Chain Story - Bathtubs and Broomsticks

[AlinaX]

Okay, so this is where it started, and although we don't need to stick to it exactly, there does seem to be a good amount of shared enthusiasm for it:

Lucy, a struggling magazine columnist and photographer, is dispatched to conduct an in-depth interview with reclusive auteur Adimir, whose directorial idiom blends horror and eroticism. He is currently filming in an ancient castle deep in the Slovakian forest, and Lucy invites her film buff friend Mina to accompany her in visiting the set. Mina jumps at the chance to spend some time with Lucy, having had a crush on her for years; Lucy insists she's straight and even has a boyfriend back home, but Mina isn't convinced and this adventure will be the perfect opportunity to test Lucy's resolve.

It turns out that Adimir's new film is about the notorious Countess Bathory and the castle is none other than Čachtice Castle where the countess was walled up at the end of her life. The actress playing her is Mariska, a young Hungarian model with a cold beauty, who certainly isn't shy to reveal all for the camera. When Adimir, fascinated with Lucy's Englishness and air of innocence, and being an actress short for unclear reasons, insists that if Lucy wants her interview she must first play the part of one of the countess's unfortunate maids, Mina must watch as her friend is first stripped by another woman, then coated in honey by seductive, massaging hands.
If anyone has strong feelings about content, composition order or plot, please do speak up. If anyone would be excited to manage this writing challenge, again do speak up, although I'm quite happy to do that otherwise.

I haven't been to Čachtice Castle, or Slovakia even, but I'd love to go there one day. The castle is a ruin, as far as I know, but I can imagine it being used for location shots, scenes perhaps of a young woman drawn there only to drown in dark memories of blood and cruelty. Perhaps she's descended from the notorious Erzsébet Báthory who supposedly bathed in the blood of virgins to sustain eternal youth.

I am actually a little torn about Elizabeth. In popular legend she has become a terrifying vampire, and even without that supernatural aspect she supposedly tortured and killed 600 young maids. A rather fanciful exaggeration, that 600 was closer to 100, iirc, and even then you have to ask how much even that was the product of a conspiracy. For one woman to hold the astonishing wealth she did would certainly make her a target, and how easy would it be to persuade people to make up terrible stories about her?

But this is not a film about the historical Elizabeth Bathory. This is an Elizabeth who bathes in the blood of victims we do not see, an Elizabeth capable of profound cruelty but of a fiery passion too. Mariska, a young Hungarian model, plays a young Hungarian woman of Slovakian descent - Elizabeth by name, inevitably - who finds herself drawn to Čachtice where she is possessed by the spirit of the undead countess. Mariska herself seems a little too affected by this role she plays. Perhaps it's method acting, perhaps it's something darker. Perhaps she is a shy virgin at the start of shooting, but her relationship with Adimir slowly develops into an exploration of S&M with Mariska wielding the whip (thanks for that idea, Erozetta), and she is troubled by fantasies of opening his veins and tasting his blood.

Too much? Maybe. I'm more a Carmilla fan than a Dracula fan. For me, Delphine Seyrig's Countess Bathory in Daughters of Darkness is definitive. Cruel, intelligent, seductive. It's a little perverse to talk about Carmilla and Bathory and then mix in Dracula elements (Mina, Lucy, even Adimir), but it offers up some lovely possibilities. (Erozetta's cuck fantasies below could work well.)

If we keep the Erotic Horror elements in the shadows as much as possible, there's plenty of room to develop lighter (i.e., sappy and romantic) plots. (Has anyone seen The Invitation on Netflix?)

Our group, then, in no particular order, is:
@AlinaX
@Erozetta
@StillStunned
@pink_silk_glove
@Omenainen
@Tio_Narratore

I hope we can create something supernaturally seductive - with or without the actual supernatural...

 

[Erozetta]

I'm good with whatever is decided, but the things that drew me in to your original premise were:

Elizabeth Bathory 'cause... so much potential... particularly for the supernatural element that could be little more than an excuse rather than an actual supernatural experience.

The play on Dracula characters, Mina and Lucy.

Mina having a crush on Lucy (who is absolutely straight... *points above to supernatural element that could be little more than an excuse rather than an actual supernatural experience.* possession is on the table, or at least the claim of possession...)

Lucy stripped and slathered in honey in a seductive display to *earn* the interview she's there to complete. (Places neon sign pointing to the 'possession' element.)

~
And I figure we should introduce ourselves to get a better feel for each other's capabilities and comfort levels around writing and content?

Don't read the story I have up on my profile for an idea of my writing style, it is not indicative of anything but boredom recently.

My personal writing strengths:
creating drama
horror elements
psychological games
subterfuge
supernatural elements
serial killer knowledge

My writing weaknesses:
dialogue in proper dialects (such as British English.)
endings (Horror movie fan... ambiguous endings that leave room for more are kinda my favorite and I know some people hate that, lol)
wordiness (I like writing... sometimes I don't realize I'm meandering in world or character building.)
asides (I like them, most people don't.)
settings (I... just forget about them sometimes... more interested in the characters and interactions than surroundings sometimes. Other times I get lost in the world design. It's about 50/50.)



Kinks I'm uncomfortable writing: none.

Kinks I'm very comfortable writing: lesbian, reluctance, horror, non human, non erotic, BDSM, fetish, E&V, Mature, and Romance

Favorite writing elements: Building sexual tension and character development. Sex scenes, I like writing them but am just as happy to write a non sex heavy section.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

The supernatural/horror aspects appealed to me, particularly with the characters. When I first read Bram Stoker, I wondered how close Mina and Lucy were, and just how close did Mina get to the Count while the men were hunting for him. And Lucy's "susceptibility" was rather arousing, I might add.

My strengths include detail (though some might call it a weakness) of scene and sex, creativity and imagination, complex psychosexual conflict, intellectual exploration, supernatural surrealism.

Weaknesses? see above; terseness and simplicity are not my fortes, but I can rein in my academic side when necessary.

 

[StillStunned]

I'm not sure what my strengths and weaknesses are. I try to write in plain language if possible, but I've been know to lean heavily into the Gothic ("The Countesses of Tannensdal" is presented entirely as if it was written 150 years ago). And I think my characters are probably quite flat, or at least very uniform.

I'm not very comfortable writing anal or BDSM, but that's mostly from lack of experience. Although that hasn't stopped me from writing incest, lesbian and transgender.

Either way, I'm willing to adapt my style to the narrative. That's part of the fun, isn't it?

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Chain newbie here. I'm not sure I understand the concept. Is it a group of people all writing the same story or sequential chapters or what? Thanks.

tp

 

[Erozetta]

Chain newbie here. I'm not sure I understand the concept. Is it a group of people all writing the same story or sequential chapters of what. Thanks.

tp

I think we might be aiming for the first one? Maybe?

I don't know... details are yet to be worked out.

I'm kinda curious if we ended up in a split of plotters on one team and pantsers on another, lol. I know @Omenainen and I are both pantsers. (This might be glorious chaos if we're all pantsers over here...)

 

[StillStunned]

I think we might be aiming for the first one? Maybe?

I don't know... details are yet to be worked out.

I'm kinda curious if we ended up in a split of plotters on one team and pantsers on another, lol. I know @Omenainen and I are both pantsers. (This might be glorious chaos if we're all pantsers over here...)

I'm as pantser as a German armoured division.

This is going to be fun!

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Authors don't write stories; stories use authors to write themselves.

 

[Omenainen]

My expectation is that someone else start, and then I’ll riff on the thing once it’s my turn. No kinks or pairings I wouldn’t touch. If there’s something my story needs to have, or not have, let me know. And if there needs to be specific kind of dialogue or setting or whatever.

 

[Omenainen]

Oh right, my strengths. Romance. Even when I write anal sex it comes out romantic. So whatever I write it’ll be sappy.

My weakness is that anything I write comes out sappy and romantic.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

All right well here's the prompt ...

Lucy, a struggling magazine columnist and photographer, is dispatched to conduct an in-depth interview with reclusive auteur Adimir, whose directorial idiom blends horror and eroticism. He is currently filming in an ancient castle deep in the Slovakian forest, and Lucy invites her film buff friend Mina to accompany her in visiting the set. Mina jumps at the chance to spend some time with Lucy, having had a crush on her for years; Lucy insists she's straight and even has a boyfriend back home, but Mina isn't convinced and this adventure will be the perfect opportunity to test Lucy's resolve.

It turns out that Adimir's new film is about the notorious Countess Bathory and the castle is none other than Čachtice Castle where the countess was walled up at the end of her life. The actress playing her is Mariska, a young Hungarian model with a cold beauty, who certainly isn't shy to reveal all for the camera. When Adimir, fascinated with Lucy's Englishness and air of innocence, and being an actress short for unclear reasons, insists that if Lucy wants her interview she must first play the part of one of the countess's unfortunate maids, Mina must watch as her friend is first stripped by another woman, then coated in honey by seductive, massaging hands.

setting:
erotic horror film shoot about the notorious Countess Bathory in an ancient castle deep in the Slovakian forest (none other than Čachtice Castle)

characters:
Lucy ~ struggling magazine columnist and photographer (convinced that she's straight), she's English
Adimir ~ reclusive auteur
Mina ~ Lucy's film buff friend
Mariska ~ a young Hungarian model with a cold beauty

plot:
Lucy must participate in compromising sex scenes for the film in order to get her story/interview

That's what we have so far.

some things that we might need to decide before we begin.

1 ~ perspective ~ Do we want to write this in third person omni (the easiest) or third limited/first person? If 3rdL/1st then which character, Lucy we might presume? Could also be possible to write each chapter (each writer's bit) from the perspex of a different character. That might get complicated but I'm just throwing it out there? Is anyone here not comfortable writing first person or is anyone here heavily prefer one perspex over another? Alina, what do you say? This is your prompt and your characters after all.

2 ~ feel ~ Obviously with the Bathory backdrop and the castle and all, the story could be an erotic horror itself, but not necessarily. I think that we need to decide if this is going to be a 'serious' (for lack of a better term) story or more of a lesbian porn romp or somewhere in between (any of that is fine, but we should probably try to be near the same page).

3 ~ kinks ~ I'm sensing non-con right away as Lucy is essentially blackmailed into participating in an X rated movie. How much do we want to play on this and how can we make sure that we don't get kicked back for breaking the non-con rule? There's going to be lesbian sex (or at least girl-on-girl) given the prompt starter, but also the term "convinced that she's straight" says a lot. It sounds like we have a lesbian (or at least bu) in denial. There will be group sex and voyeurism.

4 ~ theme ~ I think that most writers here never really think of themes and they are not necessarily important, but if anyone had any ideas feel free to throw them out there. Or we could just settle into a/some theme(s) after a chapter or two.

Alina, perhaps you could tell is a little bit about what you thought of these characters, something to spark us.

 

[StillStunned]

1 ~ perspective ~ Do we want to write this in third person omni (the easiest) or third limited/first person? If 3rdL/1st then which character, Lucy we might presume? Could also be possible to write each chapter (each writer's bit) from the perspex of a different character. That might get complicated but I'm just throwing it out there? Is anyone here not comfortable writing first person or is anyone here heavily prefer one perspex over another? Alina, what do you say? This is your prompt and your characters after all.

Personally I'd say 3P limited, with multiple POVs. That gives us freedom to shift the perspective if necessary.

2 ~ feel ~ Obviously with the Bathory backdrop and the castle and all, the story could be an erotic horror itself, but not necessarily. I think that we need to decide if this is going to be a 'serious' (for lack of a better term) story or more of a lesbian porn romp or somewhere in between (any of that is fine, but we should probably try to be near the same page).

I'd lean towards erotic horror, but perhaps we should recognise up front that everyone is going to bring their own style to the story, at least to some extent.

 

[AlinaX]

I'm comfortable in 1st person past or present, but for this kind of story I think it's better to be able to get into different heads, Mina and Lucy at least, so I think 3rd person is best.

I dislike violent non-con, and I think we should be cautious with any blatant mind control / coercion tropes. Maybe Adimir isn't consciously blackmailing Lucy, but she's thinking she needs this too much to back out. But if we do go overtly supernatural, then it makes sense to use a little physical pressure to make the humans submit; better to balance with seduction, though.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I'd lean towards erotic horror, but perhaps we should recognise up front that everyone is going to bring their own style to the story, at least to some extent.

Absolutely, but it might just be a bit jarring if the first chapter is dark and serious and the next chapter is all the girls having a happy lesbian pillow fight orgy. The first chapter is going to set some sort of tone and we can stray from that to an extent (or have side trips) but just so that everyone's is comfortable with where we're headed. I've done years of sandboxing in SRPs so I know that it's going to go in unexpected directions (in facts that is part of the point) but if we could just get enough of an idea where we want to generally go. I'm not looking to plot anything in stone in any way at all.

 

[Erozetta]

1 ~ perspective ~ Do we want to write this in third person omni (the easiest) or third limited/first person? If 3rdL/1st then which character, Lucy we might presume? Could also be possible to write each chapter (each writer's bit) from the perspex of a different character. That might get complicated but I'm just throwing it out there? Is anyone here not comfortable writing first person or is anyone here heavily prefer one perspex over another? Alina, what do you say? This is your prompt and your characters after all.

2 ~ feel ~ Obviously with the Bathory backdrop and the castle and all, the story could be an erotic horror itself, but not necessarily. I think that we need to decide if this is going to be a 'serious' (for lack of a better term) story or more of a lesbian porn romp or somewhere in between (any of that is fine, but we should probably try to be near the same page).

3 ~ kinks ~ I'm sensing non-con right away as Lucy is essentially blackmailed into participating in an X rated movie. How much do we want to play on this and how can we make sure that we don't get kicked back for breaking the non-con rule? There's going to be lesbian sex (or at least girl-on-girl) given the prompt starter, but also the term "convinced that she's straight" says a lot. It sounds like we have a lesbian (or at least bu) in denial. There will be group sex and voyeurism.

4 ~ theme ~ I think that most writers here never really think of themes and they are not necessarily important, but if anyone had any ideas feel free to throw them out there. Or we could just settle into a/some theme(s) after a chapter or two

1. I'd personally lean 3rd limited to set the opening at least. But I'm comfortable with first as well.

2. Erotic horror is definitely the vibe I got from the start. Tonal shifts between "set" and "backstage" could be played into. If "set" leans more serious or controlling from the point of Adimir, I think it would be fair to keep "backstage" on a more even ground between characters, which would help soften the noncon element in the scene Lucy is forced into. Basically going from him being a controlling perfectionist to a "Cut" then his behavior softens and he immediately sits for that interview, giving her a fair few interactions before making it clear that each part of her interview will be earned by her, an idea that thrills her to some degree, even if it also kinda pisses her off, which also softens the noncon into more reluctance territory. But that was just my initial feel from the snippet.

3. Noncon isn't hard to soften to the rules here as it's not straight noncon for a category. Reluctance is a big part of the draw. We don't get it kicked back by having her enjoy the attention the director is laying on her early on and having her be standoffish but not actually resistant to the idea. I think the bigger question for kinks is: are we gonna, essentially, cuck Mina into only watching Lucy be involved with Mariska at Adimir's instruction, or does she do more than watch at some point?

There are elements in place in the prompt already that allows for things like humiliation (Lucy), voyeurism (Mina and Adimir), exhibitionism (Mariska and Lucy), noncon (Lucy, but I think would be more interesting to use that with Mina) reluctance (Lucy), group (duh), BDSM (I'd find it interesting to uncover Adimir and Mariska have a dom/sub relationship already where he's the sub off set), and cuckquean fetish (Mina only watching. Possibly even only getting to watch Lucy because Adimir picks up on her crush and finds it titillating to keep the two apart while slowly coaxing Mina into more with him and Lucy into more with Mariska.)

The question is which, if any, do we actually want to lean into or build toward?

4. I have no opinion on this at all.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

So we have three who are for 3rd person limited head hopping, and i can easily add to that. I can write any perspex.

3. Noncon isn't hard to soften to the rules here as it's not straight noncon for a category. Reluctance is a big part of the draw. We don't get it kicked back by having her enjoy the attention the director is laying on her early on and having her be standoffish but not actually resistant to the idea. I think the bigger question for kinks is: are we gonna, essentially, cuck Mina into only watching Lucy be involved with Mariska at Adimir's instruction, or does she do more than watch at some point?

I like this. Reluctance is always a strong idea with me but few write it well. I like how you put this. Lucy is maybe not perfectly willing (as in her participation isn't her exact first choice) but she is willing to engage to get the story. This much preferable (for me at least) than the tired blackmail or lost bet or the dreaded old you-want-this-promotion-get-on-your-knees form of coercion that reluctance usually ends up as around here.

You also bring up supernatural and as it was a big draw for you in voting up the idea, and was probably at least a semi-draw for nearly everyone, how supernatural should it be? How comfortable is everyone with this? Should we venture into the non-human (sex with vampires, ghosts etc) or should the old castle just merely be haunted in some way? Or perhaps should the first chapter or two only hint at supernatural and haunting and leave it up to the later writers to decide just how non-human it actually gets?

Did some quick research on Bathory (read the wiki page) and there is much ambiguity in her legend. Her prosecution was probably more politically motivated than catching a serial psycho murderer. She almost certainly didn't torture and kill the hundreds that she was convicted of (although in our reality she may have) and probably only had a handful of victims or possibly none at all. Adamir's adaptation of the story could paint her as sympathetic or as horrible as her legend or even further make her to be a an actual vampire herself. And since we're actually in her castle of legend, any hauntings could be of the persecuted/innocent Bathory, or the straight up evil Bathory, or of any of her victims. If anyone here wants to give some background to vampire or occult culture please do just to give us some ideas and get us into the mood.

 

[AlinaX]

Absolutely, but it might just be a bit jarring if the first chapter is dark and serious and the next chapter is all the girls having a happy lesbian pillow fight orgy.

A happy lesbian pillow fight orgy on a four-poster bed in a large room in a mansion, watched by someone... or something.

"What was that?" Lucy asked, her pillow raised and ready for a fresh strike. She shivered, abruptly aware of how cold the air was in that draughty room. Abruptly aware too of the sharp points made by her swollen nipples.

Mina was clearly aware of them too, the way she stared at Lucy's chest as she took advantage of the brief ceasefile to scuttle backwards. "Just the wind," Mina said with a negligent shrug.

"Didn't sound like the wind," Lucy insisted. "It sounded like..." She hesitated and felt herself blushing - although she doubted it was visible, since her cheeks were already flushed from the exertion of their playful fight. Quietly she said, "It sounded like a man," and her voice dropped to a whisper: "coming!"

 

[Erozetta]

So we have three who are for 3rd person limited head hopping, and i can easily add to that. I can write any perspex.



I like this. Reluctance is always a strong idea with me but few write it well. I like how you put this. Lucy is maybe not perfectly willing (as in her participation isn't her exact first choice) but she is willing to engage to get the story. This much preferable (for me at least) than the tired blackmail or lost bet or the dreaded old you-want-this-promotion-get-on-your-knees form of coercion that reluctance usually ends up as around here.

You also bring up supernatural and as it was a big draw for you in voting up the idea, and was probably at least a semi-draw for nearly everyone, how supernatural should it be? How comfortable is everyone with this? Should we venture into the non-human (sex with vampires, ghosts etc) or should the old castle just merely be haunted in some way? Or perhaps should the first chapter or two only hint at supernatural and haunting and leave it up to the later writers to decide just how non-human it actually gets?

Did some quick research on Bathory (read the wiki page) and there is much ambiguity in her legend. Her prosecution was probably more politically motivated than catching a serial psycho murderer. She almost certainly didn't torture and kill the hundreds that she was convicted of (although in our reality she may have) and probably only had a handful of victims or possibly none at all. Adamir's adaptation of the story could paint her as sympathetic or as horrible as her legend or even further make her to be a an actual vampire herself. And since we're actually in her castle of legend, any hauntings could be of the persecuted/innocent Bathory, or the straight up evil Bathory, or of any of her victims. If anyone here wants to give some background to vampire or occult culture please do just to give us some ideas and get us into the mood.

I'd suggest leaning into the legend of Bathory rather than the reality. I'd also favor a slight twist on it, myself. Maybe she had a couple of main and trusted servants who seduced her, cared for her, coerced her into the acts she was eventually convicted of.

A haunting of perversions. The servants, not Bathory herself, are the coercive minds behind the ideas whispered to the humans, but the spirits have no direct involvement. They are ideas, hints, maybe even delusions brought out by the isolated setting and intensity of filming.

That would play into painting Bathory in an empathetic light for the movie. Maybe that's the narrative for the film? Would allow for some role reversal with the "forced" scene where the servant Lucy relishes the act and turns the tables by directing Mariska in doing more while still acting the victim.

I'd lean away from vampires unless someone really wants to go there. Having it up in the air over whether anything was actually supernatural or just what they each allowed themselves to believe to "get away with" doing, and enjoying, such perverse things would, hopefully, make for some interesting comments from readers.

But, that's just my thoughts on it. I will and can happily go in any direction with this.

 

[AlinaX]

Did some quick research on Bathory (read the wiki page) and there is much ambiguity in her legend. Her prosecution was probably more politically motivated than catching a serial psycho murderer. She almost certainly didn't torture and kill the hundreds that she was convicted of (although in our reality she may have) and probably only had a handful of victims or possibly none at all. Adamir's adaptation of the story could paint her as sympathetic or as horrible as her legend or even further make her to be a an actual vampire herself. And since we're actually in her castle of legend, any hauntings could be of the persecuted/innocent Bathory, or the straight up evil Bathory, or of any of her victims. If anyone here wants to give some background to vampire or occult culture please do just to give us some ideas and get us into the mood.

Yes. I added some comments about her in the first post.

I'd lean away from vampires unless someone really wants to go there. Having it up in the air over whether anything was actually supernatural or just what they each allowed themselves to believe to "get away with" doing, and enjoying, such perverse things would, hopefully, make for some interesting comments from readers.

I think the ambiguity makes it more interesting, although I think by the end of the chain story we need to go one way or the other - and if I was reading I'd be a little disappointed if the vampires were just a tease in the end.

It's not worth going heavily into vampire lore. Subtle things, though:

"She cold - to the touch, I mean."
"So are you! Keep your feet away from my side of the bed."

or:

"Have you noticed we only ever see her at night?"
"Have you noticed we're shooting a vampire film? The whole crew sleeps in until sunset."
"And that doesn't worry you? At all?"

 

[Erozetta]

I think the ambiguity makes it more interesting, although I think by the end of the chain story we need to go one way or the other - and if I was reading I'd be a little disappointed if the vampires were just a tease in the end.

I definitely cannot write the end, then, lol.

I'd take it one of two ways: the crew mysteriously disappears by the morning Mina and Lucy are meant to leave, never satisfying the curiosity of what *really,* happened or who they were.

Or

The first strike of the hammer to the stake poised carefully above his heart caused his eyes to flutter open as he sat up, clutching his now wounded chest. "What the fuck?" he yelled in an oddly bland American accent.

Mina dropped the hammer. What the fuck?

Edited to add: Oh, and for the first one, there would likely be a hint at Lucy having been 'turned' or at least in the early stages of the process, feeling s little ill, tired, light sensitive, etc.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Chain newbie here. I'm not sure I understand the concept. Is it a group of people all writing the same story or sequential chapters or what? Thanks.

tp

Sorry that I missed this.

How I understand it is that one of us will write the first chapter and submit it to "chain" category, then another one of us will write the second chapter from there and submit it, and so on and so on until the last person writes and submits the final ending chapter.

I have this right?

 

[Erozetta]

A happy lesbian pillow fight orgy on a four-poster bed in a large room in a mansion, watched by someone... or something.

That's not how we're opening the story? 'Cause that looks like prime character development and relationship building opportunity upon arrival to the castle to settle nerves!

 

[Erozetta]

Sorry that I missed this.

How I understand it is that one of us will write the first chapter and submit it to "chain" category, then another one of us will write the second chapter from there and submit it, and so on and so on until the last person writes and submits the final ending chapter.

I have this right?

I wasn't sure if we'd be writing full chapters or just scenes within an overall story.

Which brings up a question - submission length? Do we have an estimate on this? Because... I can absolutely get carried away with this.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Which brings up a question - submission length? Do we have an estimate on this? Because... I can absolutely get carried away with this.

I believe that RedChamber's original guide was 3k-9k words, but I'm sure that if you write a solid 1.5k or 15k no one will call the feds on ya. : P

 

[Erozetta]

Another question: beta reading for each other?

Should we have a single person (story leader) do a review before submission or give all of us a day or two to read over each section before submission? (Checking for continuity issues and typos only, not critiquing story elements if we aren't the story leader.)

I'd say the more eyes looking for typos, missed words/letters or wrong words the better, but, again, I'll go along with whatever.