#sinister plot

[whats-in-a-sentence]

So long as we assume (as most people did) that composing poetry and quoting classical literature are the best guides to administrative talent, China can fairly be said to have developed the most rational selection processes for state service known to history.*

*When Britain reorganized its civil service in the 1880s it introduced self-consciously similar examinations, testing bright young men on their knowledge of Greek and Latin classics before sending them off to govern India, and even now British civil servants are still known as mandarins. Nineteenth-century conservatives saw exams as part of a sinister plot to "Chinesify" Britain.

"Why the West Rules – For Now: The patterns of history and what they reveal about the future" - Ian Morris

[enchantingepics]

Story Prompt 62

There lurked a villain, cunning and shrouded in darkness as he ruled his domain with an iron fist. But little did he know, a plan brewed in the mind of one who sought to outwit him.

The protagonist, a figure of mystery themselves, had ventured into the villain's realm with a daring resolve. Their aim: to infiltrate the villain's inner circle, to become his confidant, his right hand. It was a dangerous game, one where the line between ally and adversary blurred with each passing moment.

As days turned into weeks, the protagonist gained the villain's trust, weaving their way into the intricate web of deceit that surrounded him. Yet, amidst the shadows and deception, an unexpected twist emerged.

The villain, drawn to the protagonist's charm and cunning, began to make advances. His words dripped with honeyed promises, tempting the protagonist with power and riches beyond imagination. But with each sweet whisper, the protagonist felt the weight of their conscience grow heavier.

Caught between the allure of darkness and the flicker of their own morality, the protagonist faced a choice. Would they succumb to the seductive whispers of the villain, embracing the path of darkness laid before them? Or would they steel their resolve, confronting the villain and putting an end to his reign of terror once and for all?

In the dimly lit chamber where the villain held court, the protagonist stood face to face with their nemesis. The air crackled with tension as the two locked eyes, each silently daring the other to make the first move.

"You've played your part well," the villain remarked, his voice smooth as silk. "But now, it's time to choose. Will you stand by my side, or will you fall at my feet?"

The protagonist hesitated, torn between duty and desire. But in the end, they knew what had to be done.

[screamingeyepress]

Step into the shadows with The Interior Decorator. An unexpected read for #noirvember. 🖤🔗https://www.screamingeyepress.com/pubs/rumble/the-interior-decorator-by-chauncey-haworth/

#noir #crimefiction #mystery

[rhythmicreverie]

In twilight's dimming glow, she emerged from shadows unknown, A family's secret past now unveiled, in tales of crime and mystery woven. A sister long lost, their bond fractured by time, mended through the secrets they would unearth. Through whispered words, a dark history unfurled, revealing truths that once were forgotten. As they delved into the abyss of family lore, a sinister plot unraveled, and a new chapter began in their lives entwined. In this brief moment, they found solace in the mystery of their lineage, and the bond they'd thought was lost, forever mended.

[benevolenterrancy]

"Heavens, he doesn't understand again." "Every time he says 'I don't understand', Lui-shixiong grabs someone to demonstrate until he understands..." Ji Jue quietly complained to Shang Qinghua. No wonder the injuries at Bai Zhan Peak had only increased!

so this is obviously Liu Qingge's entire love language, right?

[dangercupcaake]

the actual biggest mystery of heartbreak high season 2 is how the scariest looking white man managed to bag two of the baddest bitches at Hartley.......

[orchiro]

kabru

[daddy-long-legssss]

don't you know an apparition is a cheap date?

[x]

[heademptyonlyvibes]

no glitching.

[lunarin64art]

V3 Chapter 4: Halloween Edition

[odd-critter]

it makes me so mad that this guy didnt stay dead like whenever i think abt him I think about what he did to peppino and it activates a primal rage in me

[ban--tam]

yangtober day 19: frederica “well, from what it says here, do you think that we were supposed to... hey, do you smell something burning?” (what do you think they were trying to cook, even)

[swordmaid]

thinking about how profound it must’ve been for shri’iia when she first received scratch’s ball (woman who has never gotten anything for free in her life ever)

[favvnsongs]

@ap-pren-tice: The vibes are not Fukuzawa approved

[pcktknife]

convinced my mom to get pokemon violet so now all that is hers is mine

[morphemeta]

dracula's coffin club, early october / @anchoragestarters

October. Halloween. Harvest time for the owners of businesses dealing with occult, the spooky, the dark and dreary and whatever other haunting things of which you might think. For Dracula's Coffin Club, this was peak season (and, indeed, Halloween may as well have been Christmas) and, almost as soon as the sun had first dawned on the tenth month, Kaz had set to work on getting the place decorated. Some of this would have been done by hand, other parts handled by the kinds of professionals who specialised in dressing shop windows. There was little doubt he likely had more important work to be doing with regards to the City Council but he would always carve time out at this time of year to focus on the Coffin Club. If there had been any objections to this early on, they had fallen on death ears. Kaz was the sort of man who followed through with his plans.

For now, he was stood just outside the shop itself, clad in a thick black furry coat and frowning at its facade; although he'd spend twenty-odd years in Anchorage, he'd never quite acclimated to the weather. By now, the people of Rabbit Creek had likely gotten used to the shop's annual makeover but Kaz was never quite satisfied with his work. It wasn't quite perfect, it needed to be better. Yet he was at a loss. As loathe as he was to admit, nothing new was coming to him but the simple relief was that it would be easy enough to find outside help. After all, it only took a few short minutes of waiting before someone stopped in their tracks to take in the store's Halloween display.

"You," said Kaz with a snap of his fingers, addressing the passerby without a hint of hesitation or self-reservation. When you were very good at commanding attention, those were not the kind of worries you had to nurture. "This display. It feels incomplete somehow." He crossed his arms over his chest and pressed a finger against pursed lips. "What's missing?" Although it was not directly said, it was clear that this was his way of opening the floor to suggestions.