#the fact that these three have history is kind of cool

[poppitron360]

In my mind, Leo found Socrates in a dumpster behind his machine warehouse and took him home to Jason and gave him big heart eyes until he caved. Leo originally found four kittens, named Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Sappho, but they eventually gave the other three up for adoption. Leo feels a strong connection to them due to the fact that he has also lived in a dumpster in the past between foster homes. Isabella absolutely adores him. There’s a moment in the fic where they’re trying to rescue their parents and Apollo shows up and offers his help and they ask him a few questions about their Prophecy and then Isabella asks him if he can visit their appartement once a day and feed Socrates while she’s away on the quest, and so I just want to write a side-fic where the all-powerful God Apollo cat-sits for the Valdezes for a week.

That is such a cool concept and would really tie into Isabella’s feelings about not knowing her true heritage, plus would have some cute Hephaestus moments because I need to write more fics about him. I kinda had this general idea of her doing something really cool and genius, maybe along the lines of the Steam-Powered Chicken Chucker that Leo apparently made for a science fair project when he was a kid, and Hephaestus being so impressed he gives her an extra power-up.

That reminds me of the time in TLH where Piper breaks her ankle and Jason asks Leo if he can fix it and Leo’s all “hey man, I’m a mechanic. I don’t fix humans. Now if she were a car…”. Also because it’s set in the same universe as my married AU where Jason is a history professor, I just want a situation where the two of them get to be introduced as “Professor and Dr Valdez”. I’m also imagining a scenario where someone’s chocking and they yell “Is anyone here a Doctor” and Leo slowly raises his hand and Jason has to be like “they mean medical doctor, sweetheart”

So there are a couple of big three kids at camp now, but as per canon these kids often send out the strongest smells to monsters and so they often don’t live long enough to make it to camp. And the ones that do end up not living very long afterwards, so the others try not to get attached. This is especially true for Zeus kids, who also have Hera to worry about. Dark, I know, but I kind of wanted to keep the Big Three cabins quiet because that’s the main reason why Finley and Olympia like to stay in those cabins for sleep, and also so they can be Camp Councillors, and it also makes the trio unique in all being legacies of the Big Three. If there were any Zeus kids, Isabella would probably get along with them but wouldn’t want to do any activities with that cabin. She barely acknowledges openly that she’s a legacy of Jupiter, and anyway she’s kinda inherited the Special Interest in Machines Thing from Leo and so prefers to hang out with the 9’ers where she’s surrounded by machines and forges and stuff, as she has less in common with the kids in Cabin One.

I don’t have much on Robin yet, just that their name is “Robin Abank” which is a funny pun, and they are nonbinary. I like to think they might get on well with the Stoll cousins, and they get up to a lot of mischief together. There’s a moment in the fic where they all play Capture the flag and Olympia keeps getting mad at them for goofing off instead of taking it seriously, which is fun bickering and I get to show how seriously Olympia takes her leadership roles (and also how she’s inherited her parent’s competitive streaks)

Also the whole season of summer is an absolute mess for these demigods because you’ve got: Camp Starts, Summer Solstice in late June which is when most of the quests happen, Jason’s birthday 1st July, Valgrace Wedding anniversary 3rd July, Leo’s birthday 7th July, Annabeth’s birthday, Leo’s deathiversary/Isabella’s birthday/Anniversary of the siege of Camp Half-Blood on 1st August, the anniversary of the death of Charles Beckendorf around two weeks later, Camp Ends, then Percy’s birthday/Anniversary of the Battle of Manhattan/Percabeth’s getting together anniversary on 18th August. Percabeth wedding anniversary probably fits in there somewhere, too. I also feel like Finley has to have a Summer birthday being that it’s kind of his aesthetic, but at the same time practically every Riordanverse character has a summer birthday and it low-key kinda bugs me. Olympia is repping the Spring babies and her zodiac sign is Ares (like me) which pisses Percy off to an astronomical degree (no pun intended).

It sucks that everyone is saying the wrong things about her parents, but after a while she starts to believe them. Or at least believes that everyone around her expects her to be as good as them. And that’s a lot of pressure on her, especially as the person that Olympia is trying so hard to live up to is completely and utterly fictional. This paradigm of awesomeness and sass and baddassery that the “fandom” has come up with. She has worked her whole life to be this person who functionally doesn’t exist- which is something a lot of us can relate to in the social media age where we’re fed these edited and filtered versions of our idols that only keep the best parts. I am someone who struggles to know the “right” way of doing things as a lot of the time the way I naturally do things is labelled as “wrong” (growing up undiagnosed neurodivergent is a hoot and a half /sarcasm), so I often use media as sort of a reference guide for how to do things “correctly” and as a result end up building these unhealthy expectations for myself and beating myself up when my life doesn’t look exactly like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So that’s what I’ve recently realised I’ve been tapping into for Olympia’s character.

The fun part is, though, because she’s been training so much to meet this impossibly high bar, she has unbeknownst to herself become an absolute DEMON of a fighter and TANK of a human specimen. I don’t think the fanart I drew conveyed how in my head she is 6ft tall and built like a brick shithouse. Like Jack Reacher but younger and a girl. While the other two are incredibly adept fighters in their own right, Olympia most of the time will serve as the archetype of the “muscle” or the “powerhouse”. And despite her insecurities, to me she does one hundred per cent live up to the hype of Percy and Annabeth.

But to her, she’s still not good enough. And BOY HOWDY is that relatable.

And this rant is a reminder to myself to make that bloody clear in my writing otherwise she is pretty just a Mary Sue.

The irony is that my own perception of Percy is just as skewed as everyone else’s and my idolisation of him and Annabeth has reflected in how I’ve made his daughter a complete unit, completely contradicting my point that Fannon Percy is unrealistic and impossible to live up to and look at what you’re doing to this poor girl because also she has absolutely lived up to it and is just as badass if not more than Fanon Percy and look at my OC you guys isn’t she cool.

But like. Don’t think about it too hard and you’ll be fine. Her fighting like a demon the way the fandom thinks of Percy gives the dopamine that comes with confirming our perception of him. And her being a meta-commentary on the toxic and unrealistic perception of Percy that the fandom has gives us the dopamine of I Am Righteous In My Anger Arrrgghh. Because we as individuals like to think of ourselves as separate from just the bad parts of any group we’re in and whoah this is getting deep. So just. Don’t think about it.

Also another tangental sidenote but part of Olympia’s frustration is that Percy gets a lot of the spotlight in these retellings and Annabeth’s baddassery is lesser known. And while she resents a lot of the Athena Campers for the same reasons she resents all the other campers, she does appreciate how Annabeth is revered just as much- if not more so- than Percy over in Cabin 6. This allows me as a writer to just fangirl over Annabeth a little bit by having several moments that are just “hang on Annabeth was awesome too”. Secretly these kids are just an excuse to yap more about how great my favourite characters are in canon but disguised as Deep Writing. Also cute Percabeth marriage bit but Percy is absolutely OUTRAGED every time he hears a re-telling of his story that makes Annabeth seem lesser than he is in power, and will always go on a huge rant about it, mostly so he himself can yap about how great his wife is.

Now Percy’s reaction himself to being turned into a propaganda figure is also an interesting exploration that would probably have to be it’s own fic and also let’s be honest would probably have to be written by someone who cares a lot more about Percy than I do. Percy-centric fics are not my department. I’m a Leo girlie through and through.

And also the “First Legacy” stuff is a big deal, especially as in my mind Olympia was pretty much the very first legacy at CHB. Isabella definitely deals with this the least, since she grew up in New Rome where legacies were common, and Finley had slightly more pressing issues as to why he struggled to fit in at Camp, so Olympia was kinda dealing with this on her own.

I feel like Percy specifically insisted on Olympia’s last name being “Jackson-Chase” because he wanted to make sure Annabeth’s power could carry onto their kids. And yeah, Leo worries that the Valdez name might cause issues for Isabella, but he kind of realises that it doesn’t just carry the power of Leo Valdez but of Esperanza Valdez, Sammy Valdez, and all of the other strong mortals in their family (and I REALLY want to explain why that’s especially important but it would be a huge spoiler). Both Thalia and Jason have renounced the name Grace (mostly because of their mom but they also are just tired of people making puns about their name) but Olympia still has the middle name “Grace” as a little tribute, also because “Olympia Grace Jackson-Chase” rhymes, which ties into the lore that Apollo is the one who delivered her.

Star Wars Side Tangent but I have this reoccurring argument with my friends over whether that moment at the end of “Rise of Skywalker” where Rey says her last name is “Skywalker” was deserved. And like. I get that Luke didn’t teach her for long but you know what she isn’t? Rey Palpetine. And yeah that whole plot was kinda stupid but the “Chosen names are powerful Found Family is awesome” is a hugely impactful message, and so if Rey says she’s a Skywalker she’s a Skywalker.

Found Family is so important, especially when telling LGBTQ+ or queercoded stories. “You deserve to be loved, no matter who you are” should be such a simple statement but for some people it’s somehow hard to grasp. There’s so much hate out there, which is why these stories are so comforting.

Please absolutely talk about your Percabeth kids from Sofíaverse I kinda wanna know how you’re are writing them. It kinda feels like every single PJO fan has some idea or another about their Percababies, and I’ve seen so many different takes.

Does it go well?… On the one hand, it gives her a lot to think about, but she ultimately reaches the conclusion that it’s not a big deal. She still feels more complete knowing that part of herself- but it’s only a part, and not the whole picture. She is so much more than what she was born as. On the other hand… the reveal is unexpected and definitely shakes her up quite a bit, and it doesn’t happen in the most optimal way. It definitely will pose some challenges for her going forward, and she’s gonna need some time to figure out a few things, and it’s really hard to not give spoilers as to what it is and remain vague and cryptic but at the same time I’m kinda hoping you might figure it out so that I can yap about it. But yeah, it does Not go well and might become a problem in the future but she ends up having a pretty positive outlook on it

And that way I can leave it open for a sequel where she gets to actually explore the new opportunities it gives her. And also angst. It gives her some angst

Quick infodump about my Frazel kids as well! They’re a bit younger than the trio and spend most of their time at Camp Jupiter, but show up a bit in the story. Susan, Alexander and Samuel Zhang- Hazel is traditional and in my mind would take Frank’s last name even though Frank insists she doesn’t have to. Also her own mother wasn’t the best so there’s that. They’re triplets (something about Mars kids having strong fertility or something Idk). They’re quite good legionnaires so far, but they haven’t reached their full potential yet. They’re in the Fifth Cohort just like Jason and their parents (it kinda feels like Rick was setting up the cohorts to be different factions like the Cabins but gave up halfway through). I don’t know much about their individual personalities, but Samuel is very insistent on not being called “Sammy”, much to the relief of both Frank and Leo, who are still little weird about the whole thing. Leo is very touched that Hazel wanted to name her kid after his great-grandfather, and they’ve all agreed it’s a good way to have closure on that incident, but it took some getting used to. Isabella and Samuel do laugh about it together, because “I’m named after your great-great grandfather who my mom kissed one time” is an awkward situation to be in otherwise. Finley gets on well with his cousins, and visits them in New Rome often. I wanted to give them kind of old-fashioned names, because I think it fits. I definitely need to flesh them out a bit more, because there’s so much potential of them interacting with the Gang, or having them deal with the same shit Olympia deals with of living up to their parents’ names while in the extremely high-pressure environment that is the Twelfth Legion.

This song is so Married Valgrace. And ik I’d say that about every single song including the Kahoot Lobby Music but this one is especially the vibe

LMAO you're so real for the Kahoot Lobby Music thing, if I'm fixated on something everything is about that something now. Sorry to the books I'm reading and shows I'm watching you are now all AUs of this one thing I like

Anyway you're so right and you should say it (and also the ending of the song made me sob, oh my god? Evil?)

I also feel a very strong need to retaliate now /Ih) so may I suggest I Wanna Grow Old With You as a married Valgrace song?

[wafflefries13]

First Date Ideas (Multi TWST Cast X Reader)

Summary: Short drabbles of where you would take your favorite Twisted Wonderland guy on a first date, and where he would take you.

AN: Pseudo part 2 to the asking-out fic I posted. Not really much else to say besides I really liked trying to come up with a bunch of unique ideas. Thanks for reading!

Cross-posted on my AO3 TheGhostInTheKitchen

Warnings: Fluff

Part 1: Asking them out

Ace: 

Where you take him: Arcade

It’s fun, it’s cozy, it’s classic, and it gives Ace a chance to show off. You both get a bunch of tokens, eat greasy pizza, and try your hand at the games. You take each other on in skeeball and Ace tries to convince you to go against him in the basketball game but you argue he has an unfair advantage. So you settle for the racing simulator. After, when you collect all your tickets, you pour over the prize counter, probably ending up with something not very impressive, or maybe a snow cone maker that stops working after the first three uses. But you’ll treasure it since it’s loaded with memories.  

Where he takes you: Carnival 

This boy is already a clown, put him back where he belongs.  Besides the fact that it gives him an excuse to impress you by winning prizes at the games alley, or trying to anyway, a carnival date fits Ace’s high energy. You can share popcorn and cotton candy while watching the circus acts and Ace will whisper to you explanations for the tricks the magician uses. There’s plenty of stuff to do and tons of fried food. It’s a classic for a reason. And he’d love it if you hold on to him on the rollercoasters. He ends up screaming more than you. 

Deuce: 

Where you take him: Petting zoo 

I just want to see Deuce fawning over baby chicks, is that so much to ask? NGL, I think he’d love it. You could go to some sort of tourist farm and check out the cows getting milked, sheep shearing or sheepdog herding, and collect eggs from the chickens (the kind that don’t hatch into chicks). I can also see Deuce getting into a grudge match against a goat that keeps bonking into his legs with his horns. At the end of the day you’ll sit at a picnic table eating some treats made at the farm and watch the sunset. 

Where he takes you: Botanical garden  

Deuce would want to do something classic, a surefire, tried and tested dating spot. I can imagine him being nervous, getting you flowers when you are already going to see more flowers. You’ll hold the flowers in one hand and Deuce’s, slightly sweaty, hand in the other. If they have a butterfly room, even better. They’ll have a little booklet with different species and you and Deuce go on a scavenger hunt to identify as many as possible. Winner gets kisses. 

Trey: 

Where you take him: At home food science experiment kits  

Did you ever see those at home science food kits where you made gummies and foam and other candy, usually themed to something really weird like monsters or worms? Yeah, you do those, half making fun of how weird it looks and half marveling at the cool effects of swirling all the different ingredients together. Will they taste amazing? Probably not, but Trey probably knows a few cool tricks to make everything a little more edible. 

Where he takes you: Chocolate factory tour 

Have you ever been to Hersheypark in Pennsylvania? There’s a whole section with a little dark ride that shows you the history of chocolate (that’s worse since they took the singing cow animatronics out), a cute interactive play, a trolly ride with chocolate samples, and two chocolate making experiences. You can stuff a giant Reese’s Cup (which is way too sweet IMO) or design your own chocolate bar including the wrapping. Anyway, there’s probably not a one-to-one replica, but with all that magic you can’t tell me there’s not something Willy Wonka-esque. You’ll both spend the day learning about the history of chocolate and chocolate making in Twisted Wonderland, capped off by making all kinds of treats. You’ll experiment with typical flavors, like raspberry, caramel, and nuts, to the more extraordinary, like jalapeno, lavender, and cheese. In the end, you’ll go home with a full box and a picture of the two of you, melted chocolate smearing your faces. (Trey will remind you at least three times to brush your teeth properly after all that sugar.) 

Cater: 

Where you take him: Thrift store

Listen, you find the right thrift store and you can find amazing treasures. And if not, well, you still find weird, kitschy stuff you can have fun ogling. You and Cater will take turns finding the best and worst outfits in the thrift store, having a makeshift fashion show by the changing rooms. Cater would, of course, take plenty of pictures for Magicam, labeling them #MeetMyNewPartner, #HeightOfFashion, #BestLookingCouple. You’ll also look through the aisles, coming up with backstories for all the various objects people have donated over the years. Whether or not you actually buy something isn’t the point. You end the day with plenty of pictures and at least three inside jokes that will drive everyone else crazy. 

Where he takes you: Crafting class

There’s been an emergence of cute crafting stores. Make your own bag, make your own candle, paint your own pottery, make a phone case, rug tufting, that kind of thing. Not only are they a cute and totally Magicamable couples activity, it also gives you both something to take home at the end of the day. Whichever you do, I can see you both making a craft for each other. Maybe you keep what you’re doing a secret until the end, filming your reactions when you reveal your crafts. If you pay close attention later on, you can catch him quietly admiring your gift. 

Riddle: 

Where you take him: Escape room 

Back during the NRC Halloween event, when everyone was stuck in the ghost realm, Riddle had a ton of fun solving those puzzles. I think he would love an escape room, finding clues and undoing locks, using logic and guile to uncover the story. He might get frustrated at the harder puzzles, but it’s all worth it when you work together to solve everything.  You get your picture taken together with a “We Escaped!” sign that you frame. It would be something unexpected but fun for the both of you. (TBH, I think he would love the Nancy Drew games. Maybe not the part where you keep breaking into people's things and stealing stuff, though.) 

Where he takes you: High tea and window shopping 

Riddle is going for a classic, something prim and proper for a prim and proper boy. I can see him reserving a table at a high class hotel for high tea, a table set with a beautiful porcelain teapot and a tower of tiny sandwiches and cakes. He’d order a bunch of different teas you could try. Afterwards, you would walk along the street, checking out shops and talking together. Bonus points if you both get to wear something fancy and cute. 

Leona: 

Where you take him: Picnic 

Look, while having the title of Ramshackle Dorm Prefect sounds fancy, you don’t have a lot of extra cash. You would need to do something simple and cheap but still meeting Leona’s royal tastes (You can’t tell me this boy isn’t a picky eater.) Thanks to the Culinary Crucible, you have a few new skills to test out. You find a big blanket in some old trunk in Ranshakle and pack everything together in a cute wicker basket. Maybe you’ll eat in the gardens where Leona always takes naps or go out on the beach to watch the waves. You both end up falling asleep with full bellies. (Leona won’t admit it, but he feels like that was the best food he’s had in a long time.) 

Where he takes you: River cruise with a fancy dinner 

Leona is going to see your cute picnic date and immediately one ups it with a super fancy and elegant river cruise with a full five course meal. It’s on a beautiful private yacht sailing down a river in the Sunset Savannah. You’ll sit on the deck, candlelight table, while perfectly dressed waiters serve you. This would probably backfire on Leona, though, as you tease him for acting the most prince-ly you’ve ever seen him. Not that you don’t have a ton of fun. By the time dessert rolls around, you’ve both ditched the fancy setting and started skipping stones in the wake of the boat. 

Jack: 

Where you take him: Canoeing 

Something relaxing and outdoorsy and fun. I’m thinking you’ll find someplace like the Ocklawaha River or Crystal River in Florida. A beautiful river with plenty of turtles and fish to spot, surrounded by lush forests or Everglades. If you’re more confident on the water, maybe you each can have a kayak, but I imagine something like you both share a boat. It would be fun to have a sort of eye-spy sheet, like who can spot the most turtles, identify fish, maybe catching sight of a manatee, and, wait, was that an alligator? You’ll end your journey at a natural spring. Dumping your stuff in the canoes, you’ll jump in and spend the rest of the day swimming in the cool water. Maybe you find a good vine or rope and swing out over the water. 

Where he takes you: Zip Lining and high ropes course 

More high energy and involved than a lazy day river trip, but it gives you two the chance to be close. I can almost guarantee Jack found out about the place you go to from Coach Vargas. You’ll get hooked up into harnesses and climb up to a vast network of bridges and ladders and obstacle courses hung between the trees like a giant athletic spiderweb. Maybe at one point you slip, and, although you’re perfectly safe with the harness system, Jack still lunges forward to catch you, blushing hard after as he realizes how close you too are. 

Ruggie: 

Where you take him: Food festival 

I imagine something like the Plant City Strawberry Festival, the Wilton Blueberry Festival, or the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Heck, even throw in the Epcot Food and Wine Festival if you want to have another Disney reference. Something county fair-like with plenty of free samples. You’re not sure who convinced who, but at some point you end up getting those cheesy headbands with springs on top and plastic versions of food bobbing around your heads. There always seems to be sketchy fair rides at these things, too, so you definitely cling to each other going down a log flume ride, kind of regretting how much you ate beforehand. But that’s not going to stop you from chowing down after. 

Where he takes you: Farmer’s market 

Listen, if something is good at a farmer’s market, then you know it’s the best. The big ones not only have plenty of great food, but also local performers and plenty of fun extras to buy. Even if you don’t want to buy anything, it’s fun walking through the crowds and seeing all the different stands. You definitely get some super fancy ice cream, probably with some ridiculous flavors like lavender, parmesan, or licorice. Serving sizes always seem huge too, so you both definitely go home with plenty of leftovers. (You totally don’t notice that Ruggie has been paying with Leona’s credit card this whole time.) 

Azul: 

Where you take him: Game shop 

One of Azul’s vignette stories has him practicing throwing dice so many times until he’s able to completely control what numbers will come up. Sure, he might be in the board game club for fun, but also because he likes to win. So a game shop that hosts weekly game nights would be perfect not only for him to show off and impress you, but also a cozy space to have fun and take the pressure off first date jitters. Whether you have a game with just the two of you or join in with other patrons there, you can team up to strategize and win. I personally think something like One Night Werewolf would be perfect. (He does feel bad when he accuses you of being the werewolf, though. Too bad he’s right.) 

Where he takes you: Fancy restaurant 

It’s nothing compared to the Monstro Lounge, of course, But Azul is putting his best foot forward with a classic first date spot. Azul plans everything down to the most minute detail. He double and triple checks the menu of where you’re going before you even leave to make sure there’s nothing you’re allergic to and there’s something you’ll like. He goes all out: flowers, pulling out your chair, getting a bottle of something fancy and expensive to drink (non-alcoholic if you prefer). Of course, the moment you start complimenting him he turns red and starts tumbling over his words. Maybe you lean into that, enjoying teasing him, the switch from having everything under control to a mess of complex emotions. Still, you slide your hand across the table taking his, and you both have a perfect night. 

Jade: 

Where you take him: Make your own tea blend shop

Jade is an experimental guy. I think if he wasn’t the founder of the mountain lovers club he probably would be in the science club just to mix together every kind of chemical just to see what happens. You would take him to a small tea shop, maybe in town on Sage’s Island or somewhere else through the mirror portal. You would pick out matching tea cups then choose different flavors and leaves from the jars of dried tea. You could make up little packets of different custom blends, some of them stuff you actually think would taste good, some that just sound interesting all together. You and Jade could trade and drink them together back at the Monstro Lounge. 

Where he takes you: Mountain and cave hike 

This is kind of a gimme, but I think he’d want to show off all his knowledge of local mountain flora and fauna. He’s the only member of his club, which gives you plenty of time to be alone together and use the club’s budget however you want. He would surprise you by showing you an undiscovered cave entrance. Hopefully it’s not the kind where you have to crawl on your belly to get in. I like imagining something like Ruby Falls in Tennessee. He’d bring you in, turn off his lantern, and crowds of bioluminescent mushrooms would glow around you. 

Floyd: 

Where you take him: Roller derby 

You can’t tell me this boy would not absolutely love watching a bunch of people going super fast while trying to beat the hell out of each other. He would immediately pick a favorite team and buy all their merch. Even if it’s just a small local circuit he’ll make his own merch for the two of you to wear while you cheer them on. Floyd already likes shoes, specifically sneakers, so I think he would really like the idea of roller skating, going as fast on land as he can in the sea. Your next date will be at a roller rink. 

Where he takes you: Laser tag 

Similar to going to a roller derby, Floyd would love the energy and competition of laser tag. He’d be vaulting over the barriers and launching sneak attacks against other players. Maybe you two would team up and top the leaderboard or maybe he’d hunt you down in the glow-in-the-dark black-light game room. Afterwards you can catch your breath in the lobby and eat junk food. You’re not sure if you’re excited or nervous when he mentions paintball. 

Kalim: 

Where you take him: Hands-on science museum 

Coming up with a first date idea to impress Buys-A-Restaurant-Chain-Because-You-Said-You-Liked-Their-Breadsticks-Once-Kalim is a little harrowing. Sure, you know he would like whatever you have planned, it’s the thought that counts, but that doesn't mean you don’t want to try and show off a little. You eventually find a hands-on science museum. Think the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia or the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose or even WonderWorks. It’s something that keeps you active, jumping from exhibit to exhibit to try out all kinds of new things while pretending you're learning. Sure, most of the other people there are kids, but that doesn't stop either of you from having fun. With Kalim’s experience with all his younger siblings, you soon have a small army helping you with the replica dinosaur dig site. 

Where he takes you: Fused glass class 

Kalim’s first instinct is to go big. Throw a parade, rent out a theme park, buy a private island. This little ball of sunshine is way too excited to think anything through. Maybe Jamil mentions that you might be intimidated by such an overwhelming show of wealth on a first date, or maybe he implies you need to work up to something that extravagant. Whatever the case, Kalim agrees to start small. He’ll take you to a stained glass shop that offers classes in Silk City. You’ll take a fused glass class together, where you take shards and rods of other colored glass, placing them gently together in a shape. The owners fire the final product leaving you with a beautiful hand-made ornament. Kalim hangs it by his window back in his dorm room, smiling whenever the light catches it. (He’s still thinking about that private island, though.) 

Jamil: 

Where you take him: Aviary 

Jamil mentioned in one of his vignettes that he would want to own a parrot one day. So why not give it a test run with a variety of different parrot species, and throw in some parakeets, falcons, lorikeets, and canaries while we’re at it? You buy cups of food and the birds will fly down to perch on your arms and heads.  The parrots, in colors ranging from green and yellow to blue and purple and red, show you how they dance and talk. There’s a game you can play with them where you hold up different objects and they’ll tell you what they are and what they’re made of. There’s even a falconry show where the birds swoop out into the audience. At the end of the day, the tour guide makes a joke about lovebirds that you both pretend to ignore. 

(BTW, did you know President Andrew Jackson had a parrot that cursed so much it had to be removed from the room during his funeral because it kept swearing? The more you know.) 

Where he takes you: Dance class 

Mr. Jack Of All Trades, Master Of All over here is definitely going to want to show off. No matter who asked who out first, he wants to reassure you, and himself, that you made the right choice agreeing to go out with him. So he sticks with something he knows best, something he has fun with, and something he can easily introduce you too. Whether it’s a classic ballroom dance, salsa, or classic Scalding Sands folk dancing, Jamil just loves the chance to be close to you. It might be better if you have two left feet so he can show off leading you. By the end, you're both sweaty and exhausted, muscles aching pleasantly, but you're also both laughing and wondering if you should enter a couples dance competition. 

Vil: 

Where you take him: DIY spa night 

Like I said before, you don’t exactly have a lot of extra cash, so I can see you relying on a lot of DIY tricks. You’re hoping to impress one of Twisted Wonderland's biggest triple threats with scented candles (bought half-off at Sam’s), homemade avocado hair masks, coconut oil and honey face masks, and a jade face roller and gua sha set you have no idea how to properly use. Vil definitely appreciates effort, so he’ll love whatever you have set up. He’ll even show you how to actually use that jade roller and gua sha. 

Where he takes you: Private movie theater 

Let’s be honest, Vil isn’t exactly the most humble person. And you, a magicless student with pretty much no frame of reference for any pop culture or just plain cultural insights in this new world, are in the perfect position for him to show off. Vil would rent out a private theater showing the best and most iconic movies in all of Twisted Wonderland. Of course, he also shows you all of his films (Like I said, not so humble). He may give you the side eye when you insist on sharing a bucket of buttery popcorn, but if you gasp and laugh and applaud in all the right places I don’t think he’ll mind. 

Rook: 

Where you take him: Art museum 

Quelle beaute! No matter what kind of art museum you choose, modern, sculpture, impressionist, classical, whatever, Rook is sure to love it. He’d be the kind of person to carefully read each plaque to discover more about the artist and what inspired their work. He’ll praise each and every piece, only to turn around and compare it to your beauty. While this definitely will get you a few looks from some of the other visitors, you won’t mind because you know he’s being completely sincere with every word. At the end of the day, you’ll probably end up with an art book from the gift shop and you get each other prints of your favorite paintings. 

Where he takes you: Zoo 

You can take the boy out of the hunt but you can’t take the hunt out of the boy… Or something. We know Rook has a penchant for stalking the poor beastman students at NRC (I bet they have to warn the Savannahclaw first years every year), so I think he would also love admiring animals in a place where you’re actually suppose to watch them. Extra points if there are baby animals. Extra extra points if the zoo has one of those programs where you can go back and get close up encounters with some of the animals, like sloths or elephants. You both definitely get plushies of your favorite animals after. 

Epel: 

Where you take him: Motorcross 

Give the farm boy blood. We know from his dorm uniform vignette that he can ride a blast cycle. Checking out a motorcross race or just a show exhibition would be a high energy outing for you both. Cheering in the stands gives him a chance to cut loose from the stricter rules of decorum in Pomefiore, and sometimes it’s just fun to watch things go fast with a chance of crashing. Maybe you can rent one, or borrow one from Ingenhyde back at NRC, and go for a drive. He’ll probably go a little too fast, maybe from nerves or excitement or just to have to hold him a little tighter. 

Where he takes you: Ice skating 

Do you know how to skate? Great! He’ll take you out to a frozen lake in the middle of a beautiful forest near Harveston. Some place only the locals know about. It’ll be something right off a Christmas card with glitter snow and a perfect clear blue sky. Don’t know how to skate? That’s fine too! You’ll go to an indoor rink, somewhere where the ice is guaranteed to be smooth and won’t crack under your feet. If you’re just learning, please hold on to him and let him teach you, it’ll make him feel super manly and swell with pride. No matter where you go, you both get hot apple cider after, maybe cuddling together in front of a warm fireplace and sharing a warm quilt. 

Idia: 

Where you take him: Cat cafe 

You’re going to need a good excuse to get Idia out of his room, and this is a pretty good reason. Ideally, you would find a place like Tashirojima, the cat island in Japan, but a good old cat cafe will work just as well. You’ll find the least busy time to go which should help Idia’s social anxiety. But once you both settle into plush low chairs and get surrounded by cute kitties, he won’t even notice anyone else. The cafe sells cute frozen cat treats shaped like cat paws that you buy to encourage the cats to come closer. You snuck in some catnip, and you both spend the day enveloped in cute warm kitty cuddles. 

Where he takes you: Video game night 

The boy is a nervous wreck around other people on his best days, so when he decides to venture on a date he’s going to go with something he’s most comfortable with. You’ll camp out in his room for the date. He’s gone to great lengths to make it nice, plenty of snacks and soft pillows and blankets. He’ll introduce you to some of his favorite but entry level games first. Maybe something Animal Crossing adjacent, but I have a soft spot for point-and-click adventure puzzle games. Eventually, you’ll end up playing doubles on something more action oriented, Idia showing you all the best tricks and combo moves. (Ortho is secretly taking pictures to show at the wedding he’s already planning for you both.) 

Sebek: 

Where you take him: Salmon fishing and grill  

You like it because it gives a chance to get out in nature and be alone together, he likes it because he gets to catch his favorite food and prove he can be a provider. Sure, it just might be a first date, but Sebek likes to think ahead and he’s definitely taking your budding relationship seriously. You two go out into the woods, probably near where Camp Vargus was held, and set up next to a river. While most of the day is hanging out on the bank and talking, there’s always a jolt of excitement when one of your lines starts to tug and you pull out a beautiful gray and pink salmon. Sure, there was that one time when the fish slapped Sebek with his fin until it slipped from his hands, but you both agree to forget about that (you don’t forget, in fact you think about it often). Around midday, you both realize you’re kind of squeamish when it comes to cleaning fish. Sebek puts on a brave face and cuts them up while you make a campfire. Is it the best meal you’ve ever had? No, definitely not. Are you picking fish bones out of your teeth for the rest of the evening? Yeah. Did you two have a ton of fun and are already planning your next date? Of course. 

Where he takes you: Tournament 

Does Twisted Wonderland have Renaissance fairs? Who knows, but considering Briar Valley still has knights, they definitely have tournaments. The Bead Brawl is sort of similar to what I’m thinking, but there’s more of a focus on what we would think of as traditional medieval events. Stuff like jousting, sword fighting in full armor, and archery. I don’t think you go all the way to the Briar Valley for this, it’s probably more of a smaller local fair with less serious competition. I think Sebek will be a spectator at this event, but that doesn't stop him from commenting on the participants. He tells you about his own training with Lilia and Silver. He’ll be boastful and loud, but you know him well enough at this point to tell he’s nervous under all the bravado. He wants to make sure you’re having a good time but is too stubborn to actually ask. There are definitely giant turkey legs, homemade soda and mead, and chimney cakes to stuff yourself with. He’ll enter a visitor competition, something fun and light like an obstacle course, and win you a prize. At the end of the day there will be a traditional dance at the fair and you both twirl together under lantern light.

Silver: 

Where you take him: Bookstore date 

Whether a big chain store or a cute local owned place, the idea is the same. First, you both find the cheesiest romance novel cover in the store. Next, you checked out the cook books, looking for the weirdest and worst sounding recipes (you joke about getting it for Lilia then laugh at the glare he gives you). Finally, you both choose a book for the other that you’ll read then reconvene to talk about at your next date. You find him an adventure book, something you would have called epic fantasy back in your world. He gets you a collection of well known fables and myths from across Twisted Wonderland. He’s slightly worried that you’ll be insulted in his reference to your lack of cultural knowledge of your new world, but you love it, especially the gorgeous illustrations for each story. 

Where he takes you: Horse riding along the beach 

This can go one of two ways, depending if you know how to ride a horse/are comfortable around them. If you know how to ride, Silver will borrow someone’s horse from the equestrian club for you to ride. If not, you’ll ride behind him, arms hugged around his middle as you cuddle close. Either way, you’ll ride down to one of the beaches along Sage’s Island. You’ll ride along the beach, darting in and out of the waves. Silver will probably have packed a small picnic that you can eat while watching the sunset. He ends up nodding off for a little while you take a break lounging on some dunes, but you kind of like him leaning on your shoulder like that. 

Lillia: 

Where you take him: Concert in the park 

A few steps down from a full on festival, I’m imagining a lush green park, couples and families spread out on blankets, food trucks surrounding everything making the park smell amazing, maybe a couple of craft tents with knick-knacks for sale. There will be a large stage set up for the bands. Lilia prefers heavy metal, but I think he would like any show that plays something high energy. You’ll set up an umbrella to give you both some shade as you watch the acts. Lilia will regale you with tales of his travels and he’d probably love hearing about all the places in your world. At some point, you both definitely spend time dancing ridiculously. Lilia takes plenty of pictures to show off back at Disamonia. 

Where he takes you: Esports competition 

When Muscle Red told his online bestie Gloomamurai he was trying to come up with ideas for a date, the later said, “I got you,” and set him up with front row seats to the premier esports competition in all of Twisted Wonderland. Arriving at the indoor arena, you get a giant bucket of popcorn to share and Lilia buys you some merch of his favorite team. If you don’t know a ton about esports or the game they’re playing, Lilia will be more than happy to explain the rules to you. You’re surrounded  in deafening cheers when your team makes a last minute score to win, hugging each other while jumping up and down. On the way back, Lilia promises to help you set up an account for the online game and teach you the ropes, while trying to remember to thank his friend when you kiss his cheek. 

Malleus: 

Where you take him: Mini-golfing 

You can’t tell me it wouldn’t be adorable to see a giant Malleus hunched over a mini-golf club trying to gently tap the ball into a hole. I can see him at the first hole swinging like a normal golf course, sending the ball twinkling away, Team Rocket style. Mini-golf is a classic first date, and I think he would like the normality of it all. You’re not trying to super impress him, just treating him like a normal boyfriend, a normal date. And it gives you both more time to focus on each other, between desperately trying to hit the ball through the moving fan blades of the windmill hole. 

Where he takes you: Historic castle ruins 

I can imagine Malleus panicking at first about where to take you for your first official date. Does he bring you to a ball in the Briar Valley? A romantic opera in perfect box seats? Do you start picking out your engagement rings? Instead, he finally decided on an old reliable choice, harking back to how you both first started bonding in the first place. He finds beautiful old ruins, either in Briar Valley or somewhere else, and you just stroll and talk. He’ll tell you about the architecture, maybe the history of the location, pointing out whatever interesting gargoyles he spots. You both understand you don’t need grand gestures or impressive and expensive dates. You’re both happiest being with each other.

[r--kt]

Do you like Kakashi's dogs? Let's talk about why there are eight of them.

another example of naruto's ✨cultural code✨

contents | the eight dog warriors chronicles · legacy · eight confucian virtues. also look at the cuties love them sm

Naruto Vol. 10 CH 90

[ one dog is wonderful, I'm saying as the owner of a sweet little york terrier. two dogs are good, they won't be bored together. three dogs? yeah, cool! how are you going to walk them though? four? yes... look, maybe we have to draw the line h- wha- EIGHT? Excuse Me!? ]

surely, it's worth starting with the fact that eight is a lucky number in Japanese culture — everybody watched Hachi. of course, this is not the only cultural detail where the eight is mentioned. I want to pay special attention to a thing that I didn't know about until I googled it, and this is clearly what Kishimoto was doing homage to with Kakashi's eight ninken.

The Eight Dog Warriors Chronicles

Better known as Nansō Satomi Hakkenden. and it's not just some kind of book, it's a novel, consisting of 106 booklets written by Kyokutei Bakin in XIX century. Hakkenden is considered the largest novel in the history of Japanese Literature. this is one of the main representatives of the gesaku genre, which includes works of a frivolous, joking, silly nature. further I will emphasize a few more times how damn popular this work is and how often it is reflected in culture.

here are some illustrations for these books

now let's talk about the plot. It's weird, but it's weird at samurai-dogs-story level so stay here.

In brief, the story tells about the commander Satomi Yoshizane, whose native lands were attacked by the army of a man, whose forces surpassed those of Satomi, and the samurai in despair swore to a dog named Yatsufusa that the dog would get his beloved daughter Fuse as a wife if he chewed that man's throat. surprisingly, the dog not only understood the owner, but also fulfilled his wish! after that the commander refused to keep the promise. however, Fuse, true to her word of honor, went with Yatsufusa to the mountains and became his wife. upon learning that his daughter was pregnant, Satomi, in a rage, sent a samurai to kill Yatsufusa and bring Fuse home. she stood up for the dog anyways and died with him. at that moment, eight pearls with hieroglyphs that denoted the foundations of Confucian virtue burst out of her womb. (...cheers for mythology, I guess)

Soon, eight dog warriors who were Fuse's spiritual children were born in different parts of Awa province. after going through hardships, they got together and became vassals of the Satomi clan, then won the battle, and soon reached peace.

some more illustrations made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. from left to right: Inukawa Sōsuke (the dog warrior), Inumura Daikaku (the dog warrior), Princess Fuse (their mother).

the novel mainly tells about each individual warrior dog and his shenanigans in a funny adventurous way. huge fame has led to excerpts from Hakkenden being staged at the Kabuki Theater and mentioned in the anime and manga, such as Inuyasha, Dragon Ball, as it turned out, Naruto and so on. there's also a lot of films and video games.

The eight virtues

these are loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, love, honesty, justice, harmony, and peace.

they relate more to Chinese culture, but basically Hakkenden was inspired by it too. since I did not read the whole novel, I would still like to mention at least the values on which it is based, and which were embedded in the symbolism of this story. It's quite interesting to apply this to Kakashi's dogs. gives them more weight and depth.

It is also interesting to note that the reason why Fuse gave birth to dogs was also that her father was cursed earlier in the story in a way that his descendants would become depraved like dogs. in Japanese culture, dogs embody the duality of character: the same mentioned filth and depravity, and devotion and bravery. so as samurai. but this is a different conversation, more related to Kakashi and his dog poetry.

Did you get here? Here's an additional discovery for you✨

Pakkun's name (パックン) is derived from the Japanese onomatopoeia “pakupaku” (パクパク) which reflects the sound of munching.

Kakashi, that's very sweet of you.

thank you for reading this to the end ♡

[it-was-summer]

The Very First... Second... Third Night

A/N: Hey guys, happy fall!!! Fun fact about me, I love Season one reid so much it's not even funny. That's pookie!!!!! Anyways, enjoy this little fluffy cute thing I wrote in a romance-infused haze (I saw that photo of MGG in that pumpkin sweater at knott's berry farms and I needed Spencer in a Halloween way). MAYBE some porn coming soon idk man. Love you all!!-Em <3

Link to the Ao3: The Very First... Second... Third Night ->Link to the: Yee olde masterlist Tags: Can't remember if I use any female pronouns for reader, but warning just incase. Season one reid, MENTION OF JEID, SPENCELLE, AND bisexual Reid, Spencer reid being critical of himself, Spencer's POV for the most part, jello mentioned guys, Overstimulated Spencer Reid at a football game, mention of a cemetery, mention of Nosferatu (1922). Kind of proofread, yippie!!!

Genre: Fluffy meet cutes. Pairing: Season One! Spencer Reid x Fem! Reader.

Plot: Spencer runs into you twice before but only manages to get your name (and number) the third time.

Word Count: 3,863

First Meeting

Spencer can’t remember the last time this bookstore was so crowded. Personally, he tried to go on early Sunday mornings to avoid the crowds– if any– that came into the shop. Maybe he was being overdramatic. There couldn’t have been more than twenty people in the store with him. But it was still twenty too many. He softly apologizes to the elderly woman as he squeezes past her in the narrow nonfiction aisle. 

Most of the crowd seemed to be hovering around the fiction area, which was fine with him– the further away, the better. With his head turned to watch the small crowd bustle about the store, he didn’t notice the person standing just inches from him in the aisle. 

You stared at him with a confused expression for a second, thinking surely this man would move eventually. But the moment never came. He was tall with brown hair and long eyelashes. He had the fashion sense of a teacher– correction, teacher’s assistant. You clear your throat softly, hardcover clutched in hand as you watch the man’s head snap over to you, his cheeks flushing red. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t see you. Not that you’re hard to miss– I mean in a good way, you’re–” He closes his mouth and swallows hard, looking into your gentle eyes. “I’m sorry.” 

You would have felt a little agitated if he hadn’t seemed so earnest, but this man oozes social anxiety, and your heart takes pity on him. Your lips move to a slow smile, and you whisper a sweet, “That’s alright,” 

Spencer’s sure he’s never seen kinder eyes, “It’s just so busy today. I was looking at the crowd,” 

Your head turns at that, allowing Spencer to take in your features. A light sweater to accommodate the cool air this early-October morning, some Halloween earrings that make Spencer smile, and stunning eyes. “Book signing pop-up, it’ll be crazy until three. At least that's what the stock girl told me.” You’re soft-spoken, too. Spencer can appreciate that.

He nods slightly, looking down at the hardcover in your hand and then over at the crowd again, “Are you not here for the book signing?” 

“Afraid not,” You sigh as you hold up a historical fiction novel, “Me and my historical fiction novel were going to take a gander at some biographies.” 

He can’t help his peaked interest as he licks his lips, “Regarding?” He’s a fan of history himself and is always happy to interact with someone who also shares a love for it. He feels slightly less anxious talking about something he knows.

You twist your lips to the side like you’re silently debating whether or not you should tell him. You look away for a second, your eyes scanning the bookshelves on either side of you. “Salem Witch Trials.” You answer him bluntly. 

Spencer nods like he understands precisely what you mean, “Ah, the more humane witch trials.” It's a funny joke… to him, at least. 

But then your lips twitch upwards as you let out a quiet chuckle, “No burning for us, just rope and intense torture.” 

He feels electric, which is stupid because he shouldn’t feel excited over something as simple as someone joking with him, but he does. He’s been working on it upon Derek’s sarcastic request, and he can’t help but wonder if it is finally paying off now. 

Spencer feels the overwhelming urge to partake in what Garcia describes as ‘info-dumping ,’ but he bites his tongue as he settles on a simple question, “How come?” 

You shrug slightly as you look up at him. The bookstore light keeps making his eyes a soft amber, and you’re having a hard time looking away now. “Halloween tradition.” You watch his eyebrow furrow, raising a hand to explain yourself quickly. “My best friend and I each pick a historical event that is relatively macabre, and then we base our costumes around it and throw a party with a related theme. It’s... It’s stupid.” You say with a smile and a wave of your hand dismissively. 

Meanwhile, Spencer’s too busy thinking you’re the most extraordinary girl he’s ever interacted with. For the first time in his life, he’s desperate for an invite to a stranger’s party—a pretty stranger who has yet to tell him her name. 

“That’s not-” 

A woman’s voice cuts him off as she barrels down the aisle with a grin, “There you are, oh…” Her blue eyes look Spencer up and down carefully, studying him. “Hello, there.” She’s direct and forward and speaks in a tone that tells Spencer to leave you the hell alone. 

He nods curtly, waving slightly at your friend. You sigh out with mock annoyance as you say, “He’s a friendly, put your gun away.” 

“I don’t believe in guns.” 

“They’re very real, trust me.” Is your sarcastic reply before looking at Spencer again. “Thanks for the company. I’ll see you around.” And just like that… you’re gone. 

Second Meeting

Spencer is sure he’ll never see you again, but here he is a week later, still thinking about you on a case. Or rather, he’s thinking about every woman ever and that he’ll never have a chance with any of them… ever. He’s feeling rather lonely, or maybe his self-esteem is taking a certain nose-dive this fine San Diego day. 

It’s not because it’s his birthday. He doesn’t hate his birthday like Elle hates hers– that’s what she told him once—the day started off great: the trick candles, the big birthday hat, his embarrassing crush on JJ. And now, they’re discussing the case, a routine he enjoys. 

His mind, always full of helpful information, quickly recognized the ballad from the 17th century– betwixt death and a lady. After his comment regarding what people could find by typing the word ‘death’ in the search engine, Derek’s laughing, “Reid, no wonder you can’t get a date.”

It sticks on him; he would love to let it slide off his back, but he’s not familiar with that kind of territory– dating, that is– so it hits a nerve. A nerve that Spencer didn’t know was so exposed. The worst part is that Derek’s not wrong. Spencer can’t seem to get a date. Not with the pretty intellectual at the bookstore, JJ, or Elle– though that last one feels strange to admit to himself. 

He’s too awkward, speaks too fast, and, according to Gideon, needs to relax more. He’s sure… he’s cute, actually, he doesn’t know if he is. All he knows is that his mind is brilliant, his skills involving women… not so much. 

He’s silently mulling it over as he approaches one of the bulletin boards, muttering lines of the ballad softly when JJ walks up beside him, “Creepy, huh?” Her voice makes him look at her, hesitating as he replies. 

“Actually, uh, conversations between death and his victims was a fairly popular literary and artistic theme throughout the Renaissance.” He’s staring at the bulletin for a second before glancing her away, and his cheeks feel hot when he sees the way JJ is looking at him– disinterest. “But, yeah, creepy.” 

He feels like a teenager, and all those years spent in college and not high school are coming back to bite him. He liked girls and boys, too. He should be better at this, he has an IQ of 187 and five degrees to prove it. Spencer walks away from the conversation quickly, his feet carrying him away from the embarrassing moment as quickly as possible. He needs to focus on the case. 

And focus he does. He’s happy to analyze the meaning of the ballads at the crime scenes, his anxiety calming as he settles into the sweet caress of facts. Feelings, beauty, and tastes were all subjective. The objective was his comfort zone.

So it stands to reason that he feels lighter after conversing with Gideon about why the UnSub would start to use the ballad if it wasn’t a part of his signature. However, after the team delivers the profile, his lightness returns to his ruminating thoughts surrounding his lack of social skills. 

The more he thinks about it, the more he feels the icy breath of repressed memories breathing down his neck. A jammed locker, missing gym clothes, a dark bathroom bolted shut. As the team waits for the UnSub’s suspected phone call to the tip line, he reaches for his bag to pull out a Rubix cube. 

His fingers quickly twist and turn it aimlessly until he feels like it’s mixed around enough for him to solve it again. Elle is sitting in a desk chair in front of him as he solves it. He wants to ask her if she’d ever consider dating him, if she thinks JJ would, or if she feels any self-respecting woman would. He doesn’t, though, the question sounding too desperate in his head to say it out loud. 

Instead, he asks, “Do you think it’s weird that I knew that ballad?” His eyes don’t stray away from the cube for too long as he asks it, scared of what Elle’s gaze might tell him. 

He’s pleasantly surprised when she chuckles and says, “I don’t know how it is that you know half the things you know, but I’m glad you do.” 

Spencer feels insecure when he speaks again, but he has to know the answer, “Do you think it’s why I can’t get a date?” He looks up at her now, waiting for the brutal blow, which is her answer. 

Elle looks slightly amused. “You ever ask anyone out?” She smiles a little, seeing the genius look genuinely dumbfounded for a second as he thinks about it. 

He never had the confidence to walk up to someone he found attractive and say something interesting enough to warrant a ‘yes’ if he asked them on a date. “No,” 

She gives him a slight shrug of her shoulders, “That’s why you can't get a date.” And Spencer seems to nod at that, and his lips tighten for a second as he nods before he looks away from her again. His focus is pulled back to the case when the UnSub calls, and for a little while, he feels better. 

On the flight home, he’s almost completely forgotten about his spiral as he plays chess with Gideon. When he hands Spencer a small present, a little smile plays on his lips as he says, “But you don’t give birthday presents.” When he finally gets the present open, he feels a little confused as he thanks Gideon for the generous gift– two VIP box seat Redskin tickets. 

He’s excited, nonetheless, to experience something new with Gideon, and Spencer believes him when he says that Spencer will love it. 

“We are. You’re coming with me, right?” Spencer asks with a slight grin.

Gideon smiles, “No.” he doesn’t let Spencer’s confusion build for long as he quickly adds, “Someone else on the plane is a huge skins fan.” 

“Who?” 

“Only person in the world who calls you Spence.” 

Speaking of the only person in the world that calls him Spence, the date was going terribly. She had invited Penelope; she thought it was a group thing. He begged Hotch and Gideon for some pointers, anything. They reminded him she was already his friend, but that wasn’t very helpful. He knew how to talk to her on a typical day. On a date? Not so much.

Then, she invited Penelope. Now he’s stuck on a date where only one person in the group knows it was supposed to be a date, and he feels nauseous. He’s trying to keep a conversation going, but every time it picks up for a second, he feels himself fumble the metaphorical ball, and it dies again. 

Eventually, he excuses himself to get some air. He’s debating calling Gideon and updating him on how it’s going. His feet pace on the concrete stadium floor. He’s near the elevators, and he can barely hear himself– it’s auditory overload hell. He shuts his eyes tight, stuffing his phone back into his pocket as he covers his ears, leaning against the cool wall beside the elevators. 

It’s all muffled, barely helping, but the feeling of the cool wall on his back through his clothes helps relax him slightly. His shoulders relax briefly before he feels two fingers lightly tapping his shoulders, and he’s rigid again. 

Rigid until his eyes snap open to see that it’s you. You from the bookstore, with that same kind smile, same dazzling smile, it is you. You’re yelling over the shouting, but he can barely hear you. You laugh. He can only tell by your facial expression as all the sound falls deaf to his ears over the crowd's yelling. 

Once it calms down, you repeat yourself, “Are you alright?” 

He nods, then you’re giving him a skeptical look, and he slowly shakes his head. 

“Is it the noise?” 

A part of him wants to tell you that it’s everything he is experiencing today, but instead, he whispers a soft “Yes.” 

You twist your lips to the side, looking upset for him. Your empathy is so sweet and pure for him that he feels the knot in his chest unraveling slowly. “Let me buy you a water?” You offer, motioning to a concession stand a few steps away. 

He doesn’t remember saying yes, but you’re grinning as you walk with him to the stand and buy the two of you a bottle. After a sip or two, you say, “I’m not the biggest fan of football games either. My dad loves em’.”

He nods along silently, feeling so socially overwhelmed that he barely has the energy for more conversation. You seem happy to fill the gap: “I ran into you at that bookstore on 8th, right?” 

Spencer’s beaming as he pulls the bottle away from his lips, nodding, speaking for the first time in a while. “Yes.” 

You let out a happy hum, “Small world,” And Spencer agrees with you silently. 

It's the most comfortable he’s felt all week, and he wonders if maybe this failed date of his was a strange blessing in disguise. He’s about to ask for your name when Penelope approaches the two of you, blinking starstruck at Spencer and you as she introduces herself when the crowd begins to cheer again. Any noise he can hear is drowned out, frowning as you shake Penelope’s hand and say your name– a name he cannot hear. Some more words follow, but it's all small talk until you excuse yourself to return to your father in the stands. 

Then he’s the one being dragged away from you, convinced once more that he’ll never see his pretty stranger ever again. 

Third Meeting

It’s the night before Halloween. Ask anyone who knows Spencer; they will tell you he genuinely loves Halloween. It’s a part of him, always has been. He likes that you can dress up as anyone you want to be without judgment. He loves the build-up, the history, and the scents that fill the air. 

So, when he manages to get the night off, he’s quick to try and convince someone from the team to head over to a cemetery not too far from headquarters. Even when he explains how it is for a classic horror movie showing on the graveyard’s lands, everyone declines. 

Now, he’s setting up an oversized quilt on the soft grass, smoothing out the edges of the oversized quilt with his hands before sitting down on it. His hands move to his bag, pulling out a few of his favorite snacks, drinks, and so on as he watches the cemetery slowly fill up with people. 

He’s happy. He feels a little strange at the thought, but he’s happy– even if it is in the middle of a cemetery. 

A gentle voice cuts through the soft quiet of the graveyard, “I knew I was going to run into you sooner or later,” 

He turns his head to look at you, picnic basket and blanket in hand. You smile down at him. He trips over himself as he stands, his cheeks flushing as you laugh at the sight. He rubs his suddenly sweating hands on his button-up as he reluctantly offers you his hand to shake, only to realize that you don’t have a hand available. 

“Can I—” he says softly, “Would it be alright if I—" he swallows hard, his voice cracking lightly. Do you need help with your things?” 

You glance down at your hands, smiling slightly as you shake your head politely. “I’m sure I can find a good spot soon. I didn’t mean to disturb you.” 

“You’re not, honest. I’m, uh, I’m here alone, and it doesn’t start for another fifteen minutes.” You silently debate his offer, and then Spencer feels a wave of confidence surge through him, “You can always sit with me if you’d like. I promise I’ll try to be quiet.” 

You seem to think that’s funny as you nod, “Well, it is a silent film.” 

“You don’t have to say yes. I just have a big blanket, and I’m in a good spot to see the screen and–”

“I’ll sit with you,” You cut him off softly, bending down to gently get the picnic basket on the edge of his quilt. Spencer moves out of your way, awkwardly shuffling for a second before he decides this might be a good time to introduce himself. 

“I’m Spencer.” 

You glance up at him as you move to sit on the blanket, smiling as you tell him your name. He licks his lips nervously, nodding as he sits beside you. His nervous eyes dance over your figure as you set your blanket, which he now sees has little cartoon ghosts all over it, to the side of your basket. 

You’re frowning slightly as you reach into the basket, pulling out a small cup of jello and a spoon. “I’m sorry. If I had known I was sharing a blanket with someone, I would have brought another cup.” 

Spencer finds it funny as he leans over to his satchel and pulls out his own cup of jello and spoon, “No need,” 

You laugh lightly as you raise your jello cup to his. “Cheers, then. " Spencer smiles lightly as the two of you tap the edges together for a moment before falling into a comfortable silence while eating jello. 

Spencer’s spoon digs into the jello, and he asks, “Is this your first time seeing Nosferatu ?”

You let out a soft hum as you pull your spoon out of your mouth and quickly nod, “Yes!” You say after swallowing, “What about you?” 

“Third.” 

“Didn’t remember it well enough the first two times?” 

He lets out a shy laugh at that— it feels strange for someone to be unaware of his eidetic memory, and he wonders how long that’ll last. “Not exactly. I guess just like Halloween.” 

“A man of good taste,” You quip back softly, taking a smiling bite of jello. 

Spencer laughs as his eyes watch your lips close around your spoon before he pulls them away to look into your eye, hoping you don’t notice as he stutters lightly. “That’s debatable.” 

You’re looking down at your half-eaten Jello cup. “I’m the judge here. I deem it a fact that you are a man of good taste. You’re wearing a cardigan. That’s how the judicial system works, don’t you know?” You look back at him with a smirk, and Spencer can’t help the chortle that escapes his throat. 

“That is not how the United States judicial system works, but thank you.” 

“Yeah, you look like someone who would know all the inner workings of the judicial system.” 

Spencer can feel his cheeks getting red at how your voice sounds—teasing and a little flirty. Oh my god, were you flirting with him? He’s sure he’s all smiles and red cheeks as he looks at you, changing the topic. “None of your friends wanted to come with you tonight?”

“No, not their scene. It’s okay, though. I’m making a new friend right now.” 

Spencer’s finishing off his Jello as he steals a glance at you again, stars in his eyes. “You don’t even know me.” 

“Sure I do. Your name is Spencer. You like jello, nonfiction, Halloween, and dressing like a teacher’s assistant.” 

Spencer doesn’t want to say you’re wrong, even though he knows you’re just being nice, but he doesn’t want to spend another week without seeing you. He wants to be your friend— he’ll be anything you want him to be. “Could I–” He licks his lips, eyes searching yours nervously. 

You watch him carefully, tilting your head to the side as you look into his brown eyes. The sun is gone now, but the rising moon is shining down on him. He seems so… gentle, like a deer in a quiet forest.  A part of you just wants to scoop him up and bring him home with you, as inappropriate as that is. 

“You wouldn’t have to– It’s alright if you say no. I was just thinking I could give you my number sometime, maybe.” He manages with a gentle huff of air. 

You nod a little, “Sometime, maybe.” You repeat with a slight grin forming on your lips. Out of the corner of your eye, you can see the projector starting to play the movie, and a hush falls over the cemetery’s lawn. 

Spencer’s voice is a little too loud as he rushes to say, “I mean, now. Would it be alright if I–” A shush cuts him off, and his back straightens quickly as he shuts his mouth. His eyes meet yours for a second before darting over to the projection. 

You’re watching him again, how he’s staring at the screen like his life depends on it. You scoot closer to him, grabbing your folded-up blanket in the process. Once you reach his side, you drape the folded blanket around his shoulders carefully before doing the same to your own. 

His fingers gingerly grab one of the blanket's edges, casting you an apologetic glance for a second as your pants graze against his. You seem unbothered as you lean toward him. “I would love your number after this, " you whisper, looking up into his doe-like eyes before turning your head to watch the film. 

He’s beaming now as he stares at you, and his chest tightens slightly when you lean close to him again. You’re so close he can smell your perfume, the scent tangling with the sweet smell of crisp fall air. “You like costume parties?” Your voice is barely audible. 

He signals that he does silently, his head moving up and down quickly. The sight makes you grin as you mouth a silent, ‘Perfect’ at him before your attention is fully pulled back to the movie. 

Spencer feels warm all over for the rest of the night, and three months from now, he’ll start to believe three is a lucky number as he picks you up for your third date with him and just how perfect everything feels when he kisses you. 

[theitalianscribe]

Wait. Sara had friends other than Lewis and Oliver?!

Spoilers under the cut

(Ribbon voice) GAY PEOPLE??????

[girlactionfigure]

Palestinian Arabs Never Welcomed Jews

There's a lie that needs to go: Palestinian Arabs welcomed Jews after the Holocaust and the ungrateful refugees backstabbed them and stole their land. 

This is an absolute fantasy. When the Holocaust started, the Palestinians didn't offer to help the Jews. They offered to help the Nazis.

In fact, at no point in history did the Palestinian Arabs were anything but hostile to the Jews.

Mandatory Palestine was created by the British in 1920. In that year alone there were many murderous attacks against Jews. The violence against Jews has only gotten worse throughout the history of the Mandate. 

Some famous attacks include:

March 1, 1920, 9 Jews murdered in Tel Hai

April 4, 1920, 5 Jews murdered, over 200 wounded in Jerusalem

May 1, 1921, 47 Jews murdered, 140 wounded in Jaffa

24 August, 1929, 67 Jews murdered, 58 injured in Hebron

29 August, 1929, 18 Jews murdered, 80 wounded in Safed

2 October 1938, 19 Jews murdered (including 11 children)

During the war, there were pogroms all over the Arab world, including the Farhud, a murderous pogrom in Baghdad in which hundreds of Jews were murdered, over a thousand were raped or mutilated, and 900 homes were looted. 

As you can see from this 1936 front page of Falastin (notice it refers to Palestine Arabs, not Palestinians), the Arabs weren't too hot on the Jews coming to the region. They certainly didn't offer any kind of shelter to persecuted Jews.

Arabs have abused and murdered Jews in the region before 1920 as well, except that it wasn’t called Palestine by the Ottoman rulers.

As one 19th century traveler remarked: 

"I have seen a little fellow of six years old, with a troop of fat toddlers of only three and four, teaching [them] to throw stones at a Jew. And one little urchin would, with the greatest coolness, waddle up to the man and literally spit upon his Jewish gaberdine. To all this the Jew is obliged to submit; it would be more than his life was worth to offer to strike a Mahommedan." 

Maybe Zionism is to blame?

The first Zionist congress took place in 1897. A pogrom against Jews in Safed took place in 1834. How prescient of the wise Palestinian resistance to the occupation to strike against Zionism over 60 years before it started! 

But wait! There was also a pogrom in Safed in 1660, and in 1517... Come to think of it, didn’t the first Muslim massacre of Jews took place in 627 when Muhammad massacred the Banu Qurayza in a heroic battle in which 2 Muslims and 900 Jews were killed?

Seems like Zionism isn’t the problem, after all.

Maybe the kind and welcoming folks of Palestine are just vicious bigots? Nah, that’s impossible! They were the most peaceful, honest, and loving people on the planet before 1947 when they suddenly became the world’s #1 exporters of terrorism…

So please, spare us your lies. 

You always hated Jews, always mistreated Jews, and you never welcomed them in Palestine.

URI KURLIANCHIK

MAR 26

[shmisky]

One of the things I love about old Stancest (I think that’s my favorite era for them) is the fact, imo, that their relationship never really will be the same anymore. Not necessarily the angst of it all, but the new romantic tension that this would bring.

Ok, so. Just look at this.

Ford’s drawing of himself and his brother on the Stan O’ War II in Journal 3 is of course adorable, but beyond that, it’s clearly inspired by Ford’s beloved picture of them as kids. As if the Stans will, now, return to the same sweet camaraderie they always had. Will they, though?

This isn’t meant to sound ominous. I just don’t think that would be realistic, and that isn’t what the Lost Legends comics show us, either. Don’t Dimension It is apparently set before the Sea Grunkles era, but already after Weirdmaggedon. The behavior that we see from the Stans is, to put it simply, the behavior of an old married couple, with lots of clowning and bickering. The fact that Mabel had to intervene and advise two grown men to take care of each other instead is both delicious Stancest fuel and ridiculously funny!

Now, their relationship wasn’t always like that. I find it great that in the same book we have three stages of the Stans’ relationship: pre-Weirdmaggedon old Stans, post-Weirdmaggedon old Stans, and child Stans. The Stans as children act visibly sweeter towards each other, imo, than even post-Weirdmaggedon Stans. They haven’t quite recovered that childlike innocence, nor do I ever expect them to.

I know that at this point I might just be confirming the obvious, but 1) I promise I have a point, and 2) what I like to do sometimes is to focus on a little detail that everyone kind of already knows and think of all the implications. A bit like tearing a bread apart with my fingers, piece by piece.

There’s simply too much baggage, too much history between them now. Even if they made up and Ford apologized nonstop like Dipper tells us in J3 and Stan forgave him wholeheartedly, things won’t magically return to the point they were before Ford started to feeling “suffocated” by Stan. (I do believe the cracks in their relationship started before the science fair accident. I will expand on this in a future meta!)

Not only because of what happened between them, but because of what happened to each of them, separately. Both have changed a lot (not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well), became different people to survive, and are now deeply damaged. Both are carrying huge traumas of their own, and since they’re emotionally constipated old men with an attitude that would make Mabel shake her head in disapproval, I think it’s going to take a while before they fully trust each other with their past. They know their brother deserves the truth, of course, but it’s not that simple. There’s a lot to unpack, and I imagine that the fear of being judged and the fear of upsetting the other don’t make for a good mix. What if Stan hears a bad tale of Ford’s portal days, or Ford hears a story of Stan’s homeless days in which he barely escaped alive, and blames himself?

More than that, their own physical appearance drives the point home. Ford’s body is all athletic, likely full of tattoos (both embarassing ones and cool ones, I think) and scars. Stan, on the other hand, makes use of hearing aids, dentures, and an orthopedic pillow; probably with a few scars of his own, more than just the brand, and a slouch he didn’t have in his younger days. The contrast is even clearer when Stan isn’t wearing his Mr. Mystery suit and girdle. They still look decently like twins to deceive both the kids and Bill (and make Pacifica think Ford was Stan but hotter), and I’m sure sailing will help Stan’s health, but some of those differences are impossible to erase. They went from actually identical twins who could only be told apart by Ford’s fingers to grown men with strong characteristics of their own.

Once upon a time, I imagine, wether romantically or not, they were as familiar with each other’s secrets, thoughts, and bodies as with their own. Now they’re practically strangers. United by a very intense love and connection that couldn’t die in the 40 years they were separated, but strangers all the same.

All of this can sound a bit sad, perhaps, but I think—and that’s the point I want to make—it’s a sexy dynamic with a lot of potential. It gives space, for example, for exploring and discovering, and, since I’m a shipper, falling in love with that stranger that your twin brother became. The lack of familiarity gives way to a lot of romantic and sexual tension. Both of them know and understand a lot of what they didn’t back then. As an example, Ford, in my opinion, values Stan now in a way that he never did before. You only miss something after you lose it, after all, and they spent so much time apart and yearning and longing and repressing and overall feeling like a part of them was missing. The pent-up desire, as well, heh 😏

Imagining them being vulnerable after all of that—crying into each other’s chest (mostly Stan tbh, since Ford isn’t much of a crier), mapping out each other’s bodies, finally opening up—that’s my jam.

Perhaps they can’t recover the old dynamic, but they can make something even better.

[nose-rice]

Guys I NEED to rant about my thoughts on Nuru because i love her <3 ramblings ahead

Like I feel like in almost every fic i read, she's just like, a side character that's there to make whitty remarks to Hugo and be the levelheaded one. If she has an insecurity or problem it's usually pretty surface level and solved quickly, or only mentioned once or twice. I think there are SO many aspects of her character that are so cool.

Okay first, I think we sometimes forget that she's a nerd just like the rest of the gang. Yes, on the outside she's definetly the most 'normal' one, but I think we should concider the fact that she's the only girl in the group, and she's literal royalty. She was raised with a completely different set of standards than the other three. I don’t think I've really ever seen anyone cover that. I feel like she would get called "mature for her age" when she's only 15/16, and almost always gets critisism when she talks back with her own ideas (like her concerns about the meteor shows for example). I feel like out on her journey, she would finally get the freedom to just be herself, and be a kid and be able to rant on about her intrests with the rest of the group. It could be a struggle at first, but it would be awesome to see her getting more comfortable with the group the longer they spend together! Nerds encouraging nerdy rants lol

Since she is a kingdom figurehead, you could also argue that she always has a lot on her hands (especially since she's very proactive when it comes to science and solving problems). This could bring up a need to be productive, or always feeling like she needs to make the right decision, even for the littlest things.

I also feel like a lot of the time she's potrayed as the "right" one, who is 100% right when it comes to stuff like arguing with Hugo. Since they're opposites when it comes to class, they often are compared through that lense. I think it's cool just having Nuru tell Hugo off for judging a book by its cover, but I feel like they have a lot more in common than they realize. I think it would be interesting to see Nuru judging a book by its cover too. Maybe not to the degree that Hugo does, but I feel like calling out both their judging would not only call out character flaws, but it also enforces that even though they hate eachother and would never want to be like the other, they have a lot of the same flaws.

Also, being sheltered in a palace her whole life, I think she might think kind of black and white sometimes, and while she knows when people are just being mean as an act, she might struggle when it comes to people like reformed criminals.

Maybe she's able to be meaner to Hugo because she justifies it by telling herself he's criminal, and therefore bad, possibly glossing over the reasons he might be like that (maybe it crosses her mind, but she tells herself it's not a good enough reason, because stealing is still stealing, and he literally steals EVERYTHING. Even little trinkets and stuff he definitely doesn't need!). When they find out about Varian's criminal history, maybe she reexamines her views on morality and how she used to see people, because by her standards, Varian is a 'bad guy' who's caused harm to SO many people, but he's also the kind, caring, helpful friend that she's been traveling with who would never willingly hurt anyone.

Moving on to Amber x Nuru, I honestly never find myself liking the ship because Amber isn't developed enough which is fine. I don't think every character has to be a magnificent work of art. Side characters are side characters, but their romance is usually written like: "wow that girl is cute! I have a crush now!" Which is cool, but then that's about as far as it gets, then timeskip! Or offscreen they're a couple now. I know it's a side couple so it won't have as much devlopment as something like Varigo, but I never really see their dynamic play out in different situations. Like I don't know how to explain it, but it feels like they solely exist to be a couple? Amber sometimes just feels like an extention of Nuru, and their relationship feels surface level a lot of the time.

I feel like too often she's just watered down to the nice, smart, grounded friend, and I don't know I just think there’s so much more to explore with her. She’s not just some side character. She's literally part of the main cast! Even in fanart I feel like she doesn't really get a lot of stuff besides funny art and just like, pictures meant to look pretty. Unlike something you get a lot with characters like Varian or Hugo.

And honestly I get it. Some characters you just don't take an intrest in. I know I find Varian, Hugo, and Nuru more relatable than I find Yong, but I feel like part of that is developing their characters rather than just seeing them on a surface level. Ofc there are exceptions and there are some stories that dive deeper into Nuru's character out there! I just happen to see this A LOT.

Wow i said "surface level" a lot didn't I 😭😭

Anyway thank you for reading my rant i wanna know what you guys think!!

[writers-lore]

PJO Future AU head-cannon stuff (some ARE taken from other peoples head-cannons bc they’re awesome):

- Will Solace would not be a medic/be in the medical field— I feel like just because he’s good at it doesn’t mean he likes it. Maybe he’d be a teacher because of his leadership skills.

- I feel like from working in the infirmary and having people close to him pass, Nico would choose a medical field job. I feel like he’d be an RN (registered nurse) or doctor and work at like an urgent care (er is too crazy for him— or maybe it wouldn’t and he’d like the chaos)

- I also feel like there’d be a not so great injury and Nico would be like “Oh let me see” then see it and be like “oh that’s really cool” not much would phase him— or it would but he’d find it fascinating

- I feel like the fact that they didn’t have these new kinds of tech when Nico was growing up also adds to his fascination. Like what do you mean x-Ray machines exist?

- I feel like Percy would do well with water jobs— like maybe he’d be a marine biologist and he’d find it fun to just communicate with the ocean life.

- Frank and Hazel would take a lot of dual credit classes or graduate early from highschool so they could focus on the camp— like they’d take online stuff so they could spend more time focusing on camp. (hope that makes sense) I’m not sure what I think their careers would be.

- Leo would own his own mechanic shop after going to trade school (saw on tiktok)

- Jason (revived) would be a professor of history— probably mythology.

- As a Valgrace shipper (dont judge pls) I think that they’d get together shortly after Jason is revived (not too short— six months after?) because they’ve been through a lot already and don’t want to risk anything again.

Now, onto kids because I don’t see these often but I find it fun to imagine:

- Frank would be a girl dad. He’s got two daughters and is just so happy with them and Hazel.

- Percy and Annabeth would have three kids, two girls and a son, in that order. I feel like Percy and Annabeth would work hard to have good relationships with their kids and finally relax. I feel like they’d be sorta protective but also be very relaxed with them- educate them about being mature and making good choices.

- I feel like Annabeth would realize how important names were and try to name her kids after popular figures in history who had good stories

- Will and Nico would probably have two kids, both adopted, but one would be one of Will’s half-siblings/half-nephews. The kid was really little, like four or five, when he got to camp and Will just kinda adopted him so he didn’t have to be full-time at camp. They also have a daughter but not until the son is like 12. She’s also adopted and is also a half-blood but I feel like they wouldn’t know who her godly parent is until she’s 12 and then be shocked because she’s like a child of Zeus.

- Leo and Jason would wait a while and focus on their relationship and careers. Then they’d adopt two daughters (not at the same time) and raise them where they don’t know about half-bloods until they’re older. They’d probably be half-bloods so that way they could raise them the way they wished they were raised. Leo and Jason don’t want them to have to see and experience the stuff they had to at such a young age.

- I don’t think any of them would name their kids after any of their late friends. I saw someone, a while ago, bring up that it could result in bad memories or just not be an okay time yet to do so. So— I don’t think that Annabeth would name her kid Silena and I don’t think Nico would name his kid Bianca.

- However, I do feel like Annabeth and Percy would name their eldest Sally after Percy’s mom (it would work well with the headcannon that Annabeth would name her kids after people with good stories) and have her middle name be a positive powerful historical figure.

(I realize I left Piper out— I’ve been forgetting a lot about characters recently and need to go back and reread HOO in order to grasp what I think she’d do in the future)

[nanshii-doruu]

RANKING NANCY DREW GAMES BY ACCOMMODATION: A VERY SUBJECTIVE LIST

Recently I’ve been enjoying vote4holt’s YouTube ND game rankings. He covers the major aspects of each game: story, characters, puzzles, music, atmosphere and endings, with one big final ranking video at the end. It covers most aspects of the game, but it got me thinking: what other things can we rank the games on? I mean, you can make a list about damn near anything that’s featured in all the games, but one thing that always gets my attention is accommodation. I’m very interested in temporary accommodation from a thematic standpoint, and I’m actually working on a book which will be a collection of my hotel stories, half of which are real, and half of which are made up. Nancy’s adventures definitely inspired some of it.

IMPORTANT NOTES

I haven’t played MID or KEY, so they aren’t ranked. I might add them when I get around to it. Also, I haven’t played a couple of these games for a while and/or I’ve played them only once, so some factual errors may be present. I welcome corrections and/or comments!

I will be evaluating the accommodations based on several factors: comfort, aesthetic, security, and how irritating any roommates you have might be.

There are actually three categories of accommodation. They are: Not Relevant (i.e. we don’t know where Nancy is staying); Limited Info (i.e. we know where Nancy is saying but we don’t see it in its entirety); and Luxuriously Demonstrated (i.e. we see Nancy’s room and can interact with it). You might be wondering: how can you rank places you can’t see? Easy – I’m going to predict what the accommodation MIGHT be like, and rank based on vibes!

These are going to be VERY biased to my taste. There are several things I value in accommodation that you may feel differently about. I am no outdoorsman, and I value comfort, privacy and safety in my temporary accommodation, with cool aesthetics following swiftly behind. Therefore, these values will inform my list. I didn’t realise this would be the case so much when I started it, but it became clear as I started writing. That’s not a bad thing per se – in fact, I hope you vehemently disagree with a few of these! Tell me what you think!

Finally, I tried very hard not to let my feelings about the actual games slip in, but it becomes inevitable at some points. Atmosphere is a big part of this ranking, and a lot of my favourite games have good atmosphere. That said, this is in no way a ranking of my favourite games.

I will overuse the word “cosy”. Also, I’m a yapper, so this is LONG.

All right? Let’s go!

NOT RELEVANT

The Final Scene – I’m imagining a regular corporate-style hotel for this, and honestly?  I’m into that. I might as well reveal this now: I LOVE hotels. Even the most boring hotel is magical for me still. I think it’s because I never stayed in hotels frequently as a child (all our holidays were in rented cabins/houses, not hotels), and I don’t have a job that allows travel with hotel stays. Consequently, a hotel is an enormous treat, even the most basic place. Oh, someone will change my linens FOR me? Incredible! There’s a clean bathroom? How wondrous! A continental breakfast? Ambassador, you are spoiling us! Hotels can be kind of a nightmare for some people, because it’s stressful to be out of your home, and if you have concerns about hygiene and security then I’m sure it’s even more stressful. Still, I think there’s something slightly wonderful about a room that’s only yours temporarily.

Labyrinth of Lies – history may show I’m not overly enamoured with this game, but you know what? I’ve mellowed a bit over time. I haven’t replayed it (no way to redownload my original purchase and I’m not inclined to spend money on it again), but I think @aniceworld had a point in his game ranking. It’s probably intended to be magical realist, and it’s far from the worst offender in the unrealistic category. I stand by the opinion that this era of the series is too self-serious to get away with the extent of wacky nonsense the premise needs to work, but the game probably wasn’t worth the dragging I gave it. All the same, I have no plans to replay it lol. ANYWAY. We don’t know Nancy’s digs in this game, but based on previous entries I’m willing to bet her accommodation was either a) whatever the Greek equivalent of a Motel 6 is b) an unrealistically gorgeous boutique hotel with fabulous mosaics and views overlooking the Aegean sea or wherever we’re meant to be or c) a homestay with a quirky Greek family consisting of a stressed out mother, her cheerful father in law and her precocious young scamp of a son, all of whom need us to do culturally-enriching errands constantly. Fingers crossed for Nancy’s sake it was b).

Secret of the Old Clock – we never find out where Nancy is staying despite the setting being an inn. Was she staying here? I don’t entirely remember, but I don’t think so. The inn looks great, but given the circumstances it’s probably best that Nancy stay off-property. Fuck it, she’s staying at the Deer Mountain Resort. I’m picturing it kind of like Old Faithful Inn, even though I know that’s nonsense geographically speaking – historic, charming, outdoorsy and cosy.

GIVES US LIMITED INFO

Trail of the Twister – this is of a genre of places to stay I like to call “staircase with nothing to see at the top”. As a scientific observation post, the rooming situation here is likely spartan and utilitarian. I’m picturing camp beds with sleeping bags on top, or else some kind of bunkbed scenario a la DED. This would actually be kinda fun if any of the characters in TOT were in any way the kind of people you’d enjoy having a sleepover with. I guess between WAC and SAW, Her had overspent their ability to create characters who were actually interesting – or who at the very least, had interesting interactions with each other. Top asshole prize goes to the loathsome Debbie, who manages to be both boring and annoying, with her constant “Nancy! Time to go to bed!” whenever she’s done running you ragged for the day. This could have (theoretically) been a fun, cosy place to stay while you watch storms from the window, and instead it’s just sort of nothing. Kind of a microcosm for the game.

The Haunting of Castle Malloy – trying not to let my thoughts about the game infect this one, so I’m trying to imagine a version of Castle Malloy that somehow doesn’t include Kyler Mallory. It’s much nicer. Anyway, the vibes here are of course immaculate, but that doesn’t necessarily make it a nice place to stay. It’s probably dank and draughty in the castle – Kyler calls the tapestries mouldy and it’s hard to know if she’s exaggerating. I can believe it. I bet Nancy’s bed was suspiciously damp. 

Sea of Darkness – the inn looks nice enough in a practical, backpacker sort of way, but this one loses points for the very real and horrifying possibility that Nancy is sleeping in one of those eight-bunk hostel rooms. On its own this is a fine way to spend a trip and I too have indulged in the ol’ mystery roommate selection pack game, but I am on entirely the wrong side of 30 for this to hold any appeal any more.

Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake – we see the cabin, and we can adjust the time, but I’m taking points off because we don’t see Nancy’s room. Still, based on the rest of the cabin, it’s hard to believe it’s anything more than a basic sleeping bag on an uncomfortable mattress. Did you ever do activity trips in school? I had to go on a couple. I remember the mattresses being basically the same as those mats you have in gym class, blue and shiny and full of foam. If I tried to sleep on one now it would turn my spine into a loose stack of pebbles. I’m convinced that the bed in DOG is exactly this brand of discomfort. Oh, and I bet you have to go outside to use a terrible chemical toilet, and there’s no shower and you have to use one of those solar backpack ones that weighs the same as a hefty toddler. This is probably a 10/10 for people who love the off-the-grid experience, but much lower for those who do not care for it (me. I’m those). I do like the idea of a cabin in the woods, but this is a bit too rustic for me. At least it’s private.

Secrets Can Kill – okay full disclaimer, I haven’t played the original OR the remake, hence the low rating. I am simply not convinced I would enjoy it. Based on YouTube playthroughs though… boy is Aunt Eloise’s apartment hard on the eyes. I’m actually willing to go easy on them though because I think I can imagine the look they were going for (that sort of 80s/90s American Victorian Nancy Meyer look that looked a bit better in STD and MHM) and I actually like that aesthetic, so I’m chalking it up to graphical limitations. In the remake they really did stick to those acidy colours rather than go for more subdued jewel tones though, so idk. Aunt Eloise is probably a very unforgiving host, and I bet the whole place smells like band-aids. OH and I was going to avoid the whole “haha it’s the worst cos it’s in Florida” thing cos that’s some low-hanging oranges, but actually I think this kind of interior design (fussy upholstery, heavy wood, carpets) would be pretty hard to deal with in a climate like Florida’s. Literally the only reason this beats DOG is because an indoor bathroom is a deal-breaker for me, and I simply do not believe the cabin has one. THEN AGAIN, if Aunt Eloise’s personality is anything like her decoration taste, maybe pissing in a ditch ain’t that bad.

Stay Tuned For Danger – Mattie’s apartment has a similar aesthetic to Aunt Eloise’s apartment, but it does look a bit nicer. I’m giving it a higher score because I’ll take a fancy NY apartment over one in Florida any day.*

*apologies to any Floridians, I have visited many times and I love you guys, but dear lord your climate is a lot to deal with.

Ransom of the Seven Ships – listen I suffered half of this game only once so my recollection isn’t amazing and my hackles were immediately up when I started thinking about this one. But you have to admit, a beach resort on a tropical island sounds incredible on paper. And it should be, really – an eco resort? Snorkelling, animals, and sick-ass sunken ships to explore? Sounds incredible! I don’t believe we actually confirm where the gang’s rooms are, but the resort looks lovely (and it’s not like I can buy the game again to check). Now, the lack of owners or staff? Not so lovely. If I recall correctly it’s explained as the off-season, but still – there should be SOME people around, even if just for maintenance (like, what the entire plot of The Shining is hinged on). This would have actually made for a small cast of intriguing suspects. Why didn’t Her do this???? Now I’m just getting mad about the game. Hackles up again.

Creature of Kapu Cave – not all that dissimilar to the last in that both are beach resorts, I suppose, but the culture is obviously different. This one only gains points for having an actually staffed resort, and because the place is beautiful despite all the nonsense the game throws at us – though it loses some as well for the inherent scumminess of the Hawai’ian tourist industry. Having said that, if we were to dissect the scumminess of all tourist industries present in the games, we’d be here for a long-ass time.

Danger By Design – another of Nancy’s apartment shares, this time with Jing Jing Ling. Again this one gets points for location alone. Call me a cliché but I do love Paris – as with all big cities you need to drop your preconceptions and go with what the place is giving you, and you will always have a good time. Place Monge is a nice area, and it’s right next to the Jardin des Plantes and the National Museum of Natural History, two of my favourite spots. The apartment itself is perfectly nice, maybe a little dark but still a lot prettier than a fashion model would reasonably have – though its main appeal is definitely the constant smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. JJ would be a pretty difficult roommate, though. Entertaining as a compulsive liar can be, there would come a point where she pretended she had no idea what happened to the jambon beurre in the fridge that you were saving for lunch today, and the friendship would be over.

Secret of Shadow Ranch – even if you’re not outdoorsy, there’s still a lot to like about Shadow Ranch! The charmingly eclectic interior design, the beautiful Native American arts and crafts, and one thing that all good accommodations should have – a kitchen! Shorty’s creepiness aside, there’s nothing cosier than whipping up dinner in a big, comfy kitchen as the sun goes down, fire crackling in the grate, friends gathered around to hear a ghost story… We don’t get to see the bedroom (and in fact, there’s no real logical place for it to be – there’s no door inside that could lead to it, so you must have to go outside to get to the bedrooms?) but I’m picturing beautifully carved wooden headboards and more of those cosy blankets. The established risk of rattlesnakes and scorpions in the room does give me pause, but the vibes are too immaculate to rank the ranch any lower.

Legend of the Crystal Skull – aight I can fully admit this is so high up because of how much I’m using my imagination to fill in the gaps. From Bess’s POV we see a gorgeous balcony overlooking some primo New Orleans real estate. It’s raining, it’s pouring, it’s ambient, and the only thing we know for a fact is that Bess had a great bubble bath there. Ooohoooohohooooo. What an enticing picture you paint, Her. I imagine the hotel to be one of those old-world turn-of-the-century Belle Epoque builds with a renovated interior – y’know, smooth dark wood and soft white sheets, waffle robes, the whole shebang. The thing that really pushes it up, though, is the weather. Two of my fondest hotel memories involve storms, and they also both happened in the USA – one at the Omni Parker Hotel in Boston, and one at the Royal Pacific in Universal Orlando. In both instances it was raining heavily, with thunder and lightning filling the sky, so going out wasn’t an option. Both times me and my compadres got snacks, put on a podcast, and kicked back and watched the storm until it passed. I imagine Nancy and Bess did this the night after Nancy closed the case.

Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon – this made-up scenario JUST beats out my made-up CRY scenario because it’s a train. It’s a fuckin railway car, from an era when railway cars still looked beautiful.* We’re moving through the night with a mystery to solve… but wouldn’t it be nice to retreat to our cabin instead? Wouldn’t it be dreamy to retire to a vintage rail cabin? It’s a dark night and our route is so scenic, so wouldn’t you rather get into the soft, comfy bed by the window, lie back, and watch the landscape pass by moonlight? If you’ve never done a night train before – do it. It’s a wonderful travel experience. I’ve only done two, and both were somewhat utilitarian (Amsterdam to Prague, which I loved but our two adjoining cabins had slightly less space than your average sardine tin; and Edinburgh to London on the Caledonian Sleeper, which was fancier but still not Orient Express class). Being rocked to sleep by the motion of the train… nothing like it in this world. I imagine the train in TRN is meant to be more on the level of super luxury trains, like the modern Venice Simplon Orient Express, or the Seven Stars in Kyushu. It’s not a modern train so the amenities wouldn’t be up to these luxury experiences, but the atmosphere alone would be more than worth it (and, as Lori is meant to be wealthy or at least connected – who knows! Maybe she had it updated).

*This is of course a joke. All railway cars are beautiful.

LUXURIOUSLY DEMONSTRATED

Alibi in Ashes – this is ranked lowest because as far as I’m concerned it doesn’t count. This is Nancy’s home (and it’s very nice). In terms of the actual mystery, Nancy has some not great accommodation in the form of the jail cell.

The Shattered Medallion – it’s only fitting that this wet fart of a game has accommodation to match. We’re camping, and I’m trying to let my venomous hatred of camping slide – and I really think I could, if only the game had been good. If a game like SHA or CUR had Nancy sleeping in a tent I could have forgiven a lot for the sake of atmosphere, but this game has no such grace. It’s not even AESTHETIC.

Tomb of the Lost Queen – there are a few things that make this accommodation very unappealing, and they are: camping (subjective on my part I know, but c’mon. I assume no one camps because they think it’s comfortable); sharing with strangers (generally high risk, but especially in a Nancy Drew game, where you could be sleeping mere feet from someone who will shank you for the slightest gain); and the environment (dear lord I would be dead in minutes here. I’m a white Celtic redhead, I am not MADE for the desert. I am made for rain, pillaging, and carving strange things into rock). Still, all things considered, there are bedframes here, the canvas looks sturdy enough, and your tentmates aren’t as bad as they could be (Debbie).

The Ghost of Thornton Hall – one of the best games, but Nancy’s set up is not ideal. She has a sleeping bag in a decaying mansion, with prime views of Charlotte’s haunted door. It’s a gothic fantasy, but it’s not going to be comfortable in person. No word on the toilet/shower sitch, but you just know it was awful. 

Secret of the Scarlet Hand – a regular, boring hotel, but tbh I love that (see above). I bet the aircon was bountiful and the continental breakfast slapped.

Danger on Deception Island – another great game where the sleeping setup is pretty bad. Staying on a boat, sharing a tiny cupboard with Katie Firestone (whomst I do not find very compelling, if you do then god speed), and you have to sleep in sleeping bags head-to-head? Nope. The toilet/shower situation definitely sucks. It’s probably a good thing that we never see Nancy turn in for the night, otherwise I do not doubt that Katie would have an insane sleep hygiene routine and Nancy would fantasise about strangling her in the night. Still, the vibes are great, and I’m sure many of us have dreamed of living in a boat.

The Curse of Blackmoor Manor – my bias is entering here and I can fully admit that. There are a few “Nancy stays in a luxury bedroom” games, and this one might be my least favourite. It��s mainly because Blackmoor Manor is so fuckin’ ugly. I’ve joked about this before, but even as upper-class old-school maximalist households go (and there are a lot of them IRL), Blackmoor Manor is SPECTACULARLY hideous. I know some of the ugliness is part of the puzzles, but omg HER you couldn’t have made the entryway less of an eyesore? The hallways more aesthetically pleasing? Nancy’s room less of the kind of space you’d avoid if you were having a migraine? It seems like the bed is nice, and we can get food delivered (which I always like in a game), but the constant interruption of Nancy’s sleep really pulls this one down.

The Phantom of Venice – while the idea of a plush hotel room in the Floating City is certainly appealing, I fear that the design didn’t really hit a home run here. IMHO the décor of Nancy’s room is WAY too dark and heavy for somewhere like Venice, and I find that offputting. This would definitely work in some games – in fact, if this had been Nancy’s room in CUR, I would be a happy camper. Still, you can’t say it isn’t luxurious. I’m sure plenty of people love this one, but the lowish ranking is because I don’t think the aesthetic suits the area, or even the game, particularly well.

Warnings at Waverly Academy – as anyone who has lived in a dorm can testify, dorm living can actually be very nice. Waverly Academy is gorgeous, though probably somewhat plusher than what actual boarding school dorms look like. My only experience is doing summer day camp at a couple of boarding schools as a kid, and generally I think rooms tend to have more than two occupants and be pretty aesthetically underwhelming, even when the main school building is gorgeous. Anyway, the rooms in WAC seem pleasant, cosy and full of creature comforts, but (as with TOT) it really ultimately hinges on who your roommate is. And Corinne is… well, sort of a lot. She doesn’t quite hit the heights of irritating quite like some characters do (Debbie), but I also feel like she’d keep breaking the silence as you tried to sleep by asking “so, do you think I’m cool?” or “haha guess what Nancy it’s past midnight, it’s tomorrow!”

The Deadly Device – I’ve never stayed at a research lab, but if I ever do, I really hope it looks like this one. The bunkbed looks peaceful and comfy, there’s a private bathroom, and the rec room honestly seems great. If it weren’t for the mystery at hand, I’d enjoy myself napping, cooking and playing Aggregate here.

The Haunted Carousel – another bland hotel, though we see a little more of this one and (as I’ve said) I’m kind of enamoured with these. As in, I have deliberately played this game while staying in hotels like this, to enhance the ambience. I don’t know, I guess I was wired wrong. The room service menu really brings this one up, though – cheeseburgers and pasta (the two best foods of all time) straight to the door? It’s all I dream of. You also have the option of burning the whole thing down, which is a bold move on the developers’ part.

The Silent Spy – well, here we have the closest I’ve ever come to staying in a bona fide ND location. The station in the game is, I’m fairly certain, inspired by a mixture of Glasgow Queen Street (has some of those smaller archways that lead to the platforms, and leads onto a main square) and Glasgow Central (older brick station with a hotel attached). The IRL hotel attached to Glasgow Central is the Voco Grand Central Glasgow, and it does bear some resemblance to Glaucus Lodge in architecture and interior design. My room was nothing like Nancy’s, but it was cosy and pleasant! It is also very nice to be right on the railways station, and there’s something slightly magical about a special exit for hotel guests. Anyway, reality aside, this is a very nice hotel. I have a pet peeve in luxury Scottish hotels (very specific I know) where it’s all just tartan and antlers and tweed – designed for rich tourists, and not very representative of actual Scottish art and culture. Glaucus Lodge is sort of bland luxury, but it doesn’t do that, and I’m kind of grateful for it. There however is a sense of always being on edge in the room that loses it a few points with me.

Message in a Haunted Mansion – another of Nancy’s fancy bedrooms. This one gains points for the Victorian chinoiserie, but loses some for a lack of security in the game (that scary-ass note slipped under your door). Still, I wouldn’t say no to a stay in a San Francisco Victorian, and I bet once the mystery was solved Nancy slept like a baby in that bed.

The Captive Curse – I don’t have huge amounts to write about this one, but I really like it. The dark wood and red colour scheme work well here where they didn’t in VEN because of the spooky/nighttime atmosphere. I love a four-poster bed (you ever sleep in one? ooooooh baby it’s a cool soothing balm for all the angst you had as a teenager that you weren’t actually a Gothic heroine living in a decaying manor on the moors), and I really like the lighting in this room. It’s so glowy and cosy. I would love to work at the desk here, looking out of the window and hoping no monsters shamble on by…

White Wolf of Icicle Creek – this game isn’t perfect, but one area it does do well is the bedrooms. Even though DOG is a much better game, this cabin is far more my vibe. I’ve always enjoyed the National Park Service rustic style of architecture and design (hence my earlier reference to the Old Faithful Inn), and though we’re in Canada I think the aesthetic is similar enough. It would of course be a lot nicer if you weren’t always zipping around doing grunt work, but it’s still such a pleasant, cosy place. I like to imagine it has outdoor hot tubs and stargazing pods. The snowed-in vibes are also a big part of what makes the atmosphere so cosy. This is a good place to stay. Maybe get a full staff in, though, not just some teenager run off her feet.

Shadow at the Water’s Edge – I’ve always dreamed of staying in a ryokan, and SAW’s ryokan is REALLY beautiful. In fact, there’s literally one reason why it isn’t number one for me, and that’s how there’s not really a safe place in the whole ryokan – you get menaced in your room, in the halls, in the bathroom (in the BATHROOM), and even the garden is creepy as heck because the soundtrack follows you. All that said, I still love it and I would stay here, ghost or no ghost. The bedding just looks so comfy and soft, the garden is beautiful, I love the idea of being able to take cultural lessons there, and I need to lower my disgusting body into that hot spring bath right now. And, a SURPRISE BONUS LOCATION: Yumi’s apartment! Small and overpriced it may be, but Yumi says she loves it and you can really tell. A cute, cosy little bolthole in the concrete jungle of Kyoto. Mwah.

Treasure in the Royal Tower – snagging the top spot is Her’s fourth game, and the first one to really knock it out of the park. It’s amazing how good the ambience is considering the game’s age, but let’s put that aside and focus on Wickford Castle as a place to stay. Oh, boy. I love it. Nancy’s bedroom is comfy and cosy without being too fussy, there’s so much to explore, you have a whole ass library, AND it comes with a historical mystery? And that’s before you remember that you can (normally) do winter sports here, too. I would love nothing more than to return from a wintry walk and cosy up in front of the fire (sans Lisa, RIP see you in hell) with a good book and some hot chocolate hand-delivered by Jacques. The catering situation could probably be better, but it’s not bad enough to kill the vibe. Absolutely lovely.

[jasclearwaters]

Learn to Fly

Part Four

We spend the morning at the docks, meeting with marine biologists working on tracking dugong populations. Robert is completely in his element—confident, knowledgeable, passionate. It’s hard not to get caught up in his energy.

I film snippets for my TikTok as we go:

Clip One: Me, pretending to wipe sweat dramatically from my forehead. Text overlay: POV: You came to Australia for a conservation trip and immediately got humbled by the heat.

Clip Two: A quick pan of Robert explaining the tracking process, his hands animated as he talks. Text overlay: This man really has Steve Irwin’s energy and I am STRESSED.

Clip Three: Me holding up a dugong plushie I picked up from the zoo gift shop, giving it a serious look. “This is the only one I trust.”

The rest of the day is a blur of data collection, recording GPS points, and taking notes while Robert and the team discuss patterns. I do my best to keep up, but I’m mostly just in awe. This isn’t just a passion project for him—it’s his life.

As we pack up, another boat pulls into the dock, and a woman with long, sun-streaked hair jumps out. She’s effortlessly gorgeous in that way outdoorsy girls tend to be—tan, lean, a little windblown but in a cool way.

“Rob!” she calls, walking over with a bright smile.

“Sophie!” He grins back, pulling her into a quick hug. “Didn’t know you were back in town.”

She laughs, swatting his arm. “You never check your messages. Just got back yesterday.” Then, her gaze slides to me, curiosity flickering in her blue eyes. “And you must be Kendra.”

I nod, keeping my expression neutral. “That’s me.”

“Sophie’s an old friend,” Robert explains. “She used to work on the reef conservation project with us.”

“Oh, cool,” I say lightly, but something inside me pulls back a little.

Sophie is… comfortable with him. The way she stands close, the casual touches—it all speaks to a history I don’t know about. And I’m not the kind of girl who jumps to conclusions, but I also know when I don’t have all the facts.

So I do what I do best—I shift gears. Film another TikTok, focus on the project, and remind myself why I came here in the first place.

Because whatever this thing is between me and Robert, if there even is a thing, it’s not something I’m going to push for. Not when I don’t have the full picture yet.

---

That evening, I edit some of the day’s TikToks while sitting on the edge of my bed, the quiet hum of nocturnal wildlife filtering in through the open window. My phone buzzes—comments are rolling in fast.

"The chemistry between you two is crazyyy"

"Girl, blink twice if you’re catching feelings for the Wildlife Prince."

"Sophie who??? We only acknowledge Kendra in this house."

I snort at that last one, but my stomach twists just a little. It’s not like Robert and I are a thing. Hell, we haven’t even crossed that line. But still, something about Sophie lingers in my head longer than I’d like to admit.

A knock at my door startles me.

"Hey," Robert says when I open it. He’s leaning casually against the doorframe, hair still damp from a post-boat shower. He smells like salt and eucalyptus. "Just wanted to check in. Big day today."

"Yeah, it was," I say, keeping my voice easy. "Pretty amazing, actually."

He grins, and I hate that it does things to me. "Glad you think so. You really held your own out there."

"Well, I had a good teacher," I quip, tucking my phone under my thigh before he can catch a glimpse of my TikTok feed.

For a second, there’s something unspoken between us. It hums beneath the surface, much like the dugong we spotted earlier—just out of sight, but undeniably there.

Then he clears his throat. "We’re heading out early again tomorrow. More data collection. And, uh… Sophie’s joining us. She’s back for a bit, wants to help out."

I nod, keeping my expression neutral. "Cool. The more the merrier, right?"

Robert studies me for half a beat longer than necessary, like he’s trying to read something in my face. But then he just nods. "Right. See you in the morning, Kendra."

When he’s gone, I flop back onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. The logical part of me knows there’s nothing to worry about. But the other part—the one that’s spent the last week laughing at Robert’s bad jokes and getting butterflies whenever he flashes that grin—is a little less sure.

And that’s dangerous. Because I didn’t come here for this.

I came for the work.

At least, that’s what I tell myself.

---

The next day, we’re back on the water.

Sophie fits into the team seamlessly, and it’s clear she knows her stuff. She and Robert have this easy rapport, finishing each other’s thoughts when they talk about conservation efforts, bouncing ideas back and forth.

I stay focused on my tasks—filming updates for my audience, making sure I don’t fall overboard, the usual.

Clip One: Me holding up the tracking device, looking skeptical. "Me pretending I understand the science behind this when really I’m just here for the vibes."

Clip Two: A slow zoom-in on Sophie and Robert laughing over something while I sip from my water bottle. Text overlay: Me realizing I’m the side character in my own storyline.

I tell myself I’m not bitter. And honestly, I’m not. I barely know Robert, and it’s not like I expected anything.

But as the boat bobs along the waves, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just stepped into a scene that’s already been written. And I’m not sure where I fit into it yet.

---

We’re back on the water early, scanning for dugongs when a distress call crackles through the radio. A juvenile dugong has been spotted tangled in a discarded fishing net, struggling near the mangroves.

Robert exchanges a quick look with me. “We’re the closest boat. Let’s go.”

I nod, ignoring the way my stomach clenches. Getting in the water still brings a rush of memories I’d rather not deal with, but this isn’t about me.

By the time we reach the location, the dugong is barely moving, its large, dark eyes blinking sluggishly. The net has wrapped around its body, restricting its movement. Robert and another researcher slide into the water first. When Robert looks back at me expectantly, I take a steadying breath before following.

The second I’m in, my heartbeat skyrockets. The water is murky here, the shadows shifting. I force myself to focus.

“You okay?” Robert’s voice is calm, but his eyes search mine.

I nod. “Yeah. Let’s do this.”

Carefully, we work together, cutting the net free. The moment it loosens, the dugong stirs, flapping its tail weakly. I place a hand on its side, feeling the rough, scarred skin beneath my fingers. It’s okay. It’s alive. And I’m still here, still breathing.

When it finally swims away, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Robert’s hand brushes my shoulder. “You did good, Shark Girl.”

I huff out a laugh. “Yeah, yeah.” But I feel lighter as I climb back into the boat.

---

After I’ve showered off the salt and exhaustion, I find myself in the kitchen with Terri. She’s been back from Oregon for a couple of days now, and we haven’t really had a moment to talk.

“I saw the video Robert took of you helping that dugong,” she says as she stirs something on the stove. “You looked strong out there.”

I lean against the counter. “Felt more like ‘barely keeping it together.’”

Terri smiles knowingly. “That’s how growth feels sometimes.” She gives me a considering look. “You remind me a little of Steve, you know.”

I blink. “What?”

“He never let fear stop him. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t scared. He just didn’t let it win.” She sets a plate in front of me. “You’re doing more than just surviving, Kendra. You’re still fighting for what matters to you. That’s bravery.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I just nod, tucking her words away somewhere deep.

---

The next morning, my phone is still blowing up. I groan, rolling over to check TikTok, and immediately regret it.

A clip of Robert helping me onto the boat has gone viral—someone slowed it down, added soft music, and captioned it: “He’s so in love, it hurts.”

Oh no.

The comments are a mess:

“The way he looks at her?? I CAN’T.”

“They’re actually soulmates, right?”

“Someone check on Sophie.”

I roll my eyes and text Robert.

Me: The internet is unhinged.

Robert: You’re telling me? I just got asked about it. In an interview.

My stomach drops. Me: Oh god. What did you say?

Robert: I panicked.

Before I can respond, he sends a link. I click it, and sure enough, it’s a clip from his interview this morning.

Interviewer: There’s a lot of buzz online about you and Kendra. Any truth to it?

Robert laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Kendra’s incredible. I mean, have you seen her in action? Total legend.”

The interviewer smirks. “So that’s not a no?”

Robert stares for a second too long, then says, “We’re just—uh—saving dugongs.”

The comments under the video are even worse than TikTok.

“HE DIDN’T DENY IT.”

“Bro is blushing. Case closed.”

“What does ‘just saving dugongs’ mean??? Is that code??”

I groan, flopping back onto the bed. Me: Thanks for making it worse.

Robert: I panicked, okay??

Me: We’re never hearing the end of this.

Robert: Probably not. Wanna go save some dugongs and pretend the internet doesn’t exist?

I sigh. Me: Yeah. Let’s go.

---

Out on the water, the morning is smooth—until it’s not.

I’m climbing over the side of the boat when I feel it—something shifting, a faint click where there shouldn’t be one.

Then my prosthetic gives out.

I barely have time to react before I lose my footing, slipping sideways. Robert moves fast, grabbing me before I can hit the deck.

“Whoa, you good?” His grip is steady, his voice calm, but my face burns.

“I’m fine,” I say quickly, trying to push away. But my prosthetic is jammed, the knee joint locked in an awkward angle.

Robert kneels beside me. “Let me help.”

“I’ve got it.” I fiddle with the latch, but my fingers are shaking. The stupid thing won’t move.

Robert waits a second, then—gently—rests a hand on mine. “Kendra. It’s okay.”

I exhale sharply. I hate this. Hate feeling vulnerable. But I swallow my pride and let him help.

Together, we get it unstuck. As I readjust, Robert gives me a look—soft, but serious. “You don’t have to do everything alone, you know.”

I force a smirk. “That’s rich, coming from Mr. ‘I Wrestle Crocs By Myself.’”

He grins. “Fair point.”

We don’t say anything else. But as we get back to work, I feel a little less alone.

--

That night, the team invites us to a beach bonfire. The air is warm, the fire crackles, and for the first time in days, I let myself relax.

I’m mid-sip of my drink when Sophie plops down next to me. “So,” she says, nudging me. “You and Robert, huh?”

I choke. “What? No.”

She laughs. “Tell that to the internet.”

I groan. “It’s just people reading into things.”

Sophie hums, swirling her drink. “Yeah, people love a good story.” She glances at the firelight reflecting off the small ring on her left hand, then smiles to herself. “Liam—my boyfriend—proposed last month. I should probably start planning a wedding at some point.”

I pause. “Wait—what?”

She grins, holding up her hand. “I thought Robert would’ve mentioned it.”

I glance across the fire at Robert, who’s busy making someone laugh.

Huh.

That weird, unsettled feeling I’ve been carrying? It disappears.

Maybe I don’t know what’s happening between me and Robert.

But for the first time, I want to find out.

TAGS: @nicolej04 @honethatty12 @acdassenza @em-writes-posts @serenityisanerd @amanda08319 @x-d1vine @moonlighthycanith @hippiemuppet @sonthingwithl @lflores2008 @ac3may @spitfire445

[itsmarsss]

with a V [Steven Grant/Marc Spector x GN!Reader] (Moon Knight)

Word count: 785

This is another one in the 'scenes i don't wanna throw away from wips that i'm abandoning' series lol. No warnings.

When they 'speak' to each other, italics are Steven, bold is Marc.

Did I just ask them on a date? Yeah and I got their number. Clearly a team effort. 

[. . .]

"Hey, actually- I’m sorry if this is weird, but- are you an actor?"

"What?" 

What kind of pick-up line is that? 

It's definitely not a pick-up line!

"I uh- it's just- every time you come in you have like a different accent? Like sometimes you’re British, sometimes you’re american. Sometimes you even speak some spanish?”

Do you speak spanish? 

I can ask where the library is.

Why would you speak to them in spanish?

You think I came here and ‘donde está la biblioteca’d them? Why the fuck would I do that?

“... So I thought maybe you’re doing those method acting things or something."

"Uh, no. I'm not. Not an actor."

"Oh, okay. Sorry for being nosey, but it was eating me alive!” You joke.

"I work at a museum!" Steven blurts out. 

"Oh. You do?"

He nods.

"That's so cool! What do you do there?"

He averts his eyes to the floor in some sort of embarrassment. "I uh. I work at the gift shop right now. But I give tours sometimes! That's- that's what I actually want to do. Uh, teach people about… things."

"So you must really know your history then.”

"Enough to give tours about it. Not that I’m trying to be… you know. Presumptuous. Or anything.”

Is it even possible to be ‘presumptuous’ about that?

Shut up.

Who even uses the word ‘presumptuous’ anyway?

Shut up!

"Sounds like you have fun with it."

"Yes- Yes. I really like reading about these things- especially ancient Egypt. That's- that's actually what I give tours on."

Stop rambling.

I don't ramble! 

"Really? I've always been more of a greek-roman kind of person, so I don't really know that much about Egypt."

I cannot believe they liked the rambling.

You think so?

"You- oh. Do you want to- would you like to come by the museum some time?"

Yes, Steven! We gotta work a bit on the delivery but that's what I'm talking about! Make sure to put in a good word for me!

Don’t be stupid.

“What?”

“What?”

“You, uh-”

Oh, fuck, did he just say that out loud?

Idiot.

Fuck, he did. “Oh, I’m sorry, I was- I was talking to myself. Sorry.”

"Oh. Okay. Well, sure, uh… shit, I’m sorry, I never asked for your name."

"It’s Steven. With a ‘V’."

"Okay, Steven-with-a-V. I would like to come by the museum sometime."

Steven looked absolutely shocked, like the fact that you could say yes hadn't even crossed his mind. "You would?" 

After what you just pulled, I’m surprised too.

Or perhaps you’re just mean.

"Yeah, why not? Then you can teach me more about those things."

"Yeah. Of course. That would be… good. Great! It would be great. I'm- I'm giving a few tours tomorrow. Covering some shifts. If you- if you want to come by."

"I have the morning shift tomorrow. But maybe in the afternoon? What time are you out?"

"I'll be there until six, actually."

"On a saturday?"

"I switched with a colleague. Got both their shifts for tomorrow."

You smile, finally ringing up his order when someone else entered the place, cutting the interaction short. "6.99."

"What?"

"Your order."

"Oh. Right. Here."

He gives you a ten pound note, and you try to give him his change. 

He just smiles at you. "Keep it. As a tip. It's… for being nice to me. And showing up tomorrow?" He hoped he didn't sound cocky. Or like he wanted to buy you with a sorry three fucking pounds or something of the sort or-

"I'd need to know exactly where I need to be for that to happen."

"What?"

"There’s not exactly one single museum in this city, Steven-with-a-v."

"Shit. Right. It's-" 

No, dumbass! Don't just tell them!

What else do you want me to do? 

Holy shit.

"Steven?"

"Sorry, can I borrow that?" He says, pointing to your notepad… with that american accent, again. You then realize he never did explain anything about that, only saying he wasn't an actor, like you thought he was- which made this whole accent situation a lot more intriguing. You'd ask him about it again, but he'd just invited you to the museum and you weren't about to be nosey and ruin things.

Steven-with-a-v-and-an-american-accent grabbed the notepad and pen from the counter and quickly wrote his number on it.

"Just text me and I'll send you the address."

Eh-dress. What was this man’s deal? "Okay. Yeah. I will."

Did I just ask them out?

Yeah and I got their number. Clearly a team effort. 

Can’t you let me have this one?

If you put in a good word for me. 

Ah, yes, of course I will, that definitely won’t scare them off.

[. . .]

A/N: probably ooc but i dont really care lol this has been in my wips for like two years probably and it was never gonna see the light of day

[lucystark12]

it’s time to face it here.

there’s no way byler isn’t real.

like are we actually fucking kidding?

i don’t even know why it is that we as a collective do so many analyses of things like b roll or outfits or song choices when byler is the most obvious and inevitable thing to happen in the history of television. literally all three of these characters arcs would be finished if byler were endgame. throughout the entire show, el has been a vessel for somebody else and their agenda, starting from when she was literally raised in a LAB. the fact that some of these mileven shippers who claim to love her don’t realize that the BEST POSSIBLE thing for her is to come into her own and find independence where she isn’t being controlled by somebody else or tied down by somebody else is absolutely ridiculous. that’s the entire point of her character!! the entire point of mike’s character since the second he was first bullied by troy was that he isn’t meant to be a conformist. he’s supposed to stand for what he believes in and be proud of his own identity. in dating el, he was quite literally suppressing his own identity. will is a character who was picked by vecna in season one because of the lack of practical love in his life. his father was absuive and he is constantly bullied at school. he’s the shy one in the party who gets overshadowed by dustin, lucas, and mike’s loud personalities in most of the scenes they have together. vecna targets him because he assumes that he will be an easy target who’s own insecurity will end up being the death of his morality. this is the same will who is only able to be broken out of a trance by mike’s monologue to him, proof of the fact that there is love in his life and people who care about him. will has spent the whole show going back and forth from madness. the only logical ending for him is the manifestation of this love that he has lacked his whole life, that of the one from mike. true, unadulterated devotion. it will be the thing to restore his full sanity and the person he was before all of the strange things went on because love is what keeps will tied to his morality. i fully believe that had i not been eight years old i probably would’ve been able to put this together the second we saw el run away and mike go on about “the best thing i’ve ever done” in season two. i truly believe that all of you milevens would be on board with this if will were a girl. get a grip.

to conclude: milevens are all fifteen year olds and not cool ones like me, they’re the kind who probably thought the great gatsby was a cool vintage romance novel 🤗

[oakdwn]

spymaster, becoming the doctor, and gardening – a little character study

anyone else obsessed with the master and margarita short story?? no?? just me?? oh well you’re getting a character analysis anyway, long rant about spymasters obsession with the doctor via mushrooms under the cut :3

tw for dissociation and substance induced hallucinations (weird ahh mushrooms as torture)

for those of you who haven’t read the master and margarita (i def recommend its super fun) it’s about what dhawan!master was doing during his 77 years on earth in that time skip during spyfall 2. he’s a mushroom farmer in russia, crazy hijinks and thoschei references ensue. maybe i’m going too deep into it but i really love the idea of him as a gardener and what that implies for everything we see in ttc/potd

i’d like to start with the fact that out of all the masters, dhawans is the one least confident in his identity. classic who masters and saxon held their title with pride with their “he’s the master and you will obey him” shtick. missy, even when she was debating her morality, never saw herself as anything other than missy. her title wasn’t being questioned, it was what she chose to do with it. meanwhile, spymaster just... loses himself after looking into the panopticon. he’s faced with the reality that the doctor is more important than he could ever be, and given that he sees his worth as interwoven with hers (the history between us, constantly refers back to their past/when they were equal), this makes him lose all sense of self. it used to be theta and koschei. the doctor and the master. now it’s just the timeless child and….. that’s it. there’s no significant place for him in her life. what’s he supposed to do now, when he’s based his whole history around her?

easy! fracture himself into different personalities, hide behind disguises (i mean, THREE disguises in one episode? calm down dude) in an attempt to hide his unimportance. while the timeless child is the story of child abuse and colonialism, a hurt the doctor will have to live with even if she can’t remember it, the master sees it as a triumph. he is lesser. she is the timeless child and she has existed forever and he is some dumb timelord who fell in love and meant nothing to her in the long-run. he feels like he’s not deserving of being in his own skin anymore so he hides behind whatever name and personality he can find.

but the thing about all his disguises is that they are so human. agent o, a shy little analyst at MI6 with the wide eyed stare and wits to be the doctor’s companion. rasputin, famous bachelor and a piece of history the doctor would notice. he says he despises humans but he dresses up as them because well, do you know who does love them? the doctor :(

which is why his name and intentions in the master and margarita are soooo so interesting to me. first off, his human alias is mikhail (“son of god”, writer of the og master and margarita) afanasyevich (“immortal”, also the og writer of master and margarita) gospodinov (roughly translated to “lord” and “master”). he steals a name, just like rasputin in potd, with a lot of weight on who he is right now. an emphasis on “immortal” “time lord” when hes dealing with the pressure of ttc. hes basically copying the doctor and making a title for himself like the ‘timeless child’ to feel equal again. it’s not the only time he copies the doctor either, hes basically working for “evil russian unit” in this short story. 

(remind you of anything?? yes im talking about the doctor-master. super cool foreshadowing on how hes been trying to become/be one with the doctor before potd)

and it’s literally in the text. the whole reason he spends months cultivating mushrooms for russia is to change history a bit so that jo grant’s marriage will be ruined. such a Doctor thing to do, kind of parallels clara and danny. to love a human is to be overly dramatic over them. the master, again, uses humans for his own benefit but has never been overly fond of them, with the exception of the doctors little companions. hes copying her again.

but the thing is, he keeps cultivating them. he gains a love for caring for them. mushrooms are just mushrooms until they arent. in a time where he thinks he’s the doctors opposite, he begins farming mushrooms bc of jo grant, a detail the doctor would remember just bc he misses her. he couldve spent his time escaping and getting back to his regular timeline to defeat the doctor, but he stayed. because of a human attachment. very doctor-y.

and if that bit of nostalgia wasn’t enough, he even hallucinates the third doctor in this. Which. okay. give me a non-thoschei explanation for this.

i just really like what that short story has to offer as far as the masters obsession with other people and his disguises go. and what it means for him to spend months of his live caring for something, like the doctor would, when all hes done before is kill. what does it mean for the champion of death to cultivate life :(

nyways, if you made it this far, i really hope you enjoyed !! i just love talking about spymaster can you tell lmfaooo and if you liked any of this id recommend reading the gardener by ritheh on ao3 which expands on his whole “killer heals for once” thing its soooo good <33 ok bye see u guys next time

[littlevices]

Ayakashi and Mononoke

Within the past week (give or take), I have finished watching not only Ayakashi, but also Mononoke and it's recent movie The Phantom in the Rain.

This is mostly about Mononoke, but I do wanna touch on Ayakashi, seeing as Mononoke came from the last three episodes of Ayakashi. All that to say, I'm about to gush and ramble so hold on to your hats, lol.

Disclaimer: Spoilers for Ayakashi and Mononoke, for those of you that wanna avoid that. I'll only be talking about those, the movie will be in a separate post later. And rambling and gushing, lots of that too. (And a long post)

Ayakashi

I'm gonna be blunt and get it out of the way, I did not like Ayakashi that much, as a whole. Sure the Bakeneko story was the highlight, but the rest was just kinda alright. Maybe it's just cause I don't fully understand the stories they are telling, and I'm fully willing to admit to that, but they just did not get me to care much. I will say I did like how the opening changed it's visuals depending on the story arc it was in. They could have just took visuals and scenes from all three stories to make it easier but instead went the extra mile and I appreciate that. However, the song fit much better with the style of Bakeneko than the other three, but the effort is still appreciated and noted.

The Dark Tower (Tenshu Monogatari) was the one I liked the least. It was horrible, but I also could not bring myself to care for the characters of this story much. The two main characters were just, mostly, bland to me and didn't really strike much of a cord. Oshizu going to the tower to see Zushonoskue cheat on her with Tomihime felt unnecessary and was shock value to be shock value. Her actions could still make sense even up till the end even without that, Tomihime was clearly being favored over her even though she'd been dating him longer, of course she'd be mad. Same thing with Zushonoskue turning into a monster, and it didn't even play that big of a role in things either, it happened way too late to. Tomihime crying about Uba dying didn't move me because Uba had been kind of unpleasant the entire time, somewhat same for her attendants whom I saw no personality even though their deaths were supposed to be tragic. Even the ending didn't do much despite trying to be bittersweet. It came off as more of a tragedy than horror, really.

Yostuya Kaidan was better, in the fact that it had a lot more horror in there mixed with tragedy. It felt like a one of those ghost stories you tell around a campfire or at sleepovers and I can vibe with that. However, like some of the first story, some of the story elements felt thrown in just for the sake of shock value. The incest plot twist involving Oiwa's sister and her fake husband felt thrown in, why was it even there? So they had a reason to die? So the fake husband would take his own life and make her fiance's revenge for them both seem more noble? The fact the narrator wasn't even alive anymore while narrating the story not only felt the same way, but also felt cliche. 'But wait, if I'm dead who is telling this story~' kind of deal. I will admit I did like the twist that Iemon did not intentionally poison Oiwa and disfigure her face and was just as surprised by it, but also the history of the story itself, told through the narrator was pretty cool and I did enjoy the history lesson.

Obviosuly, Bakeneko was the highlight, I can see why this birthed a spin-off and more. The animation and visualy style is stunning, if a little nauseating at first, but I got used to it quickly. Especially since I became so invested in both the mystery and the Medicine Seller himself. Bakeneko had both horror and tragedy in equal measure and did a great job with it. It's visual style really emphasized the Mononoke's creepy movements and facial expressions. Unlike the first two stories, I actually teared up a little at the end of Bakeneko seeing Tamaki and her little kitten finally walk free into the afterlife together. I felt something with her story, especially given it horrific nature and how the cat was her only friend and solace. The fact it turned into a Bakeneko along with her vengeful spirit hurt, poor things. The Medicine Seller himself is an intriguing figure, and also a little shit sometimes. He was a fun character, and also left me with a lot of questions. Who is he? What is he? Is he working for a higher power, is this something he does of his own volition? What's with the sword? Why does it need "Form", "Truth", and "Reasoning" to slay a Mononoke? Why are the scales so cute?

Of course, this leads me into the spin-off itself.

Mononoke (2007)

I am glad to see they kept the visual style from Bakeneko. It give the series a sense of identity. I didn't mention it before, but I love not only the vibrant colors, but also the subtle paper texture. From what I understand it's supposed to evoke Ukiyo-e woodblock prints (I had to look this up because I could not for the life of me remember what this was called but I did recognize the style.) It works well given the time period it's supposed to be in. The backgrounds sometimes look like they are being pulled along on a scroll. At least they do to me.

Something else that works well with the horror that I saw mentioned, and agree with, is the sound. Not just the background music, however it also does a good job, but the small subtle ones. The nails scrapping against the hollow ship, the growls of the cats, the strumming of the biwa (I believe that's what they called the instrument), the laughter of the children. The sound effects play a great role in amping up the eeriness of the horror, my personal favorite being the bells on the scales and the slight jingle they make as they tilt towards the mononoke builds anticipation. Even something as subtle as the drawers on the Medicine Seller's trunk, geta clacking, water dripping, or shoji sliding add to the atmosphere.

As for the episode content themselves, I found I liked pretty much all of it for different reasons depending on the arc. If Kayo is there, it's a bonus because I love her dynamic with the Medicine Seller and he's clearly fond of her. Enough so that her look alike (reincarnation? descendant?) gets a small fond smile out of him (it's blink and you you'll miss it, but it's there). The horror elements work well, and the stories told are very interesting in how they handle the human psyche. The Noppera-Bo arc confused me at first, but I find I like its story of how trying to please others, at the detriment of yourself, only leads to resentment and horrible thoughts. It leaves you feeling trapped. I'm hoping Cho did just leave, which is what's implied at the end, but it also shows just how devious the Medicine Seller can be when it comes to fighting mononoke. I think the Nue arc was my favorite, as I loved the twist that those spirits were already dead, hinted by the grayscale color palette, and were forced into a an endless loop. It was also one of the more freaky looking mononoke, besides the Bakeneko and Biwa player (though I don't know if he was a mononoke or not).

Now, the thing that made me want to watch Mononoke, the Medicine Seller himself.

This man, this glorious man, intrigues me. Yes, there are all my questions above, but just his general attitude it interesting. While he's usually a reserved individual, his small moments of snark are just too funny. It was more prominent in Ayakashi, but there are still moments in Mononoke. Particularly with Kayo, but also in the Nue arc when he says he mixed up oleander with the other scents, especially when he plays it up when there's only one man left. His excuse for why he's dressed the way he is Bakeneko (Mononoke Ver.) is especially amusing. He makes it sound like a marketing gimmick. Plus, playing the part of the masked man in the Noppera-Bo arc, which is what's implied, does have its (darkly) humorous element given how the masked man behaves compared to the Medicine Seller himself.

Also, the Medicine Seller here, who I believe is often nicknamed Ri, just has this whole 'I'm done with this shit' vibe, and, honestly, that is a mood.

Clearly, I am very heavily biased towards Mononoke compared to Ayakashi. However, there were still some elements to Ayakashi I did like, but overall the entire package just didn't captivate me the same way. Especially the Tenshu Monogatari story. Which just left me feeling 'meh'. Apologies to those who enjoyed Ayakashi as a whole, but besides Bakeneko and some parts of Yostuya Kaidan, it just didn't do it for me. I am glad it exists, though, both for telling what I am sure are classic japanese stories, but also for bringing forth Mononoke as a series.

[energy-falcon]

OK, I need to toss this out here.

if the theory was right that the new year Tailstube was set up for the next game and Professor Victoria is going to be involved as an important character I think I got an idea what it might be like.

My feeling is that it’s going to be a sort of Sonic adventure, three with a similar style to sonic adventure one where each character has their own campaign with its own style of gameplay.

We know Prof Victoria is likely going to be a major character, and whether or not she is Maria’s sister or niece or is a robotnik, we can confirm at the very least that she is a historian, if not a full on archeologist based on the title of her book. Combining this with the ancients and the dangling plot threats from Frontiers about them I think the next game is going have something from the past being uncovered, w/ professor Tori being involved.

I also think the game is gonna have an element of travel similar to unleashed, because of the tailstube mentioning a road trip, knuckles and amy both also mentioning wanting to explore the world.

I think bare minimum playable characters are going to be the people who were front and center in this tailstube, as its the first bit of media directly addressing whats coming post-frontiers. As such, the likely playable characters are as follows:

Sonic

Tails

Knuckles

Amy

Rouge

Shadow

Sonic is obviously going to be in this game. Let’s not even joke. I think him and shadow are likely going to play similarly Because they roughed out a pretty decent style w/ frontiers, and refined it with shadow generations. Considering Shadows popularity and the amount of hype surrounding his character, and the fact they have a very good gameplay system for him already they can easily adapt to Sonic, its not that far of a stretch to say they’ll probably gonna make both of them playable. I’m expecting them to do some differences though shadow has chaos control and chaos snap and all his other abilities. Sonic is his usual tool kit maybe with some extra twists to help differentiate the two. (For example, Sonic has Spindash/Dropdash, rolling, & the bounce bracelet, Shadow has Timestop, Chaos Spear, and Stomp). As for their stories, presumably Eggman’s gonna uncover something from history w/ power, and attempt to harness it leading Sonic on his journey to stop him. Meanwhile, shadow is probably gonna be involved because of professor Victoria, either because she’s Maria’s sister, knew Maria’s father, or because She Worked for GUN (she got geralds journal to Commander Towers), which we know was crippled by eggman post forces, and had been slowly building itself back up.

Tails’ whole arc in frontiers was about regaining his confidence and proving himself as a hero, and he ended that game by saying that he wants to go on an adventure of his own. The Tailstube episode specifically ended with him saying he was gonna take it on a road trip, signalling he’s likely gonna have a solo journey. I’m crossing my fingers that we get a mix of on foot gameplay like adventure, one and the cyclone from adventure 2, instead of JUST the cyclone, because as much as I think it’s cool I liked on foot tails better, and it helps make tails more than just the Tech guy. They already had a pretty solid on foot tails. They just need to refine his kit a lot more and fix a couple things.

Amy is kind of tricky but again she had a really solid gameplay set up in frontiers, they just need to make more of her attacks use the hammer instead of the tarot cards, which was my only complaint. She said she was gonna hang out with her friends more in the tailstube so I’m guessing her campaign is about her going on a road trip to visit all her friends. I’m not sure if she’ll be playable because I’m not sure what her campaign would be like but I hope she is.

Knuckles and Rouge are both interesting and are similar to sonic and shadow, as they are both closely associated with the treasure hunt style of gameplay. Knux ends frontiers by planning to branch out from his island, explore the world and treasure hunt and mentions as much in the Tailstube, while Rouge tells tails she wants to expand her gem collection, interestingly with tails asking her about gems of historical value, which could tie into Professor Victoria, who is bare minimum a historian, if not an archeologist. The differences could be neat tho: knuckles is going on more classic treasure hunts to seek information about the ancient mysteries involved in the plot while Rouge’s levels are more like bank heists with some more puzzle elements. Could be some cool variety.

All in All, I don’t know if this is accurate, but I’ve had this in my head for like the past couple days and I just needed to get this out.