#misty talks baxter

[mistyscenter]

I think 90% of people who hate Derek dlc either: didn't pay attention to it or are just racist, because tell me why we can't, legitimately criticize Baxter dlc for being a hot mess, but we can shit on the Latino character who's whole storyline is learning that it's ok to put yourself first and that your family will love you regardless.

Legit some of you missed the part in boardwalk where Irene says that the person who took most care of Nico gets to decide where to go to dinner, she's quite literally saying she wants to reward Derek for his hard work.

Irene and Gregorio let Derek go to the soiree with the MC despite being movie night because they know of Derek's crush on the MC and really want him to spend more time with them.

Derek himself admits that his parents don't make him do anything when it comes to taking care of his brothers, he's actively choosing to include them. That's the whole point of his dlc, that's his doing, he's the one doing that to himself and he fixes that because Derek knows what he wants and he knows where his priorities lie.

That's why when he decides to ask you out to the waterpark he goes in the other room, he's trying to make it up to he's younger self, he learned from his ways and is trying to be a little more selfish. He still falls into those habits from time to time but he always makes it up for it.

Idk man Derek dlc is the best love story I've ever read, it left me with warm and fuzzy feelings and I will die for the Suarez ngl

[alchemine]

14 Bodyguard AU & 35 Bathtub

Baxley😊

Over Easter break one year, mild-mannered schoolteacher Joseph Molesley goes to visit his father, who has retired to a seaside town. After a few days, they're starting to get under each other's feet in his dad's tiny cottage, so even though it's a cold wet afternoon, he decides to go for a walk along the beach and look for sea glass or ammonites to show the children in his class when he gets home.

He walks past the beach huts near the edge of the sand, all bright yellow and green and red and blue under the grey sky, and then he thinks that it might be nice to get a closer look at the lighthouse, too. The pier is deserted because it's late in the day and even the fishermen have gone home, but as he gets nearer to the lighthouse, he sees two men out at the very end of the pier, where no one is supposed to be. They're arguing, and he stops, wondering if he should just turn around and leave (he hates that sort of thing at the best of times, and definitely doesn't want to get involved when it's two strangers) and then to his horror, one of the men whips out a knife and stabs the other, who crumples and falls.

Molesley is frozen with shock and doesn't know what to do, until the man with the knife bends down to look at his victim, as if to make certain he's dead. That's when Molesley turns and legs it, back along the pier and past the huts and up onto the steep footpath that leads away from the beach. When he thinks he's far enough to be safe, he stops, gasping and sweating, and phones the police.

So the police come, and by the time they arrive the man with the knife is long gone and the man he stabbed is very much dead, and that means that Molesley is an unwilling witness to a murder. He didn’t see the killer’s face very clearly--he was only part way along the pier, and the rain was that misty kind that gets in your eyes and makes everything blurry--but he’s the only witness and so they take his information, and when a suspect is arrested he has to make an identification and he does. And then it turns out that the killer wasn’t just a man, he was involved in organised crime and had stalked the victim from their own city to settle a debt.

Now, Molesley was prepared to have to give evidence to the court, and viewed it as his duty despite being nervous about it. He feels terribly guilty for running instead of trying to catch the killer and help the victim, even though the police have told him that he did the right thing. However, he wasn’t prepared to be the target of threats while waiting to testify. (He was told he would be kept anonymous when he made the identification, but it’s a small place and someone talked.) The elder Mr Molesley has a sister in Australia, so he goes to stay with her for safety’s sake, but that leaves poor Joe all on his own. He can’t go back to his job because the last thing he wants is to be taken out by hit men in front of a classroom of children, and he can’t go into witness protection until after the trial, so he takes leave and moves into his father’s house, but he still needs someone looking out for him.

Enter Phyllis Baxter, bodyguard.

Molesley has a hard time believing that this relatively small and fragile-looking woman is going to protect him from gangsters, but Phyllis is a trained officer and comes highly recommended by the police. She sets up shop in the spare bedroom of the cottage and tells Molesley that he can go about his normal indoor business, but he’s not to go outside unless she’s with him, and even then she would prefer that he stay in. Molesley points out that his father’s garden needs tending, and Phyllis takes him to the window and shows him how exposed the garden is and how many places there are for someone to lie in wait for him.

She suggests that he hire someone to prune the rose bushes, and Molesley reluctantly agrees and mopes off to the sitting room to read a book with the curtains drawn. He’s done some research and knows that the average time from the defendant being charged to the end of a trial is more than 200 days, and while he’s found Phyllis to be pleasant company so far, he’s not so sure he wants to be locked up with anyone for that many months. It’s not as if he’s the criminal, after all.

(to be continued later because it's getting long)

[jamiebluewind]

Charatcter Descriptions and Summary 2.15

This is the "short" version of descriptions. I have a much MUCH longer one with lots of quotes that I might have to split up to fit. As always, let me know if I need to edit or add anything and tag/ask/PM me about art and stories so I can check them out!

Warning: multiple blood mentions, torture, imprisonment, violence, stabbing, gun violence, canon typical violence, injuries, burns, homophobia and bigotry, gore mention, horror (including body horror), beheading, violence against animals, 69 mention, and disrespecting a mummy

***

Bad Kids

Fabian

Fandrangor stats: +2 to attack and damage. Finesse, one handed. 1d8 piercing. Burn a spell slot on a sucessful hit to add an extra d6 of damage per level.

Wrapped Alistair's foot in his sheet to trip and flip him up before deeply stabbing him in the abdomen

Held his sheet out to further protect Adaine.

Slashed Dayne with a reposte (while also burning a 1st level spell slot on his sword) as he yelled "Toxic masculinity is dead! I dance now!"

Closed in on Penelope using an athletics check that involved jumping and running across the deck. His mobile flourish pushed her to the edge of the deck before he kicked her off the ship.

Took out Alistair and Penelope (details in their section)

Stood at the helm after Bill fell off, turning the ship over due to the gravity being off

Riz

Hissed at Vraz

Got so sweaty and nervous over a terrible line ("You attacked the wrong guy!") that he missed the greesers

Shot Dayne from hiding while saying "You missed spring break" before hiding again (Fabian responding "Classic The Ball. Always shooting from hiding").

Had no clue where his father actually was, telling Bill the little thathe knew.

Got sleepy while he was hiding

Was shot out of the cannon and blasted off into the city (taking some damage). Shouted "I'm the ball!" as he flew away before smashing through a dark red and black stained glass window 200 feet below the ship, tumbling into a strangly familiar building. The room was empty due to all the devils hearing the alarms and fleeing. He rushed down a familar dark hallway.

Witnessed his father being tortured and saying that he didn't care about his son, but still misty steped into the room with the unconscious Pok the minute the devils left.

Tried to scoop his dad up into his Briefcase of Holding, but the two barbed devils came back (snarling as they saw him), one grabbing his briefcase and the other grappling Riz to restrain him. He kept trying to save Pok anyway even while restrained and fought against the devils over his briefcase (see Pok area for more)

Kristen

Rolled up sleeves over Daybreak attacking Tracker

Walked up to Daybreak with anger in her veins (over him hurting Tracker), said "Hi Daybreak. It's so great to see you. I've been PRAYING FOR YOU!", and slammed her staff down, using distructive wave. Light radiated out of her as every enemy was hit but Penelope (due to Globe of Invulnerability) and Johnny Spells and took out 3 Scarecrows. She then spat on Daybreak which hisses on his cheek as he yelled "Ah! Love! Love wins!"

Was knocked out by Daybreak and was back in Silvar looking at a nice tree

Used a 4th level mass healing word before her and Tracker dimension doored away from Daybreak

Adaine

Arcane Hand works like a claw machine with a controler in her hands

While prone, shot a lightning bolt at Dayne, Penelope, and a Scarecrow (after counterspelling Penelope's counterspell). Took out the Scarecrow.

Hit Daybreak with a 4th level Cromatic Orb (cold damage).

Smacked Johnny's fire spell out of the air with a counterspell after calling him "a predator who didn't fuck" and then ignored Johnny completely to go after Daybreak by hitting him with a 4th level (cold) chromatic orb

Used Forceful Hand to grab Bill to keep him from falling (two of the devils stayed grapped to Bill)

Fig

Tried to shake Gilear awake

Fig The Unfaethable

Her insignia burned in her head when she used psionic blast (took out two Scarecrows)

Winked at Ayda

Used Healing Word on Kristen

Attacked Daybreak with Bombing Blade (adds bardic for extra and if he moves willinging before her next turn he takes thunder damage)

Took out Daybreak (details in his section)

Was tossed by Gorgug towards a plummeting Bill like a missile before backpacked onto Bill, snatching a scroll from Vraz's pocket (Vraz: No no no no no! / Bill: What's yours is ours.), and Dimension Dooring back to the ship with Bill.

Gorgug

Stood over Kristen's unconscious body to protect her

Used Reckless Attack twice on Daybreak, the first time dealing 50 damage and the second time ("I'm just so tired of you") another 48 damage.

Took out Dayne (details in his section) and two Scarecrows

Grabbed some holy oil to take with him to coat his weapon with.

***

Familiars and Companions

Boggy: Hit by Penelope's Cone of Cold which caused him to freeze, crack, and fall apart (can be brought back by Adaine)

Gaf: Made incorporial by Ayda to protect him/her/them during the battle

Baby: Was made invisible by Fig. Tried to pickpocket Vraz, but just got a scrap of some kind. Did a very indecent celebration dance while invisible (when Penelope was "killed").

Hangman: Freaked out over seeing Johnny before siding with Fabian. Leapt to attack Johnny Spells, but couldn't make it and settled for slamming into the greeser Sorching Ray. Frozen and knocked down by Penelope's Cone of Cold.

Hirelings and Partners

Tracker

Stayed behind on Goldenrod

Held up a hand with her holy symbol to summon Twilight Sanctuary (gives everyone a d8 of temp hit which they can choose to replace or keep each round).

Cast Beacon of Hope

Knocked out by Penelope's Cone of Cold (which also ended her two spells)

Hit Kristen with a max level cure wounds, yeling at everyone to look away as she jumped onto an unconscious Kristen who was lying between Gorgug's legs (Kristen started touching his leg thinking it's Tracker's). Everyone assumed they were 69ing, but Tracker actually just gave Kristen a very sweet kiss on the mouth and said "Double clerics baby. Nobody can keep us down for long."

Went into flying wolf form to catch Kristen when she fell off the ship.

Ragh

Took out two Scarecrows, goring one before tossed them the ship and spartan kicking the other off the deck.

Ran up to a prone Dayne chanting hoot growl and yelled "I've done a lot of shit in my life because of you asshole!" as he bodied into him (nat 20).

Walked up to Fabian and Gorgug crying after Dayne was killed.

Instigated a three way chest bump with Fabian and Gorgug, not noticing Adaine who was forced to duck ("Oh god! The jocks are being fiesty!")

Was yelled at by Daybreak which he used as an opportunity to confront Daybreak both verbally and physically.

Ayda

Cast a spell that poured out massive amounts of water over Avernus in an attempt to flood hell (in retaliation for them taking Fig) before checking on Fig

Touched both of Fig's arms as she checked if she was okay before casting Protection From Evil And Good on her.

Flew off Goldenrod to help Sandra Lynn protect the ship from incoming fire by throwing up abjurative wards, but came back and landed on the deck before the ship left Avernus.

Flew towards Daybreak and Penelope, teleporting multiple times per second to create a flickering group of 10 of her before slashing out with her talons to damage them both.

Cast clairvoyance to find Riz, pointing at the building he was in.

Used her portent to save Fabian when Goldenrod lost gravity (allowing him to hold on) before flying to catch Adaine.

Sandra Lynn

Left the Goldenrod to cover their tail, doing a swan dive off deck (which looked likes she flew up from the upside down deck) and landing on Baxter before knocking a teleportation missile out of sky with her arrow.

Smashed back down onto the deck with Baxter before healing a down Tracker (Kristen: Thank you Sandra Lynn!)

Hit Daybreak with arrows.

Jumped on Baxter when the ship lost gravity and went to help catch Kristen.

Gilear

Was immediately killed by Bill Seacaster who shot him in the chest.

Brought back by Kristen with 1 hp, a bleeding chest wound, and covered in cenders and fire

Was told by Gorgug (who stood in front of him) to lie on the ground

Hid in the golden sarcophagus (somehow lifting the massive lid to do so)

***

The Pirates

The Goldenrod

The still "living" transmogrified body of Kalvaxus turned into a flying ship against his will

Kalvaxus has to swallow down the cannon coming from his mouth to talk and turning always hurts him

Shot by Bill for calling himself a boat instead of a ship

Captained by Bill Seacaster, crewed by cender zombie pirates, and the flagship of Bill's rebel armada of dragon carcus ships

The ship has it's own gravity and can sail in any direction (including upside down), but the unsecured barrels on deck are a hazard during fast turns.

Able to breached through to Dis, Bill having some way to travel through the levels that the other devils couldn't find

Broadsided The Iron City, firing tons of gold, holy water, and saints finger bones wrapped in old parchment out of it's cannons.

Captain Bill Seacaster

An enormous devil with one cender eye, a devil bone hook, and a floating skull and crossbones insignia over his head

At the helm of Goldenrod after rescuing Riz, Fig, Gilear, Hangman, and Baby/Wretchrot (via being yanked up on rope ladders to the Goldenrod).

Part of his multi level marketing scheme was to have pirates steal holy relics for spell slots and then use the holy relics as ammo against other devils and their ships.

Shot Gilear throught the chest on sight

Got a chain wrapped around his neck by Kystrona

After Gilear was brought back to life by Kristen, he said nice things to Gilear and gave him a massive glowing sword (which was too big for Gilear to wield). The bad kids were all deeply confused by how quickly he went from one extreme to another.

Offered Kristen snuff powder

Ordered his crew to shoot Riz out of a cannon to "help" him look for Pok

As his hook hand was stabbing into one of the three devils he was fighting, he took a legendary action to shake his fist and yell "That's my darling boy!" over Fabian "killing" Penelope. He corrected himself to yell "He's his own his darling man boy!"

When the gravity on the Goldenrod was dispelled, he told Fabian to take the helm before letting go on purpose, taking the three other devils with him (rescued by Adaine and Fig).

Alistair Ash

An intern on the Goldenrod

Skull is cracked open like an egg with part of it fully missing. Inside the socket is roiling fire. His eyes are rotted out, the fire shining through his sockets.

Attacked Fabian exclusively due to being left behind by him

How he was finished off: Fabian stood up, his body very bloody and burned from the beating he's took. Fire enshrouded his sheet as he wrapped Alistair in it in order to spin him like a top. As Alistair twirled in the air, the Hangman hit him in a flash. As Alistair popped of the wheel of the Hangman, Fabian took out Fandrangor (which was rippling with his own inner light and magic) and pierced Alistair's ribcage up through his heart. Silver motes of light burst out of Alistair's mouth, "eyes", and the empty socket of his skull. Bill cried a single tear out of his non ember eye as he said "It be beau-ti-ful". Fabian told his father "I'm my own man now." to which Bill answered "The story keeps getting better!" Meanwhile, Alistair changed his opinion on Fabian, seeing him as chosen one and (since he had to die for Fabian to become who he was) himself as chosen in a way. Fabian asked if Chungle Down Bim was still alive, but Alistair only yelled "He's gonna shit in your mouth!" before being destroyed. One of the many bottles on Bill's belt filled with a red mist that was Alistair, now even more in debt to Bill with another 2000 gold added to his tab to bring him back in another form later.

Cinder Pirates

The crew of the Goldenrod, most (if not all) of which being victims of Bill's pyramid scheme

Assended from ropes to their respective ships after raiding The Bottomless Pit, yoinking up crates and boxes filled with treasure (like books and weaponry) as they went.

Loaded the cannons of The Goldenrod with holy relics, books, golden reliquaries, holy water, and even the body of a dead saint (who was unceremoniously dumped out of his golden sarcophagus). All the relics almost looked like they were from other worlds.

Bill doesn't do the best job putting his followers back together, so most are in worse shape than Alistair. One was missing his entire jaw!

Most were finished off by Penelope's Cone of Cold

***

Bill's Pursuers

Devil Crafts

Iron zeppelins piloted by devils in pursuit of Seacaster.

Shoot ground to air missiles that shot spinning pentagrams of fire teleportation that glowed when they hit, teleporting in reinforcements.

Vraz The Mean, Lorzug The Impaled, and Kystrona The Chained

All appeared through a dimension door at the helm of the ship before the three devils began fighting Bill.

Vraz (after Fig denied a direct order) released all warlocks under Gortholax by making all his contracts null and void.

All of them (including Bill) do tramendous amounts of fire and poison damage, but all of them (including Bill) are immune to fire and poison, so the fight devolved into a bunch of very dangerous people who can't hurt each other just slapping the hell out of each other.

***

Greesers

Johnny Spells

Appeared via teleportation missile with his crew

Roiling in flame with veins glowing in a red light, using a snap comb to brush his hair back and wearing a black leather jacket with a clean white tee.

Hit Fabian with Ray of Fire and then was IMMEDIATELY tossed off the starboard side of the ship by Adaine using her Arcane Hand.

Was saved by Kystrona (via animate chain) before he fell to his "death"

Spent an entire turn to get back on the ship only to have his fire spell dismissed by Adaine.

How he was finished off: Flew off the ship (again) when it lost gravity, saying "No! I had stuff. I had plans. I had-" as he fell to his "death".

Johnny's Crew

Six teiflings greasers who appeared via teleportation missile wearing black leather jackets with clean white tees.

Two trampled over a dead Gilear to get to the teens.

How they were finished off: One was gored by Ragh before being tossed off the ship, one was spartan kicked off the deck by Ragh, two were killed by Gorgug, and two were destroyed by Fig's psionic blast

***

Harvestmen & Friends

Penelope Everpetal

Got to Goldenrod via teleportation missile with Dayne, Daybreak, and four Scarecrow Harvestmen.

Had sunken deep pools of darkness for eyes. She wore a burnt prom queen dress. Jagged shards of metal were stabbed into her skull like a crown (which caused blood to trickle down).

Was protected from magic most of the fight due to casting Globe Of Invulnerability

Stepped forward with a corny line ("Oh I'm so sorry guys. It's time to chill out.") before casting Cone of Cold which took out Tracker, Boggy, Hangman, and most of Bill's crew.

Was knocked off the ship by Fabian and fell down into the sky over the Iron City of Dis, shreaking and wailing as she went. Saved herself by using Misty Step to get back to the ship.

How she was finished off...

Penelope: *appeared in a twirl of magic and hit Fabian with a Firebolt, knocking him down to 4HP* I'm so sorry that you had like... some sort of collapse and appear to be fighting with a blanket now, but I just wanna tell you something. We are gonna drag you and all your shitty stupid little- what? Bad kid friends to hell. Forever.

Fig: I actually already live here. I'm an arch devil.

Fabian: Yeah! Did you hear that? She already lives here!

Kalvaxus: Again if we [re con noise] it later. This fight seems mostly lost. Use reason!

Penelope: Now. It's time for you to go bye bye Fabian *starts casting another spell*

Fabian: (crit, mobile florish, plus 2nd level spell slot with Fandrangor) *throws up his sheet so it blocks her field of vision (like how people trick their pets) and then grabs her and tango swing dancing spins her off the ship as she yells and is destroyed as motes of silver light shoot out*

Dayne Blade

Burning ember flaming vains with a hellish gleam to his eyes

Doesn't know how long he's been there

How he was finished: Begged Gorgug to not "kill" him due to him being an Owlbear, but was ignored. He tried once more, saying "Dude dude dude we're both Owlbears!" but Gorgug simply answered "You're not an Owlbear anymore" before he chopped off Dayne head. Gorgug then pretended his head was a ball and that he was going for a pass.

Coach Daybreak

Burning ember flaming vains with a hellish gleam to his eyes, a whistle, a silvered halberd, and regenerating health

Aggressively targeted Tracker and Kristen (even as Gorgug literally stood over Kristen) and knocked Kristen out at one point

Yelled "No!" while flames shot out of his ears at the thought of ending toxic masculinity

Freaked out over Gorgug being an Owlbrear

Not a true devil, just a soul trapped in hell that was powerful enough in life to fight for the devils, punished to never understand why he was there (Brennan "He cannot find peace, but he can find you").

How he was finished: Daybreak shouted "I'm gonna kill you all. All of you deserve to be here, not me. I was a holy man! *points to Fig* YOU ARE A LITERAL ARCH DEVIL!" Fig answered "Yeah bitch it's fun!" before she used a 4th level psionic blast on him. He screamed as he was knocked off the ship and eviscerated by both Fig's psionic blast and the after effects of her booming blade* (Fig also steals his visage)

Scarecrow Men

The transfigured bodies of four former harvestmen who died

Burnt charred skin, flannel button up shirts, and heads of burlap sacks with scarcrow eyes, which were slightly aflame

How they were finished off: one was killed by Adaine's lightning bolt and the other three were gone in a flash of light by Kristen's destructive wave

***

Dis and Pok

Iron City of Dis

Choking smoke and freezing rain

Endless sprawling cast iron metropolis of dread, misery, and torture

Alarms (clacksaws I think Brennan said?) rang as the devils shouted "It's Seacaster!"

The city was lit up by Goldenrod (while the other ships in the armada caught up)

Building Holding Pok

At least one dark red and black stained glass window (which Riz crashed through). The room within was empty due to all the devils hearing the alarms and fleeing.

Dark hallway leading to a light coming out from under a closed doorway. A slightly ajar door was next to it and a possible third door with steal thrones was next to that. The slightly ajar door had a somewhat reflective marble wall (where a reflection of Pok could be seen from the hall) and a two way mirror that showed an interrogation room.

Pok

A goblin who was strapped to a chair and had a swolen eye. A pit fiend also splashed acid in his face

Was interrogated by a pit fiend flanked by two barbed devils

Kept a good poker face around the devils, at one point was snarling and growling as he had (what appeared to be) a goblinoid frenzy come over him

Was lacerated by barbed whips handled by the barbed devils until he collapsed, asking why he was there as he coughed up blood and appeared to go unconscious.

Shot both barbed devils in the head with his gun (which he picked off of Riz) as they were restraining Riz

Reached up and slapped his right ear to call for an extraction as a halo appeared behind his head. He reached out to grab Riz (Kid, I can't believe you made it here) before a beam of celestial light smashed through the ceiling. He confirmed that he was an undercover angel before raising his fist up in a superman pose as the beam made a loud sound and took the pair away.

***

Questions and Thoughts

How does Lorzug move, much less fight?

Fig shouldn't have told Vraz to eat her ass. She might have taken her up on it and tried to take a bite out of her ass. O_O

What IS a potentate?

How will Fig use her warlock abilities after being released? Was her insignia burning in her forehead how she's still able to do it?

Is Dayne's curse to never know how long he's been there?

How short is Adaine that our three Owlbears (all over 6 feet tall) didn't notice her when they went in for a three way chest bump?

Destructive Wave is the power of pissed off protective girlfriend energy.

When Kristen was knocked out, she was back in Silvar looking at a nice tree. Possible connection to the unknown goddess?

Adaine still has Johnny's warlock switchblade comb.

Will we get updated Pok art now?

Where is Riz now and how will he get back in time? Was this Kalina's plan all along (blow Pok's cover and delay the party longer to give them more of a lead)?

I am well aware that I spelled Alistair several different ways because I have no clue how to spell it and don't have it on my list of how I might spell it.

Please somebody teach Bill how to not suck at making bodies. I mean, I'm over here feeling sorry for those cinder zombies and between the crippling debt and unpaid internships, he could at LEAST give them working bodies with jaws and stuff.

Really paying attention made the 69 scene so much funnier and makes Ayda's confusion over it being a sex act so much more priceless. The couple was fully clothed, Kristen caressed Gorgug's leg while she was unconscious and being healed by Tracker, and (according to Brennan) Tracker just gave Kristen a sweet kiss. Part of me wonders if Tracker was messing with the group while Kristen came to thinking something dirty happened and just went with it, the other teens too inexperienced to know otherwise (save Ayda who must be so confused! XD).

The uselessness of Johnny Spells was one of my favorite parts of the stream.

Anybody else super happy Bill was so supportive of Fabian coming into his own, being supportive of his friends, and embracing dance?

Bill/Vraz. Nuff said.

[mistyscenter]

Ok so, for those who are confused about Derek's slander, what I think OP means is that Derek is significantly more criticized as a DLC/character than Cove and Baxter.

Many people have stated not liking his DLC because "it was focused on his family" and "we didn't pass that much time with him one-on-one" and, If you did play his DLC you would know that is his main conflict. Like is literally the main conflict, it's something he admits out loud in-game, most people who criticize those aspects did not pay attention to his DLC.

I've seen plenty of people not paying attention to what's happening in his DLC and hating that they couldn't have more romantic moments with Derek, but here's the thing, OUR LIFE IS NOT A DATING SIM, these people are treating Derek story as your regular Dating Sim when our life isn't that. Derek does genuinely have an incredible story BECAUSE IT REVOLVES AROUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO JUST AREN'T THE MC, he feels real, he feels like an actual person you can meet, his relationship with him, whether romantic or platonic, feels real.

People are also hating for the most obvious answer which is: racism and white favoritism. Those who usually criticize him, love Baxter DLC, they love Baxter who's a white man (and before anyone gets offended by this, hi, I'm white, I'm literally European I'm as white as it can get) and this is important because it can be read as a white bias for Baxter. Baxter is the average character that gets popular mostly within cishet women, not that everyone who likes Baxter is a cishet woman but his archetype is popular with them, this is all important because to these people you cannot touch Baxter or criticize him, but you can criticize Derek.

It feels like Derek needs to prove that he can be a LI in this game, he needs to have more time, he needs to spend less time on his family,his family is annoying etc; but Baxter? Baxter is perfect the way he is and if you criticize him, you're a hater.

You see how this reads as right? You see how this is a blatant display on how POC need to constantly be enough for white people but a white person can be as shitty as possible and people would still defend them until the end. You can't touch the white man but you can put under the bus a Mexican man because he didn't prove to be enough for us.

They don't look at themes of his DLC, they don't look what hid DLC was trying to do, they don't look how his DLC works on a writing perspective, it doesn't matter is not the love story they expected, Derek didn't prove himself to be enough therefore these people feel allowed to criticize him and to slander him because it's ok to slander the Mexican man but heaven forbids you touch the white man

Nothing confuses me more than Derek Rio Suarez slander

[mistyscenter]

What's frustrating about being someone who's critical of Baxter's character is that people constantly baby him and think this man happens to be the background character of his story due of outside forces beyond his control...when no, he does that to himself. He's the one telling himself he can never be someone important in someone's life, he gives himself the status of "just being a suitor for a season" "just a wedding planner" "just a friend" "just a tourist" HE DOES THAT TO HIMSELF, THAT'S WHY THE WAY HE LEAVES IS SO HEARTBREAKING

he's the one telling MC that there's no point in keeping a relationships because "you've only known me for 3 months we don't know much about each other, what's the point of keeping up this relationship" when every other normal person would just...stay in contact. THIS IS HIS DOING HE'S DOING IT TO HIMSELF WHEN MC MIGHT NOT WANT THAT, AND IS SO FRUSTRATING HOW PEOPLE ARE MAKING IT SEEM LIKE HE'S SOME VICTIM AS IF HE DIDN'T DO IT TO HIMSELF AND HE KNOWS HE DID THAT TO HIMSELF

This part is especially frustrating if you are dating Cove and earlier in the game he hoped you guys never break up. Not only that but what if your MC is someone who was worrying about the future and what that meant for their already established relationships? He just confirmed to them that fear, and you can do a lot narrative wise with that and I like it that's not at all an issue is just...is the way he's often depicted as someone innocent who didn't mean to do all of this damage when he was aware he would have done this damage. He knew from the start he would do that to himself, because that's his character. Baxter is hard on himself because of that he has self sabotaging tendencies and he keeps his relationships at arm length.

[flowers-in-your-dustbin]

All the numbers again (second tag reblog)

1: When you have cereal, do you have more milk than cereal or more cereal than milk? More milk than cereal cause I like to drink it!

2: do you like the feeling of cold air on your cheeks on a wintery day? Yeah, but when I can get into the warmth after that's even better!

3: what random objects do you use to bookmark your books? I try to remember the page number instead so usually end on a multiple of 10 or 5.

4: how do you take your coffee/tea? Tea: Two sugars, milk, hopefully brewed by the gal. Coffee: I don’t!

5: are you self-conscious of your smile? Kinda!

6: do you keep plants? Nope!

7: do you name your plants? None to name!

8: what artistic medium do you use to express your feelings? Oils if I had the money for that so typically watercolours

9: do you like singing/humming to yourself? I am right now.

10: do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach? Typically side, but back is fine. Not stomach really!

11: what's an inner joke you have with your friends? Oh My Gouda.

12: what's your favorite planet? Uranus ;)

13: what's something that made you smile today? My gal surprised me with a beautiful orchid

14: if you were to live with your best friend in an old flat in a big city, what would it look like? Edgy expose brick aesthetic

15: go google a weird space fact and tell us what it is! Uranus’ blue glow is due to an abundance of methane which filters out red light.

16: what's your favorite pasta dish? Spaghetti carbonara probs! Especially cooked by the best.

17: what color do you really want to dye your hair? I don’t! I did want pastel pink in August.

18: tell us about something dumb/funny you did that has since gone down in history between you and your friends and is always brought up. I had a paddy fit in primary school because I used to always sabotage my meals so I didn't eat them but I spilt milk on something I legitimately didn’t mind having... I cried over spilt milk.

19: do you keep a journal? what do you write/draw/ in it? I do! I write the days events and my feelings, I draw key points or little objects. Not all the time tho.

20: what's your favorite eye color? A nice hazel-y to chocolate amber brown woop

21: talk about your favorite bag, the one that's been to hell and back with you and that you love to pieces. A grey Kanken Fjallraven, if Switzerland counts as hell, there you have it.

22: are you a morning person? Yeah! I’m straight too!

23: what's your favorite thing to do on lazy days where you have 0 obligations? Exactly that, nothing. With a side of music.

24: is there someone out there you would trust with every single one of your secrets? Only the one.

25: what's the weirdest place you've ever broken into? An abandoned slaughterhouse. Soz vegans

26: what are the shoes you've had for forever and wear with every single outfit? Black old skool vans hehe original

27: what's your favorite bubblegum flavor? Strawberry!

28: sunrise or sunset? Why not both in a day?

29: what's something really cute that one of your friends does and is totally endearing? I’m not sure!

30: think of it: have you ever been truly scared? I’m not sure, close calls/

31: what is your opinion of socks? do you like wearing weird socks? do you sleep with socks? do you confine yourself to white sock hell? really, just talk about socks. I like socks. Weird socks are fun. So are odd ones. I do not sleep with my socks, nor do I confine myself to white sock hell.

32: tell us a story of something that happened to you after 3AM when you were with friends. We had deep convos for the time, we probs cried, then probs went to sleep.

33: what's your fave pastry? Uh choux just cause I can remember that is one. Hahahaha.

34: tell us about the stuffed animal you kept as a kid. what is it called? what does it look like? do you still keep it? I had one called Baxter Bear which was the best, he was quite obviously a bear with a red scarf and his own passport. I threw up on him in the car and he was never the same again, he disappeared short after. Don’t ask about Scrubs the dog.

35: do you like stationary and pretty pens and so on? do you use them often? I do, I just don't use them often.

36: which band's sound would fit your mood right now? The xx

37: do you like keeping your room messy or clean? A healthy middle.

38: tell us about your pet peeves! Couldn’t possibly. There’s a fair few.

39: what color do you wear the most? Probably black? Emo ik.

40: think of a piece of jewelry you own: what's it's story? does it have any meaning to you? I own a necklace I got for my 16th its very cute and only comes out when I have heterosexual days to masquerade it. It’s nice.

41: what's the last book you remember really, really loving? The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, it’s my favourite ever. I don’t read as much as I used to, sigh.

42: do you have a favorite coffee shop? describe it! There’s a cute local one. They do unreal Nutella pancakes and its quite central and very aesthetic-y. Yum!

43: who was the last person you gazed at the stars with? My gal, typically on the way to my car where I point out Orion or The Dipper. It’d be nice to do it properly sometime.

44: when was the last time you remember feeling completely serene and at peace with everything? Two days ago.

45: do you trust your instincts a lot? When I need to.

46: tell us the worst pun you can think of. Someone mentions a dog, then I normally incorporate the word ‘ruff’ as a homophone for ‘rough’ and get death stares. But I like it.

47: what food do you think should be banned from the universe? Gherkins.

48: what was your biggest fear as a kid? is it the same today? Abandonment/loneliness hahahah yes it is.

49: do you like buying CDs and records? what was the last one you bought? I do like buying records yeah! I can’t say until April the 23rd but I’ll have bought another by then.

50: what's an odd thing you collect? I don’t think I do have anything odd!

51: think of a person. what song do you associate with them? Uncomfortable by Wallows, as well as Fast Food by D.I.D and many many more.

52: what are your favorite memes of the year so far? The new Patrick one is doing pretty good.

53: have you ever watched the rocky horror picture show? heathers? beetlejuice? pulp fiction? what do you think of them? Nope, nope, nope and nope!

54: who's the last person you saw with a true look of sadness on their face? My dog. I didn't walk him.

55: what's the most dramatic thing you've ever done to prove a point? Hahahah you wouldn’t want to know. 

56: what are some things you find endearing in people? Feeling secure with them, if you get me.

57: go listen to bohemian rhapsody. how did it make you feel? did you dramatically reenact the lyrics? CAN YOU DO THE FANDANGO!?!?!

58: who's the wine mom and who's the vodka aunt in your group of friends? why? K is probs the wine mom bc I'd say A but she’s not as sensible, thus A gets the Aunt role.

59: what's your favorite myth? Bulls hate red, they’re actually colour blind lmao.

60: do you like poetry? what are some of your faves? I don’t mind a bit of poetry! Marking Time by Owen Sheers is noice.

61: what's the stupidest gift you've ever given? the stupidest one you've ever received? Me and mum put a fancy brooch in a pack of digestives for someone. I’ve received stupid spellings of my name on the birthday cards.

62: do you drink juice in the morning? which kind? Nope

63: are you fussy about your books and music? do you keep them meticulously organized or kinda leave them be? Rainbow order woop.

64: what color is the sky where you are right now? Black.

65: is there anyone you haven't seen in a long time who you'd love to hang out with? Yep!

66: what would your ideal flower crown look like? Cutesy and white and blue and stuff idk. But I wouldn't wear one haha.

67: how do gloomy days where the sky is dark and the world is misty make you feel? Serene! Albeit Silent Hill-esque

68: what's winter like where you live? Fun! Cold! Disruptive!

69: what are your favorite board games? The Game of Life/Monopoly/Articulate!

70: have you ever used a ouija board? Nope!

71: what's your favorite kind of tea? English Breakfast, brewed by the girlfriend.

72: are you a person who needs to note everything down or else you'll forget it? I've been known to be.

73: what are some of your worst habits? Overthinking. Nail biting.

74: describe a good friend of yours without using their name or gendered pronouns. Ginger.

75: tell us about your pets! A doggo! A beagle! and a fish...

76: is there anything you should be doing right now but aren't? Revising!

77: pink or yellow lemonade? Yellow

78: are you in the minion hateclub or fanclub? anyone in the fanclub needs natural selection to do its thing.

79: what's one of the cutest things someone has ever done for you? Surprised me at work with flowers.

80: what color are your bedroom walls? did you choose that color? if so, why? White, because I’d like grey but we haven’t got there yet or painted the house since its still pretty new.

81: describe one of your friend's eyes using the most abstract imagery you can think of. I don't have the time for that shit.

82: are/were you good in school? I was! I still think I am! Who knows.

83: what's some of your favorite album art? Smithsmithsmithsmithsmiths

84: are you planning on getting tattoos? which ones? Yeah! Quite a few. All tonal, but above all a Venus sign and more importantly the great wave off Kanazawa by Hokusai

85: do you read comics? what are your faves? I don't fun fact I used to read them start to feel sick.

86: do you like concept albums? which ones? I feel stupid for not knowing what they are.

87: what are some movies you think everyone should watch at least once in their lives? Donnie Darko.

88: are there any artistic movements you particularly enjoy? Not Gothic. Can’t go wrong with a bit of impressionism.

89: are you close to your parents? I think. Depends on the time of day.

90: talk about your one of you favorite cities. Starts with E, ends in Dinburgh.

91: where do you plan on traveling this year? Nowhere abroad really, just a couple of good cities.

92: are you a person who drowns their pasta in cheese or a person who barely sprinkles a pinch? Barely sprinkles, but I have a drowner with me to compensate.

93: what's the hairstyle you wear the most? Down. Full stop. 

94: who was the last person you know to have a birthday? My girlfriend’s. mum!

95: what are your plans for this weekend? Work, a party, a Harry Potter film, a sad Sunday.

96: do you install your computer updates really quickly or do you procrastinate on them a lot? I leave them for as long as possible

97: myer briggs type, zodiac sign, and hogwarts house? ENFJ/Pisces/Ravenclaw

98: when's the last time you went hiking? did you enjoy it? Hah idk.

99: list some songs that resonate to your soul whenever you hear them. Nude - Radiohead is the one I’m thinking at the mo’ and I can’t think past that.

100: if you were presented with two buttons, one that allows you to go 5 years into the past, the other 5 years into the future, which one would you press? why? Future. Don’t need to lament on the past when I hope I have a good one ahead of me. Then from there I'd click 5 back so I’m right back to where I am, cheers.

[elcerdodesiempre-blog]

comision

Para ricardo por una Nintendo switch edición splatoon y un play 4 pro

Quiero que se las metas por ambos agujeros a

las que tengan una (X) va a salir embarazadas

 Judy Hopps

Fabienne Growley

Pantera nudista

Renata Lobales

Dmv pig swinton

Twlight

Celestia

Luna (X)

Sunset

Rarity

Starlight (x)

Sassy

Fleur

Upper crust

Pinkie pie

Applejack

Fluttershy

Rarra

Lyra

Trixie

Moon dancer

Diamond tiara

Spoled rich

Sweetie belle

Mayor mare

Vinyl

Suri polomare

Coco pomel

Minerva mink

Lola bunny

Honey

Monroe

viola

Britny

Blue

Maria

Selena

Sara

Calara

Binky

Babs

Lexi

Mrs bunny

Daisy lou

Pua bunny (playa japonesa)

Krystal

Maid marian (X)

Darma vix (X)

Mariana stola

Foxy roxy

Maestra zorra

Roberta foxfox

Liliana redhunter

Sawyer

Silvia

Penelope pussycat

Calie brigs

Dulcinea (X)

Kitty patitas suaves

Kitty katswell y todas sus hermanas

Tammy

Roxane goof

Miss bianca

Miss kitty mouse y hermanas

Gadget

Olivia flaversham

Lady mouse

Miss birsby

Dixie fah

Vixie

Georgette

Lita

Greta

Rita

Sasha le fleur

flo

Anabelle

Belladona

perdita

Jenna

Aleu

Dixie balto

Pumpkin

Zoe trent

Madame pom

Gail trent

Belka

Sweetie paw patrol

Gidget

Angel

Lady

Maddie

Scooby dee

Chiquita

Mammoth mutt

Princess story

Blythe Baxter

Youngme song

Sue Patterson

Biskit twins

Heather

Courtney

Gwen

Sierra

Sky

Dakota

Ella

Izzy

Zoey

Jasmine

Dawn

Bridgette

Carrie

Ellody

Emma

Kitty

Jen

Katie

Samey

Sanders

Scarlet

Rosita

Ash

becky

Nancy

Judith

Timantha

Trixie

Vicky y su madre

Madre de timmy

Hada de los dientes

Miss doombring

Princesa mandy

Wanda

Blonda

Ember mclain

Jazz

Madeline

Paulina

Verónica

Sam

Rule 63 de danny

Danielle

Espectra

Desire

Kitty

Sally carrera

Holley shiftwell

Cruz ramirez

Natalie certain

Candice

Carla veloso

Donna pits

Guilia

Kori turbowitz

Lorry abulance

Marilyn

Nurse GTO

Misti motorkrass

Sara safestreet

Serena

Lita

Amy mizuno

Luna

Diana

Ranma chan

Kodachi

Ukio

Shampo

Akane

Kasumi

Naviki

Rinrin

Ranran

Drakulaura

Toralei stripe

Elizabath

Twyla

Aery evenfall

Ari Hauntington

Catrine demew

Catty noir

Euna

Apple withe

Raven queen

Mira shards

Cerise Hood

Lizzie hearts

Blondie lockes

Bunny blanks

Ca cupid

Chesire cat

Kitty cheshire

Courtly jester

Darling charming

Deerla

Harelow

Foxanne

Madeline hatter

Lilly bo peep

Jackie frost

Faybelle thorn

Farrah goodfairy

Duchess swan

Poppy o hair

Ramona badwolf

Nevermore

Renaon

Gatomon

Lillimon

Exveemon

Flamedramon

Angewemon

Dawn

Mallow

Eureka

Misty

May

Serena

Irirs

Diantha

Cinthia

Bianca

Maestra tigresa

su

Song

Mei ling

Mei ling rouge

Damas de las sombras

Hermanas wu

Lian

Lady flor de loto (leona)

Ming antelope

Maestra leopardo

Maestra pantera negra

Mar

Tina

Marina

Perla

Starfire

Raven

Jinx

Vixey

Amy rose

Nimue

Rouge the bath

Vanilla the rabbit

Blaze the cat

Sasha the cat

Honey the cat

La hermana de tails

Sonar the Fennec

Zoey the fox

Fiona the fox

Cosmo

Sticks the badger

Perci

Breezie the Hedgehog

Nicole the Holo-Lynx

Lady goat

Rabbit girl

Reindeer Girl

Clove the Pronghorn

Diane Aardvark

Jian the Tiger

Barby koala

Marine racoon

Sally acorn

Sonia the hedgehog

Dulce princesa

Marceline

Bronwyn

Violeta

Princesa flama

Maga cazadora

Princesa helado de yogurt

Princesa desyuno

Fiona la humana

Reina helada

Señora zorra

Star butterfly

Eclipsa

Reina moon

Chica ardilla

Princesa marco (con vagina no pene)

Kate

Lilly

Eve

candy

Daría

Maria

Princess

Vitani

Kiara

Nala

Zira

Zuri

Fuli

tIfu

Doremi

Seno aiko

Onpu segawa

Momoko asuka

Margarita

Cj

Bonbon

Brubuja

Bellota (las dos versiones)

Marge

Lisa

Mindy simmons

Lurlei lumpkin

Maud flanders

Nikki McKenna

Jessica Lovejoy

Jenny

Greta Wolfcastle

Kumiko albertson

Becky

Isabell gutierres

Berenice hibbert

Clara stetson

Stacey Swanson

Roz daviz

Betsy Bidwell (la versión Simpson)

La sobrina del alcalde diamante

- jennette mccurdy

-miranda cosgrove

- taylor swift

-ariana grande (versión anime si quieres)

Kate

Sierra

Victoria

Begum

Florrie

Gia

Clover

Pam

Karen

Crimsom

Coco bandicoot

Tawna bandicoot

Princesa peach

Princesa Daisy

Rosalina

Capitana Amelia

Cleo catillac

Zangya

Sorrel

Hop

Kai tiempo

Towa

N 18

Bulma

Bra

Ribriane (sin transformar)

Kale

Kaulifua

Launch

Princesa serpiente

Tia grandma

Gwen tennyson

Charm caster

Duquesa

Marie

Hello kitty

Minnie mouse

Tinkerbell, hermana y amigas

Bloom

Stela

Musa

Talking angela

Talking Liliana (inventala)

Princesa romy

Angelica pikles

Kimi finster

Lili

Suzie carmaikle

Mavis drakula

Elsa

Anna

Rapunzel

Merida

Jazmine

Ariel

Mulan

Isabella garcia shapiro

Cadance flynn

Stacy hirano

Sandy checks

Torres

Meika fox

Tamira

ms. Dira

Miko nakadai

Clarie nuñez

Sima luan

Melisa Morgan

Hermanas test

Jonny test rule 63

[mistyscenter]

Sorry to steal your tags BUT YOURE SO FUCKING RIGHT, IT FEELS LIKE NO ONE HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE 😭

For Cove is extremely strange because in the wedding dlc he was so hostile towards Baxter SO WHY ISNT HE ACTIVELY FIGHTING HIM IN HIS DLC !!!

Baxter: "Now, in the hopes of starting off on the right foot. Let me apologize for my younger self. I—"

Mc:

[dzmoot]

The Ballad of Baxter Bladely

 By Derrick Zurn 

This is a guy named Baxter. His last name is Bladely. Well, his original last name was Gusterson but he had it legally changed after a FATEFUL NIGHT. You see, Baxter was visiting a paper clip factory with his parents when out of the clear misty sky, the machine that bends the tiny paperclips exploded, causing several metal shards to embed themselves right into Baxter’s body. You think such a horrible ordeal would send a man six feet under, but not Baxter. He’s alive and kicking. The thing Baxter loves most is to give hugs, but with an abdomen full of knives, a hug can either mean a warm embrace, a good whiff of cologne or a trip to the nearby trauma unit! 

Baxter’s habit of walking up to people and giving them hugs led to some serious problems, especially for his relatives. Every time they’d come for Thanksgiving dinner, they’d have to kiss Baxter and that meant getting poked, prodded and impaled by Baxter’s “knifestache”. They just didn’t know what to do with Baxter. Surely he meant no harm and he longed for love and compassion, but his blade problem was just too much to bare. Even the world’s most notorious slashers and murderers didn’t come near Baxter, for they’d certainly become “holey” as if they were locked within the confines of an iron maiden. 

So they sent Baxter away to a special place, ideal for macabre misfits and loner ghoulies. It was called Goreycrest Academy and several monstrosities like Baxter could attend school there and learn to overcome their abnormalities, whatever they may be. The dean of this academy was a dead man named Chance P. Baggaboanz, who suffered from duel personality syndrome. One minute he was giddy and every word out of his mouth was in song, the next minute, he was bitter and curmudgeonous, spewing curses and hexes like some sort of ancient wizard from the north. He was after all the descendent of a powerful pirate sorcerer named Pierre Guttzhack who was rumored to have devoured an entire armory of weapons and stored them in his ribcage. 

When Baxter was sent to his office, Chance tried to explain the courses Baxter would be taking at the school, but he was constantly interrupted by his talking piranha ficus, Gertrude. Chance solved that problem by placing a bowling ball firmly into her mouth. 

The students at Goreycrest were just as out there as Baxter was. Just look how demented and crude and despicably grotesque they were with their eye sockets and three sets of intestines and let’s not forget their tendencies to spew goo from their armpits and pumpkin seeds from their ears! 

Many of the Goreycrest students enjoyed playing pranks on each other, swapping brains of other students when they weren’t looking and eating EYE-SCREAM, which was served by the great Armgrease Platsky atop of the nearby hill. Flavors included spice pumpkin witch hazel, bella donna crunch, caramel wart of weasel and bloody bat parfait. 

Before Baxter knew it, it was Halloween and he was invited to a party at midnight. While Chance handed out candy at the front of the school, Baxter prepared himself for a night of mingling, but just couldn't get around the sharp blades. 

One of the other students, Krogler Lubdub teased and heckled Baxter, saying that one of the games they would be playing at the party that night was “Ring Toss” and that he would be the one getting the rings tossed on him. When they played “Bobbing for Apples”, every apple would be firmly planted on Baxter’s knifestache. And if they were to dance the Monster Mash, well, everyone would surely be MASHED by Baxter to say the least! 

Baxter was determined to show Krogler that he wasn’t going to let his blade problem spoil the party. So he visited his friend, Puttysaurus who stayed in the dorm not too far from Baxter’s. Puttysaurus was sick with a cold and wasn’t going to the party, but he was going to help Baxter with his blade problem regardless.

He tried dressing Baxter in a tuxedo of bubble wrap, but the wrap popped and fizzled out in a matter of minutes. He then tried melting Baxter’s blades with a blowtorch, but the knives just got hot and turned orange. Then, as his nose began to tickle, Puttysaurus sneezed a great sneeze of purpley snot and before you knew it, Baxter was covered in the purpley snot. He looked down at himself and noticed that all his blades were covered. Instead of being sharp, he was now soft and squishy. He thanked Puttysaurus as he departed to the party! 

Baxter had a great time. They didn’t play ring toss on him, instead playing it on Price the Porcupine Man who actually didn’t mind it. When they bobbed for apples. Baxter won, for his sticky mustache proved useful in catching an apple or three. But when they all danced the Monster Mash, something unexpected occurred. Everybody and everything began sticking to Baxter and when they tried to pull themselves apart, the entire room became covered in an array of pink strings, from the ceiling to the floor. Everyone and everything became tangled in the strings, dangling around like marionettes and Krogler found himself hanging upside down as pumpkin seeds started spilling from his ears. He apologized to Baxter for teasing him earlier and said something he never thought he’d hear himself say.

Baxter, I think I liked you better when you had blades! 

[northcountryschool]

October 12, 2018

At North Country School, the concepts of community and sustainability are woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. We honor these values in many ways, but they are particularly evident at our annual chicken harvest.

Chicken harvest is a day filled with reverence and respect when we come together to harvest the birds that our students and Camp Treetops campers raised from chicks and cared for while they provided us with thousands of eggs. The meat from those birds will be served in our dining room. Chicken harvest is a “challenge by choice” opportunity, in which students are involved to whatever extent they feel able. The few students who choose not to participate in the harvest are invited to an alternate vegetable harvest. Students who do choose to participate in the chicken harvest learn the steps that bring humanely-raised meat to our plates. It is a powerful and difficult day, one that teaches students and teachers important lessons about support, respect, and our connection to the food that sustains us.

To view more photos from this year’s chicken harvest, see this week’s Farm and Garden section at the bottom of this post.

ACADEMICS

Students had small and large group conversations this week to enhance their learning. Sam’s math class moved into the kitchen, where students teamed up to convert equations into recipes. Using order-of-operations and integers math, Abezu and Bladen calculated ingredient amounts for a batch of no-bake cookies. The class ended with a taste-test to see if their quantities were correct. Across campus in Spanish class, Thebe and Tianyu practiced their conversational skills while surrounded by decorations for the upcoming Día de Los Muertos holiday.

At town meeting, the time set aside each week for special programming, guest speaker Dr. Thomas Easley Skyped in for a conversation with our school community. Dr. Easley is the Assistant Dean of Community and Inclusion in the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University, as well as a hip hop artist whose music focuses on messages of love, identity, and inclusion. Students were invited to ask questions about Dr. Easley’s path to science and research, and he spoke powerfully about the opportunities we see for ourselves, as well as the lessons on patience, respect, and interconnectedness that we can all take from experiences in nature.

Click Here to watch a short video on Dr. Easley’s passions for forestry and music.

ARTS

Students in our arts classes worked on projects large, small, and miniature this week. In Elie’s 4th-6th grade woodshop class, students are using campus-harvested pine to build two Little Free Libraries. The nonprofit, which gives communities access to free books by encouraging the building of “give a book, take a book” stations, helps readers exchange millions of books each year and fosters connected neighborhoods and communities. Our students’ libraries will be installed in two locations in nearby towns when completed. To read more about Little Free Library, click here.

In Tom’s woodshop class, Noah worked on the lathe to perfect his beautiful, layered bowl, and Robbie used local bird’s eye maple to build a large “river table” that will highlight the wood’s distinct features and be topped with a sheet of glass. Cate worked in miniature this week in Katie’s 3D art class, creating a model house out of popsicle sticks complete with Adirondack chairs on the front porch and a tub and sink in the bathroom.

OUTDOORS

Our afternoon out-time activities provide students with an opportunity to explore their interests outside the classroom. The soccer players took advantage of the warm weather and bluebird skies this week. June blocked practice shots as the team practiced for their upcoming season.

Sky, Samantha, Jenny, and Baxter took part in a friendly game of Frisbee on the field beside Clark House, and a group of students including Anja, Angelica, and Silvia went for a walk at nearby Heaven Hill. The winding trail system offers spectacular views of the surrounding High Peaks mountainscape and ends in an old apple orchard where the students relaxed before returning to campus for afternoon chores.

FARM AND GARDEN

Fall at North Country School brings with it the need to harvest many of the foods grown on our farm. Chicken harvest is a day of mixed emotions for every member of our community—a day when we come together with kindness, caring, and patience as we process the many birds that will help feed us through the coming year.

The misty morning began with farm manager Joshua talking to the students and teachers, outlining how the day would look and letting all participants know what they should expect in the hours ahead. Instructions were given, and students were able to choose their level of participation. Adults were at every station, supporting our students and lending a hand in the process.

Many of our older students, including Teo, Quinn, Sky, Lucy, and Eliza chose to take birds through the entire process, with teachers Selden and Kyra waiting at Dexter Pasture to carefully hand over chickens to be carried up the hill. Farther along in the process at the plucking station, Hock talked students through the scalding process and explained how to remove feathers. At the next station, teacher Steph led students through a biology lesson, in which Ella, Tristan, and Dylan learned about internal anatomy as they helped clean and prepare the birds. The final station at chicken harvest involves weighing and bagging birds, and our younger children often help at this point in the process, putting numbers on log sheets and sending the meat to our freezers for use throughout the year.

For some teachers and students it was their first time at an event like chicken harvest, and the day brought out many thoughts and feelings that were shared in conversations that followed. For others, like teachers Katie and Noni, whose grandparents founded NCS, the event has always been a part of their lives. For all members of our community, it is a difficult and moving day that emphasizes how we come together to lend a hand, support one another, and feel connected to each other and to the animals that sustain us.

Check back next week to see what we’re up to on our mountain campus.

For more information about the #This Week At NCS blog, contact Becca Miller at bmiller@northcountryschool.org.

For general school information, call 518-523-9329 or visit our website: www.northcountryschool.org

[therandombanjo]

Songs From 2017 (One per artist)

Another mixed bag of stuff i either enjoyed a lot, thought was excellent or interesting (regardless of taste... sort of), artists to maybe look out for, and generally music that for whatever reason connected with me in some way.  Hope you enjoy some of this too and find something new to be taken by. First time i’ve compiled it into a spotify playlist (below) for easier listening (!) but for the music that wasn’t on there, i’ve posted links next to them so do check them out! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/jolomoco/playlist/4encG0gAwzuz5VmwPwprZG (As ever.... as i don’t tumblr or blog or anything (besides this list), this won’t be seen by many (if any?) people so if you like it or think it’s of any worth in any way, please do share this along)

  In Alphabetical order:

79rs Gang - Dead and Gone

Aimee Mann - Goose Snow Cone

Alder & Ash - a. The Glisten, The Glow   or   b. At Night In the Slaughterhouse

Aldous Harding - Horizon

Alela Diane - Émigré

Alex Cameron - Candy May

Amber Mark - Monsoon

Amor - Higher Moment

Andrea Belfi - Lead

Anna of the North - Oslo

Anna Von Hausswolff - The Mysterious Vanishing of Electra

Arca - Piel

Arve Henriksen - Paridae

Bargou 08 - Chech el Khater

Baxter Dury - Miami

Bedouine - Dusty Eyes

Ben Lukas Boysen & Sebastian Plano - Winding & Unwinding

Benoît Pioulard - Velha, Nacre

Big Thief - Mythological Beauty

Björk - The Gate

Black Thought (of The Roots) - Freestyle on Funk Flex https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prmQgSpV3fA

Brian Eno - a. Reflection   or b. Only Once Away My Son w/ Kevin Shields b. https://soundcloud.com/adultswimsingles/brian-eno-with-kevin-shields

Call Super - I Look Like I Look In A Tinfoil Mirror

Camille Thurman - Flower is a Lovesome Thing

Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh & Garth Knox - Tasseography

Carly Rae Jepsen - Cut To The Feeling

CCFX - The One To Wait

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Rest

Chehei Hatakeyama & Federico Durand - Ana https://chiheihatakeyama.bandcamp.com/track/ana

Chloe x Halle - Tra Ta Ta

Chronotope Project - Mariposa

Chuck Johnson - Riga Black

The Clientele - The Neighbour

Colin Stetson - Like Wolves On The Fold

Colleen - Separating

The Como Mamas - Move Upstairs

Country Florist - Beaux D’Arc

Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile - Over Everything

David Bazan - Care  

David Rawlings - Airplane

Dent May - Across The Multiverse     ft. Frankie Cosmos

Destroyer - Sky’s Grey

Dmitry Evgrafov - Kintsukuroi      ft. Benoît Piolard

Downtown Boys - A Wall

Elkhorn - Due West

Elucid - Piano Wire

Everything is Recorded - Close But Not Quite      ft. Sampha

Father John Misty - Pure Comedy

Fever Ray - This Country

Fionn Regan - Cormorant Bird

Four Tet - Planet

Francis & The Lights - Cruise

Frank Ocean - Chanel

Friendship - If You See My Beloved

G Yamazawa - North Cack

Girl Ray - Stupid Things

Godflesh - Parasite

Gordi - I’m Done    ft. S.Carey

The Granite Shore - The Performance of a Lifetime https://thegraniteshore.bandcamp.com/track/the-performance-of-a-lifetime

The Green Kingdom - Silt

Gunn-Truscinski Duo - Seagull For Chuck Berry

Hand Habits - Flower Glass

Hannu Karjalainen - The Emigrant

Hayden Pedigo - Dream Plains

Hiss Golden Messenger - Harder Rain

Homeboy Sandman - Bamboo

Hundred Waters - Blanket Me

Hurray For The Riff Raff - Pa’lante

Ibeyi - No Man Is Big Enough For My Arms

Ibibio Sound Machine - Give Me A Reason

IDER - Body Love

Inner Travels - Ripple Patterns (Sea of Leaves) https://innerislands.bandcamp.com/track/ripple-patterns

Irreversible Entanglements - Fireworks

Jaimie Branch - Theme 001

Jlin - Kyanite

Joan Shelley - Where I’ll Find You

Joe - Tail Lift

Joey Bada$$ - Land of the Free

John Moreland - a. Sallisaw Blue    or b. Old Wounds

Jonwayne - TED Talk

Joseph Shabason - Aytche

Juana Molina - Paraguaya

Julie Byrne - I Live Now As A Singer

Julien Baker - Turn Out The Lights

Justin Walter - Unseen Forces

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - I Will Make Room For You

Kamasi Washington - Truth

Kara-Lis Coverdale - Grafts

Karine Polwart - All On a Summer’s Evening

Kelly Lee Owens - Anxi     ft. Jenny Hval

Kendrick Lamar - Humble

The Killers - Run For Cover

King Krule - Czech One

Kirin J Callinan - Bravado

KJ - Cotton

Lana Del Rey - Love

Laraaji - Introspection

Laura Cannell - Awaken Waken

Laura Marling - Wild Fire

Les Filles de Illighadad - Jori

Lisa Knapp - The Night Before May Day

Lo Moon - This is It

Luka Productions - Furu Boyan

Marvin Pontiac - I Don’t Have A Cow

Mary Lattimore - Wawa By The Ocean

Michael Nau - I Root

Michael Vincent Waller - By Itself

Mind Over Mirrors - Splintering

Moses Sumney - Doomed

Mount Eerie - Real Death

Mount Kimbie - Marilyn     ft. Micachu

Nadia Reid - Preservation

The Necks - Rise

Nightlands - Lost Moon

Nilüfer Yanya - Baby Luv

Ola Szmidt - Autumn

Otto A Totland - Anona

Oumou Sangare - Yere Faga      ft. Tony Allen

Perfume Genius - Slip Away

Peter Perrett - How The West Was Won

Pharmakon - No Natural Order    

Phoebe Bridgers - Motion Sickness

Pissed Jeans - a. I’m A Man    ft. words & voice of Lindsay Hunter or b. Worldwide Marine Asset Financial Analyst

Porter Ricks - Scuba Rondo

Prana Crafter - a. Holy Temple of Flow    or b. Crown of Amethyst a. https://soundcloud.com/mike-newman/prana-crafter-holy-tempel-of-flow b. https://pranacrafter.bandcamp.com/track/crown-of-amethyst-3

Priests - Pink White House

Protomartyr - Male Plague

Quelle Chris - Pendulum Swing   ft. Homeboy Sandman

Randy Newman - Putin

Rapsody - Power      ft. Kendrick Lamar

Reese McHenry - Bad Girl https://sophomorelounge.bandcamp.com/track/bad-girl-3

Richard Dawson - Ogre

Rod Hamilton & Tiffany Seal - Moon Lush https://soundsofthedawn.bandcamp.com/track/moon-lush

Ron Gallo - Kill The Medicine Man

Ross Hammond & Jon Bafus - Subterranean Doom Coffee

Rostam - Gwan

Ryuichi Sakamoto - Solari

S.Carey - Fool’s Gold

Sam Amidon - Juma Mountain

Seabuckthorn - Turns

Sheer Mag - Expect The Bayonet

Simeon Walker - Lull

Simon Fisher Turner - Hope Swims

Six Organs of Admittance - Adoration Song https://sixorgansofadmittance.bandcamp.com/track/adoration-song

Sleaford Mods - Snout

Slow Dancer - I Would

Slowdive - Sugar For The Pill

Sophie Hutchings - Pipe Dream

Spoon - Hot Thoughts

St. Vincent - New York

Sufjan Stevens - Visions of Gideon    

Sunmoonstar - Satellites

Sylvan Esso - Sound

This Is The Kit - Easy On The Thieves

Tinariwen - Sastanàqqàm

Trio Da Kali & Kronos Quartet - Eh Ya Ye

Trio Mediæval & Arve Henriksen - St. Sunniva Hymn - Eterna Christi Munera

Twain - Solar Pilgrim

Vince Staples - Big Fish

Visible Cloaks - Neume

The War On Drugs - Thinking of a Place

Waxahatchee - Recite Remorse

The Weather Station - Thirty

White Poppy - Magic Feel

William Basinski - A Shadow In Time

William Eggleston - Untitled Improvisation DCC 04.33.3

William Ryan Fritch - a. Gurts    or b. In Our Blood

Wooden Wand - School’s Out

Yaeji - Feel It Out

Zara McFarlane - Peace Begins Within

[bintaeran]

Friday Q&A: Questions for Shelly Prosko about Yoga for Chronic Pain

Friday Q&A: Questions for Shelly Prosko about Yoga for Chronic Pain Nina Zolotow

Wisteria Buds by Melina Meza

“You don’t have to be afraid of pain. If it’s going to be there, you can let it be there—but don’t let the mind be in pain with it.” —Upasika Kee Nanayon, from Tricycle Magazine’s Daily Dharma At the recent MISTY yoga therapy conference in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, physiotherapist and YFHA contributor Shelly Prosko and I talked about yoga and chronic pain, which she has been teaching for some time with Neil Pearson, who is also a physiotherapist. I was so happy to get to pick Shelly’s brain on this topic, which I get so many questions about from our YFHA readers! So today it’s me asking the questions and Shelly answering them. —Baxter Baxter: Can you start by talking about the problem of chronic or persistent pain—how you define it? Shelly: To put it simply, chronic pain or persistent pain (we use the terms interchangeably) is different than acute pain in that it lasts longer than three to six months or longer than one would expect for normal tissue healing to last. Persistent pain can be a symptom of an underlying condition or it can be a diagnosis on its own. And many other symptoms can accompany persistent pain that may contribute to the overall pain experience, such as fatigue, sleeplessness, altered breathing pattern, protective postures, and guarded movement. There are also psychosocial and emotional issues that can be associated with persistent pain, such as anxiety, depression, feelings of social isolation, loneliness, hopelessness, as well as cognitive changes, such as reduced memory and learning ability, and altered thought patterns, such as pain “catastrophization” and rumination. Persistent pain is a serious and widespread health concern that affects approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide. According to the Institute of Medicine of The National Academies, at least 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which is more than from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer combined. But because persistent pain is a very complex phenomenon involving all aspects of your existence, people who suffer from it need to be treated, managed, and guided in a way that supports a holistic approach. Unfortunately, this type of treatment is not often provided, and the result is staggering rates of disability, depression, prescription painkiller drug abuse and overdose, suicide, and inability to successfully control or manage pain. There are many possible reasons why this epidemic is poorly managed—which I won’t go into here—but whatever the reason(s), I believe there is hope! I’m convinced we can significantly improve the care and support of those with persistent pain with ongoing education about pain and pain management strategies that includes enthusiastic participation of the person who is suffering.  Baxter: Can you tell with our readers a bit about the new information you shared with me earlier regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for healthcare providers in US regarding the use of narcotic meds and the gap you see that is creating so many problems for those suffering with chronic pain?  Shelly: On March 15, 2016, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines for healthcare providers who prescribe painkillers (narcotics/opioids) for patients with persistent pain. These guidelines were a response to the rising rates of opioid abuse and overdose and a parallel increase in opioid prescriptions. They were also a response to solid evidence that showed opioids are not very effective in alleviating persistent pain or helping people improve function (and in some cases, long-term opioid use even appears to be correlated with hyperalgesia, or increased pain sensitivity). The CDC states that these guidelines are intended to: “ensure that clinicians and patients consider safer and more effective treatment, improve patient outcomes such as reduced pain and improved function, and reduce the number of persons who develop opioid use disorder, overdose, or experience other adverse events related to these drugs.” Although these guidelines were established with the best of intentions, there has been some backlash and gaps in treatment guidelines have surfaced. One year after the guidelines were released, a follow-up survey was conducted by the Pain News Network and the International Pain Foundation. The survey was divided into sections for healthcare providers and people in pain. The results were disheartening, to say the least. They showed that both healthcare providers and people in pain believed that the guidelines have resulted in more harm than good. And a whopping 90% agreed that the guidelines have not improved the management of pain. The Pain News Network reports that the guidelines have failed, saying there was: “a failure to stop abuse and overdoses, hoarding behaviors by well-intentioned patients, increased use of illegal drugs and, worst of all, suicides increase.” (In Canada, there are similar opioid prescription guidelines that organizations such as Pain BC have responded to by their outlining valid concerns in a formal document.) So there now appears to be a huge gap in education, guidance, and training for healthcare providers on what to do either in lieu of prescribing or in conjunction with changing opioid prescriptions. We can't just implement the new guidelines without providing other evidence-based, safe, and effective options that are accessible and feasible to deliver. In my opinion, this is a crisis! There is so much work to be done. The good news is that there are many people and organizations out there doing phenomenal work to help improve overall pain management that uses an evidence-based, holistic approach and empowers the person in pain to be involved in a successful way. Baxter: What you just said—that chronic pain is quite complex and that the use of narcotic/opiod medicines is not proving very effective in treatment—is so important because it opens the door to using yoga to address the whole person as well as the underlying causes of a person’s ongoing pain. You yourself are part of a training program that teaches people how to more effectively address pain using yoga tools. Can you give us a brief overview on how that looks and some of the key tenants of your approach?  Shelly: Yes, I have the privilege of learning from and training and teaching with Neil Pearson, the founder and creator of Life is Now Pain Care. The Pain Care Yoga (PCY) training program is for yoga teachers/therapists, healthcare professionals or any movement or bodywork practitioners who work with people suffering from persistent pain. It also includes courses and resources for people in pain. The Pain are Yoga program is an educational and practical program that enhances the ability of people to manage pain, move with more ease, and live well again by integrating pain science education, yoga philosophy and techniques, and the lived experience of pain. It allows people in pain to access a variety of self-care practices that provide a more self-empowered approach to pain care, in addition to their current medical care. The self-care practices include breath and body awareness practices, self-regulation practices, movement guidelines to follow when moving during pain, and unique daily planning strategies that have been shown to be successful with people in pain. A good description of how a program like this can help someone suffering from persistent pain is this testimonial from a patient of mine: “What helped me the most was learning how to breathe and paying attention to it more often. I realized I was almost always holding my breath when I moved because I thought that would actually protect me, but it didn't, it actually made my pain worse. The other thing that really helped me was to trust myself and my spine and know that my body wasn't going to break. Yoga helps me practice letting go and move more freely and I can feel that immediately helps my pain. It's amazing how much more in tune I am with my body. Now I am more aware and know when I'm tense, and I can change it and then my pain changes. Shelly (yoga) has taught me how I can help myself, and not just rely on others to fix my pain. The pain doesn't control me anymore. I feel like I'm more myself again. It feels really good, and hopeful."    Baxter: Can you tell us about one practical yoga tool or technique for addressing persistent or chronic pain?     Shelly: If we want to take advantage of the capacity of our nervous system to change pain, we first need to practice awareness! And research suggests that mindfulness methods that focus on awareness of subtle non-pain sensations show a reduction in persistent pain. A breath awareness practice means paying attention to a variety of characteristics of the breath, without trying to change anything, and without getting caught up in elaborative stories or thoughts. In other words, simply notice the breath. The technique includes paying attention to the rate, pace, depth, sound, length of inhale and exhale, temperature of the breath, how the breath moves in the body, or other qualities like if the breath feels rigid or smooth or if you feel like you are breathing more through one side of the nostril than the other. The next step is to then learn a breath regulation practice (pranayama). Neil Pearson has an example of a guided breath regulation and awareness practice here.    Baxter: You and Neil do workshops and trainings in many locations. Where can our readers find out about opportunities to study and learn with you?  Shelly: Readers can find Neil’s schedule and calendar of events at www.lifeisnow.ca and can follow Life is Now Pain Care on Facebook and Twitter. My schedule and calendar of events is at www.physioyoga.ca. You can also follow me at Prosko PhysioYoga Therapy on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for my newsletter to keep up to date with what I am offering. For people who cannot travel to study with us, we have a short introductory online webinar accessible through Yoga U Online: Yoga, Neuroplasticity and Pain: New Hope for Self Empowerment and Healing. And Neil has a phenomenal online Pain Care for Life curriculum with the first 5 steps for free, as well as many other resources on his site. We also have Overcome Pain with Gentle Yoga video practices as a complement to (not to replace) one’s pain care program. They are available for download on vimeo or order as DVD. The four-minute trailerhttps://vimeo.com/ondemand/overcomepaingentleyoga2 outlines the seven practices of different themes. And I have a series of Creating Pelvic Floor Health PhysioYoga videos that can be useful for people suffering from chronic pelvic pain (as a complement to their existing treatment). Thank you, Baxter, for this opportunity to share all this. There are others out there doing very valuable work to help people in pain improve pain management, movement, function and quality of life. Together I believe we can all make a difference!   

Shelly Prosko, PT, PYT, CPI. As a Physical Therapist and Yoga Therapist, Shelly is dedicated to bridging the gap between yoga and modern healthcare philosophies, and believes this integration is highly effective in creating and sustaining optimal health. She received her Physical Therapy degree at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, her Medical Therapeutic Yoga training at Professional Yoga Therapy Institute, Yoga Teacher Training at Blissology, and Pain Care Yoga (PCY) Certification at Life is Now. Shelly has been integrating yoga into her physical therapy treatments since 1998, addressing a wide variety of conditions including persistent pain. Currently, she travels globally offering specialty PhysioYoga and Life is Now PCY courses, lecturing at medical college programs, instructing at numerous therapeutic yoga programs, and presenting at international conferences. She is dedicated to actively promoting the integration of yoga into healthcare by inspiring, empowering, and educating health professionals, yoga practitioners, students, and people in pain about ways yoga can be used safely and effectively to address a variety of health issues and improve quality of life. Please visit www.physioyoga.ca for more information.  Subscribe to Yoga for Healthy Aging by Email ° Follow Yoga for Healthy Aging on Facebook ° Join this site with Google Friend Connect Friday Q&A: Questions for Shelly Prosko about Yoga for Chronic Pain http://ift.tt/2nmU3wS themostdangerous1 http://ift.tt/2nrIEwm via IFTTT

[mistyscenter]

We’re all aware I could make a 2 hour long essay on Baxter DLC, but I do always want to make it clear that I don’t hate Baxter nor his DLC per se.

I specifically hate the way step 4 was written and executed, that’s what I hate, step 3 is a wonderful set up for Baxter’s story and the wedding DLC gave us an incredible look into his character, however I feel like the dlc doesn’t hold him as accountable as it should.

Yes Baxter has problems but he did hurt someone and should be held accountable for it, you may have your issues but once it affects someone else that’s were it stops being pity and starts being justifiable anger, the mc may be angry and the text might tell us they’re angry, but that’s not what happens in practice.

You don’t avoid Baxter nor do you get to chew him up for what he’s done, you’re meant to pity him and to feel bad for him, and for a game in which the player choices matter, is not nice to not have the option to tell him how you feel. The mc is silenced in their stories and I don’t like that because my “Baxter mc” is Pandora and she’s someone who respects herself too much to feel pity for Baxter, she feels bad but she’s also like “sounds like something you should discuss with a therapist and not your ex”. And BECAUSE our life is a game where you can make whatever character you want, the fact that I don’t get to have that character is upsetting.

And again there are moments in his epilogue that I think are done right, but …god unless you like Baxter or plan to romance him spending time with him feels forced and I hate it because the set up for him is so so good, but it was executed so poorly

[mistyscenter]

I... I'm sorrydjdj but isn't the point of his character that he's a tsundere aka he's a fucking dick to you because he doesn't want to admit he secretly likes the farmer? Help, I'm sorry Op This Is so funny

Honestly I found it hilarious that there's March fans thst get mad when people say he's a dick like... Even the game is like nah he's a dick

[mistyscenter]

The parasite in me wants to go into details on why Baxter DLC is not a good DLC, is not bad but out of all of the ones we got is certainly the weakest on a writing stand point.

That doesn't mean you're the devil if you loved the DLC, but again if people can complain and, quite frankly, make shit up on Derek DLC, I should be allowed to tear down what makes Baxter DLC the weakest DLC.

The other part of me wants peace and not to deal with people in my ask box telling me that I'm wrong on Baxter DLC, believing that will change my opinion, but anyways

[mistyscenter]

Warning Baxter fans, this is going to be really negative about him so get out if you don't want to hear the rambling of someone who has mixed feelings on him. k bye

This about to be a really long post and I'm only two moments in Baxter DLC, but let's get into it

As mentioned previously I'm two moments in into Baxter DLC and my god, I'm already weirded out.

I'm currently playing it with my mc Taliyah, if you're familiar enough with my blog you might have seen them around since they're my favorite mc/ oc. This is important because of the way I'm playing it, because I'm playing as Taliyah this means I'm doing Cove's route since Taliyah is mostly a Cove mc (I say mostly because they can be a Derek mc if I feel like it (note ost of my mcs are ocs of my original story so this is like an au for me)), and god it feels weird dating Cove while playing Baxter version of hang, I'd say it would still be weird even if you're not going to romance Cove for reasons I will discuss later. What's weirding me out is the lack of interactions with Cove "But misty-" you might say "-it's Baxter dlc it makes sense you'd interact less with Cove" you're right, it does, we spend one moment with Cove in Derek dlc if you're not planning to do Cove's version of "soiree" but here's my counter point: Derek is already your friend and Derek doesn't only interacts with MC, and neither does Cove. My issues stem from the fact that Baxter ONLY interacts MC, which I suppose wouldn't be a problem if you're dating him, ig? (it would for me but I'm aro so, don't take my world for granted). Also is just really weird that MC doesn't talk that much with Cove in Baxter dlc because, even if you're not dating him, he's still your friend of 10 years if you're not playing indifferent. In "lemonade" Cove and Mc share stories of when they were young with Derek, Cove and MC actively talk with each other, Mc can tease Cove about eating too much because you've known the guy for 5 fucking years and again, if you're not indifferent, he's your best friend and/or crush. "Lemonade" doesn't feel weird because Cove takes an active part of the story, he doesn't in "Hang" and is weird as fuck.

"Sightseeing" didn't feel nearly as odd because a) is a really good way to introduce Baxter's character and to get the player familiar with him but because of that you do have to play it first or else the rest of the dlc feels weird and b) you had moments where, if you are dating cove, you can bring up how much he means to you and Baxter would even hope for the two of you to never break up, which is actually really sweet of him c: and ironic considering he then says to you that Jude and Scott won't last because they are long distance but it does explain Baxter's views on relationships. It also didn't feel odd because Cove wasn't there and it didn't felt like you were neglecting your friend/boyfriend. And btw I'm not even saying that Baxter's version of "Hang" is bad, not at all is once again a great introduction to Baxter and his character, but it would have benefited from having Baxter interact more with Terry and Miranda or heck l I would have loved to see more of Cove and Baxter interacting so it didn't feel as odd. Baxter DLC feels odd to me because of how much one-on-one time you spend with him, when that's not something that you do in the game with the other LIs.

I seriously think his dlc could have been more interesting if we saw more of him interacting with Terry and Miranda because we don't really see them interacting that much, which is a pity considering that Terry clearly views him as a friend but we don't get that feeling tbf we also don't get that feeling with the entire friend group Terry and Miranda aren't flushed out at all and before anyone says that they were in Baxter dlc, yeah "planning" did give us more about Miranda's family but not so much into her character and yeah it was nice to see Terry being worried about that being the last summer they do something together, but that's it and don't try to bring up that one singular dialogue in step 4 a dialogue doesn't count as character development

This all I have to say for now, I don't really have issues with Baxter step 3 his step 4 is what bothers me, his step 3 is a really good set up for his character I honestly just think you'd have to tweak some dialogue and options and that's it.

Also if you made it this far, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD READ MY TAGS, I genuinely want this to be a discussion on baxter dlc so please please be civil