#can’t wait to hear it on Re: Dracula

[mortalmab]

I didn’t notice this last year but now it’s breaking my heart a little. Because yeah, she IS going to be passing quite out of his life. But also, she has no idea just how true his promise is. I know she is a fictional character doomed by the narrative but, ugh, **she has NO idea** how far this man will go for her, for her friend, for her memory and how truly he speaks when he says if she ever needs a friend to consider him one of the best.

I just, ugh, mm, oof, I need a moment.

[pirateshauntedbydadjokes]

Happy 2nd day of Dracula daily, everypony!

[roseforthethorns]

Anyone else think for a moment that they were gonna just give us today’s episode in Morse code?

[crypticmoth-art]

physical book: ready

dracula daily: subscribed

re dracula notifs: on

I can’t wait to hear from my dear friend Jonathan Harker about his business trip!

[chemicallywrit]

Happy Audio Drama Sunday! I was busy doing many things this week, but luckily they were the kind of things that facilitate a lot of audio drama listening. Shall we?

👹 G.O.B.L.I.N.S. is amazing. I love an office sitcom in any case, but an office sitcom with two goblins, an elf prince, and an overly enthusiastic government pencil pusher is an inspired idea. I really want this show to exist more, so if you can, consider helping them on their crowdfund!

💋 Josie’s Lonely Hearts Club this week was HILARIOUS. The presidential puns were so delightful, and I also ended the episode wanting to fight a veterinarian. Can’t wait to see where this season is going.

🌚 @hellofromthehallowoods is always so good at creating these gorgeous soft character moments, and I adore middle-aged Buck. Watching this man gracefully age into a husband and father who likes himself, who knows he is loved, is such a far cry from the poor little guy he used to be. I really don’t want him to get eaten by a vampire. Are you hearing me, Mx Wellman?

📻 Breaker Whiskey ended for now and ohhhhhhh. Oh man. I cried. The experience of listening to this story feels very early audio drama, and that’s definitely by design. Lauren Shippen let the story wander and discover itself, and we got to discover it too. Was it a flawless story? No story is, but getting to revel in the wandering just made it better. Whatever’s next for the story, I have enjoyed the ride.

🥛 The Silt Verses. That’s it. I found this episode entrancing. How’s this going to end?

🥃 Breathing Space this week was hilarious. In a rare voice acting appearance by Pacific Obadiah and some familiar voices from Melissa Lusk and Katrina Pecina as well as the ol' Breathing Space standbys, this heartfelt, witty, and above all very silly episode felt really good. I just loved it.

🐟 In Travelling Light this week, VERMI'S BACK. My favorite guy! And it seems we won't be seeing the last of this guy, either. Thank you Hero for my life. Friendship is gonna solve all the traveller's problems and I couldn't be happier.

🧟‍♀️ In Hannah News, The Dead started a new series called Turas that I really think you should check out. It’s set on a Scottish isle with Scottish Gaelic, and zombies, and sister dynamics, and it’s so good guys. Our main actors, Michelle Kelly and Bonnie Calderwood Aspinwall, are absolutely killing it, alongside an amazing cast. Please tune in, you won't regret it.

🧛🏻‍♀️ Also this week, I got the chance to hop on Re: Dracula's July Q&A for our patrons! You gotta check out our patreon, y'all, creating gothic fiction has been so much fun. We're hard at work on Carmilla while Re: Drac is having its second go-round. Join usssssss.

That's all for me this week! It's long enough as it is. See you next week!

[vestaclinicpod]

Audio Drama Sunday - 12th November ✨

I’ve LOVED everything that’s touched my ears this week. Going to start this round up with a brand new instant favourite 🧡

🧳 Travelling Light (1) we all knew that whatever @monstrousproductions ’s next venture was, it would be bloody brilliant but Travelling Light is so far up my street, it’s parked in my drive. I LOVE wholesome sci-fi and this show promises to be that and more. I can’t wait for the next episode! 🥰


👁️ @malevolentcast (37) we’re on a farm! and it’s bloody horrible!!! Poor Oscar, man. If God did bring him to Arthur then God has a funny little sense of humour.

🌒 @monkeymanproductions I finally found time to listen to the Jaxon bonus episode and it was so lovely 🥺 I love the pair of them so much and it was so nice learn more about the past while hearing their plans for the future! I also can’t wait to hear the next one!!

🏛 @the-mistholme-museum UNCERTAIN. Unlike the head of retrieval, I am a big fan of time travel shit and it was done in such a fun way in this episode. The security issue has become even more of a mystery!! Part of me can’t wait to get to the bottom of it and part of me doesn’t want the show to end 😅

🧛‍♂️ @re-dracula It’s over!! I never would have made it through the dailies without this wonderful audio experience. A huge congrats to the cast and crew for all their hard work!!

🐬 @patterspod I listened to the glow while cycling into work yesterday and it was great but it sure set me up in a strange mood for the day ahead

🌨️ HELL YEAH @thewhitevault (2). Let’s explore how humans contribute to the horrors. This whole situation in the woods is horrifying and one of my absolute favourite things about this show is how natural the acting is, it’s all too believable and it makes it so much scarier.

Hope everyone has had a good week!! I’m planning on trying to finish Wolf 359 next week… I don’t know if I’m emotionally ready!!

[warrioreowynofrohan]

One of the things that always drives me nuts about the Oct 3 entry is how Arthur and Quincey come to Renfield’s cell and they all just sit there waiting to hear from him what happened, when they already should be able to conclude that 1) this is not an accident, he has been attacked; 2) there is no attacker present nor was any seen entering or leaving, so the attacker is probably Dracula; 3) there’s therefore a pretty strong chance Dracula can get inside the asylum; 4) ergo, someone should go check on the Harkers to see if they’re in danger. I was just sitting listening to Re: Dracula and fuming as they wasted time.

If Van Helsing had sent Arthur and Quincey to get their anti-vampire supplies and check on the Harkers while he and Seward operated on Renfield, instead of waiting for certainty, Dracula might have been stopped. This is no time for Victorian propriety!

(On another note, I just read the TVTropes entry for The Magnus Archive and Jonathan Sims was such perfect casting for Seward given the commection to The Beholding. It hungers for information and records but can’t draw conclusions from them, and that’s also Seward to a T, he keeps such detailed notes but can’t pick up on any connections even when they’re obvious.)

[marypenelope]

A lot of people have posited that Guillermo's blood might be poisonous or he might have special abilities or whatever because of his relation to the Van Helsing family. Its understandable, because it's mostly what the show has been implying, but I'm not convinced.

(Under the cut bc this got long)

For one thing, the Van Helsing heritage makes up a very small percentage of Guillermo's ancestry. If Guillermo has special powers because of this heritage, there should probably be a bunch of other people who are a lot more closely related and therefore are either just as powerful or more so, yet it doesn’t seem like something the vampire community was aware of until Guillermo.

Plus, I'm still not sure Van Helsing is... real? In the wwdits universe?

I mean, it's been kinda implied that he is, especially with the 'Van Helsing's Dick' artifact from s3e2, but like... still.

I mean, if Dracula is an actual historical figure in the world of wwdits, I'm pretty sure it hasn’t been mentioned. And Dracula is, after all, where the character of Van Helsing originally came from.

Now, I did a bit of research and there’s apparently some unsubstantiated claims that Van Helsing was based on a real person, but no one can agree on who, specifically. And none of the proposed inspirations actually have the last name Van Helsing. Which means that, if Dracula is a work of fiction in wwdits the same way it is in our world, even if Bram Stoker did know a legendary vampire hunter, their name probably wasn’t actually Van Helsing.

Of course, this is a TV show where vampires are real, so maybe the events of Dracula really did happen.

Now, I haven’t actually read Bram Stoker's Dracula before, but I did do some research on the character of Abraham Van Helsing. According to annotations by Leonard Wolf, Van Helsing had a son, but he had died some time before the novel. His wife subsequently went insane with grief, leaving her "dead to [Van Helsing], but alive by Church's law", so I'm doubtful he would have had any other children. This leaves him without any direct descendants - it's possible Guillermo could be related through a cousin or niece/nephew or something, but he wouldn't be getting the actual genes of the famous vampire hunter, which to me makes it unlikely he'd get any special powers via that relation.

Now, it could be that wwdits has made it so Van Helsing does have direct descendants, Guillermo being one of them, but again, we can't know for sure.

Now, based on what I can find, Van Helsing doesn’t seem to be a common last name, but it is a real last name that some people have. So, whether or not Abraham Van Helsing the vampire slayer actually existed in the world of wwdits, it's possible his family is not the same Van Helsings that Guillermo is related to.

"But wait!" I can hear you saying. "If Van Helsing doesn’t exist/Guillermo isn’t really related to him in a way that would give him magic DNA, why is he so good at killing vampires and why is he immune to hypnotism?"

Well, Guillermo was already doing a lot of physical work as a familiar pre-vampire slaying - disposing of bodies, keeping house, capturing victims, etc. Despite what some people think re weight and health, Guillermo was never exactly out of shape. And it's possible that he is just naturally gifted at fighting - sometimes people are just good at things. It isn’t necessarily because of who their family is. As for the hypnotism, Guillermo said it himself - the vamps used it so often he became immune.

Honestly, the thing that convinces me most that this theory is correct is the way they went about establishing Guillermo's supposed ancestry. Through his DNA test, we know it's an undisputed fact that hes related to a Dutch family with the last name Van Helsing - maybe one of them was even named Abraham, we don’t know. But after that fact is established, Guillermo largely comes to the conclusion that he must be related to that Van Helsing as a way to justify why and how he killed both the Baron and that random vampire security guy. It wasn’t bad luck or an accident, it was fate.

Except that, well, none of that really holds up. The Baron was a genuine mistake - the vampires technically should have been asleep by that point, there was no way for Guillermo to realize that he was behind the door when he opened it. And while he did deliberately ward off the security vampire with his cross necklace, he didn’t actually intend for the guy to end up dead impaling himself. In fact, Guillermo only starts deliberately killing vampires after he learns of his supposed heritage - he can't help it, after all. It's in his nature. In his blood.

Unless it's not. Unless all the bloodthirsty, violent impulses and outbursts have just been a part of Guillermo all along, a part that he never wanted to acknowledge.

At the very least, it's an interesting thought.

[natehoodreviews]

2021 Year End Compilation

White Noise, Don DeLillo

What’s this book “about?” I’d argue the dissipation of the individual in the face of consumerist devaluation and the commodification of sociological signifiers. In short, the revolution IS being televised and sold in shrink-wrapped six-packs in the supermarket beer aisle.  And...I'm not sure if I can 100% explain what I mean by this so don't ask me to try...but this book is exactly what I'd hoped Todd Haynes' Safe (1995) would be before I watched it.

I, Claudius, Robert Graves

“Since [the sacred chickens] do not wish to eat, let them drink!”

Chemistry, Weike Wang

A little dry, but brisk enough to not overstay its welcome. 

Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story, Martin Luther King, Jr.

One of the most dangerous books I’ve ever read. A step-by-step how-to guide for nonviolent revolution. I can’t believe the US government has never tried to ban and suppress it.

Upright Women Wanted, Sarah Gailey

Charming enough lesbian reclamation of the Western genre. I do wish it had a few more drops of vinegar, though.

Pizza Girl, Jean Kyoung Frazier

It’s difficult to NOT compare this book to Weike Wang’s Chemistry: they’re both stories of second generation Asian-American women having quarter(ish) life crises despite (or because of?) having seemingly perfect white boyfriends. But this book goes darker and gets a lot nastier and meaner than Wang’s and it’s honestly all the better for it. Maybe a little TOO mean, dark, and nasty for my taste. But somehow Frazier stuck the landing well enough that I’m happy I gritted my teeth and pushed through.

Rebel Chef: In Search of What Matters, Dominique Crenn and Emma Brockes

Was it a mistake to read the biography of a 3-Michelin Star French chef chock-full of food porn in the middle of a deadly pandemic where going to ANY restaurant could potentially get you killed? Probably. Do I regret it? No. (Also, hearing Anthony Bourdain being written about in the past tense and eulogized was quite the sobering experience.)

The Sirens of Mars, Sarah Stewart Johnson

A decent enough primer on Mars exploration that shoots for the cosmological wonder of Carl Sagan...and sometimes even pulls it off.

Why We Can’t Wait, Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Birmingham counterpart to Stride Towards Freedom’s Montgomery. Essential reading, if only for its inclusion of King’s "Letter from Birmingham Jail.”

When in Romans, Beverly Roberts Gaventa

Proof that the world would be a better place if more biblical theologians used Terrence Malick films and Bruce Springsteen songs as reoccurring metaphors for explaining complicated exegesis. 

Motherless Brooklyn, Jonathan Lethem

It’s interesting to compare this book with Edward Norton’s 2019 film version which turned Lethem's 80s hardboiled potboiler about mobsters and into a 50s noir fever dream about gentrification and city corruption. Norton's radical changes remind me a good deal of Herzog's NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE (1979) which re-imagined F. W. Murnau's re-imagining of Bram Stoker's Dracula into a Teutonic parable of humanity's destined destruction at the hands of nature. Both take certain core elements from their source materials—a stuttering detective tries to solve his boss' murder; an ancient vampire attacks a modern European city—and uses them as springboards to tell their own stories exploring their own thematic obsessions. Yet both films feel like fully realized adaptations of their sources, though ones shined through a glass darkly. They would make a fascinating double feature.

Yes!: My Improbable Journey to the Main Event of WrestleMania, Craig Tello and Daniel Bryan

I have a good friend who said he didn’t like the corporate-speak prologues to each chapter, but to me they provided a fascinating kayfabe counterpoint to Daniel Bryan’s pre-2016 retirement career.

My Sister, the Serial Killer, Oyinkan Braithwaite

Reading this book is like slowly twisting a knife under your fingernails. You see the feel-bad ending coming a mile away, but like a boulder rolling down a hill you know you can’t stop it. Not a molecule of narrative fat on this one.

A House for Mr Biswas, V. S. Naipaul

Though this may be Naipaul’s most personal novel, my favorite parts probably had the least to do with the specific elements that were directly inspired by his family’s stories. For me, the heart of this novel is its depiction of Hindu Trinidad and Tobago in all its tragic detail: little children drinking bottles of Coca-Cola, glasses of Ovaltine, and cups of condensed milk mixed with sulfur; opulent ceremonial dishes laid out for impoverished Brahmin; rabid crowds massing into theaters to watch American Westerns. It’s a cross-segment of an entire society, warts and all.

Killing the Business, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson

In addition to being a brisk and engrossing read, it also sorta doubles as an informal history lesson on the rise of the American indie wrestling scene in the 00s and 10s.

The Witches, Roald Dahl

I’m starting to think that the people who write the best children’s books are the ones who hate children the most. That’s certainly the case here. What a nasty, lovely little book.

Underland: A Deep Time Journey, Robert Macfarlane

Writing a book about the human concept of “underneath” or “underground” might seem as preposterous as writing a book about the color brown or the number three. Yet Macfarlane creates an encyclopedia of such hypnotic esoterica as the Parisian catacombs and hostile architecture guarding buried nuclear fallout that once you start it you’ll scarcely want to put it down. My finishing it in about a day is proof of that.

Gilead, Marilynne Robinson

“I heard a man say once that Christians worship sorrow. That is by no means true. But we do believe there is a sacred mystery in it, it’s fair to say that.”

The Wapshot Chronicle, John Cheever

One day Cheever will regain his place as one of the great American prose stylists alongside Twain, Hemingway, and McCarthy. It’s simplistic to suggest that this book represents an Americanized Dickens what with its detailed sense of environment and place, its Bildungsroman structure, and its cast of exaggerated eccentrics and grotesques. But the similarities are there. What Cheever adds, however, is a twentieth century frankness about sexuality and performative masculinity as well as a distinctively New England sense of wistfulness. And again, what beautiful, beautiful language...

Tropic of Cancer, Henry Miller

A paean to philosophical and sexual amorality. Monstrously misanthropic and misogynistic. Pretty words, though.

Pnin, Vladimir Nabokov

That last chapter broke my brain. Damn that Nabokov and his unreliable narrators!

Friday Black, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

The short stories in this collection range from “fine” to “good.” But “The Finkelstein 5” is a scorching heat wave of fury. It’s terrifying not because the story itself is scary, but because it gives white readers like myself an unfiltered glimpse at the rage we’ve spent centuries of supremacy kindling in other people. That might be the best story here, but my favorite is “Light Spitter” which sees a college shooter and his victim meeting in the bardo. You could structure an entire novel out of the afterlife mythos presented here.

The Wings of the Dove, Henry James

James has this odd way of writing where it feels like he never knows where his sentences will end up going when he starts them. I just couldn’t get a feeling for his prose.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, Christopher Moore

Somehow simultaneously stupider and smarter than I thought it would be.

Sisters, Daisy Johnson

Very possibly the best horror story about an evil sister dominating their sibling since We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Ghastly, hypnotic stuff.

A History of the World in 10½ Chapters, Julian Barnes

Uneven but by and large quite good. I do think it's hilarious how the last short story beat the finale of THE GOOD PLACE to the punch by over thirty years. But my favorite of these short stories was “The Wars of Religion” which had me rolling on the floor.

Dear Committee Members, Julie Schumacher

Read it in one sitting. Poisonously acerbic and wickedly funny, it’s one of the best looks at the reality of modern liberal arts colleges ever written. And talk about an ending that knows how to twist the knife in the wound...

Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches, John Hodgman

So dry it makes Garrison Keillor feel like Robin Williams. Still, it has its moments. (“I’m sorry, Pump-Daddy!”)

The White Castle, Orhan Pamuk

I can’t believe it took me this long after high school to read another Pamuk novel. Needless to say, it was fantastic.

The Elephant Vanishes, Haruki Murakami

At the very least, this short story collection gave me the opportunity to read Murakami's "Barn Burning." It definitely gave me a new appreciation for Lee Chang-dong's BURNING (2018) in that it made me realize how much he sucked all the tantalizing ambiguity out of the story. And that he, you know, adapted a brisk short story into a bloated, dreary 2½ hour slog.

Flaubert’s Parrot, Julian Barnes

Whether the assembled material was all invented, all authentic, or a mixture of the two, this book is a truly astonishing compilation of obscure miscellany concerning Gustave Flaubert. Whether or not it all adds up to a compelling novel is an entirely different matter.

A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway

For a book ostensibly about Hemingway in Paris, it’s surprising how much of it doesn’t take place in or even have anything to do with the City of Lights. But then, it’s a book about Paris as a state of mind rather than as a metropolitan city. It helps that the writing is moving and beautiful and true.

If Cats Were to Disappear from the Earth, Genki Kawamura

Talk about a million dollar elevator pitch! Lovely book with an exquisite melancholy about life and death at its center.

French Exit, Patrick deWitt

DeWitt can’t seem to decide if he finds the wealthy amusing, tragic, or cruel. I think the book would have been all the stronger if he’d definitively came down on one side of the equation, but as it stands this book is still one of the most howlingly funny I’ve read in some time.

Shadows on the Rock, Willa Cather

Very little happens in this book, and I think that’s in large part why I love it. Cather creates such a vivid sense of place that you feel like you’re actually inhabiting late seventeenth century Quebec. Very few writers speak to me on such a personal emotional, spiritual, and aesthetic level, and this novel in particular felt like a balm on my mind.

The Fran Lebowitz Reader, Fran Lebowitz

Verily, Fran Lebowitz is the heir apparent to Dorothy Parker. And much like with Dorothy Parker, I have trouble reading too much of her work in one sitting. Her carefully curated self-absorbed cynicism grates after a while. I think the best way to experience Lebowitz’s writing might very well be to try and replicate its original medicinal drip in monthly publications by only reading one of her articles a week.

To Have and Have Not, Ernest Hemingway 

Dreadful. Had to force myself to keep turning pages. Howard Hawks was right to throw most of it out when he made the movie.

St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, Karen Russell 

My goodness! I’m not sure I’ve encountered another writer who so enjoys torturing children since Edward Gorey. I really wish Russell didn’t tend to end her stories right when they seem like they’re starting their third acts. Still, it was nice to read a version of Swamplandia! that didn’t end with child rape. And the short story that gave this collection its title was positively superb.

Sold, Patricia McCormick

Jeez...this book was written for young adults?! I’m a full-ass adult and I don’t think I was old enough to read this.

In Calabria, Peter S. Beagle

Not just a superb coda to The Last Unicorn, but a stirring parable about the disruptive and soul-restoring power of faith.

Matilda, Roald Dahl

Honestly a little hard to read? Imagine if someone took all the scenes of child abuse from Stephen King’s novels and turned them into a kid’s book.

Summer Crossing, Truman Capote

So, about that ending. Did Capote always plan on it ending like that or did he just grow tired with writing the damned thing and decided the easiest way to finish it was to kill everyone off? Because I think I’d believe either answer. What a bore of a book.

Chekov—Eleven Stories, Anton Chekhov

I read a few of these stories a number of years ago. But I feel like I’m only now mature enough to truly appreciate them. “The Black Monk” is one of the finest short stories I’ve ever encountered.

The Sisters Brothers, Patrick deWitt

A moving--if occasionally cruel and gory--story about the futility of violence as a lifestyle. The more outlandish it got the more I liked it.

Leaf Storm, Gabriel García Márquez

A morbid, macabre welcome to the village of Macondo.

Plain Song, Jim Harrison

Favorite poem: “Northern Michigan” for how it captures the spirit of rural decay.

Honorable mentions: “Lost”; “Fair/Boy Christian Takes a Break”; “Lisle’s River”; “John Severin Walgren, 1874-1962″

Revenge, Jim Harrison

I understand why some people might not like the anticlimactic ending, but I found Harrison’s subversion of traditional revenge narratives refreshing and ultimately inspiring.

The Man Who Gave Up His Name, Jim Harrison

One of the measures of Jim Harrison's genius was that he was one of the only writers who could write the phrase "he made a melancholy bouillabaisse" and not only make it seem non-pretentious but utterly essential to the story at hand.

Legends of the Fall, Jim Harrison

Fecund with the stark poetry of nature, violence, and vengeance.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Thursday, October 21

Lilah: "Aren't we going to be late?" Holland: "You never want to be on time for a ritual, the chanting, the blood rites, they go on forever."

~~To Shanshu in L.A.~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Change of Plans (Giles/Buffy, T) by ElleV

Don't waste the Devil's time (crossover with Devil May Cry, Tara's family, T) by Aragorn_II_Elessar

That's what I love about her (Spike, T) by RogueVader1996

Lick (Giles/Buffy, T) by Skyson

So Many Things I Would've Told You If I Knew That I Was Never Gonna See You Again (Tara/Willow, T) by TanithClaraComet_BillPip

[Chaptered Fiction]

north star, Chapter 1-3 (Jenny, Willow, Scoobies, Jenny & Buffy, Spike x Buffy, T) by The_Eclectic_Bookworm

The Tiger is Out, Chapter 36 (OC & Spike/Buffy, R) by Cosmic Tuesdays

Stolen Moments, Chapter 1 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by Feanix88

The Call Beyond the Veil, Chapter 1 (Spike/Buffy, R) by feedingthefire

Cheat the Midnight Hour, Chapter 22 (Spike/Buffy, R) by SlayrGrl

Legacies - Scenes, Chapter 2 (crossover with Captain America, Scoobies, FR18) by Rich

You Can't Fight Fate - But You Can Piss Him Off, Chapter 1-2 (crossover with Batman, Faith, FR13) by Hermionetobe

[Images, Audio & Video]

Digital drawing: you don’t need poltergeists for sidekicks (Xander, worksafe) by snakeliciousbaby

Drawing: ...to be a kind of man. (Spike, worksafe) by badslayerday

Manip: Dracula and Buffy with cat ears (worksafe) by cat-ear-god

Vidlet: I hear a symphony (Spike/Buffy) by lqvewillow

[Reviews & Recaps]

6x10 wrecked is SO funny by turnupthefaders

things i can say after watching all of buffy by for-gwaine

Commentary on "I Wish I Could (and Don't) Hate Buffy Season 6" by Five by Five Takes, part 1 and part 2 (?) by girl4music

Liveblog of early AtS s2 by therantygeek

PODCAST: Pop Culture Role Call: Cephalopod Juice - Angel S01E06 - Sense and Sensitivity

[Recs]

Video "The Transphobia of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel" by GoingRampant recced by girl4music

Faith/Buffy fic recs by Malk_McJorma, thenewbuzwuzz, purplemackem

[Fandom Discussions]

What started turning me into a Bangel by oveliagirlhaditright

People insisting spike is straight despite him canonically... by godsfavspike, sinloi

Re: spike sexually assaulting buffy is ooc, part 1 and part 2 by herinsectreflection, godsfavspike

For you was Spike part of the Scoobies one day? by spikeverse, Faded90

Wait… Spike is HOT? by tinkflowers

Did Angel really know The Beast when he was Angelus or was that a fabrication by Jasmine? hosted by jdpm1991

Which two Bads (big or little) would you wanna see fight? hosted by mushabo0om

Is this the same s5 ep1 Dracula? by Maleficent-Panic8621 and others

Who introduced you to the Buffyverse? by battle-o-the-planets and others

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[aliypop]

In The Still of The Night

Word Count : 1,232

Warning: Language and slight smut

A/N: Not too much of a Mental Break down this time which is good, but anyways I wanted to do something with the boys in the 50′s so if you like it I’ll definitely write more !

The summer of 56 on the boardwalk was magical, motorcycles, singers, and, "HEY YOU!" Marko, Paul, Dwayne, and David raced out of the record shop, leather jackets flying behind them like the wind. Elvis records under their arms as they ran off on their motorcycles. 

"Oh, shit..." Paul mumbled under his breath.

"What now? Paul!" David grumbled.

"Where the hell is Tiffany..." he questioned, walking past a gang of bikers. "Hey, baby..." one of the T-Birds said,  grabbing the young girl by her wrist, one of them hiking up the skirt of her dress, "Wanna have some fun with us, little lady..." his fingers wrapped around one of her curls. 

"I don't want any trouble," her red lipstick lips frowned in a pout. 

"Oh, come on, Monroe..." the leader of the gang leaned in his breath, wreaking of cheap whiskey. 

" I said, I don't want any trouble!" She growled, vamping out at them as they ran away from her. Flattening out her yellow polka-dot dress, she stood next to one of their bikes, taking the keys and putting them inside her purse. "Shame I ruined my lipstick..." she mumbled as the rumble of motorcycles approached her way. 

"You're late, you know..." she mentioned, as the smell of David's cigarettes flew past her nose.

 "Sugar, we're sorry..." Dwayne sighed

"Hmmph..." Tiffany rejected walking on the sidewalk of the shops. 

"The cold shoulder again, youch..." 

"Not now, Stewart..." Tiffany sighed, 

"I don't think they meant to -" 

"Stewart, this happens almost every day. It's like I don't even matter. " she huffed, looking at her vampire companion, who was wearing a summer sweater that Marko made him. "Have you tried telling them that..." he asked, lighting a cigarette, offering one to Tiffany, "Between work and the sounds of hearing-"

"Hey, sweetheart, why don't you  get with a real ma-"  

"One second..." She pushed the guy in the alley, sinking her teeth into his neck as she enjoyed the sweet taste that was blood. Stewart only watched as he hesitated in joining in. 

"Eating without us, Kitten..." David smirked, his hair resembling that of James Dean. 

"I can't always wait for you..." she laughed, no traces of blood left on her dress, "Now if you'll excuse me..." she tried walking past, but David only blocked her path. "You're not going anywhere till you tell us what's wrong," he smirked, picking her up and placing her on the back of his bike. 

"Need a ride..." Marko asked, looking up at Stewart.

"That'd be nice." he smiled.

Sitting in the living room of Max's house were David, Dwayne, and Tiffany. "This is pointless..." She sighed, crossing her feet. But both David and Dwayne stared until she finally pried open like a clam. "Darling, I'm going  to ask again what's wrong." Dwayne sighed, getting Tiffany to look at him, using a few of his powers on her. 

" Nothing..." she tried to fight against his mind tricks.

"Tiff..." David kissed her hand, "Tell us..." 

"I'm tired of feeling like... like.." 

"Like what?"

"Like Doris Day...  she sighed, "Perfect and pretty..." kicking her heels off, "I wanna be a Lost Boy and not a Wendy Darling," she smirked, "A Dorthy Dandridge if you will." Tiffany leaned in towards David.

"Kitten, you'll get yourself hurt..." he kissed her cheek.

"Maybe I want to..." an innocence appearing in her features. "Maybe I wanna be someone else..." 

"Dear, I don't think that's a good idea..."

"Stars do it all the time, besides all the good girls go to hell, and I'm a vampire. I already got my foot in the door." her hand on his chest, 

"You sure about this..." Stewart asked, watching Tiffany throw an endless amount of clothes near his way. It was almost as if it were 1906 again. "I think the pin-up look screams femme - fatale." she shrugged, wrapped in a  tight dark pink dress and pumps to match. 

 "You look..."

"Look... Like," she asked, a bit nervous

"Hey, Tiff, you coming or not!" Marko asked,

"Where you guys going?"

"Mo-" he paused, watching the way she walked over to him, pure seduction if he ever did see such a creature. 

"Stewart, be a dear and get my motorcycle keys from my purse." she waved over as he rushed to get them, "Marko mon amour pick up your jaw, will you." racing to the drive-in was Paul, Marko, and Stewart who was riding with Tiffany, 

The wind blew in her hair as she felt wild and free like the teenager she appeared to be. 

"Tiffany, slow down. I'm going to be sick!"

"I'm burning rubber Stew!" she smirked, passing by Paul, who began to pick up speed. 

"When’dya learn how to ride?"

"Taught myself."  Tiffany smiled. As they approached the drive-in, she caught sight of two someones at the hot dog cart. 

" Got get 'em!" Stewart cheered, wrapped around Marko, the two making their way to scare a couple for their car. 

" I didn't think you'd be a relish kind of man," Tiffany mentioned, a cigarette in her mouth, which David lit up with his lighter.

"Tiff, is that you..." Dwayne looked in shock. 

"In the flesh Daddy-O" she winked.

"In a place like this..." David smirked, watching her cough on her cigarette smoke, "You're supposed to exhale it, not inhale..." he grumbled, "Marko and Paul invited me to the passion pit." she smirked. Hearing Dwayne growl lit a roaring fire in her core, 

" Invited you to do what exactly..."

"Like you, two would care." she rolled her eyes, walking away towards the car that Stewart and Marko had stolen. 

"Did I miss anythi-"

"Oh... uh... this is..." 

"You two have fun doing the backseat bingo." She blushed, the image of disgruntled Stewart now forever etched in her memory.

 "Need a ride, sugar?"  Tiffanys back stiffened as the hair on her neck raised from the sultry lowness of Dwayne's voice.

"What kinda ride are we talking about?" 

" Depends on what you're offering, buttercup."  David winked, pulling her in the backseat. Tiffany felt butterflies in her stomach, if that were even possible. A re-showing of the '30s monster movie hit Dracula was showing. 

There stood Dracula about to bite Mina as Dwayne only groaned, he was never really a big fan of vampire films, they always felt too inaccurate to him. "How romantic..." Tiffany swooned, 

" A kiss from an eternal lover..."  

"Anyone could do that..." Dwayne grumbled. 

"Then why don't you..." Tiffany pulled him close, her hand on his chest, while David peppered kisses down her neck. Dwayne tilted her chin, stealing a kiss from her rose-red lips. His hand crawled up her thigh. 

“Dwayne!” She shrieked, as he placed her in his lap taking turns between him and David. Her back arching with every thrust from Dwayne while her moans were stifled by David's length in her mouth. “Good girl… Kitten…” David winked, his hands wrapped her hair watching as legs grew weak from Dwayne's thrust. “You’re doing so good babe…” Dwayne breathed out as the three of them only grew closer. “Oh putain right there!” her hips grinding as fast as they’d allow her too. By the time they had finished, Dracula had already died. 

“ To die, to be really dead must be glorious…”  

“I don’t remember this scene.” David smirked, sitting with both Dwayne and Tiffany under the  boardwalk. 

“Maybe a certain pink dress would help you remember better.” Dwayne hinted, holding Tiffany against his chest.

“I second that…”

[imaginesbymk]

PINK + WHITE.

—chapter eight ; the flapper girl.

summary: teresa’s permanent resignation from the peaky blinders leads her to a whole new chapter of working in an art museum. but little did she know her best life would be butchered some time later when her former lover tommy shelby gives her no choice but to return to the peaky blinders after they make new enemies, with the leader, of all people, being the man teresa fell in love with one night after a wedding reception back in post world war; luca changretta.

pairing: luca changretta x OC x tommy shelby

tags in this chapter: swearing, drinking

[ chapter index / meet my oc / wattpad link ]

“TERESA, would it kill ya to quit staring at me? I'm tryna do my work here." He fumbles for the ballpoint pen that fell out of his shaky hand. Even when his eyes were down, he still felt hers following his every move when he picked up certain sheets, watching his lips curl when he read a sentence on a report from his father, or just overthinking if Teresa was judging his appearance. There's nothing on my chin, is there? Food in my teeth?

"Am I making the Italian mafioso Luca Changretta nervous?" Teresa leaned over the desk to trail her finger down Luca's chest where she could tease him by gripping the line of his blazer and rip the buttons off. "The same Italian mafioso that got some amateur in Los Angeles to beg on his knees?"

Luca didn't look up from his work. "He was trying to be sneaky and spent nearly a hundred dollars worth of gin for his mistress."

"Is that something you would do? Spend every dime to make his mistress happy?"

"I spend money on myself, to make myself look and feel good, some for business and for special occasions. But I also save," Luca glanced at her, mostly at her cleavage. "And you're not my mistress. I'm not even married. My mother wonders when I'm ever gonna tie the knot with a woman back home." Luca sighs and takes a break, resting his head for a moment. He grunts, rubbing his temple.

"Want me to take over?"

"No," Luca pulls her closer, using his other hand to set his folders to the side so carelessly. "Come here."

She obeys, allowing him to lift her up and carry her on top of his desk.

Luca kisses her. "Ciao, bella," he whispers to her. He kept going, making his way into the sensitive spot of Teresa's neck, his lips pressing against it so gently.

Teresa chuckles, feeling his hand run up her dress. "Who are you? Dracula?"

"Hm?"

"I mean you sort of look like him. You're about to drain the blood out of my neck, so you need me to be in the right position."

"Dracula draining the blood from a flapper girl, eh?"

The sounds of knocking on the heavy wooden doors made Teresa hop off the desk, thinking it was one of his men, or even his mother. She wouldn't contain the embarrassment of being affectionate and intimate with someone's son. It could possibly be the maids, but not the same ones from the hotel Luca stayed at. He fancied staying at a manor his father bought somewhere up north, his family members occupying the other rooms just a few ways down, but just spacious enough for everyone, even for a Welsh named Teresa.

Luca clears his throat and turns the knob. The servers come in with the trolley cart of a decanter and two glasses. "You ordered whiskey, Sir?"

The Italian watched the servers roll in the bar cart and nodded at him before shutting the door on their way out. "You like whiskey, amore?"

"Love all kinds of poison." Teresa walked over to the cart, picking up the vessel. She lifts the glass lid and brings it to her nose to let in a good smell. "Rich, like you."

Luca scoffs. "Yeah, if you drink out of that decanter, you'll become a part of us."

Teresa scoffs back.

"What? Teresa, becoming a soldier was like striking gold."

"I'd rather stay here and sit in the gardens, or walk around this palace wearing only my stockings."

Luca shrugged, imagining the erotic sight. It's happened before and he experienced it first-hand. "I bought you those stockings," he comments, staring down at her legs.

"I'll become a part of your family when the cows come home."

"Oh, come on! Don't gimme that. My family likes you."

"Seriously?" Teresa makes a face at him, and he responds by rolling his eyes.

"Okay, maybe it'll take some time."

"Your mother called me a brazen hussy the other day. Like what you said, she wants you to marry a woman in New York. She's mentioned a name, the woman is close with your family and she often visits at dinner parties? She came to the wedding." Teresa smirks. "She's Italian."

Luca grunts, knowing exactly who she was talking about. "Viviana."

"Signora Viviana must be the whole package."

"We consider her family, but I can't imagine marrying her," Luca shook his head, pouring himself a glass of the whiskey. "Matteo would be crushed."

Teresa was already ahead of him, nearly downing the whiskey, ready for a refill. She brings the glass to her lips, about to take in the last sip. "Do you want to get married?"

"Someday."

Teresa nodded.

"When we were at my cousin's wedding, as best man, I watched two people who were so in love exchange vows. I really felt the love my cousin had for his wife that day. And I know one day that'll happen to me. I'll marry the most beautiful bride who is my whole world. I'll be able to wake up next to her and remember how she likes her coffee in the morning."

"She'll be the luckiest wife."

"I'll treat her like a diamond."

"She'll come around. I'm sure she's somewhere out there, searching for you. Hell, she could be right on your bloody nose," Teresa jokes.

Well to be fair, the woman named Viviana was right on Luca's nose for quite some time. She shared her beautiful smile with the family, and Luca did admire her, respected her when she paid her contribution to the family. She could be waiting for him to return home as of right now, and throw her arms around the Italian so they could spend a night drinking champagne on a balcony.

Yet, Luca didn't set his lust and attention on Viviana. Not even at his cousin's wedding. Luca was picky when it came to his preferences with people, that's part of being a Changretta. But there was someone he wished his mother showed at least some respect to, a woman whose eyes light up like stars whenever Luca says her name...

Yeah, he answered to himself, watching Teresa refill her glass from the whiskey decanter. Maybe I already found her.

TERESA ran her fingers through her head, thinking about what she told Finn the other day that made the young boy rush back to Small Heath before she could settle down for her lunch break, taking her words with him. The blinds that gaped in between to let in the last bit of afternoon sun into the dark room of her office gave out the blonde locks she styled for yet another casual day. Simply walking down each corridor and back to the departments was a way to wastefully tear down the strands to her cheeks as she kept her head down so carelessly.

See what happens when you open your mouth, 'Resa? She sighs, knowing that revealing her past love to be the man that's after the Peaky Blinders would either cause high tides between her and them, or maybe even her and Luca himself, or maybe more pestering phone calls from Tommy.

Luca. He's a malicious man, she couldn't deny that. He would get his way without an issue, and if someone had to object about that, if someone were to challenge a man with such high power, would they live to tell about it? She would hate having the idea of handing the one thing she has all to herself to a man who would gladly have paintings hung in his gigantic home. The Changretta family distributes gin in and out of America with the exception of handling Alfie Solomons' rum, anyways, so why would he want to claim an art gallery all the way in Wales?

The thought of Luca threatening to put a bullet through hers or any one of her loved ones' heads sent a chill in her body. Would Luca ever do that to her? Would the Italian ever have the thought of harming someone he had a past relationship with? Would he regret it?

What was even left of Teresa's loved ones, anyhow? She wasn't as close to her team to consider them family. Perhaps one time she scolded the manager for not realizing one of their employees smoked a cigar when the gallery has a strict no smoking indoors rule, but she couldn't live with the thought of having them indirectly killed by the New York mafia. Come to think of it, she didn't have anyone, which is just as disheartening as having someone to protect. Maybe if she never got her brother killed that day—

She walks out after setting her teacup in the tiny space left open on her desk. Normally she would hear distant chatters from the tour guides speaking to the guests, or just guests speaking among each other, talking about whatever piece they lay their gaze on. But she frowned when she noticed how empty the gallery was, except for maybe five guests. Given that it's still hours in the early afternoon. Why wasn't it busy?

Teresa approaches two guides, asking the question that swirled her head. "Where is everyone?"

"I believe the gallery is in need of an upgrade." One of the tour guides spoke out, a bit of nervousness in their voice to speak up on feedback to the owner.

"Was deco not enough?"

"Most of it has already been seen, Miss."

The Welsh shook her head. "What does that even mean? The people wanted to see deco, we gave them deco. I provided rum to the guests on the grand re-opening, I made sure this place is clean and shiny from every inch of every corner. How could this place already be dead? At this hour?"

The tour guides slightly shook their heads, shrugging.

Teresa sighs. "Fine. Have any of you seen Mason?"

Mason Miller was hired on the spot when his well pressed suit and love for Rococo struck admiration for Teresa. She saw her younger self in him, almost like she was looking in the mirror of the past. Someone at a young age so passionate, she needed him as extra help.

"With all due respect, Miss Griffith, there hasn't been enough—I would say razzle-dazzle, to the place. We have a lot to catch up on, or guests will yawn and find themselves out the exit."

"Mason, this is a gallery, not a circus." Teresa scratches her neck. "It's been days since the opening. Our blood, sweat and tears shouldn't be a one time thing and dropped down to rubbish."

Her assistant shrugs. "Well, these days people don't wake up and think about visiting a gallery, y'know? You can find art deco everywhere you go; fancy dinner parties, manors. It inspires what we wear on occasions."

Teresa stares at her desk. "If Luca Changretta were to ever own this gallery, would he fix this problem? Make the place go fucking bankrupt?"

"I'm sorry, w-who? Luca Ch..." Mason asks, skimming through his clipboard of names he might have missed pinpointing and scheduling a meeting with.

Teresa looked at her assistant, realizing she spoke out her thoughts. "It's nothing. You're dismissed."

"Thank you." He smiles to himself as he bid an exit out of her office for Teresa to be back with her thoughts. Her jaw clenched. I will not let my team down, and I will not give my gallery to a mafioso.

"Actually, Mason?" the young lad stepped foot inside again, peering in with his full attention on one odd request. "Luca Changretta, that's his name. I'd like for you to find where he is at the moment and set up an invitation via letter. Let me know when he responds at your earliest convenience."

"Miss...?"

She didn't stop rationalizing it. She even settled for it faster than deciding not to ally with the Peaky Blinders. Mason Miller stared awkwardly at his boss as she set her focus back on her notepad laid on her desk. "I'd like to meet up with Luca Changretta."

+ enjoy my scene edit above! my peaky blinders editing account is @/fcknshelbys via ig.

[salembride]

A Dark Stranger pt.4

Summary: Dracula is alive, awake, and knows more than anybody wants him too. There is mention of self-harm. I know that this can be a touchy subject for some people. I myself struggled with it for years, and I want to say right now that if it is something you are going through, you are loved, you matter, and it’s going to be okay. That being said, please don’t read this if mentions of self-harm upset you!! (Also, look at that smile!)

Warnings: language, mention of self-harm, little angst, Dracula is kind of gentle

“You could always ask nicely.” The deep voice pulled all attention toward Dracula who now lay there with his eyes closed and a teasing smile on his lips. Then he opened his eyes and looked at Dr. Carol. “Maybe say, ‘please.’” He sat up and sung his feet over the side of the cot, but he did not stand. His normally clear eyes were slightly foggy, and if he had a pulse, he was sure he would be able to hear his heartbeat in his ears. He had to focus and re-hone his senses. He took a sharp, unneeded breath then let it out slowly, “Ahhhh, there it is.” He could once again hear the blood pumping through the veins of his three spectators. Looking around at the glass walls that encased him once again, he smiled and stood. “Well, Dr. Carol, as much as I love listening to your theories about my recovery, I’ll be happy to inform you that I am recovering much quicker than you had expec- ackk!!” Dracula, fell to his knees and clinched his stomach from the sharp pain centered there, then began laughing. “Zoe’s blood certainly did have quite an effect on me. There is still a bitter taste in my mouth from it.” Using the table in the center of his cage to push himself back to his feet left him meeting the intense stare of the younger man, “Hmmm. Hello, Jack. Did you miss me? I never got to say goodbye after our last visit. You ran away so quickly after you killed my beautiful Lucy and left Zoe to die. Tell me, how do you live with yourself?” 

“Don’t listen to him, Dr. Seward. It wasn’t your fault.” Kelly didn’t give Jack a chance to answer. 

“Ohh, hello there. I haven’t seen you before. What’s your name?” The vampire tilted his head, his eyes softened and a charming smile replaced his devious one. “It’s alright. You can tell me. Or not. I’ll find out sometime.” He sink her a sly wink.

“Kelly. My name is Kelly.”

“Kelly. Lovely.” He nodded his head then turned back to Dr. Carol who was now standing beside Jack. “As for what you are going to do with the sunroof, you could open it up. I have truly missed the sunlight you know. And for the experiments, I’m assuming you want more of my blood since Dr. Helsing drank the first bit she took from me. Don’t expect me to continue to offer it though. Giving blood I not something I have any desire to become a costume too. In fact,” his eyes found Kelly’s, “I could use a drink. Just a taste, really.”

“Not Kelly.” Dr. Carol stated firmly, but was quickly covered by Kelly.

“Fine.” She looked at Dr. Carol and Jack, “I’ll do it.” 

“No, Kelly. We still have others that signed up for this and are getting paid for this. We will bring in one of them.” 

“She’s right, Kelly.” Jack stepped toward her.

“I thought I made it quite clear during my last visit here that I do not like cattle. I’m picky, and I pick, Kelly.” He motioned toward the receptionist. 

“It’s fine. Maybe it will appease him for a bit.” Kelly whispered to both of the doctors to keep Dracula from hearing, but the tall man in the glass merely rolled his eyes at the failed attempt. ‘When will these humans learn?’ he thought to himself. Then Kelly turned to him, and Dr. Carol unlocked the door.

“Hurt her or take too much blood, and I’ll-”

“You’ll what, Doctor? Open the roof to give me a long overdue tan? You don’t know how to kill me now anymore than I do. I guess this means you’ll just have to trust me.” He smiled at the glaring redhead as she unlocked the door to let the other young woman inside. Kelly cautiously entered the glass confinement and jumped when Dracula suddenly appeared in front of her. He took her face gently in his large hand, then ran his finger down her neck to where her pulse was raging. Brushing her hair away from her neck, he bent in close. As we was about to bite, she stopped him.

“Wait,” She whimpered. “Not, not the neck. Please.” Dracula stood up, eyes red with hunger, and she offered him her left arm. He grabbed her wrist and looked at it intently. He would not be the first to harm her here. Leeding her back to the cot and sitting her down, he ran his finger over the scars that decorated her arm and looked at her. 

“Do not tell me you have done this to yourself, little one. Blood is far too valuable to be lost for such a fleeting, selfish reason.” He brought her wrist to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on one of her many scars. His next words muffled by her skin so only she could hear. “There are better ways to be free.” His fangs pierced her skin.

“Oh fuck!” She screamed through gritted teeth. The next thing she knew, she was standing on a cliff. The waves crashed below her as the orange glow of the setting sun reflected off the waves. It was calm. Peaceful. She closed her eyes and breathed in the sea air.

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Dracula said from behind her. She turned to see him staring at the sun as a man returning to his lover after many years of war. “Why do you do this to yourself?” He asked, never looking at her.

“Why do you care? You kill people, remember?” She said harshly. 

“Yes. But I was human once, a long time ago, and I do remember what heartache felt like. A broken heart is not something that easily heals, even after centuries of your heart ceasing to beat. There comes a time when you must move past it. Find your life outside of the pain.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“You’re right. It’s not that easy. It’s not easy at all.” Dracula finally faced her. “I have lived a long time, Kelly. I’ve had 500 years to learn how to overcome pain. But you don’t have that long. Go, find a reason to overcome it. Find a reason to move on. The pain, in the end, is not worth the trouble. And this...” He held her wrists up for her to see. “This is not the way.” She closed her eyes and a tear fell. Dracula’s cool hand returned to her cheek and wiped away the hot tear, bringing her back to reality. When she opened her eyes, she was back in the glass room sitting on the cot. Dracula was holding her wrist tenderly and closing the wound. Just another scar in a map of many. 

She stood and without looking at him said, “Dr. Carol, Dr. Seward, would you please excuse me? There is something I need to do.”

“Um, of course, Kelly. Do whatever you need to.” Dr. Carol said opening the door and closing it again behind her. Kelly nodded then moved to face Jack.

“I wont tell her anything. I’ll just say that I came home because I wasn’t feeling well. Then you two can discuss how much information you want her to know. She may take it better from you anyways.” Jack shook his head in agreement and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Thank you, Kelly. I’ll call her as soon as I can.” Jack and Kelly shared a little smile, but neither fully reached the eyes before Kelly made her exit. Once the heavy steel door closed behind her, Dracula shifted regaining the attention of the doctors. Any gentleness about him was gone and the look of a scheming predator returned.

“She? Her? I can only assume you are referring to the lovely little blonde girl I viewed in Kelly’s memory. The one who has just moved to London. Dr. Seward’s cousin. Umm, Rose, isn’t it, Jackie?” He smiled wildly when Jack started toward the glass; Dr. Carol grabbed his arm.

“Calm down, Jack.” Dr. Carol said.

“If you lay a finger on her, I swear to God-”

“Swear to someone else, Doctor. Zoe helped me realize many things about myself, and I can promise you that little cross she wears around her neck no longer has an effect on me.”

“I’ll see you burn in Hell, demon!” Jack spat.

“OHH! Feisty thing, aren’t you!” Dracula laughed. He and Jack where only inches away from each other now, separated only by the glass between them. “I do hope she is as lively as you are.” Dracula may be secretly working to reform himself based on recent revelations caused by drinking Zoe’s blood, but they didn’t need to know that. Besides, taunting them was so much fun.  “Enough!” Dr. Carol nearly shouted, pulling Jack away toward the door. “Jack, come with me. We need to get you out of her before you do something foolish. Rather than arguing with him over Rose, we need to decide what we are going to do about her since she is clearly in the middle of things now.” She opened the door and pushed Jack out into the hallway. 

Just before the door shut, Jack heard Dracula say, “Tell that sweet flower, ‘Hello!’”

“Jack, breathe. You need to calm down.”

“I’m not going to let him hurt her. He cannot have her!”

“And he won’t! He is locked up in there, and she is out here. She is going back to the States very soon, you said so yourself.” 

“What am I going to tell her?” Jack was still struggling to calm his breathing, and he was pacing in small circles.

“As I said before, this information was on a need-to-know basis. Now that he is aware of her existence and relation to you,” she sighed, “I think, she needs to know.”

“What?” Jack said shocked, “You can’t be serious.”

“You need to tell her the truth, Jack. All of it. Hiding this information from her is no longer an option.”

“She is going to think I am crazy!” He was growing hysterical. Rose would never look at him the same way again. She would tell the rest of the family that he had gone mad.  

“Jack,” Dr. Carol placed her hand on his shoulder, very similar to how he had with Kelly. “Honestly is the only way to keep her safe now. Who knows what she may have told Kelly while they were together, especially if they were intoxicated. And if Dracula can see some of Kelly’s memories about Rose, then there is no way for us to sure of what he does or does not know about her. That means that she is not even safe back in the U.S. She needs to know what she is potentially up against.”

Jack ran his fingers through his straight brown hair and groaned in defeat. “Alright. I’ll see if Kelly will help me. She might find it easier to believe if we both tell her.”

“Good idea.” Together the doctors returned to the lobby, “Try to be sensitive. Convincing someone that fairytales are actually real is not easy.” 

“I’ll do my best.” They shook hands, and Jack got into the cab thinking of all the ways the conversation with Rose could go wrong. Then it struck him; Dracula had referred to Rose as ‘The one who had just moved to London,’ but she was only visiting. “Please, God, let her only be visiting.”

_________________

Back in the glass cell, Dracula sat at the table drumming his overly shape nails against the table. He knew he wasn’t at his full strength yet, perhaps these doctors and their tests could prove useful to him after all; although, he doubted any of them were nearly as brilliant as the Van Helsing women. Such a pity really, to have lost them both. He looked around his little glass room and laughed when he saw that they had left that ridiculous toilet in the corner. His cot was too short, and this time they didn’t give him a tablet to read books on. He fake pouted. “Hey!” He shouted. “You could at least have the decency to bring me a Bible! I haven’t read one of those in several centuries. I’d like to see how bad you selfish morons have messed it up since the 15th century!”  

Oh well, he had more important things to worry anyways. Now that Zoe had helped him learn his greatest fear, he had to figure out the right steps to overcome it. Perhaps the was a reason to live, or be undead, rather. He was determined to figure that out. It was hard, however, when with each thought came the distracting image of this beauty, this Rose. Her porcelain skin, piercing blue eyes, and blonde hair with curls that framed her face perfectly. was more than a desire to taste her blood; this was a burning he had not felt since warm blood flowed through his now icy veins. He raised his index finger and drew lines in the glass. He needed to be near her, but he couldn’t do that from inside here. With one swift motion, the glass was shattered on the ground around him and the steel door thrown from its hinges. The alarms sounded, and panic arose once again at the Jonathan Harker Foundation. Dr. Carol didn’t have to look to know what had happened. She simply pulled out her phone and sent a text to Jack.

*He’s loose.*

[new2otomelol]

Her story... a Mystic Messenger Fanfiction

This is a little fanfiction involving a bit of two stories (Dracula and Mystic Messenger) Why? Well, why not have a bit of fun with something different. I do not own the rights to Mystic Messenger or its characters. When I use other names with regards to Dracula, I include historical names like Vlad the Impaler or one of his wife’s names, other than that, the rest is fiction. Hope you enjoy my mashup!

CHAPTER 1: IN THE BEGINNING The RFA, Ricka's Fundraising Association, something that I've basically been tricked into joining.

You see, seven days have passed since that fateful day I found a lost phone. I remember as it were yesterday, sitting outside of a coffee shop, tending to my latte wondering where to move next. My travel bag, containing all of my belongings, lay next to my feet. The  arm straps of the bag tangled around my feet to secure it  during my moment of caffeinated meditation.

For years I have wondered from place to place. Never setting roots anywhere, only working to stay alive, changing my identity to remain hidden. From whom? Simple, my extended family. My parents attempted to protect me from them. They trained me to fight from a young age so that I could defend myself, until the day they were killed in front of my own eyes.

They want me, they need me, or so they think. They are a deranged group of people that believe they carry an important blood line from Jusztina, Vlad the Impaler's wife. Bear with me, I know it sounds insane, I feel the same way as you.

Unfortunately for me, I share a resemblance with her and have thus dubbed me "the savior," the chosen one to help them become immortals, or "vampires" if you will. Do I believe it? I believe it's all a stinking pile of...sorry, excuse me, it's hard to remain calm when remembering the things these people have done. But how can you believe that Vlad was really a vampire? And most importantly, why would you bring his terror back to life? It's stupid and I will not let them get to me. My time with the RFA had not all been that bad. The members are great people and one in particular has really sparked something within me, Jumin. I don't want to hurt him, but I have to keep my feelings bottled up as best as I can. I just wish I could go to him and help him through his troubles, but I can't expose him to me... I can't place his life in danger.

Finishing up my ramen noodles and placing them to the side, I continue to work on my laptop. I check for my finances, my next options to move, other identities I can conjure up, etc. The phone rings and I see seven's name flash on the screen, here we go.

Seven: Sam! It's a full moon tonight! Time to howl at the moon!

Me: Seven, get back to work. I have stuff to do.

Seven: About that, why don't you tell me what your real name is?

He finally discovered the truth, I knew he would look deeper into it.

Me: I want to tell you, but I am afraid of what will happen to everyone in the RFA. Seven, listen to me please, someone is after me and if they find me, they will hurt all of you. I can't risk that!

Seven: How can we trust you if you've been lying since the beginning?

Me: You can't. I know that and I won't try to convince you. I don't have any malicious plans towards any of you, I was just happy to establish some human relationships for once. I know that you know what that feels like.

Seven: Have you been hacking me?

Me: No, I just can tell by your voice and the things that you write. I'm no hacker by any means. All I have ever done is run to avoid being captured by maniacs. But, I want to thank you, thank you for having me be a part of this and for being there. Goodbye Seven.

Seven: Wait! Sam!

Just as I was about to hang up, Seven spoke up to get my attention, but at the same time Alarms went off in the apartment.

Me: What is going on Seven? Alarms are going off!

Seven: No! No, no, no. I'm so sorry Sam, I really am. There's a fail safe I had to install and it involves a bomb. Please, please DON'T LEAVE! Don't do anything, I will fix it!

The line goes dead after that. What in the world? Why would the RFA need to install a bomb here? What is going on?

I don't play around, not when my life is on the line.

I quickly pack up my bag and place it next to the desk. The alarm is glaring in the background, but I will not be distracted. I open the desk drawer and find a thumb drive that has a weird symbol of a jade colored eye. I insert it in my laptop and start reviewing the folders.

After 30 minutes of reading and seeing images and plans of all sorts I can start to put some of this mess together. What did I let myself get involved with? My phone goes off yet again, but I've been worried about answering it. Has Seven told them about me? Do they know what's going on? How would Jumin feel?

I muster up the courage and check my texts first.

Seven: SAM!!! Please log in to chat at least, you're in danger and I need to know you're safe. I won't tell them, just yet. I trust you don't mean any harm. But please LOG IN!

I quickly log in to the chat room and find Seven logged in. Seven: SAM! Yes! You're alive! Me: I am, for the moment. Not happy about the bomb being here. Jaehee logs in. Jaehee: What in the world is going on? Seven, explain, NOW! Seven: I made an oopsie. I was told to protect the apartment long ago. Jaehee: What does Sam mean by bomb? Seven: That's the protection thingy! Jaehee: Now is not the time for jokes! What's going to happen to Sam? Seven: The alarm went off and anyone that goes there to the apartment that is not Rika, will set off the bomb. Kaboom! Me: Is there a way to reset it? Jaehee: I'm so sorry this is happening to you Sam. Seven, fix it ASAP! Just then I hear the alarm shut off finally. "Special defense system de-activated." Me: Seven! You did it! The alarm stopped! Seven: That means the apartment is vulnerable to anyone entering it. I will work on re-setting everything. Sam, don't go anywhere please! You'll be safer that way! Jaehee: Seven, we all have body guards assigned to us for a reason! Shouldn't she go somewhere else to be safe? Seven: No one can know where the apartment is, she'll be safe for now. Jaehee: I have to tell Jumin about this! Now I really won't get any sleep, first the scandals with his father, gathering evidence, him acting strange and now Sam in danger! Me: I leave my life in your hands Seven, I trust you. Jaehee, wait on telling Jumin, I don't want him to worry. Jaehee: You know I can't, he cares about you. Me: Okay, then please let him know that Seven is working hard to save me and that I am fine. Let him know I'll call him if anything happens. Jaehee: I will, then, please excuse me. Jaehee has logged off. Me: Seven, focus on what you have to do. I know you're working hard to save me and I appreciate it. Seven: I'm so sorry Sam. I'm on it, I promise. Seven logged off.

I leave the chat room and set the phone aside. I take a deep breath and exhale, letting the stress release, even if it is just for a little bit. So much has happened in the past hour. Think Sam, think. I'm vulnerable right now and I don't like it. I take my laptop and place it in my bag along with some documentation on this "Mint Eye" organization that Rika created, evidence on the prime minister and other things. Just what was she thinking? Was she thinking? Her work seemed erratic and overwhelming.

I pick up my long black hair into a pony tail and put on my backpack, grab my taser baton and get ready to go. All of the sudden, my phone rings, Jumin's name pops up on the screen.

Me: Hello Jumin. Jumin: Sam! Are you alright? Are you safe? Me: Yes, of course I am, I'm alright, please don't worry. Jumin: I don't know what I would do if anything happens to you. I barely feel like I have a handle on my emotions and now this! Me: I'm so sorry Jumin. Please, don't worry about me. Focus on taking care of the things you need to, Seven has things handled. . Jumin: Yes, I will try and stay rational through it all. I'm sorry my love, but I will go now and speak with Seven. I will make him tell me where you are at once. I'm coming for you. Me: Jumin, please be safe. Jumin: I will, I shall see you very soon.

Jumin hangs up quickly. I place the cell phone in my pant's front pocket and take out my burner phone and place it in my backpack. I need to talk to Seven and Jumin about everything, but should I? Should I continue to stick around or should I flee again? Blast it all, that's why I never form relationships with anyone.

[thebookbud]

Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag 2020

Thank you so much @anassarhenisch for the tag, this is awesome! 

Best book you’ve read so far in 2020: Oh god, I’ve read some fantastic books this year now...but I think top favorite would have to be The Haunting of Lannister Hall by Amy Cross. It's the first horror this year that really made me a little shook up while reading it.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020: Hands down, The Divided Twin by M. Billiter (I REALLY recommend this and A Divided Mind, her first novel in this series, it’s entertaining but based on her son’s psychosis so it’s highly emotionally driven). It just released on Saturday, check it out! 

New release you haven’t read yet, but want to: The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix. I read my first Grady Hendrix this year, honestly it was meh, but I really want to read this one because I’m hearing a ton of hype and I do like Grady’s style. 

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: RHYTHM OF WAR by BRANDON SANDERSON...OH MY GOODNESS I CAN’T WAIT! Seriously, I’m so pumped. I really want to re-read the first three again too to be prepped for it...

Favorite new author (debut or new to you): Amy Cross. She writes some really entertaining horror novels that actually can creep me out a bit. It’s been great! 

Biggest disappointment: Normal People by Sally Rooney. I heard so many good things, but honestly, that book just did not hit the mark for me. 

Biggest surprise: I’m not a big YA fan, nor am I huge into fantasy overall, I’m real specific when it comes to both, but I tried Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (who my first experience with last year with Ninth House was not a good one) and it actually was a highly entertaining read. I was very nicely surprised. 

Book that made you happy: Questions of Perspective by Daniel Maunz. It was so uplifting in ways I didn’t expect.

Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character: Uhm. I guess it'd have to be Kvothe right now although I'm only in the first book of the Kingkiller Chronicle and Elodin's pretty awesome too. Either way, I'm sure it'll be someone from these books.

Book that made you cry: Chains of Nurture by Max Watson. I read this at the peak of coming out of a very long term, somewhat difficult relationship and this book hits a lot of negative feelings for me and so yeah, these characters made me sob.

Favorite book to film adaptation you saw this year: I really dont watch much, I did try Locke & Key (Joe Hill's comic adapted into a Netflix show) it's decent.

Most beautiful book you’ve bought or received this year so far: I'm obsessed with the copy of Dracula by Bram Stoker I bought from Barnes & Noble.

Book you need to read by the end of the year: HAHAHA...so many. But I really need to read The Conference of the Birds by Ransom Riggs still. That came out last Novemeber...wow.

Thanks again! This was awesome and I think made me start to freak out more because I forget how fast I'm running out of time! But I loved it! Hope you do too @ohwhatbookishdelights @theelynerd @ook-its-a-book @readingismywholelife if you wanna and haven't done it already 😊

[chemicallywrit]

Happy Audio Drama Sunday! What a delightful and spooky Halloween week. As usual, this list is not comprehensive, but this is what stood out to me this week. Some spoilers ahead, in the shape of vibes~

🩸Hemophobia did NOT disappoint. My word. The strange disconnected way the story was told; the fact that the sermons were more coherent and clear than the action; the Extremely Teenage Teens. Man. I cannot wait to listen to this next episode.

🦀 THE SILT VERSES. Every day I think about Faulkner. The person he is. The apostle and the fool. Jeez louise. I can’t tell if he’ll save the faith or obliterate it and take everyone down with him. @thesiltverses

🌊 Modes of Thought In Anterran Literature - is that Felix Trench??? On the one hand, hearing a familiar voice does break the immersion a little, like the most unnerving part of this show is how real it feels; on the other hand, Felix did such a good job, the immersion break didn’t last long. This new character sucks, i love him.

👻 Palimpsest!!!! New palimpsest!!!! Easily one of my favorite single-narrator shows, and this one is set in the 1920s, which is one of my favorite historical periods. They’re also very good at a horrible subtle twist, so I can’t wait to hear more about this ghost.

😈 Kakos Industries is literally always good, but I really feel for Corin being like “PLEASE leave me alone on Halloween.” Man, this show is funny. Why isn’t it more popular. Please listen to Kakos Industries. They’re on hiatus, there’s no better time to catch up. @kakosindustries

🍔 Mayfair Watcher’s Society always knows how to get to me. It’s like, the absolute corruption of the Normal into something horrific and wretched is the point of the show, especially when it’s something you always suspected was messed up. Like a fast food job. I shudder.

🌲HALLOWOODS JEEZ. Mx Wellman did in fact try to kill me. I survived. I WISH SOME OTHER FOLKS HAD. @hellofromthehallowoods

❄️ Red Valley. Man alive. One of the things I love about this show is how there are no real heroes, but this season from the POV of the villains—the architects of the apocalypse, in a lot of ways. Creeps. It’s delicious. Today’s episode, watching Clive finally reaping what he sowed, was absolutely glorious. @redvalleypod

🦷 Welcome to Night Vale - HOBOY. Idk if the return of Kevin is going to be a plot point, but it’s the perfect idea for a Halloween ep. Chilling work as always, Kev! It’s also fun to listen to him seethe about his loss of power.

🅿️ Podcube is always a delightful treat, but this week had a fantastic little bit of sound design, which I’m told is this sound designer’s first attempt at such a thing. He did a great job! I love this show, everyone listen to PodCube. @podcube

👑 Malevolent: We’re Back To The Horrors. I’m honestly relieved. Arthur having friends and family is so scary, I keep waiting for something horrible to happen to them. And now something has! Which is not to say more terrible things won’t happen, but i feel like the other shoe has dropped. This is not a criticism at all, Harlan is so good at this.

🌞 I finished Fall of the House of Sunshine this week and…it made me cry? This goof goof show made me CRY? It really is just You Make Your Own Meaning The Musical, isn’t it? If this show had to have a moral, then “even if all you can do is something small, it matters” is a pretty good one. The fact that there was a moral at all is pretty miraculous. I’m going to go listen to the soundtrack a million times now.

🧛🏻‍♂️ Re: Dracula is coming to an end in just a few days and here is a secret: i haven’t heard these last few eps yet. Tal and Stephen finished working on them while I was in the thrall of New Job, so I get to hear their excellent sound work new with you. I am so excited for the final showdown, let’s GO. @re-dracula

🧟‍♀️ The Dead premiered this week! Go subscribe to it, it’s about to get REAL WEIRD. We did some table reads for the next story this weekend (and we have one more today!) and if you think zombies on a plane are scary…

Go check it out!

Now that all is well on the job front, I hope to get back to recording Inn Between soon, because I Want It To Exist. If you want to help us out or you just like what I got up to today, please drop by my ko-fi!