#all some of history’s greatest unsolved mysteries

[pparacxosm]

writhing on the floor ,gnawing on the heel of my palm ,,freaking out !!

as always the lightest touch with imagery and references and humour,, just enough to evoke the beautiful colourful y2k tia tamera world you’ve made for these girls, but not too much to overwhelm

a new compress/repress chapter could drop on my wedding day and i’d pause the ceremony to read it

Compress/Repress | Chapter 2: Sister, Sister

Pairing: art donaldson x black!oc x patrick zweig, tashi duncan x black!oc (platonic)

Summary: As the summer of 06' winds down, Maya is anxiously prepping for a secret adventure: flying to New York to watch her half-sister Tashi compete at the Junior US Open. The only problem? She’s doing it behind her grandparents’ backs.

Word Count: 5k

Warning(s): minor challengers spoilers (if any?), mild cursing, a non american writing americans, self edited and no beta.

masterlist | prev | next | wattpad | AO3

BEL-AIR, CALIFORNIA – August 30, 2006

“Look, you’ve already got the plane tickets, right? And you’ve figured out how to get to LAX. You’re halfway there!” Tashi exclaimed. Her tone was light-hearted, like the gravity of the situation was no big deal, as if sneaking across the country wasn’t an act that could land Winston Pratt in the hospital.

It had been a year since they’d made their first connection—one impulsive friend request that had led to a secret sisterhood neither of them had anticipated. An outsider looking in would deduce them as a close-knit pair of sisters. Heck, maybe long-time best friends even. Now, they spoke almost every day—through texts, phone calls and sometimes in person, always careful to keep their connection hidden from their respective families.

Maya let out a low, breathy laugh, though it sounded more like a sigh. Like she was failing at convincing Tashi to change her mind and ditch the plan altogether. Her heart raced as she listened to Tashi’s voice echo through the receiver. Maya’s heart raced as she took in her sister’s words, a mixture of excitement and nervousness bubbling beneath her tummy.

“I know, I know.” Maya said as she paced between the four pastel walls of her room, her Paul Frank slippers gliding against the plush white rug.

“I can’t stop thinking about the worst-case scenario. Like what if I get human trafficked at the airport and the kidnappers want ransom. They’d freak!” She exclaimed, dramatically tossing her arms in the air.

“Oh my god, M!” Tashi blurted out, sounding both exasperated and amused at her sister’s active imagination. When her guard was down, Maya Pratt-Duncan’s true form always showed, she was an anxious nervous reck at the end of the day.

Maya shut her eyes and clutched her phone out of embarrassment as she heard Tashi's befuddled voice coming through on the other end. Despite being miles apart, she could almost see the jokes forming in Tashi’s mind.

“You watch too many movies,” Tashi quipped, trying to ease Maya's worries.

“They’re not going to find out,” She explained further, firm and unbothered, the usual confidence Maya admired in her spilling into every word. “You’ve got everything under control. This is our moment. And I want you there when I win.”

Maya made her way towards her bed, her suitcase laid bare on top as she prepared for tomorrow's flight. She carefully checked and rechecked all her belongings, her nerves still prickling despite Tashi's reassurance.

The thought of seeing her half-sister for the first time in action—on the court, in her element—made her heart flutter. But the idea of lying to her grandparents, Tabitha and Winston, weighed on her heavily. They had raised her, protected her, and shielded her from so much of the world. And now, here she was, planning to deceive them.

Maya's voice was soft and hushed, a small smile playing at the edge of her lips as she spoke. "I know you're going to win," she said, her words filled with admiration and confidence. "But...I've never done anything like this before, you know."

Tashi's laughter came through the other end of the phone, light and teasing. "Oh, come on, Maya. You're going to be just fine."

Maya couldn't help but bite her lip, a habit her grandmother couldn’t stand. "It's one thing meeting up at South Coast Plaza, but flying all the way to New York? That's a whole new level."

"Hey, trust me," Tashi reassured her. "You've got this."

“And besides, it's not like I've been completely innocent this whole time.” Tashi leaned against the kitchen counter, her fingers fiddling with the telephone cord as she recounted one of their rebellious antics. “Remember that college party we went to? My dad definitely doesn't know about that!" Maya’s laughter echoed throughout her room as she reminisced about ditching the party in exchange for the local 7 Eleven at 2AM. Till this day she couldn't believe they had gotten away with it, but then again, Tabitha was under the impression that she was at UCLA college scouting.

A warm, genuine smile crept onto Maya's face as she listened to Tashi speak, feeling a sense of comfort and ease wash over her. Tashi had always been one to remain unfazed by anything--whether it be societal rules or the constant pressure of her successful tennis career. It was a trait that Maya both admired and secretly envied, wishing she could exude the same level of nonchalance in her own life.

“I just don’t want to mess this up,” Maya admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, her words carrying a hint of vulnerability and uncertainty.

“You won’t,” Tashi reassured her, her tone softening. “Look, you’ve covered your tracks. You told your grandparents you’re staying with that friend of yours, right? The one with the gap in her teeth?”

Maya nodded, despite Tashi not being present to see her affirmation.

“Yeah, I told them I’m going to Reneé’s for the weekend,” She confirmed, biting her lip. “I mean, they’re really good friends with her family, but I still feel guilty.”

"Maya, listen to me. You have nothing to worry about. You're not doing anything wrong," Tashi insisted, her voice filled with conviction and confidence. “You’re just… bending the rules a little. It’s not like we’re committing a crime,” Tashi said, her voice filled with the kind of certainty Maya wished she could muster herself.

Maya paused, her mind swirling with Tashi's words. At the end of the day, she knew she had to do this. Her entire life had been spent following the strict rules and expectations set by her grandparents. They lived in a world of high society and legacy, where image was everything. But Tashi's world was different. Spending time with her free-spirited sister had taught Maya to break out of her shell and live in the moment. She longed to let go of Tabitha's expectations and just be herself. This trip was for her, and it would be the last time her grandmother's disapproval stood in the way of her desires. As she gazed at the open window ahead of her, she could feel a sense of freedom and adventure calling to her, beckoning her to embrace this new chapter in her life.

“Okay,” Maya said, taking a deep breath. “I’m doing it.”

"Hell yeah, you are!" Tashi's voice echoed through the phone, filled with pride and determination. Maya could practically picture her sister fist-pumping into the air. "Plane tickets aren't cheap, babe. But trust me, M. You're going to love New York City. It's vibrant, pulsing with energy." Tashi's words sparked a feeling of anticipation in Maya's chest. "And just wait till you see me on that court at the Open—I'm going to dominate."

"Now get some sleep and prepare for the most unforgettable weekend of your life," Tashi exclaimed with a wide grin.

They exchanged goodbyes, and after ending the call, Maya stared at her phone, still buzzing from the energetic conversation. She walked over to her window, gazing out at the dazzling skyline of Los Angeles as it shimmered under the night sky. The city lights twinkled like stars as a plane sawed the sky, beckoning her to join in on the fun. Her reflection in the glass appeared small and hesitant. Could she really go through with this? She had never been one to break rules or rebel – every decision she had ever made was with her grandparents' blessings. But this... this felt like stepping into a whole new world. A world where she could let loose and be free, even if just for a few days.

It’s just one weekend, she told herself. Just a couple of days. I can do this.

The Next Day

Now, most people would think the hard part was packing, right? How in the world do you fit a week's worth of clothes into a carry-on suitcase for a weekend trip? Well, lucky for Maya, that kind of job needed experience, and she’d been practicing for years. She had honed the art of over-preparing for every kind of situation—always with the perfect mix of practical essentials and stylish options, who cares if it ends up with you lugging around two suitcases in the middle of LAX. But packing was the easy part; it was everything that came after that was trickier.

The hard part was actually figuring out how to get out of the house without waking any suspicions. Maya knew her grandparents’ routine like the back of her hand; it helped that it hadn’t changed in years. Tabitha woke up every morning at 6:30 A.M. on the dot for her morning jog with "the girls"—her circle of wealthy friends who gossip as much as they power walk. Winston would follow shortly after, making his way down to the breakfast table with the morning newspaper already tucked under his arm. Ettie, the housekeeper, would be brewing a pot of Italian coffee for him. The whole ritual was so ingrained in the fabric of their household that Maya could practically set her watch by it.

Her grandmother always had a way of figuring out when Maya was up to something, so timing was crucial. If she was going to slip out unnoticed, she’d have to be long gone before Tabitha finished her jog. She calculated that the best window of opportunity was during those precious few minutes when Winston would be alone in the kitchen, sipping his coffee and absorbed in the day’s headlines. She’d leave a meticulously written note on the entryway table, some excuse about the early bird catching the worm and hope that would be enough to buy her a few extra hours.

Her heart racing, Maya reached the top of the grand staircase and paused. The entranceway below seemed impossibly vast; the polished marble floor gleaming under the faint light of dawn that streamed in through the stained-glass windows. A family portrait, prominently displayed by the foyer, seemed to gaze down at her—a beautiful oil painting of her grandparents, herself, and her late mother. Her mother’s soft eyes seemed to follow her every move as she cautiously descended the stairs, almost as if silently questioning her decision—Are you sure about this?

Maya tiptoed down the staircase, gripping the banister as if it might help her tread more lightly. The large grandfather clock in the hallway ticked steadily, the only sound breaking the quiet of the early morning. Her pulse quickened with every step, the echo of her shoes on the marble floor sounding far too loud in the stillness. She couldn’t risk alerting Ettie, who was always the first to rise before her grandparents. If Ettie caught her, there would be questions, and then she’d have to explain why she was up so early, where she was going, and why she had two packed suitcases for a sleepover with a family friend.

Her suitcase’s wheels glided silently over the marble floor as she made her way to the front door, keeping her movements slow and deliberate. She caught a glimpse of the kitchen down the hallway—Winston was already there, sitting at the breakfast table, absorbed in his newspaper. Her note, propped up against the sugar bowl, looked small and insignificant, and for a fleeting moment, Maya wondered if she should just go in and tell him the truth. But she quickly brushed that thought aside. There was no way they’d ever let her go if they knew where she was really heading.

Taking a deep breath, she turned the handle on the front door and slipped outside, closing it softly behind her.

A sharp gust of cool air struck Maya's face as soon as she stepped outside her front door, sending a shiver down her spine. The crispness of the early morning air seemed to whisper warnings in her ears, urging her to turn back while she still could. But Maya pushed the thoughts away with determination. She had made up her mind, and she wasn't going to let any doubts stop her.

In the pale light of dawn, Maya spotted Reneé's car sitting at the curb, its headlights cutting through the dimness like beacons. Reneé stood next to the driver's side door, wrapped in a thick jacket, her bonnet still on her head and rubbing her sleepy eyes. As soon as she saw Maya approaching, she perked up slightly, though her expression remained a mix of curiosity and concern.

Maya had always known she could count on Reneé, her best friend since childhood. They met in the most ridiculously “private school” way possible: at their elite academy’s spring fair. It was 1995, and six-year-old Maya was twirling around in a frilly lavender dress, sparkly shoes, and butterfly clips in her hair like a mini-Mariah Carey. Meanwhile, Reneé—awkward, with wild curls and a shiny new camcorder her parents bought to shut her up—was filming a “serious” documentary titled “Life Sucks When You’re Six".

The collision was inevitable. Reneé backed right into Maya, sending both of them sprawling. But instead of tears, Maya jumped up, adjusted her dress, and grinned. “Hey, can I be in your movie?” she asked, with all the confidence of a little girl who had just discovered Clueless. Reneé, who was usually more comfortable behind the camera than in front of people, couldn’t help but smile. From that moment on, they were inseparable—like two halves of a Spice Girls cassette tape.

Growing up in the same exclusive Los Angeles neighborhood, they were an unlikely pair, more like Cher Horowitz and Daria Morgendorffer at group sleepovers than your typical best friends. Maya was the girly girl: always perfectly put together, with glittery lip gloss and an impressive collection of Lisa Frank stationery. Reneé, on the other hand, had a style best described as “indie film director in training”—baggy overalls, thrifted T-shirts, and always a journal in hand to jot down her latest “brilliant” ideas. While Maya attended etiquette and ballet classes, Reneé was busy trying to figure out how to direct the next Godzilla movie.

Despite their differences, they shared everything: secrets, dreams, and even some epic middle school crushes. In Maya’s perfectly pink bedroom—walls covered in a fancy wallpaper imported from France and posters of NSYNC and fashion magazine cutouts neatly pinned on a cork board—they would lie on the floor and talk about how one day they’d move to New York City, where Maya would become the next It Girl and Reneé would direct films about “the real meaning of life” (whatever that meant at age twelve). In Reneé’s room, which was more of a creative chaos zone, they would brainstorm ideas for homemade movies, often starring Maya as a glamorous protagonist and Reneé providing the scene of what they thought a woman in her 20s would find themselves in

Their bond was unbreakable, forged through years of navigating the ups and downs of adolescence in a world where everyone seemed to have at least three vacation homes. They laughed at dumb celebrity gossip from TRL, whispered about grand plans that sounded straight out of Lizzie McGuire, and found ways to dodge the relentless expectations placed upon them by their parents. With Reneé by her side, Maya didn’t have to worry about being perfect; she could just be herself—even if “herself” meant spending a Friday night reenacting scenes from Titanic while Reneé filmed it as "performance art."

Even in the early morning light, Reneé’s voice was dripping with suspicion. "I can't believe you're actually up this early," she grumbled, rubbing her eyes and leaning against the car door. "This better be worth dragging me out of bed before sunrise. Did you finally get tired of the whole 'good girl' act and decide to run off with some older guy?"

Maya tossed her suitcase into the backseat, the car grumbling to life as she tried to sound casual. "What? No," she said, though her voice came out a little too defensive. "It’s just a quick trip. I’ll be back by Monday." But she couldn’t ignore the flutter in her chest at the thought of how close she was to getting caught.

Reneé raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing like a gossip columnist sniffing out a juicy scandal. "Right. 'Quick trip' is exactly what I’d say if I were meeting some mysterious silver fox." Her tone was teasing, but there was an unmistakable glint of curiosity in her eyes.

Maya forced out a laugh, shaking her head as she slid into the passenger seat. "Please. If I were running away to meet some older guy, I’d at least wait until I was done with high school. And I’d have a way better cover story."

Reneé leaned over the steering wheel, still eyeing Maya like she was trying to solve a mystery. "Uh-huh. But I’ve known you long enough to tell when something’s up, and you’re not exactly packing like someone who's just 'going to visit a friend.' Spill it, Maya. What’s really going on? Did you get seduced by some rich guy who swept you off your feet at one of those boring charity events? Because honestly, that sounds kind of romantic. Also, kind of reckless, but still romantic."

Maya fumbled with the seatbelt, her pulse quickening. She couldn’t exactly tell Reneé that she was sneaking away to New York to meet the half-sister she’d only found out about a year ago. That kind of revelation was way too fragile, too precious to expose to anyone else’s opinions—not even Reneé’s. "I’m fine," she said, a little too quickly. "I just… needed to get out of here for a few days before the semester starts. You know, clear my head or whatever."

Reneé rolled her eyes but started the car, steering them down the empty streets. "Okay, sure. But if I find out you ran off with some guy who’s old enough to have his own yacht, I’ll say I told you so."

The car cruised through the dimly lit streets; the city still wrapped in the quiet of early morning. Reneé reached over and switched on the radio, landing on a station playing an old Britney Spears song. "Oh my God, remember when we did that dance routine to this?" she exclaimed, a grin spreading across her face. "Come on, Maya, don’t leave me hanging. Sing it like you mean it!"

Maya’s laughter bubbled up despite the tension she was carrying, and she joined in. As they belted out the chorus together, it was easy to forget, just for a moment, where she was headed and the secrets she was keeping. For those few minutes, it felt like they were back in middle school again, planning sleepovers and giggling about silly crushes. But as the song faded, reality crept back in, and Maya’s thoughts returned to the trip ahead.

The car rumbled to a stop at the departure terminal, and Maya took a deep breath, bracing herself for the whirlwind of the airport. The early morning light was just beginning to stretch across the sky, casting a hazy glow over the glass facade. Despite the hour, LAX was already alive with travellers dragging suitcases, taxi drivers haggling for fares, and the occasional lost soul wandering around with a coffee in hand.

Maya climbed out of the car, her steps slower than usual as she retrieved her suitcase from the trunk. Reneé stretched her arms over her head and let out a long yawn. "Alright, runaway princess," she said, still eyeing Maya like she was waiting for a confession. "Go have your mysterious rendezvous. But I swear, if you come back wearing a diamond bracelet, I’m going to need the whole story."

"Will do," Maya said, forcing a smile. But her chest felt tight. She wanted to tell Reneé the truth—about her real reason for the trip, about Tashi—but the words just wouldn’t come.

Reneé pulled her in for a quick hug. "Whatever it is you're doing, just be careful, okay? I’m all for spontaneous adventures, but try not to come back married to a guy who quotes The Great Gatsby unironically."

"I promise," Maya said, laughing nervously. "No secret weddings."

Reneé grinned as she climbed back into the car. "Good. See you when you get back, okay? And text me if you need a rescue."

Maya gave her a final wave as Reneé’s car rolled away, the taillights fading into the flow of early morning traffic. For a moment, she stood at the curb, feeling strangely exposed against the backdrop of the sprawling airport. She adjusted the strap of her bag and took a deep breath. She was really doing this.

The automatic doors slid open with a faint hiss, and Maya stepped inside, letting the chaos of the airport wash over her. There was a comforting anonymity here—a sense that she was just another traveller with somewhere to be, just another face in the crowd. She weaved her way through the bustling terminal, her suitcase bumping along behind her as she headed for the self-check-in kiosks.

As she tapped at the screen, printing her boarding pass, Maya’s thoughts wandered back to Reneé’s teasing. It would’ve been easier to lie and say she was sneaking off to meet some rich older guy. At least then, Reneé would have had something fun to speculate about. Instead, Maya was about to board a plane to meet a half-sister she hadn’t even known existed until a year ago, and not even her best friend knew the real story.

With her boarding pass in hand, she made her way toward the security line, her pulse quickening. She was about to cross an invisible line—leaving behind everything she’d known to find answers she wasn’t sure she was ready for. But there was no turning back now.

Maya found a seat by the window at the gate and pulled out her phone, scrolling through her messages. There was a new one from Tashi, sent just a few minutes ago.

Tashi: Just got to the courts. Can’t wait for you to get here! It’s going to be amazing; I promise.

Maya smiled, a mixture of excitement and nerves bubbling inside her. For a moment, she allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to finally meet Tashi face-to-face, to see the sister she’d only known through late-night phone calls and Facebook photos. It felt surreal, like stepping into a story that wasn’t entirely her own.

As her flight was called, Maya stood and gathered her things, ready to step into the unknown. Whatever lay ahead, at least it was her secret to keep, for now.

NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK - August 4th, 2019

The sun blazed relentlessly upon the crowd, its heat shimmering off the concrete in waves that distorted the air. Maya squinted behind her oversized sunglasses, their dark lenses doing little to shield her from the sun’s intensity. Her skin prickled from the overexposure of Vitamin D, making it difficult to focus on anything besides the sweltering discomfort that clung to her like a second skin. As she sat in the stands, the familiar scent of sunscreen and freshly cut grass filled her nostrils, triggering memories of summers long past—carefree days spent at her grandparents' estate in Bel-Air Crest, where her only concern was perfecting her bronzed tan.

The hum of the crowd rose and fell around her, but it felt distant, like background noise from an abandoned television. Maya’s gaze drifted across the humble country club, taking in the swirl of colors from spectators’ sun hats and vibrant outfits, and the flashes of bright white tennis gear as players gathered to bear witness to what they suspected to be the match of a century. She was scanning the rows of seats absentmindedly when a tall, slender figure caught her attention. The person was descending the steps slowly, almost as if they were reluctant to be here at all.

As the figure came closer, the cascade of mid-length blonde hair, the effortless grace, and the striking features became unmistakable. Even from a distance, Maya could tell it was Tashi. Her sister’s presence filled her with a complicated rush of emotions—part nostalgia, part unease. They locked eyes just as Tashi reached her row. Time seemed to slow, and an unspoken tension hung between them, as heavy as the humid air. Despite the match unfolding on the court before them, Maya couldn’t tear her gaze away. She watched as Tashi took her seat just a few feet away, their proximity at once too close and yet, not close enough.

'Get a grip Maya, you knew she would be here.'

Maya’s fingers clenched tightly around the edge of her seat, her knuckles turning a ghostly shade of her usual caramel complexion as the internal struggle roiled within her. Her eyes darted anxiously to the tennis court, where the looming presence of the upcoming match filled her with a sense of dread. The players’ shadows stretched long in the late afternoon sun, mirroring the tension and anticipation coursing through Maya’s body. It was as if the scene was mocking her—a snapshot of normalcy while her mind was anything but calm. The roar of the crowd spiked in excitement as the players began their warm-ups, the rhythmic thud of tennis balls echoing like a ticking clock. Maya shifted in her seat, trying to shake off the prickly sensation that crept up her spine.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Tashi’s gaze turn toward her. Tashi—the sister who had once known her better than anyone else in the world, who could finish her sentences, who could always sense what she was thinking. Now, it felt like they were two strangers who had to pretend they hadn’t once shared everything. Maya’s breath hitched slightly as she felt Tashi’s eyes on her, the weight of that familiar gaze bringing a sudden rush of memories she had buried beneath layers of silence and time.

Tashi's features, once so easy to read, seemed guarded now. Her cool expression betrayed nothing, but Maya knew her sister too well to be fooled. The slight tension in her jaw, the faint crease on her forehead—it was all there, hiding beneath the calm façade. A year ago, they would have hugged, laughed, shared inside jokes to ease the tension. Now, they were separated by more than just a few feet; a chasm of unspoken words and unresolved issues lay between them.

Tashi's gaze landed on Maya, her once-closest confidante, now a stranger sitting just a few feet away. It unnerved her, how different Maya seemed, even in small ways—the slight slump in her shoulders, the tightness in her jaw. There was something brittle about her that hadn’t been there before, a fragility hiding behind the composed exterior. Maya's forced smile, offered to a couple of teenage girls who recognized her from a fashion magazine, barely reached her eyes. It was the kind of smile people practiced in the mirror, perfected for the sake of appearances.

As Tashi’s gaze drifted back to the court, she felt a pang of something close to regret. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. She had imagined a different future, one where they could lean on each other no matter what happened. But life had taken a different course, and the choices they’d made—some willingly, others out of desperation—had driven a wedge between them that seemed impossible to remove.

The match hadn’t even started, but Maya could already feel the tension tightening around her like a coiled spring, ready to snap at the slightest touch. She stole a glance at Tashi, who was staring ahead, her jaw clenched as though determined not to show any sign of weakness. There had always been that fierce pride about Tashi, a need to present a strong front no matter how turbulent things were beneath the surface. It was one of the things Maya had admired about her growing up, but now it felt like a wall keeping her out.

"Nice to see you made it," Tashi said finally, her voice low and edged with irony, as though she wasn’t entirely sure whether she meant it or not.

Maya's lips parted, but for a moment, no words came. When she finally spoke, her voice was measured, carefully controlled. "I wouldn’t miss it for the world."

Tashi’s mouth curved into a faint smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Right," she said, turning her attention back to the players who were now preparing for the first serve. "Because we’ve always been so good at being there for each other."

The words stung, though Maya wasn’t entirely sure whether Tashi intended them to. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and pressed her lips together to keep the sharp retort from escaping. Instead, she chose to stay silent, gripping the arms of her chair until she could feel the bite of the metal against her palms.

The crowd erupted in applause as the first serve cut through the air, the players diving into the game with all the precision and grace expected at this level of competition. But for Maya, the real match was happening here, in the silent exchanges and unsaid words between her and Tashi. Every ball that flew across the net seemed to carry the weight of their unresolved history, every cheer from the crowd a reminder of how long they had been pretending that everything was fine.

The tension hung between them like a blade, sharp and unforgiving. It wasn’t just a tennis match to Maya and Tashi—it was a collision of everything unresolved, a confrontation without words. The years of sisterhood, of shared secrets and broken promises, all seemed to blur together, fusing the past and present into one inescapable truth: no matter how far they drifted, they could never really escape each other.

And as the players battled it out on the court below, Maya couldn’t help but feel as if she and Tashi were the real competitors, locked in a game where neither of them knew the rules anymore.

[nightmareofthelake]

my podcasts

everyone who follows me is aware that I'm really into The Magnus Archives/Protocol but I never really talk about my other favourits.

So I decided to make a list of all the podcasts I currently listen to.

The Magnus Archives/The Magnus Protocol

this one does not need any introductions. I love the statements. I love the characters. I love everything about it 10/10

woe.begone ( @woebegonepod )

In a search for an interesting ARG, Mike Walters accidentally stumbles into a brutal real life game, known online as WOE.BEGONE. What begins as an exploration of the game turns into a search for the powerful technology that makes the game possible.

I started it this week and I'm in love with it. As someone who was really into ARGs a few years ago, this podcast really scratches a specific itch I didn't know I had. Also, the music is so good! Absolutely in love with it!

The Holmwood Foundation ( @theholmwoodfoundation )

A modern day sequel to the gothic novel Dracula, we follow Maddie Townsend (Rebecca Root) and Jeremy Larkin (Seán Carlsen), two co-workers at the Holmwood Foundation: a secret organisation that has been maintaining and studying the remains of Count Dracula over the last 130 years, as they are possessed by the ghosts of Jonathan and Mina Harker, and embark on a road trip across the country in an effort to achieve their ghost's wishes: stop Dracula once and for all. This is a story about identity and self discovery, family loyalty and devotion, all wrapped around a nightmare of a road trip with a rejuvenating severed head, incredibly sincere Victorian ghosts and an analogue recorder.

Only the pilot is currently out and the Kickstarter just started but I'm already in love with the characters thanks to the very active tumblr page. The pilot only deepened my love for them.

Malevolent

Arkham Private Investigator Arthur Lester wakes up with no memory of who he is or what has happened, only a nameless, eerie voice guiding him through the darkness. Blind, terrified, and confused, his journey will lead him towards a series of mysteries in the hopes of understanding the truth of what has transpired. As cosmic horrors seep into the world around, Arthur must ask himself whether this entity truly seeks to help him, or are its intentions more…

Harlan Guthrie is just amazing. His performances as literally every character is amazing. I really need to catch up.

The Gentleman from Hell

An entire town… gone. Without a trace. No signs, no warnings. Just silence. This is the story of Cold Sparrow. Twenty-four years ago, the peaceful town of Cold Sparrow became the center of one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in modern history. Every resident vanished. Among them, the enigmatic billionaire Benjamin Veers, whose strange ways made him an icon of intrigue. The town, once forgotten, now infamous. The questions? Endless. The answers? Nonexistent. For over two decades, investigators have been left baffled—cults, kidnappings, disappearances—none have led them closer to the truth. But now, three celebrated private investigators—famous for bringing down one of the most dangerous cults in history—have been called upon to tackle this mystery. Known for taking on the cases no one else could solve, they’re determined to uncover what really happened in Cold Sparrow. Yet, the deeper they dig, the darker the whispers become. Rumours swirl of something far more sinister than anyone ever imagined. Could the mystery of Cold Sparrow be tied to forces that reach far beyond our world? Could it be linked to something… infernal? Some mysteries, once uncovered, may be better left untouched. Cold Sparrow: A town that disappeared… but something still lingers in the shadows. The investigation begins… now.

Only a handful of episodes are out and they are all between 20 and 30 minutes long. The sound design is amazing. Love the characters so far and the story is really intriguing. Can't wait to see how the story unfolds.

Englewood After Dark ( @englewoodafterdark )

Englewood After Dark is a horror/drama podcast following the adventures of Finn Nightingale and Eve Pemberly as they uncover the many secrets lurking on the haunted campus of Englewood University.

As of right now only two episodes are out and I can't really say much about the plot but I like the characters enough to tune in every week. There are some hints about how the story might progress and I can't wait to be front-row witness of it's evolution.

This Paranormal Life

Every Tuesday, comedians Rory Powers and Kit Grier investigate a different paranormal case and find the truth inside the mystery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

currently the only non-fiction podcast I listen to. I'm still trying to catch up (currently on episode 250 of almost 400) while also listening to every new episode on spotify and everything currently on patreon. Also, my favorite show to fall asleep to.

Podcasts I'm currently not actively listening too but still want to mention:

The Edge of Sleep

When a night watchman finishes his shift at work, he is terrified to discover that everyone in the world who went to sleep the previous night has died.

The podcast that made me fall in love with audio dramas. It's not perfect but I still like and can't wait for season 2 to finally come out (if it ever comes out). Also Mark has such nice voice it's almost criminal.

Welcome to Night Vale

WELCOME TO NIGHT VALE is a twice-monthly podcast in the style of community updates for the small desert town of Night Vale, featuring local weather, news, announcements from the Sheriff's Secret Police, mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and cultural events. Turn on your radio and hide.

It's just an ongoing on-off relationship between me and this podcast. I love it don't get me wrong but sometimes I just need a break from it. Also I still need to read the novels that have been collecting dust since last year

(the list might get longer over time since I have a shit tone of podcasts I still have to try and some others I might give another try. I will reblog it once I add something new)

[thegreatcaptainusopp]

Straw hat dreams ranked by attainability level:

10. Usopp - Brave warrior of the sea

Easiest 10th place possible. My guy’s already there! Dream completed. He just has to realize it and we’re good

9. Franky - Sail the world in the Sunny

Also practically already happening! He’s doing part 1 already (the grand line trip), all he’s gotta do is keep going until he feels like he’s gone everywhere. It may take some time to actually finish it but I feel like in the world of One Piece, especially because he started with the Grand Line, it is very attainable

8. Brook - find Laboon

This one is very to the point! We already know where Laboon is, and Luffy told him to wait there so he’s probably staying put. All that will be required will be to renter the grand line from reverse mountain and he’ll be there! He’s below Franky because it’s not actively coming true at the moment, and there’s an element of uncertainty regarding if he will stay put or not. But this is quite attainable

7. Nami - map of the world

This one will take a lot of time and effort, but it is definitely possible. All she’ll need to do is continue making records of the grand line, and then hop onboard the Sunny with Franky who will take her around the rest of it! She’s a couple spots lower here because of the extra effort it’ll take to actually chart everything, plus the work that will be put in later to put everything together. It will also take a while to achieve. But it is still attainable enough!

6. Zoro - World’s Greatest Swordsman

From what I can tell, there aren’t that many people specifically aiming to get this title, so Zoro has hopefully fewer competitors against him for this dream. There’s also a very specific end goal in that he has to defeat the current greatest (Mihawk) to achieve the title. Since this is determined by a single duel, all he’s gonna have to do is win the fight and he’s got it. Bit more difficult than the rest because it will be one dangerous and difficult fight rather a specific journey, even though it may take less time. But that difficulty level raises it in attainability because he’s basically got one last shot at this duel, as if he loses this time then I don’t think Mihawk spares him.

5. Luffy - King of the Pirates

Even though it’s a similar kind of dream approach to Zoro, I’ve classed it as one spot higher because Luffy has a lot more competition in getting to this goal than Zoro does. There’s a specific end point (finding the One Piece), but so many other pirates are trying that it’s gonna be a tough go of it. It’s also not necessarily an unsolvable mystery as there are people out there who know where it is, even if they don’t actually tell you where it is. He’s actively working on it, but the fierce competition and level of danger make it attainable but tough

4. Robin - Find the True History

This one is placed higher than Luffy’s because of how many people are actively working against Robin in making this happen-the entire world government deems her a threat for even being able to read the poneglyphs. She has so much going against her, with people specifically trying to stop her from finding the true history, that it’s gonna be a tough one to achieve. It helps that there are some out there who are aware of what actually happened in the void century, but actually putting together all the poneglyphs is going to be quite a difficult task. Attainable, but only just due to all the moving parts (finding poneglyphs, reading them, putting them together, and doing it all discreetly)

3. Sanji - Find the All Blue

This one seems like it should be more attainable, but I think the very existence of the All Blue being in question puts it higher on this list. Because, well, it might not actually exist! We don’t know anyone who’s been there or claims to have seen it, like the true history or the One Piece. So Sanji has literally nowhere to start, no thread to follow, nothing specific to start his chase. He may have a hazy idea of where it could be, but it’s not a lot to go off. So I guess attainable if it exists, but the fact that it might not may make this straight up impossible. If it does exist, finding it with almost nothing to work off of is still difficult

2. Jinbe - Peace between the Fishman and humans

I don’t remember if Jinbe has officially declared this his dream or not (correct me if I’m wrong) but this one is going to be so, so difficult. For one, there’s no fixed endpoint, and it’ll be a constant struggle to maintain and will be fight that’ll continue past Jinbe’s life time and beyond. There’s a lot of hurt and discrimination to work on and he’s starting at practically zero. With time and effort he could improve relations but I don’t think he could fix generations worth of pain in the way he wants to. So, attainable, to an extent, but unattainable as a perfect solution

1. Chopper - Cure every disease

Oh buddy. How would that even be verifiable? How is this quantifiable? There is sadly not enough time in the world to make this happen. He could come up with cures or treatments for various diseases, but I don’t think he’s achieving this one. The difference between him and Jinbe is that Jinbe can make improvements towards a very specific societal wrong. Chopper is working against the forces of nature itself. Unattainable.

[regaliasonata]

Can you do a Ziggy or Eric Myers headcanon?

Eric Myers Headcanons

@lies-of-quantum I will do Ziggy eventually don't worry 👍🏾

-Eric's childhood consisted of growing up amongst drug usage, physical and emotional abuse from his father and overall poor conditions for a kid to live in.

-His dad would sometimes try to sell off Eric even for a quick buck just to make a profit, anyone willing to have some kid to be deliver substances and such worked well but most of the time he refused and ended suffering some violence from Mr. Myers.

-Because of his father Eric developed a habit of not being able to trust or accept love from other people. It's a defense mechanism is the idea of not wanting his feelings hurt and to himself from being treated terrible. However deep down Eric just really wants someone go hug and actually see him for himself.

-Despite not being the greatest mother, Mrs. Myers did her best to help Eric whenever she could. Eric was homeschooled until 7 with his mom teaching him how to count and have perfect organization skills, she always wanted him to get out of his father's antics and finally make life away from that monster.

-Shortly after his 7th birthday an altercation happened within their living space and Eric watched as his father killed his mother, he shot the man with a gun and as authorities sorted out everything Eric was almost placed into foster care. However this was halted as Eric was place into a boarding school as it was revealed Mrs. Myers was saving money for her son to be enrolled.

-Wes and Eric met before when they were younger, his father sold substances to some rich people at the country club all while Eric was sent to steal things around the place. Wes saw a the guy stealing silverware and products from the establishment but looked the other way.

-Eric loves reading, he's got a collection of entries stored in many places. One thing he likes to read is history and how things came to be, after becoming the quantum ranger he can no travel to see and experience unsolved mysteries throughout timeline of the world.

-On one incident when the team was having trouble with an really warping enemy Eric went to Taylor for some advice. She was at a nail salon and Eric had to sit next two her in order to converse and had to get his nails painted to stay...with some hesitation he chose a black and red pattern, five red and five black. Silver guardians kind of joked about it but he really jeered into the members, Wes actually found it cool....Eric's not really into this thing but hey, try everything once.

-He has a huge love for pets but fears he night not be able to show it enough kindness that it needs.

-Eric's first kiss was in high school but the guy was only messing with him so relationships are pretty much out of the question.

-During college a guy tried to proposition him and when he declined the dude made up a rumor about Eric, safe to say a black eye and broken arm shut him up real quick....Wes was the one who did this to the guy.

-Before becoming a full in silver guardian or even the quantum ranger Eric was almost recruited into the Thunder Academy when weighing out some options after college. This in return would've made him a ninja storm ranger, though it's for the best considering that team would've drove him crazy.

-Using time travel Eric found a way to utilize stocks and gain dome money though Wes shut that down quickly.

-After the ransik issues Eric did some thinking and worked with the Time Force to release Notacon and have him live with Trip.

-Eric's gay, like very....but he gives off some butch vibes to be honest. Thing is he's was very closeted with these feelings throughout his life, mainly from trying to keep himself out of anyone's range and wanting to avoid being harrased. His dad caught him holding hands with an old friend and while it was harmless Mr. Myers threatened Eric.

-This actually lead into one incident where Wes and Eric were hanging out and the two got into a playful altercation. Eric had Wes pinned down and he kissed him by accident, after that he talk to Wes for about a month in fear of what would happen at their school if word got out, tbh Wes was pretty much oblivious to the implications and just thought it was the heat of the moment. Though when Wes cornered Eric the dude broke down from the incident and explained everything, it's safe to say that after that Wes became a main source for Eric to express his emotions and vent out.

-Eric enjoys play Devil May Cry and has this weird connection to Virgil.

-Video games are one of his favorite hobbies, when obsessing over Pokémon Sapphire and Emerald Wes decided to work with the team and make two oversized jackets themed over Kyogre and Rayquaza for him. He made one of Groudon and give it Trip while Wes wore the Kyogre one and Eric got the Rayquaza jacket.

-He loves go read manga.

-Because of getting into the schools he attended up to college with hard work, Eric was subject to ridicule by some of the rich students who didn't exactly like his presence, even becme a habit of his to make copies or his work when one teacher was bribed off to constantly displace his assignment. The dean shut this down kept a good eye on Eric's progress warning anyone who tried such a thing will be fired or expelled from the schools.

-His favorite type of dates involve going around the city with Wes and just enjoying the scenery, a giant park allows for him to reminisce about Pokémon Crystal with the national park theme playing in his mind plus hanging with Trip as the xybrianshows Notacon some things about earth culture(he had tears of nostalgia when he heard the national park theme in Soulsilver).

-His favorite type of dude consists of guys that are attentive. Also anyone that can give him great hugs and won't get upset over the littlest of things, if a guy starts yelling he'll have to wrap it up from there...after everything with with father Eric can't deal with all that stress again.

-Sometimes the world scared him and he can't help but time travel to the early 2000s when needed to feel happy again.

-Power Ranger wise Eric would've enjoyed being a green or yellow ranger. When he met Taylor the two decides to switch powers for a week to see who had it easier, frankly both teams benefited crazy from the switch up but being unable to resonate with the different members they were hoisted back into regular positions....Taylor almost murdered Eric when she found out the guy tried cooking the eagle zord.

-While checking out the grid Eric found out about the existence of other ranger teams(sentai counterparts), with some inspiration he decided to make a short story that got picked up for a ranger show within Japan, safe to say Eric indirectly crested the aspect of super sentai within his world. Timeranger being the first series technically of the modern era because the show was canceled for about 8 years. The non adapted sentai before MMPR were released in higher quality after Timeranger, Liveman being a very popular series, He met Conner and kept getting pestered for spoilers on Abaranger.

-Eric is a business major but also obtained an art degree.

-During some personal time escapades Eric found a few other zords relating to the quantum powers. Consisting of a long dragon, a sparrow and turtle, all able to combine with the Q-Rex. The long dragon produces gravitational capabilites, the sparrow allows for matter disruption ans the turtle can fully freeze time.

-Eric doesn't like Alex and anyone comparing him to Wes really irks him. The two actually got into an altercation during his visit to the past.

-Erics's relationship with Wes started when they were having martial arts practice, the dojo they were in was locked in during a storm and Eric..doesn't exactly like harsh storms so Wes decided to keep him company for the evening, the two practiced fo a bit and a few things lead here and there....safe to the other members of the dojo wondered why Eric had "mosquito bites" all over his body.

-For Trip the two had a bit of a moment after Notacon's defeat. The idea of someone who was being thrown into imprisonment for only existing really throw the xybrian off guard and he didn't talk to anyone on the team for weeks, really isolated himself. From learning more about things Eric tried to apologize but Trip was very hostile agaisnt the quantum ranger...unknowingly Eric went to the future and stole the capsule that Notacon was placed in. He gave it to Trip but sadly it would take about a year for the capsule to release, this made Trip open up a bit and the two started to hang out, after the fiasco with Alex's arrival and all thr bad experiences flowing through(Check out the trip headcanons if anyone is confused) Eric stood by Trip's side as a loving friend and the two eventually began a thing.

-Family wise if lucky Eric wants to have maybe one or two kids.

-Forever Red was a fever dream tbh for him especially due to getting drunk after Serpentera. He woke up in bed with Wes and Carter completely hungover and tbh the three of them don't talk about the situation, though some memories flow back a little bit and while they have a mutual friendship Carter still cracks jokes during small talk. (Carter: I think you were the bottom... Eric: Shut...the fuck up.)

-He did do a bit of modeling during college and grew out his hair a bit though Eric stopped when joining the silver guardians.

-Eric doesn't really cry all the time but something about children, holding a baby just makes him bawl his eyes out...DON'T GIVE HIM A BABY HE WON'T LET GO OF IT.

-After Carter ran over a demon reputation grew fast amongst the other teams that worked with and Eric uses this as a main way to deal with enemies. Nadira is in the back of his squad car doing drive-by styled rounds on their enemies.

-Nadira and Eric go shopping together clothes all the time and all the trips are filled with wreckless driving. Taylor nearly murdered him when he borrowed her car for a bit and it came back with dents.

[kquil]

🧁: cupcake

tell me about yourself, as much or as little as possible and i will ship you with whichever marauder i think you will go well with!

first time requesting(??) ! but: dark hair, blue eyes, about 5’7 (sob). super super introverted, and i really like being left alone!! a bit touch starved + touch averse, so im kinda guarded until a barrier is broken and then im.. sorta sensitive infront of the right ppl!! music <3 and i love random little history facts. i could stare at a painting in a museum for hours, i love analysing the teenie little brush strokes and thinking about just how old it is

hehehe~ im matching you with Sirius Black!

i. at first, he was a tease because he just couldn’t believe how shy you were and he loved your reactions. some people, like remus and peter and some of your close friends, thought he was being too cruel with you, especially when, if they asked him why he did it, he didn’t even know why. over time, it became clearer and clearer (in sirius’s mind only) that he liked to tease you because he loved how you reacted to him — he thought you were cute and sweet and oh so loveable. after he realised that, he was even harder for him to leave you alone. 

ii. even though sirius adored annoying you and teasing you, you never were truly able to push him away or tell him off properly to really get him to leave you alone. however, you were soon able to admit to yourself that it’s because you quite liked having his arm around your shoulders, you liked having him teasingly inch his face closer and closer to you, you liked having his attention and you liked when he holds your hand and pulls you in close. sirius liked all of those things just as much as you did too but if you weren’t admitting anything, he wasn’t admitting anything either. 

iii. there was this one time where you were very much engrossed in a wizarding history book, storing bits and pieces of information as little facts in your head. you were so absorbed in the book that you didn’t catch sirius's whining for attention beside you until he snatched the book from you arms and pulled you in close, ‘aren’t i more interesting than this history book, doll?’ he asks, frowning at the book cover while you huff and fold your arms, ‘its very much more interesting than you sirius,’. you two got into a little argument over the topic that eventually lead to some type of tension building up and soon enough the two of you were cuddling on the sofa together with shy looks on your faces. 

iv. you have a habit of interacting with paintings more than the average witch or wizard and sirius can’t understand why until he observes the adorable look on your face when you squint at the finer details of a painting, as if you were trying to decipher one of the world’s greatest mysteries. it was then, when you were staring at the painting that sirius leans down and captures your lips in a sweet kiss, his hands in his pockets, leant over to your height as your eyes bulge and gradually soften to kiss back slowly.

v. it was after that when the two of you learn to be vulnerable to each other, soft and sweet, trusting and always cuddling up close to each other. sirius loves being the big spoon but he also craves being the little spoon and you’re more than happy to oblige as you stroke his hair lovingly. often that’s how the marauders would see you on sirius’s bed, cuddled together with your limbs being an unsolvable tangled puzzle that they wouldn’t dare interfere with. at least you two looked cute together and seemed like a pretty cute match, especially when you both seem to bring out the best in each other, sirius urged you to be more outgoing, a little more fearless while you taught sirius caution and patience. 

vi. honourable mention, i also, lowkey ship you with James Potter! it would take a lot longer for you two to get together but it’s only because he never noticed you until you were paired together for an assignment on history of magic. it was a boring topic to james but you made it bearable, interesting, even. He found it adorable that you’d say a random history fact out of nowhere with the most adorable look on your face. Even after the paired assignment, james would actively search for you in the halls, in classes and anywhere else on school grounds; he was drawn to you now and you being oblivious to his intentions and, therefore, unaffected by his romantic advances made you his ideal type ;)

1k milestone event | navi.

[rawcalamity]

Metal screeches and groans from a writhing mess of sinew and wire, woven around a body that reeks of decay. The howls of machinery threatens the nights silence as it whirrs to life, echoing a disgusting yet pitiful cry. Torn and mutilated, a disheveled corpse held together only by steel shambles along broken corridors; a horror reanimated by machine. May it find salivation at the end of its miserable existence, for such a creature has been cursed to dwell within the decrepit walls of a facility long abandoned. Stories sail from ear to ear, recounting the prime of mans greatest achievements—an era defined by discovery, passion, innovation, and most importantly: progression. Brilliant minds from all over the worlds continents joined together to build upon this very foundation, thus marking the birth of a facility like no other. This foundation invited those of many scientific fields who had honed their skills and intimate knowledge over decades to unite. Together as one, man would ascend to greater heights never before reached by their predecessors. This tale however is not one of golden glory, for an unseen darkness plagued its legacy. Rumors flocked to the towns, as whispers of horrifying weapons and experiments tainted the air. The origins of these rumors were a mystery left unsolved, though government bodies were not unfamiliar with such conspiracies surrounding them.

For a time, these rumors remain only as that; rumors... That is, until tragedy reared it’s ugly head. Whether it was an unpredictable event, or the consequence of toying with elements man should not have disturbed. Unbeknownst to the many, something truly awful festered beneath the surface of their accomplishments. Mans foolish desires culminated in a tragedy far beyond their control, as in a single night all they had made was ravaged and torn asunder. Now those poor fools lay sunken and buried beneath a tomb of their own making; piles upon piles of blood-soaked debris forever stain the history of what they had built. To this day, it is believed that what remains of the facility harbor unspeakable horrors. Some say these horrors have snaked their way out of the wreckage—slowly but surely seeping into our world.

[old-antecedent]

Mysteries of the Dwemer pt. 4 (Final): A Collection of Null Pointers

The result of the Dwemer's grand ambition is well-known. Absence in all senses of the word. Several nations' worth of empty cities, perpetually active in expectation of residents who will never again see them. All as efficient and well-oiled as they were eras ago, despite the lack of any maintenance. Every single inch of emptiness hinging on one moment of total uncertainty. Mortals know the disappearance of the Dwemer as one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of all time.

You have likely come across several possible explanations. The Dwemer achieved their dreams of becoming a giant automaton's skin. A Dragon Break somehow vanished them all. Every Dwemer zero-summed at once. Like Alduin, they were thrown into the future. They have found a realm of their own in some obscure pocket of reality where no one has thought to check.

These are all common answers to the question of the Dwemer vanishing. I have cataloged them countless times over the aeons, sometimes pure and sometimes mixed among themselves. This along with hundreds of other versions of that fateful day's events and aftermaths. I will not tell you which is true.

Instead, I offer you the prize you do not know you seek: uncertainty. If the mystery were resolved, of what interest would the Dwemer be? A sure end to their tale would close the book forever. It has remained open for more than three thousand years, and the endless speculation is far more interesting to you than a definite answer could ever be.

I do, however, realize that closing with this would be unsatisfying. It would drive many scholars to contact me again despite all I have shared here. So I will leave you with an interesting theory. It was offered to me by a Nord named Jens Vebjørn Hülpft, who summoned me on the 5th of First Seed in 3E 431 only to tell me what he had "discovered" about the dwemer. He sought no boon for his information. What follows is an exact transcription of his words on this subject.

"The Dwemer are, well, no, they were, but they weren't. They are a kind of ex post facto rewrite of the Dunmer née Chimer who were culpable for the activation of Numidium. History was, not rewritten, but recontextualized with this new dwarven race in mind. See, the switching-on of Numidium created a dragon-break, the Red Moment, just like the Warp in the West and at Rimmen. So there's a pressure on the gods to resolve it and return to linear time. But they can't resolve it when Numidium is on. The Dragon Breaks involving Numidium always include either it turning off or being destroyed, so it's probably the cause of them. I'm getting off track. There's a House Dwemer in the scant ancient writings we have about the time before the First Council and its War. That and the continued mention of a tribe unmourned, an unmourned house, and an oath-breaking house (which I believe are all separate entities) in all the Nerevarine prophecies leads me to believe that the dwarves were in the process of splitting off from the Chimer, just as the Chimer had done by following Veloth away from Aldmeri heritage. They weren't fully split away yet, but they were almost there. We can know this because of both their close dealings with the other dark elf great houses through the histories, and Yagrum Bagarn. I met him when I tried my hand at raiding the Corprusarium before Dagoth Ur became too much of an issue. His skin is discolored and covered in abscesses, but it is undeniably not gray. Compare that to the coloration shown by the ghosts in dwarven ruins — just as ashen as a dark elf! Bagarn was the only dwarf to escape their fate, so he was the only one not cursed by Azura as well, because they were Chimer. The curse, of course, happening before the dragon break ended. Numidium being the dwarf Tower is the lynchpin of this whole thing. The way to resolve the dragon break was to tie all the chimer/dunmer who had been moving towards reason and logic, away from Chimer beliefs to Numidium as a Tower, and then get rid of all the new kind of elf you just made so they can't keep Numidium turned on. But in this, Numidium being a Tower defining the new dwarves means they have to be in the history of the world — the Towers are part of the structure of The Wheel, so you can't reframe what they mean unless you want to collapse everything, and there's usually no need for that. So the dwarves have to have existed for them to have made the Brass Tower, so they were always dwarves even though they only became dwarves the moment they were all removed from existence."

During the course of our conversation, Jens also mentioned a few interesting "theories" on prophecy, Sithis, and my sphere. Since then he has contacted me at least once every twenty years. He is currently a lich living in a crypt, pretending to be dead when people approach.

[rockislandadultreads]

Book Recommendations: More Winter Reading Challenge Picks

Here are some titles that have been logged in Beanstack for our Winter Reading Challenge!

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders.

But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it's too late?

This is the first volume in the “Thursday Murder Club” series. 

The Revolutionary by Stacy Schiff

Thomas Jefferson asserted that if there was any leader of the Revolution, “Samuel Adams was the man.” With high-minded ideals and bare-knuckle tactics, Adams led what could be called the greatest campaign of civil resistance in American history.

Stacy Schiff returns Adams to his seat of glory, introducing us to the shrewd and eloquent man who supplied the moral backbone of the American Revolution. A singular figure at a singular moment, Adams amplified the Boston Massacre. He helped to mastermind the Boston Tea Party. He employed every tool available to rally a town, a colony, and eventually a band of colonies behind him, creating the cause that created a country. For his efforts he became the most wanted man in America: When Paul Revere rode to Lexington in 1775, it was to warn Samuel Adams that he was about to be arrested for treason.

In The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams, Schiff brings her masterful skills to Adams’s improbable life, illuminating his transformation from aimless son of a well-off family to tireless, beguiling radical who mobilized the colonies. Arresting, original, and deliriously dramatic, this is a long-overdue chapter in the history of our nation.

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

Two orphaned children are on the run, hiding among the crumbling canals and misty alleyways of the city of Venice.

Befriended by a gang of street children and their mysterious leader, the Thief Lord, they shelter in an old, disused cinema. On their trail is a bungling detective, obsessed with disguises and the health of his pet tortoises. But a greater threat to the boys' new-found freedom is something from a forgotten past – a beautiful magical treasure with the power to spin time itself.

The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill 

In every person's story, there is something to hide...

The ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is quiet, until the tranquility is shattered by a woman's terrified scream. Security guards take charge immediately, instructing everyone inside to stay put until the threat is identified and contained. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers, who'd happened to sit at the same table, pass the time in conversation and friendships are struck. Each has his or her own reasons for being in the reading room that morning - it just happens that one is a murderer.

[angrenwen]

"“What do you consider interesting, then?” you asked instead. Your students wouldn’t have listened to what you wanted to say, this was not your first lecture after all, nor would it be your last.

You also knew that many students only took this class to get their Interspecies Communications and Relations degree. They all wanted to work with humans at some point down the line and they thought that other things were much 'cooler’ to learn than boring, boring history.

Even though, in history, one could find everything. The rise and fall of nations and empires, what made and what broke humans. What, in the end, were their strongest characteristics and their greatest flaws.

History taught more about humans as a species, in your opinion, than personality quizzes and fact checklists or rumors shared among your students passed down from a friend of a cousin’s uncle.

“Well,” your student fumbled for a moment, clearly not expecting to have their questions turned back on them. “Let’s talk about how they fended off the Tri Invasion or how they saved the Uluricks!”

Ah, two of humanities greatest and most impressive feats - of modern times. Very well then.

“Let’s begin with the Tri Invasion,” you said and your student started to grin, others sitting up further in interest. “Most of what really went down is still kept secret by humans, but we can infer much of what happened and do you know why?”

Silence, like you had expected. “Why don’t you answer that question for me, the person who can give me a comprehensive explanation as to how we could reconstruct the Invasion can leave early today and still get full marks. You have an hour.”

That was, as expected, motivating. So you sat back and watched as your students started to chatter and murmur, some grouping up and others jealously hoarding their research, not wanting to share what they knew and risk losing their prize.

You spent the hour answering correspondence and grading essays. When the time was up, your students eagerly presented their findings.

It was, in a manner of speaking, lacking. No one could fully explain how the Intergalactic Alliance had been able to figure out nearly everything despite humanity offering very little.

To this day, recordings of the invasion were nearly nonexistent and the Tri Force had been so shattered, those that had come forward to talk about the failed attack had gotten discredited and mocked by humanity until no one knew if they spoke the truth or not.

And yet, the truth - or the thing closest to it - was still known today.

In the end, you wrote down all the explanations and the holes in those explanations and projected them onto the wall behind your desk. The things their theories had lacked vastly outnumbered the things they knew.

You watched as your students read over all the things they were unable to figure out, the military strategy, the communications and organization, the thorough shattering of their enemy’s defenses and, last but not least, a near annihilation of the battle fleet.

“Would you like to know these answers?” you asked, calm and collected. You would not teach students who had no desire to know anything, that was wasted energy. But all it took was one little spark to light the flame of curiosity.

And theirs was definitely piqued.

“Yeah,” your loudmouth of a student spoke up, half challenge and half hunger for knowledge. Everyone wanted to know things they were interested in, it was probably one of the biggest similarities all sentient species shared.

“For that, we will have to go a little bit into the past,” you said and you heard some students groan and sigh and you waited, patiently, until slowly, all attention drifted back to you.

Because they were interested in this topic. Because they could tell that you were serious about this. Because you had given them an unsolvable - in their eyes - mystery and now they wanted to know the truth.

So you told them, over lecture after lecture, as your students kept coming back with brighter and brighter eyes. You taught them how exactly the Alliance had been able to reconstruct the invasion based on the history texts humanity had readily handed over.

Because humanity had done many, many terrible things and as much as they were horrified by their ancestors, they carried one message loud and clear amongst all of them: Never Again.

The successful destruction of the Tri Force and later the rescue of the Uluricks stemmed from a rich history of war and strife, of hate and ruin, of healing and rebuilding and teaching and unity and love and hope.

Humanity was strong and while they were still rather young compared to others, they were predators through and through. They had sharpened their teeth on their own people, their own world and in return had learned what it meant to devour too much. To poison what kept them alive.

Ruining all would ruin them in return. The willingness to coexist and the laws of nature had forced them to find balance and solutions beyond greed and viciousness.

If one met a human without knowing these things, without knowing that they had once been both the greatest destroyers and most revered saviors of their own kind, one didn’t truly understand them.

Yes, they were resilient and fascinating and strong and creative. They considered every impossibility to be a personal challenge made to be broken.

But they were also a species that had looked their darkest selves in the eye and had realized that nothing good waited on the other side. Only a realm where fear reigned and love laid beaten and chained on the floor, where freedom was buried in exchange for power and control.

An empty, void existence that would cause them to haunt their own world like ghosts who tried to find the very things they had so eagerly left behind. They had seen it, tasted it, some had even lived in it and it had left them hollow and unfulfilled and stressed day after day.

They had come back from the brink with hard work and determination and enough shed tears to create a second ocean.

“Humanity is their history,” you said at your final lecture, your students listening quietly. “Remember this, always: a human is nothing without their humanity.”

At the core of humanity, well, there laid all their greatest flaws and best qualities and by now, one thing could be trusted:

They would not choose fearful existences. They would never again choose hatred.

They had, once upon a time, chosen hope and they had given each other a chance and it had saved them all.

At the end of the day, they were still predators willing to defend all they loved with all the viciousness they had tamed, while also offering all they knew, extending their love and fascination and knowledge to those around them.

So hopefully no more people would stand at the abyss of their own souls while they held a dying world in their hands, poisoned by greed.

So hopefully, when the time came, people knew that choosing love and kindness was the greatest strength of all. That it didn’t break but built. That hope created dreams powerful enough to change reality.

That it brought the species of a blue planet all the way across the galaxy, where humanity had at long last found one more answer to one of their endless questions: They were not alone."

You are teaching a Human History Class when suddenly a student interrupts you. “Why must we learn about humans? They are so boring!”

[slavghoul]

On the upcoming Ghost mockumentary

Some excerpts from an interview with the director Alex Ross Perry from Rock Hard DE 4/2022 below. Huge thanks to lovely @rotteprinsen for sending me the scans, you’re the best 💖

What can you tell me about your top secret project for now, Alex?

We are producing an episode of a fully fictional TV show called "Metal Myths". The series is designed to be part of the expanded Ghost universe, where it will air regularly according to the story we've come up with. Its episodes highlight the mythologies behind some of the most famous rock and metal bands. If "Metal Myths" really existed, there might be episodes about Kiss or Blue öyster Cult. In the only episode we’re actually filming, the complete backstory of Ghost is unravelled, spanning a period of several decades. We’re filming interviews with "experts" and "academics", but also "critics" of the band. These may or may not be real-life personalities.

Did you come up with the idea for this project yourself?

No, the impetus came from the record company Loma Vista. They wanted to get something going that would capture the official Ghost backstory the way the videos do that have been recorded over time by fans of the band. There are countless clips on the internet that go into insane detail about Papa Emeritus, Papa Nihil, Sister Imperator and the other Ghost characters. That someone would take the trouble to produce such films in their spare time is simply incredible.

So we're not talking about a serious documentary here, but a format known as a mockumentary.

You hit the nail on the head with that, exactly.

I imagine that despite support [from the label], it is not easy to tackle such a project.

Correct, but as a fan, it gives me great pleasure to work on it. In preparation, I watched every single video I could find on the internet, whether from an official source or made by fans. A bigger difficulty turned out to be the correct classification of all sources, because the dates sometimes contradicted each other. I guess I have become one of the world's greatest Ghost experts during the last months (laughs). The emails in which various drafts of the script were exchanged can hardly be counted in retrospect. I am sure we are creating something unique here.

Who is the target audience for your project?

Both die-hard fans who already know every detail about the band but might be happy to be able to consume all these things nicely edited soon, and newcomers who don't know anything about Ghost yet.

In what form is the band's history presented in "Metal Myths"?

Imagine a presenter in a black suit sitting in a black studio by candlelight. Behind him, photos, clips and the band logo are shown on a green screen, in the style of "Unsolved Mysteries" or "Ancient Aliens".

Although Ghost have been exuding a certain self-irony for quite some time in their entire appearance, but especially in the video messages from the clergy produced by the band, it might not be so easy not to slip into “Spinal Tap” territory with such a mockumentary.

There is no danger of that, because the band itself is not part of the programme. We don't accompany the musicians on tour, so we don't follow them into backstage rooms and watch them rest while they put on make-up. "Metal Myths" illuminates the phenomenon of Ghost from the outside. Apart from interview partners, the creators of the episode exclusively use existing material. They don't interview the band members themselves, but only people from their fictional environment. Shooting an interview with a "pretentious academic" who considers himself the group's biggest critic, for example, was a lot of fun. In addition, YouTube clips and excerpts from the web series are used. We don't take ourselves or the episode we produce too seriously, because the band doesn't either: just think of the hilarious dynamic between Sister Imperator and ourselves. If we had to convey the impression that Ghost are the scariest, most serious band on the planet, we would certainly get into trouble, but that is thankfully not the case. "Metal Myths" exudes the same playfulness that surrounds the band itself.

Music videos are always part of an overall artistic concept. Ghost often seem to take their cues from well-known horror film directors. The clip for Rats could have come from John Carpenter, Hunter's Moon captivates with its creepy slasher aesthetics, and in Call Me Little Sunshine you can discover references to the work of Stanley Kubrick, to name just three examples.

We show clips from these and every other music video Ghost has ever made, but again leave the interpretation up to the viewer. In the episode, we present Papa Emeritus and his Nameless Ghouls not as a contemporary band signed to a record label but, in keeping with their myth, as a religious organisation that releases albums and whose leader goes out into the world to woo people with his performance.

[shinsorokiri]

human realm unsolved #2

Satan: This week in Human Realm Unsolved we discuss the famous case of D.B. Cooper, a case that the humans in the FBI, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has referred to as on of the great unsolved mysteries in FBI history.

Lucifer: Wow what a creative referral name the humans have come up with.

Satan: Well it’s also considered as one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in US history.

Lucifer: US history is a mistake and a mystery in itself.

Satan: I... actually cannot fight you on that one.

Lucifer: Of course you can’t. 

Satan: ...Moving on to the case. On Wednesday, November 24th, 1971, a man going by the name Dan Cooper bought a $20 one way ticket for a plane on a known human airline company paid for in in cash. The flight number was-

Lucifer: Hold on, only $20?

Satan: It was a different time, Lucifer. I thought you would know this seeing how you’ve got a stick up your ass about only allowing yourself to go to the human world. Inflation exists.

Lucifer: I don’t need you to lecture me on inflation, Satan.

Satan: Then stop interrupting me with stupid questions, Lucifer.

Lucifer: *grits teeth* Apologies. Continue the story.

Satan: Thank you. The flight number was 305 and the plane began in Portland, Oregon of the United States, and was flying to Seattle, Washington. Cooper was described as such - a man in his mid-40s wearing a business suit with an overcoat, brown shoes, a white shirt, and a black tie.

Lucifer: A very normal seeming outfit. 

Satan: Probably the point.

Lucifer: Yes, no one would suspect someone who resembled a business man to create one of the great unsolved mysteries in FBI history.

Satan: Not at all. If only they knew you, they would know that that type of apparel means nothing good.

Lucifer: You’re wrong, everyone knows how well respected I am. In fact, it sounds like if this Dan Cooper human knew who I was, he would have modeled his look after me.

Satan: Your sin is showing.

Lucifer: *glares*

Satan: Cooper also had on him a briefcase and a paper bag. While on the plane, he ordered a bourbon and soda-

Lucifer: So that’s why you’ve provided us with some demonus and soda. A wonderful drink, if I do say so myself.

Satan: Thank you. I made it myself.

Lucifer: Of course the proportion of soda to demonus is slightly incorrect...

Satan: *clenches fist*

Lucifer: A noble attempt, though. Continue, please.

Satan: *clearing his throat* A while after the plane took off, Cooper handed the stewardess a note of which the stewardess put away, but being the ever insistent man he was, he whispered to her, “Miss, you better look at that note. I have a bomb.”

Lucifer: …He just told her?!

Satan: Yes.

Lucifer: That’s a horrible plan!

Satan: Well I’m sure he didn’t want to blow the plane up with him on it. And he never got caught. So I assume he did something right. 

Lucifer: He could have been more discreet.

Satan: He tried.

Lucifer: Not hard enough, apparently.

Satan: Well he told her to sit next to him and proceeded to show her red sticks - which I can only assume is dynamite - with an array of wires inside of the briefcase he was carrying. He then made her write down, “I want $200,000 by 5pm in cash, put in a knapsack, I want two back parachutes and two front parachutes. When we land, I want a fuel truck ready to refuel. No funny stuff, or I’ll do the job,” to give to the pilot-

Lucifer: “No funny stuff?!”

Satan: No funny stuff. 

Lucifer: Why didn’t the stewardess just take this man down.

Satan: He had a bomb-

Lucifer: He sounds absurdly idiotic, I can’t imagine it would be too difficult to take the briefcase away from him. In all honesty, it sounds as though he’s planning his heist as it happens.

Satan: Well, humans are fragile, Lucifer. 

Lucifer: I know that, but this man just sounds like some copy of a TV show criminal. Like he doesn’t know what these types of people are actually supposed to look like or act like.

Satan: …hm.

Lucifer: ...What?

Satan: ….Nothing. He proceeded to ask for the $200,000 to be paid exclusively in $20 bills. After landing in Seattle and trading the passengers for the money, and parachutes, some crew members stayed on the plane and it took off for Mexico City. He requested the plane remain below 10 thousand feet, and during the second half of the flight, Cooper put on a pair of dark wrap-around sunglasses…

Lucifer: Sunglasses, you say?

Satan: *nods*

Lucifer: …

Satan: …Sunglasses, copying a prestigious looking man, and terrible at planning…

Lucifer: …Keep reading.

Satan: A little after 8pm when the plane was between Seattle and Reno, Nevada, Cooper jumped out of the plane’s rear doors. He took two parachutes, and the money, and he was never seen again. However, he did take off his black clip on tie before jumping, which had DNA evidence on it.

Lucifer: He wore a clip-on tie?

Satan: And from a human world department store called J.C. Penney.

Lucifer: Am I right in assuming it was a clip-on because he does not know how to tie a tie?

Satan: I would say so.

Lucifer: …What type of DNA was on the tie?

Satan: Well, that lead into a huge investigation, and oddly enough a bag full of the specific serial numbered $20 bills that Cooper took was found by a human 9 years later rotting away. It’s theorized he dropped that bag of money into a river.

Lucifer: …Is that all?

Satan: …On that specific bag, yes.

Lucifer: That… that is all they figured out?!

Satan: *nods*

Lucifer: …This man sounds like an idiot. He surely should have been caught.

Satan: *nods* Then humans would send letter to the FBI and countless human newspapers claiming to be Cooper, or send in his eulogy... or being his siblings… but nothing ever came from these.

Lucifer: Now why would humans pretend to be a criminal?

Satan: *shrugs* Money.

Lucifer: …

Satan: …

Lucifer: Money was the biggest part of this case.

Satan: Yes.

Lucifer: And the humans never caught the idiot responsible even though they clearly should have.

Satan: No.

Lucifer: …

Satan: …

Lucifer: *pulls out D.D.D. and begins dialing a number*

Satan: *sips drink*

Lucifer: *places phone on speaker*

Mammon: *through the phone* Yeah? Whaddya want?

Lucifer: Mammon where were you on the date of November 24th, 1971. 

Mammon: Ya expect me to remember that?

Lucifer: Yes, D.B. Cooper. I expect you to remember.

Mammon: …

Satan: …

Lucifer: Well?

Mammon: *hangs up*

Lucifer: I must go. *leaves*

Satan: *sips drink and motions to cut the camera*

[oc-challenges]

Welcome To The OC Halloween Challenge 2021!

For those of you who do not know and even those who do, the OC Halloween Challenge is a month-long Halloween themed challenge for OC creators. It is designed to encourage creativity, foster community, and have fun! Brought to you once again by @lizziesxltzmxn and @randomestfandoms-ocs​.

Rules

DO NOT copy others edits.

If you are doing crossovers, PLEASE make sure that the creator of the other oc is okay with crossovers.

If you want your post to be reblogged onto this blog, it must contain the hashtag ohc2021.

Feel free to ask questions!

Everything is up to the creators interpretation, although I have tried to include some examples for help!

Have fun!

Challenges below the cut

       1. Murder Mystery AU

Everybody loves a good Murder Mystery! Be it a Clue AU, a themed dinner party, or just the investigation of a straight-up murder, this is a day someone in your ocs story gets to put their detective hat on!

       2. Couples Costume/AU

From couples costumes like Sonny & Cher to a Notebook AU, today’s a day for your ships to take a dip in their daydreams!

       3. Musical AU

Are you a broadway expert? Or is the only musical you know High School Musical? Either way, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test and make a Musical AU... or you could even create your own original Musical concept.

       4. Buzzfeed Unsolved AU

Today on the Halloween Challenge, we create Buzzfeed Unsolved AUs, perhaps one of the greatest YouTube shows of all time. Will your oc look into a mystery plaguing their town? Or will the ghoul-boys investigate the strange events of your OCs past? Well, however you interpret this challenge is up to you!

       5. Dinsey AU

Everybody knows what Disney is, it��s a staple in most childhoods. So what if your oc got to live out your/their Disney dreams? From Disney Princesses to DCOM aus to a good ole Disney show, today’s the day to bring the magic to life.

       6. Godly Parent AU

History is rich with stories, and most every culture has tales of the divine and immortal. Which god could have parented your oc?

       7. Same Face AU

Dopplegangers, clones, evil twins, oh my! What happens when your oc comes face to face with... themselves? A great chance for crossovers!

       8. Kids Show AU

Nostalgia is the curse of the masses, what show makes you feel nostalgic? Do an edit with your oc and your favorite show as a kid!

       9. Squad Costume/AU

From Taylor Swift’s squad to a Mean Girls Christmas Costume, who doesn’t love a group costume? Or what if your oc’s squad took on Mystery Inc? The red coats of The A Team?

       10. Hogwarts AU

Send a non-HP OC to Hogwarts! (and don’t forget fjkr)

       11. Genre Swap

Is your story a teen drama? Maybe it could be a rom-com! Whatever genre it is, make it a different one!

       12. Superhero AU

The fate of the world is on your ocs shoulders... and the people want a hero. What costume would your oc done? What powers will help them on their quest?

       13. Time Travel AU

A time turner, a Tardis, superpowers, an science experiment gone wrong? Humanity has explored many ways to travel back in time in their fiction. How would your oc do it? Where would they go?

        14. Soulmate AU

Souls meant to be together. Nothing can stop them from meeting, not war, politics, or even accidents in time... unless you love a good tragedy. The soulmate trope is a popular one, but what would you do with it? Here’s some ideas!

        15. French Mistake

We’ve had our fun with ‘if your oc was canon’ aus, but what if your oc stumbled into a world where they were just a character to be played? Where all their struggles and downfalls were just entertainment for the masses?

       16. Period AU

The place and time where your story takes place can affect even the smallest of details in your story. How would your story be different if it took place in the 1920s insteads of the 2020s?

       17. Not-So-Perfect Trip AU

Everything is going perfectly... you have fast lane tickets, or maybe a hotel room with a great review, it’s exactly how you dreamed... until it turns into a nightmare.

       18. Supernatural Creature AU

Make a human oc a supernatural creature! Or maybe a supernatural oc as a different type!

       19. Beloved Object/Pet Becomes Human

Sometimes the things that bring us comfort aren’t sentient, and sometimes that’s a good thing... What if your favorite blanket could tell the world of the things you cried over while hiding under it? What if your cat could tell everyone of the songs you sing in the shower?

        20. Pre-2000s Movies

You know Heathers? The Breakfast Club? Clueless? 10 Thing I Hate About You? These are iconic movies that came out before the year 2000! Go ahead and make an au or edit involving a pre-2000s movie!

       21. Different Ship AU

Have an AU where your oc is with a different love interest than their originally intended? Have a love interest you scrapped in favor of another one? This your chance to show them off!

       22. Horror Archetypes

What horror archetype does your oc fall under? What qualifies them for it?

       23. Grishaverse AU

With the premiere of the Netflix series, Shadow & Bone, Leigh Bardugo’s grishaverse has been a trend in the oc community! So... if your oc was a Grisha, what kind would they be?

       24. Multiverse AU

It’s the MCU concept! It’s the “What If?” of the OC world. What if your Gotham OC met their arrowverse counterpart? Or your X-Men oc meant their Avengers universe counterpart? It’s the parallel universe concept! Another great chance for crossovers as well!

       25. Social Media AU

Show off your ocs instagram account! Do they frequent Snapchat? Do they secretly run a tumblr fandom account? What nonsense do they post on their twitter?

       26. Fairytale AU

Who’s your OCs fairytale counterpart? Love a good kid-friendly tale? Or are you a Grimm fairytale fan? Toss your oc into a tall-tale!

       27. Video Game AU

Until Dawn stats! Your oc is an android fighting for rights the same as humans! There’s an imposter among your ocs group! Combine your favorite video game and one of your ocs!

       28. Fear Street AU

Whether your oc is from Shadyside or Sunnydale, or somewhere else entirely, not all villains are easily defeated.  This Halloween, let your OC come face to face with the same horror that their parents, or other ancestors, once encountered.  Will they be the one to finally see an end to it, or will the cycle carry on to their children?

       29. Celebrity AU

What if your oc was a celebrity? How would they get famous? What would they be famous for? What is their fandom like?

       30. Role Swap AU

Your hero oc as a villain! Your villain oc as a hero! Whatever it is, swap those roles!

       31.  Horror AU

For the finale, a straight-up horror au! Spooky scary skeletons may send shivers down your spine, but what horrifies your oc?

[leslie057]

in my relentless pursuit of the truth, i found myself delving into the enigma that is jonathan’s car: old, pathetic, falling to pieces…this car is the automotive equivalent of those neglected dogs you see shivering under a cardboard box in ASPCA commercials. this monumental investigation required hours of dedicated scrutiny (ten minutes), rewinding (i looked up screencaps on google), and a lot of interviewing (a tumblr poll).

what prompted this elaborate case study you ask? well i was perusing tumblr, as i often do, when i saw a post that caught my attention…

© 2019 sadiesinkt.tumblr.com

mint green! mint green! i could not believe my eyes. the questions swirled in my mind. did tumblr user sadiesinkt need immediate medical attention? was this a cry for help? surely his car has always been tan, i said. imagine my shock when i discovered that not a single person posed any concerns in the notes (not even in the tags)!

i came to find that several others shared this wild notion—that the most pitiful (affectionate) of Netflix Hot Boys did indeed own a mint green car. but what was i beginning to believe? and what did jonathan’s most unwavering supporters have to say about it?

@stoprobbers: jonathan byers' car is tan. i know, this because i have eyes. joyce's car is green, which is why people may be getting confused. here it is in season 4, look at the spots in the sun: clearly tan (provides a screencap that is, admittedly, a little crunchy if i do say so myself). and here in the famous scene after will's "body" is ID'd at the morgue, again, look in the sun: TAN.

there is also ample evidence via screengrab in season 2 with the scenes in the park/lab but for some reason the site i'm on doesn't have s2 screengrabs and i am at work so in conclusion: his car is tan.

the evidence had been laid in my lap. as i myself was a believer in his car’s tanness, i felt validated by this response. but why was stoprobbers so confident? it was time i sought out a more open-minded, but equally persuasive, voice.

@musicalchaos07: ok so 1. i am delulu apparently according to the poll. but to me it's always seemed like an incredibly faded green. at least in some shots like the s1 steve confrontation. or at the very least to me i wouldn't call it tan more like an ugly green-grey.

i know i sound unhinged

like this shot from s2 is green-grey in my eyes

like that mount saint anne or rainwashed color

that's what it looks like to me.

all of this was quite interesting. as were the results of the poll i had conducted: 43 votes tan, 25 votes mint green. the people had spoken but…what did that mean for the poor sweet 25 who had been so sure of themselves?

i regret to inform you all that my conclusion is this: the color of jonathan's car is as elusive as the mysteries of the upside down itself. i believe that, while seemingly tan in many scenes, it seems quite plausible to me that his car was indeed mint green when it was made in the 70s. is it tan, green, or a shade only discernible to interdimensional beings? one might say this riddle rivals the greatest unsolved cases in history.

[formenis]

From knight to detective

Anon asked: “ Can you do a scenario of L having a relationship with reader and she doesn't know that he is L and she is part of the Task Force that show up to meet L and she is unprepared for finding out he is L and when he talks to her privately he tells her everything“.

A/N: sure thing, dear. Gosh, I’m not capable of sum up...I always write too much eheh. I have to remind you English is not my first language so I apologise for the mistakes you’ll find for sure.

pairing: L x FBI agent!fem!reader

warnings: nope

requested: yes

F/P = favourite painter

S/C = skin colour

It all started during the "Wara Ningyo Murders" or -as police knew it- the "Los Angeles BB Serial Murder Cases". Y/N and Naomi Misora were friends back in the States, both of them were skilful and quite cherished in the FBI headquarters. The resulting capture of the murderer of this case helped launch Naomi's reputation within the FBI.

«So how was working with the best detective alive?» Y/N and her friend Naomi were drinking a coffee together in one of their rare spare moments far from work.

«I don’t know if I can talk about it, Y/N» Naomi replied with a sympathetic smile.

«Oh come on! At least what his voice sounds like»

«Again, I don’t know. He used voice changers during our calls. But!» she said with enthusiasm and Y/N frowned in confusion. «I met someone you would like»

«Who?»

That was when Y/N met "Ryuzaki", an enigmatic and mysterious young man who had the hobby of solving cases like private or consulting detectives. Since Y/N was a FBI agent and Ryuzaki a private detective, they would meet many times in crime scenes. The young agent felt like she was Dr. Watson and Ryuzaki was Sherlock Holmes: he would theorize many possible scenarios for the above-mentioned case and Y/N listened to him in disbelief. But Ryuzaki was not the sole smart one, Y/N had a shrewd mind too: her unique methods of investigation and her strong power of observation made her one of the best FBI agents. That was why Ryuzaki started to request her presence and assistance more often.

«Good evening, Miss L/N»

«Ryuzaki! I told you to call me Y/N. There's no need for such formalities» she chuckled quietly, the two of them were on a crime scene again.

«I apologise, force of habit I guess» Ryuzaki played with his pale lips using the thumb. Y/N understood Ryuzaki's way of communicating with his body: if he played with his lips (like he was doing in that moment) it meant he was deep in through; if he stared emotionless at something, it meant he was bothered by something; or if he ate more sweets than usual it meant that the investigations were in a turning point and his brain needed more "fuel". That was easy for Y/N to understand those things, it was her job after all.

«What are you thinking of, Ryuzaki?»

The young man seemed surprised. «Ah, it seems I don’t have secrets for you, Y/N»

She chuckled again. «Nope»

Y/N couldn’t know it but she was wrong. Terribly wrong. However, as time passed the two of them grew quite closer. Not only because of work but because they somehow matched each other. Very often Y/N would move up Ryuzaki in many things, they would think the same thing and they worried for each other during difficult and risky cases. Soon enough Y/N started to develop feeling for that weird, clever boy but she didn’t know it the feelings were mutual. Ryuzaki seemed without emotions as if nothing touched him. Even in the most terrible crime scene he would not be that shocked as anybody else.

Unaware of Y/N, there was a very simple explanation for that attitude of his: Ryuzaki was feeling overwhelmed. He was very good at not showing it but the truth was that something changed in him. At first he treated Y/N as a common FBI agent, neither kind not bad. Their relationship was purely linked to work. But then week after week, case after case, Y/N dusted a forgotten trait of his personality.

«Agent Y/N, would you like to join me in an exhibit? I heard from Miss Misora you like F/P»

«But it is private, Ryuzaki. You have to have the tickets»

«It just so happens that I have two tickets with me. The senior manager is a friend of mine»

«Really?» Y/N said surprised. «I would love to, Ryuzaki!»

Ryuzaki smiled in seeing such happiness in his cute FBI agent. The exhibit would be the perfect chance to understand if what he felt for Y/N was mutual.

♰ TIME SKIP ♰

Ah, the exhibit. Such a wonderful place. Y/N loved everything about it: the guide, the paintings and Ryuzaki's company of course. Moreover, it was the exhibit of F/P, Y/N's best artist. She was in bliss.

Once the guide ended the tour, the guesses could roam around the place to have a better look at each artwork. Ryuzaki expressed his approval to a specific painting, a still life to be precise. And when he noticed Y/N liked it too he started to describe the history of the said painting.

His voice enchanted Y/N. So deep despite Ryuzaki's young age and extremely alluring. She would listen to him for hours if it was possible. Y/N was so focused in it that she didn’t noticed Ryuzaki asked her something.

«Uh? What did you say?»

«I said, Y/N…are you enjoying the evening?» Ryuzaki was sitting in front of that still life in his usual position, with the legs pressed the chest. Y/N was beside him.

«Yes, a lot. Thank you Ryuzaki» she smiled kindly at him and it forced the young detective to look away. Then he started to play nervously with his lips. «Something is bothering you?»

«I have a confession to make, Y/N»

Oh dear, no. At that phrase, Y/N started to panic. Was he tired of her company? Did she do something wrong? Did he want to stop working together? So many questions span inside Y/N's mind.

«Yes?» she tried to stay as much calm as possible, hoping her voice would not betray her.

«We met a while ago and I have to admit I really appreciate your presence. Both as an agent and as a person. I would like to become closer to you, if you agree» he turned to look at her. His black eyes were much gentler than usual, his look full of…happiness? Y/N couldn’t tell.

She blushed, her face was as red as the apples in the still life painted in front of them. She noticed that Ryuzaki extended a hand waiting for her answer. «Of course, Ryuzaki»

Y/N put her hand over his and he kissed on the hand gently. This made Y/N blush even more, now she was truly one of those red apples.

And with that, they set off the beginning of their relationship. Outside work Ryuzaki was a really romantic person: he would rub Y/N's shoulders (he was really good with massages); he would play with her silky H/C hair while thinking or he would simply listen to her after a stressful day at work.

«You can call me whenever you want. Even if there's no reason to, Y/N» and «I like how your hands fit perfectly in mines» were the most romantic things Y/N heard from Ryuzaki. She even wrote them down in her personal agenda.

More time passed and December 2003 came fast. For some time now, criminals from all around the would were dying of heart attacks at an unprecedented rate and all law enforcements were concerned and scared but this. Thanks to some colleagues, Y/N learnt that the greatest detective L was mentioned in one of the many Interpol meetings.

L was considered the best detective in the world. He solved the most complex of cases, even ones that were considered unsolvable. The problem was that nobody knows who L was. And if they existed. According to Naomi Misora they were real and this L was worth their title. It was in that moment that Y/N made a decision: as a FBI agent, she would take part at that case. In Japan, people started to call the main responsible of these killings "Kira" and she couldn’t wait to start the investigations.

«Ryu, I have to tell you something…»

«What is it, Y/N?»  

They were on the phone, as often happened when the two of them had work up to their necks.

«I applied for the Kira case. I want to be a part of the task-force»

Silence.

For five minutes neither of them dared to speak. Y/N was waiting for an answer, she was chewing nervously her lips. After a while she heard a sigh.

«Y/N, it's dangerous. It's better if you stay in the States»

«But Ryuzaki! I want to be helpful! You know I can't stay here while there's some mad serial killer around the world that kills with the force of their mind»

«Y/N, such things don’t exist»

«Don’t change the topic, Ryu»

Again, silence. Y/N bet Ryuzaki was playing with his lips as much as she was chewing hers. She knew he was worried for her but she couldn’t stay at home doing nothing. She had to do something.

«Please, Y/N. Consider it again. The Kira case is too much…»

«Ryu, I'm a decorated FBI agent, I can take care of myself. You don’t need to worry»

For the third time, the call fell silent. Ryuzaki was thinking for sure, Y/N could hear the soft sound of him chewing his thumb. «Promise me you'll be careful» he interrupted the silence with his usual emotionless voice.

«Of course I will»

This allowed Y/N to fly to Japan more lightweight knowing Ryuzaki was by her side despite the distance. But another big event was waiting for her: the first meeting with L.

♰ TIME SKIP ♰

After many ordeals (like the death of Y/N's friend Naomi Misora), the main Japanese task-force against Kira was formed: Soichiro Yagami, Touta Matsuda, Hirokazu Ukita, Hideki Ide, Shuichi Aizawa and Kanzo Mogi. And of course Y/N L/N. It was New Year's Eve when the task-force received a message from L:

"I would like to meet the seven of you who have my trust as soon as possible. Do not speak of our meeting, or having met me, or what we will be doing, to anyone who is not in the room now.

Please leave the NPA building to discuss whether you can swear to the above, and whether you can trust me. Only those who agree to work with me in this investigation shall return to the room, and I will send my further conditions for our meeting to this computer."

That was it! The moment Y/N was waiting for a long time! As L explained in other notes left in the laptop, the entire task-force arrived at a luxury hotel where they knocked at the door of a room and were asked to enter. They were about to meet L.

"Oh gosh I'm so nervous!" Y/N though while staying behind the rest of the task-force. Her heart was racing fast and she couldn’t hide the excitement. We were talking about the greatest detective alive after all.

"I wonder…who gave them that title?"

Pink wall-to-wall carpeting, beige couches with red pillows and luxurious black doors. That was the aspect of L's room. From where Y/N was standing she could only see the furniture of that room but she petrified when she heard his voice.

«I am L»

Y/N went pale in one second. The excitement was soon replaced by fear and later by anger. But she had to be sure, she needed to see him. Maybe Y/N missed Ryuzaki to such a point that she heard his voice everywhere.

No, there must be something else. Ryuzaki's voice was too unique and peculiar to be confused with another one. There must be him for sure. And once Y/N made her way through those men, she had the certainty that she had Ryuzaki in front of her.

«Please turn off your cell phones, laptops, and any other electronic equipment you may have, and place them on the table first»

«You think we might have our cell phones on talk mode so someone outside could monitor our conversation…?» Aizawa asked quite annoyed.

"No, he hates when phones rings if he is talking…" Y/N though while doing as L said. She had to maintain a professional attitude despite she was boiling inside. She wanted to cry but to punch Ryuzaki at the same time.

«It's not that. I can't stand it when someone's cell phone rings when I'm talking» the detective replied while "sitting" in one of those fancy armchairs. «But before discussing about the case, I would rather have a talk with agent L/N in private»

The task-force moved in another part of room so Y/N and Ryuzaki would be alone. Silence filled the room, an anger and disappointed silence to be precise. They were still wearing their professional masks.

«Why didn’t you tell me…» Y/N was the first to give in. Her hands were curled into fists, the way her body tremble suggested rage or a desperate effort not to cry. L was aware Y/N was going to lose control if he didn’t explain himself.

«I couldn’t Y/N…you know very well I couldn’t»

«Of course you can! It costs nothing, Ryuzaki. Just few words!» that was it, Y/N lost control.

«What should I have said then? Something like "Hello I'm L, the greatest detective in the world and I think I developed strong feelings for you"» Y/N was going to answer back but L interrupted her by raising the index. «Everything about L is dangerous. My words, my actions, my presence…they all are dangerous for other people. That's why I work alone, Y/N»

«But you weren’t alone when we worked together» now sadness was taking place in Y/N's mind instead of anger. She felt so betrayed.

«It was different back then, Y/N. They were simple cases, neither me nor you were in danger. But this case…Kira is the symbol of danger and injustice, Y/N. I don’t want you to be involved»

«I'm already involved, Ryuzaki. And like it or not, I'm going to the bottom of this» the young FBI agent replied with determination but hot tears started to form on her eyes, clouding partially her sight. «I just…wanted you to be sincere with me» those tears fell over her smooth S/C cheeks.

L, seeing that scene in front of him, felt very bad for his Y/N. That was why he didn’t want her to be involved: he couldn’t bare crying people. But not because he hated them but because he didn’t know what to do, how to soothe that suffering. And the sight of Y/N crying in front of him broke his heart.

He stood up and walked closer to Y/N. And when he hugged her she gasped loudly, meaning she didn’t notice him approaching her. She stopped crying, yes, but sadness was still there.

«I…I'm sorry Y/N. My only intent was to protect you. I know you don’t need a knight in shining armour but when this case came out I knew I had to do something. Maybe you would hate me for the rest of your life but if it meant you would live it was alright. So please…realise there wasn’t malice in my actions»

Y/N hugged him back, smelling the sweet scent of his white shirt. The warmth of his body and the heartbeat were so calming, sadness melted in a matter of seconds. They stood there for entire minutes not moving, just appreciating each other presence.

«You're right, I don’t need a knight in shining armour…I want a detective in a white shirt»

L chuckled and that sound sent chills down Y/N's spine. Gosh, she missed that sound.

«Here I am»

«Do not keep secrets from me, Ryu»

«Never again»

[shyanshippingsociety]

Shyan Shipping Society Fic Promo - June 27 to July 2 2021

last week

the mods hang their heads in shame at not being able to post on time

get ready for some brand new fics created by our lovely members! works marked with a ☼ have been created for our kink bingo! to learn more about the event (and to participate!!) click here!

June 28

Invisible String by sunlight_sonata | M, 2K, incomplete

“This is me trying to find you again, Ryan. I’ve searched and searched, and I’ve turned up empty more times than I’ve found you. But I don’t care. My hands are restless, they want to hold you. "

Or, Shane doesn’t know whether his immortality was a blessing or a curse. All he knows is the beautiful man he keeps running into across history, who has a mysterious matching tattoo and appears to be the only person who knows Shane’s name. If only Shane could keep him alive long enough to get some answers.

Secrets Slipped by denimwrapped | T, 600, complete

Ryan opens a bathroom door and catches Shane off-guard.

you know i know you best (i know you best) by idkspookystuff | T, 3K, incomplete

Shane wakes up in Vegas with a naked Ryan Bergara, a marriage certificate, and no knowledge of the night before.

(Pining) In the Pines by waywardmillennial | T, 7K, complete

As the boys prepare to say goodbye to Unsolved, Ryan has an idea to relive one of their greatest hits.

“We should go back out there, and look for the hiding spot.”

“But someone already found the treasure Ryan.”

“I know, but it can be an adventure to see if we can find the right location this time. Now that we know which state it was in all along. The finder placed a small marker at the spot where Fenn hid the chest. We can still try to follow the clues. Maybe even have a mostly solved case for once.”

June 29

the mayor & his husband by bigdickbergara ☼ | E, 2K, complete

The Avalon Harold BERGARAS SNEAK OFF FOR MID-PARTY FUN by Steven Lim

Late Saturday evening, while hosting a party celebrating his own election, Avalon’s very own Ryan Bergara was seen sneaking off with his husband, Shane...

---

You can't just flirt with Shane Bergara at his husband's own party.

July 1

say pretty please by bigdickbergara | E, 1K, complete

Shane spent the entire Ohio State Penitentiary shoot mouthing off - because he knew exactly what would happen.

---

“You wanna start this right now, baby boy?” His voice was a dark whisper, but held promise. “You’ve been a brat all night. You want my attention on you that badly, huh?”

strange things are afoot at the circle kappa by bodhirookes | M, 12K, complete

“Well,” Ryan continues, “it’s a dubious announcement, not a rad one. I really don’t know how to go about this without bringing the house down. I don’t want to alarm you all on this tranquil Thursday night.”

Eugene points out, “It’s the week before midterms, dude. Peace is nonexistent.”

Ryan considers this for a long moment. “You make a stellar point, my stellar bro. Okay, here goes: we believe, due to plenty of evidence and plenty of speculation and educational guessing, that Earth is about to be invaded by aliens. Specifically, right here at UCLA.”

Another silence falls in the kitchen, this one mildly confused. Eventually, when it grows to be unbearable, Steven clears his throat and asks: “Ryan, are you saying that you think aliens are going to invade our campus?”

“Very imminently,” he agrees.

Andrew turns his disbelieving stare from Ryan to the looming figure at his right. “And you’re on board with this claim, Pres 2?”

Shane states: “Most definitely, dudes. A villainous invasion is upon us.”

Or, frat presidents Ryan & Shane warn their brothers of a most heinous incoming alien invasion and chaos ensues

July 2

friends kiss too by Zhalia | E, 10K, complete

So before his brain can stop him, he hears the sound of his words, “Do you always kiss your friends on their lips?”

Shane finds himself looking down at Ryan, curious about how he’ll respond.

Ryan simply smiles, and shrugs as he says, “It’s an old habit — friends kiss too.” Which explains absolutely nothing.

aka Ryan kisses his friends casually and Shane has only a minor breakdown over it.

Delivery of Feelings by wednesday_ukiru | T, 6K, complete

Every Friday, Ryan delivers a pizza to the same address.

what i'd give for you (everything, my dear) by popkin16 | M, 9K, complete

Sometimes in this line of work, you have to take the bullet.

if you want to read some more fics, you can always check out our ao3 collection! see you soon!

[travel-hopefully]

A collective post of everything I watched on Netflix in 2020

I finally found the watch history function on Netflix which I wanted in order to reminisce over the TV/film I watched over the last year, including the good and the bad. I’ve included a little round-up of my thoughts for each, as lockdown has got me with plenty of time on my hands. If anyone has watched any of the below feel free to give me a message- happy to discuss anything!

Travelers (season 3) - this was an unforgettable show with some great characters and definitely put me through hell (in a good way), I am a David x Marcy shipper for sure!

IT Crowd (season 4 & 5) - my favourite comedy show ever, and I mean the UK version

Explained (random episodes) - interesting bite-sized episodes on a variety of topics

Sherlock (season 3 & 4) - it kinda went downhill from season 4...and doesn’t help that there is no season 5 in sight

Unforgettable - must be pretty forgettable cause I couldn’t remember watching, a typical revenge plot romp I think

The Mind, Explained - same as for Explained above, except more pyshcological

You (season 2) - binge-worthy! I love to hate Joe Goldberg.

Don’t F**k with Cats - wow, this was disturbing but so gripping.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle - geniunely a good remake and rather amusing

Sex, Explained - as for Explained but a little more intriguing ;)

The Stranger (season 1) - full of suspense and a good binge watch but ultimately full of plot holes with an unsatisfying conclusion

Gavin & Stacey (season 3) - a classic which I only started watching in 2019

Sex Education (all of it) - comedy gold!

Unbelievable (limited series) - very harrowing, an emotional rollercoaster based on a real-life rape case

Atypical (all of it) - light-hearted and fun to binge

The Sinner (season 1) - it was okay... wasn’t spectacular compared to other similar dramas I’ve seen

Love Is Blind (season 1) - cringey but satisfying

In the Shadow of the Moon - I hardly remember this one :)

Dunkirk - a stand-out historical movie

The Stepfather - typical killer stepfather plot but rather enjoyable

The Super - an interesting premise, but not that super

Saw VI - all gore not much plot

Doctor Who (random episodes) - no words needed :D

Louis Theroux and Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends (random episodes) - I love his style of interviewing - what a man!

The Revenant - a lot of... well, not much

Nightcrawler - it was decent, but something was missing which I couldn’t put my finger on

How To Get Away With Murder (seasons 1-5) - probably my biggest new watch of the year, a rollercoaster of suspense, drama and murder, another season to go...

Ocean’s Eleven - fun but cheesey

Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare - creepy faces and an interesting ending

Eli - it started one way then went another, I wasn’t convinced

Star Trek (2009) - I couldn’t really get into this one...

In the Tall Grass - a lot of running around in grass

Bloodride (season 1) - i loved this, a quirky idea, i binged it

Apostle - intense, a satisfying religious cult horror

The Platform - great idea, not sure on the ending

What Keeps You Alive - what happened in this one again?

History 101 - didn’t watch many episodes :P

The Prodigy - a decent child possession horror

Into the Night (season 1) - really enjoyed this, a highlight of the year for me, hoping for a season 2

It - pretty chilling and creepy, but a tad cheesey

Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom - the first one has a brilliant dinosaur fight scene, the second one has too many plot holes and inconsistencies to take seriously

Knowing - a Nicholas Cage sci-fi/apocalpytic classic, pretty decent

Stranger Things (random episodes) - i tried to get my bf into the show but sadly he still isn’t much of a TV fan

Miranda (random episodes) - such fun!

Black Mirror (seasons 1 & 2) - another one i introduced the bf to, i got a bit further with him on this one, the very first episode being the highlight

The Last House on the Left - a decent remake, but nothing outstanding

Dark (season 3) - this, my friends, is one of the greatest shows of all time. want a timey-wimey story where everything is connected and has an amazingly satisfying conclusion? this is the show for you!

The Silence - a bad ‘A Quiet Place’

Geostorm - i’m a fan of disaster movies but this one wasn’t in the same league as some of the greats

Panic Room - a mum and kid hides in the panic room when a group of thugs break into the house, it was enjoyable but not all that memorable

Prisoners - a very long film with some enjoyable parts but overall unsatisfying

Girl on the Third Floor - it was okay, i can’t remember much of it

The Woods (season 1) - another Harlan Coben adaptation- not as good as ‘Safe’ or ‘The Stranger’ but still a gripping thriller

Time Trap - a fun time-travel film with some interesting turns of events

72 Dangerous/Cutest Animals (random episodes) - just ‘cause i love animals

Slasher (all of it) - some very gory deaths, especially in season 3. quite disturbing but keeps the suspense up throughout.

2012 - a guilty pleasure of mine, realistic or not

Kingsman: The Secret Service - a fun spy film, will be looking to watch the second one soon

Blackfish - this was harrowing, it really made me think, but overall i’m on the side of tilikum

Unsolved Mysteries (season 1 & 2) - watching some of these my jaw dropped, love theorising on this kind of stuff

Down to Earth with Zac Efron (season 1) - Zac is great in this, he seems so chill and literally ‘down to earth’

The Call - I love this film, seen it 3 times now

Contagion - very relatable right now, interesting to see the parallels with todays situation

Next in Fashion (season 1) - i didn’t get too far with this, i found it a little superficial

Searching - another of those internet web-cam based films. decent but not memorable.

Non-stop - another Nicholas Cage classic, this time a suspense thriller

Freaks - as the title suggests this one was rather weird, i didn’t quite gel with it

The Perfection - wow, that was an experience. definitely memorable, even if some characters make questionable decisions...

Extraction - not usually a fan of action-type thrillers, but i actually enjoyed this one, plus it has Chris Hemsworth in it!

Line of Duty (season 2) - full of suspense, a great build-up in the first 5 episodes, but the way they tied it up really grated on me 

Insidious - watched this one with my sister. a genuinely good horror film on rewatch with an amazing cliff-hanger

A Quiet Place - another one watched with my sister. labelled a horror but its more sci-fi, either way its a classic. bring on the second film!

The Dark Tower - disappointing mostly.

Gladiator - i’d never seen this before and now i understand the hype- what an epic movie!

Criminal UK (season 2) - didn’t disappoint following the exceptional first season

Venom - a fun comedic marvel film, definitely need to watch more from Marvel in the next year- i need an order to watch them in as don’t know where to start

Our Planet (season 1) - chill David Attenborough to put on in the background

The Equalizer - a great action revenge thriller plot with a badass Denzel

Merlin (random episodes) - who doesn’t love a trip down memory lane with some nostalgic bbc merlin?

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) - pretty scary remake

The Witcher (season 1) - rewatched in order to familiarise myself again before season 2 - i didn’t realise how funny the show was until this time round, gotta love Jaskier!

American Murder: The Family Next Door - this was haunting

The Haunting of Bly Manor - phenomenal, emotional, creepy, heartbreaking - i much preferred it to Hill House

Abducted in Plain Sight - seriously, how naive are the parents in this? i could have a rant for hours about this!

The End of the F***ing World (seasons 1 & 2) - very bingeable, Alyssa makes me laugh too much, i love how relatable the show is

Fractured - didn’t expect much from this consipiracy-type film but it kept me guessing right till the end

The Ripper (limited series) - very intriguing, but the mysogyny in this was shocking

Inconceivable - a typical mother looking for her baby revenge plot but still entertaining

The Midnight Sky - i’d heard rave reviews for this but was disappointed by a lacklustre plot which was sacrificed for award-winning cinematography

Killer Women with Piers Morgan (season 2) - a pyschological interview series which looks into the mind of murderers, rather interesting

May the Devil Take You - scarier and jumpier than i thought it would be!

So 2020 obviously gave me a lot of time to watch a s**t load of stuff and looking back at it i feel like i got a decent amount of my watch-list ticked off! And obviously this is not including shows watched on other media so there’s that too (a special shout-out to the William Hartnell era of Doctor Who which I watched this year on BritBox). In all, 2020 has definitely introduced me to a few new fandoms and progressed my love for others.