#before tiktok algorithms fried your fucking brains

[sadgayeddie]

notes on an edit i made in 2013

notes on a gifset i posted in 2025

we used to be a country

[dumbass-tumbler-cryptid]

Hi I hope you’re having a great day. Lately my TikTok algorithm has put me on military TikTok, honestly might have done that to myself tbh. But I’ve been doing a deep dive on military mre meals (made ready to eat, which is what troops in the military eat during Boot Camp and while they’re deployed) MRE meals have become more acquirable to the general public as some are able to buy them off of websites and former/current members of the military are able to buy them also though they have more access than people who are not in the military. I don’t really know how it happened, but this made me think about your military Dad AU and cabin altogether. I can just see Quaritch having a bunch of MRE meals in the basement in case they ever get snowed in or something or if they just run out of food which probably would never happen. Or Lyle bringing the MRE’s along with the military uniforms for Hunter and Spider just to rub some extra salt in the wound. As you said Lyle is a big bully and I think it would definitely be in character.

Anyways, I’m rambling but what if instead of boiled chicken and vegetables Quaritch had hunter and spider eat MRE meals while he was making them do Boot Camp. I can just see spider looking at him and go. “What the fuck is this?” Cue punishment push ups. Anyway what are your thoughts on this? How do you think the boys would react to having an MRE? What would spiders reaction be to an mre while Quaritch and Lyle are enjoying Lyle’s going way dinner?

I’ve seen similar videos before. I’m not on TikTok anymore because I felt like it was rotting my brain but I’ve watched YouTube videos of people trying MREs. According to them some of the meals actually aren’t that bad. Others totally are though. I went to a military supply website when I first read your ask to see what different MREs there are and it’s actually kind of crazy how many different food options there are. I saw different flavors of pie, stir fries, pasta, the list goes on.

So I can see two different scenarios that can actually exist together. The first one is Quaritch gives the boys MRE’s when he doesn’t feel like cooking for them that night but it’s only flavors he used to hate back in the military. The ones that made him think, maybe I’ll just starve. And it’s not just him. His whole squad used to hate these particular meals. They would always end up as their last resort food because no one wanted to touch them. The boys equally hate them. Your totally right that the first time he gives them a MRE Spider goes, “what the fuck? You think this actually counts as food? A dog wouldn’t even eat this shit.” Cue 100 push ups, jumping jacks, and 20 laps around the house. Spider never complains about them again. Next time they eat them Quaritch can’t help but laugh when Spider mumbles to Hunter, “maybe starving isn’t so bad.”

After having them a few times whenever Quaritch announces, “I don’t feel like cookin’ tonight boys so go pick a MRE.”

Spider and Hunter immediately rush to say, “we’ll cook!”

Quaritch thinks it’s funny. He always stipulates, “fine. Make what y’a can from what’s already prepped in the fridge. But you better make enough for me too or else I’ll take your meals and you can have the packets.” The boys both nod eagerly.

They can’t make much since the knives are all locked up. But Spider has been fending for himself for as long as he can remember. Plus both boys have at least taken one home ec class in school so they can get by. Spider will cook up the chicken breasts they eat almost every night but he actually seasons them and sears them until they’re golden brown. Hunter will boil water and cook pasta. It’s about as good as he can do. They roast whatever veggies they can in the oven, typically baby carrots and broccoli since they doesn’t really need to be cut. There’s a jar of tomato preserves they use to make a sauce and just like that they’re having the best meal they’ve had in weeks. The boys love it and cooking together is very fun for them. It’s their only bright spot in their otherwise terrible situation. Quaritch loves it too. It’s the closest he can get to going out to a restaurant.

The other idea I had is that the boys get MRE desserts as treats when they’re good. They’re both exhausted. It was an insanely long day. Neither of them had any energy to fight back though so it was a relatively peaceful one. Their dad walks in, all smiles and says, “I’ve got somethin’ for you boys for bein’ so well behaved today.” Both of them just stare at him blankly. From behind his back Quaritch pulls out two shinny silver packets labeled vanilla cake. They both take them in disappointment but when they eat them they find that they’re not that bad. Not great. But definitely better than boiled chicken and veggies. 

This was really entertaining for me to write so I hope you liked it too. Thanks for reaching out!💙