#lead poisoning is real

[doctorkatmd]

I've half been tempted to remind half the people I've spoken with that Sharpies are for writing, not for recreating a 19th-century ether binge

I’ve encountered puddles of water with a stronger grasp on critical thinking I've been more impressed by the intellectual capacity of single celled amoebas All of them combined couldn't change a light bulb, I doubt they could figure out the opening of the box it came in The rampant epidemic of Lead in the air, water, and walls of the last century, and the effects it's had on the surviving generations has never been more apparent I'm half convinced if they found themselves in possession declaration of independence they'd used it as toilet paper and complain of the texture

[mamawasatesttube]

while reading superman comics i ran into this panel of batman with a lead-lined cowl, and it got me thinking.

the comic this is from (adventures of superman #440) has a cover date of may 1988. dr. clair cameron patterson first published findings about the prevalence of lead in gasoline and other parts of common postindustrial life being harmful in 1965, but we only saw legislation passed about leaded gasoline in 1975 (as per wikipedia:)

Starting with the 1975 model year, the United States mandated the use of unleaded gasoline to protect catalytic converters in all new cars.[18] However, Patterson's efforts achieved an accelerated phaseout of lead from all standard automotive gasoline—but not all leaded fuels—in the United States by 1986. By the late 1990s lead levels in the blood of Americans were reported to have dropped by up to 80%.[19] In 1978, Patterson was appointed to a National Research Council panel that acknowledged many of the increases of lead contamination and the need for reductions, but some members argued for more research before recommending action.[20] Patterson expressed his opinions in a 78-page minority report, which argued that control measures in certain sensitive sectors—including all leaded fuels, public water distribution systems, food containers, paints and glazes—should start immediately.[21]

so they definitely would have known lead is a health hazard while making this.. but probably not when it was established that lead everything confounded superman's senses back in precrisis (i assume), so maybe that's a holdover? and also it's very likely that dc just has never thought that hard about these things, simply because lead had been established as the Superman Blocker™ for so long. there is a LOT of lead in these early postcrisis superman comics. the metal men have a Lead Guy, the joker has a bunch of convienent lead coffins to stuff people into, lexcorp everything is lead-lined, buildings in metropolis have lead in them...

which definitely all tracks with like older us city infrastructure Built With Lead In It (and with lex luthor being the way that he is), but still . im actually so curious about the concept of an attitude shift wrt lead infrastructure and lead batcowls, etc., as it relates to increased public health awareness re: lead poisoning. it may be anecdotal, but i feel like in late 90s to 2000s comics, mentions of lead in infrastructure (or costuming) weren't so prevalent? i'll have to pay closer attention as i reread triangle era onwards, i think.

[pruneunfair]

Idea for a crossover in the far future.

(Some deaths likely to be inaccurate since some villains either didn't die at all in their story or their story simply isn't finished yet)

Part 1: Characters

Hwa Jeong had died at the young age of 26 in a car accident but she didn't wake up in heaven, hell or even as the villainess in a novel she read. When she opens her eyes.. she realizes she is surrounded by multiple other women, most of them in weird dresses and costumes, all commenting on the new comer in their shared purgatory of evil women of their respective worlds.

women who had manipulated others for their own gain, purposely destroyed relationships, sought power for selfish reasons and even murdered innocent people.

But what did Hwa Jeong do to deserve living with these lunatics!? She never killed anyone, or did anything remotely terrible in her life that warranted this fate! She shouldn't be here.. she should be in whatever normal afterlife there is.

A younger looking woman with silver hair suddenly extends a hand. "Don't be afraid miss, this is no hell you are in."

Died miserably of old age in 1899. Lived disenchantedly as Alec's wife and grew to view life like her late mother in-law. The only thing that kept her off the deep end were her dreams of Eris and her purpose of caring for her people. When she was on her deathbed, she died with a little bit of optimism thinking she'd get to see Eris again in the afterlife.

When she opened her eyes, Helena's youth had been restored as reward for enduring her hardships but Helena wasn't in heaven like she had hoped. Instead, she has been once again put in charge of others, this time of a miriad of devious women from other worlds.

Helena is the only one who hasn't committed any atrocities worthy of purgatory. She actually lives there as a "volunteer" to help the other villainesses cope with their new lives, despite her situation, shes just happy to be away from Alec and tries to find some hope in her new environment instead of going on in misery. Helena is very encouraging of the others opening up about their emotions and sees many of them as her friends... not all of them are really nice to her, but just like how she never gave up on Eris, she won't give up on the villianesses, (most of them at least)

Committed suicide via poison in her prison cell and died alone at age 20 in 1865

Naturally panicked when she first arrived in purgatory believing it to be another isolated prison but was quickly reassured that wouldn't be entirely the case. While Rashta wishes she wouldn't be locked up in an even larger prison, she was happy to at least have other people to talk to.

She still has a fondness for light pastel colors and is usually holding two baby dolls named Ian and Glorym. Very claustrophobic and sometimes lashes out at the other villainesses for reasons ranging from small to large.

Doesn't trust most of the other women but she did grow to be close with Diane and Helena.

Her neck is covered in noticeable spots and her skin is paler than it was in life.

Died at age 40 in 1520 as a plague victim.

Deeply regrets her actions when she was alive, wishes she could take it all back and see her friends and brother one last time to apologize.

A little freaked out at first by the purgatory but ended up settling in just fine.

Learned her lesson that gossiping will only come back to bite her and figured out pretty quickly that gossiping about other people this dangerous was a bad idea anyway.

Prefers to just do her own thing away from the chaos of the purgatory and practices hobbies she found she liked such as crocheting.

Has a persistent cough and has trouble walking sometimes.

Died in her mid 20s by execution via burning in 1550, putting an end to her diseased misery.

Doesn't regret what she did but she isn't fond of being stuck in purgatory with her sister. She also didn't bother to ask about her daughter, Giovanna, and is fine with the fact that her child will never see her again, it's been over 400 years anyway.

Absolutely is NOT allowed to be around a staircase without Helena's supervision. Too many incidents of her trying to kill the ones who pissed her off, even after she was told no one could die in purgatory, she still pushes people off if they get on her nerves.

Source of most of Helena's headaches.

Total mama's girl but will never admit it. Out of all the family she lost, the only one she somewhat hoped to see at all was her mother.

Decided to establish power in another way by becoming the head bitch in charge of a group of other irredeemable villainesses. It's the closest to being the most powerful lady of all she'll ever get to.

Her body is pretty mutilated from her short life. Whip scars from her punishment for causing her sisters miscarriage, facial scars from the mercury she used on her face, and third degree burns from her execution. As such she wears heavy clothes and veils/concealer to cover up the damage.

Was also executed by being burned at the stake in 1672.

Since she made a deal with a demon, she actually retains some of her powers she gained in life but they are extremely limited.

knows exactly what kind of person she is and won't deny that it's a wonder that she's not in hell. When asked if she regretted her actions, Marianne responds with vague responses.

Isabella tried to recruit her in her group but Marianne gave her a harsh cold shoulder, she doesn't think she should be the underling to someone as foolish as Isabella. The two have not gotten along ever since.

No one truly knows if her white haired form is the appearance she was born with. Generally uncanny no matter what she looks like.

Doesn't exactly hate or like everyone else. She'll get along with everyone else but if she can get something out of it, she'll start some shit.

Her body is covered in similar third degree burns as Isabella.

Didn't exactly die when she was defeated in 1296. Ragibach became the first to enter the purgatory as punishment for her incompetence, after hundreds of years of confinement and failed escapes, the heavens felt the purgatory could be guaranteed to hold more "friends" for the demon.

Similar to Marianne, she still has some of her powers but only the "useless" ones that do nothing to help her escape.

I imagine that her true form looks more like a eldritch entity, I don't mind her og true form but it looks a little too modern RPG for my liking.

Her Cosette form is extremely uncanny, (EX: the eyes don't crinkle when she smiles)

Despite being given new "friends" Ragibach doesn't particularly like any of them save for one.

Died in her sleep at the age of 70 in 1901.

Less of a tenant at the purgatory and more of Helena's co-helper. However since she still committed acts of sins, heaven wasn't willing to extend the same favor, her youth wasn't restored and remains aged.

The choker she had to wear while under house arrest is still there but it can't cut off her head and instead acts like an accessory, a everlasting reminder of the consequences of her actions.

Tells the best stories of her feats in life as a dark witch.

isn't as concerned about the chaos the villainesses could cause together and prefers to watch shit go down.

Her hands are down to only the skeleton but they still work surprisingly well.

Sometimes it's hard to believe she's younger than Helena.

Drank poison and died in her 20s in 1842.

Pretty cynical but she does feel at home ik the purgatory. Many were proud of her when they learned she actually managed to kill that emperor.

Close friends with Rashta given their similar history in life, kind of like a big sister or even like a mother.

One of the first to help Hwa Jeong get situated with her afterlife

Not a big fan of any fairytale stories.

Also has pale skin and spots around her neck.

Got stabbed in the side during her prison sentence in 2015, she was 29.

Before Hwa Jeong arrived, she was the newest tenant, and the only one who was from Hwa Jeongs world instead of an alternative reality.

Had a hard time coping without any technology in the purgatory but was at least allowed to wear more fashionable clothes for her time period.

Still can't help but get on everyone's nerves. Her only real friend is Aisha.

Only gained a little popularity since as one of the only modern women, she was able to captivate the other women with stories of modern technology.

Has a case of kleptomania, no one leaves anything by itself in fear of Sumin snatching it.

A knife sticks out of the side of her stomach and when removed, the wound bleeds indefinitely until the knife is inserted back in. Sumin absolutely hates it but knows there's nothing that can be done.

Died in solitude at 33 in 1798 (or 2014 in the modern world she came from) she was fearfully awaiting her execution before pneumonia got her first

She spent years in prison for life until it was decided that killing Aisha would be better than letting her suffer even more, unfortunately, Alexandros waited too long to make that decision

Even if she is technically not the original Aisha, she still refers to herself as such.

Time worked differently in the world she was once transmigrated to. She didn't realize it had only been one year she was actually gone.

slightly more level headed than Sumin but it's not honestly not that hard.

Gets chills from time to time and her breath is wheezy.

lived a full life with her new husband and passed away peacefully at 82 in 1987.

Doesn't mind that her youth was never returned in death, people respect her more when she looks like their grandmother.

She decorates the purgatory with the fake flowers she made.

Did fall out of love with Riette as the decades in her life passed but she never forgot about him, she had a sense of peace when Helena told her that Riette was doing well in heaven.

She'll sometimes wear her old dresses and style her hair from the old days.

"You remind me of a girl I knew, her name was Layla."

Discovered that the only true way to escape the world she was trapped in was to starve herself in the convent at age 25 in 1829 (or 2009 in modern time)

Very anti social, sees everyone as a threat and the purgatory itself as another prison.

Picked up writing again, this time with the classic pen and ink since there isn't any technology.

Despises her Rhyse form and prefers her original appearance she had before transmigrating.

Some of her new books have been put in the library of the purgatory.

Does NOT handle criticism well.

Her body is forever emaciated in both appearances.

died suddenly at 47 in 1728 alone in the temple during an earthquake.

Was seen as a false saint for her actions as a crown princess and was buried in an unmarked grave.

Lost her mind when she arrived in purgatory believing she was in hell. When it was explained that she instead was replaced by Hestia as one of heavens saints and was relocated, she fell deeper into depression.

Retains a high level of perfectionism, believes herself as someone who can do no wrong and only wants the best for everyone.

Diana still has her healing powers but since no one can actually get hurt in purgatory, they're pretty much useless.

Her entire body feels unusually heavy and sometimes sore.

Died at age 23 to cardiac arrest in 1549

One of Isabellas closest allies in their group and one of her personal favorites too given Lariessas desperate desire for companionship.

Their relationship in general is extremely toxic. Lariessa died as one of the most hated women of her society and deemed a man woman so when Isabella offered to be the help everyone else denied her, Lariessa took the bait.

Often generalized as stupid and delusional by some of the villainesses while others feel bad for her, knowing how it feels to be ridiculed for being "wrong" in some way.

Helena tries her best to reach out and help but Lariessa is a challenging case, she was already messed up when she arrived and Isabella sure as hell didn't help.

Looks older than she actually is.

Her body is especially emaciated and skeletol, sometimes gets heart burn every once in a while.

Execued via beheading in 1881 at age 17.

One of the younger tenants. Part of Isabella's posse after Isis dropped her like a hot potato.

Not so bright when it came to scheming but is well informed on other topics.

Her spirit was unable to properly rest at first and would haunt Aria until she was exercised and sent to the purgatory.

When Aria eventually arrived, they resumed their usual hatred of eachother but this time it's treated more like a game, they know that they can't die again or even feel physical pain so they spend time verbally attacking eachother, voices are almost never raised though.

The panel above is the same form she retains in the afterlife. When the choker is removed, Mielles head falls off.

Executed via beheading only a few months before Mielle, she was 19

No longer on good terms with Mielle and stays as far away from her as possible.

Found a new friend in Claudine and Marianne.

Owns a collection of fans in her room.

Actually took to her new afterlife pretty well. She learned to appreciate the fine things in life a little more after her experience as a criminal.

Considered forming an alliance with Isabella but after taking in how unhinged she is, Isis changed her mind and instead focused on befriending some of the more powerful ladies.

Her neck is covered in similar scars as Mielle only with spider lilies instead of roses.

Died for good in 1905, exact cause of death however is unknown, likely poisoning given the spots around her entire body instead of just her neck.

One of the most unnerving women, even Isabella is a little scared of her.

Part of Isabellas posse but she sees herself as the de-facto leader.

Still obsessed with Therdeo and his past life to this very day.

Like Marianne, Dodolea sees no one, not even her own group, as friends and if she were given the opportunity to escape, she'd happily leave them all behind.

Died (?) In 1878 after being defeated

No one knows much about what Leila does.

Kind of just goes wherever they please around the purgatory.

Secretly Ragibachs sole friend.

Their mark of death is unknown. No one knows if they're just hiding it or if they don't even have one at all.

Background characters below

(May or may not get their own profiles in the future)

[xxplastic-cubexx]

I don't think Erik would EVER call Charles Charlie and certainly not Chuck. Genderbent cherik however.... Erika ALWAYS calls Charlotte Charlie. Unless. Sadness & drama 💔

she's gonna pull out charlottes whole government name in an argument 😔 before throwing a car or somn 😔

[chelsieb]

My brain said "Aziraphale sheep and Crowley cow", so of course I bought them

I went thrifting yesterday and saw these vintage glasses next to one another, on the back of a low shelf. 🐑🐄😇👿

[feyres-divorce-lawyer]

“no one ever wants to discuss the complexity of apple white” YES! now, leave

[sualne]

Question why does law have uh skin discoloration....? In the modern au?

it's permanent scarring from Amber Lead Syndrome! in the au i want to explore stuff like disability and chronic illness, he's got nerve damage in the discolorated skin, his hair also got white patches but he dyes it to make it less obvious he's got ALS because of the everything with flevance.

[wutheringheightsfilm]

just saw an instagram reel of someone who painted a painting of a stained glass window and their caption was "i think making an actual stained glass window would have been easier tbh" not to dunk on artists bc painting is difficult but trust me. it would not have been easier.

[kaurwreck]

fav chuuya trivia: he’s a lightweight and a wine collector. combine it with the fact that poisons a weakness for him, ability wise, and too much alcohol is in fact poison. he chooses that often.

bonus: combine that with the fact that dazai’s coming of age came with going to a bar, and i don’t know what that means

anon cause shy

Untitled I. My dear, even though you treat me kindly, I'm stubborn. After we parted last night, I went drinking and berated some weakling. This morning, Waking up, I remember your kindness And sadly reflect on my vile behavior. And now, I, a total fraud, will here confess that, without shame, Stripped of all dignity, and therefore lacking honesty— I was urged on by my own illusions, raving mad. [...] III. In this world we sadly live in like this, your heart— Don't let it grow stubborn my dear Because I hope for intimacy with you Your heart— don't let it grow stubborn my dear.

[Excerpted from Poems of the Goat, written by Chuuya Nakahara, translated by Ry Beville]

[momett]

i can't help but find common "dunks" at least a little bit ableist.

"you must have lead in your water" 22 million americans are still drinking water contaminated with lead.

[garbagefool]

[shipdecki]

they could never make me hate you baby girl

[astriiformes]

4, 7, 11 ~

Answered 4!

7 - Tell us about the plot of the first fanfic you ever wrote

The first fic I ever wrote fragments of would have been when I was pretty small, but I never got far with any of those ideas; the first fic I ever wrote and posted I will be a bit vague about so that no one can track down the original, but still had elements that are probably unsurprising to folks who know me -- lots of history research, for one, and the whole thing was a inspired by Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

I do enjoy that even the old, embarrassing ff.net fic I wrote as a 16 year-old has some things in common with the sorts of things I'm writing today, and I'd like to think younger me would be thrilled to know how far I've come as a writer since then (a whole decade ago!)

11 - What’s something neat you’ve learned while doing research for something you were writing? Also, how much do you worry about doing research in general?

Oh god how can I restrict myself to one thing.

I guess for the sake of choosing a few

Found a really excellent SCA recipe website while looking up 1500s German foods for my Pentiment exchange fic

Was researching the Notre Dame de Paris fire as a result of writing a scene in a Pentiment fic during the Act II fire in the abbey and did you know that because old Gothic cathedrals and churches were constructed with a ton of lead, after the fire the lead levels in the air in the immediate vicinity of the cathedral spiked VERY BADLY

This came up while I was doing research for the trans Caleb fic, but cardinals were not officially named as such until well after the Wittebanes ended up in the Demon Realm, so Caleb wouldn't even have called Flapjack a cardinal, he probably just would have referred to him as a "redbird"

Also the last part of this one feels redundant because you all know me but. I do so much research all the time. I will research every throwaway line. I will research information that doesn't even make it into the fic in an effort to get the vibes right. I will refuse to reference a street name until I have looked at actual maps of Victorian London or Renaissance Nuremberg. I will calculate actual travel times based on Tolkien's maps of Middle Earth. I will read 200 year-old medical journals for whump fic. I will spend hours on Wikipedia only to then spend more hours on JSTOR and/or other databases corroborating what I think I have learned.

(Part of this is admittedly because it's one of the things that's genuinely fun about writing for me. I've also successfully taught myself how to be a better history researcher especially by obsessing over details in fic, so it does have perks!)

[ssoupcup]

eyestrain + green blood

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wait.

[vintage-bentley]

that anon back again to annouce ur account inadvertantly led to gay sex lets give it up for the legend vintage-bentley

YESSSSS I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!! IT HAS BEEN AN HONOUR 🫡

[buck-yyyy]

listening to crazy upbeat musicals while feeling like shit and just staring dead off into space is SUCH an Experience