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pxppet · 7 months

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what foods will they not touch and how do they cry for all 6 egos?? :3c

Jameson definitely is the type to have super specific foods he doesn't eat, from a mix of potential triggers and being picky. The main ones I can think of are things like grits, rice, and mashed potatoes, because those are some of the only foods Anti would buy during his captivity. Just very bland, basic foods that are cheap and instant. Eating food like that tends to trigger him.

Jameson cries without making noise aside from heavy breathing and sniffling. His throat condition stops sobs from coming out, but his face still contorts as though he is. He hugs himself and tends to curl up as small as he can to comfort himself.

(The rest below the cut!)

Henrik absolutely will not touch pork, and not just for kosher reasons - he's convinced himself he'll get every parasite known to man just from touching the stuff. He has health anxiety that can be nonsensical at times. He tends to get that way about most meats, and even if he does eat it, he can't prepare it by himself or touch it raw. He eats like a vegetarian due to this.

When Henrik cries, it's not fun for anyone. He tends to really cry only during panic attacks, and so that usually involves screaming until his throat is raw, throwing things at the perceived danger, hyperventilating until he throws up, etc. His whole face is soaked and covered in tears and snot. He's always incredibly embarrassed after calming down and doesn't like to talk about it.

Jackie has a lot of foods he won't touch, but to list a few: green beans, onion, mushrooms, poptarts, specifically apple jam or apple butter, eggs, and most types of fish. Jackie isn't diagnosed, but he has a lot of the symptoms of ARFID, so he has a mental list of foods he absolutely will not eat.

I've mentioned before that Jackie has barely ever cried in his life. Every time he's distressed, he tends to tell himself, 'not now, save it for later' and bottle it up. When he does cry, it's not that big of a show either. He goes very, very quiet and still, subtly shaking in place for only a few moments until he can pull himself together. Only a few tears get shed, typically, and he's insisting he's fine only moments later. When he finally does let himself cry, when he does snap in half, it's going to be rough.

Marvin will eat almost anything honestly, they're kind of a vacuum cleaner when it comes to food! But they do really hate super cold foods like ice cream after having their fangs pulled. Their mouth is too sensitive for extreme temperatures.

Anti doesn't need food to survive, so he barely eats anything typically. But he genuinely really hates fruits. They all taste too sour and strange to him. Even sweet things like peaches, he mainly tastes the acids, and it disgusts him.

Marvin is an angry crier. Their own emotions make them mad & embarrassed, so they tend to lash out while crying, hitting things and screaming at people to leave them alone. If they get to cry alone, they hide their face against something and sob very openly. They're the only one that really just lets themselves feel their feelings.

Chase is also kind of a vacuum, but he's not fond of most spicy foods. He can barely handle any spice, and so most foods of that type are untouchable to him.

Chase cries the most openly, feeling no shame about expressing his emotions. He tends to get very snotty and dramatic, babbling about whatever upset him for hours sometimes. He likes to have someone to cling onto when he cries, preferring to share in his emotions with someone who loves him.

Anti can cry, but no one except c!Jack has ever seen him do it. He gets strangely childlike and small, clining to people's clothes or a blanket. He gets a confused look on his face as if this shouldn't be happening in the first place, distant and dissociative, hugging himself and rocking in place. He tends to be out for the whole day if he gets distressed enough to cry and will need to just lay in bed resting until he can feel like himself again.

#writersofjack #writers of jack #pxppet lore

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acti-veg · 10 months

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hello! I'd like to ask, do you have any tips on how to perform harm reduction and be vegan in a very unsupportive/toxic house? my parents would berate and insult me for being vegetarian so while I live with them this is not really an option... I try to avoid animal products as much as I can but since my parents buy the groceries and pretty much everything else I don't know what to do

every time I tried telling them to at least buy things vegetarian for me if they're too lazy to search for vegan options, they'd come back saying "well we don't know what to buy for you! we don't have anything else in the house that you can eat, shame that you have to eat meat right? 🤭" so for them I should be starving instead of eating (at the very least) something different from meat and fish, nevermind the fact that I could eat only potatoes, mushrooms and spicy hummus and be happy like that

I'm sorry to hear you're in a difficult position at home, this is something a lot of us deal with early in our veganism, so you're definitely not alone in it.

As much as they should be making an effort for you, it's clear that they're not, so it's is up to you then, to make your transition to veganism as effortless for them as you possibly can. You could volunteer to cook your own meals if you don’t already, you could shop for/pay for your own food if that’s a possibility, you could accompany them to the supermarket to point out good vegan options, or you could make a list if that would be easier for them. Go to the supermarket with them or go by yourself if you can, make a list of options (including which aisle they're in) and they really have no reason to refuse you at that point.

Faux meats are not difficult to find in a supermarket and you cook the same way you do meat. The advantage of that is that you can eat the same meals as them, you'd just subsistute the meat part for faux meats, and remove any dairy/eggs. Failing that, they can definitely find most of the common vegan staples, like pasta, noodles, rice, canned chickpeas/lentils, beans etc. That's really all you actually need. We eat the same things they do, just without the meat.

Just showing them the kind of meals you can make and how simple the food can be can sometimes be enough, because many people just can’t conceive of what a meal without animal products even looks like, and they object because they are picturing themselves having to buy expensive ingredients and cook from scratch because none of the meals they cook for you now are vegan. This isn’t the case of course, but it will take some time for them to realise how simple and straightforward cooking and eating vegan can be.

In terms of dealing with them serving you meat now, how you do that will depend on how safe your household is for you. Most parents are realistically not going to let their kid's starve, and if it's safe to do so then you absolutely should put your foot down here and refuse to eat animal products when they're served for you. In my experience, people who are not supportive will only respect boundaries if they're insisted upon - if they know you'll eat meat when it's served to you, they'll keep serving it. Sometimes boundaries can only be put in place by insisting on them, and enduring that initial battle of wills.

That only applies if it's safe for you to insist and be stubborn on this, if it's not, then all you can do is the best you're able to in your situation. Eat plant-based when you can, and buy vegan products whenever it is your choice to do so, until you're in a position where you can shop for yourself, or preferably, get the hell out of there. Good luck with it either way anon, and remember that my inbox is always open if you need advice or resources.

#ask #vegan #dealing with parents #vegan problems

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rainglade · 1 year

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I feel like the concept of "ideologies" can often be a misnomer, as practically every one in existence was crafted to serve the vision of an individual. Because the most famous belief systems were created by people who no longer live, people take and adapt those ideologies to now fit their own desires.

The thing is, though, that we all have slightly different versions of what things should look like and exist as.

"Oh, but I want world peace!" Well, what does that look like? What does that look like for you? Because while most of us enjoy the idea of balance, it's theoretical at worst, and short-lived and niche at best. Also, harmony is much better than balance, the universe taught us that much when they came up with biological homeostasis, but I digress..

I think that the most impactful belief systems are ones that are found at the crossroads of more abstract concepts. For example, take a look at the systems of thought that exist at the intersection of both empathy and critical thinking skills. One such system that I believe in wholeheartedly is not exploiting animals, including humans, for anything. Though I prefer the term "plant-based" over "vegan," I use them synonymously.

It is true that veganism is defined simply as not wearing/eating animals or the stuff that comes out of them, but what is more interesting is the nuance that leads us down that path, and the types of people that end up on it. For example, to be vegan you need the right balance of empathy and critical thinking skills. Let me provide examples of what a diet can look like when you lack one or the other:

For someone who has a developed sense of empathy, you may hear things like "Oh, I love animals, but I like eating them too." Or the ironic situation of them admiring a cute puppy as they eat a burger made out of dead cow parts. Although they have the sense of empathy to recognize the life and kinship potential of non-human animals, they lack the developed critical thinking skills to see their hypocrisy for what it is.

Now let's talk about the opposite - people who lack empathy but do have critical thinking skills. This looks more like not recognizing our connection with all life, but understanding enough nuance to avoid hypocrisy. This looks more like people who have no boundaries with empathy - people who will eat any animal they want. To them, eating a dog or an elephant is no different than eating a sheep or a pig. Racists, people who hunt for "sport," and anti-abolitionists often fall into this category as well.

Empathy without critical thinking skills creates hypocrites

Critical thinking without developed empathy makes cruel people

The final aspect is a combination of the accessibility of information and the willingness to learn. This kind of ties in with critical thinking, but I list it separately with intention. In today's age, especially in the "developed world," knowledge is much easier to come by (thank you, internet!). So, rather than information being hard to come by, it boils down to a lack of willingness to learn. This is where we see people like vegetarians, especially those who truly believe they are causing less harm by buying store-bought dairy and eggs, as opposed to meat. Although the facts of the egg and dairy industry are easily accessible and well-reported on, people still eat them as they aren't willing to push themselves to realize reality.

Of course, there are vegetarians who have heard about the cruelty and still eat the animal products, but at that point, we can use our old analogy of people with empathy but a lack of developed critical thinking skills.

Maybe it's time for certain people to, perhaps, be better?

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vegi1 · 1 year

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7 Low Carb Vegetarian Foods You Will Love

Going vegan and following a low-carb diet can be tricky. But not impossible. There are plenty of plant-based foods that fall into the carb-restricted category, like fruits, vegetables, and legumes (beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc.). These foods are also rich in nutrients and vitamins without the added sugars or fats that come from animal products. And with a little creativity and planning, anyone can follow a vegetarian or vegan low-carb diet. To do so successfully requires some strategy. The key is to choose foods that fit your macronutrient needs while keeping your calorie count in check. Here’s a list of 7 low-carb vegetarian foods for the healthy vegan on your list:

Not every green is low-carb, so you need to be careful. Collard greens, Swiss chard, bok choy, and spinach are all low-carb options. Kale is not as low-carb as the other greens listed, so it’s not a good option for low-carb eaters. You can use these greens in a variety of ways, from salads to soups to omelets. They’re also versatile enough to use in any season. Greens are a rich source of vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, C, and K, manganese, iron, and calcium. They’re also high in fiber, which is essential for a healthy digestive system and can help you feel full longer.

Beans and legumes are excellent sources of fiber, protein, and iron. They’re also low in calories, making them a good choice for low-carb diets. Beans and legumes can be prepared in many different ways, including baked beans, black bean burgers, and hummus. They can also be added to casseroles, soups, and salads. Beans and legumes are great for vegetarians who want to lose weight. Beans and legumes are low in fat and calories, and they’re packed with fiber and protein. They’re also rich in minerals and B vitamins.

Nuts, seeds, olives, and nut butter are all rich in protein and make excellent low-carb vegetarian snacks. They’re high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They can be eaten as a quick side or by themselves as a snack. Vegetable-based dips, like hummus and guacamole, are also good low-carb additions to any menu. Vegetarian snacks are packed with vitamins, minerals, and protein. They’re also low in calories and make great additions to low-carb diets. Vegetable-based dips are also good sources of fiber.

Nuts and seeds are a good low-carb option, but you need to be careful about portion sizes. You can eat a small number of nuts or seeds as a snack or add them to salads. Avoid adding them to casseroles since they’re very high in fat. Nuts and seeds are high in protein and make a good addition to any diet, including low-carb diets. They’re also rich in vitamins and minerals. They’re also high in fat, so they should be eaten in moderation.

When you’re on a budget, it can be difficult to find food that is both healthy and affordable.

One way to keep costs low while still making sure that you are getting some good nutrients into your diet is to choose vegetarian meals whenever possible. Vegetarian meals tend food items like vegetables, grains, and beans, meaning that they are generally cheaper than meals that include meat or other animal products.

Fortunately, there are plenty of low-carb vegetarian meals that fit the bill. Many of these dishes are simple and inexpensive, making them perfect for people on tight budgets. In addition, many of these meals are easy to make at home. If you’re short on time, this is an ideal option. Of course, there are other factors to consider when choosing low-carb vegetarian meals that are easy on the wallet. For example, some people prefer higher-quality ingredients over lower prices. If this sounds like you, be sure to choose a meal with fresh ingredients. Another thing to keep in mind is portion size. While most low-carb vegetarian meals are smaller than traditional meals, they still require some food preparation and cleaning up afterwards

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chaoticevilbean · 3 years

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Voltron Humans are Weird 5/?

Allura was panicking. She had told the Paladins to behave themselves and to try to avoid scaring the natives while she was speaking with the delegation. But they just... didn't listen. Instead of staying in the social room where they had been led, where there were plenty of refreshments and seats, the five humans had disappeared. A few civilians saw the group heading towards the forest nearby, where there were many deadly creatures and poisonous flora. Even Shiro had gone along with them, despite the fact that they knew the forest was dangerous. And their tolerances couldn't possibly include such foreign substances.

So now, Allura was sitting with the delegates, having finished their discussion, simply waiting for the Paladins to return. It had been vargas since the message was delivered that they had disappeared, and the only reason there wasn't a panic was due to Allura assuring all present that Voltron was composed of clever warriors who could handle the forest. Hopefully.

"Princess, we need a little help," Shiro's voice crackled from the Altean's comm.

"What sort of help?" Please don't be medical.

"Some of the civilians are panicking and we have no clue why. We need someone who knows more about their culture."

"I'm on my way. I'll bring the delegation." Allura was quick to explain the situation to the diplomatic party, glad that this was likely just a simple misunderstanding. She prayed it was something as simple as smiling with teeth or a throwing something.

The Paladins were located near the outer edges of the city. They were easy to find as they were surrounded by a circle of hysterical Rynnians. Each of the humans had bags slung on their shoulders, the largest on Hunk and Shiro and the smallest on Pidge. Allura was relieved at the sight, given that the humans at least knew what was and wasn't toxic to themselves. If they had gathered something too dangerous, she could simply get them to put it away from the other beings. She and the delegates pushed past the edge of the crowd, almost to the Paladins.

Then the stench hit her. She stopped instantly, recoiling back in horror. They smelt of blood, reeked of death and must and something else foul. The Altean pulled back enough that she wasn't overwhelmed completely before addressing the Terrans.

"What in Altea is that? Is one of you injured?"

"I KNEW IT!" Lance shouted triumphantly, turning towards Keith. "I quiznaking told you! It's the smell!"

"Lance, are any of you injured?" Allura repeated, narrowing her eyes the best she could without squinting. The Blue Paladin turned giddily towards the royal, a bright grin on his face.

"No. The problem is that all of you are herbivores!"

"Of course we're herbivores! Most known sentient species are herbivores! Only a few are carnivorous!"

"No, princess. I mean, you're all herbivores. That means you don't handle the smell of blood well!"

"One of you is bleeding‽"

"No! We just went hunting!"

Silence. Dead silence. Allura was frozen, staring in utter terror at the human.

"Rynnian civilians, please vacate the area temporarily while the situation is handled." The crowd was fast to comply, the delegates backing up and several warriors lining the edges of the streets. Once the common folk were far enough away, Allura once again spoke to her team.

"Lance, please confirm that your species refers to the gathering of edible flora as hunting."

"Nope. We're omnivores!" The boy did a hip wiggle as he spoke, and Pidge facepalmed heavily at his antics. Hunk giggled and nudged Keith into smiling. Shiro was just tired, and decided it would be best to take over the conversation as soon as possible.

"Omnivores... How?"

"Princess," Shiro spoke up, drawing the alien's attention. "We're technically evolved from natural omnivores that mostly ate an herbivore diet. As we developed, our tool-making skills grew exponentially. As humans joined together in larger groups, gathering enough flora to sustain each member became a lot harder. With our better tools, we made better weapons and managed to develop better hunting skills. By now, our diet is still largely herbivorous, but with more meat than before. The Castle provides us with the necessary nutrients to keep us healthy, but nothing satisfies a human like a nice steak after going without for a long time."

"... what are in the bags?"

"I think you know."

"What are in the bags, Shiro?"

"Three of those large antlered creatures in what me and Hunk are holding, and the other bags have small game and lots of plants Pidge said were safe to eat."

"That is the smell?"

"If you smell blood, then yes."

"As much as I fear the answer, I must ask: what is a steak?"

"A slab of meat made tender and cooked with seasonings. Often served to a little undercooked so it isn't too chewy and satisfies our carnivorous nature. Now, if you'll excuse us, we know what's wrong and can probably get all this to the Castle with little problem."

"Yeah," Hunk agreed, shifting his bags a little. "We couldn't get past the Rynnians because they were panicking saying we were hurt or something and we just couldn't get through."

"If you must, get the... food," Allura shuddered at considering flesh and blood to be a meal, "back to the Castle as soon as possible. I'll tell Coran to not panic."

The Paladins nodded and swiftly rushed towards the large ship. Lance and Hunk could be heard discussing something called tacos, and Allura was loathe to find out what they were. With a deep breath, the princess turned to the delegates, face twisted in a grimace.

"I am very sorry about all this. If you would like, I can send you the guide my advisor and I are creating to document humans and their... strangeness. It is still in its preliminary stages, but it will likely help to avoid another incident."

"Are you sure we should be trusting beings that eat meat," the lead diplomat inquired. "Only three other species are carnivorous, and one is-"

"I do understand your concerns," Allura interrupted. "But I must tell you that it would be better to keep on the good side of Terra and its inhabitants. I know the only race outside their own solar system that is carnivorous is the Galra, but humans are nothing like those of the Empire. For one, they are not outside their solar system yet, though the Green Paladin informed me they soon will be. Secondly, humans seem to have strong senses of justice. They will not harm any sentient being, and many times will avoid harming non-sentient beings if they find the creatures to be appealing in some aspect."

The delegation discussed privately for a moment before facing the Altean once more.

"Please tell us all you know."

Humans are omnivores. They mostly eat flora and, so long as their nutritional needs are met, can eat only flora for the entirety of their diet. However, they prefer to include the occasional meat in their meals. They can hunt better than many natural predators due to their sentient nature. Terrans will not always attack fauna if they are hungry. They instead wait for habitats with a plentiful amount of animals and use weapons to hunt. They can and will hunt if in an environment where there isn't enough flora to sustain an herbivorous diet. They will do the same if in a large group, hunting and surviving together.

Humans can make their own tools. These tools include weapons. If stranded or surviving in uninhabited terrain, they will create tools to aid in their self-preservation. Do not assume a Terran is weaponless. They hunted before their advanced toolmaking skills and sentient nature. Avoid fighting a human that is trying to survive. If stranded with a human, reminding them of your likely herbivorous status will probably cause them to gather whatever food you need to survive and will sustain themselves on mostly meat.

If a human smells of blood, remain calm. Ask if they are injured. If they are not, ask if they have been hunting. If they have not been hunting, ask after the smell. Attempt to not panic if it is revealed they have killed a non-sentient creature for their carnivorous meals, which are listed below. The common examples are tacos and steaks. Tacos can be made for herbivores as well. Simply request 'vegetarian' and check for possible poisons disguised as 'seasonings'.

#voltron #vld #oneshots #voltron oneshots #humans are weird #humans are space orcs #earth is space australia #humans are weird oneshots

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astrowithkaro · 3 years

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hiiis i saw your birthday language list and didnt see 9 november so im requesting it hehe hope u don’t minddd and thanku <3 :)

Language Of Birthdays: November 9 - Scorpio

[You can find the rest of the series here; or check out my masterlist]

The Day Of Earthly Temptation

Those born on November 9 face a tremendous temptation to give themselves completely to the here and now. to earthly pleasures of all types, and to submerge themselves in an unremitting search for experiential highs. They are often completely caught up in the excitement of what they are doing at the moment, and thus not fully aware of dark forces that may operating behind their drives. For those born on this day to look themselves squarely in the eye is a tremendous and potentially rewarding challenge, as is learning how to direct their prodigious talents and energies in a constructive and productive way.

Temptation itself figures as a major theme in the lives of November 9 people and along with it corresponding moral dilemmas involving upbringing vs. adult experience, societal vs personal morality, etc. Usually the ethical instincts of those born on this day are well developed, so when they sin. they are fully aware of what they are doing. Nevertheless, some born on this day may reach a point where they are only able to find satisfaction, whether mental or physical, when engaged in dangerous, shadowy or outright illicit activities.

A very positive theme central to the lives of these complex people is the joy of discovery. Often they emerge from their intense experiences having made important realizations about themselves and life itself. Those November 9 people who grow more philosophical with age are capable of withdrawing into a contemplative or meditative state where they can assess their actions and make prudent choices for the future. Still, even after acquiring a large measure of wisdom, those born on this day rarely pause in the thick of battle to ponder their direction: for them, such work is to be done afterwards, preferably in tranquility.

November 9 people live close to the edge, and therefore must learn to protect themselves. In addition it is important for them to maintain respect for their fellow human beings, and to beware of becoming mercenary in their relationships. As they are highly sensitive to rejection, those born on this day also face the danger of retreating into themselves, nursing private grudges and fears, and even in extreme cases coming to live in a dark fantasy world.

More highly evolved individuals born on November 9 use their profound relationship with the dark side to gain insight into how life and the universe work, and equally important, learn to share these insights with others. Like Orpheus rising from the underworld, November 9 people must never look back but constantly move onward and upward toward the light. The greatest danger is that they will get stuck (particularly in the physical-material realm), and for this reason should set themselves high moral and ethical, albeit worldly, goal oriented.

Strengths:

Physical

Insistent

Open

Weaknesses:

Impulsive

Troubled

Materially stuck

Advice

Those born on November 9 at some point will have to deal with their internal emotional rollercoaster. Ups and downs might be evened out by a balanced diet and plenty of exercise; perhaps practicing yoga and meditation could also prove beneficial. Food wise, it may be necessary to cut down on yang foods (particularly meat), and to move more in the direction of a vegetarian diet. Vigorous activities that favor betterment of objective goals (gymnastics, rock climbing, surfing, etc.) may meet the rigged appetites of November 9 people. Plenty of sleep is important, but should not be abused as an escape from the waking world.

Cultivate your spiritual side

Learn to float

Don’t just enjoy your pleasures - be aware of their effect

Step back from time to time and observe yourself living

Heed your inner voice and follow your higher self

#scorpio #birth date #birth chart #birthday #water signs #psychology #astroblr #baby witch #scorpio astrology #scorpio reading #scorpio sign #scorpio sun #scorpio horoscope

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mszegedy · 4 years

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mszegedy’s nutrition guide for people who want to lose weight without getting another ED

This post was prompted by an acquaintance of mine who asked for help losing weight for trans reasons. It is written from a DID-centric point of view (because we both have it), and is intended for people who’ve already been through an ED, and are trying to be careful to not get another one. That said, most of the information in this guide is useful to everyone.

I know I am dipping my toes in a deep pool here, on a website where people have strong opinions about nutrition science, and about EDs, and about body positivity. Let me say this much: if you are currently experiencing or recovering from an ED, this guide is not for you. This is not a guide that will magically let you jump from hating your body and diet to being both thin and healthy. This is for people who already have a degree of confidence in themselves, and a degree of love for their body, and are just afraid of trying to make any changes to their weight at all, because they worry they’ll get an ED. If you still have an ED, then you need to get help for that first, and then, once you’re more confident, come back and read this guide.

Alright, so, as a system with a host who’s a trans biochemist with an interest in nutrition chemistry, and as a system that’s had an ED before (basic binge/restrict anorexia, but motivated by money rather than weight), this is what we’ve got to say about healthy weight loss:

First of all, the body positivity mantra, which I’m sure you’ve heard before but needs to be the headline of any weight loss guide: the healthiest weight is whatever makes you the happiest. It is not healthy to push yourself too hard to lose weight. It is also not healthy to hate your body. Find a comfortable balance between the two. For us, as a system experiencing gender dysphoria, that first meant putting a lot of effort into looking the way we wanted to, and then gradually easing up as we got more comfortable with the peculiarities of our body.

The single aspect of your diet that impacts your health the most is regularity. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to get the same amount of each nutrient every day, or even the same amount of calories per day. What it does mean is that you have to add eating each day to your schedule. If you have a history of ED, you may simply forget to eat most of the time. (I know we do.) That’s why you have to manually take control, and nail down a time window each day when you can eat. Even if it’s just once, although you should work your way up to two or three eventually. I don’t know how your system works, but in ours, basically, I do all the diet planning and execution, and everyone else whines about it (even our host, who shares our job as a biochemist).

Calories are good. Calories are fuel. If you are consuming calories, you are alive. Be far more afraid of not consuming enough calories than of consuming too many. Extra calories are ballast, supporting you on days when you can’t eat as much. Missing calories are death. Every calorie you eat is precious brain and body fuel. Your peak performance, especially brainwise, is when you’re not missing any fuel. Start worrying about whether you’ve had enough calories each day. But don’t count them! The number doesn’t matter! Trust me on this, the only meaningful part of your calorie intake is the digit in the thousands place, and if you try to calculate that, you’ll just end up counting calories again like a chump. Instead, just check whether you’re going to bed hungry or not. If you’re not hungry at the end of the day, and you’ve actually eaten, you’ve won that day. Learn to eyeball how much food lets you end a day like that.

Now that you’re forbidden to mess with the amount of calories you’re getting (beyond just making sure you’re getting enough), what can you mess with? Your diet’s nutrient breakdown. This is where knowing biochemistry comes in handy, because there’s SO many different kinds of nutrients to keep track of. First of all, the stuff that contains calories:

Sugars: The primordial fuel source. Pure energy, as far as your body is concerned. Avoid when trying to lose weight, but don’t feel guilty if you’re supplementing your calorie intake with it in small amounts on days when you otherwise wouldn’t be getting enough. Remember that there’s a really easy way to tell whether something contains sugar, namely whether it’s sweet. (Some things, like milk, aren’t sweet and still contain sugar. You just have to memorize those. And of course some things have non-sugar sweeteners in them, but in that case it’ll be obvious.)

Digestible starches: Sugars with a price. Still no nutritional value beyond energy, although they tend to come bundled with other nutrients like proteins. Again, not great if you’re trying to lose weight, but there’s no need to cut them out completely, unless you really don’t care about not being able to eat, say, potatoes. (There are also people who are helped by no-carb diets in other ways than weight loss for mysterious reasons, probably relating to allergies, but it’s not the end-all be-all of healthy diets that keto people make it out to be.)

Fats: A pretty inconvenient source of energy; breaking them down puts annoying, difficult-to-metabolize acids into your blood, and doesn’t net you all that much energy anyway. An ideal calorie source for losing weight; just make sure to consume as few sat fats as possible, and preferably no trans fats at all, which should be easy if you stay away from fast food places and stick to establishments that change out the oil in their fryers every, idk, 3 hours or so.

Amino acids and proteins: Now we’re getting somewhere! These guys are the “worst” energy sources out there. Breaking them up is very expensive, and turning the resulting amino acids into digestible calorie sources is a complicated and annoying process. But amino acids are a nutrient in their own right; every cell in your body is making tons of proteins continuously, some of them building important structures like skin and muscle, and they need a continuous supply of amino acids to do it. So, proteins? Great. Fantastic. You can’t have enough of them. Eat eggs and cheese and soy products, and if you’re that kind of person, meat. You can tell it's got amino acids and/or proteins in it when it tastes savory ("umami"); that's mainly the taste of glutamate, an important amino acid. Gluten is also made of proteins, but it’s even harder to digest than most other sources of protein, so you might have problems with it; and it comes bundled with a lot of starches, so, ehhh.

So, now for a couple non-calorie sources:

Vitamins: Vitamins have nothing in common with each other collectively; they’re just a bunch of random minor nutrients. If you’ve got your vitamins A, C, and D sorted out, then the only ones I’d worry about are folate (B9) and cobalamin (B12). B9 because it’s important for your brain, and tends to be missing in sufficient quantities from modern diets; we take methylfolate supplements every morning to make sure we get enough of it. B12 because it’s important in general, and may be missing in sufficient quantities from your diet, depending on what you eat. It’s only found in animal products, like meat, dairy and eggs. If you’re eating at least one of those regularly, I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

Omega-3 fatty acids: Technically contain calories, but not enough of them to matter. Found in fish, and good for your brain. We’re vegetarian, but we take two capsules of these every morning, because they really help with depression and memory, which are both problems for us.

Iron: Found in meat, beans, falafel, spinach, and lentils, among other things (like cocoa!). Needed to replenish blood. You shouldn’t need supplements for this unless you actually get diagnosed with iron deficiency, or lose a LOT of blood in a short time (which, uh, happens).

Water and sodium: Long story short, your blood is counterfeit seawater. Land organisms don't actually exist; we just brought the sea with us when we crawled out of it. To counterfeit seawater, you need water and sodium. Hence, why they're important nutrients to us. Your kidneys do an excellent job of maintaining a particular level of sodium in your blood, but if you eat too much more sodium than you drink water, or drink too much more water than you eat sodium, then they won't be able to keep up. You usually shouldn't have to worry about this, but if everything you eat is salty, then maaaybe you should drink more water, or dial down the sodium in your diet. (Anything wet contains water, from energy drinks to the juices of fruits to sauces, so it's not very hard to get water. But some things contain a higher sodium-to-water ratio than you need, so they won't help you balance out a salty diet. Be mindful.)

Dietary fiber, aka non-digestible starches: I don’t have anything interesting to say about these. Conventional wisdom about fiber seems to be correct, as far as I know. I only listed it because it’s in most nutrition facts in the US.

So, now that you know the roles of the various kinds of nutrients, just eyeball the correct amounts of them for your diet. Broadly, the less carbs you eat, the more weight you’ll lose, but it’s not a race. Find a nutritious diet that makes you happy. Think about all your favorite foods and ingredients, and think about their nutrient breakdowns. Mentally award yourself points for eating nutritionally diverse foods. It’s a healthy thing to turn your ED instincts towards. Good luck!

(If people ask for sources I’ll add them, but I’ve already spent way too much time on this guide, so I won’t do it immediately.)

#biochemistry #nutrition #did #trans #ed #weight loss #nutritron science #eating disorders #health

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dyde21 · 5 years

Note

Please please please percabeth marching band AU from the prompt list

Boy oh boy, this reminds me of the mechnic!AU prompt I got for Arkos that turned into my longest fanfic and still most successful one Arc’s Metalworks. Hearing about this prompt for some reason murdered me with inspiration. This is just a short one-shot but I’m super tempted to make this into a longer piece as well...

XxXxXxXxX

Hip checking the the band room door to open it, Percy yawned as he held open the door, letting Leo and Jason enter. The band chairs had all been pushed away, forming a big circle to let their friends sit together. Looking around, Percy pouted slightly when he couldn’t see a certain blonde he was particularly attached to.

“McDonalds, again?” A voice cut in behind him suddenly, making him jump about a foot in the air as he spun around, trying not to spill his coke.

“I didn’t have lunch made today! So I needed something! It was Leo’s idea! It was close by.” Percy took the shotgun approach to excuses, hoping if he said enough of them that one would stick, or his girlfriend wouldn’t care enough to rebuttal all of them.

“You’re almost an adult. You can make your own food. 2, Leo always wants junk food. That doesn’t mean you need to indulge him. 3, It’s always close by. So is the grocery store that has fresh options.”

She shot him down, making his shoulders droop.

“I wanted fries.” He confessed to the blonde with gray eyes that was in the process of staring him down intently.

Smiling, satisfied with his honesty, she just patted him on the cheek. “Was that so hard? Tomorrow you’re eating something healthy, or else.” She threatened him.

The sigh of defeat that left Percy’s mouth was apparently enough of a confirmation for her.

Kissing his cheek in a peace offering, she leaned down to take a sip of his coke before moving past him to the circle with everyone else.

Frank and Hazel were already tucked away to a side, Hazel offering Frank one of the cupcakes she had made the night before, before sliding the large bin towards the center for people to take one as they pleased.

Leo was already cracking open his energy drink as he fished out a burger from his bag.

Jason took a seat next to Piper, giving her an apologetic look as she scrunched up her nose at the meat he was eating. For as much meat as Jason ate, Percy was still surprised he managed to date a vegetarian.

Reyna was next to Hazel, taking a bite of a homemade sandwich as she flicked through a few pages of sheet music, keeping time with one hand as he memorized the score.

A soft piano song wafted through the room, and Percy didn’t even need to look up to know what was happening.

Still, glancing over he saw exactly what he expected. Tyler was tucked away in the corner on the baby grand, playing what sounded like a piano version of a song from Hamilton that Annabeth had been singing recently.

“I have never been the type to try and grab the spotlight.

We were at a revel with some rebels on a hot night”

Ashe’s voice started singing in a voice that really made Percy wonder why she wasn’t in choir. Annabeth took her seat next to him, humming happily along.

Ashe swayed in place slightly next to Tyler on the bench as she sang.

“Laughin’ at my sister as she’s dazzling the room” She sang as she looked over at her boyfriend next to her.

“Then you walked in and my heart went”

*Boom*

The piano stumbled a bit at the sudden loud noise as they looked over to see Leo grinning, having hit the concert bass drum in time with the song.

Most of the group started laughing as Tyler managed to recover his piano playing, but Ashe was far too amused to sing properly anymore.

Leo rejoined them, going back to his food as he looked proud of himself.

“Don’t use percussion equipment if you aren’t in the section for a joke.” Reyna warned half-heartedly, her own smile betraying how amused she been at seeing Ashe jump at the noise.

“Yeah, yeah.” Leo offered, not really affected considering it wasn’t the first time he had heard that warning, and he severely doubted it would be the last time. He earned a bit of good will with the band and drum majors considering he was the resident expert on fixing any problems with the instruments.

The song wound down eventually. Precy noticed Ashe leaned over and kissed Tyler’s cheek and looked away, seeing Annabeth smiling as she dipped an apple slice in peanut butter and his gaze lingered on her lips, the little gob of peanut butter stuck on her lip he kinda wanted to kiss off.

“Stop flirting at the piano and make sure you eat properly. We’re marching outside today, it’s hot, and I don’t want to hear you complaining cause you’re hungry.”

Annabeth called out suddenly, making the pair at the piano flinch before they stood up after a moment and made their way over.

Tyler took a seat as Ashe went to her locker, emerging with two containers of food that she heated up in the microwave. Not long she sat next to Tyler, handing him one and laughing as he let out a dramatic sigh of appreciation and started digging in.

“How come you never cook for me?” Percy teased, nudging Annabeth to get her attention.

“Cause I don’t believe in spoiling my boyfriend like Ashe does. I prefer to let you learn for yourself.”

She offered, smirking at the girl across the circle.

Ashe narrowed her eyes. “I’m not spoiling him, he’s a terrible cook and I’m trying to get him to eat healthy. Something your boyfriend could stand to do.” She said, motioning at the array of fast food spread out in front of Percy.

“Why am I being thrown under the bus here.” Tyler complained half-heartedly.

“Cause you get amazing food hand-delivered to you every day by your girlfriend and we’re jealous.” Piper chimed in.

“Frank gets sweets though!” Leo chimed in, earning an approving nod from Tyler.

“I would eat healthy if Annabeth cooked for me.” Percy offered, before glancing at his girlfriend and pausing. “Maybe…”

Annabeth gave him a dangerous glare. “I’m not that bad of a cook.”

“Most of the time, no. Sometimes…”

Ashe snickered as Annabeth flipped her off.

“It’s okay to be bad at cooking Annabeth…” Tyler offered trying to reassure her.

“Shut up and eat your girlfriend’s food.”

Tyler just grunted, pouting as he dug into his food.

“Don’t tell my boyfriend to shut up because you’re jealous.” Ashe countered, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m not jealous. I just haven’t really tried to learn to cook anything complex really before.” Annabeth defended herself.

Tyler put down his drink. “I’ve tried cooking lunch for Ashe before! A few times. It just doesn’t really go well…” His voice trailed off.

The group got quiet for a moment as they remembered the last time when Ashe went home because she had actually gotten a mild case of food poisoning when she was determined to finish the food he made even after it was clear it wasn’t done right.

Ashe leaned over and kissed her boyfriend's cheek, rubbing his arm. “You’re really sweet for trying. Besides, you know I love cooking. I’ll count on you for studying instead, deal?”

“Deal.” He offered as they grinned at each other with a look that made Percy roll his eyes at how sweet they were.

Ashe turned to Annabeth, her expression softer. “For real though, if you ever do want help cooking, I’d be happy to help you.” Her expression one of peace rather than teasing. It wasn’t a secret Ashe was pursuing cooking for a career so no one really tried to compare themselves to her.

Annabeth glanced at her for a moment longer before nodding and smiling. “That would actually be cool. I can show you some tricks I use for my notes too.”

Ashe grinned and nodded.

Percy nudged Annabeth’s arm before motioning with his head subtly towards Tyler who was still looking a little off-put. He could see a wave of guilt was over Annabeth’s features. It was no secret that the social butterfly Ashe’s boyfriend was more socially awkward than most.

“Did you ever get the hang of that piano riff in Mirror, Mirror Tyler?” Annabeth asked, a slight apologetic tone in her voice.

Tyler regarded her for a moment, before he offered her a reassuring smile that there were no hard feelings. “Mostly, kinda, yeah. I’m still like 40 BPM short of it the full speed but it’s definitely less clunky. My hands were starting to hurt yesterday though so I had to stop.”

Annabeth grinned at him. “Don’t hurt yourself practicing, but that’s pretty incredible. Make sure you let me hear it when you have it down. Ever since you got me hooked on RWBY that song keeps coming up in my music.”

Ashe was beaming now that people were no longer bickering and soon the rest of their lunch period had passed as they all scrambled to put the room back together, having not realized how late it had gotten.

Hours later when they were all returning from the marching practice. “It’s so hot out.” Percy muttered as he slipped his snare drum off and collapsed across a few band chairs. “Why do guys have to keep their shirts on?” He moaned, tugging at his to air it out from the heat.

“Cause if girls have to suck it up, so do you.” Reyna offered, taking a swig from her water bottle.

“Then let girls take them off too.” Leo added, earning a swat on the back of the head from Piper.

“Shut up Leo.” She said, before tousling his hair affectionately as she walked past.

“I’m starving.” Tyler complained as he set down his quads. “Quads are too heavy.”

“Told you to eat more earlier.” Annabeth scolded.

“Move, you’re on my folder.” Ashe complained, nudging her boyfriend half-heartedly who didn’t budge.

“It’s too hot.” Tyler moaned.

“You’re too hot.” She countered.

Making the boy pause, giving her a curious look before he sat up enough for Ashe to grab her folder.

A minute later and everyone was practically melted into a puddle in various places around the bandroom when Chiron finally walked in.

“It was a hot day today. Make sure you drink plenty of water, not just now, but as these weeks pass to stay on top of it.”

Everyone groaned some sort of affirmation.

“Besides, we want you all ready for our competition in a month!”

There was a pause before a wave of cheers erupted as life suddenly rushed back into everyone at the reminder.

Annabeth and Percy shared a glance as they grinned. They were going to knock it out of the park this time.

XxXxXxXxX

I hope you enjoyed it! I had a LOT of fun writing this. I still am super tempted to turn this into a full fledged multi chapter AU. If there is any interest in continuing this let me know. My time is just so split already.

As always if you are interested in supporting me, letting me write more check out my art commissions HERE or even my Ko-Fi HERE to get an instant prompt fill!

#percabeth #pjo #Percy Jackson #Annabeth Chase #HoO #Band!AU #I really shouldn't start another AU #I already have 3 I want to write for #but i like this one so much #I really shouldn't write it though #But I want to #BUT I NEED TO DRAW TO EARN MONEY #x.x

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the-kingofsnakes · 5 years

Text

Chapter 1: The Abrupt Alliance

The letters followed them from his glass tank in the cupboard under the stairs, to the motel two towns over and finally to a rickety shack in the middle of a swamp that Uncle Vernon had somehow found. The letters outshined the fact that it was now his birthday. He wasn't surprised though since his birthday is forgotten every year. The only good thing about them leaving the house abruptly to escape the letters was that no one had thought to load his tank with them so he was free to roam around the room in his skin. It only took Dudley seconds to realize that the most integral piece of their lives was missing once Vernon had announced there were only two beds.

"That's fine. Harry can sleep in his tank like always." Dudley replied with his mouth full of sausage.

Petunia had taken to cooking the others a meal of thick sausage and grits on the stove while Harry snuck in a few pieces of leftover broccoli he had stashed in his trouser pockets before they left. His teeth tingle when Dudley suddenly wafted his extra sausage in his face. Both completely aware that Harry wasn't allowed to eat it as they kept him on a strict vegetable scraps only diet. Which basically meant that whenever Petunia cooked vegetables with their meals, once every few weeks or so, Harry was allowed to eat a few handfuls of whatever they had after the plates had been sitting in the sink and doused in water for rinsing during which most of the scraps were washed down the drain.

His scales vibrated over his skin as he watched his family dig into the food once it was fully cooked. He ached to change into his snake form, knowing he was much faster in it than his human one, and steal a bit of meat from one of them. He hadn't had any since they first found out he could turn into a snake when he was seven. He wasn't even sure why he changed forms anymore as it was so long ago, only that ever since then his bed in his cupboard had been replaced with a table and a medium fish tank Uncle Vernon had found after the incident.

According to his Aunt and Uncle he had bit Dudley's foot and had sent him straight to the hospital due to poisoning. The doctor had said that whatever bit him had been "highly venomous" and "not of this region" only to advise him to stay away from the snake he found if he came across it again and urged the adults to call the humane society so they can relocate the snake back to its natural habitat if they found it again. The bite mark from the wound suggested that the snake had been an eastern indigo snake.

It was only years later when Harry happened to be in the library at school that he had found out that the eastern indigo snake, while large in size, was actually non-venomous and typically ate small mammals and eggs. He was certain that his Aunt knew this as well since she was the one that implemented his vegetarian diet after his initial transformation.

Unfortunately, when he asked her why he could change into a snake she just sneered at him and told him it was a repulsive family trait that he got from his mother. Which made his Uncle pipe up that his father wasn't much better since he was a damn binder. He still wasn't sure how his father was a stationary item but had just chalked his Uncle's words up to him being too dumb to comprehend what the adult actually meant.

His bangs tickled the tops of his eyes, breaking him out of his reverie as he pushed them out of his face for what felt like the tenth time that night. His unruly red hair was a constant problem in his life and no matter how much gel Aunt Petunia tried to slather on it always somehow managed to look like the broken bristles of a witch's broom he had seen in comics in the school newspaper. His eyes weren't any better unfortunately. Instead of having normal colored eyes, his were yellow like an owl, with a ring of dark green around them. The Dursley's made him wear obnoxiously big circular glasses that didn't even have lenses in them and told people he wore colored contacts to cover up the abnormality. He rather liked his eyes though, as they were the only constant in either of his forms.

Though his scar, he thought, was the worst of all. It sat rather proudly on the left side of his forehead and looked like a burst of silvery white lightning that refused to conform to the rest of his chestnut skin tone. His hair refused to cover it no matter how long it got and seemed almost personally offended when Harry would try to force it to do so, sticking out even more with renewed static from his hands coursing through the strands and encouraged their defiance.

The sudden kick to his shins that Dudley gave him stirred him from his thoughts. Groaning in pain, he glared at his cousin.

"What?" Harry asked through clenched teeth in English. The language sounded foul on his tongue, like week old moldy vegetables that he only ate because he didn't have anything else available. He much preferred to speak like the snakes that came into Aunt Petunia's garden but he also knew the others frowned upon it. They said it was unnatural and horrid but Harry thought the same thing about English so he supposed fair was fair.

"Mum said you get the corner of the floor and I get the other bed." Dudley smirked with a haughty reply.

Harry let out a small huff in response and wished he'd speak to him like he used to before he turned into Vernon's little soldier. Sure Dudley had been mean to him when his parents were around but that was because Vernon and Petunia were horrible people and could be quite scary to a small child. Before Harry turned into a snake and bit him for being a dunce though they used to use snake-speak with each other all the time and had been quite close when behind doors.

He sighed in defeat and went to curl up on the floor as Petunia cleaned the dishes all the while, humming an annoying tune. He knew it was a nervous tick of hers from years of exposure to it and that it often meant bad things were about to happen to him. However, nothing did this time, and the other three residents of the creaky cabin lulled themselves to sleep eventually.

Once everyone else fell asleep Harry got two of the letters he had managed to snag from the air before they left to read their contents. He winced when he felt Dudley sit beside him and expected a blow to the head only for him to whisper hastily to get on with it. Both of them held their breath in anticipation as Harry handed one to his cousin and opened them at the same time. Bafflement was the only thing he felt as Harry read the contents of the letter in his hands:

Dear Mr. D. Dursley,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on the 1st of September. We await your owl no later than 31st July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva Mcgonagall

Deputy Headmistress

"Dudley... this is about you. Why is it about you? You're not…" Like me, wrong, different, he wanted to say to his cousin but couldn't bring himself to utter the words.

"What the bloody hell are you talking about? This thing clearly says your name and not mine! I'm not like you. Stop making fun of me Harry!" Dudley whispered loudly.

"I'm not I swear! See, look."

Harry shoved his letter in Dudley's hands and his own letter was shoved none to gently at him. He wasn't sure if it was the force of the shove that Dudley gave him or the fact that he was so thin that made him almost go backwards. Split second panic rose in him as he started to fall over only for his wrist closest to his cousin to be pulled back gently which Harry assumed was a reflex for the other when it wasn't acknowledged. His cousin favored skimming his own letter instead and Harry saw the exact moment Dudley realized Vernon wouldn't show mercy due to their blood relation.

"He's gonna kill me." Dudley whispered out.

"So I'm… magic? You're magic? We're both magic?" Harry asked to confirm the mass confusion in his head.

"Apparently. It doesn't make sense though. I mean, I get you... but me? I haven't done anything magical in my life. I'm perfectly, boringly ordinary just like him."

It was strange how one word, like him, could be filled with love one second then so much hate and fear it consumed your very core the next. Harry was thankful for it though because for the first time in their lives since the accident he felt like they were finally on the same page on how awful the elder Dursleys really were. Petunia was more passive but Vernon was known to favor his fists more than words and knew where to strike so as to not raise suspicion.

"Well according to this you aren't. Maybe you blocked it out when you did something magical because you thought he wouldn't love you anymore?"

"He won't. He hates you. We both know he does. Mum though… I think she likes you, or wants to at least. Like maybe she's afraid to show it because she's afraid of him? I mean, it wouldn't be very far fetched considering how he treats you. Would it?"

Harry honestly wasn't sure how to respond to that. Especially since Aunt Petunia was the one who restricted his diet and kept him locked up most of the time. While Vernon doled out the more physical punishments to him and thought that keeping him locked up was a pointless endeavor.

"Are you afraid of him?"

"Currently? Terrified."

Harry just nodded beside him since he wasn't sure if he should say anything else. Was there a truce between them now that they were similar or was Dudley going to deny it and still torture him? Deciding it was better to not ask, he took off his glasses, frames really as they had no lenses, and readied himself to curl up on the floor, debating whether or not to sleep in his scales when Dudley spoke up once more.

"You know you could…. Um… I mean the bed is big enough for the both of us I think. Only if you want that is?"

Harry blinked slowly in return and felt like the world had spun up around him only to jerk him back to the ground just as quick. His brain tried to play out all the scenarios that this could be a trick, after all they were in the middle of nowhere and practically no one knew he existed other than these Hogwarts people. They could leave him here the next morning and Dudley would act like Harry never even existed just like always. He wanted to say yes. If he were being honest with himself then he would even go so far as to say that he wanted them to be friends… eventually.

He debated on what to tell Dudley that wouldn't be overtly rude, as in: 'No, we can't both fit because you're a giant pig', since he's pretty sure the other boy was trying to extend some semblance of peace before the oncoming storm that was Vernon Dursley. So instead he just nodded, turned into his snake form and allowed Dudley to pick him up to set him on the bed gently. He honestly didn't know the other boy could be gentle, especially not when it came to him.

"Thanksss" Harry replied thoughtlessly once Dudley let go.

"You're welcome."

Harry knew that if he were in his skin then he'd be smiling at Dudley's automatic hiss, however small it was of a reply. At the moment though he was too tired to do anything else, including acknowledging his cousins' fumbling tongue, other than curl up under the other pillow so that he was encased in complete darkness and close his eyes as Dudley got dressed. He listened to the roughness of the clothes as they moved over Dudley's skin and could taste the scent of them on the air when he flicked his tongue out.

"Hey Harry?" Dudley whispered as he pulled the covers over him once he got into bed.

Harry poked his black head out from under the pillow and glanced over at his cousin. He was certain that if snakes could look drowsy then he would look exhausted. The bruises on his ribs were burning from all the moving around he had to do in their hasty escape from the letters and he was fairly certain one of them was broken. His stomach growled in contempt once more as he waited on Dudley to speak. Even his scales somehow ached from exhaustion and he couldn't for the life of him remember the last time he had drank something. He knew if he looked in the mirror in his skin form that his eyes would have dark circles under them and his ribs would be sticking out under Dudley's hand-me-downs.

"What do you thinksss gonna happen tomorrow? They aren't going to leave usss out here are- are they?" His voice quivered with fear as the words were spoken.

"I'm not sure. Guess we'll see what happensss in the morning."

"Suppose you're right." Dudley hissed back in a defeated tone. He was sounding more and more like a scared child with each second that passed.

"Night Harry." He mumbled out against his pillow after a brief silence. The words came out thick with the general haze of sleep ringing in them.

Harry didn't bother replying and decided instead to move out from under the pillow and curl up near Dudley's form as he fell into the sweet embrace of slumber. He didn't really like sleeping out in the open but he figured it showed that he had Dudley's back since he was faster than the other in case the adults tried anything during the night.

#parseltounge has double S's at the end of a word if it ends in an S #Slytherin Harry #Harry has red hair like his mom #KoS

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darlingrutherford · 5 years

Note

Lana - 2, 6, 16, 25, 32, 48; Sarya - 3, 5, 9, 15, 21, 26, 35; Frederick - 7, 12, 18, 24, 30, 42, 49. Sorry, that's a lot but your babies are so fascinating!)

@liveinthehills asgjkhkjshg thank you so much for all the asks!

From the Super Detailed Questions About Your OCs list

For Lana Surana-

2. Do they have any titles? How did they get them?

Hero of Ferelden and Champion of Redcliffe are really the only two titles Lana has received (the obvious ones, from saving Redcliffe during the Blight and ending the Blight itself). Lana never becomes the Warden Commander of Ferelden, wishing instead to focus on assisting the wardens rebuild after the Blight with Alistair's help, rather than lead them. Alistair likes to refer to her as the Goddess of Ferelden, and does so often that at least a handful of people in Ferelden actually think that it must be the correct title.

6. What were they like at school? Did they enjoy it? Did they finish? What level of higher education did they reach? What subjects did they enjoy? Which did they hate?

Lana was very studious inside the Ferelden Circle. She enjoys quietly reading on her own, and spent a lot of time reading up on various magical theories as well as Andrastian history. She wasn't very fond of hands-on studies, not being too keen on casting spells even though she was very good at it. Irving would have had her take her Harrowing at a much younger age because of how quickly she grasped onto knowledge and magical skills, but her hesitancy to use them was what held her as an apprentice until she was 18.

16. Do they collect anything? What do they do with it? Where do they keep it?

Once she leaves the Circle, Lana collects a tiny rock from each place they visit. The first one she collects is from the shore of the Circle. She does this as a reminder of where she came from, where she's been, and as a reminder of everything that's happened. She keeps them in a small pouch at her side.

25. What do they find funny? Do they have a good sense of humour? Are they funny themselves?

Lana adores Alistair's sense of humor. She's been through a lot herself, so she can appreciate the self deprecation of his humor. Lana may not have the worldly experience to get some jokes, but she can feel the levity emotion of the situation and enjoys hearing people's laughter more than anything. She doesn't crack many jokes herself, although when she does they're usually rather sarcastic.

32. What do they dress like? What sorta shops do they buy clothes from? Do they wear the fashion that they like? What do they wear to sleep? Do they wear makeup? What’s their hair like?

In the Circle, Lana tended to gravitate towards mage robes that had purples or blues in them, same for her nightgowns. After leaving the Circle, Lana wears the blue grey warden mage armor. Because of her height, most armor tends to be much too long on her and she ends up having to modify it, so she doesn't stray much from that uniform. She has a long tunic she never took in that she wears to sleep, although once she and Alistair start sharing a tent all the time, she either steals one of his clean tunics or otherwise they go without. Lana's hair is red (think very bright copper), and straight. It's to the middle of her back, and she always wears it in a tight French braid that begins near her left temple and ends at the right at her neck. It's a habit she still clings to of when her mother would do her hair growing up.

48. Do they enjoy any parties? If so what kind? Do they organise the party or just turn up? How do they act? What if they didn’t want to go but were dragged along by a friend?

Lana's a bit nervous around large groups of people. She has a bit of trauma related to being attacked for being a mage, so she's always worried of how people will react to her if she doesn't know them. With her friends, however, tight knit celebrations are something she can enjoy. She's had to be dragged into a few she definitely didn't want to attend (a status such as Hero of Ferelden will do that), but her fear of disappointing someone overrides her fear of being judged.

For Sarya Lavellan-

3. Did they have a good childhood? What are fond memories they have of it? What’s a bad memory?

Sarya enjoyed her childhood very much. Growing up without her parents, Keeper Deshanna raised Sarya to be kind and groomed her for a role of leadership at an early age. Sarya took to it with stride, really enjoying everything she learned and the opportunity to be an asset to her clan at such a young age. Her fondest memories are of the harvests she would participate in, as well as all the times she would sneak out at night to explore the Free Marches (sometimes alone, sometimes with her close friend Shala). A more bad memory would be when her clan visited Wycome for trading. Sarya witness a young child burning himself on a forge, and so she quickly helped cool his hand by dunking a cloth in a bucket of water and freezing the cloth with a bit of ice magic. The kid was excited at the show of magic and grateful, but the adults around became concerned and alerted the Chantry about her. Even though the Chantry has an understanding with the Dalish’s ways of having a few mages in one clan, they sent a couple of templars to investigate anyway. They confronted her in the forest outside of Wycome, but ultimately left without incident. Sarya is convinced that, if she hadn't been with a group of their hunters at the time, she would have been carted off to a Circle. This experience grew a small fear of humans for her that nagged at her mind for a small while when she was brought to Haven.

5. Do they have any siblings? What’s their names? What is their relationship with them? Has their relationship changed since they were kids to adults?

Sarya was an only child, so no siblings for her. She is very close with a lot of people in her clan, though, and thinks of them as siblings. Renan is the most prominent one, since he's always been one to stay close to her and want to protect her. Her relationship with him became strained once his feelings for her grew into more than friendship, feelings which she never returned. I'll leave it at that, since it effects her in ways that would spoil later chapters of To Weather the Storm ;)

9. Do animals like them? Do they get on well with animals?

I like to joke that Sarya is my “Disney Princess” OC. She gets on incredibly well with animals, and they seem to be drawn to her calm demeanor. The halla that traveled with her clan always knew they could find a treat in her pocket, and it's not uncommon for her to be able to calmly talk herself out of a bad situation with a bear, something that catches Cassandra entirely off guard in the Hinterlands.

15. Are they good at cooking? Do they enjoy it? What do others think of their cooking?

Sarya enjoys cooking. She's good at taking what she has on hand and making something edible out of it. Because of this, she's usually the one who ends up preparing food at the campsite with her companions, and she does it gladly. After the time they let Varric make the stew, she now offers her services first thing.

21. Do they have a temper? Are they patient? What are they like when they do lose their temper?

Sarya has the patience of a saint, but she absolutely loses her temper when she's pushed too far. She never screams or throws things, but she's not above yelling and pointing her finger. Cullen knows better than anyone, having been at the end of her temper a few times just because of how stubborn he can be, always in cases of him not taking care of himself or not allowing her to help him (most commonly with his lyrium withdrawals).

26. How do they act when they’re happy? Do they sing? Dance? Hum? Or do they hide their emotions?

Sarya hums when she's happy, and smiles a lot. She wears her emotions on her sleeve when she's in a good mood. If they get a few drinks in her (or one or two particularly strong ones), she's a very happy drunk and will spend a lot of time singing and dancing with a bright smile on her face.

35. What’s their guilty pleasure? What is their totally unguilty pleasure?

Sarya loves sweets. This would probably be considered an unguilty pleasure, since she does nothing to hide the fact, so much so that it's not uncommon for nobles to send sweets along with their letters in hopes of gaining the Inquisitor’s favor (her favorite are the hard cookies with orange zest dipped in chocolate that Gaspard sends with his correspondence). As for a guilty pleasure, Sarya has secretly read one of two of Varric's books in her spare time when no one is looking. She never had access to romance books like them, and finds herself quite engrossed in the stories.

For Frederick Trevelyan-

7. Did they have lots of friends as a child? Did they keep any of their childhood friends into adulthood?

Frederick's parents had him spend a lot of his time studying, so he didn't have a lot of close friends growing up. He did have a friend, Caleb, whom he considered his closest friend growing up, though they grew apart once Caleb settled down.

12. What is their favourite food?

Frederick would never admit it to his parents, but he's a sucker for Orlesian cuisine. He loves the sweetness of their foods, preferring it to the more lightly seasoned vegetables and meat one gets in Ferelden. Frederick isn't vegetarian by any sense, but he does tend to gravitate towards vegetables and fruit over meat. He's especially fond of carrots that have been glazed with honey.

18. What’s their favourite genre of: books, music, tv shows, films, video games and anything else

Frederick loves poetry. He and Cassandra have been known to sneak off together to read aloud with one another, just two friends enjoying a romantic prose. He has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Ferelden history, but he had to study so much of it as a kid that his reading of it is more out of habit than anything.

24. What is their sleeping pattern like? Do they snore? What do they like to sleep on? A soft or hard mattress?

Frederick sleeps like the dead. Once he's out, he either needs to wake up on his own or else be shaken awake. He doesn't move much in his sleep, although Dorian will often shove him over onto his side to stop the snoring that ensues when he's on his back. He definitely prefers a softer mattress, and eagerly returns to his bed after a week with his bedroll on the hard ground.

30. Do they exercise? Regularly? Or only when forced? What do they act like pre-work out and post-work out?

Frederick does yoga every morning. It's a ritual to him, something his mother encouraged from a young age to calm his high energy. If he's unable to do it he's off for the day: he'll be a bit less level headed than usual, antsy, and turning a few heads as he runs back and forth across Skyhold trying to busy himself. Frederick still has quite a bit of energy even after his morning routine, but it grounds him and allows him to take the day a bit more slow.

42. What are their goals? What would they sacrifice anything for? What is their secret ambition?

Frederick only wants to do his family and the Maker proud. He feels a bit of guilt, knowing that he can never make them happy in the way they had imagined before he came out, and works his hardest to make them proud in other ways. After being with Dorian, this extends to him as well. He realizes that family isn't only blood, and he finds himself wanting to do everything he can to make Dorian proud of him. Frederick would sacrifice anything for the safety of others. It makes him reckless, but it's something he feels very passionate about. As far as secret ambitions, Frederick does want a family, although he isn't sure how that will play out with the path that was given to him.

49. What is their most valued object? Are they sentimental? Is there something they have to take everywhere with them?

Frederick was never sentimental before. After Trespasser, the message crystal Dorian gifts him becomes his most prized possession. With Solas’ threat and everything Dorian has to take care of in Tevinter, they have to be apart for some time, but Frederick always keeps the message crystal close to his heart and converses with Dorian multiple times a day.

#liveinthehills #dragon age #dragon age inquisition #dragon age origins #sarya lavellan #lana surana #frederick trevelyan #my ocs #oc asks

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crepeshifter · 5 years

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character profile i use

Full name: add their whole name, including middle names

Preferred name/s: any nicknames they like? what they tell people to call them?

Previous name/s: if they changed their name, or if they forgot it, what was their name before that happened?

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Species: in a multi-species world, it’s useful to specify species just in case someone reading these profiles gets confused as to why your character has blue skin

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Age: if a character is a different species from human, it’s useful to add both their chronological age (the years) and the biological age (in relation to human years, how old would they be in regards to body development?)

Mental age: mental age often differs from physical age. it’s a good idea to specify this so that any behavioural problems can be linked to mental age, if that’s the case.

Birthday: always add this, if you get a fanbase on your story/fanfiction/game/whatever else you may be making, your fans will want to know their favorite character’s birthday, as that’s the best time for fanart!

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Height: this helps keep consistency. if a tall character interacts with a short character, height difference is a good way to make the situation more realistic. forgetting the height difference could be an issue so keeping a note is a good plan.

Weight: again, helps with consistency and story elements. heavy characters will likely be louder when walking, for example.

Blood type: not a super neccesary base point but don’t forget that transferring blood between people is harder than just ‘here have some blood’, especially in a game. crossing blood types can be fatal so adding this point gives a new way to kill characters off >:)

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Eye color: this is simply an appearance point. try to be as specific as you can (i like to take the hex code and copy and paste it in, so there can be no mistake!)

Eye shape: again, just an appearance point however this can help to almost give characters animal qualities! e.g you can make a person seem more ‘cat-like’ by giving them more slanted eyes. an easy way to do this is make an eye shape sheet, numbering and lettering tables for shape, lashes and pupils.

Glasses: this can be really useful especially in game situation. glasses can be used to focus light and start fires, and story element; what if your character has bad eyesight and loses heir glasses? how does this affect their performance - maybe even their overall morale!

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Hair color: as with eye color, try to be specific as possible so mistakes are less likely. giving a loose description such as ‘ginger’ or ‘black’ is fine, but only if you want the reader/player to have a wide scope for their own imagination. e.g ‘ginger’ could be more on the red side or the blond side, specifying even ‘red-ginger’ or ‘gold-ginger’ can be really useful. is it dyed or natural?

Hair length: this one doesn’t need to be super specific - don’t go measuring it accurately, simply stating ‘shoulder-length’ or ‘mid-back’ is perfectly fine.

Hair type: for this one try to describe the texture of the hair, whether it’s thick or thin, greasy or clean, knotty or brushed etc. this gives the reader/player a good visualisation of how they treat themselves.

Fringe/Bangs: again, this helps with visualisation. try to specify if it’s a neat cut, or choppy, or if they even have bangs at all.

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Freckles: this isn’t super important but it can add some uniqueness to your character’s design. specify how dark the freckles are, how they are distributed (many freckles, few freckles) and where they fall e.g cheekbones, bridge of nose, all over face etc.

Scars: this can add some personality as well, if a character has more scars, it can tell a lot about their personality - are they daring? try to describe where their scars are, how deep are they? are they burn scars or gash scars? do they open up under stress? how did your character get them?

Beauty marks: again, a cute uniqueness point. as with freckles, where do their beauty marks fall, on their neck? a dot under the eye? how dark are the spots? are they large or small?

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Skin tone: this can also add personality to your character. for this point, add a sort of rating for the skin tone e.g 1-10, 1 being palest and 10 being darkest. hex color values are also useful because you could have a character with green skin, but if you don’t specify color, how would anyone know from the profile? give reasons for the skin tone. do they go out a lot? where do they live? do they work? what is their skin like, tough? delicate? sensitive? do they have a rash, or a skin condition?

Nationality: make sure you add this, it can be useful to justify skin tone and other pints like their hair and eye colors.

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Allergies: this is always useful, especially for a game character. if your character is allergic to mushrooms, tell the reader/player! in a game situation, a character who eats mushrooms but is allergic to mushrooms could be severely affected. how serious is the allergy? will it kill them, or just give them a headache?

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Any health issues? : this could be mental or physical. it’s useful to add these for plot points, or stats in a game. can it be solved? how does it limit their capabilities? is there someone/something that is an exception, e.g do they refuse to talk to anyone due to social anxiety, but they get really happy and excited when their best friend calls them up? do they have to take medication for it? what if they don’t take their meds? do they refuse to take these medications? how do people judge them based on their health problem? is their issue countered by something which is amplified (this is often the case with autism for example). is their issue noticable at first glance? can they cover it easily or do they have to make excuses? do they even want help?

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Sexuality: oh, this. the ships will roll, when you add this. it’s useful to add, just in case they have a crush on someone whose sexuality prevents them from having a relationship, e.g a gay male crushing on a straight male. it also helps in the way of distractions, are they interested in boys? girls? how much do they like the people they’re attracted to (would they stare at someone they find attractive, or just glance and think ‘cute’, before looking away?)

Gender identity: for this point, add their physical sex, the gender they identify as, and pronouns. if you have a transgender character, add the sex they were born as, then the sex they feel they are, e.g female-male trangender, male, he/him/his.

Crush/Lover/Spouse: delete as appropriate. if they have more than one crush, list them all, if possible. if they’re in a relationship, but they’re crushing on someone else, put ‘Lover: [name of lover], Crush: [name of crush], [who they like more]’.

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Favorite color: useful for personality and helps to decide what they would wear as well as what things they would buy. if they have multiple, just list them, and if they have no favorite, then say that. if they hate all colors, say that too. it’s also useful to mention if they’re colorblind, this could justify their lack of preference. also specify what type of colorblindness they have.

Favorite food: useful to show where they would eat, and what they would eat there. is their favorite food something they’re allergic to? if so, do they eat it anyway, or do they suffer in silence as their friends all help themselves to the peanut butter sandwiches? again, if there are multiple, it’s useful to add that, as well as if they don’t like any food in particular.

Favorite drink: same as with the food. it’s also useful to mention if they can even tell the difference between pepsi and coca-cola for example, especially if one of these is their favorite. can they only drink the branded drinks, or are non-branded drinks just as good to them?

Least favorite color: this is a good plot point. some people associate memories with colors, so maybe your character does too. is there a reason behind their dislike for a certain color, or is it just unappealing? did they used to like it, but went off?

Least favorite food: it’s useful to specify why in this section. why doesn’;t your character like curry, is it the spiciness, or the weird flavor? do they not like meat? is it because they’re vegetarian, or is the issue the texture?

Least favorite drink: same as with food. do they dislike non-branded drinks, or maybe, do they prefer the non-branded ones? do they dislike fizzy drinks because it makes bubbles go up their nose, or maybe do the bubbles give them heart-burn?

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Loves: this is helpful for plot. what do they enjoy? is there a reason behind this? are all the things they love just people? is it something their friend gave to them? is it a hobby which they find peace in? do they take pride in these, or do they try to hide it?

Likes: what do they find enjoyable but not as much as what they love? is it all food?! what if they only like it because their friends do? is it something they get money from?

Tolerates: add things which they don’t like, but they won’t try to argue with. e.g loud people, queue-cutters? cold weather?

Dislikes: this could define their friendships! what if they don’t like hyper people, but they have to work with a hyper person for example?

Hates: the things they absolutely, under no circumstances, ever, will tolerate. spiders? liars? this is an opportunity for plot!

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Weather: the weather they feel most at ease in, or enjoy most. does your character like to read books indoors while a thunderstorm cracks outside? do they love to be at the beach in scorching weather? throwing snowballs? kicking autumn leaves?

Temperature: which temperature makes them happy? the winter chill that clouds their warm breath? the summer air which makes the cool breezes all the more welcome? add the temperature in both °C and °F, and add factors which may affect this.

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Notable strengths: things they pride themselves on. is it their artwork? singing ability? the capability to stay motivated? calming people? physical strength?

Notable weaknesses: things that they maybe aren’t so good at, and may or may not be working to improve. social interaction? sword skills? cooking? maybe it’s as simple as their dissatisfaction with appearance. bear in mind that these ‘weaknesses’ will likely be things that, when mentioned or pointed out, will make them uncomfortable or protective.

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Piercings: do they have ear piercings? are the earrings they wear significant? did they have a piercing, but it closed up? make sure to specify how many they have and if there’s a reason at all, mention it. it could me important.

Tattoos: where is it? did it hurt them? why do they have this tattoo? how old is it? did they even want it? if they have none, but want some, what do they want? are their tattoos faded? did they have any removed?

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Hobbies: things they enjoy and love to do. walking in the rain? stroking kittens? singing along to music? sleeping?!

Style: their clothing choice. do the prefer light or dark colors? do they expose a lot of skin, or prefer to cover up? do they like loose clothing? why? do they prefer to wear warm clothes or ones that let them stay cool? do they have loads of the same hoody?

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Other: this is where you write any other important things. backstory, maybe? quotes? catchphrases? alignment?

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shevawalkingtours · 5 years

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Sheva Walking Tours: Mostar Top 10

Planning a trip to Mostar? Or perhaps you have already arrived and are trying to figuring out what to do now that you are finally here? Look no further than our top 10 list, which will help you get the most out of your visit! If you have any questions or need even more suggestions, drop us a line!

1. Take a Free Walking Tour of Mostar with Sheva Walking Tours

You have made it to our website, so you are clearly on the right path! Get acquainted with Mostar through one of our daily Free Tours. We meet every day in front of the Hammam Museum for a 2 hour walk through Mostar’s Old Town and periphery. Not only will we take you through a 600 year historical journey, but we will introduce you to the Mostar of today, including the best places to get a bite to eat or a drink to round out your explorations of the city.

2. Watch a Traditional Bridge Jump

If you made the trip to Mostar, you likely know about the iconic Stari Most (“Old Bridge”) that spans the Neretva in the heart the city. Be sure to spend some time with the bridge during your visit to Mostar, especially because you do not want to miss a member of the diving club plunge over 20 meters from the top of the bridge and into the icy, jewel-toned waters of the Neretva below! Our Free Tour will explain all about the traditional bridge jumping, but you must see it in person. If you visit Mostar during the warmer months, the diving club offers you the opportunity to train with them so that you, too, can dive from the Old Bridge. Talk to the divers at the diving club situated in the western tower of Stari Most for more information.

3. Drink a Bosnian Coffee with Lokum

Bosnia and Herzegovina is known for its coffee culture. The daily ritual is not complete without passing some time by drinking a leisurely coffee at one of the many cafes that line the city streets. For a special treat, get a traditional coffee served in a džezba and fildžan with lokum (otherwise known as Turkish Delight). If you enjoy sweets, try locally made baklava, hurmašice, or tulumba.

4. Try the Fortica Zipline

For those looking for a bit of an adrenaline rush, head up to the Fortica Zipline (in operation since 2018). The zipline is located in the recreational zone on the eastern side of town – look for the rocks spelling out “BiH Volim Te” on the hillside – the mountain hut above it is where you want to head. The zipline spans the distance between two rocky outcroppings overlooking Mostar – you certainly cannot get a better view of the town than this!

5. Enjoy a Local Craft Beer (or other local spirits)

There ae plenty of places to go to enjoy a cold beer after a day of exploration, but why not make that drink a local one? If you are a beer drinker, we recommend OldbridZ Craft Brewery and if you prefer wine or liquor, there are plenty of local and regionally produced wines and rakijas for you to experience as well. If you are interested in learning more about the locally produced beer, wine and spirits, check out our Local Spirits Experience (coming soon!) on our Private Tours page, hosted by the Craft Beer Garden.

6. Visit the Partisan Memorial Cemetery

Looking for some monumental Yugoslav history? If you venture a little further away from the Old Town center, you will eventually discover the Partisan Memorial Cemetery. A large memorial complex bult in 1965, this structure will be sure to impress. If you want to learn more about this and other memorials in Mostar, contact us to set up a Memorial and Monuments Tour (see our Private Tours page for more information). This walking tour will visit all of the most notable monuments and memorials in Mostar and explain their historical signifance.

7. Visit the Orthodox Cemetery

On the eastern side of town, you might notice the the ongoing reconstruction of the Orthodox Church. Use this as a guide to make your way to the old Orthodox Cemetery just to the south. Climb the stairs up the hillside until you reach a dirt pathway – you can use this to explore further up into the hillside. Or if you prefer history, check out the historic tombstones. If you time your visit right, you can catch a wondeful sunset over Mostar!

8. Eat Local Cuisine

Even if you are only in town for the day, you need to eat something! Try out some of the local cuisine. Take it from us, there is something for everyone even if you are vegetarian or have dietary restrictions. If you are looking for something quick and cheap, try the pita from a local bakery. Otherwise, try out one of the many traditional restaurants in town. We recommend the mezza, grilled meat platters (including cevapi), stuffed peppers and stews. Check out our We Recommend page for dining options!

9. Take a swim in the Neretva

Perhaps you don’t want to jump off the Mostar Bridge, but that doesn’t have to stop you from taking a swim in one of the worlds coldest rivers! Join the locals that refresh themselves in the enticing waters of the Neretva on the banks below the Old Bridge. A fantastic way to pass the heat of the Herzegovinian afternoon, you will likely run into Ševko cooling off in between tours!

10. Tour Hercegovina

There is so much to see in Herzegovina. Stay in Mostar for a few days and take the time to explore our surroundings. There are many possibilities including Blagaj, Počitelj, Kravice, Stolac, Hutovo Blato National Park…the list goes on! Interested in Bosnia and Herzegovina's medieval past? Wander around the stećci at Radimlja! Want to view Herzegovina from higher ground? Head to Velež for a day hike. No matter where you go, you will be sure to have a memorable experience. The best part? Return to Mostar after the afternoon crowds have dispersed and go on an evening stroll through the Old Town – stay out late enough and you might just get a moment alone on the Old Bridge.

*Bonus*

Depending upon your itinerary, we recommend traveling between Sarajevo and Mostar by train! Now that the train is up and running, this is the best way to relax and enjoy the scenery to and from Mostar! The train station is located just behind the Mostar Bus Station – a short walk or taxi ride to the Old Town.

#mostar herzegovina bosnia tour freetour travel tourist

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postpunkpontypandyphantomthief · 5 years

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6th Comedy Monologue

“So folks, that whole Brexit rubbish is finally over isn’t it?”

“I know, some of us could see it coming and Teresa May looks like the spitting image

of the stepmother from Cinderella

how come nobody has noticed that yet?

we all have politicians we don’t like don’t we?

at times like this, I have to remind myself Teresa May is a very well liked woman

but then I remember back in the day Margaret Thatcher was also a very well liked woman

don’t you think she and Teresa may are quite similar?

well this is how she’d treat a political problem

*attempts impersonation*

“what’s that? ok men I did you to do this and then this and then this and this”

whereas Teresa may would handle the situation like…

*attempts impersonation*

what’s this? oh leave it for a few months

but the main thing is they both hate poor people so who cares what they think

I actually sort of understand why people like Jeremy Corbyn but I had written that previous gag back in late June of last year, speaking of outdated gags

Pirates were the communists and socialists of the 17th century

they wanted money, disagreed with colonialism and didn’t care what the government thought of them

like with communists they were accepting and inclusive but they wanted gold

the pirates accepted many on their ship they allowed homosexuality, they allowed women in strong roles there were great times had on the high seas

even with the loot, they got they’d share it evenly what other power was involved with being inclusive with most things except money Oh Yeah! the communists

Yes, Yes we’ll handle it we’ll accept you but give us all your money

communism is a good concept but in the end, people get greedy for the money

like with pirates

we’ll accept you matey but give us some gold

however they didn’t agree about the government, they had their own independent pirate crews and disagreed with colonialism and capitalism

kind of like some of us, I think

we criticize politics, we like to party and we accept most people except colonialists …and capitalists...

Oh well, at least there’s been good music with Marina and the diamonds, Ariana Grande and the 1975

We, humans, love music

which makes me think about bands related to Homosapians

in the 60s we had the Monkees good band good name

and now we have Arctic Monkeys, Gorillaz, Rang a Tang and Apes

what about the lesser known homosapian types

Chimpanzees and Baboons

if music existed in Planet of the Apes

the Kate Bush hit Babooshka would be about a

monkey looking for love after getting his heart broken seeing his wife cheat on him with an older mandrill

only to fall in love again with who he’d call his baboonska

Animals are interesting creatures whether they are made of glass, made of 1960s haircuts or made of the first songs of a math rock band

Another good thing about music and animals is that Roger Taylor is going to help us save the bees

Thinking bee! Thinking queen! thinking bee! Thinking queen!

Speaking of which there’s been a whole glam rock/synthpop revival going on

And I love that

although as a kid I watched media from all sorts of different decades

While they watched Jersey Shore and Love Island I was watching Disney and CBBC sitcoms mixed with Japanese cartoons and shows from years before like Jem and the holograms, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the original my little pony series.

I would also watch funnybones, the original noody series from a VHS I “borrowed” from my neighbours, as well as the Muppet show and some classic cinema.

I think it’s amazing that this revival is happening it’s like the 60s,70s,80s,90s and early 2000s are all going on at the same time.

Revolutionary anarchic protests, Androgynous rockers, Neon colours, post-punk indie shows, peculiar fashion trends and reality shows as well as the cybernetic future beyond

But I’m also cold and angry about how this is happening because on the other hand, there are things carried over from previous decades that shouldn’t still be around...fascists in positions of power, nonces in the entertainment industry, Threat of a nuclear war, low economy, Jamie Oliver, Piers Morgan, Death, Pollution,Misogyny,Misandry,Sexism,Racism and White Supremacy

I could list more, but I can’t think at the moment I’m focusing on my work while morons on Twitter and Tumblr are yabbering on about vegan sausage rolls.

I’ve never tried Greggs before but I’m sure the vegans and vegetarians are happy that a mainstream chain like Greggs has made a product catered specifically for them, whereas before if you asked for a “vegan option” at a restaurant the waiter would scratch their neck.

However not all restaurants are like this,having to work overtime dealing with angry parents,screaming children and the odd nazi at Mcdonalds is not an easy task,yet so many waiters and workers across the world are able to somehow keep those businesses afloat,you guys, girls and comrades don’t get enough credit,you should be paid more,no wonder so many mainstream restaurants are having strikes or running out of food and people are either going to more independently funded places or ordering online to get their daily dose of fast fried convenience.

and while I would be interested in trying a vegetarian diet,It would be hard for me to give up eating chicken that quickly but I don’t really eat meat that often,and before you say anything as long as cannibals don’t use their choice of food in a dangerous way they’re ok with me, it’s no different to when our prehistoric ancestors had to hunt to find food in order to survive,some people still have to do that,it’s sad...it really is,while Christianity isn’t something I believe in anymore, it did say in the bible that Jesus shared his bread and food with his people,and I think some of us should start doing that,and if you already do whether it’s a snack you have or leaving out leftover food from your side takeaway business, that’s brilliant your making more people happy and your allowing more people to enjoy food and to have access to that basic human necessity that we all should be able to have to access to.

Sharing is another primary school lesson it feels like half of humanity has forgotten about outside of basic decency and kindness, but I’m probably not the one to talk about that since I was called “Rude” for most of my life.

there’s a big difference between telling someone they’re a plonker and making someone more aware of how they can improve themselves as a person.

Most of us all have flaws, most of us have had toxic moments,

we’ve all at times had moments where we’ve said something wrong that we didn’t mean,

or times where our cowardliness has accidentally caused misunderstandings and drama

or times where we didn’t intend to sound hurtful but that’s how it came across, or times where we’ve blindly followed toxic people, imitating their actions without meaning to or just generally times where we’ve been ignorant little eijjits.

Even people some would say were flawless had flaws or problematic aspects about them

David Bowie wasn’t too nice to his wife Angie in later years, Graham Lineman and Robert Webb are transphobic, Rowan Atkinson supports Boris Johnson’s “so-called” jokes and Ricky Gervais doesn’t like hearing people with different opinions than him.

Overthinking however can exaggerate this, overthinking can take that one time you were a bit rude as a child and that problematic “fandom” phase you had as a preteen and make you feel like your worst person in the world.

Your not, but most of us have had moments,there’s also the “not like other girls/boys phase” sometimes it’s just a light-hearted comparison drawing or blog post taken out of context other times it’s the grown-up equivalent of saying “I like this thing over your other thing that means I’m better than you”

Considering my at times cold thoughts it’s weird that I’m the person of all people telling you this

It’s perfectly ok to be prideful and narcissistic just don’t be so arrogant that you forget about your morals and the people that you're close to, but if at times because of mental health you question your levels of empathy, sympathy and compassion that’s ok too, your voices deserve to be heard, and there is help available you can find it through helplines, organizations or even your own comrades.

Outside of all the twits in this horrid fishbowl of a world, there are also millions of very kind nice people, I don’t know where I’d be now without my comrades

The offline pals who are like my sunshine because they brighten up my day,the old secondary school friends that made me feel less alone,the online people who I can vent to, converse with and joke with,the bloggers from years ago that I still sometimes keep in touch with and the creators who through their work in Media, Theatre and the Arts were able to encourage me to keep going, keep working, keep creating.

I think your all lovely and beautiful and creative human beings, no matter what identity you are, what music genre you listen to or what topping you prefer on your pizza

I will most likely adore you and if I haven’t it’s probably because I haven’t met you yet

You are one biscuit of cells, on this fishbowl planet, your mind is a land of wonder and your body is the garden surrounding it, take care of yourself like how you take care of your garden, your pets or the fictional characters you write about.

Your future might not be the future you expect, but it’s one you’ll enjoy.

if you are doing something you love which harms nobody, be as happy and passionate about it as you like

you are a person who deserves the world

Don’t push yourself too hard, if you know you’re doing a good job keep at it, don’t stress yourself too hard, but remember not to procrastinate, your mental health is important, some people might not understand all of the issues you’re going through, but you can make it out alive.

You're, not a number or statistic you're a person, your a beautiful, Kind, incredible, wise person

spread some love and don’t forget what the late Freddie Mercury said,

Keep yourself Alive!

#comedy monologue #original monologue #joke

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nonbinarysalemwitch · 5 years

Text

Soapbox

So, I am 31 weeks into my first full term pregnancy. I’ve been pregnant 3 other times, but haven’t ever had the “real experience” until now because of all the complications. Because of this, I feel like I came into this experience with sore misconceptions of what it would be like.

The media, for the most part, paints pregnancy with rose colored glasses. It’s a miracle! You have a “pregnancy glow”! Motherhood changes you for the better! Etc, etc. To me, a mother who has had trouble conceiving, I agree that it is a miracle. But, goodness is it WEIRD.

Here are some things that I was not really expecting to deal with...

Morning sickness: First of all, it doesn’t always happen in the morning. Second of all I had to quit my job because of it. My “morning sickness” was all day, every day for about 8 weeks straight. It wasn’t like they show in the movies, either. Where the mother-to-be has a sudden rush of nausea and runs to the bathroom for a good vomit. No! I sat over the toilet for HOURS waiting for the continual gagging to stop. Most of the time it was like acid reflux gone a little too far. Not quite vomiting, not quite not vomiting...

Waiting: The first trimester is BORING. Most people choose not to tell a lot of others outside of their spouse, close friends or family, because you just never really know whats going to happen. I had to tell my boss, personally, because I was high risk and couldn’t perform a lot of my daily tasks without putting the baby at risk. However, it’s a lot of waiting around for week 12/13/14 to be able to share the good news and a lot of avoiding situations while you’re trying to keep it a secret. I was not ready to tell my extended family as soon as I did, but since I was in the 1st trimester around the holidays it was nearly unavoidable.

Loneliness: In he 1st trimester, not being able to tell your friend groups or coworkers can seriously hinder your social life. A lot of people end up just cancelling all social plans until they’re able to tell, so as to not raise suspicion. But another very real aspect of loneliness that I find creeping up on me is the realization that this reduction in social life will likely be permanent after birth. Friends always say that they will want to be around the baby all the time, they’ll babysit for you whenever you need, blah blah blah. These are all very well intended promises, but in reality... A mother-to-be becomes less fun to be around. Having to take care of the baby can get in the way of conversation, hinders your ability to go out in public spaces, and can frankly make some people feel uncomfortable. It’s not fun to sit awkwardly in someone’s living room while the mother is trying to sooth a screaming baby for 30 minutes. Plus, people have lives outside of you and your child that make it hard for them to keep those promises. It’s something that I’m sure I will resent, but am completely expecting and also understand.

Pain: I’m not talking about birth pain. I’m talking about day-to-day pains. Your body starts changing IMMEDIATELY from the moment of conception, and for many women this means they will develop “tender” breasts. I figured this one would be easy because, well, periods. I was not expecting horrible pain every time I hit a pothole, which is hard to avoid in Michigan! Also, back pain, which a lot of people don’t expect until they start “showing”. Nah, your organs are moving and your bones are adjusting the whole time. It sucks. I bought a heating pad and blanket by the time the 1st trimester was coming to a close.

Pregnancy Glow: It’s sweat. It’s unattractive. Surprise! Hot flashes are not just for menopause. I am so grateful that I was able to have the majority of my pregnancy in the fall/winter.

Headaches: Apparently headaches and migraines are SUPER common for second trimester. Mine were debilitating. From weeks 12-16 I found myself unable to get out of bed some days, definitely unable to leave my bedroom (because we have blackout curtains), and my water bill rising considerably from taking showers to try to sooth the pain. Ibuprofen, historically, is the only thing that helps me with headaches, but I wasn’t able to take it because it’s not pregnancy approved.

No appetite: Media shows a lot of women, from the moment of conception, gorging on all their favorite foods and having cravings constantly. This was not the case for me. For much of my first and second trimesters all food was completely repulsive to me. I couldn’t even be in the same room as someone eating because it would make me so sick. When I forced myself to eat because, well, it’s vital for my survival, I would throw up anything that I ate. I was sticking to vitamin supplement and dietary drinks to try to keep my- and the baby’s- nutrients up. I lost a total of 30 pounds, and I’m slowly gaining weight now. Luckily, I was plus-size to begin with, so it wasn’t too detrimental to either of us. 31 weeks in and I still don’t have a lot of cravings. I just like my food a certain way and have changes in preferences. For instance, I’m basically a vegetarian at this point because my body doesn’t like most meats.

Dietary restrictions: With media showing women gorging themselves on foods all day every day, they don’t really talk about things women can’t, or shouldn’t eat. Hot dogs, for example. Or deli meats. Soft cheeses... Ya know, the good things in life. Most of these things don’t pose a serious problem, but they can, so it’s best to avoid it. I have the app Ovia, which has a list of foods that are super good and super bad, so I took a look at that sucker right away.

Sex drive: I’ve never been an overly sexual person. I consider myself queer, because bi doesn’t quite fit. But because I know that sex is an important part of a romantic relationship/marriage, and I want to make my partner happy, it’s never really been something that I struggle with. However, my sex drive is at an absolute ZERO. I have no desire to satisfy myself or my partner- I even get angry when he brings it up (which I apologize for constantly). Media portrays pregnant people as being very horny, which I’m sure happens to some people, but I’ve found my already desolate libido at an all time low. When I do make the conscious effort to have sex, it’s painful quite often. Again, bodily changes...

Kicking: Kicking really seems like an understatement, since it feels like she’s break dancing inside me. I’ve been told my several ultrasound technicians, nurses and doctors that my daughter is much more active than most babies. She is CONSTANTLY moving. She wakes my up from a dead sleep my kicking me in the spine or ribs. If the cats want to lay on my stomach she will forcefully kick them. Weirdly, though, she seems to know when people are watching, because she almost never kicks in front of people...

Emotional changes: I don’t think I’ve been more emotional, personally. I mean, yeah, I’ll tear up at the occasional episode of doctor who, a cute song, or a sad movie, but that’s all normal. The biggest thing for me was the rage. During the second trimester especially I found myself so angry and I had no idea why I was half the time. Everything irritated me. My husband, but pets, getting a text. I lived several weeks in a state of near hatred toward everything in my life. It was unbearable. Also, anxiety over EVERYTHING. I can hardly get in a car, let alone drive one.

Criticism: This is probably the biggest one that I have battled with. I get told an awful lot that I don’t act like a typical mom-to-be. I haven’t bought a ton of baby clothes, I’m not going all out on the nursery, and I have very realistic expectations of what being a mom/having a baby is like. Which, if you vocalize, people look at you really weird for. I have specifically asked people not to buy clothes for the baby because they’re mostly white or very minimalist. Why? Because babies poop and vomit and spit up, and I would like my baby to wear her onsies more than once. Apparently it’s shocking to people that I unlocked the secret that babies are messy before mine is born. No, I am not naming my child after people in the family, sorry. No I don’t need to buy more maternity clothes because I only own leggings and almost all of my shirts are 3x larger than they need to be already. Please don’t touch my stomach without permission. No, I am not afraid of giving birth, in fact, I’m looking forward to it.

It’s amazing to watch TV shows and movies with pregnant women in them now, because I’m finally experiencing it. I think my favorite thing I have watched though, is the Try Guys Parenthood season. They ask the doctor “what are some of the positives of pregnancy” and she says, “the baby” and leaves it at that. Yep, that’s about it!

I’m not trying to say I’m never going to have another child. I will. My husband and I want 3 to 4 kids. However, people that say that pregnancy is the most magical experience, or beautiful part of life... I think they’re lying.

#pregnant #pregnancy #mom #mom to be #baby #babies #birth

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