#the mushrooms especially bring me joy

[mystwrites]

A Little Bit of Joy

Summary: While Dazai always causes chaos, sometimes his antics actually do bring a bit of joy to the ADA members, especially Atsushi

CW: Tickling (don’t like, don’t read)

A/N: As promised, here’s lee!Atsushi and ler!Dazai!☺️

Atsushi wasn’t going to laugh. He told himself to hold it together the moment Dazai began to act silly and for once, it was actually hilarious…and extremely chaotic.

Junichiro and Kenji were on the floor wheezing as Dazai danced around the office, doing a weird dance in front of Kunikida and Yosano who just glared at him. Kyouka wasn’t impressed and neither was Fukuzawa, the two exchanging annoyed looks before shaking their heads at Dazai. Ranpo however was in the same situation as Atsushi, trying his hardest to hold in his laughter.

“Oh no…” Atsushi mumbled.

“Here comes the music…” Ranpo added, cupping his mouth as Dazai brought out the record player from the corner of the office.

It didn’t help that Dazai turned on classical music of all things. Atsushi and the others recognized it quickly as the song with a group of people doing a kick line and shook their heads. Dazai’s feet moved rhythmically to the beat of the music, his loud singing voice mixing in with what was supposed to be good symphony music. Atsushi and Ranpo turned away, cupping their mouths and attempting to stay silent. Kenji and Junichiro making themselves laugh harder than necessary by joining in and dancing together, Naomi deciding to jump in and join the duo.

Atsushi honestly thought the dancing trio looked funnier than Dazai but when he saw the older detective dance over, he knew things were going to get crazier.

“Knee! Kick!! Knee! Kick!!” Dazai hollered, joining the laughing trio. “Come on everybody! Dance and let loose!!!”

“Oh my gosh…” Kunikida groaned. “This…this is the most chaotic thing I’ve seen all year! What is going on here?!?”

“Dazai…” Yosano muttered, glaring at the man. “Stop goofing around…the president is here!”

“It’s fine.” Fukuzawa replied, turning around and acting as if he saw absolutely nothing. “I was just walking out.”

“And just like that, nothing will get done here.” Kunikida sighed, shaking his head.

“D-Dazai san…I think you stole one too many sweets from me…” Ranpo stammered, squealing as Dazai danced over to him and suddenly jabbed him in the tummy.

“Gotcha!~” Dazai sang, poking Ranpo’s tummy a few more times. “There we go! Giggly Ranpo is here!~”

With Ranpo now laughing freely, that left Atsushi. The young detective knew Dazai was on a mission to bring laughter to the office and the stare down they had proved it. Staring at the brunette, Atsushi didn’t know what to do but just nervously smile as Ranpo decided to run away before Dazai could get another jab in.

On one hand, he was positive that Dazai had eaten another hallucinogenic mushroom prior to appearing and was just going insane but another part of him thought Dazai was actually trying to bring joy to the Agency amidst the current case that’s been milking everyone dry of resources, sleep and sanity.

Just as Atsushi was going to humor Dazai and say how hilarious he was (albeit in the most sarcastic way he could muster), he watched in absolute shock as Dazai dove head first into a nearby trash can, everyone either screaming in shock or howling with laughter. All Atsushi could do is stare at the man with big eyes and a jaw dropping down to the floor.

“Yep…Dazai san has officially gone off the rails…” Atsushi thought, now more concerned for his mentor than anything. He felt his left eye twitch as Dazai looked around, the trash can obscuring his vision.

When Dazai finally lifted the trash can off of his head, he shook his messy brown hair, laughing. “Well, at least it was an empty one this time!” he chirped, seeing Atsushi staring at him. “Atsushi kun, what’s with that face?~”

Oh no…Dazai’s sing song voice…

“You look concerned.”

“I-I…I am concerned…” Atsushi replied, still staring at Dazai. “Have you lost your marbles?!”

“Haha! No, nono! Don’t worry, I haven’t eaten any mushrooms for the past week.”

The past week?!? Yeah, that sure is reassuring. Atsushi let his shoulders slump, giving Dazai an annoyed glare as he shifted to sitting cross legged on the work desk.

“Oohhh!! Atsushi kun!! Oh my gosh!!!” Dazai suddenly cried, cupping his cheeks and running over to him.

“What? What???” Atsushi panicked, looking all around.

“Oh my gosh!! I think I saw a flea!!!”

“A flea?! Where?? Where?!?”

“Yes! It’s right here!!”

Feeling Dazai’s fingers suddenly squeeze his sides, Atsushi screeched and flailed, nearly falling off of the desk he had been sitting on. Dazai swiftly caught him before he could fall head first onto the floor and picked him up, carrying him over to the couch.

Plopping Atsushi onto the couch, Dazai immediately went to work. Atsushi was in shock for a few seconds but quickly found himself fighting back, desperate to escape from Dazai, yet enjoying the sudden playfulness all at the same time as ten nimble fingers crawled up and down his sides and around his tummy. Arching his back, Atsushi squawked as Dazai started squeezing up his sides and drilling into his ribs before letting his hands travel back down.

“D-Dahaaazai sahahaan!! N-noooo!!” Atsushi whined, cupping his mouth as he giggled.

“Wait, here!! There’s a flea! And here’s another! Oh my! So many!!” Dazai cried, poking and prodding all of Atsushi’s ticklish spots lining his torso. “I gotta get all these fleas off of you!”

“D-Dahahazai sahahahan!” Atsushi squeaked, giggling harder when his arm was suddenly raised up. “Noohoho! Dahahazai san!! Thehehere’s no flehehea on meehehehee!! ACK!!”

“You’re right. I just wanted an excuse to make you laugh like this.” Dazai admitted, suddenly clawing the life out of Atsushi’s belly. “I honestly didn’t think you’d ever burst into laughter, Atsushi kun!~”

Letting out a cry, Atsushi kicked and flailed, snorting and squeaking every few seconds as he felt Dazai’s fingers press deeper into his flesh. Now unable to stop laughing, Atsushi shook his head and held onto Dazai’s wrists, giving the brunette the most pleading eyes when his fingers slowed to a halt.

“Plehehehease!! Plehehehease!!” Atsushi begged, his cheeks dusted with a bright pink hue. “Y-yohohou’re tihihickling mehehehee!!”

Dazai gasped again, raising Atsushi’s shirt up slightly. “Oh no! I see one more flea!! It’s a big one! Hold still!”

Atsushi shook his head. “Dahahazai sahahan! Dohohon’t even thihihink about i-IIHIHI HIT!!”

Much to Atsushi’s horror, Dazai did think about it and slid his finger into his navel. Atsushi all but howled with laughter, squirming, shoving and kicking. His pleas didn’t do much either, Dazai only encouraged to continue thanks to Atsushi’s loud belly laugh.

This wasn’t the first time Dazai managed to launch a tickle attack on Atsushi. The weretiger was a victim countless times before, but it was never this playful. Most of the time, Dazai just gave him jabs on either side or a squeeze just above the hips to keep him on his toes. However, this was more than just squeezes or pokes. Dazai was swirling his finger inside his bellybutton, forcing out the belly laugh no one in the Agency ever heard.

“PLEHEHEHEASE!! PLEASE!! DAHHAZAI SAHAHAN!! I CAHAHAN’T!” Atsushi squealed, trying to curl up on himself.

“I can’t! I need to catch that tickle flea!!” Dazai argued, gathering Atsushi’s wrists in one hand and using his free one to continue “searching” his bellybutton for the flea.

“I CAHAHAN’T BREHEHEHEATHE!!” Atsushi cried, screaming bloody murder. “PLEHEHEASE!! DAHAHAZAI SAHAHAN!! NOOOOHOHO!!”

“There’s a tickle flea somewhere in there! Don’t stop me, Atsushi kun!” Dazai shouted, Atsushi’s laughter only growing in volume. “I must get this tickle flea or else you’ll never stop laughing!!”

“HELP!! AHAHAHA!! KUHUHUNIKIDA SAHAHAN!!” Atsushi wheezed, screaming loudly. “KEHEHENJI! JUHUHUNICHIRO!! RAHAHANPO SAN!! HEHEHEHELP!! MAHAHAKE HIM STOHOP!!”

“Those three won’t help! They know the tickle flea will just jump onto them and I’ll be forced to do this to them!” Dazai sang, suddenly using one hand to tickle Atsushi’s neck while the other swirled around the rim of his bellybutton. “And Kunikida kun…”

“Is right behind you.” Kunikida finished, suddenly grabbing Dazai by the collar of his coat and flipping him. “You’re in for it now you bandaged idiot!! Lie down and stay still!”

“Aaahh!! Wait! Wait, wait! Kunikida kun!” Dazai stammered, sounding rather nervous. “Plehehease!! I was juhuhust playing around with Ahahatsushi kun so he freely laughed! NOOOHOHO!! ATSUSHI KUN HEHEHEHELP!!”

“Shut up, Dazai! He won’t save you!” Kunikida growled. “I’ve had enough of your shenanigans for the day!”

Sure, this whole little laughter session was unplanned, but Dazai really did bring joy and some stress relief to the Agency. Atsushi couldn’t help but smile as he recovered, Kenji, Junichiro and Ranpo all joining him to make sure he was okay while watching Dazai suffer Kunikida’s wrath.

After things settled and work had concluded for the day, Atsushi was getting ready to leave when he found Dazai sitting on the couch, staring off into the distance of the city. Deciding to keep him company for a bit, Atsushi took a seat next to his mentor, looking out at the city. It was very peaceful and beautiful to Atsushi and he didn’t comprehend the cushion of the couch shifting nor Dazai turning to look at him.

“Hey, Atsushi kun.” Dazai whispered, finally acknowledging him.

“Hi Dazai san. You looked lonely.” Atsushi replied, noticing Dazai’s facial expression change slightly in a way he couldn’t figure out. “I hope you don’t mind me keeping you company for a while.”

Dazai smiled gently, reaching out and giving Atsushi a head pat. He knew his mentee loved receiving the head pats. “I don’t mind.”

“Also, thank you.”

“Hm? For what?”

Atsushi smiled and turned to Dazai. “For always making me feel comfortable here at the Agency. I really appreciate it.”

The smile widened as Atsushi’s words sunk in. Dazai let out a soft chuckle and playfully ruffled Atsushi’s hair even more, forcing soft, sweet giggles out of the young detective.

“You’re welcome, Atsushi kun.”

[elitadream]

I think a gift that Luigi would give Mario for his birthday would be a wood carving kit like one of the professional ones with all the fancy tools for carving, sanding and sculpting, along with a few blocks of wood. He saved up all his money specifically for that and nothing else. And Mario can’t constrain his overwhelming joy over receiving such a thoughtful gift.

He cherishes it, truly, handles it with care and love just as he does Luigi.

AHH I love this idea so much!! 😍🛠✨️

I can especially see this ocurring as a flashback from when they were both still on Earth. Luigi buying this for Mario despite how rough times were back then, because he knows the hobby brings him a lot of joy. 🥺

"Fratellino...! You shouldn't have," Mario would gasp as he would unwrap his present, gazing down at the beautiful kit with a mix of wonder and dismay.

"Oh, hush!" Luigi would dimiss affectionately, patting the box and inviting Mario to open it. "We both know you've wanted one for ages. When was the last time you've treated yourself? You never indulge in any personal expenses!"

"Because I can't afford it," Mario would murmur with a furtive glance to their dingy appartment, giving Luigi a pointed look when the lightbulb above them would suddenly start to flicker.

Undeterred, Luigi would merely shrug and sit beside him, his eyes soft and compassionate.

"Please, take it," he would insist, with a knowing smile. "Please. I know how hard you try. I see it everyday. Saying that you deserve it would be an understatement. It was the least I could do."

Mario would grimace slightly at his brother's words, feeling a simultaneous pang of guilt and love in his chest.

"Thank you," he would finally say in quiet surrender, turning to give Luigi a fierce hug.

Much later, when they would both celebrate their first anniversary in the Mushroom Kingdom, Luigi would be elated to learn that the princess has given Mario full reign of the north wing's workshop, essentially letting him have it all to himself. While on his way to greet him there, he would huff with a lopsided grin upon thinking of how vast of an improvement this is over the meagre selection of tools he had offered him back then, but to his surprise, he would find Mario working at the nearest desk... with his kit laid out beside him. He would remember that this was one of the few objects that Mario had been very adamant about retrieving from Earth before the portal vanished, but he had believed it to be merely as a souvenir and would be confused as to why Mario would even bother still using it now.

"Seriously?" He would quip bemusedly as he would enter the room, causing Mario to break from his current train of thought with a start. "I can't believe you sometimes."

"What?" Mario would retort, a helpless smile tugging at his lips.

"Mario, half of these are worn down to a nub, and the other half is completely obsolete. Why keep a rusty old bike when you can have a Ferrari, eh?"

Luigi would nudge him with a smirk, pleased with his own comparison, but Mario wouldn't seem to find much humor in it. Instead, he would stare at the blueprint lying on the desk's surface and would shake his head slowly, his expression one of deep nostalgia and gratitude.

"The old bike has infinitely more value to me than any Ferrari, Lamborghini or Maserati ever could have," he would answer simply, his tone filled with warmth and appreciativeness.

Luigi would sigh dramatically at that, however beaming at the compliment.

"Okay, okay, I get it," he would concede with a playful roll of his eyes. "Just- promise me to use these shiny new toys every once in a while, alright? It's not everyday one of your craziest dreams come true! Might as well make the most of it."

He would ruffle Mario's hair and give him a wink before leaving him to his project, but would secretly feel very touched and a little emotional that Mario views his gift with such importance. ☺️💞

[alittle-toosilly]

I made a small cotl Narinder ficlet. It's my first one, so let me know if I make any slip ups or mistakes. Please enjoy :)

Summary:Narinder receives a gift. Self doubt is annoying and there's a crap ton of fluff. Idk what else to put here.

(Ficlet under the cut)

Children.

A lot of things were children at some point. Narinder himself was a child. And just like any child, so full of curiosity and wonder about this strange world he was brought into. Questions as well. Children ask an awful lot of questions. Maybe too many.

Why do did that bird fly away from me? Why is the sky blue? Where does the moon go in the daytime? Why are plants green? Why did hurt when I fell? What do clouds look like? Why does my tummy hurt? Why won't you play with me? Why are there black things under your eyes? Why this? Why that? Why? Why?

Why.

Many children ask why. Many adults ask why. Everyone asks questions. It's how we come to know about things, after all. 

Today was a day Narinder asked "Why?" A lot.

It all started midday. Narinder was busy farming, pulling roots from the earth, picking berries off bushes, digging mushrooms out of the ground, only to replant them for the next time. Monotonous cycle, wasn't it? Monotony was very common in mortal day-to-day life. Washing dishes for breakfast tomorrow, washing clothes for next week, washing bones for this month's ritual. (He somehow always ended up with the washing jobs.) Maybe routine would be a better word. Monotonous seems to have too harsh a connotation. He doesn't hate every part of his day, not all of it, no-

"Excuse me, mister?"

Narinder looks up. It's a small child. 7 or 8, maybe? Most likely the child of that deer follower. They do look quite similar, maybe a little too similar.

His face softens. This is a child, a sweet innocent soul.

He cannot be irritatable or standoffish, lest he try to explain why he made a kid cry.

"Yes?" He responds. He hopes he doesn't look too annoyed, his face has a habit of doing that. Not ideal for socializing with children.

The kid fidgets with something behind their back.

"Uhm...I uh...made this. For you."

They bring their arms forward, revealing a crudely made flower crown. It's made of many wildflowers they must've picked from the meadows not too far from this here farm. He can identify a few. Daffodils, orange pansies, bluebells, purple crocuses, and some camellias (That were probably stolen from the farm, he thinks. Camellias don't really grow wild here. And some of these flowers probably aren't in season, either.) All in a repeating pattern of lightest to darkest. Simple, but very pretty.

He tilts his head. The child keeps on nervously rambling while their fingers curl around the crown slightly.

"It's for you, uhm...mommy said yellow and orange make red stand out and your eyes are red and uh-" they stammer, looking away frequently.

He places a hand on the flower crown. They let go of it, staring at him with wide eyes. He holds it in his hand gently, careful not to crush it.

"It's beautiful, thank you." He says, a soft smile on his face.

The kid's eyes light up brighter than the night sky, their smile stretching wider than any road ever built. Pure joy is on their face. Pure joy on anyone's face is a wonderful sight, especially if you are the reason it is there.

"Really!?! I kinda smashed a few, so I dunno-" they exclaim, rambling again

Narinder chuckles "Yes, it is. Even the smashed bits. Tell your mother that she was right about the colors for me, okay?"

The child closes nods and scampers off, shouting for their mother. Narinder sighs and shakes his head, a dumb grin plastered in his face.

"Heh, kids."

He stares at the crown, before putting down his trowel and placing it upon his head. It's a little too large, so it slides down a little too close to his eyes, partially obscuring his vision, not to mention the stems and leaves that stick out and make his face itch. But he can't care less. Somebody, a child, had made this for him for no other reason than to be nice. And he would wear this fantastic gift with honor, no matter how silly he may look. (He in fact, looked very silly.) It is a god's...er...ex-god's duty to accept each offering with grace and respect, especially the homemade ones. It would be cruel and stupid not to do so, wouldn't it?

He goes back to harvesting crops, the grin threatening to stay on his face long overdue. Hell, he might actually cry. Because dammit, wasn't this the sweetest thing he's ever been a part of? A child, a sweet innocent soul decided to give him a homemade gift out of the kindness of their heart. No manipulation, no strings attached, no mockery. Just a simple kind gesture to make his day better. They even felt the need to specify how they didn't mean to smush a few flowers, as if the quality of this fine gift mattered to him. He's seen much worse than a flattened dandelion, but he'll humor this child. He needed that today, this kindness.

But why him? Self doubt and hatred are brutal, more brutal than any type of disease (For him in this moment, at least. Whether or not internal conflict is worse than vomitting or stuffed noses is for the philosophers of the future to discuss.)

Did he even deserve this gift? Even after everything he's done? Thousands of sins committed, Millions slaughtered in his name or because of him, a mother separated from her children to curb his own self-infliceted loneliness. He's done terrible, unforgivable things. He's deplorable. His words have often been pejorative and vile. He attempted to use his vessel for his own gain. This mortal body is a prison, right? Why did he get this gift, then? Why did that child deem him worthy of such an exquisite gift, such a meaningful act of kindness?

Why can't his mind just be silent for once?

He huffs, wipes a small bit of moisture from his eyes, and goes back to his duties. Their mother was right, the yellow and orange make the red in his robes pop, and the blue and purple provides nice contrast.

He claws at the earth for crops once more. 

At least somebody's thought of him.

[markiza297]

some of my music-related EMH headcanons because i feel bad and want to share it.

VINNY:

Vinny loves post-punk and goth music, like Joy Division, The Cure, Swans, The Fall, Depeche Mode and New Order. But when he gets asked to put something he likes on, he puts something like Prodigy or Infected Mushroom on, to look cool and not to "bore" his friends. And because he genuinely likes those as well.

___

Also i cannot NOT project my own coping mechanisms on emh characters, so i think (before the events unfolding, while Jessa is still alive and everything is normal) that boys like to meet up and share music AND their feelings in the format of : "This is how I feel : *Numb by Linkin Park starts playing*".

JEFF:

Jeff feels overwhelmed at his hospital job, feeling that he is responsible for everyone and everything, so most of the time when he doesn't have to work with patients, he wears headphones to ease his mind a bit, usually listening to something rhythmic (+1 point if the track doesn't have any words).

Jeff would be such a fan of Twenty One Pilots. This band is so him coded.

___

I think that Jeff and Evan would bond over their love for AJJ (again, im projecting, I KNOW). But Jeff would like the deeper details of the lyrics, and Evan would be like, "yo thats fire" because of the interesting sound.

EVAN :

I think that Evan has a Walkman cassette player, and he prefers cassettes to CD's, because "they sound worse". 

And the glove box in his car is filled with checks and old bills, and cassettes that don't match their package, for example, an AC/DC cassette in a Metallica case, etc. 

imo im convinced that Evan would be a huge lover of nu metal, im talking ALL OF IT. im talking Limp Bizkit, im talking Papa Roach, im talking Slipknot, Linkin Park, Skillet, KoЯn. Every time he gets a chance to get a record, he would spend his last money just to headbang to new edgy song while driving home.

And OF COURSE he would like Gorillaz. I think it should be canon, it's so obvious.

___

I think about Evan and his taste in music like this scene in Scott Piligrim where Ramona has unnecessary amount of different teas.

"-What do you like to listen?"

"-Let's see... We have classical rock, punk rock, hard rock, rock and roll, heavy metal, industrial, nu metal, alternate, metalcore, electropunk, funk metal, new rave, and... Indie"

HABIT :

Evan can't stand MCR (i know it's a hot take, i know), but HABIT loves them, especially when he gets to rearrange and clean his weapons, humming along while putting on a show, like twirling knives in the air or threatening an imaginary opponent.

If talking about my favorite purple bastard, I think it's really for music to get stuck in his head, and sometimes it can result in pretty hilarious (although still horrifying if you know the context) things, for example him throwing out the "trash" *wink wink* and not noticing how he sings something he had heard on the radio.

Just imagine HABIT humming ABBA or some 2010 white girl music. This brings me so much joy, you have no idea.

STEPH:

I think Steph would hide her preferences, until she feels safe enough to share some of the music she likes, and if a person she shares it with likes it as well, she would spend hours and hours talking about every little detail in lyric and sound and how it all has A DEEPER MEANING! She would be right, tho.

I'm convinced there was a situation where she gave an Evanescence cd to Evan with "this reminds me of u" written on the cover. I don't make the rules.

She probably writes some lyrics she really liked "to put them into her art later" only to forget about it.

[unfriendlyamazon]

restaurant au (kj moment)

of course the only other thing in my notes is a kaijou scene but i love contrast and i do want to write something where they connect over their shitty adolescence so here we go again everything subject to change but i started season 2 of the bear and i'm in the mood

Joey slumped forward, holding his forehead in his hands, and his chest burned.

“I can’t do this,” he said. “I don’t even know why I wanted to. Everything’s falling apart, my own sister is going to hate me, and it feels like I’m going to end up just like him.”

“It was your father’s restaurant,” Kaiba said from the kitchen. His voice was low and oddly soothing, especially made quiet by the distance. Joey sucked in a ragged breath. “Why didn’t you sell it? Why would you want to follow in his footsteps?”

The question burned as Joey swallowed it down. Tears beaded his eyes. An emotion welled up in him, laying so heavy on his tongue he almost couldn’t speak.

“I guess I–” He breathed in again. In and out. Keep breathing. “They’re not all bad memories, you know? That’s what makes it so hard. And the times I really remember being–being happy was when my dad was cooking. He showed me how to chop the vegetables, and he’d cook the meat, and we’d all sit down together and be, I dunno. A family. Sometimes I think the love of cooking is the only thing he really gave me.”

Kaiba was silent, except the light clattering of plates. Joey squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, Kaiba was in front of him, holding out a bowl.

“Here,” he said. “Eat this.”

Joey took it from him. The bowl was warm around his fingertips, and an earthy smell rose from it. He picked up the spoon and ladled the heaps of rice.

“Takikomi gohan,” he said.

Kaiba nodded. “It’s not my favorite dish mind you–”

Joey gave a dry laugh. “It’s no filet mignon for sure.”

“--but my mother would make it for us.”

His mouth clamped shut. He spooned the dish thoughtfully before bringing it to his mouth. The shiitake mushrooms were the most obvious flavor, as they clearly made up the dashi used in the base, and the sweetness of the carrots hit alongside it. He could taste the subtle flavor of the sake underneath, and something light. Celery, maybe, or more likely mitsuba. Traditional, considering Kaiba liked western flavors. The blend was perfectly balanced on the short rice. He swallowed it gratefully.

“The memories I have of my family before,” Kaiba said, “feel warped and faded sometimes. I don’t have any pictures or keepsakes. But I remember this. These flavors. They remind me of a time when I had happiness. Well, almost. There’s an ingredient I’m missing, I’m sure of it.”

Joey took another bite. It was hard to swallow with the lump in his throat, but too delicious not to.

“Chefs like to cook for others to take care of them,” Kaiba said. “To bring joy to people. I think that all you’ve ever wanted to do is bring joy back to yourself. But it can be a mistake focusing on the past. On what was. You need to focus on the future.”

“Yeah,” Joey said, mouth full of rice. “You’re always fucking right.”

“I am,” Kaiba said, without his usual arrogance. “Do you know why I agreed to invest in your restaurant?”

Joey shook his head.

“Because you cook good food. You have passion for it. I think you can do it. And I’m always right.”

The last wall crumbled. The tears Joey’d been holding back flowed freely down his face, and he sobbed into his rice. Kaiba didn’t reach out to comfort him, only offered a napkin before standing back. Joey let the dam break. It felt right, here and now. Everything about this moment felt like it was supposed to happen.

[bigasswritingmagnet]

A Monologue, of Sorts

Fandom: Dragon Age Summary: A good return-from-the-dead plot twist reveal requires a little rehearsal. Monologues of painful emotional honesty are much easier to give when there's no one else to hear you.

AO3 Link

'Surprise! I'm not dead!' 

No, that's bad. That's not even funny. 

'Guess what!' 

Maker , that's even worse. Hm. 

'Hello!' 

No. 

'Greetings!' 

Ugh . 

'Knock knock, who's there, me, I'm alive!' That’s stupid, this is stupid . This is worse than being in the Fade. At least in the Fade I didn’t need to worry about the best way to greet the demons before I bashed them over the head.

Now I'm talking to myself. No one else to talk to, I suppose. Just trees and rocks. Hardly pleasant company. Maybe I’m just going mad. Maybe I’ve already gone mad, and I’m actually still in the–

No. No, I’m here. I know I’m here. I can tell the difference. I can.

I’m here. 

…I need to sit. 

Ow. Bloody tree roots everywhere, can never find a decent place to rest. I'm starting to understand why Varric hates the outdoors so much. At least when he's here I have someone to complain to. Although that stump does sort of look like Varric. If he was a stump. 

Hello, Varric, so nice of you to drop by! It's simply been ages, how delightful to see you. You're looking very...mossy. In a good way, of course. The mushrooms really bring out your eyes. 

No, I didn't beat the Nightmare. Didn't you see the size of that thing? It was a mountain-sized spider! I'm not going to fight that! I just ran away. You remember how good I am at that. I was less good at hiding, but eventually I managed to get to a part of the Fade where it couldn’t reach me. Then I just wandered around til I found a Fade rift and popped back through to the real world. 

Popped isn’t the best word. It was more ‘hurled myself bodily through it while three pride demons tried to grab me and tear me in half’. 

Yes, I'm glad I’m out, too. Let's see...Then I decided to take a vacation, a little time for myself. I found a very nice cave - I say cave, more of a crevice, really - and hid in there for a few days. It was quite cozy. I meant to invite you, but between the fits and vomiting black sludge everywhere, I simply wasn't in any state to entertain. 

There's no need to worry! I'm in tip-top shape now. Better than ever. Once I could walk in a straight line again and was reasonably sure I wasn’t going to die, I started to make my way to Skyhold. It's been rather slow going, unfortunately. I have to stay off the roads–far too many bandits. It would be so obnoxiously tragic to survive the Deep Roads and the qunari and Meredith and the Fade, only to get taken out by some common thug. I refuse to die such a cliche death. 

Yes, I thought you would appreciate that.

Why am I sitting in a clearing in the middle of a forest? Ah. Well. It occurred to me that I should probably think of how to properly reveal that I'm still alive. One really only gets one chance at this sort of thing, so it has to be done just right. I mean, it is possible I'll be assumed dead again at some point, but after the first time, it rather loses its narrative impact. 

I could be casual, walk into Skyhold and ask what's for lunch. Or I could wait for a storm to roll in, wear a big cloak and then throw back the hood just as the lightning crashes. Maybe even make a little mist to swirl around me as I do it. 

Over the top? Don't be ridiculous, Varric. Where's your sense of drama? 

...Yes, I suppose a heroic sacrifice is enough drama for one lifetime. Or even two. That's the real reason I'm here, I suppose. A truly great performance requires that one knows one's audience, and I'm really not sure what sort of reception I should expect. Tears of joy and a great big cake would be ideal, but things are so rarely ideal these days. Far more likely everyone will be annoyed with me for causing so much unnecessary distress. Even you. 

Maybe even especially you. 

Do you remember, once, when I said I'd never leave you? 'Where would I be without my trusty dwarf.' But I did, didn't I? I left Kirkwall. I let them drag you off to Haven. Now this . All I ever wanted to do was keep you safe, but even when I'm not there I'm getting you into trouble. You're probably sick to death of it all. And now I've gone and... 

I know. You're furious. You don't even want me to come back. You absolutely hate me. You despise me, you wish I really was dead. 

Of course I remember! But all those little speeches – yes, speeches , you talk too much – were ages ago. A lot can change in four years. Four years of your whole world coming crashing down around your ears, and every bit of it my fault. 

What do you know? You’re not even real! You’re a tree stump, and I’m talking to myself like an absolute loon because I don’t want to have to hear the real you tell me how much he hates me!

Oh. 

Hello, Varric. Funny meeting you here.  

It's very rude to listen in on other people's conversations, you know. At the very least you could have made some noise. Although I suppose it saves me the trouble of having to repeat myself.    

No, don't you dare start crying, because if you–if you start then, then I'll– Tethras, you absolute bastard –

.

.

.

It’ll dry off eventually. It’s just a shirt, Hawke, there’s more important things. 

It is so in character for me; you’ve just never seen me in this type of scenario before. Besides, I already ruined your dramatic reveal, I’m not going to make it worse by getting mad at you over a wet shirt. …Or anything else, for that matter. 

But I’m not. And I sure as hell don’t hate you. 

Oh no you don’t. The role of guilt-stricken former comic relief has already been filled by yours truly, and there’s not enough blame for the both of us. 

What have you got to be guilty about? 

I know you did; this is me turning your question back on you. You’re supposed to be struck by the realization that you are not, in fact, at fault for every terrible thing that happens in the– Oh. 

Yeah, alright, you’re very clever. You don’t have to look so smug about it. 

You realize you can only be victorious if you also acknowledge you’re not at fault for everything. 

I only make it look easy. Listen, if we’re going to debate fault and the morality of cause and effect, I’d rather do it indoors with alcohol available, not sitting around in the dirt. There’s plenty of taverns between here and Skyhold. 

Sure we can. I’ll even let you win a few hands.

Nugs? No, they do not serve nugs in Skyhold. Alright, that’s it, we need to get you to civilization before you go any crazier. 

Lightning fried– Maker help us, it might already be too late.

[unenvs3000w24]

My relationship with nature

My relationship with nature is a supremely positive one. I think our connection to nature is part of being human and it’s inside all of us. As kids, we’re encouraged to play in and explore the outdoors, keeping our little minds open to what the world has to offer outside of our bubble of “home”. Nature is a home to many, and in a way, to all of us. The forests are rich with communication between plants and animals that none of us are privy to. We come from nature and so it is in our bodies to want to connect with the outdoors. It can be so hard to do so in our world of school and work that doesn’t encourage us to spend time outside. As a person who doesn’t own a car, it makes it even more difficult to live in urban areas and still spend a lot of time in nature. Growing up in downtown Toronto doesn’t exactly encourage one to spend a lot of time in nature. While it certainly made me into a person who likes to walk everywhere, hiking trails and forests are not easily accessible on foot. I spent most of my childhood at the park by my house, learning how to interact with nature. It’s so important to spend a great deal of your time in nature during those formative years.

My partner’s family has a house in Collingwood where I’ve been able to really have fun doing things outside. They’ve taken me skiing and on some amazing hikes. One trail that we’ve been on a couple times goes through these caves that you have to climb down into and through and can be quite challenging, especially since we do it in the winter.

Cave hike in Collingwood.

Whenever I get the privilege to be out in a forest, I’m immediately drawn to the moss. Something about the vibrant green against its background that is so striking to me. It makes me want to shrink down in size and live in a patch of squishy moss. Especially in the winter, it’s shocking how alive moss still appears even when everything else has lost its colour.

Happy moss in the winter :)

I hope to one day get into foraging, specifically for mushrooms but also medicinal plants. I don’t have the time or resources to get into it at this point in my life but one day I will. Seeing a funky, colourful mushroom while on a walk brings me so much joy and I can imagine if I was also able to identify the species and the benefits of it, it would be even more exciting. One summer in high school, I worked at a nature camp that was fully outdoors, rain or shine, in High Park. It was an amazing experience and really did make me appreciate how awesome nature can be. I learned which plants are edible and not, which ones have healing properties, and which ones can be used to do “tattoos” on the kids. And thus, nature as a whole has provided a “sense of place” for me. It’s been there for me when I need a place to escape to and I know it will have a large space in my future.

Me in my "place"

[fifteenonaskateboard]

4/100 days of productivity. (16th October 2024)

Hello, friends! I had a wonderful day and accomplished most of my goals. I studied for two hours, cooked garlic mushrooms, roti, and made a bottle gourd curd. Cooking brings me joy! I also attended the October Hunter's Full Moon Celebration, which was a beautiful experience. During the session, we were encouraged to reflect on three things:

1. What are you ready to let go of? For instance, old habits or emotions. With the arrival of fall, she shared a lovely example of trees— like how it changes its colors and shed their leaves knowing spring will come and they make space for the new.

2. What do you wish to preserve? What is truly important to you that you want to hold onto?

3. Connection—how can I deepen my relationship with my inner self and my spiritual guides? Tomorrow is the Full Supermoon, and the moon’s energies will be especially strong. I’m also planning to do a Moon water ritual.

Additionally, I managed to go for a walk, drank 12 glasses of water, and studied a bit about Reiki. I even made a bookmark, although I still need to work on reducing my screen time.

[sameoldchangeling]

Hiya everyone~☆

I'm Twilirose! My pronouns are she/they and I'm a college student and aspiring graphic novelist looking for a new home for my work!

Some of the things that bring me joy are:

Dogs

Gaming (especially lore heavy stuff like elder scrolls)

Mushrooms

Poetry

Singing

Character building

Drawing

Due to Life™ getting in the way, my posts are gonna be pretty sporadic at first, I'm working on getting a handle on it, but be ready for there to be several months between art pieces for the first good while (^-^ ;)

Feel free to follow if you think the art will be worth the wait♡

[sketchyelvenasss]

Divulge Under the Stars

Gale x Tav

Act1 - no spoilers - 1000w

Under the stars is the perfect place to tell your crush you tragic backstory, right?

It was a cool night at camp and the breeze felt pleasant against Aerika’s ashen skin. The fire crackled below the blanket of stars that twinkled against the dark indigo night sky. No matter how much time he spent above ground it was still a sight that filled him with wonder.

Most of the camp had gone off to sleep aside from himself. He preferred to take first watch and observe how different everything was from his home. Even the darkness was comparatively bright to what he was used to. There were many luminous mushrooms and lichen in the Underdark, but none could compare to the stars.

Then there was his company, which at present was much more wonderful than the air above. Gale sat on the ground beside him gazing above and happily pointing to each constellation. His deep brown eyes bright with excitement at the opportunity to share, and boast, his knowledge. While his other hand was entwined in Aerika’s behind them, as if it were a secret.

Not that it was. But it was one of the only things they could delight in without worry of meeting an explosive end.

“It brings me joy to see your smile.” Aerika said when there was a pause in Gale’s lecture. Usually he would listen with rapt attention, but it had been a rough few nights for the mage. After learning the means he had been using to keep the Netherese orb at bay was rapidly losing its effectiveness, Gale looked incredibly sad when he thought the others weren’t paying him attention.

“You are too kind.” He chuckled after a brief pause.

“I disagree. I am only telling you the truth.”

Gale pulled his hand away and a disquiet silence fell between them. How cruel fate was sometimes. To light a spark of romance, only to smother it with impending doom. But Aerika wasn’t so easily disheartened. Especially not in odd circumstances that they and the other infectees had found themselves in. Anything could happen.

Spurred by the desire to comfort him, Aerika shifted closer next to Gale, closing what little space there had been until they were hip to hip. Explosion be damned. But thankfully they both remained in one piece, even when Aerika wrapped his arm across Gale’s back and rested his head on the other’s shoulder. Loose strands of blond and powder blue hair fell together with warm brown waves. There was no breeze anymore, as if to perpetuate their stillness as they found equanimity through the soft intimate touch.

“Do you remember when you pulled me out of that portal?” Gale asked, his voice low.

“I do. It was not that long ago actually. I was drawn to the intriguing, but voracious, magic and instead of an illithid relic or cursed artifact I found a hand calling for help. It still baffles me how a wizard of your skill ended up like that, irrespective of that Netherese blight of yours.”

“I’m certain you’ve heard this innumerable times before, but you are unlike any drow I’ve ever met. You revere the weave. Wield it with both passion and skill that would humble many a mage. I can tell it runs deeper than mere devotion to accrue divine power. It is inspiring.”

Aerika smiled fondly in recollection. The memory was more than a century old, but clear as crystal. “Magic saved my life. That is the long and short of it. In my earliest memories I was avidly consuming any material pertaining to magic. I practiced cantrips and invocations I had memorized from books whenever I could. I desired nothing more than to become a famous adventuring wizard. My parents labored to support my passion, but…” he paused. This was the part of the story that still hurt. No matter how much time had passed. It did them no honor to fight the tears that looked in his white eyes. He let them fall freely down his face into the soft fabric of Gale’s shirt. Gale was quiet but gave Aerika a comforting squeeze on the shoulder.

It’s okay, if you need to stop. The touch soothed. But Aerika wanted to share this. Not many people allowed him to get close enough, because they only saw a drow and assumed he was everything they feared. Unlike Gale, who had been cordial and given him the benefit of the doubt.

“My parents were murdered by Loth-sworn raiders, and I was captured. It was a cleric of Mystra that came to my rescue. Her name was Amillia. A middle-aged woman with grey eyes and choppy pink hair. She spotted me bound and bloody, tied to a cart and forced to either keep pace with the rothé or be dragged on the ground behind them. If not for her I would be dead or a slave. We escaped the Underdark, and she brought me to her clergy. A small temple in a port city along the Shining Sea. She’s buried there now. If we both survive this misadventure, I would like to bring you there.”

“It would be an honor to pay my respects to her. Something to look forward to.” Gale said.

After a short moment of quiet, Aerika cleaned his face on his shirt and Gale began to show off small tricks in his palms to lighten the mood. The night ended too soon— they both need some rest to continue the quest of finding a survivable tadpole extraction method— but it concluded with warm smiles, light hearts, and a dream of a future together.

[witchydykebitch]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you! Get to know your mutuals and followers ❤️

Hey thanks for sending this it sounds fun!! This will be in no particular order just five random things that made me happy recently<3

1. The rain. We've had a lot of thunderstorms recently and I've been enjoying sitting on the porch to watch them!

2. My cat. A gremlin and general pain in the ass but he's a little baby and the reason I get up in the morning.

3. Reading. I fell out of the habit of reading regularly but I've got back into it now and it brings me a lot of joy!

4. Fungi!! I haven't been able to go on a mushroom hunting hike this year but I have a couple planned for this summer!

5. Music! Stimming to music especially!! I've been listening to a lot of Marianas Trench recently. Ever since Masterpiece Theatre they've been a band I fall back into listening to for extended periods of time lol.

[shytastemakerthing]

Hello! May I get a romantic matchup for twst?

Idk what to put exactly so I looked at some matchups you did and base it on that 😭

My name's Jay and I'm a Leo sun , pisces moon and Libra rising.

Looks wise I'm 5'3 , pale with shoulder length hair that I dye occasionally. (I went rainbow for freshman year of highschool , I got called the Skittles queen and a unicorn) I have brown eyes and a very strong rbf .

Personality wise , I'm going off of what I've been told by the few friends I have 🤧 straightforward , blunt , loyal , kind , funny , generous, protective, territorial, very asocial, bold , strong, ambitious but barely motivated, socially awkward, devil's temper (according to my mom , which is funny cuz it usually takes a lot to get me to that point except for a few exceptions which pull the pin) , i don't enjoy going out much ( a shut in ig) and I'm a bit of an outcast, specifically since I don't go out of my way to talk to people. I carry bandages and snacks in my bag most of the time 😭 I will not back down from a fight 😤 unless it's any sort of math or essay in which case.. I'm sprinting away.

Some dislikes would be bullies, stupid men , religious extremists , math , being bossed around , loud noises , annoying people, awkward small talk , creeps , beating around the bush , disloyalty, too much clinginess, children and gender roles

Some likes are drawing, reading, snacking, horse back riding , swimming, fantasy stuff , video games , anime , sleeping, I love my dogs more than life itself, the ocean and forests , my personal space and listening to music and ocean ambiance. I also love rainy / stormy weather.

I'm interested in boxing and other martial arts, hopefully I get to practice one day .

Idk what else to put so I'll leave it here 😅

Thank you for your time!

Remember to take breaks , eat yummy snacks and a tasty drink ! 💖

A/N: Hello and thank you so much for your request, and thank you for the patience as I work to get the rest of these out! I do hope that you like your match-up! Enjoy!

Tw: None

I match you with.........

Jade Leech

Now, the initial start of this relationship was rocky at best. Jade is someone who is quite used to putting up a front in front of other people, mostly to get them to trust him in some way (very bad idea), or other times, when he is as calm as he is, you know something is about to happen (again, something very bad). It took him some time to realize that he doesn't always have to have that persona up in front of you.

Your loyalty is something he finds admirable. Growing up in the Coral Sea, many only fended for themselves, loyalty wasn't a thing, not when everyday was a new fight for survival. Well, it was for mers who were like him. So, seeing your dedication and loyalty to those who were around you was something he found so endearing about you. And to be on the receiving end of that loyalty, oh, how it made his cold heart flutter.

I have a feeling that Jade will sometimes listen to ocean ambiance to help him sleep. Growing up in the ocean all of his life, coming onto land was a strange time for him. Everything was so unfamiliar to him, so the sounds of the ocean helped. Knowing that you enjoyed those sounds as well brings him great joy. Even more so if he gets to hold you as you both lay in bed. It brought a form of comfort to the eel.

As you love going out into the forest, would you like to join him for his next trip? Or even join his club? Having someone finally out there with him brings a real smile to his face, even more so when it's you. He especially loves it if you ask about any mushrooms that you may see while out in the wilderness. Though be prepared, any question you ask will be met with his extensive knowledge on that particular fungi, meaning he could be talking for hours.

Please go swimming with him. He will gladly switch back to his natural form and show you the world below the ocean if you would let him. He especially loves floating in the chilly waters with you lounging on top of him, simply enjoying the waves and the sun.

Overall, you both bring out the best in each other. He loves to be able to go hiking in the forests with you, hold you at night while listening to the sounds of the ocean, and just being by your side.

[bedoballoons]

Thanksgiving is coming soon! Maybe an appreciation message to each and every one of your anons? Or just your favs! Also thank you for always writing all the requests! Good work!

I was actually going to do something like this!! In truth I'm thankful for everyone who interacts with my blog, followers, people who leave notes and especially people who request things! All of them combined make me want to write my heart out and I feel incredibly lucky.

Anons...gosh my anons make my world go around, I wake up everyday so excited to see what messages I have from them, what chaos is going on in their lives. It's no lie when I say I love them <3

PREPARE FOR THE LONG POST PEOPLE

So special words for them:

Fairy anon: I'm so thankful you joined the anons, ever since that day you first started chatting I have just grown to appreciate you more and more. You bring a sense of sweetness and innocence to the anons, and you constantly ask how we are all doing. I don't think you could ever know how much seeing your "how is everyone doing today"s has brought me comfort even when I wasn't having such a good day. You're such a incredible person and I hope you know that 🩷

Sleepy anon: You're always a wild card, wether you're joining in on the simping or bringing out a new topic and I truly adore that because it keeps things fresh and shows more about how interesting of a person you are. I worry about your sleep schedule (because at this point I truly consider you all my adopted internet children and I only want the best for you), but other than that it's you who's always worried about others. Reminding me to take care of myself and rest when I need to has really helped me and I appreciate it, thank you 💙

Ramen anon: I notice you don't talk as often as the others do, meaning they probably don't know that you're actually my blood relative, my brother. I don't even truly know if I can put into words how much I love you man, you are the one who told me to write more...to follow my heart and helped me through some pretty dark times. If it weren't for I might not have met all these amazing people. Thank you for being my bro, for being so incredible to me ❤️

Donut cat: One of my very first anons ever and honestly one of the craziest too. There have been days where I felt so sad and then I'd see your asks in my inbox, talking about feet and police officers...LEGS AND NOW BOOBAS TOO. I just burst out laughing, you are one of my main sources of entertainment and I don't think I've ever had someone make me giggle as much as you have. Thank you donut cat, never change okay 🧡

Bananon: I think out of all the anons you've revealed the most about yourself, you're always involved in the conversation and talking about your life and I find it inspiring. You're brave and even when fighting illnesses and studies that probably have your head hurting, you always make time to stop in and talk to everyone. I love seeing what you're up to and I always want the best for you, thank you for being a inspiration and a important part of this anon family 💜

Fox anon: I'm not sure if you'll see this, but I'm thankful for having met you, for being able to read all of your many brain rotting ideas. I miss you to say the least, but I also see your name pop up sometimes in my notifications. Likes or reblogs, I see it and I smile to myself. I hope you're doing okay and you know you're always a joy to talk to 💖

New anons: Starstruck, Mushroom, Pancake! I'm already so appreciative of you all! From how funny pancake anon is when it comes to Heizou, to how sweet starstruck is, to how quiet mushroom anon is! You've all become apart of this group and I can't wait to learn more about you and chat with you about more fun things! Thank you for giving me that opportunity

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

(I won't lie...I teared up writing this. You are all the most amazing people ever...thank you for everything <3)

[hi-im-erick-and-this-is-my-story]

creepy crawlies ep 5 s2

After a dawning seven hour ride straight south east the group came upon a hive entrance with two guard ants by it. When the guards saw mother of all they quickly nuged the group to enter and called a worker ant to guide the group to the queen. The group quickly followed the ant. And then came to the throne chamber, it was full of small, white, see through ants, possibly in thier imago stage and in the middle sat she, the queen of this whole hive, it's powerful ruler, miss Antoine

Antoine- Mother. What a pleasure seeing you. So what brings you to my great hive and especially who are your guests?

Elisa- this is Erick and his friends, they know where my son is, and they know he has kings rot, they are trying to cure him but for that they need to get nurse spiders blood. So may we kindly let them meet Jamie?

Antoine- Oh my, well but of course kings rot is just as bad as cordiceps if not worse

Elisa- thank you

Antoine- KINGA!!!

upon the call a small ant came to the queens throne, this ant was previously serving the smaller ants thier meals

Antoine- Kinga please bring these troubled folk to Jamies lab

Kinga- of course, please follow me

the group was quick to follow the leafcutter ant going past the tunnel of the queens chamber they left the hive to then go into a dark cave when they got further in they were met with lots of high-tech machinery then they got to a glass contaiment inside slept a gigantic spider and in front of the contaiment stood an ant studing bags and samples of blood. Then Kinga spoke up

Kinga- Jamie

Jamie- yes

Kinga- these people need nurse spiders blood for a potion or rather a cure

Jamie- a cure for what? Kings rot heh

Kinga- yes kings rot

Jamie- oh fu- uhh sorry i am so sorry

Erick- no don't worry it's fine

Jamie ashemed handed the group a flask of nurse spiders bloood to which Erick bagged and packed it

Jamie- where are you heading next?

Erick- the pepper kingdom we still need two items a hypnotic mushroom and joy candy

Jamie- oh so you are heading to Jax he works in the field i also need to see him. I need to sell the kingdom thier monthly blood bags and he gives me thier best mushrooms for it, i can ask for one extra for you

Erick- then please come with us we have a map of the island but not of the kingdom alone

Jamie- of course

Elisa- if that is the case i will be leaving you i need to brew some potions of my own. If that is fine with you?

Erick- that is alright

the group then left the cave and headed straight north leaving mother of all behind.

[hoursofreading]

I often imagine my life as that of a tree. Slow and steady. Patient and full of intent. The greatest potential from the smallest seed. What is a tree like? What does it need? The most important thing is: Trees go slowly and cannot be rushed. This helps me, because when I interact with others or myself, and I get impatient, I remember that there is no point to yell at a tree for fruit. At the right time, the tree gives its fruit away by itself. You can’t tell a tree what to do, but the tree can see what you need, and will give you everything it has. Trees are actually quite competitive. A tree living in another tree’s shadow will always stay smaller. Some trees like that, some don’t. That’s why space is important. A tree needs a good home to grow. A tree in unhindered growth will reach just the right size and then stop growing. It knows what is enough. Unceasing is the tree’s work. A tree is working all the time. It is always communicating with the other trees and beings, managing resources, and making the air around it more breathable. While the tree is working, it looks like it’s still. Yet, on the inside, it is always in motion productively. A tree doesn’t change location much (trees can’t walk) and therefore like to be in good company. A tree and its friends are for life, and they grow together slowly and strongly. The shade and the canopy of the tree can also be pleasant for little friends and playmates, and friends are the joy of the tree’s life. Together with them, the tree gains in spirit and ability. If the friends allow it, they take pieces of the tree to foreign places. As the tree travels alongside with them, it can see through their eyes, tap into their senses, and experience their motions. The wind and the tree belong together. The wind helps the tree to talk, in the quiet language of rustling leaves. Those who are still and patient can hear many stories. The wind brings questions, and the tree rustles answers. The spring is next to the tree, carrying the waters of constant renewal. Her wavy whisper washes the tree of all that is old and not needed, and connects it to a steady flow of newness and nourishment. The bird is a good friend of the tree. He likes to talk a lot! He brings songs from the skies to the tree. Together with the wind and the bird, the tree can fly and see. The bird and the tree often say hello and goodbye to each other. The bird likes to wander the world and the tree must remain with the earth. The mushrooms help the tree with communication and supplementation. Through their mycelium, the mushrooms transmit tales from the earth and the underground. These stories are not always beautiful, but they are always true. Thanks to the mushrooms, the tree knows everybody in the forest and the fields. Whenever someone or something needs help, the mushroom messengers carry information and provisions through the network to the required destination. The monkey helps the tree to move its old branches and stretch its bark. The monkey’s able hands massage the wood and keep it supple and strong. His swinging and climbing are a joy for the tree, just like the tree’s fruit is a joy for the monkey. The tree can’t get enough of the laughter of the monkey, and the monkey finds safety in the big treehouse. The dog likes the tree and the tree likes the dog. Pee is ok. Especially from god, I mean dog. There are many other little friends. The cat, the bee, the deer, the bear, and countless others. The tree loves all beings. It wants them to share what they have, and take what the tree has to share.

(3) The Tree Manifesto - by Simon Ohler - The Time Is Now

[supermario-supersideblog]

My Thoughts on the Mario Movie

I just opened this blog and I'm stuck bored at the laundromat, so now seems like a great time to ramble. Will be getting into spoiler territory.

Just to give background, I literally grew up on this franchise. SMB3 was the first game I ever beat. My favorite cartoon was The Super Mario Bros. Super Show (if you can't tell by the blog URL). I started to write at 9 years old after stumbling onto a Mario fansite and being inspired. This was my introduction to fandom.

When I initially saw the movie, I had mixed feelings. I was floored when they acknowledged and even expanded upon the original story of how the brothers made it to the Mushroom Kingdom. Yes, they're just some guys from the real world, that's the point! They're just some guys!

For the negatives: The pacing is awful. They don't take long enough to pause on any one moment or expand on any point made. They immediately jump to the next thing each time. My boy Luigi barely got any screen time. The voice acting wasn't bad, but it wasn't great (but I can look past that). I'm still not a fan of the final fight taking place in Brooklyn because then that raises a lot of questions that aren't answered (How do the citizens of Earth react to a massive turtle dragon attacking the city??? Did this get news coverage??? Are we just handwaving this??? What????).

As for the positives on my initial viewing: Loved Bowser. They nailed his personality. I knew they would the moment they announced that Jack Black would be voicing him. I loved every moment he was on screen. Zero complaints. The casting of Charlie Day as Luigi was also perfect in my book (even if that one was more controversial for some reason?). It just... Fits. Anya-Taylor Joy needed better direction, but her voice worked well enough and you can tell she really enjoyed her role from the previews. Chris Pratt was certainly there but not as bad as I was expecting.

And the references! God. The references. The movie really looked at its older audience and said "Hey. This is for you too." (I'm hoping the blue toad with glasses was supposed to reference Toadbert, but that may have just been me hoping.)

But, as I said, my feelings were mixed.

Initially.

But then I thought about the movie more and more.

What's important in the Mario franchise is that the CORE is there. I'm not talking "giant turtle kidnap princess saved by plumber the end." I mean the brothers. It's Super Mario BROTHERS.

This was my biggest fear going into the theatre. Mario and Luigi actively care for each other in the games, first and foremost. They bicker sometimes. Luigi can get a bit jealous in some of the games. But in playing the games, it's explicitly clear: They care for each other. They'll protect each other. They'll risk their lives for each other. In the Mario&Luigi games especially, they're not afraid to comfort each other and show affection for each other. "Toxic masculinity" does not exist here.

My fear going in, especially Chris Pratt as lead, would be that this would be outright abandoned. This movie was produced here in the USA, and us USAmericans tend to be HIGHLY touch-averse, to the point of it being cultural taboo. It would have been far too easy for them to ignore or change their relationship to the more 'typical' depiction you see of brothers in media.

But.... no.

THEY NAILED IT. ABSOLUTELY NAILED IT!

The most important part of the series! THEY NAILED IT!!!

Mario and Luigi's interactions are PERFECT in the movie! That's them! As they should be! Constantly reassuring each other before they're separated! Mario standing up for and protecting Luigi since they were kids! Luigi insisting that Mario isn't bringing him down like their dad says! When they reunite! THE FOREHEAD TOUCH! They're on the verge of tears! They only care that the other is safe even though they're in the middle of a massive battle!

The pacing is awful. The voice acting is okay. I still don't like the final battle taking place in Brooklyn without showing consequences. But in the end, that doesn't actually matter to me! This is going to be an introduction to the franchise for so many people! So many new fans, so many kids, so many people who will grow to love it as I do, and the most important part is THERE! The movie is far from perfect, but that doesn't matter to me as much now!

Hopefully we get more of the brothers in the next movie (There's DEFINITELY a next movie). I am actively excited for what the first movie brought and can't wait to see it expanded. It's perfect for what it needed to be.

(Also Donkey Kong's "WELL YOUR DAD'S RIGHT" is the funniest subversion of that trope I've ever seen and had me in tears in the theater, gotta give credit where credit is due.)