#can dogs eat dried fruit

[crazerange]

Can Dogs Eat Dried Mango - Canines or Culprits?

Pet ownership is more than just a duty; it’s a loving commitment to recognize and effectively meet your pet’s needs. This commitment is even more crucial when it comes to the eating preferences of our cherished dogs. Dog owners frequently inquire, “Can dogs eat dried mango?” This Can Dogs Eat Dried Mango article seeks to answer that query by providing in-depth details on the security, nutritional…

[dionysianivy]

𝐌𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐧

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙣 𝙀𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙭 🌾🍎🕯

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What is Mabon?

Mabon, celebrated around September 21 to September 29, marks the autumnal equinox and the second harvest of the year. It’s a time of balance, as the hours of light and dark stand equal, symbolizing the transition between summer and winter. It's a time when witches and practitioners honor the changing seasons, express gratitude for the Earth's abundance, and connect with the energies of balance and transition. The term "Mabon" for this celebration is named after Mabon ap Modron, a character from Welsh mythology. It is often associated with the mythological theme of the abducted and imprisoned child who later becomes a hero, which parallels the changing seasons.

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Who is Mabon Ap Modron?

Mabon ap Modron, also known as Maponus, is a character from Welsh mythology. In some versions of the myth, Mabon is portrayed as a divine hero or a child who was abducted from his mother, Modron, and imprisoned. He is rescued after 3 years and plays a significant role in Welsh mythological tales. The name "Mabon" itself means "son" or "young man" in Welsh, and it is connected to the theme of rebirth and the return of the light.

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Hades × Persephone and the Autumn Equinox

Legend has it that on the last day of summer, Hades, the god of the Underworld, saw Persephone picking flowers in a field. He immediately fell in love with her and abducted her, wanting to keep her by his side as the queen of the dead. Upon discovering the disappearance of her daughter, Demeter, the goddess of harvest, set out to find her. Unable to locate Persephone, Demeter’s sorrow and despair were so overwhelming that the flowers, trees, and all vegetation withered, bringing all growth on Earth to a halt. The gods of Olympus, who were powerless to ignore the prayers of humans, reached a compromise with Hades regarding Persephone’s return. She would spend only six months each year with Hades in the Underworld. To avenge herself, Demeter decreed that during those six months, nature would mourn, and nothing would grow on Earth until Persephone ascended again from the Underworld.

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Magical Correspondences

Planets: Sun, Mercury

Season: Autumn 

Element: Water 

Time of Day: Dusk

Tarot: The Hermit 

Colors: Brown, Maroon, Red, Orange, Purple, Yellow, Gold

Herbs: Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Chamomile, Cedarwood, Juniper, Mugwort, Dried Apple

Fruits: Grapes, Apples, Pears, Plums, Blackberry, Pomegranates

Vegetables: Carrots, Corn, Onions, Pumpkin, Squash

Runes: Dagaz, Inguz, Eihwaz, Jera

Crystals: Amethyst, Agate, Citrine, Tiger's Eye, Amber, Yellow Topaz

Trees: Apple, Oak, Aspen, Cedar

Goddesses: Pomona, Demeter, Epona, Inanna, Ishtar, Kore, Modron, the Morrigan, Persephone, Banbha, Autumnus, Hestia

Gods: Dionysus, Mabon ap Modron, Hades, Dumuzi, the Green Man, Hermes, Thoth, Cernunnos, Osiris, Freyr

Flowers: Marigold, Chrysanthemum, Aster

Animals: Deer, Dog, Wolf, Blackbird, Squirrel, Salmon, Swan

Magical uses: Abundance, Accomplishment, Agriculture, Balance, Goals, Gratitude, Grounding, Harvest, New Beginnings, Reflection

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Activities to do:

🍎 create your own Cornucopia

🍎 make a special Mabon jar

🍎 bake an autumn recipe

🍎 eat apple pie

🍎 harvest your garden

🍎 light a bonfire and dance or tell stories with your loved ones around it

🍎 do a guided meditation to welcome the new season

🍎 clean your garden

🍎 listen to Mabon music on Youtube or Spotify(there are plenty of playlist you can find!)

🍎 spend time with your deity/deities

🍎 grab some autumn flowers and bring them into your home

🍎 rest and relax♡

🍎 read about Mabon

🍎 clean your house to prepare for the season

🍎 take a walk outside to connect with nature and be grateful for the summer that has passed and warmly welcome the beauty of autumn

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Food and Drinks:

apple pie, apple cider, wine, grapes, root vegetables, apples, cornbread, baked good made from wheat or grains, cakes with cinnamon or nutmeg, roasted meat, pork chops, mashed potatoes, peach jams, fruit tarts, apples in all forms, pumpkin pie

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useful sources: Magie Blanche by Eric Pier Sperandio

gifs credit: Pinterest

Tip jar🍎🌾

[selfaware-bungou-stray-dogs]

Spooktober. Candy.

Self-Aware! Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald x GN! Reader x Self-Aware!Saigiku Jouno

Description: You, Francis and Jouno make candies.

Warnings and tags: OOC. English is my second language. Fluff. Short

A/N: A short fic for a Spooktober.

_____

You have a feeling of déjà vu. The kitchen table, once again, was holding a mountain of ingredients. Near the window were stacked bags of sugar. Jam jars were next to bowls of fruits. Bottles of food coloring and small decorative wooden sticks were in a shadow of towering milk bottles.

And, once again, the perpetrator, Francis, stand in the middle of the kitchen. He clearly saw the expression on your face.

You weren't amused.

Trying to keep things cool, Fitzgerald lean on the table. For a moment, you thought, that you heard, how poor table creaked. Jouno hummed right above your ear.

"Believe me, [Y/N], it's not a hallucination."

Fitzgerald gave the hunting dog a nasty glare.

"And who asked for your input?"

Jouno ignored him. Instead, he turned his head towards you.

"Do you want to yell? Should I cover my ears?"

You elbowed him. Jouno hissed, not out of pain, but to slightly cheer you up. You were in a need of a good cheering.

"I don't want to yell, but I have questions. Francis, did you get carried away during sales again?"

Francis shook his head with a wide grin on his face.

"You can't be more wrong, My dear Treasure! This purchase was on purpose."

You looked at the table again. Despite the fact, that there is no such thing as "too much food" in a house, where 60+ people live, but in that case, there are too much food. There was no need for so much sugar, jam and milk. Only fruits will be eaten, before they become bad.

"Why." It wasn't even a question. You were tired, and you don't want to deal with whatever it was.

Francis looked proud of himself.

"Candy. We will make homemade candy for Halloween Season."

You slowly blinked. A random thought flashed in your mind, and, before you can think, you opened your mouth.

"Francis, if there is a problem with finances, and we need to start saving up... I have some spare money, so..."

"No!"

Jouno and Francis, somehow, covered your mouth at the same time. Both man looked worried.

"No." Francis repeated. "There's no need. Everything is fine with money. I just wanted to do something new."

Jouno huffed.

"He wanted to cook with you again, Firefly."

Francis glared at Jouno again. You carefully removed the hands from your mouth. You rubbed your temples.

"Just let me get an apron. Want to join us, Jouno?"

He shook his head.

"Why not.

_________

"Did we manage to do it?" asked Jouno, focusing on smells in the air. "Smells fine."

You bit your lip. Spiders from chocolate coated apple pieces looked like they wanted to be put out of their misery. Same for bat cookies... And for pan with dried sugar.

Francis coughed, but pick up one of the candies (that was supposed to be a skeleton, but instead resemble a Stay-Puft from Ghostbusters). Carefully, he ate it.

"Hmm... Not bad. Taste is fine, the looks are..." Francis waved his hand, trying to think of a right word.

"Questionable?" you took a spider apple, taking a generous bite. Yea, not a poison, you can eat.

Francis nodded.

"Yes, we will settle at questionable."

Jouno also taste one of the candies.

"Fine for the first time attempt." agreed he.

Now, you three really need to clean up the kitchen. Goncharov was very protective over the kitchen. Keep it clean, or you will face his wreath.

[aldryrththerainbowheart]

Jason Todd loves to travel to cozy forest cabin getaways with you

🍂 Especially in the middle of autumn/one the cusp of winter. A little strange, considering people usually prefer spring, summer or at least warmer months of autumn. You asked him about it once, he said it's the calmness of the forest that's preparing for winter.

Like everything's falling asleep. Calm, quiet, undisturbed by anything.

🍂 You have one place surrounded by mountains that you book year in advance and visit every year for a week. It's a long wooden hut made of layered logs with stone fireplace and terrace window overlooking nature. Nestled on the high slope right under the mountain, it offers a beautiful view of valley with river curling like a snake through the slopes and acres upon acres of ancient pine trees.

🍂 He makes sure you're stocked with everything you need. Even the things you don't need but he bought them because he knew you liked them. Your favorite coffee, dried fruits and nuts, his favorite beef jerky, soup cans, store bought dough for pizza, fresh buns and cinnamon buns, eggs for morning omelettes, pumkin spice and ingredients for simmer pot (you taught him to drink that pretty quickly).

🍂 It's that calm quiet routine he falls into wih you there that he loves the most. You wake up late, burried under the patterned blankets, to a cold autumn morning with golden-brown leaves falling behind your window. He doesn't want to let you go until you bribe him with fresh coffee. It another half an hour before you get out of bed, either talking or reading your respective books you brought with you. Then and only then, you get out of bed. Usually one makes breakfeast while other gets ready or sits at the dining table. You rarely use that table, usually taking the food either outside on the terrace, the couch or bed.

🍂 Your days are filled with hiking and walks through the wilderness. Each morning greets you with the soft light of dawn as you lace up your hiking boots, ready to explore the outdoors. The air is fresh and crisp, filled with the earthy scents of pine and wildflowers.

As you venture deeper into the wild, you find yourself surrounded by towering trees that sway gently in the breeze. You might encounter babbling brooks that meander through the landscape, their crystal-clear waters shimmering in the sunlight. With every step, you are greeted by the symphony of nature—the cheerful chirping of birds, the rustle of small creatures in the underbrush, and the distant sounds of nature that fill the air with tranquility.

Each hike offers its own unique adventure: sometimes you climb to breathtaking vistas that reveal sprawling valleys below, while other times, you wander through serene glades where wild animals may cross your path. You take the time to pause and appreciate the beauty around you, capturing moments with photographs or simply soaking in the sights and sounds.

In the evenings, as the sun sets and casts a warm glow across the horizon, you reflect on the day’s explorations, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for the connection you have with nature. Whether trekking through rugged mountain terrain or strolling along peaceful forest paths.

🍂 Unlike eating times, your walks are usually filled with peacefull silence, disturbed only by the sounds of rustling leaves, crunching of branches under your feet or animals. Speak of which, you were pretty nervous when you encountered bear or moose, but Jason assured you that as long as you don't bother them, they won't bother you. You didn't know that wolves are so much bigger that a dog until a pack of them was chilling early in the morning around your cabin.

🍂 You make sure to bring your beaten-down old camera on these trips. Because some of these breathtaking sights cannot be captured by a phone. You have tons of them with beautiful sighs of nature, that one time you decided to go up the mountain slope, and the little fox family you stumbled upon. There's also plenty of pictures of Jason, sometimes taken without his knowledge. It's a rare sight when you manage to see that expression of pure serenity on his face, let alone capture it on the camera. There's one you cherish the most. It was taken when you climbed up the hill to a clearing. The sunlight is still peeking over the mountains and is shining directly on his back. He looks to the side and light illuminates his face perfectly, tracing the lines of his face in light and shadow. Dark strands peek from underneath his beanie and his neck is buriend in the scarf you made him. A fog is rising from his lips and one green eye is cast in sunlight. In the background, a blurried out expanse of forest and mountaintops. A copy of this photo made its way to the Wayne manor.

🍂 In the evenings, you cook dinner together and then either play boardgames or, you guessed it, read some more. Jason always looks forward to cooking dinner with you. You blast music for your portable radio, you mess with each other by throwing bits of food and argue what toppings should or should not go on a pizza. You test out what board games would stand the trial on the game nights with his family and you always end with cards against humanity. Your always at disadvantage when playing Black Stories. It's not your fault you're not detective like someone.

🍂 Out of all activities, your absolute favorite undoubtedly has to be stargazing with Jason. There’s something truly magical about those nights spent together, standing under the open sky, clean of the polution of Gotham city.

In those quiet moments, as you both gaze up at the milions of twinkling lights, you feel a deep sense of peace and connection. The cool night air envelops you, and every sigh, every laugh, and every shared dream feels amplified against the backdrop of shimmering constellations. With Jason by your side, it’s not just about the beauty of the night's sky; it's about the warmth of his presence, the quiet conversations that stretch into the night, and the comfort of knowing that you’re sharing these moments with the person you love most. The stars don’t just fill the sky; they light up your hearts, creating a memories that feels timeless and everlasting.

[sillygoosealert]

So guys don’t be like me please but basically I been neglecting my personal needs and now I cant get out of bed. I feel terrible and then I thought of something (insane right?) what if Bi Han find out reader hasnt been taking care of themselves so he takes a day off to care for them

92jinnies, please pull through for me kitten 💕

To another episode, another day blurs

Bi-han comfort, mental episode

It's been 3 days since you've last brushed your teeth

12 hours since you last up to use the bathroom

And however long since you've last ate

Maybe you won't do anything

Maybe you won't be anyone

Your throat is dry and you can hear yourself blink

The room is dark and smells of cold air

Bi-Han hasn't seen you ever since you crawled into your room and never came out

Well, no one has seen you, but he's worried

He originally thought you ran away or went off

But when looking into your old room, he saw you there

You were just lying there, listening to your breath

He doesn't know what set you off this time, you were fine

But you get like this, where nothing works out and you can't stand to be alive

So you pretend you're not

You don't bathe, you don't eat, you have trouble sleeping at night too

All you can do is exist, but that too seems too much for you

Nothing is easy, but is even harder when you aren't normal

Maybe you look fine, but something is wrong with you

But he knew that when he met you, he knew he had to help you when you couldn't help yourself

So he walks into the room and goes by your side

You motion for him to get into the bed but he just picks you up instead

Carrying you to your shared room

Then he gets on the bed, with you on his lap

He's just cradling you to take in how bad it is this time

He pinches your cheek to see if you will do anything

You hum into him, you can't say anything right now

He starts to undress you, tossing your clothes near the bed

Then you both go into the bathroom, and you get placed into the bath while he runs the water

You put your knees up to your chest and lean your head on them

‘You are tired?’

You hum to that as you yawn

Going back to bed sounds better than anything right now

He scrubs you raw, washing your hair to the best of his abilities

Your hair is tangled and possibly matted, but it could be worse

He rinses you off before putting you on the floor

He dries you off and brings you to the bed

Dressing you in his boxers and shirt

‘Stay put. I am getting you fruit and milk to help give you good nutrients.’

‘Fruit and milk?’

You're giggling, you don't know why

He comes over and scratches your stomach

‘Did you want something else?’

‘I’m not hungry right now, maybe we can eat later..’

‘Oh. When did you last eat?’

‘I don't remember’

You're curled up in the blankets, close to going to bed

‘Then I will get you milk and fruit. Please try to eat when I come back with it.’

‘Okay..’

After he comes back he makes you brush your teeth before eating, then he helps you eat

You're shaking a lot and you don't even realize it

And you have trouble holding the bowl with fruit or drinking the milk

So he holds your chin and slowly tips the milk so you can drink

Then he feeds you pieces of fruit at your own pace

After he brushes out your hair, humming into your neck when he's finished

Picking you up, he rolls around with you in his arms on the bed

Then he lays ontop of you with his head in your neck

‘I am..here for you, even if no one else is’

‘Thank you’

You're crying now

And he lets you

He lets you cry however much you need to

And he doesn't leave you

He doesn't even think about it

It's you and him

If you have 100 supporters he is one of them

If you only have 1 that is him

If everyone was against you he would stay right by your side

You fall asleep in each other's arms

Nothing is wrong

You are at peace

You are fine with being someone

You are okay with living

Then you start a family but while pregnant you are MURDERED by Kuai Liang (you know he would, he was going to kill Frost but Harumi stopped him) and it is now Bi-Han against the world. He's alone again 🎀

[evildadstims]

Puppy snacks!

-Scooby-Doo cookies (a classic)

-Peanut butter (also a classic- varieties include sun butter, almond butter, etc if you can't have peanuts)

-Goldfish

-Any sort of cookies. Shortbread and sugar cookies can be made in the shape of bones!

-Pretzels

-Any sort of dried meat or fruits/vegetables

-Cereal, with or without milk

-Small chocolate pieces (not for real doggies but to celebrate our newfound ability to eat it!)

-M&Ms (same as above)

-Scrambled eggs

-Yogurt

-Tuna salad (like wet dog food! I like just tuna n mayo for simplicity)

-Graham crackers

-Crackers/sandwich crackers

-Meat and cheese slices, cheese cubes/sticks

-Ice cubes

-Ice cream

-Whipped cream/cool whip (make yourself a pup cup)

(ID in alt text)

[steampunkforever]

You must long for the summer of unripe apricots. It comes only once. You will scrape your elbows and knees on the bark as you climb up the twin trunks in the side yard of a woman who will break her neck in a car crash ten years later but still come out all right. You will shake the boughs till the fat golden fruit tumbles from the branches and to the waiting tarps below. You will bring basket after basket home that summer and you will long for it. There is abundance in these baskets. The fuzzy orange skin ripening to sunset gold. You will never reach the bottom of the baskets and crates and boxes full of apricots you can only taste in your dreams. The fruits at the bottom will spoil before they see daylight and this will not matter because two more baskets are coming tomorrow and a third will be sent home with your dad. You eat the unripe ones, their taste almost chalky, slightly bitter, texture just firm enough to be crisp, yet still sweet past the traces of bitterness of tang. Yearn for this, you'll only get this once. This is the summer of unripe apricots. Take part. You eat as many as you can but there are always more. Your mother bakes cobblers, your dad packs half a dozen into his lunches, the fruit ends up in jams, jellies, preserves, canned and jarred and candied and syrupped til the smell of warm apricot permeates the kitchen, the car, the yard filled with the small teardrop stones leftover from your orange gold feast. Their texture in the dry sun is like the dark cracked nose of the old dog that has just been napping on the patio. She snuffles you with it, and it is as warm as her lazy flanks, not yet licked to wet coldness by the warm tongue currently tasting the sweet apricot juices that ran down your forearms and dried to summer's stickiness. You eat as many unripe apricots as your stomach can hold. Yearn for this. A misremembered number of weeks into the summer of unripe apricots you will eat too many. The gastrointestinal distress resulting from this will turn you off the taste of apricot for approximately a decade. Your body will harness foraging instincts not used in your bloodline since your great uncle crashed his fighter plane in North Africa. Every apricot is poison. The golden orange hue the glow of a deathly mushroom or the shade of the killer dart frog's skin. You know better than this, but the primordial revulsion within you is as strong as the ancestral crags it was formed in. Your summer of unripe apricots will never bear fruit again. The next year the frost kills buds sprouted too soon. The year after high winds strip the branches bare. The next year it's been ten years since you tasted the abundance of those two apricot trees. Yearn for it.

[androgynouspoetry]

Vampire Teen Angst

A silent dark figure glided down the long wooden hall. It came to a stop in front a wide mirror-tall as the molding would let it. The clad in black shadow moved a pale hand from the darkness and into the dim light, almost to touch the mirror. Its hand looking sickly frail with the skin almost transparent-purple and blue veins running under its cold flesh. It touched its finger tips against the cool mirror and let out a shaky breath unneeded. The reflection…it’s ghastly reflection.

“…”

Just then a second tall figure placed a heavy hand on its shoulder.

“Don’t look. You know it messes with your head.”

The smaller figure moved its hand from the mirror as if burned.

“…he should have stuck to silver backings. It’s cruel to have modern ones.”

The taller shadow clenched his jaw, his animalistic canines piercing his warm lip.

“He thought we would miss seeing us.”

The smaller shadow whipped around, his milky white and pale blue eyes burning with a fury that came from no soul.

“Us? Us?! Can we call what’s in the reflection “us”?!”

He stepped into the low light, showcasing the appearance he cursed. His skin pale and sickly translucent, his body lean bordering boney in his thin wrist, his hair dark and stringy, ears pointed and near pink inside, and his face…thin enough for the bone of his cheeks to near kiss his eyes. And his eyes milky blue, sunken in and soulless. His lips thin and crack, gums receded showcasing a sharp angry mouth like a rabid dogs.

“LOOK AT ME! I’m horrifying-disgusting! A corpse who knows not that it’s died long ago!”

His black sweater hung loose on his hungry body. The taller man let out a sigh of annoyance-not in anger but as if they’ve had this talk before. He also stepped into the light.

“Tim, you’ll get better once you eat! We’ve been through this the past 50 years! It’s not the 1970’s anymore-you…you need to move past this! It’s not healthy to starve yourself!”

Dick looked concerned and pleaded to Tim to eat, over and over and over again. Dick-taking to the life as a vampire fairly quick-had long since fed whenever he felt the want for fat on his body, weight on his hips and color on his caramel cheeks. Unlike Tim’s walking corpse Dick drunk the blood of the living, just like his father and siblings. He had meat on his bones, healthy weight to his face. He had full black hair with shining blue eyes and full lips that hid strong teeth and perfect gums where his livelihood was retracted.

“Healthy? Do I look like I fucking care?! You know what happened! All of you! I didn’t ask for this!”

With that he stormed down the dark hallway leaving behind a worried brother.

“…I was never this difficult.”

The man in a dark red robe came down from the high ceiling.

“True but you were already being raised by vampires. Just give him time, he’s been through something horrific. He’ll come around one of these decades.”

Dick let out a groan at Bruce’s words of “comfort”.

“Never thought I’d miss the 50’s so much. I totally would have given him some cocaine.”

“DICK NO-“

(Hi guys! I know it’s been awhile and I’m excited abt posting for tomorrow, but for now I just wanted to give a little drop of what’s been stewing in my head. Just a prompt of spooky Batfam. I think I might add on to this if you guys like it, might make it a series cause of all the ideas I have for it! I just love the idea of like traditional vampire lore with some other stuff. Like vampires not able to see their reflection back in the day being because mirrors were made with silver which wouldn’t be all that common in todays world which is why Tim is able to see his reflection. I also threw in my own little thought that vampires are kinda like that once scene in that smurfs movie where the old woman gets young again and “plump? And stuff when Gargemel used his magic. I think of them like the dried out version of fruit if they don’t have any blood in their system. Like they don’t only eat blood to help the hunger but to also feel and look more alive, hence why Dick has warm skin and a more healthy and alive look-he ate recently. The blood of someone else’s keeps his body warm. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy and happy pre Halloween! 🎃)

[mayhemscorner]

You’re in my spot

Shikamaru x reader

Summary: reader finds someone in their favorite napping spot (Shikamaru fanfic because he’s one of my favorites? Yes please)

“Hey.” 

“Hey yourself, I’m trying to nap here.” Shikamaru grumbles, not even bothering to open his eyes.

“You’re in my spot.” The stranger huffs, kicking the outer part of Shikamaru’s leg.

“Get lost, I was here first.” Shikamaru yawns.

“And you’re on my property.” The stranger giggles,” but if you’re insistent, at least scoot over.”

Shikamaru cracks an eyelid open, he didn’t notice he had walked off his own property but the girl was right. The Nara compound was almost half a mile away. He stretches and gets up to move as she pipes up,” you don’t have to leave. Just don’t disturb the wildlife.” 

“Forget it.” Shikamaru huffs, starting to walk off and down to the road. She only shrugs before laying down in the ghostly warm spot that Shikamaru had given up. 

“What a drag, to think I’d get some peace and quiet.” He mumbles.

“You’re telling me, it’s not everyday you find someone already napping where you wanted to. I offered to share, but your loss.” She calls out to him. Shikamaru stops in his tracks, turning back to the spot he was at,” you don’t snore do you?”

“How should I know? I can’t exactly watch myself when I sleep. Are you going to keep asking bothersome questions or are you going to lay down?” She grumbles back to him.

“I guess. Not like I have anywhere else to go.” Shikamaru rolls his eyes, plopping down in the plush moss. That was what made the spot perfect. This whole area was moss instead of prickly grass, it was almost a phenomenon compared to the dirt and grassy fields on the Nara compound, even the rest of the leaf village. The two spent hours in silence, napping on and off. Thankfully, she didn’t snore. But, the two were still complete strangers. She finally sits up and stretches out as the sun sinks lower in the sky. 

“Great, I have to head home for dinner. You should probably go too, the bears are nocturnal.” The strange girl throws out over her shoulder. 

“Bears?” Shikamaru asks. 

“You are on Kuma compound land. Bears are pretty common here since we… work with them.” The sigh she lets off makes it seem like it’s a known fact.

“You’re an animal handler, Like the Inuzukas.” Shikamaru questions, finally intrigued.

“You’re half right. We can’t train bears like dogs, that’s just cruel. We have a contract with them. We offer them solace and safety on our land and in turn we inherit bear like qualities and can summon them in battle. It’s not that hard to grasp. What’s your name anyway?” She rambles on, deciding it was her turn to get a question in.

“Shikamaru.”

“Y/N. Now get off my property, I want to go eat.” Y/N smirks, showing it was at least half banter. 

Y/N knew he was a Nara, she wasn’t stupid. It just threw her off with always being told the Nara’s had a genius kid, when the one she met seemed like a dunce. Maybe he had an older brother. As she watches his figure grow smaller Y/N decides to shout out,” you’re more than welcome to come back in daylight, just don’t show up after dark and don’t take my spot.” 

The next day, he was there in the same spot. Only this time he had a basket full of random things.

“My dad made me bring this, just some useless stuff.” Shikamaru huffs, stretching his hand out to give her the basket. She looks down noticing berries and dried meat, as well as a few jars of what seemed to be ointments or some medical remedies.

“That’s crazy, my mom made me bring a basket to give to you instead of saying I had tell you to get the hell off the property.” Y/N chuckles, remembering how her mom was excited to hear a Nara had graced the compounds presence. The crazy woman filled the basket with acorns and apples as well as some preserved fruits and jellies she made. Then lastly a fancy scroll offering the Nara family to dinner and explaining the acorns and apples were for the deer. The two exchanged baskets, looking confused.

“I guess, do you want to feed a bear?” Y/N pipes up, reaching at the hide necklace around her neck and blowing at the trinket attached to make a sound. Three bears soon come lazily trudging from the tree line, already sniffing at the basket. Shikamaru could see the resemblance in laziness, maybe he should work with bears. Napping all day and eating whenever seemed like the perfect dream. One bear nudges him forward and crashing in towards Y/N, sending them both plummeting to the ground.

“Gure, stop pushing.” Y/N groans from underneath Shikamaru who winces himself. 

“Your face is pink.” She points out, reaching a hand up to poke at Shikamaru’s cheek, causing his eyebrow to twitch and face flush hotter.

“That happens when all the blood rushes to my head, damnit.” Shikamaru quickly defends, rolling off to hide his face from reddening anymore. 

“Anyways these are the triplets, Gure, Kuro, and Chairo. We work together.” Y/N explains nonchalantly while dropping a handful of berries in Shikamaru’s hand. 

“You say that like you work an office job with them. It’s cool I guess.” Shikamaru yawns out while Kuro nuzzles in to him, knocking the poor guy down again before robbing the berries from his hand. 

“You get used to that.” Y/N laughs laying down next to him and giving in to the pile of lazy bears for a mid morning nap. 

“Well, You all look like you got in to some fermented fruit. And Y/N, what did I tell you about napping?” Y/N’s mom comes down the clearing laughing at the sight. 

“I’m an adult now, and I don’t have another mission for three days. I can afford a nap.” Y/N reluctantly grumbles before getting knocked upside the head by the back of her mothers hand. 

“If you’re an adult why don’t you find love and move out already?” Her mom recoils quickly back as Shikamaru rises from under Kuros giant paw. She blushes slightly,”I didn’t realize that’s what you were working on out here.” 

Both Y/N and Shikamaru have to pick their jaws up from the forest floor from the off guard comment. 

“Mom, disgusting. Take this basket and get out of here!” Y/N pushes the basket from the Nara’s to her mother and groans in embarrassment. 

“Oh my, how thoughtful! A basket from the Nara clan. I can’t wait to rub this in Tsume’s face.” The older lady tilts her head back in laughter at the thought of the slim possibility seeing her favorite rival becoming jealous. It was common to have dinner with the Inuzuka’s, listening to the two mothers argue and try anything in their will to get any of the siblings together so the clans could finally unite. Kiba unfortunately was too much of a brotherly figure to Y/N, and Hana didn’t care much for Y/N’s brothers. Regardless, they still attempted. And it was annoying. 

“I would apologize for her, but she’s not my responsibility.” Y/N mutters quietly to Shikamaru while standing and brushing off the stray pieces of moss from her hair. Shikamaru only shrugs, then crawls his way out of the mess of the still sleeping bears.

“Wait until you meet my mom, this is nothing.” Shikamaru groans as he gathers the basket to take home. Before leaving, he picks one last piece of moss from Y/N’s hair, letting his hand hover by the side of her face for maybe a moment too long as they both look at each other, refusing to blink.

The following days, it was the same routine.

Wake up, nap in the field, tend to the bear’s, eat dinner, train at dark, go to bed. Y/N couldn’t complain, but dinner with the Nara family before leaving on a mission loomed over her. 

“This blows, why are we having dinner right before I leave?” Y/N groans, grabbing plates to set the table.

“It’s not like it’s any different than when we have dinner with the Inuzuka’s before a mission Y/N. You act like you actually like the boy.” She chuckles, grabbing the nice silverware. Y/N’s cheeks flush red as she becomes flustered,” stop trying to marry me off, you’re being nice to someone who trespassed on our property.”

“You remind me so much of your father.” Her mother groans, looking at the picture on the living room wall boasting a tall man sprawled over the same couch that still sits with four kids on top of him as he takes a nap without a care in the world,” lazy at home. Hated settling down. Always complaining… but still a stand up shinobi of the leaf.”

She pats Y/N’s head, messing up her freshly washed hair as the doorbell rings. Her eyes light up in realization as she whispers,” you even showered and put makeup on!”

Y/N groans as she opens the door, revealing Shikamaru and his own family. Shikamaru had even cleaned up a bit, tossing away his usual shirt for a dressier black one. 

“These are for your family.” Shikaku grumbles out from behind, extended a bouquet of wildflowers as the two younger adults sigh. 

“Charming… mom these are for you.” Y/N groans, passing the flowers to her excited mom,” go get your brothers it’s time to eat!”

“Hey, get down here and get some food before I possibly die on my mission.” She screams from the bottom of the stairs, unleashing three grown men tumbling down in a frenzy, only halting at the realization they have guests.

“Kyokuchi, Kawa, Mori, these are the Nara’s. Try to chew with your mouth closed, these people aren’t the Inuzuka’s”

“Figured that much out when ma busted out the fine china. These those fancy shadow people she always rambles about and your new boyfriend?” Mori chuckles out. Kawa is quick to slap him upside the head,” she’s an adult it’s called a potential suitor at this age, Mori. Can’t wait till you catch slack for bringing a girl home and Y/N gets to be an absolute asshole to you.”

“Language!” Their mom calls out in unison with the level headed of the triplets, Kyokuchi.

“Don’t chastise them on our account, swearing is shown to be beneficial in the traumatic life of a shinobi.” Shikaku sighs out, sitting at the table and unceremoniously taking his ratted deer skin shawl off to reveal a nice button down shirt. 

“And you must be Yoshino. I’m Kuroi Kuma. It’s an honor for you to have dinner with us!” Y/N’s mom gushes, leading Yoshino to a chair before setting food on the table. The three brothers slide in next to each other leaving to seats next to each other for Shikamaru and Y/N. Shikaku glares at Shikamaru’s hand on the back of the seat before meeting his eyes,” such a gentleman I raised.”

“Yeah. Sure.” Shikamaru drones, pulling the chair out and motioning with his other hand towards a confused Y/N,” uhm, thanks?”

They awkwardly sit, blushing in the silence of everyone eating, save for the three rambunctious brothers gnawing loudly on their food. It was so quiet, it almost drove Y/N crazy listening to the old clock tick away,” I’m going to go eat on the back porch, it’s pretty stuffy in here.”

“Y/N, we have guests. Why don’t you tell us a little about your mission tonight?” Kuroi seethes out, motioning a threatening finger downwards. Y/N drops her plate back down and begrudgingly slams back in to her chair,” it’s a lousy mission. We’re just being sent as support to help track a rouge that’s trying to reinstate the Akatsuki.”

“That’s some dangerous stuff. Good thing Shikamaru is going as well.” Shikaku chuckles out with a sideways smile, egging on the mass humiliation of the two.

“It’s a drag is what it is. Some idiot thinks anyone other than Naruto is strong enough to reinstate an organization that leveled villages. No one is strong enough in these days.” Shikamaru groans, shoveling a spoonful of food in his mouth and talking.

“We said the same during previous wars. Someone in the academy will be stronger than you all one day. Surpass you with flying colors even. New Jutsus are invented everyday, Shikamaru. I figured you were smart enough to put that together.” Shikaku shoots back.

“It is pretty stuffy in here, I think I’ll join Y/N outside where there isn’t any nagging.” Shikamaru says in finality. He looks over to Y/N, waiting to be ushered to the porch. Her realization sets in, quickly jumping to the door with her plate as her mother calls out,” don’t forget to bring your plates in!”

“I’m sorry about them.” They both say as the door shuts.

“No I-“

“Oh sorry you g-“

“Ah, damnit.” Y/N mutters out as they both stumble over each others words.

“I guess it’s a universal parent thing to embarrass us.” Shikamaru finally smiles, taking a stewed miniature potato between his teeth as they sit across each other on the porch. Y/N smiles back, continuing to eat as they turn their attention to the moss covered land that stretches on. She can’t help but laugh,” I think it’s stupid really.”

“What is?” Shikamaru asks in confusion.

“Can I be honest for a minute? My mom thinks she can rope me in to these dinners to set me up with a man or try to tie in to another family. I think love is stupid. Why should I have to depend on another person?” She babbles out, dropping her fork and lounging on her forearms to soak in the high sun.

“Tell me about it. Look how vulnerable it’s made my parents. My dad would die for the woman without blinking an eye.” Shikamaru sighs, following suit in the same position as Y/N.

She lays fully back, smacking her head lightly against the rough wood beneath them,” at least someone finally gets it. Now convince my mother.”

Shikamaru lays on his side to look at her,” only if you convince mine first.”

They both laugh, and Shikamaru watched as she bared sharp canine teeth, how the sun bounced off her eyelashes and down to her irises. How her hair glistened. He became silent, realizing what his mind had just processed, she was a decent looking woman. They could have two kids, first a girl. Than a boy. He’d retire after their daughter was married and their son successful, and spend the rest of his days playing shogi or go before dying of old age before her. He quickly sits up, snatching his plate,” I’m going to go take care of this. I’ll take yours too.”

“Good luck, my moms going to pressure you in to a slice of her triple berry pie and talk your ear off for half an hour.” She fires back, curling in on herself to try for a quick nap. Shikamaru smiles, slipping back inside, and immediately bombarded by the two mothers,” I seen the spark Kuroi.”

“I seen it, I seen it Yoshino!” Kuroi fans out as they clutch each others hands, already showing a close bond. 

“You two stop staring at them through the door like it’s a soap opera and leave them be.” Shikaku grumbles from the table, slicing a piece of pie before continuing,” now go share a slice of pie with her and get out of here before they start rattling off baby names.”

“You’re feeding in to this nonsense too?” Shikamaru asks defeatedly, grabbing the single slice of pie. Shikaku only smirks,” I’m thinking Shikainu.”

Shikamaru scoffs, leaving the possibly intoxicated parents, and quickly handing Y/N the slice of pie,” here. You can have it.”

“You should try a bite first if you aren’t having a slice to yourself. It is pretty good.” She confusedly suggests, sliding the plate back to him. He slides it back, causing a chess match with the small plate of pie before Y/N forcefully grabs the fork and his shirt collar,” one bite damnit!”

His mouth clamps against the fork harshly, quickly becoming intoxicated with the sweet taste against his mouth and the questionable sensation of her forcefully feeding him. His face once again reddens before turning away,” it’s alright I guess.”

“Oh don’t tell me you’re allergic to berries, your face is going red again.” She says dumbfounded.

“It’s not the damn berries. It’s just hot out here.” He defends trying his best to look away.

“…you’re blushing?” She asks, sitting against her knees in front of him,” you fell in to their trap!”

“You just looked kind of pretty, I’m not in love with your or anything so calm down.” He quickly utters out, glancing quickly at her own blushing face. 

“Why are you blushing? Did you fall in to their trap?” He shoots back, smirking at the small win. She turns away, trying to cross her arms but falls quickly over on top of him. She gasps at the closeness before scrambling backwards,” absolutely not! Are you crazy?”

“You’re the one throwing yourself at me, Y/N. And you said love was stupid.” He eggs her on, somewhat enjoying he caught her unable to hide her feelings as he keeps hold of her arms to prevent her from climbing away.

“It was-is! Let go of me before our parents get the wrong idea, damnit!” Y/N yells out, tugging against his grip. Shikamaru bravely leans closer,” or we could get them off our backs and pretend.”

“Pretend? How do you pretend to love someone?” Y/N shrieks out in a whisper, finally meeting his gaze and realizing how close he had leaned in,” like this.”

Shikamaru leans in, connecting their lips for a brief moment before mumbling against hers,” you don’t have to like it. But this should get them off our backs. They were starting to discuss baby names in there and I like my freedo-“

He’s cut off by Y/N reconnecting their lips and her hands sliding down to grasp his. 

“At least make it convincing since this was your bright idea.” She grumbles between his lips. He kisses back, not for show, but for his own guilty pleasure. It felt kind of nice. Plus the scene of future memories flashes across his mind every time her lips touched his. A life he wanted, a life he maybe even craved. She pulls away,” we can stop now, they walked away from the door.”

“Or we could keep doing this.” He offers coyly, smirking dumbly towards her.

“You’re losing oxygen and brain cells.” She scoffs, placing another quick kiss against his lips regardless.

“You aren’t saying no.” Shikamaru points out.

“Love is stupid because it makes you stupid. But I guess if I have to go stupid for anyone… I could always settle with you.” She fires back, laying fully down against his side as he huffs a silent laugh,” I’m not dying for you though.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to, but we should get ready for our mission.” Y/N croaks out between a yawn.

“What a drag. I forgot all about it.” He sighs.

“I told you, you lost too much oxygen.” She giggles back.

“Give me some motivation and I’ll make sure you live through this mission.” He smugly offers. She punches his shoulder,” not killing you should be motivation enough.”

He looks down to her toothy smile and threatening eyes in horror,” you got me there.”

She wraps an arm around his neck, placing one last kiss on his lips and sighing,” but that’s for making sure I live.”

“And one more to make sure you don’t get hurt?”

“Don’t push your luck, I can handle getting hurt.”

“Got it, I’ll see you in an hour.”

The Nara’s favored stronger women. Ones that could defend themselves. Ones that could become leaders on their own. And Shikamaru fell in to the fickle trap clueless men before him called love. It was a drag, but less of a drag than facing future events alone. Maybe it wasn’t such a drag after all…

[tragady]

                    TALIA  BALFOUR          THE  DARKNESS  HAS  ITS  HOLINESS.

basics.

given  name.     talia  balfour. nickname.     tally,   blondie,   give  her  some. age.     twenty-nine   (   january  29,   1995   ). place  of  birth.     manhattan,   new  york. song.     girl,   you’ll  be  a  woman  soon  by  urge  overkill. orientation.     bisexual,   give  her  psychosexual  nonsense  or  give  her  nothing.     only  a  couple  of  situationships  at  home  that  she  held  like  a  dog  holds  its  kill. occupation.     the  wicked  pharmacist  of  the  west. education.     an  over-achiever:   the  pharmacist  degree  under  her  belt,   eyeing  a  philosophy  degree  to  pass  the  time. religion.     second-generation  lapsed  catholic:   their  sunday  best  would  double  as  the  cook’s  apron.     or  the  duster  for  their  room’s  door  frame.

physical  characteristics.

height.     one-hundred  sixty-seven  centimetres,   five  foot  six. eyes.     dark  brown,   inky  in  the  shadows. hair.     sharp  blonde,   no  longer  perfectly  slicked  into  a  bun. gender  identity.     cis  woman   (   she   +   her   ). build.     not  much  curve  to  her  body:   small  chest  with  slightly  wider  hips. distinguishing  marks.     that  cold,   piercing  gaze  and  a  freckle  above  her  lip.     a  distinct  lack  of  blemishes.

personality   &   behaviour.

hobbies.     fencing,   chess,   gardening.     in  this  town,   she  fills  her  time  by  growing  her  own  mushrooms.     unsafe  to  eat,   doubling  as  failed  experiments,   along  with  her  relentless  pursuit  of  growing  medicinal  herbs.     enjoyed  sketching  or  painting  on  the  empty  pier,   at  any  time  of  day,   and  would  exclude  people  from  her  picture.     took  up  some  form  of  weaving  after  coming  to  the  town.     definitely  a  horse  girl  when  she  was  young. likes.     a  glass  of  red  wine  on  a  saturday  night,   flicking  fallen  leaves  at  her  cat,   the  mess  blood  leaves,   walking  outdoors   –   among  the  trees  specifically,   where  the  wind  whistles  instead  of  a  person’s  laboured  breath  out  in  the  cold. dislikes.     the  mess  hands  leave:   the  dry  kind  of  sticky  like  thirsty  roots,   music  trickling,   unbidden,   outside  of  its  allocated  room,   shadeless  heat  and  misty  rain. quirks.     her  eerie  facial  expressions:  unfurls  too  fast  and  flits  too  slow.      or  vice  versa,   any  mash  of  mechanics.     it’s  too  easy  to  see  her  facade’s  artifice. strengths.     no  ailment  will  go  untreated,   numbed  at  the  very  least. weaknesses.     even  when  it’s  one  she  pinches  into  your  body,   just  to  see  if  she  can  cure  it. moral  alignment.     neutral  evil. character  inspiration.     lee  harker   (   longlegs   ),   emma  frost   (   marvel   ),   sofia  falcone   (   the  penguin   ),   audrey  horne   (   twin  peaks   ),   lily   &   amanda   (   thoroughbreds   ),   little  sisters   (   bioshock   ),   mima  kirigoe   (   perfect  blue   ),   amma  crellin   (   sharp  objects   ),   eve   (   the  bible   ).

background.

you’re  not  a  miracle;   you’re  barely  a  statistic.     pink  fruit  from  a  round  womb.     grown  at  a  hill’s  crest,   a  strand  of  wet  grass  below  the  peach  tree,   overlooking  a  herd  of  sun-dried  cows.     no  one  would  notice  your  cotton  cradle.     no  one  but  the  stars.     and  your  mother’s  eyes  do  not  glisten  upon  watching  your  first  blink.     nor  your  first  day  at  school.     nor  your  first  ballet  recital.     without  a  picture,   you  wouldn’t  even  know  she  was  there.     you  forget  her  youth   ––   in  your  wet  baby-toothed  way   ––   for  there’s  nothing  to  chew  from  her.     bent  from  its  frame,   your  memory  holds  a  father’s  smile,   and  his  heavy  hand  upon  your  lithe  shoulder.

the  eve  of  your  fourteenth  birthday,   your  mother  cups  your  jaw  in  both  hands.     splayed  fingers  brush  against  your  slow  pulse.     your  breath  dampens  her  skin.     you  feel  it,   now,   more  than  she  did.     her  warmth  spilled  across  your  neck  like  air-thickened  blood.     this  is  before  the  second  step-mother,   right  at  the  precipice  of  your  first.     watch  him  for  me,   your  mother  says,   watch  him  at  night  for  me.     for  me.     almost  too  easy,   your  mother  would  say.     a  simple  kiss  at  their  temple,   and  a  child  remembers  their  mother.     quiet  malice,   salted  to  taste,   by  your  father  forgetting  to  call  you  his  favourite  girl.     and  there,   the  axe  earns  its  first  swing.

flesh  is  sweet  and  bought  hostility  is  sweeter.     levied  by  her  parents,   held  like  a  serrated  knife.     where  love  should  be  milk-bathed  and  pat  dry,   your  definition  curdles  into  a  tight  smile.     rehearsed  in  the  dark  mirror  of  another’s  pupil.     by  your  twenties,   you  reach  a  third  step-mother.     and  yet,   there  is  only  one  that  you  call  father.     the  game  loses  its  fresh  scent   –   stale  like  wrinkled,   doughy  hands   –   and  your  teeth  grow  sturdy.     their  quiet  plea  for  your  return  wafts  close  to  your  ear,   like  the  sound  of  crashing  water  from  a  seashell  as  the  sea  rolls  against  your  feet.

where  was  talia  when  she  saw  the  tree  and  the  murder  of  crows?     where  was  she  going?     was  she  travelling  alone?     how  did  she  feel?

two  nights  before  thanksgiving:   she  needed  to  find  her  father’s  new  house.     a  mid-life  crisis  purchase,   no  doubt,   but  that  only  made  the  prospect  of  seeing  him  more  fun.     fawning  over  a  new  dark-wood  table.     she  was  on  the  highway,   probably  pulled  into  the  wrong  exit.     it  should’ve  been  a  quick  fix.     the  darkening  sky  barely  fazed  her.

describe  talia’s  first  night  in  town.     did  she  arrive  in  the  daytime?     was  she  warned  by  the  residents?     did  she  have  to  be  restrained?

when  late  afternoon  breaks  into  early  evening,   pruning  the  sun-yellow  yolk  back  into  its  moon-white  shell.     it  takes  one  loop  back  to  the  town  for  her  to  stop  the  car.     night  looms  overhead,   and  she  stares  at  the  endless  path  before  her.     she  would  be  deathly  silent  on  that  first  day.     somewhere  between  excited   –   about  the  idea  of  something  new,   a  challenge  for  her  to  observe  and  overcome   –   and  empty  like  a  cracked  china  doll.

what  did  she  leave  behind?     what  was  her  life  like  on  the  outside?

at  her  apartment,   her  cat  will  find  a  new  person.     the  aloe  vera  will  die,   and  the  soil  will  clog  someone’s  drain.     her  father  will  assume  she  joined  her  mother’s  thanksgiving;   her  mother  will  call  to  ask  if  she  arrived  safely.     at  the  ripe  age  of  sixty,   they  will  find  god  and  pray  over  an  empty  grave.

[thepupbenni]

things that give me species euphoria as a canine therian :]

my teeth!!! my canines are rlly sharp and i love them sm ^_^

opening things with my teeth

when i get out of the pool and shake all the water off of me and my brother screams “wet dog!!” (i haven’t told any of my family im a therian)

doggy paddling!!!!

eating dried mango/fruit! i hate hate hate meat but tearing into dried mango like a coyote would a rabbit makes me rlly happy :]

drinking water out of the sink or hose! it’s not quite like drinking of of a bowl or the river but i can just put my snout right in and sip sip sip drink lap lap drink sip

[goodnessandgrief]

When I’m feeling depressed, it can be nearly impossible to take care of myself, and that includes eating. Here’s a list of some foods that require little to no effort (aka: can be eaten right out of the package or just need to be microwaved), mainly for my personal reference, but also so others can find easier alternatives when they’re struggling.

Water bottles or canned water - stay hydrated!!

vegetables - green beans, peas, corn, black/kidney/pinto beans, chickpeas (all canned or microwaveable frozen bags) - I’ve also tried Harvest Snaps, which are baked snap peas & they’re v good

Fruit - grapes, raisins (or any other dried fruit like apricots/dates), mandarin oranges, apples, applesauce cups, bananas, pears, peaches, etc. (most fruits require no prep anyway, but especially if they’re canned - you can also buy frozen bags)

Canned soup or chicken, beef, or veggie broth

Pasta (ramen, spaghetti, mac and cheese, chow mein) or instant rice are my go-tos. You can buy these in individual cups or bulk packs.

Any microwaveable food - frozen/tv dinners, burritos, toaster strudels (they make an egg bacon & cheese version too!), mini pizzas, breakfast sandwiches… there’s a lot you could do here :)

Dairy - Yogurt, cheese sticks, (or just straight up eat cheese slices, there are no rules here), cottage cheese, almond/oat/soy milk, powdered milk (if you want something shelf-stable)

Grains & carbs - cereal, crackers, chips, popcorn, toast or bagels (I’ve eaten plain bread before tbh and it kinda slaps), Oatmeal (these packets are dinosaur themed & have little sugar eggs!! - https://www.quakeroats.com/products/hot-cereals/instant-oatmeal/dinosaur-eggs)

Nuts - peanuts, peanut butter, almonds, cashews, walnuts, trail mix, etc.

Meat - deli turkey, trail bologna, spam, jerky, frozen chicken strips or nuggets, Morningstar vegetarian corn dogs, canned tuna

Eggs

Fast food or take-out is also a good option if you don’t feel like making anything yourself.

A little tip - most foods you would take on a camping or hiking trip are great! for some, all you need to do is add water & heat it up. they are usually on the expensive side, though!! here’s some I’ve found that are decent:

https://mountainhouse.com/

Things to keep on hand for particularly bad days:

⁠Boost/ensure/Soylent - liquid meals for when the idea of chewing or mixing anything is too much.

⁠disposable cutlery/bowls/utensils so you don’t have more dishes to worry about.

Multivitamins

Liquid IV, Gatorade, or some other form of electrolytes. It’s too easy to get dehydrated!

If you do have a little energy to cook or make something, here’s some ideas:

If you have a blender: frozen spinach + frozen banana + shelf stable almond milk + peanut butter makes a great smoothie.

frozen fruit + frozen spinach/kale for smoothies

Adding whey protein makes it more filling.

⁠dried pasta + jarred pasta sauce (Rao’s is low sugar and awesome, but pricey) + frozen meatballs

Boil tortellini on hand. Its as easy as boiling water. You can eat it plain, add a spoonful of pesto, sprinkle with a little olive oil or butter and some garlic salt, or pour it back in the pan after draining and add a little pasta sauce

⁠frozen fried rice + frozen stir fry veggies

⁠favorite frozen protein and veggies for sheet pan meals

⁠canned refried beans with a tortilla and some cheese to microwave, can add extra toppings too

⁠oatmeal + pb + dried fruit of choice

⁠rice cakes + pb + jam (or substitute bread if you have it)

Rotisserie chicken in a salad, soup, sandwich or wrap

Frozen salmon with some veggies

air fryer foods - chicken nuggets, tenders, fries, etc. You can also toss different vegetables (baby carrots, Brussels sprouts, etc.) in a little olive oil and throw them in there

chicken broth & frozen dumplings - you can dress it up a little with some miso, soy sauce or other seasonings. You could also add some frozen vegetables.

snack type food - a combination of canned Garbanzo beans and black olives. The olives are salty enough that you can get low sodium beans and it will still taste good.

A lot of these ideas I stole from the good people of Reddit (particularly r/depressionmeals)!Here’s the post I referenced if you’d like to look further into it:

[dracocheesecake]

A small snippet of the Raised by Dorceans AU:

AKA Rovender finds out what the twins feed Eva and reacts how you might if you found out someone was feeding their toddler dog biscuits.

(Be mindful I haven't read the books yet so if anything is inaccurate forgive me.)

Rovender scratched under his chin. “Well…What do you feed her?”

Redimus rubbed the back of his neck, another hand coming up to scratch at his throat, before pausing, as if remembering the collar, and then scratching his chest instead.

“Um…Fruit,” he said, “zome leavez, vegetablez she can ztomach, mozzly berriez and fish.”

Rovender stopped scratching. He looked up at Redimus, at the way the Dorcean wouldn't quite meet his gaze- almost like a guilty child. He raised his eyebrows.

“What else?”

Redimus made a soft clicking noise with his beak. He continued to rub the back of his neck.

“...Meat-”

“Not raw?” Rovender gasped.

Redimus shook his head quickly. “No, no, not raw. We cook it for her, now. We learned dat de hard way.” He winced, as if remembering something particularly unpleasant.

Rovender sighed in relief and relaxed. “...Ah, good. What else?”

Redimus tensed. Now he really avoided Rovender's gaze. Then he seemed to give up, sighing, and pulled out a tube with a cap at the end with yet another hand. He shook it, rattling something with a little weight inside, and Eva’s head perked up from where it had been hidden on the other side of camp, concealed behind bushes. She scurried over.

Rovender read the label. Then his eyes widened. He looked up at the Dorcean with a mixture of disgust and outrage.

“You've been feeding her munt-runner treats?!”

Redimus winced again, but when Eva tugged on some of his fur, he dumped one of the small clumps of dried grain into another hand and passed it to her. She tore into it eagerly.

“...She zeems to like dem,” Redimus said, “and dere are dayz when dey are all she wheel eat.”

Rovender's feelings of disgust didn't change, but he knew his expression was softened somewhat by amusement- rapidly growing, as he watched the girl finish her treat and demand another one in sharp-toned Dorcean.

[arrow-alrakis]

OC Profile

Tagged by @spyridonya thank you so much!!! ^^ I'll be doing this for Lark and Ri!

I'm still afk and idk who already did this, so I won't tag ;3 feel free to join!

NAME: Larksharius

NICKNAME: Lark, Noachi (from Rimerock), and other retired nicknames used in the Abyss they don't want to mention

GENDER: Agender (they/them)

STAR SIGN: The Rider (Gemini)

HEIGHT: 6'2 ft

ORIENTATION: Demiromantic, Pansexual

NATIONALITY/ETHNICITY: Unknown - archlich

FAVORITE FRUIT: No? They can't eat anything and already forget what was their favorite.

FAVORITE SEASON: They don't have preference. If you ask them, they just smile and try to guess your favorite season to answer you. (Their guesses are usually pretty accurate)

FAVOURITE FLOWER: Lilies

FAVORITE SCENT: Dried flowers and herbs - They run a herbal medicine business in their spare time. And that warm, icy smell they refuse to describe—the smell of Rimerock after sunbathing.

COFFEE, TEA OR HOT CHOCOLATE: Tea, sometimes with stevia sweetener

AVERAGE HOURS OF SLEEP: 0 (As an imperfect archlich, they can't sleep.)

DOGS OR CATS: Both, but they are reluctant to adopt pets. Their husband had experienced so many family deaths that neither of them wanted to add to those numbers.

DREAM TRIP: Every plane if not too dangerous. They are a planar traveler and have already been to many.

NUMBER OF BLANKETS: They are immune to cold damage. However they value creature comfort (even their lich body can't feel much of the benefit), so yes as many as they can.

RANDOM FACT: Their current patron once owed them a great favor in a very distant era, but after reincarnation, neither of them remembers.

---

NAME: Rimerock

NICKNAME: Ri, Stevia (from Larksharius), Grey (a shameful name given to him by his fallen gold dragon brother Neralshul)

GENDER: Cis Male (he/him)

STAR SIGN: The Bridge (Pisces)

HEIGHT: 6'6 ft

ORIENTATION: Demiromantic, Demisexual

NATIONALITY/ETHNICITY: Unknown - silver dragon

FAVORITE FRUIT: He's not picky, but if spoiled, he will eat anything not too sour or bitter.

FAVORITE SEASON: All except winter. He's a frost dragon but he likes to bathe in the warm sunshine.

FAVOURITE FLOWER: Those with less strong scents. Being too close to flowers with lots of pollen usually makes him sneeze.

FAVORITE SCENT: Larksharius (He doesn't know what Lark puts in their sachets/incense/herbal baths but they smell so good.)

COFFEE, TEA OR HOT CHOCOLATE: Tea with any sweetener, hot chocolate. He doesn't really like bitter taste but he won't complain.

AVERAGE HOURS OF SLEEP: 0-2 if at war, 6-8+ after retiring from the battlefield

DOGS OR CATS: Dogs. He loves cats equally but his appearance often scares them, even though he has no intention of doing so.

DREAM TRIP: Anywhere with his partner

NUMBER OF BLANKETS: He was used to taking short breaks in poor conditions, so 0. Nightmares prevented him from sleeping well. But now Lark spoiled him rotten, he needs at least 1 blanket big enough to wrap them both.

RANDOM FACT: Although he is a tall and fierce old warrior, he loves children and is surprisingly popular with them. He doesn't like anyone except his partner touching his dragon form, but children are allowed. Sometimes you can find a silver dragon basking in the sun and children riding on his tail.

[swimmingwolf59]

omfg how long has this been sitting in my drafts??? At least four months LMAO because I baked these from the star trek cookbook for my friends for the winter holidays!

First was the Ha Rageel (Vulcan carrot loaf) - I loved how moist this loaf was!! Probably could've used a bit more sugar, and it did fall apart in transport lol, but otherwise I thought it was good!

It also has one of my favorite captions from the cookbook: "It has never ceased to amuse Doctor McCoy that Mister Spock, with all his logical training, cannot consider Ha Rageel a close equivalent to Tufeen Hushani. Actually, to the logical Vulcan mind, a ceremonial wedding cake is quite unrelated to an "everyday" dessert loaf. It is quite true that they contain many of the same ingredients and have a somewhat similar taste. But this no more makes them related than the same number of eyes and legs makes first cousins of horses and dogs. To a cook the difference is also important. Preparing the wedding cake requires time, attention and care to avoid a minor disaster; with Ha Rageel you can hardly go wrong."

Yes this was the inspiration for my fic. I mean, how can you tell me McCoy has teased Spock about the carrot loaf being similar to the wedding cake and NOT expect me to write a fic about it.

Also sorry McCoy, but after making both, they are WAY different, and the wedding cake is better imo 🤣

I also made Criniti, Romulan spice cookies! These turned out sooooooo yummy, will definitely be making them again!

They also have a fun legend for the caption in the cookbook: "The name for these cookies comes from an ancient Romulan legend. The story is about how the Romulan herding wolves came to be domesticated.

"Once there was a long, hard winter, and the tribe of the boy Kalyb was short on furs. The boy was already a good hunter, but not yet old enough to go with the men. The men had caught all the meat they needed, and the tribe had stored seeds, honey, nuts, and dried fruit. But still they needed furs, or they would freeze.

"One morning Kalyb chanced on a sleeping Canis crinitus with a magnificent pelt and was about to kill it. The animal pleaded for its life and offered the following bargain. If Kalyb's tribe would prepare his favorite treat for him and his clan, they would help the boy's tribe catch all the woolly, sheep-like mountain creatures they needed.

The boy's tribe prepared cakes from seeds, dried fruits, nuts and honey and left them where the Criniti could find them. The next day, the cakes were gone, and before long, Kalyb heard a great commotion. The Criniti were sweeping down from the hills driving the woolly animals before them. Kalyb's tribe killed many of them and had enough furs to keep themselves warm all winter. Kalyb's people learned more about the habits and needs of the Criniti, and between them figured out how to keep a supply of the woolly sheep-like animals on hand for meat and fur.

"Romulans still use fruit and nut cakes for training their animals. They also make delicious spiced cookies using many of the same ingredients as rewards for their children. On certain feast days it is even proper for adults to be seen eating them."

Idk if this is based on anything in real life? Cool either way tho! Also I want a pet wolf LMAO

[dwollfieldnotes]

Cynocephalus

Indica by Ctesias (5th Century BC)

Name literally means dog heads. Supposedly Indians call them Kalystrii

Live in the mountains of India

Can live to be 170, sometimes 200 years old

Look like men with the heads of dogs. Their teeth is larger than that of other dogs, their nails are round and long like other animals. Their skin is swarthy

Above their hips is a tail like a dog's, but longer and hairier [like a wolf's then?]

Understand the speech of humans but cannot replicate it. They communicate via barking and hand signs

Very just, like other Indians

Number around 120,000 at the time of writing [4th century BC]

Hunter pastoralists. Cook animals by leaving them to roast in the sun. Farm sheep (for wool and milk, which they love), goats, and asses

Also eat Siptakhora fruit for its sweetness. Love it so much that they also eat it dried

Trade the fruit for bread, flour, and cotton with the Indians, whom they also buy swords for hunting wild beasts, bows, and arrows

Skilled with bows and hurling spears. Once an animal is wounded they can overtake it, being very fleet of foot

Live in caves rather than houses. Wear skins of animals, tanned and de-furred to look very fine. The richest wear linen, but there are very few of them

Bathe rarely. Women do so only once a month, men only wash their hands. Sometimes (3 times every month) they anoint themselves with oil made from milk and wash themselves with skins

The richest is determined by he who has the most sheep

Have no beds. Sleep on leaves or grass

Every year they send a tribute to the Indian king via rafting on the rivers to his lands: Siptakhora fruit, purple flowers, purple dye, and 1260 talents of amber

The Indian king sends them a present of 300,000 bows, as many spears, 120,000 shields, and 50,000 swords ever five years