#which often manifests in nausea

[motleyfam]

I get so many comments on my Tim series like “omg it’s so hilarious/unrealistic that he gets sick this often, take that boy to a doctor 🤣” and like, I get it, it seems like a lot if you read the series straight through. And part of it is simply because I enjoy writing hurt/comfort fics, so of course that’s what I’m going to gravitate towards. Gotta spark that joy, etc etc

….but like, you guys do realize that people who have medical issues tend to get more medical issues, right? It’s not like “oh he had three things wrong with him already so he’s hit his quota now and anything on top of that is absurd.” It’s more like… this is someone with overall subpar health from a history of chronic neglect, so yeah, he’s probably going to be more susceptible to illness than most people 🤷‍♀️

[hayatheauthor]

Creating Fear in Your Characters: A Writers Guide

Creating authentic emotions is vital for immersive storytelling, which is why I decided to make this series on how to write different emotions. After exploring rage, and sadness it's now time to delve into fear!

Fear is a powerful emotion that can manifest in various ways, from subtle apprehension to paralyzing terror. Here's a guide on how to write fear effectively, covering different aspects of your characters' behavior and reactions.

Facial Expressions

Fear often manifests first in facial expressions, conveying the initial shock or unease. Describe these expressions to immerse readers in your character's emotional state:

Widened Eyes and Dilated Pupils: Show the eyes widening in response to a sudden threat, with dilated pupils indicating heightened alertness.

Tense Jaw and Clenched Teeth: Mention the clenching of jaw muscles or teeth, signaling internalized stress or anxiety.

Furrowed Brow and Raised Eyebrows: Describe the furrowing of the forehead and raised eyebrows, revealing worry or confusion.

Quivering Lips or Lip Biting: Note subtle lip movements like quivering or biting, reflecting nervousness or fear.

Frozen or Stiff Facial Muscles: Highlight moments of fear-induced immobility, where facial muscles become tense and rigid.

Body Language and Gestures

Fear can also be expressed through body language and gestures, showcasing your character's instinctual responses to danger or threat:

Backing Away or Recoiling: Describe your character instinctively moving backward or recoiling from the source of fear, signaling a desire to retreat.

Raised Shoulders and Tensed Posture: Show how fear causes the shoulders to rise and the body to tense up, indicating readiness for fight or flight.

Trembling Hands or Shaking Limbs: Mention the trembling of hands or shaking of limbs, reflecting nervousness or anxiety.

Covering Vulnerable Areas: Describe your character instinctively covering vulnerable areas like their neck or torso, symbolizing a protective gesture.

Fidgeting or Restlessness: Note any fidgeting or restlessness, such as tapping feet or wringing hands, as signs of inner turmoil and fear.

Vocal Cues and Dialogue

Fear can alter vocal cues and dialogue, affecting how your character speaks and communicates their emotions:

Quavering Voice or Shaky Speech: Describe the voice quivering or becoming shaky, indicating nervousness or fear.

Rapid Breathing and Gasping: Mention rapid breathing or gasping for air, showcasing the physical impact of fear on the respiratory system.

Stammering or Hesitant Speech: Note any stammering or hesitant speech patterns, reflecting the character's struggle to articulate their thoughts coherently.

Sudden Silence or Lack of Verbal Response: Show moments of sudden silence or the inability to respond verbally, highlighting the overwhelming nature of fear.

Repetitive Phrases or Vocalizations: Describe repetitive phrases or vocalizations, such as muttering prayers or chanting reassurances, as coping mechanisms in fearful situations.

Reactions and Physical Responses

Fear triggers various physical responses in your characters, showcasing the body's instinctual reactions to perceived threats:

Increased Heart Rate and Sweating: Mention the character's heart rate increasing and sweating profusely, reflecting heightened physiological arousal.

Dilated Pupils and Heightened Senses: Describe dilated pupils and heightened sensory perception, as the character's senses become more attuned to potential dangers.

Muscle Tension and Rigidity: Note muscle tension and rigidity, as the body prepares for action or defense in response to fear.

Nausea or Stomach Churning: Show how fear can lead to feelings of nausea or stomach churning, as the body's stress response impacts digestive functions.

Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response: Highlight the character's instinctual response to fear, whether it's a readiness to fight, a desire to flee, or a state of frozen immobility.

Types of Fear and Emotional Depth

Different types of fear can evoke varying emotional responses in your characters, adding depth to their portrayal and the narrative:

Startle Fear: Describe the sudden, reflexive fear triggered by unexpected events or loud noises, leading to a quick, intense reaction.

Apprehensive Fear: Show the lingering sense of unease or dread that accompanies anticipated threats or impending danger, heightening tension over time.

Terror: Depict the overwhelming, paralyzing fear that arises from extreme danger or horrifying experiences, impacting the character's ability to think or act rationally.

Phobias: Explore specific phobias that trigger irrational and intense fear responses, shaping how your character navigates their environment and interactions.

Trauma-Induced Fear: Address fear resulting from past traumas or experiences, influencing the character's behavior and emotional resilience in present situations.

Verbs and Adjectives for Writing Fear

Here's a list of verbs and adjectives to help you convey fear effectively in your writing:

Verbs: tremble, cower, gasp, quiver, shrink, freeze, recoil, sweat, pant, gulp, shudder

Adjectives: terrified, anxious, alarmed, horrified, shaken, jittery, panicked, petrified

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Common Errors in Word Choice

Often when we’re writing, we’re caught up in the moment and don’t necessarily realise when we’ve used the wrong spelling or variant of a particular word.

their/they’re/there

Their - of or relating to them or themselves especially as possessors, agents, or objects of an action

They're - they are

There - in or at that place

you’re/your

You're - you are

Your - of or relating to you or yourself or yourselves especially as possessor/s

aloud/allowed

Aloud - with the speaking voice in a way that can be clearly heard

Allowed - permitted

who’s/whose

Who's - who is; who has

Whose - of or relating to whom or which especially as possessor/s

lead/led

Lead - to guide someone or something along a way

Led - past tense and past participle of lead

lose/loose

Lose - to undergo deprivation of something of value, or defeat

Loose - not rigidly fastened or securely attached

steak/stake

Steak - a slice of meat cut from a fleshy part of a beef carcass

Stake - a pointed piece of wood or other material driven or to be driven into the ground as a marker or support; an interest or share in an undertaking or enterprise

break/brake

Break - to separate into parts with suddenness or violence

Brake - something used to slow down or stop movement or activity

affect/effect

Affect - (v.): to produce an effect upon; (n.): a set of observable manifestations of an experienced emotion

Effect - result, outcome

inquire/enquire

Inquire - to put a question

Enquire - chiefly British spelling of inquire

peak/peek/pique

Peak - a sharp or pointed end

Peek - to take a brief look; glance

Pique - to excite or arouse especially by a provocation, challenge, or rebuff

a lot/alot

A lot - to a considerable degree or extent; often, frequently

Alot - a common misspelling or typo of "a lot"

into/in to

Into - used as a function word to indicate entry, introduction, insertion, superposition, or inclusion

In to - involves words from verb phrases. Use “in to” if the word "to" is part of an infinitive verb phrase. For example, "She brought me in to train for the job." You can also use “in to” if the word "in" is part of a phrasal verb. For example, "I will plug in to this guitar amp."

less/fewer

Less - constituting a more limited number or amount

Fewer - a smaller number of persons or things

chose/choose

Chose - past tense of choose

Choose - to select freely and after consideration

then/than

Then - at that time

Than - in comparison with

compliment/complement

Compliment - an expression of esteem, respect, affection, or admiration

Complement - something that fills up, completes, or makes better or perfect

farther/further

Farther - at or to a greater distance or more advanced point

Further - to a greater degree or extent; in addition, moreover

nauseated/nauseous

Nauseated - (v.) affected with nausea; felt disgust

Nauseous - (adj.) causing nausea or disgust; nauseating; affected with nausea or disgust

Sources: 1 2

[demonpiratehuntress]

dreams

OPLA!Zoro x F!Reader

summary - majority of your dreams seem to manifest in the real world somehow, so when you have one about your crush and your best friend...things get a little out of control.

warnings - heavy angst (im sorry), hurt to comfort

a/n: when i started writing for this fandom i PROMISED myself i would not make it all angst and no fun, but oh well :))))) idek where this idea came from, i need help

You woke up from a nap with the sickening urge to empty your stomach overboard. Nausea reared its ugly head, and before you could even try to tame the feeling, you were sprinting to the side of the ship to empty your stomach.

What exactly was the cause?

This would sound insanely ridiculous, and to you it really was, but you had a weird dream. And it didn't sit well with you. Most of the dreams you had often became a reality, albeit with slight changes. There were some that didn't, but almost all of them came true eventually or manifested in a similar way at some point.

And that's probably the reason you couldn't stop yourself from vomiting obscenely before your stunned - and confused - crew.

"(Name), are you okay?" Nami asked worriedly, coming over to you.

You flinched away from her, increasing her confusion, before turning and running off to the bathroom. She exchanged looks with the others who were out on deck - Usopp and Luffy - before shrugging it off and going back to mapping the ship's course.

The truth was, you had a completely unexpected yet maddening dream while napping, one that you prayed to any god who would listen would not come true. You had dreamed of Zoro - the man you had the biggest crush on - and Nami, which may seem an odd coupling and probably was but you couldn't control your dreams. Much like how you couldn't control how you felt about it, despite it only being a fictional idea your mind concocted.

You went straight to yours and Nami's room after cleaning yourself up, setting up the divider that separated your section from hers so you wouldn't have to deal with seeing her if she came in. Your behaviour was unfair to her, since you knew she would never do anything like that, nor did she have any romantic interest in Zoro. In fact, she barely had any interest in the swordsman at all. But according to your dream, that might change.

You curled up on your bed, pulling the blanket right up over your head to shield yourself from the real world. The familiar feeling of something wet running down your cheek informed you that you had started crying, but you couldn't care less. You couldn't move. You didn't have the energy to move, much less bring your hand up to wipe your tears away. So you just lay there, curled up in a foetal position, trying - and miserably failing - to get your mind off it.

A while later, a knock at your door caused you to jerk up in your bed, before you groaned and flopped back down.

"Go away!"

"Nami said you're sick," came Sanji's voice, "So I made you some soup. Please open the door."

You breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't either of the two people you were currently trying to avoid. Slowly dragging yourself out of bed, you had to make even more effort to get yourself to the door. Forgetting that you had just been crying, you opened it and let the cook in, confused when his expression immediately grew alarmed.

"(Name), why are you crying??" He immediately set the soup down and pulled you into a comforting hug - one that seemed to be much warmer than usual right now.

"I-I'm fine," you mumbled into his shoulder, "Just not well."

He nodded, falling for your excuse, before pulling away to hand you the soup, "Here, this should help. If you need more, or if you need anything else, just let me know." He smiled at you, before leaving you alone once again.

You sat back down on your bed and ate the soup - because who can say no to Sanji's cooking, even if you're not really in the mood to eat? And it did help, the warmth helping to settle your queasy stomach and alleviate the nausea if only a little bit. Minutes after you finished it, there was another knock and you frowned, wondering who it was now.

You didn't answer, in fear of it being Zoro.

Just the thought of Zoro had you replaying that dream all over again, and before you could stop yourself or at least soften the sound, sobs were wracking your body and you were burying your face in your hands, crying into their warmth.

The door opened and a familiar set of heavy footsteps reached your ears before the bed dipped beside you. Your entire body froze up, tensing at the arrival of the green-haired swordsman. Your sobs fell silent, hiccups replacing them as you stilled and tried your best to quell your sadness - still keeping your face hidden.

"What happened?" Came that usually-comforting deep voice you loved so much, but that now caused your nausea to return. "What's wrong, (Name)?"

"Please go away," you found yourself speaking, not wanting to push him away but knowing you'd feel even more ridiculous if he found out how you felt about him while you were recounting a silly dream.

"No."

Usually the swordsman would leave without a word if you asked for space, or if you told him to go away, but this time he could see you were absolutely not okay and you needed someone. Luffy wouldn't be a good idea, Usopp wouldn't know what to do, and you seemed to be avoiding Nami. And he sure as hell did not want that stupid cook anywhere near you right now, in fear of him comforting you so well that the swordsman would lose you to him entirely.

You didn't respond to that, so Zoro brought his hands up to slowly and gently peel yours away from your face. You let him, shocking yourself, and the sight of your bloodshot eyes and tear-stained face caused his heart to constrict painfully.

"Tell me what's wrong."

He held your hands in his own, not wanting to let go. He had waited so long to be able to hold them, and he was glad for this excuse to. But he was heartbroken seeing you so upset and apparently sick over something he didn't know about yet. He gently squeezed your hands, silently encouraging you to speak. He wasn't good with words, but if comfort was what you needed he would do and say whatever he could to make your pain go away.

"It's you and Nami."

He stiffened. He didn't know what that meant, but just hearing he was part of the reason you were so upset made his heart sink.

"What did we do?"

"It's...um...it's silly," you replied quietly, voice low but pain still evident. "It doesn't matter." You tried pulling your hands away, but Zoro only gripped them tighter.

"It does, if it's making you this upset."

Reluctantly, you relayed to him what you had dreamed about, voice cracking halfway through as more tears fell. You felt even sillier saying it to someone else, especially him, and avoided making eye-contact throughout the entire explanation. When you finished, you shot him a small, brief glance - only to do a double take when you saw the absolutely horrified and disgusted look on his face.

"Me and the thief?" He questioned, distaste clear in his tone. "You've got to be kidding me." He sighed, sneakily shifting closer to you on the bed. "That can't be possible."

"But-"

"Some of your dreams don't come true," he reminded you, "This is definitely one of those. You want to know how I know?"

You nodded slowly, biting your lip.

You did not expect his next words.

"Because I already dream about doing that with you."

Your jaw dropped. If you were like Luffy, it would have probably dropped all the way to the floor, you were so stunned by his confession. Your formerly slowed heartbeat picked up speed again, heat filling your cheeks as you processed his words.

"Me?"

"Mhm. Only you. Been a recurring dream, actually."

As you stuttered out an incomplete sentence and then stammered through some nonsense, Zoro leaned in slowly and pressed his lips against yours, locking you in a slow but sweet kiss. His lips were warm and soft, inviting you to lean into him and return the kiss. The affectionate gesture had butterflies blooming in your stomach.

"I'm sorry," you whispered once you remembered how to speak.

"There's nothing to be sorry for," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead before pulling you into a warm, comforting and secure embrace.

You sat like that quietly for a while, Zoro rubbing soothing circles onto your back while you clung to him, face buried in his neck. He kissed the top of your head every few minutes, in between mumbling sweet words of comfort into your ear - mainly "you're beautiful" and "i'm yours" because he didn't know what else to say. But it was enough for you.

Eventually, he spoke up.

"You should clear things up with Nami. She's upset because you're not talking to her."

"I know...later."

He chuckled and tightened his grip on you, keeping you warm and increasingly happy in his strong arms. He didn't intend on letting go, but that was good because you didn't want him to.

BONUS:

"STUPID MOSSHEAD!"

Loud banging and clanging jerked you awake the morning after your confessions, the sound of Sanji's loud exclamation having woken you - but not Zoro - up. He probably had woken up the others as well.

You tried to get up to see what was wrong, but Zoro refused to let go. He was still sleeping, but his arms wound around you even tighter, pulling you back against him. You sighed, knowing you could ask someone else later anyway.

Nami poked her head around the divider and smirked, "He's upset that Zoro finally confessed and ruined his chance to woo you."

You laughed at that, "Give him an hour, max. Then he'll try to woo you."

She groaned, "I'm already dreading it."

The two of you laughed, and it felt good to be back on speaking terms with her. Even though, strictly speaking, you hadn't had a reason not to be in the first place. But oh well.

The power of dreams...

[fairyhaos]

how seventeen deal with your period cramps

requested by anon: "Would it be ok for you to write : How would Seventeen react and help with bad period cramps ? (I am currently on my period and its killing me... I can barely stay up, cramps are hurting as hell, I have nausea, hell I feel the worst...)"

notes: tw for menstruation pain, reader therefore has a uterus

masterlist

seungcheol:

tbh he's kinda a little bit Clueless, but he tries his best. cannot fathom the amount of pain you're in, but he does his research and immediately jumps up to boil water for a hot water bottle the second you tell him you're on your period. is confused by the idea of pre-menstrual syndrome n thinks that it's very unfair: bc you can be in pain???? even before the actual menstruation itself???? that sounds terrible :((( always has his arms open for a hug

jeonghan:

spots its arrival better than you. can tell when your period is coming like some sort of seer. has a cupboard full of chocolates and snacks which he stocks up constantly and allows you to take your pick of whatever you feel like having when you're on your period. insists that you don't have to do anything while you're going through the worst of your cramps, tells you to just lie down w the hot water bottle he made for you n he'll do whatever you need okay? 

joshua:

you Need to tell this man whenever your period starts bc otherwise he'll get upset that his calendar is all messed up :(( i firmly believe shua is the typa guy to keep track of your schedules for you, even if your cycle isn't regular. does Everything you want. you wanna eat a whole tub of Celebrations? he's rooting for you. need to cry bc the world is just too frustrating? tell him what movie you wanna cry to, he'll stream it illegally if that's what it takes. will probably also end up crying w you, but hey, we love a supportive guy <3

junhui:

curses the menstruation gods every time you tell him you're having cramps again. is essentially trying to stuff you full of painkillers the entire day bc he hates the idea of you being in pain </3 wanted to buy one of those period cramp simulator machines to see how bad it was for you, ended up chickening out when you told him vv seriously that it was like being thrown into the pits of hell. isn't allowed near the kettle to boil water for you (due to previous Mishaps), so he'll give you a pillow to put over your stomach and hug you in his arms for warmth

hoshi:

is confused for all of two seconds every time you tell him you're having rlly bad cramps (again?? didn't you have them last month??) before it clicks in his head. coos and baby-talks to you, offering his shoulder for you to sleep on if the physical contact will help. builds you a pillow fort to get comfortable in practically every single time. you had a really bad headache one month, and so now he's constantly talking in a hoarse whisper when your cramps are bad

wonwoo:

he's not Entirely sure what to do, but he does know that period pain can often manifest itself in mood swings, so he's always extra caring and considerate around your time of the month. will Let himself be yelled at if you do end up getting frustrated, then will hug you and pat your hair to help you calm down after. makes hot water for all the hot water bottles that you're ever gonna need. 

woozi:

makes sure you take your painkillers on time, and also makes sure you eat. he's heard from his mom that loss of appetite can happen often during periods, especially when cramps are bad, and so he encourages you to eat foods with lots of magnesium and nitrates in it. will hug you if the cramps are really bad and you're practically crawling to him in tears. will probably hug you even if you're only pouting and talking in a sad voice tho, tbh. 

minghao:

he researched that milk chocolate and white chocolate increase cramps pain, and so now he only ever gives you dark chocolate that's 60% cacao and above. has encouraged you to take up meditation when you're not on your period, saying it'll help strengthen you. you're still not entirely sure it's working, but then again, it's better to try than not. swaddles you in fluffy blankets and cushions bc seungcheol stole the hot water bottle to help with his indigestion or something

mingyu:

he's a lil confused, but he means well. carries you bridal-style everywhere you wanna go. searched up the types of foods best to eat to help with period cramps, and cooks food with lots and lots of spinach in it. regardless of whether you like it or not, because it's good for you and makes you feel better. spoon-feeds you the soup he makes, asks if it's making you feel warm inside with his adorable bright eyes

dokyeom:

has a little corner in the bottom of his wardrobe full of sanitary pad packages, bc one time he panicked when you asked him to buy you some and practically cleared the whole shelf of them. also has like 3 boxes of chocolates stacked on top of them bc of that same time where he panicked and ended up buying too many. as a result, always has supplies whenever you need them. is a little clueless too, but he's willing to help w lots of hugs and warmth!! 

seungkwan:

Knows your menstruation cycle for you. frets if you're a few of days early or a few of days late. if you have an irregular cycle, then oh god he's analysing everything to see if there's any sort of pattern. ngl he's a little nervous of you when you're on your period, but he's always ready to open his arms for you to draw you in for a hug if you need. starts crying if you end up crying bc of the pain/ mood swings, bc he's an empath okay n he feels your pain so bad

vernon:

i get the feeling he's like. the hidden pro at dealing with cramps. you tell him that you're hurting, and he's already boiled the kettle to make you a hot water bottle, arms laden with snacks and blankets and do you wanna come into his room to relax and watch the new movie he's fixated on or do you wanna just go to your room by yourself and sleep? big encourager of sleeping through cramps, bc he swears it helps so much and actually. he is so right it really does

chan:

went through like five different brands of paracetamol with you during your previous cramps to see which one was the best n lasted the longest. steals the expensive chocolates from mingyu's stash bc really, the guy has far too much and it's more deserving to go to you when you're in pain and also pls share w him as a thankyou for getting them for you. offers to run you a bubble bath to help you relax, often forgets about the bath while he's doing other stuff and almost makes it overflow

request guidelines

[alice-after-dark]

Vox's Death and Electrokinesis

So I'm straight up warning everyone now that this is a super dark take on Vox's death and where his powers of electrokinesis come from. Please, please, PLEASE read the trigger warnings. This has been in my head for a very long time.

TW for homophobia, 1950s mental illness views and treatments, homosexuality treated as a mental illness, sexual assault, gaslighting/victim-blaming, and other canon-typical triggers.

Some time during his career, Vox began an affair with a man who was also from the television industry. When his wife eventually found out, Vox was presented with two choices: a very messy and highly public divorce where the affair would be plastered across every media source in the country, or end the affair and seek psychological help. Not willing to destroy his image, Vox chooses the latter. He ends the relationship and quietly takes a "medical leave" from his career and is admitted to a psychiatric hospital. It's supposed to be the best in the country, with the most up-to-date practices and treatments. He is greeted by a man with a kind face names Dr. Robles, who takes Vox's hand in his and promises him everything will be alright. Vox's wife assures him he will be well and home in no time, kisses his cheek as he is led away, deeper into the hospital.

It is Hell.

Vox is quickly labeled as having a "sociopathic personality disturbance" in the form of "sexual deviation" and is considered a curious case as he has positive sexual reactions to both men and women. This makes most standard treatments fairly ineffective as he is already having a positive sexual response to women. So they decide to resort to unmodified electroconvulsive therapy.

The treatments are painful and brutal, often leaving him with nausea, fatigue, headaches, confusion, and even minor memory loss. Worse are the breaks and fractures that result from the induced seizures. Frequently he is left bedridden, confused and delirious and unsure of where he is. His sleep is riddled with nightmares of some horrific creature lurking in the shadows of his room, creeping close and hurting him. It finally ends when the machine malfunctions, sending him into cardiac arrest and killing him.

When his electrokinesis manifested, two decades later, it was...a time. First Vox was afraid, then he started cackling at the irony, before having a complete breakdown and scream-crying for the better part of an hour.

For the first week following the discovery of his new powers, Vox refuses to let Alastor touch him, which is particularly startling for the Radio Demon because he's usually the touch adverse one while Vox is very physically affectionate. Even small bumps and brushes has Vox leaping away from him. He begins to grow concerned that Vox has become afraid of him, which is frustrating because half the fun of Vox is that he isn't afraid of him like most Sinners. Eventually he corned the Tv-headed demon and demands an explanation. This of course leads to Vox panicking and sparking like crazy which in turn leads to even more panicking before Alastor seizes his shoulders, enduring the small shocks as he tells Vox to calm down.

Vox breaks down sobbing and tells Alastor everything he has never told him before: the affair, the choice, the hospital, the treatments, the nightmares, his "mental illness," everything. He's terrified of this ability. He knows what it can do and it terrifies him. And Alastor takes his face in his hands and tells him that his knowledge makes him all the more powerful. Not only can he control electricity, but he has first hand experienced what it can do to a body and that is power. Though Vox is hesitant at first, he accepts Alastor's offer to help him gain better control over this new ability.

---

It's about three months after the battle with the angels when Vox gets invited up to Alastor's radio tower. He's only been there once or twice in the past to silently watch Alastor with his "guests" as he broadcasts. Though initially skeptical of the invite, his curiosity gets the better of him despite Velvette and Valentino's warnings. When he arrives, he finds Alastor calmly tuning his radio equipment while his latest guest lays strapped to a metal table. It is unusually dim in the tower and Vox can't quite see what poor soul Alastor has plucked from the streets of Hell this time, but he can smell blood, which is even more unusual as Alastor usually likes to save every last moment for his broadcast, but from the wheezing it's clear this Sinner has already been worked over well. The Radio Demon greets him cheerfully as though nothing is amiss, as though it's perfectly normal to invite your friend-turned-rival over for a casual hang out. It's only when he encourages Vox closer that Vox understands what he's seeing.

Inky shiny black skin. Six limbs. Distended jaw. Long curling tongue.

Lying on the table is the creature from his nightmares.

Instantly Vox begins to panic. He feels terror, hands on him, pain, so much pain, he can't breathe, he can't think, why is it here why why why-

Alastor grips his shoulder, grounding him. He's saying something about...introductions?

"Vox clearly recognizes you, Dr. Robles, but I'm afraid you may have a harder time recognizing him. Like you, dear Vincent has gone through quite a few changes."

Dr. Robles. Dr. Robles. Dr. Robles. The name rings in his head like a gong.

Warm hands closing around his. A thumb running gentle circles on the back of his hand.

"It's all going to be alright. I promise."

Vox rips out of Alastor's grip and barely makes it to the wastebasket before he is sick. Because he understands now. He understands and he feels disgusting. All the nightmares...all the terror...all the pain...

Alastor's hand is on his back and Vox has barely composed himself when the doctor finally speaks.

"Vincent? Vincent Haynes?"

Vox didn't know exactly what expression he expected to see when he turns to face the doctor again, but the pure unconcealed hatred takes him by surprise.

"Filthy fucking whore!"

His words are venomous as he accuses Vox of being the reason he's in Hell, of tempting him and luring him into sin, of making him crave his flesh. How fitting Hell has stripped him of his beauty and shown him for the vain artificial creature that he is. Even as he says it though, his eyes rake over Vox's body and the TV demon has never wanted so badly for someone to not look at him. Alastor stops the tirade of vitriol with a simple flick of his wrist and a glowing green thread binding Robles' lips together.

"That's quite enough out of you, sir. I hope you don't mind, old friend, I already took a turn with the good doctor. Had to make sure I had the right wretch after all. It didn't actually take all that long. My goodness does this insipid creature like to talk about himself!" Without another word, the Radio Demon slips past them both to slide into his chair. The equipment before him buzzes to life.

"Salutations, listeners!"

Vox's hand crackles with sparks.

[lefarte]

Hallo, may I make a soft Levi funger x reader request? 💜

So polite heheh yes of course. My first request, is it cause he’s my profile picture 👀 ? You didn’t specify if you wanted headcanons or more of a ficlet (is that a word?) so I just sort of did my best I hope this is decent 🩷

Under the cut ^_^ no content warnings, just fluff, gender neutral reader

When Levi got clingy (which is often) it rarely manifested through physical touch. He’s hardly willing to do any more than tug on your sleeve to get your attention, and even this is a very small action that you could easily miss. More than anything, he liked to watch and guard you. Even if you kept telling him it wasn’t necessary, you always found him awake at the small hours of the morning over your bed.

“…I… I was awake anyway, so…”

He muttered something like that and then turn away. What would he do if not watch over you? Oil his gun? Count the windows in the building, count the entrance and exit points, think about his life up until this point? Since the war, even his mind became something of a problem. Always rearing its head at inopportune moments.

When he looked at you and the way your hair is fussed up first thing in the morning, he could almost imagine… domesticity. Something like this; he wakes up, and your hands are entangled from the night before, and you yawn and rub your eyes. You would eat breakfast together and talk.

“…How long have you been up?” You pulled the blankets off. “Did you sleep at all?”

Levi nodded. “I did…”

“You’re getting tremors in your hands again.”

He looked at his hands, cracked and dirty and covered in dry blood, bitten and shaky. A telltale sign. Within a few hours, maybe less, the nausea would come, and then the cravings, the sweat and the migraine. He shrugged.

You rolled out of bed. The bed squealed as you got off. To his surprise, you came to him.

“Don’t bite it,” You said, looking at his hands.

He blinked.

“You bit so hard you’re bleeding,” You reiterated, touching his fingernails.

He cocked his head, much like a dog. “S…Sometimes I wonder if you’re a… real… person.”

…Or a figment of his imagination. The first time he saw you, he ran away. You must have been some ghost of his past, one of the many dead faces brought animate by the withdrawals. And you kept pursuing. He thought for sure you wanted to kill him for what he did. Instead of that, you gave him heroin. And then you gave him food, and took him in, for absolutely no cost.

He decided that you must not know, and you should never know.

“Don’t be silly.”

You put a bandaid over his finger.

“…No…really… you shouldn’t be here…” Not in Prehevil. It’s a rotten place, for bad people. “And… um… I don’t need a bandage… you should save that.”

“You say weird things sometimes. It makes me want to squeeze you.”

He couldn’t respond to that. “Huh.”

“You need to get some sleep.”

“Stay here...” He croaked.

He had to admit that you were being sensible. The lack of sleep had been getting to him. He was saying things he shouldn’t say. The sun hadn’t fully risen, so… he could afford himself to rest for maybe another 20 minutes. Being generous.

It felt pathetic to beg.

“I’ll keep watch.” You promised.

Swallowing his shame, he slipped under the covers. It was still warm from your body heat. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt the warmth of a human, even if it was just the lingering traces from your pillow. He almost felt excited like a little kid. Its like an indirect hug, he thought.

You sat at the foot of the bed. You had no rifle to polish or any way to keep yourself occupied, except to listen to the soft breathing of Levi next to you. The way he curled up was soft, never like how a soldier should sleep. He left his rifle.

“Sleep well,” you said softly.

“….yeah….”

[jazeswhbhaven]

SitrixOC Astra (Third POV) Tags/Warnings: Vanilla, Fluff with porn, vaginal penetration, heavy petting, cardiophilia, Non-canon, Canon character x OC character Words: 2K+

Astra stood up, her head swimming after finishing the contract removal ritual with Sitri. Being only the second time she had performed this, it was natural that she would feel a bit woozy. 

Damn, I never expected to be this sick. But then again…I’m not from hell…

Ppyong looked at her, flying around in circles with a concerned look. “I think it’s time again, aye! Miss Astra, do you need it?” 

Astra looked up at Ppyong, trying to smile away the nausea that suddenly appeared. It was that time again, but she felt it was too soon. She had just received energy from Satan about a day ago. Or so she thought since the sun technically had not set yet. But who knew how time worked here? A day in Hell could mean two on Earth. 

“I’ll be fine, Pp-” Astra struggles to finish her sentence, nearly bending over and placing a hand to her mouth to keep from throwing up. She also felt like her lungs were caving in, each breath she took being harder than the last. 

“It’s time,” Sitri says, standing up and gently rubbing Astra’s back. She sat up and looked over at Satan who was staring at her wordlessly. 

“Okay, I admit it. I need energy again. But isn’t it too soon?” Astra gasps, holding onto Sitri’s sleeve.

“No, it’s your first time in Hell. You’ll need it more often until you’re used to it.” Satan spoke plainly as if Astra should already know this. She rolls her eyes and squints her eyes at him. 

“Then, will it be you again? Mister, chokes a lot.” She added sass to her voice, which made Satan chuckle boyishly as if he’d pulled the biggest “gotcha” moment. But Sitri kept rubbing her back and answered her question instead. 

“You have already exchanged energy with His Majesty. It would be wise to choose another devil now so one source won’t be exhausted.” 

“Oh.” Astra stood up fully, exchanging a glance between Satan and Sitri while rubbing her thumbs together. “So, I’ll be with you next?” 

Satan frowned, unable to hide his distaste but he knew Sitri was right. “Yeah. Astra, think of the place where you’re most comfortable. Like before.” 

“So we’re doing this now?” 

“Yes. Now.” 

Astra exhales slowly, letting her mind go at ease as she thinks of Minhyeok’s room. It felt odd, just like last time as if she were using his room in real time though it was just an illusion. She wasn’t actually in his room. She wondered if she could get over the guilt of having her first time be with Satan while doing it on what was a manifestation of her childhood best friend’s bed. Though, it was useless to dwell in the past. It already happened, and she needed this to stay alive. 

At the same time while zoning out, she could overhear Satan’s conversation with Sitri. 

“Hey.” 

Sitri stares at his superior, straight-faced as usual and attentive. “Yes, your Majesty?” 

“She’s mine.” 

“....I’m aware.” 

Satan was satisfied with the answer, not wanting to cause problems with his subordinate. However, there was something backhanded about Sitri’s statement that made him want to kick his ass. It was as if that lingering attitude he picked up from Hades was taunting him. 

“Your Majesty, aren’t you going with Miss Astra this time, aye?” Ppyong asks genuinely while flying around closely to the slightly ticked-off king. 

Satan swatted at Ppyong, scoffing and clicking his tongue.

“They sound like we’re in one of those dramas.” Astra thinks to herself, highly amused. Even though it was tempting, there was no time for Astra to say anything or focus on their banter, as Minhyeok’s room came into view. 

It’s cold again. Wait…

Astra took a look down, her body bare like last time. 

“Well fuck where did my clothes go again?” She covers her breasts, looking around for some kind of cover until- 

“Solomon.” 

Astra jumped, tripping over her own feet and landing on the bed behind her. In front of her stood Sitri, staring at her with pink cheeks while still holding a full cup of warm tea. 

“Nervous?” He asks, coming closer to her with a sincere tone to his voice. 

“No. Well, maybe. This is the second time I’m doing this.” Astra had to admit to herself that essentially having what was considered two dick appointments back to back was something out of the ordinary for someone like her. She was a virgin the night before, and now…

“Here, have some tea. It will help.” He offers his cup to her, Astra readily accepting. The smell emitting from it is fragrant and soothing, as she takes her first sip to test the temperature. It was smooth, quite honestly the most perfectly brewed tea she ever had in her life. Before she knew it the entire cup was gone, Sitri grinning from ear to ear as he took the cup back from her. 

“Sitri that was amazing…I’m already feeling-” Astra paused, putting her hand to her chest as her heart thumped wildly. The room was quiet, but now it sounded more like a symphony with her pulse echoing throughout the walls. She looked at Sitri, who was so red in the face and trembling that she knew something was not right. 

“Wait, this tea…is there caffeine in it?” 

“Why yes, it’s black tea.” 

Astra stood up, uncrossing her arms and pointing at Sitri with a firm pout, and her brow furrowed. “Sitri, this won’t calm me down. My heart feels like it’s on overdrive!” 

The other steps up to her, reaching his hand behind her head and bending down to take her lips in a slow and deep kiss. This was much deeper and intimate than the first time she met him. His tongue explored the remnants of the tea lingering in her mouth, his moans and whimpers flowed into her as he brought her closer to his body. 

“Your heartbeat…it sounds heavenly. So good…so loud.” He rasps, his deep pink hues meeting her gaze. 

Astra now could pay attention to the details of his eyes. His pupils, blue upside-down crosses. Swirls of deep and light pink in his irises mesmerized her and made her forget that she gulped down enough caffeine to have her wired for theoretically a week. 

“Solomon, your heartbeat…before then it was hard to concentrate on it. Erratic, mysterious, uncharted. I couldn’t make heads or tails of it. But now, this simple, steady beat is enough. And I like it a lot.” 

Astra’s head was hazy from the kiss, but she then felt an overwhelming emotion. Disdain. There was one thing she couldn’t stand about Sitri since she arrived, and it was how she was constantly…ever so…compared to her ancestral grandfather. 

“I’m not him.” She gently pushes Sitri away, turning her back to him. “I don’t want to be compared to him. I don’t even know the man and you’re comparing me to him.” 

“Solomon, I didn’t mean-” 

“My name is Astra, Sitri. Astra. A-S-T-R-A. There is no Solomon in that name. Only in my blood. Don’t call me by his name when we’re like this. I don’t…I don’t like it.” With her heightened heartbeat, even more wild now that she was upset, the room shakes in response to her current state. Sitri’s arms wrap around her from behind, his lips against her neck as he gently kisses up to her earlobe. 

“I’m sorry that I’ve offended you, I don’t call you that to compare. It’s just…I’m so used to” 

“Then get used to me. Sitri.” Astra turns around, staring into Sitri’s eyes again before kissing his cheek, then his lips once more, wrapping her arms around his neck. In seconds, she’s lifted off the floor into his arms, her legs around his waist to brace herself as he carries her to the bed. With a gentle flop, Astra lands on her back, smiling and placing her foot on his chest to playfully push him back. 

Sitri smiles, taking off his top, the silky black fabric pulling over his head and falling to the floor revealing a well-toned, muscular physique that he was hiding effectively under it. Astra’s heart thumps louder upon seeing his frame, his tattoos now showing, and his waist, the ratio to his thighs better than any male model or porn star she’s seen before. 

“Wow...Sitri..” She gasps, feeling the arousal increase between her thighs. She reaches out to touch him letting the definition of his muscles flex and react to her fingertips. He sighed, leaning closer to kiss her forearm and flashing a gaze at her that was teaming with ecstasy. 

“You’re getting excited…if you could hear what I hear-” He shudders and exhales again, his eyes closing and opening slowly. “...you would understand how aroused I am right now.” 

Astra sits up, scooting her body closer to Sitri, her hands now at his waist teasing the waistband of his pants. 

“I want these off.” She says in a low voice, giving the other an innocent look. Sitri wastes no time, his pants removed in record time as they too hit the floor along with his underwear. Astra’s eyes take in the shape and size of his cock, noting that he was about the same size as Satan but slightly thicker. 

She allows Sitri to lift her once again, positioning her hips at the right angle before the tip of him kisses her entrance. Astra’s breath hitches, her fingers gripping his shoulders as she keeps her eyes locked with his. With a small nod to give him the signal, she feels his shaft slowly push past her wet folds. A whimpering noise escapes her throat, her head burying in Sitri’s neck and chest as she takes him all in one go until he bottoms out. Sitri sits for a minute, slowly breathing as his chest rises and falls. She could tell by the way he gripped her waist that he was savoring the moment, and pressing her chest against his so he could feel her heart thump faster now that he was nestled deep within her. 

“So…good. So steady. I want to hear more…” Sitri whispers in her ear before he pulls out and snaps his hips upward, causing Astra to gasp and cry out suddenly. He then evens out his strokes to the beat of her heart, the rhythm following closely at the same time hitting the right spots over and over. Astra felt no pain, only pleasure as she held onto Sitri the best she could. The way he was fucking her was more gentle, more sensual than Satan. Each thrust had meaning but was just as powerful and unrelenting. 

Before she knew it she was on her back, staring up at him from below as her chest felt as if it were on fire. Her heartbeat was rising, the steady thumps turning into fast-paced pulses as if she were running a marathon. 

“You’re showing off, is that for me?” Sitri asks with a grin on his face before leaning down and kissing the area where her heart was located. He bit down on the flesh, swirling his tongue before focusing on her breast and taut nipple. Astra arches her back, her legs not letting go of Sitri’s waist as he continues to pump into her wildly. Her hand curiously roams down his thigh, taking a handful of his toned and plump ass and squeezing it tightly. Sitri moans and pauses his movements, biting his lips, shaking, and looking at Astra with wild eyes. 

“Again, please.” He begs in bated breath. Astra grins and uses both hands to grasp his ass and mold the flesh between her fingers. She couldn’t believe he was so sensitive by just having his backside massaged when he took so many kicks from Satan. Perhaps it was different during sex, as with each squeeze and tap his cock swelled and throbbed inside her. 

“Oh, Sitri…you’re so hard you’re stretching me out…” Astra pants, the blue-haired devil leaning down to take her lips in a fervent kiss as continues to stay dormant in his position. As Astra kept her hands firm on his ass, he swirled his tongue with hers, growling and pressing his chest against hers.

As she pulls back from the kiss, that’s when she notices Sitri’s horn is gleaming in the light, covered in the same milky substance she experienced when playing with Satan’s horns. She grabs it, rubbing it vigorously. Sitri moans loudly, the sensation causing him to pause in his thrusting before he changes his pattern, his strokes now deep and in unison with her hand movements. 

“Yes…like that…fuck…” Sitri’s eyes close as he bites his lip.

Astra felt herself clench around his shaft, excited to hear Sitri curse as he did. He appeared so well-mannered and distinguished that he was like a different devil in the bedroom. She couldn’t say much more, the stimulation from the caffeine, the sex, and even stroking his horn was overwhelming. It was as if everything he felt, she could too. At the same time, she was moments away from passing out, her climax reaching its peak. 

“Sitri…I can’t…I’m about to lose it!” Astra cries and grabs his forearms tightly as she throws her head back, her walls closing even tighter around his cock as spasms rippled through her core. For a moment she thought her heart stopped, but the gentle kisses of Sitri let her know that wasn’t the case.

“That’s it…just like that, Astra.” Sitri saying her voice so sweetly made her whimper as another wave of pleasure hit her, this time a bit of fluid coating the other’s cock as he pulled out and slid back in to help her ride it out. “We can stop here for now…it’s a lot of you to take this much energy. Normally, you’d be able to exchange much more and receive more but this is enough. We’ll try again at a later time.” 

Astra felt her exhaustion hit like a brick wall, limbs heavy and the wild thumps of her pulse finally regulating and slowing to a normal state. She looks at Sitri with tired eyes, reaching out to him to gently cup his cheek, his lips kissing her palm. 

“Sleep well,” Sitri says, his nails gently tracing her jaw down to her chest. Astra smiles weakly before closing her eyes, Sitri’s swollen cock still deep inside of her until she is softly snoring. He removes himself reluctantly, wishing he could stay like this with her for a while longer. But he knew well. 

“Someday, I’ll do what I want to with you…and that’s when I’ll let you know my true feelings.” He says, picking her up into his arms as they sat in the manifestation of Minheyok’s room in silence. The steady beat of her heart intertwined with Sitri’s being the only thing that played like music in his ears.

[whumpdreaming]

Stages of blood withdrawal (Hemopenia)

Hello! This is a psuedo-introduction to my new and currently unnamed whump series! It's an urban-fantasy setting where vampires (and various other species, such as werewolves) coexist with humans :) I imagine there's a type of artificial blood synthesis technology that allows for the sustenance of vampires without actually needing to feed off a living person ("wah wah wah that defeats the whole point of vampires" SHUT UP!!!!!!!) which has allowed the vampire population to grow significantly in recent years.

However, there are very severe consequences to blood withdrawal (which I have, via the genius strategy of smashing medical affixes together, called "hemopenia", or "lack of blood") which I have described here! The story focuses on the main character, a young vampire girl, getting kidnapped and starved of blood until she almost dies <3 enjoy!

Stage zero: no withdrawal present

Technically not a stage in the progression of blood withdrawal. All vampires should aim to stay in stage zero; that means consuming blood in sufficient amounts, each day. A qualified hemophysician can easily provide vampires with a recommended blood target, as it varies, but at least one liter of blood per day is recommended, and drinking more isn't necessarily unhealthy.

Under no circumstances, except when explicitly prescribed by your doctor, should blood consumption cease. Obtaining a surplus of blood at home is recommended in case of emergencies (such as a severe snowstorm), but missing the target every so often isn't usually harmful.

Blood withdrawal is not a joke, and far from harmless. If you are tempted to cease your blood consumption, or know someone who is considering it, then call your local mental support hotline or talk to a trusted friend or family member. Intentional refusal to drink blood may be a warning sign of, or a symptom of, an eating disorder. Take the steps necessary to educate and protect yourself and those around you.

As the steps through blood withdrawal progress, it becomes more and more difficult to eventual treat. As such, if you are or if you know someone suffering from blood withdrawal, it's important to get help immediately. No stage is impossible to recover from, except death.

Stage one: early withdrawal (1-2 weeks)

The earliest and least dangerous stage of blood withdrawal, symptoms are usually very mild and often hard to notice. They can include: irritability, moodiness, mood swings, mild nausea/indigestion, fatigue, acid reflux, weight loss, mild loss of coordination (clumsiness), forgetfulness, difficulty focusing, disorientation, vertigo.

Usually not very serious, and usually treatable at home, simply by returnjng to a safe and consistent level of blood consumption.

Stage two: progressing withdrawal (3-6 weeks)

Often called "the danger zone", in that symptoms become more severe and begin to seriously impact a vampire's quality of life. Usually, vampires in this stage need the help of a temporary carer to perform most tasks. Permanent damage is rare if treatment is timely; it's recommended to immediately take the afflicted person to the hospital for recovery. Taking one to a rehabilitation center at this stage is usually unnecessary, and those afflicted can be expected to make a full recovery in only a few months.

Symptoms include severe nausea, indigestion, and diarrhea, as the body becomes less and less capable of digesting food. Severe personality changes manifest themselves, and the brain gets worse at planning, remembering, and thinking in general. Coordination, fine motor control, and the sense of balance all go out the window, resulting in severe tremors and difficulty with speaking and walking. Those afflicted will have serious issues with language processing and orientation. Dissociation and catatonia are common. Seizures are also possible.

Stage three: severe withdrawal (6-10 weeks)

Those afflicted are now "off the deep end", and will likely need the help of a rehabilitation center for a minimum of multiple months, and then possibly a carer for a varying period of time afterwards. Physical and mental therapy are commonly also needed for an extended period of time, up to multiple years.

Symptoms include severe decline in cognitive and motor function; severe and chronic nausea, indigestion, and acid reflux; heightened aggressiveness as the afflicted becomes more desperate for blood and incapable of rational thought; loss of speech and language processing abilities; loss of object permanence; restlessness; complete inability to sleep; severe weight loss; complete incontinence; seizures; constant vocalizing, most commonly screaming, wailing, or shouting; spontaneous self-harm, such as beating their head against the floor or wall; and virtually constant extreme distress.

Victims of blood withdrawal in stage three can be frightening, dangerous, and unsettling; but it's important to remember they're still people, and that recovery is only impossible after they've died. Treat them with compassion, and refrain from directly interacting with them if possible; instead, keep your distance, stay calm, and call your local emergency number as soon as possible.

Stage four: profound withdrawal (10-12 weeks)

Virtually all the same symptoms as stage three, but victims in this stage also possess symptoms similar to rabies in animals. They may become extremely aggressive or extremely docile, often changing moods quickly and spontaneously. They will have regained some amount of motor control, at least enough to walk and crawl, but these actions will be done uncoordinated and with great difficulty. The victim may drool excessively, and have an extremely low body fat percentage, along with unfocused eyes that may dilate and contract rapidly and randomly.

Do not attempt to interact with the afflicted person; simply find a safe place to call your local emergency number. Recovery will likely take multiple years, spent mostly at a rehabilitation center, but the victim is far from unrecoverable.

Stage five: death (12 weeks)

The person's body simply shuts down at the lack of new blood, and brain activity ceases entirely. Often, the body isn't found for some time, as vampires who spend enough time away from society to die from withdrawal aren't usually in easily accessible places. If you find a vampire corpse, especially in the wilderness or on a hiking trail, make a note of its location and contact your local forestry office. Do not touch or tamper with the body, and consider leaving a marker to let others know not to go near it.

[brittlebutch]

it's actually so fascinating to me that Brennan has created a character that maintains a pretty relaxed and mild-mannered demeanor and has said multiple times that the absolute Core of her is "FEAR" and how often we see this Fear manifest specifically in Avoidance; it really nails a relationship to that mentality where your brain fully Stops recognizing the emotion properly out of like, sheer self-defense from the stress of having to carry it all the time

I think this is also perfectly showcased in the way we tend to see Tula swing so suddenly from 'level and steady' to 'snarling Panic' and then back again - Just because your brain has detached itself from the Conscious Recognition of the emotion doesn't mean it can Actually stop itself from experiencing it. So the Fear is always there and always acting as a stressor, but because of that inability to Identify it there's no way to recognize or address it before that final straw hits and your bodymind jumps Straight into Full Meltdown Mode; but then once again, once you drop even a Little bit below that Peak Terror your brain ceases to process the emotion; it's like the most exhausting form of Poor Object Permanence in the world

And even if Tula is aware of this happening to her, that doesn't really make it any easier to deal with / address. Even if you're able to spot the symptoms Around the emotion -- chest pain, irritation, nausea, whatever -- because the Emotion Itself is basically impossible to find, you can't really Successfully Pin Down what the problem is OR a way to cope with it. If you can't figure out That You Are Anxious, then figuring out What Is Making You Anxious is impossible, which makes Find A Way To Make Peace With That incomprehensible. That's where the Avoidance comes in: you can no longer identify what might be a Dangerous Situation, which means that Anything New has a big potential to be Really Bad in a variety of ways (ranging "I don't Feel Good" to "Fully Lashing Out bc you've entered Fight/Flight and can't get out of it" to "Actual Outside Danger This Time") and that means the Only Way you know how to be Safe is to just Avoid Doing Anything New and Only stick to Familiar Situations, because anything unfamiliar is a monster of a gamble you don't know how to prepare for or cope with

[happyk44]

Also, what if Children of Poseidon can invoke Decompression Sickness?

Yesssssss!!! Decompression sickness is more known for occurring with divers, but it can also occur when flying at a high altitude (if your aircraft is unpressurized) - so children of Zeus may be able to invoke it as well.

Decompression sickness is also under the umbrella of decompression illness, which includes arterial gas embolisms and pulmonary barotrauma. The difference between the three is that:

Decompression sickness (DCS) occurs when rapid pressure reduction (for example, during ascent from a dive or ascent to altitude) causes gas previously dissolved in blood or body tissues to form bubbles in blood vessels

Pulmonary barotrauma (PBT) is caused when the compressed air in a diver's lungs cannot freely escape during a rapid ascent and the lung tissues rupture. It's a lot more obvious than DCS (for clear reasons)

Arterial gas embolism (AGE) is a blood vessel blockage caused by gas bubbles in the arterial bloodstream. It occurs when air enters an artery (often under similar circumstances as DCS or due to PBT) and becomes trapped. It's the most common cause of death in underwater divers

For anyone who wants to write about Percy, Jason, or Thalia invoking this on someone else, here's a list of symptoms that can occur!

[ID: Screenshot of a table from the Wikipedia page on Decompression Sickness. Table is titled "Signs and symptoms of decompression sickness". There are three columns called DCS type, Bubble location, and Signs and Symptoms (clinical manifestations).

Row 1

DCS type: Musculoskeletal Bubble location: Mostly large joints of the limbs (elbows, shoulders, hip, wrists, knees, ankles) Signs and symptoms: Localized deep pain, ranging from mild to excruciating, sometimes a dull ache, more rarely a sharp pain; active and passive motion of the joint may aggravate the pain; the pain may be reduced by bending the joint to find a more comfortable position; if caused by altitude, pain can occur immediately or up to many hours later

Row 2

DCS type: Cutaneous Bubble location: Skin Signs and symptoms: Itching, usually around the ears, face, neck, arms, and upper torso; sensation of tiny insects crawling over the skin (formication); mottled or marbled skin usually around the shoulders, upper chest and abdomen, with itching (cutis marmorata)

Row 3

DCS type: Neurologic Bubble location: Brain Signs and symptoms: Altered sensation, tingling or numbness (paresthesia), increased sensitivity (hyperesthesia); confusion or memory loss (amnesia); visual abnormalities; unexplained mood or behavior changes; seizures, unconsciousness

Row 4

DCS type: Neurologic Bubble location: Spinal cord Signs and symptoms: Ascending weakness or paralysis in the legs; urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence; girdling (also referred to as girdle, banding, or tightening feeling) around the abdominal region and/or chest

Row 5

DCS type: Constitutional Bubble location: Whole body Signs and symptoms: Headache; unexplained fatigue; generalized malaise, poorly localized aches

Row 6

DCS type: Audiovestibular Bubble location: Inner ear Signs and symptoms: Loss of balance; dizziness, vertigo, nausea, vomiting; hearing loss

Row 7

DCS type: Pulmonary Bubble location: Lungs Signs and symptoms: Dry persistent cough; burning chest pain under the sternum, aggravated by breathing; shortness of breath

/end ID]

[ID: Screenshot of a table on the signs and symptoms of arterial gas embolism from the wikipedia page "List of Signs and Symptoms of Diving Disorders". There are two columns: Symptoms and Percentage, which lists the symptoms of an AGE and the approximate estimates of frequency for each symptoms.

Symptoms and their related frequency:

Loss of consciousness: 81%

Pulmonary rales or wheezes: 38%

Blood in the ear (Hemotympanum): 34%

Decreased reflexes: 34%

Extremity weakness or paralysis: 32%

Chest pain: 29%

Irregular breathing or apnea: 29%

Vomiting: 29%

Coma without convulsions: 26%

Coughing blood (Hemoptysis): 23%

Sensory loss: 21%

Stupor and confusion: 18%

Vision changes: 20%

Cardiac arrest: 16%

Headache: 16%

Unilateral motor changes: 16%

Change in gait or ataxia: 14%

Conjunctivitis: 14%

Sluggishly reactive pupils: 14%

Vertigo: 12%

Coma with convulsions: 11%

/end ID]

And from the same wikipedia page: "Other conditions that can be caused by pulmonary barotrauma include pneumothorax, mediastinal emphysema and interstitial emphysema."

[pharrell-the-formation]

I want to ask about Luis and Tape Girl (Kelly).

Yes, they are both security guards, it seems to be clear how they met. But still, I'm interested to know about their first steps of rapprochement.

Oooh, you see, these two knew each other even before working together.

After the Fnaf VR events, Kelly Cawthon, wanting to protect subsequent beta-testers from the influence of Glitchtrap, turned to the company where the unfortunate game was outsourced and found out the names and contact information of people on this position. After contacting Vanessa and learning that a mysterious yellow rabbit decided to visit her and that Afton had already collected all of her tapes, she insists on a personal contact, during which she will explain more. This kind of scares Vanessa, but curiosity makes her give the weird girl a chance.

Kelly saw her quite often after that, studying her condition and trying to find a way to eradicate the parasite (which Vanessa didn’t really complain about) before something bad happens to her too. Once she accompanied her to the place of a new job and, after having already separated, she suddenly felt sick.

Glitch creature made an attempt to make a Tape girl his new host in the past, but the attempt was unsuccessful due to the fact that Cawthon turned off all devices faster than the process was completed. But it still caused a certain harm to consciousness, which manifested itself in sudden states of disorientation with concomitant dizziness and an unreasonable feeling of nausea, which bothered her in the next few months after that possession attempt. It so happened that one of them took place right on the street, and it so happened that Cabrera, who was heading in the same direction as Afton, saw her and noticed that something was wrong with this passerby. He clumsily tried to help her, bought her a water, and when she convinced him that everything was alright with her now, he fastly left, leaving behind the phone that he took out when considered that it might be worth calling an ambulance.

Kelly, using his phone, contacts his acquaintances and, well, the guy himself, setting up a meeting at which she will return the forgotten thing to Luis. There, she gets to know him in more detail and, feeling really embarrassed about the incident, insists that she should either return the money to him or buy something as well. He is embarrassed to take anything from her, she is uncomfortable that he does not take anything, and, in the end, Cabrera makes a concession. His new acquaintance buys him something to drink too (maybe his beloved coffee, dunno) and they manage to bright up a conversation when he finds out that she is Scott Cawthon’s daughter, and that she shares the same interest in IT and programming stuff as him (by “him” I mean Luis). The rest is history. I think they chatted online more after this, though had a couple of times when they went for a walk together somewhere and talked face to face.

They seemed to become nice pals. But then “Special Delivery” events happened.

[strayheartless]

Well here’s a series I thought I had grown out of…

Welcome back (albeit on a new account) to Flo copes! A series where I channel what I’ve just been through into my faves because I’m incapable of dealing with strong emotions on my own!

Todays topic? Panic attacks! And how each character deals with them!:

Sora: simply put, he doesn’t. Sora is incapable of recognising when he needs to stop and breath. Nine times out of ten he thinks a panic attack is his body finally giving up the ghost and he makes himself worse. It usually hits him randomly and any little moments of panic he locks down until it mounts up and makes him cry and throw up and then cry again.

Kairi: Kairi good at managing her emotional well-being, and regularly takes brakes to ensure she’s doing okay. But when it does hit her it usually manifests itself as uncontrollable crying. Usually her panic attacks are more drawn out, their like an all day thing. She will wake up feeling terrible, spend breakfast fighting tears, cry by lunch, then get set off by small stuff like music that sounds sad, cry again around bedtime and end up going off to look for someone to help her calm down (usually Aqua or Axel because they give the best hugs.)

Riku: ah yes, my boy is hyper aware of panic attacks and the minute one presents itself he takes himself off -like a dog in distress- and deals with it alone. It manifests it’s self as intense nausea, swimming vision and shortness of breath. He’s thrown up more times than he hasn’t, and nobody except Ienzo and Even have ever seen him have one.

Roxas: this kid don’t have the time nor the inclination to deal with panic attacks. He knows what they are and that he has them, he just simply refuses to let them rule him. If one starts he goes and plonks himself between Axel, Xion and Isa and stays there until it stops. It usually feels like a overthinking spiral that leads to shortness of breath but he’s never let it get far enough to know if there’s anything else.

Axel: Axel tends to get explosive when he’s having a panic attack -in the emotional sense (although fire has been known to happen too.). He snaps at everyone and starts to get an intense feeling in his chest until he can’t cope and starts yelling in panic. It’s kind of scary to watch him go through it.

Xion: my poor girl shuts all the way down. It’s more like a PTSD episode. She gets this far off look in her eyes and she’ll stay in the same position for a while as her heart races and she tries to focus on coming back. Touching her is not a good idea because she is likely to lash out and then get upset that she’s done it. Which invariably ends in tears.

Ventus: here’s another little fellow who simply shuts down. His ears start to ring, his heart Jack hammers and then he’s somewhere he didn’t remember going and being told he just clocked out. It’s scary because he generally doesn’t know where the time in the middle goes.

Aqua: like sora, she doesn’t realise it’s happening and then it’s on her and she can’t escape. She ends up throwing up a lot of the time, and quite often panic will grip her FAST and then she’s incapacitated by it. Unlike sora however, she doesn’t put it off or try to push it down. She lets it happen and lets people take care of her when it does.

Terra: cries. Uncontrollable, heaving, body wracking sobs, shaking violently, doesn’t know what’s happening, vision goes blurry, the whole nine yards. Terras panic attacks happen frequently and with an intensity that shocks everyone. He ends up feeling literally everything all at once and sometimes he’s been known to start laughing out of sheer fear. Nobody. Likes. Watching. It. Happen.

[dzthenerd490]

File: The Wyoming Incident

SCP#: AEJ

Code Name: The Wyoming Incident

Object Class: Neutralized

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-AEJ has not been reported since its manifestation. Furthermore, those responsible were apprehended but eventually died as a result of the incident. As such, the chances of it happening again and low, but just to be safe, the Telecommunications Monitoring Office - Internet Division and Broadcast Division are to alert Foundation administrative staff in the event of SCP-AEJ or something similar happening again.

Description: SCP-AEJ was an incident where several TV stations were hacked by cyber terrorists determined to cause chaos for laughs. However, what they displayed was not disgusting or disturbing imagery, though it did appear as such, but in reality, was much worse. It's unknown exactly how, but the hackers were able to obtain rejected memetic images created by Group of Interest: PENTAGRAM.

For those that don't know, PENTAGRAM is a division of the United States Department of Defense. While the FBI: UIU was created to investigate anomalous threats within the US, PENTAGRAN was made specifically to combat anomalous threats to the ALL of the US. It has been approved of existence by the SCP Foundation and is funded by the Global Occult Coalition. Unfortunately, PENTAGRAM is not as protected as either organization and thus, was how this situation happened.

The hackers obtained the memetics which were rejected because they failed to do as PENTAGRAM wanted. Instead of proper brainwashing or memory wipe; they often causing seizers, headaches, stroke, nausea, and other forms of mental deterioration. These symptoms easily got worse as time went on often leading to their bodies flying in the air while they entered a comatose state, their eyes glowing in a blinding light, their skin suddenly rotting out of nowhere, or their heads just bloating until they explode. It should be noted that anomalous symptoms are always a risk with exposure to multiple memetics in a short period of time. It's for this reason why memetic training and therapy, though effective, is considered dangerous as it can overload the brain and damage it beyond repair.

SCP-AEJ was discovered in 2006 within [data expunged], [data expunged], [data expunged], and a few other cities, all of which are in Wyoming. The event nearly led to an MK Class Broken Masquerade Scenario had the Foundation not reacted in time.

Mobile Task Force Dionysus-1 "Fake News" was entrusted to feed the media a story of a sudden outbreak of a new pathogen within the state of Wyoming. Afterwards Mobile Task Force Gamma-5 "Red Herrings" was deployed to distribute amnestics to anyone who wasn't affected but witness the incident. Meanwhile Foundation agents and MTF units disguised as CDC agents found those who were affected and used amnestic treatment on those that could be saved and quarantined the rest. The hackers involved in the incident suffered the same fate as those who saw the broadcasting of the amnestics. They were used as test subjects to see how to properly subside and even reverse the effects before actual treatment was taken to the affected public. This action was approved by the Ethics Committee, "A fitting punishment" in their own words.

The cover story worked with the public believing those that could be saved were cured and those that were mutated were killed by the plague. The incident was unfortunately known forever in history as "The Wyoming Ghost Plague" or as "The Wyoming Incident". Though the Foundation can take pride in knowing that no civilian will ever know the true nature of the SCP-AEJ incident.

Side Note: PENTAGRAM vouched to the ACPA council to take responsibility for the SCP-AEJ incident. However, the ACPA did not listen with Foundation representatives even claiming, "a lesser organization cannot be expected to handle such consequences". Just words but considered quite the insult to those in the anomalous world that desire to protect the interests and innocence of the public.

.

SCP: Horror Movie Files Hub

[askanaroace]

Ask An Aro Ace ASAW Day 2: Being a Non-Favorable Aromantic

Today is another day where I kinda talk about something that's treated as different within and without the community. Today I want to talk about being romance-indifferent or romance-averse or romance-repulsed.

A quick primer for those who might need:

Romance-favorable: generally likes and is open to romance.

Romance-indifferent: generally unbothered by and doesn't think about romance. Doesn't really want it but isn't strongly turned away from it.

Romance-averse: generally uninterested in romance but not especially upset or uncomfortable with it.

Romance-repulsed: generally experiencing discomfort and upset surrounding romance.

This may be in the realm of romantic content to personal outlook on romance and the desire or lack thereof to be in a romantic relationship. And not everyone has to use these or may even feel the scale is useful to them, for example because someone might be favorable to romantic media but repulsed by the idea of personally participating in romance or their feelings may fluctuate over time and be different at different times.

I would say I fall along the lines of being romance-indifferent. In the past, I have been touch-repulsed and sex-repulsed (and now probably lay somewhere along indifferent to averse), so I have general experience with how intense and upsetting repulsion can be and how it can impact your life, though I can't speak specifically to romance-repulsion.

What I want to talk about is the extremely different perspective that comes out about romance depending on if you're looking at things from within or without the community.

When your general allo hears about aromanticism, they are most likely to assume someone completely uninterested in romance and potentially even repulsed by it. You may get gross comments about being picky or immature or afraid of commitment and have it said or implied that the "right person" will "fix" you (as if romance-favorable aros aren't still aro!). Dehumanization is especially common with aros with claims of "love is what makes us human".

But within the community, this treatment by allos has led to a sense of shame surrounding aversion and repulsion, as well as aplatonicism, heartlessness, and lovelessness. There is a tendency to try and defend aros from such judgements by using amatonormative claims like "aros can still want to date!" and "aros can love in other ways!" which leaves out aros for whom these statements aren't true and sets up the prospect that the only acceptable way to be aromantic is to be romance-favorable and partnering (whether that be a romantic or queerplatonic or platonic partnership).

I know very well that romance-favorable aros face their own struggles and often feel invalid and fake due to their favorability. That's a real and valid feeling and struggle. But truth is that I see a lot of validation, positivity, and encouragement for favorability.

And if you run in the right circles, you'll see that same energy given towards indifference, aversion, and repulsion. But overall, it can be very difficult to talk about being repulsed in particular. People treat you like your discomfort is difficult to accommodate, like your feelings are a burden to them. And it's an especially terrible burden for a repulsed person to have to carry because we're the ones dealing with literal repulsion over these subjects. Accommodating us takes a little conscious, thought yes, but when I was repulsed, that could manifest as:

Being unable to stomach watching certain shows/movies

Getting very easily embarrassed and flustered and uncomfortable with such material

An actual, physical sensation of freezing up and my body shutting down

Dissociation

Involuntary flinching

Anxiety and fear over having to face certain situations

People can also experience things like nausea, dysphoria, depression, etc.

I get that accommodating us does take some mindfulness and effort, but I promise that it is easier on you than it is on the repulsed person to go through the above.

And acceptance for this definitely has improved over time. But making room for non-favorable folk means more than us being an after-thought. It means including these experiences in your definition of aromanticism. It means updating your content warnings. It means changing the way we defend our identity.

Humans are defined based off of general biology and society building defined by traits like bipedalism, language, tool-making, foresight, and opposable thumbs. Nothing at all to do with love, which is something we can observe throughout the animal kingdom. All aros are humans because that's the scientific classification we're born into. You don't need love to be compassionate or kind towards other people. Every living creature is worthy of basic respect. Aromanticism doesn't harm people (anti-aro bias and amatonormativity do). Whatever our feelings, those deserve to be respected and considered.

By breaking down these barriers and stereotypes, we help everyone. Because there's a lot of different ways to feel and live, and we deserve to get to explore those options.

[thesharkbaitspellbook]

Honey

happiness, warmth, healing, love, encouragement, prosperity, abundance, fertility, community, diligence, work ethic

Honey is an ingredient I use often. And Honestly, there is too much lore across too many cultures to just list but the history is RICH with information. Obviously a major use it to "sweeten" a working but there are so many other areas to use it in, as listed above. The golden color also plays a huge role in why I use it for so many things and offer it to so many of the deities in my practice. So here is some other things related to it…

Medicinal Uses:

Help with Indigestion – Taking a tablespoon or two will settle your stomach and it won't ferment and cause more trouble.

Relieve Nausea – You can use honey with ginger ale to help relieve nausea

Wound Care – Use as a topical wound care, it can help quicken healing time for injuries such as rashes, burns, and skin abrasions.

Cure Acne – It's a natural face cleaner and is known to help cure acne, and works on all skin types even sensitive skin. Use about half a teaspoon and warm it in your hands then spread on your face like soap, rubbing in circular motions. Let sit for about 10 minutes then rinse with warm water and dry.

Relieve Sore Throat – There is a reason your mom would make you warm tea with honey when you had a sore throat, it can help it feel better.

Sugar Substitute – Use raw honey as a substitute for white sugar

Energy Boost – Take a tablespoon of honey before as a pre-workout.

Moisturizer – Use a spoonful of honey and mix with olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice to make an ultra moisturizing lotion.

Cure Dry Elbows – Rub some honey on your dry elbows and it will help soften your skin.

Lip Balm – Use honey to a make a natural lip balm. You will need honey, beeswax, and a few other oils.

Hair Mask – This will help lock in moisture and shine in your hair use one teaspoon of honey to 5 cups of warm water the rinse and style like normal.

Cure a Hangover – Honey will help speed up your metabolism and help your body process the alcohol faster.

Cough Syrup – Use honey to make a cough syrup

Reduce Seasonally Allergies – Use local raw honey and take a tablespoon or so a day. The local pollen in the honey helps build your body's immunity to the pollen which will lessen your allergies during pollen season.

Moisturize Your Skin – Add a tablespoon of honey to your hot bath to help moisturize your skin while you bathe!

Help Get to Sleep – Use a tablespoon of honey at night to help get to bed! Honey has been known to help absorb the compound tryptophan, which makes us sleepy!

Honey Combos

Thyme Honey: the Honey of Courage

Lavender Honey: the Honey of Magic and Healing

Acacia Honey: the honey of Vital Energy

Manuka Honey: the honey of Healing

Pine Honey: the honey of Protection

Flower Honey: the honey of Happiness

Eucalyptus Honey: the honey of Uncrossing

Rosemary Honey, Rose Honey: the honey of Love and Beauty

Mint Honey: Honey of Prosperity

Ideas

Honey Cakes

Make ritual soaps

Spell jars to sweeten or stick

Brews

Offering

Healing Workings

Communication Workings

Manifestation Workings

Hexes to make it stick and hard to get off

Make mead lol