#mistress anita

[boundbimbos]

[who-canceled-roger-rabbit]

Headcanon that Jennifer and Needy had a simultaneous bisexual awakening while watching Elvira together, either in one of her movies or on an old tape of Movie Macabre

[written-in-flowers]

Losing Humanity: OT8 x Male!Reader Pt. 1

Pairing: Vampire!Hyunjin x Male!Reader (end game) | Side pairings: OT8 x Male!reader, Vampire!Felix x Lycan!Chan, Vampire!Minho x Lycan!Han

Genre: Angst, smut, horror | Au: Resident Evil: Village, vampires, werewolves/lycans, hybrids.

Word Count: 7k

Summary: Following a dreadful experiment, YN has to wrestle with his new body and abilities. With the help of the four lords and their sons, he might be able to find the family and purpose he'd been looking for.

Overall Tags: strangers to lovers, exes to lovers, secret romances, feuding families, omegaverse, alpha/beta/omega dynamics, graphic depictions of violence, blood and violence, mad science experiments, eventual smut, male reader fic, graphic depictions of human to monster transformations, horror, suspense. anal sex, anal fingering, loss of virginity, virgin!reader, threesome -/m/m/m, group sex, rimming, blowjobs, rough blowjobs, water sex, outdoor sex, harem but one end game, happy ending, tentacle sex, hallucinations, psychological horror

Disclaimer: These works are completely fictitious and for entertainment purposes only. They are not meant to reflect or label the members of Stray Kids in any way. The events within never took place. Thank you.

A/N: this is a revamped version of an ATEEZ fic I'd written a while ago, but only better haha I hope you still enjoy it even as Stray Kids.

Next |

***

“Here’s where I stop,” the coachman told you in a gruff voice. “The horses won’t go any further.”

You stared out from the back of the wagon to the road ahead. Stretching about a mile, the harsh cold path made for an intimidating walk. Black rocks covered lightly with snow lined the long wheel tracks carts and horses made right up to this point. Beyond, it appeared as if very few trekked the rest of the way. The idea of walking through the freezing cold with nothing but your jacket, pants and boots seemed daunting. Your father told you the journey to the castle wouldn’t be easy, but it’d be worth it in the end. 

“Why not?” You asked, hoping the coachman might change his mind. 

“The place frightens them,” he said. “They won’t go any farther than this before they start getting riled up. That place is cursed, I tell you.” He faced forward as if looking at the castle himself, “You have to be mad or desperate to go up there.”

“So, I’m to walk the rest of the way?” Walking alone up a tall mountain in the dark was not ideal during these times. “Is that safe?”  

“The castle isn’t that far from here,” he said. “It’s only about half a mile until you reach the gates, then a bit more after that.”

You’d dreaded the answer, but still wasn't surprised. A lot of villagers showed hesitancy when they spoke of Castle Dimitrescu. The mistress of the castle ruled over their side of the village with an iron fist. Your mother used to say it was by the grace and protection of Mother Miranda that she didn’t slaughter the whole village. But, that did not stop anyone from noticing the disappearances or missing livestock. 

Your neighbor woke up his entire household shouting about the maimed carcass of his prized cow, Anita. He told your father that he found her torn to bits in her stall, large chunks of flesh bitten off right to the bone. You suggested that a wolf might’ve gotten into his barn, but you said that to try diverting from what really troubled everyone: the beasts ate her. You shivered thinking of the hairy, snarling, bloody monsters who occasionally roam the forests, ravaging anything they can get their hands on. You pictured them feasting on the corpse of young, pretty Camila, who’d gone missing several days ago or strong farmer Elijah who’d last been seen working in his field. Only one person showed no fear upon entering the woods: The Huntsman. 

The Huntsman became the village protector when they slaughtered a pack of monsters who'd broken through the gates. You never saw them up close, since they rarely traveled into the village and often wore a wide-brimmed hat that covered their face, but their long black coat and gloves made them recognizable. Their weapons proficiency and skill was unmatched. People swore they must be a beast in a much tamer form, with how quickly they dodged and wrestled the monsters to the ground. 

You wished they'd come with you. 

“Well, thank you for getting me this far,” you said to the coachman as you hopped off the wagon. “I wouldn’t have made it before dark if you had not come.”

“Mother Miranda says we must show each other kindness and generosity when we can,” he said, tipping his hat, “I pray that you reach the castle safely.” 

“Thank you.” 

You shouldered your bag, and then began the trek up the mountain path. A curving, narrow road thickened by snow stretched ahead into the dark. You hoped the walk was not long, since the hour grew later and the sun began setting over the dense forests beyond. The higher you’d gone up the mountain, the colder the winds became. The chill blew through your jacket every time you moved, but you managed. You were no stranger to the cold since you spent many nights huddled by the dwindling fireplace at home. You did your best not to look between the trees lining the path or walk too briskly. One needed to keep their wits about them while walking through the woods. If you stared into the trees, there may be something staring right back. Speedy walking might invite said figure to chase you, and you’d come too far to be a meal now. 

You continued along the way until you reached a tall iron gate. A symbol topped the gate: a large flower over two crossed swords. The insignia for House Dimitrescu. You searched around for a guard or caretaker, but nobody came. Timidly, you pushed on the gate and to your surprise it opened. As you stood there at the opening, a deep dread settled itself into his stomach. The feeling told you to turn back, and find another way to help feed your family. Yet, determination and pride put one foot in front of the other. You had no choice. Your father’s crops did not yield their usual abundance and your mother’s illness grew stronger. They had suggested you take a position in the castle’s employ. Families of those who worked in the castle received gold and even food parcels from their loved ones. Perhaps The Lady pays in goods and a bit of gold for service. You hoped working in the castle would feed the family. You pressed onwards. 

The stone castle stood at the end of the road. The gray building looked dark and foreboding. High towers and battlements reached up into the sky, blocking out the bit of sunlight still left to the world, with tall windows surveying the yard below. Seeing the withering or bare foliage around the front entrance, it was no wonder the coachman’s horses steered clear of the place. Even standing at the front steps, every nerve in your body told you to run. The lack of guards or servants unnerved you as well. Didn’t castles have people bustling about? Noise and chatter in the air, bringing life to the silent building? You’d always thought so. Regardless, turning back was no longer an option. You climbed the steep steps to the doors, and pulled it open. 

Cautiously, you walked into the small entrance hall. A long carpet went up a short flight of stairs, leading into a room with a domed ceiling. Nervousness sets in deeper when you realize how little light filled the room. Two tall candelabras stood in inverted walls and another sat on a side table. The priceless antiques and refined appearance truly befitted the aristocratic family. However, it wasn’t these that caught your attention. 

Hanging between the candelabras was a tall painting of four young men in an intricate gold frame. A blond, two black haired, and one with brown hair. They each dressed in upper class fashion with vests, high collared shirts with silk cravats. They clearly came from wealth judging by how they carried themselves even in a painting. You read a plaque right at the bottom. 

‘Felix, Hyunjin, Minho and Jimin Dimitrescu’. 

The Lady’s sons. Yes, you’d heard of them though had never seen them before. People said they could be as deadly as their mother, and you did not doubt that. You gazed around for a moment, expecting to find a servant or a butler welcoming their newest worker. Not a single soul. You found yourself completely alone. 

“Hello?” You dared to speak into the empty, dim room. “Is anyone here?”

A faint buzzing sound suddenly came from a hallway on your left and you gasped. The large swarm of flies move fluidly from behind the oak wood doors and into the entrance hall. Panic jumped into your throat and you moved to run before the flies blocked your path. 

Suddenly, three men materialized. You realized at once who they were. Before you stood three of Lady Dimitrescu’s sons, the blond, black haired and brunet. They each wore long black coats with hoods over their heads. The one with brown hair came up close first. While his brothers kept their hair to their shoulders, he had his hair trimmed short. He carried a regal sophistication befitting his station. He had his chin up and back straight, with a certain kind of sternness in his eyes. It struck fear into you far too easily. 

You shifted your eyes away as the man examined your features. “Oh yes,” he said, turning your face this way and that, "I think he will do nicely. Felix?” 

He scanned over him one more time before the blond came up next. Felix, as the other called him, carried a glint in his eye that sent shivers through your bones. His golden hair created a stark contrast between his face and the hood over his head. He had a spread of freckles along his cheeks and nose, and his eyes did not devour you as the others did. A gloved hand caressed your jawline as he examined your face like a jeweler studying a new gem. What were they looking at? The unknowing frightened you more. When you tried looking away from him, Felix forced you by the chin. Something about the three of them churned your stomach, and every razzled nerve screamed to flee.

“I agree, Minho” he finally said, “He is perfect. He has strong bones and his blood seems to pump at a normal rate. He is young enough to withstand the strain. How old are you? Nineteen? Twenty?” 

"Twenty-three," you squeaked. 

"Hm, good, good."

“He’s pretty,” the black haired man behind them said. “Much prettier than anyone we’ve gotten so far.” 

“Looks are not important in the experiment, Hyunjin,” Felix rolled his eyes. 

“No, but they certainly are a benefit.” 

You flinched when he reached for you. His hair the shade of night stayed tied from his face, giving way to his angular features. That and his sharp eyes reminded you of a black cat hiding in the bushes. He was beautiful, but terrifying. He was a siren that lured men to their deaths; a venus flower that traps its victims between its jaws. The image of him lying in wait for you in the forest crossed your mind, and you gulped. You couldn’t stop staring into his dark eyes, wanting to be near him while also wishing to run away. Were it not for the tinge of red on the inner parts of his lips, he’d appeal to you more.  

“Are you sure we can't take him upstairs?” he asked Felix, smirking at you. "We can tie him down and play with him," he came closer, a strange metallic smell on his breath, "I bet that mouth can make the sweetest sounds…"

“Wha-Wha-” You could hardly get the words out. 

“I won’t hurt you, pretty,” Hyunjin said, drawing closer and closer. Gloved fingers traced down  your chest, and you stepped away. “I’ve been told I can be a very gentle lover,” he said before Felix stood between them. 

“You have your own playthings in the cellars,” he hissed. “Go fiddle with them and leave my subject alone.” 

“Ugh, you never let me have any fun!” 

Their words sickened and frightened you. You tried concealing the ice being pumped into your veins from your heart. Felix reached to touch your cheek, but frowned when you pulled away. 

“What do you want with me?” You heard yourself squeak out. 

“Nothing much,” answered Felix. “Just your body."

“My body?!"

"Don't worry," he sneered, "You won't miss it."

You realized then what happened to the servants before you. Quickly, you recalled how eagerly your father insisted you find work in the castle. He’d spent days telling you how beneficial it’d be for the family, and how desperately they needed the money. When a family in town received packages after sending their daughter to the castle, he noted how it could be them eating fresh bread and butter. Your mother could get the medicine she needed. They’d get coal for the fire and oil for the lamps. Did he know the truth and simply hid it from you, his only son? It would’ve saddened you if panic did not overcome you so easily. To him, he’s helping the family. He’s helping by making you one less mouth to feed. Your shaky hands gripped your bag to keep themselves steady. 

“It won’t hurt,” Felix assured you. “Well, not too badly.”

“Mother isn’t home yet,” Minho told him. “She’ll be away for a while, so there’s plenty of time.” 

"You only need to relax," hissed Hyunjin, finger tracing your collarbone. "I know a few things that can help with that."

“No,” you said in a shaky breath. “No, please…I have a family…they’ll come looking for me…”

Felix laughed, “Silly boy. Your family sent you up here for this very reason.” He then said, “So, do what you’re told, and come with us.”

He didn’t grab your hand quickly enough. You rushed for the large front doors, slamming into them from the force of the sprint before realizing they’d been locked. Over your shoulder, you saw the three men staring at you wickedly. The sound of faint buzzing jolted you alive. 

“Brother!” one of the men called, “Where are you going? You only just arrived!”

You didn’t waste time asking for an explanation. Seeing a room off to the side, you made a break for it. Running down a corridor and another flight of stairs, your only light was the moonlight shining through the windows. How could anyone see in such darkness? The curtain windows kept you from gaining a sense of direction. The buzzing grew louder behind you, and you went down the next corridor you found. Bursting through an archway, you ended up in a large room with checkered flooring and a high ceiling. Four strange statues stood guard in front of a doorway, and you knew this way would be pointless. You needed to find a way out. You rushed through to another corner area, before reaching a hallway. You didn’t hear the insects anymore, but that elevated your anxiety. You shouldn’t have come here. You should’ve gone back home, told your father the Lady didn’t need any more servants, and stayed there. Now, you were running for your life. 

You kept running until you ended up in a bed chamber. The fireplace being the only source of light, it flickered across the walls and gave everything a warm glow. You stared around for a hiding spot, but not quickly enough. Suddenly, hundreds of flies surrounded you and you did your best to shield your face. Their sharp teeth sunk into your arms, legs and torso; their buzzing deafened you to the rest of the world. You grimaced, and swatted at the ones trying to nibble your face, nearly stumbling backwards over a footstool in the process. 

“Ah, there you are, lovely,” he heard Hyunjin chuckle darkly. The flies suddenly flew from him and swirled around until they created his full form. He stared down at you, a distinct seduction in his eyes. “Looks like you found my favorite room in the castle. How about I lock the door and we get to know each other better?” 

You didn’t respond. You clambered to your feet, then made a dash past Hyunjin, breaking through a wall of insects in the process. Hurrying back down the way you’d come, hearing Hyunjin’s laughter somewhere behind, you returned to the room with the statues. Running through the main hall, a high-ceiling with a large crystal chandelier above the checkered floors, you nearly bumped into one of the chairs in front of the fire. You hardly felt it as you kept moving. You desperately searched for a place to hide, but you found so few places. Moving through large ornate doors, you entered a dark dining room. 

A dining room with a long table, bright moonlight became the only source of light guiding you through. You hoped the darkness might shield you from your pursuer until you reached outside. You bumped into one of the tall-backed chairs on your way to the other door, but the pain didn’t distract you. What did they want with you anyways? Kill you? Feed off of you? You didn’t want to think about it. How could your father do this to you? You saw a pair of doors, and seeing the courtyard outside, realized that might be a way out. 

“Oh, Brother,” Hyunjin’s voice came through the room in a sing-song voice. “Where are you?”

You scrambled and ducked behind one of the dining chairs. Buzzing preceded Hyunjin’s entry, and you spotted his reflection in a glass cabinet door. You covered your mouth to keep yourself quiet. Hyunjin’s top half remained human, but his bottom half broke off into the black flies so he glided about the room. 

“We promise we won’t hurt you,” he said innocently. “Not much, at least.” You heard him give a short sniff, "I know you're in here. I can smell your sweet, thick, hot blood. I can almost taste it on my tongue, and it’s delicious. I bet other parts of you taste just as good.” 

You waited until Hyunjin turned his back to quickly go through the doors into the courtyard. 

An iron gazebo stood in the center of the courtyard, which broke off into different sections of the castle. You continued glancing around for signs of the three brothers, since Hyunjin had been on his trail minutes ago. You were certain they meant to toy with you before killing you. They can move faster; they’re likely stronger, yet have not caught you yet. You hoped to be gone before they discovered you again. On the right side, a cobbled pathway lead through an archway out into a garden area. 

Hedges lined the walkways around the expansive space, circling around a bronze fountain statue in the middle. The garden must be beautiful in the spring, but in the winter, it was a frozen eden. Dead trees and withering bushes decorated the space, and ice and snow covered the fountains and benches. Your boots crushed the thin layer of snow on the ground as you ran through to a high wall on the other side. 

“Brother!” It was Minho this time, whose voice came from somewhere in the distance. “Brother, where are you?”

You grabbed onto a thick vine clinging to the stone fence, placed your foot on one at the bottom, then lifted yourself onto the wall. You ignored the voices calling from inside the castle, and started climbing. It did not take much time to scale the ten foot wall, even if the icy stones and frozen vines burned your hands. Desperation and panic numbed you to the sensations around you. You’d been a fool to come here.  You should’ve listened to your gut when you stepped up to the house, but you’d thought of your family. Your father made it sound so important that you go to the castle; he said it’d help the family in such a special way. It hurt thinking your father intended to serve you on a platter to these people. You wanted to think he didn’t know and really thought his son was manning stables or serving meals from a kitchen. With all the talk of aiding their family, you believed you’d be doing more for them than toiling in dying corn crops. 

To them, the best thing you could do is die. 

You reached the top of the wall, and swung your leg over the side. Freedom hit you right before something swiped at your feet from below. A large black beast growled from several feet below, yellow eyes glowing at you angrily. It resembled a wolf, but it stood on hind legs with the body of a man covered in fur. A scream escaped you and you fell into the garden again. Your back hitting the ground hard shocks of pain went through your body. You heard more growling and barking from behind the wall; long claws scratched the hard stone, and feet kicking the snowy earth. The fall disoriented you long enough that you didn’t notice the figure gliding up to him. 

“Ah, there you are!” Minho looked down, his hood bringing a shadow over his face. “We’ve been looking for you.” 

In this brief moment of weakness, the overwhelming sounds of fluttering wings filled your ears. You swiped at those buzzing around you, pinching your eardrums with their high-pitched sounds, before Minho and Hyunjin grabbed your wrists. A scream ripped through your throat as the two men dragged you behind them. Felix joined them at your feet as you struggled and wildly fought for escape. Fear injected itself into you fully, creating a list of scenarios that were worse than anything you imagined previously. Felix soon flew right over you, his body a dark cloud of flies, and he deeply inhaled your scent. 

“Virgin blood,” he smiled drunkenly. “So sweet. So pure.” He took another hint, then said, “Too bad I won’t get a drop of it…” 

You saw the hallways and stairwells of the castle fly by until they went into complete darkness. The backs of your ankles and legs scraped against hard, rough surfaces, and you cried out whenever they knocked onto the floor too hard. Deprived of your main senses, you could do nothing but let them take you further into the castle dungeons.

"Put him on the table," Felix instructed his siblings. "I'll prepare everything else."

Hyunjin and Minho brought you onto a wooden slab in a dimly lit room. When you glanced around, you realized they’d brought you into a room beneath the castle. Soft candlelight hung above to bring light against the black stone walls, illuminating the workbenches and tables of books, chemicals, petri dishes and various works in progress. A laboratory. They did not plan to kill you. They planned to torture you. 

“What is going on?” You asked, panting and crying as Hyunjin and Minho strapped you to a wooden table. You let out a choked sob, and you squeezed the blinding tears. You panicked when you saw them strapping down your ankles next."Wait, no! Please! What are you doing? Stop! Pl-please!"

Felix picked up a jar containing a strange mass inside of it; you heard him muttering under his breath, and your fear worsened. You struggled against the straps holding you down, hoping they might give way if you tried hard enough, but to no avail. Minho meanwhile reached for a clear bottle while Hyunjin unsheathed a small knife from under his cloak. 

"What is happening?" You sobbed though none of them answered. "Why are you doing this to me?" You cried, "Please, I want to go home. I won't tell anyone anything. Please-"

"-Roll up your sleeve, Hyunjin," Minho told his brother, coming to him with two needles and vials in hand. 

Hyunjin did as requested. He shook back his sleeve to reveal his wrist, which he presented to one of Minho’s needles. You saw him sink one needle into Hyunjin’s veins, dark red blood filling the vial halfway. Both men waited for enough blood to fill the vial before Minho pulled away from him. This was not before you saw the cut seal itself closed. 

"What are you going to do with that?" You asked, horrified when you saw Minho attached a needle and tube to the end of the syringe. "That's blood! You're putting blood in me?"

"It's the only way you'll be one of us," said Minho. "Hold still or this will hurt even more."

"Wha-"

You flinched when Hyunjin tore off your shirt sleeve and tied it tightly around your bicep. Minho then started flicking the space between forearm and upper arm. 

"Stop struggling," Minho grunted, "I can't do it right if you're moving around."

You should've kissed your mother goodbye longer. She’d die thinking you’re living a good life in the castle; perhaps that is best. She’d be happy for you. Perhaps she’ll get her medicine and feel better. You’d thought you’d have plenty of chances to hug and kiss them. Now, you wouldn’t have that chance ever again. Minho managed to find the vein, and sunk the needle into it, ignoring your wincing. 

"He has strong veins, Felix," Minho said. "That is a good sign, no?"

"It is."

You couldn't look. You didn't see Minho inject Hyunjin's blood into your arm, but you certainly felt it. A deep searing pain suddenly ran through your veins. It scorched every nerve, causing you to violently shake on the table. Your screams went unheard by the brothers, who continued their ‘experiment’. You barely felt it when Hyunjin ripped open your shirt to reveal the torso underneath. The pain numbed you to the knife cutting from beneath the chest to the naval. The thick scent of blood filled your lungs; it spilled, fast and hot, from the gash in your stomach. You’re sure to die now. You cried out for your mother, for your father, for Mother Miranda, their protector and savior.  

Felix finally turned around, and in your blurry vision, you saw him holding a glass jar. You could not make out the inside, but it wiggled and ticked as it knocked into the glass sides. 

“Stay still,” Felix said, unscrewing the lid. “Moving around too much will interrupt the process.”

“This is the last time, Felix,” Minho said, putting the needle and vial aside. “Right?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” he replied. 

Your jaw clenched so tight you couldn’t speak. Felix took out the contents of the jar with a pair of forceps. The creature wriggled between the metal clamps, but Felix had no trouble holding it steady. Your eyes widened when it came close enough for you to see it. Fleshy and pink, the creature had a large head and bumpy skin. It made Minho and Hyunjin wrinkle their noses in disgust while you screamed in terror. Felix remained unfazed by it all. He placed the veiny beast up against the open wound, and then sunk it deep inside. 

The thing whirled around inside, its slimy membrane slicking the opening to go deeper. It took several seconds for you to realize the hard mass in your stomach was the creature. The burrowing sensation added a whole new addition of pain. Your fists curled until skin tightened over your knuckles. You thrashed around as much as your bonds let you as the parasite latched itself to you. Soon, you felt your abdomen sickly churning which then spread to the rest of you. Your father’s face swam in front of you; the face of the man meant to protect and guide you. He sent you here. He sent his only son to his death. 

You prayed it was worth it.

****

Felix stood beside the table, watching the body twitching and writhing on the table until you stopped all at once. His eyes scanned you for signs of mutation or transformation; he looked for graying skin or black claws or bloodshot yellow eyes. He expected any moment for the subject to start thrashing, growling and foaming at the mouth as you turned into a Lycan, like so many other failures. Either that or die and never come back. When none of that happened, he gingerly touched the stomach wound. The Cadou parasite’s membrane held regeneration properties, he’d learned, so it often healed whatever wounds it created to enter the body. Felix felt around for the mass, feeling a hard ball deep underneath the muscle. Felix knew the parasite will assimilate to the DNA and alter your genetic makeup. He hoped injecting blood already infected with mold mutations will strengthen the host’s body and aid in the transformation. It had to work. This must work. 

“He’s not dead,” said Hyunjin, his voice breaking the silence. “I can hear his heart beating.”

Felix could hear it too. Your mind may have gone blank, but that was the Cadou taking over. The last subject took three days to morph into a Lycan, which was then released into the wild by the brothers. 

“That’s good, right? It means he might survive,” Hyunjin continued. 

“Only time shall tell us.” 

Felix turned back to his work table where he kept all his notes and books, and put down the jar. This was his last one. If this one did not work out, then he’d need to go back to the reservoir where Moreau kept his stash of parasites. He hoped he didn’t have to. Even if he can now adapt to the cold mountain climate, he still hated going to that eerie, stinking lake. But, if it helped his cause, he'd endure it a million times. 

He promised himself he’d build something marvelous, a creature of pure strength and agility that will make his mother proud. He looked at the books on his table. Felix spent ages researching, collecting, and absorbing any word of information he could about the Cadou parasite and the mold. He’d observed Moreau’s experiments from afar, and read all of his mother’s and Mother Miranda’s notes as well as jotting down his own discoveries. One sheet in particular caught his eye and his heart dropped. 

The crest of House Dimitrescu was a large flower with two swords crossing underneath it. A symbol of feminine strength and unity. His mother often told him she saw herself as the center with her blossoms at her sides. It’d always be her and her children. There’d once been four of them, but that changed so quickly. 

“I found his things,” Minho’s voice cut through his thoughts. “He dropped it in the main hall. We might find something of use in here.”

“Like a name.” 

Lady Dimitrescu still wore Jimin’s flower. A black rose she kept pinned to her chest with three others so she could keep them with her at all times. He remembered his youngest brother as he flipped through his journal for a blank page. 

Jimin was the last of them to be “born”. Black strands falling on the sides of his face, he’d been wiry, strong and full of life. Felix remembered how his mother fawned over his sweet smile and how he’d pout his full lips when he didn’t get his way. His mother adored them all, but Jimin had been her baby. He’d also been the most reckless. Felix should’ve kept him back when his younger brother chased The Huntsman. He told him to stay with Mother, and he and the others would handle them, but no. He should’ve listened to Minho. He should’ve listened to Mother. 

With a gun blast to a window and a gust of cold air, Jimin’s life ended in a flash. 

‘Day 0: 

Subject is a twenty-three year old male. A bit malnourished, but has a strong heartbeat and responded to the treatment favorably. I inserted the parasite spliced with infected blood, about half of a vial to avoid one overcoming the other. By touch alone, the Cadou appears to have latched itself to the subject’s stomach and began spreading instantaneously. I wish I could cut him open to see the extent, but that will ruin everything. I have high hopes for this one. He shows real promise.’ 

“His name is YN,” he heard Minho say. “Somebody sewed it into his shirt collar.” 

‘Further testing needs to be conducted, but I might finally have the weapon I’ve been looking for.’ 

“He’s handsome,” said Hyunjin. “Mother will love him, I’m sure of it.” 

“Mother cannot know,” Felix said, writing down the last of his notes. “Not yet.” 

“Why not?” he asked. 

He didn’t want to tell them, but his brothers knew him better than most. “Because she doesn’t know you’re still doing this,” Minho suspected, “Does she?” Felix heard the outrage build in his deep voice, “Have you been keeping these a secret from her?”

“She’ll try to stop me,” Felix replied. “She’d been so brokenhearted when the first three failed,” he faltered at Minho’s angry eyes. “I couldn’t tell her that I’d continued the experiments without her. She already believes it’s pointless.”

“Mother Miranda forbids us from creating any more vessels,” Minho said. “She told Mother there will be serious consequences if we continue these experiments without her permission. You know how serious Miranda is about the parasites and the metamycete. Hyunjin and I will already be in enough trouble for helping you, but imagine what she’ll do to the person who disobeyed her orders and stole valuable resources from her?” Felix heard the frustration in his voice. Minho, the eldest, never failed to call out the truth. “Felix, this must cease. These experiments of yours must stop. This must be the last one.” 

Minho, the strong loyal son who did all he could to protect his family. He’d borne the same guilt after Jimin’s death, but he’d learned to move on. Felix could not. 

“But I am so close,” he implored, gazing right into his brother’s eyes. “I can feel it. This one will be a success. I know it will.”

“That is what you said of the last one, and they died within a few hours,” he said. 

“Because they were weak,” Felix retorted. “This one is strong. He’ll survive.” 

“Felix,” Minho said gently, “Please, promise us this will be the last one.” 

“We need to keep going,” he replied through gritted teeth. “We need to keep trying until we get the right one.”

“Promise us, Felix,” Hyunjin spoke up this time. “Mother is still grieving over Jimin. If she hears that you’ve been doing this, she might think you’re trying to replace him and become even more upset. Promise you’ll stop.”

“Mother will see I am right when he is ready,” Felix said. “Once she sees how strong, durable, and agile my creation is, she will forget all of that. She wants to kill The Huntsman more than any of the others. She wishes to seek revenge on them, and when she sees that my creation can do what we cannot, she’ll understand. When my creation is fully grown, Mother and Mother Miranda will see the benefits of having such a creature.”

“She said she did not want us going anywhere near The Huntsman,” said Hyunjin. “She doesn’t want to lose us too.”

“We won’t be going near them. He will,” he nodded to the body on the table. “The Huntsman is not the average villager. There is something different about them. I can tell.” He hesitated, “You two weren’t there. You weren’t there when Jiminie died.” 

His throat dried up suddenly, and he looked away from them. He’d heard Jimin’s cries from the lower kitchens during his search for an intruder. They’d been low, deep grunts as he fought off against a strange figure in a hooded trench coat. Felix recalled standing at the end of the hall leading towards the kitchen, and hearing Jimin fight for his life. He’d insisted on joining them in hunting down the person who’d broken into their castle. Felix told him to stay with their mother, but he'd escaped. Felix had flown right to the doorway, intent on handling the Huntsman himself, when the Huntsman shot at the window by the door. Icy cold air streamed into the room, creating a barrier between Felix and the two. His hand instinctively flexed when he thought of the burning, paralyzing ice on his hand. He tried pushing through several times, Jimin’s grunts making him more desperate, before it happened. 

The Huntsman grabbed Jimin by the collar and threw him into one of the windows. The direct contact caused Jimin’s body to stiffen, and Felix watched as his youngest brother succumbed to their one weakness. Felix chased the Huntsman throughout the castle, grief boiling his blood and fueling his rage, before the Huntsman made it outside and over the garden wall. All that was left of Jimin was his torso and crumbled crystals on the floor. Felix remembered kneeling beside him, sobbing and cradling the crystalline body full of regret and self-loathing. The grief worsened when his mother found them. Her cries still echo in his head late at night. 

“They got lucky,” Minho told him. “There is nothing special about them.”

“Then how come we cannot find them, hm?” he snapped, his own guilt starting to fill his chest once more. “Why can’t Heisenberg’s boys find them? Changbin, Chan and Han have a better sense of smell than any one-oh, do not make that face. You know it’s true,” he told Hyunjin, who’d scoffed. “They would have at least spotted a cottage or a hideout, but they haven't. I am telling you. That bastard, whoever they are, is not normal. We need someone who can rid us of them for good, and he is it.” 

Felix did not particularly like thinking of Chan Heisenberg. As if Jimin’s memory did not already break his heart, Chan only piled onto that. 

“Darling,” Hyunjin came to him, cupping his cheek, “What happened to Jimin isn’t your fault.”

Yes, it was, but he’d never say so out loud. 

“You’ve already done enough to prepare us for another attack,” he said. “You made us immune to the cold. If they were to come now, no amount of wind or ice could stop us. We do not need any experiment you create.” He pushed blond strands from Felix’s face, “You don’t have to keep doing this. You could possibly end up dead too, if the wrong person found out about this.” 

Hyunjin spoke truthfully, and Felix knew this. He will surely face Miranda’s wrath if she learned what he was up to; his mother might face consequences for her son’s actions. But, they’d understand the benefits of his plan with time. His mother did not always approve of his experiments. He hadn't forgotten his mother’s shock when she found him standing stark naked in their courtyard, letting the cold air touch his skin. 

Shortly after Jimin’s passing, Felix decided he wouldn’t lose another brother ever again. So, he went to work creating a genome that would give them the ability to adapt to freezing temperatures. He tested this mainly on himself: injecting the serum into his arm, then sticking his hand out the window. Starting with a hand, it soon became his whole arm, then his shoulder, then his chest, until finally he could stand in the cold unharmed. His insect form took time to adapt to the change, but soon enough he was able to move as swiftly outside as he could inside. He passed it to both Minho and Hyunjin, making all three men tolerant of the climate. 

When they saw The Huntsman again, no amount of icy wind could destroy them. 

"If this one fails-" Minho began to say, but Felix cut him off. 

"-It won't fail," he snapped. 

"If it does," he continued, "This will be the last one."

"What?"

"I won't participate in something that would hurt our mother," Minho said firmly. "She grieves enough for Jimin. Giving her false hope of another son is cruel even for you, Felix."

"She's in enough pain," Hyunjin added. "Even if she doesn't say it. She still has his corpse in her bed chambers. She won't put it in the crypt."

Felix knew this well. He often came across Jimin's crystalized torso standing in a glass display in his mother's bedroom. She’d look at it whenever she was alone and weep. It was another reminder of his failure and her loss. He promised himself he wouldn't let Jimin die in vain. He created the serum so she may never lose another son to weaknesses. He would give her another one to replace the boy she lost, and this time make him faster and stronger. 

"Fine," he stated, "If that's how you feel, you're free to not participate anymore. But, I am going to keep trying. The Huntsman needs to be stopped. If you two may not take this threat seriously, but I do. I won’t sit by and let them continue insulting our house; I won’t let them stomp out our bloodline. They will pay for what they have done to us, to our mother, to Jimin-” he stopped short, swallowing down the lump filling his throat and taking a breath. 

“Felix,” Minho said, “Jimin wouldn’t want you to do something that may get you killed-”

“-Well, Jimin isn’t here,” he growled. “He’s dead! He’s dead because I wasn’t strong enough to save him! I promised Mother I’d protect him, and I didn’t!” 

“Felix-”

"-Boys!" A female voice spoke from somewhere above. Their mother may be several feet above the dungeons, but they heard her faintly. "Boys, where are you?"

"Don't you two dare tell her," Felix warned them. 

"We won't," Minho said, "It is better she never learns of this."

"Felix? Minho? Hyunjinnie!" He heard their mother call to them again, “Boys?” 

"If this one should fail, she will never know."

"It will not fail."

"Come, let's away," Hyunjin said between them. "Mother is calling."

The three young men swirled into insects, and flew from their laboratory into the main hall. Lady Alcina Dimitrescu stood in the middle of the hall in front of the fire, her white gown illuminated by the flames. She sucked on the end of a cigarette holder coolly, letting the thick stream into the air as she contemplated quietly. Standing ten feet tall, her black hair in curls under a wide-brimmed hat, their mother was a woman of elegance and sophistication. Yet, even with this, she still exudes power, and demands the respect of her aristocratic birth. A smile graced her face when they appeared in front of her, immediately turning to them. However, the smile faded when she looked at them closely.

"You've been arguing," she stated, glancing between the three of them.

"Felix tried taking one of the corpses from the dungeons to his lab," Hyunjin said. His creative mind made him a clever liar. "I told him to leave them be since they have no use beyond their blood, but he disagreed."

"I wanted to study them," Felix added. "I wanted to see what made them turn into those undead things."

"It's obviously the blood disease, you fool," Minho rolled his eyes.

"I also wanted to see if I could somehow isolate that disease and use it for-"

"-To get a bigger head to fit your ego?-"

"-If anyone has an 'ego' around here, it's you-"

"-That's enough!" Their mother cut in, looking between the two of them. "I told you to leave those creatures alone, Lixie," she said, walking past them to a chair by the fire. “They are far past any real use to anyone.” 

“I was only curious, Mother,” he replied. His eyes met Minho’s, and the elder stuck out his tongue. 

"How was your meeting, Mother?" Hyunjin asked, gliding to her side and sitting on the floor, his head on her knee. He closed his eyes as her fingers combed through his dark hair. 

"Heisenberg didn't give you trouble, did he?" Asked Minho, grabbing a wine pitcher from nearby to pour glasses for them all. Sangrias Virginis. Maiden's Blood. House Dimitrescu were famous for their winemaking, having a special blend with a secret ingredient. 

Virgin blood. 

"Nothing outside the usual," she said. "Mother Miranda wished to discuss the baby again. She senses the child is close, and will soon be in our grasp."

"She already has you and the other lords. I don’t understand why she needs a baby," Hyunjin said, taking his own glass from Minho’s tray. "Could she not simply take a regular baby and use that? Why this specific one? "

"She believes this child has qualities that will make the experiment favorable" she replied. She took a long drink from the glass, then said, "Nothing can really replace a lost child. You cannot remake them a second time." The three men exchanged nervous glances and drank from their cups. She gave a soft sigh, "I made a decision, my sons."

"Yes?"

"I've decided," she paused, "I've decided it is time to put Jimin to rest."

"In the family crypt, you mean."

"No, not in the crypt. He never liked it down there. I thought perhaps in the music room. You know how much he loved music." Felix saw the sadness in his mother's eyes. "He deserves that.”

“What he deserves is vengeance,” Felix said over his cup. He swished the crimson liquid around in the silver wine glass, contemplating his subject downstairs. “He deserves to be avenged.”

“We have already discussed this, Felix,” Alcina said firmly. “You are not to seek out The Huntsman. You boys leave that filthy meatsack to me.” She then continued, “I think he’d look lovely in the nook in the corner.”

“I can paint a portrait of him for you, Mother,” said Hyunjin. “We can hang it next to him.”

“That’d be beautiful,” she agreed. 

Felix did not want to think of what that looked like. He imagined Jimin's corpse being put on display in their music room, a grand space across from Hyunjin’s atelier, where the grand piano sat. The family sometimes gathered there after dinner, where Jimin played his compositions on the piano or the violin. Felix did not want to think of his body sitting in its glass case, no longer able to play his beloved instruments for their entertainment anymore. It wouldn’t be a music room. It’d be a burial site. They'd carry him there, say kind words and put him in a corner. Felix drowned the vision with more wine, the blood thick on his tongue. He thought about the corpse on his lab table. 

You will not be another failure. He'd make sure of it.

***

A/N: Another experiment, Felix? Let's hope this one doesn't fail like the last. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and that you stick around for the other chapters. Please feel free to reblog/like and give a little comment if you want <3 it keeps fics alive.

[kaijuno]

Anita Blair was the first guide dog handler in El Paso, Texas, when she graduated from The Seeing Eye in March 1940 with Fawn, a German shepherd. The photo is a black and white photo of Anita being guided by Fawn across a bustling city street in the early 1940s.

Just a month later, Anita and Fawn were crossing a street in El Paso when a car nearly hit her. “Fawn, the fawn-colored German shepherd, with perfect timing checked her mistress’s pace, so that the car sped past without the driver being aware that the young woman could not see,” the El Paso Times reported on April 19, 1940.

Fawn was at her side when she graduated from the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy – now known as the University of Texas at El Paso, or UTEP – with a bachelor’s degree in 1944. She later earned a master’s degree from Texas State College for Women, now Texas Woman’s University, in Denton.

In 1946, Anita and Fawn were again in the news during a tragic fire at the 23-story Hotel LaSalle in Chicago. According to the June 6, 1946, issue of the El Paso Times, Anita was awakened by screams. “When I opened the door the smoke was so heavy I could taste it,” Anita told the newspaper. “I closed the door but did not want to get Fawn excited. Because of her I remained calm – and probably because of me she did the same.”

Fawn led Anita out the window and down the fire escape – 11 stories down – while the fire raged. Sixty-one people were killed in the fire.

In 1952, Anita became the first El Paso woman – and the first blind woman in any state – to be elected as a state representative. During her time in office, Anita fought for funding for the State School for the Deaf, teacher pay raises, and a bill that allowed women to serve on juries.

Anita returned to The Seeing Eye five more times to be matched with successor Seeing Eye dogs. Her last was Beryl, a black Labrador retriever, in 1990. Anita died in 2010 at the age of 93, and in recognition of her service as a state legislator, is buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

Rita Moreno (Singin' in the Rain, West Side Story)—She’s an EGOT, an absolute legend for how she navigated her career as a woman of color in the fifties and sixties. Her performance as Anita in West Side Story is why I go back to that movie so many times. She is an icon and she is the moment.

Elizabeth Taylor (Cleopatra, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof)—iconic actress with purple eyes and a double row of eyelashes, the real ebony dementia ravenway of old hollywood. known for her stunning tastes when it comes to jewelry and her incredible, incredible advocacy during the AIDS crisis.

This is round 6 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Rita Moreno propaganda:

"Amazing showstopping actress in her one big memorable role as Anita in West Side Story. She sings and dances with unmatched joy and energy, and then breaks your heart with her acting. Rita took a role that felt as a stereotype to latina women and made it compelling and multifaceted. Her subsequent career was filled with mostly side roles, but she still managed to excel in whatever Hollywood threw at her."

"It’s Rita!! The EGOT herself! She can act, she can sing, she can dance, a triple threat. Obviously absolutely iconic as Anita in West Side Story (her part of the Tonight Quintet is the sexiest part of the film, fight me). But before that she was the amazing Zelda in Singin’ In the Rain!?! Thanks Zelda, you’re a real pal."

"She continues to be amazing but also she's got legs for days."

"THEE iconic rita moreno, EGOT winner, civil rights activist, theatre legend. watch her documentary "Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It". also her rendition of "fever" on the muppet show"

Elizabeth Taylor:

I've been trying to steer clear of the absurdly-big names, but damnit, those violet eyes got me. The *talent*, the *presence*, the string of marriages and (temporally out-of-bounds) work in combating AIDS and pioneering in the concept of the celebrity fragrance line.

Not only did she have gorgeous violet eyes and lashes for days and one of the hottest voices ever, she was also a big supporter of the gay community

Child actress turned starlet, Liz dominated films as one of the greatest screen legends of classic hollywood. If your protagonist has violet eyes, they're imitating hers.

A Legend. She was serving milf rage in Whos Afraid Of Virginia Woolf. A Star in every sense of the word.

She was renowned for the beauty of her eyes; they were a dark blue but could look violet in certain lighting, something that photographers would actually touch up to look even more so in pictures. But even more striking was a genetic mutation that gave her a double row of eyelashes. She was also famed for her string of husbands -- 8 marriages to 7 men. Two-time hubby Richard Burton once said she was “a wildly exciting love-mistress… beautiful beyond the dreams of pornography.”

Her EYES. Early and loud support for gay rights and AIDS victims. Married a bunch of hot dudes, Burton twice!

just look at her. she's gorgeous. there's a video somewhere of her applying her eyeliner in the mirror and I think about it all the time

THE Hollywood actress of all time. Not only was she known for her long dark locks and blue-violet eyes, she also had one of the wildest life stories ever….. She’s Carrie Fisher’s stepmother because her father Eddie Fisher cheated on Debbie Reynolds with Liz. She was knighted as a dame of England. She was married to seven different men, one of them twice. She was also very kindhearted and did a lot of charity activism.

Asides from being an iconic actor, she did a lot of philanthropy and co founded the American Foundation for AIDS research. She’s sometimes considered one of the last great stars of old hollywood

[wlwcatalogue]

A few sapphic film recs!

Just a few recommendations for sapphic films under 2 hours which may or may not have flown under the radar:

Moonlit Winter / 윤희에게 (1hr 45m, 2019, dir. Lim Dae-hyung)

Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (1hr 48m, 2017, dir. Angela Robinson)

Who's the Woman, Who's the Man / 金枝玉葉 2 (1hr 50m, 1996, dir. Peter Ho-Sun Chan)

Sisterhood / 骨妹 (1hr 37m, 2016, dir. Tracy Choi)

DEBS (1hr 31m, 2004, dir. Angela Robinson)

Farewell, My Queen / Les adieux à la reine (1hr 40m, 2012, dir. Benoît Jacquot)

Bonus - short film: Love Does Human / 사람 하는 사랑 (24 mins, 2019, dir. Oh Seon-ju)

Commentary under the cut!

1. Moonlit Winter / 윤희에게 (1hr 45m, 2019, dir. Lim Dae-hyung) - IMDB | MyDramaList

This movie is about a daughter (Kim So-hye) who finds out about her divorced mother’s (Kim Hee-ae) past with another woman (Katase Jun), and how in encouraging her mother to reconnect, the two finally open up to each other as well. Dry stuff on paper, but there’s more to it: the mother and her former lover didn’t just break up, they were split apart by their families as teenagers and the mother was forced to marry a man against her will. In short, it deals with the aftermath of the typical “bad ending” of older stories featuring WLW characters, wherein schoolgirls in love would be separated and married off to preserve the heteronormative status quo.

Although the queer relationship does not get much screentime at all – the two characters share a single scene, there are no flashbacks, and there’s not even a hug – queerness remains at the heart of the movie. It’s a rare depiction of how the repression of queerness leaves scars on people which affect how they engage with the world, but which also shows that as long as they are alive, there is still hope that those scars can be healed. Also, despite the heavy-sounding subject matter, it’s a very gentle experience: there are no direct depictions of homophobia and no sensationalism, just a little story of human connection unfolding in a snow-cloaked Hokkaido.

2. Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (1hr 48m, 2017, dir. Angela Robinson) - IMDB

The blurb on IMDB says that this movie is about “psychologist William Moulton Marston (Luke Evans), and his polyamorous relationship with his wife [Elizabeth] (Rebecca Hall) and their mistress [Olive] (Bella Heathcote) who would inspire his creation of the superheroine, Wonder Woman”. As someone who is not particularly drawn to biopics, male protagonists, polyamory, BDSM, or Wonder Woman, I assumed that this movie wouldn’t be my jam and so didn’t watch it until quite a while later – which is when I discovered just how wrong I was.

First, the two women take up just as much of the movie’s focus as Marston. Elizabeth, Marston’s wife and fellow psychologist, is highly intelligent but equally highly-strung; she does not know how to deal with her husband’s attraction to new research assistant Olive, nor Olive’s attraction to both her husband and Elizabeth herself, and this internal conflict (even after the three enter into a polyamorous relationship) features heavily in the story. Second, although it declares itself to be “based on a true story”, the movie is not especially interested in recreating or representing the past. Rather, the historical elements are used as a framework to explore certain ideas: Diana’s Lasso of Truth symbolises how progress and healing must be first founded upon honesty, for example. The polyamory and BDSM is also not at all sordid or sensationalised, but rather presented in a nuanced (though still sexy!) manner. More than anything, this is a movie with a big heart and big ideas, and should be judged on its own merits.

3. Who's the Woman, Who's the Man / 金枝玉葉 2 (1hr 50m, 1996, dir. Peter Ho-Sun Chan) - IMDB | MyDramaList

All you need to know going into this sequel of 1994 movie He's a Woman, She's a Man (金枝玉葉) is that main character Wing (Anita Yuen) is a woman who has found both fame and (heterosexual) love while disguising herself as a male idol, and that her relationship with record producer Sam (Leslie Cheung) is known to the general public— although it is perceived as being homosexual in nature due to her persona. At this point, you might be wondering why an M/F romantic comedy is on this list, but this movie is a bit odd in that instead of focusing only on problems such Sam’s internalised homophobia and misogyny (both of which are addressed in the story), one of the new obstacles facing the couple is the female lead meeting female pop star Fong Yim Mui (Anita Mui)… and both starting to fall for each other.

I was surprised at how sensitively Wing and Fong Yim Mui’s respective arcs are handled, especially for a mainstream movie from the 90’s starring two of Hong Kong’s most popular performers at the time. Instead of giving the two women a meet-cute and leaving it at that, a lot of care is put into showing them processing and coming to terms with their feelings in their own time. Romantic and sexual attraction is also highlighted separately, which is refreshing given how they are usually depicted as inextricably linked even now… Obviously Wing and Fong Yim Mui don’t end up together, but their feelings aren’t dismissed and – relative to the narrative constraints – the ending is a warm, optimistic one. Also, Anita Mui gives an absolutely award-worthy performance in one of the scenes with her character and Wing, so fans of her should definitely give this movie a try.

Important note: Although there’s much that’s good about it, Who's the Woman, Who's the Man is far from perfect. Early on, there’s a masquerade party where two of the characters are wearing masks which look like racist caricatures, and the masks are crop up in multiple scenes in the film. More serious is the subplot about a male character who keeps trying to win over a lesbian, culminating in her agreeing to sleep with him once while he’s dressed as a woman (CW: transphobia, homophobia) – though this storyline ends with the man accepting that she really is gay and parting on friendly terms. That said, these problems are already mild compared to the actively hateful transphobic and homophobic jokes present in so many of its contemporaries, so if you’ve watched a 90’s Hong Kong comedy before, chances are that your tolerance level is more than high enough.

4. Sisterhood / 骨妹 (1hr 37m, 2016, dir. Tracy Choi) IMDB | MyDramaList

Sisterhood opens with tragedy. Originally from Macau, main character Sei (Gigi Leung) is living quietly in Taiwan with her husband after the 1999 Handover when her life is overturned by a newspaper personal ad informing her that her long-estranged friend and colleague Ling has passed away. The movie is shot through with flashbacks to earlier times, tracking a young Sei (Fish Liew) as she starts doing sex work and is taken under the wing of the more experienced Ling (Jennifer Yu) and her friends. Memories of togetherness and community are juxtaposed against sequences of present-day Sei struggling to navigate her grief, the tensions of the now-fractured friend group, and a Macau that has changed just as much as she has. The acting and script can be clunky in places but the sentiment shines through, especially after the first third, at which point the movie starts honing in on Sei and Ling’s relationship. It’s not a happy story, but nor is it defined by sadness; instead, it posits that the past is not merely to be mourned, that it is instead something that can shape and provide a foundation for the future. I won't talk too much about how queerness figures into this story, due to spoilers, but rest assured that it is present and important!

5. D.E.B.S. (1hr 31m, 2004, dir. Angela Robinson) - IMDB

Okay, you've probably heard of this one before if not watched it already, but anyway! This was the first WLW movie I watched, and for a long time, the only one which I actually enjoyed. It’s about an elite spy (well, more like an honours student at spy school) (Sara Foster) and a criminal mastermind (Jordana Brewster) falling for each other, a premise which is just as fun and over-the-top as it sounds. The movie does a great job of mixing action, humor, and romance, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome – it’s got a nice compact runtime and a cracking pace. There’s still nothing quite like it in my opinion, though I’m very welcome to any recommendations in this line (my askbox is open if you have any!).

6. Farewell, My Queen / Les adieux à la reine (1hr 40m, 2012, dir. Benoît Jacquot) - IMDB

Loosely based on Chantal Thomas’ novel of the same name, Farewell, My Queen is a portrait of French nobility in decline, following maidservant Sidonie Labarde (Léa Seydoux) who is in the service of Marie Antoinette (Diane Kruger). It's a beautiful, lavish production which effectively conveys the perspective of a servant locked in the gilded cage that is Versailles during the French Revolution, and is a rare case of a historical figure as famous as Antoinette being presented as queer in a serious historical drama.

That being said, the queerness is mostly background, coming mainly in the form of Antoinette’s crush on? relationship with? duchess Gabrielle de Polignac (Virginie Ledoyen)— though a case can be made for Sidonie, whose outward opacity belies an unwavering, almost unsettling, devotion to her queen. Also, be warned that the movie has many a dodgy shot of cleavage, and two instances of unnecessary and voyeuristic nudity... but other than that, it really does have gorgeous cinematography.

Fun fact: there really were rumours about Antoinette having a scandalous relationship with the duchess, although these have nearly always been written off as baseless reputation-smearing.

Bonus - short film: Love Does Human / 사람 하는 사랑 (24 mins, 2019, dir. Oh Seon-ju) - MyDramaList

Some say that the best science fiction puts a spotlight on some part of the human condition, and this short film does just that. Main character Tae Eun's (Kim Min-ju) girlfriend Joo An (Jang Sam-yi) no longer has a human body: after carrying out a medical operation which transferred her consciousness to a computer system, she now has a web-camera for her eyes, a speaker for her mouth, and control over their home's devices for her hands. And although the change was by Joo An's choice and Tae Eun was supportive, the pair struggle to adjust to this new reality, and are confronted with the need to communicate and to consider each other's perspectives. Love Does Human has a bit of a slow start, and there were points where I didn't understand why the characters were reacting in a certain way, but it all comes together beautifully in the end. Through its sci-fi premise, viewers are encouraged to think about real-life problems using a different angle, and the movie never gets too heavy. Also, shoutout to some excellent voice work from the two actors - Joo An is performed nearly entirely through voice but she feels deeply human and present, and Tae Eun's actor also has a standout scene featuring some great voice acting. All in all, it's a short film that's well worth checking out (especially since the director has made it available for free, with English subtitles, on Youtube - embedded above)!

[armoricaroyalty]

...the turning point came in 1994, when Uspanian tabloid Concordia broke the story of the Crown Prince's affair with Armorican-Uspanian actress and model Anita Garcia. The Armorican public loves a wronged woman, and news of the affair inspired a massive public outpouring of support for the Duchess of Arbor. By the end of 1994, her approval rating had climbed to 73%, the highest ever recorded for any member of the Armorican royal family....Her newfound popularity came not at the expense of her husband, whose status as heir protected him from the worst of the blacklash, but at that of his 23-year-old mistress. Anita was branded as a homewrecker in the popular press and accused of leveraging the affair to promote her own image... (from Mother of Pearl: Inside the Lives of Armorica's Royal Women, Kristina Greene, 2002.)

Previous | Chapter Start | Beginning | Chapter 3

[pigeonwhumps]

"Outside"

I wanted to introduce Somaia and Cecilia, so new characters for today's entry. Partially inspired by @gottawhump's post about some countries freeing pets automatically, which finally gave me the last link in Maia and Ceci's story (running a refuge in the Netherlands, Maia's home country, which is primarily for pets but does take in abuse victims and the like too sometimes) so ty for that!

Taglist: @painful-pooch @i-eat-worlds @a-funeral-romance @rainydaywhump @bbu-on-the-side

Ceci talks to Bless about going outside.

572 words

CWs: BBU, pet whump, dehumanisation (past and self)

"It's irresponsible and bordering on cruel to set people free with absolutely nothing, no legal identity, in many cases not even any knowledge of the language. Tortured into being unable to care for themselves. That's why we've partnered with the police, to give victims somewhere to go and someone to assist them as soon as their former owners are arrested."

Ceci places the mug of black coffee next to Maia with a pat on the arm where she's interviewing with the local news and squeezes past, towards the stairs and the balcony that accompanies the second floor.

Sure enough, Bless is sitting cross-legged out there, looking longingly over the beautiful bridges and buildings of Amsterdam. They've been doing that for a week.

"You can go out into the city, you know," says Ceci. "You're not property anymore. You don't need permission."

Bless is quiet. They're often quiet, but in a thoughtful way, like they're picking the perfect words. Perfect, perfect, perfect, all the time, and Ceci knows how they feel.

"It would be improper. I need supervision, because I'm too stupid to go out on my own. And pets don't get to go into the proper outdoors anyway."

Ceci closes her eyes for half a second. It hurts, every time a victim comes out with something like that. Even the ones who aren't pets, the abuse victims or runaways, their self-esteem is always so low.

She sits down next to Bless.

"Who told you that isn't the proper outdoors?"

"My Mistress' brother, ma'am." A pause. "Cecilia. My apologies."

"No worries. What exactly did he say?"

"That pets are too stupid to go outside properly. That's why there are places we can't go. And we need a leash when we go out in some places so really, we're not going outside properly."

"Well that's not true. There's plenty of restrictions on different groups of people, that doesn't make you stupid. Although regardless, you're not property anymore. You can go outside as much as you like."

Bless' wide eyes turn to look up at her. "Into the city?"

"Into the city."

"Can we go tomorrow?"

"Yes. Although I hasten to add that I'm accompanying you, not supervising you. You don't need supervision."

Bless' brow crinkles slightly as they turn back to the city. It's only the morning now, there would be time today, but they obviously need today to prepare, which Ceci understands.

Ceci makes a mental note to tell Bless later that pets are illegal in Amsterdam, and to take them somewhere that that's clearly labelled. Make sure that Bless knows they're not stupid, they don't need leashes and supervision. They should know. And it hurts to hear what they think about themself at the moment.

She's glad they picked up Bless straight from the police. It was Maia's idea to partner with them despite her distrust, and Ceci thinks it's helping. It's better than letting ex-pets continue to be abandoned when their owners are arrested, at least. That's what happened to multiple of their residents. Bless is the first to come to them through the partnership.

Maybe it's about time she contacted Theo and Max again. They're better at this than she is, maybe they have some tips for Bless. Or Anita or Ade might have advice for the increased publicity she and Maia are likely to receive now, after today's interview.

Increased publicity for them, and for their refuge. Oh, joy.

[bouncinghedgehog]

Anita Blair was the first guide dog handler in El Paso, Texas, when she graduated from The Seeing Eye in March 1940 with Fawn, a German shepherd. The photo is a black and white photo of Anita being guided by Fawn across a bustling city street in the early 1940s.

Just a month later, Anita and Fawn were crossing a street in El Paso when a car nearly hit her. “Fawn, the fawn-colored German shepherd, with perfect timing checked her mistress’s pace, so that the car sped past without the driver being aware that the young woman could not see,” the El Paso Times reported on April 19, 1940.

Fawn was at her side when she graduated from the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy – now known as the University of Texas at El Paso, or UTEP – with a bachelor’s degree in 1944. She later earned a master’s degree from Texas State College for Women, now Texas Woman’s University, in Denton.

In 1946, Anita and Fawn were again in the news during a tragic fire at the 23-story Hotel LaSalle in Chicago. According to the June 6, 1946, issue of the El Paso Times, Anita was awakened by screams. “When I opened the door the smoke was so heavy I could taste it,” Anita told the newspaper. “I closed the door but did not want to get Fawn excited. Because of her I remained calm – and probably because of me she did the same.”

Fawn led Anita out the window and down the fire escape – 11 stories down – while the fire raged. Sixty-one people were killed in the fire.

In 1952, Anita became the first El Paso woman – and the first blind woman in any state – to be elected as a state representative. During her time in office, Anita fought for funding for the State School for the Deaf, teacher pay raises, and a bill that allowed women to serve on juries.

Anita returned to The Seeing Eye five more times to be matched with successor Seeing Eye dogs. Her last was Beryl, a black Labrador retriever, in 1990. Anita died in 2010 at the age of 93, and in recognition of her service as a state legislator, is buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

[omg-hellgirl]

Bianca faced a tough adversary in Anita Pallenberg, who took an instant dislike to Mick's new mistress. With Marianne Faithfull out of the picture Pallenberg wielded more influence than ever before within the Stones' inner circle.

Christopher P. Andersen, Jagger Unauthorized.

[crossyourheartspreparetodie]

Hair.

Ever since I was in the fandom, I have a very favorite point about the fact that Cross only allowed Allen to shave and cut his hair.

While they were still at Mother's, Cross just forced him to do it and Allen screwed it up as much as possible, but Cross still forced him to do it.

Over time, he got better at it, but when Allen went to the Black Order, Cross did it himself. He just can't relax unless it's Allen doing it. For someone else to be near the face and neck with a sharp blade? no thanks. But if it was Allen, he could relax and take a nap.

curse after the ark Cross threw a tantrum a couple of times so that Allen would be allowed to cut his hair and shave it.

Peacefully dozing Cross and Allen with a blade in his hands are struggling with the desire not to shave his head--- I apologize, if something is written wrong! I don't know English (((

You guyyssss you're gonna kill me with these cute headcanons and scenarios ❤️.

I think Cross would've waved it off as "im making you do this to exercise that left arm of yours". Maybe that's how it was in the beginning and then it became something more intimate (I don't mean this in a dirty way, words fail me today).

Even if Allen royally screwed up Cross does magic so I'm sure he'd have a way to fix it. Hmmm now that I think about it maybe thats why even being on the run Allen's hair still seems so nice and put together.

Lol I think after the Ark Allen would definitely struggle with not wanting to cut all his master's hair off.

This headcanon also makes me a little sad for Cross...not being able to trust anyone, even actual humans (or perhaps feeling like he shouldn't get too close) with his role in the war. I think so many of his mistresses ended up like Anita...it probably keeps him up at night cuz he feels like he'd the cause of their deaths.

[boundbimbos]

[mistressanita00rose]

Hello I am mistress anita I need a loyal slave who is ready to listen to every command if mine

[tybaltsjuliet]

Wasn't Cruella on Once Upon a Time? It seems she would be a natural enemy for your nice Mistress Fagin and all her dogs...

she was! and they would hate each other’s guts!

i do not know how my cruella would happen to stumble into the curse - i have a few different precedents going for characters like the darlings, and fagin and co., and tiana, who are not from The Land With Magic per se. but in storybrooke she is absolutely always threatening to have the sheriff after fagin and her dogs for breaches of the law both real and imaginary, and almost as frequently threatening to Do Something About Those Feral Mutts herself.

i suspect that none of fagin’s dogs are *quite* nice-looking enough for cruella to consider them coat material, which, i guess, is sort of a blessing? fagin still thinks she is an absolute monster, though, and the kids have definitely keyed her car and/or thrown paint on her before.

...oh, man, wait. how cute would it be if roger was a starving artist living in the same crappy apartment building as fagin, and she got to be anita about it! then they could organize a heist with the kids to get their puppies back from cruella!

[bouncinghedgehoginblackandwhite]

Anita Blair was the first guide dog handler in El Paso, Texas, when she graduated from The Seeing Eye in March 1940 with Fawn, a German shepherd. The photo is a black and white photo of Anita being guided by Fawn across a bustling city street in the early 1940s.

Just a month later, Anita and Fawn were crossing a street in El Paso when a car nearly hit her. “Fawn, the fawn-colored German shepherd, with perfect timing checked her mistress’s pace, so that the car sped past without the driver being aware that the young woman could not see,” the El Paso Times reported on April 19, 1940.

Fawn was at her side when she graduated from the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy – now known as the University of Texas at El Paso, or UTEP – with a bachelor’s degree in 1944. She later earned a master’s degree from Texas State College for Women, now Texas Woman’s University, in Denton.

In 1946, Anita and Fawn were again in the news during a tragic fire at the 23-story Hotel LaSalle in Chicago. According to the June 6, 1946, issue of the El Paso Times, Anita was awakened by screams. “When I opened the door the smoke was so heavy I could taste it,” Anita told the newspaper. “I closed the door but did not want to get Fawn excited. Because of her I remained calm – and probably because of me she did the same.”

Fawn led Anita out the window and down the fire escape – 11 stories down – while the fire raged. Sixty-one people were killed in the fire.

In 1952, Anita became the first El Paso woman – and the first blind woman in any state – to be elected as a state representative. During her time in office, Anita fought for funding for the State School for the Deaf, teacher pay raises, and a bill that allowed women to serve on juries.

Anita returned to The Seeing Eye five more times to be matched with successor Seeing Eye dogs. Her last was Beryl, a black Labrador retriever, in 1990. Anita died in 2010 at the age of 93, and in recognition of her service as a state legislator, is buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

[parfumieren]

Jicky (Guerlain)

Léa de Lonval -- the wise heroine of Colette's 1920 novel Chéri -- had this to say about the primacy of style over propriety: "Naked, if need be… but squalid, never!" Being a celebrated courtesan, Léa knew quite a lot about being naked. And that she wore Guerlain's Jicky is a given-- for Jicky is her beloved Belle Époque in liquid form.

There is plenty that's naked about Jicky, but certainly nothing squalid. It is neither mad, bad, nor dangerous to know, despite the company it has kept. Colette elle-même; Sarah Bernhardt; Anita Ekberg and Brigitte Bardot; not one but two 007's (Sean Connery and Roger Moore). Jane Birkin wore Jicky before switching to L'Air de Rien, which amounts to a step down in the world for Jane. And Jacqueline Kennedy dabbed it behind her lovely ears, which may be construed as a step up for Jicky.

We cannot know if Alice Keppel -- Edward VII's discreet and congenial maîtresse déclarée -- ever tried Jicky. In Diana Souhami's biography Mrs. Keppel and Her Daughter, Sonia Keppel is quoted as saying that her mother exuded 'a certain elusive smell, like fresh green sap, that came from herself'. She did not say (as Virginia Woolf did of Katherine Mansfield) that her mother reeked 'like a civet cat that had taken to street walking'. If she had, Jicky would have undoubtedly been to blame.

Still, Jicky has more in common with Mrs. Keppel than a first glance might tell. Like "La Favorita", it's the perfect mistress, at once frankly suggestive and marvellously well-behaved. Assertive, heady, and rich, its comportment on skin suggests years of tutelage amidst the best society... and nights whiled away between the finest silk sheets. Finally, in its capacity to charm perfume-wearers of all genders, ages, and classes, Jicky employs the same "gift of happiness" attributed to Mrs. Keppel: "She resembled a Christmas tree laden with presents for everyone."

Jicky begins with a thousand acres of Provençal lavender concentrated into one crystalline drop. It stays there for exactly sixty seconds before transforming into the most remarkable olfactory hologram of a lover's body this side of-- well, the bed. Here is the intimate aroma of the one you adore. He or she is the person with whom you share your life, your heart, your secret inner self; you sleep together every night and reach for one another first thing every morning. With them, your secrets are safe as houses-- and before them, to paraphrase Millay, you are at liberty to "spread like a chart your little wicked ways".

The warm, animalic phase of Jicky's development is due largely to the generous amount of civet with which Aimé Guerlain anchored this composition of sparkling citrus, leather, and herbs. The result is a sinuous beast, delicate and decorous, who enters the room on tiny feet, lashing its tail. Close behind it comes its master -- a jovial, barrel-chested shaving-soap accord, rich with birch tar and vanilla -- who promptly pulls up a chair and offers you a piece of his mind. While he dominates the conversation (and a scintillating one it is, too), our civet sits silent and attentive, every so often yawning or giving its glossy fur a nonchalant lick. It never begs for attention, but it also never quits its master's side. Caught in the nexus between filthy and clean, you sense that you're the victim of a formidable tag team-- and you marvel at their effortless powers of persuasion.

Despite its embrace by the so-called "souls" of that age, Jicky did not debut during the fast-and-loose Edwardian era. It is solidly a product of Victoria's reign, a fact which turns the entire concept of Victorian prudery on its ear. The Queen herself, though straitlaced as any monarch must be, is said to have adored perfume-- particularly Houbigant and Creed, from whom she commissioned Royal Scottish Lavender in honor of her beloved Highlands. The only thing separating Royal Scottish Lavender from Jicky is the sensual frisson of civet, a distinction which also sums up the fundamental differences in character and taste between the duty-minded Queen and her sybaritic eldest son. In short: same genes, but considerably more sex.

If, while sporting Jicky, you likewise experience an uptick in "action", do not be surprised. By the same token, do not believe for an instant that by accepting said "action", your standards have been lowered by one jot. Wearing Jicky does not diminish one's dignity; nor does it deny one's essential pleasure-loving nature. It merely clothes the mammal with art.

Whatever else you choose to wear -- or not wear -- is entirely your own business.

Scent Elements: Lemon, mandarin, bergamot, lavender, rosewood, orris, jasmine, patchouli, rose, vetiver, leather, amber, civet, tonka bean, incense, benzoin