Refuge

- written by Ava Kelly; photo by Fie

“Wha—how many did you steal?” Yv asks as Enk rushes to arrange the orbs in a neat layer for safe transport, all four upper limbs trembling with exhaustion and fear and critical urgency.

“As many as I could carry,” Enk says just as one slides off the tray, taking with it all six of xir hearts, but only for a fraction of a moment because Yv’s deft tendrils catch it and return it to its place. Yv’s amorphous shapes support Enk as well, as xir bones mush into cartilage, a vestigial response to sudden fright. “Most are intact, some got damaged, but they’ll heal by the time we get there,” Enk reports, just to focus on something else for a moment, on their mission.

“And where exactly is… there?” Yv asks, but nonetheless plunges a tentacle into the piloting port above their heads—well, above Enk’s head, because Yv doesn’t have one, not exactly—and the ship immediately rumbles as they push through the atmosphere, against wind and heavy air and the oppressive radiation of the planetary shield.

“I found a suitable place,” Enk says while punching the coordinates into the navigation terminal, “a planet where the hatched do not exist solely to serve the birthed, as if coming out of a warm body is somehow superior to emerging from a shell.”

~

They’re deep into open space, a vast distance between them and their pursuers, when Enk, pliant and warm in Yv’s grasp as they keep watch over the red glimmering ovules, whispers, “Do you ever fear me?”

“I used to, back when we were children and I was given to you,” Yv admits, because they’ve promised to be truthful with each other, “but not for a long time since. My most precious memory is of you hiding me beneath your clothes when the conservators came to take me away because I was too old to serve as a toy, and after, of you letting me live as your skin for years, keeping me safe from reassignment.”

Yv solidifies enough to return Enk’s embrace, and adds a reassurance and an oath: “Never doubt, you are my refuge, just as we’ll both be for them.”

—

[Image description: A layer of redcurrant berries, resting on a dark surface, fills out the entire field of the picture and goes on beyond.]

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Links to the artists’ websites and social media: [x]

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Todays healthy juice includes oranges, cherries, strawberries and redcurrants! 🍊🍓

Berries have a lot of anti-inflammatory properties, I love to have them in smoothies or with yoghurt and granola!

This juice is the perfect nutritional breakfast to start the day!

🍃🔴 Those little red pearls looks like jewels of nature 🔴🍃 #currant #redcurrants #gooseberries #groseilles https://www.instagram.com/p/CfAY85hoMzs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Just back from the Farmers market with these beauties. Any idea what I should do with them?? #strawberries #raspberries #redcurrants #bakingopportunity #berries #bcproduce #farmersmarket #red @duncanfarmersmarket @downtown.duncan (at Duncan Farmers Market) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgpWKmapEA1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Tsikrikonis

Tsikrikonis Celini Kavala, Greece 2018 Xinomavro

The Tsikrikoni vineyard lies just 3 kilometers from the Aegean Sea under Mount Symbolos. The right humidity from the sea during the day and the mild winds of the mountain range during the night create the ideal climate for the vineyard.

Xinomavro ages very well and is the Greek equivalent of Nebbiolo. It has the same characteristics in that, despite having high levels of tannins, this is well balanced by its sharp acidity. The result is a very drinkable light red.

Great structure and acidity with juicy redcurrants and plums.

Tasting notes: redcurrants, plums, olive

Pairing: mature and hard cheeses, veal, beef

Similar to: Nebbiolo

Red Current Chutney. We have a red currant bush in our garden and I’m never sure what to do with the fruit, it is pretty sour! I’ve tried making jam before, which is sharp, but nice and this year decided to try and make some chutney. I made redcurrant, red pepper and red onion chutney. #chutney #redcurrants #fruit #garden #homegrown #making https://www.instagram.com/p/Cipg2J5jnNh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

// V I T A M I N E #Boost 🫐 • www.minischmidt.de • #minischmidt #minigarten #blaubeeren #johannisbeeren #vitamineboost #blueberries #redcurrants #freshfruits #veryberry #polymerclayfruits #fimofood #myfimo #nichtessbar #minifiziert #kleinkünstler #miniaturkunst #berlin #neukölln (hier: Schillerkiez Neukölln) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfzBJkksHEI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

12kg of redcurrants! Anyone want a jar of jelly? #redcurrants #GrowYourOwn #garden #fruit #PhotoADay #29jun22 #CuriousMagpiePhotography https://www.instagram.com/p/CfmnK8yr8PD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This meal was so incredibly satisfying that I could eat it every day without getting tired of it. 🥰 I diced up a mango and tossed it with organic greens and some fresh red currants from our garden, and then drizzled it with balsamic vinegar and olive oil and sprinkled a blend of garlic powder, onion powder and sea salt on top. After that I decided to throw a few tablespoons of hemp seeds in the mix for a little bit of protein and a little more fat to hold me over longer while I work on packing. #gardentotable #gardenfresh #homegrown #redcurrants #mango #organicgreens #salad #simplelunch #freshfood #lunchideas #health #wellness #delicious #food #foodie #foodstagram #gardenersofinstagram #homesteadersofinstagram #homestead #livingclean #eatclean #cleaneating #wholefoodnutrition #wfpb #veganlunch #vegandish #aip #lowcarb #livingcleanhomestead #bloomwhereyouareplanted https://www.instagram.com/p/CfcT9TSvJxb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

RedCurrants are rip and ready for picking. Juicy, sweet, tart and very red!

Check out our recipe to turn these into an amazing rose wine

It's him!

Plant of the Day

Sunday 19 November 2023

The cultivar Ribes rubrum 'Rovada' (redcurrant) is a prolific cropper of large, translucent fruit that hang on long strings which makes for easy picking. This Dutch bred variety also has great autumn colour.

Jill Raggett

🍃🔴☕ Sunday breakfast ☕🔴🍃 #ricoré #overnightoats #redcurrants #gooseberries #sunday https://www.instagram.com/p/CfAZ-ULIJ26/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=