#Virtual Lecture Events

[see-arcane]

Our good friend Jonathan Harker is getting ready to leave for his business trip, Mina Murray is picking out a new journal, Lucy Westenra is charming a gaggle of smitten suitors, Abraham van Helsing is wrapping up his lectures, and Castle Dracula is prepping the guest room for a very long stay.

Which must mean that Dracula Season is here again!

 ‘Dracula Season’ being a catchall term for the voracious reading, memeing, writing, illustrating, analyzing, and general fun-having that’s ensued since Matt Kirkland’s project, Dracula Daily, caught on with us back in 2022. The Substack had already been running before then, but it sparked a conflagration as time went on and readers old and new to Bram Stoker’s Dracula—the actual novel, not Coppola’s fanfiction—devoured it in a way that scratched an itch none of us knew we had. Stoker wrote the book in epistolary fashion, clumping sections together as needed for the pacing without perfect adherence to chronological order. Matt went ahead and put all the events in order and proceeded to set up a lovely chain of emails that delivered entries on those correlating dates.

This style of organization and pacing turned out to not only make the virtual book club that much easier to engage with, but left space in-between to stew on the story and relate with the characters themselves. Every day of waiting in the book feels weightier when you have to pace and sweat and worry in tandem with poor Jonathan trapped in the castle or Lucy wasting away or Mina running out the clock before she loses the fight for her own humanity. And while we sat with the story or the lulls between Dracula Seasons, some of us found ourselves craving more of that ghastly gothic horror goodness to the point that we figured:

“Well. Why don’t I make something?”

And then we did! Tons of creative works have been churned out in the wake of Dracula Daily’s high. I figured that while we’ve still got a bit of time to wait for May 3rd, we should check out all this new stuff in the meantime. (Plus a handful of neat stuff that just clicks with the Dracula itch overall.)

So, in the interest of Dracula Season pregaming, let’s take a look at…

FICTION

Blood of My Blood – A recent addition to the Dracula Bad Ending AU pile, and definitely one of the most harrowing and addictive group-produced narratives I’ve ever come across, Blood of My Blood is the dramatically gothic currently-WIP work of @ibrithir-was-here and @animate-mush’s devious design. Give or take a heap of other fascinated folks (hello!) adding ideas to put more Horror into the Horrors that our cast has to face. The premise:

The Transylvanian climax went fatally sour and the Harkers were forced to shelter with Dracula himself, including their half-vampire son, Quincey. Cut to two decades later, and Quincey finds himself out in modern London, smitten with Lu, adopted daughter of Arthur and Jack, and diving into certain bloodstained old documents that detail the real history of how his parents came to live in the castle. Said revelations coming not a moment too soon, as a storm is coming for him straight from the Carpathians…

Dracula Daily Sketch Collection – An array of illustrations that captures every entry beat by beat, the Dracula Daily Sketch Collection by Georgia Cook, alias @georgiacooked was dished out over the course of the last Dracula Season. Some of the most fun character designs out there.

Fanfiction Spotlight: BlueCatWriter – With a whopping 99 works devoted to the novel Dracula (so far, the number may have gone up since I blinked), @bluecatwriter is one of the most prolific and talented fanfiction scribblers out there. Romances, nightmares, and overlaps between the two seem to crop up the most, give or take a crossover. Seems fitting that those blue paw prints have contributed to BoMB too.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlefolk – An ongoing comic in which all your favorite characters from the Classics section get together and tackle some perils ranging from the mundane to the monstrous. Started by the amazing @mayhemchicken and posted on @lxgentlefolkcomic, this series is a love letter to beloved Victorian era lit, with a spotlight on the two couples leading the League. Namely, the Harkers, ala Dracula, and the Nortons, ala Sherlock Holmes,’ “A Scandal in Bohemia.” Mina and Irene are the driving investigative and steering forces here, and still deeply in love with their likewise-infatuated husbands, just like in their canons! What a concept! Alan.

Without spoiling the full character list, just know there are going to be a ton of familiar faces roaming around before you finish reading the first arc. Said arc having conveniently wrapped up just a few days ago! Give the comic and its bonus silliness a look if you’re in the mood for a new comfort-adventure epic.

Re: Dracula – Probably the most well-known and incredible thing to come out of the initial Dracula Daily wave. This podcast is a full audio drama that follows the same format as the Substack, with episodes coming out in time with the entries themselves. And it has an unfairly cool soundtrack. They have a Tumblr with @re-dracula, a site and a Patreon to check out before the series kicks up again on May 3rd. (Also, keep an eye out for their next work, an audio drama in the same style with Carmilla.)

The Soldier and the Solicitor – Another treat from @ibrithir-was-here, this one involves a bit of time travel trouble. Quincey Harker has stumbled out of World War I and into the same dark forest where his father once fled for his life…then runs into the man himself, on that same night. Jonathan Harker, young and starved and lost, who has no choice but to trust this stranger while the Weird Sisters are at his heels…despite said stranger having no shadow. It’s a tasty emotional trek, already complete on Tumblr, but now it’s turning into a Webtoon. While Ibrithir is juggling a number of other stories, she’ll be redrawing spruced up versions of the comic and adding a few new scenes as things unfold.

Substack Stack – You know what’s better than one emailed-out public domain book club? A mountain of them. Just. So, so many of them. You’ll see that a lot of these are finished, but some are still ticking along. Either way, they’re all great picks if you’re craving some more old school lit to fill the void between undead emails.

Frankenstein Weekly – Frankenstein

Jekyll and Hyde Weekly – The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Voyage of the Nautilus – Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Letters from Watson – Sherlock Holmes

The Invisible Mail – The Invisible Man

Letters from Bunny – E.W. Hornung’s short stories of the eponymous Bunny and Raffles

Letters Regarding Jeeves - P. G. Wodehouse’s Bertie Wooster short stories, including the novel, Right Ho, Jeeves

…

……

………

…The Beetle Weekly – The Beetle (NOTE: Do Not Read This.)

The Vampyres – A novella I finally wrenched through the gears of self-publication as of March this year. Starring a petite but powerful paranormal cast, The Vampyres, centers on an unscrupulous undead fellow who finds that the revenants of the world are being mowed down by an entity known only as ‘Quinn Morse.’ Between trying to save his neck and figure out where the shadowy bastard came from, the Vampyre in question crosses paths with a new paramour and handy human shield in the form of a grieving Good Samaritan. He’s even polite enough to invite the Vampyre into his home while he’s in dire straits! Surely this will end well. All the info is available here and a little author site is over here.

What Manner of Man – This is the one made for everyone who started out hoping there’d be a real love story with our good friend Jonathan Harker and the Count when he was at his most charismatic. Where that sea of wonders dried up into a mire of horror, What Manner of Man by @stjohnstarling keeps things firmly on the romantic tracks. This Substack stars the letter-writing priest Father Victor E. Ardelian as he finds himself meeting with one enigmatic Lord Alistair Vane. It isn’t long before interest turns into intrigue and intrigue into undead intimacies.

The entire novel has been completed—along with multiple epilogues in the author’s Patreon, allowing readers to choose for themselves just how the uncanny romance plays out in the end—and the Substack now has a number of other gothic goodies piling up in the meantime.  

NONFICTION

Dracula Daily: A Unique Reading Experience: This one comes courtesy of @realwomenofgaming. It’s a short and sweet piece that amounts to a fun snapshot of the entire Dracula Daily ride. A cozy couple-minute read.

‘Dracula Daily’ is the One Substack You Need a Subscription To: Features my favorite Matt Kirkland interview. @mattkirkland, if you’re still floating around on here, thank you for dispatching our vampire newsletter again this year.

Dracula Daily is Tumblr’s hottest new book club: Alright, the ‘new’ part is worn out by now, but this one is still a delightful article to swing back around to. Two years on, this Polygon piece is a time capsule of those early months when people outside our bookworm bubble realized we were all happily receiving letters from our favorite classic gothic horror blorbos.  

“How Mina Murray Became Dracula’s Girlfriend” – Princess Weekes, if you ever read this, thank you, thank you, thank you. I am sending oceans of love and millions of rewatches to your video essay. If you haven’t seen it yet, “How Mina Murray Became Dracula’s Girlfriend” is one of the most refreshing and well-made breakdowns of both the title subject and numerous other issues that have proliferated in the public view of Dracula’s cast and plot as adaptations endlessly warp or outright bastardize the actual novel. An incredibly cathartic watch.  

Literary play gone viral: delight, intertextuality, and challenges to normative interpretations through the digital serialization of Dracula: A mouthful of a title for an even more elaborate article about the Dracula Daily phenomenon. This one is a full-on study that analyzes just what happened within the big bloodsucker book club surge and how its ‘wandering reading practices’ enriched the experience for participants.

 “The Undying Undead: An analysis of the Dracula Daily community for a theory of online community formation and interaction” – We have a thesis on here! Look at that! @sirangelothebestest’s MA thesis used our vampiric book club as the bones for a massive brick of an academic piece that definitely deserves a look.

…And I think I’ll go ahead and cap things here.

This isn’t everything I got recommended, but if I had squashed all of it in here, I think folks’ eyes would start to fall out of their head. I hope you can find something cool to comb through here. Or, if there’s something great I overlooked, tack it onto the list! We’ve got just two weeks to go until we’re off with Mr. Harker. Let’s enjoy our respite before those castle doors close behind us.

[astroismypassion]

✨PART OF FORTUNE IN SIGNS AND HOUSES SERIES: 10TH HOUSE✨

Credit: Tumblr blog @astroismypassion

ARIES PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Aries and Capricorn Sun people in your life. You can earn money via marketing or work in dynamic and fast-paced industries, via coaching, sports management, fitness entrepreneurship, coaching and mentoring services in connection with career development, leadership skills, personal empowerment, via work in innovation management, technology development, product development, especially emerging industries. You find abundance when you are bold, take risks, focus on ambitious goals, cultivate independence, build a strong public image and when you embrace leadership qualities.

TAURUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Taurus and Capricorn Sun people in your life. You can earn money via work in finance, banking, investment, wealth management. Or via working as a realtor, property manager, real estate developer, via curating, selling or managing art collections, working as a chef, restaurateur or food critic. You find abundance in work in hospitality (managing hotels, resorts, spas), via work in landscape architecture or gardening, interior design, or as a performer, producer or manager, through farming, agricultural management or sustainable food production or creating an eco-friendly business. You feel abundant when you are focused on stability, value quality, when you are patient and persistent.

GEMINI PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Gemini and Capricorn Sun people in your life. You can earn money via work as a journalist, writer, editor, public relations, marketing, working as PR specialist, brand manager, social media strategist, work as a teacher, lecturer, educational content creator, via writing content for blogs, websites or online platforms connected with technology, lifestyle, business. You find abundance when you write books (fiction or non-fiction), via work in technology sector, via technical writing, UX writing or product management, via event planning and work as a sales representative, account manager or business strategist. You feel abundant when you network actively, when you keep learning and embrace versatility.

CANCER PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Cancer and Capricorn Sun people in your life. You can earn money via work in healthcare as a nurse, doctor or therapist, work in interior design or home décor, helping others create comfortable and nurturing spaces, work as a chef, baker or food critic, via handmade furniture, textiles or pottery, engaging in childcare, daycare management or family support services, via work in real estate, helping families find their ideal home. You feel abundant when you use emotional intelligence, emphasize nurturing and care.

LEO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Leo and Capricorn Sun people in your life. You can earn money via pursuing a career in acting on stage, in film or on television, working as a musician, singer or performer, via directing or producing theatrical productions, films or TV shows, work in television, radio or digital broadcasting, you could work as a host, anchor or presenter, designer, stylist, model, painter, sculptor or graphic designer.

VIRGO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Virgo and Capricorn Sun people in your life. You can earn money via offering personalized health and wellness service. You can offer remote fitness coaching, such as offering personalized fitness plans and virtual training sessions. You could work in mental health professions, like counselling or psychology, work as a nutritionist, dietitian, work as a proofreader or editor, work with biology, chemistry, environmental science, mathematics or with language or having an IT role (system analysis, IT support or cybersecurity). You feel abundant when you develop organizational skills, use analytical skills and when you seek structured environments.

LIBRA PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Libra and Capricorn Sun people in your life. You can earn money via offering dance classes, via work in art curation, gallery management or the fines arts, helping to showcase and promote artists and their work, via a career in human resources, focusing on employee relations, conflict resolution, via talent management, recruitment or career coaching. You feel abundant when you work in fashion design, graphic design, visual arts, brand management and marketing. You feel abundant when you aim for balance and harmony, emphasize fairness and justice.

SCORPIO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Scorpio and Capricorn Sun people in your life. You can earn money via forensic accounting, crisis counselling or support services, via a career in scientific research, forensic science, medical research, psychology, surgery, oncology, energy healing, finance, technology or wellness, via art therapy and filmmaking. You feel abundant when you embrace transformation, healing, use psychological insight, when you pursue authority and expertise.

SAGITTARIUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Sagittarius and Capricorn Sun people in your life. You can earn money via travel blogging, vlogging or becoming a travel consultant. You find abundance via academic research, publishing, by becoming a travel consultant, tour guide, work in the tourism industry, work connected with educational, human rights and cultural exchange, via career as a spiritual teacher, counsellor, life coach, via theological or philosophical work, writing or teaching. You feel abundant when you cultivate optimism or enthusiasm, seek global or cultural perspectives, pursue knowledge or education and embrace exploration and travel.

CAPRICORN PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Capricorn Sun people in your life. You find abundance via work as a financial advisor or analyst, accounting, as a property developer, manager or investor, via work in property management, overseeing rental properties, commercial spaces or large residential complexes, via civil engineering, work in educational administration (school or college management). You feel abundant when you focus on long-term goals and value pragmatism and responsibility.

AQUARIUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Aquarius and Capricorn Sun people in your life. You can earn money via buying and selling collectibles (stamps, coins, vintage items), creating eco-friendly products or services (zero-waste goods, sustainable fashion). You may also find abundance in esports coaching by offering coaching services for aspiring professional gamers. You feel abundant via work in scientific research, in fields like physics, astronomy, biotechnology and environmental science, work in roles focused on research and development, via digital marketing. You feel abundant when you are pursuing unconventional paths, via networking with like-minded individuals and align with social causes.

PISCES PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Pisces and Capricorn Sun people in your life. You can earn money via work in music as a composer, musician or performer, via a career in painting, illustration, sculpture or other visual arts, via hospice work, via work in non-profit sector, focusing on causes related to humanitarian aid, environmental conservation or social justice, work in hospitality, such as hotel management or event planning, via cultural exchange, guided tours or spiritual retreats. You feel abundant when you embrace your creative talents, cultivate compassion and empathy, when you explore spiritual and esoteric interests and when you focus on meaningful impact.

Credit: Tumblr blog @astroismypassion

[criticalthinkingwitches]

CritWitchCon

Sept 27th - 29th

A Virtual Convention

Our mission is to bring together a community of critical thinking witches and seekers of all varieties – centering the secular, nontheistic, agnostic, atheist, skeptical, and science-minded – to meet, network, commune, collaborate, share, support one another, and learn from each other in kindness, curiosity, and creativity. We strive to foster a safer space where magic and science are respected equally, acknowledging that there can be genuine beauty and meaning in the mysterious.

This year's theme: Perception (Perspective) Check: Life through a Seekers Lens. Join us while you discover and discuss some of the different ways we see the witchy world. Connect, learn, and get involved with community of science-minded witches and seekers!

All-Access Pass - $35 Stream live with us and your community members in Zoom and Discord!

Saver Pass - $25 Access to the recorded videos and your community in the Discord.

Early Bird Pricing ends 8/30

Scholarships available!

Tickets on sale now!

WWW.CriticalThinkingWitches.Com/Events

Are you interested in learning more about us for free?

Check out or free virtual event this Sunday August 26th! We call our smaller event "Brews" and they they are part lecture, part workshop, and part community interaction.

As a lead into our Con's theme of "Perception (and Perspective) Check!" we are starting the conversation with special guest, @DaylinaMiller. Daylina (they/them) is a full-time multimedia journalist at the Tampa NPR affiliate, where they’ve covered health and the LGBTQIA+ community for nearly ten years. They’ve also been a practicing atheist witch for the past 17 years and regularly help their coven mates research and debunk misinformation related to witchcraft.

For a free ticket the the Brew, to purchase a ticket to CritWitchCon, or to become a vendor at our virtual event, check out CritWitches.com!

[sgiandubh]

Why are you so angry toward Tony? Why do you call him names? If you honestly believe Sam and Cait are together, Tony is a non-issue. The only reason to be offended is if you want Sam and Cait to together, but you know she is with Tony, abd you feel he is between them. Your anger and rudeness the man shows you know the truth of their marriage, family and your bitterness she didn't choose Sam as a mate.

Dear Calling Names Anon,

I am not the one being angry, here: you are. You are so angry, in fact, that in your haste to hopefully bash me, you typed 'abd' instead of 'and' (also because you are on your phone) and you ate both a verb (if you want Sam and Cait to be together) and a preposition ( 'anger and rudeness towards the man'). Both lapsus calami (that's 'slip of the pen', for you) are very telling - mais, passons (that's French, for you: I know it pisses you off and I am so glad it does, every single time!).

I have read so many times the glorious POS you dutifully copied and pasted in that Anon box, that this time I knew I had to answer you, once and for all. You and the one who wrote this down first and then you all dutifully followed - no critical skills and never did have any.

I am not angry toward McIdiot. I am derisive and dismissive of the very lucrative part he agreed to play in that 🎪. As is, he is still a social zero and nowhere to be seen, unless she brings him along, but only at events where she knows virtually no one. No matter how hard you try to present him in an extravagant light, his real situation is well known, based on public records. Conversely, you are angry and contemptuous towards S, who has his own businesses and takes risks and makes a thousand mistakes. But who, unlike your hero here, is alive. McIdiot, that character paraded in front of us, comes across as a profiteer. Maybe McGill is a nice person. Maybe he is friends with C. McIdiot, the part he's been given in this shitshow, is anything but nice, interesting or attractive.

I call him McIdiot, that is true. You lie all day long about S, spreading lies and calumnies and innuendoes that cost him a LOT in the past. What you did had consequences IRL. Yes, you and your little harmless coterie, including its 455 Twitter and Tumblr sock accounts. You knowingly hurt someone who did absolutely nothing to you and 'rude' doesn't even start to describe your reckless attitude. What moral right have you to come here and give me lessons? That's rich, coming from people who repeatedly called me a liar, an idiot, assured their flock I was several other persons. Same people who, overall, take a sick, cheap pleasure of calling shippers either 'worms' or 'the mental ward'. So what the hell did you expect, coming here? A fucking welcoming committee? A potluck of revelations?

I do not want S&C to be together. I know S&C are together. You know it, too: otherwise you wouldn't be here screeching like a maniac in front of a closed door. You then proceed to assume knowing what I think and lecture me about what I should be thinking, instead: a very poor rhetorical strategy, indeed and a sure sign of confusion. For your information, McIdiot's absurdity will always be an issue, irrespective of their real status. And you are correct: I know a fairly consistent part of the truth about her 'family' and 'marriage'. What irks you is that I chose not to discuss many things I know in here and certainly not with you. You see, I have a personal policy, Anon: I don't share secrets with cowards. Ever.

You make me think of these harmless fools standing in the rain in Hyde Park's Speakers' Corner, who preach the imminent end of the world in front of an empty alley, Anon. Better go home: maybe Moo will make you a cuppa, once you get there.

http://www.cgpgrey.com, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

[drdemonprince]

Hey Doctor Price!

Do you have any tips for how to stay sane while autistic with no privacy? I live in a one room college dorm with a freind and there's literally nowhere anywhere on my campus where I can have even 15 minutes alone without being on edge that someone will come in any second. I'm going nuts and struggling to cope :[

I was in a four person dorm room on a 50,000 student campus and suffered from overwhelm virtually all the time, and I had to compensate by learning to really scope out the places where privacy could be found, so I believe I have some relevant tips for you!

Locate the study rooms or study carrels that can be signed out for individual use, typically in the library. Keep a close eye on them and book them as often and as early as you can, as they tend to be booked up during finals quite quickly.

Scope out the computer labs and study areas in department-specific buildings and get a sense of their busy and fallow periods, especially ones that remain unlocked during the weekends. I worked in the Psychology Department computer lab as a work study student, and they were completely empty on the weekends. The Sociology Department's computer labs were also totally empty most nights and weekends too.

For that matter, find on-campus jobs that can get you some privacy, often lab monitoring or administrative jobs in smaller offices. One summer I worked at the front desk of the student newspaper, which was tucked away on the eighth floor of a massive building, and it got basically no business because it was the summer. I also worked as a Psych Department admin and hid myself away in the copy room and supply closet as often as possible. If a job gives you key card access to break rooms or bathrooms you might not otherwise be able to use, so much the better.

Find the bathrooms that are tucked far away from any heavy activity. Check out the basements, top floors, and down around the corners of long hallways, and near meeting halls that have to be reserved for special events. The Chemistry building had a weird, shitty women's restroom that had been converted from a supply closet across a long walkway connecting two buildings, and everybody hated it. That meant it was nearly always empty. In my old office in the Psych building at Loyola, there was a bathroom off the main hall that was busy, but then another that was up a half flight of stairs near a room that was only ever used for guest speakers. NOBODY used that bathroom. I spent hours in there curled up in the dark vaping.

Learn the rhythms of a building or area of campus so you can take advantage of slow periods. If a building only has one dedicated purpose, such as a massive lecture hall, try checking it out when you know there aren't any class sessions happening. If a building is only used for recitations but those are only on tuesdays and thursdays, check it out on a wednesday. I went to a big football school, so on weekends half the campus was absoultely crawling with sports fans, but the gyms were completely dead during that period.

Stairwells. Sit at the tops of stairwells. If a building has multiple sets of stairs, find one that's far off in a corner and then hike your ass all the way to the top floor. The southwest stairwell of Loyola's Information Commons is a place I've written whole essays in, and even attended Zoom meetings from, it's so quiet.

Learn you roomate's schedule. If you're on good terms, ask them to put their schedule up on a whiteboard where you can see it, and share your own. Both of you will want time alone sometimes, and coordinating can really help. If your'e on good terms you can text as well. If your roommate ever requests alone time to study or to fuck, you get to, too.

Find the totally useless neglected spaces by exploring a little. Some dorm buildings have a shared kitchen in the basement or an activity room with air hockey tables that nobody uses. Laundry rooms are good during off times. Because most campuses are in a perpetual state of construction, there's usually old union buildings or emptied-out department buildings that haven't officially closed down yet but have next to nothing going on in them. There's lots of small waiting areas by professor's offices in nearly every building. Try every door. Duck into available classrooms. You will get interrupted sometimes but the more you learn the countors of the place and its patterns the more mastery you will have, and the less stress you will feel about the possibility of being interrupted.

I know that you said there is nowhere for you to find privacy, Anon, but I promise you that is not true! I have been on 50,000 person campuses, 12,000 person campuses, and for a few years I worked on a 2,000 person campus. I was ALWAYS able to find tucked-away bathrooms, empty classrooms, tops of stairwells, and weird neglected study areas to find some peace in. You can too. Please explore and help yourself feel more in control of this stressful situation! Good luck and let me know how it goes.

[terrorcamp]

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for Terror Camp 2023! RSVP for free at the link above in order to receive links to the virtual webinars and event Discord server ahead of the conference.

We have also announced our lineup of poster presenters on the schedule page: https://www.terror.camp/2023-program

And TODAY (Oct 15) is your last day to sign up for a storefront at our Artists Alley: https://www.terror.camp/artists-alley

xoxo Terror Camp Command

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Any advice for those of us looking for supportive friends who also share our love for words and passion for writing? Perhaps online avenues/ (active) writing groups or ways to go about searching for local events or workshops in our communities? ♥️

(First off, love your writing!)

I did a bit of digging on this, and for the most part, it's online writing communities that seem to be frequently suggested. Other than going the university/local community route, which would vary depending on where we live.

Since I can't give you any good advice on this, here are a few tips I found online for finding a writing group:

Find a local writing group near you. Visit a nearby community center. They offer different types of gatherings and courses and might have a writing workshop or group that’s taking new members. Also, check the listings at your local library where people often gather for literary talks or groups. In general, writing groups have a set time and day that they meet. For example, some clubs might meet every second Tuesday of the month. Find a writers workshop that fits your schedule.

Go on a writing retreat. Unlike most other writing groups, going on a writer’s retreat will cost money and is usually a destination event. It’s a writing-intensive place where people go to dedicate all of their time to writing and to connect with other writers. If you have some time to get away, find a writing retreat where you can dedicate a week or more to just writing.

Join different writers’ associations. There are a variety of writer’s associations with local chapters. Connect with an association like National Novel Writing Month—NaNoWriMo—which has group meetups at local libraries. You can also find a writing group by genre, like Romance Writers of America or Mystery Writers of America. Whether you’re in New York City or Milwaukee, you can also find indie writing groups by location. For example, in Los Angeles, there is the Independent Writers of Southern California, which offers workshops, classes, lectures, and writing groups.

Look online. In this day and age, finding a writing group is as easy as searching online. Search for a meetup group near you with other area writers. Narrow your search by genre if you want to commune with writers who have a similar passion. There are groups for authors of every genre.

Find online writing groups. If you’d rather find a virtual group of writers to work with, look online. Here's a list of writing community websites recommended by Writer's Digest.

Start your own writer’s group. If you’re having a hard time finding a community, start your own creative writing group. Recruit other local writers by posting a note at a coffee shop or library, asking members of your book club to join, or posting on social media. One advantage of starting your own group is you can make it what you want. For example, you can start a general writing group that welcomes all writers, like screenwriters, sci-fi writers, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers, or you can keep it to a specific genre. Build your own community, pick a day, find a location, and start realizing the benefits of being a part of a writing group.

Sources: 1 2 3

Hope this helps. But I feel I'm the wrong person for this question. So if anyone has better suggestions, please let us know!

[fjorn-the-skald]

Harald Fairhair: Unification and Cultural Migration

This post was originally delivered as a virtual lecture to the New York Ancient Cultures MeetUp on September 20th, 2020. It was a group effort between myself (fjörn) and Joshua Gillingham (author of The Gatewatch). Below is the transcript I used while giving my portion of the talk. As such, I don’t have any footnotes, so I must apologize for my past neglect. I may return to add what I can, but for now I ask that you have trust in my own academic background.

Historical Sources

Poetic Propaganda?

Contemporary evidence about King Harald Fairhair, from the late-9th century, comes from his entourage of poets, who were called skáld in Old Norse. In the words of Bruce Lincoln, who wrote a wonderful (but somewhat expensive) book on this subject, they were his “propaganda corps.” But to speak of them with those terms alone would be an injustice, I think, to their actual reputation in Norse society, because they weren’t actually just hired goons spreading misleading information. Their craft actually required incredible skill, as Joshua will soon tell, and the importance of words, especially when skillfully sown, in shaping reputations cannot be understated.

The key to power and prestige in the medieval north was, more or less, a matter of public perception. This meant that poetry was a precious commodity in Norse society, because it could either enhance a person’s reputation or utterly destroy it. For instance, a skald might praise a person’s valor in battle, claiming that they had Odin’s blessing for victory and slew many of their foes without breaking a sweat. The result would be an image of a courageous warrior who ought not be lightly challenged. Yet, a skald could also slander a person, asserting that they were bested by their foe in an embarrassing or shameful way. This would therefore have the opposite effect, painting their foe as the heroic leader instead.

What made their poetry even more significant, though, was its connection to a specific occasion. Skalds acted as supposedly first-hand witnesses to great events, and it was part of their job to relay those events for others to hear. The results partially depended, rather cynically, upon who was giving them more coin—but also to protect themselves from potentially life-threatening wrath. Skalds thus recorded historical events, but often colored them to best suit their patrons. In other words, their poetry was less about recording history as an unbiased, uninvolved party, but rather about influencing public memory about an event and thus shaping the perception of the people it concerned. 

[. . .]

☞ Continue reading (6,534 words / 35 minutes reading time) at fjorntheskald.com

[femmefitz]

This Thursday Mohammed El-Kurd will be giving a free virtual lecture. It was originally going to be given live at the University of Vermont but the university cancelled it against the wishes of the organizers.

Again, tickets are free, you just have to register with EventBrite.

[maeviuslynn]

ThelemaCon is this coming weekend! I'm excited to be volunteering to help this event happen. I love helping interesting, brilliant people do cool things.

ThelemaCon is not formally connected with any specific Thelemic organization. Accordingly, the conference is open to the public, regardless of any organizational affiliation (or lack thereof.) The focus of this convention is "on Thelemic principles, lived daily. As such, our workshops and lectures are focused on applied subjects near and dear to a practicing magician’s heart – personal practice, breathing, meditation, temple skills."

Note: If you can't make it to Raleigh, NC, then there is a virtual attendance option.

Link: https://thelemacon.org/

[hexpositive]

Hex Positive, Ep. 036 - Margaret Effing Murray with Trae Dorn

Margaret Murray was a celebrated author, historian, folklorist, Egyptologist, archaeologist, anthropologist, first-wave feminist, and the first woman to be appointed to the position of lecturer in archaeology in the UK. So why so we get so annoyed whenever her name is mentioned in conversations about witchcraft? Well, it all has to do with a book Margaret wrote back in 1921…which just so happened to go on to have a profound influence on the roots of the .modern witchcraft movement.

Nerd & Tie senpai and host of BS-Free Witchcraft Trae Dorn joins me in the virtual studio to discuss the thoroughly-discredited witch-cult hypothesis, Murray’s various writings and accomplishments, and why modern paganism might not have caught on so strongly without her.

Hex Positive is now on YouTube⁠!

Check my ⁠Wordpress⁠ for full show notes, as well as show notes for past episodes and information on upcoming events. You can find me as @BreeNicGarran on TikTok, Instagram, and WordPress, or as @breelandwalker on tumblr. For more information on how to support the show and get access to early releases and extra content, visit my ⁠Patreon⁠.

Visit the ⁠Willow Wings Witch Shop⁠ to purchase my books and homemade accoutrements for your craft!

Proud member of the ⁠Nerd and Tie Podcast Network⁠.

View the full article on WordPress

[foxyanon]

Get To Know…Dr. Rhaenerys Targaryen

*Magazine cover by me! This is a companion piece for the collab SMAU, The Lives of Friends by myself, @legitalicat, @zaldritzosrose and @thenameswinter99 (fic blog @thenameswinterfics)!*

Word Count: 1655

Dividers by @arcielee

Interviewer: Taena Merryweather with Valyrhīa Publication, here today with the youngest doctor of anthropology, Dr. Rhaenerys Targaryen. Our former Westeros It Girl became the curator at King’s Landing Cultural Museum after having done her doctoral thesis on the Doom of Valyria and having lead a successful dig in the ruined city of Valyria proper, uncovering several artifacts now currently on display at the museum in the new exhibit on the mysterious land. How are you today, Doctor?

Rhaenerys: I am great actually, especially with that glowing introduction Mrs. Merryweather. How about yourself?

I: I am doing well. I know I’m not the only one wanting to know but, what prompted you to leave behind Valyrian Holdings and pursue anthropology?

R: Honestly, I just love culture and history, especially pertaining to the loss of what was once a vast empire that had an impressive impact on the world as we know it today. Obviously, I myself and my family derive ancestry from Valyria, as well as the Velaryons and Celtigars here in Westeros. I also love the language, and have spoken it since I was a girl. My dad took over the company after my grandfather, Aegon, passed but even though I attended a few meetings in my youth, I found it was just not what I wanted so I chose differently for myself.

I: We love to see a woman chasing her dreams. Did your family and friends support your choice of career?

R: My mother and grandmother did from the beginning, though my dad had hoped I would become the first female CEO of Valyrian Holdings at first. He did however come around after virtually no time at all when I told him I wanted to learn more about our family and culture. Then there’s my cousins, the children of my late uncle Aenys. They were all pretty mixed about it, though I can say for certain that Aemond and Daenyra were supportive, though Aemond was much more quiet about his support at the time. Aegon however, was definitely confused why I would pass up the opportunity but he came around in time. In fact, he actually bought us matching KLU sweatshirts and had us pose for a picture I have hanging in my office now.

I: It’s always really great to see your family gather round and support you but I imagine even you have experienced hardship. Tell me, what challenges have you faced, both with your schooling and your career?

R: Oh gods, I think the hardest thing was really finding that balance between work and personal. When I started college, I was already a bit ahead and since I decided to double major, I just stayed focused on my school work when class was in session. I didn’t really make time for my classmates outside the lecture hall. If it wasn’t a trip to the library or a study session at the cafe, you would not see me at any event. It wasn’t until I met Sihtric at the end of my Masters program before I really started slowing down and taking time to enjoy life rather than solely focus on my studies. I know in the days before my social media presence was basically just pictures of me in libraries or at home, but I am definitely getting out more now thanks to my doting husband.

I: You seemed to have found that balance well, I think everyone can agree you do have a seemingly perfect life. You are the woman who has it all; beauty and brains, and the right people around you. So Dr. Targaryen, what was a significant moment in your career or life? Your ‘I made it’ moment as it were.

R: I wouldn’t call my life perfect, but I am certainly happy with the one I get to live now. As for big moments, I’ve actually had several. One of the first was meeting Sihtric. I remember being absolutely captivated by his eyes at first, but I didn’t really think he and I had a chance, mostly because I was so driven to finish my studies and get to work on my doctorate. I was proven wrong, and I’m glad for that because he’s a good man. Another moment was when we finally made headway on that expedition in Valyria. Being unable to uncover that first building beneath the ash and learning it had been untouched by treasure hunters was a feeling I can’t describe. I actually called my grandmother first and cried on the phone with her for like 45 minutes just in that little dug out space as I looked at the mural on the wall.

I: I can only imagine the level of pure elation you felt in that moment. That brings us to our next question actually. What motivates you to keep sharing your knowledge and findings with the world?

R: Knowing where we have come from and where we have been is so important in the grand scheme. Especially with the political state as it is, it’s important to know how past events have shaped the world we live in today. Even though it’s outlawed now, knowing that Valyria partook in slavery is vital to our world’s history; we can’t just forget the bad and only focus on the good. We have to be willing to tell ourselves the truth about our history, no matter how unsavory, if we want to do better than previous generations moving forward. Then of course there’s my family, I am passionate about learning their own cultures outside my own Valyrian heritage. My mother and Sihtric, along with the rest of the Starks, are all First Men and what we know about them is shrouded in old legends and I want to learn about it so that I might better understand how their current culture came to be. I can safely say my success comes from my family and the love I have for them.

I: I think we can all agree that you truly are a family woman, and that is only further shown with how often you are spotted out with your cousins and in-laws now. But, I want to focus on one in particular; your husband, Sihtric Kjartansson. How did you end up with a boxing legend in the making and what does a relationship between two seemingly different people look like?

R: We first met at one of his matches. My dad had been following his career for a bit, saying how “the boy has potential to go far” to all his golfing buddies. He and I often make time to do just father-daughter outings, and I decided I wanted to see what boxing was all about. We went to the match, Sihtric won and then we all met up at a little private after party. Fun fact, he did not know who I was for the first few minutes of our conversation. Once he realized who I was though, I saw the panic in his eyes, especially when my dad walked over and joined the talk. We started dating a couple months after that, before our interactions where basically liking and commenting on each other's posts. My dad wasn’t too sure about the relationship at first, but mom thought Sihtric was just the sweetest and my dad saw how happy he made me. I am truly blessed to have such a thoughtful man like Sihtric, I could not ask for a better husband.

I: I can see the dreamy look in your eyes when you talk about him, and it is wonderful to see. I always love seeing yours and his posts, because it is proof that having a steady and reliable relationship is not just a fairytale. All our readers, and myself if I’m honest, want to know. What does your day-to-day look like now that you have the man and the career?

R: My days consist of work at the museum; whether that’s managing the collections we have, acquiring new pieces and authenticating them or doing fundraising or hosting events to display new collections. When I’m not working, I’m usually with Sihtric or my family. He likes to spoil me, constantly treating me to home cooked meals or surprise trips out of town for the weekend. There’s also Sihtric shifting his focus from doing actual fights to spending more time coaching, so our schedules are starting to align more now and we have more time with each other. And now that we’ve gotten settled into married life, we have talked about expanding the family beyond Abraxsas and Cupcake.

I: Potential Targaryen-Kjartansson babies in the future? Oh I just know they will be the cutest kids and I for one cannot wait for the announcement. Let’s wrap this interview up with one final question. What advice do you have for others who have lofty aspirations like yourself?

R: Don’t be afraid to chase those high goals. Sure, I could’ve fallen into the trap others in my family did, relying on our name and money to solve my problems, but I set higher expectations for myself. I found what made me happy and I pursued it unashamedly. If you know what you want to achieve in life, you have to be willing to go after it. Do it scared, anxious, or unsupported. Because the moment you are standing exactly where you once dreamed about, you will feel more accomplished than any amount of temporary setbacks you faced getting there.

I: Ending us on that inspirational speech, this has been the most fun I’ve had interviewing in a while. Thank you for the great conversation and your time today, I know you have to jet back to work now.

R: No kidding, we have a few new pieces for a special exhibit that is coming up and I just have to see them. Thank you for this as well, Mrs. Merryweather.

[floydhat]

Magic Assault Practices Opening and intermediate

(Esp video/En post w/ translation)

@prince-kallisto Here is the translation of this event ^^

(LOL, video translation is a little bad, but meh, Hikari (@sebbyphantomhive08) makes her own video with my raw -> here)

(I'm trying, notice me for any mistake)

Opening:

Here are all together, all in time, I'm glad to see all of us here.

We are near to the hour to start the obligatory "Practical Formation" start it? Ah, yeah.

By the way, hear me. As I did not have much time longer, I went to the mountains, I noticed up that a new gibier restaurant, I be dying to go there. I want in the queue to 3pm. I don't know if it was a meal or an early dinner. It tastes tepid but really flavourful.

You know it? Gibier, for its own nature, the meat is fron different species...If it's not properly care, it can make some smells of it will turn dry and stiff. It's requires qualified techniques based on experience.

In a lot of situations, u need to make hard decisions quickly in that place. That's not something that u can learn on a day.

That's really hand made, u will fall in love with it

...

Can u stop seeing me as u don't matter this? This story concerns u, too!

Being able to make decisions based on experience is important, and mages are not different. This lesson of "Practical Formation" is obliged because the good mages need practical experience. We would like our students to be aware of the importance that therse lessons have, and for the lessons in the lecture hall too.

"It will be funny to use all magic that I want." If u think that way, U WILL REGRET THAT FRIVOLOUS IDEA!

Then, additionally, I would like explain this lesson.

"Practical Formation" is a lesson when u use the knowledge that u learned in the classroom.

From now on, u will dare your limits using your magic thoroughly in a virtual area in the Coliseum.

I supervise and calificate if the learning in the classroom is used in practice.

Yeah? Why is it in a virtual area?

EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO ME FOR THAT!

Before, the "Practical Formation" was made in non habited islands or fields rented for that. But some students escape from teachers' eyes, we have a lot of blind points and they take advantage of that to don't make the lessons. We had a lot of disputes between teachers and students who tried to escape to their responsibilities, I was a lot of work!

Ah ...ah... today by today, go so further has no make sense.

Today, magical projectors' technology improved a lot. They're can show locations and enemies identical to the originals. With it, u can walk in the desert, take a bath in the forest, or explore the sea. From your home, we don't need to cancel by the bad weather.

In the past, how many lessons will be suspended by storms or blizzards? I mean, I'm glad about the technological advances.

In the virtual area, u will fight with the enemies generated by the projector.

Me, Dire Crowley, I will be the generated enemy!

For ur own security, the magic level of my vitual version is really low compared to me. I'm the headmaster of Night Raven College, I'm really strong, please, be prepared for this.

Yeah, I know that u would say: "The "wall" is really big, right?

But, if u try to pass those "walls," u will grow

U will be conscious of that, Now, let's start the Practial Formation!.

C'mon Dire Crowley instruction will begin, U will pass this successfully!

("Walls" like barriers of that)

Intermediate:

Good job, u have passed this training very well! Excelent! It's a really confusing feeling see how my student hit me even though it is a virtual me, it's werid, but if this is the way, I will accept it with tears because I'm so kind!

Now, the Practical Formation will be more difficult. Let's do a little break to pass to the next stage. Considering how many time I need to configure the projector , u have around 15 minutes.

Yeah? If I completed this Formation?

I ask u, "You see me like that type of person that assign task to their students that he own can't complete?"

U can't see it, but I can clear it. Obviously, I can clear it! After all, I'm the headmaster of Night Raven College.

Eh? U want to know what I think about your work? I can't tell u don't, no, no, no matter how kind I am.

Actually I never do it, but I'm sure that I can do it

While u are answering the sentences on a text, u never will hear "Up to now, the number of right answers are 5" right?

If I tell u, others teachers will be upset with me. I don't want that that's would be pretty embarrassing for me in my position.

But if it's my personal opinion, I don't matter tell you in secret

I'm honestly surprised with the high level of my school. As a headmaster, I'm proud of that.

With that rhythm, maybe u can exceed me in the hard mode.

Please~ do your best! That's they way to the development of the school.

Now, I'm going to adjust the projector and make sure to be relaxed to the next levels.

[upthewitchypunx]

Hi, I’m Alex Wrekk, long time zine maker of Brainscan Zine (over 30 issues) and author of the book Stolen Sharpie Revolution a DIY Resource for Zine and Zine Culture. My day job is running Portland Button Works and The Spiral House shop where we make custom pin-back buttons and sell our own button designs as well as zines, books, and other curiosities.I've also built a personal secular witchcraft practice over 17 years based in animism, folk magic and DIY punk. I've written two zines about my exploration of secular witchcraft, maintained the sometimes shambolic tumblr blog upthewitchypunx, and have been a founder and organizer for zine fests like the Portland Zine Symposium and the MidWest Perzine Fest, as well as part of the Critical Thinking Witch Collective that brought together two years of the virtual CritWitchCon.

For several years I have wanted to attend The Viridis Genii Symposium, an event that explores the spirit of plants, green mysteries, and intelligence that animates the natural world. Viridis Genii Symposium is an immersive 3 days and 3 nights event in the Pacific Northwest. The standard price of $525 includes 9 lectures plus food and lodging with the option of extra add on workshops for additional fees.

The custom button business has not quite gotten back to pre-pandemic stability and with other obligations this year like home and business maintenance, I’ve realized sadly that my funds would be better saved and put to other uses over my interests. But I would really like to attend, that’s where you come in, maybe? The event is in July and I turn 46 in June, maybe you would like to give me a little gift? So, I'm setting up this GoFundMe to raise enough funds to help me make my way into the woods for this event.

To sweeten this deal in a way that does not include a birthday cake, if you donate $10 or more, I will send you a zine that I will create about my experience at the symposium. In this zine, I'll share my insights, learnings, and discoveries from the event. I think attending this event will enrich my life, connection to the Pacific Northwest, my personal magical practice, and foster community and connections.

Any funds raised beyond $525 will go to attending additional workshops or for materials, printing, and shipping for the zine. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to sharing my adventure with you.

[pareidoliaonthemove]

The Pact

A Prequel to 'The Question', this takes place before 'The Long Reach'.

It was late into the night on Tracy Island, even the habitual night owls of Virgil and Brains had given up and called it a night.

The lounge was bathed in the glow of the stars and the moon, the watery blue glow emanating from the pool rippled against the ‘smart-glass’ ceiling and reflected down to the floor, creating a faint and ethereal moving carpet.

Scott Tracy, seated at the desk, noticed none of it. His attention was focused solely on the holodisplay in front of him. Orange light exploded in the centre of the display, flooding harsh light in the room, and temporarily whiting out the other lighting effects.

Scott stared at the virtual screen, his heart clenching once more at the sight. He didn’t know how many times he had watched this recording, over the last eight years, each time, desperately hoping for a miracle, for something other than the explosion.

For Dad to be alive.

And now, he knew, Dad might be.

Scott should have known. Should have had more faith in his father. Should have seen the signs.

In the recording Colonel Casey, the intercept pilot, the Hood, and his father all predicted the massive explosion that would take place should the Zero-X’s engines overload.

Scott stared again at the explosion. It had certainly destroyed his world, and that of his brothers, but it wasn’t the extinction-level destruction that they had all anticipated.

Brains had calculated the failure mode himself; the Mechanic’s calculations had agreed. Scott had learned long before then not to doubt the shy genius his father had hired, and he was grudgingly admitting that the Mechanic’s abilities were not to be doubted, either.

Dad had managed to get the Zero-X to gain altitude, but not enough to avert an extinction-level event; he hadn’t even cleared the atmosphere.

Scott should have known that something wasn’t right. Should have known that his father hadn’t died in the inferno.

Scott shouldn’t have stopped looking.

And now Dad had been trapped in deep space, at the very edge of the solar system for eight years, and he had managed to get an SOS message back home.

Scott watched the fireball bloom and fade again, his mouth dry. His father hadn’t died in the heart of that retina searing fireball; but Scott knew there was a very real possibility that he had died since, in the cold darkness of space.

And it would be Scott’s fault.

Because he had stopped looking.

The vision faded into static, and Scott counted the familiar four second count, waiting for it to restart but the display faded into darkness after the count of three.

And there, standing on the other side of the desk, was John.

Scott started violently, shocked by the unexpected flesh and blood apparition that stood before him, green eyes sharp under frowning ginger eyebrows.

Scott braced for the ear-blistering lecture that a pre-dawn in-person visit by the astronaut always heralded.

“We need to talk.”

Scott stared, his brain freewheeling at the words, conjuring up a rapid succession of disastrous scenarios: there was a problem with the mission timeline, there was a problem with the new Zero-X design, there was a problem with …

“Walk with me, Scott.” And without waiting for a reply, John turned and headed for the stairs.

Exhausted, Scott’s body responded without waiting for his brain’s permission, and he soon found himself sitting on a lounger, facing John, who sat at his feet, straddling the chair, that green gaze pinning him in place like a butterfly specimen.

Scott found his voice. “What is it, John? What’s wrong?”

John stared a moment longer, before speaking.

“You are, Scott.”

When there was no response, John continued. “You’re setting yourself up for a nervous breakdown. Again.” John paused, looking down to his hands, before looking back up to Scott. “It’s not your fault.”

“Isn’t it?” Scott inwardly recoiled at how bitter his voice sounded. “Dad’s out there, John. Alone. For eight years. Because I stopped looking.”

“No.” His brother’s voice was calm, toneless, and the audible equivalent of words chiselled in granite.

“Yes! I knew all along that that escape capsule was out there. I knew all along that escape capsules are absolutely stuffed with cameras and sensors for the sake of the investigation that the launch of one of those things instigates. I should have looked for it, eight years ago! We could have been launching this mission eight years ago, John! Eight years! What if Dad died waiting for us? Waiting for me!”

“We all knew all along about the escape capsule. You. Me. Virgil. Gordon. Alan. Brains. The Mechanic. Grandma. Lord Hugh. Lady Penelope. Parker. Colonel Casey. Lee Taylor. Any number of the Global Defence Force Analysts and Leadership. Any one of the security people who worked on the investigation after the theft of the Zero-X. Any one of the legal types who participated in the Coronial Hearing that declared Dad dead. Any one of the Tracy Industries engineers, security specialists, incident investigators, or lawyers. Any one of us could have made that realisation, any one of us could have instigated a search for the escape capsule. Any one of us could have recovered that footage.” John stared at Scott. “So why are you the only one responsible?”

Scott had no answer. The list of people who could have made the realisation, the list of people who could have launched the chain of events that would have led to Dad’s rescue years earlier overwhelming him.

John was merciless. “You feel guilty for not realising. I get that, Scott, I do. I feel guilty. I wasn’t able to track the Zero-X beyond that point. I’m the guy who hacks every camera to get you the information you need on a rescue, so why didn’t I think about the cameras and scanners on the capsule? Virgil and Brains, and even the Mechanic, they’re all engineers, and they’re all kicking themselves for not even considering that the Zero-X worked as designed.”

John exhaled nosily. “I’m worried about Dad, too, Scott. I’m worried what we’ll find. I’m worried how we’ll all cope if he’s dead. Hell, I’m worried how we’ll all cope if he’s alive.” John stared up into the sky. “Space does bad things to the human body, Scott. I’ve been laying awake at night because I keep imagining all the medical problems he’s going to have after eight years with no real sunlight, micro-gravity, and god-only-knows what to eat.”

He recaptured his brother’s gaze. “But I’ve got faith, Scott. We know he survived five years, because that’s how long it took for the Calypso to get to its furthest point. He managed to get a signal out to the Calypso, managed to reprogramme Brahman, to send out the SOS, and accelerate the Calypso’s return to earth.”

John laughed softly, then. “Actually, it’s ironic. He exiled himself to the very edge of the solar system prevent an extinction level event, and in trying to call for a rescue, damn near caused another one.”

The thought startled Scott, and an unwitting chuckle escaped him. “When we get him back, let’s not mention that to him, yeah?”

John smiled. “Probably for the best.” His gaze sharpened. “And speaking of for the best, Scott …”

The moment of levity was brief, and Scott felt a familiar weight settle in his chest and stomach. “John …”

“This has gone on too long, Scott. You’ve been tearing yourself apart since we got word of what happened.” John sighed. “We thought maybe this was how you grieve, throwing yourself into doing things. It seemed that way, especially after what you did when …”

John shook his head, unable or unwilling to say ‘when Mom died’, Scott couldn’t tell which. And he was glad for it, because Scott didn’t think he had the emotional resilience to hear the words spoken.

“But it’s more that that. Virgil’s been saying it for years. International Rescue is dangerous, we all know that, and we’ve got the scars to prove it, but you …” John stared at Scott, his eyes haunted. “Scott, it’s like you’re daring death to come get you. Like you want it.”

John stood suddenly, looming over Scott, who, startled, lost his balance, and half fell off the lounger at John’s feet. He stared up at his younger brother.

“I’m going to say this, and you are going to listen, Scott. Killing yourself will not bring Dad back. Killing yourself will not bring Mom back. You shouldn’t have ‘died in their place’ or any such romantic nonsense. You think losing you in their place would have hurt less? You think Alan would be better off having Dad instead of you? You think Gordon would have lived his Olympic dream without you? You think Virgil would have coped? Do you think I would have?”

Scott opened his mouth to protest, but John didn’t give him the chance. “Dad wasn’t always there, Scott, but you were. All those business trips, late-nights and weekend meetings, all those crises and troubleshooting conferences. Dad was at work. You were here. You were with us. You think the family fell apart when Dad disappeared? It was nothing compared to what happened when you did, Scott.” John shook his head. “You never saw us at our worst, because our worst was when you were gone.” John stared his older brother dead in the eye; seeming to will Scott to understand what he was saying with the force of his glare, laser burning the words into the tissues of his brain. “Losing Dad was your worst nightmare, Scott. We had you, we could cope without Dad, we knew that. We can’t cope without you. Please” John’s voice broke slightly “don’t make us try.”

Scott automatically reached out to his brother, his body reacting while his brain was in freefall. John collapsed down against him, hugging him back, clinging fiercely to what he couldn’t bear to lose.

“It’s all I’ve ever known, since the day they told me I was going to be a big brother,” Scott eventually whispered. “Every time Dad went away, it was always the same: ‘you’re the oldest, you’ve got to look after them – don’t let me down’. Last words Mom ever said to me ‘look after your brothers for me, Scott.’ Last thing Dad said before he went out to intercept the Zero-X. ‘Look after them till I get back.’” Scott stared. “How can I do anything else?”

John stared. “We finish the XL and go. We’ll find Dad, and we’ll bring him back. Alive or dead, we’ll bring him back. He will be back, and you will have fulfilled your duty.”

Scott stared out at the ocean, dark under the night sky. “What if he blames me, John?”

“Then he’s not the man I remember. And he’d be wrong, and we will make him understand that.” And that wasn’t John answering, it was Thunderbird Five – all calm certainty, authority and decisiveness. He wasn’t offering an opinion. He was stating a fact.

They sat in silence a long time, before Scott suddenly stood and took a couple of steps towards the cliff edge. “How do we do this, John?”

John moved to stand beside him, a half-arms-length away. “Small steps. First we find Dad –”

“Kind of a big step that, John,” Scott observed softly.

John shrugged. “Not really. We’ve nearly completed the final phase of testing. Navigation options have been calculated and programmed in – final decisions will be made on the day. Launch is in just over 48 hours. Logistically, it’s practically done already.”

Scott grunted, but didn’t comment.

“Next step is to return home. Every conceivable course of action needed has been planned down to a fine detail, what we do, depends on what we find.”

Scott nodded. He knew John was right. Every possible outcome had been considered and planned for. They had top medical teams on standby, even if the medics didn’t know it themselves. Medical treatment plans had been formulated under the guise of Tracy Industries sponsoring a space medicine symposium, with a hypothetical scenario for recovery and rehabilitation of astronauts stranded long term in deep space – an International Rescue initiative responding to the colony on Mars, had been the justification. They had even planned out their father’s funeral, allowing him to be interred alongside his wife and father, with an official public memorial.

“That’s the bigger picture. How do we deal with the … intimate?”

John stared. “We get rid of that recording, for a start. No more home video movie fests of Dad being blown to kingdom come.” John slumped, staring at the paved surface under his feet. “I should have got rid of it years ago.”

“I thought you would try,” Scott confessed. “I took precautions.” He could feel John’s gaze on him like a laser. He smiled, wryly. “Multiple copies encrypted on multiple servers. Physical copies, even, in safety deposit boxes. I doubt even you could find them all.”

“Keep one physical copy.” John decided. “Let Eos hold one digital copy. In case we ever need it. But let her decide if it is necessary for us to see it. Get rid of the rest.”

Scott considered. “And what do I get from this?”

He felt, rather than saw John start beside him. “What?”

Scott turned to face his brother. “I’d be making some big concessions. What do I get?”

John’s jaw dropped. “You’re seriously negotiating over this?”

Scott nodded, his eyes narrowing. “You’ve said what you want. What do I get out of it?”

“You mean other than a longer life expectancy?”

“Nobody’s guaranteed that, John. We both know that too well.”

John frowned. “What do you want, Scott? You obviously have something in mind.”

Scott nodded. “Time.”

“Time? I thought that was what you were getting?”

“Your time.”

“My time?”

“On earth.” John gaped. “Regular rotation to operate from Tracy Island. Later, if Alan wants, you can trade off with him. But you get your butt down here, regularly, and spent time with us, in 1G, not that equivalent centrifugal force you get up there.” He nodded at the sky to indicate Thunderbird Five. “Because as you said yourself, John, space does bad things to the human body.” Scott shook his head. “You said you couldn’t cope without me, and not to ask you to try. But what makes you think I could cope without you?” He reached out and poked his brother in the chest. “What gives you the right to ask me to try?”

John stared. “Okay,” was all he managed, his voice strangled.

Scott raised an eyebrow. “Okay, what?”

John breathed deeply and swallowed. “Okay, if you will make changes, seek help, and get rid of that video, in order to improve your mental and physical health; I will spend more time on Earth, improve my physical regime, and stick to it.”

Scott frowned, considering the words, turning them over in his head, looking for any loophole his brother could exploit. He couldn’t find any. He held out his hand to John. “Deal.”

“Deal.” John took his hand and they sealed the pact in the same way they had sealed many pacts over the years, as boys and men.

They stood in silence for a long while, contemplating the ocean and the stars, and the future, before finally Scott yawned. As if on cue, John replied in kind.

Scott nudged him. “Bed, John. Sleep.”

John nudged him back. “Same for you.”

They walked together back to the house, separating at the lounge without speaking, Scott to head to the rare luxury of his bed, and John to the hangers so as to return to Thunderbird Five and his quarters there. The next few days and weeks would be disturbing enough for all of them, no point worrying the rest of the family by breaking routine just yet.

Neither knew what the next few days would bring, and how that would shape the rest of their lives, but they had at least the beginnings of a plan, a course of action to start them off and some idea of the destination they were heading towards. No doubt it would be hard work, but individually and as a family they were no strangers to hard work.

And they believed one thing, above all others: that when someone cried out for help, they deserved an answer.

Especially when it was one of their own.

Notes:

Part of the ‘Questions, Answers, and Other Family Matters’ series.

In Part 2 of ‘The Question’, I threw in a line about Scott not being able to see the Zero-X footage anymore, and didn’t think anything about it.

Well, time passed, and I thought about it.

The standard disclaimers, I do not own Thunderbirds, either the Original Series, the Movies (both Supermarionation and Live Action), or the Thunderbirds Are Go Series. (Although I do own copies on DVD.)

I do not do this for money, but for my own (in)sanity and entertainment.

[ladylooch]

I’ve had a long day and I just wanna cuddle with timo imagine Emma and timo cuddling 🥺

-🌸 anon

A/N: Oh no bby. I must have known cause I had this idea of Em being sick and really leaning into T. So, here is Timo and Em to brighten your day 💕😘

The second I open the door to the mudroom, warmth covers my chilled body. I set my work bag down on the bench then slowly lower myself down to it as well. I sigh, closing my eyes and rubbing at my temples, searching for relief from this sinus headache. A shadow dances across the kitchen floor in front of me. I can see a baby on his hip as he moves. I smile despite the awful, persistent ache in my throat. 

An illness started washing over me after I left home earlier this morning. I kept trying to push through- drinking water, attending meetings virtually, keeping my distance from others. I had meant to head for home around 3:00pm, but then the caterer for an event on Friday called. They had a fire in their kitchen and could no longer support the number of attendees. 

So instead of heading home, I worked until 7:00pm, making frantic, pleading calls to all my contacts in New Jersey until I finally found one who owed me a big enough favor. My voice was giving out as I was saying my goodbyes to them.

Tenderly, I push myself back standing, groaning at the aches settling into my body. I sway slightly, dizzy from the pressure in my head and the change in position. I move into the kitchen where Lio is guzzling down some water from his Devils sippy cup while his dad finishes loading the dishwasher.

“Hi mama.” Timo smiles over his shoulder. “Long day?”

“Yeah.” I respond. Timo’s smile drops immediately.

“Baby, you sound terrible.”

“I feel worse.” I murmur, walking towards him. I pause, look at Lio. “I should stay away. You have a game tomorrow too. I’ll sleep in the guest room.”

“Absolutely not.” Timo scoffs. “He’s is ready for bed. Go sit down on the couch. I’ll make you something to eat when he’s down.”

I nod, then wander into the living room. I lay down on the cream couch, falling asleep immediately after my boys disappear upstairs. I awaken to Timo brushing my hair off my cheek. 

“I think you’ve got a fever.” He murmurs, extending his hands forward with water and Tylenol. I sit up, then a cough suddenly shakes my shoulders. Timo pouts, rubbing my back. “Time for bed.” 

“I haven’t eaten today.” I confess. 

“You? Skip meals while working? Never.” 

“I’m sick. Don’t lecture me.” I whine. He wraps an arm around my waist. I cling my hand to the back of his shirt for stability as we head up the stairs. 

“Get changed. Get in that bed. And I’ll be back with something to eat.”

“Baby, I wanna cuddle.” I moan, grabbing his wrist when he turns.

“I’m going to infuse you into my body when I get back up here. But you need to eat something. Your body needs nutrients to fight whatever you have.” He tucks my hair behind my ear. His lips brush against the end of my nose, making my eyes close. “Love you, baby. Go get comfy.”

I do as I’m told, tucking myself into all of Timo’s clothes. When he comes back into the room with a sandwich, he smiles softly at me.

“You look so cute.”

“I’m pathetic.” I say after blowing my nose. He hands me the plate, watching me until I take my first bite. 

“Whole thing.” He circles the plate, then motions to my mouth.

I eat four more bites, almost half the sandwich before I literally cannot keep my eyes open anymore. Timo takes the plate from me then gathers me into his arms. He leads my leg over his hip, tangling his hand into my hair. He gently rubs his fingers into my scalp, releasing more tension as I whimper. Chills shiver my body, so he tucks me in even tighter, bringing the covers up above my shoulders. Feathery kisses are placed along my face. Timo brings his other hand to my cheek, stroking my red skin.

“I’m sorry you don’t feel well, baby. Wish I could trade places with you.”

“If you keep kissing me you’ll be miserable too.” He chuckles.

“Love you so much I wanna share all your germs.”

“Shhh.” I murmur, bringing my finger up to his mouth. He kisses along my finger, working his mouth into my palm. He then moves my hand to cup his side. “Love you, T.” I barely mumble before I’m drifting off again.  

Several times during the night, I wake up because I’m coughing so hard. Every time, T sits up with me, rubbing my back. I whimper after the latest one. My fever is coming back and my teeth begin to chatter in my mouth.

“I’ll get you some cold medicine this time.” He says, walking into the bathroom. “All we have is kid stuff for Lee.”

“I’ll take it.” I croak out. 

He hands me the dosage then disappears back into the bathroom. 

“Come here.” He whispers, gathering me back into his arms. “You are staying home tomorrow. No work.” I nod. “I’m going to skip morning skate to take care of you.” I nod again as he pulls me tighter into his chest. His lips ghost my hair. I melt into his strong body, appreciating how well he is taking care of me. “I’ll take Lee to Lexi tomorrow night for the game. Pick him up after. You’re only job is to rest in this bed.” My nod is extremely lethargic this time. His lips softly brush over mine, barely connecting. I wrap my hand around the back of his neck, holding him down to me.

“There you go again… loving me perfectly.” I feel his lips tilt up.

Then his hand presses into my lower back, trying to devour me into his chest until there is no me or him, just us.