#jacob cromwell

[dat-silvers-girl]

History often tends to repeat itself.

ft. Carewyn @carewyncromwell because we need the responsible friend also mom plz stop her

If I considered Jacob going blind actually canon, (I don't cuz it's a stupid plotline) then I think about how genuinely desperate Sarahi would be to heal him. And like Sebastian, she's willing to do just about anything. Dark magic would be fair game.

Funnily enough, the only thing stopping Sarahi from going down the rabbit hole of Dark Magic is that... she's an idiot.

Sebastian is a scholar and taught himself the Unforgivables. You know how much effort and genius that takes??? And then there's Sarahi... Fully dependent on Rowan, and later, on everyone else, to even understand what's written in basic textbooks because she doesn't have the braincells to process information. Someone will need to teach her unforgivables on purpose. And who would do that?

.

.

.

Rakepick. Yeah. Sarahi knows Crucio because Rakepick taught her. She's never used Crucio, but she does know it. Dammit Rakepick.

[uwmspeccoll]

Shakespeare Weekend

This weekend we are wrapping up Nicholas Rowe’s (1674-1718) The Work of Mr. William Shakespear; in Six Volumes. Published in London in 1709 by Jacob Tonson (1655–1736), this second edition holds an important place within Shakespearean publication history. The Work of Mr. William Shakespear; in Six Volumes is recognized as the first octavo edition, the first illustrated edition, the first critically edited edition, and the first to present a biography of the poet. 

Volume six is a collection of Shakespeare’s tragedies and comedies including several plays that are a part of the Shakespeare apocrypha that bear Shakespeare’s name, but do not appear in the First Folio and of which there is question about his role in writing them. Apocrypha in the sixth volume include Pericles Prince of Tyre, London Prodigal, Thomas Lord Cromwell, Sir John Oldcastle, The Puritan, A Yorkshire Tragedy, and Locrine. Volume six also includes confirmed Shakespearean plays Antony and Cleopatra and Cymbeline. 

A full-page engraving by the French Baroque artist and book illustrator François Boitard (1670-1715) and engraved by English engraver Elisha Kirkall (c.1682–1742) precedes each play. Boitard’s illustrations often place readers at the pinnacle of the plays depicting high drama in his classic Baroque style. 

In addition to Rowe’s editorial decisions to divide the plays into scenes and include notes on the entrances and exits of the players, he also normalised the spelling of names and included a dramatis personae preceding each play. The only chronicled critique of Rowe’s momentous editorial endeavor is his choice in basing his text on the corrupt Fourth Folio. 

View more volumes of The Works of Mr. William Shakespear; in Six Volumes here. 

View more Shakespeare Weekend posts. 

-Jenna, Special Collections Graduate Intern 

[carewyncromwell]

AHHHH, content for our favorite Tyrant!! 🖤🖤🖤 Oh, this was fascinating to read!!

As much as Rakepick was a terrible person for what she did to Duncan and Coby (and by extension Veruca), Rakepick's resentment toward Duncan's rapid rise to power and (arguable) nepotism in how he helps the people he cares about score top positions as well does make for a powerful motive. It makes me think all the more than when Duncan tapped Jacob as his right-hand man at the Court of Spades, Rakepick must've instantly disliked Jacob, especially considering how obviously devoted Jacob is to Duncan, and that she must've only turned around enough on him to consider recruiting him when she learned just how brilliant and therefore useful Jacob could be to her and the military. In a weird way, Rakepick's resentment at climbing the ladder of power seemingly being so "easy" for Duncan might also explain her soft spot for Carewyn too, since the Cromwells have so distinctly not had it easy; Carewyn has no explicit courtly ambitions, despite having great talent for it; and Carewyn's and Jacob's obsessive-level work ethic are so visibly obvious. (Plus Carewyn honestly acts and just flat-out looks like a mini Rakepick, so it's way too easy for Rakepick to see herself in Carey-Bear. XD) I might need to write some content about Jacob and Rakepick's first collision at court now!!

Loved learning more about your Cardverse Rakepick -- I look forward to learning more! I'm catching up on some Cardverse content I somehow missed out on, so expect more comments soon! ❤️

Undeserving

HPHM Cardverse Masterlist | Blog Masterlist

The Hogwarts Mystery Cardverse is an AU that takes place in a fantasy land called Cinderhaven. There are five regions, four of them representing a suit of cards; Spades, Clubs, Hearts, Diamonds. The final region representing the Jokers.

Here it is, finally! Rakepick's backstory and motive! I kept this one short since I didn’t plan to make her backstory too long, just a good enough description on why she’s the way she is. To put things simply, she’s mad because the newer official role holders are all younger than her and some were literally handed their positions on silver platters while she worked her damn butt off to get her position.

In the illustrious Country of Spades, where work flowed like the rivers and power lay in the hands of a select few, Patricia Rakepick was born into the esteemed House of Rakepick. From her earliest years, she was immersed in a world of privilege and expectation, the weight of her family's legacy pressing down upon her young shoulders like a suffocating cloak.

Raised within the imposing walls of her family's estate, Patricia's childhood was marked with rigorous education and training. Her parents, stern and unyielding, demanded nothing short of perfection from their daughter, instilling in her a relentless drive for excellence that burned bright within her.

But it was in the hallowed halls of the military academy that Patricia truly found her calling. She excelled in her studies, displaying an insatiable hunger for knowledge and a keen intellect that set her apart from her peers. Improving her skills in combat and strategy, driven by a burning desire to prove herself worthy of her family's legacy.

As she ascended through the ranks, Patricia's ambition knew no bounds. She set her sights on the coveted position of Ace of Spades, the highest rank in the country’s military hierarchy, a title reserved for only the most skilled commanders. Her prowess on the battlefield became legendary, her name whispered in awe and fear by those who knew of her exploits. But even as she carved out her place among the country’s elite soldiers, a shadow of resentment lingered in her heart.

Unlike Patricia Rakepick, who had clawed her way to the top through sheer force and will, Duncan Ashe had been handed his position on a silver platter, his ascent to becoming the next Jack of Spades was swift and seemingly effortless. Under the watchful eye of his mentor, Ulrich Scheller, the mastermind behind the country’s intricate web of finances and policies, Duncan had risen through the ranks with alarming speed, his youth and charm masking a cunning intellect that belied his years.

Even as he was still attending university, Duncan's influence within Ulrich's cabinet was already felt far and wide. His reports and recommendations were eagerly awaited by those in power, his insights and analysis proving invaluable in guiding the country through troubled times.

As Duncan was appointed the new Jack of Spades, another figure emerged from the shadows: Coby McQuaid, the king who never truly sought the crown. Coby's ascension to the throne was a twist of fate orchestrated by his closest friend and confidant, Duncan Ashe. Coby McQuaid never envisioned himself wearing the crown. His days were filled with adventure and laughter, not with the weighty responsibilities of rulership. Despite his initial reservations, Coby embraced his newfound position with characteristic optimism. He may not have been well-versed in the intricacies of governance, but he possessed a deep love for his people and a genuine desire to see them thrive.

As Patricia Rakepick's thirst for power intensified, so too did the darkness that lurked within her soul. Fueled by resentment and driven by ambition, she became a formidable force to be reckoned with in the Country of Spades. Overhearing the conversation between King Coby and Duncan about the possibility of adding Veruca McQuaid, Coby's sister, to the council only served to stoke the flames of Patricia's anger. In her eyes, it was yet another example of undeserving individuals being handed positions of power without earning them.

Determined to prove herself superior to Coby and Duncan, Patricia's ambition twisted into something darker and more insidious. She became ruthless and cunning, willing to cross any line to achieve her goals, no matter the cost. With each passing day, Patricia's thirst for power grew, consuming her from within like a relentless hunger. She manipulated events and people with calculated precision, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake.

But as she climbed the ladder of success, leaving a path of devastation in her wake, Patricia's grip on reality began to slip. The lines between right and wrong blurred, and she found herself teetering on the edge of madness. Yet, even as the darkness threatened to consume her, Patricia remained determined to claim her rightful place among the elite of Spades. For in a country where power was the ultimate currency and ambition the driving force behind every action, she would stop at nothing to emerge victorious.

As Patricia Rakepick's fame as a war hero grew, so did her influence within the Country of Spades. Leveraging her reputation and military prowess, she capitalized on the dissatisfaction brewing among the people regarding King Coby's laid-back nature and perceived ineffectiveness as a ruler.

With a shrewd understanding of political maneuvering, Patricia exploited Coby's relaxed style of governance as a potent weapon against him. She paid off news reporters to spread gossip about Coby's extravagant spending habits, painting him as out of touch with the needs of the common folk. The whispers of discontent among the council members and the general populace provided fertile ground for Patricia to sow seeds of dissent. As she positioned herself as a strong and decisive leader, contrasting sharply with Coby's perceived weaknesses, she garnered widespread support among the disillusioned masses.

Patricia's promise of swift and decisive action resonated with many, particularly those who longed for a return to old-school traditions and values. Veterans, in particular, rallied behind her banner, viewing her as a champion of stability and order in a time of uncertainty. Under Patricia's leadership, she demanded absolute loyalty from her supporters, particularly from her military forces. Those who dared to question her authority or stray from her path were swiftly dealt with, sent off to the metaphorical "gulag" as a warning to others.

While some embraced Coby’s vision for the future of Spades, others clung stubbornly to the past, resisting change and viewing Coby's carefree demeanor as a sign of weakness. Yet, as the winds of political upheaval swept through the country, it became increasingly clear that the days of Coby's reign were numbered, and the era of Patricia Rakepick's iron-fisted rule was on the horizon.

[chaosrisingverse]

CARMILLA CROMWELL, twenty

ALIAS | Lady Blood, Lady Carmilla / Lady Carmilla Cromwell

FAMILY | Jacob Charles Cromwell (father), Lily Cromwell (sister), (siblings tbh)

ENDGAME SHIP | Lysander Morbius and Zacarias ‘Zac’ Russell

ORIENTATION | bisexual, cis woman

POWERS / ABILITIES / EQUIPMENT

POWERS | Empathic Mind Control, Fangs, Hypnotism, Immunity To Sunlight, Regenerative Healing Factor, Shapeshifting, Superhuman Agility, Superhuman Reflexes, Superhuman Speed, Superhuman Stamina, Superhuman Strength, Superhumanly Acute Senses, Weather Manipulation (via Vampirism)

ABILITIES | Hand-to-Hand Combat (Basic)

EQUIPMENT | n / a

FACECLAIM | Bella (itsnotbella)

PINTEREST | Carmilla

[the-fiction-witch]

The Masterlist of Masterlists

House of the Dragon Characters :

Aegon Targaryen - LINK Areon Bracken - LINK Cregan Stark - LINK Davos Blackwood - LINK Daemon Targaryen - LINK Gwayne Hightower - LINK Jacaerys (Jace) Velaryon - LINK Lucerys (Luke) Velaryon - LINK Oscar Tully - LINK

Thomas Brodie Sangster Characters :

Adam Douglas (Lewis The Mind Has Mountains) - LINK Benny Watts (The Queens Gambit) - LINK No.1 & LINK No.2 Casey (Some Dogs Bite) - LINK Donald (Death Of A Superhero) - LINK Jack Dawkins (The Artful Dodger) - LINK No.1 & LINK No.2 & Mrs Dawkins Series Jake Murry (Accused) - LINK Jojen Reed (Game Of Thrones) - LINK Lampwick (Pinnochio) - LINK Malcolm Mclaren (Pistol) - LINK Newt (The Maze Runner) - LINK Nigel (Orbit Ever After) - LINK Paul McCartney (Nowhere Boy) - LINK Rafe Sadler (Wolf Hall) - LINK Romulus Augustus (The Last Legion) - LINK Samuel Brawne (Bright Star) - LINK Samuel Emmerson (My Left Hand Man / Phantom Halo) - LINK Sam (Love Actually) - LINK Simon Brown (Nanny McPhee) - LINK Thannisson (Star Wars Force Awakens) - LINK Timothy Latimer (Doctor Who) - LINK Whitey Winn (Godless) - LINK No.1 & LINK No.2

Finn Wolfhard Characters : Trevor Spengler (Ghostbusters) - LINK Mike Wheeler (Stranger Things) - LINK

Matt Smith Characters :

The 11th Doctor (Doctor Who) - LINK Daemon Targaryen (House Of The Dragon) - LINK Lucien / Milo Crown (Morbius)- LINK

Tom Holland Characters :

Gregory Cromwell (Wolf Hall) - LINK Nathan Drake (Uncharted) - LINK Peter Parker (MCU SpiderMan) - LINK

Eugene Simon Characters :

Jerome Clarke (House Of Anubis) - LINK Lancel Lannister (Game Of Thrones) - LINK

Isaac Hempstead Wright Characters :

Isaac Hempstead Wright - LINK Brandon Stark - LINK

Asa Butterfield Characters : Jacob Portman (MPHFPC) - LINK Willoughby Blake (Slaughter House Rulez) - LINK Otis Millburn (Sex Education) - LINK

Others :

Elrond (Rings of Power) - LINK

Viserys Targaryen (Game Of Thrones) - LINK

Anthony Lockwood (Lockwood & Co.) - LINK

Albert Atreides (Dune Prophecy) - LINK

Telemachus (EPIC The Musical) - LINK

[liesmyth]

Books of the month!!!

(for the past 3 months) (forgot to do this for February and March so they're all here)

April

Bring Up the Bodies, Hilary Mantel — MORE blorbo Thomas Cromwell! Unreliable narrator tortured evil meow meow goes VROOM!! Genuinely hilarious on top of it. More thots. Fave read of 2024 so far. READ IT.

Dimenticare Berlinguer: La sinistra italiana e la tradizione comunista, Miriam Mafai — Essays on Italian political history. Probably not relevant to tumblr's interests. Very relevant to mine.

Mademoiselle de Maupin, Théophile Gautier — Gender! 1835s epistolary novel with Gender and crossdressing and musings on the value of Beauty! I loved this but it's rambly in a period-typical way. The Italian translation has very witty pretty prose; no idea about the original French, but I've heard the English translation isn't great.

The Angel of Indian Lake, Stephen Graham Jones — Third book of a trilogy. Do rec only if you love Jade Daniels as much as I do. Otherwise, it might get a bit confusing. I DO enthusiastically rec the first book in the trilogy, My Heart Is a Chainsaw, so you will all come to love Jade Daniels as much as I do. You're welcome.

The Manicurist's Daughter, Susan Lieu — A memoir about grief and families and the immigrant experience (Vietnam to west coast US). It's not usually my wheelhouse but I appreciated so many things about it, especially because of the audiobook version. Nonspoilery goodreads review here.

March

Bride, Ali Hazelwood — I don't like werewolf tropes enough to have enjoyed this. Fun romp if you like mates and knots.

We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families, Philip Gourevitch — Nonfiction; a partial account of the Rwandan genocide. (I say partial bc I think it lacks context if you, like me, don't know much about the topic going in.) Very poignant, unfortunately remains relevant; do NOT go for the audiobook version because it's dull as dirt.

Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel — The book that blorbifies Thomas Cromwell and it's also laugh-out-loud funny. Do yourself a favour and read it.

February

Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronthe — somehow I'd never actually read this in English before? Absolute banger. The first half remains superior.

American Elsewhere, Robert Jackson Bennett — I have screamed about this on tumblr before. COSMIC HORRORS TAKE OVER NEW MEXICO TOWN! Do rec.

Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier — Amazing incredibly showstopping etc.

Clarkesworld, Issue 209 — Love me some cool sff short stories. Standouts: Lonely Ghosts (Meghan Feldman); The Enceladus South Pole Base Named after V.I. Lenin (Zohar Jacobs); Why Don't We Just Kill the Kid In the Omelas Hole (Isabel J Kim)

january books || let's be goodreads friends! here

[everafterhappily]

characters to come:

p.utrice ashmore (troll in human skin) ragweed r.ockhammer (dwarf rocking a woodblock) preston cromwell (pompous rich boy) jacob grizzwald (half-brother troll hunter) michael northcott (oc - stableboy for honeyhold) crumb (squire mouse eventually turned human and knight) belle beaumont (my take on belle from b.eauty and the beast)

[carewyncromwell]

"And when you get there, is it perfect?

And when you get there, is a family waiting for you?

I close my eyes and see them laughing,

Telling jokes, playing games,

All of it true...

How would they feel

If your friend James came along too?"

~"On Your Way Home" from James and the Giant Peach (musical)

x~x~x~x

inspired by this headcanon post by @barnabyjr! // fancasting Renan Pacheco as Orion and Diedre Hall as Lane Cromwell

x~x~x~x

Orion Amari was nervous. He would never have admitted it aloud if you'd approached him about it, but anyone who knew him well would be able to tell. Even Orion's daughter Eos, who was a mere toddler in age, had sensed it. She even climbed onto his feet and held onto his legs while he was looking himself over in the closest mirror, blinking her big black eyes up at him in concern and confusion without a word.

When Orion looked down at her, he offered her a smile.

"I must look strange to you, don't I, little Mooncalf?" he asked.

Eos pouted at him. With a chuckle, Orion brought a hand down to patiently pat her head.

"I understand," he said. "I look strange to my own eyes, as well."

Orion hadn't ever worn this shirt and suit jacket before. Even the leather oxfords he only remembered having worn once for a meeting as a Quidditch League representative to the Department of Magical Games and Sports. He had considered going out a second time to pick up a proper tie for the collar, but he decided against it. Wearing a collar alone was uncomfortable for Orion, even back at Hogwarts; buttoning it all the way up and putting a tie around it seemed akin to putting a dog collar and leash around his neck. But would wearing it open come across as disrespectful...?

Orion glanced at his reflection again, sighing through a tired smile.

"I'm completely off-balance, my little Mooncalf," he said amusedly.

Eos mirrored his smile with a brighter one of her own. After making sure she was holding onto his legs, Orion waddled across the room like a penguin, prompting Eos to start giggling.

"Ah, but meeting your romantic partner's mother," Orion mused. "The woman who raised her and who by all accounts loves her as dearly as her older brother...the second of whom you most unfortunately did not make a good impression on, when your paths collided...it's hard not to consider all outcomes. However optimistic you would like to be, based on what you've heard of the woman, as well as your Abraxan's own reassurance that she'll love you...when you really know nothing of mothers and only marginally more about parenting through first-hand experience...well, it's akin to a Niffler trying to track down a flower, isn't it? However strong his nose might be and however quickly he might move, he's still woefully unprepared to face the challenge before him."

Eos listened to her father only absently, instead entertaining herself by dangling off of his legs and giggling as he continued to carry her around. Orion finally came to a halt in front of the painted side table by the fireplace, where a potted bundle of purple flowers sat. He reached down to pick Eos up and scoop her into her arms.

"I know we are all our own worst critic, little Mooncalf," the Captain of the Montrose Magpies said with another sigh, "but I must confess, it's hard not to feel like I have a lot to prove. Especially since Carewyn and I have no intention whatsoever to marry or become a 'traditional' family, the way I'm quite sure Carewyn's mother must expect. Would Lane Cromwell be satisfied giving us her blessing, if she knew I never intend to garb her daughter in my name -- to declare Carewyn your new mother? Will she bare her fangs as her son did -- even her own brother did before her -- when I don't have any parents or siblings of my own to offer Carewyn?"

Eos didn't understand all of what Orion said, but the two-and-a-half-year-old girl could still tell he was unhappy. She shook her head, making her short black bob and ladybug barrettes flap around in the movement.

"Daaaad," she whined.

Her mouth twisted into a pout, Eos brought both of her tiny hands up onto her father's bearded face and tried to push the corners of his lips up into a smile. This made Orion bite back a soft chuckle. His face touched by a much more sincere smile, he leaned in and kissed the top of his daughter's head.

"All right, Mooncalf. No more storm clouds. Will you pick up our gift for me?"

He indicated the potted plant on the side table with a nod of his head. Eos beamed as she snatched up the plant, and Orion patted her head with a fond smile.

"Thank you. Now close your eyes and mouth, little one -- cinders and ash don't belong in either place."

With this, Orion carried Eos and the potted plant into the fireplace and took the Floo Network over to the flat of Skye Parkin. The Wigtown Wanderers' Star Chaser had agreed to babysit Eos during Orion's meeting.

~*~

Less than a half-hour later, Carewyn had Side-Along-Apparated with Orion to the remote little cottage belonging to Lane Cromwell. Orion was immediately struck by how quiet the house was -- there were only just enough natural sounds to keep it from being silent, such as a tea kettle whistling and the fire crackling in the fireplace, and no more. Even out the closest window Orion could just barely hear the twittering of a bird in a nearby tree.

A blackcap, by the sound of it, he thought absently.

"Mum?" Carewyn called into the house. "We're here!"

A very soft voice came from the next room. Orion couldn't make out what it had said, but Carewyn turned and smiled at him, clearly having understood it perfectly.

"Come on -- let's sit down and wait."

She steered Orion into the living room. As Orion approached the coach, he became aware of something walking beside him -- when he looked down, he found a ginger cat blinking up at him.

"Mrrow!" the cat chirruped.

"Hello, Tigger," cooed Carewyn. "Hello, pretty kitty..."

She reached down and scratched the cat's neck -- he immediately buckled against her hand, purring loudly.

"Named for the A.A. Milne character, I presume?" asked Orion with a smile.

"Yes," laughed Carewyn as she straightened up. "Mum's best friend Judy has always loved Winnie the Pooh. Mum's and Judy's first cat at Hogwarts was even named Pooh."

Tigger walked beside Carewyn and Orion in turn, rubbing his side up against their legs. Orion bent down and pet the cat too as he slowly settled himself onto the couch, the pot of purple flowers in his lap.

"He is a very sociable feline," he said, his fingers lightly pressed into some pressure points on Tigger's back that made the cat lean into Orion's touch. "He must know that his breed is an omen of good fortune."

"Really?" Carewyn said curiously.

"Indeed. Sailors often kept ginger cats aboard ship, thinking to avoid dangerous storms." Orion smiled at Carewyn wryly. "I must wonder if the good fortune your mother experienced through you made her more susceptible to selecting a cat with similar coloring."

He trailed two fingers through the hair closest to her cheek. Carewyn blushed slightly through her smile, but she played it off by lightly smacking Orion's shoulder and looking away.

"Orion, really. Mum got him because he reminded her of my old cat, from when I was at school. And the only reason I had a ginger cat back then was because Mimi was too shy to come out of hiding when people came to look at her at the Menagerie and I -- "

"Chose the one animal who likely most needed a safe and loving home out of all of them," surmised Orion, smiling fondly. "How very true to you, my Abraxan."

He leaned in to kiss her on the side of the temple. Carewyn was still blushing lightly, but she smiled as Lane finally entered the room, a tea service in hand. Immediately Carewyn leapt to her feet to offer assistance.

"Here, Mum -- let me help you with that -- "

"Don't worry, Winnie," said Lane. "I've got it..."

Her voice was truly as soft as a whispering wind, but it still came across quite warmly. The older woman eased the tray down onto the coffee table, her blue eyes running over Orion still sitting on the couch.

"So you're the famous Orion," she said with a smile. "Winnie's spoken very highly of you."

Orion found himself inclining his head the same way he would before a hippogriff. "That is a compliment unto itself, given how very high my Abraxan's standards are. Not that I mean to demean the trait," he added quickly with a quick glance between Lane and his other half. "I have always esteemed Carewyn's high aspirations. It's merely encouraging to know I could meet them in any capacity."

Carewyn brought a hand down onto Orion's shoulder to show some support. Before she could say anything, though, Lane spoke first, her eyebrows high.

"I see. Well, rest assured, Winnie wouldn't have brought you to see me if she didn't think highly of you. And if I didn't express a lot of curiosity about you myself," she added with a twinkle in her eye.

She turned to Carewyn.

"Winnie sweetheart, I don't suppose you could do me a favor and go get the Necronomicon from the cellar? W for Watkins?"

Carewyn blinked, but nodded all the same. "...All right."

With a quick glance and smile at Orion, she strode purposefully out of the room, toward the back of the house.

"Don't worry, I don't really own the Necronomicon," Lane told Orion with a soft laugh. "It's just an inside joke I first developed with Jacob, when he was young. Winnie knows I mean to look through the papers in my office."

Orion glanced down at Tigger weaving between his legs. "...I see."

Lane sat in the nearby armchair and poured out three cups of tea by hand rather than with her wand.

"Milk or sugar?" she asked.

"Neither. But thank you."

Orion shifted the potted plant over to the seat beside him. Lane handed him one of the cups of tea before adding some milk to hers and taking a sip.

"Jay told me about you too, after you two met," she said lightly.

Orion took a sip of tea himself to try to mask his discomfort. "...Ah. I suppose he...expressed a far less favorable view of me than Carewyn's."

Lane offered Orion a slight smile. "He did. But to be honest, I could tell most of his complaints were flimsy at best. I even told him as much."

Orion blinked in surprise.

"Jay latched onto Winnie almost immediately after she was born," Lane explained. Her voice remained remarkably level and soft, even with how warmly it echoed while talking about her children. "He didn't have any real friends when he was a wee bairn, and having someone around who needed him...someone who understood him in a way no one else could, even while still only a tiny baby...it meant the world to him." She smiled fondly. "And well...I think Jay's grown used to the idea that Carewyn isn't a particularly romantic person and she's perfectly content being on her own. He never met Andre Egwu while they were dating, the way I did. He's never seen Winnie express interest in dating or marrying anyone before. And considering she's been so close to the vest about you...well, I think it took Jay by surprise, seeing how serious you and Winnie were."

Orion bowed his head. His reflection bobbed back and forth in his swirling tea as he put the cup down on the coffee table.

"I never intended us to be any sort of surprise," he said quietly. "But Carewyn and I...both of us...we saw each other merely as friends and once-teammates for such a long time before this, and even when we realized how much our views had truly shifted...neither of us thought a relationship of any sort would be possible, even if the other was similarly interested. There are still many empty spots remaining on the map Carewyn and I have charted out for ourselves, moving forward...ones we've yet to fill in."

Orion's black eyes became a little smaller as he folded his hands in his lap.

"There is a reason...your son has never seen your daughter as being interested in marrying anyone...and that's because she is not. Nor am I. I hold your daughter in the absolute highest regard, and I know I shall never know another like her again in all my life -- truthfully I could imagine no life better than one I could live with her in it." He swallowed. "But Carewyn and I...neither of us are suited to the likes of marriage. I could not bear to ever clip her wings, and to my undying relief, she has baldly refused to clip mine. She has asked me for a committed partnership, and I could wish for nothing less...but I aspire to no wedding bells nor ceremonies discarding our names and independent lives. I do not aim to replace Eos's mother with Carewyn, absent she may be -- nor does Carewyn intend for me to play as any kind of father to her little Jarvey, Erik. I don't believe Erik would want me in such a role either..."

His hands squeezed together anxiously.

"Please, though, do not take this to mean my feelings for Carewyn are lesser," he said tensely. "She is my partner and soulmate, my match in every way, and I love and esteem her more than I can properly express. I just...don't wish to express it by locking us into the shackles of marriage. My Abraxan aims to fly higher and farther than anyone ever has, to places and goals very different from mine, and I can't imagine I would aid her in that if she were chained down with me as dead weight dragging behind her."

Orion hadn't been sure if Lane would blow up or if she'd need to think over what he'd said. To his surprise, however, Lane didn't take long to respond -- within seconds, she'd reached out and rested a hand on top of his folded in his lap.

"Orion, please," she said kindly. "You don't need to defend the magnitude of your feelings to me. Winnie has always tried to put on a brave face, ever since she was small. She didn't tell me anything about her infatuation with Andre until they were already dating, and she likewise didn't tell me they were having any trouble until they'd already broken up. The fact that Winnie didn't tell Jay and me about you until recently is all the more proof to me of just how highly she thinks of you. And after everything you've said, I'd say it's very clear you feel just as strongly for her."

Her blue eyes, identical in shade and shape to Carewyn's, softened.

"I admit, I'd sort of presumed you and Winnie might get married sometime down the road, even if you didn't feel ready now...but if you truly never do feel ready and just want to stay committed to each other without the paperwork saying so...then that's fine. Goodness knows marriage often doesn't last forever anyhow."

Orion felt as though a large weight was slowly coming off his shoulders. He visibly relaxed.

"...Few things do."

He brought his cup of tea back into his interlaced hands and took another sip.

"Thank you, Lane Cromwell," he murmured. "I'm truly grateful for your understanding, on this matter."

"Of course," said Lane. "I'm a bit confused about why you thought I wouldn't be all right with it."

Orion brought a hand up behind his neck uncomfortably. "Perhaps your brother's disdain toward being in a romantic relationship without the thought of marriage was a darker cloud over my thoughts than I wished to admit."

Lane pursed her lips so tightly, she resembled a rather peeved salmon.

"Don't you pay Blaise any mind," she said coldly. "He is an utter luddite in such matters. And far others too, believe me..."

Orion smiled a bit despite himself.

"I admit, Jacob Cromwell's negative reaction toward me may also have worried me somewhat," he confessed. "I didn't take it personally at the time, but...well, from what Carewyn has told me, the three of you were always very close."

"Yes -- but as I said, Jay has always been overly protective of Winnie. Quite frankly I don't think there's anyone in this world Winnie could've brought home that Jay wouldn't have been suspicious of."

"Are you sure you weren't a bit as well?" Orion asked coolly, his lips resting beside the rim of his cup. "I notice Carewyn still hasn't returned with the proper file from your office."

Lane's lips teased up in a very small smile despite herself.

"Perhaps I did accidentally put the file in the wrong folder by accident," she said amusedly, some mischief dancing through her eyes. "But I figured it'd be harder to speak to you candidly, if I didn't coax Winnie out of the room for a bit."

"You could've just asked."

Carewyn had returned, her red lips pursed with slight annoyance as she put the proper file down on the side table next to Lane's armchair. Lane laughed quietly.

"I'm sorry, Winnie -- that was a bit underhanded of me."

She picked up the file and brought it into her lap so she could skim through it. Carewyn sighed irritably through her nose as she came over to sit down on the couch next to Orion -- her partner was all smiles, though, as he leaned in and gave a peck to her cheek.

"Not to fret, little Firecrab," he murmured beside her skin. "It was but a minor prank with no injuries."

"Except perhaps to my pride," sighed Carewyn tiredly. She then looked at her mother. "Are you done interrogating Orion now? What was it that you'd wanted to say that you didn't want me to hear?"

"Nothing in particular, Winnie," Lane said soothingly. "I just wanted to hear Orion's answers on their own. I know you would've wanted to defend him to me, had I challenged him on anything, and I thought it'd be best to hear him for myself."

Orion took Carewyn's hand in one of his and brought them both into his lap. "You are a proper knight in such affairs, my Abraxan. Your mother was well within her rights to want me to speak on my own behalf, in this situation."

Carewyn's lips twitched with displeasure, but she nonetheless begrudgingly accepted this.

"Thank you very kindly for the flowers, by the way," Lane said to Orion, indicating the potted plant at his side. "They're quite lovely."

Orion smiled. "I'm glad you like them. My daughter Eos and I picked specially -- we thought that some heath would bring some lovely color, in the midst of this long winter."

"Ah yes," said Lane, her eyes alight with interest, "heather is a beloved flower in Scotland, is it not? I seem to recall the Druids in particular saw it as a sacred plant."

Orion nodded. "It is considered very lucky...but winter heath in particular is also symbolic of fortitude and independence, given its ability to prosper even in the coldest conditions. ...Much like your daughter," he added a bit more quietly, bowing his head shyly even as he leaned his shoulder beside hers. Carewyn beamed, her face flushed with emotion and pride, as she leaned against him in return. "I had also hoped purple would be a satisfactory color -- I believe Carewyn has said it's your favorite."

Lane's eyes sparkled fondly. "It is. You chose well."

Resting her Watkins file on her lap, she leaned down and fetched out a small package in green-and-white music-note-printed wrapping paper with a green bow on top from the drawer of her side table.

"I set a late Christmas gift aside for you and your daughter," said Lane with a smile as Orion and Carewyn both blinked at her. "Maybe it's a bit late for your tree this year, but maybe next year?"

With another slow blink, Orion took the package from her. He ripped one lone corner so as to trail his finger in a straight line down the side and open up the rest.

Inside was a pair of two painted wooden ornaments shaped like black-and-white-patterned birds.

Orion's heart gave a little flutter of joy. Carewyn's face lit up.

"Magpies!" Carewyn breathed happily. "Oh, Mum, they're so sweet!"

"I thought so too," Lane said with a warm smile at Orion. "I thought they could represent you and your daughter, since one's just a little bit larger than the other. You know what they say...'one for sorrow...'"

"'...Two for joy,'" Orion finished.

Lane nodded. "I'd originally wanted to find you a bird nest, like the one on my tree...but well, all of the nests I found either had multiple eggs, or no eggs at all. And the last thing I wanted was for you to feel like your daughter wasn't included."

Orion looked up at her in surprise. Lane's expression became more serious.

"Winnie told me about how hard you worked to protect Eos during the War," she said softly. "It warmed my heart, hearing of how much you love her...I know Winnie's so proud of how much you love her, too."

Indeed, Carewyn was smiling in unadulterated pride as she gave Orion's hand a squeeze.

"And even if she never becomes a grandchild of mine...I wanted you to know, your daughter is always welcome here -- as are you," said Lane. "And if you and Eos ever don't have anywhere to hang your magpies up...remember they'll always have a spot on my Christmas tree."

Orion's heart felt like it had warmed up beside the fire, same as his body. His face broke out into a very soft smile as he bowed fully to Lane, his black eyes sparkling like a pair of starry skies.

"You truly are a friend of winged horses, Lane Cromwell," he murmured. "Thank you."

[misscromwellsmonocle]

A painting of Moses and his wife based on the biblical description and details of them (1600s) by Jacob Jordaens

[dailyanarchistposts]

Footnotes

[1] I here gladly acknowledge my obligations to Victor Drury, {15} whose classification I adopt and follow.

{1} Actually Say may have gone farther.

{2} From Royal Commentaries of the Incas (1609) by El Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (c. 1539-1616; not to be confused with the earlier Spanish writer of the same name); Lum quotes from the 1871 translation by Clements Markham.

{3} Principles of Sociology I.ii.10

{4} Probably American historian John Lothrop Motley (1814-1877).

{5} Swiss historian and economist Jean Charles Léonard de Sismondi (1773-1842).

{6} Jack Cade, leader of 1450 peasant rebellion; John Wycliffe, 14th-century Catholic dissident; Jacob van Artevelde and Philip van Artevelde, father and son, 14th-century Flemish nationalist leaders; Étienne Marcel, bourgeois leader involved in the 1358 French peasant rebellion known as the Jacquerie; rising of the Swiss cantons: a 14th-century confederacy that threw off Habsburg rule; Cola di Rienzi, 14th-century Italian revolutionary leader; Hanseatic League, Renaissance mercantile alliance of northern Europe.

{7} A reference to Auguste Comte’s (1798-1857) division of history into theological, metaphysical, and positive/industrial phases, though in his description of the details Lum seems closer to Spencer than to Comte.

{8} Barebone’s Parliament, form taken by the British Parliament in 1653, between the dissolution of the Rump Parliament and the rise of Cromwell’s Protectorate, taking its name from the involvement of religious dissenting leader Praise-God Barebones or Barebone or Barbon (c. 1598-1679); Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès (1748-1836), French revolutionary leader who served in the national legislature known as the Convention.

{9} “Progress and Order” (or equally “Order and Progress”) was a popular slogan among followers of Comte; see the Brazilian flag.

{10} Pen name of American humorist Benjamin Drew (1812-1903).

{11} Bonds payable only upon the death of a third party, though here used metaphorically to mean payable only in the afterlife.

{12} “The voice of the people [is] the voice of God.”

{13} Scottish writer Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), whose description of economics as “the dismal science” has often been thought (as probably here by Lum) to refer to its conservative aspects (e.g., Malthus’s alleged proof that improvements in the lot of the working class were unattainable), though in fact Carlyle meant to be condemning its liberal aspects (specifically its opposition to slavery).

{14} plural sic.

{15} Victor Drury (1825-1918), French-born American anarchist active in the Knights of Labor.

{16} William Godwin (1756-1836), English anarchist philosopher who advocated voluntary equality of property.

{17} American economist Henry George (1839-1897), who though generally a free-market advocate regarded society as the legitimate owner of all land, and consequently favoured replacing all taxation with a single tax on land; American state-socialist writer Edward Bellamy (1850-1898); Lum’s line “looking backward to Sparta and Peru” is a sarcastic reference to Bellamy’s utopian 1888 novel Looking Backward.

{18} A reference to an example in Henry George’s 1881 book The Land Question.

{19} German economist Wilhelm Roscher (1817-1894), an important influence (perhaps surprisingly) on both the German Historical School and the French Liberal School. The passage quoted is from Joseph Lalor’s 1878 translation of Roscher’s 1854 Principles of Political Economy.

{20} A frequent misquotation from Shakespeare’s Tempest IV.1.151-57, eliding “the baseless fabric of this vision” with “we are such stuff as dreams are made on” a few lines later.

{21} English economist David Ricardo (1772-1823) had argued in his 1817 Principles of Political Economy and Taxation that there was a natural tendency for wages to approach the cost of production of labour, which he held to be the bare cost of keeping the labourer alive and able and willing to work; however, he also held a) that wages may be kept above this natural rate indefinitely in an improving economy, and that b) willingness to work depends in any case on cultural factors (including prevailing standards of comfort and decency). Dropping these qualifications, Ferdinand Lassalle (1825-1864) and other socialist thinkers developed Ricardo’s theory into an Iron Law of Wages according to which wages are doomed to stand forever at bare physical subsistence so long as the wage system survives.

{22} Classical liberal English statesman John Bright (1811-1889), free-trade and anti-imperialist activist; the quotation is from Bright’s Glasgow University installation speech in March 1883.

{23} Whatever source Lum is quoting (presumably by Henry George) is evidently to be found reprinted in the 1901 Sunset Club.

{24} In Greek mythology Cerberus was the three-headed dog who guarded the entrance to the underworld.

{25} A standard Spencerian concern, taking the line of progress to run toward greater differentiation. By “to greater differentiation” Lum presumably means “in preference to greater differentiation.”

{26} The quotation is from Spencer’s 1876 Principles of Sociology V.18 §570.

{27} This phrase often means “piecework,” but in the present context seems to mean labour done on one’s own without cooperation.

{28} The English phrase “to go without saying” derives from the French aller sans dire, although aller de soi, “to go of itself,” may be the more common French idiom.

{29} Lum had had an acrimonious falling-out with the Greenback Party ten years earlier.

{30} Change of antecedent sic.

{31} Presumably there should also be a hyphen between “from” and the first “day.”

{32} An agrarian association friendly to the urban labour movement, formed in Michigan in 1889; a similar movement of the same name was formed in Ontario the following year.

{33} The passage that follows is drawn from the article “‘Greatest Happiness’ Principle” (Westminster Review XI, no 21 (July 1829), which is apparently but not explicitly by Bentham; see Macaulay’s discussion.

{34} The quotation which follows is from Herbert’s “A Politican in Sight of Haven.”

{35} Principles of Sociology V.xviii.563.

{36} Probably a reference to the title of Henry George’s 1879 Progress and Poverty.

{37} Either American economist Amasa Walker (1799-1875) or his son Francis Amasa Walker (1840-1897).

{38} American anarchist and currency reformer William Batchelder Greene (1819-1878).

{39} Hebrews 11:1.

{40} This makes no sense, and is an error for “will not go bankrupt at the same tine” in the original.

{41} Should be “since it is subscribed.”

{42} From Proudhon’s Organisation of Credit and Circulation (1848).

{43} Science of Wealth (1866), ch. 5.

{44} Another quotation from Roscher.

{45} “The great thinker is the secretary of his age”: from English philosopher George Henry Lewes (1817-1878), Problems of Life and Mind (1874).

{46} The Land Question (1881), ch. 16.

{47} Bavarian-American anarcho-communist Johann Most (1846-1906).

{48} French novelist Edmond François Valentin About (1828-1885).

{49} First quotation from Rights of Man (1792), II.1; next three from First Principles of Government (1795).

{50} Reference to a quotation from Malthus.

{51} Science of Wealth, XI.6.

{52} American abolitionist, businessman, liberal economist, and antiwar activist Edward Atkinson (1827-1905).

{53} German-American anarchist August Spies (1855-1877), one of the Haymarket martyrs.

{54} Isaiah 58:1.

{55} American abolitionist poet John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892), in “Stanzas for the Times.”

[uwmspeccoll]

Shakespeare Weekend

The ninth volume of The works of Mr. William Shakespear: in ten volumes published in 1728 by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) and Dr. George Sewell (d. 1726) for Jacob Tonson (1655-1736), is considered a supplementary volume added to the collection in the second edition. As previously mentioned, Volume 9 includes the additional booksellers of C, A. Bettesworth, and F. Clay, in Trust for Richard, James, and Bethel Wellington. Scene divisions, stage directions, dramatis personae, and full-page engravings by either French artist Louis Du Guernier (1677-1716) or Englishman Paul Fourdrinier (1698-1758) precede each play. 

The volume contains seven plays; Pericles, Prince of Tyre, The London Prodigal, Thomas Lord Cromwell, Sir John Oldcastle, The Puritan, A Yorkshire Tragedy, and Locrine. Thematically the plays span genres ranging from comedy, tragedy and history, but they all share the same underlying question over authorship. The plays were originally attributed to William Shakespeare due to “Written by W.S.” appearing on the title pages of early quartos. Scholars have since argued that the “W.S.” could alternatively credit dramatists and Shakespeare contemporaries Wentworth Smith or William Sly, and historians now attribute Sir John Oldcastle and A Yorkshire Tragedy to prolific Jacobean playwright Thomas Middleton. 

Except it's not the last volume, there's one more supplemental volume left that we'll look at next week!

View more Shakespeare Weekend posts. 

-Jenna, Special Collections Graduate Intern 

[fandom-server-blog]

Big World! (A roleplay server)

HELLO!!

Welcome to my server! This is a role-play server that thrives under original characters. You can have fandom OCS, or even role-play characters that are canon from a certain fandom. But OCS that you made, unrelated to a show, movie, book, or game are more than welcome; they’re encouraged.

“What if my oc is loosely based on a media, but not in the same thing?”

Submit them. You wrote them for so long, or maybe not, but you went through that work and deserve to use it for fun, whether you’re not motivated enough to write it out, or just wanna use them

Have fun!

Characters:

Αδαμάντιος ΤησΘράκης (Hadestown Oc)

“Duckling” Lux (Transversal Oc)

Αττική (Hadestown Oc)

Atticus Bloodrose Redwood (Newsies Oc)

Felix Elenor Saboth (Newsies Oc)

Ambrose Jade Demonthorne (Original Character)

Flourescent Newberg (Among Us Oc)

Eridan Ampora (Homestuck Canon)

Quinn “Star” Montgomery (Original Character)

Calyx (Original Character)

Victoria Hartwell (Newsies Oc)

Wiggly (Hatchetfield Canon)

Glitch Nisshoku Erebus (Minecraft Oc)

Cara Martha Davidson (Outsiders Oc)

Jack ‘Cowboy’ Kelly (Newsies Canon)

Oscar DeLancey (Newsies Canon)

Morris DeLancey (Newsies Canon)

David Jacobs (Newsies Canon)

Perseus-Orobas ‘Breaker’ Hardwood (Original Character)

System [Teta] (Original Character)

Albert Dasilvia (Newsies Canon)

Jessie Montgomery Barnes (Original Character)

Cyrus (Original Character)

Loudmouth (Newsies OC)

Eden Sinclair (Newsies OC)

Spade (Newsies OC)

Lori ‘Al’ Softfeather (Original Character)

Ferret (Newsies OC)

Solar (Newsies OC)

Daisuke (Mouthwashing Canon)

Test 001 (Undertale OC)

Will Argo (Original Character)

Dante Cromwell (Original Character)

Nicolas Galanis (Original Character)

Jester (Newsies OC)

Quisp (Original Character)

Dakota May (Original Character)

Evan “Buck” Buckley (911 Canonically)

Samuel Balorosveild Ilya (Original Character)

Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto Canon)

Harlow (Original Character)

Aston Silvermoon (Original Character)

Ατλας (Hadestown OC)

Ik (Original Character)

Richard Orthorey (Newsies OC)

Ravvlar (Minecraft OC)

[thursdaygrl]

to make this comeback a little easier on myself i'd love to do some one liners! as always feeling some muses more so than others so under the cut is a list of who you can choose from for this starter call. some are new and have only vague ideas so forgive me for that but i'm excited to get some new things going!

alexandria hernandez, 21, lesbian, she/they, lizeth selene fc

edward ‘dawson’ dawson ii, 22, bisexual, he/him, spencer house fc

ellis jiang, 26, bisexual, he/they, derek luh fc

jackie buckley, 22, lesbian, she/her, grace van patten fc

jacob welch, 21, straight, he/him, milo manheim fc

letha barclay, 26, bisexual, she/her, jaz sinclair fc

liberty king, 20, bisexual, she/her, cailee spaeny fc

mariposa ‘posie’ huertas, 21, bisexual, she/her, cierra ramirez fc

mathias curbelo, 26, straight, he/him, enzo vogrincic fc

moira abernathy, 45, bisexual, she/her, kelly reilly fc

niamh bradshaw, 23, lesbian, she/her, erin kellyman fc

peggy kumari, 25, bisexual, she/her, geraldine viswanathan fc

raquel luna, 21, bisexual, she/her, nicole wallace fc

renata ornellas, 25, lesbian, she/her, alba baptista fc

river im, 24, lesbian, she/they, london thor fc

rowan butler, 24, straight, he/him, thomas weatherall fc

fantasy muses

morgana cromwell, lesbian, she/her, tabrett bethell fc

revan varakrum, straight, he/him, amar chadha-patel fc

[popentertainment-moviereviews]

‘SALEM’S LOT (2024)

Starring Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, John Benjamin Hickey, Bill Camp, Jordan Preston Carter, Nicholas Crovetti, Spencer Treat Clark, William Sadler, Pilou Asbæk, Alexander Ward, Danielle Perry, Debra Christofferson, Cade Woodward, Joseph Marrella, Derek Mears, Timothy John Smith, Mike Kaz, Declan Lemerande and Oliver Dauberman.

Screenplay by Gary Dauberman.

Directed by Gary Dauberman.

Distributed by Max. 113 minutes. Rated R.

I have been a Stephen King fan for well over 40 years now, and ‘Salem’s Lot was my introduction to his writing, and is still my favorite King novel, although I feel that he has many other classics. I’ve read it several times over the years, most recently a few years ago. As far as I am concerned, it’s a nearly perfect horror novel.

‘Salem’s Lot was the second book that King had published, although I seem to remember hearing that he wrote it before he wrote Carrie, which was his breakthrough novel. And, as is generally the case with King’s books, ever since Hollywood has been trying to tame the story and bring it to the screen.

This is the third version of ‘Salem’s Lot to be filmed, although the first two times it was done as a television miniseries. The original – and probably the best – version was done in 1979 on network television with David Soul, James Mason and Bonnie Bedelia. It was directed by legendary horror filmmaker Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist). Since it was on old-time TV, it was a little slow-moving and not very violent, but it still had a few legendary scares.

In 2004, it was made as a miniseries for a cable network (TNT), so the makers were free to play with the violence, language, etc. It was extremely well cast – Rob Lowe, Andre Braugher, Donald Sutherland and James Cromwell – and faster-paced than the earlier series, but it strayed from the original storyline and eventually didn’t quite work.

Now, it has been made as a movie. Actually, it was made a couple of years ago and has been on the shelf at Warner Brothers for a long time. It was originally planned for theatrical release, then was pulled from release for quite a while, making it seem it would never see the light of day. Eventually, Warner Brothers decided they had already made it, may as well release it on their Max streaming service.

Honestly, the new ‘Salem’s Lot is a reminder of why Stephen King’s novels rarely work well as two-hour movies. There is just way too much of this storyline which is just skipped over. Major plot threads (like the history of the infamous haunted Marsten House) and characters are either downplayed or completely ignored. Without the background information, things happen way too quickly in the film and much of the plot makes little or no sense.

It should be noted that the original director’s cut was apparently three hours long, and honestly if the original edit were ever released (which I sincerely doubt considering the trouble it took to just get the movie released at all), I’ll bet the ‘Salem’s Lot movie would be a lot better, or at the very least a lot more understandable.

Maybe if you have never read the book or seen any of the previous versions, ‘Salem’s Lot would be worth the watch. Personally, I think it’s just okay but given the choice I’d rather just rewatch the 1979 version – which conveniently Max added to its service together with the new movie. Better still, just read the novel.

Jay S. Jacobs

Copyright ©2024 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: October 5, 2024.

[semper-legens]

72. As Meat Loves Salt, by Maria McCann

Owned?: No, library Page count: 532 My summary: Jacob Cullen is a man out of sorts. Of aristocratic birth, yet reduced to the life of a manservant, he spreads anti-monarchist pamphlets among his fellow servants and supports Cromwell in the civil war. But when trouble comes knocking, he is forced to flee, carrying nothing but a few pilfered jewels and the clothes on his back. From there, the New Model Army looks to be his saviour - but a chance meeting with a young man named Christopher Ferris proves to alter his destiny forever… My rating: 3.5/5 My commentary:

This is an interesting book. I wasn't sure I liked it at first - even up to about page 100, I was ready to come on here and give it the most scathing review. And yet. There was something about it - something complex, something gripping, something I'm not entirely sure that I can give name to - that held me back. By about halfway, I confess, I was meeting this book and this story more on its own terms. It had first come on my radar when I was researching books for a Pride month display; although I didn't ultimately use it on said display, the idea of a couple of gay men meeting and falling in love in England around the time of the Civil War intrigued me. This book was more than that, though. It was about class, about violence, about community, about secrets, about God…I'm glad I didn't just give up with it and gave it a fair shake, in the end. It was intriguing, and I am ultimately glad that I read it.

First, we should talk about this book's protagonist, Jacob. I have to admit that he was a lot of the reason I disliked this book early on. The problem is that he comes out of the gate as rude, brash, argumentative, and also a literal murderer and rapist. Now, I'm not gonna say that your protagonist needs to be morally pure and never do anything wrong at all, but starting the book with Jacob being generally quite unlikeable meant that, funnily enough, I didn't much like him. A large part of Jacob's arc involves his anger and how he deals with it, but I wish there had been more to Jacob than that rage to start with so we get a fuller picture, because the scene where he rapes his new wife Caro while on the run was hard to read.

He is, however, a more interesting protagonist for not being perfect; in the part where he is in the New Model Army onwards, his possessiveness towards Ferris and his desires to drive away any other people interested in Ferris, even while not necessarily being conscious of the reasons why he feels this way, makes for an engaging conflict alongside their deepening relationship. And, of course, I really like the idea of seeing historical LGBT+ people struggling with their sexuality in a way that feels historically authentic. Jacob believes he is going to hell for sleeping with Ferris. He believes that what he is doing is sinful, and while it's heartbreaking, it's also reasonable for what someone of this era might think. And I have to admire that, honestly. He's also an interesting figure in that he's a formerly wealthy man forced to live the life of (initially) a servant, and there's some interesting class dynamics going on. The wealth he grew up in goes a way to explain his arrogance and selfishness, as well as his resentment of authority. And when he runs away with Ferris and there is a conflict between Ferris' desire to live on a commune on the Commons and his desire to stay in London and be a printer, there's a class element to that as much as anything else. He wants to be a free man, but he wants to be a free man on his own terms, never beholden to anyone, which is hard for someone living in the era he is in.

Ferris, meanwhile, is Jacob's polar opposite. Smaller, fair, and idealistic, Ferris is the golden-haired golden boy of this book. A tragic past, a questionable relationship with Jacob, dreams of living free on the land among brothers and equals, and of course an atheistic outlook, Ferris brings a lot of the spark to the narrative. I found him compelling, particularly as (due to the first-person narration) we only ever see him through Jacob's eyes, meaning we can never tell what he is thinking the same way that we can Jacob. His gentle courting of Jacob, coupled with his obvious affection for him and wariness of his more violent outbursts, are engaging, and I really like his more radical (for the time) views on the world. He is the thinker and the artist while Jacob is brute strength. They make for a good pair of narrative foils.

And finally, history. One thing that initially put me off this book was its insistence in using a cod-17th century dialect for the dialogue and narration. I don't think that sort of thing is necessarily bad, but you have to be very careful about how you use it to avoid alienating the modern reader, and the early examples of dialogue felt very stilted and old-fashioned in an unappealing way. I will admit, however, that I got more in pace with it as the book progressed, so that might just be a reflection of me acclimating to the text rather than a downside of this device. I'm no expert on the English Civil War, but the history as presented in this book seemed pretty plausible. Jacob joins the New Model Army, is trained as a pikeman, sees a few battles, then flees the army with Ferris to make a new life on the commons near London. It feels authentic, from what I know of the 17th century this is a perfectly plausible life to have led, so I have to give credit there. The one thing I will criticise is that the author seems to just ramble a little from historical idea to historical idea - once Jacob and Ferris have left the army, it doesn't really factor into the plot any more, and the 'setting up a commune' thing takes precedence. To be fair, though, I didn't really feel like the army parts were needless, just that the royalist-versus-parliamentary angle on the book's politics wasn't picked up again, which is odd given that it provides the inciting incident for the plot.

Next up, two young women fight the risen dead.

[sophcromwell]

SOPHIE PIPER CROMWELL OF THE HALLOWEENTOWN MOVIES. written by inez ( twenty5, she/her)

rule 01. this is a 21+ blog and follows predominantly marvel-616 comics as well as has personal interpretations. still working my way through the stepford cuckoos appearances in comics so pls be patient <3

rule 02. do not interact with me if you write nate jacobs, tate langdon, billy hargrove, homelander, nick goode, kylo ren, write romantic ships for kai parker, white washed characters, or real people. don't follow me if you're a solo 13rw or glee rp blog. don't interact with me if you're racist, homophobic, and just general uncivilized asshole. you should know right from wrong at this point in the game.

rule 03. no smut will be written on this blog!!!!!

rule 04. i love pre-established and chemistry based things. as long as i see potential for something, i am usually game. i will not participate in any form of gross and/or predatory behaviors. this includes but is not limited to writing relationships about incest, rape, etc. if you participate, engage or condone these behaviors even if this is just writing, stay away from me.

rule 05. activity can be sporadic but i try to be mobile when i can. disco is always open to mutuals for writing and ooc content!! <3