hello, new patron here! ive been eyeing the lounge for days, seeing all the delicious dishes served and wondering what i should order but not being quite sure. i think i finally have an idea though! i got very interested in golden calamari rings where a certain lion, hyena and mountain-loving eel (separate or together, whichever works!) react to a gender neutral s/o who has an actual, genuine anxiety-attacks-and-crying phobia of cockroaches, leaning toward initial reaction/comfort for the flavor profile, if you please!
Ah, esteemed patron! Welcome, welcome!
It is a delight to see you finally step in from the window shopping and take a seat at a table! The kitchen is thrilled to have you.
You have placed an order for Golden Calamari Rings featuring a very specific trio: Leona, Ruggie, and Jade.
My, my. A genuine phobia—not just a "ew, a bug" reaction, but a full, tearful panic response—requires a specific kind of comfort. It requires security, action, and grounding.
Leona and Ruggie handle threats physically. Jade handles them... efficiently.
The kitchen has prepared these "dishes" separately to fully explore each unique flavor of comfort. We do hope this brings you peace of mind!
Serving: Reactions to a Severe Cockroach Phobia
🦁 Leona Kingscholar
The Trigger: You are in Leona’s room. You see It. A large, scuttling shadow in the corner. You don't scream. You freeze. Your breath hitches into a hyperventilating panic, tears immediately springing to your eyes as you scramble backward, trembling violently.
The Initial Reaction: Leona is napping. He hears your heart rate spike before he hears you move. "Oi," he grumbles, one eye cracking open. "What's the..." He sees you. He sees the absolute terror on your face, the way you're shaking. He sits up, the laziness vanishing instantly. His eyes dart around the room, looking for an assassin, a monster, a spell. When he realizes it's just a cockroach, he doesn't laugh. He doesn't mock you. Because to him, a threat that makes his mate tremble is a threat, regardless of size.
The Comfort:
Action: He doesn't even get up. He just points a finger. A small, precise burst of Sand magic turns the bug into literal dust. Gone.
Grounding: "It's dust. Come here." He won't take no for an answer. He grabs your arm and pulls you onto the bed, trapping you against his chest. He acts as a human weighted blanket.
The Words: "Stop shaking," he rumbles, the vibration of his chest against your back helping to steady your breathing. "It's gone. I'm here. Nothing in this room breathes unless I let it. You're fine."
🍩 Ruggie Bucchi
The Trigger: You're helping Ruggie sort laundry or clean. You move a basket, and It scuttles out. You drop the basket. You back into the wall, sliding down, knees to chest, sobbing. You can't breathe.
The Initial Reaction: Ruggie jumps, his ears pinning back at the sudden noise. "Whoa! What happened?!" He sees you crying and immediately goes into crisis mode. He assumes you're hurt. "Hey! Are you okay? Did you get bit? Did something fall on you?" When you point a shaking finger at the bug, he blinks. "The... bug?" He sees the tears. He realizes this isn't a joke. His hyena instincts kick in: Pack member in distress.
The Comfort:
Action: SPLAT. He stomps on it. Immediately. No hesitation. He then grabs a tissue, scoops it up, and flushes it or throws it out the window. "There. Dead. Gone."
Distraction: He crouches down in front of you, his hands hovering, worried. "Hey, hey, look at me. Shishishi, look at Ruggie. It's toast. I squashed it flat. It's not gonna get you."
The Care: He hates waste, but he'll run to get you a glass of water. He'll sit on the floor with you, rubbing your back awkwardly but kindly. "Jeez, you really hate those things, huh? Alright. New rule. I sweep the room before you come in. Okay? Just... breathe for me."
🍄 Jade Leech
The Trigger: You are on a "Mountain Walk" with Jade. He is admiring a fern. You see It on a tree trunk near your face. The panic is instant. You gasp, clutching your chest, tears streaming down your face as the world spins. You can't speak; you can only point and weep.
The Initial Reaction: Jade turns, a serene smile on his face. "Oya? What is it, [....]? Have you found a specim—" He stops. He sees your state. His smile doesn't drop, but it changes. The warmth leaves it. His eyes sharpen. He looks from you to the insect. Usually, he would admire the resilience of a cockroach. Today, he sees it only as the cause of your pain.
The Comfort:
Action: He walks over to the bug. He doesn't stomp it. He gently, calmly picks it up with a gloved hand (or perhaps uses a leaf). He walks far away from you and deposits it somewhere you cannot see. Or, if he is truly displeased by your tears, he might simply squeeze his hand shut. Crunch.
Grounding: He returns to you, removing his glove to place a cool, large hand on your cheek.
The Words: "Shh..." he soothes, his voice a low, hypnotic melody. "It has been relocated to a habitat far from here. It will not return." He uses a handkerchief to dry your eyes, his touch precise and gentle. "I apologize. I should have cleared the path. Please, hold my arm. I will ensure no other... unwanted guests... disturb our stroll."
A "dish" served with protection, efficiency, and care! The kitchen is honored to have served you, patron.
We do hope this Golden Calamari Rings dish was to your satisfaction!
Had a really intense cockroach dream that they were crawling in my bed and falling on my head and now I’m too scared to go back to sleep incase it actually happens
Im freaking the fuck out. A fucking cockroach crawled on me. Im on the verge of fucking crying because im freaking the fuck out, but in the words of my mother, "having a phobia and being disgusted are two different things honey". Thanks, i really appreciate your fucking support mom
i could never live alone bc what if theres a cockroach yk… who is gonna kill it while im on the floor crying and hyperventilating while having a panic attack
Im very paranoid that there is a cockroach in my room right now so im up at 4 watching tv on the other side of the house waiting for the roach to get out of my room
