spectrials

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Suzanne Scanlon, from "Committed: On Meaning and Madwomen," published in 2024

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KYLE GALLNER as QUENTIN SMITH A Nightmare on Elm Street | 2010

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MY SLEEPS ARE CURSED WITH NIGHTMARES

“Beautiful Redemption” (Caster Chronicles series), by Kami García and Margaret Stogl; // “Scrape” (Reveler series), by Erin Kellison; // “House of Leaves”, by Mark Z. Danielewski; // Stephen King; // “The Song of Achilles”, by Madaline Miller; // “Dead Toad Scrolls”, by Kilroy J. Oldster; // “Mockingjay” (The Hunger Games series), by Suzanne Collins; // “Watching you Without Me”, by Lynn Coady; // “Jack, Lucid Dreamer”, by David J. Naiman; // Nanette L. Avery; // Kimberly Brockman; // Anthony T. Hincks

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kyle gallner,  thirty one,  cis male,  he/him. hey, isn’t that casey reynolds? i’ve heard that they’ve lived in bearhold for all of his life. rumor has it that they can be rather anti-social and temperamental, but hey, that’s just in their nature as a psychic medium unknown. they totally make up for it by being hardworking and fair. if you’re looking for them, you can probably find them at their work as a groundskeeper at garden memorial.

name casey lee reynolds nickname(s) cay, case age thirty one species human psychic medium (unknown) birth date march 9th 1993 zodiac pisces sun, scorpio moon, capricorn rising place of birth bearfold, washington orientation pansexual, panromantic occupation groundskeeper at garden memorial notable relationships wife (estranged), a two year old son, sawyer

brief synopsis : groundskeeper for that old cemetery on the outskirts of the town, occasionally seen outside of the local dive bar when he's out of hours, a nonbeliever of all things, but . . . something always seems to follow him home.

casey was once the epitome of sociability and reliability. known for his balanced blend of compassion and practicality. he was friendly, outgoing, and a natural provider— always willing to lend a hand to neighbors and townsfolk. his early years were filled with optimism, a solid work ethic, and a deep connection to his community. someone that brought light into every room he entered.

in his early adulthood, casey balanced multiple jobs to provide for his growing family. he was married to his other half, the woman who became the missing puzzle piece upon meeting in the local bar one night, and years later, they welcomed their son, sawyer. casey was the type of man who could be counted on, a stabilizing presence in both his family’s life and within the town of bearhold. he had a steady job as a groundskeeper at garden memorial, a position he had held for a few years before the more dramatic changes in his life began.

despite being a skeptic, casey had an innate sensitivity to the world around him, something that he had carried since childhood but always dismissed. having experienced nightmares throughout that went under the radar, mostly due to his mind erasing the memories, casey would later experience strange occurrences in and around the cemetery where he worked— whispers that couldn’t be explained, shadows that seemed to follow him home. being in a vulnerable position of not knowing his truth with no knowledge to defend himself, and the type of innate good that casey was, he was a beacon to more malignant spirits and energy that aimed to drain him of his and inflict terror, latching onto him over time, leading him into the descent of complete change. the once sociable and reliable man became more reclusive, his previously calm demeanor giving way to brooding silence and, at times, an explosive temper.

the night shifts at the cemetery left him coming home later and later, bringing with him not just dirt from the graves but an inexplicable darkness that he couldn’t shake. though it took some time for her to accept, his wife noticed the change almost immediately: the growing distance, the irritability, the lack of emotional warmth. despite her attempts to reach him, to bring back the man she had once known, casey seemed lost in his own world— disconnected from the life he had worked so hard to build. eventually, the strain became too much, and they seperated, with the divorce papers only being served recently. he lives estranged from his son, a distance that weighs heavily on him, though he never speaks of it. he is grateful of the little time he is allowed with him.

today, casey is a shadow of the man he once was. his work at the cemetery continues, though he remains mostly isolated. he remains dutiful and hardworking, but those who knew him before sense an unshakable change. he is rarely seen in social settings, except occasionally outside the local dive bar where he lingers in the shadows, alone with his thoughts, yet the eerie occurrences in his life still haunt him. despite his stoic front, casey remains a deeply emotional person. his internal battle between sensitivity and skepticism plays out daily, leaving him caught between two worlds— one grounded in reality and the other filled with inexplicable phenomena.

to the people of bearhold, casey reynolds is a man who once held great promise. now, he’s something of a mystery— a man who seems to carry the weight of the dead and the living alike. whether he will ever find peace, or whether the darkness that follows him will eventually consume him, remains a question that only time can answer.

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Deftones - Change (In the House of Flies)

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Kyle Gallner as Drew in The Cleansing Hour (2019)

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casey reynolds, thirty one, psychic medium human, groundskeeper at garden memorial. (sprout, 25, she/they)

credit for graphics (including psds) goes to this creator unless stated otherwise. the border above has been edited heavily by myself.