#grim lore

This idea isn't new. It stands before me awkwardly, shuffling on one foot then the other. Their head is cast down, but I would know that face anywhere. I've picked them up and abandoned them so many times already.

Mr. Grim. Where would I even begin?

My heart sinks but I try not to let that show in my smile. Ideas are fickle creatures. If they sense a whiff of doubt, they scatter to the winds.

"Please come in," I reiterate before I make my way back to the table and sit.

They stand at the threshold, surly and unwilling to come in.

What did I say? Fickle.

I lean forward and curl a beckoning finger.

"It'll be different this time. Please."

Mr. Grim curls their lip and marches in. They throw themselves into the chair across from me and sneers.

"You say that," they huff, "but how will i know you won't abandon me for the next shiny thing?"

I couldn't promise them anything. Humans are fickle too. We both know it.

Instead, I open my notebook and look them in the eye. "What can I I do to make this work?"

Mr. Grim makes their demands listed off as a list of "I needs."

I need research. I need time. I need all of your attention.

No more. No less.

I take another deep breath before reminding Mr. Grim that I am only one person and this is a lot to ask. That we both need time to get reacquainted because we've changed in ways that'll take some getting used to. That expecting so much so soon will only burn us both out.

I start sketching something out. "Why don't we break this all up into a plan?"

They mutter something under their breath but are amendable.

And so we bring our heads together and do some work.

Sometimes you need to personify your ideas and give them a seat at the table to make them more approachable. I haven't really touched Project: Grim Lore since 2019 because the project always felt so big and unwieldy. I was intimidated by the research since its set in the mid-19th century. I'm rebuilding the outline and rethinking some characters.