grab your hat, get your coat, the cellar door is an open throat (open/closed)

[overlyprecocious]

Who: Tim Drake overlyprecocious, others
What: catch-all post for late April/early May. some post-Jason fight things.
When: late April, early May
Where: Dick's apartment, other places tbd
Content Warnings: dissociation, references to childhood neglect and abuse, (so far) light reference to food insecurity

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[definecat]

A look of clear surprise crosses the cat's face.

"Then you're the first. Most of the people who know about this place are teenaged boys, and that means bottomless stomachs."

[overlyprecocious]

"I figured if it's hidden, someone needs to know it's there when they look for it."

He understands that intimately. It's - it's good to know you have food no one else can touch, in an emergency.

[definecat]

"In this case, it's more that if it's not hidden, it's guaranteed not to be there when I want it," Sleeper says, giving a slight chuckle.

"Chocolate is more appetizing than tofu and more socially acceptable than brains and other internal organs. Plus it regularly goes on extreme discounts after major holidays."

[overlyprecocious]

Um.

Hold on.

“Do you… actually eat brains and internal organs?”

[definecat]

"I'm willing to eat whatever's readily available. For instance, I'm not at all above mousing if there are any. Certain parts of the body tend to be rich in certain nutrients and, well, some are easier to ingest than other."

They're not saying they eat people, but they're also not not saying it.

"Let's just say I'm no threat to the homeless population or anything like that. It's hard to be friends with someone who might be on the menu."

[overlyprecocious]

Oh. That's. Uh.

"So you have eaten... people?"

He's trying so hard to not sound horrified, honest.

[definecat]

"Personally, no." Well, nobody who wouldn't be missed. And, well, that hadn't actually been something they've had to act on beyond threats to the Backbreakers.

"I have a think about eating anyone I've been introduced to. But then, I'm the civilized one in the family. Just ask Dylan."

[overlyprecocious]

"Dylan's related to you?"

Well, that explains some things, maybe. Aside from. How an alien cat is related to someone human-seeming.

[definecat]

"He's my brother. His human father also is host to my parent, who also is sort of Dylan's third parent. It's...complicated."

The whole thing is normal for them, just not really easily explained. Even some of the best theories as to how Dylan could have abilities relating to symbiotes didn't manage to cover everything.