#i saw victorian society and was like WELL NOW I HAVE TO

[marzipanandminutiae]

would you have any reading suggestions to learn more about the earrings are evil era??? I've never heard of that aspect of fashion history and I am curious

Oh man, it was wild

you saw the first stirrings of it in the 1890s, when you started to get (mostly white and middle-to-upper-class) proto-feminists arguing that ear piercing was barbaric- keep an eye on the racist undertones there; they will come up again-and forcing women to suffer for fashion. I cannot emphasize enough that, until that point, ear piercing had been pretty much normal for this race/class/gender group. For centuries. You see criticism of the practice here and there, but nothing that really stuck.

The objections slowly increased until roughly the mid-1920s, when everything reached a tipping point and pierced ears became largely taboo for most white Americans and Brits of northern/western European descent. If that sounds HIGHLY specific, it is- communities from southern and sometimes eastern Europe retained cultural practices of ear piercing, to the point where it was often used as a point against them by mainstream society. It was also associated with Latino people, Black people, and the Romani, which. Yeah. I don't need to tell you how that went down.

It also developed associations with sexual immorality and/or backwards thinking. One newspaper letter I read came from a teen girl in the 1940s, wondering why she shouldn't pierce her ears if her very respectable grandmother had piercings. The response was something like "well, they did all sorts of things in the Bad Old Days that we shouldn't do now." True in many ways, or course, but...piercing your ears? That's the hill culture decided to die on as far as antiquated behavior that we should leave behind? Apparently yes.

Earrings themselves never went out of style, which led to the birth of clip-ons and screwbacks. Ironic that the "don't surfer for fashion" crowd was so eager to embrace screwing tiny vices onto your ears, but there we are. My own mother (born 1953) remembers her mother (born 1926) always taking off her screwback earrings immediately after getting home from a party, literally in the foyer of their house the second the door shut. There had been adaptations for unpierced ears before- Little Women, published in 1868, describes Meg March hanging earrings from a flesh-colored silk ribbon tied around the base of her ear -but they'd never caught on like this before.

However, the pendulum was soon to swing back. After just 40 years of Piercing Panic, in the 1960s, girls began piercing their ears again in droves. As piercing moved from the slumber party or summer camp back to the professional jewelers whose families had been early professional piercers in the 19th century- and to befuddled doctors who had no idea what they were doing yet still received piercing requests -cultural commentators had no idea what to make of it. Some decried the new trend while most took an air of bemused neutrality. My personal favorite article expressed surprise that "Space Age misses" were adopting these "Victorian traditions."

(In 1965, my grandmother took Mom to the anesthesiologist down the street who was offering to pierce his young daughter's friends gratis, and got it done. My grandfather had strongly disapproved of the idea, but in the end it took him a week to notice the new earrings.)

As to sources...honestly, I've just gone to Google Books, specified a time frame, and typed in "ear piercing," "pierced ears," "pierce ears," etc. Tons of primary sources at your fingertips, though I'm not always great about documenting or saving what I find. There's not much written about it formally, I've found- no books or scholarly studies. It may just be too close in history to attract much academic attention, though I find it fascinating.

This little blip where something that's been normal for most of western history suddenly became taboo for a hot second.

Also my ear piercings just turned 20 five days ago, commemorating the date that I was taken with much ceremony to Piercing Pagoda (and that horrible gun; it's a wonder I didn't get keloids) to get me out from underfoot while the Thanksgiving feast was being made. Grandma got hers pierced on the same day, at age 78. Happy Birthday, Marzi's ear piercings!

[mwagneto]

okay phew. my thoughts on watson episode 1. might put a readmore coz it'll probably get long. anyway um

so 💥 IN MY OPINION 💥 it was not good but it wasn't bad either it's the exact perfect mid i usually get with american episodic tv especially one trying to adapt something from england. not even a complaint btw i would've been shocked if it was good. i do think they needed a much stronger pilot but it was like... fine? like i had a good time with it overall and then sometimes i went HRHRGH WHAT. but anyway let's go category by category otherwise this'll be even more incoherent than it already is. so yeah cut incoming this is gonna be long as hell i was right

1) characters

watson: i elaborated on this topic in an earlier post but to sum it up, i think watson's personhood, by nature of being the pov character in the novels, revolves so strongly around holmes that it's an incredibly difficult task to define who he is without holmes, and especially to portray it. so far nothing this watson has said or done made me go "he wouldn't fucking say that" but at the same time nothing's made me go "he WOULD fucking say that" either. no actually him immediately jumping into a waterfall without any hesitation coz he saw holmes go in was extremely in character he would fucking do that. but like that just comes back to the whole issue of like, that's in character for him bc it's about holmes. but the rest? like who even is he? esp here where he can't even be defined by his position in his society or his era or his city because he's in modern day americatown instead of victorian england. so like overall i like the guy but as soon as the scene isn't about holmes he stops being watson and just becomes generic medical show leading man. i'm very curious to see if they can manage to make me feel like i really am watching dr john watson instead of just a random guy. but again outside of not really being watson i like him he seems fun

adam and stephens: i don't know why the showrunners would fuck themselves like this like why are you making your job so much harder by having 1 guy play 2 guys. edit ok apparently it's literally coz the showrunner wanted something challenging. well i hate it. also i don't think the twin thing works on any front it just makes me very uncomfortable to watch a guy trying his absolute hardest to pretend to be two separate people. it sucks. hopefully their plots will be interesting at least. calling it now there's gonna be a plot where they switch places

ingrid: i like her she's really hot imean interesting but her energy is so millenial i feel like she's gonna drop an umm that just happened! any second now. but that's not the character's or the actor's fault it's just a vibe i get

sasha: i had to look up her name on wikipedia icl but i only know the other people's names because every time a name was mentioned i rewound and paused and said OK THATS [insert name]. DONT FORGET. she just didnt get a proper namedrop ig. anyway i have 0 thoughts abt her other than her first line being about her accent which then proceeded to completely disappear in her 3rd line and then come and go as it pleased for the rest of the episode was really funny. the adoption thing is interesting tho let's see where they go with that

mary: mary-s (maries?) tend to be very strangely written bc every time they're included the writer wants to do a subversion of the generic irrelevant wife from the victorian era stories so she's usually a plot relevant badass which like. i don't think that's necessary. like you don't have to be doing all that. like i don't mind i'm usually neutral abt any given mary i just think it's annoying that they all default to that instead of doing literally anything interesting. so it's a relief that i actually like this mary coz even though she's still the usual plot relevant badass, it's not accompanied by her being watson's epic cool girlfriend she gets to be her own person. like as far as i can tell they're not gonna get back together #i ❤️ divorce. she's even bisexual!! sweep

shinwell: whyyyyy does he talk like that omg. please. also guy from the east end is a criminal duuuuude thats crazy however do they come up with these. sucks so bad. i'm gonna like him out of spite but he's such a bad character what are we doing

moriarty: what can i fucking say man. why is he here. also the acting was so bad??? like wh??? ???? why was it this bad. i guess you could blame the script but like, second takes exist yknow. you can do another one if the first take sucks. are you aware. anyway i hate it when moriarty is a big bad but we'll get into that in a later section... can't say much abt his character he was only in 1 scene. usually i'm a huge fan of colourblind casting but i don't get making him a poc if you're gonna make him the horrible evil mastermind but hey at least he's not a black woman killing orphans for money like in enola. still don't know why they did that. getting off topic anyway why did he also get hit with the yankify beam. does anyone remember england. sherlock holmes was there

2) the plot

the episode's plot: it was... fine? like it was stupid as hell but it's a medical drama so whatever. patient needs mouse bites to live. this vexes me. etc. i do think the whole today☝️ we're 🧑���🤝‍🧑 NOT ❌ doctors ⚕️ we're 😎 detectives 🕵️ was kinda cringe but it's like the entire premise of the show so it's very much a megszoksz vagy megszöksz situation. how do you say that in english. my way or the highway. take it or leave it. you get what i mean

the overarching plot: i mean obviously this was one episode so i can't reflect on the entire thing but i CAN look at the setups and think about them. it's nice that a major part of this show seems to be watson coping with the absence of holmes. i think they should focus on it slightly more, like acd watson's life was essentially over and pointless post reichenbach and i don't think they fully emphasise the severity of that but we only have one episode so we'll see. i am very very annoyed that moriarty is a presence at all in this show and especially that they didn't even have enough faith either in the audience or their own material to wait a bit before revealing him. episode one bam he's there and he's immediately named. it sucks. we do not need him. hold my hand. look me in the eye. it's ok to write a holmes adaptation where moriarty doesn't keep coming back from the dead. it's ok to have a different villain. or just regular ass criminals that aren't masterminds. it's fine. it's ok. you can just have moran if you're desperate. in fact you SHOULD have moran we're literally post final problem pre empty house this is moran's main time in the spotlight. but whatever what's done is done. i just think what's done is dumb as hell

3) the technical stuff that reviewers love talking about to make themselves sound smarter

the dialogue: chief. it's not good. like it's not outstandingly bad but there were some lines that made me go 😬 and some of them are just. so bad. eugh. like i alluded to in ingrid's section, if a script feels like it could smoothly fit an mcu style quip without it feeling out of place, maybe reconsider the lines you're writing.

the lighting/colours: i actually really like this, i think it gives the show a very distinctive look. i do think it's weird how ambient all the lighting is in this hospital but it's a lot nicer than the horrible white and blue you'd normally get, plus as a serial surgery haver i would much prefer to have this to the inhumane buzzing leds. not to mention i'm eastern european so compared to our hospitals, this place is like a spaceship.

cinnamon topography: i just watched brilliant minds last week which had some of the most beautiful shots i have ever seen and easily the most beautiful shots i've ever seen in an episodic medical drama which is unfortunate for this show because it's also very competent in this field but my standards are all the way up. but yea overall the shots range from generic-good to pretty good so no complaints there. i really liked the shot of watson and mary talking with the garage pillar separating them, and the overhead shot of a board that says WE LIE in big red letters made me laugh really hard

4) miscellaneous

my cat just crawled into my lap while i was trying to spell meschallenios everyone shut up. ok she was there for an hour and then left so back to it

acd story references: i always think these are fun and very satisfying to clock, and by god there were a lot of them in just this one ep. my episode was like 240p so i couldn't really observe the background details (to be remedied once i get my paws on 1080p) but even then there was a ton of stuff to go duuude 🫵 at. the 1881 robot (year study in scarlet is set in) which was then immediately revealed to be called clyde (elementary turtle) was really funny like why are we referencemaxxing. like i mentioned in the john watson post, i hope they won't overly rely on them, but it was fun to pay a little extra attention to everything to see if there was a reference hidden anywhere

5) overall

my general faith in this is. very little. a lot of people have a lot of goodwill for this show, both because of elementary (which i haven't seen sorry) and because of morris chestnut (who i didn't know before this but i'm very much the kinda person who prefers to not even know the names of actors) but neither of those have any impact on my opinion or my trust in the show, nor do i think it should. even if elementary was my favourite show, i'd still expect watson to win me over just by itself. i'm also very worried about some comments the showrunner made, especially the one abt adler being holmes's lover (what?? 💀) none of which inspire confidence but again that's not part of the show either and if the show itself is good, i don't care what the showrunner thinks.

but is the show itself good? i mean, it's not bad and i never expected it to be good. i'm a huge fan of holmes adaptations and have seen way too many of them (pretty much every single one that's not unwatchably bad, and then some) so i'm always hyped when there's a new one. i don't hate this by any means, i'm glad it exists and it was a fun way to spend 2 hours watching something that's 40 minutes long and then an entire day writing a review of it.

like i said at the beginning of this unnecessarily long post, it's perfectly mid with some tentative swings in both positive and negative directions which is probably why i was able to write this much about it. if it was good i would've just said IT SLAPS YAYY YIPPIE and if it was bad i would've said "holy shit this is the worst thing i have ever seen" and that would've been it but instead here we are. hope you're glad you spent the past 7 hours reading this instead of war and peace. thank you for coming and hopefully my review of episode 2 will be a more managable size coz lowkey what the hell am i doing lol. goodbye

[scotianostra]

On August 15th 1771 Sir Walter Scott the poet and novelist was born in Edinburgh.

Walter survived polio as a toddler which left him with a limp and he used a cane the rest of his life. He was the first author to have international fame in his lifetime and is credited with inventing the historical novel.

Scott used the great storytelling tradition of the Highlands to help bring back the Scottish identity that had been cruelly crushed by the British. His Waverly novels were very popular in Europe and America starting Romanticism and influencing American writers such as Thoreau and Twain.

As well as popularising the historical novel, his books more or less invented tourism in Scotland. A family holiday to Loch Katrine inspired Scott to write the epic narrative poem The Lady of the Lake; a romantic, stirring tale of secret identity, love and loss. It was a publishing phenomenon and readers flocked to see the landscape Scott had described. Thus when travel entrepreneurs such as Thomas Cook began selling packaged railroad tours in the 1840s, Scotland was one of the most popular destinations. Victorians who had grown up on Scott’s Waverley novels, and now technology made it possible to reach these areas

Scott was a prolific writer, publishing two novels a year. Readers around the globe devoured his tales of historic Scotland and its noble, heroic people.

Composers in particular found inspiration in his work, among them Gaetano Donizetti who was inspired to write the tragic opera Lucia del Lammermoor based on Scott’s novel The Bride of Lammermoor.  Franz Schubert was similarly moved, setting text from The Lady of the Lake to music to create his much-loved work Ave Maria.

When King George IIII visited Edinburgh in 1822 Scott was put in charge of the festivities. This was the first time a reigning monarch had made it north of the border in over 200 years and Scott masterminded a spectacular Scottish show in his honour.

He created a romantic - and, some argued, and still do argue, an unrealistic - vision of the Highlands on the streets of the capital with parades, gatherings of clans and swathes of tartan on display. King George himself lapped up this romantic symbolism, dressing in a kilt for the occasion and, like a 19th century influencer, prompting others to wear it too. It marked a turning point in the way the world saw Scotland, and the return of tartan to fashionable society following a ban enforced by the government in the aftermath of the Jacobite rebellion.

Scott’s influence in society allowed him to lobby on causes he held dear.Sir Walter Scott got involved in a number of political issues. Particularly, his interested in issues where the government was trying to impose things on Scotland. For example, the Bank of England wanted to withdraw the right of Scottish banks to print bank notes, it's testement to the man that he features on bank notes not just today, but going back to the days of smaller nbanks, like the Linen Bank in Scotland, The Bank of Scotland range of notes still carry his portrait. Scott He stirred up such a furore that the government backed down, so you have him to thank that your not carrying English bank notes around with you, imagine a life where we Scots couldn't have a good old moan about businesses in England refusing to take our money as payment!

Scott’s popularity as a poet was cemented in 1813 when he was given the opportunity to become Poet Laureate. However, he declined and Robert Southey accepted the position instead.

Having suffered a stroke in 1831, which resulted in apoplectic paralysis, his health continued to fail and Scott died on 21st September 1832 at Abbotsford, I hope to read and post more about Sir Walter Scott in just over a months time.

[smolvenger]

Our Society At Cranford (William Buxton x fem! Reader Oneshot)

Summary: As Miss Matty's companion, you struggle to gain the attention of the handsome young Mr. Buxton. It appears you need a little help from the ladies of Cranford...

A/N: Not my best or most edited work. No stakes (unless you count marriage for women in the 1840's as stakes which back then it was) and only vibes. But I hope you enjoy it!

Warnings: Technically none other than some angst and attempts at Victorian-era accuracy. But then nothing but fluff and vibes. If I miss anything, let me know!

A03//My Ko-Fi//My Etsy Shop//Masterlist//Wattpad

Taglist: @asgards-princess-of-mischief @jennyggggrrr @five-miles-over @fictive-sl0th @ladycamillewrites @villainousshakespeare @holdmytesseract @eleniblue @twhxhck @lokisgoodgirl @lovelysizzlingbluebird @raqnarokr @holymultiplefandomsbatman @michelleleewise @wolfsmom1 @cheekyscamp @mochie85 @fandxmslxt69 @skittslackoffilter @mischief2sarawr

You were infatuated with him since the day his dog ran into the church and urinated on the altar.

That morning, you thought you heard the sound of tapping paws and opened your eyes to see a little dog in the church. Everyone was dipping their heads down in prayer. Oblivious to a little mischief. It was everything in you not to laugh at the little dog. 

But the little dog ran right in like he owned the place, running and excited to be about. The prayer droned on, repeating the same phrases everyone said every Sunday.

In your reticule was a plain biscuit you saved from Sunday school. Slipping it out, you knelt, waving the treat to the dog. Daring not to speak to alert anyone.

The dog trotted forward and ate it, then you scooped him up into your arms. You held onto him, even though he struggled. If he got out he could run into the wilderness where all sorts of nasty ends were waiting for him. Once Mrs. Forrester’s cow was found stuck in the mud for hours and nearly died! Now the bovine was kept to wearing, for lack of a better word, pajamas all hours of the day to keep warm.

As your family opened their eyes next to you, they gasped. People smelled the urine and heads turned towards you. Surprised to see the little thing in your arm. Heads did turn and Reverend Hutton had to wave everyone’s attention back to the service.

But the scruffy white and brown dog settled and calmed down after a while. If you stroked his front legs and chest gently, he would become calm and sleepy like a charm. 

As soon as it ended, you hurried outside. The dog began barking and wiggling. The widows and spinsters of Cranford you had befriended- Mrs. Forrester, Miss Pole, and your favorite, sweet Miss Matty all gathered around. They chatted about Reverend Hutton. Their chins up and talking as fast as clucking hens. All wondering about the dog’s urine and the shock.

“The altar cloth was made by Miss Matty’s mother! We shall have to find an apothecary or-”

“Napoleon! Where are you- I’m so sorry to interrupt ladies and reverend!”

All of you turned. The women kept silent. You were struck silent.

A young man entered as handsome as a prince in a fairy tale. Tall and lean. He had beautiful curly blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and a rich baritone voice that halted your every thought. 

“Master William Buxton!” whispered Miss Pole.

“I think we ought not to call him master now…” Mrs. Forrester replied you noted the flirtatious shift in her tone. “He’s so much…broader than when we saw him last.”

You noted he had broad shoulders indeed, and he was well fit beneath his waistcoat. It made you feel even warmer beneath your sun and your bonnet.

You and the ladies dipped into a curtsy and he a bow.

“I believe that is my dog, he escaped the house an hour ago and we’ve been searching for him ever since!” he explained.

You walked forward.

“Oh, thank you, Miss?” he asked.

You gave him your name, though your voice felt half of itself. “I…I only wanted him to be safe and not get hurt if he ran out.”

“That is much kind of you, miss! Could I have him?”

Walking over, you handed the dog to him. As the weight shifted, you felt his arms and hands brush against yours and as silly as it was, it nearly knocked your breath away. Young men here were few and far between to where one considered Cranford a city of Amazons. But here he could be something of a Hercules in the flesh.

“Oh, I am sorry! He is a bad dog!” he apologized again.

“Here you go” you offered.

“William Buxton!” Miss Matty gasped as she went forward and shook his hands. He grinned at her, greeting his old friend.

“We are so sorry to hear of your mother’s passing, but we are glad you could be here!” she continued. 

“I am only here to open up the house, and attend to this bad dog,” he scolded, holding him up. Napoleon only smiled and panted in response.

“Well, we are glad you are here,” you replied.

After curtsies and bows, he scooped the dog up in his arms and continued back home. But you couldn’t help but stare at him, his curls like a halo around him.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Cranford, though a small town, was filled with all sorts of likable people. If you were feeling lonely, you had to go about and soon would find a friend. And there was no better friend in town than Miss Matty. 

She was the unmarried daughter of the previous rector and lived a life of genteel poverty- acting like she was still a lady who did not need work or seek employment… despite not being anything more than middle class. She was lonely too. Her sister, her maid, and the love of her life all died within two years. In light of this, you offered to be her companion. Not accepting a penny for her for payment. You both were lonely souls needing company, even in the guise of her feeling like a true lady again.

You enjoyed sitting and drinking tea with her. The clock ticking as she chuckled that this was always the time one expected visitors. One had to take a walk about twice a day. Both of you enjoyed looking through the windows of the shops to see what new fashions were arriving- that was the most excitement one got around town when it wasn’t Christmas!

“What do you think of this French style?” you asked, pointing to one illustration of a gown.

“Very impractical, but very pretty!” Miss Matty replied.

“It’d be nice to wear it to one of our dances here…if we had them again…” you sighed.

“I’m sure if the time comes,” she replied. “They are quite fun- there is one around Christmas Eve and another around Easter.”

“Oh, you should go too! Do you still remember the dances!”

“All of them,” she said with a smile. 

Her sister would insist on sitting in the parlor for two hours every day from noon to two to receive any visitors. Sometimes you only sat in a chair doing nothing for two hours. 

But lately, you kept staring at the window. Staring at the door. Hoping, praying…that perhaps Mr. Buxton would arrive again.

You couldn’t help but admire him. He would always tip his hat at you and smile when you passed in the street.

Everything in you was bursting when you saw him. Freezing and burning at once. Part of you wanted to run up to him and blab about anything. The other part of you wanted to run, to hide, to faint, to make yourself away when he was near. It was both at once and it was unbearable.

There was one day, as you took your second walk of the day, that a familiar sight ran forth. A high feather- only one lady in town wore such a high feather in her bonnet.

“Miss Matty! Miss Matty!” cried Miss Pole.

Both of you curtsied.

“Why, what is it?” she asked.

Miss Pole held her chin up and began to speak in a soft, but piercing tone.

“I hear Mr. Buxton plans on keeping his son here for two months, but soon he will be sent to London. Just in time for the season.”

“Oh, the season!” you gasped.

Then…the season…that was for all the well to do…but it meant…

“He wants his son to attend every ball and dinner and gathering he can- he hopes to find a nice girl from a good family who came out! And I hear Mr. Buxton is already writing some letters!”

You nearly dropped the packages in your hands. Shaking, you kept quiet.

“Why then, that is something! I only wish William well- it is not what he wants at all. But he isn’t our little Master Buxton anymore, he is a man and should find those,” replied Miss Matty.

“I can just imagine it. Our Master Buxton! Dancing the polka with some lady in silks fluent in French!” Miss Pole added.

You were silent as you returned. Your head spinning. You took off your bonnet and outer coat to go inside, but you hardly heard your footfall. It was as if the world was entrenched in water and you were just barely rambling it.

Again, you sat down from noon for calls. Miss Matty got out her needlework and sat down. But you could not do anything. Not read. Not sew. Not eat, Not drink. Anything. Your heart hammering in your ears.

After a few minutes, it became clear that no one was going to immediately arrive. Miss Matty set her things down, her gentle eyes over your face.

“Why, what is the matter, my dear?” she asked.

You looked down.

“Nothing, miss,” you replied.

“But look at you- you’re trembling. You seem a little faint even though you’re sitting…is something the matter?” she asked.

“It’s…it’s only something silly… I will get over it. I am resolved..” you said.

“I feel you wish to speak it,” she said. She stepped forward. “I may be just one 

“Whatever do you mean?”

“I….I don’t…” you had to be careful. This was a small town and gossip got around like fire to dry wood. You fidgeted and rubbed your own hands to try to remain calm, looking down at your plaid skirt as you began.

“I only feel like…there are good men out there. And I..should like to someday…someday find a way to love, to be courted, to…to know what that is like…I only hope it should happen someday…”

Perhaps that was rude. Miss Matty wasn’t married. But she only smiled and continued with a soft, compassionate tone.

“That is normal…I remember back in my day how my heart would race when there were gentlemen callers. But there isn’t a rush…and besides, many a woman has been trapped in an unhappy marriage from rushing. And I will tell you…there are worse things in life than being a spinster!”

“Yes, indeed, I agree!” you replied. For it was truly the spinsters and widows who were the ones in charge of the town.

Though, you found yourself looking out the window. Your heart leaped at the sight of a familiar bowler hat and a mop of blonde curls. William Buxton passed by in his coat and gloves. He looked about the town. 

You felt a small gasp in your throat. Behind you, there was the creaking of the floor. The timing was just too perfect.

But he only smiled and tipped his hat and you bowed down in a curtsy in turn. Oh, his smile could make rosebuds bloom! 

Then his head turned towards his path and he continued.

You felt a soft, cold hand touch your shoulder and you flinched.

“Why, what was that!”

You felt yourself tear up. “Miss Matty! It’s nothing! It truly is not!”

“Why, my dear-I see the way you’ve been acting. And now this confirms my suspicions. Do you…love William?” she asked.

Words stammered out of you and a clamminess shook your hands, you could barely form a sentence.

“I…I…let me put the kettle on for some fresh tea!” you insisted.

You turned to leave. Putting the tea kettle onto the stovetop. You merely sat, watching and waiting until steam came out of the spout. But tears were going down your face. Miss Matty followed behind.

“Do you…have feelings for him, Miss Y/L/N?” she asked again.

Looking up, you felt more tears fall down your cheeks, growing hot and tight. Then you folded your hands, reaching one to touch the counter for support. Then putting one to your face you began to cry.

Miss Matty hurried up, giving you one of her handkerchiefs. She embraced you like a daughter and let you sob.

“It’s the talk with Miss Pole today that worried you, wasn’t it?” she asked.

“Yes…yes it was…but Miss Matty…please! I need help! I don’t know who will introduce us or where to see him!”

“Don’t worry…it’s time we took another call onto the Buxtons…” she said.

The next day, your heart raced as you entered that fine house. As you got inside, servants took your bonnets and cloaks.

“Napoleon! Napoleon, come here!” cried a familiar voice.

Looking up, you saw William Buxton tumbling down. But he was undressed to a degree- he had his pants and suspenders and his white blouse open down. You could see his chest lying open. Your heart raced hard and he stopped, looking at you.

“Miss Matty! Miss…Miss Y/L/N! We weren’t expecting visitors!” he gasped.

“Well, we only hoped to surprise you! Miss Y/L/N is my companion and it seems fit we should see each other!” she said.

All of you bowed and curtsied. You tried to keep your eyes as much as you could on his face and not his chest.

“Why then- let me get dressed before Father scolds me. Then I’ll be back!” he said.

He bounded back up. And then you let yourself see more of him. You silently sent a thousand thank yous to Miss Matty.

Sitting down, you had tea and biscuits. And the promises of more meals. There was much talk of the new train station and the mobility it was going to provide for everyone. Of the great spring party that the great Lady of the town threw. Everyone got to see her manor house and be attended to by servants. There would be games and rowboats and every guest was going to be given ice cream- a rare treat. William was excited about that especially.

You paid calls almost every few days, even for at least fifteen minutes. And Miss Matty advised you to dress well. Not that you would ever dress poorly if you knew William would be around.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Walking down the street the next week, you saw that familiar high feather in her bonnet scurrying down. No doubt it was Miss Pole, hopping about and running like a rabbit. Only she was heading toward you. It was later, Miss Pole scurried down the street.

“Oh, Miss Y/L/N! Miss Y/L/N! There is such excitement! There is a Miss Ermina here and she is showing us how to order all the French styles! Wouldn’t you like that?”

“Well, I-”

You didn’t have time to answer. Miss Pole grabbed your arm.

“Oh, you must hurry! I insist you do!” 

She practically dragged you to her house. There in the kitchen sat a young woman with ivory pale skin and beautiful dark brown hair done up in curls. Her smart jacket and skirts were of fine material, but her eyes warmed as they looked up at you. She introduced herself with a smile as Ermina. Getting out a paper, she helped you and Miss Pole and Mrs. Forester all translate an order down onto paper. You looked through catalogs and showed what you could get and what to not get. Even if you weren’t spending money now, it was good to know!

Though Ermina’s eyes sparkled at you. 

“I don’t believe we’ve ran into each other, are you just moved in town?” you asked.

“I was just finishing school. And yes- with my father and brother here! Well, they aren’t family by blood but they are in my heart!”

“She is Mr. Buxton’s ward, you know!” Miss Pole interjected.

“A ward!” you cried.

She nodded. You felt the blood drain out of you. “Why, the Buxtons are neighbors and friends of ours, I am acquainted with them.”

“Miss Ermina was finishing her education in Brussels. She is also an accomplished piano player!” Mrs. Forester boasted.

Miss Pole leaned in, her eyes having a twinkle in them.

“But Miss Matty was telling us that it is important for ladies to be more varied in their education .”

“I agree!” Ermina said.

“Why, as do I!” you cut in.

Miss Pole continued, laying a hand on your shoulder.

“And as for our Miss Y’LN,- could you show her a little piano, perhaps? Help her in her accomplishments!”

You shook your head. Why, were they just stealthily insulting your piano skills? What was happening? Ermina only kept her sweet smile. 

“I fear I cannot afford lessons,” you said.

“Oh, not at all! I can show you a few simple cords and phrases! Come by, please!” Ermina replied.

Sure enough, you were having lessons at their house. Ermina herself became a dear friend to talk to. She was kind and not arrogant about her station. You found you both agreed on all sorts of matter regarding women, what they should have in their lives, and ways that things should be better, and different. She of course would tell you tips she noticed about fashion and the piano pieces she found moved her to tears. 

Her presence was enough. You felt guilty, having an agenda. But at least if you lost a potential lover, you had gained a friend.

If it meant more of a chance for William to be in your circle, you agreed. You could have sworn, there was something a little different in how he smiled at you.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Then it came to the garden party with Lady Ludlow’s. It seemed all of the town was about there enjoying themselves as much as they could allow. Her whole yard could have made up half of the town! Her mansion towering above you like a giant about to squash you all. But the locals only chatted and laughed like normal. Some of them, Miss Pole, Mrs. Forrester, and one other were gathering to sit on chairs and rest their “weary” feet. Miss Matty was making her rounds of greetings, leaving you alone.

 Sure enough, there was the promised ice cream. William, to your astonishment, brought you a cup of the dessert.

“Oh, thank you!” you replied. You took the cup from his large, white hand.

“Here you go, what do you think?” he asked.

Out of the corner of your eye, the women emerged from their chairs. They hurried about like a pack of ducks looking for crumbs in the grass.

It was cold, creamy and sweet. Though it was melting in the sun and you were tempted to eat it all at once.

“I…I never had something so delightful!” you cried.

However as you walked about, you realized there were rowboats but they were far limited. One had the Reverend’s daughter, Sophy, and her new husband smiling at each other as if no one else existed. They were already far off.  Mrs. Forrester and Miss Pole claimed one another and fought as they kept rowing, chatting about this and that to echo off to everyone. \\

And there was only a third left. Miss Matty appeared, her own ice cream cup in hand.

“Why- it’s a bright day. And there is nothing as wonderful as a rowboat! Why don’t you two enjoy it- William, do be a gentleman and row for her!” Miss Matty said.

“Oh, I couldn’t!” you shook your head. 

“Come on, it will be fun!” cried William.

He opened his hands and you accepted. You followed him. Stepping into the rowboat, you realize how close you are. 

And you were alone. Nothing but the still, navy blue river twisting around like a ribbon and the rich green trees that rippled their leaves with the breeze.

 You tried not to notice the build of his thighs, his sleeves rolled up, and his smile and cheeks glowing with the exercise. The boat moved and he grinned at you. Handsome as always, if not more.

“You’re not worried you’ll get splashed! Or fall into the water and have to swim!”

“Oh, not at all!”

You smiled at him and he at you.

“I still recall that day you caught Napoleon still. I should call you My Little Catcher.”

“I wouldn’t mind that at all a bit!”

“What’s been occupying your mind?” you asked him quietly.

“The…the…the trains,” he answered.

“Trains?”

“Yes, we are about to open our railway station. I was thinking, all of my life, I never had to work hard. To earn anything. I sat by and others did it. And I was content, but I’m no better than my own dog,” he replied.

You let out a small laugh, smiling at him.

“I would…like to try to make something of myself. Isn’t that silly for a gentleman?”

“Not at all, it’s noble. And one shouldn’t be ashamed of work.”

“I should go to the captain, and ask him for a position as we’re developing it. Then…I should think of myself as lucky, as earning something, and not letting this guilt consume me.”

“You have done nothing wrong. And there is nothing wrong with purpose. It will be a change, it will be hard…but nothing worth having is easy…” you said.

He smiled at you.

“You’re right, my little catcher,” he replied.

You grinned, then looked down for modesty's sake, as well as for your racing heart. Hope glimmering within you.

It seemed too soon when he turned around and asked if it was time to row home. You agreed.

Though he held out your hand, allowing you off. His bare hand bracing your skin- the warmth, the softness. How large they were yet so protective. Something forbidden inside you was tingling as his bare skin brushed your bare skin.

You had to let go, you were glad to let go and be on the grass. It lasted so shortly, yet you felt the world spin. You wanted him, and it both scared and thrilled you.

Soon enough, another woman hurried by. The honorable Mrs. Jamieson approached you two, with her fine dress and holding her Bischon Freise dog who was also donned up in a little blue waistcoat for today. Stifling a laugh, you greeted her. William bowed his head in goodbye and left.

“Why, I must tell you. The assembly hall will be open for spring. And there shall be a dance, will you go? We are all insisting it happens!” She announced.

Blinking fast, you caught your breath.

“Oh…that is fantastic!”

“It will need work…it’s a rather patched up dreary old place…” she clucked. The dog in her arms barked as if he agreed.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Though, then there was a dance. Just in time for Easter, as promised. You arrived in your new dress, bought with Ermina’s advice in your head. You took a deep breath- Miss Matty being your chaperone. 

“I must tell you we spent weeks all organizing and helping it. I haven’t danced one step and we haven’t danced one step!” Miss Matty said.

“Oh, it’s all paid off! It’s lovely!”

Occupying them, and trading dance cards. But Miss Matty immediately insisted William have the first with you. And he agreed.

Your heart raced. It was a more intimate dance, almost like an embrace. He looked right in your eyes. And you had to look at his. It felt warm. You felt yourself tremble a little in his arms, feeling the warmth of his breath and his eyes, bluer than the sea, the sky on you. How could you dance with anyone else after this? How could you come down to earth?

The chords of the violins finished the phrase- and the song was done. You were still looking at him and he at you.

Glancing down, he saw that his arms were still around you in the position. Hesitantly, he let go and you both bowed, your hand still in his.

But his hand remained there, And his eyes were still on you.  Leaning down, he gave it a kiss that nearly made you gasp. 

“May I have you for the next waltz then, Y/N?” he asked.

Part of you froze and you saw he did too.

He didn’t call you Miss. Not even “Little Catcher.” He called you by your first name.

Handing your card, you smiled at him.

“You may,” you answered.

You turned around to see the ladies of Cranford- Pole, Matty, Forrester, Mrs. Jamieson, and the others, smiling and nodding their heads.

This could not be coincidental. But you could never complain. 

 There would be time to thank them, but for now in a Cranford Ballroom where everyone was easily overheard, you gave them a smile in thanks.

It was next spring there was another happy event.

In the shadow of a church, you looked at William right before the Front door and he at you. He was in as nice a waistcoat as he could now afford for today as an apprentice for a railway. He lowered his hat to look at you and hold his hands in yours. Your own gown was now of white muslin with tiny pink flowers decorated on the blouse, the skirts so light and airy you felt they were made of angel wings. You had worn a bonnet, but one with a long lace veil.

The ceremony was done, and it was time to face the crowd. William cupped your face and kissed you, tasting a little of the sacramental wine and fresh cologne.

From the brightness of his eyes, from his presence- you both had the strength to face anything. 

 is lifting your veil outside the church doors of your bonnet and smiling. He squeezed your hand, and as you walked out, the bells rang over you.

Everyone tossed petals and waved their handkerchiefs, cheering and clapping in celebration, in your shared happiness. Your heart full, you handed your bouquet of roses to Miss Matty and kissed her cheek.

“Thank you,” you whispered.

She smiled at you and then handed you to William. He wrapped an arm around you and all began to gather. There would be a celebration with cake, a little ice cream, dances, games, and joy until it was time for the short honeymoon his job allowed him, and then a return to the beautiful little town of Cranford and the new phase of your life together as a man and wife. 

[lauralot89]

I thought never to write in this diary again, but the time has come.

Can you imagine what this book would be like if people didn't write down every last detail? We'd have a few vague, scattered "Shit's getting weird" entries before a huge info dump because the writer was questioning their sanity and had to get it all out on paper. Said info dump would inevitably miss things.

What I'm saying is, thank fuck all these characters are so verbose

I felt impotent

I'm an adult

But, now that I know, I am not afraid, even of the Count.

imagine if Dracula's powers were based in people's fear of him, Pennywise-style

No, you don't; you couldn't with eyebrows like yours.

incredible

I would listen to him go on praising Mina for a day

as would we all, Jonathan

He read something intently, groaning to himself: "Mein Gott! Mein Gott! So soon! so soon!"

do vampires have some sort of incubation period I was unaware of

also, sir, you KNEW she was a vampire and you KNEW where she was, why aren't you looking for news from there already, if only as a precaution?

I have an idea that Van Helsing thinks he knows, too, but he will only let out enough at a time to whet curiosity.

HE CAN'T KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS

"Do you mean to tell me, friend John, that you have no suspicion as to what poor Lucy died of; not after all the hints given, not only by events, but by me?"

WHAT HINTS, YOU HAVE NOT ONLY NOT HINTED AT ANYTHING, YOU'VE JUST TALKED ABOUT CORN SECRECY WHEN PRESSED FOR DETAILS

Why was it that Methuselah lived nine hundred years, and 'Old Parr' one hundred and sixty-nine, and yet that poor Lucy, with four men's blood in her poor veins, could not live even one day?

maybe it has something to do with you leaving her unattended and not telling people things

"Good God, Professor!" I said, starting up. "Do you mean to tell me that Lucy was bitten by such a bat; and that such a thing is here in London in the nineteenth century?"

sir you saw a big bat just last month

and why the parrot never die only of bite of cat or dog or other complaint

that doesn't sound right, but I don't know enough about parrots to dispute it

and his grave sealed and corn sowed on it

no don't let him talk about corn again, he'll become too powerful to stop

Ah, you are my favourite pupil still.

oh just give into the passion

I smote the table hard

smote is such a great word

We found the child awake. It had had a sleep and taken some food, and altogether was going on well.

did children just not have a gender in Victorian society until puberty or something

or until breeching I guess

Even this poor little mite, when he woke up to-day, asked the nurse if he might go away.

oh okay so they do have a gender

I hope," said Van Helsing, "that when you are sending the child home you will caution its parents to keep strict watch over it.

and the gender is gone again

Holding his candle so that he could read the coffin plates, and so holding it that the sperm dropped in white patches which congealed as they touched the metal

the what

"I am satisfied that Lucy's body is not in that coffin; but that only proves one thing."

"And what is that, friend John?"

"That it is not there."

okay that's actually a brilliant retort, but I can't not do this

"Gee willikers. It must be Obvious Day on Camp Stupid."

He insists that I shall go with him on another expedition.

Jack wants to get off Dr. Van Helsing's Wild Ride.

[antiromanticbaby]

Roses - Lucifer

Crown Prince! Lucifer x GN!Reader

[✧] ー Just a short scenario with soft Luci <3 set in victorian era. Reader is GN because my man doesn't care about gender. Let's imagine love between the same sex wasn't taboo, alright? Danke :3

[✧] ー Reader is also innocent and of course, adhered to the society's beliefs and etiquette. (Did I use the word 'adhere' correctly? My first time doing it and it's so late already goodness me.)

Summary: Lucifer wishes to give his lovely betrothed a sweet little kiss. But it seems like they're not really up for it. Oh well, his beloved has a very endearing idea to solve this problem.

The two of you had been courting for a while now, and had yet to share any intimate moment. It was given of course. The both of you had decided to keep everything until your wedding. That way, it would be more special. It would hold much more meaning than something either of you could get anytime they wished.

Being engaged to the crown prince seemed perfect from afar, but it was harder than what it looked. Eyes were on you n matter where you went, and danger lurked around anywhere you stepped at. It was only natural for the crown to have enemies too, no matter how silent they were. But at the end of the day, the stress was worth it. Both for you, and your Lucifer.

"Is it appropriate for us to be alone like this, dearest?" You asked, gazing around at the private garden of his castle. You had heard from many of those servants just how mesmerizing the garden was, designed and cared after by Lucifer himself, but you had never seen it on your own. At least, not until now. The garden was truly a sight, with black and red flowers filling the ground, and the trees full of colorful blossoms. Even the rest of decoration, such as the marble fountain and the vases added to the garden's beauty.

Still, it was no appropriate for an engaged couple to be alone together without the supervision of an elder. You looked back at Lucifer, awaiting his reply. You didn't want to get on his nerves, but you knew that he cared about etiquette a lot too.

"Do not worry yourself, precious." He spoke calmly, putting an arm around your waist with a hint of possessiveness as he guided you to the center and near the fountain. "I just wished to have a private moment with my lovely betrothed."

You nodded, not that calmed down by his way of reassuring you. It wasn't long before you had let go of his arm and began admiring all the different and magical kinds of flowers in his garden. Of course, you didn’t expect any less of a private garden that was only for Lucifer, your beloved fiance. A certain rose caught your eyes in the midst of black roses and flowers. It had fallen down from its place, not having the natural glow of other roses but having its own kind of messages. Like a deep story hidden within those red petals. You bent down, picking it up and staring at it lovingly. 

Lucifer couldn’t help but gaze at you as you stared at the fallen rose, wondering what you were thinking that had you so deep in thought. He stepped a little closer, peering at the rose. He saw nothing special with the fallen rose, unlike you. 

“Your eyes.” You looked up from the rose and towards him, handing the rose to him. Fallen, like your fallen star. Red, like his ruby eyes. And magnifying, even at its worst.  “It is the same shade as your eyes, Lucifer.”

Lucifer’s eyebrows lifted up as he took the rose from you. Although he couldn’t help but smile when you said that. You were such a lovely little creature, always thinking of him before everything else. His eyes moved from the rose towards you, stepping even closer. Close enough to make you just slightly uncomfortable. You wouldn’t push him away, though, as you did crave his touch as much as he craved yours. “How very observant, beloved. Would you like me to speak of my own observations?” 

He then put the rose behind your ear, making sure the thorns wouldn’t hurt you. He couldn’t help but find your innocent smile lovely, in that moment.The Elegant prince cupped your cheeks, the pair of red roses residing in his eyes looking into your own gems. "You look so precious, love. Did you know that?” 

You knew where this was headed. He wanted to tease you, make you blush, and have you a stuttering mess. You then noticed his loving gaze on your lips and not your eyes. He continued. “May I kiss you, my sweet?” 

"But... it is not appropriate..." You whispered softly. But you had an idea how to do it, not to disappoint your fiance. You wanted that kiss too, after all, even if you would never admit it. You brought the rose out of your hair and put it on your lips, looking into his eyes softly. “Let us do it this way for now, until the day the bells of matrimony ring above us.” 

Lucifer opened his eyes in surprise, as he saw the red rose on your lips. It was something he never expected and he was both surprised and pleased to see that you still cared for your innocence and proper etiquette, even so much so that you wouldn't let just anyone get a taste of your lips, not even your soon to be spouse. Lucifer then smiled warmly, while still caressing your cheek. "Thank you, my beloved. You are right, this isn't appropriate, but a rose like yourself deserves a kiss nonetheless." 

Lucifer then pressed his lips gently against the rose, his hands holding yours as you held on the rose’s stem. 

A sweet and innocent kiss, for his true love. For his beloved betrothed, and the one he chose to share his life with. As soon as he pulled away, he put the rose back on your hair like a hairpin. You were truly his, and he was glad to have such a caring little betrothed on his side. He grasped both of your hands and brought them to his lips, planting a soft kiss on the back of them. 

“Until the bells of matrimony ring above us, my darling. I shall only wait and dream of that day.” 

Check it out! [cursed records] [sweet dreams] [heavenless]

[stalky-arsen]

I know it's just me overthinking things too much, but I have a lot to say about dislyte (which i'm already talking recently but hey).

One thing that I like is the monster dilemna, which basically is what do you define a monster.

One thing I DON'T like is they just use it on surface level. like "someone who does evil things with their powers is a monster"- no shit ??? why aren't developing your argument ?

I'm genuily mad about this because monster dilemna is a subject I've been getting really invested into.

Am I going to make an essay about it and give you examples ? Totally.

First, let's define what monsters is outside of Dislyte context. Because "monster" isn't defined by just one definition.

The most common concept nowadays of a monster is fantastical creatures.

Which is an even broader term within an already broad concept. What do you define "fantastical creature" ? Because they're can be elves, fairies, unicorns, merfolk, dragons as well as vampires, werecreatures, mummies, ghosts, zombies and many more that can apply to that definition. Do you draw the line between living creatures and undead creatures ? Is a creature more humanoid is less monster than another creature is ? If so, do you put the culturally bad humanoid creatures in the same basket ?

That alone can be an interesting theme to explore. (In Dislyte case, I think it is lightly shown. Miramons are already considered monsters, but there's also signs of Esper discrimination, notably physically transformed Espers. Although this last aspect is barely explored.)

Another commonly accepted concept is about morality. Even a human can be considered a monster if his actions are atrocious and dehumanising.

I think you get the idea already. Humans are capable of doing horrible things because they just can.

One thing I'm interested to explore is if the "Monster" title fits the character entirely, is it all black & white or is it more complicated and the character is around a more gray area ? Is it due to circumstance outside of their control or was it by choice ? Were they influenced ?

More importantly, can they get their "humanity" back even after becoming a "monster" ? Or are they irredeemable ?

(in Dislyte case, you have multiple characters that could be considered "monsters" by their actions : Anesidora, Kara, Long Mian, Yalina, Bi Tao, Yamato, etc. I find it great we actually have morally gray playable characters, but it's a gacha game and stories event are here to introduce a new character, not essentially develop or explore them. The only times there was a seemingly development in mutiple parts events, which I love, and the main story which is done as of now and there is no sign of an upcoming main story.)

(Plus, the essential essence of a gacha game is to release as many characters they can, the only exceptions I saw were in Cookie Run : Kingdom, where along the character events and multiple modes with their own story, the main story always has new episodes, and in Twisted Wonderland where the Gacha was limited to skins of characters but the amount of character remained the same to better focus on the story.)

Another type of monsters is the outcast.

Here it's intimitely related to social commentary. The outcast can be many thing, a literal monster that can be used as a metaphor for an outcast or even a human that is treated like one. The pretext may vary : physically/mental disability or disorder, LGBT+, gender, religion, ethnicity, status, family or even just something that happened to them like gRape. The point is they are considered a "monster" by society cause they don't align with the norm or represent a disruption.

If you want an example, Dracula by Bram Stoker was written as a metaphor for immigrants, shown in a negative light (in context it was written during the Victorian era.) Today, we tend to show the outcasted monster in a more positive/sympathetic light (prime example being a Monster in Paris, but I bet there's more.)

What I would find interesting to do is for the main character to be the outcasted monster and they struggle against this society who rejected them. Do they live in the shadow or are they trying to fight the system ? Do they run away ? How deep does it affect them ?

(As for Dislyte, there is not much ? I think there is Liam but I didn't do Valeria story event to know. Aside from characters, Tangton is a perfect context but it is mostly ignored for plot convenience ? Why would you create a region that actively discriminate Espers but never show this hate ? Chunhui Academy was a ghetto for Tangtonian Espers, that's the most we saw from that discriminitory society. And sorry, for the ghetto it was, it didn't felt like one.)

Next one : monsters are a reflection of humans and their dark side

This one is pretty vague but pretty self explanatory. The monster here represent a concept, a vice or even a primal fear, like we tend to associate vampires with lust, dragons with greed or werewolves with cannibalism etc. In that regard, it is similar to the outcast monster where it is a commentary, not necessarily about society but about humanity as a whole.

One modern example from the slasher It Follows.

And like the outcast monster, it would be interesting to see the main character confronting the monster or being the monster, especially if there is internal growth for that main character.

(unfortunately, Dislyte doesn't correspond to that category. but I wouldn't say no if they try.)

Last one that comes to mind is monster = mob.

I mean. RPG.

Recently there's this "monster mobs are actually humans" trend going in video games which in most instances, it falls flat because they don't really do anything with it, it's just a stupid plot twist to gaslight the player into feeling bad but still not giving them any other choice but to fight them. I'M LOOKING AT YOU GENSHIN.

The only time it worked it was Undertale because 1 monsters were just people not humans, and 2 you had a choice and so it was your responsibility.

(and dislyte is a video game so.)

(If you want to make a twist about mob monsters, think about how it will impact the worldbuilding and the story. examples i gave about dislyte MC )

Okay, that's nice to know all that, but concretly, what can it changes to how Dislyte handles the monster dilemna ? I'm sure the devs won't see the post anyway but it's still interesting to talk about it.

If you want to talk about the monster dilemna, don't make it "monster = bad" just because. If you're going to implement this in your story, make your characters question it, wether they consider other monsters or themselves, are mobs monsters to them ? Humans ? What do they consider "monsters" ?

BASICALLY CREATE A RELATIONSHIP DYNAMIC BETWEEN CHARACTERS AND THE MONSTER. I CAN DO ONE RIGHT NOW !

What do you think is a monster ?

Li Ling : A miramon.

Tang Xuan : An immoral person.

Yamato : Humans are monsters.

Yuuhime : Konkuzan. Yamato eventually.

Long Mian : A creature I envy.

Anesidora : Cute creatures.

Chu Yao : A vermin.

MC : I'm not sure, I think I am half monster ?

Samsa (OC) : Someone that society despises.

See ! That was easy !

I'm sure I talked about everything I wanted but I might miss some points. In any case, you are welcomed to provide your own opinion about it !

[detectivereads]

New/Old Detective Manga

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone is well.

Recently I have been wanting a new manga series while I wait for the new issues of Case Closed/ Detective Conan to come out. (I love that series so much)

So, I tried finding manga that is like Conan but with their own unique twist to it. Recently I have found several and I had come across a few in the past so I thought I would make a list of interesting detective/mystery manga. I would love to hear recommendations from anyone else.

Lizzie Newton by Hey-Jin Jeon- This was one of the first detective manga that I collected. I am sad that there were only 2 volumes released, because having a Victorian lady investigating murders is perfect. Lizzie Newton is a well to do lady in high society who loves three things: reading, writing and investigating murders.

Case Closed/ Detective Conan by Gosho Aoyama- What can I say 10/10. This is one of the best mystery series I have ever read. With a big mystery that you can follow through the course of the whole series and having other mysteries to go along with the big mysteries, each case is well crafted and unique. The cast of characters to go along with the story each one has a quirky thing about them, but they work well together. This is a mystery manga series that I would recommend to any newbie mystery manga reader.

The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife by Iwatobineko- Ok this series is so cute, but it’s not super hard core in the mystery aspect like Case Closed or Ustoki Rhetoric, but the main characters are part of a detective agency, and they do go on cases. I have reviews posted in the manga section of my master list, so I won’t talk too much about it here. I really recommend this series.

Now these are the ones I found recently:

Usotoki Rhetoric by Ritsu Miyako- I don’t know why but lately I keep coming across historical type detectives lately, but I digress.  This story centers around a girl named Kanoko, who has a unique ability to hear lies, which unfortunately made her childhood very lonely growing up. So, she sets off on her own to find a place where no one knows her, and she can make a life for herself. Kanoko then runs into a detective, who is broke, and they team up to solve cases. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this series, but I started reading it and I am hooked on it. Each case that they tackled was interesting but so far, my favorite case was the Doll Murder case, this manga pulled plot that I am sure Agatha Christie would be interested in.

Garden Club Detective Squad by 52chu- This series is amazing, I found this by accident. I think I saw the trailer and I investigated it. I was hooked and I pray that this will get a physical release. We have our main character Yeon, her family is moving to the countryside. This girl embodies school life. She loves to study, and she is amazing at sports and arts. Yeon has a goal to make her academic resume for the high school she wants to go to prefect. One the things she wants to do is be a president of a club and all the other clubs turn her down (they are terrified on how good she is) but she finds the Garden Club to fit her needs. But the club holds secrets that have been long buried.

My Dear Detective by Natsumi Ito- I have only read a little of this, but I was immediately interested, main character is a female detective, and the time is back in 1930. So, the views here are that women took care of the house, but not Hoshino Mitsuko she is determined to work for a living, and she has her job as a detective locked down.

I want to save this one for more in-depth reading so I will leave this one here, but I can tell you, I am excited for this.

The Strange House by Uketsu- Horror Writer Detective, my interest has been piqued. Now I like watching jump scares and some scary movies as much as the next person. But I came across this manga series by chance. I was worried that this was going to be a horror manga that was going to be gory. But so far apart from some speculations in the manga, the story is great. (yes, there is some dark themes here)

Our main character is a horror mystery writer turn amateur detective, they are given a blueprint of the house from a client one day asking about the layout of the house and one particular room in the house which first time reading the manga, I was trying to figure out the purpose of the room as well.

Now, looking at the cover art for this manga I was thinking that this was going to be in the same league with the other great horror manga writer Jinji Ito, I love this man’s art style but boy howdy he draws some scary scenes. I thought going in this that this manga wouldn’t hold my attention, but I am now waiting on pins and needles for the new chapter I need to know what happens.

Now I know there are like a few more series out there, but these series here are what has caught my attention at the moment.

[221beloved]

A short insertion

Originally, I wanted to do this at the very end, maybe first day of november, but with every passing day, the need to do at least something to express my... thankfulness, increases.

Well... what should I say?

Thank you! Really, really thank you! For all the gentle words directed at me.

It's not the first time I wrote Sherlock fanfic, but it's the first time I participated in a challenge like angstober, the first time I published something, and it's the first time I wrote in english. (I'm sure you found all the mistakes I didn't know I've made. Well...)

The idea to do this was quite spontanious, to do it in english even more so. I was thrilled and horrified at the same time and in the progress of writing I really wanted to scream sometimes. Especially because of my choice of language.

My Tumblr account is still quite new and two weeks ago I didn't have many connections, so I wasn't expecting much by uploding my little ideas to the promts. I was doing it mostly for me anyways, I had fun thinking about possible stories and writing them down, and I was looking forward to the 4 or 5 remarks I would get. There was nothing to loose.

Well, if only I'd known...

I'll try to keep it short (funny to say this now...) But in the end I was kind of proud to have finished it, a story for every day of october, the publishing was, well, a possibility to prove i'd really done it

But half an hour after I uploaded the first fic, I already had my 4 reactions and I was kind of stunned, grinning like a fool. I suspect that everyone who saw me that day (well, this hole month if I'm honest) must have thought I've finally lost my mind. When I looked again in the evening, I nearly fell off my chair. My post had over 20 remarks, really lovely comments among them.

I was... overwhelmed. I still am.

What I'm trying to say is: thank you! For the lovely and positive feedback I would never have expected.

I knew the Sherlock community to be quite strong, lovely and supportive, and now I've experienced it myself.

I already thanked some of you directly, but I couldn't respond to everyone, and I don't think I will manage now.

Please, feel adressed if you've read a story and liked it, whether you reblogged/liked or not. Thank you, I'm honoured!

I think I just wanted you to know that...

Please text me if I forgot you

Thanks to @angstober for the prompts

@holmesianlove @missdeliadili @kettykika78 @topsyturvy-turtely @safedistancefrombeingsmart @blogstandbygo @7-percent @a-victorian-girl @lisbeth-kk @nathan-no @macgyvershe @whatsgoodmentalhealth @ninasnakie @maiaemerald @helloliriels @exasperated-society @meetinginsamarra @bs2sjh @khorazir @chinike @ace-is-undead @qiauu @nic0tinepatch @alicecoup @peanitbear @totallysilvergirl @inevitably-johnlocked @semiprofessionalmom @jobooksncoffee

I certainly overlooked some of you... I'm sorry. As I said, text me to change that

[samd1o1]

Gothic Horror HCs But Using The Penny Dreadful Versions As Well Cus I Like Them

Hello, So recently I have been really obsessed with 1800s gothic horror literature.

My favorite books are (in order);

1. Frankenstein The Modern Prometheus

2. The Picture Of Dorian Gray

3. The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde

4. Dracula

So imagine my fucking excitement when I heard there was a show that used THOSE EXACT FOUR BOOKS!!!!

Anyway I thought I'd take the time to talk about my favorite characters from the books/show and hcs I have for them all.

Now massive Trigger Warning for some ableism/sanism from the victorian era but also current day, and also queermisia.

All of these characters are canon ND I believe based off of their canon "madness" and I also believe they were all queer men.

----

Victor Frankenstein

Victor is a trans man you must understand this. He literally has postpartum depression in the book. He is also forced into an arranged marriage with a woman but has so much more chemistry with his best friend Henry Clerval. I think he's gay and his love for both Elizabeth and Lilly are just comphet. (He loves Elizabeth like a sister tho).

Victor is also disabled in the book. In Penny Dreadful he also has asthma! I also hc Victor is autistic. In the book he has a special interest in alchemy and science. He info dumps about poetry and clocks a lot in Penny Dreadful lmao. He's also just awkward like me fr fr. There was also a rlly funny scene in Penny Dreadful where everyone noticed this one character was a trans woman and made a "face" of surprise. Victor never did because honestly I don't think he fucking noticed. Which made me laugh because I didn't either.

Dorian Gray

This man is just me sometimes and I kinda hate it. Definitely has BPD. He treats life as a fantasy and has a hard time applying reality to reality. He also will love you one second and can hate you so passionately the next. Henry Wotton is most definitely his favorite person. There's also an entire chapter in the book dedicated to talking about his hyperfixations. Dorian is also bisexual! He falls in love with a few women in the book and Penny Dreadful. But also many men! Oscar Wilde was gay and put a lot of himself into Dorian lmao.

Henry Jekyll

Look the guy with daddy issues. Seriously out of all the things they chose to adapt for Penny Dreadful this made me laugh the most (in a good way). It's a random throwaway line in the book but I'm glad they kept it because his father leads to Henry's toxic mindset. Henry feels the need to be respectful in high society and not indulge his "indecent" thoughts. These thoughts include things like murder but also homosexual desires. The man is gay, love that for him. Don't let the musical fool you. I think his other violent thoughts come from OCD intrusive thoughts. As a median system I do also relate to the duality he feels. But I also would be careful ever putting a plural reading on Jekyll and Hyde for obvious reasons.

Robert Montague Renfield

Oh Renfield so much to say about you my man. (This is where that TW comes in handy)

Ok so the R.M. of his name standing for "Robert Montague" is ONLY from the new 2023 movie "Renfield". Renfield never had a first name because Bram Stoker was an ableist dick who saw Renfield as less than human for his mental illness. So out of spite of him and love for Renfield I hc his name to be Robert in all versions. This isn't to praise the new movie for its handle on mental illness though. While I absolutely adore the movie and it's camp and message I can't look past the ableism. It constantly demonizes NPD and for the topic of our discussion writes out Robert's mental illness. Robert in the book has psychosis and periods of mania and depression. Honestly I'll have to reread his sections of the book soon and see if I change my opinion because I had a hard time thinking of a label for him. Anyway I think he has Bipolar! But this is why I prefer Penny Dreadful over Renfield 2023 for the character. He gets to be mentally ill and still do a good thing and be just like everyone else in the show (not good or bad, just gray). On the topic of Renfield 2023 again I also think they (Drac and Ren) are ex lovers lmao, I mean it's literally framed like that they just don't have the balls to say it. I now just read every version like this. So yes another Bi king! Wow this ended up mainly being about Renfield whoops.

----

So yeah as you can see I really like the books and Penny Dreadful. I loved that Penny Dreadful wasn't scared to make its characters ND coded like a certain someone *cough* Renfield 2023 *cough* and be faithful to the OGs!

Anyway I'm not a medical professional lmao, I've just researched a lot of stuff trying to figure out my own problems and it's also smth I take an interest in. The queer stuff I am a professional tho /j.

Was this post messy? Oh yeah, wouldn't have it any other way.

[m0use-brained]

my (super)ordinary life!

as some might know its about two college boys renting an apartment together(by chance) and dealing with the ghost of a Victorian boy who was murdered by his nanny. the story follows the protagonist Xavier who is a "realist" and skeptic and doesnt believe in ghosts at all. his roommate on the other hand dallas is a firm believer and a medium. the little Victorian kid Arch whos trying to get the attention of xavier due to him looking so much like his best friend in life falls short in doing so through little antics. The two go through college with unexplainable things happening(well dallas tries to tell xavier its the ghost with xavier not believing him) until xavier has enough of bad things happening and finally folds and lets dallas do whatever he needed. they go through alot to finally talk to arch(buying equipment is hard when your in college) and THEN try to solve the mystery of who killed arch, to let him feel at peace and not restless anymore

-

Government kids??? no name yet- haeaawdjhnThree kids (17 yr old girl, 14 yr old boy and 10 yr old boy) who are all siblings to this last group of people with magical powers end up loosing their parents due to the new government that was implemented recently. But the world for like more then a hundred years now have passed their reign over magic. now magic is only within their brightly colored hair and eyes(bald ppl dont exist). Along with some people having animalistic qualities and other- fanstay qualities. they are still so very human in the aspects of no one has magical powers but they have some extra points towards things like strength if they were a werewolf or something. (they dont change under a full moon they are stuck in the half furry state). anyways. the three kids end up trying to not get captured by the government running all over the place. they go to highschool for a time, then make friends and go to the friends house. a friend dies. some within family drama happens and the oldest sibling fights with the middle child. the oldest gets captured first. the two other siblings go with their owl caretaker(who barely shows up within the story). the youngest seems not to happy with this and escapes to a village somehow untouched by the government and learn about his herritage(somewhat hes like 10). oldest goes through hell to escape and find the middle child and the youngest. turns out hte owl turned the middle kid into the government and winter finding out oliver isnt with the middle she saves the middle and then says a brisk apology as she is on the hunt to find her baby brother. tension between winter and rodger rise but winter is preoccupied with saving oliver. oliver makes frineds with this young girl and her dad and those two help oliver go into the biggest city to try and find winter and rodger. winter and rodger are one step behind as they get into the village. rodger finds out about their family but winter couldnt care less as she is tiredlessly trying to find oliver. its way to much i know and i left out funny goofy government villans that are clear ripoffs of team rocket but in my own funny way...

-

Super hero esk story?? idk i called it Switcheroo but thats kinda silly.the protagonist is the top villan's son who goes into the top hero school. (the mom sees how influcened he is to do crime but wants the best life for him. she wants him to choose after also being influenced by what their society deems as noble and good) Zero(protag) dorms with a girl(filing mess up) who is the daughter of number 1 heroic(hero system is different here too) bull's eye. on the news they find out the 3rd heroic on the ranking chart gets kidnapped by zero's mom??? and zero goes to talk with her about it as hes grown attached to the girl he dorms with and saw how upset she'd become. the mom denies it and says this was all a publicity stunt from bull's eye to gain more money and fame. zero says to out them. the mom cant. because no one will ever trust the villains. even if they did what would it do. strike fear into people that even hero's are corrupt and evil will always win? they needed to do something. zero tried to tell the girl but she couldnt believe him. they have a fight. zero ends up trying to do everything in his power to make it up to her. humiliating himself infront of the whole school(but he doesnt care). she accepts his apology and makes sure he isnt injured. he does get in trouble but thats not the point. she hears him out and admits to things shes seen as a kid ever since her parents divorced due to money problems. the premise is they have to take down the two top heroics from inside their ogranization or making them quit by them messing up every save. (prank them so hard they quit). (i dont know the ending yet akjwdnajkw) -

Super hero esk story?? idk i called it Switcheroo but thats kinda silly.the protagonist is the top villan's son who goes into the top hero school. (the mom sees how influcened he is to do crime but wants the best life for him. she wants him to choose after also being influenced by what their society deems as noble and good) Zero(protag) dorms with a girl(filing mess up) who is the daughter of number 1 heroic(hero system is different here too) bull's eye. on the news they find out the 3rd heroic on the ranking chart gets kidnapped by zero's mom??? and zero goes to talk with her about it as hes grown attached to the girl he dorms with and saw how upset she'd become. the mom denies it and says this was all a publicity stunt from bull's eye to gain more money and fame. zero says to out them. the mom cant. because no one will ever trust the villains. even if they did what would it do. strike fear into people that even hero's are corrupt and evil will always win? they needed to do something. zero tried to tell the girl but she couldnt believe him. they have a fight. zero ends up trying to do everything in his power to make it up to her. humiliating himself infront of the whole school(but he doesnt care). she accepts his apology and makes sure he isnt injured. he does get in trouble but thats not the point. she hears him out and admits to things shes seen as a kid ever since her parents divorced due to money problems. the premise is they have to take down the two top heroics from inside their ogranization or making them quit by them messing up every save. (prank them so hard they quit). (i dont know the ending yet akjwdnajkw)

-

The Moon's craters

a bunch of billionares go to the moon(or a planet that looks like the moon whatever man) and colonize there. hundreds of years pass and the world is sci-fi and dystopian esk?? the poor live in slums and the rich live near the sky!. people who live on the moon have adapted to look different. and the story follows one poor boy on the moon. hes loved the moon but hated the system. classic. so one day he sneaks on a ship that travel's to earth. there he's traversing through earth to see if it was better then the moon. in fact it is not. its more- kingdom esk?? ever since a war that happened long ago.(they still have tech and use alot of it they just enjoy the structural build of kingdoms) protag finds a prince(after getting a job as a servant) and tells him about the moon and stuff. the prince is grossed out but interested in the rich people's fashion sense and taste. he agrees to go with. he litterally just runs away with like a shit ton of money and buys himself a ticket to the moon. goes to the moon they find out theres a war gonna happen cause they cauiught the protag "kidnapping" a prince??? protag is wanted. best friend sidekick doesnt give a fuck????:? so they get a trip to a different planet to escape it all. find out they are super underdeveloped and the moon have been taking that planet's orphans for testing!>?!?>! they rescue one orphan from a new shipment of orphans about to be sent out. (thats all i have so far lmao) -

SpaceBoots

this follows like a ground of people going about space. spaceboots SB(hes got big ass boots), SpaceGloves SG(shes got big ass gloves), Chat(robot guy who talks like zane from lego ninjao but has the brain compacity of a twitch chat), Hat(he wears hats idfk), Shirt(wears beeeeeeg shirt. the hyper cute person of the group). Dress(guy who loves fashion) along with shirt's cat Skrible(very poorly drawn cat who uhm... cat) i forgor most of the plot but like SB uses his mom's ship to do random things through out the galazy and goes on quest. something is wrong with the spaceship i think and they have to get new parts on planets they havent ever been through. they find out more about- the mom and other family i think while getting parts from people who seem to know their parents and shit? aughh i loved their characters so much ajshdakjhwd

[maaenyo]

Super personal post, for once. Still DA related tho. This might be long, like, very..

I have to start this by stating I was born old. What does that mean? Well, the human soul is a mysterious cosmic potato and many cultures have tried to explain it. The Greeks had the Styx giving people amnesia every time they crossed it over but learning does leave a mark, like water on rock, eventually a stream can make a canyon. Some things eventually do slip through, they're not entirely forgotten. Ever heard a kid make a weird creepy comment about a past life? Ever had a kid make an oddly wise comment adults didn't think of? That's stuff slipping through. So, my cosmic potato of a soul is old enough that I was just born old, knowing stuff, important life lessons already digested gods know how long ago.

This included human nature stuff. How people work, what makes people people. I always knew clothes were just pieces of fabric put together for warmth or because they looked nice. My mother always insisted on putting me in dresses but I wasn't the dresses. The dresses didn't make me be me. I was just a kid playing outside climbing trees and picking bugs from under the rocks, and when I started getting the "close your legs, sit like a proper lady, get down from there, everyone can see your panties" from my own mother I knew that was wrong. I was just playing, nobody should have been focusing on my underwear. So as I grew up enough to start dressing myself I went straight to pants and t-shirts. My mother didn't agree, she was oh so worried about what would people say about her for letting me get out of the house looking like that. Like what? I was like 10 wearing pants and t-shirts, I wasn't looking like a starved and sick victorian kid coming down the chimney. I was never a problematic kid, I was an undiagnosed autistic girl who was "polite and shy" and really wearing comfy clothes I didn't feel suffocated in when my mother would have preferred to have me look like a porcelain doll with frilly dresses must have been my most rebellious act.

I always knew clothes, looks, don't make a person's entire identity, that's just the first layer. I struggled with everything society was throwing at me since very early on, telling me how I should dress and look like to be what I was supposed to be, because I just didn't fit into it, at all. I was always a girl tho, that never really changed, but in my early teens I had already decided that I was more than what people understood by that.

I was just me, first and foremost, and what people saw or expected to see in me had to take a number and wait in the queue. It took me ages to get comfortable with feminine stuff, because I had spent ages avoiding it, avoiding being defined by it by others, just because a doctor once said "it's a girl". Nobody ever asked me who or what I was, never, that wasn't a topic of discussion in the 90s, the internet was in diapers and most people had no idea, we didn't have the words we do now.

I was a feminist before I even knew the word for it. I was bisexual before I knew there was a word for "also liking girls". I just knew more than I was supposed to, out of thin air because nobody was teaching me any of it.

I've been a gamer since age 5 when my great-aunt got me a bootleg Famicom with those cartridges that claimed to have "300 games" but were just a handful of them with the different levels on a long ass list. I spent my formative gamer years playing all the tropes and all the male characters, and the female one I did play as had torpedo 3d boobs; Lara was great but man, the sexualized visuals always pissed me off. Most female characters were useless damsels in distress or walking boobs&ass boobily and assly jiggling all over the screen. It would be a couple of DECADES before I got to play female characters I could be comfortable playing with. Female characters with layers, that had more going on than a bikini armor.

I love RPGs, I love stories, I love interesting characters and the silly illusion of choice. I spent countless hours messing around RPGMaker giving it a try, just having fun with variables and sprites. I am not what I dress as, and I'm not what I do, but videogames are a pretty big part of me.

So I'm 38 now, I had to self-diagnose my autism when I was around 30 because it was getting ridiculous nobody ever fucking noticed when in retrospect it was all there (but so was the bias on autism on girls enforced by gender and social norms that had doctors take the "she's just shy" shortcut instead of really wondering why I barely talked with people). Part of that process resulted in me being more comfortable being me, I guess it's a thing of getting old, you just stop caring what anyone says. I'm old now, I get to be however the fuck I feel like! A joy, really.

Also with time and tons of searching and deep thinking I defined myself better, in terms of beliefs and spirituality in general. I was raised Catholic, but at age 13 I understood nothing I did or didn't would spare me the fiery pits of hell I was certain to end up in because I wasn't "right" and after a short-lived solemn high of faith at age 15 I made God a very simple request and God said "lol watch me shit on that real quick " and I said "ok dickhead, bye". I'm grateful I found a path I'm better suited for, even if it's a constant challenge.

I am many things now, can hold many titles, made my own mythos to acknowledge and accept my place in the universe and I'm pretty much at peace with it all. But as it turns out, once you understand yourself as just another manifestation of everything and nothing (it is everything everywhere all at once tbqh, it's why I'm perpetually tired lol) you don't really stop to wonder some stuff. Like gender. Yes, I am a woman, I just left it at that. But I'm also something else beyond that, I was always aware of that too. So I had two distinct statements and it's taken me my whole life so far to put them next to each other to notice "hey, there's a word for that" that could apply to me too. I imagine now it must have been a consequence of the whole detachment from existence thing I have running in the background that prevented me to see it earlier.

It wasn't until DAV happened that I explored it more consciously. Since the game OFFERED THE OPTION and I was making more Rooks than I could hold in both hands, as I aimed at trying everything the game had to offer it was only logical that one of those Rooks were meant to explore the non-binary options.

Renan Mercar is my nb Rook and I've grown unexpectedly fond of them, more than the others. I do have my favorites but so far Renan is at the top of that list and they're not even my designated canon Rook. They're precious to me and it did take me a while to fully understand why. They're part of me, the part that is nb, that has always been. Possibly due to my autism that has me hanging on words sometimes I failed to make a connection and accept it because I'm a woman, and somehow to my brain that was not compatible with being non-binary, and yeah I know it's all a spectrum, but brain works like that sometimes, thick and silly, that's why it needs time for things to make sense, sometimes.

On one hand I don't want to sort of appropriate anything from anyone, because even though technically I know I'm not I'm also painfully aware of all my privileges and my personal struggles with identity can be nearly non-existent compared with most people, but on the other...I am what I am and what I am is me, not this or that, just me.

When I had to think on this in regards to pronouns I also noticed sometimes I use plural pronouns. Not just they/them, but also we/us, even in Spanish which is my first language (they/them as neutral is an English thing, Spanish is a heavily gendered language and neutrals are very scarce). I know why I do it, it's part of being a manifestation of the everything thing, but I understand it might lead to misunderstandings because I am not a system. There's only one inside this head, a painfully cosmically aware self but still a singular one.

So, that's pretty much it, yup. I'm glad the realization eventually came from my favorite series ever which is also my special interest and the world where a fraction of my mind is constantly in, and I'll forever be feeling a bit stupid for not catching on things earlier but brain just works that way, very smart but also very silly brain with the attention span of an amoeba for most things, frankly idek how I function on a daily basis.

None of this will change much for me going forward, tbh my path supercedes most things, labels in particular, but this has been in the back of my head for a while now and it had to come out somehow so here it is.

And this is Renan by the way! Being relatable and a cutie.

[eptga]

Some final drafts for my cult story as well as a story explaining why Annie first started to question her life.

The skeleton story.

It was a warm autumn morning in 2010 and two young boys about 12 years old were out on a walk with a remote control car and some stolen Halloween decorations. They decided to run into the woods where they came across a clearing and a massive house. One of the boys walked up to the massive metal gate and looked through to see young girl about 9 or 10 picking flowers near the gate. “Hello!” One of the boys said causing the auburn haired girl to jump, and cautiously walk over to the gate. “Hello sorry you scared me how did you get that side of the gate? Don't you know it's dangerous?!” The girl exclaimed. “Chillax there's nothing dangerous out here we're just out on a walk.” “My you talk funny, what does ‘chillax’ mean?” “It means you need to chill out” The other boy chimes in. “Oh no thank you I'm already a bit cold now!”

The two boys stared at each other for a second then looked back at the girl “So… do you live here?” One of the boys asked. “Well yeah everyone does” The little redhead said.” Wait I shouldn't be talking to you! I must go please don't tell anyone I said anything!” With that the girl ran off into the house leaving the two boys alone in silence.

They were just about to walk away when an old man came power walking out of the mansion. “What are you doing here this is private property! I hope you two haven't been filling Annies sweet mind up with darkness. you two need to go you're messing with the magic from the stars!” “’Magic from the stars’?” The young boy said which earned a nudge and a wink from his friend. “No way you have magic!” The boy said sarcastically. “No, the stars do, and my sister interprets it.” The old man stated back “OK then… you know we have magic as well!” the boy giggled slightly and looked at his friend trying not to laugh “Are you making a mockery of the stars!?” the old man yells now getting red in the face.

“No, no! look I can raise the dead!” the boy laughs as he activates his remote-control car where, earlier he had tied an old Halloween decoration too it , a plastic skeleton. He activated the car, and it starts driving up to the gate the wind blowing gently, moving its floppy limbs make it look as if the skeleton was running. The old man yelled in fear as he races back to the house not realising that Annie was watching the whole time and saw the small car at the bottom of the skeleton. This made her question a few things she had been taught. If that tiny moving object was a real thing, then why do they not have it in the house? How did those boys make fun of the stars and nothing happened to them?

Little did those boys know their harmless little prank would spark something in Annie to become a young Sherlock and find out the secrets father Jhonne and maybe even mother Emma held.

Cult story

My story starts off with Joan and Emma Howard's in their 20s seeing the rise of technology and its popularity. They didn't like this as they believed it was the work of God and the devil tempting humans into sin, so decided to hide away from the world and cut out all tech from their lives because of how women were 'supposed' to have children Emma started adopting children to fill her during this time she believed that she started seeing visions from the stars, telling her what to do with her children and herself on the facility.

Because of the many children in the house John and Emma were receiving cheques to help raise the children but Jhonne and Emma used this money to make their estate bigger and close it off from the world, this was years of building saving money in raising the children to obey the stars and Jhonne and Emma. Years later the cult looks just like a Victorian society no tech on site except not where the children can get to, there is a secret room that can only be opened by a simple small wax stamp, this is where john keeps track of everything and falsified documents to adopt more children and to stay hidden.

Every few years Emma holds a star reading ceremony where she will pick a few pairs of people to have children as well as still adopting from various adoption centres new paragraph ever is called mother of the stars or star reader Jhonne is called father of the house.

Everything is going well and Ryan Johnson children who questioned them two or back to an orphanage this works well until a child silently questions and discovers the truth, this girl is Annie.

[writ-in-violant]

Exactly! Or to convince themselves that it's not possible/not worth it to fight it. If you're up against something that dictates what is Law, well, you take second (or third. or fourth. anything that's not last) best and you take it happily because you can't imagine a world that isn't that.

Which is part of why I think Victorian England works well as a time to pair with this cosmology (disclaimer: it's been a while since I've done in-depth research on this. im just the kid of a victorian studies guy and ive taken a few classes on the period) bc at the time you have massive anxiety around class shifts -- the Victorian period saw the House of Commons becoming more prominent in government over the House of Lords, working-class (white, english) men had just gotten the ability to vote, and the monarchy was becoming more of a relic than a governing body. So you have a nation that historically has believed in monarchy and the Divine right of Kings (i could talk about how the chain of being in FL is lifted pretty directly from the platonic Great chain of being & the theory that the chain of being by positing the king as closest to god via the divine right of kings and thus the most perfect of humanity inherently dissuaded revolution among the devout but i'm trying and failing not to ramble) and now through various factors (working-class sentiment, bleedover from the French Revolution, the theory of evolution and similar scientific thought gaining prominence) is at a friction-point where that previous order is being questioned...

...and then you smash it into another society where questioning the primacy of the beings on top, who are the closest thing to gods, and moving in your place on the hierarchy beneath them is seen as scandalous at best and criminal at worst. So all the ideas of moving along the Chain, of (red) Science questioning divine authority, work well. & it's not surprising that London, with its own people pushing for various forms of revolution and restructuring, ran into an even bigger system of oppression and supposedly-divine dominance and some people went "no fuck that as well" & the people just trying to make the system work for them (like the Masters) are like no, wait, what the fuck. Don't throw it all into jeopardy! We don't know what that'll do but we're clinging to the idea that where we are is better than where we could be to cope! Stop questioning the oppressive structure!!!

Idk this may all be super obvious and I'm overexplaining, I just. Rotate the intersection between this time period and the greater themes the Judgements etc bring up in my head.

Also I wanna be clear: London's not like, exceptional. This is a flash point involving these issues and thus well-placed; it is far from the only place and flash-point involving these or similar issues. I feel that this is self-explanatory but London is not uniquely Good and Revolutionary and Antimonarchist by any means, at all, and they certainly didn't achieve fixing all of the problems they were starting to realize. London and England are not exceptional. I don't wanna come off like I'm saying they are bc holy shit, no.

Anyway sorry for jumping on and rambling Im just. Having thoughts.

Still on my Masterposting bullshit

These fuckers are 100% shaped by the fucked-upedness of a place directly ruled by and so close to Judgements. They need hardcore therapy. Their therapy needs therapy.

[lucifer-kane]

Looking at getting Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell and ohhh my god the description of this book is literally. It’s SO my tastes

“Shrike, the Butcher of Blackthorn, is a legendary warrior of the fae realms. When he wins a tournament in the Court of the Silver Wheel, its queen names him her Oak King - a figurehead destined to die in a ritual duel to invoke the change of seasons. Shrike is determined to survive. Even if it means he must put his heart as well as his life into a mere mortal’s hands.

Wren Lofthouse, a London clerk, has long ago resigned himself to a life of tedium and given up his fanciful dreams. When a medieval-looking brute arrives at his office to murmur of destiny, he’s inclined to think his old enemies are playing an elaborate prank. Still, he can’t help feeling intrigued by the bizarre-yet-handsome stranger and his fantastical ramblings, whose presence stirs up emotions Wren has tried to lock away in the withered husk of his heart.

As Shrike whisks Wren away to a world of Wild Hunts and arcane rites, Wren is freed from the repression of Victorian society. But both the fae and mortal realms prove treacherous to their growing bond. Wren and Shrike must fight side-by-side to see who will claim victory - Oak King or Holly King.”

[nathanrm]

Alice returns to Wonderland

This idea has always been in my head ever since I started getting into the twst fandom and I just wanna talk about it, what if Alice returns to (twst) wonderland after being gone for many years?

For a bit of context though this Alice will be my own version, a mix of all types of Alice in wonderland content that I’ve seen over the years, my version will be male because 1.my blog is for male and enby readers 2. NRC is an all boys school 3. There are already a lot of female twst reader content to the point when I look up “twst x male reader” there still a shit ton of female reader content

(and yes I will keep Alices name the same despite making him a boy, I just prefer it that way, let’s just say Alice’s mom desperately wanted a girl but Alice was born a boy, so Alice’s dad let his wife let her name the baby boy Alice)

The basics of my idea for this fanfic is that Alice grew up in wonderland being able to visit it when ever he wants with the help of the white rabbit , he’s been visiting since he was young (maybe 3-4 years old) he grew up with the weirdness of wonderland and see the beloved characters as family, King and Queen of hearts are parental figures, mad hatter, the March hare and the teapot mouse as uncles and aunt, and the jabberwock as a giant house pet , and with the rest of the great seven as his other parental figures as well (yes I’m very well aware of great 7 yuu and great 7 yuu is one of my inspirations for this fanfic idea) Alice often stays in wonderland longer than he should but it doesn’t matter since time works differently in wonderland than Alice’s words, Alice can stay in wonderland for week, months or even years but in Alice’s world he’s only been gone for a couple of hours or a day (since we see in the live action, in wonderland Alice has been there for days but when she returns it’s only been a few minutes).

And Alice was somewhat involved with the making of NRC , yes i know this sounds far fetched but I saw a theory about NRC being the evil queens old castle, they even compared pictures of both NRC and pictures from the Snow White movie as proof, since that place is really really old it obviously had a lot of changes to it, and in my fanfic ramshackle was a dorm specifically for students that are from Alice’s world, normal magic less students who are more interested in things that are considered abnormal in their world, like Alice’s natural curiosity for things that aren’t the norm in the Victorian era, here’s a bit of the fanfic for context

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“My dear do you like the idea of going to this school once it is finished?” The queen of hearts asked Alice as the boy was sitting next to her looking at a book with only pictures in it and little to no words.

-Alice looked up at his mother practically beaming with excitement ”of course mother! Night Raven College sounds like it would a wonderful school! I can’t wait for it to be finished! Meet all kinds of people from other lands, and learning new things from them just makes me excited!” The boy yelled with joy and excitement.

-The Queen couldn’t help but coo at how adorable her son was, his natural curiosity always getting the best of him “well there will be another dorm added for special students” the Queen said to grab her son’s attention

-The Queen had Alice’s full attention now, placing himself on her lap so he can listen to her with wide eyes filled with curiosity and smile on his face “this dorm will be for students like you my dear” she stated then bopping Alice’s nose making him giggle “this dorm will be for students from your worlds” she continued “students who don’t fit in with the norms of their society or government or whatever it is they have there. Magic-less students who have unique qualities of their own to make up for their lack of magic, like how your such a curious little boy, smart and a fast learner!”

-The Queen cheered and tickled Alice making the boy laugh and trying to keep his mother hands from tickling him more, the pair laughed and hugged each other in a loving embrace

-Once they’ve stopped the boy got off his mother’s lap and looked up at her to ask if he could go tell his father, the King of hearts about it, she gave a nod of approval then the boy ran off into the garden to find his father to tell him about the news

And this is the last time Alice sees his wonderland family after going back to his normal family which he regrets a lot because the white rabbit never came back to bring him back to wonderland and he’s been waiting ever since.

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I’m still very nervous to post the stuff I write and draw on here, and I’m still nervous about my writing since I’ve mainly only written stuff for myself for a long time but I wanna share the stuff I write and draw, I’m still new to writing for other people so for those who are way better writers then me feel free to point out any mistakes I make, I wanna learn so I can be a better writer

All of my writing will be male and enby readers so please don’t ever ask for a female reader I’m begging you please just don’t, I will never do female readers, I posted my rules about request before but deleted it because I haven’t posted any of my writing about twst, I will remake it once I’ve posted more of my stuff

I’ve rambled about my version of Alice for twst on @Twisted-wonderland-but-gayer blogs and a lot of their writing inspired me to make my own about twst

Here is some art work of my version of Alice for twst