#(Problem sleuth my beloved)

[candycornvampire]

username change

sunderbeetle -> candycornvampire

[wut-pumpkin]

i forgot how many jokes are just 100% from problem sleuth

[spencer-sweets]

House MD Fic Recs | House/Wilson

[Part 1] [Part 2]

so... my first foray into this fandom after passively watching clips of it on youtube growing up. finally got around to watching it even though i have spoiled myself with all of the fan content i consumed before even finishing season 1. this is just some of my favorite fics i have compiled here. :) hope yall feel old knowing this show is older than me - and i can vote.

I'd Make A Deal With God (I'd Get Him to Swap Our Places) by TheFandomLesbian (ao3) Teen+ 11,357 Summary: When Wilson receives his terminal diagnosis, House flees to the hospital chapel. He doesn't know how to pray, but he strikes a deal: his soul for Wilson's life. When Wilson goes into remission, he has no choice but to uphold his end of the bargain. In which House learns nothing about God, but everything about worship, in the arms of his husband.

as someone who has a very complicated relationship with religion, this fic warmed my heart. the devotion from house in this fic to be able to put aside his own feelings towards religion in the small chance that he really does owe wilson's life to a higher power blew me away.

Riddle Me by magie_05 (LJ) R (I would say Teen+) 12,300 House loves puzzles. Wilson…doesn’t. When House starts asking his friend seemingly pointless questions that get progressively more confusing, Wilson’s left to wonder what (if anything) it means.

i loved the way they communicated in this fic and it was fun to try to figure out the riddles with wilson

fifteen minutes by eating_custardinbed (ao3) Mature 11,907 When James Wilson came to work this morning, he was expecting a normal day. That is, he has been expecting to tell a few people they were dying, getting bullied into buying his grumpy best friend lunch, maybe flirting with the new nurse in radiology to make him feel just a little better about his third divorce. What he has not been expecting is to be locked in his office with a madman, staring down the barrel of a gun. or, wilson gets shot and locked in his office. he and house have a conversation

oh, my beloved trope of one character thinking the other is about to die but not wanting to show how scared they are. hurt/comfort and wilson is hurt - right up my alley.

Defensive Strategies by m_butterfly (Wayback) NC-17 (Explicit) 14398 In which Wilson has a problem, House has a cunning plan, girls hunt in packs, chocolate cake has unexpected dangers, furniture is unintentionally ordered, several conversations occur, and dinner is repeatedly served.

this was a cute getting together fic that was funny and heavily recommended back in the say - at least from my sleuthing.

House-opathy Series: Diagnosis: Wilson, Patient Write Up: Cameron, Chase Foreman, Treatment: House by Commodoresexual (LJ) PG13 (Teen+) 14498 Wilson gets more than he bargained for when he lets the ducklings diagnose him - Cameron, Chase and Foreman delve into the healing process for Wilson - You can't always get what you want, but sometimes, you get what you need.

these were cute fics that were admittedly written prior to my conception. i enjoyed reading them - it follows the ducklings as they diagnose wilson with being in love with house and how the two get together.

Lost Causes by Eos (Wayback) PG13 (Teen+) 17164 An unguarded comment from Wilson proves to be quite unsettling for House's state of mind. Has three sequels, Same as It Ever Was, Reverse Psychology, and Foolish Hearts

this fic is older than me by almost half a month... that being said it can only be found in the deep recesses of the wayback machine. i enjoyed this fic and its sequels when i read them - it is mostly house coming to terms with his feelings for wilson following an accident in the first fic

Things That Go Bump by peg22 (ao3) Explicit 18,381 Wilson has nightmares. House gets a headache. Everyone tries to diagnose just what's going on between them. This story is set in Season 2, before House got shot, before the first ducklings left us, before Amber, before House/Cuddy . . . those halcyon days where House and Wilson were just . . . House and Wilson. Wilson is sleeping on House's sofa, after moving out from cancer patient, Grace. "Wilson just shook his head and limped back into the kitchen. He unloaded a sack of fresh produce. Good produce. Endives and garlic and tomatoes and asparagus. He moved on to the next sack. Beef. Good beef. Brisket and rump roast and ribeyes . . . he was halfway through the third sack of spices and imported cheeses, whistling and daydreaming about braised salmon with fresh asparagus when it hit him. He was being seduced. Through groceries. By groceries. By House through groceries. And he was falling for it. Hard. Lox, stock pot, and basil."

was actually reminded of this fic while digging through the recesses of old livejournal fic recs for house. i thought "hey wait.. wasn't that also on ao3?" it is! which saves you all the formatting of chapters that aren't linked and are spread across the original livejournal page it was uploaded on. but this fic is sweet and is a hurt/comfort nightmare fic done well. very dialogue heavy but very much in character.

R.I.C.E in Reverse by Phate Pheonix (FF.Net) Teen+ 22,000 An AU of 'The Greater Good' caused by a simple… twist. What if Wilson had discovered that Dana Miller was House's patient just an hour earlier? Cuddy won't know what hit her.

i remember this fic being longer than it was but i also remember really enjoying this fic. cuddy is a bit of a bitch in this but i don't find it to be bashing or anything - they (house & cuddy) are the same as they are in the show they just don't end up together like they do in the episode this is based on. also wilson coming to terms with his feelings for house. the writing is great and feels like it could be out of an episode of house.

buy some time, it's on my dime by ORiley42 (ao3) Explicit 27,034 Well, this took a longer time to write than I expected! Probably because it's five times longer than I intended lmao Wanted to try my hand at something more AU-ish. Though, because House is an ornery bastard and won’t do what I say at all, the setting is still broadly the same. The main difference being that House and Wilson have never met… I’d say this has season 1 vibes, but no actual timeline or plot refs. Also, AU idea sparked by I57371’s lovely “Phoning It In.” Also-also, title from "Nothing New" by Fly By Midnight.

this is not the only time you will see this author on this list - for good reason. i'm traditionally not one for au's or for strangers to lovers fics... but this one pulled it off. very smutty but the plot is still fun.

Witness, Witness by SkyeBean (ao3) Teen+ 29,111 It was past midnight when Wilson arrived, and House’s team had all left hours before. Cameron was the last to go, shooting House a pitying look as she pulled her coat on, but House had ignored her. A Wilson who’s been dating House for years doesn’t work at Princeton-Plainsboro. It takes House’s team years to find out that their boss is dating someone, let alone who, but they see more of the relationship than they know.

cute! what-if house and wilson did not work together but were together prior to season one. its a fun secret relationship fic.

Something to Prove by orphan_account (ao3) Teen+ 30,700 When House suddenly wants to initiate a relationship with Wilson, Wilson is overjoyed. The feelings he'd held for years are finally mutual. Or are they?

if you don't like angst this one isn't for you. house is kind of a massive dick in this one and spends the rest of the fic trying to make it up to wilson and win him over. has sequels that i did not read.

little glass vial by SupposedToBeWriting (ao3) Mature 39,093 House and Wilson have a peculiar friendship - though if you asked Wilson, sleeping together once while one man was reeling from a traumatic surgery slash breakup and the other was in a failing marriage isn't all that unusual between friends. They manage to make it work, mostly by never bringing it up again. While out, a patient's grieving brother approaches Wilson and injects him with an unknown compound. Wilson is rushed to the hospital. Though initially fine, he begins to exhibit strange and deadly symptoms. House is swept into a case that he cannot emotionally distance himself from, with a patient that he has exceptionally complex feelings for. Wilson clings to life as House hits brick wall after brick wall, desperate to save the one person he can't lose.

hurt/comfort with sick!wilson. Its also a case fic with a race against time that i enjoyed.

A Patient's Guide to Living with ICS by ORiley42 Explicit 40,071 House and Wilson share a hotel room at a medical conference. Read on for goofy acronyms, endless banter, horny middle-aged men, and more!

smutty work conference + friends with benefits to lovers fic. also!!! this author is generally just great with house fics.

A Modest Proposal by ignaz (ao3) Explicit 55,649 Tritter's case against House still depends on subpoenaed testimony from Wilson. To save House from losing everything, the doctors of PPTH decide on an unusual solution, which in turn leads to unexpected consequences. This is a story about the sacrifices we make that turn out not to be such great sacrifices after all. (Contains spoilers for everything up to and including "Merry Little Christmas.")

its on everyone's rec list - i know. but this is my rec list and i enjoyed it so its going on here. marriage of convenience trope my beloved. it has a sequel that everyone says is great but i haven't gotten around to it... yet.

Gaseous Nebula by TheFandomLesbian (ao3) Teen+ 77,372 After a hard day at work, House and Wilson intend to spend their evening watching the Princeton Philharmonic Orchestra. Instead, the building collapses, leaving one of them trapped in peril and the other desperate for answers. The chaos drives them to revelations about themselves and each other, but it may be too late.

another hurt/comfort fic that i absolutely adored. also, the second time this author is on the list! god i enjoyed reading this one - it had me on the edge of my seat despite how fantastical it is sometimes. felt like quality television surrealism with how bizarre some of the coincidences are but it tied everything together and had a happy ending.

there is a sequel but I have never read it and it is incomplete.

either love is a shrine (or else, a scar) by jamesevanwilson (ao3) Mature 79,985 House has a brilliant plan, and he needs Wilson's help. Wilson is a chronic enabler. Getting married for the fourth time should be relatively easy.

fake marriage in order to get money from house's dads will with a heafty dose of miscommunication and mutual pining between these morons.

It Will Find You in the End by junkyard_angel Mature 146,954 Gregory House is a misanthropic bastard with trust issues, who doesn't do feelings. But he's pretty sure he's in love -- or lust -- or something anyway -- with his best friend. Life is funny, in a not-funny way.  *UPDATE* -- Here's a link to the Spotify playlist of all songs referenced in this fic to date. Happy reading/listening! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/76B4n4UUncNYJG8scmKqVc?si=e5cd5de147924fb5 Thanks as always for reading, and feedback and comments are welcomed.

god this fic was long (not that thats a bad thing). they finally get together but then they also break up and then get back together so if angst isn't your cup of tea...

Here is a link to a great fic on ao3 with links to old house fic recs https://archiveofourown.org/works/16826263

I will update this as I read more/comb back through the LJ and FF.net archives that I slouthed through. I didn't keep track of most of those before i decided to make this list :/ sorry

originally posted 8/13/2024

[mmmmalo]

You talk about mummies quite a bit and I don’t feel as though I’ve read enough of your east-mapping stuff to get whatever points are being made here so I bring you these:

 On page 695, Tavvy leaves a bag of trail mix for Vrissy and Harry and tells them not to pick the raisins out because they’re healthy. I’m pretty sure this is supposed to be a mummy joke; since raisins are the preserved dehydrated remains of grapes, and his claim that they’re healthy seems like a reference to Europeans eating mummies for “health benefits”. The next page has Harry chewing, so he’s (presumably) eating the mummy. My first thought was that this was about Alt Callie eating LE's corpse but I don't know if LE counts as a mummy or not

And I've no clue if you've considered this already but I think ‘hook up’ / ‘off the hook’ is sometimes used as a mummy joke via reference to the brain being hooked out from the nose. On 4488 Roxy says “its not like im lobbyin for you to hook me up with a whole mess of fuckin babbies”, like she’s lobbyin for him to make her a mummy. It gets brought up alongside sweet stuff too sometimes e.g. “your gooberish ways are gonna land you in a jam and i know im going to have to get you off the hook” on 1662 and Vrissy’s “I TOLD you my moms were going to Hook Me The Fuck Up with a sweet milit8ry commission!” in Candy 34

I'm not really persuaded by the hook reading -- focusing on the word hook and teasing out subtleties of its usage seems potentially worthwhile, but would want a more direct reference to brain removal before I accepted the mummification angle... but the raisin thing kind of makes sense to me, even if I can't tell what it would say about Tavvy. It resonates with the mummy stuff I've picked up on:

1. Lord English is definitely a mummy -- the sarcophagus ("flesh eater") that he travels in is called the Cairo Overcoat, and Jake's wall has two posters for the Mummy films next to the Incredible Hulk poster to get the images nice and mingled. I also suspect the cherub diet of meat and candy is itself a reference to mellification, the process of embalming corpses with honey: Jake calls himself a "mellifluous old chap" in the Epilogues and says his gyrations awaken people's hunger like "pouring butter on bacon", invoking candied meat to outline his desirability.

2. Lord English's first words "GIRL. YOU THERE, GIRL." are an echo of WV's first words "BOY. YOU THERE BOY." They have several parallel but the pertinent one here is that WV is the story's first mummy, visually speaking. The exiles wander the desert in bandage-like shrouds: mummy imagery. By my reckoning, mummies are here acting as an Orientalist symbol of the Middle East, giving us an early hint that the apocalypse is politicized along racial lines, much like WV's chess game where Black mates White (causing Brown to erupt from a Pink can). The American suburb is bombed and replaced by Arabian dunes.

3. Back to mellified flesh: ectoslime seems to basically be the same thing. Rose travels through the mummified Jaspers' crypt to reach Mom's lab, whereupon a. she is able to boil her beloved cat down to a candy green essence and b. a mutant cat arisen from that essence emerged from a teapot (the same teapot that Death used in Problem Sleuth). This abstracted suggestion of liquid cat being poured out a teapot points us back to the mummy WV, who straight up ate the ectoslime. "Vodka Mutini" was implicated as a drink before he was named, and Roxy bottling cat slime much later just returns us to an established image of consuming the candied flesh of the dead.

The suggestion that Mom might've been imbibing cat slime could lead to several conclusions. Maybe Nepeta (who gets a planet of teapots and sugarcubes) pursuing the Fountain of Cute with her cat was a tipoff, and Mom is drinking dead kittens in a bid to preserve her youth? This would resonate with the "health benefits" of raisin/mummy consumption and further connect Mom to her life-extending doppelganger HIC. Metaphorically, it might be taken as a extreme example of Mom being Tipsy on Gnostalgia, drunk on an artifact of a lost past, mourning what is gone and trying desperately to unite with it again. Maybe since Ghostbusters is called manbro bukkake theater all this ominous hoohaw around slime consumption amounts to elaborate cocksucking jokes. The possibilities dazzle

[inkforhumanhands]

WIP Folder Game

RULES: make a new post and share with us the titles of your documents in your wip folder(s) and some detail if you wish, no matter how old, random, or disconcerting. Sort as you see fit (or don't). Ask the person who tagged you a question about the title(s) that most intrigue you from their list, and tag as many people as you'd like to join the game!! Have fun :)

Thank you to @pomegranate-belle for the tag!!

--

I'm usually somewhat discerning with these and keep it to ones I actually have a file for but 2025 is the year I'm dreaming big I guess lmao

I have quite a few for DD (TV):

Epistaxis Anime currently working on the 8th and final chapter of Matt's nosebleed saga. now that Foggy knows his secret, how will things end up between them?

A Gentleman Caller working on chapter 2 of this one where vampire!Matt shows up at Foggy's window one night supposedly looking for romance. i've started the second of two scenes and it's been fun so far! i don't usually do much worldbuilding but i'm having fun with it here.

Out of the Darkness, Into the Limelight another one i'm working on chapter 2 for. Matt and Foggy kiss for a student film and things spiral from there. in chapter 2 we start to see the fallout of the kiss and all the mess that ensues!

Fake Breakup (working title) the premise of this one is that Foggy asks Matt to break up with him in public to gain sympathy and an extension from a professor for one of their assignments. they weren't even dating, so why does it hurt? i'm only a few hundred words into this one and am still thinking about its scope.

Saint Anthony this is a collab oneshot i'm doing with happybeans where Foggy gets kidnapped and Matt prays to St. Anthony to help him find him. it's very cracky but i'm having a lot of fun writing St. Anthony's POV.

i'm also working on a series of unrelated works where i post one for each season of the show:

Foggy Nelson, Super Sleuth! (season 1) this one is very old. i originally posted chapter 1 in 2019 and then fell off the wagon, but i'm currently rewriting the first chapter in preparation for eventually continuing it. the premise is that Foggy tries to figure out why Matt keeps showing up to work bruised and battered, and Matt has to try and thwart his sleuthing before he figures out he's DD.

S2 Karen Thinks Their Breakup Is Romantic Fuckery (working title) (season 2) i'm really excited for this one even though i haven't written a single word of it lmao. basically what the title says. when Matt and Foggy are having their friendship troubles in s2 Karen assumes the problem is due to their having feelings for each other and Foggy doesn't correct her.

To the Dregs Redux (Defenders) i wrote a ficlet ages ago where Foggy and Karen visit a witch to get Matt resurrected after Midland Circle and am planning to rewrite and continue it. probably going to go into doppelganger territory since Matt isn't actually dead

I'll Take All of My Wasted Love and Turn It into Wine in My Cup (season 3) i also haven't technically started this one yet. it's going to be angst about Foggy turning to alcohol when he still thinks Matt is dead.

now for DD (comics)!

The Advocate this is a ficlet i'm writing set in early volume 1 about Foggy trying to convince Karen to give Matt another chance before she goes to San Francisco, only for her to try to get him to realize the only reason he thinks Matt is so great is because he's in love with him himself. might be done soon???

His Wife Has Filled His House With Chintz my beloved wip. set in volume 1 after the Micah Synn stuff, Foggy tells Matt he's leaving Debbie and then they go fuck about it.

i am also doing a series for this, one fic for each comic volume:

Hearsay (volume 1) currently working on chapter 2 of this one. the outline is a bit more involved than my fics usually get so i'm excited about that! this one is about Foggy overhearing a rumor that Matt is dating Daredevil and he doesn't know how to feel about it. also there's a subplot about Becky and Foggy getting involved in a disability rights case which should be fun

Stitching Up the Seams on Every Broken Promise That Your Body Couldn't Keep (volume 2) this is another one that i haven't actually started writing. it takes place while Foggy is in witness protection, and Matt starts having sex dreams about his (presumably) dead buddy much to his horror.

Matchmaker Ben Urich (working title) (volume 3) not started. Ben finds himself temporarily reassigned to the gossip column beat as penalty for being too good of a reporter (you know how these things go). he decides to at least do something useful with his time and use his skills to get Matt and Foggy together using the column.

Cancer Arc Jealousy (working title) (volume 4) this one (unstarted) is probably going to be short. i'm thinking a little interiority from Foggy in San Francisco where he stews a little bit about the fact that Kirsten can go out in public with Matt but he's got to be in hiding.

Purple Children (working title) (volume 5) i have a tiny bit of this one written. Matt and Foggy are dating when the Purple Children wipe everyone's memory of Matt's identity. Foggy thinks he was cheating on Matt with DD the whole time and, horrified, breaks up with Matt but doesn't tell him why. angst and retroactive identity porn shenanigans.

Matt's Intimacy Issues (working title) (volume 6) not started, probably a oneshot. Matt hasn't slept with Foggy only because Foggy is the equivalent of a U-Haul lesbian and he's worried about opening up the door to having to be emotionally vulnerable.

Goldy Threatening Foggy (working title) (volume 7) not started. listen, while the Goldy thing never panned out (or at least not yet) you can't tell me there's not potential there both with him threatening Foggy to try and make Matt a better DD or something and Foggy getting a little jealous because he doesn't know what's up with Goldy but he does know that Matt has gotten increasingly weird about him.

Other fandoms:

Guesswork (The OC) working on chapter 3, or at least i should be but i need to have a hard think about where i actually want to take the fic first. Seth/Ryan where some dark things in Ryan's past weigh heavily on the chances of them working out.

The Good One (The OC) an in-progress oneshot tied to season 1 episode 3 where Ryan reflects on his relationship with his alcoholic mom.

Prequel (working title) (Matthias & Maxime) this in-progress oneshot is supposed to be a prequel about the first time Matt and Max kissed while high, as mentioned in the film. i've been having trouble with it so i have no idea when i'll finally get it out.

Cacoethes (Hannibal) need to continue with chapter 2 on this one, where Hannibal convinces Will he's got a sexual obsession with him.

tagging @amazing-spiderling and @mutuallyprime i don't know if you were tagged yet!

[xenosaurus]

I'm planning on playing Cyber slueth, so I've been trying to learn more about the digimon franchise, and I find Myotismon particularly interesting!

I know he was the big bad in the original anime but what other interpretations of him are there?

oooo fun question!! and good choice of introductory game, cyber sleuth is incredible

myotismon shows up in a lot digimon media, as he's a beloved villain, but like all digimon, he's also fully capable of being a friend you raised! he's been a potential evolution in some of the vpets (digimon started as a tamagotchi spinoff, and they still make them!) since 1999, and is obtainable in most of the console/handheld games. I've raised quite a few of them over the years! notably, he's one of the common digivolved forms for Wizardmon, which is... narratively pretty wild.

there's a Myotismon in the original Digimon World that is apparently bugged, but he's a friendly NPC you can help out and recruit to your town

and, finally, the best for last appearance: Myotismon is part of the evolution line for Kaito's Dracmon in Digimon Survive, one of my favorite digimon games with possibly my all-around favorite digimon worldbuilding. Dracmon is easygoing and good at manipulating social situations, but ends up being the more morally principled half of his partnership with Kaito, primarily serving as a calming influence to keep the kid's anger problem from tipping into violence. He thinks of Kaito as a brother, and their relationship is both touching and potentially incredibly tragic, depending on what route you're playing in the game. My favorite Myotismon appearance by far, Digimon Survive is amazing!!

[nintendont2502]

rereading problem sleuth my beloved

[bakerstreetbabble]

Granada TV Series Review: "The Final Problem" (S02, E06)

IT IS with a heavy heart that I take up my pen to write these the last words in which I shall ever record the singular gifts by which my friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes was distinguished.

With these words, Arthur Conan Doyle began what was originally intended to b the last Sherlock Holmes adventure. As the story goes, by 1893, Conan Doyle had grown tired of the impact that his Holmes adventures were having on what he considered to be his "serious" writing. It was apparently after a trip to the Alps with his wife that he was inspired to kill off his famous creation at the majestic Reichenbach Falls. In so doing, he created a villain who, despite the small number of times he appears in the Holmes stories, became the great detective's most infamous nemesis: Professor Moriarty.

Backlash to the publication of "The Final Problem," which featured the (apparent) death of Sherlock Holmes, was swift and enormous. The Strand Magazine was inundated with complaints and subscription cancellations. Reportedly, many people could be seen around London wearing mourning clothes, due to the death of their beloved hero. Conan Doyle eventually felt enough pressure from his fans, that he published what is arguable his greatest Holmes novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, in 1901. As that novel was a flashback to an earlier adventure, rather than a true "resurrection," it still wasn't enough for Sherlock fans. In 1903, Sherlock Holmes truly returned in "The Adventure of the Empty House," in which it was revealed that the brilliant sleuth had not, in fact, died at the hands of Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls.

Which brings us to the wrap-up of the first series of Granada Sherlock Holmes adaptations. "The Final Problem" (1985) is a fitting finale to the second season of that first series. It would prove to be David Burke's final performance as Dr. Watson. Edward Hardwicke took over the role for the second series, entitled (appropriately enough) The Return of Sherlock Holmes, which began airing in 1986. Burke turns in an excellent final performance as the good doctor, and as he takes pen to paper to write "The Final Problem" and bid farewell to his friend, the gravitas is palpable.

Jeremy Brett is in absolutely top form throughout the episode. One wonders if the series had been renewed by this point, or if he also felt that the episode may be his last chance to play Holmes, as well. Whatever the case, he is spectacular. Eric Porter turns in a menacing performance as Professor Moriarty. Overall, the episode is a fantastic adaptation of this most pivotal story, despite a rather clunky special effect that happens when Holmes and Moriarty go over the Falls. The stuntpeople are obviously suspended by wires for their "fall," and the bodies that hit the bottom are clearly dummies. Still, I imagine most of their budget was spent on the gorgeous aerial shots of the Swiss Alps, and what looks to be plenty of location shooting in Switzerland for the second half of the episode.

Despite the climactic ending of the story, there really isn't a whole lot going on in much of the original story, so the writers are forced to pad things out quite a bit. As a result, we have a rather lengthy and unusual sequence after the three attempts on Holmes' s life in London, wherein Holmes recovers the stolen Mona Lisa(!) Indeed, it is that event that precipitates Moriarty's decision in the episode to "dispose" of his nemesis. 

I suspect, if you were only to choose to watch a few episodes of the Granada series, "The Final Problem" would be a must-see installment to have on your list. Or you could choose to do what I am doing: watch them all on YouTube!

Incidentally, as next week is Holy Week and I am a church musician, my schedule is going to be very busy next weekend. Therefore, I am not planning on doing a review next Saturdaay. I will resume my reviews the weekend after Easter, as I move on to the second series, The Return of Sherlock Holmes. I hope you'll join me!

[muttsmischiefacademysblog]

Head halters or haltis

*** Please read fully before making comments. ***

So a guardian surmised this perfectly: “Until I knew about Truelove Harnesses, I felt the only way I could walk my dog was with a halti for fear of being pulled over. I never enjoyed using it and did wonder about the damage it could potentially cause.”

For the purpose of this blog I will refer to halters/ haltis as halters to clear any confusion as I have found in Europe we seem to say “halti” as the brand and in the US the term halter is used. So to make this internationally friendly I am just going to use the term halter.

I would like to clarify as well. I am a full time wheelchair user and I also have arthritis in my shoulders and very limited feeling or sensation in my hands. I use Y Front Harnesses.

I don't think I've spoken to one fear or force opposed professional who has ever said, haltis are fine as a permanent solution. Instead what's normally said is: “although we understand the risk and damage from haltis etc we make it clear that we need to get it off and replaced with a Y Front harness as soon as possible.”

This is very much lesser known information across search engines and scholar papers, trust me I have searched over many hours over many months before completing this blog.

Head halter's can cause severe damage to our dogs. They are a tool that's been designed to "stop dogs from pulling" by altering dogs movement into a way that suppresses their natural behaviours.

They are merely a crutch to make walking easier for dog guardians and most trainers can agree are a very aversive tool and some even claim worse than other aversive tools.

This maybe news for you, this may come as a shock and this maybe upsetting, this information isn't personal or aimed at anyone as individuals, this information is factual and here to improve your dogs welfare.

Sadly there is very little research available as to the damage of these tools, but after much sleuthing, I have found some gems of information to help inform you.

A craniosacral therapist has done a lot of research on the use of head halters and found them to be very harmful in their research of the cranial area and the physiology of the dog. Which is exactly the information I was seeking to pass along.

Halters are rarely fitted well, the halter isn't actually designed for the dog's anatomy, the dog can suffer injuries within the head and neck areas unknown to the guardian, trainer and even the vet! Dog's can still try to express natural behaviours and be adversely inhibited by the halter causing injury.

Over time physically this can lead to serious misalignment of the cranial and facial bones possibly resulting in further symptoms such as headaches, ear ache, blurred vision, impaired swallowing, breathing problems, difficulty swallowing, chewing food, altered mood and much more! (1)

Recent research was done at Nottingham Trent University recently in 2020. The research found that guardians themselves are concerned as to the damage that flat collars are doing to their beloved companions, likening the pressure to that of a tourniquet. (1)

More research was conducted by the Myerscough college. Using temperature as a guide to navigate the emotions of the dog's they were able to work with 22 dogs to assess the changes in temperatures. They did this by using thermal imaging and focused on the areas of the dog's body that indicate stress levels and changes in stress. Dogs' core temperatures will change drastically according to whether they are about to go into a state of fight or flight.

A baseline was used from taking the dogs ear temperature before beginning, they used 21 pet dogs in total and used Y Front harnesses and head halter's.

The findings were that the temperatures of the dog's drastically fell when the halter's were used, which indicated extreme stress.

Physical body language communication could be seen too such as yawning and lip licking, which all points to the damage to the welfare of the dogs.

The dogs had not experienced harnesses before either but they did not attempt to shake or roll to take them off whereas 62% of the dog's attempted to remove the halter, by face rubbing, pawing or shaking the halter off. (2)

Internally the dogs have lots of nerves, specifically the halter affects the cranial nerves, these govern the eyes, ears, throat and nose. They become stretched, distorted and tweaked with the damage to them and the changes in the bone structure.

This can be temporary or permanent depending on whether the bones can realign on their own or whether they become permanently altered. More often than not due to the bones locking into this position, this becomes permanent.

The vagus nerve also runs through the cranial nerves, the vagus nerve travels beyond the throat to the lungs, heart and digestive organs, it also controls swallowing, barking, breathing and regulating the heart.

All body functions in every organism is regulated and controlled by the brain, the cranial nerves are direct extensions of the brain, they send information to all areas of the body.

Trauma whether acute or chronic can negatively impact a dogs health and make life altering changes, making the dog extremely ill. (3)

Suzanne Clothier shares that head halters can compromise dog welfare, even if the dog seemingly gives into the halter . Sharing an experience from her own blog "The problem with head halters."

Suzanne shares that a Labrador was happy and enthusiastic on entering a class and playing tug, when the halter was put on, the dog became very depressed, tail tucked, head lowered and no longer interested in engaging with the trainer who she had previously been playing with. This is a stark contrast from a dog who was previously alert, engaged and happy.

The halter for dogs is also likened to that of the halters used on cows and horses. Whereas halters sit along the long bones of the horse and cows face and away from the eyes, many halters for dogs ride into their eyes causing further discomfort, because when it comes down to it the canine anatomy isn't designed for halters.

Dogs also use their muzzles for their communications, not just amongst their own species but to also engage in the environment and to communicate with us too.

The damage that halter's can do are soft tissue injuries, damage to the spine and cervical bones. (I'll expand on this further along).

Dogs are also not prepared for the jerk that the halter will give, when the human stops and because of the halter working in the way that it does, it's too easy for the human to not be engaged. The halter is merely a crutch and not solving the behaviour or teaching the dog anything at all, but when the human stops unaware of their dog's movements, the halter can snap the dog's head back both sideways and upwards. Or as many of us have seen when the halter is used to jerk the dog deliberately if they try to engage with the environment.

When people have argued that dogs can also go through this in other activities, Suzanne argues that when the dog is aware of a situation, they can engage their muscles and brace for the situation by the brain telling them to, just like us when we engage our muscles in preparation for an abrupt stop or climbing stairs. halter's do not give dogs this grace, thus causing severe injuries in dogs. (3)

Halters are punishment, they are an aversive tool and with this comes adverse effects to emotional safety for dogs. Many trainers including Kommetijie Canine College have shared their experiences of seeing dogs suppressed and emotionally shut down due to head halters. Despite still going through the motions of taking treats and not reacting, this is only due to the suppression of the halter . Which you can read here https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02BEc9YJoDhUMvykRK7ijKnK46nr6RyFyxGXeUH419UXqBcyh5CauKsQosZyK5QXqNl&id=857426880942607&sfnsn=scwspmo

From the study by Myerscough college it was found that the dogs were adversely affected in their behaviour and behaviours that guardians believed they could Control with a halter such as lunging at dogs, vehicles and people and the study found the halter actually increased this behaviour.

It was also considered that the dogs were forming associations of anxiety with the leash due to the pressure that the halter applied to them and the negative emotions that they experienced on walks. (4)

It should be considered that using head halters cause discomfort to the facial area for dogs both externally and internally. (5

Although scientific research is limited, as we have seen scientific evidence is available, as well as of course information shared from trainers, behaviourists and a craniosacral therapist.

So what's the answer? Use a Y shape harness, with a front and back clip attachment. Find a Trainer who can help you to learn to enjoy walks with your dog, communicate with them, engage with them and safely walk together.

If you need help finding the right harness for you we have guides within the Do No Harm Dog Training Group and I also have a tutorial for you to condition your dog to a harness safely. https://youtu.be/D3c5HeSrmK8

Draw what you can from this blog, but please let the take away be the negative effects to both emotional and physical welfare of your dogs when a halter is used.

References

Hambley , A. (2014) Gentle Leader Dog Leash — Potential Health Risks. Available at: http://whitetigernaturalmedicine.com/craniosacral-therapy/gentle-leader-dog-leash-potential-health-risks (Accessed: 31 May 2023).

CARTER, A., MCNALLY, D. and ROSHIER, A. (2020) Canine collars: an investigation of collar type and the forces applied to a simulated neck model. Veterinary Record. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32303668/

Hambley , A. (2014) Gentle Leader Dog Leash — Potential Health Risks. Available at: http://whitetigernaturalmedicine.com/craniosacral-therapy/gentle-leader-dog-leash-potential-health-risks (Accessed: 31 May 2023).

HAUG, L.I., BEAVER, B.V., LONGNECKER, M.T. (2002) Comparison of dogs’ reactions to four different head collars. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 79, 53-61 .https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159102001156

Clothier , S. (2022) The problem with head halters, suzanneclothier. Available at: https://suzanneclothier.com/article/problem-head-halters/?fbclid=IwAR1cd0NMwBBtDGSDW9mJfpMkwZ5p-qwsn-PeJCJoQfAmxNJJ9wwE6QIHaNU (Accessed: 31 May 2023).

OGBURN, P., CROUSE, S., MARTIN, F. and HOUPT, K. (1998) https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Comparison-of-behavioral-and-physiological-of-dogs-Ogburn-Crouse/77439cd747a01465e05236e5d9abbeee60e9050c

Dogs Today (2020) Headcollar vs Harness – which is better for our dogs’ welfare? Available at: https://dogstodaymagazine.co.uk/2020/05/18/headcollar-vs-harness-which-is-better-for-our-dogs-welfare/?fbclid=IwAR1ypdsnfs19B48xsaVZQbMRjI2D0-8cjZDDWk39sCK7xEoqXoRf00CJBIc

Image References

Page one image: Anatomical diagrams muscle location and bone names from Micheau, Dr.A. and Hoa, Dr.D. (2022) Canine myology: Normal anatomy: Vet-anatomy, IMAIOS. Available at: https://www.imaios.com/en/vet-anatomy/dog/dog-myology

Page two image: Suboccipital Muscle Group reference Chau, L. (2022) Suboccipital Muscle Group: Radiology Reference Article, Radiopaedia. Available at: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/suboccipital-Muscle-Group

Page two image: temporal, masseter and pterygoideus medialis muscle. Stone , I. (2023) Don’t use a head halter unless you have to: What you need to know, Simpawtico Dog Training. Available at: https://www.simpawtico-training.com/dont-use-a-head-halter/ (Accessed: 08 October 2023).

Anatomical diagrams muscle location and bone names from Micheau, Dr.A. and Hoa, Dr.D. (2022) Canine myology: Normal anatomy: Vet-anatomy, IMAIOS. Available at: https://www.imaios.com/en/vet-anatomy/dog/dog-myology

Page three image: Anatomical diagrams nerve locations and names from Micheau, Dr.A. and Hoa, Dr.D. (2022) Canine myology: Normal anatomy: Vet-anatomy, IMAIOS. Available at: https://www.imaios.com/en/vet-anatomy/dog/dog-myology

Page four image: Vagus nerve diagram Palazzi, X., Pardo, I. D., Ritenour, H., Rao, D. B., Bolon, B., & Garman, R. H. (2022). A technical guide to sampling the beagle dog nervous system for general toxicity and neurotoxicity studies. Toxicologic Pathology, 50(4), 432–465. https://doi.org/10.1177/01926233221099300

Image description

Skeleton: a diagram of a dog like a German shepherd showing the skeletal system to the last rib of the rib cage. The arrows point to the: hyoid bones, occiput bone, mandibular joint and cervical vertebrae.

The first black splat which is a text box reads: The bones in the skull area can become negatively impacted and even altered due to the pressure from a halti device. Damage to the hyoid bones can impact swallowing and vocalisations. https://www.simpawtico-training.com/dont-use-a-head-halter/

Muscles: a diagram of a dog like a German shepherd showing the skeletal system to the last rib of the rib cage. The muscles in the jaw area are highlighted in red. The arrows point to the: temporalis muscle, rectus captitulation dorsalis, semispinalis capitis, masseter muscle, pterygoideus medialis muscle, Obliquus capitulation cranialis and the Obliiquus capitis caudalis muscle.

The black splat which is a text box reads: These groups of muscles can become tender and sore, contribute to headaches, earaches and general aches and pain around the facial muscles.

This condition is medically known as TMJ disorder or Temporomandibular joint disorder. Stone , I. (2023) Don’t use a head halter unless you have to: What you need to know, Simpawtico Dog Training. Available at: https://www.simpawtico-training.com/dont-use-a-head-halter/

The second black splat which is a text box reads: This is the suboccipital muscle group, these four muscles are paired, three of these muscles form the suboccipital triangle.

They are found below the occipital bone, they are the postural support for the head. They are also responsible for extending, lateral flexion and rotation. They are small muscles that act in unison. Chau, L. (2022) Suboccipital Muscle Group: Radiology Reference Article, Radiopaedia. Available at: https://radiopaedia.org/articles/suboccipital-muscle-group

Nerves: a diagram of a dog like a German shepherd showing the skeletal system to the last rib of the rib cage. The nerves of the dog affected by halters are highlighted. The nerves are listed below.

The first black splat which is a text box reads: 12 canine cranial nerves, 1. Olfactory nerve, 2. Optic Nerve, 3. Oculomotor nerve, 4. Trochlear nerve, 5. Trigeminal nerve - branches are the ophthalmic nerve, maxillary nerve and mandibular nerve, 6. Abducens nerve, 7. Facial nerve, 8. Vestibulocochlear nerve, 9. Glossopharyngeal nerve, 10. Vagus nerve (see below), 11.Accessory nerve, 12.Hypoglossal nerve. Admin, V. (2016, July 18). Cranial nerves. Veterian Key. https://veteriankey.com/cranial-nerves/

The second black splat which is a text box reads: Vomeronasal nerve also known as the Jacobson organ. This is a specialised sensory nerve which connects the vomeronasal organ within the nasal cavity to the brain. This nerve detects chemical signatures and pheromones, dogs are able to process the information and communicate thanks to this nerve! Dzięcioł, M., Podgórski, P., Stańczyk, E., Szumny, A., Woszczyło, M., Pieczewska, B., Niżański, W., Nicpoń, J., & Wrzosek, M. A. (2020). MRI features of the vomeronasal organ in dogs (canis familiaris). Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00159

Vagus nerve:Nerves: a diagram of a dog like a German shepherd showing the skeletal system to the last rib of the rib cage. The vagus nerve of the dog is highlighted in blue. The vagus nerve runs from the stem of the brain to the stomach.

The first black splat which is a text box reads: The vagus nerve also directly communicates with the gut and is responsible for controlling how the body responds to stimuli. Such as "rest and digest" and "freeze, fight and flight".

The second black splat which is a text box reads: Has the largest concentration of tissue after the brain and the spinal cord. The vagus nerve also has its own nervous system independent of the brain.

The third black splat which is a text box reads:

The vagus nerve is connected directly to the brain and is responsible for connecting and regulating internal organ functions. The vagus nerve is also responsible for some involuntary reflexes. Breit, S., Kupferberg, A., Rogler, G., & Hasler, G. (2018, March 13). Vagus nerve as modulator of the brain-gut axis in psychiatric and inflammatory disorders. Frontiers in psychiatry. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5859128/

[dollycas]

Cozy Wednesday featuring There's No Murder Like Show Murder (Backstage Mystery) by M. S. Greene #Review / #Giveaway @matthew.uai

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday! I am happy to share my thoughts today about There's No Murder Like Show Murder by M. S. Greene! There's No Murder Like Show Murder (Backstage Mystery) Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - Connecticut Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books (July 23, 2024) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 163910819X ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639108190 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CLN7KC9L Audiobook ASIN B0CVJV29P7 Tasha Weaver has seen her fair share of divas come and go while working as the costume shop head at the Eastbrook Playhouse, but her beloved theater is put at risk when the star of the show is killed in this fun but deadly debut, perfect for fans of Ellery Adams and Kellye Garrett. Tasha Weaver is most at home in the cozy backstage world of the Eastbrook Playhouse. As the costume shop head at the charming regional theater, she’s used to watching dramatic acts of love and revenge from the shadows. But when Kurt Mozer—the insufferable Broadway reject who stars in their production of Annie Get Your Gun—is shot center stage, the spotlight turns to her. Everyone knows Kurt was difficult to work with, and after he got into a fight with both director Marion Mason and artistic leader Arthur Winston, he promptly decided to quit the show. In deep financial trouble, the Eastbrook Playhouse depended on a big name like Kurt to keep afloat. With reporters coming in from the Big Apple to Tasha’s little corner of Connecticut, she realizes it's up to her to save their local theater and keep her community safe. After all, the show must go on…but what do you do when the killer could very well be one of your loved ones? With the help of her friends, her long-time crush Bruno Machado, and her feline colleague Hilly, Tasha must catch a murderer before the shining lights of the playhouse go out forever. Dollycas's Thoughts  Tasha Weaver grew up working at the Eastbrook Playhouse selling tickets and handing out playbills, now she is head of the costume shop. The current production is Annie Get Your Gun and everyone has high hopes that bringing in former Broadway star Kurt Mozer will bring in the much-needed dollars for the fledging playhouse. But Kurt is not easy to work with. He has tons of complaints. He gets in fights with the artistic leader Arthur Winston and director Marion Mason. Disagreements so fierce Kurt decides to quit the show. Tasha thought she had talked him into staying but before he could make his intention known he was shot at center stage. The man's death brings in the press from New York which is not good for the playhouse. Tasha takes it upon herself to save her beloved theatre and catch the killer fearing it is someone close to her. No matter what, the show must go on so with a little help from the technical director and her long-time crush Bruno Machado, and assistance from a frisky feline Hilly, Tasha is determined to bring the killer down before the curtains go up. ______ Mr. Greene had the huge task of introducing a large cast of characters and making each unique and memorable as the story continued. It takes a lot of people to put on a theatre performance, on stage, behind the curtains, out front, and in the office. I had trouble keeping some of the characters straight at first, but they became clear as I kept reading. Tasha grows so much from the beginning to the end of this book. She has a great backstory and is connected to all the characters in meaningful ways. The characters all have plenty of room for growth as the series continues. The problem with the first book in a series, especially those with an abundance of characters, is having the time and pages to develop a complex mystery. There were some well-placed red herrings but I pinned down the guilty party early in the book. I did enjoy following Tasha as she tried to sleuth out the killer and her surprise A-ha moment. I was delighted by the playhouse theatre theme and observing all that takes place behind the scenes. It is clear that Mr. Greene is a "theatre nerd" and is writing what he knows and is passionate about. There's No Murder Like Show Murder has given the Backstage Mystery Series a good start with a strong foundation to build on in future stories. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author M. S. Greene is a playwright, lyricist, screenwriter, novelist, and overall theatre nerd living the dream in New York City. Under his full name—Matthew Greene—his scripts have been produced on both coasts and several places in between. When he’s not hunched over a keyboard, he can be found teaching, directing, and working to close the arts education gap with some of the city’s most talented young people. He lives in Manhattan with his boyfriend and far too many books. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Thanks to the publisher I have 1 hardcover copy of There's No Murder Like Show Murder to give away! The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old with a US or Canadian mailing address. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited. You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower. Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow. Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page. Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries. Follow Crooked Lane Books on Facebook for 3 Bonus Entries  Follow Crooked Lane Books on Instagram for 3 Bonus Entries  Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries. If you share the giveaway on Threads, X, or Facebook or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link. The  Contest Will End on August 21, 2024, at 11:59 PM CST The Winner Will Be Chosen Using Random.org The Winner Will Be Notified By Email and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar. Click Here For Entry Form Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”   Read the full article

[sahxyel]

PROBLEM SLEUTH MY BELOVED

I loved making this.

[sumbier0]

Hi guys um

Got my fillthy hands on the bonus content

Anyways look at Sn0wman

[asktheseacowvboys]

Spades Slick and Problem Sleuth commission for @problemsleuth

[eyeballjazz]

also pickle inspector, as a treat

You should've heard the noise I made when I saw this, it was like a really joyous and agonized slurping sound followed by a low "He is a treat."

Headcanon A: realistic

Pickle Inspector, Broad and Dame all have $3 and a love of furniture that can't be satiated. They have a tradition of taking long weekend trips around the city and out to the rich vacation towns on the edges of Midnight Bay to go second-hand shopping to try and find deals on as many in tact or refurbish-able antiques as they can find.

Headcanon B: while it may not be realistic it is hilarious

Although he is a klutz in every situation where he has to consciously move his body well, nevermind gracefully, Pickle Inspector is nearly impossible to pin down in a fight. He doesn't look great while he does it but his spidery proportions and muppety sense of motion mean he can weasel out of every corner he finds himself in. He looks like an inflatable tube man while he does it, and that is why I truly love him.

Headcanon C: heart-crushing and awful, but fun to inflict on friends

Pickle Inspector's stutter is the result of a physical deformity in his throat, nothing life threatening but certainly something that has always impaired his speech. When he was a little boy he was teased mercilessly for it, so much so that he became incapable of speaking for the better part of two years. His folks finally took him to a speech therapist and after lots of treatment he found his voice again, and ever after became a huge believer in the power of therapy.

Headcanon D: unrealistic, but I will disregard canon about it because I reject canon reality and substitute my own.

Pickle Inspector can fight. Fucking @ me about this one, he can fucking fight. He even will fight, because for all that he's typically a pacifist he also realizes that some people need to get punched in the mouth. He's not, maybe, the best at fighting but he can do it, largely by dodging until his opponent tires themself out or by locking their joints or otherwise attack natural weak points in the body.

[phantom-z0ne]

The Dursley's would absolutely get rid of Harry the first chance they get!

And with most of the Wizarding Adults not really sold on the Fentons (there was a LOT of chaos during that week long vacation on Jack and Maddie's end), they would probably attempt to intervene. Without any influence in the muggle world though, it really wouldn't mean much.

However, that's only on the muggle side of things. While Harry's new guardians are the Fentons in the muggle world, what about the Wizarding world? A large part of the reason Harry stayed with the Dursleys was protection from Voldemort, but now that he's dead, shouldn't their beloved Boy Who Lived fully integrate into the Wizarding World and stay with a "proper" (aka a British magical) family?

The press is already going crazy with the public death of Voldemort (Maddie wanted to send a message), so it wouldn't take long for them to turn their attention to his most popular victim. Only, they find he was taken by Voldemort's killers?? Some sleuthing(coughstalkingcough) reveals one of the killers is Voldemort's daughter??! Oh, the drama!

A very large, very public custody battle ensues where one side consisting of multiple wizards want to take custody away from Maddie and Jack and house Harry in a British wizarding family, while the other is just Maddie and Jack fighting to have magical guardianship of Harry on top of muggle custody.

Any claims on Harry fall through in court, largely due to Harry's wishes to stay with the Fentons, and also because some families just weren't fit to house him. A lot of the Fenton actions and backgrounds were called to question, but they eventually gained total custody of Harry after astonishingly quick court proceedings (whether the couple resorted to anything underhanded, only they know)!

I'm flattered you like my ectoplasm and magic headcanons enough to be willing use them!! I thought it was strange that only wizards and those descended from them could use magic. We are shown that other magical creatures and plants exist too, which means 1) magic is natural and can be found all around the world, and 2) can be harnessed by living organisms.

So then, what separated muggle and wizard ancestors that made only one group able to use magic? The only logical aspect I could think of was that there was a threshold that had to be crossed to be able to consciously use magic.

So, when your body amasses a large enough concentration of magic, it will consolidate to form a magical core. The magical core allows you to more easily absorb ambient magic and direct it within your body, letting you use magic.

Those who have already formed magical cores and have high levels of magic within them pass those traits down to their offspring. This isn't an absolute, though, so there are those who do not form magical cores despite their magical heritage, resulting in squibs.

For muggles, even though they also absorb magic, it takes many generations for the magic to build up to a point where a magical core forms. Thus, muggleborns!

At least, those are my thoughts on it! (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

Amity Park being a town of a never-before-seen fae variant undoubtably panics some MACUSA members. Especially since it's contagious?? What do you mean whoever moves there becomes a fae??? Amity could be seen as a potential breach to the Statute of Secrecy, even. It's incredibly hard to hide the changes the town went through since the portal opened, any tourist or out-of-towner would be able to tell something wasn't right with Amity or its citizens.

Perhaps that's where the GIW steps in? There's a pressing need to not only hide Amity from no-majs, but to investigate the new fae species and how they form and spread. MACUSA can't afford the new species to rapidly grow out of control and expose the magical world. If they have to quarantine the town, then so be it. It's for the good of the magical world after all.

But back to the Fentons, Maddie and Jack are okay cooks, the only problem being their food keeps coming back to life. Harry's first family dinner was quite the surprise, he never expected he'd have to fight his food to eat it!

Still, Harry wanted to show his appreciation to the couple who took him in, and for once glad the Dursleys made sure he knew how to cook. His first few attempts came back to life, but once Danny and Jazz tipped him off that the ectoplasm in the fridge was to blame, the next attempts came out perfectly. For once, the Fenton's kitchen didn't end up a war zone during a mealtime.

Harry settled in with the Fentons surprisingly quickly after that.

Jack was quick to rope Harry into taking up baking as a hobby, teaching him how to create the family's traditional Fenton Fudge. It was quite different from cooking, but Harry took it as a challenge. He quite enjoyed it despite being not very enthusiastic at the start, in large part due to Jack's loud and energetic presence.

Maddie, realizing Harry is still haunted by Voldemort after interrupting his near-daily nightmares, resolves herself to teach Harry self-defense. She knows what it was like to be terrorized under Voldemort's shadow, so she hopes this will give back some control in Harry's life that he desperately needed. Harry wouldn't turn down an opportunity to learn about protecting himself,

Jazz was a bit intimidating at first. It was like she saw right through Harry, and he initially suspected she was a Legilimens. However, despite being somewhat overbearing about voicing his feelings, she respects his boundaries and gives him space whenever he needs it. She grows to be someone he can rest a shoulder on and freely express his thoughts to.

Danny reminded Harry somewhat of Ron, except if Ron was calmer and a lot more mischievous. When the two of them weren't inside the house playing board games or unwinding on their own, Danny dragged Harry along on a tour of the town. He'd point out buildings or people, commenting whether Harry should avoid them, or simply explaining a tidbit of their history. Sometimes, Danny's friends would join them, Sam and Tucker bouncing off Danny's explanations with jokes or extra opinions of their own. The two were a constant sight the longer he lived with the Fentons.

Amity, Harry noticed, was odd. The ghosts that attacked every other day were nothing like the ones at Hogwarts, but even that wasn't the strangest things in town. The buildings changed locations seemingly at will, and the roads lengthened and shortened depending on the time of day. Any damage from the ghost fights were gone by the next day, and the town almost never experienced anything but perfect weather for Illinois.

The citizens were the strangest, however. They avoided certain phrases and were unfazed by the violent attacks on the town. Their eyes glowed and fangs peeked out from between their lips. Their facial features unnaturally symmetrical and smooth like ceramic, and the proportions of their limbs just a tad off, either too long or too short.

It was odd, yes, but nothing Harry had never seen before. So what if his new family and town were magical creatures, it wasn't as if Harry had never been around them before. Hagrid was a Giant, Professor Lupin a Werewolf, and Fleur a Veela, for goodness’ sake!

That's why, when Harry swung open the door leading to the backyard and witnessed Danny transform into the town's ghostly protector Phantom, he wasn't too surprised Danny was also a magical creature.

HPXDP prompt #7

Hear me out!

There's many (a lot) of pjoxhp fics about Percy Jackson, which is Voldemort's grandson.

But what about Danny being the grandson of Voldemort?

How? Well...

Everyone knows that Jack's obsession with ghosts comes from family tradition, but what about Maddie's?

Maddie's interest with ghosts comes from her want to END her sperm donor.

She's the lost daughter of the Dark Lord that runned away from England in search of a weapon that could kill immortals.

[themyofmy]

have i posted her before? this is my problem sleuth oc ecstatic fan / EF

she’s my beloved awful daughter