#blanche faust

[loosesodamarble]

The Canty-Faust Family Tree (AU Version)

Here it is, the family tree if Morgen and Josele got to have their happily ever after...

Since I don't actually have posts for the Morgsele children (yet), let me share some info about them here.

Albert is the eldest child with Varg being his younger twin.

Albert likes to keep his emotions in check and that calmness makes him easy to approach for others. He can be distrustful, having heard people badmouth his parents. But at his core, he's a softie who wants to help others.

Albert's attribute is Prismatic Light Magic. He generates and controls light in multiple colors and the colors of the lights he creates have a variety of effects, such as blue light being able to douse things similar to Water Magic. This attribute is a result of Morgen's Light Magic and the fact that Josele's Emotion Magic which is able to produce multiple elements.

Varg is mischievous and thrill-seeking. Very outgoing and likes to mess with his loved ones. Looks like a delinquent but does his best to avoid any extreme behaviors that could get him in trouble with the law (unless his sweetheart is involved).

Varg's attribute meanwhile is Eclipse Magic. If Shadow Magic is an in-between for Dark and Light Magic, Eclipse is between Shadow and Light Magic, able to utilize aspects of both attributes, such as shadow teleportation and Light Magic's affinity for healing.

Iris is the third child of the family and the first of the non-twin children.

A lover of poetry and romance so a lot of his talking can come out unintentionally flirty. When he needs to think, he tends to overthink and stress himself out. Surprisingly pessimistic at times.

His attribute is Dark Magic. Josele was thoroughly shocked but Morgen understood that it was a possibility considering the Faust bloodline.

Valerian and Friedrich are the second pair of twins, with Valerian being the older of the two.

Valerian is quite the confident one. He's got a lot of energy and zero impulse control. He loves people with "snappy" attitudes who can challenge him.

He got his Wind Magic from Grandpa Thomas. When he discovered his attribute, he became a lot more of a handful for Josele and Morgen.

Friedrich is the quieter of the twins. He's friendly but not all that outgoing. When he's interested in something, he gets deeply invested. Finds his attribute dull compared to his siblings'.

In contrast to Valerian's Wind, Friedrich got Earth Magic. Since it's so different from the rest of the family's it was hard for Fried to get a handle on it without a teacher.

Sable and Blanche are the third, and last, of the twin children. They are also the first daughters to Morgen's delight (he's a smidge of a girl dad, I'm sorry).

Sable is a sweetheart, just like her parents. Very imaginative. Extremely trusting. Somewhat airheaded. She means well but can find herself in trouble too easily.

In contrast to her bright personality, Sable has Shadow Magic. People tend not to believe her when she first tells them what her attribute is because it doesn't "fit" her.

Blanche is Sable's contrast in every way. She's gloomy and withdrawn. She's level-headed and doesn't care for people much.

Blanche has Light Magic that has a lavender tint to it. Unlike Albert's magic, the color of Blanche's Light Magic has no special effect.

The baby of the family is Isolde.

She's quiet and finds it hard to approach others. But if someone else takes the time to reach out to her, she readily opens up.

She's so young that Isolde has yet to discover what her magic attribute is. However, given that none of her older siblings have inherited Emotion Magic yet, Josele is hoping that Isolde will be the one to have it.

Visuals of the kids (oldest to youngest).

Links to fics featuring the kids and their dad: Albert, Varg, Iris, Valerian, Friedrich, Sable, Blanche, Isolde.

[avelera]

So "Doctor Faustus" already being out by the time Dream came by in 1589, is...uh, possibly a bit fudged for the sake of the story in Sandman, but I'm thinking about Hob canonically calling bisexual legend Kit Marlowe a great playwright, and the fact that Doctor Faustus is literally about a handsome demon seducing a more or less normal guy into selling his soul in exchange for an extraordinary life, including temporary immortality during the agreed 24-year span (including a scene where Faustus survives a murder attempt and holds his own severed head in a scene that I'm sure made Hob fuckin' blanche wondering if his secret had gotten out).

And I'm also thinking about how there's a strong running theme in "Faustus" of Mephistophilis steering Faust away from getting married. There is no Marguerite (Faust's wife in other versions) in Marlowe's version of the story which is really interesting. Especially because there's a rather strong whiff of jealousy (especially with Arthur Darvill's performance) around Mephistophilis urging Faust away from marriage, saying he'll bring him fine courtesans, or even (eventually) Helen of Troy instead, but definitely don't get married.

And I'm also thinking about my (and others') emerging fanon that Hob had his own written-or-unwritten fanfic of Faust x Mephistophilis that was heavily based on his own fantasies around his dark and mysterious stranger who gave him immortality. ("This could be us, but you keep fuckin' leaving after 5 minutes...") and a thought occurred to me.

So it's really weird that Hob just happens to get married within a few years, at most, of his 1589 meeting with Dream.

Now, my main assumption around this, Watsonian/in-universe, is that Hob wanted to demonstrate success to his stranger. So within a few years of the 1589 meeting, he looked at the date and went, "Oh shit, if I really wanted to show off I should get married and have an heir on the way, that's the true mark of success in my era!" (Which, of course, Dream is spectacularly unimpressed by and/or projecting his own miseries onto Hob's inevitable despair once they die.)

But now I'm thinking about "Doctor Faustus" and also kind of wondering... timeline fudging aside where he could have conceivably seen the play (or some early version of it while Marlowe was writing it) and if that could lend to a slightly alternative reading of why Hob was in a rush to get married before his meeting with his stranger?

Either:

My tall dark and possibly-not-the-Devil-then-again- the Devil-could-just-LIE stranger is coming. Faustus in "Doctor Faustus" passed up on a chance to possibly have his soul saved by not being married. So it might be a good idea to be married just in case, y'know, for the sake of my soul and so I'm not tempted by being single.

(The more Dreamling-shippy one) My tall dark and handsome stranger can't possibly be interested in me. In fact, it's kind of pining and pathetic to still be nominally single when he comes by, especially after 200 years. Talk about desperate. Maybe it's better if I'm married, that way I don't look desperate and it's not like he'd ever be interested, right? But if he does seem annoyed that I'm married, I will have definitely learned something.

Only for Dream to peace out of there almost immediately upon meeting happily-married-Hob.

Now, do I think canonically that Hob was sort of testing the waters by getting married? Not especially cuz it's an ass-backwards way to go about it, if it was a consideration at all, I'd see it as more hedging to the tune of not looking desperate, rather than trying to make Dream jealous or anything.

But I would bet (or at least put in a fanfic) that Hob added the fact that Dream did not seem especially enthused about his marriage into his little mental list of "Maybe? But surely not. But maybe?" as it emerged around, say, 1789 along with all the other later evidence of possible interest.

[eeios]

Meet the crew of my main webcomic project !

The crew of a flying ship, and dragon hunters ... More info about them under the cut ! (more stuff is tagged as oc:dragon hunter on my blog if you want to check it out)

Eve of House Albret: the main character, whose purpose is to seek out the voices in the sky she hears since childhood.

Lambert of House Dramm: The captain of the ship, he is an ancient royal scientist who figured out how to harness dragon magic.

Faust Vanin: Right and of Lambert (and . ..best friend . .. ), he takes care of accounting stuff.

Louve: A mysterious knight. They're the one who give the killing blow to their prey. They're mute and use LSF. (french sign language)

Hildegarde de Hautecoure (aka Ida): The magician of the ship. She has a tragic past and was welcomed in the crew in spite of it. She is the only one close to Louve, who was the one who brought her on the ship.

Blanche: She is the boat mechanic. Genius in her domain, she is the successor of Lambert.

Mahaut: The tracker of the crew. Being a glouton - a creature who eats magic - she is very sensitive to the magic that come from dragons.

Varseiss: A dragon. He is the mount of Louve. What is a dragon doing on a dragon hunting crew? Well he is a magic addict and this is the way to sate his appetite.

[tillman]

hi tillman :-) if any of ur characters played guilty gear who would be their mains

HI CAB ^_^ here are some quick moral judgments. specifically plussy cus i think its funnier.

8 knight would like any character with huge buttons and heavy hits. i think slayer is also a good choice but kliff has a giant sword. he would like that.

bask would play any complicated top tier and would downplay the ever living shit out of them. i think they would be pretty decent at sword loops its like a little puzzle to them. probably would be posting #freeeddie while playing asuka if he played strive.

I would say blanche would be a Big Buttons girl but i think shed like the mix too much. testament feels a little closer to her specific fighting style in my mind I THINK...

muty.. despite her moveset in game being inspired heavily by eddies playstyle, she would like big heavy buttons. i know this to be true.

bonus rapid fire leder - any zoner. alshain - faust midi - chipp longinus - (can i say millia.) ky dante - eddie (when i made my hypothetical fighting game movesets for my ocs dante was the obligatory puppet character (xenon and boron were his summons) animaen - may/slayer

hope this helps.

[marune2]

Ida Faust josele canty ch.1

Summary

Josele and Nacht finde out how bad ida is affected from the past child abuse from her parents and Ida is in fully believe this it happened to Nacht and Morgan too

Hurt No comfort in chapter 1

———————\\\\\_____________\\\\\\\\

Ida whas bathing whit Sterling again ok josele and Nacht didn’t think much about it but but in the last time get’s Ida overbearing whit it

As Ida whas whit them in the bb base ida did give Sterling Nacht wo putted her to sleep

Josele: you like to bath whit her a lot In the last time ida“laughing

Ida:yes I do

Nacht: you know it’s a artful a lot in the last time what my Wunder why do you do it young lady? Did you did something or it’s just you think?

Ida putting her head to side :hm it’s just……to looking if she is ok nothing seriously be honest so fare

Josele:looking if she is ok? Did something happen? Is she fine are you fine?

Ida looking at Nacht and josele: No it’s just for safety for her I know you both are good fuc€ing people but can’t help I guess after what Nachty and my parents did to us…….

Ida’s reasoning gave Josele and Nacht pause.

“What… your parents did…” Josele blanched at the memory of her in-laws. Pushing down her discomfort, she said, “Thank you for believing that Nacht and I are good people, Ida.”

“But you really shouldn’t worry,” Nacht added. “Besides, why would we ever hurt Sterling after we worked so hard to keep her safe?”

Ida bristled and turned her head away with a scoff. “Shut the fuck up. I can’t help it if I feel concern.”

“It’s unnecessary concern if you ask me.” Nacht walked up to Ida and patted her shoulder. “Sterling is our daughter. We can look out for her ourselves.”

“And I’m her goddamn aunt if you’ve forgotten.” There was a growing edge to Ida’s voice.

Josele glanced between Nacht and Ida. “You guys…”

Ida stare at Nacht as do Nacht Nacht smile then „well I’m her father and I take responsibility for her

Ida stare at him „I know this fuc€ing hell but ur parents did make this to and did say the same stuff as you did say and they were fuc€ing evil people

Nacht just nodding at her „I get you Point Ida but WE are not ur parents and will never be Ida

Ida just nodding and looking she begins to cry but don’t do „ I know….

Josele smile „he is right ida we love ur children I would rather kill my self as harming my children as do Nacht

Ida nodding and looking away like a little child „ I can’t help after they hurt my Morgy and you Nachty really bad I mean I whas even paralyzed some hour’s after after they hurt my and I’m a devil so I get the idea how bad they did. must hurt your Nacht and Morgy In the past……..

Ok this cachet Nacht and josele out of guard they just know from the experiments but not how bad it whas and what exactly they did

Nacht smile and take Ida’s shoulders „ Ida what did they do to you and what did they tell you?“ nacht Fells mad but try to hide it as is josele

Ida just stare at him and use a child like voice „well the full list experiments and beating up if I didn’t do as they like like whit you and Morgy and they did just tell don’t talk whit someone even whit your be a good child hear what mommy and Daddy tell or your siblings will Fell more bad understand young lady“ Ida smile and begin to laughing like a little child

"The whole time... I just went along with it because..." Ida's smile grew wider and her laughter went on despite the tears forming in her eyes. "Because of course I did! I didn't know better! I trusted my parents, believed they genuinely loved me, like any child would!" Ida said between gasps and gulps of air. She brought a hand up and dragged it through her hair. "Those bastards! Those sick bastards! Bringing me into the world just to use me!"

Ida's eyes, crazed and frightened at the same time, turned to Josele and Nacht.

In an instant, Josele magic sent a shock of knowledge through her. Emotions swirled inside her like a hurricane. They were so intense and mixed up that Josele couldn't tell which feeling, fear or hatred or disgust or any number of sensations, was dominant in Ida's heart.

Josele's head ached trying to make sense of Ida's heart.

"You think you can just be a parent on a whim? That you can suddenly claim another living being and dictate their lives?!"

"What the hell are you saying?" Nacht muttered with his guard raised.

Ida may have been in the same room as Nacht and Josele, but her words were meant for someone else entirely.

Ida laughing in a child voice again she cry and so come her devil part’s up her horns show bright up like her eyes

„This what I say Nachty this wold is fuc€et we live in a hell of a wold and your know it I’m the result of the hell my scar’s still hurt even I don’t fell pain!!!“ Ida’s emotion going stronger so as do negative mana from her whit her bad emotion

Josele go slowly to her too

Nacht hold Ida’s shoulder‘s“ Ida what ever they did you are here the wold is bad but your are not like ur children“say he staring at her whit strong emotion too

Josele hold Ida’s back now but Ida’s wing slap her hand away and Ida move away laughing

She stare at Nacht „you have good talk you don’t even count your self Nachty what for a sick reason did. ur parents even give birth to you and Morgy?

Nacht just Stare at her he know the Antwort to get power of curse he hat a talent for devil summoning and this were the reason and for Morgan? They had no use really but he can’t say it to ida right now

Ida laughing „ right to get power hungry bastar€e and what did they to you? They hurt your to bad Morgan get it to flee from the hell and abuse but we? We couldn’t do it Nacht how can you handle what they did to us?“crying creasy

Nacht clenched his hands into fists and bit the inside of his cheek. What could he even say to Ida? Was she going to snap at him and Josele regardless of the answer she received from them?

He shook his head of the thought holding him back then looked Ida in the eyes.

"Ida, I'm probably only able to handle what our parents did because what I experienced wasn't anything like what they did to you. I never even knew what they were doing to you, not until recently." Nacht tightened his grip on Ida's shoulders. "I always knew that they weren't the best of people. And now I know how deep their evil ran. And because I know, I can say that I won't be anything like them."

Ida's body tensed. "How can you be so sure? How can you say that with such confidence?" She shrugged off Nacht's touch. "Maybe you won't treat your new kid like some science experiment but that doesn't mean you're a good father. I mean, you couldn't be bothered to be a good brother to me and Morgen until after he died and I disappeared! What if you end up being that distant with your daughter?"

"That's not-! I've changed since-!"

"Bullshit, you've changed. You're a damn coward who's too afraid to care about anyone," Ida scoffed. Her crazed eyes then found Josele. "And don't think you're innocent in this either, Josie. You can act like you just saved Sterling from being trained into nothing more than a soldier, but you still give her a bow and dagger and teach her to hunt. You're no different than her birth parents! You're no better than your own father!"

"You can't say that for sure!" Josele shouted back, her anger suddenly flaring. "Even I didn't know the truth so don't talk like you knew a thing about him!"

"Well I know enough to say that it's wrong of you to be teaching a child the weight of killing something else!"

"You make it sound like I'm training her for murder but it's only hunting!"

"SHUT UP!" Ida roared. "Now you're both just trying to justify your thoughtlessness!"

Ida bared her fangs. She began to raised a clawed hand only for a flash of light bouncing off the edge of a curved blade to cut between her and the couple.

"It's the middle of the night. What's with the screaming match?" Yami's voice teetered between exasperation and anger. "Shut it or I'm kicking you all out of the base."

Josele looked to Yami. His authoritative aura as a captain shone through. She then looked at Ida. Her sister-in-law was still in tears. Still enraged. But Josele couldn't bring herself to cry for Ida this time. Not when Ida lashed out against Josele's new position as a mother. She turned on her heel and stormed towards her room.

"We're taking Sterling to the manor, Nacht." Josele stated firmly. She paused at the mouth of the hallway. "And Ida, I don't want you near Sterling right now."

"You think I fucking care if-?"

"She's my daughter! I don't want you near her!" Josele left with that.

Nacht did go fast sterling fast up wo sleeping all right now ass he hear Ida screaming viral out of emotion he believes josele can do take care so he bring her fast home

Josele looking shocked at Ida wo did go after her

Ida“YOU CANNOT YOU CANNOT YOUR CANOT!!!!!“ I’m this moment attack Ida josele but josele move fast away

Josele is shocked lucky Nacht did take Sterling away fast she can’t imagine what Ida would do right now in this cured situation whit her

Yami move fast I’m and kick Ida back

Yami“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU DOING?!?!

Ida is now in full devil mote she cry and scream but stopped she know now Sterling and Nacht are away

Ida laughing like a little child and talk creepy „I’m a good child Mom I begging you I’m a good child don’t be scared I don’t hurt you be a good child“

Sukehiro take the chance and pining Ida down and holding her luckily she is not a all strong devil

Josele just looking at her sad after and go Fast away it’s hurt

Yami stare at Ida wo have a mental breakdown „gremlin….just stop you here in the black bulls

Ida crying like creasy „I’m a good child I-I can’t take it she needs be safe……I-I can‘t

Ida use her shadow and kick yami aside she doesn’t know what to do she can’t protect someone she is useless but……

Yami take he’s sword out as Ida attached him

Ida kick after yami wo try to knocking her out

But Ida move in yami’s sword out of nowhere what stuck in her belly now yami looking shocked as Ida spiting blood it’s won’t kill her but…..

Ida falling to the ground

Yami take her fast and kick finral awake but he was awake to bring her too Heinrich

——————-

Heinrich: Yami I needed her to knocking out whit medical care what happened I can’t left her whit Johan after what you did tell my!!!

Plus she is suicidal right now and she know what’s killing her!!!!

Yami looking seriously at him“ just give my the medicine what knocks her out I will take care of her I put her just around my

Heinrich sish“ you can’t be seriously….

Sukehiro seriously “at least I do something I know at least the closest what Ida fell….

Heinrich just Stare at him“ you know if you take the medicine of Ida will take her self out or go after Sterling and take her and I don’t know what will happen if this happen you need to warning josele and Nacht

Yami“ya ya I know we will take care of her

Heinrich looking seriously „good Ida is a devil remember she is not human and she is possessive I don’t know if she would kill even josele and Nacht for Sterling worse is if she see Sterling as her child….

[docrotten]

DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1920) – Episode 160 – Decades Of Horror: The Classic Era

“Damn It! I don’t like your tampering with the supernatural.” What if he just tinkers with it a bit? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Doc Rotten, and Jeff Mohr – as they make the Decades of Horror’s fourth encounter of a strange kind with Robert Louis Stevenson’s story as depicted in Paramount’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 160 – Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era! Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website. Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop. https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/

Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments with scientific means of revealing man’s hidden, dark side and releases a murderer from within himself.

  Director: John S. Robertson 

Writers: Robert Louis Stevenson (novella, 1886); Clara Beranger (scenario) (as Clara S. Beranger); Thomas Russell Sullivan (play) (uncredited)

Selected Cast:

John Barrymore as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde

Brandon Hurst as Sir George Carew

Martha Mansfield as Millicent Carew

Charles Lane as Dr. Lanyon

Cecil Clovelly as Edward Enfield

Nita Naldi as Miss Gina

Louis Wolheim as Music Hall Proprietor

Alma Aiken as Extra (uncredited)

J. Malcolm Dunn as John Utterson (uncredited)

Ferdinand Gottschalk as Old Man at table in music hall (uncredited)

Julia Hurley as Hyde’s Landlady with Lamp (uncredited)

Jack McHugh as Street Kid – Raises Fist to Mr. Hyde (uncredited)

Georgie Drew Mendum as Patron in music hall (uncredited)

Blanche Ring as Woman at table with old man in music hall (uncredited)

May Robson as Old woman outside of music hall (uncredited)

George Stevens as Poole – Jekyll’s Butler (uncredited)

Edgard Varèse as Policeman (uncredited)

The Classic Era Grue Crew takes in another silent scream with this 1920 version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, starring John Barrymore. The makeup-lite early versions of Hyde soon develop into something far more terrifying, augmented by Barrymore’s excellent acting and use of body language. Throw in a quality supporting cast and one of the freakiest dream sequences the crew’s ever seen, and you have a top-notch silent scream!

To check out the other Decades of Horror episodes focused on Stevenson’s novella check these out:

DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1931) – Episode 122 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

DR. JEKYLL & SISTER HYDE (1971) – Episode 175 – Decades of Horror 1970s

THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1968) – Episode 71 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

If silent films are your thing, check out these episodes of Decades of Horror: The Classic Era focused on silent screams:

THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (1920) – Episode 13 

NOSFERATU (1922) – Episode 21

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925) – Episode 42

THE CAT AND THE CANARY (1927) – Episode 60

HÄXAN (1922) – Episode 79

PHANTOM CARRIAGE (1921) – Episode 85

THE GOLEM (1920) – Episode 99

FAUST (1926) – Episode 145

At the time of this writing, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is available to stream from Tubi, Amazon Prime, Hoopla, Kanopy, Screambox, and Crackle. The film is also available as a DVD from multiple sources. Unfortunately, the Kino Classics Blu-ray is no longer available.

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule, as chosen by Doc, is The Alligator People (1959) featuring Lon Chaney Jr., effects makeup by Dick Smith and Ben Nye, and the cinematography of the legendary Karl Struss!! Put your hip-waders on for this trip; they’re going to the swamp!

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com To each of you from each of them, “Thank you so much for watching and listening!”

Check out this episode!

[mission-impossible-ligne-version]

VOIR!! film — Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Partie 1 Streaming-VF gratuit en ligne Version

REGARDER 🔴✅👉 https://bit.ly/3XwLvGa

Mission impossible : Dead Reckoning, partie 1 ou Mission : Impossible – Bilan Mortel Première Partie au Québec (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One) est un film américain réalisé par Christopher McQuarrie et dont la sortie est prévue en 20231. C'est le septième film de la série Mission impossible

Synopsis

Regarder Mission : Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) : Film complet en ligne gratuit Ethan Hunt et son équipe du FMI se lancent dans leur mission la plus dangereuse à ce jour : traquer une nouvelle arme terrifiante qui menace toute l'humanité avant qu'elle ne tombe entre de mauvaises mains . Alors que le contrôle de l'avenir et du destin du monde est en jeu, et que les forces obscures du passé d'Ethan se rapprochent, une course mortelle autour du monde commence. Confronté à un ennemi mystérieux et tout-puissant, Ethan est contraint de considérer que rien ne compte plus que sa mission, pas même la vie de ceux qui lui tiennent le plus à cœur.

Fiche technique

Titre original : Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Titre français : Mission impossible : Dead Reckoning, partie 1 Titre québécois : Mission: Impossible – Bilan Mortel Première Partie Réalisation : Christopher McQuarrie Scénario : Christopher McQuarrie, d'après l’œuvre de Bruce Geller Direction artistique : Marco Furbatto Décors : Gary Freeman Costumes : Jill Taylor Photographie : Fraser Taggart Montage : Eddie Hamilton Musique : Lorne Balfe Production : Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie et Jake Myers Production déléguée : David Ellison, Dana Goldberg et Don Granger Budget : 290 millions de dollars Pays de production : Drapeau des États-Unis États-Unis Langue originale : anglais Genres : espionnage, action Durée : 163 minutes Dates de sortie : France : 12 juillet 2023 États-Unis : 14 juillet 2023 Classification : États-Unis : PG-13 (certaines scènes peuvent heurter les enfants de moins de 13 ans - Accord parental recommandé, film déconseillé aux moins de 13 ans) Distribution Tom Cruise : Ethan Hunt Simon Pegg : Benji Dunn Rebecca Ferguson : Ilsa Faust Ving Rhames : Luther Stickell Vanessa Kirby : Alanna Mitsopolis / « la Veuve Blanche » Hayley Atwell : Grace Pom Klementieff : Paris Frederick Schmidt : Zola Mitsopolis Shea Whigham : Jasper Briggs Henry Czerny : Eugene Kittridge Esai Morales Rob Delaney Charles Parnell Ivan Ivashkin : XO Indira Varma Mark Gatiss Cary Elwes : Denlinger

Production Genèse et développement En janvier 2019, Tom Cruise annonce que les septième et huitième films de la franchise Mission impossible vont être tournés « back to back » (à la suite), toujours avec Christopher McQuarrie comme réalisateur et scénariste. Tom Cruise annonce dès lors que les films sortiront aux États-Unis le 23 juillet 2021 et le 5 août 20222,3.

Attribution des rôles En février 2019, Rebecca Ferguson confirme sa participation au septième, après avoir été dans les deux précédents opus4. En septembre 2019, Christopher McQuarrie annonce sur son compte Instagram que Hayley Atwell a rejoint la distribution5. Le même mois, l'actrice française Pom Klementieff signe pour apparaitre dans ce film et sa suite6.

Simon Pegg confirme son retour en décembre 2019. Shea Whigham signe ensuite pour les septième et huitième films7,8.

En janvier 2020, Nicholas Hoult rejoint le projet. Il est ensuite annoncé que Henry Czerny va reprendre son rôle d'Eugene Kittridge, présent dans le premier film9,10. Vanessa Kirby annonce également son retour11.

En mai 2020, à la suite du report du tournage en raison de la pandémie de maladie à coronavirus, il est annoncé que Nicholas Hoult s'est désengagé du film, pris par d'autres projets. Il est remplacé par Esai Morales12.

Angela Bassett confirme son retour en décembre 2020, avant de se raviser quelque temps plus tard en raison des restrictions de voyages liées au Covid-1913,14.

Tournage Le tournage devait débuter en février 2020 à Venise. L'équipe se rend ensuite à Rome15,16. Cependant, à la suite de la pandémie de coronavirus, le tournage en Italie est suspendu17. Il redémarre quelques semaines plus tard dans le Surrey, en Angleterre18,19. En juillet 2020, après un nouvel arrêt, l'équipe est autorisée à tourner au Royaume-Uni. Le tournage a lieu dans les Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden20. L'équipe est ensuite autorisé à tourner dans le comté de Møre et Romsdal en Norvège21. Plus tard, une impressionnante cascade à moto est tournée dans l'Oxfordshire. Elle a nécessité six semaines de préparation et est l'une des plus chères réalisées au Royaume-Uni22.

Les prises de vues reprennent en septembre 202023. En octobre 2020, de nouvelles prises de vues ont lieu en Norvège : Preikestolen, Stranda et Rauma24. Le 26 octobre 2020, la production est en Italie mais est stoppée car 12 personnes sont testées positives Covid-19.

En décembre 2020, lors du tournage à Londres, un enregistrement audio de Tom Cruise, s’énervant contre le non-respect des protocoles anti-Covid de certains membres de l'équipe, est dévoilé25. Fin décembre 2020, Variety annonce que le tournage principal devrait se terminer aux Longcross Studios26. En février 2021, après des prises de vues à Abou Dabi27, l'équipe retourne à Londres pour quelques retouches et reshoots. Il est par ailleurs annoncé que la production renonce à enchaîner avec le tournage du 8e film, comme cela était initialement prévu28.

En juin 2021, le tournage est à nouveau suspendu pour deux semaines en raison d'un membre testé positif au Covid-1929. Le tournage reprend son cours en août 2021[réf. nécessaire] et s'achève définitivement le 11 septembre 202130.

[paysendormis]

Chaque coup l’enfonce plus profondément dans la terre moite du jardin de son enfance. Chaque perforation de leurs chaussures sales à côté de son crâne font résonner dans ses tympans le tambour de sa marche funèbre.

Il a plu, hier.

Il veut vivre. Il cherche désespéremment une bouffée d'air dans le terreau humide où l'on a coincé son visage. Il distingue le cuir des mains gantées contre sa nuque. Un homme maintient sa bouche enfoncée dans le sol.

Ses inspirations maniaques remplissent ses joues de cette même terre presque noire qui avait porté ses premiers pas. Pas plus tard que la semaine dernière, il l'avait retournée pour y planter des fleurs.

L'humus serpente entre ses côtes. L'hôte est chaleureux. Il éparpille ses valises dans les appartements que font les alvéoles de ses poumons.

Faust étouffe. Il gigote, il gémit, il s'accroche à la vie. Faust agonise.

Son souffle mourant est submergé par le compost qui l'étreint et qui absorbe la dernière chaleur de son corps. La salive coule sous sa langue tordue, le long de son menton sale, puis le goût de la peur est la seule chose qu'il sent. Acide et sucrée comme la bile et le sang au fond de sa gorge.

Vient la fin. Ici, où le ventre du sol est si gorgé d’eau qu’il ne manque plus qu’une graine pour que la moiteur de sa peau provoque la naissance d'une pousse, d'un printemps nouveau. Cette terrifiante qualité qu'est la vie s'échappe par toutes ses fissures, ruines anciennes et nouvelles, pour nourrir les fleurs vernaculaires de son pays de cocagne.

Elles qui tardaient à prendre racine. Elles qui attendaient son retour.

Et alors, peut-être que cet homme que l’on assassine ne mourra pas pour rien.

La terre étouffe Faust. L'apothéose emporte sa carcasse, dévorée par l'écosystème écrasé sous sa chair. Il est bientôt anéanti par ces microvilles, ces architectures de calcium et de photosynthèse, cette civilisation patiente murmurant "J'ai toujours su que tu mourrais dans mes bras."

Un coup de genou plus violent que les autres précipite sa nuque en un angle bizarre. Puis résonne dans son esprit somnolant le craquement d'un crâne qui se fend. Et enfin, le silence.

(...)

Il tombe du ciel. Pas comme Icare, ni comme Alice, mais telle une colombe à qui un chasseur aurait percé une aile. Sans paix pour fardeau, ni liberté pour drapeau, sans possibilité de retour.

La chute est longue mais Faust dort. Il flotte, paisible. L'air lui fait une longue cape dont les pans sifflent le long de ses membres et claquent parfois pour le réveiller. Dans son songe, il lui semble qu’il tourne sur lui-même avec la légèreté d’un pétale de cerisier, attendant l'onde d'un lac pour l'entourer d'un grand linceul blanc.

Son corps prend simultanément la forme d'une feuille d'automne mouvant au gré de la brise, comme le ferait un mobile d’enfant.

Il est aveugle et sourd au chaos qu'il quitte. Il n'a plus conscience de la rage qui régit le royaume d'en-haut. Il oublie tout : la peine, la solitude, l'aigreur, la déception qu'est sa vie. Peut-être qu'en trente ans d'existence, il a finalement gagné cette insouciance.

Il ne s'est jamais senti aussi vaste. Il ne s'est jamais senti aussi léger.

(trou à compléter)

Quand il ouvre les yeux, l’azur est zébré d’une cage blanche, polie comme un miroir. Le temps file entre ses doigts, mais il lui suffit de serrer le poing pour le rattraper et palper enfin les grains du sable du paradis.

(à compléter)

[valentinesparda]

JOULE [electro] || EMIL [hydro] FAUST [pyro] || MELIORA [geo] VANYA [cryo] || BLANCHE [anemo]

im not bothering with a dendro design just yet. but here are all 6 of the bastards!! my personal favourite designs are joule, faust, and vanya....

all of my inserts are nonbinary and use they/them pronouns [the only exceptions being joule and blanche, who use he/they]

[loosesodamarble]

Small Talk

Summary: Morgen comes to understand his daughter a bit more through a dance. Genre: general Word count: ~650

..........

Morgen wove through the crowd of a gala, slipping past attempts at conversation and offers of refreshments. He searched for a particular guest who he knew would be hiding from the glitz and glamor. Moving along the edge of the ballroom, he eventually saw the cascading brown locks of his daughter, Blanche.

The girl turned her head away from the window she’d been staring through and towards Morgen.

“Please tell me that we’re heading home,” Blanche said dryly. “I’ve had my fill of socializing.”

“Sorry, Blanche, but we’re going to be here a bit longer. In the meantime…” Morgen extended his hand. “How about a dance?”

“Hngh…” Blanche’s face twisted as if she’d eaten something unpleasant. “Dad, I’d really rather…” The moment Blanche and Morgen locked eyes, her frown melted and she sighed. “Just one, okay?”

Morgen agreed to Blanche’s terms and guided her to the dance floor. Following the music, Blanche and Morgen moved across the floor.

“So you’re really not enjoying the gala?” Morgen asked, to which Blanche sighed.

“I’ve been talked to death,” answered Blanche. “What about you? Are you enjoying it?”

“Well, knowing that you’re unhappy here has taken away some of the fun—”

Blanche bowed her head and blushed. “Sorry about that…”

“No need to apologize,” Morgen assured her. “I appreciate social events as a form of meeting with old friends and as potential for meeting new ones. That’s what I wanted for you and your siblings. But I understand that it may not be your cup of tea.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, Dad,” muttered Blanche. “It’s just not for me.”

Morgen and Blanche glided past other pairs. In her father’s arms, Blanche relaxed for the first time since arriving at the gala. Her look of boredom from earlier had softened into neutrality. Still not happiness, but something better than gloom.

“Yet you don’t refuse to attend when your mom and I decide to bring the family to one.” Morgen smiled when he pointed out the seeming contradiction in Blanche’s behavior. “How come?”

Blanche shook her head and replied, “As much as I dislike them, I’m not going to run from a social gathering.” She lifted her head higher as she met Morgen’s gaze. “I want to face whatever I find challenging, just like you and mom do as Magic Knights. B-besides… Staying home alone would be, well, lonely…”

Morgen bit back his laughter. For all Blanche’s efforts to be stubbornly apathetic on the outside, she was still a softie underneath. Like all her siblings were too.

“So what about these parties don’t you like?”

“They feel…” Blanche opened and closed her mouth a couple times, grasping for words. “Like too much. There’s too many people invited. Dressing up every time is tiring. And these events last forever.”

Blanche lacked an eloquence with words but her straightforward manner of speech, learned from her mother, made her frustration at the moment feel more real.

“It’s unfortunate that being nobility involves presenting oneself well,” Morgen lamented, a smile present on his face but passionless in its air. “Though you should know that you’d have to put up with more superfluous events if Josele and I actually cared about that. We don’t take invites that come as a formality and only attend the events our friends invite us to.”

“Ugh. You and mom need less friends.”

“Ah ha ha… I don’t think we’ll be trimming the list anytime soon.”

“Then at least stop taking every invite from your friends…”

The conversation fell into a lull and so did the music.

“Thank you for putting yourself out there, Blanche,” Morgen whispered as they left the dancefloor. “We’re proud of you for that. But… if there’s an event you really don’t want to go to, just let us know in the future.”

Blanche blinked a couple of times before smiling and Morgen and nodding.

[avelera]

soooo, you know who probably has a TON of Faustus/Mephistophilis fanfiction ideas? That, even if he never writes them, will turn up in his boyfriend's library of all the books ever dreamed of but never written...which may take some influence from his relationship with said otherworldly thought-he-was-a-devil-for-a-while-and-may-not-have-stopped-by-the-1500s boyfriend...

oh my GOD, Anon, oh MY GOD

OAISDAIOSDJS

I need my smelling salts, one moment, OH MY GOD...

...OK I'M BACK

YES, Hob Gadling ABSOLUTELY projected WILDLY onto Kit Marlowe's Doctor Faustus x Mephistophilis. Did he write fic? Maybe, maybe not he definitely jerked off to fic he never wrote, I'm just saying but there are definitely Hob fanfics FOR Doctor Faustus in Dream's library of "books that were never written"

Just... oh my god, look, I've made references across many of my Dreamling fics but especially throughout "Giving Sanctuary" to Hob being utterly obsessed with "Doctor Faustus" and becoming Kit Marlowe's patron for a minute there because of it (which would have been shortly before he died) and having gone to see it so many times that he had it memorized at one point, and it being the first time he had more than a passing interest in the arts or a play (when it wasn't, y'know, his job as a printer's apprentice).

But I will admit, my assumption he'd like it was based a bit on the cliff notes version and my reading of other versions of Faust. Seeing the Arthur Darvill play was so, so vindicating because, uh huh, yeah yeah yeah, Hob was utterly obsessed with this play, and I will accept no criticism.

Like the scene where some men try to kill Faust by beheading him and he ends up just standing there, holding his own severed head in his hand as he comes to life? I bet you Hob absolutely blanched at that scene and wondered if Marlowe had been spying on him during an unfortunate moment (if he hadn't told Marlowe about it himself). Also, all of Faust's misfortunes come from his deal ending when he dies, but he gets a good life until then. Hob Gadling was totally like, "RIP, Doctor Faustus, but I'm different. My life might not always be amazing, but at least I don't have to worry about fuckin' demons dragging my still-screaming soul down to Hell!"

But also just like... the very clear themes of how a seductive, irresistible man will damn you soul to Hell. That knowledge, and learning, and ignoring institutions that try to control you in favor of living the life you want are all sins just has so many layers of what I assume were known-bisexual Marlowe's own conflict with his chosen life vs. his upbringing. And I'm sure those concerns spoke to Hob's own fears around this spectacular life he has (especially in the 1500s) and the lingering fear that one day he might have to pay the piper.

But yes, Doctor Faustus x Mephistophilis is like the original vampire seduction. Hob canonically worried specifically that he made a bargain with the Devil, that play would have raised the hair on the back of his neck but also... Mephistophilis is hot? And he and Doctor Faustus are like weird fucked up tragic soulmates? Yeah Hob had so, so (so so so) many feelings about this play!

[introvertguide]

Influential Directors of the Silent Film Era

Upon hearing that I am a fan of silent era film, people will ask if I have a favorite actor or movie from the time period. However, when I am asked about my favorites from other fans of silent film, it tends to involve my favorite director. This is because silent film actors had to over gesticulate and performed in an unrealistic way and could not use their tone or words to convey emotion. The directors also did not have a way to review as they shot and would have to use editing skills and strategic cover shots to make sure that everything was done properly and come out the way they imagined it. It was up to the director to be creative and they were forced to be innovative and create ways to convey their vision. Luckily for many average or poor directors of the time, audiences were easily impressed. However, today's more demanding and sophisticated audiences can look back at some of the genius behind the films of silent era Hollywood.

Alice Guy-Blache: Matrimony's Speed Limit (1913) and The Fairy of the Cabbages (1896)

Art director of the film studio The Solax Company, the largest pre-Hollywood movie studio, and camera operator for the France based Gaumont Studio headed up by Louis Lemiere, this woman was a director before any kind of gender expectations were even established. She was a pioneer of the use of audio recordings in conjunction with images and the first filmmaker to systematically develop narrative filming. Guy-Blanche didn't just record an image but used editing and juxtaposition to reveal a story behind the moving pictures. In 1914, when Hollywood studios hired almost exclusively upper class white men as directors, she famously said that there was nothing involved in the staging of a movie that a woman could not do just as easily as a man.

Charlie Chaplin: The Kid (1921), The Gold Rush (1923), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936), and The Great Dictator (1940)

It is unfortunate that many people today think of Chaplin as silly or for screwball comedy when, in fact, he was a great satirist of the time. He created his comedy through the eyes of the lower economic class that suffered indignities over which they had no control. He traversed the world as his "Tramp" character who found his fortune by being amiable and lucky. The idea that a good attitude and a turn of luck could result in happiness was all that many Americans had during the World Wars and the Great Depression. He played the part of the sad clown and he was eventually kicked out of the country for poking fun at American society. Today he is beloved for his work, but he was more infamous than famous during a large part of his life.

Buster Keaton: Sherlock Jr. (1924), The General (1926), and The Cameraman (1928).

That man that performed the most dangerous of stunts with a deadpan expression, Buster Keaton was a great actor, athlete, stuntman, writer, producer, and director. It is amazing that you could get so much emotion out of a silent actor who does not emote, but Keaton managed to do it. He was also never afraid to go big, often putting his own well being at risk to capture a good shot. Not as well known for his cinematography or editing as many of the other directors of the time, he instead captured performances that were amazing no matter how they were filmed. Famous stunts include the side of a house falling down around him, standing on the front of a moving train, sitting on the side rail of a moving train, and grabbing on to a speeding car with one hand to hitch a ride. If you like films by Jackie Chan, know that he models his films after the work of Buster Keaton: high action and high comedy.

Cecil B. Demille: The Cheat (1915), Male and Female (1919), and The Ten Commandments (1923)

Known as the father of the Hollywood motion picture industry, Demille was the first director to make a real box office hit. He is likely best known for making The Ten Commandments in 1923 and then remaking it again in 1956. If not that, he was also known for his scandalous dramas that depicted women in the nude. This was pre-Code silent film so the rules about what could be shown had not been established. Demille made 30 large production successful films in the silent era and was the most famous director of the time which gave him a lot of freedom. His trademarks were Roman orgies, battles with large wild animals, and large bath scenes. His films are not what most modern film watchers think of when they are considering silent films. That famous quote from the movie Sunset Boulevard in 1950 in which the fading silent actress says "All right, Mr. Demille. I'm ready for my close-up," is referring to this director.

D.W. Griffith: Birth of a Nation (1915) and Intolerance (1916)

Griffith started making films in 1908 and put out just about everything that he recorded. He made 482 films between 1908 and 1914, although most of these were shorts. His most famous film today is absolutely Birth of a Nation and it is one of the most outlandishly racist films of the time. The depiction of black Americans as evil and the Klu Klux Klan as heroes who are protecting the nation didn't even really go over well at that time. Some believe that his follow up the next year called Intolerance was an apology, but the film actually addresses religious and class intolerance and avoids the topic of racism. At the time, Griffith films were known for the massive sets and casts of thousands of extras, but today he is known for his racist social commentary.

Sergei Eisenstein: Battleship Potemkin (1925)

This eccentric Russian director was a pioneer of film theory and the use of montage to show the passage of time. His reputation at the time would probably be similar to Tim Burton or maybe David Lynch. He had a very specific strange style that made his films different from any others. The film Battleship Potemkin is considered to be one of the best movies of all time as rated by Sight and Sound, and generally considered as a great experimental film that found fame in Hollywood as well as Russia.

F.W. Murnau: Nosferatu (1922), Faust (1926), and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

I think that most people would know the bald-headed long-nailed vampire Nosferatu that was a silent era phenomena. It was so iconic that the German film studio that produced the movie was sued by the estate of Bram Stoker and had to close. Faust was his last big budget German film and has an iconic shot of the demon Mephisto raining plague down on a town that was the inspiration for the Demon Mountain in Fantasia (1940). Also, Sunrise is considered one of the best movies of all time by the AFI and by Sight and Sound as well as my favorite silent film. Fun facts: 1) more of Murnau's films have been lost then are still watchable and 2) he died in a car wreck at only 40 when he hired a car to drive up the California coast and the driver was only 14.

Erich von Stroheim: Greed (1924)

Maker of very strange German Expressionist films, Stroheim films are often listed as Horror or Mystery even though he considered himself a dramatic film maker. His most famous movie Greed was supposed to be amazing with an 8 hour run time but it was cut drastically to the point that it makes no sense and was both critically and publicly panned when an extremely abridged version was released in the U.S. Over half the film was lost and a complete version no longer exists. Besides this film, Stroheim was even better known for being the butler in the film Sunset Boulevard as a former director who retired to be with an aging silent film star. He also made a movie called Between Two Women (1937) that told the story of a female burn victim that was inspired by the story of his wife being burned in an explosion in a shop on the actual Sunset Boulevard.

Victor Fleming: The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Gone With the Wind (1939)

Although not known for his silent films, Fleming did get his start during the silent era. He was a cinematographer for D.W. Griffith and then Fleming directed his first film in 1919. Most of his silent films were swashbuckling action movies with Douglas Fairbanks or formulaic westerns. He is the only director to have two films on the AFI top 10 and they happened to have come out the same year.

Hal Roach: Lonesome Luke films starring Harold Lloyd, Our Gang shorts, Laurel and Hardy shorts, and Of Mice and Men (1939)

It is not really fair to put Hal Roach in the silent era directors because he was influential at the time but he had a 75 year career. He was a producer and film studio head and even had a studio named after himself. His biggest contribution to the silent era was his production of Harold Lloyd short comedies and he continued to produce films in the early talkies including Laurel and Hardy shorts, Our Gang shorts, and Wil Rogers films. Roach was the inspiration for the film Sullivan's Travels, in which a famous director who only did frivolous comedies goes out into the world to find inspiration to find a serious drama. Roach did direct a single serious drama, Of Mice and Men, but it came out in 1939 and was buried underneath the works of Victor Fleming. The wealthy cigar smoking studio head that many people think of when they picture a film studio suit is based on this guy. The man would not quit and stayed in the business into his 90s and lived to the ripe old age of 100.

[writer-akihiko]

Regarding IkeSen, IkeRev and IkeVamp Asks

Since Act 2 has been officially announced for IkeVamp, I can finally include some characters to my roster of writing.

Although I play the Japanese side of each game, I excluded certain characters to avoid spoilers. Now that everyone's here, I can write them all freely.

Changes to IkeSen writing:

Keiji, Naoe, Kichou, Motonari and Ranmaru are added to the roster for IkeSen scenarios

Requests are open but may possibly be tagged with spoilers still

Will be added to HC writings from now on

Changes to IkeVamp writing:

Vlad, Faust and Charles are added to the roster for IkeVamp scenarios

Requests are open but will be tagged with spoilers possibly

Will be added to HC writings however by request you can exclude them since they are considered a different group from the residents

By default I will write a scenario or HC for each of them

Changes to IkeRev writing:

Other Cradle characters such as Mousse, Harr, Dean, Dalim and Levi will be added under 'Central Quarter' gang with Blanche, Loki and Oliver

Requests are open but I won't tag spoilers because some characters have limited storu content in-game

Will be added to HC writings however by request you can exclude them

However if you exclude them, you will exclude the entire Central Quarter gang including Blanche, Loki, etc.

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

thanks, @opera-my-beloved!

Who are the opera character(s) you relate to the most?

Tatyana from Eugene Onegin and also kinda Blanche from Dialogues des Carmélites for some reason.

What are some opera arias that make you cry?

I’ll give you one: “Senza mamma” from Suor Angelica. EVERY. DAMN. TIME.

What’s an opera or production that disappointed you? 

Based on the two acts I saw of it, the new Vienna Faust. If we’re talking just Met streams, then Elektra. not as a performance or production, but just the opera itself.

What was your favorite themed Met stream week?

Met Opera Verdi Week, Met Opera Bel Canto Week, and Met Opera French Opera Week, all of which are entirely predictable coming from me, but seriously. I loved them all.

tagging anyone interested!

[dear-mrs-otome]

Still He Must Err - IkeVamp (Faust, WIP)

idek guys hopefully this will see the light of day sometime, because local creepy mad scientist deserves better than languishing in my WIP folder like this

------

Her fingertips brushed along the spines of the books lined neatly upon his shelves, row after row. Ticking each one off, lingering over others, her head tilted charmingly to one side as she perused the titles written on some. Until she paused at one, and angled a look over her shoulder that was softened by amusement.

“Goethe’s ‘Faust’.” She pulled the volume from the shelf and flipped it open, lifting an eyebrow at him as she did. “That’s some delightful irony, isn’t it?”

He merely shrugged, feeling a satisfied smile of his own curve his mouth. “I am rather fond of irony.”

For long moments there was only the whisper of paper as she turned pages, leafing idly through the volume, until she stopped and read aloud, in German as nearly flawless as he had heard in some time. “Und Schlag auf Schlag! Werd ich zum Augenblicke sagen: Verweile doch! du bist so schön! Dann magst du mich in Fesseln schlagen…”

“‘If ever I to the moment shall say: Beautiful moment, do not pass away! Then you may forge your chains to bind me…’” he echoed back, and then continued. “‘Then I will put my life behind me, then let them hear my death-knell toll, then from your labors you'll be free, the clock may stop, the clock-hands fall, and time come to an end for me!’”

She closed the book and gripped it before her, clasped to her chest like a breastplate as she held his gaze with a fearlessness he suspected cost her dearly and voiced the suspicions he knew had been haunting her for some time. “Are you the man in this book?”

He was absurdly proud of the way that only the tiniest of tremors worked itself into her voice.

“If I were, what a blessing that would be.” He levered himself from the chair and folded his own hands around the tome, close enough he could feel the warmth of her fingers where they brushed against his own. Counted her fitful heartbeats as they drummed against the backside of the binding, in a cacophony that only grew when he deliberately let his index finger stroke her blanched knuckles. “For what man is ever truly satisfied? I would live forever indeed.”

He watched the soft pink tip of her tongue wet her dry lips, stifling the urge to lean in and capture it between his teeth. “You didn’t answer my question,” she pointed out.

“Because you’re not asking the right one. Not the one I know truly burns in your gaze,” he countered. “Do not be afraid of your curiosity. It is the only thing which separates us from beasts - the desire to ask ‘why?’”

“Are you a vampire?”

“What do you think?”

She nodded, a slight shake before it firmed.

“That would make you either very brave or very foolish to be alone with me, wouldn’t it?” He tilted his head to fix her with a look. “So why are you?”

Her gaze flickered away, before bouncing back. Like the cautious flit of a bird. “Curiosity, maybe.”

He didn’t bother suppressing the delighted chuckle that tickled low at his belly. “An inquisitive mind is the greatest of gifts.” He watched as something stirred and sparked, flaring to life in the depths of her stare. A flicker of heat, fed by the air that hitched in her lungs as he leaned a hair closer. “You know what they say about curiosity and cats.”

“And they also say that satisfaction brought it back.” She never blinked as a thread of challenge wove into her voice. “So then...can you satisfy me, Dr. Faust?”

Oh, yes. He liked this one indeed.