#Murder In Absentia

[fuckin-flip-wizard]

Ignore the squigglyness in some places I'm drawing this in the car but I'm trying to listen to more TAZ Grad and I just love these two specifically <3

[nonwal]

Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Essek Thelyss/Caleb Widogast

14: explaining the whole not-dead thing

Beau shrugs. “He cut me off when I tried to bring it up when he dropped Eadwulf off, right before TravelerCon.”

“TravelerCon?”

“Long story,” Wulf grumbles. “They’re all insane.”

[absentia-if]

Is there a chance of MC ending up on KN’s side? Like the KN coaching MC through killing someone (listen i just have the image of KN doing the like. Stand behind arms wrapped around you directing your hands thing but with a knife and praise as they cut into someone’s flesh)

I can’t really go into any of the endings and what they’ll entail, but I will say that’s an interesting one to be sure. The Kidnapper, despite everything they are, definitely has the patience in order to teach a new protege— you just have to impress them and if you don’t? Well….

That imagery is one I can definitely see them doing though (depending on how softened they are towards you).

[dgct2]

Get out of there now!

3.03 Nosce Inimicum

[hannibals-favourite-meal]

Replacement Therapy

Yandere!Hannibal Lecter x plus size reader

In a desperate attempt to save your marriage, you begin to attend counseling with the famed Doctor Lecter but soon enough, things begin to take a turn. Based on prompt by @queenstarlight2

Warnings: mention of cheating, VERY INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP, reader has defined married name (let me know if you recognise it), reader is ever so slightly naive and easy to manipulate, insecurity (not explicitly mentioned what they are), murder, blood, little bit of humping and making out, implied smut, nudity

WC: 2.6k

A/N: I'm so sorry if I didn't do this prompt justice!!

Minors DNI

It was embarrassing, truly. Your husband said it was a disgrace too. But here you were, attending marriage counseling alone. There was no one else in the luxurious waiting room and you were grateful for that small reprieve, you don’t think you could have handled any more humiliation today.

Doctor Hannibal Lecter came highly regarded as the best (and most expensive) therapist in the state. So, foolishly, you had signed yourself and your husband of three years up for a session to see if you could fix your marriage. After all, it had been your fault that he cheated on you with his secretary, you were the one that selfishly denied him.

“Mrs Hansen?” You looked up to see a very well dressed older man standing in the doorway. His yellow eyes were fixated on you like a predator watching their prey but it didn’t scare you. You nodded and he shifted so his lean body was side on, gesturing for you to enter his office. Gathering up your coat and purse, you walked in.

The office was really quite lovely, walls covered in books, beautiful leather chairs and an ornate desk made you feel as if you had stepped into someone’s home rather than a psychiatrist’s practice. “Can I take your coat Mrs Hansen?” Dr Lecter stepped closer, offering his large hand to you.

“Um yes, thank you.” Your hands brushed as you gave him the expensive coat Lloyd bought for you. He smiled kindly at you before he turned his back so he could hang the garment up on the rack next to his own. You noted his suit, it was similar to the suits associates of your husband’s wore: expensive, exclusive.

“Take a seat and we can begin.” The smooth leather squeaked against the bare skin of your legs as you sat, the sound filling the otherwise silent office. Your heart dropped to your stomach and you quickly tugged down the hem of your dress over the expanse of your plump thighs. 

The doctor soon found his own seat opposite you. He unbuttoned his suit jacket as he did, taking on a relaxed air, as if he were about to watch television or read a book. It put you immediately at ease. “So tell me, why do you believe you are in need of counseling?” His voice was smooth and rich like an aged whiskey. 

“Well, recently, my husband and I have been going through a rough patch and I thought-“ You started, nervously playing with the gaudy wedding ring on your finger when Doctor Lecter stopped you.

“I asked why you needed counseling, not your husband. I do not doubt that he is in need of it but I make it a habit not to diagnose in absentia. So Mrs Hansen, I ask again; why do you need help?” The silence was deafening as his words sunk in. When was the last time someone offered to help? You were lost in your own mind, the questions consuming you.

But the doctor was patient, simply letting you experience your thoughts without any interruption. Too lost in your spiraling mind, you didn’t see how his eyes trailed down the length of your plump body, taking in each and every detail like you were some rare and beautiful creature. “I-I don’t know Doctor Lecter. I feel like I can’t be fixed but maybe my marriage can.”

“And why is it so important that you fix the marriage that is obviously making you unhappy?” Your head shot up with such a force your neck clicked.

“I’m not unhappy, I love my husband.” He tsked and leaned back in his seat, crossing one long leg over the other.

“Now now Mrs Hansen, I don’t tolerate liars in this office. I respect you enough to tell you to tell the truth and I expect the same respect from you.” You felt like a scolded child under the scrutinizing gaze of a parent. 

You didn’t realise you were crying until the tears fell onto your folded hands, rolling down onto your dress. “I love my husband.” You emphasised half-heartedly. Your voice thickened as more tears welled up, making your vision swim.

“And I do not doubt that my dear. But those we love can make us unhappy. And it is in your best interest to recognise that.” A box of tissues appeared before you, you took the whole thing. “How about we start at what makes you happy, do you have any hobbies?”

——————

Your sessions with Doctor Lecter, Hannibal as he insisted you call him, were the highlight of your week. Everything was getting better! Lloyd had even stopped pestering you about it, just sending you out the door with his black card to pay for it.

Hannibal had been wonderful, he helped you rediscover old passions and find new ones to keep your mind occupied during the day since Lloyd insisted you become a housewife after you were married. You felt lighter and truly happier. 

But the only downside to this whole thing was your unfortunate crush on the older man. Who could blame you? He was sauve and sophisticated but not condescending. He was kind but not a roll over. He was handsome but not unobtainable. He knew your soul better than Lloyd, he always seemed to know what you needed, whether it be a shoulder to cry on or someone to laugh with you. He recommended wines and getaways, museums and art galleries, he had even picked out a new perfume for you that had made your husband go absolutely feral for you.

A part of you wished you had met the doctor before Lloyd. You often wondered what your life would have been like if he was the one that swept you off your feet first. 

“How have you been this week? Have you been journalling like I asked you to?” You nodded, a large smile on your face. You pulled the beautiful leather-bound journal from your bag and handed it over to the good doctor without hesitation.

“Yep! Just like you told me to! One entry in the morning as soon as I get up and one at night right before I go to bed.” Hannibal winked at you from over his glasses.

“Very good girl." He purred before opening the book and beginning to read. It had been a strange request, to write down all your thoughts and actions through the day, including, well more like emphasising anything sexual that happened, especially if you pleasured yourself. But you trusted Hannibal and knew that he would do whatever was best for you.

“I see you and Mr Hansen had intercourse this week.” Your breath caught in your throat at his tone and the sudden frown marring his perfect face. Shamefully, you looked down at your lap.

“Yes we did.”

“But you write that you didn’t enjoy it. Can you tell me why?” Because I was thinking about you the whole time and what you would feel like inside of me instead of him. But you couldn’t say that to your therapist.

So you just shrugged. “I guess I wasn’t in the mood.” But like all lies you told him, Hannibal saw right through it, although, this time, he didn’t make any comment.

“I hope you were able to take care of yourself after then, I would hate to think that he left you feeling vulnerable and unsafe.” You most certainly had. A quick trip to the bathroom after he fell asleep with your waterproof vibrator and a tub full of hot soapy water and fixed the ache between your thighs. Especially when you called out Hannibal’s name when you climaxed.

“I took a hot bath and drank a glass of that red wine you recommended last week.” He nodded approvingly, the smile returning to his lips as he placed the book on the side table next to him. His legs spread slightly and you could not help but sneak a quick glance at the sizeable bulge hidden by his navy pinstripe pants.

Your eyes snapped back up to his own as he began to speak again. “Now this is a strange question but I find it useful to ask my patients this sometimes. How many times do you think you have had sex with your husband?” 

“What?” You breathed, legitimately shocked by the question. How could he even ask that? But like he could read your mind, Hannibal explained himself.

“I only ask because to a woman such as yourself who values intimacy and physical connection, sex is a very important and healthy part of a relationship. Knowing how often you and Mr Hansen engaged in such acts, and by focusing on how often it used to occur versus now can give me a better idea as to the state of your marriage.” 

Sceptically, you withdrew slightly, thinking about the many times you had been intimate with Lloyd. It hurt to reminisce on the times before your marriage when he was your whole world and you were his. When did it change? Or was it ever like that? “We dated for three months before we got married. We used to have sex at least twice a day. And then on the honeymoon it was pretty much a 12 hour affair every day. But about a month after we got back, the sex stopped. Since then it’s maybe been 10 or 20 times.” Hannibal slumped forward, his scruffy chin coming to rest on his intertwined fingers as he did the math in his head. 

“It isn’t unusual for couples to stop being intimate but it is certainly questionable for the sex to stop so quickly after it frequently occurred. Is there any reason you believe this has happened?” And like you couldn’t stop it, you started spilling your deepest and darkest secrets to him, just like all the times before.

——————

Fridays were reserved for Hannibal, you made that very clear to your life partner and apparently, he had taken full advantage of that. You stared at his computer in complete disbelief. There were thousands of messages from hundreds of women, each detailing the dirty and almost borderline illegal acts he committed with them.

You hadn’t meant to snoop, only wanting to find your mother’s pie recipe to give to Hannibal for today’s session but the logs were right there! Like he wanted you to find them. In a haze, you printed out as many of the chats as you could and stuffed them into your purse.

“Hmm.” Hannibal hummed as he looked over the various sheets of paper. His face remained neutral but inside he was seething. You had already confided in him about your husband's past ‘indiscretions’ and your insecurity about pleasing him sexually. “I won’t ask you how you feel about these chats because that would be unhelpful so instead I’m going to ask about what you wish to do about it.”

You had his undivided attention, his amber eyes locked on you as he awaited your decision. “I want to leave him.” Hannibal’s shoulders dropped almost imperceptibly. “B-but I can’t afford the divorce. All of our money is his.” 

Slipping from his seat, he knelt before you as if in worship. Your legs squeezed together, both to sate your arousal from his close proximity and to prevent him catching sight of your soaked panties. “You needn’t worry my flower, I have more than enough money to buy your freedom.” 

“I can’t let you do that Hannibal. You’ve done so much for me already and I’ll forever be grateful but this is something I need to do on my own.” His eyes grew softer, filled with swirling emotion. Palms skated up your leg, cupping the side of your knee in a grip far too tight to be friendly.

The doctor was close enough now you could study the details of his face far more than you ever could before.  Your gaze followed the lines of his wrinkles, going from the crows feet by his eyes to the smile lines on his cheeks. Then to his lips. “I would do anything for you, my flower, you never have to ask.” Slowly, his hands moved higher and his lean body closer. His broad shoulders forced your legs apart so he could rest between them. “If I cannot give you financial support, let me offer you my home, at least until you are on your own two feet.”

You could not speak, too lost in the idea of surging forward and finally kissing him. “Ok.” You murmured, conceding to his wishes. 

“Wonderful. Then how about we wrap up this session early so we can get you home and fed.” You whined low in your throat as he slipped away but thankfully, he didn’t hear you. He helped you to your feet and then turned to fetch your coats

“Whatever you want, Doctor.” You said jokingly. He laughed but you missed the truly wicked grin spreading over his face. Oh yes, whatever he wants indeed.

——————

You were truly beautiful when you slept. It was like all of your worries and stresses washed away, leaving you almost fae-like in appearance. Hannibal had lost count of the amount of times he had snuck into your home to catch a glimpse of your resting form. He had drawn you each time, and each time, he took something of yours. A lock of your hair, a piece of jewelry, even several panties from your hamper., things you wouldn’t really notice if they went missing.

But now, you were here, in his home and in his bed. You were his.

He had hoped that you would have come to your senses months ago and realised that he would be a better lover than this worm of a man could ever be. But it seems that you needed a bit more of a push to fall into his arms. 

The messages had been easy to fake. He knew you wanted a hero to come and save you from your husband, the chats had been the perfect excuse to come to him. 

You shifted in your sleep and the dark sheets pooled around your wide hips, exposing the way his own shirt stretched across your large body. He could even see how your nipples pebbled in the chilly air of the room. “Absolutely divine.” He could not help himself.

As quietly as he could, Hannibal slipped into the bed beside you, not caring that he was staining the bedding with the still wet blood that covered his naked skin. Your legs fell open easily, allowing him to crawl up your body, taking his rightful place above you.

Red began to seep through your white shirt, blooming like a flower. “My beautiful, perfect flower.” He nosed along your pulse point, inhaling your alluring scent like he needed it to live. You were so soft and warm, he had no doubt you would be absolutely delectable but he was far far too selfish to let you go.

His hips nudged into your own, unable to keep himself from seeking out the warmth of your core. “H-Hannibal?” Your eyes were barely open but they were dark with lust, almost as if you had been expecting him like this.

“I am sorry to have woken you my flower but you were far too alluring for me to just walk away.” He returned to your neck, now licking at your slightly salty skin. 

“Oh fuck.” You moaned, your hips canting upwards, bumping into his cock. You wrapped your arms around his muscular back, encouraging him to continue his ministrations. “Is this a dream?”

Hannibal planted his forearm by your head so he could guide your shapely leg over his waist. “If it is, I hope we never wake because I have lots I must do with you.” Your fingers tangled in his silvery hair, overcome with electricity in your veins.

“You have slept with your idiotic husband almost 400 times and I must scrub away his touch from your heavenly body.” 

“Should we get started then?” You asked coyly and Hannibal couldn’t help but oblige you.

Prompt: Imagine yandere Hannibal asking how often you and your husband have had sex during a therapy session, saying it might be making you unhappy. When the reason he asked was that he wanted to know how many times he was going to have to fuck you to make you forget about your husband

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Hannibal

@andreasworlsboring101

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Mathilda Heller

A man convicted of terrorism and sentenced to life for his involvement in the murder of four Jews in a French synagogue bombing, is an active Professor of Sociology at a Canadian University, and teaches a course on "social justice in action."

Carleton University in Ottawa stands by Diab, and has worked to prevent his extradition in the past.

Dr Hassan Diab, a Lebanese terrorist, was convicted by a French court over his involvement in a 1980 bombing that killed four people and injured 46 outside the Rue Copernic reform synagogue in Paris.

Diab fled to Canada, and after being arrested in 2008, entered into a six-year legal battle to avoid being extradited to France. However, Diab was extradited in 2014, but after two years in prison, a judge allowed him to be released to house arrest. He escaped to Canada on the same day.

The subsequent trial was held in absentia, and the court unanimously ruled that Diab was guilty and he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Despite the international arrest warrant against him, Diab will be teaching a sociology course this year at Carleton University in Ottawa.

The sons of one of the victims of the bombing, Aliza Shragir, an Israeli TV presenter, said that reinstating Diab as a lecturer was "outrageous."

Recall that Canada had no problem giving hundreds of Nazis refuge after WWII.

[scotianostra]

On July 29th 1567 King James VI was crowned King of Scots at Stirling.

Mary Queen of Scot’s son was crowned only a few days after she herself was forced to abdicate, which I covered this on July 24th, more on her and James’s faither later.

James was born into a political cauldron on June 19th 1566, in Edinburgh Castle and, as a firstborn son, he automatically became Duke of Rothesay, Prince, and Grand Lieutenant of Scotland. He was baptised in a Catholic ceremony and received the name of Charles James. Elizabeth I, as godmother in absentia, sent a significant amount of gold to Edinburgh as a gift for the newborn’s baptism. It was not unusual for monarchs to use another given name for their term on the throne.

When he was only eight months old, Lord Darnley, his father, was assassinated at Kirk o‘ Field on February 10, 1567. After the death of her husband, Mary married for a third time with James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, who was suspected of being the architect of Lord Darnley’s assassination.

His uncle, James Stuart, Earl of Moray, ruled in his place and became first of 4 regents, two were assassinated, a third died after a short illness, some historians point to poisoning, others say natural causes, the fourth and last of his Regents lost his head after being found guilty of playing a part in Darnley’s murder, it wasn’t a job with prospects and you wouldn’t be relying on collecting a pension from it.

From that moment onwards, the power, at least in theory, was held by the king himself rather than by a regent.

Nonetheless, James VI of Scotland did not reign directly: he relied on the advice of his closest courtiers, such as his cousin Esmé Steward, Duke of Lennox, and James Stuart, who received the title of Earl of Arran for his testimony against Morton. Since Lennox was Catholic, and Arran favoured episcopalism, the Scottish Presbyterian lords did not like the government. During the Ruthven Raid of 1582, some Presbyterian nobles, led by William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, captured James and held him captive for almost a year in Ruthven Castle (now known as Huntingtower Castle), in Perthshire. Arran was also held captive while Lennox was forced into exile in France. In 1583, the king and Arran managed to escape: Gowrie was executed whilst the rebels were forced to flee to England. The Scottish Parliament, which was loyal to the king, passed the Black Acts, which placed the Church of Scotland under the king’s control.

The acts were extremely popular but the clergy was opposed to them and denounced the king. In fact, the church was trying to keep James’ influence under control before he became powerful and bold enough to attack Presbyterianism, in the end no attack was made.

In 1586, thanks to the Treaty of Berwick, James VI and Elizabeth I became allies. James decided to continue to support the virgin queen of England, since, as a descendant of Margaret Tudor, he was a potential successor to her crown. Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII, feared that the English crown would fall under the sovereignty of the Stuarts. To prevent this, he excluded Margaret and her descendants from the line of succession in his will. Nonetheless, since they were Elizabeth’s closest relatives, both Mary and James were both serious contenders for the Crown of England.

There is so much more about James to read, I have covered parts here and their in the past, in particular his persecution of women as witches. He did go on to be James I of England and during his troubled reign Guy Fawkes attempted to blow him, and his Parliament up.

James did gain some favour in both Scotland and England by marrying a protestant Princess, Anne of Denmark, they had 7 children, 4 of whom died in infancy, their son Charles became King and was of course executed.

James died in 1625 aged 58 and is buried at Westminster Abbey.

[warsofasoiaf]

Answering another question you said: 'Brienne dies, murdered by Loras in a blind rage.' What if Brienne manages to kill Loras in self defense after he has already slain Emmon Cuy and Robar Royce and manages to run away? Or if she stays to prove her innocence, any chance of Brienne getting a fair trial? Would Mace defend the hypothesis that Cuy, Royce & Brienne were in cahoots to murder renly? If only Brienne is accused of regicide Loras still has killed 2 of his companions for no real reason.

I don't think that's likely. Brianne was quite distraught after Renly's death so I don't think she'd be fighting at her best - on the tourney field she bested Loras but in the aftermath of Renly's death was fighting Emmon Cuy (said to be rash and tire easily) and not showing the same dominance.

But in the hypothetical, I imagine if Brienne runs, she's declared guilty in absentia and marked as a fugitive - though this would obviously have to come from the Iron Throne and Joffrey might not care enough to issue the verdict since Renly was a traitor anyway (his advisors might suggest it though as a cheap way to make nice with House Tyrell). Mace leans pretty hard on any potential judges to ensure a guilty verdict. Loras was the pride of House Tyrell after all.

Of course, in the event that Brienne was incarcerated instead of fleeing, she could demand trial by combat. Cersei demands one after all, and names a champion to fight in her stead. There's no reason Brienne couldn't as well, though she probably would prefer to simply fight her own trial. Likewise, I imagine that there would be no shortage of knights hoping to make good with House Tyrell willing to stand as Tyrell's champion. Of course, Garlan could easily be named as well to showcase that House Tyrell is not spent of its strength. Which means either Brienne or Garlan dies, which makes Westeros all the poorer: both characters are good fighters and good characters.

Thanks for the question, Khef.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

[purlty23]

Deus In Absentia - Cardinal Copia x Dewdrop Ghoul

Rating: M for mature and once more murder ghouls. Theres sex in there CW: mentions of major character death, dew’s elemental transition and medical stuff to do with it, fear play, demon sex, knotting, trans Cardinal Copia, intersex Dewdrop, graphic depictions of burning alive (but its fake demon magic stuff) Chapters: 3/3 Words: Just over 7,000

-----------‐------------- 🦇🦇🦇 -----------------------

“The world is on fire,” Dew whispered, voice rough like sandpaper, “and you are here to stay…”

Pinpricks of pain blossomed where Dew's claws dug into his skin. Fear clouded Copia's eyes and he could see the way Dewdrop was drinking it in, never looking away.

There was no need to finish the lyrics. They both knew that Copia knew every album, back to front and vice versa. It did feel like he was burning. Copia could feel it seeping into his waking hours, that warmth. He could feel it now as Dewdrop stepped closer.

Read here on AO3! ✨

[beardedmrbean]

An Italian court has given a Pakistani couple life sentences for killing their 18-year-old daughter because she refused an arranged marriage.

Saman Abbas's body was found at a farmhouse in northern Italy in November 2022, 18 months after she disappeared.

Her father, Shabbar Abbas, was arrested in Pakistan and extradited to be tried for her murder in August.

Her mother, Nazia Shaheen, was convicted in her absence. She is believed to be in hiding in Pakistan.

Shabbar Abbas had earlier made an impassioned plea to the court, asserting that "never in my life did I think of killing my daughter".

The teenager's uncle, Danish Hasnain, was given 14 years in jail for involvement in the murder, but two of her cousins were cleared.

Saman Abbas's so-called honour killing by her family in late April 2021 shocked Italy. Following her disappearance, Italy's union of Islamic communities issued a fatwa - a religious ruling - rejecting forced marriages.

The teenager had emigrated with her family from Pakistan to the farm town of Novellara in 2016, according to Italian reports.

She began dating a young man of Pakistani origin, and a photograph of them kissing on a street in the regional capital, Bologna, reportedly drew the fury of her parents.

Italian investigators said Saman Abbas's parents had wanted her to travel to Pakistan for an arranged marriage in 2020, but she refused.

She then lived for several months under the protection of social services from October that year, but returned to the family home in Novellara in late April 2021 in response to a flurry of messages from her family, Italian reports said.

Prosecutors said she had been tricked into returning home and it was at this point she disappeared.

CCTV footage released by the police showed three of Saman Abbas's family members walking with spades, a crowbar and a blue bag on 29 April 2021. The following day, separate footage showed the missing teenager leaving the house with her parents.

Her body was eventually recovered last November, close to a farm house not far from where the family lived, after her uncle had revealed where she had been buried.

A post mortem examination found she had suffered a broken neck bone, possibly as a result of being strangled.

Her parents had immediately left Italy for Pakistan after she disappeared, while her uncle Danish Hasnain and two of her cousins travelled to France and Spain.

The uncle was eventually detained in Paris in 2021, while her father was arrested in 2022 and finally extradited on 31 August this year. Her mother remains at large.

Although Nazia Shaheen was in absentia, the court in the northern city of Reggio Emilia convicted both parents and sentenced them to life in jail.

Shabbar Abbas had earlier told the court he was innocent, insisting he and his wife had only followed their daughter on the night she disappeared because they were unhappy it was so late and they wanted to see where she was going.

"This trial is not complete. I too want to know who killed my daughter," he said, according to Italian media.

The idea that a murder can be "honourable" is believed to have come from some tribal customs, where an allegation against a woman is perceived to bring dishonour to her family.

According to these customs, male family members of a woman who has interactions with unrelated men - however innocuous - should first kill the woman, then go after the man.

Human rights groups say the most common reasons for "honour killings" are when the victim refuses to enter into an arranged marriage or have been raped or sexually assaulted.

But killings can be carried out for more trivial reasons, like dressing in a way deemed inappropriate or displaying behaviour seen as disobedient.

In Pakistan, hundreds of women are killed in this way each year. A much smaller number of men are also murdered in such cases. Last month, an 18-year-old woman in the remote Kohistan district was shot dead by her father and uncle on orders from tribal elders - because of a photo that showed her with a man. The photo, which went viral, was later found to have been doctored. Her father has been arrested while her uncle is on the run.

[absentia-if]

Isn’t it sort of gaslighty to have the kidnapper be an RO without telling us? I feel like there should be some warning if that’s the case.

Potentially, I guess? Absentia is a murder-mystery— wherein the identity of the Kidnapper is one of the greatest mysteries there is throughout. If I were to say X-Character is the Kidnapper so you better watch out, it’d completely destroy the mystery portion of Absentia; it’d also ruin the later reveal and the clues that are strewn throughout the story.

I completely understand not enjoying the concept of romancing a serial killer, and the person that kidnapped the MC, but it’s also the type of person the Kidnapper is— if they’re an RO— to draw you in, make you feel safe, make you fall in love with their mask, and then rip all of that away from you. I suggest waiting for Absentia to be further along, or completed, until going down a romance route if this is an issue you’re fighting with.

Again, I’m not going to just reveal who the Kidnapper is. I wouldn’t of made the KN, and their identity, such a central part to Absentia if I would. Hopefully, that’s okay with you all.

[midnightsun-if]

Who is the most red flag character you’ve ever created? Not necessarily to do with Midnight Sun since I think you’ve mentioned you have a lot of different characters you’ve made that aren’t connected to it.

The most red flag? Hmmm….

I did help create The Kidnapper from @absentia-if… if that counts. ����

As for one of my own characters? That’s solely mine? Quinn’s father is definitely up there (with their mother not being far behind in some aspects)…. Isadora Valerius is also a big one (she’s a professor at Aurelian).

One that’s not connected to Midnight Sun? The Ex-Spouse from my unpublished game Relativity (used to be known as Untitled IF) is up there— mainly because they’d murder thousands of people to get you back (ala Scarlet Witch). Another is Ilyran/Ilyria from another Untitled IF (that I actually don’t have a name for yet)… As they used to be the High Priest/Priestess for the Divine and something happened that made them become warped/twisted (causing an uprising that killed thousands upon thousands). The MC in that story also happens to be the descendant of the king that defeated Ilyran/Ilyria in the first place… fun times.

Hopefully my answer interested you! 😅

[blueiscoool]

Roman Coin - Gold Aureus of Nero C. AD 64-65

Obverse: portrait of Nero, NEO CAESAR AUGUSTUS. Reverse: The Temple of Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings. Traditionally, the temple was open during times of war and closed when peace was restored. Nero celebrates this rare occurrence by depicting the temple with closed doors.

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68) was the fifth Roman emperor and final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 until his death in AD 68.

Nero was born at Antium in AD 37, the son of Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the Younger, a great-granddaughter of the emperor Augustus. When Nero was two, his father died. His mother married the emperor Claudius, who adopted Nero as his heir. When Claudius died in AD 54, Nero became emperor with the support of the Praetorian Guard and Senate. In the early years of his reign, Nero was advised and guided by his mother Agrippina, his tutor Seneca the Younger, and his praetorian prefect Sextus Afranius Burrus, but soon sought to rule independently and rid himself of restraining influences. His power struggle with his mother was eventually resolved when he had her murdered. Roman sources implicate Nero in the deaths of both his wife Claudia Octavia – supposedly so he could marry Poppaea Sabina – and his step brother Britannicus.

During Nero's reign, the general Corbulo fought the Roman–Parthian War of 58–63, and made peace with the hostile Parthian Empire. The Roman general Suetonius Paulinus quashed a major revolt in Britain led by queen Boudica. The Bosporan Kingdom was briefly annexed to the empire, and the First Jewish–Roman War began. When the Roman senator Vindex rebelled, with support from the eventual Roman emperor Galba, Nero was declared a public enemy and condemned to death in absentia. He fled Rome, and on 9 June AD 68 committed suicide. His death sparked a brief period of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors.

[nonwal]

writing updates

figured I should update my pinned post, so here's a list of my active* WIPs—please ask questions about any of these (or any of my completed fics!)

* not necessarily fics that will get published, just works that I am still actively writing/planning/thinking about

Critical Role

the sea, the stars, the dreamers

blumenshadow

space opera/arranged marriage/murder mystery. four wizards have a terrible time on a spaceship. AKA the Among Us AU

partially published, extremely rough draft complete(ish) but in need of serious editing/revisions. still slowly chipping away at that, and publishing will resume after the second draft is complete

a body in absentia

shadowgast

exploration of Essek's (and Bren's) relationship with sex/intimacy through the lens of a scourger AU, plus magical gender transition with the complications of a scourger AU

main fic complete. many one-shots in various stages of completion; most likely to get finished are the one with a riding crop and the voyeurism fic

a wolf is a ghost with teeth

Eadwulf/Fjord/Jester

man who worships goddess of death has existential crisis after his body gets fished out of the ocean and resurrected. also, the ocean really, really wants him back (and Eadwulf wants to be used useful)

unlikely to be finished due to sheer size, but it's a damn fun idea. Fjord is living in an adventure movie, Jester is in a romance novel, Eadwulf is stuck in a ghost story where he is both the house and the haunting

what collects in the hollow

Astrid/Beau/Yasha

a mirror to a wolf is a ghost with teeth, set during the same time but following Astrid. having achieved her life goals and besieged by emails paperwork, local woman has midlife crisis and turns to a frenemy?nemesis? coworker? monk for help. also, Beau mentors a teenage wizard with sociopathic tendencies and Yasha shows Astrid the benefits of eating bugs

equally unlikely to get finished as awiagwt, but I have a lot of ideas

untitled BQ/RQ fic

Bright Queen/Raven Queen

Leylas Kryn is the last mortal who remembers meeting the Raven Queen before she ascended. 7+1 conversations, each time that Leylas dies (+ an interlude with Quana)

unlikely to be finished but it's such a cool concept that I'm loathe to abandon it

Baldur's Gate 3

light in unlit places

Wyll/Astarion

post-canon (possibly pre-epilogue? haven't finished the game yet.) Astarion gets saved by Wyll and runs into complications trying to return the favor. parties, politics, peril. heroic idealist/guy who does the dirty work. (also, the unexpected consequences of releasing that many vampires into the underdark)

in the slapping ideas around phase so we'll see if a coherent story emerges from what is currently Concept Soup

Dungeon Meshi/Delicious in Dungeon

distant approximations of want

Kabru/Mithrun

post-(manga) canon. Mithrun struggles to acclimate to life after the dungeon, and slowly comes to the realization that Kabru is struggling as well (even if he hides it better)

vague ideas with no plot, not sure if this will go anywhere.

[scotianostra]

On November 8th 1752, Seumas a’ Ghlinne / James of the Glen was hung at Cnap Chaolis Mhic Pharaig, near Ballachulish.

Seamus a’ Ghlinne mounted the gallows above the narrows at Ballaculish with the reproach of Psalm 35 for his persecutors:

"False witnesses rose; to my charge things I not knew they laid. They, to the spoiling of my soul, me ill for good repaid."

James of the Glen, or just James Stewart — had come there that day to die for the ambush murder of Colin Roy Campbell.

The victim was stock of Clan Campbell, one of the largest Highland clans and one whose loyalties to the Hanoverian kings were being richly rewarded. The Stewarts, who had backed the recent ill-fated Jacobite rebellion in favour of the exiled pretender Bonnie Prince Charlie, were in the opposite predicament.

Colin Campbell was said on that fatal May 14th to be en route to expel the Stewarts from the village of Duror so that Campbells could move in. But even Campbell’s everyday job of extracting resentful rents from estates repossessed from Jacobite sympathizers would have turned many a murderous eye his way.

Someone that day shot Colin Campbell in the back from wooded cover, then vanished, murderous eye and trigger finger and all, never to be never apprehended. So they got James Stewart to answer for it instead. This wasn’t a tragic case of well-intentioned police developing tunnel vision on the wrong suspect so much as repaying tit for tat in a family feud. The trial was held at the Campbells’ Inverary Castle. Its presiding judge was the Campbell alpha male, the Duke of Argyll. Eleven more Campbells sat on Stewart’s jury. But then, from the Campbells’ side, or London’s for that matter, what was to say that this one murder might not be the germ of a new rebellion if not ruthlessly answered?

Still, there was “not a shred of evidence,” says present-day Glasgow barrister John Macauley, “The whole thing from start to finish was a farce.”

James Stewart was, however, the foster father of a man who actually was suspected of firing the shot, Allan Breck Stewart, a former Jacobite soldier who had returned from exile in France to collect rents for the Stewarts. Known to have threatened the Campbells previously, Allan was also tried and condemned to death — but only in absentia, since he suspiciously fled to France immediately after the so-called Appin Murder.

Many years later, Robert Louis Stevenson would use this dramatic crime, and Al(l)an Breck’s flight to safety, in Kidnapped. “I swear upon the Holy Iron I had neither art nor part, act nor thought in it,” Stevenson’s Alan says to the fictional protagonist in the novel, just after both have witnessed the murder.

And in reality, Alan too is thought by those who know the case to be clear of guilt in the matter. The Stewart family reputedly knew all along which of their number was Campbell’s real killer, but refused to give him up and kept the family secret for generations. It’s even said that that man had to be forcibly held down on execution day to prevent him giving himself up.

To judge by the most recent research, that man was likely Donald Stewart, the son of Stewart of Ballachulish and the best shot among a group of several young hotheads who resolved together to slay the Campbells’ hated Factor. The conspiracy also goes as the reason — or at least excuse — for keeping Donald silent, since in giving himself up he might see all four of them to the gallows. The late Lee Holcombe makes a comprehensive case for Donald Stewart as the gunman in the 2004 book Ancient Animosity: The Appin Murder and the End of Scottish Rebellion; Donald Stewart was also fingered publicly in 2001 by a matriarch of the Stewarts of Appin, though others of her family have not publicly confirmed that that’s the secret name.

James Stewart’s decaying corpse remained gibbeted on the spot of his execution for 18 months as illustrated in the pic by the late Andrew Hillhouse, after, a rotting warning to the Stewarts or any late Jacobites. In 1754, a local man called “Daft Macphee” finally tore down the gallows and threw it into Loch Linnhe … but its former position overlooking the modern Ballachulish Bridge is still marked by a mossy stone monument to James of the Glen, “executed on this spot Nov. 8th 1752 for a crime of which he was not guilty.”

The image was commissioned as a book cover for “Grass Will Not Grow on My Grave” by Mary McGrigor. The image was also used on a descriptive panel at the site of James’ execution at Ballachulish. If you stop before the bridge (travelling north) and climb up the footpath where the bridge begins, you will see it.

For the full story on this infamous story check out the link here http://archaeol.wwwnlls6.a2hosted.com/.../James%20of...

[mariacallous]

Lawmakers have rolled out the Russian parliament’s latest effort to scare people away from behavior that might undermine the invasion of Ukraine. If adopted, the bill would allow the authorities to confiscate money and property owned by individuals convicted of sharing independent news reports (“disinformation”) about the war in Ukraine, inciting actions that “threaten” the state, assisting foreign states or international organizations in which Russia doesn’t participate, disobeying orders, or deserting the army. 

Developed alongside the Prosecutor General's Office, the Investigative Committee, the Justice Ministry, and the Federal Financial Monitoring Service, the draft legislation was formally introduced in the State Duma on Monday, January 22. Mere hours later, the State Construction and Legislation Committee endorsed the bill and urged lawmakers to adopt its first reading. Every parliamentary political faction except the New People Party supports the legislation, and it has the “unconditional” backing of the government cabinet.

Potentially more frightening than damaging

The draft legislation has significant shock value, but experts who spoke to Meduza said anti-war Russians likely risk more now under existing fines because the bill imposes several limits on what the state can seize (though uneven enforcement makes the future hard to predict). For example, inciting “threats” against the state currently risks a maximum fine of 2.5 million rubles ($28,400), and violating the ban on disseminating “disinformation” about the invasion of Ukraine can cost twice as much. However, according to the Net Freedoms Project, courts have not yet issued large fines to anyone for these offenses. Even journalists now living abroad whose reports clash with the Defense Ministry’s narrative are sentenced in absentia to probation, and their assets are then unfrozen.

Unlike in the Soviet era, property confiscation in Russia today isn’t punitive, at least not officially. The law says the state can confiscate only the money and valuables obtained as a result of committing a relevant crime, along with the items the perpetrator used to facilitate the felony. In most instances of illegal speech, this will almost certainly mean the seizure of electronic equipment like computers, laptops, tablets, cameras, and smartphones. In fact, the police already take these items when investigating offenses involving the “discrediting of the military” and the spread of “disinformation” about the war. (An expert appraisal commissioned by the authorities later determines what isn’t returned.)

The draft law does not lay out a plan to confiscate an individual’s entire property. As human rights attorney Maria Nemova explains, Russian lawmakers excluded asset seizure as a form of punishment in 2003, though officials restored it as a measure of criminal law, three years later. In other words, Russia’s justice system allows confiscations only for the purpose of preventing criminal enrichment and depriving offenders of the means to repeat their crimes.

Aggravating circumstances

Existing laws already allow the seizure of money and valuables in several dozen different cases, including murder, kidnapping, and the nonpayment of wages or pensions, but the caveat here is that the crime must be committed under the aggravating circumstance of “motives of personal gain.”

According to the human rights organization Department One, police officers have the authority to confiscate “other property” if they can’t seize what was directly obtained as a result of the “crime,” but the value of this property cannot exceed the value of the “illegally” obtained money or assets. Also, the new draft law wouldn’t be retroactive, and prosecutors would nevertheless be responsible for proving that flagged property was acquired by criminal means. 

Stricter punishments for crimes committed due to “motives of personal gain” already exist for spreading “disinformation” about the military, but the authorities have rarely pursued these exact charges. Of the 273 felony cases filed so far against “disinformation” offenders, only a handful have involved this aggravating circumstance. Two noteworthy examples include the five years handed down to Colombian national Alberto Enrique Giraldo Saray, as well as opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza’s notorious 25-year prison sentence, whose verdict also includes convictions for alleged treason and collaborating with an “undesirable organization.” The most common motive cited in prosecutions for “disinformation” is “political hatred.”

Lawmakers also propose adding a “personal gain” aggravating qualifier to crimes against the “security” of the state, and they want to make it an aggravating condition if the offender’s motives are political, ideological, religious, or racial hatred (all qualifiers that aren’t currently part of the law). 

The draft legislation drops this language about “motives of personal gain” when it comes to the seizure of money and valuables in cases involving desertion, failure to obey orders, participation in an “undesirable” organization’s activities, and “assisting in the implementation” of decisions by international organizations in which Russia isn’t a member. The law would allow the authorities to confiscate property that is “intended and used” to commit any of these crimes. 

The mysteries of enforcement

How officials would handle these calculations is a mystery, but police agencies have frequently accused anti-war activists (particularly where arson and other sabotage are concerned) of acting with instructions and resources from Kyiv. It’s possible that officials might concoct a sum of money and claim it was the arsonist’s fee, for example. 

Eva Levenberg, who monitors criminal cases for OVD-Info, says the confiscation rules are also dangerous when it comes to cooperating with “undesirable” organizations (especially for senior management) because investigators might reason that a person’s entire income — not just an individual payment — is intended to finance the banned entity’s operations. Current investigative practices suggest that officials in these cases would try to determine what money was acquired “criminally” by obtaining confessions, private correspondence, and other surveillance, says Levenberg.

Attorney Valeria Vetoshkina told Meduza that Russian criminal cases involving bribery allegations observe a “very low standard of proof,” and police sometimes ignore even basic procedural requirements, such as the need for aggravating circumstances when seizing an offender’s property. 

Russians at risk of property seizure (which especially means activists and individuals who write publicly and independently about the war in Ukraine and the Putin regime) probably won’t get any warning before the police come looking for their stuff. People in this situation have a few options — all of them difficult: (1) try to move abroad any money and valuables you can (though involving others could make them criminal accomplices), (2) sell or transfer your property to someone else, or (3) donate your property to a local charity (though this organization might not be allowed to keep the money if there is suspicion that it knew or should have known about the property’s “criminal” origins, and Vetoshkina says “selling” for a symbolic sum is legally safer than making an outright gift).