As for the deer in the fridge, it’s not very exciting, so I apologize in advance for this story:

I grew up around things like deer hanging in the back yard tree/in someone’s garage to drip out (usually into a big metal bucket, sometimes not) So it wasn’t weird, but it was definitely something I could separate from myself. I never watched the butchery or anything– when I was a kid my dad didn’t do it himself.

So one day he brought one home and we had some freshly butchered venison in the fridge for a day or two, and it leaked. As in, there was deer juice (clearer than blood, but still) all over the shelves of the fridge when I opened it, like some fucking insane mass murderer ala Lector was living in our house. I remember pools of it dripping, but I’m sure it wasn’t that bad. I was 15, so you know how it goes.

But I think that made me realize I am made of meat too. Not revelatory, but odd nevertheless. Also, gross.

Yeah, maybe you’ll be one of those people who actually varies their themes! I wouldn’t be surprised.

You have me wondering now about recurring themes in my stories, I’m going to ponder on this awhile and feel very neglect when I come up blank.

Anyhow, I like that idea!

Nat, I wonder too– I know they’re more sensitive than the rest of the hand, or someone once told me that anyhow and I believed it. Now that you mention it I don’t much like the thought either. Not to the point of wooziness but, yeah.

I’ve used that theme once or twice, and it is rather a good one for loads of characte reasons, like you say. I wonder what makes us latch on to things like that as our favorites, without even thinking?

In my writing it’s definitely only children with dysfunctional relationships with their fathers (and completely absent mothers). I didn’t realise until I started character-mapping for Greenhelm, and found all my characters existed in family vacuums. It’s convenient for plotting and characterisation, but it’s a little obvious.

Jeremy, I do that regularly now. It freaks me out on the one hand. On the other, I think, well, at least I know what I’m about.

Nat, I’ve always thought it was weird that my own blood never bugged me. I watch in fascination. Our powers combined, we are… super neurotic!

Aaron, I like that theme very much for myself– I find it pops up fairly often, too. Not as much as blood, but about half the time, I’d say. And yay, I look forward to a whole post on the subject! Or several… just saying

I’m so doing a post on this next week.