It all started with a really irritatingly heartwarming episode of Due South.

If I were to get some cockles installed, would I like heartwarming?

— Steven Brust (@StevenBrust) August 20, 2013

@StevenBrust I dunno, some people are really into chilly cockles. It's a whole thing.

— Fade Manley (@fadeaccompli) August 20, 2013

@StevenBrust It /could/ be a thing if you got cockles and resolutely refused to warm them. Installed AC and everything.

— Fade Manley (@fadeaccompli) August 20, 2013

We also had some discussion of whether the comic books fall under the definition of literature.

@IAmNotDaredevil @WoodsmanHans In fact, I have no opinion on the issue–I just don't think it's as simple as you're making it sound.

— Steven Brust (@StevenBrust) August 20, 2013

…but quickly returned to the cockles.

@StevenBrust Maybe you can just tape a bag of ice over the whole installation. You could make a New Hot Thing. Except, you know. Cold.

— Fade Manley (@fadeaccompli) August 20, 2013

@fadeaccompli Oh, I see. To keep me cold during the cold nights. Um. But will I like heartwarming?

— Steven Brust (@StevenBrust) August 20, 2013

Jen joined the discussion with her wrong opinion and things may have gotten a bit silly.

NOT! RT @jenphalian: Velociraptors totally are so heartwarming.

— Steven Brust (@StevenBrust) August 20, 2013

@chaosprime a velociraptor devours the hearts of her enemy and uses the proteins to generate body heat

— jenphalian (@jenphalian) August 20, 2013

@chaosprime um… you can read the previous as either "jen forgot to pluralize enemies" or "velociraptors devour timelords and worms"

— jenphalian (@jenphalian) August 20, 2013

It is difficult to consider "literature" anything with pictures of heartwarming velociraptors devouring Timelords. Possible, but difficult.

— Steven Brust (@StevenBrust) August 20, 2013

I mean, I was fine up to the "heartwarming." Maybe if I had cockles installed.

— Steven Brust (@StevenBrust) August 20, 2013

.@StevenBrust I could not disagree more strongly, but you're the Serious Man of Letters here, so *W*

— jenphalian (@jenphalian) August 20, 2013

I did my best to keep the discussion serious, to no avail.

@jenphalian "*W*"??? Really? That's your answer? That's what you're going with? We're discusing SRS BSNS and you go with "*W*"?

— Steven Brust (@StevenBrust) August 20, 2013

@StevenBrust got yer cockles right here http://t.co/XMPKR2H3mV

— jenphalian (@jenphalian) August 20, 2013

@jenphalian @StevenBrust I must now direct the two of you to @josswhedon's tweet of earlier today.

— Chaos (@chaosprime) August 20, 2013

I want something to warm the heartles of my cock.

— Joss Whedon (@josswhedon) August 19, 2013

@chaosprime @StevenBrust @josswhedon Oh, hey, I think we all want something that does that!

— jenphalian (@jenphalian) August 20, 2013

@chaosprime @jenphalian @josswhedon "Indispensible." Yeah, um…

— Steven Brust (@StevenBrust) August 20, 2013

@StevenBrust FINE, here are live cockles: https://t.co/YQUZxoLsEL

— jenphalian (@jenphalian) August 20, 2013

Then this happened:
Me: *laughing* Sorry, I have something in my throat.
Jen: What, laughter at my expense?
Me: No, a cockle.

"You can't install it by swallowing it. What, are you 6?!"

— jenphalian (@jenphalian) August 20, 2013

ETA (twitter demanded this addition):

I am on Twitter pointing to a blog post made up of Tweets. http://t.co/3McqnF9WMj #itsalltooconfusing

— Steven Brust (@StevenBrust) August 20, 2013