The In Between and Kasu, Ursula’s therapy session gives the joke a dark precision: a woman trained to survive being unheard learns to hear every hidden want in the room and turns that knowledge into leverage. The therapist’s glance toward his plaque shows the contract forming before paper appears, revealing how her power depends upon a hunger already present. Kasu’s shells deepen the case file by preserving “the last sentence someone swallowed,” so every surrendered voice becomes evidence of the life a person abandoned for approval. Grateful for the wit and sorrow with which you recast a familiar villain as both dealer and archivist of the silences people carried to her.
i literally can’t love and cheer for the concept of this series enough. in some weird way, i can feel my own origin story, free-floating and yet-to-be-notated in article form, swirling around in its quiet clandestine way in the far corners & mood-lit hallways of the creative flow state gallery this series was inspired within. i like & sub to this with my whole heart
While there are differences in the specifics, the general impact is the same. But I’ll never give anyone a plaque.
I’ve been in Therapy three or four times and I’m very good at being elusive and not disclosing those things… like feelings… to others, regardless of their mask
I write right, poetry - even when I am not writing. I also hear poetry when other people don’t.
I took this from the movie, the Return of the King, the last movie, the trilogy and really the last two or three minutes of the movie.
I think you’ll understand, the way I understood when I heard it and definitely when I read it. It’s the closest thing I’ve ever read that disclosed something that I’ve kept away from everybody.
I came here because I thought..."whaaat...?" And thoroughly enjoyed it. Ursula is still the villain, in this. Even more so, because she collected them. It was premeditated.
But oh, don't we give away our voices so easily!! I did. For affirmation (I didn't get it), for affection and companionship (I didn't get that), for power (except it became the opposite), to prove my worth (didnt work), and finally, because I just KNEW we 'death have the Aragorn/Arwen epic love story (we didn't, it was all in my head, again).
Two marriages. Different pathways to it, yet same disasterous results. But like Ursula, there's always someone out there willing to take power they should not have, or voices not their own.
So, third time for me? Probably not the charm. At least, I probably won't attempt it. In the words of Lizzy Bennet (Jane Austen) --
Only the deepest love will persuade me into matrimony, which is why I will end up an old maid.
But, so be it. I'm blaming my choices. Not the objects of my choice. Always believing in men who didn't believe in themselves. Always looking forward and finishing their story arc arrival at nobility (like Beauty and the beast?), because they had it in them. Instead, efa,nding up with Mr. Collins (Lizzy's rejected suitor) or worse (Mr. Wickham, though not as handsome). My chooser is apparently warped. Like wearing glasses that were not made for you; I don't see clearly through them. My lenses are clouded, maybe from my childhood, maybe just from my psyche.
I'm on Substack to hone my writing skills and find my own voice. This word salad is part of it. It's not my intention tonight to pour salad everywhere. This is just my enthusiasm at finding such a wonderfully written piece!
This work and conversation is therapy for me
Thanks for sharing and keep writing 💫
I loved both contributions so much, listening is power and so is having a voice. Thank you both for this great post 💙
The In Between and Kasu, Ursula’s therapy session gives the joke a dark precision: a woman trained to survive being unheard learns to hear every hidden want in the room and turns that knowledge into leverage. The therapist’s glance toward his plaque shows the contract forming before paper appears, revealing how her power depends upon a hunger already present. Kasu’s shells deepen the case file by preserving “the last sentence someone swallowed,” so every surrendered voice becomes evidence of the life a person abandoned for approval. Grateful for the wit and sorrow with which you recast a familiar villain as both dealer and archivist of the silences people carried to her.
i literally can’t love and cheer for the concept of this series enough. in some weird way, i can feel my own origin story, free-floating and yet-to-be-notated in article form, swirling around in its quiet clandestine way in the far corners & mood-lit hallways of the creative flow state gallery this series was inspired within. i like & sub to this with my whole heart
😌🖤✨
Thank you. I’m so glad it resonated.
Excellent again!
Thank you.
Thank you Sara 🫶🏻
What a great piece!!!
Thank you.
You’re welcome 🙏🏻🌻
Outstanding read, thank you for the wonderful column
Thenk you for reading.
While there are differences in the specifics, the general impact is the same. But I’ll never give anyone a plaque.
I’ve been in Therapy three or four times and I’m very good at being elusive and not disclosing those things… like feelings… to others, regardless of their mask
I write right, poetry - even when I am not writing. I also hear poetry when other people don’t.
I took this from the movie, the Return of the King, the last movie, the trilogy and really the last two or three minutes of the movie.
I think you’ll understand, the way I understood when I heard it and definitely when I read it. It’s the closest thing I’ve ever read that disclosed something that I’ve kept away from everybody.
How do you
pick up the threads
of an old life?
How do you go on
when, in your heart,
you begin to understand
there is no
going back?
There are some things
time cannot mend,
some hurts
that go too deep,
that have taken hold.
Frodo’s Last Internal Soliloquy before announcing he was leaving Middle Earth with the elves and Gandalf, Return of the King
Beautiful part of the book.
This is my absolute favorite inner monologue of all time.
Beautiful!
Thank you.
Pure gems. Both of them. Love how you both expose what lies beneath. <3
We both have a lot of heart for the villains.
You two rock! <3
Thank you’ your’re too sweet 🫶🏻
Sweet and impressed. <3
Poetic journal entry by Kasu (small wounds) hit me. Deeply. The truths it tells. Wow.
Thank you for reading. So glad it moved you.
I came here because I thought..."whaaat...?" And thoroughly enjoyed it. Ursula is still the villain, in this. Even more so, because she collected them. It was premeditated.
But oh, don't we give away our voices so easily!! I did. For affirmation (I didn't get it), for affection and companionship (I didn't get that), for power (except it became the opposite), to prove my worth (didnt work), and finally, because I just KNEW we 'death have the Aragorn/Arwen epic love story (we didn't, it was all in my head, again).
Two marriages. Different pathways to it, yet same disasterous results. But like Ursula, there's always someone out there willing to take power they should not have, or voices not their own.
So, third time for me? Probably not the charm. At least, I probably won't attempt it. In the words of Lizzy Bennet (Jane Austen) --
Only the deepest love will persuade me into matrimony, which is why I will end up an old maid.
But, so be it. I'm blaming my choices. Not the objects of my choice. Always believing in men who didn't believe in themselves. Always looking forward and finishing their story arc arrival at nobility (like Beauty and the beast?), because they had it in them. Instead, efa,nding up with Mr. Collins (Lizzy's rejected suitor) or worse (Mr. Wickham, though not as handsome). My chooser is apparently warped. Like wearing glasses that were not made for you; I don't see clearly through them. My lenses are clouded, maybe from my childhood, maybe just from my psyche.
I'm on Substack to hone my writing skills and find my own voice. This word salad is part of it. It's not my intention tonight to pour salad everywhere. This is just my enthusiasm at finding such a wonderfully written piece!
Thank you . Yes, all of us should try to keep our voice as much as we can.
Love this!!
Thank you.
Excellent!
Thank you. Appreciate you reading.
Ursula messing with her therapist is so Ursula. 😂🙈
It seemed right for her.
This should be its own cartoon shorts on YouTube! You are so very, very talented! Kudos! Can’t wait for the next one!
Thank you. That would be so fun.