#lucy kensington

[darkacademiaarchivist]

Lucille Kensington could stab me with that sword of hers and I'd thank her

[delaneytalks-tostatues]

I need Sophie Green, Gideon Nav, and Dr. Edison Tucker in a room together so desperately

Similarly I need Jane Gonzalez, Harrowhark Nonagesimus, and Lucille Kensington in a room together as well

[doctor-alana-maxwell]

happy birthday lucille kensington everything castiel said in lionsgate 6 was correct. best wishes

[paper-land]

I would have just owned a seam ripper. Sorry Lucy and Ed, I guess I’m just built different.

[madigoround]

I have a headcanon that despite being a small town Jerusalem has a pride parade which Lucy and ed go to together and then in July ed goes to town council and gets them to have another month of festivities for disability pride month and maybe the town gets a grant for the use of new accessibility options which results in something like ed building new covered benches for around town to give people with physical disabilities a chance to stop and rest and Lucy working with Sufi to create an app that can take a picture of something and then read it out to you if your preferred language and they have pictures from both months activities on the fridge

[ravenadottir]

islanders' data and anecdotes if they were honest:

SEASON 1

❝ main character ❞ she's the only one that makes any sense

❝ allegra ❞ 24, swansea, cocktail entrepreneur, the public loves to hate her

❝ erikah ❞ 20, norwich, jobbing actor, she changes, every guy will be the love of her life until a new guy comes around

❝ jen ❞ 22, london, fashion blogger, the equivalent of a piece of paper until she couples up with someone for clout

❝ talia ❞ 23, watford, music journalist, she's the only one everyone agrees is the best person here

❝ jake wilson ❞ 29, preston, chef, chicken shit that waits way too long to say something

❝ mason❞ 24, romford, musician and underwear model, if "this could've been an email" was a person

❝ miles ❞ 22, glasgow, carpenter, not interesting enough to remember. also tattoo

❝ tim ❞ 23, truro, dj, alright, we'll allow it

❝ jasper ❞ 26, kingston, financial advisor, straight to the bin

❝ levi ❞ 26, manchester, professional water polo player, sock balls

❝ rohan ❞ 23, wolverhampton, psychology student, he joined the villa and that's pretty close to the circus. also, see "injustice"

❝ cherry❞ 20, suffolk, west end performer, try hard

❝ reese taylor ❞ 22, birmingham, newsagent by day, professional wrestler at weekends, revolting lack of personality

❝ sammi ❞ 22, london, graphic designer and artist, the definition of 'wasted potential"

❝ lucy ❞ 25, bristol, “adventurer”, *snake sounds*

❝ returning miles ❞ 22, glasgow, carpenter, we still don't care

❝ returning jasper ❞ 22, kingston, financial advisor, at least we found out he has a pet snake

SEASON 2

❝ hope ❞ 26, london, brand ambassador, '‘voted “most likely to be the center of the drama because she puts herself there"

❝ lottie ❞ 24, melbourne, makeup artist, i have one personality trait and that's all you're gonna get

❝ main character ❞ she should change her name to 'girl #5'

❝ hannah ❞ 21, st. albans, social media assistant, she went home really soon because she was so shy, we're sure that's not gonna bite anyone in the face

❝ marisol ❞ 24, portsmouth, law student, talks too much/says nothing at all

❝ gary rennell ❞ 23, chatham, crane operator, SLUT

❝ noah ❞ 25, romford, librarian, QUIET SLUT

❝ rocco ❞ 21, belfast, owns a “cocktails and cronuts” food truck, LYING SLUT

❝ ibrahim ❞ 22, birmingham, gold player, SHY SLUT

❝ bobby mckenzie ❞ 24/26, glasgow, hospital caterer, does impressions and bakes some stuff

❝ priya ❞ 29, manchester, estate agent, should've noticed she's bi during the fucking season

❝ henrik ❞ 23, isle of wight, climbing and wilderness survival instructor, shiny and dumb/smooth brain/nothing behind those eyes

❝ lucas koh ❞ 27, oxford, physiotherapist, yes

❝ chelsea ❞ 23, buckinghamshire, interior decorator, there's pink and there's champagne

❝ jakub zabinski ❞ 25, rochdale, personal trainer and fitness model, real life mutant ninja turtle but like white

❝ elijah ❞ 26, watford, hairdresser and model, he's there and then he's not

❝ felix ❞ 21, rotherham, nightclub promoter, annoying little cousin that grows up to be the annoying little virgin at the club

❝ kassam ❞ 26, new castle, techno dj, if you blink you might miss him

❝ graham ❞ 23, devon, commercial fisherman, ginger thanos

❝ arjun ❞ 24, norwich, dog groomer and influencer, "where's my hug?" kind of guy

❝ carl ❞ 29, dublin, tech entrepreneur, he's almost learning how not to sound like a robot

❝ shannon ❞ 24, dublin, professional poker player, "you'll forgive how annoying she can be because of her body"tactics, players, poker analogies all the time"

❝ blake ❞ 22, kensington, if you blink you won't miss her because she's so goddamn annoying

❝ elisa ❞ 22, london, social media influencer, the human form of a gear shift because of all the blame she shifts

❝ jo ❞ 23, cheshire, bmx racer, was here for only three days and it was still too long

❝ returning henrik ❞ 23, isle of wight, climbing and wilderness survival instructor, absolutely not the same person and it gets worse

❝ returning lucas ❞ 27, oxford, still a physiotherapist, "toxic fucks"

❝ returning hannah ❞ now 22, st. albans, she resented lottie so much she became her

[traeumenvonbuechern]

If you like The Locked Tomb, listen to these podcasts!

Where The Stars Fell:

Dr. Edison Tucker is having a very weird life. Not being able to die tends to color things that way. Lucille Kensington is the literary scene’s biggest enigma. That’s just the way she likes it. When the pair find themselves sharing a cabin in the strangest town in America— Jerusalem, OR— they’re prepared for a housemate situation from hell. What they’re not expecting is tidings of a stranger sort: Ed is the antichrist, Lucy her guardian angel, and if they can’t find a way to work together soon, the rapture is set to take first the town, then the world… but neither of them know that yet. Welcome to Jerusalem, OR, where what doesn’t kill you is just another mystery.

The creators have a whole post on why WTSF is perfect for The Locked Tomb and Griddlehark fans!

Malevolent:

Arkham Private Investigator Arthur Lester wakes up with no memory of who he is or what has happened, only a nameless, eerie voice guiding him through the darkness. Blind, terrified, and confused, his journey will lead him towards a series of mysteries in the hopes of understanding the truth of what has transpired. As cosmic horrors seep into the world around, Arthur must ask himself whether this entity truly seeks to help him, or are its intentions more… malevolent?

Dathen says it perfectly here: "The relationship between the investigator and the voice is by far the #1 sell of this story. It’s messy and ugly and beautiful and complicated and terribly, wonderfully intimate. It ended up overlapping a lot of my feelings about Harrow and Gideon, and lyctorhood in general."

Hello From The Hallowoods:

Come walk between the black pines! In this award-winning queer fiction podcast, a cosmic narrator follows the increasingly connected residents of the forest at the end of the world. It's a bittersweet story that explores queer identity, horror genre tropes, and finding hope in humanity's last moments.

If you like Gideon Nav, you will love Riot Maidstone. Just look at this fanart!

[world-of-wales]

─ •✧ WILLIAM'S YEAR IN REVIEW : 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 ✧• ─

𝟏 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : The Prince of Wales visited Royal Air Force Northolt to mark the conclusion of the "Up Against Time" Appeal. Afterwards, he visited GWR Kia's office in Brentford. Subsequently, William visited ENSO.

𝟐 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William held an Investiture. Afterwards, he and Catherine met Liz Hatton & her family at Windsor Castle. Subsequently, a personal message was released by them following the meeting. In the evening, William met Aston Villa’s 1982 European Cup winning squad as he attended the UEFA Champions League game between Villa & Bayern Munich with his friends at Villa Park.

𝟑 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William was received by the Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear (Ms. Lucy Winskell) at Birtley Community Pool. A new Royal Foundation Community Programme for Birtley was announced. He released a statement offering condolences on the passing of Mr. Alford Gardner.

𝟒 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : A message from William was a part of the NHS's Step Into Health Initiative 10th Anniversary brochure.

𝟓 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : A trailer of The Prince of Wales' upcoming docuseries was released. Kensington Palace released a photograph too.

𝟕 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William appeared in a video message during the BBC's Green Sports Awards.

𝟖 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William received Ms. Hannah Jones (Chief Executive, Earthshot Prize) at Windsor Castle. Aftwrwards, he participated in the Earthshot Prize Council Judging via video link. William and Catherine were represented by Mrs. Rebecca Priestley at the Memorial Service for Mrs. Julia Rausing.

𝟗 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : He attended a BAFTA × Royal African Society event to highlight support for young people within the Creative Industries.

𝟏𝟎 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : Will & Cat marked World Mental Health Day. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Southport Community following the horrific attack in July. They met the families of Miss Bebe King, Miss Alice da Silva Aguiar and Miss Elsie Dot Stancombe at the Marian Centre. Afterwards, they met Ms. Leanne Lucas at Compassion Acts. Finally, they visited were received by Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside (Mr. Peter Oliver) as they met Emergency Responders from North West England at Southport Community Centre. Subsequently, A personal tweet was released by them.

𝟏𝟓 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William attended a National Football League Foundation UK Community event. Later, he received Ms. Amanda Berry (Chief Executive, The Royal Foundation) at Windsor Castle. Subsequently, he held a Meeting. A Letters Patent was issued by the King delegating his duties to the Counsellors of State while on tour, making The Prince of Wales the highest ranking official in the state.

𝟏𝟔 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William held an Investiture. He was received by the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London (Sir Kenneth Olisa) at the Centrepoint Awards and Gala Dinner. A photograph of William was released as part of the lead up to the release of "Prince William: We Can End Homelessness". William released a statement welcoming Thomas Tuchel as the new England men's team manager.

𝟏𝟕 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : He was received by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall (Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho) at Duchy College Stoke Climsland. Afterwards, he visited East Shallowford Farm. Finally, The Duke of Cornwall visited the historic Warren House Inn at Postbridge. It was announced that The Prince and Princess of Wales made a private donation to the DEC Middle East Humanitarian Appeal for providing life-saving aid in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank.

𝟏𝟗 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : Catherine and William marked Black History Month.

𝟐𝟎 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : Kensington Palace released a statement on behalf of William wishing the nominees the best of luck ahead of the BAFTA Cymru Awards.

𝟐𝟐 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : He released a personal tweet about Aston Villa's Champions League campaign. An unseen photograph of his was on display during King Charles visit to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Sydney, Australia.

𝟐𝟕 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : Kensington Palace released unseen photographs from 1993 of The Prince of Wales, his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, of his first visit to the Passage Charity. A few photos from the upcoming docuseries were also released. He released a personal tweet congratulating Billy Monger for breaking the Ironman World Championships course record for a leg amputee by over 2 hours.

𝟐𝟖 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : William wrote a letter to Restore sending them his best wishes after one of the charity's supporters wrote a letter to bring their work to his attention.

𝟑𝟎 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : The first episode of "Prince William : We Can End Homelessness" was aired.

𝟑𝟏 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 : The second episode of "Prince William : We Can End Homelessness" was aired.

[your-fav-is-autistic]

Lucille "Lucy" Kensington from Where The Stars Fell

(no official artwork of her at the moment)

Lucille "Lucy" Kensington from Where The Stars Fell is autistic.

[katey76762]

Favorite female podcast characters

 Okay I know it’s almost the end of International Women’s Day, but I wanted to list my favorite podcast ladies 

Evelyn from Less is Morgue

Antigone Funn from Wooden Overcoats

Dr. Marella Morgan from Primordial Deep

Talia from Desperado

Sister Carpenter from The Silt Verses

Dusty from Starship Q Star

Gayle Kruger from Two Flat Earthers Kidnap a Free Mason

JJ Armstrong from Mockery Manor

Kilner from We Fix Space Junk

Madge Stallion from Fawx & Stallion

Tamika Flynn from Welcome to Nightvale

Lily Harper from Unwell

Helina from Windfall

Mahira Varma from Valence

Collette Guise, Ariadne Culver, Clytemnestra Seedeater, and Jenny Ostertag from the Kingmaker Histories  

Mama Gabe, Ed Tucker, Sufi, Lucy Kensington from Where the Stars Fell

Daughter Dooly, Polly Barrow, Granny Underwood, The Walker Sisters & the Dead Queen from Old Gods of Appalachia

In conclusion:

[edwin-paynes-bowtie]

I miss the London Institute in 1903.

I miss Matthew and Alastair and Thomas and Cordelia and James and Grace and Christopher and Ari and Anna and Lucie and Eugenia. I miss DILF Will and his Tessa-shaped pearl without price, too.

I miss light academia and picnics in parks and sledding parties and balls and the Hell Ruelle and Paris seances and Kensington Gardens and the Louvre and 102 Cornwall Gardens and 48 Curzon Street.

I miss Cordelia's bravery and Thomas's resilient kindness and fortitude. I miss Alastair's deep untethered love and Matthew's wit and wonder and ability to see the beauty in everything.

I miss Cordelia's globe necklace and Matthew's signet ring and Alastair's daggers and I miss their perfect waistcoats and deep-hued dresses. And I miss their jokes and their laughter and their little family dynamics that really stab at your heart when they want to.

I miss Thomas and Alastair talking all night long and kissing in carriages and insisting that they each deserve love and care. I miss James and Cordelia playing chess and talking about going to Constantinople. I miss Matthew's bright smile and mercurial moods, and his passion and learning that he should not seek to destroy himself because he is wonderful.

I miss lovely character arcs and beautifully-developed relationships. I miss Nothing but Shadows and Cast Long Shadows and Every Exquisite thing and the Midnight Heir. I miss the Penultimate Hours and the Letter Game. I miss Chain of Gold and Chain of Iron and Chain of Thorns.

I miss long nights of theorizing.

But more than anything, I miss The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare. Because that series is beauty, it is art, it is color.

[darkacademiaarchivist]

i just started s3 of where the stars fell and just... Ed and Lucy's dynamic... they're so affectionate my poor sapphic heart can't take it.

they're literally one of my favourite couples in media right now aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[delaneytalks-tostatues]

Okay obviously from a Griddlehark standpoint Lucy is the Necro and Ed is the Cav like. Personalitywise that's how they fit Lucy = Harrow and Ed = Gideon

Plus Lucy being able to use Ed like a battery is a very Necro thing

BUT. LUCY IS THE GUARDIAN ANGEL WITH A SWORD. EMPHASIS ON GUARDIAN. Like that is THE Cav thing.

Ed doesn't get a cool sword she has her divine shield or smthn (im relistening rn bc I'm hazy on details) which is SUCH a Necro thing

Anyway my gf and I think that they'd be the ones who are both technically Necromancers but say "fuck the binary we are BOTH learning to protect EACH OTHER" and they're able to work rlly well together by not limiting each other to one or the other

AND they also both have no interest in lyctorhood because immortality is unappealing to them!! Who wants to live forever??? Watching everyone and everything you love whither and die??? They want to grow old together!!!

They do go to Canaan House to catch up on the gossip with everyone else but they're not in it to win they're just bored.

(Ed would make endless jokes about Lucy eating her once the secret of lyctorhood is spilled though)

[obsessedwithlarkin]

CLUB DANCE @ JUMP PHOENIX:

CLUB DANCE X2 ( Strut & Pre-Co):

•Elodie Olson- Spanish Rose

• Kambria Merrill- Halleluiah

• Elodie Gardiner - Broadway Baby

• Charlotte Seals - Yellow

• Kendall Lovrant- My Boyfriend's Back

• Scarlett Bernard - Skinny Love

• Audrie Sing - Come Into My Arms

• Robert Lancester - If I Ain't Got You

• Brylin Drummond - Bluebirds

• Lucy Curtis - These Boots Are Made For Walking

• Finley Adcox- Landslide

• Aria Chaidez- That's My Boy

• Everly Goldsmith- Roxie

• Hannah Slater- Snowing

• Moon River - Mini Lyrical Line

• I Have A Dream - Mini Contemporary Group

• Don't Worry About Me - Mini Lyrical Group

• Good To Go - Mini Jazz Extended Line

• Ladies Room - Mini Jazz Extended Line

• Avery Palacios- Off With Their Heads

• Angels Standing By - Mini Lyrical Extended Line

• Can't Turn Me Loose - Mini Jazz Extended Line

• 9 to 5 - Mini MT Extended Line

• Ballroom Blitz - Mini Specialty Extended Line

• Dreams - Mini Lyrical Extended Line

• Rythm Nation - Teen Ballroom Extended Line

• What I Like About You - Teen Jazz Extended Line

• Distortion - Teen Jazz Extended Line

• Goodbye Forever - Teen Lyrical Extended Line

• Shine - Teen MT Line

• Empty Note - Teen Contemporary Line

• House Party - Teen Hip-Hop Production

• Rinse And Repeat - Teen Jazz Group

• Anything I Do - Teen Jazz Extended Line

• Wild - JUMPStart Specialty Extended Line

• Jet Set - JUMPStart MT Extended Line

• One Jump - JUMPStart MT Extended Line

• Walk The Dinosaur - Open Jazz Production

• Pink Cadillac- JUMPStart Jazz Extended Line

• Mambo N 5 - JUMPStart Jazz Extended Line

• Remember Me- JUMPStart Lyrical Line

• Baby I'm A Star - JUMPStart Jazz Extended Line

CLUB DANCE COMPANY:

• River Sergerman- Body Language

• Claire Pistor- Bad Dreams

• Sophia Schiano - Dynamite

• Emma Scott- Forsaken

• Kortlynn Rosenbaugh- Retrace

• Hannah Bozer- End Scene

• Alexis Alvarez- Light Bodied

• Zoe Laird - Yea

• Lily Knopps- I Dreamed A Dream

• Delaney Poulson - Once Upon Another Time

• Jolene Serna- Lipstick

• Presley Ortiz- Glamourous

• Kaia Erby- Something's Got A Hold On Me

• Bella Linman- Black Swan

• Kennedy Marble- Bitter Earth

• Harlow Hilmo- Let You Go

• Harper Schwalb - The Night

• Makayla Jackman- La Flor

• Hadlie Scott- Shallow Water

• Brooklyn Besch- A Dream Discarded

• Kendyl Miller- Compassion

• Kynzlie Plote- Reminisence

• Elsie Sandall- Love Forgotten

• Mali Photnetrakhom- Powershift

• Lucia Piedrahita- I Wish To Tell You

• Tatum Self- The Poet

• Mikayla Isler- How Come You Don't Call Me

• Isla Gardner- Waiting Game

• Sam Martineu - Ten Hearts

• Amaya Weeks- All I Am

• Julia Chavez - Where Memories Lie

• Chloe Slone - Pushing Past

• Cara Hart- Take My Love

• Kinley Palmer- Let Yourself Go

• Mariah Bland- Danny's Allstar Joint

• Cambrie O'Haver- Winter

• Finley Nielsen- Remember Me

• Jaxon Adamson- Workin' Day And Night

• Sleeping Beauty Waltz - Mini Ballet Line

• Nixie Vance- I Am A Woman

• Jailhouse Rock- Mini MT Extended Line

• Faye Cunnigham- Sweet Old Fashioned Girl

• These Boots - Mini Jazz Line

• Clear Blue Morning - Mini Lyrical Extended Line

• Emma Kleve - Walkin' After Midnight

• Ya Ya- Mini Jazz Group

• River Robbins- Wild And Reckless

• I Saw Him Standing There - Mini Jazz Extended Line

• Kinley Martz- Respect

• Navy Forrest- I Love You

• Bluebirds - Mini Contemporary Line

• Aspen Brandt- Black Velvet

• Send In The Clowns - Mini Lyrical Line

• Kensington Ferrin- Evil Gal Blues

• Stand By Me - Lyrical Line

• Be Italian - Mini MT Extended Line

• Save Me Not - Mini Contemporary Group

• Werk It - Mini Jazz Group

• Emersyn Varker- These Boots

• Eastyn Vose- Eternity

• Bryn Spears - Youth

• Fragments - Teen Ballet Line

• Somebody That I Used To Know - Teen Tap Extended Line

• Petrichor - Teen Contemporary Extended Line

• Maneater - Senior Jazz Extended Line

• Breathe - Teen Specialty Line

• Fragile Humanity - Senior Contemporary Group

• The Chain - Teen Jazz Group

• Pump Up The Jam - Teen Jazz Extended Line

• Who Lights The Sun - Teen Contemporary Line

• Torn - Teen Lyrical Line

• Life In Plastic - Teen MT Production

• Grand March - Junior Ballet Line

• Dolls - JUMPStart Ballet Extended Line

• Microphone - JUMPStart Jazz Extended Line

• Pon De Replay - Junior Specialty Line

• Footloose - JUMPStart Tap Extended Line

• Another Day Of Sun - Junior Tap Extended Line

• I Will Always Love You- JUMPStart Lyrical Line

• Chasing Cars - Junior Lyrical Line

• You Raise Me Up - JUMPStart Lyrical Extended Line

• The Masks We Wear - Junior Contemporary Line

• On The Beach - JUMPStart MT Extended Line

• Before We Were Yours - Junior Contemporary Extended Line

• Songbird - JUMPStart Contemporary Group

• Memories Fade - Junior Lyrical Extended Line

• Hot, Hot, Hot - JUMPStart Ballroom Production

• Sway - Junior Jazz Group

• Love, Love, Love - JUMPStart MT Group

• Human Rights - Junior Contemporary Group

• Motown - Junior Ballroom Production

• Hit Me With Your Best Shot - JUMPStart Jazz Line

• Black Cat - Junior Jazz Extended Line

• Pitbulls - JUMPStart Hip-Hop Production

• My Dogg - Junior Hip-Hop Production

[bubbl3zdaseaotter37]

Whumptober 2024

No. 8: SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Isolation Chamber | Forced to Stay Awake | "Leave the lights on." (Coldplay, Midnight)

A/N: Here we are with another prompt that was over a week ago! I'm glad I could finally finish this one, even if I wish I had more time to revise. But the days have really started to fly, now that I’m so far behind. Wish me luck as I play catchup this weekend!

I’ve always been surprised by the genuine lack of fics from Lockwood’s POV about the time during the Black Winter.  I’ve seen a few good ones out there, but they always feel so few and far between!  So here I am, filling that need, because what else do you do as a fic author?  Enjoy the angst, my fellow Locknation friends.  A happier fic is on the way!

It was the morning after a case, and the sun had just begun its tedious climb into the sky, despite the later hours of the morning.  A cold fog hung like a blanket on all of London as Holly and I wearily descended the stairs from the Wilmington’s squat, Kensington townhouse.  A short way down the street, illuminating the fog, flashed the emergency lights of a DEPRAC van.  I pulled my favorite, long, black coat tighter against the chill.

“Well, I don’t know about you, Holly, but I’m ready to go home,” I said to break the silence, putting on a grin despite the fatigue that had settled into my every limb.  I hoped that if I put enough cheer into that smile, it might make the lingering chill in my muscles fade away.

Things certainly could have gone smoother if I my thoughts hadn’t wandered in the oppressive solitude of the basement right before the spectre’s death loop passed through the ground floors to its source, but Holly and I had located the source all the same.  Well, not without several close calls, a misplaced rapier, and a twisted ankle, but wasn’t that the charm of our company anyways?  We get the job done, despite the hardships.

“Yes, but we still haven’t talked about you,” Holly replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice.  Such a tone was unusual with our perky assistant, but I thought that maybe the constant running about was wearing her down.  We were all a little tense that horrible winter.

“About me?” I repeated defensively, stopping before the curb.  The red and blue lights from the siren bounced off Holly’s peeved, disheveled stare.

“Lockwood, you almost fell asleep,” she exclaimed. “During a case!”

“I did not ‘fall asleep.’ I thought I heard someone call my name and got distracted.”

Holly shook her head, lips pressed together tightly.  “You heard wrong.  Since when were you a Listener, anyways…?”

My stomach twisted painfully, and I saw the immediate look of regret on Holly’s face.  Neither of us spoke for a long moment.  I tried to ignore the insistent headache that had been lingering in my temples since the previous day, and only gotten worse in the night.  None of us had dared speak about Lucy since that morning I had found George in a kitchen chair, foggy glasses resting on the table beside a crumpled note.  It had turned into another unspoken rule.  Don’t talk about the upstairs room.  Don’t ask what happened to Robin.  Don’t mention Lucy, ever.

I had tried avoiding thinking about it as much as possible.  George and Holly’s avoidance of the topic made it easier, but after hearing that painfully familiar voice in the basement last night… Holly was right, I wasn’t a Listener, but it was like something in me had been certain Lucy had been there, just taking a short break and checking up on Holly.  Maybe it had been the effects of the haunting, or maybe I had really drifted away for just a moment.  Either way, I hurriedly shoved the thoughts away again, behind the wall where I kept all the memories I didn’t dwell on.

“Lockwood?”

Holly’s voice surprised me out of the reverie I had slipped into, and I realized that my eyelids had been about to fall shut.  My vision swam, I swayed slightly where I stood, and I was so focused on not suddenly losing my balance that all that I managed to give in reply was an absent hum.

“I apologize, I just…” A pause.  I looked at Holly, confused by her hesitation, to find her staring at me with evident concern, eyebrows drawn together. “Are you alright?”

“Of course,” I managed, squaring my shoulders and putting on another bright smile. “Just a little tired.  Our cab should be here soon anyways.  Then we’ll lock the source up in the vault and take it to the furnaces with our next batch.”

Quietly, Holly gave her assent.  The two of us stood in silence again, watching the figures bustling about the house across the street, veiled in fog, like a parade of somber shadow children.  The pounding in my head grew more intense with every flash of the emergency lights, so I averted my gaze, took to staring at the scuffed toes of my shoes.  I must have drifted off yet again, because in the next I knew, tires crunched to a stop on the pavement in front of me, and Holly was tossing one of our duffel bags in the back seat.

I bent down to grab the second bag, only for my vision to tilt sickeningly, grayed out on the edges.  Stumbling sideways, my foot slipped on the curb, and I hit my head on the cold, metal side of the cab.  Holly was there in an instant, eyes wide, grasping my arm tightly and speaking words I hardly registered from the way my head was throbbing, both from hitting it and my now significantly more noticeable headache.

“—ou hear me?”

I caught a fragment of what she was saying, and a flash of movement in the corner of my eye.

“Lockwood?”

With a grunt, I rubbed the spot on my head as I stood up with Holly’s help.

“Can you hear me?  Are you okay?”

“’M fine…” I said, feeling every tiny ache in my body.  I had been running on fumes for who knew how long, and now it was catching up with me.

Despite my assurances, Holly half-dragged me to the bottom step of the house, where I sat heavily.  Without my realizing, my head lolled to the side, until my sluggish thoughts had enough presence to wonder why the houses across the way had tilted.  I blinked hard, shaking my head to clear the fog from my mind.

“Lockwood, when was the last time you slept—?”

I blinked again, took a moment to process the question, then gave my assistant my most placating smile.  “Don’t be ridiculous, Holly.  I got a wink right before this case.”

She stared at me skeptically.  “And those bags under your eyes are the proof.”

“Those are always there.  I keep them around to carry the weight of my responsibilities,” I replied dryly.

“Lockwood—”

Before she could finish, a man – later I discovered that Holly had instructed our cabbie to fetch help – came running up to us, with a DEPRAC officer, a paramedic, and several Fittes agents clad in their distinctive, grey uniforms.

“Wha—?”

The paramedic crouched down in front of us and began rapidly asking questions, flashing a torch in my face, and throwing open a fluorescently colored first-aid kit.  My mind buzzed, and the light only exacerbated my now throbbing headache.

“I’m alright, just hit my head,” I said, hoping that was enough information to appease them. After another moment of fussing after me, the paramedic decided I was being truthful and began to pack up her things again.  Behind her, the two Fittes agents whispered to each other, while the officer checked his watch impatiently.  When they had returned to their own scene, I let out a peeved sigh.

“Great, now Kipps will hear about this,” I grumbled, imagining the jibes he would come up with about the whole affair.  Yes, a certain understanding had passed between us since the case at Aikmere’s, a ceasefire of sorts, but that did not end the sardonic comments every time we interacted since then.  There was still a fundamental difference in the way our agencies operated, and consequently, our values also clashed.

Holly huffed, stood up, and dusted off the front of her dress.  “The perfect reason for you to get some actual sleep,” she replied. “Now, if you’re not about to pass out again, I suggest we go home.”

Gratefully, I took her offered hand, trying not to wobble too much as I stood and strolled with Holly to our cab.  As we were greeted by our mildly confused driver, I stared out at the early London sky, a painting of pale pinks and golds, wondering if Lucy was doing the same.

[onheirpodcast]

Prince William's engagements and video messages for women's football since their last international tournament in 2022

5th October 2022 - The Prince attended a 10th anniversary celebration for St George's Park, the home of English football, where he spoke with young female players

10th May 2023 - William awarded MBEs to players Beth Mead and Lucy Bronze. Of the 60 plus people who received honours - including male footballers - Kensington Palace's social media focused entirely on Beth

14th May 2023 - The Prince attended the final of the Women's FA Cup where he awarded trophies to winners Chelsea

20th June 2023 - William visited St George's Park to wish the England team good luck in the World Cup

19th August 2023 - Princess Charlotte joins her dad for a video message to wish the Lionesses good luck in the World Cup final