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toweroftickles · 6 months

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The Boy and the Heron - Tickle Headcanons

I have been so excited for this movie for so long! Obviously, more “Ghibli Giggles” drabble collections are going to spring out of this, but in the meantime, here are my immediate out-of-the-theater thoughts.

Mahito Maki

Ticklishness Rating: 7.5/10

Most Ticklish Spots: Armpits, Feet

He does not like being tickled at. All. 😆 He’ll get all pouty and mad if someone tries it.

The only person he ever allowed to tickle him without elbowing them in the face was his mom, but even that made him sulk.

His preferred form of retaliation is to push, shove, and (if necessary) punch.

One of those boys who doesn’t “laugh” as much as “yell and scramble in the opposite direction.” (You know the trademark “Ghibli run” that every single character does at least once? Where they sprint and hold their arms out like geese? That.)

Sort of lonely growing up. Schoolmates and friends don’t usually tickle him; it’s pretty uncommon and comes as an unpleasant, embarrassing shock.

Will hold his breath, squeeze his eyelids tight, and suck his lips in between his teeth to keep from laughing. His record is about 15 seconds.

⬆️ This frog incident (not to mention that time the pelicans swarmed him) really tickled, but he was too nervous to laugh. XP

Himi

Ticklishness Rating: 9/10

Most Ticklish Spots: Feet, Tummy

Always covers her face and shrieks whenever someone pokes her. Maybe a tiny bit embarrassed by how ticklish she is. ^^

Definitely a screamer. And a kicker. Her laugh is bubbly and cheerful and she seems to have fun with tickling, but she can’t hold still to save her life.

Be careful - she’s usually got a firm control of her pyrokinesis, but too much tickling can cause her to expel fire blasts all over the place!

The only people she ever tickles are her little sister and Kiriko. (She tried it on a parakeet guard once…ineffective.)

She’s a sneaky one, fond of surprise attacks. Has spidery fingers that love to poke.

A daydreamer. Sometimes when she’s cleaning up her little house, she pretends that her feather duster is tickling the furniture. That makes her giggle.

The world created by The Granduncle is stuffed to the brim with sentient bird species, and one of Himi's hobbies is collecting their discarded feathers. (Not directly related, but she does know which ones tickle the most!)

Kiriko (Young)

Ticklishness Rating: 8/10

Most Ticklish Spots: Balls of the Feet, Ribs, Armpits

Unusual Ticklish Spots: Upper Back

Loves being tickled on her ribs and her tummy until she can’t breathe…that’s a super-fun endorphin rush for her…but can’t handle it on her feet. Armpits are 50/50; that depends on how much she likes you.

She struggles - needs to be restrained or held down. Her toes get very wiggly when she’s tickled near there; it’s pretty adorable.

Big sister energy. A fan of rowdy horseplay, of all kinds - wrestling, noogies, tickle fights, the works. (She’s also a dirty cheater.)

Her first-choice method of cheering up a grumpy Lady Himi is to mercilessly tickle her until she's too happy to frown anymore.

Uses aggressive attacks; really digs her fingers hard into her victim’s vulnerable spots and scratches wildly. Can be very mean if she wants to.

You can hear her amazing laugh for miles. She always throws her head back and lets loose a hysterical smoker's cackle that makes everyone around want to laugh along with her. It's fun and contagious and full of life.

Both she and Himi always get a case of the giggles when swarmed by friendly Warawara.

The Grey Heron

Ew. And furthermore, ew.

Not ticklish at all. (Again: ew.) BUT…

The Grey Heron's feathers possess many magical properties. There's a supernatural energy rippling through their fibers thanks to their constant transformation (see, in the film, how they can provide homing magic to arrows and have a biochemical bond with the Heron’s body)...a goofy side-effect of which is that they're much more tickly than normal feathers.

Suffice it to say, this creature should be captured and studied immediately. For science.

#tickling #tickle blog #tickle #tickling community #tickling headcanons #sfw tickles #headcanon #sfw tickling community #tk headcanons #studio ghibli headcanons #studio ghibli #ghibli #boy and the heron #the boy and the heron #mahito maki #how do you live #hayao miyazaki

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moviehealthcommunity · 6 months

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The Boy and the Heron (2023)

This is a Movie Health Community evaluation. It is intended to inform people of potential health hazards in movies and does not reflect the quality of the film itself. The information presented here has not been reviewed by any medical professionals.

The Boy and the Heron has one brief scene late in the film where characters are being affected by electricity, causing some arcing effects. This occurs just after a stairway to a door is destroyed, and when the sound of electricity is gone, the rest of the film is safe to watch.

There are some brief POV shots from a character running at full speed, which depict both their speed and disorientation caused by the effort. There are also some flying scenes. The fact that this is a traditionally-animated feature mitigates a lot of the motion sickness risk.

Flashing Lights: 3/10. Motion Sickness: 3/10.

TRIGGER WARNING: Early in the film, a character self-inflicts an injury that bleeds profusely. War violence, including civilian casualties, is depicted. Some body transformations may be disturbing to some audiences.

Image ID: a promotional poster for The Boy and the Heron

youtube

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jacuzziwaters · 9 months

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I love how Mitski like Hayao Miyazaki keeps promising that they're never gonna come back only to then come back and release one of the greatest pieces of art ive ever seen/heard.

#hayao miyazaki #mitski #the land is inhospitable and so are we #the boy and the heron #kimitachi wa dou ikiru ka #jay's attempts at communicating

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friskynotebook · 2 months

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The warawara are the cutest lil guys ever✨

Pattern: @mary.merrymakes on Instagram!

No-pressure tags: @saradika @obiknights @ladyxskywalker

#crochet toys #crochet #crochet plushie #plushies #amigurumi #crocheters of tumblr #handmade toys #crochet community #warawara #the boy and the heron #studio ghibli

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poppletonink · 10 months

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Best Quotes From 'I Kissed Shara Wheeler'

"Chloe Green is going to put her fist through a window. Usually when she has a thought like that, it means she's spiritually on the brink. But right now, squared up to the door of the Wheeler house, she's actually physically ready to do it."

"Chloe, we’re gay. We can’t do math."

"I can say her name. She's not Beetlejuice." "She's not." Chloe agrees. "She's worse."

"That's not a game. That's a concussion."

"Because I feel bad doing all that to a frog," Smith says. "Like, I don't know how he died! What if he had a family? What if he had like, dreams? What if he never got to finish Breaking Bad?"

"She does not say, "I kissed you daughter, twice," but she thinks it. She thinks it hard."

"She's gay, Your Honor!"

"Chloe has to stop herself from pumping her fist like the end of The Breakfast Club."

"A lot of high school is about figuring out what matters to you and what doesn't. For some of us, popularity matters. For others, it's grades or dating or extracurriculars or our parents' opinions or all of the above. Sometimes, it's a question of whether anything that happens in these four years matters at all. And it does, but not in the way that a lot of people think. High school matters because it shapes how we see the world when we enter it."

"Most of the things we're feeling right now are things we are feeling for the first time. We're learning what it means to feel them. What we can mean to one another. Of course that matters."

"Shara thinks she's The Girl? But Shara's The Girl. What do you say when The Girl tells you that you're The Girl to her?"

"The problem has always been this: When I look at you, I taste lime, and I see light on water."

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alderdixon · 8 days

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A lot of media lately about birds as symbols of death... I've enjoyed the overlapping themes! Herons specifically have been featuring as witnesses of guilt, curses and duty. I wonder if there's a mythological precedent for birds to be used this way? Perhaps flight and the realm of the sky inspires us to think about things beyond...

#death's door #the boy and the heron #unraveller #frances hardinge #ghibli #writing community #analysis #bookblr #reading #readers on tumblr #writers on tumblr #symbolism

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tropical-kins · 3 months

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Hiii!! could I request a care kit for a blue heron?? specifically with a plushie, some jewlery and room decor kinda?? or maybe an ink (for fountain pens) in a blueish gray colour? tysm (I love your moodboards btw, they make me so happy whenever I see them)

Blue heron care kit for anon!

🦢 | 🪶

🍃 | | 💧

🌱 | 🪺

[ahh thank you!!]

#request #care kit #kin care #kin help #alterhuman #therian #therianthropy #blue heron therian #blue heron kin #birdkin #bird kin #bird therian #avian therian #aviankin #avian kin #therian community #therian things

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randomnameless · 10 months

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The game : "and if Rhea survives, she retires peacefully to Zanado !" to let Billy run the show bcs Rhea has to leave else no Hresvelg Almyran flavor Grey

Rhea, talking about Zanado :

Are we really supposed to understand Rhea returning to the place she still has ptsd/nightmares about is a good or an acceptable ending for her ?

"But random, the herons ultimately return to Serenes Forest !"

Yes, because Serenes was revitalised with magic, because the herons' dad wakes up and reunites happily with his kids, and because Serenes is full of like again, the forest returns, and in Fe10's ending the united bird tribes settle there !

In Fe16, maybe save for Catherine + her spouse, Zanado is still empty when it used to be full of people and life, and will stay this way, so Rhea will be able to remember, upon seeing the ruins of old houses and aqueducs, how some of her people lived there and were brutally massacred under her eyes.

Yay best ending ?

#fodlan nonsense #rhea stuff #I swear this game #Fe16 #Did the devs even thought when they wrote this ?#Or maybe some people will follow her to live in Zanado #It'll be another new community #Hopefully she won't be kicked out of this one or it won't be slaughtered #Petition for the herons to adopt her and put her in their forest ?

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the-celluloid-correspondent · 5 months

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The Boy and The Heron Review

While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother, Natsuko. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world becomes stranger when a grey heron begins following him.

The Boy and The Heron is continuing the long line of remarkable filmmakers reflecting on their childhood through the medium of film. Hayao Miyazaki steps out of retirement to take this reflection through his unique fantastical style. Yet The Boy and The Heron is different from his previous works. In his latest film, it's an exploration of death and grief from a filmmaker who is not only reaching the end of his career but also his life.

We follow Mahito and his father moving to the countryside to move in with his father's new wife, who happens to be the younger sister of Mahito's late mother. Mahito is still reconciling the loss of his mother in a horrible fire during the firebombing of Tokyo. He struggles to adjust to his new home as he is unable to process his grief and anger. Soon a heron begins to harass him, inviting him to the abandoned fortress that his great-grandfather built. He refuses until his stepmother is taken by the fortress thus forcing his hand. As he enters the fortress he discovers a world filled with fantastical creatures that are both beautiful and the stuff of nightmare. In this strange world, Mahito confronts his grief and anger.

The Boy and The Heron delicately navigates these existential themes as portraying them as a integral part of the human experiance. Through the relationship between the boy and the heron, the film subtly addresses the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of loss. Eventhough the heron is a strange creator in this film, this heron becomes a metaphor for mortality, emphasizing the transient beauty of existence. The heron and many others cause Mahito to confront his grief. This grief is portrayed with all the sensitivity of and complexities that come with mourning, and the acceptance of being gone forever. The film gently reminds the view that within the tapestry of life, death is not the end but a part of the natural order, inviting contemplation on the transformative power of loss and the enduring essence of memories that transcend time.

As with all of Miyazaki’s previous works, the animation is nothing short of memorizing. Every frame is a canvas painting with breathtaking artistry showcasing a blend of vibrant colors and elicate details that bring the story to life in a truly magical way. The attention to detail is immaculate. For each movement, weather its a rustle of leaves in the wind or the graceful morning light, the animation is breathtaking. Miyazaki’s visual storytelling is just as strong as it was 10 years ago. The animation elevates the narrative through its enchanting atmospheres, evoking emotions that resonate with the emotions of the scene. This animation paired with the beautiful score composed by Joe Hisaishi, that will simply bring tears to your eyes. This simple, yet immaculate detail work of Miyazaki’s animation proves yet again that he is one of the best animated storytellers in the business.

I chose to watch the English dubbed version after seeing the ensemble that Miyazaki was able to conjur in his latest film. The voice acting is on point as every performance breathes life into their respected characters. The voice work resonates with authenticity and emotional depth that resonate depply within the film thematic exploration. My favorite performance was easily from Robert Pattinson as the heron. His voice is unreconizable as it is raspy and high pitched. His comedic timing is impeccable as is easily the best performances of the film.

The Boy and The Heron stands as a timeless testament of the power of storytelling, artistry, and the profound connection between humanity and the spiritual and natural world.Its transanding animation and thematic exploration will pull ones heartstrings as we are left to explore the balance between life and the unknown. Miyazaki proves again at the age of 82 that he can put out stellar films that contemplate our existence.

My Rating: A

#film #cinema #movies #movie #filmmaking #filmmaker #moviemaking #moviemaker #cinephile #cinematography #film community #film is not dead #film review #movie review #film critic #movie critic #hayao miyazaki #the boy and the heron

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day-heron · 8 months

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Deep Dreamless Sleep

an excerpt from Trauma and Dissociation Informed Internal Family Systems by Joanne H. Twombly.

Coping Skill: Deep Dreamless Healing Sleep or Therapeutic Sleep (Kluft, 1988)

This is a coping skill that is easy for many parts to learn. As with SSI, I ask one part to volunteer to try it out and ask all others who are willing to watch to learn how to do it. Once a part volunteers, I speak with that part, or I work with that part through an older part with some Self energy. Deep dreamless sleep provides parts with a deep rest without nightmares, useful because so many of these clients have trouble sleeping. In this example a child part has volunteered to try it, and the example provides suggestions for wording. It begins with me talking directly to the child part.

Hi, thanks for volunteering. Do you have any questions or concerns right now, or is it okay to go to your safe space?... Great, look around and notice everything there that makes it safe, and that there's a comfortable place to rest, where you can relax, as you start feeling sleepy... First I'm going to explain what we're going to do and if you've got any questions, let me know. I'm going to count backwards from 10 to 1, and as I count, you'll fall gently asleep, and by the time I reach I you'll be in a deep dreamless healing sleep. I'll watch the clock, and when 5 minutes is up, you can wake up -actually, if you want to wake up sooner, that's ok too, or the other parts can wake you up. Is that ok? Great... so, 10...9 feeling comfortable and sleepy...at 8 and 7... gently sleeping...at 6 and 5 in a deep dreamless sleep.. and going deeper and deeper at 4 and 3... at 2.. and 1 in a deep dreamless healing sleep…

Then, orient to the other parts and check in with them: While this part is sleeping, I'd like to check in with the rest of you. First, how does she look?... What's this like for you having her asleep? Any questions? Any other comments?...

Note: I watch the clock carefully for whatever time we've agreed on.

Okay, 5 minutes is up right now, is she awake yet? No? Okay, could one of you wake her up... I prefer to have the parts take control and wake her. Then I address the part: So what was that like for you?

Example: A client planned to visit her parents. 3 parts were terrified.

They agreed to sleep through the visit, which helped the client manage the visit with less agitation.

Example: One woman had been hospitalized every May for seven years. We identified a group of 50 baby parts who got triggered in May. They didn't want to be hospitalized again and agreed to sleep from the end of April to the beginning of June. We went through the deep dreamless sleep process and then, when they were deeply asleep added: You'll have all the time you need to feel rested and relaxed and although calendar time will be passing it will feel like only a short amount of time has passed... This is a time when I forgot to ask if any other parts had concerns. Two days later, I got a call from a terrified teenage part whose job was to babysit the babies. She calmed down when I explained where they were. The next session, she and several other teen parts asked if they could also sleep through May. Of note, the client made it through May without hospitalization. She also realized that having the baby and teen parts asleep meant she suddenly had to do all of the "boring" filing at work. She had not been aware that they had been taking care of this for her. Note the use of the hypnotic dynamic of Time Distortion.

#our post #heron’s resources #system tag #system #plural community #sysblr #system help #system support #did osdd #actually plural #dissociative identity disorder #dissociative system #endo safe #plural system #plurality #adaptive system #internal family systems

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ray-gt · 1 year

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Rules of the Party: Luck of the Draw

The party play a game of Potion Roulette. What could possibly go wrong?

(Had to split this one into two parts because it was getting too long. Hope to post Part 2 soon!)

_______________________________________________________________________

There was a lull over the party that afternoon when they sat around camp in the deep woods just outside of the great alpine market of Halambad. Situated in a deep, wooded valley between the three tallest peaks of the East Continent, Halambad was the capital of magic users from all across the land. Sorcerers, witches, wizards, tieflings, clerics, drakes, druids - all and more traveled to Halambad to practice, to trade, to learn. The air in the valley smelled of it, the ground thrummed with its energy, the woods were alive, calling out to it.

A traveller, on first visit to Halambad, may find this sensation euphoric, transcendent even. However, many of the company had journeyed to the market before and knew that, behind the mystical spells, pretty trinkets, and winking faces, was just another city filled with people doing what people usual do at market: trade and scam.

They’d arrived in Halambad more than three days prior with two primary goals in mind: to stock up on supplies, and to scout out a job. By the afternoon in question, even Quinn, who found every aspect of the East Continent new and wonderful, was beginning to tire.

Two more days.

They’d found a merchant in town that would pay handsomely for an armed escort through the mountains and down to Lile, the human city of The Flats. It was an easy job for good money so they’d accepted eagerly. The only issue was that they had to wait until the merchant closed up shop in Halambad and was ready to move on.

Two days.

Around the fire, Kip sat with Heron on his shoulder. He was plucking aimlessly at a fiddle. Jade had made Oberon buy him a new one at the market on account of him throwing the last one overboard. It needed to be tuned, but he didn’t seemed bothered.

Oberon and Almara were paying cards, though neither seemed particularly invested in the game. They stared at their cards with blank expressions.

Jade was restringing her bow and sharpening her arrows even though she’d done both the day before, and Gallon was snoring with his back against a tree and his arms crossed.

Quinn looked around at them. It’d been weeks since he’d run off with them and journeyed East on the Burnt Sienna, and for the most part, he’d enjoyed the journey and the company. However, on afternoons like this, a twist in his gut couldn’t help but make him think he’d made a huge mistake.

“I’m bored.” He said at last, resting his chin in his palm.

The rest of the party looked up at him, shaken out of their stupor by his voice. He found he had that effect on them - he was, for better or worse, impossible to ignore.

“It’s like traveling with a pygmy wolf.” Kip muttered.

Almara rolled her neck on her shoulders. “Sometimes, Quinn, my love, that’s the life. Flashes of excitement, punctuated by a whole lot of terrible boredom.” She said. She plucked a card from her hand and placed it on top of the stack between her and Oberon. “Vantinyulf. I win.”

Oberon rolled his eyes and huffed. “Well done.” He conceded with a grumble. “That was the last round. There are only so many hits to my pride I can take.”

“You have pride?” Kip asked from the other side of the fire. “I learn something knew about you, Oberon, every day. What a marvel.”

“I can teach you something now if you’d like, Elf.” Oberon retorted.

Kip grinned, “Is that a promise?”

A sound, halfway between a growl and a groan, emanated from Jade’s throat. “Enough.” She said. “Can we go 5 minutes without bickering?”

“Unlikely.” Kip said, and it was unhelpful. Then Quinn watched as an idea bloomed across the bard’s expression. “I know how we can pass the time.”

“If you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, for the last time, no.” Oberon said, but Kip waved him off.

“Oh, you wish.” He laughed. “But no, not what I was hinting at this time.” His bright eyes landed on Almara who met them and, after a few moments, grinned in turn.

“Oh, that’s such a bad idea.” She said, already onboard. She looked around at the rest of the group. “Anyone up for a round of Potion Roulette?”

Jade pinched the bridge of her nose. “No. I hate Potion Roulette.”

Oberon laughed, “That’s because you’re bad at it.”

Jade sent him a quizzical look. “You can’t be bad at it. It’s a game of chance. It’s not even a game - it’s just suffering.” She paused and shook her head. “And I always get the worst one.”

“That’s the spirit!” Almara said, a conspiratorial air overtook her. “So, are we all in?”

“No,” Heron said, floating off of Kip’s shoulder. Quinn didn’t his best to not stare and failed. Her bright orange wings and amber hair shone amongst all the greens of the forest. She’d kept her distance ever since they’d met, and while he respected it, Quinn couldn’t help but be drawn in by her presence. “It would probably kill me. And I don’t want to be around for whatever chaos you land yourselves in. I will go stay with some local Fey. But you all enjoy.”

“Alright, Heron.” Kip said with a smile. “You have fun now.”

She blew him a kissed and flew off into the woods, leaving a train of copper dust floating behind her.

“I’m in.” Oberon said, returning to conversation.

“In.” Gallon grunted without opening an eye, making the rest of the party jump.

“I’m always in.” Kip smirked.

Almara looked at Quinn. “Quinn, darling?”

Quinn looked around, they all had a fey look on their faces. However, he’d take that over being bored.

“I don’t know the game.” He started.

“All the better.” Kip winked up at him and made his stomach somersault. “That just leaves our lovely Jade?”

Jade squinted but eventually let out a long breath.

“Fine.” She said. “But I have a couple of rules. Remember, we have a job and a long journey in a couple of days.”

“Always a killer of fun.” Kip muttered. “Fine. Let’s have them.”

“First, non-permanent modifications only. I don’t want to have to go through what happened last time again.”

“For the record,” Almara purred. “I think Oberon looked rather fetching with a drake tail.”

“You and every drake hide trader on the Continent.” Oberon grumbled. “I had to trade a pure-bred Lillian horse to get it removed. I support the rule.”

“Second.” Jade said. “24 hours only. I don’t want anything lingering by the time we start the job.”

“Makes sense.” Kip conceded. “Third?”

“We’re adding a blank.”

There was so much outcry in response to this final rule that you would have thought she was rationing their food, or banning them from drink.

Quinn, beginning to tire of constantly being confused, sighed. “What’s a blank?”

“Just the best way to ruin a good time.” Kip muttered, plucking angrily at a string of his fiddle as if to emphasise his point.

“No blank.” Gallon agreed.

“Thank you, Gallon. Ever the voice of reason.”

“Come on, my love.” Almara whined. “Don’t spoil the fun.”

Quinn watched as Jade’s expression morphed through confusion, exasperation, frustration, back to mild annoyance in a matter of moments. “Have you all forgotten that we’re running hot right now? We need someone with full control of their senses. Lindesse would do anything to catch us unawares.” She said and Quinn felt his cheeks redden.

“We haven’t heard anything from the Thelebar’s since we crossed the Isle.” Oberon countered.

“And when have you ever trusted perfect silence?” Jade rebuked and Oberon bowed his head in submission.

“Ok,” Kip said, standing up and holding his hands in a placating gesture. “Ok. Jade, of course we will agree to the your terms - even if they are cowardly.”

“Thank you, Kip.” Jade said, flatly.

“Now that that’s settled.” Quinn spoke up. “Can someone please explain to me what in all realms I’ve agreed to?”

***

Potion Roulette was a rather simple game. It was popular across the East Continent and most alchemists, brewers, and apothecaries were familiar with it. Though the more professionally-aligned of the craft looked down upon the game, they couldn’t deny it was profitable. It was a good way to shift potions that were close to expiry (or, in the case of ‘Spiked Potion Roulette’, actually expired), to sell off more expensive merchandise, or, as was often the case, to test out something a little more experimental.

The rules are as such. The players approach a potion seller with a sack of gold and any conditions, rules, or exceptions (in this case, all those listed by Jade) and the seller will, in their turn, provide potions respective to the number of players and value of gold.

It was commonly understood that a good game of Potion Roulette required at least 5 gold per player - 10 if you were really looking for fun. As the party were including a blank - that is a potion with no effects - they settled on 7 gold per potion. At that range, they could get good quality, mid-range varieties without the usual risks associated with the cheap stuff.

After acquiring the potions, the players - each blindfolded - take turns choosing a potion. Then, when all have been chosen, the players drink their potions at once and then...well, who knows after that.

Thankfully, in Halambad, there was no shortage of brewers, though they ranged across a spectrum of reputation. Despite their protests, Kip and Almara eventually agreed to purchase from guild-aligned sellers only. Though that didn’t stop them from seeking out the most interesting of them.

Ti-afren was a Bog Elf. The Bog Elves are, in Kip’s opinion, strange and unsettling. Though they have a natural gift for brewery and “tapping into the essence of things”, which makes them powerful brewmasters. As such, ‘Ti-afren’s House of Drink, Slink, and Stink’ was known amongst those in the know as the place to go for all things odd. And not long after entering, Kip and Almara left with a crate of six identical opaque silver bottles, shining in the afternoon sun.

They had no idea what they contained, or what they would do, only that one did absolutely nothing.

***

They all gathered around, empty potion bottles were strewn about the campfire, silver flickering white in the firelight. To Quinn, it almost felt like ceremony.

Kip pinched a small piece of parchment from the crate and unfolded it with delicate fingers. Though he couldn’t make out what it said, Quinn could see that scrawled across the page in a jagged, pointed script were Ti-afren’s notes.

“Ok.” Kip said, Quinn watched the half-elf’s sparkling eyes squint as they quickly scanned across the page. When he came to the end of it, he closed his eyes briefly and hummed. It was like whatever he’d read was honey on his tongue and he was savouring the taste. “This will be interesting.”

“Enough jest,” Oberon rolled his eyes. “Out with it, Elf.”

Kip tutted. “No theatre with you, Oberon. Oh well, I suppose you are right - enjoy it, it doesn’t come often.” Before Gallon could demonstrate his dislike for that remark, Kip continued, occasionally glancing back at the parchment for reference. “It says here that the potions should take 10 minutes after ingestion to take effect.”

“Love that.” Almara nodded appreciatively. “Ti-afren knows what he’s doing. I do enjoy a bit of suspense.”

“I don’t.” Jade muttered. She’d been nervous ever since Kip and Almara had returned with the order. She’d been the most hesitant to down her potion. “I don’t like any of this.”

Almara draped a long arm over Jade and held her close. “I know, love. But I think a bit of uncertainty is good for you.”

Jade just crossed her arms.

Quinn had a similar twisted feeling in his gut and he was yet to determine if it was nerves, excitement, or the potion not sitting well in his system. Maybe it was all three, or another option he hadn’t considered. He wasn’t sure.

Regardless, the energy around the group was intoxicating, made even more electrifying by the natural magic that thrummed through the glade. He imagined what his mother would think of him in that moment - playing a dangerous potion drinking game with armed mercenaries, unsure of what would happen. The image of her expression caused him to grin. She’d always kept him so close, under the strictest supervision. No unvetted friendships, no journeys on his own, nothing that would present any risk to him. The only night he’d been granted any space at all was his betrothal. And maybe she was right to be cautious, because look what he’d done with it.

His smile broadened and a heat bloomed from his centre. He’d taken action. He’d made the decision. There was no way he was going back West. And so with that commitment in his heart, he said.

“What’s so interesting, Kip? What are the potions?”

Kip looked up, and seemed momentarily caught of guard by his smile, his forwardness. After a second’s recovery, Kip’s expression was conspiratorial, he rested a gentle hand on Quinn’s thigh and laughed. Quinn hoped the night would hide the heat in his cheeks.

“I knew you’d have fun, my Prince.” Kip said in a voice that flowed like liquid gold. “We have a good mix of things it seems.” With his free hand, he re-read the list of potions. As he did, Quinn felt his whole body buzz. “Ok, first up, we have Jade’s nasty little blank.”

Jade’s dour face twisted into a scowl. It was the angriest he’d ever seen her. From Quinn’s observations over the last few weeks, she’d always been the voice of reason. The party respected her as their leader, they accepted her judgement and followed her call, she broke up the fights, and usually put up with Kip’s hyperactive tongue. But here, stripped of surety, she was a lot less tolerant.

Kip seemed to notice too and quickly moved onto the rest of the list. “Ok, looks like we have a set of twin potions - at least that’s what I gather from their names.” He frowned. “One is The Upgrade and the other is The Downgrade.”

“That last one makes me nervous.” Oberon chuckled. He elbowed Gallon in the ribs. “Bet you get that one, brother.”

Gallon huffed and elbowed him back - hard enough that Oberon lost his footing and landed on his arse. They both laughed.

“Did the brewer include a list of effects?” Jade asked through a tense jaw.

“It doesn’t look like it.” Kip said, scouring the page as if that information were hidden somewhere and he just couldn’t find it. “Ti-afren just provided the names, I’m afraid.” He even looked it - just a little. “We’ll find out effects soon enough.”

Jade paled again and her arms tightened around her chest. Almara crooned and ran her long fingers through Jade’s short hair. In the dark, Quinn could see the tips of her fingers glowing. He wondered if that was just something she did, or if she were using magic to calm Jade’s nerves.

“What about the rest?” He found himself asking. Kip looked gratefully up at him.

“We have The Heart Trap - I’ve been the victim of enough of these to have a good idea of what it is.” Kip shook his head as if recalling a memory - or many. He continued. “The Truth Sleuth - not quite sure what that is, maybe a truth serum? And, finally, The Delusion Illusion Solution - Ti-afren does love a triplet rhyme. I can’t say I blame him, I’m guilty myself.”

He folded the parchment again and put it in his coat pocket. That was that. The potions were known, they’d been drunk. All they had to do was wait.

Around the group, eyes scanned, trying to guess who’d drunk what, and when they’d take effect.

Turns out, when you’re waiting, 10 minutes is a long time.

***

Oberon was first.

One moment, he was standing among them, a wicked grin on his face and eyes flashing. The next, his whole face went slack, his dark eyes glazed over, and he began to twirl in place, like a village girl during midsummer festival.

“Dance with me!” He pleaded no one in particular as he laughed and flung his hands around.

The look on Kip’s face was nothing but unbridled delight. He tapped Quinn on his thigh.

“I’m guessing that’s The Delusion Solution. Quick, Quinn.” He said. “Remember all of this. Exactly what he says, how he moves, what he does. This is too good for only us to witness - we will turn it into a song.”

“Hey!” Almara tutted, her arm still slung around Jade who watched Oberon with fear. “Potion Roulette is a safe space, Kip. We agreed to that years ago.”

Kip sighed. “But -“

At that moment, Gallon perked up. However, instead of lumbering over to Kip to punish the bard for mocking his brother, he just stared at Kip, turned, and then dashed into the woods. They all looked on after him a while, puzzled.

“We’ll see what eventuates of that.” Kip mused. Then he turned back to Almara. “My darling, I’m a poet surrounded by muses! I can’t help when inspiration strikes!”

Quinn hadn’t been listening. He was focussing in on his own body, wondering when he would know the potion was taking effect. A cold thought hit him and he groaned internally at the possibility that he’d been given the blank. That would be just his luck wouldn’t it? He blamed his mother. It wasn’t logical and it wasn’t fair, but he did it anyway.

“I don’t care about your inspir-“ Almara stopped. Her face blanched and she looked like she was going to be sick.

Behind her, Oberon continued to sing and frolic around the fire.

Kip’s face was awash with concern. It was one of the most genuine masks Quinn had yet to see him don. He took a step towards her, but Almara stuck out an arm telling him to stay back. With a swift movement, she push Jade to the side before collapsing on her hands and knees.

“What-“ she began but the rest just came out as a long string of pain and curses in a language Quinn didn’t recognise.

Then Quinn had to blink a couple of times to make sure he was seeing clearly because she began to grow. Every second that passed saw her shoot up bigger and faster until at last it stopped.

Still bent on all fours, she panted, her periwinkle skin coated a film of sweat that shone like glitter in the flickering firelight.

Kip and Jade looked up at her - Kip in wonder, Jade in horror.

Quinn was stunned. She was still shorter than him - that much he could already tell - but on sight only he guess she’d come up to his chest if they were both standing, which would make her about 12-13 feet tall. It was odd, seeing her like this. He could make out the details of her face, the intricacies of the jewellery that decorated her horns. He could see her as he’d been able to see his own people back West.

When the pain had past and the shock of the transition wore away, she let out a long breath and laughed, running her fingers through her long hair.

“This is…” She paused, pressing back up onto her knees and examining herself. “Incredible! Ok, stand-up, Quinn. Let’s see!”

Quinn grinned and got to his feet.

He was right. He still stood over a head taller than her, but that didn’t seem to dampen her spirits. She looked up at him beaming.

“Definitely The Upgrade.”

Quinn nodded, “I’m biased, but I’d say so.”

She laughed. Then her gaze turned down to Kip and Jade, who stood with their necks craned. “What do you think?” She asked.

“It’s fantastic.” Kip appreciated. “You really are a force of nature, love.”

Almara winked down at him before turning to Jade. Their leader was looking worse for wear. With each new effect, she became more and more skittish. It struck Quinn that maybe for her getting either a potion or a blank was undesirable. They meant she had to either give up control or try to maintain it amongst chaos. The way she looked at Almara though was a whole different emotion.

“Jade?” Almara crooned down at the ranger. “What are you thinking right now?”

“I’m afraid and confused!” Jade exclaimed. The remaining group stared at her. Her eyes bulged and she frowned, seemingly thrown by her own words. “I don’t know why I said that.”

Kip squinted his eyes at her and hummed.

“Interesting.” He purred. “Jade, who do you like more, Gallon or Oberon?”

“Gallon.” Jade replied without hesitation. She blushed. “Wait, what? I-“

Kip laughed, “I was right! It is a truth serum.”

Jade put her head in her hands, “I hate this game!”

And she’d never said anything truer.

Quinn looked at Almara who was studying Jade. There was a fey gleam in her eyes. “That’s fun.” Was all she said, but before she could do anything more, Kip crossed his arms and tutted.

“You are such a hypocrite!”

Almara feigned innocence, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I know for a fact that you do.”

“Whatever.” Almara grumbled. She looked between Kip and Quinn. “Only two left.”

Kip considered this. “Well, we don’t really know what drove Gallon out into the woods.” He said, running a thoughtful hand through his sea-green hair. His bright eyes met Quinn’s and at that moment, the giant was glad he wasn’t in Jade’s position. “Do you feel anything?”

Quinn shook his head. “No. Though I don’t really know what to look for.”

Kip nodded, “I don’t feel anything either. There’s just the blank, The Heart Trap, and The Downgrade left. Based on Almara, I guess we can assumed what The Downgrade would be.”

His gaze became unfocused and his eyes wide, as if he’d only just realised what that would look like in practice.

“Well,” Quinn intervened before the thought could spiral. “Maybe that’s why Gallon ran off?”

Kip came back to himself. “That would make sense, we should probably find him.” When no one made any move to act on that, Kip continued. “Well then. Quinn? Are you desperately in love with me?”

The bard’s question was so blunt Quinn choked on his own breath.

“What?” He stammered out, his neck grew hot. He winced when he felt Almara’s knowing eyes bore into him. “No! Why would you even ask that?”

Kip shrugged, “The Heart Trap sounds like a standard love potion. Not the most original of Ti-afren, but they are fun because they’re always messy.” He paused, contemplating. “My feelings for you remain the same.”

At that moment, Quinn desperately wished Kip had been the one to get the truth serum. Then he could ask what those feelings were. It was impossible to know what the bard really thought.

“Well then -“ Quinn began but he stopped.

His skin grew impossibly cold and his lungs were sucked of oxygen. In that moment, regret flooded him.

Why had he agreed to this stupid game?

What was happening to him?

His stomach churned and twisted, like a wild animal trapped in a snare. His vision continually shifted in and out of focus as he stumbled on his footing. Almara grabbed his shoulders to steady him.

Huh, strange.

She must have grown taller, because now they were eye to eye.

A ringing grew in his ears and his brain felt like it was sizzling in a cast iron skillet. He couldn’t focus, he heard a distant voice call out before the world fell away.

“Quinn?”

***

“Quinn!”

He was being shaken, and none too carefully. The owner of the voice was close, face not too far from his own. Quinn was sitting upright, resting against a tree.

No. None of the trees in Halambad are this thick.

The owner of the voice he’d heard returned to both metaphorically and literally shake him out of his thoughts.

“Wake up, you annoying little - Gallon, please, a little personal space? Ugh, Quinn!”

Quinn finally had it in him to open his eyes. What he saw made him desperately want to close them again. There, in front of him, was Kip. The half-elf's beautiful, golden face, painted with freckles, was the same size as his own. The bard’s hands cupped either side of Quinn’s face as his cerulean eyes searched him for some sign that he was ok.

Quinn reached out with his own hand and brought it to rest on Kip’s shoulder. It fit. It wasn’t too big, it didn’t crush him. Quinn didn’t have to think about how much pressure to apply. There was his hand on the shoulder of the bard, his thumb resting perfectly in the curve of his collarbone.

It took another moment for Quinn to panic.

“What’s going on?” He asked, heaving through lungs desperate for air. “I don’t understand.”

“The Downgrade.” Came a voice from above him.

Quinn’s eyes scanned upwards to find Almara looming above him, a frown plastered on her much larger face.

Whatever Kip may say after the fact, Quinn definitely didn’t scream. He didn’t.

He didn’t.

“Yes,” Kip grumbled once Quinn had recovered. He used gentle hands to move Quinn’s face around, still scanning for damages. Quinn could feel the calluses on the half-elf’s fingertips, caused no doubt from years of fiddle playing and sailing. “Looks like you lucked out. I think you might be alright now. How do you feel?”

“I don’t know.” Was all he managed to reply.

It turned out that Quinn had only been out for about an hour. However, in that time, quite a few things had progressed.

Oberon was no longer dancing. Apparently his hallucinations had changed and he was going around knighting anything and everything. While he was unconscious, Quinn had been knighted three different times in three different kingdoms. Kip had at least been smart enough to wrestle Oberon’s sword from him as soon as he’d noticed the change. Now, the knightings were all done with the bow of Kip’s fiddle - something the bard was less than thrilled by.

Gallon had also returned. Instead of running away due to the effects of The Downgrade as they’d all assumed, he’d run off to “collect things” as Kip put it. He’d returned to camp with arms full of fine clothes and jewellery, bottles of expensive wine and perfumes and had placed them lovingly at Kip’s feet.

“Where’d he-“

Kip pinched the bridge of his nose.

“He stole them from the market.” He turned to the orc, who’d been standing very closely behind Kip throughout the whole conversation. Upon turning, Kip found himself surrounded by a wall of thick, green muscle, eye-level with Gallon’s chest. He paused a moment to appreciate the view before he met the orc’s big doe eyes. “I’m flattered, but you will return it all in the morning. I don’t fancy another trip to the Halambad jail. You aren’t ready for what you’d have to do to get out.”

“Ok.” Gallon grinned and brought his face down towards Kip’s, but Kip pushed it aside with a frown.

“Not when you’re like this, Gallon. It’s no fun.” Then he placed his delicate hands on the orc’s chest and gave him an encouraging push. “Go on. Go gather more fire wood, we’ll need it tonight.”

Without any rebuttal, Gallon was off again into the woods. Gallon, whose main interaction with Kip was calling him stupid or threatening to kill him, put up no fight whatsoever to the order.

“That was,” Quinn began but didn’t know how to finish.

He’d been struck silent by how large Gallon was. At 9 feet, the orc had always been bigger than the rest of the party, but never anything remarkable to Quinn. Now, he was a force to be reckoned with - an immovable object. Living rock. He understood now why they all got so tense when he was upset.

“The Heart Trap.” Kip groaned.

In the background, Oberon knighted Jade as she sat around the last remnants of the fire. She told him she thought he was being ridiculous and that exiled princes can’t knight anyone. He knighted her again for her frankness.

As he went through all the potions and the members of their party, Quinn eyed Kip.

“You drank the blank.”

Kip clicked his tongue, “I knew that this would happen. I knew as soon as Jade pushed for it that I’d be the one to drink it. She had some part in it, I swear.”

“No, I didn’t.” She called.

“She’s telling the truth.” Almara said from above them.

“Why does that matter?” Kip scowled.

At that moment, there was a loud dragging sound coming from the edge of the forest and Gallon emerged, pulling an entire uprooted tree behind him.

“No, you big dumb orc!” Kip yelled, stomping over to him, much to Gallon’s delight. “That’s not what I meant!”

By midnight, Kip had had enough. And while it wasn’t in the spirit of the game, he’d asked Almara to put Oberon, Gallon, and Jade to sleep. She did and assured him that she’d keep watch through the night.

As he lay on Almara’s bedroll, her shadow looming over him in a way that still caused his heart to panic, Quinn looked up at the trees, standing so much higher above him and the stars that felt so much further away.

His stomach writhed.

“Relax.” Kip said from behind him. He’d set up his bedroll next to Quinn’s. Quinn still hadn’t gotten used to how close - how real - Kip was to him at this size. It made his heart dance. “Remember, it’s temporary. But if I go mad in the interim, you have my permission to kill everyone when you’re back to being huge and brutish.”

_______________________________________________________________________

(More shenanigans to come! I’m aiming to post part two within the next week. Hope you like it! - ray xx)

#lol landing on who got which potion was the hardest part #there were too many options #gt #g/t #gt writing #gt community #giant #tiny #size swap #shifting #giant/tiny #oc: kip #oc: quinn #oc:jade #oc: almara #oc: gallon #oc: oberon #oc: heron #ray's writing

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jacuzziwaters · 6 months

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I have so many thoughts about this movie but no way to coherently express it. This movie was about family and moving on and grief. But it was also about letting go and not trying to force yourself to live up to others expectations. This movie was so beautiful and yet it was so heartwarming and moving. The tears didn't start to fall until I got in the car and realized what I had just sat through for the last 2 hours.

#this movie was so anti-corporation too #he really said if my world cannot continue without malice and greed #then it should not continue #hayao miyazaki #the boy and the heron #jay's attempts at communicating

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