up with bad examples. Macho eating habits are nobody's friend.
>> (unless you're a caretaker and said habits are blatantly harmful, and even then trauma informed care is more effective than nagging). <<
Yeah, no matter how "important" it is for someone to have a healthy diet, that isn't possible for everyone and trying to force it just makes matters worse. You can go from someone who eats 6 things to only 2. Most kids with dietary issues wind up getting abused by parents and doctors who are "just trying to help." If it makes the kid cry and vomit, you're doing something WRONG.
>> Especially if he KNOWS it's because Loki is biologically different and he's STILL doing it.<<
Thor knows now that Loki his Jotun. However, Thor is nowhere near smart enough at biology to realize that this is likely why Loki is "weird" at the table, nor smart enough at emotions to grasp that shutting up about it would be prudent.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-02 02:50 am (UTC)My opinions on grocery lists are not welcome, my methods of food preparation are suspect, and people keep fussing at how/what/when I eat.
And then people worry that I'm not eating enough. Gee, ya think.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-02 03:08 am (UTC)When I was growing up, I was the only person in our monkeysphere with dietary issues, excepting occasional old people whose bodies were breaking down and that was to be expected. Now, almost everyone I know has things they can't eat. We've either broken food, broken humans, or both. FAAAAIIIILLL.
I have spent decades observing my body and what works or doesn't. Every ten years or so, it makes some wild change. For a while I couldn't eat oranges, then it was rice but oranges were okay. Now I can eat rice but peanuts are getting iffy. So I have learned a lot in self-defense, because nobody else is going to fix it for me.
*chuckle* Yeah, if someone left an alien baby on my doorstep, I would at least know a starting place to figure out what it could eat.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-02 04:53 am (UTC)I just get tired of people trying to 'help' or 'fix' me. Especially if the helpiness goes one way.
(Plus these 6+ past months have been terrible for everyones mental health, even if they've been great for air quality.)
At some point it makes sense to give up & do stuff I'll actually enjoy.
And people can't be helpy as often from the other end of the building.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-02 05:16 am (UTC)Thor /would/ respect Steve and Bucky, I bet...so if they start picking up a few of Loki's preferred eating habits or foods, perhaps Thor would tone down the teasing.
He'd also likely tone down the teasing if its met with blank stares instead of competitiveness...
I wonder if the LIFC crew is going to meet any other Frost Giants?
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-02 03:30 am (UTC)Now, Tony being a gadget man, he's probably taken the idea of a K-cup brewer and kicked it up notches unknown to mankind.
Bruce, however, prefers Gimme! Coffee, which he gets shipped in from Ithica; he's helping them do genome analysis on the arabica bean to give it the disease resistance of robusta without the harsh taste... (yes, they're actually doing that this side of the Tef.) Bruce probably uses a pour-over into a borosilicate (lab-grade) double-walled glass mug, handle-less so the Green Guy won't have issues.
Tony's taught most of the rest of the gang what Good Coffee is... except... Natasha.
*sigh* De gustibus non est disputandam, nu?
(I mean, if he's got Bucky and Steve drinking the good stuff after half a lifetime each of drinking bad low-bidder joe (I nearly typed "low-bitter" there but military grade coffee is NOT low-bitter :( ) he's not gonna have a problem getting most everyone else on board... but some people have a sweet tooth.
Oh, gods. I bet SHERLOCK likes that stuff... John, be afraid. Be very afraid.)
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-02 04:18 am (UTC)Yeah, I was WAITING for the coffee links. You KNOW the stuff.
Yes ...
Date: 2020-09-02 04:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-02 04:42 am (UTC)Either is fine, just curious.
Well ...
Date: 2020-09-02 04:56 am (UTC)Natasha, on the other hand, frequently has to travel for work, sometimes to places that have iffy supplies. Being able to spot a wide-range supplier of coffee that can have lots of extra calories added can be useful.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-02 03:41 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-02 04:16 am (UTC)Just as a note to my fellow commenters: regular ol' aloe vera contains latex. Do not eat/drink unprocessed aloe vera. It is gross. Buy the specific stuff or look up how to process it.
Heh, saw your comment about going from orange intolerance (citrus can cause histamine problems for some people; I can't tolerate limes or, sometimes, oranges) to rice intolerance (a common allergy/intolerance in Asia, but presents with different symptoms from US-common allergies) to peanut intolerance (US-common). Rotating intolerances is finally being recognized in mast cell / histamine disorders (which I only know about because, well, I've got the same mast cell issues).
Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-02 04:29 am (UTC)Sorry.
>>Just as a note to my fellow commenters: regular ol' aloe vera contains latex. Do not eat/drink unprocessed aloe vera. It is gross. Buy the specific stuff or look up how to process it.<<
Yeah, the processing is different for internal and external use. As someone pointed out elsethread, quality varies too. Look for a reputable supplier.
>>Rotating intolerances is finally being recognized in mast cell / histamine disorders (which I only know about because, well, I've got the same mast cell issues).<<
Huh. That hadn't occurred to me, as my issues are digestive, but the digestive system is much more closely connected to the immune system than most humans realize. Could be related. Thanks for sharing!
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-02 01:18 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2026-03-07 12:03 am (UTC)Yay this was lovely
Date: 2020-09-02 07:50 am (UTC)I think I'm starting to see why Loki latched onto Bucky and Steve as brothers. All of them are slowly learning more about the modern Midgard and that includes dietary needs.
Poor Bruce. It seems to be a rite of passage to ignore the good doctor's advice.
I'm so glad that there are options for Loki to enjoy coffee, even if Tony thinks Starbucks is evil. Sorry Tony I like frappuccinos but I don't like iced coffee? That might be because my brain expects the iced coffee to be warm, I don't know *shrugs*
Plus yay for Clint and Loki being a support for each other this time instead of being a hurt.
Hmm, Steve and Bucky seem to be able to handle ice today which is good. But I'm sure they'd just bow out if they couldn't because they have learnt self-care :D
This was wonderful to read, thank you!
~Angel
Re: Yay this was lovely
Date: 2020-09-02 08:22 am (UTC)It's fine to ignore irritating behavior. Ignoring hurtful behavior rarely works. How often have you seen "ignore it and they'll stop" actually work on a bully?
>> I think I'm starting to see why Loki latched onto Bucky and Steve as brothers. All of them are slowly learning more about the modern Midgard and that includes dietary needs.<<
Yep. Despite the fact that Loki started it to hurt Thor's feelings, they actually are a good match.
>>Poor Bruce. It seems to be a rite of passage to ignore the good doctor's advice.<<
Yeah, but at least the Avengers learn from those mistakes -- unlike Fury.
"You want to put me in a sealed metal container underwater."
And we all saw how well that turned out.
>>I'm so glad that there are options for Loki to enjoy coffee, even if Tony thinks Starbucks is evil. Sorry Tony I like frappuccinos but I don't like iced coffee? That might be because my brain expects the iced coffee to be warm, I don't know *shrugs* <<
Coffee comes in many, many variations. They haven't even brought in buzz beans yet. ;)
Me, I can't drink "flavored water." If it doesn't taste like water I expect it to be sweet. So the fruit edge just makes it taste bad. Tea I like, but then there's enough going on that it doesn't need to taste sweet, just not sour or bitter.
>>Plus yay for Clint and Loki being a support for each other this time instead of being a hurt.<<
Sooth. It's very up-and-down for them, and likely will be for a while. Again, they're a good match, but that horrendous introduction works against them.
>>Hmm, Steve and Bucky seem to be able to handle ice today which is good. But I'm sure they'd just bow out if they couldn't because they have learnt self-care :D <<
True. It's hit-or-miss. On a good day, ice often isn't a problem; on a bad day, it can flatten them. As a general rule, though, it's a lot riskier for them to use it themselves than for someone else to use it.
>> This was wonderful to read, thank you! <<
*bow, flourish* Happy to be of service.
Re: Yay this was lovely
Date: 2020-09-02 01:32 pm (UTC)"It takes two to make a fight"
*Grrrrrrrr*
This seems to be culturally ingrained in mothers in the US. At its best, it is a woeful misunderstanding of childhood male dynamics. at its worst it victim blaming.
I wish I'd known as a kid the response I heard in my 30s.
"It may make two to make a fight, but it only takes one to administer a beating."
Mind you, I am aware that fathers can be just as bad, though not from personal experience.
Our culture really needs some sort of parenting classes. starting early and continuing thru high school.
Re: Yay this was lovely
Date: 2020-09-02 03:11 pm (UTC)Nonviolent resistance (to knife-wielding segregationist racists, for example) can work, but has a decent chance of getting you maimed if you're not very lucky.
Honestly, I think it boils down to powerful people wanting folks to 'stop causing me problems, dammit' whether or not it works for you. (And some of them men well, but won't try to understand why their idea won't work.)
And once we get to govermental scale, large-scale civilizations by definition require the government to maintain a monopoly on certain types of 'use of force,' (exact types varying by culture).
Re: Yay this was lovely
Date: 2020-09-02 10:21 pm (UTC)But only one to have a massacre.
>> This seems to be culturally ingrained in mothers in the US. At its best, it is a woeful misunderstanding of childhood male dynamics. at its worst it victim blaming.<<
Yep. It perpetuates the problem.
>> I wish I'd known as a kid the response I heard in my 30s.<<
Well, I grew up reading history written by the losers, so I had ulterior advantages. I'd not only point out what was happening, I'd give historic examples and then connect that to things like rape that bullies move on to later. It drove most adults bugfuck. *ponder* Actually, it still does that.
I didn't come across the 3% statistic until more recently though. Someone studied workplace bullying and found that the most common response -- doing nothing, ignoring the bully -- has a 3% chance of success. The most successful -- hiring a lawyer -- has a dismal 16% chance of stopping the bully. Consequently, most adults escape bullies by a method not permitted to children: they leave the job. These reasons are why bullies cost corporations around $50,000 a year in retraining and legal costs. Hence the campaign to Fire the Bully. Unlike employees, bosses absolutely have the power to stop bullying. Most of them just can't be arsed to do it.
>>Our culture really needs some sort of parenting classes. starting early and continuing thru high school.<<
I agree this is a good idea, as long as it's voluntary. (Not everyone wants to or should be a parent.) I would also make the classes free, although there's nothing wrong with paid places like colleges offering more detailed versions for money. High schools, community centers, and hospitals should absolutely be offering free classes. They do that in T-America.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-03 12:55 am (UTC)Also, it might be mildly sacrilegious (rude things done to coffee....) but dumping powdered hot cocoa mix into a mug of hot coffee will cool it down fairly well.... stir for a couple minutes with a candy cane and you have a warm-but-not-hot mint mocha beverage.
Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-03 12:58 am (UTC)Agreed. There are many things made with coffee other than the hot beverage. :D Loki isn't even a fan of hot things; he wants the flavor.
>> Also, it might be mildly sacrilegious (rude things done to coffee....) but dumping powdered hot cocoa mix into a mug of hot coffee will cool it down fairly well.... <<
I did not know that. I wonder if it'd work with higher-quality cacao powder.
>> stir for a couple minutes with a candy cane and you have a warm-but-not-hot mint mocha beverage. <<
Interesting.
(no subject)
Date: 2020-09-04 09:42 pm (UTC)Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-04 10:00 pm (UTC)Re: Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-04 11:11 pm (UTC)(I don't drink coffee, but I've heard if that trick for things like juice, etc.)
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2020-09-05 08:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2022-03-19 02:15 am (UTC)Yes ...
Date: 2022-03-20 06:15 pm (UTC)