#carews daughter or anything

[rye-kin]

AU Jekyll sheet and other!!

I’ve posted a bit of them, but not rrly explaining the differences between book Jekyll and this Jekyll..

He is equally as aggressive and hot headed as book Jekyll (if not more bc of insecurities)

He gets bullied probably…

ANYWAYYYY! Wanted to draw them and post them bc like,, I heart them sm and have been working on this AU for the past 2 years <\3

[joanofexys]

tell me about Merrick?

@themundanemudperson @codename-adler

thank you guys for asking about him

as always quick little overview of Merrick Carew:

usually goes by Merr

he/him

25 years old

gay aspec, trans man

english major

played for the foxes for 5 years and attended on a scholarship

5’7, brown hair, hazel eyes, has tattoos under his top surgery scars (and other tattoos lol)

striker, plays pro for a team i will come up with a name for eventually

had an older sister

quick warning now that Merr touches on a variety of heavier topics cause yk he is a fox so yeah just be prepared for that

specific tws i can think of: substance abuse, suicide, domestic abuse, child abuse, COCSA (SA)

this got really long so it’s under the cut 😭

Merr was recruited to the foxes after his coach recommended him to Wymack. His coach had noticed a variety of signs that pointed to abuse at home and also signs of addiction. When his coach asked why he hadn’t applied to any colleges Merr admitted that he couldn’t afford it and that no one wanted to put up with his attitude since he wasn’t much of a team player.

When he was offered a full ride to PSU knowing their reputation and it meaning that they’d be the only school who would take him

Now for the reasons why he’s a fox:

Merrick grew up in a big house where he lived with his parents, his aunt and uncle, his older sister, and his 4 older cousins

He and his sister were close and pretty much attached at the hip and they got along with their cousins as well. Both his parents and aunt and uncle were neglectful and his uncle was abusive to both his aunt and his mom while his dad tended to look the other way. Because of this they were largely unsupervised and it landed on his sister to do a lot of the caretaking.

His dad was an alcoholic and his mom seemed to like pain pills a little too much so substances went largely unchecked in the home and Merr was even offered things like alcohol at a very young age which was the start of his own addiction. Merr didn’t love alcohol but he did learn to mimic his mother and developed a preference for pretty much any pills he could get his hands on.

As they got older his uncle’s abuse also turned onto his cousins and in turn their abuse turned on him (and his sister when she tried to intervene). One of Merr’s cousins started to sexually abuse him when they were 14 and he was 11 and it didn’t end until a few years later when his uncle was fired and they had to move to a different state for his new job.

Until that had happened Merr’s family had realized how dependent they were on his uncle and aunts income and they lost their house and ended up living in a variety of hotels. In this period of time both Merr’s and his parents addictions got really bad and his sister was put under a lot of stress working and trying to take of him and their parents. Eventually she started skipping school, she got rejected from all of the colleges she applied to (all out of state), and she ended up committing suicide on her 18th birthday when Merr was 14

After her death both of Merr’s parents decided to get clean, shocked by their daughter’s death and realizing they were so wrapped up in their own addictions that they hadn’t noticed anything going on with her. They both started going to rehab, group therapy, and locked down to full time jobs and got to the point where they could afford an apartment when Merr was 14. Merrick, on the other hand, got worse and became more dependent on any substance he could get his hands (even harder now that his parents were keeping a clean house). Because he had never had to worry about a lack of access to drugs before he started going through withdrawals and with it he started heavily lashing out. At his school he found ways to get high still but it wasn’t the same as what he had been getting before and he remained irritable. He snapped at people a lot including his parents which led to a lot of fighting which turned into verbal abuse

He started looking for excuses to be out of the house and decided to try out for his high school’s exy team and actually made it. He played all through high school, it forced him to keep up his grades, and well he still didn’t get clean but he had another outlet and a coach who was doing their best to look out for him.

When he moves to PSU he has no idea what he wants to do with his life, he’s focused on getting his next fix, and he’s so incredibly lonely.

Moving to college forces him to finally process his grief for his sister and he has a breakdown where he keeps trying to call her old, deactivated, number and begging to go home. His roommates end up calling Wymack who takes him to his apartment and he refuses to move back into the dorms for about two months after that. But that means he can’t hide his addiction and when confronted with that he agrees to finally actually talk to Bee. He makes it through his first semester at Palmetto and ends up checking himself into rehab over winter break.

He gets clean, relapses a few times, the summer of his sophomore year he ends checking himself into rehab again for the duration of it and ends up staying clean.

I guess he’s one of Wymack’s successes and he’s plenty fucked up and still feels like a mess trying to be a person most days but he considers Wymack and Abby and Bee and even some of his teammates family and knows he’s got them to fall back on.

When he goes pro the media ends up falling in love with him and he ends up adoring press duty for the positive attention and being surprisingly good at it with a little media training.

He’s not a huge advocate about addiction or mental health necessarily because he keeps his issues incredibly private but he’ll repost little infographics and he’s the always the first to like Jude’s posts about his struggles and leave a supportive comment.

This is getting really long so I’m gonna try and wrap it up now. Other than his addiction and his sisters death he doesn’t end up confronting his other trauma until he’s into his 20’s. After graduating he keeps Bee as his therapist and that’s where he starts unpacking everything that happened to him as a kid. He still has a lot to work on and heal from, a lot of it he’d rather pack up in a box and never address, but when the feelings on it get too big he’s learned a lot of healthier outlets over letting his frustrations get the best of him

And yeah idk if he ever makes court but I am toying with the idea of him and Jude getting together

[boltlightning]

for AO3 ask thing: 3 and 29! get complimented by yourself pls 😤

disgusting...............................you know my weakness 😭

3. what work are you most proud of (regardless of kudos/hits)?

i'm just gonna say it: very proud to have finished till the long days (ac2 death loop fic) at long last. there's a reason i never embark on these long sprawling odysseys, and god i don't know if i'd categorize this fic as "good", but it's done! it's finished! the story is told and successfully out of my head and i can read it whenever i want!!!

29. favorite line/passage you wrote this year?

i must admit. i think this little epistolary exchange in tale all told (potc, 6k+, everyone lives au) is where i really figured out how norrington + elizabeth's relationship works

Missive delivered via hastened courier, courtesy of the HMS Essex, to the Turner home on the bay of Port Royal, addressed to Mrs. E. Turner

My dear Elizabeth, Your son was to be tried in Port Royal under the honorable Judge Carew; unfortunately, he has instead taken aboard a ship with a certain J.S. I know his heading, and I have the resources to pursue his path, as well as the justification. He will be home within the month. There are dark winds on the horizon, Elizabeth. They remind me of our own adventures. I suspect some of the very same players may be involved, your husband unwittingly among them. If he has any information regarding the Devil’s Triangle, or perhaps your son’s behavior, do pass it on. The girls have their own missives, but send them my love anyway. Your obedient servant, Adm. J. Norrington P.S: I thought raising three daughters was a challenge, Liz. One son seems like a handful enough.

Response delivered via undead barnacled courier, courtesy of the Flying Dutchman, to the HMS Essex off the coast of Saint-Martin, addressed to Adm. J. Norrington

Dearest James, Some things, it seems, will always run in the family. Henry is one with the sea and cannot be kept from it, though evidently a career like yours was not in the cards. All experience suggests that Turners and Swanns alike are allergic to the Royal Navy. Therefore, I must ask that you make haste. Should he smell the powder of your wig on the horizon, he will no doubt find the pungency of one J.S. is miraculously more pleasant, though perhaps equally likely to cause hives. I trust you, James. Bring him home. I will have Will on the lookout as well; you sail with the Turners at your back. Though I wonder if you could not benefit from my presence aboard your ship — the scoundrels you will encounter might listen to their King, even all these years later. The girls send their love back. They are staying with my father through this, bless them. Yours, as ever, Her Majesty, Mrs. E. S. Turner P.S: You might look back at your own past, Jamie. If Hen’s actions are a result of anyone’s teachings, it is yours, as the primary example of masculinity in his life.

Hasty response scribbled on a scrap piece of paper, delivered via one increasingly beleaguered barnacled courier, courtesy of the Flying Dutchman, to Mrs. E. Turner

E— I will give you the same warning I gave Captain Turner 20 years ago: DO NOT DO ANYTHING RASH. DO NOT. Your father will have me tarred, feathered, and paraded down the streets if my letter has encouraged you to leave Port Royal. Listen to me for my sake, if not yours. On the off-chance that you do not heed my perfectly rational and sensible advice, as you are often wont to do, your poor courier here can direct you to the location of the Essex, the safest vessel on the sea. But for the love of God, Elizabeth, do not follow him. Do not do anything rash. Do not.  —JN P.S. I accept no blame, issue no apologies, and regret nothing.

ao3 wrapped asks! ✨

[tenebris-lux]

Feels like sticking my neck out a bit; I’ve been too afraid to post anything like this for a few months, but (*deep breath*) … I like the Frankenstein musical. At least the soundtrack, I haven’t actually seen the play. They got some good voice picks for the characters, and the songs are good. It does push the Victor/Elizabeth ship pretty hard and shoves Henry a little more into the background, which is disappointing, but not a total deal-breaker for me. Also, it brings up the electricity thing, which to me was unnecessary, but again not the worst thing; it’s just one or two lines.

Favorite songs:

“Amen”

Original scene where Victor got at least some of the body, probably most of it; has irony of a prisoner about to be executed and giving his last prayer before he dies. “Oh, my Creator, claim me now! Grant to me this nightmare’s end!” Also has irony in that people viewing the execution say things like, “Let God’s will be done!”

The beginning of this song and the next one borrow a bit from the musical Jekyll & Hyde, in that a group of people think the scientist is nuts, and the scientist is like, “Fuck you guys.”

“Birth to My Creation”

This song just goes hard; it’s full of enthusiasm and drive, and pulls me along with it. It has the irony of going full steam ahead on what will be one of the biggest mistakes of Victor’s life. There’s also some cute sacrilegious irony in the music, when the chorus comes in like a choir. Cuz, y’know, he’s harnessing the power of god and all that.

“The Music of Love”

This song is sweet. The Creature observing the DeLaceys and yearning. The song is relaxing and soothing.

One thing to note: the DeLacey family is much smaller. It’s just the old man, his daughter, and she appears to be a single mother of a baby. So this song, from the DeLaceys’ POV, is a lullaby for the baby. They’ve no idea that they’re being observed by someone completely alone who has only known terror and violence. While apart, his voice joins in the harmony in the last part.

“The Proposition”

Act One Finale. Reprises “Amen” a little bit. The Creature had just finished telling his story, so he comes to his point. This is one of my favorite songs to sing; I like the back-and-forth between the Creature and Victor as they argue over the creation of a second being. “Birth to My Creation” is also reprised as Victor becomes persuaded.

The last couple lines, (not said by either of them) however, could be a deal-breaker for listeners as a detail that implies EXTREME deviation from the source material. As far as the play narrative goes, I like it. But it does add a strong point against Victor’s character; I doubt it’s something he would’ve done in the book. Basically, Justine is executed simultaneously as Victor and the Creature make their deal.

“The Chase”

This one is probably my favorite as a close adaptation. It’s a reprise of “The Hands of Time,” but includes a few other themes of the other characters who died. In the book, Victor said he could remember all their voices during his pursuit, and it shows here.

“The Coming of the Dawn”

Victor’s had a lot of time to think while pursuing the Creature. It’s kind of a “where did I err/how did things get so off-track” song. It’s beautiful and melancholy, and he comes to some revelations. “Reaching for tomorrow, I have lost today.” “Why do the things we have seem precious, Only once they’ve slipped away?” This song has so many beautiful lyrics and to a beautiful tune.

I am amused while listening to the soundtrack that Elizabeth is played by Christiane Noll, because she also played Emma Carew in the the Broadway production of Jekyll & Hyde. The character isn’t much different between plays: engaged to an obsessed scientist, and her role is boiled down to, “I’m here for you, whatever you need.” Meanwhile, Victor is played by Hunter Foster—Broadway’s Seymour Krelborn from Little Shop of Horrors. Once again, a guy getting pressured by his living project.

[byneddiedingo]

Lionel Atwill in Doctor X (Michael Curtiz, 1932)

Cast: Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Lee Tracy, Preston Foster, John Wray, Harry Beresford, Arthur Edmund Carewe, Leila Bennett, Robert Warwick, George Rosener, Willard Robertson, Thomas E. Jackson, Harry Holman, Mae Busch, Tom Dugan. Screenplay: Robert Taskner, Earl Baldwin, based on a play by Howard Warren Comstock and Allen C. Miller. Cinematography: Ray Rennahan. Art direction: Anton Grot. Film editing: George Amy.

In Doctor X, Lee Tracy is called on to do two incompatible things: serve as comic relief and play the romantic lead. He succeeds at the former more than he does at the latter, which is not saying much.  (The comic shtick involves things like joy buzzers and exploding cigars, which gives you a sense of the level of humor Tracy is asked to participate in.) The film is a whodunit horror about a serial killer who strikes at the full moon and who leaves his victims mutilated. (The movie calls it cannibalism, but I don't recall any evidence that the killer actually ate the people he murdered.) The chief forensic clue is that the victims were sliced up with a particular kind of scalpel, used only by one facility in the city: a research institute headed by Dr. Jerry Xavier (Lionel Atwill). When the police detectives call on Xavier, they are introduced to his research staff, each of whom becomes a suspect in the killings. Meanwhile, Lee Taylor (Tracy), one of those anything-for-a-story reporters Hollywood was fond of, is snooping around too, trying to uncover the Full Moon Killer before the police do. This involves Taylor breaking and entering at not only the institute but also Dr. Xavier's creepy gothic mansion on a cliff in Long Island, where he lurks around in some skeleton-filled closets. (Cue the obvious gags.) He also meets Dr. Xavier's lovely daughter, Joanne (Fay Wray), and they inexplicably (at least where she's concerned) hit it off. Naturally, Joanne has to be put in jeopardy and Taylor has to rescue her. Doctor X is mostly remembered for its experiment with two-strip Technicolor, which yields some interesting if washed-out looking images, but also seems inappropriate for the film's sinister old dark house setting. There are a few nice scares among all the goofiness and pseudo-scientific poppycock -- the usual foaming and smoking beakers and flasks and some sparking and arcing electric apparatus -- but in a golden age for horror movies, Doctor X is decidedly second-tier.  

[thecountoflondonfansite]

Dr. Two Brains expected a raised eyebrow or an amused expression from Jenkins, maybe even a sympathetic one. He didn’t expect the man to have a somber, almost apprehensive look. “What’s wrong?” Two Brains immediately asked with urgency and concern in his voice. Jenkins let out a sigh. “Patricia looked up as much as she could about Edward Hyde. You were right in that his crimes are mundane. He mainly committed thievery and vandalism. One of his crimes wasn’t so…mundane.” Dr. Two Brains' concern and worry grew. “What do you mean?” He asked in a low, serious tone. Jenkins took out the device and showed the mad scientist what he and the four found. “Some time ago there was a fire that broke out in the home of the Carew family who were very wealthy. The head of the family, Sir Danvers Carew suffered heavy third degree burns. He barely made it out alive. He’s still being treated at the hospital. Police reported finding a broken cane at the scene of the crime. It matched the cane…that Edward Hyde was known…for carrying around.” Jenkins explained albeit a bit hesitantly. Dr. Two Brains had a grim and enraged expression. “That slimy little weasel.” He grumbled. He should have known something was off from the guy’s manic grin. This type of crime was against the villain code in the EVA. They were allowed to cause destruction yes, but they couldn’t kill anyone unless it was self defense. Two Brains clenched his fists before letting out a sigh. He could be angry later, right now he had more important matters to deal with. “Is Becky awake yet?” Two Brains asked in a calmer tone. Jenkins nodded. “Yeah she woke up a while ago. We fixed her something to eat and she is watching Pretty Princess with Hugh right now.” The mad scientist gave a relieved and happy smile at hearing that his little girl was well rested and renourished. His expression once again became serious as a thought crossed his mind. “Jenkins, neither you nor the four are to mention anything about this to anyone else. Especially Becky. I don’t want her to worry about another Miss Power or Athena. You got that.” Two Brains dictated. Jenkins nodded. “I definitely understand. I also want to mention that Patricia is still going to investigate the Carew Mansion fire. She thinks there might be more to the case than what is just published.” Dr. Two Brains understood Patricia’s reasons and nodded in approval. “Okay with that out of the way, I’m going to check on my daughter now. Hopefully I’ll be in a better mindset before my date on Friday afternoon.” Jenkins proceeded to nod in affirmation at Two Brains’ plans before his eyes widened at a surprising revelation. “Wait, you're going on a date?” Jenkins asked in a shocked tone. Henry finally got back home feeling mentally and physically exhausted. Hyde stayed late at the motel chatting with the other villains before a majority of them had to head back home. The blonde male was bummed that Dr. Two Brains left before he could chat with him. He tried to catch him at his lair again but the henchmen said their boss was probably at home right now. Henry had to once again remind his counterpart that they couldn’t visit Two Brains’ home because it would be suspicious. So Hyde reluctantly gave control back to Henry. Henry could still feel Hyde’s giddiness as the man was elated about having a chance to become a villain and join others in committing crimes and chaos. Jekyll meanwhile was still worried about getting caught especially since he heard that there was a superhero. This ‘Amazo Guy’ was most likely an adult male who wouldn’t be easily duped by Hyde’s silver tongue. “Is your mind still reeling from hearing how Whiskers feels about ye Jekyll.” Hyde taunted from within their mind. Henry let out a groan as he recalled how Hyde kept to his character and would constantly tease about Two Brains’ vocal feelings for the teacher whenever they were out of earshot. It was irritating and humiliating for Henry.  @unhingedexperimenter

(You can tag me on my tgs side blog. I also apologize but I know a few Scottish words. So to anyone reading this I apologize for the inaccuracy.) Becky Boxleitner noticed a change in the atmosphere as she and her pet monkey Bob walked into the sixth grade classroom. All of the students were excitedly chatting with one another. Becky and Bob exchanged confused looks at the scene. 'What is going on?' They both thought. Becky walked to where her friends Violet Heaslip, Rose Franklin, and Todd Scoops Ming were sitting, also joining in the excited yet low volume chattering. "Hey guys what's going on?" Becky asked her friends. They each turned their heads to greet their friend. "Hey Becky guess what, we're getting a new teacher for our class!" Scoops exclaimed. Becky looked surprised at the announcement. Bob also mimicked her facial expression. "Wait really? What happened to Miss Davis?" Becky asked, wondering what happened to their old teacher. It was just a week only into the new school year so a sudden teacher exchange was a complete shock to Becky especially since there were no announcements about it beforehand. "Miss Davis had to move back home because of a family emergency." Rose Franklin answered. "The principal had to scramble to find a new teacher to fill in for our class. It was all last minute stuff." Becky nodded in understanding of her friends' answers. It was a nice perk to be friends who were upcoming reporters. Soon the final bell rang which indicated for every student to take their seats. Becky took her place beside her best friend Violet and Bob plopped down next to her. Soon a man who looked to be in his mid 30s walked in and towards the desk. He had curly brown air, an arched nose, and reddish brown eyes. He wore a tan button-down shirt with a red vest as well as brown slacks and dark suede shoes. The man gave a pleasant and warm smile to all the students there. "Hello my name is Dr. Henry Jekyll and I will be your teacher for the school year." Becky and the other kids ears perked up as they took note of the man's accent. Even Tobey became slightly interested in his new teacher. None of them were sure where their new teacher was from. Dr. Jekyll gave a light chuckle as if he could sense their growing curiosity about him. He lightly clapped his hands together to gain their undivided attention and focus. "Well since this is my first time teaching here, why don't we all play a little game so we can all get better acquainted with each other. Here's what to do. One at a time, say your name and share a wee bit about yourself. Likes, family, interests and all that. I'll go first to show ya what ah mean. Again. My name is Dr. Henry Jekyll. I was born in Glasgow but ah moved to London where I attended university. I have a five year old wee lassie or daughter named Amber. I enjoy chemistry and reading on occasions. Now who would like to go next?" @unhingedexperimenter

Of course Tobey had taken the opportunity to place attention on himself and to have a reason to boast about himself. “My name is Tobey McCallister the third and I will be the most intelligent student you'll meet here.” The others had rolled their eyes, used to this kind of behavior from their peers. Becky seemed to be the most annoyed by it. Having been forced to put up with his destructive tantrums in the past. Henry smiled just as warmly as before. Unbothered by the obnoxious behavior that the boy had been displaying. Tobey had been going on about himself for a good few minutes before the teacher finally spoke up. “Ahem, yes. Thank you for that Mr. McCallister. Would anyone else like to tell me a bit about themselves as well?” No one could tell that behind the facade, Dr. Henry Jekyll was becoming more irritated by the moment. Not by the child but by the pest that refused to leave him be. Scoffing within his head at what they just heard. He didn't share the disembodied voice's opinion but wanted to give the other children a chance to introduce themselves as well. To the others' shock, Tobey seemed to have taken this well. Quickly going back to his desk with no issues. Becky was relieved at that. Soon the other children had started to introduce themselves to their new teacher with little to no issues. He seemed genuinely nice enough to her. This new teacher didn't seem like most of the adults within this city. Some she had to define words repeatedly for. Dr. Jekyll knew what he was teaching and knew his vocabulary. It was Violet who had brought Becky out from her own thoughts, calling her name. Waving a hand in front of her face. “Becky?” The girl smiled in an embarrassed manner. “Huh? Yes?” Violet smiled, patient with her best friend. “Why don't you introduce yourself now? Nearly everybody else already did.” She had given a surprised expression. Becky hadn't realized that she was so lost within her thoughts until then. She stood up and began speaking. “My name is Becky Boxleitner and I also like libraries,reading and Pretty Princess.” The presence that was grating at the teacher's nerves had deemed this too dull to enjoy. Leaving Dr. Jekyll be to his teaching. Well, getting to know his students. He was happy to see that they were engaged in these activities that were meant to break the ice. Though one student in particular had caught his attention the most. Becky. While she did seem rather bright, there was something strange about her behavior at times. Pausing whatever she was doing at the time to listen in on something. Thinking it went unnoticed. Even once looking alarmed and she made an excuse to go to the bathroom. He had allowed it. Feeling that it would've been better to have let her. It seemed…oddly familiar. As if he had seen that behavior somewhere before but couldn't figure out exactly where from. When the school day was finally over, Becky had gone to go home like the others. Dr. Jekyll had of course stayed behind to set more things up within his new classroom. Making a plan on exactly what he'll actually start teaching the next day. Though, the grating voice had returned to be a thorn in his side. “Come on. Leave this boring stuff alone. Leave it until tomorrow. I've been pent up for far too long. Let's have some fun.” This had earned an eye roll and a loud huff from the teacher. “No, I've got to get this done now. You will have enough time tonight. Just be patient until then.” A shadowy figure formed in front of Dr. Jekyll. A frown on its face. “But this is so extremely dull. I want to stretch my legs. I want to make myself known already.” Dr. Jekyll glared. “And that is precisely why I'm so hesitant to let you out so soon. At least let us get acclimated to our surroundings first.” The figure let out an annoyed groan. “You know you want this as much as I do. Otherwise you'd never have any actual fun in the sad and pathetic life you call yours.”

@thecountoflondonfansite

[anoseforrottenapples]

@detectiverickitubbs

Muse: Gavin Troy. Drabbles connected to scents. Spoilers within for Death of a Stanger,  Murder on St. Malley’s Day, Shadow of Death, The Killings at Badger’s Drift, and Faithful unto Death. 

Tea

Troy’s nose twitched at the warm, earthy scent as he opened the canister. How many cups of tea had he made over the years? He lost count when he was still in school, but it must have been well over several thousand by now. A few of them always stuck with him though… like the cup he made poor Mrs. Gurdie when they had to tell her about her husband’s death. That poor woman… in less then a month her tear-away son Billy had been railroaded into prison for a murder he did not commit, and her husband had been killed trying to clear the lad. Sure, Billy had gotten out of prison when all the facts came to light… but did that really make anything easier? The last he heard of the pair, they had left Upper Marchwood, aiming to rebuild their life in one of the larger cities. He thought it might have been Liverpool… A passing question about whether Billy had managed to stay out of trouble flitted through his mind but, before he could grab it, the hall door opened, and he heard his boss’s footfalls on the tile. That was not Barnaby’s casual walk, the one he used when he was anticipating a quiet day. That one indicated something new was on hand. Barnaby pushed the office door open enough just to stick his head in, “Grab your jacket, Troy. The body of a local beekeeper just turned up in a stream on the outskirts of Midsomer Shallows.” Troy quickly snapped the canister lid closed, “Coming, sir.”

= = = = = 

Paper

The old library stank of musty books and paperwork. Troy’s nose scrunched up and then he sneezed hard into the sleeve of his suitcoat. “Sorry, sir.” He apologized automatically when Barnaby shot him a glance. Sniffing, he wiped the back of his hand over his nose. Then he gingerly picked up one of the piles of newspaper and glanced at the headline. Like a shock of cold water, he abruptly realized why this library smelled so familiar. Poor old looney Carew… the name floated into Troy’s head, though it had been months since they resolved the St. Malley’s case. His little cottage used to smell like this, a testament to all the newspapers and magazines he kept piled up for his research. In the end, all his conspiracy theories had not done him much good… “It looks like our Mr. Lilton was very interested in treasure maps, Troy.” Barnaby’s comment slides through the library’s oppressive atmosphere. “I wonder if he was just selling them, as his daughter claims, or if he had another reason for his collection.” “Maybe he was going to try and find one, sir.” Troy wrenched his mind back to the current case. “And since he’s gone missing, maybe he went haring off after one… any of the maps for Midsomer County?” His question was answered by Barnaby depositing several dusty stacks of maps into his arms. Biting back another sneeze, Troy tried to ignore the way his eyes started tearing up by blinking hard. “That is for you to find out, Troy.” Barnaby headed for the library door. “I need to have another word with Mrs. Wilder, the housekeeper.” “Yes sir,” Troy sighed, looking around for an empty table he could work on. Though he claimed he was not a superstitious man, he swore he saw a glimpse of the dead conspiracy theorist disappearing behind a bookshelf. Maybe Carew was looking for a buried treasure too…

 = = = = =

Smoke

The firefighters had everything extinguished by the time Barnaby and he arrived on scene, but the lingering scent of water-heavy smoke almost sent Troy retching. Trying to discreetly press the back of his hand to his mouth, he took a step away toward cleaner air and breathed in slowly, before holding it. Barnaby, thankfully, did not seem to notice his absence yet. He had charged ahead to talk to Doctor Bullard. Exhaling carefully, Troy experimentally sucked in another breath. David Whitely’s murder scene, and having to look down on a pile of burned bones that had once been a human being he knew haunted his nightmares. Troy had never liked Mr. Whitely much, admittedly. As the Tye House estate manager, Whitely had been a bit too grand and full of himself for Troy’s taste… especially when they learned he was just a common old adulterer, messing around with another man’s wife. Then, when they returned to Badger’s Drift to investigate the Bayly murder, the former estate manager had almost been worse, going out of his way to goad Troy in particular every time they tried to get information from him. But Whitely had still been a human being… someone with thoughts and opinions and plans… burned alive and suffocated in smoke because of a mistake he made when he was a child. Troy closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose quickly. He had never processed that one correctly… had tried to talk about and quickly got shut down… so he just tucked it away with all the other horrible things he had seen and learned since he became a DS. “Troy? Are you coming?” Barnaby finally realized his shadow had detached itself somewhere, and looked around for his Sergeant. Troy took another deep breath. “Sorry about that, sir. I thought I got a call on my mobile—must have been on someone else’s.” It should not have been so easy to lie to his boss, but Troy still found the words slipping out with a convincing ease that would alarm him later tonight while he was in the shower. However, Barnaby had not been interested in discussing Whitely’s demise at the time. Troy really doubted that three years on, he would be any keener to discuss it now. Better to just leave those memories where they were. It was easier that way.

= = = = =

Car Exhaust  

A heavy fog had moved in during the night, trapping all the scents close to the ground. If Troy had known it was coming, he would have closed his windows before he slept. One of the people in his block of flats left for work absurdly early, and always ran their car for an age to ‘warm it up’ before they pulled away. On nights like this, the car’s exhaust caught in the wet air, and slid into every open crack it could find.

Jerking awake, Troy stared into the darkness as he tried to settle back into his bedroom. All he could smell was the exhaust, a sickening cloud of gases seeping in his window.

He should get up and close it… but he stayed flat on his back, staring at the ceiling.

He had dreamed about Brenda Buckley again-… about how she died in that horrible car accident. About how it had been his fault.

If he had just been a little smarter, he never would have fallen for Hollingsworth’s clumsy set-up. Then the man would not have been able to take off for Finchmere Market, with Brenda following after him like the lovesick puppy she was… and what she saw there, that was what had gotten her killed on the drive home.

If he had never lost Hollingsworth, maybe Brenda will still be alive. Once he debated if Hollingsworth would have survived too, but he dismissed that idea. Simone needed him dead so he would have to go whether Troy succeeded at his stake-out or not. Brenda though… she only died because she had seen something she never should have… and she tried to get her father to get Troy on the phone to report it but…

Kicking the blankets aside, Troy pulled himself from his bed and slammed his window shut. Down on the street, he could hear his neighbor finally pulling away from the building, taking his stinking car with him.

There was no point in torturing himself. The problem was that torturing himself came too easily. Especially when the victim of his blunder was a young woman who had really done nothing wrong, besides reading too many romance novels, and falling in love with a man who cared nothing about her. She probably thought helping Hollingsworth in his hour of difficulty would earn her the man’s admiration…maybe even his love…

Too keyed up to go back to sleep, Troy pulled a tee-shirt over his head and headed for the kitchen. No one would notice if he headed in for work a bit early… it would give him a chance to catch up on paperwork before Barnaby came in.

As he moved, he pointedly ignored the clock on his dresser, and the fact it was not even five am yet.

[queenmarytudor]

MARY: SERIES ONE

When King Henry VIII announces his daughter unable to inherit the crown of England, Princess Mary Tudor and her friends at court rebel and conspire against him.

An imagined six episode psychological drama series, focusing on Princess Mary Tudor and the intrigues, secrets and lies of Henry VIII’s court... 

THE KING’S PEARL

Princess Mary Tudor, Princess of Wales and heir to the throne of England, is at her court in the Welsh Marches. Rhys ap Gruffydd kneels in irons before her; he has been arrested for inciting rebellion and is on the way to the Tower of London. Rhys petitions Mary for help in getting his grandfather’s lands and titles restored to him, as they are his by right and not her stewards, who has been gifted them by the king. Rhys says surely Mary knows what it is like to have an inheritance threatened. Mary promises to help him when she returns to court. Rhys thanks his princess, stating that though his wife is related to the king’s mistress, Anne Boleyn will never be Rhys’ queen.

Mary returns to court for Christmas. All along the streets nobles and peasants alike cheer for their princess before she is welcomed lovingly by her parents King Henry VIII and Queen Katherine of Aragon. 

There is a grand feast; Mary reunites with her father’s cousin Henry Courtenay and his wife Gertrude, one of Katherine’s ladies. She dances with the courtier Nicholas Carew while her parents watch proudly. 

Mary petitions her father to release Rhys from imprisonment in the Tower. The king, delighted to have his pearl back, agrees, but refuses to grant him his grandfather’s lands and titles. The pair decide to go riding together.

On their return, Gertrude escorts Mary to see her mother. She tells Mary her father’s mistress, Anne Boleyn, has just arrived back at court. Katherine introduces Mary to Eustace Chapuys, ambassador to Mary’s cousin Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Chapuys promises he will do his best to help her and her mother. Katherine and Chapuys reveal Pope Clement has forbidden the king from marrying Anne, threatening him with excommunication from the church if he does.

After Mass, where the royal family pray together, a freed Rhys seeks out Mary. He thanks her for his release and attempting to get his inheritance back. 

Mary goes to her father’s chambers, where Thomas Cromwell introduces himself as King Henry’s new minister. Mary asks where her father is. When Cromwell replies he is with Anne Boleyn, Mary leaves for the sanctuary of her mother’s rooms. 

Henry Courtenay arrives from parliament, telling Katherine, Mary and Gertrude that the king has now declared himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England. Gertrude tells them she heard of a nun in Kent who can predict the future. Katherine warns her not to do anything foolish. 

On Saint David’s Day, the patron saint of Wales, Mary is given a Welsh leek by the king’s gentlemen pensioners in a grand ceremony. She is watched by a crowd of courtiers and Chapuys, who compliments her. They talk for a while before she leaves. 

Exiting, Mary comes across Anne Boleyn. They glare at each other before Anne reluctantly sinks into a curtsey. Mary ignores her.

Mary plays the virginals for her parents. Despite their praise, there is obvious tension between the pair.

At nightfall Mary and her father talk. Mary is confused how he has declared himself the head of a church that doesn’t exist. Henry says she is clever; one day his pearl will understand. After he has left, Mary tells her governess, Margaret Pole, that she doesn’t think she will ever understand.

Katherine worries when Margaret wakes her in the night to inform her Mary is ill. Gertrude brings up the Nun of Kent again, but Maria Willoughby and Jane Seymour shush her. Katherine goes to help Margaret care for Mary. As Mary continues to vomit, Katherine strokes her daughter’s hair, clutching her necklace which she believes contains a piece of the True Cross. She prays her daughter will get better, comforting her with old stories of her and King Henry when they were younger.

In the morning a recovered Mary wakes to six luxurious new dresses, a gift from her father. She immediately puts one on.  

At breakfast, the queen is sat at the table alone. The king left them earlier in the morning to go on summer progress with Anne Boleyn, forcing most of the courtiers to go with them, including the Courtenay’s. Katherine smiles and tells Mary they can still have a good time, just the two of them and their households.

Reginald, the son of Margaret, is sent money by the king to study in Padua. Katherine and Margaret are hopeful Reginald will convince King Henry to recant his decision to break from Rome and marry a heretic. Reginald promises he will. Mary hugs her cousin goodbye, wishing him well. 

At court, Chapuys watches on with Nicholas Carew and an incensed Gertrude and Henry as Anne Boleyn takes the queen’s role at a feast. While talking, Rhys Gruffydd is publicly re-arrested for encouraging Wales to rebel against the king, and supposedly taking the title of Prince of Wales. The group disbelieve this after what Mary did for him. 

Katherine hears from Maria that Rhys has been beheaded, but she is determined to protect her daughter and keeps the news a secret.

Mary and Katherine go hawking, but on their return are sent orders to separate. Katherine promises she will see Mary soon, encouraging her to stay strong. Any bastard born of Anne Boleyn will never rule; Mary is the heir and future queen of England.  

 PRINCESS OF WALES  

Mary and her tutor Richard Featherstone are having a Latin lesson on Utopia by Sir Thomas More. In the book women are encouraged to fight in battle; Mary tells the priest she would if she could. 

Mary is walking in the fields with her ladies, Susan Clarencius and Anne Hussey, and her cousin Margaret Douglas. Her and Margaret’s cousin Frances Brandon has recently married Henry Grey. Mary is betrothed to the French Dauphin, but she has heard no news lately of a marriage... she is surprised to come across her father, riding with Nicholas. He asks how she is and Mary replies she is well, but missing her mother now she has seen him. The king is going to Calais with Anne Boleyn, now the marquess of Pembroke, but promises to see her more often when he returns.

Gertrude sees the Nun of Kent in disguise, switching clothes with her maid. Amazed at her trance, she invites the woman, Elizabeth Barton, to her house.

Mary is having her breakfast served by her friend Henry Jerningham when she is informed by her chamberlain that her father has, with the blessing of the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, married Anne Boleyn. John Hussey asks for a verbal response to the news for the king, but Mary ignores him entirely, continuing to talk with Henry and her ladies. Uncomfortable, he carries on with his orders; Mary is forbidden from writing to her mother and he must take Mary’s jewels. Margaret refuses to give them up to John unless she has a direct order from the king. 

Gertrude welcomes Elizabeth warmly, asking about her prophecies. The nun says there may be war now the king has married Anne Boleyn; Gertrude asks her to pray her husband will remain safe. It grieves him that men of noble blood are being dismissed from the privy chamber, with the king ruled by Cromwell who is the son of a blacksmith.

That night, Gertrude tells Henry about the nun’s visit, telling him the king will flee the realm one day. Henry is horrified at her listening to the prophecies, potentially earning the wrath of his cousin when he finds out. He demands she tell the king. 

Mary and Margaret Douglas are informed by Margaret that their aunt Mary has died. The pair worry over Frances, but Margaret tells them she has a husband to comfort her now. Mary fears the French accepting Anne Boleyn as queen means her betrothal will be void. The three are interrupted by Mary’s servant Randall Dodd, who delivers a letter passed on by her mother’s servant Anthony. Katherine writes she has “heard such tidings today that I do perceive if it be true, the time is come that Almighty God will prove you; and I am very glad of it, for I trust He doth handle you with a good love [...] But one thing I especially desire you, for the love that you do owe unto God and unto me, to keep your heart with a chaste mind, and your body from all ill and wanton company, not thinking or desiring any husband for Christ’s passion; neither determine yourself to any manner of living till this troublesome time be past.”

Shortly after there is an official command from King Henry to take Mary’s jewels. Her personal arms are stripped from her and her household is to be reduced, with some servants, including Randall Dodd, sent to wait on her new sister Elizabeth, whose christening John Hussey must attend. 

King Henry confronts Gertrude, informing her that he knows she has visited the Nun of Kent. She petitions King Henry to forgive her, blaming her womanly foolishness. He does, and orders his cousin to as well. To show his goodwill towards her, Gertrude is bestowed the honour of becoming Princess Elizabeth’s godmother, but an annoyed Gertrude sees it as an insult.

Mary is playing a card game with her ladies and Henry Jerningham when John returns from the christening and tells Mary she is longer a princess. Mary refuses to accept it and writes to her father, believing he was “not privy to it, not doubting but you take me for your lawful daughter, born in true matrimony.”

In response to her letter the Duke of Norfolk comes to dissemble all her household; Mary is to go to Hatfield to serve her sister Elizabeth, the Princess of Wales. Mary says that title belongs to her by right, and no one else.

Mary is only allowed to take one lady in waiting with her and chooses Susan. Her cousin Margaret Douglas is to serve the new queen. Margaret offers to serve Mary at her own expense, but Norfolk refuses. Mary has an emotional goodbye with her staff. Margaret urges her to remember her grandmother had been declared a bastard before becoming queen of England.

On the way to Hatfield, one of the men escorting Mary whispers she must hold firm, for the sake of England. 

Arriving, Norfolk asks if she will pay her respects to the Princess of Wales. Mary replies she knows of no other princess in England except herself. The daughter of the marquess of Pembroke has no such title - but if her father acknowledges her as his own, she will call her sister as she calls Henry Fitzroy brother.

As he leaves, Norfolk asks if can take a message to the king. Mary says to tell him his daughter, the Princess of Wales, begs for his blessing. When Norfolk refuses, Mary tells him curtly he might leave it then, and to go away and leave her alone. She retires to her bedchamber to cry. 

UNBRIDLED BLOOD

Mary refuses to pay court to Elizabeth unless made to by force. When walking, she is always far in front or far behind the newborn, never at her side. She eats in her own rooms with food Susan steals from the kitchens, avoiding the public table. She has outgrown the ornate dresses her father gave her.

An outraged Gertrude shows Chapuys the letter she has received from the king, telling his subjects that they ought to thank God for giving them a lawful heir. Chapuys reveals he has already sent a Latin declaration for Katherine to sign and pass along to her daughter. 

The king arrives to visit his youngest daughter. Mary is desperate to see her father, but is visited by Norfolk and Cromwell. They urge her to renounce her title, but Mary says it is labour wasted to press her; they are deceived if they think bad treatment, rudeness, or even the chance of death would make her change her determination. She asks to see her father and kiss his hand, but is refused. When they leave, she runs to the terrace at the top of the house and kneels in mercy. The king bows and doffs his cap, as do the men with him, before leaving.  

The Oath of Supremacy and 1534 Act of Succession are both implemented, making Henry VIII Head of the Church of England, and Elizabeth and any other children of Anne Boleyn his heirs. The Courtenay’s are annoyed as queen Anne flaunts her belly; she is pregnant again. 

Mary receives a letter from her mother, which comforts and encourages her, along with the Latin declaration Chapuys spoke of that denies her illegitimacy. She signs it and Susan smuggles it out of Hatfield back to Chapuys. 

John Hussey and his wife Anne are returning home now Mary’s household has been dissolved, but before they go John talks with the Courtenay’s and Chapuys about the possibility of the emperor invading in support of his cousin’s rights. Chapuys says he is trying hard to convince his master. Henry says he wishes he had the opportunity to shed blood in the service of Katherine and Mary. John replies he could easily rise the north of England to help Princess Mary, and “the insurrection of the people would be joined immediately by the nobility and the clergy”. Gertrude reminds them of the prophecies of the Nun of Kent; perhaps there will be war over this... 

When moving households, Mary refuses to share a litter with Elizabeth and is forcibly put in by guards. Roughly manhandled, she shouts a public protest to some peasants who salute and cheer her as princess. Her new caretaker, Anne Shelton, warns Mary her niece queen Anne has ordered her to box Mary’s ears as a cursed bastard when she uses the title of Princess.

After Gertrude informs him of Mary’s abuse, Nicholas pays the king’s fool to insult queen Anne and princess Elizabeth. The king is furious, banishing the jester from court, but Nicholas shelters him in his own home.

A badly bruised Mary hears of Nicholas’ actions and sends a letter of thanks to him via Susan. Shelton summons Mary to visit her, questioning why she has received a letter from Elizabeth Carew, Nicholas’ wife. Elizabeth urges her to submit to the king for the passion of Christ, otherwise she will be undone. Mary pleads ignorance and throws the letter in the fireplace.

As they watch queen Anne and her uncle Norfolk prepare to visit Elizabeth, Jane Seymour tells the Courtenay’s that the queen has had a miscarriage. They fear how she will treat Mary.

As punishment for the litter incident, Norfolk takes Mary’s remaining jewels. He mocks a brooch from her childhood spelling out the Emperor. Mary is furious, even more so when Anne visits her, urging her to honour her as queen and she will reconcile her to her father. Mary says she knows of no queen of England but her mother - but if her father’s mistress would intercede on her behalf, she would be much obliged. An enraged Anne storms out, swearing to bring down her unbridled Spanish blood.

Shelton tells Mary if she were the king she would kick her out of the house for disobedience, and that the king said she will lose her head for breaking the law and not renouncing her title. Seeing Richard Featherstone preparing to leave in the retinue of queen Anne, a quick witted Mary asks him if she can practise her Latin. The people around them do not understand as she asks if the rumours are true and she is to be killed. Richard is shocked, saying it is not good Latin before leaving with the rest of Anne’s entourage. Returning to London, he immediately informs Chapuys of the danger Mary is in. The ambassador is determined to find a way to see her. 

The Nun of Kent is publicly executed, with her head put on a spike on London Bridge. After, the king tells Henry the trust his daughter has in the emperor makes her obstinate, but he fears no one if his vassals stay loyal. He warns his cousin not to trip lest he lose his head. 

WORST ENEMY IN THE WORLD

After she was forced into a litter, Mary asks to ride on her horse when moving households. As soon as she is mounted, she races ahead of her sister’s litter, riding across the countryside to the waiting river barge. Exhilarated by the freedom of her ride, she beats the rest of the household there and takes the place of honour. On the riverbank, Chapuys watches on as Mary sails past. They smile at each other, reassured. 

Shelton wonders how the ambassador knew they would be there. Suspecting Susan of sending messages in and out of the household, she dismisses Mary’s last lady. Mary is completely alone. 

Months have passed; it is now winter. King Henry remains furious at his daughter’s continued defiance, telling his cousin Mary will be an example to show that no one ought to disobey the laws; at the beginning of his reign he was as gentle as a lamb, and by the end he will be worse than a lion. Henry tells his wife.

Gertrude disguises herself to visit Chapuys, saying after the next parliament Mary and Katherine will die. She swears it is as true as the Gospel. Gertrude is adamant they must do something to help save their princess. Chapuys says Katherine spoke to him of Mary marrying Reginald Pole and uniting their claims to the throne. The emperor is busy taking Tunis, but Chapuys believes only a small army sent by Charles V with Reginald amongst the troops would be enough to make people declare for Mary. Gertrude pledges the support of her relatives, but says they need a quicker solution. 

Mary is no longer allowed to eat in her room, but she refuses to eat at the main table and submit to a lower rank then her sister Elizabeth, now a toddler at the head of the table. She is slowly starving. 

After seeing the king talking with Jane Seymour, Gertrude has an idea. She tries to convince Jane to attract the king’s attentions in the hope of getting better treatment for Mary but a haughty Jane refuses. 

Mary is constantly belittled by servants, who say the world will be at peace when they are discharged of the pain and trouble she gives them. She is incensed to hear the French ambassadors are to visit Elizabeth in the hopes of a betrothal. She declares she is the Dauphin’s future wife, not her bastard sister. Shelton orders her to her room, and when Mary refuses she is locked in by force. 

The next morning, a weak Mary discovers she has started her period. Disoriented, she calls out for her mother and Margaret. While getting up, she collapses.  

Shelton weeps, fearing people will think she has poisoned Mary. She tells a bedridden Mary the king will not see her until she admits to being a bastard. He believes she is his worst enemy in the world. Mary sobs but refuses to give in, saying God has not blinded her to confess her father and mother had lived in adultery and made her a bastard.

Chapuys talks to Cromwell and then the king, trying to convince them to let Katherine tend to her daughter. Henry refuses; if mother and daughter are together, Katherine might “raise a number of men and make war, as boldly as did queen Isabella her mother.” He also refuses to send Margaret Pole, who Chapuys calls Mary’s second mother, as she is a fool of no experience. If Mary had been in her care she would have died, but Shelton is an expert in female complaints. 

After queen Anne shows no sympathy for a grievously ill Mary, Jane agrees to help Gertrude. 

Mary is examined by a doctor. She fainted due to her heavy period, in addition to not eating or drinking enough. She is suffering from sorrow. The doctor orders her to eat more and recommends being moved closer to her mother to improve her spirits. Mary knows it will never happen. 

Shelton reveals Sir Thomas More and several monks have been executed for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy, and Richard Featherstone is now imprisoned in the Tower. She tells Mary to take warning by their fate. Servants openly desire her death, especially now the queen is pregnant again with what is sure to be a son. Mary notices her old servant Randall Dodd does not join in their bullying. Cornering him in private, she convinces him to deliver a letter to Chapuys.

Gertrude leads Jane to Nicholas, and the pair coach her on how to act. Nicholas tell Jane she must by no means comply with any of the King's wishes, except marriage.

Mary watches out of the window as armed guards are stationed at the gates. Randall walks through them, carrying a letter for Charles V urging the emperor to invade. Mary tells him “In the name of the Queen, my mother, and mine, for the honour of God take this matter in hand, and provide a remedy for the affairs of this country; begging you in the meantime not to forget to solicit permission for me to live with my mother.” 

MONSTER IN NATURE  

Chapuys visits a mortally ill Katherine. She worries over her daughter, but he promises to look after her. After Maria Willoughby arrives she is no longer alone and begs Chapuys to go and protect Mary.

Mary is summoned to see Shelton, who informs her of her mother’s death. She is devastated. Shelton implores her to submit, saying she will not receive the necklace her mother left her in her will. Mary replies she would rather die a hundred times than change her opinion, before going to her bedchamber to cry. 

Randall gives a letter to Mary from Chapuys, making plans for her to escape England. The emperor cannot spare any troops, but there is a ship waiting 40 miles away if she can get there. Chapuys says he will write with a plan soon but Mary is convinced she must go at once lest she be killed. 

Chapuys holds a dinner party with the Courtenay’s, Nicholas and Jane. Nicholas has been inducted into the Order of the Garter over George Boleyn. They discuss queen Anne having a quarrel with Cromwell, and rumours of the king wanting a new wife. Gertrude advises Jane to tell the king his subjects hate his marriage, and no one considers it legitimate. A messenger arrives for Jane from the king, with a letter and a purse of money. All watch on with approval as Jane sends it back, saying she can only accept a gift of money from the king when he makes her an honourable match. Chapuys hopes the progress of their scheme will mean Mary will not need to flee - he tells them “she is so eager to escape from all her troubles and dangers that if he were to advise her to cross the Channel in a sieve she would do it.” 

In turmoil, a grieving Mary takes matters into her own hands. While playing with Elizabeth she tests the strength of the garden gate, noting where Shelton’s window looks out. Returning to the house, she tells the doctor she can’t sleep. He says he will get her some pills to help. 

On the same day Katherine is buried, queen Anne has a miscarriage. The king tells Henry he has been seduced by witchcraft into his marriage, which is null because God has not granted him a son. 

Mary laces some wine with the sleeping pills, and prepares to give it to Shelton and her maids. Only a letter from Nicholas delivered by Randall dissuades her. He begs her to “be of good cheer, for shortly the opposite party will put water in their wine as the King is already sick and tired of the concubine as could be.” Mary replies telling them to do everything possible to remove the mistress. 

At queen Anne’s trial for adultery against the king, Henry votes guilty. He, Gertrude, Nicholas and Chapuys watch on as Anne is beheaded and Jane marries the king.

Mary is astonished to receive a visit from her old lady, Anne Hussey. They have returned from the north as John has to attend parliament, where Elizabeth will be declared a bastard now queen Anne is dead. While talking to Mary, Anne calls for a drink for the princess, and is arrested. Mary is in shock and writes a letter to her father, hoping to reconcile with him now her enemy is dead.

After being presented as the new queen, Jane tells the Courtenay’s, Nicholas and Chapuys that Henry has received his daughter’s letter but is not happy. She promises to help Mary, and Chapuys christens her the peacemaker. 

Margaret Pole returns to court, attracting hundreds of people on the way who think Mary is with her. She carries a scathing letter from her son Reginald. King Henry is outraged that Reginald accuses him of tearing true defenders of religion to pieces, as well as likening him to the tyrant emperor Nero.

A group of nobles headed by Norfolk arrive to harass Mary into signing the acts, calling her a monster of nature and a traitress for continuing to defy her father. When she argues with them they say if she were their daughter they would beat her to death, or bash her head against a wall until it was a soft as a boiled apple.

Mary is locked in her bedchamber and not allowed to talk to anyone. She is to be watched over day and night. Hours pass and she refuses to back down. The guards are changed - this time Randall is on duty. Mary creates a distraction for the other guard and passes a scribbled letter to Randall for Chapuys. 

Jane pleads for mercy, but the king calls her a fool for interfering; she ought to think of the children they will have together and not any others. King Henry swears that not only will Mary suffer, but also his cousin, Cromwell and others. 

Anne is interrogated in the Tower for calling Mary a princess, but she insists it was merely due to habit. Henry is kicked off the privy council, and Nicholas is questioned about his relationship with Mary. Legal papers are drawn up to put Mary on trial for treason.  

Randall returns, detailing what has happened to her friends and giving Mary a letter from Chapuys. Chapuys points out she now has a better opportunity of becoming heir to the crown than when Anne Boleyn was alive. He urges her to save her life for the tranquillity of the kingdom, and comforts her with the knowledge that “God looks more into the intentions than into the deeds of men.”

Fearing for her and her friends lives, a broken Mary finally submits to her father and signs the document before her without reading the contents. 

GRACE 

Mary lies awake in the night crying before being disturbed by a knock at the door - Susan has returned. She is to resume her duties as the king is riding to see Mary. 

A nervous Mary sees her father for the first time in years, along with his new wife Jane who gives her a diamond. King Henry says he regrets their long separation, giving Mary some money and the necklace Katherine left her daughter in her will. He promises she can soon return to court. 

Freed from the Tower, Anne returns north with her husband John, where the people mutter about the king being ruled by evil ministers who have closed the monasteries and forced Princess Mary to sign acts labelling her a bastard. 

Mary returns to court, where the king pats Jane’s stomach, insinuating she is with child. He tells Mary some of his councillors were desirous of her death and she swoons in fear, but her father assures her all will be well now. She sits beside the queen at the high table while Gertrude serves them. 

Cromwell welcomes Mary back, congratulating her on finally signing the acts and calling her “the most obstinate woman that ever was.” 

Mary reunites with Henry Jerningham and Margaret Pole, along with Margaret’s sons Henry and Geoffrey. She tells Mary Reginald, who has just been made a cardinal, will not stop supporting her cause abroad. 

Mary thanks Nicholas, Henry, Gertrude and Chapuys for their help. She begs the ambassador to get her absolution from the Pope for signing the acts under duress. Seeing them talk, King Henry tells his daughter he hates dissemblers. There is talk of an uprising in the north where people believe her able to inherit after him. He forces her to write to the pope, the emperor and his family confirming she sees herself as a bastard.  

In Lincolnshire rebels threaten to burn the Hussey’s house down. Anne promises her husband will join them. John calls her a fool to make such a promise; Anne argues he wanted to rise the north for princess Mary and the true faith. John says that was with the emperor’s help and before she submitted to the king. He writes to him protesting his innocence in the affair. 

At court the king is enraged at the rebels, tearing up John’s letter. Jane goes on her knees and petitions him to reopen the monasteries, but is rebuffed by the king who tells her not to meddle. He talks about the rebellion with Mary, making sure to mention her old chamberlain’s letter, and the vast expense of the army he is sending to suppress it. 

Henry is sent north at the head of the army to prove his loyalty. Gertrude worries over his safety, remembering the Nun of Kent’s prophecies of war. Courtier Edward Neville asks Gertrude if she is merry and she replies "How can I be merry? My lord is gone to battle." He tells her not to fear this one or the second battle, but beware the third. She warns him prophecies will turn him to displeasure one day. 

Anne gives the rebels food, wine and money, encouraging them further. As the army approaches and rebels still camp outside his house, John flees. 

A terrified Jane tells Mary she was mistaken about being with child. Mary reassures her, thanking her new mother for all her help. When he hears, King Henry says he will clearly have no children by his wife, and that if he will have no son to succeed him he hopes for a grandson. 

Henry meets up with John. He pleads innocence, and joins him to deliver an invitation to the rebel leader, lawyer Robert Aske. At the king’s request he is to attend court for Christmas.   

At court Aske and Mary are kept separated. The king questions Aske on the rebels demands. They want the monasteries to reopen, and see no reason why Mary could not be queen. People think the king’s divorce made by Thomas Cranmer was not legal and “Lady Mary ought to be favoured for her great virtues [...] for she is marvellously beloved by the whole people.” He worries with her being ruled illegitimate the emperor has a reason to wage war against the realm. The king tells him he has nothing to fear from the emperor. 

Mary asks Chapuys to distract the king while Gertrude takes her to Robert Aske. Chapuys talks with King Henry about Prince Luis of Portugal being a possible husband for Mary now the French Dauphin has died.  

In secret, Aske tells Mary she will always be the Princess of Wales and heir, no matter what the king decrees, as the law deems her legitimate. The people of England look to her for hope in such faithless times. 

She keeps his words close to her heart as Aske and John Hussey are beheaded for treason. The king says their bodies are to be sent back north as a message for all those against his rule. Mary approves, and King Henry delights at his pearl finally understanding his authority. 

A traumatised Mary stares at the bloodstained scaffold, silently vowing to avenge the deaths of her loving supporters.

[bansheeoftheforest]

hi i would die for some jekyll x emma <33

Ahahah I can relate to you anon I would die for them too <3

Emma has always had a crush on Henry, Henry quickly would get quite enticed by Emma. Emma would watch Henry from afar during banquets far too scared to go up and talk to him, too intimidated by all the ladies around him, far too afraid of having her heart broken.

Jekyll and Sir Carew are colleagues/friends but Emma isn't much younger than Jekyll, only by a few years (5 at most). Ever since Henry and Sir Carew started working together, he used to joke to Emma that he was going to set her up with Henry.

(Emma would be incredibly flustered but secretly enjoy it. A lot).

Emma finds herself pacing her bedroom with worry after her first banquet with Henry. She heard some whispers that Dr. Jekyll suddenly felt sick and had to leave, she worries she did something wrong simply because she is paranoid of scaring away her crush right after their dance together.

Much to her delight, however, Henry can barely keep himself away from her during every other banquet they attend afterward. He always asks Sir. Carew about the events Emma will attend to see if he will be attending it too, Sir. Carew immediately begins to tease Emma about Henry already having fallen for her.

They dance a lot together during events and Henry can't help but fall head-over-heels for her. He hasn't been able to enjoy himself this much in years and there is something about Emma that just... Makes his heart melt in a way no one has done before.

He is walking down the neighborhood where he knows the Carews lives one night. He passes the back of the house and sees Emma hanging on the balcony, watching the stars.

He couldn't have kept himself away from the opportunity to be a romantic goof even if he would have tried.

He calls her name and both get equally excited by the sight of each other. He vaults over the garden fence and stands under her balcony. Emma is incredibly flustered and yet incredibly happy about his wish to see her.

"It's a shame you aren't up here with me."

"It's a shame you'd believe you could keep me from trying to get up to you."

Henry ends up doing the most ungentleman-y thing possible and climbs up a tree to get to Emma and the balcony. He jumps over the railing and sweeps Emma off of her feet. They sit on the railing and Henry takes Emma's hands. He presses his lips to her knuckles and Emma swears that he ripped her heart out of her chest right then and there.

However, it does not take long until they hear Sir. Carew coming up the stairs, seemingly wanting to ask Emma something.

Henry panics, he gives Emma a quick kiss straight to her lips and vaults over the railing and straight into the garden. He gives her a quick wave before running off in desperate hope that Sir. Carew will neither see him nor skin him alive if he does.

Sir. Carew did see Henry, but he acts like he didn't because seeing Emma trying to gather herself and act perfectly well-put-together like she wasn't just having a romantic moment with her crush is the most adorable thing he has ever seen.

Their relationship quickly escalates from there. They are just so passionate for each other it's hard not to.

They have been having a relationship for a few months until Henry even dares to show Emma the Society. He begs the Lodgers to be on their best behavior.

Obviously, they aren't.

The lasses immediately welcome Emma with open arms (and tease Henry to high heavens) and the lads make the most ridiculous jokes about Henry in hopes of embarrassing him. Emma finds it incredibly amusing. Henry debates killing all the Lodgers right then and there.

Emma and Rachel quickly become friends and are really close, Rachel ends up being one of her bridesmaids during her and Henry's wedding.

On the topic of wedding, it takes about a year before Henry asks Sir. Carew for permission to marry Emma. Carew replies by giving Henry the biggest bearhug he has ever gotten.

He proposes to Emma during a banquet set up by Sir. Carew. It's an obvious yes. Emma's sisters and her mother are going absolutely batshit crazy about it in the best way possible.

(Henry watches in amusement as Emma later goes up to his sisters and all of them have the most exciting squeal ever).

They schedule the wedding for June the next year, Emma moves in with Henry almost immediately after the engagement. Emma is loved by all of Henry's servants who are happy that someone is finally here to make sure that their master goes tf to sleep.

Henry is the epitome of a loving husbandTM. Like he loves no one as much as he loves Emma. He is so clingy to her and loves to spoil her. He starts growing her favorite flowers in his garden and gives her unique bouquets bought by the finest flower vendors every Sunday. He writes poetry for her and always plays the piano for her whenever she is feeling bad. He constantly showers her in affection and kisses and hugs and can never keep his hands off of her for long. He always helps Emma with her dresses in the mornings and loves to plant kisses on her shoulder.

Similarly, Emma is the wife anyone would want. She constantly supports Henry with everything he is going through and doesn't even bat an eye when she finally finds out about his mental problems (or Hyde). She makes sure he takes care of himself and helps him during the days when he can barely get out of bed. She brushes his hair and tells him about everything they can do together when the day is over and they have time for each other again. She buys Henry a lot of fancy ties and cravats, but both she and Henry have a problem about bringing home strays. They both have such a soft spot for them and it only takes a few months into living together, and suddenly they have three cats, two new dogs, and at least one more church grim.

Henry is so clingy. Like incredibly clingy. Emma is barely allowed to get up and get ready in the mornings, god forbid she dares to try on cold winter mornings when the sun is barely up and Henry just wants to keep her close.

Emma and Henry would be such a power couple. They would be the second most popular couple in all of the British isles, only second to Queen Victoria and King Albert themselves.

Emma and Henry get a daughter a few years into their marriage (biologically or adopted? Ahahah I don't know maybe they found a child on the street and their protective instincts kick in) and they love her more than anything. She follows in her father's footsteps and gets incredibly into alchemy but also has a knack for trouble. Henry blames that on Hyde.

I hope this was good enough for now hehe, I just love Emma and Jekyll so fucking much it's ridiculous <3<3

[lgvalenzuela]

Angelique Campbell

Thanks to @hogwartsmystory​​ for making such a cool template

This will be expanded upon, and some things that are left vague will be explained.

(Tw: there’s some violent acts and murder described)

Identity

Name: Angelique Campbell, also goes for Eirian (just by Artemis)

Gender: Female

Age: 16

Birth Date: October 23

Species: Human

Blood Status: Pureblood

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Ethnicity: Caucasian (welsh)

Nationality: Welsh

Residence: Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

Alignment: Chaotic neutral

Myer Briggs Personality Type: INTP-T (The logician)

Ennegram: Type 1 (The reformer)

The Mage

Wand: She doesn’t have or need a wand, but she does use her cane for dramatic flare

Boggart Form: The demon that’s been following her for centuries

Riddikulus Form: She hasn’t been able to find one yet

Amortentia:

She smells like petricor, nature and rosemary perfume

She smells Scotch malt whiskey, wild mint, heather, fresh sea air and summer rain

Patronus: Y Ddraig Goch

Patronus Memory: Meeting Artemis

Mirror of Erised: Her in her old age, having lived a life that’s been stolen from her time and time again

Specialized/Favourite Spells: The one’s Merlin left her and the one’s she made, specially healing ones

Misc Magical Abilities: When she worked under Merlin, they started writing a grimoire together, which has found her in every life. She’s been working on it for centuries and has really powerful magic contained in its pages

Appearance

Faceclaim:

Voiceclaim

Game Appearance: Who knows?

Height: 170cm (5’7’’)

Weight: 55 kg (121 lbs)

Physique: She’s thin and weak

Eye Colour: Aurora borealis green

Hair Colour: Ginger

Skin Tone: Pretty pale, but healthy looking

Scarring: Lost her leg under the demon’s attack and has a prosthetic ever since, missed a couple of years for going through rehabilitation. She also has a white streak of her she hides for going thought this trauma.  

Inventory: She carries her grimorie and the Ouroboros brooch

Allegiances 

Hogwarts House: Slytherin

Ilvermorny House: Pukwudgie

Affiliations/Organizations:

Wales

Pendragon family

Crowe family

Professions:

Healer

Teacher

 Hogwarts Information

Class Proficiencies: Don’t get fooled by her good grades, she went to Hogwarts having just experience her own magic for so long she entered having no idea what kind of things they teach there, only earning such good academic record on behalf of maintaining a certain reputation, not for her family but for her own pride.

Astronomy: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (A)

Charms: ★★★★★★★★★★ (O)

DADA: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (A)

Flying: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ (T)

Herbology: ★★★★★★★★★★ (O)

History of Magic: ★★★★★★★★★★ (O)

Potions: ★★★★★★★★★★ (O)

Transfiguration: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (A)

Electives:

Ancient Studies: ★★★★★★★★★★ (O)

Muggle studies: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ (A)

 Relationships

Family

The Campbells

Arianell and Cadogan Campbell

No matter they’re wizards, Angelique’s parents are truly product of their times, they see their daughters only as products they must sell, especially Angelique as their ‘pride and joy’ an extremely beautiful, intelligent and powerful witch? They want to get her married as soon as possible, to someone just as wealthy and powerful as the Campbells, and of course, a pureblood.

And they certainly didn’t take well how open minded and pro muggle Angelique was, in the eyes of society they were the perfects parents to her, in private she was the subject of much scorn and ridicule.

Brynna Campbell

If Angelique was the pride and joy of her parents, Brynn was for Angelique, in all her lives she never had a sibling and welcomed her with open arms, no matter if her parents wanted to keep them apart since Brynna was a squib, Angelique would never stop loving her.

But how did Brynna feel?

Love Interest: Artemis Crowe @brothergrimm71​

She was urged by her parents to get married as soon as possible, but for a while has refused to fall in love until her curse is broken. Or at least she didn’t want to until she met Artemis, but still refuses to admit the obvious, with fear that if she dies again, she would break his heart.

Best Friends:

Lorilyn Kumari

Akane Fukui

Artemis Crowe

Backround/History

Previous lives

Eirian Emrys

Late 5th century - early 6th century

She was born in the midst of war between the Celtic Britons and the Anglo-Saxons, of her true parents we know not, but she was found by Merlin during The Battle of Badon, as a child, fighting. And was taking to Arthur, who was horrified that a child was fighting his wars and promised she never had to fight again, she was taking in by Merlin and became his assitant and apprentice (even though she did not possess any magical talent at this point)

And in this life she never fought again, she lived a completely normal life, she got married and had a kid, and everything was perfect until an Anglo-Saxon noble saw her, and decided she was for him. He found her alone and threatened to burn her village to the ground, to destroy everything she loved if she didn’t go with him.

And she did, gaining the reputation of an easy woman and a whore from the ones that were once her family and her friends.

But of course she did not love this man, and even if she married him and never said a thing, he came one day to their room, and impaled both of them with a sword.

Gael Bach

971-990

She woke up as another child, she received a brooch, with the form of an ouroboros, and even in the loudest night she could hear something creeping in.

But she also received the grimoire her and Merlin wrote together, and decided to expand it, since she had magical powers this life, found more druids that could teach her.

She tried to live a normal life, she fell in love again. Hogwarts was being built at this point, and children from Ireland and Wales were being dragged to this noticeably British school, she tried to do something, but a demon killed before that could happen.

Mair Carew

1261-1283

She woke up again, as different child. She received the ouroboros, and the grimoire, and heard the creeping sounds, realized she was cursed, and followed by a demon.

But she didn’t have much time to think about it since she lived midst of war again (and only took time to study magic with local wizards to keep working on the grimoire) battling for Wales, which they lost this time, and the last thing she saw before the demon got to her was her country being conquered.

She asked to be chained to a rock with a sword, to fight even in death.

Nonn Gower

1332-1353

Already centered on breaking her curse, worked on her spells until The Black Death came and she couldn’t turn a blind eye, made the most healing spells during this time, but quickly found out her demon could also turn people against her, and even was burned as a witch even when all the people that she saved protested.

Penrose Moore

1500-1521

Ever the beautiful young lady, was noticed by Henry the VIII, who tried to make her his lover, even if married to Catherin of Aragon at the time, but she did not yield to the British, and pronounced the words that led to her perdition: I only kneel in front the ones who fought for Wales. And the demon compelled them to kill her.

Henry the VIII passed the acts that tried to kill the welsh language.

Pre Hogwarts

And we come to Angelique, the only one born under pure magical blood, and the only one who has survived an attack from her demon, just losing a leg in return.

She didn’t want to go to Hogwarts at first, but figured she wouldn’t lose anything trying and at least would learn a thing or two, just missed a couple of years doing rehabilitation from the trauma of her leg being ripped off of her.

  Personality

Open-Minded: She’s fairly liberal for a Victorian lady, with a “none of my bussiness” sort of attitude when people go outside of social norms or traditions, especially if they’re not hurting anyone.

Compassionate: She didn’t expend all this centuries becoming a highly powerful healer for nothing, she saw too many people die in the wars, and she saw a lot of people die under the plages, and she couldn’t just stay there, the love for her people has made her last so long and she’s not giving up on them.

Passionate and loyal to her values, but tired: Highly conscientious     and ethical, with a strong sense of right and wrong, ever the teacher, the crusader and the advocate for change, for making things better. Only     wavering on the basis of being tired of getting brutally murdered time and time again, feeling the clock ticking while her doom approaches. But even at her worse, at the end she can’t help her desire to be good, her integrity is too strong.

Secretive and reclusive – While yielding many insights into her surroundings, her surroundings are ironically considered an intrusion on her thoughts. This is especially true with people, she’s quite shy in     social settings, and scared if she makes strong bonds again they will miss her soon. Even close friends struggle to get into Logicians’ hearts and minds.

Short tempered and grumpy: Maybe it’s the way she feels her time running out, but it has made her quite impatient and insensitive if she thinks someone´s wasting her valuable time, she has stuff to worry about so don’t bother her with stupid problems, even though begrudgingly she will help you.

Prideful: She’s an extremely powerful witch and she knows it, there’s very few people that can stand in her way, and she won’t let them.

[melodiouswhite]

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde rewritten - Ch. 61

Chapter Sixty-One: Everyday life

.

“Ah, Dr. Faust!”, Dr. Lanyon said, “You're here for your appointment?”

“No, I want to learn how to dance ballet”, the German doctor retorted sarcastically.

Lanyon mock-gasped: “What, you can't dance ballet???”

“I don't need it in my everyday life, so why would I learn it?”

“Point taken. Do sit down. So, tell me, how have you been?”

The alchemist arched an eyebrow. “Do you want a typically English answer, or-?”

“An honest one.”

“Breathing is unusually hard lately”, Dr. Faust told him. “Must be the asthma and the permanent after-effects from smoke poisoning.”

“If you don't mind, smoke poisoning from what?”, Lanyon queried.

“The Thirty Years War. Everything was on fire back then. Then there were the witch hunts – I can't even remember how many times they tried to burn me at the stake.”

“Oh my god!”

“The 17th century was that brutal, Dr. Lanyon. Don't mind it.”

“But I do!”, Lanyon protested. “And don't act so nonchalant! If you're not traumatised after those horrible experiences of war, I seriously have to question your humanity!”

Dr. Faust sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose: “It's long in the past. And I'd rather not talk about it to you. I may be able to look into your mind and hear your thoughts, but that doesn't change the fact, that I hardly know you.”

Trust issues. That was something Lanyon was more than familiar with.

“You're right”, he gave in. “Let's talk about it no longer. Right now, the more pressing issue is the surgery.”

.

Lady Summers was filing her therapy protocols.

A tedious task, but it had to be done.

More than often it took hours to sort everything into her abundant folders, of which some were thicker than the others. The countess always sorted her folders alphabetically and the protocols and notes inside them chronologically.

The one she was working on right now was the newest folder of her friend Victor Frankenstein – it was one of the biggest ones in her archive. After all, he had been alive for almost 130 years, she had known him for over forty years and the man had a lot of issues, some of them impossible to get rid of. Victor was a complete mess (and kind of a tool) and most of it he had brought upon himself. Sometimes Lady Summers couldn't help but question, why they were still friends. Probably pity and a tad of sympathy – they had been through the same torture all those years ago.

With a sigh, she finished filing the newest of her notes and protocols. She would need a new folder for Victor's case and he already had six of them.

All of her friends had several folders, even Dr. Jekyll, who had been her client for only a few months (then again, he had more problems than most of her clients).

Lady Summers closed the file, put it back into the shelf, went downstairs and prepared to go out.

It was Monday evening, when she would habitually visit the local police stations and prisons.

Not because she liked going there, but because the police liked to spare themselves the trouble of actually doing research by employing her mind-reading abilities. They tipped her handsomely for her service and that was the only reason, why she cooperated with them.

But that didn't stop Lady Summers from taking her frustration out on them for not using their own brains. Really, was it too much to ask, that they just did their job and deduced their cases without the help of a civilian?!

Her butler helped her into her jacket, cloak and shoes, Aoimoku handed her her parasol and they went on their way.

Marie would handle everything in the meantime.

When the three arrived there, Lady Summers gave a curt nod to the porter, before entering the building.

Almost everyone in the room turned to look at her and there was some mumbling from one or the other.

“Good evening, inspector Grumman”, she greeted the oldest of them.

Then she turned to the youngest man in the room: “I see, you're new. Well, good evening, officer Joyce. I hope your wife is feeling better?”

She almost laughed at how the young man stared at her for solid five seconds.

But then he recovered: “U-uhm, yes. M-my wife is feeling better, thank you. But how did you know my name and that she was sick?”

She smiled sweetly: “I'm Lady Summers. It's a pleasure to meet you. Anyway, inspector”, she turned back to Grumman. “I assume you have new-”

“Oh, good evening, Lady Summers!” Another inspector stepped forward and she withheld a groan, when she recognised D.I. Blackwood.

“How good to see you, Milady! If I may say, that's an exquisite dress! You look queenly toni-”

“Yes, yes”, she interrupted him, “words are cheap and so are your attempts at flattery. Let's get started, shall we?”

.

“Thank you so much for your time, Dr. Jekyll”, the woman sighed in relief. “You truly are one of the best physicians I have ever met.”

“Oh, stop it, Madam!”, Jekyll chuckled. “One of these days the flattery will get to my head and I can't possibly let that happen! Who knows, what that would do to my judgement! Anyway, you don't need to worry. It's just a common cold. Be sure to keep warm, drink lots of herbal infusions (peppermint, sage, lavender and ginger, mixed with honey, do a world of good against a sore throat), rest as much as you can and be sure to air the room regularly. But if it gets worse, be sure to send for me. Have a good day and get well soon!”

The woman nodded and saw herself out.

Jekyll took five minutes to air the room, before calling the next patient in.

“Good morning, Mr. Blake”, he greeted the man. “Oh dear, I see the pollen season is taking its toll on you.”

Before the man could answer, he sneezed violently into the room.

The Doctor couldn't help but frown. “Mr. Blake, how many times do I have to tell you to please sneeze into a handkerchief or into the crook of your elbow! It's common decency!”, he added pointedly, when the old man opened his mouth to nag.

This is going to be a long, long, week.

.

“Alright, Sir Carew”, Utterson spoke to his elderly client. “Is there anything more you have to discuss with me?”

“No, no”, the old politician chuckled. “This is all for now. Thank you kindly, Mr. Utterson. You're always such a big help.”

“It's always my pleasure”, the lawyer replied. “Before you go, I heard that you're going to retire from the Parliament?”

“Ah, yes”, Sir Carew confirmed. “I'm beginning to feel my age, I must admit. I'm planning to retire into the country, once I am retired and my daughter has got married. And once that day comes, I would be happy, if you could assist me in ordering my possessions.”

“I will gladly do so”, Utterson promised. “How is your daughter anyway?”

Carew smiled: “Ah, she is as darling as ever. To be fair, it worries me how many suitors she has. You can never know, if they just want your daughter for her beauty, if they truly love her.”

“Well, I have no children, so I can't really relate”, Utterson stated.

For a second he wondered how an old man like Sir Danvers Carew could have such a young daughter (she was not quite twenty), but then he remembered, that Carew had adopted her.

Maybe my own memory is getting rusty.

“By the way, how is Lady Summers?”, Carew inquired out of the blue, startling the other. “After all, she was quite ill used at the royal gala over a month ago.”

“Oh. Her Ladyship is fine”, Utterson told him. “In fact, she visited her father-in-law in Cornwall earlier this month. She returned to London a week ago, you can visit her yourself, if you wish. I'm certain she will be delighted to have tea and crumpets with you.”

“Oh, wonderful”, the older man cried in delight. “Really, that baron was such an animal towards her! She could have died from internal injuries!”

“Hm, she had the good fortune of several capable physicians being there as well”, the lawyer pointed out (wishing Carew would stop talking about that accursed gala already).

“Indeed. The Lady always had fortune on her side – then again, fortune favours the bold. And speaking of them, how are they? I seem to recall, that they are intimate friends of yours?”

“You could say that”, Utterson confirmed, albeit apprehensively. “We have known each other since our school days, so we're very close.”

“Well, give them my regards and my thanks for being such good friends to you and to the countess. And while you're at that, won't you give my thanks to that young brown-haired man, who saved my daughter from that scoundrel's clutches? What was his name again …”

“Mr. Hyde”, the lawyer supplied.

“Right! Anyway, give him and Dr. Jekyll my thanks. As Lisa's father it put me quite at ease to see two gentlemen help my daughter out without ulterior motives.”

Utterson nodded. “I will let them know next time I meet them. Have a nice evening, Sir.”

Then he saw his client off.

He didn't ask, whether Carew remembered, that Hyde was the very same man, who had almost killed him the year before and if yes, how he was feeling about that.

I will just have to ask Lady Summers, he decided. I pray she will be willing to enlighten me, because something about this is making me anxious.

[vanhelsingenthusiast]

omg bestie tell us about your gothic lit ocs!!!! i know i'm interested

Yee thank you!! (Also, I wanted to do some drawings of them for this, but that Was Not Happening, so.) If yall wanna ask specific questions for one of them I’ll draw a little thing of them answering it. Idk I’ve seen that and it looks fun. 

So let’s just get into it! 

Lilah Jekyll — Henry Jekyll’s ex-wife. Daughter of Carew. Lovely lady!! Punched Hyde in the face once. 10/10 would do again. I wouldn’t say Jekyll/Hyde is in love with her so much as obsessed with her, mainly because she’s one of the few people who will actually stand up to them. If you mess with her kids she WILL fuck you up. Bi. Likes embroidery, going to music halls, singing, and the color pink. 

Alice Jekyll - Henry and Lilah Jekyll’s daughter. One of Van Helsing’s uni students. A bit high-strung but very compassionate. Has the same fiery spirit as her mother. Cries a lot but does not want anyone to know. Very outgoing. Autistic. Bi ace. Likes reading, her uni classes (for the most part — she hates math), wearing men’s clothes, and the color moss green. 

Ellie Hyde — Alice’s counterpart. In my universe, Hyde’s personality is no different than Jekyll’s, just more uninhibited. 

Harry Jekyll — Lilah and Henry Jekyll’s son. Alice’s twin brother. Painfully shy. Much more reasonable than his sister, and often times the one who has to talk her out of doing something painfully stupid. A bit sarcastic. Can sometimes come off as mean but he’s not trying to be. Aroace. Likes drawing and painting, gardening and botany, and the color blue. 

Eddie Hyde — Harry’s counterpart. 

Margareta Van Helsing — Van Helsing’s wife/ex-wife (I haven’t decided if they get an annulment/divorce/whathaveyou yet or not, lol). Tired. Tired of your shit, tired of that shit, tired of this shit. Someone get her a nap. Independent, and does not take any disrespect from anyone. Loves Abraham but their relationship is very strained (if they’re together at all. Again, haven’t quite decided). Has almost definitely killed a man. Bi. Likes her family, going to high society events, knitting, and the color purple. 

Anna Utterson —Margareta and Abraham Van Helsing’s daughter. Widow of Gabriel Utterson’s brother, Alexander. Devoted and loving. She would do just about anything for the people she loves. Her and Van Helsing did have a bit of a falling out a few years back, shortly after her brother’s death, but she still loves him and wants a relationship with him she just doesn’t know how to initiate. Her and Lilah are good friends. Friendly, but not necessarily outgoing. Lesbian. Likes fashion, playing card games, Jane Austen, Emily Dickinson, and the color green. 

Benjamin Utterson — Van Helsing’s grandson, and Gabriel Utterson’s nephew. Anna’s son. Vampire. Engaged to Alice. Himbo of the highest caliber — meaning he’s kind to a fault, oddly buff, and has no common sense. He’s very book smart, though. Lawyer (with his uncle, Gabriel). The sweetest guy you will ever meet. Hes the kind of guy who cries when he accidentally kills a bug (not that he actually did that, but still). Wants to adopt every single stray animal he comes across. Bi ace. Likes poetry, music, law, history, math, and the color red. 

Jasper Noel — Ernest Frankenstein’s great-something grandson, on his mothers side. Born in England, though, as his father is English, but he did visit Switzerland once where he met the Creature. One of Van Helsing’s uni students. Alice’s friend (they have his class together). Almost definitely in love with her, and Benjamin, but he’s in love with all his friends. Depressed like 24/7, but an eternal optimist. Is one a mission to find the Creature. He has no clue what he’s going to do after that, he hasn’t planned that far ahead. Pan. Likes cats, spending time with his friends and family, eating buttercream frosting straight from the can, and the color black. 

Anyways there are more but these are the most relevant ones for now I think lol. 

Sorry this is kinda long and took so late. 

[starlene]

The night before Henry Jekyll's wedding to Emma Carew, John Utterson has to make a very difficult decision.

Wedding preparations

For as long as he could remember, John Utterson had dreaded Henry Jekyll’s wedding day.

It was late and John’s thoughts circled around the ceremony tomorrow. His shoes were polished, his suit brushed, his tie ironed, his hands shaking. Only one thing left to prepare anymore.

Or two, keeping in mind that he was supposed to be giving a speech at the dinner tomorrow. He hadn’t put any thought into that. If, by some miracle, the wedding day proceeded without incident all the way to that point, he could certainly improvise something about the bride looking radiant and the groom unbearably dashing and commendably non-murderous, so please have a nice rest of your life together, have my blessing to make plenty of babies and see you in hell.

At the moment, John was more concerned about the details of his outfit.

It was a ridiculous thing, really. John’s uncle had given it to him on his 21st birthday. Just the sort of gift you’d expect from Uncle Abraham, honestly, ceremoniously handed to him with a solemn speech about the importance of a young man arming himself against the forces of evil. As far as John was concerned, it was better to avoid places where you’d expect to encounter forces of evil altogether, so for years, the sword cane had stayed hidden in the back of his wardrobe.

This time though, he couldn’t really avoid facing the evil. And before morning came, he would have to make his choice: should he take the weapon with him to Henry’s wedding?

~

It was a true wonder John hadn’t gotten himself discharged from his work yet. Ever since his first meeting with Edward Hyde a few weeks ago, he had spent his nights worrying, unable to sleep, and his days resting his head on top of the ever-growing piles of poorly drafted wills and contracts that were taking over his desk.

Worrying – or, lately more often than not, wide awake with Edward Hyde in his bed.

It was nothing to be proud of, but after having opened his door to Hyde once, John had ended up welcoming him into the house nearly every night. It was not Henry, but it was the closest he was ever going to get, and since Hyde always initiated it… John didn’t have it in him to say no.

That didn’t mean John didn’t always feel terribly guilty afterwards. What was he doing, taking such risks and doing such things with the devil that was tormenting Henry? And, supposing Henry was in there somewhere, aware of what Hyde was doing, feeling everything – well, how could John ever justify his own actions to him? John was certain Henry wouldn’t agree to him using his body like this. In all likelihood, their meetings were just one of Hyde’s many ways of making life more miserable for Henry.

Still, John wanted it so much he always let Hyde in. Let him in and thought about Henry.

Upon their first meeting, John had been certain – had desperately wanted to be certain – that Hyde was a completely separate creature from Henry, a surplus soul possessing his body. Every time they had met each other since, it had become harder to hold onto that belief. John was disturbed by Hyde’s sense of humour. It was disturbing that the demon had a sense of humour to begin with, and it felt even worse to realise how familiar Hyde’s tone actually was. John could hear Henry in Hyde’s snarky, often scornful words. The only difference was that Henry never aimed his truly biting remarks at John, trying his best to make his friend laugh by describing others instead, while Hyde’s derision was usually directed towards him.

Besides the ways they moved and the ways their voices sounded like, there were two big differences between the two that John could notice, as far as he could notice anything while receiving Hyde’s full attention. Henry had shame where Hyde had none, and while Henry had always been temperamental and tactless, Hyde was downright cruel, both in his words and in his actions. Hyde couldn’t take no for an answer – not that John was in the habit of refusing him, but everyone has his limits – and while John was stronger and sturdier he was, the punches hurt all the same.

Despite everything, it terrified John to see how skinny Henry’s body had gotten, so he didn’t strike back.

~

On the nights that Hyde did not knock on his door, John had plenty of time to think about him.

Most nights, John thought about an article he had read in the newspaper, complete with a gruesome illustration, about a girl being murdered at a brothel and the murderer getting away unnoticed. A girl that looked, as far as you could tell based on the messy illustration of her mutilated body, all too familiar, in a brothel that John could well recognise.

How could it be possible that Henry had created something that was capable of such senseless, ultimate cruelty?

And could it be possible that Hyde would do it again?

John had a certain respect for Emma Carew. Sure, when Henry had first told him about her, he had wanted to tear her head right off for taking away the last sliver of a chance that John could keep Henry to himself. But, upon meeting her, it had turned out he had a very hard time actually hating Emma. She was too clever for that, too quick-witted and down-to-earth. John had a feeling that, had Emma been born a man, she would have made a better lawyer than he could ever become.

Had Emma been born a man, there would also have been no wedding to worry about.

And had Emma been born a man, maybe she would have been able to take Hyde’s blows like John did. As she was, with her short stature, John was not so certain.

~

The pre-wedding dinner that evening had been the most excruciating affair John had ever taken part in.

It was the first time he had seen Henry in weeks. Of course, he had seen his body – the thought of how familiar, in fact, he had become with Henry’s body made John’s face burn – but this was the first time in weeks he could see Henry in there. Could be sure that the body’s original occupant was in charge of it.

If John still had some doubt as to whether Henry was aware of Hyde’s doings, the way Henry turned red at the sight of him cleared that from his mind. Clearly he could remember.

Most of the evening was spent in agonising silence. Emma’s bridesmaids, Elsie and Clara, tried their hardest to tease the groom-to-be and to talk with Emma, but their efforts were met with stone-cold silence. Sir Danvers mumbled a couple of awkward sentences about young people and pre-wedding nerves and spent the rest of the dinner quietly fiddling with the stem of his wine glass. John, Henry and Emma spent their time by, in turns, trying to catch and trying to avoid each others’ eyes.

While the dessert was being served, Henry excused himself with some unintelligible words and rushed out of the house. No one knew what to say to that, so the rest of them continued spooning away at their puddings without a word.

As John was about to leave, Emma caught up with him in the empty hallway.

“John. You have to tell me what’s wrong with Henry.”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t lie to me. You have no idea how this feels like. First I don’t see Henry in weeks, then he comes here tonight, looking completely unwell. He doesn’t speak to me, and for half the dinner, you two keep exchanging weird looks, and then he simply runs away. Clearly you know something that I don’t.”

“I said I don’t know.”

“I said don’t lie to me!”

“Miss Carew… Emma… if you’re so worried about him, have you considered…”

“Now you’re going to suggest I should call off the wedding, right? You would think it’s that simple, wouldn’t you! For Christ’s sake. After what happened with Simon… I can’t. It would ruin father, it would ruin me! You understand there is no way I’d be getting a third chance at marriage after that, do you?”

A silence.

“It’s not fair! I’m supposed to be marrying him tomorrow, I’m supposed to be moving into his house to live with him for the rest of my life, but it’s like he doesn’t trust me at all. It’s clear he’s telling you something he’s not telling me.”

“He doesn’t tell me anything anymore either.”

“John, please be honest with me. Don’t tell me what’s wrong with him if that’s such a bloody huge secret, but please, tell me this. Do you think he is ever going to get better?”

A silence, again.

“I don’t know, Emma. I really don’t know.”

~

The clock struck three in the hallway. For a short little moment after the unfortunate dinner party, John recalled, he had considered telling Emma the truth.

Had he loved Henry any less, he would have told her.

What was there to do? If Sir Danvers knew his precious daughter was marrying a murderer, he would use all his influence to get Henry before a judge and a jury before the day was out. John knew that to speak of what he knew would be to condemn Henry to a certain death, no matter if Hyde ever came back or not.

But not to speak… Henry had clearly been smitten with the girl Hyde had murdered. Henry had been best friends with John since they were twelve years old, yet Hyde had threatened him with a handgun, had hit and disparaged him… What if it wasn’t Henry who stood by the altar tomorrow but Hyde, and what if Emma looked at him the wrong way? Or what if Sir Danvers got in his way, or someone else? What if Hyde didn’t arrive unarmed?

Could John stand there and watch and not do anything?

For as long as he could remember, John Utterson had dreaded Henry Jekyll’s wedding day.

Placing the sword cane by the clothes he would put on when morning came, he wished, for the millionth time, that the day he would have to attend his best friend’s wedding would never come.

[alice-m00n]

AN: Thank you for your request, I hope that you enjoy~

“Try not to give her too many sweets and make sure she takes her nap on time or she’ll be cranky. If she needs a diaper change, then make sure you grab the diaper first before you  set her down. She’s been really energetic lately, so she’s been rolling around whenever we set her down,” Kaneki listed off, trying to frantically remember what else he needed to tell Hide. “And… And…”

Touka walked in, carrying Ichika on her hip. Ichika was holding onto a blue rabbit, “Lately, she’s been wanting to go on adventures with her bunny, so sometimes she’ll hide in the other rooms or try to climb out the windows when she gets the chance, so keep a close eye on her.” 

“Bunny!” 

“Got it!” Hide saluted, “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of letting something happen to your little bundle of joy.” 

“And don’t hesitate to call us if something happens. If I don’t pick up, then call Touka, if Touka doesn’t pick up-” 

We’ll be fine,” he reassures, “And Yomo-san is stopping by later, you’ll have two responsible adults watching her, so you two can take a break today!”

“Alright…” It’s not like he doesn’t trust Hide, Ken trusts him a lot, it’s just he and Touka haven’t both been away from Ichika at the same time, what if she starts crying- 

“Kaneki man, it’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry about a thing either, Touka-chan. Ichika and I are gonna have loads of fun, ain’t that right?”

“Fun!”   

“See?” 

“Do you know what to say when people are going?” Hide asked her. 

Ichika smiled, “‘ake carew Mama, Papa!” 

Good lord, his daughter is adorable! 

~~~ 

The weather was nice out, it was a clear blue sky.  

“What a nice day,” Touka mused.   

“Yeah,  perfect for walking around, isn’t it?” 

“It’s too bad we didn’t take Ichika with us.”  

“If the weather is good tomorrow, let’s all go on a walk to the park,” he suggested. 

“That sounds great,” Touka agreed as she  slipped her hand into his.

He smiled. He still can’t believe that he gets to be with someone like her. Even now, he’s still giddy whenever he remembers that Touka is his wife and he’s her husband. 

There was a quaint shopping district nearby that they decided to spend a few hours at. There were a few stores they could look at and a  cafe here and there. It works out perfectly because they can shop for ingredients for Ichika’s dinner when they’re done. He wonders what they should make for dinner? Maybe omelet rice? Or something with noodles, like udon or soba?

“Ken?”

“Y-Yes!”  

“What were you thinkin about?”

“What should we get Ichika for dinner?” Now thinking about it, he should be thinking about Touka, shouldn’t he? “What were you thinking about?”   

“If we should make rolled omelets for dinner? Even though we’re supposed to be on a break, we still  just think about her. We’re really stupid doting parents, aren’t we?” 

“Yeah.” But he wouldn’t want to be anything else. 

As they walked, a certain store caught his eye. The store display was filled with colorful books. Between Ichika and the UFR and the TSC, he hasn’t found much time to look for new books.  

“Do you want to go in?” 

He would, but he wanted to do something that both him and Touka would enjoy. “It’s fine, I can always get something later-” 

“It looks like they have kids books too,” she interrupted, “Should we get something for Ichika too?” 

He really is lucky to have her. 

“Sure.” 

The shop had a good selection of books. There were quite a few he hadn’t seen, so he selected a few before the two of  them headed to the kids’ section. Touka had chosen a book that was titled Mohei.   

“I remembered my dad reading this when I was a kid,” she explained. 

“Ah, I read that too. I’m sure Ichika will like it.” 

“What about this one?” 

“That seems good.” 

They chose a few more books together. He hopes that they can read all of these to Ichika soon.   

They exited the bookstore with a heaping bag and Ken couldn’t feel happier. 

He remembered wanting to do this with his girlfriend, go to a bookstore and share their views on whatever books they both liked reading. It’s strange how that was so long ago. Before, he would imagine going with someone like Rize, but now, he gets to go with Touka and choose books for their kid.  

“You’re smiling a lot,” Touka observed. 

“I’m just really happy.” 

“Did you find a good book?”

“Well, that too.” He smiled at her as he took her hand before admitting, “I’ve always wanted to have a bookstore date with my girlfriend and now I get to have one with my wife.”

She squeezed his hand a little, “We can have one whenever you feel like.” 

“Thank you, Touka.” He really is lucky to have someone like Touka as his wife, “Where should we go now?” 

“Do you want to get some coffee? I heard from Hina that there was a new shop nearby.” 

A cup of coffee sounds good, but… “I wonder if we can find a shop that makes coffee as good as you.” 

She let out a chuckle, “You sap. Let’s go see if that ‘nose kagune’ of yours still works” 

“You aren’t gonna let me live that down are you?” he asked after letting out a snicker. He didn’t think she was listening when he said that.  

“Nope.” 

Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to have Hide babysit.

[moraldyad]

honestly as much of a mess as the jekyll & hyde musical is , i know i’ve posted about this before but it’s not BAD to have women in a story & love does not ruin a character , & really my main issue is like , henry is supposed to be prideful , he thinks he can just figure this shit out , he thinks he can get away with it . he’s not afraid of being hyde until he’s no longer in control , he’s not horrified by the change until he can’t control it . 

having a love interest doesn’t necessarily change that . henry can love someone & still be a total fuckwit , because society still dictates he act a certain way . he could have an emma or he could have a lucy & it doesn’t throw off his character arc so long as his foundation is still there ??? you know , like ... age gaps weren’t Uncommon then , henry can still be ‘ a large handsome man of 50 ′ & be in love with ‘ emma carew who is probably in her early 20s , which is also ( as far as i know ) fairly old to still be unmarried at the time ( 1870s-80s ) ’ , which also leads to “ why not have a female character who would have independence & the like , the well educated daughter of sir danvers carew who is likely a member of the house of lords lbrh ” 

rls never tried to like , diminish women in his novel ( because there WEREN’T ANY ? ) , & with his view of people being dumb when they claimed what was wrong with jekyll is “ mental illness ” when really henry jekyll is just full of hubris & not who he seems , why wouldn’t he be ok with women with independence ? 

but , essentially , the point is that henry jekyll is not wrecked as a character by having a love interest . what throws his character off track is when things go down the “ jekyll good hyde bad ” route , with jekyll being this sweet cinnamon roll who did not deserve that shit , HENRY JEKYLL IS A MESS . he’s a good doctor & it isn’t that he’s not empathetic to his friends or his patients or his loved ones , but in the end , he’s prideful & selfish , which is his downfall , because he wasn’t fucking thinking about anything but his own possible freedom . & people who are like that can also have love interests , love isn’t reserved just for “tragic ‘monster’ characters ( eg . the beast , erik ) or heroes ( eg . percy blakeney , ivanhoe ) — see : dorian gray’s relationship with sybil that ends because dorian is a selfish brat & a hedonist , but he still had a love interest also see basil hallward , & his character & his story are NOT ruined by that 

tldr henry jekyll can have a love interest because love doesn’t make a story less impactful , frank wildhorn just did it not great , thanks for coming to my tedtalk

[daggerzine]

The Click Beetles- POP FOSSIL (VANDALAY RECORD/S FUTUREMAN RECORDS)

Another mighty fine release from the Futureman label (co-release, but still) who are topping Rod Carew and Tony Gwynn in the average category. This one comes courtesy of a Wisconsin songwriter Dan Pavelich who’s obviously influence by the Fab Four.  His last release was 2014’s Wake Up to the Music! so he’s had a 6 years in the lab to whip up a new on and by golly he did it. Another cool thing here is Pavelich’s daughter, Mari plays guitar on the record so it’s  family affair (and they enlisted the awesomely-named Van Dyke Brown to hit the skins). The first two songs really nail it here, the super catchy “If Not Now Then When?” and the punchier “To Rule the World” (which from the beginning beat I thought they were gonna blast into 20/20’s “Remember the Lightning”) and “Don’t You Call My Name” is pure Byrdsy jangle. I also really enjoyed the 70’s skinny-tie ish “Nobody’s Girl” and the pristine jangle of “Hey Renee,” too. Ok, so he’s not rewriting the rule book or anything, but men and women with guitars doing rock/pop music with a unique edge will never go out of style in this household.  www.futuremanrecords.bandcamp.com