Freckled Fuck

The “Yes and…”/”No, but…” game.

Okay, so I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Now please don’t think this is me trying to tell you how to write. It’s not. It’s just a tip you COULD use if you wanted to. In no way is this meant to be condescending or whatever. I’m just no good at explaining things, so I go into more detail. I do mention it later on but I’ll say it now anyway; this does not just qualify for DIALOGUE you can use this method for anything. This is just the basics of the game. Now, let’s get to it.

I’ve had it happen to me a few times where I’m left staring at at a reply thinking, “okay… now what??” Then I thought of acting. I know it’s off subject … but bear with me on this;

In some acting classes I did, we played this game called the “yes and..”/”no, but…” game and It really does apply with writing too. Usually, with the “yes and…” game you’re not allowed to say no. You’re also not allowed to just say yes and leave it at that. When doing this you’re giving your partner more to go off of. The story isn’t a dead end. Now, this isn’t me saying this applies with ALL threads, nor am I saying this just applies to dialogue. It doesn’t. Though saying that the CONCEPT can still be useful

For example; If my partner writes something like “Is that your dog?” and my reply is “Yes.” Chances are my partner will be left thinking, “okay… now what?” BUT if my reply went something like this… “Yes and his name is Jupiter.” At least then my partner has something more to go from. They could then question the dogs name, or compliment it. See where I’m going with this?? You wouldn’t even need to say and that’s just the basic idea behind it. It could be a case of something like this.

“Is that your dog?” “Yes. Would you like to pet him?” 

Again, this gives my partner something to answer, even if it’s only small. The conversation has motive to continue rather than coming to a stop. Okay, so that was “Yes and…” now for “No, but…” The reason I brought this game into it is because it’s PRETTY unlikely that your character is never going to say no.

Your character has EVERY right to say no. Though saying that, when you’re character is being shut down constantly by another, it’s hard to keep threads going. Instead of risking you’re partner going, “this is going nowhere.” Or “I’m not getting anywhere with this and it’s just going in circles,” ADD TO THE NO. Even if the no is METAPHORICAL.

For example; If my partner says something like “Would you like to get coffee with me?” and my reply was simply, “no.” I’m pretty sure their character would just want to walk away like, “well… okay.” BUT if I were to say something like, “no, but there’s a pizza place near by that I’ve been dying to try out.” Already you can see the conversation can be added to. Again; you don’t HAVE to say “but.” The conversation could go something like this;

“Would you like to get coffee with me?” “No.” He takes a beat before looking around, “how about an ice cream instead?” 

My character still said no, but there was something added to keep the conversation going. I know this is probably obvious points, I’m sure it is. I’m also sure everyone probably knows these ideas anyway, but I’ve still had replies shut down. Threads that reached a dead end because you can’t break through a conversation. So, I just thought I’d give a little idea that could maybe help if anyone needed it.

Patrick groans again, “Life just fucks you up don’t it?” He waves his hand and another drink is set before him. He takes his time this go around. Rather than drink it, he stares at it. Lifting the glass he swirls it carefully so as not to spill any. He’s just so very tired of things going awry. But there’s not much he can do to change that. Best course of action was to fuck life back in return. He sips his whiskey and grunts. “Yeah, the drink sure got a way to help ya forget. Very friendly, that.” Patrick looks over his drink at the tiny woman. “Thanks,” he slurs at her. “Talkin keeps a body’s mind off the harsher things.” And down goes another glass. He raises his hand to gesture for another when he notices his hand is blurry. Squinting, Patrick peers down at his own hand. “Would ya look at tha’.” He grunts and waves for the refill regardless. Taking the glass in his now blurry hand he stares at that too. “Now when’d that happen?” He asks himself as he sips his whiskey. It would seem he was drunk. Again.

“No problem,” Skeeter smiles. She watches Patrick’s gaze linger on his hand, then his drink. His drunkenness is very familiar to her. She’s been in the same position god knows how many times–never with as compelling an excuse, though. She feels a pang of guilt for nearly envying him that.

Fly me to the moon, and let me play among the stars….

“Fly Me to the Moon” via Bayonetta OST Bunny outfit mod

Groaning, he answers. “Not really. I had only just got him back in my life. He’s been gone mostly. But I loved me boy.” His voice cracks and he grits his teeth. Don’t cry, he thinks to himself. Not now Patrick. Its the liquor that does it really. Even now, he should be able to hold it in. He lifts his glass and chugs it all down to hide the tears threatening to take him.

He’s made it. “Thanks. But I guess this sort of thing is as natural as breathing. Everybody has their time. Barely.” He grins and waves his hand, “Another round for us.” Why not get lost in the bottle? He’s survived the crying all that’s left is fighting. Patrick eyes a few other patrons of the bar. Yep, he could take em. His drink brings him back to his new friend, Skeeter. Why fight when you could laugh it off? “So, Skeeter. What are you drinking away?”

Skeeter watches appreciatively as Patrick downs another drink. In response to his question, her nose wrinkles as she shakes her head–half amusement and half disgust with herself. “Man, I wish I god damn knew anymore,” she chuckles. Not to be outpaced, the girl drains her glass, too. 

Patrick’s openness about his drinking puts Skeeter at ease and makes her feel more open, herself. “Started off as drinkin’ to forget.” She takes the new drink with a wry smile. “Not like I think this is partimcularly unusual, but I ain’t had the best childhood. Luckily, when I’m drinkin’, I plum forget most of it. And hell, once that happens I figure I’m just drinkin’ outta habit.”

He waves a hand at the older man, “I’ll take it later. Never a good idea to pay upfront. What if I were to just disappear?” He would never but it was always good to remember. Especially when you’re talking about strangers. But this man should know that already. Its an unspoken law of the land.

“Well, let’s head out.” Patrick shifts his bag to the other shoulder and turns for the door. “It’s a bit of a hike, Goodneighbor. We’re actually pretty close.” He looks over his shoulder at the man and walks on. This man seems very meek when it comes to the harsher things of life. How he managed to live this long was an accomplished miracle. With a glance to Joseph he smiles. Probably all due to the lady. Sure she seems mild mannered and loving now but that’s possibly because of the friendly atmosphere between them. If Justin’s life were in danger she’d most likely attack. Though it seems Justin would hold her back for fear of losing the only good thing he’s got going for him. The proof of that was shown earlier.

“Ah, well that much I’m aware of,” He says with a sigh. He looks over to his dog and waves a hand for her to come stand at his side. “Sometimes they don’t give you a choice however. I must thank you for your kindness.” 

He reaches into his labcoats inner pocket and pulls out a map he had tucked away. 

“I found this awhile back. I dont know if its going to be helpful but if I am reading this correctly there should be a very quick path to where i’m sure Goodneighbor is located.” 

He wanted to be as helpful as possible. If he could avoid it he would try his best not to be a nuisance to keep this man agitated at his inability to contribute to their task at hand. With a map he was sure that he was making a decent enough impact on the journey ahead. 

"Alright, we're doing well on time so long as we don't run into any hard fights. We should make it in about an hour." As long as the man can keep up, Patrick was sure they'd make it before dark. He watches for any movement as they walk.

He looks over at the woman and notices how small she is. With a smile he answers her question. “Birds of a feather, aye? Death in the family.” He mumbles and knocks back the rest only to gesture for another.

He had just found Sean only to lose him to old age. Patrick chuckles at the irony of it. “Crazy how they just leave ya.” Sipping his forth glass, he wrinkles his face. “Patrick O'Connor.” holding out a hand to the girl he smiles. Making a friend is a nice distraction. “I swear I won’t tell your Ma you were out drinkin if you let me buy your next.”

Skeeter’s head snaps back as she cackles. “You drive a right hard bargain, mister, but I believe I’ll take it. Skeeter Maccabee.” She takes the hand extended to her and gives it a single eager shake. 

@dirtyredbandana

He slams his now empty glass onto the counter and gestures for another. Drinking is always one way to relax. When his glass is full of whiskey, Patrick doesn’t even touch it. He merely stares at it and sways to the music. He can feel one of his moments coming on and it only serves to further depress him. Best to calm down and distract himself.

He nurses the glass and watches the other patron go about thier lives. Patrick debates with himself for a moment. What best way to lose yourself than in another glass? Besides, who would want to talk to him as he is right now? He is dangerously close to either crying or fighting. And honestly, he would prefer to fight.

Patrick muses over his whiskey for another minute. “At least,” he thinks to himself. “At least Im still mostly aware. So im not drunk yet.” With this he downs the last gulp and gestures for another.

“I feel ya, hoss.”

Skeeter hoisted her tiny frame onto the barstool–no small task, the stool was nearly to her waist–and propped her forearms onto the counter, peering at the man next to her curiously. She had been watching him drink for only a few moments, but the way he was putting his drinks down resonated with her on a level strangers rarely did. “I figure everyone has. That there’s sometimes the only god damn way to get by in this ol’ world, ain’t it?” Her attention was diverted briefly to order a triple whiskey for herself. Then she returned it to the stranger. 

Patrick turns away, thinking for a moment. One hand in his pocket and the other on his chin. “Goodneighbor, huh?” He spins back round and smiles, “Sure, I coukd take you there. Ten caps if you can swing it. I even know a shortcut and few people who know what’s up if you ask.”

Sure, Justin asked for help but Patrick thinks he’s not one to take anyone at their word. Tell him that he can get him there and its all good. But tell him that he knows where he can stay and he’ll be pushed away immediately. So things will smooth over with the introduction of a few other players. That way the poor man will have other, more trustworthy friends. Patrick likes to think he is loyal to his friends but he barely knew Justin. He would like his new friend to trust him first and that was only likely to happen if on his own terms.

“That’s wonderful!” He smiles and fumbles around in his pockets. “Do you need the caps now? Or will you take them when we get there?” He asks separating the amount with his hands in his lab coat pocket. He gathers ten in his hand and pulls them out ready to hand them over or put them in the pocket on the other side.