#;; after Frederick's essence

[oletus-manors-log]

welcome back! i hope u have been doing alright. im glad to see ur enjoying idv haha, don't force urself too much if ur not comfortable or liking it !! >.< i would love to play with u but even i lag a lot in the game T_T

Hi anon, and ty for the wb message! I've been doing well now haha (I've been through ups and downs in the past with this game but it's been easier now to deal with), and dw, I'm p much getting back to it.

(ngl I am coming back for a friend and holy shit is there so much?? I missed??? AND THE LORE OTL OTL I MUST RANT ABOUT THE ASHES OF MEMORY WHAT IS THAT CLIFFHANGER ORPHEUS)

Also damn 😔 I've noticed it on my end as well but oh well o7 it is what it is WWWWW, can't do anything about it when the game nukes on like. Certain modes. I thought they'd have it fixed by now tbh

But yeah no anyways like AYO??? NEW LORE????? WHAT IS THIS IDV AND HOW ARE Y'ALL GONNA CONTINUE THIS WHAT IN THE GODS—

Also I am going to rattle myself silly with these survivors HELP I BUTCHERED A BIT OF FREDERICK IN MY FIC OF HIM SOBBING

[litchi-tea]

I'm free from hotspot internet hell, so now I can gush about my boys finally coming home 😭💖💖💖

[talonabraxas]

The Cosmic Serpent Talon Abraxas

The Cosmic Serpent symbolizes ancient wisdom, paradox, wholeness, and creation. The Cosmic Serpent carries with it the story of creation, universal wisdom, and truth.

No time, space, or dimension can hold the Cosmic Serpent. It’s a master observer, as it’s everywhere at all times, reminding us of the illusions we keep ourselves in.

This Serpent is a strong symbol of paradox with its ability to equally hold opposites as truth. Everything has a light and shadow side to it or Yin & Yang or Serpent Twins. You can’t separate one from the other. They both offer medicine and teachings that bring clarity to the whole.

The Cosmic Serpent is a beautiful creative artist, using its body as a paintbrush to illustrate wisdom through imagination. When the Serpent Twins twist together they show the forming of a double helix (DNA) – the essence of creation. When the Serpent forms an open or twisted circle eating its tail it becomes an Ouroboros, signifying infinity and the cycle of birth and death.

The Cosmic Serpent, Astrology, DNA, and Miraculous Powers:

[sirenjose]

Thoughts about Mattias' Design Notes

"Ventriloquism" explains the "consonants" in Matthias' deducs 3 and 9.

The manor game designers being inspired by their "device design", but came to include Matthias himself after seeing him pursue "perfection" by playing the role expected of him...

Movable devices that have some way to talk (even if by pretending via ventriloquism) makes me think of Bonbon. Though he was made before the manor games...

There is also how the manor is seemingly responsible for making Louis and sending him back to Matthias...

Maybe a bit of a strange thought, but the Muse sculptures came to my mind too. They were also said to be "mechanisms" designed by Burke. From what we've seen so far, they don't move much or talk, but maybe they'll do more later in the main story...?

But besides that I wonder why else the manor games would need "movable devices"

As for the "perfection" bit, that makes me think of Hollow and his desire to "rebuild paradise", as "paradise" is essentially meant to be a "perfect" place.

With the role Hollow and Orpheus are trying make themselves out to be, they'd also be interested in "perfection". And with Hollow/Orpheus' desire for "vengeance", I'd imagine the idea of "getting stronger" was his first idea to achieve that perfection.

But for Matthias, "Louis" is the imagined "perfect" version of Matthias. Matthias just acts the way people expect him to. Orpheus also pretends in a way, considering what we know about him vs. how we see him act in the final game and in general.

I wonder if you could say Orpheus got the idea of the hallucinations from Matthias?

Matthias pretends to be Louis. Maybe this can be sort of like Frederick acting as Mary? Or Norton who we see holding a pickaxe pretending to be Fool's Gold and pretend to chase Alice?

Puppets are normally controlled via strings, though the Czernin's created "movable devices", so like the design notes say about the chess pieces in Matthias' essence, the Czernin's performance (+ ventriloquism) makes Louis seem alive and like it has a will of its own.

Orpheus in this case is like the puppetmaster, with the game participants being the puppets (especially with how in game they're shown with doll eyes). The participants are alive and thus capable of moving and talking and acting on their own, but Orpheus is the 1 manipulating and moving them into the places and roles he desires them to be in. He can also make them act differently from how they normally are (with the help of the drugs), or basically make them more extreme than they normally are.

But back to Orpheus himself being like Matthias in the way of acting out a different role than what he actually is. Orpheus in a way does act a different role based on people's perceptions. Specifically how he's viewed by the public due to him being a novelist.

In contrast, we know Orpheus' inner feelings are closer to what we see and hear from Hollow as well as how he acts as the manor owner/Nightmare.

In the final game he acts as if he's the son of the DeRoss couple. He acts as if the forest ranger wasn't his real father, as if Orpheus didn't have any part in the tragedy despite how we know from Bonbon's deductions he had been involved to a degree (at least by apparently stealing things from the manor for his real parents). He acts like he doesn't know Alice.

We don't know if he's truly forgotten or if he's only pretending, but this is still likely what he wants to believe in. Even in the present, after Time of Reunion, Orpheus believes in memories we know aren't the complete truth.

As we see in Matthias' Design Notes, the final line is appropriate. It's a "meticulously crafted illusion performance" that "became a lifelong, irrevocable delusion". Except now Alice wants to stop Orpheus, fix everything, and make everyone, including Orpheus, confront the truth.

[simplegenius042]

Music Monday, WIP Wednesday & Six Sentences

Tagged by @imogenkol @socially-awkward-skeleton @direwombat @raresvtm @cassietrn and @g0dspeeed

Tagging @aceghosts @inafieldofdaisies @voidika @josephseedismyfather @noodlecupcakes @cloudofbutterflies92 @adelaidedrubman @derelictheretic @icecutioner @shallow-gravy @strangefable @statichvm @carlosoliveiraa @wrathfulrook @starsandskies @ladyoriza @la-grosse-patate @thewanderer-000 @omen-speaker @alypink @shellibisshe @josephslittledeputy @skoll-sun-eater @afarcryfrommymain @strafethesesinners @turbo-virgins @florbelles @minilev @justasmolbard @yokobai and @seedsplease + anyone else who'd like to join.

Music Monday for Life, Despair & Monsters, my Wings And Horn WIP and A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore and WIP Wednesday & "Six Sentences" short for The Silver Chronicles. Listen and read under the cut below:

Life, Despair & Monsters is a series comprised of 21 WIPs, 15 of which the main antagonist, the Director of the Ruins of the Midnight Rise, Sir Enigma Malvolio, is the culprit for majority of the problems that occur in the WIPs. Malvolio forces both Wednesday and Enid to work under him when he takes them from their world, is behind Monika and the Literature Club's return but into reality (and therefore gain Haoyu's attention from the blip of Monika of their world's essence disappearing before reappearing), is the reason behind the Court King's return not once but twice in The Thorned Crown of Iron Thrones and Miraculous Miracles (the latter alerting Hatter), was the person who found Sonnie/Sonya damaged body and transferred her mind into the Apex to get combatant data off of her before abandoning her once she got free of his control, was involved in the production of Militech's Inviticus and Arasaka's Impulse (which garners Rico's involvement), allies with Frederick Rosemary and backs the man up in his plans to gain access to Playtime Co.'s factory from within his "Toybox", transformed Evie Jackson into Edith Bloodleech, 50% of the cause behind some of the oddities in each world within the Love Death + Robots universe, surgically implanted O.R.I.O.N as apart of Queen Guenevere, sent his Displacements to hunt down Sydney due to her "Shiner" properties, sends in Edith to take control of the vampire courts after Dracula's death, helped create Choo Choo Charles and had been destroying the towers inside the Worlds In-Between therefore creating breaches in other world and weakening realities. If there's one song I can attribute to Sir Enigma Malvolio and the Midnight Rise throughout Life, Despair & Monsters, it's Siamese's "The Wolf". Listen below:

"Each and every day hiding from the sunshine Wandering in the shade Not too old, not too young

Every night again Dancing with the moonlight Somewhere far away I can hear your call

I'm out of my head Of my heart and my mind 'Cause you can run, but you can't hide I'm gonna make you mine

Out of my head Of my heart and my mind 'Cause I can feel how your flesh now Is crying out for more

Ain't no fairy tale What I see in your eyes Awaiting your mistake Not too close, not too far

Sneaking in the pain Every truth becomes lie I won't trust myself Once I hear your call

I'm out of my head Of my heart and my mind 'Cause you can run, but you can't hide I'm gonna make you mine

Out of my head Of my heart and my mind 'Cause I can feel how your flesh now Is crying out for more!"

In Wings And Horns, Cadet Azriel and Jezebel Ba'al are two sides of the same coins, much like their authoritative/father figures (Archangel Metatron and Xiang Ba'al respectively); both are souls of girls who tragically died unfairly young due to factors outside of their control and end up in a sort of afterlife, both are ostracized by the communities they now inhabit (Azriel being an angel of death and Jezebel being a Sinner's Soul in the Sloth Ring), both have an adult they follow who acts as an authority/father figure that passes down important morals and are (opposing) extremists in regards to their methods and handlings of the Soulmate System (with Metatron doing everything in his power to preserve it while Xiang wants to destroy it all together while the New Gods decide whether to keep it or abolish it elsewhere), meanwhile both girls hold a more reasonable and far less extreme opinion on how to fix (Azriel) or repurpose (Jezebel) the failing Soulmate System that doesn't negatively impact every other human being. But most importantly, both girls just want to belong in their new lives; Azriel with the Angels of Death (in addition to Metatron) instead of going through with her planned reincarnation for 1,000 years of service and Jezebel with her adoptive demon father Xiang instead of destroying a system that no longer has a hold on her. Sadly, only one out of the two gets what they want at the end of the day.

"The tops of crags and cliffs, the air is thin So we'll find a mountain path on down the hill Meet me where the snow mount flows It is there, my dear, where we'll begin again Skipping stones, braiding hair Last years antlers mark the trail

Take us back, oh, take us back, oh, take us, take us back Take us back, oh, take us back, oh, take us, take us back

I've a friend who lived out by the river's mouth He knows the fiddle's cry is an old sound A lonesome, oh, creaks and moans of empty houses Are songs like fallen rain Windblown buildings, muddy ground The strength of water, can sink a man

Take us back, oh, take us back, oh, take us, take us back Take us back, oh, take us back, oh, take us, take us back!"

Throughout A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore, Arcane Urias' quest for satiating his power hunger via putting Discord's heart back together with the use of his Occult, had caused the deaths of innocents and betrayals of those that should be his family, all witness by said family members; his brother Matthias Talos, and his son & daughter, Ortega "Ore" Brantley and Marissa "Ress" Bishop respectively, those of whom he's also discarded and harmed without remorse. This comes to bite him in the ass when his last child, Ress, finally confronts him for his pass misdeeds, motivated by the loss of her brother and the mission he (and their uncle, Talos) passed down onto her.

"Breaking hearts Who are you to do this? You live your life like you're the only one Who deserves to live You made us cry Made us miss our families You used our souls and took control but now Something's gotta give

What goes around, comes around, 'round, 'round Goes around, comes around, 'round, 'round You know what they say about dirty lies Yeah, that karma don't forget, then you die

The time is now for us to walk together And carry out the dreadful verdict That you brought upon your fate No hide and seek 'Cause the shadows give no shelter It's time to face the rage behind the mask That you yourself create

What goes around, comes around, 'round, 'round Goes around, comes around, 'round, 'round You know what they say about dirty lies Yeah, that karma don't forget, then you die

Yeah, that karma don't forget, then you die!"

"We are outcasts now, and you're the reason why we are We see you haunt more souls just like a scream in the night Our hearts are broken, lost, forever bound But at least we have each other now While you're alone against the wall 'Cause what goes around, yeah, comes around!"

"Yeah, that karma don't forget, then you die You know what they say about dirty lies Yeah, that karma don't forget, then you die!"

Here's a WIP Wednesday for a new AU I decided to put Silva through. Amnesia!AU where Jacob's constant conditioning kind of fucks up Silva's already fucked up mind to the point where Eli's death (sorry Eli) is the last straw to break the camel's back; leading to her mind (in addition to something else) to just lock away a lot of Silva's significant memories. In doing so, Silva - or rather, Sylvester - becomes aware of something a bit beyond the physical existence:

Bleak.

Pain.

Floating.

If she could describe the sensation she was stuck in, she would have listed three words.

Cold.

Discomfort.

Drifting.

Those were the words, right? Everything was lost to her. Sound was empty, taste was dry, her voice mute.

...get...

She felt like she was missing pieces of herself. Like all sensation was beyond her reach.

...up...

"Only you..."

Except for the echo of a song. A song familiar to her. Too familiar to throw away. She tried looking for it, but her head was too heavy.

Get...

She recalled a faint hunger ripple in the bowels of her stomach; something clawing and tearing and painful. Too painful.

Once more, she tried to lift her head to the direction of the music, and though she could not see anything, she could tell where the song was coming from within the black abyss.

...Up.

The song was louder, and though her limbs felt detached from her body, she knew she was leaning up.

An invisible weight was opposing her, almost begging her to stop. To return to the uncomfortable and static seconds she was in.

She considered it... for the more she pushed herself up, the more certain she felt that whatever song was playing, it made her hunger worse, her throat dry and her head pound.

She faltered in her rise, slowly sinking back down. She didn't want to face it. Somewhere within her, she felt herself scream and plead to not get up. To not be hurt again.

But the quiet voice got louder, it's words harsh to hear, the force of it removing all choice for herself, pushing her to...

GET UP!

With a gasp and a hoarse fit of coughs, Silva awoke to the bleak ceiling light detached of all sorts of warmth, as fitting for a bunker.

Her chest heaved as her dry throat ached from a lack of hydration, her body too hot and the floor too cold. She covered her face from the brightness as she looked elsewhere, allowing her eyes to adjust.

She could hear commotion, but deduced it was occurring elsewhere.

Hissing, she felt every muscle in her body tense and sting. She was matted in sweat and grime, the latter a courtesy of the state of the bunker and however long she'd been out for. At least, she assumed it to be the case.

However, slowly rolling over, cringing at her shaking limbs, she struggled to rationalize exactly how her body managed to get to this exhaustive state.

Nor did she know where she was.

While pushing herself up, one of her gloved hands brushed against an object; a pistol, or some variation.

Retracting her hand from it, Silva got up with shaking limbs. Though her balance was off, so she pressed her standing body against the closest wall.

Her head felt like it was pounding, and her stomach growled and rumbled with a ferocity she felt earlier.

Looking down at herself, Silva noticed she was wearing a vest and a red flannel button up with a long sleeved shirt underneath it. She was also adorning dark grey jeans and combat boots.

She heard some commotion nearby; it sounded like a few people were shouting across in the other rooms, but there was something else that gave her pause.

Gunfire. Rapid gunfire. Not in the bunker, likely above. Outside.

Her eyes widened at the possibilities and probabilities. All she could deduce from each one? She was in danger.

And if she was in danger, then she needed to leave.

She looked down to her left, and saw a hallway filled with lockers and racks, with gunfire echoing and shouting echoing down the hall attached to the room's left.

An easy exit, although perhaps risky. Perhaps she could find a different, less dangerous one.

Backing away from the wall, she turned to the room to her right.

And froze.

It looked to be some kind of command room; a table full of maps, televisions showing screens of surveillance to the gunfight outside in what appeared to be a forest, and to be a small workshop for bows and a bed.

But that wasn't of any concern to Silva.

It was the body of a scruffy, bearded man dressed in dark green camouflage gear, splayed out on the cold floor with a unused bow and arrow in his hands, droplets of blood splattered at his feet and behind him.

Looking to his face, she could see the source of the blood came from a small hole in his forehead. She could figure out what snuffed out his life fairly quickly from that.

Much to her surprise, she wasn’t frightened by the body.

Cautiously, she stepped closer to him, wincing at the sight and the muscles in her legs flaring in pain.

She deduced he died recently, considering the blood hadn't dried. Looking him over, she glanced to the room's surveillance television and table full of maps.

Must have been a soldier, she thought to herself, taking in the bunker room's contents and the man's body, Hard to tell if he was an authority figure though.

He was unfamiliar to the soldiers she's previously encountered and seen; at the very least, not an enforcer. Closer to the Americano militar. Although from what she vividly recalled, they never used... bows and arrows.

She shook her head, strands of dark hair loosely falling to her forehead; the presence of such a weapon was hardly the most important factor here.

There was still the question of who killed him. And whether or not they were still in this bunker.

She stepped back away from the corpse, finishing her inspection. She needed to find an alternative way out; one that did not include going out into the sounds of gunfire above ground.

Perhaps there was another exit?

She hoped there would be. She was in no condition to fight, and sneaking her way out was the most plausible method.

Silva turned her direction to the door to the corpse's left. Stepping around the body, she took a glance through the window.

What she saw on the other side was the bleak sight of a room with a still body with a bloodied rag over their face, tied to a chair in a kiddie pool with voltage cables connecting the person's exposed hands and feet.

She hesitated upon reaching for the handle, the sight sickening. A brutal display of torture that nagged at her foggy mind with an eerie familiarity, but not something she could delve into now. She needed to get out.

However, the sound of rushing footsteps caught her attention, coming from somewhere nearby the torture chamber, and closing in fast.

Leave.

Silva, knowing if she was found she'd be good as dead, swiftly backed away from the door. With a pathway compromised and her being in no state of fighting, she knew there was only one viable way for her to go.

Taking in some breaths, knowing she'd likely have to sneak and even run into an opposing crossfire, with haste Silva began walking towards the hall opposite to where she discovered the corpse.

Her boot kicked against the pistol that laid prone from where she awoke from.

Gazing upon it momentarily, she picked it off the floor and headed the adjacent room.

Once around the corner in what she assumed to be a room full of stocked up rations and supplies, she stared ahead to the open bunker door that daylight shined through, though the sound of gunfire and some kind of music didn't boost any confidence in Silva's decision.

Resting against the closest wall, checked out the pistol in her hands, unloading the mag to reveal there were still bullets in the chamber, sans two.

Grimacing at what little defense she had on her person, she put the mag back in the pistol and rested her heavy head against the cool bunker wall.

She wasn't given long to rest when she heard the reverberating bang of a door being swung open, and the accompanying shouts of distress and anguish from whomever discovered the corpse. Aliadas of the dead man, she assumed.

She'd feel pity if she hadn't seen the corpse they'd shocked to death in the next room over. And she wasn't looking forward to be next in that chair.

Move.

Compelled to make a swift move, Silva made her way towards the staircase to whatever war was going on outside. She paused briefly when she almost passed a box of rations.

She quickly snagged a can before making her way up into the daylight with her pistol at the ready.

Lastly a six "sentences" short of my Omegaverse AU where Silva is involuntarily giving romantic advice to Hudson at the Spread Eagle... to the best of her ability. Enjoy this stupid little interaction I concocted:

Joey continued, either not dissuaded or sharply missed her intended meaning entirely, "I thought I would start with buying her drink."

Silva cocked a dark brow up at her amiga, "Alright. But where would you two be getting the drink from?"

A beat of silence, before Joey replied, gesturing outside their booth, "Well, here."

"So your plan is to buy our barkeeper a drink at her own establishment?" Silva asked, bemused at the omega's thought process. Is that even allowed?

Regardless of the socially acceptability of such aspects, Silva was fairly certain that Joey's rational thinking was compromised by the drink in her hand. So, she instead offered an alternative solution.

"While I think you are on the right track, I feel you should consider actually talking to her first," Silva said, pressing her hands together, emphasizing on the talking aspect with such importance as she had done for the previous half an hour, "And lead up to asking her out. Or just ask her out."

"It can't be that simple," Joey stated, brushing her braid back behind her shoulder, "Not for someone so great and level-headed as her. Are you sure you don't have any other method?"

"Not since you shot down my last one," Silva stated, taking a swig of her glass as she remembered halfheartedly offering to go up to Mary May and asking the brunette if she 'was into cops?' before she'd direct the alpha's attention over to Joey.

Joey wasn't the most amused about her suggestion, but Silva saw it as a small vengeance for asking for her help while they were in vicinity of the very woman Joey wanted to woo.

[mintytealfox]

my dear minty

I might be an au for you to nimble on.

Are you familiar with either HP Lovecraft's "Colour from Out of Space" and/or Jeff Vandermeer's "Annihilation"(which was also made into a movie starring Natalie Portman).

If not, then in most essence these stories are as followed: A strange meteor falls to earth, and not only turn the surrounding area into an eldritch location but also transforming both the minds and bodies of the people in that area.

So what about this

Norton five years after the mining accident and becoming a prospector is given a letter requesting him to be a part of an expedition team to look into the strange happenings of an area that no one can explain for the last few years, and he would be rewarded a large amount of money if he agrees......

the only problem is.... the area that's affected is an abandoned mining town and it's surrounding wilderness...... the Golden Cave being uncomfortably close by.

And having to choose between his mental health and money, he chose the money hoping that he will just be surveying the land and he won't have to go underground, right?? Part of the expedition team is Alice, Melly, Frederick, and Orpheus.

And him and Alice would form this closeness on the expedition while they are dealing with eldritch abominations, horrible transformations, and✨️trauma✨️.

What do you think

Anything you want to add?

-SLAMS DESK- THIS GOES SO HAAARRRRDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD I LOOOVVEE ALL OF THIS SO MUUCCCHHHHHHHHHHH

LOL you're right, he absolutely would choose the money! -WHEEZE- this guuuyyyyy, his mental health is in shambles and doesn't exist right now PFF

GOSH LOOOOOOL the image of Norton seeing the group he needs to work with and is like ".......we are all going to die, what even is this group" Melly: "well aren't you pleasant..." -folds arms- Norton: "yea, thanks for noticing" Melly: 😡

THEN

Them all running from these shadow monsters made of rocks Alice: "WHAT ARE THESE THINGS??" -trying to grab photographs of them as she runs- (it almost looks like she is having fun lol) Orpheus: "People Norton killed a few years back" Norton: "HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW THAT" Melly: "so YOU'RE the reason we are going to die" Norton: "OKAY HOLD ON THERE IS A LOT OF CONTEXT MISSING HERE" Frederick: "what possible context could make this any better"

-------

BUT GOSH THEIR OUTFITS OH MY GOSH I GOTTA GIVE THEM COOL OUTFITS I GOTTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

scifi with a dash of edwardian! COLOR ME OBSESSED

-------

OH and the idea that Norton and Alice get separated from the others and the find a place for shelter to rest and are just chatting: Norton: "I can't help but notice that you're the only one that looks like they are having fun here" Alice: "you can't deny that there is beauty here, sure there is mortal peril, but the rest of the world has mortal peril as well" Norton: "well, outside of this place at least we don't have to worry about giant mutant canary bird worms bustin' out of the ground screaming at us" Alice: "true~ but I have never seen a more beautiful place~" Norton: "....alright, I will try your way of thinkin'. I wonder if my sweet canary is around here somewhere, and maybe she will recognize me" Alice chuckles: "now isn't that a fun thought~"

So the group survivalist and the data collector are together

-------

WHILE Melly and Frederick being stuck together and she is there to protect the wildlife while Frederick is the sniper and there to shoot and protect the team. So they clash BIG time

-Frederick aiming- Melly: "PUT THAT GUN AWAY" Frederick: "YOU'RE INSANE, YOU BETTER CALM IT DOWN IN 3 SECONDS BEFORE I SHOOT IT OR IT KILLS US"

-------

Then Orpheus is the NERD of the group who knows the most about this place and what is going on, and is all on his own having a wild ride of 'awakening' going on this 'spiritual journey' becoming a little too AT ONE with this twisted nature here, oh my GOSH

Orpheus being the obvious first one to begin transforming. Then Norton after. 😭😭

[mrsfrederickchilton]

FREDERICK. Chapter 29

The next meeting was for the evening, the very end of the workday, and after it Dr. Chilton was going home. You knew it, and the first thought that came to you that morning was incredibly idiotic. By evening, it had become something you would try to implement. Why not? After yesterday, the boundaries of acceptable ideas were starting to blur. You were lonely. Unhappy. Sometimes unstable. You were playing with Dr. Chilton, and you clearly wanted to seduce him. You were an interesting subject for informal observation. Dr. Chilton already knew all this, so you could afford to do whatever you wanted.

Today his jacket was hanging over the back of the chair, the first time you had seen Dr. Chilton in just a shirt, white with the thinnest gray stripes, and a brownish-gold tie with a clip. You, on the other hand, had put on a light suit made of sand-colored viscose: a loose-fitting shirt and wide trousers. After yesterday, you did not want to pull on another dress. Dr. Chilton placed a glass of water and a box of chocolates on the table next to you. Thank goodness it was not wine. Surprisingly, chocolates turned out to be some of your favorites. Dr. Chilton clearly intended to sit in the chair next to yours, but today you did not want to, so you threw your bag at it. In the chair, not at Dr. Chilton. He took the hint and sat down at his desk. A couple of routine phrases and no discussion of last night. Good. You took an individually wrapped chocolate from the box, thinking about how to insert the stupidity you had made up.

“Tell me about your intimate life with him,” Dr. Chilton suddenly asked.

The candy fell from your hands to the floor. What?

“Are you serious?” you were shocked.

“Absolutely.” You stared at him so hard that he laughed.

“Are you surprised by this question?” he asked.

“Is that... after yesterday?” you looked at him intently and crossed your legs.

“No.”

Lie.

“But it might shed light on some aspects of your situation.”

“Excuse me?”

“Your... affection.”

Dr. Chilton omitted the word unhealthy, but you heard it. You picked up the candy, opened the package, put the coconut ball in your mouth and began to suck on it, looking at the psychiatrist. It would have been quite tempting if it weren’t for your nervous foot, dangling in the air against your will.

“And what details do you want to know?” you asked.

“In general terms,” Dr. Chilton didn’t blink. “Not necessarily in detail. I’m just curious about how you… interacted.”

Oh, sure. Of course, that’s very interesting.

“Okay,” you agreed, wondering which path to take. “I guess I can say that we interacted very well.”

“That’s understandable,” Dr. Chilton smiled.

No, but how can teeth be so white?

“Okay. I suppose I should say something else.”

Dr. Chilton looked at you silently, a little mockingly, but very attentively. He knew how to do that. To look.

It was a pity that he couldn't take a good look at himself from the side. For real.

“We interacted in different genres,” you said, barely hiding a smile as you saw the animation in Dr. Chilton’s eyes. “Oh, you should have heard those improvised counterpoint preludes, I was lucky to meet a real virtuoso! And epic oratorios? I didn’t even know how amazing they could be before. And large-scale, profound symphonies? I swear, sometimes I thought we were inside the damned ninth, if you know what I mean.” Of course, he didn’t understand, but you didn’t care. “And the sonatas, my God? Usually for piano and cello, but I admit, I often had to switch to the viola part and even the violin. Immersion in the very essence, that’s what I can say in general terms. Without it, everything would sound false. And of course,” you added, “the main rule of any high-quality performance is regularity of practice. I’m talking about etudes, by the way.”

While you were saying all this, Dr. Chilton did his favorite thing again: he put the end of his pen in his mouth and almost started chewing on it. It looked terrible: terribly funny, terribly ridiculous, terribly vulgar.

“Please stop,” you asked, barely holding back your laughter, and he immediately stopped, realizing what you meant. Dr. Chilton put his pen in the holder, a little embarrassed.

“Did you know that the habit of chewing pens is a sign of stress? It means that you are experiencing emotional stress and you need help calming your nervous system.” You googled it a few days ago, and here you are, it came in handy. “It seems that your question made you more nervous than me. Or my answer,” you chuckled.

“Your manner of answering my question can also tell something about you,” he answered calmly.

“Oh, weren’t you impressed by my musical-metaphorical eloquence?” you feigned surprise.

“None of this,” said Dr. Chilton, “had anything to do with eloquence.”

“What is it then?”

“Verbiage.”

Truth.

You smiled slyly.

“I think that's exactly what you wanted.”

He shook his head and almost reached for his pen. He caught himself and turned his attention to his ever-present notebook.

“If you wanted to know if I’ve ever been forced to do anything against my will, the answer is no,” you said seriously. You hated to think of what he might be imagining. “If you wanted to know if sex is the main reason we are together, the answer is no.”

He finally had to pick up his pen. Dr. Chilton was scribbling furiously in his notebook, as if taking notes on your unexpected speech.

“Were,” he said, looking up at you.

“What?”

“Were together.”

You wanted to throw the box of chocolates in his face. You almost did. Dr. Chilton could see that you were barely holding back. He pulled out a few sheets of paper from his desk drawer, clipped them to a holder with a clip, and handed them to you along with a black marker.

“What is this?”

“Please fill it out.”

You frowned, reading the text. Some tests again. However, it was better than listening to nasty things from him. Just think, were together. Bastard.

“First, tell me what it is.”

Dr. Chilton sighed, seeing that you would not begin until you had an answer.

“A test for self-destructive tendencies.”

There was a short silence.

“Excellent,” you stated.

“The thing is that—”

“I can say without tests that I do not have it,” you cut him off, trying not to look at your wrist, where a scar was hidden under the viscose.

This is completely different.

“This is not quite what you think,” said Dr. Chilton. “Sometimes there are hidden patterns. You can unconsciously look for dramatic, tense situations. The intensity of passions. Clashes of emotions.”

That is, everything that you have found anyway.

“Are you a psychiatrist or a psychologist?” you asked, displeased. “Oh, yes, officially neither. You’re just the director of the institution. The manager in the stupid suit.”

It’s not exactly what you planned, but it’s not your fault. He made you say it.

“Are you angry?” Dr. Chilton didn’t seem offended, even though you were wrong.

Just because he no longer did formal consultations with private individuals didn’t mean he was no longer a psychiatrist, or that he’d never studied psychology. He knew you’d said it to annoy him. Not so long ago, he’d been irritated by your blunt or overly sarcastic manner of speaking. But now he was listening more to your intonation than to the words themselves. After you’d turned Dr. Irving off from both of you, you didn't annoy him anymore.

“What do you think?”

“I think you are. But still, put a couple of ticks so as not to return to this topic.”

You sighed very heavily, very demonstratively, and began to mark the answers. But not with ticks, as he said, but with crosses. There were many questions, all completely different, but some were completely obvious. For example, “would you enter into a dangerous, problematic or risky relationship?” And the appropriate answers: “no”, “yes, it's an interesting challenge”, “sometimes, it depends on the person”. So what is there to mark here? It seemed to you again that the tests were mixed with Dr. Chilton's personal developments. The questions were too chaotic, it was confusing, and this was his tactic. A tactic of exposing lies, challenging frankness. Maybe he should have become a psychologist, not a psychiatrist. Then you would never have met.

You put crosses and thrust the tests into Dr. Chilton's hands. He glanced at them, then looked up at you.

“You didn't answer all the questions.”

“Only the ones that might have some bearing on why we're here.”

“But the parents...”

“No,” you snapped. “No one's parents have anything to do with this.”

He paused, then said,

“Okay.”

You could feel his displeasure and disappointment. Of course, he thought there might be a clue in your childhood and your parents as to why you ended up with a psychopath and a murderer. But there wasn’t one. There were no clues to this at all. It just happened.

You glanced at clock on the wall, which Dr. Chilton had noticed. You didn’t have a set time for when you would end your conversations, it all depended on the situation, but it was probably time for him to leave soon. However, you still hadn’t said what you had thought up. But how to approach it? It couldn’t just appear out of thin air. Dr. Chilton had seemed a bit quiet; perhaps he was already regretting his tests because there was some tension between you; perhaps he saw something in them that he didn’t want to see in you.

Either way, it was impossible to end on that note, and you remembered something that might cheer him up.

“By the way,” you asked, “do you by any chance have Dr. Irving`s phone number?”

Oh, that certainly cheered up Dr. Chilton.

“Do you want to change your doctor?” he asked with such concern in his voice that you even felt ashamed. That was not why you asked, why did he immediately think that?

He upset you. You might well have wanted to change specialist, preferably to someone who could help you officially. Right now, you were what made his life more interesting, and, sadly, it would have been logical for Dr. Irving to get you. To take even you away from him.

“Are you nuts?” you asked.

“What?”

“Nothing! You are quite enough for me.”

You intended to say this in the sense that you had enough specialists and digging around in your head, the last thing you needed was to let someone else in, but for some reason it sounded... different. At least for Dr. Chilton.

“Then why?” the anxiety disappeared from his voice, something else appeared.

You are quite enough for me. Whatever that meant, he liked the way you said it.

“I want to leave it on a couple of sites so that it can be spammed with all sorts of indecent offers.”

“Why did you suddenly think of him at all?” Dr. Chilton was surprised, fidgeting in his chair.

“I recently looked at the reactions and comments under the photos from the evening at the mansion,” you answered. “Mostly everyone “likes” and praises each other. But on the photo where you and I are in the frame, for some reason Dr. Irving put “dislike”.”

Dr. Chilton remembered that photo very well, and he liked it very much. In his opinion, you together looked simply gorgeous. This opinion, obviously, did not coincide with the opinion of Dr. Irving.

“The only one of all. Is it normal? I don’t even know what he didn’t like about it,” you said, and Dr. Chilton could not hide his smile.

“In general, I want to make fun a little.” You picked up your bag from the next chair and put it on your lap. “So, do you have a number?”

“No need,” Dr. Chilton chuckled.

“What, you don't think he deserves to be bullied a little?” you raised your eyebrows.

“He does, but he doesn't deserve you to do it.”

Wow.

You looked at each other, smiled at each other, and realized that there was no longer any tension between you.

“Okay,” you said. “Maybe you're right.”

It was time to leave, but you had other plans. You hoped that Dr. Chilton would walk you to the bus stop. As luck would have it, he let you down again, just like yesterday:

“Goodbye,” he said politely and almost warmly, invariably helping you put on your coat. “Have a nice evening.”

“And you,” you responded, quite disappointed.

Dr. Chilton returned to his desk, and you had to leave the office. But you weren’t going to go far. A couple of minutes later, Dr. Chilton closed the office and found you on the visitors’ bench. You were digging around in your bag and trying to make your face look worried. Then you sighed loudly and looked at the psychiatrist.

“What happened?” he asked, seeing how upset you were.

“Can you imagine,” you said, extremely sadly, “I think I forgot my apartment keys.”

“Oh,” Dr. Chilton didn’t expect that answer. “Does anyone else have them?”

“Yes. The neighbors."

Lie. You would never let your neighbors keep the keys to your apartment.

“But they're away,” you added. “Can you imagine?”

“That's too bad,” Dr. Chilton replied thoughtfully.

“They should be back tomorrow. But I don't like hotels and I don't want to spend money,” you sighed.

“I see,” he said, not really knowing what you were getting at.

You stared at each other for ten long seconds, and then you finally decided.

“Can I stay the night at you?” you asked bluntly, hoping that would disarm him. “Just one night?”

Or how it will go.

“Well,” if Dr. Chilton was embarrassed, he didn't give it away. “I guess that could be arranged. But I suppose you'd have to do me a favor.”

“Oh, sure,” you smiled knowingly.

The predictable pervert. Never mind, you were ready.

“I need to clean the fridge,” Dr. Chilton grinned.

Next chapter (Chapter 30)

Masterlist

[scotianostra]

On December 7th 1847 Robert Liston the renowned surgeon died.

There is quite a story about this man just remember when reading it that although it sounds as though he was a mad man who should not be let loose on anyone, Robert Liston was the best surgeon of his time and all those who could afford his services would have had no hesitation in doing so. He saved a lot of people that would have died a miserable long and painful death. It is easy to judge using our standards.

Robert Liston was born in Ecclesmachan Scotland. He was the son of a Pastor, and was educated in Edinburgh and London. He was appointed lecturer of anatomy in Edinburgh. He left Scotland for London in the 1830s after disagreements with colleagues at the Edinburgh hospital where he worked; he was known to be a very abrasive and arrogant person. He was known also to be extremely quick which lessened the suffering of the patient who was being operated upon. He was also the inventor of the Liston splint, which is still in use at some hospitals today.

There are stories of occasions when his operations went wrong due to the speed at which he attempted them. The two most notable examples of this were when he amputated a man’s testicles along with his leg by mistake and another operation where the patient died of infection, he cut off the fingers of his assistant (who also died due to infection) and slashed the coat of a spectator who died of fright, so to this day Liston holds the unenviable record of killing of three people due to one operation!! Well there is no indicative proof for these stories, so they might well just be regarded as urban legends.

On December 21st 1846, at University College Hospital, London, Liston, performed the first operation in England using anaesthetic (Ether) administered by Dr Squire. He operated on a patient named Frederick Churchill; he performed a above knee amputation with great success.

There are those who saw Liston as a mad eccentric surgeon, however, you must understand that speed was of the essence in pre-anaesthetic surgery, who would you rather amputate your leg whilst completely awake, Liston who will complete the procedure in 2-3 minutes or another less competent surgeon in 5-10 minutes, I know who I would choose. We cannot judge these surgeons using our modern day expectations.

Apart from the one with the three deaths other famous cases were the removal in 4 minutes of a 45-pound scrotal tumour, whose owner had to carry it round in a wheelbarrow…can you imagine?!!!

When he had a argument with his house-surgeon. Was the red, pulsating tumour in a small boy’s neck a straightforward abscess of the skin, or a dangerous aneurism of the carotid artery? ‘Pooh!’ Liston exclaimed impatiently. 'Whoever heard of an aneurism in one so young?’ Flashing a knife from his waistcoat pocket, he lanced it. Houseman’s note – 'Out leaped arterial blood, and the boy fell.’ The patient died but the artery lives, in University College Hospital pathology museum, specimen No. 1256.

We may hear about incidents like the three fatalities, and the one above, but between 1835 and 1840 Robert Liston performed amputations on sixty-six patients, of whom only ten died, a respectable result at a time when postoperative infection and gangrene was common.

On this day 1847 Robert Liston sustained a sailing accident in which a blow across the chest caused a fatal hemorrhage, perhaps from an aortic aneurysm. he is interred at Highgate Cemetery, London.

[idvconfessions]

I'm really excited about everything tbh! Buuuut mostly Hullaballoo bc that's the lore I've been most invested in aside from Luca, Frederick and Naib's (Ofc I'm not biased can't you tell? XD) Long ramble incoming ;u;

I'm OBSESSED with the Violetta face reveal I love her sm she's so cute and precious and deserves all the hugs in the world. If they're actually giving her a surv form I will be a pure violetta main till the day I die. I already main SW XD

and H U N T E R M I K E

oh my GOSH HE LOOKS GOOD. While I think the tall skinny hunter trend is kinda meh overall, this works for him. I love the twisted rusty springs and his torn bombs and wild hair and pasty face it all looks so unhinged and I'm here for it!! And his S-tier for the essence is GORGEOUS! I can't wait to see his gameplay!!

Also his name is Hullaballoo which is Perfect as someone else mentioned somewhere that after Bernard's death Mike was the one who would have taken over the circus. I also like it bc it seems out of all the involved characters, Mike's really the one who saw the circus as his family and his everything. It would make sense he would take that as his name in his hunter identity, which he gained while trying to find the one who destroyed Hullaballoo circus, since the name is all that's really left of it anymore.

The temporary roguelike mode and Scribbled ideas are interesting! I see all kinds of good chaos coming from that XDDD While I don't think I'll use scribbled ideas much myself, I'd love to see what other people come up with. I think it's great the devs are pushing the boundaries of what they can do with the game now.

I already predict the Hullaballoo map is going to make me laugh and cry bc it's what used to be and should have been but for the Massacre. I hope to see Jeffery in his prime taking care of his animals ;u;

back to the Hullaballoo event I'm PSYCHED for the new music coming out!!! I always love new songs to learn and the vibe of hullaballoo in particular has always been a weakness of mine.

I'm really happy to see some characters, like explorer, finally getting some love as well! I know some explorer mains and it's so so nice to see them finally have content for their favorite characters after being ignored for years ;u;

And also...ALL OF THIS RIGHT BEFORE COA

There's just sooo much going on!!

-💀

I’m so glad you’re happy with everything! And you’re right there’s so much going on it’s very exciting. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!!

[mynewscafes-blog]

Eddie Redmayne Faces the Chase in ‘The Day of the Jackal’ Trailer

The latest buzz in the cinematic world revolves around Eddie Redmayne and his thrilling role in the upcoming film adaptation of The Day of the Jackal. As the first trailer for The Day of the Jackal hits the internet, fans of the classic 1973 film and Frederick Forsyth’s novel are eagerly anticipating a gripping retelling of this iconic story.

In this blog, we will dive deep into what makes The Day of the Jackal such an enduring piece of thriller fiction, explore Eddie Redmayne’s portrayal of the mysterious hitman, and examine why this upcoming film is generating so much excitement. We’ll also focus on the nuances of The Day of the Jackal, the film’s historical context, and why this latest adaptation is particularly relevant to today’s audience. Let’s get started.

What Is ‘The Day of the Jackal’?

First things first: The Day of the Jackal is a suspenseful political thriller that revolves around an assassination plot targeting French President Charles de Gaulle. The story, written by Frederick Forsyth and published in 1971, is set in the 1960s and follows the meticulous planning of an anonymous contract killer known only as "The Jackal."

The original 1973 movie, directed by Fred Zinnemann, became an instant classic due to its high-stakes tension, brilliant direction, and exceptional performances. Now, more than 50 years later, we are being treated to a new rendition that promises to be just as compelling.

Eddie Redmayne Takes Center Stage

Eddie Redmayne, known for his versatility and talent in films like The Theory of Everything and Fantastic Beasts, steps into the shoes of one of the most iconic anti-heroes in literary history: The Jackal. Eddie Redmayne’s ability to portray complex, multi-layered characters makes him an excellent fit for the role, and fans are already buzzing with anticipation after the release of the first trailer.

The Jackal: A Man of Mystery

The Jackal is not your typical villain. He’s calculated, meticulous, and operates with cold precision. What makes this character so terrifying is his complete detachment and professionalism. He is a chameleon, capable of disappearing into any crowd, and this ability to blend into his surroundings makes him one of the most dangerous assassins ever portrayed on screen.

In the trailer, Eddie Redmayne captures the essence of this elusive character, showcasing a chilling performance that promises to do justice to Forsyth’s original vision. Redmayne’s intense focus and quiet menace are already being lauded, and it’s clear that he has immersed himself in the role.

What Sets ‘The Day of the Jackal’ Apart from Other Thrillers?

The Day of the Jackal stands out as one of the best political thrillers for several reasons. First and foremost, the narrative structure is unique: rather than a traditional cat-and-mouse chase, it follows both the assassin and the law enforcement officers attempting to thwart him. This dual perspective creates a gripping tension throughout the story.

Moreover, The Day of the Jackal is not just about action. It delves into the inner workings of political intrigue, strategy, and personal motivation. The novel’s intricate plot has been praised for its attention to detail and Forsyth’s real-world research, which gives it a sense of authenticity that many thrillers lack.

The Political Context

Set against the backdrop of a volatile political landscape in France during the 1960s, The Day of the Jackal taps into the fears of an era marred by civil unrest and political violence. The plot centers on the OAS (Organisation de l'armée secrète), a far-right paramilitary group determined to kill President Charles de Gaulle due to his decision to grant independence to Algeria. Forsyth’s novel was ahead of its time in presenting a nuanced portrayal of political extremism, the consequences of colonialism, and the fragile nature of democratic institutions.

This historical context is one of the key reasons the novel and its adaptations resonate so strongly, even today. The political tensions of the 1960s, with their echoes in contemporary society, make this story feel as relevant as ever. Themes of political conspiracy, extremism, and the threat of assassination have not lost their potency in the modern era.

What to Expect from the New Adaptation

Updated for Modern Audiences

While the core narrative of The Day of the Jackal remains intact, this new adaptation is likely to feature some updates to reflect modern sensibilities and concerns. Director Brian Kirk, known for his work on Game of Thrones and Luther, brings a unique vision to the film, promising a fresh take on the classic material.

The trailer hints at a sleek, fast-paced thriller, with cutting-edge cinematography and tension-filled action sequences. The film is expected to blend the meticulous procedural elements of the original with the visceral excitement that modern audiences crave.

Eddie Redmayne’s Transformation into The Jackal

One of the most intriguing aspects of this adaptation is Eddie Redmayne’s transformation into The Jackal. Redmayne is known for his meticulous approach to acting, often immersing himself deeply into his characters. For this role, he has reportedly studied real-life assassins, the psychology of hitmen, and the intricacies of stealth operations to embody the character fully.

His portrayal in the trailer shows a level of calm detachment that is both eerie and fascinating. The Jackal is a man with no allegiances, no clear backstory, and no emotional connections, and Redmayne’s interpretation of this enigmatic character promises to be one of the film’s highlights.

What Makes ‘The Day of the Jackal’ Relevant Today?

While The Day of the Jackal is firmly rooted in the political climate of the 1960s, its themes of political instability, assassination, and covert operations remain highly relevant. In today’s world, where political leaders face threats from extremist groups and tensions between nations are escalating, the story’s underlying message feels more urgent than ever.

Additionally, the rise of political thrillers and espionage dramas in recent years, such as Bodyguard, Homeland, and Jack Ryan, has created a strong appetite for films that delve into the dark world of political conspiracies. This latest adaptation of The Day of the Jackal is perfectly timed to tap into that demand, offering a modern take on a timeless story.

The Cinematic Legacy of ‘The Day of the Jackal’

The original 1973 film adaptation of The Day of the Jackal is widely regarded as a classic of the thriller genre. Directed by Fred Zinnemann, the film was a critical and commercial success, praised for its meticulous pacing, strong performances, and intense atmosphere.

One of the reasons the film has endured is its attention to detail. The original movie stayed true to Forsyth’s novel, replicating the novel’s sense of authenticity and real-world stakes. It also avoided the common Hollywood trap of over-the-top action scenes, instead opting for a more measured, suspense-driven approach. This commitment to realism helped establish The Day of the Jackal as a seminal work in the political thriller genre.

Why You Should Watch Eddie Redmayne’s ‘The Day of the Jackal’

If you’re a fan of political thrillers or suspenseful dramas, The Day of the Jackal is a must-watch. Eddie Redmayne’s performance alone is reason enough to check out the film, but the story’s rich historical context and gripping narrative make it even more compelling.

Moreover, this latest adaptation offers an opportunity for new audiences to discover the brilliance of Forsyth’s novel. The combination of a top-tier cast, a talented director, and a story that remains as relevant today as it was 50 years ago ensures that this film will be a standout in 2024.

Final Thoughts

As The Day of the Jackal returns to the big screen, Eddie Redmayne’s portrayal of The Jackal is set to bring a fresh and thrilling dimension to an already iconic character. With its gripping storyline, political intrigue, and modernized retelling, the film promises to be a cinematic event that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of the novel or discovering The Day of the Jackal for the first time, this new adaptation is shaping up to be a must-see film. Be sure to mark your calendars and prepare for a suspense-filled journey into the world of political intrigue and assassination.

[kachavashka]

My summary of art for 2024.

2024 has been an amazing year for me. After a long wait, I finally started university (I had to get Australian citizenship first which took 5 years), I composed and recorded a ton of music and explored new musical ideas that I had never done before. I got a lot of reading done, watched some good movies, and I made more art this year than the 2023 and 2022 combined!

I learnt a lot about myself too. I meditated a lot and explored new philosophical and spiritual ideas.

If you want to see a "summary of music", then search my Tumblr under the "my music" tag.

For no reason whatsoever, here's a list of the books I read this year in chronological order with a brief review:

Warriors: Into the Wild - Erin Hunter

A sweet little book. I really loved it, and I loved the whole world within it, but I can't say it enthralled me, it's quite childish and simplistic. But then again, it is just the introduction to the series, not a stand-alone book.

Separation - RoobrickMarine

I loved this story so much.

It's a romance story set in Renaissance Italy and revolves around CanisAlbus's characters, Machete and Vasco. I love them so both so much and CanisAlbus is one of my favourite artists, so this was a really good story to read.

Manifesto of the Communist Party - Karl Marx & Frederick Engels

I have read excerpts from this book here and there for many years, but I never actually got around to reading the entire thing from cover to cover. It's actually remarkably short. Only about 50 pages, I think. It's a great introduction to Marxism and the history of capitalism, but probably not the best. It uses a lot of charged language. I do highly recommend reading it, though.

Musicophilia - Oliver Sacks

A friend recommended this to me. Oliver Sacks explores the neuropsychological aspects of music like how our brains perceive music and where creativity comes from. I learnt a lot from this book, like that most people don't have synesthesia, so they don't associate colours, textures, shapes, and tastes with the music they hear like I do. It was a really interesting read. If you are a musician or interested in music, I highly recommend reading this.

Warriors: Fire and Ice - Erin Hunter

Now the story starts to get heated. At this point I became quite addicted to the series. There was a lot of tension in this book and some rather disturbing scenes, but that's what made it so good.

Concerning the Spiritual in Art - Wassily Kandinsky

This was a really deep book that explores the very essence of what constitutes art. It was quite hard to understand, but it helped see art through a new lens.

Wings of Fire: The Hidden Kingdom - Tui T. Sutherland

I really liked this book, mostly because Glory is one of my favourite characters. It's also the book that introduces Kinkajou, who is also a favourite of mine.

The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State - Frederick Engels

This was a really difficult but interesting book to read. Engels claims that societies have various stages of kinship structures that progress predictably from one form to another. Private property and the state emerge when a society goes from having a mother-right kinship (where means of production are collectively owned by clans, and you inherit your clan name from your mother), to a father-right kinship (modern capitalist society, where means of production are privately owned by individuals, and you inherit a family surname from your father). There's a lot more in it than what I've explained. Please read this book, it's very eye-opening.

The Conquest of Bread - Peter Kropotkin

This one is a staple of Anarchist thought. Again, I had only read bits and pieces of this before reading the whole thing. Kropotkin shares some examples of how people can co-operate in a communist society without the need for an oppressive government.

Now, Kropotkin has some amazing ideas and I'm 100% for them, but, thinking realistically, I don't know if they're all entirely possible in our modern society. I don't know. But the world he describes is the world I want to live in.

Warriors: Forest of Secrets - Erin Hunter

My goodness... Wow....

I don't even know where to start with this one. It was an fantastic emotional rollercoaster ride. This book had me sobbing uncontrollably. I must admit, I had low expectations of the Warriors series before I began reading it, and the first book disappointed me a bit for being too simple. But Forest of Secrets makes up for ALL of that! This book touched on so many dark themes, I don't even know how it got away with being a children's book.

I might have forgotten a few here and there, I have a bad memory.

I'm looking forward for 2025 and I hope it will be as productive as 2024

[margotfonteyns]

Pearl Argyle as Madame Récamier and Frederick Ashton as Her Suitor in Ashton's ballet "An 1805 Impression", created for the C. B. Cochran revue, Magic Nights, 1932

Although inspired by the portrait of Récamier by Jacques-Louis David, that painting was abandoned by the artist in 1800, while the portrait from 1805 was by François Gérard, so Ashton may have got his art history muddled. Also, although Récamier's suitor is unnamed, he is clearly identifiable as Prince Augustus of Prussia, arguably Récamier's most devoted admirer and the one who came closest to inspiring a reciprocated passion: his proposal of marriage was rejected, but only after initially being accepted, and among the lovers' fervent vows to each other was a promise by Juliette to avoid flirting with other men.

Despite her reputation as an indolent lounger, Récamier in fact had a lively taste for dancing, which Ashton may have been aware of when creating the ballet. In any case, one account from its opening performance—in the unlikely setting of the Grill Room of the Trocadero Restaurant—gave testimony to the ballet's success in animating a previously static subject:

"In an entertainment which admirably fills the bill there is an '1805 Impression' featuring Madame Récamier, a lady who, remembering the famous picture, I have always associated with the embodiment of rest. But now having seen her, as played by Pearl Argyle, leave the sofa with which she has so long been connected, I shall henceforth recall her as the essence of energy." — The Bystander, April 13, 1932

[kiss-my-freckle]

Full Episode Commentary

1x16: There Goes the Neighborhood

One of few episodes I'm disappointed with. Some people call them filler episodes, but I term this one preparation. They're moving their pieces for the next episode. They place most of their focus on the vampires at Pearl's house for that reason. Building up for what's to come. If not for Damon and Frederick, I'd be snoring.

There are in-show dialogues that speak to the difference between Damon and Frederick. "We hunt. We stalk. It's often as exciting as the kill." Vampires enjoy being vampires. "She taught me how to kill, how to enjoy it." While their humanity makes them feel guilty, they still enjoy the kill because they're predators. "We enjoy the hunt, the feed, and the kill." While vampires do enjoy the kill, they don't necessarily enjoy inflicting pain. The difference between Damon and Frederick is the difference between a vampire and a sadist. Frederick is a sadist. When Stefan talks to Elena about Damon in 1x13, it's not Damon he's describing. It's Frederick. He's the man she should fear.

Anna's character shows the difference between Stelena and Delena. From the moment they introduce her to the moment she pulls her mother out of the tomb, it's about need. That need is the essence of Stelena. From the moment Pearl is rescued to the moment Anna dies, it's about want. That want is the essence of Delena.

Because Matt's mother took the party home, I'm assuming she slept with the plumber bachelor. He tells her there's a job opening at the Grill. She has Caroline walking on eggshells, and I don't like it.

Damon is in pretty much every conversation Stelena has. "Damon hasn't said a word to me. Every time I try to talk to him, he shuts me down." I don't know what he's been trying to talk to Damon about, but if it's about what happened in 1x15, Damon would shut him down. Stefan orchestrated their three-car collision. "He waited a hundred and forty five years only to find out that Katherine could not care less. I mean it's gotta hurt, right?" Stefan doesn't feel the weight of 145 years until the series finale. Elena is understandably still upset that Damon turned her mother. "And here's a thought: fun." Yeah, right. Stefan doesn't know fun.

I love Harper, Pearl, and Anna. It's heartbreaking to see them die so fast. I consider Paarl badass, but very classy. I love Harper and his loyalty to her. It's a shame we didn't get to see Pearl fight Katherine. What she has going on at this house won't work for the same reason Lily and her heretics don't. Harper offers to watch over things while Pearl and Anna take care of business.

Stelena has a planned double date with Matt and Caroline. I think it's too soon for Matt and Caroline to be like that with Elena. "A nice evening out with friends. Sounds fun, as in fun." A double date isn't what I consider fun, but okay. Jeremy researches vampires because I don't think Anna compelled him after he saw her face. I don't know why the number changed to 25 vampires unless Pearl is excluding herself. Damon lies about being part of their secret founders council, but Anna had been stalking him just as Stefan had been stalking Elena. She said she's been in town since the second episode. I don't agree with Pearl's intentions. She plans to start a war much like Damon was planning to.

His facial expressions are hilarious because he's now taking his role on the council pretty seriously. He very much plans to protect his home from Pearl and her vampires, but I also understand Pearl's side of it. "They took that from us. Our land, our home. It's time we rebuild." Katherine talks about this a little more in season 2. When the founders took them to the church to kill them, they took their homes and their land. She said it built the Lockwoods a fortune. We're talking about the homes and the land belonging to 26 vampires. They not only decided Pearl and her friends didn't have the right to live. The founders decided they didn't have the right to make Mystic Falls their home. Eiljah clears the air in season 2 when he discusses the history of Mystic Falls. The founding families didn't actually found anything. The Salem witch Bennett family did. That's why Bonnie is the one that decides for Mystic Falls in the end. "Well, I bet it was the men who made a big deal about being founders back in 1860. Men are very territorial." Mystic Falls belonged to the Bennett witches and the men took over. They wanted a patriarch rather than a matriarch. You see this same gender shift in season 3 when they switch from Mikael to Esther, the patriarch to the matriarch. They have five founding families altogether: Fell, Forbes, Gilbert, Lockwood, and Salvatore. Donovan is a secondary family, not an original founding family. So every time you watch a founding family event, expect those five founding families to be present. The founding families are to Mystic Falls what Elena is to her group of friends. Through this, you can see Damon's character. Pearl is smart enough to leverage him with information on Katherine. "I no longer have any desire to see Katherine ever again." This is Damon lying to Pearl. She's not asking for his help, she's demanding it, and Katherine was simply an incentive... motivation for him to help her. She digs her thumbs into his eyes and drops him to his knees.

Kelly: What's with the glasses inside? Damon: My eyes were a little sensitive today.

The Vampire Diaries has some powerful women. Qetsiyah is over 2000, Rebekah is over 1000, Sage is 900, Rose is 560, Pearl is 545, and Katherine is 500. The Salvatores are only 145. It's my opinion that Damon is attracted to powerful women, and that's why he slept with four from this list. He has scenes with vampires like Anna, Caroline, and Elena that suggest this even more. I also believe it's the reason he loves witches, to the extent that he'd have a sexual relationship with Bree.

Age, diet, and emotion affect the strength of a vampire. Pearl can overpower Damon because she's older. Caroline can overpower Damon because she's angrier. Damon can overpower Stefan because he's on human blood. Being hours older than Damon wouldn't make Stefan stronger. Stefan can overpower Damon for the same reason Elena can. Damon doesn't do any training or working out, but relies solely on his natural abilities. The only thing he does to make himself stronger is building his tolerance to vervain. Damon is more defense while Stefan is more offense. Damon's offense is written in love. He can't beat Stefan in a fight of strength, but he can get the girl in a fight of love.

Stefan has some pretty moments, like this one. I just don't like Stelena as a romance. I feel Elena is too good for him. It's my opinion that while she brings out the best in Damon, she brings out the worst in Stefan. But I do love the Stelena friendship. Because this is a pretty moment for him, I imagine Stefan at someone else's door.

Stefan talks about his double date with Hef and the twins. Playmates. Is it a coincidence that he got Miss June while Caroline plans their June wedding?

Pearl and Anna meet up with Jenna in front of her brother-in-law's office. They show this in Pearl's 1x13 flashbacks. Some towns have historical structures they refuse to give up. For Mystic Falls and their founding families, the apothecary where they sold vervain makes sense. They're a vampire hating/killing town.

Damon drinks human blood, yet his eyes are taking time to heal. He walks into the Grill wearing shades. Kelly Donovan is already at the bar. lol… I love Damon's honesty. "On the contrary, I'm very old." He's pretty much begging for a drink after his run-in with Pearl. I don't get Kelly, why she thinks it's sexy for a man to drown his sorrows. "It's more like nursing my wounds." Kelly admits to sleeping with the manager's boyfriend last time she was in town. tt's her way of telling Damon she doesn't care if he has a girlfriend, so he can feel free to do whatever he wants without feeling obligated lol. Jenna joins them at the bar.

The tomb vampires are already fighting at Pearl's. While I understand they've been trapped for 145 years, it's more than that for Frederick. He slams Harper against the wall. Pearl walks in and forces him to back off. She and Harper seem close, and likely were before they went into the tomb. Frederick believes they were caught because of the Salvatore brothers, but they weren't. Katherine had them all sent to the church, and did it to fake her death. That's why she waits until John gets rid of them with the vampire device before she returns to Mystic Falls. To prevent rumors of her survival and avoid their plans of revenge.

Stefan and Elena smile at each other in response to Matt's comment. "And they can't keep a bartender to save their lives." Stefan killed Ben, and Matt has no idea. The best way to not feel left out is to not let yourself be left out. Just open your mouth and spit out some words. Caroline is vocalizing her discontent with huffy breaths, as if she's not partially to blame. Damon and the women start getting loud at the bar, so the four look over. I honestly don't like the way Matt is with his mother. Granted, she's a shit mother, but she's allowed to do what she wants at a bar. She's a grown woman. I think he's way too parental with her and needs to drop it a few notches.

Harper warns they're not supposed to leave, which is according to Pearl's rules. Frederick and his girlfriend leave anyway.

Anna shows up at Jeremy's house. Because he's been investigating vampires, he's sure to see if she is one by testing her. It's no different than Elena watching Logan's video and confronting Stefan about his vampirism. Finding Vicki's body is a writing choice I don't agree with. They should've kept her buried and continued pulling Jeremy into the fold through Anna.

This scene between Damon and Jenna plays into 2x1. I'll post it once I get there. "My primary reason for existence has abandoned me…" Just know that this comment matters for Damon's character as Elena becomes the primary reason for his existence. When I get to 1x20, I'll show you the Elena parallel in 6x21.

"At least they're having fun." Caroline saying exactly what I feel. Their double date doesn't get fun until they go to the boarding house. A reason people do dinner and a movie or dinner and dancing. When planning for a dinner date, plan for something after. I could write an entire post on the subject. Let's just say Damon and Kelly aren't doing dinner, they've skipped to the fun of getting drunk for a reason lol. Matt and Elena reminisce getting drunk after the homecoming. Stefan is busy smiling because he's not jealous of Matt. He's happy in hearing stories about Elena, about who she was before her parents died. Every time Caroline gets into a relationship with someone, she's jealous of their history. More of a problem for her than it is for them. People come with history, best to accept that fact. She's not just like this with Matt and Elena, she's like this with Stefan and Elena, and again with Stefan and Valerie. She requires a virgin, a man with no history to be void of jealousy.

"I'd like to be a normal teen for once." Stelena vs Delena can be seen through their dead mothers, that's why Anna and Elena are currently in parallel. "We're normal tonight, remember?" It's through Anna that you see the truth of 3x19, Heart of Darkness. The point of Anna's necklace.

You can see certain human-vampire truths through their vervain-daylight jewelry. "Well, maybe they're normal and good. Just outsiders, you know? Um, misunderstood." This is why Jeremy reaches out to Damon after he snaps his neck. It's their 1x22 - 2x1 combo. "Is there anything you're not good at?" Matt has no idea that Stefan is a vampire. There are a lot of things Stefan isn't good at that Damon is. Honesty is one of them. "This is all kind of new to me. I usually keep to myself. I don't always fit in." This is true for Damon, not for Stefan. Stefan has it backwards because he's hiding his vampirism. If this were true for Stefan, he wouldn't claim to have attended high school 100 times. "Try less." This is where I disagree with Caroline and view it in the opposite. Elena doesn't need to try less, Caroline needs to try more. Her jealousy is ridiculous, but I feel she wasn't emotionally ready for this date.

Like Elena did with Stefan in the pilot episode, she bumps into Frederick on her way out of the bathroom. He's who she should be afraid of, not Damon lol...

This is their Katherine element. As you know, she was supposed to be in the tomb. She tells Stefan about Frederick via text because she knows vampires have super hearing. "That man over there just called me Katherine." Elena wants to push aside the vampire crap because she's desperate to make things good between Matt and Caroline. She wants her friends to be happy. "This is much better than watching Damon visit cougar town." This is hilarious. So Caroline would rather see Damon with someone her age than someone Kelly's age... who also happens to be her mother's age. "Feel like I've been here before. It's weird." lmao... yeah. She rescued Damon from the cellar.

These scenes are specific and intentional because it's the Matt - Kelly combo. You have to see the sum of it all to see the truth of it all. Damon is on the rebound from Katherine, Kelly is on the rebound from Pete. Matt is on the rebound from Elena, Caroline is on the rebound from Damon. So while Damon does a kissy thing with the cherry stems, Matt and Caroline kiss in Stefan's cherry red car. That's why they introduce the red car. "Don't worry about it. You and Elena, you guys have a history, and ignoring it doesn't do anybody any good." This is where I agree with Stefan. Caroline can't ignore that they have a history. If she wanted a man with no history, she should've found herself a virgin.

Jenna is drunk and trying to make it home. She runs into Frederick, and he tries to compel her. It's because of Stelena's vervain lesson in 1x12 that Jenna has her own vervain jewelry. If it weren't for that, Frederick would've had Jenna and killed her. "Was that Damon Salvatore you were with?" As I said of Elena, Frederick is the one she should fear, not Damon. While I do agree with Caroline's comment to Elena, her insecurity is part of the problem. That's one of the ways in which vampirism changes her as I feel it changed Damon. It made them more confident. Referring to Matt's mother as a "cougar" is proof that she always says the wrong thing. She's like Damon that way. He acts without thinking, she speaks without thinking.

Jeremy is in the kitchen with Anna. This is their parallel to Stelena in 1x5. He purposefully cuts himself to see her vampire face, and he's most certainly bolder than Elena in this regard. "Go for it." Their feeding scene is sexy af. "Maybe it's a sign you shouldn't be wearing it. What, I'm just saying. If you're going to be cooking without Stefan." Jeremy understands Delena as he understands himself.

Jenna interrupts their fun time, but trust me, he got off on it lol

This scene is their sex and blood combo. The difference between Stefan's bloodlust and Damon's. He's choosing sex instead of blood because he can. "I have to go and exploit some women in the name of grief, which I'm sure you understand."

Damon and Kelly are the only two in this scene that I don't have a problem with. The difference between scenes is my first issue. Matt's response to catching his mother should've been Kelly's response to catching Matt. Kelly's response to catching Matt should've been Matt's response to catching his mother. They've completely switched their parent-child roles.

Their response to Damon and Kelly is my second issue. These are two grown, consenting adults. It's not a big deal for them to be making out. Certainly not the big deal they're making it out to be. tbh, this is one of TVD's most natural, human moments. Their response to Damon and Kelly, not so much. It's not normal for a teenager to treat his mother like he's her father.

My third issue is Stefan's response to it. "Are you crazy?" I'm flabbergasted. I have no idea why someone would think it crazy for two consenting adults to make out or have sex.

Tell you what's crazy, though. This scene is intentional. Stefan knew that Damon has been mourning Katherine, and he invited everyone into their house anyway. They're showing what Matt could've seen of Damon and his mother. THIS...

Anyway... this is something Stefan has no control over. He can't make out with Elena without his bloodlust becoming an issue. Damon can. Here, have a parallel lol…

"Oh my god, Matt. Oh my god."

"Oh my God, Jeremy. I…"

I love Anna's relationship with Pearl. It's every bit what Matt and Kelly should be. Even though Anna has been taking care of herself since 1864, she treats her mother like her mother. Matt has been taking care of himself for mere months, and he's already acting like Kelly's father. Some of their characters are more mature than others. Anna is more mature than Matt, and I feel she's one of few that matured in her vampirism. Her being the parent gave her an understanding that Matt doesn't yet have.

"Stefan, I can't live every minute afraid that someone is gonna come after me. I won't, it's not living." This is every bit why Elena becomes a vampire. She can't live every minute afraid that she'll lose Stefan in choosing Damon. It's not living. As Rebekah tells Matt, "The first rule of truly living: Do the thing you're most afraid of." They cover this more with Rose in season 2. Fear is the reason she didn't live, she simply existed. That's what Elena is doing in season 3... existing.

"Don't look at me like that. Save the lecture. Look…" I love Damon's respone here because it's real. There's no need to lecture him for doing something so human. He gets more hate for trying to have sex with Kelly than he does for feeding on four sorority girls. That's altogether insane to me. That's why I'm glad Frederick and his girl interrupt the stupidity of it all. This is the first time they've had the chance to talk, so Damon hasn't warned Stefan about the vampires in the tomb. Had they known Sheila failed to restore the seal, they would've burned them before their escape. Stefan kills Frederick's girlfriend.

While I agree that Kelly is supposed to be the parent, I don't fully agree with Matt's comment. I'm a mother, and it's my experience that it's okay to act like a kid sometimes, to take time out and act stupid. It's not good to be serious all the time. That's why Damon pushes Elena to step away from her responsibilities, to hit Atlanta and get drunk. Matt is angry and resentful. I don't blame him, but I also see both sides of it. She's basically living the life he should be living because she shirked her responsibilities as a parent. That's where her fault lies. It's okay to spend the day acting kid, but don't leave your kid to raise himself for months. He's missing out on a lot because of her, so he has every right to be angry and resentful.

Jeremy and Elena in a bathroom scene, both completely lying to each other. Pearl stabbing Frederick with a wooden spoon is so boss. I wish she would've survived because I love her. Elena calls Stefan to let him know she made it home safe. "Because if it was true, maybe it's true about Vicki. And also because I want you to turn me." This is about Jeremy wanting a continued relationship with Vicki. "Maybe I'm a sucker for guys like you. Lost." This is the reason Jeremy reaches out to Damon after he snaps his neck. At that point, Vicki and Anna are dead, so he's basically left to choose between Caroline and the two Salvatores. He chooses Damon because he connects with him just as he connects with Anna.

[fishandships]

Another day, Another question (might do these daily).

I know how Rosario meets Luchino and I believe Bane too?

How do they meet their other lovers? Like is it all in the same continuity? Or is it alternate realities of what could have gone down? also! Does this mean Rosario has meet Orpheus? Since Norton’s match was with him—

I love asking questions and I’m glad how much you’ve thought about your characters. I honestly am so invested—

!!!!!!! if you decided to do that, i would look forward to them greatly 🥺🥺🥺 (but no pressure of course!! i'm so so happy you're so interested in my very self-indulgent work!!! 💚💚💚)

i kind of think of it as three separate "canons":

the "main canon" where Rosario participates in Game 6 along with Luchino, to which i added Deus Ex Bane

the "Ashes of Memory canon" where Rosario instead participates in that game

the "pre-Game 3 canon", where Rosario meets Andrew by chance shortly before the events of Game 3 and they accompany him to the Manor

and then i also have an ever-growing list of AUs to go with the various Season Essence and Event storylines where various polycules happen because i'm a multishipper and i ship all my canon faves with each other as well :3c

Rosario joins the AoM group after Frederick leaves. their first meeting with Norton does not go well, with Norton perceiving Rosario's clumsy attempt at friendliness as a rich person treating him like a charity case, and Rosario finding Norton aggressive and intimidating. at first, Rosario is more inclined towards Orpheus' company. being easily manipulated, Rosario is rather taken by his apparent charm and a shared interest in birds. this, as you can probably imagine, does not last long, with Orpheus being Orpheus and revealing a secret Rosario was not willing to share to the entire group. (i actually have about 80% of the meeting scene written, and this ask has got me motivated to actually finish it haha)

in the pre-Game 3 canon, Rosario receives a commission from a wealthy bird enthusiast (guess who) which requires them to travel to Europe. while gathering reference for the commissioned art pieces, they get caught in a rainstorm and take shelter in a graveyard. That's when they meet Andrew, whom at first they take to be a ghost, and after they realize he's still very much alive he's surprised when they don't seem to be bothered by him either way. (i ALSO have this as a wip that i want to finish ;w;)

......i really should curate a masterlist of Verses and fics that i've written in each verse so this is all easier to keep track of alsdkfj

[wisheswagered]

HUNTER MIKE AND FREDERICK DEDUCTION SKIN AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA the stream was so good!! and seeing violetta's "survivor" form even if we don't get her as an actual survivor was so exciting too! ;w;

plus night tides costume returning which i've wanted forever......... i'm not super into the next season essence but that's actually really nice cause it means i can hold back and save money after inevitably going wild on hullabaloo KSJKDSGJKF

[moonlight26posts-blog]

In Calvert Co., MD: Urgent Rescue Plea: Help Velma Find Her Forever Home - Calvert County Animal Shelter - Maryland.

Beautiful Velma Needs You!



We urgently seek your assistance in finding a loving and understanding home for Velma, a 5-year-old, 47lb dog, who has found herself in dire circumstances. Velma's journey began when she was rescued by Animal Control after enduring less-than-ideal living conditions, chained outside without the care she so deserves.

Her sweet and affectionate nature has won the hearts of staff members. Velma thrives on belly rubs and cherishes every moment spent with people, displaying a deep longing for the comfort and security of a home.

Velma is a quick learner, knowing the command "sit," but could benefit from obedience training to refine her leash skills. The chaotic shelter environment has taken a toll on her, as she is accustomed to a much quieter pace of life.

Having been at the shelter for almost a month, she is experiencing severe kennel stress and anxiety, and we are deeply concerned about her quality of life in such a heightened state of stress. Velma's reactions within her kennel indicate the distress she is enduring. We are uncertain about how Velma would behave around other dogs and cats outside of the shelter. Proper introductions are always recommended.

The prolonged stress during her shelter stay has heightened her anxiety, emphasizing the urgent need to find a calm and understanding home where Velma can truly thrive. We believe that a calm and quiet home environment is the key to unlocking Velma's true potential. With the right care and understanding, her stress is sure to melt away, revealing the loving, loyal companion she is meant to be.

Time is of the essence for Velma, and we implore you to share her story, advocate for her, or consider opening your heart and rescue to this deserving soul. Please reach out if you can provide Velma with the second chance she so desperately needs!

Velma is spayed, up to date of vaccines, heartworm negative and microchipped.

Let us come together as a community and ensure Velma's tale transforms from one of hardship to a heartwarming story of resilience, love, and a forever home.

🐾❤️

Jamie Hash

Volunteer and Rescue Coordinator

jamie.hash@calvertcountymd.gov

410-535-7387

Rescue Pick-Up Hours:

Monday – Saturday from 10am – 4pm

Adoption Hours:

Tuesday - Saturday from 10am - 4pm

5055 Hallowing Point Rd. Prince Frederick, MD 20678

Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter

Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter | 5055 Hallowing Point Rd, Prince Frederick, MD 20678