#Murder Under The Gum Trees 3

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

A Curious Journey by Jess Lea

Murder Under The Gum Trees #3

A few years have passed since Margaret and Bess met and worked together to solve a few murders. They are in love and have just purchased their own home. As they are hoping to settle in and christen their new living space, they are less than thrilled to have Bess’s Aunt Hattie show up wanting to move in with them. Tensions rise, Hattie does something they cannot forgive, and they are off to find her instead of settling in as they had hoped to.

What I liked:

* Bess Campbell: Focused in living a positive life, empathetic, open, honest, caring, good friend, has a difficult relationship with her family, loves Margaret, nurturer

* Margaret Gale: protective, strong personality, closed off, controlled, dark, snarky,  softer with Bess, worried about her health, loves Bess

* Aunt Hattie: annoying, brilliant, pushy, bends the rules, journalist-writer, in a relationship with Len

* Len: driver, met Hattie through a yorkipoo dog club, strong, really likes Hattie,

* The way Hattie grew on me and also how Bess and Margaret began to see her differently

* How the death-murder of Nick Mantiatis was solved

* Being able to thoroughly dislike the Pyrite Center that was more cult than anything else – also hoping Karma would hit hard for a few of the henchmen and “gurus”

* That Margaret, Bess, and Hattie came through alright in the end

* Hattie not deferring to Bess’s mother’s wishes

* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing

* The way the story ended

What I didn’t like:

* Who and what I was meant not to like

* Thinking about how easily Kevin and his henchmen were able to do evil things for money

Did I like this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

BLURB

Book three in the Murder Under the Gum Trees series is a standalone quirky romantic suspense with ice queens, sleuthing, heart, and humour. Life is going swimmingly for haughty, sharp-tongued historian Margaret Gale and her sunshine-filled lover Bess Campbell. They have a beautiful new home, great jobs, and no one has tried to kill them in months. Then chaos arrives when an eccentric relative drags them off on a wild-goose chase across Australia involving a remote pink lake, a mysterious dead body, a creepy “wellness centre”, and a Yorkipoo Enthusiasts Society. Against the backdrop of eerie Lake Mirari, they uncover many dangerous secrets…including ones Margaret and Bess have been keeping from each other. Is this the end for lesbian fiction’s most unlikely odd couple?

[absolutebl]

helloo...

i know i'm late, but i just binge watching Triage last night. i kinda love it that the mystery about the story revealed gradually. and the leads had nice chemistry, despite the low heat. and i enjoyed bingeing on it and pulling an all nighter.

so, i'd like to ask you, do you have any recommendations on bl series like Triage that are completed or ongoing, that the show would be enjoyable on binge watching?

it's super fine if you don't answer this.

thank youu and have a nice day.

10 BL Series to Binge Watch with Complex story elements

Okay, I'm not really a binger so these are my best guesses at keeping the tension alive. Also it seems like you want something on the meaty end in terms of length so only Thai and Taiwanese stuff qualified.

Case study: Triage (so obviously that would be on this list)

1 Until We Meet Again

YouTube

Without question, a work of narrative genius with a powerful and cohesive romantic backbone and stellar performances. It is (to date) the only Thai BL (of c.250 watched) that I’ve rated a 10/10 predominantly on the basis of story structure. That said it is also very well cast (and it’s a BIG cast), with solid production values, and enduring pair branding as well as being the best Thai BL from a storytelling perspective. I think the story is good enough to carry the tensions. I also binges this on my first watch (it was already out when I discovered it) so I can attest to it being bingable. More discussion on why I love it so much here.

2 He's Coming to Me

YouTube

Boy and ghost boy fall in love, must solve ghost’s murder. Peak pining but also pretty tame, features my favorite sweet but important coming out sequence. The third in my precious triumvirate of unbeatable Thai BLs, that are only nominally BL because the story, acting, and production values are so good. (Together with UWMA & 1k*).

3 Not Me

YouTube

GMMTV gave us a dark disestablishment narrative (in a time of civil unrest) with established queer award-winning director Anucha and starring the biggest guns of BL, OffGun and THIS WAS AN AMAZING THING to get to experience at the time - nerve racking but remarkable. But was it ACTUALLY BL? It certainly has a lot of BL elements, but in the end romance was not what this show was about, or even what it was genuinely trying to be as a performance piece. Still a remarkable moment in Thai cinema, certainly worth your time. Don’t worry, it all ends happily. Full review.

4 I Feel You Linger in the Air

grey (YouTube for some)

I truly loved this time travel romance BUT for the ending it would have gotten a 10/10 from me. IFYLITA is an exquisite BL, from filming techniques to narrative framework (much like Until We Meet Again). Steeped in history and family drama it edges into lakorn (but no as much as To Sir With Love and with way less scenery chewing). This is an elegant and classy BL… from Thailand which normally doesn't even try for classy. If HEA's are NOT important to you, you'll be fine, but I struggled. More here.

5 Kiseki: Dear to Me

Gaga & Viki Y

The plot is totally ridiculous and slightly unhinged, but that’s normal for Taiwan. It involves all the tropes under a very casual framework of gay mafia gangs + food = love. Absolutely every character is queer. There’s a gum-ball machine of cameos, elder gay rep, great chemistry from all pairs, and a KILLER side couple. As a result Kiseki is a poster child for Taiwanese BL, and I happen to love Taiwanese BL. Bonus? They also managed to END IT WELL, which we cannot expect from Taiwan. (Triggers for knife play, child abuse, lingering trauma.)

6 Make a Wish

grey (Trailer)

(from Sammon - Manner of Death & Triage) about a doctor who can see the dead and strikes a bargain with a wish-granting irreverent tree angel to try and cure himself - naturally they fall in love. Stars Fluke Natouch opposite not Ohm, but who cares bc Fluke has chemistry with everybody. Once again the Thai afterlife is incredibly bureaucratic but I enjoyed the premise and the unfolding of the story (it’s not predictable but still satisfying and with nice little twist). I like that the doctor is just gay af and has a fag hag bestie and everything. The cast is excellent but the comedic stylings are often too overblown and tonally off. It had sad parts and did make me cry but is ultimately happy with a great sex scene, good smiley kisses, and all the agency.

7 HIStory 3: Trapped

Viki

Basically the definition of enemies to lovers from Lin Pei Yu. This is a cop + the mafia man he is chasing but WAIT, they fall in love. Added bonus side couple: assassin and nerd cop ALSO falling in love. It’s great. All the leads are stellar. Its high heat, fun action, and a bit of a mystery drama but pretty about all of it. My only warning is that the main couple doesn’t entirely end up together, it’s implied, but… amorphous ending.

8 Never Let Me Go

YouTube

Bodyguard romance where poor boy must watch over rich boy for family obligation reasons. Simple premise well executed with a few bumps that made it feel like it was trying to tackle too much (when it wasn’t). Still, an enjoyable show that benefited from being handed to PondPhuwin who did a stellar job with their roles and chemistry. Of GMMTV handing out new series to established pairs in 2023 this is one of the most successful IMHO. It's typically Thai in that it's a bit bloated and has a confusing plot, but at least it HAD a plot and the central relationship is solid and loyal. The Our Skyy 2 follow up is great too. And very much adds to the cannon in a fun way rather than feeling superfluous - making this show ultimately 14 eps rather than 12.

9 The Eclipse

YouTube

GMMTV does gay Blacklist with a good boy/bad boy pairing. This is a good show but the cast is excellent and the leads are absolutely flawless, which elevates it beyond just "a good show." We got a nuanced and multifaceted burgeoning relationship: philosophical (and socio-political) conflict contrasted to moments of empathy; flirtation contrasted to moments of genuine affection, plus plenty of angst. This narrative is less about love than it is about courage and tenderness. However, near the end the pacing was off and the plot frustrating. Still, this is an enjoyable watch, with a finale that features verbal consent and a fun blooper reel.

10 Ghost Host Ghost House

YouTube

This is light horror combined with family drama built around a well executed BL trough-line that felt honestly queer with fantastic chemistry from the lead pair. (I hope that we see more of them.) Pluem delivers the softest most seductive krap ever, Tod Techit (Kewin) is one of the prettiest humans on the planet, and watching these boys flirt over noodles is an unalloyed pleasure. Use of I/you pronouns is super interesting and cute as well. For me, personally, the surrounding cast, premise, and story didn’t resonate but if you like a touch of gothic in your BL this might appeal.

BONUS!

3 Will Be Free

YouTube

Queer AF crime thriller about three 20 somethings on the run after accidentally killing an assassin: a grifter, a nerdy mafia kid, and a stripper. They're chased by more assassins out for revenge.

It’s actually a remarkable piece of storytelling, using a pressure cooker of tension and suspense to bring about investigations into what love, romance, friendship, and identity actually mean. This show probably doesn’t qualify as BL but it does qualify as very very queer.

What it does well is examine many different aspects of queer identity, morality, and life choices based on repression and or acceptance of that identity using the framework of a crime triller.

It’s an adventure narrative, our three main characters are on the run together, being chased by assassins who are themselves dealing with the grief that results from love, all kinds of love. Meanwhile the 3 protagonists fall in love with each other and explore the boundaries and meaning of friendship/love.

Manner of Death

WeTV

Gay romantic suspense series with added cactus baby. Doctor & Mafia boy can't keep hands off each other, so also end up with chili plant baby.

Am I making sense? No? Well neither does it, but ho boy is it fun to watch MaxTul do... whatever it is they're doing.

I like MoD a lot but I’m conflicted over it being actual BL. It’s a great gay romantic suspense, although the mystery element is its primary weakness.

MaxTul, the Kings of Chemistry, are, of course, perfect and perfectly cast (and chemically unfair), but their romance thread is more a distraction than an addition. Still, I could watch them make-out the phonebook. Watch along here.

(source)

[generic-whumperz]

Vinny (Character Sheet)

Picrew

Playlist | Masterlist | Character Info

Playing opposing roles as Wyatt's partner in crime and Waylon's inside man, Vinny skillfully navigates the tumultuous dynamics between his older cousins, guided by genuine love and loyalty.

After The Aid's shocking murder attempt on Wyatt, Vinny took it upon himself to assume a greater role as The Aid's keeper, a move that revealed his pragmatic understanding of the asset's value to the Sullivans' empire and his surprising knack for diplomacy. When not attempting to broker moments of harmony between Wyatt and The Aid or covering supply runs for the family business Waylon mans, Vinny fuels his own destructive habits with Wyatt—recklessly hitting casinos and bars before scoring a bag to split for the night. Vinny is fiercely driven by his desire to help maintain family power and status in Apocamerica's supply chain, quelling both brothers by serving Waylon by day and partying with Wyatt by night. Despite his twisted, one-sided “friendship” with The Aid, his unwavering kinsmanship with Wyatt outweighs all as they both share a hunger for twisted delights–and Wyatt knows just how to fan the flames of his wild side.

Full name: Vincent Warren Sullivan (Vinny)

Role: secondary antagonist, Whumper/part-time Carewhumper

Date of Birth & sign: June 1, 1985 (47), Gemini (story takes place in the year 2032)

Gender: cis-male

Sexuality: pansexual

Height: 6'2"

Weight/body type/build: 180lbs-ish. Wiry, long-limbed, a bit pigeon-chested.

Hometown: Newark, New Jersey

Family Members: Sullivan family tree. He bounces around a lot because of work but basically lives with Wyatt. Very close with Wyatt and Waylon, basically their brother.

Left/right handed: right

Fav genre of music & anthem: 90s & early 2000s rap (claims East Coast is superior, yet his anthem is a West Coast classic), How I Could Just Kill A Man by Cypress Hill

Occupation: "Independent contractor." Jack of all trades and Waylon's right hand: fixer, security, transportation guard, caporegime (capo), hitman, former Army medic, torturer and snuff film cameraman. Somehow knows a little something about everything and always "knows a guy." He didn't get his HS diploma or GED; instead, he joined the Army soon after he got out of Juvie.

Ethnicity (+ American): Italian, French, Greek, English, Romanian, Bulgarian, Turkish, Serbian, Armenian

Hair color & length: dark brown/brown-black wavy mid-length grown-out hair. Usually combed and slicked back to make it look straighter than it is, shaved down on the sides with an undercut. Some chest hair, but not super hairy. He is usually clean-shaven around his signature petite goatee.

Hygiene: looks like he smells like an ashtray and liquor, and usually does. Not the best hygiene, also not the worst, somewhere in the middle, but is more up-kept when on the job. He uses minimal products and will just dose himself with cologne to mask the cigarette and vodka smell. But he takes good care of his teeth and has a collection of grillz, usually sportin' gold tooth caps on both canine teeth + inlay, and gold trip gap filler between front teeth (pictures below).

Eye color: pale, steely blue, almond-shaped, and hooded eyes.

Skin tone: olive with cool undertones. He can get a lot darker if he gets a tan, but he is usually inside or hiding under shade if outside, so he's rather pale.

Facial features: long, inverted triangle-shaped head. Thin, boxy upper lip mouth. Long, downturned, Roman nose. Straight eyebrows with little to no arch. Narrow ears. Narrow jaw, long chin. Long, thick eyelashes that make him look like he's wearing eyeliner. He usually has bags under his eyes because he's running on nothing but 3 hours of sleep, caffeine, and coke.

Mannerisms: clicks tongue or runs tongue over his gold teeth, sniffs/wrinkles nose, clears throat, and purses lips frequently. Lots of face twitching. If he's not smoking, he's smacking on some gum or snacking on gummy candy. Fidgety, has a hard time sitting still, therefore he’s either pacing or bouncing a knee. Bit of a jabber jaw, sings or hums tunes (someone thought they had a rap career as a youngin). Gets bored easily. Obsessively cleans his guns and knives. Resting bitch face looks like he's unamused or irritated. He snorts and laughs a lot, always cracking jokes. Files his nails daily. Cracks knuckles, neck, and back. Shuffles a deck of cards he has on hand. Checks his tackle-box drug stash he carries around like a lunch pail.

Nervous ticks: it takes a lot to make him nervous since he's spent a lifetime rubbing shoulders with gang members, spent time in juvie, in the trenches of war zones, and as a professional hit man, and has killed countless anthrophages without hesitation. He's good at maintaining a level head in stressful situations, but even he has his limits. When he's actually nervous, he'll rub his chin with his index finger, comb his fingers through hair and scratch his head, yell and punch things, may shoot off bullets into the air or throw knives at something, and in an effort to collect himself, he'll swallow hard and count backward from 5 or 10 to try to ground and calm himself. Rolls his shoulders and shakes his head as if trying to shake off the tension.

Posture: relaxed, cocky and confident. Go-to stance is the power pose with his hands on his hips or clasped in front of him (and perhaps fingers wrapped around a gun). He often leans against things with one shoulder. Uses a swagger walk with a lot of sway in his shoulders. When sitting, he's usually laid back with his legs spread or hunched over, fiddling with something in his hands. Moves a lot and shifts from side to side if he's sitting or standing—rather douchey body language.

Style: in a pressed, solid black Giorgio Armani suit with black Italian leather loafers (when working), in a dingy tracksuit with a white tank underneath, or jeans with a T-shirt or button-up and a leather jacket with motorcycle boots. Wears chains around his neck, rings, and small hoop earrings. Always strapped and always blinged out.

Guns he always has within reach—Colt 1911 Government, 45 ACP, 7 + 1, Cathedral, All 24K Gold, and GLOCK 20 Gen 4 Semi-Auto Pistol (pics).

Health: for as many drugs he does, the amount of cigarettes he smokes, and the volume of alcohol he drinks, he's surprisingly healthy—or as healthy as he can be. He works out a few times a week and gets in his cardio with jogging and boxing. Agile and can fight. He doesn't have the best diet but thinks eating a salad every other day, chugging protein shakes, and eating trail mix is the secret to his health success. Enjoys a good smoothie creation with The Aid, and it doubles as a small, weird thing they bond over.

Piercings/tattoos: ears pierced and wears small rings, bunch of tattoos—like too many for me to go into detail right now. Here are some tat ideas I swiped off Pinterest (I didn't make any of these) to give an idea, a tat mood board, if you will.

Birthmarks/scars: scar around his neck from when a gang of kids tried to strangle him to death with a wire in juvie. He has a lot of scars from fighting and his time in the Army, but covered them up with tats.

Language(s): English. Thinks he knows Italian, doesn’t.

Personality: dependable. Loyal. Sycophant to rivals. Cleaver. Resourceful. Quick-witted. Surprisingly competent and knowledgeable. The embodiment of controlled chaos. Voyeuristic. Talkative. Spontaneous. Fidgety. Protective. Restless. Sarcastic. Tough. Cocky. Dangerous. Rowdy. Violent. Noisy. Impulsive. Vulgar. Aggressive. Pragmatic. Inquisitive. Can be cruel and debaucherous. Teasing. Eager. Can take on a mediator role between Waylon and Wyatt, or Wyatt and The Aid. Oddly, he reserves a gentler soft side (as gentle and soft as he can get, that is) for The Aid. Low-key psychotic and dominant (as are all Sullivans).

Vices: benzos (Xanax), cigs, coke (lines or rubs it on his gums, but refuses to smoke it because that's "crackwhore behavior"), shots of hard liquor (preferably Cîroc or Gray Goose vodka). Shooting things. Breaking shit. Throwing knives or darts. Going on a ride on his motorcycle. Dismembering anthrophages or cutting up an already dead cow at the slaughterhouse.

Voice: raucous, sarcastic, and neurotic. Has a thick New Jersey accent. Kinda raspy. Sounds animated and expressive with a wide range of tones, pitches, and speeds.

Smells like: burnt rubber and oil from doing donuts on his bike. Cigs, alcohol, leather, and too much cologne, probably something like Gucci Guilty, or GIORGIO ARMANI Acqua Di Gio.

Face claim(s): Adrian Brody.

Character inspiration: put all these guys in a blender, add ice, and shake it up, and you have yourself a Vinny smoothie—Vincent Vega (Pulp Fiction), Edward Blake/ The Comedian (Watchmen), Todd Alquist (Breaking Bad & El Camino), Mickey Milkovich (Shameless).

Other: Admittedly, my second favorite Sullivan.

Moodboard

[emeraldxphoenix]

SUPERNATURAL / FANTASY CHARACTER AESTHETICS

bold what applies - italicize what sometimes applies - strike what never applies

THE FAIRY. chipped nail polish. glitter highlight. tall trees with smooth bark. tangled hair. the taste of cinnamon sugar. talking too loud and too fast. overgrown flowers in your hair. crumbling buildings reclaimed by nature. flirting. walking home at 3am with no coat. platonic hand-holding. blowing smoke out of your nose. dragonfly wings. chaotic good. freckles. fairy rings. secret meetings. gender nonconformity. leather. smudged eyeliner. forbidden fruit. THE REAPER. computer errors. a shiver down your spine. haunting beauty. hard liquor. crowns of thorns. shadowed alleyways. decaying plant matter. shattered mirrors and broken glass. corrupted memories. stopped clocks. the scent of stale cigarettes. tattered black hoodies. walking your friends home. the crescent moon. the sea. a graveyard on a foggy day. cold rings on cold fingers. absolution. looking out the window of an airplane. soft kisses. THE WITCH. graffiti. pretending to know what you're doing. worn paperback books. growing up too fast. parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. lace and combat boots. moth wings. candles on every surface. a weathered deck of cards. turning the music up. fireflies in jars. calloused fingers. drawing on your skin. sunlight filtering through the clouds. petrichor. a dying rose in a jar. wearing a crystal pendant. illusions and spells. black cats. mint gum. chapped lips. dirt under your fingernails. the cycle of life and death. THE WOLF. murders of crows. frost-bitten leaves. wolves howling at midnight. knocking on your door. leaving food out for stray animals. the twang of an acoustic guitar. honey. tiny red buds on trees. claw marks on the walls. golden eyes. slightly too long stubble. sharp canines. soft, thick fur. hunger. a small cottage in the middle of the woods. knitted fingerless gloves. sleeping on the forest floor. always finding your way back home.

tagged by stolen from: @rvndrkhlme <3

tagging: @victoriousfidelity , @wcrriorhearts , @wildcxrds , @theresastargirl , @shxlmes & anyone else who wants <3

[snkts]

SUPERNATURAL / FANTASY CHARACTER AESTHETICS

bold what applies - italicize what sometimes applies - strike what never applies

THE FAIRY. chipped nail polish. glitter highlight. tall trees with smooth bark. tangled hair. the taste of cinnamon sugar. talking too loud and too fast. overgrown flowers in your hair. crumbling buildings reclaimed by nature. flirting. walking home at 3am with no coat. platonic hand-holding. blowing smoke out of your nose. dragonfly wings. chaotic good. freckles. fairy rings. secret meetings. gender nonconformity. leather. smudged eyeliner. forbidden fruit.

THE REAPER. computer errors. a shiver down your spine. haunting beauty. hard liquor. crowns of thorns. shadowed alleyways. decaying plant matter. shattered mirrors and broken glass. corrupted memories. stopped clocks. the scent of stale cigarettes. tattered black hoodies. walking your friends home. the crescent moon. the sea. a graveyard on a foggy day. cold rings on cold fingers. absolution. looking out the window of an airplane. soft kisses.

THE WITCH. graffiti. pretending to know what you're doing. worn paperback books. growing up too fast. parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. lace and combat boots. moth wings. candles on every surface. a weathered deck of cards. turning the music up. fireflies in jars. calloused fingers. drawing on your skin. sunlight filtering through the clouds. petrichor. a dying rose in a jar. wearing a crystal pendant. illusions and spells. black cats. mint gum. chapped lips. dirt under your fingernails. the cycle of life and death.

THE WOLF. murders of crows. frost-bitten leaves. wolves howling at midnight. knocking on your door. leaving food out for stray animals. the twang of an acoustic guitar. honey. tiny red buds on trees. claw marks on the walls. golden eyes. slightly too long stubble. sharp canines. soft, thick fur. hunger. a small cottage in the middle of the woods. knitted fingerless gloves. sleeping on the forest floor. always finding your way back home.

tagged by : yoinked it from @weapnx23

tagging : anyone who likes it <3

[seaprofound]

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒

THE FAIRY. chipped nail polish. glitter highlight. tall trees with smooth bark. tangled hair. the taste of cinnamon sugar. talking too loud and too fast. overgrown flowers in your hair. crumbling buildings reclaimed by nature. flirting. walking home at 3am with no coat. platonic hand-holding. blowing smoke out of your nose. dragonfly wings. chaotic good. freckles. fairy rings. secret meetings. gender nonconformity. leather. smudged eyeliner. forbidden fruit.

THE REAPER. computer errors. a shiver down your spine. haunting beauty. hard liquor. crowns of thorns. shadowed alleyways. decaying plant matter. shattered mirrors and broken glass. corrupted memories. stopped clocks. the scent of stale cigarettes. tattered black hoodies. walking your friends home. the crescent moon. the sea. a graveyard on a foggy day. cold rings on cold fingers. absolution. looking out the window of an airplane. soft kisses.

THE WITCH. graffiti. pretending to know what you're doing. worn paperback books. growing up too fast. parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. lace and combat boots. moth wings. candles on every surface. a weathered deck of cards. turning the music up. fireflies in jars. calloused fingers. drawing on your skin. sunlight filtering through the clouds. petrichor. a dying rose in a jar. wearing a crystal pendant. illusions and spells. black cats. mint gum. chapped lips. dirt under your fingernails. the cycle of life and death.

THE WOLF. murders of crows. frost-bitten leaves. wolves howling at midnight. knocking on your door. leaving food out for stray animals. the twang of an acoustic guitar. honey. tiny red buds on trees. claw marks on the walls. golden eyes. slightly too long stubble. sharp canines. soft, thick fur. hunger. a small cottage in the middle of the woods. knitted fingerless gloves. sleeping on the forest floor. always finding your way back home.

tagged by: @nectaric <3 tagging: @willedstubborn , @stolenbythegods , @storybounded , @stubborngods and you !!

[chorusgirls]

𝙲𝙾𝙽𝚃𝚁𝙰𝚁𝚈 𝚃𝙾 𝚆𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙼𝙰𝚈 𝙷𝙰𝚅𝙴 𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚁𝙳, 𝙸𝚃 𝙸𝚂 𝙿𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝚃𝙾 𝚂𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙰𝚃𝙴 𝙰 𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙲𝙺𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁. 𝙸𝚃 𝙾𝙽𝙻𝚈 𝚃𝙰𝙺𝙴𝚂 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚆𝙷𝙾𝙻𝙴 𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙻𝙳.

…  ALIAS / NAME   …  solange lahiri.

…  NICKNAMES   …  known under various aliases and monikers. referred to as la pantera in various parts of spain, andora, and portugal, along with the night fox across the south of france. accepts any pet name.

…  BIRTH NAME   …  redacted.

…  AGE   …  thirty-three.

…  GENDER  …  cis woman.

…  SEXUALITY  …  bisexual. kinsey scale 3.

…  CIVILIAN OCCUPATION   …  jazz singer at godfather house of blues.

…  CRIMINAL ASSOCIATION   …  jade tribe soldier, freelance cat burglar & con artist .

…  NOTABLE ATTRIBUTES   …  doe eyes, salacious body, and most particularly the combination of the two.

 …  CHARACTER INSPIRATIONS   …  selina kyle ( detective comics ).  regina lampert ( charade ).  janet colgate/the jackal ( dirty rotten scoundrels ). mar��a elena ( vicky cristina barcelona ).  holly golightly ( breakfast at tiffany's ). mirtha jung ( blow ).

( + ) alluring, passionate, charismatic, persuasive, witty, adaptable, sensual, warm, competitive, flirtatious, voracious, coy.

( - ) vindictive, possessive, unpredictable, insatiable, manipulative, dishonest, jealous, eccentric, unreliable, delusive, mercurial.

𝚂𝙿𝙰𝚁𝙺𝙽𝙾𝚃𝙴𝚂. * trigger warnings: gang activity, implied age gap, mention of fertility trouble, murder, mild gore, suicide, parental death.

as a child, you once use a shell casing as a hard candy. six months old with a gnawing pain, and your mother finds you with a hollowed-out bullet between your gums. before taking it out she hoists you onto her hip, brandishing the moment to your father like a postcard: just look at your daughter. a coo, not a reprimand. when he leans forward, chucking your fat little chin, the affection only blooms brighter: incorrigible love, all for putting the killing thing in your mouth.

it's not the metal that poisons you, but the rest of what you're weaned on. the only child of an aging criminal emperor, your family rules mumbai and the shadow beyond with a traditionally held & elegantly dressed fist. beyond just the apple of your father's eye, you are the fruit bowl and the orchard too — where once he had dreaded the thought of a daughter, your birth shifts both his heart and his vision. when your mother's womb bares no other children, it does not matter: it's your head, scented with rosemary and bathed in milk, who will one day wear the crown. a little shadow, they call you, not for your quiet existence (you learned to raise your voice above the echo of gunshots in the compound, your mouth its own pistol, never to be outdone) but how tightly you share your father's. he says it's lesson, learning by proximity, but the pair of you know the truth: it's the close-keeping of a treasure. neither of you can bare separation.

sat beneath the shadow of a pomegranate tree in the back of the family estate: that's where you watch your father die. your mother's hand is slipped into yours as the gun raises, but it's your fingers who hold tight. a steadying force, as solid and hard-boned as the gaze you level at the usurper. the man who would be a king killer looks little more than a desperate boy with those shaking hands, older than you but young and untested enough to believe this is the way you build a kingdom. blood sprays your bare feet. warm. thick. mother wails, just as hot, just as molten. you'll join her later in the privacy of a home turned prison — grief emptying out your whole body, so violent it voids your stomach, leaves you retching on the cool marble floor — but now you only look. stare. fix him with the eyes that will not flinch, watching as he recedes to claim what was once yours.

you are married to your father's killer on the grounds watered with his blood. it is your choice of location just as it is your pain, your memory, your plan. mother dresses for a funeral, barred from the ceremony. it's like watching you walk to your death. you cannot afford to explain your decision to her, nor express the reason for your disagreement: the only way to tear throat is to kiss it first. only two years between the bookends of death and ceremony, but a lifetime stretches between it: time rendered thick and acidic with all that you must do to convince him of your choice. it was your power, you promise, palm on the place his heart would be, now it is what i have found beneath it. it's impossible to distinguish the look of hunger your husband wears at the altar to the ravenous one he will wear later, in the bed chamber: the starvation for your beauty identical to that of your legacy. you allow him to put his mouth on both and pretend to roll down his throat.

the cost of retribution, as the gods dictate, is as great as the crime: a quarter of your life, spent at the side of your father's killer. the dissolution of your father's empire, its rubble stuck irrevocably to your soles. the life of your mother, taken at her own hands: unable to watch any longer the unnatural crime of your union. but revenge comes, all the same. it comes like crows to the corpse, black clouds to the summer sky. inevitable. six years of plotting, and finally you destroy that which shattered you first; despot-husband dead, legacy stamped out. you do not leave with nothing when it is all over: it is the last known flight of a criminal's private plane, chartered to an unknown location in western europe before disappearing.

your various lives as a zoetrope, each version of yourself seemingly separate until you spin fast enough: lover, thief, artist, grifter, impersonator, photographer, forger, heiress. all these variations, these distinct new selves, yet the story only goes round and round on a wheel: you throw yourself into the role, the new country, the life. you find love where there is none, create it like god. you steal whatever is not bolted down to the floor. and when it tires out under your feet, when the grounds shrink and leave you painted into a corner ⸺ you climb the walls. that's how you come to new york, the crumbs of a southern french villa stuck to your heel, glancing up at the burned neon sky through sleek black glasses: open up darling, i'm home.

SUMMARY : only child of one of india's largest organized crime rings watches as her father's operation is usurped by a rival, only to be forced to marry him to further legitimize his takeover. after six years of an intimate, gnarled long con, solange brings down her despot husband at the cost of crumbling her father's legacy too. at twenty-four, having slain a false king and carrying a guilt she'll never acknowledge, solange leaves to europe to begin a new life — the first in a series. grifter, con artist, cat burglar — she has as many criminal occupations as she does aliases. after a recent, lengthy stint in the french riviera, she's hurricaned into new york under the name solange lahiri.

𝙷𝙴𝙰𝙳𝙲𝙰𝙽𝙾𝙽𝚂.

exceptional verbal mimic. give her a half hour in earshot and she'll replicate your voice.

the hat game is unrivaled. she's got one for every occasion, and then several more.

talks a lot with her hands, but it's a long con to distract you from where they're going (your wallet, your purse, your jewelry)

there's no easy way to say this, but her tits are always physically or metaphorically out. it's just part of the look.

has a very well-adjusted cat who has been carted all over the world with her. technically he is one of the most expensive cats in the world (seriously), being an f1 bengal she stole from his previous owner. sola has renamed him paul newman. he's surprisingly chill except when left without enough space to run around. much like his owner he will then start clawing shit up.

was briefly a british wag, dating one of manchester united's stars. probably jamie tartt coded. looooved the attention.

realistically and despite how outlandish some of sola's escapades are, subconsciously or otherwise she's playing it very safe. not only an incredibly talented thief, but primed once upon a time to inherit a crime ring — but she contents herself with stealing jewelry and spouses? a shame really. someone call her on it.

gluttonous in all aspects of life. food, drink, laughter, sex. she doesn't do anything in moderation

prefers an artisanal coffee shop, but pops into starbucks regularly to snag something off their bar. thank you easily exploitable mobile ordering honour system

𝚆𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙴𝙳.

this energy. where's my homoerotic sapphic fight scene

rival from the hanging man. solange actively joined a gang outside of the heist leaders because she wanted a little <3 fun competition <3 and she's decided you're in a personal rivalry. all the better if this other person is just ? literally what did i do to deserve this im just tryna get through the day

girlies whose friendship she has acquired through compulsive charisma

a past fling/relationship with someone who vacationed in one of her hot spots

a mark she's taken on not for jade tribe purposes but because she can't sit still ever :) personal project

anybody in any avenue of law enforcement who has previously or currently worked on a job of hers that solange is currently fucking with

somebody (probably older, possibly a head of a gang??) who knew and worked with her father !!! bonus points for knowing her as a kid

[dryeyed]

CHARACTER AESTHETICS.

bold what applies.

I. THE FAIRY. chipped nail polish. glitter highlight. tall trees with smooth bark. tangled hair. the taste of cinnamon sugar. talking too loud and too fast. overgrown flowers in your hair. crumbling buildings reclaimed by nature. flirting. walking home at 3am with no coat. platonic hand-holding. blowing smoke out of your nose. dragonfly wings. chaotic good. freckles. fairy rings. secret meetings. gender nonconformity. leather. smudged eyeliner. forbidden fruit.

II. THE REAPER. computer errors. a shiver down your spine. haunting beauty. hard liquor. crowns of thorns. shadowed alleyways. decaying plant matter. shattered mirrors and broken glass. corrupted memories. stopped clocks. the scent of stale cigarettes. tattered black hoodies. walking your friends home. the crescent moon. the sea. a graveyard on a foggy day. cold rings on cold fingers. absolution. looking out the window of an airplane. soft kisses.

III. THE WITCH. graffiti. pretending to know what you’re doing. worn paperback books. growing up too fast. parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. lace and combat boots. moth wings. candles on every surface. a weathered deck of cards. turning the music up. fireflies in jars. calloused fingers. drawing on your skin. sunlight filtering through clouds. petrichor. a dying rose in a jar. wearing a crystal pendant. illusions and spells. black cats. mint gum. chapped lips. dirt under your fingernails. the cycle of life and death.

IV. THE WOLF. murders of crows. frost-bitten leaves. wolves howling at midnight. knocking on your door. leaving food out for stray animals. the twang of an acoustic guitar. honey. tiny red buds on trees. claw marks on the walls. golden eyes. slightly too long stubble. sharp canines. soft, thick fur. hunger. a small cottage in the middle of the woods. knitted fingerless gloves. sleeping on the forest floor. always finding your way back home.

tagged by: stolen from my mumu <3 tagging: steal, it's free real estate

[rcguish]

CHARACTER AESTHETICS.

bold what applies.

I. THE FAIRY. chipped nail polish. glitter highlight. tall trees with smooth bark. tangled hair. the taste of cinnamon sugar. talking too loud and too fast. overgrown flowers in your hair. crumbling buildings reclaimed by nature. flirting. walking home at 3am with no coat. platonic hand-holding. blowing smoke out of your nose. dragonfly wings. chaotic good. freckles. fairy rings. secret meetings. gender nonconformity. leather. smudged eyeliner. forbidden fruit.

II. THE REAPER. computer errors. a shiver down your spine. haunting beauty. hard liquor. crowns of thorns. shadowed alleyways. decaying plant matter. shattered mirrors and broken glass. corrupted memories. stopped clocks. the scent of stale cigarettes. tattered black hoodies. walking your friends home. the crescent moon. the sea. a graveyard on a foggy day. cold rings on cold fingers. absolution. looking out the window of an airplane. soft kisses.

III. THE WITCH. graffiti. pretending to know what you’re doing. worn paperback books. growing up too fast. parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. lace and combat boots. moth wings. candles on every surface. a weathered deck of cards. turning the music up. fireflies in jars. calloused fingers. drawing on your skin. sunlight filtering through clouds. petrichor. a dying rose in a jar. wearing a crystal pendant. illusions and spells. black cats. mint gum. chapped lips. dirt under your fingernails. the cycle of life and death.

IV. THE WOLF. murders of crows. frost-bitten leaves. wolves howling at midnight. knocking on your door. leaving food out for stray animals. the twang of an acoustic guitar. honey. tiny red buds on trees. claw marks on the walls. golden eyes. slightly too long stubble. sharp canines. soft, thick fur. hunger. a small cottage in the middle of the woods. knitted fingerless gloves. sleeping on the forest floor. always finding your way back home.

tagged by: stolen <3 tagging: steal, it's free real estate

[fearthecoldblood]

CHARACTER AESTHETICS . bold what applies !

— GEHR/MAN, THE FIRST HUNTER

I. THE FAIRY. chipped nail polish . glitter highlight . tall trees with smooth bark . tangled hair . the taste of cinnamon sugar . talking too loud and too fast . overgrown flowers in your hair . crumbling buildings reclaimed by nature . flirting . walking home at 3am with no coat . platonic hand - holding . blowing smoke out of your nose . dragonfly wings . chaotic good .freckles . fairy rings . secret meetings . gender nonconformity . leather . smudged eyeliner . forbidden fruit .

II. THE REAPER. computer errors . a shiver down your spine . haunting beauty . hard liquor . crowns of thorns . shadowed alleyways . decaying plant matter . shattered mirrors and broken glass . corrupted memories . stopped clocks . the scent of stale cigarettes . tattered black hoodies . walking your friends home . the crescent moon . the sea . a graveyard on a foggy day . cold rings on cold fingers . absolution .looking out the window of an airplane . soft kisses .

III. THE WITCH. graffiti . pretending to know what you ’ re doing . worn paperback books . growing up too fast .parsley , sage , rosemary , and thyme . lace and combat boots . moth wings . candles on every surface . a weathered deck of cards . turning the music up . fireflies in jars . calloused fingers . drawing on your skin . sunlight filtering through clouds . petrichor . a dying rose in a jar . wearing a crystal pendant . illusions and spells . black cats . mint gum . chapped lips . dirt under your fingernails . the cycle of life and death .

IV. THE WOLF. murders of crows . frost-bitten leaves . wolves howling at midnight . knocking on your door . leaving food out for stray animals . the twang of an acoustic guitar . honey . tiny red buds on trees . claw marks on the walls . golden eyes . slightly too long stubble . sharp canines . soft , thick fur. hunger . a small cottage in the middle of the woods . knitted fingerless gloves . sleeping on the forest floor . always finding your way back home .

tagged by: @burdensofblood (thank you polke! <3)

tagging: @lustmord, @radiant-and-terrifying, @untetheredlittlebastard, @forthesunsglory, @castella-the-tarnished, @luckydxy, @derjaegermond, @arikos-of-caelid (if you haven’t done it already!)

[angelsfalling16]

From that quote-prompt list...

Have you done "I'm not leaving you here"?

Been needing some angst. XD

💜

Thanks for the prompt! <3 Sorry it took me so long to complete it; I wanted to make it a little bit longer and make it part of my 20fk series. I hope you like it! Also, I just saw that it was your birthday yesterday, so happy belated birthday!! :)

You can also read this on ao3

---

Baz

Simon gets called out at the beginning of class to go on a secret mission for the Mage, and even though it has happened before, it seems to irritate me more today. Why does Simon keep allowing the Mage to use him as his pawn?

He is more than a bomb that the Mage can point at one of his many enemies and allow to go off. He’s a person, a boy, and he doesn’t deserve to be treated like this, like he’s expendable. I don’t understand how I am the only one who sees this. Surely, even Penny would be wary of this. But I guess no one is willing to go up against the Mage like that. (Except maybe Fiona.)

One of these days, he is going to get himself killed, and I will not sit idly by and watch that happen. I have to make Simon see that he’s being used, that he doesn’t have to keep doing this. As soon as this class lets out, I take off in search of Simon. Maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll be able to catch up with him before he gets too far away.

He isn’t in our room, but his scent is strong here, which means he was here not long ago. I rush over to the window and look out of it over the grounds to see if I can see him walking away, but he isn’t there. I’ll have to cast a spell then.

It works instantly, and I can feel Simon. He’s close. The spell starts to pull me towards him, and I take off out of our room, practically flying down the steps. I’m not sure my feet even touch the ground, but I don’t have time to stop and think about that because I have to reach Simon before it’s too late.

The spell is leading me towards the gates. I’m not sure how I’ll be able to get through with one of the Mage’s gates standing guard, but I will do whatever it takes, including spelling the idiot out of my way if I have to.

I don’t have to worry about that, though, because there’s no one there.

That’s strange, I think. There has been someone standing there every day since eighth year began, so something must have happened if the station has been abandoned.

I slow as I reach the gates to open them, and I take a moment to recast the spell to strengthen. It feels like I’m close to him, but it doesn’t feel like Simon has moved any farther away since I initially cast the spell. If there was a threat this close to the school, you would think that the Mage would have raised some kind of alarm, but he doesn’t even have anyone at the gate. It just goes to show how terrible he is at his job.

I continue to follow the pull of the spell, and it brings me to the road, then across it, then to the woods on the other side.

I can hear some sort of commotion now, and I pick up my pace. I have to help Simon. He probably won’t want it, but that’s too bad. I would die a thousand times over in order to protect him. I will not let him die if there is any way that I can prevent it.

When I reach Simon, there is no sign of the Mage of any of his men. It appears like they abandoned him here to handle this threat on his own. It’s unbelievable.

Simon is being surrounded by dozens of goblins, all of whom are vying for his head. He is doing his best to fight them off with his sword, but it isn’t enough. He’s fighting a losing battle.

One of the goblins has managed to get behind him and has a knife raised over him, ready to attack. Before I even have time to think about it, I have summoned a ball of fire in my hand, and I send it soaring in the goblin’s direction. It makes a contact, and with nothing more than a shriek, the goblin catches fire then disintegrates into ash.

Simon spins around to see what happened, and he’s understandably shocked to see me. “Baz?”

“Watch out!” I shout, rushing forward to cast a spell at a goblin that lunged at Simon as soon as he turned his back.

I keep casting spells and sending fire at the remaining goblins, and once Simon recovers from his shock, he turns to fight with me, swinging his sword wildly about, beheading one gobbling after another. He’s brilliant at it, and I almost wish I could stop and watch him in action.

We fight side by side, killing goblin after goblin, but our efforts seem futile because the goblins just keep coming at us, spilling through the trees on all sides, forcing Simon and I to stand back to back. It doesn’t look like we’re going to make it out of here alive, but we can’t give up.

One of the goblins manages to knock my wand from my hand, and I curse under my breath. I can summon my fire without it, but as the goblins close in on us and I start to grow tired from so much use of magic, I’m not sure how longer I can keep doing it.

The goblins manage to get a few good hits and cuts on us, and the smell of Simon’s blood forces my fangs to push through my gums. I could bite them, but goblins are foul and bitter tasting beings. Plus, it would leave me open to attacks from the others if I got distracted by one of them.

“You should go,” I hear Simon say behind me.

“What?”

“You’re stronger than I am. You’ll be able to make it out of here alive. Just go!”

“I’m not leaving you here! You will never be able to defeat them all on your own.”

He’s quite for a moment, and I hear a demon cry out as Simon stabs at the same time that I shoot some more fire at the ones in front of me. It’s getting harder to summon it; my magic is starting to run low. But I won’t run. I won’t leave Simon behind. I could never live with myself if I left him here to die.

“We just have to keep fighting. Someone will come help us eventually.” I don’t even believe it as I say it.

“Who? No one even knows we’re here.”

“What?! I thought the Mage sent you here.”

“He did, but he said that he had a more pressing matter to attend to. There were only a few goblins at the time, and this is my responsibility. It’s me they’re after. Which is why you should go. It’s not you they want. They’ll probably just let you leave.”

If I make it out of this alive, I am going to murder the Mage.

“I’m not leaving you!” I repeat. I look around for my wand, but I don’t see it. The next flame I summon is barely more than an ember, and it only injures the goblin in front of me, rather than killing it.

“I’m sorry, Baz!” Simon shouts, and the tone in his voice worries me.

“Why are you sorry?” I shout back, whirling around to see what he’s about to do.

That’s when everything goes black.

***

When I come to, all I see is trees.

With a groan, I force myself to sit up. There is a pounding in my head, but most of my other injuries have already started to heal. I look around and am relieved to find that Simon is lying beside,

“What happened?” I asked. “The last thing I remember is you apologizing.”

“I went off,” he says, grimacing like he hates to admit it. “I tried not to because I was worried that you would get hurt. That wouldn’t have been a problem if you had run like I told you.”

“I couldn’t leave you there!” I say, angry because he actually believes that I could just abandon him like that.

“Why not?”

“Because I--.” I cut myself off before I can finish that sentence.

“You…what?”

“Nothing. I just didn’t want you to die, alright?” I look away, but then a thought occurs to me. “Why did you care whether or not you hurt me?”

“If you died because of me, I would have a lot worse problems than a horde of goblins attacking me,” he says, but the blush on his face tells a different story.

He’s right, though. If I had died, Simon would have instantly moved to the top of Fiona’s list, right above the Mage, who is coincidentally now at the top of my own list.

“Look,” Simon says, “none of this matters. We made it out alive. Now, we can go back to trying to kill each other instead of nearly getting killed by other things.”

“I don’t want to kill you,” I mutter under my breath as I push myself to my feet, but somehow, Simon hears me.

“What?”

“It’s nothing.” I start to walk away from him, back in the direction of Watford, but Simon stops me by grabbing my arm and pulling me around to face him.

“Baz…. Why did you come out here? Why did you try to help me fight the goblins when you could have let them kill me and been rid of me for good?”

“Because I don’t want you to die,” I hiss. “I actually care about whether you live or not. Unlike the Mage.”

He makes a face at that last remark but apparently decides to ignore it for now.

We’re standing barely a foot apart, and his hand is still on my arm. I could turn and run from him, but instead, I allow him to pull me closer. Because I’m weak.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t want you to die either.”

My breath catches, and my heart skips a beat. I know that it doesn’t necessarily mean that he likes me, but it’s progress. It’s better than him hating me.

He gives my arm another tug, and we’re so close now that I have to tilt my head down to look at him. He brings a hand up to rest gently on my cheek, and I can’t help the sigh that escapes me at his touch. I lean down until our noses brush but stop there, meeting his eyes. The world seems to have disappeared around us, and it’s just him and me.

Whatever happens next could change things forever. I just wish I knew what he was thinking.

“Can I kiss you?” He asks, and then I know exactly what he’s thinking.

“Yes,” I breathe.

Then he kisses me.

It’s soft yet passionate, fast but gentle. His lips part around mine in a sigh, and it is the best thing that I have felt. I feel like I’m flying for the second time today, and I wonder at how Simon can make me feel like this. Like nothing else in the world matters, which feels so true.

I love Simon. He is the most important thing in my life, and I will never let anything bad happen to him for as long as I can help it. I will keep loving him and protecting him until the day I die.

[oceansvanidicus]

CHARACTER  AESTHETICS  • bold  what  applies!

I.    THE  FAIRY.    chipped  nail  polish  .    glitter  highlight  .   tall  trees with  smooth  bark  .   tangled hair  .    the taste of cinnamon sugar  .    talking  too  loud  and  too  fast  .    overgrown  flowers  in  your  hair  .    crumbling  buildings  reclaimed  by  nature  .    flirting  .    walking  home  at  3am  with  no  coat  .   platonic  hand - holding  .    blowing  smoke  out  of  your  nose  .   dragonfly  wings  .   chaotic  good  .    freckles  .    fairy  rings  .    secret  meetings  .    gender  nonconformity  .    leather  .    smudged  eyeliner  .    forbidden  fruit  .

II.    THE  REAPER.    computer  errors  .    a  shiver  down  your  spine  .    haunting  beauty  .    hard  liquor  . crowns  of  thorns  .    shadowed  alleyways  .    decaying  plant  matter  .    shattered  mirrors  and  broken  glass  .   corrupted  memories .    stopped  clocks  .    the  scent  of  stale  cigarettes  .    tattered  black  hoodies  .   walking  your  friends  home  .   the  crescent  moon  .    the  sea  .    a  graveyard  on  a  foggy  day  .  cold  rings  on  cold  fingers  .  absolution  . looking  out  the  window  of  an  airplane  .  soft  kisses  .

III.    THE  WITCH.    graffiti  .    pretending  to  know  what  you ’ re  doing  .    worn  paperback  books  .  growing  up  too  fast .    parsley  ,    sage  ,    rosemary  ,    and  thyme  .   lace  and  combat  boots  .    moth  wings  .    candles  on  every  surface  .    a  weathered  deck  of  cards  .    turning  the  music  up  .    fireflies  in  jars  .   calloused  fingers  .    drawing  on  your  skin  .    sunlight  filtering  through  clouds  .    petrichor  .    a  dying  rose  in  a  jar  .   wearing  a  crystal  pendant  .    illusions  and  spells  .    black  cats  .    mint  gum  .   chapped  lips  .    dirt  under  your  fingernails  .    the  cycle  of  life  and  death  .

IV.    THE  WOLF.    murders  of  crows  .    frost-bitten  leaves  .    wolves  howling  at  midnight  .    knocking  on  your  door  .   leaving  food  out  for  stray  animals  .    the  twang  of  an  acoustic  guitar  .    honey  .    tiny  red  buds  on  trees  .    claw  marks  on  the  walls  .    golden  eyes  .    slightly  too  long  stubble  .    sharp  canines  .  soft  ,     thick  fur .   hunger  .   a  small  cottage  in  the  middle  of  the  woods  .    knitted  fingerless  gloves  .   sleeping  on  the  forest  floor  .    always  finding  your  way  back  home  .

tagged by: @arrowablaze <3

tagging: @atkwar @discipulusmaleficus @antithesederzeit @oncespilled @skeleton-grayii

[breathingliifearc]

𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘   𝐀𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒.

      ASTRID edition

𝐓𝐇𝐄      𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐘.       chipped   nail   polish.   glitter  highlight.   tall   trees   with   smooth   bark.   tangled   hair.  the   taste   of   cinnamon   sugar.   talking   too   loud   and   too   fast. overgrown   flowers   in   your   hair. crumbling   buildings   reclaimed   by   nature.    flirting.  walking   home   at   3am   with   no   coat.     platonic   hand-holding.   blowing   smoke   out   of   your   nose.   dragonfly   wings.   chaotic   good.   freckles.   fairy   rings. secret   meetings. gender   nonconformity.   leather.smudged   eyeliner.   forbidden fruit.

𝐓𝐇𝐄      𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐑.    computer   errors.  a   shiver   down   your   spine. haunting   beauty. hard   liquor. crowns   of   thorns. shadowed   alleyways. decaying   plant   matter. shattered   mirrors   and   broken   glass.corrupted   memories. stopped   clocks. the   scent   of   stale   cigarettes.   tattered   black   hoodies.  walking   your   friends   home. the   crescent   moon. the   sea. a   graveyard   on   a   foggy   day. cold   rings   on   cold   fingers.absolution.   looking   out   the   window   of   an   airplane. soft   kisses.

𝐓𝐇𝐄      𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇.      graffiti.   pretending   to   know   what   you’re   doing. worn   paperback   books.   growing   up   too   fast.   parsley,   sage,   rosemary,   and   thyme.         lace   and   combat   boots.  moth   wings. candles   on   every   surface. a   weathered      deck   of   cards. turning   the   music   up.   fireflies   in   jars. calloused   fingers.  drawing   on   your   skin.   sunlight   filtering   through   clouds.   petrichor. a   dying   rose   in   a   jar.   wearing   a   crystal   pendant. illusions   and   spells. black   cats. mint   gum.   chapped   lips. dirt   under   your   fingernails. the   cycle   of   life   and   death.

𝐓𝐇𝐄      𝐖𝐎𝐋𝐅.     murders   of   crows. frost-bitten   leaves.   wolves   howling   at   midnight. knocking   on   your   door. leaving   food   out   for   stray   animals. the   twang of   an   acoustic   guitar.  honey.  tiny   red   buds   on   trees.   claw   marks   on   the   walls. golden   eyes. slightly   too   long   stubble. sharp   canines. soft,   thick   fur.  hunger. a small   cottage   in   the   middle   of   the   woods.   knitted   fingerless   gloves. sleeping   on   the   forest   floor. always   finding   your   way   back   home.

TAGGED: @theimpalpable​​ ilu <3

 TAGGING: @altrxisme​ @alreadybrcken​ @a-kitten-with-claws​ @banschivs​ @bravelybounded​ @consultingsister​ @cocainumking​ @crackedfaith​ @dissolvedshadows​ @downpaths​ and who ever else wants to do this! :3 

[endless-whump]

The (half) crown of sonnets my class collectively wrote! Mine is the first one and the rest are under the cut <3

---

The sun is soft and warm on my knuckles,

Steering wheel cracked under my fingertips.

Both destination and route are unmapped

As I drive towards the sun without care.

I drive until my neck hurts, my voice worn,

Staring down at the road with a deadened

Hatred, one I will never understand.

The air smells of cigarettes and stale breeze,

But I’ve lost ability to care much,

Numb to the static of a radio,

Another thing I never care to fix.

The static calls out to me, begs for me

With images of the sunlight and song,

Sunlight I do not see, but always feel

Sunlight I do not see, but always feel

Beneath an apple tree, I sit so calm

While the branches sway smoothly in the wind.

This sun-dappled ground, my own dreaming place.

But in my head, those limbs all claw and scratch,

Tearing at my skin, rending flesh from bone,

And the apples fall poisoned to the Earth,

Rotted fruit raining down on me alone.

This venomed tree sits gnarled on a hill

While this sacred arbor glows, hallowed light

But those broad limbs that the summer sun fills

Stand intertwined with branches dripping blight

The light and the dark, tangible and fake.

Through truth and lie, a decision I make.

Through truth and lie, a decision I make.

I took your tattoo-covered arms, scanning

each inch. A vibrant butterfly soaring

through your rich brown skin, a crimson rose veiled

with thorns. Connected to them are your hands,

feathered clouds. I’m sorry for taking the

axe meant for the trees and chopping your wrists.

Sorry for leaving before you could swathe

them back. Sorry for stealing what is yours.

All the sorrys in the world won’t bring back

the hands that healed my wretched wounds. I thought

your hands were my enemy’s. I know that

can’t resurrect you, can’t put me back in

your thoughts. Please, let me put my hands in yours.

Your thoughts, please, let me put my hands in yours

Oh, the things I want to see with you. Take

me to the flea market where sentient

Furniture read aloud their epics in

Draft and snake plants whisper in binary

Code from the corners. Show me where clouds weep

Sunflower seeds and snails made of washi

Tape lead annual pilgrimages up

Vanilla bean plateaus. Buy me tickets

To see baritone orchids and number

2 pencils waltz across a styrofoam

Stage. Let me tour the schoolhouse where children

Learn the ways of toadstools and to speak in

Riddles--riddle me the ones you were taught.

Riddles? Riddle me the ones you were taught

about love! It is not some vague concept.

Love is the playing of a symphony,

and the hollow buzz you feel after a

performance. It is who you doodle in

the margins of your notebook when your soul

is the ballpoint of the pen. Love is that

one song in your playlist that steals the air

from your lips, time after time. It is the

floating feeling evoked by a friend’s smile,

and the drive to create it again. Love

is the bread your mom breaks at dinner-time,

and the TV show your dad watches. Love

is the desire to, and to do again.

Love’s the desire to, and to do again.

God plunged from His throne in such great disgrace

Thronic chorus following His descent

The triumphant cries of mankind drifted

Up to Him as He fell from high heaven

Master and servant of all and none wept

Delighted, and mortified, Exalted

and denigrated, the culmination

Of his most great and unspeakable work

God crashed lifeless against the earth, His child.

stolen and broken by men, His children.

Broken Himself, ruined by His own greatest work

Cherished magnum opus, yet thieves of thieves

Were those murderers of all murderers

Who consoled themselves as gods of all the world.

Who consoled themselves as gods of all the world?

Not you, for you’re a bitter thing, who spits

poison ‘til your gums bleed and your teeth rot,

but you are far from untouchable, and

Your weak skin will never hold against me.

For I am the rage, the anger, the hate,

the biting, gnashing, gnawing, the breaking,

tearing, clawing teeth, and you are nothing

more than food to be eaten, devoured.

I will chew you up and swallow each part,

even if your sourness will burn me.

I am infinitely stronger than you,

and your disgusting juices can’t hurt me.

Today, at last, I will finally eat

this sour, bitter, godawful grapefruit.

[rykeranders]

Character Flaws

Additional Task 38 - April 4, 2021

BOLD FOR STRONGLY AGREE - ITALIC FOR SLIGHTLY AGREE 1.) THE FAIRY | chipped nail polish | glitter highlight | tall trees with smooth bark | tangled hair | the taste of cinnamon sugar | talking too loud and too fast | overgrown flowers in your hair | crumbling buildings reclaimed by nature | flirting | walking home at three am with no coat | platonic hand-holding | blowing smoke out of your nose | dragonfly wings | chaotic good | freckles | fairy rings | secret meetings | gender nonconformity | leather | smudged eyeliner | forbidden fruit | 2.) THE REAPER | computer errors| a  shiver down your spine | haunting beauty | hard liquor | crowns of thorns | shadowed alleyways | decaying plant matter | shattered mirrors and broken glass | corrupted memories | stopped clocks | the scent of stale cigarettes | tattered black hoodies | walking your friends home | the crescent moon | the sea | a  graveyard on a  foggy day | cold rings on cold fingers | absolution | looking out of the window of an airplane | soft kisses | 3.) THE WITCH | graffiti | pretending to know what you’re doing | worn paperback books | growing up too fast | parsley,  sage,  rosemary,  and thyme | lace and combat boots |  moth wings | candles on every surface | a weathered deck of cards | turning the music up | fireflies in jars | calloused fingers | drawing on your skin | sunlight filtering through clouds | petrichor | a  dying rose in a  jar | wearing a  crystal pendant | illusions of spells | black cats | mint gum | chapped lips | dirt under your fingernails | the cycle of life and death | 4.) THE WOLF | murders of crows | frostbitten leaves | wolves howling at midnight | knocking on your door | leaving food out for stray animals | the twang of an acoustic guitar | honey | tiny red buds on trees | claw marks on the walls | golden eyes | slightly too long stubble | knitted fingerless gloves | sleeping on the forest floor | always finding your way back home |

[dirtymercy]

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒

BENEDICT BRIDGERTON

bold / italicize what applies to your muse.

THE FAIRY.

chipped nail polish.   glitter highlight.   tall trees with smooth bark.   tangled hair.   the taste of cinnamon sugar.   talking too loud and too fast.   overgrown flowers in your hair.   crumbling buildings reclaimed by nature.   flirting.   walking home at three am with no coat.   platonic hand holding.   blowing smoke out of your nose.   dragonfly wings.   chaotic good.   freckles.   fairy rings.   secret meetings.   gender nonconformity.   leather.   smudged eyeliner.   forbidden fruit.

THE REAPER.

computer errors.   a shiver down your spine.   haunting beauty.   hard liquor.   crowns of thorns.   shadowed alleyways.   decaying plant matter.   shattered mirrors and broken glass.   corrupted memories.   stopped clocks.   the scent of stale cigarettes.   tattered black hoodies.   walking your friends home.   the crescent moon.   the sea.   a graveyard on a foggy day.   cold rings on cold fingers.   absolution.   looking out of the window of an airplane.   soft kisses.

THE WITCH.

graffiti.   pretending to know what you’re doing.   worn paperback books.   growing up too fast.   parsley , sage , rosemary , and thyme.   lace and combat boots.   moth wings.   candles on every surface.   a weathered deck of cards.   turning the music up.   fireflies in jars.   calloused fingers.   drawing on your skin.   sunlight filtering through clouds.   petrichor.   a dying rose in a jar.   wearing a crystal pendant. �� illusions of spells.   black cats.   mint gum.   chapped lips.   dirt under your fingernails.   the cycle of life and death.

THE WOLF.

murders of crows.   frostbitten leaves.   wolves howling at midnight.   knocking on your door.   leaving food out for stray animals.   the twang of an acoustic guitar.   honey.   tiny red buds on trees.   claw marks on the walls.   golden eyes.   slightly too long stubble.   knitted fingerless gloves.   sleeping on the forest floor.   always find your way back home.

tagged by: @etreprobi <3 tagging: IF YOU SEE THIS, YOU’RE IT !