little tidbit parasite lore... (part two)
[first part if u missed it]
Ok I’m feeling a bit generous with lore, here’s a [REDACTED] taste of the different stages of the bond between parasite(s) and host.
Doesn’t that just look.... a tad concering?
Why is there three whole sections in bright red.
Two of the red sections essentially became a thing because of modified parasites :)
Modified (minor) parasites got heavily advertised as being safer and more beneficial to the public with more attributes, relieving the person from the oh so tedious hassle of putting any effort into bonding with a parasite (it really isn’t that hard you literally don’t have to think about it with minor parasites but like. something something creating a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist) and with the benefit of being able to switch them out or remove them at Parasite Clinics.
Like oh cool! Parasites are everywhere, but you’re telling me I can now buy them and have complete control over how it makes me look, and switch them out if I don’t like them? That sounds like a good deal!
Modified parasites became a hit real quick before anyone could go “um. That’s not good and completely dismisses the nature of parasites, maybe don’t reduce parasites to fun, disposable accessories :/”
But alas, the Parasite Market became very successful, and most people aren’t even aware about the different stages in a parasite bond because it honestly maintained itself very well, so people just take that for granted and don’t realize that their changed perception of parasites (seeing them as accessories and disposable) affects the stability of the bond and decreases the quality of life for the parasites.
This hardly affects the host at all, minor parasites just simply like existing and gives attributes in return which people just accept or are neutral about. This is just how life has been for centuries, people don’t think much of it.
Modified minor parasites are however pushed to their limits, (sometimes) holding more attributes than they naturally are capable of, on top of being perceived as an accessory - they just slowly wither away because you forget to cherish them :((
That said, I am generalizing a bit because everyone has their own opinion about modified parasites, so how much the modified parasite is affected varies a lot - depending on the individual host and the type of modification.
Not all modified parasites are like.... inherently miserable by being modified.
Parasites classified as Modified Parasites range from altering natural parasites by adding attributes to it (doesn’t have to strain the parasite either, they can naturally have up to 3 attributes.), mass cultivating natural parasites and selling them or artificially growing minor parasites with passive attributes (passive attributes only come from major parasites, with one exception - diet changing minor parasites)
[yes minor parasites can affect your diet needs, this is mainly is for the parasite to maintain other attributes optimally, it is never a stand alone attribute. The changes depend on the other attributes and which region the parasite originates from.
Get urself a parasite that makes u want to devour three whole salad heads like a rabid animal or confidently pour all the remaining salt bits from ur empty pretzel bag straight into ur mouth to flex <3]
The two things I put in bold (before the [ ] section) can contribute to straining the parasite bond, so not all modified minor parasites are inherently unhealthy.
Modification of parasites did not have malicious intents, the ones who made the breakthrough of it being possible were simply curious and passionate about parasites and wanted it to be a positive development to assist and improve existing parasite bonds - but.
some people just have profit on the mind and didn’t care about consequences so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ here we are.
To give an example of a good bond with a modified minor parasite:
Roger got a modified minor parasite - one that gives him the green hair (that’s its only attribute).
He absolutely loves it! The modified parasite is very appreciated and is thriving :] 🥕💚
Even if it can’t merge together with his major parasite, their bond is unaffected and all is good.
You might think “If the modified minor parasite only has one attribute, isn’t it just a natural parasite that was mass cultivated and sold? Why wouldn’t the major parasite be able to merge with it?”
And that’s a good question!
Mass cultivated minor parasites go through a different process than natural occuring minor parasites, which is really all it takes for a Parasite Merge to be impossible.
But it doesn’t mean that the major parasite and modified minor parasite can’t get along - and while a Parasite Merge is ideal, it’s not a requirement to be able to maintain a really good bond between parasite(s) and host :]
