[Discussion 2/4] Mod Pick - Read Runner Edition | Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt | "Day 1,319 of My Captivity" through "Expect the Unexpected"
Welcome back Remarkably Bright Readers! I am pleased to be hosting the second discussion of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. This discussion is for chapters "Day 1,319 of My Captivity" through "Expect the Unexpected". Next week u/spreebiz will lead us through the next section ("Day 1329 of my Captivity" through "A rare Specimen"). As always I've included a summary below and there are questions in the comments to get you started (but please feel to add your own questions/comment/insights). As always, please be mindful of spoilers and mark them correctly with the > ! Spoiler here ! < formatting (minus the spaces between characters).
If you need the schedule it is linked here and the marginalia is here
Right lets get down to business cephalopods📚🐙
#Summary so far
#Day 1,319 of My Captivity: Marcellus reflects on finding and taking Tova's key and hiding it in his secret spot buried with his many other treasures. This key was special as he recalls having felt its twin a long time ago. Before he was captured he'd found it amid leftover human. He is sorry for Tova's loss.
#Not a Movie Star, But Maybe a Pirate Cameron arrives at Dell’s Saloon at 9am to ask Old Al about the apartment above the bar. Among the jewelry from his mother is a Sowell Bay High School, Class of 1989 ring. Old Al reflects on how Jeanne had gone to collect Daphne from Washington after she'd gotten herself in trouble. Cameron investigates the class of 1989 and sees a photo of his mom and the man in the picture with his mom's jewelry. His name is Simon Brinks he is a Seattle real estate developer and nightclub owner. Rich! He chats with Elizabeth about going to visit Simon Brinks. He thinks about how the man will "pay for every precious second of fatherhood"
#The Technically True Story Cat arrives again and Tova feeds him again. At work Tova chats to Marcellus as he touches her arm with his tentacle. She tells him about Erik and his summer job as she cleans the edge of his tank. She slips and falls breaking the stool she is standing on. She worries about telling Terry she broke the stool when Marcellus squeezes out of the tank, giving away his secret, and retrieves the missing screw to fix the stool. The next day Tova's ankle is sore and bruised. After putting off calling the doctor till the last minute she gets an appointment for the next morning, and, for the first time in her life, calls out of work.
#Got Baggage? Cameron's bag containing the jewelry doesn't come out at baggage claim. Whilst waiting at the baggage office he meets Elliot...and...er finishes the man's Yamwitch as they chat. Elliot is flying in for a grandparent's funeral. Cameron calls his Aunt Jeanne, who is clearing out space for him in her trailer. Cameron desperately does not want this. He fills her in on the lost bag and asks for money. She loans him $2000 from her Alaska cruise fund. Elliot's buddy is selling a camper and Cameron offers $1500 for it.
#Busted But Loyal Tova is in a plastic boot for the next six weeks to allow her sprain to heal. Janice visits after hearing gossip from Ethan. Mary Ann’s going to be moving in with her daughter in Spokane. Then there will only be three Knit-Wits left. She gives Tova a cell phone. Tova takes another fall taking a casserole out the oven. She reflects on Will's death while eating dinner on the sofa with Cat. She feels how alone she is and thinks about filling in an application to Charter Village.
#House Special $1200 later and unsurprisingly the camper is a POS! He heads straight to Sowell Bay and Simon Brink's office, but it is deserted. Cameron ends up in Ethan's deli. They chat and Ethan gives Cameron a lunch and coffee on the house. The camper has a flat tyre. Ethan offers to help.
#Day 1,322 of My Captivity Marcellus complains about Tova not coming to clean for THREE days now! He was worried about her when she fell and hopes she heals.
#The Green Leotard The day Erik died Tova would have been at her weekly jazzercise class. Many years before Tova had moved back into her childhood home to care for her mama. Erik's childhood things still remain in the attic, saved for the grandchildren she and Will would never have. Tova is glad Cat is on her bed as she drifts off to sleep and dreams of tentacles cocooning her.
#Not Glamorous Work Ethan had a buddy tow Cameron's camper to his driveway. Ethan confesses to be grateful for the company. Cameron asks him for a job, but instead Ethan recommends a job in maintenance at the aquarium. When he arrives for an interview Terry is on the phone to Tova, who is clearly concerned about whether the aquarium will be well taken care of while she is off work. Cameron and Ethan have filled out a joke application, but Terry does not find it amusing and quickly dismisses Cameron. Cameron changes gear amd begs for another chance. Terry reluctantly gives him a shot, but only as a favour to Ethan. The job is only 20 hours a week, but by taking on Tova's cleaning shift he can get more hours. He finally gets a call back from someone in Brinks' office to be told that maybe Simon can be found at his summer house.
#Day 1,324 of My Captivity Marcellus reads Cameron's body language and correctly concludes he's been hired. He misses Tova and hope the new hire will soon clean up the mess that is the current state in the aquarium.
#A Sucker for Injured Creatures Cameron learns that the maintenance job at the aquarium is tougher on the body than he expected. Combined with the awful matress in the camper he is not having a good time. Cameron visits a realtor, Jessica Snell, in the hopes of making contact with Brinks. He tells her his story and she is sympathetic. Avery bursts in. She is furious that the hot water is out in her paddle shop next door. Jess manages to find Brinks' address. Cameron introduces himself to Avery after leaving Jess' shop. She is initially spikey, but lightens up and even gives him her number. Cameron finds out his bag is in Naples, Italy!
#Epitaph and Pens Tova is busy! After a morning of errands she visits her boys' headstones to tell Will she is selling the house. She heads to the deli to get a black pen and Ethan tries to talk her out of moving to Charter Village. She gets emotional at his words, but knows it is the practical thing to do. Ethan gathers his courage and asks Tova to tea. She agrees. She visits the aquarium using her key to speak to Marcellus. She's a little disappointed that the new hire is doing a decent job keeping the place clean and tidy. It makes her feel surplus to requirements. There's a light on inside and a sudden clatter.
#Conscience Does Make Cowards of Us All Cameron is head to head with Marcellus who's out of his tank again. Tova arrives and rescues Marcellus from his spot up on a shelf, returning him safely to his tank. Cameron informs her that he prevented Marcellus escaping out the backdoor, amd that it was him that left the door open in the forst place. Tova confesses that she'd come to visit Marcellus. She informs Cameron that he escapes regularly. She asks Cameron to keep the Marcellus and Tova's secret. Cameron quotes Hamlet and it makes Tova pause. It was Erik's favourite.
Expect the Unexpected Tova was seven when they emigrated to America. First to Portland, Maine and 2 years later to Sowell Bay, Washington. She remembers playing gin rummy with a man she and Lars nicknamed "Walrus" on their voyage aboard SS Vadstena. Cameron is not what Tova expected. She likes him. She gives him a little training, but Cameron doesn't take it too kindly. She finds herself comparing him to Erik. They talk about Marcellus' nightly hijinks and Tova recommends he leave the octopus alone. Then remembers that she rescued him and comes up with another plan. They'll need to be friends.
#References
- Why Octopuses have three hearts (and blue blood)
- More amazing facts about octopuses
- The Cephelopod family tree and fascinatingly octopus anatomy
Posted Mar 6, 2026, 5:35 PM UTC