#the king of marvin gardens

[kiurit]

becket (1964) / the king of marvin gardens (1972)

[empyreden]

the king of marvin gardens, 1972

[cinemajunkie70]

Happy Birthday in the afterlife to Bob Rafelson!

[morphean42]

Marvin, seeing his bishop sticking out of Whizzer’s mouth: No. No, get out. I’m not gay anymore.

[haveyoureadthismgyabook]

[witlesswitnesstm]

I am a firm Marvin Gardens BPD/NPD truther, so here’s all my evidence.

This is a very long post, so buckle up.

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Let’s go through the symptoms he shows, shall we?

- Has unreasonably high sense of self importance, and requires constant admiration:

Marvin, especially as a child, exhibits a large amount of grandiosity. This is most evident in How Marvin eats his breakfast and My Highschool Sweetheart.

He thinks of himself as above the maid staff and he constantly threatens/accuses them. Then he’s given the role of Columbus, and highly identifies with him to the point where he claims he *is* Columbus. That he’s this grand explorer, who’s the king of the ocean. He believes he’s powerful because of the role.

Then as an adult, Marvin has a constant need for adoration. He needs people (like Whizzer and Trina) to love and want him in songs like Thrill of first love and This had better come to a stop. That might even be a reason he got with Trina in the first place. He wanted to feel needed, without the responsibility of having to love back.

Not to mention the line “Kid. Be my son.” In Father to son. He wants Jason to fulfill the role as his son (and subsequently love him), not really acknowledging he’s his own person. But he still deeply cares about Jason, and wants him to succeed, he just does it through the only lense he understands; himself. Also, I noticed that Marvin literally moves the chess board aside and makes Jason face him during that song, even though he clearly doesn’t want to.

- Believes they deserve special privileges or treatment:

The R of Ms. Goldberg shows Marvin is obsessed with getting what he wants, for no other reason besides the fact that he wants it. It’s also implied that he didn’t even necessarily have the acting skills required to be Columbus, Ms. Goldberg just conceded because he kept pestering her. He believed he deserved it, so he got it.

- Make achievements and talents bigger than they actually are:

Again, Marvin obsessed over being a star actor. He also consistently exaggerates his intelligence with lines like “I can read her like a book” in How Marvin eats his breakfast and “I'm not so rich but hell I'm smart.” In This had better come to a stop.

In I never wanted to love you, Marvin also claims that he’s in demand, when he’s most likely not and is just trying to cover for his ego.

- Preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, brilliance

Oh wow. Ok, so we all know about the metaphor for games at this point. Marvin loves winning, he literally says it’s everything to him. He also says that he wants it all multiple times which is just, really driving home the point that he craves success and power over everything else.

Marvin is also characterized as being rich, which again emphasizes his need for success. I’m thinking he climbed the corporate ladder for the sole objective of looking like he’s successful.

Side note, I think the reason he never acknowledges how rich he is might be because he’s ashamed of being a trust fund baby. He had a whole maid staff as a kid, so it’s implied his parents had mad stacks. He might’ve sought success outside his parents’ money so that it was his own accomplishment, not his family’s.

I want to touch on My chance to survive the night, specifically the line “I played a game. She was as cute as a dime and couldn't spell. I asked her to spell my name. That's it for girls.” Marvin has a history of using games as a basis for breaking up with people because of his insecurity, even before Chess game. He gets a lot better with this in act 2, and this is evident in the racquetball matches. He seems a little unconfident, but he’s not devastated by it in the way he would be before.

I’ve mentioned this in a separate post, but The r of Ms. Goldberg can also be interpreted as a fantasy for power, since Marvin isn’t actually interested in having sex with Ms. Goldberg, and instead just wants to have control over her.

- Is critical and looks down on people they feel aren’t important:

Marvin consistently ignores his sweetheart even when she begs for his attention. When she tries to tell him she’s a person, he calls her ridiculous.

Marvin also just generally acted out as a child because he considered everyone as beneath him.

This trait is especially highlighted In Tight Knit family reprise, where he just straight up talks shit about Mendel, not being able to believe that Trina can love him. It’s also shown in Marvin hits Trina, that he dislikes her platitudes and expects substance from her, and then goes on to again beg for admiration with the line “How could you ever deny what we had?”

- Expects others to do what they ask without question:

This is best shown in This had better come to a stop and Chess game. Marvin expects Whizzer to play the housewife, while not acknowledging that he’s his own person.

This is also displayed in Tight Knit family, where he expects everyone to go along with his perfect vision of what a family should be.

- Has an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others:

This is most clear with Sweetheart and Trina. As I’ve said, Marvin blatantly ignores sweetheart’s attempts to love him, and completely disregards her. I want to note how he does this in favor of being attached to Ms. Goldberg and playing Columbus which are his power fantasies, essentially.

This trait is also shown in Breakfast over Sugar when Marvin basically tells Trina to shut up and that she’ll get over it when she’s having a a pretty expected emotional outburst to him divorcing her. He completely disregards her feelings, showing no empathy to her.

- Acts arrogantly:

This can just be interpreted as confidence but Marvin says that he loves being himself multiple times over the course of In trousers.

• Borderline Personality Disorder

- A strong fear of abandonment:

This ties into Marvin’s need for admiration, but he constantly asks others for validation, and even doesn’t want Trina to find new partners because he interprets it as abandonment of his family.

There’s also the workshop version of This had better come to a stop, which is all about how Marvin is terrified that Whizzer’s going to leave him again in act 2, but he tries to bury all those feelings down so that he doesn’t appear needy. One of the lines is “I sit here and slowly rot. Wait for Whizzer, wait for answers, and get none.” Which just really nails down this point.

There’s also Unlikely lovers, when Marvin refuses to leave Whizzer’s side in the hospital.

- A pattern of unstable, intense relationships:

I’m sure we all know where this is going.

Marvin has a lot of opinions about Trina. He says that he thinks she’s perfect in I have a family, but that at the same time, he says that he hates her in I swear I won’t ever again.

His wants are contradictory. He wanted Trina to leave him alone when he divorced her, but couldn’t accept that she married Mendel. Also, he fights with Trina consistently, even throughout Act 2.

Onto Whizzer, their relationship is driven solely by chaotic passion. Their relationship is *built* on fighting and making up with hate sex.

Whizzer has no idea how to feel about Marvin because of how unstable he is. Marvin can be gentle, but he expects everything to go his way. He’s affectionate but highly judgemental. (Then again, so is Whizzer.)

- Quick changes in how they view themself:

This is best shown in Your Lips and Me reprise. Marvin goes from hating who he was and what he did to Ms. Goldberg to having a whole ass victory song about how he loves being himself.

This might be sarcasm, but Marvin is also self deprecating in Tight knit family reprise, with the lyric “I'm too damn peeved, self-absorbed, self-deceived. Who knows?”

- Periods of stress related paranoia and loss of contact with reality

This is a stretch, but Marvin’s exes always hovering around him in In trousers might be paranoia about his past manifesting itself. This is especially clear in I can’t sleep and Your lips and Me reprise where they physically interact with him, preventing him from sleeping or reminding him of his past.

- Impulsive/risky behavior:

Bro got multiple STDs, presumably from unsafe sex. Also, it’s implied that he also got HIV after Whizzer.

Hitting Trina could also be seen as impulsive behavior.

- Wide mood swings:

This is where Marvin’s giddy seizures comes in. He has periods of extreme laughter and giddiness, sporadically.

- Inappropriate levels of anger

Marvin hits Trina. I mean, what else do I have to say? This whole song is about Marvin’s anger taking over his actions and causing physical harm because of it. He also shows inappropriate anger when he brings out Whizzer’s belongings after the Chess game.

Ok Jesus Christ that was a lot of words. Keep in mind that these are just my headcanons and you’re allowed to interpret Marvin in any way you want.

Also I don’t have these disorders myself and I’m not a professional psychologist or anything so let me know if I got some things wrong. I just care way too much about the Marvin Trilogy and I’m also interested in becoming a psychologist.

[thejagerman2024]

WHY ARE DISCORD ROLEPLAY SERVERS SO WILD

Max Jägerman just sniffed cocaine

Aaron Burr grew hair and shaved it off in anger

King George III is saying hawk tuah

Marvin Gardens called Ram Sweeny a weirdo

Henry Hidgens and Black Stache are arguing

Mendel Weisenbachfeld has weed brownies

Max and Marvin are besties

And Joey Richter (MAMD) and the eleventh doctor are friends (?)

and it's all in the same server.

@liltypingtom

[magic-sch00lbus-dr0p0ut]

Hii! I'm looking for moots to be nerds with (to talk to) so... here's me l guess :)

I'm Katie (she/her), my favourite colour is yellow, and I have many, many interests but have adored reading since I was young, I also play 5 instruments so I love music!

More About Me ↧

My Interests !

⭐️ = Favourite

FANDOMS/SHIPS:

⭐️Marauders - Wolfstar, Jilly, Jegulus, Dorlene

⭐️All For the Games - Neil/Andrew

Hannibal

IT - Reddie

Gravity Falls

Legend of Zelda

Stardew Valley - my partner is harvey ofc

Luca

Percy Jackson (haven’t read the books in a while but adored them when I was little and I could still go on about them)

Good Omens

⭐️Steven Universe

Over the Garden Wall

But I’m a Cheerleader

Young Royals

⭐️Interview With the Vampire (show)

═════════════

MUSIC:

The Cure

⭐️David Bowie

The Beatles

Marvin Gaye

The Backseat Lovers

Surf Curse

⭐️Nirvana

⭐️Bikini Kill

Radiohead

Queen

Tv Girl

⭐️Ricky Jamaraz

Khai Dreams

⭐️Tyler the Creator

Stray Kids

⭐️Kendrick Lamar

Beck

Vundabar

═════════════

FAV BOOKS:

The Summer of Broken Rules

This is How You Lose the Time War

The King’s Men (aftg 3)

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

We Are the Ants

Red White and Royal Blue

I Fell in Love With Hope

💕Favourite Genre is Romance/Tragedy💕

════════════════════════

Fun Tumblrish) Facts About Me:

- I have a grungy style and love thrifting

- I have enjoyed reading since I was little but only discovered my love of writing back in middle school thanks to ✨fanfiction✨

- I’m bisexual

- I read a LOT of fanfiction (yes I have read atyd, and adored it)

- I play softball and tennis

- I adore art but am personally horrible at it

Have a beautiful evening! 💕✨

[altr5312916195]

Egotober Day Six - Bubbles - Darkiplier, Marvin, Jackie-Boy, Kos

Darkiplier entered Marvin’s room again, Kos looked up at him. “All set?” He asked. “Everyone’s settled in the house.” Dark went back to the crystal ball, summoning up an image of IRIS with ease now. It appeared Marvin had Anti subdued. His behavior was erratic, feral. He never saw something so human act like a creature. It filled him with dread. “Drop the barrier.” Dark said. 

Kos loomed over the cauldron, he had already ransacked Marvin’s supplies and gathered what he needed. Tossing handfuls of herbs, and dripping oils into the already bubbling pot until it boiled over. Kos backed up for a moment, allowing the spell to pop loudly. The beacon dissolved into bubbles covering the table in the mess. 

The two sat in silence only for a few moments before Marvin, Jack, Henrik, and Anti clattered into the room through Marvin’s portal. Henrik leaned limply against Jack, while Marvin struggled to get Anti back down to the ground.

Dark raised his hands and his red magic brought Anti down to his knees with ease. “He’s not adept at magic, is he?” Dark asked. Marvin huffed, not letting his hold on Anti’s shirt go. “Not at the moment.” Dark nodded, folding his glowing hands together. 

“Is this the King of Raspy Hill Henrik talks so highly of?” Anti asked. “That’d be me.” Kos stood next to Dark. “Dark is more of a research assistant.” Dark lowered himself, looking closer at Anti. “What are you?” He reached out for him, Anti struggled to get away from his reach, and when he couldn’t he resorted to attempting to bite the entity. Dark’s face scrunched in disgust, he flicked his hand sending a blast of red energy at Anti’s face, knocking him back. 

“His energy is almost radioactive.” Dark said, standing up straight. “IRIS calls it Antimatter.” Marvin said. Dark nodded. “Right, Henrik’s evil research cult. It makes sense he came from their labs.” “That’s not what they are.” Jack said, moving the lay Henrik down on Marvin’s bed, avoiding nearing Anti any chance he could. “They’re the leading researchers in technology, and in my time they're a reputable business.” Dark rolled his. “Thank you for that, hero..” Jack threw Dark a look, but held his tonngue, quietly accepting the underminding Dark often threw at him.

“Dark..” Both Marvin and Kos piped up in Jack’s defense. “You think you know everything, huh?” Anti looked up at Dark. The entity glared down at Anti. “I tend to.” “But you’re not in charge?” Anti scoffed. “Dark, don’t listen to him, he’s trying to get in your head. He feeds on anxiety and insecurity.” Marvin told him. “Do you have anything in your little book about Anti?” He asked. “Not much, but Henrik’s given me his notes.” Marvin went over to his shelf, pulling his book of Raspy Hill out along with one of Henrik’s composition notebooks. 

“And what of Henrik?” Kos leaned over Henrik, looking at his eyes. They seemed distant, unobserving. Kos reached for his wrist and dropped it quickly when he yelped in pain, the strings shocking him. “That would be Anti’s doing.” Jack said. “How do we get it off of him?” Dark stepped around Anti, looking at the strings on Henrik. 

“I can’t get them off of him, that’s his doing. If he can’t let go of his fear then he’ll be tied to me, just like Chase.” Dark looked over his shoulder at Anti. “Chase doesn’t have strings.” Anti looked up at Dark, and hummed in question. Dark looked at Marvin. “Can he control them?” Marvin nodded. His face paled and his voice lowered. “Chase is with Yani and Wilford.” Marvin’s eyes widened at this.

By all standards, Yani was Dark’s kid. He took care of her, he put her to bed every night and got her ready in the mornings. She went to him when she was sick and having nightmares. But overall, she was the baby of Raspy Hill. Bing and her constantly left the living rooms covered in pillow forts, Marvin went days with eyeliner that Yani drew on him, the only other ego to have helped Jameson in the garden was her. She was untouched by any of the horrors the Egos had been through before Raspy Hill, and Dark would do everything in his power to keep her safe. 

Anti was all smiles, watching Marvin and Dark. “Something wrong?

[sailoreuterpe]

Non-Romantic Song Recommendations

familial/platonic- the lyrics are relatively generic; family or friends

child love- perspective of a child to a guardian

grandchild love- perspective of a grandchild to a grandparent

parental love- perspective of a guardian to a child

sibling love- perspective of a sibling to a sibling

lyrics can tweak platonic- the lyrics are explicitly romantic in nature but can become generic with tweaking

romantic video- the official music video is explicitly romantic in nature; lyric music videos are usually less romantic

(This is my favorite familial/platonic song) Tracy Chapman (familial/platonic): The Promise - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-nqzwIvnZ0

Andrew Gold: Thank You for Being a Friend (familial/platonic)

Andy Grammer: Don't Give Up on Me (lyrics can tweak platonic)

A Great Big World: I Will Always Be There (familial/platonic)

Al Kasha, Joel Hirschhorn, Michael Lloyd: Love Survives (familial/platonic)

Alison Krauss: Baby Mine (parental love)

Alison Krauss: When You Say Nothing at All (familial/platonic)

Anthony Gonzalez: Proud Corazon (child love)

Avicii: Hey Brother (sibling love)

Ben E. King: Stand By Me (familial/platonic)

Bette Midler: Wind Beneath my Wings (child love, familial/platonic)

Bill Withers: Lean on Me (familial/platonic)

Billy Joel: Just the Way You Are (lyrics can tweak platonic)

Billy Joel: Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) (parental love)

Boyz 2 Men: Mama (child love)

Brendan Shine: A Mother's Love's a Blessing (child love)

Celtic Woman: Danny Boy (sibling love)

Christina Perri: A Thousand Years (romantic video, lyrics can tweak platonic)

Crosby, Stills, and Nash: Teach Your Children (child love, parental love)

Cyndi Lauper: True Colors (familial/platonic)

Dan Fogelberg: Leader of the Band (child love)

Diamond Rio: One More Day (familial/platonic)

Diana Ross: If We Hold On Together (familial/platonic)

Dionne Warwick: That's What Friends are For (familial/platonic)

Donna Lewis: At the Beginning (romantic video, lyrics can tweak platonic)

Gabriella Flores, Gael Garcia Bernal: Remember Me (child love, parental love)

Imagine Dragons: I Bet My Life (child love)

Jim Croce: I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song (lyrics can tweak platonic)

Jim Croce: Time in a Bottle (parental love)

Josh Groban: You Raise Me Up (familial/platonic)

Katy Perry: Unconditionally (romantic video, familial/platonic)

Kenny Loggins: Return to Pooh Corner (parental love)

Lionel Richie: Angel (familial/platonic)

Luther Vandross: Dance with My Father (child love)

Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (lyrics can tweak platonic)

Mary Chapin Carpenter: Grow Old Along with Me (lyrics can tweak platonic)

Melissa Wasserman: Twenty Two (sibling love)

Miranda Lambert: Over You (familial/platonic)

Miranda Lambert: The House That Built Me (child love)

OK Go: I Won't Let You Down (familial/platonic)

Phil Collins: You'll Be in My Heart (parental love)

Phillip Phillips: Gone Gone Gone (familial/platonic)

Phillip Phillips: Home (familial/platonic)

Porter Robinson: Shelter (child love)

Queen: You’re My Best Friend (familial/platonic)

Rachel Platten: Better Place (familial/platonic)

Rachel Platten: Stand by You (familial/platonic)

Randy Newman: You've Got a Friend in Me (familial/platonic)

Regina Spektor: The Call (familial/platonic)

Rod Stewart: Forever Young (parental love)

Sarah Mclachlan: I Will Remember You (romantic video, lyrics can tweak platonic)

Savage Garden: I Knew I Loved You (romantic video, lyrics can tweak platonic)

Shania Twain: Forever and Always (romantic video, lyrics can tweak platonic)

Sick Puppies: All the Same (romantic video, lyrics can tweak platonic)

Sting: Fields of Gold (lyrics can tweak platonic)

Swedish House Mafia: Don't You Worry Child (child love, parental love)

Taylor Swift: marjorie (grandchild love)

Taylor Swift: Safe and Sound (familial/platonic)

Vienna Teng: Lullaby for a Stormy Night (parental love)

Will Smith: Just the Two of Us (parental love)

[velvet4510]

YT song links for reference:

“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”

“I Have Dreamed”

“I Knew I Loved You”

“A Moment Like This”

“The More I See You”

“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”

“Rewrite the Stars”

“Speak Softly Love”

“A Time for Us”

“Truly”

“We Kiss in a Shadow”

“You Were Meant for Me”

[crystalninjaphoenix]

Rescue and Reunion

Fantasy Masks AU: Chapter Twenty-Nine

A JSE Fanfic

This chapter continues the trend of long writing I’ve been recently doing, but I did manage to cut about 500 words from it so it’s a more reasonable length. You know, by my standards XD After Chase wakes up from another strange dream, he finally finds the motivation to try rescuing his friends. He’s not sure where Marvin is, but Jameson is in the palace, so it looks like he’ll have to sneak in and out without the King noticing him. Things, inevitably, don’t go well. Or do they? I guess you’ll have to read to find out! :D

Previous Part | More AU

Taglist: @brokentimewatch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chase jolted awake, gasping. Where—where was he? He’d fallen asleep and then—then he had another draísling about the garden, and in it he’d fallen into the well and talked with Jack, and—What? What was anything?

It took him a moment to remember where he was. He was still in the tavern. Of course. He’d fallen asleep there after a few drinks. It was disorienting to be back in the world after the strange dream-like experience of the draísling. The environment came to him in pieces. The tavern was still empty except for the barkeep and him, but there was now sunlight streaming through the windows. His neck and back hurt from sleeping bent over the table.

The barkeep glanced over at him. “You alright, ah... sir?”

“I-I’m fine.” Chase ran a hand through his hair, dislodging his hat. His mind was still reeling from everything he’d learned from Jack. The most urgent of which was the true scope of the King’s powers. Was Jack right? Was the King truly able to influence the entire city? If he was, then Chase had to get out of here. He stood up quickly, staggering in his urgency.

“Whoa, whoa!” The barkeep hurried over. “Take it careful, you’re probably still feeling the effects.”

“I’m fine,” Chase insisted. And as soon as he said that, he realized that he was fine. He wasn’t feeling any of the effects from a night spent drinking. Not even a slight headache. “I-I have to—I—”

“You must’ve had some dream,” the barkeep muttered.

“Did I... sleep here all night?” Chase asked.

The barkeep nodded. “Far as I’m aware. I had to go to sleep myself for a while.”

“...Right. Um... thank you,” Chase said awkwardly.

“Not a problem. You seem eager to head out, but is there anything else I can do for you?”

“Um...” Chase thought about it. “This might be a strange question. I haven’t really been keeping up with recent events, so... has there been any news? I remember hearing that some rebels had been captured a week ago.”

The barkeep laughed. “That is an odd question. Sure, friend. I know some news. I haven’t heard much more than rumors about those rebels, but the other day I heard from a man who works at the palace that the nobleman they kidnapped is back, living with the King.”

Chase frowned. “They kidnapped a nobleman?”

“Yes, almost two seasons ago. From some northern family. Have you heard of the Jairsolas line?”

Ah. Right. They were talking about Jameson. The King must have framed his disappearance as rebels kidnapping him—which, Chase supposed, made sense, given how he’d met Jameson by holding him at knifepoint. “Yes, I’ve heard of them,” Chase said. “Good that he’s... back, then.” It felt terrible to say that, since Chase knew Jameson would rather be anywhere than with the King. “But I’m not too familiar with nobles. Has there been anything else strange? Any other... disappearances?”

The barkeep shook his head. “I’m not too familiar with nobles, either. Sorry. And not much else has been happening in the city.” He laughed. “Not much does, to be honest, but I suppose that’s to be expected with the King here. He takes such care to maintain the peace.”

Chase forced himself to smile. “He does. I’m sorry to hear about the rebels.”

“It’s real unfortunate.” The barkeep nodded. “Is there anything else you need, sir? I can get you some water. No charge.”

“No, I’m... fine.” Chase turned away. “Thank you again.”

“Come back sometime!” The barkeep called after him as he left.

Chase stepped out into the sunlight, blinded for a moment by the brightness before hurrying down the wooden walkway. His mind went in circles, reviewing everything he’d learned.

Jack was trapped by the King. When he was asleep, he was stuck in nightmares, and when he was awake, he was imprisoned somewhere. He was important enough for the King to keep alive but too powerful to let loose. Jack also knew a lot about the King because of his circumstances. He knew the King was an enchanter, and knew that the King’s powers were unnaturally strong. The King was able to keep the whole city of Suilthair under his influence, preventing people from leaving.

“Shit!” Chase cursed softly. Was that why he’d been stuck wandering around Suilthair for a week? Even though he knew the warriors would be looking for him? Knew he should have rescued Marvin and Jameson and fled the city by now?

Well... it didn’t explain everything that happened in that week. But it would explain part of it.

And now that he knew about that, Chase was all too eager to leave before he fell back under the King’s influence. He needed to rescue Jameson and Marvin. Apparently Jameson was somewhere in the palace, but he had no idea where Marvin was. Once he figured that out, he could get them out of wherever they were being kept, and... go.

Was he ready to do that? Stacia and his children were still in the city. Even if Stacia had scorned him when he tried to talk to her, he now knew that was because of the King’s enchantment powers. He didn’t want his family to be stuck here under his influence. He’d come here for them.

But what could he do? If Stacia didn’t want to leave, he couldn’t force her. He hadn’t seen Quinten or Amabel. Were they similarly enchanted? Would they also want to stay? Even if they didn’t, Stacia would probably report them missing. And nothing attracted more attention than missing children.

Could he even rescue Marvin and Jameson in the first place? He was just one man. They were probably being protected by squads of warriors. 

Chase shook his head. No. He couldn’t let these doubts get to him again. He couldn’t waste another week paralyzed by how useless he was. How would he know he couldn’t do something if he didn’t try?

He stopped walking and knelt down by the side of the walkway, staring at his reflection in the lake water beside it. “Elders, I look terrible,” he muttered, and scooped up some of the water to splash on his face. That jolted him awake.

He had to try. He had to try. Besides, he couldn’t exactly make things worse. His friends were already captured. Sure, the King could read minds, but Chase didn’t know anything useful in the first place, so he wouldn’t get any information from him. It wouldn’t really be a loss if he was captured too.

How was he supposed to do this, though? 

He could try to infiltrate the palace. He didn’t know if the King knew his face, since he was wearing a mask in their last face-to-face encounter. Even if the King did know him, the other people at the palace—warriors, servants, visiting nobility—didn’t. Chase had been avoiding the palace this whole week, so none of them would recognize him. If he cleaned up a little bit and avoided the King, he might be able to slip past.

Chase stood up again. A plan was starting to form in his mind.

He wouldn’t be able to get his family out of Suilthair. He just... couldn’t see a way to do that, not when Stacia was so hostile to him. She wouldn’t listen to him, and she would be encouraging the children to avoid him as well. So, as much as he regretted it... he would have to leave them. Leave them just as Stacia had accused him of doing. The thought hurt him, an almost physical pain in his chest.

But at least he might be able to rescue his friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The plan was half-baked and likely to fail, but Chase couldn’t wait. He’d done enough waiting. It was time to act.

It took him half the day to get ready. He did his best to clean up, using the lake water and a bag of white powdered soap that he bought with his last three coins. The result was fine enough. He wouldn’t be winning any awards, but nobody was staring at him anymore. This did leave him sopping wet, though, so he had to wait for an hour to dry out, sitting in direct view of the sunlight.

He also asked around, searching for information about Marvin and Jameson. People in this city loved gossip, and answered his questions freely. Everyone knew Jameson was in the palace, even if most people didn’t actually know his name. Apparently there had always been rumors about the King’s strange companion, and those had sprung up again now that Jameson had “returned.”  It would be easier to get into the palace than the dungeons, but there was more risk of running into the King.

There was still no news about Marvin. Plenty of rumors, but no solid facts. The closest he got was a man who swore he had seen the warriors corner one of the rebels in an alleyway next to his house. Only for there to be a bright flash of light, and then everyone vanished, including the rebel. That was... somewhat believable. Did Chase dare to hope that... maybe Marvin... had escaped?

In any case, there was nothing new to be learned from outside the palace. It was time for the next part of the plan. Somehow getting inside the palace.

Chase’s heart pounded against his ribs as he approached the castle wall. He’d avoided this area for obvious reasons. But now he was walking right up like he totally belonged. The wall was three times his height, made of pale stone bricks as tall as his forearm was long. Warriors wearing the royal crest patrolled the top, armed with halberds, occasionally glancing down at the people below.

This wall formed an eight-sided shape in the center of Suilthair, closing off the castle from the rest of the city. The palace towers could be seen easily over the top, but Chase knew the royal barracks were also inside, along with a couple other buildings that he wasn’t sure of. Maybe there was a stable. Maybe there was a place for the servants to sleep. He’d never been inside a castle before. He never thought he would be. But the world clearly had different plans.

The main gate was heavily guarded. Several warriors stood next to it as well as on top of the wall above it. A heavy iron portcullis blocked the entrance. Chase quickly passed by. He’d have to find another way in.

He circled all the way to the other side of the wall before he found something. A small door tucked away beneath a stone arch, with a single warrior standing next to it. Chase hung back, glancing around for a spot to hide and keep watch. Luckily, there was a small garden nearby, barely big enough for a tree and some bushes. He hopped over the short wooden fence and ducked behind the tree just before the guarding warrior glanced his way.

This was a servant’s entrance. Of course! A perfectly discreet way in. He watched the servant’s entrance for an hour. Someone would go in or out about once every ten minutes. Interestingly, while some of them wore the servant uniform—a green tunic with yellow around the edges—some of them wore plain clothes. The warrior would stop those people before they went in. Chase couldn’t hear the questions she asked from here, but she always let them in eventually.

The longer he waited, the more likely it was that the warrior would notice him. He took a deep breath. The next time she glanced away, he hopped back over the fence and started casually walking up to the door as if he had done this a thousand times before.

The warrior noticed him approaching. Chase made sure to keep his face neutral, even when she held out her hand, barring him from the door. “Position?” she asked in a bored voice.

Chase swallowed a nervous lump in his throat. “I work—” What were the jobs servants did?! “—in the gardens.” Surely a castle this big had gardens.

“Which garden’s your focus?” the warrior asked.

His stomach leapt with nerves. What did that mean?! “I-I’m new, I don’t know much,” he lied.

“Fine, don’t need the name.” The warrior shrugged. “Describe it.”

Shit shit shit shit shit— “The one with... with the well,” Chase decided. “And all those trees, you know? Stone paths, wooden benches, bushes trimmed into circles.” He was just describing the garden from his draísling. This wouldn’t work. The warrior would chase him off. Tensing, he got prepared to run—

“Oh, the West Edge,” the warrior said. “Got it. New, huh?”

Chase didn’t dare relax. He just nodded.

“Do you remember the way to the laundry?”

He shook his head.

The warrior gestured at the wall behind her. “Straight shot, once you go around the guest cottage. Can’t miss it. Go on.” She took a step to the side.

“...Thanks.” Stunned, Chase stepped forward. He pulled open the wooden door and slipped through. There was no way that had worked. She had to be messing with him. He listened for anything strange, but... nothing.

He walked through a short corridor and emerged into the castle. After the crowded, winding streets of Suilthair, the open expanse of the castle was surprising. It was so much bigger than he expected. Easily the size of a small village. Buildings were evenly-spaced across the ground, some made of stone bricks, others made of wood and plaster, all connected by gravel paths winding through cut grass. Chase hurried forward, heading for the laundry.

There were a lot of people in the castle. Many of them were walking around in casual clothing, just like what Chase wore now. He wondered why that was. Maybe they were servants or warriors without their respective uniforms? In any case, he was grateful that none of them gave him a second look. But he still wanted a servant’s uniform. Just in case.

The laundry was a low stone building full of warm, humid air. There were piles and baskets of clothes in here, organized chaos all centered around the tubs of hot water found in every laundry building. The inside was a lot more crowded than Chase expected, with people running every which way, carrying soap and bundles of clothing. He must have come in right at laundry time. But everyone was too busy to really notice him.

He managed to navigate through the people, baskets, and tubs until he found a wall lined with hooks, almost all of which had a servant’s green tunic dangling on it. He felt around for a bit until he found one that would roughly fit him, then quickly slipped the tunic on over his clothes. Hopefully that didn’t look too strange.

Now. He needed more information from inside the palace. Chase glanced around until he saw someone approachable. A young person sorting out the piles of cleaned clothes to be folded. He sidled over to them and cleared his throat. “Excuse me?”

They jumped a bit and whirled around. “Oh, you startled me,” they breathed.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. It’s just that—that I’m new here and I wanted to get the lay of things.” Chase tried to disguise his mountain accent. He wasn’t sure it was working.

Luckily, the young servant didn’t seem to mind. “I haven’t been here that long myself,” they said. “But anything I can help you with? Having trouble finding your way around?”

“A little. I should be fine, though. Is there anywhere I should be careful to avoid?”

“Hmm.” They thought about it. “Well, no one wants to go to the dungeons. They’re terrible, all dirty and watery. Unfortunately you might have to eventually, they always stick the new people with the food deliveries. You can’t miss the black stone, though.”

“Oh yes, I’ve heard about the dungeons,” Chase said. “Weren’t there... new prisoners, or something?”

“Do you mean the rebels?” The servant laughed. “I don’t know where those rumors came from. There was only one man there, briefly. Have you heard of the King’s strange companion? The silent one? Has news of that spread beyond the walls?”

Chase blinks. “Vaguely. He’s not there anymore, though, right?”

“No. The King’s having him stay in his rooms.” Another chuckle. “He’s never done that before. I think we all know what that means.” They raised their eyebrows suggestively.

Chase tried to smile back. It came off a bit weak. “That is very strange.”

“I know. The King hasn’t been interested in that stuff in years, and the older staff members here say that his preference never swung that way. But I suppose that’s just more rumors.” The servant paused. “Oh yes. You’ll want to stay away from the King’s rooms, too. He doesn’t like us coming near there.”

“But... isn’t that the whole point of having servants? To clean up after you instead of doing it yourself? I’m sure his rooms get messy.”

“I’m sure too, but he’s a very private person. The only people up there are the special warriors that stand guard.”

“Special warriors?” Chase repeated, trying not to sound nervous.

“You’ll see them eventually,” the servant said. “They wear helmets and rarely speak. Gives everyone the shivers. Ugh. Might be best to avoid the entire fifth floor of the central tower. A couple days ago, I ran into them while they were changing guard shifts, and I felt like they were... like they knew what I was thinking.”

“That’s... creepy,” Chase said slowly. He cleared his throat. “Well, you look busy, so I’ll just go. Thank you for your help.”

“Not a problem. Name’s Avery, feel free to find me again for any other questions.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Chase smiled, then turned around and left the laundry.

So. Marvin definitely wasn’t here. He hadn’t been captured. Was he still in the city, then? How come he hadn’t come to find Chase? Maybe he’d fled?

In any case, it was a small consolation. Chase still had to get Jameson out of here. He knew where the King was keeping him, and he knew how to get there, but that didn’t make the task any easier.

Well. Might as well step into the palace.

The towers of the palace were easy to see, casting a deep shadow over the rest of the castle. Tall and narrow, made of the same pale stone as the outside wall. Banners with the royal crest flew from the roofs. Chase followed a pair of women in servant tunics to a side entrance and went inside.

The palace interior was... surprisingly, not as impressive as Chase thought it would be. Its greatest claim was its sheer size. Some of the corridors were as wide as roads. But there was a chill deep in the stone walls that wouldn’t go away. Probably a result of the lack of windows, which also caused the palace to be surprisingly dark, only lit by lanterns hanging from wall sconces. Great tapestries hung from every wall, but they were dulled with dust. The same for the thick carpets covering the stone floors. Everything was surprisingly barren. There were no trinkets or treasures lining the walls or tucked away into the corners of rooms. Furniture was sparse, barely enough to give the impression of a lived-in area.

Chills crept down Chase’s spine as he walked deeper into the palace. There were people in the palace. Warriors walking down the halls and servants performing various duties. But they didn’t talk much. Never above a whisper. Stories had always said the Suilthair palace was a place of light and laughter and art. Were they really that wrong? Or had something... happened?

The air grew colder and colder as Chase passed into the central tower and started climbing the wide stone stairs upwards. Was it really cold? Or was it just a trick of his mind? Anticipation of what was to come?

...something unspeakable...

Chase whirled around. He could have sworn he heard a voice behind him. But the staircase was empty. Maybe it was just a draft.

He took a deep breath and continued. Focus. He had to figure out how to get into the King’s rooms and get Jameson out. This was no time to hear whispers.

The fifth floor was even emptier than the rest of the palace. Chase didn’t see a single person as he wandered through the corridors. At least it was a bit brighter here, thanks to additional windows and brighter tapestries.

He didn’t know how close he was until he rounded a corner and saw, down the corridor, a large wooden door with two royal warriors standing on either side of it. Warriors wearing helmets that completely covered their heads.

Oh. This was it.

Chase took a deep breath. He had a vague plan. First, see if the King was in his rooms. If he was, leave and come back later. If he wasn’t, try and... convince the guards to let him in... somehow.

Shit, they noticed him.

Alright, time to act. Chase straightened and walked down the corridor. He couldn’t see the guards’ eyes through the slits in their helmets, but he could feel their gaze. The air was getting even colder.

He stopped right in front of the two warriors. “The... King... sent for me,” he said haltingly, trying not to stare at the swords hanging from either of their sides.

“Why?” The blunt question came from the guard on the left.

“I’m... I don’t know, I just received the orders and came here,” Chase said. “Is... he inside?”

“No.” Again from the left guard. A short, cold dismissal.

“Oh. A-alright, I... should just wait for him here, then,” Chase said.

“No.” The guard on the right pointed down the corridor, back the way Chase came. “Leave.”

“But... i-it would be so much easier,” Chase stammered. “And—and I think the King said to wait for him if he wasn’t here—”

“He did not,” said the guard on the left.

“Um... In all... politeness, how would you know?”

“We would have Heard him.”

Something about the way they said that sent shivers down Chase’s spine. He couldn’t help but take a step back. His mind was racing. These two clearly weren’t going to let him past willingly. They were armed and Chase wasn’t; there was no way he could fight his way through.

The two guards were staring at him. He still couldn’t see their eyes, but he felt their gaze. As his mind whirled, his whole body went still. He imagined he was back in the woods in the mountains. He had his eyes on a target, but two predators were also stalking that prey. What would he have to do? 

He would have to assess the threat. His eyes flicked down to the swords on the guards’ belts again—and he noticed something else. A single key on a ring dangling from the right one’s hip. Could it be the key to the royal chambers? And now that he was looking at those swords... they were quite large. Dangerous, but also heavy. He remembered Jackie talking about how the royal warriors often weren’t prepared for agility.

Threat assessed. And now... he would have to strike first.

Chase lunged forward, aiming for the door. The guards moved in unison, reaching out to grab his arms, but he ducked. The right guard had left his hip exposed when he reached out. Chase grabbed the key and yanked, simultaneously kicking the guard in the leg. The combined force pushed the guard over and broke the key ring free. 

The left guard wrapped an arm around Chase’s torso, almost pinning his arms to his sides. He took the key and jab it backwards into the guard’s stomach. The guard flinched, giving just enough room for Chase to wriggle around and grab the guard’s sword. He pulled it out of the sheath—with considerable effort—and swung it wildly.

The flat of the blade  knocked into the side of the guard’s helmet with a loud CLANG! The guard staggered backwards, stunned, and Chase jumped for the door, shoving the key in the lock and twisting. The right guard recovered from his fall and lunged for Chase, grabbing onto the edge of the servant’s tunic. Chase threw the door open—hitting the left guard again—and latched onto the doorframe, pulling himself through the opening. The servant’s tunic ripped, leaving the guard clutching a scrap of green fabric. Chase spun around and threw the sword he was still holding at the guard. He scrambled to dodge, giving Chase enough time to slam the door shut again and lock it.

Immediately the guards began pounding on the wood. The door handle rattled, but didn’t turn. Chase let out a small sigh. Temporary relief.

He turned around and looked at the rest of the room. It was a lot different than the rest of the palace. Everything was soft and plush, surfaces crowded with various items practical and decorative. He was taken aback for a moment. The King didn’t really live here, did he?

Forget about that! He had to find Jameson!

Chase ran through the rooms. The royal chambers were practically a small house with all the different rooms in here. Who needed this many rooms?! He threw the doors open, rushing through, until—

This door wouldn’t budge. Chase practically ran into it, expecting it to open when it didn’t. Maybe—? He pounded on the door, fist slamming on its wooden surface. “Jameson?! Jameson?!”

A creaking sound. Then footsteps running right up to the door.

“Jameson, it’s me, it’s Chase,” Chase said hurriedly. “I-I’m getting you out of here!” He tried to use the key from the guard on the door, not expecting it to work, already preparing to break the door down—but surprisingly, the key fit. It turned. “Oh thank the Elders,” he whispered, and pulled the door open.

Jameson was standing right there. He stared at Chase, wide-eyed. Disbelieving.

“Are you alright?” Chase asked. His eyes darted up and down, taking in Jameson’s appearance. “You... look terrible.” Jameson was wearing the same clothes as when Chase last saw him, but they were now covered in dirt and grime. The same went for his hair. His skin had noticeably paled, and his cheeks had hollowed out. All this in a week?

Jameson took a step backwards. His eyes narrowed a bit, giving Chase a wary look. Then he stepped forwards again and immediately began touching Chase. Not a hug or anything affectionate—No, instead he was poking and prodding and pulling at Chase’s clothes.

“What the—Jameson?!” Chase was too stunned to react to all this. “What are you—ow! That’s my beard! Stop!”

After a few seconds of this, Jameson stopped. He looked Chase over again. Stared at him. And then he threw his arms around Chase and melted into him.

“Whoa!” Chase stumbled a bit. He wrapped his arms around Jameson in turn, squeezing tight. “Hey. I-it’s good to see you too. I’m... sorry I wasn’t here sooner. It’s going to be okay now.” A pause. “We need to get out of here. Fast.”

Jameson let go of Chase and stepped back again. I’m so glad to see you, he said. You’re alright?

“More or less.”

Sorry about all that, Jameson added. I had to make sure this wasn’t some sort of mind trick. 

Chase frowned. “A mind trick?”

Jameson nodded. No time to explain. I need to find something out. And he turned around and walked back into the room.

“Wha—‘Find something out’? Jameson??” Chase leaned through the doorway, getting a better look at the room.

No wonder Jameson’s clothes were so dirty; this room was full of dust and grime. And Jameson was currently getting down onto the floor, the dustiest and grimiest part. He reached under the bed. His eyes were focused on something beneath it.

Chase walked over, ducking to look at what Jameson was doing. He was... prying up a floorboard. It soon came loose, revealing a small, dark space beneath it. Chase jerked back, thinking of spiders and bugs, but Jameson plunged his hands right in without fear. And he pulled something out. “What is that?” Chase asked.

Jameson sat up again, looking at the prize. It was a small, thin book, its cover blackened and warped, the pages within curled and stiff, black around the edges. Burned. Jameson tucked it into his vest. I don’t know, but it was important enough to hide, he said. Could be useful.

“I—okay,” Chase said. “But we really have to go! There are warriors outside trying to get in. I-I think we could outrun them, but more could show up at any moment!”

Jameson nodded. He stood up, stumbling for a second but quickly recovering. Lead the way, he said.

Chase nodded back. He took Jameson by the hand and ran, pulling him behind him through the royal chambers. They ran from room to room, heading for the entrance, Chase getting ready to unlock the door with the key—

But the door was already open.

Standing in the doorway was a man wearing a green cape and a golden circlet. Chase and Jameson froze in their tracks. The King smiled—not in the way one smiles when something is amusing, but in the way that one smiles when they wish to bare their teeth. “I couldn’t believe what I Heard,” he said. “But now I can see it, so I suppose I must.”

Behind him, Chase felt Jameson’s breath hitch. He squeezed his hand tighter, and Chase squeezed back, trying to reassure him.

The King’s emerald eyes briefly flicked over Chase, clearly intending to dismiss him and focus on Jameson. But then, almost imperceptibly, the King stiffened. And his eyes locked back onto Chase. “You.” His voice dripped with venom.

Chase tried not to shiver. “M... me?” Why was the King reacting that way? Was he remembering their past brief meeting? Or—did he know Chase was the one in Jameson’s vision of the future?

“You only think of those two things?” The King’s eyes narrowed.

“Wh—?!” The breath came out as more of a squeak. Chase felt Jameson squeeze his hand tighter.

“Jameson has told you about what I can do, hasn’t he? You shouldn’t be surprised.” The King chuckled briefly, but then his expression dropped again. “Do you even remember the garden? Or do you forget when you awaken?”

The garden? Did he mean the draísling? The well where he talked with Jack?

“Yes, I mean exactly that.” The King stared at Chase, studying his reaction. “So... you don’t even know. I suppose he wouldn’t be eager to tell you.”

What?

“No matter.” The King took a step forward. Chase took a step back, hiding Jameson behind him. “It will be over soon. Drop.”

Jameson collapsed, going limp like a puppet whose strings had been cut. Chase gasped and spun around, barely managing to catch him before he hit the floor. “Jameson?! Jair?!” No response. Jameson’s head lolled on its neck, not even able to look at Chase.

The King frowned. “I said, drop. To the floor.”

Chase looked back at him. “F-fuck you.”

Anger clouded the King’s face. “Why isn’t it working?” he growled.

Working? Wait. Was the King trying to get Chase to collapse like that? But... Chase felt fine.

The King stared at Chase, momentarily confused and uncertain. There would be no better chance than this.

Chase scooped up Jameson and bolted.

It would be too much of a risk to run past the King; there could be a whole squad of warriors in the hallway behind him. So he ran back into the royal chambers. “No!” The King screamed, but Chase didn’t look back. He spared only a moment to kick the door shut behind him.

He saw windows in some of these rooms! That was their only shot! Where—There! Chase ducked to the side and found himself in a bedroom. There was a desk and a chair and a four-poster bed, but his eyes glossed past the furniture and landed on the window. He kicked the bedroom door shut and darted over. Through the glass he saw the roof of the rest of the palace not too far below. Well—alright, it was fairly far, but this was a dead end! He had to try!

“Jameson.” Chase shook Jameson’s shoulder, trying to snap him out of this trance. It wasn’t working. “Okay. Okay. I-I’ll take care of it.”

The window didn’t open. Chase’s eyes darted around and landed on a fancy-looking shield hanging on the wall with the royal crest on it. He set Jameson down—perhaps a bit roughly—and grabbed the shield, hurling it at the window. The glass shattered instantly.

Footsteps. A lot of them—approaching.

“Shit!” Chase cursed. He grabbed Jameson again and awkwardly climbed up onto the window. The broken glass scraped his back and arms as he protected Jameson from the worst of it. He turned around—

The bedroom door burst open. “Stop!” the King commanded. Chase flinched, then steadied himself and jumped.

A loud CRAK! noise rang through the air. A flash of hot, bright light roared past Chase as he leapt—some sort of magical bolt shot from the bedroom doorway. He didn’t have time to think about it,  he was suddenly falling, and—

Chase yelped as he landed on the roof, tumbling across the dark shingles. His knees twisted painfully but he refused to let go of Jameson. For a few seconds, he just laid there. And then Jameson stirred, lifting his head. A cut across his forehead bled freely, dripping into his eye. “You... okay?” Chase asked.

Jameson nodded. He looked back up at the window and his eyes widened. Suddenly, he was scrambling to his feet, yanking Chase upright as well, pulling him along as he ran across the rooftop. The hairs on the back of Chase’s neck stood up—

CRAK! Another white hot bolt hit the spot where they had just been, sending roof shingles flying. Chase staggered in shock then picked up the pace, wincing as every step sent pain shooting through his legs.

The roof sloped steadily downwards until it was only a single story from the ground. The two of them stared off the edge and down into a small courtyard in the center of the palace. Chase glanced back the way they came. He could see movement in the window. “Alright! Guess we jump again!” he said, and did just that.

Luckily, this time the ground was much softer, and he was able to roll with the fall. Jameson was not so coordinated. He landed awkwardly and got up clutching his shoulder. “Are you—” Chase started to ask.

Run! Jameson said, and broke into a sprint. Chase followed him, gritting his teeth to push past the pain.

The two of them re-entered the palace halls. Chase glanced around. They were at a T-intersection. “Alright, I think I recognize this from the way in,” he said. “I think we go this way.” He pointed down the left corridor. Jameson nodded in agreement. The two of them rounded the corner and started running.

Then, in the middle of the corridor, a strange empty hole opened up. The two of them skidded to a halt. It was a magical doorway, glowing green around the edges. And the King stepped through. “Going somewhere?”

Jameson gasped. Chase stumbled backwards. Did the King make a wizard open the doorway for him? But how had he known where they were? Had he seen them?

“I didn’t need to see where you were going,” the King said. “As long as you are in this building, I will feel where your thoughts are.” He drew his seax from the sheath at his waist. “There is no escape. You might as well surrender now. I may spare you.”

Chase didn’t believe that. He grabbed Jameson by the arm and pulled him back. “Other way,” he whispered.

The King smiled. He looked... excited. “Fair enough.” And then the blade of the seax began to glow with a crackling light. Chase froze, staring at it. Magic? But—how?

Jameson pushed Chase to the side just as the King swung the blade down, sending a slice of light towards the spot they’d been standing moments before. Chase felt the heat of it as it passed, and he realized—lightning. That was lightning.

The King swung the blade again, and now Jameson was practically dragging Chase down the corridor as another slice of lightning barely missed them. The corridor turned left up ahead. When they ran around the corner another bolt of lightning hit the wall, shattering the stone.

“Do you know what that is?!” Chase asked. Jameson shook his head. “Do you know how to get out of here, then?!” Jameson gestured vaguely. “Fine, just run!”

The wide, barren palace corridors left them exposed. There was no hiding from anything. More lightning streaked past them. Chase cried out as a bolt brushed his arm, sending a shock of pain through his system and burning his clothes. He only kept running because of Jameson’s tight grip on his hand pulling him forward.

Another intersection. Jameson hesitated, confused on which of the three ways to go. The sound of many footsteps was clattering through the palace—no doubt warriors were on their way, but with the echo in the empty stone halls there was no way to tell where they were coming from.

Chase glanced at each of the halls. Wait. What was that? Down the rightmost hallway. It could have been a strange shadow, but for a split second, Chase could have sworn he saw a deer standing there. “This way,” he decided, and ran down the right hall, taking Jameson with him.

The echoing footsteps were getting louder and louder but the bolts of lightning had stopped. They kept running, running until their throats grew ragged with heavy breaths and Chase began to cry from the pain of sprinting on twisted knees. The corridor continued, turning right and then left again—and then ending in a set of wide, open doors.

They burst outside, and Chase stopped running out of sheer shock. He knew this place. This was a garden. A garden with tall trees, bushes trimmed into spheres, stone paths, wooden benches, rows of flowers... and an old well at the center. If it wasn’t for the dark clouds in the sky, he would have thought he stepped back into a draísling.

And standing by the well was the vague shape of a deer. Looking like it was made of dark mist. Chase couldn’t quite make it out, but he felt like it was looking at him. Then it turned, lowering its head to peer into the well. And it vanished.

As if in a trance, Chase walked over to the well, limping and wincing. He peered down into its depths and saw only darkness. And... the glint of golden antlers? 

Jameson ran after him. What are you doing?! he demanded.

“This... is going to sound very, very dumb,” Chase said slowly. “But I think we need to jump into this well.”

Jameson just stared at him, gaping. He glanced into the well. Have you lost your mind?! It’s too far and there’s no way out!

“I know! But—I think I’ve been... guided to do this,” Chase said. “By that deer.”

Deer? Jameson repeated, confused. What deer?

Chase glanced back at the open doors leading back into the palace. “I’m jumping in. You don’t have to follow.”

Jameson also looked back into the doors. He sighed. I’d rather jump than go back to him again, he said. You first.

Chase nodded. Before he could think about it, he got onto the wall of the well, spun his legs around, and pushed off.

Rushing darkness.

A sudden jolt.

As Chase landed at the bottom of the well his knees exploded in agony. He tried to scream but could only manage a small gasp.

Wind whooshed, and then—THUMP! Jameson landed beside him. Chase heard it rather than saw it, being in complete darkness at the bottom.

“Jame...?” Chase tried to call out, but the word devolved into a whimper.

Jameson scrambled over. He grabbed Chase’s hand, opening it up, and tracing a finger over his palm: spelling out words. Here. Not hurt. How?

“I... don’t kn-know,” Chase whispered. “M...magic? I... I-I’m... my legs still...”

You’re hurt? Jameson asked.

“Yes,” Chase breathed. “A... a lot.” He squeezed his eyes shut. A couple stray tears trickled out. “Nothing... new, but... j-jumping from that first window, I...”

Jameson said nothing for a while. Wait for better. Then find way out?

“Mm-hmm.” Chase nodded.

The two of them fell silent. Chase looked up at the entrance to the well, high above. This real well wasn’t nearly as deep as the one in the draísling, but the surface was still a long way away. They should be much more injured now.

Shadows passed above. The shapes of people looking down into the well. Voices drifted down, too far and quiet to hear the individual words. Chase held his breath. He felt Jameson stiffen, sitting beside him. But soon the shadows and voices disappeared. “I... don’t think... he can find us here?” Chase wondered.

He should, Jameson said.

“Be... a-a little optimistic.”

Our minds still in range. Should find us.

“We should have b-broken all our bones. I don’t... think this well is... normal.” 

Maybe. 

More time passed. Nothing happened. The dark and quiet in the well was complete.

“I... I’m going to close my eyes,” Chase mumbled. “I might... pass out.” Jameson tried to say something else, but Chase’s mind was already drifting off. He sank into a more complete darkness, not yet worrying about how they would get out of here now.

[empyreden]

[byneddiedingo]

Blood and Wine (Bob Rafelson, 1996)

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine, Stephen Dorff, Judy Davis, Jennifer Lopez, Harold Perrineau, Robyn Peterson, Mike Starr. Screenplay: Nick Villiers, Bob Rafelson, Alison Cross. Cinematography: Newton Thomas Sigel. Production design: Richard Sylbert. Film editing: Steven Cohen. Music: Michal Lorenc. 

It takes great acting to steal a movie from Jack Nicholson. In short, it takes Michael Caine. In Blood and Wine, Caine plays Victor, a sleazy ex-con with a hair trigger and a death-bed cough. It's a more physically violent role than we usually see Caine in, and it's startling to see him erupt, slamming into a hapless victim like Henry (Harold Perrineau), who just happens to get caught up in the movie's plot mechanism. Otherwise, Blood and Wine is mostly a forgettable throwback, informed by movies of the 1940s and 1970s, a neo-noir directed by Bob Rafelson, whose directing career was launched with movies starring Nicholson, like Five Easy Pieces (1970) and The King of Marvin Gardens (1972). It's a bleakly cynical movie with no good guys, except that everyone in it looks a little better in comparison with Caine's Victor. 

[marmaladeships]

F/o List

Romantic

Main F/o’s(uncomfortable sharing)

•Pierre Bezukhov(The Great Comet)

Tags:

~🧸My Cuddly Bear🧸~

~🧸The Bear and The Squirrel 🐿️ ~

•William Shakespeare(Something Rotten(Christian Borle)

Tags:

~🪶It’s Hard to Be The Bard🪶~

•(Young)Charles Xavier(X-men)

Tags:

~😈🔮~

~PsychicDæmon~

(They’re almost always on my mind:3)

F/o’s I’m currently hyper fixated on:

•The 4th Doctor(Doctor Who)

Tags:

~🍬Have a Jelly Baby🍬~

~🌌Me and The Doctor🌌~

•Sweeney Todd(2023 Revival)

Tags:

~🩸Sick at Heart🩸~

~🪒Pretty Men🪒~

•The 7th Doctor

Tags:

~❓~

•Oleg Salt(CaTCF)(Broadway version only)

Tags:

~🧂When Veruca Says🧂~

~ 💗💜💙~

•Patrick Bateman(American psycho)

Tags:

~🔪Hip to be Square🩸~

•Kurt Wagner(Nightcrawler)(X-men)

Tags:

~💙Fwuffy boy💙~

•King John(Robin Hood 2010)

Tags:

None yet

•Terzo(Ghost Band)

Tags:

~✨Can't you see that you're lost without me?✨~

F/o Limbo

•Oz,The Great and Powerful(Oscar Diggs)

The Wizard of Oz

Tags:

~💚Me and The Wizard💚~

Secondary F/o’s

•Karl Heisenberg(Re8)

Tags:

~⚙️Hobo Magneto⚙️~

~🤴Beauty and The Beast 🐺~

•Remy LeBeau(X-Men Comics)

Tags:

N/a

•Erik Destler(Poto)

Tags:

~🪽My Angel����~

•Wilford Warfstache(MEU)

Tags:

~💕Life needs a little Madness💕~

•Mephisto Pheles(Blue Exorcist)

Tags:

~💜Mephisto💜~ 

•Gale Dekarios(Bg3)

Tags:

~🪄I’m Going to Fistfight Mystra🪄~

•Raphael(Bg3)

Tags:

~😈Me and The Devil😈~

•The Easter Bunny(Rotg)

Tags:

N/a

•Montgomery Gator(FNAF)

Tags:

~🐊Hey!Little Guy!🐊~

Clowns 

•Jack the Clown(Jack Schmidt)(Halloween Horror Nights)

•Krusty the Clown(The Simpsons)

Joint Tags:

~🤡Hear me out guys🤡~

QPR’s

•Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown(Bttf)

Tags:

~⏱️Time Travel Buddies⏱️~

•Jack Rose(Just Dance)

Tags:

~🌹Lover Boy🌹~

•Skimbleshanks 

Tags:

~🐈A Cat That Cannot be ignored🐈~

•Darkwing Duck(Darkwing Duck)

Tags:

~🦆Daring Duck 🦆~

•Sportacus(LazyTown)

Tags:

N/a

Stede Bonnet + Edward Teach(Ofmd)

Tags:

~🐙The Gentleman,The Kracken and Me🐙~

•Darkiplier(MEU)

Tags:

~🥀My Hearts Desire🥀~

•Illinois(MEU)

Tags:

~🎢My First Adventure🎢~

Crushes

•Raoul De Chagny(Poto)

Tags:

~❤️The Vicomte❤️~

•Scrooge(Muppets+Netflix Version)

Tags:

~🦪Solitary as an Oyster 🦪~

•Dracule Mihawk(Opla)

Tags:

N/a

•Aziraphale and Crowley(GO)

Tags:

~👼I can be yuor angle👼~

~😈Or yuor devil😈~

•Anatoly Sergievsky(Chess)

Tags:

~♟️~

Maybe F/o’s

•Marvin Gardens(Falsettos)

Tags:

None yet 

Special Case F/os

(these are special because it they were my first f/o or they have some sort of meaning)(Won’t post about these much)

•Johann Faust the VIII(Shaman King)

Tags:

~♥️First Love♥️~

•William Afton

Tags:

N/a

•Grell Sutcliffe(Black Butler)

~💋My Fabulous Wife💋~

•Arataki Itto (Genshin Impact)

Tags:

~Boyfie~

•Carlisle Cullen(Twilight)

Tags:

~🧛‍♂️Hey Edward!Im f*cking your dad!🧛‍♂️~

•Yancy(MEU)

Tags:

~🚫I don’t wanna be free🚫~

•Royal Margarine Cookie(Crk) 

Tags:

~🐉The Handsome Dragon Rider🧈~

•Remy LeBeau (Gambit)(X-men)

Tags:

~

Tertiary F/os

(Don’t talk about these ones much so none of them have tags)

Overall Tag:

The Doctor’s Loves

•Bowser •King Dice  •Doc Ock  •Puss in Boots  •Finn Mcmissle  •Godbrand •Emperor Belos •Ken(Barbie Movie 2023)

•Spamton.G.Spamton

•Calico Jack(Ofmd)

•The Narrator

•Divus Crewel

•Vinsmoke Sanji

•Cole Cassidy

Familial F/os

(None of these have tags except for a few)

Sun/Moon(Fnaf)

Caretaker

Tags:N/a

Allan+Midge(Barbie Movie)

Brother+Sister-in-law

Tags:N/a

Anatole+Hélène Kuragin(The Great Comet)

Brother+Sister

Tags:~😈The Troublesome Trio😈~

Eda Clawthorne(Toh)

Mother

Tags:~🦢birb🦢~

Glamrock Freddy(FNAF)

Father

Tags:~✨You’re my Superstar✨~

Stanley(Tsp)

Twin Brother

Tags:~⁉️Wait!Two Stanley’s?!?!?⁉️~

Adam+Barbara Maitland(Beetlejuice)

Parents

Tags:~🧟Fright of their lives🧟~

Nellie Lovett(2023 Revival+Movie)

Mother

Tags:~🥧Me Mum🥧~

Ethan+Mia Winters(Resident Evil)

Brother+Sister-in-law

Tags:~❄️The Winters❄️~

The 12th+14th Doctor(Doctor Who)

Dads

Tags:~🙄Do you even know what thinking is?🙄

~🌌Wibbly Wobbily Timey Wimey🌌~

~🌌You’re like my dad!🌌~

The 11th Doctor(Doctor Who)

Brother-Figure

Tags

~🎀Bow ties are cool🎀~

Platonic F/os

Willy Wonka(CaTCF)

Tags:

~🌈Pure Imagination🌈~

Retired F/os

(Still kinda love them but not enough for them to be f/os)

•Shota Aizawa •Hizashi Yamada •Keigo Takami •Zhongli •Keaya •Diluc •Baizhu

•Undertaker •Sebastian Michaelis •Phone guy(Scott) •Asmodeus(Obey me)  •Gold Rodger •Almond cookie 

[kevin--of-desert-bluffs]

WTNV quick rundown - The Novel -

This is the post talking about randon Night Vale/King City and Man in the Tan Jacket facts!

Basic Plot of the Novel is here. Diane, Josh and Jackie random facts here. NV citizens random facts here.

The history of the town of Night Vale is long and complicated, reaching back thousands of years to the earliest indigenous people in the desert. We will cover none of this here. […] It is a friendly desert community, where the sun is hot, the moon is beautiful and mysterious lights past overhead while we all pretend to sleep. Welcome to Night Vale.

In NV, pharmacists wear gas masks and hip waders.

Hearts in NV are made of straw and clay and grow at age 9 or at least that's what they're taught.

Manual transmission works like this: 1 - whisper a secret into the cup holder, 2 - grab the clutch (a splintered wooden stake driven into the dashboard), 3 - shake it till something happens whilst taping a series of code numbers into a keyboard on the steering wheel.

Not yielding to a hooded figure will cause a mandatory city-wide ennui.

Encrypted radio pulses announce the opening of 'Lenny's Bargain House of Garden Wares'. As well as the titular function the government will also be unloading failed machines, tests and dangerous substances. The shop is being built on the site where the government was previously doing said tests. If you go to the grand opening sale and find 8 government secrets you get an 'free' government kidnapping and personality reassignment.

To protect against identity theft, Cecil recommends changing your passwords often, wearing a mask in public, blacking out your door number with black spraypaint and 'never ending up on a database'.

The 'Absurd Bowl' and 'Knife Ball' are events that happen in NV.

The NV job market is apparently very scarce as the hooded figures do most of the jobs in NV.

Here is what else we know about the MITTJ. He has a belt which is a darker brown than his shoes. His hair is recently cut. His face is clean and smooth. His teeth are almost white and his left upper bicuspid is a little further forward than the others.

The Moonlite diner has mugs from different sources, some of which leave strange sounds or hum. It has cracked red stools which smell of rubber and sawdust. It's pies are described as 'ok' and some are invisible. Food is served by a grey hand which extends from under the table and should not be acknowledged.

Most people in NV have no idea what doctors do only that it's rumoured to be beneficial. The hospital in NV is built next to the abandoned mine. Hospital rooms are full of cameras and speakers asking you to ask your doctor invasive questions. It was closed years ago and is no longer run by any recognised medical professionals or beings that are or were ever alive.

There are several spy satellites scanning citizens brains and revealing their thoughts. For some reason, Cecil has access to some of these.

'No country for old men' is a kids film in NV. They also have a 'popular animated franchise' about trees with human organs inside who are being cut down until vengeful arboreal spirits eviscerate the loggers. Lee Marvin is in it.

NV is confirmed to be somewhere in SW california.

Childrens friends are assigned by City Council decree based on the numerology of each child's name.

Hot milk drawers are a thing, also all avocados in NV are fake.

Metallic trees that change size each day are considered the plants most suited for a desert climate.

The NV cinema has nightly screenings of John Frankenheimes 1973 'the Iceman Cometh'. Popcorn prices are linked to the coal market.

There is a 'Top Secret Censorship Board' run by a guy called Luis who judges each film based on the risk of being shown a forbidden idea or gesture.

Having a regular police was see as too dangerous as knowledge of them could somehow be used against NV. The previous police were renamed the 'Secret Police', driving dark red sedans with gold racing stripes, black 7-pointed stars with the words 'Secret Police' on the cars side. They also wear capes and have a blowgun belt.

When writing tickets, these officers are required to describe the nature of the sunlight at the time of the infraction in verse.

You can only petition a speeding ticket if you go to city hall, so most people just pay the ticket, even if they're given one when they're not in a car.

Some magazine articles in NV; "10 ways to redecorate your bloodstone circle", "How to lose weight without losing sight of your own mortality" and "A cake recipe that only people who hate our government will want to try so mail us your best pictures of making it and we will take you away."

Some doors in NV require you to bleed on them to open.

There is an annual Imaginary Corn Festival and Fun Fair. There is a costume contest sponsored by the NV daily journal (dress as the decline of the printed word) where winners will not be forced to sign up for a several subscriptions to the journal.

The NV version of a Greek Salad is fruit and pumice stones.

The NV tourism board has a brochure with the tagline 'A town full of hidden evils and the secretly malevolent' featuring a picture of a diverse group of townfolk smiling and looking at the camera in the windowless prison they will be kept in until enough tourists visit NV to buy their release.

Aside from known eateries, there's also apparently places called 'Shame' and 'Pieces O' Grass' and 'Missing Frog Salad Bar' (which serves orangemilk and salad' in NV.

NV knowledges says the only known book on European history was a pamphlet on Svitz which was burnt by the 'Book Cleansers' because they mistook the giraffe on the front for a handgun.

It is illegal in NV to not have some kind of tracking device on you at all times. Most people choose a mobile phone but some still wear bulky tracking collars.

Most planes in NV are private, propeller, secret military drones and government planes used to make chemtrails.

The world government all wear blue headphones and horn-rimmed glasses.

Flamingos in NV are creatures that have six legs and double beaks.

Most bath gel or greeting card stores in NV have a full staff of bleeding saleclerks.

NV city hall is topped with ancient volcanic stone towers.

There is a service called 'Lifelock' in NV where they just lock you up and destroy all records of you existing to 'protect you from identity theft, impersonation, assassination, assignations and memory removal'.

Larry Leroy finds these things out in the desert: a metallic sphere that fell from the sky and whistles softly as if bored, his double, the body of the main in the pinstripe suit and a new way of breathing. The main in the pinstripe suit btw, goes through an existential crisis during the novel, cumulating in him trying to touch the planet of awesome size and then, death.

KC is a small town of little over 10,000 people in Monterey County. It's newspaper is called the KC rustler. Citizens include Wanda Nieves and Ynez.

The post office in KC is a one-storey stucco building with no front door, a splintered parapet walls with missing letters on it's marquee and a tree that has grown through the broken sidewalk and into one of the many shattered windows.

There's a 'video store' which only contains tall shelves full of loose tapes, some labelled and some not. Some shelves are densely packed, others nearly empty. The labels are handwritten and some simply have rows of x's, j's, p's etc. The walls at the back are made of mud and are easily pulled away to reveal a different room behind it. There's a music store containing a woman on a chair who pulls a face at Jackie/Diane. A bait shop where the empty jars keep exploding and cutting the man working there. A phone shop where the salesclerk doesn't remember ever having a customer before.

The flies that the MITTJ sells form a protective cloud in front of him whenever he is threatened.

The copier in the KC city hall is endlessly printing, so that there's stacks of paper everywhere. The receptionist is typing on a computer which is actually just a carved block of wood painted to look like a computer.

KC has a Taco Bell which people would stop off at on their way to either a town called Greenfield of a state wildlife area.

Stay tuned next for the sound of a creaking spine and the soft collapse of paper onto itself.