#IT TAKES A VILLAGE

[hugsandchaos]

Here’s a list of times Danny has been spotted by the townspeople as Phantom outside of ghost fights!

1.) Laying down half asleep on a traffic light post, no one saw him fall

2.) Standing outside on the street during a big blizzard sipping what people are guessing was hot cocoa

3.) On the roof of Casper High looking at the sky

4.) In Casper High’s library browsing the outer space section

5.) In the park playing with a ghost puppy, who unfortunately kept turning into a large ghost dog and growling at anyone who tried to come close (it’s worth noting that Phantom kept trying to calm him down and apologizing, with the exception of Maddie, who seemed to make the ghost dog even angrier)

6.) Having a friendly chat with a large ghost wolf in the nearby woods

7.) On the street during a blizzard, waving at a large ghost resembling a yeti and going “Hi, dad! :D”

8.) Asleep on one of those couches in the local library with a book on astrophysics on his chest

[spectra-bear]

I need more tio hueso in my life (and so does fleo), anywho! baby workout lesgaw 💪

[always-coffee]

Authors League Fund

Shamelessly pilfered from @neil-gaiman, who wrote this:

I serve on the Board of Directors of the Authors League Fund, which helps career writers in financial need. As an emergency fund, we provide non-taxable cash support for rent, utilities, groceries, medical bills, and other pressing needs. We have been doing this work since 1917, helping thousands of professional writers across the US. If you become aware of a writer who might benefit from our support, please send them our way: www.authorsleaguefund.org. Applications are confidential and handled quickly and with respect.

We help a broad range of writers: authors, journalists, critics, essayists, poets, short story writers, dramatists, and—recently added—graphic novelists and librettists. We have a special focus on health emergencies and writers in retirement, and hope you will keep us in mind if you learn of a friend, colleague, or client who is struggling.

Spread the word...

[theemptyspacehelmet]

Because it’s starting to feel like another Henry Selick/Tim Burton Nightmare Before Christmas snub, please keep in mind that while Neil Gaiman is an executive producer for DBD, he isn’t as directly involved as a source or writer as he was with GO or the Sandman so make sure to give proper credit to the other writers and show runners like Steve Yockey and Beth Schwartz and the other people who worked hard to bring us this show.

[yepthatsacowalright]

Sorry, yes, Hozier posting again.

I just feel it’s important that people know Hozier’s final thank you on the Unreal Unearth album was to the person who watched his bees while he was gone.

[anthrofractal]

DESCRIPTION: Nomiani decides to enter the village square. There’s a Fress at a nearby booth that looks similar to the shopkeep in the Mayli city. There's also the Fress they met earlier, and a much older matriarch surrounded by young Fress, sitting close to a communal cooking fire. CHOOSE ONE: 1) Talk to the shopkeeper 2) Approach the gray older Fress 3) Approach the Fress they recognize

[artistmarchalius]

I really like the idea that everyone in the neighbourhood knows Wally is some kind of demon and just accepts it.

Like, one day Home just shows up in the middle of their village green with Wally inside. In that typical kids puppet show fashion, despite thinking they’re kinda creepy or off-putting at first, they take the time to get to know them and realise they’re just Like That ™ and meet them where they’re at. They don’t try to change Wally, they just nurture him and teach him things about people and the world (like one does in a kids show).

Sure, he stares a lot, his house can communicate with him, he doesn’t know how to person and there’s a lot more mysterious oozing happening around the neighbourhood now, but he’s very friendly underneath the sinister aura, loves to paint pictures and is fun to hang out with.

From Wally’s perspective, he shows up in this new place, content to cause havoc and do some demon stuff, but no one is afraid of him. They’re actually really nice to him and they feed him and play with him. He likes them, so they’re His now. He’ll let them keep looking after him. He’s totally the one in control of the situation. He likes it when they give him skritches and tell him stories or teach him about butterflies. Yessir, totally the one in control!

Just like a good host/audience stand in on a kids show, Wally learns a lot of stuff through his new neighbours. It takes a neighbourhood to raise a demon, or something. I love that kind of stuff!

[ranboo-and-the-like]

There is something so special about watching forever and Baghera walk through tallulahs home. The way they read all of the signs, the way they asked permission to go into and through the house, the way they admired the art. It’s how forever confesses that he is near tears. It’s about when baghs asked tallulah if wilbur sang to her, and rejoiced when she read that he sang to her every night. It’s about their reverence, not making light of the place or occasion. It’s about how Tallulah trusts them enough and is excited for them to meet her papa. It’s about love and family.

[alicelufenia]

So Emma Gregory guested on the latest episode of Samantha Béart's "It Takes A Village", they had a fantastic talk about acting as a career, and especially Emma's experience with radio and audiobooks, and how she brought that to her performance in Baldur's Gate 3.

They also answered some questions from chat. Shout out to @lutethebodies (2:08:16) and @ilikedetectives (2:09:37) for your questions, great effort to try and ask about Minthara's romance and [SPOILER] Dark Urge rejecting and getting killed by Bhaal! Unfortunately she either didn't remember or preferred not to comment too much, but she did say that she feels Minthara would be surprised, and "extremely upset", so take that as you will I guess.

There was also a question about her opinion of Larian making it easier to recruit her in a good playthrough, and I absolutely love her answer!

I was in two minds about it. There was a part of me that thought it was a shame, because it's a game and she's not human, and sometimes in games you get to do things that you wouldn't dream of doing in real life. And then on the other hand I also really appreciated people wanted to play her and were tired of turning her into a sheep or whatever <...> I don't want to weaken the complexity of Minthara or the complexity of playing the game. There's a little element of me thinking that may have been done slightly. But at the same time <...> it's also great, so both.

Obviously her first point that it's a game goes without saying, it's nonsense to place any judgement on someone for how they play it, but it can still come down to a difference of preference. "I prefer to have Minthara along with Karlach, Wyll and Halsin, and I'd rather not juggle a murder sheep to do it" is a perfectly fair thing to want out of the game.

Where there might be more contention is saying that a good playthrough recruitment weakens the complexity of her character. And honestly, I think she's totally right.

First, it bypasses most of her act 1 scenes. You can knock her out without even talking to her. When you meet her again in act 2 she's being actively tormented by the cultists and the Absolute, and after freeing her she comes under protection of the Prism. That much is the same in both cases.

But by siding with her and especially if you romance her, you can discover what it means for her to be shielded from the Absolute. And it's not like breaking free of mind control—the experience is akin to a crisis of faith. You wouldn't even notice unless you talk to her in the aftercare scene.

I just don't think that comes across as strongly in a Not Killing the Grove playthrough, so personally, if you want the most out of her story, you're doing yourself a disservice by going the knock out route.

And, as someone who did it herself, it's not exactly like you're barred from a good playthrough after killing the grove. It'll just be a good playthrough without the tieflings and not as many companions. I can personally recommend it, if you want Minthara's act 1 story but don't want to go full evil durge or whatever.

[drauthor]

New Fic Alert:

So, just to make this very clear, we're blaming @shootingstarpilot for the absolute monster this story has turned into.

Please enjoy the first chapter of It Takes a Village, a story of found family, court drama, and a few guys being both really bad and really good at romance:

If you had asked any one of the Fett brothers if they expected to find themselves embroiled in a fierce court battle involving child abuse and murder because Helix Fett was soft under all the grump and snarling, they would have laughed in your face.

Except Cody. He wouldn't have said he saw it coming per se, but he's not surprised. After all, Stitch was Needle's best friend and he needed help. He knows his brother; they were involved as soon as Helix laid eyes on the kid.

--

They say it takes a village to raise a child; Cody can only begin to imagine what it takes to put a child's abusive parents in jail and then adopt said child.

Due to a series of quite fortunate meetings, the combined power (and villages) of Cody Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Mace Windu are aiming right for the Su-Burtonis--and their mysterious benefactor--and they have no idea what's coming for them.

[theemmtropy]

I feel like we've truly lost what "it takes a village" means when it comes to raising kids. Just because I can be good with kids situationally doesn't mean I should be a parent. What it does mean is that I can help out with watching your kids for a bit if it means you can rest or get work done or whatever. I don't want to be a parent but I do believe in the power of community.

[hugsandchaos]

It Takes A Village AU bit

Phantom has a daughter.

The news spread like wildfire around the town, but as usual, was kept away from the Fentons. The news was brought to their attention by Phantom himself. After a ghost fight, he’d lost sight of his daughter and circled the town repeatedly trying to find her. That’s when he asked someone if they’ve seen her.

Apparently, the eight year old girl was a half ghost created using some of his D.N.A., which technically makes her his daughter. She sees him as her dad as well. The person he asked spread the word and she was found in fifteen minutes. Part of the reason she was hard to find was that she had a human form, which made it easy for her to blend in.

Phantom was so grateful to everyone who helped, but in the eyes of the town, it was the least they could do.

[somethingsteff]

Last Line Game

I've actually been in a writing mood lately, so I have something to participate with! 🎉🎉 Thanks for pulling me in and tagging me @underacalicosky!

Here's another little snippet (last line? I do what I want) from It Takes a Village. I was talking to Calico, Grape, and @palfriendpatine66 about Ewan and his Uggs and decided that was an indulgence I wanted to include.

You can read more excerpts from ITAV here!

Biting his lip, Anakin couldn't look away as Obi-Wan opened the lid of the shoe box and revealed the Uggs inside. As the weather got colder outside he noticed that Obi-Wan would often wear multiple layers of thick socks around the house. When he asked about it, he was just met with a brief joke about poor foot circulation and a firm assertion that he didn't need to worry about it. Initially he was going to just get Obi-Wan a pair of their slippers, but after some thought (one might argue too much thought) he had decided on a classic boot for optimal warmth.

“I thought this might be a little warmer than your socks. They should be the right size, I looked at a few different pairs of your shoes. But if they don't fit right I have the gift receipt and we can get the right ones.”

Anakin wasn't finished with his ramble before Obi-Wan tugged his second layer of socks off and pulled the Uggs on. The tops of the fabric looked like he was wiggling his toes.

“These are perfect,” Obi-Wan assured him. “Already much warmer.”

I don't know who all's already been tagged, but I'm going to go with @grapenehifics, @sendpseuds, @tideswept, and anyone else who would like to participate (I'm looking at you, newer writers! I want to see what you all are up to and cheer you on!)

[always-coffee]

Pssst, hey, you. Do you want a very cool copy of @neil-gaiman's Coraline, plus some other goodies?

Well, you're in luck! @linda-from-the-bird-site is having a raffle, which benefits the homeless:

You can snag tickets for the price of a coffee, potentially get some awesome swag, and do some good. That's a win/win/win!

[100yearoldcomics]

August 7, 1922 Everett True by A.D. Condo

[ID: Everett stands grumpily on the front porch of a neighbor's house, holding up a small white cat. /end] Everett: I see you folks are back from your two weeks' vacation. Here's your cat you left wandering around the neighborhood to half starve.

[ID: Everett sets the cat down, who begins rubbing herself against Everett's legs. The neighbor happily bends down to look. /end] Neighbor: Why, she seems well nourished at that, Mr. True.

[ID: Everett takes the man's head and slams it to the ground. His cat jumps away. /end] Everett: Yes, in the two weeks, she has eaten nine dollars' worth of cream, meat and fish that I ordered for her and had charged to your accounts!!! [INFLATION GUIDE: In 2022 dollars, that's a grocery bill of about $160. /end]

[sp00ntaneous]

'Village Spoon' wooden spoon carved in Cherry wood with acrylic pigment.