#continuing our last thread with a new session

[or0ch1maru]

akatsukis kinks and turn offs?

18+, full blown smut, kinks, and more smut

•

Omg omg omg, I had wayyyy too much fun writing these. Also! If anyone wants a one shot of a specific character with the kinks I’ve listed, pleaseeeeee let me know and I’d be more than happy to write it, especially for Tobi, Hidan, or Zetsu🫶🏻

I feel like Hidan has done everything at least once, and if there’s something he hasn’t done, he’s more than willing to try. This man is KINKY. I imagine his favorites are period play(or anything involving blood), s&m, fucking outside with the thrill of getting caught, knife play, and threesomes. I believe his turn off’s would be the “I don’t use safe words” thing. Hidan is intense when it comes to sex, and he won’t do it with just anybody either. He must have a safe word for his sessions and if you refuse to use one, just know you won’t be getting in his pants.

Kakuzu is similar to Hidan, has done everything at least once and isn’t close minded about trying new things. I know for a fact his tendrils would definitely come into play, whether it’s him tying you up, or toying with your clit. He’s definitely partnered up with Hidan for three ways, and just like him, also requires a safe word. I imagine Kakuzu enjoying a daddy kink as well, would lose his composure the second the word slips from your lips four orgasms in. Big into brat taming, but when it comes to turn off’s, just like with Hidan, if you have the no safe word mindset, he won’t be down.

I’ve mentioned this before but I truly believe Konan is into Shibari. Has a whole collection of ropes, of all different colors too. Mostly pastels; pinks, blue’s, and purple’s. I see her as being a passionate lover, with intense sessions time to time. Loves bringing toys into the bedroom, and her favorite to use on you would be her Hitachi. I can imagine Konan being into impact play as well, using only her hand or her paddle, likes seeing little pink marks on your ass or thighs. Would primarily be the top with you and unless she has stated it otherwise, WILL NOT be down to be topped. She needs absolute trust in her partner before allowing them access to her that way. If you try to top her during sex, it’ll turn her off.

Sessions with Pain can last relatively long, only because he loves to draw it out. Mixing pleasure with pain, but it’s never done to hurt you, wants you to experience pleasure in all aspects. I believe he’s into piercing play, also known as recreational acupuncture, or needle play. Aftercare is a very important thing to Pain, especially with the minor wounds that were inflicted during your session. I think his only turn off would be if you thought aftercare was stupid or unnecessary. Especially the times when he requires aftercare too.

Our sweet explosive loving babe. I feel like Deidara hasn’t experimented much with kinks, and the few he has tried, he wasn’t crazy about. How some people are into riding their partners fingers, you’d be riding his hand. Could cum just from watching you ride the appendage that sits between the lips on his palm. As stated in the show, Deidara isn’t into s&m. I feel like he tried it once but the thought of inflicting pain on his partner was too much for him and visa versa. Even though he loves bombs and explosions, I feel like he’s more of a gentle partner.

I can see Sasori absolutely loving when his partner sits on his face. Is the type to get upset if you don’t sit your entire body weight down on him, would grab hold of your thighs, pulling you down onto him and holding you there. Loves looking up and seeing your eyes rolled back, tears streaming down your face as you continuously cum on his tongue. Bonus points if you end up squirting. Apart from that, I can imagine him using his chakra threads on you, whether it’s holding you still when you start to squirm, or when you start faltering when riding his cock, his threads would help keep you balanced. I don’t think he’s be into food play. Since Sasori doesn’t need to eat like others do, he sees no use for it, in or outside of the bedroom.

Breeding kink, I repeat, BREEDING KINK. With Uchiha’s, they form deep bonds, and love the hardest. So naturally, that would be reflected during sex. Itachi loves filling you up, and then watching as you go about your business throughout the compound full of him. I think he also enjoys when you ride his thighs. If he’s busy working on something at his desk, best believe one hand will be holding your lower back, helping you keep your rhythm. I personally think Itachi’s turn off would be Dacryphilia. Only because he doesn’t like seeing you cry. He strives for his partner’s happiness.

Just like Hidan, I feel like Kisa enjoys period sex. Has a container under his bed full of towels specifically for that time of the month. Apart from that, I imagine he likes choking, Dacryphilia, and rough sex in general. Loves seeing the scratches you leave on his back or the bite marks left on him. When he has you in doggy or bent over any hard surface, best believe his large hand will have a fistful of your hair. Now for turn offs, I don’t think he’d do anything risky where he could get caught. Just like a lot of his comrades, he’s protective over his partner and doesn’t want anyone seeing what’s his. Especially in such a vulnerable state.

Now, you can get either Tobi, or Obito, it truly depends on his mood, or situation. Our sweet gentle Tobi loves seeing his partner in cute little outfits, especially a maid outfit. I see Tobi as more of a sub honestly and if he acts out, and you want to punish him for it, his all time favorite is edging. If you happen to act like a brat, just know Obito won’t hesitate to grip you by the hair and walk you back to your shared room. Rough sex, double penetration, and surprisingly exhibitionism. As long as others don’t see his face/scarring, he will fuck you senseless in front of others/doesn’t care if someone walks in during. Will even hold a conversation with said person while he fucks you. Even when alone, loves fingering you with his gloves on. Tobi wouldn’t want to see you cry, just like Itachi, he doesn’t like seeing his partner upset. With Obito, I don’t think he’d like sensory deprivation. Doesn’t enjoy having any of his senses taken away, wants to be able to hear, and see every reaction he pulls from you.

Just like Tobi, you can get either Black or white Zetsu. All depends on their mood & said situation. White Zetsu loves nothing more than praising you, especially when his cock is buried deep in your throat, with tears threatening to fall, black Zetsu is all for degrading you. Will mush your face into a wall, a desk, the mattress, and take you from behind, whispering dirty words as you take him fully. I also fully believe Zetsu is into having sex outside, and orgasm control/denial. Enjoys hearing you beg to cum, bucking your hips into him or the toy just to get yourself off when you can’t take it. As well as quickie’s. Won’t hesitate to pull you into a bathroom and fuck you silly before walking about like he didn’t do anything. I think his only turn off would be being bitten. For some reason I imagine Zetsu being really sensitive and doesn’t like the blunt pain one can inflict by digging their teeth into him.

•

[kaidanworkshop]

Workshop Progress: November Update

Happy Holidays guys, gals, and non-binary pals! Firstly, apologies for the delayed update! Flu and COVID season is in full force this year, and it seemed to have it out for not only the Workshop staff and families, but for our VA Paul Warren! We're happy to report that everyone is on the mend and returning to our regular workflow. Learn from our follies; make sure you're taking care of your own health as well! Last update we focused on our alpha and beta testing progress with the Creation Kit and Assets Team -- progress on that front continues as we add in more recorded lines and refine the new systems we've implemented; this update will be a deep dive focusing on our Writing Team and their workflow process in organizing, evaluating, and proposing changes to the base script via our peer review system. Besides this, we have our fourth recording session with Mr. Warren in the coming weeks; after this session, our business lead is projecting one more session will be enough to complete the rest of the original script, and we can begin to finalize what options the community has towards allocating the remaining funds. We've been compiling a few synopses of what those bonus content options will be, so stayed tuned on that front! Finally, we're very excited to show off some of what we've managed to implement, so one of our Community Team members will be streaming some of our current 1.3 beta for our Discord community this upcoming Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 at 3pm CST, and Thursday, November 16th, 2023 at 10am CST! With that out of the way, here's our Writing Team Workflow Deep Dive! Warning: The below contains spoilers!

The temperatures might be cooling down outside but we're staying nice and warm working on the Kaidan romance lines commission. As we move towards the more emotionally charged dialogues the player can have with Kaidan (i.e. his friendship and romance quests), we realized that our previous script notes for our VA needed to be a bit more robust in order to really convey the tone we're looking for. As much as we all love this silly little 10+ year old game, the reality is that Skyrim's engine has its limitations with regards to NPC emotivity and expression, so the onus falls on the voice acting to carry the extra emotional weight. While Kaidan is, on the surface, a rather reserved person, a major part of the growth he experiences with the player character is allowing himself to more vulnerable and forthcoming with his emotions. For prior commissions, our script to Mr. Warren was aggregated into spreadsheets broken up by quest name and dialogue path, with brief notes on delivery/different quest paths as needed.

For each commission, we have two members of our staff sit in with Mr. Warren and offer direction as he works his way through the script. We tend to get around 3 to 8 different takes of each line, with around 250 - 300 lines per commission. Once complete, Mr. Warren sends us the full audio, and the next leg of processing begins. Our absolute savior of an audio tech gets to work splitting all the hundreds of different takes up into individual cuts, as well as processing the audio for any latent sounds or fuzziness in the background. Once separated, they're placed in an associated thread for staff members to listen to and vote on.

Sometimes we are very lucky, and there's a clear winner for the individual take. Sometimes.

Other times, ties must be split. Or not.

It is also during this process that we'll identify lines that might've been misread or otherwise need a retake. We aggregate a list and discuss our feelings on it, then shoot them back to Mr. Warren with further clarification on what we're looking for in his delivery. The process of receiving, splitting, and voting on the retake lines then begins again.

This method of breaking down these emotion-fueled dialogues really helps us as a staff keep a firm grasp on the original presented characterization of Kaidan, and not get wrapped up in trying to unnecessarily change or otherwise alter his dialogue. There's a reason this follower remains one of the most popular within the Skyrim community, and the last thing we want to do is damage LivTempleton's magic with arbitrary wordsmithing. Still, sometimes changes are needed. We try to keep them as minimal as possible, but some lines stuck out due to strange wording or odd delivery. For example, Kaidan's response to this line was originally "You do, eh? Well keep digging there, you might make it to Akavir." We felt that it didn't flow very well, and depending on how far the player has progressed in his personal quest, it might not make any sense for him to be mentioning Akavir at all yet. The below change smooths out the transition in this conversation.

Another example of a change we're adding in is creating a path for players to exit the romance path completely -- as it is now, if you wear an Amulet of Mara and initiate the romance path, there is no way to change your mind. However, we always felt that the below line pathing was very harsh; after all, Kaidan exits the conversation completely and shuts down. Working in a way to 'break up' with him via this dialogue path (sorry Kai!) felt like an easy way to work in a new mod function without having to create entirely new dialogue -- it saves money for extra content in the future, something very near and dear to our business lead's heart.

Finally, one of our favorite changes is rewording the "How do you feel about me?" dialogue tree. Given that not all players will be following the 'hot' or 'warm' romance paths, this line of questioning from the player felt like the LDB was fishing for compliments -- not a good look in our opinion. We changed this to instead be a more equitable exchange of compliments between the two ("I think we make a good team" & "Can I tell you something? I'm glad we met"). Also, we use this format to track which lines will have multiple nickname/pronoun takes.

As we approach the final sets of scripts to wrap up the revoice section of the Workshop timeline, this process may undoubtedly change again when we begin discussing how we'd like to work with the community in producing Workshop original scripts -- which is exciting! In using a peer review system from start to finish, we keep ourselves open to workflow improvement suggestions that ultimately makes the process easier in the long run. While this method of group voting and review undoubtedly adds extra time to production -- especially given the logistics of scheduling multiple staff meetings to accommodate all the different time zones our staff members live in -- we feel that it results in a more polished product, and one in which all the members of each team feel empowered to discuss and offer their insights for our favorite CVF. We'll see you for the beta 1.3 livestreams on Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 at 3pm CST, and Thursday, November 16th, 2023 at 10am CST!

[starwarsmum]

Chapter 5! It all ends next week 😭🥰

Chapter 5: Marinette

Marinette was nervous, which was ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous. In her 23 years of life, she had: designed album covers for Jagged Stone; launched a fashion empire that rivaled most, if not all, others; outed a nefarious liar to her class - including the teacher! - without losing her impeccable image; dated a model, a musician and several other noteworthy individuals before marrying the love of her life and making a family with him…oh, and became a superhero who had taken down her supervillain nemesis who had previously been her idol. She had no business being nervous of meeting someone who was, she had been assured, a kindly English gentleman.

“Mon amour, breathe,” Damian chuckled beside her. He was holding her shoulders as she fretted and pulled at imaginary loose threads on her smart jacket. “I promise, Pennyworth will love you, if only because I do.”

“And what if he doesn't?” She demanded, spinning towards him and glaring upwards. Curse him for being so tall, she could never work up a decent glare when he was right next to her. “What if he blames me for keeping you in Paris? Mon dieu, I think I am going to be sick.”

“Marinette,” he said softly, pulling her into an embrace whilst Penélope gurgled happily from the floor. She had swiftly become more independent, taking her first steps a few months ago at 11 months old and nothing could stand in her way now. “I swear to you, if Pennyworth is anything but thrilled to meet you, we will leave. Whilst he is like a grandfather to me, my father is like a son to him, and I will not put you in harm's way. Even emotional harm, ma chérie.”

“D'accord, I know, Damian. I just- I want him to be happy for you. He is the last of the family I have yet to meet and his opinion is held in high regard by all. This is important to me,” she admitted, leaning into her husband's chest and listening to his heartbeat. Which is how she was ideally placed to hear the low rumble of delighted laughter. “You are making fun of me,” she said grumpily, the beginning of a pout on her face.

“My love, no, I am only amazed that I have someone like you, who cares so much about my happiness. It has been many years since I was in Gotham and I am a different person. For example, I now only lose sleep to our daughter, instead of to crazy people who mean harm to me.”

Marinette snorted and then sighed, looking back up at him. “You're sure you wish to do this? The last time you were in that house you were hurt and that memory may not be so easy to leave behind.” She was concerned for him, he had healed well over the years but there was no telling what being in one of his childhood homes would do.

Damian assured her that he would be fine, before insisting that they pack the car and get going, unless she wanted to be late. She cursed under her breath before running to make sure everything was secure in boxes and bags.

Damian grew more pensive as they drove closer to Wayne manor. Marinette kept a constant stream of chatter, babbling to Penélope about the cakes and sweets they had packed for lunch. She was used to comfortable silences with Damian but he only became like this when he was nervous, or thinking about his father.

Fortunately, Tim had promised them a Bruce-free household for their lunch today, and Marinette knew he would not fail them. So Marinette continued to fill the silence as they drew closer and closer. It wasn't precisely tense but Marinette was glad that Penélope was there to fill the time. Merde, she felt like a teenager going to meet her boyfriend's parents for the first time. 

As she stood nervously on the doorstep of the manor, she was jittery. She had asked Damian to carry the boxes because she was less likely to drop Penélope, but it meant that she was actively juggling the curious child. She wanted to feel put together and sophisticated when meeting Alfred Pennyworth, longtime butler of the Wayne family and namesake to her daughter. 

The door swung open to reveal Dick, who had come especially so that there would be a middle person to reduce a tense atmosphere. He had brought his own family this time, so Penélope would have another child to play with and Kor'i could meet Marinette. His excitement was bubbling over and he darted forward to hug Damian, only to pull up short when Damian thrust the cake boxes he was carrying into his arms.

“Thank you, Grayson, if you can take those to the kitchen, I will retrieve the remaining bags from our car. Please take Marinette inside, she is nervous and is concerned she will drop things,” Damian ushered her inside and she scowled at him before following Dick to the kitchen.

“Ah, Master Dick, I take it your guests are here?” An older gentleman was preparing food, wearing an old fashioned suit and apron. He smiled kindly at her and dusted his hands off to help with the boxes. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am Alfred Pennyworth.”

“Bonjour, Monsieur Pennyworth, uh, my name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, and this is my daughter, Penélope. It is lovely to meet you as well.” She reached over to shake the man's hand, beaming up at him. So far so good, she hadn't dropped anything and Alfred was smiling at her. “I have heard much about you, I have been looking forward to meeting you for some time.”

“I believe you are Master Tim's designer, are you not? I am flattered that he has spoken to you about me.”

“Oh, ah, non, it was not Tim. Désolée, I should have waited before coming in,” she was starting to ramble as Alfred began to frown politely at her. “Pardon, I should go and help my husband with the other bags.” And with that she fled the room, ignoring the raised brows of Alfred and Dick's own smothered laughter.

She almost crashed straight into Damian as he made his own way to the kitchen. He had clearly dropped the bags off in another room as he caught her up and set her upright, being careful of Penélope as he did so. She looked up at him, slightly wild-eyed and he chuckled. 

“Mon amour, surely he is not so scary that you need to run away from him,” he said, amused, making her flush. He turned her after taking Penélope in hand and steered her back into the kitchen. The first thing she saw was Alfred's concerned face and she felt herself panic all over again. Damian chuckled again, which made Alfred's gaze move upwards.

“Well,” he said, clearly surprised but it was difficult to see. “I see the children have been keeping secrets from me. Master Dick, are there any other surprises that will be descending upon the manor today, or is this all?”

“That's it,” Dick said cheerfully, no contrition in sight. He grinned cheekily as Alfred sighed in exasperation, before he turned back to Marinette. She smiled nervously at him, hands fisting in her jacket pockets. Dick then excused himself to collect Kor'i and Mar’i and direct them to the dining room. Another silence descended.

“I must say, Master Damian, you have grown into a fine young man,” Alfred said quietly, moving around the kitchen island to stand closer to them. “And I see you have made a family for yourself. You must be very proud.”

“Thank you, Pennyworth,” Damian whispered, emotions playing across his face as Marinette took his free hand. “I am sorry.” It seemed as though he couldn't find any other words, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed reflexively.

“There is no apology necessary, Master Damian. I understand the need to get away, I am only pleased that you have returned. And with such charming company,” he said kindly, smiling again at Marinette and Penélope. She felt her heart bursting, tears brimming in her eyes. This was why she had wanted Damian to come back to Gotham with her. Some of the people he had left behind had clearly loved him, and she wanted him to have those people again. “Perhaps we should relocate to the dining room, we can sit down and get to know each other again.”

The lunch was pleasant, conversation flowing much more easily than Marinette had thought it would. Kor'i was friendly, Mar'i was enamoured with her baby cousin and Damian was relieved that Alfred had not been angry with him. She watched as the weight she hadn't known he was still carrying fell from his shoulders. His eyes practically sparkled and, if Marinette had not been in love with him before, she would have fallen in love with him for the joy she could see there.

When they eventually left the manor, she squeezed his hand in both of hers. He beamed at her, kissing the top of her head as they lay the now-sleeping Penélope into her car seat. He drew her close, stroking her cheek as he breathed her in.

“That went well,” she murmured, closing her eyes and leaning into his touch. “I didn’t realise that he was so…warm. At least now I know why you were not completely hopeless when we met.”

“Tt,” was all he said, but Damian was grinning. She could feel the smile against her lips as she kissed him soundly. They broke apart sooner than she would have liked. “It was not the worst meal I have had in that manor. Thank you, for being here with me and for baking. And for being wonderful.”

She blushed again, allowing him to maneuver her into the car. Once she was sitting in the car, a wave of exhaustion swept over her. She had been so stressed about meeting Alfred that the energy had kept her going, but now…she could hardly keep her eyes open. She struggled to  stay awake as Damian hummed, feeling the whole day wash out of her system. 

When they arrived back at the apartment, she only barely woke, groggily allowing Damian to steer her to the apartment they had rented for the month they intended to be there. She went through the motions of reading herself for bed as Damian put Penélope to her own. At 14 months old, she was more like a ragdoll when she fell asleep fully, meaning that they were able to move her from car to bed with little effort. 

Marinette forced her eyes open when she heard Damian’s voice but couldn't discern what he had said. She grunted quizzically and he snorted before repeating himself. “Do you want me to get your night things, ma chérie? You are already half asleep.”

“Please, I am…so tired,” she yawned in the middle of her sentence, punctuating her exhaustion. She drifted to sleep again and didn't wake until morning.

[aurorabayrpg]

EVENT 015 {SEPTEMBER 13TH - SEPTEMBER 20TH} AURORA BAY’S END OF SUMMER BASH

With schools in town now back in session, it's another summer in the books for Aurora Bay. But just because the days are getting shorter and the holidays are just around the corner doesn't mean the summer fun is over just yet!

Aurora Bay's city hall invites everyone to head down to the beach this weekend for one more blow out to send summer out in style!

Starting Friday evening and into the weekend, the boardwalk will be transformed during the day into a summer carnival, chockfull of games, prizes, rides, and fun for the whole family! And during the night, we invite everyone 21+ plus to head down in the sand where Oasis Nightclub's DJ will be spinning all night.

Everything will culminate on Sunday with a can't-miss performance right on the beach from the band Submergence! So come join us this weekend for one last summer bash to close out the season!

OOC INFORMATION BELOW THE CUT:

in game the event is going on from Friday afternoon through Sunday night, but ooc it'll last the week to give everyone a chance to plot and write!

the carnival will be five dollars a ticket (kids under 5 and under are free) and it will be running from 10am til 8pm.

carnival rides will include:

ferris wheel

tilt-a-whirl

roller coaster

carousel

flying chairs

fun slide

pendulum

there will also be all sorts of boardwalk games and of course plenty of food places already around! feel free to use your imagination.

From 9pm until 2am on Friday and Saturday night, the beach will be adults-only (wristbands required) to dance all night! proof of carnival ticket will grant one free drink, with drink specials at our pop-up sand bars all night.

And finally on Sunday night will be a concert on the beach from Submergence! (shoutout to @xaviermattthews and @vanessagable!)

extra info:

non-event threads can continue, but we ask that they be tagged as non event.

please use the tag aurorabay.summer for new threads!

we will allow four new starters to be made off the bat (one per mun at first pls!) after that, please reply to at least two before posting your own

feel free to have your characters run a food or game booth!

if anyone has any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! have fun!

[papermonkeyism]

Can I just take a moment and shout out how much I love my roleplaying buddies?

This bunch that's partly made out of my old Liminka school of arts buddies, that invited me sometime last year. Like, I've played DnD before, in couple different groups, and it's been really fun, but this bunch is on a whole another level!

We had a bit of a slow start with our first campaign, as not all of us knew each other or their playing styles that well, but during our Curse of Strahd we've all collectively jumped off the deep end, and now that we're preparing to launch our second campaign with a new set of characters, the character creation itself is almost a game on its own!

We've had a month to prepare, and will start the campaign as a unit the first sunday of january, but in the mean time we've been divided in two groups, with the characters of each group already knowing their own group members and having shared history, and it's been so much fun to brainstorm our characters together! Like each character has a private chat and a text file with the GM with all the backstory and secrets and stuff, and another chat with their group buddies, and being able to scheme collectively how our characters work and function is something I haven't had a chance to do before to this extent. We're even having text RP threads of some of our shared background moments to help flesh out our new personalities!

There's continuously someone buzzing with character feels, and infecting said buzz to others, and it's just so nice to have hype going on at almost all times!

And we haven't even gotten to our group's session zero yet!

It's amazing. Love my Mist Heroes.

[lesbiancolumbo]

🐻 anon here!

So I watched the rest of the season and I confirm my episode 1's thoughts: the story is on the nose!

Even in season 2, I found the Christmas dinner unnecessary: we know already that the berzotti are fucked up and the mother is a nightmare. We don't need to see her driving into her home. Also I am tired of seeing abusive mothers on tv behaving so loudly while the fathers can be all icyly and cool. Maybe it's bc the dinner scene recalls me hundreds of dinners my own mother prepared and she has always been awful while she is cooking, but she has always been collected about it, bc the show must go on and guests are at a distance of a wall.

This kind of situation repeated itself in season 3: the episode 8 was just a 40 minutes long therapy session. People don't talk like that and wow I am glad Donna worked on herself and was there for Sugar but it's a sterotype, it gives "when you will be a mother you will know", "mother and daughter bonding bc daughter is pregnant so she is an adult now".

Re using parts of past episodes cannot used for every goddamn episode, bc it becomes stale. We know from the beginning Carmy worked in a bad environment, we don't need to see it again with the same scene. Show me something else.

Also I don't care if Carmy and Sydney get together, if it is a warrior bond or whatever. Personally i love a good slow burn, an ambiguous messy situation and all but that relationship is going nowhere. He is going down and she with him, but it feels obliged. She is staying bc she is grateful but that special bond they had even in s2 is gone. I would have loved to see her so loyal she cares only about having that star as he wants.

I know we have all a fucked up relationship with food, but if in the previous seasons Carmy seemed to have some kind of interest on it, no more, here it's like he doesn't care about it at all. He could do whatever else and it would be the same. We see Richie loving serving well people and we see him so taken by this environment that he almost forgets about how much he loves his job and he regrets it, but Carmy? He could do professional card castles for how much he cares about food. He doesn't eat. How can you know if your food is good if you don't taste it?

Also the last episodes drag Sooo much. I love slow but why do I have to watch people talk about nothing when I could make my own small talk with my neighbour?

Also this is a personal consideration but in these years many shows had a very good s1 and then went downhill. It's a hubris thing? It's a "I didnt think it would have a s2 and it made me lose my mind" thing? It's a business thing? Idk

What do you think?

i'm glad you brought up the fishes episode from season two, because i got a lot of flak at the time for hating that episode lol. it, to me, felt very symbolic of the the larger issues with the show that i have (which i've already elaborated on elsewhere and won't rehash here). that episode gives us no new information, really, especially since the season doesn't even follow up on the donna plot thread anyway. it's spectacle for the sake of spectacle and casting all those stars for the sake of saying hey, look at who we can afford now that people care about our little indie show!

admittedly i've decided to not continue finishing s3 after the first episode - i just don't want to, i live one life, i'm sick and miserable and it's a holiday weekend and i'd rather watch iron chef america, etc. so i can't really speak to a lot of what s3 does, but it sounds to me like it's retreading a lot of familiar ground from seasons one and two and not really propelling the ship forward. i can't say this surprises me! i don't think chris & co are interested in creating a cohesive season.... they want every episode to be like fishes: a one-off that will grip you and make you forget how poorly structured the rest of it is. this is working on a lot of people, so i have to respect the grift lol. but i digress.

i will say re: the carmy and his relationship to food point you make that there's definitely a not-small group of chefs who actually have that kind of relationship to food lol.... they don't cook at home! they eat garbage! the other day i was watching an episode of alex vs. america on food network and it was being judged by two professional chefs with multiple restaurants, and one of them mentioned that the dish they were eating was similar to something she would cook at home. the other judge, a chef who is very well-known in LA and has many italian restaurants, is known for being a pasta master and cooks IN HIS RESTAURANT, replies in shock, "you cook at home?" now, i guess my question would be is this intentional or not lol..... i don't have a high opinion of the showrunner/writer so i won't answer that question. tbh i really don't think they know what to do with carmy, which is why his character arc/the story as a whole seems to constantly just.... come to a halt or go back to the beginning.

you bring up a lot of great points, and while again, i can't speak to most of s3 because i'm just not interested in going further with this show, i'm not shocked they seem to once again sideline the characters and relationships that got us on board with this show in the first place! and for what! to film in copenhagen and cast daniel boulud? ok. i am very neutral on syd and carmy (as in, i don't care if they go the romance route or not) but i liked their dynamic a lot in season one and i felt that it was lacking in season two. and from what i've read about season three, it feels like again it's lacking and once again carmy is doing the thing where he just totally disrespects her and sidelines here.... sydney! name-twin... if you can hear me: get out of there! leave this loser behind i am so serious.

[draconscious]

[ooc update. "...I'm thinkin' I'm back."]

hey all!! dan here, ready to get back in the ring again. 🤠 it's been a wild, mostly positive start to the new year and I'm in a good place--so here's a few updates as I stake the scene. I missed everyone so much!!

Baldur's Gate 3 consumed me and my friends whole, prompting a revival of our tabletop gaming group and D&D sessions. It's been an amazing source of creativity for me lately!!

I haven't beaten the DLC yet...the ending was spoiled for me (my fault) and now it just feels like homework, lol. (Teal Mask left some lasting damage. I still want to power through Hidden Treasure before Persona 3 Reload drops, though...)

So much big IRL stuff has happened as of late! It's just starting to hit that I'll be 30 soon. I feel powerful. We're getting stuff done this year. 😤

GO PACK GO 🧀

Since it's been a month or two, my RP plan is to just...start replying to old things. If we were threading before I dropped off the face of the earth, of course you don't need to respond or anything!! If you're interested in continuing an idea/thread that we had and want to jog my memory, please let me know! IMs are always open, discord is cash.ketchum if you let me know who you are first. I'll open up a proper starter call if/when I feel properly...combobulated, but always feel free to reach out.🥴

THANK YOU LET'S GET IT!!

[cardinalhq]

EVENT 02; HALLOWEEN FRIGHT NIGHT

Get ready for a frightfully fun night at the annual Cardinal Hill Halloween Fright Night! This year, we’re transforming our charming town into a haunted haven filled with thrilling activities and spine-chilling excitement for all ages. Prepare for an evening of ghostly glee! The festivities kick off in the heart of our town, where the vibrant autumn colors will set the stage for a truly memorable celebration. From the moment you arrive, the air will be filled with the sounds of laughter and music, creating a lively atmosphere that embodies the spirit of Halloween. Whether you’re dressed as a classic monster or a whimsical character, you’ll find yourself immersed in a community that celebrates creativity and fun. As twilight descends, the Town Hall transformed into a Haunted House will come alive with eerie sights and sounds. Venture inside, if you dare, and encounter spine-tingling surprises at every turn. This fan-favorite attraction promises to send shivers down your spine while providing plenty of laughs along the way. Don’t forget to bring your best costume for our exciting Costume Competition! With categories such as scariest, funniest, and most creative costumes, there’s an opportunity for everyone to shine. Make sure to register in the town square before the competition begins, as fabulous prizes await the most imaginative participants! The evening wouldn’t be complete without our beloved Trick-or-Treat Trail, where local businesses will be handing out sweet treats to all the little goblins and ghouls. It’s a fantastic way for families to explore our vibrant community while collecting goodies to fill their candy bags. Whether you’re a long time resident or new to town, we invite you to come together for an unforgettable Halloween celebration. Bring your family, friends, and creativity to enjoy the festive atmosphere and create lasting memories. Find more information under the cut!

Time: 4 - 11pm.

Date: 10/31/90.

Location: Town Square.

OOC information -

Similarly to the Pumpkin Palooza, the Halloween event is an annual event that has run for generations; locals will definitely be aware of most of the ins and outs of the event (though town officials always try to bring something new to it each year.

Characters are encouraged to dress up - whether or not they're entering the costume competition. Writers are encouraged to make visuals or posts reflecting their costumes!

Event interactions may begin immediately! As usual, event interactions are also encouraged to continue after the event's conclusion so that writers can finish threads.

Further event information -

In order to help with your interactions and knowledge of the event, here's some more examples of what residents can expect at the event.

Haunted House: Enter the eerie Haunted House inside of a transformed Town Hall, open from 5PM to 10PM.

Costume Competition: Show off your best Halloween attire and compete for prizes! Registration starts at 4PM in the town square.

Trick-or-Treat Trail: Kids can collect treats from local businesses from 5PM to 7PM - perfect for filling those candy bags! Trick or treating outside of this trail can also be done throughout the neighborhood.

Live Entertainment: Enjoy spooky tunes from local bands on a decorated Songbird Stage.

Pumpkin Carving Contest: Missed out on showing off your skills at the Pumpkin Palooza? Here's your chance at redemption. Winners will be announced before the costume competition!

Family-Friendly Activities: Face painting, hayrides, games, and a ghost story session await the little ones!

Food Vendors: Local establishments have set up stalls with spooky themed menus for the event, in case you fancy more than candy.

Please reach out if you have any additional questions!

[the-whumpening]

Fuck It Friday #2

Last night was my group’s DnD session, and boooyyyy have I got some juicy whump tidbits to share!

CW: gore (esp eyeballs), knives, torture, lycanthropy, could be read as cannibalism?

So in the canon of our game, the group used a teleportation scroll to get themselves and Ash out of the demi-plane he’d been held in. This landed us in Chult, which is a massive island continent much like Australia, where we reunited with some familiar NPCs on a scouting mission.

Various dangling plot threads are getting tied up, including Ash reconnecting with his father again and realizing that he’s . . . Just a guy. A guy who was wracked with guilt and shame and thrust into a situation he had no control of. Gregor is clearly trying to start a new life and make up for his past, and Ash is slowly opening up and letting him in a little.

To make a very long story short, Gregor tried to save Kane from being taken by the weretigers who’ve taken over the jungle; he failed, and got bitten in the process, which is apparently fatal to people already infected with lycanthropy. To make them even once more, Ash let Krumgus revive Gregor.

Cut to this session: the party has just fought a small group of weretigers that ambushed us. Some ran away, some were dead, and one was left to be interrogated. Evius held the weretiger down with an immovable rod to the neck while Ash prepares to torture him for information. It felt right to be the one inflicting pain for once. He lets his rage continue to simmer though the battle is well over.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Evius: Who do you work for? Why are you here? [The tiger only growls in response, though Evius attempts to read his thoughts. He sees a weretiger—much larger than the others—on a throne of skulls. He nods to Ash, who slips the silver knife between the tiger’s ribs.] Evius: Who is he? Tiger: The Banded King. Evius: Where can we find him? [Evius presses deeper into his thoughts, seeing images of a ruined city deep in the jungle.] Evius: How do we get there? [Once again, the tiger doesn’t respond. Evius nods to Ash once again. Ash twists the knife, eliciting a squeal of pain from the tiger-man.] Ash: Answer him! Where is our friend? Kane—the half elf with the gray hair? [The tiger chuffs in laughter in between gasps of pain.] [Ash removes the knife, instead using its tip to trace the outline of the weretiger’s stripes.] Ash: You know, I could carve these off of you. It would be . . . so easy. [Ash is past rationality now; his best friend is missing and this mass of flesh is the only thing in the way.] Where is Kane? Tiger, taunting: He is alive! The Banded King has taken a special interest in him. [He looks to Gregor with a conspiratorial grin.] They wait for you. Gregor: Ash, cut out his eye. Ash: With pleasure. [Ash carefully swirls the silver knife into the tiger’s eye socket, plucking his eye from his skull. The creature snarls and howls, but maintains his bravado.] Why did you come here? Why did you tell the other one not to fight me? Tiger: [He seethes and mocks Ash.] The Banded King has no use for you in his army, half-breed! [Evius goes to grab his mane and yank his head back, but the tiger is too quick. His teeth just graze Evius’ wrist before he pulls away; the venom is already burning in his veins.] [Without hesitation, Ash pounds his fist into the tiger’s bleeding socket. Gregor allows his animal companions to finish the job. Ash snarls, struggling to keep any semblance of composure.] Ash, panicking: Evvy, I have to do something rash—it might save you, but it’s going to hurt. I need your permission! [Ash wonders if he’s also venomous like the other weretigers; if he is, Evius is dead either way, right? Might as well try.] [Panicking and in pain, Evius agrees.] [Ash sinks his teeth into Evius’ arm, ripping off the infected flesh and spitting it on the ground. Evius wails, shaking and sweating, as Ash transforms out of his rage. He holds Evius to the ground to keep him from thrashing, one hand on his chest and the other stroking his hair. Blood drips from his mouth and down his chin.] Ash: I’m so sorry, Evvy. I’m sorry, I’m sorry—I had to! [He repeats it over and over again.] [Gregor douses bandages in alcohol (we notice it’s the same brand of mushroom absinthe we created early in the campaign) and quickly wraps Evius’ wounds. The three wait with bated breath to see if Ash’s plan worked.] [A dark black band circles Evius’ hand, meeting the bandages on either side. It’s puffed and raised, like a bruise or a scar. One perfect stripe.] [But the burn of the venom fades, leaving only the sting of the alcohol and the ache of the bite. No more stripes appear, and Evius slips into much-needed unconsciousness.] [Mouse rejoins them after hearing the screams and, after making sure Evius is okay, asks for their help with another infected victim. It’s too late for this one.] [Ash looks pitifully up at Gregor with big, watery eyes.] Ash: . . . Gregor? Can you please . . .? Gregor: [He pats Ash’s shoulder.] Sure, bud. Keep him safe. [It’s strange. Just days ago, he would’ve killed Gregor on sight. But now there’s . . . an odd affection growing. He shakes off the thought and focuses on Evius, lifting him gently and taking him to rest in the shade.]

---------------------------------------------------------------------

One of our players is currently playing a child character, who saw the interaction from up in a tree. He asked Mouse to check up on the group as he was pretty sure Ash had tried to eat Evius. Mouse was pretty sure that wasn't the case, but damn if she didn't have to rule it out lol.

(Bear with me on this formatting, I'm not sure the best way to share this and I thought it would read well in a chat style format.)

[providencepeakrp]

Join us for an Unforgettable Open Mic Night, Hosted at Deja Brew!

Indulge in an evening of creativity, talent, and soul-stirring performances at our beloved coffee shop's Open Mic Night! It's time to showcase your hidden talents or simply enjoy the vibrant atmosphere as we celebrate the power of music, poetry, and spoken word. Whether you're a seasoned performer or taking your first step on stage, this event is for everyone to revel in the magic of artistic expression.

what to expect

🎤 Live Performances: Prepare to be mesmerized by a diverse range of performances, including acoustic melodies, electrifying spoken word, heartrending poetry, and captivating storytelling. The stage is yours to illuminate, so don't hold back!

🍵 Specialty Beverages: Sip on our finest, handcrafted coffees, teas, and specialty beverages while immersing yourself in the vibrant ambience. Let the flavors inspire your creativity and fuel your artistic spirit.

📚 Warm and Welcoming Environment: Our coffee shop provides the perfect backdrop for an intimate and cozy evening. Gather with like-minded individuals, make new connections, and appreciate the supportive community of fellow artists and art enthusiasts.

🎶 Open Mic Opportunity: Are you ready to take the spotlight? Sign up for the open mic session upon arrival and share your talents with an eager audience. Unleash your inner poet, musician, or storyteller, and leave a lasting impression on our stage.

how to participate

Participation in the open mic session is open to all! Simply arrive at the coffee shop before the event starts, and our friendly staff (Toni Moreira) will guide you through the sign-up process. Don't miss this opportunity to inspire, be inspired, and connect with fellow artists.

in character details

Location: Deja Brew.

Time: 7pm to 10pm.

Date: Saturday, July 14th.

out of character details

This event will begin Friday, July 14th at 5pm EST and end on Friday, July 21st at midnight EST.

Threads do not have to be paused, participation isn't required!

Just a little, fun, and stress-free mini-event.

Activity checks and acceptances will continue as usual.

Please tag starters with providence.event but do not tag it providence.starter. Event starters will be reblogged to the starter blog and deleted once the event has concluded.

If you have any questions at all, please contact @antoniaxmoreira.

[xasha777]

In the verdant depths of the Evergreen Forest on planet Althea, a world where technology intertwined with nature in the most unexpected ways, there lived a unique being named Elara. Her vibrant red hair and otherworldly green eyes marked her as a descendant of the ancient Terra settlers but with a mysterious twist—her ability to manipulate flora around her was unparalleled.

During the July Monarchy—a political regime established by the interstellar settlers who modeled their government after an ancient Earth system—tensions ran high between the technocrats who wished to industrialize Althea and the naturists, like Elara, who advocated for the preservation of the planet's ecosystems.

Elara’s life took a sharp turn during one of the July Monarchy’s annual celebrations when the Grand Duke announced plans to expand the mining operations into the Evergreen Forest, which would surely devastate the lush, bioluminescent greenery and disrupt the delicate balance of its bio-network. The news sent ripples of unrest throughout Althea, prompting Elara to take a stand.

Determined to save her home, Elara, adorned in a dress woven from the silken threads of the golden Vanar leaves—a symbol of resistance among her people—ventured out of the forest. Her destination was the capital, Illuminara, where the Council of July Monarchy convened. Along her journey, she used her unique connection to the planet's flora to communicate and rally support among the diverse species of Althea, from the towering Gigar trees with their deep wisdom to the tiny, mischievous Peta sprites.

As Elara reached Illuminara, her presence alone caused a stir—never had the city seen a naturist harness natural elements with such grace and command. She stormed into the Council chambers during a session, her emerald gown shimmering with a life of its own, leaves and vines responding to her emotions and entwining around the hall’s pillars.

“Honored members,” Elara began, her voice echoing powerfully, “you are tasked with the guardianship of Althea, yet you choose to destroy her heart for mere profit. I stand before you, a voice of the forest, a plea for the life that thrives in our world. I demand a reconsideration of the mining expansions. Let us find a way to coexist.”

Her impassioned plea and the undeniable display of her abilities led to a heated debate among the council members. The technocrats argued for the economic benefits of expansion, while others, swayed by Elara's demonstration, began to see the intrinsic value of Althea's unique environment.

The session lasted hours, stretching into the night. In a historic decision, influenced by Elara’s fervor and the clear message sent by the planet’s own flora and fauna, the Council voted to halt the expansion into the Evergreen Forest, initiating instead a new era of sustainable resource management.

Elara returned to her forest, hailed as a hero. She continued to work with the July Monarchy, now in a new advisory role, ensuring that all decisions regarding technological advancement respected the natural world. Thus began a golden age for Althea, as it blossomed under the guidance of one who was both its child and its protector.

[starshipodyssey]

Today started earlier than usual, as I found myself wide awake at 0330. Perhaps it was the residual excitement from our recent planetary exploration mission, or maybe it was just the result of hitting the bunk at the unusually early hour of 2000 hours last night. Regardless, I decided to make the most of the early hours.

Heading to the ship’s gym, I embarked on a brief but invigorating workout session. Spending 20 minutes on the rowing machine helped awaken my muscles and get my blood pumping. The challenge of holding a plank for a solid minute reminded me of the importance of core strength in zero-gravity environments. I set a personal goal to reach 2 minutes eventually – a feat that I’m determined to achieve.

Afterward, I completed 20 sit-ups and 20 overhead lifts with a ten-pound weight, striving to maintain my physical conditioning even amidst the rigors of space travel. It’s essential to stay in peak physical shape for whatever challenges may lie ahead during our exploratory missions.

Despite being off-shift yesterday, I managed to make significant progress on my handquilting project. Sitting in the quiet solitude of my quarters, surrounded by the gentle hum of the ship’s systems, I found solace in the rhythmic motion of needle and thread. As I meticulously stitched away, I marveled at how the centuries-old art of quilting continues to bring comfort and creativity to even the most futuristic of settings.

As the ship hurtles through the vast expanse of space, each day brings new opportunities for growth, exploration, and discovery. And with each stitch of my quilt, I’m reminded of the timeless connection between past, present, and future – a connection that binds us together on this remarkable journey through the cosmos.

[themowearchives]

The Music.

paul revere -b/w- angel of the underground

released: december 2013

pristine indigio records

recorded and produced by pete weiss.

the brand new release from boston's my own worst enemy is a 2-song single, "paul revere" & "angel of the underground." tracks were recorded in somerville ma at q division & armory sound, and produced by the incomparable pete weiss. vinyl mastering was done by jeff powell in memphis tn.

paul revere is a two-minute, three-chord stomp and quickly became a fan favorite when it showed up in mowe's live sets. during the weekend studio session, the band brought in friends and neighbors to help bolster the "hey!" refrains and the the big "hurray!" cheer in the third verse.

angel of the underground is the band's tribute of sorts to one of their favorite singers and all-around sweetheart, mary lou lord. through the boston music scene, sue and steve were lucky enough to meet, share bills with and eventually become friends with mary lou, who continues to be an inspiration. it even features a nod to her nick saloman-penned tune, lights are changing, on the outtro.

track listing:

side a: paul revere

side b: angel of the underground

electric like the moon

released: fall 2011

pristine indigio records

produced by pete weiss at verdant studio in athens, vermont.

"bad romance, late nights out, the intersection of love and squalor ... that's traditionally the stuff of great rock and roll, and it's the territory my own worst enemy inhabits with this album, which makes good on the promise of their last few years of heartfelt live shows."

- brett milano, music writer/author - sound of our town

electric like the moon is the fourth full-length release from boston rockers my own worst enemy. featuring the band's signature twin-guitar-and-drums (bassless) sound coupled with emotive co-ed vocals and sweet harmonies, electric once again captures mowe's no-nonsense, impassioned songwriting in the context of bona fide three-chord rock. the album seamlessly swings from punk to garage to country and back again with the constant thread of intensity sewn throughout.

stand-out tracks include "man of the hour," an epic ode to long-time boston music supporter/promoter billy ruane, and "the kids don't care," a garage-rawk tribute to lyres and the real kids. don't miss the 60s bounce track "nothinwithoutcha," the punk-rock stomp of "can't buy my love" and the melancholy twang of "whiskey talkin."

track listing and free mp3 downloads (right click-save link as):

1 april & september

2 the kids don't care

3 nothinwithoutcha

4 bad romance

5 chandelier

6 can't buy my love

7 ask

8 man of the hour

9 whiskey talkin'

10 backyard

11 abort

total action

released: fall 2007

pristine indigio records

released in 2007 and produced by pete weiss at verdant studio in athens, vermont.

"total action is the kind of pop record they just don't make anymore; full of fresh sounds and great hooks, with some careful thought between the lines. leaders sue and steve are music nuts who do their influences proud, and they fooled me into thinking their shimmering folk-rocker 'snowflake' was a long-lost 60s nugget. elsewhere they mix their country and their velvets up with a lot of vital three-chord stomp. call it garage rock if you must; but sue's vocals leave no doubt that garage is in a pretty exotic neighborhood."

- brett milano, music writer/author - sound of our town

track listing and free mp3 downloads (right click-save link as):

1 turn it on

2 used to be a figher

3 come on

4 green apple

5 catherine the waitress

6 snowflake

7 drunken angel

8 corner of my eye

9 pay attention to me

10 lose your mind

11 for her

12 redondo beach

no guarantees

released: fall 2003

elis eil records

the band's second full-length release is a sublime sound cocktail with shots of versatility, passion and honesty that resonate through the vocals, guitars and drums and permeate every lyrical syllable. one listen just won't do: this record demands your attention over time. its songs will sink into your brain and, hopefully, your heart. comprised of thirteen songs recorded with pete weiss at zippah studios in brookline ma., and at verdant studio in athens, vermont, no guarantees promises sparks of melodious purity juxtaposed with flashes of aural ferocity.

track listing and free mp3 downloads (right click-save link as):

1 who knew

2 mia

3 why not beautiful

4 poison

5 late show

6 hey hey sunshine

7 finally

8 not the one

9 throw it all away

10 never talking to you again

11 mr leatherboots

12 yearbook

13 pills & pride

treblemaker

released: fall 2000

eils eil records

the band's debut release is filled with moments of sonic sweetness and irrepressible emotion. the dominant factor is the ever-present lead vocals from sue, whose heart-on-your-sleeve approach to songwriting is refreshing and engaging. the breathy and bold backing vocals add a layer of harmonious girl-on-girl bliss to three of the tracks. the twin guitar attack on treblemaker starts out gentle and works its way up to a full-on strum-glaze frenzy, culminating with the knockdown, drag-out anthem "cry for frances." this one-two punch sets its sites squarely on courtney love and hits a bull's eye in true riot grrl-inspired gratification. treblemaker is jam-packed with intoxicating levels of passion, power and pop.

track listing and free mp3 downloads (right click-save link as):

1 garfield

2 those lips

3 portland

4 don't look now

5 no ware

6 free to leave

7 paint the town

8 take it

9 cry for frances

[open-hearth-rpg]

Open Hearth Video Roundup - December 22, 2023

Welcome to the weekly Open Hearth Gaming video roundup!

These recorded sessions represent only a portion of the games we play every week, and anyone is welcome to join the fun! If you'd like to play in games like these, join our Playabl community and click on the "Calendar" tab to sign up for upcoming games. To browse our entire library of session videos, please visit our YouTube Playlists page.

Open Hearth Gaming Calendar

Monster of the Week: The Rockies (Session 2) Blake Ryan runs for Brandon Ungar, David Montgomery, Dom, and Grey Now our heroes are hunted... by themselves! also a quaint reunion with some pals from college.

Corps à Corps: Time Out (Session 2 of 2) Donogh runs for Maria M., Sabine V., and Tad Cadets of the King's Musketeers are enjoying a night out when a puppet show is beset by the Cardinal's Guards, and of course the cadets leap to the defence of France, Cheese & the Theatre!

The Mecha Hack: Ares Station Q (Session 7 of 7) Anya Reyes runs for Bryan and John M. The pilots are on a mission to stop Commander Anders' Hi-DR4 team from attacking a Q'ku encampment and starting open war against the exiled state. But as they arrive at Sector 3 they are quickly reminded that even if their objectives align the Q'ku are not their allies.

Girl By Moonlight: Divine Engines (Session 8) Lowell Francis runs for Ethan Harvey, Patrick Knowles, Sherri, and Tyler Lominack The group launches to face off with the leviathan which has an intimate tie to the origin of Radiant. But a convention attack upon the creature is complicated by the presence of a surviving colony. And when they take the foe on, it reveals a more dangerous weapon-- one which uses our pilots' pasts against them.

Girl By Moonlight: Divine Engines (Session 9) Lowell Francis runs for Ethan Harvey, Patrick Knowles, Sherri, and Tyler Lominack In a coda session and series break, our group deals with the fallout of their battle with the Leviathan-- and the damage done to the Last Bastion.

Hearts of Yokai (Session 7 of 7) Lowell Francis runs for Agatha, Anders, Donogh, and Sabine V. Split across the city in four places, each of our Taken must face a challenge-- some with success and some with costs. This leads them to the force at the center of this circle of swords, a dragon who has an offer for them. But in order to do this, the group must face down a Taker, as well as old enemies and friends.

Free from the Shadow: Samurai Fantasy (Session 6) Lowell Francis runs for Cale P, Elle, Mike Minutillo, and Sherri We handle the turning of the age, moving the story forward by ten years. We begin by meeting our new cast of characters, and learn the path of our one returning PC. We see how the Empire has changed and what threats still remain. The Emperor reveals the new project: seeking out a dragon for the imperial line.

Free from the Shadow: Samurai Fantasy (Session 7 of 7) Lowell Francis runs for Cale P, Elle, Mike Minutillo, and Sherri Things continue to shift with the clans moving to secure their place in this changing era. But it works out less well for some, as the Emperor makes plans for a new Imperial capital. The protagonists gather together in an effort to prevent a deadly prophecy, but that mission goes terribly wrong in many ways...

Eotenweard: Northumbria (Session 9) Alun R. runs for David Morrison, José Feito, Sabine V., and Will H Leaving Garwlan, the Heroes are once more joined by Solinus, fresh from his visit to a monastery, but Black Jel disappears in the night. Meanwhile their path is dogged by a one-eyed raven. Meeting a group of refugees fleeing raiders they agree to do away with whatever 'power' drove them from their homes. Approaching a ruin 'that must have been built by giants' discover more than they had bargained for and several threads are drawn together into a final confrontation that challenges them to hold to their faith or not, and risk all in the hope of success...and even, perhaps, the hope of love...

Star Wars Saturday

Infinite Galaxies (Session 3 of 3) Rich Rogers runs for Anders, Keith Stetson, and Steven Watkins The Finale - Deep in the sith temple, our heroes try to overcome immortal odds.

MCU Sunday

Demigods (Session 5) Rich Rogers runs for Alex, Cody Eastlick, and Steven Watkins The New Warriors Three meet Hera and haul Hercules to the Underworld, but will they doom "Jerkules" to eternal torment in the Underworld? And what are the rules for marriage exactly?

Off-Calendar Highlights

Paranormal Inc: Haunted Holidays! (Session 8) Madelancholy runs for Amanda/iamatrex and Brent The characters chase down escaped ghosts as they figure out how the containment unit leaked and drum up some business during the office holiday party, in this installment of Paranormal Inc!

Trophy Dark: NorthPoleLand Madelancholy runs for Alex C and Steph A holiday-themed incursion, on a mission to find the kidnapped Santa in the abandoned theme park NorthPoleLand. Mall Santas and a gingerbread house are only some of things our intrepid elves will find on this journey...

[mollerson]

Performance Jitters

Avery was a prima ballerina and had been dancing since before she could speak. Her mother had big dreams and projected those ambitions on her daughter. She could keep up with the older girls in the class and had many chances to perform in competitions. However, during the debut of her adult career, while these were considered the last few weeks of high school life, she came crashing down as her ligaments tore during her performance at Swan Lake. The catastrophe incident occurred on the final night of the showcase, and one last turn changed everything. Her knee was destroyed. She had lost her ability to walk and dance on the same day as her dream.

Her village of Broomhill held fundraisers and charity walks in hopes of helping the young girls fund expensive yet very experimental treatment in Turkey, hoping to reconnect the ligaments together without any lasting effects. Over 2 years, the doctors poked and prodded Avery; she was their personal lab rat to test the latest experiment. After 2 years of continuous trips to the hospital, Avery was told that they were no longer going ahead with the operation. Avery's heart sank, and she locked herself away in her room, away from her family and friends. She was caged in a room of hopes and dreams that twisted into nightmares the longer she looked at them.

Falling into a deep depression

Pill after pill 

Session after session 

Losing dance was losing her entire personality. Becoming hollow and wooden, stiff to any notion of affection. A few years passed, and Avery was almost 19 years old and not passionate about finding any good in this world. Her therapist suggested finding an alternative path, like singing or a hobby to fill her time with. Her mind would always wander during that session to dance in ballet performances in France.

Her mother, Linda, suggested going out for a walk, motioning to the sun beaming outside. Avery shrugged, and a cold expression formed on her face. Her thick wool jumper, where the bottom had been tugged and pilled enough that the material was stretched. Grabbing the crutches next to the breakfast table and avoiding the pool of mushed bananas that her baby brother Jamie had thrown onto the floor.

Her house had quite a few alternatives to accommodate the need for crutches, the sofas in the living room were pulled back to create more space and the stairs to the second floor now had a chair lift for when Avery became tired. While leisurely walking to the front door, a framed picture on the wall showed a young girl with a bright pink leotard and tutu. Avery gave a weak smile as her mother stood behind her.

Walking to the local co-op, Avery made a brave face and pulled the bottom of her jumper. Walking along the jagged pavement of the council estate she grew up on, seeing all the kids run a mock on the road and play games with chalk made her envious. Avery bit her lip and kept walking. Her eyes started to glisten when she saw something new in the Co-op window; its bright colours and big font attracted everyone walking past. Almost dropping her crutch, she leaned into the window for a good read.

'Well now, a circus in our proper small toon, guess ye wanna gan to that naw?' her mother Linda asked.

Avery shook her head excitedly. The poster promised dancing and performances from all things weird and wonderful. Her eyes lit up like Blackpool illuminations. Looking down at the crutches, her stomach churned when the thought of seeing dancers. Pulling the jumper to the point that the threads are falling apart. She noted down the dates. 

'I think I'll save my pocket money', she shouted at her mum, and she turned around and started walking home slightly faster with a new objective to complete; save money for the circus.

She hobbled home, almost falling over thanks to a pothole in the road, as quick as the path had been taken over by the kids in the neighbourhood. She found an old jam jar and filled it with the change contents in her pocket. Over the weeks, she would do odd jobs for her family to earn money. Washing the dishes, cleaning her room and even selling old toys to the local kids to help fund her day at the circus.

Avery was ready to see shows and dance all day with all the money she had saved from her jobs, and now the day had arrived. Her jeans had been washed and pressed, her top was a rainbow of colours, and for once, she felt nice to be friendly and colourful.

Avery jumped into the car and sat with her mother in the front, messing with the radio to play a heavy metal playlist. This did not bode well with her baby brother. Her leg kept twitching and jolting with excitement. Her eyes moved with every sign they passed on the dual carriageway, her arm blocking the view of the road every time she pointed to a character in the direction that they were heading.

After a 15-minute drive, they were escorted to a "car park", and finally, the vehicle stopped moving. Linda was so focused on getting her young son out of the car that she overlooked that Avery had disappeared amongst the visitors. The last image that Linda had of her daughter was in front of the entrance.

Avery's eyes dilated with pure joy seeing the dancers in their heavily detailed dresses and leotards that glistened and glimmered as the sun would hit the dancers. They performed with sticks of fire and ribbons swayed in the wind.

She staggered along, passed the tents and crowds. Eating cotton candy and caramel apples as she moved through the crowds; every so often, her crutch would get stuck in the mud. At one point, her feet moved faster than her hands, and her crutch got stuck on a tent string. She fell face first into the mud, her fresh clothes now covered in mud that had instances of sweet wrappers and lollipop sticks.

After struggling to turn around off her stomach, she could feel the twinge of pain coming down her leg and see her knee swell from her injury. She tried not to cry in pain as she wanted to attract no attention from the pain around her. She was to be independent as she could be.

She just wanted one day where she could enjoy one thing without hassle.

'Ye alreet their pet?' a feminine voice croaked. Standing over the wounded lass was an old woman in reasonably everyday attire but with clowns on her face. Behind the more senior clown was a woman in purple robes with a painted 3rd eye on her forehead.

Avery didn't make a sound but nodded at the clown's request for aid. The older woman helped Avery off the ground and helped her inside the tent. The robed woman zipped up the tent, ensuring she followed them in.

The tent was relatively small and homely in nature. The orange seats are around a small circular table. The camping stove and kettle for drinks were next to a mini fridge. A cabinet was filled with herbs and spices, presumably used to concoct different teas and herbal remedies when medication was unavailable.

'Come now, pet, have a seat and a cup of tea', the clown placed the cup in front of the class and continued ', My name is Heather, and that's Helen', motioning over to the robed woman, making herself comfortable with a cup of tea and placing a spoon towel down.

'Whats ya name?' Heather asked, grabbing a towel from the table and handing it to Avery.

'Avery', she squeaked. Talking to people outside her family was difficult. Her heart felt like it was about to burst through her chest with how fast it beat. The beating could be heard in her ears, and she picked up the cup to be distracted. The painted ceramic mug had little yellow birds perched on a tree branch. Being so fixated on the small cup, she didn't notice that the robed woman Helen had moved closer towards the skittish girl.

'Drink up but not all of it; I wanna read your leaves' Helen made a motion with her hands, the fingers interlocking and playfully tapping along her own palm in a circle.

'Leaves?' Avery questioned and looked quite confused at the sentiment. Moving the cup towards her mouth, taking many big gulps but keeping an eye out for the tea level. Allowing a small puddle to form in the bottom. This pool of tea had leaves floating on the top.

Avery didn't have the chance to place the cup on the small table when Helen grabbed the cup and started pacing around the room like a child with a new toy. Helen rocked back and forward on her heels, watching the inside of the cup intently.

Her body stopped, and her eyes had small pools of tears. 

Thud 

The cup had been dropped onto the makeshift carpet. 

'Oh, you poor thing. The tea said you have been robbed of your dreams. Helen was so sombre; her voice cracked with the woman's sadness. Avery's attention moved towards the other woman in the room as Heather went to the cabinet filled with herbs.

There was a sound of mashing and stone clicking against the stone with the pestle and mortar brought out from under a cabinet. Heather's body blocked whatever she was doing from Avery's point of view.

Avery finally perked up. 'How did you – wait, I should probably get going?' trying to motion for the exit, but her crutches were not seen; shit, had she left outside? She tried to get moving, but her knee would not bend. It was too swollen for any sort of movement.

'Well, what if we could offer you a solution?' Heather excitedly said, a grin like the Cheshire cat. The clown moved closer to the girl and placed a jar of crushed herbs before Avery. From the corner of her eye, Avery noticed Helen shift from sad to concerned. Her body became stiff, and she moved back over to the table. Her robes flowed effortlessly and missed on a single corner. 

Yanking the jar and placing it in her pocket, 'She's only a child; what if things go wrong and if he finds out. Our heads will be gone,' she exclaimed, very worried and panicked. 

'You just worried about meddling with nature; this lass isn't living. Let's give her a chance to make a choice.' Heather moved and placed a palm out. 'Come on honey, you know this is the best'. 

Helen sighed and reluctantly gave back the herbs. The robed woman walked towards the kettle and started to boil the water.

Avery sat. she watched and listened to the kettle. How long had she been gone? Where were her mother and Jamie? Her head started to hurt with the worry she had unnecessarily caused. 

The same cup was placed in front of her, and the smell of lavender filled the room. The purple liquid shifted and shimmered with hues of blues and pinks. She saw her face in the reflection. She looked so pained and sad. She didn't notice that she had been crying herself, and the trails of tears made tracks all the way down her cheeks.

Cupping the cup in her hands again, she took a deep breath and drank the tea without hesitation. This was one of those herbal teas that would help with pain and swelling. Her face softened, and she dried her eyes. The world became hazy; the woman stood nearby, whispering amongst themselves. She felt so sleepy, and being passed a thick, knitted blanket by Helen was the nail in the coffin.

Her eyes started to feel heavy; sleep was calling her name, and her chair started sinking beneath her. The last thing she remembered was the thud of the cup as it hit the ground. Dreams of performances and recitals. Her body flowed like water, and she could hold poses for minutes. She wasn't hindered by bones or joints or even muscles that would get in the way.

She was happy. She was content. She was perfect.

***

'AVERYYYYYYYYYY!' her mother Linda yelled, carrying a crying Jamie. He was fussing and needed something to eat. Making her way to the big tent in the middle, she hoped her daughter would be somewhere close to some food.

       'Come one and all, see the living, Doll. She twists and bends with no bones,' the Ringleader shouted and praised. His voice was a foghorn, leading the people towards him.

Jamie quieted when he heard the act and wanted to see the "liv-ing dol-ly." The child pointed and laughed at the animals in the cages, oooh'd at the elephants and shied away from the lions after giving the small clown by the entrance of the big tent a few quid. They were let in to see the acts.

'Where is that girl?' Linda whispered, agitated. Looking around at the loud crowd, trying to find her daughter. She was focused on the hair within the group. She allowed Avery to dye her hair purple for her 14th birthday.

The lights went out, and a spotlight was pointed to the tent's centre.

The music started, and a toy car was driven to the middle. The door opened, and they waited.

They waited.

A great bang and puff of smoke appeared where the car had been. Now a man, dressed in black and red, carrying a whip. 

The Ringleader appeared and stood, smiles and all. 'Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages; I am proud to present the Barton Circus. I'm delighted to welcome a new little lady who is a little shy,' taking in a deep breath. The man walked around the car and climbed on top.

'Can I please have a round of applause for the newest addition, Audrey – the Living doll?!' he finished. 

Then in a flash, he disappeared and in his place was a small doll whose limbs were made of wood but could move with no strings. Her purple hair was wrapped in a small bow and complimented a pink ballerina outfit. The wooden joints moved without fault; there was no click as the legs bent and straightened. The Doll made no movement, and the lack of noise was startling.

Swan Lake started to play, the music filled the rooms, and any leftover muttering was stopped as people watched the Doll. Her face remained blank, but when she started to move, her body conveyed joyful and happy emotions. The music began to fasten, and the Doll moved, matching pace. She danced across the floor, taking advantage of the hoops used for the animal performances. The music continued, and when the music slowed, the Doll became graceful and looked amongst the crowd.

Linda made eye contact with the ballerina, and her eyes swelled with tears.

Nearing the end of the music, the posture of the Doll changed; there was an arrogance and prideful nature when the hoops that had been previously used became aflame. The crowd murmured in worry and disbelief; some mothers covered their children's eyes. 

Jamie's eyes could be seen with wonder and excitement, enjoying the high intensity of the performance. The music finally hit the crescendo, and with an inhumane leap, she flew across the tent and landed with such magnificence that the crowd hung silent. A few seconds passed, the music had stopped, and the Doll remained in position. From the distance that Linda and Jamie were sitting, it was as if the Doll's body was panting after all that physical exhaustion. Still, without any lungs, that would be impossible for a wooden figure to do.

The show continued with the introduction of the animals; creatures great and small were brought in. The Doll would dance along the tightrope that hung above and land elegantly onto the more giant animals. The beautiful Doll showed no fear as she walked across the rope with ease and no hesitation. Bending her joints along the string atop hangs upside down and performs impressive tricks.

The crowd applauded and cheered the Doll on as the hours flew by. When everyone started leaving the tent, the sun began to disappear along the horizon, and most ats returned to their tents behind the big top. That's when Linda's stomach churned, and the realisation kicked in that her daughter had been missing for half a day.

She started panicking, turned pale, and hugged Jamie tighter. After an hour of searching, with the help of some of the actors, there was no sign of her daughter. The weekend flew by, even the police were notified, and the only indication of the lass was that her crutch was found in a ditch half a mile from the circus.

The circus left and left behind the tattered remains of a destroyed patch of land and no sign of Avery. Her mother gave up searching after 2 years; her heart had to let go, and money was running short to continue to print posters. It was like she disappeared with the wind. Jamie did not remember much about his sister but always talked about that Doll.

With no evidence that Avery was alive, her mother paid for a gathering in the town hall and put a headstone for her beloved daughter in the local ceremony.

The circus continued to come every few years; as Audrey grew up, she became more mature, and her purple hair started to grey. Her wooden joints started to wear away and rot. They say Audrey had to retire from the job and is now part of the circus museum in America. For all to bear witness.

Avery would have loved Audrey.

[rujided]

Within the halls of our educational journey, friendships bloom and create a tapestry of memories that hold a special place in our hearts. The bonds formed with school friends become woven threads of shared experiences, laughter, and growth, shaping our lives in profound and lasting ways.

Imagine the first day of school, filled with nervous excitement and anticipation. Among the sea of unfamiliar faces, you spot a friendly smile that instantly puts you at ease. That smile becomes the foundation of a friendship that will accompany you on this educational odyssey, enriching the entire fabric of your school experience.

Together, you navigate the challenges of assignments and exams, supporting each other with late-night study sessions, sharing notes, and offering encouragement. The shared triumphs and occasional setbacks become threads that strengthen your bond, building resilience and fostering a sense of camaraderie.

There are moments of pure joy and laughter. From inside jokes shared in the cafeteria to secret codes created during class, each humorous anecdote adds color and vibrancy to the fabric of your memories. These lighthearted moments provide a respite from the rigors of academics, reminding you that friendship brings brightness to even the most mundane days.

As the years pass, you witness each other's growth and evolution. Through various stages of adolescence, you lend an ear during heart-to-heart conversations, offering advice and understanding. The transformative experiences of navigating teenagehood together leave an indelible mark on your friendship, shaping your identities and strengthening the threads that bind you.

In the school of friendships, there are also bittersweet goodbyes. The final year of school approaches, and the reality of parting ways weighs heavy on your hearts. Yet, as you stand on the threshold of new beginnings, the memories shared become threads of gratitude and appreciation for the journey you've had together.

Though paths may diverge, the tapestry of school friendships remains intact. Reunions and shared stories become the threads that keep your connection alive, no matter the distance or time that separates you. The strength of these friendships is tested and proven as you continue to support, celebrate, and cheer each other on in all your endeavors.

School friendships are the woven tapestry of shared experiences, growth, and laughter. They provide support during challenges, add brightness to everyday life, and accompany us on our journey of self-discovery. Cherish the threads that bind you to your school friends, for they represent a tapestry of memories that will forever hold a special place in your heart, reminding you of the transformative power of friendship.