#devastated for marta but lets fucking go

[appleciders]

sports are crazy bc how do i still feel unhinged at 8:30 in the morning

[disastergenius]

Details from the Deaf West Spring Awakening pt2

back with part 2 regarding my favorite details in DWSA (based on the Wallis version) [part 1]

·       The Guilty Ones staging: odd at first but it’s very pretty

·       The transition from this gentle scene to Moritz’s frantic energy of Don’t Do Sadness

·       He also jumps off the staircase!

·       The performance of Don’t Do Sadness at 54 Below has definitely got many of it’s views from me

·       Because this is about to get very sad, I recommend the video of Alex Boniello and Daniel Durant deciding to switch parts during practice in their dressing room (https://youtu.be/wImIMzPRv1M)

·       Since watching Krysta Rodriguez talk about the various issues that occurred during the Blue Wind scenes, I cannot help but imagine them everytime they are having a Dramatic Moment

·       He tries to give her his coat

·       Big props for the wig decision as well, that’s neat

·       The choice to use Daniel Durant’s actual voice to cry out for Ilse

·       The way that Moritz pushes his Voice’s mic down. It’s so sad, so defeated. It’s not even a goodbye, it’s an acceptance that they have made their decision.

·       Because I had the luck of seeing the broadway boot, I didn’t get to see the actual monologue for a long time and wow does it do it justice by finishing in ASL

·       And fade to white out.

·       I can’t remember if the original version has Ilse find him, but the staggering way she just, looks at him as he stands there, arms down

·       Moritz just walks offstage, among his friends but without them

·       Not DWSA related but Jonathan Groff’s story about Left Behind has ruining me whenever they get to it it’s unfortunately all I can hear for at least 5 seconds

·       Marta and her voice are finally together in this scene when they approach Moritz’s casket.

·       When they go to sit, Marta walks infront of Moritz’s father and stares at him as she passes. I don’t know what this might mean but it feels significant

·       His father is holding a teddy bear that we saw in And Then There Were None

·       I do appreciate that most of Melchior’s objections are factual but said with such arrogance

·       The energy that Totally Fucked

·       I love that the hearing characters cover their mouths and the deaf characters hold their hands out with their mouths open, such a good staging to show how they are being silenced

·       The vineyard scene was the first scene I remember watching enough times to start learning the signs

·       “and be expelled” Ernst following the path of the signing as Hanschen flicks it away

·       I sort of want to know if Andy had the same observation he did when he was in the 1st National Tour: post Totally Fucked he was out of breath and had to wait to say his lines so he didn’t sound more “creepy and lecherous.” Maybe that’s why he decided to just stand and moon the audience instead

·       This is the best interpretation of this scene everyone else is wrong

·       *leans back casually as if he has not been waiting for this for months* “Mmmh, I know”

·       The little spin on the piano stool; I love that Ernst and his voice are so connected with each other through the show

·       Really loving the decision to allow them to kiss again as they leave the stage, letting the company finish the song out instead

·       It really is heartbreaking how the doctor doesn’t talk to Wendla so she’s even more in the dark about what’s happening to her than she already is.

·       Again, using Sandra Mae Frank’s actual voice is such good storytelling for this moment to have it’s full effect.

·       It happens again when she’s being literally torn away from her Voice as they take her away, again without knowing what is going to happen to her.

·       Melchior promising Moritz that he will do right by him is devastating, because in a story that ends in tragedy there is nothing sadder than making plans for the future.

·       Yes the way that Moritz and Wendla come back is a bit offputting but the singing is so beautiful and haunting when they start. The imagery of Melchior on his knees before them as they tell him to keep going is just perfect

·       The “Not gone” lines slowly backing away from Melchior until he is left alone onstage, repeating his mantra from All That’s Known but now with new meaning. Brilliant

·       Also the staging for the lines where each side is mirrored with their Voices is very good.

·       For all intents and purposes that’s where the show ends. Melchior alone but having courage to go on. And Austin McKenzie plays every second of that song beautifully.

·       I like that in the end, the Voices aren’t matched with the characters

·       So I listened to DWSA first and just assumed that the music toning down to leave the show with a soft and haunting beauty was how it went. Imagine my surprise when they amp it back up and it finishes loud. This version is significantly better for many reasons, particularly because they tone down and then end with just sign.

·       The sign-only version of this song made me cry the first time I watched it. And it’s just that little clip in the DW Broadway.com vlogs. I really wish they had a video of it being sign-only through the whole thing.

·       Also this backstage video at 54 Below is really good! Particularly appreciating the top harmonies I’ve never heard by someone https://youtu.be/amqNmG3WuaE

anyways that’s all for now but i am in love with this production and mourn the fact that there is no proshot 

[candy-and-writing]

Loose Ankles

This is my entry for @darkficsyouneveraskedfor Pre-Code Writing Challenge. I chose the movie Loose Ankles, where a young woman discovers she has inherited her grandmother’s fortune, but only if she can find and marry a man.

Summary: The night of Harlan’s birthday party, Harlan tells Ransom he’s cutting his family out of his will. No one will get a single red dime. But, still seeing potential in his grandson, Harlan offers Ransom a deal.

Warnings: smut, 18+, oral sex, tipsy sex, fingering, unprotected sex, choking, low-key Dom Ransom, fluff, Ransom discovering love and not knowing what to do

I am NOT responsible for your media content consumption. This work is not intended for those under the age of 18 due to explicit sexual content and/or dark themes. By reading this work you agree that you are at least 18 years of age. I do not consent to have my work posted on any third party app or website; if you are seeing this work anywhere other than tumblr and archiveofourown, it has been reposted without my permission.

Unbelievable. Un-fucking-believable. 

Ransom sped down the road, rage seething inside him as he gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. Harlan fucking Thrombey just kicked his family to the curb, his eldest grandson included.

Marta fucking Cabrera was inheriting his fortune. Harlan’s Brazilian nurse. Jesus, this all felt like a bad joke.

But, of course, Harlan wouldn’t just stop there. No, he wanted to make Ransom suffer.

If he could settle down and establish himself, ‘find a nice girl’ as Harlan so blatantly described it, he would give Ransom back his cut of the inheritance. It made Ransom’s blood boil just thinking about it. Ransom Drysdale didn’t date. He didn’t do domesticity. The old man knew that. 

But if it meant he could get his stupid money back, he would do whatever it took. As he pulled into the bar, taking a deep breath, he took his keys out the ignition. He needed a drink if he was going to do this. 

Ransom sat at the bar, nursing his fourth whiskey. There were a couple different girls who looked appealing, all of which Harlan would never approve of. He fished the cherry out of his now-empty glass, waving at the bartender for another drink.

Drumming his fingers on the wood top bar, Ransom caught eyes with a young woman in a booth across the room. You were young, with red painted lips that contrasted beautifully to the black dress you wore. It was modest, the neckline tickling your collarbone and the hem of the dress reaching your knees. A pair of flats donned your feet. You quickly looked away, cheeks flushed and Ransom smiled. You were perfect. Three other people sat in the booth with you, another girl and two guys. You sipped on a glass of rose-tinted wine, your eyes dodging back to Ransom every so often, darting away as soon as you saw he was already looking at you.

Ransom waited almost three hours. The other girl had left with one of the guys, leaving you with the second guy. You didn’t look like you were enjoying yourself—you were fiddling with your thumbs under the table and tapping your foot, smiling awkwardly as the guy laughed at something he said. Something about his dad’s boat. He not-so-subtly kept looking at girls’ asses as they pasted your table, ignoring whatever you were trying to say.

Ransom heard the guy say he was going to the bathroom. Five minutes later Ransom saw him leaving with his arm wrapped around some girl’s waist. You saw it, too. Your face fell. You got up and put a few bills on the table, walking up to the bar. You sat a few seats from him, waving down the bartender.

“Can I get an Amaretto Sour?” you asked, your voice soft and quiet. The bartender nodded as he walked away, grabbing a bottle of Amaretto. You sighed, resting your hand on your chin. Ransom got up, moving to sit in the chair next to you.

“Hey.” He smirked, earning himself a pair of wide eyes and flustered cheeks.

“Um—hi.” You gave him a tentative smile. You thanked the bartender as he handed you your drink, taking a quick sip.

“I saw what happened,” Ransom said. “That guy’s a dick.”

You let out a breathless chuckle. “Yeah, he was. That’s what I get for trusting my best friend’s boyfriend, though.”

Ransom smiled, downing the last of his whiskey. He let out a breath, setting his glass down. He watched as you played with the string of pearls hanging around your neck.

“I’m Ransom Drysdale,” he smirked. You told him your name, a sheepish smile spreading over your lips. He repeated your name, testing the way it felt on his tongue. “Can I buy you another drink?”

“Yeah,” you smiled. “I’d like that.”

You were drunk by the time the bartender kicked you two out. Ransom invited you home with him, his hand resting on your thigh. Your cheeks flushed a bright red, the blush trailing down your neck and to your ears. Ransom smirked at how cute you were, innocent in the way that had his cock throbbing.

“Yeah,” you said. “Sure.”

–

Ransom pushed you up against the door of his house, his lips moving against yours possessively. You whimpered as his hips rutted up against yours, Ransom thrusting his tongue into your mouth. He struggled to fit his key into the lock, turning the doorknob and roughly shoving you two through the door, kicking it shut with his foot.

Ransom grabbed your ass and squeezed, moaning into your mouth. You jumped, wrapping your legs around his waist, your flats falling off your feet. He carried you up a flight of stairs, his lips working over yours. He stepped into his bedroom and dropped you on his bed, watching you bounce before he pulled his sweater over his head.

He leaned over you, kissing you as he threaded his fingers through yours, pushing them into the mattress on either side of your head. He kissed down your jaw, sucking a dark mark into your neck. He grinded his hips against your center, a gasp leaving your mouth. 

Ransom pushed the skirt of your dress up past your hips, revealing your lacy underwear. Ransom groaned, leaning down to kiss your center through your panties as he massaged your thighs. You sighed, your skin tingling. He swiftly tore the lace down your legs, his mouth latching onto your clit. You squeaked, hips jerking off the bed. He licked a long stripe up your intimate flesh, focusing the tip of his tongue on your bud, earning himself a strangled whine from you.

He devastated you with his mouth, lips latching onto your little bundle of nerves as he pressed his index finger to your entrance. He pushed inside just a little and you gasped. Ransom began to pump his finger in and out of you slowly, his tongue working your clit. 

“R—Ransom!" 

Ransom moaned against your flesh, sending vibrations up through your clit. He pushed another finger into you, your thighs clenching around his shoulders as you cried out. The pads of his fingers pushed up against your walls, pressing against a certain spot inside of you that had you choking on a moan.

You were burning up, sweat coating your forehead. The coil in your belly was curling impossibly tight, your body on fire as Ransom teased your bundle of nerves. You began to babble, endless pleas of begging until your voice cracked. Ransom smirked against you, the tip of his tongue teasing your clit and that was all it took. The coil in your stomach snapped and you screamed, your thighs trembling as your back arched off the bed. 

Ransom rode you from your high until it was just too much. You tried to pull away from him, overstimulated. You whined, your voice cracking, and Ransom finally seemed to get the message. He pulled away, his chin slick with your juices as he hooked his finger under your chin, bringing you in for a sloppy kiss. You could taste yourself on his tongue, overtly earthy in a way that had you moaning into his mouth.

Ransom pulled away from you, placing a quick peck on your lips. "God, you’re so fucking sexy.”

Still blissed-out, you sighed in response, letting Ransom unzip the side of your dress and pull it over your head. He quickly discarded your bra, marveling in your body. He unbuttoned his trousers, shucking them off his legs along with his boxers.

Your breath stuttered in your lungs as Ransom’s length bobbed against his stomach. His tip was painfully red, leaking precum down his shaft. You swallowed, watching as he wrapped his fingers around his cock and pumping his fist up and down his length. He let out a shaky breath, bending down to kiss the valley of your breasts. 

The head of his cock poked at your entrance. He sucked a nipple into his mouth, pushing himself into you slowly. Even after an orgasm, you were still unbelievably tight, clutching Ransom like a vice.

“Fuck, sweetheart, you’re so fucking tight.”

You preened as he bottomed out. Ransom grunted, wrapping your legs around his hips and hugging you close to his chest, carefully rocking his hips up. His thrusts started slow and deep, keeping his pace steady until you’re writhing and mewling for more. His hand reached up and squeezed your breast, rolling his thumb between his thumb and forefinger as he sped up his pace, pounding into you in the most delicious way.

“Fuck!” you cried when Ransom hit a spot deep inside of you, his girth brushing against your walls. “Oh, God! Ransom!”

His hot breath hit your jaw as he moaned into your ear. “You feel so good, babygirl. So fucking good for me.”

His hand wrapped around your throat, pressing down slightly just below your jaw. You gasped, feeling your airway restricted. Your walls fluttered against Ransom’s cock, causing him to groan and tighten his grip on your throat. He cursed into your ear, hips bucking into you. 

You couldn’t breathe. You squirmed violently underneath his grip, whining pathetically as Ransom slammed into you punishingly. The little tears in your eyes and the little noises you make brought something out of him—he squeezed your throat tighter, watching as you writhed beneath him. 

You came with a strangled shout, seizing up and convulsing around Ransom’s length. Ransom dug his fingers into the divots of your hips so hard you were sure they were going to leave bruises. With a growl, Ransom pulled out of your slick heat, hot cum coating your stomach.

Ransom released your throat, crashing down on the bed beside you. You wheezed almost painfully, turning on your side as you caught your breath. With a huff of breath, Ransom pushed himself up, opening a door that was adjacent to the bed. You closed your eyes, still coming down from your high. Ransom came back into the room a moment later with a damp rag in hand, pressing it lightly against your stomach.

You hummed. “What’re you doin’?”

“Cleaning you up, baby, just relax." 

You rested your head back against the pillow, letting him wipe you clean. You were half asleep by the time Ransom laid down next to you, pulling the covers over the two of you. When his arm wrapped around your torso, his heat drawing you closer to sleep. 

Ransom listened to your soft and even breaths, something tingling in his chest. He knew he wasn’t going to kick you out in the morning. Something about you was different. He hadn’t had sex that good in a long time—the way you let him take control and do whatever he wanted. Most girls he brought him were needy and loud, but your cute little noises went straight to his cock. Just thinking about it made his dick twitch.

You snuggled up against him, flipping over and burying your face in his chest. 

Ransom was fucked.

–

"Are you sure this is a good idea?” you asked, fiddling with your thumbs in the passenger seat of Ransom’s Beemer. “What if they don’t like me?”

Ransom sighed out your name. “Will you stop worrying? They’ll love you. And if they don’t, they can fuck off. The only thing that matters is that I love you.”

You and Ransom had been dating for almost a year. He hadn’t talked to Harlan since the night of his birthday. It turned out you were an assistant at a publishing firm in Boston and with a little pushing from you, he published a best-selling novel. He had done everything his granddad had wanted: he established himself without the help of his family’s money and he’d found a girl. A girl he isn’t planning on letting go. Maybe that was why he hadn’t told Harlan about you—he was worried that you’d think you were disposable, that you were just a means to an end.

It was Harlan’s birthday, exactly a year since Harlan had given Ransom the ultimatum. He was surprised how excited his family was to meet you, certain they had an ulterior motive. 

He pulled into his grandad’s driveway, killing the engine. He sighed, leaning back into his seat.

“Listen,” he said. You turned to look at him, concern flashing behind your eyes. “My family is… a lot. Just don’t let them get to you, okay? They’re assholes.”

You smiled. “I know, Ran. Just calm down, everything will be okay.”

Ransom leaned over and cupped your cheek, bringing you in for a kiss. “You’re amazing.”

“Let’s go inside, okay?” You grabbed the pan of lemon bars you made and waited for Ransom to get out of the car and let him open your door for you. 

Ransom opened the front door for you and you were immediately met with shouting. Ransom helped you out of your coat and hung it up on the coat rack by the door, rolling his eyes as Linda’s shrill voice echoed through the house.

“C'mon, I’ll show you to the kitchen.”

You set your pan on a beautiful granite countertop as Ransom opened a cupboard. He fished out some expensive brand of cookies just as someone stomped into the kitchen.

“Ransom?” It was Richard. “Hey, when did you get here?”

“Two minutes ago, you’d know that if you weren’t all busy screaming at each other,” Ransom retorted, popping a cookie into his mouth. Richard frowned, about to open his mouth when he noticed you hiding behind Ransom.

“Hello, you must be Ransom’s girlfriend?” You nodded, smiling at him. You told him your name, stepping around the countertop to shake his hand. “Well, why don’t you come into the living area and meet the family, we’ve all been dying to meet you.”

–

Dinner was loud. You were sitting between Ransom and Ransom’s cousin—Meg. Meg kept picking fights with her other cousin, Jacob, who was always on his phone. Linda was yelling at Joni, Meg’s mother, who was going on about her Instagram.

Ransom kept mostly quiet, laughing when he found something amusing. His hand had taken place on your thigh, complimenting you on your lemon bars. You smiled at him, nibbling on a carrot. 

After Linda served Harlan’s birthday cake, everyone moved to the living area. You took the chance to refill your wine glass, quickly disappearing to the kitchen. You found an expensive red wine and filled your glass halfway, taking a small sip. 

“Hello, my dear.” You jumped, turning around quickly. Harlan Thrombey stood a few feet away from you, holding a piece of cake in his hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“No, it’s alright,” you smiled. “I just needed a refill. I’m not hiding in here, or anything.”

“I’d understand if you were.” Harlan chuckled. “I love my family, but they are… a lot. Ransom seems to be doing well, uncharacteristically so.”

“Yeah,” you laughed breathlessly. “He… he was really worried about bringing me here. He doesn’t talk about his family a lot, and when he does, it’s you—I think he was worried about his parents being judgemental.”

Harlan nodded. “Ransom has done well for himself. I hear he’s writing a second book?”

“He is, started working on it a couple weeks ago.”

“And he has a beautiful young woman. I’m glad he finally managed to get his life straightened out.”

You smiled. “Me too.”

“Hey.” Ransom entered the kitchen, carefully walking past Harlan. “You disappeared, I got worried. Everything okay?”

You nodded. “I just needed a refill.”

Linda started shouting for Harlan from the living room. Harlan rolled his eyes, excusing himself before he left the kitchen. Ransom looked down at you, raising an eyebrow.

“What was he talking to you about?”

“Relax, Ransom. He was just telling me how proud he was of you.”

You watched as Ransom let out a breath of relief. You two left the kitchen and sat on a couch in the living area, listening in shock as Richard and Joni discussed politics. At some point during the night, Harlan called Ransom into his study. He kissed your cheek before he got up, closing the door to the study behind him.

–

“What did Harlan want to talk to you about?” you asked Ransom, pulling on Ransom’s old sweater. It had shrunk in the wash and you stole it before Ransom could throw it out.

“He just talked about you, mostly,” Ransom told you. “Said he was proud of me for growing up, for finding someone like you, etcetera. Just stuff like that.”

You smiled, crawling onto the bed to kiss his cheek. “I really like your family. They’re… eccentric.”

Ransom laughed. “Babe, they’re a bunch of dicks. Don’t try to sugarcoat it.”

You sighed. “I like Harlan. He doesn’t deal with anyone’s bullshit.”

“That he does not. Now, come here.” Ransom grabbed your waist and pulled you onto his lap, kissing you. You threaded your fingers through his short hair, moaning into his mouth. He quickly flipped you onto your back and straddled your hips, pressing your hands to the mattress. You laughed, Ransom leaning down to kiss you again. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

[tsukidrama]

Hi hi! Pink Anon here, I am writing this to say that a long response is on the way, I’m just really busy with soccer and other things at the moment! I’m so happy to hear you’ve started watching The Wilds! I don’t want to spoil anything BUT my favourite episode is episode 7 and you will soon know why! The show itself is devastating in so many ways, but it does have its sweet moments and I just love it to bits. Sorry I don’t have much time to write more! I’m using my phone to write this, so please ignore any errors!

Thanks,

Pink Anon

my darling lovely!!!! okay okay sorry for the delay i've been overwhelmed with life. but WOAH I ACTUALLY TOTALLY MISREAD EVERYTHING? i definitely picked up on the lesbian subtext but i really got it wrong in terms of who the lesbians were going to BE?!

putting it under the cut for spoiler reasons but AAAAHHHHH

like it was super obvious from the beginning to me that both toni and shelby were wlw. BUT I THOUGHT THEY BOTH LIKED MARTA. I THOUGHT THEIR FEUD WAS ROOTED IN THE FACT THAT THEY WERE BOTH CRUSHING ON THE SAME GIRL. and i guess i interpreted the fact that marta was straight as being a layer of sad for them. am i just so lesbian that i invent subtext that doesn't exist? no fucking way, they were 110% fighting over her.

BUT I DO SEE THE ACTUAL LESBIANS IN A TOTALLY NEW LIGHT NOW! girl let me tell you that i SHRIEKED whenever it was shelby and toni who kissed and not one of them with marta. I DID A DOUBLE TAKE I HAD TO GO BACK AND REWATCH THE WHOLE SCENE AND THEN I WAS LIKE WHAAAAAAAAAA 👀👀 OKAY I SEE YOU

ENEMIES TO LOVERS ENEMIES TO LOVERSSSS I'M OBSESSED WITH THEM!!!!! though i must say i'm absolutely devastated over shelby's backstory. i don't have any words i just want her to get out of her crappy living situation and away from her evil evil father. this show is so good, i'm really glad to have watched it.

really interested to see what the FUCK is going on and exactly what this crazy researcher bitch is trying to do by engineering this insane situation? and concerned that all of the parents seem to be aware and perfectly fine with everything that's happened?

[just-a-spark]

The Before, and The After Part 10

Warnings: Language, Sexual Content (18+ to be safe) 

Series Masterlist

Summery: A wealthy classmate of Meg’s becomes close to the family, a little too close to the playboy grandson of Harlan Thrombey. The events leading up to, and following, Harlan Thrombey’s death.

Elizabeth didn’t tell Benoit Blanc everything in detail. That night was for her and her alone to relive. But the look on his face gave him a very dangerous idea.

“So you and Mr. Drysdale had... relations the night before your wedding? When was that again?” Blanc asked evenly.

Elizabeth nodded once, “I was married October 1 of this year.”

“And how far along are you?” Blanc asked, gesturing toward her stomach.

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him, pursing her lips while the wheels in her head turned.

“Was a baby part of your plan? For wealth? For power? Were you trying?” Blanc pressed and Elizabeth stammered a little in response.

“I mean, we weren’t planning-”

“If I were to interview your husband, would he tell me you had any unprotected sex?”

“No.” She said quickly, looking over her shoulder at the hallway, “Well, once... We weren’t trying. In fact, we were trying very hard not to have children yet. It wasn’t part of our five year plan.”

“So something was amiss? Did he tell you a condom broke?”

“No.” Elizabeth said quietly, looking down with a forlorn smile, “I missed my period three weeks after the wedding. A week later I still didn’t have it.” She looked back up at Blanc with the best poker face she could muster, but he’d already backed her into the corner, “So I took a pregnancy test in secret.”

Blanc waited impatiently for her to continue, staring at her with big eyes, “And?”

“And it was positive.” She replied with a sigh, “That same night we had unprotected sex, a week later I took another test and ‘wowee we’re having a babyyy’.” She sang sarcastically. “Why would he ever question it? Why would anyone question it?, He’s my husband.”

Blanc lifted his head, as if having his own ‘ah ha’ moment, “You knew you were pregnant with another man’s child, so you manipulated your husband into thinking he got you pregnant, when in reality, you know he is not the father. Without a shadow of a doubt?”

She narrowed her eyes at Blanc and grinned devilishly, “Without a doubt.”

“Mmhhmm. Well. This is an interesting turn of events.” Blanc answered, leaning both forearms on the chair.

Elizabeth noticed his sudden change of demeanor and began to panic, “Why is that?”

“Because if Ransom Drysdale knew he was getting cut from the will and he had a child on the way... well... as you can imagine, that gives him a motive. Desperate men will do anything for their children.”

Elizabeth shook her head, her mouth open in horror, “No! No, that isn’t possible-”

“If he is as terrible of a person as you have made him out to be, it seems quite possible to me.”

“He didn’t know-” She clenched her fist and twisted her mouth angrily, “I never told him. I tried... but I didn’t get the chance.”

“And why is that?” Blanc questioned, having the woman where he wanted her, “A happy accident might change dear Hugh’s mind about running away with you.”

Elizabeth swallowed hard, staring at the chess board and knowing she was about to lose the game, “I tried to tell him. I called him at least twenty times the week leading up to Harlan’s birthday.”

"Did he ever get back to you?” Blanc asked, the smallest smile creeping onto his face as she shook in her seat. “What did he say to you?”

She steeled her nerves, willing her pulse to slow as she looked Benoit Blanc dead in the eyes and told him, “Nothing. I never heard back from him.”

                                    November 8, Harlan’s 85th Birthday

“Hey, I’m sorry to bother you again. I know you clearly don’t want to talk to me, otherwise you would have called back, but I need to talk to you. Please call me back... or don’t, I guess. But tell Harlan happy birthday from me. I wish I could be there... Hope you’re doing well... well, goodbye.”

Ransom sat in his Beamer outside his home, dressed in an old white shirt and brown coat for his grandfather’s birthday party. He knew he should call her back. He’d missed eighteen of her calls. But they’d made a deal as he helped her back onto her horse that night: they’d leave the past behind them. She wouldn’t contact him again.

She’d been married just over a month, she couldn’t be that bored already, but then again, Phil was just... nice. Ransom tossed his phone into the passenger seat of his car and threw the gear shift into drive, speeding down the dirt road to his grandfather’s house.

As he drove, Ransom imagined Eliza. He imagined her face when she’d catch his eye across the room, and smile softly even though she’d openly tell people he was the devil. He could practically hear her laugh when they’d lay awake for hours after sex talking about nothing, holding hands and cuddling until one of them fell asleep or they’d go for another round. Ransom missed her, and he saved every hopeful message she left him, just so he could replay them when he slept alone, missing her warmth curled up next to him.

As the sun began to set over the back of the Thrombey home, Ransom swore he’d call her back after the party. He didn’t know how long it would take, and he was already late enough.

“I’m going to stop this Harlan- I’m warning you!” Ransom’s anger built up and he exploded out the door of the study and out the front door, storming past his Greantnana without a word. He slammed the door to his car shut and sped off into the night, angry and devastated.

Cut off.

He was getting cut off. They were all getting cut off. What the hell was he supposed to do now? His friends, oh God, the circles he ran in, what would they do if he didn’t have the funds to join them? He’d be an outcast. And his family? There’d be no living with them when they found out. He was out of options...

Ransom struggled to pull his phone out of his pants pocket as an idea struck him. He quickly dialed Eliza and put her on speaker, unaware of the late hour he was calling her.

“Hello?” She whispered, her voice heavy with sleep.

“Eliza.” Ransom gasped, feeling lighter after hearing her voice, “Eliza, I’m coming for you.”

“You’re...what?” She yawned, not quite surprised enough for what he said. There was a beat of silence and she repeated, more alert this time, “You’re what?”

“Harlan is cutting us off. All of us. He’s cutting me and my family out of the will and he’s leaving everything to Marta.” Ransom rambled on and when Eliza didn’t respond he added, “We should have ran before you got married, I know that, but the money I have is still mine. It’s just like you said, I can take care of us for a while, we’ll go somewhere new and start over. Hell, maybe Harlan will take pity on me if he finds out I’ve run off with you...”

“Ransom.” Eliza’s voice croaked on the other end and he looked down at the phone on his lap. She should have called him Hugh. “What we had... it was really special. I wanted to be with you, more than anything, but you didn’t want me. I’ve moved on. I’m married- and I’m happy. I’ve been trying to call you to tell you-” She cut off, and Ransom felt his heart sink at her sad words.

“What? What have you been trying to tell me?” Ransom snapped desperately, wondering what could be so important she needed to call him time and time again.

She sighed, “Phillip and I are pregnant, Ransom. I can’t run away with you. I can’t run away with no money to my name and a baby to care for. That’s not fair, to anybody. I have to stay with Phillip so he can take care of us.”

Ransom’s breath was shaky as he stared ahead, nearing the edge of the property. “I hope you’re happy then.” He ended the call and threw the phone onto the floor, seething through every pore.

“Fuck!” He cried out as he drove, passing the last security camera.

I can’t get cut off. I can’t let Marta get the inheritance. I have to win her back.

Ransom slammed on the breaks, his Beamer skidding to a stop.

I can’t let this happen... I can’t let Marta get that money.

After spending a summer as Harlan’s research assistant, Ransom was well versed in the world of murder and mystery. As he pulled his car off the road past the carved elephant and parked, turning the key in the ignition.

If Marta killed Harlan, she wouldn’t get a dime... If Marta accidentally killed Harlan, the previous will has me in it.

Ransom trudged away from his car toward the house, forming a plan in his mind. The slayer rule would ensure he’d keep his inheritance. Marta gave Harlan his medications every night. If she were to give him the wrong dose... an inadvertent overdose...

As the house came into view over the gate, Ransom stopped and smiled to himself.

Sorry Harlan.