#mushrooms fight cancer

[the-neat-leaf]

Reishi Mushroom

Reishi Mushroom: The Ancient Secret to Immunity, Longevity, and More I am excited to share with you the incredible benefits of the reishi mushroom. This fungus has a long and distinguished history of medical use, and for more than 2,000 years people have valued it for its capacity to better their health. During the Han dynasty, traditional Chinese healers originally used the reishi mushroom,…

[randomfoggytiger]

do you happen to have any fic recs where Scully is the one to initiate msr’s first kiss? I see a lot of the opposite but scully should get to do it

Oh, yes, a ton.

Here are a few I haven't reread in a while. *ahem*

Loose chronological order below~

Little_Pumpkin_Bagel's Vive Ut Vivas

I swallow hard. Assuming by the way she’s looking at me, I’m mostly sure that whatever she’s up to will throw caution out of limits for the sake of both of us. – “And what would that be, Scully?”

She doesn’t answer me. Instead, she holds my collar and pulls me down....

Post One Breath Mulder can't quite conceal his true feelings, which leaves Scully an opening.

trustmescully's Intoxicating Darkness

"I love you too, Scully," he smiles and his eyes shine with his mouth.

S2 Mulder, depressed and suicidal, is stopped from further considerations when Scully chases after him in the freezing rain.

@danadeservesadrink/Samwritess's

Collapse (Tumblr)

But he needed her to know like she needed him to know, and there was no pretending any more.

“I know” she whispered, so quiet it was almost in her head. He nodded silently and pressed his forehead to hers, their eyes closing, hands falling intertwined again between them. 

Post Pusher Scully supports Mulder until his defeat breaks her walls.

Justin Glasser's (xphilefic) Lonely Nightmare

She brushed her knuckles over his cheek. "When are you going to start listening to me?"

Mulder felt his mouth twitch into a smile. "Scully," he said. His voice sounded like it was rubbed over sandpaper. Screaming, he thought. That's from when I was screaming.

"What, Mulder?" She was rubbing his shoulders now, trying to work the blood back into them. He was alive, so she was playing Doctor Scully, all business, rubbing their relationship back to normal as quickly as possible. Mulder wasn't sure he wanted it back to normal so quickly. Mulder wasn't sure he could handle normal right away.

"If you kiss me again, I promise not to shout."

Post Never Again Mulder and Scully slowly bridge the distance between them during an intense case of missing teens and bonfires.

@mollybecameanengineer/Sareki's My Beloved (Tumblr)

He started to rise, to apologize and leave the room, but she stopped him. “What things?” she whispered. 

Her face was open, her eyes bright. She knew what he was going to say, and it didn’t look like she was afraid of it.

Post Kaddish Mulder can't sleep, slipping into Scully's motel room for a late-night conversation.

@tatooedlaura-blog/tatooedlaura/Laura Sprys's

Max 2.0

Once her forehead touched his, she whispered, “you are not Max. You have so many people here who love you and need you and you have so much to offer them back and you do. That’s the difference between you and Max. He searched for himself. You search for me, Mulder. You search,” kissing his forehead, then quickly his mouth, “for me.”

Post Max Mulder drives Scully out of the city where they stargaze while she tries to reassure and motivate him to keep fighting.

The Warmest Thing I Own

He saw her suddenly blink, head shake, both signs she was just waking up, “what? Mulder?”

Knowing she didn’t recall anything because there was no embarrassment turning her red, no heat in her cheeks, eyes innocently confused, “nothing...."

Cancer arc Mulder and Scully skip work, spending the day together as he prepares the best gourmet steak and mushrooms he can for her. (The sequels Fancy Paper Napkins, End of the Road, and Post Moments are excellent reads, too.)

Miles to Go

"Mulder ..."

"Yeah?"

"Smile."

The camera flashed in his face, "I think this one should be labeled 'Before'."

Mulder gulped down the last of his hot dog, "before what?"

"Before I kissed you."

Post FTF Mulder and Scully take the remains of their burnt office home, falling asleep and waking to a storm outside. Scully bucks the expected in a few unexpected ways.

206 Bones

Chocking up her growing feeling of dread to exhaustion, anger and lack of any type of proper vitamin or mineral, she helped her partner search, track and eventually corner Parsons in an abandoned building fifteen minutes away, half demolished and dangerous to any and all who set foot inside.

Only seconds before getting the final word to take the building, Scully’s fear got the better of her and she turned Mulder to face her, pulling him down to her....

Scully gives Mulder a good luck kiss before they attempt to flush their suspect from a rotten building... and ends up the one worse for wear.

Anne Haynes's (xf-redux.com)

Sonnet

The kiss was sweet. Simple. Breathtaking.

Redux II Mulder is afraid Scully is dying, at last, only for his world to be turned right-side up in a multitude of ways.

Package Deal (txt)

But she ran her thumb beneath his chin, tipping his head up, forcing him to meet her gaze. Her eyes spoke a thousand sweet promises and then there was no more hesitation, no lingering gaze, no more silent questions passed back and forth between them.

Post FTF Scully is overjoyed: she and Mulder are still partnered, their story was believed, and the files are getting expanded. So overjoyed, in fact, she moves their relationship to the next level.

nabokoves's Unwritten Hymns

She mumbled his name into his shoulder, foggy with confusion. She wanted to know if he was okay. He pulled back to look at her, struggling to find something to say. He brimmed with words so corny they would make even the poets puke.

Post Redux II Mulder may hate God-- chalking up Scully's remission to science instead of his angry prayers-- but but he in no way hates God's believer, Scully.

@nowwhateinstein's (Ao3) Fic: Seeking Warmth/Seeking Warmth

I look at him. He’s regarding me with a gaze that is both familiar and thrilling. Tenderness and desire are present in his eyes. It’s the same look, I realize, he had moments before he went to kiss me in the hallway outside his apartment - a moment that seems like a lifetime ago. Then, I found myself hesitating, afraid to reciprocate his acknowledgement of a truth we’d both known. Now, however, in light of everything that’s happened in the past week, it seems like the most natural thing in the world to lean over and kiss him.

Post FTF Scully picks up where she and Mulder left off, despite her slowly recovering body and patched-up snowsuit.

@ghostbustermelanieking/skuls's ice crystals (Ao3)

He pulls her hand up and kisses the back of it in relief. Her forehead furrows and she pulls her hand out of his. Something inside him thunks. 

But the next thing he knows, she is leaning across the space between them and cupping her face in his.

Post Tithonus Mulder and Scully flesh out their frustrations and feelings as they (almost) freeze to death.

@purrykat/mylifeinshadow's

How about M&S in Boston

She joins you next to the desk, a murmured noise of acknowledgment at the ‘CANCELLED’ notice that appears next to your flight number. You brace yourself for thinly veiled frustration, but when you risk a glance, there’s a funny little twinkle in her eye instead. You’re instantly taken back to the week prior—

Post IVF Mulder mulls over the brief kiss Scully gave him after the procedure failed.

Sending you number 20 for the kiss prompts.

I think it’s safe to say that it’s not Skinner that I’m interested in.”

And there it is. You’ve been steadily climbing toward this moment for the better part of the month, neither willing to take that final leap. It’s as if the absence of height difference gives her a burst of confidence, even as it turns you into a fumbling idiot.

Mulder, very late for a meeting with Skinner, is intercepted on the stairway by Scully.

effywho's Astra Inclinant

"I say...I say we stop talking." Scully replies.

It's his turn to look down, crumbling. "Sure, I understand."

He feels her breath on his hair as she leans closer. "I'm not sure you do."

Post IVF Mulder is shocked by not only their success but also Scully's follow up after his declaration.

EvanBlack's WHITEOUT

'You have a beautiful face Mulder.'

...There was an awkward silence, then he shifted and propped his cheek on his hand.

'That's the Evening Blush talking Scully.' He smiled with his lips, but she could see his eyes were serious - and nervous.

His nerves gave her sudden courage. 

A plane crashes Mulder and Scully in the snowy mountains; and their petty squabbles become small in comparison to starvation, necessary cannibalism, and the increasing odds of death.

Xequinn's (Ao3) Playing Hookie

“Yeah let's do this” “On a count of three” she says” “One,” he responds On “Two” they adjust suddenly sweaty hands “Three!” Scully leaps off, pulling Mulder behind her

Scully has fun dragging Mulder around on her slightly manic beachside adventures.

The Trouble with Expectations - Chapter 1 (Tumblr)

“Scully of course I showed. Why did you think I hadn’t?” She didn’t answer. Just let more tears fall. He grabbed for her hand again, and she let him. “Scully I’ll always come get you”

She didn’t answer. Just lunged forward and grabbed his face and kissed him as hard as she could.

Scully, assuming Mulder forgot to pick her up from the airport, is heartbroken... until Mulder wanders over from the bathroom.

@this-is-surely-tru/yours_truly's If the Fates Allow

“Tactile evidence only increases the anticipation, Mulder. It doesn’t diminish it.”

The slightly concussed look on her partner’s face was undeniably adorable, and he shook his head slightly as if to clear it while they both relaxed again into the carriage seat. “Far be it from me to argue with that, Scully.”

Mulder, stuck in New York for Christmas, surprises his partner with a rented carriage ride; and she, in turn, surprises him as well.

@alabama-metal-man's Unnamed

 She pulls back, runs her hand along his cheek, and turns away to take a long drag of her coffee. She closes her eyes, sighing contentedly.

“What was that for?” She can hear the hint of teasing, the lingering smile.

Scully is having a rotten morning until Mulder remembers her coffee order.

@admiralty-xfd/admiralty's Up in your arms - Chapter 1

He stared at her with a look she couldn’t figure out, but it wasn’t a look that said don’t. It was the furthest thing from that look she could discern. So she leaned into him, all the way in, and she felt him inhale ever so slightly as she took the biggest risk of her life.

Post Closure Mulder contemplates his new life. Scully answers at least one question for him.

And just for fun, I grabbed a few of my baronessblixen rereads:

@baronessblixen‘s (Ao3) 

Temporary Insanity (Ao3)

How many times has she cheated death this year? Two times? Three? She’s come so close that she’s stopped counting. Every time, she just picked herself up, bought a new blouse if it was torn or bloody, threw away shoes that weren’t as lucky as she was, and calmed herself down when a nightmare tried to take her under. She’s done. She feels it in her fingertips. She feels it like a current running through her body. She needs something. Something to make her feel alive.

Paper Clip Scully is spurned by her anger into more-than-professional overtures.

The Day After (Ao3)

“Kiss and make up?” Mulder says with a grin, biting his bottom lip. He at least has to try. Scully stares at him for a moment, the way she sometimes does before she tells him how crazy he is. He knows that look. But this time it’s different. 

Wetwired Mulder and Scully's discussion leads to decisive action on her part.

Never Cold With You By My Side

Feeling bold, she lets her hand wander behind his neck to play with the hair there. If he doesn’t want this – her – he can stop her before this even starts. But he doesn’t. So she pulls him to her, pressing her lips to his.

One Son Mulder and Scully spend the night locked up in Fort Marlene while she is hurt, jealous, and angry.

Dreams Are Made of This

Scully gets on her tiptoes and kisses Mulder. On the lips, just like that. Just like she’s been thinking about. It’s a quick kiss, but thorough. Like you’d kiss your husband. The person you love. All those thoughts fly through her head as she steps out the door. She stops there, realizing what she just did.

Scully, in the midst of a hopeful IVF daydream, accidentally kisses Mulder.

Five Minutes - Chapter 2 (Tumblr)

He returns with them, one in each hand, and when Scully reaches out to take hers, he shakes his head. Seeing him like this, her knight in crinkled Armani, his hands full, she can’t wait another second. She gets on tiptoes, careful not to topple over, and presses her lips to his. He tastes like coffee and the chocolate chip cookie they shared on the plane. They’ve waited long enough for this.

“We have?” Mulder, his eyes glazed over, grinning stupidly, sounds amused.

Will never not include this post IVF success story.

Candlelight Moments With You

You look like you're gonna faint. Eat something." She holds a chip up to his mouth and he accepts it, his lips closing over her finger. He can't tell what flavor the chips are, but he knows he wants more.

"More?" he asks in a whisper. She smiles at him and nods. But he doesn't get another chip. Instead, he gets a kiss.

Mulder tries to give Scully a good enough Christmas while both are practically stranded in a motel.

[madamlaydebug]

Medicinal Mushrooms. Chaga mushrooms are one of our favorite mushrooms because of their incredible health benefits! Packed with antioxidants, they’re known to help fight cancer, improve immunity and treat chronic inflammation.

Chaga is referred to as "black gold" by the indigenous people of Siberia in Russia. They largely claim chaga as the main source for their elders' long lives in such harsh conditions as the northern tundra.

Have you tried chaga? We love adding it to our morning latte or making a deliciously creamy cacao-chaga drink with it. Let me know how you use it!

[thatmentallystablechick]

Description

#Funguary is almost over already - how crazy is that?! For today’s prompt, however, we have the Hawk’s Wing fungus (also known by names like Shingled Hedgehog or Scaly Hedgehog mushrooms - both of which are also pretty fitting names)!

Hawk’s Wing mushrooms are apparently edible, although some people say they taste bitter while others say they’re pretty good, so go figure? Maybe it just depends on the way they’re cooked. 🤷‍♀️ They’re also really good for your health, from what I understand: Hawk’s Wings contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and immune-boosting properties, and studies have shown they might even have some cancer-fighting properties, as well - impressive! Better yet, these fungi don’t have any poisonous lookalike species, so if you’re foraging for mushrooms and come across some of these, you don’t have to worry about confusing them with any poisonous shrooms!

At first, I couldn’t decide whether or not to give this girl hawk wings of her own, but I’m glad I decided to in the end; I think she looks really cool! I always planned to give her a pet hawk, though, so hey - more chance for me to practice drawing some animals! I must confess, however, that I may or may not have gotten just a LITTLE bit of inspiration for her outfit from the hawkmen in the movie “Flash Gordon”…hehe 🤭

Made with Ohuhu markers and Shuttle Art pencil crayons

[invisibleraven]

"I would never regret a thing in my life, since it led me to you."

Peterpatterlina

PROMPT #800 BABY! Couldn't have gotten here without all of you, but especially my canoe crew who are my constant support and dearest friends. Love you all!

If there was once place on Earth more hated than a hospital, Julie had yet to find it. She hated the weird smell that never seemed to leave her nose until long after. She hated the cafeteria food that always seemed so bland and tasteless-even the pudding, and how did someone mess up pudding? She hated the constant noise from the machines and alerts and various people coming and going.

But most of all she hated seeing her mother in here.

Rose who was so jubilant and full of life was now a pale reflection of her former self as she willingly pumped poison into her veins to hopefully fight the cancer threatening her life. She still tried to stay happy and upbeat for her family, but the chemo was taking it's toll, and her smiles didn't reach her eyes any more.

"You don't have to come with me every time mija," Rose assured her. "And you definitely don't have to stay in here. Why not go exploring, see if there's any kids your age you can hang out with?"

Julie was reluctant to leave her mom, but her father practically pushed her out so she supposed the choice was made for her. She knew she didn't have to come, Carlos didn't, and she bet he was having a great time with tia right now. But her mom had always called her a good luck charm, so maybe, just maybe that would help?

She would rather believe that than the fact that her mother was slowly dying.

So she wandered the halls, until a kindly nurse pointed her to the children's longue, a place where both the sick kids and visitors could just relax. It was pretty empty, save a lone boy with a giant clunky cast on his leg who was playing a game, the tip of his tongue stuck out of the corner of his mouth.

"Whatcha playin'?" she asked as she took a seat next to him on the lumpy couch.

"Mario, you ever play?" he asked, voice rough and with a tiny hint of a twangy accent. Julie noticed how the fluorescent lights washed him out, but she could see a spray of freckles across his cheeks and nose, which fascinated her-she'd never seen someone with so many freckles before.

"I've played a bit with my brother, though he's way better at it than I am," she replied. "I could never get him to the top of the flagpole like you can."

"You want me to teach you?" he asked, turning to her, the full force of his green eyes hitting her, and Julie had to clench her hands by her sides so as to not play with her curls.

"Sure," she said, and the boy-Reggie-handed her the controller, explaining what to do, giving her tips and secrets on how to get a high score in the game. "How do you know so much about this?"

"I've been here a while," Reggie explained, pointing to his foot. "This is going to be my third or fourth surgery on it, and that means a lot of downtime. So I've gotten pretty good. Plus my grandparents got me a Nintendo for my Bar Mitzvah last year."

"Are there any other games here?" Julie asked, excited to see what else they could play together. She liked Reggie-there was a sadness around him, yes, but he never stopped smiling, and making her laugh with little jokes and comments as she stumbled through each level of the mushroom kingdom.

"Tons!" Reggie enthused, and went through the collection that was there. Julie didn't really want to play Duck Hunt-guns were a big nope for her, but Zelda sounded right up her alley-she loved stories about adventure and princesses.

They whiled away a good chunk of the afternoon playing games together, just chatting and laughing. Nothing too deep, but she told Reggie why she was here and he gave her a sympathetic smile, squeezing her hand. He told her he had been in a bad car accident, thus his mangled foot, but his grandparents smuggled him in good food so he didn't have to put up with the awful pudding.

"Mija?"

Julie turned and there was her papi, smiling kindly at her. "It's time to go. Your mami is tired and I think she'd much prefer to nap at home."

She nodded, but then paused. "If you're still here next week can we play more Zelda?" she asked Reggie.

"I'll be here, recovery time is long," he assured her.

"Then I'll be sure to bring you some real pudding," she promised, and Reggie laughed aloud at that.

Julie and her father left the room, but a nurse caught them down the hallway. "Were-were you just in the game room with Reggie?" she asked.

"Yes," Julie answered. "Was I not supposed to be?"

"No no, nothing like that," the nurse assured her. "But...I heard him laugh?"

"Yeah, we were joking about the pudding here," Julie said, confused.

"Sweetheart, Reggie hasn't spoken more than two words since his accident almost six months ago," the nurse said. "So if you managed to make him crawl out of his shell, well you must be some sort of angel. Do you think you would mind coming back to play with him again?"

"I'll be back next week," Julie assured her. She felt a wave of pity for Reggie-did he have no friends to come visit him? What about his family, couldn't they get him to talk? So Julie made it her mission to come as often as she could, and make Reggie laugh as often as possible.

So she did-every week she went with Rose to the hospital, and hung out with Reggie. Some weeks he was more subdued than others, whispering he was in pain, but always lit up when Julie handed him a pilfered snack from her house, often a pudding, like their little private joke.

Even after Rose entered remission, she still asked to go visit Reggie, and her parents were more than happy to let her. "You're a good friend to this boy mija," Rose told her. "I hope he gets out of there soon though."

"Me too," Julie replied.

It was only a few weeks later that fate intervened-Reggie told Julie he was finally going to be released. But unfortunately, he was going home with his grandparents, back to Georgia. "They've been away from the farm too long as it is, and there's no one else..." he trailed off.

Julie knew this of course, how he and his mom had left his abusive dad and come to LA to make a new life. How the car accident that broke Reggie's foot took his mom's life. That his grandparents had come to look after him while he recovered.

But she still cried at the thought of losing him. "We could always write?' he suggested tearily. Julie agreed, and got his address before leaving. It wouldn't be the same as spending their afternoons playing games and talking together, but it would at least be something.

~

Reggie hated the cold. Why oh why did the most prestigious game design school have to be in the North East? More so why couldn't he have been happy enough going to a school back home in Georgia, or even in LA? But of course, he knew why. He wanted to make games that would help kids just like Mario and Zelda had helped him. And to do that, he had to come to this school even though the cold made his foot ache, the ice and snow were not great for moving around in when you relied on a cane, and he missed MeeMaw and Pops so bad he could scream.

He just had to reassure himself that it would be worth it in the end, even as he hobbled through the crowds trying to get home.

"Reggie!"

He could have sworn he heard a voice calling his name-it wasn't like Reggie was all that common. But when he looked around, he couldn't see anyone he knew. But then, there it was again, a little closer.

"Reggie! Reggie Peters! Your princess is in another castle!"

Finally she came into view-Julie Molina, all grown up, but still recognizable even seven years later. They had kept in touch with letters for a bit, but then lost it after Rose's cancer came back. Reggie always felt bad about that, wishing he had tried harder for the girl who had gotten him through one of the worst parts of his adolescence.

"You got a fire flower or something for me at least?" he said with a grin and then opened his arms for a hug, holding her tight as she rushed in to accept it. Her curls were cut shorter, but still just as curly. Her smile was just as vibrant, and God Reggie had missed her. "What the heck are you doing here Molina?"

"I could ask the same of you!" she exclaimed, smacking his shoulder. "I'm here for college, studying graphic design!"

"Same, only for games!" Reggie replied. "Gosh it's good to see you again, you have time for a coffee?"

Julie bit her lip and shook her head. "Sorry, I've actually got to get to class, but give me your number, we can meet up?"

Reggie nodded and handed over his card, taking hers in turn and waving as she got on her train before hobbling off home. He sighed as he finally got to sit down, and pulled out the card that Julie gave him.

"Whatcha got there bud?" Luke asked as he slumped down on the couch next to him. "Ooh, got a number?"

"It's not like that you doof," Reggie said, shoving him away playfully. "This is from Julie, we were friends as teens, and I ran into her in the station. Apparently she's here studying graphic design."

"Oh cool," Luke said, snuggling back into Reggie's side, and by this time, Reggie had gotten used to his cuddly nature-having lived together for a few years made you used to a lot of things. "She a good artist?"

Reggie recalled the various doodles that covered his casts during his hospital stay-Julie insisting on signing it as it was blank when she met him. Even though Reggie told her he would be getting an new one after his surgery.

"Well I'll sign that one too," she had said with a grin-and she did. Reggie had honestly been a little sad to see them cut off and all Julie's artwork destroyed.

"Yeah she really is," Reggie mused.

"Well then call her!" Luke insisted. "Even if not for dates, just to reconnect. Or hell, you need a designer for your game right?"

"Well it's your game too," Reggie reasoned.

"Eh," Luke shrugged. "I wrote the story and music, but you helped with both of those, and you're doing all the programming."

"Maybe," Reggie said, looking at the card again. "Maybe."

~

It turned out that Julie was very interested in making a game with Reggie, and that summer it was a familiar sight to find her in Luke and Reggie's apartment making the art and helping Reggie play test sequences with each character.

Luke was absent, as his parents insisted he return home to his folks house but he happily let them use the apartment, and claimed he couldn't wait to see what they had gotten done when he returned-and to meeting Julie, since fate hadn't allowed that to happen thus far.

Reggie loved that summer-he and Julie renewed their friendship, they worked together constantly, and while he didn't experience any pain-that would never be a reality for him-he found it lessened due to him keeping busy. Plus Luke had made their apartment as handi capable as possible, so he barely had to use his cane.

Sure, Luke had claimed he would get lost in the clutter if they let it build up, but Reggie knew the truth. Luke was determined to look after him, and while some would resent that, Reggie loved being cared for, and appreciated how much Luke did to make his life easier. And it wasn't like Reggie didn't do anything for him-he made sure Luke went to all his classes and performances on time, as he was involved in the school's music program, and even helped the orchestra for the drama department while he got his English and Musical Composition degrees.

Reggie had even gone to every showing of the school's production of Macbeth, just because Luke was down in the pit every night, and it was his composition that they used to signify the storm-a raucous, crashing thing that made you really feel like the weather was about to change.

That was the only drawback of the summer-that Luke wasn't there. So when he returned, Reggie was almost fit to burst, pulling him in for a hug almost immediately.

"Missed you too buddy," Luke whispered into his shoulder. They broke apart then, exchanging slightly watery smiles before Luke coughed and cast his eyes over to where Julie was standing. "Hi, you must be Julie!"

"And you must be Luke," she replied, giving a little oof as he caught her in a hug. "Oh, you're a hugger."

Luke stepped back then, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, sorry. It's a thing."

"It's okay," Julie assured him, "But maybe a little warning next time?" She then offered him a smile. "Now I wanna pick your brain about a few plot points of your story..."

~

By the end of the summer, they had made good progress on their game, but it was nowhere near done. "We can still work on it," Julie said, "Just not at the same rate."

Reggie sighed in defeat. He knew they weren't going to finish the game, but he had hoped they would be a bit further along. "Maybe... maybe I should take the semester off? Keep at it?"

"Reg you can't do that, your education is important!" Julie insisted.

"It's also extremely expensive, and my grandparents can only help so much," Reggie explained. "A semester off would be a big help to them, and I can always do a class or two through distance if I want."

"I would love to take the semester off too, but since my folks are paying the rent here, I need to stay in school to keep a roof over our heads," Luke lamented. "But my part of things is essentially over anyways."

"We still need to figure out a lot of the score mister," Julie answered him. "Hire musicians and the like."

"Why would we need to do that?" Luke asked. "I play guitar, Reggie plays almost everything, our friend Alex does drums, we just need a vocalist."

Julie was silent at that for a moment. "I-I could do it."

Luke grinned, and handed her the song they had written for the end credits-a lilting ballad that spoke of their main character's journey and her longing to find a place she belonged. A bit cliché, but it was leagues better than Girl In The Tower which had gotten legit radio play, so Luke figured they were good.

Only when Julie started singing, both guys were blown away. Her voice was angelic, the perfect one to elevate the song into greatness. They sat there stunned for a bit after she finished until Luke cleared his throat. "I think you've got the job Molina."

She beamed with happiness, jumping up and down and then ran off to call her dad. Luke turned to Reggie. "How come you never told me she could sing like that?"

"I didn't know!" Reggie insisted.

Later on that night after Julie had gone home, Luke looked at Reggie. "Would you be mad if I asked Julie out?"

An unpleasant feeling settled in Reggie's gut at that, which was ridiculous. Luke and Julie were his two best friends, incredibly well suited for each other, why shouldn't they be happy together? "Maybe wait until the game is done?"

"That's fair," Luke conceded. "And you're sure you don't mind?"

"Why would I mind?" Reggie asked. Luke looked at him queerly for a moment then shook it off, wishing Reggie a good night, a sentiment Reggie echoed. But he found that he couldn't sleep that night, and the feeling in his gut never did go away.

~

It took nearly a year, but they finally finished their game. One of Reggie's professors was going to help them shop it around to different publishers, but the game was done!

"This calls for a celebration!" Luke exclaimed, pulling out a bottle of champagne, pouring them all a glass. Their various friends were scattered around, all of them involved in the process in some way, and they had all ssured the trio the game was amazing.

Reggie toasted but put the glass down-he didn't drink, not after the hell his dad had put him and his mom through. He didn't think about the man often, couldn't really care less where he was. But that memory of whiskey laden breath and heavy hands would never leave him.

Plus his stomach was roiling as he watched Luke pull Julie aside, watched her light up as he spoke, and then-she pulled him in for a kiss. Not a friendly peck, but a deep, romantic kiss that made Reggie have to look away.

God, what was wrong with him? He knew it was coming, had seen the sparks fly between them. It must be the stress of the past year and the anxiety over selling the game getting to him.

"I need some air," he said to no one, as the party raged on around him. He grabbed his cane and went out to walk a little-it usually hurt to do so for too long, but it also always helped clear his head. He was sure he would be back before anyone noticed.

Only he still couldn't get the image of Luke and Julie kissing out of his head, and eventually sat down on a bench. Why did it bother him so much? He never reacted this way when he saw other couples kiss. Heck he'd seen Luke go through a bevvy of girls and guys when they first started living together... though that had started to bother him after a while. He had chalked it up to Luke being careless with his body and heart, and after he voiced his concerns, Luke seemed to have been perpetually single.

Did... did he just not want to be left alone? Was that it?

He was sure Luke and Julie would still make time for him even if they started dating. But it wouldn't be the same. No more late nights chatting until the sun came up about everything and anything. No more of Luke quoting Macbeth ad nauseum due to months of shows, with Julie and Reggie playing the other parts. No more sunrise runs for cheap fast food to keep going even though they should sleep, and then passing out in a pile on the couch.

No more waking up to Julie and Luke snuggled into his side, or making sure he had someone by his side for his appointments. No more of Julie's sunny smile meant only for him, or Luke's teasing as Reggie made eggs for them since Luke was hopeless in the kitchen. No more movie nights or trying out new games together, no more tears when the doubt set in that they were wasting their time trying to make this game.

Reggie rubbed at his chest, as if that would make the pain go away. Kept picturing Luke and Julie, and wishing he was there. Not instead of them, but with them.

"Oh fuck," he swore. "I'm in love with them."

He had to tell them-they didn't keep secrets-and even if it ruined everything, he couldn't bare them not knowing, and living a life where he was silent about his unrequited feelings.

He got up, heading back towards the apartment, going as fast as he could. Only he didn't see the curb, and slipped, feeling the pain radiating through his ankle as he fell. Or the blackness that set in as his head hit the concrete.

~

Reggie hates hospitals.

He knows he's in one before he even opens his eyes-the smell, the beeping, the feeling of various tubes in him. He blinks open his eyes and sees the same generic tiled ceiling and groans.

"Oh thank God you're awake."

Reggie turns his head, and there is Luke and Julie, looking equally worried and relieved. "Hey guys," he rasps. "How long was I out?"

"Few hours, but you still had us worried sick," Julie admonishes. "We didn't even know you'd left the party until Luke got a call from the hospital as your emergency contact!"

"Sorry, needed some air," Reggie replies, and sighs when Luke puts the straw of a juice box to his lips, allowing him to drink, "Didn't mean to slip and knock myself out."

"And bust your ankle," Luke said apologetically.

"Of course I did," Reggie moans.

The doctor has worse news for him-a bunch of pins had come loose-his foot is even more mangled. "It might be time to let it go son," he cautions.

He takes a lot of time to consider it-they always told him it was a possibility-and Reggie had held on for longer than he probably should have to the old thing. So he agrees to the procedure, even though it will mean even more time in this dreaded place.

The night before the surgery, Luke and Julie are by his side. Julie jokes that she won't have a cast to design on now, but Reggie jests she can always glam up the prosthetic he's getting. She lets out a sob at this.

"Too dark?" Reggie asks.

"No, it's just... when Luke first got that call, we were both fearing the worst," she explains. "We thought we had lost you. And we realized... we couldn't bear to lose you."

"We love you Reg," Luke piped up. "Not as a friend, but as the person... our person. The one person we want to be with."

"Me? The both of you?" Reggie squeaked.

"You," Julie said, squeezing his hand. "You make our heart containers full."

Reggie laughed uproariously at that, wiping a tear from his eye. "I love you guys too. And I will tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow."

"That's my line," Luke chuckled.

"Mine now," Reggie said, and grinned as his partners leaned in to kiss him.

~

The night of the Game Awards, Reggie wasn't nervous. Their game had done phenomenally well, and even if they didn't win, he had something better than a dumb old trophy-he had Luke and Julie on his arms. They were far better, plus it meant he could leave his cane at home-they would keep him upright.

But it was still a shock when their names were called, and Reggie beamed as they helped him up the stairs-he was still getting used to his new prosthetic, all covered in Julie's doodles and Luke's song lyrics.

He watched them both speak, thanking everyone they needed to before ceding the mic to Reggie.

"I haven't had the easiest life," he stated. "It's been one quest after another, and I've barely made it out of some of them with all my hearts intact. But I would never regret a thing in my life, since it led me to you. The both of you, and I wouldn't be standing here without your support, your talent, and your love. Thank you."

Julie and Luke leaned in, kissing his cheeks, and Reggie smiled brighter than the blinding lights as they led him off the stage, never once letting him stumble or fall. And they never would.

[unohanadaydreams]

With Mayuri's predilection for psychedelics and undermining his opponents, I think the Pernida fight would've been so cool with mushrooms.

Like.

Mayuri messing around with rate of decomposition of a mushroom to counteract Pernida's physical drawing of reishi which he would've started formulating from his extensive knowledge of Quincies reishi absorbing abilities before he necessarily knew Pernida was doing so physically. And better yet, using a certain mushroom to basically treat Pernida like a big old cancer growth. (Like, cue big, wide smile as Mayuri reveals the reishi that Pernida has been absorbing is the reason his advancement is halting. Because he would use that mushroom JUST to say that)

I don't feel he would need to win and would love to see him lose, but I think it just would've been even more fun--for me--and crushing--for Mayuri <3-- if he would've actually applied his exhaustive knowledge of quincy to the Pernida battle if only because he was under the assumption that he would be exclusively fighting quincy in the big quincy war. Don't even think he needs to recognize Pernida as a quincy early on even!

Honestly, appalling that Mayuri doesn't have more canon dabbling with mushrooms. Like using altered cordyceps in his fight with the zombies?? Creating a horrible malformation of a coffin mushroom that decomposes Giselle's zombies in 3 minutes rather than 3 years...................AH.

I feel like it would've fit TYBW more than the weird fantasy thyroid thing that hardly made sense and had me squinting for 15 minutes trying to cobble together even that vague description--fantasy thyroid thing--when reading descriptions of how Mayuri was using Nemu to beat Pernida and reviving Hitsugaya & Matsumoto.

Also, he would still get to make people trip balls and question their sanity, which is part of his pyramid of fulfillment.

ALSO roots and spores are very convenient when trying to bullshit that Mayuri was actually doing something All Along when he definitely was not.

[augment-techs]

Literary Witches: A Celebration of Magical Women Writers

As Writing Prompts~

wife, sister, virgin, whore

an incantation, a naming, a blessing, a curse

weavers, potters, cooks, and healers

flip to any page; follow your wyrd

conjurer of hurricanes, zombies, and tall tales

with each story, the basket gains an apple

alchymist of monsters, children, the living and the dead

a terrible baby, their very arrival a murder

even the freshest thing is mixed with rot

a painful tale about the creation of life and what happens to shunned, abandoned children

shaman of dew, hummingbirds, and mushroom language

could not read or write and lived in poverty on the mountains

healer and oral poet

hermit of hospitals, belonging, and lost souls

"You think you're the only one who doesn't belong?"

at least some creatures can find a home

receiving two hundred electroshock treatments and narrowly escaping a lobotomy

grand dame of trickery, murder, and teatime

"Most unpleasant."

a consolatory apricot biscuit

sibyl of masks, extraterrestrial eggs, and twisted fantasies

smashes the crystal ball on the ground

what remains--glass shards and a black, sticky substance

the room is clean and the crystal ball intact

madame of roses, geometry, and repetition

grow feathers, slink into worms, shrink into dragonflies--anything to get out

undine of introspection, opulent dreams, and voyages

some collect seashells, others chart the sun's movement

some keep house, make lace, pursue lovers

dakini of holy ecstasy, the dark one, and ankle bells

poison becomes ashamed

miraculously escaped their poisoning attempts twice

fantasma of silence, death, and lilacs

a bird of blue bones drops a piece of paper

the paper unfolds into a palace

step in through the door

the music hollows

cursed to hear it forever

give in, eat the bird whole

storyteller of rattlesnakes, turquoise, and the sacred desert

the drought has gone on too long

spider's silk holding all things together shines with the light

high priestess of scholars, volcanoes, and eros

a grim jewel of astronomical price

fondles their muscles over coffee and toast

sorceress of islands, venom, and histories

the soup boils down to a thick black sludge

soothsayer of utopias, creeping women, and evil wallpaper

the unseen fairy

the people must realize the changes for themselves

the disastrous, sexist "rest cure" prescribed for postpartum depression

sorceress of names, houses, and solitude

sometimes the mango is perfectly juicy, sometimes underripe, sometimes too sweet, or bruised

cigar in hand, walk into the jacaranda trees, hanging black bras off the branches

'Use this to climb out,' read the notes tied on with ribbon

guardian of the waters, the porcelain, and the lexicon

they love these puddles

they will not survive this one

wolf child fight their way to the bank of the river; they survive

after a lifelong struggle with mental illness

fairy godparent of bloody tales, the circus, and mirror

"Not another one."

doll in a red riding habit

and a bleeding wolf escapes from under the cloth

dark drops of blood sink into the soil and the roses bloom a deeper, more delicious red

sumptuous tapestries depicting sexual, violent scenes

ornamented with symbols and adjectives

warrior witch of otherness, bodies electric, and sisterhood

the sword is for slaying ghosts and demons along the way

lava filling their wounds

the coroner writes

populated with mothers, children, sisters, anger, cancer, the erotic, unicorns, snails eating dead snakes, witches, fire, and the importance of refusing silence

specter of windows, flies, and the unexpected

travels freely between the afterworld and this world

a white dress kneeling in the flowerbeds

rebel of sensual love, green gardens, and perfume

they never speak of it, but each man is haunted by his vision

withered leaves, wilted geraniums and lilacs

write explicitly about sexuality

siren of the lyre, honey, and ruins

the rest of the words are illegible

how seriously each child puts those wings on in the mirror

seer of peacocks, weird country people, and glass eyes

pray to see humanity clearly

the doors creak open

cosmic traveler of crows, horses, and survival

joy lies down in a field

the music is a spell

courageously survived an oppressive childhood, teenage pregnancy, and domestic abuse

koldunya of winter, endurance, and willows

the sodden papers become bandages for the wounded

rations of potatoes, cabbage, and milk

queen of miracles, generations, and memory

fury of motherhood, marriage, and the moon

dismembers mannequins with ferocious, precise claws

terrified into the thrill of living

enchantress of bitter love, treachery, and jewels

summons a moonbeam into a locked room

climb down to find an underground chamber

"I am the ruler of this prison."

locked up in the bedroom for six months

witch of villages, domestic horrors, and omens

rabid cats, poisoned beetles, blood-tipped needles

the ice cream section of the twenty-four-hour grocery store at three a.m.

doesn't need help finding anything

marries the ordinary with the supernatural

sower of strange seeds, species, and the future

mutating with violent need for food, power, and sex

covertly tosses seeds kept in pockets into the neighbors' yards

watcher of the moors, fantasy, and cruel romance

brushed the carpets and took walks in the hills

death of tuberculosis at thirty

[theangryman]

like it only takes the stink of a child who has worn the same sweatshirt for months and asks you for your food and sometimes give him most of your lunch for you to want to get into a fist fight with the Man Above

i do think that most atheists laugh at that depiction - being angry with God

its in shit like God’s Not Dead, where evil atheist professors disbelief is due to his mom dying of cancer when he was a child

but i kinda want to ask the Man about the Belgian Congo - why did that need to happen? did Jesus weep at My Lai?

i’ve taken mushrooms before to attempt to meet Him - but found only myself, which is an even more terrifying prospect

[mask131]

French fantasy review: Féerie pour les ténèbres

At long last, I am starting anew this series!

Now, I am cheating a bit here because this isn't a full review... Of the "Féerie pour les ténèbres" trilogy (which you could vaguely translate as... "Féerie" means both what is related to the fairies, and wonders in general, as well as a specific subgenre of "fairy theater", "pour les ténèbres" means "for the darkness"), I only read the first volume, bearing the exact same name. I did not read the other two volumes, "Le sacre des orties" or "Le carnaval des abîmes" (The nettle coronation ; The abysses' carnival). Not because the series is not good or I didn't like it, don't get me wrong... But simply because... As you will see, it is TOO much and I couldn't even finish the first volume for reasons I will explain.

Féerie pour les ténèbres is a dark fantasy series of the mid-2000s, originally published in three books, going by the same titles I listed above... except for the second volume which isn't called "Le sacre des orties" but "Les nuits vénéneuses" (Venomous nights). Why the title change? I guess it is because the trilogy I started reading, the Folio one, is actually a "compiled" version that doesn't just republish the original books, but also adds to them several short stories taking place within the same world, and originally published in a literary-fantasy magazine. (If you want to know more about this French editorial phenomenon of "the smaller the book the more books it contains" I talk a bit about it here). [I do know there is an Integral edition in only two volumes but I do not have the jaws yet to try to bite this behemoth]

This is the reason why I did not finish the first novel... Because I actually DID finish the first novel of the series, but the book it was in went on with additional short stories and novella that I did NOT read, because... finishing the novel was exhausting enough. In a good way mind you, but one that clearly demands me to pause and stop between each issue of the series. This first novel was a quite heavy and copious meal...

I only discovered long after this book that Jérôme Noirez, the author, has been one of the prominent French representatives of the "New Weird" movement, and it explains SO MUCH about this novel. Because its virtues and its flaws are very typical of the New Weird novels.

Let's begin by describing the premise of this series - and already you will see how weird it is, how dark it is but also how inventive it is, and why it would seduce many people as it would rebuke others.

Take you average, let's say early Renaissance-like fantasy setting. You've got kinds in maze-palaces filled with schemes, you've got your mad alchemists and your local sorcerers, you've got your courtiers with vain trends hosting big parties, you've got struggle between city-states and fanatical religious powers - really, you have your average "corrupt Renaissance fantasy".

Then something happens. In the middle of the most powerful city in the continent, something grows out of the ground. It grows and it spreads, like plants, trees, mushrooms, it infects slowly but surely the entire continent. "La Technole". What is the "technole"? It is... eletric lines. Street lamps. Entire piles of plastic bags. Old car wheels. Empty supermarkets. Half-destroyed gas stations. Junk and garbage and urban decay from a society of advanced technology and mass-consumerism that is ACTUALLY our world (for example the plastic bags have brands of famous store-chains, that however mean nothing for the fantasy characters). The ruins of our world are infesting this fantasy universe like a cancer... and have completely changed it.

Welcome to the most decadent and decaying version of a urban fantasy you will ever see. While some tried to fight the Technole and still today reject it, most of the world embraced it. People took a fancy and a grew a deep fascination for its various machines - especially since, whole broken or incomplete, they still half-work. "Half" being the important part: some people try to play seers and find the rare apparitions of a TV show from our world in TV sets that only show endless statics, while some dare to use modern guns as weapons - with the very common risk that they might blow into their face rather than at the enemy. The technole became the new fashion, so that courtiers all wear rubber and nylon and aluminium paper in their outfits ; the crumbling office buildings popping out of the ground became a new way to lodge massively people for cheap ; and the technole even reached the occult spheres, the various sorcerers and alchemists including it as the "fourth element" within their view of the world... This is the setting of this universe: what if Wonderland was a junk-yard?

I am not choosing this comparison out of the bleu. A specific row of authors has been selected to try to descrbe what these books are like, and one of them is Lewis Carroll. What is Lewis Carroll had decided to place one of the stories of the Marquis de Sade within his Wonderland? Or one could say: what if Rabelais had decided to rewrite the work of Lovecraft?

Because this world is, as I said, an enchanted junkyard, a magical garbage-land, a dirty, polluted fantasy world where each character is miserable or lives within misery, where violence and murder is common, and where the most frightening and disturbing sights are quite common: the "vermin" of this world looks like children and yet is hunted down with rifles each night... the equivalent of this universe's fae-folk is a bunch of deformed and/or mutilated humanoids living underground, some childish and benevolent though creepy and disgusting, others sociopathic bogeymen who torture those they capture with syringes...

And yet, it has the brand of humor typical of Carroll or Rabelais. A dark comedy humor, a borderline nonsense humor. A part of the humor comes from the very unbalance of the world we are thrown in, this land of sorcerers, kings and magic infested with our urban decay - how fascinating it is to see that the royal palace is trying to deal with a landline phone system that grew in its walls like moss and which works only half of the time! How relatable it is to see someone dealing with daily leaks in their flat's pipes - except the pipes are everywhere, in a nonsensical way, and nobody can repair them since nobody knows how they work! Another part of the humor omes from the characters itself - they might be miserable or living a miserable life, but they certainly are going to fight to survive, they have each teeth and claw, a biting cynicism and vicious sense of irony, and an impressive row of swear words and insults to punctuate the horrors they face or the grotesque situations they end up into. And finally, the last element of this dark comedy relies in Noirez's typical Rabelaisian style of inventing new, made-up words, and also focusing on the most trivial and vulgar details of the body and human life. One example of the inventiveness of this book: there is at one point the description of a bard-equivalent at a mountainous ski-station, and his job is to listen to the swears, insults, cries of pains and screams of fright of those that have ski accidents... and create songs and poems out of them. How friggin' creative is that? It is such a cool invention, and there's ton of stuff like that.

The first book's story is actually the individual tales of several distinct individuals, whose various lives will inter-mingle, and as they cross path a disturbing and threatening conspiracy is unfolded... An officer of justic investigates the mysterious and brutal murders of young men and women who, as it turns out, have bones made of plastic - and yet the higher-ups of society try to smother the case... A strong-willed and violent fisher-woman escapes death penalty if she agrees to assassinate a famous courtier who is also a renowned medium, but when she stabs her, she only proves to be filled with polystyrene... A sorcerer who projects his mind into the depths of the planet discovers the sight of something monstrous below his city and his mind stays trapped withn this otherworld... And there is also a pair of orphan twins living between harsh, stern nuns and an old bawdy sculptor - Hansel and Gretel parodies that spend their times looking for food, shitting, pissing, burping and farting joyfully, but end up attracting the attention of the mysterious, monstrous dwellers of the underworld...

Now, what is my opinion per se?

On one side, I really love the world created for these books. The worldbuilding and character invention is really this book's strongest quality. Think of a cross between Bosch and Giger. The dark comedy of these burping, pooping Hansel and Gretel learning dirty songs while being hunted down by a psychopath straight out of a Sade novel... The bizarre occultism of these esoteric alchemist and ghostly sorcerers who include melted plastic and car oil in their potions and rituals... I love dark fantasy, I love urban decay in fiction (not in real life though), I love grim parodies and horror comedies, and this book appeals to all of this. I know that it is not for everybody, I know that it is an acquired taste, but if you enjoy these things, you will love the world Noirez creates. It is filled with so many inventive and clever things you will see NOWHERE else, it is crazy...

... and the problem is that it is also this book's flaw. There is TOO MUCH. I compare it to a Bosch painting or a Rabelais book - and it precisely suffers from the same overwhelming mass of information and details, a flood of creativity that means when you look at the big picture you go "Wow that's cool" but when you go piece by piece, you start having your head hurting and your eyes aching. I am exagerating a bit here but... The plot starts very strongly with the introduction of each character's plotline, and then they go their merry way and things happen... But each path takes much too long to cross the others, and at one point you even start wondering if the various subplots will ever join. There is especially one subplot which is basically not linked to the rest of the novel and feels like a separate novella somehow crammed in the chapters. To that, add also the very exhausting nature of the world. Yes, having so many weird things, and this constant horror comedy, and the fantasy-vulgarity is entertaining and fascinating at first... But then it really becomes tiring because... You know, too much violence and dark things and characters gettng ripped to pieces left and right. While also there being too many poop-and-piss jokes and sex jokes. While also there being too many lore-drops, up until the end of the novel.

As I said before, the meals are original and cool-looking and nothing like one has tasted before... But there's so many, and so many servings, that the meal goes for so long, it becomes a bit nauseating in the end. Some reviewers that didn't like the novel said "What's the point? This feels like this has no point" and I do understand why it would come as such - because there is a point, but it gets drowned in the unbalance between a bloated worldbuilding and a too-stretched, too... occult plot. Mind you, the "bloated worldbuilding" part actually fits the very nature of the world meant to be presented - as it is a fantasy world literaly bloated with the junk and decay of another world... But if you ask me, this novel is better be read at a "cruise speed", putting the plotline and the mystery apart. Getting too much involved in the conspiracy and investigation will be exhausting thanks to the bad pace - but approaching this novel as a descriptive one, as a world-exploring one might be the best way to enjoy this.

Of course, if you are ready to read a story about grim double-entendres, hilarious human misery, the wonders of urban decay and scatological heroes. This... this isn't for everybody. It is... a mix between humoristic fantasy and dark fantasy, and an... acquired taste, to say the least.

[Can I call this "grimdark"? I... I don't know. Is there such thing as an "humoristic grimdark"? Because it might get close to this]

[tarnishedinquirer]

Case: Deathtouched Catacombs

Well well, if it isn't the psychopomp, once more entering my life. I wonder where he'll point me this time. Oh look, he's pointing me towards the northern meadow, right below where that false-flag knight was patrolling. I wonder if the two are related?

Outside the catacomb was a ghost, so things must be pretty dire in there.

Unthinkable. Our hallowed resting place is violated. To refuse the Erdtree's call to return, to live within Death... Sickening.

Ah. More skeletons. Just what I need.

Indeed, the place was crawling with both skeletons and Deathroot, which means I got out my old trusty Holy Water.

A body in the lever room held a Bloodrose, but I didn't see any other signs of the Lord of Blood's influence. What I did find after pulling the lever was that there were significantly more skeletons than I thought. I also had significantly less holy water than I thought. I ran out of mushrooms and couldn't make any more, so I had to fight them the hard way.

I spotted something shiny on the platform above, so before I headed back to the entrance I looped around to find a way up there.

Uchigatana. A katana with a long single-edged curved blade. A unique weapon wielded by the samurai from the Land of Reeds. The blade, with its undulating design, boasts extraordinary sharpness, and its slash attacks cause blood loss.

Scratch that. The Lord of Blood must've had some presence here, though that might be in the past. If I know my Reedlander, the difference between a katana and an uchigatana was price tag. This was the weapon of a low samurai, maybe even a ronin.

With no more clues, I moved on to the final chamber.

I saw a figure at the end of the chamber slowly rise to her feet. A woman draped in black, wearing silvery armor under her cloak. She fought with a quick and oddly weightless fighting style, almost floating as she jumped around. Yet I could tell from her movements she was already injured, and when she stepped into the light, I could see the blood glistening on her armor.

This was a Black Knife Assassin, one of the hired killers who brought death to the Demigods. She fought like a cornered animal, and I had no choice but to respond in kind. When she died, she dropped a strange, warped knife blade without a hilt, fashioned into a crude talisman.

It was like if a knife had cancer, sprouting extra blades at random intervals. The voice explained:

An assassin's dagger, misshapen and stained in crimson. This charm is modeled after the darkly gleaming blades used in the night of Black Knives. Those which gave the demigods their first taste of death.

Atypical for a catacomb boss, there was a chest at the end of the chamber. In it, I found a bulb of Deathroot. Maybe she had tried and failed to quarantine it in this chest.

Before I left, I looked around this room. I noticed there was no Deathroot anywhere. Therefore, this bulb couldn't possible be the source of the Deathroot infecting this tomb. I also, for the first time, really looked at the dead (and not getting up) skeletons in the Greattree Root Chamber. All of them were clutching futilely at roots, as if they hoped to be absorbed and meet a true death.

Conclusion: One of the assassins who took part in the Night of Black Knives took refuge in this catacomb. She was pursued by a knight of the Capital, disguised as one of Godrick's knights. This couldn't have been too long before I arrived. She must've had some purpose to being here, so far from the capital, but what that purpose was, I don't yet know.

Addendum: I took the root to Gurranq. He granted me a new incantation, Bestial Sling, inscribed on polished stone (nonetheless crumbling at the edges)

Swiftly flings a number of sharp rock shards. It is said that in the time before the Erdtree, stones were the first weapons of the beasts who had gained intelligence.

So... it throws rocks? I mean, I can do that without an incantation. Must be pretty impressive rocks. I almost wish I could use an incantation like this, just to test it out. But no, leave faith to the priests.

Still, more confirmation of a time before the Erdtree. A time of beasts, that had just gained intelligence. Was this contemporaneous with the age of Dragons, the age of the Crucible, or even earlier?

Why was the Black Knife Assassin here?

What was the source of the Deathroot, if not the bulb in the chest?

Who injured her? Was it the false knight, the wielder of the uchigatana, or someone else?

When was the age of the beasts?

[shifa50]

A Comprehensive Guide to Mushroom Benefits in Diseases

Introduction:

Mushrooms, often celebrated for their rich umami flavor and culinary versatility, have also long been revered for their medicinal properties. From traditional Chinese medicine to modern-day scientific research, mushrooms have been hailed for their potential in preventing and treating various diseases. In this blog, we'll delve into the fascinating world of mushroom benefits, exploring how these fungi can offer therapeutic support for a range of health conditions.

1. Immune Support:

One of the most well-known benefits of mushrooms is their ability to boost the immune system. Certain mushrooms, such as reishi, shiitake, and maitake, contain compounds that stimulate the production of immune cells, enhancing the body's ability to fight off infections and diseases. Beta-glucans, polysaccharides found in mushrooms, play a crucial role in modulating immune function, making mushrooms a valuable ally in maintaining overall health and resilience.

2. Anti-Inflammatory Properties:

Chronic inflammation is implicated in various diseases, including arthritis, heart disease, and certain cancers. Mushrooms contain bioactive compounds, such as ergothioneine and phenolic compounds, which exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. Incorporating mushrooms into your diet can help reduce inflammation and mitigate the risk of developing inflammatory-related conditions.

3. Cardiovascular Health:

Studies have suggested that certain mushrooms, like shiitake and oyster mushrooms, may have positive effects on heart health. Components found in mushrooms, such as beta-glucans and antioxidants, can help lower cholesterol levels, regulate blood pressure, and improve circulation. By promoting cardiovascular health, mushrooms contribute to overall well-being and longevity.

4. Antioxidant Activity:

Mushrooms are rich in antioxidants, which help neutralize harmful free radicals and protect cells from oxidative stress. The presence of compounds like selenium, vitamin C, and glutathione in mushrooms confers potent antioxidant properties, which can help prevent cellular damage and reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.

5. Diabetes Management:

For individuals with diabetes, incorporating certain types of mushrooms into their diet may offer therapeutic benefits. Research suggests that mushrooms like white button mushrooms and king oyster mushrooms may help regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. Additionally, the low-calorie and high-fiber content of mushrooms make them a nutritious option for those managing diabetes or seeking to prevent its onset.

6. Cognitive Function:

As we age, maintaining cognitive function becomes increasingly important. Certain mushrooms, such as lion's mane and cordyceps, have been studied for their potential neuroprotective effects. Compounds found in these mushrooms may promote the growth of brain cells, enhance cognitive function, and protect against age-related cognitive decline. Including mushrooms in your diet may support brain health and optimize mental performance.

From boosting immune function to supporting heart health and cognitive function, the therapeutic potential of mushrooms is vast and diverse. Incorporating a variety of mushrooms into your diet can provide a wide array of health benefits, helping to prevent and manage various diseases. Whether enjoyed in culinary creations

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Is Harry okay? by u/Ask_DontTell

Is Harry okay? Just for fun and to change topics away from Megain for a bit, i thought we shoud inquire about Harry and if he's OK. I personally can't see how Harry can be happy with himself or his life right now but then again, neither would I have written a book all about my grievances against my family or married someone like Megain. Having lost his mother as a child, Harry has now lost the rest of his family, and his father and the sister he never had but wish he did both have cancer, the severity of which he has probably not been told since he can't be trusted. His only brother likely hasn't spoken to him more than 2 words to him since before covid and those two words were most likely "wrong number". On the flip side, Just Harry has his wife and two kids and gets to do whatever Meghan lets him. eg. he is a living legend of aviation, something the palace wud likely have denied him. Meghan must be reminding him everyday how lucky he is to have married her. Not realizing he is really just a prop to Megain, he likely considers himself the star of his own show, no longer a spare. Walking 3 steps behind TW instead of Prince William allows him to consider himself as a gentleman husband, not an afterthought. The battle against the press while courting the press is quixotic and hypocritical to us but Harry likely sees it as trying to save his mother. Fighting them may be giving him some meaning in life. Being named in the PDiddy lawsuit seems scandalous to us but to Harry, who outed Courtney Cox and her magic mushrooms, dressed in a Nazi uniform and played strip pool in LV, is it just another chapter in his next book?Harry's life looks pretty miserable to me and he looks pretty miserable in the pics I've seen of him but what does his life look like to him??? How self aware is our dear ex-prince? post link: https://ift.tt/3bvPcaj author: Ask_DontTell submitted: April 08, 2024 at 10:29AM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[scrivenger-grimgar]

“Are zombie mushrooms legal in your church?”

“Oh, you want to peg?”

“I cast Plague of Rats” -Warlock

“He’s a bottom? (Lenny face)”

“… it’s not a rubber rat room…” -DM

“You were about to be apart of an mpreg fanfic!!” -Druid “I already was!” -Bardbarian

“Roll me a nat20 on slight of mouth.” -DM to Warlock

“Rat rat rat rat rat rat rat” -DM

“(Hesitation)�� Buoyant wood…” -DM

“What do you see with your frog eyes, Zoë?” -Warlock “… creatures… ⊙＿⊙”

“We could have an awakened pig for 2 pots of oil!” -Warlock “Barbecue pig!” -Paladin/Fighter “What’s the pig’s AC?” -Bardbarian “it’s ten (unsure) … it’s ten. (conclusive)” -DM

“Tie me to the mast like Jesus and let me nap in the rain!” -Warlock

“Oh yeah, they’re being irradiated!” -DM

“Oh my god I give cancer! First rabies now cancer!” -Druid

“It’s bonkin time!” *proceeds to bonk all over the place* -Bardbarian

“Surely 7 people wouldn’t try to siege our keep!” *proceeds to be sieged*

“This is my father I swear he’s single!” -Druid, about Warlock

About the siege quote, my party has 6 people, all lvl 5: paladin/fighter, kobold artificer, 2 Druids, kobold Bardbarian, and half-elf warlock. We ran into a lion-turtle dragon and warlock only just managed to talk it out of killing us, which gave us 3 months to sweep an entire island of the undead army occupying it or be killed by the lion-turtle.

We managed to get the help of a dragonborn npc.

The first part of sweeping the island is in progress. It has been 3 sessions, 1 per week, and in game it has been 5 minutes.

The only reason we are alive is that we got to surprise attack them. We are fighting 80 skeletons (some with stone armour), and 3 acid slimes.

Only 3 of us actually look like adults. We managed to kill like half the enemies before the others actually left their posts, all because they had the very rational thought that 7 people would not actually siege their keep.

Also, at one point our party consisted entirely of spellcasters. Artificer, 2 warlocks, a Druid, a sorcerer, and a bard. Two of our PCs keep dying in unfortunate accidents.

One of our original artificers tried to open a puzzle cube, but they had been cursed to take double damage to any non-physical attack, and the cube hit them with like 120 psychic damage. The players next character, thalaxodon warlock, got turned to stone and almost sunk our ship bc they suddenly weighed twice as much as before, so they got pushed overboard and sank into the open ocean.

The other PC was killed in the 2nd session, and then their next character got sent to actual hell bc they kept stealing shit while wearing a cursed item.

Our Bardbarian kept eating the diseased slime remains of some guy we killed and almost actually rebirthed him.

Our Bardbarian and artificer both got turned into were-rats.

One of my character’s (half-elf warlock) abilities is “Are My Kids In Danger” which is legit just an insight check to see if my preternatural dad senses are senses bullshit (ie. Bardbarian eating diseased slime again).

Our drow Druid is trans and literally nobody knew but warlock figured out that our sorcerer was a fae shapeshifter within a month.

Literally only drow Druid knows that warlock has a husband and was married by his patron, and that’s only because he’s adopted her and taught her primordial.

Anyways, I love d&d.

[sleepy-achilles]

WARNING THERE IS AN OFFENSIVE WORD/SLUR THAT WILL BE USED.

My head canons about Shawn's fictional family:

His parents were married young. You got married in your early 20's back in the day.

Shawn's dad worked the oil fields in Texas, the gulf of Mexio, and Alaska. Shawn hated Alaska. Too cold.

His family settled in Houston, Texas, when he was 11.

Shawn's mom was a homemaker.

Shawn is the youngest of four boys. There is a significant age gap between Shawn and his brothers (13-11-9 years)

By the time Shawn was a teenager, his siblings had left home or starting their own families. He barely knew his brothers.

Shawn's was kicked out when he was sixteen. He was gay and wanted to be a wrestler. "NO SON OF MINE IS A F2$@&T! GET OUT AND STAY OUT."

Shawn ended up at an illegal fight club until Jose saw him and dragged him home. He worked his way up in the indies until the WWF came calling.

His brothers were stunned when they saw Shawn on TV. They want to reach out but aren't sure. His nieces and nephews are huge fans.

Shawn's does not wrestle under his real last name. He chose Michaels because it flowed well. He legally changed his last name to Michaels before signing with the WWF.

His dad died in 1999 from lung cancer.

His mother died in 2005 from congestive heart failure.

Did they reconcile? You tell me.

Random facts: Shawn started stealing beer when he was 13 years old and started smoking weed when he was 15. That stopped when he moved in with Jose and restarted when he moved out.

Hates mushrooms. Why would you put that on pizza? Is that a mushroom in my food? I'm not eating that.

Shawn hates Ric Flair and Hogan. Like eww get away from me. You touch my kids, they will never find your body.

Next up The Undertaker...research mode engaged.

I do always like seeing other people's takes on these things.

I will be patiently awaiting takers one.

Ik I have put more thought into takers family than I have shawns.

[madamlaydebug]

Medicinal Mushrooms. Chaga mushrooms are one of our favorite mushrooms because of their incredible health benefits! Packed with antioxidants, they’re known to help fight cancer, improve immunity and treat chronic inflammation.

Chaga is referred to as "black gold" by the indigenous people of Siberia in Russia. They largely claim chaga as the main source for their elders' long lives in such harsh conditions as the northern tundra.

Have you tried chaga? We love adding it to our morning latte or making a deliciously creamy cacao-chaga drink with it. Let me know how you use it!

[pizzaandaliens]

Renaissance Faire ramblings

Renfaire was SO fun yesterday. I wore my fancy expensive fairy wings that my uncle bought for me last year at the Renaissance festival. My uncle was obsessed with the renfaire. He had terminal cancer and was only given x amount of months to live, so he splurged on all of us to celebrate our last year going together. He passed in March and I miss him a lot. I’ve been feeling pretty emotional going there knowing I’ll never get to go with him again.

But anyway aside from the sad shit…

Yesterday was great. My gf and I got season passes so we’ll be going again multiple times. I did some super glittery and festive makeup. I was a cool ass fairy. Babe had her really fancy armor and she looked dope AF too. People kept stopping us to compliment us. I had multiple people ask if they could take pictures with me/of me. And some renfaire employees saw us and went “a knight AND a fairy?! you folks look so good. You should be an advertisement for the festival” and it made my day lol

I felt so popular lmao I was like “this shit would never happen to me in middle school”

Anyway we tried a lot of yummy foods and watched some fun sword fighting shows and jousting, I got a cute purple ceramic mushroom and another dagger with a green gem on it (now I have blue, red and green gem encrusted daggers 😈)

I’m excited to go back next week!