THE INEVITABLE RISE & LIBERATION OF....

dialogue prompts from breasts and eggs by mieko kawakami.

you only know what it means to be poor, or have the right to talk about it, if you’ve been there yourself.

you reminded me of myself, as a kid.

i never had the kind of windows you could see out of.

i feel like i'm the only one around who doesn't know all the rules.

my life was like a dusty shelf in an old bookstore, where every volume was exactly where it had been for ages.

writing is the best. you can do it anywhere, as long as you have a pen and paper. it’s free, too. and you can write whatever you want.

they only say that in the movies.

kids blame everything on their parents. it's a phase.

i can't tell you how many times i almost asked you.

i can stay tonight and tomorrow.

it's kinda crazy we're related.

i can tell something really bad happened.

age is just a number. it can't tell you everything about a person.

if anyone tries to talk to you, run.

you were never that bad.

i was hoping _____ would talk to you.

things will have to change, and soon.

what's the government for, if not to help you out in time of need?

it feels like i'm trapped inside my body.

we'll worry about tomorrow when it comes.

i don't know what to do with myself.

we may as well just do our own thing.

what are we dealing with here?

i was young, once, but i was never pretty.

beauty means that you're good, and being good means being happy.

i wish i didn't care, but i do care.

i don't want to keep my eyes open. i don't want to see.

just let me take you to the hospital.

show me your smile.

i didn't even realize it was you.

i want to become an adult right now.

it's been a long time since we drank together.

no one ever drops in on me.

i tried calling, but you didn't pick up.

how do you get over something like that?

what are you reading?

luck, effort, and ability are often indistinguishable.

hey, what's this song? it's nice.

the good songs are never long enough.

you literally hold this place together.

i didn't know you had it so hard.

i'm gonna be your big sister. come to me with anything, okay?

you never looked away, no matter what.

we really were sweet kids.

you said you'd come back.

you're going to get better.

we're strong. stronger than this.

it took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to get us here.

i'm losing track of what's real.

you've gotta be more careful. you can't die. what am i supposed to do without you?

honestly, i've never been much of anywhere.

you're still a kid. kids gotta eat breakfast.

blood only washes out under cold water.

i like the fastest rides the most.

you must be a natural.

you're okay? honestly?

why do grownups get drunk?

i'll never put myself through that again.

are you in pain? are you alright?

did you get to see everything you wanted?

i owe _____ the world.

why was i telling you all that, again?

is there anything you're craving?

where were you? what the hell is going on?

i can't even imagine what's going through your head right now.

don't worry. i'm not going anywhere.

you knew i was waiting up for you.

take a shower. you'll feel better.

don't want to talk to me, huh?

how long do you think you can keep this up?

i love you, but i never want to be like you.

i want to help so bad. with money. with everything.

do you have any idea how scared i am?

why does everything change?

what did you want to know the truth about?

who doesn't want to believe there's some kind of a truth to life?

it feels like all of this is already a memory.

everything's gonna be okay. we'll get there.

how was that ten years ago?

we need to do the right thing. for _____.

i'd rather give a kidney to a stranger than my _____.

everybody's just so stupid.

i feel like i don't even know you anymore.

your voice has incredible personality.

we can share our words, but not our thoughts.

no one's ever talked to me like that.

can you really be alone like this? forever?

it's amazing how the human body never stops changing.

i thought for sure you'd change your number.

i can't even imagine what my life would be like.

what do you do after something like that?

sorry, too much information. i probably sound crazy.

where were you? i didn't see you.

RUMOR: X-Men ‘97 Promotional Artwork?

EVERYDAY LIFE / DOMESTIC

📋 : how organized is your muse?

✅ : what do they pretend to have together that they don't?

🕰️ : what time do they naturally wake up when no one needs them?

☕ : what's their morning ritual, and what happens when it's disrupted?

🧺 : how often do they do laundry?

🪞 : do they look at themselves in mirrors, or avoid them? why?

🍽️ : do they eat to survive, for pleasure, or as comfort?

🏠 : what part of their living space reflects them the most?

🌱 : do they keep plants, and are those plants alive?

🧼 : what's something they're weirdly particular about being clean?

📺 : what do they put on when they don't want to think?

SOCIALIZATION / CONNECTION

🗣️ : are they better one-on-one, or in groups?

📱 : do they text back immediately, or let messages rot?

🫥 : how often do they pretend to be fine to keep the peace?

🎭 : how different are they with strangers versus people they trust?

🤝 : do they make friends easily, or accidentally?

🧠 : what do they assume people think about them?

🌘 : how hard is it to really know them?

🎉 : do they enjoy social events, or endure them?

🪑 : are they the type to leave early without saying goodbye?

INTROSPECT / INTERNAL LANDSCAPE

🕵️‍♀️ : how often does your muse think about death?

🧩 : what part of themselves do they not understand yet?

🫀 : what emotion scares them the most?

👣 : do they believe they deserve good things?

🧱 : what walls are they aware of building? which ones are they not aware of?

🕳️ : what do they spiral about at night?

📉 : what's their most common self-criticism?

💀 : do they trust their own memories?

🌊 : what emotion do they drown in when they're alone?

PERSONAL / DEEP / TRAUMA-ADJACENT

🩸 : what wound shaped them the most, even if they won't admit it?

🔥 : what moment do they replay when they're ashamed?

🧷 : who failed them first?

🕯️ : what do they grieve that no one else sees as a loss?

🪤 : what pattern do they keep falling back into?

🧨 : what pushes them past the point of restraint?

🧬 : what did they inherit emotionally from their caregivers?

🕶 : what lie do they tell themselves to survive?

🩹 : what actually helps them heal, even if it's unhealthy?

HABITS / VICES / COPING

🚬 : what vice do they justify the most?

🍺 : do they drink to socialize, numb, or celebrate?

💊 : what's their relationship with substances, past or present?

🏃 : do they move their body to feel alive or to punish it?

🛏️ : how do they sleep when things are bad?

🎧 : what kind of music gets them through the worst days?

🖊️ : do they write things down or let thoughts rot in their head?

☔️ : do they intellectualize pain instead of feeling it?

🕳️ : what habit would unravel them if taken away?

SEXUALITY / INTIMACY

🫠 : is it easy for them to get turned on, or do they need emotional safety first?

💞 : do they separate sex and feelings, or blur them dangerously?

🛑 : what's an immediate turn-off for them?

🔥 : do they crave intensity or stability?

🤲 : do they like being in control, or giving it up?

🪶 : are they gentle with people they desire?

🍒 : how do they feel about their own body during intimacy?

🎱 : what do they need to feel wanted?

🔒 : do they guard intimacy, or give it too freely?

💔 : have they ever used sex to avoid something?

MORALITY / CHOICES

⚖️ : what line will they never cross?

🩶 : what line have they already crossed and justified? or regret?

🧭 : do they believe they're a good person?

🔪 : what would they do if survival demanded cruelty?

🪙 : what do they value more, loyalty or truth?

🚪 : who would they abandon if forced to choose?

🕊️ : do they believe in forgiveness? for themselves? in others?

🧨 : what would make them snap permanently?

📜 : what promise do they regret making?

dialogue prompts from in the family way by laney katz becker.

i don't know a soul here.

rest. i've got everything under control.

i can't exactly ask outright.

i can't get a good read on you.

you want to wash, or dry?

you're too old to still be a ______.

if you have something to say, just spit it out.

i only wish there were more people like you.

is there something i can do to make it better?

look at you, puffing out your chest like a proud peacock.

mostly, we were happy.

you never seem to worry about what other people think.

i said some very unkind things to you.

we'd love to have you join us, if you'd like.

the truth is, i was relieved not to talk about it. i didn't know what to say.

i swear, there are times when i think you can read my mind.

do you mind putting on the radio?

relax. i'm fine.

are you wondering why i never told you before, or why i'm telling you now?

do you ever feel like you could, or should, be doing more?

it's me. whatever it is, just spit it out.

remember when you used to call me _____?

what's your pleasure? truth or dare?

what you don't say is often more important than what you do.

do i look like i was born yesterday?

this is heavy, man.

you think i'm pretty?

you've got a good head on your shoulders. don't be afraid to put it to work.

there's no reason to think the worst.

funny how things work out, huh?

i'm worried about you. are you okay?

if i don't understand, then explain it to me.

i didn't think it was something you wanted to hear about.

i need you to be strong. can you do that?

i'll call when i'm ready.

you're always so worried about looking and sounding proper.

silence isn't the answer.

funny what we can make ourselves believe, isn't it?

what the hell happened? tell me.

none of this is your fault.

did i do something wrong?

i thought you could use some cheering up.

i don't know if i'm ready for everyone to know.

you are my family.

i think you need a vacation.

no matter how often it happens, i never get used to it.

after hearing something over and over again, you begin to believe it.

you're going to make me say the words, aren't you?

you're right. i'm such a prude.

i'm sorry you didn't feel like you could talk to me.

i promise, i'll do better. i really will.

can we just put all this behind us and never mention it again?

i must be a glutton for punishment.

a man who can quote shakespeare is a man i can trust.

you can ask me anything. you know that.

you have a gentle nature.

i think i just needed to say how i was feeling out loud.

when you're ready to talk, i'll be here to listen.

you shouldn't sell yourself short.

when you've finished your pity party, let me know, and we can do something constructive to solve your problem.

don't cry. _____ is not worth your tears.

i don't know how to say goodbye.

the house is quiet without _____.

someone was clearly looking out for you.

what pandora's box did i just open?

i'm going to take good care of you.

you were always so good with people.

i have a picture i keep with me.

sometimes things become possible even before they're imagined.

you have lipstick on your front teeth.

okay. i'll stop with the wisecracks.