#predation substitution training

[connorskeepers]

She got a new prey dummy for training snf she’s big excited, she says “gimme bunny now”

[tea-time-terrier]

Threatening squirrels every chance she gets.

[valtsv]

an element of horror that the silt verses does really really really well is establishing how utterly normalised and accepted human sacrifice is in both "civilised" society and counterculture communities. "a god must feed, a god must be fed" is taken as common sense; the idea of questioning it is laughable to most people. animal sacrifice is seen as at best a temporary substitute for the real thing, and not cost-effective enough to maintain. whether lured into traps and staked to posts as offerings to predatory gods, or coerced into signing contracts that forfeit your life to the state by predators in suits and ties and butchered for parts in sterile white rooms where no one will hear you beg and scream for help, sacrifices are treated like animals, seen as less than human. prayer marks to hallow someone into a saint are branded onto the body like those of livestock. a character who will go on to become one of the most progressive actors for change in the show is introduced to us thanking a saint for their suffering (which powers the train which she takes to commute to work every day) because she sincerely believes that offering a meaningless platitude in order to lessen her guilt at her own complicity is all that she can do. not a single character is introduced to us believing in any system but the one that they've always known. the abuses and exploitation that the entire societal structure relies on are baked into the foundations so completely that imagining anything different outside of it terrifies them at first. it's bone-chillingly brilliant worldbuilding.

[haunted-planes]

Some train facts that may help for your living train oc:

(From a dude who is a train mechanic and casually drives subways and city trains for years.)

Trains eat a lot of sand, some prefer mixtures with oil and other minerals but no matter what train you choose for your oc, sand is a crucial substitute for a healthy and happy train.

Rails are lubed by trains. The more trains drive on the same track the smoother the ride. (Fun idea if you wanna follow a train’s traces.)

Trains, including electric trains require a variety of oil, lubes, fluids and other liquids to operate. (Fun ideas for food or cosmetics products for trains. Fr, some materials look so freaking delicious)

Sudden and fast movements are painful for trains and can bend trails. Trains are powerful but they need more time to build up speed.

Subway trains have a burning hatred for pigeons. The amount of dead pigeons in tunnels is INSANE, despite all efforts to stop them from entering tunnels, pigeons are very passionate about flying into their dead trap.

The newest generation of trains panic about little intervention. Very anxious and scream at lot (at the driver)

All trains have graffiti on them. If it’s not outside then it’s on the inside.

Street trains or bims are like chihuahuas in my eyes. They may be small but they are thought and ready to fight anyone.

Modern Trains have several cameras inside and outside, they can see all around their body or what their passengers are up to.

Some trains are whiny bitches and constantly need service while others never complain about anything for years. (There is a fucked up reason for that but that’s a deep rabbit hole I won’t go into the details)

You don’t want to meet train drivers, they’re insane.

You absolutely don’t want to meet subway drivers, they’re insane beyond measure.

Trains honk at everything that’s near their trails.

Trains are surprisingly quiet while moving on trails. They can take you by surprise. (They did many times) Please stay away from trails.

Stopping a train is difficult, it’s nothing like a car or truck, When they arrive into a station, trains hit their brakes way before they can see the station. That’s why trains can’t stop in time when there is an obstacle on the rails.

All trains have ONE head. Most modern trains rear and front end look exactly the same, both ends have cockpits with very similar controls but their main controls are located on the head. They look like that to confuse predators.

This is optional but it makes sense to me that trains are very sensitive about their rails, they treat them like it’s part of their body, especially the ones in their region and base. You can’t compare them like cars on the road, it’s a completely different dynamic for trains.

That’s all for now, I started writing this in July and collected ideas over the months from my personal experience with driving and fixing trains. I will probably do a part 2 since I still have a lot to learn. You should be able to look up everything on the internet.

Feel free to add your own ideas below.

[frostbitebakery]

filled prompts for @codywansleepbingo :D we got: spooning, deep sleeper, insomnia! nothing particularly to warn for, though this is set sometime in the HEA phase of I Got My Head Checked, the Sithywan AU. Rest of the ficlet and bingo card under the cut!

Soft Sick Underbelly

“Major or long-lasting stress can lead to chronic insomnia.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” Obi-Wan mutters to himself.

It has been… a while since sleep turned away from him in such a snit. He’s not unfamiliar with insomnia. For a long time he had been too afraid to sleep, catching naps here and there during his training—

“Abuse,” Cody would correct him.

His unconventional youth.

Sleep was for doomed prey until he was shaped enough into a predator to grab the luxury and take advantage of it. To take and take until the sleep deprivation was a fond, silly memory of the weak.

To sleep soundly, arrogantly, next to an enemy until the blaster was pressed against his forehead like birdsong. Nothing to concern himself with because he was made to be just that good.

Cody, Obi-Wan mourns to think of their first morning, isn’t anything special in that regard. What made him special, and continues to do so, is that Obi-Wan came back into his arms to sleep, to rest, over and over.

With Cody, he could wake up slow and unafraid. How Cody manages the same is a mystery to Obi-Wan still, on some days. Possibly the insomnia talking him into the spiral of fear, hate…

He doesn’t bother to remember what came after hate in Qui-Gon’s little speech. Cody said it was something to do with toasters.

Cody isn’t naïve. Perhaps he’s still lacking a bit of life experience, down to the few years he’s existed and how, but he’s not going into situations without a plan. Admittedly, he had lost his sight for a tiny bit there when Obi-Wan slithered into his life like the snake he was. Nevermind that it all had backfired on Obi-Wan rather spectacularly, the blind spot for himself Obi-Wan had started to cultivate in Cody had turned out to be mutually beneficial.

Obi-Wan snorts to himself and goes back to reading treatments for insomnia in hopes the irony alone will put him to sleep.

The small data pad is balanced on Cody’s upper arm in front of him, angled away so no light shines into Cody’s face. Obi-Wan is nothing but courteous.

Cody is a deep sleeper, here. In their space, their home, with Obi-Wan. Endearing and humbling. Not naïve. Not even with his back, his neck, to Obi-Wan like a lamb.

It’s trust like a soldier shows. Endearing and humbling, indeed.

Obi-Wan desperately wants to hold his hand, suddenly. The urge rising in his chest. The back of his fingers brush over Cody in substitute, careful not to disturb.

Cody wakes up anyway.

Slow for a minute, then all at once with a jaw-breaking yawn. One of his hands flaps over and behind him, and Obi-Wan offers his own. Like Cody knows.

His hand is guided around Cody, cradled into his chest.

“Bad night?” Cody asks in a murmur.

Obi-Wan fits himself closer into Cody’s warmth, not exactly hiding from the world.

Sleepy eyes turn to him. “Still blue.”

He feels his eyes are blue but it’s a relief to have the confirmation. Sometimes he can’t tell the difference, insides feeling breakable and rotten.

Cody shuffles back into him, a barrier between Obi-Wan and everything else that is not in his head only.

The early morning sun shines on the windows, sneaks through the glass, and plays with Cody’s skin. It's mesmerizing. Charming, in its own way.

The tiredness, the pulling at his eyelids and thoughts, is sudden and unwelcome. It’s morning. They should get up. Routine is good for both of them, after everything. A bit of predictability to stabilize them. They still get up to too many fun adventures. They're somewhat the personified headache of the Jedi Order, especially after their vacation. But this is home. Home is where the masks fall.

Cody latches onto more of his arm, lays his cheek into Obi-Wan's palm. “I’m awake now. Do you want to sleep?”

“Keeping watch for me?” Obi-Wan teases and his wrist is kissed.

“If you want.”

He sighs into Cody’s neck. “If it’s not too much trouble.”

“Never.”

Obi-Wan closes his eyes. Inserts the details into himself, of Cody watching over him like Obi-Wan watches in return. The light behind his eyelids, no suffocating darkness. Cody's stubble scratching over callouses.

Sleep doesn't come immediately. It takes its time. But eventually it's there, welcomes him like Cody's warmth.

[berryless]

"Would you mind terribly if I'm…a bit rusty in that regard?"

"Rusty? You sound like it's been quite some time since you slept with another."

"Some years, yes. I don't remember the exact number."

"Oh dear. Was your last lay so terrible at their duties you swore the entire thing off?"

"Quite the opposite, actually." Tav laughed softly, and he could see her eyes warming in reminiscence for just a moment as she looked aside. It passed quickly, though, and soon she looked back at him, with that familiar intense stare.

Sometimes Astarion would find it quite uncomfortable, but now he relished the feeling, knowing she was looking at him and not at the person in her memory through him. He knew the difference, would've been harder not to when he played the role of substitute lover enough to make him lose count.

"We weren't meant to be, however. It's in the past." Tav smiled again and lifted her hand to cup his cheek. "Just letting you know I have a sizeable threshold of expectations. Though given your height, it shouldn't cause you much trouble."

She joked, this much was clear, but it still didn't sit well with him for some reason.

"Oh? Is this how it's going to be?" Astarion purred, crouching over her, caging Tav between his arms. "You'll find I perform perfectly well under pressure."

Something shifted in her, Astarion could feel that. In the way her gaze softened, in the little smile her lips curved, in the soft brush of her thumb against his skin.

"You don't have to perform," Tav said, pulling him closer. "Anything. At all. I know I won't."

She kissed him, slow and mellow, enjoying the taste of closeness the same way she savored wine. Her rough lips moistened by saliva looked delectable, and Astarion didn't stop himself from letting his fang puncture a hole to lick the blood. It was as sweet as usual. As many things about her were. A few months prior Astarion would call them cloyingly saccharine. And yet he found himself enjoying them now. Her gentle touch, her warm embrace, her unceasing attention, gaze trained on his face, piercing and rapt. Just as he bit open her lip to taste blood, Tav was prying him open with her eyes alone, devouring whatever was leaking through the cracks of his perfectly trained expressions. She smiled each time that happened, a content smile of a cat who caught a rat in its clutches and was now licking the creature's fur instead of eating it in one gulp.

He was supposed to be the predator between the two of them.

And yet with that smile Astarion was forgetting to care about adhering to the strict roles between vampire and his prey.

[hashtag-xolo]

Well I found one big reason why so many R+ fear free trainers are rampantly quoting that prey drive isn't a thing. There's an article that Simone Mueller translated on her Predation Substitute Training website in which the author states that he doesn't think that predation is a drive. He articulates what he believes a drive is and why predation doesn't meet this criteria for him. So this being posted by such an authority on the topic, even if it isn't their own original work, is definitely fuel for their fodder in "proving" that dogs don't have a prey drive.

[redrascal1]

Kylo Ren..and where he came from

Okay, I’ve been reading an  article on how abuse shapes a person...I was reading about Emily Bronte’s infamous anti hero Heathcliff, but here we have some fascinating quotes which could also apply to Kylo.

the hero could be a victim or a perpetrator or both, and how does abuse affect his personality and attitudes towards himself and the society he lives in. Besides, the victim may develop anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder, and may suffer permanent physical or emotional damage and that of course will make a deep scar in the hero’s psyche which will turn him into either an angel or a devil. 

Now, obsessed fans such as those on the JCF, despise those who love Adam’s conflicted ‘villain’ for many reasons, one being they see his unhappy childhood and the subsequent events that caused Ben’s ‘fall’ as ‘demonising’ the OT cast. I have said repeatedly on this site why it doesn’t, so I don’t need to go into detail of why I believe that, but what I want to explore here is how their very human mistakes led to their son/nephew being essentially driven into the arms of a predator who had been waiting in the wings since his birth.

This is one interesting comment (statement by the WHO in 1999):

Child abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and/or emotional ill treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.

Han, Leia and Luke never physically abused Ben. But the above article states that abuse isn’t always physical or sexual. It can be psychological. And sadly, Ben suffered more than a hint of psychological abuse from his family. The TLJ novelisation mentions how he overheard his parents talking about his ‘potential’ for darkness. Han himself said there was always ‘too much Vader’ in him. Leia chose her career as an escape from her worries, Han spent his time enjoying himself on the Falcon; both spent far too much time with Poe Dameron, or Greer Sonnel, whilst ignoring his own child. And as we all know...he was sent to train with Luke at a very young age, despite having no choice in the matter.

Snoke naturally fed his insecurities about whether or not his family wanted him - and Luke’s fatal mistake the night the temple burned was what truly sealed Ben’s fate. He fled to Snoke who had cultivated his need for a ‘father figure’, and as we saw both in TLJ and the Kylo Ren stand alone comic, Snoke was physically abusive to him, as well as psychological.

Snoke turned Ben to the dark side, but his family set him upon that path, by allowing the scars of their experience with Vader to affect how they saw their child and nephew. Ironically TROS, which tried to satisfy obsessive OT character fans, only made them seem ten times worse than TFA and TROS...instead of coming across as damaged humans who loved their child and nephew but were scarred by their past, TROS made both Luke AND Leia into unfeeling icons rather than human beings, who happily accepted yet another unfeeling icon as a replacement for their broken damaged ‘blood heir’. Ben never enjoyed what Rey did, a blessing from Luke and lots of hugs plus one on one training from his mother. 

Instead, he was cast aside, ignored and forgotten, having to rely on a made up memory of his father to ‘do the right thing’ and save the ‘more important’ person - the girl his family had chosen as his substitute and almost killed him.

Ultimately, like Bronte’s Heathcliff, Ben Solo never stood a chance. Like Heathcliff, there could be no happy ending for him.

 He was unwanted from the very beginning.

[thxnews]

Combatting Child Sexual Abuse Online: UK-US Collaboration

  A Global Fight Against AI-Generated Child Exploitation

In a significant move to combat the disturbing proliferation of AI-generated child sexual abuse images, the United Kingdom and the United States have forged a collaborative alliance. Home Secretary Suella Braverman, accompanied by US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, has announced their commitment to explore comprehensive strategies in tackling this alarming crisis.   A Joint Pledge to Innovate and Collaborate In a joint statement issued by both nations, they have pledged to join forces, fostering innovation and exploring novel solutions to combat this abhorrent imagery. The deeply troubling AI-generated content, created by malevolent individuals, has prompted the call for international unity in this battle.  

A Transatlantic Effort Begins

This development follows Home Secretary Suella Braverman's recent campaign, in which she urged Meta not to roll out end-to-end encryption on its platforms without robust safety measures. As a result, concerns have arisen that without these measures, children may be left vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation within messaging channels.   The Urgent Need to Act In her remarks, Home Secretary Suella Braverman emphasized the urgency of addressing the surge in AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery. She stressed the global nature of this heinous crime and the necessity of collaboration with the United States to combat it effectively. Braverman also commended the tireless efforts of the NCMEC and called on social media companies to prioritize child safety on their platforms.  

Disturbing Findings by the Internet Watch Foundation

Investigations by the Internet Watch Foundation have uncovered the disturbing growth of AI-generated child abuse images, even depicting infants and toddlers. Some of these images depict the most severe offenses under UK and US law. The organization has also exposed an online 'manual' aimed at aiding offenders in refining their prompts and training AI to produce increasingly realistic results.   Alarming Implications for Law Enforcement and Child Safety The rising tide of AI-generated images poses grave concerns for law enforcement agencies and charities alike. They fear that the normalization of child sexual abuse material will lead to an increase in victims. Moreover, these images could hinder the efforts of law enforcement agencies in identifying victims and apprehending offenders.  

Technology's Dark Potential

AI technologies not only facilitate the creation of these abusive images but also provide offenders with the capability to manipulate benign imagery. For example, through a process known as inpainting, perpetrators can remove clothing or substitute someone's face with indecent images of real children.   Meta's Encryption Controversy This development follows Home Secretary Suella Braverman's recent campaign urging Meta not to roll out end-to-end encryption on its platforms without robust safety measures. The concern is that without these measures, children may be left vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation within messaging channels.  

The Impact on Law Enforcement

Currently, UK law enforcement agencies arrest approximately 800 predators each month, leading to the safeguarding of up to 1,200 children from child sexual abuse. However, if Meta proceeds with its encryption plans, the detection of child abuse on its platforms could become nearly impossible. As a result, the National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates that thousands of criminals could potentially evade detection by losing a significant portion of referrals from Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct.   The Online Safety Bill's Recent Passage In light of the Online Safety Bill's Recent Passage, the UK and US collaboration aligns with this landmark legislation. This bill deems AI-generated child sexual exploitation and abuse content illegal, irrespective of whether it features real children. Additionally, tech companies will be mandated to proactively identify and remove such content. Furthermore, Ofcom will have the authority to direct companies to utilize or develop technology for identifying and removing this content.  

Advancing Safeguard Measures

Efforts are underway within the government to deepen understanding of the risks posed by AI and develop solutions. Initiatives include the creation of the AI Taskforce and hosting the first global AI Safety Summit this autumn. Although foundation model AIs hold tremendous potential, their use raises concerns about public safety and national security that remain partially understood.   An Invitation to Dialogue and Collaboration The United Kingdom welcomes open dialogue and increased collaboration with tech industry leaders, experts, and like-minded nations. The goal is to harness the benefits of AI technology while safeguarding society from its potential risks. In this transatlantic partnership, the UK and US aim to protect the most vulnerable among us, ensuring that the scourge of AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery is combated on a global scale.   Sources: THX News, Home Office & The Rt Hon Suella Braverman KC MP. Read the full article

[buildugsroamin]

Parallel Botany, Part 3

Despite its low pedigree as far as life ships were concerned, HEG-2522 was still afforded some unnecessary amenities to ensure passenger enjoyment during the long trek across the aether. These included a water dispenser, a library of Venusian board games, and most esteemed of all, the observation deck. A quarter kilometer strip of semi-transparent chitin, gracefully curving at a 45-degree angle, it allowed passengers to take in all the wonders of the solar system as the ship journeyed to its final destination. Even when HEG-2522 crashed on that fateful day all those millions of years ago, the chitin had remained intact, something the Batavians considered nothing less than a divine miracle on Kib’s part.

Now, of course, that same vast panel lay buried beneath half a mile of sand, revitalized from time to time via stem cell transplants from more functional sections of the Monastery. What would normally have been a grand indoor promenade was transformed into an endless dark corridor. Only a small number of bioluminescent lanterns, a cheap substitute for what had come before, made navigation possible.

Vera strode ahead Azul to the wall of the formerly glorious deck, where a pair of immaculate wooden beds rested under a cozy green glow. The darkness was so great that from the entranceway they looked as if they were floating in endless space. But unlike the other hallways in the Monastery, Vera couldn’t hear a single bat chittering far above, which somehow made the whole thing a thousand times more terrifying than the halls outside. Azul couldn’t help but notice her friend was hunched over, arms wrapped around themself. They walked as though the floor was made of needles.

“A-aren’t you cold?” Vera shivered. Were it brighter, they would have expected to see icicles dangling from the ceiling, waiting to come loose and strike.

“I cannot say I am. I’ve worked in both the scriptoriums and the archives, and both are far more frigid.” Her slight, trembling, body, however, suggested otherwise.

Vera couldn’t believe someone lived their entire life like that, in the middle of a desert yet trapped in a frozen prison devoid of light. The thought made them shiver all the more. Their pace hastened.

They practically dove under the covers as they reached the bed, burrowing like the cold itself was a lurking predator, poised to strike their vulnerable flesh. Fortunately, the panotti wool blankets held in heat quite well, and before long they’d found themselves in that perfect temperature which was not so hot as to be scalding, but warm enough to calm their frayed nerves and gently lull them to slumber.

Yet slumber did not come. Cautiously, Vera peeked their head out from under the covers to see Azul slipping off into the darkness.

“Hey!” They cried, their voice echoing a thousandfold in the vast cavern. Azul turned around, yellow eyes glowing.

“My feet are cold. Would you mind warming them up?”

Azul froze. “I-I do not feel it would be best for me to be in close contact with-!”

“No, it’ll be easy! Just lay down at the foot of the bed, and it’ll warm the covers up!”

Azul paused.

“For my sake? Pleeeeaaaaase?” Whimpered Vera, opening her crimson eyes wide.

Azul sighed and lay down at end of the bed, right over her guest’s feet. Much as the young nun-in-training hated to admit it, the soft warmth of her companion’s body, travelling up through the sheets and into her, delivered a soft comfort that allowed her to sleep easily. It felt… nice, in a way her exhausted body hadn’t felt in a long time. A way she wasn’t sure she deserved.

But for once, the philosophical conundrums could wait another night. Azul let out a great yawn, and consigned herself to slumber.

Malagasy was tired. Malagasy was weary. Malagasy was tired and weary and exhausted and just wanted the bats over his head to shut up and stop squeaking, the cold air to stop creeping down his neck, and to join his kid snuggled in bed.

But at the moment, he could not.

Instead, he locked eyes with his former lover, just six feet away, right outside the door to the observation deck. He knew what was going to happen, what always happened every time he made his rounds at the Monastery, but certainty bought little comfort. If anything, it only made things worse. Thankfully, the children (and more importantly, the other nuns) weren’t around to see. But that wasn’t an excuse not to remain cautious. Echoes travelled far in the Monastery, and a wayward slip of the tongue could spell trouble. Fortunately, he and Creosote had developed an elegant solution during their travels long ago.

Moving her fingers, Creosote signed

Malagasy, I’m worried about you.

To which the tall Venusian asserted

Creo, if this is about me being a man, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m not sick. This is who I am.

But his former love simply shook her head.

But how can you be so certain? You’ve always been proud, Malagasy. Too proud to back down from a challenge, too proud to lay down when you’re ill. It’s okay to admit you’re wrong about something for once.

At one point those words would have been a dagger plunged straight through his chest and out the other side. By then, though, the scar had healed into an indestructible carapace.

And how can YOU be so certain? Don’t you get it?! You’ve made an assumption, but you’ve taken that assumption to be true and base all your evidence on the grounds that it is! So how can I possibly argue against you when you’ve already decided the truth? I so much as make a good argument, I’m clearly under the influence of my ‘illness’! You act like you’re smart, but you’re just as deluded as those other nuns, just as deluded as that stupid Madame Saguaro-!

Please! Protested Creosote, Insult me if you must, but do NOT insult the divine-!

And there you go, acting like she’s only trying her best, that she has this island’s best interests! That FREAK is poisoning this place with her piety. Poisoning the nuns, poisoning the kids, poisoning YOU!

And then he stood there, head bent down, breathing steady, fists clenched at his sides. He didn’t accuse his beloved of seeing him as a self-hating woman, nor the monastery of only interacting with him because, as someone who realized they were a man later in life, he was thus as dam*ed as they were. That would have been a touch too far. But he knew.

Please, Creo. He begged, You have to LEAVE! Join Vera and me. Let’s be a family. Travel together. Like old times.

And Creosote, beautiful, horrible Creosote, shook her head.

Am I being poisoned? Perhaps. But there are things I believe I can teach this place. And in being here, I can ensure the children are getting ‘poisoned’, as you say, a little less. Certainly better than just fleeing the problem in a little raft-!

See?! You’re just like Vera! Always got to fix everything and be the hero! Think you know best when you really being reckless! It’s like I’m talking to-!

Thundering footsteps interrupted his signing as bats fluttered away. Madame Saguaro was walking the halls.

[joski-town]

Since you say he's behavior is to ignore you because of prey drive, I'd recommend the Predation Substitute Training books by Simone Mueller. I only have the Rocket Recall volume but even in that one she explains why your dog will blow you off, and how to use his distractions as rewards to in the end have him be more engaged.

What I would do right now is keep him on a long line to give him freedom but keep control. No off leash time if you think he'll ignore you. And instead of giving him treats as a reward for doing good, I'd let him do what he wants to do for a set time. He sits for you, good boy! Go smell for squirrels. After a couple minutes, you can bring him back to you with the line and do something else. The environment comes from you and you only. Unfortunately with dogs, your reward is only good if your dog likes it more than whatever it was doing, and food tends to fail against preys.

I'd also have a word for "right now we're training, eyes on me" and a word for "we're not training, go explore to your heart's content", mostly if you sometimes let him out without you and then other times you go with him. It will also help you be able to take breaks and then bring him back to you with a clear cue that training is starting again.

(but again, this is the kind of advice I got from the books so definitely check them out! It will be better explained lol and more detailed. Changing how and when I reward Jo has help tremendously with her recall. The books are easy to read and understand and in my experience you can get them for pretty cheap if you get the e-book format)

But I also want to say that it takes time! When I started working on Jo's recall, she already had a perfect recall inside but the moment she smelled something outside she was gone. It took me months of walking her on a 20m long longline before I felt confident to let her off leash again, and we're still improving now months later.

I'm wishing you the best of luck!

Dogblr! I’m working through a training issue and would love some different perspectives. My question involves dealing with prey drive, engagement, and premack, I think?

Ok, so, I have a fenced-in yard for the first time ever, and I’ve been trying to start things off on the right track for Acorn. Acorn is a three year old mutt, with a fair chunk of terrier ancestry. There’s is nothing he loves more than searching for and chasing critters. I want him to be able to enjoy the yard, but not to totally disregard me while he’s out there.

Here’s what I’ve been doing so far: We go outside on a leash. I wait for him to offer eye contact before taking the leash off. Then, I reinforce any and all engagement with me. I start off with treat tosses for choosing to check in, and usually after a few minutes I can cue different behaviors and have sustained engagement.

The problem is, the amount of time I have to wait for him to offer me attention is pretty variable. I’d hoped he would start offering engagement sooner but it doesn’t seem to be happening. Tonight I suspect there was increased squirrel activity, and he ran around from tree to tree for about 10 mins, rarely checking in with me. I’d wanted to play fetch with him, which is a favored activity of his, but obviously doesn’t outrank squirrels. After about ten mins, I tried to begin the game, which, in retrospect I should have realized he wasn’t going to go for. He blew me off once, I tried again a few minutes later and he chased the toy twice before losing interest again. At that point I leashed him up, and brought him inside.

I’m trying to put my own frustration aside, but it’s definitely a factor here. We have a similar issue in agility class, the barn where classes are in the winter is a huge issue for us. He does better when we train outside, but he still has a tendency to leave me and run the fence line investigating smells instead of working. I really really want to get to the point where I can let him off leash, train and play with him, and THEN release him to the environment.

So here’s my current thinking— I’m feeling pretty discouraged, so let me know if you have any ideas or if you think I’m on the right track or not— I need to stop allowing him to do the searching for prey behavior until I’ve finished with whatever I’m planning to do. I suppose I’ll keep him on leash or maybe a longline, work engagement until he seems ready to start on whatever the goal of the session is. Start small at first and see if it becomes easier for him to focus on training once he knows he’ll get to run around the yard afterwards.

Ugh, for some reason I’m not liking this plan. I suppose it makes me feel like I have to be the Fun Police, making him eat his vegetables before dessert. But I’m also very tired of feeling like I have to coax him to engage with me every time we’re working around any distractions. I feel like my current protocols work in the short term, but I don’t see any improvement from session to session. Clearly this is an ongoing problem for us, and I hope that being forced to tackle it at home will help address the issue in agility too. Anyway, I would love any advice, insight, pep-talk, commiseration, suggestions for courses or other resources, etc. I just need to stop feeling like I’m banging my head against a wall!

[ravingancient]

The Neverseen is violent because its members don't eat gnome food

One of the many questions about the Neverseen is how they commit violent acts without going mad from the elvin mind's inherent inability to handle guilt. But what if I told you that elves don't have an inherent inability to handle guilt? What if I told you that it's likely caused by gnome-grown vegetables?

I don't care if I sound crazy. Let's go over the evidence.

Animals in the Sanctuary are turned vegetarian by feeding them gnome food. Apparently, they get used to it because some gnomish produce tastes exactly like meat. The problem is that feeding predatory animals a convincing meat substitute does nothing to suppress their hunting instincts. Humans call it fox-in-the-henhouse syndrome. A fox will kill every hen in a henhouse, even though it can't eat them all. Predators with enough to eat will still hunt. It's the same reason well-fed dogs can still be hunting hounds and well-fed cats still catch mice, to give more human examples.

Still, all Grady and Edaline do to train the animals is feeding them gnome food. They never do anything that specifically suppresses their hunting instincts. So how do the animals stop hunting? Unless...

Eating gnome food is what suppresses their hunting instincts.

By extension, a member of an intelligent species who eats enough gnome food would have any violent urges quelled. Gnome food turns people into pacifists, and this affects almost the entire elvin species.

The entire species except the Neverseen, of course. When Keefe was in the Neverseen, he said that their food is awful because it isn't grown by gnomes.

Yes, Sophie didn't eat any gnome food while in the human world, but she didn't have a reason to commit crimes. Elves are more aggressive without gnome food, but not to the point where they'd commit crimes for no reason. The Neverseen has a vision they're fighting for.

Humans aren't the only intelligent species capable of violence. Elves rely on goblins for protection not only because goblins are stronger, but also because goblins are more willing to fight. Goblins and ogres are warrior species, trolls have an army of super strong children, and dwarves at least have fighters that they sent to Mount Everest and the ambush in Loamnore. Elves and gnomes are the only truly pacifist species, and they just happen to live with each other.

My guess is that when gnomes use their special abilities to grow plants, a bit of their peaceful nature becomes part of the plant. Anyone who eats the plant gains that peacefulness.

In conclusion: Gnomes are inherently peaceful. Elves aren't; they turned pacifist after switching to a diet of solely gnomish plants. Elves that stop eating gnomish plants revert to their true nature, which is capable of violence. This is how members of the Neverseen avoid breaking from guilt.

[lilxberry]

Many A Conflicts} 1

Synopsis;

Sharing a womb and many experiences had you close with your siblings, but they certainly do not share your trauma. You had suffered loss and pain, much like Pietro and Wanda but they do not know that you face many a battles that they were not present for.

You fight to gain control of your powers, fight to take a hold of your sanity, fight for respect that your two counterparts had gained much more easily than yourself; you fight to grasp on to whatever is left of you.

Are you losing the fight?

Warnings: Mentions of riots. Mentions of violence. Nightmares. Language. Angst.

Words: 2,094

Pairings: Wanda & Pietro Maximoff x Reader (triplet!reader) (female reader) (platonic) / romantic pairing = undecided

(A/N: I have used Slovak in substitute of Sokovian. Slovak in bold italics and translations are in bold italics encased in brackets. I do not speak or use the language so, translation may be quite off.) 

Chapter 2  >

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Those who rally around you chant, scream, shout; it’s deafening.

The loud thump, pounding, pumping, stomping sound of your heartbeat in your ears remind you that you’re here, you’re alive, you’re breathing, you’re coursing with adrenaline. The mind wishes you to lurch you forward, to charge, to join in with the chanting and the screaming and the shouting. There’s a logical, scared side of you that wishes to remove yourself from the situation you find yourself in; to run away scared. It’s a feeling so strong and overwhelming that you almost listen but you never yield, you never give in to that instinctual urge of fight of flight.

You chose to fight. You will not run. You will not flee. You will stand your ground.

Somewhere, you knew you made a decision you weren’t going to turn away from the moment everything had truly gone wrong for you, for those around you. Shit, for everyone who currently lives and breaths and stands and moves on this damned rotating planet that will not cease.

For as long as it continues to revolve, there will always be someone who lives and breaths and stands and moves; always be someone to stand and fight, to try their hardest to change something, anything.

The masses of bodies before you geared up in that of dark protective wear, helmets and thick gloves and heavy boots. Their riot shields and batons are on full display to those who they prepare to face off against. They repeatedly hit their batons against their shields.

BANG.

BANG.

BANG.

BANG!

It’s their way to intimidate you and those that are riled up around you; to scare them away, to deter them from proceeding further in this show of defiance. It’s done nothing of the sorts, rather more so riling them up further.

A stand off in the wild, growing and howling and animalistic movements of the body. It’s primal, it’s dangerous. The civilians, the public, the prey; they’ve risen up and have become predators. The authorities, the suppressors, the predators; they’re facing something new, something they can’t turn their backs on.

A war is coming and you’re sure it won’t cease, not for a long time. This is something many believe is overdue, including yourself.

You find yourself in the first few rows of protesters, rioters. Eyes scan before you, flittering across the abundance of riot officers and weapons and vehicles. The local authorities have taken a step back to allow those with more efficient, situation specified training to take over and honestly, you don’t blame them.

Fuck, you hadn’t had enough coffee, but did you sure feel awake. Your pulse was fast and erratic; you’ve never felt more alive. Maybe it was the premise of death that possibly awaited you when either side make their first move. It was thrilling but it never took away the reason why you stood here, why you all stood here.

A lone man steps forward, a simple clipper lighter in one hand and Molotov Cocktail in the other, or as you preferred to call them, a poor man’s grenade. A piece of fabric loosely covers the lower half of his face and nose which only would muffle his Sokovian accent slightly. He brings his large, dirt covered hand that grasps the lighter to the cloth that flaps softly in the breeze.

His thumb rolls across the flint barrel, creating a spark which catches the gas emitting from inside the lighter. He brings the small flame to the cloth and speaks, his voice loud, commanding and carries over to everyone that crowds that very street; the rioters having quietened the moment they spotted movement from the man.

“Náš čas je teraz! Musíme bojovať, aby sme získali našu ochranu? Nech sa šudo!” The cloth is quick to ignite and engulf in flames and the man promptly winds his arm up and back before releasing the bottle in a powerful throw, hurtling the bottle through the air towards that oppose the cause the people of Sokovia fight for. (Our time is now! We must fight to earn our protection? So be it!)

The bottle smashes just before the wall of men with shields, glass scattering everywhere, and a large burst of flames rise up and consume the oxygen filled within the air that’s already clouded with smoke and thick with burnt scent.

An uproar of screams and yells break out and a voice reaches your ear beside you.

“Ste pripravení, sestry?” your brother asks from your right, directed both to you and your other sister that stands on his left, sandwiching him between you both; the sisters he had shared the small, confined, cramped, overcrowded space of their mothers’ womb. (Are you ready, sisters?)

“Samozrejme, Pietro.” The corner of your mouth lifts up into a small smirk as you side glance him, something which he eagerly returns before both of your gazes’ fall to in front of you once more. (Of course, Pietro.)

Your sister certainly isn’t happy with what is about to go down, but she understands the need to do this, why you all need to do this. This not only means something to you and Pietro, but this is also something meaningful for each and every person that they share this country called home with, including her. She just wishes there was a less violent, more peaceful way to resolve this.

“To je idiotské,” Wanda quietly sighs out to herself but nonetheless readies herself to charge. (This is idiotic.)

The man that stands at the front releases a cry, of frustration, anger, desperation, adrenaline? You do not know. But the moment the man moves his one foot in front of the other, it all runs in slow motion for you, the sounds become fuzzy and all movement around you seem delayed, as if someone plays with time.

Your feet carry you on their own accord and you hadn’t even realised that you had began to scream and yell and shout and cry out until you and the others crash against the line up of men in riot gear, your siblings right there beside you, their actions mirroring your own.

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A heavy coating of sweat coated your skin; glistening and soaking your body, clothes, and the sheets that you’ve kicked off of your body during the night. Your breaths come out short and quick, taking in gasps of oxygen your lungs could swear they could have been deprived of for years on end.

Awakening from the dream, the nightmare, the memory, you had shot up in bed, sitting, your body tense. Your eyes scan across the darkness of your room, adjusting to the dim lighting with difficulty. They land on the alarm clock beside your bed, and you sigh heavily.

3:47 A.M.

Head buzzes and throbs, a painful reminder that you’re still here; you’re alive and you’re breathing, and you’re fed up of the constant thoughts of Sokovia that keep you up at night. Swinging your legs over the edge of the bed, you rest your elbows atop your sweat slicked thighs and hold your head in the palms of your hands. You can feel the sweat on your hairline, and you cringe.

Calming breaths don’t help much, not at all actually. Granted, they help regulate your breathing and heartbeat, but it does nothing to help with what your feel and think. Each night is a vicious cycle, a repetitive motion, a schedule that’s tedious right down to its core; a never-ending riot.

You hadn’t heard the hurried steps of your siblings until the door had swung open with quite a force and they trample past the threshold and into the room that brightens a millisecond later as Pietro flips the switch of the lights on.

They probably felt the tremor you had unconsciously released, there’s no probably about it really. Everyone in the compound most likely felt it, in all honesty; your body reacting in such a way when your emotions are not in check.

You feel a pair of arms wrap around your sweaty form and a sweet, soft coo in a weakening Sokovian accent calls out to you like a siren, hoping to bring you back from the edge and ground you once more.

“What happened, moja láska?” She kisses your shoulder which was still lightly coated in sweat from the terror that played in your sleep. If she was bothered even in the slightest because of your sweat, she did nothing to show so, like usual. She looked at you with patient eyes filled with concern. The name she used on you helped calm and relax you. My love.

“Nightmare.” Your reply was curt and straight to the point. There was no point in dancing around with an answer; they knew, you knew.

The bed to your left dips and you feel another set of arms encase your body, much of that like your sisters’. A kiss is planted on to your sweaty left temple and you could only relax further. Your siblings were your true place of comfort, of safety, of security; much like you were to them.

“Which was it this time?” Pietro inquired softly.

Lips parting, a sigh passes them, and you close your eyes, squeezing your eyes shut tightly, wishing, praying. God, you were so tired. “The riots.”

Tightening their hold on you, they hugged you in a show of that they’re here; they’re here and they were not leaving. “That was 11 years ago. We have nothing to worry about here,” Pietro started soothingly. “We are with friends, family. We have each other. We do not need to worry about such things anymore.” You were glad that Pietro hadn’t lost the thickness of his accent unlike your sister, who intentionally dropped it when you had all gone against Ultron and sided with the Avengers.

A deep, heavy breath passes out through your nose, and you open your eyes to stare out in front of you wish. “Thank you,” you whisper quietly to the both of them and they all but gave you another comforting squeeze. Craning your neck slightly, you turn to face your sister and give her a small smile, something that doesn’t quite reach your eyes but nonetheless, is a smile. “I do not think I will be going back to sleep tonight,” you chuckle.

“I could help, if you’d like sister.” Wandas’ offer for her to use her powers to put you to rest were very enticing but yet, you always refuse, this time being no exception.

Shaking your head, you brush the small hairs that had stuck themselves to your forehead back. “No. I will never get better if we force it in such a way.” The little of possessions you own all fall into your eyesight as you allow yourself to look around you, trying to find someway to pass the time until the sun rises, your eyes landing on a small pile of books that you had yet to begin reading. “I think I would like to start one of those novels.”

The two sat either side of you sigh out but know that there would be no changing your mind, and both give you one last kiss, this time on both temples, before standing and moving towards the door of your bedroom that had been left wide open from them entering.

“We shall see you soon, moje svetlo.” With that, they walk out of your room, closing the door behind them, and head back towards their own respective bedrooms within the compound looking and feeling defeated. (My light.)

With a heavy sigh, you raise from the bed and trudge along the cool, wooden floor of your room and reach the desk that lines one of the four walls. With leisurely movements, you snatch the book that sat on top of the small pile and move your way back towards the bed, eyes lazily scanning the front cover and blurb, taking in the words that tell you the author, title and description.

Normal by Graeme Cameron.

Situating yourself in a comfortable position, you open the book and skip straight to the prologue of the novel and begin your reading for the next few hours; passing the time by reading until it was a reasonable time to shower and leave your room.

In the back of your mind, you knew that Fury was going to chew you out about the damn tremor you released during the early hours of the morning at some point and God, was you not looking forward to it.

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I have no idea whether I want to add a romantic element to this

I mean, ya peeps can make suggestions on who if so

If you’d like to be added to a taglist lemme know

I’m working out this kinks of this story as I go but please

Tell me if you like it and whether I should continue with it or nah

Anywho, I hope you enjoy

As always, constructive criticism and requests are welcomed and greatly appreciated :D

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Marvel taglist:

@thanossexual​ @iwazoomingouttahere​ @xxxtwilightaxelxxx​ 

[abramsbooks]

RECIPE: Coconut Milk Chicken Adobo (from Filipinx by Angela Dimayuga and Ligaya Mishan)

ah • DOH • boh

Adobo is probably the Filipino dish best known and least understood by Westerners. Like the name of the Philippines itself—imposed by Spanish colonialists in the sixteenth century in honor of their king, Philip II—it bears the lexical imprint of a foreign empire. In 1613, a Franciscan friar, attempting to compile a Tagalog dictionary, reached for the Spanish verb adobar to describe the dousing of ingredients with vinegar, to season and pickle. But that technique of preservation, essential in a tropical climate, long predated his arrival. Adobo is an indigenous dish, and one that contains multitudes, with no two recipes alike.

Vinegar is the constant. Here I use coconut vinegar (check out the recipe in the book if you’re feeling ambitious and want to make your own!), along with coconut milk and coconut oil—three forms of coconut, to bring silkiness without heaviness. (Coconut milk adobo, or adobo sa gata, is a tried-and-true variation in the Philippines but a little less common in the U.S.) It’s just as good if you substitute rice vinegar or diluted white or apple cider vinegar. And the chicken is just a suggestion: You could roast or steam a whole fish and pour the adobo over it, or sear mushrooms, fresh langka (jackfruit), or big meaty chunks of cauliflower and throw them in as the stew simmers down and turns thick.

Serves 6 to 8

2 tablespoons coconut oil, store-bought or homemade

2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns

1 teaspoon coarsely cracked black pepper

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

4 pounds (1.8 kg) chicken drumsticks and thighs, bone in and skin on

15 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled

1 cup (240 ml) unsweetened, full-fat coconut milk

½ cup (120 ml) coconut vinegar (store-bought or homemade) or rice vinegar

½ cup (120 ml) soy sauce

8 bay leaves, fresh or dried

1 whole fresh serrano chile

Steamed rice, for serving

In a large pot, heat the coconut oil on medium until shimmering. Add the whole peppercorns, coarsely cracked black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Lay the drumsticks and thighs in the pan, skin side down, and raise the heat to medium high. Cook for about 5 minutes, resisting the urge to poke and prod; just let the chicken cook undisturbed, until the fat starts to render, melting into the pan, and the skin turns slightly brown. Using kitchen tweezers or tongs, flip over the chicken.

Add the garlic, coconut milk, vinegar, soy sauce, bay leaves, serrano chile, and 1 cup (240 ml) water. Let the mixture come to a boil. Put a lid on the pot, reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer for 1 to 1½ hours, stirring occasionally. The chicken should feel loose, almost—but not yet—ready to slip off the bone.

Remove the lid, raise the temperature to medium high, and reduce the sauce by cooking uncovered for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick as velvet.

Serve over rice, to soak up the sauce.

In her debut cookbook, acclaimed chef Angela Dimayuga shares her passion for Filipino food with home cooks.

Filipinx offers 100 deeply personal recipes—many of them dishes that define home for Angela Dimayuga and the more than four million people of Filipino descent in the United States. The book tells the story of how Dimayuga grew up in an immigrant family in northern California, trained in restaurant kitchens in New York City—learning to make everything from bistro fare to Asian-American cuisine—then returned to her roots, discovering in her family’s home cooking the same intense attention to detail and technique she’d found in fine dining.

In this book, Dimayuga puts a fresh spin on classics: adobo, perhaps the Filipino dish best known outside the Philippines, is traditionally built on a trinity of soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic—all pantry staples—but add coconut milk, vinegar, and oil, and it turns lush and silky; ribeye steaks bring extra richness to bistek, gilded with butter and a bright splash of lemon and orange juice. These are the punches of flavor and inspired recipes that home cooks have been longing for.

A modern, welcoming resource for this essential cuisine, Filipinx shares exciting and approachable recipes everyone will wholeheartedly embrace in their own kitchens.

For more information, click here.

[tumblingxelian]

I wanted to respond to both your posts, so I hope that's OK, @just-that-asshole-withaknife Also gonna do so a little out of sync for clarities sake!

Oh and here's the fic, I think its in one of the more recent chapters that Adrien brings up his & Chloe's respective propensity to fight for love and how achingly hungry they are for it.

Mutual Appreciation society:

You're writing is so freaking good, both of yours, I just love seeing your perspectives and thoughts, so much intensity and insight into the raw emotion and how it shapes people and their relationships!

Adrien:

I agree, he's every bit as intense, desperate and hungering in his own way. Its less pronounced than Chloe's raw force of personality, or Juleka's uninhibited disregard for the bound of normality. But its very present, best demonstrated I think in his response to Queen Bee's debut, IE:

"I totally understand sabotaging a train and putting your life in danger to impress a parent to win their love. This sequence of decisions makes total sense and is extremely normal to me."

Like, Adrien honey, none of that was normal and you are both very, very messed up. But yeah suffice to say there's a reason before this only Adrien had "Matched Chloe's freak" so to speak.

(Kagami is also in this messed up little group, though Tomoe at least grasped that when raising a child you are raising them to be a functional member of society, as opposed to a toy/pet/substitute wife (Chloe) or an extension of yourself & your empire & your marriage (Adrien) so she's marginally more well adjusted.)

Back tot he topic, I tend to imagine pre-schooling, Adrien and Chloe were frankly more than a little codefendant and that it never quite went away. But because Adrien's more of a social butterfly, more hungry for more people, he's able to function somewhat better when separated from Chloe than she is him.

IE, the prospect of him ending their friendship sends her spiraling, while Adrien can at least try and push for that kind of boundary though he draws back on it fast.

In the "All in the Style" snippet I had him say when Chloe likes someone she digs in her claws & not let go. While for him, its more than he clings and doesn't let go. He'll fall behind, pull ahead or look away, but he's always got a hand wrapped around their wrist even if its spreading a disease up his arm and into his heart (Gabriel).

How this would impact of influence the Chloleka side of things is tricky, cos both Adrien & Chloe value each other as friends first and foremost and Adrien is very much not wanting the boat rocked. Which would discourage action in the first place, but also Juleka's influence is corralling Chloe's more unsocial traits.

Plus as said, he wants people, he may less view Juleka as a rival and more like "Add her, add her to my sphere of people!" But there are ways it could turn sour and that would be interesting to explore, either on a long term basis or even just on a sort of episodic jealous for an episode" kind of way.

Animal Metaphors:

Cos o the dig in claws angle, I had an amusing thought. Adrien is like a persistence predator - Or something more... clingy ;) - always around and present and keeping his desired targets in sight/range so to speak. His drive to connect with Ladybug would be an example.

Chloe is a more traditional predator, aggressive, forward, patience and stealth are temporal things to be shed. You know when she's been there, what she wants and what she'll risk to get it. This is also why hers can be rather self harming if rejected, its all or nothing, exposing her belly and throat to her prey in every battle. IE, there's a reason RL predator animals are very restrained in hunting.

Juleka's more like a stealth or ambush predator, both relationship wise, but also just in how her more unhinged side comes out. There can be a flared up temper (Roar) when pushed, but she'll happily be awed by Horrificator or casually suggest kidnapping like its normal. She's there, whether you see her or not and then suddenly she's around someone's throat.

In this regard, Adrien's the least overtly obsessive/unhinged but its still very much there. Juleka's is more subtle than Chloe's but not really hidden, she just says it quietly, most of the time. While Chloe's more inclined to shouting it, but its obscured somewhat by her language and other issues, but no one can ignore the intensity of the emotions even if what she's going for is sometimes confusing.

This also ties in well to their emotions, Adrien's consistently operating at like, 50, but its all the time, he's never 'off' so to speak. Juleka is t 80 but she sounds like she operates at 10, and then suddenly vaults to 110. While Chloe is either at 0 or 100 all the time; the closest she gets to less intense is with metaphorical restraining bolts to enforce neutrality, but its a façade.

Juleka:

Honestly the absent parent angle hadn't even occurred to me, but I can totally see it, very "Oh she's just like me for real" on both their respective ends with that.

As for Anarka having to work super hard, admittedly I am unsure on that if only cos Juleka is attending a school for rather well off people and their houseboat isn't exactly small. But then, we also don't know one way or the other, and more integrally I think she'd still have some complex feelings ad insecurities.

Especially as, depending on what she knows, Juleka may feel responsible for Anarka ending her career in music. Yes she and Luka are twins and or siblings, but in the former case Juleka could have had complications, in the latter, one child might not have been enough to break things but two were. Plus she lacks Luka's empathic power so they'd be coming at the relationship from very different angles anyway.

As an aside, Juleka feeling she can't keep pace with Luka, can't be like him, would definitely cause insecurities. I imagine in this regard, the boundless "You are exceptional and therefore perfect" attitude of Chloe, once it takes root, will lead to a sort of... Like, she wants to be on par with him, to feel she contributes, to not feel like he has to sacrifice for her while she can't sacrifice for him. They are likely not super normal about each other in that way two kids with chaotic and absent parents can be an odd mix of sibling, friends and parent and child.

On that front as well, I said in PMs, that when it comes to her behavior I tend to view Juleka as, "Once she takes an inch, she'll take the mile." Or in other words, once she gets that confidence backing her actions, she'll be more comfortable being more intense and more off the hook and more all in on things. The dancing sequence with Chloe is sort of a subtle tell o that front, when she's makes has Chloe look at her and conveys a growing matching degree of intense interest.

& yeah, she's very aware she does not love in a normal way, or hell just engage with he world in a normal way. She's mostly comfortable with it, but can toe the line, somewhat and when she does cross it, its either with full furious awareness or more like she slipped over it and a mischievous idea (To her) is like, technically a crime, or otherwise extremely out there. (All that talk of bare drib cages and devouring one another is very fitting)

Chloe:

I have less to add here cos she's been so central thus far, but suffice to say been loving everything I've read. I think the need aspect, like air, water, food resonate most intensely with me.

Cos like, if Adrien is hungry for people but he has some idea of what its like to be full, its what he's seeking. In that regard, Juleka's 'fed' but had to keep the meal that would truly fill her at arms length to content of the scent but never the taste, never the meal. Its a little maddening but she can survive it.

Chloe's is near starving all the time and has been for as long as she can remember and is only aware of it in fragmented parts. She knows she is ardent, dedicated and devoted, she knows that she wants her mother to love her, Adrien to stay with her, Ladybug to regard her as worthwhile and Juleka to give the devotion Chloe has seen she's capable of and dedicate it to her rather than Rose so they can share in that mutual enrapturement.

But by the same token she does not know why her relationship with her father is so empty and twisted. She can't accept Audrey will never care, and even if she comes close it won't fix or fill her, she's too different. She knows others aren't like her, but only in piecemeal ways, to her the lack of drive in others is a sign of their weakness, a lack of devotion.

To her fighting for love, killing, dying and destroying yourself for love, this is how its done. So long as the person reciprocates it, so long as they deem you worthy, so long as someone chooses her, she'll be happy as she is all consuming and more, all devoured. Juleka at least knows this is odd, Adrien has some ideas, Chloe has no idea.

She gives her love a lot more easily than she expects it returned. Hence hurling herself into the brick wall that is Audrey. Hence being able to reject an Akuma alone for Ladybug. & why she accepts so little or outright nothing from them in return. She is in many ways dogmatically loyal and also kneelingly desperate.

She knows longing and hunger, and the emptiness that swirls around her more intimately than anything else. & she'll go to incredible lengths to see that feeling banished and her endless, aching need fulfilled, not just for someone to choose her, but for her to be able to offer herself up to them and be sure it won't just be ripped away again. To intertwined and possessed with them completely.

Final cap offs:

I think I revised my stance on ROse, I think she is either one of two things.

One she was unaware or at least not returning Juleka's feelings and so is OK with these developments. If maybe a little concerned Juleka and Chloe as a duo may become supervillains just to being in possession of so little chill.

Two, she did return Juleka's feelings, though she maybe didn't realize it, but she didn't want to like... Act on it or didn't realize till later. Point being, She never felt threatened by Chloe, she knew how dedicated Juleka was and had kind of taken it for granted she'd always be waiting for her. So when that changes, when she sees that it changes she's freaked out and wants to course correct, now.

On a separate angle, I recall reading a thing that was like:

"Interesting relationships in fiction should either be like 90% messed up but with ten percent real heart underneath, Or 90% sweetness, with something really twisted mixed in. This Yin and Yang creates the spice of life!"

Sort of similar vibes to what I feel we are toying with here. In a sort of mutually obsessive, slightly unhinged tango of complexes and messy power dynamics.

Also, Chloe line from when she realizes Juleka matches her freak, maybe:

'Oh~', Chloe could feel her chest tightening, heart racing, that was... She needed mroe.

Now

"Well now," her voice didn't crack, but there was a hysterical lilt to the well practiced intonations. "Such dedication, I'm in awe, really. But if you know its for naught no why bother?

Juleka's nails dragged down the cement as she loomed, dark hair enshrouding Chloe but her eyes, her crimson red eyes blazing.

"Dedication you called it? Not enough, love is devotion, obsession, worship; love it redefines everything. It breaks you and warps you and there is nothing beyond its reach and no where it won't drive a person."

Her hands pressed against Chloe's neck.

"Don't think for a second," Juleka snarled, "That there is a limit to how far I'll go for her. But then," There was an almost cruel touch to her tone, "I wouldn't expect you to understand love."

Chloe's hands acted on instinct, circling around Juleka's elbows and pulling own, hard, pulling the taller girl against her. Chloe could feel Juleka's grip tightening, those red eyes had captured her still and she whispered back.

"But I do know, I know love so well Juleka; how far one goes for it, how much its lack is like torture." She pressed herself against Juleka whose stare had become ever o slightly clouded, curios perhaps?

"You've been at her side for so long, always able to touch but never hold," Chloe shuddered. "It must be maddening, does it burn, does it ache? I think it would, just like that love being so far away and so impossibly out of reach that is freezes and hurts."

Juleka's next words were not gentle, but there were deep, like a low rumble. "You're..."

Like me, not lying, in love with me? Juleka could have said any of those and been right.

Chloe shuddered against her, "Who would have thought I'd find such a ruby in the rough, here of all places." Juleka freed her, but Choe caught a hand, for just a moment and laid a kiss on her wrist.

"I won't take anything else from you, but I promise, soon you'll want to give it to me." She put a flirtacious strut into her walk as she began the trek back to class. "You deserve someone who'll match your devotion and soon, very soon I hope, you'll see there's something much better waiting for you," Hand on the door she threw a wink over her shoulder, "See you in class darling~"

With that she left Juleka on the roof, red eyes practically burning a hole in her head even after she closed the dor. Still watching Chloe intently as she passed by the window, sending excitement through her frame as she began to blush. Mind and body equally lost and heady as her world view cracked and snapped and rebuilt itself in moments to accommodate this revelation.

-

Only once Chloe was out of sight did Juleka's shoulders fall, her hands flexed and she absently noted her ruined nails. All the while alarms bells began blaring in her head questioning what in the hell just happened.

But even as she did so, a little space was re-carved and reshaped in her mind. The image of Chloe becoming just that little bit more elaborate and clear. It felt like a long well known book had opened to reveal new pages and she couldn't yet parse the contents, or its length.

Not yet at least.

So, I went through the entire Match My Freak au tag, but I still don't really what the premise is. So, what's it about? Cause the earliest one I was able to find was Xelian's ask of them dancing. And it was amazing, so I just wanted to know the context.

But, on that note. I really like the dynamic ChloLeka have going on. Aggressive devotion? Possessive affection? A thin line between being salvation and damnation for Chloè?? Foaming at the mouth, I fucking love it. Like, Juleka holds a lotta power over Chloè, whether she knows it or not, it'd be very easy to manipulate her. One word, a firm enough tone, and Chloè is literally willing to get on her hands and knees.

Ok so ot started from an ask @tumblingxelian sent @princess-of-the-corner and I commented on it and stuff escalated!!!!

Anyway if I remeber correcly rose started hanging out with prince ali, and juleka got jelous, chloe noticed her unhealty obsession and started seeing her as someone like her and decided to start flirting.

Also yeah their dynamic is incredible!!!! And I love it so much!!!!

[fruitless-vain]

do you have tips for teaching a dog not to pull toward squirrels and other prey animals? squirrels are the toughest because my dog will literally try to climb trees and jump straight in the air to get to them. he is able to disengage after staring when we are far away, but i can't make sure we always stay far enough away since my neighborhood is full of squirrels. i thought dog reactivity would be the worst part of walks but at least i can usually move away from dogs to stay below threshold �

I’d check out predation substitute training on Instagram!

https://instagram.com/predation_substitute_training?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

They specialize in cases like that so you’ll find a lot more helpful info just scrolling through their page or investing in their services.

With sham I utilized a lot of the same principles as you would with reactivity. Reducing exposure, increasing distance, rewarding disengagement. The main difference for us was the reward type and method. Since the order of events for predatory behaviour goes scent - stare - stalk - chase - catch - kill - shred - consume I utilized rewards that would mimic the event sequence. He could scent and stare, even stalk the squirrels but the chase progression sequence gets redirected to either a toy reward or a tossed treat. So he can scent - stare - stalk the squirrel then disengage and chase - catch - kill -shred a treat that I’ve tossed away in a different direction. This works better for us than just handing him a treat since it works with the biological hunting sequence instead of against it.

For Yoshi we’ve transitioned to using the prey animal as the reward. If she offers focused and recalls well she gets rewarded with the capacity to chase bunnies in the field. Takes a lot more time to get to that point, she needed reliable recall around prey animals and out of high energy play before that transition was able to be made safely but man if you make that switch the behaviour is super durable.

There are of course a lot of smaller details that go in to it, rewarding calmness, using observation as a reward, building up to running prey vs stationary prey. If they’re super super gnarly with their prey drive you may find it helpful to segment the process down to practicing with scent samples and plushies before working with actual squirrels.

When it comes to managing prey while working on the training a lot of it comes down to management. Bringing higher value treats, making excited sounds, teaching a magnet hand, U Turn behaviours or treat scatter cues can all be ways to quickly get your dog to send their face elsewhere while the prey gets the heck out of the way.