#early 1900s love story

[lady-alabaster]

George de Larabrie and Pierre Theunis, Evrard Chapel, 1920, Bruxelles, Laeken Cemetery

[vampirebitestigmata]

One day I'll post my essay on ldpdl's misogyny. Not today tho not to damn day

[jvzebel-x]

"He'd lived so long in anticipation of his own death that to contemplate his future was like standing at the edge of a cliff staring into a vertiginous rush of open sky."

x. "The Golem and The Genie", Helene Wecker

"I am no saint, and he is no monster for me to slay."

x. "The Hidden Palace", Helene Wecker

[eternalstateofoctober]

i dont know if i made a mistake but i’m so stressed out right now damn it

[halle18]

The Swarovskis

Chapter One: Meeting Him

          Jeremiah shakes his head, it’s the hundredth time he’s had to deal with this since agreeing on this arranged marriage. Sure, he wanted to have her powerful father eating out of the palm of his hand but the last thing he wants is to deal with Ana’s incessant spoiled ranting. “Money is no issue. Replace the fucking thing if you hate it so much.” He said with a grunt, his voice cold and stern as he took his cigarette and ran the end of it along his lips before lighting it.        

   With a frustrated sigh, Anna shakes her head, crossing her arms against her chest like a petulant child. “No! Money is not the problem. The problem is that this dress is horrid! It doesn’t match my complexion!” She turns and gives Jeremiah a sharp glare, her eyes narrowing as she looks him up and down with a look that is somewhere between disgust and annoyance. “You don’t get it because you’re a man.”      

      Jeremiah can’t help but roll his eyes at her words, taking a deep drag from his cigarette before letting out a puff of smoke with a scoff.      

    “I’m starting to wonder if you find a problem with everything I do, no matter what, just to annoy me.”    

   He crosses his own arms, leaning against the wall with a stoic expression, his eyes narrowing as he looks at her. “This is the tenth dress you’ve turned your nose up at… what exactly is wrong with it this time?”    

     Ana’s face hardens as she lets out a huff of annoyance. “Everything! The color is hideous, the cut is unflattering, and the fabric is scratchy!”         She runs a hand down the length of the dress, her fingers tracing along the fabric and scrunching up her nose in disgust. “It’s like wearing a sack!”    

     Jeremiah takes another drag from his cigarette, his eyes narrowing as he looks her up and down, letting out a long exhale of smoke. “I’m sorry the fabric isn’t up to your high standards. Maybe I should have asked for the finest silk from china instead.” He says with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, his expression remaining stoic and unimpressed.      

    Ana rolls her eyes at his sarcasm, her arms crossing even tighter across her chest, her chin raised defiantly. “You really don’t understand fashion, do you?”  

      She turns back to the mirror, studying her reflection with a critical eye, smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles in the dress. “I can’t expect a man like you to understand these things. You probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between silk and burlap.”      

     Ana stood before the mirror, her eyes critically roaming over her reflection as she examined her appearance. With tan skin, long dark locks of curly hair, a beautiful face framed by long lashes that framed her mesmerizing brown eyes, she had a sharp jawline that contrasted the fullness of her plump pink lips.      

   Her body was a perfect hour-glass, her curves filling out every inch of her navy blue dress. The black heels she wore peeked out from underneath the heavy layers, adding just the right amount of height and elegance.      

   Jeremiah stood as the complete opposite of the woman before him. His features were sharp, his gaze cold and unwavering. Dark hair combed back, his eyes a sharp piercing blue, his jawline dusted with stubble. His build was lean and muscular, his arms taut against the pristine shirt that was tucked into his slacks that hung low on his hips, the top two buttons unbuttoned, revealing the top of his chest. He looked every bit the part of a dangerous man, but his features were undeniably handsome.          She storms out of the room, her face flushing with anger as she stomps through the hallway. The sound of her heels against the hardwood floor echoes through the halls as she approaches her father’s study, her hands balled up into fists. Upon reaching the door, she lets her anger get the best of her, pushing it open forcefully and entering with a huff. “Paw-Paw!” She yells, her voice echoing through the room.

    An elderly and handsome man looks up from his desk, surprised at her unexpected entrance. A black Jamaican priest, his face is stern but kind, his dark eyes widening in surprise as his daughter enters the room uninvited. “Ana, what is the matter?” He said in a firm yet gentle voice, setting aside the pen he was using and giving her his undivided attention.      

     Ana ignores his question, her face still flushed with anger as she marches up to his desk and slams her hands down on the surface. “I’ve had enough!” She says, her voice laced with frustration. She looks up at her father, her eyes narrowing as she speaks again. “I can’t do this anymore, paw-paw!”      

  Just as her father opens his mouth to respond, the door flies open once again, and Jeremiah strides into the room. His gait is firm and confident, his eyes dark and unreadable as he locks eyes with the priest.    

   “What’s all this racket?” He says, his voice cool and controlled as he walks up to the desk, standing beside Ana.      

  The elderly man looks up at Jeremiah, his expression turning stoic as the tall man approaches. He looks at Jeremiah for a moment, studying him with a gaze that is both firm yet assessing.

        “I’m afraid I couldn’t say for sure…” He responds, his voice steady and calm. He looks from Jeremiah to his daughter, raising an eyebrow in confusion as he takes in her angry expression.          Ana lets out a huff of annoyance, crossing her arms tightly across her chest as her gaze flits back and forth between her father and Jeremiah.  

       “I’m talking about this…marriage you’ve decided on.” She says, her voice filled with frustration. She glares up at Jeremiah, her eyes narrowing.  

      Jeremiah doesn’t respond at first, his expression unchanged as he looks down at her. Her outburst doesn’t seem to faze him, his eyes still locked with hers, his face unreadable. The priest tilts his head, a slight frown forming on his face as he looks between the pair. “Ah, this is about the arrangement I’ve made…”    

    Ana looks over at him, her expression firm as she nods . “Yes, it is a about the ‘arrangement’…” She says , spitting the last word out with disdain. She crosses her arms even tighter, her lips pursing as she looks between the two. Her father lets out a sigh, his eyes flitting from her to Jeremiah and back, his features conflicted.    

    Jeremiah remains eerily silent, watching the exchange with his arms crossed. There’s a flicker of annoyance in his eyes, but he manages to keep his expression stoic and unreadable.  

     The priest lets out another sigh, his eyes closing for a moment before reopening, his features still conflicted. “I understand how unhappy you are with this, but I made this decision for a reason, Ana.”        Jeremiah’s eye twitches slightly at her words, his jaw clenching as he looks down at her, his expression hardening. But he still remains silent, standing beside the desk as he listens to the exchange.  

     The priest leans back In his chair, his eyes locking on his daughter, his expression stern and serious now. “You know very well why I’ve made this decision, Ana. You need to be married to a man of power and influence, and Jeremiah fits that description.”    

    Ana scoffs at this, her eyes narrowing further as she looks at her father. She’s about to respond with a retort, but Jeremiah finally speaks up, cutting her off. “She’s being ungrateful.” He says, his voice cool and controlled. His eyes lock on her, a coldness in them. “Any girl should be grateful to be married off to a man of my status.”  

     The priest gives him a sharp look, his eyes narrowing as he listens to Jeremiah’s words. He looks between Jeremiah and his daughter again, his expression stern and disapproving. “That may be true, Jeremiah. But remember, this is my daughter you’re talking about. She’s not a piece of property to be married off to the highest bidder.”        

  Jeremiah lets out a scoff, his eyes hardening as he looks at the priest . “Is that not exactly what you’re doing, by giving her to me?” He says, his voice laced with a hint of irritation.    

     The priest lets out a sigh, running a hand over his face. “I’m just trying to do what’s best for her. I want her to be taken care of. You’re a powerful man, Jeremiah. My daughter will never want for anything with you as her husband.”      

   Jeremiah lets out a huff, his expression remaining stoic as he looks down at Ana, his eyes still cold as he responds. “She does not need to want for anything. She will be taken care of regardless. But I will not put up with her tantrums and spoiled behavior on a daily basis.”    

    The priest lets out another sigh, his eyes closing for a moment. “She’s young, Jeremiah. This is a lot for her to handle. She’s not used to being told what to do. Her behavior is not acceptable, but I assure you she will come around.”  

      Ana rolls her eyes at him, letting out a scoff. “Just because YOU’RE an old man, doesn’t mean that I need to bend to your ignorant rules.” She says, her voice filled with sass. Her words hang in the air as she looks up at him, her chin raised defiantly.    

    Jeremiah’s jaw clenches, his eyes narrowing at her words. He takes a step towards her, closing the distance between them, towering over her as he glares down at her. “I may be ‘old’ in your eyes, but I’m only seven years older than you, girl. You would do well to mind your tongue when speaking to me.”      

  Ana storms out of the study after their exchange, leaving Jeremiah and her father in the room. She marches through the corridor, her footsteps loud and frustrated. Once she reaches her mother’s bedchambers, she enters without knocking, her face still flushed with anger.  

     Her mother turns In surprise as she enters, her eyes widening as she takes in her daughter’s irate expression. “Ana, what’s the matter, dear?”         Ana lets out a huff, walking over and throwing herself down on the bed, her eyes filled with frustration. “I can’t married to him. It’s not fair!!” She says, her voice laced with anger as she looks up at her mother, pleading in her eyes.  

      Her mother frowns, moving to sit beside her on the bed. She looks at her daughter, her expression sympathetic yet firm. “Ana, we’ve talked about this. Your father has made the decision, and there’s nothing we can do to change it.”      

  Ana lets out another frustrated sigh, propping herself up on her elbow and looking up at her mother. “But he’s horrible, mother! He’s cold and cruel, and he doesn’t care about anything I want!” She says, her voice filled with emotion as she thinks about Jeremiah.  

     Her mother sighs, her expression sympathetic as she looks down at her daughter . “I know it’s hard, dear. But Jeremiah is a powerful and wealthy man. He can provide for you in ways that few others can.” She reaches out and takes one of her daughter’s hands, squeezing it gently. “Try to give it a chance, my darling.”

        Ana huffs, her expression stubborn as she looks at her mother, her eyes narrowed . “I’m not attracted to him. He’s rude, arrogant, and controlling. He's the last person I'd ever want to marry.” She says, her voice firm and resolute, even as her heart betrays her words, betraying her true feelings.  

      Her mother looks at her for a moment, her eyebrow raised in skepticism. She knows her daughter better than anyone, and she sees the subtle changes in her expression and body language when Jeremiah is mentioned. She lets out a small chuckle, her voice gently teasing . “Are you sure about that, dear? You’re not even a little attracted to him?”    

    Ana scowls at her mother’s words, her cheeks flushing slightly. She looks away, avoiding her mother’s gaze as she responds. “Of course not. He’s insufferable. I can’t stand to be in the same room with him for more than a few minutes.”         Her mother smiles, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she watches her daughter’s defensive demeanor. “I don’t know, sweetheart. You seem awfully worked up over someone you claim to have no feelings for.”    

    Ana scoffs at her mother’s remark, her expression still annoyed. She quickly changes the subject, desperate to get off the topic of Jeremiah. “What do I have to do, exactly? For the ‘courting’.” She says, using air quotes as she says the word. She looks at her mother, her face still slightly flushed from the previous conversation.

       Her mother takes the hint and lets the subject drop, shifting gears to address her question . “Well, for starters you’ll spend time together at the park. You’ll go on walks, maybe have a picnic, and just get to know each other.” She smiles, a hint of excitement in her voice. “It’s an exciting time, dear. You’ll get to spend time with him, and let him get to know you.”  

       Ana’s expression turns to one of distaste, her lips curling slightly at the thought of spending time with Jeremiah. “Great. So I have to spend the next few weeks being paraded in front of this… monster, like some prize to be won.” She crosses her arms, her irritation growing.    

    The conversation with her mother continues, Ana expressing her displeasure and frustration at having to spend time with Jeremiah. Eventually, her mother manages to calm her down, and they finish their discussion for the night.      

   For the rest of the night, Ana lies in bed, unable to sleep. She tosses and turns as thoughts of Jeremiah and their upcoming time together fills her mind. Finally, exhaustion takes over, and she falls into a fitful sleep. The next morning, she wakes up early, getting ready for the day. She chooses a pretty dress to wear.      

  Meanwhile, her mother plans to watch over them while they court. She will keep a discreet distance, while still being close enough to intervene if necessary. Once Ana is dressed, she leaves her room and heads downstairs, her stomach clenched in knots as she thinks about seeing Jeremiah.          As she descends the stairs, her mind is on Jeremiah. She tries to mentally prepare herself for the upcoming day. Will he be in a good mood? She wonders. Will he have something nasty to say to her? The thoughts swirl in her mind as she reaches the main floor of the house, heading towards the breakfast room.    

     In the breakfast room, Ana’s father and brothers are already seated, eating breakfast. They greet her as she enters, but her responses are mumbled as her thoughts are preoccupied with Jeremiah. She sits at the table, picking at her food as her family continues their conversation around her. But her mind is elsewhere, already imagining the upcoming hours she will have to spend with Jeremiah.         Finally, the time comes for her to leave. Her family wishes her luck, her father reminding her to behave. She steps outside and walks to the arranged meeting spot, her heart thudding in her chest as she sees Jeremiah waiting there, leaning against a tree, looking handsome and imposing as always.      

  He looks up as she approaches, his eyes roaming over her appreciatively. Her heart quickens as she draws closer, her steps faltering slightly as she stops in front of him. He smirks, his gaze cool and appraising as he looks her up and down.    

    “You look nice.” He says, his voice cool and calm as he pushes off from the tree and straightens up. His eyes flick over her, taking in her appearance, lingering on the way the dress hugs her curves.        Ana feels a shiver run down her spine at his words, a mix of annoyance and… something else she can’t quite identify. She lifts her chin defiantly, meeting his gaze with a cool glare of her own. “Cut the pleasantries. Let’s just get this over with.”         Jeremiah chuckles, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Feisty as ever, I see. This is going to be interesting.” He pushes off from the tree, gesturing for her to start walking beside him. “Shall we?”    

     Ana lets out a huff, her irritation at his smug attitude growing. “Fine. Let’s go.” She starts walking beside him, matching his stride as they begin their walk through the park.      

    The park is a beautiful place, filled with lush greenery and flowers in bloom. Ana notices a sense of peace wash over her as they walk, the natural surroundings a welcome distraction from the tension between them. As they stroll, Jeremiah seems content to let the silence stretch out between them. He walks with a leisurely stride, his hands stuffed in his pockets as he glances over at her occasionally.         

Ana does her best to ignore the way his eyes seem to linger on her, and she focuses instead on the scenery around them. She tries to keep her cool composure, but she can’t quite shake the feeling of his gaze on her. After a few minutes, the silence becomes too much for her. She glances over at him, her curiosity getting the better of her. “So, are we just going to walk in silence?”        

  Jeremiah looks over at her, his gaze cool and unreadable. He smirks slightly, seemingly enjoying her discomfort. “What do you want to talk about, Ana?”      

    Ana crosses her arms, her irritation growing at his smirk. “I don’t know, anything. Small talk. How about… the weather?” She grumbles, her tone dripping with sarcasm.        

  Jeremiah lets out a small chuckle, his eyes gleaming with amusement at her sass. “The weather? Really? That’s the best you can come up with?” He pauses for a moment, looking up at the sky before looking back at her. “Looks sunny to me.”      

    Ana rolls her eyes, her patience with him wearing thin. She lets out a frustrated huff. “Yes, it’s sunny, thanks for stating the obvious. Now what?”           Jeremiah smirks, enjoying her growing frustration. He takes a few steps closer to her, his eyes locking on hers. “You’re cute when you’re annoyed, you know that?”      

   As they continue walking, Jeremiah decides to start a conversation, asking her some questions. “So, tell me about yourself, Ana. What do you do for fun when you’re not being a brat?” She rolls her eyes at his remark, but responds nonetheless. “I like to read. And I play the piano. I’m sure you think that’s dull.”

         Jeremiah chuckles, his eyes sparkling with amusement . “On the contrary, I find it charming. A young woman who can entertain herself with music and books, rather than superficial pursuits, is a rare thing.”      

  The unexpected compliment takes Ana by surprise. She hadn’t expected such a response from him, and she feels her irritation and defensiveness towards him soften slightly. “You… you’re not just saying that to be nice, are you?”        Jeremiah shakes his head, his gaze locking on hers. There’s a hint of something almost sincere in his eyes as he responds. “No, I mean it. I appreciate someone who values intellect and culture over mindless entertainment. And I can say with certainty, you’re not like any other girl I’ve met before.”

       Ana is flattered by his words, feeling a warm flutter in her chest at the unexpected compliment. She tries to ignore the feeling, not wanting him to know the effect he’s having on her. She glances away, attempting to regain her cool demeanor.        “Well… I suppose I should thank you for the compliment, then. But don’t think this changes anything between us.” Jeremiah lets out a small chuckle, his smirk returning. “Oh, I don’t expect you to suddenly fall at my feet just because I complimented you. I know you’re too stubborn for that.”

     He steps even closer, closing the small distance between them. His eyes roam over her face, taking in her every feature as they walk.  

   She can feel his presence close to her now, the heat from his body radiating towards her. She swallows, trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach at his proximity. She attempts to sound nonchalant, despite her racing heart and flushed cheeks. “Stubborn? I prefer the term ‘strong-willed.’”     

He chuckles again, his eyes locking on hers once more. “Strong-willed, stubborn, defiant… You’re quite full of yourself, aren’t you?”    He reaches out, his hand brushing a strand of hair away from her face, his fingers lightly grazing her cheek. Her heart stutters at the unexpected touch, a shiver running down her spine.

She quickly jerks her head away, trying to maintain her façade, even as her body betrays her. “I’m not full of myself. I just know my worth.”    He lets out a soft laugh, his eyes never leaving her face. He’s clearly enjoying their verbal sparring, getting a thrill out of her strong-willed personality.

“Oh, I know exactly how much you value yourself. You think quite highly of yourself, don’t you my little minx?”

  She scoffs at his comment, her irritation flaring up again at his cocky arrogance. “I’m not ‘your’ anything, Jeremiah. And yes, I do think highly of myself. Is that such a bad thing?”  

    He smirks, moving even closer, his body now almost pressed against hers. He towers over her, looking down at her with an intense gaze.      “Not necessarily. Confidence is an attractive trait, after all. But there’s a fine line between confidence and cockiness. And you, my dear, seem to be straddling that line quite closely.”  

    She scowls up at him, her heart racing at their closeness, but her defiance flaring up even more at his comment. She takes a small step back, attempting to put some distance between them. “I’m not cocky. I just know my own mind, and I’m not afraid to stand up for myself.”    

  He grins, watching her retreat with amusement. He closes the distance again, his hand grasping her arm, preventing her from moving further away. “That attitude of yours is one of the things I find so tantalizing about you, you know. Most girls would wilt under my gaze, but not you. You’re not afraid to push back.”

      She pulls her arm out of his grip, her eyes flashing defiantly. She smooths out her dress and starts walking again, her pace slightly faster now, eager to put some distance between them.

    As they walk, she decides to turn the tables on him and ask some questions of her own. “So why are you interested in me anyway? You have hordes of girls fawning over you, why bother with someone like me?”

Jeremiah walks beside her, his hands in his pockets as he responds to her question with a smirk. “Because you’re different. You’re challenging and defiant, and you don’t just fall at my feet like all the other girls. You’re feisty, and it’s... exciting.” She glances over at him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she processes his response.

She tries to ignore the way his admission makes her heart flutter, but it’s hard. “Exciting, hm? So I’m some sort of… conquest to you then? Another prize to win?”

He shakes his head, his smirk softening into a smile. “No, not a conquest. More like a challenge, I suppose. You’re the first girl who’s ever dared to defy me, who’s ever pushed back against my advances. You’re intriguing, to say the least. I find myself wanting to… unravel you, to see what makes you tick.”

She falters slightly at his words, her heart skipping a beat at the implications of what he’s saying. But she quickly regains her composure, her defensive instincts kicking in once more. “What makes you think you stand a chance of ‘unraveling’ me, as you put it? I don’t break that easily.”

Jeremiah chuckles, his eyes sparkling with amusement and challenge. “Oh, I don’t doubt that you’re a hard one to crack. But don’t underestimate me, my sweet. I’m quite determined when I set my sights on something I want. And right now, I want you.”

She can’t help the way her heart flutters at his words, the way his gaze makes her feel a mixture of excitement and fear. She swallows hard, trying to maintain her composure. “You want me? Just for the thrill of the chase, you mean?”

He shakes his head In response, his expression softening slightly. “No, it’s more than that. There’s something about you that’s different from the other girls. You’re not just some pretty face I can easily impress. You’ve got fire in you, and spirit. And I find that incredibly enticing.”

As they continue walking and talking, Ana begins to feel her defenses weaken. Jeremiah’s unexpected honesty and flattering words draw her in, causing her to let her guard down slightly. She relaxes, dropping her snarky retorts and sarcastic comments, instead asking him genuine questions about himself. They eventually finish their walk, and Ana reluctantly says goodbye to Jeremiah and heads home.

At home, Ana’s family greets her as they all settle into the dining room for supper. Her three older brothers tease her about her day out with Jeremiah, their names being Mateo, Diego, and Victor. Ana rolls her eyes at her brothers’ teasing, a small smile on her face as she takes her seat. Anita, the black maid who traveled with Ana’s family, comes in and begins serving the food. Ana’s father says a prayer over the meal, and everyone begins eating, chatting amongst themselves.

As they eat, Ana’s family talks about their day, sharing news and stories. The conversation drifts to Ana and her day with Jeremiah, Ana’s brothers making jokes at her expense, while her parents and Anita listen patiently.

After supper is finished, Anita takes Ana aside to help her prepare a bath. Anita helps Ana out of her dress and assists her into the bathtub, the warm water and soothing scents helping to relax Ana after her long day. Once Ana is settled in the tub, Anita sits on a stool next to it, ready to help with washing her hair or any other needs. Ana leans back, enjoying the feeling of the warm water enveloping her body.

She lets out a small sigh, feeling the tension eases out of her muscles. Anita, sensing Ana’s relaxed state, decides to speak up. “So… how was your day out with the young mister?” Anita asks, a knowing smile on her face.

Ana lets out a huff, her eyes closing as she relaxes in the tub. “It was… different. I was expecting it to be a dull, mundane day, but it turned out to be more interesting than I thought.”

Anita chuckles, a knowing look in her eyes. “Is that so? Interesting, you say? Do tell me more. I could use some excitement myself.” She grabs a washcloth and begins lathering it with soap.Ana sighs, her eyes still closed as she lets the warm water soothe her skin.

“Well… Jeremiah wasn’t as insufferable as I thought he would be. We actually had a decent conversation, for the most part. He was surprisingly… open with me. And he even gave me a few compliments.”

Anita’s eyebrows raise in surprise, a small gasp escaping her lips. “A few compliments, you say? My, that is quite a revelation. And how did that make you feel?” She begins gently washing Ana’s back, the warm water and rhythmic motions soothing her tired muscles.

Ana leans her head back further, enjoying the feel of the washcloth against her skin. She thinks about Jeremiah’s compliments, her heart skipping a beat at the thought. “It… caught me off guard, to say the least. I’m not used to hearing such… sincere remarks from people like him. And there was something about the way he said them… it made me feel… fluttery, almost.”

Anita smirks, a knowing look in her eyes as she continues washing Ana. “Aha, so you’ve got butterflies in your stomach, huh? It sounds like this Jeremiah character may have charmed more than you realize.”

Ana lets out a huff, opening her eyes to give Anita a half-hearted glare.“I wouldn’t say I have ‘butterflies.’ I’m not some simpering fool who falls for the first pretty face she sees. It was just… unexpected, that’s all.”

Anita’s expression suddenly becomes serious as she continues washing Ana’s back.She speaks in a firm, yet gentle tone. “You know, child, you’re getting to be the age where certain things must be considered. Your body is changing, and you need to be mindful of your purity until you’re ready for marriage. Do you understand what I’m saying, dear?”

Ana, who had been blissfully enjoying the warm water, suddenly realizes that Anita’s tone has shifted. She opens her eyes again, looking at Anita with a curious expression. “Uh, I think so? You mean the… physical changes happening to me, right? My… womanly… er… development?”

Anita nods, a serious expression on her face. “That’s right, dear. You’re becoming a young woman now, and it’s important that you keep your body pure until marriage. You mustn’t do anything… improper or impure with anyone until the proper time. Do you understand?”

Ana furrows her brow slightly, still not fully understanding what Anita means by ‘improper’ or ‘impure.’ But she knows that Anita only has her best interests at heart, and she trusts the older woman’s judgement. She nods her head, her expression a mixture of confusion and trust. “Y-yeah… I think I understand, I guess.”

Anita smiles gently, satisfied with Ana’s response. She continues washing the rest of Ana’s body, making sure every part is clean and pristine. “Good girl. I know it can be difficult to understand at your age, but trust me, it’s for the best. I’ve seen too many young women lose their purity before they’re ready, and it brings nothing but heartache and regret. Promise me you’ll be careful, my dear.”

Ana nods again, slightly embarrassed to be having this conversation with Anita, but she trusts the maid’s wisdom. “I promise, Anita. I’ll be careful. I won’t do anything… improper, I swear.”

Ana and Jeremiah are settling into a picnic by a beautiful lake the next day, surrounded by lush greenery and the sounds of nature. They’ve been talking and enjoying each other’s company, the conversation flowing easily between them. But suddenly, Jeremiah pauses, a serious look on his face.

“Ana, can I ask you something… personal?” Ana nods, intrigued by his serious tone. “Sure, what is it?” Jeremiah takes a deep breath, his eyes locked on hers. “I know this might be… forward of me to ask… but I need to know. Have you… have you ever, uh…” He hesitates, struggling to find the right words. He doesn’t want to offend her, but his curiosity is getting the better of him.

Ana tilts her head to the side in confusion, not understanding what Jeremiah is getting at.Her expression becomes puzzled as she responds. “Have I ever… what? I don’t understand what you’re asking.” Jeremiah swallows hard, realizing that he’ll have to be more direct.

He takes a deep breath and speaks with caution. “I’m asking… have you ever done anything, with anyone… intimate, I mean. Have you… had your first kiss yet?” Ana’s eyes widen at the question, her cheeks flushing crimson at the unexpected inquiry. She hadn’t anticipated Jeremiah asking about her intimate experiences. She shakes her head vehemently, her heart racing in her chest.

“No, no, I haven’t. I’ve never kissed anyone before.” Ana nervously takes another bite of the scone in her hand, trying to distract herself from the awkwardness of the situation. She fidgets with her hands, playing with the hem of her dress as she avoids making eye contact with Jeremiah, her cheeks still scarlet with embarrassment.

Jeremiah watches her carefully, seeing how uncomfortable and embarrassed she is. He regrets bringing it up in such a blunt way, and he tries to soften his expression and tone. “I apologize if that question was too forward. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just… I was curious, that’s all.”

Ana manages a small smile, appreciating his attempt to ease the tension. She takes a deep breath before responding, still fidgeting with her hands. “No, it’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting you to ask something like that. I mean, we hardly know each other. I guess it just… caught me off guard.”

Jeremiah nods, understanding her perspective. “I realize that, and I’m sorry if it seemed inappropriate. I guess I just got a little carried away with my curiosity. It’s just that… you’re such an attractive young woman, and I suppose I just assumed…” He drifts off, his own cheeks coloring slightly at the implication of his words.Ana’s eyes widen slightly, her heart skipping a beat at the compliment.

She glances up, making eye contact with Jeremiah for the first time since the question was asked. “A-attractive? You think I’m… attractive?”

Jeremiah nods, a small smile on his lips. “Of course I do. You’re beautiful, Ana. You have such a natural elegance and grace about you, and your smile is absolutely enchanting.” He looks at her intently, his gaze admiring and sincere.

As the picnic comes to an end and Ana returns home, she can’t help but replay the conversation with Jeremiah in her head. His words and compliments swirl around her mind, making it difficult for her to focus on anything else.

She tries to eat supper with her family, but she ends up pushing her food around her plate, lost in her thoughts.Anita can see the change in Ana, knowing that her young charge has fallen head over heels for Jeremiah. As she tucks Ana into bed that night, she gives her a comforting smile, knowing the internal struggle she’s going through.

[starry-simming]

i have a lot of ideas for the Beckhams going into at least the 50s, i just have to get back into it. i think its good to take breaks and do other stuff, ive been having a grand time doing strangerville and sharing that. but i also am excited especially to get to the 20s and 30s with the Beckhams

[bootlegspiders]

Hey, so for Watcher fans who may not wanna pay for another subscription or just wanna watch something new here are some other youtubers you should take a look at if you want to get a spook or learn some history

(* = potentially triggering topics covered usually associated with crimes, so be careful)

Ghost Hunting and general spooky vibes:

AmysCrypt - Your typical ghost hunting show with two Australians traveling the world, though I will say they do go to places I've never heard of before and they do very good research. And there are some goofs along with the spooks.

The Ouija Brothers - Two British dudes finding ghosts in England. The vibes are generally pretty chill and it's a good time

The Paranormal Scholar - A mixed bag of all paranormal happenings from ghosts to demons to cryptids and aliens. Sort of an overview to deepdives on various paranormal occurrences. The research is immaculate and their voice is very soothing in my opinion.

Paranormal Quest - Ghost hunting in the US, sometimes goofy sometimes serious, but they do go to some interesting places and some familiar ones too

Weird History:

ObsoleteOddity* - This guy is great, like 80% of the things he covers I've never heard of before. Very atmospheric, fun little visuals, and a large variety of weird events and people for topics.

Georgia Marie* - A little bit of everything, but she focuses on strange things that have happened, lgbt history, true crime, and historical disasters. She covers enough of everything that I'm sure you'll find something

Stefanie Valentine* - I'm not sure if she even posts anymore, but I thought what she was doing was great. Think Vampira or Elvira but for older true crime and ghost stories, I think the latest covered would have been like early 1900s. Idk I just thought it was like a cute spooky lil storytime

Caitlin Doughty or Ask A Mortician* - Pretty sure y'all would know who she is but just in case, she's a mortician who covers topics relating to death! From odd ways people have died, or odd things that have happened to people after they've died. And just odd or tragic things that have happened through history. It's silly, but done with levity and care and respect the topics deserve.

General History:

Part-Time Explorer - Mostly history on ships and ghost towns with the occasional train. Lots of research and interviews, very well done and worth checking out even if it may not be your thing.

History's Forgotten People - Talks about sometimes obscure, or sometimes not, historical individuals. Even if you've heard of the person in the topic, they'll talk on something obscure about that person.

History Tea Time with Lindsay Holiday - A heavy focus on royalty around the world, a generally upbeat dive into historic individuals.

(Or you could always go watch time team, that's an option and it's my guilty pleasure love me some archeology)

True Crime:

There are so many out there, so I'll just recommend two of my favorites

Gabulosis* - She focuses on vintage cases 20 years or older (literally in her opener) and is well researched and respectful. Another one that talks on cases I've never heard of that deserve to be heard.

Mysterious WV* - True crime and missing persons based in the West Virginia area and neighboring states. Idk how to even explain the vibes. This guy is just great please watch him trust me you won't be disappointed.

That's all for now, feel free to add your own recs out there!

[riboism]

haunted: sneak peak

♱ pairing: vampire! p.sh x fem reader

♱ synopsis: a young woman seeking a fresh start takes a job as a live-in housekeeper for the mysterious count who resides in a grand but decaying gothic estate on the edge of a wary town. the villagers warn her of his dangerous reputation, spinning tales of curses and dark deeds, but necessity drives her to stay. as she works tirelessly to bring order to the neglected home, she finds herself torn between the unsettling rumors and her growing infatuation with count park—a reclusive, strikingly beautiful man who claims to be a nocturnal artist. strange dreams and eerie moments in the mysterious castle blur the line between reality and imagination, leaving her questioning whether the true danger lies in the man—or in her own heart.

♱ content tags: vampire au, gothic romance, gothic horror, story takes place circa early 1900s, reincarnation, smut, angst, forbidden love, slowburn, nosferatu/bram stroker’s dracula/edward scissorhands vibes

♱ wordcount: this is going to be a series

♱ songs: haunted- beyonce

this is a work in progress. release date is to be announced. to request to be on the taglist, please reblog and comment!

[jayahult]

Not to get too intense about it, but I really do love a good retelling, but my criteria for good retellings are... not high, but perhaps more specific than they are for most people. If I had to make a list

A good retelling must understand the original text and its context. If one is retelling a Greek myth, you must understand not only the plot of the myth, but the author should also at least understand the intent behind the myth, both in charitable and uncharitable interpretations.

A good retelling must add something new by telling this story again. You can't just say that this is the same story... but in space! You have to know that the creation of a different context for a story fundamentally creates different themes and understandings, and take advantage of that. To go back to Greek myth, Hadestown is fundamentally a retelling of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. However, instead of solely focusing on Hades as a figure representing Death, Hadestown focuses on Hades as a patron of the wealthy, the lord of all wealth hidden beneath the earth as much as the bones that also lay there. The story is then reframed as not just the story of Orpheus and Eurydice but also of the story of an early 1900s company town wherein Hades is the exploitative boss. Orpheus is voice of the downtrodden, traveling to this place of the downtrodden and trying, in his own way, to affect some tiny bit of change. In what I'd consider one of the seminal songs in the musical, "If It's True," where his simple action of singing this question about whether this is the only way things have to be awakes the deadened workers and their collective force makes Hades respond.

A good retelling must stand on its own even if the audience is unfamiliar with other tellings. Knowing the original should enhance the experience, but it should not be necessary. Sorry to keep using musical examples, but The Tain by The Decemberists is still a great song with solid lyrics, even if they're abstracted from the original story of The Cattle Raid of Cooley. They change the lyrics to more modern ideas, with references to Charlemagne, cars, and so on, but the through-line of the story is very clearly there. The story even ends with a direct question to Medb - was all that really worth it?

I dunno where I was going with the rest of this, but those are my thoughts on the matter.

[emeraldcity1900]

the history of animation in a nutshell

Early 1900s: hey what if comic strips could like move?

Late 1910s early 1920s hey what if we mashed this up with live action people?

late 1920s: hey what if this thing had sound?

Early to mid 1930s: hey what if this had people actually talking and also color?

late 1930s: hey you know that super cool movie that one lady animated with paper cut out silhouettes? What if we did that with painted cells? Would people even pay to see that? Never mind it turns out the answer is yes.

1940s: ah shit most of our animators got drafted and/or hate us now cause we weren’t paying them. IT’S PROPAGANDA TIME BABY. Also haha hitler got hit with a mallet and also the most racist depictions of Japanese people ever.

1950s to 1960s : oh what’s this newfangled thing? Television? What if you could air cartoons on it? Oh fuck no I ain’t paying that much to get the charecters to have different backgrounds and for the charecters to like, move fluidly. Also manga and anime are steadily growing more popular.

1970s: (Ralph Bakshi walks into a comics store and finds a furry comic) X rated animated movie? *cue the screams of mothers and their unsuspecting children now being introduced to the revolutionary idea that cartoons don’t equal kids stuff? WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO?

1980s to 1990s: we can have full on animated Broadway musicals? Wait, what do you mean animated movies can count for the Oscar’s? What do you mean now they get their own catagory because the academy still thinks their for babies? Anime and manga are taking off in the west. SWEET JESUS WHAT DRUGS ARE THE JAPANESE ON SHOWING THIS SHIT TO KIDS. But also why is it so fucking good. Maybe some of these aren’t even meant for kids? Wait We can sell toys to kids with cartoons? Wait we can actually put effort into these cartoons on television? The fuck to you mean we can animate in 3D now? What do you mean we can have well animated, well written sitcom shows like the simpsons? What do you mean you can make cartoon charecters say fuck? What drugs are creators at Nickelodeon on? Do I even want to know?

2000s: oh my god, there is this one show that I really like cause it’s really well written and genuinely funny but I can’t talk about it because it’s animated and we all know cartoons are for babies right? Oh look it’s the transformers movie, look how far CGI has evolved so we can make the transformers in a movie.

2010s: holy shit I know these shows are for kids but they’re just well written and have so much meaningful things to say about the world. Wait, it’s cool to like cartoons now? They they have fandoms for this? Fuck yeah I’m in. (Enters one of the most notoriously toxic fandoms of all time) THEY HAVE GAY PEOPLE IN THESE SHOWS NOW? AND COMPLEX EMOTIONAL STORYTELLING? AND ADULT ANIMATED SHOWS CAN BE MORE THAN JUST SITCOMS WITH THE SAME JOKES AND STYLE? WHY IS IT THAT EVERY DISNEY CARTOON SINCE GRAVITY FALLS INCLUDE THINGS THAT GET MORE AND MORE FUCKED UP? WHY DO I FUCKING LOVE IT? WHY THE FUCK DID DISNEY DO THE OWL HOUSE DIRTY LIKE THAT?

2020s: I got this show I wanna pitch but it dosen’t fit into any box that the networks want and also I’m afraid that they’ll just randomly cancel it before I can finish the story I want to tell. Wait, I can just post the pilot on my YouTube channel, see if anybody actually likes this thing I made and just make the show independently? FUCK THE NETWORK! I AM THE NETWORK

[yelenaslyubov]

Be My Baby

main masterlist || florence pugh || requests

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ pairing: florence pugh x fem!reader

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ warnings: MINORS DNI (18+), smut, reader receiving, fingering, reader starts story married to a cis man!, cheating

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ description: (inspired by florence’s new shoot with vogue and set in the mid-to-late 1900s), after moving to the suburbs for a quieter life, your next door neighbor turns out to be a sweet surprise. infatuated by her personality, you make it your mission to get to know her better, even if that means breaking the rules.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ word count: 2.8k

A thinly paved road and bushels of trees flew past on either side of the car. Being away from the city was a dream at last, as you had begged your husband for years at the opportunity. Now, he had the chance and he took it.

It was just as you had pictured it; perfectly wooded with plenty of neighbors around to keep you company. Your husband would work in the city, which was about an hour drive, but it was what you asked for with easy living.

As you neared the end of the road, you passed a large house coming up on the right. The sharp home was white with plenty of wood finishes. It seemed to fit just right in front of the trees.

Just like you remembered, your house was the last on the road and it looked just like the pictures you had seen in the mail. The accents of stone and black trim were to die for, and you knew the inside would be an even better satisfaction.

The car pulled into the driveway and it stopped with a squeak. The smile on your face could not be disguised. Your husband opened his own door but regretted not opening yours as well. Your smile faded as you helped yourself out of the car.

“Well, I hope it is everything you’ve dreamed of because I spent a pretty penny on it.” Even the sound of his voice repulsed you more than you could ever imagine.

Truthfully, this was all for you. You knew that getting the dream house you wanted allowed you to be in peace for most days. Your husband traveled for a living which left you in solitude to your heart's content.

When you walked into the house, boxes of your belongings littered the floor. The movers had gotten there the day before you and dropped everything off. The only thing put together was your bed, thank goodness.

“Hopefully this can all be unpacked by the morning, I need to leave tomorrow early for the airport,” your husband said.

“So soon?” you asked with an undertone of happiness.

He shot you a glare. “Yes, so soon. I couldn’t imagine you would understand.”

And so, the night was spent listening to records on vinyl after you were able to find the turntable, while each of you made a silent effort to unpack your life. By about midnight each of you called it quits and decided to go to bed.

Your bed felt just like it always had, but with a new view. Your eyes fluttered shut as you watched the tall pine trees dance in the breeze swooping by. How lovely it was to finally be surrounded by nature.

.

.

.

By morning your husband had already left with no trace but a simple note at your bedside that read “car delivery this afternoon. I will see you later.”

Later. Later could mean anything, so you anticipated hours or even days that he could be gone. Without a car until the afternoon left you stranded at home with no food, which seemed just like him.

You stumbled out of bed and threw your green, silk robe around you as you shivered. You nearly jumped at the sight in front of you in the mirror. The move had clearly been rough, with your disheveled hair and mascara smudges painted under your eyes. Luckily, with the unpacking you did last night you had just enough collected to take a shower and make yourself more presentable.

You made your way into your new bathroom that was covered with baby pink tile, along with a toilet and bathtub to match. You reached for the dial in the shower, but just before you were able to turn the water on you heard the doorbell ring. You waited a moment just in case you misheard, but it rang again.

Living in a new place called for precautions because you did not know what you would find behind the front door. You hoped for the car delivery, but you assumed that was slim.

You approached the door and peaked out the window beside it; no car. You walked closer to the door and jumped when the doorbell rang again.

“Hello?” a sweet voice spoke from the other side of the door. A woman.

Your chest became a bit lighter when you realized it was a woman. You wrapped your robe tighter around you since you did not know exactly what to expect when you opened the door.

The lock snapped to the left with a pop and you opened the door to reveal a blonde haired woman.

“Good morning! Oh, I’m sorry if I woke you up!” she exclaimed.

“You didn’t wake me, it’s no problem at all,” you responded.

You felt severely underdressed standing in front of her. She was wearing a light blue dress with white trim and shoes to match. Her hair was cut shorter but you could see the curls that were meticulously curved above her forehead. You became very distracted by the way she presented herself and the pretty smile she had.

“I saw you get in last night and thought I would just bring something over for you from my family. My husband and I live in the house on the right through the trees.” You looked in the direction she was pointing and it turned out to be the house you noticed when on the road last night.

“Oh my, well thank you very much, I appreciate that!” Your new neighbor handed you the glass dish of food. “My name is y/n y/l/n, it’s nice to meet you.” You held out your hand for her to shake.

“My name is Florence Pugh, it’s wonderful to meet you. It’s nice to have a friendlier face around here, most of the women I’ve met have been absolute vultures, but I can tell that we’ll get along just right,” she giggled and it warmed your heart.

“I appreciate you coming and introducing yourself to me. I’m new to the area and don’t know a soul, so having some company around here will be so lovely,” you expressed.

“Anything, my dear. Well, I best get back home and leave you to your day.”

You hesitated to protest her departure. “Well, my husband travels for work and I’m not sure when he will be back, so if you’re not up to anything…”

“I’ll be back in an hour to help unpack!” she said.

“You’re too kind, I appreciate you, and this food,” you laughed.

“It’s no problem at all! I’ll see you in a flash!”

She was gone just like she had come and you couldn’t help but watch her leave. The flow of her dress rocked back and forth with her hips and her hair bounced as she walked.

You went back inside and tried to resume as you were. You put the food in the fridge and tried to contain your excitement for the dinner you would be having.

That day, Florence came back over and helped you unpack for the rest of the night. You shared your stories with one another and laughed until your stomachs hurt. A real friendship began to blossom between the two of you, which helped with your boredom.

A couple months went by and your husband had been back to the house a couple times before traveling again for work, and Florence never left your side. You saw your friend almost each day and adored every second spent together. She made your world feel less lonely just by being there.

One morning while your husband was gone, of course, you decided to take a walk over to Florence’s house to see her. You noticed her husband stomping to his car with a look that could kill. He got in the car and drove away with only dust behind him. You tried to stay hidden until he was down the road, then you approached their house.

You knocked on the door and heard footsteps hurrying towards you. She opened the door and she was crying.

“Oh Flossie, what’s the matter? Is everything alright?”

She sniffed and wiped away her tears. “Yes, I’m alright.”

“You’re not alright and you know it.” You slid inside past her, closed the door, and took her hand while dragging her over to the couch. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“We’re just having marital problems, that’s all. Just a rough patch.”

“You’ve seemed off the last couple weeks, so I wouldn’t say it’s all marital problems,” you said.

You poured the two of you a glass of white wine and brought out your box of cigarettes, offering one to Florence as well.

“Y/n, it’s 8 in the morning, we can’t drink yet!”

“Says who?” you smiled, which made Florence smile back.

The two of you talked for a couple hours and Florence poured her heart out to you, all of it that she could at least. She explained the indifferences between her and her husband, as well as her own personal indifferences.

You placed your hand on top of hers and squeezed it. “I’m sorry you have to do that all on your own,” you said.

“Believe me, you being here helps more than you will ever know.” Florence smiled at you, her kind eyes meeting yours and getting lost in each other.

She had been looking at you longer than anticipated, but you couldn’t seem to look away. Florence looked from your eyes to your lips; back and forth, and back and forth.

Before you could control either one of your impulses, each of you were leaning in close, meeting each other in the middle. Her lips found yours so easily and you closed your eyes. You couldn’t believe the comfort and softness you felt for her, even in this unexpected moment.

You were so wrapped up in the moment that you hadn’t realized what was actually happening. Florence seemed to gain consciousness the same time as you and you both pulled away quickly.

“I- I’m so sorry y/n, I don’t know what overcame me!” Florence said frantically.

“Please, don’t apologize, Flossie, it’s alright. Just calm down.”

Florence was pacing around the room, anxiously picking at her hands not knowing what to do. “This is so unlike me, I’m so sorry,” she kept apologizing.

“Florence!” you tried to get her attention. “It’s alright, I promise. No harm done.”

You grabbed her hands so she would start to calm down a bit. You smiled at her to reassure her that all was well.

“I believe you then,” Florence smiled. “You better be going, I’m sure you have things to do.”

“When do I ever have things to do?” you laughed.

“Well, you know…”

You could tell that one way or another, Florence was trying to make you leave, so you decided to go ahead and go before she kicked you out.

“You’re right… I should get going. I’ll see you later on, Flossie. You take care of yourself, you hear?” She nodded in response and you left her standing in the middle of the living room.

As you got home, you felt confused and disoriented as to what happened. You had to admit, you didn’t hate it, but you knew it was wrong. You both had husbands and you were both… women. Even with the doubts and differences in your mind, you couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Florence didn’t leave your mind all night, or for several days for that matter. You figured you were better off leaving the two of you with some space after what happened. Florence was clearly shook up about it and you didn’t want to push her. You wanted her to come to you first; and that’s exactly what she did.

One day, a couple weeks after the incident between you and Florence, you had just finished up cleaning the kitchen and vacuuming the house, so you decided to hop in the shower to clean up.

It happened almost the same as it started between the two of you. Before you had the opportunity to shower, your doorbell rang. You answered it to find Florence waiting for you.

“Hello, I thought I would stop by and see how you’re doing, but I can see that you’re busy-”

“Flossie, please don’t go,” you begged.

Florence stopped before she could leave. “I’ve missed that— ‘Flossie.’”

“I’ve missed you,” you smiled. “Come in.” The two of you made your way to the couch and sat down.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been by, I’ve just been… thinking a lot and I just feel bad for that day.”

“Please, don’t apologize anymore,” you told her. “It was just something silly in the moment, it meant nothing.”

Florence’s head dropped and she looked down at her hands. “Right, it meant nothing.”

You looked at her and saw the sadness that she expressed. You took her hand and she looked back at you.

“Unless… it did mean something?” you asked. Instead of sadness, her eyes were hopeful, just like yours.

“I know it’s not right, but I can’t seem to help it. I can’t stop thinking about you,” Florence said.

It was more forced this time, much more indeed. Florence crashed herself into you, knocking you down on your back against the couch. These two weeks left you hungry for each other, leaving you starved and grabbing for anything you could touch.

Her hands grasped your blushed cheeks, your tangled hair, and the spaces of your neck. You held her flush against your body, not wanting this secret moment to end.

Each of you couldn’t stop yourself, which is how you found yourself in the position of your robe being taken off. Your body was exposed to the brisk air, but you didn’t seem to mind.

There was no time for Florence to get a good look at you because she was too busy touching every part of you. She was quick to drag her hand down your front half and stopping down before your stomach.

Hesitation was not an option because you both knew you may never get this moment again if anyone were to find out. Without thinking, Florence drew her fingers through your center which caused you to squirm.

You let her do whatever she desired with you simply because she was Florence. Part of you had waited for this moment, but another part was taken by surprise that it was happening at all.

She began rubbing her fingers all through your cunt. It didn’t seem to matter what she did to you, your body was completely euphoric.

Florence’s fingers rubbed circles on your clit while you cried out of pleasure. You had never felt anything that had been quite of this measure, and you didn’t think you ever would again.

She picked up the pace while her lips were still all over your face and body. You couldn’t stop moving and reacting to the touch you were receiving from her, so Florence had to take matters into her own hands.

She barred down and put her weight on your body, preventing you from squirming too much.

“It’s so cute how much you move under me,” Florence said, turning your cheeks hot. Her words didn’t help you move any less.

You could feel yourself getting closer, as it didn’t take much for you to relinquish yourself to her completely.

“Flossie, I think I’m-” you tried to get out.

“I know, my dear. You can do it,” she whispered to you.

All it took was her words and the gentle but hot kiss she left by your ear that did you in. Your moans could be heard loudly over Sam Cooke who was playing from the turntable across the room.

You felt in a daze as your high came to a close, and all you could see now were the hazy eyes of Florence staring back at you. She rubbed the side of your face and swiped the hair out of your face.

You sat up out of surprise. “I can’t believe that just happened.”

“Me neither,” Florence giggled.

You stood up and got your footing before looking at Florence. She looked so naturally ethereal with the white pleated dress she had on, along with her messy royal looking hair. She stared at you and covered her mouth with her hand, laughing at you.

“What’s the matter?” you smiled.

“I didn’t even realize I did that much damage.”

You walked over to the mirror and gasped. There were dozens of lipstick marks all over your face and chest.

You smiled at her in the mirror. “That only means you have to help me clean it all up again.”

You took Florence’s hand and pulled her towards the bathroom while a trail of each of your clothes littered the hallway.

.

.

.

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[no-passaran]

what are your favourite catalan movies?

I'm going to be very mainstream here but I loved Casa en flames (A House On Fire) so much. I think it's the best movie I've seen this year 2024 (not best Catalan movie, I meant best movie of any nationality). Btw, this movie is now available on Netflix with English subtitles! It's a comedy-drama about a family that meets in their holiday home before selling it and all the problems and secrets are brought up, revealing the character's insecurities. It's very well written and shows again how Emma Vilarasau is such an amazing actress.

Another movie I absolutely adored was El mestre que va prometre el mar (The Teacher Who Promised the Sea). I doubted on including this one as Catalan movie or not because it's a Catalan production with a Catalan actor as main character representing a real Catalan man, but the movie is mostly in Spanish since most of the events take part in Spain and not in Catalonia, but I think it still counts. Either way, it's a beautiful movie and definitely my favourite movie of 2023. It's explained from the view of a woman who wants to find out what happened to her grandfather's family and ends up visiting a mass grave being dug up in central Spain (context note: the state of Spain is the 2nd country in the world —after Cambodia— with a highest number of disappeared people because of all the people in mass graves during the civil war and the early years of the dictatorship, thousands of families are still looking for their relatives). It leads her to uncover the real story of Antoni Benaiges, a teacher from Catalonia who was sent to teach in the landlocked Spanish countryside in the early 1930s (pre-Civil War). It's a very heartwarming antifascist story about what a teacher can be, about children's freedom, and a reminder of the importance of historical memory. I really recommend everyone to watch it. (The movie can be streamed in Movistar+ and rented in many other international platforms.)

Other Catalan movies that I liked a lot are La Vampira de Barcelona and Salvador.

La Vampira de Barcelona (The Barcelona Vampiress) (2020) is a thriller with drama and some horror based on the real story of a woman who lived in Raval (poor quarter in Barcelona) who was accused of being a serial killer kidnapping children to use their blood in the early 1900s. I really liked this movie because I think we've all heard the legend but here the filmmakers went for a more historically-accurate version of what happened and how she was used, with a strong social critique, so it was a very interesting take on the story. It talks about very heavy topics though including children kidnapped to be forced to prostitution. (It looks like in some countries it's on Prime Video but I don't know what subtitles or dubbing it has been.)

Salvador (2006) is a biopic showing the events that led the 25-year-old Catalan anarchist Salvador Puig Antich to be sentenced to death in 1974. It's been years since I watched it now, but I remember when I saw it as a teenager it impacted me greatly even though I already knew the story. (The whole movie is on YouTube but without English subtitles, for streaming platforms it's on Filmin but it looks like it doesn't have English subtitles either, but there are downloadable subtitles online.)

[slavic-roots-western-mind]

Main types of Chinese Opera pt. 1

There are many different types of chinese opera, so here are some of the main ones!

Peking Opera 京剧 (Jīngjù)

This is probably one of the most well-known operas, originating from Beijing during the Qing dynasty. There are 4 main roles:

1.生 (shēng), which is usually an older dignified male character such as a scholar, which can be divided into older, younger and martial 生 aka 武生 (wǔshēng)

2. 旦 (dàn), a female role which was previously played by men as women were not allowed to perform during the Qing dynasty, but nowadays both men and women can play this role. This role has several subtypes:

闺门旦 (guīméndàn), a young unmarried high-status virtuous woman, whose main focus is singing.

正旦 (Zhèngdàn)/���衣 (Qīngyī), an elegant, middle-aged, usually married woman who mainly sings.

花旦 (Huādàn), a young woman who unlike the Guīméndàn focuses on speech and movement.

武旦 (Wǔdàn), this is a martial arts role with quite a lot of stunts and fighting with rare singing moments

刀马旦 (Dāomǎdàn), a young brave warrior, who usually focuses on acrobatics, singing and dancing unlike the Wǔdàn.

老旦 (Lǎodàn), is an older female role, usually with a lower singing voice.

彩旦 (Cǎi dàn), is more of a clown role, which is apparently more commonly performed by men

4. 净 (Jìng), a "rough man" role, usually has a vibrant and strong character, which has heavy face painting.

5. 丑 (chǒu), the clown role, which is one of the most physically demanding roles due to the acting and acrobatics combo, despite being considered as a minor role.

There are over 1400 stories used in Peking Opera, with 2 traditional types, civil and martial. Civil focuses on the relationship between the characters and is usually about normal daily occurrences, whereas martial is more about action and fighting. Another more modern type of differentiation divides the plays into traditional (pre-1949ish), plays created after 1949, and contemporary plays.

Kunqu Opera 昆曲 (kūnqǔ)

This is one of the oldest types of Chinese opera, originating from Kunshan, combining signing, dancing and martial arts. It features similar characters like the Peking Opera with another character 末 (M��), who is an old man with a long beard.

However, there are some differences, as Kunqu uses softer, melodic music and different instruments such as the flute as the main accompanying instrument rather than Peking Opera's stringed instruments. The types of stories are also different, as Kunqu's focus more on the romantic and poetic aspect, exploring various classical stories. Peking Opera's stories tend to be a bit more varied as previously mentioned.

Traditionally, Kunqu was mostly for the upper-class as the stories performed were classical Chinese literature, and at the time not everyone had the opportunity to learn. This may be why Kunqu typically uses classic chinese, whereas Peking uses a combination of both classic and vernacular, making it more available for everyone.

Yue Opera 越剧 (yuèjù)

This opera is also known as Shaoxing opera, originating from Shaoxing, Zhejiang in early 1900s. Originally the performances featured only male actors but nowadays all-female performance troupes are becoming the standard. It's interestingly the 2nd most loved opera type, just after Peking Opera as it's slow and romantic form is perfect for love stories such as The Butterfly Lovers.

Yue Opera also features the usual set of character types e.g. 生，旦 etc. except they are usually played by women.

In terms of appearance, Yue Opera tends to go for a more subtle makeup look (as subtle as stage makeup can be) and simpler but nonetheless gorgeous costumes, in contrast to Peking Opera's dramatic and bursting colors.

Yue Opera usually relies on string instruments, with a smaller musical ensemble and musical accompaniment so that the performers singing is more clear unlike Peking Opera's stronger background music.

[conflictofthemind]

Fairytales and the 'Treeflayer'

While doing my investigations for Season 5, I wanted to know which book specifically was underneath this shot (actual shot from the show) of a Wrinkle in Time that Holly is probably reading in class. Thanks to everyone that told me it was the Arthur Rackham Fairy Book I was able to do some digging into it, and this definitely is not some random book they got at a garage sale and threw in the show.

Arthur Rackham was part of the Golden Age of Illustration that happened in the late 1800s to early 1900s. A lot of these illustrators drew for fairy tales, and Rackham's work is distinct for having a dark fantasy feeling and featuring very detailed twisty trees in the majority of his illustrations. In many cases the trees are animate and interacting with the protagonists.

The one that looks the most similar to the dead tree that young UD!Will is falling from in the teaser, and the one he is also looking up to in the recent pictures / also teaser is an illustration he made for Alice in Wonderland. Alice in Wonderland. If you've been following along at all you'll know that the entire Holly and Creel thing that's going on in Season 5 (and has breadcrumbs scattered through the rest of the series) is based primarily off of Alice.

His illustrations for Alice in Wonderland actually is the work he is most famous for, alongside one of the Peter Pan novels (Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, basically his origin story). And there's definitely lots of inspiration from that tale as well, referenced multiple times in the show and on the inspo board for Season Four.

It goes a bit deeper - one of the supernatural things that Holly notices in Season Three is the trees moving when the 'Flesh Flayer' is passing through the woods. I talked about this around a week ago but (minor spoilers/leak) Will and Holly will be spending ample time together this season. I think he takes it upon himself as the first victim to try and save another child from being lured in by Vecna, especially when that child is his love's younger sister.

But back to the point, whatever is going on with the tree is definitely important. I have little to no clue what the tree means symbolically (like - why was a tree chosen to become a monster when inanimate things have never been taken control of in this way?). Trees are a big part of fairy tale imagery though, take Into The Woods, or this could be an allusion to Jack and The Beanstalk. A poor boy Jack Will climbs a giant beanstalk tree and outsmarts the ogre demogorgon chasing after him.

Sadly, nobody has archived the specific Treeflayer Pinterest board before it was set to private and the only image remaining is this one:

[munchy-k]

danmei list that no one asked for (long post incoming)

ok so I've accumulated a pretty decent list of danmei that aren't as well known and I want to talk about them!! so here we go! these aren't in any particular order btw

Nan Chan

an aloof, listless immortal and a very hungry caterpillar fish demon go on an adventure to retrieve a runaway bell 🔔. and also they both have amnesia. CUE ANGSTY BACKSTORY REVEAL!!!! 🔪🔪🔪

I'm sure it's to no ones surprise that this is first because I'm a SLUT for nan chan. if nan chan has one fan it is ME and if there r no fans I am DEAD!! I love this novel so much it has the perfect combination of painful angst and sweet sweet lovin' !! the main couple's relationship makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside 🥺👉👈 (probably because I am a touch love language girly and these bitches be touching!!!) and I LOVE the characters sm. especially my little meow meow Jing Lin and his adorable little stone figure. I live for the interactions between Cang Ji and the stone figure! it may be a little difficult to read the first time around since the plot gets a little convoluted but it all makes sense in the end! 10/10 really recommend!!

How to Survive as a Villain

transmigration plot! rich ceo gets transported to a novel as the villain emperor and gets buddy buddy with the novel's MC so he doesn't get killed. ends up buddying too close to the sun and accidentally becomes the leading lady. drama ensues!

this is another favorite of mine!! this one is another good mix of angst and romance and the MC is so funny and likeable. there are also two cute side couples which is always fun! (one of them is f/f so it gets extra brownie points with me🤭) its also not too complicated which makes it great for casual reading ^^ p.s. this one has an official eng tl now! its being published thru rosmei (like nanchan) so it has to be ordered thru a 3rd party distributor but I think its worth reading 👀

Living to Suffer/ Till Death Do Us Part

living to suffer: ancient wuxia style prequel where the characters meet as a humble doctor and member of a demonic sect and their fate intertwines. this one has a BE

till death do us part: early to mid 1900s setting sequel. the reincarnated characters meet again as a elementary school teacher and rich playboy and face the struggles of having a relationship. this one has a bittersweet ending

THIS...... OK THESE NOVELS... let me tell you something. this made me SOB. oh my god especially the ending of TDDUP. I saw a review saying "I honestly could believe there lived a Shen Liangsheng and a Ch'in Ching, and that they fell in love..." and hard agree because something about this story felt so real?? which made it all the more intriguing and heartbreaking!! its set around the time of the japanese invasion of china and the cultural revolution so it does talk a lot about politics but it wasn't a difficult read imo. BUT BE WARNED! there is a LOT of smut. (not rly vanilla either..) and the relationship does get pretty toxic at times 😬 but it gets better by the end of the book and the toxicity actually does add to the story and character development. if u give it a try please read the prequel (living to suffer) first!

After Being Forced to Marry the Evil Star General

a deputy prime minister MC who's powerful, high-maintenance, and hated by the public is arranged to marry a laid-back general who is much loved and praised (but also rumored to be cursed!). this is an arranged marriage + enemies to lovers novel

I'm actually in the middle of rereading this one rn 👀. I think this one is also good for casual reading since it isn't very complicated. in the beginning the interactions between the main couple r rly funny because they just clash all day long lol. its also got a little angst sprinkled in 😎👍 I did see some reviews saying that the MC is not likeable since he does some kinda bad things and he's stuck up but I still liked him idk 😭 I feel like his flaws made him more interesting

Married Thrice to Salted Fish

a doctor MC who only wishes to study medicine (and poison oop) gets arranged to marry a guy whos dying. turns out that guy has been taken over by a transmigrator! transmigrator ML then proceeds to die and come back as someone else.. more than once 😭

if you love a couple that schemes together then this is the novel for you! the MC in this book kinda reminds me of the MC from the book I mentioned right above. (these titles too long man 😅) I found the repeated "reincarnation" plot to be pretty interesting. the interactions between the couple were pretty amusing as well and since the ML is from modern times he randomly uses modern slang. MC even picks some lingo up from him loll

Xiao Jiu

about a 9th prince MC whos trying to win the heart of the emperor's cold and aloof bodyguard! call him the prince of rizz because it works eventually 😎 this is an age gap romance with a smidge of angst and political drama

this a short and sweet story! the ML is described as cold a lot but he actually becomes rly sweet and warm later on so he isn't one of those stone faced characters. I don't have much else to say about this besides "its cute, I like it" 😅

Guanshan Muyu

wife-chasing crematorium story! it's about a outlaw MC who's kidnapped by the very guy who betrayed him. ML wants to win MC's heart back but issues from the past cause a bunch of misunderstandings :( but it is a happy ending!!

man.... I haven't read a wife-chasing crematorium story before this and I was not prepared for the amount of ANGST. basically everyone is miserable for the entire damn time! 😭😭😭 but that's not to say it wasn't a good story!! all the suffering made the ending feel even sweeter 🥰 if you cry easily maybe keep a pack of tissues on hand when you read this 😂

I wrote this in my notes app while reading and I feel like it summarizes the ML pretty well bahaha 👇

"qi yan: my girl is mad at me. I hope I die"

It’s Not Easy Being a Master

transmigrator becomes the villainous shizun in a novel he read and attempts to avoid a bad ending but *gasp* the novels MC (ML) has been reborn with all the past memories!! MC tries to get close to ML while ML is like wtf is going on ! seems like a typical "transmigrated as a villain" type plot until suddenly it's not... 👀👀

this one was rly fun! there's a big plot twist that I found rly interesting and unique! very fresh!! fresh produce!! 🥒🫑🥕🍅 I also like the MC a lot he had a rly silly personality hehe. I think this novel is good for people who like solving mysteries alongside the characters since a lot of hints are dropped throughout

Golden Stage/ Terrace

arranged marriage between a court dog and a general who's become phsyically disabled. everyone knows that the two HATE each other... but do they really? 👀 no, it's not an enemies to lovers, but the other characters seem to think so! 🤭

great novel!! very good!! I love the dynamic between the main couple! they love to banter so their interactions are entertaining. there's a bit of political plot but it's nothing too complicated and the angst is minimal. I also like that one of the main characters is a ambulatory wheelchair user. this one also has a official eng tl now but I'm not sure from which publishing house

Sharing Rain and Dew

MC whos staying in the palace dies a painful death but then gets reborn several months in the past. he spends his time stressing about his impending death but for some reason the Emperor has suddenly become super clingy and doting

this one is very very short, only 5 chapters + 3 extras, but it's quite funny and cute. despite being so short the story is actually pretty interesting? good for a quick, casual read

list over!! I have a few more but this is already too long of a post 😭 I hope someone can find this helpful for some reading recs!

[ghouldump]

Hiiiii I absolutely love your work thanks for feeding us with iwtv content!!!🫶🫶🫶🫶❤️❤️

I was thinking of a lestat x bi/queer fem reader, in which they’re just cuddling and chilling as they share their past experiences with lovers with no judgement and how they both came to terms with their sexuality, just something very fluffy!

That’s just a suggestion in case you needed ideas, don’t feel pressured at all! Have a great day🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶

As You Are | Lestat De Lioncourt x Reader

ෆ summary in request above ^

“You sure you okay, ma chérie, you've been awfully quiet, Lestat said, his fingertips brushing against your hip.

It was one of those rare nights, after hunting, there was nothing else to do but to spend time with each other. You both spent decades without companionship, drowning in loneliness, before meeting each other and now you treasured quality time together.

“I’m okay, today is an old friend's birthday, and I can't help thinking of her,” you told him, climbing out of bed, you grabbed the folded photo from inside of your coin purse.

“You two are a little close be friends,” he said, making you laugh.

“She said people would say that,” you smiled, folding the photo back up.

“You’ve been with a woman, this friend of yours,” he quickly realized.

“Yes, you aren't the only one who doesn't discriminate,” you laughed at how theatrical he was. Lestat had been open about his diverse tastes and history, while you were oftentimes a closed book, listening to his stories, rather than telling your own.

“How did I not know this?”

“I guess it slipped my mind, I don't talk about it, I've learned things and healed, and have no regrets,” you shrugged.

“You cannot tell me that and not elaborate…”

“Well, early 1900s, I had obviously just been turned, I tried dating around for a bit, but nothing worked out, until Helen. I always felt things towards women, but you know how things were back then, I couldn't dare express these feelings to anyone. I probably would've gotten a lobotomy,” you said, making him snicker.

“I realized if I would be here forever, I needed to come to terms with myself. Helen lived in the same apartment building, and I, of course, began to flirt with her. She was like I once was, hiding her true identity, afraid of judgment from outsiders. We were together for some time, in secret. I eventually wanted to turn her, but she was too afraid, blinded by her own internal conflict. We ultimately parted, and she went on with her life. I didn't hear from her again, until I was invited to her funeral, by her children,” you told him, he listened attentively, his softened eyes staring at your face, as he held you close.

“Oh, ma chérie”

“For the longest, I struggled with accepting who I was, questioning what was wrong with me, but I eventually could see myself healing, as time went on. I dated a few others, but none could capture my heart like her, I wouldn't allow myself to fully enjoy and give in until I met you,” you smiled, pecking his lips.

“I thought I wasn't able to love again, after my Nicky, until you came along, and I suppose things worked out perfectly,” he said, his finger brushing against your face.

“We’re one and the same”

“I agree, although it does make things more interesting knowing you also have equally eclectic taste, we’ll have to explore this scandalous side of you,” he grinned.

“What did you have in mind?” you asked, laughing at the mischievous grin on his lips.

“Nothing, for now, I just want to love you, completely and unconditionally, as you are,” he snuggled against you.

“Yes, we can invite someone except not that banchy-singing whore,” you said, hearing his thoughts, questioning if you would be open to a third joining you two in bed, from time to time.

“Thank god, I thought I would have had to beg,” he said, wrapping his arms around you, as he rolled over.