#Such shady sleuth

[digitkame]

I LOVE the design of Snape card’s skin in HPMA so much. So fitting(*´Д｀*)💕

[virahaus]

I've got several ideas rolling around in my brain rn, so bear with me okay. I'm gonna do one now, and another one maybe tomorrow if y'all can stand my yapping two days in a row and are interested on hearing more😂

Anyhow! If you don't know, I'm what you could call a sleuth girly. I LOVE murder mysteries. I basically grew up with milk and detectives. I've got them all: Sherlock, Detective Conan, murder she wrote, Maigret, Miss Marple... But my all time favourite is, and probably always be, Poirot. There's just something about that funny and arrogant yet brilliant and lovable little guy that just has me rewatching the show with Suchet so many times I know the plots of every episodes. Yes, I'm aware there's 13 seasons. You must understand I cannot remember a time where I wasn't watching a murder mystery with Poirot. Literally.

All this to say, I'm a sucker for a good old murder mystery and I'm dying (pun intended) for a GFFA murder mystery Obikin style.

There's so many possibilities!!!! I'm going insane over here. (Not to sound like a bloodthirsty gal. But. I need a murder with obikin involved in some type of way.)

Just to further my propaganda, if you look at AOTC it's kind of a murder mystery too. Obikin is trying to prevent Padme's murder and also fell face first into a bigger intrigue. But! Not enough for my tastes.

I have multiple ideas about this concept.

There's a murder in the Temple.

This is such a delicious idea. I'm so upset nobody wrote this kind of thing yet. Imagine:

In the middle of the night, 18 y/o padawan Anakin is working on a ship in the hangar cause he can't sleep, and, suddenly, he gets a strange feeling in the force. He goes to investigate and...

He finds a body.

The man is dead, throat slashed, blood everywhere. Anakin doesn't yell out loud but he screams so strongly in the force he wakes up half the temple, including the Council and Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan finds Anakin standing paralysed over the corpse, just looking at it with a vacant expression. Anakin is ushered away immediately and Obi-Wan is the only one who gets him to speak again and asks if he saw anyone else or if he heard anything while working. Anakin doesn't remember anything in particular and doesn't say much. The council is in an uproar. The identity of the man murdered is unknown. He wasn't a jedi, but he was dressed in jedi robes. Nobody knows him. Nobody saw him entering the temple. Nobody heard anything. Which is per se super suspicious. How did this man enter the temple? Why was he wearing jedi robes? Why was he murdered and the body left there for someone to discover? Did Anakin spook the killer and he bolted? Was the killer going to move the body? But if he planned this, why choose the Jedi Temple to kill someone when Coruscant has many shady allies where murder goes undetected?

The council is fumbling, people are getting suspicious of everyone and Anakin, being the one who discovered the body, is getting the brunt of it. Because of this, Anakin (once he overcame the shock) is determined to uncover the mystery, much to Obi-Wan's displeasure. Obi-Wan doesn't want Anakin anywhere near this. For Obi-Wan, Anakin was already way too close to this. Hyper protective, suspicious AND angry (cause how dare!!!! people suspect his baby boy???!!!); Obi-Wan is in overdrive rn. He's worried about his fellow Jedi, yes, but the horror of finding Anakin standing over a corpse, trembling from head to toe? Anakin being terrified to go around the temple alone, when before he relished sneaking in those halls to be alone? Anakin getting shunned by most of peers? Unacceptable. Obi-Wan will find the killer just so he can present his head (ahem, metaphorically ofc) to Anakin in a Grand gesture of love and everlasting commitment,,, of completely normal and equilibrated jedi behaviour towards their padawan. Right.

Anyway, the pathos gets higher when Anakin almost get killed and everyone realises Anakin really did see/heard something that implicated the killer and is then the new intended victim. Obi-Wan is foaming at the mouth. The Council literally has to plead him not to interrogate/threaten every single jedi, including younglings, into a confession and to leave it to the proper authorities. Obi-wan is like "respectfully, eat shit" and stalks off. Never he has been so close to kidnap Anakin and elope ahem leave the order as he has rn. Why he hasn't? cause Anakin doesn't want to leave without catching the killer and Obi-Wan is down bad for his pout. He does kidnap Anakin into sleeping in his bed tho. for safety reasons. of course.

In the end, Anakin figures out what exactly did see/heard that incriminated the killer and Obi-Wan tells him he'll talk to the authorities about it, dear one, no need for you to go anywhere near that scum = READ: Obi-Wan goes on the murder spree himself. Picture this: Obi-Wan bursting into the council meeting, Anakin there cause Yoda wanted him "close" (READ= Obi-Wan's doing, cause no way in hell was Obi-Wan leaving Anakin unsupervised while he was hunting dead meat ahem the killer) and here comes Obi-Wan, dragging the beat up killer in front of everyone and his mother and doing the most obvious speech of unending devotion towards Anakin who figured out the killer's identity. Obi-Wan is being bestowed the most "fuck me" eyes by Anakin ever. Which he's totally down for, dear one, let's wait for your knighthood tho.

(Spoiler alert. They did not wait. Anakin was bouncing on it that night, asap.)

And there's one! I'm having so much fun ehehehe

If anyone is interested tomorrow we'll get to:

There's a murder in the Senate.

[exeggcute]

interesting links roundup #5

reading

A British Nurse Was Found Guilty of Killing Seven Babies. Did She Do It?

A Tick Is Making Farmers Allergic to Their Own Animals

The Big Red Word vs. the Little Green Man

Bringing Up Babies

The Degradation Drug

Does Matt Mullenweg Want a Fork or Not?

The Flying Car Is Finally Here. It’s Slightly Illegal.

How to Talk to People When You Live Alone

I got dysentery so you don’t have to

The invisible seafaring industry that keeps the internet afloat

Kurt Vonnegut’s lost board game finally published

The Pain of Travelling While Palestinian

Personal Best

Rage bait is all the rage on Threads

The Secretive Dynasty That Controls the Boar’s Head Brand

The shady origins of the climate haven myth

Social Media Tells You Who You Are. What if It's Totally Wrong?

We’re not going to run out of new anatomy anytime soon

Who Pays for the Arts?

Works by Pissarro, Renoir, and Avercamp Vanished. Here’s How an Amateur Art Sleuth Cracked the Case

Writing in Pictures: Richard Scarry and the art of children’s literature

tools/reference

An Illustrated Guide to Maritime Signal Flags

If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel: A tediously accurate map of the solar system

Plotto by William Wallace Cook (1928) [for context, read this]

Snapseed: Android, iOS

These Apps Help People With Disabilities Travel More Easily

other

Euthanasia machine, Australia, 1995-1996

how-i-experience-web-today.com

Reply All #158: The Case of the Missing Hit [I first listened to this years ago but just listened to it again... still soooo good]

Subterranea Britannica

[theresattrpgforthat]

do you know any games that would fit a film noir detective style game? especially one with a gilded age or art deco aesthetic

THEME: Film Noir

Hello friend! So I knew of one or two games - but my buddy Sean, well he knows way more. Most of the games on this list are games that he’s introduced me to or knows about. So shout out to Sean!

Noirlandia, by Turtlebun.

Noirlandia is a murder mystery roleplaying game played with an actual cork board. When you first sit down, no one knows the answers.

You'll figure out the way your city ticks—maybe it’s blanketed in white ash, maybe it’s built atop the back of an enormous dying beetle, maybe only a few non-synthetics remain.

Your story follows a group of interconnected characters, a mind-bending case, and the cold stiff that started it all. Roll well, and you'll be allowed to pin new leads to your cork board or string connections between them.

Find the truth, or lose yourself trying. It’s just another day in Noirlandia.

A GM-less game, Noirlandia sets up each of your characters as someone who is connected to the victim - someone who demands justice in a world that has none. The city is created by the players, which tells me that you can decide some details about what the city looks like. The city itself feels like a character in this game - it has defined sections that you build using a deck of cards, each with a distinct personality and a host of slang words.

Because this game is GM-less, everyone gets to participate in the construction of the mystery, from who the victim is, to why their characters are involved. If you like world-building as much as you like following a story, you’ll want to check out Noirlandia.

Urban Jungle, by Sanguine Productions.

The early 20th century of the United States was rife with fantastic change: from the rise of industry giants, to the great experiment of Prohibition, to the tragedy of the Great Depression, onto the dawn of the Atomic Age. The sky was tamed, the world was mapped, and the possibilities of science seemed limitless, all blue skies and buttered toast…

… for some folks, anyway.

A complete game in one volume, URBAN JUNGLE makes you a player in an anthropomorphic world of pulp-adventure, hard-boiled crime, and film noir. You’ll tangle with hardened gangsters, with jaded debutantes, with world-weary veterans, and with all kinds of shady characters.

Urban Jungle uses different sizes of dice to determine your level of skill. Character creation consists of distributing dice amongst your traits, and then choosing from a list of species, types, careers, and personalities. The type and career options open up a wide variety of backgrounds for your characters - you don’t necessarily have to be hard-boiled detectives. You could be a criminal, an artist, a member of the social elite, or a down-to-earth labourer of some kind, just to name a few. As a result, the differences between the characters in Urban Jungle could lead to a rather mis-matched party, so you’ll likely want to talk with your group about what kind of story you’re telling.

Judging by the skills available in this game, you’re likely going to begetting in and out of scrapes, chasing, running, fighting and investigating. You might tussle with the mafia, or hunt down missing artifacts. You might try to get inside a swanky party, or try to win at a game of cards. If what you want is a toolbox to create your own plots with, you might be interested in Urban Jungle.

Junk Noir, by JadeRavens.

Junk Noir is a cooperative, zero-prep, GM-less mystery game for 2 or more players. Players share control of Tracer as the titular robo-sleuth investigates mysteries, visits Locations, meets Characters, finds Clues, and triggers Events. In Junk Noir, you'll dramatize scenes, form connections, make moves, and play to see what happens! 

Junk Noir mysteries don't come with pre-written solutions — that's the detective's job! Solving a mystery is about more than just finding clues, since clues are only as good as the theory that connects them. Players connect the dots and discuss theories over the course of an investigation. 

This is a game for folks who like generative mysteries, such as Brindlewood Bay or Paranormal Inc. Junk Noir helps you generate clues that you as a group will have to put together, while each player embodies a part of Tracer’s programming. This is also a GM-less mystery game, which means you can all sit down and play with no prep required - the game will guide you as you play it.

Deadlands Noir, by Pinnacle Entertainment.

New Orleans, 1935. Whoever called this “the Big Easy” sure got that one wrong. Things are tough all over. Honest work is hard to find, and even dishonest jobs are getting scarce. The one thing that’s not in short supply is trouble. From shady thugs to crooked cops to Mafia soldiers, there’s plenty of characters out there looking to give an honest Joe a hard time. And that’s not the worst of it.

There are stories going round about things that go bump in the night. Things you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley on a darker night. And those stories aren’t just coming from rummies or saps who read that Epitaph rag.

Still, there are a few heroes left in the concrete jungle. Steely-eyed private dicks, fast-talking grifters, wild-eyed inventors, and shadowy houngans still struggle against the encroaching darkness. With enough moxie—and more than a little luck—they might just be enough to turn the tide.

Deadlands Noir is a pen-and-paper roleplaying game set in the world of Pinnacle Entertainment’s award-winning Deadlands universe. It includes new Edges, Hindrances, and powers, as well as new rules for handling detective work, the state of the Union and the CSA in the Depression-era, a complete Plot Point campaign, and of course, more monsters and ghouls than you can shake a smoking .45 automatic at.

Savage Worlds is a great system for pulp-action and protagonists that are good at what they do. Deadlands Noir is a setting for Savage Worlds, meaning you’ll need the core rulebook in order to use it. The Deadlands setting as a number of books that relate to each-other, including a Weird West and a Hell on Earth setting. This means that this version of Noir includes a supernatural element, and the people behind any big upset could have magical powers. The setting itself is based on the New Orleans that often shows up in popular media, with hauntings and monsters turned up to 11. If you want something paranormal mixed up in your noir, this is the game for you!

Sword Noir 2e, by Sword’s Edge Publishing.

Imagine a barbarian prince embroiled in the criminal underworld of a cosmopolitan city as they seek for an artifact in the shape of a falcon statue. Consider two accomplished thieves—one an urbane duelist and the other a brawny skald—hired by a wealthy retired general to deal with a blackmailer, only uncover multiple murders tied to the general’s children. Envision hardboiled crime fiction in the worlds of sword & sorcery.

That’s Sword Noir.

The concept of Sword Noir is a combination of hardboiled fiction, the film noir it inspired, and sword & sorcery. The setting is noir while the characters are drawn from sword & sorcery tales. The PCs live in a world filled with injustice and apathy. Treachery and greed dominate and hope is frail. Violence is deadly and fast. The characters are good at what they do. They are specialists. Trust is the most valued of commodities—life is the cheapest. Grim leaders weave labyrinthine plots which entangle innocents. Magic is real and can be powerful, but it takes extreme dedication to learn, extorts a horrible price, and is slow to conjure.Now is the time for your characters to walk down mean streets, drenched in rain, hidden in fog, and unravel mysteries, murders, and villainy.

Sword Noir is probably the biggest step from the original noir trope, placing your characters in a fantasy world, far removed from technology like telephones or sleek cars. However, the corrupted city still lives and breathes here, full of ne’er-do-wells and shady characters. If you want to revel in noir tropes but play with the setting a little, maybe try out Sword Noir 2e.

Noir World, by John Adamus.

WALK THESE STREETS. TELL YOUR STORY. MAKE YOUR MOVIE.

It’s raining. The alleys are as dark as the streets. You’ve entered a world where light and dark mix with gray and the unknown, where your past collides with your present and future, and it’s safe to assume everyone’s out for themselves.

It’s the stuff dreams are made of, it’s the stuff of old movies, classic movies. Great stories.

This is Noir World. And this is your world and your Movie now. Your story is worth telling, even though it’s not going to be pretty. You might not make it out alive, but it’ll be one hell of a ride.

It’s true what they say: the City is full of stories, and not all of them have happy endings.

As a PbtA game, Noir World calls back to Apocalypse World, Monsterhearts, and The Sprawl as sources of inspiration. This means that you’ll be building your setting together, using noir tropes as guides to construct the story you want to tell. If this game is anything like its’ predecessors, the primary thing you’ll be focusing on is relationships; what do your characters mean to each-other, and how do those relationships affect their ability to get what they want?

Fedora Noir, by Less Than Three Games.

In Fedora Noir, you create the story of a flawed private investigator in the style of a film noir. Players take on the roles of the Detective, their Partner, their Flame – and their Hat, the Detective’s sharp mind and inner voice. Together, players explore the Detective’s messy life against the backdrop of a difficult case.

In Fedora Noir, two players share control of the story’s main character: the Detective and the Hat.

The Detective role-plays a private eye on a case, narrating their actions and speech. But here’s the catch – the person role-playing the Detective doesn’t get to say what they think. That’s the Hat’s job. The other two main characters – the Partner and the Flame – provide the Detective with personal relationships. People to care about… or disappoint.

Fedora Noir is a game for exactly four players. It takes the form of a deck of cards, which provide prompts and references to help you navigate the story - great for folks who don’t want to keep track of character sheets. There’s a whole bunch of settings included - and if you want the art deco style, then the New Hudson setting is made for you. Each city comes with a piece of art to set the mood, a list of locations you can choose to visit, and a cast of characters that may be getting involved in the case. You also choose a Case card to represent the Detective’s mission, Actor cards to help you depict what your detective looks like, and a series of chapter cards that will bring you through the narrative beats of a detective novel.

Other Games to Check Out...

Hardboiled, by Fat Goblin Games.

Noire: Elle Est, Elles Sont, by Ursidice.

Nitrate City, by Evil Hat.

[arrghigiveup]

How easy is it to fudge your scientific rank? Meet Larry, the world’s most cited cat

-Christie Wilcox

Reposting whole text cos paywall:

Larry Richardson appeared to be an early-career mathematician with potential. According to Google Scholar, he’d authored a dozen papers on topics ranging from complex algebras to the structure of mathematical objects, racking up more than 130 citations in 4 years. It would all be rather remarkable—if the studies weren’t complete gibberish. And Larry wasn’t a cat.

“It was an exercise in absurdity,” says Reese Richardson, a graduate student in metascience and computational biology at Northwestern University. Earlier this month, he and fellow research misconduct sleuth Nick Wise at the University of Cambridge cooked up Larry’s profile and engineered the feline’s scientific ascent. Their goal: to make him the world’s most highly cited cat by mimicking a tactic apparently employed by a citation-boosting service advertised on Facebook. In just 2 short weeks, the duo accomplished its mission.

The stunt will hopefully draw awareness to the growing issue of the manipulation of research metrics, says Peter Lange, a higher education consultant and emeritus professor of political science at Duke University. “I think most faculty members at the institutions I know are not even aware of such citation mills.”

As a general rule, the more a scientific paper is cited by other studies, the more important it and its authors are in a field. One shorthand is the popular “h-index”: An h-index of 10 means a person has 10 papers with at least 10 citations each, for instance.

Inflating a researcher’s citation count and h-index gives them “a tremendous advantage” in hiring and tenure decisions says Jennifer Byrne, a cancer researcher at the University of Sydney. It also drives the business model of shady organizations that promise to boost your citations in exchange for cash. “If you can just buy citations,” Byrne says, “you’re buying influence.”

Enter Larry the cat. His tale began a few weeks ago, when Wise saw a Facebook ad offering “citation & h-index boosting.” It wasn’t the first promo he and Richardson had seen for such services. (The going rate seems to be about $10 per citation.) But this one linked to screenshots of Google Scholar profiles of real scientists. That meant the duo could see just which citations were driving up the numbers.

The citations, it turned out, often belonged to papers full of nonsense text authored by long-dead mathematicians such as Pythagoras. The studies had been uploaded as PDFs to the academic social platform ResearchGate and then subsequently deleted, obscuring their nature. (Wise and Richardson had to dig into Google’s cache to read the documents.) “We were like, ‘Wow, this procedure is incredibly easy,’” Richardson recalls. “All you have to do is put some fake papers on ResearchGate.”

It’s so easy, Wise noted at the time, that a quickly written script to pump out plausible-sounding papers could make anyone highly cited—even a cat. “I don’t know if he was being serious,” Richardson says. “But I certainly took that as a challenge.” And he knew just the cat to beat: F.D.C. Willard. In 1975, theoretical physicist Jack Hetherington added his Siamese to one of his single-author papers so the references to “we” would make more sense. As of this year, “Felis Domesticus Chester Willard” has 107 citations.

To break that record, Richardson turned to his grandmother’s cat Larry. In about an hour he created 12 fake papers authored by Larry and 12 others that cited each of Larry’s works. That would amount to 12 papers with 12 citations each, for a total citation count of 144 and an h-index of 12. Richardson uploaded the manuscripts to a ResearchGate profile he created for the feline. Then, he and Wise waited for Google Scholar to automatically scrape the fake data.

On 17 July, Larry’s papers and 132 citations appeared on the site. (Google Scholar failed to catch one spurious study, Wise notes.) And, thus, Larry became the world’s most highly cited cat. “I asked Larry what his reaction was over the phone,” Richardson told Science. “I can only assume he was too stunned to speak.”

Although Larry’s profile might seem obviously fake, finding manipulated ones usually isn’t easy, says Talal Rahwan, a computer scientist at New York University Abu Dhabi. Earlier this year, he and Yasir Zaki, a computer scientist at the same institution, and their colleagues scanned more than 1 million Google Scholar profiles to look for anomalous citation counts. They found at least 114 with “highly irregular citation patterns,” according to a paper posted in February on the arXiv preprint server. “The vast majority had at least some of their dubious citations from ResearchGate,” Zaki says.

ResearchGate is “of course aware of the growing research integrity issues in the global research community,” says the company’s CEO, Ijad Madisch. “[We] are continually reviewing our policies and processes to ensure the best experience for our millions of researcher users.” In this case, he says, the company was unaware that citation mills delete content after indexing, apparently to cover their tracks—intel that may help ResearchGate develop better monitoring systems. “We appreciate Science reporting this particular situation to us and we will be using this report to review and adapt our processes as required.”

Google Scholar removed Larry’s citations about 1 week after they appeared, so he has lost his unofficial title. However, his profile still exists, and the dubious citations in the profiles that were in the advertisement remain. So, “They haven’t fixed the problem,” Wise says. Google Scholar did not respond to requests for comment.

It’s not the first time somebody has manipulated Google Scholar by posting fake papers. In 2010, Cyril Labbé, a computer scientist at Grenoble Alpes University, invented a researcher named Ike Antkare (“I can’t care”), and made him the sixth most cited computer scientist on the service by posting fake publications to Labbé institutional website. “Impersonating a fake scientist in a cat is very cute,” Labbé says. “If it can be done for a cat, it can easily be done for a real person.”

For that reason, many researchers would like to see less emphasis on h-index and other metrics that have “the undue glow of quantification,” as Lange puts it. As long as the benefits of manipulating these systems outweigh the risks and costs, Wise says, people are going to continue to try to hack them. “How can you create a metric that can’t be gamed? I’m sure the answer is: You can’t.”

[robo-sleuths-robot-detectives]

ROBO SLEUTHS: FAQ

Will update with the things people ask a LOT about the Robo Sleuths, plus a few extra questions I can easily answer.

1. What is Robo Sleuths: Robot Detectives?

According to the RSRD community: "Enid is an optimistic and spunky go-getter who has been in a very deep rut recently. She hasn't been able to get a job as an entertainer, she's been very close to getting kicked out of her property (twice), her alcohol problem hasn't been getting any better, and, oh yeah, she still secretly thinks the robot thing sucks. But recently, she's been presented with a new opportunity: a chance to work as a paid detective for an anonymous source, if she can solve a case. Given she took a crime course in college she sees this as a great opportunity to gather her life together. In her newfound career, she encounters a plethora of sleuths, including a human-like yet pessimistic computer, a quiet robot with a secret past life, a threatening interviewer with a wide-eyed stare, and a guy there just for the benefits. But the deeper she goes into this crime rabbit hole, the more she uncovers about the shady town- and perhaps the robot business itself."

2. Who are the characters?

I'll be honest... I need to make a document for that; there are quite a few of them. But you can check out the "robo sleuths: robot detectives" tag for a start! (To find all the posts you may need to scour the "robosleuths" and "robotdetectives" series tags as well.)

3. Are Enid and Rodney married?

No, Enid and Rodney are not married in canon. The drawing I made is for an AU, which was stated just below the cut but which I really should've put above it. They do have an on-and-off situationship for the most part, though.

4. Is Rodney cool/Does he pull?

...no.

5. What's with the robots?

(I have started calling them robos to distinguish them from pure robots but) The robos are humans that have been turned into machines for various reasons, including appearance or medical reasons! The robots, on the other hand, are wholly machine/AI.

6. What is the series' age rating?

Currently, the series is rated 14+ or TV-14 DLSV (though I'm uncertain whether to keep the language part as I don't tend to swear with these projects). As I develop the series, though, it may be a little more mature and get a TV-MA rating (17+)... time'll tell.

7. How do I find a specific character?

Besides the tabs on the website version, you'll be able to find a character by searching for #robo sleuths [character name]. Keep in mind not all characters and posts are tagged yet!

[fycarmensandiego]

Word Detective lore

Compiled here for your reading pleasure, the six lore-related stories from the MicroPix activity in Word Detective and their accompanying images. Each one exists in three slightly different versions, for each of the three levels of the game. (They are reproduced with all of their grammar and punctuation mistakes, however ironic.)

Notably, if we compare the different versions, it seems Chase's original name was Dexter Detroit, and the Babble-On Machine was called the Babble-On and On.

Stone Stumps Sleuths!

Stone Stumps Sleuths! (A newspaper article written several years ago) ATHENS, Greece - The long search for the Prometheus Rock ended yesterday. No one was able to find it. People have searched for this mysterious rock for hundreds of years. Some believe it has strange powers. ACME's top secret agents, Chase Devineaux and Carmen Sandiego, were seen snooping around Athens recently. Sources say that Sandiego was angry and upset that the magical rock did not turn up.

Stone Stumps Sleuths! (A newspaper article written several years ago) ATHENS, Greece - The search for the famous Prometheus Rock ground to a halt yesterday, after investigators were unable to confirm local sightings. "But it was right here!" said Cyrus Cyrus, local sandalmaker. The rock, a prehistoric stone with supernatural powers, has been sought for centuries. ACME's top secret agents, Chase Devineaux and Carmen Sandiego, were seen snooping around Athens recently. The agents are believed to be seeking the stone. Sources say that Sandiego appeared to be angry and upset that the stone was left unturned.

Stone Stumps Sleuths! (A newspaper article written several years ago) ATHENS, Greece - The search for the Prometheus Rock ended abruptly yesterday after the latest location findings proved inconclusive. "But I saw it right here!" said Cyrus Cyrus, local sandalmaker. Sought for centuries, the rock is believed to possess supernatural and possibly dangerous powers, and has been the subject of heated debate since local sightings were reported. Though many fear the rock could fall into criminal hands, ACME denies rumors that it already has. The agency's top secret agents, Chase Devineaux and Carmen Sandiego, were spotted snooping around Athens recently. Sources say that Sandiego appeared to be angry and upset that the stone was left unturned.

A memo from The Chief

To: All ACME Agents From: The Chief Top secret news! Former star agent Carmen Sandiego has begun a life of crime! Agent Dexter Detroit reported seeing Sandiego with some shady characters during the top-secret Igneous case. She may now have valuable information about the Prometheus Rock. Agent Detroit did not take part in Sandiego's criminal actions. However, because Sandiego knows all about Detroit's plans, he may have to conduct his future missions in secrecy.

A memo from the desk of The Chief - Top secret! Former star agent Carmen Sandiego has begun a life of crime! Agent Devineaux reported that Sandiego jumped ship during the latest top-secret case, code-named "Igneous." Devineaux observed Sandiego speaking with several shady characters. "And they weren't talking about the weather, either," Devineaux stated. He believes she has obtained valuable information about the Prometheus Rock. Agent Devineaux has been cleared of all wrongdoing in this matter. However, due to Sandiego's thorough knowledge of his plans and strategies, Devineaux may conduct his future missions in utmost secrecy.

To: All ACME Agents From: The Chief Top secret! Star agent Carmen Sandiego has defected to the left side of the law. After a lengthy debriefing, Agent Devineaux confirmed that Sandiego jumped ship midway through the top-secret Igneous case. Devineaux had no explanation for her behavior, though he reportedly observed Sandiego speaking privately with several suspicious characters. "And they weren't talking about the weather, either," Devineaux remarked. Devineaux believes Sandiego may have obtained valuable information pertaining to the Prometheus Rock. Agent Devineaux has been cleared of any and all wrongdoing in this matter. However, due to Sandiego's detailed knowledge of his tactical strategies, Devineaux's retreat into deep cover is being carefully considered.

Chase's journal

A page from the journals of Chase Devineaux. A long while ago, I worked for ACME. Carmen and I were the best detectives in the business. Then she left ACME for a life of crime, and I went undercover. Now ACME needs my help with the Babble-On case. Luckily, I have special equipment for the job. I have a coat that turns into a hang glider and a neat tool that helps me breathe underwater! Signing off, Chase.

An entry from the journals of Chase Devineaux. I've been undercover for such a long time now, I don't even remember what it was like to be an ACME agent. When Carmen turned to a life of crime, I left ACME and went undercover to solve some very dangerous and mysterious cases. I no longer have any official contact with ACME, but they'll need my help with this Babble-On case. Luckily, I planned ahead and designed some new equipment. My trench coat turns into a hang glider, my bow tie converts into an underwater breathing tool and my brand-new S.Q.U.E.E.Z.E. technology will shrink anything! Signing off, Chase.

An excerpt from the journals of Chase Devineaux. It's been so long now that I barely remember what it was like to be an ACME agent. When Carmen turned to a life of crime, I left ACME and went undercover to solve some very dangerous and mysterious cases. I have no official contact with ACME. Although, unofficially they call me all the time. And they'll need my help with this Babble-On case. Luckily, I planned ahead and started designing my equipment. Now my trench coat turns into a hang glider at the click of a switch, my bow tie converts into an underwater breathing device, and my new S.Q.U.E.E.Z.E. technology is ready to go. What a gadeget! It'll shrink anything. I'm going to try it out on some of my bulkier items tomorrow. Signing off, Chase.

A memo from Carmen

From: Carmen Sandiego To: My V.I.L.E. Villains Re: The chase is on! Chase Devineaux is on to us! Be careful, villains! Devineaux is a top-notch detective. I know this because we were ACME's best agents a long time ago. He's very clever and once caught three thieves with his hands tied behind his back. He's talented too, and can read books in over 20 languages. Don't let him or Agent 13 sneak up on you!

From: Carmen Sandiego To: My V.I.L.E. Villains Re: The chase is on! Chase Devineaux is on the Babble-On trail! He's a dangerous foe and I should know. We were once partners in crime-fighting and ACME's best agents. He's very shrewd and quite talented. He once captured three thieves while walking a highwire with his hands tied behind his back. He can survive in the wilderness eating grubs and leaves. He can read anything from Braille to Sanskrit. I believe he discovered a comet. Guard your keys well and don't let Devineaux or Agent 13 sneak up on you!

From: Carmen Sandiego To: My V.I.L.E. Villains Re: The chase is on! Alerting all vllains! My nemesis and ex-partner in crime-fighting is on the Babble-On trail! Don't be fooled by his nice-guy guise, this man should be taken very seriously. He has more tricks up his sleeve than a birthday party magician. He's tough and clever and even I am impressed with his talents. He once captured three thieves while walking a highwire with his hands tied behind his back. He can survive in the wilderness eating grubs and leaves. He can read anything from Braille to Sanskrit. He discovered a comet. And, I suspect he knows over 30 Inuit words for snow. Guard your keys carefully villains - and don't let Chase Devineaux or Agent 13 sneak up on you!

A memo from Chase

To: The Chief From: Chase Devineaux Re: The official Babble-On report Description: The Babble-On Machine scrambles words and could destroy communication. Classification: Very dangerous! Background: Carmen was always very good at breaking secret codes. She designed the Babble-On with help from the loony engineer, Dr. Lispus. Current Status: Carmen captured twelve of my agents and she may be testing the Babble-On on them. She could use the machine all over the world, unless Agent 13 can stop her!

To: The Chief From: Chase Devineaux Re: The Babble-On Machine Description: This language-scrambling unit could completely destroy all forms of communication. Classification: Extremely dangerous! Background: Carmen's interest in words and language began at ACME where she was a genius at breaking secret codes. Carmen designed the Babble-On with help from Dr. Lispus, the famous linguist, engineer, and loony. Some believe it contains a cornerstone from the original Tower of Babel. Current Status: I've lost communication with twelve of my agents. Carmen could be using them to test the Babble-On. My research shows she plans to use the machine all over the world, unless Agent 13 can stop her!

To: The Chief From: Chase Devineaux Re: The Babble-On and On Description: This language-scrambling technology could potentially destroy all known forms of communication. Classification: Considered extremely hazardous! Background: Carmen's interest in words and language goes back to her days at ACME, where she excelled in deciphering codes and anagrams. Carmen designed the Babble-On with the assistance of the famous Dr. Lispus, deranged linguist and engineer. Some believe it contains a cornerstone from the original Tower of Babel. Current Status: I've already lost communication with twelve of my agents; Carmen could be using them to test the Babble-On. My field research indicates she's planning to expand the machine's range to a global scale, unless Agent 13 can stop her!

A letter from Otto Readmore

A letter from a V.I.L.E. villain to his Mom. Dear Mom, I got a great job! I work for V.I.L.E. now. My new boss is Carmen Sandiego! Remember her? She was on the cover of Crime Magazine. She was wearing a bright red hat and trench coat. Our newest project is really interesting. We're planning to steal words and scramble all kinds of communication everywhere. Not bad for a beginner, huh? Your Baby, Otto Readmore

A letter from a V.I.L.E. villain to his Mom. Dear Mom, Guess what! I got a job! I'm now a proud member of V.I.L.E. My boss is the world-famous Carmen Sandiego. Remember her? You saw her on the cover of Crime Magazine. She was wearing that red hat and trench coat you liked. Carmen always steals the most incredible things. The project we're working on is a real learning opportunity for me. We're planning to steal language and scramble all forms of communication everywhere. Not bad for a petty criminal, huh? Your Pride and Joy, Otto Readmore

A letter from a V.I.L.E. villain to his Mom. Dear Mom, Guess what! I got a terrific job! My new boss is the most incredible thief ever, and she's about to become the greatest criminal mastermind of all time. That's right! I work for V.I.L.E., and I report directly to the notorious Carmen Sandiego. Remember her? She recently graced the cover of Crime Magazine. She was wearing that crimson hat and trench coat you admired. Carmen always goes after the most extraordinary things - items that would be impossible for anyone else to swipe. I don't know how she does it. Now we're planning to steal language and scramble all forms of communication. Not bad for a petty criminal, huh? Your Pride and Joy, Otto Readmore

[alterchaos]

SUPER SLEUTHS

It all began one bright summer day at the home of the Mobius' greatest detectives...

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: INSECURITY

NEXT CHAPTER: DYSFUNCTION

Upon a hillside beyond the woods of South Island sat a house, its shingles ever so slightly peeled yet never truly falling from their roof. The plaster walls were cracked in various places, though filled and patched with love. Summer sun beams bounced off the rounded, maroon door, beyond which the home’s owner sat joyously listening to the music from his headphones. The scaly Mobian’s head bopped to each jazzy beat as his flowing, red locks rested on his folded hands from behind his long neck. A cheap fan whirred overhead, providing some cool air and circulation that balanced perfectly against the heat of the season. It was a moment in which everything felt peaceful and right in the world.

…

…

And then that moment ended.

“VECTOOOOORRR!!!!!”

The crocodile continued to bop.

“HEY VECTOOORRR!!!”

He didn’t have a care in the world.

“...”

The bee grabbed the crocodile’s headphones, pulling away one ear before shouting.

“VECTOORRRR!!!!!”

“GAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!” The detective in question nearly jumped out of his scales, “CHARMY!!!” He grabbed the small bee by the wings, “WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT PULLING OFF MY HEADPHONES!!?”

Charmy held up a finger as he recited his lesson, “Only on detective duty…”

Vector sighed, “That’s right. Now, if you don’t mind, I would like to get back to my sick detective beats.” He let go of the bee, leaning back in his chair as he readjusted his headphones.

“But Vector, there’s this strange man outside who’s clearly Eggman and-!!!”

“Mmhm uh huh…Eggman…” He began to bop once more before suddenly jolting and pulling off his headphones, “WAIT, DID YOU SAY ‘EGGMAN’!!?”

“Yeah! He’s outside in this REALLY shady disguise and wants in!!”

“Espio.”

The chameleon in question appeared in a flash, “On it. I’ll observe him and report any hidden weapons or traps.” With that, he disappeared once more.

After a few minutes that seemed to drag on for hours between the two detectives, the third returned, confirming that the dangerous man outside was, thankfully, unarmed. As a result, Vector decided to let him inside on the condition that Espio remained invisible and ready for arrest. Once he had, the three detectives acted oblivious to the man’s true identity, gathering as much information as possible while offering the evil doctor their highest level of hospitality. If not for his despicable ways, Vector might have possibly enjoyed the unwelcome company. To his surprise, Eggman was actually very cordial and carried a high amount of class. 

Still…he was Eggman…

Not exactly welcome company for anyone on Mobius…

The mad doctor, ‘disguised’ in a classic trench coat and fedora, informed The Chaotix of a fake doctor impersonating his geniu-NO-UH-the evil Dr. Eggman (Boooo!). This faker was none other than one of his earliest robot models named Metal Sonic, rebuilt after that BLASTED hedgeho-SONIC beat it out of commission on Little Planet nearly five years ago. This latest model was upgraded with nanotechnology, which allowed the badnik to shapeshift into those it came into physical contact with during battle. Such meticulous programming was a failsafe to prevent any sort of uprising, however, it was not enough to prevent the robot from easily taking control. With a simple punch, the robot had copied the doctor’s form and used his image to usurp power, taking control of the doctor’s fleet and vowing to destroy Mobius once and for all. 

It then claimed the identity, ‘Neo’, and took on a will of its own.

Its motives, however, remained unknown to all, including the genius doctor sitting before the scaly detective.

…

…

“Espio! NOW!!!”

The ninja appeared quickly, tackling the mad doctor. In a matter of minutes, he was taken into custody in South Island’s prison, no longer able to pose a threat to the people the detectives knew and loved.

Now, with that settled, The Chaotix made haste in their quest to take down Neo Metal.

They were Mobius’s only hope…

“Yeah but…what about Sonic?”

The crocodile jolted, not realizing he’d been narrating out loud to the traveling group.

He cleared his throat nervously, “Eh! Erm! Well! Y-You see…Sonic is just always so busy being Mobius’s greatest hero! H-He wouldn’t have time for something as small as world domination!”

The group stared at Vector deadpan.

“W-Well! Who knows! Maybe we’ll run into him on our adventure!”

“...”

Eve remained silent, staring ahead blankly with folded arms.

“...”

Vector watched her, taking note of her somewhat guilty expression.

“Hmm…”

“Vector? What is it?”

“...” The crocodile turned back ahead, “Nothing, Charmy…Just thinking…”

“Ooh…What abou-?”

“We’re here.”

Team Chaotix halted their tracks, taking in the sight of the massive base before them surrounded by canyons and rails. 

Vector’s gaze grew intense, “Stay sharp, gang. Neo could be anywher-”

“WATCH OUT, VECTOR!!!”

“-!!!”

The crocodile leapt backwards at the girl’s warning, dodging an upper slash from the metallic puddle below.

“Phew! Thanks, kiddo! You have a sharp eye!”

“FOOLS. YOU. DARE. TO. FOLLOW. ME. HERE. TO. MY. BASE.?”

Neo appeared, everyone drawing their weapons as they stood protectively before the girl with the golden hair, her fright at the menacing robot’s presence not lost on anyone.

“Espio, stay close to Eve and draw his fire. Charmy, you’re with me.”

“Roger.”

“On it.”

“...”

The crocodile and bee charged the sinister badnik, Espio leaping before the human and deflecting any projectile attacks. In a matter of moments, Neo was pinned, Vector using his immense jaw to bite into and tear some of the non-vital circuitry from his arm. Metal screamed, Charmy only adding to his agony as he stung the robot’s hand, causing a few wires to spark as they broke free. 

“DAMMIT. NOT. HERE.!!!”

“KEEP AT HIM, CHARMY!!! DON’T LET UP!!!”

“...”

For once, Eve was thankful to have backup.

“...”

And yet, she still felt as though she didn’t deserve it.

“...”

She…needed to do bette-

“ESPIO, LOOK OUT!!!”

“-!!?”

The girl with the golden hair snapped out of her thoughts momentarily just in time to catch sight of a duplicate Neo appear from the ground below the chameleon.

TAPTAPTAPTAP-

She leapt at him, pushing him out of the way of the oncoming attack.

“-!!!”

The second Neo aimed his blade at her defenseless figure.

“EVE, GRAB ON!!!”

Espio threw a kunai attached to a grappling rope past her face, the girl with the golden hair barely able to grab hold and be pulled to safety before Neo’s could strike. Espio caught her, holding her safely against his figure as his back hit the ground below.

“GNH!!!”

“OH NO, ESPIO!!! ARE YOU OKA-!!!?”

Eve winced as a sharp pain shot through her leg, rendering her unable to move or respond. Neo leapt at the two of them once more, Espio throwing his kunai in response. This time, it was a perfect hit, causing the duplicate robot to collapse into a puddle of nanites instantaneously. The two teammates remained on the ground as they caught their breath, Vector making quick work of the main body before it could duplicate once more.

Except this one disappeared into a puddle as well.

“GRRRRRR!!! WHERE DID HE-!!?”

“BAH! JUST LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO MY PRECIOUS CREATION!!!”

“Huh?”

Every member of Team Chaotix turned towards the doors of the base as a familiar figure stepped outside.

“EGGMAN!!?”

Vector paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing.

“Wait…how did you escape prison?”

“...”

“...”

“...”

Eggman smiled.

“Why, with my own genius of course!”

“...” 

Vector continued to watch him.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The mad doctor walked towards the group…

Tap. Tap. Tap.

He slowly walked towards the girl standing in the ba-

WHAM!!!

“GAH!!!”

‘Eggman’ looked up at the ferocious crocodile in fear as he growled.

“Give it up! We know your tricks!”

Espio jolted as he felt a sudden presence, drawing his kunai once more in response, “Everyone stay sharp! There’s something fast approachin-!!”

FWOOSH!

Everyone froze as the sudden gale died down.

“Huh?”

The trio of detectives jolted, shouting in unison.

“SONIC THE HEDGEHOG!!?”

“...”

The girl began to sweat as her best friend stared her down in confusion and hurt.

“Eve…?”

TO BE CONTINUED…

[black-wolf066]

So, last night I was sitting and half paying attention to some British PI show my family member was watching, and suddenly I was hit with another idea for a Billy/OC story (I have too many to count at this point). I'm unsure if someone has already done it or not, but I figured I’d share the basics of the idea with you all. Might even flesh this out (and possibly write it) later?

I'm taking inspiration from the shows I've watched, like Psych, Lucifer, and Brooklyn 99. 

The story is AU, in the fact that Billy and OC (still thinking of a name for her) are in their late twenties. It will also be an AU in which the ending of season 3 went differently, where Billy wasn't stabbed like a shish-kabob and therefore survived the whole thing--plus no season 4 or 5 events. (Though that could be a later thing where OC gets introduced to the supernatural elements and realizes Billy's scars on his hands and sides aren't from a shark attack like he'd told her when she finally got the courage to ask him)

OC has a small but established Private investigator business in San Diego. At the moment, 90% of her cases are mostly cheating spouses and other low tier crimes or hunting down family members, etc. Occasionally, she's a private consultant for the SDPD, where her childhood friend, Rachel, works as a detective, but for the most part, OC usually is off working on her own. 

How she meets Billy is through a favor to Rachel, whose cousin thinks her husband is cheating on her. The cousin is not a millionaire or anything, but the family is still really well off, and Billy is their pool boy and private swimming instructor for their 3 kids. 

She meets Billy through a party the cousin and husband are having for the company he works for. Rachel is invited, and in turn, she brings along OC so she can mingle, sleuth, and scope out the potential suspects easier. Billy is usually invited to a lot of their parties, mostly just in case something happens with the pool. So, as OC is doing her thing, Billy--who'd never seen her face among most of the familiar faces that frequent these parties and had been watching her most of the night--approaches her. 

Long story short, the husband isn’t cheating at all—but being pressured into some pretty shady stuff by his CEO’s sister—who has blackmail on him (pictures taken through an elaborate set up to trap him). Billy ends up getting involved with helping her in her case since he’s at the mansion working 4 days a week and can gather more intel for her.

In the end Rachel’s department also gets involved the more that OC and Billy dig up, finding a whole operation of shady stuff. When the case gets solved, OC doesn’t really stay in contact with Billy, but she does note that she spots him more out and about around the city when she’s working, now that she knows his face. They bump into each other a lot, too, to the point they develop a friendship (so this will more likely be a slow burn romance). It isn’t until Billy bumps into her while she’s working on another case that Billy starts helping her more frequently. Billy’s natural charm and flirty behavior makes getting information so much easier (case in point with his help when she was shot down, but he wasn’t), and he’s willing to offer his services. Plus, Billy’s just as good at looking at things from outside the box, so she hires him to help when he isn’t busy working his other job.

((Again, this isn’t fleshed out, and there are more things I want to figure out with it, like backgrounds for OC and Billy, and a name for OC, but for now this is the idea!))

[ashknife]

Mob Psycho 100, Episode 4:

Reigen is a jerk, but he has unintentionally insightful things to say.

The obvious theme of this episode is that many people who acknowledge Mob are out to use him for their own ends. What's interesting is that despite their selfish motives, they're also looking out for Mob. Dimple the spirit wants to use Mob as a stepping stone to become God but finds himself lecturing the boy on things to help him get by in life. Reigen wants to make the potential fame and fortune his business could bring in into a reality, but he also ends up imparting his street smarts onto Mob. Same with the Telepathy Club president. The reporter girl has a fascination for Mob's psychic powers and sees an opportunity, but her sleuthing skills are likely to become very important.

The Body Improvement Club? Right now, I think they are the best thing to happen to Mob. This club is a great example of good masculinity. Boys who strive to improve themselves and their fellow clubmates, even Shigeo Kageyama. They don't give him crap. They don't have shady ulterior motives. They work with him (notice the shot of them helping him learn how to do curls with a dumbbell of an appropriate weight), ensure his safety and well-being, and they rush to his defense when he's captured. They don't make a spectacle of fighting like the delinquents. They just want to get the job done and go home, and they would have if they were allowed to. And when it came time to throw down, they didn't back down or try to back out. There is a time to fight. Notice also how they surrounded Mob during the fight. They knew he's physically weak, but that didn't matter. He was their clubmate, and that was enough to warrant their protection and loyalty.

Another interesting dynamic is Mob and his brother. They both have incredible talents and abilities, but each find their own to be so normal and lackluster and instead desire what the other has. How human is that? It should make a lot of people squirm because we all do this.

I'm interested in seeing where this next fight goes. It seems Mob has some interesting charisma going on that has already drawn such a weird cast of characters.

[gender-goth]

DETECTIVE ID PACK

self - indulgent.

[PT: Detective ID Pack. self-indulgent /end PT]

Names

[PT: Names. /end PT]

Dean, Dee, Tec, Clu, Myst, Noir(e), Sher(lock), Watson, Holmes, Dex, Conan, Cleo, Vera, Vesta, Vesper, Indigo, Selma, Velma, Daphne, Dot / Dottie, Iris, Verity, Sylvia, Sylvi, Silver, Zero, Neil, Elmer, Adler, Scarlet, Locke, Harper, Sam, Blythe, Harley, Quinn, Jules, River(s), Darcie / Darcy, Nancy, Duncan, Augustus / Augustine, Darwin, Blanc, Columbus, Poe, Poirot

Pronouns

[PT: Pronouns. /end PT]

detect/detective, case/cases, file/files, evidence/evidences, myst/mystery, sleu/sleuth or sleuth/sleuths, noir(e)/noir(e)s, magni/magnifying, magnifying/glass, glass/glasses, clue/clues, invest/investigate, hypo/hypothesis, murder/murders, crime/crimes, scene/scenes, crime/scene, tape/tapes, solve/solves, stole/stolen, rob/robs, rob/robbery, private/privates, watch/watches, eye/eyes, see/sees, stake/stakes, stake/out

Titles

[PT: Titles. /end PT]

The Sly Detective, The Detective Of The Night, The Detective Who Works Hard To Solve Cases, The Detective Of Many Files, [Prn] Who Has Many Files On [Prns] Desk, The Coffee-Addicted Detective, [Prn] Who Stays Up All Night To Solve The Case, The Mystery Cracker, The Ace Detective, The Sluggish Detective, The Detective Who Dare Not Pass Up A Case, The Crime-Fighting Detective, The One Who Solves A Cold Case, The Prince Detective, The (In)Famous Detective, The Shadow Detective, The Two-Faced Detective, The Shady Detective, The Sinister Detective, [Prn] Who Slacks On Cases, The Seductive Detective, The Lady Detective, The Detective Who Works Quick, [Prn] Who Will Catch The Culprit, [Prn] Who Vows To Catch The Culprit, The Detective Who Wraps Up Loose Ends

Labels

Detectivegender, Noirfilmic, Detectivic, Deceptective, Detectiveprince, Detectilasleepic, Detectivix, Columbogender, Sleuthlexic, Nonniumgender, Thiex, Detectimysteric, Magnificoric, Detective Transmasc, Detective Femme, Detective Butch, Detective Aroace, Conanic, Happydetectic, Notecramic / Detectivey, Detectlita

*any titles with detective can be replaced with Investigator, Sleuth, Private, etc!

[flygonscales]

Cyber sleuth: hey so there’s people making sex dolls with scans of real life people as models and they’re using promises of ‘perfect girls’ to get people to ‘stay in their room permanently’, unknowingly uploading their consciousness to cyber space, leaving their physical bodies behind for shady organ trading

Also cyber sleuth: hey d’you wanna find a rare comic book with arata? :3

[vxctorx]

You have been invited to a charming soirée at the Trevor manor. The only catch is, someone has just been found dead, and everyone is a suspect.

A murder mystery rp group

Lord Howard Hawthorne aka the victim was Victor Trevor's business partner, but Victor isn't the only one with ties to the recently-deceased. Among the guests, there are those who could have played a key role in the murder, but there is only one killer. The Detective who is also attending the event has taken charge of the situation, and will not allow anyone to leave the manor's premises until the killer has been identified. At any rate, it's not as if the guests could run very far; the manor is set amongst acres worth of empty lands and fields in the Highlands, with the nearest village an hour's drive away. It's anyone's game when it comes to hiding personal motives and scrambling for alibis, in a bid to avoid being pinned for a coldblooded murder. Needless to say, it's going to be a very long night.

And here we have the key players.

ROLECALL;;

The Detective: The main sleuth, and close friend of the host, trying to tie the pieces of this grizzly murder together. To think they wanted the night off.

Status: FILLED Name: Sherlock Holmes @shxlmes File

The Music Conductor: The leader and piano accompaniment of the string quartet which has been entertaining the guests with delightful chamber music all evening. He also happens to be Victor Trevor's loving partner.

Status: FILLED Name: Peter Smith-Kingsley @pxnandqxll File

The "Happy" Couple: A pair of lovebirds who are deeply devoted to one another, or so people think. Perhaps behind their faithful façade, all is not as it seems. Rumor has it one of them has been fooling around with a certain Young Socialite for quite a while. Or was it a Femme/Homme Fatale?

Status: FILLED Name: Aislin McLeod @fantasiesandfolklore File Name: John Constantine, alias: Charles Jonathan Cavendish @seekingsolidground File

The Young Socialite: The young and carefree socialite who’s climbing up the social ladder, and perhaps even into certain beds; namely that of the man who was alive an hour ago. They feel like the world is theirs to claim and ready to risk it all.

Status: FILLED Name: Elijah “Remington” Floquet @exquisitexagony File

Femme/Homme Fatale: A sly seducer who can easily wrap any guest round their little finger.

Status: FILLED Name: Cecelia Holmes @consultingsister File

The Staff: Never discount the staff, as they have eyes and ears everywhere. They may even know more than the host himself.

Status: FILLED Name: Sakura Tsubaki @survivics File

The Secret Reporter: Closed parties be damned. What better place to get their next scoop?

Status: FILLED Name: Richard Oliver Mayhew @richardxoliverxmayhew File

The Red Herring: A shady character who is grey to their core. They don’t seem to care whether or not they make an enemy or two this evening.

Status: FILLED Name: Tom Ripley @retrograderesemblance File

The Lawful: The supposedly lawful character (i.e. a lawyer, soldier, judge or doctor) who harbors a secret from their shameful past they’re trying to hide.

Status: FILLED Name: Illya V. Kuryakin aka Isaiah V. Kress @siberianwarriors File

RULES;;

Once every role has been filled, all members (including myself) will be assigned a number. I will then run the numbers through a random number generator, and whichever number comes out will be that of The Killer, who will then be informed privately by me as to their secret role. IMPORTANT: The Killer shall not under any circumstances reveal their role to other members in or out of character, as this will only lead to their own downfall (i.e. you will be REMOVED from the group if you do this lol just be cool. You'd be ruining the whole point of the murder mystery otherwise).

Anyone can join; All Fandoms, Canons & OCs, as long as you regularly contribute to the group's threads in character. This is going to be a relaxed thing, but completely silent members will be replaced.

OOC Drama will get you removed from the group. No exceptions.

Duplicate Fcs are not welcome; it would make things far too confusing.

Group Verse Tag is V; The Manor Mystery Track for threads and updates.

[ceresfromnationstates]

What if Henry and Ezra came face to face?

One of the hardest images I've ever made.

Something I've recently thought of, but can't really articluate on the details of which.

The basic premise is that Henry, who has a substantial amount of knowledge regarding Ezra's shady businesses after doing some private sleuthing online, is going to bring him to justice one way or another, and all he needs is to do is to tie up Ezra and let the authorities find him and his note to them.

Aware that Ezra might also possess a firearm or two, he came prepared for the ocassion, while Ezra on the other hand, is caught completely off guard the night Henry paid him a surprise visit.

I don't have much else to think of, and I also don't want to spoil the rest of this What if? thought.

Ezra Jacob Corvidae belongs to @smoresthehalloweenqueen

[hypergamiss]

https://www.tumblr.com/hypergamiss/779310104427315200/why-would-a-man-show-interest-for-months-and

I did some internet sleuthing and found a wedding registry that was created around the same time he stopped talking to me. There’s no pictures of the couple up yet, but it has his name and some other woman I can’t find anything about. The wedding is in October. I don’t want to jump to conclusions because his first and last name bring up like 10 possible people all over the country, but his name is also pretty rare so it might be him.

It’s best for me to move on because I can’t change him or the scenario but why are they like this? 🙃 he was pursuing me consistently and I thought it was genuine.

Girl… not the wedding registry plot twist. This tea is boiling.

First of all, I’m so sorry. Emotional whiplash like that? Draining. You were over here vibing in what felt like a slow-burn romance, and he’s apparently out here guest-starring in a Hallmark wedding special you didn’t even audition for. The math is absolutely not mathing—but your instincts? Spot on.

You’re smart for not jumping to conclusions yet, especially with ten clones of his name floating around the internet like it’s the multiverse of mid. But let’s say it is him. The fact that he was consistently pursuing you while possibly planning a wedding? That’s not just shady—that’s a solar eclipse of disrespect.

So why are they like this? Honestly, it varies. Some men fall in love with the idea of romance—they live for the thrill, the flirtation, the ego boost. But when it comes to follow-through? Crickets. Others are too weak to leave relationships they’re miserable in, so instead of making hard decisions, they start side quests. Like… sir, who exactly is forcing you to stay? Blink twice if you’re being held hostage.

But here’s what he didn’t expect: you choosing peace, self-worth, and a life free of emotional debris. You’re not chasing mystery brides or begging for clarity—you’re sipping your water, glowing, and remembering that you were real in a situation that wasn’t.

The trash took itself out. It’s sad he couldn’t live up to the role he auditioned for—but you? You’re still the full package, no substitutions needed.

And for that, I applaud you. 👏💅

[sunnys-aesthetic]

Hello!

I'm not sure if you're still answering asks concerning your DCA Detective AU, so if you're not, feel free to ignore.

My question is: Who is this Pops? If I got it right, he's the boys' creator who died "due to health complications".

What was his relationship like with the boys, Eclipse especially? I assume there's some good stuff, as I remember you mentioning that Eclipse learnt some engineering skills from him, and decided to find out more behind his death (is that right? And that is what got him mad, infected, and a mafia boss in the first place?)

What is Pops' backstory? Is it something dark, that led to his death, like the past coming back to get him (what if he didn't die because of health issues but of something else and that was just a cover???).

And also...

Here to say that I really appreciate your work and art, I love the AUs you've come up with! Looking forward to seeing more of our favourite detectives and faes! And... this might be a bit of a sore topic, but I read the earlier ask about Sleuth Jesters and Naffeclipse. I feel so awed with how you handled it. I understand how people feel when something of theirs is used by another person, and even with credit they are not the more popular one. I don't think its my place to say this, but I'm proud with how you managed it. I don't know what goes on out of the phone, off the screen, but I admire your strength with this issue. It's great to know you're getting more recognition for this wonderful idea you brewed! And your art, scrumptious!

Of course, if all this makes you uncomfortable, you are welcome to ignore and delete.

Sending hugs <3

Woah! I just wanna say first and foremost: thank you for liking my stories and my characters! sorry it took me so long to respond, I have lots going on always all at once but since I’m taking today off to just unwind I’ve finally got a moment to type this up,

There’s toons of questions here to let me address them all!

1. Pops is indeed an old man who created sun, moon, and eclipse! Think of him as the Geppetto who created his own Pinocchio’s.

2. Pop’s story was definitely not dark at all, but it’s not to say he didn’t have some life struggles here and there. He was a mechanic, an engineer and a brilliant man, he simply wanted to show everyone bots could be taught just as humans can grow.

3. He was a very beloved man and mechanic in the small section of the city he lived in, basically everyone in the block and knew him or recommended his shop to get your repairs done at!

4. Im still undecided on his fate, but the gist of it was that pops discovered the mega corporation that was fazbear.co was doing shady business and human experimentation on their robots (along with some cold cases on various children) , and planned to tell his local paper, which he did! And while it gained traction, almost a month after a ‘accidental fire’ took place in his shop and it is assumed he died in it because his body wasn’t recovered. He just went missing :( along with any evidence that could incriminate the corporation.

5.eclipses and pops relationship was really close! they were family and eclipse saw him as a father figure :) . Eclipse became a detective, looked after his brothers and they kept the shop (they had to rebuild it) and was promoted to head chief , and sun and moon also grew up to be detectives, the best in their courses of course! Basically it was tough but things were actually starting to look bright and hopeful again.

Lastly, from the bottom of my heart thank you for your kind words. And I’m a little embarrassed honestly , I’ve never heard someone say they admire mE but//! Thank you!! (//`ー´//)

I’m giving you the biggest hug back!