#Proffer(:-D)

[inaconstantstateofchange]

also, great news for my raphael homies:

cambions, being half-mortal and half-fiend, exist in a sort of nebulous gray area when it comes to how they interact with the cycle of life and death for either mortals or fiends.

for fiends, if they are killed on the material plane, they just get kicked back to their home plane. for mortals, they go to the waiting area for their given afterlife, depending on their life choices and the god(s) they paid homage to. if full fiends get killed on their home plane, in the majority of cases they are truly killed, ceasing to exist (at least in the current edition, previous editions had some interesting addendums to that).

cambions, being both and neither at the same time, don't really have a defined set of rulings in the same way, which leaves it open to interpretation.

what seems the most logical to me is that being killed in the hells would destroy them almost entirely, the way it would for a true devil. however, the mortal aspect of them still maintains a soul, that would follow the conventions of mortality - and specifically, that of mortality that is tainted by the infernal.

even after getting cronus'ed by mephistopheles - likely to claim the final remnants of his power from him, or, hells, even just to show his servants a glimpse of what awaits them if they embarrass him - raphael is still very unlikely to actually be destroyed.

mephistopheles would take back all of the power he’s accrued and break him down to just his soul, which would go to the pits of avernus as a lemure, to work its torturous way back up the power levels over the forthcoming aeons, no longer a cambion but a devil in truth.

therefore the true question becomes:

would you still love him if he was a lemure?

[jbcchan]

[positivelyapunovexponent-good]

@gay-victorian-astronomer

Astronomy is such an insane field of science because wdym we can look at planets billions of km away and be able to deduce what it’s made from like wtff

[sweetmapple]

I’ve seen a lot of TMA x Malevolent fluff crossover material but I need more whump, sorry not sorry 😬

Got me thinking how would the world’s worst ‘employers’ interact with each others’ favorite employees? I wrote out the bones to 2 separate comics and goddamn this would require soooo much time to draw this so, until I get that gusto to force my will upon paper, woe be upon ye, take my drawing notes. Didn’t write it in prose, it’s specifically my comic ‘screenplay’ writing but I feel like I got the characters n dialogue pretty solid 😊

Arthur and John meeting Elias

Arthur sitting at a diner, drinking coffee. Someone steps up to his table.

“Ah, no thank you, I’m still working on-“

“Orther- that’s not the waiter, it’s a man in a nice suit he’s-“

“Pleasure to meet you.” Elias holding out his hand.

“He’s holding his hand out, I think he wants to shake.”

“Oh! Yes, pleasure to meet you?”

“Hmm, pleasure to meet you as well Mr. Lester.”

“Uhhh.” Both John and Arthur. Elias sits across from him.

“Orther, I- there’s something wrong with this man. You should bash his skull in. Quick.”

“No! I- I mean- um- uh-“

“Oh, of course, I’m sure it’s difficult to see what’s going on. I’m Elias Bouchard, I sent a letter to your office last week, I’m in need of your investigative eyes.”

“Jesus fucking Christ, his eyes Orthur…”

“Um…”

“As a PI Mr. Lester.”

“Orther, there’s a large stone outside the diner, you should-“

“Now I don’t want to cause any headaches, but it’s a simple job.”

(Elias rambling about wanting to find Leitner)

(Arthur raises his hand to his mouth and quietly argues with John about wtf is going on)

Elias sees Arthur is not paying attention and trails off watching them, growing increasingly annoyed.

“Mr. Lester, how long did it take for your daughter to drown?”

Air is sucked out of the room

“Did he just-“ John

“What the fuck did you just say-“ Arthur

“I’d appreciate your attention, Mr. Lester-”

“If you don’t tell me what the fuck you are-“

Elias gets a glint in his eyes, static crackles in the air and Arthur sits back

“Orther? What-“ John looks at Arthur. Arthur blankly sits, now crying.

“Now, would you prefer me to call you The King in Yellow or is John too personal.”

“You motherfucker, what the fuck did you d-“

“I only find it fair, John, hm, what a nice name, I only find it fair to proffer one single threat against the 80 you’ve lobbed at me thus far. Do tell Arthur once he’s done that I’ll sear that image into his mind should you continue to distract him.”

“What are you… showing him?”

“Call it cinema of the family variety.”

John is suddenly very concerned. “Orthur, snap out-“

“Ah-ah-ah, just a few more seconds.”

Arthur comes out of the trance. “I- wh- wh-“

“Allow me to speak plainly. I assume you’re familiar with the concept of the carrot and stick. I’d have hoped I could have gotten to the carrot but I see now the two of you are more familiar with the latter.”

Arthur in a state of shock, mouth too dry to speak. John, “Orther, this man, we…” he growls, “should listen to him.”

Elias smirks. “Wonderful. Find the Librarian Jurgen Leitner and you’ll get your carrot. I’d imagine occult knowledge is tantalizing enough.” He gets up, slides a business card on the table. “Your Armitage will be a good lead. And I assure you, I- hah, pardon the language, I am not someone to… fuck with.”

Jon meeting Kayne

Jon reaches to start the tap recorder. Clicks the button. “Statement of-“ Then it immediately turns off.

Jon pauses.

He goes to press it again

It turns off again.

“Uhm…”

He presses it one more time.

“Th… that’s new.”

“Gahahahahahhahaha!” Kayne is sitting across from him

Jon falls backwards out of his chair

“Wh-who the- wha- who are you?” Jon splutters.

Kayne steps on top of the table and to Jon’s side, leaving bloody footprints on the table and statement papers.

“Jon Jon Jon Jon Jon, jonny boy. Never had a shy tape recorder before?” Kayne stands him up.

“Uh-“

“Oh, you’ve got some dust on ya, lemme just-“ swipes at his shirt. “There!” Jon’s collar is covered in blood from Kayne’s hands

Jon looks down at the blood. “The… the slaughter then?”

“Oh the slaughterrrrrrrr he asks, GAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“Tell me who you ser-“

“Hush hush hush Jonny boy. I’m the one with the questions today.” He puts his finger to Jon’s lips.

Jon backs away from his hand, eyes crackling readying a question

Kaynes hand shoots out grabbing Jon’s throat. Very serious now. “None of that. But if I said a lil name like extinction would that get you to shut the fuck up?”

Jon pales.

Kayne drops him on the ground.

“Great! No… Wonderful! No… still not right. What do you Brit’s say? Bloody brilliant? Hah! Yeah, Blough’ee brillian’ i’ is!”

“What do you want?”

“Mmm, now that’s a question I like hearing. I wanna talk to that big ol eye ball you worship, maybe make some tasteful and sultry extended eye contact with it. Where is it?”

“The- the beholding?”

“Yeah sure, whichever of the 800 names you like. Where is it?” Kayne sits on the table.

“It- it can’t exist in this-“ Jon staggers up.

“Ugh, fine fine fine- then that big tall compensatory panopticon your body snatching boss has. Where’s that?”

“…what?”

Kayne looks at him suspiciously. Looks at his watch-less wrist. A ‘genuine’ apologetic look flares across his face. “Aw, Jesus Christ, my bad, spoilers.” Snaps his fingers.

Jon’s eyes go hazy and his face goes blank.

He shakes his head, confused.

“Your Bossman would be quite cross with me if he knew I said that. Hah!”

“Said… what?”

“Exactly. Take me to the tunnels ‘Jonathan Sims, head archivist of the Magnus Institute, London.’ Or I’m gonna peel out each individual nerve from your entire body and weave em into a macrame handkerchief.”

[infinitycuube]

In accordance to the conjunx ritus, D-16 and Orion Pax are conjunx

Intimacy (fist bumps)

Profference (the decal)

Disclosure (talking about wanting to be more than just miners)

Devotion ("ive got your back"/"and i have yours)

This is all up for interpretation tho, and i may be misremembering / forgetting something (ive only watched it once)

[sane-human]

"In antiquity apples were presented to sweethearts as a proffer or declaration of love" (site) Just a doodle , I wanted to draw the Roman Empire...

...and it reminded me that I need to re-draw the city states and Greece in the Bronze Age also aaaa , well that's for the me of tomorrow! then after I've drawn India and Mesoamerica I can more or less star for real with the actual ask blog thing? I'lll need to actually organize a bit more but slowly I'm managing :D

[zablife]

Lee! Hope you're doing well 💋 so I so your prompt for the requests and if you're feeling inspired with this what about?

- ❛ I’ve killed for you. Who else can say that? ❜

with Tommy?

The Debt

Warning: Dark!Tommy 💀, mention of gun, blood, murder, trauma

You bit your hand to keep from screaming as the man in the long, black overcoat pushed you inside your small bedsit. The door slammed behind you as you stumbled toward the window, pushing the lace curtains aside with trembling fingertips. The remnants of blood were still there on the cobblestones beside the alley, though it was quickly being washed away in the driving rain.

Your memories of the violence carried out in your name would not be erased so easily. The bile rose in your throat as you thought of each shot striking its target, blood gushing over the pavement and splattering onto your shoes. You looked down to see the evidence of the stains that had ruined your new boots, an odd sensation washing over you as though you were staring at someone else's feet rather than your own.

"Come away from the window, love," a low voice rumbled across the room like thunder.

Your body shuddered involuntarily at the noise, a hand gripping the window ledge to keep upright. Feet uncooperative as your mind, you attempted to reply, but found yourself unable to dislodge the words from your brain. You shook your head fiercely, but the cotton headed feeling wouldn't budge.

The man scoffed at your disobedience, removing his coat to wrap around your shoulders protectively. He clamped a large hand over your shoulder, guiding you toward the little table in the corner. As he handed over a flask, he instructed, "Sit down and have some of this. It'll steady your nerves."

Suddenly you heard yourself stutter, "I...d-d-don't drink."

"Alright, tea then," he conceded. "Where do you keep it?" He leaned over you, eyebrow raised in question until your finger pointed in the direction of a far cupboard.

As he turned away, his gun came into view and your heart began to hammer at your ribcage until you thought you might faint. Pressing your fingers to your temples, you closed your eyes and attempted deep breaths. Eventually you pushed them out in labored waves, though your body was quickly wracked by sobs.

"Hey, hey...there's no need for tears," you heard the deep voice begin to soothe as you felt a warm cup being pressed into your palms.

Looking up through watery eyes, you sniffed, "Who are you? What do you want?"

Taking a seat opposite you, the man's crystalline blue eyes locked onto yours intently as he introduced himself as Tommy Shelby. "You don't know who I am?"

"No," you admitted. "I've only just arrived this week."

Tommy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That's what I thought. You'd never have taken that short cut if you'd known the sorts of bastards lurking."

A draft blowing through the crack in the windowsill crept across the back of your neck at that moment, triggering a phantom feeling of icy fingers upon your throat and you startled losing your grip on the china.

Tommy caught the cup before it landed on the floor, hissing as the hot liquid scalded his hands.

"I'm sorry, I felt his hands..." you mumbled, fingers tracing the delicate skin where the man from the alley had grabbed you.

"You've had a shock," Tommy stated, cleaning himself off with a rag. "But you needn't worry any longer. You're under my protection now." He stood with a determined nod, gathering his cap and placing it on his head.

For the first time that evening your shoulders relaxed and you breathed a sigh of relief. With a bit of effort, you banished the terrifying images of what you'd seen and tried to find good in the intimidating man before you. You even began convincing yourself it was fate that brought him to look after you in your new city.

However, as you stood to remove Mr. Shelby's coat, he casually announced, “You can bring it tomorrow when you see me about repaying your debt.” Then he proffered a business card.

You stared up at his chiseled face, partially covered in shadow. Unable to tell if he were serious. "I don't understand,” you admitted with a puzzled look.

Clicking his tongue disapprovingly, he pulled on a pair of black leather gloves. “So forgetful all of a sudden, aren't we," he scolded.

Your throat went dry, constricting painfully when you tried to swallow. "What do you mean?"

The leather cracked menacingly as he reached out to caress the apple of your cheek with the back of his hand. "I've killed for you. Who else can say that?" he reminded you in a voice far too flat and calm to offer affection.

Your eyes went wide as you searched his darkening pupils, panic shooting down your spine as you thought of what awaited you at the address printed on the card. The bit of paper shook violently in your hand as his thumb grazed your lips, leaving a powerful promise in his wake. "I've done something for you, now it's your turn."

When you bristled beneath his touch, he leaned toward your ear, a hiss escaping on his whisky scented breath. "I could return you to that alley if you like, but I think you'll find this arrangement far better." He turned without giving you a chance to protest. There was no need for once you owed a debt to Tommy Shelby, he owned you for life.

---------------

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@dearshelby

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

hi! for the types of kisses prompts, maybe 31 and 48 with bruce wayne? :D

Send me a kiss prompt!

Prompts: Pulling away from a kiss, whispering words of love against each other’s lips; One person has to bend down in order to kiss their partner, who is standing on their tip-toes to reach their partner’s

"I should've known I'd find you in here."

You glance away from one of the mansion's library shelves, doing a double-take at the sight of Bruce as he walks deeper inside.

"Hey," You greet, turning back to the shelves and clutching the library ladder a touch more tightly. You're only a few steps up, but you still have to look down to get a better look at Bruce. "When did you get in?"

"Few minutes ago. I figured you'd be in bed by now—it's nearly three in the morning."

"I couldn't sleep."

"Is everything okay?"

"Fine," You shrug. "Just one of those nights."

Bruce hums softly, resting his hand on the ladder. You smile, giggling as he tip-toes to press a kiss to your lips.

"Are you alright?" You ask.

"I'm fine. Come on." He nods over his shoulder. "Let's go to bed."

He holds the ladder steady as you descend the few steps, taking Bruce's proffered hand and intertwining your fingers.

"Do I even want to know what you got up to tonight?" You ask.

"Mmm...Probably not."

"I thought not—You know what," You stop, gently tugging Bruce to a stop with you. "You head up, I'm going to make some tea."

"Do you want me to get Alfred?"

"No! No," You shake your head. "I'm just going to put the kettle on, read for a little bit."

"You want me to stay with you?"

"You go up, get some sleep. God knows you need it."

"So do you," Bruce argues softly, lips twisting with concern. You smile, leaning in and pressing a warm, gentle kiss to Bruce's lips. He curls his arm around your waist, gently drawing you closer. You sigh softly, patting his chest gently.

"I love you."

You smile, stomach fluttering. "I love you, too, Bruce." You draw away fully, nodding him up the wide staircase, urging, "Go on."

[courtingchaos]

Will knows Eddie. He’s known Eddie for three years actually because he’s ‘John’s older friend’ Eddie, according to Joyce. She likes him actually because he’s always saying please and thank you and she tells him all the time he has such a nice personality. Johnathan will laugh and Eddie will kick him under the table and Joyce will shake her head and give them both the sandwiches she made for Will and Mike but they got beat by older boys.

Will hears Eddie talking to Johnathan on a random school night about something he took a photo of and he mentions D&D.

“Do you play?” Will asks from the doorway that he was trying to hide in. John halfheartedly shoos him away but Eddie says it’s cool with a laugh.

“Yeah, do you?”

“I’m a level 8 Wizard.” He takes a few steps into John’s room, his new art pad clutched tight against his hip. “I’m also the Dungeon Master.”

“No shit? Byers you didn’t tell me your little brother was cool.” Eddie swats at Johnathan with a big grin. “I also happen to be a Dungeon Master.”

Will is unsure of Eddie and his proffered hand. He’s seen how loud and animated he can get but if Johnathan likes him then maybe he’s okay. He reaches a small hand out and the older boy’s swallows his.

“Do you have a group you play with?”

“Well, yeah who would I be DM’ing for?” Will raises an eyebrow that could rival Mike’s and Eddie scoffs, turning back to the stack of fliers between him and John.

“Fair. Look, when you get to high school look me up.” He shares a look with Johnathan and they both laugh. “I’m sure I’ll still be there.”

“Do you have a group?”

“Yeah, Hellfire.” Eddie points at one of the flyers with a demon head sketched on it.

“Did you draw that?”

“Yup, and it’s my club.” A satisfied smirk directed at Will and he feels a little warm flame in his chest. “I haven’t been able to get your brother to play but maybe once you hit freshman year I can put your Wizard to work.”

“What do you play?”

“A bard.”

“In real life too.” John chimes in and hands over the stack of papers. “He’s in a metal band.” He wiggles his brows at his little brother and Will gives them both a wide eyed stare.

“It’s not even-don’t get excited we just jam in a garage.” Eddie hands a flyer to Will off the top of the stack when he stands, grabbing his jacket off the foot of Johnathan’s bed. “Hang on to that, like I said I’ll probably still be kicking around here.”

[darklydeliciousdesires]

Never Forgotten - An Arthur Shelby/Reader Short Story.

I am in the mood to create tonight, my loves! Here's another for you :)

Words - 778

Warnings - Fluff ahead! :D

“Love! I’m home!” he booms from the front door, your jaw tightening immediately. “Where are ya?” 

“Kitchen.” Your tone is flat, the irritation you’ve been attempting to recover yourself from roaring into life once more, like a dying fire doused in petrol. 

He’s brought it on himself, though, as he so often does. 

You hear his heavy footsteps grow louder, the kitchen door shunted open with a squeak. “Gotta oil them hinges.” he mutters.  

It’s just one more thing he says he’ll get around to. Unless he forgets completely. Just like certain other important things.  

“Sweetheart, leave them dishes now. Turn around and look at your husband,” he instructs. To anyone else, it would sound like a baleful demand, but that’s just Arthur and his baritone, a voice like boulders crashing against one another. It’s the sexiest thing in the world when he’s in a state of arousal, but that’s the furthest thing from your mind right now. 

Right now, you feel like walloping him with the meat tenderiser you’ve just washed in the hot, soapy water. 

“Come on, petal. Look at me.” 

You’re all set to fix him with the same glare you viewed him with across the breakfast table this morning, drying your hands as you turn away from the sink. When you take him in, though, you couldn’t be more surprised.  

“Thought I’d forgotten, didn’t ya?” he beams, proffering the gigantic bunch of red roses and champagne bottle he carries forth. “Happy anniversary, my little dove.”  

You don’t completely thaw as he presses a kiss to your lips, eyeing him with suspicion as you part. “You still could have forgotten, Arthur. Hence why I’m receiving these gifts now rather than this morning.” 

He raises his eyebrows. “That right, is it?” 

“It is,” you state, placing the flowers and bottle down on the table.  

He jerks his head in the direction of the back door, taking your hand and kissing it. “This ain’t your whole present. Come on.” 

Walking you out along the path that leads to your flower garden there at your beautiful country cottage, he lets out a piercing whistle, the sound of string instruments beginning to filter out. Rounding the corner, you gasp at the sight of two violinists and a cellist, stationed a little way from an elegantly prepared table, a smartly dressed waiter standing in wait. 

“Greetings, Mrs Shelby. My name is Bryant, and I shall be your waiter tonight. Please, do take a seat and allow me to furnish you with a glass of champagne.”  

You turn to Arthur, your eyes wide, mouth dropped open. “How?” 

He reaches beneath your chin, closing your mouth. “You’ll catch flies like that.” 

“But... how did you do all this without me seeing? I could have been out to hang the washing, anything!” 

“But you weren’t, were ya?” he chuckles, pulling a chair away from the table and gesturing for you to sit. “They all got here while you were out with Jenny for afternoon tea. I made her keep you out for longer than usual.” 

You had wondered, why your best friend had lingered over the tiny cakes and finger sandwiches, rather than devouring the tea with her usual gusto. She was in cahoots with your husband here. Damn them! Damn then, but also, bless them, for giving you the most beautiful surprise you certainly didn’t expect. In fact, you spent half the afternoon bending her ear over how pissed off you were with him.  

No wonder she’d looked like she was trying to hide her amusement at times. You’d just taken it as her reacting to Arthur being his usual self.

“And how have they managed to bring dinner out here?” 

He leans across the table, thanking the waiter when he fills the two empty flutes with champagne. “Food can travel, you know.”  

You roll your eyes with a sigh. “Arthur.”  

“What?” he booms, laughing. Oh, he finds this much too funny for your liking. “I dunno, they stick it all in a pot, whack it in the back of a car and there you go! I dunno the fucking logistics, I just paid ‘em!”  

You chew the side of your cheek in mild fury, which juxtaposes with how much your heart is bursting with love for him. “You let me think you forgot deliberately, didn’t you?” 

His moustache bristles, his grin beaming from beneath. “Suppose I did. Can’t deny I like it when you’re fiery, though. What can I say, love? I like a lamb in the kitchen and a tiger in the bedroom.”  

When he finally gets you there a few hours later, you certainly do show him a wild time.  

[myinconnelly1]

All the Luck in the World Pt 18

Masterlist

Warnings: depression (General), anxiety (General), pregnancy, nausea, anemia, Valentina's manipulations, stress trigger (PTSD implied-but gentle)

Pairing: Robert "Bob" Reynolds x OFC (you)

Word Count: 1,002

Summary: With all her luck, Jinx has to wonder if it's good or bad. When she meets Bob, she starts to get her hopes up..

A gentle kiss pressed to your forehead, bringing you to the most delicate sleep.  Your body resisted waking and moving.

“I know you’re tired,” Bob murmured against your shoulder as he kissed you again.  “But I need you to wake up.  You need to eat something and drink something.”

You groaned, pressing yourself against Bob.  You felt that queasiness that had been haunting you for almost three weeks now.  Training, sleeping, and having people trying to push food on you, had become your life.  The idea of eating anything made you want to gag, and moving from the bed felt almost impossible all the time.  When you were out of bed, you longed to go back and take a nap.

“You haven’t eaten all day,” Bob whispered.  You could tell he was trying to coax you from the bed.  He knew that if you didn’t eat regularly you would be in the bathroom heaving, even if there was nothing left in your stomach.

“Okay,” You gave in.  When you opened your eyes, the reality of his words hit you.  It was dark outside.  You had literally slept the entire day away.

“I’m going to talk to Bucky.  You need to see a doctor,” He whispered against your hair as you sat up and leaned against him.  You all knew that the second you went to see a doctor, Valentina would be all over you.  She would have the excuse she needed to take you back to her compound and run any and every test that she wanted on you.  But Bob was right, there was something wrong with you.  You leaned on him, letting him take you out to the kitchen.  He handed you some crackers, while he put some peanut butter on a slice of bread and folded it.

“Hey guys,” Bob said as Bucky and John walked in from the elevator.

“Hey, it’s good to see you up and moving around,” Bucky said giving you a small smile.

“Actually, about that,” Bob said as he turned and gave you the mini sandwich.  You looked at it with mild disgust and contempt.  “I’m worried that something could be wrong.”

“Listen, we talked about this.  As soon as we make any move Val will be all over us.  And we won’t be able to protect you.” Bucky said, sounding very tired.

“I had a thought about that,” John said as he pulled something out of his utility pack.  “I think you should try taking one of these every day.  Preferably after you’re done puking your guts out.”  You grimaced at his words before forcing yourself to take a bite of the sandwich.  You put it down and took to proffered pill bottle that John was handing you.

“You think I have an iron deficiency?” you asked looking at the bottle and then up at John.

“Uh, yeah, Olivia would get real tired and sick like you are when she was pregnant, and they determined it was because of low iron.  It won’t hurt you to take them for a little while and see if you start feeling better.  It should work pretty fast too.”  He looked away from you and rubbed his beard in obvious insecurity.  You took one of the capsules from the bottle and swallowed it on the spot.  Bob handed you the sandwich you had put down and went to the refrigerator to pour you a cup of milk.

“You guys, we have a problem,” Yelena said as she came out of her room and flipped on the main screen. 

“What’s going on?” Bucky said as attention shifted to the next problem on the list.  She switched to a major news network, and you broke out in a cold sweat when Valentina’s face appeared on the screen.

“You’re safe,” Bob whispered as he moved behind you, and held you.  You could tell from the way that he was holding you that he was scared too.  His thumb rubbed small random shapes on your belly as he held you tight.

“Oh, for fuck sake,” John groaned when he saw the woman’s face.

“Director, can you tell us more about the breakthrough your team has had in regard to the new super-soldier serum?” the news anchor said seriously.

“Well, I would like to stress that these tests are still preliminary, but my team has made great strides, and we believe that we have created a new super soldier.  One that will be joining the ranks with the New Avengers.”  Her smile was fake as the light of it did not touch her eyes.

“What is she going on about?” Bucky asked looking at Yelena.  Both Alexi and Ava had come out of their rooms to watch the press conference.  Yelena shook her head as she actively bit her tongue.

“We believe that we have found the right formula to safely create a super soldier.  Our most recent test subject is stable and going through training now to safely and effectively use their abilities.”  Valentina continued.  “There will be an official press tour with the New Avengers in the next few days, where our newest member will be unveiled, but look to social media with updates about them as we drop clues to their inclusion with the team.”

“Director, we are almost out of time, is there any last-minute remarks or tidbits that you can reveal to us to get the hype started for our viewers?”  The reporter smiled in a practiced way.

“I didn’t think she wanted Bob to be in the public view?” Ava said looking at the others in confusion that was shared by everyone except Yelena.

“Our newest super soldier is the first woman ever to complete the training.  We are so excited to have this diversity.  For too long have women been left in the shadows of their male counterparts but no more.”  Valentina said.

“She’s not talking about Bob,” Yelena said.  “She is talking about-“

“The luck bomb,” John groaned, figuring out where this was leading.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Walter Einenkel at Daily Kos:

A California congressman is finding out what happens when you dare to mock Elon Musk in Donald Trump's America. Rep. Robert Garcia on Thursday posted a letter he received from the Department of Justice saying that billionaire co-President Musk and his minions in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency are concerned that the outspoken Democrat is threatening them. “So if you criticize Elon Musk, Trump’s DOJ will send you this letter,” Garcia wrote on Bluesky. “Members of Congress must have the right to forcefully oppose the Trump Administration. I will not be silenced.” The letter addressed to Garcia and signed by interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia Edward R. Martin Jr. quotes the congressman’s Feb. 12 appearance on CNN. "What the American public wants is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight,” Garcia said when asked how Democrats can stop the unelected Musk’s takeover of the U.S. government. “This is an actual fight for democracy.” [...] Martin appeared to be referring to the Delivering on Government Efficiency subcommittee’s first chaotic hearing, where Garcia chided chair Marjorie Taylor Greene’s previous antics. “In the last Congress, Chairwoman Greene literally showed a dick pic in our Oversight congressional hearing. So, I thought I'd bring one as well,” Garcia said before proffering a picture of Musk.  During his CNN appearance, host Brianna Keilar asked Garcia a question: “Do you think that calling Elon Musk a ‘dick’ is effective messaging for confronting what is a potentially irreversible transformation of the U.S. government?” The congressman pulled no punches in his response.

[...] Who is to say if Musk is indeed a “dick” or not? The fact of the matter is that calling the world’s richest man a “dick” isn’t a physical threat, and Garcia’s First Amendment rights allow him to use the descriptor.  So “dick” or not, self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist” Musk and the Department of Justice have no right to be threatening a congressman.

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) was sent a letter of intimidation from right-wing MAGA blowhard DC US Attorney Ed Martin for rightly calling co-”President” Elon Musk a “dick” on CNN.

See Also:

The Advocate: Robert Garcia ‘will not be silenced’ after Department of Justice U.S. attorney targets him for criticizing Elon Musk on TV

[drinkingteawithkate]

Okay I made a little post about this but it’s jawing at my brain

A deep dive into Ginny Weasley’s music taste

(Not specifically 90s timeline)

SPICE GIRLS

Okay so even though it might be cringy now she was definitely so obsessed with the spice girls. With their whole girl power agenda she definitely was really into it, and they have great party music. Hermione being one of her closest friends and muggle born showed her the spice girls over one summer and gave her tons of magazines on them. Tonks offered to take her to see them but Molly said absolutely not. Favorite song Wanna be obviously, it’s her designated getting ready song.

THE SMITHS/RADIOHEAD/NIRVANA/WEAZER

Okay so, Ginny dated Dean for almost a whole year being with someone you naturally gain interest in their interest. Dean being a muggle born introduced Ginny to all sorts of muggle bands The Smiths and Radiohead having a lot of sad songs I think she found very healing with all her trauma from the chamber. Nirvana is like the OG teenage dirt bag band so yes she loves them. Nirvana reminds her a lot of Sirius so she got Harry into listening to them. Weazer came from Seamus actually, when she was getting used to being around Deans friend group music came up and Seamus lent her one of his mixtapes. Her favorite song is Back to the old house because it makes her miss time before Tom and before the war.

DAVID BOWIE

So Bowie. I think Bowie would come from Bill and Arthur. Bill was born in the early 70s so it come from his childhood. We all know Arthur loves muggle things so I think music would be incorporated in that. Bowie has a perfect blend of sad and feel good music, we know she was close with Tonks but Remus helped her through second year too and Bowie was one thing they bonded over and what made Ginny trust Remus after Tom. Her favorite song is Changes because it feels like growing up.

EMINEM/D-12

Completely George and Charlie influence. She loved D-12 first obviously but she prefers Eminem. She knows every word. To every song. Harry loves when she gets wasted at parties and just stands on the table and belts out the lyrics. She’s totally a Doctor Dre fan too. The Slim shady album is her favorite it dropped in 1999 when she was freshly 17. Charlie took her to see him when she was 19 she went all out saggy jeans, heavy smudged eyeliner, bandana. When family dinners where to serious at the Burrow after the war. Her and George would start singing the dirtiest songs to get Molly’s attention on them. Favorite song in his discography is Under the Influence.

DO DOUBT/GWEN STEFANI, BIKINI KILL

Girl power rock bands I don’t have a ton to say about them. She loves No Doubt but proffers Gwen’s solo stuff. Obviously knows them from Tonks. She gave Ginny her Tragic Kingdom vinyl which released in 1995 perfect timing for her 4th year at hogwarts when she’s angry about being left out of order business. Her favorite Gwen song is Rich Girl.

ARVIL LAVIGNE

Okay so Arvil really started getting big in 2002 when her album Let Go came out. She wasn’t super big into her with that album but followed along still. Her teammates on the Harpy’s loved her and played her music in the locker rooms. She picked up again with her when Girlfriend came out but her favorite song is Here’s to never growing up.

(Later music)

TAYLOR SWIFT

I never liked that people think Ginny isn’t girlie because she grew up with 7 brothers. Yes, she is a total tomboy but she never saw being a girl as making her weak. It was just a challenge with her brothers but it just gave her more reasons to get to prove herself. If she had Taylor in her teens her favorite album would be Red or Evermore. Cowboy like me is a perfect song to describe her and Harry. “The skeletons in both our closets plotted hard to fuck this up” perfect example of their relationships with Voldemort. They definitely avoided that they had that in common for a while but after they accepted it they where able to heal through each other. I think the song I hate it here from TTPD would be one Ginny could relate too because honestly when she was completely alone her therapy was Tom and the diary. It was where she would escape too. I think her hearing that song as an adult would have an even deeper meaning because it’s so sad and describes how lonley-ness feels beautifully.

- If you want my other opinions and more bands I think she would like feel free to ask I have so many others artist and songs

This kinda turned in to me relating Ginny to my favorite music but oh well 🤷‍♀️

[hearts-fromani]

hi guys! so this is my first post and it's like a law x reader/oc enemies to lovers type thing, it’s kinda my first time putting my writing on the internet so it may not be that good but i hope you enjoy!! :D

(it's not at all proffered)

wc: 2700

“There was once a time of the sun and the moon, they were lovers,” the girl with the ivory skin smiled.

The younger girl scooted forward, a smile plastered on her face as she nodded frantically, urging her to continue.

The ivory girl chuckled, “they loved each other very much, but their love was very forbidden.”

She nodded now with a slight frown.

“But soon they would see past that fact, the sun would sneak glances to the moon, and the moon to the sun” she smiled.

The girls eyes sparkled.

“Soon enough they got sick of their secret glances, and decided to finally be together, to hold each other” she paused and the young girl leaned in cerious.

“What..! What happens next!” She said hushed with a grin.

“Even though they were careful…they had gotten caught, they were forced to be separated, to be forever be separated by day and night. Stuck to forever long for each other’s embrace, stuck for one to come up as one goes down, they were forced to be eternally bound to each others but to constantly yearn and chase each other, just tonever reach each other” the young girl stayed quiet as she continued.

“The sun would speak to the moon at sunset, ‘good morning, my love’ she would smile, a smile that shined wonderis colors as the night fell, the moon would smile, enveloping his lover in his darkness, he would speak, ‘good night, my darling, till I see you again at dawn.’ He would smile sadly as he watched his lover fade, hoping that In their next fateful encounter they would get the chance to speak more” She took a breath finishing the story with a smile, as the little girl sat on her feet with her tiny hands balled into fists, tears fell from her face onto her skirt, she sniffled.

“Oh my..” she spoke quietly as she moved a hand to rub the girls back in an act of comfort, shifting to sit right next to her, “I’m sorry” she would say, “I’m sorry, i didn’t think that this would make you so upset” she frowned as she talked ever so softly.

“N..no” the little girl would sob out, bringing the attention of the girl.

“It..it is sad..but..” she paused wiping her nose on her arm, “but..! It’s lovely..” she spoke as another tear fell.

“Lovely..?” The ivory girl cocked her head to the side.

“Yes! It is very lovely..! Well I think that’s what the word means” she said pondering for a second.

The ivory girl couldn’t help but let out a laugh, as she turned to the girl urging her to go on.

“I just.. I hope I can find a love like that someday!” She quickly let out.

“You wish to find forbidden love?” The older girl teased, the younger girl felt her face heat up.

“Wha..no!” She stuttered out, ”I just hope that one day..someone could love me the way the moon loves the sun!” She Said shyly as she almost yelled out, “okay..!?” She turned her face, bratty, she turned from the women with the ivory skin.

𓇼˚࿔ the vampire and the pirate 𝜗𝜚˚𓇼

It’s so cold, I hate the cold.

Where am I?

Groggily, I peek through my eyelids, squinting to see..metal?

God that’s why it is so cold, I push my body up, I rest my chest against my knees as my hands brace me on either side against the metal floor, of the corner I seemed to be in, I take a quick breath.

I see through bloodied black hair.

Hungry.

I moved a hand up to my head effectively moving my hair out of the way, this headache was killer.

I look around myself once again, my eyes catching on a dimly lit hallway,

there.

I stand on wobbly legs, the sudden tingling sensation almost burned, I fixed my hair to fall down my back, i pat down what seemed to once be a black skirt, now through dim light I can see it’s all burnt and tattered, surprisingly by a mere miracle it’s still wearable.

My eyes quickly adjusted to the new white light, a few white strands fell from the crown of my head.

So..bright..

I squint as I walked almost aimlessly, everything looked the same, all I heard was the slightest creaks and now the mechanical whirring of what now seemed like a ship.

As I walked through the corridors it was silent, baren almost, there was no sign of light, no sign of life, that was until I looked up from my feet as my eyes caught sight on a cracked door, with the slightest shadow of light seeping through.

I felt drawn, I’m hungry, I need information, where am I? God I’m so hungry, my mind was racing.

I almost start salivating at the thought of fresh..

I slowly open the door, a human, a tall human, with a leopard print hat that sat on his head.

I watched as the human turned to me, a man, his look shifting from one of annoyance to one of shock.

It seemed that he had no clue where I had come from, no clue that I was even here in the first place.

He staggered back for a second, looking at me, and me at him, soon he almost leapt across the room to grab what seemed to be a large weapon.

That motion ignited a certain instinct I had, the instinct to hunt.

Surely I sooner saw red as I tackled the man before he could grab his weapon.

Once I felt the impact of the floor, I let my teeth sink into his artery, i so desperately drank, this hunger needed to be satiated, and it needed to be now.

My eyes fluttered shut as I tasted him.

He let out a pant, his face flushed as he came to his senses, he quickly punched me in my side, the ribs.

I almost choked, I still held on.

He held such a look of distaste, disdain as he threw his head back, his own body’s reaction, im sure.

I could tell that he was getting weaker, more fatigued as I drank.

He continued to punch my side, effectively breaking one of my ribs, I finally let go, letting out a Labored gasp, fuck.

He shoved me off of him, and once my gaze finally met his, he stood with his sword, now unsheathed and pointed straight at my neck, his chest heaving, while his other hand held what looked to be gauze to the spot that was just freshly cut,

Or rather bit.

His gaze held such quick hate for me it was almost laughable.

I slightly pressed my neck to the tip his sword, with a pained smile as I felt a small amount of blood leak down my neck, I quickly breathed from my nose, hell for all I knew that rib he broke punctured a lung, cheeky bastard.

His face was stoic, but his eyes, his eyes gave the shock that he had felt, his breath was still labored, but his sword was steady.

“Red eyes, pale skin? What are you some type of vampire.” he spat out, sarcasm evident.

I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh, as I grabbed his blade with my bare hand and let it sink a little further in my neck.

Silence enveloped the space around me and the human, the only sound that we had heard was the sound of drops of blood hitting the floor through my hands, my neck it was hard to tell.

My vision soon blurred, I swallowed the blood that threatened to travel up my esophagus.

better in than out.

I glared at the man, my cocky expression soon turning to a pained one as my body numbed, my body hit the floor, I felt my hand slice open on its way down along with my lung being punctured upon impact, my black hair looked silver under this light as it spread around my unconscious body.

———-

He stared at her, shock, that was how this situation could be described, he moved to grab medical tape, he couldn’t just hold this gauze forever, he never turned from her body, cautious.

He didn’t bother to move her after he typed his face, after all he had to figure out what to do, I mean if he was right and he knew he was, she would wake up soon

As a kid he studied vampire folklore with his sister mostly because she had begged him too, never in a million years had he thought it would come in handy, he and his sister learned that some were immortal, some weren’t, but he was willing to bet that she was, especially by the way she acted.

Either that or she didn’t care to live, either way he didn’t give a damn.

She would soon wake up, he stared at the body on the floor of his study, he soon got an idea, a smirk grazed his face.

An autopsy, after all, at the moment she was dead, and he always did want to dissect a vampire.

He picked her up, he would have dragged her, but he needed to be time efficient.

Once he got to his lab on the polar tang, he laid her down and quietly got a mask and gloves, as he set up his tools.

He soon activated his devil fruit, if he was going to take out organs they still needed to work, because he had questions for this damn vampire.

He quickly unbuttoned her back shirt revealing a equally as black bra, he removed that as well, he let the shirt cover her breasts, after all he was just cracking her chest open for a quick look.

and cracking was an understatement, he cut sternum to pelvis.

Once he had made that first cut, he started to peel away the different layers of muscle and fat, once everything was open, he noticed the punctured lung that had already started to heal.

“How interesting” he spoke to himself.

He soon started to cut out certain organs, all of which still were functioning, he could risk her dying, but that would be a pain because he still needed answers.

It took him about 30 minutes to get a few blood samples and to “safely” cut open the stomach.

He wanted to know how their bodies digested blood, after all vampires didn’t need to eat like humans did, so he wondered if blood acted as a food and a liquid for them.

And he was right, while the stomach on the outside looked like a normal human stomach, the inside was much different instead of soft ridges, her stomach had spikes and it was tough almost like cartilage.

“possibly to filter the blood..?” He spoke aloud to himself as he heard a blood curdling scream.

Once it hit his ears, it caught him completely off guard his head snapped to behind him then to the body on his table that was thrashing around.

“Shit.” His eyes widened slightly as he sealed her stomach back up, more like forged the burnt tissue back together like glue but it worked.

He looked at her panicked, He couldn’t let her wake his crew, he would never hear the end of it, he scoffed and shifted her organs back into place, however her muscle tissue among other tissues were laid out in layers on her side.

He quickly slashed his wrist and shoved it in her mouth, “drink.” He said in a tone laced with disgust.

————

I quickly latched my teeth on his wrist as I glared at this human through the overwhelming pain of having my ORGANS exposed, i swear the audacity of this lower race, to do an autopsy.

completely absurd, to say i was pissed was a understatement.

I hold my urge to scoff as I drink, my pain slows as I almost inhale his blood.

Fuck this hurts.

My eyes squeezed shut, I soon passed out from the pain.

———

He soon retracted his wrist before he started to suture her back up.

One thing that he had failed to notice was bepo and penguin looking through the crack of the door

Soon they started to whisper.

“Who is that woman?” Penguin asked.

“I don’t know” bepo said sheepishly.

“Well duh you don’t know” penguin spoke out sarcastically.

“I’m sorry!!” The bear said loudly ever so apologetically.

he just sighed as he heard his crew gossiping outside of the door.

“Both of you get in here!” Their captain yelled annoyed not bothering to look behind himself,

“Yes sir!” They both almost saluted him and ran in slamming the door behind them.

“Don’t..!..” their captain started but just sighed, “just get some gloves on and help.” He said as the two looked shocked.

“Is she still..” penguin said as he put on gloves.

“Alive? Yes.” He said as he started to sew, or rather stitch her up

They both let out a sigh of relief.

“Bepo get her some anesthesia, I don’t need her waking up again and waking up the entire crew along with her” he ordered.

As bepo started on that, penguin spoke up, “again!?” He almost shouted, bepo being just as surprised.

“How!? she is..she was..” he said, as he looked at his character and back in the body.

“Ever heard of a vampire?” He remarked sarcastically.

“No way!” shachi bursts into the room hearing the tail end of the conversation.

“Yes, now get in here damn it.” He spoke out, almost yelling, this was becoming too much of a hassle, i should just throw her in the sea and see how she fairs there, he thought as shachi rushed in and closed the door behind him.

Not to mention all three of these idiots were still in their pajamas, he just looked at them and sighed waiting for them to ask the question that they had all been wanting to know.

“so..who is she?” bepo said shyly.

“i honestly have no clue,” he paused and watched the surprise on their faces, “she ambushed me and i broke her rib” he said flatly.

“your broke her rib?!!” the dynamic duo shouted.

he groaned, “quiet down would ya” he paused, “she came after me first she's lucky i didn’t kill her” he scoffed.

“you basically did” penguin and shachi sweat dropped looked at the girl with half her organs out.

“okay anymore questions or are you idiots actually going to help?” he sighed.

“well were you actually serious…you know about the vampire thing” penguin said nervously.

he just sighed, and ripped off the gauze that was on his neck with the forceps, the three gasped.

all they saw was a clear bite with two puncture wounds.

“oh shitt” penguin as his captain glared.

“how did a vampire end up on the ship in the first place?” said shachi.

“I thought they all were massacred by the celestial dragons?” Bepo questioned as he was keeping up with her anesthesia, as his captain finished suturing with the help of the other two.

“so how was she even here?” penguin added to his friends statement.

“ that’s exactly what i plan to figure out.” He said calmly as he removed his gloves and throws them in the trash beside the door.

he was absolutely livid.

he turned towards his crew and said, “make sure she ends up in the infirmary, bepo make sure you cuff her to the bed, AND shachi penguin don’t be nice to the girl, if she could kill me she could very well kill you.” after he said this he walked out.

as he walked through the corridors of his ship he snatched his hat off his head and ran his hand through his hair.

it was just now hitting him, this was definitely going to be a pain in the ass, possibly even more than he bargained for.

[thenixkat]

Roux by  Olivier Deriviere

Lyrics of Roux (feat. Craig Robinson) by Olivier Deriviere

[verse] See, once I too was just like you I′d rue the things I didn't do I′d chew on every little wrong Guilt from crimes was too strong At night, I'd lie awake in bed And ponder what I should have said Regret would dog me all life long All I did just felt so wrong Until Kooshma came along

This here town is dreams and fog A place you write your epilogue I attest his magic's real Come take a spin now ′cause time′s a wheel And Kooshma makes you quite a deal

[chorus] Dream maker, kingmaker, lord of fog and chance Spin the wheel and make a wish, there's no payment in advance Kooshma′s master, power vaster, no one comes close to him All are welcome to stay forever, time to sink or time to swim, ha!

[verse] Mojo town is as it seems Here they're not over, all your dreams Your wrong turns are not taken yet Just make a wish and then forget So what′s on offer with this proffer? Choose an ending, you're the author Old mistakes become successes Over your choices, he obsesses Until Kooshma comes along

[chorus] Dream maker, kingmaker, lord of fog and chance Spin the wheel and make a wish, there′s no payment in advance Kooshma's master, power vaster, no one comes close to him All are welcome to stay forever, time to sink or time to swim

Dream maker, kingmaker, lord of fog and chance Spin the wheel and make a wish, there's no payment in advance Oh, Kooshma master, power vaster, no one comes close to him All are welcome to stay forever, time to sink or time to swim

[outro] Until Kooshma came along!

[handeaux]

Attorney Thomas F. Shay, A Colorful Counselor From Cincinnati’s Golden Age

He didn’t have to advertise on billboards or radio. He didn’t need a catchy telephone number. (For the record, his number was Main 103.) But everyone in Cincinnati, at least everyone who had troubles with the law, knew where to find Thomas Francis Shay at his office in the old St. Paul Building on the south side of Fourth Street, just east of Walnut.

Tom Shay (1853 – 1907) was the premier defense attorney in Hamilton County, and he defended them all – murderers, thieves and scoundrels of every stripe. Shay’s name was known to every denizen of the demimonde up and down Longworth and George streets, the thoroughfares of Cincinnati’s “red light” district. And not, it must be noted, for what might be the obvious reasons.

For example, Shay defended Kate Riley, described as “the proprietress of a well known house of ill fame” when liquor dealer Thomas B. Leonard attempted to shake her down for $111.50 that, he claimed, she owed him. It appears Leonard not only supplied Riley’s “resort” with booze, he often stopped by and consumed a lot of it himself. In fact, he had the nerve to file suit the morning after a “jamboree” at Riley’s establishment. Leonard testified Riley owed him various sums with very specific dates. On cross examination, Shay produced receipts, signed by Leonard, proving that every one of those bills had been paid. Shay then began reading a series of letters from Leonard to Riley suggesting their relationship went significantly beyond pure business. With typical courtroom flair, Shay handed one letter back to his client, announcing that it would be improper to read it aloud in court. The red-faced Leonard settled quickly and quietly.

When John D. Farrell, a resident of the Dayton Soldier’s Home, accused Kate Riley of theft, Shay again rose in her defense. It came out that Farrell scrimped and shepherded his pension every year into a fair-sized bankroll and then descended upon Cincinnati to paint the town red, as it were, for a week or so. After his 1884 spree, gazing at his empty pocketbook, Farrell complained to the police he had been robbed of $700 at Kate Riley’s bordello. Kate testified that Farrell had spent close to $300 at her place over four days but that was far from unusual. Some of her customers, Kate said, often squandered $500 in an evening. Then Shay got Farrell on the stand for cross-examination. According to the Cincinnati Post [23 May 1884]:

“The testimony all along showed Farrell to be a consummate old fool, who comes to town once a year and blows all his money.”

Kate Riley was absolved of the old fellow’s indiscretions.

Shay’s courtroom tirades were legendary. The story goes that an assistant prosecutor was showing a visitor around the courthouse when they passed a rambunctiously loud courtroom. The visitor asked what matter was being adjudicated. The prosecutor replied that it was only a small case involving $2.50 and the United States Constitution. That’s a lot of exertion for $2.50, opined the guest. “Oh, that’s Tom Shay,” said the prosecutor. “He doesn’t care about the $2.50 – he’s defending the constitution.”

On another occasion, Shay represented a man who had murdered his wife. In his closing arguments, Shay lambasted prosecutor Harry Hoffheimer, insulting him in very personal terms. After adjournment, Hoffheimer retreated to his office, still smarting from Shay’s tirade. The Cincinnati Post [21 August 1907] reported that Shay cheerfully strolled into Hoffheimer’s room with his arm outstretched.

“‘All’s fair in war, you know, Harry. That was for the benefit of the jury. You know I didn’t mean that and wouldn’t for the world say anything like that outside of court.’ Hoffheimer took the proffered hand, and though they fought one another bitterly in many subsequent cases, they always remained fast friends.”

It was known that Shay had a devilish sense of humor. On day, Shay was in court, defending a man accused of murder. The victim had been shot in the abdomen. One of the witnesses, a corpulent surgeon, was asked by Assistant Prosecutor Thomas H. Darby to indicate to the jury the location of the fatal wound. The poor surgeon’s bulk prohibited this entirely, so the prosecutor, who barely weighed 100 pounds soaking wet, volunteered himself as the stand-in for the corpse. Shay immediately rose to object. The judge, very much surprised, asked Shay for the basis of his objection. Shay replied, “I don’t know by what right Mr. Darby claims to have an abdomen.”

Shay was very active in the Hamilton County Democratic Party and was occasionally drafted to sit in for ill or vacationing judges. By the time of his death, he was drifting away from litigation and spending more time as a stockbroker. Yet he still retained friends in high places and that was demonstrated by some unseemly shenanigans when Thomas Shay was found dead in the Lombardy Flats apartment of his stenographer, Ada Taylor.

Shay had told his wife that he was going out of town on business matters. Instead, he dropped into Mrs. Taylor’s rooms on Fourth Street. He was there for several hours and began to feel unwell. He asked for whiskey and she went out to buy some, but he only felt worse, so she summoned Thomas C. Minor, a police surgeon who lived just down the block. Doctor Minor arrived, took one look at Shay and pronounced him dead.

“I’m disgraced! He’s disgraced!” shouted Mrs. Taylor. Doctor Minor took matters in hand. Shay had three $50 bills in his pocket. The doctor gave one to the African American porter for his silence and had him carry the body around the corner to John J. Sullivan’s undertaking establishment on Central Avenue. Minor then procured a room for Mrs. Taylor (she was in the middle of divorcing her insurance agent husband in Kentucky) at the nearby Grand Hotel. Only then did Doctor Minor contact County Coroner Otis L. Cameron. Doctor Cameron was pissed, and conducted a full inquiry the next day, exposing all of the uncomfortable facts Mrs. Taylor and Doctor Minor had hoped to keep under wraps, such as the fact that Shay was partially disrobed when he expired.

Mrs. Shay, for Thomas Shay was indeed married and esteemed as a family man, was not notified of her husband’s demise until after midnight and pronounced herself thoroughly confused because she was certain he had left town hours ago. With her was the couple’s only daughter Rose Cecilia Shay, an opera singer of some talent, married to an operatic tenor, Michael J. McCarthy, who performed on stage as Joseph Fredericks. The vocal duo were expecting their second child, Shay’s second grandchild, at any moment.

Newspapers back then dove into the nitty-gritty of wills and bequests and sometimes printed rumor and innuendo as hard-core fact. (Who knew?) And so, two versions of Thomas Shay’s estate emerged, both involving his talented daughter. Because Rose had found difficulty getting starring roles, Shay bankrolled an entirely new operatic company with his daughter as the headliner. It was an artistic success and a financial disaster. Shay found himself in debt to the tune of $5,000 to George Considine, a New York gambler, who intended to press his case for reimbursement against Shay’s estate.

The question was, how much was that estate worth? One news story pegged Shay’s final tally at just $10,000 which would have severely impacted his widow if she had to honor the gambler’s chit. Other reports said Shay had done pretty well with his investments and had something like $500,000 in stocks, so Considine’s debt was just couch change. It’s likely reality fell somewhere in the middle. Mrs. Shay, her daughter and son-in-law and the kids moved west to Hollywood. Rose and Michael (aka Joseph) kept singing and Rose got a few movie roles. They are all buried out in California.