#snake bite symptoms

[lettuce-gremlin]

Anyway I overheard my boss saying something absolutely wild so:

Oh no! You've been bitten by a wild snake! You are not 100% sure what it was, but you suspect it may have been venomous. Do you try to catch the snake so you can bring it with you to the hospital for identification?

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Bites & Stings

References (Dog Bites; Cat; Human; Spider; Bee & Wasp; Snake; Jellyfish)

Bites and stings - puncture injuries inflicted by an animal that penetrate the skin.

DOGS

A typical dog bite results in a laceration, tear, puncture, or crush injury.

Bites from large, powerful dogs may cause fractures and dangerous internal injuries. Dogs trained to attack may bite repeatedly during a single episode.

Infected bites usually cause pain, cellulitis (inflammation of the connective tissues), and a pus-filled discharge at the wound site within 8–24 hours.

Many infections are confined to the wound site, but some of the microorganisms in the mouths of dogs can cause systemic and possibly life-threatening infections.

Rabies is rare among pet dogs in the United States, most of which have been vaccinated against the disease. Tetanus is also rare but can be transmitted by a dog bite if the victim is not immunized.

CATS

The mouths of cats and dogs contain many of the same microorganisms.

Cat scratches and bites are also capable of transmitting the Bartonella henselae bacterium, which can lead to cat-scratch disease, an unpleasant but usually not life-threatening illness.

Cat bites are mostly found on the arms and hands.

Sharp cat teeth typically leave behind a deep puncture wound that can reach muscles, tendons, and bones, which are vulnerable to infection because of their comparatively poor blood supply.

This is why cat bites are much more likely to become infected than dog bites.

Also, people are less inclined to view cat bites as dangerous and requiring immediate attention; the risk that infection has set in by the time a medical professional is consulted is thus greater.

HUMANS

Humans bites result from fights, sexual activity, medical and dental treatment, and seizures. Bites raise the possibility of spousal or child abuse.

Children often bite other children, but those bites are hardly ever severe.

Human bites are capable of transmitting a wide range of dangerous diseases, including hepatitis B, syphilis, and tuberculosis.

Human bites fall into two categories:

Occlusional (true) bites present a lower risk of infection.

Clenched-fist injuries, which are very infectious and can permanently damage the hand, usually result from a fist hitting teeth during a fight.

People often wait before seeking treatment for a clenched-fist injury, with the result that about half of such injuries are infected by the time they are seen by a medical professional.

SPIDERS

As a rule, people rarely see a black widow bite, nor do they feel the bite as it occurs. The first (and possibly only) evidence that a person has been bitten may be a mild swelling of the injured area and two red puncture marks.

Within a short time, some victims begin to experience severe muscle cramps and rigidity of the abdominal muscles. Other possible symptoms include excessive sweating, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and vertigo, as well as breathing, vision, and speech problems.

A brown spider’s bite can lead to necrotic arachnidism, in which the tissue in an area of up to several inches around the bite becomes necrotic (dies), producing an open sore that can take months or years to disappear.

In most cases, the bite simply produces a hard, painful, itchy, and discolored area that heals without treatment in 2–3 days.

The bite may be accompanied by a fever, chills, edema (an accumulation of excess tissue fluid), nausea and vomiting, dizziness, muscle and joint pain, and a rash.

BEES & WASPS

The familiar symptoms of bee and wasp stings include pain, redness, swelling, and itchiness in the area of the sting.

Multiple stings can have much more severe consequences, such as anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction that occurs in hypersensitive persons.

SNAKES

Venomous pit viper bites usually begin to swell within 10 minutes and sometimes are painful.

Other symptoms include skin blisters and discoloration, weakness, sweating, nausea, faintness, dizziness, bruising, and tender lymph nodes.

Severe poisoning can lead to tingling in the scalp, fingers, and toes; muscle contractions; an elevated heart rate; rapid breathing; large drops in body temperature and blood pressure; vomiting of blood; and coma.

Many pit viper and coral snake bites (20–60%) fail to poison (envenomate) their victim, or introduce only a small amount of venom into the victim’s body.

The wounds, however, can still become infected by the harmful microorganisms that snakes carry in their mouths.

Coral snake bites are painful but may be hard to see.

One to seven hours after the bite, a bitten person begins to experience the effects of the venom, which include tingling at the wound site, weakness, nausea, vomiting, excessive salivation, and irrational behavior.

Major nerves of the body can become paralyzed for 6–14 days, causing double vision, difficulty swallowing and speaking, respiratory failure, and other problems.

Six to eight weeks may be needed before normal muscular strength is regained.

JELLYFISH

Jellyfish venom is delivered by barbs called nematocysts, which are located on the creature’s tentacles and penetrate the skin of people who brush up against them. Instantly, painful and itchy red lesions usually result.

The pain can continue up to 48 hours.

Severe cases may lead to skin necrosis, muscle spasms and cramps, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, excessive sweating, and other symptoms.

In rare instances, cardiorespiratory failure may occur.

Source ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References More: Writing Realistic Injuries ⚜ On Anatomy ⚜ Poison ⚜ Fight Scenes Part 1 2

[elegy-if]

For the very first time in years, you’re met with the scent of fresh air. No antiseptic, no lingering smell of blood, still so thick you can practically taste it at just the memory of it. You’re not going back if it kills you. Which it very well might.

DEMO: LINK (UPDATED DECEMBER 8TH, 2023.)

Nemisi is an 18+ modern horror/romance/urban fantasy interactive novel WIP. Play as a customizable MC, who’s on the run from Vicelie Labs.

The struggle between cosmic deities — now worshiped (or abhorred) as gods — tore its way into your planet not long before you were born. Unluckily for you, you were one of the first generations to be born exposed to Excinate, the name given to the radioactive-like sickness that comes from being exposed to magic not of your world. As your symptoms slowly got worse and worse, you were promptly ripped from your family after a doctor’s visit ushered on by your concerned parents. Since then, you’ve been shipped around and transported from facility to facility to be poked and prodded at.

Until now. No, now you’re free.

Aside from that lingering hunger for flesh you’ve had since becoming infected, of course. Just a little side effect from the radiation, along with a mouthful of jagged teeth and a jaw that can unhinge like a snake.

THE CAST:

Refs for RO skin tones can be found here!

Felix (he/she, bigender + bisexual): Curt, blunt, and too tired to deal with this mess, Felix really had no reason to suspect the lab next to gas station he works night shifts at had anything to hide. It’s not like the screams he heard coming from that direction were anything more than some kids messing around late at night, right? Besides, she'd met some of the employees of Vicelie Labs, and aside from the occasional lingering scent of blood, they seemed like just fine people. 

Okay, so maybe she did have a sneaking suspicion something was up. Not like he could do anything about it. Not until you show up, at least, crashing through the gas station door in such a tizzy you’d nearly run into it.

Tall and lanky, Felix often has a scowl spread across her face. He has tawny brown skin, dark brown eyes, and poorly bleached hair with quite a bit of jet black root growth. His hair is styled into a shaggy wolf cut, and of course one can’t forget the shitty stubble she’s refused to shave since it grew in. Felix has a body that might often be described as scrawny, or perhaps even gangly. A strong gust of wind could knock him over. Felix is most often seen in casual clothes; hoodies, band shirts, and jeans make up the majority of her wardrobe. Has several piercings; a bridge, septum, both nostrils, snake bites, and two eyebrow piercings side by side. She stands at 5’11” tall. Felix is trans no matter what. He will always use both he and she pronouns interchangeably. Please do not use they/them to refer to her.

Dr. Eden Neal (gender selectable, M/F/NB): Kind, but awkward. A doctor who didn’t know what they were getting into when applying for a job with Vicelie Labs. Fresh out of med school, the harsh reality of the labs was too much for them. They were assigned to examine you, and though it was hard to trust them at first (and even now) they were essential in your escape. 

While Eden seems to be a kind soul, your bitter side can’t help but wonder if their assistance in your escape was some cruel joke.

Combined with their soft, rounded features, Eden’s dark hair is in long braids, often pulled back out of their face into a ponytail. They have large golden brown eyes with thick eyelashes, and their skin is a deep brown, with a hint of a cool undertone. More soft than muscle, though they still have some tone and definition to their arms and back. It’s not easy work lifting and moving those heavy vats around the lab, after all. Eden is most typically seen in a lab coat, though they lean a bit more business casual once they start meeting up with you for check-ins after your escape. They stand at 5’4”, regardless of gender. Eden is black, with dark skin.

Sable (gender selectable, M/F/NB): A bit of an outcast, Sable is an extremely shy mortician, and one of your (limited) options for getting the flesh you so desperately crave. They spot you sneaking into the morgue one night, half lucid and drunk with the need for blood and flesh on your tongue. They offer to cut a deal with you — they’ll give you all the scraps and leftovers that they can get away with, so long as you give them any information you’ve picked up about the consequences of using cosmic magic. 

Are they seeking power, or just simply curious about the consequences of magic from a biological standpoint?

Sable is one of the tallest RO’s, standing at 6’2” regardless of gender. They have a bright shock of long, curly ginger hair, and their near ghostly pallor is covered in freckles and beauty marks. Most notably, they have beauty marks to the right of their bottom lip, as well as underneath their left eye. They have a long, roman nose with a prominent bridge and blue eyes. Their body is on the heavier side, with a soft stomach and thick thighs. Sable doesn’t dress to impress as they’re mostly surrounded by dead bodies, typically wearing neutral colored slacks and skirts. They occasionally spice things up with an interesting vest or tie, but are much too scared to stand out to do so often. They have circle glasses. Sable is plus size, with a pear shaped figure.

Eris (gender selectable, M/F/NB): A hired killer, and the only other option you have for sating your hunger besides Sable. You meet Eris as you’re hiding away from Vicelie Labs in Eden's apartment, drawn to the smell of blood from them finishing up one of their “contracts” in the apartment next door. It’s a mess of guts and gore, and you can’t stop yourself from indulging. After a moment of awareness, you go to turn tail and run, only to find Eris still there. They have an offer for you — they’ll kill for you, and you can have at their fresh meat. Certainly an offer that’s hard to pass up, considering your current predicament.

Perpetually masked, you’re actually not certain what Eris looks like behind it. From what you can see, they’re very sturdy. All you can see besides their build is their hair, occasionally peeking out from beneath their hood. It falls to Eris’ wide shoulders, and from what you’ve seen is a dark brown. They stand at 6'0" tall, regardless of gender.

???: You’ve only heard of them in passing at the lab — someone who goes after rogue assets, like you. According to Eden, they’re after you, and with a vengeance.

Good luck.

[sanjoongie]

𝔻𝕒𝕪 𝕋𝕨𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕪-𝕆𝕟𝕖: 𝔸𝕡𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕔𝕤/𝕆𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕞

🥀Pairing: Alien! Hunter! Kim Hongjoong x Pilot! Human! Reader (f)

🥀Genre: Smut

🥀Rating: 18+, Minors Do not Interact 

🥀Au: Sci-fi Medley au by the lovely @stardragongalaxy and me, sci fi au, space au, alien au, Alien (ridley scott) au

🥀Trope: established relationship, mated pair

🥀Summary: Hongjoong accidentally scratches you with his poisonous tail, and the results because of your mating and Seonghwa's genetically-spiced saliva, are pleasurable for the both of you

🥀Kinks:  aphrodisiac, overstim, oviposition (alien eggs are in the reader), oral (f), fingering (f), penetrative sex with no barrier

🥀Word Count: 2,063

🥀Betas: @mejuii

🥀Day Twenty: Soft sub-dom/ Roleplay 🥀Mini Masterlist 🥀Day Twenty-Two: Double Penetration

You were lying in your bed with Hongjoong curled around you, when you felt a light prick on your arm. It stirred you out of your sleep to blink blearily at what pulled you from your sleep. Your hand touched your arm first and the feeling of wetness yanked you out of your sleepy state. 

Your hand was covered in some red but gold as well. The only time you had ever seen a gold fluid was when Seonghwa had been grievously injured. Hongjoong’s tail was curled around you, the other half of his body bracing your head on his stomach, in complete protection mode.

“Joong!” You murmured, looking to wake up the alien hunter.

Hongjoong’s eyes snapped open immediately and his eyes narrowed down where your hand was cupping your arm. “Shit,” he cursed.

“Did you sting me?” You said in alarm. “Am I poisoned?”

Hongjoong struggled upwards, but kept you in his arms. “We have the anecdote, don’t worry, I’ll just call for Woo…young..” The words died in his mouth as his nostrils flared and his eyes blew wide open. 

“Hongjoong?”

Hongjoong snarled and growled in the Alien Language and you thought you caught a bit of ‘mate’ and ‘heat’ but it didn’t make sense. Perhaps it was a symptom of being poisoned?

“Should I get Wooyoung?” You prompted him, sweating a little. You felt… different.

Hongjoong carefully, softly pinned you against the bed and whispered. “Why would you need him, darling, when you have me?”

Your nipples tightened suddenly and your lower half became a puddle of wetness. “Wha..what’s happening, Joong?”

Hongjoong swallowed over and over. “My poison transformed into something else when it entered your bloodstream.” His hand wandered over your extended stomach, but it seemed like he was attempting to distract himself.

“Is it harmful to the eggs?” You demanded.

Hongjoong smiled slowly, more of a smirk than anything else. Why did you feel like you were being hunted even though you were already in Hongjoong’s embrace? “Noooooo,” he said, “More like…” Hongjoong grumbled in his native tongue again, “makes you fuckable?”

“Fuckable?” You chewed over the word in an attempt to solve this current puzzle. 

Meanwhile, Hongjoong was whispering to himself how he was going to treat you well. His hands moved lower and when he found how soaking wet you were, he groaned softly. He pushed one finger into you, a few knuckles deep and you moaned at the feeling. You didn’t need any prep? Wait a damn minute…

“Is your poison an aphrodisiac to me?!” You demanded in disbelief.

“Yesssssss,” Hongjoong hissed, “That’s the human word.” Then his head descended and you couldn't see him over your stomach. 

“Ho-hongjoong, wait, explain to me--oh fuck!” You cried out as Hongjoong’s tongue snaked out and licked the slick from your cunt.

“So full you can’t move. So ripe for the picking,” Hongjoong teased.

“Maybe we should get someone else,” You giggled nervously. 

In response, Hongjoong gently bit your thigh with his double row of teeth. “No. You are mine. I am responsible. I will take care of you.”

You weren’t sure if the aphrodisiac was in full force, or if Hongjoong’s bite triggered it, or perhaps even his words, but any hesitation fell away. You felt heavy and hot and you needed release immediately. 

“Joongie,” You whimpered.

“I’ve got you, Sun, don’t worry.” Hongjoong reassured you with his pet name for you. You were like the sun, always pulling others towards you, always with multiple people revolving around you. 

Hongjoong feasted on your lower half. Not being able to see him only added to the stimulation. You pushed yourself up on your elbows so you could see. Hongjoong tended to unhinge his jaw in order to save your skin from his teeth and it was very hot to watch. Instead, Hongjoong pressed you down with the flat of his tail. “Rest. Let me take care of you,” he insisted. 

You clawed at the sheets below you, needing something to hold on to. “Fuck--Joong, your tongue feels so good. Eat me up.”

You felt the press of his teeth on your mound and you squealed at the slight fear-pleasure of Hongjoong eating you. His tongue swirled around your clit, however, almost winding around the swollen piece of flesh. He had you coming in mere minutes, whimpering in happiness but not feeding your need nearly enough. 

Next, he added another finger inside of you and began a scissoring motion to stretch you out. You attempted to buck up into the feeling but you felt the eggs move a bit uncomfortably around in your womb and you whimpered. “Joongie! It’s--!”

Hongjoong languidly slurped up some of your cum with his tongue, teasing your over sensitive clit. “I won’t stop until you say so, Sun.”

There were so many good sensations at once but you didn’t tell him to stop. Your body still felt heavy with lust and you needed more. “Want me to finger fuck you?” Hongjoong crooned softly. 

You nodded, not registering that Hongjoong couldn't quite see you. “Use your words.”

You growled in Xenothian, the word for ‘please’ and Hongjoong’s muffled groans only added to the pleasure he was giving your pussy currently. “It’s hot when you speak my tongue,” he paused to say to you.

Hongjoong’s fingers found the spot inside of you that was sure to have you seeing stars quickly and you cried out. “Hhhnnnnn, so good, feels so good when you fuck me with your fingers,” You said with a coarse voice, “Wanna come again, Joongie, please.”

“You’re driving me wild, Sun,” Hongjoong snarled. “You smell so good, so delicious, so wound up like this. Tell me how much you need me. Only me.”

“Hongjoong,” You whined, “Lick my clitty again while you fuck me with your fingers. Wanna come undone for you. I want you all. I want everything.”

Hongjoong snarled, his tail, albeit carefully, wrapping around your leg possessively. His tongue went to town again, flickering up and down on your clit. You whimpered at the overstimulation but also embraced the warmth it gave you. You could feel the way Hongjoong’s fingers were working in and out of you. Your climax was approaching again.

“Come for me again, Sun. I’ll pleasure you until you can’t take anymore. I’ll take care of you completely,” Hongjoong encouraged you.

Your second climax hit you like a ton of bricks. You gasped and felt like every pore on your body was sweating. You rode the wave of your pleasure for a while, and Hongjoong kept his fingers inside of you, enjoying the feeling of your squishy walls squeezing around them. He let you have a moment to breathe, not wanting to tip the pleasure of overstim too far over the edge.

Eventually he climbed up beside your body and kissed your forehead. “You’re so good for me,” he praised you. “Ready for more?”

You nodded tiredly. “I need more, Joong.”

Hongjoong tenderly helped you move so that you were laying on your side. He began to play with your swollen tits, nipples sensitive and still tight from the aphrodisiac. “I hear that human’s suckle their young from their breasts. But I’ve seen you--” Hongjoong twisted your nipple suddenly and you arched your back for him “--let the others suck on them. Do you like when they lick your nipples, Sun?”

You could sense the trap Hongjoong was slowly winding around you. He was possessive tonight, and wouldn’t tolerate mentions of anyone else other than him. “No, Joongie, I only like when you--” You cried out again, as Hongjoong pulled your nipple outwards, stretching your tits as far as they could go. “--when you play with them.”

“We must be careful with the brood inside of you,” Hongjoong murmured against the skin behind your ear. “But I will fuck you well, Sun, don’t you worry.”

The idea of Hongjoong’s cock inside of you made your body get even more excited. If you could move around, you would have crawled on top of Hongjoong already. But your limited mobility put you at a disadvantage even though it seemed to turn Hongjoong on. 

Hongjoong’s tail wrapped around your leg again, this time to spread your legs, so he could get  a good angle to push himself into you. “Hongjoong, give me a kiss please,” You whimpered.

Hongjoong turned your head and kissed you deeply. His tongue ran over the roof of your mouth and you sighed into the kiss. Kissing Hongjoong was like kissing a cloud sometimes. The softness of the kiss coupled with the harsh way he was tugging and pinching your nipples only lit your body on fire even more. You whined into his mouth and he chuckled. 

“I’ve already given you my tongue and my fingers?” He smirked, “Do you really need my cock inside of you that badly?”

“Please, Hongjoong, please,” You begged, “I don’t think this ends until you come inside of me.”

“Mmm,” Hongjoong hummed against your lips. He gently bit your lower lip and tugged on it. “Isn’t that a nice thought.”

“Hongjoong, I will shout so loudly for San, you know he’s probably got his head pressed up against the wall to listen to us--”

The rest of your words were cut off as Hongjoong thrusted into you with one swift motion. Your breathing sped up and your heart rate increased, and you had never felt so happy being stuffed of someone’s cock in your entire life, at this moment.

“You. Will. Not. Call. For. San.” Each word was punctuated with a careful thrust, cautious of the eggs inside of you. 

You groaned softly. “Joongie!”

“I don’t think I can last very long,” Hongjoong admitted. “I don’t think I’m MEANT to last very long. Something in the coating of your juices. I think it’s a never ending cycle of aphrodisiacs. Oh fuck--” Hongjoong whined, hips rubbing against your ass.

Hongjoong snarled and growled in your ear in Xenothian. You were beyond fucked out at this point and couldn't even focus on the actual contents of what he was saying to you. But you could tell from his tone that he was telling you in all the ways he loved you and was happy that you were in his life, like this. Hongjoong was hesitant to give his heart to you but when he did, he did so wholeheartedly. 

“Scream my name when you come, Sun. I want the whole ship to know exactly who is giving you this pleasure,” Hongjoong commanded in English.

You whined through your third climax. Your lower half throbbed and you almost blacked out from the intense pleasure. Hongjoong came soon after, grunting as he released inside of you. He pulled his cock out of you, letting it rest on your inner thigh and you felt him continue to trickle out onto the skin there. 

“I can't leave myself inside of you,” he admitted, “I'll have to fuck you again. I think we should give you a break.”

The heat your body had felt, the weight of needing sexual release, finally broke and you felt your body relax. You were beyond satisfied and a little thrill ran through you at the thought of everything that had just happened. Hongjoong’s poisonous tail was an aphrodisiac for you; thinking of the other uses for it almost made you excited all over again.

Hongjoong cuddled into your shoulder, pulling you tight against his body. His arms slid over yours and his talons intertwined your fingers. “Thank you, Joongie,” You said to him. “You sure know how to make a girl feel beautiful.”

“I will always do whats best for you and the brood, Sun.” 

***

“What happened here?!” Wooyoung shouted, appearing in your room for his turn to guard you in the morning. “It smells like blood and sex. How dare you leave me out of it!”

“Help me to the bath, Woo,” You beckoned him closer. “I need to clean this wound and--”

Hongjoong snarled lightly when Wooyoung came closer to the bed. “Mine,” he said in Xenothian.

“Mine too,” Wooyoung growled back.

Hongjoong opened one eye but the hand on your breasts tightened, making you whimper. At this point, you could just concede that Hongjoong was going to enjoy overstimulating you to the highest degree no matter what. And you were happy to have him in that regard.

🥀Day Twenty: Soft sub-dom/ Roleplay 🥀Mini Masterlist 🥀Day Twenty-Two: Double Penetration

[odditycircus-2002]

Mortal Kombat 1 Intros Part IV

A/N: I'm a fan of The Boys and have been watching the newest episodes of season 4. Of course, I love to hate Homelander, and it's satisfying to watch fatalities performed on him in Mortal Kombat 1 after watching him perform heinous crap. This led me to watch his intros and then other Mortal Kombat character intros, and inspiration hit! So I hope y'all like this.😁

Oh! And for those of you that are new, the reader here is a Gorgon, meaning snake hair and wears a mask since they can turn people into stone. They also happen to be an Imperial Healer with a bit of a dark side. Hope that helps!😁

Batch I

Batch II

Batch III

Homelander

Y/N: You are not a god. You’re simply, bad product.

Homelander: You’ll be praying to me for mercy soon enough.

/

Y/N: Why should I give you respect when it’ll only go to the bottomless gaping pit of insecurity you call a soul?

Homelander shivers sarcastically: Should I be intimidated by you?

/

Y/N thoughtfully: Perhaps a virus is in order...

Homelander scoffs: A God is above something so insignificant to him.

/

Homelander: What's with the ridiculous mask? Are you trying to cosplay as some D-List Supe?

Y/N: Why don't you take it off and find out?

/

Homelander: Pray to all the “gods” you want, you won’t survive against me.

Y/N: Why assume that I pray to any of them?

/

Homelander incredulously: You actually want to fuck that disgusting freak?!

Y/N with snakes out ready to bite: Unlike you, Baraka doessssn't fill me with revulsion at the sight of him!

Omni-Man

Y/N: One look and this should be over, fast.

Omni-Man: I'll break your neck before you can even get a peek at me.

/

Y/N: Having been betrayed by a cccccharlatan lover before, I know your wife would want you dead.

Omni-Man angrily: You're not her, so your point means nothing.

/

Y/N cautiously: Your medicine could treat Tarkat?

Omni-Man: If you comply and pledge your allegiance to the Empire, all your patients may receive Viltrum care.

/

Omni-Man: You have stupidly condemned your patients to death!

Y/N: I would rather have my heart ripped out than be fooled twiccccce by a charlatan!

/

Omni-Man: Think it over; what will you have serving a diseased ruler and others with her plague for 500 years?

Y/N: I will have no regrets pursuing my lifelong dream.

/

Omni-Man: I'll rip your damn head off in under a minute.

Y/N ominously: Rest assured, this fight will be a real Scourge.

Raiden

Y/N: Are you aware that Madam Bo's special tea is local around my canton?

Raiden: How in the world did she acquire it then?

/

Y/N: I would’ve paid all the koins in Outworld to have seen you absolutely humiliate Shao.

Raiden: I sense you and him never got along.

/

Y/N: I can confidently say that you’re healing up nicely since we fought the Dragon Army.

Raiden: I’m not sure I would’ve survived without your medical care.

/

Raiden: It must be hard being The Colony's lead Healer.

Y/N: Everyone who dies under my care is a blow to my soul.

/

Raiden: Why is there a statue of Kung Lao in the Wu Shi’s Courtyard?

Y/N shrugs: Kung Lao mentioned how he always wanted a statue of himself.

/

Raiden: You’re very different from how your Titan self acts.

Y/N shivers in disgust: I should thank Liu Kang for not having me predestined for Shang Tsung.

/

Raiden: You only have yourself to blame for missing your chance with Y/N.

Shang Tsung chuckles: You say that as if I don’t still have a chance to win them back.

Kung Lao

Y/N: So far, I don’t see any signs of Tarkat but there’s still a chance you could spread it without apparent symptoms.

Kung Lao: You are not putting my mind at ease, at all.

/

Y/N: You’re inviting me? I don’t even know if I’m able to stomach regular food anymore.

Kung Lao: It would be a crime if you didn’t get to try Madam Bo’s cooking at least once!

/

Y/N: How did you not loose any fingers when you first made that hat???

Kung Lao smugly: Through much practice and much skill

/

Kung Lao: I beaten you in our last fight, so what will change here?

Y/N mischievously: This time, I’m not holding back.

/

Kung Lao: Can you believe that the Wu Shi have a trap dungeon?

Y/N hisses in amusement: Who knew the Shaolin were so diabolical?

/

Kung Lao: You and Baraka aren’t a couple???

Y/N sighs wistfully: How I wish that to be true…

/

Baraka: I don’t always understand what Y/N sees in me.

Kung Lao: You definitely have something more than Shang Tsung.

Kenshi

Y/N: I am sorry I couldn't have saved your sight.

Kenshi: You did the best anyone could in that situation.

/

Y/N: What is it like using Sento to see?

Kenshi: It’s like when you stare at a flame and look away, you see the light of the flame even though it’s gone.

/

Y/N: According to Earthrealm myths, the closest to describing my current form is a “Gorgon”.

Kenshi: Perhaps that’s because there have been other gorgons before.

/

Kenshi: I don’t know Y/N, that seems a bit excessive even by the Yakuza’s standards.

Y/N: You and Kitana think a bit of food tampering is too much.

/

Kenshi in surprise: You and Shang Tsung weren’t just lab partners?

Y/N angrily: I was a fool to fall for his charmssss in the first place!

/

Kenshi: Given how you both act around one another, I'm surprised you and Baraka aren't together.

Y/N: I'm grateful to have him in my life.

/

Kenshi: The Colony is fortunate to have you and Y/N.

Baraka: I thank Deliah every day for sending them my way.

[is-the-snake-video-cute]

How come viper bites and elapid bites need different responses to mitigate damage (eg. compression bandages for one but not the other)? Are their venoms’ MOs really that distinct?

The chemical makeup of viper and elapid bites is really just that different.

Viper bites are primarily hemotoxic - they work by attacking cells. What kills you is internal hemorrhage. Elapid bites are primarily neurotoxic - they attack the nervous system. What kills you is usually respiratory paralysis.

You can expect completely different symptoms and different things will make it better or worse. Viper bites will cause swelling, you shouldn't elevate the bite, and compression will likely cause you to lose whatever limb you were bitten on; with elapid bites compression helps and you won't see such massive swelling. It's different enough that what works for elapid bites can be disasterous for viper bites.

If you're bitten by a venomous snake, the best thing you can do is:

Remove any rings, jewelry, tight clothing, etc. around the bite

Keep as still and calm as possible; have other people run to call for an ambulance if you can. Don't elevate the bite even if that helps with the pain, it'll just spread the venom faster.

Do NOT use a compression bandage, it's just not worth it if you're not 100% sure you were bitten by an elapid and not a viper. If you're in Australia, you actually can be certain you were bitten by an elapid, so go nuts with the compression if you know how.

And get to an ER!!!

[spineless-lobster]

In lieu of @motions1ckn3ss ‘s absolutely WONDERFUL essay about ellwood’s relationship with poetry, I’ve been inspired to post my history essay that analyzes the way WWI is shown in In Memoriam! (Strap in this will be long lol)

Nothing Is Worth This: How In Memoriam Portrays WWI

Alice Winn’s debut novel In Memoriam is a hidden gem amongst the growing popularity of historical fiction. Published in 2023, the novel follows the lives of English schoolboys Henry Gaunt and Sidney Ellwood. As the First World War breaks out in 1914, they face two battles; the Western Front and their growing feelings for each other. Together they watch as friends die around them, and as the war changes their lives forever.

The novel explores tumultuous conditions soldiers faced in the trenches, such as mud, poor rations, and gas attacks. Classism, social dynamics during WWI, attitudes towards homosexuality, and trauma are also touched on.

When one thinks of trenches, the first image that comes to mind is likely muddy, rat-infested mazes that snake around a war-torn No Man’s Land. Winn perfectly portrays the horrors of trench warfare throughout the novel, one notable interaction is from a letter Gaunt sends to Ellwood when he reaches the front:

“I throw myself to the ground, and the mud is foul. It’s not like mud, Elly, it’s cursed. It’s– Like everything else, I can’t explain” (Winn, 35).

There is no greater example of the terror of mud in the Western Front than the fields of Passchendaele. In August of 1917, Belgium saw unprecedented amounts of rain which led to treacherous conditions. Bombardier JW Palmer, 26 Brigade Royal Field Artillery, writes in his account:

“It was mud, mud, everywhere: mud in the trenches, mud in front of the trenches, mud behind the trenches. Every shell hole was a sea of filthy oozing mud. I suppose there is a limit to everything but the mud of Passchendaele – to see men keep on sinking into the slime, dying in the slime – I think it absolutely finished me off” (Battersby).

One of the most dreaded side effects of mud was trench foot, an infection that ravaged soldiers. It is caused by prolonged exposure in cold, damp and unsanitary conditions. Symptoms include swelling, numbness, blotchy skin, and if it develops enough, blisters and dying skin tissue (CDC).

When not on the battlefield, men were treated to daily food rations. Rations in the trenches consisted of corned beef, bread, plum and apple jam, tea, whiskey and rum. Water was often disinfected with chlorine and had a chemical aftertaste. The novel discusses food supply on both the British and German sides, and even touches on food shortages throughout the rest of Europe. A scene where Ellwood and Gaunt’s sister, Maud, eat at a cafe details the pitiable amount of butter on their scones. At the front, flies and rats infested everything, eating the men’s rations and spreading disease. British infantryman Victor Silvester wrote in his diary:

“That night I had been asleep in a dugout [for] about three hours when I woke up feeling something biting my hip. I put my hand down and my fingers closed on a big rat. It had nibbled through my haversack, my tunic and pleated kilt to get at my flesh. With a cry of horror I threw it from me.” (Hamilton, 18).

A few passages in the novel are dedicated to the conditions of the food. Often it is writtens in a way that a reader may interpret as gallows humour.

“The flies plagued them, feasting on the dead and then coming to sit amicably on the men’s rations. They got stuck in the jam, which was always plum and apple […] As to apples, the sour, fly-covered substance that they ate with bread at five each evening had as little relation to them as the ‘meat cutlets’ had to meat” (Winn, 91).

“‘D’you want a cup of tea?’

‘Will it taste of disinfectant?’

‘’Fraid so.’

‘Well, better have it all the same’” (Winn, 95).

It is often described that soldiers had two emotions at the front: boredom and terror. One of the harbingers of terror included poison gas. First used at the Second Battle of Ypres on 22 April 1915, the Allies were devastated by the chlorine gas that was unleashed in unprecedented quantities by the Germans.

The British then managed to use gas at the Battle of Loos, prompting both sides to develop protections against gas attacks. These defences started out as cotton pads covering their mouths, soaked in chemicals–or in desperate situations, urine–and goggles to protect their eyes. Throughout the war the makeshift masks developed into more sophisticated gas masks.

The brutality of poison gas in warfare was so acute that it was outlawed by the Geneva Protocol in 1925. Just ten years after its initial use. Renowned poet Wilfred Owen captures the trauma of gas in his famous poem Dulce Et Decorum Est.

“Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling/Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,/But someone still was yelling out and stumbling/And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.—/Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,/As under a green sea, I saw him drowning” (Owen, 9-14).

A similarly moving passage is found within the novel, when Gaunt is faced with Algerian soldiers fleeing from gas at Ypres.

“More Algerians came flooding by. Some were only choking, but others were coughing up scrambled bits of lung, their lungs were melting inside them and drowning them” (Winn, 75).

Gaunt continues to reflect on the effect colonialism has on war and the useless attempts to try and make war ‘civilised’ by using laws such as the Hague Convention, which are so easily ignored.

“We swarmed through Africa and America because we were better than they, of course we were, we were making war humane, and now it has broken down and they are dragged into hell with us. We have doomed the world with our advancements, with our democracy that is so much better than whatever they thought of, with our technology that will so improve their lives, and now Algerian men must choke to death on their own melted insides in wet Belgian trenches” (Winn, 75).

Empires such as Britain invaded countless countries, stealing their resources and enslaving people. They exploited those countries so they had to rely on their economy, and used it to justify their ownership. All because they believed that they were more civilised than everyone else; despite the ungodly circumstances modern warfare put soldiers in.

Winn captures the grime, fear and misery that comes with living in the trenches. From vivid descriptions of shellfire and gas, to the bland and occasionally humorous details regarding a soldier’s diet. Undoubtedly, one can imagine themselves slogging through the muddied land of war-torn Belgium with each turn of a page.

Moreover, one theme that is prevalently explored throughout the novel is classism and how it affects soldiers during the war. Gaunt and Ellwood come from privileged backgrounds, going to a public school called Preshute and immediately receiving their commission when they enlisted. When writing to Gaunt, Ellwood discussed how he was even able to choose his own regiment.

“When we next meet I shall be a second lieutenant in the Royal Kennet Fusiliers, Third Battalion. I’m glad I was able to pick my regiment! (It’s all about who you know)” (Winn, 80).

Having connections with the higher class means receiving certain privileges that others don’t have access to. Officers frequented the same upper class social circles, due to there being so few prestigious universities in England. Favours for friends or family members was extremely common and gave commissioned officers opportunities that weren’t available to the working class.

By contrast, they meet a fellow junior officer Lieutenant David Hayes, who did not come from a rich background. Throughout the book his uniform is described as poorly fitting, due to his inability to afford a proper tailor. Hayes quickly becomes friends with Gaunt but is wary of Ellwood, the stark contrast between their socioeconomic positions leading to a strained relationship.

“‘I say, is it really true he was a factory worker before all this?’

‘He’s awfully sharp, isn’t he?’

‘Do you think he’d take offence if I recommended him a new tailor?’

‘Yes,’ said Ellwood, flatly” (Winn, 269).

“‘Said it’s a stone ginger.’

‘...Translate,” Gaunt said to Hayes, as they climbed into the train carriage. Hayes understood Cockney and trench slang far better than the public school officers did” (Winn, 120).

“I’ve been made captain. Seems a well-tailored uniform and the right accent make me a better candidate than Hayes, despite his years of experience” (Winn, 77).

Additionally, Gaunt writes in a letter that one of their schoolmates would hypothetically refer to Hayes as a “temporary gentleman.” This phrase was used throughout WWI and continued into the interwar period and WWII. The phrase refers to non-commissioned officers who gained a temporary commission for the duration of the war, especially if they came from outside the upper class.

“He’s what someone like Burgoyne would call a ‘temporary gentleman’ (disgusting term), that is to say, he was a factory worker in Lewisham before he joined the War” (Winn, 40).

Gaunt continues further, noting that lower-class officers related more to the men, and were more effective on the battlefield. While both Gaunt and Ellwood know that Hayes is a more than capable officer, Hayes recognizes that due to his class, it is unlikely he will ever be promoted to captain.

Life in the trenches caused a mixing of race, class, religions, etc. Before the war, commissioned officers were upperclassmen who were educated in public schools and universities, sometimes coming from previous military backgrounds. The ideal “officer material” of the time was more akin to the “perfect gentleman” than a skilled soldier. When the war started, junior officers had an extremely high mortality rate. Officer training schools could not keep up with the demand, so soldiers and NCOs were promoted and received commissions (Root, 3-4).

English poet Robert Graves wrote about his wartime experiences in his autobiography Goodbye To All That. He details that certain social manners and behaviours among officers were more relaxed than in civilian life. Graves was also an instructor at an Officer Cadet Battalion in 1916, in order to train new officers. All recruits were treated and trained equally, and though he disparages that many men lacked the proper manners; he understands that this new way of training was considerably more effective (Root, 5).

“Their greater efficiency in action amply compensated for their deficiency in

manners” (Root, 5).

Another famous war poet from the time, Siegfried Sassoon, had a similar view. However, he held greater scorn for the lower class officers. In May of 1916 he wrote in his diary:

“Of all the officers having dinner, I saw no face with any touch of distinction in it. They were either utterly commonplace or self-satisfied, or else tired-looking, feeble, goggle-eyed, or otherwise deficient. Why does one see so few proper-looking officers?” (Root, 6).

But he also found that some commissioned officers had acute character flaws. Such as an interaction he had with an officer who was constantly drunk and “quite irresponsible and not trustworthy.” Thus, we can see how life on the frontline can blur the lines between classes. Men judged each other on their personal merit rather than their alma mater.

With much more relaxed ideas of social responsibility being so prevalent amongst soldiers, it allowed for more men to engage in relationships that were heavily frowned upon at the time.

In Memoriam is a love story first. Gaunt and Ellwood spend a large amount of the novel pining for one another, understanding the great amount of risk that comes with pursuing such a relationship. Ellwood is more outwards with his homosexuality, he is revered throughout the school and is able to get away with more risky behaviours. This is opposed to Gaunt who keeps any sort of interaction of that nature a secret. The politics of homosexuality in public schools at the time are explored in the novel and are indeed quite interesting, but it differs from attitudes in the trenches.

During the early 1900s, homosexuality was at the forefront of moral panic. Public trials from previous years such as that of Oscar Wilde and the Eulenburg Affair brought a topic that was usually brushed aside into the spotlight. Homosexuality was punished with jail time and years of hard labour under the Gross Indecency Law. Alongside that was social discrimination and the loss of reputation amongst family and loved ones.

In the late 1800s, Germany had a large scandal known as the Eulenburg Affair. Members of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s cabinet were outed for being gay, resulting in several trials and court-martials. As a result of this public scandal, the British found homosexual acts to be ‘unpatriotic’ and associated with German sympathies (McGhee).

Within the British army, punishments for homosexuality included court martialing, loss of rank, and imprisonment. “Cashiering” was a humiliation ritual that was performed when an officer was dismissed for scandalous misconduct. It involved ripping off insignias, badges and other symbols in front of other officers (Bronskill). This concern is portrayed in the novel by characters such as John Maitland, who warns Gaunt about his letters between Ellwood, and Hayes who warns Ellwood about his behaviour with a lower ranking soldier.

“‘Shut up. I’m not reporting you. I’m trying to help. Can’t you see that if you let Sidney write this sort of letter, you’ll get him imprisoned?’” (Winn, 66).

“‘Do you know what would happen if someone caught you and him? They’d say he assaulted you. That it was all his fault. He’d be court-martialed and shot so fast for daring to besmirch his precious public school captain—’ Ellwood stared at Hayes. It hadn’t occurred to him, any of it” (Winn, 192-3).

Despite all of this, the trenches fostered a culture of male affection that was able to be masked within the realm of hyper-masculinity and the guise of being bonded by war. Figures such as Robert Graves, Siegfried Sassoon (who were the inspirations for Gaunt and Ellwood), E.M. Forster, Ethel Mary Smyth and Wilfred Owen all served in WWI and are widely understood to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Attitudes towards homosexuality on the front varied. In rare cases some men were able to come out to their comrades, being met with acceptance. But generally it was frowned upon.

The very foundation of an effective army is camaraderie, and when men are facing constant traumas together a kind of brotherhood is formed. These homosocial behaviours allowed for more physically affectionate relationships. Even heterosexual men found these special friendships to be a relief from the stresses of war.

“Thomas Kühne has argued, men celebrated the “softer” side of comradeship, including bonds of love and friendship that sustained them in the other-worldly environment of the trenches” (Crouthamel).

Within these bonds, homosexual men were able to find an avenue for building lasting romantic and sexual relationships with other men under the guise of it being platonic. The novel delves into these kinds of relationships in passages such as a scene in the officer’s train carriage. We see it again in a discussion between Gaunt and Ellwood about using a sexual relationship to distract them from the war.

“Ellwood’s head drooped onto Gaunt’s shoulder. Gaunt stiffened, but when he looked around the carriage, he saw that the other officers were all in physical contact with one another. Huxton had his feet in Hayes’ lap. Hayes rested his head against the arm of an officer from C Company. Men sprawled all over each other. In the hyper-masculine atmosphere of war, they were not overly concerned with manliness” (Winn, 120).

“‘Did it help you forget about the War?’ pressed Ellwood. Gaunt nodded once, jerkily.

‘Well, then.’

‘And after the War? asked Gaunt.

‘It’ll be as if it never happened. I promise.’

‘You promise, do you?’

‘Yes. It doesn’t mean anything, Henry. Only that we want to forget things, once in a while” (Winn, 108).

Letters were another way for men to bond with one another, though it was a hazardous form of communication. Officers would read through letters and censor them before they were sent. If any illegal actions were mentioned the sender or recipient was at risk of being reported. Wilfred Owen’s letter to his cousin in 1918 reflects this anxiety:

“There are two French girls in my billet…Naturally I talk to them a good deal; so much so that the jealousy of other officers resulted in a Subalterns' Court Martial being held on me! The dramatic irony was too killing, considering certain other things, not possible to tell in a letter” (The Week).

A particularly striking scene in In Memoriam touches on this topic.

“He lifted the cover and looked at the first sheet of paper, instantly recognizing Gaunt’s neat blue handwriting: My dearest, darling Sidney,” (Winn, 189).

After the war, Germany had a spark in their gay rights movement. Many men felt that they had fought the war for nothing, with gay men knowing that they fought for a country that did not allow them rights as citizens (Marhoefer). Men used their military service as a reason to be accepted into society, showing it as proof of their patriotism and dedication to their country.

Magnus Hirschfeld opened his Institut für Sexualwissenschaft (Institute for Sexual Science), which pushed for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and was one of the pioneers of gender-affirming surgery. The Scientific Humanitarian Committee was one of the leading gay rights groups in the world during that time. This progress continued throughout the interwar period, with Weimar Germany becoming a hotspot for LGBTQ+ individuals. Berlin’s nightlife thrived with gay clubs before the Nazi party rose to power.

Near the end of the novel, Gaunt’s sister Maud explains how she is moving to Berlin to study at the Scientific Humanitarian Committee and encourages Gaunt and Ellwood to visit. She even mentions Paragraph 175, which was a law criminalising homosexuality in Germany. Paragraph 175 wouldn’t be abolished until 1994.

“The Weimar Republic is more open to progress than the governments of Englnd and France. I know you miss Europe. I hope you miss me. I cannot say whether Paragraph 175 will be revoked this year, or this decade, but I can tell you that there is a world for you and Sidney here. There has never been a movement like this before” (Winn, 371).

As previously mentioned, men used close intimate connections to deal with the trauma of war, but the rest of the world was less kind to those relationships. Similarly, those struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder also faced social ridicule. PTSD, formerly known by many names such as shellshock, war neurosis and combat fatigue, was seen as a new phenomenon amongst men returning from war. Despite this view, soldiers from across history had suffered from the psychological effects of warfare. About 80 000 British soldiers suffered from shellshock after the First World War. There is a wide variety of symptoms but prominent ones include tremors, nightmares, insomnia, anxiety, flashbacks, amnesia and paralysis (Jewell). The effects of trauma are heavily explored in the novel, with Gaunt suffering from vivid nightmares and insomnia and Ellwood undergoing a complete change in personality after the war.

“Gaunt never seemed to sleep. Sometimes Ellwood would return to the dugout to find him lying on his wire bench, candlelight glinting in his bloodshot eyes” (Winn, 93).

“Ellwood did not say anything. He could not explain why that drop of blood on his mother’s finger had so appalled him, when he had seen West’s brain pulse with his last heartbeats and felt nothing except dispassionate curiosity” (Winn, 181).

Charles Myers, one of the first to write about shellshock, theorised that exposure to explosive blasts caused a form of brain trauma that aligned with the symptoms. After various tests, his ideas were disproven. As PTSD became less linked with physical injury, it became closer associated with cowardice (McDonald et al.).

At the time, a large ideal men strived for, especially amongst the upper class, was fulfilling the idea of bravery. The widows of men who were executed for cowardice often weren’t financially compensated. The ideal soldier at the time was one who would fight ‘for King and Country’ and a large amount of shame was put on those who, quite naturally, fled during the line of fire.

Cowardice is shown on multiple occasions in the novel. One officer by the name of Carrington suffers from severe PTSD, being shown screaming in the faces of other soldiers and having bouts of paralysis. He’s ashamed of his unwanted behaviour and confesses to Ellwood through tears about his cowardice.

“Ellwood threatened to shoot him if he didn’t get up. Carringon tried and collapsed again. Ellwood trained his pistol at his head.

‘You’d better do it.’ said Carrington. ‘I’m a dreadful coward. I know I am.’

[...]

‘There’s nothing wrong with his legs, he just wants to go home!’

‘I do,’ said Carrington, miserably. ‘I do want to go home. I know that’s shameful.’

[...]

Carrington was taken away, whispering ‘I’m a dreadful coward!’ in between spasms” (Winn, 187).

“Don’t know if you heard that Lantham was shot by firing squad. Anyone could see he had neurasthenia; it’s a scandal, but he didn’t go over the top on July 1st, so General Haig signed off” (Winn, 323).

Due to misconceptions at the time, doctors tried many different ineffective and harmful treatments for shellshock. One famous treatment is electroshock therapy. Electroshock therapy was used for a variety of mental disorders throughout the 20th century. Painful electric shocks were administered to the head and neck, in hopes of treating symptoms. These treatments were undergone without any anaesthetic, and often it did not relieve all of the symptoms (McDonald et al.).

Today we have electroconvulsive therapy, which uses controlled shocks on certain parts of the brain to induce seizures in order to treat mental illnesses such as severe depression and bipolar disorder (Psychiatry.org). These treatments are done under anaesthetic and in controlled environments, with studies proving it to be effective.

More often than not, soldiers would self-medicate their symptoms, leading to alcoholism and substance abuse. Alcohol was already offered to soldiers, and drugs such as morphine and cocaine were used during treatments or to boost morale and performance (Kamieński).

“‘Bring out the whiskey,’ said Gaunt, as he did at every meal. Daniels twisted his hands.

‘There’s only one more bottle, sir.’

‘What’s happened to them all? Have you been at them?’

‘No, sir! There were seven, and six have been drunk, sir.’

‘By whom?’ demanded Gaunt.

‘Well, sir, there was the one you had on our first day, and two the day Lieutenant Ellwood arrived—’

‘All right, all right, no need to enumerate them like crimes. Fetch the last one, and we’ll have rum tomorrow.’

‘Yes, sir.’ Daniels hurried away” (Winn, 93-94).

Luckily, not all treatments were dangerous or ineffective. An army physician by the name of Arthur Hurst developed talking therapies after the war. His treatments included using films and simulations to reconstruct soldier’s experiences in order to talk them through the traumatic memories. His treatments boasted vastly higher success rates and his focus on treating cognitive and behavioural symptoms was the blueprint for modern PTSD therapy (Butterworth).

In the modern day, there are many effective treatments for PTSD and trauma, but there is still an underlying stigma that prevents people from seeking out proper care for their mental health.

Although In Memoriam is a fictional retelling of real historical events, there is no doubt that Winn put extensive amounts of research into her novel. Her vivid writing style captures the inhumanity of the First World War and its effects on the psyche of characters and the greater world around them. The novel shows us the love between friends, comrades, family and lovers while tackling topics such as classism, trauma, and LGBTQ+ rights through the lense of our schoolboy protagonists; giving us a glimpse into history while telling a compelling story of love, death, and heartbreak.

Works Cited

“An army marches on its stomach.” National Army Museum.

Battersby, Eileen. “Passchendaele: A killing field of mud – The Irish Times.” The Irish Times.

Bronskill, Jim. “WWI: Study details punishment for soldiers' sexuality.” CTV News.

Butterworth, Benjamin Russell. “What World War I taught us about PTSD.” The Conversation.

McGhee, Beth. “Homosexuality in the First World War - WW1 East Sussex.” East Sussex WW1.

Crouthamel, Jason. “Sexuality, Sexual Relations, Homosexuality | International Encyclopedia of the First World War (WW1).” International Encyclopedia of the First World War.

Dwyer, Kassandre. “Trench Warfare in World War I: Rot, Rats, Ruin.” The Collector.

Freedman, Russell. The War To End All Wars: World War I. Clarion Books, 2010.

Hamilton, John. Trench Fighting Of World War I. ABDO & Daughters, 2004.

Kamieński, Łukasz. “Drugs | International Encyclopedia of the First World War (WW1).” International Encyclopedia of the First World War.

Marhoefer, Laurie. “How WWI Sparked the Gay Rights Movement.” Smithsonian Magazine.

McDonald, MaryCatherine, et al. “From shell-shock to PTSD, a century of invisible war trauma.” The Conversation.

Owen, Wilfred, et al. “Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen.” Poetry Foundation.

“Psychiatry.org - What is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)?” American Psychiatric Association.

Root, Laura. “Temporary Gentlemen” on the Western Front: Class Consciousness and the British Army Officer, 1914-1918.” UNF Digital Commons.

“Second Battle of Ypres 22 April – 25 May 1915.” Imperial War Museums.

“The secret history of the gay soldiers who served in the First World War.” The Week.

“Trench Foot or Immersion Foot|Natural Disasters and Severe Weather.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Washington, Nicole. “Shell Shock and PTSD: Connections, Symptoms, Support, More.” Healthline.

Winn, Alice. In Memoriam: A Novel. Alfred A. Knopf, 2023.

[tadpolesonalgae]

Friday 13th: A collection of Sneak Peeks!

So, since it's Friday 13th I feel it's appropriate to share snippets from some of the fics I've completed and am working on for the spooky season! I'll be posting a few as the night progresses, so keep an eye out if you're interested to see what's in store! <3

First up is the Naga!Eris x reader piece I'm working on! I hope you enjoy!

Warnings: monsterfcking, naga!Eris is dual wielding, monster cum possesses aphrodisiac qualities, suggested somnophilia

Dividers used are made by the lovely @throneofsapphics 🧡💛

“You want me to ask you for it? Is that what you want?” You’re pleased with the snappiness of your voice. Eris’ eyes gleam with hunger, snaking closer, the head of his cock almost slipping inside of you and it’s a feat of pure spite that keeps you from bucking your hips to get him deeper, fighting off the aphrodisiac that’s already sunk its claws so deep. You incline your chin, desire bubbling away in the pit of your tummy, so desperate for him to stuff you full again. “Make me.” 

Eris’ pupils nearly swallow his irises with hunger, then a deep-throated laugh is rolling from his chest, breathless and lined with strain. His serpentine tongue flickers out once before he’s pulling back, enough for you to desperately bite down on a whine. “Alright,” he muses, rough-voiced, “if that’s what you want. I can do that.” 

You yelp in surprise when he twists you around, so you’re now spread out on top of him, thighs straddling his powerful serpentine body. 

A heady rush of pleasure goes straight to your cunt, finding the view of being seated atop such a terrifying creature a power trip all on its own. He’s massive. Probably eight times your height, from head to tail. 

Eris holds you atop him, and there’s the teasing press of him between your thighs, his tip just nudging at your entrance. “It’s only going to get worse for you,” Eris reminds with a cocky smirk, keeping you suspended just out of reach of what you need, perched on the very tip of his cock, the second, thicker one lying flat against his stomach, a definite swell at his base. He’s not allowing you to feel even an ounce of relief. What have you gotten yourself into? You’d thought asking him to make you would result in Eris pounding you into the bedspread, but instead it seems you’ve started a challenge you have no chance of winning. How are you supposed to outlast him? 

As if he can read your mind he grins. “I can’t imagine how you’ll cope once the symptoms start presenting. Heightened sensitivity; influx of arousal fluid; increase in temperature…” He laughs, eyes glinting. “You’ll be begging me to fit both into your poor cunt, if you aren’t too careful.” His lips curve and his tail rattles, tongue flickering out in that menacing way of his. Eris’ eyes darken, grip tightening, voice softening to a whisper as he croons, “If you ask sweetly enough, I might even give you a break when you pass out.”

[clydesavage-thefox147]

So...I loved the new Asides short. A lot to love actually. But, Now that it is confirmed that Janus is cold blooded...this just makes you realize the hell he goes through with that.

If you're not aware, cold blooded means that one can not regulate their body temperature properly or can't produce their own body heat. So, that means Janus can't.

Reptiles must be kept between 75-80 degrees fahrenheit to be content to the highest 90-92. Anything higher than 92 is too hot. When a snake gets hot, it can get heat stroke like us, however in severe cases, it can cause them to seize and unintentionally kill themselves in the process. Florida is notorious for hot and humid climates, warm and humid is ideal for a snake but anything too heated is deadly.

On the flip side, if a snake gets too cold, below 70 degrees, it will start to enter what is called "Brumation" which is kinda like hibernation but different. During Brumation, a reptile's(or amphibian or fish) body systems will start to slow down resulting in slow moments and lethargy. They do not eat, only drink, seeing as their digestive system will slow or shut down completely. Snakes specifically choose to burrow underground or find confined spaces for any warmth they can find. If it drops below freezing, so 32 or lower, this can cause them to freeze to death. But Brumation is practically like living death, slowing down so much that not all reptiles make it out alive. However, the ones that do, have the benefit of higher fertility, better breeding success and better egg clutches....so I'm guessing Janus would be very hungry and horny after winter XD.

However, cold weather is one of the leading causes of respiratory infection in reptiles. Snakes are known for getting these. Symptoms can include nasal discharge, mouth breathing, wheezing or gargled breath, drooling or frothing at the mouth, vomiting or regurgitation, coughing, sneezing etc. If the drool or froth is not cleaned from the snake's mouth in time, it will cause it to rot off. So, if Janus got COVID, he would be screwed.

So, looking at Roman's gift, it's pretty thoughtful in the sense of "Here so you don't freeze to death, I'm not that sadistic" And Janus was kinda taken back. Like, he is aware of what he goes through and is shocked that Roman even cared to do that bit of research for the gift to get.

He was so taken back that he even felt sorry for being a bit too outlandish even if he was drunk. Which, with him saying he was having an "unhinged jaw"(which further shows he can do that), it means he's more truthful when he's under the influence. So, that means that this "cold blooded" admittance is true. Is Janus ashamed of this to the point he looks upset? Or is it genuine shock from Roman's gift coming from a thoughtful place of consideration?(even if Roman said he did it begrudgingly).

In a past post, I said that Janus could have a lot of interesting and compelling things about his genetic differences that would make for pretty neat moments. I'm glad we're getting more information about the "snake" behind the "snake man" and what he really deals with being this way. But, I feel sorry for him that he has to deal with it on a routine basic. It must be tough but he is self care so, he hopefully does his best. There's so much more yet to be confirmed about him that I hope one day will in some way but even if not, it's still a cool and intriguing thing of how a snake-human hybrid would function.

But so far, it's confirmed he's cold blooded, he sheds and he hisses with drawn out S's. (It was confirmed he sheds in a past Livestream, but he was very embarrassed by it).

Now...onto that alcohol addiction. Snakes can't consume ethanol, it actually burns their mouths and throats. It's so effective against them that it helped in relinquishing them from bites. They also don't like the smell. Like with us humans, snakes can contract liver damage from alcohol. In ancient belief however, snakes drowned in wine and left to ferment in it was beneficial to health or was believed to be. But, rubbing alcohol is deadly toxic to snakes, so much so it can dry them out, penetrating deep beneath the scales. Snakes can get accidentally drunk from eating fermented berries in the wild so, Janus's consumption of wine makes sense, however it's hurtful to him potentially. Alcohol can also be an appetite suppressor which if he drinks it routinely, no wonder we have only seen him eat cake and half a sandwich, which is not healthy enough for him. If his main consumption is wine, that is risk of overdose and drunkorexia. I know snakes can go without eating for a while but still. But, in conclusion, Janus is an unhealthy alcoholic. As much as it's funny seeing him drunk, it's shocking in the fact that he's actively hurting himself in the process if that's the case.

Anyway, I can go on and on about snakes all day but that's a future thing. Thanks to Janus, I know so much possibly useless snake information lol.

[vandaliatraveler]

I suppose if any wildflower can be said to embody the bounty and energy of summer, it must be black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa, or Actaea racemosa). Anyone who has grown up in Central Appalachia will instantly recognize and connect with the towering "fairy candles" of this woods-dwelling perennial in the buttercup family - some might even suggest a spiritual bond exists between the people of the mountains and the plant. This isn't surprising - black cohosh has a long and storied history as a medicinal herb, dating back to the Native American tribes, who used an extract from its root to treat everything from musculoskeletal pain to snake bites, and continuing with the European settlers, who used it to treat the symptoms of menopause. While there is little evidence from clinical trials indicating the plant's efficacy in treating menopausal symptoms, higher quality studies are being urged and may yet prove the plant's value in supporting female reproductive health. Irrespective of its potential contributions to medicine, black cohosh is the living spirit of Appalachia's summer woods, and one of the most spectacular wildflowers of North America.

[strixcattus]

Assorted Venomous Noodles

...wow that looks empty with all the names hidden. It's not actually much better with them there—snakes don't tend to take up much room. You can try to guess which is which, and I'll try to figure out what to say about a bunch of snakes with short descriptions. I don't... get snakes, so they'll probably be pretty spare.

The Mlegtugwam

The Mlegtugwam is a kind of snake found mainly in crevices in cliff faces throughout most of Europe. There are several species of Mlegtugwam, each with its own range, though they all look very similar, with slate-grey scales, and most of them have a dashed or solid line down the middle of their back. They are venomous, but do not bite unless physically grabbed or trapped in the open, as they much prefer to hide in crevices when they feel threatened.

The Girtranaeg

The Girtranaeg is a snake found in the Valdivian forests in South America. It has pale green iridescent scales, and it kills its prey through constriction.

The Hrukgolklo

The Hrukgolklo is a two-headed snake found in Mexico. It can be distinguished by the unique coloration of its scales—bright white and dark red stripes, with thin gold bands between them. It is not venomous enough to pose a threat to humans, and on top of this is slow to bite unless it has been injured.

The Thagolgrom, Shabalrang, Tafmiwukri, Krefemklog, and Nrogklongo

The Thagolgrom, Shabalrang, Tafmiwukri, Krefemklog, and Nrogklongo are five different species of asp who together range from southern Europe to India to northern Africa. Though each is found in a different area, each range overlaps with at least two others, which causes great confusion due to the similarity of their appearances.

It is crucial to be able to tell them apart, however, as all of them are highly venomous and aggressive, and treatment must be specific to the snake. While each venom has distinctly different effects on the body, it is inadvisable to identify them in this way, as at the point they become distinct, not only is the victim likely to be in incredible pain, but their chances of survival are extremely low even if treated as soon as the symptoms become apparent.

The Kraehozdim

The Kraehozdim is a snake found in Italy. It is large, with black scales and a sandy-colored belly, and it tends to make its home in fields and pastures. It kills via constriction, and has been known to target livestock.

The Samgleshti

The Samgleshti is a snake found in the deserts of Africa. It is the color of sand, in which it buries itself partially for camouflage, waiting for prey to draw near. It can easily be identified by the four horn-like protrusions on its head—one at the tip of its nose, one between its eyes, and two ridges on the sides of its snout.

The Zriggwanto

The Zriggwanto is a flying snake found in forests in Great Britain, particularly Wales, with grey scales. It is venomous, but rarely attacks humans.

The Kramlengga

The Kramlengga is a flying snake found in the Arabian peninsula. It is white, and has an unusual method of flattening its body to an even greater extreme than other flying snakes, and twisting it in midair.

The Galwinglik

The Galwinglik is a small snake found everywhere from the southern United States to Brazil. It is rather unassuming and a solid blue-black in color, and it is generally very reclusive. Its venom is very strong and causes excruciating pain and slow paralysis.

The Yeakindra

The Yeakindra is a small snake found throughout most of East and Southeast Asia. It is a mottled brown in color, lending it excellent camouflage in soil or leaves, and its venom is so strong that most bitten by it do not survive long enough to be treated.

[bonefall]

(Snake related ask!)

If a cat died of an adder bite then how would it take for them to die?

My Autistic brain is trying puzzle out The Mystery That Is Snakes lol.

5 - 7 days! Frecklewish's death was actually, I have to give it credit, very accurate!

...........if they'd correctly described A FUCKING ADDER

BECAUSE THE SNAKE THAT BITES HER IS GREEN, they call it an adder but they said its color is "dark green". So, you know, there just happens to be a wild Boomslang in England, Australian fans stay winnin'

But the symptoms she's displaying are perfectly accurate to an untreated adder bite

She is bitten on the face, which would cause painful swelling

That describes how she's "blinded" very well, with Bloomheart being mistaken that they could "wash the venom out."

Her "foaming at the mouth" is not actually in the book, from what I remember

Because she was bitten in the face, that wasn't direct envenomation to a major artery. She would have died over several days or had a good chance of survival

She leaped at Mapleshade and landed in a snakehole, which is exactly the kind of situation where an adder would lunge to bite

When trying to understand snakes, it helps to remember that the venom of every snake is unique, with different potency and way of killing. This is because snake venom's purpose is to kill its prey as quickly as possible so it doesn't hurt the hunter. Venom is a perfect concoction to quickly neutralize specific animals.

So you get some quirks with snakes of various species where "1 drop of venom can kill 10000 elephants immediately no miss," because the animal they're hunting is evolving resistance to THAT SPECIFIC TYPE of venom, forcing them to use deadlier and deadlier strains! Most venomous snakes aren't in a Tom and Jerry ass evolutionary arms race with one particular animal that Won't Fucking Die.

And Vipera Berus is a good example of that. It's the only venomous snake that can live in the arctic circle, and it eats all sorts of small animals that die fast when bitten. That venom wasn't meant to kill cats or dogs, just be painful enough that they would leave the Adder alone.

[miracles-and-butterflies]

In chosen family au, were the deaths of the girls the same as in reincarnation?

Mirabel and Isabela are the same. Their deaths were decided from the start and always remained the same.

Dolores and Luisa have changed over the course of developing the AU.

Dolores was always in the vain of pregnancy complications - flicking back and forth between miscarriage or childbirth, keeping the child alive or not, having her live a little longer and having some children prior her death. Here, she died in childbirth with a son (who lived). She didn’t name him (she was too unwell), but she did hold him before her death.

Luisa switched between various deaths. She was originally going to die of an illness, but I felt it made her too similar to Isabela and/or Dolores, especially as far as symptoms in reincarnation. Also, it didn’t explain why she didn’t get help in time. So I changed it to something more quick, like an animal bite. In this specific AU, she was bitten by a venomous creature… only it wasn’t a snake, but a spider. Insert Spiderman joke here.

[3rdeyeblaque]

FREE select herbs or crystals for the first 25 orders of The 2024 Hoodoo's Calendar 🤗 🌟 DM for Link & Password 🌟

These are flora & crystals that I hold dear and use in my own workings/medicines that I am lovingly parting ways with as a small blessing from me to you to carry with you into the new calendar year. Use them for rootwork, planting, teas, etc. So, I hope you love them!

They are as follows (from top left to bottom right):

- Fenugreek seeds (organic) - for money work & grounding + promotes lactation & aids in childbirth

- Rue leaf/sticks - for heavy [self] protection, clearing [exorcism], & healing work + induce menses & eases bruising/sprains

- Lavender buds - for clearing, love & peace work [in all relationships], and for calm/soothing rest & dreaming + eases insomnia, depression, & anxiety

- Dandelion leaf - for healing, protection, & clearing work, and for wishes granted + stomach aches

- Yellow Mustard seeds - for luck & protection work; keep trouble/unwanted energy away + clears lung congestion & supports digestion

- Poke Root berries - for heavy uncrossing work + supports breast health & eases PMS symptoms

- Black Snakeroot (aka Cohosh) - for heavy [home] protection, healing, & uncrossing work + ease PMS symptoms & heal snake bites

- Assortment of crystal shards (amethyst, garnet, & rose quartz)

The herbs will come in sealed pouches. The crystals will come in vials. All of which are to be cleared and solar-charged.

For whichever gift you receive, be sure to pray/speak/breath over them; speak life into their spirit, awaken them to your intentions, & forge the bond necessary for potency and purpose.

🌟 Link & Password in Newsletter & DM 🌟

<< Be sure to subscribe to the e-newsletter for the latest updates & exclusive content access>>

[herbgroom]

I don't know if it was ever discussed before but after a bit of research daniil's coat reminds me of the halys pit viper/gloydius halys snake!

it is a venomous snake found in siberia, from the east of the urals, all the way to china

its diet consists of lizards, frogs, rodents, small snakes and small birds, it is diurnal and can be found on rocky mountain slopes, plateaus, and plains

its bite is pretty powerful, and if bitten, one can expect symptoms such as swelling, blistering, low blood pressure, severe tissue necrosis, shock, mild paralysis, and renal damage

not a fun creature to be around, I'd say (fitting)

[frogsmulder]

When the Ice Melts

Chapter 2/4, prev chapter

What if all the sexual tension in that Ice scene was for a reason? Mulder and Scully hook up before Mulder is locked up in storage, and she comes to believe that he was infected; 1.5k words; rated e; tagging @today-in-fic

Read on AO3

Scully slowly comes to with the sense that something is different–out of place. Rubbing her eyes, she eventually sits up on one elbow. Mulder is nowhere to be seen. She hesitates, clinging closely to the warm comforter but a cold dread slicks down her spine, settling uneasily in her stomach.

"Mulder?" She calls out in a raspy voice. His name sounds so different now, irrational though it may be; the ghost of it tangled in her whimpers and moans makes her blush to even whisper it like it's simultaneously sacred and profane. The heat of arousal and embarrassment rise through her body from her core, reminding her of the wanton ache that resides there. She snakes her hand down her body to cup the feeling. Eyes closed, she bites her lip, aware that there is no returning from this. She allows herself a moment to grieve the future that could have been as a smile overcomes her with the urge to find Mulder.

Her discarded clothes were still at the bottom of the bed and she hastily throws them on. Making her way over to the door, she slowly turns the handle, trying to be as quiet as possible. The hallway is dark save for the dim red glow of the emergency lights. It stains the walls with an eerie wash of foreboding.

Suddenly a loud crash comes from down the hall. A little afraid, she begins to run down the corridor, hearing other doors open behind her and following footsteps. When she finds the light switch for the lab, she is overcome with a nausea she has never known. Fear and dread and anger and confusion and disbelief, but mostly hope. Some faith worth clinging to that there was an alternative explanation to the scene that lay before her than that that immediately came to mind. Mulder was kneeling over Murphy's limp body, stained with his blood. Her thoughts started to spiral but she pushed it aside. Yet the panic creeps in in the rise of her tone, the break of his name in her throat. "Mulder, what are you doing?"

"Murphy's dead," he states coolly, looking up from him to her. She glances down at the body: Murphy's throat cruelly slit.

"You killed him," Hodge says from behind her.

"I found him like this." Mulder's voice cracks with the emphasis–from either shock or anger, she cannot tell. He stands to his feet, defensively, "I heard one of the doors close. I came to check it out… it's one of you."

The notion is a sharp blade to her stomach. That he was so adamant just hours ago that she wasn't infected; to turn her trust for him against her so quickly insulted her deeply. Did he think it was her? She was still praying it wasn't him.

"He's lying," Hodge quickly says.

Da Silva adds, "You could have done it and not even known–"

"No." Ranks were drawing faster than she could breathe. She was still clinging to faith like a life ring in a brewing storm. "He said he didn't."

Mulder locks eyes with her; a plea for understanding but his gaze is hot and uncomfortable. "I don't have any symptoms."

Scully knows this, having seen and felt the smoothness of his skin. His kindness and compassion and effortlessly calm demeanour had reassured her. She had trusted him with her life and more. It couldn't be him–it had to not be him–but she couldn't whisper a word of it. So, she turns to Hodge, "You checked him."

"Yeah, six hours ago–"

"It was one of you!" Mulder strides forward and she moves to put herself between him and the others, but she doesn't know who she should be protecting from whom.

"Stop it!" Her resolve starts to crack and she finds that she can't look at him. "Stop it! Shut up!"

The floor provides a quiet neutrality to compose herself and forget the anger she can feel coiled inside of him. And yet she feels cowardly, hiding from her own feelings in all of this.

"Mulder…" She lifts her head to look at him. There's sweat on his brow and fire in his eyes, and his jaw is tense with a quiet rage she's never seen before. "Just put. The. Gun. Down and let Hodge give you a blood test."

"Oh, so he can doctor the results?" he spits. "I'm not gonna let him stick a needle in me, he could be infected!"

"He has to be confined now!"

Scully ignores Hodge's interjection. "Then just turn around and let us take a look at your neck."

He raises his arm, and with it, his gun, scanning it threateningly between all of them. "I'm not turning my back on anyone!" He continues to back away slowly. "As far as I'm concerned you're all infected!"

"Hodge is right, we ought to lock him up!"

From the corner Hodge turns with a pipe in his hand; Mulder swings his gun to aim at him, but it's Scully's hope he shoots a hole through.

She whips up her gun instinctively whilst her heart tells her to lower it. This is Mulder: she never once dreamt she would have to hold a gun up to her partner. But the bullet of betrayal sears her soul and she can still feel the burning. The only thing she has left of herself is to plead, "Mulder…"

"Scully! Get that gun off me!"

She turns cold. Ice runs through her arteries and she finds herself staring down the barrel of his gun, hoping this is nothing more than a nightmare; that she's still safe wrapped up in his bed. The stinging cold smell of metal mixed with sweat tells her this is all too real. She tightens her grip on the trigger despite her shaking hands. She is convicted with the truth of his infection. Flashes of his body beneath her, above her, around her, moving within her cloud her vision. What has she done? Truly isolated and alone at the edge of the world, without the one person she needs–wants the most. "Mulder! You have to understand…"

"Put it down!"

Tears burn like acid behind her eyes. "You put it down first!"

"Scully!" He screams her name, shattering her heart. Then his voice breaks and softens something akin to pain. "For God's sakes, it's me."

She shakes her head, hesitating, out of options. "Mulder, you may not be who you are."

He lowers the gun, seeing the fear in her eyes. Short-lived relief overcomes her. She swallows, knowing and not liking what they will have to do next.

.....

“In here, I will be safer than you.” His words chill her as much as his cold stare as she slides the door shut and locks the bolt in place. Holding onto the handle, guilt and regret pick their way through her gut; she can still see his betrayed face disappearing from out of sight. Hodge and Da Silva walk easily away but Scully’s body is caught paralysed like a sack of bricks on a river bed where it’s difficult to breathe. Behind the hulk of red metal Mulder–or some version of him–sits alone, lost while so close. She wonders if she'll ever reach him again, the real him, the one that cracks jokes and sunflower seeds, and offers her comfort. Lowering her head, Scully picks her feet up and turns around, heading back to bed.

The last several hours turn around in her mind, slowly burning as she holds them too close under the flame of inspection. In his bed, she folds the edge of the blanket around herself, shutting out her own thoughts. Scully buries her nose into the soft material and sighs heavily. It smells of them still, but his bed feels empty as the last traces of him evaporate with every inhale. Curiously she wonders why her room was never even an option. His things scattered about the floor, spilling from the overnight bag by the foot of the bed are more familiar than her own, neatly tucked away in a separate room. How quickly in the last few months he has wormed his way into her life, inside her head, inside her heart. She can’t shake him – she doesn’t want to – and yet she fears that may be the exact conclusion to this trip that she will have to write in her report.

Turning over in the sheets, she pictures him in the storage locker selfishly hoping she preoccupies his thoughts as much as he does hers. She can see his face contorting in anger and screams so loud and brash in the dimness of the room. The memory haunts her as he holds her at gunpoint over and over – no escaping the nightmare. It sits with her cold and quiet yet relentless. How long had he been infected? Scully turns again. How long had she been asleep while he was gone? Or was it earlier? When she knocked on his door? Oh god what if that wasn’t him?

A tear slipped down her cheek and soaked the pillow below. Quickly she wipes her cheek and turns over again.