#all hallows read 2017

[her-satanic-wiles]

October 30th

Body Worship, Papa Emeritus II x Catholic!Reader

Masterlist

Words: 4.1k.

Warnings: Body Worship (okay, turned out less body worship and more just worship in general but fuck it, I wanted to write it this way lmao); fingering; vaginal fingering; cunnilingus; marking; piv; vaginal sex; unprotected sex; praise kink; y’all this is soft soft, and I love it; religious symbolism; corruption kink; hair pulling; multiple orgasms;

Taglist: @sodoswitchimage @enchantedbunny @bitchywitchygardener @thew0man @sodomiser @the-did-i-ask @copias-sewer-rat @gehrmansbignaturals @deetz-ghuleh @onlyhereforghost @zombiesnips-blog @saturnhas82moons

Author's Note: This is a continuation of October 3rd, so if you haven’t read that, please go and do so before you read this! Thanks!

Recommended listening: Chase Atlantic with their self-titled 2017 album.

🔞 MDNI 🔞

Under the cloak of night, he crept through the ancient cobblestone streets of Rome, heart pounding in his chest like a drumbeat of impending doom. The Vatican’s towering walls loomed before him, a fortress of faith and secrets. Driven by a love forbidden by both church and society, he had come to breach the sanctum’s impenetrable defenses.

His leather-soled shoes barely made a sound as he approached the towering stone wall that guarded the Vatican’s secrets. In the moon’s pale glow, he could make out the shadows of security guards patrolling the perimeter. He crouched low, his heart racing with each passing second, and carefully assessed their movements.

Timing was everything. With the precision of a cat, he found his moment when two guards turned their backs, engaged in hushed conversation. In one swift, heart-pounding motion, he scaled the wall, fingers gripping the rough stone edges, and muscles straining with urgency. His breath held, he cleared the top, dropping silently to the other side, where the hallowed ground of Vatican City stretched out before him. It was almost as if he could feel the soles of his feet burning as it touched the hallowed ground, and forced him to move forward quickly.

Silent as a whisper, he navigated the maze of corridors of the Vatican’s residential quarters. The opulence and history that surrounded him seemed at odds with the clandestine nature of his mission. Portraits of pontiffs from centuries past stared down at him from gilded frames, their judgmental eyes seemingly aware of his transgressions.

He moved with caution, avoiding the gaze of any servants or clergy members who might cross his path, clutching onto his Grucifix pendant in his thick hand in an attempt to shield his true identity. His knowledge of the Vatican’s layout was limited, but the urgency of his desire propelled him forward.

Finally, he found himself outside a front door, familiar to him only by the number he’d been given. He knew this was where you resided, his forbidden lover, a cardinal of the church with all the responsibilities but none of the titles or accolades. With trembling hands, he reached for the doorknob, his heart pounding louder than the sacred hymns echoing through the Vatican’s hallowed halls.

The room was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, casting dancing shadows on the richly adorned tapestries that lined the walls. He had finally found your apartments, and with a mixture of apprehension and longing, he pushed the door open, revealing the inner sanctum of the Pope’s daughter.

Inside, you sat at a writing desk, the dim light revealing the weariness etched into your features. Your modest dress hung off your frame just as pristine as you liked it. You looked up from your work, your eyes widening in shock and disbelief as they met his.

Time seemed to stand still as your gazes locked. Words failed you both, as the weight of your forbidden rendezvous hung heavy in the air. You stood from your seat slowly eyes fixed on the now cocky Secondo whose arms were outstretched as though he wanted you to run to him and welcome him into your home. Run to him you did, but no words of welcome were exchanged.

Your palms reached his shoulders and with a force, you pushed him, anger now taking hold of your body. “What are you doing here!?” You hissed, clearly livid by his intrusion. This was not how he wanted things to go. “My father will be here any minute! What do you think he’d do if he found a Cardinal of the Satanic Church in his daughter’s room?”

Secondo grinned, his black upper lip stretching into a lacivious smile. “Hopefully he’d understand my intensions and close the door behind him.”

Your hand connected with his cheek, a red mark forming instantly. Just as you were about to lay into him, you heard a familiar voice sounding from the entryway. “___?” Your father had arrived.

Secondo’s eyes widened, now understanding the gravity of the situation. Though the Catholic church was supposed to be a pinnacle of moral upstanding, it wasn’t uncommon for Popes to take drastic measures to protect their Papacy, even if it meant defying their God’s wishes. Thou shalt not murder - unless of course they pose a threat to your power and need to be eradicated. Secondo knew that given he was a footsoldier of the Devil, a Satanic rat sent to plague the people with “immorality”, your father would have no problem crucifying him on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica.

“Hide!” You shout-whispered, your panic even greater than Secondo’s.

Secondo wasted no more time, diving into your bedroom and throwing himself under your bed, thankful that you didn’t use it as storage. He did so at just the right time, because while he couldn’t see your father from his position, he could hear him and he was right where Secondo had stood just thirty seconds prior.

“What are you doing in here?” Your father asked, his tone certainly suspicious. “Why didn’t you come when I called?”

“Sorry, father, I was doing some work. Correspondances.”

Your father hummed in acknowledgement. “There’s a meeting tomorrow morning at ten o’clock. We’re gathering officials to discuss how we’re going to remove the vermin.”

Secondo didn’t need to visit the Vatican often to know that the vermin your father was referring to was the Satanic Church. He rolled his eyes and contorted his face to childishly mimic and mock your father - though he knew no one could see him, it was a knee-jerk reaction and he thought it was funny.

You hesitated before you spoke. “Yes, father.”

“Something you want to say?”

There were, in fact, several things you wanted to say to your father and none of them were kind. After spending as much time as you did with Secondo, you had grown to understand that they weren’t the monsters you used to fear and that the way your father and other members of your church talked about them was terrifying. You wanted to yell at your father for not treating you as you deserved, as well. How you were always promoted within the church, but could never retain the title as “women didn’t hold powerful positions”. But he had no problem using you to benefit his politics and Papacy. But all your thoughts would fall on deaf ears, and so you settled on a, “No, father.”

“Excellent. I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

“See you tomorrow.”

As the Pope finally left the room, you sank back against the door you had closed behind him, your emotions in turmoil. You closed your eyes and took a deep breath, trying to collect yourself. That was the moment Secondo had been waiting for. He emerged from his hiding spot, his presence a comfort and a promise in the midst of your forbidden… whatever this was. The silence between you was palpable, broken only by the flickering candles and the distant echoes of Vatican life outside your apartment. He watched as you composed yourself, trying to calm yourself of the anger your father had left you with only to feel it flare up when you saw the Satanic Cardinal standing in your bedroom doorway.

“Why did you come here?” You quietly shouted at him, anger ever present in your voice. “You know what would happen to you if someone saw you - what would happen to me, too!”

You stood there, lecturing him about his behaviour, hands flailing about the room in your frustration and a small amount of hatred dancing in your eyes. As you unleashed your fury, your words cutting through the air like a storm, he couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the raw beauty of your anger. Your eyes blazed with intensity, your voice resonated with passion, and your fierce determination only made you more captivating. In that moment, your rage seemed to enhance your allure, and he found himself irresistibly drawn to you. Never had he seen a woman before so beautiful than you in that moment.

He thought back to when he first met you, how your anger and hatred towards him had fuelled his lust, and how it forced him to act against his better judgement to take your virginity on a desk that didn’t belong to him in the bowls of the Ministry.

Caught between the tumultuous emotions swirling around them, he took a step closer, unable to resist the magnetic pull of your presence. Your anger had laid bare the depth of your relationship, and he knew that your illicit connection was a flame that refused to be extinguished. As you continued to vent your frustrations, he reached out, gently taking your face into his hands and pressing his lips against yours, silencing you, a fervent promise that he would stand with you against all odds, consequences be damned.

You pushed against him at first, not because you didn’t want to kiss him, but because he had the nerve to silence you when you were talking. But the more you melted into his arms, the less resistance you put up, and allowed yourself to be caught by him as you began to fall from grace. Though your descent from righteousness started when you gave yourself to him, it was that kiss that solidified your feelings, and made you realise that however much you loved your God, you were sure you loved Secondo more.

Passions grew when he pressed you against your door, trapping you between him and the wood. His hands moved from your face, down your arms, and tickled at the bare skin until he finally settled at your hips. Your hands gripped at his cassock, holding on tightly and pulling him as close as he could possibly be to you, but even then that wasn’t close enough. His kisses ignited a fire in you that shouldn’t have been lit in the first place, and had you submitting and bending to his wishes willingly. When his fingers tightened on your hips and began lifting your dress, you let him. When his tongue begged for entrance to your mouth, you let it. When his hand found the gusset of your panties, you spread your legs to allow him easy access. When he dipped below the waistband, and stroked a tentative finger over your clit, you moaned into his mouth to encourage him to do it again.

In this moment, he wasn’t a servant of Satan. He was yours. Your ardent and eager slave, a genie sent to grant all of your wishes even if you didn’t know that he had them. His lips travelled South from yours, roaming over vast expanses of your body in search of a single destination. He moved to your jaw, your neck, your clothed dress, your stomach, hips, thighs. He dropped to his knees in front of you, his glove-covered fingers pulling your panties down with him as he knelt before you. You watched him hesitate for a moment, before wide eyes stared up at you as if to plead with you to grant him permission. His eyes were mismatched and popped against his Cardinal paints, a gentle yet emblazoned fire in his eyes as he waited for you. You couldn’t say no; you simply didn’t want to. You needed him probably more than he needed you. You nodded.

He gently lifted your leg in his hands and kissed it from ankle to knee. The higher up his lips went, the more passionately he kissed, and once more he played using his tongue. But now, in addition to kissing, he started sucking, leaving a trail of numerous dark brown hickeys on your thigh. No one would be able to see them here, but every time you caught a glimpse of your naked body, you would be reminded of them. Of him. Of what he did to you and the shame that was supposed to come with it. Shame that you refused to feel because that would imply you regretted letting him have his way with you. But even when you were worshipping your Lord, when you were in the confessional booth, you couldn’t bring yourself to regret your actions.

He immediately dove in and started licking and sucking at your clit. He forgot to take it easy and instead allowed himself to just take from you what he wanted because he was so desperate and needy for your taste. He was encouraged to continue his movements by the faint and low whimpers that escaped from your partially opened mouth.

“Yes! Just like that!” Due to the strong suction he applied, you whispered, ending your sentence with a particularly breathy moan.

One of your hands flew to his head, gripping onto his hat and throwing it to the side allowing you to rest your hand there, pushing his face into your heat. Your hips bucked in pleasure, riding his tongue and taking what you needed from him. “Secondo!” The hand that wasn’t resting on his head flew up to your mouth, covering your exceptionally desperate moans as you came on his tongue, silencing yourself as much as you could so the Clergy wouldn’t hear your pleasure from the other side of the door.

When your orgasm had completely subsided, Secondo released you from his suctioned hold, his chin glistening with your juices and a small grin on his face. That grin altered your brain chemistry and instilled a confidence in you that you didn’t know you had. You pulled him by his cassock back to his feet and crashed your lips against his, kissing him much harder than before. You could taste yourself in his mouth, your own essence moving onto your tastebuds and heightening your arousal. Your hand gripped onto his and pulled off the first glove, still with your lips attached to his, and once it was off his hand, you threw it somewhere in the room. The second glove met the same fate.

You pushed him away from you and pulled at your zipper, undoing the dress and letting it pool around your feet. Your bra was the next to go, falling to the floor and exposing your breasts to him. You stood completely bare in front of him, looking at his face as his eyes ran over your body, drinking in every part of you he could see and committing it to memory. You then took his hand and walked him to the bedroom.

Before today, all your secret meetings had taken place after or during official meetings between your churches, sneaking off while representatives met to discuss peace or something redundant that both sides would ignore. Your meetings had been limited, but over the course of that week had been frequent. Yet for each of your encounters together, Secondo had taken charge. Despite how much he degraded you, how disrespectful his words were, you had grown to trust him entirely. He would never push you passed your limits, or do something to deliberately hurt you that you hadn’t already asked for or expressed your wish to try. Though he always used his experience to heighten yours, you were very much the pace-setter.

This was never more evident by his willingness for you to push him down onto the bed once his cassock and underwear was on your bedroom floor. How he happily lay on his back and watched you crawl up his body, tongue laving over his hairy stomach and chest and driving you further upwards. In your hubris, as your mouths connected in a passionate kiss, you took his length into your hands and lined him up with your sopping entrance, preparing both of you for the stretch you were about to experience. You felt Secondo’s hands move to your hips, supporting you as you sunk down onto him, taking him inside you in one fell swoop. This motion had you both breaking the kiss, mouths falling open in a perfect ‘o’ and your eyebrows raising while his furrowed, darkening his eyes.

You sat up, taking him even further down, and when you bounced for the first time, you ripped a growl from his throat. His back arched, his fingers tightened their grip on your hips. “Fuck!” He gasped when you did it again.

Your inexperience made it difficult for you to find a rhythm, your hands falling to his stomach to support you but failing to give you both the pleasure you needed. Secondo changed your motions for you, instead of helping you bounce, he used his hands to move you back and forth. “No, grind on me, little lamb.” He told you. You found a rhythm pretty quickly. “Just like that. Good girl.”

This position had your clit rubbing against his pubic mound and his cock moving inside you perfectly. The slight upwards curvature of him meant that each time you moved back, he hit that sweet spot inside you and caused you to cry out.

The more you moved, the more confident you became in your ability and allowed you to relax and just feel him - feeling the way he felt inside you, hitting your walls with each movement, his hands gripping onto you tight enough to leave more marks for you to admire later. While your eyes were closed in pleasure, his were wide open, drinking in every inch of your body and admiring you from below. He got to see you in your full glory, breasts bouncing with each thrust, thighs jiggling, mouth agape in ecstasy. The placement of your bed in the room in contrast with the overhead light created an ethereal glow, almost giving you a perfect halo around your head.

An angel.

You were an angel - you were his angel. The once good, Catholic girl who he loathed to look at, who made his life Hell in all the wrong ways. The righteous child who preached to those who didn’t want it, who was so sure in her decisions being the right one, now warmly accepting her mortal enemy into her body without much of a second thought. Now giving into temptation and pleasuring herself, against the will of her Lord, with the very man her book warned her about. The daughter of God using the son of Lucifer to commit sin after sin within the walls of the most hallowed building. It was almost as if he could feel your soul tainting with each thrust of your hips, your purity disintegrating along with his willpower each time a moan fell from your lips.

“Please,” you whimpered, “talk to me. Like you normally would.”

Degrade you? Now? He couldn’t possibly. He couldn’t find it within himself to tear you apart when you looked as you did: red-faced, sweating, panting and gasping for air as you felt him all the way up in your stomach. “I can’t.”

“Please.”

“No.”

“Why?” He didn’t answer at first, hoping you’d drop this crusade. But you were determined to get what you wanted and so, you stopped moving. “Why?”

“Little lamb, move.”

“Why?”

He lifted your hips a little more and tried to thrust into you, but you fought against him. “For fuck sake!” He sat up, his nose mere centimetres from yours, his eyes burning with anger and lust, pupils blown so far out the colour had disappeared entirely. His hand moved to the back of your head and pulled at the roots of your hair, lips brushing against your neck as he spoke, “Because you are divine. Move, please.” When he lay back down you picked the pace back up exactly how you did before you stopped, working towards your orgasm. His eyes remained on you the whole time. “You want me to tell you how sinful you are, hm? How much of a bad girl you are for defying your Lord?”

“Yes!”

“I won’t. I won’t use the same words that they do. Fucking shit! I can’t use those words when Lilith herself blessed you with ethereal beauty. When she placed her most beautiful creation on this Earth to walk amongst the mortals; art amongst the rats. I will not degrade one who was made to conquer men.”

You were breathless, both from the exertion and his words. “I c-conquered you?”

“Body, mind, soul,” he gripped hold of your hand and pulled it to his rest on chest, “and heart.” Your eyes met his in surprise, and your body shook as though electricity was running through it. “Conquered and enslaved. I will forever be yours, and worship you like the goddess you are.”

His large hand that had completely covered yours moved up your arm and began to rub both of his around your body, gripping onto pieces and stroking gently.

“Secondo!”

By the way your walls were fluttering around him, he knew you were almost at your peak. “Cum for me, little lamb. Bless me with your holy water.”

This orgasm was much more intense than your first, your body shaking and your eyes glazing over. Your back arched as it washed over you, your fingers digging into his arms and leaving half-moon prints in his skin. “Fuck!” You screamed softly, like your body had just been plunged into cold water.

“That’s it. That’s right. Give it to me.”

“Secondo! Oh my God!”

He pushed you off his cock and put you on the bed beside him, turning you to lie flat on your stomach. Your hips were lifted just enough for a pillow to sit below you, then you felt him mount you from behind, draping his entire body over you. His lips found their way to your ear as his cock lined up with your hole once more. “Your God doesn’t deserve you.” He told you as he entered you again, pressing you against the mattress. His hand found yours and interlocked his fingers with yours as he began to thrust into you, moving at a similar pace to when he usually fucked you. Hard, fast, dirty. But this time there was something new, something tender in the way he touched you, the way his other hand rested atop your hip.

“I will forever get on my knees for you,” he told you between grunts, “and worship between these hallowed walls.” He kissed your shoulder blades. “I will thank you for all that you give me. I am yours.”

“I’m yours, Secondo.” You turned your head to capture his lips and give him a deep kiss, his tongue sliding into your mouth as his cock continued to slide in and out of your tight, wet heat.

He surrounded you, every inch of his body running against yours and trapping you between him and the mattress in a way you’d never felt before - making you feel safe. His words told you that you were loved, despite the violent speed they ran through your head as he occupied every inch of your mind. His scent, woody and musky, filled your nose. His grunts and growls swallowed by your mouth in your unbroken, needy kiss. He loved you. He’d risen to catch you as you’d fallen for him. In that moment, nothing else mattered. God and Satan be damned. They’d ruled your lives too much, you both deserved this.

“Cum for me.” You whispered into his lips. “Give it to me, give me everything.”

“Where can I cum?”

“Inside me. I wanna feel you inside me.”

“Fucking hell!”

His hips snapped faster and more erratically until eventually he pushed himself as far as he could inside you, painting your walls with his cum. His eyes were tightly shut and a growl escaped him. He could feel his heart in his throat. His fingers tightened around yours when he came, gripping onto you and never wanting to let go.

As he came down from his high, he peppered your skin with kisses, black Cardinal paints very much wiped away at this point and his body exhausted from the exertion. He stayed inside you, softening with each passing second but not wanting to leave the warmth of your body just yet. You didn’t want him to, either. But it had to happen eventually. He rolled off you, but kept his hand on your hip as he did and rolled you with him, wrapping you up in his capable arms and holding you close.

The later into the night it got, he knew he’d have to leave the Vatican and wait to see you for who knew how long, and that thought hurt him more than he could possibly. He did everything he could to commit you to memory; how you looked, felt, smelled. He needed something to see him through until the next time you managed to see him. And so, he held you close, doing his best to fight off sleep.

That was until your voice broke the silence. “How would the Ministry feel if I left with you tonight?”

Previous Day ⛧ Next Day

[watchmenanon]

THE ‘STRANGER THINGS’ BOYS ARE OUR ‘NYLON GUYS’ SEPTEMBER 2017 COVER STARS

If anyone understands the sudden shift from “not fitting in” to “one-million-plus followers,” it’s these guys.

The following feature appears in the September 2017 issue of NYLON Guys.

Finn Wolfhard just couldn’t resist. Despite needing to be camera-ready for his NYLON photo shoot, the 14-year-old star of Stranger Things decided to suck on a blue Warhead anyway, and now he’s paying the price. “All these sets have candy on them, and I can’t help myself. It was a mistake,” he admits, sheepishly trying to scrub the cerulean stain from his tongue with a miniature toothbrush. To his right, Gaten Matarazzo wears a gray T-shirt that reads, uh oh! did my sarcasm hurt your feelings?, a slogan worthy of Dustin Henderson, the lovable wisecracker he plays opposite Wolfhard on the hit Netflix show. Matarazzo, also 14, is getting his trademark tangle of curls straightened, much to the delight of Noah Schnapp, who, at 12, is the youngest in this group of breakout stars that has helped make Stranger Things the most obsessed-over show in Netflix’s boundless roster of original series. Missing is Caleb McLaughlin, the energetic 15-year-old who plays Lucas Sinclair, but he’s on his way over in a black car, having just arrived from Los Angeles, fresh off an appearance at the BET Awards.

It’s the first time the boys have been together in several weeks, and none of them can pinpoint exactly when they were last in the same room. Ever since Stranger Things became a cultural phenomenon last summer, they’ve been swept up in a whirlwind of red carpets, talk shows, and fan conventions. And as the premiere of the sci-fi and horror fantasia’s top-secret second season nears, this summer has been overtaken by a flurry of promotional duties. Next week, while most kids their age are cooling off in pools or testing out the latest in roller coaster technology, Matarazzo and McLaughlin will be at Denver Comic Con, signing autographs and posing for selfies with wide-eyed fans. A few weeks after that, all four will find themselves inside the hallowed Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con, where they’ll premiere the thrilling trailer for Season 2 to rapturous applause.

But on this day, even though they’re technically at work, the boys still find time to goof off. They are, after all, best friends—like brothers, even, they say—and there’s a lot of catching up to do, memes to be shared, and jokes to be cracked. “We used to call Noah ‘Señor Biebs,’” Matarazzo offers at one point, due to Schnapp’s Season 1 bowl cut and its resemblance to the former haircut of a certain Canadian pop star. “He hates it!” he says, just before he sticks his finger into Schnapp’s ear (playfully, of course).

Inside the bright and breezy photo studio on Manhattan’s West Side, publicists abound, but because these budding stars are still minors, there are also parents. It’s an unusual sight, and a reminder that despite having very grown-up jobs, they’re still not old enough to drive. Wolfhard, the Vancouver native who plays Mike Wheeler, is here with his father, as is Matarazzo, who hails from Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. Schnapp and his parents came in from Westchester County, north of the city. When McLaughlin, who grew up in Carmel, New York, finally arrives lugging a suitcase that’s almost as big as he is, he’s accompanied by his father, a burly man in an Atlanta Braves cap who goes around the room with his son hugging the other parents, a reminder of how tight the makeshift family has become since this odyssey began more than two years ago.

Stranger Things premiered as an underdog. Its creators, the twin brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, were unproven talents who had previously written for the Fox sci-fi series Wayward Pines. Except for Winona Ryder’s comeback as a grieving mother searching for her missing son, the cast was composed largely of unknowns and newcomers. But thanks to its double dose of supernatural intrigue and a nostalgic ’80s-tinged glow, along with a miraculous performance by a young British actress with a shaved head, Stranger Things quickly commandeered the pop-culture conversation in a way that few shows have done. In July, the show received a staggering 18 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series.

Created by the Duffers in the spirit of the Amblin-era entertainments they were raised on, the eight-episode first season is set in 1983 in Hawkins, Indiana, and unravels the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Will Byers, played by Schnapp, who vanishes in the first episode after an encounter with the show’s resident boogeyman, the otherworldly creature known as the Demogorgon. As Will’s three misfit best friends—Mike, Lucas, and Dustin—embark on a quest to find him, they uncover an alternate dimension they dub The Upside Down, and a sinister government conspiracy that may be responsible for opening it. They also befriend Eleven, the feral girl with telekinetic powers embodied iconically by 13-year-old Millie Bobby Brown.

Stranger Things began filming its second season under very different circumstances than the first. What once felt like a scrappy production free of scrutiny from outside sources suddenly had the mood and atmosphere of a major Hollywood blockbuster. “Netflix knew it would be a good show,” McLaughlin says, “but they didn’t realize how big it would be and that the whole world was going to freak out about it.” Because of that intense interest from both the network and the public, the set suddenly had a noticeable security presence shielding it from nosy onlookers and paparazzi, while network executives showed up to make sure their prized racehorse was galloping along. Suddenly, there were expectations. “We raised the bar pretty high with the first season,” says Matarazzo. “There was a lot more tension on set, in that we really needed to make sure it was good.”

When Season 2 premieres on October 27, a year will have passed since Eleven sacrificed herself to defeat the faceless Demogorgon and save the boys, in the Season 1 finale. Trying to squeeze spoilers out of Wolfhard, McLaughlin, Schnapp, and Matarazzo is useless. Extensive media training, including detailed notes on what they can and can’t discuss, have transformed them into a rare breed: teenagers who can keep a secret. What they can say: Season 2 is bigger, darker, and scarier. There’s also a new character in town, played by Sadie Sink. (According to the Duffers, Millie Bobby Brown was “relieved” to have another girl on set.) “She’s a skater, sort of a punk girl, and she slowly becomes part of the group,” says Wolfhard, who also says his character will be depressed and “a loner” in the wake of Eleven’s disappearance. What they can’t say: pretty much everything else. But it’s not just scoop-hungry journalists who harass them for info. “Whenever you get recognized by fans, most of the time they ask you if you’ve got any spoilers for Season 2, and I’m like, ‘No, none, not at all,’” says Matarazzo. “It’s definitely kind of stressful.”

One of the biggest changes for the new season is the expansion of Schnapp’s screen time. Because his character spends much of the first season trapped in an alternate dimension, Schnapp spent a good deal of time at home in New York while everyone else filmed in Atlanta. “Last year I would drive up to the studio and everyone would be like, ‘Hey, Noah, we’ve missed you! How’ve you been?’” says Schnapp. “This year was a lot easier because last year, I’d have to go in and out of school, and that was hard. This year I could focus.”

Although he’s rescued from The Upside Down, we last saw Schnapp removing a slithery creature from his mouth, a telltale sign that not all is well with Will Byers. For Schnapp, whose character mostly communicated through Christmas lights in Season 1, the new episodes meant new challenges as an actor. “Shawn Levy, one of our directors, was telling me, ‘Noah, you have something really big this season. We have a lot in store for you, and you should get really excited,’” he says. Schnapp felt the added pressure, and would sometimes text his TV mom, Ryder, for extra help with particularly emotional scenes. “We knew we needed a strong actor in case the series moved forward into a second season, because we knew he was going to be a centerpiece,” says Matt Duffer. “We needed not just a good actor, but a really, really good actor.” Schnapp rose to the occasion, according to the Duffers. “Shawn [Levy] was like, ‘We’ve had a Ferrari sitting in the garage all of Season 1, and now the fucking garage doors are open.’”

The Duffers knew that casting child actors, who have a tendency to favor exaggerated performances over naturalistic ones, would make or break their show. “There’s really nothing worse than a bad child performance,” Ross Duffer says. “You couldn’t have any weaknesses, or the eight hours would be excruciating.” Along with their casting director, the Duffers saw what they estimate to be 900 kids, an undertaking they say was easier than it sounds because they could tell within the first few minutes if the actor had what they needed. “You’re looking for something authentic, and most kids don’t have it,” says Ross. “There are the ones that are obviously well-trained, but they feel too Disney, like they’re winking at the camera.” What the Duffers found with their four young male stars were kids who seemed like actual kids.

Matarazzo was the first one cast, his audition so impressive that he found out he got the part on the way back from the airport. “We didn’t really even know who the Dustin character was until we found Gaten,” says Matt Duffer. “He was sort of a generic nerd with glasses. He was a stereotype.” Matarazzo, whose sense of humor inspired the Duffers to transform Dustin into the show’s primary source of comic relief, has grown up with a condition known as cleidocranial dysplasia, which stunts the development of bones and teeth. “We wanted to make a show about outsiders, about kids who didn’t fit in and who were bullied and made fun of,” says Matt. “Gaten was really able to tap into all of that.”

McLaughlin and Matarazzo had known each other from their days as stars in two of Broadway’s biggest shows. Matarazzo portrayed Gavroche in Les Misérables, and McLaughlin played Simba in The Lion King. They’d often see each other in a park frequented by “Broadway kids,” as Matarazzo calls them. “When I found out Caleb had gotten Lucas I was like, ‘Caleb? Where do I know that name from?’” he recalls. Wolfhard and Schnapp established an early connection, too—sort of. “He doesn’t remember me, but I remember him,” Wolfhard says. “Because I asked him what other projects he had done, and he said, ‘I was the voice of Charlie Brown in The Peanuts Movie.’ I was like, ‘What?! You’re Charlie Brown?’ I was so pysched about that.”

Although they had all crossed paths during the audition process, usually around the hotel pool or at chemistry reads, it wasn’t until they arrived in Atlanta to begin production that all four boys, along with Millie Bobby Brown, found themselves together in the same room for the first time. If there was a first-day-of-school feel, it made sense: They met in a classroom, which is where the young cast of Stranger Things still spend most of their time when they’re not filming. That grueling schedule means the only opportunities they get to really mess around are between takes, and sometimes during them. “We have laughing problems,” says McLaughlin. Matt Duffer elaborates: “We definitely have an issue, where we can’t get through a take without someone busting up. They’re always making each other crack up—the number of takes ruined by laughter is in the hundreds.”

Schnapp was at summer camp when Stranger Things dropped on Netflix. He wasn’t allowed to have his phone, but shortly after the series premiered, one of his counselors happened to check his Instagram account—80,000 followers. The next day it was 85,000. “I was like, ‘Wait, what’s going on?’ I think I was at one follower before that,” Schnapp says. Wolfhard also remembers that odd rush of watching his followers skyrocket and realizing his life was changing right in front of his eyes. McLaughlin felt his anonymity evaporate the first time he was recognized. “In L.A., this kid came up to me and was like, ‘Hey, are you Caleb Reginald McLaughlin?’” he says. “And I’m like, ‘What? You know my middle name? That’s nuts.’” 

The connection between the boys is strengthened by the surreal turn their lives have taken, circumstances that most kids their age can’t relate to. When Matarazzo, McLaughlin, and Wolfhard met Barack Obama last October, as guests of the White House’s South by South Lawn festival, the former president, who’s a fan of the show, told them he especially enjoyed their on-screen camaraderie. That bond exists offscreen, too, and has only gotten stronger with every award show and panel. “They really are my best friends,” Matarazzo says. “We can relate to each other a lot more than other people can. People try to understand everything that goes on, but they can’t unless they’ve been there.”

“I don’t think any of the kids would say that our friendship is similar to the friendships they have back home, because it’s not,” says Wolfhard. “No kid has ever really had an experience that I’m experiencing right now—it’s a unique sort of friendship.”

Wolfhard is careful not to bring his work home with him. “If you go home and all you talk about is acting, then you’re a douchebag,” he says. “Your friends don’t want to hear about your professional life, they just want to mess around.” Plus, when you’re 14 years old, talking about work is never cool, even if it involves facing off against a faceless interdimensional demon. The boys are also learning that with a great number of Instagram followers comes great responsibility. “We have to be more cautious with what we say on social media and in public,” says McLaughlin, who was shocked to lose followers after he openly rooted for the Golden State Warriors during the NBA playoffs.

While Netflix has yet to make an official announcement, a third season of Stranger Things is a given, meaning the boys are all but guaranteed to live out their teenage years on one of the most popular shows on television. The Duffers, then, will have to follow in the footsteps of long-running properties like Game of Thrones and the Harry Potter franchise in making sure their child actors don’t grow up faster than their characters. “It’s terrifying,” Matt Duffer says. “I shouldn’t even be highlighting this, but if you watch Season 2, they’ve grown from Episode 1 to Episode 9. I’m terrified one of them is going to have a major growth spurt basically in the middle of shooting. But as long as they’re growing outside of the course of our shooting, I’m not too worried about it, because we just have to build it into our story. As much as you would like to keep some of it more continuous, every time we take a break between seasons, we have to make a year time jump at least.”

All four actors say that they want to remain in show business into adulthood. Wolfhard, who obsessively studies the filmmaking process while on set—he’ll star in the remake of Stephen King’s It, in theaters this month—is eyeing a multihyphenate career as a director, actor, and musician. Back at the photo shoot, Matarazzo and Schnapp gather around his iPhone to watch a video Wolfhard co-directed for a friend’s band, Spendtime Palace. Earlier this year, McLaughlin, who is a trained dancer, played a young Ricky Bell on the BET miniseries The New Edition Story, an experience he describes as “historic.” Matarazzo wants to continue acting, but not forever, and is keeping an open mind about other aspects of the industry. Schnapp, who took his first acting class at the age of six, describes winning the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series as one of the greatest moments of his life, and is doing exactly what he wants. (The boys, who describe the awards as “very heavy,” keep them in their bedrooms, except for Matarazzo, who has been meaning to retrieve his from his grandparents’ house. )

“They all love what they’re doing,” says Matt Duffer. “They love coming to set, they love working, they love acting. In terms of the fame thing, it’s a side effect that I think some of them are more into than others. You’re worried about, ‘What if they realize this isn’t their true passion?’ They’re so young. But this year those fears went away. They’re all very committed to this. That’s the important thing, that they enjoy what they’re doing. And that they’re passionate about it.”

[headintheclouds76]

NEW FIC!

The Curse Of The Black Flame

Synopsis: Welcoming his niece to his home of Salem on All Hallows' Eve, Clyde Logan has planned the best evening of trick r' treating for his beloved niece Sadie. Accompanied by the lovely Lady Ophelia, Clyde muses at how wonderful the night has been going. However, with their youthful challenge of superstitions and the lighting of a cursed candle, the night of festivities becomes their worst hours of a nightmare when they unwittingly summon three malevolent witches. Relying on their wits and courage, they will do anything to save the town from the perils of dark magic and the witches' wrath.

Happy reading everyone at

[coloradosnumber1dad]

My Fandoms | Who I Write For

Masterlist

I will write anything your little hearts desire just ask and I’ll watch it or read it ❤️ Chernobyl | no fics obviously but I’m always up for a discussion and nerding out on the subject :)

Stranger Things

The Black Phone | Not the Grabber he’s a literal pedophile

Terrifier 1&2/ All hallows Eve | Art mostly

Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark

Stand By Me | Yes I ship LaChambers

The Office | Ask me to write abt Angela and I will shatter you like glass

Lab Rats

Mighty Med

National Lampoon

Texas chainsaw massacre 1&2 | chop top <33

Malcolm In The Middle | I will write Hal x Lois too

The Middle

Are you afraid of the dark?

Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children | Not the Hollows- they fr be eating children

Harry Potter

Donnie Darko

GTA V

Firefly Trilogy

Jeepers Creepers | 1 & 2

The Shining

IT 2017, 2019 & 1990

A Christmas Story

Young Sheldon

Hocus Pocus

House of Wax | Lester, Bo, Vincent

Bridge To Terrabithia

Superstore | Garrett, Jonah, Dina, Amy, Cheyenne, Marcus

The walking dead | Rick, Daryl, Simon, Negan, Eugene, Abraham,

[fictionz]

New Fiction 2024 - October

Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo (1955)

Don’t read this book if you want happy endings. Do read this book if hope and loss are a part of the tragic miracle of existence.

El huésped by Guadalupe Nettel (2006)

The you that you are can sometimes be a certainty, but sometimes there’s a nagging possibility that you’re not just you, but a village of you, and there may come a time when another you decides you’ve had enough.

"Taxi" by Kousuke Oono (2017)

Real I Saw the Devil behavior.

Dr. Franken II dev. MotiveTime (1993)

At first glance it's a basic 2D platformer with some clunky controls, and it appears to repeat what the first game did. But then the game expands into a complex Metroid-esque adventure full of item hunting and backtracking. They don't always make it clear what the player needs to do next, and the manual points out that it's best to create a map, so perhaps that's the intended slightly frustrating experience. But I still found it to be an impressive effort with good visuals for a Game Boy game and enough meat on the bone to keep a player engaged for some time.

Frankenstein: Through the Eyes of the Monster dev. Amazing Media (1995)

I played it because it features Tim Curry, and there was certainly Tim Curry throughout the experience, but by the end I wish there had been more Tim Curry. I feel like there must be hours of cut footage because the game clearly gets cut short in various places as the devs decided they needed to wrap it up. Without Tim Curry, it's a Myst-like adventure with convoluted item hunting that leaves the player hunting for the one piece of paper containing a note that triggers the next story event, or fiddling with contraptions that have to be manipulated in very precise ways or they reset in frustrating ways. The saving grace is a save system that allows for infinite save scumming. Prepare for weeks of exploration with this one.

Escape from Frankenstein's Castle dev. PlayFirst & Spark Plug Games (2010)

It feels like a standard object hunt/adventure game on the surface, but it's not as demanding of the player in terms of finding objects in each room and plays like a first-person adventure game with some mini games sprinkled throughout. I like the mood it sets and though the cutscenes are simple they go a long way toward conveying the story.

The Wanderer: Frankenstein's Creature dev. La Belle Games (2019)

A singular work in the medium, and particularly as an adaptation of Mary Shelley's original story. The gameplay isn't as expansive but it serves the need of the beautiful narrative, art, and music that is expertly woven together. The few puzzles that appear throughout the experience aren't overly challenging and do reward the player's exploration of the environments. Just an overall amazing game and I'm so glad I played it.

Transformers One dir. Josh Cooley (2024)

There's no accounting for the disaffected.

Monster Summer dir. David Henrie (2024)

A classic tale of don't trust adults.

A Different Man dir. Aaron Schimberg (2024)

Satisfaction is the unattainable illusion.

All Hallow's Eve dir. Damien Leone (2013)

Stitching together bits and bobs into something grotesque.

Frankenstein vs. The Mummy dir. Damien Leone (2015)

You wait and wait and it doesn't really hit, does it?

Terrifier dir. Damien Leone (2016)

A series of unfortunate encounters with clowns.

Terrifier 3 dir. Damien Leone (2024)

The lore is so deep at this point. At least now I know what I'm getting into with these.

Allá en el Rancho Grande dir. Fernando de Fuentes (1949)

Making a go of the hard life.

Donde nacen los pobres dir. Agustín P. Delgado (1950)

If we can't understand each other, when does one side demolish the other?

La Hora Marcada - "Concierto Para Mano Izquierda" (1988)

The hand that cons.

La Hora Marcada - "El Hombre de Negro" (1988)

You did nothing wrong.

La Hora Marcada - "El Juramento" (1988)

You can just leave.

La Hora Marcada - "Un Viaje de Buena Voluntad" (1988)

They're not coming after you, they're coming with you.

La Hora Marcada - "La Visita" (1988)

The best of the bunch so far.

La Hora Marcada - "Larga Distanica: Hawaii" (1988)

Not my brother's keeper.

The Terror - Season 1 (2018)

They may not find you, but they'll never let you rest.

[ticketmastersince2k4]

Zenescope - Omnibusted #25: Halloween & Christmas (2011)

Happy New Comic Book Day evening and All Hallows' Eve², Ticketholders!

Today, I revisited the Christmas and Halloween specials from 2011. My opinions on them haven't changed much since I first re-read them in 2017, including a Halloween segment that has an "old ClipArt" feel to its art style but enriches Belinda’s character in a context like we haven't seen since the Fear Not Giant-Size, and adds a sympathetic dynamic to her relationship with Sela (especially in light of Volumes Nine and Ten).

Enjoy!

[comrademutancy]

notes about Derek Jarman's The Last of England (1987) / Harry Potter / Remus and Sirius / a fic rec

- I don't think I've read a definitive (cultural) history of Harry Potter that properly situates its production within the context of late 20th c / early 21st c British life. it is uncanny that it was first published the month after the election of New Labour, and the last movie (part 1) about six months after the defeat of New Labour. (Deathly Hallows part 2 came out in 2011). there's somewhat of a gap in the canon hp timeline, and the story itself only lasts so long: the 80s when nothing much seemed to have happened in universe but an interregnum, and then later, after everything ends in 1998 and then again in 2017 when "all was well." see, in the harry potter world, the lacuna was when England according to Jarman unravelled, the time of revitalized action more or less the exact time when Fukuyama proclaimed history over, and then soporific endings when history returns, d:ream OVER, actually

- don't wanna be crass or thinkpiece lite but can't help mulling this over bc there's a series of (semi experimental?) hp r/s fanfiction (one of them inspired by Derek Jarman) that I haven't read yet but have been making careful circuits around. I group it with other shot-through w politics fanfic as late millenial attempts at reckoning w empire, post 90s academy pomo/poco hegemony, through the prism of tumblr/mass popularization of/access to said poco/pomo university humanities hegemony

- consider, crassly: the naked man and the clothed balaclava-clad one fucking on the flag. ok which one of you is the sirius and which one is the remus?

- trying to make sense of history in pop cult. and then history: other. the oddities in the mismatching is how these (re) imaginings happen

- side note in an review comprised only of side notes, reminded by the Derek Jarman cameo in Prick up Your Ears: I still don't get how Stephen Frears can go from making the stuff he does in the 80s to High Fidelity in 2000 to Victoria & Abdul in 2017. his endorsement of Corbyn even in 2019 provides part of a clue, I guess...

- thinking of the landscape of The Last of England, when reading this: with the words going out like cells of a brain. the ratata of machine guns are absent, but I imagine everything else fitting quite well. even the wedding at the end, of a tempo with the gruesome portraits at 12 G and then finally Sirius's return [jkr disclaimer statement: none in notes and otherwise unknown, as it's an orphan'd work but can't imagine a disclaimer stronger than orphaning yr work so]

[tahelms85]

Stole this from someone else on a tag.

A book recommended by a librarian Saint X by Alexis Schiatkin

A book that’s been on your TBR list for way too long Wicked by Gregory Maguire

A book of letters Mr. Men series by Roger Hargreaves

An audiobook The Otto Digmore Difference by Brent Hartinger

A book by a person of color Their Eyes Were Watching God by Toni Morrison

A book with one of the four seasons in the title Suddenly Last Summer and Other Plays by Tennessee Williams

A book that is a story within a story Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

A book with multiple authors The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

An espionage thriller The Davinci Code by Dan Brown

A book with a cat on the cover Pet Sematary by Stephen King

A book by an author who uses a pseudonym The Regulators by Richard Bachman

A bestseller from a genre you don’t normally read Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shatterly

A book by or about a person who has a disability Deaf Utopia by Nyle DiMarco and Robert Siebert

A book involving travel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

A book with a subtitle Monster: The True Story of the Jeffrey Dahmer Murders by Anne E Schwartz

A book that’s published in 2017 Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

A book involving a mythical creature It by Stephen King

A book you’ve read before that never fails to make you smile Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

A book about food The Hundred Foot Journey by Richard C Morais

A book with career advice One For the Money by Janet Evanovich

A book from a nonhuman perspective The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

A steampunk novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

A book with a red spine Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by Harry Potter

A book set in the wilderness Call of the Wild by Jack London

A book you loved as a child The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone

A book by an author from a country you’ve never visited Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

A book with a title that’s a character’s name Coraline by Neil Gaiman

A novel set during wartime The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

A book with an unreliable narrator How's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones

A book with pictures Amelia Bedelia Means Business by Herman Parish

A book where the main character is a different ethnicity than you Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

A book about an interesting woman The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

A book set in two different time periods A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

A book with a month or day of the week in the title Mad Hatters and March Hares by Ellen Datlow

A book set in a hotel The Shining by Stephen King

A book written by someone you admire This Time Together by Carol Burnett

A book that’s becoming a movie in 2017 Berlin Syndrome by Melanie Joosten

A book set around a holiday other than Christmas Cupid Strikes…Three Times by Ajme Williams

The first book in a series you haven’t read before A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sara J Maas

A book you bought on a trip The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

ADVANCED: A book recommended by an author you love One For the Money by Janet Evanovich

A bestseller from 2016 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne

A book with a family-member term in the title A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer

A book that takes place over a character’s life span A Prayer For Owen Meaney by John Irving

A book about an immigrant or refugee We Were Dreamers by Simu Liu

A book from a genre/subgenre that you’ve never heard of Dungeons & Drag Queens by Emma Alice Johnson (bizarro fiction)

A book with an eccentric character A Series of Unfortunate Events by Daniel Handler

A book that’s more than 800 pages The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

A book you got from a used book sale Wicked by Gregory Maguire

A book that’s been mentioned in another book The Outsiders by SE Hinton

A book about a difficult topic Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (OCD)

A book based on mythology The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

[thebobby1432world]

Mitali Mayekar Wiki, Biography, Age, Height, Weight, Family, Net Worth

Mitali Mayekar Wiki: Mitali Mayekar is an accomplished Marathi television and film actress. She is best known for her roles in popular Marathi television serials such as Bhagyalaxmi, Tu Manjha Sangti, Ladachi Mi Lek Ga, and Unch Maza Zoka. Mitali made her Bollywood debut in 2009 in the movie Billu with Irffan Khan and has since appeared in Tamil movies like Urfi and Yaari Dosti. Mitali Mayekar WikiPhysical Stats, Career & More Born on September 11, 1996, in Mumbai, to Uday and Sujata Mayekar, Mitali developed an interest in acting at the age of 9 and attended Vidya Patwardhan's Acting Workshop. She began her career by playing Sayali in Zee Yuva's TV show Fresher's and also starred in Anubandh as Malvika.

Mitali Mayekar Wiki Her foray into the Marathi film industry came in 2015 with the movie Urfi. Additionally, she has participated in the Marathi reality show Maharashtracha Favorite Dancer, where she reached the semi-finals. Mitali currently attends Ramnarain Ruia College in Matunga, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in mass media.

Mitali Mayekar Wiki

NameMitali MayekarDate of Birth11 September 1996 (Wednesday)Age (as of 2023)26 YearsBirthplaceDadar, Mumbai, MaharashtraZodiac signVirgoNationalityIndianHometownDadar, Mumbai, MaharashtraSchoolBalmohan Vidyamandir, MumbaiCollege/UniversityRamnarain Ruia Autonomous College of Science and Arts, Matunga, MumbaiEducational QualificationMass CommunicationReligionHinduism HobbiesSpend time in nature, photography, music, traveling, and readingTattoo(s)• A colorful balloon tattoo on her bicep • An oak tree is done with black ink on her bicep • Mountains inked on one of her ankles • Waves inked on her ankles • A small heart outline tattoo inked on her pointer finger • Instagram logo inked on her wrist • 'Always' with a symbol of deathly Hallows inked on the arm • A portrait of her pet dog Dora with two hearts inked on her legRelationships & MoreMarital StatusMarriedAffairs/BoyfriendsSiddharth Chandekar (TV Actor)Marriage Date21 January 2021 (Thursday)FamilyHusband/SpouseSiddharth ChandekarParentsFather- Uday Mayekar (entrepreneur) Mother- Sujata Mayekar (homemaker)SiblingsSister- Shreya Daflapurkar (stylist, blogger, and entrepreneur)FavoritesFoodAnything junk ActorRanveer Singh, Ranbir KapoorActressDeepika Padukone, Priyanka ChopraFilmBollywood- Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) Hollywood- Disney Pixar's Coco (2017)SnackMaggiHobbiesSpend time in nature, photography, music, traveling, and readingIndian Sweet DishBesan LadooSongLag Jaa Gale (Lata Mangeshkar)Car CollectionMahindra Thar Physical Stats, Career & More ProfessionActressFamous RoleGunja in the movie Billu Barber (2009)Physical Stats & MoreHeight (approx.)in centimeters- 162 cm in meters- 1.62 m in feet & inches- 5’ 4”Weight (approx.)in kilograms- 56 kg in pounds- 123 lbsFigure Measurements (approx.)34-28-34Eye ColourBlackHair ColourBlackCareerDebutBollywood Film: Billu Barber (2009) as Gunja Marathi Film: Yaari Dosti (2016) TV: Asambhav (2008) as Dr. Samant's daughterAwards, Honours, AchievementsBest Influencer Actress Award at DIA Lokmat Digital Influencer Awards (2021) Disclaimer: The above information is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on the Site. Read the full article

[quoteoftheweekblog]

QUOTATIONS - LUCY WORSLEY’S ‘JANE AUSTEN AT HOME - A BIOGRAPHY’ (FIRST PUBLISHED 2017)

First sentence:

‘To generatons of Austen worshippers, the site of Steventon Rectory is hallowed ground.’ (Worsley, 2018, p.9).

The authorial voice:

‘But then, when they were almost home, Mr Austen and Cassandra met upon the road “Jane and Charles, the two little ones of the family, who had got as far as New down to meet the chaise, & have the the pleasure of riding home in it’ ...

You must know, as Jane died so young, that this story of her life does not end happil. But do please fix in your mind this sunny scene, when she was six-and-a-half, because in this beginning there is also much that prefigures our devestating end. Imagine Jane happy, if you will, life before her, running through the Hampshire fields on a summer’s evening, eager to see Cassandra once again, and to bring her home.’ (Worsley, 2018, p.35).

On writing:

‘ ... they spent most of their time deep in the rainy countryside, writing stories because there was nothing else to do.’ (Worsley, 2018, p.48).

‘She writes about the very act of writing: “I must get a softer pen. - This is harder. I am in agonies.” “I am going to write nothing but short Sentences”, she determines, finding it hard to gather her thoughts, “Oh, dear me, when I shall ever have done?” ‘ (Worsley, 2018, p.173).

On Jane Austen:

‘Jane’s great achievement would be to let even the ordinary, flawed, human girls who read her books think that they might be heroines too.’ (Worsley, 2018, p.52).

‘One of the reasons that her novels work so well on the screen as feature films is because she conceived them like plays, scene by scene, with dialogue propelling the story forward.’ (Worsley, 2018, p.78).

‘People often long to know if the eternal spinster Jane Austen ever had sex with a man. The answer is almost certainly not.’ (Worsley, 2018, p.112).

‘For Jane, then, it doesn’t matter what books you read, even if your choice is ‘trashy’ Gothic novels. It’s what you make of them, how you behave in consequence, that counts.’ (Worsley, 2018, p.230).

‘ ... the way Jane lays out her paragraphs, and the frequent use of italics to indicate which words should be stressed, were all intended to aid someone “performing” the novels aloud ... It looks like Jane’s books encouraged women’s voices to be heard: not only as words on the page, but also out loud, in real life, in the drawing rooms of late Georgian England.’ (Worsley, 2018, p.323).

‘Only with Austen did women begin to think that they wanted - no, needed - to find Mr Darcy.’ (Worsley, 2018, p.407).

On cross stitch:

‘A sampler made by a “Jane Austen” - probably in truth a member of the Kentish branch of the family - features a quotation from “The Book of Common Prayer” dated 1787. “In the Time of trouble I will call upon the Lord and he will hear me”, it reads, in tiny neat cross-stitches, a praiseworthy double-whammy celebration of the  submission of both fingers and the mind.’ (Worsley, 2018, p.53).

‘It may seem to us that there is more to life than cross-stitch, but to make things neatly was a real pleasure to the Austen ladies.’ (Worsley, 2018, p.53).

‘There was self-interest, here, too, for while stitching, ladies’ “thoughts could be their own”, rather than at the beck and call of other people ... ‘ (Worsley, 2018, p.53).

On the novel:

‘The novel was still young, an art form that had only emerged in the last few decades. Many Georgian readers looked down upon prose fiction as frothy and feminine, possible even degrading and dangerous.’ (Worsley, 2018, p.56).

‘She was not alone in forming this new habit of voracious novel reading. In each decade from the 1760s to the 1790s the number of novels by women being published jumped by 50 per cent ... It was widely believed to be a form in which female authors could excel.’ (Worsley, 2018, pp.83-4).

REFERENCE

Worsley, L. (2018 [2017] ) ‘Jane Austen at home - a biography’. London: Hodder.

[gwen-tolios]

I posted 1,052 times in 2022

That's 42 more posts than 2021!

284 posts created (27%)

768 posts reblogged (73%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@asknotbug

@tumbleaboutit

@merlinsbed

@spiritofcamelot

@gwen-tolios

I tagged 891 of my posts in 2022

Only 15% of my posts had no tags

#0 - 60 posts

#instagram - 233 posts

#ifttt - 139 posts

#short story - 59 posts

#original fiction - 50 posts

#america - 49 posts

#writing - 46 posts

#gwen writes - 35 posts

#flash fiction - 35 posts

#writeblr - 29 posts

Longest Tag: 101 characters

#damn just to check i tried using my middle initial and my city and still i'm not in the google search

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Books Where The Ace Character Has A Relationship

There needs to be more of these. Some of us do want relationships!

All these books have canon ace characters - word on the page vs headcanons fyi.

1) Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann. This book gets a lot of buzz, as it should, for its portrayal of a black ace girl navigating a relationship. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31625039-let-s-talk-about-love

2) Chameleon Moon by RoAnna Sylver, and the other stories about Parole. This has a poly relationship with an ace character and a whole lot of other rep. It reads like a blockbuster action movie, if that's your thing. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31938167-chameleon-moon

3) Thaw by Elyse Springer. Featuring a relationship between a model and a librarian, I love how this is such a standard romance novel. All the beats are there - it's just got an ace woman in it ^_^ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32673586-thaw

4) The Spy with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke. Wolf is demisexual (hello ace brethren) and his romance is his B-plot. This is completely okay because trying to sabotage Hitler takes priority. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38650956-the-spy-with-the-red-balloon

5) Returning to You by Gwen Tolios. That rare partnership between an ace and aro character (neither of whom are aro ace), full of pining, family drama, and going from friends to lovers. As aces do. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60497147-returning-to-you

6) Three Stupid Weddings by Ann Gallagher. Fake dating, friends to lovers, but make it gay and ace? Yes. You need this. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41074778-three-stupid-weddings

7) His Quiet Agent by Ada Maria Soto. This is a classic ace romance, released way back in 2017, that reads like the gentle sickfic in the hurt/comfort tag on Ao3. Nurse your ace coworker back to health, and now you're a couple. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35238838-his-quiet-agent?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_9

8) Making Love by Aidan Wayne. This features an aro and a ace character realizing they're falling for each other in a world of cupids and succubi. Suuuper fluffy. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33120447-making-love?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_26

9) Enchanted Soles edited by Sasha Miller. This is a queer anthology featuring stories about shoes, but the last story called Hallowed Veil is the gold star. It features TWO ace characters, one in a relationship, and highlights the spectrum of desires. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30075296-enchanted-soles

10) How to Be Ace: A Memoir Of Growing Up Asexual by Rebecca Burgess. Non-fiction graphic novel about growing up ace, including dating troubles. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54403237-how-to-be-ace

12 notes - Posted June 28, 2022

#4

Undine's Child

Her watermark was creeping down her legs. Each day, another scale. She slathered lotion on, hoping to prevent the itch as it replaced skin. She showered daily, seeking the soothing sense of water.

Her dad had warned her. Going to college so far from saltwater might be a problem, but she'd dismissed it. Surely, she could spend a semester away from the ocean.

And she had, her first year. And her second. But her first scales had started showing up before Thanksgiving this year, hidden only by jeans to be washed away when she went home for Christmas. Now, April was around the corner, she had a month left of classes, and her scales would soon peak out of her workout capris.

They always started on the back of her thighs, hard to see, hard to scratch. Better than her hips, where waistbands would chafe, or other more obvious places. There was a lot of space on her thighs, and they were easy to hide, but they'd hit the back of her knees this morning and they'd continue down the back of her legs.

Spraying saltwater on them hadn't worked. Nor soaking in a salt bath. She needed the ocean, her legs needed the relief of her dad's home, but she needed to pass her classes. Needed her degree.

Give me five weeks, she prayed. Five weeks to hide what I am.

And then the summer to figure out how to deal with them for all of next year.

29 notes - Posted February 2, 2022

#3

Accouncing Tomorrow and Beyond

Hey Tumblr!

I'm releasing my own short story collections! I have two planned, but the first, collecting all my contemporary and science fiction stories, will be out Feb 16th!

Stories include:

🌈 realizing you're gay for a dead friend so you might have brought her back as ghost?

🐈 being so bored as the go-to geneticist for show cats you decide to break the law

🍺 a girl getting back at her alcoholic father by vandlizing all the bars

🦸‍♂️ a gay superhero faking his death because he doesn't want to fight his enemy anymore

🏒 a girl surviving as the sole girl on the HS hockey team due to spite

🤖 an android realizing logical fallacies can impact artificial intelligence as hard as it hits humans

🦜cosplaying as pirates during a hot air balloon race and doing things you really, really shouldn't

AND MANY MORE.

Kindle only so far, but more is on the way! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09RWB711C

29 notes - Posted February 11, 2022

#2

Aro Books For Aro Week

It's Aro week! I've read more ace books than aro books, but I did want to share a few.

1) Common Bonds. This is an anthology where each story features an aro characters - how cool is that? https://bookshop.org/books/common-bonds-a-speculative-aromantic-anthology/9781775312970

2) A Promise Broken by S.L. Dove Cooper. This is the first aro rep book that I read, so I'll always remember it just for that, but it's also a lovely tale about grief. I will say it's a very active read - the reader has to put together a few clues about the story because the narrator is mostly an unreliable child. https://dovelynnwriter.com/books/a-promise-broken/

3) Making Love by Aidan Wayne, though the aro rep is small. It's noteworthy cuz Leeta comes from a society that is typically aro and she's an exception, falling for an ace cupid. This book is just the fluffiest. https://www.amazon.com/Making-Love-Aidan-Wayne-ebook/dp/B01MRA15MR

4) The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen. This is a cozy, low-stakes fantasy with an (older!) aro-ace knight on a quest to find a missing person. Queer rep all around. https://bookshop.org/books/the-dragon-of-ynys/9781945009686

5) Tarnished are the Star by Rossie Thor. This book got a lot of support from the ace community, but the character is actually aroace - both! If you like steampunk, but want it in space, this is for you. https://bookshop.org/books/tarnished-are-the-stars/9781338312270

6) The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee. Felicity is aro/ace and is far my fav rep I've read. You know right away she'd rather pursue science than marriage & then whoops! She's tangled with pirates. While it's the second in a series, they're world series so there's no need to read book 1 to understand this one. (I think this one is better anyway.) https://bookshop.org/books/the-lady-s-guide-to-petticoats-and-piracy/9780062795335

7) Hazel's Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jenn Bigelow. This one is another aro/ace MC, but it's so casually queer w/ other identities and disabled rep. I love it. Noteworthy for being an MG read and contemporary. All other books on this list are SFF and either adult or YA. https://bookshop.org/books/hazel-s-theory-of-evolution/9780062791177

8) In the Ravenous Dark by A.M. Strickland. I devoured this book last year, but know it's an *upper* YA dark fantasy with a lot of necromancy and violence. Aro/ace side character, but also poly rep. Did want to call out there are spicy scenes in this book! It may not be for every aro-ace reader. https://bookshop.org/books/in-the-ravenous-dark/9781250776600

9) Returning to You by Gwen Tolios. Aka me! This is releasing in June and is a contemporary romance between two women, both of whom are bi, where one is ace and one is aro. https://www.amazon.com/Returning-You-Gwen-Tolios-ebook/dp/B0B4FDYNP6/

454 notes - Posted February 22, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

10 Ace Books For Ace Week

As an ace author and reader, I'm all for more examples of rep to read and authors to support. Below are just a few of my favs, but I have a larger list here: Gwen's Ace Book Recs and you're always welcome to hit me up for recs!

----

1) The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee. Felicity is aro/ace and I love how up in your face her aceness is. A true integral part of the character. You know right away she'd rather pursue science than marriage & then whoops! She's tangled with pirates. While it's the second in a series, they're world series so there's no need to read book 1 to understand this one. (I think this one is better anyway.) https://bookshop.org/books/the-lady-s-guide-to-petticoats-and-piracy/9780062795335

2) Common Bonds. While actually an anthology with an aro focus, there's also ace rep and I love how varied this collection is. So many aro and ace stories all bundled up neatly is still such a dream. https://bookshop.org/books/common-bonds-a-speculative-aromantic-anthology/9781775312970

3) Making Love by Aidan Wayne. Thinking about this, it might be the first book I've read where the ace character wasn't also aro. It's about an ace cupid trying to help someone find love, and missing a fair amount of cues. It's a fluff dream. https://www.amazon.com/Making-Love-Aidan-Wayne-ebook/dp/B01MRA15MR

4) Returning to You by Gwen Tolios. A friends-to-lovers romance between two women, both of whom are bi, where one is ace and one is aro. Be prepared for a fair amount of family drama from both sides (including fake dating!) https://www.amazon.com/Returning-You-Gwen-Tolios-ebook/dp/B0B4FDYNP6/

5) How to Be Ace by Rebeca Burgess. Memoir graphic novel full of experiences that I could relate to that's good to share with local aces or allos. My local ace community has 100% passed around a copy of this. https://bookshop.org/a/55449/9781787752153

6) Tarnished are the Stars by Rossie Thor. This book got a lot of support from the ace community, it's own voices and has quite a bit of queer rep. If you like steampunk, but want it in space, this is for you. https://bookshop.org/books/tarnished-are-the-stars/9781338312270

7) Hazel's Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jenn Bigelow. Aro/ace MC, but it's so casually queer w/ other identities and disabled rep. I love it. Noteworthy for being an MG read. I'm so glad to see ace rep hitting middle schoolers. https://bookshop.org/books/hazel-s-theory-of-evolution/9780062791177

8) Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire. This is the first time I saw 'asexual' in a book, and for that it will always be dear to me. This launches a great series about children who have returned from portal-fantasy adventures and the trade versions all have amazing illustrations. https://bookshop.org/a/55449/9780765385505

9) Simply an Enigma by Brittany Evans and Chelsea Lauren. I'll admit I have a love-hate relationship with this book, but it's such an accurate portrayal of the journey to identifying as ace it has a permanent place on my shelf. https://bookshop.org/a/55449/9781732464315

10) Three Stupid Weddings by Ann G. Cute, short romance about bringing a friend to weddings as your date and oh! You're now a couple by summer's end. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41070264-three-stupid-weddings

571 notes - Posted October 27, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[suzzannessecrets]

Seven Sisters and The Mandela of Time

( seeking producers. etc. aradia.sings@gmail.com)

Screenplay by Sophia Whispering Dove

( aka Suzzanne W. Chappell, Nelson Canada)

2022

Part One

Theme music ;

https://youtu.be/jOofzffyDSA

Dvorjak Concerto #9- 00:09- 1:56 sec or until opening scene ends. Also to be used with producers discretion throughout.)

Screenplay By Sophia Whispering Dove ( aka S.W.C., Suzzannee W. Chappell)

"I would like to say I will apologise now ahead of your reading to anyone whom may take offense to my rather innocuous attempt at the aged Hebrew language. While I did study the ancient pictographs and some modern Hebrew, the creation of the Nakii people suggested a need to tie them to Earth somehow, so the Hebrew language being an ancient and revered tongue seemed the wisest choice. My vernacular is backwards and awkward on purpose to suggest a different species way of thought. No offence is intended." SWD

Overview:

This story is about a woman who has dreams about being an Atlantean princess and the events that take place when Atlantis falls, how and why, and what happens to her at that time . The modern woman begins to realize it is her in a past life. From there, she meets her true love and they begin to contact their” others” who were saved from total destruction by the loyal dragon race who served the Royal line by making a Matrix for them to live in, after the fall of Atlantis.

But the Matrix is breaking down, and the heroine is re-gifted an ancient tool to awaken her power and bring the people together in order to escape. There’s many more adventures after they escape the disintegrating Earth Matrix and join the Martian Council in the operation to restore harmony to the galaxy. They reunite with the “lost” Atlanteans of old and do battle against the Reptons using the “one true weapon” with the help of the Nakii monks and the Golden Dragon Guard. True love finds it path along the way, while a twinship of Hero and Heroine develop to protect the galaxy from the arch weapon – the Anti-Ark.

Screenplay by Sophia Whispering Dove

Parts of this Screen play( Part 2) were real events that took place while I was on a visit to the UK in 2017 and also based on a series visions and dreams that took me there and inspired this work of fantasy. SWD

Scene 1: Birthing of a Star

(Pan to a scene in space as a star appears to be exploding, as the theme music plays, a hued area within spreads, then coming from its center, six crystal asteroids come out, each in the colours of a rainbow of pure radiating star waves, like a sun. Then a central asteroid of white edged with purple hue of pure light comes forth. The rainbow lights begin to converge, now lit up, as the music culminates its' wholesome message. The ripple continues outward into the universe.)

Narrator( a rasping aged deep baritone – the sounds of chanting in the background)

“When the beginning was upon us, Her birthing among the luminary stars of Heaven, (great crackling of lightening) created The Great Hum as her soul- matter coalesced. Seven separate beams of hue, burst out of the birthing star creating a ripple of rainbow Light, while The Great Hum rang true within them all. It is said that it was from those hallowed asteroids that the Sphere of Knowledge , and other such relics of power were crafted by the most ancient of us when the worlds were still young and green…

YaWay Iwom Melek Tzam. Ani Ka- Ra Samaim BaraRish Tzapar.

He created Light Kings. He called Heavens’ foremost weapon.

The Book of Nakiis"

Scene 2 : Fire Story

(Pan from starlit sky ( celestial music) to cheerful voices over a crackling fire. We see a group of people in homespun and simple wear. An elderly woman sits in a wheeled chair, staring into the fire as others flit about her with blankets and logs set upon the ground around her. Her vacant look slides from her face as she hears a child’s voice coming close, and she lights up. There is a lake in the background. The Moon is full and shining on the lake. A loon calls.)

Nanna Orrine (warmly): “ There she is!”

(She holds her arms out to the young five year old child running towards her.)

Nena: “ Nanna!!”

(Nena lets go of her mother’s hand , hugs her grandmother and climbs onto her lap. Her mother, Suzanna, laughs and kisses Nanna Orrine on the cheek, as her child climbs on her lap.)

Suzanna: “ She made me promise this year, she could stay up to hear The Reckoning Story. Is she ok with you there?”

Nanna Orrine : “No trouble Suzanna, Nena will be fine here, won’t you?”

(She looks at her, tickles her stomachs, to which Nena giggles.)

Nena : “ Yes Nanna Orrine, I will!”

Nanna Orrine: “ Good, let us begin, then. Are we all settled?”

(She looks about to see forty or so people settling down around the fire and she smiles.)

Nanna Orrine “ Let us begin ( she throws some herbs onto the fire, taking a deep breath, her eyes closed)…. Oh by the Ancient Ones, I call thee to witness the telling of this tale. This is the story of our people and how we came here.( her eyes open)

This is a special anniversary, the seventy-fifth telling of it among us. We simply call it ‘The Reckoning’. There are many mystical and strange events in this story….”

Nena “ Nanna Orrine?”

Nanna Orrine “ Yes?”

Nena “ What is mystical?”

Nanna Orrine " So you have heard of spirits in the rock , trees ,water, animals and wind. But did you know you( she points to Nena who giggles) might have sway ( she looks up to the stars where the Pleiades are ; Pan to the constellation and back to her)…uh huh…yes… in the world if you learn to talk to them? That is mystical Nena-listen, watch and learn and you may…you just may understand the power within you!(she caresses Nenas’ hair gently). It is not always easy to tell this tale( she sighs)…but even so, such stories must be told . It was first told by my mother Merope, but I shall tell it my own way…

At the time of the Reckoning roughly 10,000 years ago…the whole of all Atlantis and all her settlements had been living with power sources brought by Sacred Seers who had come bringing the technology of the Ancient Ones. They built the pyramids- monuments that powered everything with that technology! Ah, and they were happy and prosperous.”

(Nanna Orrine went on as Nena wiggled in her lap settled in…)

“ My mother, Merope of the line of Triton, told us of this technology. Her people had enjoyed this unlimited energy source since her Great Grandfathers ‘ time.

The ruling families had all descended from the line of celestial rulers we call Atlanteans. Merope was the youngest daughter of King Triton who ruled the seas and the lands with a generous and kindly nature…except when he was angry and then the sea broiled with his fury!

I say this now as a descendant of that Princess, that brought our ancestors forth from the Matrix of the Mirror Pool. They were under attack. They had no choice but to save themselves. Little did they know what would happen later. But ,ah, I digress… Let us move on to’ The Reckoning’ as told by my Father, Dean The Cosmic Warrior, unto myself and my brother, Seamus The Brave.”

(All murmur to Deans’ honour. Nena looks up to Nanna with all innocence and wonder. Pan to Nenas' eyes and the firelight reflection in them.

Scene 3: Preparing For A Wedding

(Set in ancient Atlantis, a subsidiary island with a castle overlooking a bay. A stone pathway leads from the harbour to the castle. Behind the castle is a docking bay for flying ships, or ocean going - eyes painted on-and other vehicles.

(Lively music plays) Pan to the morning sun and down to a busy castle and grounds. There is action everywhere, as deliveries are coming in with oxen and horse. The people are lively and happy. We follow a dove as it flies toward open balcony doors and flits about an ornate room, overlooking the ocean and out to the busy day. Seven beautiful girls are strewn about the room in the different colours of the rainbow, Merope – in a purple dress-who is standing in the middle of adjoining rooms looks bored, suddenly looks up and seeing the dove and her eyes light up. She is about to comment when…A loud crash is heard overhead. The dove flits out .She rolls her eyes as her mother Orrine who is sitting near an elaborate wedding dress, being worked on by two seamstresses accenting the gown with purple flowers, goes to the balcony. From above the ladies hear;)

Triton: “ Arrhhhg!! Where is that box?!! What the…?(stumble, crash, muffled grumbling. Another crash. The sounds of things being thrown around upstairs. They are all looking up at the sounds of their father and husband who is obviously Iooking for something.) Oh yes, I almost forgot…( Orrine goes onto the balcony with her hands on her hips. Six of the girls are laughing or rolling their eyes. Merope slumps down onto a stool with her head in her hands.) Ah there it is!”

Orrine (shouting):” Triton what ARE you doing? I sent you to get aunt Jessicas’ tiara ten microns ago! Have you got it now already?!”

(Triton comes out onto the upper balcony, holding up the tiara, in victory.)

Triton: “ Yes, my love, I found it! It’s here, safe and sound. Coming right down!”

(He turns to go back into the room kicking boxes out of the way. The thumping of his steps reverberate through the halls as he stomps down the stairs to the lower room, which is Meropes’ and bursts in the room , narrowly missing one of the two seamstresses doing touch ups on the elaborate gown. It has tones of soft purple and purple small pearls were being sewn into it. He barely notices and hands the amethyst and diamond tiara to his wife who brings it over to Merope. He carries another small box which he places on the dresser.

She gets up to the cries of delight of her sisters, as her mother brings her to the mirror and places it on her head.)

Orrine:” Now, dear, you will look like an real Atlantean princess of old. It looks lovely, does it not?”

(Girls, Triton and seamstresses all agree encouragingly. Merope looks at herself in the mirror with the lovely tiara and liked the way it sparkled in her red wavy hair and smiled. She was fond of her favourite aunt Jessica and fingered the large pearl necklace she wore, also given by her aunt when she was very young.)

Orrine:” Of course, my dear, you will wear the family jewels for your wedding, not that old thing!”

(Orrine gestured to the single purple pearl on a thin silver rope. Merope looks at it whistfully. It was special to her.)

Merope:” But mother, I like it, and aunt Jessica gave it to me as well! It would please her!” ( her voice slightly pleading).

Electra ( in blue):” You just like it because Dean-na saved it from falling into the ocean that day a long time ago.”

(Merope looks shocked.)

Merope: “ No! Electra you are always making up stories!”

Triton:” Yes, yes, we all know how young Dean-na bravely retrieved that necklace on the beach that day so many years ago. We all praised him. But my dear young Merope,” (puts both hands on her shoulders and looks at her in the mirror seriously),” that was when you were very young and you are about to be married to the famous Lord Grok- ham later this evening! You must put away your childish things now and become a married woman.”

Orrine:” Your father’s right dear. It’s time. Shall I put it in your jewellery box?”

(She reaches to take it from Merope who takes it off her neck slowly and sadly. Suddenly, she takes the tiara off her head throwing it on her canopy bed and clutching the necklace in her hands, runs out of the room and down the stairs crying. Two of her sisters laugh, Electra( in blue) and Maya ( in orange), Calleopea ( in red) and Alcee ( in yellow) glare at them and go after her. Triton pulls at his hair. Aster ( in indigo) and Taya ( in green) just stand beside their mother, all three shaking their heads.)

Triton:” When will she let go of that young man?!”( exasperated)” This wedding has been planned for a decade! She knows this! And he is going to be at the reception tonight! Agggh!”(pacing)

Electra “I don’t see why she doesn’t just take Dean- na as a lover, once she produced an heir. Isn’t that what the Royal ladies do mother?” ( teasing)

(Triton glares at her. Orrine blushes. Aster and Taya giggle.)

Orrine:” Well that was done a long time ago Electra- you very well know that!( flustered) Taya, Aster! Stop laughing this instant!”

(Just then a floating orb in the room lights up and a voice coming from it says;)

Orb: “King Triton, Lord Grok- ham and his entourage have arrived at land pad “A”. Shall I say you are on your way?”

Triton:” Oh great. Now of all times! Yes! Go ahead Orb.”

(An older gentlemen enters the room. Triton beckons.)

Namir,:” King Triton, Queen Orrine, your guests have arrived.”

Triton:”Namir, yes, we know. Good you came though. Merope and two of the girls have run off. Please go find them and get them back here to prepare for the reception.”

Namir:” Of course, my Lord. In the Crystal Room I suppose?”

Orrine ( nodding):” Quite so. She goes there often. Now my dear, let us greet our new son-in-law, shall we?” ( She pats her bun and smoothes her dress and takes the arm he offers her, while smoothing his own hair).

Orrine:” Carry on girls. Make sure you are all ready for the reception at 6. Oh and Aster, Electra, Taya and Maya- try to talk some sense into your sister please. Ta ta!”(she waves her free hand and off they go to greet Lord Grok-ham.)

(Aster nods earnestly.)

Scene 4- A Childhood Memory

(Pan to the Crystal Room where Merope has fled. She is upset and clutching the necklace intently sitting rubbing it at the foot of a 3 foot tall crystal.

Merope “ I shall never forget you Dean-na!”( she sobs and lays her head on her knees.)

A memory floods her ;

Memory scene: Dean-na Saves The Pearl Necklace)

( Pan to a bay with white sand and a small orchard on a bench above. Triton and family and friends are on the beach enjoying the lovely day. It is 13 years prior. She is five years old.

The first time they had met sprawled open her vision memory- they had been but youngsters, playing on the sand within the cove, her family picnicking and playing in the waters and sand, enjoying the day with music, laughter and the sea.

She had been given a special pearl necklace from her great auntie Jessica who adored the little princess with a passion. Aunt Jessica showered her with love and gifts often. But this pearl was a purple pearl found in the deepest parts of the sea, and it was enormous to the little girl who had it strung about her neck as she played happily.

Dean- Na’s family and a few others had been there that day as well. His family were caretakers of the homestead land on the island of Atlanta, where the seat of Atlantean power had ceded and taken root. For generations, his family had been caretakers of the lands ‘embraced’, as they say, by the Five Royal Atlantean Families who ruled most of the galaxies’ habitable planets.

The Systeen people, were ground dwellers, while Atlanteans held true to both water and land, being able to adjust their breathing apparatus at will and obtain their tails to accommodate both land and underwater breathing and movement, hence the Kingdoms of Atlantis were of both realms. Yet it was Dean-Na’s tribe who maintained and grew the food for which sustained the land dwellers, and they were well loved by all the family for their devoted and reverent dedication to their charge.

She had run up the bluff toward the grove in chase of a butterfly- it was yellow and purple- colours she loved and had forgotten her promise to stay within sight. Quite then, she saw, in the sky, a swooping eagle who cried out in warning as she slipped and almost fell over the craggy edge, losing her balance and...Dean-Na stepped out of nowhere from behind one of the gloriously flowering trees, as she began to fall forward. He grabbed her dress – which ripped and her necklace fell off her head as she was bent over the rocky slope.

He managed to get hold of her arm and pulled her back from the edge.)

Dean- na “ (7 years old) Oh My! Princess Merope are you alright?!”(shocked and worried).

(Merope was fine but absolutely horrified that she had lost her pearl necklace and she began to wail, pointing at her necklace. Her Guardians saw her from the beach and several family members made a sweeping exodus to retrieve the little distraught princess, her father in the lead.

The necklace had fallen down onto a rocky ledge some feet below, far out of reach for her. Well the little boy laid himself down over the ledge and slowly lowered himself onto the lower rocky ledge until he could reach the outcropping where the precious ornament lay. He lay down along the rock and reached his hand out, just barely able to reach silver chain . But reach it he did, and he was back on the bluff shortly. Merope was holding her necklace back in her hands cooing with delight when her parents and Guardians arrived. She looked up and saw only him- her hero...it was something she had never forgot. And from that moment on she trusted him with all her heart.)

Part B

(Back to Crystal Room with seven large Knowledge Crystals.

Cal and Alcee find her just then sitting on the marble floor, in front of a massive pulsating crystal, still clutching the necklace. They run to her.)

Alcee:” Ropes, my darling little sister, why is this so important to you?” (She slides down to the floor beside her, while Cal kneels in front of her. Both look concerned.)

Merope:” I just don’t want to lose him Alcee. He means so much to me!”

Cal:” Why dear? He is a good young man and beloved by our family, but he is no Royal Merope, and by our laws, not suitable for consideration of marriage to us. You know that! Why make it harder on yourself?”

Merope “ Well he IS the son of the chief of the Systeens, and I (swallows)-well we know each other…very well!”

(Merope sighs hard and looks at her sheepishly.)

Cal:” “ You didn’t.”

Merope:” Ohhh. Calleopea.I did.”

(Alcee shocks gasping. Cal puts her hand on her mouth.)

Merope:” I mean, no I didn’t do that! No! But, I am in love with Dean- na and …have been for a year now.”

(Cal drops her hand and looks at Alcee who is shaking her head, her mouth wide open.)

Cal :” How is this possible Merope? You are guarded day and night. What are you going to tell Father? How did it happen?!”( shocked and upset)

(Sighing)Merope :” It happened just after the annual “Arrival” ceremony when we go to the Temple of Nammu, across the pond, on that island. I snuck out the first night of the festival onto the roof to watch the lights of the night fishes as they swim around and around the statue of the Mother of Oceans and Poseidon. Dean- na came out into the courtyard and was doing some kind of warrior art I did not know and I was curious, so I crept closer. He was doing some kind of breathing exercise and moving his arms when, he began to lift off the ground! I was shocked and cried out and startled him. He went down fairly hard and hit his head. So, I had to climb down to make sure he was ok. I mean, after all, it was my fault he fell. Then , I nearly fell off the first floor deck getting down and he had to help me…”

Alcee;” Honestly Merope! Mother would psyche- seer you for that!”

Merope:” Well it was not all that bad! We became fast friends, after I demanded he show me his technique and he showed me how to get out of the castle without being seen so I could go practice with him at night.”

Alcee:” By the Ancient World! I have to tell mother at least!”

Cal:” You will do no such thing. Now, Merope, you need to tell us- did you have, you know, uh, relations with him?”

Merope:” Oh…that! No…, but we did kiss, and we slept together here in the Crystal Room last week. And we both said we loved each other. I can’t marry Lord Grok-ham! I would be miserable!” (She looks pained.)

Cal:” Well at least that. Alcee, you go find our sisters and lay out Meropes’ gown and jewels, and get ready yourself. I have a plan.”

(Merope groans. Alcee jumps up nodding and runs off.)

Cal:”( slowly) Merope, you must marry Lord Grok-ham, however, you do not have to consummate the marriage. That part is up to you. If you do not share his marriage bed, the marriage can be annulled in deed, but not in word, which will satisfy Father and the entire Consortium of which Father is a contributing member. So Father saves face, keeping the Mardukian military happy with Lord Grok-ham in charge of solar system operations. It’s what he really wants anyway dear. It could take up to a year, but you can still have what you want.( she takes her by the shoulders looking deeply into her eyes).You just have to be patient. You understand?”

(Looking down, then sighs again, and looks up at her older sister.)

Merope:” Very well. I have waited this long, I can wait another year.”

Cal:” That’s good. We will find a way. Now let’s go get you into that terribly expensive dress. By the way,..did you ever learn that technique he showed you that night?”

(Merope looks up, her eyes bright.)

“Sort of. There’s a trick to it…”

(As they both get up Namir enters, which cuts short her sentence, they both suppress a giggle. He sees the necklace still in Meropes’ hand but says nothing. She places it in her bosom. He merely points down the hall leading back to her chambers and as he follows them out);

Namir “ Miss Princess Merope of the Royal Atlantean line of Priests and Seers and the line of Triton, ( takes a breath) may I remind you,…your ancestors who built those pyramids, did so- so that you and your family could enjoy unlimited power for growing crops, building monuments, homes, roads, lighting our homes and temples and fortresses, for a harmonious and prosperous life! When you are married you may enjoy yet even more freedom and power, once you obtain your tail, but you must still be responsible to your family and people. Do you understand, your actions are accountable?”

(Namir gives Merope a stern knowing look. She looks sheepishly down.)

Merope:” Yes, Namir. I am beginning to truly realize this.”

Namir” Good. Now your husband -to- be has arrived and you need to be ready. Do what is expected of you and your life just may go well. Now hurry along.”

(He nods sternly, escorts them back to her chambers.)

Scene 5: Lord Grok-ham Arrives

(Pan from above. The landing deck is in an open air bay. There are five ships, one being much larger to the others. Sliding doors open from the complex and out come Triton and Orrine with a few servants and Chamberlain. Lord Grok-ham descends the landing ramp with his Second and several of his personal guard. Pan down to ground level. Lord Grok-ham is very muscular and stocky , fierce looking in his military desert style regalia. He has reddish coloring and thick arms. He does not bow but salutes Triton with a fist to his heart. His troops do the same).

Grok-ham:” King Triton Lord of the Atlanta’s, ruler of Terra, High Priest and Priestess of Atlantis, I, Lord Grok-ham of Marduk, High Commander of the Solarus Martial Legates, do salute you! And to you my Lady Orrine, (she offers her hand which he kisses rather long. She pulls her hand away. Triton’s eyebrows go up, he clears his throat.) I am at your service. May I present my Second, Abrath, also of the Mardukian Solar Martial Legates.”

( curtly) Triton:” Thank you, Lord Grok-ham. I honour your presence here. You be also welcome, Abrath of Marduk. You and your men have quarters in the catacombs as you requested. The warmth is not to your liking? I thought Mars a dry arid planet?”

Abrath” Thank you King Triton, Queen Orrine.”

Grok-ham:” Above ground, yes, but we prefer the coolness down in the underground. I am sure we will be comfortable.”

Orrine:” Of course. Um, yes. You and your crew must be in need of refreshment. Our Chamberlain will take you to your quarters. I must go tend to my daughter now. The reception is at six macrons. A servant will be sent to retrieve you in time. I hope you will be comfortable. See you at the reception, followed by the wedding, of course. Afterward, we will have the signing and games and merriment. ( short and snooty) Chamberlain? Good day to you all.”

(Grok-ham, somewhat charmed by her curtness smiles and bows slightly.)

Grok-ham” Of course, Lady Orrine.”

(She nods and Triton and her depart.)

Chamberlain;” This way Lord Grok-ham. ( gestures down the hall) Carmen here, will show you your quarters, then your men. We were under the impression you were only bringing 25 of your men. We shall have to find quarters for the extra 25.( rather snooty).

Lord Grok-ham:” I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you..”

Chamberlain:” Yes, well we might have to house some in the servants quarters. I shall tend to that myself. We will bring refreshments shortly.”

(Chamberlain nods and turns to walk. They follow the Chamberlain down the hall with Carmen.)

Chamberlain” This lift takes you down to your rooms. Carman here will show you. Carmen?”

Carmen” Yes Sir. This way Lord Grok-ham.”

(Carmen gets in to the lift big enough for half the group. They take the lift down into the carved rock below.

Chamberlain takes the second lift up to a busy kkitchen.

Chamberlain;” Talia! Talia where are you?”

Talia ( the head cook just comes into the room):” What is it now William?”,( trying to avoid a tray of lemon drinks going by).”

Chamberlain;” There will be 25 more of his Lord Grok-ham’s men to feed and house!”

Talia:” By The Ancients , I wish they would tell us with some notice! Oh well, I can have another hog butchered for us, but wherever are we going to put them?”

Chamberlain :” They will have to bunk with us in the servants quarters. There’s some sleeping pads in the far shed. Dan ( a stocky porter), come here. Go with Thom ( tall blond) and bring back 25 sleeping pads. Talia, get that hog to spit. Let’s get cracking- shall we”

Dan :” Yes Sir Chamberlain!”

Scene 6 Mother’s and Daughters

(Back in Meropes’ room. Cal and Merope see Trition leave the room speaking with Namir, and they go in to the room. All the other sisters are crowded around Orrine who stands with both hands to her mouth, shocked. She looks at Merope and drops her hands. Clearly Alcee did not listen to Cal.)

Orrine:” Out girls. Everyone, (they file out as their name is called) Taya, Maya, Aster, Alcee, Electra,and Cal! Out now!”

Cal( as leaving to Merope) :” You ok?’

(Cal elbows Alcee as they go out with a glare. Alcee shrugs her shoulders in defiance.

Merope nods. Orrine goes over to the dresser retrieving the box that Triton had left earlier.

Orrine sighs and sits down on an ornate couch.)

Orrine:” Your sister says you love Dean- na?”

(Merope looks at her and sits down opposite to her.)

Merope:” I do, mother. I don’t know what to do. My sense of honour and duty says to do what you all want, but my heart says otherwise. I am forlorn."

(Orrine clears her throat and straightens up.)

Orrine: “ Did I ever tell you who you am named after dear?”

Merope:” The lesser light of the star cluster known as the Pleiades?”(sheepishly)

Orrine (taken slightly aback) “ Ye…s and no… ( sighs) Your name means the muse of poetry. It is uniquel because each sister carries a special message to mankind. However, my name has been carried by women of our line as far back as memory serves, as carriers or ...mediators of the devices that interpret the messages of the Flower of The Living. Do you know what it means?”

Merope:” No. What does it mean?”

Orrine:”Traditionally, The woman who carries the Orin of Destiny is the person who bears the responsibly of the visions one has once the Orin bonds with you. I carry it now, as my mother and grandmothers did. My visions have shown to me that you marry Lord Grok-ham, but I see no further. Perhaps this is something to do with your love for Dean- na, I do not know. However, if you do not go forward with this wedding, it will mean grave consequences if the vision I did see does not occur. Do you understand?”

Merope “ Yes, mother.”

Orrine “The Seers of our people have always been able to see the future, but no one can see beyond your marriage to him. So, against tradition and even protocol, as Cal should be the one to receive this as the eldest daughter, in light of what may be our only chance to survive, I have decided that you must carry the Orin of Destiny. This is something I must ask of you. I know you are young...but, you are also wise. You will be the first of our line to carry the Orin who is not the firstborn female. This is your destiny Merope, but only you can embrace it.”

(Merope looks into her mother’s eyes.)

Merope:” You really need this of me mother? Aren’t one of my other sisters a better choice? I am so confused at this time!”

Orrine,;” No, it must be you. And it must be now. I have seen it. The Reckoning has always presented us with some unforeseen cataclysms, as you know. Many comets have come and great destruction has always been a part of it. Yet, we have used the united power of the Knowledge Stones and the pyramids to break up many of them as they enter our atmosphere. But this time,(sighing) it is like some unforeseen force of immense dark magic is pushing us past the brink and darkness will come upon us,… and you are our only light through that tunnel. That was how the High Psyche- Seer puts it! There it is…no one who can see past it. So now, will you accept this burden?”

(She pulls from the box a silver rope necklace with a pendant. It’s cloudy grey central stone is enwrapped by a single dragon rearing its head which holds the stone in place. Within the stone are veins of spectral light as the sun catches it the right way. Merope looks at it gravely.)

Merope:” What does it mean, Mother? How does it work?”

Orrine:” It means that you will choose the theme for the next paradigm, it means some of your dreams and visions will come to pass. The stone itself is a fragment, mother said, from the same meteor of that of the Sphere of Wisdom. You will carry the Orin and hopefully one day the Staff of Knowledge with its’ Sphere of Wisdom. The two stones are connected and know how to find each other. When you learn how to communicate with the Orin, it will show you what must be done. Namir and the Golden Dragon Protectors guard those precious relics and are under oath to see they are carried by only the Seeress caste among us Atlantean Royals. You carry the lineage of both the Seers and the Priests through your Father and I. They can only be given to you when you are ready my dear Merope! ( she holds her daughter beginning to meltdown). But with the Orin, it shall take you to your destiny.”

Merope( gravely):” I am not sure I am ready Mother, but for you I will do this. I accept this for my people, for my family and for love, I so hope one day to know! But how will I know that it is communicating with me?”

Orrine” It will sing to you, my dear. You only have to have ears that hear it. Remember always that I love you.”

Merope” Yes mother, my ears will hear it. I will not fail you mother. And I love you too.”

(She kneels before her mother. Orrine places the necklace on Merope and calls the girls and seamstresses back in. Merope begins to get dressed. Electra looks jealously at the Orin, but Cal smiles wide when she sees it. Merope goes behind the dressing shade and holds out her arms.)

Merope(sighing)” Let’s get on with it.”

Scene 7 Betrayal From Within

(Lord Grok-ham , Abrath and his men are in a large rock cavern, sparsely decorated, which served for a common area. Drinks and snacks had been left and some take part in them. Grok-ham and Abrath speak to three other warriors to one side over a schematic of the castle.)

1st Warrior( later Tannen) ” Your orders are clear Lord Grok-ham. The men are equipped with the devices. We are to plant and but not set the timers on them yet, then rendezvous at the docking bay. We are to await your signal before taking action on the operation and arm the devices. Contingency plans are to muster at the far ridge to the north.”

Grok-ham :” Yes, take seven with you and plant the devices inside the crystals and along the base of the castle, then fall in for the ceremony tonight. Make sure the sleeping elixir is mixed with the servants’ and the guards’ wine. Take the underground entrance to the Crystal Room, here.( he points to the entrance). The guards on duty will mostly be watching the light show after the ceremony we have arranged. Meet at muster point in 30 microns after arming the devices.”

Warrior #1” In obedience, Lord Grok-ham.( calls out to the men eating) Bains( looks like him-brothers later on) Kaspar, Holmes and Fakir, with me!”

(Grok- ham gives Warrior #1 an elixir ,gestures - they bow and leave with full packs.)

Abrath :” What about the princess and Triton? His rooms are directly above her.”

Grok-ham: “ Once I have the documents signed, and Trition passes power of the entire system to me as Protector of the Realm, it does not matter. Our allies will send me the signal and we shall take down the feeble regime of Triton. I will drug her and take her to my ship. The Reptons cannot have her. She is mine.”

Abrath:” Commander, is this really the only way? They are a good people. They are our people.”

(Angrily) Grok-ham:” They will only be taken over by the Reptons superior weaponry! No Abrath, with me as King here, it is the only way to save the Atlantean people both here and at home! The military arm has protocol in times of war to commandeer vessels or command! I presented this to the High Council last year, citing all the attacks on our bases this past decade. They might as well have laughed at me- saying they would honour the childhood betrothal just to shut me up! It was an insult! She hates me and I know it! I just hope I can get the Golden Protectors on my side. Then , we may be able to…”

(The Chamberlain entered and rings a bell.)

Chamberlain:” The reception is at hand! Please follow me.”

(Grok quickly puts the map away in a sack. )

Scene 8 The Crystal Truth

(Dean- na makes his way through the underground tunnels beneath the palace, toward the occulus in the center of the Crystal Room, through which he usually traversed to meet Princess Merope. Tonight he heard Mardukian voices. It was Lord Grok-hams’ men. He could hear some rustling and scraping and whispered voices, then they leave. He turns the crank to the right of the oculus, which opens it and leaps upon the floor. He presses into one of the tiles on the outer circumference of the occulus and it closes. He walks around to the Knowledge Crystals and sees where some metal devices have been inserted into each of the three massive crystals who are humming. He digs one out, and goes behind the veil where the Royal Kings of Atlantis sit when in chambers, waiting for the wedding to end, and to see Merope, his love. He is young, toned, tan and trim, lithe but very strong, handsome with brown hair as was the look of his people. Tonight his hands shake lightly, as he looks at the device and prays to the Crystal for guidance.)

Dean-na” O Ancient Ones give me guidance and courage to do what must be done.” ( agonises)

Scene 8 B The Reception

(All seven girls are in ravishing gowns, according to her colour. They stand in a circle in a room off the corridor to the reception. They link arms. The K- crystals at their necks and the active stones themselves glow a bit, according to their colour.)

Cal “ This is it sisters, the youngest of us is about to get married. And we are going to give her a special blessing- aren’t we sisters?"

(They all agree excitedly.)

Cal “ Let us do this now so we shall always remain Sisters of the Starseed. Merope, go into the middle.”

(She does. The others link hands and begin to walk around her. They begin to hum together as they walk hand in hand. They get into a rhythm. Calleopea holds up her free hand.)

(This plays as they do this:

(https://youtu.be/g2hNuLUevkk

08- 52 sec)

Calleopea “ Calleopea -Red Starsister!”

(A red light shines from her hand and curves over Merope like a band of light.)

Maya “ Maya -Orange Starsister!”

( Likewise she raises her arm and a orange band of light comes over Merope.)

Alcee “ Alcee- Yellow Starsister!”

(Likewise, a yellow band of light drapes over.)

Taya “ Taya – Green Starsister!”

(In kind with her sisters, a green band comes forth and drapes.)

(Out in the corridor; music stops)

Orrine “ Triton where are the girls!?”

Triton smiles knowingly “ You know dear, for a Seer you sometimes can be so obtuse. Listen.”

(They hear the humming coming from the room.

Orrine peeks into the room, Triton just behind her. They smile lovingly and tiptoe out unnoticed closing the door.

Orrines eyes are wet. She dabs them with her lace handkerchief.)

Orrine “ It looks like we did something right, yes my love?”

(Triton hugging her;)

Triton “ Yes, my dear, we think we did.”

( Inside the room; music continues.)

Electra “ Electra – Blue Starsister!”

(Now a blue band.)

Aster “ And I, the Starsister of Indigo!”

Cal “ Now Merope- add yours.”

Merope “ Merope –Purple Starsister!”

( Merope raises her hand and the Orin glows as she sends up the white edged with purple light -around the edge of the Flower of The Living- a seven petalled flower -each petal one colour. It joins the others and curves down around her as a blanket and then like a fountain splashing light all over them and around the room. They shout with joy and laugh and then hug each other.)

Cal “ Now we are truly sisters of the Starseed and we will always be able to find each otheother.

Merope “ It is so, Cal. This is so special and I am so relieved! Thank you so much my sisters! I shall not forget this!”

Electra “ Better not!”

Alcee “ Sorry about telling mom on you. She needed to know. You are not angry are you?”

Merope “ No, it was going to happen sooner or later anyway.”

(They hug.)

Astra “ Do you know what is coming next? Has the Orin spoken to you yet?”

Merope “ No, it hasn’t but I have this terrible feeling that we are going to be ripped away from each other!”

Cal “ Not if I can help it.( holds her by the shoulders now looking into her eyes) Be brave my sister. Somehow this is going to work out. You know it right. Its all going to be ok in the end, so if its not ok don't worry- its not the end!"

( Merope sighs and then nods.)

Merope “ Yea I know it but I can’t see what is the next step.”

Cal “Well, one day at a time." (looking up) Ok ladies, shall we?”

(Happily they leave the room, this time behind Merope who is happy to be with her sisters.)

The entire royal family come in to a large room of tables ,ornately decorated. Many people are there. Dignitaries, and family members turn to face them. Triton takes the lead; clearing his throat and a gong rings.)

Triton “ Welcome dignitaries, Members of the Royal families ( he nods to Dean- nas' father and mother dressed in tribal formal wear and noticing Deans empty seat), friends and guests;

This reception is a gathering of family and friends at which we celebrate the union of my daughter Merope, of my line, and Lord Grok- ham of Marduk, Commander of the Solarus Martial Legates. This is a time to get to know one another. So, as is our custom, where each person is seated take stand, as our walk about the room to greet old acquaintances and meet new ones is done. Shall we all stand now in a circle and begin?”

(Abrath is looking at Alcee and she at him.)

Abrath “ I'm thinking I kind of like this family.”

Grok ( groaning) “ Keep your pants on there. By the Ancients! Let’s just get this over with!”

(They all move into a circle. Namir announces Orrine and Triton first, then the girls, starting with Calleopea ,the eldest. It goes on.

When Alcee comes to meet Abrath, he kisses her hand and she shyly smiles. As she goes past Abraths eyes follow her lingering. Grok gives him an elbow.

When Merope comes to Aunt Jessica, she hugs her warmly. She is wearing the tiara.)

Merope “ Aunt Jessica! How nice to see you!”

Aunt Jessica “ Oh my dear, how lovely to see you too! I see you are wearing my old tiara and the Orin! Your mother did the right thing, I say. May I touch it dear, and give you my blessing?”

Merope “ Of course, Auntie.”

(Aunt Jessica is an older woman who is aging but once beautiful. She holds her hand out to the Orin and when she touches it her eyes turn purple, her skin glows slightly and Merope lights up taking in a deep breath. Everyone notices it.)

Merope “ Thank- you so much Aunt Jessica! I feel stronger! That is amazing! How…?”

Aunt Jessica “ Not now my dear, not now.”

(She shoos Merope on.

Grok takes real notice now of the Orin.)

Scene 9 The Golden Protectors

(Mouret-Classical music plays. Pan to outdoor garden, there is a circular fountain close to the wide doors and the inner personal family guards surrounding that fountain are in full regalia of old Atlantis. A conch shell blow is heard thrice. The garden is in evening, lit by orbs of light. The night flowers bloom and an orchestra plays. The massive wooden doors are thrown open and Orrine leads Merope’s six sisters, who are the flower girls, coming forth throwing flowers of many sorts. Then comes the ring bearer, a tyke of five- Cals’ son Jamaia, in full Atlantean regalia, then Triton and Merope. She looks dazzling in her amethyst gown and tiara, her Father in swaths of flowing blue and silver robes. Lord Grok-ham and Abrath, in full military regalia stand at the end of the stone walkway between the rows of esteemed guests, and before the alter the High Atlantean Priest of Posiden’s Temple stands solemnly.

When Merope stands forth in the luminescent orb lights, her pendent shines forth and all can see she wears the Orin. At once the Royal Guards come to high attention, salute and begin to shimmy and shake their banners, a golden mist coming forth. A long banner comes down from their held high spears of a golden dragon surrounded by white. A loud Dragon bugle is sounded. Namir stands at the beginning of their sojourn about the fountain, as is customary, the statue of the Mother of Oceans Nammu with Posideon in its core. Triton shoots an alarmed glance at Namir who whispers to him as they slowly pass.)

Namir:” It’s protocol Sire, when one of the Royal Family bears the Orin in public!”

Triton:” Well now, every knows.”

(Grok-ham takes notice of the many of the guests who salute the Golden Protectors banner. He counts 30. No problem for his troops. He smiles at his little sweet bride he is about to marry, and make his commandery expand. Merope looks beautiful but not happy. Triton looks firm as he passes her hand into Groks’.)

Triton” As is our ancient custom, as I give to you the hand of my daughter Merope , I also pass on to you the responsibility of The Protector of the Realm. Do you accept this responsibility?”

(Grok looks over to a military man nearby who resembles Triton. The man nods with a very intense look in his face, this is Malcolm, Tritons' brother.*)

Grok “ I do.”

(He takes her hand solemnly, admiring her beauty. She tries to muster a smile.

Orrine cries as the Holy Priest begins in the Ancient words of marriage to the two distant Atlanteans.)

Holy Priest: “ We have come to this place of our ancestors, to bring together two tribes of our illustrious people, as is our custom. May the Ancient Knowledge Stones of our people give blessing upon this union…”

(In the Crystal Room, the Knowledge Stones begin to crack, from the stress of the devices insert into them, pieces crumble to the floor. Dean- na, crouching behind the curtain begins to shake harder. He is crying.)

(At the wedding;

Merope looks foreboding. She sees Dean-na is not in the crowd with his parents. Her heart sinks, but she smiles weakly at the priest.)

Priest " I hereby pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride."

(Lord Grok-ham leans forward to kiss her and she allows it momentarily. The people cheer!)

(* In the mythos, Malcolm would be known as Proteus.)

Scene 10 Escape Plan

(Paperwork is being signed, and the guests are milling about back in the reception room. ( Grok-ham shakes Tritons hand and goes off to get drinks- chatter among the guests). There are drinks and games going on ( cards, shuffleboard, trident throw). Malcolm and Trition are in conversation, with a very stiff and uncomfortable Merope standing by. Grok-ham holds two glasses of some alcoholic drink which he tries to ply upon Merope.)

Lord Grok-ham:” My dear, you must try some our Mardukian grass spirits. They are guaranteed to make you enjoy yourself! Heh heh”.( he nearly pushes it into her mouth).

(She pushes it away, almost spilling it. Triton takes it and drinks it.He hacks.)

Triton;” Well no use in wasting good grass whiskey!”

Merope:” Look, mother seems in need of her bed Father. I, too, must admit to being sleepy, it is late.( she smiles at Grok-ham). My, Lord won’t mind if I go to prepare myself for the night?”

Lord Grok-ham:” Why, of course not! I shall be right up after I drink a few rounds with the men!”(jovially)

(Merope kicks her father’s shin slightly.)

Triton( placing an arm around Grok-ham and turning him around) Well, my boy, there are a few things you must learn about Atlantean women of my line, let us tell you about it…”

(They go. Grok-ham glances back and Merope is wiggling her fingers at him and smiles. He smiles back. He is confident all is well and goes off with Triton, playing the new son -in -law.

Merope goes to speak to Orrine who is trying to stay awake. The bell rings thrice. She helps her mother up and they say goodnight as they make their way out of the room arm in arm, accompanied by two guards.)

Triton” You know, my cousin, Malcolm, was one of your training masters.”

Grok “ Oh yes! It is well known that Malcolm Master -At -Arms is a member of the Royal family. He is also a great commander.”

Trition” He is. He told me once something about you.”

Grok “What was that?”

Triton” He said, you were the kind of man that gets the job done.”

(Malcolm laughs a crazy laugh and sips the whisky.)

Grok “ Well I will take that as a compliment King Triton, father in law. I am honoured. He is my favourite master of arms. You know he said something to me once too. He told me that one day I would protect that which is most precious.”

(Malcolm beams. Trition laughs heartily and smushes his fist into the top of Groks bald head, drunkenly.)

Trition “ You will come around one day. Shall we all try the trident tose?”

(They all cheer to that and head over to the game. There are targets set out and some men and a few women are in line. They all back away when the three come up and allow them to try.

Triton's throw was off centre. Groks throw also off centre, but Malcolm's dead on. He gives Grok-ham a serious look.)

(Outside, Merope and Orrine do not notice Grok-ham’s troops moving silently around the compound below as she walks with her mother, on the overhead walkway chatting idylly.

The troops make their way to the servants quarters, slaughtering them silently as they slept. Merope and Orrine go the opposite from them on the walkway, oblivious.

A few escape being already up to milk animals, as well as Chamberlain and Talia having fallen asleep on chairs in the kitchen are started awake by a shutting door. luckily he sees the soldiers before they see him. He escapes to raise the alarm of the Golden Dragon Protectors. Talia raises the alarm of the general household- but too late.)

Scene #11 The Reckoning Part 1

(Meropes’ room. She enters in her wedding gown, and goes behind the blind to change into her Kata clothing, leaving the dress on the bed. She takes off the tiara and places it next to the dress and draws the curtains down. She pats the Orin wanting to keep it close. She goes to a chest pulling out her sword and makes sure she has the purple pearl necklace in her pocket before she touches the wall behind a painting of the Nammu- Mother of Oceans statue- and a part of the wall slides away. As she descends into the spiral staircase;)

Merope:” Dammit! I was so looking forward to getting my tail!”

Scene 11 Part 2 The Reckoning

(She continues on, through under the castle and through the occulus of the Crystal Room. There she sees Dean- na waiting for her. She sees he is distressed and carries something in his hands. They go to each other.)

Merope:” Dean-na why were you not at the wedding?! Your parents and others were looking for you! I was looking for you! What is that thing you carry?’

Dean-na :” Merope, this is not safe! I came here to pray before the wedding started. I couldn’t go. The Knowledge Crystals are very upset! I found these devices worn into them! Look! ( he walks her over to reveal the three large stones were shattering in bits on the floor and emanating a strong hum which crackled slightly more.) The Stones are stressed. They wanted me to stay. My hands are shaking, Merope I’m sorry. I knew you would come. Merope, we must find your Father and show this to him!” ( he is insisting)

(Merope goes to the Crystals, her face pained, touching them, she felt their shattering pain and it sent a blast of it through her body, to which she cries out! Dean-na holds her hand.)

Dean-na:” Let us take the underground route …”

(The sounds of many boots coming stops his words. He shushes her and then pulls her toward the oculus, climbing down with her and carefully cranking the stone lid closed moments before, Grok-ham’s troops come into the Crystal Room. Now they place detonation lights upon the devices and set the timers. Abrath sees that one was missing.)

Abrath” One of the devices is missing! Someone knows! We need to get word of this to Grok-ham! Hurry!”

(After this they make their way through an adjacent hall to the servants quarters to meet with the rest of the squadron waiting outside in the back courtyard, ready for action.)

(Dean-na and Merope come out of the underground tunnel some hundred meters down the beach, below the castle. Dean-na sees lights on the bluff and several soldiers.)

Dean-na:” Look Merope, troops of Lord Grok-ham! They must be attacking the castle! I must go and tell my father and the tribe and sound the conch of war!”

(She was about to answer when an alarm sounds in the grounds of the Golden Protectors. Dragon bulges sound moments later. The Warriors hear the call and now took to the sky in dragon form.)

Merope:” Already done, I see. I must get to my Father. He will know what to do! Go awaken the Systeen Warriors Dean-na. The hour of the Reckoning is upon us!"

(As she speaks, a massive comet comes blazing across the sky leaving the beach in an eerie glow. They both run in opposite directions. She, to the outer castle stairs, and he along the beach to his village. She runs and looks up to see her Father stumbling down the outer stairs and a massive explosion sends her flying into the rock behind her. )

Scene 11- Part 3 The Reckoning

(Grok-ham has left the after party as soon as he could after many toasts to his virile prowess. Most of the guests were quite drunk by that time and he makes his way to Meropes’ chambers, nodding to the guards outside her door. It took him a mere two minutes to discover she was gone.

In a rage, he stomps towards Triton’s chambers above hers. While in the hall, his belt suddenly lights up with an red light and he knows his troops have received the same message. The attack was on and he had only a few minutes to get out to meet with his troops. He detours and heads toward the docking bay where his ship is.)

Lord Grok-ham “ This is too soon! I have not sent the confirmation code!”

( He breaks into a run as he sees dragons take to the air.)

Scene 11 Part 4- The Reckoning

(Triton awakes suddenly with a high pitched whine in his head and ears. He is drugged and sluggish. The Knowledge Stones are calling out to him in great pain and he hears Merope cry out in pain. He awakens gasping!)

Triton:” Ahhhg! What is going on!! Uh…( he looks to see Orrine sound asleep beside him and stumbled out of bed.) The Knowledge Stones, Orrine, they are calling! I must get to them!

(She murmurs, also drugged)

(He knows the Stones are calling for him, but he is sluggish to respond. He takes the outer stairs down to the Crystal Room. He is nearly at the beach when he looks up to see Merope coming towards him and the comet come across the sky. There are military ships and dragons breathing flame now in the air, the echo of the alarms blaring through the night!)

(Namir reaches the Royal bedroom finding Orrine still there. He tries to wake her.)

(The Stones cry out together as they explode at the same time, and the Reptons troops attack from the rear, taking out most of the ships on the landing strip . Triton is thrown into the air and is hit by a flying piece of yellow stone, rendering him unconscious.)

(Namir covers her body with his. A moment after the blast, he carries her to the roof staggering and bleeding. A Blue dragon sees him and takes Orrine in her large talons and flies off. Namir moans and yells out! He begins to run. When he gets to the edge of the roof, he jumps…then takes to the sky as a Gold dragon.)

(Grok-ham, in his ship, begins the attack as Repton ships come in from the rear. They target the flying Dragon Protectors. Several of them go down in the first few minutes. But they regroup and take down a ship with three at a time on it. )

(Ships attack from the air killing human Stysteens, Atlantean, merfolk and dragon alike. It is a massacre.

Scene 12 Mirror Pool ( One Week Later)

(At a makeshift hospital under a bluff, within sight of what was once Triton’s Atlanta castle. Many dragons bring the dead or wounded. A tent holds the few royals still intact. Trition and Namir, who are both bandaged and wounded, in battle gear assess the scene. Merope and Queen Orrine lay on stone alters. Dean- na weeps at Meropes’ side.)

Triton:” When can we expect reinforcements Namir, from the other castle states? It has been too long!”

Namir:” Our drakes sense nothing from across the pond. Nor anywhere else but small life signs. It appears we are the largest camp of refugees left of the regime. I’m sorry my King ( he kneels before him) I failed thee, I am unworthy of life.”

Triton:” No, Namir, my friend ( he pulls him up) I know of no braver deed than when you covered my beloved Queen with your body to save her the worst of the blast. Come now, get up. We shall salvage what we can. Dean- na has shown me the devices the Militia of Grok-ham planted into our Knowledge Stones, to destroy us and them. Reports of the Repton ships told the rest of the story. Grok-ham was bargaining with them for the sparing of some of us, to control this planet and it’s trade. I should have seen this Namir! Why could no one see this coming!??”

Namir:” I believe then, my Lord, it must be that the fates have called us, and we must accept this dark path.”

(Queen Orrine stirs. They go to immediately, Trition kneeling beside her, taking her hand.)

Triton:” My love. You wake! I am so grieved for you.( his eyes begin to water).”

Orrine:” Triton, my dearest…( weakly), not much time. Merope, does she yet live?”

Triton:” Barely, we are not sure if the Blues can heal her.”

Orrine:” Does she wear the Orin?”

(Triton gestures and Namir goes over to her where she lays, the Orin upon her breast.)

Namir:” Yes, my Lady , she wears it.”

Orrine: “ Namir, Dean-na come to me.( they do, also kneeling) ( she coughs blood) Namir you must make a Mirror Pool.”

Namir: “ My Lady?”

Orrine :” Yes, Namir, the great enchantment. It must be large enough, ( she winces in pain) large enough for all who survived to live within, until Merope heals. Dean-na, you can help. Promise me you will all take care of her?!”

Dean-na: “ Of course my Lady.” ( tears streaming down)

Namir :” But my Lady that would take all of our magic together. There would be no healers for you dear lady.( he bows his head).”

Orrine : “ I no longer carry the Orin. She does. Save her. I am ready to meet my ancestors.”

Triton ;” No no no no! Orrine no! There must be another way!”

(Orrine looks lovingly at her husband, and pulls him close.)

Orrine: “This is why I could see no further. It is our fate. I shall always be with you. Goodbye my love.”

(She opens her mouth to breathe her last. A sighing song comes from inside her, and sparks of life-light emit from her as she gives herself to the light among a torrent of tears and cries from those who loved her most. Triton holds her body close as her spirit slips away, weeping.

A golden dragon bugles. A regiment of bedraggled dragons of all colours come and land around them. They all rear and bugle together in mourning.

Dean-na walks to Merope and holds her hand to his cheek. He notices the pearl necklace as it is coming free of her clothes. He takes it.

Dean-na:” I will find you Merope. I will find you.”( He holds her tightly.

And so the last of the Golden Dragon Protectors and other coloured Dragons and the rest of the line of loyal Atlanteans gather around the two women in a circle enacting the great enchantment with magic and chanting, creating a mirror image of the world they had known, and placing the consciousness of the wounded within shards of the Knowledge Stones that had been found. Then they all departed one by one, Merope going first with Dean-na. And then the pool disappears.)

https://youtu.be/un2AAqNCYtw

End of Part One

[kavrillia]

According to https://blog.fostergrant.co.uk/2017/08/03/word-counts-popular-books-world/ ...

A novella is usually between 20,000 and 50,000 words

The average novel is usually between 80,000 and 100,000 words

An epic novel is anything over 110,000 words

Uh...what’s a 375k monster?  A super mega ultra epic novel?

Fantasy novels are typically 90,000 to 110,000 words

Good thing they said “typically,” because have they seen tomes by GRR Martin, Robert Jordan, or Brandon Sanderson?  Theirs can be utterly ridiculous.  Ooh, in fact, further down on the same webpage they list ASoIaF lengths:

A Game of Thrones – 298,000 words

A Clash of Kings – 326,000 words

A Storm of Swords – 424,000 words

A Feast for Crows – 300,000 words

A Dance with Dragons – 422,000 words

The entire A Song of Ice and Fire series (so far) – 1,770,000 words

I feel right at home there!

Now to compare my brick to some famous literary works that I’ve read:

Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte – 107,945 words

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain – 109,571 words

Lord of the Flies, William Golding – 59,900 words

Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Wolf – 63,422 words

The Color Purple, Alice Walker – 66,556 words

Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson – 66,950 words

The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway – 67,707 words

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens – 183,349 words

Hmm.  Well.  I’m sitting at three or four of those combined.

Then you get to famous boat anchors like Les Miserables (530,982 words), War and Peace (561,304), Gone With the Wind (418,053), and Bleak House (360,947).  I’m in better company there.  (Alas, I’ve never read any of those titles.  The only ones on the 110K+ word non-genre fiction list that I have read are Jane Eyre (183,858 words) and Sense and Sensibility (126,194).

Some famous fantasy series that I’ve read:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – 76,944 words

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – 85,141 words

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – 107,253 words

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – 190,637 words

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – 257,045 words

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – 168,923 words

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – 198,227 words

The entire Harry Potter series – 1,084,170 words

The Golden Compass – 112,815 words

The Subtle Knife – 109,120 words

The Amber Spyglass – 168,640 words

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe – 38,421 words

Prince Caspian – 46,290 words

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – 53,960 words

The Silver Chair – 51,022 words

The Horse and His Boy – 48,029 words

The Magician’s Nephew – 64,480 words

The Last Battle – 43,333 words

I’m frankly surprised that my computer didn’t spontaneously combust when I pasted those last two series so close together.  Pullman and Lewis would NOT have a polite conversation... [Here I went off on a tangent ranting about how I read 2 1/2 books in the His Dark Materials series thinking it was a fun fantasy universe, only to have it swerve into Christianity bashing that implied I was an idiot for believing any of it, all with the subtlety of an anvil.  I deleted said rant because it was long and off-topic.  It’s also been 20 years since I read those books, and like 30 since I read C.S. Lewis’ series.  Moving on.]

Lastly, it’s only right I compare my opus to H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds, since that was the initial spark that lit the inferno of my universe, way back when.  That one is a mere 59,796 words.

So yeah.  I’ve written a lot.  Which I guess is a good thing.  Maybe.

As of right now, the Kavrilliaverse encompasses 14 word documents, 784 pages (single-spaced), and 375,152 words.

The place where it naturally divides itself into two books (i.e. where there's a two-year time jump) would give me one book of 266 pages/128,914 words, and one with 518 pages/246,238 words. That's awfully lopsided, unfortunately, but I'm not sure what to do about it.

My options are:

1. Write a bunch more for part one to bring it closer to the length of part two

2. Figure out how to break up part two into two books and make the whole thing a trilogy (very hard unless I do a huge cliffhanger at the end of book two)

3. Just have two books that are very different lengths

4. Keep it as one huge 784-page book.

[whitexblackrose]

The Hallows Read Tale

As many know if you’ve followed me for a few years, while a new film student many years ago I was inspired by Neil Gaiman’s All Hallows Read and put a new twist on the All Hallows Read to practice my craft. I write a short tale of spooks and frights, record it, and post it. (Someday in the future I hope to get things animated for full spooks.)

I’m a bit behind on my visuals for the video but the story is done. If it’s not up tomorrow then it’ll be up on Wednesday.

And just a small teaser, this year the title of this tale is “The Ridiculous Haunting” a tale inspired by a friend’s story of his resident ghost.

[imreadingafuckingbook]

                    All Hallows Read Recommendations 

Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero 

For fans of John Dies at the End and Welcome to Night Vale comes a tour de force of horror, humor, and H.P. Lovecraft. The surviving members of a forgotten teenage detective club (and their dog) must reunite as broken adults to finally solve the terrifying case that ruined them all and sent the wrong man to prison. Scooby Doo and the gang never had to do this! 1990. The teen detectives once known as the Blyton Summer Detective Club (of Blyton Hills, a small mining town in the Zoinx River Valley in Oregon) are all grown up and haven't seen each other since their fateful, final case in 1977. Andy, the tomboy, is twenty-five and on the run, wanted in at least two states. Kerri, one-time kid genius and budding biologist, is bartending in New York, working on a serious drinking problem. At least she's got Tim, an excitable Weimaraner descended from the original canine member of the team. Nate, the horror nerd, has spent the last thirteen years in and out of mental health institutions, and currently resides in an asylum in Arhkam, Massachusetts. The only friend he still sees is Peter, the handsome jock turned movie star. The problem is, Peter's been dead for years. The time has come to uncover the source of their nightmares and return to where it all began in 1977. This time, it better not be a man in a mask. The real monsters are waiting. With raucous humor and brilliantly orchestrated mayhem, Edgar Cantero's Meddling Kids taps into our shared nostalgia for the books and cartoons we grew up with, and delivers an exuberant, eclectic, and highly entertaining celebration of horror, life, friendship, and many-tentacled, interdimensional demon spawn.

full spooky recommendation list here

[weirdo09]

i’ve seen many people do these so it’s my turn

my name’s cadence but i don’t mind any nicknames

my b-day is nov 6th, making me a scorpio ♏️

i’m a INTP(i think 🤔)

i’m somewhat of an artist 👩🏾‍🎨

I’m a huge bookworm and astrology nerd 🤓

my big three: scorpio ☀️ scorpio 🌙 scorpio rising

my fav shows are stranger things, i am not okay with this(ily),family reunion(my comfort show, reminds me of my fam), she-ra, half &half, martin(ik I sound old from these shows but it’s all thanks to my mum), hey arnold, the owl house and many more that i can’t think of

my fav movies are IT(2017), IT chapter two(2019), the curse of bridge hallow(my girl, priah did so good on that movie), do revenge(can’t watch it but i rlly want to), batman(2022)(nirvana 4ever), luca(my water babies 🌊), Thor:Love and Thunder, anything marvel and many more

things l love

marvel

my followers :)

my wifeys, @adorewillbyers,@adoremaxmayfield, @l0v3c0r3e(idk if we still married but ily), henry creel, @thebylerfiles(ilysm) <333, @wigglyworms<333

strawberries

autumn 🍂 (my birth season)

rain(my fav kind of weather)

books

reading

drawing

writing ✍️

binge watching TV

obsessing over shows(or a better word hyper-fixating)

fashion

skirts & high heels(they give me confidence,ok)

tumblr(obvi)

vecnussy ;)

cats 🐈‍⬛

romantic gestures 💖

my ships(I have a lot so only some)

byler(obvi)

elumax

lumax

madwheeler(platonically)

henclair(platonic or romantic)

wheelclair(platonic or romantic)

bywheelclair(romantic or platonic)

jargyle(😍)

ronance

steddie

murray x alexei(rip) (forgot they ship name)

dni

homophobic, sexist, racist, pedophile

sooo, that’s all(for now)

peace out ✌🏽, cadence <333