#it's amusing to read all their capslock

[trans-androgyne]

I'm a cis woman who just got screamed at for a long time by another cis woman for things that men said. Or, that she thinks men said, because the posts she was talking about (including one of yours) just said basically "don't treat all men like crap," whereas she saw them as "women are entirely responsible for any bad things men do." And one of the things she capslocked at me was to not blame women for men's actions. While blaming me for posts men made. I thought you might find this darkly amusing. I'm trying to, though mostly I'm still upset.

Yeah, that tracks, I'm really sorry you had to deal with that and I hope your day gets better :/ So many cis women in particular get incredibly defensive about this conversation, and I can understand a little.

Folks who have lived as women in general very often get taught that men are our oppressors, period, so we can say and do anything we want to them ("punching up") and it won't even hurt since they're so strong and powerful--or if it does they deserve it for being men (read: evil monsters). We are taught that our anger at men is righteous, it is justice for patriarchy, for all the harm done to us. We are not taught that sexism harms men as well. So when we are asked to be more gentle and mindful with the way we talk about men, it can come off as "so you're saying my anger at the patriarchy isn't justified? You're saying I have to coddle my oppressors?" when in reality, we are just asking them to remember that men are human beings who are not, in fact, personally individually for the structure of sexism existing. We do not like hearing that our punches can hurt, and that we ourselves are capable of upholding the system that hurts us, and that we are not its only victims. But if we ever want to take down this system, these are the lessons we need to learn and teach.

[writing-biting]

after the initial anxiety, maybe they’ll get more into her element.

Here’s more propaganda for the @ultimatebabygirlsupremebattle  ! Yes, I know I already posted some today, but I finished that last week, and I drew this followup today.

(generally I put the image ID in the alt, but I’m putting it here because i’m on the computer and i can’t figure out how to do it properly on here)

[Image ID: Three comic pages, depicting feather!leo’s arrival to the transfemme leo competition, read from right to left.

Page 1:

Panel 1: Mikey, with xer arm swung around Leo’s shoulders, making them stoop. He has one arm splayed out, indicating a banner above them that says ‘ULTIMATE BABYGIRL SUPREME’ in capslock.

Leo is squinting and looks annoyed. Mikey is grinning, with his eyes closed.

Mikey has a speech bubble that reads: “It’s the TRANSFEMME LEO COMPETITION, of course!”

Panel 2: Mikey spinning a startled Leo in a chair, with an amused expression. Xe has two dialogue bubbles. The first one reads: ‘Now!’ and the second one reads: ‘We’re gonna get you dolled up!’

Panel 3: A close up of Leo’s eye, Mikey’s hand holding her in in place. Mikey’s other hand is applying pink eyeshadow to Leo’s stripe.

Leo has a speech bubble, which reads: ‘I don’t know about this Mikey-’

Page 2:

Panel 1: Mikey is clasping a cape of the trans flag around Leo’s shoulders. He’s leaning down and grinning at an annoyed and frustrated Leo.

Mikey has three dialogue bubbles. The first reads: ‘Relax!’, the second reads: ‘You’re gonna do great,’ and the third reads ‘just remember to smile, and absolutely do NOT be yourself!’

Panel 2: Leo is now standing. He’s lifting up her cape with one arm like a cartoon vampire, and peering down at it. They have two speech bubbles.

The first speech bubble reads: ‘I don’t know, Mikey.’ and the second reads: ‘This feels weird’

Panel 3: Mikey pushing a reluctant Leo forward, smiling. Mikey has three speech bubbles, and Leo has one.

The dialogue goes as such:

Mikey: ‘You’ll be wondtiforous!’

Mikey: ‘Just drop this whole emo she-bang,’

Mikey: ‘and do what you do best!’

Leo: What I do best-?’

Panel 4: Mikey kicking Leo in the shell, sending her flying.

Mikey has one speech bubble that reads: ‘Mask insecurity with overconfidence!’

And Leo has a jagged edged responding speech bubble that reads: ‘WHAT’

Page 3:

Panel 1: Leo sitting on his hands and knees, panting. The word ‘huff’ is written around her a couple of times, and there are short lines around her to indicate shaking.

Panel 2: A giant banner that reads ‘Ultimate Babygirl Showdown’ over a crowd of nine visible participants.

On the left, newtmntfan’s Leah is talking to teenagemutanttransgenderturtles�� Aoi. Behind them, bugbrainboy’s Leo is talking to chaoswithcausation’s Leo.

On the right, dykeraphael’s Leona is talking to graphitehybrid’s Leo. Behind them, boy-icky’s Leo is talking to yumeyumeappleo’s Leo.

In the very back, less-depresso-more-espresso’s egg is screaming ‘WTF’

Closest to the camera, we can see a sweatdrop forming on the back of feather!leo’s head. There’s dialogue beside her, reading: ‘I’m going to kill Mikey.’

The word kill is underlined twice.

End Image ID]

Direct followup to this: https://www.tumblr.com/writing-biting/719815731338936320/mikey-put-her-in-the-competition-without-telling?source=share

And, a taglist for all the turtles that appear here!

@newtmntfan

@teenagemutanttransgenderturtles

@dykeraphael

@graphitehybrid

@chaoswithcausation

@bugbrainboy

@boy-icky

@yumeyumeappleo

@less-depresso-more-espresso

feather!leo is from the @feathers-and-petals separated AU

Leo’s pronouns: she/they/he

Mikey’s pronouns: he/him/xe/xer/xem

[tinaillustrations]

SSm19 Day 16 :Turbulance 

My last post for SSm19 , it was a fun ride throughout the month y’all but this will not my last drawing of them :)))).

On the side note it’s funny how my last drawing fit the Novel’s description of them, it said “ The strongest couple running through” while mine is “The strongest kids riding through” . 

[wonwoonlight]

You're so amazinggggg ❤❤❤❤ the one thing I love about you aside from being an amazing writer you are is that how you interact with your followers/anons 🥺🥺❤❤❤❤

I love youuuuuu ❤❤❤❤

P.S im the anon who sends you the capslock message 😅🤣🤣

I just can't over it hahaha sorry 😅 I'm reading it for the nth time 🤣🤣🤣

You deserved all the love and appreciation 🤩❤❤❤❤❤

Omg nooOOO you're just too nice😭😭 i just feel like its a given bc tbh it really makes me happy when i see your messages on anon/replies/reblogs/hashtags 😭 like there are times when i read the message over and over again too bc I never expected my works to actually make people certain ways🥺🥺 it both amuses me and makes me really happy🙈🙈

I'll never be able to thank you enough for this kind message🥰🥰

[kingofthewilderwest]

Can you describe Cressida Cowell's writing style? (And try to convince me to start reading httyd books while you're at it)

Oh my goodness, I am *SO* excited to talk about Cowell’s writing style!

I realized my FAQ page was outdated with a broken link (whoops!), so I’ve fixed that! If you haven’t check that page out or my up-to-date #faq tag, I’ve written many responses on why I recommend the HTTYD books. Obviously those posts aren’t focused on Cowell’s writing style, as you’re curious about. Nevertheless, since you’re interested in recommendations and perspectives regarding those books, these prior responses could be worth checking out, and I’ll happily boop you a link to some of those! [1] [2] [3]

Cressida Cowell’s writing style, to me, is a fascinating combination of simple and eloquent. This goes for how she forms sentences, constructs plot, uses tropes, and more. She takes seemingly common elements that most of us wouldn’t consider “special” - and utilizes them to powerful effect.

Her narration style is charming. In the How to Train Your Dragon books, she uses two similar but distinct writing styles. The prologues and epilogues are given a finesse different than the material in the main chapters.

The majority of her text is written in an almost whimsical, childish way - especially at the start of the series. Sentences are simple; descriptions are amusing; humor is prevalent; and her presentation is straightforward. Unashamed use of italics, capslock, font changes, and font size changes - plus childish scribbles for illustration - contribute to the youthfulness of her narration.

How to Train Your Dragon Ch. 1: First Catch Your Dragon:

“ANYBODY would be better than Hiccup,” sneered Snotface Snotlout. “Even Fishlegs would be better than Hiccup.”

Fishlegs had a squint that made him blind as a jellyfish, and an allergy to reptiles.

“SILENCE!” roared Gobber the Belch. “The next boy to speak has limpets for lunch for the next THREE WEEKS!”

There was absolute silence immediately. Limpets are a bit like worms and a bit like snot and a lot less tasty than either.

As the series develops, the main prose develops slightly, too. Fans often discuss how Cowell’s illustrations markedly grow in complexity from start to end, even as they retain their childish personality. Cowell herself has confirmed that these artistic changes are representative of Hiccup aging. The writing doesn’t change as notably, but it’s arguably there. So, this benign, whimsical narration takes on intentional effect: she’s writing a story about a child with prose that matches the character’s age. It helps us readers enter the mind of a child as we go through Hiccup’s younger years. It’s not to say that it means we can’t think through complex topics in this framework, because we do address deep topics in the breadth of the narration... but the childish writing style provides a personality and character and framing device for how we readers “feel” the story.

The prologues and epilogues are different. In first instead of third person, they’re written as the reflections of old man Hiccup in his eighties. The writing style here maintains simple characteristics in, for instance, word choice... but it’s mature in tone and topic. These passages are often my favorites, as they delve into interesting moral reflections tied to the adventures young!Hiccup is having in the main story. This is where Cowell shines the most in her combination of simple and eloquent. There’s beauty in what she writes in the prologues and epilogues. Reading them aloud, words flow marvelously (that opening passage in the first book... mmm yum), and you can hear the reflection of the man behind them. It’s where you’ll get quotes like:

How to Ride a Dragon’s Storm: Epilogue

Maybe all Kings should bear the Slavemark, to remind them that they should be slaves to their people, rather than the other way around. And to help them never to forget what it feels like to be a child... to be small and weak and helpless.

How to Betray a Dragon’s Hero: Prologue

Great things are only made out of love and out of pain. 

A great sword must be made out of the very best steel. But what truly makes the sword great is what happens to the sword after it is made. 

We call this the “testing” of the sword. 

The sword is bashed and hammered and hollered into shape by the bright hammer. It is thrust into the fierce heat of the fire, where it softens, and then it is quickly quenched in water, where it hardens again. The higher the temperature, the fiercer the fire, the tougher and greater the sword eventually becomes. 

The whole testing process can make a sword, or break it.

The same could be said for the making of a Hero.

Cowell’s still not using complicated vocabulary. Occasionally she’ll insert something like “indelible” into the text, but generally, it’s (superficially) simple language. However. It’s also thoughtful, eloquent, and markedly more mature than something you’ll get in Chapter 3 of the first book. “Great things are only made out of love and out of pain” is something I could embroider and hang on my wall - it’s that sort of a reflective quote. 

The contrast of the two styles - the more childish and the more eloquent-mature - help us understand Hiccup’s life from two perspectives: the viewpoint of a kid experiencing dangers around him idealistically hoping to change the world, and the viewpoint of an adult reflecting back with complex moral understandings. And as Hiccup’s adventures become increasingly darker and he grows in age, the main prose will match the mood.

The writing style works. She doesn’t need a large vocabulary or complex sentential forms to sound thoughtful and imbue great adventures or thematic points. Cowell knows how to impart heart-felt concepts and great reflections for readers of any age, child to adult... and have us impacted by them.

Cressida Cowell’s use of tropes is similarly deceiving. The best writing, I believe, combines refreshingly new material with storytelling elements we’re familiar with - our tropes. I believe Cowell strikes the balance marvelously. 

She brings in wildly creative new concepts - like a quirky world where dragon species are everything down to big-mouthed bee catchers or insect-sized nanodragons. Characters are equally as ridiculous and special; I’d be hard-pressed to find a personality similar to Camicazi anywhere in literature or media.

Cowell also knows how to use tropes. We so often see the feckless, unwanted, socially outcast wimpy protagonist turn into a Hero. We’ve seen a character with a special sword and a noteworthy family history. We’ve seen a character called by fate and prophecy to revolutionize the land before apocalypse. But that doesn’t make Hiccup a generic character handled blandly. Cowell balances fate with agency and with the challenges of reality. Hiccup has to make choices to save what he loves. And Hiccup is limited in what he can do. After all, “History is a set of repeating circles, like the tide. The wind does blow through the ruins of tomorrow. But it is more a question of two steps forward, one step back.” What we get is a Hero’s journey, but one where our Hero is truly spectacular, diligent, unyielding, pushed to the brink, and endlessly inspirational.

I think the thing that impresses me the most in how Cowell handles tropes is the “it can’t get any worse and then it does” concept. We’ve seen it before. Stories make protagonists go through a dark low. And when the character doesn’t think situations can worsen, they do. What makes the HTTYD series so spectacular and unique in how it’s handled... is the sheer repeated beating Cowell does. It’s overwhelming. She keeps going, and going, and going, and going, and doesn’t stop. Other authors would have stopped five bad events ago! It’s to the point that, in book ten, after so many bad things repeatedly occurred, I cried when Hiccup reached one small positive in his efforts. The author isn’t afraid to put our protagonist through the ringer, thereby making every bad experience, and good experience, impacting, memorable, and sometimes shocking to us as readers.

Cowell definitely uses plot devices we’ve seen before. But she weaves them together impactingly, making an emotional ride through high highs and low lows. We’re left with an inspirational takeaway and a Hero’s development we won’t forget.

Cowell’s long-term plot structure is brilliant, too. She divides the series into three equal parts, more or less. The first part is the “isolated” series of whimsical, innocent, childish adventures. The second part makes you squint suspiciously, realizing you’re getting into more complex and dangerous incidences than you expected. The third part is what I lovingly call “the Ragnarok of pain and despair.”

The starting books, deceivingly, seem like isolated, simple adventures. Cowell’s actually setting ALL the stages for the series’ later turmoil. She’s inserting characters, items, prophecies, themes, conflicts, and plot points that will become extraordinarily impacting as the series continues. But readers don’t notice Cowell’s clever, thorough foundation. They just see cutesie, simple, isolated incidences first read through. 

The middling section is where Cowell starts to utilize what she set up. She begins implementing chaos and intertwining strings, pulling Hiccup’s life from random childhood incidences with Alvin and dragons... into something centrally important. She brings together the history of the Barbaric Archipelago with the current events Hiccup’s experiencing around him. All Hiccup’s starting point experiences from the first books become formulative to the choices he has to make now. And all the while, there’s the stewing build-up of a central conflict... which explodes at the end of the second part.

The third part is all-out war. All-out drama. All-out danger. All-out stakes. We see how everything Cowell wrote is interconnected, from the start of the series to whatever conclusion Hiccup’s journey will bring. Moral themes and questions are central; characters are pushed into growth; what we thought was some random thing at the start turns out to be a cleverly-inserted Chekhov’s gun. It’s the payoff to all the set-up and build-up... brilliantly, effectively executed.

Obviously I can’t give examples to you. That would be spoilers. XD To people who’ve read the series, I’ll just say, for one example: all the King’s Things. That’s one example of Cowell’s build-up. But the build-up is everything from moral themes, to character dynamics, to foreshadowed historical revelations. It’s well-paced, well-thought through, well-executed.

The How to Train Your Dragon books are thus both simple and eloquent. And that which is simple isn’t “watered down” - it’s “simple” with purpose, “simple” with complexity, “simple” with personality, “simple” with power.

This is why I always encourage people to keep reading after the first few books. Some people find the starting adventures adorable, loving the charm and humor. I adore that all myself! They’re legitimately treasurable books in and of their own. Other readers aren’t as interested in the cutesie stuff, approaching the first HTTYD books with skepticism; they don’t think that these benign stories are “their thing.” However, every time I’ve encouraged skeptics to read after the first few books, they get sucked in, and find themselves screaming and crying and laughing and celebrating with Hiccup’s dynamic adventures. It’s all because Cowell’s simplicity is deceptive: there’s so much more going on, and there’s always more going on the deeper in you look.

[muscari-melpomene]

ALRIGHTY HERE’S Y’ALLS ESSAY TIPS FOR TODAY.

1. WHEN YOU START A NEW PARAGRAPH, HIT THAT TAB BUTTON AND INDENT THE BEGINNING OF IT, BECAUSE FORMATTING AND IT MAKES IT LONGER.

2. 500 WORDS IS ALL YOU NEED FOR A DECENT TWO PAGE PAPER.

3. TIMES NEW ROMAN TWELVE-POINT DOUBLE-SPACED, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS IT MAKES LIFE SO MUCH EASIER.

4. DO NOT USE CONTRACTIONS. UNDERSTAND? DO NOT. NOT DON’T. DO NOT.

5. USE FLOWERY WORDING, BUT USE IT MODERATELY.

6. DO NOT REPEAT WORDS TOO OFTEN. I DON’T CARE HOW AMAZING OR SHOCKING SOMETHING WAS, YOU CAN FIND SYNONYMS TO COMMUNICATE IT.

7. THESAURUSES AND DICTIONARIES ARE YOUR FRIENDS.

8. WRITE LIKE YOU’RE SHITPOSTING, THEN REVISE.

9. A BIT OF SARCASM IS FINE, BUT DON’T -sorry- DO NOT USE IT EXCESSIVELY. AIM FOR AMUSEMENT FROM THE TEACHER, NOT ANNOYANCE.

10. IF YOUR QUOTE IS MORE THAN 40 WORDS, YOU SELECT THAT WHOLE THING AND YOU USE THE INDENT PARAGRAPH TOOL, THEN PUT A PARTLY ITALICIZED REFERENCE UNDER IT AND TO THE RIGHT, LIKE SO:

AND THE QUOTE IS NOT DOUBLE SPACED, THE QUOTE IS SINGLE SPACED, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS.

11. DON’T FREAK OUT, YOU’RE A WONDERFUL WRITER. DRINK WATER, DRINK COFFEE, STAY OFF OF SOCIAL MEDIA WHILE YOU’RE WRITING, EAT PROTEIN. DO YOU LIKE CHEESE? HAVE SOME CHEESE.

12. DON’T USE CAPSLOCK IN YOUR FORMAL ESSAY UNLESS IT’S PART OF THE ORIGINAL QUOTE.

13. READ THE ESSAY OUT LOUD TO YOURSELF WHEN YOU’RE DONE, IT HELPS YOU PROOFREAD BETTER.

14. PROPPER GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS, PLEASE MAKE SENSE.

15. I LOVE YOU AND YOU’RE GONNA BE OKAY.

Thank you and goodnight.

[ramblinganthropologist]

Marry You: Omake

Because Social Media is so great for bringing people together.

Summary: Cherche Mahariel just got engaged. Her son is more than happy to let their friends know. (Extra content to Marry You) Pairing: Cherche Mahariel x Sten, Miris Tabris x Zevran Arainai, Cahel Mahariel x Alistair Theirin. Setting: That Modern Dragon Age AU Word Count: 1704

---

“Well, that takes care of that.”

Cherche had just closed the door to her room, leaving Cahel free to get back to work. He had a mountain of paperwork from the first Warden waiting for him on his desk, and reports of darkspawn in the area – that were probably just mangy wolves at this point – to send some scouts out on. The former could wait thanks to the fact the old codger hadn't gotten with the concept of email yet – gods bless pigeon mail – and the latter he could send a few green Wardens out on. The afternoon would be annoyingly slow, but productive.

“I'm way too young to be doing bullshit like this.” He rubbed the back of his neck, still not entirely used to finding stubble there instead of hair. The top portion of his undercut was coming in nicely, but he still found himself surprised at the sensation. “Should've made Miris do it after all.”

Cahel sighed as he started to turn the corner, but stopped as his ears twitched. Somewhere, nearby if the frequency was a hint, someone was playing music. Pop, if the beat he was tapping out on the floor meant anything. The lyrics took a little longer, but soon they were playing, somewhat faded, into his ears.

It's a beautiful night, we're looking for something dumb to do...

Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you...

Eyes wide, the first thing he did was run straight back to the door. There was no doubt about origins of the sound, he was standing right in front of it. He backed up ever so slightly and made a grab for his leggings pocket to find his phone.

Commander Squirt: OH MY GODS

Commander Squirt: SHE'S ACTUALLY DOING IT.

Commander Squirt: MIRIS GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE YOU OWE ME 5 SOVEREIGNS SHE'S ACTUALLY DOING IT.

The message was received on the training ground, where a sweaty Miris glanced back at the trainees he was currently putting through their paces. None of them had ever held a sword in their lives before, and today's lesson involved the pointy end and where to stick it. Naturally, he had plenty of time to sneak his hand into the gap between his armor and shirt to retrieve his vibrating phone.

His one good eye widened as he read the message. Cahel's annoying habit of multiple texting aside, this was big. He had been saving those five sovereigns for mead the following night. Still, it was his duty to put out the message.

He was a slower typer than the Warden Commander, but his message had further to go.

Mi Amor: ZEV SHE'S DOING IT.

“Alright, you practice on your own! The Warden Commander needs me for something.” He tossed his mace aside to make a run for the tower. If the confused recruits caught on to the happenings, they were none the wiser.

Somewhere in Antiva, as he wiped away the blood on a knife, Zevran Arainai felt his pocket vibrate. Usually he turned his phone off when it was work time, but he recognized the pattern. His lover was texting him, and that could only be something big.

“I wonder if it's something dirty.” He chuckled to himself as he unlocked his phone screen, cracked and showing off a picture of the two of them the last time Miris had visited in the fall. They made quite the pair, or so the locals had said as they eyed him appreciatively.

Zevran allowed a chuckle as he nudged the hand of his target aside while he left the alley. The dogs would find it before the police, thanks to what he had sprinkled on the corpse. Another crow had gone the way of the dodo, but he had more important things to pun on.

“Did she now? Well, a certain bard in Orlais owes me some money the next time we meet.”

With his hood down and in plain clothes underneath, he blended in perfectly with the bustling crowd of the capital city's biggest market. In fact, he had made enough time to grab a coffee from the nearby Starbucks as he sat down to type out his message.

Crow: My musical friend, I believe you owe me 2 sovereigns.

Crow: I have been informed that our dear archer had taken the plunge with her qunari lover.

Crow: Something in E major?

The message pinged inside a tavern on the Orlesian border, inside the skirt pocket of the pretty woman who had been trading board for song. She had been breaking from her set in order to relax her aching fingers in the hopes her contact would arrive soon.

'You're really bringing them in tonight, my dear.' A woman in a dark trench coat sidled up next to her at the bar. The napkin she nudged over was intercepted in a matter of seconds. 'See you at the palace next?'

'I would not miss it for the world.' Leliana knew better than to check it at the table; there would be eyes watching. However, the vibrating in her pocket drew her concern. Swapping phone for napkin, she unlocked the screen of Andraste's grace.

A smile crossed her features as she read her dear friend's message. Normally, he just gave her assassination targets. The two sovereigns would be well spent as she began to compose her latest tune about star crossed lovers finally coming together.

E major though? Forget about it. They deserved something rarer. At least, that's what came to her as she started to type out another message. There was a mage somewhere north of Orzammar who had asked her to keep her updated.

This seemed like a fairly important thing to keep her in the loop on.

Leliana: Zevran sends word; Cherche is going to give you a grandson in law.

Wynne got the message just as she was about to descend into the deepest halls of Orzammar, far beyond where cellphones would receive any message. Shale cast welcome shade upon her as she rested her staff to the side in order to find her phone in her robes. It was an old flip phone, but she had no need for the fancier kinds her younger companions preferred. Besides, it had survived being stepped on by a druffalo once.

“Do the Wardens send word?” Her large companion sounded almost concerned for a second. “They better not have died.”

The mage chuckled as she clicked onto the message. “Is that concern I hear, Shale?”

“Hardly. I just don't want them to become food for the pigeons.” The golem glanced down. “So, what do the soft ones have to say?”

Despite having crowed previously that cellphones were a waste of resources, Shale seemed to be eating  their words. Wynne would tease them about that later as she read through the words carefully. At least there wasn't text speak.

A smile crossed her face as she started to text a number in Ferelden. “My family is growing, Shale. I'm soon to have a grandson in law.”

“Ah, the archer and her Qunari. I was beginning to wonder when that would occur.”

“There's a young man in Ferelden who owes me ten sovereigns, and I intended to collect.” Giggling, she continued her message. Even though she had an older model, Wynne could still text as fast as any young person. Her clicking sounds carried on for a few seconds until she had sent the message off. “Now, shall we head down?”

“If we must.”

Scary old Lady: Alistair, I believe you owe me ten sovereigns. Cherche has proposed.

Alistair had just gotten out of a meeting with another prince from Antiva. With any luck, that one would probably be assassinated within a week's time. It was all becoming very trying to remember names, though suggesting they wear tags was out of the question. Eamon had said so with that look on his face.

So, when he got the chance to breathe, he noticed his pants pocket was vibrating. A picture of Cahel making a face at the camera on his lock screen told him he had a message. He groaned as he read who it was from, and the subject matter.

“You have GOT to be kidding me. One more week and I could've won!” He sighed. “I swear, they were in on this together.”

Still, he had time for a few messages to a certain Dalish elf to check on things. By now, his favorite contact had plenty of messages. One more wouldn't hurt.

His Hotness: Why didn't you tell me that your mother was proposing? I had 10 sovereigns on it. :c

Cahel was still at the door. Maybe twenty minutes had passed since he had sent the message to Miris; his senior warden was next to him, waiting for the happy couple to come out. He chuckled as he unlocked the screen of his dog to a group shot of them in front of the Warden mobile. I was easy to imagine his boyfriend pouting with an emoji like that.

Prince Charming: Had I know I would've told you sooner.

CJ Mahariel  sent a video to Blight Fight 30

CJ Mahariel: Check this out guys!

Cherche was still in Sten's warm embrace when her ring tone for the group chat jolted her into reality. She shook her head as a shot of her own door with a rather familiar tune started playing. Maybe she should have been embarrassed, but part of her couldn't help but be amused.

Sten didn't look too surprised as he peered over her shoulder. “So much for leaving us.”

“I heard him run back the moment the music started.” She was soon texting as well. After all, she was a mother.

Mamae: You're grounded.

The groan from behind the door was more than worth it as she put her phone away. There were plenty of other things she was interested in at the moment, and it wasn't the sounds coming from the group chat. The emojis and capslocked messages could wait for later. After all, she had a new fiance to entertain.