#The Rape Of The Baron's Wine

[monkeyssalad-blog]

1897 illustration by Arthur H Buckland by totallymystified Via Flickr: For the poem The Rape Of The Baron’s Wine by Dora Sigerson Shorter. From The Pall Mall Magazine.

[kaletastrophes]

Western babes! Thanks to Indiewire, we now have directly from Pedro Almodovar the westerns he personally had in mind while making Strange Way of Life.

Part 1 of this list, mostly movies I personally believed would influence the film, is pinned to my page and I can report I got 2 right! Pedro listed The Wild Bunch and Red River as influences! I will be honest I have only seen a few of the westerns Pedro mentioned so maybe we can watch these together.

While my original list focused more on anti-westerns, Almodovar seems to have focused much more on traditional westerns. John Wayne stars in 4 of the 9 he listed for example. I find that fascinating honestly.

(once again tagging the ultimate western babe @the-ginger-hedge-witch if she wants to add these to her western studies)

But without further ado heres Part 2 of westerns that inspired Strange Way of Life:

The movie is strewn with references to Westerns that Almodovar has treasured for years. 

The Wild Bunch 

In Strange Way of Life a flashback between the two men, in which they fire at wine barrels and shrug off some prostitutes for their own plans, stems from Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch.

Babes!! Im so absolutely tickled that I spotted this and now it's confirmed. I wont go into details about the film because I listed it in part 1 but it was confirmed by Almodovar in the Indiewire interview so I've included it again here.

Almodovar says he envisioned Ethan Hawke’s character as an extension of archetypes in two John Sturges movies:

Last Train from Gun Hill

A marshal (Kirk Douglas) tries to bring the son of an old friend (Anthony Quinn), an autocratic cattle baron, to justice for his role in the rape and murder of the marshal's Native American wife.

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

Lawman Wyatt Earp (Burt Lancaster) and outlaw Doc Holliday (Kirk Douglas) form an unlikely alliance which culminates in their participation in the legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

I haven't seen either of these Sturges films but just reading the plot summaries above and the plot summary of Strange Way it's pretty clear how they would tie together.

John Ford loomed large for the spectacular vistas, and Almodovar says he thought a lot about:

The Searchers

In this revered Western, Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) returns home to Texas after the Civil War. When members of his brother's family are killed or abducted by Comanches, he vows to track down his surviving relatives and bring them home. 

Cheyenne Autumn

The Cheyenne, tired of broken U.S. government promises, head for their ancestral lands but a sympathetic cavalry officer is tasked to bring them back to their reservation.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Questions arise when Senator Stoddard (James Stewart) attends the funeral of a local man named Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) in a small Western town. 

Wow. What an interesting list... I'm not sure I could have imagined the first two being included before reading the article honestly. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance makes really perfect sense, two men hide the history they have together until it comes out years later just like they seem to do in Strange Way.

The Searchers I have seen and while it is regarded as one of the best films ever in American film history it's also regarded as one of the most racist films in American film history. The portrayal of Native American's is truly hard to stomach. Critic Roger Ebert went so far as to accuse director John Ford of trying to somehow "justify the Native American genocide." So I would warn perhaps be cautious when viewing. I will say Cheyenne Autumn is perhaps somewhat Ford's response to The Searchers, it's regarded as a pretty mediocre film but lauded in film history because the actors portraying the Cheyenne are actually Navajo and speak Navajo in the film. Because no one else on set spoke Navajo, during scenes when Navajo is spoken the actors made dirty jokes and openly mocked production.

Pascal wears a green jacket that serves as a callback to the one Jimmy Stewart wears in:

Bend of the River

When a town boss confiscates homesteader's supplies after gold is discovered nearby, a tough cowboy (Jimmy Stewart) risks his life to try and get it to them.

This is another fantastic western and whats interesting is that the film centers on constantly keeping you guessing on which character is going to turn out good and which character is going to turn out bad. I wonder if Almodovar will bring that same thing to Strange Way..

Also, "Julia Adams stars as the woman who made the mistake of loving two men!" No, thats never a mistake babe hahaha.

Finally, Almodovar give three more films that inspired costumes for Strange Way:

El Dorado

Cole Thornton (John Wayne), a gunfighter for hire, joins forces with an old friend, Sheriff J.P. Hara (Robert Mitchum). Together with an old Indian fighter and a gambler, they help a rancher and his family fight a rival rancher that is trying to steal their water.

Red River

Dunson (John Wayne) leads a cattle drive, the culmination of over 14 years of work, to its destination in Missouri. But his tyrannical behavior along the way causes a mutiny, led by his adopted son (Montgomery Clift).

Vera Cruz

During the Mexican Rebellion of 1866, an unsavory group of American adventurers are hired by the forces of Emporer Maximilian to escort a countess to Vera Cruz.

Well there you have it! Let me know your thoughts. I really find this list incredible curious and interesting.

[nonobadcat]

Yandere Mr. Compress X F! Reader

Rating: Explicit - for readers 18+ only Whole story TW: Rape, breeding/pregnancy kink, condom failure, unwanted pregnancy, discussions of abortion, stalking. A consensual relationship that devolves into non-con.

TW for this chapter: Consensual fluffy sex with good communication but Compress wants it raw and Reader-chan does not.

Dedicated to Miss_Mystery3

Read the entire story at Archive of Our Own

Chapter 2 Excerpt:

(Author note: memories are in italics)

It was about one hour before sunset when the knock at the door came. You lifted your head from the tawdry romance manga. A beaming grin spread across your cheeks. Scrambling to your feet, you nearly tripped over yourself to open the door.  As you opened it, a box of six chocolate-covered strawberries and a bottle of sparkling wine stared you in the face.

Your boyfriend lowered the box and wiggled his eyebrows at you. “I thought I would bring my muse a small treat.”

You took the box and bottle from his hands and set them upon the floor of the genkan. Then, with a squeal of glee, you threw yourself into his chest. Atsuhiro’s hands caught your under the thighs and he hoisted you into an effervescent kiss. It made your brain feel like it was swimming in champagne. You wrapped your thighs around his hips, allowing him leverage to trail his hands up your back. His touch made you shiver.

As you broke the kiss, you nodded to the food. “Feeling guilty over something?” you teased.

He shook his head. “Just another drunk at the show.” He planted a soft, slow kiss on your lips, staring at them as he pulled away. “Security took care of it but every time that happens it makes me want to thank you again for the first time we met.”

At that moment, your memories flashed to that night.

Mr. Compress had strutted around the platform performing his act under the hot spotlight. He wore a dark suit set with a vest and some obnoxiously loud orange tuxedo shirt with a tall collar. Over his face was a white mask that reminded you of the Greek comedy prop. For something on open mic night, the show had been brilliant. From skilled card tricks, to hilarious hypnotism, to handcuff escapes, to juggling balls that turned into birds, it was a fabulous display of old-style tricks. Mr. Compress had the booming voice and flashy persona to match the old masters to a tee. The owner of the bar let it go on far past the five-minute time limit because the audience was having a great time.

...but as every artist knows: there’s always that one person who just has to be a soul-sucking louse.

“BO~RING!” called the drunk heckler, his hands cupped to his face. “It’s just some lame use of your quirk to mimic some old dead “art” form.” He’d gone so far as to make the air quotes to emphasize the point. “What year do you think it is?”

It wasn’t hard for you to recognize the slight droop of the shoulders and the pause from the magician on stage. It was the same rejected curling hunch that you’d made every time one of your crushes said: “Who are you again?” Your teeth grit and you sneered at the self-centered heckler. Your fingers wrapped themselves into a fist. All those years of repressed anger bubbled to the surface, covering up your usual embarrassed silence. Fueled by two drinks, your snappy sarcastic rebuttal spilled out of your mouth like toxic waste.

“Wow… how original. Someone with no talent criticizing someone with it. Jealously is a rather unflattering look, don’t you think?”

The pointed insult echoed like a train in a tunnel. The heckler turned towards you, a thunderous look on his glowing red face. He opened his mouth, prepared to send his jowls flapping with some equally cold, cruel snark. There was no doubt it would have sent your sensitive ego crawling under a rock just like a high school love letter rejection.

...but Mr. Compress beat him to the mark.

With a peppy flourish, the masked man bowed to the heckler. "I'm at your service my friend." Then he turned to the bartender. "Waiter, this poor soul is bored. Could we get some crayons and a menu for him to color in, please?"

The man had fumed. In the heat of the moment, you forgot to cover your mouth. The loud goose honk laugh echoed in the room before your face burst into embarrassing flames. Mr. Compress tipped his hat to you and continued with the performance despite the interruption.

Back in your apartment, your boyfriend cocked his head. “Are you all right?” he asked.

You shook off the memory and nodded to the chocolates. “Those are so expensive though! Where did you get the money to buy something like that?”

He smirked. “Would you believe me if I told you I stole it?”

Read the rest at Archive of Our Own

Also, yes, I did just make him wear women's perfume. Read the foot notes as to why.

If I missed anyone in the tags let me know!

@awkward-confused @raygard-elvets @somechick30003 @thicchaco @shigashigashig @teachillvibes

@dokoni-mo

@shig-a-shig-ah

@sadlynikki @the-midnight-slasher-thot @questylousqueer @lynaminroll @crackheadwithtoes @crispyathletepurseduck @shadyfarmcookiefish @bouncing-bunnie @serenesong @kirishimaisthatbitch @oikawascakee @brialoveskbtbb @lisajamie99 @lilypadofthelake @softdumpling @neutralchaosintheworld @asianchubs @lovely92sworld @feral-creep @arie1107 @razormoon @serenesong @edensblog101703 @all4one @wifeofhandvillain @fallen-baron

[mirandalinotto]

Zarie for the back hugs? If you want

Thank you so much for this prompt! It helped me take my mind off my symptoms from the vaccine. You can read the whole fic here on Ao3, but I've posted an excerpt below, too!

Note: Any time I write Zarie, please know that Mambo Marie LaFleur is the woman she professes to be in Part Three, and not Baron Samedi in disguise. I reject canon with all my heart.

Content Warning: Implied/Referenced Rape, PTSD, Rape Recovery

a consummation devoutly to be wished

Zelda had been staring into the fireplace for hours, and was nearly down to her last cigarette, when she heard Marie shift in the bed. Zelda’s ears perked up, straining to hear without turning to look, as her companion mumbled something in French before snuggling into the side of the bed that she had long since abandoned.

Zelda had given up on sleep relatively early in the night. She'd nearly drifted off once, but the delicious weight of Marie’s leg hooked between her own had morphed into something heavy and uncomfortable. It’d taken all of her self-control to remain calm and gentle as she untangled their bodies, knowing Marie wasn’t to blame for her discomfort, but rather the sense-memory of her marital bed.

In the weeks since their first enchanting kiss, she’d spent many a day and night in pure ecstasy, blissfully entangled, but she usually insisted they have their… relations… in the office, or in various unused classrooms, or the library, or even, once, when overwhelming desire stopped them in their tracks, up against a wall in a particularly indiscreet corridor. If Marie found it odd that Zelda never suggested a more comfortable location for their trysts, she never said anything.

Truly, Zelda hardly thought there was cause for complaint, as she always ensured Marie was thoroughly satisfied, regardless of the location of their liaisons.

But this night had felt… special. Hilda had made them oysters, acorns, and marsala. There was wine and candles and romantic music playing on the phonograph. Everything felt light and warm and safe. So, when Marie suggested they relocate their affections from the office to the bedroom, Zelda had been less opposed than she might’ve been otherwise.

She was almost able to forget the phantom shadow of the Dark Lord over her shoulder as she worshipped Marie’s body. And when Marie peeled off her kimono, Zelda firmly pushed away the memory of Faustus making her wear that stupid floral dress even as he ordered her onto all fours. And then, when Marie laced their fingers together, she could very nearly forget how she lowered herself onto her knees at the foot of the bed on her wedding eve and waited to be…claimed.

Once they had thoroughly sated each other, Marie had drifted off to sleep, while Zelda had remained wide awake, suddenly hyper aware of the room once more, with nothing to distract her from it.

If it was torture to be under the Caligari spell in Rome, it was torment unlike any other to be fully in control of her body, but have to pretend that she wasn’t. Faustus felt she deserved a carnal reward for killing Leviathan. It was hard to remain a doll when he was rutting away on top of her. She had to control her every muscle, her every expression, desperate not to let the façade drop for even a moment.

Zelda stared into the dying fire, glad that Marie, at the very least, seemed to be sleeping well. But as for her? The room felt haunted. She could still hear his whispered commands, the fake, high-pitched, breathy moans she’d let out upon each thrust of his body into her own, and the slap slap slap of—

Zelda leapt from her seat, needing to be rid of the unwanted images flashing across her mind’s eye. She paced in front of the dying fire, her fingers trembling as she took a long drag from her cigarette. She needed a drink—or three.

As she poured herself a generous measure of whiskey, Zelda’s soul nearly separated from her body when two strong arms unexpectedly wrapped around her waist from behind.

"What are you doing up at this hour, chérie?" Marie purred into her neck. “Come back to bed.”

Zelda leaned back into Marie’s embrace, trying to calm her racing heart by focusing on the way Marie’s curves against her back felt nothing like the hard planes of Faustus’s chest and stomach.

“You know I have terrible insomnia,” Zelda said, her voice strained, even to her own ears.

Marie peppered kisses on Zelda’s neck. “Oui, but you cannot live without sleep, n’est-ce pas? And I am, how you say… cold without you.”

Zelda sighed, feeling something flutter in her stomach as Marie’s hands began to wander. “Well, I wouldn’t want you to be… cold, now would I?”

At this, Marie’s hands stopped. While Zelda had tried to keep her tone light and teasing, it would appear that she had failed. Marie pulled on her hips to turn Zelda around so that they could face one another.

“I do not wish you to do something, if you do not desire it yourself, chérie,” she said, her brown eyes warm but filled with concern. “Won’t you tell me what drives sleep away from you? What has you pacing and drinking in the night?”

Marie brushed a lock of hair out of Zelda’s eyes and tucked it behind her ear. Zelda leaned into the touch, her eyes slipping closed for a moment as Marie then leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead.

“Your spirit is troubled. Tanpri, tell me what you need?”

Read the rest on Ao3

[luulyme]

Dramione fic faves

Dramione

A Wonderful Caricature of Intimacy  reviews

Draco loves his son more than anything in the world. So, when his ex-wife plans to take his son away, Draco asks the most unlikely person for help. Hermione must decide whether changing her entire life is worth helping the man she hates unconditionally.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 25 - Words: 136,998 - Reviews: 4129 - Favs: 10,834 - Follows: 2,560 - Updated: Sep 3, 2008 - Published: Nov 6, 2007 - Draco M., Hermione G. - Complete

A Night Unfettered (One-Shot) reviews

A silly dare sends Hermione alone into the Shrieking Shack, and Draco thinks it the perfect time to play a prank on her. How was he to know that an unforeseen hindrance & a little Muggle-liquor could make the night go so wrong?

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Humor/Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 6,197 - Reviews: 53 - Favs: 401 - Follows: 106 - Published: Jun 27, 2014 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] - Complete

A Marriage Most Convenient  reviews

Hermione lost it all when she divorced. Draco would lose it all by age 30 if he didn't marry. Marriage to each other would be perfect, one would even say it was most convenient. Her daughter even looked like him, although, he wondered why that was.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 54 - Words: 183,905 - Reviews: 4502 - Favs: 4,789 - Follows: 1,788 - Updated: May 24, 2010 - Published: Oct 21, 2009 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

A Second Look   reviews

By: RiverWriter

Her best friend's life was a mess and she would have done anything to make things better for him and his sons. So, when she found her former enemy in a similar situation her heart went out to him as well... and the beautiful blond baby in his arms didn't hurt his case. It was certainly enough for her to give him a second look.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Family - Chapters: 30 - Words: 129,960 - Reviews: 2881 - Favs: 3,053 - Follows: 3,898 - Updated: Oct 12, 2019 - Published: May 26, 2018 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Harry P. - Complete

Accidental Proposal  reviews

Hermione finds out that she is really a Nott, and there are so many rules to being a Pureblood, too bad Draco Malfoy seems to have forgotten one of the most important rules of all! Hermione/Draco. Theo and Hermione are siblings. Ignores epilogue and off canon in some other places as well. Set in 8th year. Language, Fluff, and Lemons. Complete.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 36 - Words: 108,673 - Reviews: 1788 - Favs: 2,984 - Follows: 2,373 - Updated: Aug 26, 2017 - Published: May 24, 2016 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Ginny W., Theodore N. - Complete

After the Battle   reviews

By: WaitTilMyFatherHearsAboutThis

The Battle of Hogwarts is over. Not ten minutes ago, Harry Potter defeated Tom Riddle once and for all. As the initial cheering and celebrating dies down, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger look at each other from opposite ends of the Great Hall and visibly sag with relief. He's alive.. She survived..

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Angst - Chapters: 3 - Words: 50,068 - Reviews: 200 - Favs: 1,341 - Follows: 368 - Updated: Sep 3, 2016 - Published: Sep 2, 2016 - [Draco M., Hermione G.] - Complete

And We All Fall Down  reviews

By: Rumaan

The spring term at Hogwarts starts with a bang with the return of Draco Malfoy, back for his eighth year after a stint in Azkaban. But all is not right with Draco and Head Girl Hermione Granger can't help but get involved. EWE

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 30 - Words: 127,964 - Reviews: 1963 - Favs: 3,881 - Follows: 1,451 - Updated: Oct 26, 2012 - Published: Dec 26, 2011 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

Apple Pies and Other Amends  reviews

Sometimes you're sad. Sometimes you need dessert. And sometimes, it's a little of both. Runner-Up of the Winter 2017 Dramione Fanfiction Awards, "Best Epic-Sized Fic." [COMPLETE, Dramione]

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Hurt/Comfort - Chapters: 30 - Words: 80,182 - Reviews: 736 - Favs: 1,880 - Follows: 613 - Updated: Nov 9, 2016 - Published: Sep 28, 2016 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Harry P., Ron W. - Complete

Aurelian  reviews

Two years after the war, a young stranger pays a visit to the burrow. His arrival alone is baffling, but the news he brings of an upcoming war turns the world upside down. Hermione's quiet, post-war life will never be the same.

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Adventure/Romance - Chapters: 43 - Words: 270,577 - Reviews: 3632 - Favs: 6,870 - Follows: 1,956 - Updated: May 15, 2011 - Published: Dec 25, 2010 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Harry P., OC - Complete

Beautiful Things Can Come From The Dark   reviews

He finds her, broken and bleeding, and it will change everything. A rape aftermath story told from Draco Malfoy's POV. DHr

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 17 - Words: 135,873 - Reviews: 1010 - Favs: 2,995 - Follows: 1,065 - Updated: Nov 28, 2009 - Published: Jun 7, 2006 - Draco M., Hermione G. - Complete

Blood Traitor   reviews

Zalia

Draco Malfoy has been living a lie to protect the girl he loves. He has inherited the Veela gene and on his next birthday he will become the first male Veela for three hundred years. Canon (except the epilogue). Multiple other characters, detailed storyline and no patience for people looking for a smut-fest in every chapter. Apparently, my sense of humour can be rather entertaining

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 92 - Words: 186,031 - Reviews: 3134 - Favs: 3,614 - Follows: 3,991 - Updated: Feb 23, 2018 - Published: Mar 1, 2016 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] [Harry P., Ginny W.] - Complete

Bond  reviews

By: MrBenzedrine

What happens at "Bond" stays at "Bond" -Hermione is taken out for drinks at club "Bond", an establishment that can offer you anything from some alcohol and dancing to SO much more. When she, quite literally, falls into Draco Malfoy's lap, will she open up her mind and explore sexual desires she never knew she had? Kink. COMPLETE **FIRST PLACE: BEST SMUT 2017 Dramione Awards**

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 6 - Words: 51,654 - Reviews: 408 - Favs: 2,975 - Follows: 1,030 - Updated: May 24, 2017 - Published: Aug 3, 2016 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Pansy P., Blaise Z. - Complete

Christmas Eve Wine reviews

By: Columbrina

Relationships shatter at Christmas, but they also begin. ONE-SHOT.

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,260 - Reviews: 115 - Favs: 197 - Follows: 57 - Published: Dec 23, 2018 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

Chronos Historia  reviews

By: In Dreams

Hermione and Draco stumble upon a mysterious portal and find themselves hurtled back through time a thousand years. Forced to team up to find a way home, they quickly realize that much of the history they believed to be fact, wasn't true after all. A founders era, time travel Dramione. Winner of Most Creative Plot in the Granger Enchanted Awards 2018.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 27 - Words: 103,497 - Reviews: 1496 - Favs: 2,060 - Follows: 1,252 - Updated: Apr 8, 2018 - Published: Nov 5, 2017 - [Draco M., Hermione G.] Helena R., Bloody Baron - Complete

Conveniently Forgotten  reviews

By: RiverWriter

Draco wakes up in the hospital wing after taking a bludger to the head at quidditch practice and realizes that this just might be the perfect opportunity to finally steal the attention of his fellow Head Student, Hermione Granger. **My entry for the DramioneLove Mini Fest 2018** Prompt: "Who are you?"

Harry Potter - Rated: K+ - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,570 - Reviews: 75 - Favs: 360 - Follows: 95 - Published: Jun 11, 2018 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] - Complete

Count Your Blessings reviews

By: CJRed

Hermione is nursing a broken heart and planning a Christmas alone. But, when Draco Malfoy decides to crash her solo plans to avoid an arranged engagement, everything changes. One Witch, one Wizard, one Muggle cabin with an old record player, and two jaded souls. Can Christmas work its magic on these two? Long One Shot, written for Wordsmith and Beta's Holiday Aesthetic Fest.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 1 - Words: 15,007 - Reviews: 141 - Favs: 1,062 - Follows: 204 - Published: Nov 26, 2017 - [Draco M., Hermione G.] Harry P., Ginny W. - Complete

Eros & Psyche  reviews

By: RZZMG

Draco challenges Harry and friends to play EROS & PSYCHE, a scandalous card game with a dark, mysterious history. It's Slyth vs. Gryff, male vs. female, pride vs. desire in the ultimate game of hearts and amour! Pairings: Draco/Hermione,Blaise/Ginny,Ron/Pansy,Seamus/Lavender,Theo/Daphne,Harry/Tracey. AU 7th yr. Secrets, romance, angst, and sex await the turning of the first card...

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 66 - Words: 427,054 - Reviews: 7050 - Favs: 8,008 - Follows: 9,947 - Updated: Jul 25, 2018 - Published: Aug 2, 2010 - Hermione G., Draco M.

Every Day, a Little Death  reviews

(Didn’t like the fact that Hermione cheated on Draco- even more OOC thats I like)

By: lovesbitca8

It has become common knowledge that Hermione Granger cannot have an orgasm. Many have tried, none have succeeded. Can Draco Malfoy offer his assistance? / 8th Year AU - Complete

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 11 - Words: 69,214 - Reviews: 738 - Favs: 1,222 - Follows: 1,014 - Updated: Jan 25, 2019 - Published: Jul 4, 2018 - [Draco M., Hermione G.] - Complete

Everything Changes  reviews

By: inadaze22

“Thank you for cheating on me, Ron. It’s the best thing you could’ve done. Thank you for stopping me from making the worst mistake of my life.” My first Dramione story. Rated M for strong language and sexual content.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance - Chapters: 17 - Words: 76,191 - Reviews: 1100 - Favs: 5,110 - Follows: 1,043 - Updated: Jan 3, 2008 - Published: Dec 11, 2007 - Draco M., Hermione G. - Complete

Fairy Stone  reviews

By: Colubrina

Draco is sentenced to one year in Azkaban, release contingent upon someone willing to vouch for his good behavior. Hermione does. "Oh, I want you," he said. "You, just you, always you. You forever and you for always and you until the bloody sun explodes." Dramione. COMPLETE.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Hurt/Comfort/Romance - Chapters: 4 - Words: 13,827 - Reviews: 718 - Favs: 2,800 - Follows: 733 - Updated: May 1, 2015 - Published: Apr 25, 2015 - [Draco M., Hermione G.] - Complete

Genesis  reviews

By: Nautical Paramour

A series of drabbles to act as a sequel to Oblivion, based on the teased relationship from the epilogue. Exploring Hermione and Draco's relationship, where Voldemort is long dead, Lucius is in Azkaban, and they grow up as friends. Set in the Oblivion Universe. COMPLETE!

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Humor/Romance - Chapters: 30 - Words: 34,289 - Reviews: 694 - Favs: 269 - Follows: 333 - Updated: Feb 10 - Published: Sep 19, 2018 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Narcissa M., Regulus B. - Complete

Heavy Lies the Crown  reviews

By: luckei1

For seven years, Draco has carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, and just when he thinks he'll be released, something happens that will make him seek help from the last person he could have imagined.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Mystery/Romance - Chapters: 36 - Words: 289,967 - Reviews: 3186 - Favs: 5,679 - Follows: 2,091 - Updated: Feb 11, 2011 - Published: Jan 16, 2009 - Draco M., Hermione G. - Complete

How to Win Friends and Influence People  reviews

By: olivieblake

Real heroes never quit. Real villains never die. Dramione with ensemble cast, post-war, espionage AU. COMPLETE.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 42 - Words: 403,894 - Reviews: 3511 - Favs: 1,816 - Follows: 1,706 - Updated: Jun 4, 2018 - Published: Jun 15, 2017 - [Draco M., Hermione G.] [Harry P., Theodore N.] - Complete

Hunted  reviews

By: Bex-chan

Forced to work together when their old schoolmates start dying, Hermione & Draco must overcome their differences to solve the mysterious deaths. The tension in the office is getting rather...heated. Mature themes. 4years PostHogwarts/War. EWE. DMHG.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Mystery - Chapters: 36 - Words: 191,497 - Reviews: 2845 - Favs: 7,226 - Follows: 1,876 - Updated: Aug 28, 2010 - Published: Mar 29, 2010 - Draco M., Hermione G. - Complete

I Spy  reviews

By: gnrkrystle

Hermione is hand picked by Dumbledore to be the Order liaison for Draco when he decides to be a Spy for the Order in their 6th year. Read to find out more.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 31 - Words: 128,676 - Reviews: 1060 - Favs: 2,769 - Follows: 795 - Updated: Nov 6, 2012 - Published: Feb 7, 2011 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

Isolation  reviews

By: Bex-chan

He can't leave the room. Her room. And it's all the Order's fault. Confined to a small space with only the Mudblood for company, something's going to give. Maybe his sanity. Maybe not. "There," she spat. "Now your Blood's filthy too!" DM/HG. PostHBP.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Angst - Chapters: 48 - Words: 278,881 - Reviews: 16000 - Favs: 26,380 - Follows: 15,171 - Updated: Apr 5, 2014 - Published: Sep 2, 2010 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

It's All Uncharted  reviews

By: Bex-chan

"Are you ready?" she asked. Draco brushed the back of his hand against her forehead before tracing it down her cheek. "I was ready the moment you came back into my life, Granger. Are you ready?" "With you," she whispered, "I'm ready for anything."

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 38 - Words: 232,163 - Reviews: 1917 - Favs: 6,116 - Follows: 1,951 - Updated: Jan 22, 2012 - Published: Sep 19, 2011 - [Draco M., Hermione G.] Harry P., Ginny W. - Complete

Jealousy  reviews

By: rains rabble

"If I've harmed her?" He seethed, snaking into Harry's space, his voice dropping to a menacing hiss. "She comes to me crying and you have the nerve to question how I've treated her?"

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 23 - Words: 60,392 - Reviews: 1954 - Favs: 4,388 - Follows: 4,002 - Updated: Feb 20, 2018 - Published: May 17, 2005 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

Law of Love  reviews

By: GraceAbbene

Hermione is living a semi-normal life as a healer after the war. Well as normal as her life could be, until one day she finds out she's not really a Granger. She has a lot to adjust to & then the Minister passes a marriage law! Will she find love in something she was forced into? EDITED AND EPILOGUE

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 24 - Words: 80,304 - Reviews: 818 - Favs: 1,333 - Follows: 768 - Updated: Nov 17, 2014 - Published: Apr 25, 2009 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] [Harry P., Ginny W.] - Complete

Lily Potter's Biggest Secret  reviews

By: StrongHermione

Following a moment of passion, Lily Potter finds herself in a difficult position. She does her best to hide it. What happens when seventeen years later, her biggest secret comes to light? A story chronicling the formation of a family. Rated M for swearing and suggestive themes. AU, EWE?, Post War, Mild OOC, Spoilers. Pairings: HG/DM HP/GW SS/OC - COMPLETE

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Family - Chapters: 47 - Words: 454,346 - Reviews: 1373 - Favs: 2,385 - Follows: 1,112 - Updated: Jun 10, 2013 - Published: Jan 25, 2012 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Severus S. - Complete

Love and Forgiveness  reviews

By: HarryPGinnyW4eva

After the war and university, Hermione Granger lives in New York City beginning a new life. Draco Malfoy fled his life of misery, fear, and cowardice with Blaise Zabini. Can time and distance lead to forgiveness, and perhaps, love? Post DH Spoilers

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 39 - Words: 177,189 - Reviews: 951 - Favs: 1,144 - Follows: 357 - Updated: Apr 13, 2008 - Published: Jan 3, 2008 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

Love and Other Misfortunes  reviews

By: SenLinYu

Following the Battle of Hogwarts, Hermione Granger has devoted her career to the rights of magical beings and works reluctantly with the sardonic ministry lobbyist, Draco Malfoy. But there is ancient magic at work in the aftermath of the War and its consequence will be severe if Hermione fails to look up from her legislation and notice it. COMPLETE.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance - Chapters: 22 - Words: 99,603 - Reviews: 738 - Favs: 1,410 - Follows: 909 - Updated: Apr 30, 2018 - Published: Feb 11, 2018 - Draco M., Hermione G. - Complete

Love Me Twice reviews

By: Bex-chan

'"They tore her apart and then wiped me out of her mind to send me a message. To mess up my life. To break..." he trailed off. Blaise nodded his head with understanding. "To break your heart," he finished for him.' Dramione. One-shot.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 11,792 - Reviews: 634 - Favs: 4,041 - Follows: 629 - Published: Jan 4, 2012 - Draco M., Hermione G. - Complete

Manacled  reviews

By: SenLinYu

Harry Potter is dead. In the aftermath of the war, in order to strengthen the might of the magical world, Voldemort enacts a repopulation effort. Hermione Granger has an Order secret locked away in her mind. She is sent as an enslaved surrogate to the High Reeve, to be bred and monitored until it can be accessed. COMPLETE.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Angst/Mystery - Chapters: 77 - Words: 384,000 - Reviews: 4892 - Favs: 2,056 - Follows: 2,191 - Updated: Aug 18, 2019 - Published: Apr 27, 2018 - Hermione G., Draco M., Voldemort, Astoria G. - Complete

Mine  reviews

By: HufflepuffMommy

Hermione Granger is a single mother. The last thing she needed was to get involved with anyone, especially Draco Malfoy. Love however, has other plans. Rated M for mature themes later on. (Hermione/Draco) (Harry/Ginny)

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 20 - Words: 53,004 - Reviews: 330 - Favs: 1,035 - Follows: 449 - Updated: Nov 20, 2015 - Published: Nov 5, 2015 - Harry P., Hermione G., Draco M., Ginny W. - Complete

Mugglefied  reviews

By: DragonGrin - former TeenTypist

"For crimes committed against the wizarding and Muggle world while underage, I hereby sentence you to one year without magic." Draco stood stiffly, his knees locked to help keep him upright. So many spectators. Potter and Granger were there, Weasel-less. His knees finally buckled and he crumpled to the floor in a faint. Chapter 66. COMPLETE. EWE. Dramione.

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Hurt/Comfort/Romance - Chapters: 66 - Words: 250,257 - Reviews: 1637 - Favs: 1,300 - Follows: 1,835 - Updated: Feb 7 - Published: Feb 27, 2015 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Harry P., George W. - Complete

The Nietzsche Classes  reviews

By: Beringae

The Ministry takes action against the remaining prejudice in the wizarding society and asks Hermione for help. “What do you want? Money? Power? Name your price, Granger. I’m not about to let pride get in my way when an Azkaban sentence is on the line.”

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Drama/Romance - Chapters: 15 - Words: 45,807 - Reviews: 2241 - Favs: 6,059 - Follows: 1,136 - Updated: Apr 8, 2006 - Published: Oct 2, 2005 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

Observations of a Pure Blood Debutant reviews

By: rainsrabble

Narcissa watching Draco watch Hermione. She draws some very startling conclusions. One Shot. Complete.

Harry Potter - Rated: K - English - Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,294 - Reviews: 856 - Favs: 4,023 - Follows: 604 - Published: Jun 26, 2005 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

Presque Toujours Pur  reviews

By: ShayaLonnie

Bellatrix's torture of Hermione uncovers a long-kept secret. The young witch learns her true origins in a story that shows the beginning and end of the Wizarding wars as Hermione learns about her biological father and the blood magic he dabbled in that will control her future.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Family/Romance - Chapters: 38 - Words: 174,032 - Reviews: 6769 - Favs: 12,291 - Follows: 5,265 - Updated: Oct 27, 2016 - Published: Mar 31, 2015 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Sirius B., Regulus B. - Complete

Protective Custody  reviews

By: Colubrina

After the war the Ministry decided that all children and most wives of Death Eaters needed to be placed in 'protective custody' with 'trustworthy citizens' but no one wanted Draco Malfoy. AU. Dramione. COMPLETE

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 3 - Words: 12,334 - Reviews: 490 - Favs: 1,770 - Follows: 347 - Updated: Jan 23, 2015 - Published: Jan 1, 2015 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] - Complete

Rebuilding  reviews

By: Colubrina

Hermione Granger returns to Hogwarts to help rebuild the shattered castle the summer after the war. She and the other summer resident - and eventually their friends - have to come to terms with how the war broke more than just the walls of the building. Follows multiple Hogwarts students through '8th year' and one additional year of early adulthood. COMPLETE.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Hurt/Comfort - Chapters: 300 - Words: 263,336 - Reviews: 37443 - Favs: 6,146 - Follows: 4,115 - Updated: May 11, 2016 - Published: Aug 10, 2015 - Hermione G., Draco M., Pansy P., Theodore N. - Complete

Rewriting Destiny  reviews

By: mayawrites95

They thought after Voldemort's fall that the world would get better. But they were wrong. The Death Eaters are still ruling, using politics instead of hexes. With the dwindling Wizarding population and no one left to fight, they must go back in time to before Voldemort rose to power to fix what broke in the past. Nominated for Best James and Best Peter in the 2018 Marauder Medals!

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Adventure/Romance - Chapters: 76 - Words: 327,788 - Reviews: 1284 - Favs: 949 - Follows: 1,084 - Updated: Feb 24 - Published: Jan 1, 2018 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Lily Evans P., Marauders - Complete

Sacrifice   reviews

By: Kyra4

Dramione. PostHogwarts. Hermione sacrifices her virginity for a good cause. Complete.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Hurt/Comfort/Angst - Chapters: 2 - Words: 8,505 - Reviews: 394 - Favs: 1,836 - Follows: 370 - Updated: Aug 17, 2006 - Published: Jul 22, 2006 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

Sex Ed   reviews

By: MrBenzedrine

Hermione Granger comes to Hogwarts to teach a much needed Biology curriculum to the students. Draco Malfoy, the Potions teacher, doesn't approve of the sex ed. A bet ensues. Who will come out victorious? Rated M for lemons. COMPLETE. ****FIRST PLACE: BEST FLUFF/HUMOR 2017 Dramione Awards***

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 31 - Words: 142,690 - Reviews: 1479 - Favs: 2,867 - Follows: 1,236 - Updated: Jun 1, 2017 - Published: Jul 4, 2016 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Ron W., Neville L. - Complete

Simply Irresistible   reviews

By: bookworm1993

Draco gave a cocky grin. "I am going to give you a makeover." "I'm sorry what?" "You heard me Granger, I'm going to give you a makeover that will make every man want you,and make Weasley die of regret. You will be simply irresistible."

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 30 - Words: 77,494 - Reviews: 6069 - Favs: 14,305 - Follows: 5,000 - Updated: Oct 21, 2012 - Published: Nov 8, 2009 - Draco M., Hermione G. - Complete

Static   reviews

By: galfoy

The Order rescued Draco and Lucius Malfoy after Lord Voldemort turned on them. All the safe houses are full, and Hermione Granger is the only one who can take them in. Will she agree after having suffered a drastic nervous breakdown?

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 21 - Words: 75,632 - Reviews: 1535 - Favs: 4,716 - Follows: 1,194 - Updated: Sep 23, 2011 - Published: Sep 6, 2011 - Draco M., Hermione G. - Complete

Switch   reviews

By: RZZMG

Hermione wanted a night with an anonymous, skilled & sensual partner to teach her to be a sub in bed, but when Draco Malfoy pursues her after, can a girl avoid the sinful temptations of the flesh available at a fetish nightclub? PostHogwarts-EWE. Story won multiple categories at the 2011 Summer & 2012 Spring Rounds of the HP Fanfic Fan Poll Awards-see profile for details. COMPLETE!

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Drama/Romance - Chapters: 18 - Words: 43,826 - Reviews: 1102 - Favs: 2,343 - Follows: 808 - Updated: Jun 9, 2011 - Published: May 7, 2011 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

Tainted by the Past   reviews

By: CelticPagan-3

The Golden Trio have saved the Wizarding World & lived to tell the tale. What will they do with a future they never thought they'd get? The boys escape their last childhood restraints, Hermione finishes her education & tries find a way to escape the future her parents have planned. She develops an unlikely friendship with Draco Malfoy who returns to Hogwarts to escape his own past.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Angst - Chapters: 31 - Words: 222,280 - Reviews: 534 - Favs: 1,314 - Follows: 611 - Updated: May 31, 2013 - Published: Aug 3, 2012 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

The Brightest Black   reviews

By: Enigmaticrose4

On that fateful Halloween night Bellatrix Lestrange decided to sate her bloodlust on an innocent muggleborn family. Life is never again the same for the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Drama/Romance - Chapters: 72 - Words: 278,018 - Reviews: 4468 - Favs: 3,955 - Follows: 3,237 - Updated: Jul 15, 2017 - Published: Mar 17, 2016 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Harry P., Narcissa M. - Complete

The Deadline   reviews

By: Lena Phoria

It takes the unexpected engagement of their children to get Draco and Hermione in a room together, but only the selfish acts of their estranged spouses and a 300 Galleon bottle of firewhiskey will get them in a bedroom. What starts out as a one time mistake soon becomes a full-blown affair with a deadline; the day their children say 'I do'. But things rarely go according to plan.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 39 - Words: 329,548 - Reviews: 3479 - Favs: 4,464 - Follows: 2,339 - Updated: Oct 3, 2014 - Published: Nov 8, 2013 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] [Rose W., Scorpius M.] - Complete

The Eagle's Nest   reviews

By: HeartOfAspen

COMPLETE: Hermione's eighth year at Hogwarts is already going to be difficult in the aftermath of the war, but it is further thrown into upheaval when Headmistress McGonagall orders a re-sorting of all students to promote inter-house unity. But when the Sorting Hat sends Hermione to Ravenclaw with Draco - and without Harry or Ron, how will she cope? [AU/Dramione] Prevalent alchemy.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance - Chapters: 70 - Words: 306,322 - Reviews: 5315 - Favs: 4,380 - Follows: 4,470 - Updated: Jan 2 - Published: Apr 12, 2016 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Theodore N. - Complete

The Green Girl   reviews

By: Columbria

Hermione is sorted into Slytherin; how will things play out differently when the brains of the Golden Trio has different friends? AU. Darkish Dramione. COMPLETE.

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Romance - Chapters: 22 - Words: 150,467 - Reviews: 5417 - Favs: 10,784 - Follows: 3,723 - Updated: Apr 26, 2015 - Published: Feb 6, 2015 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Harry P., Daphne G. - Complete

The Longest Distance Between Two Places  reviews

By: RZZMG

Time is immutable... but filled with magical possibilities. Hermione Granger discovers this truth after an accident in the Dept. of Mysteries leads to a series of bizarre, random encounters with a handsome young man donning Slytherin colours. -"I never believed in fate until I met you."- Time-travel/star-cross love fic. Drama/Romance/Angst. 2013 Hermione-Smut Fest entry.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Drama/Romance - Chapters: 15 - Words: 48,244 - Reviews: 551 - Favs: 1,134 - Follows: 555 - Updated: Feb 8, 2015 - Published: May 3, 2014 - Hermione G., Rabastan L. - Complete

The Muddy Princess   reviews

By: Columbrina

Just another Pureblood!Hermione story. A hidden adoption revealed, a brother found, a new world to figure out: "What are you hoping for?" he asked as they stood ready to do the spell. "I don't know," Hermione admitted. "You?" His knuckles were white on his wand. "A sister," he said, his voice very low, "I'm hoping for a sister." Winner 2015 Energize WIP Awards. COMPLETE.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance - Chapters: 22 - Words: 62,710 - Reviews: 3794 - Favs: 6,999 - Follows: 3,523 - Updated: Aug 18, 2015 - Published: Mar 30, 2015 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Theodore N. - Complete

The Pretense   reviews

By: Columbrina

Voldemort died, but the Death Eaters live on. Hermione Granger traded herself to Draco Malfoy in exchange for safe passage for core Order members. Now he's pretending to love her, Narcissa is pretending to believe that, and Hermione is walking a tightrope behind enemy lines as she figures out what is going on. Unfortunately, people fall off tightropes. (no non-con)

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Romance/Friendship - Chapters: 50 - Words: 108,164 - Reviews: 6410 - Favs: 2,224 - Follows: 2,682 - Updated: Nov 7, 2018 - Published: Jul 25, 2017 - [Draco M., Hermione G.] - Complete

The Right Thing To Do  reviews

(There’s one from Draco’s perspective that I didn’t read because this one already had too much angst for my taste)

By: lovesbitca8

Hermione felt the pounding in her ears again. She would see him for the first time since the Great Hall, gaunt and stricken at the Slytherin table with his mother clutching his arm. She hadn't meant to look for him. Not in the corridors, not beneath the white sheets of the fallen, not on the way to the Chamber of Secrets with Ron, but she was a stupid girl.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 36 - Words: 181,287 - Reviews: 2948 - Favs: 4,004 - Follows: 2,142 - Updated: Apr 12, 2018 - Published: Jul 8, 2017 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] Harry P., Ginny W. - Complete

The Wrong Strain   reviews

By: Colubrina

Everyone knew what veela were. Veela were magical creatures, breathtakingly beautiful, who captivated men with a single look. It would have been nice to have been that strain. Instead, Hermione Granger was infected by another. Instead of captivating all men, she was captivated by one. She'd die without him. She was already in almost constant pain. DRAMIONE. COMPLETE.

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Romance/Angst - Chapters: 48 - Words: 85,610 - Reviews: 12211 - Favs: 4,761 - Follows: 3,284 - Updated: May 15, 2017 - Published: Jan 4, 2017 - [Draco M., Hermione G.] - Complete

Unity   reviews

By: PalmettoBlue

Follows our favorites in the 8th year & Marriage law. "Don't you get it, Granger? We will belong to each other." EWE. Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the HP universe. (AU/OOC/EWE)

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 22 - Words: 87,392 - Reviews: 831 - Favs: 2,319 - Follows: 1,243 - Updated: Aug 22, 2015 - Published: Mar 5, 2015 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] - Complete

Unmasked reviews

By: RZZMG

Divorcee-single dad Draco Malfoy goes to the Yule Charity Masquerade and sees the woman of his dreams, but will Hermione Granger still want him when he's finally unmasked? One-shot. Post-Hogwarts EWE. Dramione/Draco x Hermione. Romance/Drama/Hot Shag. Story won 2nd Place-"BEST DRACO" at the 2010 Winter Round of the HP Fanfic Fan Poll Awards-see profile for details. COMPLETE!

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 19,341 - Reviews: 176 - Favs: 1,750 - Follows: 245 - Published: Dec 22, 2010 - Draco M., Hermione G. - Complete

Vibrations  reviews

By: Craft Rose

After three years of a mundane, sexless existence and far too much wine, our favourite brunette happens upon the magic equivalent of a sex line. There, an intriguing, deliciously devilish caller manages to pique her interest. It's all fun and anonymous, u

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Chapters: 6 - Words: 23,452 - Reviews: 497 - Favs: 1,910 - Follows: 651 - Updated: Nov 14, 2014 - Published: Mar 10, 2014 - [Draco M., Hermione G.] - Complete

We Learned the Sea   reviews

By: luckei1

Draco Malfoy turns himself in after a very successful career as a Death Eater, then enlists Harry and Hermione to help him in a scheme to bring down the Dark Lord. DHr. A story of forgiveness.

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Drama/Romance - Chapters: 37 - Words: 201,007 - Reviews: 4712 - Favs: 8,112 - Follows: 2,079 - Updated: Sep 7, 2007 - Published: Sep 7, 2006 - Draco M., Hermione G. - Complete

What the Room Requires   reviews

By: Alydia Rackham

Hermione is the one who finds Draco weeping in the bathroom. He flees. She chases him into the Room of Requirement, and the room forces them to face their greatest fears together in order to find the door.

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 26 - Words: 111,821 - Reviews: 4410 - Favs: 6,845 - Follows: 1,937 - Updated: Feb 10, 2011 - Published: Dec 5, 2010 - Hermione G., Draco M. - Complete

Without Her Letter   reviews

By: Colubrina

A decision is made to protect Muggle-borns from the continual war by not inviting them to Hogwarts. This was, perhaps, not a wise choice. Hermione Granger was certainly not amused. Dramione. AU. COMPLETE.

Harry Potter - Rated: T - English - Romance - Chapters: 3 - Words: 8,881 - Reviews: 682 - Favs: 1,868 - Follows: 764 - Updated: Jan 3, 2016 - Published: Dec 28, 2015 - [Hermione G., Draco M.] [Narcissa M., Lucius M.] - Complete

You Ought to Know   reviews

By: LittleEagle22

Ronald Weasley didn't know it then, but the day that he broke her heart, he drove her straight into the arms of the last person he ever thought he'd see her with.

Harry Potter - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 8 - Words: 38,216 - Reviews: 272 - Favs: 1,396 - Follows: 508 - Updated: Feb 19, 2013 - Published: Jun 20, 2012 - Draco M., Hermione G. - Complete

[abadpoetwithdreams]

Nirvana in Fire Episode 11 Reaction

I took a break from watching Nirvana in Fire for a day to watch the Fullmetal Alchemist film that just released here in the States, and while that was an unexpectedly enjoyable diversion (if a bit too wild in its severe tonal moodswings) it feels so good to be back in hell! What fresh miseries await me this episode, I wonder. (In an additional note I feel compelled to add that I wrote the above intro back at the end of February, when I did not know that illness/the loss of my phone/a crazy busy St. Patrick's day show schedule would mean this recap was delayed not by a few days but instead by a full MONTH. But I’m finally back, so sorry about the wait ^_^)

In keeping with established Nirvana in Fire tradition we pick up right where we left off, but with the added spice of a flashback insert! We flashback to the night at the brothel when young He murdered Qiu, but this time we see it from Prince Supreme Ji's POV. Someone was beaten to death? Let me have a look! he exclaims, which would be the opposite of my reaction were I in his place. But his reaction does mean he is a potential star witness.

And we cut from the flashback not back to Team Good Boys and Ji, but to Banruo! Whaaaa? Oh, this was the information on the murder case that she got from one of her spy girls last episode. She is now reporting to Prince Yu. Since there were a lot of less important witnesses, Gao Sheng did not feel the need to have Ji testify, so Yu's team missed this until now. This throws a major wrench into Prince Yu's plans, because if he goes through with his plan to acquit He, his uncle will undoubtedly tell the Emperor the truth about what he saw, and of course the Prince Supreme is not a witness Yu can bully or bribe into silence. Banruo agrees that if Baron Wen Yuan, Qiu's father, asks Ji to testify then that is the end for Team Yu, who cannot now continue being sneaky due to this potential disaster. Saving one of your ally's sons is not worth falling out with your uncle, Banruo tells Yu: It seems that He Wen Xin can't be saved.

Yu is deeply unhappy. He refuses to give up on helping his supporter, and he says he has to make sure the Ministry of Justice is not implicated. Then he turns to Banruo: Fortunately, I have you, he tells her. He compliments her cleverness and alertness in finding out about Ji, and set his hand on her shoulder while asking How should I reward you? Oh, she toooootally likes that. I'm pretty sure she has a crush on Yu. She just tells him that even though she is a woman she likes legends about emperors and the chance to work for the future emperor is enough reward. I think she is lying. Her answer pleases him, but she has serious heart eyes going on. Either Yu does not notice or he is happy to ignore them. Just then, there is a knock on the door and it is Yu's wife summoning him to dinner, lolllllllll Banruo looks really put out at having her Moment spoiled. Does the Princess Consort realize Banruo has a massive crush on her husband? Hard to tell.

Now we go to the Crown Prince and Marquis Xie, who are chatting about the brothel murder scandal. CP is very happy: It would be great to drag the father down with this case as well. The Marquis dismisses this, saying the Baron Wen Yuan is already taking care of that so Team CP doesn't have to worry about it lol. Instead, the Marquis tells CP that his top priority should be getting his disgraced mother back in the Emperor's good books. She was expelled from the palace, remember, so the Marquis points out that Yu now has the advantage of his mother still being in the palace to pass along news and gossip to him, while CP is blind. CP says sure, he is definitely worried about that but there is nothing he can do, it is his father's decision to reinstate CP's mom or not. The Marquis leans forward meaningfully and says that New Year's is only a month away. The New Year ritual is significant somehow in potentially putting the Consort back in power, but CP and I both don't really know what the Marquis is getting at. I expect he will enlighten us.

Cut to yet another loser nobleman's son being released from custody seemingly, but this is a guy we haven't met before. His father is Master Chen, another official I don't think we have met before. He is hugely grateful to the man who arranged the release of his corrupt, arms-dealing son. And who is this man? Why, the Marquis himself! Okay, what is he up to. He obviously wants this official to owe him a favor.

It turns out this favor involves that New Year's end-of-year ritual aforementioned. In the ritual, the Emperor prays to heaven and to earth. Concubines below second rank are not allowed to accompany him onto the ritual platform. The Crown Prince, being the heir to the throne, also has a role in the ritual: he must sprinkle wine on the platform, pray to heaven, and then touch the ground while keeping in contact with his parents' garments to indicate filial piety. OHHHH OH I SEE WHERE THE MARQUIS IS GOING WITH THIS. CP's mom, Consort Yue, HAS to be on that platform for the ritual, but she CAN'T be on the platform if she is a disgraced lower level concubine. Thus she will have to be reinstated before the ritual!

The Marquis is very theatrically smug while he lays this all out with Chen. I am confused, he says, innocently: how should Imperial Concubine Yue place? Is she considered Crown Prince's mother or a lowly ranked concubine? Should she go on the platform to attend the ritual or kneel outside? Chen starts to say there is a simple solution, but we do not find out what it is because the Marquis cuts him off very threateningly. Chen realizes he is being strongarmed and meekly asks for advice. The Marquis just tells him to make sure to inform the Emperor of this complicated problem. As Minister of Rites, you have the say [in interpreting the ritual's rules], the Marquis says. So THAT is why he needed Chen's help! Okay, got it. Very sneaky.

Also, the Marquis stresses how it is essential everything go smoothly and correctly for the end of year ritual in order to make sure the next year is untroubled, and all I can think about is Mei Chang Su lololol do whatever you want with the ritual I don't think it will help much with keeping the new year uneventful.

Sure enough, Minister Chen tells the Emperor about how difficult it is to arrange CP's ritual with his mother demoted like that. CP himself is kneeling nearby listening, with his sad mama's boy face on. The Emperor considers, but then the Marquis is announced as having arrived to talk about some military stuff. Oh, the Emperor says, I forgot I arranged to meet him today. Well, since he is here, let us ask him his opinion on the ritual problem! It will be good to have someone totally disinterested and not involved in this mess give their opinion, what good luck he is here. THIS IS A DUMB EMPEROR.

There is as very awkward silence between CP, the Marquis, and Minister Chen while they all stand around watching the Emperor read the report and pretend not to know each other, lol. But then the Emperor asks the Marquis if he would be willing to help by answering a question: Do you think that it's inappropriate to restore Imperial Concubine Yue to her title as Noble Consort? Oh, says the Marquis, demurring, This is a matter of the Inner Court, I don't dare say much about it. How he lies and lies. I hate that Jing Rui lives with him and loves him. I hate it. I hate it so much.

The Emperor insists on an answer, so the Marquis replies that he thinks Yue deserves credit for CP's good virtues. Which SHOULD mean that he is saying she should be exiled not just from the palace but from the entire city itself because CP has NO good virtues whatsoever, but of course he is pretending CP isn't a useless slug of a man. He says furthermore that Yue was demoted simply for offending a superior, which everyone in court secretly thought was unduly harsh punishment, and so if the Emperor is willing to forgive her now, what is he waiting for?

Oh, says the Emperor, I forgot you would not know this Inner Court secret: Yue was actually demoted because she insulted Ni Huang in the palace. (Remember the Marquis was TOTALLY in on that plan, wowwww the nerve of this man.) I'm worried that if I pardon her sins too easily, it will be disappointing to the soldiers on the southern border. Yeah, the last thing you should want is a Ni Huang-led coup, Emperor. It is kind of remarkable that Ni Huang can have an army and the Emperor is wary of it but Jing also has an army and no one cares lolol. Hers is more powerful I suppose. But still.

CP interjects that he will personally apologize to Ni Huang on his mother's behalf, please forgive his mommm. The Marquis calmly lays out that this qualm of the Emperor's actually makes it even more necessary that he pardon Yue, because no matter how powerful and highborn Ni Huang is, she is still a subject of Imperial Concubine Yue. If she holds a grudge against her for a one time mistake that isn't how a subject should behave. A one-time mistake, oh my gosh. But of course the Marquis is still playing the role of someone who doesn't know that this one-time mistake was attempted rape -.-

He further tells the Emperor that speaking as a military man, he knows that it's easier for those with merits in the army to grow arrogant. The Emperor has already handed down extremely severe punishment to his Consort and his heir on behalf of Ni Huang; that is already more than she deserves and the Emperor should not continue to indulge her for fear that she will grow proud beyond her station. The Emperor just chuckles and says That isn't what Ni Huang is like, and it is so weird how he is so doting and nice to Ni Huang but is just the worst about everything else!

The Marquis then plays his trump card: Back then, Blaze Army grew to such an overpowering strength . . . wasn't it because we did not restrain them sooner? SHut uP YOU VICIOUS HORRID MAN YOU VIPER

The Emperor is not laughing now. He is silent a long time, then asks the Minister of Rites his opinion. Of course Minister Chen backs the Marquis. The Emperor is silent a moment longer, than says he will make a decree.

Aaaaaand then we cut to Prince Yu smashing some porcelain in a rage, and we all know what that means: The Emperor's decree was an announcement that he is reinstating Yue to her high rank. The win Yu managed to get over CP has been effectively negated. Yu's poor wife shows up to ask his opinion on New Year's gifts she is planning for his royal parents, and she tries to apologize for whatever caused him to be angry, but to his credit even though he is furious he does seem like he is trying not to take his anger out on her. He assures her she has done nothing wrong and explains the situation. Since his wife apparently gets along with Empress Yan very well, he tells her to visit his mom more often to comfort her since this turn of events is sure to bother her even more than it bothers him.

But you know who is bothered most of all? BEST BROTHER IN THE WORLD MU QING, THAT IS WHO. He's back! Along with Ni Huang herself! I guess it is a sign of how well-paced this show is that the instant I start missing characters they come back into the action. I had almost forgotten just how adorable Mu is, but he is a darling and very, very upset. There aren't even any legs for him to break this time, either. Xia Dong is also here and agrees with the raging Mu that this isn't fair. What is justice? she laments. But the placid Ni Huang says they don't have to convince her to be outraged, she already is. It is just that she already knew this was coming. Now that the Southern border is at peace, it is a perfect moment for the Emperor to reinstate his authority over her, she says. Mu is not appeased. He suggests visiting that clever Mei Chang Su to ask him for a plan by which Ni Huang can “vent her anger”, which just makes me think of her like TPing the palace or something. Stop being such a kid, Mu Qing. No, wait, I take that back. Never change. Ni Huang looks verrrrry thoughtful when Su is brought up. Is she still thinking about his weird reaction to the Lin family house?

Cut to Mei Chang Su! He is sitting on a stack of books with his socked feet propped up close to the warmth of his usual brazier and it's so cute imma cry you guys. And GUESS WHAT IS IN A BOWL NEXT TO HIM. TANGERINES. THEY'RE BAAAAAAACK. MY FAVE SIDE CHARACTERS.

Looks like he ate only one this time, and is making a game of tossing fruit over his shoulder for Fei Liu to catch and eat as Fei Liu demands. I love how he spoils his murder boy. Su is more intent on reading some stuff that he is also burning so idk what that is.

Then who shows up but Meng!! Yaaaay! He is astonished that Su is so relaxed (lol) and when Su asks why, what else should he be, Meng says Don't you know that Yue has been restored to her title??? Su's expression is less surprised and more Oh, yeah, that. Whatever. I'm sure he knew this was coming even before he managed to have her demoted to begin with. I have so much faith in his smarts.

I just came from Prince Mu's manor, Meng says. Young Prince Mu was so angry that he nearly left teeth marks in his cedar chair! Fei Liu pipes up nonchalantly from his fruit corner: It's very easy to bite. LOL WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. Fei Liu said it, Su says pleasantly to Meng, Cedar is very soft and easy to bite. It is very unfair of Troll Son and Troll Dad to gang up on poor Meng like this, but I am loving it, more more more! and then Su caps it off by innocently offering Meng a TANGERINE and that's the last straw I LOVE when this show has these weird humor moments I LOVE THEM

Quit fooling around, Meng says, disgusted that he is the only sane person here. Also he calls Su Xiao Shu again and like that is super cute in this rare playful scene but also excuse me while I go curl up in a corner and cry about Royal Grandma for a few minutes because that trauma never goes away.

Su explains that nope, he isn't surprised about Yue. The crime was severe, yes, but it was directed at Ni Huang, not the emperor himself. Our emperor never cared about the sufferings of other people, he says lightly, (what is this weird fey mood he has gotten himself into) It isn't as if you didn't know that. Meng makes a face. You don't have to say that about His Majesty, Meng complains. Nah, I'm gonna say Xiao Shu can say whatever the heck he wants about the Emperor, Meng. I'm with him on this one.

Meng explains about the whole ritual mess and why it is because CP needs his mom on the platform that Yue is being given her rank back, not because of the emperor not caring about people or whatever. Immediately Su asks: Doesn't Crown Prince have a legal mother? Wait what

Cut to the Emperor and CP walking together. The Emperor dismisses CP and tells him to go be with his mom since she has just been reinstated and all. CP thanks his dad and reiterates his intention to go to Mu's manor and apologize to Ni Huang. But instead of this pleasing his father, it enrages him. You can't get anything right! The Emperor yells at his worthless son. You are the heir! Only the emperor is above you! How dare CP demean his rank by apologizing in person??? The emperor will send someone else instead. CP looks pleased once the Emperor has walked away, I think because this shows the emperor is unwittingly showing he is invested in his chosen son's status again.

Back to Su, who has left his book-and-tangerine throne while he explains animatedly to Meng. According to the ritual, the Crown Prince should kneel down while holding onto the garments of his father and legal mother, the empress. Isn't that then what true filial piety is? OHHHHHHH. CLEVER. Also Hu Ge is so cute in how he delivers these lines, mercy.

In past years, Yue held high enough rank that she was allowed to stand on the platform with the Emperor and Empress, and thus CP was allowed to touch her robe instead of the Empress'. Su points out however that it really is more proper that CP hold the Empress' robe anyway, so reinstating Yue on these grounds is all just a ploy, not really a matter of sound ritual at all. Meng admits he thought the Minster of Rites must have a reason for bringing up this supposed ritual problem to the Emperor. Su suddenly looks like he is paying more attention. Chen Yuan Zhi? he asks. He sighs and rolls his eyes like oh, well, and then says: Since it has come to this, it's about time to tackle him. Are you freaking kidding me, Su.

(Also the camera pulls back and I see that he's been holding a tangerine this entire time asdghjkl)

Meng is instantly super worried. The Crown Prince holds too many advantages if Su wants to take out the Minister of Rites! Have you thought it through? He asks. Su looks slightly affronted to be questioned in such a way, and shuts Meng down by offering him that tangerine. Can all Su's deflection tactics in future continue to involve tangerines please. He should have brought some with him when Ni Huang insisted on that walk by his house. You want me to walk inside that creepy old place? Nah I'd rather eat this fruit over here actually Problem solved

Cut to some kinda court session, lots of ministers are there as well as the two rival princes, all reporting to the Emperor. CP, all grins, says the Minister of Rites has everything prepared for that ritual. The emperor approves, but then suddenly one of the background officials steps forward. He says his name is Tian De Zhi, he is the Deputy Censor-in-chief, and he wants to impeach the Minister of Rites. HO BOY. Does he work for Su or how does he know about the loophole? Maybe he is just smart enough to realize it on his own?? Or Su clued him in somehow??? CP is FURIOUS and tries to shut this down fast, but of course Yu intercedes. Censors are allowed to impeach people, and furthermore he hasn't even said why he wants to impeach, so just chill, he tells CP. Let him have his say!

Tian De Zhi says the Minister of Rites has seen the ritual being done improperly for years and has stayed silent, which is a dereliction of duty both morally and legally. Noble Consort overstepped the authority of the empress. Crown Prince showed no act of respect to the Empress in the ritual. It is an act against filial piety.

CP flies into a panicked rage. Yu seizes upon the opportunity to act calm and mature and logical: don't get angry, CP, we are not in a competition to see who can yell the loudest in front of the emperor, Tian just pointed out a super valid problem that we need to fix, is all. For someone who breaks dishes when he is upset, Yu sure does know how to act the cool-headed and responsible one when he needs to. What a slug. (Also the fact that CP squeaks whenever he is angry is still one of my favourite acting choices of any actor in this entire show. Makes me giggle every single time.)

The Emperor talks about how the Minister of Rites has been in this role for a long time so he would know better than anyone how to run these rituals. He cannot be wrong! Yu smoothly says that yes, probably so, however since there is a legitimate disagreement in the court about how to correctly interpret the requirements of the ritual, there should be a formal debate on the matter. He specifically says that Confucian scholars not currently in office should come debate the problem in court (I am guessing since these would be more senior scholars and ideally "purer" ideologically since they are not tied by political allegiances) to settle on an answer once and for all. CP looks horrified. He thought his life was on the upswing again, how did this happen??? He looks on the verge of tears, but he cannot think of any reasonable argument against this course of action, so the Emperor agrees to Yu's proposal, saying that it seems sensible. CP glares actual daggers at his very smug-looking brother. ALSO, since Yu was so fast with proposing this plan, I am guessing that means less that Tian knows Su and more that Su told Yu to make this happen and Yu strong-armed, bribed, or tricked Tian into helping him.

The Empress asks her foster-son later how he knew to set this plan in motion. Sure enough: Mei Chang Su gave him the idea. She is worried it means losing favor with the Emperor, since Yue is his favourite and we already know his patience is wearing thin for his sons fighting, but Yu is confident. Su says it is worth the risk to make sure Yue loses her influence, he tells his foster mother, plus even making this issue a point of debate reminds everyone in the court that CP is actually an illegitimate son even if he IS the heir at this point in time. If everyone is reminded that CP is both illegitimate AND not the Emperor's eldest son, and is really only in power because the Emperor says so, then if the Emperor were to strip him of his title and give it to someone else--like, say, to Prince Yu--then it would not be such a scandal and no one could really protest on CP's behalf because he doesn't really have any claim to the throne outside of the Emperor's favor. This whole affair will reinforce how tenuous his hold on the throne actually is.

(Of course, this also works in Prince Jing's favor, but Prince Yu has not realized that yet. I sort of feel bad about how Yu will feel when he realizes his precious Divine Talent friend has actually been backstabbing him this entire time, but then I remember what an odious twat he is and I don't feel quite as sympathetic. I still do a little, but it might just be me dreading the secondhand embarrassment of seeing him realize just how he has been played. Sigh. I hope he remains oblivious for a long time.)

And now we cut to--OH NO IT IS NI HUANG AND MEI CHANG SU. I brace myself for the Feels, but without much hope. So far I haven't been able to guard successfully against any of the emotional drubbing this show has dealt me.

They are walking together in Ni Huang's courtyard, and there are all these flowers everywhere ghhh. Su comments on how Ni Huang has seemed so unperturbed by all the insults and attacks she has suffered since she came home to the capitol. She replies as she turns to admire some plum (I think? I'm so bad with flowers) blossoms: It's just that after going through bloodshed on the battlefields I do feel a bit bothered by such malicious plots in the harem. I just don't wish to brood over it, that's all.

And then Mei Chang Su, this DUMB BOY, reaches out and plucks a fallen flower from her hair because he just can't help himself this SAD IDIOT this LONELY GENIUS FOOL. Of course she notices, and turns around in time to catch his WHOOPS expression as he realizes he has Done It Again. I freaking love every time he forgets himself around his two best loves, whether it is him smiling at Jing, or touching Ni Huang with obvious affection. He is just so untouchable except around these two and he just can't stop tripping over his heart when he is with them and I adore it. It is so sad but I adore it.

Ni Huang looks a little weirded out but mostly pleased, and Su quickly walks away, inwardly screaming. He tries to distract her by complimenting the garden, lol, but just look at the smile on Ni Huang's face as she catches up to him, she is not so easily distracted. She has just put another mark down on her mental list of 101 Reasons Why Mei Chang Su Is Lin Shu. She says not many people in the capitol are in the mood to admire plum blossoms anymore, what with all the turmoil. Su again brings this back to the attack on her by Yue, suggesting Ni Huang hasn't vented about it enough (is he just still worried about that and wants her to talk about it to him lol) but Ni Huang dismisses that suggestion: She is talking more about the increasing aggression of the struggle between CP and Yu. I heard that you were also involved, so I asked a bit more about it, she tells Su. He answers by asking her who she thinks will win the debate on the New Year's rite. Empress Yan doesn't have a son, Ni Huang replies, thoughtfully. Prince Yu has been raised as her child, so even if he wasn't appointed Crown Prince, he seems to be of a more noble identity. Su says that is only seeming; ALL of the Emperor's sons are equally illegitimate, so when it comes down to that all of them have equal right to the throne. Even, say, Prince Jing. Ni Huang's gaze sharpens. Prince Jing? She repeats, immediately narrowing in on that name in the list of names Su seemingly casually listed, because she is Ni Huang, she is brilliant, and I love her so much. Su just smirks and sidesteps, asking Ni Huang if she wants to help in his latest plot to smack Yue in the face, lol. When she just waits with a questioning expression, he elaborates: he wants Mu Qing to do him a favor. What could Mu Qing possibly do to help you? Ni Huang wants to know. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Mu Qing would be willing to do literally anything to help smack Yue in the face, including but not limited to actually physically smacking her in the face.

Meanwhile, Yue herself is walking with her son, newly restored to her position of prestige in the palace but also unhappy because she knows this rite will be debated. It was unavoidable, she tells CP. CP says he feels like Yu is coming on strong. Thus he feels that Yu must be confident of the outcome. Yu has apparently spent years cultivating respect in prominent scholars by giving gifts and whatnot, so CP feels the scholars will be on Yu's side. So what? Yue tells her son. You are the Crown Prince! Go invite your own scholars! CP has prestige and money enough that he can probably assemble a worthy team to debate Yu's team with. If bribery is the name of the game, surely there are corrupt or easily bought scholars out there willing to ally themselves with the Actual Heir. I love that Yue has to be the one to TELL him this obvious fact. CP is such a man baby.

And so begins the latest stage in the battle between Yu and CP, wherein they vie not for the support of a Divine Talent this time but the support of a bunch of old men. Brilliant Confucian scholar old men, but still. It is like the early days of Su being in the capitol all over again, where each prince is falling over himself to gain the support of some clever person and is fiercely trying to outdo the other, but this time instead of MCS they are trying to win over like twenty guys each, probably. Yu is dismayed when he finds out CP has spent a ridiculous amount of money to host his own team of scholars and to treat them royally well. Yu is worried not just because CP's team is strong enough it might actually win the debate, but furthermore he knows that they are impressive enough that even if Yu's team wins the outcome will be muddled and divisive and not a clear win. And if he does not get a clear win over CP in this debate then all his effort and the blow to his father's esteem of him will be for nothing, because the impact on CP will not be big and obvious enough to cause him any serious trouble.

Cut to Yu explaining all of this to Su, who admits that he did not anticipate CP gathering such a pro group of scholars to help his case. If only Mr Zhou could be here, says Su, and Yu responds with an incredulous Mr Zhou Xuan Qing?? So I guess this is a Mega Scholar. Legendary Scholar. Scholar Boss.

Yu says it is impossible that Zhou would attend this debate (which is being held tomorrow) because he retired into seclusion ages ago and also he hates politics. There is no way he would be willing to participate in this debate, let alone travel to the city in the middle of winter to attend. Su, however, tells him anything is possible. I heard that Mu Qing has already set out with his carriage to Lingyin Temple where Mr Zhou resides, says Su, and Ahhhhhh he said he did not anticipate CP putting up such a good fight but look he is one step ahead anyway you LIAR, Su. Mu Qing? Yu repeats, surprised. You are not the only person angry about Yue getting her position back, Su tells him, and Yu is like Ohhhh, yeah, Ni Huang is probably annoyed too, huh? Yet another example of what a raging egoist Yu is, LOL. Yeah, Prince Yu, Ni Huang MIGHT be just a little irritated.

Su says that if Zhou attends the debate the respect he has and the influence he wields is enough to make sure the ruling goes in Yu's favor. Yu asks how a kid like Mu could possibly convince such an eminent scholar to come, though? Well, we will have to wait and see, Su says, and anyway him trying can't hurt, now can it? (Mu must have some very detailed instructions because yeah he doesn't seem like a natural choice for persuading a politics-hating anti-social Confucian scholar to come to the palace. No offense, Mu, you're a dear. But it's true.)

Cut to Mu making his try. He is out in the mountains somewhere at the base of a really long flight of stone steps, pacing impatiently. Soon a kid who is probably an acolyte of some kind comes rapidly down the steps to meet him. He has to keep his eyes on the stairs the whole way to keep from tripping on those robes, poor thing. Once at the bottom, he tells Mu that Master Zhou says he no longer cares about worldly affairs, nor does he accept common visitors. Please head home. Well, so much for that trying, Mu.

Mu protests that he has something he needs to show Zhou. The kid starts trying to shoot him down, but Mu ignores him and takes out what looks like . . . a carving of a beetle or cockroach or somesuch insect? Gross. Anyway, Mu says this is a token from an old friend of Mr Zhou, and was Zhou Su's teacher once upon a time or something, is that why he is so smart what's up

You won't recognize [this token], Mu tells the kid in that earnest, engagingly open way of his, but Mr Zhou will. Show this to him. The kid takes it and looks at it skeptically, which is exactly what I would have done in his place. We flashback to Ni Huang giving the token to Mu, telling him to keep it safe. Mu strides off all purposefully and the camera lingers on Ni Huang, who is looking at the note that came with the bug rock, that has Zhou's address on it, basically. Then the scene changes and I didn't know what Ni Huang was up to but she takes another piece of paper out of a chest and FREAKING HECK IT IS A LETTER FROM LIN SHU FROM WAY BACK WHEN SHE IS GOING TO COMPARE THE HANDWRITING ISN'T SHE OMG OMG OMG

HOW DOES THIS SHOW. KEEP. BLINDSIDING ME WITH THE SADS.

Also, if any more confirmation was needed, this is final definite proof to us that she is indeed convinced somehow that Mei Chang Su is Lin Shu. She compares the two papers and she looks so nervous, poor thing, she has finally 100% admitted to herself that this is what she believes, and what a thing to hope for so improbably after so long. But as she looks with increasing distress from paper to paper she exclaims Why would the handwriting be different? And her hand starts shaking and she looks on the verge of tears as she wonders if she has been reading too much into something that isn't there, and ughhhh, Ni Huang. This is so cruel. Is she going to backtrack now, after getting so close? That would be MADDENING. But at the same time there are like 40 episodes left, so idk. (Also I TOTALLY thought the handwriting would match, so well played, Mei Chang Su. My question now is did he teach himself to write differently because he is just That dedicated to this deception and intelligent enough to anticipate someone might recognize his writing, or is it his actual physical transformation that made his hand write differently? I guess I might never know. Also I remember at this point that Jing already saw MCS' handwriting when Su gave him a list of officials to befriend, and yeah he did not notice anything at all lol oh poor Jing.)

Back at Zhou's temple home the boy is running down the stairs again. He asks for Mu's surname. I'll ask about it, he says when Mu answers, and runs up those long long stairs again. All these scenes are so awkward and funny, that poor kid. Also I need to point out that when Mu is concentrating he sticks his tongue out ever so slightly and rocks forward onto the balls of his feet anxiously, and that expression is THE cutest thing in this entire show so far (sorry flashback bros and Yu Jin's everything) I am desperate please show spare this boy. I don't know what further hell is coming but like PLEASE leave Ni Huang's baby brother alone pleeeease.

Cut to the next day: Debate Day. All the confucian scholars march into the palace like opposing armies, which I guess they sort of are. Today the ideological armies; tomorrow the military ones, who knows? (This is all very fun for me because it reminds me of the Ancient Chinese roleplaying game I had to play in my honors history class back in college. We all had to memorize Confucian sayings and debate our points using Confucius to try to persuade the classmate who had to play the Emperor to support our plans and stratagems and and it was so fun to engage in that sort of mind game. That experience is partially why I love this sort of stuff in Chinese film. And also I wish this show had existed back then because it would have been sooooo much easier for me to make up a Chinese name for my character I was RPing as.)

ANYHOO.

Yu looks nervous, actually, much more jittery than usual. CP, meanwhile, looks supremely smug and sanctimonious. He has had his confidence propped up a lot by his team; clearly whether or not this mysterious Zhou shows up will determine whether or not Yu wins his case. Yu was obviously not anticipating CP gathering such a good team of scholars to back his case with. Using Yu's own tricks against him, how dare he! Yu has gambled his father's good opinion for the chance to hurt CP's standing, so the ramifications for him if CP wins the case (or even just blusters enough to prevent Yu from having a clear victory) are dire. He really needs MCS to pull through for him here.

The ominous whispering sounds of the scholars' feet as they enter the palace, combined with the boom of the gong or bell (the Golden Bell, we learn in a sec), are wonderfully atmospheric. We cut to MCS who hears the bell sounding and looks up from where he is reading a book at his tea table, and he actually looks worried. It isn't often that we have seen our man in suspense thus far, so that is notable. He leaves his table and its tiny brazier (WHERE ARE YOUR FURS LIN SHU SOMEONE TATTLE ON HIM TO THE GRUMPY DOCTOR PLS) and goes to stand in the doorway yearning to know, surely, what is going on in the palace. Everything is up to Mu and (funnily enough) Yu, now, and that must be very difficult for Su to accept and trust. Su asks Li Gang if Mu has returned yet; No, is the answer. Li Gang hesitantly asks if Su is hoping too much in expecting Master Zhou to travel to the capitol just because of a jade cicada. Oh, is that what that bug is. Okay. I still don't get it, but okay. It's been years, Li Gang reminds Su. But Su is 100% certain that this is enough to bring Zhou; what he is not confident in is Yu's ability to stall the debate long enough for Zhou to arrive, LOL.

And now! DRAMATIC! CONFUCIAN! DEBATE MONTAGE! I freaking LOVE this show.

Yu looks a bit embattled, but he is clearly trying his darndest. I wonder what the actors are saying, obviously I cannot even attempt at reading lips. CP looks way too confident and calm. Su passes the time of waiting by intensely toying over the lit brazier with the tile he wants to burn with this debate (namely, the Minister of Rites), and he still looks wholly too cold. FURS, people. I wonder what sort of signal will let him know if Zhou has arrived? Or maybe just one of his men will tell him. Just how close WAS Su to this esteemed scholar? Why is he certain the cicada will lure the man from retirement?

(Also he is still not bundled up. Someone needs to teach Su how to wear his furs for function instead of just fashion, this brat)

The tension rises until: HERE COMES MU QING WITH AN OLD MAN WHO CAN ONLY BE MASTER ZHOU, and a more unlikely couple of travelers you could never find. When they reach the palace steps, Zhou stops to bow with such deliberate and slow reverence (a brilliant intro, as we can already tell just from this one moment that yes, this man is a stickler for the Rules and someone to be reckoned with. This show is a MASTER of show-don't-tell) and poor Mu is actually dancing with impatience, he is so frantic but he can't afford to offend the old man by rushing him, ahaha. Bless. I would pay to see a, like, one-shot short film that's just chronicling how incredibly awkward Mu and Zhou's journey back to the capitol must have been. I feel like I have missed out on some good stuff, here.

Zhou's entrance into the throne room is like a thunderclap; EVERYONE notices and is stunned. Jing looks a bit awed and has also never looked handsomer. Yu looks elated; he definitely knows this is Su's work and thus that his victory is assured. And what is extra brilliant is that of course Zhou looks completely impartial, he hasn't even been in the city for years, so the Emperor will not suspect Zhou's arrival to be due to any sort of Yu scheme. Instead, Zhou's return both legitimizes Yu's claim that this ritual business is a Big Deal, AND will make sure the outcome is what Yu wants. Genius.

Su continues his hypnotic dance over the fire with the tile, and the music is so GOOD btw. It's both melancholic and triumphant, but still feels like building tension somehow instead of purely cathartic. In an interesting editing choice, WE the viewer know before Mei Chang Su does that his play has worked and Zhou has arrived in time. We get to see this in person, and then cut back to Su still caught in the throes of his suspense, left out of the action even though he has orchestrated the whole thing. It feels uncomfortable and wrong to be more in the know than Su! But I am sure that is the point. I feel bad for him. I also feel like I should take notes on whenever we the viewer are given more power than Su in the narrative because this might be the first time it has happened, hm.

Li Gang runs in, and that is all the signal Su needs. He finally, finally drops the Minister of Rites into the fire.

Then we get a fade to black transition (not many of those in this show yet, so that is worth noting) to a really odd (and, yes, heartbreaking, because HELLO this is Nirvana in Fire) scene, an indeterminate but short time later, with Su still sitting at that brazier and Li Gang dutifully stirring the charcoal to keep the embers burning. Su is warming his hands at the fire, but then as Li Gang watches in worry and then dismay, he reaches his hand further into the very embers, as if trying to pull something out of the charcoal. And of course he burns his fingers, and snatches his hand back, and he just starts to laugh, helplessly and bitterly. This is so sad you guys. The worst is just watching him trying to calm himself and lock himself back under control, we never get to see Su raw and emotional yet, he is always caging what he really feels. To see him break for a moment and then have to fight for that control again is just really hard to watch. It isn't healthy to try to keep all that bottled up, Su! It makes you snap in stupid ways--by reaching out to touch Nihuang's hair, for example, or to touch an ACTUaL FIrE PLS DONT DO THAT.

(This reminds me I still have no idea why this show is even called Nirvana in Fire everything has been very cold so far because winter but still. I mean, obviously the main fire element highlighted so far has been the brazier, even in the opening credits, but idk. I'm going to have to keep that question in mind and maybe I will get an answer some episode.)

So Li Gang watches in no small amount of horror and concern as his beloved leader is just madly laughing/crying over his burned hand. And then he and we are both treated to THIS lovely Su monologue:

Do you know that my hands--they once held great bows and tamed fiery steed? But now, they can only stir up chaos here in this hell of schemes. He says it like it's some awful, bitter joke, and Li Gang looks so worried and upset, and I'm with him on this 100% this is awful and this scene definitely makes that coup of a victory seem a bit hollow. Su is winning, and yet he is so MISERABLE I can't. This scene takes all the happiness out of this episode's victory, because this is Nirvana in Fire and we Can't Have Nice Things. Thanks, show.

Cut to: IT'S JINGMUM SHE'S BACK. Have we seen her with Jingyan before, I can't remember if they have shared a scene yet but I don't think they have??? Regardless, seeing them together cheers me up considerably after the last scene, although also every time I see Jing I am stabbed with teh sads anyway just because he is him. He is still wearing his red/blue/gold outfit so he seemingly came straight to his mom after that debate, presumably to share the news? I want a lot more scenes between my fave mom and son duo in future episodes, please.

The music is still soulcrushingly beautiful and melancholic as Jingmum approaches her son and asks him what is the matter? and I adore how she says his name, it's so sweet.

I have already started to vie for the succession of the throne, Jing confesses to his mother, and oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. He's making it official. This is It. His mother looks dismayed and confused as she searches his face: You're assisting Crown Prince? Or Prince Yu? Oh, of COURSE she would think that and would be distressed by it! She sounds so disbelieving, but even before she finishes her question, Jing is shaking his head: No.

I am fighting for myself. (I'm going to cry, Jing is fighting for himself, finally, finally)

Jingmum watches in silence (though with an ever so slight narrowing of her eyes, which I am sure is the moment she starts thinking Okay, who put you up to this, boy) as he further explains: I want to get the throne. For my brother, Prince Qi; for Xiao Shu; for everyone who was wronged . . . I have to get the ultimate throne.

Jingmum's face clears and she stops looking upset, instead just looking a little sad. She asks her son: You have made up your mind? Yes, he answers. This is very difficult, she warns him; I know that, he replies. So she takes a deep breath, and she tells her son: Go ahead then. Now Jing looks a little distressed, but when he tries to say something to her, she cuts him off. I have loved this woman in all of her scenes so far, but this scene is hinting at even further depths for her; when she warned Jing about the difficulties ahead of him in winning the throne, she said it as someone who is intelligent enough to know in an instant exactly what those difficulties will be, and her sudden authority here is so quietly fierce, her voice suddenly sharp. Don't worry about me, she says. Be it a success or a failure, what is there to fear as long as we stick together through life and death? And Jing, who had indeed been looking worried/guilty about what his gamble might mean for his mother, just gives his mom this tiny, tentatively reassured smile that breaks my heart. I am so, so excited about what Jingmum's support for her son's play will mean in this show going forward. He obviously thinks the world of her, and so do I. Is he going to tell her that MCS is working for him? Because once she finds out that MCS is responsible I bet Jingmum is going to be CLOSELY watching this strange strategist, and once she is closely watching him, she has to figure him out fast, she seems really smart. In fact, all women in this show in general are all more perceptive than the men, lol, which is fun.

We get yet ANOTHER fade to black, so I feel like that is a signal that this is the end of act 1 for Jing, as well; he has officially accepted his role in MCS' plot, and now the story is going to start racing forward with all the hell that probably entails. The music finally drops away, too, yet another signal that this is the start of a new phase. Next scene is outside the city: we are back with Prince Mu and Scholar Zhou, who are riding together in a carriage that is presumably taking the scholar home after his surprise appearance at the debate. This is the first time we actually get to meet the scholar as a character, and I really like his voice. He asks Mu to confirm that the person who told you to bring me the jade cicada will be waiting for me outside the city. Mu says yes, he will meet you at Lingyin Temple. Wait, Su is meeting him???? Zhou looks thoughtfully at the cicada. And sure enough, when he disembarks from the carriage in the next scene, there is Mei Chang Su waiting for him (wearing one of his fur capes this time, thankfully). Does this jade cicada belong to you? asks Master Zhou, and when Su says it does, then who gave it to you?

Li Chong, Master Li Chong, replies Su. Lucky he had this jade bug on him when he was off in his father's army all those years ago, I guess. He could have left it at home. Zhou looks pleased, and the two of them withdraw from Mu and the retinue to have a moment of private conversation. Zhou asks Su how he knows Li Chong, and Su replies that he was once Li Chong's student. Zhou talks about how Brother Li Chong was the Imperial tutor but also taught many commoners, so he had many students. He did not, however, have many students who he would consider his protégés (which is what I guess the gift of the cicada signifies). I have met them all, Zhuo tells Su. As for you, we don't seem to have ever met.

And the episode ends there, as Su considers his reply! An odd place to cut the episode, I can't tell if the show intended it to be a cliffhanger or not. It isn't much of one, since Zhuo seems rather kindly and curious and not like he is any kind of threat to Su's disguise, though I'm curious how the rest of their conversation plays out. But I guess it was just a convenient stopping point. If this show was released two episodes at a time, it makes more sense.

A lot happened in this episode! It really felt a lot like the close of an opening act, so I am eager to see how the show takes off from here, now that our cast of characters and stakes and goals are all clearly established. Jing is officially in it to win it, Nihuang is officially suspecting Mei Chang Su, and Lin Shu is officially making me cry in every single freaking episode; now that we have Jingmum's blessing, let the fight for the throne officially begin!

[awkawardmissie]

My LARPing Experience

I promised, and here we are, a month later 😅 (I’m always way too optimistic about my deadlines)

Day 1

So my boots’ sole gave out 30 minutes before we got in the car. So there’s that.

I drank a sip of chartreuse and it was absolutely disgusting, had to drown the taste with a whole bag of gummy bears, got a sugar rush and crashed after 15 minutes. I slept through the whole trip, and I apparently I snored and was in such a weird position with my pillow that I looked like I got in a car crash.

We got to the site around 7PM, got in our costumes and made a bit of catching up, and my friends (my bestie and her boyfriend) and I settled inside a wooden shelter. We all registered our characters. Saw a guy I previously dated, he registered me, it was super awkward.

We then got called to the castle to hear the rules and the new settings of the story. Fall of a star, return of a demonic character, cool stuff.

Fun fact: when you died, you stayed on the ground until nobody’s on site, you went to the cemetery in the woods, arms crossed, and stayed there for a minute, and then you were back in the game, but you didn’t remember how you died or who killed you.

When the story got set, I was nauseous, so I tried to make myself a meal. Took me a whole hour, with the help of 4 guys, to start a decent fire. I ate half cooked rice, with some half warmed up canned herring in tomato sauce.

The Baron (who governed the land) interrupted us like 3 times while we were trying to make the fire, asking about the Crows tribe, that he wanted to kill.

I went to sleep at around 1am, it was super cold outside (around 10C, or 50F). I heard everything. People died, and a necromancer raised them as zombies (I left just in time). A zombie became someone’s “bitch” and got ordered to reenact a fellatio, and I was super weirded out.

I managed to fall asleep in multiple layers and the cocoon I made myself with the sleeping bag.

Day 2

I woke up at like 9. I burned my oatmeal to a crisp, I’m still trying to scrub it out now.

The Baron relinquished his power to the Crows. The village lived in fear. I got killed twice.

Once eaten by a Crow. The second time from an arrow in the head and from fire hits from a woman-hating enchantress and her horde of bewitched men who killed every woman in sight.

Being a Redhead is a disease called the Rednarok. You become a Redhead by being bit by them.

I met a guy, an air master. We clicked really fast. We met while he was climbing a house (he actually nailed that) to avoidthe Rednarok. We spent the rest of the day together, sharing snacks and exploring the woods together.

Both my boots completely gave out in the woods so we got duct tape.

My best friend got sick, so her bf drove her to his parents’ house.

I saw a public “execution” because someone stole from the Great Crow. That someone was the air master I was with.

He took me to the fortress’ library, left me there with weird pirates who “raped” a sailor with a dildo-horned “unicorn” (a bald guy with a dildo sucked on his forehead). And I had to heal the guy’s knees, I refused to heal his crotch (bc you have to almost touch the person’s “injured” part to heal). My gift from the pirates to thank me for healing the guy? The damn dildo.

Yay...

The air master had a lot of questions when he got back. He then took me back to the village and shared a bottle of “wine” (juice) with me.

The Final War

The night of the 2nd day was the final war.

Two camps were facing each other, one marked with orange glow stick necklaces, the others were green.

I was with neither. With my friend’s bf’s troops, with blue necklaces (mercenaries, I guess?) who were aiming to slash the greens.

The air master was drunk on white wine (lemonade), and he charged on the enemy before the battle started, and he slashed his own throat in front of them (idiot).

I hid with other healers in the grass. Then we got busted and I took off, and my boots gave out again. I traded them for my tennis shoes for the rest of the night.

The Party

There was a big party at the “Inn”.

More like a frat party where all there is is alcohol and everybody chants inappropriate (aka super sexual or ironically racist) songs.

My guy and I shared a bottle of mead and a cup of Japanese beer. We got piss drunk and left very early.

Now picture this...

Two young people in capes, very obviously drunk, in the woods, in a weather very near the freezing point (1C, or around 34F), shivering and gripping to each other and giggling at nothing else than the fact that they are so horribly drunk.

Pretty...

He brought me back to my shelter and offered me to sleep in his car. I, ever the optimist, declined and said I would be fine. He then let me climb the ladder leading to the sleeping floor of the shelter (big enough for my 2 friends and my sleeping bags) and he left.

He then got back and told me he forgot to do something.

And this how I kissed someone drunk for the first time. I stopped him and told him it wasn’t wise to do it in that state. He agreed, left and I froze all night.

I heard a lot of cars. Nearly everybody got home bc it was over at that point.

My best friend’s bf never went to sleep at the shelter.

Day 3

Nobody cared at that point, so we were in pjs outside trying to warm up

My guy and I got to the Inn to see if some people slept there. All we saw was piles of arms and armor parts scattered. We brought them back to the village in an effort to help the personnel.

He took me to the castle, we talked about the kiss, kind of agreed to wait before doing anything else.

He brought me back to the village, my friend was worried, thought the guy already gave me a ride home.

My friends and I packed, I exchanged numbers with my guy, and I got home.

So yeah... it was a mess, I didn’t do a lot of stuff, I was a level 1 priestess, which didn’t leave a lot of skills available, and I was unarmed on top of this.

Was it fun? Hell yeah!

Will I go back? Maybe... I’d have to practice my fighting skills.

[persephinae]

finished Witcher 3 and both DLC.  Even started a New Game+ (easy) for a laff, try to save some people i missed last time, but that might be for when i get bored.

i really enjoyed this game!!  If you can get the Game of the Year edition with both DLC on sale I would recommend it.  

Just be aware there is some graphic fanservice in this game (sometimes it’s really annoying) as well as mm... almost (but not as bad) “Game of Thrones” implied “historically accurate” rape culture that’s also really annoying and tiresome.  

So if you’re bothered by fanservice or shitty disrespect to women, just FYI - however the only level I saw this and really felt was in Valen and dealing with the Bloody Baron and his soldiers.   The other areas of the game were much better.

Tbh, the only women that are respected are the Sorceresses, but even then not really.  i might do a whole separate post about my feelings on the tiresome tropes.

but overall the story and characters are really well done.

the main game was a bit of a slog to get started and immersed in.  the pacing’s very slow to start and the controls/menu are a bit different from other RPG’s, but don’t let that deter you.  The world’s immersive and very large, the characters complex and interesting, and your choices don’t always pan out the way you think they would!  This game achieves the morally grey that (and i hate to bash them because i’m a huge fan) Bioware tries and fails to do each time.

there’s a lot of lore and the world building is really interesting..  it manages to feel grounded because of the characters and even the npc’s in the background.�� people are assholes, have their own agendas, and sometimes that clashes with you the player a lot.

but the graphics are gorgeous, the music is awesome, and your equipment can be tweaked to fit most situations as your strategies for fighting monsters & people can change & differ.

Hearts of Stone is a great DLC for the story,  Blood & Wine is not as strong story-wise, but is GORGEOUS and there are moments of great “whodunnit” investigating.  

Please note, as I myself wasn’t aware until halfway thru the main game, there are different endings to the main game and DLC.  If you’re worried about getting bad endings or want the best possible endings, make sure you look up strategies for getting the ending you want.  

overall i want to give 8/10, however the pacing in the beginning REALLY drags the game so I kinda want to give it a 7.5 because of that.

however i will say, this has kept me vested and interested in finishing since June, so with both DLC (and me working full time) it took me about 2 months to finish.  lots of time to get lost in the game.  Also it made me interested in reading the books and playing the previous games, so there’s that as well.

[monkeyssalad-blog]

1897 illustration by Arthur H Buckland by totallymystified Via Flickr: For the poem The Rape Of The Baron’s Wine by Dora Sigerson Shorter. From The Pall Mall Magazine.

[beckylower]

In my last post, we left Evelyn Nesbit at the peak of her career as a model, showgirl, and sex symbol of the new century. Though her virtue had been stolen through trickery and rape by the much older Stanford White, nonetheless they began an affair that lasted about a year. Even more surprising, their relationship survived the end of the affair. He continued to support Evelyn and her family in the style befitting a goddess adored by the media of the day. Evelyn’s life became quite glamorous as wealthy and/or famous suitors presented themselves and her career continued to expand. Into this complicated mix of fame and sex appeal stepped a young man of dubious character wholly unsuited to marry anyone, much less a girl with Evelyn’s history.

Harry Kendall Thaw (February 12, 1871-February 22, 1947) was the son of Pittsburg coal and railroad magnate William Thaw. From an early age, Harry exhibited the warning signs of a violent and paranoid personality. His own mother declared he had been so in the womb. As a boy, he did not remain in any given school for long because his behavior was unacceptable and his teachers despaired of being able to teach him. His family name got him into the University of Pittsburg and then Harvard. He was to read law at Harvard, but spent his time in pursuits that had nothing to do with academics. By his own admission, he “majored in poker” instead. He also chased women and participated in binge drinking. He was expelled from Harvard after being arrested for threatening a cab driver with a shotgun. It appears Harry was a young man who never suffered the consequences of his choices, and as a result, never learned to control his emotions and actions. With his academic career over, Harry continued spending time in his preferred pursuits, but added cocaine and other recreational drugs to his list of debaucheries.

Harry became aware of and then obsessed with Evelyn because of an interest he shared with the much older Stanford White, an interest in beautiful, young show girls. Harry attended at least forty performances of The Wild Rose, in which Evelyn had a speaking part. He sent flowers, cards, letters, and gifts. He introduced himself as Mr. Monroe. At first, Evelyn rebuffed his advances, but eventually she agreed to start seeing him. Harry worked to impress both Evelyn and her mother ultimately revealing his true identity, which both Nesbits found very satisfactory.

Harry took mother and daughter to Paris, where he managed to convince the older woman to return to New York. From Paris, Thaw and Evelyn traveled on through Europe, Harry all the while pressing Evelyn to become his wife. She rejected his proposals until they reached Germany. During their stop at Katzenstein Castle, Evelyn revealed the true nature of her relationship with Stanford White. She explained being drugged and raped, which even the worldly Harry found shocking. Since she was no longer a virgin, she felt unworthy of being Harry’s wife. Though he promised she would never be subjected to such again, one must wonder if Harry blamed Evelyn in part for what happened with White or perhaps it was that she went on to have an affair with White after the rape. It could not have helped that Thaw already had a seething hatred of White. Whatever his reasons, Thaw kept Evelyn locked in a castle room for two weeks where he repeatedly beat her with a whip and raped her. Despite this, the girl returned with Harry to the States and eventually married him in April 1905, later saying, “I was so sorry for him. And…we’d been so terribly poor.”

Artist’s drawing of the shooting.

The seeds of Harry’s hatred for Stanford White were planted long before he began his relationship with Evelyn. Over the years, White had snubbed Harry at social gatherings and had blackballed him from several clubs. Given Harry’s nature, this proved most unwise. Harry did not let grudges go lightly. Layer over this the knowledge that White had “gotten there first” with his wife and Harry’s anger continued to heat until it boiled over on the night of June 25, 1906 during a performance on the roof of Madison Square Garden. In full view of the audience, Harry shot White in the head, killing him instantly. The show did not stop immediately because pranks were common fare in shows at the time. It was not until ladies in the audience screamed upon realizing that part of White’s skull was exposed and there were powder burns on his skin that the singing stopped. A witness told the New York Times that upon learning White was dead, Harry stated, “Well, I made a good job of it, and I’m glad.” The same witness reported Evelyn running to Harry, kissing him, and saying, “I didn’t think you would do it in this way.”

Thaw went on trial in February 1907 amid a tabloid frenzy. A selection of newspaper front pages from across the country have been digitized by the Library of Congress.  They demonstrate how widespread public interest was in the “Crime of the Century.” It comes as no surprise that for the first time in U.S. history, the jury was sequestered.

During the proceedings, Evelyn took the stand and testified regarding White’s rape of her when she was sixteen. The L.A. Times reported that the Thaw family offered to give Evelyn one million dollars to testify on her husband’s behalf with the condition that he was acquitted. As witnesses for the prosecution, a parade of women testified to Harry’s mistreatment of them which included sexual assault and use of a pearl handled whip. The Thaw’s housekeeper, Mrs. Susan Mueller, testified that she had for a time acted as a procurer of young women for Harry and had seen him abuse them in the way other witnesses described. Further testimony revealed that Thaw had hired private detectives to harass White for fear he was still having an affair with Evelyn. The L.A.Times further reported that White had gone so far as to hire bodyguards and planned to file charges against Thaw.

While on trial, Harry was denied bail and remained in the Tombs, Manhattan’s  Detention Complex, where he was afforded many privileges because of his position and wealth.

He dined on steaks and wine catered by Delmonico’s, slept in a bass bed, wore his own clothes, and enjoyed clean, starched linens on table and bed.

The trial ended in a hung jury in April 1907. During his second trial, Harry pled temporary insanity, was found not guilty by reason of insanity, and committed to Matteawan State Hospital for the Criminally Insane in New York. In 1910, Evelyn gave birth to a son, Russell William Thaw, who she claimed was conceived during a conjugal visit at the asylum. Harry denied the boy and never accepted paternity. His confinement at Matteawan was to have been for life, but his lawyers were not finished. They filed a writ of habeus corpus, which was denied. At that point, it is believed his mother arranged for him to simply walk out of the asylum. He fled to Canada, but was extradited back to the U.S. and Matteawan. In 1915, he was granted a third trial where he was found no longer a danger and was released. Evelyn and Harry divorced in 1915, as well, and all financial support for Evelyn ceased. She was left to make her way as best she could. Unfortunately, none of his experiences effected any of the desired changes in Harry. He was arrested for nearly beating a boy to death on Christmas Eve 1915. He was found insane and committed to Kirkbride Asylum in Philadelphia until April 1924.

After his release, Harry moved to Clearwater, Virginia where his neighbors viewed him as an eccentric, but harmless individual who served in their volunteer fire department. Harry died of a heart attack while in Miami in 1947. He left Evelyn $10,000 (about $115,000 today) or 1% of his total wealth.

As for Evelyn’s later life, she returned to the stage and later performed in a few silent films. She had a second brief, unhappy marriage to a dancer, Jack Clifford. They married in 1916; he left her in 1918; she divorced him in 1933. Their marriage could not survive Evelyn’s notoriety and the public’s refusal to see her as anything other than the wife of a playboy killer and featured witness in the Trial of the Century. She never again achieved the success she experienced as a teenager. In 1926, there was a rumor of a possible reconciliation with Thaw. He visited her in a Chicago hospital after her suicide attempt and they were photographed together, but nothing came of it. She served as a technical advisor for the 1955 film The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing, a highly fictionalized version of her life with White and Thaw, for which she received $10,000. She was not pleased with the portrayal of her relationship with White, saying the film made it seem she had seduced White. Evelyn died in a California nursing home in 1967 at age 82.

Related Reading

  Resources

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4906724/Trial-20th-Century-Evelyn-Nesbit-supermodel.html

https://murderpedia.org/male.T/t/thaw-harry.htm

https://allthatsinteresting.com/evelyn-nesbit-stanford-white-harry-thaw

http://evelynnesbit.com/plot.html

https://www.famous-trials.com/thaw/405-home

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/thaw/evelynstory1.html

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1906-06-26/ed-1/seq-1/#words=Harry+Thaw+Stanford+White+kills+Mrs+Evelyn+Nesbit+Thaw+JEALOUS+RAGE+jealousy+revenge+wife

Linda Bennett Pennell is the author of five published works of historical fiction. Her latest, a gothic romance entitled All That Glitters, can be found here on Amazon.  Set in  the Glided Age, it tells the story of Sarah Anne, a young woman who finds her true purpose in a most unexpected place.

Murder in the Time of Robber Barons: the Goddess, the Architect, and the Millionaire, Part II In my last post, we left Evelyn Nesbit at the peak of her career as a model, showgirl, and sex symbol of the new century.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Hue and Cry VII

Warnings: non-consent sex and rape (series), mentions of previous forced oral, abuse of power, these men ain't shit.

This is dark!medieval!Bucky Barnes x reader and explicit. 18+ only.  Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Synopsis: You face a reckoning for evading your lord.

Note: This wasn't planned but things just turned out this way because my go to is fuck the reader. Oop.

Thanks to everyone and thanks in advance for all your feedback. :)

I really hope you enjoy. 💋

<3 Let me know what you think with a like or reblog or reply or an ask! Love ya!

The nights only got harder. It didn't matter if Lord Barnes wanted to touch you or wanted you to touch him, even just laying beside him was torment. You hated what he'd done to you and what he'd made you do. You hated yourself more for how he made you feel.

You decided that day in the carriage during the rainstorm that you hated him. You hated Lord Barnes more than even Lord Rogers. At least the latter was honest in his lechery, he did not try to veil his true desires but Barnes spoke to you sweetly as he forced his needs upon you.

The night before you were due to reach the capital, you did not sleep. You couldn't in the bed next to Barnes. He wanted to be astride as he entered the city and so you were left to ride alone in the carriage. The sway soon had you across the bench in a deep slumber. It was the best sleep you had in weeks.

You only woke as a hammering came at the door and streaks of sunlight were let in as it opened. A footman called you out and helped you down the step into the dirt. You batted your sleepy eyes and marveled at the castle as it came clear. It was getting colder as the autumn wore on, bitter. It was the wrong season for a tournament.

As you trod through the beaten yard of the castle, Lord Barnes clapped off his right hand, the leather glove dusting, and approached you. He’s gaze strayed to Lord Rogers for a moment then back to you. He dropped his shoulders and scrunched his lips.

“I have an audience with the king,” he said glumly, “as much as I’d prefer you attend with me it has been brought to my attention that… the court might not be as accommodating to you as I am. Regardless, I might have a seat arranged for you at the feast and you were surely sit in the rows for the sparring.”

“I… my lord, I am only--”

“I told you,” he interjected, “you are not a maid anymore.”

You held your tongue as you wanted to spit at him. What were you? A courtesan? A whore? Was that better than emptying his pot? You dipped your head and pulled your cape snug, “my lord.”

“See her to my rooms,” Barnes directed the footman at your shoulder, “once the chests are unpacked, she is to be undisturbed. My guard will have the same orders.”

“Yes, my lord,” the footman bowed, “my lady.”

You looked at the footman and slowly followed him away from Barnes. You were eager to be away from him but not eager to be shown your new prison. You entered the castle and followed the torchlit corridors beside the footman.

“I’m not a lady,” you said at last, “I don’t want you to ever call me that again.”

“My apologies, my--” he stuttered, “the lord bid it.”

“He lies to himself and you,” you muttered, “I was born as you, likely lower. My own mother was a laundress and my father a stablehand. Cut from the finest, I am.”

The footman was quiet as he waved you ahead of him up the coiling stairwell. You regretted your harsh words but knew they could never be delivered to their true target. When you reached the chamber designated to your master, you stopped outside. Lester was already at his station by the lord’s doors.

“I am sorry,” you told the footman, “I was unkind. You do not deserve that.”

His lips curved slightly and he hid his amusement, “I know now you are like me,” he said softly, “the nobles, they don’t apologise.”

You chuckled darkly and left him. You passed the servants as they carried in trunks and opened them in a flurry of duty. You went to the bedroom and climbed up on the large feather mattress. That time you had to yourself, even surrounded by the chaos of your arrival, was a relief. You did not know how long you’d get away from Barnes.

🏰

You fell asleep again. This time, you weren’t floating in your dreams, driven wildly by the tides, but you were still, straight as a board in the ground as dirty sprinkled onto you. The cold earth warmed as the layers piled on you. Deeper, deeper, deeper until you couldn’t breathe.

You woke with a start and nearly screamed as a shadow loomed over you. Barnes sat beside you, his legs over the edge of the couch. He played with the lifeless fingers of his artificial hand. Your hood was on the pillow, crumpled and the folds of your dress were bunched awkwardly beneath your body.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” he murmured, “just wanted to sit with you.”

“How long--”

“It is almost time for supper,” he said, “but the feast is not until the morrow. You might remain and rest some more.”

You didn’t move, just looked up at the canopy and laid there. You didn’t say anything more as you folded your arms over the stiff bodice.

“You should sleep… the journey was long. Tiring,” he continued.

You just blinked but didn’t close your eyes. The canopy was a rich green marked with gold. The stitches were woven in the shape of leaves and vines. You thought of the forest and those days you were so scared. You were much more terrified now.

“I wanted to say, and I should now since you are awake,” he began as he leaned on his elbow and his other arm fell limp and heavy, “what occurred with Rogers will not arise again. I made him a promise I regret and it was sorted.”

You held back a shudder as you thought of the salty tasted and the pungent scent of their arousal. You swallowed and hugged yourself tighter.

“If he attempts to reenact the scene, or more, you will inform me, and you have my leave to see that he does not,” Barnes said sternly, “you are still mine. I would not have you confused.”

You rolled onto your side so that your back was to him. He huffed and his hand fell onto your side. He squeezed and the bed shifted. He said your name and every muscle in your body went taut.

“Do you understand?” he asked.

“I’m tired,” you said.

“I want no mistake. You--”

“I belong to you,” you sneered, “you want to use me, you want to own me, you want me to tell you I know I am nothing but the dirt beneath your boot. Let me assure you I am aware--”

“Do not speak to me as such,” he hissed.

You bit back your voice and heaved. You sucked in your cheeks and wriggled away from his reach. “It is understood, my lord. Now as you bid, I would sleep.”

🏰

The only grace allowed you at the feast, rather denied you, was a seat with your lord. As much as Barnes would prefer to have you close he was still bound by the expectations of court. He didn't let on that you were merely a servant but you didn't think anyone could believe otherwise. For his vouching, you were sat among the lower lords and ladies.

You watched as wine was poured for you. You eyed the girl who kept her chin down as the filled the cups and thought of your own time in a similar duty. What did Barnes find so fascinating about you? You had only done what dozens others had done for him before. You couldn't figure you had an outstanding feature or manner that could explain his interest, it could only be your own poor luck.

You ate without tasting, without zeal, slowly as you brought fork to lip and dissolved into the chatter of strangers around you. All those seated at the long tables had a partner or some family with them. You were alone. Your parents were dead and all those you'd ever had a kindred tie to were far away.

"Uncle," a voice perked up across from you and drew your attention as you chewed the spiced rabbit meat, "if I made the lists, surely I can win!"

"My coin got you on those lists," the older man replied, "it is all formality. Should you gace a king or a duke, you would be remiss to claim victory."

"I am to lay down for their title?" The younger scoffed, "I am a man now and I have trained--"

"But you think like a boy," the other rebuked, "a runner up can take a fine purse still and if you feed the ego of a high borne man he will be more willing to show you favour."

You lowered your fork and looked at the two men as they argued. The elder`s hair was sprinkled with grey but the rest the same shade of reddish brown as the youth. You were heartened by their familial banter but saddened at your own solace. You dropped your hands to your lap and looked at your plate.

"Dear," the woman beside you touched your sleeve, "are you well?"

You turned to her startled and nodded. "Yes, my lady," you cleared your throat, "fine indeed."

She peered past you then shared a look with the older man across the table. She was not so grey as him. She smiled and withdrew her hand. "You are alone?"

"Only me, my lady," you answered.

"And overly polite," she chuckled, "a pity. A young girl sent to court without escort. What family could do such a thing? You must be frightened out of your wits."

"I will… persevere," you said.

"Ay but it is the nature of these events to be cordial. I am May Parker, my husband is a baron," she gestured to the older man across from you, "Benjamin, and my nephew, Peter, a viscount in his beloved father's stead," she smiled at the younger man, "and your name?"

You hadn't been told what to say in the circumstance. You hadn't thought of it and surely Barnes hadn't either. You would have to garnish the truth with enough lies to get by. You twined your fingers together. You offered your name, your truth, then conjured your lies as you spoke.

"My father is, er, was, a baron as well," you said, "I am his only child."

"Oh, you sweet thing, if you would be alone for this tournament, you might stay near to us. My nephew hasn't many peers of his age just yet, and my husband is much too weary to keep up with him."

You glanced around, the two men bowed their heads in greeting. You attempted a smile and thanked her.

"Our Peter will be competing in the joust and in the sword contest," she announced, "we did urge him to enter the bow and arrow but he finds it dull."

"Oh," you were uncertain how to address these people, to speak as if you were their equal, "I've never attended a tourney before."

"Best you stay close then," she squeezed your hand gently, "why look at all these people! Even that Duke from the north came, bless him, that one who did lose his arm in the campaigns."

You reached for your wine to hide your discomfort at the mention of him. All you had to do was pretend for the evening and you'd likely not see these people again. As friendly as they were, you couldn't stand to make friends only to lose them.

You listened for the rest of the courses as May and her family did much of the talking. There were moments you forgot your predicament, even that you were born a peasant, but when it returned to you, the food turned to a lump in your stomach and your heart clamoured.

You were roused from the waking dream only as the music plucked up and the plates were cleared by your own ilk. May chuckled and stood as her husband came around to her. She paused as the bodies flooded from the benches onto the boards. She touched your shoulder kindly, "if you would be in want of a partner, our Peter is rather graceful."

You looked to the younger Parker and he lit up. "Only if you like, miss."

"I… would say I am not so," you said evasively.

"It would not bother me, I trained with the old hound that slept in our barn, he slobbered quite heavily," he laughed, "but I would be indebted should you allow me the treat of a true partner."

"I suppose…" you looked to the high table where Barnes scowled at Lord Rogers, entirely unconcerned with you for the first time in a while. Perhaps this was a chance; lose yourself in the crowd and you might find the opening you needed. Or perhaps merely a respite from him at least, "I do warn you however, I would not know where to place my feet."

May and Benjamin swept away as Peter came around to you. He offered his arm and you mimicked the other ladies as you took it.

He lifted his shoulders proudly as he led you to the floor, "only step around my own and I will do my best not to trod on your slippers, lady." He turned you in time with the music, your arms hooked so that you faced in opposing direction, "follow me and do not worry so much. No one is watching us so closely."

You smiled, a real smile that time as the strings and flutes filled your chest. As this kind stranger patiently guided you around the boards. You raised your chin as you did your best to stay on the beat but nearly tripped as your eyes met another pair.

Lord Barnes glared down at you from the high table, the only lord remaining in his seat, and his hand gripped the stem of his goblet tightly. Even at the distance, you felt his chagrin. And as he stood, your sole met Peter's toe but he only snickered and righted you.

"You're doing fine, lady," he assured as he spun and switched arms, you let him lead you dumbly as you watched Barnes descend from the dais, "a natural."

[nonobadcat]

BNHA Fantasy AU: Troll Muscular X F!Reader

Four Chapter Short Story - Updates about once a week

Summary:

From the moment you fled him, you knew there would be precious few places that you could escape The Duke of Tredal. Sure, legends said that in the dense fog of the Natt Valley, trolls lay in wait for weary travelers who lost their way in the dark. Nevertheless, with your pursuers hot on your heels, you had little choice but to head for the Old Bridge if you wanted to escape the fife. After two days on the run, you finally collapsed from exhaustion. Desperate to survive, you cried out to the stars for the strength to go on.

However, it was a monster from the deep that would answer your call.

Rating: Explicit

TW: Non-con monster fucking (or at best dub-con under implied threat of death), graphic depictions of violence/gore, troll on troll and troll on human cannibalism, mentions of previous sexual slavery/rape, menstural cunnilingus, fellatio, drugging, kidnapping, graphic depictions of lung disease.

NOT a vore story. Reader will live and be unmaimed.

Chapter 1 Excerpt Below:

As the heavy mist swirled past your pounding feet, terror-ridden eyes hazarded a glance back.

Did you lose them?

All humans in the Kingdom of Trefal knew, at the end of Fjell Forest, there was only a carpet of shadows awaiting you. Midday or not, the area at the edge of the Natt Valley lay under a coat of fog that was, even at its thinnest, thick enough to hide the trees only six wagon lengths away. As you witnessed this fact first hand, the hairs on the back of your neck rose. That also meant you couldn't tell if the men pursuing you still lay out there, hidden in the dark.

Those that traversed the Old Bridge between the Capital City Ottsk and the Duke's fiefdom knew that they may yield their lives to make the treacherous passage over the hazy valley. In addition, the tales told stories of man-eating trolls who prowled the fog, waiting for road-weary travelers to lose their way. Everyone knew that the Duke's land grant was generously large for a reason. The king always hated his brother. There was no doubt he hoped the infamous divide and the rumored creatures would mean they never met again.

As your heart pounded against your ribs, you prayed to the stars that you would also escape the old man so totally.

When last you saw his crippled husk, he had patted your cheek and told you he was so desperately disappointed at how things had turned out. He thought with you as First Concubine, you would be the one who could bear him the heir he'd always wanted. You had always been his favorite after all. You were so pliant and responsive that his training took easy. That's why he'd let you live longer than the others despite your failure over and over again. However, his wife really wouldn't tolerate it anymore. If you couldn't give them the child they wanted, it was time to move on.

When he told you your fate, his wrinkled brow had contorted in an approximation of pain. He couldn't really feel pain. The king's little brother lived too pampered a life to know pain. However, he could mimic it from the look on your face. After all, the way you cried was plenty painful for two. Not to worry though! Since you were his favorite he'd always treasure your heart. After he carved it from your chest, he'd put in on the nicest shelf in his bed-chamber. When he died, you could even be buried with him in the tomb! It was the highest honor he could give a simple concubine. After all, you were much closer to him than his wife in life. It was only fair to you that the same be true in death. He cherished you so much after all.

Needless to say, you'd felt differently about that honor.

That's why, two nights ago, you'd slapped the tainted wine from his hands, plunged the golden dagger into his arm, and jumped out the window into the pond below. As you swam to the far shore and raced across the castle grounds to the Old Road, you promised yourself you'd do whatever it took to survive. After two days with no food, no sleep, and no hope, you wondered if "whatever it took" would be enough to escape the fife.

When the long woven ropes of the suspension bridge came into view, a burst of adrenaline spurred your burning legs forward.  You surged out of the treeline, coming to a stop as you reached the precipice below. The bottom of the rock-lined valley was rumored to be so deep that it was said your vocal cords would wear out before you hit the ground. No one actually knew how far it went since it was covered in heavy mist year-round. The slick, moss-covered stones made it a near impossible climb. Many foolish men had died trying. Perhaps those disappearances explained the tales of the monsters who lived in the valley below.

You stared at the dark, moldy boards of the bridge. They were slick as oil in a lamp and the ropes looked frayed. You gulped, trying to find the will to move your aching legs towards your only escape. They were heavy as lead. Your anemia wasn't helping. The cramps this month were worse than ever before and the fear barely dulled them. As you hit the mildewed tressel, your knees buckled below you. Your hands barely caught you as your skin hit the splintering wood. Frustrated tears started to pour down your cheeks. Blistered hands wiped at your face. You gritted your teeth and tried to swallow the hopelessness building in your throat.

"Move!" you urged yourself, flexing your shaking arms. Quivering fingers reached out, trying to drag your weary body forward board by board. They clawed at the bridge as your head looked to the heavens. Your thin voice pierced the damp, musty dark as you begged: "Please just let me move!"

Covered in a blanket of thick, grey clouds, the heavens were blind to your suffering. Just as you realized the stars would not answer you, a voice from the deep did.

"Oh? I come up for the smell of blood and here I find someone trapping across my bridge? Been a while."

Read the rest at: Archive of Our Own

@shigashigashig​ - I got you fam​​

@mel-hoedee @yuiji-yuiji @themidnight-slasher-thot @lovelydeepcherryblossom @thats-just-not-okay @gojoisthemilktomycereals @famouscreatorwolfcalzone @shadyfarmcookiefish @hinatabokeboke @fallen-baron @smallfry-crybabyblog @kingrandomness @professionalreblogs @insanebot109 @thesmokingcat @darkshadowguardian @dwight-y0u-sunflower-slut @daughter-of-the-gods0011 @bandaged-despair @oikawascakee @smallangrynerd @failinginlife @psychicglitterdetective @nimbus-lab @shinywombatbatland @little-bit-odd @yoyoyoonie @lisethelizard @averagepersonontheinternet @the-lady-writes-what @fluffabutt @isarahlouwho @bludspp @mythology-studios @kooljojoz @dr3lls @spitfyrefae @sayanetsuzune @qualityauthorsludgeland @kaitlyntalks @jackhowlswife @hi-what-is-anything @ravenrebel24 @assorted-beany @requedup @xanny-emo @anonymous-stuff @emo-smurf-owo @bai-pai

[thefreelanceangel]

Lady Capricia Leours ni Vetrov

Face Claim: Sasha Pivovarova

Appearance-

Gender: Female

Race: Human (Ascalonian)

Height: 5′ 9″

Eye Color: Aquamarine

Hair Color: Pale gold

Age: 26

The Facts-

Name Day:  Colossus 303 1303 {Nov. 2nd}

Occupation: Hellion {Noblewoman}

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Romantic Inclination: Monogamous

Alignment: Neutral Evil

Criminal History: No official record exists

Relationship Status: Wed to Baron Lucian Leours

Sweet on: Her pet fox, Herald

Favourites- 

Treat: Lemon tarts with powdered sugar

Drink: Lucian’s whiskey, stolen from his hand (or verbena tea)

Scent: Citrus; lavender and basil

Person: ...herself...? (Lucian Leours. Or Morgan Valister, if a spouse isn’t an option.)

Deeper Knowledge-

Ten Details:

Capricia is a masterful embroiderer. It’s her only real hobby and she can spend quiet, peaceful hours stitching away, provided she doesn’t run out of a particular colour thread. 

Her pet fox Herald was rescued from a poacher’s trap with Lucian’s assistance. She had no intention of keeping the animal, but ended up identifying with him so strongly that she’d be devastated if anything happened to him. 

She fashioned her husband’s wedding ring herself, utilizing her elementalism to shape the gold that had once been a bracelet she had purchased for her little sister, Nadia. 

Capricia is physically weak and doesn’t engage in close physical combat for that reason. She relies heavily on her elementalism to carry her through the nigh-constant fighting that she’s always trying to do.

There have been two previous marriages in her life. One resulted in divorce; the other resulted in her “husband’s” death. At her hands. 

Although she doesn’t let people get close enough to find out such a thing, the backs of her knees are ridiculously ticklish. 

Having killed her mother, she now has no living blood family aside from her daughters, Coriline and Valeria, that were left to be raised by their father, Noel. 

Capricia has an extremely difficult time sleeping. If she’s not plagued by insomnia, she suffers nightmares. Although she came very close to alcoholism in her attempts to recover from her divorce, she no longer relies on wine to get to sleep. If Lucian can’t lull her into sleep, she reads and pets her fox, Herald. 

Her fear of abandonment occasionally causes her to lash out at whoever she’s most afraid will leave her. Often, this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when her actions lead to the individual becoming angry and walking away. 

There is a pale mark on the left side of her throat that was once a burn scar, earned in the Aetherblades’ attack on Lion’s Arch. She made no attempt to heal the scar via magical means until her divorce from Noel Leours.

Five Items-

Things Preferred:

Pansies

Jewels

Arguing

Combat

Forests

Things Disliked:

Social Engagements

Being Alone

Hoelbrak

Separatists

Pink Dresses

Habits (Good or Bad):

Cursing in public

Reacting violently to... everything

Stealing drinks from her husband

Vicious, cutting remarks

Kindness to animals

Personalities Drawn To:

Confidence, even bordering on arrogance

A combative demeanor

Intelligence, shown in witty remarks

Sulky, irritable sorts

Defiant, loudly outspoken types

Personalities Repelled By:

Sweet, gentle individuals

Prissy nobles, male and female

Whiny pacifists

Timid, fearful people

Separatists

Fears:

Betrayal by a loved one

Abandonment

Loss of her pet fox, Herald

Rape

Public vulnerability

Tagging: @mirugaiwrites; @jamesrektson; @theladyshade; @josef-wachenfeld; @queenevaine-gw2; @reedingrams; @rising-ember; @scumbagmordremoth

[taigahisoka-blog]

Ash

@aenon-malthier

It was good Aenon wasn’t looking at Taiga the first time the former lord saw him in the courtyard. Taiga’s face twisted up into a downright ugly expression.

The last time he had seen that face, he’d been in the process of being dragged down the line to the rostrum where Lord Balthier had set up a chair lined with furs to resemble a throne.

“Surrender,” Balthier had said.

“Make me,” Taiga had hissed.

So they’d pulled off his silk doublet, unbuttoned his fine shirt, ripped off his calfskin breeches, and forced him to his knees, bare. Tied him there.

Balthier’d never fucked him, but Taiga had been raped there, in the ashes, his nose full of burning and the rot of opened bowels from all his people who died that day.

All those deemed too loyal or too dangerous who weren’t good for slave stock were being put to the sword, as Taiga was humiliated, publicly and punitively. Soldiers had done it, common beasts, while men looked on and mocked the fall of the famous Tiger—men who Taiga had danced with at parties, traded cutting insults with over hors d’oeuvres, men who had known his father or married a daughter to his brother or slept with Taiga in a teenage tryst.

He’d been bleeding badly and barely conscious when he was clapped in irons and dragged away.

But war is expensive (that was why they hadn’t ripped his raiments stripping him—such finery would sell well), and the lord decided after some mysterious urge to sell Taiga to Aeternum instead of executing him.

To make a slave of him was dangerous. As long as he wasn’t definitively gone, someone could easily use him as a banner in rebellion to Whitehall’s new baron. Even if Taiga died still in bonds, if he had a son or even a daughter, the Hisoka line lived on, and his children could be ousted and used as a banner just as easily.

Taiga fully intended to leave dozens of children somehow, just to spite them.

But it didn’t change the fact that on that day, of fire and ash and the stench of roasting flesh, amid the sounds of screams, none of them Taiga’s, Taiga had seen this man, Aenon Malthier.

And he would have his revenge.

“Aenon,” he called, lounging, the brutal look erased from his expression. He walked up to the man as if they were equals. He slid his lips to Aenon’s ear, purposefully letting his breath wash a part he’d known Aenon liked, when they were lovers. “A sight for sore eyes,” he whispered. “Have they gotten the smoke out of Whitehall yet? I’m afraid their shipments will be delayed for some time.”

Taiga had broken bottles and dumped wine by the gallon in order to cripple Balthier’s finances, when it was clear he was going to lose.

He’d paid men to burn the grape crops and the orchards, to make it even harder for Balthier to turn an easy profit. Never let it be said Taiga wasn’t spiteful.

[brajeshupadhyay]

Did Hearst’s Culture Kill Hearst’s Biggest Magazine Story?

One evening in August 2018, Maximillian Potter, then a writer for Esquire magazine, was sitting in a restaurant in California’s inland empire, trying to persuade a man in his 30s to share his memories of rape and abuse at the hands of powerful men in Hollywood in the late 1990s.

Mr. Potter ordered a glass of wine — and instantly regretted it. The other man at the table had given up alcohol but seemed so shaken that Mr. Potter worried he might trigger a relapse.

The dinner came toward the end of a year of reporting by Mr. Potter and a fellow investigative journalist, Alex French, on allegations against Bryan Singer, the director of “The Usual Suspects,” “X-Men” and “Superman Returns.” Mr. Potter assured his reluctant interview subject that he — and the powerful media company behind him, Hearst Communications — would have his back.

But Mr. Potter was not following the intricate corporate succession drama taking place inside the Hearst Tower, a 21st-century skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan built atop the Hearst Building, a 1928 structure commissioned by the press baron William Randolph Hearst.

There, Hearst’s chief executive officer, Steven R. Swartz, had been trying to get to the bottom of complaints about the workplace conduct of Troy Young, the company’s first head of digital media and a leading candidate to take over the magazine group.

Mr. Swartz, a former journalist, had enlisted Lincoln Millstein, a longtime Hearst executive who had recently retired from full-time employment, to help him get frank feedback from top editors. Mr. Millstein said last week that he told Mr. Swartz that Mr. Young had “overwhelming support” to carry out the company’s transformation into a digital operation.

On July 25, 2018, Mr. Young was named the president of Hearst Magazines, a job that put him in charge of Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Town & Country, Harper’s Bazaar and Good Housekeeping among its more than two dozen titles. Along with the promotion came a plan to give him “considerable mentoring and coaching,” a Hearst executive told me.

On Thursday, Mr. Young resigned under pressure.

His departure came shortly after my colleague Katie Robertson and I reported on the lewd and otherwise inappropriate remarks — and years of complaints about them — that had characterized his time running a company built largely on publications aimed at empowering women. In the Hearst cafeteria, for instance, he approached a heavily pregnant employee and said, “So, is the baby mine?”

Mr. Young, who did not reply to email inquiries for this article, previously told The Times that the accusations against him were “either untrue, greatly exaggerated or taken out of context.”

Under Mr. Young, Hearst Magazines did not only have a difficult workplace environment; it also may not have been the ideal company to back an ambitious investigative project like the one Mr. Potter and Mr. French had been working on for Esquire.

On Halloween, three months after Mr. Young had become the Hearst Magazines leader, the two reporters found themselves in a meeting led by the division’s head of content, Kate Lewis.

A former human resources executive at Condé Nast, Ms. Lewis had worked with Mr. Young at a start-up, Say Media, before signing on as his deputy in Hearst’s digital unit. Soon after his promotion to the top magazine job, Mr. Swartz and Mr. Young had named her the magazine group’s chief content officer, a job she still holds.

The Halloween meeting, which included Esquire editors, took place in Ms. Lewis’s brightly lit office at a time when the article on Mr. Singer was in the late stages of editing for the December/January issue. As the meeting progressed, Ms. Lewis expressed doubt that the sources would stand up to scrutiny, the two reporters said.

Ms. Lewis, who had little experience with investigative journalism, offered suggestions that struck the reporters as unhelpful. She told them the story could use a sympathetic victim, like Gwyneth Paltrow, the writers said. She also suggested serializing the story online, or publishing it as a kind of blind item, three people who attended the meeting told me. The next week, she informed Jay Fielden, then Esquire’s editor in chief, that the article would not run. (Ms. Lewis did not reply to requests for comment sent by email and through a company spokesman.)

In retrospect, Hearst seems timid, at best. Mr. Potter and Mr. French, who had been working as contract writers for Esquire, took their work to The Atlantic, which ran the article in January 2019. For Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic’s top editor, the decision to publish was not difficult.

“There’s not a lot of nuance here,” Mr. Goldberg told me last week. “They spiked a story that should have been published in the public interest for reasons unknown.”

The Hearst executives I spoke with said they couldn’t recall Mr. Young having expressed a view on the Singer article. And even while speaking on condition of anonymity, they refused to say who made the final decision to spike the Singer story. At the time, Ms. Lewis told the Esquire staff that it was an editorial decision, which the company repeated publicly.

Hearst’s chief legal officer, Eve Burton, said in a statement to the New York Post media reporter Keith Kelly shortly after the article appeared on The Atlantic’s website that the company’s decision not to publish it was “made based on our editorial standards.”

Pressed for detail on Sunday, Ms. Burton said in an email: “We simply believed, both my lawyers and our senior editorial team, that we did not have a story that was defensible and fair. One of the hardest things to do sometimes is to not publish. It was a close call. We stand by that decision.”

The Atlantic, which has been around since 1857, is hardly a run-and-gun tabloid operation, and its publication of the article was an important part of Hollywood’s #metoo reckoning. The piece won praise in part because it was a nuanced story about damaged young men, and it sent Mr. Singer’s career into a tailspin.

Mr. Singer denied the article’s allegations shortly after it was published. “It’s sad that The Atlantic would stoop to this low standard of journalistic integrity,” he said in a statement at the time, describing the article as a “homophobic smear piece.” A movie he was scheduled to direct, “Red Sonja,” was put on hold in February 2019, and he was later replaced on the project by the writer-director Jill Soloway.

Hearst’s call on the article was probably the highest-profile journalistic decision of Mr. Young’s two-year tenure as the magazine division’s president. It raised questions that still hang over the media industry, even three years after The New York Times and The New Yorker published their first investigative articles on the sexual misconduct of Harvey Weinstein.

How much do the values of the men who control much of the culture industry trickle down into the culture?

Is there a line to be drawn between a top media executive who asks a pregnant writer if the baby is his and what his company chooses to publish?

Mr. French, the reporter, said he still doesn’t know why Hearst decided against publication. Mr. Fielden, the former Esquire editor, has told friends he still doesn’t know the reason, but a person close to him told me that when Hearst “made the decision to kill the Singer piece without any explanation, and in violation of editorial standards, Jay knew it was time to go.”

This is not to say that media organizations wrestling with internal cultural issues — as virtually all are — cannot publish important work. Virtuous journalists do not always come up with worthy articles. No editor, reporter or newsroom is without sin — and yet we’re all in the business of throwing stones from our glass houses.

But for many reporters who have covered the media industry’s recent bouts of self-examination, the issue of who, exactly, decides which subjects merit journalistic investigation is at the heart of the matter.

“For generations, the abuses of power we loosely group under #metoo were considered a private matter, rarely newsworthy,” Irin Carmon, a senior correspondent for New York Magazine, said. “It’s not coincidental that those terms were set by powerful men who often had their own skeletons to hide and the incentive to protect each other.”

She added, “It’s damning that Hearst would promote someone with multiple documented complaints against them in the middle of a national reckoning about the same behavior — it really speaks to what, and who, actually matters at the top there.”

Hearst executives, speaking anonymously, hotly disputed the notion that Mr. Young’s workplace issues had spilled into the company’s journalism. He was, they said, focused on salvaging Hearst’s advertising business, which has battled the same headwinds as the rest of the media industry.

As Ms. Robertson and I reported, Hearst executives described Mr. Young’s behavior as part and parcel of sharp-elbowed digital disruption, while hinting that his detractors were tired print editors unable to get the hang of the internet.

Shrinking businesses make for bitter workplaces, and it’s true that Mr. Young shifted Hearst away from the freewheeling era of glossy print journalism toward the new reality of clicks and algorithms. But I’ve never seen crude talk as part of the digital transformation.

In recent months, Mr. Young tried and failed to keep alive a valuable print publication, O: The Oprah Magazine, which Hearst had published in conjunction with Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Entertainment Group since 2000. Ms. Winfrey has decided to discontinue it as a print magazine, Hearst acknowledged to the Business of Fashion’s Chantal Fernandez on Friday night.

A Hearst spokeswoman called the plan to end the print edition of O: The Oprah Magazine after its December 2020 issue “a natural next step for the brand.” But the scaling back of the relationship between the company and Ms. Winfrey is a major blow to the magazine group, and Hearst’s leaders had wrestled for weeks with how to make it public.

As media companies go, Hearst is discreet, without the frequent public dramas besetting its more glamorous rival, Condé Nast, and even this newspaper. Perhaps for that reason, its executive comings and goings have not attracted much scrutiny. The highest profile recent departure before Mr. Young’s was probably that of Mr. Fielden, the editor who lost the fight to publish the Singer story.

On the day he left the company in May 2019, he posed for a photograph that captured him striding out of the Hearst Tower while dressed impeccably and carrying four luxury-brand bags. The image, an immediate Instagram hit, subjected him to one of Twitter’s great roastings, and The Cut declared him a “fancy man.” The last thing the photo projected was an editor who had taken a professional risk for the cause of journalism.

But Mr. Fielden ignored pressure from above to prevent the story from appearing elsewhere, according to three people with knowledge of what happened, and had encouraged The Atlantic’s Mr. Goldberg to take it.

“I told Jay that if we publish a version of this story, it could be embarrassing for Esquire and it could get him in trouble,” Mr. Goldberg recalled.

In the end, Mr. Goldberg added, Mr. Fielden “stood up for his writers, and he stood up for a story that was true, and he doesn’t get the credit he deserves for doing that.”

The post Did Hearst’s Culture Kill Hearst’s Biggest Magazine Story? appeared first on Shri Times.

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[the-firebird69]

Mac didn't mean hand it all to me take it all back no. He meant fake it.

...not to delude yourself like cork does

...now you folks are massively rude now just now.

....your loser who is prepared to dump you remaining nest egg into a baron my kind infested wastelandthinking nothing of it gets praised for his idea of raping ppl if meaninglesscash to him to get them killed and himself in small lame boats. Just to insult him.

Asshole junkies and mine better not be fueling it it's over the top..

We were pulled back thrybthink you'll blame us.

Over the top stop them meant it so now we can't and I say we do it no I had them pull back so you third graders ...say...from shark tank......you didn't we did it the whole time and they gave us....and I say nope nope you began it in China won't stop I hid where we stopped a pause iccited a couple weeks then you all laid into me. It set, the hook. Unbearable at times then you say your via and as planned and.....we get this we look like dummies....you do too...dummies I took all your cars while you say grinning we got him snorting...and I had my a small meaningless gang take yourccomputers while you chortle as I was you g through basic math I know re your spewing to distract mine and they traced your stuff dn used what is it a phhooooonnnnnneeeee to hv mine raid ten thousand local caches and stashed in the few city blocks your in all life or death now and moved your building yesterday used a Galactus picked it up and leveled it after a few tries .

Ppl saw the hand marks.

And while I entertained you now filled the rest of your building with gas.

Jump or wine and dine as your pic shows you in welcome to the machine.

Zues Hera

What your doing is illegal

Shark fag

Really? Since when

Zues

Hera

Since laws were made...

Smell it hokey shits

Yeh and tour dead

Ohhh more free stuff

Oh no it's you...

Shark fag

inhale air is free

Zues

Hera

No we won't

We won't do it eat up they mean you we do it each episode. You did it. We eat you Tommy

Shark fag

Well that's composure must be south Park nyc

Zues

Hera

We took the gas from the next crew used it on them and you and it was for Galactus who is. Mostly immuned.

Thor