#earls court station

[parkgrandkensingtonlondon]

A Visitor's Guide to Exploring London's Colourful Neighbourhoods

One of the things I love about walking around London is the many beautiful areas to explore. The city boasts 32 boroughs, each with something unique to offer. However, discovering London's hidden corners is best done on foot. Luckily, this vibrant capital is pedestrian-friendly, making it easy to find quirky and bright areas, mainly when staying at central properties like these Hotels Near Earls Court London. Here is a visitor's guide to exploring London's colourful neighbourhoods.

Hampstead

Known as one of the prettiest neighbourhoods in the city, Hampstead is renowned for its picturesque streets, cute shops, and sprawling Heath.

In addition, Hampstead is filled with hidden gems like the Holly Bush and Fenton House's tucked-away gardens. 

Kensington

Kensington is one of London's most elegant neighbourhoods due to its abundance of mews streets and royal residences. Kensington Palace Gardens and Kensington Church Street offer a variety of interesting details, such as impressive real estate. In addition to a bustling high street, pubs decorated with flowers, and candy-cane-striped buildings, there's a lot to see and do in this city. Visitors looking to spend most of their time in this area can book a stay at this Park Grand Kensington Accommodation.

Chelsea

One of the prettiest neighbourhoods in London is Chelsea, which is located next to South Kensington. Its side streets are bursting with colour, from pastel houses on Bywater Street to rainbow row homes on Godfrey Street. The King's Road isn't just about colours; it is also a great shopping destination and offers a view of the Thames and historic houses. Nature lovers will enjoy walking around the cosy side streets of Chelsea and exploring the Chelsea Physic Garden.

Knightsbridge

Luxury shopping and over-the-top house prices characterize Knightsbridge. Affluent and beautiful, this is one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in London. While here, make sure to head to the many food halls at Harrods and take in the orange brick architecture on Pont Street. Knightsbridge is the ideal designer shopping spot for luxury Kensington London Hotels guests.

Notting Hill

Notting Hill is one of those neighbourhoods that always makes the list of places to visit in London. Known for its colourful houses and vibrant market, this place is popular with travellers and locals.

However, Portobello Road isn't the only thing to see here. Many shops and restaurants in Notting Hill attract people from all over London. We recommend booking a stay at the Hotels Near Gloucester Road Tube Station for easy access to this part of London.

Holland Park

Located next to Notting Hill, Holland Park often leaves visitors feeling enchanted. Beauty abounds in the park. One of the most spectacular sights in the city is its stunning spring tulips and summer roses. In addition to the Japanese garden, a peacock enclosure adds a magical aspect to the space. Nevertheless, Holland Park goes beyond the green space, especially the picturesque crescents and colours that fill the streets around it.

Other places to check out:

●      Belgravia

●     South Kensington

●     Dulwich

[redgoldsparks]

January 2024 reading and Reviews by Maia Kobabe

I post my reviews throughout the month on Storygraph and Goodreads, and do roundups here and on patreon. Reviews below the cut.

Electric Bones volume 1 by Hazel and Bell 

Lucian is the son of a minor nobleman and the CEO of the galaxy's biggest AI company, but he's not so rich that he can't get in trouble. After being fired as a programmer from Echo Station he joined a startup with a couple friends and is now fishing for funding at an elite tech expo on board an expensive and exclusive space vessel. There he sees someone he thinks he recognizes- Ezra, a grey robot, an fully sentient AI who worked on Echo Station as a researcher and partially cost Lucian his job. So why is Ezra now working on the space vessel as an escort? Unless it's not Ezra, but just a look-alike robot model? These questions drag Lucian into the beginnings of tangled web of intrigue which include kidnapping, AI-hacking, and murder. I've been reading this story online as a webcomic for years; you can still read all of volume one here: https://electricbonescomic.com/index.... But last year I also backed the kickstarter, and just sat down to re-read the whole story in print form, including a sexy little bonus comic. I love these characters, I love the rich colors, the lovely sense of flow and design of the pages. I can't wait for volume two!

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha

Action packed and exciting, this family drama is full of unexpected twists and turns. I loved the focus on female characters: passionate Kai, whose love of martial arts and sense of justice cannot be contained by the normal rules of Joseon society; her mother, Meorhu, a fragile woman with a surprising past; Sura, a thief turned mercenary; and the Gumiho herself, the deadly but alluring fox spirit who impacts the lives of all the others with her magic and charisma. The art is rich with historical details, beautiful nature scenes, and fast paced fight scenes. Lovers of ghost stories, kdramas, and queer re-tellings of fairy tales will find much to enjoy here. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of this book! Pre-order it now, or look for it in bookstores in mid-February 2024.

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by KJ Charles read by Martyn Swain

What a delightful return to Romney marsh! This book picks up 13 years after the dramatic conclusion of the previous installment. Luke Doomsday is now a secretary, looking for a new position in a large house were he can keep books and solve his master's problems. Rufus, the recently minted Earl of Oxney, formerly a major in the army and son of a draper, has problems. For one, he never expected to inherit and his uncle is doing everything he can to prove Rufus illegitimate in court. For another, the previous Earl of Oxney was a selfish old bastard who let the estates fall into terrible disrepair, while Rufus' timid cousin kept poor account of the estate's money in a chicken scratch handwriting. Rufus struggles to read at the best of times, and he can barely make sense of his newly inherited account books. When Luke shows up on his door, it feels like a godsend. The men are immediately attracted to each other, though both have reason to be wary. And Luke, in seems, may have come to Stone Manor looking for more than a job. This series is such a fun mix of spicy romance, action, mystery, and danger. I'm really enjoying the setting and time period, which is just after the end of the Napoleonic wars. I really hope there will be more books to come!

Translation State by Ann Leckie

No one is doing it like Ann Leckie! This sci-fi novel uses six different pronoun sets (actually kind of seven, except one is the same set just used culturally very differently by different groups of people). It’s fantastic. We’ve got they/them, e/em/eir, sie/hir, it/its, he/him, she/her, and she/her again except used as a universal pronoun regardless of gender (which works great inside the Radch Empire and badly outside of it). I'm on the fence about whether this book can be read as a stand alone, or if it would only really make sense after having read at the Imperial Radch trilogy and Providence. I suppose it depends on what level of baffling alien customs and politics you are willing to tolerate. This book opens with Enae attending hir grandmaman's funeral, only to learn that the seemingly wealthy old woman had sold her entire estate to a stranger before her death. For the first time in her life, Enae leaves home with a Foreign Affairs job: to see out a fugitive who left Presger space some 200 years prior. Enae isn't expecting to succeed, but sie gives it hir best shot- and in doing so completely upends the lives of a widening circle of bystanders including Reet, a man of unknown parentage, and Qven, a juvenile Presger. This book finally begins to explain this inhuman and terrifying species, and the reason why the Presger-Radachii Treaty defines the rules of so much of this universe. I deeply enjoyed this installment; it makes me want to go back and re-read the original trilogy.

Brooms by Jasmine Walls and Teo Duvall 

Set in an alternate 1930s, Mississippi, this story follows a group of friends and found family who have to hide their magic from the restrictive and racist government. They survive at the margins, but they don't let the fear of prosecution stop them from doing what they love: racing together as a team. Deep in the woods seers and witches host carnival like events where racers on brooms compete for prize money and glory. Each of them has reasons why they need to win; lives and futures depend on it. This book is deeply queer with a diverse and magical cast. If you're looking for historical fiction where the trans and lesbian brown witches win, this one's for you.

Boys Weekend by Mattie Lubchansky

Sammie is a recently out nonbinary transfemm but their college friend group has not picked up on that fact yet. When Sammie is invited to be the "best man" at their friend Adam's wedding and attend a bachelor weekend at a high-tech, no-laws resort built on top of the Pacific Garbage Patch they decide to go in stealth mode. The resort is a pyramid scheme mutated with a strip club, business conference, all you can drink brunch bar, pro-gamer, most-dangerous-game corporate nightmare. Also, the waters around it are infested with terrifying flesh-eating monsters and someone is trying to raise an eldritch god. It takes every bit of queer resistance Sammie possesses to survive this bleak, hilarious, and surprisingly moving tale. In both their fiction and nonfiction comics, Lubchansky continues to hold up the black mirror to our own dystopian times.

Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa 

A very queer high school rom-com comic with a satisfying message about growing into yourself and seeing others truly for who they are. It opens with a love triangle, but subverts that form into a more complicated shape by the end of the tale. Strong character designs and very effective limited color palette.

The Moth Keeper by K. O’Neill 

In a desert village, a group of folks choose to live a nocturnal life to keep the moon company, and to care for a small group of magical moths, the only creatures who can pollinate a magical tree which helps sustain the whole ecosystem. One youngster, Anya, volunteers for the important but lonely job of Moth Keeper. She yearns to be of service to others, and feels she must earn her place in the village. In reality, help and friendship are only an ask away, and in this space everyone is cared for. This is a very beautifully illustrated and brief tale of responsibility, community, and resilience.

Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls

What an accomplishment! I savored every page of Feeding Ghosts, absolutely floored by the labor and courage that went into the writing of this book. The inking is gorgeous, the history is clear, digestible, and devastating. This book threads the line between honesty and compassion in a way that I appreciate so much in any memoir, but especially one dealing with family. Hulls lays out the story of three generations of women starting with her grandmother, Sun Yi, a Shanghai journalist who faced intense persecution during the rise of Communism in China, who penned a popular and scandalous memoir and then suffered a mental breakdown. This left her only daughter, Rose, a student at an elite boarding school with no parental figures and no other family to lean on. Eventually Rose earned a scholarship to an American university and in the end moved her mother into her California home. Sun Yi haunted that home during the author's own childhood. The unexamined trauma and codependency of Sun Yi and Rose drove the author to the extreme edges of the Earth, seeking freedom from their ghosts. But in the end, she stopped running from her family history and turned, instead, to face it. Shelve this book with Maus, Fun Home, Persepolis and The Best We Could Do.

I Keep My Exoskeletons To Myself by Marisa Crane read by Bailey Carr 

I really struggled with this book. I almost DNFed at 25%. Ultimately, I did finish it, and I am glad I did because I think the final act was my favorite part of the story. However, I think the title and cover set me up with expectations of what this book would be which were very different than what the book actually delivered. This is not science fiction- despite the fact it was nominated in the science fiction category in the Goodreads Choice Awards. It is only barely speculative. This is a book about grief, depression, and parenting a baby and then a young child as a single mom struggling with loss and borderline alcoholism. There were passages of the book which struck hard, individual observations and lines which rang like bells. There is also nearly no plot and I was frustrated by the lack of world building. I wanted to know more about the laws governing extra shadows- were Shadesters allowed to vote, hold passports, travel across state lines? Had anyone experimented with the removal of Shadows? When and how did cameras get installed in apparently every home in American, and how did the government hire and pay for a workforce of seemingly 1:1 surveillance agents to citizens? Also, how on earth did Kris manage to pay for a whole apartment on a single salary working a call center job, especially when as a Shadester she had to pay extra taxes? I understand that this is literary fiction, and these questions are obviously not the ones the book was interested in answering. But it felt strange to me that a book so focused on parenting would not include a single passage about struggling to pay for or arrange childcare. The "pop quizzes" that break up the text did not work well in audio, and did not add anything to my experience of this book. Ultimately, I would only recommend this novel to a vary narrow audience of readers who enjoy lit fic, and are willing to spend a lot of time in the POV of a character teetering on the edge of a mental breakdown through much of the story.

Atana and The Firebird by Vivian Zhou

Atana is a mermaid, but she was banished from her home to live alone on island for a reason she doesn't understand. One night a curious young firebird leaves her flock in space to come down and visit Earth, and she convinces Atana to go an adventure. They are soon pursed by magic hunters, but they also make friends, and end up as invited guests in the Witch Queen's palace. She makes them welcome in her massive library and gardens, but she also has ulterior motives. This is a fast paced story of magic, friendship, and young people slowly learning about the forces larger than themselves that shape their world and their lives. I really enjoyed the art, it has a very active, energetic line which serves the action scenes particularly well. I can tell the author came from an animation background! I am glad that the ending set up potential future installments in this world.

Portrait of a Body by Julie Delporte  

I really loved the colored pencil illustrations of this book, especially the botanical drawings, and the kind of abstract relation of the text and images. I thought the drawings paired extremely well with the hand lettering even if at times I struggled with some of the cursive capitals. This is a candid memoir of recovering from sexual assault and a dysfunctional relationship to ones body and sexuality, of stepping into queerness and self-acceptance. I couldn't really relate to the author's journey, but I appreciated the honestly and thoughtfulness with which the more challenging themes were handled.

Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb read by Nick Taylor 

This book, and this series, has earned Robin Hobb a permanent place in my list of favorite authors. This story goes so hard, weaving together threads that are 9 volumes and 30 plus years of in-story history in the making. The final confrontations, reunions, and farewells at the end of this story were hard earned and so well written. This very much felt like it could have been a final volume of the Realm of Elderlings series, but I know that there are 7 more books to come and I can't wait to see what else this series has in store for me!

System Collapse by Martha Wells read by Kevin R Free 

This book picks up right after the end of the previous volume and I had, unfortunately, completely forgotten most of the previous plot. Once I got myself oriented I still had a great time with it. Wow, I just love watching Murderbot learn and grow and solve problems in unique and interesting ways! I kind of want to go back and re-listen to the whole series.

The Chromatic Fantasy by H.A. 

This comic blew me away. One of the most beautiful, strange, artistically ambitious and deeply trans books I've read in a while. Aesthetically, its as rich as a stained glass window or illuminated manuscript. Its narrative is psychedelic but emotionally it rings so tender and true. The story opens with Jules, a transman trapped in a nunnery who accepts a deal with a devil who promises to help him live as a man. Possessed and impervious to physical harm, Jules turns to a life of debauchery and crime. Then he meets another trans criminal, the poetic thief and thespian Casper, and they begin to fall for each other. They see each other as no one else ever has, they validate and treasure one another, but Jules' devil is a jealous master. The devil would rather see Jules burn than thrive. This is one of those books that made me want to draw, made me want to write, made me want to be bolder, weirder, freer, wilder in my story telling. An instant favorite, I expect I'll return to this over and over.

Mall Goth by Kate Leth

Liv's parents are on the verge of divorce; they've just moved to a new town and Liv will be starting at a new high school. At her last school, Liv was bullied for being openly queer and an unapologetic mall goth, and she is understandably hesitant to accept friendship overtures at the new school. However, a supportive male English teacher and a fellow goth gamer boy start to make Liv feel welcome. The goth introduces her to an MMORPG and the English teacher praises her essays and gives her Lolita. Both of them start regularly DMing Liv late into the night, more than is appropriate for the relationships they have. This book is in large part about a teen navigating confusing advances and how and when to disclose things that make her uncomfortable but feel hard to speak about or define. I thought that aspect of the story was handled very well. Some of the pacing in the friendship plot lines surrounding it felt a bit rushed, a few sections underdeveloped, but ultimately I think this book tackled an important issue not often seen in YA comics. It is also steeped in early 2000s Hot Topic/emo music/pop culture references- if you were there, you'll know.

What’s Wrong? Personal Histories of Chronic Pain and Bad Medicine by Erin Williams 

Williams illuminates, through memoir, interviews, and mixed media illustrations the extreme failures of the US healthcare system to address chronic pain. These failures are especially common for patients of color, patients who struggle with addictions, patients who are queer or survivors of assault and trauma. If you had any illusions that the systems of medical care are working in this country, shed them now. This book is half cathartic, half infuriating to read. I really appreciated the honesty and vulnerability of the interviewees and the trans and nonbinary inclusiveness of the language surrounding pain tied to the reproductive system.

[reasonsforhope]

Catherine Borowski has always had an active imagination. As a child, she dreamed that the car park on her north London council estate would be transformed into a garden. The reality was quite different. “No one had a car, so it was empty, grey and depressing,” she says. Now a sculptor and event producer, Borowski has made it her mission to fill unloved urban spaces with flowers – albeit virtual ones. 

She and her partner Lee Baker are the founders of Graphic Rewilding, a project to install huge nature-inspired artworks into the urban landscape. “Where real rewilding isn’t possible, our goal is to inject the colour and diversity of nature into rundown spaces, urging people to notice – and find joy in – the world around them,” says Baker.   

The pair believe that flowers possess serious powers, even when they’re not real. “We know that spending time in nature is good for us, but studies show that even pictures of plants have a positive effect on the mind,” says Baker. He cites research published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, which found that imagery of plants in hospital waiting rooms can help reduce feelings of stress in patients. 

Baker, a painter and music producer, has long understood the benefits of biophilic design. Having suffered a breakdown 10 years ago, he found that drawing flowers was the only way to soothe his buzzy brain. “I would set out to draw dystopian landscapes, representative of my state of mind, but I’d always end up drawing flowers, which uplifted me,” he says.

It was around this time that Baker met Borowski, joining her production company as creative director. The pair have collaborated ever since, launching Graphic Rewilding in 2021. Since then, they’ve installed floral murals at locations including Earl’s Court station, Lewes Castle and Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush – all hand drawn by Baker. “We love galleries, but we focus on public art,” he says. “This way, our work is out there for everyone to enjoy.”

This year the pair have grand plans to create a series of stained glass pavilions (think greenhouses with colourful floral-themed panels), which they hope might find homes at Kew Gardens and the Eden Project. “The way light shines through the glass is magical,” says Borowski.  

Even so, they concede that art is no match for Mother Nature. “Some people have suggested that our project detracts from real rewilding efforts. But both can co-exist,” says Borowski. “Of course we want more green spaces.” adds Baker. “But we aren’t gardeners. We’re artists. In the absence of nature, we want to create inspiring spaces through art.”

Overall, the response has been hugely positive. “The joy that these artworks bring is palpable,” says Baker, highlighting an early project in Crawley, West Sussex. “Many people in the town were employed by Gatwick airport and Covid had taken its toll,” he recalls. In a bid to spread some joy, the duo painted brick walls, billboards, benches and even bins with their signature floral flair. “Peoples’ reactions were heartwarming. There were so many smiling faces,” he says.

Elsewhere, in Earl’s Court, the pair transformed “a ratty piece of tarmac” into a modern-day pleasure garden, which is now often filled with children dancing and doing cartwheels on the way home from school. “Putting art into a place that previously felt unloved feels like cultivating joy where there was none,” reflects Borowski. “If something like this had been installed on my estate when I was a kid, it would have been a dream come true.”

-via Positive.News, November 6, 2023

[rapeculturerealities]

Murder victim Kelly Wilkinson repeatedly visited police in fear. They said she was ‘cop shopping’

In the final frantic days before she was murdered, Kelly Wilkinson visited multiple police stations, warning she was in danger. Official police notes say she was “cop shopping”.

On Wednesday, Wilkinson’s estranged husband, Brian Earl Johnston, a former US Marine, pleaded guilty to her murder. A court has previously heard that Johnston tied Wilkinson to a clothesline and set her on fire on 20 April 2021.

[sophie1973]

WIP Wednesday

Thanks for the tag, @taste-thewaste, @wordsofhoneydew , @iboatedhere @onthewaytosomewhere @stellarmeadow

I started this one shot based on a prompt I got following an exchange with my friend Robs on Twitter, and it was supposed to be this short, light little story, but it unexpectedly turned into this long, slightly angsty lovefest between these two idiots. I'm 6.5k in and not nearly done.

Have a little snippet, as well as the tags, under the cut.

Twenty minutes ago, Alex finally emerged from the convention, his stomach growling loudly, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten anything all day (and barely drank, too – thankfully, June isn’t there to berate him for it). He stumbles upon a small food cart and, on a whim, gets some fried rice. He never expected it to be such a transcendent culinary experience right in the middle of Earl’s Court.

 Now, as he makes his way to the subway station to return to his hotel and pack for his flight back to New York the following day, he is utterly engrossed in the magic of his meal. So absorbed, in fact, that he crosses the street without really paying attention. Just as he is about to take another blissful bite, fate intervenes in the form of a sleek, green Jaguar moving—thankfully—slowly. It makes gentle contact with Alex’s leg, causing him to stumble. He watches with horror as his beloved rice flies through the air like confetti at a really sad parade before the box lands with a splat, scattering grains and pieces of vegetables across the pavement. Alex sits there, injured but utterly heartbroken at seeing his much-needed, savory meal now a mess on the ground. The Jaguar driver hurriedly got out and apologized furiously. “I’m so, so sorry. Are you alright?” the driver asked, concern etched on his face. Kneeling next to Alex, he places a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Are you hurt?” he enquires, and Alex finally diverts his eyes from his lost meal and turns to the man, ready to let him know what he thinks of his reckless driving. (Never mind that he was the one recklessly crossing the street without looking). But for a very rare time in his life, Alex is struck speechless. Tall, with tousled golden blond hair and striking blue eyes, the man is gorgeous. He’s wearing jeans and a pale pink polo shirt, the perfect poster for a preppy British aristocrat or, even better, a real-life Prince Charming.

Tagging with no pressure : @bitbybitwrites @ahistoricdistraction

@fullerthanskippy @caterpills @miss-minnelli @thesleepyskipper

@kj-bee @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @firenati0n @theprinceandagcd

@swoonoveryou3 @strwbrryagcd @piratefalls @duchessdepolignaca03 @blueeyedgrlwrites

@tailsbeth-writes @porcelainmortal

[ladynearthelake]

A snippet

I know I said it would only take a few days, but I'm a dummy like that.

Here's a snippet of an arranged marriage Radskier thing I'm working on...

See, the thing is Jaskier always knew this outcome was possible. When he was young, his father never stopped crowing about what an advantageous match he made for his ne’er-do-well son. Problem was, Jaskier tuned the earl out every time he started on about it. Sure, he knew the details. The Redanian spare would need a pretty partner to entertain the court when he came of age. The Earl of Lettenhove had jumped at the opportunity soon as the rumor got around that the prince was on the auction block. Jaskier would be off his hands, and his ties to the throne and his land solidified. Jaskier didn’t care. He had no intention of remaining in Lettenhove, much less following through on the betrothal. Soon as he left for Oxenfurt, Jaskier would have to be dragged back kicking and screaming. Shit of it was, there had been kicking and screaming, just not as Jaskier envisioned.

He should have seen it coming. After all, his father wasn’t going to ignore a contract unfulfilled. He remembered the letters those first few years following Geralt. They were filled with lots of stern language about duty and family and honor and blah blah blah. When they finally stopped, he thought he’d outrun his responsibilities.

Turns out, the Earl hadn’t given up. He was just biding his time.

As he followed Geralt that summer, a letter seemed to appear at every settlement they passed through. Jaskier ignored them all. The messengers were always twitchy. They would stare at Jaskier’s witcher as if waiting to be cut down. Jaskier sent each of them on their way with the unopened letter and a coin for their trouble. He though nothing of it when he parted from Geralt for the winter. He would do what he always did: mold the minds of the best and brightest at the university and see just how many flat surfaces he could bespoil with his partners.

He had barely even settled in when several very large men in Lettenhove livery kicked down his door and suggested very violently that he should leave with them. Jaskier refused, and that was when his father appeared. As he presses his head against the cool stone of the room they’ve locked him in, Jaskier hears his father’s words echoing in his pounding head.

“Now more than ever, the Redanian crown wants to fortify their position. The spymaster worries we can be bought by Nilfgaard and demands that the marriage contract be fulfilled. You can accompany me to Tretogor with the dignity befitting your station, or you can continue to act like a child.”

Jaskier has never been accused of making thing easy for himself. He doesn’t remember much of the ride from Oxenfurt to Tretogor.

He presses tighter to the stone. The cold makes him think of Geralt, safe and so far away until spring.

It’s almost like his prick of a father had been planning this little abduction for years. He’s being ever so smug about it too. When Jaskier awoke in a strange bed in a locked room, he found a note in neat, familiar, infuriating script.

Duty comes for us all. Be ready by sundown.

~TBC

Think there were more folks on that original post, but here's the people I remember interacting with it lol

@endiness @misterkarchie @nicestmeangirl @underthebluerain @elder-flower @highwarlockofphilly

[stephensmithuk]

Charles Augustus Milverton

Published in 1904, this forms part of the Return collection.

Most chroniclers put this in 1899.

Milverton is seemingly inspired by Charles Augustus Howell, an art dealer and alleged blackmailer, who died in strange circumstances in 1890: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Augustus_Howell

Hampstead is located four miles NW of Charing Cross. Known for attracting a lot of artistic and intellectual people, it has some very expensive houses and a lot of millionaires. Notable residents past and present are numerous indeed, including Sting, Agatha Christie, Emilia Clarke, Muhammed Ali Jinnah, Florence Nightingale.

The area had began to expand with the arrival of what is now known as the North London line of London Overground, which operated services into Broad Street until that station closed in 1986. The now-Northern Line would reach there in 1907 and Hampstead station, beneath a steep hill has the deepest platforms on the Tube, at 192 feet below street level. The station also is one of those designed by Leslie Green, with the distinctive oxblood red tiles he liked to use on the outside.

The "Evil One" is an archaic term for the Devil.

Débutantes seem to have typically been 17 or 18.

"Lady" is a courtesy title for the daughters of dukes, marquesses and earls.

Mr. Pickwick refers to the titular character of Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers, originally serialised in 19 parts between 1836 and 1837. It might be good for a mailing group.

With telephones going through human-operated exchanges and telegrams being rather expensive, letters were the most secure way of sending romantic messages. Unless the servants got hold of them. Notably, all the correspondence from Queen Victoria to her Indian teacher Abdul Karim was burnt after her death on the orders of Edward VII.

£7,000 would be around £740,000 at today's prices.

Astrakhan are the pelts of fetal or newborn Karakul sheep. So, yeah...

Revolvers were the normal handguns at the time. Self-loading semi-automatics had just begun to enter the scene in large numbers, with the Mauser C96 (aka Han Solo's blaster) available by 1899.

Hampstead Heath is a 790-acre park with views over the city centre from Parliament Hill that are legally protected. The "bloofer lady" scene from Dracula takes place there and a number of movies, such as Notting Hill have filmed there.

The Heath also was - and still is - a popular location for gay men to engage in "cruising" i.e. anonymous hookups, or just hang out. The locals know which bits to avoid at night and these days the police are tolerant unless someone complains, although fines were issued for lockdown breaches. (Public sex is legal if no-one not involved sees it or is likely to, unless in a public toilet)

In the past, it was a very different matter and a Tory MP had to resign his seat in 1992 after being caught on the Heath with another man.

"Court dress" was the regulated outfits worn when attending the British royal court at the time for those not entitled to a uniform. This included wearing breeches and stockings for men, along with a cocked hat. For women this included a white or cream evening gown with lace. It fell somewhat out of use after the Second World War with the 1953 Coronation being the last occasion it was worn in large numbers, However, it is still worn by judges, King's Counsel (senior lawyers) and some Lord Mayors - the royals will wear it sometimes as well. A 1921 guide can be found here: https://archive.org/details/dressinsigniawor00greauoft/page/n113/mode/2up

[glitteryvioletpomegranate]

❌ Black Mail

WARNINGS: fem reader, nonconsensual, baby trapping, creampie, aggression, manhandling,  oral, blackmail, Virgin, bi reader, canonverse, degradation, semi-breeding kink, light fluff

WORD COUNT: 7.7k

NOTE: This is my first fanfiction. I may rewrite this fic. I have never been much of a  writer and am typically not really into fiction. (Aot is a rare one!) I have always been into royal history. And there are so many biographies dedicated to the sex lives of like Henry VIII and Julius Cesar, Catherine the Great, etc. 

SYNOPSIS: (Y/N) is a sexually repressed noble Marlyean girl. Who struggles with the guilt of her sexual desires and prejudice beliefs. She takes up new interests out of boredom and desperation and gets more than she bargains for.

 Her mother always told her she was too curious for her own good. She was always sticking her nose into others' business. (Y/N) couldn't help herself. Like many other women who grew up in the aristocracy, she was bored. Aristocratic parents had their daughters receive the same education as their sons. However (Y/N) knew she could not fully use her education to its full potential. (Y/N) family had intermarried within the Marleyan royalty for over three thousand years. as a result, she was gifted with a life full of excess and privilege. It made many things too easy for her in life. Too much excessive time on her hands. She had developed a different interest to subside her boredom.

 (Y/N) loved history and research; she spent many days and late nights researching and reading the history of her people and nation.  She aspired to be a researcher and historical professor; however, that dream would never transpire because of her sex and status. High-ranking women are destined to be a woman of great virtue from birth to death.

The first duty is to make a tremendously prestigious marriage. Secondly, manage a sizable luxurious estate.

And most importantly, to spend the rest of her birthing years having as many heirs as possible. 

The thought of her future never interested her. Only her guilty pleasures kept her interest. She had another love, another guilty pleasure she dared not tell a soul. The nobility of Marley was an incredibly tight, neat circle.

Everyone knew everyone. (Y/N) loved hearing the gossip and scandals of the other ruling families. The most salacious rumor at the moment spreading around the court involved a prominent Marlyean Duke. It was alleged that he had a bastard child with every Eldian woman he hired at his estate. His wife was forced to bear the humiliation that came with each and every child. These types of relations frequently happen. Prominent Marleyan men took willing and sometimes unwilling house servants as mistresses, over half of them being Eldian. (Y/N) had hardly ever been around many Eldians. She knew many of the Marleyan noblemen had children outside of marriage. It was an open secret. 

Most prim societies choose to turn a blind eye to such relations. However, there was unfortunate hypocrisy for Marleyan aristocratic women indulging in the same activity. (Y/N) had once heard a story about a great Lord's daughter having an adulterous affair with an Eldian man. She was engaged to an Earl at the time of this forbidden engagement. As a result, She later gave birth to an illegitimate daughter. The child had a slight eye infection when she was born, and the doctors did a complete health examination, including a blood work test. And the truth was discovered. The Lord's daughter, who received the most lenient punishment for those all involved, was sent to an asylum for shaming her family and husband. Her Eldian lover was tortured along with sentence to death. As for the baby, there are only rumors about what happened to her. Most likely killed as well or, if lucky, dropped at the gates of the Eldian internment zone. The Lord's family station throughout society suffered as well. Her father was shunned, and his other children lost excellent marriage prospects. The poor woman was seen as a whore nothing but damaged goods.

Not only did the Lord's daughter lose her virginity outside of wedlock, but an additional level of shame was placed on her for fornicating with an Eldian demon. Y/N) pitied the Lord's daughter. She was left to rot in an asylum. Many who went into asylums were never seen or spoken about again. Sexuality scared (Y/N). It could lead to a woman's ruin. But late at night, she could not help but try and please herself. She had never once made herself fully orgasm. She'd take her finger and do small laps around her hard clit. . She had somewhat learned how to please herself through romance novels. (Y/N) knew if she were caught reading such filth, she'd be punished. She couldn't help herself. She throbbed at the idea of being filled by a man. (Y/N) could only imitate with her fingers. She wanted so desperately to be touched in such forbidden ways. She was 20 and still unmarried. She was a high asset in the marriage market.

 Her parents kept her unmarried to secure the best possible match for her. (Y/N) knew she would be sold to the highest bidder. What if she was forced to be engaged to a man 30 years her senior? It was a common occurrence. Giving her all to a man possibly edging on erectile dysfunction displeased her. Why should that matter, she thought. Sex was only meant for reproduction anything else is a sin. She did not know what her fate would be, but she did know she was tired of waiting. Was the Lord's daughter tired of waiting, too, (Y/N) wondered. The Lord's daughter was not the only woman in high society who had lusted after an Eldian man. Once at a ball (Y/N) had hidden in a closet to take advantage of their drunken state and over here all the scandalous things they would say. 

The group of women had a reputation for being distasteful. (Y/N) had even heard that they practice witchcraft. She was so excited to hear about their mystically depraved lives, but she heard something different. Sex!

 Each woman went around and announced a man they'd wished to bed. Some admitted they wanted to bed each other's fathers, brothers, and husbands. Every man the woman named was forbidden. 

"I'd love to have mad passionate sex with Willy Tybur," one woman admitted

 (Y/N) could not help but shudder in disgust Ew. That man looked like a snake!

 "Oh, so you would have sex with an Eldian?" Another woman said, shocked. A third woman chimed in

 "I absolutely would fuck Zeke Yeager." 

Most of the women couldn't help but agree. Zeke Yeager, the beast titan ?? How could they be attracted to such an Eldian demon? She had never seen Zeke in human form but once witnessed his titan. It was nothing short of someone's worst nightmare, evil red eyes. Eyes like a devil ! she thought.

"I wonder how large his cock is"

 "I think the strongest man in all of Marley has to have a large cock” a woman said as she slurred her words due to being drunk.

The women erupted in laughter. "He must get so much pussy” 

"I actually heard he’s quite a  prude and aloof." 

"Oh, Boo!"

 "I'd suck his cock any day." 

Regardless of how much she thought these women's fantasies were hedonistic and vile! Her pussy could not help but throb. Since she was a teenager (Y/N  had always felt constantly aroused. While growing up, she befriended maid girls around the same age as her. (Y/N) would convince the girls they had to "practice" with each other to prepare for intimate moments with their future husbands. She loved fondling the maid's girl's breast as she kissed their soft lips. (Y/N) had even convinced them to play with themselves in front of her. Unbeknownst to the girls (Y/N) would also be under the sheets playing with her wet cunt. (Y/N) adamantly had convinced herself this was all for her future husband. She liked to tell herself she was not enjoying this but practicing. She was a great lady of the house by offering to teach other girls. She wasn't compromising her virtue in any way. She'd only have her husband be the one to touch her in her sweet private parts. Soft whimpers, moans, and their sweet wet spilling pussies the way they kiss her neck while they circle her little nums.

She "constantly" reminded herself she was not into any of that. These girls were just helpful, and she was equally beneficial back. Using all she knew from her Romance novels about how to "practice," She had helped three maids throughout her teenage years. The Last one is an Eldian girl. (Y/N) was curious. The girl, adorable, will probably be a mistress to an aristocrat in no time. At first, when she heard that an Eldian had been hired at her parent's estate. She was naturally disgusted. How could they let such a wench be employed and in the same room as her? In all her 18 years, she had never encountered an Eldian person. Other than when she laid eyes on that beast, Zeke Yeager. She vowed to stay away from the girl. This girl may have been beautiful on the outside. She was probably just as evil as the rest of her people. 

As time went along, (Y/N) boredom sprung up again. This girl was sweet and gentle. This Eldian girl's lips were just as tender as others. Her breasts felt just as soft, and her pussy worked in all the same ways. And when (Y/N) sucked on her nipples, her moans and whimpers sounded similar.

For the next two years (Y/N) had started to doubt what she had been taught about the Eldians. She later concluded that maybe it was just the men who were cruel, forcing their poor wives into submission. Marleyan men, too, could be so abusive to their wives. An Eldian man's treatment probably far outweighed the cruelty of that of any Marleyan. That made the most sense to (Y/N). But if that were true, how could the noblewoman sent to the asylum have such a passionate love affair with an Eldian man? Was she starved for affection? Did she become desperate enough to become lovers with an Eldian man? What had made Eldians and Marleyan such bitter enemies for centuries anyways?

 She knew that her family, for over three millennia, had been enemies and rivals with the Fritz clan. 

Her ancestors had written first-hand accounts of the Eldian royal family passed down through generations.

She wanted to know the truth! Were Eldian people devils? or was that all just lies? 

 (Y/N) spent her time deep in her ancestor's stored archives studying Eldian history and literature. They had such a vast, rich history. She never knew she could love history and research on people who were supposedly devils. 

 Eldian people were just people like anyone else, men, women, and children. (Y/N) concluded. 

She chose to focus more of her studying on the Eldian monarchs. Their cruel kings had forced them into centuries of violence and terrorism against the world. They were the true devils! 

The Fritz family had been oppressive, ruling all with an iron fist. They even tortured and subjected their own people. She learned they would take mistresses from all over the world, whether the women consented to it or not. These Kings were only allowed to take a mistress if he could fully provide for all her needs. Back then, Eldian society had thought a woman's orgasm was imperative for conception. These kings were cruel yet remarkable at pleasing a woman in all her needs. 

(Y/N) was brought up believing that sex was for the man's pleasure only. Sex is basically considered a necessary evil to make heirs. Women were not meant to enjoy the intensity of sex but to lay back and do their duty for their country. (Y/N) jaw dropped when she realized the stark contrast in sexual relations. 

In her mind, she thought of the Eldian kings as Hedons. She did not realize she was incredibly turned on. (Y/N) wanted to know more about these murderous, animalistic, lustful Eldian kings. She had to learn more! 

The remaining accounts were, unfortunately, locked in a library in the Eldian internment zone. This Library had been closed to the public for over a hundred years. She wrestled with herself. She wanted so badly to go. The true danger would be in the Marleyan soldiers. She knew she'd have an easier time coming in than leaving. She decided then and that night to go to the Eldian internment zone (Y/N), snuck out, and took a late-night train. She looked out of the window, leaving the environment where she grew up. The train began moving faster, passing the most beautiful modern neoclassical architecture and mind-blowing Georgian landscapes. 

As the train ride went on, the buildings became less and less stellar. It took over an hour to get across Libero. Till she finally reached the interment zone. The sky looked a bit cloudy. She noticed as she stepped out off the train. She looked over at the gates. Officers were guarding every corner of the entrance. It would be a scandal if she were to be caught going in. A High society Marleyan heiress conversing with the lowest of society. She had stolen her maid's armband and unique permission papers that granted her access to leave the internment zone. As she showed the soldiers her paperwork, she could not help but notice their faces of discontent. She was let in without a fuss. The weather betrayed her, and it started to rain.  

After about an hour, she found the Library. There was a small window that (Y/N) snuggled into. It was dark and dusty. It looked as if many of these books had not been touched in decades. She passed multiple genres. Till she finally made it to the history section. (Y/N) found the area dedicated to Eldian Monarchs. She didn't know where to start. She glanced over hundreds of book titles until one caught her eye: Oral History: of The Sex Lives of the Eldian Kings. She pulled the book out of the shelf. It was covered in dust and cobwebs.

She started to open it when suddenly a large hand above her snatched the book out as soon as she opened the cover. 

"These archives have been closed to the public for over 100 years, and trespassing is highly illegal and may even warrant a death sentence," A man's voice said from behind her.

 (Y/N) turned around, a tall, broad-shouldered man stood in front of her. She was shocked; she couldn't even say a word. (Y/N) thought she was the only one here.

 She didn't even hear this man come behind her. She noticed the man was wearing a tan Marlyean military uniform. Of course, a soldier, she thought, someone trained in espionage. 

"Do you have special permission papers to be here? He glared down at her with only a foot space between them.

 If so, I need you to show them to me before you proceed any further," He said with authority. 

"Well, I," she trailed off, noticing his eldian armband. 

It wasn't yellow like the others but red, so he must be a warrior, a titan shifter. She grabbed his arm for further inspection to confirm what she was seeing. She looked up at the man. He stared back at her with annoyance waiting for her to speak. She could not help but notice an oval face with high cheekbones and a square-shaped jaw. His mid-sized muscular frame. He had golden skin and hair. And his eyes were large & blue. He is exceptionally handsome. This must be him. This must be the beast titan. She expected to see a devil, but she could only see a beautiful, alluring man staring back at her. He had such a sweet mouth that she could not help but admire them. She was in disbelief. As a result, she reached up and placed her hand on his thick lips. He interrupted her deep thoughts. 

"Can I have my arm back now? 

 

She was still holding a tight grip on him.

Are you going to speak or just stare at me all day?" he said in a low, threatening tone. 

The utter embarrassment had finally pushed her to speak. 

"Yes, hello, I'm a university student, and I was just doing a little research here. I am sorry I did not seek your permission before looking through the Library," (Y/N) said with a very shaken voice. 

He studied her face. "May I ask what you are doing here as well?" she asked. 

 "I'm a part of a particular unit in the military. I was granted special access to these archives to study ancient titan history to improve Marlyean warfare." 

He had a moment of silence, gathering his thoughts. 

"As far as I know, I am the only person who has been granted permission to be here. Let me see your papers. "He had his hand out.

She pulled out her previous Eldian maid's papers and handed them to him" He smirked. 

"You really expect me to fall for this? Do you think I am an idiot?" he chuckled slightly."

 "Give me proof of your real identity, or I'll be forced to turn you in to the authorities, or I'll have to personally punish you myself." 

Frightened about what could happen, she took out her actual Identification. And handed it to him. He let out a burst of roaring laughter.

"A Marleyan trying to lie about their identity and break into the Eldian internment zone! Usually, it's the other way around!  I should have known. You even had your armband upside down! I thought it was because you were crazy! "

He found her amusing and kept humoring himself with her presence. He bent down inches to her face. 

"What is a little rich girl like you doing here in the interment zone? Trying to get up to trouble?"

 God, she had been hoping her prominent family's name would get her spared for trespassing. She felt exposed and incredibly vulnerable in front of this large man. 

"No No I am no troublemaker! Just a student. 

Why was she so nervous (Y/N) thought. 

 I really want to be a researcher. A real one! Without any unbiased beliefs, I'm just here to find books about the relations between Eldia and Marley. I dedicated an immense amount of time and research to the history of Eldia. It’s been a true passion of mine for the past two years. I hate that I was lied to my whole life about  Eldians”.

She gasped and covered her mouth. Did she just commit treason? Will he think she’s a revolutionary? Why can’t she control herself around him?

“And” Zeke said toneless

“ Ummm, judging by the red armband."

She stammered through her words.

" You're a titan shifter; you must be Zeke Yeager. I know the other warriors are very young, but I've read the beast titan is almost the same age as me, so you must be him  Am I right?" 

She said, rambling with anxiety.

He backed away from her and looked into her eyes, carefully studying her thinking and what to say next. 

"So you've heard of me," he said casually. He seemed arrogant and used to the praise.

 "Of course, everyone has heard of you! You're Marley's wonderboy."

 He grabbed the top of her soaking dress and pulled her so close their chests almost touched.

 "I am not very impressed with flattery." So did you come to gawk at the devils like you're in a zoo? A girl like you has probably never even been this close to an Eldian man in your life. Well, take a good long look. This is what a devil looks like," Zeke stated in a sharp tone. 

He seemed like he could care less about being polite. 

"I have never been close to any man like this. Honestly, I completely sympathize with the Eldian commoners" He pushed her back.

 "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. There are Marlyean commoners too! Her racism had lessened over the years, But her classism did not. Her word vomit continued. This was awkward, and she could not help but feel utter embarrassment in front of this beautiful man. 

"Follow me," Zeke cut her off. (Y/N) was quite unsure about going any further with this man. She stood there, looking at him, unsure what to do. Even being alone with a man was considered to compromise one's purity. She looked out the window, and it was thundering and hailing. She had zero chance of getting home even if she wanted to. He chuckled, 

"You've gone mute again, I see." 

Before she had time to respond, Zeke grabbed her hand and began taking her with him. 

His basement was cozy. It looks as if Zeke had set up this room as his home away from home.

 "you must be freezing. I'll start the fireplace." Afterward, Zeke started to hand her books and papers. The books, reports, and letters were priceless information. 

She sat on the couch and Zeke at the table. She noticed he had a mini Library. 

"Thank you so much! You're being so kind to me. Why?" (Y/N) said 

 "It's always a pleasant surprise to meet an unbiased researcher. You seem inquisitive and empathetic. We need more people with attributes like you in society," Zeke stated softly. 

"What do you mean"

 "Most people walk around like sheep believing everything and anything said to them." Zeke's complement could not help but make her quiver 

His personality seemed to do a complete 180. He was warm now. Had he been testing her before? (Y/N) started looking through the books and documents he laid out for her while Zeke pulled out a Whiskey bottle. 

 Then handed a drink to her.

"Hmm, it tastes like top-shelf Whiskey, Yeager. You have great taste."

 "Ah, you're not as innocent as I thought." he chuckled. Zeke got up and disappeared for a second. He returned with a towel and shirt.

 "You probably want to put on dry clothes right now, and it looks like you won't get back home tonight. This is all I have to offer." 

(Y/N) began to unbutton the top part of her soaking dress, Zeke could already feel his male member hardened, and she had not even revealed herself yet.

 As she pulled down the front of her dress. Zeke did not mind seeing, but he wondered, was she this innocent? She probably only grew up around maids and nannies. He assumed she was probably used to changing and showing her body to her female household. She had no idea how to act in front of the opposite sex. His oversized shirt reached right above her thigh. Zeke could not help but look at how cute (Y/N) looked in his clothes. He noticed she wasn't wearing a bra. 

Zeke could see her nipples were hard. He knew it was wrong but could not look away, and Whiskey started taking his mind to other places. In all his 20 years, Zeke had not wasted his time on trivial love pursuits. And that included sex. It was hard. But he did not need even the slightest chance of himself producing a child. And the last person he could ever get involved with is a wealthy heiress from a Marleyan family. 

He knew the past of both Reiner and Annie. Both are a product of an illegal affair between a Marelyan and an Eldian. He knew Annie had been abandoned. Additionally, Renier's father wanted nothing to do with him, and his mother used him as a means to an end to get back at her lover and to receive an honorary Marlyean status. He felt nothing but deep remorse for his mixed raced comrades. It was already a painful life being Eldian, even more so being a child of royal blood or mixed race. 

To Zeke being a royal-blooded child meant to be used as a tool, a weapon even more so than the typical Eldian. He thought being a product of mixed-race relations only ensured abandonment by one or both parents. He use to not get how people could purposely conceive unwanted children.  He later realized people had primal instincts and needs that sometimes could not be completely controlled, even when the relations were detrimental to one's self.  Zeke had started to have a taste of it himself. 

Ever Since Zeke made a name for himself, All kinds of women and some men threw themselves at him. Whenever he'd be in different nations, he'd have secret light sexual encounters. It began at seventeen. He started by making out with women who were desperate for him. He did it more out of curiosity than pleasure. Well, that's what he likes to tell himself. 

Over the years, it has only progressed into touching below the belt; finally, last year, he had his cocked sucked for the first time. It felt warm, wet, and intense. The feeling of a woman's mouth sliding up and down his shaft at the right speed. He loved becoming more sensitive and cumming in her warm wet mouth. Some of him loved the sensations; another was scared and reluctant to take the next step. If he were to impregnate someone, all his morals and life's work would be compromised. 

"What inspired you to be into history and research (Y/N) asked. 

"The previous beast titan devoted his life to research. He was like a surrogate father to me. Well, I continued his research to honor him." She sat on a thick blanket in front of the fireplace, reading each book's synopsis. 

(Y/N) lifted her head to look at him, giving him a soft, reassuring smile. "That's incredibly sweet; oh, so that's how you acquired those historical documents on the Titans and the Fritz family," her speech became louder as she worked on her second glass of Whiskey. 

"Well, yes, some from him and the others passed down through the generations of my mother's family. "I am surprised Marely didn't force him into battle like all the others." She rudely interrupted. 

"Ah, he said his battle sheep was useless. "That's very shocking. You have managed to become Marley's number-one warrior with your abilities. I even heard you can turn Eldians into titans." She said somberly, 

"Honestly, I think he used that as an excuse not to be on the battlefield."

"You don't sound impressed by my abilities ?." 

"Being turned into a mindless titan is mental agony, well, from what I read." 

A slight pang of guilt hit him. "Do you remember being a mindless titan"? Zeke brought a chair over in front of her. 

"No, it all happened so fast" He wondered what type of information this girl had and where she got it. Zeke quickly changed the conversation. 

So what kind of information are you trying to learn about these kings, like how they fucked? Her face lit up.

"There's, umm, a lot of important information in there.

 "Like what? Learning what it's like to deep throat" He chuckled

 as he ran his hand through his golden wavy hair. 

"This is not the history of economics or medicine. It's about sex!" He exclaimed. He liked teasing this innocent girl.

 "No, and I'd never be so amused with such a depraved act!" she said defensively. 

"At Least try it first before making assumptions. 

"So, have you ever done that thing ."

 "Well, some parts of it."

 "Sex is only for reproduction, Zeke!." 

"Sweetheart, that's the last thing I would EVER want to do! Zeke said in between laughter. 

"Stop laughing at me. I'm serious. It is a woman's use in this world." 

"So much sexual shame. I understand why you think this way. Marriage for people like you is all about business and contracts, not sex or love. I should have guessed you're a Marelyan prim and proper princess, so of course, you'd be Prude" It's okay; I understand what it's like to be you somewhat."

Zeke stood up and began to pour himself another drink. 

What do you mean? (Y/N) ran over to him in haste. 

She was starting to feel the Whiskey.

"Your environment, your parents, feeding you propaganda so they can exploit and use your body for their own gain. I was reluctant, just like you, until I realized having sex is almost just like eating and sleeping you don't have to feel shame for your body and desires (Y/N)." 

"Why are you judging me" she felt exposed.

"Aren't you doing exactly what you are accusing me of?" Letting others exploit and use you, why else would you be a warrior.?Sounds hypocritical to me.”

"Turning things around on me does not invalidate my argument.  Have you ever even touched yourself?"

"NO"

He could not help but burst into laughter. Zeke could tell she was lying.

“Well, if you had, that makes you a hypocrite too.”  Is this how most Maelyan princesses are? 

I have committed many sins, and I still don't know whose life is worse, yours or mine."

She grew annoyed and angry.

"Well, what? You probably had sex with over 100 women, huh? I bet you’re a  man slut, just like your ancestors Zeke  (Y/N) said while laughing.

 "What do you mean" His eyes began to widen. "Zeke, I know what blood can turn Eldians into titans. My ancestors constantly referenced your people and their abilities in their private letters. You know, all those eldian kings had bitches. They fucked all over the place," she giggled. 

The alcohol had started to hit. Zeke's face turned to a frown. "I lived a life full of poverty and discrimination. If I had royal blood, don't you think I'd be living just as well, if not better than the Tyburs, maybe even you?".

" You're right, but I know the royal family hid after the great titan war. She threw back another glass of Whiskey. The drunker she became, the more her language and movement became uncouth. 

" You hid, right? God, that all must have been very sad for your family.  I feel awful for your parents being sent away," she said somberly. 

Zeke's eyebrows lifted. "So you've been studying me too?"

"Just a Little bit. I was curious," 

He smirked  “ (Y/N) I have no idea where you came to all these conclusions. You're drunk!"

 She laughed. She had begun pouring them more drinks. 

“You should lay off the booze,” Zeke stated 

 

“What ever you say, your majesty,” (Y/N) giggled. 

He scoffed

“ You don't believe me? Really? Of course because a poor eldian commoner usually always has not only priceless but even dangerous information if it falls into the wrong hands about the world's most influential family for nearly 2000 years. (Y/N) said sarcastically. 

 "The Blond hair, the blue eyes, you have your lineage written all over you!

 He smirked and took another sip of Whiskey. 

" Ahh, we both spoke too much tonight, didn't we? I am surprised that you are an actual researcher. Damn, you got me.

 He started to light up a cigarette. His eyes bore into hers.

 (Y/N) noticed he had become slightly angry again. He studied her every move like he'd do to an enemy on the battlefield. He then paused before speaking, strategizing what to say to her next. 

"Based on that book you picked, I thought you were only interested in how eldian kings fucked their bitches."

 "So you are not just a little fucking slut!" She didn't know what she had said to piss him off. She walked right over to him as he sat on the couch.

 "How could you perceive me as such a dishonorable woman? She snarled. 

She didn't care that he was Marley's most powerful man. She had to stand up and protect her virtues.

 "I was looking at this book because there was a crucial part to my research that had NOTHING to do with the sex life of a man, not only just a man but an Eldian devil!" She was doing her best to lie. 

She was so stupid. Why did she have to open her big fucking mouth?

 Zeke smirked. 

"So you just happened to be looking at a book about the Eldian royal family. And you, by coincidence, happen to meet one of their last descendants?? The only one left on Marley. You expect me to believe this ?"

He started to corner her against the wall. 

"Are you a spy?"

She went silent 

 "Are you a fucking spy?" he said a little louder. His voice was not loud, but it still was intimidating.

 "Of course not."

 "Okay then, so if you're not a spy, you must be some kinky bitch with a race fetish."

 He successfully managed to corner her back to the wall.

 "Did you come all this way so I could fuck the shit out of you, right? That's what you want. You want to be conquered by an eldian king and fucked against your will, huh? That's what most kings did to those women. I guess you are not a sweet virgin Marleyan princess after all." 

"No, that's not it at all. I had never even met an Eldian man before you, and I found you scary," I swear all of this is just strange coincidences." 

He walked away from her, not saying one word. He pulled out an expensive bottle of Champagne. And handed her a glass. "Cheers to us for cohabitating in the same room without wanting to hurt each other like our ancestors did for thousands of years." 

There's no way he was just over something so easy is this a trick, she thought. 

"I'm sorry for anything I said that could have offended you. I am a naive girl who doesn't know what she is talking about," she said.

 Zeke threw back all his wine. And looked her up and down. "You didn't say anything that offended me. Remember, I'm a warrior," He said while closing the distance between them and lifting her head with one hand. "I have killed many people, honey. It takes much more than some nosey bitch to affect me."

He kissed her like an animal. His mouth tasted of wine and cigarettes. Her body went into shock. She didn't and couldn't kiss him back. Her "practice" with the maids did not prepare her for a Man's taste. The girl's lips felt soft and sensual.

In contrast, this man's mouth felt built up of raw carnal desire. His strong arms began to squeeze her perky ass. Please," she said. "I'm sorry." 

 Her entire body came alive at his touch, both gentle and threatening. His hands fell away from her. They both struggle to catch their breath. She grabbed her wine and took a large gulp. He pinned her against the wall again. (Y/N) unconsciously kissed back.

She couldn't let this man ravish her. 

 "I'm sorry,”  in between kisses.

 She could feel his rock-hard cock against her And couldn't fight off his strong arms holding her hips in place. 

"I could never forgive myself if I gave away my maidenhood before marriage. While gasping for breath. 

"I could ruin everything my family has worked for" He looked down at her.

"What else am I to do then?"

The question caught her off guard. 

"How about this? Let's make a deal. You've got two options "one, I either kill you, or two, break you in?" 

She knew he wasn't lying. 

“ hm, why no, uh,” she said softly, unable to form a sentence. 

He's technically a mass murderer. Before she could respond adequately, He put a finger in her panties and then lightly on her lips. Zeke began to chuckle. 

Aww, you're already soaked down here. Maybe you want me to the fuck the shit out of you (Y/N)."

She could only just stare into his deep blue eyes. (Y/N) felt conflicted and ashamed of herself. 

She felt more shame and fear for how horny she felt than the actuality of losing her virginity to Zeke and not her future husband.

Before she could answer, he shut her up with a passionate kiss. And proceeded to take off her clothes. And pushed her back onto the couch. He laid on top of her nude body. While still having his warrior's uniform on. He went back to feverishly kissing her. She groaned indirectly with desire. He forced his tongue down her throat. She was struggling not to instinctively dry hump and kiss him back. 

His body was so much larger than her feminine frame. Zeke continued to lay kisses down her body. He then finally made his face toward her part. He glared at her sex. 

He took a finger and gently felt her lips. He stuck two fingers in her hole. When he took his fingers out of her, they were incredibly wet. How could this be her body betraying her?

Zeke slowly began to rub her clit. She begrudgingly let out a small moan. He began to speed up through her broken soft cries. 

"Why are you doing this to me, Zeke?" she moaned.

 "Why," Zeke said as he continued to play with her cunt. 

Zeke knew he'd have to resort to all sorts of morality crimes the moment he inherited the beast titan; taking advantage of a woman was not one of them. He had to do it, he reasoned. 

It's too late to jeopardize everything he worked for. 

Zeke came to her ear as he continued pumping his large hand in and out of her warm pussy. "If word were to get out about my lineage, I would be forced to breed like cattle and watch my children being used as weapons of mass destruction." 

"uhh," (Y/N) could not help but let out a pleasurable moan. I got you intoxicated, so you opened up to me, and I could figure out your motives. I don't think you're a spy (Y/N); you are just a naive virgin slut” "I'm sorry (Y/N). He forced his fingers in and out of her.

 "So you're blackmailing me then ??!!" she let out a whimper. Zeke ignored her. He then sat (Y/N) on the couch in a regular position. He dropped down to his knees and pulled her lower body towards the opening of his mouth.

 "What a sweet, obedient girl," he purred. He was delighted that (Y/N) opened her legs wide just for him. Zeke began teasing her, returning to her thighs and giving her great kisses. (Y/N) was so cute and sexy as she looked down nervously with desire. He wanted to show her good oral affection. Zeke gently and slowly kissed her labia.  Then lightly licked her clit.

She had no idea what he was doing. She never imagined having a man's face in her crotch. It was mortifying. mouths and genitals? Good lord, how would she ever get past the shame around it? what was the purpose of this? She pees down here!

(Y/N) embarrassment and confusion started to vanish. 

She let out a giggle. It tickled.

 He buried his face into her crotch. Flickering his tongue around her throbbing clit as slowly as he could, he was in no hurry. Zeke was determined to make this situation as sexually pleasing for her as he could.

 He pulled his face up to look at her. She was all over him “

(Y/N) your pussy taste so fucking good.”

 She could not help but feel incredibly turned on by that remark. Zeke was no longer pinning her against the couch; she could get up and try to run. The tickling sensation was warmth and wetness. As his licking progressed, it felt heavenly. (Y/N) looked down and made eye contact with Zeke.

"fuck"

(Y/N) had begun to feel light butterflies in her stomach. Her first orgasm came unexpectedly. Her head fell back with immense pleasure; Zeke began to speed up the pace. 

She threaded her fingers in between his golden locks. Zeke began to use his fingers once again. She tried her hardest to muffle her moans. She didn't want him to know she was enjoying every minute of him pleasuring her. He then began to tongue fuck her tight pussy. (Y/N) did not understand what was happening to her. Such a large amount of liquid began to pour off her cunt, down her legs, and onto Zeke's face. Who knew this could feel so amazing. 

Zeke would moan as he continued to make out with her sweet cunt. She bucked her hips for more. She was going to keep fucking this smug bastard's mouth until she could not anymore. Her build-up continues to get higher and higher. At this point, she could not cover up her sweet moans. . Zeke could tell by her whimpers and moans that her climax was soon. Sucking and licking her, savoring her taste. (Y/N) let out a scream. 

And released her cum all over Zeke's face. She struggled to catch her breath. She looked at Zeke in between her legs. He smiled and then started to take off his uniform Till she could see everything about him. Tall, muscular, and with plenty of abs. He stood right in front of her as she sat in the same position on the couch.

 "Come to the edge of the couch," he demanded. She was to face Zeke's dick. Huh, those ladies had been right about suspecting it was big, she thought, "Suck on it" She was too far in and obliged to his command, 

 "the head. Slowly circle with your tongue (Y/N)" The tip is very soft. She licked lower, beneath the head, down one side of the shaft, and then the other. "Grab my shaft tightly with your hands, push back and forth while sloppy sucking my head. She liked having his part in her mouth too.

" He knew he had to instruct her. He grabbed her hair and made her look up at him while in action. He started to buckle his hip fucking her mouth. He moaned, "You like it, huh? you like being my little concubine, my whore! "

Stop," he said. Had she done something wrong, she thought, "Lay back down on the blanket in front of the fireplace and spread your legs." He demanded. " (Y/N) nervously did as Zeke commanded. 

Zeke lay on top of her. He could not help but feel aroused by feeling her petite body underneath his large frame.  He grabbed her face. “You are hardly putting up a fight (Y/N). It surprised her as well. Zeke pushed himself in between her legs fully. He lined his rock-hard cock to her cunt. . "Please pull out once you're finished. 

"Why?" he said with lust in his eyes. 

"Because I could get pregnant."

 "Maybe I want to get you pregnant." 

He pressed against her hymen and shoved himself in her all at once.

 Their sloppy, sweaty bodies connected to someone for the first time. Zeke slowly thrust himself all the way into her wet warm tight pussy. He let out a deep sigh and slightly lowered himself. "Fuck, you feel amazing," he said in a low, breathy tone had barely been inside and felt he could spill himself at any moment. He began to thrust in and out of her. (Y/N) wrapped her arms instantly across Zeke's shoulders. "Oh my god, "she said in a low, breathy tone. 

She could feel his long shaft hitting up her G spot. (Y/N) could not help but look Zeke straight in the face as he demolished her cunt. His facial expressions turned her on. The more Zeke shoved, the more her juices burst out of her. She began whimpering. Zeke enjoyed fucking and conquering this sweet innocent little girl's pussy. He could feel her walls clenching around him and started to climax 

 "I'm gonna cum," he said. 

“Pull out, please.”

He kept pumping her pussy. The panic on her moaning face satisfied him. "Beg more." 

Zeke never wanted to get anyone pregnant; however, he'd do anything to reach his goal. Well, that's what he told himself. It felt too good. He didn't think he could be stopped. 

“Oh my God, it's coming again,” (Y/N) moaned. She climaxed 

His thrusts became more frequent and uncouth, and he let out his large load in her pussy. When he looked down and saw his milky white cum and blood in between her thighs, Zeke was still inside her, exhausted from their excursion.  He secretly loved successfully spoiling this girl for the rest of her life. 

Zeke stood up, got a wet-washed cloth, and wiped both of their private parts. He picked her up, laid her back on the couch, and then disappeared for fifteen minutes. Y/N) really hated to admit it, but it was incredible. Her body felt amazing during and after sex. 

He brought in a warm cup of tea and a large blanket. She looked worried. (Y/N) looked up at his soft gaze.

" We are even now okay. You don't have to worry anymore." Zeke said quietly

She looked up into his eyes. “ Was I as good as the others?’ 

Zeke couldn't help but laugh. He assumed she'd be distressed about losing her virginity instead.

“ You are amazing (Y/N). I have to go now. Please remember to stay out of trouble. He stood up and kissed her forehead, and left. 

[wodeward]

Geoffrey Wodeward of Clan Gangrel

As a breathing man, Geoffrey had a decent life. The descendant of a Norman archer who came to England with the Conquest, then moved west to settle in Gloucestershire and put down roots. He inherited an appointment as a forester on the lands of the local baron and enjoyed a life that was, while not the privileged one of a true knight or lord, still a mark above toiling fields as a serf.

However, any station, high or low, comes with duty behind it. The lord’s forests were rife with danger - large game like stag and boar who could gore an unwary or unprepared hunter to death. Wolves emboldened by winter skulking too close to settlements. And of course, people to be dealt with - poachers and rebels and outlaws using the cover of wilderness to hide their deeds.

He was still a young man when the baron’s liege - Robert Fitzroy, Earl of Gloucester - called for soldiers to defend the right of his sister, Empress Matilda, on the throne. And he was called, so he went. He spent the years of the Anarchy as a scout and a bowman; at the hard-won negotiations of peace, he returned home.

He'd scarcely had time to hang his cloak in the forester's lodge before he was dispatched to help solve a problem. Someone (or something) out in the woods was poaching the baron's game. Corpses of deer found mutilated and drained of blood (the flesh wasted and left to rot in the sun), the rest of the herd not thriving besides. 

Relieving the younger brother who had taken his post while he was off at war - a good and competent soul, but worn pale and sick from the strain of the matter - Geoffrey took up arms to get to the bottom of it. All signs he could read pointed to the culprit being an animal: a maddened wolf, perhaps. He'd shot plenty of wolves.

He tracked the beast as the winter began to set in until he unearthed what seemed to be its resting place. And watched  as the sun set to see if the creature would emerge. To his grand surprise, what crawled out wasn't an animal at all, but a woman, dressed for travel, unafraid of the night and the dangers therein.

Unfortunately, though he'd shot plenty of wolves, he'd been trained to give a person warning and the right to surrender to custody. And she laughed at this as surely as she laughed at the arrow that loosed her way afterwards. The one that broke on her flesh as though it was made of stone.

She was on him a moment later, sharp teeth latched to his throat.

When a member of the hunting posse found his bloodstained coat on the dirt the following morning, they assumed the worst. When, three nights later, he arrived back at the lodge, pale and distant but otherwise no worse for wear, it was a cause for celebration long enough for them all to be disbanded and sent back to their lives.

That winter was the hardest he had endured. By grace or by cunning, he managed to avoid being destroyed by the sun or attracting attention through indiscretion. The excuse that resuming his post took his daytime hours passed well enough. Ironically, he learned to subsist like an outlaw or the creature that had made him; off the baron's game, largely, with the rare passing traveler come like a saints' feast day.

The nights were lengthening back to winter when the woman came traipsing back for him. Encountering her again after she'd cursed and abandoned him made his blood boil, but there were things he wanted to know from her. Fortunately, she'd come back not to finish the job of killing him, but to reward him with knowledge after passing her trial.

She called herself Cerys -  a Gangrel from the Welsh Marches who skirted the court of Baroness Seren of Gloucester. Connected just enough to have once been given permission to create progeny (in exchange for a boon to be paid, of course). Before Geoffrey's timely arrival, she'd actually targeted his younger brother, Henry, but found in him a candidate tougher and more cunning and therefore more suitable to bestow with her blood.

In a way, the transition into unlife had just enough familiar elements to his experiences in his warmer days that it wasn't as jarring as it could have been. Cerys' 'apprenticeship' was rough but he endured it. The court in Gloucester left him alone if he didn't cause trouble. If the poachers and outlaws he found in the wood went to his own hungers or to tribute in London instead of to trial- perhaps it was only that the world was unkinder with monsters in it. At least that's what he tried to tell himself.

(art by: lammergeared)

[yeastinfectionvale]

THE NITTY POPULATION IN THORTON HEATH IS INSANE!?!! Like my mum and I had to encounter a nitty who was trying to guilt trip my mum into giving her some money whilst also cat calling and being an overall weirdo :/ This was on the train station so we stood there for 20 minute with that guy talking and splurging out the bible because the trains there are also shit. 0/10 place sorry for anyone living there.

I’m unfortunately a resident of the gentrified area of West London so I can talk more shit about it than anyone else EXCEPT Southall which I will defend since the shit it gets is way too much than it deserves. The only thing we have is the parks and you could probably fill up a trucks worth of vapes if you have to clean up that place my condolences to any workers. Oh and that one scene in Good Society which made me go ‘bwoah’. The population is mostly old folk and white people who’s racism ranges from constant micro aggression to ‘you want to say a slur so badly’. The hands that I have reserved for my council for the weird stuff they pull is crazy. Also the younger generation think they are bad you are cosplaying south london you are not serious 😭 There is a tiktok somewhere talking about how people tap their oysters on the train we are the only ones who do it 💀

The real question is the london train lines since I already see your tfl line :)

god I had a guy trying to get me to join the pentacostal church in Thornton Heath once I kept walking......

Anon look at me in my (Mig's) eyes. I would die for Southall.

Tapping in... I'm gonna be honest I have bumped train and tram okay prices are high.

My TFL line? The District Line, specifically after Earls Court leaving from Ealing Broadway. Love it so much. I hate the Jubilee Line (so loud) and the Circle Line (once was on a circle line train and watched two guys in soiled hospital gowns dancing around the pole in the tube)

[townsenddecades]

The Townsend Legacy Recap: 1300 – 1309

Now that the first decade of our story is at an end, it is time to look back on what was gained, what was lost and how the dice have fallen.

I will list what has happened in the two noble families in this recap, but this may not be the case in future ones. Summarizing what has happened to the Townsend family and their relatives may already be lengthy enough.

I especially won’t pay attention to any and all offshoots of the noble families – in fact, I only plan to roll for marriages and baby tries of the main branch. If, for example, the de Bellefaye boys marry autonomously or have children autonomously, I will try to record so, but other than that, I will only roll their aging and event rolls. They likely won’t be featured in future recaps, either. Keeping up with the Townsend branches to come will already be challenge enough.

THE TOWNSEND FAMILY (MAIN HOUSEHOLD)

Current Members: 8

In 1300, the family consists of Benedict and Anne Townsend, their twin daughters Edith and Anna and their son Benjamin. Anne soon finds out that she is pregnant; however, as she has, unbeknownst to her husband, been coerced into sleeping with their liege lord, the Earl of Petersmarch, this only fills her with dread. The boy, born on the end of the year, does indeed turn out to be the Earl’s son. They name him Robert.

Anna also makes the acquaintance of George Crawley, son of Lord Petersmarch’s legal advisor. That friendship intensifies in the coming years.

In 1301, Anne confesses her adultery to her husband, who has figured out by himself that Robert (who is dark-haired and blue-eyed, unlike either of them) isn’t his, but is still hurt and angry. The two do eventually reconcile, as Benedict understands that his wife isn’t to blame for fearing repercussions for refusing the Earl. It takes him a few years, but he does eventually even start to consider Robert his own son.

Early in 1302, Anna and Edith go on a small adventure to look for a witch rumoured to live in the woods beyond a ruined village on the other side of the river, but turn back half-way, thus not confirming whether the rumours are true.

Far more importantly, Lord Petersmarsh pays the Townsend a visit, acknowledges Robert as his son and tells Anne that he intends to find a position as a page for him once he is older. During the same visit, Benedict meets and strikes up an acquaintance with George’s father, Matthew Crawley.

In 1303, Anne discovers that she is with child once again. She gives birth to another healthy son, Simon, in 1304, and the only thing that worries them is his unusual deep purple eyes.

After Lord Petersmarch’s sudden death in a shipwreck in the same year, Anne and Benedict fear for the promises he had made to find Robert a position of a page, but get a visit by Matthew Crawley, who tells them that he will find him one as a way of honouring the late earl’s wishes.

In 1305, after winter is over, the Townsend add another building to their farm, because their one-room cottage had been getting a little too crowded. Which is just as well, because Anne gives birth to another son, Gregory, who is inexplicably born a brunette.

In 1306, Anna and Edith turn 13, which means that they are now of age to be courted. Suitors are found readily enough; while Anna is courted by George Crawley (whose superior social position means that the requisite dowry will be high, but not unaffordable), Edith is courted by her serf childhood friend William Watmore.

In 1307, Benjamin strikes up a friendship with a girl named Malika, who lives in the same village as William. Some months later, Robert goes to live at the barracks in the nearby city of Praaven, where he starts his position as a page to Sir Silas Ellesmere, the captain of the guard.

In 1308, Edith gets a proposal of marriage from William, which she accepts. Because he is a serf, she is marrying below her station, but her family, which still has to make enough money for Anna’s dowry, isn’t too upset about that. There is also the announcement of a heavy land tax, which means that it will take even longer to earn money for anything else.

At the castle, Robert meets his three older noble half siblings: the new Lord Petersmarch, his younger brother Clement and their sister Elizabeth.

In 1309, Anna suffers from a severe illness which doesn’t completely go away and is compounded by yet another pregnancy, which puts a heavy strain on her. During those months, George proposes marriage to Anna, who accepts. Their joy is tempered by the discovery that Simon’s unusually coloured eyes are, in fact, a result of his being born with magic; not unheard of, but rare and potentially dangerous.

At the very end of the year, Anne gives birth to a healthy baby girl named Helen. Tragically, she herself doesn’t rally from the toll the birth takes on her already fragile health, and passes away a few hours later.

THE DUDLEY FAMILY (EARL'S HOUSEHOLD)

Current Members: 5

In 1300, the family consists of Ralph Dudley Sr., 10th Earl of Petersmarch, his wife and countess, Elizabeth, and their children Ralph, Clement and Elizabeth. Unbeknownst, at least at this point, to Lady Petersmarch, Lord Petersmarch also fathers a son named Robert on peasant Anne Townsend.

In 1301, Lord Petersmarch and Lord Elbenhawke, the local baron, broker a marriage between Ralph Jr. and Lord Elbenhawke’s younger daughter Mary.

In 1302, Lady Petersmarch gives birth to a second daughter, Falka, who sadly passes away in her sleep four months later.

In 1304, Lady Petersmarch has another daughter, named Gwendolen. Only a month later, the family is rocked by tragedy when Lord Petersmarch drowns in a shipwreck while sailing on the river in the middle of winter. Ralph Jr. consequently becomes the 11th Earl of Petersmarch, but because he is only a boy, the ruling of the earldom is taken over by his mother and her advisors.

In 1308 the older Dudley children (Ralph, Clement and Elizabeth) meet their illegitimate half-brother Robert, who has since moved into the castle barracks to serve as page to the captain of the guard.

In 1309, Ralph Jr. turns 13, officially taking over his duties as earl.

THE PELHAM FAMILY (BARON'S HOUSEHOLD)

Current Members: 5 (Main Family) + 4 (de Bellefaye Branch)

In 1300, the family consists of Peter Pelham, Baron Elbenhawke, his baroness Alice, and their children Peter Jr., Joan, Richard and Mary, as well as Peter Jr.’s fiancée Cecilia Grey.

In 1301, Mary is betrothed to Ralph Dudley, heir to the earldom of Petersmarch. Some months later, Peter Jr. and Cecilia marry.

In 1303, Joan marries Henri de Bellefaye, son of the former French ambassador. She gives birth to their first son, Auguste, the following year.

In 1304, the same tragedy that struck the Dudleys strikes the Pelhams as well, as Peter Jr. was travelling on the same boat as the earl and shares his demise in the icy water. As his brief marriage to Cecilia has remained childless, his brother Richard becomes the new heir to the barony.

In 1306, Joan gives birth to a second son, which they name Nigel. A third son named Alexandre follows in 1308, but sadly, Joan doesn’t survive his birth. Her mother, Lady Elbenhawke, dies of an illness (or a broken heart, opinions differ) only a few months later. Richard had by this point been betrothed to Lady Elinor Mowbray; the marriage is delayed due to his mother's and sister’s deaths.

And that brings us up to current events. All three families have suffered terrible losses, and the Townsends especially will start the next decade by picking up the pieces after Anne's passing.

Little do they know that there is a famine on the horizon. See you in 1310!

Prev: 1309, Day 4 <--> Next: 1310, Day 1 | Recap 1310 - 1319

[the-may-queer]

Tuned in to my local classic rock station for the first time in years and the first thing they played was Going to California Live at Earls Court so that was a nice surprise I guess

[socially-awkward-skeleton]

For the WIP Roundup, I am so curious about your story Kakia 😃 Kit in the role of the Mother and Eden's Gate as a little Las Vegas... It's just a great idea !

thank you 💕 here's a snippet from the opening of Jacob's first pov chapter:

Montana…Big Sky Country…The Treasure State… 

Welcome to Hope County. 

A small wooden sign greets all the visitors on the side of the road, it is the only way of knowing that the red pickup truck had finally arrived at its destination after having driven through the nowhere land of open fields outside Missoula, the giant swath of gold that stretched for miles was no more inviting than being lost out in the desert. This was where Jacob Seed had been offered employment with the Sheriff’s Department, taking over from a man named Earl Whitehorse who’d served the county for the last thirty years and who was ready to leave for greener pastures. 

He isn’t driving alone, however. Along with him are his brothers, all three of them needing a change of scenery and a new chance at life after Georgia had done enough to ruin them. Jacob had clawed his way out of homelessness, fighting tooth and nail to survive while living out on the streets of Rome after coming home from war. One of the many forgotten veterans, left to his own devices after he was deemed unfit for duty, he picked himself up by the bootstraps with the help of those willing to work through his trauma at the shelter. His brothers were in dire straits of their own when he found them. But that was then, and this is now. Things are different. Things are hopeful. “A brighter tomorrow” as Joseph likes to keep repeating to them like a mantra. 

Fall’s End was where the Sheriff’s Department for the county was stationed, and for the small town it was made out to be, it certainly doesn’t match the brochure he was given. The lone bar in town has a lineup down the block, businesses are booming, real estate is shifting faster than it’s made available and vehicles travel up and down the strip with youthful faces hanging out of windows shaking bottles of liquor in their hands as they party in broad daylight. 

Wrapping his fingers tightly around the wheel, Jacob squeezes it beneath white knuckles as he shifts his clenched jaw from side to side. It all became clear why Whitehorse was looking to unhitch his cart from this place. What was once quiet, a stop along the way to the bigger city, had since grown in popularity. In its own way, this town was flourishing, but not for a good reason. 

Joseph sits in the passenger seat beside him, his mouth falling agape as they drive past. “My God,” he whispers, stunned by the sight of so much sin so far removed from Las Vegas. 

John follows suit from the back seat as he pushes his sunglasses on to the top of his head, his eyes growing wide at the giant neon sign outside the bar of a scantily clad woman standing atop an eagle. 

In bright pink letters “Spread Eagle” flashes for all to see, calling people to it like a beacon. The heart of immorality in the center of a town that had lost sight of the little slice of harmony it had once stood for.  

Jacob had taken the job in a sleepy little town as a way to give his brothers a second chance away from what ailed them. John had been disbarred, had his wealth and status taken from him for his “youthful” indiscretions and had been court ordered to go to therapy and Narcotics Anonymous for his frivolous lifestyle to get himself clean. Joseph had just been handed a bill of clean health after checking out of the psych ward, grief had crippled him entirely after the loss of his wife and unborn child. They had nothing and no one but each other now, and as their eldest brother it was his duty to look after them the same way he had when they were children.

[jeff-rees-jones]

Earl's court station,London

[weedle-testaburger]

fun fact: this is actually kind of based on something that happened. this comedian wrote to the mayor of london complaining that there's no apostrophe in barons court station when there is one in earl's court station, and then the mayor of london wrote back in a letter where he deliberately misused apologies all the way through

[kwebtv]

Jack Axelrod (January 25, 1930 - November 28, 2023) Film and television actor known for playing Victor Jerome on General Hospital (1987-1989)

His other television credits include Kojak (1977), Hill Street Blues (1988), Dallas (1983-1984), The Judge (1986), Dynasty (1987), Outlaws (1987), Night Court  (1989), Knots Landing (1989-1990), Murphy Brown  (1992), Everybody Loves Raymond (1999), Boy Meets World (1999), Good vs Evil (1999), Jack & Jill (1999), Dharma & Greg (1999), Star Trek: Voyager (2000), Gideon's Crossing  (2000), The Division (2001), Philly (2001), Alias (2001), In-Laws (2002), Frasier (2003), It's All Relative (2003), The Help (2004), Malcolm in the Middle (2005), Scrubs (2005), It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2006), Grey's Anatomy (2006-2007), My Name Is Earl (2005-2008), Eli Stone (2008), Private Practice (2010), Hawthorne (2010), Franklin & Bash (2011), Love Bites (2011), Hot in Cleveland (2011), Dexter (2011), Shameless (2012), The Office (2012), Raising Hope (2012), Animal Practice (2012), NCIS (2012-2013), Hawaii Five-0 (2013), Kirstie (2014), Mystery Girls (2014), Mulaney (2014), Brooklyn Nine-Nine  (2016), Ray Donovan (2016), Baskets (2017), Dice (2017), Speechless (2018), Station 19 (2018) and Modern Family (2015-2019)