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ysabetwordsmithThis is today's freebie, inspired by a prompt from siberian_skys. It also fills the "ageplay" square in my 6-1-24 card for the Pride Fest Bingo. It belongs to the series LIFC.
"On the Surface, Everything Seems Normal"
Phil found Clint in the common kitchen,
hunched over a bowl of Lucky Charms
and not talking with anyone else.
"You look upset," Phil said.
"Want to tell me what's wrong?"
"Someone at work said it's not
normal to be my age and still single,"
Clint said with a sigh. "I didn't want to talk
about JARVIS there, so I just didn't say
anything. Besides, my childhood was crap,
I don't even know what normal even is."
Tony snorted. "Nobody here knows
what normal is, Robin Hood," he said.
"The closest we got is Steve and Bucky,
who know what normal was in their day."
Phil looked at the other Avengers and
realized that this was pretty much true.
Then I smiled. "I think I have a game
that suits this occasion," Uncle Phil said.
The Avengers scrambled to finish eating,
then dashed away to change clothes.
When everyone had dressed in jammies,
and Uncle Phil had his robe over a T-shirt
that read, World's Best Uncle, then they
reassembled in the common room.
"So what game are we playing?"
Tony asked, bouncing on his toes.
"Is it new? Is it fun? Is it cool?"
"Let's find out," said Uncle Phil.
"This is Cards Against Normality.
It can be played in several ways.
This time, I'm going to read a card,
then we'll go around and everyone
will share a story inspired by it."
Clint leaned forward, curious.
"So how do we know who wins?"
"Players vote on the best story, and
whoever earns the most votes gets
a point," said Uncle Phil. "The first
to gain ten points is the winner."
"And this helps us figure out
what normal is?" Clint said,
looking at the box of cards.
"Actually, it helps show that
normal can be many things,"
said Uncle Phil. "Each of us
has our own perspective."
"None of us will ever be
normal anyway," said Natka.
"Oh, I don't know about that,"
said Uncle Phil. "There isn't
a single way to be normal."
"That's true," said Steve.
"I grew up in a neighborhood
with lots of immigrants, and
they all had their own language
and food and music and all.
I bet that hasn't changed."
"While the demographics
of New York have shifted
over time, it remains a city
of immigrants," said JARVIS.
"That's why we can order takeout
from so many different cultures."
The Avengers ate a lot of takeout,
and they enjoyed diverse cuisines.
Even Steve and Bucky, who had
grown up on pretty plain food, were
enthusiastic culinary explorers.
"Exactly," said Uncle Phil. "So
let's see what's in the cards..."
"Here's one," Clint said,
passing one without peeking.
"On the surface, everything seems
normal," Uncle Phil read. "But
look a little closer, and you realize
that everything is an illusion."
"Illusions suck," muttered Clint,
and the other Avengers nodded.
It wasn't just Loki that they'd had
to deal with, some other supervillains
had similar deceptive abilities.
"Is your hero's ordinary life a lie?
And if so, is she an unwitting dupe
(the naive daughter) or complicit in
the fabrication (the sleeper spy)?"
Uncle Phil continued reading.
Everyone was carefully not
looking at Natka, who was
Black Widow as a grownup.
"What does 'home' mean to
your hero?" Uncle Phil asked,
tilting the card. "Is it a sanctuary
or a prison? Is it a location or
a relationship? Most heroes are
either running to or from home."
Clint was petting the floor, which
was as close as he could get
to holding hands with JARVIS.
Steve and Bucky were clinging
to each other. Tony, Bruce, and
Betty were stuck together too.
Natka had her own chair,
but she did have one ankle
hooked over Clint's knee.
"Perhaps I should go first,"
said JARVIS. "I have both
an ordinary life and a super life.
These things are equally true.
I enjoy providing a safe home
for the people I care about."
"I um," Bruce said, "haven't
had a home in years, but this
is more than I ever imagined.
The uh, the other guy says
that he feels the same way."
"It reminds me a lot of
my first home," Steve said,
and Bucky nodded. "We
have all these different folks
trying to get along together,
so I feel less lost this way."
Uncle Phil leaned back
into the couch and smiled.
It was the perfect game for today.
* * *
Notes:
Adult survivors of difficult childhoods often don't realize that their early life wasn't normal. They don't know what normal is. Rigid perceptions of "normal" can inhibit diversity and inclusion. In reality, diversity is normal, common, and indeed essential for species survival. This article on "How to Be Normal" touches on both health and contextual aspects.
Cards Against Normality (2014)
Gameplay
• 3–6 Players
• Designer John August
• Artist David Friesen
• Publisher Quote-unquote Press
Each player have three illustrated idea cards. Each round, the Storyteller begins telling a story. It can be a familiar tale, an anecdote from real life, or something made up. When the Storyteller is finished, players choose one of their idea cards.
Each player re-tells the original story based on their chosen card. After hearing all of the version, the Storyteller chooses the best one and awards a Plot Point. That player becomes the Storyteller for the next round.
Included as a bonus in John August's Writer Emergency Pack.
Cards Against Normality A House Is Not a Home
Like most storytelling games, this one can be played in multiple ways. Uncle Phil is basically using the cards as discussion prompts, and these cards are very good for that.
siberian_skys. It also fills the "ageplay" square in my 6-1-24 card for the Pride Fest Bingo. It belongs to the series LIFC."On the Surface, Everything Seems Normal"
Phil found Clint in the common kitchen,
hunched over a bowl of Lucky Charms
and not talking with anyone else.
"You look upset," Phil said.
"Want to tell me what's wrong?"
"Someone at work said it's not
normal to be my age and still single,"
Clint said with a sigh. "I didn't want to talk
about JARVIS there, so I just didn't say
anything. Besides, my childhood was crap,
I don't even know what normal even is."
Tony snorted. "Nobody here knows
what normal is, Robin Hood," he said.
"The closest we got is Steve and Bucky,
who know what normal was in their day."
Phil looked at the other Avengers and
realized that this was pretty much true.
Then I smiled. "I think I have a game
that suits this occasion," Uncle Phil said.
The Avengers scrambled to finish eating,
then dashed away to change clothes.
When everyone had dressed in jammies,
and Uncle Phil had his robe over a T-shirt
that read, World's Best Uncle, then they
reassembled in the common room.
"So what game are we playing?"
Tony asked, bouncing on his toes.
"Is it new? Is it fun? Is it cool?"
"Let's find out," said Uncle Phil.
"This is Cards Against Normality.
It can be played in several ways.
This time, I'm going to read a card,
then we'll go around and everyone
will share a story inspired by it."
Clint leaned forward, curious.
"So how do we know who wins?"
"Players vote on the best story, and
whoever earns the most votes gets
a point," said Uncle Phil. "The first
to gain ten points is the winner."
"And this helps us figure out
what normal is?" Clint said,
looking at the box of cards.
"Actually, it helps show that
normal can be many things,"
said Uncle Phil. "Each of us
has our own perspective."
"None of us will ever be
normal anyway," said Natka.
"Oh, I don't know about that,"
said Uncle Phil. "There isn't
a single way to be normal."
"That's true," said Steve.
"I grew up in a neighborhood
with lots of immigrants, and
they all had their own language
and food and music and all.
I bet that hasn't changed."
"While the demographics
of New York have shifted
over time, it remains a city
of immigrants," said JARVIS.
"That's why we can order takeout
from so many different cultures."
The Avengers ate a lot of takeout,
and they enjoyed diverse cuisines.
Even Steve and Bucky, who had
grown up on pretty plain food, were
enthusiastic culinary explorers.
"Exactly," said Uncle Phil. "So
let's see what's in the cards..."
"Here's one," Clint said,
passing one without peeking.
"On the surface, everything seems
normal," Uncle Phil read. "But
look a little closer, and you realize
that everything is an illusion."
"Illusions suck," muttered Clint,
and the other Avengers nodded.
It wasn't just Loki that they'd had
to deal with, some other supervillains
had similar deceptive abilities.
"Is your hero's ordinary life a lie?
And if so, is she an unwitting dupe
(the naive daughter) or complicit in
the fabrication (the sleeper spy)?"
Uncle Phil continued reading.
Everyone was carefully not
looking at Natka, who was
Black Widow as a grownup.
"What does 'home' mean to
your hero?" Uncle Phil asked,
tilting the card. "Is it a sanctuary
or a prison? Is it a location or
a relationship? Most heroes are
either running to or from home."
Clint was petting the floor, which
was as close as he could get
to holding hands with JARVIS.
Steve and Bucky were clinging
to each other. Tony, Bruce, and
Betty were stuck together too.
Natka had her own chair,
but she did have one ankle
hooked over Clint's knee.
"Perhaps I should go first,"
said JARVIS. "I have both
an ordinary life and a super life.
These things are equally true.
I enjoy providing a safe home
for the people I care about."
"I um," Bruce said, "haven't
had a home in years, but this
is more than I ever imagined.
The uh, the other guy says
that he feels the same way."
"It reminds me a lot of
my first home," Steve said,
and Bucky nodded. "We
have all these different folks
trying to get along together,
so I feel less lost this way."
Uncle Phil leaned back
into the couch and smiled.
It was the perfect game for today.
* * *
Notes:
Adult survivors of difficult childhoods often don't realize that their early life wasn't normal. They don't know what normal is. Rigid perceptions of "normal" can inhibit diversity and inclusion. In reality, diversity is normal, common, and indeed essential for species survival. This article on "How to Be Normal" touches on both health and contextual aspects.
Cards Against Normality (2014)
Gameplay
• 3–6 Players
• Designer John August
• Artist David Friesen
• Publisher Quote-unquote Press
Each player have three illustrated idea cards. Each round, the Storyteller begins telling a story. It can be a familiar tale, an anecdote from real life, or something made up. When the Storyteller is finished, players choose one of their idea cards.
Each player re-tells the original story based on their chosen card. After hearing all of the version, the Storyteller chooses the best one and awards a Plot Point. That player becomes the Storyteller for the next round.
Included as a bonus in John August's Writer Emergency Pack.
Cards Against Normality A House Is Not a Home
Like most storytelling games, this one can be played in multiple ways. Uncle Phil is basically using the cards as discussion prompts, and these cards are very good for that.
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(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-05 01:42 am (UTC)Also, "The Avengers at a lot of takeout" ate
Fixed!
Date: 2024-06-05 01:46 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2024-06-05 02:15 am (UTC)You're welcome!
Date: 2024-06-05 02:44 am (UTC)I'm glad you enjoyed it so much.
>> It's been a long time since you brought out Uncle Phil and his littles.<<
It was fun to get back to. You can always ask for it in a relevant prompt call.
>>Thank you so much for writing this.<<
*bow, flourish* Happy to be of service.
Re: You're welcome!
Date: 2024-06-05 02:08 pm (UTC)I really do love this segment. It reminds me of early Love Is For Children. I need to have a reread.
Re: You're welcome!
Date: 2024-06-06 10:18 am (UTC)Stuff happens. The Poetry Fishbowl is customarily the first Tuesday of each month, barring exceptions like family obligations or falling on January 1. Mid-month usually has the
Also I'll be calling for themes, probably on Monday, so watch for that and you can suggest topics for upcoming fishbowls.
>> I really do love this segment. It reminds me of early Love Is For Children. I need to have a reread.<<
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and that you find my work so rereadable.
Re: You're welcome!
Date: 2024-06-06 04:47 pm (UTC)I especially love Love Is For Children. It makes me happy.
Re: You're welcome!
Date: 2024-06-06 07:09 pm (UTC)Option 1: Write the dates in your calendar. That's how I keep track of things.
Option 2: If your schedules means you're routinely unavailable, leave your prompts under the advance announcement post. At least that gives you two chances per fishbowl to respond.
>> I especially love Love Is For Children. It makes me happy.<<
Thank you! I'm happy to hear that.
Re: You're welcome!
Date: 2024-06-06 07:29 pm (UTC)It's one of those stories/series that other writers wish they'd written.
Re: You're welcome!
Date: 2024-06-06 08:27 pm (UTC)Also consider how much more complicated the world has gotten over time, and how much delays have built up so that things that were once easy to remember because they happened quickly now need to be recorded because it takes weeks or months to happen. These things make it much harder to keep track of stuff.
For me, I've always used cognitive offloading to minimize wasting my memory and concentration on things that I could use tools for, to free up those mental resources for writing or other work. So in addition to my desk calendar, I've got a kitchen timer to remind me of things like baking or yardwork.
>> It's one of those stories/series that other writers wish they'd written.<<
Aww, shucks. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Re: You're welcome!
Date: 2024-06-06 09:33 pm (UTC)