#not weird as a meat eater who wouldn't do this

[vote-to-note-ratio]

Vote to note ratio = 463:46 ≈ 10.07x as many votes as notes

Note: I do this and sometimes people have very weird reactions... there's no hidden agenda behind it, sometimes the veggie option just sounds the best on that particular day! But I was wondering if it was really such a weird thing to do.

-submit your poll!-

[twilightkitkat]

Do yall ever think about how Logan would be a messy eater? How his first instinct would be to use his hands and sharp teeth instead of utensils?

He'd probably been admonished before for having bad table manners. But using a fork was like being able to walk fine and still being forced to use crutches. It was doable, but unnecessary and unnatural when he already had claws that were an extension of himself.

He became more self-conscious about his eating habits. He knew that it looked gruesome, seeing him gnaw and tear at a piece of meat like a dog. It was uncivilized. Vulgar.

So he tried to "eat normally." To sit up straight and hold his knife and fork at the right angle. He didn't necessarily like it, and to him was just a useless custom, but he did it. Even if he never really enjoyed meals when he had to painfully control and curb all his habits, watching for the slightest hint of discomfort on others' faces.

When he was outcasted by society, he didn't have to worry about that anymore. Nobody would want to eat with a monster like him anyway. So he let himself give into his instincts, to eat like he was a wild animal tearing into his meal.

It was relieving, in a way, to finally be able to eat like he wanted. But part of him felt guilty. Like he was wrong, inhumane, monstrous just like they said.

Oh well. He already accepted that he was a monster, what's another bullet point on the long list or reasons he can't be a functioning member of society.

That was his attitude until he met Wade.

He felt uncomfortable at first, unused to eating around another person after becoming accustomed to eating alone. To not having to watch for other people's reactions.

But Wade... never looked at him judgementally. Hell, he wasn't super neat himself, playing with his food and showing off weird shapes he made on his plate to Logan.

So Logan let his guard down. He stopped being as neat and proper when he ate. Stopped using a fork stiffly and suppressing his urges.

The first time Logan skewered a meatball with his claw instead of a fork, Wade didn't even blink. He didn't look uncomfortable or disturbed. He just leaned in closer and asked for Logan to feed him one, saying that it was always a dream of his to eat from Wolvie's hands (or claws).

(Logan did, in fact, let Wade lean in and eat a meat ball from his claw. He tried to ignore the fuzzy feeling in his chest at the sight.)

He started eating how he wanted. Grabbing the steak whole and tearing off chunks with his teeth instead of cutting it up into little slices. Wade never minded. Hell, he seemed to get enjoyment from seeing Logan eat well, judging by how he cooed at him.

(It made Logan flustered when Wade crooned about how adorable he looked eating. When he grinned and said he was happy Logan liked the food, because he has more where that came from.

Wade seemed to be happy watching him eat. Watching him tear into his food like an animal. Because that meant Logan felt comfortable around him and that he was enjoying himself and the meal.

Logan never had someone look at him like that, before. With satisfaction and pride as he tore into the food Wade cooked for him.)

Eventually, Logan just let go of all pretenses. Sometimes he wouldn't even use a plate. He'd eat however he wanted and savor the taste of blood. It scratched a deep animalistic urge inside of him. Sometimes, he'd even chew on the bone, liking the feeling as it crunched between his teeth.

It was nice. Incredibly nice, even. To be able to eat without restraint, without being self-conscious, while with someone else. To not have to be alone to enjoy a meal. It made him feel warm to eat with Wade, who chattered on as if Logan wasn't devouring an entire rotisserie chicken, bones and all.

Logan always had to pick between being around people and being himself. He either ate without satisfaction, restraining himself, or ate at an empty table. (The loneliness ate at him. Knowing that nobody could look at him how he was and still care. Knowing that he had to hide and act and restrain himself to keep people around. It was exhausting.)

Now, he could finally enjoy a meal with his new family. Who didn't try to change him or expect him to be different than he was. Who accepted all parts of him, animalistic or not.

When Wade finished cleaning the chicken off his wings, he pushed his plate with the remaining bones to Logan. Logan grinned, a feral thing, and then dug in.

He'd never felt more seen.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Disturbing thought after reading the Spider Sisters arc of JTTW:

CW for discussions of cannibalism;

So in the book; after the Seven Spider Sisters invite Tripitaka in for some food, they try to trick him into eating human flesh as a cruel prank as they're seducing him. Not only as an insult, but as a tactic - humans who consume (willingly or not) fellow sentient beings get a massive hit to their positive Karma. Like, straight back to Hungry Ghost level. As a monk, if Tripitaka hadn't been wary (for once) of the meal offered to him, he would have not been able to enter the Buddha's domain at all.

Only in times of extreme famine is such consumption excused in the Buddha's eye. One major reason being that eating human flesh was like the super-extreme of desiring meat, and that it caused an addicition in the consumer.

It's not just a cruel joke common to demons, it a calculated move to permanently lower their victim's Karma - likely transforming them into a fellow demon within the next life.

SO

In one of my fave episodes "To Catch A Leaf"; MK gets earthquake-causing hiccups from "cursed meatballs" he ate at a eating competition. His seller is clearly meant to be a demon/spirit who targeted him specifically - likely recognising him as the demon-fighting Monkey Kid.

MK: "Oh man I so could go for more of those [meatballs] right now!"

Even the creators must have realised an issue here, as the transcript for the episode changes it to "beef balls" instead (angry mooing from DBK and Red Son).

And considering that the Spider Sisters were skillful cooks enough to make human flesh appear like gluten and tofu?

I wouldn't be surprised if the cook who targetted MK slipped something non-kosher into those meatballs.

Or maybe just pork cus his dad's a pig.

Then again it could have been another reason why Sandy decided that he had to get MK to consume a super-rare buddhist flower immediately.

Fun fact; entities who have consumed human flesh in JTTW are said to have a weird stank about them, esp in their breath. SKW notably *does not* have this stank about him (both Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing do, both being eaters of humans prior to joining Tripitaka) but he's able to recognise it in other demons. Kinda like how people who eat a lot of cheese can smell like cheese.

SWK, meets up with the gang after S2: "...MK. Why do you smell like that?"

[s1llyfreakx3]

°• Some song recommendations for transgroomed/manipulated/abused folx, or generally those who want music about abusive/toxic/manipulative relationships :3 (focusing on like what transgroomed is like for me)

• "hands clean" by Alanis Morisette (90s pop about groomer grooming, and how he just got away with it and kept his metaphorical hands clean)

• "i threw glass at my friend's eyes and now I'm on probation" by Destroy Boys (punk rock, about the complicated feelings of both hating your groomer and wanting to stay with them) (THIS IS SUCH A GOOD SONG LISTEN TO IT PLEASE)

•"i hope you're hungry" by Sodikken ("misery meat" on some platforms) (weirdcore-y, using a nice cannibalism metaphor for letting yourself be abused in a relationship) ("people eater" is like the song that goes with it which is from the POV of the abuser)

•"i miss the misery" by Halestorm (metal/rock/idk genres, about missing the abuse of an abusive relationship)

•"vixen" by Destroy Boys (punk rock, sapphic, "trouble waits for a victim/I wouldn't mind being yours/seduce me, I'll come back for more")

•"all you wanna do" from Six the musical (about being groomed and manipulated multiple times, every time thinking the guy is the right one for you but they all just want to use you + like humour as a coping mechanism??)

•"drown me" by Junie & TheHutFriends (very weird /pos, about being in a toxic relationship but wanting that? Idk how to explain it it's very non-literal, also stuff like "would you like to see my world" "i see why I've never felt this way before".)

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

*sigh* I just want to rant. I am SO sick and tired of people making fun of my food sensory issues! A few information before I start, I was raised a vegetarian, like my parents went on a vegetarian diet before I was born so I literally never had meat in my life, therefore, my body isn't quite used to it. (oh btw, someone secretly fed me meat under the pretext that it's vegan meat at a party once to "prove me wrong" after i "would've felt fine eating it", i ended up vomiting my guts out before they told me about their prank) I am also autistic, and have sensory issues when it comes to smells especially, for example, if i can't smell completely odor less air sometimes if i want to....it can get rough to say the least. I am also a picky food eater in general, combine all of these things and I can get sick if I smell meat based products, especially cooked. (i also really really wouldn't like it if i was told to "just take it off, you won't even taste it" in general) I'm not an entitled jackass, I don't tell people to not eat meat in front of me or get the meat away from me or if you have meat at this event I won't come. I simply sometimes want to remove myself from these environments for a little because of too many smells, when it gets too much for me But I always get mocked and fun of as the "pretentious entitled vegan who's too good for us meat eaters and is obviously superior", when I'm really not, please leave me alone, i've literally never told you to do anything for me nor have I insulted you in any way. Or who knows? Maybe I really am an asshole

Hi there,

I would’ve been horrified if I was secretly fed meat like that. Jesus. That’s not nice for a person to do.

I’m also a very picky eater. I order the same thing at restaurants. Eat the same processed foods, which I know isn’t healthy, but the texture of most fruits/vegetables bother me and feel so weird in my mouth.

I don’t think you’re an asshole. You just have sensory issues with foods. Im sure even NTs have this problem too.

Thank you for the inbox. I hope you have a wonderful day/night. ❤️

[ohbo-ohno]

Hi!!!! I love you so much it's literally destroying me from the inside, your writing is AMAZING. I love dark fics and dark romance and all pf the yandere stuff so I finally found the courage to write you!! What would ghoap do with a girl who has VERY strict diet preferences? It's always a big trouble for me in imagining yandere scenarios because I'm autistic and can literally eat like 10 or 15 dishes and they are mostly bland and considered child's food from other people's perspective. I can just imagine our girl literally throwing up and not able to eat not because she is on hunger strike or wants to anger them, but because she literally can't eat what they brought her. Maybe it's some takeout with very weird sauce, maybe it's meat that she doesn't like, and Johnny is freaking out because she was VERY against eating everything he brought to her, but she can't even tell it to him because explaining to your kidnapper that the plane fries and chicken nuggets are the only dish you can eat is more embarrassing that being kidnapped in the first place. I wonder if Ghost would be more understanding or they would all together consider this just a fit because they are Big Military Men who can literally eat garbage for weeks straight, so they don't understand how she can freak out from a little tomato accidentally touching her food. Maybe they are forcefully feeding those things to her when she is misbehaving, like a part of "bad pet doesn't receive her favorite food" dynamic. I just like more mundane stuff because what if her blanket is too itchy and she can't sleep and they think she is just misbehaving but she literally?? can't force herself to touch it?? And she is actually more or less fine with being kidnapped because this is a controlled environment and she doesn't have to worry about working or being overwhelmed in real world, but she needs everything to be perfect because she will literally blow up otherwise and they really don't understand

hello! i'm glad you messaged me, i promise im not scary at all lol but i get real anxious talking to literally anybody on the internet so i get it :)

i've talked a little bit about reader being a picky eater here :)

im not autistic but i've got some sensory issues too, i'm definitely the type of person to not buy a pair of pants i love because they feel wrong on the inside lol. i've ordered burgers and taken like a single bite because i can't handle the texture of the cheese

i've said it a few times but i think they'd be so invested in making you as happy as physically possible, they wouldn't really get frustrated if you had really specific issues. like, they'd want you to tell them so they might get a little pissy when you refuse to eat your food for some reason, but once they realize what it is (and that it's not something you're doing intentionally) they're real careful to make sure you get food you can actually eat, blankets you can actually touch

i think you were onto something with them getting angry and ignoring certain needs, though. as much as he cares i can 100% see johnny giving you the Wrong blanket when he's pissy, petty shit like that. feels bad when you have a meltdown, apologizes and gets you a better one right away :(

[theteasetwrites]

making the reader vegetarian in a twd fic: I think the exploration of hunting and killing animals for food (and actually having to look at meat up close - like nowadays, people who casually eat chicken nuggets can go without ever seeing an animal slaughtered, so I love writing about what it actually takes to kill and gut an animal for food and how that can mentally strain a person) is so interesting to write about, but it's also so interesting to write about someone being a vegetarian and holding strong on those morals even if it means they have less food options. especially contrasting them with an s/o like Daryl who is a meat eating man, and them bonding and meeting in the middle. I love writing relationships where it's like 'we disagree on this, we have different perspectives, but we won't argue about it constantly and it doesn't tear us apart.'

people who can't respect that type of writing philosophy are just ?? weird

THANK YOU. You are so right and I have said this before too when I was ranting about it last year.

I fully had reasons for making her vegetarian. It wasn't just because I am vegetarian but because it makes a really interesting dynamic between her and Daryl! And I totally agree—people underestimate how hard it would be to suddenly jump into the apocalypse (even for a meat eater) and to be killing and skinning and gutting and chopping up dead animals. It would be super hard. Very few people are like Daryl and can actually go out and hunt, even in the apocalypse. That's why Daryl does what he does. There are a lot of characters who we literally hardly ever see hunting/preparing animals in the show. Besides, my character DOES eat meat when she needs to. No matter how many times I emphasize that, it seems people still don't get it. Sorry she's not exactly like Daryl.

Oh but if reader has her own personality/isn't a badass who kills things then she's "unrealistic." I've read so many fics where the reader is a hunter, a martial artist, speaks ten languages, has a hot athletic body, is better than literally everyone else, etc., but being vegetarian is unrealistic... ok.

It also represents deeper stuff, like how she wants to cling to parts of the old world and who she was before the world ended. I purposefully describe her as being in touch with the world before. Something I try to talk about a lot in that series is how she doesn't want to become a hardened, emotionless person. She wants to still have the morals she had before the world ended, but as the series progresses, she learns how to balance that with the things she HAS to do in this world. She has to kill people, even though she doesn't want to. That is her biggest dilemma—how she has to come to terms with killing people. It haunts her, and yet all we seem able to talk about is how she's a vegetarian lmao.

Her being vegetarian was important for her relationship with Daryl even in the first season. When she thanked him for bringing back those squirrels for everyone at the quarry, he asked her why she was thanking him when she wouldn't even eat it, and she said, in so many words, that it's not about her—that it's about everyone else. I think that was important for the beginning of their relationship because it showed how selfless she is, like Daryl. So even though they differ in these surface-level ways, they are very similar: they both care about their families before they care about themselves.

But yes, you are so right. Sorry, I don't mean to take away from your statement haha. I start going off on tangents but basically I mean to say I totally agree with you. The vegetarian reader thing is really fun to do and it's not just about her being vegetarian for shits and giggles. It's about characterization and making the relationship more layered. Idk why it gets certain people upset. <3

[veganfairie]

[tw: some mentions of past eating that could be considered disordered]

hey! another finnish vegan here!

I guess I'll just write some of my thoughts here.

- I hate it when I follow someone here and then they post pictures of "meat", or as I like to call it, mutilated corpses, especially when that particular person makes great art or writes amazing stuff or something, and I have to unfollow them

- I love how much better my relationship to food has become since I became vegan! Previously I had to force myself to eat, and when I did, I saw all those animals that had to suffer in my mind's eye. Then I realise I hurt others more than myself by this, and stopped eating animal products. Now I make food at home for my parents and myself all the time, sometimes several times a week! I actually enjoy food! I didn't understand why people said food could be good and enjoyable back then, but now I go to school lunches and eat my tofu or soijarouhe (don't know what that is in English, possibly soy groats) and actually think "this is so good" and then I eat my bread with hummus on it and for a few moments I think life might be decent afterall, you know. I even toyed with the thought of becoming a chef to a vegan restaurant when I get a bit older, but that wouldn't really be for me. I want to be a veterinarian, so maybe, just maybe, I could try to make the life of animals better. Or even ease some of the pain of those who are coming to their ends.

- Personally I don't understand when people say they couldn't be vegan because of cheese, or seem to think I made some kind of sacrifice when I gave cheese made from dairy up. I didn't. I just saw all of those pictures taken from the farms that "produce" milk by exploiting and hurting poor animals, and I felt no regret, ever. I don't really use vegan cheese much, pretty much only as a topping for pizza on special occasions. (Obviously I'm applauding for all the vegans who did struggle to get over (dairy) cheese. You did the right choice and I'm so proud of you!)

Thank you for being here, you know. Really.

Also, a question for you: Do you think it is right to call an animal "se" (it) in Finnish when talking? As background information for those who are not Finnish, in casual talk people often call other people "se" too.

I don't think it'd be wrong to do that, but I avoid it myself. All animals are "hän" (a third person pronoun, gender neutral) for me. Maybe they wouldn't be, if everyone or at least the majority of people understood their inherent worth as living, feeling beings.

Thank you once again!

hehe moi!! ihana tavata sinut myös!! 💗💗💗

🥩 - ah yes i also feel bad seeing mutuals post meat pictures. :( any time i see pictures of animal products or hear people talking about preparing them i remember all the ways animals are currently hurting. im sorry to hear you experience this so much. its good to hear you try your best to keep your space happy

🍎 - omg i love love love that you feel better about eating now !! 🥰 disordered eating is... hell. i have heard this is the case for SO many vegans. so nice that something we can do to help other animals also helps us and the enviroment. ding ding ding, you just won peace at heart. ❤ i got the job title of a cook before i went vegan and working at kitchens is fun besides the fact you are forced to taste meat dishes at work though unless it's a vegan place and i HATE it. 😢 becoming a vet is amazing omg, that takes some serious skill! a vet and a vegan fit together perfectly. you will be perfect for the job because you truly care 🐷🐮🐱 i wish i could make something soijarouhe based for you ahaha

🧀 - i agree, after i connected the dots and went vegan all of the arguments i made as a meat eater sound SO weird to me. i like how cheese tastes very much but because of the animal suffering involved i never really missed it again after going vegan. "taste or life?" is the best way to put it! but indeed vegans who struggled to give up cheese or really miss it are absolutely legends! :D

🐷 - okay so my situation with finnish pronouns is pretty weird 😅 basically, i have always used "se" for everyone. my family and friends all use "se" for everyone. it just comes so naturally ehehe... unless i'm talking about someone in front of them, then i'm more... alert? animal rights is such an important subject to me so when i talk about it i'm very alert as well. i do often use the "hän" pronoun for the reason you mentioned. sp it can help others consider how other animals are important individuals too 😁

💗 - thank you too lovely anon. for your interesting ask and the kindest words 💌

[twoidiotwriters1]

Written In The Stars CXLII (Harry Potter xF!Oc)

A/N: I think this week’s chapters are the most boring out of all the book, but hang in there it gets better -Danny

Words: 4,940

Series’ Masterlist

Previous Chapter // Next Chapter

Chapter Four: Horace Slughorn.

Mel stumbled onto a bench and inhaled sharply.

"Wizards should just drive!" She panted.

"We drive," Erick said. "I drove you here, didn't I?"

"I was there during your lessons, don't try to show off with me," Mel grumbled.

"Dumbledore and Harry are over there — C'mon..."

"Professor?" She heard Harry asked once they caught up with them.

"Harry?"

"Er — where exactly are we?"

"This, Harry, is the charming village of Budleigh Babberton."

"And what are we doing here?"

"Ah yes, of course, I haven't told you! Well, I have lost count of the number of times I have said this in recent years, but we are, once again, one member of staff short. We are here to persuade an old colleague of mine to come out of retirement and return to Hogwarts. I sent Erick and Mel to look for his whereabouts and they told me he'd be here, let's hope they're right."

"How can I help with that, sir?"

"Oh, I think we'll find a use for the three of you," Dumbledore replied. "Left here."

Mel scoffed and Erick nudged her arm muttering a warning.

"Professor, why couldn't we just Apparate directly into your old colleague's house?"

"Because it would be quite as rude as kicking down the front door. Courtesy dictates that we offer fellow wizards the opportunity of denying us entry. In any case, most Wizarding dwellings are magically protected from unwanted Apparators. At Hogwarts, for instance —"

"— you can't Apparate anywhere inside the buildings or grounds," said Harry. "Hermione Granger told me."

"And she is quite right. We turn left again."

The clock behind them announced midnight, Mel felt a chill ran down her spine and held Erick closer. She was abruptly reminded of the dementors, and she had no wish to see one right now.

"Sir, I saw in the Daily Prophet that Fudge has been sacked..."

"Correct," said Dumbledore, "He has been replaced, as I am sure you also saw, by Rufus Scrimgeour, who used to be Head of the Auror office."

"Is he... Do you think he's good?"

"An interesting question. He is able, certainly. A more decisive and forceful personality than Cornelius."

"Yes, but I meant —"

"I know what you meant. Rufus is a man of action and, having fought Dark wizards for most of his working life, does not underestimate Lord Voldemort."

"And... sir... I saw about Madam Bones."

"Yes... A terrible loss. She was a great witch — Just up here, I think — ouch," Dumbledore looked down to his injured hand with disinterest and lowered it.

"Professor, what happened to your —?"

"I have no time to explain now," said Dumbledore. "It is a thrilling tale, I wish to do it justice."

"Sir — I got a Ministry of Magic leaflet by owl, about security measures we should all take against the Death Eaters..."

"Yes, I received one myself... Did you find it useful?"

"Not really."

"No, I thought not. You have not asked me, for instance, what is my favorite flavor of jam, to check that I am indeed Professor Dumbledore and not an impostor."

"I didn't..." Harry turned to look at her with mild panic, Mel found it amusing.

"Oh well, he came to my house first and I didn't ask him either, but Erick was the one who let him in."

"I'm sorry I put you all in danger," Erick replied playfully.

"For future reference, children, it is raspberry... although of course, if I were a Death Eater, I would have been sure to research my own jam preferences before impersonating myself."

"Er... right," Harry shrugged. "Well, on that leaflet, it said something about Inferi. What exactly are they? The leaflet wasn't very clear."

"They are corpses. Dead bodies that have been bewitched to do a Dark wizard's bidding. Inferi have not been seen for a long time, however, not since Voldemort was last powerful... He killed enough people to make an army of them, of course. This is the place, just here..."

"Like zombies?" Mel said.

"Those things are stupid and slow," Erick replied. "The inferi are nothing like that, trust me."

Once Mel caught sight of the house, she gasped.

"Oh dear. Oh dear, dear, dear." Dumbledore got closer and examined the scene:

Harry followed his gaze up the carefully tended front path and felt his heart sink. The front door was hanging off its hinges.

"Wand out and follow me," He said. "Mr Flint, keep guard on the entrance..."

"Of course," He walked away, Mel wanted to stay and watch over him, but she knew that would hurt Erick's ego, so she held onto her own wand tightly and walked away from him.

"Lumos..."

Everything was wrecked inside the house, but there was something weird about it... it was too peaceful.

"Not pretty, is it?" Dumbledore asked. "Yes, something horrible has happened here."

Mel got closer to the stain on the wall and gawked at the smell. It was really strong and brought back a clear memory of Hagrid holding a chunk of dragon meat to his swollen eye.

"Maybe there was a fight and — and they dragged him off?" Harry said behind her, his voice trembling a little.

"I don't think so..." said Dumbledore. "Mel, what do you think?"

"This isn't human," She said, pointing to the bloodstain, "and the place is empty, if a fight had taken place here the muggles would've come to check on their neighbours, so either this just happened or he's..."

"Still here somewhere?" Dumbledore concluded. "Yes. A very good observation."

Then, without a warning, the old man stabbed the armchair next to him.

"Ouch!" It yelped.

"Good evening, Horace."

"There was no need to stick the wand in that hard," He huffed. "It hurt."

The wandlight sparkled on his shiny pate, his prominent eyes, his enormous, silver, walruslike mustache, and the highly polished buttons on the maroon velvet jacket he was wearing over a pair of lilac silk pajamas. The top of his head barely reached Dumbledore's chin.

"What gave it away?"

"My dear Horace," said Dumbledore, "if the Death Eaters really had come to call, the Dark Mark would have been set over the house! And of course, the non-magic people would've come to see what was happening, as Mel kindly explained a moment ago."

"The Dark Mark," Horace hit his forehead with one hand. "Knew there was something... ah well. Wouldn't have had time anyway, I'd only just put the finishing touches to my upholstery when you entered the room."

"Would you like my assistance clearing up?"

"Please..."

They moved around the room and fixed everything in a matter of seconds as if this was the kind of stuff a wizard would normally do on a Friday.

"What kind of blood was that, incidentally?" asked Dumbledore.

"Dragon's," Mel replied.

They stared at her.

"How did you know?" Her uncle questioned.

"Hagrid used its meat last year to heal his eye," She explained, scrunching up her nose. "It has a very distinctive smell."

"These," said Dumbledore, smiling at her, "are Harry Potter and Mel Dumbledore. Children, this is an old friend and colleague of mine, Horace Slughorn."

"Oho! So that's how you thought you'd persuade me, is it? Well, the answer's no, Albus," Slughorn pushed past them avoiding eye contact. He froze and stared out the window. "Oh dear — Albus, I think you were followed!"

"You mean that young man?" Dumbledore glanced out to the garden. "Mel, could you please bring Erick inside?"

"Sure," She replied.

As soon as Erick heard her, he turned.

"What happened in there? Is he..?"

"Alive," Mel brushed it off. "Apparently this whole act was a security measure — Dumbledore said you could come in but I recommend you to fix yourself first."

"Why?"

"We're bait," She explained while adjusting his coat. "I know why he brought us... Slughorn must be important if he's playing this dirty..."

"What do you mean?"

"Just act as posh as possible," Mel sighed, patting his cheek lovingly. "It should be easy for you."

Erick followed her inside and both sat next to Harry on the couch, the three of them displayed in plain sight so Slughorn had to look at them.

"Hmpf," He studied them before forcing his eyes to look away. "Here —"

He gave the drinks to Dumbledore and then put the tray on Harry's lap rather forcefully. He looked at Erick again.

"I should introduce you," Mel said. "Mr Slughorn, this is Erick Flint, a very good friend of mine. Erick, this is Horace Slughorn, a very dear friend of my uncle's."

"Nice to meet you," Erick stood up and shook the man's hand with a firm grip and a confident tone.

"Hmpf," Slughorn said again.

"Well, how have you been keeping, Horace?" Dumbledore asked.

"Not so well," said Slughorn. "Weak chest. Wheezy. Rheumatism too. Can't move like I used to. Well, that's to be expected. Old age. Fatigue."

"And yet you must have moved fairly quickly to prepare such a welcome for us at such short notice — You can't have had more than three minutes' warning?"

"Two. Didn't hear my Intruder Charm go off, I was taking a bath. Still," He added hastily, "the fact remains that I'm an old man, Albus. A tired old man who's earned the right to a quiet life and a few creature comforts."

"You're not yet as old as I am, Horace," Dumbledore commented.

"Well, maybe you ought to think about retirement yourself," said Slughorn, quickly glancing at Dumbledore's injured hand. "Reactions not what they were, I see."

"You're quite right," said Dumbledore showing a bit more of his hand to them. "I am undoubtedly slower than I was. But on the other hand..."

He shrugged and spread his hands wide, as though to say that age had its compensations, and Harry noticed a ring on his uninjured hand that he had never seen Dumbledore wear before:

It was large, rather clumsily made of what looked like gold, and was set with a heavy black stone that had cracked down the middle. Slughorn's eyes lingered for a moment on the ring too, and Harry saw a tiny frown momentarily crease his wide forehead.

"So, all these precautions against intruders, Horace... are they for the Death Eaters' benefit, or mine?"

"What would the Death Eaters want with a poor broken-down old buffer like me?"

"I imagine that they would want you to turn your considerable talents to coercion, torture, and murder... Are you really telling me that they haven't come recruiting yet?"

Mel felt Erick tensing next to her, she was sure Slughorn wouldn't appreciate knowing that they'd managed to take down two death eaters outside his house a few hours ago, all because Dumbledore had sent them to spy on him.

"I haven't given them the chance. I've been on the move for a year. Never stay in one place more than a week. Move from Muggle house to Muggle house — the owners of this place are on holiday in the Canary Islands — it's been very pleasant, I'll be sorry to leave. It's quite easy once you know how, one simple Freezing Charm on these absurd burglar alarms they use instead of Sneakoscopes and make sure the neighbors don't spot you bringing in the piano."

"Ingenious," said Dumbledore. "But it sounds a rather tiring existence for a broken-down old buffer in search of a quiet life. Now, if you were to return to Hogwarts —"

"If you're going to tell me my life would be more peaceful at that pestilential school, you can save your breath, Albus! I might have been in hiding, but some funny rumors have reached me since Dolores Umbridge left! If that's how you treat teachers these days —"

"Professor Umbridge ran afoul of our centaur herd," said Dumbledore. "I think you, Horace, would have known better than to stride into the forest and call a horde of angry centaurs 'filthy half- breeds.'"

"That's what she did, did she?" Slughorn scoffed. "Idiotic woman. Never liked her."

Harry let out a short laugh and everyone looked at him.

"Sorry," He said. "It's just — I didn't like her either."

"No wonder why," Mel nodded. "She mistreated all of her students — We had to teach ourselves! It's a wonder how I even passed my O.W.L. for that class."

"As if you didn't know you'll get an 'O' in every subject," Erick replied with amusement.

"If I did it wasn't thanks to her," She shrugged.

Dumbledore stood up.

"Are you leaving?" asked Slughorn.

"No, I was wondering whether I might use your bathroom..."

"Oh," Slughorn visibly deflated. "Second on the left down the hall."

After ten seconds of heavy silence, Slughorn got to his feet and turned his back on them, staring into the fireplace.

"Don't think I don't know why he's brought you," He said.

Harry stared at the man silently, Erick remained in place while Mel stood up and looked around the room.

"You look very like your parents," Slughorn told them.

"Yeah, I've been told," Harry replied.

"Except for your eyes. You've got —"

"My mother's eyes, yeah."

"Hmpf. Yes, well. You shouldn't have favourites as a teacher, of course, but she was one of mine. Your mother, Lily Evans. One of the brightest I ever taught. Vivacious, you know. Charming girl. I used to tell her she ought to have been in my House. Very cheeky answers I used to get back too."

"Which was your House?"

"I was Head of Slytherin," Mel turned abruptly in surprise. "Oh, now, don't go holding that against me! You'll be Gryffindor like your folks, I suppose? Yes, it usually goes in families. Not always, though. Ever heard of Sirius Black? You must have done — been in the papers for the last couple of years — died a few weeks ago — Well, anyway, he was a big pal of your fathers at school. The whole Black family had been in my House, but Sirius ended up in Gryffindor! Shame — he was a talented boy. I got his brother, Regulus, when he came along, but I'd have liked the set."

"I wasn't judging you," Mel replied. "Erick's a Slytherin, and he's our friend. He's a Prefect as well, and bound to be the Headboy this year..."

"I see," Slughorn eyed him up. "Eliot Flint's grandson? I met him during my school years... great man he was, I'm sorry to hear about his passing, how are your parents?"

"I wouldn't know, Sir," Erick smiled tensely. "They threw me out of the house after they discovered my correspondence with a muggle."

"He's living with me," Mel added.

Slughorn nodded.

"I remember when your mother made peace with Miss Evans, the two of them were a thing to fear! Your mother was Muggle-born, of course, Harry. Couldn't believe it when I found out. Thought she must have been pure-blood, she was so good."

"One of our best friends is Muggle-born," said Harry. "and she's the best in our year."

"Funny how that sometimes happens, isn't it?"

"Not really," He said coldly.

Slughorn looked at them like he'd just realized his mistake.

"You mustn't think I'm prejudiced! No, no, no! Haven't I just said your mother was one of my all-time favourite students? And there was Dirk Cresswell in the year after her too — now Head of the Goblin Liaison Office, of course — another Muggle-born, a very gifted student, and still gives me excellent inside information on the goings-on at Gringotts!"

He pointed to the bunch of photographs on the dresser.

"All ex-students, all signed. You'll notice Barnabas Cuffe, editor of the Daily Prophet, he's always interested to hear my take on the day's news. And Ambrosius Flume, of Honeydukes — a hamper every birthday, and all because I was able to give him an introduction to Ciceron Harkiss, who gave him his first job! And at the back — you'll see her if you just crane your neck — that's Gwenog Jones, who of course captains the Holyhead Harpies... People are always astonished to hear I'm on first-name terms with the Harpies, and free tickets whenever I want them!"

"And all these people know where to find you, to send you stuff?" asked Harry with curiosity.

Mel knew he wasn't doing it on purpose, but he was poking in all the right places.

"Of course not," He said gloomily. "I have been out of touch with everybody for a year."

"You must miss it," She said carefully, "your life was really active before you had to hide..."

Slughorn stared at her as if he'd just realized she was right, although he was quick to cover it.

"The prudent wizard keeps his head down in such times. All very well for Dumbledore to talk, but taking up a post at Hogwarts just now would be tantamount to declaring my public allegiance to the Order of the Phoenix! And while I'm sure they're very admirable and brave and all the rest of it, I don't personally fancy the mortality rate —"

"I gave up my old life to help the Order," Erick replied. "I don't think I'll ever regret my decision, I do something worthy, I'm valuable to them."

"And you don't have to join the Order to teach at Hogwarts," Harry sounded upset. "Most of the teachers aren't in it, and none of them has ever been killed — well, unless you count Quirrell, and he got what he deserved seeing as he was working with Voldemort. I reckon the staff are safer than most people while Dumbledore's headmaster; he's supposed to be the only one Voldemort ever feared, isn't he?"

Slughorn pondered their arguments.

"Well, yes, it is true that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has never sought a fight with Dumbledore... And I suppose one could argue that as I have not joined the Death Eaters, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named can hardly count me a friend... in which case, I might well be safer a little closer to Albus... I cannot pretend that Amelia Bones's death did not shake me... If she, with all her Ministry contacts and protection..."

"You know, people think that I'll be safe forever thanks to my blood relations," Mel smiled in the same ironic manner her uncle did. "But in the end... a bloodline, a connection... it's not as efficient as watching your own back. I think you should take every precaution."

Dumbledore walked into the room and Slughorn jumped.

"Oh, there you are, Albus — You've been a very long time. Upset stomach?"

"No, I was merely reading the Muggle magazines, I do love knitting patterns. Well, we have trespassed upon Horace's hospitality quite long enough; I think it is time for us to leave."

Erick and Harry jumped to their feet, Mel calmly made her way to where they were standing.

"You're leaving?" asked Slughorn, this time sounding a bit hurt.

"Yes, indeed. I think I know a lost cause when I see one."

"Lost..?" He stared at Harry closing his jacket and Dumbledore putting on his travelling cloak.

Mel picked up her coat and Erick helped her put it on.

"Well, I'm sorry you don't want the job, Horace," said Dumbledore. "Hogwarts would have been glad to see you back again. Our greatly increased security notwithstanding, you will always be welcome to visit, should you wish to."

"You could've been one of my favourite teachers," Mel sighed, trying to look disappointed. "Well, what can we do?"

"Yes... well... very gracious... as I say..."

"Good-bye, then."

"It was a pleasure to meet you," Erick nodded.

"Bye," said Harry simply.

Mel had barely reached six in her silent countdown when Slughorn stopped them.

"All right, all right, I'll do it!"

She smiled down at her shoes, Dumbledore turned to see him.

"You will come out of retirement?"

"Yes, yes. I must be mad, but yes."

"Wonderful," said her uncle brightly. "Then, Horace, we shall see you on the first of September."

"Yes, I daresay you will," Slughorn huffed.

As they reached the garden, Slughorn shouted the last demand.

"I'll want a pay rise, Dumbledore!"

Her uncle chuckled.

"Well done," He told them.

"We didn't do anything," said Harry frowning.

"Oh yes, you did. You three showed Horace exactly how much he stands to gain by returning to Hogwarts. Did you like him?"

"That's why you said we were bait?" Erick smiled at her. "You clever girl..."

"You say that a lot," Mel replied, clearly pleased with his compliment. "It wasn't that hard to guess after hearing him speak for like, ten seconds... he likes flashy stuff and the three of us are quite dashing..."

"Horace likes his comfort," Dumbledore nodded. "He also likes the company of the famous, the successful, and the powerful. He enjoys the feeling that he influences these people. He has never wanted to occupy the throne himself; he prefers the backseat — more room to spread out, you see. He used to handpick favorites at Hogwarts..."

Dumbledore explained all of Slughorn's way to them, Mel was absently hearing his voice while also looking around anxiously, every dark corner seemed to be watching them, she didn't feel safe. The Slytherin noticed her apprehensive attitude and walked closer to her, their hands brushing.

"Smart," Erick admitted after Dumbledore finished his explanation. "Though a bit... opportunist, may I say..."

"I tell you all this not to turn you against Horace — or, as we must now call him, Professor Slughorn — but to put you on your guard. He will undoubtedly try to collect you. You would be the jewel of his collection; 'the Boy Who Lived'... or, as they call you these days, Harry, 'the Chosen One.' And he wouldn't say no to teaching you, Mel, after all the rumours surrounding your upbringing — As for you, Erick, I daresay it only took one conversation for him to realize you're one of a kind."

They continued until they reached the church, where Dumbledore stopped walking.

"This will do. If you will grasp my arm, Harry. Erick, you know what our next stop is?"

Erick nodded, offering his arm to Mel once more.

"I've only seen the burrow in pictures, so you'll have to hope for the best here, " He told her.

"Brilliant," Mel grimaced. "Can't wait."

She crashed against Harry when landing, both of them fell harshly on the ground and were quickly lifted by the people accompanying them.

"If you don't mind," said Dumbledore. "I'd like a few words with Harry and Mel before we part. In private. Perhaps in here?"

Erick stayed out, making sure no one was close to hear what Dumbledore had to say. Harry and Mel followed the Headmaster to the little closet where the Weasleys used to keep their brooms. Dumbledore conjured a light and smiled at them.

"I hope you will forgive me for mentioning it, but I am pleased and a little proud at how well you seem to be coping after everything that happened at the Ministry. Permit me to say that I think Sirius would have been proud."

Mel fixed her gaze on her feet, she wasn't proud of the way she'd acted during the last term. She'd been selfish and arrogant, and now she was trying her best to make up for it. She didn't feel like she was coping well with her loss either, more like ignoring all her thoughts to remain sane.

"It was cruel," Dumbledore continued, "that you and Sirius had such a short time together. A brutal ending to what should have been a long and happy relationship, and a loving family."

The silence lasted for a few seconds, then Harry spoke:

"It's just hard," He said, "to realize he won't write to me again..."

She stared at the poorly lit face of her friend, his eyes were looking up to the ceiling, suddenly she remembered that Harry was, perhaps, lonelier than her. Maybe that was one of the reasons why he wanted to keep their lifeline, it was nice to have something tying them together.

She wanted to tell him they didn't need the connection for that, but if she was honest, she wasn't sure.

"Sirius represented much to you that you had never known before. Naturally, the loss is devastating..."

"But while I was at the Dursleys'..." Harry interrupted in a firmer voice. "I realized I can't shut myself away or — or crack up. Sirius wouldn't have wanted that, would he? And anyway, life's too short... Look at Madam Bones, look at Emmeline Vance... It could be me next, couldn't it? But if it is, I'll make sure I take as many Death Eaters with me as I can, and Voldemort too if I can manage it."

The feeling she'd get whenever Harry would step into his role of the tragic hero fell upon her like a kick in the face — She couldn't blame him for being brave, but she was a tad upset that he wasn't making things easier for her troubled heart.

"You still have a family, though," Mel reached out for his hand shyly and held it. "You have reasons to stay alive."

"Spoken both like your parent's children and Sirius's true godson! I take my hat off to you — or I would, if I were not afraid of showering you in spiders... Now, Harry, on a closely related subject... I gather that you have been taking the Daily Prophet over the last two weeks?"

"Yes."

"Then you will have seen that there have been not so much leaks as floods concerning your adventure in the Hall of Prophecy?"

"Yes. And now everyone knows that I'm the one —"

"No, they do not. There are only three people in the whole world who know the full contents of the prophecy made about you and Lord Voldemort, and they are standing in this smelly, spidery broom shed. It is true, however, that many have guessed, correctly, that Voldemort sent his Death Eaters to steal a prophecy, and that the prophecy concerned you. Now, I think I am correct in saying that you have not told anybody that you know what the prophecy said?"

"No," said Harry.

"Of course not," Mel said with a bit of outrage.

"A wise decision, on the whole. Although I think you ought to relax it in favor of your friends, Mr Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger. Yes, I think they ought to know. You do them a disservice by not confiding something this important to them."

"I didn't want —"

"— to worry or frighten them? Or perhaps, to confess that you yourself are worried and frightened? You need your friends. As you so rightly said, Sirius would not have wanted you to shut yourself away. On a different, though related, subject, it is my wish that you take private lessons with me this year."

"Private — with you?" Harry's eyes widened. "Like Mel?"

"Yes. I think it is time that I took a greater hand in your education. And fortunately, Mel has completed her lessons with me, so that gives me enough time to focus on you."

"What will you be teaching me, sir?"

"Oh, a little of this, a little of that," said Dumbledore.

"If I'm having lessons with you, I won't have to do Occlumency lessons with Snape, will I?"

Mel snorted, but she quickly turned it into a cough.

"Professor Snape, Harry — and no, you will not."

"Good, because they were a —"

Mel stepped on his foot, successfully shutting him up before he could continue.

"I think the word 'fiasco' would be a good one here," Dumbledore sighed.

"Well, that means I won't see much of Professor Snape from now on," He said happily, "because he won't let me carry on Potions unless I get 'Outstanding' in my O.W.L., which I know I haven't."

"Don't count your owls before they are delivered," said Dumbledore. "Which, now I think of it, ought to be some time later today. Now, a few more things before we part. Firstly, I wish you to keep your Invisibility Cloak with you at all times from this moment onward. Even within Hogwarts itself. Just in case, you understand me?"

Harry nodded.

"While you stay here, the Burrow has been given the highest security the Ministry of Magic can provide. These measures have caused a certain amount of inconvenience to Arthur and Molly — all their post, for instance, is being searched at the Ministry before being sent on. They do not mind in the slightest, for their only concern is your safety. However, it would be poor repayment if you risked your neck while staying with them. This goes to you too, Mel, since they agreed to take in Emily and young Regulus for the rest of the year."

"I understand."

"Me too," Mel nodded.

"And lastly," He looked at them carefully. "Have you made a decision on the lifeline?"

"Yes —"

"— No."

Harry and Mel looked at each other again, both exasperated.

"What do you mean 'no'?" The boy frowned.

"I—I," She stammered. "I... need more time."

"But you —"

"We haven't talked," She insisted. "We can't just make the decision without talking first, can we? Otherwise, who knows if the spell might work?"

Harry wanted to argue against it, but he knew she was right.

"Very well, then," Dumbledore opened the shed door. "I see a light in the kitchen. Let us not deprive Molly any longer of the chance to deplore how thin you are, Harry."

Next Chapter —>

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[phoenixfire-thewizardgoddess]

I posted 30,648 times in 2022

That's 2,423 more posts than 2021!

378 posts created (1%)

30,270 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

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@the-other-jugs

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I tagged 378 of my posts in 2022

#youtube - 110 posts

#vox machina - 17 posts

#apex legends - 12 posts

#lmao - 7 posts

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#caustic - 3 posts

#apex - 3 posts

#lmaoooo - 3 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#like... i think thee'd have to be thunderbolts raining down as i flipped off the sky to motivate me to even consider... how i would tell th

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

you know, in almost every horror movie ive seen where the premise is that the whole family/community are cannibals and th3ey just have whole rooms for bodies to be hanging about in different pieces

like...99% of the movies just have it in some filthy shed or room covered in old blood and mold, with flies and meat hanging up sans refrigeration

like how has the whole ass cmmunity or family not died from rotten meat? from salmonella? half the time they don't even clean the bodies before they kill them so they're caked in mud

pretty sure humans have weird shit that lives on our skin just chilling and waiting for a cut or microtear to get inside and cause chaos

you would think an entire household or town dedicated to luring tourists and murdering them for meat would have discovered a more efficient and food safe way to do it.

not to MENTION like how does this happen? you go to a town meeting one day and on the ballot is a) lowering the speed limit around the school, b) funding the community garden restoration, and c) becoming a covert murder factory for fun, food and frivolity...

Things that would make more sense than a hotel that traps people: a SPA

the people coming in are usually the health-conscious type, they have some form of bath or soak throughout the process, they're relaxed, and you could put paralytics in the facemasks or something

not to mention, most rural towns (where this shit is usually set?) have butchers and mobile butchers at that with their own set up and clean room type equipment. there's heaps in our area. Wouldn't it be less suspicious to have them turn up, grab the bodies and transport them to another area for dismemberment? People are used to mobile butchers doing this sort of thing with cowsa, pigs, goats, etc. Plus they'd at least have clean equipment and less chance of unsanitary items used for the dispersement of meat etc.

The butcher shop would be the first place you'd think of for cold storage, but what about the freezers in the local supermarket? Assuming there's a walk-in and everyone's on board so the new people in town won't squeal to anyone.

The local ice cream truck or shop? Maybe?

If it's small enough the pub might have one of those converted shipping containers out back that's now a giant freezer.

Not sure how they'd store it, but like there has to be a better premise for the horror of the movie than 'opened fridge in dirty house to find a head or fingers'.

I think you could absolutely pull a subtle horror story out of this, and they could legit gaslight the tourists (only taking specific ones) by advertising the hotel as haunted.

you KNOW that people will already be on edge thinking they might see a ghost, and will manufacture paranormal incidents, which is the real trojan horse here. so you go in thinking its a ghost movie or maybe a cryptid movie, so when the occasional bone or skull is found it's like "oh no, the ghost/cryptid did it"

the whole time the protagonist(s) are having just the most amazing meals and customer service... never suspecting.

NOT TO MENTION none of that bone windchimes bullshit.

What is the one thing a LOT of farmers use? It smells like vomit so you always know its in use? Blood and Bone fertiliser. no questions asked for anyone who has been in a farming area. It really helps gardens bc nutrients (its legit blood and bone with other mixtures, usually the offal and such from abbottoirs)...

Maybe the locals are like super funny about it. There's a whole year-round halloween attraction with real skeletons and just enough tacky decorations that no one questions them.

Or the doctor's office has a like 6ft skeleton and the school uses it on occasion for biology.

the real question is like, what are funeral rights like in a town dedicated to eating people?

Is a town member considered Sacred and Off the Menu?

Or is it an honour to have your body shared amongst your loved ones after death? Does anything change in the event of like, an unexpected or accidental passing?

If you have a combine harvester accident, and you lose an arm, does the amputated limb go on the menu or it is carefully disposed of?

They never really look into how this whole system works in terms of a full town structure. It's always some shitty "protag snaps awake and screams at dead bodies" thing as people leer or masked people cut up bodies"

If they expanded on it, it could be interesting.

But that's just me, I'd want to know WHY a whole town went full hannibal and how that impacted all the other systems. Government, health, education, political/legal, community events?

Do they have a section for Special Meat Dishes in the local show / bake-off?

See the full post

57 notes - Posted April 24, 2022

#4

...can a mimic get into a hospital/magical medical center with dr clerics or whatever, and pretend to be an organ?

Like, eat what was in the transport carrier, and get transplanted?

That could be a really fucked up DnD campaign where it slowly starts to bond to the body and fights for ful control of the limbs, and noone in the party knows until the changes are physical...

It could go:

a) the horror route, where they lose out to them and become a monster, and perhaps this is how mimics gain the mass to become a greater threat

b) the tragic hero route, where they see they are being consumed and sacrifice themselves to save the others

c) the changeling route, where the two mix into a new entity either with, or against, the will of both the mimic and the host

d) the symbiote route, where they bond and learn to live together, even begin to work together and maybe even love one another much to the discomfort of the other party members sharing the tent

e) the trial by fire route, where only through great suffering can the means to remove the creature or make it inert be gained

f) the medusa route, where the host is strengthened through (faith, medicine, magic, other) and is able to overcome the parasitic thing and force it into inertia so it 'dies' but remains as the organ itself

g) the feral route, where the host embraces the desires radiating through them and becomes wildly unhinged around concepts like 'good/bad' and 'friend/food' as the tendrils slip into their mind but still retains primary consciousness

h) the mirror route, where the creature takes control if the host is unconsious and has a different 'self', but will usually only act to preserve the body

i) the What? route, where the hero just wakes up as a normal person with a strange ability to shapeshift or blend into surroundings without any explanation and is just like 'fuck it let's gooooo'

j) the Aw YEah route, the same as i) but it's a bard, and they use it for... reasons of charisma, seduction and experimentation

k) the What To Do When You're Expecting route, this could be the final part of a mimic lifecycle and the hero was a good option to carry their spawn or eggs or magical essence or however you want to play that. mostly bc it would be hilarious to have someone being healed mid-battle and the cleric being like, 'uh, congratulations and im not sure what it is but there's a lot of teeth...'

l) the Choose route, where the host has a crucial moment to choose to keep the mimic or destroy it despite the cost and has to think about the benefits and problems. like, it could be attached to any other letter scenario as well, or random.

m) the PAssive route, weird but hear me out... the cleric catches it, and believes fervently that their patron or deity would want them to help soothe the anger and bloodlust, to bring this creature to peace and handles the issues through intense meditation or calm

n) the Zombie route, where the creature bonds to the hero and fills their blood with spores. non toxic, not harmful, but it does push for them to bring their bodily fluids into contact with the others around them. maybe they get hurt in battle more easily, maybe they're more seductive than usual, or more violent (eg biting in fights), and it targets the party. because it wants to build a protective brood around the host that are loyal to the mimic and will die to keep it safe / has readily available back-up hosts around.

o) the It Takes a Village route, smooshing concepts (k) and (n) together, so that the mimic builds a whole interconnected family of ifferent biologies to spawn through. giving the future mimics unique and durable genetics. more autonomy for hosts, but it pushes emotional bonds as well, and builds an army to protect spawn.

p) the Bonding Song route, where it uses the basic idea of (n) but to gradually make the infected cease movement and settle in a safe, secluded place all together with one mobile to bring food to them as the others meld together physically into a big organic Thing that will slowly form into a Boss Mimic. The mobile one remaining will continue to feed it, and help lead adventurers to it.

Probably others

74 notes - Posted March 15, 2022

#3

cant shake this shitty headcanon in my brain of percy accidentally seducing the others in vox machina by teaching them how to do court dances

something the gentry and nobility are schooled in from a young age bc half their interactions with other noble houses are at balls where all dancing is regimented and very public, the most physical contact with someone outside your own household, usually

But it's all 'hands pressed as you step in counterpoint' and maybe a few flourishes or dips to show you have some mastery

its all fun and games until you realise how close you both are, and that you have the instructors full attention as he shows you how to dance (and not make an ass of yourself at the next formal dinner/ball / charity royal or-gee or whatever the money havers get up to in their free time)

Scanlan would be fun, though, imagine the strict discipline of dance trying to quell a bard whose entire way of motion to music involves hip thrusts and disco moves???

just saying, could be hilarious, could be very cute too

having trouble picturing a few of them, but as a spectator sport it would be very entertaining

89 notes - Posted May 15, 2022

#2

Master List - Creativity Help/Art Block Busting for Writers & Artists

Post for AUs & Tropes

Post for Monster-Making (Mundane Items)

Post for Dryad Creation

Post for Fae/Fairy Creation

Post for Random Character Weaknesses

Post for Random Superpowers

Post for Mermaid Making

Post for Monster Mixology

Post for Making a Randomised Centaur/Taur

Post for Winged Creatures

96 notes - Posted May 8, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

i feel like the voix machina group could have handled the percy situation much easier if they have an enchanted like, pole catcher thing

like... "I am death and vengeance and-"

*snick* "Gotcha, let's get you a snickers."

324 notes - Posted April 3, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[alone-in-a-cafe]

Hi, sorry for the late response, had a super busy week.

This video answers your claim on animal overpopulation:

Legumes are a staple food in almost all South Asian and South American countries, so this really isn't a strong argument because many cultures depend on legumes for their protein intake. If they really were that bad for health they wouldn't be staples. They're anyway also widely consumed by meat-eaters.

It's true soy has its negatives, but luckily it's not the only vegan staple. There are grains and nuts and beans. Hell, my mom is a vegan with thyroid issues and doesn't consume soy and is completely fine with it, it doesn't hinder her diet.

You can have an iron-rich plant based diet, because there are many plant sources of iron including beans, nuts, greens, etc.

"Omega-3 fatty acids are important in the normal functioning of all tissues of the body, but they are best obtained through a plant-based diet, not fish oil supplements." Again, many sources of omega-3 in plants, plus supplements exist.

Scientists recommend getting B12 from plant sources. Again, this article is clearly states that the scientific consensus is that you can get all the nutrients your body needs from a plant-based diet.

Just refer to the above points. Plant-based sources for all nutrients exist. Also, you also mentioned vegetarian diets here, and many cultures follow a strictly vegetarian diet as a norm. Your point implies that you're not going to be healthy if you don't eat meat which is absolutely false as these cultures still exist.

Here's more on health:

"I think the quality of the animals lives should be better"

How is the quality of an animal's life better if they are slaughtered before their time? You can't kill an animal and day their life is any better. This the ethical question, but there's also the logical perspective:

Making the quality of life for animals better will require more land and more food and more resources. Also it would produce less meat than industrialized animal ag produces. The very reason industrialized animal ag exists is because it's the most environmentally efficient way of producing more animal products with the least amount of resources. And even that is not sustainable, so can we afford more land to animals who will ultimately be slaughtered? Did you not read that 80% of the Amazon has already been cleared for cattle ranches?

Regarding this, I would really suggest you watch the documentary Cowspiracy on Netflix.

"Instead of vegan activists attacking restaurants and being a public nuisance, tell people to stop the high demand for animal products."

Okay so you think activists demanding an end to unnecessary cruelty are a public nuisance? Good to know.

Also how do you "tell people to stop the high demand for animal products"?? Like what do you do here? Who do you think is demanding these products? How are people who are literally demanding these products not involved in this situation??

Also how do you suggest governments reduce demand for a market product? People are demanding it, people are eating it. The literal UN is telling people to eat plant-based. Demand comes from people. So you can't blame the government for this one, this is something that will only happen when individuals themselves make it happen for them. Like you said, "People have a choice." If they do, why do they choose to be cruel? Why choose to pay for the slaughter of an innocent animal when you don't need it?

It's really weird how you see corporations producing meat and people eating meat as two separate situations. The corporations are producing it BECAUSE people are demanding it, not the other way round.

Also what does "shaming" people involve? If a vegan telling a person the truth about animal ag and how the animal had to suffer to be on their plate, and the person feels shamed or guilty then surely they must realize what they're doing is wrong, because if they didn't, what's there to feel guilty about? You can't shame a person for eating beans or rice, so how do you shame them for eating meat?

And that document you read has been disproved by many scientific consensus. Less meat = less land = more crops for people. I've already linked this in my previous reply.

I see how you don't agree with an animal being cooped up but you're completely okay with them having their throats slit for you to enjoy their flesh. (Will you also consider this shaming? Because I'm literally stating a fact you know to be true, I'm just not using euphemisms.)

More on free-range here:

Also, free-range meat is usually more expensive, which not everyone can afford anyway.

"Also most people simply don't want to vegan."

Every individual has a moral responsibility to not cause harm and suffering if they can avoid it. Why would you choose to inflict harm on an innocent animal if you can avoid it just for the sake of personal pleasure?

I know people don't want to go vegan, and part of the reason are posts like yours which provide them with a confirmation bias that what they're doing is okay. Cognitive dissonance allows people to disconnect from the horrors of the animal ag industry and avoid guilt, which is exactly why when someone points out those horrors they feel like they're being "shamed" or "guilted" for doing something they know is wrong but aren't willing to accept it.

If we all went vegan, the demand for plants and veg would be too much for the ecosystem and would still end up killing animals, but slower. Yes emissions would go down and the earth would improve in some ways, but life isnt always just sunshine and rainbows.

Certain people benefit more from a vegan diet than others. But if you’re on a vegan diet and relying heavily on pills and shots for nutrients, that’s not gonna be good in the long run.

I’m not saying you can’t be vegan, I’m just saying dont be one of those deluded vegan activists who thinks everyone can be vegan without any consequences.

[ofchxrisma]

ultimate ship meme ; i mean i feel like saying amy and aiden would be weirdly entertaining bc they are clearly best friends and more than half these things wouldn't happen unless they made a deal to marry each other at a certain age just so they wouldn't be single for life but IT'S ALL I GOT so the silent screamers brotp. LET ME LIVE !!

Send in two (or more) names and I’ll fill all this out about the ship! | accepting

Alright I mean let’s assume this is that weird au world where they marry each other because they don’t wanna grow old as shit alone. 

General:

Rate the Ship -  Awful | Ew | No pics pls | I’m not comfortable | Alright | I like it! | Got Pics? | Let’s do it! | Why is this not getting more attention?! | The OTP to rule all other OTPs

How long will they last? 5ever - let’s be real! 

How quickly did/will they fall in love? Dude I mean it took a minute for him to grow on her. But their platonic friend love? Yeah that’s freakin’ epic and I mean eventually, they could fall in love for realsies. 

How was their first kiss? Drunk. It was drunk and sloppy. 

Wedding:

Who proposed? Amy. Hardcore definitely Amy. 

Who is the best man/men? Uh…I have no idea tbh. 

Who is the braid’s maid(s)? Her sister for sure. 

Who did the most planning? Amy. 

Who stressed the most? I don’t think either of them stressed all that much about it.

How fancy was the ceremony? - Back of a pickup truck | 2 | 3 | 4 | Normal Church Wedding | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Kate and William wish they were this big.

Who was specifically not invited to the wedding? Her ex

Sex:

Who is on top? Well now, that depends entirely on the day

Who is the one to instigate things? Again, that’s gonna depend on the day. I think they both do.

How healthy is their sex life? Barely touch themselves let alone each other | 2 | 3 | 4 | Once a couple weeks, nothing overboard | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They are humping each other on the couch right now

How kinky are they? - Straight missionary with the lights off | 2 | 3 | 4 | Might try some butt stuff and toys | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Don’t go into the sex dungeon without a horse’s head

How long do they normally last? I mean they can both last for a while. 

Do they make sure each person gets an equal amount of orgasms? Um…usually. 

How rough are they in bed? - Softer than a butterfly on the back of a bunny | 2 | 3 | 4 | The bed’s shaking and squeaking every time | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Their dirty talk is so vulgar it’d make Dwayne Johnson blush. Also, the wall’s so weak it could collapse the next time they do it.

How much cuddling/snuggling do they do? - No touching after sex | 2 | 3 | 4 | A little spooning at night, or on the couch, but not in public | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | They snuggle and kiss more often than a teen couple on their fifth date to a pillow factory.

Children:

How many children will they have naturally? There’s Charlotte. But I don’t think they’re rushing to have one of their own 

How many children will they adopt? 0

Who gets stuck with the most diapers? Charlotte’s way out of diapers so…

Who is the stricter parent? Amy. So so Amy. 

Who stops the kid(s) from doing dangerous stunts after school? Amy.

Who remembers to pack the lunch(es)? Amy

Who is the more loved parent? I mean it’s Amy. But Charlotte is sooo likely to go to Aiden for fun stuffs.

Who is more likely to attend the PTA meetings? Both because Amy will drag Aiden’s ass to PTA meetings kicking and screaming. 

Who cried the most at graduation? Both! 

Who is more likely to bail the child(ren) out of trouble with the law? Aiden.

Cooking:

Who does the most cooking? Amy

Who is the most picky in their food choice? Amy

Who does the grocery shopping? Amy

How often do they bake desserts? Like all the damn time. Nearly daily tbh

Are they more of a meat lover or a salad eater? Well, Aiden’s definitely a meat lover. And Amy’s more of a salad eater. 

Who is more likely to surprise the other(s) with an anniversary dinner? Aiden - for Amy, he’s a closet romantic.

Who is more likely to suggest going out? Um…probably Aiden.

Who is more likely to burn the house down accidently while cooking? Aiden. But no worries, Amy will fix that real quick. 

Chores:

Who cleans the room? They share that duty

Who is really against chores? Aiden hates them, but he knows Amy’ll kick his butt if he doesn’t do them

Who cleans up after the pets? Charlotte does because technically Iron Man’s her dog. 

Who is more likely to sweep everything under the rug? Aiden

Who stresses the most when guests are coming over? Amy

Who found a dollar between the couch cushions while cleaning? Aiden

Misc:

Who takes the longer showers/baths? Amy

Who takes the dog out for a walk? Charlotte. But Aiden probably goes with her. Even well into when she’s old enough to go all alone. 

How often do they decorate the room/house for the holidays? Amy decorates for every single holiday always. 

What are their goals for the relationship? I mean their goals are to be happy. To be settled. 

Who is most likely to sleep till noon? Aiden

Who plays the most pranks? They both are so likely to

[anonpolls]

Note: I do this and sometimes people have very weird reactions... there's no hidden agenda behind it, sometimes the veggie option just sounds the best on that particular day! But I was wondering if it was really such a weird thing to do.

-submit your poll!-