🌙 lore: misc
»masterlist«
[miscellaneous things that either didn’t fit in the other posts; i didn’t think of them in time; or i didn’t have enough of to group them together. will likely add to this in reblogs~]
Suppressants — Available in pill, shot, or intravenous form, listed in order of how strong each effect is. This blocks the hormones which cause heats / ruts. Doctors recommend going off of them for once cycle every two years. Not doing so is unhealthy and can lead to problems, including stress cycles or infertility.
Scent Patches / Blockers — A small, circular patch applied over the gland. These are usually wafer thin and nearly translucent on the skin, but can be thicker depending on the need. These block a person’s scent. How much depends on scent strength. If someone is particularly stressed they can “burn” through the patch, and cause it to lose its effectiveness. These can cause irritation if worn for too long.
Scent Concealer — An oil or powder applied directly to the scent gland. This changes or mingles with the natural smell to work as either a blocker, enhancer, or even to present as a different dynamic. Some will also use it if they have an “unpleasant” smell.
Sympathy Cycles — Sometimes when a packmate goes into heat or rut, their other, same-dynamic packmates will join them. This is especially common around just-presenting pups, or if someone is experiencing a stress cycle. A sympathy cycle can also trigger around a stranger. (And sometimes pups will have sympathy cycles with a parent or packmate they’re close to.)
Stress Cycles — When someone experiences a great upheaval or stress, they can be catapulted into heat/rut. It’s thought that this is meant to call/rally pack to comfort or protect someone. It may also happen to attract pack, if someone has gone without one for too long.
Feral — Like a stress cycle, a feral state is triggered by great upheaval or stress. It’s more likely if the stress is life or pack-threatening, or caused by overwhelm. Some people are more likely to go feral / go feral more regularly. Some people never experience a feral state. Instinct takes over completely. Someone who is feral can usually be coaxed from the state by a packmate—but packless people require more special care.
Heat / Rut Houses — Sometimes people will have, or want to experience, a fertile cycle without a partner to share it with. Heat/rut houses were built for that purpose. Some heat/rut houses are purely medical; for fertile cycles triggered on accident, by stress, or for health reasons. Others are purely for the pleasure of it. These may be legal or illegal depending on location / the standards of the time.