#Vern the Siren

[dwellordream]

Books Recs of 2024

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. Mystery/fantasy centered around Din, a young assistant investigator assigned to help an eccentric and infamous detective, Ana Dolabra, solve a series of murders. Din is an engraver, his brain altered so he has a photographic memory. However, no one is quite sure how he got his current position, since he failed every single one of his final exams except the combat portion. Ana is an exceedingly odd woman who refuses to go to any crime scene in person and often performs mad science experiments in her spare time. As Din struggles to keep up with the case, which revolves around a bioweapon being unleashed on a series of the empire's best engineers, he also worries what will happen when Ana finally uncovers his secrets.

Highfire by Eoin Colfer. Urban fantasy (very comedic fantasy) about a dragon called Vern (short for Wyvern), who teams up with a juvenile delinquent named Squib (real name Everett Moreau) to take down a corrupt sheriff who is plaguing the Lousiana bayou. Vern is a very small (seven feet long) dragon who is the last of his kind (as far as he knows). When he is spotted by a local troubled teen, his first instinct is to hunt Squib down and kill him, but he quickly realizes the two of them have a common enemy- the murderous sheriff who is running drugs through their territory.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi. Magical realism about a romantic-minded art historian who is swept off his feet by a mysterious and charming heiress. After a whirlwind courtship, the happy couple return to her childhood home; a Gothic manor on a lonely island. The more time our narrator spends around his wife's past, the more questions are raised- increasingly sinister ones about who she is and what exactly she is capable of. Once upon a time, she was best friends with an equally odd and dreamy little girl named Indigo. But no one has seen Indigo for many years now- and the Flower Bride may be behind her disappearance.

Chlorine by Jade Song. Horror/magical realism. Since childhood, Ren's entire identity has been wrapped up in swimming. If she can be strong enough, fast enough, special enough, success is sure to come her way. As the end of high school approaches, Ren's passion for swimming becomes less about her future, and more about past legends of mermaids and sirens dragging sailors into the deep. School, friends, and her parents' expectations all fall away- Ren will make her home in the water, no matter what she has to do.

We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride & Jo Piazza. Realistic fiction. Jen and Riley have been best friends for as long as they can remember, despite their vastly different childhoods. Riley is from a middle class Black family; Jen was raised by an impoverished white single mother. After twenty years of doing almost everything together, their lives are at a crossroads- Riley is a news anchor about to take Philadelphia by storm, while Jen is expecting her first child with her police officer husband. When Jen's husband is involved in the murder of a Black teenage boy by a fellow officer, Riley finds herself expected to cover the story- and Jen finds herself expected to answer for her husband's actions- and her own beliefs about what racism looks like.

Queenpin by Megan Abbott. Crime thriller/noir. Our nameless heroine lives a mousy existence working as a bookkeeper for a rundown local night club, but her life is turned upside down when the infamous Gloria Denton, a gun moll and smuggler, takes her under her wing. Gloria transforms her young protege from a timid girl to a sophisticated, cunning woman capable of handling gangsters, conmen, thieves, and bookies, but when she falls for the wrong man, her relationship with Gloria is strained, and they must decide just how far they can trust one another.

Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen. Historical fiction. Based on the real life trial of Katharina Kepler, mother of the famed Johannes Kepler, Imperial Mathematician to the Holy Roman Empire. Katharina is a busybody, a domineering and devilishly clever woman with a particular talent for healing. She is also a fiercely loyal mother to her adult children, but when an old neighborhood grudge flares into accusations of poison and witchcraft, Katharina is determined not to meekly confess and beg pardon. The more she lashes out at her neighbors and the authorities, the more charges begin to pile up against her- despite her son's desperate attempts to save her from torture and execution.

Bury Me Deep by Megan Abbott. Crime thriller/noir. Based on a real life murder case in 1931 Phoenix Arizona. Naive and sheltered Marion Seeley is deposited in Phoenix by her disgraced doctor husband, who is forced to take a job with a mining company in South America after his medical license is revoked. Marion befriends the vivacious Louise and Ginny, two fellow nurses, who introduce her to the underground party scene in Phoenix. Politicians and businessmen flock to the secret parties held by them, and it's a quick way to make money on the side. Drawn in by the luxury and thrills, Marion falls in love with Joe Lanigan, a powerful local politician, but as their affair intensifies, her friendship with the other women fractures, culminating in a gruesome crime.

[knickynoo]

Back to the Future: The Animated Series, s02ep013 "Verne Hatches an Egg"

✨Last episode of the series!✨

Previous episodes linked here.

In this episode: Verne gains a cute little buddy, creepy Mr. Wisdom returns, and a jarring final moment with Real Doc

Well, friends, we've reached the end of our journey into the world of the animated series. It was almost exactly one year ago today that I posted my review of the first episode, and it's been a super fun project to work on. I'm kind of sad to be done with it.

Let's see what this last episode has in store for us, shall we?

We start in the lab, where Doc is making adjustments to his latest invention, the "ELB Pediatric Policer."

It's basically a lie detector designed to be worn by children, lol. When a child does something they know is wrong, or if they lie about something, it flashes with lights and blares a siren. He plans to present it at the Annual Convention of the Home Inventors of Mad Geniuses.

Gonna be real with you, Doc—not sure how I feel about this invention. Sounds like a good way to raise very anxious, paranoid children.

Anyway, this reminds Doc of something that happened to Verne when he was doing show and tell one day.

The cartoon begins with someone attempting the steal the DeLorean. They're shrouded in shadows, but it's pretty clear that it's Verne. He's got a pretty high track record for DeLorean thievery. Doc's security system catches him, though, locking him into the car, setting off an alarm, and taking a picture, which is sent directly to Doc's room.

Quick little sidenote, but I don't think I've mentioned that Doc regularly calls Clara "Clarabelle" over the course of the series. When he's woken up by the alarm system, it's the name he uses to call to her, and I was like, "huh. why have I never written about this in my posts?" I looked it up, and Clarabelle (the spelling according to the subtitles on the DVD) is a variant of the more official spelling, which is Claribel. It means "bright and beautiful" but seems to be a pretty obscure name, as it's only listed at .009% usage at the height of its popularity in 1893.

So, I'm left wondering: Is the animated series implying that it's perhaps her "real" name, with Clara being her nickname? Or is this just an affectionate nickname Doc uses for Clara? And if it's a nickname, is it something Doc simply thought had a nice ring to it, or is it because he's secretly a big fan of the Disney character Clarabelle Cow??

That's Clarabelle with her boyfriend Horace Horsecollar, btw. If you even care.

Verne tells Doc that he was only taking the DeLorean so he could go looking for something cool to bring to show and tell. Doc decides to help him out by letting him borrow an arrowhead he has. Verne is psyched, but before he can even reach the school building, Biff Jr. intercepts him and demands his lunch money. He steals the arrowhead from Verne.

Verne's teacher isn't happy that he had nothing to show or tell about, and she tells him that if he doesn't bring in something the next day, she's going to make him play Prince Charming in the upcoming school play. Which is a really weird threat if you ask me!! How does one force a child into a lead role of a play he doesn't want to be in just because he didn't have show and tell? What kind of school is this?

Verne is horrified by this news on account of he'd have to kiss some girl named Beatrice. He says he'd rather be, "dead like a dinosaur" which gives him a sudden idea. I sense a bad decision coming! And I bet Marty is going to be in on it because he always enables Varne in these types of shenanigans.

Yep. I knew it.

The boys take a quick trip to prehistoric times, where Verne swipes a dino egg for show and tell.

Shortly after arriving home, the egg hatches, and Verne finds himself caretaker to the world's cutest dinosaur.

Look at that guy. (Verne faints when he sees it)

Within the hour, the dinosaur has already grown significantly, and it escapes outside to the yard, where Verne begs Jules to help in hiding him. Just then, they hear Doc approaching and quickly work to form a ridiculous story in which the dino is their friend who painted himself green because they're playing a game involving aliens.

They're able to get away with it on account of Einstein is so afraid of the dinosaur that he launches himself at Doc's face and refuses to move.

Doc decides to take Einie to the vet, leaving his sons and their "friend" to continue their game. Jules insists Verne return the dino, but Verne wants to keep him as a pet. He names him Tiny.

It doesn't take long for Tiny to go missing in town. He ends up at the Tannen home, where Biff Jr. is watching Mr. Wisdom (who you may remember from an episode earlier in the season). If you don't, you just need to know that Mr. Wisdom is an evil children's TV show host who also happens to be one of Doc's old college roommates.

Mr. Wisdom announces that he's offering $50,000 to any viewer who can capture and send in an alien, bigfoot, or dinosaur. Very unfortunate timing, huh? Biff captures Tiny and sends him into the Mr. Wisdom show. After airing a special episode featuring Tiny, Mr. Wisdom plans to kill him and sell pieces of him to research labs for money.

Thankfully, Verne comes clean to his parents, and they work together to form a plan and sneak onto the set to free Tiny.

When Mr. Wisdom starts his show and reveals the "dinosaur," it's really just Marty and Jules on stilts.

Jules looks just like the monkey in that one meme.

The family gets home and prepares to bring Tiny back where he belongs. Before he goes, he spits out a baby tooth, which Verne is excited to be able to take to show and tell.

With that story wrapped up, we go back to Real Doc, who teaches us a little about eggs using a raw one. While he's talking, he takes out the lunch he'd packed, of which one of the items is a hard-boiled egg. Can you guess what happens? Yeah, he mixes up the two eggs. After some time to think about it, he feels pretty confident that he's figured out which one is the hard-boiled one and. And he just BITES into the egg, shell and all, like an absolute lunatic. And he's wrong about it being the hard-boiled one.

Who does this? Who on EARTH eats a hard-boiled egg in this manner? Are you telling me that Doc regularly leaves the shells on his eggs and bites into them like an apple?? He eats the shells? Is that what I'm supposed to take away from this??

We're ending the animated series with the revelation that this is how our beloved scientist finds it acceptable to eat a hard-boiled egg?? What am I supposed to do with this now? How will I make peace with this information?

Join me next time for nothing. The animated series is over, folks. Doctor Emmett Brown eats eggshells.

Adiós.

[painted-kneecaps]

yk what i don’t care.

Woe, OCs be upon ye…

Emrys “Ducky” Montague (The Neverking), He/him

Generally considered to have the worst luck of anyone in Faerie

His first fiancée left him at the altar, his first wife got poisoned, and his current husband is a political fugitive

His daughter’s existence was kept a secret from him so that she could be used as a pawn by his mother and first fiancée to steal the throne left to him after the assassinated his wife, the queen

Hates the ocean, married to a selkie

Very talented clothing designer, owns a tailor shop next door to his husband’s bakery

Extremely high pain tolerance. Usually does not notice injuries to his person. No longer allowed near stoves.

Gave himself the nickname “Ducky” when he was younger, reasoning that people were more likely to trust him if they felt close enough to use a nickname. He would later use this to his advantage and manipulate them into telling him their true names.

Kept a book of true names when he was younger, as an assurance that he would never end up alone.

Didn’t technically kidnap his daughter

His hair is actually made of microscopic feather shafts, which lift into a crest in response to strong emotions. Uses an ungodly amount of gel to prevent this. He also preens like a bird when in distress.

Used to be the lord of his family estate before the discovery of his cousin’s existence. She hunts him for sport sometimes

His favorite food is plain bread. This is fortunate for his husband, the baker.

Has perfect pitch. A very skilled pianist and singer, due to being half siren, though any enchantment in his voice only seeks to work on Graeme.

Demi and Pan. Has always been an incorrigible flirt, but balks at the first sign of intimacy.

Graeme Bickett, He/him

Owns a joint bakery/bar with his twin sister called the Bake&Brew

Hated his husband when they first met. Thought he was a stuck up elitist snob (he was)

Adopted his husbands adult daughter without a second thought after helping to “kidnap�� her

His parents were part of an underground anarchist revolutionary group in the Sea Court and were caught and executed when he was a child. He and his sister spent most of their childhood in the mortal realm hiding from the authorities.

Hid his selkie identity from Emrys at the beginning of their relationship out of lack of trust. This was their most major fight.

Extremely close with his twin, over whom he has been very protective since they were children in the mortal foster care system.

Adopted a tough, cynical exterior at a young age that he only began to break through upon closer acquaintanceship with his now husband, a man who had been through absolute hell and somehow managed to hang onto his ridiculous whimsy.

Doesn’t like Freddie on principle because she hunts his husband for sport. Emrys insists he’s used to it by now, but Graeme still bolts the doors and windows at night, just in case.

When he first met Emrys and heard about his nickname, he thought it was hysterical and would call him the name of any bird he could think of that. This annoyed Emrys to no end at first, but as they grew to enjoy each other’s company, “Dovey” was the nickname that ended up sticking, and neither one has any objections.

Gay, though he hasn’t had much time for relationships in the past- they were doomed to fail in the mortal realm, and he eventually lost interest.

Their Majesty, Queen Verne Redwood (Montague) of the Earth Court, They/she

A Changeling. Spent the majority of her life very sickly from using her energy to channel the appearance of the late Queen Amalthea Redwood, of whom she was the supposed bastard heir.

Forced to keep their true appearance a secret as she looked far too much like her actual parents, Lord Montague and Lady Maripol of the Sea Court, which would throw their legitimacy as Monarch into question.

Had no real control over the regency. Ruled as a figurehead/puppet king from childhood, under her mother’s thumb.

One of the palace guards took pity on her lonely existence and slipped her an ipod full of pop punk music when she was a teen. Somehow this did not make things better. It did make her a devoted emo.

Has a somewhat rocky relationship with her father, seeing as he unknowingly abandoned her as a child. This is still worlds better than her relationship with her mother, however, and they are working on it.

She and Graeme are thick as thieves. He sees her as a daughter and helps Emrys teach her skills she never learned in the palace, such as family recipes and how to overthrow the government.

The kidnapping was consensual

Adores their father’s cousin and her partner. Calls them Aunt Freddie and Cousin Carlisle, to Emrys and Graeme’s concern, and works in their yarn and bookshop part time.

Despite her lack of involvement in actual government, she is very interested in the inner workings of the monarchy and has many ideas of what she would do if she were allowed to be in charge, which she discusses at length with her Aunt’s partner, whom she is greatly inspired by.

Considering studying law in the mortal realm to better understand how to govern Faerie, if she ever re-takes the throne.

Loves music and has a lovely voice, due to Siren heritage on both sides. She and Emrys often duet at the Bake&Brew karaoke night, though they have very different music tastes.

Winifred “Freddie” Montague (God of the Elder Wood) She/her, and Prof. Carlisle Elsbeth (They/them)

Freddie:

Freddie is the bastard child of the late Thaddeus Montague, heir to the Montague estate, who was assassinated, alongside his lover, at the hand of Emrys’ mother.

Born in the heart of Faerie, she is a reincarnation of a tree spirit that her parents cut down in order to keep themselves warm while fleeing Lady Montague’s wrath. After their death, she spent the first century of her life wandering the woods, seldom making contact with other people.

Her hair grows at an incredible rate, and it is prehensile. When it becomes too long, she cuts it all off and weaves it into yarn, which she sells at her shop, or uses to knit scarves and sweaters for loved ones.

If severed, her fingers, limbs etc. grow back like those of a starfish. If segmented, there are rings inside like those of a tree. It is unclear if she is capable of dying.

She can grow and summon plants at will

Upon inheriting the Montague estate, she promptly let it become overgrown with vines and turned it into a ruin. Emrys did not particularly care, as he had no real affection for his parents or their estate.

She and Emrys were roommates for a while before he married the late Queen Amalthea. She knew him at his worst and actively made his life more difficult. She thinks back upon those days fondly.

She is very well traveled, both in Faerie and the mortal realm, and very intelligent. Despite this, and to her partner’s dismay, she never learned to read, and has no intention of starting now.

Hobbies include fibercraft and hunting her cousin for sport.

Her dearest dream is to become a dictator and rule Faerie with an iron fist. She has gotten unsettlingly close to this goal more than once.

Aroace

Carlisle:

A brilliant and studied academic, Carlisle attended Oxford during the Victorian era, and has not progressed past it in their personal style.

An experienced lawyer in both Faerie and the mortal realm. Also taught as a Professor in their younger years.

Runs a combination yarn and bookshop with their partner, who cannot read. This irks them to no end, and they have long suspected that Freddie’s refusal to learn is simply a means to irritate them.

Quite reclusive, rarely ventures out in public, and almost never without Freddie. Very quiet unless you get them started on politics or law. They find their partner’s family rather too loud for their tastes, and would much rather retire early with a book.

Despite many olive branches extended by both the Montagues and the Bicketts, the only person they willingly seek out is Verne. They find her political views quite fascinating, and the two of them will debate and bounce ideas off of one another for hours if left uninterrupted.

Served in mortal government at one point, but always changes the subject when asked about it.

Has had many near death experiences and fatal injuries, some of which they should not have recovered from. It is unclear whether they are capable of death. They suspect that Freddie has something to do with this, but have no proof as of yet.

Their dearest wish is to thwart their partner in her goal of becoming a fascist dictator. So far they have been successful.

Aroace

[honourablejester]

It's dnd 5e, she is a goliath barbarian (original I know), but she's path of the depths. The campaign is set in a loose interpretation of faerun, it's not a heavy seafaring campaign, but I love the subclass so much. I'm just struggling to find a backstory to explain her abilities without making it overly complicated, but anything I come up with just feels like I'm ticking off trope boxes rather than *making* a character, you know?

I had to look up Path of the Depths, Bilgewater was there and gone again so quickly. I do enjoy a nautical barbarian, I have to say (well, a nautical anything, to be fair). And goliath actually fits quite well thematically. Goliaths are mountain nomads, tough, hardy, windborne individualists, cold-inured and willing to shrug off injury. The step from that to a sea nomad, tough, hardy, windborne, cold-inured, and willing to shrug off injury, is really just a journey to where the mountains meet the sea and a bolt of longing through a wandering heart.

(And there is a part of me, specifically the one that grew up reading Jules Verne, that finds an enjoyable echo in the fact that goliaths are specifically mentioned to be able and designed to go above 20,000ft of elevation, if we’re imagining one that might wish to plumb 20,000 leagues of depth).

I think the siren call of exploration was the thing here. Perhaps an ill-advised one. Path of the Depths does specifically offer that these barbarians have encountered ‘terrors of the deep that can break the minds of the weak-willed’, and that surviving this has granted them these definitely not normal abilities. So perhaps, wild and young, she plumbed too deep too fast, and paid for it. It’s not her terrain, after all. She didn’t understand the dangers, not as she would have known those of her home. Maybe it was a monster, maybe ‘only’ a shipwreck, a storm, a near-drowning, but the sea put manners on her one way or another. The ocean demonstrated its raw might, more than any single being, no matter how strong, can ever hope to match.

But, well. She’s a goliath. They’re born to shrug off injury. The sea mauled her, and instilled a true and earnest respect in the process, but there’s also a part of her that can’t help but take that as a challenge. A wild yearning to prove that she can survive it, prove herself to it, earn her place as part of it. And, still, to explore it. Goliaths are nomads. Wanderlust is in the blood. For all the peaks and valleys of her childhood, there are troughs and ridges of equal, perhaps more splendour below the sea. She’s not dead yet. It didn’t kill her. Why should she falter, when there so much more she can still endure?

And even that small a taste of the sea was enough to sow it in her blood. Of course it was. That’s how the sea is. Like calls to like. Sometimes with a fish-hook. Or a dredge line. Heh.

The sea has so much that would call a goliath. Power, freedom, wind, the depths that call as sweetly as the heights, the power that smashes you against itself, but cradles you all the same. An endless font of strength against which to test yourself, an endless vastness to explore.

But then why isn’t she there now? Why is she adventuring on land, with this call so siren in her blood? Well, the sea can be carried with you, for a start. Once it’s in your blood it doesn’t leave. But perhaps she’s seeking training. A specific kind of strength. Or perhaps a specific kind of knowledge. Maybe it was a monster that put manners on her, and she’d like to travel with those who know monsters long enough to learn. Or it could be simpler. Maybe she wants a ship, and ships cost money. Or she owes a debt, to those who helped her survive, and freedom is one thing, but you must always pay your debts first. How can you wander freely, test your strength without care for the results, when there is a chain of debt tying you back to a place and a person and a task?

Or, perhaps, she simply wants the best of both worlds. The heights and the depths. She wishes to wander to her own whim, to the top of the world or the bottom of the sea, and carry all of her history in her blood as she walks.

What gave her her abilities? Maybe not a monster, no. The sea itself, and her reaction to it. That wild call that she felt and answered. What gives her power is the heart of yearning for the sea, and the strength she found to carry it in her blood, no matter where she goes.

There was a fish-hook, planted in her soul. But she's goliath. She gladly scarred herself around it, and pit her strength gleefully against the tow.

Ah. Ahem. Anyway. Does that help any?

[nightonthemountain]

What's up! It's everyone's favorite party enthusist! That's right, 🌙🏔, is here to interact! So like, keep it chill

I'm Umbrance, a 3rd Year Diasomnia student and I do work study in the library! I'm also the one who will accidentally set off the sprinkler system!

Hi, Archie here. You might see me wearing headphones everywhere. I'll talk if you want.

Next Catacombs Mixer (alcohol, weed): 2 weeks

Next Scarabia Party (sober party): TBD

Next Pomefiore Dungeon Meetup (weed only): TBD

Ooc/Mirlan: welcome to my twst rp blog! I'm the mod. This is a 21+ account, so there will sometimes be adult themes. If you're not comfortable with that, see the warnings about which tags to filter out. I want everyone to first and foremost have a good time.

THIS IS A MULTISHIP ACCOUNT! None of their relationships will overlap or intersect.

WARNINGS: Alcohol, drinking, weed, drugs, occasional dubcon kisses (these are arranged ahead of time and agreed on by both mods)

If that's not your thing, that's okay 👌 no pressure! Filter these tags:

tw alcohol tw weed tw drugs tw drinking

Rules:

-keep NSFW in messages. The most for posts is kissing

-don't spam

-no homophobia, racism, sexism, etc.

Lore compilation under cut

🌙🏔 Lore/Profile:

Name: Umbrance Walpurgis

Year: 3rd, Diasomnia

Age: ???

Birthday: October 31st (Scorpio)

Height: 5' 9"

Eyes: Emerald Green, but they turn red when he's hungry

Description Notes:

-is a half-fire fae and half-incubus, descendant of an old fae court -goes to parties to eat, but refuses to do so on their Favorite Bean. -has a roommate in case he combusts or refuses to eat (both frequent occurrences) -Usually, he feels sick after eating -UM is Night on the Mountain -is super helpful and nice during the daylight hours -Has gotten in trouble for wearing a leather jacket instead of the school issued jacket.... multiple times -Sometimes he spontaneously combusts and it will set off the sprinkler system

Current Relationship Board:

Archie - His Roommate / Best friend he sometimes kisses platonically Lost Anon - dating Castor - Friend Pollux - Engaged Vern - Friendly Rivals...?

Archie Laviathan - The Roommate

Year: 3rd, Diasomnia

Age: ???

Birthday: February 14th

Height: 5' 6"

Description Notes:

-Hair: Short, white hair. Has one strand longer on his right side. It's kept together with a blue crystal hair bead -Eyes: Icy Blue -Markings: Tattoos, a lot of them, and they're all nautical. The only visible ones are on his knuckles with the words "HOLD FAST" on them. (he's gotten in arguments with the professors about them a few times) -UM: Doesn't have his, yet, surprisingly -Uniform: Ditches the suit jacket frequently, but wears the tie, vest, and shirt perfectly. He's usually seen wearing headphones -He is half-fae, half-Siren. 100% Atlantean. Has a beautiful singing voice, just doesn't use it for obvious reasons -Personality info: He's generally very calm and collected, but doesn't talk much. He serves as a voice of reason to balance out Umbrance's impulsive nature.

Current Relationship Board:

Umbrance - roommates / best friends who platonically kiss. Castor - Engaged? Pollux - friends Vern - former roommate / friend

Picrew thanks to @/castaway-achlys

[sophia-sol]

Books I read in 2022!

I spent a lot of this year messing with my brain chemicals, in order to find a medication that worked well for me, and what that means is that I spent a lot of this year varyingly exhausted, out of it, too anxious to function, and a bunch of states in between. So I kind of feel like my reading this year was all over the place too, as a result. But I still somehow managed to do a fair amount of reading! Did you know: I like books. I like books a lot.

Books read: 104

Rereads: 20

Books with male authors: 18

Books with female authors: 83

Books with nonbinary authors: 5

Books with authors of colour: 46

5-star books: 18

4-star books: 48

3-star books: 36

2-star books: 2

1-star books: 0

This year and going forward I plan to not think about these numbers in the context of percentage of books read. I have realised that that approach is unhelpful to me, and too often leads to me choosing to not read anything at all if I don't have something appealing on hand that will increase the percentages on the Morally Correct Stats. It's good to read diversely! But it's also good to just....actually read.

Here's the list of all the books I read this year! Please feel free to talk to me about them! I love talking about books!

January

February

*** A Snake Falls to Earth, by Darcie Little Badger

**** Heartstopper volume 3, by Alice Oseman

**** The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System volume 1, by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

*** This Poison Heart, by Kalynn Bayron

**** The Flatshare, by Beth O'Leary

*** The Kingdoms, by Natasha Pulley

***** Vespertine, by Margaret Rogerson

*** Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom, by Sangu Mandanna

March

**** Chaos on Catnet, by Naomi Kritzer

**** The Jasmine Throne, by Tasha Suri

**** A Marvellous Light, by Freya Marske

*** Heartstopper volume 4, by Alice Oseman

*** Tidesong, by Wendy Xu

**** Almost American Girl, by Robin Ha - nf

**** The Legend of Auntie Po, by Shing Yin Khor

April

*** A Spindle Splintered, by Alix E Harrow

** Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir

*** The Complete Debarkle: Saga of a Culture War, by Camestros Felapton

- nf

**** Being Seen: One Deafblind Woman's Fight to End Ableism, by Elsa Sjunneson

- nf

***** The Terracotta Bride, by Zen Cho

*** Victories Greater than Death, by Charlie Jane Anders

***** Elder Race, by Adrian Tchaikovsky

**** The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System, volume 2, by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

**** Where the Wild Ladies Are, by Aoko Matsuda, translated by Polly Barton

*** Race the Sands, by Sarah Beth Durst

May

*** Dracula, by Bram Stoker

**** Iron Widow, by Xiran Jay Zhao

***** Too Bright to See, by Kyle Lukoff

**** The Past is Red, by Catherynne M Valente

June

***** All the Horses of Iceland, by Sarah Tolmie

***** Favourite Folktales, translated by [redacted]

*** The Hellion's Waltz, by Olivia Waite

*** The Magnolia Sword, by Sherry Thomas

July

***** The Blue Castle, by Lucy Maud Montgomery

***** Siren Queen, by Nghi Vo

*** Swim Team, by Johnnie Christmas

***** Make, Sew and Mend, by Bernadette Banner

- nf

*** The Grief of Stones, by Katherine Addison

*** Swan Lake: Quest for the Kingdoms, by Rey Terciero

***** Spirits Abroad, by Zen Cho

**** Me and White Supremacy, by Layla F Saad - nf

*** Fevered Star, by Rebecca Roanhorse

**** A Mirror Mended, by Alix E Harrow

**** Outcast, by Rosemary Sutcliff

*** Song for a Dark Queen, by Rosemary Sutcliff

**** The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water, by Zen Cho

***** The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System, Volume 3 - Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

*** The Last Mapmaker, by Christina Soontornvat

*** 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne

August

*** Fireheart Tiger, by Aliette de Bodard

*** Birds Through an Opera-Glass, by Florence A. Merriam

- nf

***** A Desolation Called Peace, by Arkady Martine

*** Soulstar, by CL Polk

**** The Odyssey, by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson

**** Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontës, by Isabel Greenberg

*** Have His Carcase, by Dorothy Sayers

September

**** Moby-Dick; or, the Whale, by Herman Melville

*** Folktales of Japan, edited by Keigo Seki, translated by Robert J Adams

***** The Haunting of Tram Car 015, by P Djèlí Clark

***** The Black God's Drums, by P Djèlí Clark

**** The Bear and the Nightingale, by Katherine Arden

*** Skin of the Sea, by Natasha Bowen

**** When You Trap a Tiger, by Tae Keller

**** Squire, by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh

*** The Girl in the Tower, by Katherine Arden

***** Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding, by Kenn Kaufman

- nf

*** The Winter of the Witch, by Katherine Arden

**** Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir

** A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, by Foz Meadows

October

**** Empire of Sand, by Tasha Suri

**** Last Night at the Telegraph Club, by Malinda Lo

**** Realm of Ash, by Tasha Suri

***** Ducks, by Kate Beaton

**** Harrow the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir

**** Nona the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir

**** Radcliffe Hall, by Miyuki Jane Pinckard

*** The Golden Enclaves, by Naomi Novik

*** Sailor's Delight, by Rose Lerner

**** The Wife in the Attic, by Rose Lerner

*** Sisters of the Vast Black, by Lina Rather

*** Passing Strange, by Ellen Klages

**** A Taste of Honey, by Kai Ashante Wilson

November

*** The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System, Volume 4, by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

**** Into the Riverlands, by Nghi Vo

***** Ocean's Echo, by Everina Maxwell

**** Dracula, by Bram Stoker, edited by Matt Kirkland (Dracula Daily)

*** The Black Tides of Heaven, by Neon Yang

**** Sorcerer of the Wildeeps, by Kai Ashante Wilson

*** Moira's Pen, by Megan Whalen Turner

**** Heaven Official's Blessing, Volume 1, by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

**** Heaven Official's Blessing, Volume 2, by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

**** Heaven Official's Blessing, Volume 3, by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

**** Heaven Official's Blessing, Volume 4, by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

December

**** Illuminations, by T Kingfisher

**** Heaven Official's Blessing, Volume 5-8, by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

**** The Ramsay Scallop, by Frances Temple

**** Piranesi, by Susanna Clarke

**** Sing for the Coming of the Longest Night, by Iona Datt Sharma and Katherine Fabian

**** Island of Ghosts, by Gillian Bradshaw

***** Code Name Verity, by Elizabeth Wein

*** Schemes of the Wayfarer, by Drew Sarkis

[rabbitcruiser]

National Maritime Day 

Learn about the contributions of maritime workers such as transporters, and the regulations, safety rules, and security that goes into those crucial jobs.

Some people might have begun to notice a theme about May and its holidays–and that is that many of them are centered on getting back out and into the world. With the warming sun and halting rains, should anyone be the least bit surprised?

Even so, while National Maritime Day is not necessarily about the ocean at large, it is more about those men and women who spend their lives working on and around it. This day specifically focuses on the safety, security, and all the little elements that make up the lives of those on the sea, as well as a little bit of remembrance for how much people have to thank them for.

History of National Maritime Day

A great way to start with this day is by understanding exactly what maritime is. To begin with, maritime transport and work has been important since the human race first put something that floats in the water and decided to use it to get somewhere or do something.

National Maritime Day commemorates the sea, the people of the sea, and the incredible effect it has had on the lives and well-being of humankind. Just to start with the most basic point about it, sea trade has been the largest carrier of cargo in the history of the world. In fact, even the land-bound parts of the Silk Road didn’t see as much cargo and trade-goods moving along it as the oceans and seas have.

Of course, when it comes to the sea, the wind is an ever-present companion, the water buoyant and the siren-call of days at sea are strong in everyone nearby. But the one thing that may be a bit of a weakness for water-transport  is the fact that items need to be delivered in a timely manner. While the system is and always has been fairly reliable, it certainly is not fast, at least not by today’s modern standards.

So for those who know someone who has worked in the sea trade or still does, National Maritime Day is the perfect day to take a moment to thank them for all they have done, and let them tell stories about their time on the salty black seas.

National Maritime Day Timeline

1300 BC Seafaring boats are used

The oldest discovered hulled boat that is for seafaring dates back to the Late Bronze Age. Evidence has been in a shipwreck off the coast of Turkey.

200 BC Maritime Silk Road begins

Before trade on the open seas was common, the Maritime Silk Road used many back routes and channels to make trade possible between Asia, Africa and Europe.

1492 Christopher Columbus’ First Voyage

This maritime trip into the new world is the first crossing of the Atlantic that does not use Arctic routes.

1912 The Titanic sinks

This most infamous of luxury cruise ships sinks on her maiden voyage between Southampton, England and New York City, USA.

1955 USS Nautilus is launched

The world’s first nuclear powered sailing vessel, named after the fictional submarine in Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. 

How to Celebrate National Maritime Day

Make a Visit to the Coast

One perfect way to celebrate and honor this day is to get out to the oceans or seas by gaining access through the bays and the ports. Take a look at the ships coming and going, watch the boats going through the harbor, and perhaps even get up close to take a tour of one, if possible!

Take the time to go out and marvel at the ships and the huge dinosaur like cranes that hulk over the docks transporting cargo containers from shore to ship and ship to shore as they help make the world’s economy turn.

Check Out a Maritime Museum

While visiting a harbor or port, check to see if there is a Maritime museum nearby that can be easily accessed. These museums can offer a wealth of information that allows for learning about the sea and maritime issues. See what has been wrought and how things have changed over the years.

Learn about the regulations that people and boats have to follow and how maritime safety has been a constant and evolving concern–and still remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.

Some of the world’s most popular Maritime museums include:

National Maritime Museum, London, United Kingdom. Also called the Greenwich Maritime Museum, this one has been open since the 1930s.

Sydney Maritime Museum, Sydney, Australia. This fairly modern museum has been working for more than 20 years.

San Diego Maritime Museum, California, USA. In addition to visiting, people can participate in recreational and educational courses throughout the year.

Kobe Maritime Museum, Kobe, Japan. Built on one of Japan’s most important ports, this museum integrates Japanese maritime history with the influence of modern technology.

Read Some Books About Sea Life

National Maritime Day is the perfect time to get started on learning more about the lives of sailors and people of the sea. Traditionally, in the past the people living on the sea were mostly men, although some ships did allow women on board (or, in some cases, they snuck on board dressed as boys).

Try reading some of these fictional stories of the men (and a few women) who have had sea-faring adventures:

Moby Dick by Herman Melville. This classic piece of fiction was published in London in 1851 and hails the famous first line “Call me Ishmael”, one of the most recognizable lines in classic Western literature.

Seafaring Women: Adventures of Pirate Queens, Female Stowaways, and Sailors’ Wives by David Cordingly. Chronicling the various numbers of women who went to sea, this non-fiction historical narrative is surprising and delightful.

The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Telling the battle of a Cuban fisherman against a marlin, this fictional short story was published in the US in 1952 and is well loved as it echoes the struggles of the human condition.

Shōgun by James Clavell. The first of novels in this series, Shōgun is based on actual events encountered by and English Sailor whose ship was blown ashore in Japan around 1600, giving a unique Western perspective on life in the Orient at the time.

National Maritime Day isn’t a day for being inside, it’s a day for going out and exploring this important part of the world’s past, present, and future. National Maritime Day – To The Docks!

Source

[pensiveant]

Hollow Earth theory is so dear and near to me because of Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth which I adored as a child. And still do I suppose. I mean, vast caves and underground tunnels, a subterranean ocean, prehistoric creatures?? Those are literally my favorite things in the world, how could I possibly resist its siren call?

[stainedgold]

Simple Character info

Kei Vern - Angel, 228 (21) years old, he/him, gay, aromantic, 5'7

Klaus Ayre - Werewolf, 156 (29) years old, they/he (non-binary), aroace, 6'2

Mei Clove - Vampire+Succubi, 172 (28) years old, they/she/he (genderfluid), lesbian, ace, 6'4

Nico(las) Ino - Werecat, 76 (27) years old, he/they, bisexual male pref, 5'6

Elis Ruix - Angel, she/her, straight, 5'4

Orion Vex - Demon, he/they, bisexual fem pref, 5'8

Lila vern - Siren, 23 years old, she/her, straight, 5'5

^ (Technically dead but any posts w/ her would have her be around her alive age and Kei would be like younger)

[faith-alhazred]

FINALLY

i present the last episode of the Antique Mask story.

tonight i tell how the story ended for both real groups and what also could happen.

the main goal of story is to find the Mask of Medusa and do anything about it. Both of my groups did it.

but also there was a few minor goal the players could possibly hit.

realise that the Antique Mask is the Mask of Medusa

find out that Fenning is the murderer also know as the number 47

do something about it - get him arrested or, preferably, kill him

do something about other murderers - leave them as statues or get them arrested to. preferably avoiding massacre in Le Theatre des Horreurs.

save Aristide Zweig and make a decision about his future.

do anything about Boris - cure his traumatised mind and/or bring him to his family

the first group was extremely cold minded duo, the private detective and the psychiatrist.

they persuaded Albert to give them the Mask, and had intention to inspect it thoroughly before giving it to Fenning. unfortunately for them, they were holding it openly while they were crossing the exhibition. in that moment the psychiatrist was mentally dominated by the petrified murderers - same way, they did it before with poor Ilse. following the sudden urge to burn down the Mask the psychiatrist at least ran outside, to avoid a new fire. the detective tried to stop him, but it was too late. the damage was dealt.

the chaos started in Les Theatre des Horreurs as every petrified murder was freed. but the police was prepared for something like that, as this team was in contact with the police director, so they arrested everyone in the museum... but unfortunately it was too late for Aristide Zweig.

as Mask was damaged the Medusa appeared. the detective and the doctor was lying down before her, avoiding looking at her. one of them grabbed the only shining thing he has - the lighter - and managed to make Medusa see her own reflection. for a few minutes they were too scared to look at her, and just stayed on the ground with their eyes closed till they heard police siren.

these two purely rational men were shocked after encounter with obviously supernatural creature, so when i asked them "what you want to do next?" their answer was:

"WE GO TO OUR OFFICE FALL INTO ARMCHAIRS AND DRINK WHISKEY"

they were pretty drunk when they got a phone call. a soft sly voice of Fenning said:

"i should thank you for you job. i am absolutely satisfied"

"yeah? did you get what you want?"

"oh yes, i did. now goodbye, we won't meet again".

click

the detective put down the telephone. he started to search for something in his pockets. a piece of paper.

"about forty. five-foot-three. one hundred and forty pounds. pop eyes."

no one ever seen Fenning nor Boris again.

now, to the second group. they were very gentle couple on a honey moon - delicate young husband and his more determined wife.

they hid the Mask when they were going through the exhibition. unlike the first group they were absolutely aware, that Fenning is murderer, but they still decided to go to him with the Mask.

i asked "would you call Fenning before you go or just go without a phone call? "

them, nervously: "NO, we won't call him, no"

i honestly just wanted to roleplay the moment when Fenning with his most pitiful voice asking to bring him some cigarettes, but okay, guys 😁

so, they come to the antique shop. as they won't visit Fenning for a while, the set up changed. the wide space in the middle freed and surrounded by mirrors. every item that could reflect is neatly polished. Boris is sitting in the corner. and as a final touch - Fenning has the big copper brazier before him.

as Fenning sees the wooden box on their hands, his mood lightens immediately. he acts very friendly and promises to pay them right away, but firstly to check is it the Mask. he takes the box, throw it to the brazier and light the fire. he smiles them and say:

"you better go to the back room"

after a few seconds of uncertainty, the couple hides in the back room. they try took through the slit in the curtains, and they can see Fenning taking from the pocket the terrible mask made of mirror shards. then they stopped looking avoiding to see the face of Medusa, who was about to appear.

after a while they heard a creak of the wheelchair.

footsteps.

a loud crash as something big get broken into thousand pieces.

and absolutely horrifying nearly hysterical happy laughter.

that's when the couple come back into the room. the stone pieces left from Medusa all over the floor. Fenning, still chucking and very pleased, stretching calmly.

with a hearty smile that somehow looks more sinister than his gloomy face when they met him for the first time Fenning says that now they can get their payment. actually they can take whatever they want, he doesn't care. he takes some cash. the gun from the desk drawer. something else. finally, he calls for Boris. and of course he won't go without Chamkina.

they let him go.

i literally can't believe it, but. they didn't do anything to stop him.

they both successfully returned to their home in London. they read in the newspapers later something about Jacob Berger's found dead, and his murderer at large. about chaos in Les Theatre des Horreurs. and they were just happy they managed to survive all of that.

thank you everybody for reading ✨

that's how the story of the Antique Mask ended. please, let me know if you liked it, and if you have any cool ideas for another adventures - i would be happy to hear it 🥰🌿

i also had Peter Lorre inspired characters in two other scenarios - Oasis in the Desert (imagine mixed up Casbah, 1000 and 1 Nights, Hauff's Caravan and Lovecraftian horror) and Monster Meets Boris Karloff (mystical detective story set in Los Angeles, 1942) but in both of them he is not the main star (yet Peter Lorre is also the main star in my heart, of course ✨)

and the last thing, technical details - this scenario takes about 7-8 hours to play from begging to the end, and as a system i used Blackbird Pie. it would be cool also to run for a group of up to 4 players, i suppose.

[iliveonmycdrive]

@systemadministratorclu - Sorry this took so long, this one was hard and feels more rough to me. I actually started writing this right away and then forgot about it, anyway: The issue with Legacy is that it has this amazing, highly charged, emotional soundtrack. You could probably just play the music and have people dance and or do ballet to it and tell the story pretty effectively, but here goes:

ACT 1

“Bedtime Story / Father and Son” - Mostly spoken word against music - Flynn tucks kid Sam into bed, recounts his original ENCOM adventure, and how he built The Grid.

“News” - Acts as a transition, buys time for the stage to be remade - A lot like how it was in the film - We see clips regarding Flynn’s disappearance (I’m picturing an actual giant TV being lowered down?)

“Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” - yes the Journey song, although maybe change some lyrics - Duet between Flynn and a growing Sam - one half of the stage is the Grid, the other the real world, each character trading off and singing each section - hammering in that Sam and his dad are beyond separated

“Unlikely Successor” - Sam pulls off his prank at the ENCOM building, he implies he does stuff like this all the time, and relents he could have been in charge of the company, letting the software be free like his dad intended. Dillinger Jr. and Alan have a few spoken lines in between Sam singing.

“Paged by Ghosts” - Alan comes to Sam with info about the page from the arcade. The song should start with banter between the two, rapid back and forth, catching up, trying to get Sam to see things his way. After he mentions the page, the banter stops and the song gets serious.

(Separate Ways plays as Sam investigates the Arcade)

“This Isn’t Happening” - A long sequence that covers Sam getting zapped, taken to the game grid, armored up by the sirens and enduring the disc battles. As soon as he meets Rinzler the singing stops, and it’s more like an action sequence set to a score.

“I’m Not Your Father, But I’m Happy to See You” - Clu confronts Sam - Clu’s villain song melody should be foreshadowed here

“Lightcycles and Escape” - Again, absolutely insane synth solo/instrumental - Quorra rescues Sam

ACT 2

“Awkward Reunions” - Sam and Flynn reunite, Quorra observes and comments. It starts bittersweet, then transitioning into the awkward dinner together, and turns into arguing about what to do regarding leaving the Grid and Clu, with Quorra interjecting, sometimes comedically

“Castor or Zuse?” - his intro, his solo, and just absolutely bombastic. He does the stereotypical Broadway going down stairs thing - he should literally say "This is my only number, so I'm making it good" - Sam and Zuse discuss the disc

"Party Crashers (Who Invited God?)" - More instrumental/action, until Flynn arrives and it turns into Greek Chorus meets Gregorian Chanting

"What'd I Miss?" - Flynn and Sam get more reacquainted and heal Quorra's arm - when Sam talks to Quorra the song slows down a bit and we hear the melody that will be used for the finale in the real world

"Out There Is Our Destiny" - The Clu villain theme is presented in full, and his speech is integrated into the song, literally scream-singing his evil plans - the end of this becomes something that sounds like Disc Wars and becomes the Light Jets sequence

"Unknowable Perfection" - Flynn and Clu duet before reintegration, which would be the end of the song of course - all of Clu's arguments falling apart as Flynn explains his mistakes and that he's doing this for Sam

"Sunsets/Finale" - Sam and Quorra duet - Sam takes Quorra to see the sunset on his bike, Quorra talks about all the things she wants to see and Sam comedically corrects her (kind of like when she asks if Sam knows Jules Verne)

"Credits" - like the Daft Punk OG a little energetic - we see some disc-fu moves from everyone before they take their bows

[knickynoo]

Back to the Future: The Animated Series, s02ep04 “Marty McFly PFC” Review and Commentary

Previous episodes linked here.

In this episode: Lots of jitterbugging, Marty accidentally joins the military, and using German words is strictly verboten.

Another green screen opening! Our good friend Doc is in the 1940s, where he's entered a jitterbug dance contest. He's having a blast watching the other competitors.

A few things here...

There was a missed opportunity to have Doc's contestant number be 88.

Also, you can't just drop information about Doc apparently being able to jitterbug well enough to enter a contest and then NOT show him dancing. This is Doc Lore that shouldn't just be glossed over! The man can jitterbug??! Show. Us.

Why did this form of dance ever go out of style? I LOVE swing dancing. We should still be doing this.

Doc leads us into the cartoon by reminiscing about the time that Verne, who was taking dance lessons, accidentally entered a jitterbug contest as well in 1944.

We begin at the Hill Valley Dance Academy, where we quickly learn that Verne is not a very good dancer. He's attempting to waltz with his partner, but keeps stepping on her feet and messing up the footwork. His teacher is quite displeased with his lack of progress over the previous three weeks.

Look at Vernie with his slicked back hair and fancy little outfit. Adorable.

After a terrible class, Verne goes home to beg Clara to let him quit. She tells him that it's important to finish what you start. Also! We've got a new and improved Clara this season! First of all, her character design is much better—her features aren't quite as wonky as they were at the start of season one—and she's got some new clothes! It seems that Clara has been adjusting well to living in the early 1990s.

I love that we never see Clara not wearing purple. The girl knows what she likes and sticks to it.

After realizing he isn't getting anywhere with trying to convince his mother, Verne goes to Doc to vent about his dance woes. Doc says that he, too, took dance lessons as a kid, and that it was, "a humiliating experience."

To help Verne out, Doc digs through a trunk for an old invention: a pair of boots that are programmed to help the wearer perform certain dances. Unfortunately, as with most of Cartoon Doc's inventions, they malfunction pretty much right away, making him dance too quickly before spinning him out of control and then exploding.

Doc searches for the blueprints to repair them, but he can't find it anywhere in his files. Using a different invention to help jog his memory, Doc has a "flashback" to where he had stored the original blueprints.

We learn that Doc lived in a small apartment above a gas station in 1944, and he tells Verne a bit about World War II and all the fear and uncertainty of the time. He recalls hiding the blueprints under some clothes in a drawer just before the siren announcing a blackout sounded. This is 1944 Doc, by the way.

Not sure why he has such dark hair. There was that episode last season where we met him as a four-year-old, and he had very light blond hair. By 1955, his hair is still a light blond, heading toward white. Did he dye his hair at some point? Hmm.

Anyway, Doc goes on to tell Verne that the dresser holding the blueprints was lost the next year in a fire. Verne suggests they just take a quick trip back to 1944 to nab the blueprints, but Doc doesn't want to take the risk of running into his past self. Verne is not pleased.

We cut scene to Marty, who is rummaging through the Browns' fridge like a starving man since he apparently doesn't have a family of his own to feed him. Verne promises to buy Marty a big, greasy burger if he'll go on an "errand" with him. This is enough to get Marty to agree, and he and Verne set off for 1944. And this right here is another major difference between Movie Marty and Cartoon Marty. Movie Marty wouldn't be swayed by the promise of food. That kid doesn't even need food. He'll go through all sorts of exciting and nightmarish adventures on a completely empty tank—no food, no water, no sleep. He's just built different.

After arriving, our little Chaos Duo partake in some breaking and entering and find the blueprints.

Just when it looks like their errand is already done and they're in the clear, Marty and Verne are stopped by a Blackout Warden, who questions them on why they had lights on in the apartment during a scheduled blackout. Were they trying to signal enemy planes?

The warden then finds the DeLorean, which he assumes is some type of advanced weapon. He goes to inform the military while Marty and Verne take off running. The two hide out in some bushes overnight in a victory garden, and are found in the morning by a girl named Rosie and her little sister, Dorothy.

We then meet Sergeant Frank Tannen, who obviously has a thing for Rosie and, in typical Tannen fashion, starts being much too forward and handsy with her. Marty intervenes, and Frank chases them for a while before they manage to get the upper hand.

But if you think that this is the end of the trouble for Marty and Vernie, you're wrong. The warden shows up then, announcing that he's placing the both of them under citizen's arrest. They take off running again, with both Frank and the warden in pursuit.

Verne, who is smart, takes cover in a movie theater. Marty, who is a doofus on a good day, runs straight into a recruiting center. For some reason, he thinks it's a restaurant?? And when he asks if people are on line for food, the guy in front of him says they'll get three square meals a day. Marty, who is still very hungry, is thrilled and asks what he has to do to get some food. He's told to sign a form, which he immediately does.

Marty has accidentally joined the Army.

This all could have been avoided if he'd been able to find some food in the fridge earlier. Or even if he'd had a granola bar stashed away in his pocket or in the car.

After learning of Marty's predicament, Verne starts trying to figure out how to rescue him. While he's out in town, he runs into Rosie and Dorothy, who ask him if he'd like to come to their house for a Salisbury steak. "Nah, but a hamburger would be great!" Verne replies, promptly getting a hand clamped over his mouth by Rosie. He's informed that he shouldn't say "The H-word," or people might think he's a Nazi spy.

At their house, Dorothy asks Verne to stick around and be her partner for the jitterbug contest (if you hadn't guessed, Dorothy is Verne's dance teacher as a little girl). Verne says he can't possibly hang around; he's got to save Marty.

"You kidding?" Rosie replies. "The Army will make a man out of him."

Immediate cut to this scene:

Poor guy.

Returning to the "H-word" scene for a moment, I'd like to point out that in the initial scene with Frank Tannen, he keeps using German phrases and catching himself. He calls Marty and Verne "wisenheimers" (great word that isn't used nearly enough, by the way. It means a smart-aleck/wise-guy), as well as "dummkopfs."

If people aren't supposed to be using German words, Sergeant Tannen isn't doing a very good job. Maybe...he's a spy!!

(side-note: I don't know for sure, but I'd assume Frank is Biff's uncle? Maybe he's Irving "Kid" Tannen's brother?)

Okay, back to Marty. He's—

Wait, wrong piece of media.

After eating some very questionable food in the mess hall, Marty is rescued by Verne, who is dressed as a medic.

They run off to the town square, where the dance contest is being held. Frank and the warden from earlier are both there searching for Marty and Verne. Marty dons a wig and poses as one of the "Anderson sisters" up on the stage, while Verne goes with Dorothy to dance. Using the power of swing-dancing, Verne and Dorothy basically beat up Frank and the warden. Verne also discovers that he really likes to dance!

The pair win first place in the contest, and Marty and Verne then steal the DeLorean back from the men who were guarding it and return home.

After seeing the blueprints, Doc says he doesn't approve of the trip to the past, but it's okay as long as they didn't interact with anyone or interfere with anything. Verne and Marty trade mischievous smiles, then Verne runs off to his dance class.

We return to Real Doc, who leads us into a fascinating lesson about center of mass, and shows us a very interesting experiment demonstrating how men and women have different centers of mass (due to the way a woman's hips are positioned), thus allowing women to easily perform a maneuver that involves taking a certain number of steps back, leaning forward with the top of your head against a wall, picking up a chair, and standing straight up—something the majority of men apparently can't do. Here are gifs of a woman (in a spectacularly 90s outfit) and Bill Nye demonstrating.

I actually was so interested in this that I searched up several videos of people doing it on youtube. All the women could do it easily, but only one guy could, lol.

Looks like a fun game to play at a party or family get-together!

This was an enjoyable episode. Lots of silly Marty and Verne shenanigans. I would like to start seeing more of Clara and Jules, though. They're not utilized nearly enough in this cartoon. I think that's because they both have too much common sense, so it's easier to leave them out of the picture and let Doc, Verne, and Marty run wild.

Join me next time to see Marty and Verne throw caution to the wind and let Verne's friend in on the secret of time travel.

[pokeharvest]

updated list of stuff i've read:

Gotham City Sirens 2024 (first two issues out right now)

Batman/Superman: World's Finest (all caught up and i loved itttt)

Superman Earth One

Wonder Woman Earth One

Black Canary 2015 (finished the series)

Zatanna: Bring Down The House (also first two issues out rn)

My Picture Diary

Vern Custodian of the Universe

Mooncakes

The Prince and the Dressmaker

Lunar New Year Love Story

Comics I read today:

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (the original and the new series coming out right now)

Spirit World (all 6 issues)

Black Canary 2015 (volume 1 tpb)

Poison Ivy 2022 (all 24 issues)

Wonder Woman Tempest Tossed

Taproot

I'm proud of myself I haven't devoured books like this in a long time :')

[airbrushed-clouds]

Sorry about the crappy quality! I’ve been brainstorming new oc and drawing ideas, but have had extreme artists block, so I took a small break from posting!  This here is Vern, A siren. Right now this is just her rough design, and it’s improving by the day. I’ve added in her color pallet too.

[dying-suffering-french-stalkers]

Me: oh HELL yeah, I finally finished my Greek and I have no Latin homework, so I could do more scholarship hours or even watch the DVD I already have checked out from the library!

Goblin brain: you must go check out Mysterious Island (1961) right now immediately or you will die

[siren-gacha-official]

Characters

List of characters, most of these are the main characters of the Siren_Gacha channel. Feel free to interact with any of them!

Siren

Vern

Tiger

Sota

Inanna

Zara

And those are the ones you can interact with for now! Maybe at some point you’ll meet Xaxius, Saver, and Lucifer!