Dandelion and Burdock, Again

So I did manage to get my hands on the Fentimans dandelion and burdock drink.  The "botanically brewed" one in classy glass bottles.

Perhaps predictably, it's not like the other two.  It's fizzy (not like Coke or ginger ale, though) and a darker, slightly weirder color than the red-amber Barrs drink.  A slightly ominous shade of orange-red-brown with maybe a hint of violet.  The first taste was definitely of aniseed, but the flavors unfolded in a more complex way; in the end, I could taste the base of pear juice concentrate and the ginger, but I could still definitely taste the dandelion and anise.

That first brand was simply offbeat soda for people who want to drink licorice by the seashore.  This is d&b for snobs.

It was pretty good.  I guess I will have to try ALL OF THEM again to determine my favorite.  :)

Metastatic Writing / The Standing Army Problem

No, I don't mean writing infused with meta.  I mean, that's good.  This is more like "I am trying to write I am making myself write OH GOD what is this 'fic doing it is not supposed to be about Aideen OH GOD while is this Aideen-story coming so easily and the thing I am supposed to be writing just NOT" (sob sob sob).

It's like a single sentence going neoplastic and consuming the host 'fic.  :P

Anyway, since this is relevant to the Aideen-story I am NOT supposed to be writing...

( Why do we need a massive standing army again? )