#and vanitas ending (stage)/opening (anime)

[mistandbluemoon]

i'd just realized uechan covered storm bringer stage ending theme?? which is also a granrodeo song?? and it's called passion??

[readreactrant]

Hello, just want to say, thanks for your recs and reviews. I started Yatagarasu because of you, and I love it so much.....The story and characters are all amazing... I did not see the plot twist at all until the end....

Also, Yukiya and Wakamiya's dynamics are just so great....Found a new fav ship from the series....Thanks again, @readreactrant ....🤩😆

Oh, have you watched "Delico's Nursery" (maybe you'll like it, too)....?

Tf is a Delico's Nursery?!

Is what I would ask if I was uncultured 😏

More on that soon.

Dnana my precious you are very welcome, and I'm so happy you like Yatagarasu, helping people find some underrated shows they'll enjoy is definitely something I can’t help but be a lil stupid passionate about. Especially in a season that just seems to be choked with generic isekai and het incest/pseudo incest romance anime.

The queers, when will our generic gay isekai incest fantasy start 🥲😭 (More on Wistoria wand and sword in another post.)

Glad you like the ship too, let us all manifest them becoming popular so we might have some fics, fanart and doujins 🙏

I'd do it all myself but I'm in a writing slump and my art could give Satan nightmares.

Moving on lmao...Delico's Nursery is...all I would ever want from a vampire centred baby sitting anime.

I genuinely wanted to talk about this when I had draft and screenchots sorted out but fuck it we ball!

Imagine Buddy Daddies but Vampires with four dumbass homosexual fathers instead of two!!! What more can you ask for?!

"But Ren, they have/had wives 🤓☝"

Have a cup of whimsy once in a while is all I say to that.

If I had to pick 2 things I gripe with it very rarely those would be the names and the way the animation does my boys' faces so dirty at times.

They literally look like they're in agony in some still frames so be prepared for the plot, the ✨DRAMAAA✨ and character interactions to do some heavy lifting at times. Settings though are drop dead gorgeous with the most immersive atmospheric feel to them, everywhere is so washed and somber like I'd expect a vampire world to be, no shade to Case study of Vanitas, execution is key and both shows are nailing their moods for me.

Now for the names...tf name's their child Dali Delico??? Sounds like some Italian deserted I'd eat without hesitation.

Know who else I'd eat (out) without hesitation???

Gayhard Fra. (I know that's not how his name is spelt but it might as well be correct).

He is blond, he's a tsundere and his outfit is literally too sexy for me to think straight. Full coverage ain't hiding that snatched waist and the fact he would degrade me only makes it hotter. Not mention his son is absolutely the most adorable thing ever oh my God 🥰😍

Other members in our team of hopeless dads are *checks notes* Dino Classico and Henrique Lorca.....

All I have to say is, Behind the name probs wasn't used in the writer's room cuz these might have a sort of relation to the characters but they sound dumb, I'm sorry 😶

Now I'm done dissing names and simping for Gayhartron, go and watch Delico's Nursery I BEG OF YOU, ITS ACTUALLY GOOD RN. I really don't think it'll be disappointing but what will be is if we don't get a season two cuz it didn't turn a profit so move move move!!!

I don't have much to say rn without spoiling cuz this show is definitely something you should watch for yourself, unlike buddy Daddies though, I know it won't be for everyone, especially the animation. It seems like it's an anime original, or adapted from a stage play (I might be thinking of another show don't sue me) cuz I couldn't find a manga on my sites, so yeah if things don't end this season, our chances of getting more hang in the balance.

The opening is a bop though so stay every episode for that and the cute kids if nothing else interests you.

Thanks for reading my word vomit as always, and Dnana it's a pleasure anytime 💕

[juliebalfourhnd2cphoto]

Personal Project

The Lewis Dresser (working title)

The purpose of this project is to produce 10, A3 Fine Art images on a common theme, “The Lewis Dresser”. (15 types of photography genres to pursue as a professional photographer, 2020)

Creative idea: last year during my NQ I took images for my painting with light project of an old typewriter and an uncooked Plaice on a platter. The latter turned out fairly well, but more importantly it sparked within me an enthusiasm and desire to progress in this medium.

The platter was part of a collection that we had “rescued” from my late father-in-Law’s Croft on the Isle of Lewis before its sale, they have no real value apart from sentimental.

The croft is located near the cliff edge, overlooking the sea and is a beautiful windswept location just a few minutes’ walk from the lighthouse at the end of the Island.

As I have wanted to develop the idea further (I jot down potential ideas for projects in a wee notebook that I carry around with me) I have been considering ways I could do this.

Using the large collection of crockery we brought from the island I propose a series of still-life using a painting with light technique. I want to give it a flavour of the isles and as Lewis is known predominantly for its, fishing, weaving and crofting (The Isle Of Lewis, 2020).

My Initial thought was of limiting it to seafood which I would source through a  fishmongers who sell seafood caught from the Loch Fyne area , but in the current climate with shops closing every day, I may have to widen my food sources but keep within the theme of ingredients for traditional Scottish fare. (Redirecting..., 2020)

Technique: during this project I want to develop and improve my painting with light   technique.

As I said previously It is a medium that I have been interested in since it was first introduced to me in my NQ class and it has always been my intention to develop it, but the briefs this year have been fast and furious and opportunities to explore our own projects have been few .

I have been looking forward to this brief and the chance it offers to pursue my own interests.

Research: As part of this project I will expand my knowledge of photographers and artist who have inspired and influenced my work. (How to Plan a Photo Project * Anthony Epes, 2020)

Harold Ross

(PhotoBiography: Harold Ross | International Photography Magazine, 2020)

(MacDonald, 2020)

When painting with light my first thought is Harold Ross, I really admire his work. The way he uses light to accentuate the details of his subject creates stunning, surreal photos. Ross uses a variety sizes and softness of light tools to sculpt the images and builds up his photographic images incrementally building layer upon layer in Photoshop. He describes the process as more intuitive than technical and there is a great deal of artistry evident in his work.

This method requires the subject to be shot in a darkened room, the camera should be on timer and tripod mounted (as you are layering the camera needs to remain in a fixed position and at a fixed focal length.) I find it best to focus your subject in auto and once it is fixed, change to manual. If you try to shoot in auto the lens will move in and out of to focus when you paint the light onto your object.

The room needs to be darkened for this to be effective and I intend to shoot in late afternoon or early evening to avoid the “borrowed light” that comes in through the opening near the ceiling of my studio (if I am unable to access my studio I will set aside an area in the flat to work in).

Ross advises that he shoots tethered and this is something I have never done but I would like to add this to my skills set and will research the method further. I have begun accessing online tutorials and been having discussions about this with other Olympus users on the Facebook group I am part of. (Step by Step Tutorial for How to Shoot Tethered, 2020)

Laura Letinsky  

(Laura Letinsky → THE DOG AND THE WOLF, 2020)

Letinsky is another photographer that I have come to admire since I began studying photography, I love the way she uses light, and the narrative quality of her work. Her compositions, which at first glance seem haphazard shots of the remnants of hurried meals, abandoned dishes, vestiges of parties, are in fact very carefully arranged.

She uses light to pick out every crease, crumb and fragment within the frame, telling us not only what we see in front of us, but what happened before and what will come after. My earlier shots were very tightly focussed on the subject but perhaps there is scope to pull back and tell a bigger picture.

Mat Collinshaw

(Last Meals on Death Row, Texas - Photo Essays, 2020)

Collinshaw is categorised along with Letinsky, and many notable others, such as Paulette Tavormina and Margriet Smulders, as a photographer who can be defined, at least in his still life, as “Vanitas”. (Still Life Photographers Who Give a Fresh Meaning to Vanitas, 2020). That is that the work either through lighting, content or context leans towards works of the old masters of the Dutch and Flemish painters of the 17th century. Messages such as the transience of life and the beauty of nature were intrinsic in these paintings and strong symbolism was seen in the inclusion of skulls, dead animals or dramatic chiaroscuro lighting.

These traits can be seen in the contemporary work of both Collinshaw, and Letinsky, she with her depictions of dead creatures and decaying food and flowers, he with his slightly voyeuristic look into the thoughts of the condemned man and his deeply dark lit photographs.  

There is something slightly morbid about working with a dead creature, particularly in the dark, exploring piece by piece, that I find chilling and it is important to ensure that the beauty of the subject exceeds this, a difficult balance I have found in the past.

Alicide d’Orbigny

(Dance of the Aymara People | Old Book Illustrations, 2020)

D’ Orbigny was neither a photographer nor an artist, he was a French Micro Palaeontologist in the early 19th century. (Alcide Dessalines d' Orbigny | French paleontologist, 2020)

His anatomical illustrations, particularly those of sea creatures are stunning. He not only created biologically accurate depictions but used colours which captured the vibrance and other worldliness that many of these creatures possessed and that caused so many myths to grow up around them.

I came upon one of his images as an illustration in a cookbook that I was gifted and was so struck by the beauty of it that I researched him and found a wealth of beautiful illustrations (sadly my knowledge of palaeontology has made no progress). I cite D’Orbigny as an inspiration for this project as I think painting with light reveals much hidden beauty in subjects such as sea-life and yet retains a realism.

My “ambitious outcome” for this project is that I produce something that is well crafted, beautiful and could be considered fine art. I hope that the images will be finely detailed and that the process through which they are shot adds a dimension to them which cannot be captured in a single shot alone. This is hugely ambitious for one photograph but to produce 10 such images seems unimaginable. It is a very time-consuming process and time is limited but it will be a photography adventure and without doubt a learning experience.

Exhibition

The question “how would I like it to be viewed” is a complex one as ,first and foremost ,this is a personal journey and in a way a homage to the father-in-law I never met but have heard so much of, to his homeland and the place that is held dear in the heart of my husband and his family.

It is also a way of placing a new value on these old and fragile objects imbuing them with fresh life; sentimental and personal.

Alongside this is a need to show progression in my photography skills and my creative ability, both to friends and peers, and finally if the work holds any merit as fine art then I would like to organise a small exhibition.

The campus where my studio is based has an exhibition area which would be ideal for this type of informal exhibition preferably in conjunction with some of my fellow classmates. I have contacted the building’s owner* to check on the viability, the space is freely available to tenants for non-commercial ventures and has dates open for this year. At this stage I haven’t spoken to any of my classmates about it, but I am confident that there would be enough interest to set up a class launch.

*see attached email.

I have given some thought on how I think I would display my work; prints sized A3 and mounted will be printed on Hahnemuble German etching, Hahnemuble photo rag ,or Hahnemuble smooth as I want the images to have a fine art textural quality to them and reduce any shine. I like the textures of each of these products but will obviously make a final decision once the images are edited and optimised.

Technically a good knowledge of the camera, use of lens, depth of field and focal point  and lighting techniques is essential, as is an understanding of the aesthetics of the technique, my skills in this area are adequate but I hope by the end of this project they will be considerably improved.

The main pieces of gear I will be using for this will be:

My Olympus EM1X DSLR mirrorless camera

An Olympus micro 4/3 lens 12- 40 mm Lens

A tripod

Light tools modelled on those demonstrated on Harold Ross’ websites

Black card flags

A reflector

A MacBook air with photoshop software.

Approximate settings: (based on previous shoots)

2.0 secs @ F8.00, ISO 100, focal length 18 mm

This type of shoot is really a solitary activity and, because of current restrictions due to the Corona virus precautions, is one of the main reasons I have chosen this rather than my other plan, I will be able to do it without assistance.

Materials needed;

Workroom which can be darkened.

Small backdrop and base

Seafood – I have already purchased and frozen a selection of this which can be thawed as required.

A selection of Lewis crockery

Consumable items as required, see costs:

Costs –

Backdrops/base materials - 4 backdrops from Black velvet - £36.00

Food products - Fish, meats vegetables                    Approx. £30.00

Printing costs - 10 prints @ £8.00                                             £80.00

Travel                N/a working from home

Misc                   Buffer for incidentals                                       £20.00

Total                                                                                           £166.00

1815 Words.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Project: The Lewis Dresser

Location Name: Home address

Tel:XXXXXXXXXXX

Tick any identified hazard.

o Access (blocked or restricted)            o Dangerous surfaces (slippery, wet)

o Vehicle parking at location                  X Trip Hazards Found

o Dangerous Services (elec/y, water).    o Derelict Buildings (unsafe floors)

X Working in confined spaces              oHazardous Substances (chemicals)

o Flammable Materials                            o Water (proximity to water)    

o Rubbish/Vermin                                     o Machinery (working, turning parts)

o Working at Height                                             o Working on/near roads            

o Driving in traffic                                     o Noise (high sound levels)

o Weapons                                                  o Stunts

o Extreme Heat/Cold                                o Physical Exertion            

o Using animals                                          o Hostile Environment (violence)          

o Special Needs (inexperienced, child, elderly)  o Public/ Crowds

o Other Hazards.

   Please specify

HAZARD SEVERITY - H / M / L  Confined space - Low,  Trip hazards - Low

People at Risk - Who photographer, how many? -1

Likelihood. H / M / L

Risk Control Adequate - Yes / No

Are the precautions proportionate to the overall risk?

Please expand this document as required to properly assess your risk

Details of Activity

Photography, low light photography using darkened room, tripod ,handheld lights.

Set up will be confined to blocked of area of 1 room, wire to be secured using heavy duty tracking.

Confined space in darkened room.

Trip Hazards

Ensure floor is clear of obstacles before switching off lights.

Use of headlamp for safe visibility.

Make sure no items are near edges or trailing. Secure cables with heavy duty cable.

Source of safety advice at location

Name : Julie Balfour

Signed:

Julie Balfour

Date:

25.03.2020

College Contact

Name:

Faculty Admin Assistance

Tel:

0141 375 5226

Signed:

(Donna Wilkins)

Date:

Session 2019/ 20

Risk Assessment undertaken by:

This must be signed before the Shoot can go ahead.

I have read the above risk assessment and am satisfied that:

·      Constitutes a proper and adequate risk assessment in respect of the programme activity.

·      The precautions identified above are sufficient to control the risks.

·      Adequate arrangements are in place to communicate risk assessment findings and to co-ordinate the safety arrangements of all those affected.

Plan your first 8steps – whilst this is likely to change, it can provide a loose framework Remember to account for additional opportunities

As I have a small studio space it is my intention to work from there, if however the studio has to close for any reason I will relocate to a space in my flat.

I have ordered some online backdrops which may compliment my compositions

I will be visiting the local fishmongers and buying in the foods I plan to shoot, these can be frozen until needed.

I will set up my backdrops and experiment with lighting etc until I am happy with the set up.

From my research it seems that it would be beneficial if I could shoot tethered so I will be researching how to do this while I await feedback on my proposal.

I have a number of Light tools already but I will research this further and add to these.

I will continue to work on my photoshopping skills so that I can get the best possible results from layered images.

As I want the final images to be in the Fine Art genre I will be printing on a Hahnemuble paper, type to be decided.

References

Anthony Epes. 2020. How To Plan A Photo Project * Anthony Epes. [online] Available at: <https://www.citiesatdawn.com/how-to-plan-a-photo-project/> [Accessed 25 March 2020].

Digital Photography School. 2020. Step By Step Tutorial For How To Shoot Tethered. [online] Available at: <https://digital-photography-school.com/tutorial-shoot-tethered/> [Accessed 25 March 2020].

Encyclopedia Britannica. 2020. Alcide Dessalines D' Orbigny | French Paleontologist. [online] Available at: <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alcide-Dessalines-d-Orbigny> [Accessed 25 March 2020].

Facebook.com. 2020. Redirecting.... [online] Available at: <https://www.facebook.com/pg/kennycaedonia/about/?ref=page_internal> [Accessed 25 March 2020].

Internationalphotomag.com. 2020. Photobiography: Harold Ross | International Photography Magazine. [online] Available at: <http://internationalphotomag.com/harold-ross-photo-biography/> [Accessed 25 March 2020].

Isleoflewischessset.co.uk. 2020. The Isle Of Lewis. [online] Available at: <https://www.isleoflewischessset.co.uk/isle-lewis.html> [Accessed 25 March 2020].

Lauraletinsky.com. 2020. Laura Letinsky → THE DOG AND THE WOLF. [online] Available at: <https://lauraletinsky.com/photographs/the-dog-and-the-wolf/> [Accessed 25 March 2020].

MacDonald, F., 2020. Sculpting A Photograph With Light. [online] Lens Blog. Available at: <https://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/with-light-sculpting-a-photograph/> [Accessed 25 March 2020].

Old Book Illustrations. 2020. Dance Of The Aymara People | Old Book Illustrations. [online] Available at: <https://www.oldbookillustrations.com/writers/orbigny-alcide/> [Accessed 25 March 2020].

Pixpa. 2020. 15 Types Of Photography Genres To Pursue As A Professional Photographer. [online] Available at: <https://www.pixpa.com/blog/types-of-photography> [Accessed 25 March 2020].

TIME.com. 2020. Last Meals On Death Row, Texas - Photo Essays. [online] Available at: <http://content.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2095889_2316169,00.html> [Accessed 25 March 2020].

Widewalls. 2020. Still Life Photographers Who Give A Fresh Meaning To Vanitas. [online] Available at: <https://www.widewalls.ch/still-life-photographers/> [Accessed 25 March 2020].

[toradh]

And for the top 5, I’m sending your ask right back at you! =D Top 5 (or 500) pieces of video game music!

HAHAHA EVERYTHING YOU DO IN LIFE COMES BACK TO YOUOK HERE YOU GO, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER (except alphabetical per game lol)

I’m gonna… put this under a cut for length. Oh boy.

Chrono Cross (fun fact: I’ve never played the game but I own a copy of the soundtrack):-Scars of Time-Fields Of Time - Home World-On The Beach Of Dreams - Another World-Departed Souls-Dragon Knight-Prisoners Of Fate-Magical Dreamers - The Wind, Stars, And Waves ~-The Dream That Time Dreams-Dragon God-Life ~ A Distant Promise

Assassin’s Creed II:-Earth-Ezio’s Family-Venice Rooftops (my first contact ever with AC was the Soul Calibur version of Venice Rooftops and at that very moment I KNEW I had to play the game that it originally belonged to. No kidding!)-Master Assassin (it’s from Brotherhood but yada yada)

Assassin’s Creed III:-Main Theme-Ratohnhaké:tonThe Liberation soundtrack was also amazing, I could listen to the Main Theme for days.

Dissidia Final Fantasy:-the openings and ending medleys, and also that new version of The Man with the Machine Gun is killer

Final Fantasy IV:-the goddamn opening of the Nintendo DS remake

Final Fantasy VI:-Terra’s Theme

Final Fantasy VII:-the battle theme and boss battle theme, who doesn’t love it-the main theme once you had spent enough time in the menue to actually ever hear the end of it-Cosmo Canyon AKA Valley Where Stars Fall whatever and Become a Great Soldier-Words Extinguished by Fireworks-Listen to the Voice of the Stars-and of course Aerith’ theme-Towards the Mountain-The Day of Our Last Moments-Perfect Jenova-Carmina Burana reloaded uhm I mean One Winged Angel, too, of course-also the opening and ending credits from Crisis Core which is a mediocre game, but it let me hack n slay, had the infinitely more lovable protagonist, and it had some cool music remixes

Final Fantasy VIII (oh boy, the FFVIII OST is my fav right after IX, although the latter wins every other race in the franchise)-Liberi Fatali and also the Overture AKA the motherfucking opening credits when you insert Disc 1 for the first time-The Landing-Force Your Way (honestly this game has some of my favourite of favourite battle themes EVER; the feeling of beating up bosses after spending hours, HOURS in the menue to set up your team is incredible lol; like OH MY GOD MY PLAN ACTUALLY WORKED)-The Mission-The Stage Is Set-Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec-Premonition-Drifting-The Oath-Trust Me-Lunatic Pandora (gives you a headache if you listen to it for too long tho lol)-Compression of Time-The Castle-Legendary Beast-Maybe I’m A Lion-The Extreme-the Ending Theme (yep, including Eyes One Me! I mean it’s cheesy but it kinda grew on me…)(basically the entire end of the 4th disc is a blast, not gonna lie)

Final Fantasy IX (buckle your seatbelts!):-Place I Call Home/A Place to Call Home/whatever AKA the opening credits-Living by the Sword-Hunter’s Chance-Marsh of the Q Tribe-Sword of Confusion-Eternally Good Harvest-Roses of May-City Under Siege-Protecting my Devotion-Light of Destiny-Chamber of a Thousand Faces-Mount Gulug-Four Mirrors-Concurrent Battles-Terra-You Are Not Alone-Assault of the Silver Dragons-Organum (which is an obscure organ version of the opening credit theme which gets a billion variations throughout the game anyway; it’s on a bonus soundtrack CD that I bought at one point before I finally got my hands on a copy of the actual OST)-and of course the One True Melodies of Life

Actually 90% of the soundtrack

Final Fantasy X:-People of the North Pole-A Fleeting Dream-Suteki Da Ne, too

Final Fantasy XII-the boss battle theme-the Esper battle theme-also the Imperial March I mean Theme of the Empire

Final Fantasy XIII:-Blinded by Light (VIOLIN BATTLE THEME VIOLIN BATTLE THEME)-Saber’s Edge-Lightning’s Theme-Caius’ Theme from FFXIII-2 (which was a waste of time BUT it had Liam O’Brien. Can I just have a poster of Liam O’Brien’s voice pls)

Final Fantasy XV (I still haven’t played this thing lol):-Too Much Is Never Enough (I bought sheet music lol)-Somnus (both instrumental and /w lyrics)-Departure-Wanderlust-Ardyn and Ardyn II-Labyrinthine-The Hydraeans Wrath-Homecoming

(notice a pattern lol)BTW every single Distant World CD is a fucking gem and you should buy them

Kingdom Hearts whatever (I’m not gonna go through the individual titles):-Dearly Beloved in all versions ever released-Disappeared-Another Side-all of Vanitas’ battle themes-Ventus’ themeand of course Hikaru Utada’s songs I love that woman; and also the orchestral/instrumental arrangements that were used in the trailers.

Tales of Berseria:-BURN (why is it capslocked tho)

Tales of Destiny:-Yume De Aru Youni-Irony of Fate in that goddamn epic remix from that orchestra CD thingy

Tales of Symphonia:-Starry Heavens and the sweet instrumental version that plays when you thought you had lost all your teammates but they come back and help you while you rescue that one team mate whose affection for Lloyd was highest

Tales of Vesperia:-Ring a Bell

Tales of Xillia:-Progress

Tales of Zestiria:-White Light-Zaveid the Exile-Flaming Bonds are Being Tested-Melody of Water is the Guide in Spiritual Mist (can we set a petition for Mikleo to play his own trial theme on the piano, yes, sign here, thank you)-Competing with the Honor of the Land-Fight Between the Wind and the Blinking Sky-Rising Up

(why do these trials themes have so long names bleurgh. So yeah AKA ALL THE TRIAL THEMES)

(basically all the Tales openings lol)

The Legend of Zelda… oh god why are there so many games.So I’m only gonna go through my two favs:

Ocarina of Time:-Lost Woods-Windmill Hut (aka the Song of Storms)-Gerudo Valley

The Wind Waker:-Dragon Roost Island-Molgera’s boss fight theme

also the bonus orchestra CD from Skyword Sword was so good :O

Valkyrie Profile:-Take A Flight

Xenogears:-Stars of Tears-Grahf, Dark Conqueror (only a JRPG would name a villain Grahf tho lol)-Premonition-Awakening-The One Who Bares Fangs at God-Small Two of Pieces (PLEASE I NEED SHEET MUSIC FOR THIS WHERE CAN I FIND SOME; legally if possible lol)-the battle themes aren’s bad, either(fun fact: I’ve never played this game, either)

Xenosaga stuffz(never played that either lol. I didn’t listen to the complete soundtracks, either, only bits)-The Miracle-Kokoro (whoever came up with that song title has guts, but it’s seriously super beautiful, and Joanne Hogg makes a comeback on vocals!)

BTW I never played anything Wild Arms, either, but I really the openings for the first and third game in the series, respectively.Oh and that one boss battle theme from Shadow Hearts II! (I think it’s called Hardcore to the Brain?) I actually never played that thing, but I watched my sister (who’s super fond of the game!) for like 90% of the plot I think.

…Would you believe that this a selectionI… I’ll better not go into movie soundtracks*faints*

…Uhm, do anime songs count lol

[samstar1990]

The Thorn beneath the Rose

I have not written a VNC fic before so I hope you enjoy it xx

Several disappearances in Paris now have Paris’ greatest detectives on the case. Unfortunately, the greats are also having an argument. But that shouldn’t get in the way of helping others right?

Chapter 2 here

               Have you ever had a fury deep within you? A fire that scorched your insides and the only way to get it out was to open your mouth and spit fire at someone else? Then they end up stocking the flames instead of cooling them down? That was how Noe felt.

One foot quickly followed the other as he stomped through the streets of Paris completely enveloped in his angry haze, that he scarcely noticed the Parisians as they dived out of the vampires way. Eventually the man’s internal thought process violent exploded in a large shout upwards and a punch connecting to the nearby wall.

“Ah, why on earth was I cursed to follow that dim-witted, narrow-minded human idiot!” Noe yelled releasing all his fire from the bottom of his stomach “couldn’t just let me be correct for once, the stubborn fool will get himself killed!”

He near roared before panting heavily. Passer-by shoppers had stopped and were whispering to one another about the strange tanned male and his seemingly animalistic behaviour. Even in his anger, a small fleck of embarrassment seeped in. Maybe the middle of the street was not the best place to get something off his chest. Flushing and clearing his throat, the Archiviste wandered down a nearby alleyway to recollect himself.

               In the cooling shade of the alleyway, he tried to think a little more clearly and collect the memory he needed for this particular moment. Vanitas and himself may have argued and were now on bad terms but both had a job to do. That morning as the two bickered, they had received a letter concerning recent disappearances in the area.

Several vampires had disappeared over the course of the last few months. Relatives noted odd and even violent behaviour in the individuals before they had vanished completely. Vanitas was insistent on a lead he had but refused to share, so Noe was left wandering around unsure what to do and screaming to himself. Domi would be upset with him for sure…

He hoped Vanitas was at least having a better time than him.

Technically he was.

But he was also standing by a morgue table looking over the twisted remains of a vampire man. The raven hair male hummed to himself raising a hand to his lips.

“Why hasn’t the body turned to ash yet?”

               Vanitas had arrived a few moment earlier asking for any clothing related to recent vampiric deaths. Mysterious as he was it seemed Vanitas also had people who owed him favours. People whose job it was to keep this kind of accident under lock and key. Imagine the teenager’s surprise when he was told the latest vampire was still whole.

And it was the latest victim to have gone missing.

“Was there anything on the body to suggest a cause of death?”

The worker nearby looked at him with a weird look before thinking over the question.

“I haven’t touched it, you don’t traditionally get autopsies on Vampires and I am certain to moment I touch it with a knife it’s gonna crumble” The man muttered to himself “But looking at the body, his nails are blunt and a little bloody and his neck is scratched up”

Vanitas looked over the nails. They seemed brittle and had crumbled away as if lacking nutrients, and the man’s neck did appear to have faint pink mark around it like he had scratched at his neck.

“He starved to death?”

“It would appear so��there are also the bite marks on his arms” The worker pointed to several puncture wounds along his arm all angled in a way that suggested the victim had bitten himself repeatedly.

“The man was starving to death but instead of getting food like a normal person, he ran away and tried to drink himself?”

“It was insanity clearly, everyone knows drinking your own blood won’t destroy the bloodlust and only makes you throw up. He was sick in all sense of the word”

The self-appointed doctor hummed to himself. What could it be? A virus? Charlatan? If he didn’t figure it out quickly, only more bodies would turn up, right? So he needed to somehow test the body and figure out what was afflicting it…

Suddenly a cracking sound captured the two men’s attention. Turning back to the table, the cracking continued until the whole body crumbled before them.

“Oh, shit…now I have to clean this up and come up with a reason why a body is missing again!”

Vanitas wandered over to the table and looked over the remains as if hoping they would spell it out but instead all he was left with was a bad feeling in his stomach. “I can probably help you out there….I can get rid of the processions for you”

Knowing Vanitas’ mind the other was suspicious “Fine…but the stuff better not end up on some market stall”

Vanitas laughed but internally made no promises. But this was a lead, now he wouldn’t look like he was just trying to avoid Noe because of a stupid argument. Because he definitely wasn’t doing that.

               Noe, on the other hand, had wandered into an unfamiliar backstreet lined with small shops selling knickknacks and weird remedies. The sights and sounds were intriguing and the man became lost to his own childish nature. Everything was so new and exciting, he almost felt like he needed to thank the other for being such a bonehead or he may have never found so many cute things and tiny cafes. He had to bring Domi here some time; she would love a hidey hole from society as much as him. He wandered from one side of the street to the other determined to discover if the café would provide him with his favourites. Then he would chalk this moment up to fate.

“Watch where you are walking!” Venom spit from the mouth of a young woman as they collided in the middle of the road. Noe caught her out of instinct but when he went to apologise he became struck dumb.

The woman was pale as a sheet, her hair and clothes were ruffled as if in some form of struggle but the most alarming part was a small smear of blood on her lips.

“What are you staring at?” She hissed, fangs baring a little.

“M-mam? You have something on your lips” Noe was unsure how to react and in all honesty, a little frightened by the woman. She seemed incredibly unhinged and was let her vampire sideshow even around the crowded human streets. She faltered a moment before wiping her lip and staring at the finger entranced by the red smudge. Without grace, she stuck the finger in her mouth and seemed to collapse in a weird utopian glow. Now the tanned male was the only thing supporting her frame, and her unladylike appearance was causing him to flush.

“M-mam?” He asked again. This snapped the woman back to reality and she lashed out catching Noe’s cheek. He recoiled

“I won’t… let you have it….It’s mine!”

Before the other could react, she had jumped to her feet and was running off down the street. Suddenly stuck in thought, Noe found something occurred to him.

“Violent behaviour? Potential victim maybe?”

Noe found his eyes going across the road to where he had seen the woman come from out of the corner of his eye. The only thing there was a corner shop; yellow wooden windows with an awning over the top of fresh produce lining the walls outside. A simple florist selling large bouquets. The vampire came closer with curiosity, how could a flower shop cause a woman to react so strangely? If it was involved at all. In front of the door was a board containing some special offers on different blooms as well as some form of service involving aromatherapy.

“Using scents to calm the mind and body..” He read aloud “Hmmm like how some flowers affect animals?”

“Exactly!” a small voice called causing the man to jump and turn to see a young woman stood there smiling.

               The woman came up to Noe’s shoulder, with brunette curls pinned back and around her neck with gentle blue eyes. After getting over the shock of how she got so close he smiled.

“So it works the same way with people too?” he asked before his eyes drifted to her neck where there seemed to be sore skin hidden beneath her hair. He frowned, usually this meant she had been bitten. “Perhaps… even on fanged things?”

The woman’s smile faltered and then became knowing “If one has a trouble keeping hunger under wraps…I am able to help” she pushed open the door hitting the bell and causing a ding noise “We can talk more inside though”

So he was right, she was a vampire.

               Inside the shop was small with a counter near the back dividing the room from a staircase. The woman had already made it to the counter and had brought a book onto the table.

“So my name is Marie, I am an upcoming expert in aroma theory. Now the therapy is in early stages so no guarantee on results” She mused opening up the pages as Noe approached her. Marie was very shy and excited in her manner and Noe couldn’t help but smile, even if this is a dead end lead he can’t say today didn’t have it perks.

The book in front of her appeared to be a guest book of sorts. She turned it to him and asked him to sign. “It has had a wonderful effect on vampire urges helping our kind integrated with human society I am so happy” Her enthusiasm was adorable.

“How about anger issues…I’m um…currently very mad at a friend and it is interfering with work”

There was a pause

“Well it has calming effects so I would assume it would work just as well” Marie pointed to the book attempting to prompt him and his face dropped.

There were only a few names on this page but every single one had appeared on the letter he and Vanitas had received that morning. All bar one; a female name, and Noe was absolutely certain it belonged to the woman who had left the shop. This shop was a connection between all the victims perhaps even. Marie narrowed her eyes.

“Is something the matter sir” It came out more as a command than a question.

“Oh erm…I know…” he panicked a little, and pointed to a name in the book “Mathieu…he was a close friend.” He swallowed regaining his form “But he went missing, everyone has been worried”

The woman seemed suspicious “And what work are you doing in the area”

“Erm well…socialite work…” He muttered “ Just looking into some old scholars living in the area”

Noe tried his best to keep a straight face but there was something about the attitude Marie was taking with him. Now he was certain he had stumbled across one of the most important clues to this case.

And he had done it before Vanitas!

               Vani sneezed and grumbled. Safely making it back to the hotel, he was hoping to rub his find in Noe’s face and the rude ass couldn’t even be back in the hotel room to listen to his gloating. Oh well if anything this meant he could actually turn his clue into a useful clue. He seriously contemplated actually doing his job, but instead, he found himself concentrating on how to dramatically scold the other when he finally came back to the room.

“Ha, and where have YOU been?” he got up and dramatically pointed at the empty doorway. He then stopped and hummed “No…too…flouncy….”

He had been attempting the perfect pose and line for the last ten minutes and had enough options to choose from, it was now just a case of narrowing it down. He sighed and leant on the table.

“Maybe I am thinking about this the wrong way…” He mumbled to himself before something caught his eye. A small business card was poking out of the breast pocket of the victim’s jacket. “Hello…”

Nibble fingers made quick work of slicing the card from the pocket and straightening it out. On one side was the image of a large arrangement of flowers, when he turned it over on the other was a neatly written message.

‘You are to no longer come to me- M’

“hmmm…guess this takes virus off the table…for now”

What was he meant to do with this though? It was a lead but it was tiny, too tiny to take him anywhere. But if anything this meant someone was leading the disappearances. But why?

“Ah! Noe, get back here so I can show you how wrong you are!”

               The room above the flower shop was a small living area, nothing too fancy but was clearly where the owner lived. In one corner a large grandfather clock supplied a constant ticking noise as Noe sat on a large sofa across from Marie as she poured herbal tea into a china tea set. It was a little awkward at the moment, Noe was unsure what was about to happen especially since Marie had invited him upstairs for a trial treatment. It was clearly for privacy, he kept telling himself.

“So Vanitas huh? What an unfortunate name” She smiled pushing the cup towards him. Noe picked it up and laughed a little.

“Yes…My parents have a horrible sense of humour”

Vanitas was going to kill him. When she got suspicious, he grew weary of signing his name on the book and the first name that came to him was Vani. Damn that man! Noe gingerly sipped from the cup, he had never tasted a herbal mix before so this was an interesting experience none the less. Marie smiled and rose to light small candles around the room.

“Well Vanitas, I will let you know how this will work. I will introduce some scents through candles and oils” She lit several candles of different sizes, and near instantly Noe felt the smells mix. It was so strong he couldn’t understand how this could be relaxing to anyone.

“So I just sit here and smell?”

Marie laughed and gracefully walked over to a gramophone. “We also play music so it creates a whole new atmosphere”

“So um” It was now or never to ask “I was wondering if any of your clients have been acting weird?”

Marie hesitated a moment before walking back to the table this time to light a candle near to Noe.

“Not that I know of… why would you ask such a question?”

“Oh sorry…my friend was acting weird, so I wanted to make sure no one was harassing…you” Was that convincing? Oh, he hoped so.

Marie laughed and sat on the arm of the chair looming over the male. Noe swallowed through his nerves.

“You are cute Vanitas…but I don’t think that’s your real name”

Noe went to retort when she pushed her lips to his and forced her tongue to enter his mouth. Something broke and then a metal taste spread over his tongue and down his throat.

               Noe managed to push the woman away but he was forced to swallow the liquid.

“Blood?” He asked looking up at Marie and she chuckled and walked over to the window. Suddenly he was aware coming alone anywhere was a horrific idea and he had to escape. He pushed himself to his feet as he began to feel the strange warmth within him. Marie turned back around, a deep glow to her eyes.

He felt transfixed to them.

“I know you are not here for therapy” She hummed “But I have been looking for a new pet”

“Pet?” He coughed finding his throat had become unbearable dry very quickly. Whatever he had drunk it wasn’t normal. The woman laughed again, taking great pleasure in the confusion on the man’s face.

“So ‘Vani’, did you know my clan was cursed far more than any other clan?” She asked watching Noe support himself as he tried to make his way across the room. “ Most vampires have poison in their fangs to help make the act of drawing blood more…pleasurable. But mine has no poison in them. When I draw blood…the pain itself is enough to kill a human”

“S-sorry to hear that” He tried to mock but his voice was caught. He looked over to the door, it felt so far away in that moment. He had to escape. Had to find Vanitas.

“But in exchange, I was given something much more useful” Marie removed a broach from her person and brought it to her palm. The point of the pin broke the skin easily. The moment it did, Noe felt his senses go into overdrive; the aroma of her blood overpowered everything in the area. His mouth watered and it was like a haze was seeping over him. “The poison is in my blood instead…and it makes it irresistible to Vampires”

Noe was shocked as everything fell into place “The people who went missing…their behaviour”

“All puppets dancing to please me and to taste my blood”

“Well, I won’t be won over that easy!” Noe was defiant as he attempted to fight against the pull the blood was trying to have on him. The scent that enveloped him was addictive, slowly he found his thoughts began to imagine where the taste must be. Catching himself the vampire found he had moved towards the woman. Her smile turning demonic. Turning away, Noe tried to think of the people he cared for, tried to recall the taste of Domi’s blood. His dearest friend, he only needed her blood…and maybe…

But when he tried to recall the taste, the scent of Marie’s blood replaced it. He couldn’t lose to this and in the last attempt tried to picture something he cared about, something that would help him hold onto his sanity.

Vanitas crept into his memory. His smile was gentle, very unlike him yet it was a nice thing to see. Noe wasn’t completely sure how to react to the image but it was comforting if only for a few moments. Slowly the human faded into the mist and his dream world mixed into reality pulling back like a curtain to reveal Marie with her outstretched hand.

In that moment he could only register one thing. He was so thirsty, he had never felt a thirst like it, and the more he denied it, the more his brain felt like it was itching. The itch got worse and worse. He wiped his mouth and stared at the open wound on the woman’s hand.

“Go on…take it” She smiled and Noe felt an overwhelming feeling of warmth. One step, two step. He had to try and fight it but the itch was too great.

The taste of the ruby was soothing and overcame him before he could stop it.