No Mask? NO MASK!!

If anyone has suggestions on how to herd a gaggle of literal rocks, please advise.

[pm] Okay. I'm really not following you, but okay. The nightmares are bad.

I don't know. You're the one who brought it up so I was just trying to follow along. I'm trying to figure out what you're talking about. Just thought maybe you were trying to say you wanna be an oracle for whatever reason.

I say that to people all the time. It's not an insult towards you.

Fine, we can skip it, but again, you brought it up.

I don't know, Bellamy. I'm just going based off what you said in your last message. YOU said, and I quote, "A video with the terrified faces of my victims! Screaming, squirming, soaking the earth with their excrement." I'm just playing along with whatever you're doing.

It sure does.

[PM] Well, aren't most nightmares? Why are you talking like we weren't just talking about this? Wasn't my sleeping what made you ask? Again, why are you asking like we changed the subject?

Brought up what? Why would I proclaim to be an oracle? That's insane. Just, to be clear, I don't think I am. And I wouldn't want to be. Okay? lol

Kind of sounded like it was an insult, the way you said it.

I didn't type anything like that? Well, then stop.

Okay? So you're either 'jokingly saying everyone is nuts' Or you did insult me and call me crazy. [Bellamy disliked all of that, 👥--]

Oh, I mean, the town has its quirks, don't you think? Did you not see how I looked? Did you not When we met, everything went A planet exploded right above us. Other strange phenomena ... though I think you seeking responsibility within is probably wise. I hope times become better soon.

Gardening and surfing! Those are fun. I'm not the best gardener, but through recent circumstances I've come into ownership of Everlasting Garden. The expertise lies with Oliver the staff though. I've never gone surfing.

Definitely, don't all towns, though? At least, that's what I learned from all the tv and movies I've watched. So, I just chalk it up to that. Had to get the inspo from somewhere, right? Yeah, sure, one, did. Exploding planets, giant crabs, apples, snowflakes, and grass biting people. Probably all made up. Can't imagine what kind of chaos that kind of thing would bring, if any of these tales were real. But, I like to deal in a bit more realism and practicality. Like, why is grass biting people. Organisms usually aren't appealing to such plants, right? Weird.

They very much are! No? I suppose it's one of those hobbies that need more patience. Have you? [Pauses briefly, to think of the last owner, and the owner before that, feeling a slight lump in his throat for the both of them, though quickly brushing it off] Well, I'm glad it's found a way to still exist, I really enjoy going there. Yeah, I hear that things were switched up recently with the staff. It will be a loss not seeing Rory there. Now that she and I've officially met, it was nice to see her, anyway. You haven't? Well it's just like skateboarding. With water! I guess.

So, how are you liking ownership of the place?

So Matilda’s strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea.

I've always been a fan of romance, fantasy, and psychological thrillers, bonus points if a book is able to be all three at once and is able to pull it off convincingly. But like I said, I'll dabble in just about anything at least once because I love discovering new authors.

What works do you have out?

I do find that an enjoyable combination. Certainly fantasy is one of those that take up plenty of my library. I won't lie.

Hm, that's a good question. Like, their weirdness is nothing that's making people unsafe or uncomfy, I don't see why you should tell someone they're weird? Especially if they can't help it. Unless you mean in like a compliment way, then you just say exactly that. You're weird, I like you. You got this babe, you can get out of the house more.

They ARE lovely, you're so correct. That's my bone partner, literally no better person in this whole universe.

Hey, I'm also a huge fan of getting all my life lessons through media! And those look like excellent choices for ya.

Really? I like to sing a little. Never have I thought to take up an instrument, though. Not seriously. I think as long as something makes us happy, it's hard to realize it's distracting us from the bad things. What other hobbies have you distracted yourself with?

I guess people will point out flaws they imagine in others, to make themselves feel better. It's probably all just projection. They see a version of another person, and maybe they think they have it good, this other person. So, calling them in their happiness, weird, or something, takes away from that person's shine. But it doesn't add to the name callers, now does it, to take away another person's happiness. Not enough people have seen Mean Girls, and absorbed it's main point, properly. Calling someone else stupid, doesn't make you smarter. You know? I bet a lot of people's takeaway was to write a private journal gossiping about other people behind their back, rather than communicating your feelings, or learning the other perspective. You think it would be exhausting being a jerk to most of the people around you? That's what I learned watching the movie. It's a great movie, anyway, if you haven't seen it. But I got the sneaking suspicion you might have!

Aw. Well, I enjoy the conversations your bone partner and I have had. That makes them great in my books!

Yeah! What other reason to watch anything, to participate in anything, than to consume and learn from it? What is it all for if it doesn't change you, even slightly, in the end?

Well, I am. But not often. It has to sit just right. I guess, I enjoy the genre so much that, I'm a bit of a Goldilocks about it. You know? Right! I don't want to watch another Scream, just because, wow, people are getting stabbed again. Or, another movie where there's a final girl, there's always a final girl. And you know who she is from the start! You're lucky if her boyfriend dies, by the end! It's just, not great, lately. The horror genre is in such a mess these days. And you're absolutely right, the stories make us want the good guys to win, or should? I guess. But I find, especially with horror, I want the bad guy to win, just so the good guys shut up.