Flower Crowns For Flower Crimes

I already stated earlier that it would make more narrative sense to have Penelope (fully reformed) fight Le Paradox during the end of Thieves In Time Redux. But what do you think?

Drop a comment if you picked "secret third option".

Some Tips for writing internal conflict

Wanting Two Things at Once Imagine your character really wants to chase after something big, like a dream school, a major opportunity, or maybe even moving to a new city. But at the same time, they’re terrified of leaving behind everything they’ve ever known. Or maybe they’re in a relationship that’s holding them back, but they can’t bring themselves to let go. Show them getting pulled in two directions, torn between their ambition and their fear of losing the people or places that ground them.

Right vs. Wrong Sometimes, your character will know deep down what the right choice is, but it’s the most difficult one to make. Like, maybe they see someone getting bullied and know they should stand up, but doing so could make them a target. Or maybe they have to decide between helping a friend and doing something that could ruin their own future. These moral dilemmas create intense internal conflict because it forces them to question who they are and what they stand for.

Doubting Themselves We all have moments where we wonder if we’re enough, smart enough, strong enough, brave enough. Let your character wrestle with that same doubt. Maybe they’re the kid who has always been told they’re special, but now they’re in a place where everyone is just as good, and they start to wonder if they even belong. Or maybe they’ve been through something tough, and they’re not sure if they can bounce back. These moments of insecurity make your character feel human, like they’re trying to figure it all out, just like everyone else.

Dreams vs. Fears Show your character dreaming big but getting frozen by their own fears. It’s like wanting to ask someone out but being terrified of rejection, or wanting to move away for college but being scared to leave home. Let them imagine all the things that could go wrong , that moment when fear makes them doubt if they should even try. But also show their desire burning just as strong, making it impossible to ignore. That’s the heart of internal conflict: they’re stuck between wanting something so bad and being afraid of what it’ll cost to go after it.

Beliefs Being Challenged As your character grows, the world will start challenging their beliefs. Maybe they grew up in a family that drilled certain values into them, and now they’re meeting people who see things differently. Or maybe they’re experiencing something new, and it’s changing their perspective. It’s like when you think you have everything figured out, and then life throws something at you that makes you go, "Wait, maybe I’ve been wrong this whole time." This kind of internal conflict is powerful because it forces the character to question who they’ve always been.

Keeping Secrets If your character is hiding something, like a mistake they made, feelings they’re afraid to admit, or a truth they don’t want to face, that secret becomes a huge part of their internal conflict. The fear of being found out or of dealing with the consequences can create a constant pressure in their mind. Maybe they’re scared they’ll lose their friends if the truth comes out, or maybe they’re dealing with guilt they can’t shake. The tension comes from their battle to keep it hidden while knowing they can’t keep it locked away forever.

Pressure from Everyone Your character might feel like they’re trapped between what they want for themselves and what everyone else wants from them. It could be pressure from parents, who have their whole future planned out, or pressure from friends to fit in or follow the crowd. Maybe your character wants to be true to themselves, but they’re scared of disappointing people or standing out too much. This kind of internal conflict is super relatable because, at some point, everyone feels like they’re stuck between living for themselves and living for others.

Fear of Failing Sometimes the biggest obstacle isn’t the external challenge but the internal fear of failure. Your character might have big dreams, but they’re paralyzed by the thought of messing up. Whether it’s competing in a sport, performing on stage, or just trying something new, the fear of not being good enough can be overwhelming. Maybe they’re afraid that if they fail, everyone will see them differently, or worse, that they’ll see themselves differently. The internal conflict comes from their desire to succeed battling against their crippling fear of failure.

Penelope: It's amazing that Sly always looks so calm and composed.

Penelope: I wonder how he does it!

Sly, internally: fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck f

Thieves In Time Redux Boss Fights

I haven't talked much about the boss fights yet, apart from Le Paradox.

For those of you who haven't read my little fanfic yet, I managed to rope Penelope into all six of them.

I wasn't sure how to rope her into the El Jefe or Toothpick boss fights at first... then after some thinking, I put her on aerial support for Sly.

How many other rewrites have both Murray and Penelope fighting a boss together? None? Great news: They both get to fight The Grizz. Let your imagination for that run wild.

We can't have our heroine be the boss of Episode 4, so I thought I'd bring back an old villain: Sir Raleigh.

Miss Decibel's boss fight... isn't finished yet.

Then there's Le Paradox... Here's a link to that recap.

Full pic of art trade I did with a friend on deviantART, hope you like it ^^

Please imagine with me the potential for The Contessa to make a comeback. Imagine her forcing Penelope into a hypnotic, spice induced state where both her and Bentley’s intelligence and knowledge were stolen/abused for Cyrille Le Paradox’s scheme for time travel. But the only reason The Contessa was on board to work for Cyrille was because she wanted to get back at Bentley. He was the one responsible for ripping Sly, Murray, and Carmelita out of her control. She had some interest in getting back at Sly too, but Bentley was her main target.

If only Thieves in Time was written better. :’( Penelope and Bentley did not deserve what happened… And there were so many cool opportunities WASTED.

Thieves In Time Redux Meme #2

For context, this is one of Penelope's actions during Something's Fishy. Episode 1. It's during a newly added RC Car segment.

For more context, this "gate" is something she could have opened in seconds. It's something she designed herself.

And these "higher expectations" might make future snooping sessions a bit harder. Whoops. And even worse, she comes out of this one empty-handed.

But at least her boyfriend and honorary older brother like her better now?

me as a writer

Emotions in writing

Affection

Definition: Affection is a feeling of fondness or love towards someone or something. It typically involves a warm attachment, a caring attitude, and a desire to show kindness and tenderness.

When you want to write the emotion affection, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it.

Physical signs:

Hugs: Characters wrapping their arms around each other.

Kisses: Gentle or passionate lip contact between characters.

Hand-holding: Characters clasping each other's hands.

Cuddling: Characters snuggling closely together.

Caresses: Gentle touches or strokes on the face, arms, or back.

Smiling: Warm, genuine smiles directed at each other.

Eye contact: Prolonged gazes or meaningful looks.

Leaning in: Characters moving closer to each other.

Playfulness: Light teasing or playful physical interactions.

Body language: Open and relaxed posture, facing each other.

Resting heads: Characters resting their heads on each other's shoulders or laps.

Arm around shoulder: One character placing their arm around the shoulders of another.

Squeezing hands: Characters giving a reassuring squeeze to each other's hands.

Nuzzling: Characters pressing their nose or forehead against each other affectionately.

Sharing personal space: Characters standing or sitting closely together.

Whispering: Characters leaning in to share intimate or secretive words.

Back rubs: Characters giving gentle massages to each other's backs.

Gentle touches: Characters brushing away hair from each other's face.

Playful nudges: Light nudges or bumps with elbows or shoulders.

Shared laughter: Characters laughing together, often with touching or holding each other.

Internal sensations:

A sense of inner warmth or comfort when thinking about or being near the person they care for.

A fluttery feeling in the stomach or chest when they see or think about their loved one.

A general feeling of happiness or contentment when in the presence of their loved one.

A heightened sense of excitement or anticipation before seeing their loved one.

A calm and peaceful feeling when thinking about their relationship or when spending time together.

A subtle ache or longing when apart from their loved one.

A sense of security or safety when they are with their loved one.

A feeling of being valued and appreciated by their loved one.

A deep affection and fondness when remembering shared moments or qualities of their loved one.

A sense of gratitude for having their loved one in their life.

Mental Responses:

Longing for their presence

Comfort in their words

Excitement at hearing from them

Gratitude for their kindness

Eagerness to reciprocate

Nostalgia for past moments together

Anticipation of future connections

Affectionate memories surfacing

Sense of belonging

Telling Affection Examples to Avoid:

Try avoiding things like this:

John felt an overwhelming affection for his wife.

Sarah was filled with affection for her newborn baby.

The old man's eyes were filled with affection as he watched his grandchildren play.

Despite their rocky past, Mary still felt a deep affection for her ex-husband.

The dog's tail wagged with affection as his owner petted him.

Practical Examples of Showing Affection:

Some examples of showing affection in a sentence:

She hugged her friend tightly, feeling her warmth and comfort after a long day.

He smiled at his daughter and tousled her hair, glad to see her growing up so fast.

She rested her head on her partner's shoulder, sighing contentedly and feeling at ease in their embrace.

He placed a gentle kiss on his wife's forehead, silently communicating his love and support for her.