#i think getting the people she loves all prettied up is kafka's love language

[hydrachea]

I can't stop thinking about Blade saying gifts are unfamiliar.

And I can't stop thinking about Kafka and Silver Wolf, hearing that, and making it a mission to bring him gifts whenever they travel somewhere for their script - even if he's there with them. About the confusion in his eyes when they steal buy something and turn right around to hand it to him.

About his room starting out completely empty except for the bare minimum necessities, a few spare clothes and what he needs to take care his Shard Sword, but filling up with little trinkets and gifts over time. Clothes and jewelry and perfume from Kafka and posters, figures and plushies from Silver Wolf. About them also bringing food back, expensive specialties swiped from a restaurant and the weirdest option they could spot in a lone vending machine, a category of gifts that doesn't leave anything behind (except the photos they both take of the three of them eating together, or of the faces he makes when Silver Wolf manages to trick him into trying a suspicious snack while he's distracted with polishing his weapon).

About Kafka spending hours finding clothes and jewelry she thinks would suit him, because that's her love language. She gets him makeup too, refusing to let his good looks go to waste. She knows he can't put it on himself, they both do, and he doesn't care for his appearance enough otherwise - but he'll let her do his makeup for him anyway, because she enjoys it, and because he finds it soothing.

About Silver Wolf also buying him clothes, but the ones she gets aren't his style at all, and just barely his size. She gets them for him, but just so she can steal them right back - her love language is quality time, and she fills Blade's room with gifts she can borrow along with a moment of his day. It still counts as a gift, she insists, practically swimming in an oversized jacket she swiped from his closet.

About how in another life, Yingxing gave gifts to the people he loved and in this one, Blade receives them from those who love him.

[redr0sewrites]

Kafka (HSR) Headcanons

REQS R STILL OPEN<3 KAFKA IS SO PRETTY OMFG I LOVE WOMEN AUUUGH

🥀CW: Smut in the nsfw part, bondage, marking, overall kinky stuff, non-sexual nudity mentioned in the sfw part

🥀 minors dni with the nsfw portion

SFW:

god i love women

kafka is often very busy, so i see her love language as words of affirmation

she loves flirting with you and whispering sweet things in your ear just to watch you get flustered

she can often be very touchy and flirty, however if it makes you uncomfortable she is shockingly good with boundaries and will simply give you space why would u say no tho

she loves having your head in her lap while she plays with your hair

she enjoys taking baths with you, esp after long or difficult missions

she will go all out, she will light candles, put rose petals and bubbles in the water, epson salt cuz its soothing, anything you like. there WILL be romantic music playing softly in the background, i said what i said

she likes to give you back massages and will give you small kisses on the back of your neck

she is VERY protective of you, i wouldnt say to a super controlling level but enough where she gets jealous pretty easily

she is actually so bad at dropping hints like she will flirt with anyone and anything but the second she caught feelings for u she had no idea what to do

she legit just teased u and made fun of u, you would probably think she hated you for awhile until you figured out that she was obsessed with u

have u seen her fit? yall def share a closet

her clothes are your clothes and vice versa

seeing you in her clothes sets something off in her i swear

this often leads to steamy makeout sessions and yk what else

SHE LOVES DOING YOUR MAKEUP AND HAIR SHE WOULD HELP YOU GET READY EVERY DAY IF SHE COULD

she will also let you do hers, but not super often since shes kinda busy sometimes and doesnt want to take forever getting ready

the type of person who can walk for hours and hours forEVER in super tall heels/platforms or "walk it off" after literally being beaten to near death in battle but will complain for days if she gets even the tiniest paper cut

likes giving back hugs

this is random but i feel like she eoukd enjoy puzzles and word games

YALL R THE TYPE TO GO ON FANCY DATES YALL R THE BIGGEST POWER COUPLE EVER

she always, ALWAYS pays for u, holds the door for u, she will hold ur shoes if they're bothering u/she will carry u if she can, LITERALLY A MIX BETWEEN GENTLEMAN AND MILF BEHAVIOR

she will prob introduce u to the other stellaron hunters if u dont already work w them

her friends r ur friends now

yall have self care dates where u get ur nails, hair, and skin care done and go to fancy spas or get massages im too broke to do this idk what people actually do at a spa

overall amazing and wonderful we ignore the fact that shes insane bc its hot

NSFW:

here we gooo

switch energy SWITCH ENERGY

when shes more subby shes still in control, i feel like she would def be a power bottom at least

really enjoys commanding you and ordering you around, gets off on your obedience and your disobedience

HAIR PULLER

she WILL wear a strap and use toys on you, putting a vibrator to your clit/cock while your tied down and watching you squirm and whimper, using leg spreaders to hold ur legs apart while she eats u out/sucks u off, paddles, rods/dildos, thrusting vibrators, she has it ALL

if u dont have stereotypically "female" genitals/or even if u do, she will peg u. there is no escaping it. she will overstimulate you and she will fuck u until ur begging for her to stop, thighs shaking, chest heaving, sobbing and pleading for a break

IDK IF I SAID THIS ALREADY BUT SHE WILL TIE U DOWN AND SHE WILL USE INTRICATE AND PRETTY DESIGNS AND ROPES TO DO SO

she very much enjoys riding ur face, seeing your face covered in her slick below her... godd ur gonna be up the whole night

exhibitionist (i am prob spelling this wrong💀) SHE LIKES PRESSING U UP AGAINST WINDOWS WHILE THERES PEOPLE OUTSIDE AND FUCKING U FROM BEHIND WITH HER STRAP

"oh? your upset about them seeing us? so what? dont worry your pretty little head about trivial things like that dolly, i'll take care of everything for you~" *proceeds to fuck u until ur babbling and no more worried are forming in ur head*

into sensory play as well

ur tied down and blindfolded and she will blot hot air against ur cunt/cock, run an ice cube up and down ur thighs, leave hickeys or kisses on ur thighs, trace a feather around ur chest and trail it down ur abdomen, just above where u want her, so close but so, so far...

perhaps she has a mommy kink, but it would take a little while to discover it 👀

wears lingerie on a regular basis and will strip in front of u at the end of the day leaving u in flustered in shock she loves seeing u all flushed and embarrassed omg

tease teas tease sOO UNFAIR

WILL TEASE U FOR DAYS ON END JUST TO GET U TO SUBMIT

OVERALL THE PERFECTEST AND HOTTEST LOVER U CAN EVER IMAGINE

hi guys cant believe i just wrote this anyways can u tell i have a preference LMFAOO shes just so cool <3 i might have a type *side eyes kindael, kafka, rosaria, and all the other pink/red associated women who r also fucking insane that i simp for* sorry i havent been super active lately, i prob wont be for a little while im going on vacation. however, reqs are still open i am BEGGING for reqs lmao😭 hope u enjoyed! lmk of any errors/gendering issues, hope u enjoyed

[lexygabe]

nandi mokena headcanons/rewriting/etc.

(june/11/1999)

gemini sun | taurus moon | scorpio rising

ENFP (Ne-Fi-Te-Si) - 6w5 - so/sp - 793 - Sanguine [Dominant]

general headcanons:

• either ace-het or ace-bi, cis, she/her,

• i think this is canon, but she is a gifted child in the family. she was in top 5 of the class and popular as hell,

• she is that mf of friend group that will always bring up snacks and drinks with yourself,

• her love language is making edits of funny/embarrassing photos of others with music that totally don't match vibe with anything included in edit,

• her tiktok and instagram likes are full of some people talking gibberish and cringe compilations, so if u want to get her joke you at least need to know lore of all of this people and incidents that happened x years ago,

• when we talking about memes, she loves absurdism humor, so when shakes send something to her that he thinks is funny, her face is like: 😐 how are we even related?,

• i also think she is reading the most surreal literature (franz kafka is her beloved),

• skarra pierced her ears for the first time,

• she is very loyal,

• her notes are full of stickers, adhesive gems and drawings. some of things are even written in glitter gel pen,

• her channel is pretty much all things mixed up. there is commentary, there is gaming, there is some art projects and video blogs, everybody can find something for themselfves,

• she goes to film school.

through the series (og tv show, rewriting)

SEASON 1:

• for me, season 1 starts at the time when shakes is 20 years old, so by this logic nandi is 17,

• there is no physical apperance of her, she is just mentioned by (mainly) shakes.

SEASON 2:

• at the beginning of the season her and shakes are talking about the fact that nandi moved to college (they have their little family bonding time),

• in s2e5 (el sound of silencio) spenz calls her to help him and fran, but she just listened to all of this shit and was like: ok bro 🧍🏾‍♀️*disconnects*,

• in s2e13 she tracked down skarra before this big "all stars vs supa strikas match" and interviewed him about this fucked up rivarly that him and shakes have (she saw both of them in tv last night), and why they even decided to have a bet of the pitch where they had great time together in past (like hell, nandi knew that this friendship was homoerotic, holy shit). ofc nandi "as annoying as the little shit she was" (skarra's words, not mine), she didn't take any type of crap from him about this whole situation. after this, she called shakes out on his stupid ass actions, in his apartament, and just left him with: you both are total blockheads. and shakes was like: both? who is both? wtf.

SEASON 3

• in season 3 nandi and shakes have this conversation about what nandi meant, when she literally lit into him in his own apartament before super league final. to which nandi,, replied with: ahh yeah. but this doesn't matter. at least this debt of yours and skarra's was dissolved :D. after, they had honest conversation and disscus about childhood and how this can't be put before good of the team (nandi wanted to argue with this, but then she quickly give up. all the stress that the shakes' finale cost her was enough for her),

• at this season we see more of nandi as a future filmmaker, because she trolls everyone on twitter with uploading this type of videos like fake interviews with celebrities (and with some footballers ;)),

• in college, she met woman from completely other school (remember this. i probably make headcanons for this semi canon character so wink wink) and became friends with her,

SEASONS 4-7:

• all of her story arcs focus on her career and school and on a few other events that will be described by me as i write about other women from strikas universe.

relationships with (disclaimer: i do not include her relarionship with shakes and their mom, bc it was pretty well managed in rookie season. i will probably make another post but about whole mokena's family dynamic):

• skarra: writers rotally fucked up. WASTED POTENTIAL.

their relationship definitely started as: you are my brother's (boy)friend/you are shakes' sister. and then, they became partners in crimes. when shakes, skarra and nandi went to school nandi always pulled out a card titled: don't talk to me like that, or i'm gonna call my brother and my brother's best friend. in othet occasions, skarra went to nandi and asked some stupid questions like: ey, nandi you have ruler to lend 🧍‍♂️?? (,,yo, nandi you want some hotdogs?", ,,nandi, we are going to shopping mall", ,,hey, nandi you have some time to hide a body----?"). why writers of rookie season acted like nandi wouldn't care that much about skarra, like he literally used to call nandi's mom 'auntie' wtf wtf wtf.

• klaus: YOU CAN'T TELL ME HE WOULDN'T BE HER FAV OUT OF SHAKES' TEAMMATES. nandi and klaus definitely have long conversations about shows that they watched, about ships, about premieres. they are just two little nerds with heads full of ideas <33333

• mara: me and @strudelbbg once talked about mara and nandi's possible relation and we decided that mara, when nandi was younger, probably carried her on her back and stuff. tldr mara sees nandi as "little sis 💞💞💞💞",

• others: ?

fashion headcanons

• i think she would wear these "crazy" make-ups like:

(i also think that people, who would be her fans and shakes' fans would create threads on twitter titled: nandi's makeups as team colors of supa strikas rivals')

(and nandi would reblog these posts🥰)

• has 3 pairs of dungarees,

• a lot of fandom t-shirts but not ones designed in "tomboy" way but in "girly" way, shirts with strawberry shortcake, winx club, princess peach from mario, destiny's child members etc.,

• HANDMADE RINGS, BRACELETS, NECKLACES, EARRINGS EVERYTHING,

• she is fan of crocheted clothes (especially sweaters, tank tops, knee socks),

• even tho she is popular, she wears second hand clothing and buys from smaller companies (rich people clothing ugly and she don't want to be one of them),

• wears bralettes as form of a lingerie,

• when she wears dress she NEEDS to have tights under,

• when it comes to shoes she likes: new balance, converses, CROCKS and mary janes but on a small heel.

music headcanons

• definitely had nightcore phase when she was younger,

• hates slow music,

• like i said destiny's child fan, probably likes also avril lavigne and mariah carey, and maybe blackpink.

[anincompletelist]

get to know me tag! :D

OKAY @bigassbowlingballhead I am combining your tag with the ones from @littlemisskittentoes and @read-and-write- even though those were SO LONG AGO NOW but I realized I haven't ever really posted much about myself on here (unless you've followed me over from @soldouthaz ) sooooo HERE IS THAT? <3 thanks for the tags friends I loved reading about y'all!

First Set

Last Song: JAPANESE WHISKEY by Ruel

Last Film: No Hard Feelings jshdkjshd

Currently Reading:

the books sitting beside my laptop right now are:

- War of the Foxes / Richard Siken - Letters to Father / Franz Kafka - Time is a Mother / Ocean Vuong - On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous / Ocean Vuong - Devotions / Mary Oliver - The Cinnamon Peeler / Michael Ondaatje - Little Weirds / Jenny Slate

and fic-wise:

- I am hoping to finish the newest chapter of a sea of hope by acastle tonight - I just read A Thing of Beauty by @orchidscript last night (was wonderful!) - and I just compiled a list of all my January favorites here !

Currently Watching: The Bear is the next one up on my watch list if I ever manage to get around to it! love ayo so much!

Currently Consuming: a large diet coke from sonic skjhdkshd my beloved <3

Currently Craving: a cinnamon roll?

Three ships:

Firstprince

Sterek

I used to write Larry so I guess that counts? skjdhsdjkh

First Ship: oh gosh, I think sterek, but also technically Eddie and Loren from a show called Hollywood Heights when I was in middle school skjdhkjshd

+

Second Set

Were You Named After Anyone?

yes! the story of Sarah in the Old Testament of the Bible! she was described as faithful, loving, caring, stubborn (ha), and loyal, and also ties into my adoption story :)

When Was The Last Time You Cried?

oh gosh, several days ago, I think? it was my birthday skhdkjshd (no further explanation needed)

Do You Have Kids?

I do not, although I am the certified and confirmed 'Mom Friend'

What Sport Do/Have You You Played?

no <3

Do You Use Sarcasm?

not typically unless it's with someone I am very comfortable with. I work in a lot of mental health conscious areas and am studying to be a therapist so I try not to use any type of humor that could be negatively interpreted!

What's The First Thing You Notice About Other People?

usually body language! I'd say I pick up on energy fairly well, so that too, if applicable.

What's Your Eye Color?

blue! (surprise I am Henry)

Scary Movies or Happy Endings?

cannot watch scary movies, I have far too much anxiety in general to have a need to induce it intentionally jshdkjhs. it doesn't have to be a happy ending though, so long as the theme/lessons are well done. I adore digging into films and picking apart all of the layers and symbolism, so anything with some emotional weight is right up my alley! but I enjoy a bit of everything :)

Any Talents?

I'm a photographer both as a job and as a hobby, and I work part time as a makeup artist as well! I enjoy writing in my free time (obviously) and I like painting and drawing, although I definitely wouldn't consider myself very talented in those areas skjdhksd. honestly anything creative I will try and probably enjoy!

Where Where You Born?

Texas (I am Alex actually)

What Are Your Hobbies?

I touched on it earlier but photography, makeup, reading/writing, anything creative and anything psych related pretty much!

Do You Have Any Pets?

I have three! all dogs, two chihuahuas and a dachshund :)

How Tall Are You?

5'5? (I have been telling people my entire life I'm 5'7 and at my last doctor's visit they informed me that I was a liar!)

Favorite Subject in School?

english and psych!

Dream Job?

any place I can help people. I would love to be involved in a cause larger than myself while also getting to do something I'm passionate about, so anything from an english teacher to an editor to a therapist to volunteer work!

+

open tag to anyone who would like to share! <3

xx

[butimnotasexyrussian]

1, 2, 7, 13, 18, 27, and 30. :D

So it turns out that I can only access my inbox from mobile because when I log in through desktop, Tumblr still says I have no asks, which is so fucking annoying but we're making do.

Anyway.

From the unique writing asks post:

1. What themes would you like to write about that you feel don't get explored very often?

I think it's the nature of fanfic that most people that stumble across stuff I've written are looking for romantic pairings, which is great because if I've written for them, it means their dynamic makes me want to chew concrete and I love being able to share that with readers! But as someone on the ace/aro spectrum (we're still figuring this out), I think it would be really interesting to explore themes of asexuality and/or aromanticism through characters in a respectful and meaningful way. I don't think I'm at the point in my personal development where I can do that quite yet, but I'd love to some day.

2. What are some common elements of stories you are tired of seeing? What would you avoid writing about?

This one's a tough one because I'm genuinely pretty open to whatever. Like whenever I'm like, hmm don't think I like that, something will come up and inevitably prove me wrong. I didn't think I'd ever be into cheating, but then there's like every canon Roisa fic ever. Also Rose being Luisa's stepmother is still weird but hasn't stopped me.

Oh, one trope I do hate though is magic babies. I spend most of my time in wlw fics and while I'm fine with adoption fics, I hate it when someone in a wlw couple magically ends up pregnant and everyone's weirdly happy about this and no one is freaking out about it. It just doesn't do it for me. It's a huge commitment and the fact that a biological baby is like the "next step" to fulfillment in their relationship and doesn't strain it at all is so icky to me.

7. Favorite description in your wip?

I am literally so bad at descriptions but please enjoy this brief excerpt from my gap princess diaries 2 au I haven't updated in a year lol.

Mon fidgets for a bit before Sam takes off her suit coat and drapes it around her shoulders.

"Oh," Mon says. Sam's wearing suspenders and that distracts her. It takes her a while to remember to say, "Thank you."

"You looked cold."

She was not cold. It's actually a pretty mild night. Mon does not mention this as she pulls the coat tighter around herself. It smells fresh, vaguely like saltwater air.

13. What traits do you share with your original characters or what traits do you wish you shared with them?

I think whenever I do end up writing original characters, they're always like plucky sidekicks who are only there to give the protagonists a kick in the ass. I'd like to be able to not overthink as much and just see the situation clearly and tell it to people as bluntly as my OC's seem to.

18. What writers have inspired you with their use of language? What are some of your favorite quotes?

It's been so long since I've read anything so my mind is blanking right now, but I'm always amazed by how much feeling poets can put into their words. I remember sobbing throughout Ocean Vuong's On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous. The older I get, the more I identify with everything Mary Oliver has written ever. My mentally ill boy Kafka is always a mood. I wish I could remember anything any of these people have ever written but I have nothing but dryer fluff in my head. I'm sorry.

27. Do you have playlists for your wip? What are some of the songs in it?

Sorry, I usually don't have playlists for writing! I should actually start though because it has gotten me over writer's block a couple times, but for the most part, I just play whatever song I'm currently obsessed with. My ADHD means that I tune the lyrics out and I'm just vibing with the beat, although if I loop a song enough times while writing, every time I hear that song afterwards, I'll always associate it with the process of writing that fic, which is pretty cool. I don't think I've written anything over the past twelve months, but my current song on repeat is Animal by VEAUX if you wanna check it out!

30. What is some of the best writing advice you've read or received? Why does it work for you?

The thing about advice for me is that I'm always seeking it out and hoarding it like wow, I bet this would work for me and then...not doing anything to implement it. One thing I did end up using though, is from a Tumblr post that was like, "order everything in your sentences the way a movie scene would play out so the emotional punch comes at the end, like she came into the kitchen, saw the creeping puddle of blood, and discovered her brother's body." I'm paraphrasing obviously because no one can find anything on this hellsite, but this really made me realize that I kinda just threw everything together and hoped it made sense (once again, probably due a little bit to the ADHD). I'm not sure if anyone's even noticed, but I like to think it's made my writing a bit more coherent and easier to follow.

Thanks for asking! I'm love you!

[lostacelonnie]

Definitely understandable i easily lose the energy to talk with people when i have to interact with family. So you're good. Ah yes the dont worry about it approach my favorite. Especially when what you do in regards to you is your business. Well between last message & now i forgot so thats a good indicator of how thats goin. Beaches over here are hit & miss but the closer ones to me arent as popular thankfully. Hm. What is a2 knowledge & how is it getting worse? I adore colder climates heat is not kind to me at all. Tents are. Well. Some are decently priced depending on how big of one you get. Oh i definitely recommend going with friends its a lot of fun. Ive been slacking a bit on the game but so far clara is workin for me. Probably wont have enough for kafka. Oooh good luck to you with all your pulls. Story spoilers aren't a major thing for me because the how is always still fun. Definitely understand some just dont want em at all. Every time i try minecraft im like. Never sure what i want to do. So kudos to you for stickin with the game & having fun. Smaller cities are nice love having close stuff without being in like. A big city. Ah dang i hope you find that dye again in the future. Makeup is hard it should be easier for those who wanna wear it. Ive been so busy i missed. So many events whoops. Problem of bein stuck level gaining to continue story. Motivation is hard to come by. I busy myself reading or looking up new science discoveries when i dont wanna leave my room.

thankies ahdhfjfj!!! and, once again, apologies for the late reply. my grandma fortunately left a while ago but i was feeling Cranky and didnt wanna sound Annoyed With Existing ahdjfh. still kinda dying inside since i return to school in 2 weeks but fuck it we ball we stay silly etc. COMING BACK. yeah like "nobodys gonna know-" "theyre gonna know." "how would they know". and understandable sjdkfgjk consider this your reminder then. and ahh fair i live pretty far away from the sea so i dont really know good Spots i guess. BUT i do like lake beaches since theyre way more quiet most of the time. and basically im not exactly sure in how many countries it applies, im thinking most of europe? but essentially language knowledge here is divided by levels, a1 -> a2 -> b1 -> b2 -> c1 -> c2 with c2 being the highest. and well i guess theres also a0 but thats just when you start. a2 is just speaking Basic English, so like enough to survive if you go to an english speaking country but not much more. for reference, by tests ive done, my level is like between b2 and c1 so very decent but i dont know most of the "fancier" and more specific words. and with it "getting worse" i mean that [at least from what our teacher told us] the textbooks are getting easier and easier so people are leaving school not actually knowing almost anything. yeah SAME its been so hot here recently so ive been Suffering. and yeah i know but me and my mother dont really know if its a good idea to buy one since we dont really go camping anyway. but maybe when im an adult im gonna get more into it, esp if i have ppl to do it with. and ah thats nice to hear!!! i DID manage to get kafka and her lightcone so ive been having fun with her recently. actually overpowered. tho i heard shes quite f2p friendly. and oh understandable!! i unfortunately used to be on tiktok where they spoil EVERYTHING and its impossible to avoid so ever since then ive been extra careful. tho i kinda feel that way ab fontaine rn [cos i ended up actually being kinda interested] since i cant download it rn but still am excited 4 the story despite knowing little unconnected bits. and fair, minecraft def isnt for everyone but its very good for chilling out at least to me. rn im procrastinating on beating the ender dragon so im just maxxing out my gear rn. and yeah but im still gonna see whether or not i wanna live a long way from my family. oh well i still have time. also thanks!!! i have not been successful yet but i bought another dye so im gonna keep you updated on that. and ahhhh understandable, ive been Grinding so i didnt have that problem sjfkg i should build my sampo but. ah. i hate grinding artifacts. pretty excited for the 1.3 simulated universe update tho!!! esp since im really curious about the aeons so seeing more of the propagation is sth im looking forward to. but good luck!!! and VERY real i like doing wikipedia deep dives esp about marine animals. im a fishpilled oceancel but i unfortunately suffer from Not Remembering Anything Ive Read Ever.

[webheadedhero]

psychology + mental health deep dive !

general mental health related trigger warnings apply.  feel free to include more or exclude those facts / test results that take too much time or don’t apply, you can check out this list for more personality-related quizzes to include!

QUICK FACTS ,

diagnoses: triggers: positive coping skills: negative coping skills: attachment style: love language: myers briggs / mbti:

HISTORY EXPLORATION ,

are their diagnoses formal ( via a doctor, therapist, etc. ) or informal ( self diagnosis, a hunch, unrealized, etc. ) depressive disorder. it’s largely undiagnosed, though I wouldn’t be surprised if Dr. Kafka had diagnosed him.

have they ever been treated / medicated? He’s had a few informal therapy sessions with Kafka, but largely no.

have they ever been hospitalized or treated on an inpatient basis? he’s been hospitalized for physical injuries, but mental ones? no.

how old were they when they first started experiencing / realizing symptoms? I would say around five. since that’s not long after his parents were killed. Only fo rthings to get worse when he was fifteen and his uncle was murdered.

do they have a family history of mental illness? hmmm, there’s not much mention of it but I would say, no.

how was mental health handled / discussed in the family? for the most part, it isn’t. peter is pretty closed off, and since he didn’t let his aunt in on his secret until he was an adult. he was a bit more open about things that were bothering him, but even then he didn’t really open himself up entirely.

what are their thoughts on mental health / their diagnosis?  in general, he thinks mental health is an important thing to keep up with. he’s compassionate to a fault, and is almost always willing to try and rehabilitate or help someone through whatever they’re going through. as for his diagnosis, he’s vaguely aware of it but he doesn’t have many thoughts about it.

in what ways has their diagnosis shaped their life or experiences? it had an impact in the way he views himself. I made a post about it (thanks in large part to lia cause she’s the best) but. short version is, for the longest time he was isolated because he chose to be. he thought it was best if people weren’t associated with him, because death seemed to surround him. he had difficulty forming friendships and relationships with others. he didn’t view himself as a good person for the longest time, and in many ways still doesn’t. he has a tremendous amount of guilt on his conscience. I could go on and on, and have in another post for now, this will do.

SYMPTOMS: note that all of the below are, on their own, normative and typical aspects of human functioning. they become “symptoms” when they last longer than “normal” or when they pose a significant impact on someone’s life / functioning.

BOLD  all that are present,  ITALICIZE  those that are resolved or in the history.

depression.    anxiety.    panic attacks.    dissociation.    derealization.    depersonalization.    suicidal ideation.    self harm.    homicidal ideation.    psychosis.    auditory hallucinations.    visual hallucinations.    delusions.    mania.    hypomania.    racing thoughts.    hyperactivity.    attention difficulty.    flashbacks.    nightmares.    hyperarousal.    hypoarousal.    hypersexuality.    hyposexuality.    psychopathy.   risky behavior.    catatonia.    somatic / bodily concerns.    mutism.    phobia.    agoraphobia.    hoarding.    obsessions.    compulsions.    body dysmorphia.    hair picking.    skin picking.     amnesia.    illness anxiety / hypochondria.    sensory loss.    speech difficulty.    comprehension difficulty.    communication difficulty.    tics.    defiant behavior.    irritable mood.    vindictiveness.     aggression.    pyromania.    kleptomania.    paranoia.    attention seeking.    narcissism.    avoidance.    dependency.    pica.    rumination.    food restriction.    food binging.    purging.    soiling the bed.    insomnia.    fatigue.    sexual dysfunction.    delirium.    developmental delays.

explanations / elaborations on any of the above symptoms:

with the hallucinations it’s tough. cause he’s had moments where he’s heard people who have died speak to him, or appear. though it’s tough to say if it was a true hallucination or more of a writer’s technique, or just pure guilt ridden brain. maybe a bit of both? I didn’t know whether to italicize it, but. I left it blank fjaksldjfklds.

tagged by: @seesgood and @desafia

tagging:YOU

[quitealotofsodapop]

MvA assorted headcanons

General:

So many years together has made the core monsters inseperable. If something affects one member, it affects the group.

All. The. Monsters. Are. Family.

It takes Susan a while to understand inside jokes and past incidents because of being the most recent addition.

There are Other anomalous creatures kept in Area 5X, but they are either non-sentient and/or are too dangerous to be kept around the more human-friendly monster group.

Area 5X is so gotdang big because they were expecting a lot more kaijus like Insecto to crop up. Sadly not many have surfaced to justify the space.

There’s a hangar in Area 5X full of wrecked UFOs. Some are spacecraft wreckage while others are stuff like weird meteors (Susan’s is in there), and at least one alien creature that got crystallised upon entering Earth’s atmosphere.

There’s significant difference in staff employed at different points throughout the past 50 years. There are far more women on the Area 5X worksheet than back in the 50s, and the guards are generally more sympathetic towards the monsters. Many modern staff members have been reprimanded or let go for failing to uphold secrecy, or for unnecessary cruelty towards the monsters.

Budget cuts were a legitmate concern up until the Battle of Golden Gate Bridge. The facility was far more barebones and sterile before the government had to formally recognise Area 5X’s importance. There have been a lot of redecorating at the facilty since the fat checks started coming in.

Putting individual characters under read due to length.

Susan:

Enjoys many hobbies considered stereotypically feminine; baking, sewing, cosmetics, etc...

Grandparents and extended family are farmers or are atleast connected to the business. Modesto is the agricultural centre of California after all. Her parents were the first of their generation to go against the mold and seek out white-collar careers.

Studied cosmetology in school and was working at a beauty salon to save up for her and Derek’s wedding.

Is very athletic and grew up doing a number of physical extracurriculars like cheerleading, dodgeball, and roller-derby.

Grew up being teased for being the shortest kid in her class/family. They still tease her for it.

Greatly fears causing collateral damage and/or harm to others through her size.

Has issues with anxiety, worsened only by her new job as “savior of earth”. She wishes for a confidant to tell her worries to.

Married life with Derek was doomed to fail. Susan had a plan in place for what came after the marriage, and focusing 100% on Derek’s career was not it. There’s also the line from Derek’s mother about Susan being “the weatherman’s wife”, implying that she was to be the homemaker and not have a career of her own. It’s possible that Susan was planning to settle down and have kids with Derek, but the lack of control she had in moving to Fresno implied that more was going on.

Is currently “taking a break” from love and dating, despite gaining many new admirers.

Tries her best to return to Modesto to visit her family and friends whenever possible, though work often keeps her away for weeks at a time.

If she retains her height-shifting abilities as in the series; Susan goes through really bad “growing” pains.

Link:

Was frozen in his relative late-teens during a cold snap. Got shifted around until he ended up somewhere in Greenland before being discovered by modern humans. Post-thaw he went a bit wild, swimming frantically back south to try and find his old enviroment.

Was one of many scrappy youngsters in his troop, with a number of adoptive parents. The strongest ruled the troop, and Link was fairly weak in comparision to the leaders. He had gotten into a fight the day of his freezing (over something silly in hindsight) and swam away to sulk. When he didn’t return after the cold snap - the troop accepted that he had likely died out on his own.

Likes to freak out humans by making up weird biology facts about his species and ones he’s fought against - like joking about laying eggs or having his tail dettach and regrow like a lizard. However there’s some things he has to ask about, because he doesn’t have medical knowledge or words to describe something.

A lot of his macho behavior came from imitating the guards who kept watch on him. 1950s violent military alpha males aren't a very good role model for someone who doesnt know what societal norms are yet. Link was a lot more insufferable back in the day but chilled out as he began interacting with other walks of life.

Has a high paternal instinct and immediately becomes softer around kids and smaller animals.

Has body language similar to a cat/alligator. Slaps his tail when angry or in deep thought. And yes; Link purrs/rumbles when happy.

Loves monster movies - especially the ones where the monsters “win”. He cried when he saw “Beauty and the Beast” and then immediately booed loudly when the Beast turned human.

Does Not Trust doctors or scientists due to bad past experiences. Will only go to Dr Cockroach and Monger if he ever gets hurt/ill. Gets stressed fast if he has to be in a waiting room or doctors office.

Link had no idea what gender indentities or orientations were until recently - he did come from a pre-human civilization that really didnt mind/care about the schemantics. It took him some time to wrap his head around it. He identifies himself as bisexual after much thought and many hours alone on the computer.

Don't press him about his body. He's built different from humans and cis people. He will punch anyone who doesnt respect his or anyone elses identity.

Has been in love before. It didn’t end well.

Will occasionally wear clothes, but finds it a challenge to find anything that fits him. Will give any shoes he finds to Dr Cockroach and BOB to eat.

The best driver/pilot out of all the monsters.

Dr Cockroach:

True name is Jaques-Yves Herbert. Prefers to just go by "Dr Cockroach" because he dislikes the association with his birth family.

Picks up human languages very easily, although not as quickly as he can understand animals.

Parents were a mixed scientist couple. His father was an aggressive “Strong British Man” that would beat him son down for not following orders or for not meeting his standards for a man. Dr C turned down both chances to attend his parents funerals.

This man isn’t straight. He probably uses old-fashioned slang when asked about romance such as; “I am Uranian” or “I wear a green carnation”. It took Susan a few times to realise what he meant, as she is used to a more open minded enviroment.

Got the idea of transforming into a cockroach from reading Franz Kafkas “The Metamorphosis” as a child. He sympathized with Gregor’s abusive situation, and began considering the possibilties of how one could survive better as a creature like a cockroach.

Studied in biology and entomology in the Uk before moving to the states to follow engineering. Obtained his degree in Dance as a “side gig” in University.

Has been barred from free access to the coffee maker/machine due to overnighters. Once stayed awake so long that he forgot the letter “R”.

Owned a terrarium of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches throughout college. He mourned each of them when his roommate’s iguana got into the tank.

Was a "beatnik" back in the day and still kinda is. Embraces and encourages modern counterculture as he himself was not given such acceptance in his youth. He has however shamefully eaten his old Lenny Bruce album.

Hasn’t actually aged physically since his transformation. He attributes this to the fact that certain athropods can’t age physically beyond maturity. Link is very jealous.

Has obtained more degrees while in captivity, as Monger allowed him access to research and learning materials. He has however had his allowances revoked for previous escape attempts/doomsday devices.

Does still enjoy human food, but the cockroach instinct of "eat detritus" tends to overrule his eating choices. Can’t cook either.

Ironically a terrible driver. The damages from previous drives has made Monger restrict him from operating even a razor scooter.

BOB:

Pretty much considers himself human. Was created by them, raised by one (Monger), and talks like one. Gets sad when he's reminded that no other humans are blue blobs like him.

Absorbed some dna from the scientists present at his "birth", leading to his eye, speech, and omnivorous diet.

Doesnt actually need to breathe (as he can just absorb oxygen through his mass) but the fact that humans Do means that BOB thinks he has to as well.

Shares some physical characteristics with tomatoes/nightshade plants, as he is technically half tomato. He refuses to eat tomatos for this very reason, considering it cannibalism.

Attracts garden pests looking for a tomato plant. This unwittingly makes BOB a pretty good bug zapper.

Still retains his "mental broadcast" ability from "BOB's Big Break" although at a more subtle level. He tends to parrot the things he accidentally "eavesdropped" on.

Is empathetic, and can tell when others aren't doing ok emotionally. Will flop down on someone who’s really sad to comfort them. No brain, only heart.

Best cook out of the monsters. If he doesn’t forget what he’s making at least.

"Whats a gender? Can I eat it?"

Insectosaurus:

Core body is that of a Japanese Silkmoth, although she ended up being spliced with other animals present on the island during her initial mutation; namely ants and ground squirrels.

Eats over a literal ton of mulberry leaves per day. Also enjoys oranges.

Secretly wishes to be more humanoid.

Was only able to pupate and transform due to physical trauma. It seems that her transformation was like a “power-up” that required her to be in geniune distress for it to activate.

First language is Japanese. She learned it from the intial recovery team, and later developed an understanding of English from years in Area 5X.

Goes into torpor in cold weather. Pretty much impossible to wake her up for missions during Winter, as she needs to “rev up” before becoming mobile.

Still very much Link’s best friend. Still enjoys sports, chicks, and beer.

Monger:

Full name is; Warren Rex Monger.

Is very protective of the monsters and will defend them to the death.

Pretty much raised BOB (as seen when BOB was a baby blob in “Night of the Living Carrots”), and considers him his “freaky gelatinous son”.

Has a reputation of being a “control-freak” due to his aggressive overseeing of the monsters’ containment. This toughness is partly because of incidents that occured without his knowledge. Lets just say some scientists have been wedgied/fired for running experiments on the monsters without Monger’s approval.

Has a very “Ron Swanson” emotional response and view of the world. Crying is acceptable only at funerals and at the Grand Canyon (if he hadn’t lost his tear ducts in the war).

Has been married multiple times. Will not confirm or deny if he is currently seeing anyone.

Invisible Man/TiM:

Legit got out but no one at Area 5X is sure how. He suffered a geniune medical emergency and disappeared after surgery. The other monsters were informed that he died from complications to deter them from getting escape ideas.

Is able to be detected in Infrared light. Dr Cockroach managed to rig up goggles to view TiM in case of injury and to foil pranks.

Was a scientist working on an invisibility potion for the military and used himself as a guinea pig. Hasn’t actually been able to replicate his results since - thinks the effect may have been caused by a genetic abnormality.

Dr Cockroach and him are massive rivals. Both actually met eachother pre-transformation through a CalTech expedition. This makes the pair one of few people that have seen the others human face.

Is 100% naked. Was forced to wear clothing once this was discovered.

A massive prankster and a cynic. Him and Link were a force to be reckoned with.

Has revisted the facility multiple times and has started a number of ghost stories.

Any additions are welcome! I proably have alot more to dump about. Might make one of the alien characters from the series

[svankmajerbaby]

i was tagged by @punkenglishnerd - thank you very much, and i’m sorry for being so late!!!

🎃 Pumpkin: Favourite season? spring, because it’s my birthday... and usually the first days of spring are rainy, but then it’s sunny and not very hot yet, so i can dress in layers but i can still bask in the sunshine. i really like autumn too, because while at first it’s too hot to do anything, when it starts to cool down it’s a delight

👻 Ghost: Do you get scared easily? it really depends... for some reason gore doesn’t faze me much, and i’ve become kind of desensitized to a lot of typical horror stuff. but i’m terrified of r*pe scenes, they leave me very nervous and in general a lot of realistic horror, like abuse, torture and the like, gets me very anxious and stressed... i don’t know if i’d call that fear exactly, but if it does, then yeah, i’m a scaredy cat :^/

🎃 Candy Corn: What’s your favourite kind of candy? dark chocolate!! i love really bitter chocolate, or chocolate covered peanuts -that’s what i used to ask for when i went out with my family to the cinema

👻 Vampire: What is your favourite supernatural creature? any sort of manmade creature!!! i really like automata, frankenstein monsters, golems, creepy dolls... but i also love the concept and the symbolism of ghosts and haunted houses......

🎃 Witch: If you could have any superpower, what would it be? i really don’t know... there’s so much i’d like to do... i’d love to be able to speak any language, but i think it’s not really a superpower? since this is halloween themed, i’d have to say telekinesis (matilda was one of my favorite childhood books) and being able to shrink. i’d love to be small as a mouse and wander around the house

👻 Trick or treat: What was your favourite Halloween costume? i dressed as a witch several times!! we don’t celebrate halloween here in argentina, but still there were some birthdays or club parties which were kind of a replacement halloween celebration?? once i went as candy-skull-frida kahlo, and i still think that was my most complex costume... but i really loved dressing up as a witch when i was little, with my green and black striped socks and my witch hat and my long sleeved black top >:^)

🎃 Black cat: Are you superstitious? nah

👻 Ouija Board: If you could change your name, what would you change it to? i used to hate my name casandra, because everyone was called camila or martina or daniela or more “normal” names, and i thought mine was weird... but i still wanted to stand out, so i pretended my second name was miranda, for some reason?? and for some time i was convinced i should change my name to miranda. but after a few years ive grown to like my name, even if i think it does sound kinda pretentious (my parents gave it to me, so its not my fault!!). i’ve also grown to like the other name they would have given me, bruna, which at first i hated but now i kinda love?? maybe i’d change it to that. but i like my name, currently

🎃 Graveyard: Do you know any good scary stories? hmmm the only one that’s like, a scary story, is one i was obsessed with, that was in a book at my school library -i think it’s pretty well known -about the girl with the green ribbon tied around her neck, who has a boyfriend that asks her why she wears it, and she doesn’t say, until she’s in her deathbed and she tells him he can take her ribbon off and he does and the girl’s head falls off. that story lived in my head 24/7, along with actual short stories like the black cat, the telltale heart, the oval portrait, the masque of the red death... i considered metamorphosis by franz kafka a horror story, too, so i guess i’ll add it here. oh, i know!!!!!! one that i think a lot of people don’t know about. the feather pillow, by horacio quiroga. a young couple move to the countryside, and while the husband is away at work, the woman stay at home all the time. the woman falls ill, and the doctor tells her to stay in bed and rest. she gets worse and worse, and withers away. her husband worries but doesn’t know what is going on. the woman finally dies, and when the maid is about to clean the sheets, she notices that the pillow is extremely heavy. and then -she and the husband and the doctor realize -there was a tick, a blood-sucking bug inside the pillow, a typical goose tick that, when given time, can drain a whole person of all their blood it’s better the way the author wrote it, i think i’m selling it short

👻 Skeleton: Have you ever broken a bone? no, i never did anything that could lead to that {:^) when i was younger i climbed trees and played in parks and stuff, but i never played any sports that could make me break a bone... i did break my knee or something?? i can’t remember, but my knee was sort of displaced during a school camping trip in which i got out of the shower and slipped badly

🎃 Werewolf: What is your favourite urban legend? oooooo there’s a bunch from the local high-class cemetery, the Recoleta Cemetery (though i can’t remember any of them very well), where there’s a lot of great urban legends, most of them from the nineteenth or early twentieth century, like one of two star crossed lovers -a young woman who fell for a french soldier visiting argentina -and when he died in the battlefield, she died as well and haunts her grave ever since... or, well, the famous ones like whatever happened to evita’s corpse, which is kind of squicky but still sort of morbidly fascinating??

👻 Horror flick: Do you like scary movies? Boy Do I. i love frankenstein (1931), crimson peak (2015), corpse bride (2005), blood tea and red string (2006), cat people (1942), abominable dr phibes (1970), gaslight (1944), institute benjamenta (1995), little otik (2000), little shop of horrors (1986), picnic at hanging rock (1975), carrie (2013), a girl walks home alone at night (2014), the magic toyshop (1987), faust (1926), mildred pierce (1945), the devil’s backbone (2001), sleepy hollow (1999), the raven (1963), the fly (1958), cronos (1993), the man who laughs (1928), the babadook (2014), whatever happened to baby jane (1962), the cabinet of dr caligari (1920), aaaaand.... the night of the hunter (1955)

🎃 Haunted house: Would you prefer to live in the city or the country? city all the way. i need cinemas, and libraries, and theaters!!!!

👻 Zombie: Do you think that you could survive a zombie apocalypse? oh, no... i’d probably try to kill myself so i can keep myself from being bitten and hurting other people

🎃 Cauldron: What kind of potion would you make if you had the opportunity? some sort of health potion? i wish people didn’t die of perfectly preventable or curable diseases...

👻 Full moon: Do you prefer nighttime or daytime? daytime, particularly the afternoon

🎃 Corn maze:  What is your favourite autumn activity? eating, basically; last autumn i spent it baking, i think. i can’t remember, by this point... we don’t have any particular “autumn traditions”, i think...

👻 Broomstick: What exciting places have you travelled to? i really enjoyed istanbul, with all the cats and the beautiful architecture, i’d like to go back ;_; but i also loved prague a lot, we went in winter and it was all snowy and lit at night and it was such a beautiful place... portugal was a surprise, i liked it a lot more than i expected!!! i miss edinburgh a lot, too, even if it’s a bit too stuffy for me, i still liked it.... and berlin, i think i was in berlin for too short a time. i loved the cinema museum so much, and everyone was so nice, and the city has so much fascinating history... and i also miss athens -again, i was surprised, and i spent very little time there, but everything, the ruins, the modern city, the people, everything was gorgeous and wonderful... and dublin!!!!! dublin was amazing!! i’ve travelled a lot. i want to keep travelling. this year my family and i were supposed to go to russia, and i’m still kinda eager to go.

thank you so much for tagging me!!!!!! and sorry again for taking so long... i’m tagging (only if you want to do it!) @saumenschliesel, @flowerb-0y, @jacobaco, @majorabbey, @thatqueerweirdo, @sbongebob, @buffoello, and whoever else would like to do it!! i really enjoyed answering these asks :^)

[arbitrarycogitation]

Kafka On The Shore

By Haruki Murakami

Age Rating: 18+

SPOILERS AHEAD!

I honestly have no idea why it took me this long to read my first Murakami book. I was always under the impression that his books are either for adults, which is true, are hard to digest and have difficult plots/language. Evidently, I love this book because it is super easy to get lost in the narrative. I don’t think there were any parts that drags on forever. It was the first time this year that I stuck with a book. Usually I would jump between a few narratives because I am easily bored. It took me 2 weeks to read this book, I did not skim any parts, and slowed down when the plot became tangled in my mind. I re-read a few pages because the storyline finally connected and it was too satisfying to just let go.

The book follows 2 main characters, a 15-year-old runaway boy called Kafka Tamura, a name he gave himself, and an old man that can speak to cats that goes by the name Nakata. They never met, but their stories are intertwined with each other. As much as I love the main characters, I think the book appealed to me until the end because the supporting characters in this book are all awesome and deep. They don’t feel like NPCs. I can relate to some of them and they carry as much wisdom as everyone else in the book, of course in their ways. There are adults themed topics in this book and I would not recommend it to younger teenagers and I would advise older ones to make sure that you can talk to someone if you are planning to read this book because I’m sure it will make you question some things about yourself and life. I know that sometimes it is not the norm to talk to people about certain things but I feel like in the name of knowledge and self-discovery, we can push the boundaries a bit (or a lot). I’d also love it if anyone wants to discuss or ask more about this book (or any other books) with me.

The plot itself was trickier than your average book because another dimension and weird-looking imposters were involved. Dare I say that this book sometimes feels more supernatural than philosophical. Of course, being from south-east Asia I know how our narratives are often laced with mythologies, superstitions, and folklore. I think if I were to read this book for a second time, I would pick up on more things that are related to local culture and beliefs. I would say that each side of the story presented different feelings for me as a reader. While reading Kafka’s parts, there is always a bit of wonder mixed with worry about the well-being of this character. He is 15 and I know when I was that age I felt like I can get away with everything that I do. There will always be a way out of a problem. These are moments where I could connect to the character. Not caring for the outcomes of something and living one day at a time. While Kafka is admirable for having such resolute to leave home at such a young age, he is still young. He doesn’t know much about the world and panics when faced with minor inconveniences because he was not in the right mindset yet. I couldn’t say that he grew by the end of the book, but he was positively not an idealist as he was at the beginning of the book. He was more perceptive of his surroundings and I bet the whole experience brought a whole set of questions that he will be asking himself as he grows old.

Reading Nakata’s part of the story was like going through a series of mini-episodes. The things that happens to him are always from one extreme to another. From cat hunting, to meeting a strange man that collects cat souls, to traveling far away with a vague purpose. Sometimes I have no idea what is happening because his world is tightly laced with unusual wonders that the character summed up as ‘how the world works���. I can easily say that his character is the opposite of Kafka’s but that would be innacurate. They are vastly different, but little comparison can be made. Although Nakata is old, he Reading Nakata’s part of the story was like going through a series of mini-episodes. The things that happen to him are always from one extreme to another. From cat hunting to meeting a strange man that collects cat souls, to traveling far away with a vague purpose. Sometimes I have no idea what is happening because his world is tightly laced with unusual wonders that the character summed up as ‘how the world works’. I can easily say that his character is the opposite of Kafka’s but that would be inaccurate. They are vastly different, but a little comparison can be made. Although Nakata is old, he has this child-like aura around his narrative. His journey resembles an adventure more than anything, and his companion on this journey feels like a caretaker destined to accompany this main character to his trophy. And boy did this caretaker, a young truck driver, delivered. Frankly, I can sense why a young guy like him would jump head first into such a bizarre journey. Sometimes you just have to roll with life. This is the kind of guy who doesn’t fight fate, doesn’t question things, and believes in the gods. He was the perfect companion for Nakata. I think this duo is one of those instances where I can say that opposites do attract. Maybe this is because Nakata is a senior member of society, but I can’t help but notice that the conversations that he has with everyone he met were somehow off-beat, and a tad bit awkward and/or weird. When I was reading the book I thought “maybe that’s just how adults are” but as I write this, I am not sure. Nakata’s narrative would not have gone anywhere without the help of the people around him, and in some ways, Kafka’s story was like that too. I think reading Nakata’s various interaction was a good change from Kafka’s narrative that tends to be more isolated. has this child-like aura around his narrative. His journey resembles an adventure more than anything, and his companion on this journey feels like a caretaker destined to accompany this main character to his trophy. And boy did this caretaker, a young truck driver, delivered. Frankly I can sense why a young guy like him would jump head first into such a bizzare journey. Sometimes you just have to roll with life. This is the kind of guy who doesn’t fight fate, doesn’t question things, and believes in the gods. He was the perfect companion fot Nakata. I think this duo is one of those instances where I can say that opposites do attract. Maybe this is because Nakata is a senior member of society, but I can’t help but notice that the conversations that he has with everyone he met was somehow off-beat, and a tad bit awkward and/or weird. When I was reading the book I thought “maybe that’s just how adults are” but as I write this, I am not sure. Nakata’s narrative would not have gone anywhere without the help of the people around him, and in some ways Kafka’s story was like that too. I think reading Nakata’s various interaction was a good change from Kafka’s narrative that tends to be more isolated.

There were a lot of things that I took from this book. Some I understand more than the others, some I feel more connected to than the others.

On page 24 there is a Japanese proverb mentioned by one of the characters. “In traveling, a companion, in life, compassion.” The meaning provided in the book was “that chance encounters are what keep us going”. This exchange happened when Kafka was first heading to Takamatsu, on the bus or station where he met Sakura, an older girl that wanted a bus-buddy so she feels safer while traveling. I have always liked the idea of befriending someone while traveling and maybe have a spend some time together. Meeting someone by chance and befriending them for life is an alluring concept too. I guess I have not lived long enough to have any say in this matter, as everyone I meet was either from school or random people I have a small conversation with wherever I am. There were some interesting experiences here and there, but that’s for another time.

Another one that is sort of the follow-up to the quote from page 24 is “Even chance meetings are the result of karma” on page 35. The explanations provided by the book is “that things in life are fated by our previous lives. That even in the smallest events there’s no such thing as coincidence”. Coincidences are not coincidences, they are meant to be. I think this is what it meant. Every time I come across a quote like this, I always feel conflicted, and more often than not, I would find myself in a paradox. If fate decides what largely happens to us, does that mean our destiny is set in stone because it’s decided beforehand, through my past, my ancestors, and my luck? But we still have to be good to people, and ourselves, to make sure that we leave good footprints behind, to better our chances of receiving good karma. Am I still hopeless, if I look at it this way? Or the other way? Life is truly a queer thing to think about.

And the last one is pretty long. From my understanding, it was a conversation between Kafka Tamura and his conscience, the boy named Crow. It has been a while since I finished the book but if I am not mistaken there was also a part where the boy named Crow took a physical appearance and attacked the man in the funny hat. This probably happened on “the other side”. Anyways, I am not going to write the whole thing here, but what happened was the boy named Crow was telling Kafka Tamura that he can still recover from this pain caused by his Mom. That he can live while healing himself of the trauma, but that was not an option for his Mom. For her, the feeling is inevitable. She will probably regret her decisions every day, until the end of her time. He told Kafka that it is true that things can never be new again, that there will always be something missing, something wrong. But he has to accept the decisions of the people around him that affected him greatly, that even though he was hurt the most, he has to understand the other person’s feelings at the time. Not for them, but for himself. He will never get over it if he doesn’t accept the way things are. He will never fathom the pain, fear, and suffering that the other person felt at the time. He will only feel anger and resentment, and that will hinder him from forgiving her. His Mom. The quote resonated deeply with me, not because I have lived through it, but because I can empathize with his confusion, pain, and anger. I know how it feels like to not understand things that your heart feels like should be important and crucial. I cannot imagine that feeling befalling someone else, at a greater or lesser magnitude.

This book reminded me of some essence of human lives. How we need people to live, that solitary living is just not the way. How it is not hard to connect to people, to get to know someone. We don’t need a lot of things in common, one would do. Sometimes, a common destination is all you need. Life does not always have to be fast-paced and with a definite purpose. It’s okay to linger around and fall into a more relaxing routine. Ah and this is a recent observation I made but I noticed that everyone seemed to have a routine in this book, unconscious or not. It’s like the author is telling us we are a creature of habit. And maybe there is an explanation to this, maybe it is just to show that these people are indeed ‘real’ people. This story reminds me that people are deep beings with multiple layers to their personalities. With a past, present, and future that we don’t necessarily understand. Sometimes, we don’t need to understand, because maybe it’s not our time to yet. There are things that I have yet to grasp in this life, in the books that I’ve read and things that I’ve seen. As a reader, I have always sucked at seeing foreshadows and little premotions in stories but in this book, these elements seemed to stick out the most, but I still have a hard time connecting the dots. Sometimes there are those in-between-lines conversations that I can’t hear. I enjoyed this book nonetheless and will probably read it again sometime in the future.

[squadron-of-damned]

⭐ - for the fanfic ask

Yes okay, my pick. that’s the tough part. Hmm… I’d say I’d like to talk about Black Garb, but frankly, I think I have said everything I wanted to say there.

So instead let’s talk about The Long-Awaited Sequel. The name itself is supposed to be a tie-in with the previous work from the Basketville series, because that one is called The Last Chapter, so there is a book theme supposedly going on and also it focuses on the new life Downey and Vetinari have in Basketville, so it is “a brand new book” which everyone has been long waiting for.

Fun fact: Originally the “main hero” whose POV is followed was supposed to be Christian Agate, the renown paperback author who is definitely not the Discworld incarnation of Agatha Christie. While this idea got scratched, the book theme remained just as the concept of Basketville being “the countryside village to which old (male) literary heroes retire to have a cottage, bees and their best companion to whom they aren’t married (but only because it isn’t legal yet).”

Part of the fun with this bodyswap fic was that Vatinari and Downey know each other well enough to actually pull off they are the other person while nobody really knows them enough to notice if there is something wrong. That means that I as an author (and subsequently you as the reader) didn’t have to focus on the “comedy effect” of the bodyswap when they are “this close to being caught,” because let’s serve us clean wine: I don’t like this trope. No, what I wanted to explore was how the physical differences in a body affect the individual.

Let’s start with Downey. In the book Night Watch it is implied that he might have a problem reading long words (although it is possible Vetinari meant that as a very ugly joke) and over the time this implication evolved into a headcanon that he has dyslexia and possibly dysgraphia as well. (I know that they aren’t one and the same, but my two childhood friends have them both and when thinking about one I find it quite difficult not to connect it to the other.) And since you specifically Napoleon are asking this, you are the one who’s assigned that man synethesia as well. I believe that it isn’t addressed in this fic, but originally it was supposed to be and the only reason it isn’t there is because I didn’t figure out a simple way to make AO3 format work with colours.

There is the poem:

This is now all of my wit:to love loud turmoil of the fight,to penetrate girls’ dreams in night,to be in debt a little bit,to whistle as my mouth is shaped,to wash away worry with wine,to squander fast this life of mine,to gain nothing, same to forfeit.

It is my translation of František Gellner’s To je teď celá moudrost moje and in the fic it has scattered bolding and italicizing which is supposed to represent how it is seen through Downey’s eyes. Originally the whole text was heavily colourized, all the alike sounding parts done in the same or similar colours, so it looked like a very bad acid trip. (I was quite angry when the colours didn’t make it in because I spent about an hour colouring that damn thing for nothing.)

Here is the fun part: Why does Vetinari experience these conditions when he is in Downey’s body while he doesn’t get to deal with Downey’s short-fused temper? Because according to some very smart article which I have read and lost and can’t be bothered at the moment to find again, things like dyslexia or introversion tendencies are bound to brain. In fact this article which focused on the fact that people are born either more extroverted or introverted and they can’t do anything about it because it is a physical condition just like the solidness of your bones or blood type is what inspired this particular fic.

Do Vetinari, a known book worm, finds out that there are people who are literally physically incapable to enjoy a book without getting a horrible headache. He also finds out that there are people for whom being around other people is not energetically draining. I can’t remember if he has to deal with Downey’s absolute musical hearing. I think he doesn’t.

Downey on the other hand is mostly reliant on his people skill, on the fact that he is good at being around people and in the only moment that he is supposed to use it (the variation of the PTA gathering), it fails him because of Vetinari’s brain introversion. There is also a minor deal with haywire colourvision which I don’t think I’ve ever bothered to explain. That is a headcanon of mine which doesn’t affect anything and hasn’t got any real backing by the actual lore, but through Vetinari’s eyes Downey can see colours which he previously couldn’t see. The word itself doesn’t get actually used, but Vetinari has tetrachromatic vision instead of the human usual trichromatic one.* Yes, I am aware that the cone cell pigment genes are bound to the X chromosome, thus making tetrachromacy a thing found in the XX 23rd gene combination, but consider: tetrachromacy has actually been found in men, Discworld genetic is strange, magic can apply, no one is saying that Discworld human genes are like ours, no one is saying that Vetinari is cis, also I don’t care because this is a work of fiction not a research paper so if you have a problem with Vetinari having a trait predominately found in human females, it is a you-problem and you have to deal with it somehow (probably by not reading that fic for a start). He also has to deal with chronic pain in leg which I believe Vetinari is more or less used to, but Downey isn’t.

Speaking of chronic pains. Both of those guys have been through some serious shit. Both mentally and physically. In case you haven’t been here for my writing, Downey’s time in Ankh-Morpork during Snapcase’s regime was not a walk in a rosy garden. Or maybe it was a walk in a rosy garden but he was forced to take it through the thorny bushes. He was interrogated, he was tortured for information and there had been at least one attempt to execute him which is implied in the fic. Downey says that he loves Vetinari “Enough for a lack of eloquence to be considered of virtue” just the moment after some very old scars on Downey’s body are mentioned. I don’t know if this reads clearly for you, but it has always been clear to me (and that is why I cannot describe it better): “They tried to physically force me to tell them everything about you and I didn’t say a word.” Until today I am convinced that this particular line is one of the… strongest that I have ever written.

There is a very strong reference to Kafka in this work, namely the very hideous tattoo on Downey’s back which says VerboIncooperativus Testi (verbally uncooperative witness, although the translation is a shared effort of mine and Google Translator, though Discworld Latatin is a bastart language, so whatever). All I can say to that is this: In the Penal Colony.

That brings me to the side characters. Some of them have only a little impact on the story, such as Papermould. Some of them are long time dead like Offer Littlegood to whom I would like to dedicate a short work on his own because he is the Discworld’s constructor of the horrible tattoo-execution machine, which might or might not be clear from what is written about him and implied in other parts of the work. I have a lot of thoughts about Offer Littlegood. I am a loud about being from Czechia, so here is a linguistic joke for you: a rather archaic/fairy-tale sounding euphemism for an executioner (and torturer, stories like to pile these two jobs into one) in Czech is “mistr málodobrý” which translates to English as “mister (or master) littlegood.” That is where Littlegood’s name comes from, to me he is an executioner and torturer by name.

Then there is July Mendahorse. For a starter: I love July Mendahorse. She isn’t pretty and she is the perfect noir femme fatale and she is an important character in The Graveyard Shift. In this story there are featured three people who look a lot like Vetinari: Vetinari himself, Constantin Meserole who is his cousin and a mirror thirty years to the past (he is far mor like Vetinari in his mind than he realizes and he would hate himself a lot if he had ever learned that), and then July Mendahorse (who is actually also a lot like Vetinari, but she lacks the upbringing and education). The opening line about her section is a lowkey reference to the song The House of the Rising Sun (this gets more played on in The Graveyard Shift). When Downey and Vetinari are talking about their exes, Downey recalls briefly dating July (without naming her) who happened to look a lot like Vetinari and speak with his accent. I am not sure if I want to work with it in The Graveyard Shift or give Downey/July their own fic in the original timeline but I want to clear up one thing for you here: Downey actively conditioned July to erase a whole a lot of differences between her and Vetinari. Some of that were good things, like giving her education or taking her to see culture, some of that were… less nice. Not exactly abusive, but… Look, folks, don’t try to forge a girl you’ve found on the street into your unreachable partner of your dreams, alright?

Since we have Vetinari-alike people here, let’s give a paragraph to Constantin Meserole, shall we? If Constanting had a dollar for every time someone called him Havelock, he’d be a very rich man. He looks like Vetinari at that age. He is very actively trying to difference himself from his cousin, but he fails to realize he is doing it in the most Vetinari-like (or Constantin-like) way possible. He is more psychology oriented than Vetinari, but he is also more fed up with his situation. Vetinari’s (and Downey, Sybil and Vimes’s) generation could be compared to those people who were children and teens during the 70′s and 80′s (speaking from a country which used to be a part of the communist block at that time: fucking bloody normalization, so with the Wint/Snapcase’s regime it is twice as accurate), while Constantin (and Lus Twinkle and all their classmates) are those who are growing up right now. They don’t remember that era but they grew up with people telling stories what it was like and they see people actively trying to make history repeat itself and they are feeling like AAARGH! Oh, and Constantin and Twinkle’s relationship is a mirror to Downey and Vetinari’s relationship in the sense “Okay, whit if they weren’t absolute idiots, but only a little bit idiots?”

There are retired fictional characters: Blatantly obvious Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson except they are dwarves now (and are actually both girls), Captain Tramain who is from Wizardry 8 and I’ve always had a soft spot for him. There is aforementioned and not entirely fictional Christian Agate.

There is Helen Foxglove. I have a friend who has just writhed herself out of an abusive marriage. This fic was written before she actually made it and at the time I felt that the most I could do for her aside from coming over every here and then and helping her out was to give her a fictional happy ending. This is that happy ending where she got out with her children and her dogs, and her piece of a shit husband got a dagger through his skull. Maybe some time in the future Helen Foxglove will get together with a witch who might and might not be a version of my mum. Look, I’ve always thought that those two should get together ever since I was, like, four and knew what ‘get together’ was. I’ve always saw her son as a brother, so you know.

I like writing about Basketville but I also find it terribly difficult. Terry Pratchett said that Ankh-Morpork is a fantasy city which still functions after the story ends. In the same way, Basketville is the happy ending retirement countryside village which still functions after the story ends. Everything that happens in Basketville is an epilogue to some story, but it is important to realize that there are people whose whole lives were other people’s epilogues. That is both difficult and amazing to write.

[bugheadfamily]

Graphic by: Katie ( @betty-cooper )

This week the spotlight is on Sarah ( @onceuponamirror )! Click the read more link below to get to know our member!

Spotlight by Mila, @jughead-jones

SARAH | @onceuponamirror

Name: Sarah  

Age: 25

Location: California

Any other languages aside from English people can contact you in?: alas, nope. 

Favourite Riverdale characters and ships?: I actually enjoy most of the characters, but I know I would like all of them better if the writing actually was focused on characterization, lol. But obviously I quite like Bughead. And then honestly I like all of the Veronica ships. I also like Choni but i think the writing could’ve been a lot better.

Favourite moments from S1 & S2?: Betty repeatedly saying “what’s my name” to Alice was really powerful and one of the moments that sold me on the show early on, especially in the acting from that scene, and then 1x07 was a really wonderful exploration of a broken relationship between father and son that was still fill with a lot of love despite how painful it was. The family/character moments early on were strong. In s2….the acting continued to be pretty good, and the addition of totally campy things like Papa Poutine and his son Small Fry were the wacky kind of delight I seek from riverdale. 

What are your hopes for S3?: consistent characterization, and hopefully some fun weirdo hippie moments. 

Other fandoms you’re into?: I was in the Once Upon a Time fandom for a long time. But that show has ended now. 

What are some of your favourite movies/TV?: The Americans, The Good Place, The Office, Parks And Rec, Glow, Orphan Black, The Bold Type, Queer Eye, Jane The Virgin, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Favourite books?: All About Love by Bell Hooks, A Thousand Eyes: Media Technology, Law, and Aesthetics, Kafka On The Shore by Haruki Murakami, and Just Kids by Patti Smith. I need to find more fiction to read, but don’t really know where to start in terms of what I’m really looking for. 

Favourite bands/musicians?: FLEETWOOD MAC!! I think anyone who has visited my blog even once probably knows this lmao. 

If you could live in any fictional world which one would you choose and why?: uh, Harry Potter universe, no contest. I mean, given that I too would be a witch anyway. 

Favourite food?: mm. Probably tomatoes. Love a good tomato. 

Favourite season?: autumn!!!

Favourite plant?: oh this is hard. I do love a big split leaf monstera! 

Favourite scent?: eucalyptus.

Favourite colour?: blue.

Favourite animal?: also hard. Have you ever heard the sounds a porcupine makes tho? 

Are you a night owl, an early bird, or a vampire?: fun combo of a person who likes to stay up late who also naturally wakes up early. But on my good days, I’m an early bird. 

Place you want to visit?: Japan! Or spend more time in Scotland than I’ve had before. 

Do you have pets? If you do, tell us a little about them: I have a cat. She’s afraid of her own shadow and I love her dearly.

Tell us a little about yourself?: I am a freelancer in a creative field, I’m a big fan of analysis (show or writing or otherwise), and my interests tend to rotate around the arts and plants.

Fun or weird fact about you?: I am a very, very good whistler. Can do all the vibrato stuff. 

Asks for fanfic authors:

How long have you been writing?: since I was like 11-12, honestly. 

Which is your favourite of the fics you’ve written?: Heart Rise Above is very dear to me for many reasons, but beyond just the satisfaction of telling the story in way I’m happy with, it also represents a huge number of goals that I met. I’d never written anything multi-chapter, let alone over 100k. It helped me get over a lot of my insecurities. 

Favourite fic/chapter/plot-point/character you’ve ever written?: HRA is prob my favorite fic, my favorite chapter was probably the “water” chapter (17 i think) in HRA, my favorite plot-point is something from A Deed Without A Name so i shouldn’t say yet, and my favorite character….I mean, I’m fully aware that I basically came up with an original character in JB. She appears in most of my fics because I firmly believe that she better rounds out Jughead and my goals for him, but she’s also become a solidified figure in my mind. And I’m fond of her; or at least, my version, lol.

Which was the hardest to write, and why?: Stealing Home has been a continued challenge, just because it’s such a different universe from canon while still needing to maintain consistent and recognizable characterization. But I like challenges!

How do you come up with the ideas for you fic(s)? (examples: Do you draw inspiration from real life? Listen to music? Get inspired by TV/movies?) Do you have an process to your writing?: I listen to a lot of music while I write in order to tap into the tonal atmosphere I want to build, but a lot of my ideas start with a vague concept, sometimes launched by a single image I saw (HRA was inspired by a set photo) and then I work backwards to a larger theme and intent. My process depends on the story, but often I make a lot of “beginning, middle, and end” notes to myself for where each character has to go and what has to happen, plot wise, at those stages.

Idea that you always wanted to write?: I’d like to one day tackle a long, multi-chapter story that spans only 24 hours. We’ll see!

Favourite character to write?: Jughead, I think. But i also really like writing Veronica, turns out. 

Best comment/review you’ve ever received?: @village-skeptic leaves incredibly detail-oriented reviews, and I eat them up. But then I’ve had some personal messages about the impact some stories have on them and it just — wow. That’s amazing. It means so much to me.

Best and worst parts of being a writer?: It’s incredibly satisfying to escape into someone else’s woes or joys sometimes. Especially when my mental health takes a toll on me, being able to work through some of my own feelings via another character is…cathartic. The worst is that it’s a vulnerable thing, sharing that side! Even if you don’t consciously put those things into your writing, any time you put anything creative out to share with others, it’s nerve wracking. Validation is a tricky thing. 

Do you have any advice to offer?: Ultimately, be passionate about why you want to do something. All other doubts and worries and insecurities will be outweighed if you understand why you’re doing what you’re doing.

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This is the seventh instalment of Bughead Family’s Member Spotlight series. Each week, a member’s url is selected through a randomizer and they will be featured in a spotlight post. In order to participate, please join the Bughead Discord (more information found here). Thank you.

[elliotthezubat]

DEATH CITY DAYS 84

the rats have a new base, sturm goes to paris, and new students

[[cont from part 83]]

Adam: "That's the last of them..." yana:....*sigh*...what a pain... Ivan: *lying in a gurney* Q_____Q zoey: this is your fault..... Gogol: "...Which one?" zoey: *glares at ivan* you let this happen, and now my baby's gone..... Ivan: -____- "He wasn't your baby. He was some demonic hellspawn you adopted and brainwashed." Gogol: "Phew! I thought she was blaming me." ^_^ zoey: *punches ivan's leg* SHUT UP!......at least....i still have master's baby....inside me.....it feels....so good.... elizaveta: *frowns* Ivan: *screams* "Ow-ow-ow..." T~T "Young Master, help..." yana: zoey, stop being petty for a moment. Ivan: TwT -elsewhere- etta: we're heeeeere~ Walter: "..." *looks up, cups his hands* "Hello!!! Echo!!!" hans: wow, fancy. Kafka: -n- "I doubt the beds will be sanitary." Leroux: "..." etta: *looks out the window* wooooow! Leroux: *sees the city* "...” etta: so pretty. *shiny eyes* Kafka: "...Yes, I suppose it is." hans: *checking pamphlets* Walter: "Where to after we finish unpacking?" etta: let's check out the Eiffel tower! Leroux: "..." etta:.....roro? Leroux: "Yes~?" ^_^; etta: are you sure you're ok? Leroux: "J-Just fine. Why?" etta: you deserve to enjoy this trip as much of the rest of us. *smiles with concern* Leroux: "...Right. I will. Thank you." Kafka: "..." -elsewhere- Fyodor: "..." guard: ......... guard 2: call for you. Fyodor: "??? Me?" guard 2: *hands him the phone* Fyodor: *takes the phone* "..." yana: bad news boss.... *she explains what all happened* Fyodor: "...Disappointing." yana: when are you gonna get out of prison, morale hasnt been good here... Fyodor: "Wait." yana: hm.... Fyodor: "You know what is expected of you." yana:.....right... Fyodor: "So do it. I expect to hear good news." yana:...understood....*hangs up*..........(i feel i should be crying now.....but i dont feel anything.....) ...*leans back in her chair and sighs* Gogol: "..." *pokes in his head* yana: *leans her head back to look at him* <what?> Gogol: <Did he blame me?> yana: <no one's blaming you for anything, gogol.> Gogol: "..." *nods* <Good. Thank you, Boss.> yana:....<not to bother you with pointless bullshit but.....do you think there's a reason i exist?> Gogol: <Way beyond my paygrade. I don't entertain existentialist questions.> yana:....<forget i said anything then...> Gogol: <DONE!> ^w^ yana:..... -elsewhere- Magaki: "I'm done." *hands the book over* tsubaki: thank you. Magaki: *nods* "It was enjoyable. I liked the descriptions. Do you read a lot?" tsubaki: *she nods* sometimes. Magaki: "It's helping me with the language. What kind of stories do you read?" -elsewhere- Q: OwO kirako: ._.; aya: *opens arms* kirako:......*hugs Q and aya* Q: QWQ *squeeze* kirako: ^^; Dazai: "Just careful, given his ability--" Q: *HISS* kirako: ^^; noted. Dazai: ._____. Q: *nuzzle* -w- naomi:....no comment. Tanizaki: "Stay away from the child, Naomi." naomi: oh no need to tell me twice. sylvia: ..... Q: "??? Who's she?" sylvia: *hides behind kyouka* eep! >A< Kyoka: *intense stare at Q* "Stay away from Q, Sylvia." Q: ._. sylvia: o-o-okaaaay.... Q.Q;;;; Q: Q_Q *squeezes Aya and Kirako more tightly* atsushi: *sweatdrop* odasaku:...what did mori even _do_ to this kid? Q: "C-Can I stay here, with Aya and with, um, any parent?" yosano: for the time being. Q: QwQ atsushi: (never a dull moment with the agency...) Kunikida: "..." *rubs his eyes* aya:...kunkida? Kunikida: "...I'm sorry." aya: it's ok. im here, right? Kunikida: *nods* "And good for you to reach out to Shousaku." aya: .....right. Kunikida: "...We'll...have to find their new location." aya: *nods* Kunikida: "For now...let's get you a meal." kirako: what do you want, Q? Q: OwO "Cookies?" kirako: *pokes nose* after dinner. ^^ aya: pizza! Q: O\\\\\O -elsewhere- Anya: *tapping her foot* mio: ...? Anya: "They've been in there a long time..." ao: so.....t-tsugumi..is there someone you like? Tsugumi: OwO;;;; "...You'll have to be more specific." ao: do you...have romantic feelings for anyone? Tsugumi: O\\\\\w\\\\\O;;;; "...Specifically?" ao: y-yes. Tsugumi: "..." *covers her face* "I don't want to tell! I'm just someone who has a lot of love and don't know what it is that I want!" >\\\w\\\< ao:....do you think....you could love someone like me? Tsugumi: "...Wait...You..." ao: y...yes... *looks down, blushing* i've....liked you a long time now... Tsugumi: "O-Oh?" .\\\\\. "I-I'm sorry I didn't figure that out...I guess I sort of knew given how close we are..." ao: r-really? *blushing* Tsugumi: "I guess? I just didn't think to misread or anything in case it was just in my imagination that you liked me--you know how romantic and over-thinking I get reading into things too much when I start on a roll with my--" ao: tsugumi? Tsugumi: *blinks* "...Yes?" ao: you didnt answer. ^^; Tsugumi: .\\\\\\. "...I-I'd need some time to think about that one. It's a bit of a paradigm shift...But there's nothing about you that I couldn't see myself loving someone like you." ao: i see... im glad though. even if you didnt feel the same for me, i would still be glad to be with you, tsugumi. ^^ Tsugumi: ^\\\^ "I'm glad to be with you. Just...be patient while I try to figure this out? I'm sorry I don't have an answer yet." ao: i understand. mio:....*looks at anya* Anya: *has her ear pressed to the door* Q\\\\\\Q mio:...*pat pat* that's rough, buddy. Anya: T\\\T "Shut up, Mio..." mio: *pap pap* Anya: T________T -elsewhere- Lily: "YAY!" *tosses rose petals* misono: you seem happier than usual. Lily: "Spring will soon be upon us~ We'll be able to escape the chilly confines of this cramp estate and enjoy all of nature--" *throws open his coat* misono: just keep your pants on! Lily: *is standing with a pair of jeans and a sheer shirt* "??? Oh. Sure~" misono: *sigh* Lily: "Are you okay?" misono: yes. Lily: "...Okay." -elsewhere- Relan: *drenched in water* =_=; iris: *wraps him in a towel* Relan: T~T "Thank you...I didn't even see it coming..." iris: *pap pap* Arthur: *still holding the firehose* "Hang on, I see another fly--" maki: *chop* no. Arthur: >_< "You knew I couldn't be trusted!" -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: "FAAAAAAANG!" T~T "I need help..." fang-hua: whats up? Tsukiyo: "The invitation says 'Plus One.' I don't have one!" fang-hua: *sweatdrop* Tsukiyo: *sniffs* "How do I find one?!" fang-hua: im sure there's someone in the area. maybe go to a mixer? Tsukiyo: QwQ "Mixer?" fang-hua: yeah. Tsukiyo: *takes her hand* "LET'S GO!" fang-hua: it's later in the week! Tsukiyo: "LET'S GO GET MY OUTFIT!!!" -elsewhere- rowena: *rings doorbell* lenore: *perched on rowena's shoulder* Blair: "???" *opens the door* "Hello~" rowena: hello, miss blair. hope you dont mind us dropping in. lenore: *nod* Blair: "Not at all! Come in!" *wiggles a finger to set up a chair* rowena: *sits down* thank you. Blair: *heats up some water* "Tea?" rowena: yes please. lenore: *POOF* *takes a seat* Blair: ^^ "Comfy?" *sets out tea cups* lenore: as comfy as i can be. you got any seed on ya? im starvin' Blair: *holds out a hand* *POOF* "Here you go~" lenore: *nom nom* rowena: so you two know each other, right? lenore: yeah, from back in the day. Blair: "..." *smiles* rowena: what was it like? Blair: "It was...an experience." lenore: we were familiars to an old witch. it was me, blair, and melas. Blair: *stares into her tea* rowena: i see. lenore: i remember our mistress was an old lady, a bit of a hermit, even by witch world standards. Blair: *nods* "She...seemed to appreciate the company." rowena: *listening* Blair: "She was far away from others, and I think she needed companionship." *sad smile* "For many people, having a cat around can make even the most un-homely place feel cozy." rowena: right...or in edgar's case, a raccoon. Blair: "Hee hee~ I suppose so. ... Lenore, do you think our mistress liked having us around?" lenore: i think so. i mean, she had to have liked us enough to grant us magic, right? Blair: "..." *nods* "...She gave us a bit..." -elsewhere- Dazai: -n- ("He's eating all the pizza...") Kunikida: "..." ("I'm going to be reprimanded for what happened to Aya...I'm just glad she's safe...") Q: ^w^ "Want my slice, Aya?" aya: *already eating her slice* yosano: kunikiiiidaaa~ ^^# may i have a word with you? Kunikida: ._______. "...In private?" yosano: *grabs him by the ponytail and drags him off* -too violent- Q: OwO;;;;; "...Are they doing adult things?" atsushi: .__________________________________. *shocked look at Q* aya: ........................ sylvia: like t-taxes? Q: OwO *stares at Atsushi* "...Very loud taxes." atsushi: ehehehe...yeah... ^^;;;; Q: "Huh..." *nom on pizza* Kunikida: X_____X -elsewhere- Rin: "How have your classes gone?" madoka: tiring *yaaaawn* Rin: "..." *pats her back* madoka: =///u///= Rin: "I could make some tea. And some cookies..." -elsewhere- Kid: "--and then we'll have to check on when your delivery arrives, re-do the drapes in our room, fix up Father's study, and--" *turns to look at Stocking--and just stares* stocking: *has her hair in a ponytail*...hm? Kid: "..." .\\\\\. "...Sorry. I just...haven't looked at you for so long..." stocking: kid... Kid: "...I like your hair like that." *smiles* stocking: hehe~ Kid: *reaches for her hand* stocking: *squeezes and kisses him* Kid: "Mmmm~" ^////^ stocking: hehe~ Kid: "...Even if I don't say it enough, please don't doubt that you are the most beautiful person." stocking: and you're the most handsome guy, kiddo~<3 Kid: ^\\\^ "D'aw..." *hug* stocking: hehehe~ i love you so much~<3 Kid: "I love you so much, too." stocking: *smooooch* mmmm~<3 Kid: "Mmm..." *pats her back* -elsewhere- soul: .......*tucks the kids in* Damon: "Zzz..." becky: zzzzz soul:....*closes the door*....*sigh*......*glances at maka's room*............*goes in and sits on the floor* .......... *There's a bit of dust on the desk* soul:.....(i've left your room untouched for so long.......) *There's a creaking sound* soul:......(yeah....you're right....ok. i'll get started first thing tomorrow...) *SLAM* soul: ?! *goes to check* *A book has fallen from the shelf* soul:....*picks it up, dusting it off* *It looks to be a children's book* soul:......*smiles* -elsewhere- hans: *looking at a tour guide pamphlet* Kafka: *reviewing a French phrase book* Walter: "How much further?" etta: it should be coming up soon, right roro? Leroux: *looking around* "Yes... hans:....i know, this is a big challenge for you to see it again after such a long time... Leroux: "...Yes." hans:..ah. there it is. Leroux: "..." *shakes* etta:....*pats his back* Leroux: "Th-Thanks..." hans: well then, shall we go in? Leroux: *whimpers* hans:....you can wait in the car if you want to.... Leroux: "I-I can do it...R-Right, Christine?" Kafka: -____- ("Can I stay in the car?") christine?: .... Leroux: "..." *steps forward* -inside- woman: <hello and welcom-...> !! Leroux: Q___Q Woman: <gaston! is that you?> Leroux: <...> *nods* woman: <it's me, meg giry! remember?> hans: <a pleasure to meet you, ma'am.> Leroux: *whimper* hans:... leroux, if you really are uncomfortable- Leroux: "I...can't back down." hans:....right. meg: <do you want to take the tour?> Walter: "Yes, please!" ^w^ Death the Kid: Kafka: -_____- ("Ruining a moment...") -and so- meg: <this room is the main theater, where all the shows took place.> etta: *shiny eyes* woooooah! Leroux: "..." Walter: "Etta's on stage a lot, too!" meg: <is that right?> etta: hehe~ <i am an actress back home after all~> *wink* meg: <i see.> ^^ {christine: *on stage, singing*} {Leroux: *staring* ._____. } {-she looks so lovely in the spotlight-} {Leroux: "..." *sighs, leans his hand on his chin*} Leroux: T~T etta:...*pap pap* -elsewhere- Steinbeck: "Zzz..." Hemingway: *fishing at a stream* twain: =w= *also fishing* oscar: its so peaceful, right? Hemingway: "Hmm." dorothy:.....bored. =A= baum: we'll remedy that right away! Hemingway: "???" oscar: i have an idea, dearies~ why not play the~king's~game~? twain: ohohohohoho! sounds good! Hemingway: "How's that work?" oscar: well in this case, i do have popcicle sticks. one stick is marked with red, which represents the 'king'. and the other sticks all have numbers, for all the other players. everyone draws sticks, and the person with the red marked stick is the king. the king then chooses a number or numbers and gives the order for what that person has to do. Hemingway: "..." *shoves Steinbeck* Steinbeck: "Ha-Wha?" Hemingway: "We're playing a game." -and so- Steinbeck: "..." *takes a stick* emily: since we have two minors playing with us, lets keep the game wholesome, ok? Hemingway: "Agreed. No booze." ebie: ^^ dorothy: ... baum: =v= Lovecraft: .~. twain: alright. who's gonna be the kiiing~? ebie: ok! im king! hmmm.....3 has to pat 8 on the back. Hemingway: "..." *holds up 8* oscar: *pap pap* hmhm ^^ Hemingway: *sighs* *hops on* -who is the king this time?- Steinbeck: *holds up the stick* "I am the king. And...2 has to put make-up on 7." -ebie did lovecraft's face up, spiderman style- Lovecraft: ._____. Steinbeck: "D'aw..." ^^ -it was twain's turn next- twain: alright....4 and 2....have to hold haaands nyohoho` =v= emily: ... 4.... .///.; Steinbeck: *holds up 2* emily:....*hand hold* .////////////////. Steinbeck: "..." ("Huh. Soft.") oscar: my my, seem she's all red, hoho~ Steinbeck: "... ... ..." Hemingway: "Oscar, please." emily: .///////////. *steam coming off her head* Lovecraft: "...John? Are you--" Steinbeck: "... ... ... ..." ebie: O.O mr steinbeck? Steinbeck: *opens his mouth--and only a squeak escapes..." dorothy:....they're in heat, arent they? baum: D8 oscar: OvO twain: O_O ebie: ?? Hemingway: "Nah, they haven't engaged in the traditional mating rituals." emily: 0______________0 Steinbeck: "..." *lets go of Emily's hand, doesn't look at her, just stares forward* emily: ah- Steinbeck: *squeaks* "N-Next king?" -elsewhere- Shousaku: *chained to a floor* "..." zoey: you knoooow.....im pretty upset now....my baby's run away....we had to move base....all because of that little brat.....and you tried to help her.......you knocked me down....you almost hurt master's baby.... Shousaku: "..." zoey: fufufufu.....ahhhhh~ *pant pant* i wanna kill you so much~ Shousaku: "...Is that...what 'master' wants?" zoey: .......perhaps....i'd have to......ask him......*exits* Shousaku: *sighs* -elsewhere- Magaki: *lying awake* "..." otogiri:....cant sleep? Magaki: *shakes their head 'no'* otogiri:....is something bothering you? Magaki: "...Guilt." otogiri: how so? Magaki: "I didn't ask to desire human blood. It...almost feels like a natural urge to consume." otogiri: ....that's understandable... Magaki: "...Sorry. I know it's not like...I mean, I don't know why any of us are like this." otogiri:....in our case, it's easier to explain.....our master, tsubaki *whisper* his name is also tsubaki, so try not to get confused, *normal* saved us. Magaki: "...Why would he do that?" otogiri: he was lonely.....he wanted a family. Magaki: "...Makes sense. ...Did you want to be in his family?" otogiri:.....do you know how we differentiate from other vampires? Magaki: *shakes their head 'no'* -one session of long exposition later- Magaki: "...I'm sorry you lost him." otogiri: he is alive, somewhere. we're certain of that. Magaki: "Hmm. That's good." -elsewhere- etta: *nom* mmmm~ so yummy~ =w= meg: glad to hear that. this was actually the theater's concession stand long ago. Leroux: "..." *inhale* meg:...<can i talk to you a moment, gaston?> Leroux: <...Of course.> meg:.....<listen, im sorry for everything mama, papa, and big sister did to you. i wish i could have understood better, then maybe...> Leroux: <I don't blame you.> meg:...<i know coming back is....probably hard for you, given all that's happened.> Leroux: <...That's an understatement...> *looks at the walls* meg:......<even though most of the main theater and structure was damaged, there were some places that werent burned. like the basement.> Leroux: <...I could see it?> meg: <well, it's not open to the public....but this place was still your home so...i suppose i'll make an exception this time.> Leroux: *nods* <Thank you.> -downstairs- meg:....<if you wanted to gather any of your old belongings-> Leroux: <Hmm.> *walks to his previous home* -the room is virtually untouched...save for the dust- Leroux: "..." *looks at the lights* -several bulbs have burnt out- Leroux: *disappointed grunt...turns and looks at the wall* -the poster is still there, if a bit aged- Leroux: *sad smile* -upstairs- etta: *checking the gift shop*... ah! Kafka: *following* etta: *picks up a CD; 'Julia Leroux Vocal Collection Remastered Edition'* *shiny eyes* Kafka: "??? Something you're getting?" etta: mmhmm! it's gonna be a present! Kafka: "...Hm." *looks around* -there are two men talking- man 1: <yeah, i heard this place has ghosts residing in it.> Kafka: "???" Man 2: <You think ghosts are everywhere.> Kafka: *opens his phrase book* man: <it's true man! there's two ghosts in particular that stand out. 'the lady in green' and 'the lady in white'.> Kafka: *flips* (" 'Lady'?") Man 2: <'Green'? 'White'? What, plaid wasn't available?> man: <haha screw off. anyway, they were apparently singers that preformed here long ago, and supposedly died on the premises. the lady in green haunts the theater, while at night, the lady in white haunts the theater, calling out to someone, probably family.> Kafka: *trying to keep up* (" 'Singers'...'Family'...") "..." *looks at Etta--and the album* etta: <sir, is there a place i can listen to this?> Clerk: <We have a player over there.> etta: <thank you~> *listening* (pretty....) Kafka: *listening* "..." *looks up at the ceiling* -elsewhere- meg: <are you done yet?> Leroux: <May I take this?> meg: <the poster? no offense meant, but it seems kind of....old now. ^^; > Leroux: <Consider me nostalgic.> meg:....<right> Leroux: *carefully takes down the poster* "..." <Thank you.> meg: ..... Leroux: "..." *carefully rolls the poster...he's crying* meg:...... {madame giry: <this is that wretch's fault that this happened! his mother never should have given birth to him!>} meg:... (shut up...) Leroux: "???" meg: <j-just remembering something> Leroux: "..." *sad smile* <A lot of that going around.> meg:....<yeah...well, we shouldnt keep your friends waiting.> Leroux: *nods* <After you.> -upstairs- Kafka: *flipping through more pages* Walter: ^w^ "Good dancing, Harriet." harriet: *tapping on the table.....people are leaving money down* Bystander #1: <So cute~!> hans: i guess this place still attracts performances after all. Kafka: "...I'm not sure they ever stopped, Hans." meg: <we're back~> ^^ Leroux: "..." hans: how was it? Leroux: "...Bittersweet." hans:...i see. meg: <find anything you all liked?> Walter: "You got some good tunes here..." meg: <ah. well if there's anything you want, i'll tell the clerk to give you a 70% discount today> Walter: "Excellent!" <Thank you!> Kafka: "..." *sighs* ("Of course Walter speaks French...") -____- hans: ^^; Leroux: *listening* "...!" meg: ?? Leroux: "Th-That music..." meg: ??? Leroux: "..." ("Mother...") meg: <gaston?> Leroux: <What is that music?> meg: *listening* ?? Leroux: <It...sounds like mother.> meg:.... *glances at the cd* Leroux: "..." *shaking* "It's beautiful..." meg: ..... Leroux: "...W-Walter, could you put this away?" *hands him the rolled-up poster* Walter: "??? Sure." *takes off his poster canister from his back and slips the poster in carefully* etta: ?? roro? Leroux: *sniffs, wipes his eye* etta: roro? are you ok?? -in a mausoleum- ???: *listening to the CD* .....julia...............no...nononononono! *throws the CD against the wall* IT DOESNT SOUND THE SAME!! it doesnt have....your cadence.....fools....they cant match your perfection.... *a drip is heard in the room* ???:......*goes up to the body.....strokes its face* just a little while longer.......only a few more i need....then we can be together..... .........*kiss* *the body is stiff against the kiss* ???: soon we'll be together.....and the rest of them will pay....for what they have done to us.... -morning- Dazai: "Zzz..." kirako: zzzzzz Dazai: *turns* Q: zzzzz Dazai: -_____- *groans, gets out of bed* Q: *snuggles up to kirako* mommy.... uwu Dazai: *heats up coffee, waffles* Q: *sniff* O.O *gets up* Dazai: *pours some glasses of orange juice* Q: *peeeeeeek* Dazai: "??? ...Want cereal?" Q: sure. Dazai: *pours a bowl, passes it to him* Q:..... Dazai: "...Did you want yogurt or something on it?" Q: strawberries! Dazai: "I think we got some...Yes!" *grabs some and washes them before slicing them and dropping them onto the cereal* Q: thanks bi-....dazai. Dazai: "...Yeah, sure." *takes out the waffles* -elsewhere- Damon: "???" becky: mr spirit, why are we hanging out with you today? Spirit: "Because you kids deserve to have some fun!" ^^ becky:...ok? izumi: ^^ Spirit: "Where you want to go first? We could play games, check out the toy shop--" becky: *looks out the window* *The weather is warming up a bit* Spirit: "??? Becky?" becky: yeah? Spirit: "Did you want to go out for a walk? Maybe the park?" becky:...sure. Spirit: "..." *looks at Izumi with a face that screams 'HELP'* izumi: there's even a playground there too! Damon: "!!! Really?!" izumi: yep! mom took me to play there all the time when we moved to death city. ^^ Damon: "..." izumi:...it'll be ok. Damon: *sniff* becky:.... *pap pap* Damon: *hugs Becky* -elsewhere- Kafka: "Zzz..." hans: *making breakfast* *some dinosaur growls are heard with each footstep...* hans: ??? Walter: *steps out in dinosaur-foot slippers* "What's for breakfast?" owo hans: *sweatdrop* Kafka: *tosses in bed--then falls out* "...Ow." etta: *in bed, still asleep* Kafka: *crawls up* *looks into the kitchen* "Where's Leroux?" hans: still sleeping. Kafka: "...Hmph. Let him sleep, then. Is there any fruit?" hans: there should be. Kafka: *takes some from the basket, slices up an apple* "Where did the boss want us to visit next?" -elsewhere- Yumi: "Update on the city?" nygus: security cameras have been upgraded with tech from manhasset. Yumi: "..." *sighs* "That's some relief. Did footage find anyone of interest?" -elsewhere- Justin: *washing dishes* oriko: *watering flowers* Justin: *turns off the sink, dries his hands* "...The flowers look like they're coming in nicely." oriko: *smiles* Justin: "Any plans for today?" -elsewhere- Hemingway: "...I'm worried. He just sat up straight all night." Steinbeck: O_____O "Zzzzz..." oscar: you dont think the poor dear's sick, do you? baum: *prods him with a stick* i just hope whatever is wrong with him isnt contagious. that would just suck for everyone. Steinbeck: O____________O ebie: *spider mode, sitting on his head* owo Steinbeck: O_________O "...Ebie, please get off." ebie: are you still alive, mr john? Steinbeck: "Yes. What time is it?" baum: around 11 am. Steinbeck: O_________o "Jeez, that's too late. I need coffee and a cold shower." oscar: on it~ Hemingway: "And some protein, too. I'll cook up a steak with eggs." -elsewhere- Black Star: "...You sure about this, Soul?" soul: *nods* it's about that time now....i'll keep her things somewhere safe. Black Star: "...She'd appreciate this." soul:...yeah.... Black Star: "...Are _you_ okay with it?" soul:.....*nod* Black Star: "..." *pat pat* soul: i think it'll help both parties... Black Star: "True." *packs some books into boxes* "What you going to do with the kids? Put them in school?" soul: guess so. Black Star: "..." *small laugh* "You at parent-teacher conferences, though." soul: *chuckle* yeah, who'da thought... Black Star: "...How the heck did we end up with 'kids'?" soul: life's unpredictable, i guess. Black Star: "True...When do the kids' beds arrive?" soul: soon i hope. Black Star: "And that still leaves whatever decorations you want up." soul: i should probably let the kids pick their own decorations out. Black Star: "What do they even like?" soul:..... ._.;;; i need to learn more about them, dont i? Black Star: "Yep, 'Dad.'" soul: *sweats* -elsewhere- Chuuya: "..." sonia: *reading* Chuuya: "..." *sets down some boxes* "Sonia? Is that for homework?" sonia: *nod* Chuuya: "Did Kajii ask you to take notes?" sonia: i think so.... Chuuya: "...Could I help?" sonia: sure. Chuuya: *takes a sheet of notebook paper* "Let's see what to write down. What subject is this?" -elsewhere- Panda: *staring at the microwave* "Come on--hurry!" sasori: ........ {sasori: *strapped to a table, crying*} {???: "Stop that."} {sasori: <m-mama! papa! im scared!> *sob*} {???: "They are not here."} {sasori: *cries*} {???: "Relax. It'll end quickly."} sasori:.... Panda: "DING!" inka: awesome! popcorn's ready! Sancho: "What's the movie?" -elsewhere- Alone: "So what are we doing again?" shaula: hell if _i_ know. Alone: .w. "Well, you're the smart one. I mean, besides Grim." shaula: hmmm..... Kurogiri: "Ah, there you are. I had questions about why there are scorpions in tanks under the bar." shaula: they're my babies! Kurogiri: "...Your babies are too young for the bar." shaula:....har-de-fuckin-har. Alone: "Ha! Dad humor!" shaula:.....oh. 7_7 Kurogiri: "...Thank you. Now, onto other business--we have a meeting." shaula: cool. Kurogiri: "We will need the others-- ...Where are the others?" -a loud female moan sounds from one room- beatrice:....well we know where kinuta is. Kurogiri: "..." -______________- "Make it stop." shaula: so who's going in NOT IT himiko: not it! beatrice: not it. Alone: "Wait, I wasn't invited! Not it!" Kurogiri: "?!!! I-I didn't know we were doing that!" >_< twice: no-.....darn.....*opens door* O________O WOWZERS! kinuta: hm? oh, hey. Dabi: "...You mind?" twice:...meeting in a few minutes. see ya there. *closes door*.......excuse me, i need to wash my mask. *blood is leaking where his nostrils are* Kurogiri: "...Gross." himiko: *pouts* not enough for me to use. boo. Kurogiri: "Himiko, please." Alone: "...So she's a vampire?" himiko: soooorta but not really~ hehe~ Alone: "??? Vague, but not the weirdest thing I've heard." -elsewhere- Damon: *sits on the swing* ._. becky: *pushing him on the swing* Damon: "..." ^w^ becky:...*smiles and pushes* Spirit: "She seems to take good care of him." izumi: must be nice to have siblings. Spirit: "...I think it is...I wish that you had that chance." izumi: .... Spirit: "...Maka...would have liked you." izumi:...yeah... Spirit: "..." *wipes his eyes* izumi:... *pat pat* Spirit: *nods* "Thank you..." -elsewhere- Kid: *lifts up Shiori* shiori: kid! Kid: "Hello! Ready to go?" shiori: ya! Kid: *sets her in her stroller* "Let's roll." shiori: ^u^ Kid: *opens the door, wheels out* "Really bright today, isn't it?" shiori: sunny! Kid: "Yep! No clouds...but the trees are budding." shiori: OuO Kid: "Soon there will be leaves, flowers growing again--it'll be warmer." shiori: fwower! Kid: "Yes! And flowers with butterflies." shiori: buffy! Kid: ^^ "You like butterflies, too?" shiori: *giggle* Kid: "I like them, too. So symmetrical..." =\\\= shiori: ^o^ Kid: " *ahem* Let's head to the park--you can go on the swings." shiori: ok! Kid: ^w^ "And you'll go high and high up on the swing...” izumi: ?? oh, hey mr kid! becky: ?? Kid: "Oh, Izumi, Spirit. Hello!" Damon: "..." *whispers* "His hair..." izumi: *covers his mouth* ^^;; becky: is that his daughter? shiori: ? Kid: ^^; "No, this is my baby sister, Shiori. Say 'Hi,' Shiori." shiori: hihi! Kid: "You're Becky and Damon, yes?" becky:...yes? Damon: "..." Kid: *holds out his hand* "I'm Kid." becky: arent you a bit old to be a kid? Kid: ^^; "It's short for 'Death the Kid.' My father is the previous Death." becky: ...oh... Damon: Q__Q "...You're a zombie?" Kid: ._.; "...No?" izumi: there is a zombie in town, but he's really nice. ^^; Spirit: "Kid is a shinigami--a death god, responsible for putting departed souls to rest." becky:.....oh.... Damon: "..." *crying* shiori: ?? baba? becky:..*hugs damon* Kid: "...I am sorry, to both of you, for your loss. I don't know what you feel...but I have known this loss as well." becky: ...... Kid: "My mother...passed away when I was very young." becky:....oh..... Kid: "I know it hurts. And I don't think the pain leaves. But you find ways to remember and honor those you lost--and share the love you had with your parents to others who are invested in your well-being." Damon: *crying* *sniff* becky:....right.... Damon: "I-I don't understand..." Kid: "..." becky:....mr soul...said he'd look after us, right? Damon: "Y-Yeah?" becky:....then we'll have to trust him a bit more... Kid: *smiles* "I have known Soul a long time. You can trust him." becky:.... -elsewhere- Sakuya: "..." *sighs* naho: *leaning against him, her back to his chest* lilac: zzzz *his chest to sakuya's back* Sakuya: =\\\= *hugs Naho* naho: ^w^ Sakuya: "Mmm..." *yawns* -elsewhere- Meme: "How are they all?" mio:....they seem to be ok... Meme: *sigh* "I hope so. Anya looked angry." mio: ..... Meme: "And Tsugumi has enough problems..." *smiles at Mio* "Maybe we can cheer them up." mio: hmmm.... Meme: "Maybe movie night?" mio: sounds good. Meme: "Let's find something for them." -elsewhere- yana: ..... Ivan: <Master~?> yana:...yeah? Ivan: "What's wrong?" yana:....just tired.... Ivan: "I'm sorry. Perhaps nap?" yana: just woke up from one... Ivan: "Oh...Tea?" yana:...sure. Ivan: ^w^ *heats water* yana:...... {yana: .......} {Fyodor: <Speaking yet?>} {yana:.....*looks at him*} {Fyodor: "..." <I am Fyodor.>} {yana:....*grunt of reply*} {Fyodor: <And I will guide you.>} yana:...... Ivan: *sets down some cups* yana: .....*stares out the window* Ivan: "It's not the worst view..." yana:....must look nice on a rainy day.... Ivan: "Mm! Wait for spring." yana: i guess...... Ivan: "We may even be able to plant things--if we can avoid being detected." yana: *nod* Ivan: "Maybe wind chimes~" -elsewhere- Mall Customer #1: *skating* erina: excuse me, you'll have to take that outside. Mall Customer #1: "Why? Nothing illegal to skate here." erina: it's more of a safety concern. Mall Customer #1: "I'm wearing a helmet! Get off my back, lady!" erina: sir, had someone fall into the fountain earlier in the week. Mall Customer #1: "...Okay, I don't think you're listening, bitch--" erina: sir, please calm down. Mall Customer #1: "No! I keep dealing with shit from people like you trying to keep me and my skateboard down--" ???: "Is there a problem, fellow young person?" Mall Customer #1: *spins, swings his fist* Jordan: .______. *barely ducks* "!!!" erina: *cuffs the guy* sir, im going to have to ask you to come with me? Mall Customer #1: "HE STARTED IT!" Jordan: "DUDE! RUDE!" erina: sir, he only just started talking after us. Jordan: Q_______Q "You almost made me drop my purchase. It makes soda and everything--" *finally recognizes Erina* "!!! Oh! Erina!" erina: *nods* hey. i'll talk to you later, im on shift right now. ^^; Jordan: OwO " 'K-Kay! Go reprimand that miscreant!" Mall Customer #1: "That's not my name, douche!" erina: come on. *drags him off* Mall Customer #1: "Maaaaaaaaan! Mom's gonna ground me..." T~T -elsewhere- Black Star: *asleep on Soul's couch* "Zzz..." soul: *checking his phone* Spirit: [ready for them to come home?] soul: [still setting up. maybe have them sleep over @ izumi's?] Spirit: [i think they'll be fine with that. i would talk with them on the phone though--kids like to know they can talk with their parents any time] soul: [right.] Spirit: *looks at the kids* becky: *playing* Damon: *picks up a doll* -elsewhere- Blair: "..." lenore: well, thanks for having us over. Blair: *smiles* "Of course! Come back any time!" rowena: *nods and exits, waving* Blair: "..." *shuts the door...lays a hand on it* -elsewhere- Motojiro: "How do you feel?" leo: well...*rubs her stomach* Motojiro: "...Upset tummy?" leo: *shakes head* just nervous. Motojiro: "...O-Oh! Right..." *rests a hand on her stomach* It'll be okay." leo: *nuzzle* Motojiro: =w= "Mmm." -elsewhere- Leroux: "..." hans: *knock* Leroux: "??? Come in." hans: how're you feeling? Leroux: "...I don't know. I feel sad..." hans: ....i understand it was hard for you today...*pat pat* Leroux: "Yes...I miss her." hans: she's still with you... Leroux: "...In my memories?" hans: *nods* and in your heart. Leroux: "..." *sad smile* hans: get some rest. we're going to be visiting the louvre tomorrow. Leroux: *nods* "Thank you..." -elsewhere- Kid: "..." *brings Shiori inside* shiori: hehe lord death: hey kiddos~ *hug* Kid: "..." *hug* "Hello, Father." lord death: you two have fun on your walk? shiori: babu! Kid: "..." *sad smile, nods* lord death: something on your mind, kiddo? Kid: "...I met the children Soul is taking care of." lord death: ah. i see. Kid: "It brought up some sadness, to lose a parent." lord death:....*pats his back* Kid: *nods* "Sorry..." lord death: it's ok shiori: bubu... Kid: "..." *strokes Shiori's hair* shiori: =w= Kid: "...I miss Mother. And...I want to do right for her." -elsewhere- Kuro: "..." mahiru: *pacing* Kuro: "??? What's with you?" mahiru: s-sorry....just a bit nervous because of this whole school thing....what's C3 planning? Kuro: "...Nothing good, I'm sure." *digs through a closet* mahiru:...... Kuro: *pulls out a mop* "...For real?" -elsewhere- Kishiri: *blowing a bubble...and floating up with it* OoO;;; ryuuko: *shoots a feather bullet* *POP* Kishiri: *suspended in mid air* "..." *and falls like a lead balloon* *lands in a conveniently placed bush* "..." *coughs up leaves* ryuuko: *sigh* Kishiri: "I'm okay!" -elsewhere- Kafka: *walking through street, staring at a map...and lost* *grumble* ???: *walking* Kafka: "Grr...Um..." <Pardon me? I am lost.> ???: .... <i see...> -the man has long black hair and red eyes..- Kafka: ._______. "..." <Where is the metro?> man: <two blocks to the right.> Kafka: *stares* <...Thank you.> *turns* man:...... Kafka: ("Stay calm, keep walking, just your imagination...") *shudders* ("Creep.") man:....*skulks into the alley* *The alley is quiet* man:....<soon...my dearest...> -elsewhere- Dazai: *driving* atsushi: O_O;;;; Dazai: *grabs his Big Gulp, takes a sip, still driving with only one hand on the wheel* "SLUUUUUUURP. So...Excited?" atsushi: my adrenaline certainly is pumping... Dazai: "I know--errands do that for me, too. But keep your eye on the goal, and we'll be home in time for whatever Lucy cooks for you." *turns sharply* atsushi: *faceplants against the window* Dazai: "...HOLY SHIT!" *slams the brakes* atsushi: grk- Dazai: *kicks open the door, runs to the front of the car--and gets down to asphalt level* atsushi: dazai? what? *There are baby ducks and their mother walking right in front of the car* Dazai: Q____Q "I almost hit them..." atsushi: *phew* that was close.. *sits and waits for them to carry on safely* Dazai: *sits on the sidewalk, staring forward* Q______Q atsushi:.... Dazai: "The little baby quack-quacks...and their mama quack-quack..." atsushi: yeah... odasaku: ..... Dazai: "...I'm not cut out for this." atsushi:...*looks at dazai* Dazai: "Akutagawa...Q...Not exactly parental or brotherly material." atsushi:.....i think maybe you're doing better than you were. you've been takng care of me, right? kyouka too. Dazai: "..." *sighs* "You two would be fine without me." atsushi: *shakes head* if i hadnt met you, i'd probably be living on the street still. and besides....you're the one who helped me understand my ability. Dazai: "..." *nods* atsushi: *hugs* i think you're doing great. Dazai: "..." Q___Q *pat pat* odasaku:....*smiles* Dazai: "..." *looks up* atsushi: ..... Dazai: "...Is it going to rain?" atsushi: later this evening, i think... Dazai: "..." *sighs* "I guess we have our work remaining..." atsushi:...right. Dazai: "..." *stands up* "...Want to drive?" atsushi: i dont have a license... ^^; Dazai: "Then we'll practice!!!" atsushi: .-.;;; -elsewhere- Chuuya: *folding clothes* sonia: *sitting on her bed, with mito on her lap* Chuuya: "How's Mito?" sonia: she seems happy...*pet pet* mito: *meow* Chuuya: *smiles* "Good...I'll get food going in a bit." sonia: ok. Chuuya: "Anything you're craving?" sonia: *shrug* Chuuya: "Maybe some pasta?" sonia:...ok. Chuuya: "..." *sits on the bed with her* sonia:...*leans against him* Chuuya: *pat pat* "I love you." sonia: i love you too, papa. Chuuya: "...You're such a perfect person...and a gift." sonia:....*hug* Chuuya: *hug* -elsewhere- Shamrock: "Black Star still isn't home?" tsubaki: he's staying the night. soul told me he just crashed after working all day. ^^; Shamrock: "I've seen him practically lift buildings--and household moving tuckers him out?" *sets out tea and a slice of pie* -elsewhere- Gogol: *asleep on the floor* yana:.... -_-; Gogol: =w= *growls* yana:... lydia: *lifts him up and carries him to his room* Gogol: *sucks his thumb* lydia: -_-; <stop that.> Gogol: "Sing me a bedtime story~" lydia:....*sigh* -elsewhere- Crona: *shakes* mami: *holds them* Crona: "I-I'm sorry..." mami: its ok. *strokes their head* Crona: "J-Just bad dreams...So much blood..." mami: shhh, im here now… Crona: "..." *nods...inhales* -morning- Kid: "Zzz..." stocking: zzzz Kid: *hug* stocking: mmm~ =w= Kid: "Good morning." stocking: *snuggles* Kid: =w= *hugs, kisses her cheek* "Sleep well, then?" stocking: yeah. ^///^ Kid: *nods* "I feel better after... ..." *hug* stocking: glad to hear. *kiss* Kid: =\\\\= *sniff* "Th-Thanks..." -elsewhere- Black Star: *snoring, talking in his sleep* "No, Tsubaki...No, pecans are stealing my money..." -elsewhere- -seems to be raining now- Motojiro: *lying beside Leo, listening to the drops* leo: *sleeping* Motojiro: "..." *tucks her in* leo: *smile* Motojiro: <Warm enough?> leo: <yes.> Motojiro: *hug* <Any plans?> -elsewhere- Akitaru: *watches raindrops on the window, sips his coffee* -the firefly pulls up to the 8th's base- Akitaru: "???" *opens the door* miwa: *waves* heyyy~ hope you dont mind us dropping by! Akitaru: "Not at all! Come in, get dry..." -and so- sayu: *eating pancakes* Akitaru: "Eat up! We got more..." sayu: thaaanks~ nayumi: *nom nom* tamaki: =w= Arthur: *stacks pancakes into another castle tower* Akitaru: "What brings you over?" miwa: thought we'd pay a visit for a while. Akitaru: "Well, we could use the help. We're still recovering after Hoods and other work." padma: *nods* Akitaru: "I don't suppose you all have encountered any of them?" miwa: not that im aware, no. misora: i did, remember? and that creepy guy? *CRINGE* tamaki: oh right, she-....she was there... Arthur: "They could be following us, even to our frontsteps." tamaki: well we should be on our guard, just in case they sneak in our ranks... misora: ..... Victor: .w.;;; Akitaru: *nods* "I think we may go back to a buddy system." -elsewhere- Damon: "..." *picks up the spoon* sachiko: *making breakfast* Spirit: "Anything you're craving, kids?" -elsewhere- Black Star: *yawns* "...Looks good enough." soul: yeah. they're gonna love it. Black Star: "Heh...Look at you being all giddy." soul: ?? 7///7; Black Star: "You're going to be great dad material." soul: sure hope so... Black Star: *stretches* "Need anything else before I head home?" -elsewhere- Walter: *looking at the itinerary* etta: *shiny eyes* Kafka: "...Hm. Not that bad." hans: *looking around* Leroux: *points* "Then there is the cafe over there..." hans: *smiles* Leroux: "...Maybe some pastries..." etta: =w= Kafka: "..." *stomach growl* -elsewhere- Bon: "You found nothing?" konekomaru: *shakes head* Bon: "Damn it...Where could they be..." Rin: .___________.;;;;; *hiding* Bon: "I still can't get the smell of sawdust out of my nose..." -elsewhere- Sakuya: "Come on, let's head out." naho: yay! lilac: o-ok! >.< Sakuya: "We can even get you some hot chocolate!" -elsewhere- Dazai: *humming, chopping apples* Q: *staaaaare* Dazai: "...Want peanut butter?" Q: cant have peanuts. Dazai: "Oh...Good warning. How about yogurt?" Q: okaaay. Dazai: "Sleep okay?" Q: i guess. Dazai: "...You seemed quiet. Not kicking as much..." Q:....*looks down at his cereal* Dazai: "...Something's bothering you." Q:....just lonely.... Dazai: "...Aya or your new-mommy?" Q:....mama... Dazai: "Hmm...You know that wasn't your real mom." Q:....i know... Dazai: "...But you wanted her to be." Q:...*whimper* Dazai: "...Hey. Not everyone has parents...You can't just grab onto the first one who offers a hand. You got to pick better ones." Q:.........are you gonna send me back to the mafia? Dazai: "...Yes." Q:.......are they gonna lock me up again? Dazai: "...I'm going to talk to them." Q:..... Dazai: "Just...It has to get better." Q:........ Dazai: "..." *small smile* "Have a little faith in me." Q:.....*looks down at the floor* Dazai: "..." *pats his head* Q:.... Q~Q Dazai: "..." Q: uuuuuu...... Dazai: "..." *hug* Q:.....*awkward hug* Dazai: *pat pat* Q:...c-can i do one thing first? Dazai: "??? What's that?" Q: *KICK TO THE SHINS* THAT'S FOR HAVING ME LOCKED UP IN THE FIRST PLACE! Dazai: Q___Q "Ow ow ow! You little-!" Q: >XP atsushi: *sweatdrop* so much for a touching moment... Dazai: "Ow...Atsushi, finish his breakfast...I need to put ice on this..." -elsewhere- Hemingway: "At least he's talking again..." twain: hey buddy, you ok? Steinbeck: "F-Fine. Just dandy." oscar: you still look a bit red, johnny boy. Steinbeck: -\\\\\- "I'm. Fine." -elsewhere- Black Star: *opens the door* "I'm home." tsubaki: welcome back. ^^ Black Star: ^^ "Miss me?" tsubaki: *hug* Black Star: ^\\\^ *pat pat* -elsewhere- Poe: O~O "The rain just keeps coming..." lana: yeah. spring will be here soon. Poe: "Hmm...Warmer weather, then." *holds up Karl* karl: ^o^ Poe: "..." *smiles* "At least you'll get to play outside more." -elsewhere- Kyoka: "And this is us on the Ferris wheel--" *swipes the phone screen* sylvia: w-wow...that's...p-pretty high up.. .~. Kyoka: "Hmm. It was worth it for the view." sylvia: .... Kyoka: "..." *flips to another screen* "There's a petting zoo in town." sylvia: hmmm... Kyoka: "...Do you like animals?" -elsewhere- Damon: "..." soul: got a surprise for you two. becky: ?? soul: *opens the door* you're own room. becky: *shiny eyes* Damon: "!!! F-For us?" soul: *smiles and nods* we can go out and buy decorations today if you want. Damon: "...A-Are you sure?" soul: *he nods* becky: thanks mr soul! Damon: "..." *smiles* -elsewhere- Kurogiri: "I gave them some tasks to keep them busy..." ???: good. Kurogiri: "It's a rather odd group..." ???: sounds like it. Kurogiri: "They provide muscle, some new experiments..." ???: *listening* Kurogiri: "We could always release a few..." -elsewhere- Kafka: *nom nom nom nom nom--* Walter: o_o hans: .... etta: ._. Walter: "M-Maybe go slower on those macarons, buddy--or at least share--" *reaches for one* Kafka: *hiss* hans: 0-0; -elsewhere- Lily: "Welcome, Mahiru~" mahiru: hey. *wave* misono: so you're transfering to the DWMA next month? mahiru: im every bit as shocked as you are. Kuro: "It's a pain." -_- shinoa: that means we'll be seeing you more often. Lily: "You can have study groups!" mahiru: *smiles* Kuro: *grumbles* "The lessons can't be that fun..." -elsewhere- Spirit: *driving back home* -red light- Spirit: *comes to a stop* -someone is...climbing on top of the car?!- inka: >83 Spirit: "?!!! What the hell--" -light turns green- inka: YEEHAW! *The car drives forward* Spirit: .____. "..." *follows* inka: *hanging on* Spirit: *carefully pulls up to the side, signals to the driver to lower their window* driver: ?? Spirit: *shouts* "Pull over! You have someone on your roof!" driver: ?? *looks up* inka: hey. driver: HEY GET DOWN FROM THERE! Spirit: "PULL. OVER!" -the driver does so- inka: *pouts* awww... Spirit: *stamps forward* "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?!" Inka: *sticks out tongue and runs* driver:...weird kid.... Spirit: "Oh, no, you don't!" *runs after her* -elsewhere- Patty: *holds up Takeru's jacket* "Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaall!" takeru: yeah... i-it is pretty big... ^^; hito: ... Patty: "Hee hee..." *puts on the jacket* "Hito! Look! I could fit another half of me in this!" hito: i suppose so. Patty: "Hey, how's training going?" *leans forward* -elsewhere- meg: *opens door* im home.... ???: <welcome home, young madame> meg: ?!?! <w-who are-> ???: <i have come to clean up some loose ends...> *twisted grin* -later- Leroux: "..." etta: today was a good day. ^^ Kafka: *holding a brown paper bag* =\\\\= hans: well, seems we all learned a few things today. Kafka: *hugs the paper bag* >\\\\\< "I don't have to share these..." hans: *chuckle* etta: hehehe~ Kafka: .\\\\~\\\\. "..." Walter: "Where next?" hans: maybe check out one of the parks? im sure they'll be lit up tonight. Leroux: "...Yes, they will be." hans:...it's already so late.... -singing can be heard in the distance.....a familiar voice...- Leroux: "...?!" etta: ?? roro? what is it? -it seems to be coming from the alley- Leroux: "..." *runs* hans: h-hey! wait! etta: *follows him* Leroux: ("It can't...It isn't...") *turns into the alley* -the voice seems to be coming from inside a graveyard- Leroux: *shaking...approaches* gravekeeper: ....?? <sir? why are you here so late-> Leroux: <D-Don't you hear it?> gravekeeper:.... <i dont hear anything...> -a scream is heard from one mausoleum- gravekeeper: ?! Leroux: <What the devil?!> gravekeeper: *takes out keys and heads over* hans:.....*uneasy* Leroux: *follows* Kafka: *panting* "Wh-What is he..." Walter: *wheezing, takes out inhaler* etta: roro! what's gotten into you!? Leroux: <How is this possible?! It can't be--> hans: leroux, what did you hear? Leroux: "Singing..." hans: ?? etta: well we did hear that scream... Leroux: "..." *approaches the entrance* gravekeeper: ...??! <it's unlocked?!> *opens the door* <HEY! Who's in here?!> meg: <PLEASE HELP!> ???:..............*glares* Kafka: "!!! You?!" ???: <how dare you....how dare you interrupt this....i was finally going to make them pay for all they have done...she was to be the last to bring her back....> Leroux: "..." <'Her'?> ???: <my beloved julia....she died because of this girl and her family! they tore us apart, and left her to die... i already eliminated them and their first daughter before....and now she will join them in hell...hehehe~ and soon, my darling julia will return to me~> Leroux: "..." meg:....<you.....you're erik destler....a former theater employee, right?> erik: ....<seems you have done your research...but it wont do you any good...> Leroux: <Step away.> erik: ?? meg: ?? <gaston?> Leroux: <Whatever you are planning, I cannot allow it.> erik: <i simply wish to be with my love again, how can you not understand that?> Leroux: <Believe me...I know.> erik: *putting on a claw glove* <then you would let me have this...> Leroux: "!!!" *looks around* meg: !!!! Leroux: *spots a sword* "..." *takes it from the wall* erik: <farewell-> Leroux: <Leave, scoundrel!> *swings his blade* erik: <you insufferable CUR!> *slashes* meg: *pulling off the other bindings and runs to the stairwell* Leroux: *blocks* <What did she mean to you?> erik: <she was an angel... her voice could move the heavens themselves. we were young, and so happy together. knowing she loved an insignificant man like myself, made me feel like my life was worth something.....> Kafka: *watching* "..." ("Move...Move, you idiot! Why won't you do something?!) etta: *helping meg upstairs* Leroux: *continues to slice, trying to keep Erik back* <How did you know her?> Walter: "Oh, man...What did we get ourselves into?" erik: <it is as the girl said, i was but a simple stage hand, who fell in love with an angel of music. my beloved Julia Leroux.> Leroux: <...What do you know about her family?> erik: ??? <she was pregnant with my child.....but the child is likely long dead...> Leroux: <No...That child is not.> erik:....<what do you mean?> Leroux: <I am her child!> erik:.....<you're lying.....you're lying you're lying YOU'RE LYING YOU'RE LYING!!!> *attacks* Leroux: "!!!" *dodges* erik: <i'll kill you, i'll kill you!> AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! -FWOOOM- erik: *dodges* hans: *had sent a fire blast* LEROUX! COME ON! Leroux: "..." *follows her* erik: *follows* gravekeeper: <you all go warn the police, i'll hold him off!> Walter: *already calling on his phone, trying to keep up* Kafka: "..." *not focused as he runs with them* -shrk- gravekeeper: !!! *claw through the gut* hans: !!!! erik:................*rips the soul out*....<you'll just have to do.....> *runs back downstairs* etta: !!!! meg: *shocked* Leroux: "!!!" <Monster!> *starts to run--* meg: <gaston dont! he's too dangerous!!> -halfway down the stairs, a loud screech is heard- Leroux: "!!! ..." *continues slowly down the stairs* -there is a female figure, crawling out of the casket, adorned in a green dress.....but her body has since mummified, leaving a bony withered corpse behind- 'julia': *lets out a dry groan* Leroux: "..." <No...> erik: *takes her bony hand* shhhh <there there, my love. i'm here now....> *he smiles* <absolutely beautiful...> Leroux: <What have you done...WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!> erik: <my darling julia is alive again....and as beautiful as the day we met~> *strokes 'her' face* <soon, we will be wed, and we will be together for eternity....> hans: !!!!!!!!!!! meg: *SCREAMS* 'julia': *turns to look at them* *dry groan* erik: <that girl, she is the last of the damned giry family who tore us apart.....we will put an end to them here...> 'julia': *SCREEEEEEECH* Leroux: *points the blade at them...his hand shaking* <Don't do this.> erik: <i've already eliminated most of those fiends! i even set that accursed theater ablaze! all for her!> Leroux: "!!! You...You killed her..." meg: !!!!! hans: oh fuck. erik: ?? Leroux: "...YOU KILLED CHRISTINE!" erik: oh? hans: leroux now is not the time to fly off the handle- Leroux: "AND IF IT WAS SOMEONE YOU LOVED THAT HE KILLED?!" hans: .... 'julia': *lunges at them screaming* Leroux: "..." *tries to grab her* 'julia': *dry groan.....strokes his face*.... <y...o...u..r..........f..a...t..h..e...r..s........e...y...e...s.......> Leroux: "..." *tears up* erik: <YES! FINISH HIM OFF!> Leroux: <Mother...No...> 'julia': *SCREEECH* *holding 'her' head* Leroux: "..." *crying* <It hurts, doesn't it?> 'julia': *grooan* *shaking* erik: <julia? darling? what's wrong?> *going over to her* Leroux: *aims the sword at Erik* <STAY BACK!> erik: <GET AWAY FROM HER!!> Leroux: <YOU HAVE MADE HER SUFFER! YOU HAVE MADE ALL OF US SUFFER! MURDERER!> erik: <all i've done, i did for her! after what they did-> Leroux: <This was NEVER the way to fix any of this! There has been enough death! Now stay back!> erik: <i've worked so hard to be with her again! i wont let you take her away-> ?! *he cant move* Leroux: "?!!!" etta: *holding them in place* meg: <please, just stop this! i dont know what my parents did to upset you, mr destler! cant you at least explain it to us?!> Leroux: "..." erik: ..... meg: <i know, you're both hurting, but fighting isnt going to solve this!> erik:.....<as you know, julia was a songstress, and i, a simple stagehand. we were happy, but the madame didnt approve our relationship...eventually, she had me sent away. i was gone for years, and when i returned....my darling julia was dead...> Leroux: <...In childbirth.> erik:.....<what?> Leroux: <She died...giving birth to her son.> erik:....... {julia: <you have his eyes....you have your father's eyes...>} Leoux: "..." *looks up, tears coming from one eye...his hand reaches for his mask* erik: ?? Leroux: <I am Julia's son. And yours.> erik:......*too shocked to move* hans: !!! etta:...roro... Leroux: <...This is not fair to her...> erik: ........*tears falling* <i dont....want to lose her again....> Leroux: <We can't...bring them back.> erik: .................. Leroux: <Please...Let her rest.> erik:..............*shaking* <julia.....> hans:..... miss leroux? please hold still......*looks at leroux* Leroux: <She's suffered enough...> hans:....i'll make it quick.....*ignites her* 'julia':.......... *she doesnt even scream* erik: no- NO!! *sobbing* ???: "It's okay." erik: *looks up* *There is Julia, smiling* erik:.....*holds her tightly* Julia: <It's okay...I'm here.> erik: *whimpers* <please.....dont leave me....> Julia: <I won't...I promise.> erik: *holding her, stroking her hair* hans:..... Leroux: *watches* "..." -later- Leroux: *sitting on the steps* "..." meg: <well, he'll be sent to a psychiatric center to get help...> Leroux: *nods* meg:.....*covers her face* <i cant believe mother was so unfair to them....and to you....> Leroux: *shakes his head* <None of this that...that he did was ever justified. It is I who is sorry...> meg: ?? Leroux: <I am sorry for your loss...> meg:.... <same to you....> Leroux: "..." *wipes his eye* meg:...*hug* Leroux: "..." *pat pat* etta: *hug* you're not alone, roro. dont forget that, ok? hans: *hug* Walter: *hug* T~T Kafka: >_> "..." *pats Leroux's shoulder* Leroux: Q____Q hans: ...well, we should at least enjoy the rest of our trip, right? Leroux: "T-Tomorrow...We all need rest..." hans:...right. -elsewhere- goethe: *staring at the ceiling* ...... Jakob: -3- "I'm bored." wilhelm: im hungry =3= goethe: same. wilhelm: ...hey mr goethe, why do you hate that four-doors guy so much? [note; he means fyodor] goethe: cause he's a sack of shit. Jakob: ._. "...Oh. How is he a sack of shit?" goethe: lets say our goals contradict each other. Jakob: "...So he doesn't want to help ability users?" goethe: far from it kid. {goethe: 'eliminate the sin of ability users’, you say?} {Fyodor: "Of course."} {Ivan: "..."} {hans:...} {goethe:...*giggles....before he starts cackling*} {Fyodor: "???"} {Ivan: *head tilt*} {hans: johann?} {goethe: oh my god! HAHAHA! how ludicrous! how unthinkable! KAHAHAHAHA! i heard that russians had an odd sense of humor, but i didnt think it was this bad! HAHAHAHA!!!} {Fyodor: *smiles* "I was not joking."} {goethe: oh this has to be a joke, otherwise, i draw one of two conclusions. *holds up one finger* conclusion number 1, you're stupid. *holds up two fingers* conclusion 2, you're REALLY freaking stupid!} {Ivan: "HOW DARE YOU INSULT MASTER, YOU LAYABOUT!"} {goethe: seems i just did. do you have a problem with that?} {Ivan: "Let me hurt him, Master--"} {Fyodor: *holds up a hand to say 'no'*} {hans: *glares at them*} {goethe: it seems our goals are too different. an alliance between us is impossibly impossible!} {Fyodor: "Well, that's disappointing. And a bit of a stumbling block."} {goethe: not my problem. you may now kindly leave the premises, and throw yourself into a burning pile of shit on your way out.} {Fyodor: "You misunderstand. When I encounter a stumbling block--"} {*CRASH*} {*Ivan's Golem fist attacks*} {hans: !!! *fire blast*} {Fyodor: "I knock it down."} {Ivan: *tries to encase the fire in rock*} {hans: !!! *flame blast at ivan's feet*} {Ivan: "!!!" *leaps back* "Witch!"} {hans: no, just gifted is all.} {goethe: *grins*} {Fyodor: "..." *stares at Hans*} {hans: i believe he asked you to leave.} {Fyodor: "..." *smiles* "Tell me...Have you ever had a nosebleed?"} {hans: ?? what does that have to-} {*SLAM*} {hans: *knocked back*} {goethe: !!} {Fyodor: "Thank you, Ivan."} {Ivan: ~<3 *has a Golem that knocked Hans*} {Fyodor: *walks up to Hans, removes his glove*} {hans: !!! *FIRE BLAST*} {Ivan: <MASTER!>} {Fyodor: *stops just short of the flames...but his hat catches a small flame*} {hans: *smirks* i may be knocked down, but im not knocked out.} {Fyodor: "..." *smiles* "The next time I touch you, you'll be dead."} {goethe: then hopefully we never cross paths again.} {Fyodor: "...Hope as you wish. But I do not ignore the possibility." <Until we meet again.> *turns*} wilhelm: *gulp* ._.;;; miss hans is badass. Jakob: "Those men sound dangerous..." goethe: just keep an eye out for them, ok? wilhelm: will do. ._.;; -elsewhere- Relan: "It's a bit more crowded now." ^^; "How long are they visiting?" shinra: not sure. i think oubi mentioned something about another training camp? Relan: "Oh..." *rotates his shoulder* "Hope it's not as rough as it could be..." -elsewhere- Kishiri: -_____- "I don't wanna..." ryuuko: kishiri.... Kishiri: "It's dumb. More training and working together?" ryuuko: *hard glare* Kishiri: "..." Q____Q "Don't look at me like that. I'll do it." ryuuko: glad to hear that. -elsewhere- Todoroki: *walking home* ochako: see you guys tomorrow!....hm? oh hey todoroki. *wave* Todoroki: "Oh. Hello." *smiles, waves* ochako: just got off shift for the night. *streeetch* Todoroki: "...Oh. How...did it go?" ochako: it went pretty good i think. ^^ Todoroki: "How far along are you with raising money?" ochako: i should have enough for a sleeping bag by april! Todoroki: "That's great. Will you continue after that point?" ochako: ....*sweats* Todoroki: "...Sorry, I said something wrong, didn't I?" ochako: oh no, you didnt do anything wrong! ^^; though it brings up a moral dilemma. it's a temporary job, but i dont want to feel like a quitter. =3= such is the struggle of life. Todoroki: "...People do move from job to job. You're just getting that experience sooner than most. And is this the kind of job you thought would lost longer than just a few months?" ochako:...that is a good point. Todoroki: "..." *nods* "I know you'll do what you need to." ochako: *smiles* thanks. Todoroki: "You're welcome. ... Heading home?" ochako: yeah. Todoroki: "Same..." -awkward silence- ochako: soooo... Todoroki: "...Which way is your home again?" ochako: this way. -morning- Shotaro: *hanging from the ceiling* "Zzz..." setsuna: showtaro, breakfast. ^^ Shotaro: *eyes open* OwO *has bat teeth, wings, and feet* "Coming!" *descends from the ceiling* mana: so kepuri, you used to be in the dokeshi federation too, right? Kepuri: "Um...Yeah?" mana: how did you first find out about being a dokeshi? Kepuri: "...When I stopped growing taller." T___T nea: well, at least its better than being locked in a freezer. Kepuri: "?! Seriously?" nea: by an enemy family. it was really cold in there, i begged for someone to save me...and thats when my abilities awakened. Kepuri: "...And I can imagine what happened to them?" saki: i see. *writing something down* Kepuri: "??? What's that?" saki: im just working on a little pet project. *shows the paper; it seems to be a note on all the dokeshi living in dokeshi house, their ability, condition, and some side notes* chie: wow. impressive. Kepuri: "That's...thorough. And kind of wiki-y." *looks over Saki's shoulder* -there are notes indicating if an ability was awakened by necessity or by chance- Kepuri: "Hmm...Could be useful for determining patterns as to how Dokeshi are awakened--" *stone face* -kepuri's height; 4'10" (sans heels)- Kepuri: "That...is off by a half-inch." saki: well i did double check medical records- Kepuri: "...Wait. HOW DO YOU HAVE MY MEDICAL RECORDS?" setsuna: ^^; saki:..... >w>;;;; io: bwah? Kepuri: "..." *cracks her knuckles* -elsewhere- Relan: "...Is she supposed to be an idol singer, or just a poser?" padma: well.... *looking around* she accidently burnt her parents when she was younger. badly, and she uses her 'idol persona' as a coping mechanism. Relan: "...Oh, God, I'm sorry..." padma: it's alright. you didnt know. *adjusts her glasses* Relan: "You've been in the squad long?" padma: yes. i was one of the founding members. Relan: "O-Oh? Were you in another brigade before?" padma: before founding squad 0, miwa and i used to be in the 3rd. Relan: "How was the commander?" padma:....miwa and the 3rd's commander....didnt see eye to eye. Relan: "...Oh. I...understand that." -elsewhere- meg: *holding a camera* <alright, all together now.> -they're all posed to spell out 'paris'- etta: ^u^ Leroux: TwT Walter: *holding his pose as "S"* "THANK YOU, YOGA!" Kafka: *just standing as the I* "..." -_- meg: say cheese! etta: cheeese~<3 -click- Kafka: -____- "We done?" Walter: *stretches* "How did it turn out?" meg: <looks great!> Leroux: *stares at the photograph* "..." ("Mother...I think I found...another family...") etta: ^^ hans: *smiles* Leroux: "..." *sniff* Kafka: "???" etta: roro? are you ok? Leroux: "I-I-I'm...fine. Just fine." Kafka: "..." *sighs* "Here." Leroux: "???" Kafka: *hug* etta: awww, hehe~ ^^ Kafka: "There. Just a hug. Completely normal hugging. Just...normal." Walter: "Forget that noise!" *group hug* etta: *HUUUG* hans: ^^; meg: ^^; Leroux: "P-Please...You're all squeezing Christine." *holds up the doll* "Isn't that right, Christine~?" hans: ...*sweatdrop* meg: .... Kafka: "..." *somehow facepalms inside the hug* Walter: ^^; "Same as it ever was..." etta: *sniff* true love as its finest. *wipes her eyes* Kafka: "..." ("What the *@%# kind of definition of 'love' is that?") hans: i guess the more things change, the more they stay the same. Leroux: ^w^ Kafka: "CAN WE GO HOME NOW?" hans: next stop, the new base in death city! Walter: "AMERICA!" Kafka: "...Let's not. It's full of weirdos." hans: boss' orders. Leroux: "BROADWAY! BRIGHT LIGHTS!" Kakfa: T_______T hans: it's in nevada. Leroux: "...RENO COMMUNITY THEATER!" -elsewhere- Lucy: *flipping through some photographs* "..." -some pictures of kirako during her high school years- Lucy: "...Did you like high school?" kirako: it was nice. Lucy: "...Did you like high school?" kirako: it was nice. Lucy: "...They have those in school? What do you do?" kirako: my job was to make sure all the books were in order. Lucy: "Ah. There's something like that at the Academy's library--Edgar told me about it." kirako: *smiles* {Lucy: "No! Give it back!" *she's at the river* "Give me back my book!"} {girl: aawww, you want _this_? *looks at them* its not even that good.} {Lucy: "Just because you can't read and need pictures isn't my problem! Please, it's all I have--"} {girl: how good are you at swimming, pipsqueak?} {Lucy: "...!!! No--!"} {girl: *toss* oopsie~} {Lucy: "..." *wheezing, huffing* "YOU JERK!" *rushes forward* } {girl: *shove* whoops~} {Lucy: !!! *SPLASH* "*gulb* H-Help!" *waves her arms* "Help--" ??:...cy? lucy? *shaking her* lucy are you ok? Lucy: *panting, shaking, struggling to breathe* "N-No!" kirako: lucy! please! Lucy: "..." *sobs* kirako:.....*hugs her* shhh, there there.... *head pet* Lucy: *shaking* "...I-I'm sorry..." kirako: it's ok... Lucy: "..." *sniff* "J-Just a bad memory..." kirako: you're here now. Lucy: *nods* "A-And I can swim like a dolphin!" kirako: should be useful when the pool opens up again. Lucy: *sniffles but looking proud* "I'll swim circles around the rest!" kirako: we believe in you. ^^ -elsewhere- Dazai: >_> yosano:...nervous? Dazai: "Not looking forward to...this. Shin-damage. Whatever Chuuya will do. And what they'll do to Q..." Q:....*shaking* Dazai: "!!! Th-That's just..." *sigh* "We'll see. If it's that bad, I'll pull you out." Q:..... Dazai: "Sure." yosano: we'll have to be careful. given the warrant on the mafia.... Dazai: "...Got any sunglasses?" yosano:...do you really think that's gonna help him? Q: *hugs his doll* Dazai: "Sure. Hat, sunglasses--maybe put him in a girl's dress--" Q: wouldnt be the first time i've done it. Dazai: "Perfect! Who has a little girl's dress?" yosano: ..... aya: noooope. atsushi:......... maybe just get him a coat? Dazai: *glares at Aya* "Oh, come on! You _are_ a little girl!" Kunikida: -_-# *hands Atsushi a coat* -rip dazai's shins. again- Dazai: Q_____Q atsushi: here you go, Q. Q: thank you mr tiger, i can see why akutagawa loves you so much. atsushi:...^^;;;;; riiiight..... Kunikida: "At least Lucy wasn't here to hear that..." atsushi:.... QwQ;;;; Q: ?? Dazai: "Just...help my poor legs get into the car..." -elsewhere- Motojiro: "--and that's why the taste of pudding reminds me of head injuries!" katya:...thats.... pushkin: i dont even know how to feel about that. Motojiro: *holds up pudding cups* "Feel like vanilla or chocolate?" -elsewhere- Daisy: "..." *staring into her tea* louisa:....?? Daisy: "...What were you doing before you worked with Fitz?" louisa: i did attend school, even though i didnt have very many friends. Daisy: "Hmm...Bullied?" louisa: i just kept to myself. Daisy: "Never had to deck a girl in PE?" louisa: oh heavens no! Daisy: "Hmm. I had to put two in a locker..." louisa: ._.; Daisy: "...Although now that I think about it, maybe _I_ was the bully? ...Huh." louisa: *sweatdrop* Daisy: "Hmm. So, after school, you just jumped into the organization?" louisa: lord francis did see potential in my ability... Daisy: "What, he was checking out high schools or something?" louisa: n-no! he just heard about my ability through word of mouth! Daisy: "He must have some connections, then...Given how he was able to trick Tom, not too surprising, then." louisa: yeah.... Daisy: "I wonder how Tom is doing in prison..." -elsewhere- Aizawa: "...You look like shit. Didn't you sleep?" yuuji: *groaning into his desk* Aizawa: "..." *puts a blanket over his shoulders, takes a travel pillow out of his drawer* yuuji: thanks. Aizawa: *pat pat* "Get some sleep...We'll catch up later." yuuji: will do, dad.... Aizawa: "..." *turns, goes back to his desk...small smile* yuuji:...zzzzz Aizawa: "..." *goes back to grading* -elsewhere- Yohei: "..." *picks up Toru* toru: baba! Yohei: "..." *smiles* {Mr. Nanami: "He's still locked in his room?"} {mrs nanami: he said he was working on something. *knock* yohei? sweetie?} {Yohei: "One second!" *turns one lock...then another, another, another, another--*} {mrs nanami: ._.; } {Yohei: *finishes unlocking the door, peeks out* "..." ^w^ "I made something!"} {mrs nanami: oh, how lovely. we thought you'd be hungry, so we made you a bento.} {Yohei: "??? Really?"} {mrs nanami: *hands it to him* ^^} {Yohei: "..." ^^; "I lost track of time...Thank you, Mom."} Yohei: "..." *holds Toru, takes his phone, taps 'Mom and Dad'* mr nanami: y'ello? Yohei: "Hey, Dad..." mr nanami: how's it going, yohei? Yohei: "Doing okay...Toru wants to say hi to Grandpa." toru: baapa! mr nanami: hey sport, how're ya doing? toru: *babble* ^o^ Yohei: *smiles* "How are you, Dad?" mr nanami: doing well, you're mother's doing good too. Yohei: "Glad to hear. Any plans this week?" -elsewhere- Damon: *sips fruit juice* =w= soul: *making lunch* Damon: "Mr. Soul? What are we doing this afternoon?" soul: we're gonna head to some stores for decorations for your room. becky: awesome. Damon: "Can we get stars?" soul: sure. like those glow in the dark ones, right? Damon: *nods* soul: sure. ^^ Damon: "..." ^_^ -elsewhere- Steinbeck: *thumbing through the atlas* "Hmm..." *marks a line* ebie: *peeeek* Steinbeck: *not even turning around* "Come in, Ebie." ebie: *takes a seat* whatcha doooin? Steinbeck: "I was thinking how to map our next trips...Maybe some interesting places to visit." ebie: like where? Steinbeck: "Might be some interesting spots in the Carolinas." ebie: *loooks* *Steinbeck marked one location: 'Moon Eyes'* ebie: ooooh. Steinbeck: *nods, not looking up* "Been rumors of different people we've never seen..." -elsewhere- Hyde: "So your parents run a business? But what do they do for fun?" ochako: well, we have gone on a few hikes in the past. and sometimes my mom and i do disc shooting. Hyde: "Oh--didn't think you were a disc shooting kind of person." ochako: you'd be surprised. pe-chew! Hyde: ^^; "Okay, Trigger. But you don't cheat with your Quirk on that, do you?" ochako: of course not! >3< Hyde: "A'ight, a'ight...But I think the judges better keep their eye on you out there." -elsewhere- Shima: "--and that's all I can report." illuminati higher up: hmm, i see. Shima: "Is there anything else?" -elsewhere- Dazai: "One kid's meal and one bacon burger." employee: coming right up. Q: *in big sunglasses, coat, and a wig* Dazai: "So, what kinds of toys does the kid's meal have this month?" -later- employee: here you go....sir...*notices Q* Q: *siiiip, wave* employee: ._.;;; Dazai: ^^;;;;;;;;;;;;;; "Please don't stare at my little sibling. They're sensitive." employee: i...see....have a good day sir.........*looks at coworker* Employee #2: =____= "I don't get paid enough to question." employee: dude....i think that was an E.T. Employee #2: "I wouldn't know--I'm so high everyone looks like an alien." employee: dammit dude! -elsewhere- Lily: "Be still!" misono: >~~~~< Lily: "It'll just be to check your overall health. Unless you want my nurses and I to handle it~" misono: *whiine* Q~Q;;;; Lily: "...Maybe the doctor will give you a lollipop at the end~" Dr. John: *steps out* "Oh, there you are!" misono: ._.;;; Dr. John: "Your doctor asked me to bring you over--I didn't see that you had an appointment with an OB-GYN." misono: O_O LILY!! Lily: "That won't be necessary~ Misono has not gotten any girl pregnant yet." misono: *pierced with an arrow that reads 'ouch'* Dr. John: ^^; "I see...Well, bring along your, um...partner." misono: =~=;;;;;;;; Lily: "I'm his nanny!" misono: (kill me.) Dr. John: "...D'aaaaaaaaaaaw!" *shiny eyes* "So considerate! Right this way--the nurse will see you in a moment." misono: if it looks like im crying, im not. Dr. John: "Nervous?" misono: i need to pee. Dr. John: "...I think we have a bedpan over there--" misono: D8< Dr. John: "Kidding--kidding! The bathroom is next door on the right." -elsewhere- Magaki: "It's...still weird." tsubaki: ?? Magaki: "..." *inhales* "Okay. This house isn't as big as I've seen other ones, yet you can fit so many people in it. You two do missions, yet Black Star seems far behind so many other people. And I still don't understand so many arrangements, where people came from, how they got here, what is a 'Mahiru,' and--" tsubaki: easy now. one at a time. Magaki: *sighs* "Okay...Tell me about your missions with Black Star. What are your other ones like?" tsubaki: well, part of our job is to find monsters causing trouble and-....put them to rest.... ^^;;; Magaki: "...Yes. And you collect their souls." tsubaki:...thats right. Magaki: "And the souls...do something to your weapon form?" tsubaki: in a manner of speaking. Magaki: "...Is this like a video game?" tsubaki: eh? Magaki: "Sakuya was showing me one. Do you collect souls to level up and unlock some other feature?" tsubaki: i....guess so. ^^; Magaki: "And when you receive this upgrade, what will you do?" tsubaki:....not sure yet. -a few days later, it was march- Kuro: "...Well, this was fun. Let's go home now." *tugs his sleeve* mahiru: oh no you dont. *heads up the steps* Kuro: *whines* "There are too many steps..." -and so- mahiru: *pant* we....made it... TTuTT Kuro: Q________Q "That was the harshest ordeal...What monsters make this school? I don't even see a handicap ramp..." misono: there is. you just have to have the key for it. Kuro: "..." *climbs up, grabbing Misono by the collar, shaking* "You could have told us at any time..." misono: -__- lets just get you to your starting class, ok? Kuro: *grumbles* -there seem to be a few new faces at the school- Kuro: "I don't know who any of these people are." Lily: *in butterfly form on Misono's head* "New faces!" girl: *playing on a PSP* Kuro: "..." *looks at the PSP* girl:....*looks up* Kuro: "...Cool PSP." girl: <thanks> Kuro: "?? Um...Qué es ustedes jugando?" girl: <persona> Kuro: "Man...I wanted that--but he won't buy it..." girl: *glances at mahiru* mahiru: um... <hi> *wave* girl:...<your boyfriend?> Kuro: "...No." girl: <oh. ok> mahiru: kuro? your face looks red. Kuro: =\\\\\= "Just get me to class already so I can sleep." -elsewhere in school- sayaka: new students~! so hype! *Someone is holding an umbrella, walking through the outdoor hall* sayaka: hmm? well hello there, newcomer! Magaki: "!!! ..." *nods* sayaka: how do you like it here so far? Magaki: "...It's rather bright." *puts on sunglasses* sayaka: well it is springtime now. Magaki: "Yes...How long have you been here?" sayaka: i'v been here a long time, so im pretty experienced! *kung-fu chops and bumps into someone* oh shi- sorry about that! ???: its alright, sayaka. sayaka: wait.......*rubs eyes* HITOMI?!? hitomi: ^^ *wave* Magaki: "...???" sayaka: Owo; sorry kiddo, didnt mean to interrupt our chat there, just happy to see an old friend, haha. hitomi: ^^;; Magaki: "Oh." *small bow* -elsewhere- hans: *hugs goethe* we're here. wilhelm: *gag* grown up love, groooss. the cooties! Jakob: >_< hans: *sweatdrop* Goethe: *strokes her head* "Glad you're...*yawn*...here." hans: ^////^ etta: paris was a reeeeally eventful trip. Leroux: "..." *holds 'Christine' close* Goethe: "...Huh. What's up with Leroux?" etta: a really. eventful, week. Jakob: “....Ok?” wilhelm: ...where are our gifts?! hans: we have them right here. wilhelm: AAAWESOOOOOME! 8D Jakob: ^w^ Kafka: "Zzz..." =_= harriet: o)_(o Walter: *stretches* "I call dibs on my room!" *runs* hans: ^^; Goethe: "Zzz..." hans: *sweatdrop* Leroux: *looks around* "It's a sizable location..." -elsewhere- Black Star: "Zzz..." tsubaki: .... (will they be ok?) Black Star: *yawns* *opens his eyes* "...Hey." tsubaki: *smooch* *smiles* Black Star: ^\\\\\^ "...Where's everyone?" tsubaki: kids are at school, grownups are here Black Star: "...How you think the kids are?" tsubaki: well, i hope. -elsewhere- Q: ...... Motojiro: ^w^ "And that's how you do trig!" sonia: ah. Q: ...... Motojiro: "...Q? Is it okay?" Q:...y-yeah. sonia:...i think he's just sad about something. Motojiro: "Ah...Being away from here takes some re-adjustment..." leo: *concerned* Q: "..." *sniffle* leo: *hug* Q: .\\\\\\. "Wh-What?" leo: it's ok. Q: "B-But...I miss my mommy..." leo: *looks at motojiro* Motojiro: "...Then...perhaps seek family elsewhere?" Q: "???" leo: we can be your family. all of us. Q: Q_______Q "R-Really? B-But I thought...You're going to lock me away again..." higuchi: can you behave yourself, Q? Q: "Uh-huh...Unless it's Dazai. Then I want to kick him." higuchi: and mori. he is terrible. the worst kind of terrible there is. Q: "...Okay. I-I'll not hurt anyone else..." higuchi: *head pet* then thats all we need to know. ^^ Q: QwQ "..." *hugs Higuchi* higuchi:.... TwT kuniko: ._.; Gin: ._.; Motojiro: *sniff, wipes his eye, puts a hand around Leo* leo: *smiles* Q: >w< "And can I see Aya?" -mass sweatdrop- Q: OwO "...???" higuchi: i'll give you a soft 'maybe' on that. Q: "I'LL TAKE IT! Then we can make it a hard yes!" pushkin: *CHOKES* katya:.....<what the fuck....> Gin: *glares at Pushkin* "No." pushkin: I DIDNT EVEN DO ANYTHING! D8> Q: *smiling, flowers of happiness practically blooming off of him* =w= -elsewhere- Sid: "Oh, Izumi--got a sec?" izumi: yeah? Sid: "Some of the new students are having difficulty getting around--can I have you guide one of them around?" izumi: sure thing, sir! Sid: "Great!" *looks behind him* "Hey, come on--stop hanging back and say 'hi' to Izumi." izumi: *wave* mahiru: hey. Kuro: "Zzz..." Magaki: ._.; izumi: ^^; right this way please. -elsewhere- Damon: "...Mr. Soul?" soul: yeah? Damon: "Why do you have a motorcycle?" soul: transportation. Damon: "...Without a helmet?" soul:...*puts on helmet.....gives helmets to the two of them* becky: ... Damon: "..." *looks around* "...Is there a sidecar?" -elsewhere- stocking: *snuggle* u///u Kid: ^\\\^ "Care for another treat~?" stocking: yes please~ Kid: *offers a blindfold* stocking: oh~ *puts it on* Kid: "Keep your eyes closed..." *reaches under the bed, removing a box of chocolates and some chocolate-dipped fruit* "Say 'ah'~" stocking: ahhhh~ Kid: *slips a small chocolate into her mouth, his finger just brushing along her lips* stocking: mmmmn~<3 Kid: *smirks* "Want to make it more delicious?" stocking: how so~? Kid: *brushes a cloth strap along her right wrist* stocking: ah~ Kid: "May I?" stocking: yes... Kid: *ties her wrists carefully to the bed...removes the blindfold...he's shirtless, holding a chocolate up to...his lips* stocking: o/////o i fucking love you, you know that? Kid: "Hee hee...I love you, too...But how badly do you want this chocolate~?" stocking: so fucking bad...*squirms, her tongue hanging out of her mouth* Kid: "Say it...again." *holds the chocolate at his teeth, as he leans to her face* stocking: kid, sweetie, please... Kid: *lets the chocolate rest on her lips--* stocking: mmmm~ Kid: *slips the chocolate onto her tongue, leans back, smiles at her* stocking: hehe~ ^///^ Kid: "Did the tantalizing influence make it tastier~?" stocking: you know it did... Kid: *strokes her cheek* "And there's more...because you deserve so much more." stocking: ahh...*looks down, licks her lips* Kid: "What do you want next? Perhaps the strawberry?" -elsewhere- Haumea: *tapping a finger on a radio* "...Nothing yet." guruna: kururu.... Haumea: "Guruna, anything you heard upstairs?" guruna: not that i heard, no. Haumea: "I keep asking around, someone to sense the Fifth--nothing. Nothing!" *holds her head* "AAAH! So annoying..." -elsewhere- Akitaru: "I used to read this to my kid all the time..." sayu: *pats the sheep* fluffy. Akitaru: ^^ "Yep! Really good for learning the senses, words...It's cute." sayu: hehe. ^^ Akitaru: "Want to read a few of these?" sayu: can i? *shiny eyes* Akitaru: "Sure thing! Just stick to the appropriate books..." *takes out a manual* "Something like this may be a bit boring." -elsewhere- Kafka: "And how exactly did you afford this place?" goethe: you'd be surprised. Kafka: "I'm sure I would...I don't remember seeing it budgeted." goethe:...well, im gonna go for a walk now. Kafka: "Hmph. Meeting someone, I'm sure." goethe: maaaybe.... Kafka: "...I have work to finish here." *turns back to his files* -elsewhere- Dazai: "..." atsushi:...dazai? Dazai: "Hmm? What's up?" atsushi: you ok? Dazai: "...Just thinking about Q." atsushi:...oh..... Dazai: "I mean, it's not like we can just walk into the Mafia and see how they are doing..." atsushi:....yeah....just how _did_ info on the mafia's actions get revealed? i know the rats have something to do with it... Dazai: "You'll have to ask Ranpo for that--seems someone started spreading intelligence...or that the intelligence just popped up." atsushi: ..something seems off with him, though....he seems sad about something... Dazai: "After this case especially...I think the disappearance of the suspect is part of it." atsushi: *concerned* Dazai: "..." *slides a newspaper to Atsushi* atsushi: *examines* *It shows an arrest the Agency helped make last week* Dazai: "Look at the fourth paragraph--how they refer to one of us..." atsushi: *squints* Newspaper: "--with some of its members having alleged to have involvement with organized crime--" atsushi: !!?? Dazai: "...Better keep an eye on Kyoka." atsushi:...right... *looks at the main article....a 2nd murder....* Dazai: "And other crimes..." atsushi: ..... newspaper: -a deputy commander of the coast guard was found with his head melted down to the bone by corrosive acid. cause of death was neurogenic shock. Dazai: "Not how I would've written the article. I think 'he has no head' is a clear enough cause of death." atsushi: ...... Dazai: "I know Kunikida is trying to get Ranpo to find a trend--but it's not easy." atsushi:...do you have any errands for me right now? Dazai: "Yes." *hands an envelope* "I need this deposited." *hands a key* atsushi: got it. *takes the items and heads out* Dazai: "..." *shakes slightly* -on the subway- atsushi: ...... -an individual with white hair is seated a few spots down from him- ???: .... atsushi:....?? ???:....*glances and smiles* atsushi:... ??? ???: you have a fascinating ability... atsushi: wait how do you- -the person is gone- atsushi:.... ._.;;;;; (that was weird...) .... (well, here's my stop.) *exits* *The stop looks rather busy* atsushi:.... (i was probably just seeing things....) *heads to his location...* *There's a bank on the corner* atsushi: *heads in* -elsewhere- child: *running, with a loaf of bread under their vest* *A hand reaches out of the alley* child: ?! *The child is grabbed and pulled in* child: ?!?! h-hey- Goethe: "Shh...They'll find you otherwise." child:......... Goethe: "Trying to hide?" child:....*looks away* Goethe: "Hey. I'm no snitch. It's too exhausting." child:...whats it to you? Goethe: "I'm a curious person. That's about the most busyness I can handle." child:.....maybe i sort of...'borrowed' some bread.... Goethe: "So, stole." child:.... *grumble* 7~7 Goethe: "No cash?" child: i...dont have much on me.... Goethe: "That sucks. And no parents?" child....i do have them, just not in the city… Goethe: "Then how did you end up here?" child:....left home. Goethe: "...Bad terms?" child: i just.....felt trapped. Goethe: "Ah...I know that pain." child: ? Goethe: "Just need a break from people...I had to get out from my, um, 'family' of sorts." child: ...... Goethe: "Just kind of cramped, so I figured I'd take a walk, see what's what." child:....what does that have to do with me, then? Goethe: *shrug* "Beats me. I'm the one making conversation while you hide from the fuzz." child: hmm.... Goethe: "Think you'll go back home?" child: doubt it. its too restricted, i just want to be free to live my life how i want to. Goethe: "...Need some help with that?" child: ?? Goethe: "Maybe just something so you're not scrounging around for food like a common thief." child:....like what? Goethe: "Tell me something--if you could have something to make things easier for you, what would it be?" child: .....i want freedom to go where i please. to be free like water, i guess. Goethe: "...What's your name?" child: uhh... george! george eliot. Goethe: "Well, George, I can help you. I am an ability user." george: ability user? Goethe: "Haven't heard of them?" george: vaguely, through word of mouth. Goethe: "Well, they're not like Dokeshi with any condition, and they aren't Quirks that can be genetic and bodily--it's like something you gain." george: ....alright, what are you able to do then? Goethe: "I can give abilities." george: .... Goethe: "I can give _you_ an ability." george: how is this gonna benefit me? Goethe: "You would be given freedom of movement..." george:... Goethe: "While not having to be without shelter." george:.....alright... Goethe: "All you need is to contract with me..." george:...ok, you have a deal... Goethe: "..." *holds out his hand* -elsewhere- Ivan: "...Quieter now." lydia: *she nods* Ivan: "Especially without that child." lydia: .......the medic locked herself in her room, i can hear her muttering in there.... Ivan: "...About Master or the child?" lydia:...both. Ivan: *sighs* "Who is speaking with her?" zoey: *mumbling, cutting at the walls with a scalpel* lydia:...she's muttering to herself... Ivan: "I mean, who _should_ speak with her?" *instantly raises his hand* "NOT IT!" lydia: ..*glances at gogol* Gogol: "..." OwO "Want to see me work? You got it!" *knocks on Zoey's door* zoey: *muttering incoherently* Gogol: "...Hmph." *uses his ability to have a hand reach for the doorknob inside* -click- Gogol: ^w^ *throws open the door* "Hello, nurse! What are you...up...to?" O_O -she has gouged at the walls with a knife, and is stabbing at the walls, kneeling on the floor- zoey: ...... Gogol: "...How's it going?" zoey: my baby's run away...*stab*...all because of that kid...*stab*...because of him....becauseofhimbecauseofhimbecauseofhimbecauseofhim...*stab stab stab stab stab* ahhhhhh~ i want to make him hurt... *drags the knife down* i want to stick pins in his fingertips....i want to burn his eyelids....i want to slice open his abdomen and fill it with salt.... Gogol: "..." *pulls up a chair* "...Go on." zoey: *rubs her stomach* i want my baby to be born...i want my baby to be born want my baby born want my baby born wantmybabywantmybaby.... hehehehehe....i want master to be here again.... Gogol: *eyeroll* "Yes, yes, your baby...But go back to the torture stuff. I mean, do you think Master would want that?" zoey: if he wished for it......i want to feel him again..... Gogol: "...Uuuuuuum...Well, he still has to finish his...life sentence..." zoey:.......*lunges at him* master...will return....he has to....he has to he has to he has to.... Gogol: "!!!" *grabs her by the shoulders* "O-Okay! I've heard enough! I assure you, he'll get out--" zoey: ........... Gogol: "..." *sigh* "You miss him, right?" zoey: of course.... Gogol: "...Then wait for him to get out already, and stop being a weirdo in your room alone! Jeez!" zoey: ............ Gogol: " 'Oh, when will Master come back?' 'Oh, my baby!' GROW UP! He'll be back when he's back! And you're pregnant, so worry about your child first!" zoey:........*lays on her bed, facing away from him* Gogol: "..." .________. "...Did I say the wrong thing?" zoey: just leave me alone.... Gogol: "..." *opens the door* lydia: <how did it go?> Gogol: "..." Q______Q <I made it worse.> lydia: ... elizaveta: *pap pap* Gogol: *sniff* <She's inconsolable, misses him, is obsessing over killing What's-His-Face and that kid...> yana: ..... Gogol: <Can't we, I don't know, kidnap a therapist or something?> yana:....i dont want to be _that_ person....but maybe we should put her out of her misery....? Gogol: "..." *blink* <What about the child--> Ivan: *already sharpening his knife* lydia: v-vanya.... *sweatdrop* let's not get ahead of ourselves.... yana:....i'll ask the boss about it... Gogol: <Maybe we need another doctor...So, kidnap one therapist, one physician, and a dentist--> yana: *sweatdrop* -elsewhere- Spirit: "That'll be it for today. Finish Chapter 1 tonight and the questions at the end. Tomorrow, I'll have a surprise for your lesson. Class dismissed." mahiru: *sits up* Kuro: *asleep at the desk* Spirit: "..." -____-# "Can you wake him up?" mahiru: kuro? *nudge* Kuro: "No...No, the aliens want the grilled cheese--but it's mine..." Spirit: *slams a book down* Kuro: *bounces up--and clings to the ceiling* .__________. -elsewhere- Kyoka: "Here, try it." *hands video game controller* sylvia: um..*looks at it* w-what do i do? Kyoka: "If you press that button, it makes the vehicle move forward." sylvia: *presses it* *The vehicle darts forward--into the wall* sylvia: D8> *Then the vehicle explodes, catching fire* Kyoka: "...Okay, now press the other button to reverse." -elsewhere- Takehisa: "--9, 10--Keep it going. Tamaki! Keep up with the jumping jacks." tamaki: *still at it* Takehisa: "Very good. Keep it up before switch to stretches--" *stares* "...Arthur." Arthur: *moving up and down* "Yes?" Takehisa: "...Why are you on a horse?" shinra:....where did he- Arthur: *on a horse that is imitating jumping jacks* "Because I am a knight." Relan: *struggling to keep up* T~T Takehisa: "..." *takes out a carrot* Horse: OvO *gallops up* Takehisa: *pets the horse* "...Arthur, get off and do your actual work." -elsewhere- Paku: "...You're going to try to see her?" izumo:...y-yeah....im really nervous.... Paku: "It makes sense you would be...but at least you can see her, right?" izumo...y-yeah....*takes the key and gulps* Paku: "..." *smiles* "You can do it..." izumo:....*puts in the key and opens the door* *Air blows through the door* izumo: *looks through* -there is a large, modern style mansion- izumo:....*glances to the back yard* *There is a child with a watering can, tending to the flowers* izumo:....*gingerly walks up to the fence* *The child fills up the can again, turns--* Tsukumo: "!!!!" izumo: hi tsukumo....*smiles* Tsukumo: ?? "Sorry, Mom told me not to talk to strangers..." izumo:....oh....*tosses a fox doll over the fence* you dropped that. i wanted to return it to you. Tsukumo: "!!! My doll!" *grabs it, hugs it* >w< "Where did you find it, ma'am?" izumo:...i guess i got lucky....*waves* bye....*leaves......closes the door* ..... Paku: "...Izumo...What--" izumo:.....*smiles, tears falling* she seems to be happy where she is.... Paku: "..." *hug* izumo: she doesnt remember me.....even if it hurts, i shouldnt be upset... she's alive, she's safe...thats all i need to know... Paku: *nods* "Right..." -elsewhere- Walter: *wipes his brow* "Okay! Ethernet cables now run through the place!" *flips open his 3DS* Leroux: ^w^ hans: goethe's back. and he brought a new member. Kafka: "?!!! Oh, for crying out loud..." Jakob: "???" wilhelm: woot! new kid! george:...hey. *wave* Goethe: "New kid, this is the team. Team, this is the new kid..." *lies down on the couch* george: 'names george eliot...and im new....and i have no idea what's even going on here. Walter: "MAGIC, NEW PERFECT CHILD!" Kafka: -__________- -after hans explained everything- george: i see.... my head's spinning... ._.; i dont even know what kind of ability i was given. like, how do i _know_?! Leroux: *brings out tea* "We all find out based on what we desire, or what Goethe--" Goethe: *asleep* "Zzz..." Leroux: "...said to us. For example, Kafka--" Kafka: *DEAD SERIOUS GLARE* Leroux: ._____. *hides behind Christine* george: .....um......o...k? Leroux: *sets out the tea* "Careful--it's hot." Walter: "...No cookies?" hans: i'll have to do some grocery shopping, it seems. Walter + Kafka + the Twins: T____T

[lostacelonnie]

Thank you! I kinda just. Realized i pay for all my own stuff & have for years so whats stopping me y'know. Oh we love to hear about the fall of far right leadership i hope that turns out well & you can get your eventual hrt as well. Oh yeah i never wear swimsuits to the beach typically. Always been with people i dont like or too many strangers for my liking. But i like to find seashells & stuff. Oh? English is such a weird language having a partner to learn from who's fluent is like. Required almost. So im glad you had one. I appreciate when people are chill as long as you try its nice & leaves room for mistakes that'll happen inevitably. Got confused for a moment & the concept of having a birthname you dont have listed in your bio lost me like. What do ya mean you had any different name what. Both mine are easy so i dont have that as a first name problem. Where is tromso? I wish you luck in that fall/winter trips are so nice. I especially love to go camping in them because less people so more space. Oh she just gets all the counters wow. Gonna have to focus on her a bit for sure. I dont know if i have enough for guaranteed kafka but i will probably try. Just to see what happens. If nothing else i hope bronya or welt come home for you. Fontaine is one of the regions im most interested in so ill stick through for it but i might squeeze a break in towards natlan honestly. Chasm was. A pain anyways i do not blame you for skipping it honestly. Thats an average day in warsaw? Wild. Ohhh that sounds like it was a blast please pass belated birthday wishes to avery for me. Hair dye is such a fun thing to do congrats on the red! I wanna dye mine again soon. Eyeliner is a thing i wanna teach myself to do too ive just been. Forgetting a lot

yeah thats very understandable!!! and thank you!! after a long time i finally feel at least a little hopeful ab this countrys future but well see. yeah i have the exact same thing but at the same time drying a lot of clothes is Annoying [esp on camps since thats the main place i actually go into the water on] so i often just put regular clothes over a swimsuit. win-win situation. seashells ARE fun to find but i always forget to bring sth to carry them sjdjflksjf plus its pretty hard to find actually nice ones, over here at least. YEAH god plus the way english is taught in polish schools does NOT help so honestly if i didnt have additional lessons i probably wouldnt have learned anything despite studying for a looooong time. and yeah its that way with almost anything isnt it. AH I DO THAT EXACT THING SO OFTEN i genuinely forget that people Have birthnames. or even names in general i just treat usernames as first names a lot of the time. tromso is the place in norway i was in!! pretty far up north but very charming. thank you!! ahhh i almost never go camping but perhaps One Day..... yeah clara has been my best friend ever since i got her. shes so fun to use. thankies and good luck to both of us!!! already got 106 pulls ready + the 9 more from the login event + 20 days left to grind so while i defo wont get enough for guarantee i think it might be possible for me to get her. honestly the region im most excited for is snezhnaya and thats gonna be the last one released iirc so. still a while until that happens. but at least when/if i come back im gonna have a lot of stuff to check out so thats fun. i unfortunately suffer from having to see everything thats new Immediately so i often speedrun new versions in 3 days and them im like....... What Now........ until the next update and then the cycle repeats. ah i should play more games that arent released this way. but yeah while the chasm was quite pretty imo and the story was. well. it wasnt STUNNING but it was fun. but the exploration aspect SUCKED good lord i hated how i could never quite tell if im in the region displayed on the map or below it. agh. glad thats over. and well yknow how it is with big cities, at least i live in a fairly peaceful part so we dont really have big stuff like that often. i will!! and thanks!! i agree hair dye IS very fun but unfortunately my hair texture makes it really hard for dye to stick so it washes off quickly :'] but alas. and yeah fair jdjfklg i have the same thing PLUS. its annoying i can never get it even

[dillydedalus]

books i read in december + top10 books of 2018

i’m trying to keep this short so i have space for the top10 but.....i’m bad at that

severance, ling ma interesting blend of millenial corporate satire and apocalypse (the epidemic kind, shen fever). the protag’s time working as her firm’s skeleton staff in an almost deserted new york, blogging as NY Ghost and encountering only a few other people (and the fevered, who mindlessly repeat the routines of their former life until their bodies fall apart), were pretty great, but the postapocalyptic cultish road trip that she joins after leaving new york felt a bit stale. 3/5

ship of destiny (liveship traders #3), robin hobb this is a 900-page book that i read in four days, which already says something, but honestly i loved this with all my heart, everything came together beautifully, the character development in this is honestly unmatched, the two central romances are Good (i.e. i shouted ‘you beautiful idiot babies’ several times). anyway, liveship traders is one of the BEST fantasy series i’ve ever read and i can’t wait to a) continue with the larger realm of the elderlings series but also b) to reread them again!!! 4.5/5, series rating 5/5 YAAAS BITCH

i, claudius, robert graves a fun ride through early imperial rome, covering the reigns of augustus, tiberius and caligula (and... spoiler warning... claudius becomes emperor at the end!). it’s a bit too long and occasionally gets bogged down in military campaigns and stuff, but roman politicking, caligula being caligula and livia’s various wonderfully evil intrigues are fun fun fun. 3/5

a skinful of shadows, frances hardinge a great spooky & atmospheric childrens/YA story set in 1600s england about a young girl called makepeace (gotta love them puritan names), who seems to have a gift for seeing and attracting ghosts, including the ghost of a BEAR which lives in her SOUL. the story involves evil aristocrats, the english civil war, lots of ghists and a stubborn, distrustful, resourceful protag who does not suffer fools gladly and also, like, she has a GHOST BEAR IN HER SOUL. i really enjoyed this, plus the hardcover is just gorgeous. 4/5

europe in autumn (fractured europe #1), dave hutchinson man i love this concept (alternative timeline europe that has splintered into a bunch of micronations and is still splintering further, spy/smuggling shenanigans) and enjoyed the world-building, the wry humour and rudi, cook-turned-spy, BUT i do not entirely understand what happened in the last 25% of this book. i still enjoyed it but???? what is happening. 3/5

the history of history, ida hattemer-higgins i’m not entirely sure how i feel about this one. it falls squarely into one of my fav micro-genres (which i might still end up writing my masters thesis about): people having mental breakdowns in (and inevitably somehow because of) berlin. this one involves an american history student in berlin, amnesia, magda goebbels as a monstrous bird women, the city becoming flesh and it’s all interesting, although overall i think the book tries much too hard to hammer all those Symbolics in,, plus i don’t mind unlikeable characters necessarily but the protag here is A LOT. anyway, an interesting book that i feel conflicted about. if i do end up going with this thesis i’ll have time & space to figure it out. 3/5???? i guess??? i have a lot more to say but shrug emoji

the queue, basma abdel aziz cool & interesting dystopia based on the arab spring; roughly reminiscent of kafka’s ‘vor dem gesetz’, but if it was not a parable. in an unnamed country (it’s egypt) where a queue in front of the central state building grows longer and longer until it forms a mini-society (just like waiting at the bürgeramt!)- there is an interesting tension here between the real(istic) and the surreal (self-updating files, a surveillance state that borders on ominiscient but i think the book is a bit too long to quite deliver that punch, but at the same time to short to fully realise the characters and the world - might have been better as short story or novella. but still, definitely worth a read. 3.5/5 @berlincorpography since you asked about it!

the silence of the girls, pat barker retelling of the iliad through the eyes of briseis, who becomes a sex slave to achilles when her city is sacked (y’all know the story), living in the greek camps along with many other slave women. while these women’s stories are usually ignored, reducing them to objects for men to fight about (see also helena), or else romanticised, barker shows them as sex slaves, robbed of agency and autonomy, chafing under their loss of their home & family, denied personhood etc, all while the men talk a big game about honour and glory. still, briseis and the others manage to find their own agency and their own stories. i found this a very effective retelling, a great & very human book, and i loved briseis. i will say that i have some quibbles over the inclusion of achilles’ perspective - while i didn’t dislike those chapters per se, i think it could have been a stronger book if briseis had been the only pov, but it’s still great. 4/5 

fav 10 of 2018 (roughly... also these are favs, not necessarily the ~best)

the beautiful mrs seidenman, andrzej sczcypiorski

we have always lived in the castle, shirley jackson (reread)

the bloody chamber, angela carter

pride & prejudice, jane austen (reread)

the liveship traders trilogy, robin hobb

freshwater, akwaeke emezi

exit west, mohsin hamid

spinning silver, naomi novik 

in our mad & furious city, guy gunaratne

the silence of the girls, pat barker (probably some bonus due to being fresh in my mind but eh)

honourable mentions: the sea, the sea (iris murdoch), frankenstein in baghdad (ahmed sadaawi), fever dream (samantha schweblin), the flamethrowers (rachel kushner), the house of mirth (edith wharton), convenience store woman (sayaka murata), street of crocodiles (bruno schulz)

worst: WAVERLEY by walter fucking ‘can’t shut up’ Scott

stats!

books read: 118……wtf was i on honestly average gr rating: 3.3 which is p good for me! percentage of female authors: 58% tho i can’t count & it may be a bit off percentage translations: 20% (most common original languages: french & arabic)

[joneswilliam72]

The 405 meets Jealous of The Birds: the Northern Irish songwriter discusses the experiences and inspirations that went into her new EP

Friday saw the release of Wisdom Teeth, the new EP by Northern Irish singer songwriter and poet Naomi Hamilton who records as Jealous Of The Birds. It’s her first body of all-new material since her debut album in 2016, and sees her expanding in confidence and style, while also hinting at even more to come on her next LP.

Even in just 5 tracks Jealous Of The Birds captures the imagination from all sorts of angles, Hamilton pontificating on sexuality, romance, travel, philosophy and more, with each idea delivered in emphatic pop rock missives. We caught up with Hamilton towards the end of 2018 when she and her band were wrapping up their first UK tour, to discuss all that’s gone into the creation of Wisdom Teeth.

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As we speak you've just finished your first UK tour, how did it go?

It went really well! It was our first UK tour at all; it was the first time we brought the band out. It was really good because usually because we've played a few gigs before in the UK but they've always been pretty scattered, so it was nice to just have a string of shows together. We got a van for the first time and it was just really nice, I feel like we really bonded as a band.

Did you fight over the stereo?

Actually we were pretty democratic about it. No big fights happened.

2018 has been a very busy year for you, do you think 2019 will be as busy, considering you've got the new EP Wisdom Teeth coming out?

I think it'll be even busier, especially with the live side of things. I think we're definitely gonna give it a good push. We just got confirmed for SXSW, so we'll be playing that again, and probably a lot more shows and festivals in the summer.

You put out an EP in July that was mostly made up of older tracks, and then you've got another EP coming out in February - was it by choice that you've done two EPs in a row?

I think it made sense to follow the momentum of what the previous EP was setting up for. And also just to give me more time to write more songs and really refine the songs that I have for the next record. Also I feel like something about EPs and the bite-size nature of it is really cool, especially when you're starting out. I feel like it would be a waste if I wrote a whole record and it wasn't hitting the right audience, because the songs only have a certain shelf-life, so it's always cool to deliver it in a more bite-sized way.

Do you have any favourite EPs?

There's a lot of local bands from back home who started with EPs and built it up. When I released my first EP on Bandcamp I would just search through random EPs on Bandcamp that I really loved. The main one I'm thinking of is Fazerdaze, which was really nice.

I wanted to ask if you consider yourself a songwriter first or a poet first? As I know you do both.

I feel like maybe both equally. I definitely think of songwriting and poetry as two distinct things. I know there's people who feel they're both interchangeable...

Other artists that I've spoken to who do both say the same as you, that it rarely crosses over.

Yeah, exactly. When I was at uni I was doing English with Creative Writing, and I did a big poetry dissertation, and all those poems are written in a very different style and different mind-set than I bring to writing lyrics. I definitely strive to make my lyrics feel as much like poems as possible, but I definitely think of them as a different kind of animal too, because they're always married to the music and those things enrich each other. With a poem there's only what's on the page, so I think poems have to be more muscular.

Your songs are quite fun and sexy, but you talk about your poems quite seriously - or are they also sexy?

I think a bit of both, but maybe just a bit more refined. I think in songs I kind of give myself more freedom to be a bit more loose with it, just because there's more to focus on and more to interplay, especially with the music.

In 'Plastic Skeletons' you sing "do you want to love like a poet can?" - so what is special about the way a poet can love?

There's different ways to interpret that, but when I wrote the line I was thinking about a certain intensity that poets - or maybe more romantic people - bring to their life experiences.

Let's go on to the new EP, Wisdom Teeth; have you been writing a lot since the debut album Parma Violets?

I've definitely written a whole bunch of songs since then, and only those 5 that have ended up on Wisdom Teeth got through to the EP. That's one of the things I was really excited about, because it had been like 2 years since new material had come out, and I've learned so much in that time about songwriting and the live side of things. I think about different things compared to when I started out, because I have that experience. I definitely feel like the songs on Wisdom Teeth show that maturing.

Instrumentally as well?

I hope so! Because now we've had more of a chance to play with a live band, I'm thinking more about "this is what Peter will play on bass," or thinking about what is interesting and trying to push my approach to the instrumentation a bit more.

Let's talk about 'Marrow', the opening track of Wisdom Teeth, which is a really awesome song, but the bit that always gets me is in the middle is the part "There's a schism, a chasm of language/ Between the taste and the thought of this sandwich," because I feel like that's quite a profound thing that doesn't come up in pop songs much. But I guess to ask the most basic question, why a sandwich?

I think I just I really love food [laughs]. But it taps into that thing of sometimes your expectations of what's really gonna be delicious or really gonna be good doesn't always meet the reality of it. That can be both a good thing and a bad thing; sometimes it'll exceed your expectations and sometimes it'll be like "I really bigged this up for no reason." I think the sandwich line makes it a bit funnier [laughs].

It does! Have you had a lot of disappointing sandwiches?

I mean, yeah! You go some places down south, you're not gonna get the best sandwiches [laughs].

Alright, good to know! I noticed in both 'Marrow' and 'New York Has A Lump In Her Throat' there are a couple of Buddhist references, is that something you're interested in?

For sure, yeah. I think a lot of Buddhist thought, especially when it relates to compassion and mindfulness and being steady and calm, I find that really grounding. I meditate sometimes as well. You've never been hassled by a Buddhist, nobody's ever trying to convince you to be a Buddhist. It's definitely something that I relate to and it resonates with me.

It also seems like America has left a big impression on you, because you mention several American places throughout your lyrics. Have you been many times?

In the spring of 2016 we went over for SXSW, I played a solo show there. In the past few years I've had more cause to be over there. It's just the nature of travelling, you're absorbing all this stuff, especially in a place like America where it's overwhelming and you're like "what is going on?!" I couldn't help but have that filter into the songs in some ways.

Do the songs then become a bit of a travelogue? Do the songs remind you of places?

For sure. On 'New York Has A Lump In Her Throat' we took some field recordings of walking through the streets in New York, and also combined that with back home ambient country noises from home and blended them together. There's a part at the end of 'New York' where there's a guy whose child is screaming on the street and crying, and he's like "if you get lost, what are we gonna do?!" When we listened back and that came up I was instantly transported to the street corner where I saw that man and his daughter. I liked having found sounds filter into this EP more.

We have to talk about the spoken part in 'New York Has A Lump In Her Throat' that almost seems like an essay excerpt; it starts "The same energy which created a symphony by Mozart is shared by The Beatles in making Sgt Pepper. It is the same intuitive impulse of the imagination..." and goes on for a bit about artistic inspiration. Was that something you wrote?

Yeah, I just wrote that. I feel like it's just one of those things where I'd been getting a bit more meta in terms of the craft of songwriting in a song. I've seen that happen in poetry a lot, where poets are referencing the art of poetry in their poems, and especially when I was writing a lot of the songs for this that was in my field of awareness a bit more, so I wanted to include a bit of that process or a bit of the thought behind not only writing a song but listening to music.

I like that you reference a lot of other music you like in your songs; the part about "listen to Kurt singing in the pines" from 'Tonight I Feel Like Kafka' is my favourite. It makes me relate more, it puts me in the room.

Yeah, I feel like when I'm listening to music and I hear a reference or something that gives me a little window into that artist's network of their own tastes I find that really cool.

In 'New York Has A Lump In Her Throat' you repeatedly sing "wail me down," so I have to ask what that means?

Any time I'm in a big city, especially in New York, it's like an onslaught. So much is happening, so much could potentially happen, and I feel like that's just like "wail me down." I was thinking about Alan Ginsberg's poem ‘Howl’ and the massive existential "what is going on!?" when I'm in a city.

Cool, I'm glad I asked. I thought it was a Northern Irish saying that I didn't know.

Oh no [laughs].

'Blue Eyes' is probably my favourite song on the EP because it's such a sugar rush of fun. What inspired it?

I feel like it was just me being more open about female sexuality and sensuality and celebrating that, especially from a queer perspective, instead of always having guys objectify women and their sexuality in songs, having that being a bit more reversed and self-reflective.

Nice. I can imagine it being used in a TV show too, as there's a lot more TV shows about that kind of thing now, it could be perfect for a montage of two young women falling in love.

Is there any relationship between 'Blue Eyes' and following track 'Kosiskelu'? Becuase I kind of hear them as a series; 'Blue Eyes' is the fun and exciting beginning of the relationship and 'Kosiskelu' is a bit further in...

That's really cool! It definitely wasn't intentional that they were a pair, that probably happened naturally though. 'Kosiskelu', I found out that that word in Finnish means "courtship," so I just liked tapping into that idea and making it as dream-like and washy as possible.

Have you been to Finland?

No [laughs]. Every time I say that word there's probably some Finnish person thinking "that's not how you say that."

There's a dreamy part at the end that sounds like someone else singing...

Oh no that's me, we just fucked around with the vocals a little bit.

It's pretty cool. The EP ends with 'Clementina'; is there any significance to the name Clementina?

That's a little Elliott Smith reference, that's pretty much where it came from.

Is that song a pure fantasy or was there a real inspiration?

There's definitely a literal inspiration for it, but at the time I was thinking about when you're in a relationship you often project your future desires into this oasis over there where everything happens, and kind of imagine the life you'll have with that person, so I wanted to explore those ideas.

Very nice, and a perfect way to end the EP. It makes you want more.

Aw, that's really cool!

Do you have more songs written?

Yeah! I've got a sneaky handful of songs, and I'll definitely be working on more and writing new stuff in the new year.

Cool. I have to ask about the cover of Wisdom Teeth, did you paint it yourself?

Yeah, I did a little canvas. This is typical with me where I'm just like "I wanna try that!" I just started painting a lot, just buying loads of canvases and trying stuff. So that was one of the paintings that I did; I just looked at it and thought "that might be cool for something eventually," and then when it came to picking a cover I was like "what about this?"

What do you do with all your paintings?

They're just hanging up in my house. I recently moved house, and part of the reason I was painting a lot was because I wanted to decorate my house [laughs]. I just figured "well, I can try and do it..." and pretty much everything I've painted has a little spot in my house.

Do you name your paintings?

No, I'm not that vain at this point. I don't think they're that good. There's something about painting that is very humbling, because I'm not proficient in it, but I just love it; I love looking at paintings and other people's work.

You're a literary person, so I have to ask about any books you'd recommend, perhaps something that inspired the EP?

I love the Beat Generation and their poetry, but I had never read On The Road before. So recently I read it, and I did not like it. There were passages in it where I was like "this is so inappropriate or misogynist or really boring." I didn't expect to, because I love that whole vibe and Alan Ginsberg for example. So, maybe not read On The Road, or if you do please convince me that it's actually cool.

What about books that you actually like then?

Anything by Virginia Woolf; I relate a lot to her impressionist style of writing. I like that stream of consciousness vibe.

I've read To The Lighthouse and Mrs. Dalloway and I think I maybe understood only about half of what was going on, but I really liked it anyway, it's quite evocative.

I feel like that's the point. Half the time I don't know what's going on either, but I always find with Virginia Woolf's work it's just like a wash of goodness. I might not know whose perspective we're currently on in the book, but it's always interesting to me.

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Jealous of the Birds’ Wisdom Teeth EP is out now via Hand In Hive / Canvasback.

from The 405 http://bit.ly/2t6w1LY