#i am nothing if not adaptable

[arctic-hands]

I have to reorganize my whole state of my being when I go out with the cane now, especially with the way my rheumy told me I should be using it 😭 it used to be left front pocket: inhaler, hand sanitizer, MP3 player and headphones, whatever misc little things I need on my immediate person. Right front pocket: wallet. Back left pocket: cellphone. Right back pocket, keys, with or without Wild Kat (depending on where I'm going–medical and government buildings are a NO GO for Stabby Cat).

In the Before Times when I could carry a backpack I had my first aid kit with whatever meds I needed on the go and emergency Crohn's kit (i.e. a spare change of clothes), and sometimes art supplies and journal or my tablet, or whatever I need to bring to the hospital when I need to go.

I got cool belt bags when I need them because I used to and still sometimes have trouble putting on pants and the loose skirts I could pull over my torso or wrap around and tie usually don't have pockets.

Then I was told to never carry a bag again and got my Rolly Bag for all of that, and very nearly got a custom bumper sticker to put on saying "my back is too fragile to carry a bag stop fucking asking me if I'm going on vacation" because I was constantly getting comments by people? By strangers? It was so annoying.

But now with the advent of Cassandra Cane, Rolly Bag is in retirement. I started carrying a medical binder/bujo in a zippered padfolio. I got a lil mini travel sketchbook and started using passport sized journals, and both of those fit quite neatly in the padfolio. Unfortunately medical bujo doesn't have a handle and I got it a month before I got the cane and it's a bitch to carry in one hand and use my cane in another. So now I have to afix a handle to it somehow because I like the layout of the padfolio too much to replace it.

And to top it all off, after using the cane for a few months before being able to see my rheumatologist again, she tells me I've been using it on the wrong leg for my particular case. So now I've got to occupy my right hand, my dominant hand, with it. I had my wallet and keys/Stabby Cat in my right pockets for easy access, now I have to switch sides. Meanwhile my phone being in my left back pocket made it hard to get it out or into said pocket when using the cane, and I'm gonna have that same problem if I just switch it to the right. So with my dad having helped me buy a new (SafeLink, discounted) phone I shilled out for a wallet case for it, which means I only need to put both in my front left pocket. Also I'm carrying a ear-piercing self defense whistle now, for both extreme situations (let's be honest, even with Stabby Cat in one hand and a metal cane in the other, I'm losing that fight), and for when ableds get to annoying/grabby

Meanwhile, I got a Cane Buddy which. Uh. Great in theory, piss poor in execution. It attaches to the cane with Velcro, and the makers forgot that canes are usually smooth so like. It keeps sliding down as I use my cane. But it holds my first aid kit/medicines, some Larabars, pads and wipes, a spare mask, my lil sketchbook and lil journal when I don't need to take the whole bujo with me, and other misc things, so I just deal with the frustration.

I still have no idea what to do about carrying a spare change of clothes tho 😭 it's a source of anxiety with the way my intestines have been lately to go out without them.

Anyway, anyone have any other ideas on how to adapt to this? The stuff in my pocket is stuff I Really Need if my various iterations of a bag are snatched, so those stay on my person at all times. Everything else would suck if stolen, but more easily replaceable and not an immediate threat to my life if taken (such as the inhaler).

[troubleshade]

I'll get your smile but I won't come alone Because my shadow is always there Between madness and reality I hate being like this It's awesome

It's the 9th september again, time for Aster's birthday.

Time to get a brainrot again about him. Also tried some new brushes for his scars and burns and I really like it.

Music inspiration by:

It's only the lyrics that fits, but I don't care. This song is on repeat since a few days and I vibe to it!

[garden-bug]

Avatar doesn’t need a live action, neither does HOW TO TRAJN YOUR DRAGOK WJAT TJE FUCK-

The way I think about it is this: If a live action cannot improve, expand on, make more accessible, and/or complement the original animated version, it’s not necessary. If after watching the live action you STILL hold the original version in higher regard, the show didn’t need a live action. What will it bring to the story other than more money for a greedy corporation? Ok yes it might be nice to see a show you like in a different medium, but do we live in a bubble? Do we indulge and overindulge in the same stories over and over and over and never see anything original or unique or… risky?

Because I don’t know about you guys but I’ve been noticing a lot of live action remakes recently. And movies that don’t take many risks. And Star Wars.

Consider One Piece, which I think is a brilliant example of a live action doing everything it should do. Heck it made my mum love One Piece but she would NEVER watch the original anime; the anime is flawed, pandering, misogynistic (yes it’s one of the better shōnen anime for this, I know) in it’s objectification of women, ridiculous to the point that it only appeals to… anime fans, what more need I say? Whereas the live action is fun, goofy, touching and meaningful, boasts a huge pacing improvement and is accessible to a much wider audience to a far greater effect than a live action of the other two will achieve. It complements the original and even excels in many aspects.

Avatar and HTTYD function perfectly in their original medium. God I can’t stand that they’re being remade. WHY? It’s like Frankenstein. Remaking and remaking and always ALWAYS missing the point of the original text. Humanity is doomed-

Sorry that got deep.

Like can we get an adaptation of the Stormlight Archive?

If you adore these two shows and are just excited about it I’m happy for you, live your life, etc. I just don’t share the sentiment and feel that it represents something wrong with our attitude to storytelling and medium (and capitalism. It’s capitalism, guys. Ursula K. Le Guin tried to warn us-)

As always feel free to interact with this post but keep it friendly and respectful. If you can’t do that then DNI.

[appallinnballin]

MFM kiddos using Ruv as a mattress cuz he’s warm and soft :3

I feel demons are more susceptible to the cold.. he is the family furnace

[rowanisawriter]

the genius of homer is starting the odyssey with telemachus and fhe gods and having us hear stories of odysseus and how amazing he was and how smart and how he must be alive he must be fighting to come home at this very moment and then when we finally see him he’s laying face down in the sand crying his eyes out and looking so pathetic that the gods watching him intervene to end this miserable display

[esshades]

I finally finished my watchthrough of the 2 MDZS shows and here are my thoughts from my notes

[freakoutgirl]

kinda funny that i never even considered i'm autistic until i had a job

[slythereen]

how in god’s name is this man so fucking lucky all the time …

[docholligay]

Lestat and Louis 5ever, their toxic gay shit is everything to me what a great father's day gift to me personally, this show is my exact kind of brain candy, please never stop.

(I'm in the middle of episode 6 please don't spoil me I'm having a great time)

[this-machine-runs-on-coffee]

"DEAD GIRL WALKING" THIS IS NOT AN EXACT TRANSLATION, THIS IS AN ADAPTATION (AND ONE THAT STILL NEEDS TONS OF FIXING AT THAT)

So hey, can't have the reprise out without the og out, right? Here you get the Dead Girl Walking song adapted in Italian! I regret my life choices sometimes!

ASK ME FOR PERMISSION BEFORE USING THIS, DO CREDIT ME IF YOU EVER USE THIS (I doubt you will it’s impractical and still needs so much fixing it’s unbelievable) AND TELL ME/LINK WHATEVER YOU USED IT FOR USING REBLOGS (because for some reason Tumblr doesn’t like comments with links and while I do think I understand why I don’t always like it)

(the apostrophes [or however ’ is called] are used to shorten the number of syllables often in poetry so I’m obviously abusing that power.)

[VERONICA] Il demonio della scuola l'ha decretato: Dice che lunedì, alle otto, il mio status sarà cambiato Mi chiuderanno in bidelleria Giustizieranno in caffetteria Trenta ore da vivere— Come le spendo?

Non devo stare e morire come bestiame Potrei andarmene e abbandonarle nel letame Ma non ho una motocicletta 'Spetta—c'è un'opzione che mi diletta: Passare queste ore facendomi lui! Sì!

Mi serve duro Son una morta vivente Son sotto al tuo muro Son una morta vivente Prima che suoni la campanella Entro dentro a questa finestrella Ho tempo per 'na bottarella *cade dalla finestra (dentro alla camera), che praticamente è una specie di bussare/botta* Son una morta vivente

[J.D., parlato] Veronica? Che ci fai nella mia camera?

[VERONICA] Shh...

Scusa, ma dovevo proprio svegliarti Vedi, ho deciso di farti fino a che non ti senti più le parti Perché Heather mi ha condannata Sei l'ultimo pasto d'una giustiziata Chiudi la bocca e togli la biancheria intimo!

Forza! Son tua stanotte Son la tua morta vivente Re delle botte Bacia 'sta morta vivente Forza, sai la routine Prendimi e facciam casin Inchinat'alla volontà d'una morta vivente!

E lo sai, lo sai, lo sai È perché tu sei fantastico Dici d'esser vuoto dentro Ma non son d'accordo Sì, è ingiusto il mondo Rendiamolo 'n sottofondo Qui dentro è fantastico Rendiamolo fantastico!

[J.D.] A me va bene! Oop-

[Instrumental/Guitar Lead]

[VERONICA] Sì! A tutto gas vai! Prendi 'sta morta vivente

[J.D.] Com'hai trovato casa mia?

[VERONICA, stringendo la spalla di J.D. (aggiunto io)] Stanchiamoci dai Scuoti 'sta morta vivente!

[J.D., poggiando la mano su quella di Veronica e tenendosi la spalla (aggiunto io)] Non rompiamola è mia!

[Veronica] Stanotte non dormi te Meglio berti tutto quel caffè

[J.D.] Okay, okay

[VERONICA] Mettiti a posto Fai sparire questo posto!

[J.D.] Okay, okay!

[VERONICA] Colpiscimi! Tiram'i capelli! Toccami

[VERONICA & J.D.] Di lì e di là e di qui!

[Veronica] Non un'altra parola promettente

[J.D.] No-oh-oh-oh!

[Veronica] Ama 'sta morta vivente

[J.D.] Whoa, whoa! Hey, hey! Sì, sì!

[VERONICA con J.D.] Ama/Amo 'sta morta vivente

[J.D.] Whoa, whoa! Hey, hey! 'Spetta, 'spetta!

[VERONICA & J.D.] Ama/Amo 'sta morta Sì! Sì! Sì!

[J.D., Veronica gli morde la spalla (aggiunto io pensando al film)] Ow!

[VERONICA & J.D.] Sì! So, direct translation! (used in this to specify the meanings and explain certain word choices)

[VERONICA] The demon of the school has decreed it: She says that Monday, at 8 a.m., my status will be changed They'll close me in the janitor's closet Execute me in the cafeteria Thirty hours to live— How do I spend them?

I don't have to stay and die like cattle I could leave and abandon them in manure (thank you google translate) But I don't have a motorbike Wait—here's an option that delights me (I would've put entertains me but once again google translate knows what I want better than me): Spend these hours doing him! Yes!

I need it hard I'm a living dead (girl) I'm under your wall (but more of at the bottom) I'm a living dead (girl) Before that the bell rings I'm going inside this small window I have time for a knock/quick sexual intercourse ("bottarella" little hit [exists in Italian and I just found out in slang it means a quick sexual intercourse. That wasn't intentional in the beginning which is way it was "I don't have time" but because of that was changed to "I have time", I'm lucky it also means to hit something]) *falls from the window (inside the bedroom), which technically is some sort of knock* I'm a living dead (girl)

[J.D., spoken] Veronica? What are you doing in my room?

[VERONICA] Shh...

Sorry, but I really had to wake you See, I decided I'm gonna do you till you can't feel them (as in his private parts) anymore 'Cause Heather has condemned me You're the last meal of an executed Shut your mouth and remove your underwear

Come on(/let's go)! Tonight I'm yours I'm your living dead (girl) King of hits (LISTEN IT FIT THE RHYME AND ANYTHING ELSE WAS TOO LONG FORGIVE ME) Kiss this living dead (girl) Let's go(/come on), you know the routine Take me and let's make a mess Bow down to the will of a living dead (girl)!

And you know, you know, you know It's 'cause you're fantastic You say you're numb inside But I don't agree Yes, the world's unfair Let's make it a background In here it's fantastic Let's make this fantastic!

[J.D.] I'm on board with that(/I'm alright with that/I'm good with that/that's good for me/that works for me [but that's too different from a literal translation])! Oop-

[Instrumental/Guitar Lead]

[VERONICA] Yes! Let's go full speed ("A tutto gas" is like saying go at top speed)! Take this living dead (girl)

[J.D.] How'd you find my house?

[VERONICA, squeezing JD's shoulder (I added that)] Let's tire ourselves out come on Shake this living dead (girl)!

[J.D., putting his hand's on Veronica's and holding his own shoulder (I added that)] Let's not break it it's mine!

[Veronica] Tonight you won't (more literally don't) sleep Better drink all that coffee

[J.D.] Okay, okay

[VERONICA] (Get yourself together/)Get your ass in gear Make this place disappear!

[J.D.] Okay, okay!

[VERONICA] Hit me! Pull my hair! Touch me

[VERONICA & J.D.] There and there (but a different way to say it) and here!

[Veronica] Not another promising word

[J.D.] No-oh-oh-oh!

[Veronica] Love this living dead (girl)

[J.D.] Whoa, whoa! Hey, hey! Yes, yes!

[VERONICA with J.D.] Love this living dead (girl)

[J.D.] Whoa, whoa! Hey, hey! Wait, wait!

[VERONICA & J.D.] Love this living dead (girl) Yes! Yes! Yes!

[J.D., Veronica bites his shoulder (I added that thinking about the film)] Ow!

[VERONICA & J.D.] Yes! OG LYRICS (if you’re seeing this I doubt you don’t know them, but here they are anyway):

[VERONICA] The demon queen of high school has decreed it: She says Monday, 8 a.m., I will be deleted They'll hunt me down in study hall Stuff and mount me on the wall Thirty hours to live— How shall I spend them?

I don't have to stay and die like cattle I could change my name and ride up to Seattle But I don't own a motorbike Wait—here's an option that I like: Spend these thirty hours gettin' freakay! Yeah!

I need it hard I'm a dead girl walkin' I'm in your yard I'm a dead girl walkin' Before they punch my clock I'm snappin' off your window lock Got no time to knock I'm a dead girl walking

[J.D., spoken] Veronica? What are you doing in my room?

[VERONICA] Shh...

Sorry, but I really had to wake you See, I decided I must ride you till I break you 'Cause Heather says I gots to go You're my last meal on death row Shut your mouth and lose them tighty-whities!

Come on! Tonight I'm yours I'm your dead girl walkin' Get on all fours Kiss this dead girl walkin' Let's go, you know the drill I'm hot and pissed and on the pill Bow down to the will of a dead girl walking!

And you know, you know, you know It's 'cause you're beautiful You say you're numb inside But I can't agree So the world's unfair Keep it locked out there In here it's beautiful Let's make this beautiful!

[J.D.] That works for me! Whoop-

[Instrumental/Guitar Lead]

[VERONICA] Yeah! Full steam ahead! Take this dead girl walkin'

[J.D.] How'd you find my address?

[VERONICA] Let's break the bed Rock this dead girl walkin'!

[J.D.] I think you tore my mattress!

[Veronica] No sleep tonight for you Better chug that Mountain Dew

[J.D.] Okay, okay

[VERONICA] Get your ass in gear Make this whole town disappear!

[J.D.] Okay, okay!

[VERONICA] Slap me! Pull my hair! Touch me

[VERONICA & J.D.] There and there and there!

[Veronica] And no more talkin'

[J.D.] No-oh-oh-oh!

[Veronica] Love this dead girl walkin'

[J.D.] Whoa, whoa! Hey, hey! Yeah, yeah!

[VERONICA with J.D.] Love this dead girl walking

[J.D.] Whoa, whoa! Hey, hey! Wait, wait!

[VERONICA & J.D.] Love this dead girl Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

[J.D.] Ow!

[VERONICA & J.D.] Yeah!

[soupnoodle]

my friend who went to see the new master and margarita movie, not familiar with the book: what the fuck is going on

me, watching the new master and margarita movie, familiar with the book: what the fuck is going on

[pumpkin-in-a-pear-tree]

When will my wife (Laika studio's new film Wildwood) return from the war (hasn't had any information about it released for 13 months)

[victorluvsalice]

AU Thursday: Valicer In The Dark -- More Score & Story Ideas!

Because, uh, I have a lot of ideas for stuff I want to do in this verse, and the original list from a year ago has expanded quite a fair bit:

-->While I haven't gotten all of my stories into a proper timeline yet, I do have the first five sorted:

A) "Start At The Beginning...Sort Of" -- the story currently in progress, where the trio all meet, solve Victor's ghost problem and Ghost!Emily's Barkis problem, get wrongly accused of murder, run from the police (showing off their special starting scoundrel abilities along the way), and eventually end up in Elder Gutknecht's old place in Six Towers. This is sort of the "prologue" to the whole mess, putting all of them in the right position to start on a life of crime. XD

B) "A Murder Shared Is A Murder Thirded" -- yes, I did have Gale of Baldur's Gate III's line about how "a parasite shared is a parasite halved" when I came up with that title. XD As you might imagine, this is the trio first "unofficial" score, with them going to murder Bumby, because the fucker needs murdering. Of course, it's only after they kill him that they meet up with Smiler's parents and learn they were exonerated of the original "murder" by the Spirit Wardens. XD Still no regrets, though.

C) "The Van Dort Vacancy" -- came up with that title while looking at old Oxventure Presents: Blades In The Dark episode titles and being inspired by "The Cab-Con Caper's" alliteration. This story focuses on Alice and Smiler returning Victor to the Van Dort mansion...only to discover the Van Dorts hosting a party. Victor quickly learns that his parents never even considered the idea that he might be in danger when he vanished, only caring about the fact that Victoria Everglot married someone else (and is now due to wed Imperial Guardsman Christopher White after her first husband's death and disgrace) -- and after overhearing his mother declare "what ghost would marry our Victor?" decides fuck them, he's taking his stuff, stealing what money he can, and going to live with Alice and Smiler in Six Towers. Features special guests Barnaby "The Butcher" Fortescue III and Kasimir Jones from Oxventure Presents: Blades In The Dark, because it tickled me to imagine them doing a score to steal some of the Van Dorts' money at the same time -- only for Victor to catch on to what they're doing when he meets Barnaby at the party and go "if you wait five minutes for me to get my things, I will open the safe for you and give you a good chunk of the money inside." XD

D) The currently-untitled story detailing the gang's first "official" job as a crew, picked up when they go to dinner at the Ball & Socket Pub and Smiler overhears two workers from Coalridge discussing needing to get something back from their boss -- the "something" is a list of potential union representatives that the boss stole in order to call assassins on the people listed. The workers need it back to keep their nascent union safe. Notably, the score involves the workers saying they can't give the trio much in Coin, but they'll do what they can -- and then one of them jokingly saying, "Unless you want to be paid in furniture."

Cue Victor, Alice, and Smiler, who currently live in Elder Gutknecht's-not-exactly-comfortable house, going "what kind of furniture?" XD (A couch and a proper dining table, specifically -- old furniture one of the workers was trying to shift after inheriting some stuff from a late relative.)

E) "Who You Gonna Call?" -- As you might guess from the Ghostbusters quote for a title, this story involves the gang busting some ghosts. XD Specifically, it involves Bonejangles -- here a Whisper who does entertainment work for the Ball & Socket on the side -- deciding to school Victor in the art of ghost-catching by taking him on a job to catch a few Echoes (non-sapient ghosts who continually do the same thing over and over again in a loop), with Alice and Smiler tagging along for moral support. However, as it turns out, one of those "Echoes" is actually a Specter (a sapient, feral ghost who attacks people and possesses them to feed on their life force) who was biding its time... I felt a little bad that none of the previous stories really had any Whisper-y stuff for Victor to do, and decided he needed a "day in the limelight" score -- as a bonus, this score is how he gets his ghost-hunting equipment for later!

-->I also have plans for two possible prequel stories -- one showcasing the three times Alice and Smiler talked before the events of "Start At The Beginning...Sort Of" (I have the first bit, Smiler giving Alice the money for lunch, actually written already), and one showcasing some of Smiler's life even before that (I have a rough draft of the scene where they wake up the "morning" after inventing Joy Serum and go "bwuh?" over their newly-glowing yellow eyes). Good for filling in gaps and writing more stuff from Smiler's POV!

-->I mentioned Victor wanting to make a community greenhouse very briefly in the very first post I made about the AU -- this has expanded into a whole little arc about him finding an abandoned conservatory while wandering Six Towers and the gang fixing it up into a place where they and the other residents can grow food. In order, the stories would cover:

1) Getting enough money to pay a glazier to fix all the broken window panes (or doing something for the glazier in trade)

2) Acquiring the initial plants (which involves a trip to Barrowcleft and probably doing a job for someone there in trade)

3) Victor researching ways to infuse butterflies and moths with electroplasm to create radiant energy insects to help the plants grow; my idea is that he eventually tries mixing it with some of Smiler's Joy Serum -- and gets REALLY BIG bright yellow glowing moths, to his and Smiler's delight and Alice's concern

4) And then, once the place is just about ready to "open to the public," Lord Rowan, the only lord who maintains a permanent residence in Six Towers, rocks up, claims the greenhouse is his, and demands an absolutely ASTRONOMICAL rent from the trio to use it. Fortunately he proves to be a man who likes games when Smiler asks to negotiate, and tells them if they can break into his house and get the deed to the land from the safe in his bedroom, it's theirs (the trio smartly get this written down and notarized by someone in Charterhall first; Rowan is PIIIIISSED when he realizes he'll have to honor the deal)

-->A related idea would be for the gang to encounter some of the people in Charterhall (the neighborhood mostly made up of one big university) who are working on an alternative power source to help replace leviathan blood (which is refined into the electroplasm that powers everything electric in the setting) and need a place to test it. The trio decides that the alternative energy group can try to get the streetlights back on in Six Towers, and there's a score all around helping them get there safely, and keeping Lord Rowan's nose out of it until they're done. Not sure what exactly it will entail yet, but I'm eager to find out!

-->As stated in previous posts, the gang eventually has to go after Dr. Kelman when he puts out a notice saying he wants the three captured so he can submit them to his special "social compliance therapy" (aka do horrific brain surgeries on them and/or Hollow them by ripping out their souls). This is how Victor and Alice learn Smiler's birth name, and the whole trip proves to be a rather dark look at Smiler's childhood pre-running away and joining the Advocates. In fact, I already have one specific scene in mind of Victor finding a photograph of a young Smiler and noting that their smile in the picture looks incredibly strained, as if they're desperately trying to see the bright side. Also, Miles Cedars is definitely going to show up, and possibly get to murder Kelman. Because I like giving him the chance to murder Kelman. :)

-->Speaking of Smiler angst, I also have in mind a story where, on a particularly chilly night in winter, Smiler, Victor, and Alice are wandering the streets together when Smiler somehow falls into one of the local canals. Victor and Alice fish them out as fast as possible, fortunately, but the rest of the story proves a race against time to get Smiler home and warmed before they succumb to hypothermia. Featuring half-naked cuddling when they learn that skin-to-skin contact can be an excellent way to warm a chilled person (fortunately this is after they get together as a polycule, so the partial nudity isn't as awkward as it could be)...and Smiler crying in front of Victor and Alice for the first time when they can't stop thinking about the fact that, if they'd been walking with their fellow Advocates, said Advocates would have believed them when they said they felt okay...and they probably would have died. :( It is a story of many feels, is what I am saying.

-->So, when does my OT3 actually become an OT3 in the actual stories? Shortly after the Kelman score, in a story entitled "And There Was Only One Bed" (a play on the fic trope, and the fact that the house only has one good bed -- at the time the story starts, the three are taking turns using it, with the other two sleeping on cots borrowed from The Advocates). The story involves Smiler (who has been trying to subtly push Victor and Alice together, having noticed they seem to like each other) finally revealing to Victor and Alice that they're a pretty accomplished hypnotist, and offering to use their skills to help Victor with a nasty bout of insomnia. Victor agrees, with Alice wanting to watch for her own peace of mind -- cue Smiler hypnotizing Victor the next time the three of them are going to bed...

And a deep-in-trance Victor asking to be held as he falls asleep. Prompting both Smiler and Alice to cuddle him...and fall asleep against him because neither wants to get up and possibly disturb him after he does drift off. Meaning when everyone wakes up the "morning" afterward, they're all really awkward -- Alice because she's like "wtf why did I find that hot;" Victor because he's like "oh no I liked that too much and I have to process the fact that I'm in love with both of them now;" Smiler because "damn it I think I just decreased total happiness in this household should have kept my stupid mouth shut." They do their best to push through and complete the latest job they have though (a random "steal something from this rich fucker's house" deal, it's not actually important), which ends up with them having to clamber up onto the roof at some point --

And then Victor nearly falls off said roof. Prompting both Alice and Smiler to nearly have a heart attack and have their feelings toward him thrown into STARK RELIEF. Meaning they all finally have a chat once they complete the job and get back home, which allows them to finally discover that a) they're all willing to get into a polycule and b) that they actually have quite compatible kinks. Story ends with Smiler delightedly returning one of the cots to their parents (Alice insisted on keeping one in case one of them does want or need to sleep alone) and the three of them regularly sharing the bed. :)

-->I also want to do at least one follow-up concerning them starting to play around with hypnosis, and Alice insisting she wants to do something that will help keep Victor Victor no matter what they do to his head -- cue her and Smiler coming up with a safety suggestion that involves Victor picturing the core of his personality as a glowing tree, and then having him encase it in unbreakable glass so his personality can shine out, but nothing can get in. :) It's just a sweet scene that's been rattling around in my head for a while, and I'd like to put it to virtual paper.

-->I mentioned a "Lord E.A. Bethesda" in my Duskwall Slang post a while back, as a guy who gets labeled with the very-dangerous-in-Duskwall title "Welcher" (someone who hires someone for a job, but then decides to try and kill them instead of pay them; people who do this generally end up dead themselves). How does he get saddled with this label? By hiring the Three Pillars to steal a golden beetle statue from a rival (Lord Bethesda is a bug collector, you see), plying them with a hefty reward if they pull it off (which he can afford as the "Gambling King" of Duskwall -- his fortune was built off of getting lots of people to pay him small amounts of money in hopes of great reward). They do indeed pull it off --

And Lord Bethesda happily orders them killed by his guards, forcing them to escape his house in Brightstone. However, Bethesda (who has done this before) employs Plan B and has his guards herd them toward his garden and through a gap in the lightning barrier around his home --

Before turning said barrier back ON and stranding them in the HEAVILY ghost-and-horror-riddled Deathlands just beyond (specifically, they're in the Lost District, a formerly rich neighborhood that was abandoned once the lightning barriers went up). This leads into the sequel story, where the trio have to find a way back into the city while navigating the horrors of the Deathlands...which results in them discovering that Alice's Wonderland Jabberwock, inspired by an illustrated poem she read as a child, is actually based on a REAL CREATURE. Which has the horrible eye beam and wants very much to kill them. (And which may have the voice of Christopher Lee because I might as well throw in the nod to Tim Burton's Wonderland -- Victor is VERY CONFUSED as to why it sounds like Pastor Galswells.) They manage to kill IT instead by strapping Alice's Vorpal Blade (now a real thing, Victor bought it for her as a present) to Victor's ghost-catching kit while Smiler whacks together a sort of motorized skateboard thing for them to ride on and then using the electroplasmically-charged Blade to slice the damn thing's unprotected belly open. Alice claims one of the eyes as a trophy, and shortly thereafter they're found by the Spirit Wardens, who look at the corpse and go "let's just get you back inside the barriers, shall we?" Cue the the trio tromping back to the Ball & Socket and telling the clientele about their experience...leading to Lampblack gang leader Bazso Baz declaring Bethesda a Welcher, and the guy soon afterward getting killed.

-->Not that Baz is actually a friend to the trio -- for another future story has the trio invited to one of his fancy parties, supposedly to recognize how rapidly they've made a name for themselves in the Duskwall underworld. The three go, figuring it's a good way to keep relations good with their fellow criminals -- but are quickly rather disgusted by the party itself, as it feels pretty much like any party Nell Van Dort would throw (overly ostentatious and making it clear he's only in it for the power). They resolve to get through the shindig and head home...

And then Baz reveals that the actual reason they were invited was because they've collected a variety of bounties on their heads (including a big one from the Van Dorts, specifying Alice and Smiler have to die but Victor be brought home alive, and a huge one from Lord Rowan, wanting them ALL dead) and the other criminals want to claim them. Cue the Three Pillars having to try and find a way to escape from the house as the other criminals hunt them. Fortunately for them, they have unexpected allies in Baz's staff, with one guy in particular having a sister and nephew in Six Towers whom they've helped a lot (probably both in general with the greenhouse, and specifically by helping the kid when he got sick once). They eventually manage to get out with the staff's help, and limp their way back to Six Towers...

Just in time to see Lord Rowan trying to make a big speech to the citizens about "how your heroes are dead" and blah blah blah. He is gobsmacked to see the trio still alive, leading to, of all people, Smiler strolling up to him and clocking him in the face. XD Gaining the Three Pillars a reputation as, frankly, unkillable...

Aaaand I should probably cut it there because this post is getting long enough. XD And I haven't even touched upon all the stories I have in mind that are based off of other properties I like! Guess that would be a good follow-up post to this one, huh? :p

[bonesandpoemsandflowers]

I watched Lisa Frankenstein and it was deeply silly and the pacing was bad and the 80s slang was off and the start was slow and there were so many things wrong with it. It was also fun as hell. Lovely final act and I had a great time. five stars outta five stars. I'm gonna call this a cinematic masterpiece while looking a filmbro right in the eyes to establish dominance.

[elftwink]

been learning to play ironsworn (gritty fantasy ttrpg which you can play with a gm but is mostly suited for solo or small group co-op gmless play) after having the rulebook pdf for several years (stars finally aligned to remove invisible thing blocking me from reading it idk) because i'm on another solo ttrpg kick & i don't know what took me so long to get around to this game because it genuinely is exactly what i was looking for. years ago when i was playing through solo 5e modules i should have just been playing ironsworn (believe it or not, 5e isn't very suited to solo play and is extremely clunky when you try lol).

also though i have dabbled in some other solo ttrpgs, a considerable amount of them are journaling games which is fun but imo considerably more work (usually by the time i'm a quarter of the way through the journal entry, i know how to entire scene played out and i want to move on to the next gameplay thing, so i get frustrated and bored quickly. it feels like when you solve a level in a video game but don't have the coordination to pull off the necessary move so you have to spend 20 extra minutes doing something you already figured out), so i really appreciate like not needing to write something for the game to progress (ive been taking notes for my own record since im playing solo and thus am not really out loud roleplaying the way you do in a group, but i definitely could do that instead and not take notes and the game would still function perfectly)

& ive been playing by myself but also in the past ive played a lot of ttrpgs in very small groups which has been other games but is mostly dnd and like. we also should have been playing ironsworn so that having a gm was not necessary. have definitely played games where we had to adapt the rules soooo much to do something that is just base game included in ironsworn. plus it's rules-light enough to do pretty complex moves that pose difficulties in bulkier games (ever introduced someone to dnd and they tell you they want to do a sick backflip and catch something and then attack and you have to tell them that will require several different consecutive rolls and some creative liberties with how the rules are 'supposed' to let you move? you can just Do That in ironsworn. use the strike move and describe it. done!)

the one thing is that although it's rules-light enough to theoretically play any setting or genre (some with more difficulty than others), ive found so far that like... the grittiness and sense of threat is very built into the mechanics so that would be sort of difficult to work around or change (but i think it's great from a game design perspective). what i mean is like, okay: you start with 5 max hp. there isn't really a way to raise this max hp, you just slowly gain abilities (assets) that make you less likely to have to lose the hp in the first place, or that make it easier to recover. when you encounter foes, you rank them on a scale of 1 -5, and enemies on the lowest side of this scale do one harm to you, while enemies on the highest side do five harm to you. so even though encountering an epic enemy won't always be deadly due to the assets you have, they are ALWAYS capable of taking you down to 0 hp with one good hit. so the feeling of threat is much more present compared to games where your character starts to be able to just tank and push through a failure or huge threat.

admittedly also i'm playing solo, im still learning how to balance combat, and also i built a character who has NO combat talents and iron (the close quarters fighting stat) is one of my lowest stats so i personally am under much more threat than if you built a character who knew how to fight or who could do deadly harm. but also the other thing about combat is it's extremely difficult to maintain control of the fight; you have to score a strong hit to do it on basically all moves, and there's a really limited pool of moves available when you don't have the initiative, and obviously none of them really favour you. i don't know that this makes combat genuinely more difficult, but it does make you feel like the fight is always about to spiral out of your control. every second you let it drag without decisive action feels like it brings you closer to dying. like i said, this is a feature of the game design and not a problem in any way. just thinking about it because when i was initially learning i was going to try to supplant it into a homebrew fantasy world of my own but the tone just wouldn't be right. and that it is somewhat difficult to replicate the kind of worlds that i typically play or run for dnd, which tend to lean somewhat sillier and definitely much higher fantasy

but i like to try new things and tbh especially in dnd i find that i very rarely feel that sense of threat and when i do feel it, it has nothing at all to do with the actual mechanics and reality of the combat and everything to do with how well the dm sells it to me and makes it sound and feel scary and dangerous. which is a testament to what a good gm can do for you but i do appreciate the threat feeling more built-in and also being actually real.

[miasmaticinfection]

the intensity of modern weed is befitting the intensity of the modern era