#top functional foods for health

[toytulini]

jalapeño eggggggggggg

[be-good-to-bugs]

i NEED to take a break from work

[angelicgirlmj]

an angels guide: healthy eating at school

hi angels! you voted and this came first so here it is, an angels guide to eating healthily and focusing on your body and health goals at school. healthy eating at school can be tricky. you use up so much enegry and time in class and studying that meals can seem a little less important. you might end up skipping a meal or eating a meal that ends up not fitting your health goals all because you ran out of time. i have created three categories of lunches to help you find meal inspo: cold lunches, hot lunches and make the night before lunches. also a bonus snack section and some general tips! enjoy angels and feel free to comment your go to lunches/snacks.

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tips

bring a bottle of cold water with you to school, drinking water regularly helps you look and feel your best.

eat breakfast! even if you don’t get very hungry eating in the morning helps your brain and body function it’s best. try having some fruit or a smoothie if you really struggle to eat in the mornings.

try vitamins/probiotics to help you get all your nutrients and vitamins in.

buy a cute lunch box/food containers to make sure your lunches are adorable.

make a pinterest board of cute healthy lunches to be inspired by!

figure out your health goals and create meal ideas from there. for example: i want to build muscle! that means you need more protein in your diet so plan meals and snacks with lots of protein sources to fit your goal.

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a week of cold lunches:

chicken salad: mix chicken, avocado, tomato, cucumber, carrot, corn, salad leaves (lettuce, rocket etc). add mustard and lemon dressing, season well with salt and pepper and fresh dill. dessert: raspberries and blueberries served with peanut butter and greek yogurt.

tuna and avocado pita: mashed avocado and tuna, seasoned with salt and pepper, fill in pita along with rocket and pickle slices. dessert: pineapple and pomegranate fruit salad.

cold rice bowl: mix cooked salmon, rice, cucumbers, cooked broccoli and sliced carrot. sprinkle with sesame seeds and pepper and salt. garnish with a garlic mayo or homemade yogurt garlic sauce. dessert: chopped strawberries dipped in yogurt and coated in dark chocolate and coconut oil left to harden.

feta and turkey wrap: place lettuce, turkey, tomato in a wrap and sprinkle with feta, pepper and salt. dessert: sliced apple (squeeze lemon over to stop apple going brown) with peanut butter, greek yogurt and cinnamon dip.

cold pesto pasta salad: mix cooked penne pasta, homemade pesto, tomato, rocket, avocado, grated parmesan and season with salt and pepper. dessert: tangerine pieces and kiwi.

cold noodles: mix cooked noodles, shredded red cabbage and carrots, green onions, handful of crushed peanuts, chopped cucumber and cover with sesame peanut sauce. dessert: homemade blueberry banana oat muffin.

salmon bagel: add salmon, cream cheese (or cottage cheese), cucumber, rocket, lemon and pepper to a bagel. dessert: blackberries and mango.

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a week of hot lunches:

pizza toast: spread homemade tomato sauce on a piece of sourdough bread, cover with mozzarella, add your favourite toppings such as ham, mushroom, olive, pepper etc and bake until cheese melted, serve with rocket. dessert: banana bread and greek yogurt.

stuffed aubergine (or eggplant): sauté aubergine, onion, garlic, pepper, zucchini and olive, add in tomato paste and season. put in aubergine and sprinkle with cheese. bake until cheese melted. dessert: sautéed apples served warm with yogurt and granola.

chicken meatballs: homemade chicken meatballs cooked with a soy based sauce and red peppers. serve with cooked rice. dessert: strawberry oat crumble.

gyozas: heat or make some gyozas and serve with a cucumber and carrot salad with soy sauce to dip. dessert: hot matcha tea with strawberries.

soup: make your favourite soup and serve with some warm sourdough toast. dessert: watermelon slices.

quesadilla style wrap: fill a whole wheat wrap with cheese, turkey, tomatoes and avocado. cook until cheese melted and warm. dessert: green grapes, blueberries and raspberries.

grilled chicken burrito bowl: mix grilled chicken, rice, avocado, black beans, corn, tomatoes, red onions, cilantro and sour cream with cooked rice and squeeze over lime and season as preferred. dessert: rice cakes with greek yogurt strawberries and melted dark chocolate.

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snack ideas:

veggie sticks and hummus.

fruit salad.

frozen banana, peanut butter and chocolate slices.

pretzel thins and sliced cheese.

frozen grapes and lime.

salty popcorn.

yogurt parfait.

cucumber and cream cheese rice cakes.

cookie dough protein bites.

banana peanut butter rice cakes.

homemade oatmeal cookies.

smoothie.

chia pudding.

˚₊‧꒰ა ꣑ৎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

thank you for reading! happy back to school season. remember to nourish and take care of your body - you deserve it! love, m.

[thatdisasterauthor]

Top Surgery Fundraiser

Hello! I'm Katy L. Wood, an author and artist with a dayjob in wildland fire dispatch, and I need help funding my top surgery/breast reduction.

I made the decision to finally pursue surgery for the issue about two years ago, but have had to put it off due to moving across the state and going back to college, but now that I'm a little more settled it's time to just get this done. I am getting a reduction in general for all of the aforementioned reasons, but I have chosen to go completely flat for gender related reasons. I am not trans, but I am certainly not cis either and having any sort of noticeable breasts just does not align with how I want to present.

I have found a great surgeon here in Colorado, but he is a little more on the expensive side. The total quote for my surgery (including all follow up appointments, anesthesia, post-surgery garments, and the surgery itself) is just under $15,000. I pursued several different options, but every other surgeon I talked to required a year of therapy to get an official diagnosis of gender dysphoria (and so did all insurance covered options), and I am not willing to do that. I am not dysphoric, I honestly could live with my chest as it is from a gender perspective, it's just the functionality of it and the amount of pain it causes that is making me finally pull the trigger to get this done. The only gender related part is how much I want taken away because if I'm doing it, I may as well do it right.

Additionally, if my quote for surgery was, say, $10,000, but I had to have a year of therapy on top of that, plus pay health insurance premiums for a whole year to get that therapy, it'd probably come out to about the same cost if not MORE expensive. I figure it's quicker, easier, and cheaper to just get it done all in one go and not waste my time (or the time of a therapist with clients that actually need their services).

I have been working a TON of overtime this summer to try and save up as much as I can towards this surgery (150ish hours last month, and about 45 so far this month), but that won't get me all the way. I'm trying to get about $17000 total saved up to cover not only the surgery but post-surgery meds, transportation to and from the surgery, and some other general post-surgery comforts like a lot of easy-make food, food deliveries, pet sitting while I'm gone, etc.. Time off work thankfully shouldn't be an issue.

[hanimai]

We’ve always been told that “bad” bacteria are to blame for all dental diseases but, upon a closer look, scientists have realized that imbalance in the oral health is caused by the lack of good bacteria.

The population of good bacteria can be harmed by common dental products that might contain toxic ingredients. This explains why teeth can thrive for thousands of years outside of the mouth, while in our mouth they get ruined by plain chocolate. In order to support the health of your teeth and gums, you need to repopulate your mouth with good bacteria and provide a healthy environment for the strains to grow in.

This probiotic candy also targets your respiratory system, supporting your body to stay free from allergies, while also promoting restful sleep and good digestion.

Click here to learn more about this !!

[aeth-eris]

★ 2nd house & diets ★

★ aries in the 2nd house ★

your health thrives with bold, energizing foods that keep you fueled. opt for dishes like spicy tacos, roasted red pepper hummus, chili with beans, and roasted root vegetables for a satisfying kick. include anti-inflammatory foods like berries and leafy greens to help with aries’ natural intensity. high-protein foods (lean meats, legumes) keep your energy steady. supplements like B-complex vitamins, iron, and omega-3s support stamina and mental clarity. stay hydrated, and consider magnesium to support muscle relaxation and ease stress.

★ taurus in the 2nd house ★

you benefit from hearty, grounding meals that feel comforting. try dishes like creamy mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, stews, and whole grain salads to keep you feeling nourished and centered. foods high in fiber, like leafy greens and root vegetables, support digestive health. biotin and vitamin E are ideal supplements for skin, hair, and nails, while calcium and magnesium support bone health and relaxation. a daily multivitamin can ensure balance, as you enjoy the richness of a varied, nutrient-dense diet.

★ gemini in the 2nd house ★

light, versatile meals work well for you, helping you stay mentally sharp and physically agile. think veggie stir-fries with nuts, avocado toast, fruit salads, and smoothie bowls. foods rich in B vitamins (whole grains, nuts, leafy greens) help keep your energy and focus stable. include antioxidant-rich foods like berries to support brain health. B-complex supplements are helpful for mental clarity, and omega-3s can support cognitive function. staying hydrated with electrolytes can enhance focus and energy.

★ cancer in the 2nd house ★

comforting, nurturing foods help you feel grounded. dishes like creamy soups, stews, rice pudding, and cucumber salads are gentle on your digestive system. prioritize hydrating, water-rich foods like melons and cucumbers, which help balance emotional and physical well-being. a daily probiotic and ginger or peppermint tea can support digestive health, while calcium and magnesium help promote calm and relaxation. consider a multivitamin for balanced support, as consistent nourishment provides a sense of security.

★ leo in the 2nd house ★

vibrant, nutrient-rich foods support your radiant energy. try dishes like citrus-glazed salmon, honey-roasted vegetables, spiced oatmeal with fresh fruit, and colorful salads. include foods rich in vitamin D (mushrooms, fortified grains) and antioxidants like berries and bell peppers. supplements like vitamin C and zinc boost immunity, while vitamin D3 supports energy and vitality. a daily multivitamin helps you maintain a balanced diet, ensuring you feel both nourished and confident.

★ virgo in the 2nd house ★

your health benefits from simple, wholesome meals that nourish your body and mind. think lentil stew, roasted root vegetables, fresh salads, and whole-grain bowls with lean proteins. prioritize unprocessed, fiber-rich foods that are easy to digest. probiotics, as well as B-complex vitamins, help support gut health and mental clarity. magnesium can be beneficial for relaxation, and a multivitamin keeps your nutrient levels balanced. choosing foods that feel clean and light aligns with your natural inclination for wellness.

★ libra in the 2nd house ★

balanced, aesthetically pleasing meals are key for your well-being. enjoy dishes like berry-topped yogurt bowls, colorful salads, figs with honey and cheese, and well-plated grain bowls. include antioxidant-rich foods like berries and leafy greens, which support skin health. supplements like biotin and vitamin E enhance beauty from within, while a multivitamin helps maintain balanced nutrition. staying hydrated and incorporating herbal teas can help maintain harmony, keeping your body and mind in sync.

★ scorpio in the 2nd house ★

intense, nutrient-dense foods that feel transformative are ideal for you. meals like dark chocolate chili, pomegranate and berry salad, black bean and truffle tacos, and eggplant parmesan suit your tastes. include detoxifying foods like dark leafy greens and beets to support immune health. zinc and iron supplements help sustain vitality, while adaptogens (like ashwagandha or reishi) aid in managing stress. probiotics promote digestive balance, especially if you enjoy rich, bold flavors in your meals.

★ sagittarius in the 2nd house ★

adventurous, hearty meals that bring a sense of abundance resonate with you. dishes like grain bowls with legumes, holiday-inspired roast dinners, curries, and colorful salads are ideal for sagittarius’ expansive energy. liver-supporting foods like leafy greens and lemon water aid in detox, while probiotic supplements help keep digestion balanced. milk thistle or turmeric supplements support liver health, while a multivitamin provides a solid nutrient foundation. staying mindful of portions can help balance your love for indulgent flavors.

★ capricorn in the 2nd house ★

simple, grounding foods that focus on longevity suit your health approach. meals like roasted root vegetables, lentil stew, pickled veggie platters, and hearty bean soups provide lasting energy. calcium and vitamin D-rich foods (almonds, leafy greens) support bone health, which is essential with capricorn’s influence. supplements like calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D3 offer foundational support, while a multivitamin provides consistent nutrition. a balanced diet of whole foods helps you feel grounded and nourished.

★ aquarius in the 2nd house ★

unique, innovative foods keep you excited about health. try dishes like superfood smoothie bowls, acai bowls, dragon fruit salads, and kimchi stir-fries to satisfy your taste for the unconventional. antioxidant-rich foods (berries, nuts) support circulation and mental clarity. omega-3 supplements enhance focus and nervous system health, while probiotics aid digestion if you enjoy fermented foods. including B-complex vitamins also supports mental sharpness and energy, keeping you in sync with aquarius’ eclectic energy.

★ pisces in the 2nd house ★

soothing, gentle foods that nourish body and spirit are ideal for you. try dishes like miso soup, mushroom risotto, seaweed salad, and herbal teas to maintain balance and calm. hydrating foods with immune-supportive ingredients like ginger, citrus, and garlic align well with pisces’ sensitive energy. vitamin C and zinc help boost immunity, while magnesium aids relaxation and sleep. a fish oil or omega-3 supplement enhances mental clarity and emotional balance, supporting a sense of overall well-being.

★ sun in the 2nd house ★

your health thrives on meals that feel vibrant and energizing, so focus on nutrient-dense, hearty foods that support vitality and confidence. dishes like citrus-glazed salmon, honey-roasted vegetables, spiced oatmeal with fresh fruit, and lemony quinoa salad are ideal. include warming spices like ginger and cinnamon, and foods high in vitamin D (mushrooms, fortified grains) to boost energy. vitamin C (citrus fruits, bell peppers) supports immunity, while a daily multivitamin and vitamin D3 supplement can help keep you feeling strong, especially in low-sunlight months.

★ moon in the 2nd house ★

comforting, nourishing foods that evoke emotional warmth are essential for your health. dishes like creamy mashed potatoes, seafood chowder, rice pudding, and cucumber salads provide the grounding and soothing energy you crave. prioritizing gentle, easy-to-digest foods supports your sensitive stomach. water-rich foods like melons, cucumbers, and soups are also beneficial. to support digestive health, a probiotic supplement and ginger or peppermint tea can be helpful. calcium and magnesium supplements also aid relaxation and emotional balance, providing a sense of stability and calm.

★ mercury in the 2nd house ★

light, versatile meals that support mental clarity work best for you. opt for dishes like veggie stir-fry with nuts, avocado toast, fruit and nut salads, or blueberry smoothie bowls to keep your mind sharp. a diet high in B vitamins (found in leafy greens, whole grains, nuts) supports nervous system health. staying hydrated is essential, so drink plenty of water and consider electrolytes if needed. supplements like B-complex vitamins, magnesium, and omega-3s (for cognitive support) can help you maintain focus and energy.

★ venus in the 2nd house ★

you enjoy indulgent, beautiful meals that feel like a treat, bringing pleasure and harmony to your health routine. dishes like strawberry and goat cheese salads, berry-topped french toast, truffle pasta, figs with honey and cheese, and chocolate fondue are perfect for you. antioxidants (from berries, leafy greens) and foods rich in healthy fats support glowing skin and overall vitality. biotin and vitamin E supplements are excellent for skin, hair, and nails, while a daily multivitamin can help maintain a balanced sense of well-being.

★ mars in the 2nd house ★

you need bold, energizing foods that satisfy your active and determined nature. spicy dishes like beef tacos, roasted garlic and red pepper hummus, chili with beans, and roasted root vegetables align with your high-energy vibe. protein-rich foods (like lean meats, legumes) help maintain strength. supplements like iron and B-complex vitamins can support energy levels, and adding a turmeric supplement helps reduce inflammation if spicy foods are a staple. staying well-hydrated with electrolyte support is also beneficial.

★ jupiter in the 2nd house ★

you enjoy hearty, abundant meals that feel celebratory. classic dishes like grain bowls with legumes, mac and cheese, holiday-inspired roast dinners, potato and leek soup, and bread pudding bring a sense of satisfaction. while you enjoy variety, aim for moderation to balance richness. antioxidant-rich foods (like berries) support immune health, while a daily multivitamin ensures a balanced nutrient intake. probiotics are helpful for digestive balance, and milk thistle or turmeric supplements support liver health if you enjoy occasional indulgences.

★ saturn in the 2nd house ★

simple, grounding meals that emphasize longevity and consistency resonate with you. meals like lentil stew, roasted root vegetables, pickled veggie platters, and hearty bean soups are ideal, providing sustained energy. foods high in calcium and vitamin D (almonds, leafy greens, dairy) support bone health, an area of focus with saturn’s influence. calcium and magnesium supplements aid bone strength and muscle relaxation, while vitamin D3 supports immunity. a quality multivitamin offers foundational support for your well-being.

★ uranus in the 2nd house ★

you enjoy unique, innovative foods that break from the traditional. superfood smoothie bowls, acai bowls, dragon fruit salads, kimchi stir-fry, and kombucha-marinated tofu suit your eclectic tastes. foods high in antioxidants and omega-3s (like berries, fish, nuts) support circulation and mental clarity. adding supplements like omega-3s and B-complex vitamins can help maintain focus and nervous system health. probiotics are also beneficial for digestive support, especially if you enjoy fermented foods.

★ neptune in the 2nd house ★

your health benefits from gentle, soothing meals that feel spiritually nourishing. dishes like miso soup, mushroom risotto, seaweed salad, lavender-infused desserts, and herbal teas help keep you balanced. focus on hydrating foods and immune-supportive ingredients like ginger, citrus, and garlic. vitamin C and zinc are helpful for immunity, while magnesium can support relaxation and sleep. a fish oil or omega-3 supplement is beneficial, especially if seafood is part of your diet, as it enhances mental clarity and calm.

★ pluto in the 2nd house ★

you’re drawn to intense, nutrient-dense foods that feel transformative and empowering. meals like dark chocolate chili, pomegranate and berry salad, black bean and truffle tacos, eggplant parmesan, and rich red wine risotto resonate with you. dark leafy greens, berries, and high-protein foods provide lasting energy. a multivitamin ensures foundational nutrition, while zinc and iron support resilience and vitality. adaptogenic herbs (like ashwagandha or reishi) can be beneficial for stress management, while probiotics promote digestive balance.

[canisalbus]

It's probably fair to say that, as a child, Machete's goal was to just survive. Even as a young adult, survival obviously remained a principle goal.

But slowly, over time, he gained power, and is now a cardinal. He no longer struggles to fend off death (weakened constitution notwithstanding.) He probably still sees himself as trying to survive day-to-day, but clearly it becomes more than that, even if he's not fully cognizant of it.

I guess what I'm wondering is, besides "survival", what are Machete's goals? As a cardinal or otherwise. What prevents him from leaving or resigning his post? Does he have aspirations other than Vasco? Does he see himself as subservient to God, or is it something else?

I'd say his aspirations are pretty mundane. Security and stability are probably the biggest priorities overall, financially and health-wise. He doesn't thrive in unreliable and unpredictable surroundings. The fact that he knows he will have his basic needs met for the foreseeable future, there are people ready to prepare him a warm bath at a moment's notice, a reputable doctor to look after him, and armed guards that are never too far away, eases his mind considerably. A large part of his work revolves around routine, carefully crafted plans and immutable etiquette, with relatively few unpleasant surprises. He's so high in the hierarchy that very few people can treat him disrespectfully and get away with it.

He wants to prove that he's capable, competent and useful. His deeply rooted inferiority complex (that largely stems from the demeaning and belittling way his mentor treated him when he was his apprentice) has made him a lifelong overachiever, which in turn has served him well in his career. He's ambitious and driven but I wouldn't call him power-hungry in an egoistical way, he can come across as overbearing but it's because he's a perfectionist control freak who's obsessed with doing his job well and has a tendency to think most people around him aren't up to the task. He isn't in it for fame and wealth in itself, it's more about having a purpose that makes you worthy of respect.

On a more personal level he's passionate about reading, studying and learning. Partly because he's inquisitive and genuinely enjoys it, knows he's good at it and feels good about being good at it, but also because he wants to be the most learned, most cultured and most academic person in the room. Not necessarily for bragging rights, but to feel like being smart will always keep him one step ahead of the others and that way no one can pull the rug from under his feet.

He would never be able to afford the things he wears and the luxuries he has access to if his life hadn't taken the exact turns it did. He spent his early childhood in a monastery and was trained by a priest who valued asceticism and self-denial so he didn't have a lot of nice things growing up. Now as a high ranking church official he has more spending money than he could've imagined, and while he has an expensive taste, he oftentimes fails to enjoy the benefits of his status properly. He has a comfortable home with a massive bed, but it's not uncommon for him to sleep in his office or forgo rest completely. Even though he could be savoring the rarest most complex dishes every day, there aren't a lot of foods he likes eating. He would like to look pretty but even his outlandishly costly and carefully tailored silk garments can't redeem the fact he doesn't feel comfortable in his skin.

He can't resign because his sense of self-worth and lifestyle are tied to his job. It's the one thing he's demonstrably skilled at. He's worked himself to the bone to get where he is now and the prospect of losing it is simply unfathomable. He doesn't have ties to his biological family and his friends are few and far between, if he gave up his position he'd have functionally no one to rely on but Vasco. On top of that he does feel like he owes his life to the church and serving it to his best ability is his lot in life. His state of faith and relationship with God is complicated at best but he's nonetheless terrified of what might happen and how he might be punished if he ever chose to abandon his post.

[chronicallycouchbound]

I refuse to call government assistance programs “welfare” or “benefits”.

I’ve been on government assistance programs my whole life. I have never lived above the poverty line.

It’s a system that doesn’t care about my wellbeing, they care about doing the bare minimum to keep people alive enough to function and work, and if you’re disabled and cannot work, they give significantly less of a fuck.

And benefits?? What benefits?

Food stamps that run out within two weeks because I am budgeting with 8$ a day with literally dozens of dietary restrictions? Or do you mean the housing voucher that I have to never even have a gift card, penny to my name, Sams club membership, phone bill, literally anything that could be “income” in order to qualify? That same housing voucher system that if I mess up even once with I not only lose all government aid for at least 5 years, it’s also mandatory PRISON time for 1 year?? “Oh but they would never do that, right?” Nope! I have several friends who are now felons for minor lease violations and unhoused as a result! Oh maybe you mean the state health insurance that doesn’t cover most treatments, specialists, and testing I need and if I tried to make a gofundme to cover, I would lose aforementioned housing? Oh and we can’t forget all the money I get for being disabled, which is exactly 0$. I’m still fighting for SSI and have been for 6 years! That’s over 6 years with absolutely zero income. ZERO. And guess what, whenever I *do* get on SSI, I will lose my housing voucher. And I won’t be able to afford my current apartment because even in subsidized low income housing it’s too expensive for the maximum SSI “benefit” amount. And on SSI you can’t have savings over 2000$. Oh and they do make housing for people who are low income where you pay 30% of your income but I can’t even be on the waitlist since I don’t have any income. And on top of all this, I can never get married because I’ll lose all of the programs.

I could keep going. That’s not even half of the programs I’m a part of.

• None of them give me cash in hand. Even for vouchers I have to provide receipts for everything.

• Food stamps just straight up won’t even cover ineligible items. Which includes hot foods.

• I genuinely don’t believe that there’s a way to “game the system” and why would you? You would gain literally nothing.

• It’s designed to keep people poor. Once you make over a certain amount, you lose all or almost all benefits. There’s no way to slowly transition out of the programs, if you’re someone who’s able to. It’s all in or all out.

• All of these barriers are made significantly worse while unhoused/homeless. I’ve been homeless for over half of my life and there’s so many fucked up rules. If I missed one night staying in the shelter, I lost my housing voucher because I no longer was “verified as homeless” even if I was sleeping outside still.

[ask-whitepearl-and-steven]

this might be a bit long, but i've always wondered about the fundamentals of W!Steven's gem. your X-ray of his head shows that it takes up roughly 80% of his head, causing some deformities. something i want to know, does his brain wrap around his head, or does his gem replace it all together, as Canon Stevens gem replaced his organs? and surely, whichever foster parent was there when he got x-rayed, wouldnt want to stick around a kid with a giant diamond in his head, or maybe they would plan to exploit him online (like asking for "surgery" donations) but he got pulled out of the home? lastly, the dumbest question, when Stevvonnie just.. exists, does connie ever be like "ohmigosh having a rock in my head is very strange" ^-^

From the FAQ:

He is largely unaware of it, and he’s largely unaffected by it.

No, he does not technically have a brain. His gem functions as a replacement to his brain. He’s alive because…… gem stuff.

Yes, he did have trouble breathing/swallowing food as a child. He has largely adjusted to this, though, and the condition has gotten better as he has grown older, so he isn’t bothered by it.

Yes, his neck is probably wicked strong.

whichever foster parent was there when he got x-rayed, wouldnt want to stick around a kid with a giant diamond in his head, or maybe they would plan to exploit him online (like asking for "surgery" donations) but he got pulled out of the home?

In terms of this... yes! It has been mentioned in the story (Season 1) that Steven had trouble being taken into homes because many families assumed that he came with a set of health issues. Naturally, the state would need to pay for it, but it's still a big investment of time and energy, even if the money isn't a part of the problem.

when Stevvonnie just.. exists, does connie ever be like "ohmigosh having a rock in my head is very strange"

Well, Connie is Connie and Stevonnie is Stevonnie.

Connie has not yet realized just how big Steven's gem is, so she only thinks it's set into their forehead. And Stevonnie has only ever existed with the gem as a part of their being so... they kinda think it's normal!

Good question though!

If you guys wanna learn more, might I entice you to read this little itty bitty post I have pinned at the top of my blog? 👀

[dionewrites]

𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄. ˚₊ HEADCANONS // ft. Lucifer 1.1k words · GN!Reader · SFW · Feel-good & Fluff ♛ Masterlist | Request Guidelines

⚠ Content Warning: Mention of his demon form, implicit threat and possible death, and reader being sick, stressed, unhappy, experiencing insomnia, and gaining haters. ✎ Note: This is the first work I wrote and posted here on my blog. I’ll be writing for all the demon brothers with this scenerio as well, so please look forward to it!

Lucifer is an ideal partner that certainly comes with a host of benefits. However, this demon is pretty private and keeps some of his cards close to his chest, so it’ll take time for him to fully open up. More so, showing his affection for you shamelessly.

He prefers to keep things on the down-low, so it’s not distinctly apparent that the two of you are dating, but as he falls more deeply and intensely in love with you, he becomes more comfortable and bolder in displaying his affection and declaring you’re his. Still, if one does not have eyes like a hawk, one will likely not notice those subtle cues, such as the shared pecks on the cheeks or lips when no one’s looking, the three love taps on the back of your hand to express “I love you,” his frequent stroke on your arm, hand, or shoulder blade, and how his hand is always resting on your thigh whenever you’re sitting beside him.

His most blatant public display of affection is when he spreads his wings in his demon form and wraps them around you on one side. When he’s in an excellent or sunny disposition, he’ll hold your hand and gently squeeze it from time to time, which he cutely does unconsciously, all the while entwining his fingers with yours.

He calls you “honey” or “my dear” as an endearment, but only in private. He still sticks to your name in front of others, excluding his brothers, Diavolo, Barbatos, and the occupants of the Purgatory Hall. After all, aside from gloating a bit that he’s the one you chose over them, he doesn’t really see the need to restrain himself to that extent around them.

He takes care and prioritizes your well-being around the clock. When you feel unwell or tuckered out to function for the day, he excuses you from your classes and requests a work from home for him to Diavolo to look after you. If given permission, he spends most of his time in your room and usually settles himself down, presumably working, on an armchair positioned slightly distant from your bed, just enough not to disturb your rest. This demon might seem to give off an air of calm and relaxed composure, but you bet he’s been a bundle of nerves throughout your bedridden hours. The heaps of glances he casts on you every minute are enough to reveal his uneasiness about your condition.

However, if there are very crucial matters he needs to personally manage immediately and, unfortunately, can’t be granted approval for work from home, he finishes his work as early and quickly as he can or goes back and forth between RAD and the House of Lamentation to check on you and make sure you are eating and take your medications at the right time.

Once you feel better, he teaches all the lessons while assisting you with the assignments and activities you’ve missed. He takes additional precautions to ensure you’ll not get sick again by closely monitoring your daily habits, food intake, and health condition. It may sound annoying and constant nagging, but taking extra care of your body and health is the top priority.

He can give succor and handle most of your concerns and worries. When someone wrongs or attempts to hurt you, if it requires immediate action or you want him to lift a finger, they’ll be dealt with straight away and make sure they’ll never trouble you again, though it’s a mystery whether they’re still alive…

When you feel overwhelmed and stressed, he does his utmost to reduce the task and burden placed on you, which he usually does without your knowledge. After those long days, he’ll take you on a date or short vacation (with or without his brothers) to unwind.

When you feel distressed and down in the dumps, he instantly drops whatever he’s doing, regardless of how swamped he is with work, to let you vent on him, listen to you (plus offer advice if you ask for it), and takes you into his arms while giving you slow and soft kisses or caressing your back to soothe and reassure you that you always have him and everything will be okay before long.

When you experience insomnia, he plays the musical pieces he composes for and about you on the piano. This demon has several irons in the fire, so there’s no doubt it’s surprising he has the time to spare—but little do you know, he only spends a short time composing the majority of them because, for some reason, everything easily falls into place just by thinking about you. His works are brimming with emotions, much of which focus on his deep affection, admiration, and devotion toward you.

He makes time for you. Despite having a lot on his plate, it’ll not become a serious issue because he consistently makes a special effort to be around you and involved in your every day, no matter how exhausted he is. On some days, you can see him pushing himself too hard that you’re the one who ends up canceling your plans and dates to force him to rest because he’ll never will.

He’s honest with you and won’t hide anything from you unless necessary and has a good reason for it. Even though you’re not asking or prying, he informs you about every demon, incubus, witch, or other species he meets and has a business with. Many take pleasure in spreading rumors and gossip about him, so he tells you about them to prevent misunderstandings.

His love languages are physical touch and quality time. His favorite time of the day is when he finally gets the opportunity and leisure to stick to you like glue. This demon can’t keep his hands to himself but will never verbally admit how touch-starved he is every day (unless he imbibes demonus). He always wants you to be physically close to him and enter your physical spaces. He loves how it feels to hold and be held by you. He longs for your presence and to simply spends meaningful time together.

Dating Lucifer makes others hold you in even higher regard and esteem. This is the avatar of pride we’re talking about, who’s immaculate and excellent in almost all aspects. Naturally, their respect for him is significantly extended to you. However, it’s also inevitable for many to feel envious and resentful of you, gaining numerous rivals and haters who are wishing and waiting for your breakup. Still, it’s best to feel and embrace that great pride for having him, just as much as he does for being with you as well.

[faeriekit]

Health and Hybrids (V)👽👻💚

[I can't remember the original prompt posters  for the life of me but here's a mashup between a cryptid!Danny, presumed-alien!Danny, dp x dc, and whatever prompt made the one body horror meat grinder fic.]

PART ONE is here PART TWO is here PART THREE is here PART FOUR is here and this is part five💚 Ao3 Is here for all parts

Where we last left off... Batman had a meeting! Danny acquired age appropriate enrichment toys. All is well. You know. Except for the everything else. But it’s fine and MM is on his way so it’ll all be great soon for sure! :)

Trigger warnings for this story:  body horror | gore | post-dissection fic | dehumanization (probably) |  my awful attempts at following DC canon. On with the show.

💚👻👽👻💚

One…Morning? Evening?

Well. One day, Danny rediscovers his tongue.

Most of the muscle is there. Things taste better after he remembers how to taste.

(If everything tastes like iron, well…Danny tries to ignore that.)

Its main function is social. When Danny needs the quiet humans he can’t see to Shut Up or Go Away!, it is now within his power to blow a raspberry.

A slightly bloody raspberry. But still! A success! And when the fuzzy red human buzzes and whines about scaring them off, Danny blows it one too.

If all it does is make the human cry more, hey. That’s not Danny’s business.

*

The buzzy human comes back with its friends, with fresh sheets, spilling nervousembaras!sednervous all over the room.

Blech. Danny saves himself the trouble and phases through his bed and through the floor below. He does not need to be grabbed again.

He has more energy than he used to. It gets him farther than he’s used to; by the time he finds and works his way through an apple, a pear, and a whole plate of chicken wings, he’s still not sleepy.

…Huh. He rolls over underneath his usual haunt: a conference table. He isn’t feeling the urge to drop into his core. He’s achy, sure, and his limbs hurt and his mouth hurts from eating and he can’t see, but also…

Is Danny bored? Is he finally well enough to be bored of being sick and injured?? That’s. Is that progress? Is it…regression??

Danny sulks under his conference table (his now) with a pile of chicken bones and a few stems and doesn’t know what to do.

If he goes back to his bed…will the sheets already be done? Will people be waiting to get him? Did he lose his…ugh, he doesn’t want to think of them as toys. His…enrichment? Educational tools?

…Okay they might be toys. Whatever. When Danny feels better, he’ll grab something more age appropriate. Maybe he’ll get them from his—

Danny flinches.

…From his house.

If he can get there.

Whatever. He doesn’t want to think about that right now. He wants to figure out how to get rid of his trash without revealing his location. Or leave his conference table shelter.

Danny drums his claws against the low-pile carpet that stretches below him. Should he stay? Rest up? Wait for the threats to his admittedly-kinda-pathetic territory to leave? Should he…go get more food? Should he explore more? He feels all kinds of sore and tired but his head mostly feels clear. Maybe if he—

There’s a hissing noise. Danny bristles. He hisses in like, but—oh. It’s a door.

…Oh. It’s the door.

Uh oh. That’s um. That’s.

Uh oh.

Danny quickly pretends that he hadn’t hissed. He invisibly pushes the top of his head through the thick wood of the conference table. They shouldn’t be able to see anything if he peeks.

Well. Unless they can? But if they can, that’s. Uh. That’s a whole new problem.

Several tall, colorful, adult humans walk into the room. He can’t quite tell how many. Just a bunch. And they’re tall. But hey, they’re color coordinated for easier determination, at least.

Danny lowers himself back down through the table. Should he leave? Will they see him if he tries to leave? Can they spot him?

He sits and worries and he dithers as the humans slowly surround the table and the hidden ghost underneath. Should he…should he go through the floor? Will they know he’s there? Is it even safe to get back to his cot yet?

Feet start appearing underneath the table. Danny shies away from them. He pulls his chicken bones away from them too; if they step on one, they might notice him.

Then everything gets quiet. There’s only one quiet, droning voice.

So maybe Danny peeks again.

There’s a giant shadow at the front. It’s probably human. It has black arms and black legs and a patch of what is probably skin in his very fuzzy vision. It stands beside a lit screen.

Danny squints.

…Oh. He can’t quite tell what it’s about, or what’s exactly is being shown on the screen, but he knows what a powerpoint presentation is supposed to look like: a person, a lot of talking, a screen, and a lot of people listening. They’re just…talking. They’re not even talking about Danny.

Okay. He’ll rest under the table. It seems…safe enough for now.

It’s better to listen to human heartbeats and breathing in a room than it is to sit in his silent one, waiting for some new horror to break the everpresent quiet. Danny lays on his belly, nose to the carpet, and counts how many feet are under the table. (There are sixteen feet.) Some humans are wearing real shoes, with inch-thick soles of hard rubber at the bottom. Some are wearing things that look like shoes, but are too flexible, with soft soles that bend and curl as they flex under the table. Very few of them have laces or fixtures. Huh.

A wrapper falls. Danny watches the ball of foil flutter to the floor, at peace with his position, tired of inspecting shoes. And then a face pops down.

Danny freezes. (It’s not the smartest move.)

The face that popped down probably sees him back, considering how still it goes. And then, very slowly, so slowly, a hand reaches down. Danny flinches back, and—

…It grabs the wrapper. The adult carefully gets back up. The face disappears.

Danny doesn’t move. Danny doesn’t leave. Danny doesn’t breathe.

He waits. The human slowly goes back to tapping its toes, wiggling in its seat—and vibrating, in a way that says bored/bored/bored the way the younger human sometimes does.

…No one says anything. No one does anything. No one jumps under the table to get him, there isn’t a break in the speaker that indicates identifying Danny as Present, or as A Problem. Danny is simply…hidden.

He should leave. It would be smart to leave. Danny would be safer if he left.

But also.

Maybe.

This might be the first time he’s been so close to humans in so long.

They don’t know he’s here. It should be…safe. If he just. Listens to the indistinct sound of human voices. Let them wash over him, like a radio left on in the other room.

Danny’s sated. He’s achy. He’s bored. He’s sad. He’s lonely.

…He stays.

He doesn’t notice his humming or the quiet purr in his chest before the hand comes back down again. Danny flinches away from it, the hum guttering to a stop where it had laid.

There’s something about its hand. The hand came down, before, but now there’s something more to it. Another color—a darker color. It’s hard to tell in the shadow underneath the desk. Maybe a—green? A blue? Maybe?

The hand shifts, just a little. And then the thing comes flying at him. Danny jolts backwards, digging his claws into the mere millimeters of carpeting underneath him, and—

Oh. The thing isn’t moving. It hasn’t even exploded.

Danny reaches out a hand. Taps it, gently. It doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t attack him. It doesn’t excrete anything acidic or bite him. He sniffs it, just to be doubly sure, and nope. It smells like plastic. The wrapper crunches under his hands, even when everything sounds mute and muffled. The noise is borderline imaginary, so Danny can’t exactly tell what it sounds like when he plays with the little plastic flaps.

He can tell what it is now, though. The food bar goes down whole, wrapper and all, into his gullet.

Nice. The outside tastes bad, of course, but it’s nice.

The hand goes away, and no one bothers Danny. It’s nice. There are voices, but they aren’t yelling. They aren’t mean to him. They aren’t talking about what his insides look like or how bad he is or how to take more pieces off of him.

…Danny’s core thrums evenly. Peacefully. Maybe he will want that nap after all. His body gets kind of grouchy when it comes to plastic. He can pretend that it isn’t grumpy with his improvised diet with a nap.

Danny curls up on the floor, core beating along with the quick and even taptaptaptaptap fluttering of a too-quick human heart, and settles in for a quiet one.

(When he wakes up again, no one is around to see him throw out his chicken bones in the tiny trash receptacle by the doorway.)

(His toys and new sheets are all there when Danny gets back to his cot.)

(He’s too relieved to do anything but take a second nap.)

*

“So,” Wally tries, leaning against the wall. “The… Alien? Extraterrestrial?”

Barry shrugs. Fishes a cheeto out of his bag. “Bart’s been calling it a ghoul. They crashed half a mile off the Kent farm a little after you popped out of the Speedforce; there’s a huge chance something happened to them as part of the temporal anomaly.”

“Happened as in…?”

“Yeah.” Barry takes another cheeto. “Bad.”

And theeeere is the visible guilt. There isn’t exactly any great way for Wally to feel after his unintentional resurrection led to an unintentional…something else.

“…Ah.”

Barry shrugs. There isn’t anything they can do about it; short of rewinding time and shoving Wally back into the Speedforce, which has been shoved off the table with a great deal of force by all of the man’s former teammates, there’s no way to undo the accident that landed the poor alien smacking straight into good-old-fashioned American dirt.

“Don’t worry about the way it happened. It wasn’t your fault, and it sure wasn’t intentional on your part,” Barry points out, and offers the bag of Cheetos towards Wally. The snack is gone in microseconds. The curse of speedsters is really footing the bill of all their emotional eating.

“So, they’re…do we know what they are? Because they definitely shapeshifted fangs as soon as I found their little—whatever that is. Container? Unit? Under the table.” Wally traces the vague shape of the thing’s cerulean heart in the air. “One second I was holding a glass paperweight, and the next I was on the opposite end of a very angry shadow-snake. I think they would have done worse than bit me if it hadn’t had a clear escape route out of there.”

Barry balls the empty bag and shoves it into a pocket. If he litters in the Watchtower, it’s going to be water cooler gossip for years. Bats would never let anyone defile his super cool, super-secret base with garbage without his own form of petty revenge. “Medical says it likely serves as an organ for him,” he says instead, since monologue about how inconvenient it is to be held responsible for his own actions wouldn’t be professional. “So. Think of it less as a container; think of it more as a turtle shell. Medical is pretty sure it’s a part of their body. Messing with it would really hurt them.”

“Yeowch.”

“Mmhmm. One micro-sec.” Barry darts out and away from his nephew; he just remembered he has bottled smoothies in his room. In the time it takes him to fetch two from his mini-fridge—one of his favorite flavor and one of Wally’s—and circle back, the dust motes in the air have hardly even realized he’s gone. They hardly drift even upon his return. “Here.”

Wally catches it easily. To anyone else, Barry would barely have blinked away. To any other Speedster…Barry knows intimately how lethargic and thick time feels against his skull. Slowing down to a mortal, human speed can feel maddening. Sore. Viscerally and bone-shatteringly wrong in his skin, maybe.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.” Barry would do that and more for his family.

They drink their smoothies.

“You know,” Barry breaks back in, the thoughts of their previous conversation looming lightly in his mind, “Medical says that the fact that we sometimes see their—let’s call it a core—is really, really bad. It’s not a shock that they’re hiding. It would be like climbing in a closet when you’re so vulnerable that you don’t feel like you can defend yourself.”

The rim of Wally’s smoothie bottle drops from his lips. The man frowns. “Oh?”

Barry shrugs. “Imagine losing your skull so that your brain is exposed all the time. Imagine being a cell and having your cell wall break so your nucleus is exposed?”

They both wince at the image.

“Oh boy. And Bart is…playing? With that entity?”

His uncle snorts. “You tell me. I think you’ve seen more of them than I have at the moment. All I did was catch them hanging out in a conference room. I have to admit, the purring can get a little loud in the…” he makes a vague gesture that could mean anything from room to atmosphere to Speedforce.

Wally’s been mostly of the same mind—the physics of the entity, whatever they are, aren’t specifically third-dimensional. It might be related to how they only sometimes manifest, or how they manifest with only partial corporeality.

“It’s been at least some play and some games for him, I’m sure,” Wally admits, a smile pulling at his mouth nevertheless. “I spotted him going through a stim toy website before he suddenly and mysteriously had a mission on the other side of the planet. But I think most of his concern is the…”

Wally winces at the thought of the myriad of medical issues the entity’s faced since his arrival to Earth. Barry’s wince stretches to match. They both saw the report.

“…So it’s been a lot of food on Bart’s part. A lot of managing his care of them too; Superboy and Rob aren’t the most straightforward team in the world, but I think they’re largely keeping Bart in check on this one— not that they’re on base as much as Bart is.”

Wally smiles. It’s not a very happy smile, or very relieved of his earlier guilt, but it’s a smile nevertheless. That’s fine. Barry’ll work on the rest on Sunday; they’re due for a good luncheon out somewhere nice. Their JLA-approved food budget can foot the bill. Maybe…Indian? There’s got to be good food in Delhi they haven’t tried yet.

“At least J’onn’s back on base next week.” Wally sighs, crooked and a little weary. “Maybe this will finally get them to stop running every time someone gets within forty feet of them. Like, they realize they’re losing vital fluids, right? Wait, is Bart even giving them any water?”

“…I’m going to hold off on that worrying thought. I have a different one I’m sweating over. Do we even know if Bart will let our resident telepath get within forty feet of his new playmate?”

Wally groans, face in his hands. Barry can’t help but laugh a little—perhaps tinged with desperation.

Sidekicks. Always with the new problems. At least last time they had this problem, Kon could talk.

[paradoxbeta]

WHO IS EOC? i am very curious now!!!

>:) okay SO

tumblr picture formatting is utter garbage and i dont want these to take up too much space so im cramming these drawings into one row (or not if this crapsite breaks on me, because it seems to be REALLY fighting me on this, so if it ends up not making a nice little picture row know that i tried my best). but this is effigy of composure!

he has a couple problems, but the big one is that his superstructure has a terrible parasite situation. the parasites are flat, thin, and able to make it into grooves and pipes the inspectors cant reach. flushing out doesnt do much to dislodge them and they breed faster than they can be killed, so theyve happily made their homes in this sheltered, food-rich haven (to the obvious distress and horror of the host iterator). originally the concept for these parasites were much closer to centipedes and had the placeholder name "synapcipedes," but ive since started leaning more towards an obvious tapeworm motif for them because its gross and i enjoy it morbidly. it also has some pretty cursed implications if you think about it for too long which i have decided are funny/really disgusting/so stupid that they have to stay. i still flipflop between considering them centipedes vs tapeworms though and i dont think thatll ever be rigidly defined. the ambiguity is nice to toy with

on the top 10 list of "things that are not fun" having turbo worms has to be somewhere up there, so eoc has it *rough,* and kind of sort of eventually barrels off into the deep end because of it. his futile attempts to clean his own structure are frustrating enough, and the constant feeling of bugs crawling all over the inside of his body (which only gets progressively worse with time) does no favors either. however, the real big reason why he mentally declines is just because there's a ton of centi-worm things eating like fire through his neurons and other what-have-yous that iterators need to think and function. i think if he only got hit with one of these 3 things then he might have been able to hang onto his sanity, but with the triple combo he doesn't really stand a chance of doing much except stalling his functional death. which is good on him because if i was an iterator and my overseers told me i had a structure infestation, my mental health would have just preemptively swan dived off a bridge before anything even happened

anyhow, exponential parasite population growth meant exponential increase in all this other fun stuff, which means the time from the beginning of the infection to the time eoc is considered officially gone is startlingly short (for iterators, at least). it still took quite the while because losing your marbles is a loonnnng process, but still, yikes. its unfortunate because eoc was a real jokester pre-everything, and a cool guy to talk to. he was one of those people who could come up witty comments for anything like hed been ripped from the script of a sitcom. oh yeah, also, should have mentioned this earlier, but he ends up accidentally amassing a scavenger cult mid-insanity which goes hilariously bad because he's barely aware it's happening. nothing really works out for this poor iterator.

tldr: eoc gets parasites, they erode his brain, he goes nuts about it, (accidentally amasses a cult,) dies

[tr0ubledberry]

Hi friends. I’m 21F and have been struggling with my body image since 2009 which led me to develop anorexia around 2014. I’ve been struggling ever since and have tried every trick and diet out there but have finally settled on my own so I thought I’d share it. First of all, recovery is a lie. There was a point in my life where I fully recovered but made me fat… it was nice not to worry about calories and all that but the pros outweigh the cons of an ED if done correctly. So think of your ED as a lifelong friend. In order to have an ED successfully for a long period of time you must go about it healthily. I know this is somewhat contradictory. I’m gonna include just some general tips, advice, and food alternatives. In a separate post I’ll be listing my favorite low kcal recipes so stay tuned.

~

GENERAL TIPS

•Drink water before, during, and after meals. This is absolutely crucial.

•During this period it’s important to spend extra time and effort on maintaining your vaginal health, immune system, fertility, and skincare !! Really important not to neglect these things especially vaginal care >.<

•Calories matter but make sure to eat nutritious foods. Must have a good judgment on when to splurge on kcals or when to go for an alternative. For ex: splurging on healthy foods that are a lot of kcals vs unhealthy processed foods that are low kcal.

•It’s good to strive for 1200 kcals or less. If it’s a cheat day or you’re feeling lenient then aim for around 1600 kcals. Never ever go over 2000 kcals.

•if you’re a foodie like me then you *have* to find creative and unique ways to curb your cravings. Otherwise your mental health will plummet. If you’re not satisfied then you’re either gonna keep eating or be miserable

•Remember your brain needs at least 330 kcals to function properly so if you’re feeling slow or disoriented then definitely have a snack or meal.

•Best drinks to have are water, sparkling water, tea, and coffee.

•If you eat over your calorie limit don’t fret, it’s not the end of the world. Just either work out or purge. Keep purging to a limit and don’t do it more than once a day. Ideally less purging is better so keep it for emergencies.

•Using apps such as my fitness pal are great for seeing what nutrients you’re deficient in or going overboard in. However I’ve found I lose more weight when I’m not using the app because I’m thinking about food less. However everybody is different and I would recommend at least checking out the application if you haven’t already.

•Vitamins are your bestie too!! I take a couple supplements to make sure I’m getting the vitamins I need for longevity.

•Cut down on silly calories like sauces and drinks by using alternatives. Also you can pretty much find a low kcal version of anything these days if you look hard enough.

•If you love flavor then these simple things will help like ~ seasoning, low kcal hot sauce such as Tabasco or sriracha, soy sauce, etc.

~

CRAVING ALTERNATIVES

•Juice or sugary drinks ~ low sugar Gatorade, fruit flavored teas iced with extra tea bags to give it extra flavor

•Soda ~ flavored sparkling water with powder or liquid drink mix such as crystal light strawberry lemonade drink mix

•Starbucks ~ just making my own mixed coffee drinks and sweet tea drinks saves so many calories

•Dessert ~ Gerber biscuits arrowroot (taste like shortbread), Gerber lil biscuits, cottage cheese, chocolate covered fruit or nuts

•Chips ~ Gerber’s Lil Crunchies Mild Chedder (basically cheese/ cheeto puffs), quest chips, or half a serving size of normal chips

•Ice cream ~ strawberry halo top

•Chocolate ~ alter eco or dark chocolate coconut fudge

•Mayo ~ miracle whip or vegan mayo

•Rice ~ cauliflower or broccoli rice

•Pasta ~ Chickpea pasta

[mybookof-you]

2024.11.06

I awoke earlier than usual this morning after a restless night of sleep.  Coffee was brewing as I heard the news piping into the kitchen that America, my country, was destined for an eminent Trump presidency.  I reacted at first with disbelief, but as further information was delivered the reality became clear.  My heart is broken.  I sat with my warm mug alongside my husband taking in this reality.  I have been crying for about an hour or two.  So much inexpressible grief and concern for those who will be most ill-effected.  So much worry for the direction of the future of our planet and our global human connection. 

The news I watched pointed to the fact that Trump represented a change in economies that spoke to middle America.  I cannot blame people for wanting to preserve their pockets, homes, and families or values they feel are eroding.  I do not believe Trump’s answers will fully realize those hopes for positive change, but it looks like we are going to find out.  I believe he is the wrong answer to those concerns.

I fear that Trump’s presidency will deliver authoritarian rule in a way we will not be able to overcome for generations.  Again, it looks like we are going to find out just what a second Trump presidency will bring.  Most of all, I fear that people who will be devastated by the coming administration will not be heard, and their muffled cries will go silently into the darkness, forgotten like so many who have historically been marginalized, dealt with, and eliminated. 

I fear for Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, and Taiwan.  I fear for under-represented groups like the LGBTQ community, communities of color, and the poor who suffer beneath a structure which keeps them from rising above their situation.  The elderly.  The expendable. 

I fear for our planet, and the future of all creatures which depend upon it.  The answer may come from the science that has already explained the climate change we are experiencing.  That devastation will predictably continue exponentially if we do not act responsibly.  The future may be on Mars.  The future may be aided by genetically modified plants and new methods of growing food.  I believe science will help us in our uncertain future.  

Though, I would rather not go there.  The state of health of planet Earth is the only area I wish to move backward and promote a more sustainable lifestyle, economy, and direction based on interdependence of people from across small, local communities to the global community.  We all matter, and more than us, the Earth itself is a precious gift we, the top of the food chain, were trusted to steward and preserve.  Our very lives depend on the stability of the ecosystem we selfishly trash in order to serve our immediate needs.  We can attempt to synthesize what we need to survive the destruction we bear responsibility for, but if the Earth’s design and system of functioning has worked why fix it?  Why not listen to what She is saying and change to follow Her lead.  She will outlive all of us, whether we are lucky enough to be here or not.  She does not need us.  We need Her.

We need one another.  I do not want to move backward toward dehumanizing those who are not like us.  The human self-centered thing to do in crisis is to square-off and draw lines between ourselves and those who do not share our perspectives, our cultures, and our skin color.  It is easy to fall into that false sense of security, when, in truth, our future is safer and more sound when we consider the whole of creation, all people, all creatures, and all elements of our world.   

Purging and sanitizing the world of anything we do not accept as our personal own is not a solution.  It is self-deprecating.  It is a plan to eliminate and silence perceived enemies and create new ones.  It is an unending path toward bloodshed.  It is genocide.  It is an endless cycle of victimization from which no one is guaranteed protection. 

I would advocate the preservation of all life.  Communication.  Understanding.  Respectful disagreement.  Compromise.  Solutions reached to promote all peoples and all of life.  There are most certainly no easy solutions.  My hope is that viable solutions which value all of us are attained.  That is what I will attempt to work toward within the tiny space I occupy and continue to find hope.  Tomorrow is another day, and I claim it for me and for you, for all of us and for everything.

[reallypleasanttree]

A continuation for the Obamitsu soulmate drabble

According to scholars, a person experiences the physical and emotional pain of their soulmate.  If they received an injury, you would feel the same. A sprained ankle, scraped knee, bruised shins, or paper cuts. It was an empathic link between two people. 

On Mitsuri’s tenth birthday, she woke up screaming. The sound woke her parents and they tried to calm her down. Her cheeks felt as if they had been torn open. She tried to talk, but due to the injury she couldn’t for a few hours. She pointed to her cheeks and made a pained expression to indicate it was part of the soulmate connection. Her stomach rolled and she failed to eat the entire day. Underneath the pain, she felt terror. Her whole body trembled that night. Someone was watching her soulmate with ill intent. 

What happened to her soulmate? 

For the next week, Mitsuri failed to eat regularly. Periodically, she would taste blood and push her plate away during dinner. Her parents made an appointment with the physician when she refused to eat her favorite food. They put her on suppressants to dull the connection between her and her soulmate for the next week. The pain didn’t stop though. She couldn’t function with the constant worry and foreboding. Mitsuri continued taking the medication for years afterward. 

Whenever she attempted to go off the suppressants, the empathic link returned stronger and with it the dread and self loathing. She theorized her soulmate engaged in cutting as she could feel the slices on her arms and legs while off the meds. Mitsuri wished she was a stronger person, but she could not manage her emotions on top of her soulmate’s as a teenager. Her insecurities increased ten times during high school. She felt guilty about taking the suppressants. She would not have been able to function with her mental health issues on top of their self hatred, shame, and low self worth. 

Now she was in her college’s library studying for her first midterm. Mitsuri decided to major in psychology. The midterm was for her experimental psychology class. Right now she was reviewing statistical terms. She let out a huff, flipped over the note card, and cut the space between her thumb and forefinger. She hissed. 

Several people turned to look at her. Two guys at the table next to her, a girl sitting across from her, and a mask wearing boy a few tables away. She’s 90 percent sure he was in her psychology class. Mitsuri smiled nervously. 

“Sorry, paper cut,” she said and looked down at the cut. It was bleeding more than it should. She set her note cards down and grabbed a tissue to prevent blood from dripping onto the table or her study materials. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a band aid appear on the desk. She glanced up. The masked boy stood in front of her table. 

“Here,” he said. 

“Oh, thank you,” Mitsuri said and took the band aid. She paused when she noticed his eyes. They were two different colors. Blue and gold. “Your eyes are really cool,” Mitsuri blurted out. Her cheeks heated. 

“They’re weird,” he said as he looked away. He pinched the space between his thumb and forefinger. 

“No, they’re really cool, but I can’t be the best judge on what’s weird or not,” Mitsuri chuckled and pointed at her pink and green braids. The boy nodded and started backing up to return to his desk. 

“I think we’re in the same class. Mr. Ubuyashiki’s experimental psych at 1:30?” Mitsuri asked. 

“Yeah, I’m in the class,” he answered. 

“Do you want to study with me? I made note cards for the stats section. It’ll be fun,” she said. 

“If you want. It’s been hard to focus, so you can keep me accountable,” he said. 

“Yay!” Mitsuri clapped her hands together before inhaling sharply as she remembered her paper cut. The corners of his eyes crinkled at her mistake before he went back to grab his backpack and laptop. He sat down across from her. 

“I’m Obanai by the way,” he introduced himself. 

“I’m Mitsuri,” she said as she opened the bandaid wrapper. Mitsuri tried to use her left hand to place the bandaid over her right hand with little success. The bandage fell on the floor. 

“Do you want help?” Obanai asked as if he had not been watching her struggle for the last minute. He unzipped the top pocket and pulled out a new band aid. Not waiting for her response, he reached for her right hand. When they touched, goosebumps appeared on her forearm. Her heart quickened as he held her hand still and put the bandaid over the webspace. 

“Thanks again,” Mitsuri said as she grabbed her note cards to start quizzing her classmate. 

“No problem,” Obanai said. 

------

“Have you met your soulmate?” Obanai asked out of the blue one afternoon in the library. They sat in a corner with sunlight filtering through the blinds. He was sitting in the chair caddy corner to hers. Mitsuri lifted her head to meet her companion’s gaze. 

“No-Well, it’s sort of hard to know,” Mitsuri bit her lip. She’d been taking the Apath suppressant since she was ten. He tapped the armrest as he waited for her to explain further. There were groups of people who shamed others for taking soulmate suppressants. They often cited the loss of the bond, disrespect for your soulmate, and countless other reasons. Obanai never mentioned his soulmate or his thoughts on them. 

“I take Apath,” she admitted in a whisper and glanced around them. The nearest person was on the other end of the library. She pursed her lips and studied his face, which remained neutral as he dipped his head in acknowledgement. 

“When I was younger, I woke up screaming. Something horrible happened to my soulmate and I couldn’t handle the pain. It kept me from eating. Any time I tried to eat it felt like I was ripping open my mouth and tasted blood. My parents worried and decided to put me on suppressants temporarily,” she explained. His eyebrows raised when she mentioned tasting blood. 

“After a week, I stopped taking them, but the pain didn’t stop. It came back worse, so I kept taking them. Every once in a while I try to get off them, but my soulmate-” Mitsuri paused and looked down at the space between her feet. “I think they hate themself. Actually, I know they do. It hurts knowing I can’t do anything to help them.” The corner of her mouth turned down. It was shameful to admit she wasn’t strong enough to cope with her soulmate’s emotions on top of her own. Hopefully, Obanai wouldn’t think less of her.  

“I know it doesn’t look like it, but I have my own issues,” she continued. “It gets complicated when my soulmate’s issues influence my own and I’m sure it’s the same for them. It’s better this way, at least for now.” Why was she even sharing this? He only asked if she met her soulmate. “Umm, so yeah, I don’t know if I have or have not met them to answer your question,” Mitsuri finished. Obanai’s face didn’t offer any insight into his mind. 

“I see,” he said. “Do you think they still feel your pain? Or is that also suppressed?” He asked as he rubbed the inside of his wrist. 

“I’m not sure. It’s different for every soulmate bond, according to the research. Some people feel pain and others don’t. There’s no rhyme or reason so far,” Mitsuri said. “Have you met your soulmate?”

“Not yet,” Obanai answered quickly. “I know they’re clumsy. They have a tendency to stub their toe and trip. It’s weird to feel a skinned knee without having one. It made wearing skinny jeans impossible,” he joked and his eyes crinkled. Mitsuri laughed louder than anticipated, which earned her a glare from the person studying on the other side of the building. Obanai and her shared a conspiratorial look before they returned to their respective notes. 

[killwizard]

I think that the truth about gun control, for better or for worse, is that it is both impossible, unethical, and dangerous to pursue.

1. Yes, gun violence is dangerous, tragic, and often preventable.

2. Firearm creation and acquisition is fundamentally impossible to prevent, and has been since the discovery of gunpowder as a mechanism of projectile propulsion. As technology progresses it will always become easier and easier to access firearms.

3. Any and all hitherto attempts at gun control have been biased, whether intentionally or not, and have resulted in marginalized groups targeted by police violence, and disproportionate armament of white supremacist and other similar groups

4. The potential for organized violence against a governing body by the population they purport to represent is not a tool to be thrown away lightly, and legislated disarmament involves, by necessity, armed enforcement of that legislation, either police or military, which will result both in unjust and imbalanced enforcement of those laws as per the last point, as well as a disarmed and functionally powerless population while armed groups enforce the status quo, a state monopoly on violence.

5. Shootin someone is already a crime, if someone intends to hurt people, and especially if they plan to die at the end, as many of the perpetrators of these acts do, the threat of illegal firearm charges on top of charges for murder simply won't stop them. If someone wants to hurt people, they will find a way.

My question is, why are we addressin violence by targetin specific vehicles of that violence rather than the material conditions that drive people to violence in the first place?

Unethical and sensationalized reportin on mass-shooters inspires copycats, unchecked alt-right radicalization inspires hate crimes, inaccessibility of resources, whether food, water, shelter, medical treatment (including mental health), or money for any of the above leads people to things like robbery, gang violence, or violent mental health crises. Illegality of drugs leads to exploitation and violence throughout their production and distribution, so on and so on and so forth.

Gun control is fundamentally harmful and impossible. It simply will not work, and any attempts have and will disproportionately target, harm, and kill marginalized people. The only option left is to address the material conditions that lead to violence.