#Castle: When the Bough Breaks

[gifs-by-renegadesstuff]

KATE BECKETT & RICHARD CASTLE in CASTLE, 2x05 “When the Bough Breaks” ❤️

[detective-jane-rizzoli]

[renegadesstuff]

14 years ago, Kate discovered Castle's dedication to her 🥹🤍

S2E05, “When the Bough Breaks” aired 14 years ago (October 19, 2009) 💙

[katebeckets]

top 5 mentalist and castle episodes?

oooo okay this is gonna hurt lmao i'm so bad at choosing but in no particular order (based on entire episode, not just favorite moments)

The Mentalist

7x13 White Orchids (+ 7x12 Brown Shag Carpet)

6x22 Blue Bird

4x10 Fugue in Red

5x02 Devil's Cherry

4x20 Something's Rotten in Redmund

also literally all of season seven

Castle

2x12 A Rose for Ever After

4x07 Cops & Robbers

3x01 A Deadly Affair

5x04 Murder, He Wrote

5x22 Still

(I would put 4x09 Kill Shot on here because it's an absolute masterpiece, but I rarely watch it bc it's hard. but it means soooo much to me)

[misc-obeyme]

prompt: Satan & the Demon Lord's Castle

a/n: Doubling up on prompts again, this is what the wheel gave me today! I did another festive theme, too. It's only so-so but hey, they can't all be bangers, right? lol @om-adventcalendar

Satan x GN!MC

Warnings: Satan gets angry lol.

A high pitched screech rang through the air, causing everyone in the ballroom to freeze.

“Satan!” Asmodeus cried. “You can’t put that wreath there, it clashes horribly with the garland!”

Satan paused with his arms up, in the middle of hanging the wreath in his hands. He studied the garland already draped along the wall, then turned to Asmo with a frown.

“I disagree,” he said. “That garland’s base is pine boughs, just like this wreath.”

Asmo threw up his hands. “The pine isn’t the problem! It’s the wreath’s blue ribbon against the garland’s purple ribbon! Those colors look ghastly together and I can’t allow it!”

Asmo marched toward Satan and took the wreath right out of his hands.

You watched Satan's perplexed expression slowly change into something a little more ominous. The twitching in his jaw really gave it away. You wanted to step in right then and there, but you had a handful of delicate glass ornaments and you could tell you wouldn't be able to put them down fast enough.

Satan's frown deepened. “Since when does blue and purple look bad together?”

“Not all blue and purple, just these particular shades!” Asmo exclaimed.

“Didn’t you say earlier that you chose these ribbons specifically because they look good together?” Satan asked, his voice’s volume rising.

“That was earlier and this is now!” Asmo said. “Can’t I change my mind?”

“I’ll change your mind-“ Satan was in demon form before he even finished his sentence.

By this point you had managed to put down the ornaments without breaking any. You rushed to Satan’s side, unconcerned about the way his eyes seemed to look right through you. There was a deep growling in his throat, but you took his hand before he moved toward Asmo.

“Why don’t we go check on the garden decorations?” you asked him. “Leave these wreaths and garlands to Asmo and the others.”

Satan looked at you for a moment. His tail, still wrapped carefully around his leg, twitched slightly. He knew what you were doing, but when it was you…

You tugged on his hand and he followed you out of the room to the garden easily enough.

When Diavolo and Barbatos asked for help decorating the Demon Lord’s Castle for a festive party, Lucifer had volunteered the assistance of all his brothers as well as you. Asmo had quickly taken over the project due to having a lot of opinions about what decorations looked best. You should have known it was only a matter of time until a fight of some kind broke out.

You stopped by the pond in the garden where the stars fell slowly through the dark Devildom sky. There were tall candelabras around the courtyard area with thick white candles adorned with sprigs of mistletoe. They were too low for the traditional use as no one could effectively stand beneath them, but they were pretty and made you think of kisses all the same.

Satan huffed, his hand squeezing yours slightly but not painfully. “Why does he have to change his mind at the last minute like that? It derails all our progress.”

You reached up and caressed Satan’s cheek, watching his eyes soften at the touch. He pressed your hand to his face for a moment before placing a kiss on your palm. As he did so, he melted out of demon form.

Satan pulled you closer to him, wrapped an arm around your waist, and took a deep breath. He leaned his forehead against yours. “Thank you, MC,” he said.

He didn’t need to elaborate. There was an understanding between the two of you. Whenever Satan got angry, you were the one to pull him aside and calm him down before he did something he would regret. It was the way you were never scared of him, the way you only looked at him with love, that transformed his anger into a fierce need to be by your side.

Satan kissed you, pressing his body into yours, running his hands down your back. It was hungry and heated, with the edge of his anger just barely running through it. The possessiveness of his hold on you was a silent message that he had no intention of ever letting you go.

masterlist | Thank you for reading!

[elaine19day]

Title: when the bough breaks Pairing: Sylus/MC Rating: MA Genre/Warnings: hurt/comfort, drama, romance, TLC, size kink, virgin MC, first time, all kinds of sexy stuff (for detailed tags please refer to AO3) Part: 2/7 Summary: After receiving an Evol injury that can only be treated by traditional means, you stay at his castle for a while to recover… Read it here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/59313988 ~~~ "Don't apologize", he whispers and cradles my face, making me look at him again. "I like it."

Suddenly my mouth feels very dry and I'm about to give my lips a lick when his thumb brushes over my bottom lip. I hold still and feel the blood rushing in my ears while I wait for his next move. Warm breath is shared between us, washing over my face, reassuring and comforting. I want to swallow but I literally can't move a single muscle. My gaze is fixed on his lips - though nothing happens. His grip on my face relaxes and his hand slowly brushes down until it lays on the pillow between us.

[coyohte]

Hottest In The Room | From Castle Season 2x5: When the Bough Breaks 🫦



[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

Hi! sending good vibes. whatcha listening to lately, and/or have you heard any new songs that vibe with the anisquad?

Thank you! Off the top of my head:

Jake - "And So It Went," The Pretty Reckless

They said: the world does not belong to you/ It don't belong to you/ It belongs to me And so it went/ The children lost their minds/ Crawlin' over bodies of those who gave their lives/ And the fists began to throw/ And the bough's about to break/ Don't they think we know/ We're the fuckin human race?

Marco - "All the Good Girls Go to Hell," Billie Eilish

Hills burn in California/ My turn to ignore ya/ Don't say I didn't warn ya/ All the good girls go to hell/ 'Cause even God herself has enemies/ And once the water starts to rise/ And Heaven's out of sight/ She'll want the Devil on her team My Lucifer is lonely/There's nothing left to save now/ My God is gonna owe me/ There's nothing left to save now

Cassie - "March, March," The Chicks

March, march to my own drum/ Hey, hey, I'm an army of one/ Oh, I'm an army of one Tell the ol' boys in the white bread lobby/ What they can and can't do with their bodies/ Temperatures are risin', cities are sinkin'/ (Ah, cut the shit, you know your city is sinkin')/ Lies are truth and truth is fiction/ Everybody's talkin', who's gonna listen?

Rachel - "So Fast, So Maybe," K. Flay

Little did I know shit would get this gnarly/ This quickly/ I hardly/ Had time to think... So you better get used to the pace of things/ Cause basically, it's like stress non-stop/ From the moment that you're born to the moment that you drop/ Well, at least when you're dead you could get a little peace in the head... caught a glimpse of the action/ Since that day, I felt the passion/ Don't just talk, go make it happen

Tobias - "Both Sides Now," Joni Mitchell

Rows and floes of angel hair/ And ice cream castles in the air/ And feather canyons everywhere/ I've looked at clouds that way But now they only block the sun/ They rain and snow on everyone/ So many things I would have done/ But clouds got in my way I've looked at clouds from both sides now/ From up and down, and still somehow/ It's cloud illusions I recall/ I really don't know clouds at all

Ax - "The Truth Beneath the Rose," Within Temptation

Give me strength to face the truth, the doubt within my soul/ No longer I can justify the bloodshed in his name/ Is it a sin to seek the truth, the truth beneath the rose? I believed it would justify the means/ It had a hold over me I'm hoping, I'm praying/ I won't get lost between two worlds/ For now I have seen the truth lies between/ Give me the strength to face the wrong that I have done/ For now I see the darkest side of me

[devildomwriter]

Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly | Barbatos x Reader

.7K Words | GN Reader | CW: none, slightly Nsfwish

Barbatos was at the top of the ladder with boughs of holly in hand. He sighed as he hung the hundredth bunch and looked down the long corridor he had left.

The Little D.’s scrambled beneath him also trying to quickly hang the boughs. Barbatos wanted it done as soon as possible so Diavolo had as much time to enjoy the holiday spirit as he could.

Barbatos descended the ladder and moved it to the next window when a grin crossed his face. He turned around and bowed politely, “___ what a happy surprise. What brings you to the demon lord’s castle?”

You grinned and hugged him, “we've been dating for months, when will you stop being so formal?” You asked.

He chuckled and shook his head, “Old habits I suppose. Is there something I can help you with today?”

You shook your head. “Just the opposite. I wanted to help you decorate.”

He looked surprised but it melted into a pleased grin. “Oh my. How kind of you, ___.”

He eyed the boxes yet to be emptied and decided it would be okay to accept your help as long as it was really what you wanted.

He nodded and handed you a box with several bunches of holly. You started laughing and he gave you a puzzled look.

“I finally get to deck the halls with boughs of holly,” you chuckled.

Barbatos shook his head. “Oh, is that why you wanted to help?”

You quickly protested, “No, not at all. It was a funny coincidence that’s why I was laughing.”

Barbatos decided you were telling the truth and ascended the ladder again to continue where he left off.

You turned around and Little D. no.3 and Little D. no.6 brought you a ladder and scooted it to the correct spot.

“Will you hold it for me?” You asked them and they nodded. They were glad to have an excuse to stop running around. Little D. no.7 looked upset he hadn’t offered as he was most tired of them all.

Barbatos clicked his tongue in disappointment and the Little D.’s quickened their pace while their two brothers had a chance to relax by the ladder.

“Are you alright up there?” Barbatos asked, looking back every couple of seconds to make sure you hadn’t gotten scared.

It was a pretty tall ladder but you had the magic to support your fall so it didn’t worry you. A thought occurred to you and you sighed deeply. Barbatos turned back around to inquire if you were alright.

“Why aren’t we just using magic…”

He shook his head. “Did you forget it’s Devil Down Day?”

“Oh, is that today?”

Barbatos sighed and shook his head. “I hope you haven’t been using your magic, that would be a big problem.”

You shook your head. “Not unless getting here counts because that started in the human world technically.”

He nodded in approval, “I suppose that doesn’t violate anything.”

You smiled, relieved you weren’t in trouble with anyone, especially Barbatos. It was no secret you were fond of each other but he was a stickler for the rules even when you were involved so you had to be very careful to avoid breaking any.

“It always has some bad timing doesn’t it?”

Barbatos nodded, “it did nearly kill you last time if I recall.”

You chuckled nervously. “Yeah…don’t remind me.”

He descended the ladder and dismissed the Little D.’s holding you up to grab the ladder himself.

You began to descend when your foot missed a step. Barbatos’s eyes widened and he took a step up to catch you by your hips. You gasped and he carried you down even though it wasn’t necessary.

“Perhaps you could hold the ladders instead.”

You blushed, embarrassed. “Th-that was just an accident.”

“Well I should hope it was an accident and you weren’t falling on purpose so I’d carry you,” he teased and your face reddened.

“Huh?”

“If that were the case I may have to punish you for taking me away from my responsibilities,” he gave you a mischievous grin and you blinked in surprise.

Did he really mean what you think he meant? He was good at teasing you and denying it later, which you were already used to thanks to Lucifer.

“Wh-what kind of punishment?” You stuttered and it was his turn to laugh.

“What an adorable expression. Would you like to find out?”

You nodded and he beamed. He ordered the Little D.‘s to finish the decorations themselves and carried you away to his room.

You were “punished” until morning, though in your opinion it was more of a present. It was the perfect way to begin the holidays

[mysterymuseffn]

Captain Kate Beckett still can't figure it out. Two days ago, Richard Castle was just a name on a bookshelf. And then he crashed her case and claimed he knew her. Said they were in a relationship. Not only that, he took two bullets to the chest—saved her life. And he did it because he loves her? How the hell is that possible? A 7x06, "The Time of Our Lives" AU.

NEW UPDATE!

Chapter 9 - When the Bough Breaks

[wizardingworldlibrary]

Christmas (3) Masterlist

part one, part two

A Game (ao3) - QuellerKay hermione/draco T, 3k

Summary: A game over the holidays goes a little too far. Or does it?

A Good League Hence (ao3) - eyra sirius/remus T, 14k

Summary: Remus has always believed that December is the Hall’s very best month. It’s like the place was built to have boughs of holly and fir strung from every wall sconce and picture rail; like its architect, all those hundreds of years ago, designed it specifically to bear the big, fat garlands he and Lily wind around its balustrades and bannisters, and the jolly wreaths that they hoist into place on every door, and the towering, beribboned tree that stands proudly in the hotel reception and takes four of them a whole afternoon to decorate.

A country hotel in the wintertime. Plenty of snow, plenty of mulled wine, and a feeling that this Christmas might be different.

A Malfoy’s Recipe For A Draught of Peace (ao3) - WillowingScribe hermione/draco E, 28k

Summary: In a chance encounter, Draco runs into Hermione in the storage room for potion ingredients on Christmas Eve.

Trying to convince her that she doesn’t need to brew a Draught of Peace, she surprisingly accepts his joking offer to show her better methods to calm her frantic nerves.

Now Draco has one week to prove that he wasn’t just bluffing.

An Unexpected Christmas Gift (ao3) - Affectiion hermione/draco/harry M, 5k

Summary: When Harry returns the wand of Narcissa Malfoy to her son, he reconnects with Hermione Granger, who is both the same as he remembers, yet different. As is Draco Malfoy. Somehow, he knows this will be a Christmas to remember.

bake my wish come true (ao3) - downn_in_flames james/lily M, 6k

Summary: All I want for Christmas is you (to stop singing so off-key).

candy canes (ao3) - moonywithstarz regulus/james, sirius/remus G, 2k

Summary: Regulus has never had a normal Christmas until he ran away and has spent all of summer, and now winter break with the potters. After regulus opens up about his past christmases, james wants to make this a memorable one for his boyfriend.

includes: Jegulus, Wolfstar

Fireworks and Quills: a Fremione Christmas Romance (ao3) - moonfairy13, Yulefest hermione/fred E, 22k

Summary: It started with a post-war Samhain party, after which two people wake to find find that unusual marks have appeared on their bodies.

When Fred sees the gently moving quill on his left hip, he naturally sees it as confirmation that he’s meant to be with the witch he’s fancied since she punched Malfoy on the nose.

When Hermione sees the exploding firework on hers, she naturally assumes it’s one of Fred and George’s pranks and decides to ensure that they don’t have the satisfaction of finding out that their trick worked.

Will the fated pair work things out in time for a Happy Christmas at The Burrow?

And who else awoke to find similar marks?!

Holiday Boredom (ao3) - AshJuillet hermione/draco T, 3k

Summary: Hermione is so bored that she decides to follow Draco around the castle during the holidays. Apparently, he has a secret he doesn’t want anyone else to know.

Home for the Holidays (ao3) - Nymphadorable hermione/ron, arthur/molly, harry/ginny, luna/rolf E, 18k

Summary: Christmas Eve celebrations at the Burrow are in full swing. The absence of Hermione’s parents, however, temper their festive celebrations. But Ron Weasley is on the case…

It’s a Family Thing (ao3) - Asexual_Enjolras scorpius/albus, harry/ginny, hermione/ron, alice/james, astoria/draco, percy/oliver, mentioned sirius/remus G, 38k

Summary: It’s the Christmas holidays at Hogwarts, and Albus Severus Potter is still struggling with his separation anxiety, so Harry and Ginny invite Scorpius and Draco Malfoy to the extended Potter-Granger-Weasley family holiday at the Potter household. While Albus and Scorpius try to enjoy their time away from Hogwarts together, James Sirius and Rose continue to have their own relationship problems - and Draco struggles to build a relationship with his new extended family.

Basically, Albus and Scorpius try to survive a week with their families all trapped under one roof. There’s a lot of laughs, a lot of tears, and a lot of family feels.

love in a family dose (ao3) - dracculaura draco/harry T, 10k

Summary: He lays his head down on the table and groans again. The room is spinning just a little, and he can hear the ticking of the grandfather clock, the crackle of the fire. He hears Harry’s chair loudly scooting closer, all thoughts of keeping the children asleep gone.

Harry’s closer than expected when he speaks. “So you’ve never been in love?”

Draco looks up, and, like every cliché book he’s ever read, like every cheesy romance movie Pansy has dragged him to, without even thinking about how terrible it will be once the fallout comes, Draco answers by kissing Harry.

(or, the single dad christmas fic no one asked for)

One Fuzzy Christmas (ao3) - VioletBehaviour draco/ron N/R, 3k

Summary: Draco was determined to impress his boyfriend’s family during their first Christmas at the Burrow. Everything went alright, didn’t it? If only Draco could remember

Snowed In (ao3) - Leiria hermione/harry M, 4k

Summary: While driving back to the Burrow for Christmas, Harry and Hermione are forced to stay the night in a roadside motel due to a heavy snowstorm. The only problem is that there’s only one room available and it only has one bed. Harry and Hermione have been living together for a year, but they aren’t /together/. Will a night in a shabby motel room change all that?

The Best Christmas Present Ever (ao3) - ProximaShining lucius/narcissa, hermione/draco G, 9k

Summary: When their son Draco married the Muggle-born Hermione Granger, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy erased him from their lives. But how can the two proud pure-bloods keep their resolution when their little granddaughter is so cute? Especially when it’s Christmas time.

The choices we make (ao3) - UntestedFerns hermione/ron T, 4k

Summary: It’s Christmas eve, and some questions are asked by Hugo and Rose.

The Twelve Days of Yule (ao3) - MarsPotter, Yulefest hermione/fred, angelina/george, harry/ginny, luna/ron, + more T, 79k

Summary: Yuletide is the greatest holiday, in Hermione’s opinion, when spent with the Weasley family honoring all of their Yule traditions and mixing it up with some new ones too. It is a time of celebration and family time that lasts twelve days and nights. Little did she know that her favorite twin was planning to make this Yule one that she would never forget!

‘Tis the Season (to Wear Ugly Christmas Jumpers) (ao3) - persephoneapple draco/harry G, 10k

Summary: Finding the perfect jumper for Draco to wear to the Weasleys’ Christmas dinner is not going to be easy, especially when there are limited options and they are all terrible.

Unfortunate Timing (ao3) - debjunk hermione/snape M, 15k

Summary: Severus and Hermione fancy one another, but their timing is terrible, and every time one of them tries to ask the other out, something interrupts them. Will they ever get together?

Vigil (ao3) - Quartz hermione/fred G, 4k

Summary: “She’s at it again.” He slid over the arm of the sofa, coming back in for a cuddle with his girlfriend, for warmth of course. They really needed to fix the warming charms around the flat. “Apparently, Mum is trying to single-handedly revive every old magical tradition that exists.“

Or, where the Weasley’s celebrate Yule, and there is mulled wine and bonfire cuddles.

Working Late (ao3) - orpheous87 draco/harry, hermione/ron T, 3k

Summary: After a late raid, Harry and Ron decide to stop off at The Leaky Cauldron for a quick drink. Hermione and Draco join them for drinks and they end up reminiscing until late.

[thefallenangelsgang]

The Avantris Fam Discord got this a few days early, but, in a burst of academic energy I haven't felt in weeks, I wrote a 2k word Literary Analysis on Marius from Edge of Midnight in 4 hours (complete with citations and sources)

What you are about to read is the culmination of an 18 day hyper fixation (I averaged more than a session* a day) (*each session being about 3 hours in length). It has only been slightly edited for better Tumblr consumption. It is legitimately almost 2k words. It starts VERY academic (as I get to flex my knowledge on an obscure Arthurian legend I love) and then immediately drops off in quality as I traverse some "dubious psycho-analysis" (my own words) and try to wrap up a half finished thoughts that should be thousands of words longer.

If you want to see my active descent into madness or the original google doc this was written in, join the discord (linked above!). I've got massive Legends of Avantris Brain Rot and will for a very long time I fear.

TW for Sexual Assault Themes (please tell me if my tw tags are not extensive enough)

CW for my insufferable academic attitude, literary analysis where no one wanted it, "dubious psycho-analysis", half finished thoughts, DnD, vampires, and my sailors mouth

Marius: An Analysis on Chivalry and Chastity

Break to save your dash

To get the literary shit out of the way, Marius’s seduction is a parallel of the Arthurian Legend “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” intentionally or not. I have a sneaking suspicion perhaps The Duchess scene is also based on the “Tale of Sir Galahad” bit in Monty Python and the Holy Grail BUT that bit draws inspiration from Gawain’s story. So no matter which way you cut it, Marius is connected to Gawain to SOME degree.

Attempting to be brief, I’ll sum up Gawain as briefly as I, someone who loves this tale a ridiculous amount, can.

Gawain is King Arthur’s nephew, a knight of the round table, young, chivalrous, pious, but itching to prove himself. He loves the aging Arthur and Arthur loves him like a son but he feels restless in his station because he has not gone on a great quest like many of the other knights. 

Serendipitously, during the New Years celebrations a strange man enters Arthur’s great hall. He is green and carries a great axe in one hand and a bough of holly in his other. He challenges anyone in the room to hit him with the axe and he will return the blow in a year and a day. No one takes the man up on the challenge. Arthur is about to do it when Gawain takes his chance to prove himself. Thinking he can outsmart the Green Knight, Gawain cleaves the man’s head from his shoulders. Unexpectedly the Green Knight picks up his detached head, leaves the axe for Gawain as a trophy, and strides out of there with the reminder that he will return the blow in a year and a day. Gawain has effectively doomed himself.

Attempting to put off his fate, Gawain waits to seek the Green Knight until All Saints Day (November 1st). He is sent forth with all of the pomp and circumstance a Knight of the Round Table and favorite of King Arthur can get. He spends nearly two months seeking someone who knows of the Green Chapel where the Green Knight resides and is fruitless. Winter sets in and he begins to suffer exposure when he is greeted by a beautiful castle that seemingly appears out of nowhere. He meets the Lord of the Castle and the Lord's beautiful wife. In the spirit of Christmas the Lord challenges Gawain to a game. The Lord will be hunting the next three days, anything he catches is to be Gawain’s. In return Gawain is to give the Lord anything he receives during his stay.

Well what Gawain receives is a lot of unwanted attention from the Lord’s wife. She attempts to seduce the ever pious Knight. Gawain, minding his promise and his tenets, only allows her six kisses over the course of the three days. All of which he returns to the Lord. But seeing as she can’t sway him with the sins of the flesh, she tempts Gawain with magic. The same day she convinces Gawain to receive three kisses she offers him an enchanted sash that will keep him from harm. Gawain accepts this knowing it will save his life in the coming days. He breaks his promise to the Lord and does not divulge this gift.

Gawain keeps his appointment with the Green Knight who admonishes Gawain when he flinches at the first swing, holds back on his second, and finally drives home the third, only wounding Gawain slightly. Gawain now must confess his temptation to the Green Knight who tells him that it is not Gawain’s fault. This has all been a plan by Morgan le Fay to attempt to ruin Arthur. Gawain only fell to part of her plan and so it has been thwarted. He should learn from this stumble on his path. And learn he does.

Monty Python takes this tale and guts it for “the Tale of Sir Galahad” segment. Galahad is instead searching for the Grail when he stumbles upon a mystical castle with a grail shaped beacon. His temptress(es) are the “8 scores” of young women of Castle Anthrax. He too enters the castle sick from exposure and wounded and thwarts unwanted advances until he learns that the grail is not there. Before he can fall to his temptation Lancelot, Ector, and ironically Gawain rescue him from his “peril” judging it to be “too perilous” for him to face. (It is really important to note that the actual Sir Galahad in Arthurian Legend doesn’t have a story that even resembles this one. Galahad is supposed to be an emulation of good ol’ Jesus Christ and the perfect chivalric Knight. He literally ascends to heaven in his tale. The only reason Gawain’s Tale is used is because it is the perfect setting to test “Sir Galahad the Pure” as long as you fudge a few details.)

These are both humorous stories with happy endings. It is important that Marius’s story is not.

Marius is searching for the Grail much like Sir Galahad in Monty Python and the Holy Grail (a parallel Mikey brings up often by singing “Brave, Brave, Brave, Brave Sir Robin Marius”). 

Like both Gawain and Galahad his quest leads him on a lengthy adventure that causes him to suffer from exposure to the elements. A fate he is saved from by a mystical castle that appears out of nowhere. 

Much like Gawain and Galahad, this Castle is the home of a seductress. 

And all too much like Sir Gawain, the Lord of this Castle is away on a hunting expedition. 

But here is where Sir Gawain, Sir Galahad, and Sir Marius’s stories diverge. Because Marius’s story partially is a story of sexual assault. 

We see in the ritual that Marius’s “head is filled with exhaustion, wine, and a strange perfume that feels almost magical in its enchantment” (Nikkie’s narration, 2:32:00, Chapter 17). There’s literally no other way to say this, Marius cannot consent to the acts about to take place in The Red Duchess’s bedchamber. He is too sick, too drunk, and, on top of it, literally charmed. 

His affliction is also another facet of this assault. While his transformation is not a direct result or part of the sex act, it follows quickly on the heels of it. Nikkie even notes Marius is still naked and that the shame of what has just happened is beginning to bubble up.

(Now this is where I get into the dubious psycho-analysis)

Perhaps attempting to swallow that shame, he accepts the Faux Grail and drinks from it, not questioning the appearance of the so-called Grail of Dawn. If he can just get through this night he can bring it back to Victor and all will be righted. He can live with the shame if it saves his kingdom. 

But that isn’t the Grail of Dawn he is drinking from and the woman who has just taken something irreplaceable from him is not just a beautiful woman looking for the comforts of the flesh on a cold, lonely winter’s night. And he is going through something so much more horrible than being assaulted like he has been.

And so he ends up back in the cold, irrevocably changed through no fault of his own, and he hates himself for it.

It’s heartbreakingly common that Sexual Assault survivors blame themselves for being assaulted. Marius’s conviction that he was at fault, that if only he was stronger, smarter, less feeble, he could have found a way to say no. He could have escaped her clutches. He wouldn’t be a Dhampir. He wouldn’t be haunted by her noxious perfume. He would still have his clear connection to Lathander. 

None of it is really his fault. The Duchess took advantage of him. There was truly nothing he could have done to change his fate that night.

At this point I am trying to articulate some of the things @middycat_ @zer09851 and @purpledinosaurdnd were talking about here https://discord.com/channels/223485292449890305/892828741900849182/1182483200505815153 

I think I want to jump into my High Inquisitor thoughts because they tie so closely with the novel I wrote above. This section is admittedly a little more scatterbrained. 

The High Inquisitor is a perfect example of both Marius’s self loathing and the way abusers seemingly can sniff out who has been abused before. From the second we meet her she singles Marius out. While yes, Marius is the most “normal” out of the EoM cast, Jericho is a MUCH easier target. He is touch starved and his sin is literally Envy. Jericho would have bent immediately at the first hints of affection and then she has an actual demon under her control. But Marius, though a tougher catch, is a much tastier meal so to say. (Not in that way you freaks /j) 

By answering to the High Inquisitor’s beckoning is how we end up with Marius as the Crimson Abbot. His self hatred would make him spiral and he’d turn to his Wrath to compensate. We’ve seen it before, especially recently when he thinks Lathander has abandoned him. He gives in because it's so much easier. She wants me? Fine. Let her have me in all of my broken glory. I’m too wrong to serve Lathander. Etc etc. 

Man, I wish I could string these thoughts together better.

AHA! This was the thought I had that I felt needed more context! 

@middycat_ brought up “hoping beyond hope that it’s not lathander’s choice to leave him”

I think the severed connection between him and Lathander is both a subconscious self-sabotage and a direct result of the ritual binding him to The Red Duchess. 

Most of the binding rituals I was pretty comfortable with. Lethica, Briggsy, Farryn, and somewhat Yorgrim were simply binding themselves to their gods/patrons. (I’m still not entirely sure what the Maiden of the Mists' whole deal is about but she seems mostly benevolent for now. Mr Crossroads didn’t really make Briggsy that way, he kinda was a bastard from the start. The zombification was a result of “fuck around and find out”). The ones I felt least comfortable with and that are reaping the most consequences are Jericho and Marius. Jericho’s character analysis is another similarly sized tome that will have to wait but he is having a harder and harder time keeping Virgil in check. Marius has bound himself to the woman that literally raped him. 

No wonder Lathander has found it hard to commune with him, The Duchess is practically breathing down his neck, whispering in his ear that he is not worthy of Lathander. He has been debased, ruined, made unloveable in the eyes of that god. And at least up until Chapter 22 he has been pushing back against that. Not any longer. He’s given in. As @middycat_ said “he’s a tired old man, a jaded old soldier who should have long since given up this fight to someone else.” 

I am afraid we are about to see the beginnings of the Crimson Abbot

And the only thing that can save Marius are his friends.

But I am also afraid they may not learn their lessons in time. Many of them tried to encourage him to fuck or made fun of him for not fucking the High Inquisitor when he was clearly triggered by something. 

Jericho will have to quash his envy. 

Briggsy and Farryn will have to admit they were wrong.

Lethica and Yorgrim will have to speak up.

Inaction hurts as much as action

And Marius needs all the help he can get.

[If you stuck this out A) you deserve awards and B) check out my other 2k word research essay on a niche topic: Why Ghouls Look Different Across the Fallout Games (Not because of Stylistic Differences) ]

This is fucking insane but here are the sources i used

Sir Gawain

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Gawain_and_the_Green_Knight https://www.yorku.ca/inpar/sggk_neilson.pdf (Translation PDF if you want to read the tale)

Sir Galahad

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galahad (for the one time i reference his actual arthurian legend)

Monty Python (I really can’t believe I cited this)

https://montycasinos.com/montypython/grailmm2.php.html (This is a script I was quoting from) https://montypython.fandom.com/wiki/Sir_Galahad (I was looking for other info on him in the movie but ended pulling the list of knights from this)

Pretty basic article on why victims blame themselves

https://www.throughthewoodstherapy.com/sexual-assault-survivors-blame/ (In case you want to do some light reading)

EoM Episodes

17 + 22 Definitely Anytime the High Inquisitor shows up

[hhimring]

Berion's Song

@tolkienocweek A late post for Day 2 (OC and their relationship to a canon character) or an early post for Day 6 (background or minor OC)

Berion, captain of Barad Eithel under King Fingon, laments Fingon's death and the loss of his home.

My king dwelt in a northern land.

A tower among mountains green

was his, and on the eastern hand

long leagues of grassy plain were seen,

westwards a shore of silver sand,

the mist-wreathed forest-boughs between.

As through the northern summer night

the sunlight softly slipped away,

the orc and the uncanny wight

stole forth beneath the branches grey;

but when the king came and the light,

they fled away at break of day!

How oft I watched beneath the moon

my king gaze out over wood and lawn

or ride singing a merry tune,

until, his brand for battle drawn,

he fell, come a midsummer dawn. 

Who sees now if the mountains green

still cradle castle-ruins grey?

Who sees now if the boughs between

the lake-shore gleams each desolate day?

Above the slain, the grass is green.

They trod his banner in the clay!

This is an adaptation of the poem Romance by Andrew Lang, better known as the lyrics of Elgar's part song My love dwelt in a northern land.

More on my OC Berion:

Berion was born in Hithlum and first entered Fingon's service as a squire. He was devoted to Fingon and his father Fingolfin.

In my early stories, he features as a lovable but mildly comic background character, because he is well-meaning, enthusiastic and energetic, but doesn't always understand the complexities of the personal relationships between Fingon and his family very well.

As times darken in Beleriand, Berion becomes a tragic character. Although he does survive the Battle of Unnumbered Tears when Fingon and most of his army are killed in battle, he loses so many people and things he cares for! At this point, Berion also became the protagonist of one of my stories, set in Gondolin and surroundings: Above the Clouds

In Idril's service, Berion survives the Fall of Gondolin and eventually goes on to serve Gil-galad in Lindon.

[renegadesstuff]

KB & RC ♾️🤍

[katebeckets]

Im evil truly

Top 10 caskett episodes

oh thank you for saying 10 and also for saying caskett episodes and not just episodes. oh i'm so happy. oh my heart

3x01 A Deadly Affair - one of my faaaaavorite Castle episodes generally, but I just love the dance they're doing in this episode and how much Beckett loves having him there, she's come so far 🥹

2x12 A Rose for Everafter - one of my favorite scenes to watch is the "he's all yours" scene hehe

2x05 When the Bough Breaks - just the way Beckett really has to confront her feelings and how much you can tell she wants him to stay and all of that

4x07 Cops and Robbers - the LEAST subtle they have ever been. oh my god

5x22 Still - i love the way the flashbacks are done and it's the first I love you from Beckett and everything about it, the fact that Castle doesn't say it because it would definitely put pressure on her and he's already said it and she has to make the choice AND SHE DOES and just. gaaaah

5x04 Murder, He Wrote - vacation caskett 🥹

4x05 Eye of the Beholder - you know I love a good jealousy moment. you can add in the s2 and s4 two-parters as well

4x10 Cuffed - I mean. It's them handcuffed together. Perfect.

2x13 Sucker Punch - I rarely watch this episode, but the end scene is on my top caskett scenes of all time list, i think. it's just so important to me

4x24 Always - [incoherent screaming]

ask me my top 5 or top 10 anything!

[lcb2-radiohead]

"The castle was... dangerous," Victor said. "In poor condition. It always had been, as far as I can remember. But the first floor and the east tower were fine, if a bit drafty."

It was as if a layer of reality peeled away. The L-corp facade dissolved, and the castle returned to how it must've been when Victor was last here.

Another Victor ran past us, dressed in a tuxedo. He was younger, healthier, but no less haunted. A beautiful young woman in a white wedding dress dragged him behind.

"Come on, slowpoke!" Elizabeth said.

"Is this really a good idea?" the younger Victor said.

She smiled as she replied, "No, of course not! It's a terrible idea! That's what makes it fun."

Victor's eyes were not on his bride, but on everything else as she dragged him up the stairs. Halfway up, she pushed him against the wall and into a hungry kiss. He seemed shocked by it, and when they pulled back the real Victor was left behind looking heartbroken and ashamed.

At the top of the stairs, the bride turned and asked, "What's wrong? You can't be that nervous."

"It's not that, it's just..." the past Victor trailed off.

"We don't have to if you're that nervous," she said, suddenly serious.

"Oh, no! No! I want this as much as you do! More, even!"

Elizabeth turned to Victor, looking at the real one standing behind his past self.

"But you didn't, did you?" She said. "The wedding, breaking into the castle, everything... it was because I wanted it."

Victor was barely able to stand from the pain, let alone speak, as he gasped, "No... I... Elizabeth.... I wanted the world for you?"

"Then why did you kill me?" she said. There was a flash of light, and she was standing there neck broken, covered in blood from dozens of savage wound. Then both she and the younger Victor were gone.

"This was your fault!" Victor said, pivoting to where Adam stood. Surprisingly, Adam was not reveling in Victor's pain, but looking oddly distressed himself. "You did this, not me!"

"Yes. I did. I killed your wife on your wedding bed." Adam turned to me. "But you know how I kill. Quick and clean. No unnecessary suffering. Did that look clean to you?"

There was so much blood, I had to shake my head.

"It's fake." Victor said. "You have control of this place too."

"Not as much as you," Adam said. "I resonate with the bough too, but only through our connection. As soon as you walked through that gate you became the master of this castle."

<"Maybe we should open the bedroom door?"> I offered. <"There are surely answers in there...">

Within a second, the Bloody Bride was back, her neck snapped and her head hanging limp. The misshapen corpses surrounded her and with a horrifying scream she ordered the attack.