#oh little lark you talk too much

[grilledcheeseandguavajelly]

I decided very casually to rewatch ouat as an adult, and then I very not-casually and very quickly became absolute trash for swanqueen. So just. Yeah. You’ve been warned.

[auckie]

I think the things that offend me most nowadays in like, smaller interpersonal interactions rather than grand, sweeping trends in culture, are when people chose to not partake in a wide set of things. Like musical close mindedness, or refusal to try different foods from different cultures. Not watching an entire subset of films bc they’re ‘french’. Avoiding reading bc you say you have adhd and it’s too hard. Like dude I get it, I’m busy. I can be picky. Everyone can. But the willful ignorance of closing yourself off to those VAST portions of the human experience, and not having curiosity and a lust to learn and explore art that was made by someone worlds apart from you either in terms of their culture, era, whatever. I dunno man it just pisses me off so bad. I think it’s arrogant. Like oh you’re comfortable in your safe little bubble huh? And you’re enforcing its barriers with the excuse that you’re autistic and have sensory issues. With music made by black people?? lol okay. It is pretty presumptuous for me to assume malicious intent but I think those prejudices are borne from either the comfort of being someone who’s wealthy and probably white not feeling the need to learn past what they think is enough, or it’s a reflection of a society that’s taught you to prioritize what it shills— popular, current (white, depending where you live ig) artists who are making streamlined, easy to digest content. Often when I meet people with these issues they’ll have one particular ‘niche’, and it tends to be like. 70s music. Victorian literature. Anime and Japanese games. But they’re still not really investing beyond the media presented. Like there’s so much more to Japanese culture than liking some cartoons put out between 2010-2020. You don’t gotta become some sorta Einstein who learns the background of every little freak in FGO yeah. But don’t you wanna aim higher? Aren’t you interested in any of the historical figures? And nothings wrong with hopping onto a trend. You read Dracula bc of that Dracula daily thing. Cool! Read more. Some people will say they’re chronically ill or disabled and can’t get outside. That’s okay. The internet is full of things you can read other than fanfiction, YouTube has a shit ton of free music. There’s Wikipedia and free articles online if you have questions about things. Yeah nobody is spending four hours a day looking at the national archives website and studying art history but it’s imbued in the things around you, and youll absorb it ambiently as you go along. you dont have to be a jack of all trades and cover every major genre of every major medium, but it never hurts to try! I really love seeing ppl ask too. Bc it can be kind of humiliating to admit to what seems like some jackass hipster that you’ve never delved into, idk, Serbian films (lol not that one). And hopefully if whoever you’re asking will give you honest good recommendations and not berate you. I’m kind of berate a straw man rn I guess. The hostile tone def doesn’t lend to an atmosphere of sharing but I cannot tell you how many times I’ve rbed anything involving specifically jazz only to see someone rb and add the stupidest comment on the post, or in the tags, or go into my inbox to be like waaah I don’t like jazz bc it’s boring and old and for pretentious hypocrites who hate neurodivergent people! Like what are you TALKING about. Fine if you don’t like it but don’t try and rationalize that as a moral standing you shit lark. And just as they’re allowed to dislike jazz I’m allowed to not really enjoy people who don’t like jazz. Or country. Nautical knots. Knit wear. Watching urbex YouTubers get their shit rocked by squatters. Korean food. Pachuco fashion and stupid ugly low riders. Bollywood films. and they don’t want to try any of those things either yknow? The next thing I’m getting into is circuit bending.

[crimson-and-clover-1717]

I know this skit is partly played for laughs, but I think Ed says some interesting things which reveal his thoughts on becoming an innkeeper.

This. This is so important in understanding Ed and what he wants. He wants as little stress as possible.

Ed wants a ‘pretty good life’. Not wealth or notoriety. He wants something easy, fun and stress-free.

It’s a part again for Ed. An act. There are props involved. This time it’s keys. Ed wants to act the part of ‘innkeeper’. The second person of it all, ‘you’. There’s detachment. Another play. This is where we see Ed’s creativity which needs an outlet. Ed’s an artist.

I always think of Ed as that person others very much like, but who is always on the outside of the group. And he sort of captures it here. He struggles to belong partly because his identity is unmoored, and also maybe as protection. Ed wants to be liked. Wants to be around people. But he also sets himself apart as the innkeeper or kind jailer; he needs that little bit of control to feel safe. Because he has rarely felt safe.

Ed’s talking about the guests. But he’s exploring agency here too. Because Ed hasn’t been able to ‘go whenever he wants’. He’s had his own jailer with a set of metaphorical keys. If Ed has the keys now as the innkeeper, he can ‘go whenever he wants.’

And now we come to David’s Christmas fic. And this innkeeper lark is no longer simple. Ed’s lost control of the keys. Ed’s handed Stede ‘the keys’ it seems. And Stede, bless him, is trying to make this work so much for Ed. And it’s becoming another prison for them both.

Ed wants simplicity, creativity, agency, and friendship. Oh, and his partner. He wants Stede. Time for a change…

[yourdeepestfathoms]

hiii !!!! I've been LOVING your yaelokre headcannons since I joined the fandom :)) if I may, I'd like to share two requests I have for them !!

× the larks first show

× the larks and cooking

They're very few, but it's been lingering in my mind for quite a while !! Absolutely no pressure tho :))

hi! i’m glad you’re enjoying the hcs! 🥰

yeah, i can do those!

The Lark’s First Show

It was a mess beforehand.

Cole was basically pulling out their hair and making a nest, pacing back and forth, stressing over every little detail- “What if my voice cracks? What if I forget every lyric? What if I drop my instrument? WHAT IF I PEE MY PANTS ONSTAGE?!”

“Okay, you need to calm down,” Perrine said.

“Calm down? CALM DOWN?! How can I possibly CALM DOWN when we’re about to do the biggest thing any of us have ever done before?!” Cole squawked back. “How are YOU so calm?!”

“Oh, she’s not!” Kingsley piped up. “She’s shaking! I also heard her giving herself a pep talk beforehand we got here!”

“KINGSLEY!” Perrine yawped.

Clémentine had to step in from there. They were almost eerily calm, with a serene smile on their face. It was daunting. Even though Cole’s anxiety was blowing things a bit out of proportion, they were right- this was a huge event for all of them.

And yet, Clémentine was calm.

Cole, bewildered, asked them how that can be possible.

Laughing, Clémentine responded, “Oh, I am nervous! Very much so! Look at my hands, they’re shaking! But freaking out won’t do anything but make it worse.”

They then get the others to do some breathing exercises, and as silly as they were, it helped.

“We’re gonna do amazing. We’ll make the Harkers proud.”

And they did!

It was a bit of a rocky start- Cole’s voice did crack, but no peeing of the pants happened, so that was good! And there were a few slip ups, but as the performance went on, they all found their rhythm, and it proceeded smoothly!

Getting a standing ovation at the end was like a dream come true. (They all cried)

The Lark and Cooking

Perrine does most of the cooking for the group. She has a few cookbooks that she uses! I feel like the kids would have their own garden to grow fruits and vegetables, so she would get most ingredients from there, but for meats, she’ll fish and hunt.

When it comes to hunting, none of the others want to even TRY. Cole will cry if they have to kill an animal, Clémentine feels too bad, and Kingsley simply isn’t trusted with a weapon. Fishing, however, is different, and they all like having fishing days! Even if Kingsley does get bored after a few minutes.

Perrine doesn’t even necessarily like hunting herself, but it needs to be done. I feel like they don’t get paid that much for their performances, if they get paid at all, so it’s easier to live off the land, and that means hunting. Money needs to be saved for things like medicine, clothing, and things they can’t get from foraging. So, it’s Perrine who bites her tongue and goes out to hunt.

This is getting off topic, but I have more hunting-related headcanons, so if anyone is interested, let me know!

Anyway, yeah, Perrine does most of the cooking, and she’s very good at it! It relaxes her.

Clémentine also helps cook, and they’re also good! However, they don’t like handling meat because they always worry that they’re gonna undercook it, and the last thing anyone needs is all four of them getting food poisoning at the same time in their little house.

They’re very good at baking, though! They LOVE to make all kinds of baked goods, such as cookies or cakes or little pastries with berry filling. Everyone loves their treats!

Cole can do the bare bones cooking- soup and sandwiches. Everything beyond that somehow always gets messed up, whether that be because they added too much or too little of something or they forgot to grease the pan and the food is sticking to the bottom of it.

However, they love to bake with Clémentine! They can make a few baked goods on their own, but those are all recipes they’ve learned from watching Clémentine.

They also make really good tea!

Kingsley is not allowed near the stove.

[shy-urban-hobbit]

"Whatcha doing, bard?"

Jaskier startled slightly when Aiden plopped down beside him next to the fire, eyes bright with the beginnings of drunkenness as he offered the wine he was holding. Jaskier took a swig straight from the bottle, choking a little in surprise. After the roughness of the various homebrews and the wines that had been aging in the cellar for possible decades it was sweeter than he expected. Definitely Southern.

"Just thinking. You?"

The Cat let out a dramatic sigh, leaning against Jaskier, "Lambert's ignoring me and it's making me sad."

"Oh, come on. I'm sure he's not."

"Oh?" Aiden cocked an eyebrow before taking a deep inhale, "Hey, Lambert!" He called over to where Lambert was deep in conversation with his brothers (and had been all night). "I'm not wearing any underthings and I fingered myself stupid while thinking of you earlier!"

"Yeah, that's fine Kitten." Lambert answered with a dismissive wave of his hand without even looking over as if Aiden had just told him that he was going to go grab more booze.

Aiden smirked at Jaskier as if to say 'see?', "And from the look on your face you know exactly what I'm talking about, no?"

Now it was Jaskier's turn to fill his lungs, "Oh Geralt!" He singsonged, "I just spilled sweet dessert wine all over my naked body. Want to help me get cleaned up? I'm so sticky and messy!"

Geralt gave one of his classic, non-committal grunts in response.

"Oh, sweet Gods." Jaskier took another angry mouthful before thrusting the bottle into Aiden's chest, ignoring the Witchers chuckle, "I understand he wants to spend time with his brothers but we haven't had any alone time for two weeks! He's either involved in some group activity or we're both too tired after training or chores."

"Hmm."'Aiden hummed in agreement, taking a deep swallow of the wine, "As much as I like Geralt and Eskel and how close they all are, there's certain activities I don't want them involved in." His expression turned devilish, "Want to do something about it?"

"...I'm listening."

Aiden crooked his finger in a beckoning gesture, prompting Jaskier to lean in closer so he could whisper in his ear as if the other Witchers in the room were actually paying attention to them.

"Fucking Hell!"

When he'd decided to call it a night and join Aiden in bed, the last thing Lambert had been expecting was to stumble on his Cat and Geralt's bard locked in a heated kiss at the top of the stairs, Jaskier's hands leisurely roaming over Aiden's back, whimpering when the Witcher moved his attentions from the bard's mouth to his throat. It was only when Geralt's telltale growl reached his ears he lifted his head, languidly turning to look at the two unsuspecting voyuers. Both Wolves looked an entertaining combination of aroused and annoyed. Mostly aroused.

Aiden purred internally. Perfect.

"Well, this is what happens when you forget about us." He said with an exaggerated pout, which Jaskier matched as he wrapped his arms around Aiden's neck, attempting to give Geralt his most pathetic look.

"I've never felt so neglected in my life." He whined, something Geralt knew definitely wasn't true but he decided to play along once he realised neither Jaskier or Aiden smelt even vaguely of arousal, despite their previous position.

"Oh, don't worry Lark." He growled as he stalked forwards, Aiden having the forethought to hurriedly disentangle himself, "I'm about to make sure you're very well taken care of."

Jaskier gave a yelp of surprise which turned into a laugh as Geralt threw him over his shoulder before stalking away towards his room. Jaskier grinned widely as he threw a salute to Aiden before they disappeared around the corner.

Before he realised what was happening, he found himself in Jaskier's previous position. Boxed in against the stone wall with Lambert's chest pressed against his, "That was your idea, wasn't it?"

It wasn't really a question and it was pointless to try and lie, "Yes." Aiden said, meeting Lambert's gaze, gasping in surprise when the Wolf ducked his head and started nuzzling at his neck.

"And you honestly feel the same?"

"...Yes."

Lambert let out a rumble, the meaning of which Aiden couldn't quite discern as he nipped at Aiden's pulse.

"So." Aiden prompted, squirming a little, "You going to make it up to me, or punish me?"

"Depends. How serious were you being about the no underthings?"

[howlingday]

YanYaYang

Yang: Excuse me?

Cardin: I said if ya ain't gonna fork over some lien, then there's no point in us goin' out on a date. 'Course, if you promise to put out, I'm willin' to change my mind. But you gotta pay for the hotel.

Yang: Ugh... (Roundhouse kicks)

Cardin: (Blocks) What the hell?! (Kicks) Get over yourself! If you ain't got cash, and you ain't puttin' out, then what the hell's the point of us bein' together? You really think I give that much of a shit about you?

Yang: Screw you, you 8-bit brained loser! Tetris! Pong! Mario!

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

Pyrrha: Did you really say that to him?

Weiss: Calling him video game titles doesn't do anything.

Yang: Can't I get a little sympathy~? He was my first boyfriend~!

Weiss: And I told you not to bother with that guy. Honestly, name one good thing about him.

Yang: He... He looked like the guy who played Neptune in that one series~...

Pyrrha: Oh... This again?

Weiss: You make me sick.

Yang: HEY! What's wrong with dating a guy who looks like he can part the seas for you?!

God of the Sea: I'm as ruthless as the seas...

Weiss: There's no such thing as guys like that anymore.

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

Yang: Ugh... Isn't there anyone out there who can treat me like the beautiful pearl I am? Somebody... Anybody...? Why is life so...

Goggles: (Getting pelted by paper)

Russel: C'mon! Say something!

Goggles: (Looks up)

Lark: Hey! Who said you could look at us?!

Dove: Here. This one's got a magnet in it.

Russel: Oh, yeah! That'll hurt~! ...Huh?

Yang: (Sitting in front of Goggles)

Goggles: (Taken aback)

Yang: Whatcha readin'~?

Goggles: Uh... W-Well, it's-

Yang: (Looks to bullies, Scoffs) Lame... Is there nothing but cowards in this school? (Exits)

Goggles: ...

Yang: What's it gonna take to get a little excitement around here? I've got so much pent-up potential!

Goggles: YANG XIAO LONG! I know what you're looking for!

Yang: Huh?

Goggles: I said I know what you're into!

Yang: Don't just repeat yourself.

Goggles: If you, Yang Xiao Long, sat next to me, it's because of only one thing!

Yang: I'm not gonna be your friend, dude. Just forget everything you saw back there.

Goggles: (Holds out tabloid) THIS! This is what I'm talking about! Headmaster Ozpin has already been to the moon! Everything about Project Icarus is finally revealed!

Yang: What?

Goggles: You're into the paranormal, aren't you?!

Yang: You mean, like, UFOs and aliens? Nah, I ain't into that.

Goggles: UAPs, not UFOs! Unidentified Aerial Phenomena!

Yang: (Rolls her eyes) Geez, enough already...

Goggles: They found fossilized remains of extraterrestrial life in the deserts of Vacuo, and there's even speculation of superior, intelligent life being responsible for the shattering of the moon!

Yang: (Looking at her scroll) Can I go now?

Goggles: Wait, wait! I've got the latest on the Leviathan, and androids, and beast-folk!

Yang: SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY! I'm dealing with a broken heart right now, and I'm not in the mood to play pretend with your crap! This is why YOU HAVE NO FRIENDS!

Goggles: (Drops magazine)

Yang: (Walks away, Stops, Turns, Sighs, Walks back) Sorry. Too far?

Yang: (Picks up magazine) Look, I don't believe in aliens, but I do believe in magic, since my mom is a Maiden.

Goggles: Pfft! Magic isn't real~!

Yang: HUH?! I WENT ALONG WITH YOUR BULLCRAP, AND YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO SHUT ME DOWN?!

Goggles: I CARE ABOUT REAL FACTS, NOT MYSTICAL MUMBO-JUMBO!

Yang: No, it's true! My mom is a Maiden! Have you seen the magic she can pull off? It's amazing~! ...even though she has a shitty personality.

Goggles: Or it could just be a semblance. There's no proof magic exists.

Yang: (Shoves magazine into his face) Yeah? You ever get offered a ride in one of those fancy UAPs yet, then?

Goggles: (Pushing magazine away) None of your arguments make any sense! Would you string together at least one thought?!

Pyrrha: Huh? I guess she stopped looking for a Greek god and settled for something more... realistic.

Weiss: I don't think she cares how she looks, wrestling that tabloid with him and all. Honestly, good for her.

Yang: ALRIGHT, HERE'S THE DEAL! If I can prove magic is real, then YOU have to be MY personal servant!

Goggles: FINE! And if I can prove aliens, I mean extraterrestrials, are real, then YOU have to be MY personal servant, Miss Xiao Long!

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

One First Episode Shenanigan Later...

Yang: Well, that sucked.

Yang: I didn't think aliens were real, but then an alien cat abducted me.

Goggles: I didn't think magic was real, but then an evil witch put a curse on me.

Yang: So... What now?

Goggles: Good question.

Yang: I need to focus my aura so you don't go crazy again.

Goggles: Sorry about that.

Yang: Because of this, I lost my uniform, my wallet, my scroll... Everything

Goggles: Do you think there's a way to get rid of this curse?

Yang: Yeah; track down that witch bitch and kick her ass!

Goggles: Oh... Alright, I'll go ahead and make my way on over there then.

Yang: What?! You're going now?!

Goggles: I might as well. It's my fault that I put you into this mess. (Hands over jacket) Here, you can have these while I go take care of this. You go home and let me handle this. (Taking off pants)

Yang: What? No, I have to keep my eye on you until-

Goggles: No, you don't. This is my mess, and just because you got dragged into it doesn't mean you have to suffer with me. It's my fault that I got cursed, just like it's my fault that you got abducted.

Yang: Dude, this is as much my fault as it is yours, so I can't just walk away from this either, you know! Not to mention that if it wasn't for either of us, both of us would be dead.

Goggles: Are... Are you sure? Even if you help me-

Yang: You mean like how I'm helping you now? Like, right now? Now shut up and put your pants back on!

Goggles: S-Sorry... Sometimes, I'm as ruthless as the seas...

Yang: Huh...?

Goggles: I'll take my pants back, but please keep the jacket on. Something about a woman being vulnerable makes me sick.

Yang: (Lub-Dub, Thinking) What... What's going on...? Why's my heart racing? No, it's nothing like that. He just happened to sound like Neptune; that's all.

Yang: Hey, uh, what's your name again? I don't think you ever told me!

Goggles: My name? It's NEPTUNE.

Yang:

[watchingyoufromthestars]

Finally cleaned this up so here’s my DnDads ultimate ship opinions list. I was waiting until after s2 ended to clean this up in case I had any final opinion changes with the last few episodes. Please don’t bash me for any of these. The DnDads fandom is generally very nice but shipping discourse is something that can get heated no matter the fandom.

Dads

Henry Darryl: very neutral. I understand the ship I just never fully got on the boat

Henry Glenn: absolutely fucking feral about them do not get me started on Glennry

Darryl Glenn: feral in a different way that I don’t know how to describe other than toxic yaoi in the way that they’re damaged but refuse to talk about it so they kiss about it instead

Loveeeeeeee polydads but only as Henry/Glenn/Darryl. Not really a Ron shipper I love him and Samantha too much. Ron and Glenn’s friendship is very important to me though

In terms of Jodie, I don’t really ship him with any of the main dads, ESPECIALLY not Glenn. Even if Jimmy didn’t play Jodie I’d still never ship them. Wish Scamster was real and not completely a scam because they’re literally a crackship become real except it was never a crackship before canon. It’s surprising to me that they weren’t really shipped beforehand

Henry Mercedes: THE T4T OF ALL TIME BABEYYYYY. Absolutely iconic couple, fate was in their favor with how they met they were destined for each other

Darryl Carol: After hearing how Darryl talked about his family in Heaven, I was actually really happy they ended up not getting divorced. They clearly had a rough patch as seen in s1, but they genuinely love each other and I love how devoted to her Darryl is. The little finger puppet he made of her in the time out zone… :,)

Glenn Morgan: GLORGAN!!!!!!!!! Oh my god these two tear me apart. I am feral for Glorgan angst there’s too much to work with. More people need to start calling them Glorgan instead of Morglenn please please please please pretty please indulge me in my silly ship name

Ron Samantha: sobbing. They’re so sweet. The distinction that Samantha is also a little silly is very important to me. They love each other so fucking much

Kiddads

Nicky Sparrow: didn’t realize how much I love them for a good while but when I did oh god I love them so so much. T4T it’s so real to me that they’re both trans

Nicky Lark: used to like it but yall mischaracterize Nicky so much in fics. If yall want toxic yaoi just ship Grant and Lark I’m so serious

Nicky Terry: sobs. They were best friends. I don’t personally ship them but the fact that Terry said he was his best friend… that line rattles around in my brain so often

Nicky Grant: recently learned this might get shipped and has THE coolest ship name. Crossfire I love you but for the ship name alone

Sparrow Terry: I think I’ve seen this shipped a few times but only in the context of Terry/Nicky/Sparrow. Not my personal cup of tea though

Sparrow Grant: I don’t see this shipped too often but they have the worst ship name ever /aff. Wtf is a spant lol. Also I’m too much team transfem Sparrow to feel comfortable shipping this

Lark Terry: do not know the appeal of Gun Control but their ship name is fun

Lark Grant: toxic yaoi central. They both need intense therapy but them both being so fucked up is what makes them interesting not that that’s healthy though

Terry Grant: I see them more in a qpr place than anything romantic. I have one fic of them that’s bookmarked on Safari because I think about a part from it from time to time

Don’t have any poly ships for them

In terms of s2 spouses I so desperately wished we could’ve seen more of them. We barely get to see them

Nicky Cassandra: Telling Taylor his dad was a good man and that she misses him every day makes me think they parted on good terms. But then Nicky disappeared because of FBI shit. In another life maybe they could’ve worked.

Sparrow Rebecca: more ugly sobbing. I’m unsure on my sparroace thoughts if they’d end up getting divorced post-finale but I know they’re not fully separating or breaking up. They really are in love but it’s unconventional and messy.

Terry Veronica: I think the reveal that Terry is infertile is a nice touch to their relationship. It sounds weird to say and I feel like I might word this all weirdly. Him being unable to have bio kids but finding love in someone who wants to raise a kid with him anyways. Veronica finding new love again after a supposedly abusive relationship. Both of those combined is something I really love.

Grant Marco: Canon gays ftw. The Titanic episode was so generous in letting us get to see their dynamic. Obviously Grant still has a long way to go in finding self love but I’m so happy he found someone who can support him and loves him back like this.

Teens

Normal Scary: ugly sobbing over them I love them so much. Cradling my madomagi and tma aus with them as madohomu and jmart

Normal Taylor: yearning for the early s2 days like when they went to Sonic and made some devious plan off screen I wish they had more silly interactions together. Was truly fed with the kareoke intro and them bonding over costume making for a minute. Tayloak could be so interesting if there was more material to work with

Normal Link: Childhood BFFs to Lovers; I wish they could’ve hung out more as kids but all that happened

Normal Hermie: I get the hype but I have personal reasons for feeling neutral on them that I wish I could get over. Good soup though /ref

Scary Taylor: see them too much as a sibling dynamic to ever ship them

Scary Link: respect to all y’all shippers but I do not gothcleats and will leave it at that forever. I can only accept the finale with my transfem Link hc

Scary Hermie: I love Scene Partners. These stupid kids and reflecting each other /aff

Taylor Link: one that I can’t believe I didn’t ship sooner they’re so silly

Link Hermie: I think this one is very funny (/pos) but not my personal vibe

Love love LOVEEEEEEEE Marloakworthy AUGH. A giant triangle of everyone paralleling each other

Polywagon I love you; cannot believe you’re real and genuinely canon. This is just Homestuck again when Hussie said all ships are canon (DnDads never beating the Homestuck allegations from me)

Scary Erica: wish there were more interactions I love Erica so much but alas she’s a guest NPC. “You awaken a lightness in me” sapphic ass Scary I know what you are

[squarebracketsmileyface]

Hey Mon, weird question (at least coming from me)

What would happen in the Lark lives PGP timeline if everyone (but more importantly Lark) found out Alex lived and like, he showed up one day.

~💜

Ohohoh oh this was so fun to think about.

Usually when I think PGPau and everyone lives, I think of Tim having called the police or something and being there when Alex gets arrested, testifying against him in court and all that, explaining that Alex wasn't fully in control of his actions etc, making sure Alex got the help he needed, not just thrown in prison to rot without any help for the operators influence over him. But this idea is interesting.

...I hope you're ready to read a whole novel purple heart person :)

Like Tim and Lark carrying on with their life as much as they can, getting over MH and what they did to survive etc, especially Tim with having killed Alex and feeling guilty for Brian's death even if he wasn't technically to blame entirely.

I think their first instinct if suddenly Alex turned up alive and free, not in prison or a mental hospital somewhere, would be absolute fear, complete terror thinking that everything's about to start up again, when they thought they'd left it behind, when they have a kid to protect. I think they wouldn't even realise at first that Alex doesn't have the Operator following him around anymore. I like the idea that they're at the park with Birdie when it happens and she's just been given a little digital camera for her birthday that she's obsessed with using to take photos of every bug she sees. Tim and Lark are watching her from a distance, just slowly following when she gets too far away but otherwise leaving her to her own devices, and they're just chatting amongst themselves about whatever the hell, and then by the gate of the park, they see Alex. He's not even coming into the park, he's walking past, but then he sees them too, and he stops dead in his tracks and just stares.

That's when the panic kicks in. Tim and Lark hurry over to Birdie, absolutely terrified for her safety, and she like, doesn't really get what's going on so she's just looking around through her camera while they're trying to say, like "hey, we need to go home right now, I know we said you could have a whole hour here, but we really need to go home." They're trying not to scare her, they don't want to make her panic before they know what's going on, but there's a good amount of panic in their voices so she forces herself to be okay with the change in routine (well, 'okay' she's very close to tears because yeah! They said she could have an hour at the park taking photos of bugs and it's only been like half an hour!) and they bundle her out of the other gate of the park, as far away from Alex as they can be, even though it means a longer walk home.

Once they're home, Tim and Lark are still a bit paranoid, maybe very paranoid, they check all the windows and doors, check that Alex hasn't broken into their house and done anything. They notice the camera in Birdie's hands, and remember how to was looking around the park through it when they'd rushed over to her to tell her they had to go home and think, like, "okay, maybe she got him on camera, maybe we should check the footage, just in case" because they knew she was taking a video at that point.

So one of them takes Birdie to play in her room while the other keeps her camera to go through, and they do find the video she'd been taking on it. They watch it over and over, upload it to their computer so they can go through it frame by frame looking for the Operator, or any glitches in the visuals or audio. But they find nothing. There's not a pixel out of place.

They don't talk about what happened for the rest of the day, wait until Birdie's in bed and they can be fairly sure she's not gonna walk in and interrupt them before they talk about it. They talk about how Birdie's camera footage was clean, even though it did have Alex in it, along with most of the rest of the park. So maybe (hopefully, so fucking hopefully) the Operator wasn't with Alex, maybe that wasn't even actually Alex. Maybe it was just someone who looked like him and they panicked for no reason. They were a little way from him, couldn't see him that clearly, so it was entirely possible they mistook someone else for Alex.

They kinda convince themselves of that, take Birdie back to the park the next day to give her her full hours worth of running around taking photos of bugs. Birdie has a great time. She has so many photos and videos of bugs on her camera.

Anyway, a week or two later, they run into Alex again, and there's no question that it's him this time.

They don't have Birdie with them this time, she's at school, which is a relief. I kinda wanna say they just... run into Alex at the supermarket or something lol, it's a completely mundane thing, Alex only moved to this town a few weeks ago and is still getting the essentials and moving into his place sorted. The first time Tim and Lark saw him, at the park, was like his second day in his new house and he'd been on the way to get something from the shops when he saw someone who looked suspiciously like Tim at the park, with a woman he didn't recognise, and it just stopped him dead in his tracks, because what the fuck? What are the chances? How the fuck did he chose the same fucking town Tim had to settle down??

Alex himself is almost as scared running into Tim as Tim and Lark are running into him. Alex still has the scar on his throat from when Tim almost killed him, and he's terrified Tim's about to pull a knife out of his pocket and try to finish the job in the middle of the shop, even though they've both been away from the Operator's influence for like 8 years by this point.

He kinda awkwardly waves at Tim, because what do you say in that situation? Especially since Tim's clearly got a girlfriend or a wife (who looks weirdly like Jay... Tim clearly has a type, and that type is brown hair and pathetic wet cat eyes) now who probably doesn't know that Alex tried to kill Tim multiple times. So he just waves and tries to back track back down the aisle as fast as he possibly can, already thinking about whether he can move house again, because what the fuck? Is he just going to have to worry about running into Tim whenever he leaves his house?

...is Tim going to have to worry about running into him whenever he leaves the house?

He's called back by someone saying his name, though. Not Tim, but the woman he's with. She says Alex's name, not like it's a question, not like she isn't entirely sure who he is and is asking Tim because of his reaction to seeing Alex. She says his name like she knows him. She sounds terrified and relieved and angry and in complete and utter disbelief, so Alex turns to look at them again, at her, and he's struck by just how much she looks like Jay. He remembers something Tim said while they were fighting at the end of MH, about how Alex had killed Tim's girlfriend before she even got to live as herself, how Jay would never get to be who he actually was because Alex killed him before he ever got comfortable enough to admit it to himself.

Because at that point, Tim still thought Jay was dead (cos in S,IL all the main character deaths all come kinda at the same time, Alex shoots Jay and pretty much immediately regrets it and goes to Tim to bed him to kill him, not to make him live with the guilt of shooting Jay, to kill Alex then himself because Alex just couldn't finish the job anymore) so he was letting out everything on Alex, and he yelled and cried about how Jay died having never been comfortable in his skin etc. then once he was sure Alex was dead, he went to find Jay's body to say goodbye, to be able to have something to bury etc etc. thankfully, he found Jay alive, just barely, clutching his stomach as he slowly bled out, and he called an ambulance to get him to a hospital and all that. He wasn't even thinking about Alex right now, only thought to tell people that "oh fuck yeah the guy who shot Jay is still in Benedict hall because Tim was forced to kill him in self defence."

The people who go looking for Alex don't find him, though, and Tim just assumes the Operator took his body. He's too distracted with Jay to bother thinking about it. it doesn't matter, Jay's alive and Tim has to look after him while he heals.

Alex didn't know Jay lived, though, as far as he was aware, he shot him and killed him, so the woman beside Tim can't be Jay. Jay's dead. Tim clearly just has some awful coping strategies.

Tim's... Those are wedding rings on their fingers... Tim's wife just stares at him, though, and he doesn't know what to do, so he just turns to Tim and tells him "It's gone. I- I haven't seen it in years, it's moved on to someone else I'm not... I'm not gonna do anything, I promise, I'm not, you have to believe me." Vague enough not to just blurt out "hey I'm an ex murderer!" In the middle of a busy shop, but still enough to tell Tim that things are better, Alex means him and his family no harm, he's not going to hurt them, he didn't even know they were here, it's just an awful stroke of luck that they both decided to settle down in the same place.

Tim doesn't say anything to that, just gives him a curt, awkward nod. But his wife takes a shaky step forward and just hugs Alex. She hugs him so tight and she cries on his shoulder while he doesn't have a goddamn clue what the fuck is happening. Tim gets kinda pissed, honestly, when Alex doesn't hug her back, makes a snide remark about how "she's a fucking woman now, are you really gonna cling onto the same internalised homophobia you had in uni? Really? Fucking cunt."

And Alex stares at him like "wtf?" Not really understanding what he's on about at first, and then it clicks and he's like "that's Jay?" Completely baffled and caught off guard, and he hugs her back as tight as he possibly can because holy shit she's alive! She survived, he didn't kill her! She's okay and she's alive and she's married Tim and they have a kid together and holy fuck. They're both crying at that point, Alex is just apologising over and over again, to both Tim and Lark.

Eventually they let go of each other, and the three of them abandon their shopping to leave the supermarket together and find somewhere out of the way to sit. They need to all talk, they need to figure out whether they want to try and avoid each other like the plague after this, or if they want to try and make things better, rebuild relationships, be friends again.

Alex asks if Jay uses a new name now and gets told she's Lark now, and then they all talk. They don't go over everything, just some of the very basics, a lot of making absolutely sure the Operator is gone, and eventually they leave each other with the agreement that they're not going to try and avoid each other, they'd like to maybe try friendship again, but that it's gonna take a long time and they're definitely not gonna rush it.

Lark kinda freaks out once she and Tim get home. She doesn't even know how to feel. In the shop she was glad Alex was alive, but now that she's home she's terrified. What if he was lying about the Operator being gone? What if he tries to kill them again? What if he tries to kill Birdie? How can they know he won't? How can they know he was telling the truth? And how can they manage to be even acquaintances when Alex tried to kill both her and Tim so many times in the past?

Tim listens, freaks out with her a bit, they're both feeling so overwhelmed by everything, but they do think they made the right decision to at least try to keep in touch with Alex a bit. Until now, they've only been able to talk to each other about the events of MH, they were so alone in carrying the burden of that knowledge, and now they have someone they can share it with.

Lark's the one who most feels like they made the wrong decision not telling Alex to fuck right off and that they never want to see him again. Tim understands a little more of how out of control Alex was of the situation. Sure, he could technically have decided not to kill people, he wasn't being mind controlled, but he didn't have all the information that would be required to make the decision not to kill. He genuinely believed he was saving people from the living hell his own life had become under the Operator's influence. So Tim feels a bit more secure in his choice that he wants to keep in touch with Alex. Still scared, still freaking out a bit, definitely, he still has nightmares about what happened, about Jay dying and Brian dying and Alex trying to kill him. He's not over it, just like Lark isn't over it, but he understands it, he understands Alex.

So they figure it out, together they deal with the renewed panic attacks and flashbacks, they deal with the left over feelings they have about Alex, the anger, the fear, the relief that Tim wasn't also a murderer (even if it was self defence) and even, for Lark, the left over feelings about him as an ex. She loved him, she genuinely did, even back in uni but they were both way too fucked in the head to be healthy about their relationship back then, and even during MH with that one night stand. The one night stand that Alex tried to kill her during.

She panics about things being too tight around her neck now, and she doesn't even know why, she liked being choked, she'd wanted Alex to do it, both in uni and during MH, she even made both him and Tim do it. Yeah, that's not something she's proud of. She's fixed her head about it now, though, so why does she panic about things being too tight around her neck? (and I mean this as, like, something she dealt with all the time after MH, not just it's coming up now Alex is back in her life)

Anyway! She has a lot more panic attacks caused by things being on her neck now that Alex is back, but they're not brand new only brought by Alex being back.

Both her and Tim struggle, basically. A lot. So does Alex, but they don't tell him about their struggles, and he doesn't tell them about his, y'know?

They also don't let him anywhere near Birdie for a LONG time, like years and years and years, probably until she's like 13-14. Brian comes back into their life too, when Birdie's like ten, and gets reacquainted with Alex etc. etc. etc. before the three of them (polycule, fuck yeah Brimk \o/ ) decide that, yeah, they know Alex is okay for Birdie to meet. They don't introduce him in any particular way, just like he's a friend they've known for ages (which, I mean yeah, he is, at this point even with just them making friends with him again after MH it's still been like 5-6 years since Tim and Lark met him again, and Brian's known him again for a good 3-4 years) have him over for dinner or go into town with him, something like that.

At some point they'd tell Birdie what happened with MH, that this is Alex and all that, but they'd do that once Birdie and Alex knew each other a bit better, once Birdie knows what Alex is like now and that that's all in the past, y'know?

[valdiis]

FFXIV Site Write #23: Cloud Nine

(Includes a short excerpt of actual RP with @briar-ffxiv's Jax.)

"Anyway. The main thing I wanted to talk about is us. You and I."

Daephrin took a sip of his orange juice, then gave Jax a wan smile. "Us. Which, as far as I'm aware, is just friends. Who bang. Repeatedly. Enthusiastically." He chuckled a little, clearly trying to lighten the mood with his silliness. It was something he told himself regularly, whenever he started to forget that what Jax wanted was something casual. Of course, it had long since stopped being casual for him, but the reminders remained necessary.

Jaxon huffed quietly. "We're not friends, Dae." About half-a-second later, he literally dropped his fork in horror. "Wait-- Shite," he said intensely enough that a few people glanced toward their table and he blushed, lowering his voice. "No, wait, please," he said, gripping the other's hand almost desperately. "That's not-- Fuck, that came out so wrong, Lark."

Dae started to pull his hand back, hurt in his expression at Jax's words, but when the other bid him wait, gods...yes...fine, he would wait. But he looked wary of what Jax might say next. His heart was a lump in his throat, his earlier attempt at mirth feeling flat and unwarranted. "Not even friends...?"

A shaky sound escaped Jax. "Fuck, I'm so bad at this. This is why I don't talk about my feelings," he hissed quietly, picking up the fork and setting it down quickly as he realized he was squeezing the poor metal hard enough to warp it. "I didn't mean it like--"

Jaxon set his jaw and visibly steadied himself. "I love you, okay?

And in four words, Jax erased all that hurt and the nerves in Dae's stomach and the fears he had that he was 'too much' for Jax. Dae ducked his head a little, ears going pink as he murmured, "I know. Every time you kiss my temple, I know. I just didn't think you'd ever recognize it."

Brunch continued and Daephrin remembered most of it, but that moment was crystallized in his memory. The point at which his heart catapulted to cloud nine. Those little kisses Jax liked to give him had said what Jax himself could not for months. Sure, he'd known, but it was different hearing Jax actually admit to his feelings - to recognize it himself and begin to come to terms with it.

In the ensuing days, they'd said those words a lot to each other, affirmations that both aching hearts needed in order to mend. They'd cuddled a lot too and Dae had no complaints about that. It was that love that finally convinced him to listen to Jax's advice and write his little brother an apology letter.

That had worked out far better than he expected. Rion and Dae had reconciled - to a degree - and they now had plans for helping Rion regain some agency, if not some healing. Love had a funny way of fixing a lot of things.

As Daephrin laid in bed in Jax's bedroom and daydreamed about the moment Jax had admitted he was in love, he smiled up at the ceiling. It was one of those goofy, besotted smiles and he knew it, but no one would care.

"Why are you smiling like that?"

Okay, one person would care.

Dae turned his head, still pillowed on folded arms, and leveled that smile on Jax himself. "Oh, nothing. I was thinking about your cock."

Jaxon couldn't help but snort. "You're terrible. And probably lying."

"I'm not allowed to daydream about your cock?"

"And smile like it's just told you there's double-chocolate cookies in the kitchen?"

Dae gasped and sat up. "There's cookies?!"

That drew a laugh from Jax. "Yes, I brought cookies." He crossed the room to the bed where his lover sat in naught but flannel pajama pants (it was cold in Ishgard). Bending down, he touched his lips to Dae's temple in the softest brush of a kiss. "But no cookies in bed, Lark."

"Pff. You're no fun."

[y2ksnowglobe]

Deep appreciation for episode 30 (Van on the Run)

This is a long post where I just ramble on all the moments that make me love this episode.

The dethroning of fleshlight tag as the worst thing that anyone ever said.

The "Hey Andrew" story

Big old butt crack down the middle of the orb

Terry Jr. asking why Ron isn't wearing pants

"I'd better write that down as a note. Terry Jr., easy to lie to."

Lark literally taking a note about how unpaid interns die sometimes. (This turns into my firm belief that Mae Hailes is a paid intern)

Ron insisting Paeden is his half-brother. "My dad is my dad too!"

just gonna weep and tear my hair out real quick over that one.

Ron's insights on the patriarchy

"My stepson is here, and I am looking at him in the eye right now and it's not weird at all. It's not weird. We're just making eye contact right here." "It's a little weird. You have not blinked in several minutes." "Now it hurts to blink, so I'm not going to ever…" "That's not how it works. You have to blink." "No. It's like my eyes are getting…" "Dad, blink." Like what a way to start normalizing Terry Jr. calling Ron "Dad"

Sparrow's stealth hug

Just...starting to really see the dead inside Grant is both heartbreaking and really funny.

Nick's shaky fist bump makes me wanna cry.

I am always there for a good low perception roll joke.

Reveal that Ron just carries to lure that killed Willy around with him.

"Yeah! Your dad is George Washington!"

THEORY TIME: Like this episode is where we get most of our information about the kids' time in Ravenloft, and like...I don't buy it. Looking at how the kids phrase things, I've been solidly convinced that the O-Dads have Geas'ed the hell out of these kids so they can't give any specific details about what was done to them, but I feel like there's a loophole where they can talk about things that weren't done. So, for example: Nick specifies that Bill ignored him. I'll keep coming back to this as we keep going.

Weird detail: Darryl is with Glenn on the murder Henry's dad train at the start.

God I love to hate Barry Oak so much, he makes me skin crawl and he is in top form in this episode.

"I AM DRIVING WITH MY FRIENDS, FATHER! I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER!" It's such a teenager-y thing to say and I feel like it really gives a snapshot into what their relationship was like back in the day.

I really wanna get a snapshot into Nick's mind as he hears his dad completely lose his cool about Barry. Like, my boy did such a good job trying to act unbothered and brave, and then Glenn just is deeply and visibly upset about Barry almost killing him (which is valid, I just feel like it's a new experience for Nick)

Lark and Sparrow jumping in to drive when Henry lets go of the wheel. Like, not sure what happened with Sparrow, but Lark has been an epic driver from the get-go.

ANOTHER THEORY: Sparrow is really interesting in this episode. He willingly covers his ears when asked by Henry, and he's the one who hits the brakes when Henry tells them to stop the car. He's also just weirdly chill and forgiving, and like...I do not buy this as love wolf shit, he is clearly under some kind of magical influence to make him more compliant. You do not get the Sparrow that looks scared in the drone footage in episode 28 to this remarkably chill and forgiving kid without magical interference.

Freddie putting his foot down that Glenn would not mess with firearms while drunk

Barry's "Oh kakaw kakaw" when he's shot is probably in my top ten vocal stims from this show.

Lark enthusiastically supporting Glenn shooting Barry makes me so happy

Henry going from trying to be firm and calm as Glenn loses his shit, and immediately shifting to "ooooh, I hate you so much" as soon as Barry starts talking to him is so funny. Just all the ideals fly out the window.

Find it super interesting how Henry cites "respecting his choices" as a thing here considering what happens later on with the bracelets.

I both do and don't want to know if Anthony already had the idea for the Lark and Sparrow homunculi when Barry offers letting Henry take his kids and run and giving up all the other kids. Like regardless of whether or not it was planned, I do love the idea that Barry is giving this offer because he knows he's got the real ones tucked back in Oakvale.

I love the word abscond, okay?

Love Barry framing his failure as a father as disappointment in Henry's choices. I want to kick him in the face.

Mr. Mustache calling Ron "Honey"

"No. You just exasperatedly asked why a bunch of times. A.k.a. the Henry Oak special."

Geas theory follow up: Lark telling them they forgot to feed them fits into the loophole of being something the granddads didn't do, so they're allowed to mention it. Also this part of starting to hint at what exactly went down is so just *chefs kiss.*

Freddie's "WHY?" When Matt asks if Darryl can perceive that Ron peed his pants.

Freddie being told the charm needs to be in an enclosed space and immediately going "What if we had an umbrella?"

Freddie picking the first audio result for Fantasy Tavern for the sound.

"Bring us your hottest moms!"

This next bit always slays me and I don't even know why:

The jokes about the level one adventurer group is beautiful. I hope things turned out okay for that fighter and four rogues.

Henry making up Mr. X only for Mr. X to be real.

Ron thoroughly describing the fake voice he's going to do, only to reveal it's just his normal voice.

Ron's whole exchange with the other rogues.

Henry describing Glenn's fantasy voice as Italian

Anthony trying to keep up with what the crew are trying to do as they're attempting to get a room.

Also, everything is in shillings now for no adequately explained reason?

The random bar patrons who are gonna be so disappointed when they make it to the other side of town to find out that Hi I'm Ron is not playing.

The start of the NPCs realizing they could have asked for more money gag.

Glenn almost going to see what's up with Mr. X but then getting bored.

Anthony doing a C3P0 impression

Geas Theory update: Grant phrases it as "they weren't nice" and the most detail we get from Grant is that "Willy's really mean" only for him to then say, "It was fine, I guess." Terry tops out at saying that Willy "shouted at them a fair number of times" and that's as intense as any of their descriptions get. Like this is sus as heck. Especially since at minimum, we know that Lark and Sparrow got homunclui'd and that somehow, Barry got the twins to sit quietly. The boys are underselling this and the only one that would be in character for would be like...Nick (who we already saw was super shaky). Darryl even prompts Grant saying it's okay if it was rough and they were scared and we still get no further information.

Ron's scary story is so good for so many reasons. Like the way he tries to make it spookier by making Willy a man with a fishingpole for an arm, by calling fish "food that breathes underwater" like that mixed with the realization that he's telling the story of how Willy died is just...an excellent combo of scary and not scary and it's just a baffling bunch of weird that is pure Ron.

Terry being baffled by Ron asking if they want to sing Rock-a-bye Baby, only for it to turn out Ron doesn't know the words.

"You find more knives than not knife in his pants."

The fact that Lark was smuggling knives for a breakout attempt is just so lovely, go off my murderous little weirdo.

Also seeing Henry taking weapons from his kids knowing where this ends up is just (collapses into a ball of sad)

Henry deflecting from the werewolf questions by just switching to the topic of puberty, only for Sparrow to be too receptive to wanting to learn.

Darryl overhearing Paeden saying that Grant's dad is cool only for Grant to not say anything in response.

"Did Ron kill his dad?"

Seeing Darryl be actually upset about the fact that he's the only one who'd want to see his dad, but his dad's not there. And seeing Darryl actually grapple with the idea that he doesn't understand Glenn, Henry, and Ron's relationships with their dads, and like the weird feeling of not being able to relate being isolating, but still realizing it's an isolation you should be thankful for.

Ghost football ft. George Washington and one of his slaves

"Dude, that was the entire snarling id of the American masculine psyche in one image…It was like football, George Washington, your dad, and the Sword of Damocles that is slavery."

Glenn in the dream space

Bill Close calling Glenn tiger is just like such a small detail but it's like one of those moments that we really can actually see him being a dad, I think?

The gut punch of "Do you love me?" and "You wake up." like God DAMN!!!!!

Like this episode is such a buffet of character dynamics, and jokes, and lore, and room for theories, and I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!! WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG TO REALIZE IT'S MY FAVORITE????????

[grilledcheeseandguavajelly]

Hey guess what?? There’s a hurricane coming right at me! So if any of you lovely peaches want to send me asks to get my mind off of it, it’d be greatly appreciated 🥺🙈

(If I don’t answer them right away it’s probably because I’ve lost power and am trying to save my phone battery)

[utilitycaster]

On the Midst messages topic:

I thought the discussion about making their original PCs less heroic for the sake of the story was interesting, and “must a character have flaws?” reminds me of “must a story have conflict?” So I was curious if you had thoughts on what differentiates interesting characters in actual play vs. other kinds of storytelling, and how their flaws/virtues play into that.

Like, obviously there are lots of flawed characters in a show like CR that are in fact excellent for storytelling and fun to play, but somewhere else along that spectrum is Moc Weepe who is a fascinating character but (at least for me) would not be fun to play in a TTRPG.

Oh sure!

I think all characters do need to have flaws, and it's worth noting that even the classic D&D character sheets have a box for flaws and that's outside any stat dumps they may have. And to be actually compelling, it does need to be an actual flaw and not "they try too hard and care too much" unless they truly care do the above to the brink of destruction or something. I suspect the original incarnations of the Midst "PCs" still were flawed to an extent; it sounds like Moc was still kind of creepy and weird, Lark still kind of brusque and awkward around people, and Phineas still overly devoted to a horrible cause; they just weren't quite as extreme. (For what it's worth I think Weepe would be super fun to play in a TTRPG provided you all had had a good chat about boundaries and everyone understood that you were playing a complete bastard; I've never really played a TTRPG where you weren't a party working together but Midst clearly is not a party-oriented story so I think that makes a huge difference.)

It's true that a lot of people do make a really cool guy (gn) to play in D&D or similar TTRPGs. Sometimes, to be honest, this means that their game would not actually be terribly fun to watch. I do know people who are mostly interested in playing D&D for mechanics and puzzle-solving and not character development, and that is valid! It's collaborative storytelling, but the experience of playing in the story is a different one from watching it. I think a lot of people don't realize this - a really fun game between you and your friends could be mostly fucking around that makes for a terrible story (*cough* anyone who writes a novella in the replies or tags in a generic D&D post about their home game). That probably wasn't true of Midst even in the earlier incarnations, since they were working outside the bounds of mechanics specifically for the purpose of storytelling, but (for example) the CR cast has specifically talked about some minor changes they made to playstyle compared to a home game, and the reason a game not intended to be actual play from the start made the transition so successfully was in part because of the voice actor angle - these are people who have to find a story and come up with an entire realized character, often from very little, to be able to act.

The biggest thing actual play characters need to do for me is take action and voice their thoughts either directly or through subtext, because actual play has a pretty unique challenge in that it's like film, in that you don't really get a narration of the character's innermost thoughts unless there's some kind of voice over monologue; but you also don't have film's ability to show a character alone for a long stretch of time, at least not frequently; and you have to describe all the visuals. A passive actual play character, even if their mind is full of interesting thoughts, is not interesting unless that's being conveyed somehow. Bold moves are to be rewarded, as are characters who are good at bouncing off others (which means both conflict and cooperation; interaction in all forms). Characters really need to be making choices and those choices need to be communicated.

[flowercrowns-n-punks]

btw lark & sparrow as a little mushroom fellas btw. what is ur take

(u don't have to draw anything if you don't feel up to it :3)

NOW YOU ASK ABOUT THE FAMILY I AM SO OH SO WAY TO TALKING ABOUT???? [My irl friend tek has to deal with at least almost 4-6 times every day at this point i swearfrom how much i talk about the oaks]

Okay first off i do wanna do doodles ill reblog this with the doodles after or later in the day when ive gotten some sleep.[i need to consider my options here]

This will be long

But from what i think first off same mushroom type cause twins or two mushrooms that get mistaken for eachother easily.

I could easy n give them two very different mushrooms that fit them.

But no they are to codependant on eachother, their own paralells and oppsites are screaming i dont go the easy route here.

So the mushroom would need to be unexpecting but harmful if i were to give the same mushroom.

Which im leaning towards.

First idea

Fly agaric mushroom

The classic the pretty red & spotted mushroom. But like thats to classic, doesnt scream the twins to me.

Death cap mushrooms were the next option

small, green-tinted mushroom might look innocent enough, but it is actually the most toxic mushroom worldwide and is responsible for the highest number of fatal mushroom poisonings across the globe.

Seems beyter honestly if had went a different mushroom for each twin route Lark would been this.

BUT I FOUND THESE.

Funeral bell mushrooms or Galerina marginata!

Poisonous and deadly, these little mushrooms definitely live up to their ominous-sounding name. They grow on dead decaying wood or tree stumps.

And just idk why but the symbolism of funerals to me with the twins as if they had a funeral to the boys they were before the forgetten realms, a funeral to the kids that they were msde into because of the forgotten realms.

The funeral of time turning its next chapter on "reconciling" with henry when lark released tge doodler. So on so forth!

To now what they are now these mess of adults/parental figures broken and mournimg so much by the actions they both took.

And just from A art stand point

It fits nicely with their color schemes too-

But like Funeral Bell Mushrooms. Are what id def be doodling the twins as lil mushroom fellas

[knownangels]

blood pressure

It’s rare that anyone is invited to one of their outings. They’re not quite girls nights, because Nomi’s brow does a cute little furl at the label. Doesn’t quite apply, even if it gives each date a label Matilda knows she’s coveted since she was a kid. Girls night meant having friends, meant being invited and involved and wanted. Included. 

So on the off-chance that outsiders are invited, it’s usually not one of the boys. Xavier occasionally, if “out” means club or pizza. Benji, if it’s a quiet tag-along to the art store and cafe afterwards. Naima and-slash-or Mouse to dinner, Lark on one catastrophically memorable bar trip where Matilda had, of course, roped him into an argument after receiving a free drink from some weirdo regular.  

Maran hasn’t come with them. Yet. 

But Matilda is, if not anything else, very perceptive when it comes to her best friend. Nomi is about as elusive as they come. And while it might be easy to say she wants to untangle the mystery for the prestige of it, the bragging rights of understanding such a strange little creature…well, it’d be a lie. At the end of the day she wants Nomi happy. She’d do quite honestly anything to see that goal realized — as mushy and cringe and over-warm as admitting that makes her feel. 

As of late, Nomi has seemed the happiest and most herself when her little buzz cut shadow is following her around. Matilda is protective of Maran in a way that Benji probably relates to. But that protectiveness won’t stop her from putting him on a hook just for Nomi. He’s the perfect little colorful wriggling lure. 

She’ll settle for bragging rights of matchmaker. Even though their orbit around each other seems destined for an adorable, dorky collision.

Like now, at the shopping center food court, the two of them are leaned across the table into each others’ space. Nomi’s babbling about her latest convention trip — Atlanta or Nashville or something down south, where she’d been a national or regional or whatever finalist in a cosplay competition. Her manicured black fingernail taps along her phone screen, swiping picture after picture of costumes that Matilda has to begrudge as…really well-crafted. Unless it’s Nomi, or Xavier talking her to sleep with some NatGeo history documentary in the background, Matilda really prefers not to give nerds their flowers. 

Keeps them humble.

But she does love listening to Nomi regale the drama and politics behind the scene. She had no idea these sorts of activities could be so deliciously cutthroat. Trophies and titles and controversy, lying and cheating and sabotage? 

“Who knew a bunch of video game obsesseès could be cunty?”

“Oh man,” Maran says, tapping Nomi’s wrist to stop her swiping. “Is that a Soul Caliber one? That’s so good.” 

“That’s Josette.” Nomi says with a twist of admiration and spite that pulls Matilda’s full interest. “She’s just cunty.”

Maran’s eyes go big. “I thought that was good?”

“Bad cunty, Mar.” Matilda reaches across to pat his cheek. “Start taking notes.” 

Nomi pouts at the grid of gorgeously color-graded, professionally-taken, and expertly-posed pictures.

“Well I can’t bend that way.” She grumbles, lifting another mouthful of noodles. It’s certainly more difficult to chew with her chin propped in her hand, but somehow she manages — and looks cute, too.

“You shrimp sit in your chair for fourteen hours a day.” Matilda points out, voice overlapping with Maran’s exclamation:

“Flexibility is so important overall though, Noms.” He does a little arm-over-elbow stretch. Clearly, he thinks he’s being motivating. Matilda isn’t sure he realizes that he’s showing off. “Just a few minutes a day, like while you’re waitin’ for your tea or whatever. Helps out so much, promise. Posin’ too!” 

Matilda hms thoughtfully, sensing an opportunity. “Overall, huh?” She has the pleasure of watching the gears shift in Nomi’s head. 

“Posing flexibility.” She downs another too-big bite of noodles thoughtfully. “Well…Oh! D’you suppose it helps sex, too? Like positions? I’ve always had a few I wanted to try but—”

Matilda lifts a hand to her mouth, refusing to show her cards through the smirk. She loves when Nomi gets like this. Matter-of-fact but totally socially inept with her curiosity at play. She can’t help but glance their friend’s way — he’s faring much worse than amusement. 

Maran sits there with his jaw nearly unhinged, fork paused halfway to his mouth. He is going hilariously, incrementally red. 

“I would assume so,” Matilda says, but only after she pauses to gather herself. “Maran said overall health, right? Give it a month and I’ll bet you could—”

“Maran are you feeling alright?”

“Yes.” Maran stutters. Liar, Matilda thinks fondly. Fucking awful one.

“When’s the last time you got your blood pressure checked?” Matilda snickers. “Gotta be careful with the junk food. You can have all the flexibility you want but if it comes to blood pressure, sex is totally off the table.” She pauses, snorts. “No pun intended.”

“On the table,” Nomi says absentmindedly, as if she’s got a running list of positions she’d like to try and is adding to that. As if. Matilda knows she does. “Is that true about blood pressure and sex?”

“Girl, why do you think you’re always hearing stories about old men stroking out mid-stroke?”

“Why is your example always old men.” 

“You are so desperate to hear about my sexual escapades.” Matilda loftily teases. “Maybe you should try having some of your own?”

“I’m trying—”

Maran stands abruptly. They both look at him. 

“Mar?”

“You alright?”

“I need to go.” He blurts. Then somehow goes redder. “I mean I’ve got to piss.” His eyes widen, almost look teary. “I mean I’ll be right back I need—”

“Some air?” Matilda offers. She points towards the other end of the mall, where there’s a little atrium and open windows. Maran nods jerkily and then dashes in the wrong direction. They watch him stumble, look over his shoulder, avoid eye contact with either of them, and then rush past to go the opposite and correct direction. 

When he’s out of sight, Matilda levels Nomi with one of their patented Looks. 

“You’re going to kill him before you can test his blood pressure.” Matilda steals a bite of her remaining ramen. “Or flexibility.”

Nomi blinks at her. Owlish and pretty and totally fucking obtuse behind her giant glasses. 

Matilda would kill for her. Maybe not with her bare hands - gross. But definitely kill.

[critical-quoter]

Reviews from Last Week

Claim Me Forever - A. L. Jackson ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🚔 This wasn't half bad. Both Ezra and Savannah were really good characters with decently traumatic back stories, but even with all their issues, the angst didn't feel too terribly angsty. This definitely was more suspenseful (the whole point) rather than angst filled drama-fest. There was drama of course, but it wasn't due to lazy reasons (i.e. miscommunication). I liked it quite a bit.

I did not like the kids having as much talk time as they did. The boys were fine enough but I must have missed the age of the oldest. It felt implied that she was on the younger side, since the twin boys were in preschool, but she spoke like a teenager at best, and as an adult at worst. It was just such a poor decision at making her speak older.

The mystery/suspense part of the plot was pretty well done. I think it would have worked better if the book didn't start to feel drawn out in the middle for the romance building. It was like the suspense and the romance couldn't touch until the end so we were getting the bulk of two plots to make up for it.

Overall, not bad. Not the best romantic suspense I've read but not bad.

Growing With Her - A. R. Carlson ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🔪 This started out pretty good. But around the 75% mark, it really began to feel like the author was just trying to get that word count in. It just began to drag to the point that even the high stakes weren't keeping me interested.

It became a very repetitive plot. There's an unknown time jump, either Shadow or Fable is hurt, the other one goes all Rambo to save them. Wash, rinse, repeat. And the time jumps! They worked once or twice (would have been better if I knew exactly how much time had passed) but then it was every other chapter, and then it was mid-chapter.

The characters were written pretty well. The plot was fairly decent. Honestly, Growing With Her would have just been better served with an editor and a healthy trimming down of like 100 pages. I liked it. I wouldn't say no to continuing the series.

Songs of the Wicked - C. A. Farran ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💀 I honestly went into this book with so little expectations of greatness. I like the Little Mermaid, and I love a dark-ish romantasy. But man, these romantasies lately have been so mediocre at best that I was thinking if this was a 3 star read, I would walk away happy.

Consider me blown away. I devoured this. I could not put it down. Lark and Gavriel and Langford and Daciana… oh and Hugo and Allistar, everyone was just amazing. It was a fleshed out, well written cast of characters that I couldn't help but fall in love with.

This was just so good that I didn't even realize it was a debut novel from Farran until I read the Author's Info in the back after I finished crying for the night. I loved it. I already bought the sequel. I can't wait to jump back into this world.

Mess With Me - Claire Wilder ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💅🏻 This was decent. I think that for an interconnected standalone, the book should be able to stand on its own. The problem with this was that it was slow. The beginning felt fast paced and the last 50ish pages zoomed almost too quickly but at the 50% mark it just started to drag.

I really liked Griffin and Sasha. This was definitely an opposites attract situation because these two characters could not be any more un-alike. But it seemed to work, kind of. The chemistry felt a bit forced, and Sasha throwing herself at Griffin felt so weirdly manufactured that I could really get into the relationship. Honestly Chester was my favorite out of all the characters in this book.

As far as the suspense goes, that was good. I really didn't know how it was all going to go down. In fact, if there was less romance and more of the suspense plot-line (and there was about 100 pages trimmed out) this would have been a high 4 star for sure.

The Right Man - Michelle Mankin ⭐️⭐️ 🎸 You know what? I didn't really like Rush. He said some mean stuff to and about Jewel. I know this is meant to be a Cinderella/Pretty Woman retelling but honestly, I think it missed the mark. There was insta-love (you can claim that because they didn't say it, it wasn't love, but be for real.) And the characters were just obnoxious. They went back and forth with each other, Jewel especially. Should I stay? No, I can't. dramatic arm flail over the eyes

And then the 3rd act break up? Seriously? As much as Jewel irritated me, she certainly deserved better than that treatment. Even the events leading up to it were messed up enough that I wanted it over and done with.

It just wasn't good. There was no chemistry. For a "hooker" (mind you this was the term emphatically used multiple times in this book), Jewel had no spine and no real personality. Just a simpering, noodle of a person. And Rush was garbage. We literally opened the book up to him fooling around with 3 random women. Nah, dog. 2 stars was generous.

My Vampire Plus-One - Jenna Levine ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🧛🏻‍♂️ My Vampire Plus-One had absolutely no business being as literally laugh out loud funny and sweet as it was. Frankly, I was blown away with how good this was. I went in thinking I'd get a cozy little paranormal rom-com and that's exactly what I got. But! It was done with such thorough skill that I was instantly absorbed. 

I loved Reggie instantly. He was so eccentric and funny and completely the opposite of how vampires are usually portrayed. He also worked so well with Amelia and her (slightly) uptight accountant-ness. And Amelia was just perfect. I cannot express this enough. Amelia was absolutely perfect. Her reactions to Reggie's blatant vampirism comments and the fact that she thought he was such a weirdo was just hysterical.

And despite or because all the hilarity, the chemistry between Reggie and Amelia was just so good. They worked so well together at every point. Honestly, I want more.

Before Girl - Kate Canterbary ⭐️ 🩻 Cal is 42 and we're supposed to believe that he's so shy that he cannot speak to Stella for 8 months but then their first conversation is filled with overtly sexual innuendos. I'm talking about the kind of innuendos that are absolute cringe. I was entirely grossed out and immediately hated him. 

And Stella. Don't get me started on her. No really, don't get me started. She's a "strong" fmc but I think that was only shown by making her a workaholic with color-coded friends with benefits schedule. They were both just lackluster characters that gave me repeated ick. 

Much like the plot. Ugh.

Bad Minotaur - Janae Cantrell ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🐮 At some point, I'm going to look back at everything I've read and maybe there will be some shame.

Just kidding. I fucking loved this. I did not go into this with many expectations. I didn't even read the plot. And it turns out, I really like minotaur romances. I don't know what that says about me and I will not be asking my therapist about it.

Theon was a sweet cinnamon roll of a minotaur right up until Daisy started talking about other people, then he was not sweet. My only beef (ha, pun intended) was when they discussed pregnancy and Theon said he wasn't ready and Daisy got huffy and almost pressured him into a baby (?). It felt weird. I didn't like that. Otherwise, wonderful material. I will read all monster erotica Janae Cantrell publishes.

Sable Peak - Devney Perry ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🏔️ I can never read The Edens series for the first time again and that is one of my biggest regrets.

This wasn't the strongest in the series and that has a lot to do with the first part of the book specifically. I'm not the biggest fan of unrequited love (particularly when it's the FMC that's pining) but the most egregious issue in the first part was a lack of POV for Mateo. I know that Vera is the main character and this is her story, but we don't really see anything of Mateo finding out that he has a daughter, and the struggle he went through when he first found out and gained custody.

I just wanted more.

And now the series is done and I won't get more.

I love The Edens. I wasn't expecting to fall so hard in love with all of the characters and their stories but this will be one of those book series that I recommend forever.

Throttled - Lauren Asher ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🏎️ There was just something about this book that I didn't vibe with. I think a bit of it had to do with Noah as he started out. He was just so absolutely foul as a human. And what happened after he turned Maya down was just gross. It didn't need to happen honestly.

Something about this book in general kept it at okay but not great or even good. The writing was fine. The characters were fine. Everything was fine. But I'm going to write this review, return this book to Kindle Unlimited, and never think about it ever again. This is the second book I've read from Lauren Asher, and frankly, my opinion hasn't changed. Their books are okay but I'm not ever going to love them.

[kaseyskat]

hi hello so the oak family makes me soooo fucking emo and i thought a bit too hard about lark and henry's relationship this week and this is what came out? it's also my first time really trying to tackle lark's pov so be kind to me sdhfkhdsf

~~

The nighttime has always been Lark’s favorite. 

In the Before, this was mostly because he and Sparrow used to sneak out of their rooms and down to the home computer. Sparrow would disable the parental controls, because he’s smart like that, and Lark would pull up the wikipedia pages of movies, and they would sit together, sharing one chair like they share everything else, consuming to their heart’s desire. 

Sleep, or the lack thereof, used to come so easily to them, Before. 

Lark only frowns in the memory of his own immaturity, now. 

Now, the night is a quiet peace, a moment of respite– and besides, when his dreams are drenched in black miasma and static, he much prefers when his brother is sleeping in bed and his parents are locked in their bedroom and Lark can be alone. 

Except for tonight, as he creeps into the kitchen only to find the light on, the sound of familiar humming brightening the space. 

There was a time when that humming was a comfort to Lark, in the Before. He remembers being small – smaller, anyways – and wanting to stay awake, stay awake! but being trapped in the arms of his parents, swaddled in blankets. He remembers a day where he had been sick with the flu, and his father had held him and sang to him while he cried and squirmed, the same song that he is humming now in the kitchen as he works. 

This Henry, Lark notes, is nothing like the apologetic but firm father that he’s been angry with for what has felt like his entire life. His father’s hair is tousled, his glasses hanging crooked, and he’s kneading dough as he hums to himself. 

Awkward. Lark swallows, and he steps into the light, teeth gritted. The fury that writhes under his skin starts to boil over once more, because the night was his time, of course his father would steal this from him too, he always ruins everything– 

“-oh hello, Lark,” said father interrupts Lark’s thoughts, and when Lark focuses back on him, he has a tired smile on his face, one that looks just a bit less strained than the fake plastered smiles he usually holds on their missions. “Did you need something? Don’t let me stop you.” 

I do need something, Lark wants to say, I need you to Leave. But he doesn’t say this out loud; he and Sparrow have been talking, and he has seen the wear of the fight between himself and their father on his brother, and enough time has passed since he was the afraid little kid who released the Doodler of his own volition that the anger that sits there in his head has simmered down to a slowly cooking roast instead of the boiled over mess of a person he had been. 

So he swallows his anger and forces it into his stomach and he steps into the light of the kitchen, his nose wrinkling. “What… are you doing?” 

It should sicken him, the way Henry’s eyes light up at the question– this, too, is familiar, the enthusiasm that his father holds for even the smallest joy of describing his hobbies to his sons. But it doesn’t, and the lack of the emotion has Lark’s stomach curling, his head pounding in tune. 

“Sometimes, when I can’t sleep, I like to bake,” his father explains, and he gestures at the dough. “My mom taught me; she thought it would help me to have an outlet, a way to feel my emotions. It’s very soothing, and yet you have to be so precise with the measurements that it requires–” 

“-forget I said a word,” Lark interrupts, rubbing his fingers against his temple with a groan. “I had forgotten your conversation skills are sorely lacking. Just… I just need some water.” 

His father’s smile does not waver, and he inclines his head at the fridge as he continues to knead. 

The smell of baking bread wafts through the kitchen as he treks across it, and his stomach, unwittingly, growls– and his father is still humming that song, the one from his childhood, and it melds with the bread, and the anger that simmers in his stomach feels a little less abrasive, and maybe it’s the vulnerability of the night or the pain radiating from his head but for once, Lark doesn’t want to fight. 

He’s tired. 

“Is the bread recipe one given to you by Grandmother as well?” he voices, tentatively. “It smells more appealing than anything you or Mother have ever deigned to serve to us in the past.” 

“My cooking is usually pretty bad, isn’t it?” his father admits, and he laughs. “Do… would you like to learn?” 

No. 

“If you are suggesting, Father, that I would like to spend my perfectly fine night with you in the kitchen learning how to bake bread, which I will never use…” Lark trails off as he turns back around, water bottle in hand. 

Henry is looking at him with something that Lark almost recognizes – is it pride? – as he holds up a piece of dough. With dried fruit and nuts, it has turned into a crude replica of his own face, right down to the sad little smile and the droopy eyes. “You can punch it,” he says, waving the little dough-face around childishly. 

For all that his father knows nothing about him and never will, he does know how to entice him to a task he previously had no intentions on completing. Lark groans, and he marches right over to where his father is standing, snatching the doughy face out of his hands. 

“I do not understand how you plan on teaching me when the dough is already made,” he snorts with a roll of his eyes. “I don’t think you thought this through very well, per the usual.” 

“I really just needed the help kneading,” Henry confesses, though Lark suspects his father is, once again, telling him a partial truth. “My hands are not as strong as they used to be, but yours are only getting stronger.” 

Lark remembers the last time he had thrown a punch at his father in anger, and the way he had been bruised for weeks, the marks dark and irritated. It had satisfied the chaos inside of him in a way he hadn’t been able to voice, the physical proof of his emotions, his rage. And still, Henry had not scolded him, had not raised his voice; he had taken it, like he had given up on trying. 

Lark does not want his father to keep trying, but somehow the idea of his father giving up on him feels worse. 

“I will take over then,” he says, evenly, and he steps to the pan Henry had been working with, cracking his knuckles. The dough is littered with nuts and fruits, and with some already in the oven, truly he does not quite understand why his father insists on making more… but he’s already here, isn’t he? 

He curls his hands into the dough, and he kneads. 

It… is soothing, in a way he hadn’t been expecting. Kneading dough is just punching it and punching it and watching the way the flour and yeast mixture yields to him has Lark feeling like he is younger, punching trees and stripping off the bark just to feel powerful. 

And Henry watches him, that smile still curling at his lips, fondness in his eyes. 

“I have the recipe written down,” he finally says, breaking the silence just as Lark steps back from the dough. It’s smooth, not sticky anymore, and even Lark in his inexperience can tell that it is finished. “If… you are willing, I really can teach you sometime.” 

“I have no use for bread,” Lark immediately bites, but as he washes his hands and watches the way Henry folds the dough and preps it for baking, he thinks he understands the appeal. His grandmother had called it an outlet for a reason, and while Lark is hesitant to admit it… 

…maybe, just maybe, he does need this. 

“Besides, who knows where we will be next week,” he continues, gesturing to the windows that show a darkened sky– not from the moon, but from the Doodler, which Lark has sworn he’d kill. “But… I will allow you to show me the recipe. Perhaps Sparrow would like to learn in my stead.” 

It is, he thinks, about as good as he can offer. 

“Perhaps he would,” Henry agrees, and he yawns. “Well, thank you– for thinking of Sparrow. I hope you sleep well.” 

I won’t, Lark thinks, but he bites the comment back and scatters quickly, before he can be drawn into anything else against his will. This… was stupid, it’s all so stupid, and he wants to bash his head into a wall, or scream into his pillow, or… or learn his father’s stupid bread recipe because he, too, is just tired. 

And it isn’t much, but it’s a start, isn’t it?