ooh I think I found myself a PROFESSOR 😩

hi im elias and im need to see mattyass mcquoid in a fit of despair | main: el_dritchknight | he/they | icon: @senpehh_ (twt) | header: @nmvord

[itlivesproject]

So sorry for the delay in posting discussion questions! Here are some questions for chapters 9-12.

PART THREE DISCUSSION

CHAPTER 9: UNGRATEFUL

This chapter follows the aftermath of Devon refusing Mr. Red's gift, with him attacking the basketball game with spiders. At the end of the chapter, Stacy's attitude toward the events changes. How and why does it change?

CHAPTER 10: I'M NOT SCARED

The flashback in this chapter finally tells us what really happened all those years ago with Jane. How do you think the story narrative is strengthened by holding off on giving us this information for so long?

Britney claims she's "trying to be better." Do you think she's actually trying? Is her desire to change caused because of Mr. Red? How do you interpret what's happening with Britney?

CHAPTER 11: YOU AGAIN

This chapter sees all the characters come together to stop Redfield using Cora's ritual. When you first read this, did you think they had succeeded? How does their false success contribute to the horror of the story?

CHAPTER 12: HOMECOMING

The calm before the storm... what's your favorite part of the homecoming chapter? Who did you take to do the dance?

[professor-abeloved]

LFGGGG

ch 9

1. from stacey thinking that this situation was out of their league to having a stubborn sort of faith that they'll suceed is a big leap. and it's interesting how PB did it with not only her, but everyone gaining this ironclad motivation after their secrets are spilled. after all, when you've hit rock bottom, what else is there to lose?

it's also sweet to how its devon who cracks under the pressure while lily and stacey supporting them 🥺

ch 10

1. JAAAAANE!! we all knew she died, but i think revealing it dramatically while keeping the suspenseful Jane incident a mystery helped spur intrigue in both the past and present

2. i dont think mr. red can change someone completely which is why a lot of their "gifts" have been external (ex: injuring mr. cooper via the snake). i believe that britney truly does care for lily, but she has a lot of toxic behaviors and mindsets to unlearn. i think mr. red gave britney headaches that would pavlov her to go against her mean instancts.

i did root for her initially but then let lily have a new start in my subsequent playthroughs.

ch 11

1. while I had hope that they finally solved their problems, I knew it was too good to be true considering that pb usually has 16 chapters lmao. it's also customary for stories to have a twist to raise the stakes, which it does beautifully in ilitw.

ch 12

1. i took andy kang my best boy!! also wrote a fluff fic for him and my mc hehe. and my favorite part is the crew in the limo!! having fun like kids screaming through the sun roof aaa they deserve

[itlivesproject]

Who was your homecoming date in ILITW?

Andy

Ava

Lucas

Stacy

Connor

No one

Voting ended onSep 28, 2025

[itlivesproject]

CHAPTER EIGHT DISCUSSION

Everyone dies eventually - including bad people, like Cody. This can bring up conflicting emotions about their death, because someone's death doesn't undo the harm they did in life. How do you think this chapter handles that sticky, conflicting human experience? Do you have any other commentary on that theme?

Different characters had different opinions about how to handle the Redfield issue. Noah thinks they needed to go after Redfield, Stacy thinks it's out of their league, and Ava thinks they need to know more. If you were in Devon's shoes, who would you agree with? Would you have a different opinion entirely?

Jocelyn attacks Ava in this chapter, thinking she's responsible for Cody's death. What do you think of how Jocelyn handles her grief? Do you have any empathy for her, or do you think there was no excuse for her actions?

Did you get Noah's flashback memory? What do we learn about his relationship with Jane?

Do you think Devon was right to try to handle Mr. Red the way they did?

Feel free to reblog with your answers to the questions that interest you, make your own posts, or join our It Lives Within discord server and talk about it in the #book-club-2025 channel!

[professor-abeloved]

well said. this is a very prevalent theme in this political climate (cough charli/e kir/k), and i believe that it depends from person to person. cody did a lot of harm towards many people *and* his death was a painful tragedy. the various attitudes the crew had about that - and how the player can choose how mc feels to a degree - is very interestingly handled. none of cody's crimes are washed away in death. it reminds me a bit of max jaggerman from nerdy prudes must die where some people like jocelyn actually do get better without his influence.

as a person, i'm team ava. understanding something is the first way to deal with it. my devon sided with noah, and i feel like that fits what he does at the end lmfao.

our feelings are valid, but we are responsible for them. she deserves to mourn, but taking it out on ava by attacking her and goading her into punishment is toxic, manipulative, and horrendous. there's no excuse.

baby noah is so cute. it's really interesting that he was jealous and thought that devon was "replacing" him as jane's bestie. jane would've been such a good influence on him with her honesty if she got the chance to grow alongside them :(((

no way jose. absolutely not. i was cringing the first time i played this years ago, and i'm cringing now. what in the white horror main character was that. (i get why it had to happen from a plot perspective i suppose but STILL.)

[itlivesproject]

CHAPTER SEVEN DISCUSSION

What do you think Redfield's intentions were in befriending the group of children? Was he lonely? Was he manipulating them?

This chapter is the fun party chapter. What were some of the character highlights from this chapter? Who had the best diamond scene (if you purchased them)?

How many people passed their nerve check for you in this chapter? How many failed?

Did Cody deserve it?!

Feel free to reblog with your answers to the questions that interest you, make your own posts, or join our It Lives Within discord server and talk about it in the #book-club-2025 channel!

[professor-abeloved]

ASFGJL ngl it's hard not to meta-answer this on a replay but it's funny to think of mr. red was trying to be all "how do you do fellow kids". it seemed like manipulation to me but also... there is a touch of lonliness because. yk.

i am so biased towards andy's and noah's scenes personally, but i loved the chance to bond with everyone! the dance with lily was great.

UM they all did but i kind of regret it bc i want to try a low nerve playthrough :((

Did Cody deserve it?! as a high school teenager, he still could've been taught and rehabilitated to go on a redemption arc (similiar to joss in ilw). as a fictional entitled white boy bully caricature who reminds many players of their own horrors irl? it was satisfying to see.

[itlivesproject]

Whose gift from Redfield was the MOST satisfying to see?

Lucas - Mr. Cooper bitten by a snake.

Stacy - Blackmail retrieved on Britney.

Andy - Bully mauled by a bear.

Ava - Telekinesis powers.

Lily - Britney starts being nice.

Devon - Cody impaled on a tree.

Voting ended onSep 14, 2025

[professor-abeloved]

It seems that the "karmic" gifts (aka revenge on the bullies/blackmailers) gave players more catharsis.

no one voted mr. cooper and bless yall HAHA man was just concerned, but no one really held any ill will towards him versus britney, cody, and the transphobic guy

i think the blackmail also had stacey being the most involved with player input as to what she could do while the cody thing was a cliffhanger that we had no control over. i think telekinises would be what most people would prefer as a gift in a heartbeat tho

[itlivesproject]

CHAPTER SIX DISCUSSION

Here we see the friend group's dynamic as children. How are the characters similar but different to their younger selves? What do we learn about the bonds they used to share and how that might impact their present?

Interestingly, this is also the first time we really see the whole group together as teenagers, when they visit Dan. Do you have relationships where you've spent a lot of time away from someone and find yourself regaining that friendship quickly when you come together? What do you think makes the difference between a friendship that can be easily rekindled, and one that cannot?

Did you get the diamond scene with Dan's texts? What do you learn about him as a character? What do you think of the therapist he spoke to? Do you think the adults in Dan's life handled the situation appropriately?

Did you take the kitty? What did you name her?

Feel free to reblog with your answers to the questions that interest you, make your own posts, or join our It Lives Within discord server and talk about it in the #book-club-2025 channel!

[professor-abeloved]

tbh a lot of them are pretty similiar yet different. ava was always into spooky stuff, but lesss snarky and cynical. stacey was more on the careful side while andy always remained adventurous. they were sweet, innocent kids who loved each other a lot <3 damn u mr. red for homewrecking the group

ironically enough, that describes my high school friends HAHA. despite years apart, its fun to hang out with them and reconnect whenever we see each other. i think friendships that can be rekindled/maintained highly depend on the people, their determination to stay together, and their shared values. this becomes even more apparent in ilw (wink) and irl when school schedules and similiar experiences can't always bridge the gap between people.

DAN MY BELOVED!! this scene really hammered in one of the things that make not only him special, but the book and even the series. so often horror is used as a cheap tactic for jumpscares and cash grabs, but what i love about the genre is how it impacts mental health and how the characters can find strength in each other and within themselves. i think the therapist and the mom did the best they could knowing the information they had, but there's no training in either the psych handbook or parenting guides about redfield, yk?

cattywumpus is a cute name HAHA she is the best character fr no cap. i named her "ewu" in subsequent playthroughs for my gf @owltio <3

[itlivesproject]

CHAPTER FIVE DISCUSSION

In this chapter, we begin seeing the "gifts" that Mr. Red gives to the characters. Do you enjoy playing as the other characters for these scenes? What are some similarities and differences between the problems Stacy and Lucas have and the way Mr. Red tries to resolve them?

This chapter also introduces us to the story of Goddard E. Filleus. If this is a replay, do you remember what your thoughts were the first time you played it? If you haven't played before, what do you think of Goodard E. Filleus? How do the lore docs enhance the story told in It Lives in the Woods?

Did you get the Connor and/or Andy diamond scenes? What insight do those scenes provide into their characters?

Feel free to reblog with your answers to the questions that interest you, make your own posts, or join our It Lives Within discord server and talk about it in the #book-club-2025 channel!

[professor-abeloved]

playing as the others slap since devon cannot be there all the time, and it's interesting how... childish? or simplistic? Mr. Red tries to handle the problems like oh there's a teacher/bully trying to threaten this teenager? send a little something something to attack them. it's interesting that Mr. Red knew enough about how to help, but without the humane morality to make other decisions.

i thought that the story of Goddard E. Filleus. was interesting in how it was revealed through letters... and that this power is even older than any of the characters.

ANDY KANG <3 it mainly showed how close he is with tom (m1ckey mouse voice: this is an important plot tool we'll think about later!), but i also love the dialogue where MC asks, "aren't we still friends?" when they talked about andy's baby pictures.

[itlivesproject]

These four chapters cover the first quarter of the book, which generally includes the setup: introduction of the characters and the stakes, the inciting incident or call to action (in this case, Redfield's appearance at the pep rally) and the response to the call (saving Dan and accidentally giving Redfield more power). How effective do you think the book's setup is?

In a horror book, the setting is as much a character as the character themselves. What are your thoughts of Westchester as a setting? How does it manage to create that spooky horror feel?

What was the moment that got you hooked? The moment where you felt connected to the MC and characters? Did it happen in this quarter, will it happen in later chapters, will it ever happen at all?

What is one thing that stands out to you from the chapters that we read?

Rank these four chapters from 1 - 5 stars!

⭐️

⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Voting ended onSep 14, 2025

Feel free to reblog with your answers to the questions that interest you, make your own posts, or join our It Lives Within discord server and talk about it in the #book-club-2025 channel!

[professor-abeloved]

i think it's a pretty balanced set-up considering the amount of main characters involved!

Westchester seems rather gloomy and isolated, which parallels the state of MC's social circle-/lighthearted. I think that the isolated, dark atmosphere of the woods is good for the horror element. high school is hell by itself, but the fact that the ILITW gang can't rely on authorities for help (against the monsters or, worse, the bullies), is something that makes it even more terrifying.

i believe that the first time i got hooked was the fight to rescue dan! i love action scenes and rescue missions

mm i love how diverse everyone's reactions to their trauma is. very realistic.

[itlivesproject]

CHAPTER FOUR DISCUSSION

This chapter starts the portion of the book when we play as other members of the ILITW friend group, beginning with Ava. What is your opinion on those scenes? Did you enjoy playing as the other characters?

The main characters all have to deal with real-life responsibilities (parents, school clubs, etc.) while also confronting the Redfield haunting. How do these everyday pressures affect the way they handle the supernatural events? How are we affected by everyday pressures when dealing with serious struggles?

And of course, did you get any diamond options this chapter? Which ones?

Feel free to reblog with your answers to the questions that interest you, make your own posts, or join our It Lives Within discord server and talk about it in the #book-club-2025 channel!

[professor-abeloved]

bruh anytime we exit MC's pov, i think it slays HAHA i think it's a creative storytelling technique that lets us bond more with the other characters in a fun way

Some of these everyday pressures definitely impact not only the characters' schedules (hi basketball practice blocking andy from joining us for free) and their psyches. I think Lucas has it one of the hardest since he's so busy and so stressd out al lthe time. Real life is already overwhelming as it is, so adding the literal ghosts of your pasts in freaky and inexplicable events is def gonna result in lowered nerve scores for everyone.

THE DAN DIAMOND OPTION IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES <3 i'm sad he pulled his hand away when Devon was going to comfort him

[itlivesproject]

Who is your favorite ILITW character?

MC

Ava

Lucas

Stacy

Andy

Noah

Lily

Dan

Connor

Other

Voting ended onSep 13, 2025

[professor-abeloved]

ILITW MC SWEEP <3 This poll is so interesting. Everyone's MCs are so different yet it's great how attached we are to them thanks to our own headcanons and PB's complex writing of them. My non-MC top 3 personally are Andy, Noah, and Dan <3 I feel represented by all three of them in many ways, and I adore their dynamics with MC, platonic or otherwise <3

[itlivesproject]

CHAPTER THREE DISCUSSION

The Green family is explored in this chapter, with hints to the family's dynamic from both Stacy and Connor. What do we learn about the Greens from this chapter? How might it affect Connor and Stacy's behaviors and attitudes?

Noah and MC both are shown to suffer extreme survivor's guilt over what happened to Jane. How do you think this guilt informs their characters?

What do you think Dan meant when he said "You shouldn't have come... now he can leave?"

Did you get any diamond scenes in this chapter?

Feel free to reblog with your answers to the questions that interest you, make your own posts, or join our It Lives Within discord server and talk about it in the #book-club-2025 channel!

[professor-abeloved]

my thots be upon ye

While the Greens are rich and popular on the outside, there is a lot under the surface. It sucks how someone Stacey trusted in a moment of vulnerability used that against her. It's an interesting tie-in to Lily since Britney is both of their tormentors who they thought they could trust.

Noah definitely blames himself to toxic and terrible degrees (not helped by his abusive mother, grr). I like how proactive he got with wanting to save Dan despite his loner tendencies. MC on the otherhand is one of the main driving forces who brings the group together (like making the groupchat) and it's interesting that they're both more proactive in trying to help their friends but in different ways.

What do you think Dan meant when he said "You shouldn't have come... now he can leave?" He loves me /JK UM Dan believes that by the group coming to save him, "Mr. Red" can now "escape" the woods. Banger cliffhanger

Finding out what happened to Stacey is such an important scene that shouldn't have been behind a paywall imho. I like the barbed wire bat and Noah deserves some light in his life regardless of how much is left in our wallet /j.

[itlivesproject]

CHAPTER TWO DISCUSSION

This chapter introduces the parallel narrative of what happened ten years ago. How does this serve the story? Do you think it's stronger than one single flashback or learning about it by someone discussing it in the present would have been?

Different characters have different reactions to MC wanting to meet up and talk about the pap rally. Why do you think that is? What can we tell about each character and their traumas from their reactions?

What are some of the inter-group dynamics you can pick up on in this chapter? For example, MC didn't already have Stacy's number, which suggests distance. Stacy chews out the entire group for not being there for Dan, implying that she and Dan remained in contact but not with the others.

Do you have any headcanons regarding the group dynamics at the beginning of the book?

Did you take any diamond scenes this chapter?

Feel free to reblog with your answers to the questions that interest you, make your own posts, or join our It Lives Within discord server and talk about it in the #book-club-2025 channel!

[professor-abeloved]

MY PAST FEW WEEKENDS HAVE BEEN SO BUSY SO!! HERE'S ME TRYNA CATCH UP ON BOOK CLUB HAHA

I love showing as opposed to telling, and I think PB did great with this parallel narrative that showed relevant past events, gave us insight into the characters, and let us feel connected to Jane. It is stronger than a single flashback or lines of dialogue in the present imho.

Different folks, different strokes. It's neat seeing how everyone dealt with things differently, whether it was trying to know all they can to be prepared like Ava or to pretend that it was all something they made up as kids like Stacey.

Most of them are pretty distant, tbh. I believe it's a coping mechanism from the trauma they dealt with, but I am a personal fan of Lily and Ava's dynamics. It's really interesting as well that MC has history with so many people that we, as players, can now influence because of time apart. I think Stacey and Dan would be in similiar circles with football and cheerleader, so I'd assume the athletic/sporty type LIs are a tad closer presently, except some people are loners (hi Noah <3) while others have their own friends (i love Andy and Tom sm). It's really great that each character has their own lives outside of the group.

I hc that MC and Lily keep touch through... messenger (did discord exist then? LMFAO) sometimes, discussing games and stuff. My Devon would have loved cozy pet-centered games.

The Lucas interview is cute! I initially didn't have diamonds for it in the first run through, but subsequent playthroughs show me that it is a sweet insight into his anxious ambitous character <3 Similiarly, it is SUCH a cash grab to have to pay for both Andy and Ava, but i love them both sm.

[professor-abeloved]

inflicts maxeliza at because i cant sleep 🩷🩵🤍

[professor-abeloved]

carry your heart with me [ Diego x MMC ]

Fandom: Endless Summer (PlayChoices)

Characters | Ships: Diego Ortiz Soto/Original Male Character

Summary: Life isn't like the movies, but that won't stop Diego from hoping for a happy ending.

Notes: HAPPY BIRTHDAY @zeesqueere !! I believed I promised you mmc x diego fluff from eons ago ASGSJSLSLS I hope you like Eliano de Loyola (he/him) is my endsum mc!

---

Okay, Diego. You might be a plucky sidekick, but everyone has their time in the spotlight. You can do this!

Burrows furrowed in determination, Diego drags his gaze away from the mirror and fights the urge to mess up the artfully tousled waves of his brown hair. Guapo? Eh. Good enough.

He gingerly picks the card on the drawer between thumb and forefinger… not unlike the way one would handle a ticking time bomb.

read the rest on ao3

[oceanatydes]

this was so cute I’m sobbing

[storyofmychoices]

Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you. 💖~Loretta Young

I knew my first art of Jun and Emilia had to be by the incredible @weetlebeetle. Nebula is absolutely incredible and I'm obsessed with her cheeb art so obviously I needed to see Jun and Emilia in her style and I absolutely love it!!! They're so cute! 😍😍😍

[Jun Seong x Emilia Charles Masterlist]

[marmolady]

Cool to see different dialogue from Michelle if she doesn’t like you! Not sure where she got the idea DisasterTaylor is befriending people though— she has none whatsoever. It’s interesting that Michelle’s view of the others might be impacted by a lack of friendship with MC.

Also, Estela is about ready to commit another murder.