I forgot I had lemonade in the fridge, so I made a pitcher of black cherry, then I have half a pitcher of lemonade and a full pitcher of black cherry in my fridge and I don't know what to do
When you start learning herbalism, you come across ancient systems of heating and cooling as a way to understand herbal actions. These are not usually referring to temperature literally, but cooling herbs are the ones to have on hand when the mercury rises.
Preparing cold infusions
In the UK, we mostly make herbal infusions with hot water, and this is great. It releases certain compounds from…
Black and mint iced tea! I like using bags for this as it is easier to measure.
Three bags each in 1-1.5 liters of water, add sugar to taste. Put it in the fridge over night and you are basically done!
Next morning remove the bags and stirr or shake so the dissolved sugar mixes completely with the tea. Now your iced tea is really done.
The mint is refreshingly cool and the black tea is nice and earthy and because there is coffein in it, it gives you a nice boost of energy. The best part is, that letting the tea steep in cold water doesn't produce any bitterness, as opposed to steeping it hot.
The tea should be good for about three days in the fridge, but I never get to find out.
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Organization for Transformative Works
The Bats converged around the warehouse, waiting for the opportune moment to rescue Tim and his boyfriend. Batman flicked a finger, signaling for Black Bat to move in first. She nodded, darted forward, and bounced off of a barely visible green barrier that appeared without warning.
With a grunt of surprise, Red Hood rushed towards the warehouse as well, only to be bounced back by the same barrier, and his voice crackled through the comms shortly after.
“It’s some sort of magical- something, B. It’s buzzing in my head- I might be able to destroy it given enough time, but we don’t have time right now.”
“I’ll send a call to Constantine and Zatanna. Start working on it.”
Red Hood saluted and drew the All-Blades to begin slashing at the obstruction. Batman lifted his wrist to send a message to the Justice League Dark and-
Tim’s scream echoed from the warehouse, and Bruce couldn’t help but run to the barrier himself. That was his son.
There was silence for a moment, and then a noise that sounded like a shockwave- the cultists had succeeded, they had summoned whatever they were after, and they had killed Tim or Danny to do it.
Fuck. FUCK. Bruce pounded an armored fist against the barrier, and bright neon green ripples spread from the impact.
And then the screams started. He couldn’t tell if any of them were his son this time, but there was so much screaming. Had he failed another Robin? Would he find another one of his children dead and mangled in a warehouse?
“Never fear, Phantasm’s here!”
The ghost’s cheery voice broke Bruce from his musings, and he looked up sharply to see the girl floating in between the barrier and the warehouse, strangely translucent in the darkness.
“What can you do now that they’ve killed my son?”
She had the gall to wink at him.
“PR team, currently. The screams mean we’re winning.”
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, the screams stopped and a long silence began.
Phantasm kept smiling serenely at him.
“Why aren’t you in there? Saving civilians?”
Red Hood sounded winded- the All-Blades hadn’t made a dent.
“I am, though? This is just a duplicate, it’s totally in my file that I can do that.”
Nightwing stepped up beside Bruce and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Phantasm, I do understand that you are- undead- if that isn’t offensive, but we would rather the civilians inside come out alive. Could you let us in?”
She blinked a few times before it seemed to dawn on her.
“Oh! Right. The barrier. I don’t have any power over that- Clocky thought some things needed to happen.”
Pausing, her head tilted to the side.
“They’re coming out now. I’d better make like a ghost.”
With a wink and a grin, she vanished, and as she did, the warehouse doors banged open from within and the barrier shimmered out of existence.
Batman reached for a weapon, but- Danny was striding out, cradling Tim in his arms. He looked relieved to see the assorted collection of vigilantes.
“Oh good. You’re here. Little late, but I have suspicions that wasn’t your idea.”
Bruce took stock of his son. Tim looked fine, but his eyes were squeezed shut.
“What-”
Danny looked down.
“Tim, honey, I’m going to hand you over to Batman now, okay? I need to go- uh- take care of the mess.”
Without any more warning, he held Tim out and Bruce couldn’t do anything but take his trembling son into his own arms.
“Take him home, please.”
“Sir, you need to give us a report, and- is that a knife in your chest?”
Nightwing reached out to assist the clearly injured civilian, but Danny just chuckled.
“Another one for the collection, Nightwing.”
The knife vanished, seemingly pulled further into Danny’s self, and Bruce gaped a little. Tim started struggling in his arms, still trembling a little, and when Bruce looked down his son’s eyes were open and he was reaching for Danny.
“You-”
Danny blinked at Tim, expression impossibly soft, and then he turned and walked back into the warehouse. The doors shut behind him on their own.
“Boooo.” Phantasm appeared outside the warehouse, resting her chin in her hands as she floated in a reclining position. “He kicked me out! The audacity. Gotta love emotionally stunted men, amiright?”
Tim used Bruce’s distraction by the young ghost to tip himself onto the ground, landing on his feet and then dashing back towards the warehouse doors.
“Danny, he’s- I gotta-”
Phantasm floated down in between Tim and the doors, stopping him.
“Look, mister, as much as I appreciate you trying to go back in for him- sign of undying affection and all that jazz- he’s not going to let you back in at the mo'. You need to go home to your family for now. He’ll freak out, probably leave Gotham for a bit, and generally pout so loud that the literal concept of Monarchy tries to abandon ship, but it’ll turn out okay. You’re good people, he’s stupid people, the literal concept of Time wanted things to happen this way, all good.”
Bruce took off his cape and wrapped it around his son’s shoulders.
“Tim, you’re still shaking. Let’s get you home.”
“Good plan, Batman! Hey, that rhymed!”
Phantasm grinned.
“Sucks to meet you like this, Tim! I’ll stick around in Gotham for a bit if you need to chat. Actually, I’ll message you on Chirper in a bit. Go home, eat food, and get rest.”
Bruce let out an internal sigh of relief as Tim seemed to capitulate and allowed him to scoop the boy up and head towards the batmobile.
The evening had been strange, stressful, and pretty confusing, and all Bruce wanted to do was take his children home and make sure they were all safe.
Tim’s phone dinged- a Chirper message- and Bruce looked over Tim’s shoulder as his son fumbled it out to read it.
DanDanDan: I don’t know what happened, but Danny’s all weird now and I’m blaming you.
A few moments later, another message popped up.
DanDanDan: OK nvm. @DNClone just explained it to me. I’ll beat some sense into him. It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance.
Then another.
DNClone: He’s safe. You’re safe. Do what you do best, definitely not a sugar daddy.
Maybe the rings are for winding a rope through? The stairs seem pretty steep and the handrail was also removed..?
I only fell down a stairway once, but I keep on falling UP the stairs... Here I would do both... Trip up, have nothing to catch myself on and fall down... Who approved this?!?
Danny, de-age to a seven-year-old: Hello. Would you care for a shoe shine?
Bruce: ....Yes, of course. How much?
Danny: Oh, whatever you can spare. *setting down a portable shining bench* Please put your feet here.
Bruce: Of course. Have you been doing this long?
Danny: a couple of weeks. I'm getting really good at it.
Bruce: You are. These look brand new. *hands him a $ 100 bill*
Danny: Wow! Thank you!
Bruce: Of course. Do you have a safe place to sleep?
Danny: Nope.
Bruce: .....would you like one?
Danny: Sure!
Bruce: Really?
Danny: Yeah, if you're offering!
Bruce: Its never been this easy before....somethings off. Aren't you the less bit wary of me?
Danny: Nah, I can sense people's intentions. You're not a creep trying to get a kid to a second location. You just want to give me a safe place off the streets.
Bruce: .....Are you a Meta?
Danny: I don't belive in organized religion.
Bruce: That's not....you know what, nevermind. Have you had something to eat?
Danny: I found a half finished donut in the trash earlier.
Bruce: Oh. No. Let's get you some dinner.
Danny: I'm buying! *waving money Bruce gave him* I had a good day of work!
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