#CMTO 7

[maldito-arbol]

Call Me The One Chapter 7: The Journal

Summary: Marcy returns to Wartwood

Hey guys I posted Chapter 7 but it took me a second to get it on tumbley because I was trying to make a cover for it. I ended up goofing off and doing this

But anyway yes it is finally done!! SO sorry for the utterly agonizing wait on this one

[thegoatofchristmaspast-blog]

Massage Students – How to Prepare for the NCBTMB Exam

You’ve come so far within the last year, and done everything right – you’ve picked the best massage therapy school for your needs, gone to class (I hope), studied hard and are getting ready to graduate. Congratulations, well done. But now there is one more thing you need to do, and your next big question to yourself is how to prepare for the NCBTMB exam in your state.

Wow, trust me, I know how you feel. It doesn’t matter how hard you’ve worked or studied, you always wonder if you’ve done enough to get you over this last hurdle so you can start your new profession in massage therapy. Well, my friends, there are strategies and tools you can use to help you prepare for the NCBTMB exam. Here’s a list of pointers, some resources and some advice that is realistic (and will hopefully help you lessen some of the stress that comes with this challenge)

1) It doesn’t matter how much you have prepared, it will always feel like it’s not enough.

This is an unfortunate truth in whatever you do. You may find yourself thinking “Maybe I shouldn’t have gone to the movie with my friends last Sunday afternoon” or “maybe I shouldn’t have gone home to visit my grandparents/Aunt Jo/Cousin Felix last weekend”. What I can tell you is this – life is short, and I think it’s better to spend time with people you love – it helps you connect with what is important in life. After all, isn’t that why you chose a profession like Massage Therapy?

2) If you’re still in school, ask the administration if a graduate who recently completed the NCBTMB exam can come in and speak to your class about his or her experience. This is a reasonable request, and most massage therapy colleges love to show off their success stories. If someone does come to speak to your class, don’t be shy, ask questions. Most graduates are more than happy to help out newbies.

3) Start early – let’s say a few months before your exam – and set a schedule.

You may have already done this if your final exams for school are coming up, and that’s great. Depending on the time frame, you need to set a realistic schedule and STICK TO IT. This will allow you some fun time, and it will also allow you some flexibility for unforeseen interruptions. Personally, I like tons of freedom within structure, so setting a schedule keeps me from being overwhelmed while allowing me to make tangible progress and have fun. (I’m all about the fun)

4) Make sure you have the right resources

Mosby’s has a great selection of books which, if you didn’t use them in school, will be a great resource in preparing for your NCBTMB exam and when you start working. Also, there are sample NCETMB, NCETM & MBLEx Practice Exams available which are a great investment, try them out. (Unfortunately, when I did the CMTO exams in Ontario, I didn’t have a tool like this, but it would have been really nice)

5) Study the hard or difficult stuff first.

Trust me on this one. The sooner you get to the tough stuff, the sooner you can identify any issues and address them (darn that Kreb’s cycle). Studying the easy stuff will be a reward, so break it up. If you are studying for 6 hours during the day, spend a couple of hours on the more difficult stuff, then “reward” yourself with subjects you enjoy. And then …

6) Get together with a study group and test each other…

Hopefully you will have found a study group or buddy who is supportive, structured and serious. (Note – it may not be a good idea to study with your friends, you may tend to socialize instead of studying). Get the sample questions for the NCBTMB to help you with this process. Realistically, if you haven’t understood something before, then hearing or seeing the question in a different way may be enough for the lightbulb to go on – trust me, 9 years after writing my exams, this still happens. And, one more thing, the best way to learn a subject is to teach it, so time spent helping someone else is never wasted.

7) Try to find a study partner whose strong points are your weak points.

My study partner in massage therapy school was really good at anatomy – he could memorize muscle origins and insertions like no one I’ve seen. My strength was physiology – I prefer to learn processes. He used to challenge me constantly, and while it was annoying at times, it really did help me remember.

8 ) Surround yourself with positive, proactive friends and study partners.

As a former instructor, there were always a few students who constantly (and I mean they were relentless) found fault with everything, and when they didn’t do well, it was ALWAYS someone else’s fault. I like to call this “swimming against the current”, and these folks wasted time and energy fighting the system when they should have been focusing on learning and taking advantage of instructor knowledge and availability. (side note: my aunt, who has her PhD and has been a teacher for years, calls this type of person a “crazy maker” – they are never happy unless they are stirring up crap, then they like to sit back and watch everyone else freak out. Don’t fall for it, please)

Incredible, really, but you have to choose how you want to live your life, and surround yourself with people who can get you there. So, get rid of the dead weight and the ‘crazy makers’ early on, you’re not responsible for anyone other than yourself. Make the choice to be with people who elevate you (mentally, spiritually and intellectually), not drag you down with them. Harsh, maybe, but so what? These “friends” won’t be paying your student loans, so you need to align yourself with people who have similar goals – which is to pass those exams and get working.

9) Take frequent breaks, completely get away from the books, and move your body. Adequate rest and sleep are really important as well.

My schedule used to go like this – study for 45 minutes, take a 15 minute break, repeat 2 times (that’s 3 hours) – then take an hour or two and step away from the books. Get outside, play with your dog, throw a baseball, get to the gym, do some yoga/pilates/weight training. It doesn’t matter. Reconnect with your body, it really does help.

10) Don’t o.d. on junk food – you will crash and burn mentally and physically.

Remember, junk in = junk out. You need to help your mind retain all of this information by giving your body good fuel – fruit, vegetables, protein, and yes, some fat. Get rid of the deep fried or packaged, sugary processed foods, and the soft drinks.

11) Sign up early so you can have your choice of exam times – you will know by this point when you are able to deliver peak performance, so schedule accordingly.

12) If you have to travel to take your exam, allow yourself time to get there in a stress free state. Stay someplace, or have access to, quiet so you can review before your exam, and where you can sleep well.

13) This is the hardest thing to do, but the night before your exam, don’t study.

Really. Take a break, go to a movie, go for a walk, have a nice dinner and a good sleep. Remember that alcohol can inhibit your sleep, and may make you “wonky” the next day, so you may want to forgo that beer or martini. Feel free to do whatever you want afterwards as a reward.

Best of luck on your exams, and welcome to our profession!

[agarrate-desta-blog]

Massage Therapy Client Rights

Question: At my first massage therapy appointment, I asked the therapist some questions concerning the treatment. I found her to be evasive, and a little impatient with me. As a client, don’t I have right to know what is going to happen? Yes, you certainly do. Here is a list of some of the rights you have as a massage therapy client. 1) Get some advice on how to find a licensed massage therapist – you have the right to know what qualifications your therapist holds. Ask where he or she went to school, to what professional association or college he or she belongs, and if they have any additional training. And remember, don’t discount a therapist just because he or she has recently graduated – there are some really fantastic new therapists who begin their careers every year. 2) You have the right to be informed about what to expect during and after a treatment. This is known as Informed Verbal Consent and is a set of statements designed to make the client aware of expectations concerning the treatment, as well as his or her rights as a client. Informed verbal consent goes above and beyond some typical quesitons, such as “do I have to take off all of my clothes” or “is it normal for the treatment to hurt?”. For any Canadian massage therapist who practices in compliance with the CMTO standards, informed verbal consent is mandatory before assessment or treatment begins and provides the client an opportunity to ask questions. I have been disappointed to hear from clients who, when they’ve seen me for the first time, tell me that no massage therapist has ever gone over informed consent with them. I cannot speak for students educated in the US, but Canadian massage therapists should really know better. We are obligated to advise clients what is going to happen. Period. 3) You have the right to receive treatment in a safe and hygienic setting. This is everything from the entryway of the clinic, to the bathroom and waiting facilities, and most certainly extends to the linens, towels etc that come into direct contact with the client. Linens should only be used with one client, and anything that comes into contact with the client’s skin needs to be washed after each use. Equipment should also be safe, clean and in good repair, and there should be nothing on the floor on which a client could trip or lose footing. If the linen looks dirty, the equipment is wobbly or obviously broken or the clinic is obviously unhygienic, you have every right to turn around and leave. (and I suggest you do) 4) You have the right to receive treatment from a massage therapist who is clean and hygienic herself. If there appears to be “hygiene” issues, you have the right to voice your concern and leave, you are not obligated to receive a treatment from someone who makes you uncomfortable or is unclean. I can pretty much guarantee that if a therapist doesn’t pay attention to his or her personal hygiene, that the linen and equipment will be lacking in this department as well. 5) You have the right to refuse treatment from a therapist who is ill. Your therapist should advise you in advance (preferably) or when you arrive if he or she isn’t feeling well or has a cold, and should not charge you if you decide to postpone treatment until he or she is feeling better. 6) You have the right to stop or modify the treatment at any time. If you are in a lot of pain, or for ANY reason you are uncomfortable, you do have the right to tell the therapist you want to stop. The therapist should respect your request and allow you to get off of the table and get dressed in privacy. A massage therapists needs to receive informed verbal consent from you if he or she is going to be working in a “sensitive area” – for example, breast massage is not typically performed unless it is clinically indicated by your presentation or health history. Either way, it is always your choice whether or not to receive or refuse treatment. If you feel that any inappropriate touching or remarks have been made, whether of a sexual nature or not, you have the right to report the therapist to his or her professional association. Please do so, as therapists who violate massage therapy professional standards and a position of trust do not deserve to call themselves massage therapists. In addition, therapists who engage in sexual misconduct commit a crime for which there should be repercussions. 7) You have the right to be advised of the massage treatment fees when you book your appointment. You also have the right to not be subjected to “upselling” or pressure sales tactics. The College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, and any provincial massage therapy association who follows their guidelines, require therapists and clinics to post their fees in a visible space for all clients to see. Anyone who doesn’t do this is in violation of the policy. 8 ) You have the right to know what products are being used on you. If you have a health issue such as an allergy, or an objection (for example) to products tested on animals, you need to ask this when you are booking your appointment. Remember, though, that a therapist also has the right to know of any issues in advance so he or she can be honest with you, whether or not he can accommodate your request. 9) You have the right to receive your treatment on time. Occasionally a therapist may run a little behind, for example, if the previous client was late; however, if this is habitual, then it shows an issue with your therapist’s time management. While the duration of the appointment will probably be reduced if YOU are late, if your therapist is late, you should receive your full treatment. If the therapist is so late as to keep you from other commitments, you have the right to leave without incurring a charge. After all, you were ready at the agreed upon time. The above points are some of your rights, but do realize that a therapeutic relationship between a massage therapist and client is based on mutual respect. If for any reason you don’t feel the situation is working out for you, please consider finding a therapist with whom you have a “good fit”.

[maldito-arbol]

OKAY SO UHM. HEART YEAH?!? Yeah. Uhm. I didnt Know what to expect when i saw the ‚heart appears in this chapter‘ tw but. I will at least give them that it was not as bad a tw as normal with them.

And in Heart‘s defence they literally show up trying to make sure Anne‘s body doesnt start deteriorating and then while theyre there everyone starts yelling at them about how much they hate them and want them to leave immediately. Like all things considered they handled that Great with only the slightest bit of accidental violence

My notes started getting a bit sparce when they showed up because i just. If i didnt i would have put Everything in here. Its like. I dont even know where to start like What. The way they talk to Witney man…. And like. BRO WHEN WITNEY STOOD UP TO THEM SO REAL. that moment when u finally get the courage to stand up for urself because u wanna help out ur new bestie because shes missing her gf who almost died and just wants to hug her for a little bit. Don’t even get me STARTED on Marcy‘s argument about Witney being a different person now,,,,,,,,, the BELOVEDS. I love them. Time to be insane over Heartney forever and ever again now welp

Like I have said, having Heart show up was one of the parts I was MOST excited for.

NOBODY likes Heart. That’s the funny part. Besides Witney, everyone who interacts with them in this chapter harbors an intense amount of resentment for them, whether they’ve been harmed by Heart or had a loved one that was. And even Witney is starting to see them in a more negative light. Not one person was comfortable with them being able to just walk around. And can you blame them? The last time most of the Wartwoodians saw them, they were attacking Sasha and breaking the music box. This is all very dangerous territory, and they have no idea that Heart and Anne have been talking, or that Anne is giving them some trust. This is just another game, another trick.

Heart knows that’s how they feel. They’re used to everyone around them absolutely despising them. So they know now to handle this situation delicately. I also think it went great, even if there was some accidental violence. Harming Maddie was entirely an accident, and what’s extra interesting is that Maddie actually recognizes it as an accident while her friends are very quick to point fingers. Maddie is the least affected by Heart’s presence since she’s never had direct contact with them before now. So her bias about them is not nearly as awful, and it allows her to see when they didn’t mean to hurt her. We have to appreciate Maddie for keeping a cool head during this whole incident and largely being the one to suggest waking Heart back up. If not they might’ve been trapped in the purple void until Anne woke up. How horrible would that be?

Oh Heartney…. My beloved. There’s something that can be said about how Heart’s spoken to Witney like this for a thousand years and how jarring it is now that Witney just doesn’t take it anymore. I like how Heart is genuinely surprised when Witney says no to them. Imagine all the messed up things that Heart’s done that Witney’s just. Gone along with. Standing up for herself and deciding she can form her own opinions is huge for her character development. Witney deserves better and it’s about damn time he realized it himself. I particularly like this section:

“Forgive me for not trusting you at present,” Witney prefaces. “But I have someone to protect now. You understand, don’t you?” Even Marcy can tell this pains her to say. Every word is a struggle, every sound hurts more and more and it’s remarkable she can stand her ground in the face of their biggest threat at present, but it must be different now that she has Marcy. 

They let out a small chuckle. “Looks like I’m not the only one who’s attached. What happened to you, Wit?”

“Time,” she tells them. “And more kindness and care in one person than two centuries of twisted maniacs.”

They relax, finally, allow Marcy her clinging for now because Witney’s not going to let up either. 

“It’s a good thing,” they say. “What are we if not for our vessels? I was beginning to think you’d never care.”

The difference between Witney and Heart has always been their perceptions of their vessels. Witney spent so long being afraid of hers meanwhile Heart was extremely possessive and controlling of theirs. They believe now that Witney has changed for the better in terms of fiercely defending his vessel, but with it comes the territory of Witney gaining a lot more autonomy. Now she can make her own decisions, and that means Heart’s control over him has begun to slip. While this should be a good thing overall, it also means there will be arguments between the two of them, because now Heart can’t just get everything they want from Witney. They aren’t used to this. They will have to get used to it.

And I like how Marcy is so insistent that Witney’s a different person now. She out of the gems has changed the most drastically since a thousand years ago, but the other two don’t tend to recognize it. Heart in particular keeps trying to treat him the same way they did a thousand years ago, and it simply will not work anymore. She just isn’t who she was then. There will be a new dynamic between the three of them from now on.

Will join u for sure <3 I hyperfocus on each gem ship at different times but I come back to Heartney so often it’s ridiculous. I love these little funky dudes

[maldito-arbol]

ME ALSO FOR RIGHT NOW AND EVER

ME TOO

[maldito-arbol]

Did you know. That Marcy and Witney are the most important to me ever. My favourite is when theyre happy and hanging out and the bad things werent happening and they just get to holds gently,,,,,,,,,

Did you know. That Marcy and Witney are the most important to me ever. My favorite is when they’re sad and broken apart and bad things are happening and they get hurt badly

[maldito-arbol]

I really liked the new chapter! I was super excited when I found that you’ve updated the story!

First of all, Marcy’s struggles and recovery after the traumatic incident at the castle. Poor girl. She’s dealing with a lot of stuff and it never seems to be enough because new problems and questions emerge and she is so done with the tons of responsibilities. I think her argument with Olivia and Yunan was excellent to show that their newt guardians were in the wrong to think they were hurting her just because they were still with each other despite their issues while Marcy has Anne in a coma and she doesn’t even know Sasha is in danger too. She felt as if all this unwanted attention was their way to make amends when they could’ve talked things through without involving her. At least Marcy was a good advisor about relationships with Yunan, let’s hope she and Olivia can get along better for Marcy’s sake.

Marcy and Sprig’s bonding time was so sweet. It was nice that both could understand each other and their frustrations for being expected to feel better when they just want to sulk and let all those negative emotions out. To feel them to not be repressed by them. Poor kids, they have gone through a lot.

Another thing I liked about this Marcy-centered chapter is that despite the rift between her and Sasha, she still loves her and tells Witney that people that love each other sometimes makes mistakes but that doesn’t end their love for one another. That there is still time to fix things between them and be together again. And she wants to believe Sasha will come back eventually. Oh boy, who’s going to tell her that Barrel is taking the wheel of Sasha’s body and schemed Grime’s death?

There is also Marcy’s interactions with Wit, Heart, and the Plantars and Sundews, even if the last ones are a bit shorter. I super loved the scene with the memory libraries and how different is Marcy’s from the others because she deeply loves Anne and Sasha, that’s her center. And being trusted to read the memories of Wit who’s so adverse to talk about her past, Wit is making a lot of progress in being more honest and thoughtful with Marcy which is great though she still has some obstacles to overcome like the deep issues with her past and her relationship with the gems. Talking about relationships, it was surprising that Marcy gave Heart of all people some advise. I was even surprised that instead of Anne waking up it was Heart possessing her body to stretch her muscles and kept it in good shape. At least Heart is sincere with their apologies and accepting the consequences of their actions; they are growing so fast :,). I love that you have given also space for Marcy-Maddie and Marcy-Ivy relationships to develop. Even when Maddie and Marcy have more in common, it was nice seeing Ivy and Maddie getting along with her and helping her as much as they could. I bet Marcy will see some similarities between Sprig, Maddie, and Ivy with her relationship with Sasha and Anne. These three frogs are their Wartwood companions if they had landed on the town from the start.

Last but not least, the mystery! Maddie now is involved in the mess that is the ominous past life of the gems! Wish you luck, Maddie. You will need it. Who knows what her ancestor and Leif have done that has had huge repercussions on Heart’s life. I bet more surprising encounters and truths will be revealed once Marcy gets Heart to speak and to help her find Wit. And the journal of Barrel is also important in this mess too. Oh boy, the chaos Anne will find once she wakes up. Though that will be nothing compared to what she and Marcy will find when they return to Newtopia.

Guess who’s finally answering these

Yes! Marcy is going through a lot still, which was the whole point of settling her back into Wartwood where she can take some time to process by herself. Yunan and Olivia unfortunately didn’t seem to get the memo, as they are too focused on how their own presence can affect Marcy rather than realizing maybe she just wants to be left alone. What she needs is support, not interference. She’s smart enough to understand that this pain will not go away so easily and take steps to deal with it as is. She’ll get back on her feet, and she knows this, but her Newt parents don’t. They think they need to stick their hands in everything she needs so they can be good parents, but clearly it isn’t working. Worse yet, they’re acting this way when they’re having troubles in their relationship too, which is the most awful combination imaginable for Marcy right now. Props to her for actually nudging their relationship in a good direction though, she could have made the problem worse so, so easily. And I wouldn’t even blame her either—but Marcy is too kind of a person to sabotage her friends’ relationship because she’s a little sad. Last fun fact is that this was one of the sections of chapter 7 that took the longest to write because I was struggling so hard on where to go with it. The only way I was able to push through was to make the situation Worse than it originally was. Oops.

I was super excited to give Marcy and Sprig a moment, as they haven’t really had the time to talk one on one since like, IBYBF 1. They’re in about exactly the same position right now, missing their loved one and attempting to grapple with all the different feelings about her comatose state. Sprig was a major player in confronting Anne’s breakdown during Heart’s torment and her recovery afterwards, so you can see why he’s beyond frustrated with the world for cutting that progress short and possibly sending it backward a thousand steps. He has no idea how this whole ordeal will affect Anne going forward, and he won’t know until she wakes up, so it’s just some waiting game. Meanwhile Marcy sees this whole coma thing as a blessing in disguise, purely because being asleep means Anne didn’t have to deal with any of the shitstorm that happened in Newtopia. And though she misses her very much, she understands that waking up there might’ve actually been a worst-case-scenario. I have mulled over this whole coma plot point for months upon months because it is such a massive detour from the original version of the story I had outlined. Like Marcy’s thoughts on the situation, I have also found it to be something of a blessing in disguise. I needed some kind of way to bar Anne from interfering with the regression of Sasha and Marcy’s relationship. Had she been present, or had she been absent in some different way, then this storyline would have looked much different. As the sasharcy downfall is kind of their own issue, between just them two, it helped that Anne could have a completely different set of troubles she’d need to face by herself. And you’ll see how it goes when she tries to involve herself with Sasha and Marcy’s issue later. Maybe you should stay asleep, Anne.

Marcy at her core is a character that loves Anne and Sasha. That’s who she is. Who she’s always been. You can see a little bit of her losing sight of who she is when she starts resenting Sasha during the whole Core incident, but she regains herself when she really stops and thinks. Yeah, sometimes big fights can make you think you really hate someone for that brief moment. But if you love them, if you love them like Marcy loves Sasha and Anne, you can work things out and grow together. Marcy realizes that Sasha’s very much in the wrong here, which is why it’s not her own responsibility to bring Sasha back. But her arms are always open for Sasha to return. This is something Witney has been grappling with for a while. Ever since Marcy suggested that the lava leaks may not be intentional, she’s had to reevaluate her entire relationship with Strength. Was it solely responsible for all the problems that exist between the three gems now? Is he being too unfair to Strength when Heart has done their fair share of awful things? Witney is also a character that loves her fellow gems, and he’s lost sight of that because Heart has poisoned her view on Strength with their own resentments. If she can forgive Heart, then by god he must reconsider the way he treats Strength. Perhaps holding her arms open for it to return is just what they all need.

While Witney and Marcy’s relationship has developed to a more trusting level over the course of CMTO in general, I kinda feel like the biggest factor for Witney being more open with her is that Marcy has escaped the clutches of the collar that previously took all her amphibian vessels, and she did it twice. Witney’s like, “wow you really must not like to die. Guess I should tell you my life story then.” They’ve largely broken away from the whole ‘vessel’ and ‘gem’ separation and are now becoming genuine friends, which is the wonderful progression that resulted from Marcy insisting that Witney is, in fact, a person. Obviously there’s still a ways to go, but we’re getting there!

Oh my GOD I was SO excited to include the Marcy and Heart interactions! The whole “needing to stretch Anne’s muscles” is very much an excuse for this but if it works it works. I NEEDED there to be some kind of resolution between Heart and Marcy in order for Heart to truly step into the start of their redemption arc. Apart from Anne, Marcy has been dealt the most suffering at the hands of the blue gem (out of the non-gems at least). She’s been choked half to death three times by this motherfucker, to say nothing of how she lost her whole eye to them. Obviously Marcy’s not going to forgive them for what they did to her or Anne, but she also understands that these gems are part of them now, and she’ll have to deal with Heart perhaps until the end of her life, and she’d rather it be a tolerable companionship. Heart on the other hand wants to make things up to Anne, so getting along with Marcy is a huge part of that. While they may have different reasons for needing to be on good terms, they have that in common—it is entirely beneficial to both of them to be on good terms. But, that doesn’t mean it won’t be rocky. Marcy still harbors resentment towards Heart for their previous actions, and Heart still has a lot of terrible mindsets they need to correct, and that’s fine. They’re trying their best.

The Ivy-Maddie-Sprig interactions with Marcy were also such fun! I realized Marcy and Maddie haven’t really had a chance to develop their friendship more in a while, so I decided to bring that back. Marcy and Ivy getting close too was simply a byproduct of where Marcy is staying currently, but one that is very welcome! I liked that Marcy has some people to hang out with in Sasha and Anne’s absence, and more than that, that they’re kids. Not that there’s anything wrong with the adults in Wartwood but Marcy needs some friends closer to her own age. I haven’t forgotten that Maddie visited Marcy and brought her get-well gifts during her recovery time from her eye, or that Ivy was present for a good majority of that time as well. These guys deserve the chance to have silly adventures that don’t end well and serious talks over a breakfast table without any adults together. I also found it hilarious that Ivy decided she HAD to go wake up Maddie for sleep potions instead of just putting Marcy back to bed. She was like “wait I need my girlfriend for this”.

HAHA! The Maddie Mystery! That was one of the things that I originally hadn’t intended on including in this chapter, but since it’s the first time Heart and Maddie meet face to face, I felt it was the best time to talk about it. If you recall early in the Heart chapter, they vaguely mention someone they can’t quite remember, which was the very first tease for this plot point. Here, I’ll give you the entire passage—

It is a question Heart is unsure how to tackle. Their own origins are fuzzy even to them, but they remember a familiar face, a soft voice, the sharp curve of a long stick. They also remember large hands. A sense that they have missed something. A dark void that seems inhabited by more than just them. Green. Pink. And they are blue, they think, as they gaze out to the ocean around them. They are water too, perhaps, but they have never known until now. They had not seen snow melt so much until it happened.

Heart’s memories are beyond fuzzy, even moreso than Witney’s, but seeing Maddie’s face triggered something in them they haven’t felt for a thousand years. Pay attention to that passage, it is literally the most important thing to remember when we start unpacking where the gems came from and what happened to them in the era before the Calamity Box.

Anyway who wants a concept sketch for Miss Maddie Ancestor that I made back in 2022?

And I know this whole thing has made people question exactly what role Valeriana plays in the gems’ past, but don’t worry about it right now <3 I have nothing planned for her, nope, nothing at all, what are you talking about?

[maldito-arbol]

When you said that something that something in the chapter was inspired by something i said. I had two things in my brain i thought it could be. I had screenshot proof so that if i was right i could prove i wasnt lying by dating the screenshots but i cant find them right now. It was either my question of if Witney heard Heart when the yelled that they loved her or i also said something about wanting Heart and Witney to talk it out but was worried by the fact Anne and Marcy would probably have to be put in the middle for them to do that. I was leaning more towards the second one and thats the one i vauged about when you rbed that screenshot with me and dex. And well…. It seems to me like Heart and Witney may have attempted to have a conversation with Marcy stuck in the middle

You are so correct, you are the real reason the Heart Waking Up thing exists. I got so excited about the idea I just HAD to make it happen. Congrats, once again this is all your fault <3

[maldito-arbol]

To quote myself when i was half way through and yelling at Len because i couldnt read, „and then theyre gonna make a library in Marcy‘s brain but Witney‘s like hold on let me get a Gender rq then we can keep going“

Getting genders is important

[maldito-arbol]

WITNEY PRONOUNS REAL. Gotta respect the play hes just like woah whatvif i was a cool plant guy and then realised Oh Shit A Gender. Completely understandable have a nice day

Big mood, sometimes you just pick up genders like fruit at the grocery store

[maldito-arbol]

Hi hello i am Witney‘s no.1 supporter forever and ever. I dont care he never did anything wrong ever not even once

r u sure about that

“Wit…?”

She grabs both of their hands. “I have done something terrible to you, Heart.” Fat tears drip down Marcy’s cheek. “But I cannot remember what it was.”

Their eyes go wide.

“And that’s why…” she sobs through her next words. “It’s not your fault you wanted to hurt me.”

They try to form an answer. Their mouth opens, a breath comes, but no words come out.

“I am so, so sorry.”

Instead, Witney has the final word. Instead, she doesn’t wait for their response—simply slips back into dormancy, and Marcy calls for her, but she doesn’t respond. She disappears without a peep all over again.

[maldito-arbol]

HELLO CHAPTER 7 HELLO WHAT DIE

“Run, Marcy, run, while you still can. She is not worth the risk. Strength is not worth…” (HELLO!??!?? BESTIE NO PLEASE IM GOING TO CRY)

She can only take Witney in her hands and hold her tight. (HOLD HER SO SO GENTLE PLEASE SOBBING)

A little cold, solid form presses against the side of her curled fist. 

 “Marcy,” she whispers. “Hold me?” (Hello i am a broken man now i cannot deal with this)

Witney trembles in her palms. “Marcy,” she says again, she must like saying her name now, and even that hurts. “You cared about me.” And it sounds like she’s crying too, even though she has no tears to do so. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.” (Hi did you know i hate everything forever and ever now)

She holds her out to just look at her, as if to look her in the eyes despite only one existing between them.(shkfifhshdbgkjdhshd)

“You wish to protect…me?”(witney‘s fav hobby is saying the most fucked up things like they’re so so normal i think)

“It-it—has been so long. So long and hard and painful. I hadn’t had a vessel in so long, I…I almost thought, ‘it’s okay if they continue to hurt me. It’s better than being alone.’”(guys what if i just go and become a marcy kinnie instead and just hold her so so gently forever and ever and tell her i love her all the time and protect her from everything ever)

“I know you loved Heart,” she begins, nervous, careful. “But did you…ever love Strength too?”

 There’s a grunt that sounds angry. “That was one of my many, many mistakes.” (This is the one time k will accept any Strength slander. Its funny and Witney deserves it i think especially after it calls her stupid so much)

. “Lovesick little idiots, the both of us.”

 “You cannot call yourself an idiot.”

 “Sure I can—„ (so true bestie. I dont know wjat it is about this bit but. Oughhh

“Marcy, you are the greatest library I have ever had.”  (🥺)

 

And maybe being a good vessel shouldn’t be some kind of an achievement, but…right now it feels like she’s winning. (Marcy: i got a good grade in gem vessel, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve)

“Why would you instigate your own death when you can just run away?”(witney: why die when you can just run to another country and change your name. Just leave. If you dont like it hit da bricks)

SO TRUE WITNEY im glad she gets to enjoy marcy shit talking barrel as well good for them both

“I think,” Marcy murmurs, hugging herself now. “The general consensus we can come to here is that nothing went our way and everything sucks.” (So so true bestie i got it down oat Everything Went So Wrong In Every Way)

If you thought Marcy’d blame herself for my injuries, imagine what’s going through her head when you say shit like whatever the fuck that sack of turds was that you just spat at me.”(That Certainly Is One Of The Explicatives Ive Ever Heard. Definitely A String Of Words Huh)

I think that witney and marcy should get to have fun and be silly. Theyre sl cute i love themmmmmmm. I swear if this goes south fucking immidiately im going to cry theyre so happy rn with their silly little library ideas,,,,,,,,,,,,

HOLY SHIT BRENTON IM SCREAMING THIS IS SO COOL

SOBBING THE BELOVEDS

WITNEY PROBOUNS WITNEY PRONOSUDBDJHSVSVDBFB

“That’s what it always seems like at first,” he snaps quickly. “You get lured in by that protectiveness, that surface-level kindness, and then when it’s done with you, it’ll drop you like dirty laundry.” His tone is devastating, but somehow, with this new information, Marcy feels even more implored to defend the pink gem. (You know what maybe i Will become a Marcy kinnie. Super nice to Witney all the time and holds him so so gently. Defends Strength. Gets headaches from a hole in her mind. Shes just like me frfr)

WOAHHHHHH the mentaö image of this library is So Cool- OH NO EVIL EYE KILL IT

“Isn’t it remarkable what you can accomplish when I bully you into it?” Brenton tells her with a smirk. 

 “You’re a dick,” she shoots back, playfully shoving him.(abkfjfhshshjdjfjd witney,,,,,,,,, i think that witney deserves to be alittle bit of a dick sometimes. Hes earned it)

So what, you just gonna keep being Brenton now?”

 He hums through more laughter. “I did miss it. I think I’d like to stay like this a little longer.” (POV ur witney and i get ur first taste of gender euphoria from a plant)

K MART SO REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Salom,,,,,, that such a cute name,,,,,,,,,

“In fact it was Barrel’s fiancée who taught me how, and she taught me to read his little secret language too.” (🥺🥺🥺 THATS SO CUTE WEIF BELOVED I LOVE THEM )

“By the time I grew knowledgeable enough to comprehend the content of this book, I could no longer bring myself to read it.”(TRADGEDY STRUCK NO SAD BABY :(((((( )

He simply sighs. “Well. Me and Heart did.” And this is news to Marcy. “Before Sasha, Strength only had one vessel. And she was a frog.”

 One?

 One vessel? Witney had 58 and Strength only had one? (hmmmmmmmmmm. I may. Come back to this later. This one got me like 👀 . Im gonna be so normal about this one bestie dont WORRY about it)

“I am to blame for the way Strength lost her.”

 There’s a silence. This time, Marcy knows not to ask. She won’t make a peep. 

 “I don’t think I regret it,” he admits, shamefully. “But I also wonder sometimes if anything would have changed had I not pushed her over the edge.” (WHAT HELLO WHAT I AM 👀👀👀 IM. Bestie i am THINKING. What did you do to weif i am going to Kill you)

They meet her eye, the fire in it boring a hole into their blue oceans. “I…” they start again, dry, hesitant, terrified. “…I’m sorry.” They just barely manage to get it out. Marcy nods vigorously, a gesture to keep going. “Very. For a lot of things. And I…love…you…?”(SCREAMING CRYING GOING TO BREAK A WALL RIP EVERYTHING TO SHREADS HOLY SHIT. HEART?!!??!!! WHY IS IT A QUESTION IM GOINH TO KILL SOMEONE FUCK)

He he. Silly word association. Dont mind me having a little giggle over the fact Heart says theyre the agile one when we had Agility as a Wength kid…

“I am yours. All yours, always and forever.”

 Her head shakes. She begins weeping all over again. “You’re not.”

 “what—”

 “I cannot tell you that, Heart,” she fires back, a sob in her throat. “I am your love, not your king.” (SCREAMING CRYING STABBING YOU RN. I am going FREAL right now Heartney My Beloveds hnnnnnnnnnnn)

Oh hmmm i forgot about the spell pouches. I was gonna be like i wonder what thats like on the gems side but theey just kinda wake them up so they can take control dont they. Nvm.

Uhm on second thought maybe theres more to it then that what rhe Fuck just happened. Side note Anne‘s unconcious body is just In The Field now what are they planning to do to get her back to bed. Im sure this will work out perfectly

Nooo WAIT BUT IF IT GETS RID OF HEART THEN WHAT ABOUT WITNEY TOO NO WAIT BUT WITNEY BELOVED NO COME BACK

WAIT. Wait is it. Wait hold on gimmie a second o don’t remember what maddie or valeriana look like hold on. I feel like tje dots that are in my brain that im connecting right now theres a good chance im wrong but. The dots that are in my brain they are connecting.

hanjdhsgsgshshw well in glad Heart didnt Say anying about the fact its *incredibly* obvious who Sprig‘s ancestor was

“I did no such thing.”

 So this whole time they’ve been blaming Heart for the antler it…wasn’t even them at all?( hmmmmmmmmmmm iiinchressstiiiinnnhhgggggg. Also the bit about the fact Heart has claws and etc. being because of Anne… OH AND THAT WHY ANDRIAS DOESNT GUYS IM CONNECTING THE PIECES)

“Everything I had with him got in the way of what I wanted with them,” they say with venom. “I was so convinced I could only love him, I didn’t allow myself to love them. When I knew I did.” They chuckle sadly. “I want to love them so badly.” (Wow did you know il insane now im never going to be normal again ever ever again this is my life forever now)

WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHERE IS WITNEY NO WITNEY NO WJAT WAIT NO- NO WAIT STOP NO WAIT

NO U

GOOD. CRY

If I don’t make Marcy hold Witney gently very five seconds then I’m doing something wrong

See what I mean

That was the intention

I’m so funny guys. Haha. Remember how. Remember how Marcy only has one eye

It’s because he’s spent her entire life going through fucked up things and therefore doesn’t realize they’re fucked up.

You are welcome in the Marcy Kinnie Community, we have trauma here.

Witney can have a little fun at Strength’s expense, as a treat.

I’m like Marcy. I used to be so smart in school but I am such a dumb of ass when it comes to socializing and the like. And I just keep getting dumber the older I get.

THEY! ARE! SUCH! BESTIES!

Dude literally

More people should think like Witney. Just run away from all your problems.

Shit-talking Barrel is always a great activity for your mental health.

Everything went so wrong and I am so here for it. What fun would this story be if anything went right?

I was having such a hard time coming up with a good line there and I concluded that I am simply not good at it at all.

Let them be silly so true bestie

Bro you have NO idea how excited I was to include Brenton in this, or how HARD it was to keep it secret for seven months. It is truly maniacal.

AND NOW WE CAN TRULY START GENDERING WITNEY

Please come join the Marcy Kinnies. Also I love the whole “defending Strength” thing. Marcy has actually met and had important interactions with Strength, and now that she realizes that, she has her own impression of it. She can’t see how it would be capable of doing something that would spark such hatred on Witney’s part, and more than that, Witney won’t tell her what that something is. Having Marcy and Witney disagree on the matter is very important to me.

This library would be so much fun. And it’s such a perfect place to show Marcy all the different kinds of people Witney has been a part of. Hehe eyeball. You like what I did there?

I MISS Witney’s sass-mouth. Let him be a dick. She has the capability.

LITERALLY

I WILL NEVER LET GO OF K-MART

such a cute name for such an off-kilter little guy.

Dude Leif teaching Witney how to read is one of my most favorite things ever. They have so so much more to their relationship than what was shown in the Heart chap and I’m SO excited to show more of it in the upcoming gem chaps.

Poor Witney having to revisit her tragic backstory :((

ONE VESSEL ONE VESSEL. GGRRRRRR THIS ONE ALWAYS GETS ME SO BAD. If you ever wondered why Strength acts so differently as a gem and why I keep pointing it out, it’s because of THIS.

What I did to Weif? What do I always do to the pink/green relationships??? You can’t tell me you didn’t see this coming.

Oh Heart. Immediately trying and immediately failing to start things back up with Witney. At least Witney is the last person who would judge Heart.

Don’t make me think about Aggie I’ll get sad

HEARTNEY ANGST SO GOOD

Ahh the spell pouches. If you remember from way back in IBYBF 5 when we actually got to see a POV of a spell pouch doing its work,

A sudden blast of purple materializes between her and the gem, filling the water with the hue and prompting the vine to release her leg at once. 

“Aw, leaving so soon—?”

The gem disappears in the cloud, and Anne’s eyes go wide with the realization. 

One of the bundles has gone off. 

Heart quite literally disappears into the cloud of purple. Furthermore we can see with this passage from CMTO 7,

“Do not use anymore of that magic stuff on me,” they demand softly. “It hinders my connection to Anne, and she is expecting a status report. I will return to my realm peacefully. Do you have any final questions before I go?”

Essentially, the pouches work to sever the connection between vessel and gem for a brief period of time, meaning communication and possession become impossible. It muddies the dreamscapes as well, filling them with the purple void and further confusing and disorienting all parties. Now I want you to sit back and come to the understanding that Heart and Anne both spent all of that morning trapped in the void and unable to find each other until Maddie put the incense out. And have fun with that information.

Yes just as it works on Heart, it also works quite well on Witney.

DONT WORRY ABOUT VALERIANA YET

I originally didn’t have the gems react to Sprig’s likeness to Leif because I hadn’t yet fully developed the gem backstory and didn’t know what their reaction would be,, but now I just think it’s SUPER funny that they still don’t.

You’re doing great sweetie. And if you recall, Heart only starting growing the branches and that ‘rhinoceros horn’ in Andrias’s calamity form when they tried to suffocate Leif.

This is also my life forever gODAMMIT I love Heart sm

Hmmmmm where is Witney? I wonder :^)

[maldito-arbol]

CMTO Ch.2 Mar Mar

First of all fuck you for that title I hate u so much how could u fucking to this to me I am going to die

‘—Marcy was not entirely unconscious.’ (MARCY OH NO )

You kept me alive (*sobs*)

The sound of a spine being snapped under the weight of pink is an afterthought, (as it should be)

as is Andrias’s final call of, “Heart, Heart, why have you abandoned me? I promise I still love you.” (Screaming crying sobbing WHAT THE FUCK-)

“And don’t you dare trust Strength while I’m gone, you hear? Keep an eye on that little bastard. Don’t forget what it did to us.”

“I never did, Heart.” (HELLO???)

‘as though a piece of her brain’s been lobotomized,’ (omg yay more reasons to relate to Marcy <3)

Things like, “you’re safe now, little one, back in my arms, and I’ll never let you go again. I’ll watch over you this time.” (Hhhhhm I’m love,,,, they care about eachother so MUCH,,,,,,)

Oh I LOVE a good callback,,,,,,, hell yeah

“There are a couple things different that she takes note of—first of all, it’s humid here. Normally, the air would be dry and arid as can be, just the kind of atmosphere that would call for a glass of water. But right now, it feels as though there’s a blanket of water vapor over her.” (Oh it’s HUMID there’s WATER in the AIR! This is such a dumb detail for me to get this excited about but it’s so CLEVER)

(If Witney loves Heart as much as she claims to, why did she block them out?)

(WAIT “STOLEN” AS IN RIPPED OUT IF THEIR VESSELS??? IS THAT WHY HEART AND ANDRIAS WERE SEPERATED???? BECAUSE STRENGTH RIPPED THEM OUT AND STOLE THEM FROM ANDRIAS????)

“You should check Heart’s” “It’s green down there,” she reports. (Wow Marcy, incredible observational skills. Great job 10/10)

“Would that not make sense? An ache in your head for a loss of a piece of it.” (I mean sometimes I guess)

“Um, well, this is definitely more of a personal question,” Marcy prefaces. “I noticed that when you were talking about holding hands, you referred to yourselves as ‘the four of us’. And y’know, I figured,” she scratches the back of her head. “The first three would be you, Heart, and Strength. But…who’s number four?”

Witney spins madly. “Pass.” 

Marcy winces. “Sorry. That have something to do with the past you don’t want to talk about?”

“Yes.” (Well fuck. I was so sure I was right with the four but if Witney doesn’t want to answer that question. Oh no, it could still be about the two and their old vessels. I’m def less sure now but I still think I’m right)

“You’re damaged,” she murmurs softly. 

“A little,” Witney agrees. “It is nothing when compared to Heart, however.”

“Heart’s cracked too?” 

“Very,” she affirms. “It is hard to see if you are not looking closely, but I am always looking closely.”

“What about Strength?” She somehow doubts her gem will be happy to answer. 

“Unlikely,” she grumbles. “Unless your Sasha makes a habit of knocking it around.” (Oh I picked up on that implications STRAIGHT AWAY. Okay umz yeah okay fuck. Shit. So many thoughts yet so little coherency)(“but I am always looking closely” Witney wtf this dynamic between u and Heart is, interesting I guess. I don’t know what word I’m liking for but they dynamic certainly Is)

“Why are you crying?” (‘WHY ARE YOU CRYING?’ I fucking- I found the fucking line- “why are you crying” I DONT KNOW MAL WHY THE FUCK AM I CRYING TAKE A WILD FUCKING GUESS)

“You are…gentle,” Witney tells her, softer than a whisper. “I did not know anyone could touch so lightly in their dreams.” (‘I didn’t know you could be gentile in dreams’ Witney noooo,,,,, SHES SO SAD WITNEY I LOVE YOU YOU DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER- who did this to her I’m gonna kill them-)

“ Are we people?” 

The question strikes her like a crack of lightning. A question Witney has to ask, one she doesn’t know the answer to, is this . (Screaming crying sobbing crying,,,,, Witney,,,,,, Marcy is so fucking right these casual lines from Witney are desvistating)

How the FUCK did I get half way thru the next paragraph before realising it said Keeper Of The Box- wait was WITNEY the old Keeper of the Box????? Also fun fact I literally threw my phone when it clicked multiple times at my bed as hard as I could, do with that reaction what you will

BARREL??? Oh of course Wit was the first to have a vessel, she has had the most out of the three, but Barrel still would have been at the same time as the other two would he not? Which doesn’t make it any better honestly. If Barrel is the bitch ass who hurt Witney I’m gonna fucking kill him

“You want one Mar Mar?” (Sash What The Fuck. What is wrong with you why do you keep saying these things)(I feel like I may have mis interpreted what was being said in hindsight but, still um Sash what the fuck)

she wouldn’t mind the idea. “Ooh. I’d get to wear a suit.” Actually, maybe she likes the idea. (Omg Gender?)

“You might need that monocle,” again, Sash what

“It says, ‘the answer to that will not benefit you, for she no longer exists’…whatever the hell that means.”(agshfjahag is this what u meant when u just avoided saying Froogs Name indefinitely. I know it makes sense character wise and shit but it just reads so funny)

OTHER HUMAN VESSELS????? What

“The death of the heart,”

A final home for a gem of blue…

(HELLO???? Brain stop getting hung up on the fact that Heart isn’t capitalised it doesn’t matter this is Big Shit What What What. WHAT THE FUCK DOES THE CORE HAVE TO DOWNITH HEART WHAT THE FUCK HUH)

(How many. If the box left Amphibia a thousand years ago. How many of Wits vessels did Andrias kill. How quickly did he do it. Bro…… and why did he keep the bodies like dude that’s a little creepy, at least they got coffins..?)

Yet another dead end for a gem of green… (…)(screaming crying sobbing fuck why do other people have to be home I just wanna Scream)

 

“Andrias woke up.” (WHAT HOW???)

What?!

“This early? He was down bad.”

Sasha shakes her head. “He’s a sturdy bastard.”(SASHA U SHATTERED HIS FUCKING SPINE HE SHOULD BE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE)

Sash is giving me *terrible* vibes. Since the start it this chapter really. This does Not seem to be going well. And wrecker the Fuck she’s doing with Andrias is just even worse. Bro what the fuck is this. Sasha what

“Just that my gem’s been screaming at me to kill you for the past few minutes, and it just now went quiet.”(….huh um. U know could just be me. But the implication that Sash yelling at Marcy and kicking her out placated Strengths lust for Andrias To Fucking Die Already, nooot painting a very good picture of I do say so myself. Not, not very good, terrible vibes rn.)

AWW THE LITTLE SMILE,,,,,

Plus bonus second read comment:

“Letting him touch her gently” FUCK OFF NO FUCK YOU FUCK OFF NO. No,,.,, no cuz Witney DIDNT get that, fuck, no,,,, please,,,,, hnnnnnnnn

SO GLAD I revealed the title theme so early on, now I can torment u guys within the first five seconds of opening the chapter <3

Rip Marcy hope she’s doing alright lmao

Remember how Marcy and Witney’s relationship went from “is my life all you care about??” to “you kept me alive <3” man good times

HAHAHAHA OH YEAH SEE I WASNT SURE IF I WANTED TO KEEP THAT LINE IN THE FIRST PLACE, but I was like “it couldn’t hurt to have more Pain <3” man can u imagine being Heart and hearing that while you’re desperately struggling to keep your current vessel alive? Hearing it from the one you spent a thousand years trying to return to, the one you loved, the one who now carelessly beat and stabbed the new vessel you’ve grown so attached to. It is such a HUGE betrayal Andrias doesn’t even know he’s committed, and it’s made worse by the fact that he seems to blame it on Heart even in his final moments. Absolutely devastating Godammit getting emotional about Heart now when will it stop

Don’t forget what Strength did to us so true <3 yeah I’d like to formally apologize for this Witney/Heart dynamic they’re so TOXIC and yet they also have a sense of solidarity with one another because they have SHARED TRAUMA :) absolutely terrible folks we hate to see it

ANOTHEF REASON TO RELATE TO MARCY SNANWWMWKQI DUCK

They care each other sm 🥺

Oh THAT ONE was fun. Tell her off Olivia <3

YEAH ITS HUMID ISNT THAT GREAT i absolutely hate humidity i Do Not envy Marcy for a second but yeah i just thought it’d be a cool detail to add :3 since they’re not being violently mashed together they simply have slightly invaded the elemental space within each other’s dreamscape.

I’m SO sorry to inform u of this but Witney’s also fucking terrified of Heart and there’s still that bitterness in her mixed with the love she has for them. The “i want us to be together but you also make me wanna crawl out of my skin!” Love is what Witney likes to present on the surface while the fear is something she tries desperately to bury inside of her to no avail. The duality of Witney….YEAH WE’RE GONNA DISCUSS THE ORIGIN OF THAT IN THE BACKSTORY HAHA!!

:) Strength….what did u do

Strength: OH GREAT NOW YOURE BLAMING ME TOO I DID NOTHING WRONG!! NOTHING!!!

Hm okay yeah sure

It’s gween down there gween is not a creative color

I meant to talk more about Marcy’s headaches but I suppose they’ll have to wait for chapter 4. Yeah uh hey remember how she only has one eye? And how her head was the prominent source of pain when she shared Witney with Heart? Marcy probably gets migraines like there’s no tomorrow now.

Hahahaha I knew u were gonna have a crisis about that line. Yeah I’m still not telling you <3

Their dynamic is FUN, because it’s not just the thing with Strength, there’s MORE to their trauma and the parallels between them (they understand each other so much better than Strength does oops). Actually I’m surprised nobody’s out here wondering when in the fuck Witney got the chance to even look at Heart in the first place if they can’t invade each other’s dreamscapes without their vessels. Nobody? Hah alright :)

Awwwwww are u crying <3 good. Watching ur reactions to all these Witney reveals brings me great joy.

I guess you could say…Witney was the First Keeper of the Box……DONT THROW UR PHONE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD—

Like I said iCANTWAITTOTALKABOUTBARREL OH MY GOD!!! But not now. In good time my friend….

“U want a Midwife Marcy?” No. No I agree it’s a HORRIBLE joke to make in the same vein as the “I’m guessing Andrias’s sleeping quarters are off the table” like sasharcy’s jokey light-hearted dynamic really coming to bite them in the ass no u CANT joke about Marcy’s trauma Sash, no you CANT make comments like that now that ur Queen Sasha stop— see it’s the little things that amp up the tension between them and oooh that’s gonna catch up with them real fucking fast.

GENDER!!!!

This one is Less Bad but it’s not helped by the fact that Sasha’s been cracking fucked up jokes already so it could easily be taken the wrong way.

I love how you find this funny it’s not funny in the slightest. *takes out an eraser that says ‘For really LITTLE mistakes’* wait Froog why are you running wait—

Other Human Vessels~~~~~~~~~ woooooooooooo I once again forgot you guys didn’t know this before YES where do you think Heart’s other vessels came from :^)

“For the record, I am sorry,” Wit tells her. “Over the years I’ve gotten wise. I’ve gotten wise enough to realize I can fight Strength all I want, but I will never be able to stand up to Heart. To think your Anne managed to do so is…incredible. After seeing so many of their vessels fail before, I was expecting the worst. It is so easy to be consumed by the darkness—and Heart has come to crave it. You’ll never see horrors as magnificent as theirs.”

I LOVE that you noticed ‘heart’ isn’t capitalized hehehehehehehehehehehe but what DOES Heart have to do with the core I wonderrrrr

This is one question I kind of know the answer to and yet kind of don’t. In canon the eyeball door has 8 heads in its circle, and the very First shot of the crypt shows 8 visible coffins, so the logical answer would be 8.

Whether or not I decide to go with that number is anyone’s guess, but it’s a good estimate! Considering the timeframe between when Andrias started collecting Wit vessels and when Heart was stolen (it’s. not as long as you think.). Why did he keep the bodies? I think he started off by keeping the first for personal reasons and then just….kept doing it. Disturbing I know right

I have been WAITING to go OFF about how much of a Dick Move those first lines of each gem riddle are, and you FINALLY have the context for Witney’s my god. It’s so horrible, yeah. Andrias you’re such a bitch leave her alone. Leave ALL of them alone actually—

Yeah fuck Andrias for Waking Up to begin with, but I needed him to torment sasharcy some more <3

Sasha’s vibes ARE Off and it’s so unbelievably exciting for me that she’s getting progressively worse with every chapter because I get to write in her POV in chapter 4 and who knows how unhinged that entire chapter is gonna be. Insane. Beware the Queen! Something is wrong…

Oh THAT line hahah…yeah unfortunately that Is Not the reason Strength went quiet but I can’t get into it rn lmao the important thing is Strength is fucking PISSED Andrias survived that attack and moreso that Sasha purposely left him alive. They were supposed to kill him. Supposed to.

Anne smiling at Marcy in her sleep watered my crops I had to do it. Makes the “But how is she supposed to smile in these conditions?” line hurt more.

Absolutely disturbing to me that Andrias knows how to touch gently because of course he does. It’s great for emotional manipulation!

Hehehe can’t wait to go thru the rest of this stuff, my lovely followers be prepared for a spam <3

[maldito-arbol]

-IBYBF chapter 7 to CMTO chapter 3

Happy Birthday Heart!

You funky little homicidal gremlin!

[maldito-arbol]

CMTO chap. 4

TITLE??? SASHY?????? Fuck off Fuck off Fuck off

THATS THE FIRST LINE??? Agshdjjdhs ???? “He’s supposed to be dead why isn’t he dead”

“I trust Marcy.” “Do you now?” (OH? HELLO?? Strength?????? I mean, I guess Sashy is kinda scared or Marcy still but I think she still at least mostly trusts her, right?)

‘There’s an itch in her scalp again,’ (mmmmmmm goop?)

“I’ll do a fine job of keeping a close eye on my Keeper myself.” “Oh yes, we will.” (Strength what are you ON about WHAT)

Her head itches and itches, but she can’t touch it in the presence of the Toad Lords, can’t satisfy that insatiable urge to claw at her head, to scratch and scratch until her skin breaks. She so nearly loses herself entirely before she’s given her break at last,(HMMMMMM GOOP?)

ANDY. IT CALLS HIM ANDY??? WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK ANDY(IT WASNT STRENGTY WAS IT FUCK)

In one fell swoop, Marcy axes a whole nickname from the list of endearments her girlfriends can call her by. The only nickname, in fact, that Sasha herself had come up with before they landed in Amphibia.(o-oh. Hhhhhhhh nooooooooooo mmmmmmmmmmmm. No what why Mal. Why)

“There’s so much to do, so much to do…never enough time to get it done…I’m running late….need more time…..”

“Oh, I’ve missed a detail. Where are my notes?”

“…that’s not right either. You freakin’ moron.”

“Help me.”

“I still haven’t found it. Where is it? Need it. Give it to me.”

(Hmmmmm. Very, inch resting. Strength had notes? It needs more time? It’s looking for something? And it needs it? Is it calling itself a moron?hmmmmmm)(oh. Sashy doesn’t have the crown on here I don’t think)

I WAS LIKE ‘what if it’s Froog’ AS A JOKE YO FUCK WHAT DAMN NOT SPRIGGY BOY ASS BITCH HUH

Hhhhhhhh DO NOT like that comparison to a cats collar nope nuh uh Andrias already has a TERRIBLE history with collars leave right now

HOLY SHIT SECRET FIGE PASSAGE WAY NO WAY HOLY SHIT FUCK YEAH HOLY SHIT FUCK. I feel like some of these reactions are so much funnier when you see how little of the context I actually read before coming to say them

‘A doorway to hell’ (yeah okay sure whatever fuck)

Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh nope nope nope that’s hhhhhhhhhhhhhhnope

Was it a dream?

Strength shut the fuck up about the crown Marcy’s right shut up

NOT A DREAM NOT A DREAM SASHY CAN JUST TELEPORT APPARENTLY

PERCY AND BRADDOCK <3

Mmmm smells like favouritism

Strength shut UP about the eyes PLEASE

It’s because Anne is down, she thinks. And they can’t lose another. (Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

Bro-bro agshdjfjjgjshahdh

she can’t get the image of Yunan chained to the wall and Olivia crying at her feet out of her head. 

 Can I really rely on them to make certain nothing happens to her? (OKAY YEAH SURE HOLD THAT AGAINST THEM. WHATEVER)

Oh god no not the fucking outfit guy-

How come nobody told me about those dark circles? I look clinically insane. (Hhhmmm. Hm. I was gonna say something but I Forgot fuck)

the world is going fuzzy again, the edges of her vision glitching in little cubes of orange, (cubey orange mmmm. Minecraft. I don’t know why I said that. Interesting that it’s a Cube tho hm. Glitchy)

“Adoration can destroy you from the inside out.”(Strength whet the Fuck are you on about)

Anne didn’t get to see this. (Oh oh. Fuck. Okay. *sobs*)

“How remarkable it is to see a living, breathing body change. It’s something you lose when you spend a thousand years without one.”( Strengthe what the FUCK are you on about. It really just Says shit huh. What the hell)

He spits. “Maybe if you would give me my damn crown back, I’d have something to keep me company in this wretched place.” He scratches and scrapes at his own head. “Just make yourself a new one, it’s not hard! I can give you the recipe, the materials, everything, just give me mine back—” (that paragraph has like. 7 red flags. Sasha come ON)

STOP CALLING HIM ANDY HE DOESNT DESERVE A NICKNAME

Strength stop sabotaging Sasharcy relationship challenge. Just because your relationship got fucked up doesn’t mean you can fuck up theirs geez

“I haven’t been able to trust your word since you found me at the Old Mill,” (OHKAY. LOW FUCKING BLOW SASHA FUCK. FUCK LOW BLOW UR GONNA REGRET THAT. Sash GEEZ)

Wait okay wait what. Did Sashy leave some kind of trail or just. She went missing and Marcy just knew she was in the basement. At first I thought it’s as a dream but this doesn’t really feel like a dream anymore. Hm

Hhhhhh h h h h h hbhhh h h hh h h h hhhhh h h hhh h Hhhhhhhh

Strength didn’t the note say fucking. A final home for a Blue gem. Strength no stop. No what. Stop no. No no-

IT WAS STRENGTH RIGHT? The bold. The bold means it’s their gem taking but. Huh

NO! LEAVE! THE COLLAR IS NOT COMING BACK NO FUCK OFF NO NONONONONONO NO!!

“When you said you couldn’t bear to watch me die? When you made me promise to n- never let go?” It strikes Sasha like a knife to the heart. “…when did that change?” (God fuck shit fuck shit aaaaAaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA)

Dude that’s literally the ONE thing she asked u not to call her DUDE COME ON

HELL-FUCKING-O BARREL???????

“I can still puppeteer a corpse” (HELL FUCKING OH? BITCH SHUT THE FUCK UP FUCK OFF FUCK OFF FUCK OFF)

Mmmm theories are a brewing already

Mmmm new home the crown. Hmmmm those riddles hmmm…- the. The pink one was the jail wasn’t it. Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Chapter 2 Mar-mar and Chapter 4 Sashy

Same energy, I did it twice and y’all fell for it BOTH TIMES dw dw I’m done with the pet name shit (or am I) I have plenty of other ways to torture you guys (chapter 6’s title may just End your life)

I feel like I intended on starting the chapter somewhere else but then when I finished and went back to edit I was like “lmao no this is funny”

Yeah Sasha trusts Marcy! The orange bitch is just gaslighting her (and it works! 🤡)

mmmmmmmmmmm kinda!

Orange asshole has its eye on Marcy hhh

MMMMMMMMMMM KINDA!!

It Does Indeed Call Him Andy :)))))) a nickname of endearment!

Idk what happened there my brain was just like “what if you tormented Sasha by giving her the rights to the Mar-mar nickname”. It’s the only one Sasha has USED canonically iirc and it was the first one she called her by when they met up at the Third Temple so ofc I gave it to her.

Sashy our beloved did Indeed have the crown on, she went to bed in it oops. Also haha let’s play a game of Can You Spot Strength in all this dialogue!

The Correct Answer is: All of Strength’s dialogue is regular bold and all of The Core’s dialogue is italicized bold ok have fun rereading chapters 1 and 4 with this info <3

ITS FROOG MY BELOVED!! I couldn’t wait till that backstory to include her, I wanted her NOW

Once again Thanking you for pointing out the cat’s collar thing.

Though there are none visible, the sound of jingling bells reaches her ears, like a kitten’s collar to alert its owner to its presence.

This line has SO many implications ;) Andrias indeed has a terrible history with collars…………

THE FRIDGE. Obsessed with the fucking Fridge for some reason (we’ll actually talk about it again in chapter 5 lmao)

Every doorway to the basement is a doorway to hell.

Hahahahahahahaha :)

WAS IT.

no no keep Speaking hehehehe

OR. have u considered:

PERCY AND BRADDOCK MY BELOVEDS,,,,,

Mmmmmm stinky

Eyeball Jokes we have fun here ^-^

Yeah. Have fun with that one :^)

SHE DOES CALL HIM BRO-BRO IN CANON I STG

LMAO LEAVE IT TO SASHA TO HOLD LITERALLY TRAUMA AGAINST PPL

BERNARDOOOOOOOOO

Fighting Sasha on who’s dark circles are the darkest. I am losing bc I went to sleep early last night.

MINECRAFT. no I thought the exact same thing.

OOH THAT LINE. FUCKING LOVE THAT LINE. This Orange fuck is projecting SO HARD rn.

Haha suffer :)

All this Orange bitch do is project.

So many Red Flags but when your world is Orange they hardly register :3

So sorry Bestie but the Andy nickname will NOT be going away anytime soon.

NSBDSNKSKSKSSL AS IF STRENGTH HATES TO SEE LOVING RELATIONSHIPS JUST BC ITS OWN RELATIONSHIP ENDED IN DIVORCE

Yeah. Low blow. Little bit. :’) god the PMIT references in this chap gonna ruin me.

I might Explain that later, in Marcy’s next POV chap, but we’ll see. No it is Not a dream :3

How’s ur H button doing

HAHA

R u sure about that

I TOLD YOU THE COLLAR WOULD BE BACK AND I FEEL ZERO REMORSE *gets hit by a truck*

The PMIT references to make us all cry <3

Yup. Sasha called her Mar-mar on purpose, to prove a point, and it’s SO upsetting. Sash pls—

BARREL BARREL BARREL BARREL *beats fists on table* MY BELOVED

Horrifying implications, right?

Tell Me All Your Theories I’ll Eat Them

Yep yep yep yep

[maldito-arbol]

Ooooo the long awaited Info Consolidation conversation, oh how I’ve been waiting for you. It was quite satisfying and had a bunch of stuff I didn’t think about, like Anne talking about Hearts motives and the stuff they say and Marce mentioning Wit’s contradictory statements and how differently she treats Strength and Heart. I have a habit of just thinking about the facts (the greatest weaknesses thing, Heart being the strongest, the elements things, the fact that the dreamscapes are all connected) but those other bits were very good and important parts to include, I wouldn’t have even thought about them at all u r so good at giving all the characters such depth. good job :)

Listen listen sometimes I DO drop very important hints. I want you to know that almost EVERYTHING from chapters 1-4 of IBYBF that happened to line up with important reveals later was either entirely coincidence or i reread those chapters and decided to MAKE stuff important (you gotta work with what you have—you can get some great ideas just by looking at things you wrote on a whim) and it really wasn’t until Chapter 7 that i was just starting to think about the Gems’ arcs in the long term and what kind of backstories they might have. Heart wanting to destroy the box, Wit being afraid of Heart, Strength keeping Sprig safe…they’re the first hints at a picture that is much bigger than the girls are prepared for. Perhaps even than anyone in the audience is. You guys still have yet to see the darker sides of my writing. That old tpn X mp100 crossover fic that sits unfinished on my archive account has a chapter count of 36 because i actually have the entire story drafted and it gets FUCKED. really fast. But because i never posted all of it, those terrible terrible things I did in that one have yet to see the light of day. I’m absolutely taking some notes from it to write CMTO because two of the major themes I’m gonna have to explore are coping with loss and the cycle of abuse :)

But anyway I went on a TANGENT—i have come to understand that you my lovely readers are very intelligent and absolutely do pick up on a lot of the hints I accidentally drop everywhere, so it is the funniest feeling when I drop hints purposely that NOBODY mentions and i wonder if they picked them up at all or they’re in for a very rude awakening when the reveal hits. So what i do is I just. Keep bringing them up casually. The gems having a very specific access to the girls’ memories was one of them—i kind of had a vague idea of it floating around and decided to bring it up in ch 7 twice in Heart tormenting Sprig with how much they know about him because of how much Anne cares about him. But you can find little hints of it in prev chapters too— see: Heart knowing the full names of all the people in Anne’s life in chap 5 and Heart finding Marcy’s moment of weakness in chap 4. So I decided WHY NOT JUST ADDRESS IT PROPER. Another one of these is the perpetual bleeding in Marcy’s eye that i address every single time she’s in her dreamscape and especially VERY loudly in chap 8 im losing my mind over that one don’t worry we’ll talk about it Very Soon <3

Anyway I thank u for all the stuff you have already picked up on it makes me so excited. You got some of the foreshadowing from the party chapter but there’s more in there hehehehe oh my god i am SO excited for this finale.