#the fermented drink. discussed in

[snowshinobi]

sipping strawberry-sage kombucha thinkin this ... is what blond cranberries would taste like

[godidontevenknowwhat]

Missed Lessons

Tonowari x Metkayina!Reader (Romancing Pandora 2024 Day 6 - Heat Cycle)

A/N: Later than I had hoped but it is finally complete, my magnum opus, my first Tonowari fic

Sequel now posted: here

Tagging: @eywaite @neteyamsyawntu @pandoraslxna

Synopsis: Tonowari placed an incredible amount of trust in you when he asked you to assist him in teaching the Sully family the ways of the Metkayina. He placed the reputation of the clan on your shoulders. When he finds out from his son that you didn't show up to Jake's Tsurak training with no explanation and no sign of you at your Marui the concern of your friend mixes with the disappointment of your Olo'eyktan. That is, until he manages to catch a whiff of your scent leading from your Marui.

Fic Includes: NSFW so MDNI, bullshit about the Metkayina culture that I made up heavily using Māori culture because there's not a whole lot of information on the Metkayina but I know the Māori culture was a big inspo for them, reader being in heat, random lore about heat cycles that I will not be expanding on, no reference to Ronal but Ao'nung and Tsyeria exist so it's up to you, friends to lovers, idiots to lovers, oral (fem receiving), p in v, creampie, breeding kink, I'm feral for him I stg, 3.8k words

You and Tonowari had been close throughout your lives, spending your childhood days running across the warm sand of your home Awa’atlu. You had passed your rites together, became adults in the eyes of your clan together, danced around the fire after drinking too much kava made from the fermented, sweet fruit that could only be harvested from the swampy inland of your home. So when the time eventually came for Tonowari’s father to step down as the Olo'eyktan, you were the one to crush the rare shells that you’d painstakingly collected together and fashion them into a beautiful, glisting paint that sparkled when the light of the fire hit it and the one to paint the delicate swirls and waves of ceremonial importance onto him all the while berating his skxawng ass for not sitting still. 

Tonowari trusted you with his life and everything in it. So, when the winged creatures of the mountains far to the west arrived with a family of na’vi hailing from the Omatikaya, your eyes were the first he met and it was your nod of approval that solidified the Suli family’s place at Awa’atlu.

It had been a quarter of a cycle since that day and the clan had become well adjusted to the family of forest people, leaving Tonowari to gradually withdraw from training Tsyeyk Suli and give more attention to his duties as Olo’eyktan once again. A discussion between the three of you ended with Tonowari granting you the responsibility of training the once great Toruk Makto in his efforts to learn the ways of the txampay taronyu (Ocean Hunter) and more importantly how to master the riding of the viscous Tsurak, a milestone all Metkayina must meet while passing their rites.

Teaching Tsyeyk became a daily task of yours, one that you excelled in if his progress was anything to go by. In fact, if you pushed him enough, Tsyeyk might go as far as to say he’d made more progress with you than with Tonowari himself and you took an incredible amount of pride in that.

Your clan observed a special community kinship, sharing duties equally based on talents and specialities. Whakairo (Carving), Raranga (Weaving), Tā moko (Permanent Marking/Tattooing) and Txampay Tìtaron (Ocean Hunting) being the most respected. Every adult in the clan contributed what they could and shared responsibilities amongst themselves.

In the many cycles Tonowari had known you, you were not a person to skimp on your responsibilities. A skxawng? Maybe. But Eywa herself couldn’t drag you to the lows of disappointing your clan. You knew for a fact that being so close with Tonowari meant that your actions and reputation reflected on him, so when the warm tones of the evening sun began colouring the sea and Tonowari was assisting the late returning tarpongu (hunting party) with distributing their catch he was surprised to hear his son calling his name.

“No one has seen her today”. Despite the irritation bubbling inside him by the fact that you had left Tsyeyk with no help for the day, concern for you itched under his skin and forced him in the direction of your Marui to check for you himself. 

His concern for you only increased when he noticed your privacy coverings were still pulled shut and when he entered your home only to see it a complete mess it was all he could do in his power not to yell for you like a wild man. Your belongings were rifled through, strewn across the floor. Your portion of the community meal laid untouched near your sleeping mat, it had been long enough that the uneaten food was congealed and filled his nose with an unpleasant smell. 

Taking a deep breath to try and scent you through the overwhelming smell of rotting food he was able to catch a faint trail of your distinct scent leading from your home, a strange, staggering sweetness clung to the inside of his nose as it mixed with your usual smell. It clouded his senses, made an unfamiliar prickling sensation appear along the back of his neck and spread down his spine all the way to the base of his tail that swayed with unease.

As Tonowari followed the trail of your scent through the humid, dense mangrove forest of your village he thought back to the last evening meal, were you even there? Did he actually see you engaging with the clan at any point? If you were there, how could he not have noticed that something was clearly wrong? Wrong enough for you to disappear for almost a full day. 

Bile churned in his gut at the thought of something awful happening to you because of his nonobservance, blaming himself immediately for whatever state he would find you in. 

Sweat beaded on his forehead and the back of his neck despite the cooling air of the evening, the loose curls that cascaded his back in a delicate waterfall were beginning to stick to his slick skin. 

Taking another deep breath of your scent, Tonowari was able to follow the trail to the edge of the water where it suddenly dispersed, indicating to him that you’d gone into the water. It wasn’t until the first spits of rainfall began to hit his skin, the cool shock breaking through the cloudiness that seemed to have settled over his mind the moment he smelled that strange sweetness to your scent, that he realised just where he was and where you would most likely be.

In your teen years, before he was Olo’eyktan, before either of you had even begun to think about your Iknimaya, you’d gone exploring. Past the swampy inland together, through the mangrove forest and to the edge of the water at the other side of the island. You’d quickly spotted a rocky outcrop in the distance and before he could convince you it was time to turn back you’d already dived into the water. He remembers rolling his eyes, calling you childish, hiding his real feelings about how pretty you were with water clinging to your lashes and slicking your hair back before jumping into the water with you. You spent the night together camping in the hidden beach of the outcrop, laying by the fire and talking about your futures. It was the night you promised to paint him for his ceremonial induction as Olo’eyktan when the day came, picking an iridescent shell out of the sand and vowing to make the paint yourself with the shells from your special outcrop.

Hanging his heavier, more ornate items of clothing over a branch after he removed them, Tonowari feels a literal and metaphorical weight lift from his shoulders. How long had it been since he’d been here last with you? Surely before he became Olo’eyktan, before his life became an endless cycle of being the most important person in the clan, weighed down by his duties, responsibilities and the representative clothing that he still didn’t feel he carried like his father once did.

Left in his tewng with his knife still sheathed at his hip and his songcord blending into the heavy leather fringe, Tonowari runs his thumb over the small shell you gifted him so many cycles prior before diving into the water and making the swim to your outcrop.

Tonowari took care to enter your space slowly, if you were injured or ill then you’d most likely react to his presence negatively. Entering the cave of your outcrop, he feels the water of the sea begin to dry against his skin as the lit fire inside warms him. 

Taking a deep breath of your scent, Tonowari finds it almost unbearably strong in this area, the strange sweetness clinging to you is stronger here too. It’s thick in the air and it makes an unfamiliar ache radiate through his kuru, trickle down his spine and spread throughout his body. 

His jaw ticks in thought, he’s never reacted like this to your scent. Never reacted like this to A scent at all. 

A deep, rumbling hiss rips through the air. Vibrating through your vocal cords in a warning grumble that makes Tonowari’s hand instinctively reach for his blade, his fingers barely brushing the hilt before he’s knocked off his feet. His head throbs with the collision on the sand but the sensation can barely push to the front of his mind through the pulsing of his heartbeat in his ears and the feeling of your burning hot skin scorching his own. 

Your pretty eyes don’t hold their usual warmth as you glare down at Tonowari and the cool, sharpened tip of your knife threatens his Adams apple, for a moment he’s convinced that you aren’t even aware of who he is from the way you’re snarling at him until you speak.

“You should not be here! Skxawng!” 

The harsh tone of your voice echoes through the mist that your scent placed over his mind and his earlier irritation boils up again tenfold. 

“You would hold a knife to your Olo’eyktan?”

“To my Olo’eyktan? Of course not. To the Skxawng that followed me out here though?”

Tonowari snarls at you, a noise you’ve never heard in the cycles you’d spent together. It’s so out of character that even Tonowari himself looks shocked at the authoritative noise before his expression hardens once more and he pushes you off of him, sending you back on your ass in the sand with your knife dropping with a thud beside you.

Your ears drop back uncontrollably, a whimper slipping out before you can stop it at the way Tonowari stands over you. You’d seen him shout, yell and berate people before that deserved it and it had never caused a reaction like it was causing from you right now. If you were in your right mind, not overtaken by the swirling intensity of your heat, then you would have had more fight in you.

Tonowari immediately notices your subdued nature and takes a chance to properly look at you. Your hair is unkempt, loose from it’s usual neat updo, your skin is flushed with such a deep colour that he worries for a second you may be suffering from sun sickness before he notices the rapid rise and fall of your chest.

Your breath is quick as Tonowari looks at you, every second around him is harder for you to get through and the heat in your gut is burning hotter than the fire lit beside you. 

“Y-You need to leave Tonowari. You cannot be here.”

Tonowari’s eyes drop to your clenching thighs and it finally clicks for him what is happening to you, maybe he really is a skxawng. His irritation, the heat burning him from the inside out since he caught your scent, the odd sweetness clinging to your scent even from such a distance creating a fog in his mind. It was all because of your heat. 

“Your heat? How is your heat here? It is not mating season and you..”

An irritated hiss rips out of you uncontrollably and you glare at Tonowari with whatever fierceness you can muster when all your heat riddled brain can tell you to do is submit to this dominant presence. 

“What? I am unmated? You think I do not know that? Why else would I have come out here by myself?”

Getting to your feet quickly you busy yourself with brushing the sand from your body that clings to your sweat slick skin. 

“You could have come to me for help. Or the Tsahik”

“Do not be ridiculous. What good would that have done?”

A growl of frustration leaves Tonowari’s lips and it takes all your remaining strength to stay on your feet and not immediately fall to his but the tell tale signs of your submission show themselves anyway. Your ears drop once more, your head bowing forward and your eyes refusing to meet his. Your fists clench with defiance but you can’t hide how Tonowari is only making the effect of your heat worse.

Your slick is flowing uncontrollably and it has been since you picked up Tonowari’s scent coming towards you. The truth was that your avoidance of group meals and your duties was purely due to Tonowari and his lingering scent being present in every part of your village. Even your own Mauri. 

“You need to be filled”

Your eyes roll back in your head at the thought, almost going braindead over the image that plagues your mind of Tonowari sitting you on his fat cock and plugging you full of his cum.

“Do not be so crass, I will survive without it. I would be doing just fine if you hadn’t shown up”

The waver in your voice makes Tonowari take a step towards you, he sees your ears twitching and listening for his movements but you make no move to stop him so he takes another and another until he is directly behind you. 

For a second there is silence and he basks in it, it reminds him of your simple shared childhood, when you could be with each other from sunrise to sunset without anyone bothering either of you. He thinks to himself that if he’d never been born into this family of his, if he’d grown to be a simple fisherman or weaver instead of the Olo’eyktan then maybe.. maybe the courage to approach you like this would have came without a push from nature and maybe, just maybe, you would have been his long before he’d had children with another.

Tonowari clears his throat and it startles you for a moment before you feel his large, rough hands settle themselves on your waist. The sensation of his skin against yours so purposefully forces a gasp from your lips that you can barely convince yourself was meaningless.

“Perhaps.. I really am a skxawng like you say-”

“You know I don’t mean anything-”

“Mean anything by it or not, it’s all you call me by anymore.”

Shame burns in your throat and your eyes sting with the prick of tears as Tonowari continues  voicing his thoughts to you.

“Maybe I am a skxawng.. but I have never, ever questioned the will or the way of Eywa.. and I know in my heart you have not either.. so to end up here, your scent enticing me and finding you in heat despite being unmated I..”

A fond smile spreads across your face as you listen to Tonowari speak, cycles and cycles of being Olo’eyktan had taught him how to speak to crowds and how to speak to the clan but yet in this moment he was reduced to the mild mannered boy you used to know.

“Perhaps it is Eywa’s will..”

Tonowari sucks in a breath at your words, waiting for you to accept or deny his thinly veiled confession. 

“And who are we to question Eywa?”

You gasp as Tonowari spins you to face him, a giddy smile spreading across your face to match the one on his own. Tonowari smashes his lips to yours in a kiss so passionate it makes up for all the years of dancing around each other, the way his tongue licks into your mouth makes an embarrassingly loud whine escape you and you worry for a moment that he may feel the rapid beat of your heart against his chest that’s pressed against your own. 

Your body is burning hot against Tonowari’s and he’s almost certain the shape of you will be scorched onto his skin like a brand when you finally pull away from him. He can feel your breath getting shorter and more laboured the longer he kisses you but the real sign that your heat is well and truly taking over you is the almost buckle of your knees when he purposefully presses his knee between your thighs and against your soaked cunt.

Taking the brunt of your weight, Tonowari hooks your legs around his waist and lays you back in the sand. The stretch in your hips forced around the thickness of his waist will surely burn once you’re in your right mind once again but for now the only thing you can focus on is the pressure of your closest friend's rock hard cock pressed against your pussy.

You’re so distracted by finally feeling Tonowari’s fat cock pressed against you that you don’t recognise him reaching for your discarded knife until the cold blade is touching your skin, immediately becoming foggy from the pure heat coming off of you. In a swift series of movements your clouded brain can’t keep up with, Tonowari slices through the material of your tewng and the delicate beading of your chest covering. The cool air finally hitting your body only gives momentary relief from the heat eating you from the inside out. 

Tonowari feels the pressure of your thighs squeezing around him and he drops his hips into your own, the roughness of his tewng against your bare cunt bringing a startled squeal of pleasure from you and your clit pulses overwhelmingly at the minimal contact.

Large, rough hands grip the backs of your thighs and force them higher, almost bending you in half as Tonowari settles between your plush thighs. Your slick coats every inch of your pitifully swollen and neglected pussy, your swollen, pulsing clit begging for attention from between your lips. 

Your voice comes out in a whiney rasp and you barely sound like yourself in the way you beg.

“Please! Please! Please!”

Tonowari takes a moment to admire you fully, every part of you begging for him and him only, before he gives a firm lick through your folds. His wide, rough tongue licking from your slick dripping entrance to your twitching clit forcing a breathy sob to rip from your throat and your back to arch almost painfully as you grip onto his hair.

Purring against your soaked cunt, Tonowari licks up every drop of your slick he can to savour the taste of you on his tongue. The obscene sounds of his tongue lashing against your wetness combined with your high whines fills the air.

You feel Tonowari suck your sensitive clit into his mouth and your hips automatically rock towards his face. His right hand reaches for your plump tits, tugging on your pebbled nipple in rhythm with his suction on your clit as the fingers on his left hand trace your entrance, teasing your clenching hole by pressing the tips in ever so slightly.

Tonowari growls into your heat as he feels your rough tug on his hair but he relents and lets you feel like you have some power from gripping and pulling him until his lips meet your own once again.

Moaning at the taste of your slick on his tongue, a possessive part of your brain is elated at the thought of him tasting like you, smelling like you, being a part of you. Parting from the kiss you can barely catch your breath, little whimpers huffing against his lips as he stares amusedly down at you. 

“It hurts, ‘Wari” 

A large hand brushes the sweat tangled strands of your hair out of your face, cooing at the tears wetting your lashline while his other hand works on positioning his cock at your entrance.

Tonowari rubs the head of his cock between your lips and over your clit, picking up a combination of your slick and his pre-cum that makes pressing into you an easy feat. 

Crying out at the stretch, the conscious part of your brain in the deepest part of your mind is relieved that you didn’t get a good look at Tonowari’s fat cock before he started pressing into you. He was easily the largest man you had ever been with and you felt like he was ripping you in half the further he pushed inside but your heat and your dripping cunt just wanted more. 

Tonowari feels your heels digging into the meat of his ass, encouraging him deeper despite the gentle wince on your face. 

“You can take it, ma’yawne”

Your mouth parts in awe, a choked whimper rumbling from your chest as he finally reaches the hilt. You can feel his heavy balls pressing against you as the tip of his thick cock kisses your cervix. 

Tonowari’s eyes lock onto your own as he begins thrusting, each drag of his cock against your gummy walls threatening to send your eyes rolling so far back in your head they would never return to their normal position. You swear you can feel him hitting your stomach, knocking the breath out of you as each thrust gains momentum and knocks against your g-spot with unimaginable precision. 

Reaching for your clit, he rolls it between his fingers as he kisses at your neck and shoulder, selfishly biting at the flesh to mark you as his as if the scent of his cum stuffed inside you wouldn’t ward off any idiot who came around sniffing at you.

The brutality of his pounding thrusts only increases with each punched out whine he receives from you as a reward. He can feel your cunt tightening around him every time his head bullies its way against your g-spot and with renewed vigor he viscously rubs his fingers over the sensitive nub of your pretty little clit.

Your vision goes white for a moment, your ears ringing and when you finally return to your body you hear a high pitched wailing that you’re shocked to realise is coming from you. Tonowari continues his pounding thrusts, each one punching out another gush of cum from you and a fucked out noise from your throat.

Digging your nails into his shoulders you peer up at him, eyelashes clumped together with tears that you can’t hold back any longer.

“Need you to cum inside, want you to fill me up ‘Wari”

Large hands grip onto your hips, tight enough ,you’re sure, to leave ugly discoloured bruises that you’ll wear around the village with pride. Tonowari's thrusts are animalistic as he chases his release, mutterings of a wild man talking about the image of you round with his next child. Tits plumper than usual full of milk for the baby.

Hands leaving your hips, they slam into the sand next to your head. A punched out snarl leaves him as he finally allows himself to cum inside of you so deeply he’s sure not a drop will spill out. 

Tonowari’s nose brushes against your own, a gesture almost too intimate in comparison to the way he just ravaged you. You bask in the silence, breathing each other’s air and feeling each other’s heart beats as the sweat cools on your skin and the mist clouding your mind finally settles. 

You can’t stop the laughter that bubbles out of you and you watch a fond smile stretch across Tonowari's face, the smile lines at the edges of his beautiful eyes crinkling and reminding you of how long it has taken you both to finally get here.

“Nga yawne lu oer..”

You stroke his hair as you smile up at him, the love of your life, your best friend.

“Skxawng..”

[anemonelovesfiction]

Kinktober 8- Voyeurism

Lo’ak X Human Fem Reader; Neteyam watching 👀

Warnings ⚠️: Fingering, Choking, P in V, voyeur Neteyam 😋, OC’s in the beginning for a smidge just for the plot.

I wanted to do something a little crazy and dedicate this chapter to @loaksulluyswife I see you liking and reblogging most of my posts and I wanted to show some appreciation to you as well, thank you for being you and thank you for liking my writing 😭

No use of Y/n in this so I’m happy! This shit is hard for me to do. Sorry for the late posts, I keep getting depressed asf (the weather aint helping) and I keep wanting to delete things.

Kinktober 2023 Masterlist

Translation Station:

Syulang: Flower

Tewng: Loincloth

Word Count: 2.5 K

“What about you, who would you rather sleep with, Lo’ak or Neteyam?” One of my friend’s, Amber, asks me. We were sitting in a circle, taking swigs of whatever fermented alcoholic drink we were able to snag from the party the Omatikaya were having outside of the base of operations, between myself and the other two before me I shrug. Spider usually hung out with whenever he wasn’t partaking in their celebrations or hanging with the kids we were currently discussing.

“I don’t think either of them would be willing to sleep with a human.” I answered honestly and feel the two girls before me groan in frustration and seem upset at my answer.

“What?” I ask as my eyes widened, I thought being honest was the best route to go for me, but judging by the looks of distaste on both the girls face that wasn’t what they wanted.

“We wanna know whose dick you’re thirsty for, not what they want.” Ashley speaks this time.

“Why is that such a big deal?” I asked while attempting to take a swig of the drink, feeling it snatched out of my hands, and I sigh.

“You look like a Neteyam girl.” Amber, the one who’d snatched the drink from my hands speaks, the same person I’d known since we were in diapers

��No way, she definitely wants Lo’ak.”

“What if I said both? Would the two of you stop bickering and let me get a drink?” I ask as I hold my hand out, expecting her to hand the alcohol back and see her scoff, taking a drink herself and passing it toward Ashley.

“Come on, Amber, what the fuck.” I groan.

“That’s such a cop out, please tell me you’re a Lo’ak girl, you have to choose one.” Ashley asks with a hopeful tone in her voice and I about roll my eyes in her direction.

“Fine, Lo’ak, with Neteyam watching. Is that good enough for you?”

“In your face Amber, I told you she wanted Lo’ak.”

“She said she wanted Neteyam to watch!” She rebuts and I roll my eyes as she is givedn the drink again, having had enough I roll my eyes and stand, heading over to place a mask on my face and hearing the hiss signal that it was properly positioned, I didn’t feel like staying here and being denied alcohol. Plus I could hang out with Spider and his friends and it would be a nice change of pace from being stuck in here, Norm was in his link unit and I’m sure he’d be fine with it.

“Where are you going?” One of them yells out to catch my attention but I wave her off.

“Anywhere the two of you aren’t, that way I can get drunk.” I stated quickly and opened the door leading me into a small area for the oxygen to get neutralized, shutting it quickly to prevent the other two from seeking an invitation out with me, opening the second door out into the atmosphere of high camp.

It doesn’t take me long to spot out a table with a couple of drinks in the custom made jars they had, the intricate designs on them each meant the bottle held something different. I wasn’t in the mood to drink something that would get me drunk faster because the taste was usually worse, the phantom sting coursing through my throat at that moment made me shiver from the last time I’d drank from the jar with the purple designs on them. I wanted something painted in a turquoise and spotted several, they often incorporated their fruits into it and made it taste sweeter.

I smile and start setting a course to make my way toward the table, thinking of where I could enjoy the delicacy and figuring getting drunk in Pandoran atmosphere was probably not the best idea because I could end up forgetting to put my mask back on, but before I could even make it halfway to my destination, a tug pulls my concentration- and my body- off toward the left, my legs blindly following the semi familiar touch and my heart yearning for another drink.

“What the fuck-“ I stated before being shoved up against the slanted rock, my own breath coming out as a gasp at the feeling, eyes widening at the action as I stare at a pair of familiar eyes and feeling anger boiling over.

“What is wrong with you!” I stated angrily.

“I thought you wouldn’t mind if I brought you out here with me, syulang.” He lightly pinches one of my cheeks and lets out a chuckle as I swat his hand away angrily, all I wanted was to sneak some alcohol and enjoy it in a quiet place.

“You cost me some booze.” I stated as I crossed my arms and notice the smirk had yet to leave his lips, wanting to slap it off his face.

“I have an idea in mind on how I can make it up to you,” He offers and it has me raising a brow, eyeing him up and down, eyes squinting at his proposition.

“I might not be able to fulfill all of it but it might help, it’s up to you.” He shrugs smugly and I was starting to picture the different ways I could beat his ass at the moment, he was too vague for my liking.

“What are you going on about now?” I sigh.

“If my mind serves me right, You have to choose one, fine Lo’ak with Neteyam watching.” He tilts his head to the side, had this been a different circumstance I would have laughed along to his antics, but considering the situation I wanted Eywa to open up a hole in the ground to swallow me up.

“That’s not fuckin’ funny, dammit, you weren’t even supposed to be there-“ I cut myself off as a realization hits me.

“-What were you doing there anyway? Don’t tell me you were sneaking in to find Norm’s laptop so you could jerk off to some porn.” I began by letting a smile start revealing itself on my lips, watching his own smirk falter lightly, and feeling surprised at his reaction, ears drooping slightly before they pick up again.

“No bullshit?” I ask immediately and his eyes pick up again, eyes looking between mine before a smile settles on his features.

“To which one?”

“Your offer.” I crossed my arms, lifting my chin defiantly, not bothering to shy away from staring at his eyes.

“Can you even take me?” He crosses his own arms and looks down at me.

“I dunno, you seem quiet enough to make it seem like you have a big dick, do you?” I tilt my head slightly toward the side and watch him fight a smile.

_________

This isn’t the first time Lo’ak has been known to disappear, and as always, it had been my duty to retrieve him and bring him home, just for our father to reprimand him for his childish behaviors for disappearing. I’d seen him take off toward the link pods where Kiri’s mother was kept and had taken to peeking near the windows to only see two inebriated females laughing at something.

I must have mistook the sense of direction he’d taken, but even Spider had pointed toward where my brother went after I asked politely, both of them having pointed toward where the humans kept their machines to connect to their avatars. I head back to check and see if he’d been anywhere near the outer edged of the party where a lot of couples had taken to talk or sometimes decided it was appropriate to be intimate.

But I turn my head sharply once I catch the slightest whiff of his scent, taking a cautious step forward and sniffing the air around me, assuring that his scent is getting stronger, and slightly mingled with the other tawtute Spider likes to hang out with. I continue making my way down the path he must have taken earlier, wanting to know what the skxawng had been up to and why he thought he could sneak away when our father told him to stay near.

It doesn’t take long for me to find him, back facing me and he seems to be crouched down a bit, I want to yell out his name just as something lurches in my abdomen, a specific scent I’d only smelled a handful of times hits my nose and I stop myself from approaching him. Ears picking up the sound of his activities.

“See, I told you, you were worried over nothing.” He speaks in a hushed tone, almost soothing, something he rarely does.

“Look at how well you’re already taking my fingers.” I hear him mutter. I knew I should have left at that moment once I heard the sounds being made from the woman below him, her heavy breaths turning into soft moans, but I felt frozen in my spot listening to them, wanting to hear more as well.

“Your fingers are huge,” My eyes widen a bit as I realize whose voice it belongs to and feel my entire body straighten up once more, I really shouldn’t be here, and almost as if on cue, I can see Lo’ak moving out of the way just enough for me to see her facial expressions and blood was starting to pump toward my cock, hardening at the sight of her face alone.

“That’s not the only thing thats huge-“ He states and I can practically hear the smirk in his voice, mentally rolling my eyes at his comment, but standing here while watching her face with the light of the moon and plants glowing in the dark of night had me palming my growing erection, begging to be released from the confines of my tewng.

“Go fa-faster, please-“ I can hear her breathing getting heavier and from the angle I can see her body at, I can tell she’s moving her hips against his fingers, hearing him groan as his gaze shifts downward.

“I could just watch you fuck yourself on my fingers instead, syulang.” He mumbles and she gasps right as I hear a wet squelching sound, indicating he’d started moving his fingers faster, I palmed myself faster, the slight pain of being kept hidden inside my tewng was making my stomach bubble with anticipation of needing to come.

“Fuck Lo, I’m close-“ She pants out and I watch as he withdraws his hands from her, her protests being louder than her moans from earlier, the fingers he’d been thrusting inside of her glistening with the light provided and my ears flicker back, a blush settling on my face, I stop the groan building in my throat and see Lo’ak bringing his wet fingers in his own mouth.

He groans at the taste and I can feel my jealousy grow, how lucky he must have been to get a taste of her on his tongue, my hands balled up into fists and I’m almost tempted to walk over and punch him, but I shamefully remembered the erection I was sporting, knowing it was between walking away and letting myself grow soft, or allowing myself the pleasures of watching their activities and coming while watching them, and I found myself sliding my tewng off, erection slapping my thigh and I look back up to find Lo’ak lining himself with her entrance.

“Fuck-“ I groan right when I see her face scrunch up as he inserts the tip, holding her up at the perfect angle to see every bit of her body, the eyes she had once shut had opened as she looks right at me, eyes widening a bit, taking in a breath as Lo’ak pushes in further.

_________

I bit my lip to stop myself from making any more noise and pawed at Lo’ak’s shoulder, I still kept eye contact with Neteyam and saw his hand gripping his already hardened cock, feeling myself squeeze around Lo’ak at the sight and seeing his green eyes look up at mine.

“This is what you wanted, no?” He asks me right as he slides in further and I gasp, a broken moan being ripped out of me and catching movement from the corner of my eye, snapping them back to the older brother and catching him stroking his cock.

“Oh fuck-“ I mutter as Lo’ak bottoms out, stretching my cunt wide just to fit himself in snugly, eyes on Neteyam, moaning at him, right as Lo’ak slides back out.

“Faster.” I command, watching as Neteyam picks up his pace and bites his own lip to keep his noise down, his shaft glistening as his precome seems to slide out his fat head like a river, allowing my pussy to flutter around Lo’ak. Feeling his pace pick up after I’d stated that and throwing my head back with a moan, hands gripping harshly at Lo’ak’s shoulders.

My eyes shut harshly right as Lo’ak places one of his hands around my neck, squeezing the sides gently, his cheek nuzzling mine.

“Open those pretty eyes syulang, let him know how good I’m making you feel.” He grunts in my ear before pulling his face away, squeezing on my neck more, my hips moving against his and the sounds coming from my pussy could not be mistaken for any other activity.

Lazily dragging my eyes over to Neteyam who’d been matching his brothers pace, he’d been staring at my cunt, but shifted his gaze toward mine the second I looked over. I could tell he was breathing heavily, by the desperate look on his face, his hips starting to meet his hands thrusts, and how he’d squeezed the head right as he stroked it, I knew he was close.

“Lemme come, please-“ I whine, attempting to keep my legs spread, just to give Neteyam the view he’d been staring at this entire time.

“Of course you can.” Lo’ak grunts as he picks up the pace.

“N-not you, Teyam, lemme come, please.”

Any and every feeling in my body was set on fire as Neteyam faltered in his own ministrations as the realization hits, but picks up his pace again and groans freely, my own hips attempting to meet the fast pace Lo’ak has set.

“Fuck, thats hot,” Lo’ak moans lightly, ears pressed back as he squeezes harder on my neck, but my eyes never leave Neteyam’s.

“Please, m’close!” I beg just to finally see his nod of approval and allow myself to leg go, the waves of ecstasy crashing over my body, biting my lip in an attempt to keep my eyes open, watching Neteyam spill over his fists, Lo’ak never faltering in his pace as he comes inside.

“So how about next time I watch?” The man directly in front of me asks and although I’m still weak in the knees from the post-orgasmic bliss I make a face but smile at his comment, nodding my head lightly.

“You’re the biggest dumbass-“ Neteyam calls out only to get cut off by his brother.

“She said yes.”

“She said yes?”

[ask-eden]

Etoile flicks their tail tip Etoile: I'm aware that Allie didn't want to come here. BUT I still wanted him to have some fun! Etoile: I'm aware that getting him intoxicated isn't the BEST way to go about getting someone to have fun... Etoile: But I felt like he needed to experience some common mortal activities for a bit... and I know getting intoxicated and having fun is one of them at social events.

Etoile: If he was drinking and having a bad time... being sad or aggressive or clearly upset.. I wouldn't have continued. But he appears to be having a nice time isn't he? Etoile peers in the window, observing Alaxia in the building. He was singing happily and dancing by himself by the table Stopping once every so often to bat at his own tail playfully Etoile looks away from the window and closes their eyes for a moment, as if deep in thought Etoile: ..... I wish to have a important discussion with Allie after the night is over. Etoile:... With discussions like these.. It's important to be calm and have a more clear head. After a fun night out leaves one in better spirits. I know he'll sober up by the evenings end... so I'm not concerned at this moment by his current state. As long as he's having fun and being safe. Etoile opens a eye to look at you Etoile: Plus... He seems to like the fermented fruity beverage! If he didn't.. why would he keep drinking it? Wouldn't he have said No and stopped drinking??? Etoile: Who keeps drinking something they clearly dislike.... That would be... kinda stupid wouldn't it? I don't think Allie is stupid enough to do that!

-- --- --- -- [ Anon ] [ Background by @/sinnohsiblings ]

[cure-icy-writes]

Otona precure is literally everything I wanted and more from a magical girl show and you guys should seriously watch it

-adult characters in a variety of stages of life

-themes of running out of time, or feeling like you're running out of time, when i'd place most of these characters in their mid to late twenties at LEAST

-feelings of insecurity over your progress in life compared to your friends

-magical girls who are old enough to go out for drinks. oh my god thank you. they don't dance around it or make oblique references to fermented juice or whatever, they go to a bar after work and drink alcohol! Like. no shade if it isn't your cup of tea, it just feels so refreshing to have them doing adult things for once

-childish idealism is contrasted with situations like divorce and debt, and even with systems in place to take care of people, there's the understanding that people will fall through the system sometimes, and the....really resonant theme of apathy

-magical girls who go fight monsters on their lunch break and then get back to the office late

-discussions of marriage, pregnancy, dating, and what you actually want versus what other women your age are worried about

It's just. Oh my god it is everything I needed to hear. It's about not being a teenage girl anymore, and trying to find your place in the world. It's like the barbie movie for anime fans.

[the-name-is-z]

SKELETONS | ch. 41

daryl dixon x f!oc

masterlist

a03 link

Summary: Iris, Daryl and Beth continue on their journey, slowly finding ways to agree with one another. Iris and Beth quickly find a way to entertain themselves. Warnings/Information: AMC's The Walking Dead OC Insert | 18+ Advised | strangers to lovers; the slowest of slow burns; gore; angst; horror; humour; m/f; arguments; discussions of drinking; drinking moonshine (homemade fermented alcohol, potentially dangerous); excessive strain on mental health (could be said about the whole series, but it feels relevant here as I'm looking for warnings to tag)

Chapter 41 - Bonding

They broke through another tree line and found themselves on a golfing green, a beige golf cart overturned in the middle. A small country club house sat waiting just down the fairway, taunting them with its four walls and the beckoning temptation of alcohol. 

“Golfers like to booze it up, right?” Beth asked. Iris raised an eyebrow. Stale pretentious golf beer? Ugh… Daryl didn’t answer, his gaze glued across the green to the six walkers headed their way.

“We’ll find out.” Iris replied. They trudged across the overgrown fairway to the country club house, the sign out front reading Pine Vista. They stopped at the landing outside the front door, a walker leaning against the railing. It looked almost like a halloween decoration, but the smell indicated otherwise.

“Might be people inside.” Beth murmured. Iris nodded. They walked up the steps, Daryl stooping to frisk the walker for anything useful while Beth yanked on the doors. The windowpanes rattled loudly as she did, newspaper preventing them from seeing through to any walkers or survivors that might be there. It seemed empty enough. Iris looked back, frowning at the walkers that chased them ever so slowly across the fairway. There were about twelve now. 

“Let’s see if theres a back door.” Iris suggested. They strolled around the side of the building, finding a second set of doors almost hidden by the overgrown shrubbery. Daryl grabbed a stray golf club that had been abandoned on the walkway, intending to use it as a crowbar. He put a finger to his lips as he tested the door. It was open and unlocked.

“Come on.” He whispered as the snarls of walkers drew nearer. They ducked inside, the house appearing like some survivors had already stayed there at some point. Newspapers, sheets and strips of fabric covered all windows, sleeping bags and survival supplies intermingled with the old luxury furniture that must have been there originally. There were stacks of furniture piled in front of a few doors, and a few bodies in the corner. They didn’t move.

As they went in further, Iris realized the place was a damn pig sty. There was shit everywhere, just stuff. Things. And a soft snarl rang out, drawing their gaze to three walkers, hanging from two ropes around their necks. Iris cringed at the state of things. This was not a nice place to be. More bodies, bloodstains. They were lucky there weren’t more walkers. Daryl knelt to the ground, picking up a woman’s backpack, jewelry, pearls and cash strewn around it on the floor. He gathered it, stuffing the bag full.

“What are you doing?” Iris asked, frowning. He looked up, opening his mouth only to be interrupted by the walkers from before catching up to them. They slammed into the door from outside, the golf club the only thing keeping them from being cannibalized by the undead. Daryl shrugged the backpack on and they hurried through a pair of doors at the end of the room into a hallway. 

They continued onward into what seemed to be the kitchen, industrial equipment and old food materials strewn about. Beth got out her flashlight and her knife, beginning her hunt for booze while Daryl and Iris peered around for any nonperishable foods. It was mostly garbage. Pans clanged softly from the other room, followed by a ghoulish grunt and a small shriek from Beth. Iris ran over, hauling the walker off of her before putting an end to it. She held a tall green bottle in her hand, which she smashed over the head of a second walker, using the sharp end of the glass to stab into its face. Iris lamented over the wasted wine, finishing the walker off quickly.

“Thanks for the help.” Beth murmured, breathing heavily. Iris hummed in response, heading down a flight of spiral stairs going into the basement. There was broken glass all over the place, a toppled trophy case blocking their path. They clambered underneath, Daryl taking the time to right a fallen grandfather clock. They emerged into a gift shop, polo shirts and khaki shorts galore. Daryl stuffed his pockets full of matchbooks while the girls perused the available clothing. Iris would always take what she could get, but she definitely drew the line at frilly pink cardigans. Beth helped herself. 

Iris meandered over to Daryl, pausing to admire the disemboweled and cut-in-half torso of a random woman. She was stripped down to her bra, gold jewelry dripping off of her. One of her earrings had been ripped off and used to tack a piece of paper to her sternum, reading Rich Bitch. Daryl pulled a cinnamon stick out of his pocket, stolen from the kitchen upstairs, turning to look at it too. Beth came to see what they were staring at, now wearing a yellow button down and white cardigan.

“Help me take her down.” Beth muttered, trying to cover the walker up with its sweater. 

“It don’t matter. She’s dead.” Daryl grunted. Beth scowled at him.

“It does matter.” She insisted. He huffed, ripping a blanket from the wall of souvenirs and wrapping it around the walker, covering her face. That seemed to satisfy Beth enough that they could keep moving. Back into the hallway, past the clock. It chose that time precisely to gong loudly, chiming three o’clock. Iris grunted, Daryl motioning for them to leave it. Which would have been appropriate, had the loud noise not called walkers from every room in the basement toward them.

They rushed through the hallway, finding themselves in a large open room with wood-panelled lockers. With the open space, Daryl and Iris turned, facing the walkers as they came, two on seven. With one left, Daryl moved forward, picking up a golf club and beating the ever living shit out of the walker until it collapsed. 

Even on the floor, half groaning, Daryl continued to whack at him. He wasn’t aiming for the head, grunting as the blood began to spatter all over him. Iris let him take his anger out on the thing. After a week of wandering through the woods, he was entitled to show a little fury. Beth came forward to get him to stop, but with one final swing to the head, Daryl lobbed the insides of its brain directly into her path, blood and gore splashing all over her new shirt. He said nothing, panting as she unbuttoned the cardigan and left it on the floor with a scowl.

They moved onward, turning one final corner before reaching a large ornate, a stained-glass window illuminating the long bar top. Scattered tables and chairs, a pool table. Fanciest bar Iris had ever seen. The room was littered with bottles and broken glasses, but there was bound to be something left. After all that.

“We made it.” Beth said gleefully, setting down her bag before turning to Iris and Daryl. “I know you think this is stupid. And it probably is. But I don’t care. All I wanted to do today was lay down and cry, but we don’t get to do that. So beat up on walkers if that makes you feel better. I need to do this.”

She turned into the room and Iris watched as she climbed behind the counter, searching for something. Daryl found himself a table, pulling a metal bowl out from somewhere, and using the butt of his crossbow to smash a frame on the wall.

“Did you have to break the glass?” Beth asked, annoyed. 

“No. Did you have your drink yet?” Daryl retorted, pulling the paper from the frame and folding it.

“No. But I found this. Peach schnapps.” Beth replied, putting a bottle on the countertop and finding herself a clean barstool. “Is it good?” She asked. Iris snorted loudly, covering her mouth.

“Sorry.” She said, pressing her lips together to try not to laugh. Peach schnapps? 

“No.” Daryl said flatly. Beth’s nostrils flared in frustration, watching him wander over to the pool table and test the weight of the balls in his hand before moving to the dartboard and taking the darts. 

“Well it’s the only thing left.” She snapped. Iris went over, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“Sorry, kiddo.” Iris said, smiling softly. She found a clean-ish teacup, wiping it out with a rag before handing it over. 

“Who needs a glass?” Beth murmured, grabbing the bottle by the neck. Iris chuckled lightly. Daryl ignored both of them, throwing the darts into a large picture frame. Each dart perfectly found the faces of the country club’s founders, making Iris roll her eyes. 

Beth sat still for a moment, holding the bottle as her face contorted. She began to cry softly before burying her face in Iris’ shoulder. Iris pat her back, letting her cry. She understood. Daryl stormed over, grabbing the bottle and throwing it at the wall, the glass shattering as the liquid dripped to the ground.

“Ain't gonna have your first drink be no damned peach schnapps.” Daryl grunted. Beth sniffled, looking up at the remains of her plan. Iris smiled softly, rubbing her back.

“C’mon, kid. Let’s find you some whiskey or something.” Iris said quietly, wiggling her eyebrows. Beth huffed a laugh, shaking her head as she wiped her tears. 

“Come on.” Daryl called, jerking his chin at the open back door. Iris kept the tone lighter as they moved back into the woods, chatting idly with Beth about whatever kept their minds off of things. The topic of conversation eventually drifted to boys. 

“So have you ever had a boyfriend?” Beth asked. Iris chuckled.

“Yeah. Never any good ones, though. And I never brought any home to my dad. He was dangerous even when he didn’t have a weapon on hand.” She replied. She looked down at Beth, who walked with her hands idly in her pockets. “Was Jimmy your first?”

“Second.” Beth corrected, humming. She smiled to herself. “He and Zach were complete opposites.”

“Yeah, that’ll happen.” Iris laughed. “You think you want one thing, and then decide on a dime that you want something different. My last boyfriend, well… honestly, he was a lot like Shane.” Beth sputtered, her eyes wide. Iris didn’t miss the casual glance Daryl snuck over his shoulder either. 

“Shane? Like, that Shane?” Beth asked.

“Yep.” Iris whistled. “Real militant, hardcore, good boy. We broke up after he called me ‘mom’ once. It was after we’d been kissing. A lot.”

“Ugh.” Beth replied, scrunching her nose. “Gross.”

“I’ll say.” Iris laughed again. 

“I never really saw anything happening with Zach.” Beth mused. 

“Oh?”

“He was really into his car. Too much.” Beth explained. Iris chuckled.

“Well, we crashed it somewhere on the highway, so…” Daryl trailed off, Beth giggling. 

“He was a good kid.” Iris said, somewhat sadly. Beth nodded, pondering.

“I have a guess.” She stated. “Motorcycle mechanic.”

“Huh?” Daryl asked.

“That’s my guess. For what you were doing before the turn. Did Zach ever guess that one?” Beth asked.

“Nope. But that was my gig, not his.” Iris replied with a grin.

“It don’t matter.” Daryl grunted. “Hasn’t mattered for a long time.”

“It’s just what people talk about.” Beth sighed. “You know, to feel normal.”

“Yeah, well, that never felt normal to me.” He grumbled. They pulled out of the forest, Daryl leading them up a small dirt path to a cabin. “Found this place with Michonne.”

“I was expecting a liquor store.” Beth stated, making a face.

“No, this is better.” Daryl replied, jogging up to the cabin. They walked around to the back, Daryl peering in the windows before opening the door to a shed. He pulled out a crate, loading it with various bottles and jars of clear liquid. Iris blanched, feeling her stomach turn in anticipation. 

“What’s that?” Beth asked.

“Moonshine.” Daryl answered, handing her the crate. He led them into the house, checking the bedroom briefly before clearing off the table. He found Beth a glass, cracking open one of the jars and pouring out two fingers’ worth. “Now that’s a real first drink right there.” Beth paused, staring down at it. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing…” She started, huffing. “It’s just… my dad always said bad moonshine can make you go blind.”

“Ain’t nothing worth seeing out there anymore anyway.” Daryl grunted. Iris rolled her eyes, putting her hand on Beth’s shoulder.

“You’ll be fine. That’s mostly prohibition bullshit but folks that live out here usually know how to do it right.” She assured, offering a wink. Beth huffed, picking up the glass and taking a tentative sip. Her face twisted up in disgust, putting the glass back down.

“That’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever tasted.” She murmured.

“Should be. It’s like drinking peroxide.” Iris grumbled, taking a whiff of the jar and recoiling. Beth went back in for more, finishing the glass.

“Second round’s better.” She stated, reaching for the jar. 

“Slow down.” Daryl advised.

“These ones are for you two.” She declared, pouring out two more glasses.

“I’m good.” Daryl shook his head.

“Why not?” Beth asked, frowning.

“Someone’s gotta keep watch.” He answered. She scoffed.

“So, what? You’re like my chaperones now?”

“Just drink lots of water.” He grunted, walking past them both.

“Yes, Mr. Dixon.” Beth replied in a sing-song voice, mocking him. Iris said nothing, taking a small sip from her glass. Ugh. Beth was right. It was disgusting.

They relaxed into it as Daryl began walker-proofing the house, Beth moving over to the couch and looting through the pile of things belonging to whoever lived there. Iris plopped herself down on the couch, sighing. Beth snorted, pulling something out from behind the sofa.

“Who’d walk into a store and come out with this?” She asked. Iris opened one eye to see a hot pink ceramic pot holder, shaped like a bra. The plant inside was long dead, the rest of the pot filled entirely with cigarette butts. Daryl looked over his shoulder from the window.

“My dad, that’s who.” He replied. Iris snickered, shaking her head. “Oh, he was a dumbass. Used to set those up on top of the TV set, use them as target practice.”

“He shot things inside your house?” Beth asked, wide-eyed.

“It was just a bunch of junk anyways.” He shrugged. “That’s how I knew what this place was. That shed out there? My dad had a place just like this. That’s your dumpster chair. That’s for sitting in your drawers all summer, drinking.” He said, pointing to the chair across the room filled with junk. “Got your fancy buckets for spitting chaw in after your old lady tells you to stop smoking. You got your internet.” He held up a newspaper. Iris grinned, rolling her eyes. A walker snarled from outside and Daryl peered through the window. “Just one of ‘em.”

“Should we get it?” Beth asked.

“If he keeps making too much noise, yeah.” Daryl nodded.

“Well, if we’re gonna be trapped again, we might as well make the best of it.” Beth decided, grabbing another jar of moonshine. She held it out toward him. “Unless you’re too busy chaperoning, Mr. Dixon.”

“Hell. Might as well make the best of it.” He echoed, grabbing the jar. Iris smirked as he plunked down on the sofa beside her, crossing his legs. “Home sweet home.” He murmured, saluting the jar before taking a swig.

-

TAGLIST:

@heidiland05

@ryoujoking

@catlalice

@maxinehufflepuffprincess

@lowkeyhottho

@fadingpalacebonkpsychic

[feminismisstillahatemovement]

I appreciate your answer about sex, (but do find it unsatisfactory to exclude outliers because they're inconvenient.) Incidentally, have you asked yourself what constitutes a medical condition as opposed to a natural variation? Why isn't left-handedness a medical condition when it clearly makes life harder? How about extreme introversion? -- Id ssy it boils down to values. The things we consider conditions are largely (90%) that which society does does not value. Which is why I find your hand-waving towards medical conditions unsatisfactory. It's not based in science, it's based in feeling and sentiment.

"I appreciate your answer about sex, (but do find it unsatisfactory to exclude outliers because they're inconvenient.)"

I don't see how pointing out that medical conditions that only affect 1 in however many tens of thousands of people cannot be held up as the everyday norm and be meaningfully reflective of the wider population or our general definitions of male and female is excluding outliers: I've taken the time to actively address them, and weigh up their relevance in the matter under discussion, even though it's a bit like talking about the influence and importance of a single raindrop falling in the ocean.

There's a rare medical condition called Auto-Brewery Syndrome, in which alcohol is produced in a non-drinker's stomach only through the fermentation of carbohydrate-rich food: are we excluding and 'erasing' those sufferers by not talking about them every time we discuss alcoholism or pub closing times or instruct people not to drink and drive? Or do we just all realize that outlier will not have any meaningful application in these matters for 99.99% of the people we are addressing?

There's another extremely rare condition known as 'aquagenic urticaria'; an allergy to water, in which itchy hives break out on people's bodies whenever they are exposed to it. Are we cruelly excluding the experiences of those people by not bringing them up every time we talk about going swimming or taking a shower? Should their existence make us reconsider everything we know about human beings and H20?

Also, I'm humouring you because it's an interesting topic to explore and think on, but it must be pointed out that I'm really not here to "satisfy" you in any way: you are the one putting forth the brand new, untested and outlandish position that a person can simply choose their sex or race or height or number of eyes (delete as applicable), and that the rest of the world must fall in line with that belief. But the overwhelming majority of the human race does not agree with that belief, and never has: therefore, the burden of proof and argument must remain with you.

"Incidentally, have you asked yourself what constitutes a medical condition as opposed to a natural variation? Why isn't left-handedness a medical condition when it clearly makes life harder?"

I suppose one of the differences would be that around 10% or more of the population is left-handed, and it has been reliably documented for hundreds of years in a way that the present explosion of teenage girls wanting to have their breasts cut off has not. There is, in fact, no precedent for the present situation - it doesn't even resemble the documented (and disproportionately male) cases of transvestisism throughout history.

Also, I don't see how being left-handed makes LIFE 'harder', other than human-made objects like tin openers are set up for use by the majority: I'm not aware that left-handed people are massively more likely to kill themselves than righties, for instance, or that there's huge numbers of left-handers getting both hands cut off and swapped and stitched back on so that they can feel normal.

I know the transgenderist argument is that there has apparently been a large increase in the visibility of left-handed people since religious superstitions fell by the wayside and schools stopped forcing them to write with their other hand, and hence the number of male rapists today identifying as women once arrested must simply be because of the removal of the stigma around doing so, and that these courageous and beautiful women are at last able to live their truth out in the open, or at least in the general population of a women's prison.

But is that really the only explanation? Is that really the best explanation?

To take a different example from the news, this past year there has been an unprecedented rise in people throwing soup at culturally invaluable paintings: is this best explained as something that people have always innately needed to do whenever they see a beautiful work of art, and as necessary to them as breathing for them to keep on living, but have always just been unjustly prevented from doing so by the soupnormative paintriarchy, or is it more likely that most of the people doing it today are gripped with an ideologically-created hysteria, that has told them they will be admired or rewarded in some way by their teachers and peers for doing so, which in turn will make them feel they are good and special?

Although in the case of the wide variety of medical and psychological conditions that are presently being included in the umbrella category of "gender" there must be many, many factors to take into consideration, my impression continues to be that foremost among them has to be social contagion.

"I find your hand-waving towards medical conditions unsatisfactory. "

"It's not based in science, it's based in feeling and sentiment."

Pot, meet kettle.

[burnwater13]

Concept art by Ryan Church for The Mandalorian, Season 1, Episode 4, Sanctuary. A Mandalorian and another fighter are shooting at an Imperial AT-ST. Calendar from DataWorks.

Grogu wondered if they had left Sorgan a little too quickly. After all it was a nice planet. Cara Dune had taken care of that one bounty hunter who had managed to find them on a skug hole in the middle of no where. He and the Mandalorian were beginning to get to know each other a little better. Why leave now? Especially since there was an old piece of Imperial equipment on the planet that had absolutely no business being there. That AT-ST was a problem.

Not in and of itself. Not any more. It was destroyed. It had been touch and go, but eventually the Mandalorian and the fine people of the krill farming collective had managed to deal with it and the Klatooinian raiders who operated it. But it was still a problem. Where did it come from? Why was it there at all? Were there any other pieces of left over Imperial equipment on the planet? 

Grogu was pretty sure that this sort of event fell under the heading of where there is smoke there is fire. He was even willing to fall back to a Jedi standard of risk management which stated that if one thing appeared to be out of place on a planet, an investigation into similar non-sequiturs should be undertaken sooner, rather than later. There was just too much that they hadn’t known about it, plain and simple.

For example, the Klatooinian raiders didn’t appear to have any air support or other mechanized transport of any kind. They had attacked the village on foot. Their only advantage was the AT-ST. So how did they manage to get their hands on an All Terrain Scout Transport to begin with? It seemed unlikely to Grogu that they had somehow brought it with them. Sorgan had such a small population the raiders could have run the whole planet if they’d had the ability to bring it to Sorgan from wherever else they had come from. 

Grogu thought it was likely that the Klatooinians had found the transport on Sorgan. If that was true, why was it even there? Sorgan was not a strategic location for the Old Republic, the Empire, or even the New Republic. At least not an obvious one. It’s two exports were Spotchka, a fermented drink made from krill, and pickled krill sauce. Everything else they had they were importing. But no one involved in the farming collective had imported an AT-ST. If they had, they wouldn’t have needed the Mandalorian’s help in dealing with the Klatooinians. So why was it there?

Grogu suspected that the Empire or one of it’s former, wayward, war lords, had found Sorgan interesting because no one else did. It had a tiny population focused on farming. They had almost no infrastructure. They couldn’t defend themselves against a small band of Klatooinians. It was a perfect planet to set up a secret something on. 

Grogu had no idea what that secret something was and when he tried to engage the Mandalorian in a discussion of unknown risks on Sorgan, he was ignored. Well, that was to be expected. Din Djarin didn’t think that Grogu understood Gal Basic and Grogu really hated trying to communicate in that language. It was so clunky and hard to pronounce and it had a grammar structure that left a lot to be desired. 

If he had been able to have that discussion he would have also brought up a couple of other things that puzzled him. One of them was pretty simple. How had Cara Dune gotten there and why wasn’t she doing anything about the Klatooinians? The other was a little more mystifying. Why fight the Klatooinians from the ground?

The Razor Crest was outfitted with front mounted laser canons. Why bother teaching people how to be soldiers, when they could have just located the AT-ST with the sensors on the Razor Crest and then blasted it to it’s component atoms?

Was the Mandalorian worried that people might realize that he had the ship? Or was he worried that it might get a scratch on it? After all the stuff that Jawas on Arvala-7 had done to the ship was he just trying to protect it from everyone and everything? Grogu supposed that was possible. 

After all the Razor Crest was the Mandalorian’s home. It wasn’t just a ship. All of his stuff was on it and he’d just about lost his mind when the Jawas had taken it apart, forcing him to put it back together with Kuiil’s help. Grogu knew that it wasn’t working quite perfectly, but he had no idea how to help with that. That was a gap in his education that he really wanted to fill in, but so far he hadn’t had a chance. 

Was that it? He just didn’t want his precious ship to be damaged by the AT-ST? Maybe. It really seemed to Grogu that the Mandalorian found a harder way to solve the problem than was strictly necessary, but if that was the Way, fine. That was not a mystery that Grogu needed to solve right now anyway. 

He didn’t need to solve the other one about Cara Dune either. But he wasn’t going to forget about figuring out why the AT-ST had been there at all. Not like everyone else. He owed it to Winta and her mom to determine whether or not they faced a hidden threat. They had been very kind to him and he wasn't going to forget that either.

 Concept art by Ryan Church for The Mandalorian, Season 1, Episode 4, Sanctuary. A Mandalorian and another fighter are shooting at an Imperial AT-ST.

[caxycreations]

I was re-reading The Wolf's Den and that got me curious. Outside of Splitters and Ryder's usual, are there any other unique drinks in that universe you'd like to discuss?

Eikirian Salt-Wine.

Most wines irl age differently, with the best wines being between 40-150 years old, depending on type and method.

Eikirian Salt-Wine is made so that, when young (freshly made up to around a year or two) it's very tangy, with a hint of spice to it, and then slowly sweetens over time until it hits the "pivot point" at around 200 years (when it's considered "thoroughly aged", though it never loses the spice.

After the ~200 year mark it starts taking on a bitter, over-salted flavor, and starts to become less spicy.

So a person who prefers tangy and spicy can go to a store and buy a bottle of New-Brew (the common Ferusian nickname for fresh Eikirian Salt-Wine) for ~$20, cheaper because it's fresh and didn't take much to manufacture, while someone else may prefer the sweeter taste and buy a bottle of Artisan's Brew (common Ferusian nickname for the aged variant) for ~$50-$70 depending on the age.

And if someone prefers the bitter, over-salted flavor, they can buy Hag's Brew (Ferusian nickname for over-aged) for $30-$35.

Despite the longer aging time, Hag's Brew is cheaper because it's got a much lower demand, but still more than the demand for New-Brew.

Side note about these: Eikirians invented Salt-Wine after Erit Frenza, a Dragon serving as a Dornumite diplomat, brought Heavusian wine to a conference between Eikirian and Dornumite nobles and explained the method of making it at the request of the Eikirian nobility.

While a lot of it was impossible for Eikirians, they developed a system of fermentation that worked well under the seas, and after centuries of refining it and improving their craft, Eikirian Salt-Wine is vastly more popular than the Heavusian stuff.

Though Heavusian drinks do still hold greater popularity in most cases, like the Splitters for example. The Eikirians just do wine better.

[digitalagepulao]

Monkey Technology at Huaguoshan

So, I've been musing on just how much the monkeys would be capable of achieving when it comes to technology. We know that Wukong taught them a whole lot, but what could they do before their naturally born sage brought all his learning? This is mostly me rambling about stuff that comes off my head and from my own experiences and learning.

Tool use and crafting

We are well-aware of tool usage among the great apes/homonids (aka humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and bonobos, as well as extinct hominins like neanderthals and homo habilis), and for convenience's sake I'll give the fantasy monkeys the same skills. Wukong is credited as teaching them how to sharpen wood and bamboo for knives and spears, so crafting tools might have been out of their wheelhouse. So we have to work with basic, naturally occuring tools, like sharp stones and sticks as they are found. To further this point, that should include mortal and pestle tools, as all you need is a concave rock and another stone or even wood to grind things with.

Fire

This one is a bit dicey. Wukong isn't given explicit credit for teaching firecraft, but the novel does make mention of them burning incense and offerings. We can always handwave these deets as stuff monkeys learned by watching humans as animals often seem to do in the novel, but they aren't quite told to make use of it until Wukong returns and makes a proper kingdom out of Water-Curtain cave. So on this one, I'll just say it's something that they've known how to do for a while, but had very little reason to put that particular skill to work until Wukong came along.

Claywork

Since we established they know how to craft fire, next comes what to do with that fire! And first things that come to mind is cooking and claywork. Again, they only seem to cook food after Wukong's leadership, so on to clay. Clay is quite easy to mold and then burn, but it would take seeeeveral attempts to get the heat management right and learn what makes pottery crack in the kiln. As for glazes, they can be a happy coincidence! Depending on the process and time during firing, when the oven is opened, one can find the inside walls with a luster of ash that melted into glaze, and it's pretty neat! Natural glazes can be made by processing wood ash, which again takes some time to learn on their own but not impossible.

Textiles

The monkeys are described as being able to weave grass mattresses, and then later Wukong teaches them to make flax, which is a way more involved process in itself. Now we're on more dicey ground, as textiles take quite a bit of refined precision grips that most tree-dwelling primates aren't capable of anatomically. I'll probably go off about monkey anatomy at some other time, so we'll handwave that one to fantasy rules too.

Winemaking

We got plenty of mentions of coconut wine and other drinks at Huaguoshan's feasts and celebrations, but how did the monkeys get to wine? Animals in nature have been noted to indulge in recreational drugs, including fermented fruits, simply for the joy of it. A notable example is cedar waxwings indulging in fermented berries and needing to be picked out of walkways by kind humans so nobody trips on them. And most notable of all, humanity has had a long history with fermented foods and drinks. Coconut wine takes a bit of processing to be well, wine. This could have been learned over time but again, the monkeys never had much need to perfect this knowledge or put it to much use until Wukong's reign. Making wine is kind of hard when you don't have proper shelter to regulate temperatures, and his discovery of Water-Curtain cave is notable for sparing the monkeys the whims of weather and seasons. So we have shelter, but what about vessels? Water-Curtain cave is said to have all the necessities of life within, including stone dishware, so it's safe to say they had access to stone vases and pots, plus we've discussed claywork, so monkey-made glazed pottery is also a possibility. And we also covered fire, so the process of heating and cooling mashes for fermenting is also checked off the list.

Incense making

The monkeys are described to practice religion to some extent, offering prayers and burning sacrificial livestock to the gods, so one would imagine they'd stretch that worship to burning incense. Incense can be as easy as scraping off aromatics over simmering coals, which is absolutely within their scope to do, but things like incense sticks might take some learning. Getting the dust fine enough to be kneaded and then rolled or extruded is quite a labor without more complex tools than a mortar and pestle, but that's work they might be able to invest in during Wukong's reign at Water-Curtain cave.

Medicine

Now this one is a wee bit tricky. If we're keeping simply to usage of medicinal herbs, then we have multiple cases of great apes using foraged ingredients to heal themselves and even teaching the right way to consume them to their young. If we stretch this to say, poultices and infusions, that feels like a reasonable leap to make given all the other things they seem capable of thanks to basic tool use. For more say, complex things like major injuries and sickness might be touch and go. Usage of tools like splints, sutures and cauterizing are more on the lane of homonini (aka humans and our closest extinct relatives) and I think this is something they'd need to learn from humans how to go about it. If Wukong also brings with him knowledge of traditional healing ie. acupuncture, Tui na, and more complex medicine mixtures, then the monkeys' lifespan is gonna get much longer. And since he goes out of his way to protect his kin from King Yama's rule and shares immortal wine and peaches freely with them, that's definitely something he would do.

Art

Talk about a large category, eh? Art can be any number of things, but I wanna focus on their technical capabilities and their sense of aesthetic appeal. Art has been a homonin trait for a long long time, with recent studies suggesting all the way back to Homo naledi, who lived during the middle Pleistocene. Anything from dragged fingers across mud and clay, slashes on rock, and of course the well-known cave paintings, can be easily assigned to them as they had basic tools available. The monkeys are also described as capable of dancing and playing music during Wukong's reign, so it's unknown if these are skills they already have or were taught over time by him, or if it's something that they just had the time to devote to at that time. I'm going to take that as a little of column A and column B. As for aesthetic appeal, we know great apes as well as other animals do have a sense of what is "beautiful", as well as have their individual preferences. What exactly monkeys will find appealing is definitely up for debate, but while they might take cues from humans through observation, they're capable of their own experimentation at their own time and leisure. Accessories, face and body painting, carvings, and drawings would be fairly common sights among the monkeys, and likely very prized possessions and gifts.

[tofueggnoodles]

Saiyuki Reload Blast Drama CD 3 – Track 3: Free Talk

Summary: Aside from his usual trolling of Hoshi Souichirou, Hirata Hiroaki griped about Gojyo’s ‘falling quality’ while A-san ‘revealed’ some scandalous bits from his past....

Note: As Soto pointed out, free talks aren't scripted, so the voice actors often interrupt each other, talk over one another, and mumble. I’m pretty sure I did not get everything right, so I’ll really appreciate any correction.

--------

Hoshi: It’s time for the cast round-table discussion of the third volume of the Saiyuki Reload Blast Drama CD. Thank you for your hard work, everyone.

Hirata: Thank you for your hard work, too.

Hoshi: Even though it’s gradually getting colder these days, everyone’s excitement warms up the recording site.

Hirata: Is that so?

Hoshi: Yes, it is.

Hirata: Was everyone excited?

Hoshi: Yes they were. Listeners who are drinking their tea–

Seki: Are they drinking tea as they listen to us?

Hirata: Yeah, are they?

Hoshi: Yes, I imagine they’re doing so while sitting at the kotatsu and eating mandarin oranges. [A kotatsu is a low, wooden table frame covered by a futon, or heavy blanket, upon which a table top sits. Underneath is a heat source, often built into the table itself.]

Seki: Ah, I see.

Hirata (to the listeners): Everyone, is that true? You’re listening to us while sitting at the kotatsu and eating oranges?

Hoshi: Perhaps with a radio cassette player–

Everyone else: Radio cassette player?

Seki: Are we talking about the Showa era? [The Showa era ended in 1989.]

Hoshi: Okay, it could be a CD radio-cassette player.

Ishida: The important point is that it’s something that can play CDs.

Hirata: That’s a valid topic for our discussion. **

Hoshi: Well, we’ve finally wrapped up the recording for the third volume. This time too, the stories were fun.

Hirata: Fun? It was not fun for me.

Hoshi: Admit it, you had fun too.

Hirata: Hey, we recorded two tracks for this third volume, didn’t we?

Seki: Yes, we did.

Hirata: Why did I have to play okama roles in both tracks?** [Gojyo played the Queen of Hearts in Track 1 and briefly impersonated an effeminate celebrity in Track 2.]

Hoshi: Ah ha!

Seki: That’s true, he did that in both tracks.

Hoshi: In the end, indeed.

Hirata: The rest of the characters kept bringing up the past.

Hoshi: I didn’t think it would come to that point.

Hirata: Furthermore, the quality is gradually decreasing–

Hoshi: It was superb, though. A success on the first try.

Hirata: In what way?

Hoshi: You succeeded on the first try, didn’t you?

Hirata: Did I? Oh well, I suppose it’s okay.

Hoshi: All right. Here is the theme for today’s discussion: For idols, there are many rules in place for the sake of preserving their looks. Do you have personal rules of your own? For example, a rule of eating pork cutlet rice on the day before a contest. [The first two syllables of the Japanese term for pork cutlet rice, katsudon, is a homonym for the verb ‘to win’ in Japanese.] If you have such a rule, please share it. Let’s start with Seki-san.

Seki: Yes! This Seki Toshihiko, who plays Genjo Sanzo. It’s not a firm rule and may sound uncool, but I like natto [fermented soybeans]. Whenever I eat natto, first I’ll add butter to the tea, then hot rice. Around the time the butter starts to melt, I’ll put the natto on top of the rice and immediately add the soy sauce.

Hirata: Sounds delicious.

Seki: This is tasty. It’s always been my rule.

Hirata: I have a question.

Seki: Please go ahead.

Hirata: By natto, did you mean the stuff made from ground soybeans?

Seki: Yes, soybeans.

Hoshi: Ah, soybeans, is it?

Hirata: Soybeans, right? You stir them round and round before eating them.

Seki: With the butter, they form a combination that tastes superb. [YMMV.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natt%C5%8D]

Hirata: Perhaps I should try it.

Seki: Please do.

Hoshi: Let’s make it our rule too, Hirata-san.

Hirata: This does not sound like rule, as in something that Sanzo would say, like “I decided to do this today,” before going off to a match.

Hoshi: That could be a single-repetition mantra.

Hirata: What you described is just a favorite dish, isn’t it? It’s not really a rule, right?

Ishida: It’s a rule for when he’s eating natto.

Hirata: So it’s a rule, as in (doing an impersonation of Sanzo), “When I eat natto, I must add butter.” Understood.

Hoshi: I see. All right. Next, would you tell us your rule, Hirata- san?

Hirata: Me? I have none in particular.

Seki: What’s that?

Hoshi: Eh? Hirata-san’s– First, please introduce yourself.

Hirata: Ah. This is Hirata-san, er, Sha Gojyo. This is Hirata-san. Thank you for always looking after me. Recently, I’ve been playing okama characters–

Hoshi: He’s joking around.

Ishida: You’re pleased with it, aren’t you?

Hirata: I’m not.

Hoshi: You’re extremely pleased with it.

Hirata: My rule is the following: Whenever I have to play an okama character the next day, I won’t be able to sleep the night before.

Hoshi: Is that a rule?

Seki: You sound just like Osugi. [Osugi is an effeminate Japanese celebrity.]

Hirata: I can’t sleep. I feel like everyone’s thinking, “Here comes the okama again.” Is there anything else that would count as a rule? Something like superstitions? For example, making sure to step into the studio with the left foot–

Hoshi: Ah, I see.

Hirata: I don’t have that sort of rules.

Seki: Ah, yes, Hira-chan’s rule.

Hirata: Seki-san knows my rule.

Seki: Whenever I asked him if he had such a one-rule, he always answered he never had one.

Hirata: That’s my personal statement. But, did I once said something different to someone else?

Seki: Really? Something different?

Hirata: Ah, no, that’s not it. Another director absentmindedly told me off, live on the radio: “That’s it from my side. From your side – none!”

Seki: That’s probably during the early days.

Hirata: It was when I met Takakuwa-san for the third time at the recording site. [Takakuwa Hajime was the sound director for the various Saiyuki anime series and Drama CDs. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=12967] He absentmindedly–

Seki: Absentmindedly–

Hoshi: Good opening words from him.

Seki: That’s a painful experience.

Hirata: To be told “none from your side” like that, I was like “heh” – it was that kind of [awkward] mood at the time. If I’d left, I wouldn’t be in Saiyuki today.

Seki: If you were not here, it’d have been tough for us.

Hirata: Therefore, the rule that I mentioned just now, it only applies in case of Saiyuki.

Hoshi: Ah, I see.

Hirata: It’s now become my personal rule.

Hoshi: I’m glad. Well then, Ishida-san, please tell us your rule.

Ishida: Er, my rule– this is Ishida Akira, who plays Cho Hakkai. This is a tough one. Nothing seems to come to mind–

Hirata: Somehow, it feels like you’d have tonnes of rules.

Seki: You probably have lots of them your whole life.

Ishida: Do I?

Hirata: Yes, you seem like an orderly person.

Hoshi: Yes, indeed.

Hirata: You give off the air of a model student.

Ishida: Do you think so?

Hirata: Yes, I do.

Seki: First of all, whenever you ride your bicycle, you obey the traffic rules, don’t you?

Hirata: That’s a given.

Ishida: Well, I’m a man who’s broken every rule.

Seki: Oh? That’s the opposite [of what I expected]!

Hoshi: The opposite!

Ishida: Yes–

Seki: While you’re on the road?

Ishida: Yes. From the standpoint of being an idol, I’ve broken all of the love ban rules and conducted many debauched love affairs.

Hirata: Debauched love affairs?

Seki: Hey, stop it, stop it! Akira-kun, you mustn’t go on with this topic!

Ishida: Why, at this point I have lots of regrets.

Hoshi: What kind of talk is this....

Seki: Wait a minute–

Ishida: Let’s see... medical fees, child support payments and many other–

Hoshi: Eh?

Hirata: Where are you going with this?

Seki: Stop it.

Ishida: Whenever I consider the future, it sure seems tough. How long will I have to continue paying for everything? When I think about this sort of things, life seems difficult, so–

Hirata: Hold on for a second. It’s not just one or two persons you’re talking about, is it? The thing about the child support payments.

Hoshi: That’s crazy.

Ishida: That’s why, since at this stage there’s no point regretting what I’ve done, my rule is to live harshly by myself, even if I feel like I can’t go on any longer.

Hirata: I see. That’s a bit depressing.

Hoshi: That was a depressing topic.

Hirata: We should’ve cut out a portion of this volume to make space for this topic. Akira’s talk about his depressing situation has been dominating this free talk. For an omake, it’s–

Ishida: It’d be a pity to remove such an interesting drama.

Hirata: Understood. This free talk is not the place for such a drama, so let’s make a track dedicated to it. An omake Drama CD track like the Urasai sections. The title would be something like Akira’s Murky** Past–

Ishida: Even if we were to make such a Drama CD track, it’d be wasteful if it featured only the things I’ve said just now.

Hirata: It wouldn’t be, if the rest of us were to act out the various roles.

Hoshi: Act out....

Hirata: I’ll act out this part: “Akira, this child is yours!”

Seki: That’s right!

Hoshi: Hey, hey, is everything all right?

Seki: It’s just a joke.

Ishida: Well, there are many kinds of jokes.

Hoshi: Then, what’s the truth, Ishida-san?

Ishida: The truth... are you still trying to dig into it?

Hoshi: I won’t feel satisfied until I get to the truth.

Ishida: The truth is, it’d have been great if I’d done all those things.

Hoshi: Ah-ha! So it’s the opposite.

Seki: Oh, that’s how it is.

Ishida: It’d have been great if I’d done all those things, because I’d be able to give an amusing talk about them at times like this.

Hoshi: Is that so?

Hirata: That was an extremely interesting and amusing talk you gave anyway.

Seki: You definitely look happy.

Ishida: Regrettable, how regrettable.

Seki: Really.

Hirata: Haa.

Hoshi: So you made that your rule?

Ishida: Yes.

Hoshi: Ishida-san and Hirata-san have told us how their rules came to be.

Hirata: Then, how about you, who live your life in a jovial manner?

Hoshi: Jovial? Do I? Well, this is Hoshi Souichirou, who plays Son Goku.

Hirata: I know that.

Hoshi: Yes, thank you for hard work. Fundamentally, I don’t really have a rule, but if I have to call it a rule, I think it would be to eat a lot after putting in a great deal of work.

Seki: Eh, so that’s how it is.

Hirata: Then, you shouldn’t be eating at all.

Hoshi: What do you mean? What do you mean?

Hirata: You should be losing more weight.

Hoshi: Yes, I should be, but the rule I have is whenever I do my best at work, I say to myself, it’s okay to eat.

Hirata: That only applies if you do your best, right?

Hoshi: Which I do.

Hirata: Well then, you should definitely be losing more weight.

Hoshi: As I said, whenever I do my best....

Hirata: Ah, is that so. Have you been doing your best?

Seki: Say, he’s the one to decide for himself whether he’s been doing his best or not.

Hoshi: That’s right.

Hirata: So he’s using the minimum standard, isn’t he? I see.

Hoshi: That’s because we’re never told things like, “you’ve done your best today,” are we?

Ishida: We don’t get told that a lot.

Seki: We just do our work as normal.

Hoshi: Right? When we get off work, the staff members don’t go out of the way to tell us, “Ah, it’s great that you’ve worked hard today.”

Hirata: You want to be told that?

Hoshi: Well, yeah....

Hirata: To the ladies who are listening to this CD, please write he’s done his best in your letters to this guy. Otherwise, he’ll grow fat.

Hoshi: That’d be the outcome of my self-pampering rule. Right, so we’re done with the topic of personal rules.

Hirata: I wonder if our answers are useful to anyone.

Hoshi: We’ve gained extremely valuable insight from everyone here. All right, so the third volume of the Saiyuki Reload Blast Drama CD has come to an end. Does this also mean that we’ve come to the end of the series?

Hirata: Isn’t it a good thing?

Hoshi: Ah, I know–

Hirata: It’s about time. It’s been interesting, but it’s all over the place.

Hoshi: Yes, it’s rather all over the place.

Ishida: It sure is.

Hirata: Also, there’s this pattern in which the tracks end with Gojyo shouting. Isn’t it about time we got rid of it? **

Hoshi: You’re getting tired of it, aren’t you? We’ve done a lot of that.

Hirata: From the start, there’s the constant fights between Gojyo and the monkey.

Hoshi: Yeah, there’s those.

Hirata: Surely everyone’s had enough of that pattern.

Hoshi: Whenever we did a comic story, it always ended with Gojyo [getting the short end of the stick].

Hirata: Let’s make space for something new.

Hoshi: Make space for what?

Hirata: Even if we were to make a fourth volume.

Seki: Yes, we can try to create a new pattern.

Hirata: Yes, something refreshing. Don’t make Gojyo shout [at the end]. Also, don’t make him act out effeminate characters so much. How about it?

Hoshi: Got it. Well, let’s gradually discuss such a matter some other time–

Hirata: But, it’s fun.

Hoshi: It’s fun, isn’t it?

Hirata: Especially for me, who like the Urasai sections the most.

Seki: Which one is it?

Hoshi: That’s true. That’s why, the various [comic] CD Dramas are the type Hirata-san likes.

Hirata: Indeed, I enjoy doing those.

Hoshi: Well then, with everyone’s support for the CD Dramas and of course the main story as well, we look forward to seeing you again in the Saiyuki Reload Blast series. Everyone, thank you very much for listening to the end. See you again!

Seki and Hirata: Yes!

Hirata: See you again!

The other three: See you again!

Ishida: Goodbye.

--------

Translations of the Drama CD tracks referred to during their conversation:

(Round brackets): actions and sound effects. [Square brackets]: translator’s notes and clarifications. Double asterisks **: Stuff I am really not sure of.

[simiansmoke]

Childhood memories: doubt + tears (if you can do doubles) for DK

childhood memories

( doubt )  for my muse to discuss a time they weren’t believed as a child

He knows what he saw! The large pile of bananas everyone had gathered before dark for their developing nation was gone. Spirited away by that-...that THING.

"Dad- I'm tellin' you-...I saw what took the bananas last night! It was this big...dumb, scaly looking jerk, with a long nose! And TEETH- and...!" DK might have sounded like he was going to hyperventilate, but that was because he just hadn't learned the art of taking breaths between his excited recollections. Sputtering, he spun in a circle and pounded the ground a few times. "IT WAS A MONSTER!"

Cranky of course was not having any of his young son's delusions, turning an exasperated look unto the young Kong. "Look, I know you're a growing boy, BUT. YOU CAN'T JUST EAT THE WHOLE WEEK'S WORTH OF SUPPLY OF BANANAS IN ONE NIGHT, DK!"

The young Kong flinched back, but doubled down, eyes narrowing and fists pounding the ground a bit more furiously. "I. DIDN'T!!! I TOLD YOU IT WAS THE MONSTER! THE SCALEY MONSTER WITH BIG TEETH!" Flashing his not so big teeth as a demonstration, DK hisses...in the way he'd heard the beast bellow and hiss while taking their bananas. "It wassa monster! I swEAR- DAD..."

But he wouldn't swear any more because Cranky's cane was halfway up his nose with a thwack. "YOU WILL GO PICK THE BANANAS YOU ATE TO MAKE UP FOR THE SHORTAGE RIGHT NOW, YOUNG MAN."

DK rubbed his nose, fur flaring and teeth grinding as he flung the older Kong a glare. "...FINE! BUT I HATE YOU!" He adds quickly before turning to half scamper, half stomp towards the nearest banana grove. --------------------------------------

 ( tears )  for my muse to discuss a childhood memory that makes them sad

Sighing, DK swirled his glass of fermented coconut juice, staring ahead like he saw a scene unfolding before him, though there was no sign of a recording device anywhere to show some distant memory.

"I had a pet once..." He blinks, seemingly surprised he'd recalled such a fact as he twirled his glass then took a sip. "...banana bird. REal cute." A wave of the hand transformed into a roll of his palm through his hair curl and down the back of his neck. "Could take ya to any banana stash in the zone...sang holalback girl like an angel." With a sigh, the Kong nursed his drink sullenly.

"...I smoked hella jungle weed one day and-...the munchies and an empty kitchen got the better of me. Let's just say...banana birds are definitely vegan."

[zerogate]

The Vedas also mention a drink called surā. Ritual instructions on preparing it show that it was a complex, grain-based, fermented alcoholic drink. As Charles Malamoud tells us, this drink is in every way the counterpart of soma in Vedic thought. For example, soma is of the gods, surā of humans; soma is light, surā darkness. A later, yet still quite early, Hindu myth relates that surā, also a goddess, arose when the gods and anti-gods churned the milk ocean in order to produce the nectar of immortality. This myth is central to many Sanskrit texts that assign a place to drugs in religion and the cosmos.

Early Hindu law prohibited surā for brahmin males, who were involved in the soma sacrifice. They could not (with one minor exception) ingest the counterpart to soma, as being thus intoxicated would interfere with the body and conduct of a ritually pure Veda scholar and priest. Thus in Hinduism, the prohibition of alcohol is tied to social class (varṇa, sometimes translated as “caste”). Later Hindu legal texts extended this prohibition to other social classes in complex ways: brahmins were teetotalers, some classes were forbidden only grain-based drinks, and other classes could drink whatever they wanted. Buddhists and Jains, both lay and monastics, were prohibited from all alcoholic drinks.

Discussions of drinking as a “vice” were hardly restricted to any one religious tradition, or even to what we would nowadays consider religious contexts. Thus, where specific prohibitions existed, they focused on alcohol, especially on surā, and rules were often relative to religion and class. None of the sources from early periods propose a universal prohibition of alcohol, nor of any other drugs.

In ancient and early medieval India, drug “prohibition” was more a question of people from certain communities or of a certain social status being required to abstain from drugs (or electing to do so), often for reasons we would call religious.

Unlike Greece (wine), ancient Mesopotamia (beer), or China (jiu), ancient Indian high culture did not have an intoxicant that was both commonly used and celebrated in canonical texts. Soma, the ancient drink of the gods, was a purely liturgical preparation from a very early period, and the common drug, alcoholic surā, though equally ancient, was shunned by the religious elite and sidelined in extant discussions. Where kings in ancient India are shown drinking, they tend to be depicted enjoying more luxurious products like imported wine and spiced sugarcane liquors at their feasts. Class and caste factors, and religious affiliation, also played a role in patterns of consumption. The development of other drugs in South Asia is thus best understood in relation to these complex, regionally specific patterns of consumption and representation.

-- The Oxford Handbook of Global Drug History

[charlesandmartine]

Friday 17th February 2023

This and the previous property's water supply comes from the sky. Huge tanks in the garden harvest rainwater for drinking as well as all the other household requirements. These tanks here are running low, and if significant amounts of rain are not delivered soon, they will need topping up by truck at cost. This is not seen as being a popular pastime. Rains are forecast in 4 weeks time.

We had set targets for today that could be considered unrealistic. Our journey from Tuncurry to Yamba was to be something slightly less than 5 hour straight and 430kms up the fast A1 Pacific Highway, which is a long way for us in one day. Complicated of course because we wanted to stop on route to take a look at a couple of places. The first must see place had to be the lunch spot in Nambucca Heads, conveniently situated at the head of the Nambucca River but an absolutely delightful collection of sandbanks and natural harbour. Ham & egg sandwiches are an excellent match for the scenery on offer. What with the visit to the bakery added to the consumption time I think we are now talking overall 6 hours with less than halfway. Our next stop was to be Bellingen at the start of the Waterfall Drive. This unsurprisingly involved driving down a road surrounded by waterfalls and comes well recommended. Bellingen is a town that absolutely confirms everything we like about Australia! It is a comely mainstreet of old traditional shops with covered walkways, banks and cinema; balconies with delicate regency iron fretwork which adds a real charm to it. Apparently some town planners are keen to rip the lot down and replace it with modern stuff identical to everywhere else. Thankfully there is sufficient opposition to this viewpoint to hold this sacrilegious act at bay. But for how long we ask? The tourist information lady was very helpful when asked where best to sample the loveliest of her waterfalls and she immediately began scooping copious piles of leaflets, printouts, maps and instructions suitable for a fortnight stay. Another approach was proffered; if you could do just one of these places, which would it be? So that was how we ended up driving up the Dorrigo Mountain to see the Crystal Shower Falls Walk in the Dorrigo National Park Rainforest. This involved a 3km round trip along tall canopied forest paths winding steadily downwards passing palms and yellow cedars until we heard the sounds of running water. The Crystal Shower did not disappoint, especially the ability to clamber behind the falls to view the falling water from the other side. Fantastic and well worth the hike back up the winding forest path, although now making the overall journey time approach 8 hours.

Thus it was that we arrived in our superb Samsara Bush Retreat cabin just before dusk, tired and very hungry. We didn't fancy cooking at this point so we emptied the Nissan and set coordinates for what looked essentially the nearest thing to a fish and chips restaurant. This somewhat morphed into a hotel by the motorway bridge over the river. Dispell all cosy thoughts of country hotels straightaway. Think more in terms of cowboy town hotel, cattle rustlers and karaoke. Then combine this with trying to converse over a cacophony of country music (term loosely applied) with a Sheila, who's already had a tough day sheep wrestling, with an intention of ordering take away F&C. What did come across in clear dulcet tones was: 30 minutes, busy and that'll be 50 bucks! Waiting the required 'go out and catch fish, fillet and cook' time we investigated the possibility of a supply of SB. This was to romp in at 38 bucks a bottle! Well you have to crush the grapes, ferment etc, all costs I suppose. So we approached what must have been Sheila's sister behind the bar to enquire if she might possibly have a bottle of beer. What do want, what you got, no what do you want? This circular discussion continued a while until we suggested Four X. Then with a look, she disappeared out back somewhere (not the outback, although by the amount of time it took it could have been) she emerged with a cold one.

Our landlord suggested later this was the best place to go in this sugar mills district where clearly the entire town of millers come out on a Friday evening to let their hair down.

Hmm

[solatom123]

solomon lartey , PhD student at Teeside university.

Exploring the mechanisms behind the impact of alcoholic beverages on social behavior and health

1. Introduction to Alcohol Consumption

The consumption of alcoholic beverages represents one of the oldest cultural practices in humankind. Today's global alcohol market is among the largest consumer goods markets and continuously growing. In 2017, the alcoholic beverage world market amounted to 1.5 trillion USD (Statista, 2023). While positive aspects of moderate use are acknowledged, including conviviality enhancement (Wills et al., 2006), improvements in social skills, lower inhibitions, and, hence, greater openness, talkativeness, and assertiveness (Käkelä, 1999; Stoner et al., 2020), far more people are involved in negative consequences. Among them are intoxication-related accidents, including car accidents and drowning (Sullivan et al., 2001). Other socially unwanted effects are aggression and violence, including sexual and verbal abuse and destruction of property (Graham et al., 2006). Consequently, crimes believed to be alcohol-related constitute the largest part of the Dutch police crime statistics (CBS, 2022). Moreover, heavy and chronic drinking is correlated with alcohol use disorders (AUD), which negatively compromise individual health and social roles and are among the world's leading causes of morbidity & mortality (Ezzati et al., 2002).

The effect of alcohol on social behavior has traditionally been in focus, resulting in the notion that drinking has socializing or social lubricating effects. In many cultures, moderate drinking before or during social interaction is suspected to enhance enjoyment and smoothness of the interaction (Dimech et al., 2020). Ethanol is indeed crucial in easing socializing in cultures with a long tradition of drinking. In young naive socialize (drinking) contexts, it is also associated with later and overall higher consumption (Anderson et al., 2009). Learning processes (observational learning, social modeling) and environmental factors (socialization norms, peer socialization) contribute to these long-term effects (Foroud & Li, 2000).

1.1. Historical and Cultural Perspectives

Alcoholic beverages have been an integral part of human culture for thousands of years. The history of alcohol consumption is rich and diverse, with people from different cultures and regions developing unique alcoholic drinks. Ancient civilizations produced fermented drinks from grains, fruits, and honey. For instance, beer was brewed in ancient Mesopotamia around 4000 BCE, and wine was produced in ancient Egypt around 3000 BCE. These drinks played important roles in religious and social rituals, as well as in daily life. The ancient Greeks, for example, held symposiums where wine was consumed in moderation to foster intellectual discussions. Similarly, the ancient Chinese brewed rice wine approximately 7000 BCE, which was used in ceremonial offerings to ancestors. Such historical accounts suggest that alcohol consumption has long been intertwined with culture and society. (Rawat et al.2021)

The cultural significance of alcoholic beverages continued to evolve through the ages. In the Middle Ages, monasteries in Europe became centers of brewing and winemaking, and abbey beers and monastic wines gained renown. The consumption of alcoholic beverages was associated with Christianity and religious devotion. However, in the wake of the Protestant Reformation, cultural attitudes toward alcohol shifted dramatically, leading to the rise of temperance movements in the 19th century that condemned alcohol as sinful and destructive. The interplay between culture and alcohol was not only limited to the West. In Asia, colonial encounters reshaped traditional drinking cultures, often leading to social problems and abuses. (Schrad, 2021)

As familiar as drinking is to many, it is also a misunderstood and contentious subject, particularly in the West. Drinking can induce pleasurable effects such as relaxation, group bonding, conviviality, and sociability. Yet, it can also incite aggressive and violent behavior, abusive and demeaning conduct, and disturbing and dangerous actions. There is a common belief in many cultures that alcohol use helps unfold the ‘true self’ of the drinker. The intoxicated individual may become uninhibited, frank, cheerful, friendly, boisterous, quarrelsome, abusive, or aggressive, fully displayed in actions. However, this belief is culturally contingent. This discrepancy points to the complexity of alcohol’s social effects, revealing what is crucial in understanding the social world. This understanding has implications for public policy regarding alcohol consumption and violence. Furthermore, investigating the mechanisms underlying the cultural shaping of alcohol’s social effects can contribute to the larger theoretical endeavor of understanding the relationship between culture and behavior. As such, it is a worthwhile undertaking. (Thurnell-Read, 2021)

2. Physiological Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol has a range of physiological effects on the body. The concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream and its speed of delivery to the brain will determine the intoxication and its resulting effects. The 'buzz' commonly associated with alcohol consumption is a euphoric feeling experienced within minutes of drinking. This occurs before significant impairment of motor or cognitive function, and it is associated with alcohol’s ability to boost dopamine levels in the mesolimbic system. (Domi et al.2021)

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the ratio of alcohol in the blood measured by mass/volume, percentage weight/volume (wt/w), or common (mass/volume) percentage (g/mL). The amount of alcohol consumed, consumed in a short period of time, and the person’s body composition will impact their BAC. Intoxication is defined in table “Classification of Intoxication by Blood Alcohol Concentration”. Women consistently reach a BAC higher than men after consuming the same amount of alcohol due to the difference in the mean body water composition. People with lower body fat percentages will reach a lower BAC.] (Greaves et al.2022)

Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream quickly through the aerial surface of the gastrointestinal tract. Ethanol is highly soluble in water, resulting in rapid absorption through the mucous membranes lining the stomach and upper intestinal tract. The onset of intoxication occurs faster when alcohol is drank on an empty stomach (high alcohol concentrations in beverages) due to a delay in gastric emptying. Women have delayed gastric emptying compared to men, resulting in women’s BAC being elevated further than men’s. CO2-rich drinks, such as champagne, will reach the systemic circulation more quickly as they promote gastric emptying and may cause exaggerated time courses of effects. Paxil, a common antidepressant that causes doses to be absorbed into the bloodstream slowly, may negate the fast absorption of alcohol. (Cox & Klinger2022)

2.1. Metabolism and Absorption

Alcoholic beverages contain various psychoactive substances, the most offensive of which is ethanol (C2H5OH), commonly known as alcohol (Babor et al., 2010). Ethanol is a colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid that can be manufactured either synthetically or by the fermentation of carbohydrates (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006). Ethanol is widely used as a recreational beverage and as a humectant, solubilizing agent, and medicinal agent. Ethanol intoxication induces mood swings, disinhibition, and socialization, which may facilitate drinking behaviors. Although moderate drinking is said to have health benefits, it has been undeniably linked to various hepatotoxic diseases and other health conditions, such as neurodegeneration and breast cancer, particularly among young women (Liu et al., 2014; Tchouaket et al., 2022; Yamada et al., 2023). (Koob et al., 2021)(Baltariu et al.2023)

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive alcohol intake, loss of control over drinking, and negative emotional states when alcohol is not available. Recently, safe and effective pharmacotherapies for managing AUD have been drawn increased attention (Volpicelli et al., 1992). AUD is characterized by brain maladaptation to chronic alcohol drinking, including adaptive changes in neurotransmitter signaling systems. In particular, the neurotransmitter systems that mediate the actions of ethanol include the gamma-amino butyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor, opioid, serotonin, dopaminergic, and glutamate systems (Volpicelli et al., 1992). Normalization of forebrain neuroadaptations to chronic ethanol through region-specific electrophysiological approaches provides a promising new pharmacotherapy that holds broader implications for other neurological disorders associated with behavioral inhibition and compulsive behaviors (Babor et al., 2010). (Ferreira et al.2021)

The bioavailability of ethanol is almost 100%, with peak blood concentrations reached 30 to 90 min after ingestion of alcohol in a fasting state and about 120 to 240 min in a fed state. The rate of gastric emptying affects peak blood alcohol concentration. During acute exercise, subcutaneous alcohol injection increased blood ethanol levels faster and created a higher peak blood ethanol concentration than intragastrically administered alcohol. Gender differences exist in ethanol absorption, with higher blood alcohol concentrations noticed in females. Ethanol absorption is also dependent on age, body weight, concomitant carb intake, psychological condition, drinking history, type of beverage (carbonated beverage has a more prominent effect), and other factors. Ethanol is distributed in body water and body tissues in a relatively uniform manner. Ethanol is a small polar molecule that is lipophilic, and its small molecular weight (46.07 g/mol) plays a role in its rapid absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. After rapid absorption, ethanol flows into the blood circulation. According to the theory of alcohol spectrum, ethanol can passively diffuse across biological membranes via the lipid bilayers, resulting in concentration gradients of alcohols across membranes (Yamada et al., 2023). Ethanol is absorbed with a very low first-pass metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract and liver (Babor et al., 2010). The body weight-adjusted volume of distribution for ethanol is 0.6 to 0.7 L/kg in males and 0.5 to 0.6 L/kg in females. Ethanol concentration in tissues and organs can be predicted based on the body water and body fat contents. (Wilson & Matschinsky, 2020)(Tarantino et al.2022)

3. Social Behavior and Alcohol Use

The association between alcohol use and social behavior has been a topic of interest for social psychologists, sociologists, physicians, and epidemiologists for years. There is substantial empirical evidence that social context plays a role in influencing differential levels of alcohol consumption. This is particularly relevant for young adults, who tend to consume alcohol more frequently and in greater quantities when with friends. However, there is still much to explore regarding the nature of this association. A social networking perspective is proposed to better understand the role of social context in influencing drinking behavior. (Corbin et al.2021)

The expression of social behaviors is not solely based on internal factors such as individual motivation, personality, or drug use. Context matters. Social networks, which are the web of social ties linking individuals, have been shown to influence behavior. Network attributes, including individual positioning in the network, the network's structural and homophilic features, and peer effects, have all been linked to social behavior. Networks are crucial for the transmission of social behavior and social norms through relational ties.

Normative mechanisms are important for understanding how social context shapes behavior. Social norms define acceptable conduct in a given context and regulate social behavior by sanctioning norm violations. Social norms regarding alcohol use can either encourage or discourage behavior within a network, regardless of individual characteristics. East African communities are used as an example where drinking norms have shifted, promoting consumption among women and economically disadvantaged individuals. This highlights that social norms may promote both individual and collective risky behaviors.

Descriptive norms refer to perceptions of typical behaviors within a social context, while injunctive norms refer to perceptions of approval/disapproval. A pipeline model is proposed to understand how these normative mechanisms and social contexts interrelate to shape individual behavior, taking into account relative timing in alcohol use behavior. Contextual aspects such as physical environment and network homophily are relevant for drinking behavior. Normative mechanisms are explained, and convergence between descriptive and injunctive norms is considered.

3.1. Social Norms and Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol use is commonly embedded in the social life of different cultures, and the availability of alcoholic beverages facilitates such consumption. Understanding how social contexts shape drinking behaviors has been a focal point of research, leading to a large body of work on normative influences. Numerous cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have shown associations between alcohol use and the attitudes and behaviors of peers and friends, but it remains to be understood how such influences come into play. Social norm approaches have been employed in several interventions, both in public campaigns and as "brief interventions" in treatment programs for problem drinkers. The latter are commonly called "feedback" interventions, where survey feedback is used in one-to-one settings to confront drinkers with a higher personal use compared to their peers. Feedback interventions have often produced an immediate decrease in alcohol consumption. (Marziali et al., 2022)

Several mechanisms have been suggested that may explain the impact of social norms on drinking behaviors. Social norms processing is facilitated by the tendency of individuals to fall back on common sense when they lack information. In the absence of direct experience on how much alcohol is consumed by peers or friends, default assumptions are that consumption is close to limits permitted by the law, or even above the average limits suggested by population statistics. Norm comparisons are also facilitated by the prevalence of thus shared estimates rooted in culturally transmitted knowledge. Such estimates easily come to mind when individuals seek advice on whether their personal consumption is inappropriate, inviting students and other young adults to be concerned about their drinking as potentially high. Alternatively, exposure to drinking may boost activated estimates and filtering norms, rendering high individual consumption acceptable.

Both normative processing styles and consumption levels go through systematic changes during the transition into independent drinking, creating an intertwining of the two processes that cross-fuel the impact of social norms on drinking. In early phases of drinking, high normative estimates provide a protective window of opportunity against binge drinking in normatively constrained group settings. Once individuals increase drinking, normative estimates adjust to match drinking levels within social groups, which may set the stage for drinking escalation within resulting drinking cultures. Alcohol consumption is a variable that has attracted much attention in both the social sciences and the biomedical sciences. In recent years, attempts have been made to find common ground among these fields, and interest groups have attempted to utilize knowledge gained in the social sciences on the social risk factors of drinking behavior for the development of intervention policies to diminish alcohol-related problems. (Graupensperger et al.2021)

4. Alcohol Use Disorders

In Western societies, alcohol use is ubiquitous, and a large majority of the population consumes alcoholic beverages of various kinds. For most, alcohol consumption is limited, involves only the occasional drink, and does not lead to any adverse consequences. However, for a sizable minority, alcohol use leads to a chronic social and health problem characterized by hazardous and harmful consumption. According to the latest guidelines of the World Health Organization, about 40% of the Western adult population qualifies as having an alcohol use disorder (AUD), defined as at least one of the following 11 criteria within the last 12 months: 1) consuming alcohol in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended; 2) wanting to cut down or stop, but not succeeding; 3) spending a significant amount of time obtaining, using, or recovering from alcohol; 4) craving alcohol; 5) causing conflicts with family or friends; 6) neglecting social, occupational, or recreational activities due to drinking; 7) using alcohol in hazardous situations; 8) continuing to use alcohol despite causing problems; 9) developing tolerance; 10) experiencing withdrawal symptoms; 11) engaging in behavior that poses a risk to health, such as liver disease, accidents, and overdosing. In the United States, someone dies of alcohol consumption every 12 minutes. It has been estimated that alcohol consumption costs the United States over $223.5 billion per year, accounting for 1.9% of its gross domestic product (GDP). In 2004, Canada drank on average 14.9 liters per person, the second highest among the countries more developed organizations. (Neufeld et al.2021)

There is a clear need for effective preventive measures to deal with AUDs. A wide range of risk factors have been identified that make individuals more vulnerable to develop an AUD, which can be divided into factors that are biological, genetic, environmental, social, and psychological in nature. The implementation of preventive measures should focus on combating the impact of these factors. Several institutions provide clear insight into AUDs and guidelines focused on at-risk populations, available for health workers, educational institutions, governments, and online.

4.1. Risk Factors and Prevention

Causal pathways exist through which such risk factors exert their effects, modifying, mediating, or influencing measures of social behavior in youth. In turn, such behaviors affect alcohol use and intoxication and, consequently, the risk for the development of AUDs later in life. In recognizing how time and different levels of organization along such pathways may modify the effects of risk factors on the progression of alcohol use, intoxication, and abuse would allow for development of more effective approaches for prevention and intervention at different stages in development. (Karunamuni et al., 2021)

Although relationships exist between higher level demographic and societal influences, such as advertising, pub and bar availability, and college status, there has been less focus on identifying specific mechanisms through which higher level influences affect individual level risk factors. This has limited understanding of how societal level forces, such as alcohol marketing directed at youth and the availability of alcohol on campuses, shape the risk of early onset drinking across different cultures and societies.

Persons who drink to intoxication are at elevated risk for alcohol dependence. Because alcohol intoxication is the putative mediator of most of the acute pharmacological effects of alcohol consumption on social behavior, it is important to identify risk factors that affect the progression of drinking and intoxication. Various risk factors are likely to exert their effects on drinking and intoxication in different ways over the course of development. Factors that affect the earlier and initial use of alcohol are likely to have different effects on the risk and timing of intoxication. Factors that influence drinking in adolescence and young adulthood are likely to be distinct from those that influence use patterns in older adults.

The concept of drinking trajectories is introduced as a way to explore individual differences in drinking and intoxication patterns over the course of development. Such trajectories can be inferred indirectly through the analysis of longitudinal data or can be modeled directly from cross-sectional data. Trajectories of use can take different forms, such as user/non-user, increasing/decreasing, or stable patterns, or they can involve different types of use (e.g., average quantity or frequency of use), different substances (e.g., alcohol and cigarettes), or levels of a dependent variable (e.g., alcohol abuse, sensation-seeking, neuropsychological functioning). Likewise, trajectories of intoxication can vary, ranging from never intoxicated to a steady increase in intoxication as drinking increased.

5. Conclusion and Future Directions

Throughout this essay, alcohol's wide range of effects—both socially and physically—has been examined. It was revealed that when consumed in moderation, alcoholic drinks can improve confidence and decrease anxiety or discomfort in company settings. However, the motivation behind alcohol consumption often changes as consumption escalates. The negative impact of excessive drinking becomes evident, as this change can include violence or disagreements. Furthermore, while binge drinking occasionally can be viewed as harmless fun, at-risk groups often develop substance abuse, which heavily affects health and social engagement. Such groups often include younger people, who are still learning social norms and have less experience with substance use. Studies show that those aged 18-30 account for the highest number of deaths due to binge drinking, and that those who begin drinking before age 15 are more likely to develop substance abuse.

There are many factors that lead to this escalation of drinking patterns. Properties of the drink itself can play a role; alcohol consumption increases in bars or clubs after drinks are bought, because of their higher alcohol content and cheap price. The environment can also affect drinking patterns; programs intending to reduce drinking in bars often focus on the drinking culture, which consists of music and dancing, and urges the idea of drinking to escape reality. Women’s drinking often shapes the social culture in such venues. However, it does not appear that alcohol programs successfully reduce drinking, often leading to disappointment, an increased need for alcohol, and uptake in drug use. Future directions could include investigating the intoxication of substances other than alcohol, exploring whether binge-drinks increase or decrease drug use, and utilizing rodent models with social behavior experiments greatly differing from existing paradigms, with a focus on sex differences.

References:

Rawat, J.M., Pandey, S., Debbarma, P. and Rawat, B., 2021. Preparation of alcoholic beverages by tribal communities in the Indian himalayan region: A review on traditional and ethnic consideration. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, p.672411. frontiersin.org

Schrad, M. L., 2021. Smashing the liquor machine: A global history of prohibition. [HTML]

Thurnell-Read, T., 2021. 'If they weren't in the pub, they probably wouldn't even know each other': Alcohol, sociability and pub based leisure. International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure. springer.com

Domi, E., Domi, A., Adermark, L., Heilig, M. and Augier, E., 2021. Neurobiology of alcohol seeking behavior. Journal of Neurochemistry, 157(5), pp.1585-1614. wiley.com

Greaves, L., Poole, N. and Brabete, A.C., 2022. Sex, gender, and alcohol use: implications for women and low-risk drinking guidelines. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(8), p.4523. mdpi.com

Cox, W.M. and Klinger, E., 2022. Alcohol and its effects on the body. In Why People Drink; How People Change: A Guide to Alcohol and People’s Motivation for Drinking It (pp. 25-38). Cham: Springer International Publishing. [HTML]

Koob, G. F., Arends, M. A., McCracken, M. L., & Le Moal, M., 2021. Alcohol: Neurobiology of Addiction. [HTML]

Baltariu, I.C., Enea, V., Kaffenberger, J., Duiverman, L.M. and aan het Rot, M., 2023. The acute effects of alcohol on social cognition: A systematic review of experimental studies. Drug and alcohol dependence, 245, p.109830. sciencedirect.com

Ferreira, G.M., Lee, R.S., Piquet-Pessôa, M., de Menezes, G.B., Moreira-de-Oliveira, M.E., Albertella, L., Yücel, M., dos Santos Cruz, M., dos Santos-Ribeiro, S. and Fontenelle, L.F., 2021. Habitual versus affective motivations in obsessive-compulsive disorder and alcohol use disorder. CNS spectrums, 26(3), pp.243-250. [HTML]

Wilson, D. F. & Matschinsky, F. M., 2020. Ethanol metabolism: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Medical hypotheses. sciencedirect.com

Tarantino, G., Cataldi, M. and Citro, V., 2022. Could alcohol abuse and dependence on junk foods inducing obesity and/or illicit drug use represent danger to liver in young people with altered psychological/relational spheres or emotional problems?. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(18), p.10406. mdpi.com

Corbin, W.R., Hartman, J.D., Bruening, A.B. and Fromme, K., 2021. Contextual influences on subjective alcohol response. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 29(1), p.48. apa.org

Marziali, M. E., Levy, N. S., & Martins, S. S., 2022. Perceptions of peer and parental attitudes toward substance use and actual adolescent substance use: The impact of adolescent-confidant relationships. Substance abuse. nih.gov

Graupensperger, S., Jaffe, A.E., Hultgren, B.A., Rhew, I.C., Lee, C.M. and Larimer, M.E., 2021. The dynamic nature of injunctive drinking norms and within-person associations with college student alcohol use. Psychology of addictive behaviors, 35(8), p.867. apa.org

Neufeld, M., Bunova, A., Ferreira-Borges, C., Bryun, E., Fadeeva, E., Gil, A., Gornyi, B., Khaltourina, D., Koshkina, E., Nadezhdin, A. and Tetenova, E., 2021. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in the Russian language-a systematic review of validation efforts and application challenges. Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 16, pp.1-14. springer.com

Karunamuni, N., Imayama, I., & Goonetilleke, D., 2021. Pathways to well-being: Untangling the causal relationships among biopsychosocial variables. Social science & medicine. osf.io

[standspro1]

The Complete Show Info for BrauBeviale Nuremberg 2024

BrauBeviale Nuremberg 2024 will be an ideal location for all professionals working in the field of beverages. The bottlers and producers of soft drinks, beer, mineral water, and juices, along with sparkling wine, wine and spirits, are expected to gather for a discussion about the future of the industry. Braubeviale Nuremberg 2024 dates have been set, and the prestigious event in the field of beverage will take place from November 26 to 28, 2024, at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre.

Vendors display their products, solutions, and services at every step in the beverage manufacturing process, from raw materials to packaging, bottling, and point-of-sale marketing. This text will provide information about the show and will be read until the final.

BrauBeviale Nuremberg 2024: Detailed Show Info

In BrauBeviale 2024 Nurnberg, You will get to know colleagues and business partners with similar interests, as well as beer enthusiasts across Germany, Europe, and across the globe. The show will bring together a range of brewing-related interests. Hobbyists, craft brewers, historical family breweries, and international beer clubs will be represented in the exhibit. The brewing industry is a thriving community that is able to address the most pressing issues, including sustainability, climate change and energy issues, and regulations regarding packaging. Nearly all the participants in BrauBeviale 2024, which will be held in Nuremberg, will showcase products, solutions, services, or products for brewery owners. The event will function as a platform to share ideas and gain an idea.

The range of products includes the raw materials and brewhouse technologies to bottling facilities, and finally, sales, marketing as well as beverage logistics will all be showcased at this trade show. Also, you will be able to see the entire range of products and services that are available to the cellar industry during BrauBeviale 2024 Germany. Fermentation and maturation through to marketing and bottling are a few examples. Seventy percent of exhibitors offer solutions for wine and cellar trade along with distilleries. Professional tasters are also expected to show high-end spirits during the event.

BrauBeviale has offered for a long time an extensive selection of non-alcoholic beverages. About 60 percent of our exhibitors provide solutions for bottlers and manufacturers of non-alcoholic drinks and mineral water. In this collection, BrauBeviale Nuremberg 2024 will highlight the latest developments in beverage production, bottling facilities, packaging accessories marketing and distribution for soft drinks, fruit juices, and mineral water.

What Products You Will See at Exhibition Areas at BrauBeviale Nuremberg 2024?

BrauBeviale 2024 Nurnberg will showcase products and solutions for marketing. Here are the most important areas of the show:

Raw materials and refinement of the sensory

Systems and machines to produce beverages

Systems and equipment used for packaging and filling drinks

Packaging for products closure systems, labeling and other aids.

Automation and IT

Equipment for operating and laboratory use Operating and auxiliary equipment

Energy systems including compressed air/gases, workplace safety and environmental technology

Logistics and intralogistics

Catering and marketing facilities

Institutes, services education establishments, services and media

Exhibitors will showcase unique products that contain raw materials like malt and hops, as well as ingredients such as syrups, flavourings, syrups, sweeteners and so on. and also equipment to manufacture beverages and packaging. Glass bottles for packaging, PET bottle containers, composite packaging bags-in-box solutions, as well as bottles that are not returnable or non-returnable are popular. Closure systems, labels, and packaging tools complete the scope of this exhibition sector.

Automatization and IT technology will also be showcased, which can meet the increasing demands for efficiency. In addition, the latest insights into catering and marketing strategies and logistical issues are covered. BrauBeviale Nuremberg 2024 is an important gathering for experts in the beverage industry due to its networking opportunities as well as access to the latest developments and trends.

Get Your Exhibition Stand Booked With Stands Pro

BrauBeviale is an essential event to attend and a mood gauge for the beverage industry. It is the place where small-sized companies meet the most prominent players in the global market, conventional companies meet startups, and fresh talents meet experienced professionals to help develop the beverage industry with future-proof solutions.

Join BrauBeviale Nuremberg 2024 by booking your stand at the exhibition with Stands Pro. We are an established exhibition stand design business in Nuremberg that offers eye-catching exhibits and everything associated with exhibitions.

Connect us to discuss your needs for your exhibition stand should you plan to exhibit your products. We’re ready to help you any time, ensuring your exhibit is a smooth and unforgettable experience. We’re the ones who will take your Braubeviale Nuremberg 2024 tickets to the top of the list of priorities.

Exhibitor Profile: BrauBeviale attracts exhibitors from various sectors of the beverage industry, including:

Brewing Equipment Manufacturers: Leading manufacturers of brewing equipment, machinery, and systems for beer production, including brewhouses, fermenters, filtration systems, and packaging equipment.

Beverage Packaging Solutions: Suppliers of beverage packaging materials, containers, bottles, cans, labels, closures, and packaging machinery for breweries and beverage companies.

Ingredients and Raw Materials Suppliers: Providers of brewing ingredients such as malt, hops, yeast, and adjuncts, as well as suppliers of water treatment solutions, flavorings, and additives for beverage production.

Technology and Automation Providers: Companies offering technology solutions, automation systems, process control equipment, and software solutions for optimizing brewing and beverage production processes.

Beverage Industry Services: Providers of consulting services, laboratory analysis, quality control, logistics, and marketing services for breweries and beverage companies.

Why Attend the Show:

Product Showcase: Explore a comprehensive range of brewing equipment, beverage packaging solutions, ingredients, and technologies from leading industry suppliers, gaining insights into the latest innovations and trends in the beverage industry.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with brewers, beverage producers, suppliers, and industry professionals from around the world, fostering collaborations, partnerships, and business opportunities.

Educational Seminars and Workshops: Attend seminars, workshops, and panel discussions featuring industry experts and thought leaders discussing brewing techniques, beverage trends, market insights, and sustainability in the beverage industry.

Market Insights: Gain valuable market insights into consumer preferences, emerging beverage trends, regulatory developments, and sustainability initiatives shaping the future of the beverage industry.

International Platform: BrauBeviale provides an international platform for companies to showcase their products and innovations, attracting visitors and exhibitors from across the globe, and facilitating global business connections.

Organiser Website Link for More Info: For more information about BrauBeviale 2024, including registration details, exhibitor information, and the event program, please visit the official website: BrauBeviale

In summary, BrauBeviale 2024 is a premier event for professionals and businesses in the brewing and beverage industry, offering valuable networking opportunities, product showcases, educational resources, market insights, and international business connections.