The Lamppost on 6th Street/Discussion

brainstorming about Book 3.

### <2019/05/25>

contentmint: what if, some time after Carson/Lizzie and Blair/Mia/Sasha are established, Carson and Sasha revisit their feelings for each other.

SOMEHOW. SOME WAY.......

i have no idea what would prompt it

duskcastle: and that is a very grand idea and a good way to lead to the ot7 ;A;

## <2019/05/27>

contentmint: i still want to explore that AU i made up with Carson and Sasha revisiting their feelings post-book 2. i guess my first thought would be, what would even prompt it in the first place??? why disturb the peace and stability that is probably established at the end of book 2. (the answer is because we're fools for angst and poly cuddle piles, but we need a Watsonian reason too)

duskcastle: LOL that is a very good idea and for all intents and purposes, neither Carson or Sasha would want to do such a thing, so a catalyst would be needed... but what catalyst i'm not sure...

i've already done Carson having a relapse as a plot point to push a confession in book 1... i don't want to do it again... i thought about having Sasha relapse in this hypothetical situation... but i'm not sure,,,

contentmint: we can brainstorm! we can hold a bunch of different things in mind and see which one we like best. hmm, who else knows about their feelings? Luke, Sasha's closest friend? and if so, does he know that Carson reciprocates

duskcastle: Luke does know about both their feelings!

contentmint: sweet baby Luke... he's their secret keeper. makes me wonder how he felt as the events of books 1 and 2 unfolded

duskcastle: awful ;; well, initially awful. he was happy Sasha got with Mia and Blair. but he felt pretty awful in book 1, knowing Sasha was watching her beloved move on..

contentmint: awh, sweet baby Luke. (as hilarious as it would have been to have him still be oblivious to all the romances happening around him, i'm glad he isn't aslkdjlj)

duskcastle: yes i think it’s nice if he is aware of Sasha and Carson’s feelings, and especially Sasha’s emotional wellbeing, since he is her other bff

## <2019/05/29>

contentmint: i've been trying to think about what would push a confession from Carson or Sasha post-book 2, but i have nothin'

tell me your thoughts on the Push. the more i think about it, the more i think a relapse by Sasha might be the only way to move things along.... everyone in the know is pretty tight-lipped about it

duskcastle: yes, that's what i've been thinking about too... because Carson and Sasha aren't the type to rock the boat even if their feelings are strong for each other, as past incidents indicate. and Carson has a relapse in book 1 but that doesn't push Sasha to confess either because she's too troubled by Lizzie's feelings.

yes.............. stupid repressed gay nerds

Sasha is also the last one to confess about her feelings for Mia and Blair too, and it's not even by her own admission...

contentmint: she doesn't want to step on Lizzie's toes? :c her confession to Mia and Blair were not of her own admission?? :o

......i'm sure she also sees Lizzie as a more viable romantic partner for Carson than herself

duskcastle: yes, she doesn't want to step on Lizzie's toes and she sees Lizzie as a better partner for Carson, exactly!!! and yes Sasha didn't confess by her own admission. Mia and Blair figured it out,,, poor girl Can Not Spit It Out,,,

contentmint: ohhhhhhhhh my darling. she's killing me

duskcastle: i know,,,

contentmint: ...how do they figure it out anyway??

duskcastle: lol!! Sasha gets progressively depressed and tight-lipped and while Blair and Mia can be obtuse about emotions, they definitely pick up on Sasha's sudden mood swings (as does everyone in the group,,,) and a good chunk of the book is also devoted to Sasha and Blair becoming actually good and close friends

contentmint: so how did you decide on this path that book 2 would take?

duskcastle: i do know i wanted to focus a lot on how Blair and Mia unravel their own feelings for each other, and their emotions in general, but all the while while that's happening, Sasha is the other party on the side, fighting herself about her feelings with Carson while helping these two ladies with their feelings for each other (because she doesn't want the same to happen to Blair and Mia,,,) and that evokes a lot of longing on Sasha's part, but that helping them also means she's in their vicinity a lot, which naturally helps her own feelings grow

would there be potential for them to figure out Sasha's feelings for Carson? or for Lizzie to figure out Carson's feelings for Sasha? post book 2

to perhaps make it easier..... in book 2... seems like it would get way too busy and chaotic lol. maximum soap opera

duskcastle: i think that could be something to think about, and it would definitely be a less dramatic transition

...

duskcastle: we can talk about post-book 2 Carson/Sasha,,,

contentmint: well... you said you were considering Sasha relapsing?

duskcastle: i have been,,, but i worry that’s too dark and i’m unsure on how well i could do such a plot orz it feels melodramatic to me...

contentmint: yeah, i feel the same. Sasha seems like she'd be pretty happy by the end of book 2. is there a non-melodramatic way to introduce Carson/Sasha into the nerds' post-book 2 dynamics though? lol

duskcastle: that’s what i’m trying to think of lol. because both Carson and Sasha are happy in their respective relationships, I feel like something would need to shake things up,,, perhaps some event or situation... something that reminds them of their feelings for each other

contentmint: i'm sure none of the others except Luke know how deep their feelings for each other run

duskcastle: yes, no one but Luke is aware... i’m not sure what sort of event... orz perhaps some googling at plot exercises might help,,

contentmint: i'm wondering how Carson and Sasha would handle it

duskcastle: mmm neither of them would handle it really well i think,,,, Sasha because she thought she was over it,,, and Carson would feel a tremendous amount of guilt because Lizzie is just so sweet to her... but even after book 2, she's still unsure of her place with them,,, so on top of this, she feels doubly bad,,,

contentmint: do they get Luke in the loop?

duskcastle: Sasha does confess that she still has feelings for Carson,,, Carson doesn’t tell anyone about her feelings because this time she’s sure Sasha has moved on,,, because Mia and Blair are pretty wonderful and this is the first time Sasha has been in a relationship in the longest time?

contentmint: has she had any serious relationships before?

duskcastle: not really no. her relationships were short lived before her addiction and nonexistent during and after rehab. which is why Carson thinks Sasha has moved on orz she missed her chance,,, and she shouldn’t even be thinking that way because she fell for Lizzie!!

duskcastle: Luke freaks out bc he always freaks out when he thinks Sasha is struggling emotionally,,, for one thing, he’s unsure of what Sasha wants to do about this and how should be act around Carson? like usual? because he is a very poor secret keeper,,, no poker face

## ...

duskcastle: i do have the idea that Carson and Sasha have drifted apart some,,, because they both feel the other has moved on and that causes some underlying tension between them. the other one i had is that Carson and Sasha are on a rare day out by themselves bc it's been a while since they've had a friend date... so they go to an amusement park and are mistaken for dating, which brings up all sorts of unresolved feelings... but i don't know if that's fitting,,,

## ...

contentmint: hmmmm. what kind of family issues does Lizzie have left after book 2

duskcastle: well the only ones really resolved in book 1 are her issues with her aunt, and book 2 they're out of focus

contentmint: what's left?

duskcastle: well her issues with her mother. i debated on having lizzie's mother call her at the end of book 1 but since book 2 puts her out of focus i decided to write that out

contentmint: :o what would she call her about? and what would Lizzie feel about that?

duskcastle: probably shock. her mother hasn't been in much contact with her for years, and she'd call to ask how is Lizzie doing in Chicago

contentmint: when precisely in book 1 did you plan to have that happen?

duskcastle: toward the end. literally the ending lol. it was meant to be a hook for book 2

contentmint: hmm. i'm not sure how you could fit a plot about Lizzie's mother in with a Carson/Sasha storyline

duskcastle: yes,,, but i feel weird having lizzie out of a focus in such a plot. it feels like any storyline i'd have regarding carson/sasha with lizzie out of focus would feel like infidelity...

contentmint: then it seems the best way to navigate the Carson/Sasha relationship would be to have Lizzie in the know as well. but that would make it more interesting too, imo, to have an outside perspective

duskcastle: how would i have her in the know... i do think she starts to suspect things. i think it should be significant that Carson realizes she might be poly, as Sasha does in book 2 and so are Mia and Blair

contentmint: hmm. what does Lizzie suspect? and how does she come to that conclusion? how does she bring it up to Carson?

duskcastle: she starts noticing Carson acting jittery and almost guilty at times, and she notices a strange tension between her and Sasha

contentmint: how does she feel about it?

duskcastle: terrified...

## ...

duskcastle: Mia and Blair should probably also get a good amount of focus in this too,,, since Sasha is involved with them,,, i think Mia and Blair find out about it before Lizzie does,,, or... idk,,, how to develop this without feeling like Carson and Sasha are cheating orz

i feel like to lessen any infidelity, Lizzie and Sasha should have a good amount of interaction... and this should be an awakening of Carson identifying as poly too... as something she wants for both her and Lizzie, not just for herself. because Sasha is bad at keeping her feelings hidden, increasingly so. Luke most likely is the one to push Sasha to talk to them about her feelings,,, they’re her girlfriends after all

contentmint: so, Sasha is increasingly bad at keeping her feelings hidden. can your elaborate?

duskcastle: she’s under a ton of stress in book 2 and while there’s some respite in between, book 3 brings up further stress,,, i won’t write her relapsing but she starts going back to AA meetings

contentmint: what that stress is from?

darkrootcats: the guilt of being attracted to ppl she feel she shouldn’t be to. as well as some familial stress, tho i don’t touch on it too much,,

## ...

Sasha doesn't talk about her locket much. she always has it but because it's always on her person, it becomes invisible to the common eye. besides Sasha and Carson, only Luke knows who the gift is from. Mia and Blair and Ethan all just assume she likes that locket, for no particular reason. no one ever sees Sasha open the locket either lol

contentmint: does she ever open it?

duskcastle: she does!! only in private xd she moons over it a lot,,, swoons, squirms, giggles on her bed and stuffs her face in her pillow over how happy it makes her. until Carson falls for Lizzie of course,,, she doesn't look at the locket for a while...

contentmint: does she ever stop wearing it?

duskcastle: she does actually! during book 2,,, she stops wearing it,,,

=O maybe she should stop wearing it for book 3...

contentmint: why does she stop wearing it? does Carson notice... does anyone notice.....

duskcastle: Carson definitely notices it! if i'm sticking with it for book 2, Mia most definitely notices, as does Blair... actually almost everyone except Lizzie notices it... (Lizzie is still too new,,,) Luke questions her about it, Ethan and Blair don't, Carson's too afraid to, and Mia asks it offhandedly

contentmint: i suppose Ethan and Blair don't feel like they're close enough to ask something like that? how do Mia and Luke ask?

duskcastle: yes. Mia also asks Sasha about it when they're alone in her (Mia's) bedroom once, tho Sasha evades the question and Mia drops it. Luke corners her one night and asks her bluntly. it actually gets them into a fight with each other,,, Luke knows how important it is to her and just... is she really giving up on Carson...? and it gets Sasha really incensed because she tells him there really "was never anything there"

contentmint: ........:( lies, Sasha.... you know that's a lieeeee

duskcastle: it is a lie orz Sasha goes out to a party and she asks Luke to come with her. it's not the type of party she's been to for a long while, there's a lot of drinking and it makes Luke anxious to see her so casual,,, careless about herself, usually she's not in a place with a lot of temptation. Luke notices she doesn't have the locket on before the party but doesn't question her, until he sees how down and reckless Sasha is, to put herself in such a place (she's very good in avoiding temptation) and he basically shoves her out of there after a time and questions why she's being like this and also if it has anything to do with Carson, since her locket's gone

she doesn't take it too kindly,,, she rarely snaps but she does and they have an argument,,,

contentmint: what's Luke thinking?

duskcastle: that something is obviously wrong with Sasha and that something must've happened between her and Carson, that maybe they had an argument or such. he asks her these questions, which is part of why Sasha gets so upset. because no they haven't had an argument or anything of the sort,,,

contentmint: so this is during book 2, huh? what about the scene in Mia's room?

duskcastle: it is during book 2 yes! for the Mia scene, it depends on whether or not i want it to happen before or after the Luke scene

contentmint: :o what would change?

duskcastle: whether or not Sasha cries xd if it happens before, Sasha is either just coolly evasive or her resolve crumbles. in which, while she doesn't say what's wrong, she just tells Mia she's under a lot of stress and it's hard to manage

yes, the latter scene is what happens after her and Luke's argument

contentmint: so, if Mia scene happens before Luke scene, Sasha...

duskcastle: doesn’t answer Mia’s questions - she shuts the conversation down fairly bluntly, which surprises and hurts Mia’s feelings a lil,,,

contentmint: and if Luke's scene happens before Mia's scene?

duskcastle: when Mia questions her, Sasha isn’t as successful because it’s the second time someone’s noticed and she’s just so tired and stressed and heartbroken... and Mia can tell Sasha is lying through her teeth about there being nothing wrong. she reaches out to hold her

contentmint: Mia's so sweet. it's this the part where Sasha cries...

duskcastle: yes. ok to make it not sad, Mia kisses her! a kiss to her temple. that she loves her and that if Sasha needs a shoulder to cry on or someone to talk to, she can talk to Mia,,,,,, that’s what she wants to convey anyway

## ...

contentmint: hmmm. how to do Carson/Sasha. Lizzie would have be closely involved as well. you said she has unresolved issues with her family still?

she and Mia and Blair catch on eventually. the big question is always, what instigates it...

duskcastle: yes Lizzie has unresolved issues. i’ve thought about her becoming closer with Sasha over this since Sasha also has family issues (which is also one of the reasons Sasha gets closer to Blair).

Lizzie’s mother essentially abandoned her after her father died. but even after she gets over that hurdle, she never comes back for Lizzie

contentmint: hm, so perhaps Louise tries to contact Lizzie?

duskcastle: she does actually! originally that was going to be how book 1 ended

contentmint: haha, yes, you told me that Lizzie gets a phone call from her mother in the final scene. talk about a cliffhanger :p

duskcastle: then i thought perhaps i could save it for after book 2, since because it’s a cliff hanger readers would naturally expect some closure only to be cut off and Now For Someone Completely Different lol

contentmint: *Do You Remember Those Three Girls? Yeah They're a Throuple Now, You're Welcome*. *And Now Back to Your Favorite Turtle Girl*

duskcastle: lol!! yes exactly. so i’m thinking Lizzie’s family issues could crop up in book 3. obviously Carson and Sasha will move to help her. it’s just a case of juggling such a big couple because there’s also Sasha’s feelings regarding her gfs. tho it’s easier for Sasha since her gfs are poly

contentmint: *Is Every Girl I Know Except Me Poly?* a novel by Lizzie Brooks

duskcastle: LOL. she does eventually come to think it has its appeals! More Hugs

contentmint: lol. o Lizzie. lonely touch-starved Lizzie. meanwhile... *Gee Sasha, How Come Your Mom Lets You Have Three Girlfriends??* look, Cas, we have so many options already for the title of book 3. now you HAVE to write it

duskcastle: LOL. yes... a part of me thinks Lizzie should really be the main character of this book but i’m struggling how to incorporate Sasha and Carson’s feelings without emotional betrayal... with Blair/Sasha/Mia, the relationship was barely establishing itself. it isn’t like that for Lizzie/Carson/Sasha. the secrecy and pining is one thing, but the idea of Carson and Sasha opening up about still having feelings for each other where Lizzie can’t hear makes it hard to know how i feel. the confessions are important and i want the readers to understand that Carson still loves Lizzie, and that this isn’t meant to be some sort of emotional betrayal

contentmint: the subject of Lizzie/Carson would definitely come up if the topic of Carson/Sasha were discussed

duskcastle: yes now if only i could figure out how lol. i don’t have a dearth of poly ships i like that i can use as research,,

contentmint: but i mean, Lizzie had a crush on Sasha early on, didn't she? maybe when Sasha helps her out with her family issues, they grow closer and she starts noticing those feelings come back

duskcastle: yes that’s what i’m thinking of! i just worry about juggling it all... the relationships

contentmint: it will definitely be a relationship-heavy book... Lizzie/Carson, Lizzie and her mother, Carson/Sasha, Sasha/Mia/Blair