#Lakeside Murder Case

[shihlun]

There were a lot of Japanese films featuring Koji Yakusho at the front seat of the car, and Wenders' "Perfect Days" doesn't even rank in the top ten in my mind.

Masato Harada

- Kamikaze Taxi

1995

Kiyoshi Kurosawa

- Cure

1997

Yoshimitsu Morita

- Lost Paradise

1997

Shohei Imamura

- The Eel

1997

Kiyoshi Kurosawa

- License to Live

1999

Shinji Aoyama

- Eureka

2000

Kiyoshi Kurosawa

- Doppelganger

2003

Shinji Aoyama

- Lakeside Murder Case

2004

Kiyoshi Kurosawa

- Tokyo Sonata

2008

Jun Ichikawa

- Tadon and Chikuwa

1998

[silverbladexyz]

hello!!! I'd like to request some hcs for my believed Ayatsuji Yukito with a gn!reader who's not very good in things related to calculations, chem and all that but very well versed in creatives fields? like plays instruments, draws a lot and knows a lot of literary references :D thank u sm and have a nice day keke

Helloooooo!!! Reader is kind of like me; while calculations and chemistry and anything to do with maths is doable, I'm actually more of a creative person lmao.

The image used is not mine. It belongs to it's original owner.

TW: None

Ayatsuji with a GN!S/O who is well versed in creative fields

-Okay, well Ayatsuji teased you a lot at first about maths, science, just anything in that field which requires the left side of the brain

-Like he knows that he's smarter than most people, but he's never met a person who couldn't find the integral of 1/2x^2. Sometimes he wonders if he should get a tutor for you

-But one day you actually helped him solve a case, despite his impressions of you. Ayatsuji was ready to tear his hair out because he just couldn't get an impression of the perpetrator, but you actually managed to draw a very vivid and accurate picture of the perpetrator according to the witness's descriptions and clues

-This caused Ayatsuji to think twice of you. You'll find that after a little while, he would start asking you for your help on his cases. Your drawings were always accurate and never failed to help him catch the murderer. It wasn't long before he fell for your creative side

-When you two got into a relationship, he was curious about your creativeness, and often asked you about your hobbies. I feel like Ayatsuji is one to appreciate art and artistic talents, but he's never had that much time to admire art in general because of his occupation

-Play some pieces for him on your instruments! Doesn't matter if it's a Bach fugue or a nocturne by Chopin, Ayatsuji will love it, because he seems like the type to like classical music as it's more complex and fun to analyse. He likes listening to you play in silence, while sipping a coffee or gazing at the sunset. You even offered to teach him how to play your instruments, and he took you up on your offer, but he still prefers listening to you play

-I feel like Ayatsuji finds the trait of using literary references in appropriate places attractive. Like it makes the person seem more fancy and sophisticated, and he definitely likes people like that. So he might even have a battle of literary references with you sometimes just to see how much you knew actually he does that because he thinks your smexy when you’re saying them

-Also likes to look at your drawings when you’re done with them. Now he will actually critique them a bit, but he mostly praises you and tells you what a good job you’ve done. You drew him once and now Ayatsuji treasures that drawing forever

-Since you’re creative, Ayatsuji is so going to make dolls with you. Now you actually add some extra decorations and style to the dolls that you create, and it’s a fresh contrast to the usual dolls that are stored in his basement. He loves your creativeness when it comes to dolls, and he shows it to nobody else apart from himself

-Now he will actually try to teach you math, science, physics, just anything that needs logic to figure the answer out. While he will still tease you every now and then, he’ll be chill and find out how you learn the best. Also gives you breaks when he sees your brain about to explode from all the calculations

-Your strengths fit with his perfectly; him being logical and you being creative. With this mix, no criminal dares to go up against you two now. Talk about a soft power couple, am I right?

-You two are Tsujimura’s OTP and she is already making all the wedding cards and organisation for your marriage with Ayatsuji already invite me please

@pixyys @pianotross @nekokinax @i-just-like-goats @xxelfmamaxx @yuugen-benni @yukitomybeloved @sariel626 @lakeside-paradise @arisu-chan4646  @catzlivedforbsd

[fvntasmic]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒

⎯                 the peaceful small town of lake placid, adirondacks has been shaken by two murders in its recent history. the first one occurred a decade ago, leaving the town in a state of shock and fear. the victim was alyssa woods ⎯ the prom queen who vanished moments after getting her crown. her body was found face down in lake placid. despite years of investigation, the killer was never caught, leaving the residents with a sense of unease and suspicion. now, with the recent murder of mia bai, the town is once again in turmoil. the police are working tirelessly to solve the case and bring the perpetrator to justice, but the people of lake placid, adirondacks can't help but wonder if they are living amongst a killer. the once idyllic community is now plagued with fear and uncertainty, wondering if there will be another victim.

the lakeside murders is a 21+ private discord group about the mysterious deaths of alyssa woods and mia bai and the people of lake placid, adirondacks. the group is open to my tumblr mutuals + the mutuals of those in the server!

[disco-elysium-via-polls]

3. Read a case file.

LOGIC - It takes about half an hour to piece one together, using the system you've devised. Which one do you want?

THE NEXT WORLD MURAL

THE UNSOLVABLE CASE

THE SQUARE BULLET HOLE MURDERS

THE COUCH IN AN UNEXPECTED LOCATION

MURDER AT THE HOOKAH PARLOUR

I can revisit this. (Put the case files away.)

DAMAGED LEDGER - This one is relatively easy to reconstruct. Overnight on 12/02. a graffito -- nay, a mural! -- appears on an eight story tenement overlooking Central Jamrock. The building is a sparsely inhabited ghost tower, part of a failed real estate development called Grand Couron.

The mural is enormous. Two silhouettes -- a man and a woman -- are kissing. The text cut into their forms reads:

TRUE LOVE IS POSSIBLE ONLY IN THE NEXT WORLD -- FOR NEW PEOPLE IT IS TOO LATE FOR US WREAK HAVOC ON THE MIDDLE CLASS

People call it *that thing* and *that fucking thing*. It’s visible for miles. In two days the station's complaints desk gets clogged with requests to remove *The Bummer*. You and your partner are assigned to the case.

The graffito crew is easy to track down. Only the Belles Lettres have the *literage* of industrial paint to cover the surface. (One of the graffito artists is rumoured to be *rich*.) They take responsibility for the execution, but not the design. The ideologue of the *Next World Mural* -- as the crew calls it -- remains an unknown.

Wait, do I ever find out who came up with it?

Read on.

DAMAGED LEDGER - The case files do not show you finding the author of the design.

Read on.

DAMAGED LEDGER - The crew agrees to clean up after themselves. However, your partner -- JV -- is against the removal, citing public support for conservation. This leads to a debate in Precinct 41, which then spreads to the streets of Jamrock. Ending in a rare plebiscite -- organized by you and the rest of Row III.

The nine thousand people subjected to the mural’s message -- all of Lakeside (Central Jamrock) and Villalobos, plus half of the Eminent Domain -- participate in the vote. Although the case begins with what appears to be a lot of rumbling on the streets as to how juvenile and stupid the mural is, given a choice between two options...

A) REMOVE THE MURAL, IT IS WRONG

B) KEEP THE MURAL, IT IS RIGHT

DAMAGED LEDGER - A staggering seventy-eight percent of voters choose to keep it. Turns out the opposition were a loud minority. And that love truly is possible in the next world -- for new people. And it is too late for us.

[curlytheintrovert]

My Favorite Papa Joel Moments (Pt.8): The Finale!

🦠 It’s the sweetest, most tragic thing that while Ellie is so closed off, Joel is so open. He’s trying so unbelievably hard to get her out of her PTSD head space…and it’s kills me how little it helps. Joel has finally accepted his role as her dad, he’s raw and heartfelt, his voice and mannerisms are even softer, but Ellie is just gone. (And Joel openly talking about Sarah?! It’s such a testament to how he’s opened himself for Ellie) It’s not until the giraffe scene that we see Ellie come out from the darkness, which shows how heart shattering it is that Joel’s sweet attempts has been so ineffective. And even when Joel’s happily looks at her laughing, he pauses and looks heartbroken, like he knows. It’s clearly what compels him to try and convince her they don’t have to go through with the plan for a cure. He doesn’t want her to break anymore than she already has, showing how he has always prioritized Ellie’s emotional well-being.

🦠 For how emotional and devastating this series has been, Joel’s confession was the one moment that really made me tear up. Joel admitting to trying to commit suicide explains EVERYTHING about his character. It gave a full, complete picture of him in a way that’s breath taking. Sarah, and in turn fatherhood, truly was his purpose—when he lost both of them something fractured. And it fractured so hard he wanted to die. He loves hard and it explains so fucking beautifully why he tried so hard to push Ellie away at first. It explains why he’s capable of ruthless murder. It explains why he’s so closed off. And it explains why loving and protecting Ellie felt like his downfall. Joel already lived through his downfall once, and he lived in the miserable aftermath for years and years. But when he says “It wasn’t time that did it” and his eyes just shine with love, it reinforced to me why a suicide attempt makes so much sense on his part: He’s hopelessly devoted to and in love with his children.

🦠 Joel’s binge killing through the hospital…there are no words. When I rewatched it a second time it brought me to tears. In my previous pt. 7 post I addressed how bone chilling Pedro’s performance at Lakeside is when he’s silent and flat eyed. And that exact same look occupies his face throughout the entire scene. It’s terrifying. I don’t even know if I see this man blink. The way it’s shot is cinematically perfect: the tragic music, how you don’t fully see rebels faces and sound is muffled. We are in Joel’s head space, we live in it more than we ever have. But the music really makes you understand how horrific it is…your heart breaks for the rebels but also for Joel too. He loves his daughter so much that he doesn’t see people, he doesn’t feel anything, it’s just Ellie. That’s all there is for him. Honestly my favorite shot of the entire show is the bullet casings falling around his eerily steady, calm footsteps. Like his humanity is crumbling one bullet, one life, at a time…Yet the best parallel is the distinct way Joel carries Ellie, and by extension Saran, bridal style through a similarly horrific situation, but this time he redeemed himself no matter the cost.😭 He saved his girl!

🦠 Now for the ethical question everyone will be discussing: Did Joel do the right thing? My favorite thing in the tlou podcast is when Neil talked about the test players for the game and their thoughts on the ending. It was a 50/50 chance for those without kids and 100% of those with kids agreed with Joel’s choice. I personally am a parent and am completely in agreement! As a parent there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for your child and it’s painted so beautifully in this episode. Joel killing and lying to keep her alive would have seemed like nothing compared to losing her, and I uncomfortably have to agree. No parent should be excepted to just accept their child’s death (and especially if you knew you had the capability to stop it!) I’m so sad but so interested to see where our favorite tragic father-daughter duo will go from here…season 2 is gonna be a doozy!

[reidsdimples]

The First Time

Spencer Reid x Reader

The BAU helps you on a case, things get heated between you and Spencer.

Spencer takes your virginity 🤭

18+❤️‍🔥

You rock gently back and forth on the wooden porch swing. The night Is quiet, peaceful. Only a small breeze stirring up leaves to keep your thoughts of the day at bay.

It was over. The lakeside killer was dead. Thanks to the BAU, your small town of Rockwell can rest easy again. You can breathe. You’re one of two homicide detectives in the whole town and you’ve only been at it for a year- this case nearly destroyed you.

Kids.

Why kids?

It’s always kids they want to hurt. You blink back tired and sigh.

“Hey,” comes a soft voice followed by soft steps on the wooden porch. The BAU team is staying at the lodge, set for departure in the morning. It was the only accommodations the deportment could offer.

“Dr. Reid. I thought everyone was asleep,” you give him a half smile and sip your tea. He’s wearing his FBI jacket that seems unbelievably comfortable.

“Most of them are, I had no luck though,” he gives you a sympathetic grin. The three small bodies recovered today didn’t make the murderers death feel like a victory.

“Me either,” you shrug.

You know then just how much he gets it, pain recognizes pain. He feels it, he’s seen it. You pat the bench for him to sit next to you, he does so.

Talking to Spencer always reminded you of talking to an old friend. This was the second time you’d met him, though before was under better circumstances. You were relived he was the one who came outside and your stomach whirled when he sat beside you.

“I feel disgusting after today. The things we see… do you think they tarnish us?“ You ask him.

“We are a culmination of how we identify ourselves and thus present ourselves to the outside world. If you let it, it can consume you. It’s hard not to make these things apart of us, not to become some uglier version of ourselves,” he answers, fidgeting with his fingers.

“I’ll just have to take solace in knowing he can’t hurt anyone ever again,” you nod. You rub at the back of your neck, the tension in your head pounding.

“There are actually a few pressure points to more adequately elevate headaches, here I’ll show you,” Spencer says. He prompts you to turn from him on the swing. You swallow, unable to say anything. Is he about to touch you?

“This…” his long fingers drape over your shoulders, his thumbs pressing into the base of your neck. “Is known as the shoulder well.” He adds more pressure and moves his thumbs in a circular motion. The tension trailing up your neck warms and starts to ease.

He continues to press into the spot that seems to force your entire body to relax. His hands working skillfully I so the muscles, his fingertips grazing over your collarbones. Somehow a small moan slips out and you hope he doesn’t hear it. Only he pauses, falters in his rhythm. He heard you.

“They call this the gates of consciousness,” his voice is lower. His hands move up your neck, his thumbs at the base of your skull. His touch sends shivers and electricity through you. Your nipples harden but he can’t know that. He presses into the space between your tense neck muscles, willing the tension into submission. It works.

“Spencer,” his name slips out and your head lulls back towards him. The blinding headache has subsided. All you can think about is his hands on you.

The warmth in his fingers as he grips your neck to hold your head up, his suddenly noticeable body heat in the space between you, and his scent all become overwhelming.

His hands move from your neck to your head, his middle fingers gently rubbing your temples. Then somehow you find that you’re leaning back into his chest. His hushed breathing steady, he doesn’t seem to mind.

The swing sways gently, only one of his legs on the ground to steady it. His other leg folded beneath you. He stops his massaging and lays an arm across your chest, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. He squeezes your shoulder reassuringly while his other hand brushes through your hair. You close your eyes and take in the sensation of his touch while the wind chimes play softly in the autumn breeze.

You’ve never been touched this way, never felt the warmth gather between your legs at a man’s actions. It’s new, you welcome it.

“You’re beautiful in the moonlight,” he hums as he mindlessly runs his fingers through your hair. It takes you off guard, leaving you feeling exposed as your cheeks heat.

You squirm against him but manage to look upward at him. He looks down at you, the top of your head against his chest as you strain to see him. He’s breathtaking. You reach up and touch his face, grazing his jawline with your fingertips. He clenches it, attempting to maintain some modicum of control.

If you weren’t you, if you weren’t inexperienced, you would invite him to bed. You can’t do that though, you’ve never had sex. It would surely be awkward. You sigh and drop your hand, the need turning into agony in the pit of your stomach. You won’t ask that of this brilliant man. You sit up and break contact with him altogether.

“What’s wrong?” He placed a hand on your thigh, looking at you through concerned brown eyes.

“I-“ you pause. You don’t know how to tell him you want him, much less that you’re a virgin. You don’t want any pressure placed on him. You just shake your head, words failing you. You stand from the swing look off of the porch into the night.

He moves quietly to stand behind you, you stop breathing when his tall lean frame closes around you. His arms wrap you into him and he sways gently.

“I know we should keep this professional,” he whispers in your ear. His breath brushing your neck and making you come alive. “But you drive me crazy.”

His words are clipped, hurried, hushed, and needy. He turns you to face him and before you can respond, you’re leaning up to meet his kiss. His hands grip your face, his mouth invading yours hungrily. You twist your fists into his shirt, a couple of the buttons popping open as you pull him closer. Both of you desperate for touch, for comfort.

His hands fall and find your waist, gripping tight, before traveling up your shirt.

You inhale sharply and jump, sensitive to his touch. A foreign delicious sensation sweeping over you.

He pauses and stares into your eyes, his own blown wide with need.

“Have you never been touch before?” He speaks softly.

You shake your head ‘no’ shyly. He grins and leans down to kiss you delicately. He intertwines his fingers with yours.

“Follow me,” he instructs and leads you quietly back into the massive lodge where everyone is staying.

He pulls you playfully behind him up the wooden stairs, his finger length hair falling messily as he walks. Your eyes trace his long legs, taking in how his pants hug his waist. Your mouth waters, actually waters.

Finally you’re in his room, it’s almost completely dark save for the sparse moonlight trickling through the drapes.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” You ask him as he closes the space between the two of you.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” He seems perplexed.

“Maybe,” you giggle.

“I want to make you feel good, I’ll go as far as you’re comfortable taking this,” he tilts your chin up to kiss you.

“I just don’t want to put pressure on you because I’ve never…” you trail off.

“You’re not,” he reassures you. He steps forward, his hands resting on your hips, prompting you to walk backward.

The backs of your knees find the bed and he guides you down into it. You exhale softly when he pushes your shirt up, hands gliding over your skin.

“So soft,” he praises and plants a kiss on your stomach. He’s kneeling between your legs, planting whispers of kisses across your stomach from one hip bone to the other.

He yanks your pants down abruptly and slides your panties down with them, discarding them.

You immediately feel exposed and squeeze your legs closed. But then his hands are trailing up your legs from your ankles to your thighs. It sends waves of euphoria over your body and you arch your back when he parts your legs once more.

“You don’t have to hide,” he plants a kiss on your inner thigh. You groan and squirm beneath him.

He pulls your legs onto his shoulders before reaching up and squeezing your breasts hard. He looks breathtaking between your legs, drawing out your moans as he rolls your nipples between his fingers.

“Spencer,” you beg. His breath fans across your vagina in a sweet tortuous way that stirs a need so intense that your eyes roll back.

He slides his fingers down your slit, a noise of appreciation comes from his throat when he finds you wet. He coats his fingers in it before slowly pressing his middle finger into you. It’s new, but it feels so good. You tense up in anticipation.

“Relax, it’ll feel better,” he coaches and pushes into you further. “You’re so tight,” he muses.

He slowly moves his long middle finger in and out and brings his tongue down to your clit. You cry out as pleasure envelopes you. He sucks hard and curves his finger upward causing you to buck against him. You moan as his tongue and finger drive you wild, beckoning closer to the edge.

“Fuck,” you cry and grind against his face. You’ve never felt so good, you didn’t know pleasure like this existed.

He dips his tongue into with his finger and trails it back up to your clit.

“So sweet,” he praises against you and continues his torture.

You are wound so impossible right that it’s almost painful, he has you moaning and crying out into the room. Your legs are shaking around his head and he only picks up the pace with his finger.

“Shhh, don’t wake the others,” he warns. His words coming out between lapping at your cunt cause you to cum with a restrained groan.

You shake against him and he removed his finger, pleased with himself. His grin drives you crazy so you grab him by his collar and pull him on top of you.

“Mmmm,” he moans. “What do you want me to do to you now?” He hovers above you and nips at your neck with his teeth. You feel his cock straining against his pants, prompting you to reach down and unbuckle his pants.

Your need for him is so primal, so singular, that you can’t focus on anything else. He helps you and pulls his pants partially down.

He pushes your legs back, opening you wider for him.

“Remember what I said, focus on relaxing,” he instructs. You nod, biting your lip which he notices. He kisses you hard, sucking your bottom lip into his mouth.

He pushes his cock against your entrance, pressing in gently. Your breathing hitches as your body begins to expand around the head of his cock. He’s not even in yet, but it burns.

Spencer grips your hair, moving slowly as he eases himself into you.

“Ah,” you wince.

“It’s okay baby, you can take it,” he reassures you. “Breathe,” he whispers.

When you exhale slowly he pushes in further. You feel it the moment your hymen breaks with a sharp sting but then he’s able to push himself in further.

That slight pain gives way to intense pleasure and then he’s inside of you completely. He shudders and a moan erupts from deep inside of his chest.

He pulls his hips back, working his cock out of you before pushing himself back in.

“You feel so good,” he grunts and links his fingers with yours.

Your hands are linked above your head, he thrusts into you slowly and desperately. The sounds of your moans feel the room and entangle with his breathy whimpers. His other hand grips your thigh as he rolls deeper and deeper into you.

Raw pleasure consumes you until you know nothing but the connection of your bodies, his breathing, his cock beckoning you to the edge.

“You’re doing so good,” he moans. Your free hind curls into his hair, forcing him to look eyes with you.

His mouth falls open as he rocks in and out of you. You lose yourself in him, you lose the ability to restrain your moans. He crashes his mouth into yours, absorbing the sounds. He tastes like mint and salt. He tastes delicious and your tongues fight for dominance. Your hips thrust upward to meet he’s rhythm and you think you’re going to cum again.

You didn’t think you’d be able to because of the pain but it’s too good, he’s too good.

“Spencer,” you break the kiss and shatter as he pauses so you can ride your orgasm out against him. Fuck.

“So pretty cumming for me,” he whispers breathlessly. “I’m gonna-“ he grunts and pulls partially out of you.

You feel him shudder, his cock pulsing, and then you feel his warmth flood you. He pulls out the rest of the way, allowing his cum to pour out of you. He watches in awe for a moment, his tongue darting across his bottom lip.

His short hair is tousled, his forehead beading with sweat, and his lips are plump and raw from kissing you.

“Let me run you a bath,” he offers. You drag the blanket over yourself and smile when you nod.

He stands to his full height, tugs his pants up, and leans down to kiss you.

“You did so good,” he grins and disappears into the bathroom.

[whatyadrawin]

Crystal Lake Shadows 18+ Only! Ch 5

Masterlist

Approximately 2,356 words

Pairing: Jason Voorhees x AMAB character

Warnings: Violence, strong language, strong sexual themes

A/n: This is a slow ass burn, but the scary levels of the writing was sort of taking over. Let me know if you got scared too or if I'm just a wuss.

Chapter 5

                Sergio slowly opened his eyes to the bright morning sun beaming into his room, the sound of birds chirping happily was very audible and made him feel peaceful. The night before had left him tossing and turning for hours, thinking of the things that Rob had mentioned about the camp killer. Sergio could not even fathom a man 8 feet tall and overly muscular, keeping muscle on his own 6-foot frame was difficult enough as it is, he couldn’t imagine someone that tall being capable of all that bulk… if it was even true.

There was still a lot of assessment to be done at the lakeside property, Sergio gets himself ready and packs up his tools to bring down to the lodge. He walked past the storage closet and paused, his knife was in there, he would normally take his gun but, since the first trip to the lodge, it had gone missing, so he grabbed the knife. The drive to the property was similar to the last time, the sun was bright and made the surroundings shine with a welcoming warmth. As he began to pull up to the property he felt a strange feeling in his core, an uneasiness that felt like a small stone deep in his chest.

Sergio parked in the front as close as he could and stepped out, he looked around to see if he was alone. The trees were dense and the plants were overgrown so even if he looked really carefully, he wouldn’t be able to make out any shapes, which made the feeling in his chest worse. Sergio walked in through the door and started making his final evaluations, he took some photos and began working on a new design for the upstairs bedroom. He looked around the dust covered room which was left untouched after the previous owners left, he saw a knot hole in the wood floor that looked like there was extra space underneath. He knelt down to peer through the hole and saw something fluffy, like an old browned fabric. That’s so weird, is that a… plushie? Sergio was told the previous owners were a couple with adult offspring so a plush is very odd and out of place, the plank was slightly loose and hard to lift without a proper tool.

Sergio quickly made his way downstairs to his toolbox to grab a crowbar but the feeling in his gut suddenly grew colder and heavier. He stopped before the last step and listened, the outside world was as silent as a padded room, the only thing he could hear was his own breathing and the thumping of his heart. The feeling washed away after a few minutes and the birds outside started chirping once again, Sergio took a deep breath in and immediately looked around in case whatever caused the silence was still around. There was no one in the house, no one outside, and the doors were exactly as he had left them, he went to grab the crowbar from the toolbox and thought to himself What is it about this forest that feels like a looming darkness? Did a wild predator just pass by the house? Sergio refused to believe a crazed giant murderer was on the loose and wandering the lakeside as Rob liked to preach about, for his own sanity he would remain ignorant to the possibility.

Once back upstairs, Sergio got to work lifting the plank where the fluffy item was hiding; The effort needed to pull this plank up was tremendous and once he threw his whole body into it the plank lifted and a puff of dust wafted up into the room. Sergio coughed and waved his hand to clear the air and he squinted as he looked at what was underneath, an old teddy bear. The toy was so matted and worn, it had a button eye that didn’t match the other side as if it was sewn back on after damage took the original. He lifted the bear and looked over it, this little guy was well loved, who would hide it away like this? He brought the toy with him downstairs and placed it in his toolbox carefully, ensuring that it couldn’t get damaged further.

Sergio worked the rest of the day making design sketches and looking around the rooms, he got so entrenched in his work that he skipped lunch and didn’t realize how dark it got. Sergio started packing up his stuff to get out of the area before the sun would fully set, the forest made him feel extremely uneasy and he didn’t want to get into a bad situation. Once he stepped out of the front door, he turned to lock it up, the keys were stuck in the bottom of his pant pocket and he was struggling to retrieve them when suddenly he got a weird feeling he was being watched. Sergio looked around and couldn’t see much but the feeling really freaked him out, he finally got the keys free and quickly locked the door and ran to his truck. Once he shut his truck door, he locked it and started the engine up, the headlights lit up the forest and revealed a white-tail deer a short distance in front of him Jesus! I am getting all freaked out over a little deer? What is wrong with me? He laughed to himself and remembered the little raccoon that caused him to flip his lid in fear for no reason the day before.

The deer was standing so still it appeared as if it was fake, Sergio looked a little perplexed and decided to pull out to leave in case it was his lights scaring the little doe. He started slowly driving up to the path when he looked in his rearview to check if the deer bounced away, but he notices a strange shape in the house, a very large black shadow. He slowed down to look at the shadow, his eyes widened and he starts tearing up from the fear of not knowing what that massive shadow is, chills ran all the way through his body and the longer he looked the more the shadow distorted and started to look like… a man’s body.

Slamming down on the accelerator, Sergio blasted his way up the dirt road and he didn’t look back as he drove all the way back to the apartment as fast as he could manage, the whole way he kept repeating aloud

“What the fuck!? What the FUCK!?”

Once he arrived at the apartment, he turned off the engine and sat just staring at his steering wheel, tears streaming down his face. What the fuck was that thing? Was that Jason? I can’t go back there, I can’t! The café seemed to be full of patrons, and there were some people hanging out outside smoking. The crowd noises and bright street lights calmed Sergio down a bit as he felt he was out of danger now. He breathed a relieved sigh and got out of the truck to head up to his apartment, once he got to the upper floor, he noticed Marina was just leaving her apartment, when she turned around and saw him her face gave a worried look.

“Are you ok? You look like you’ve been crying?” she said in a calming tone

Sergio looked at her and forced a smile “Oh don’t worry about me its nothing, just allergies to all the flowers out in the woods” hoping she would buy the lie

Marina squinted her eyes at him and asked “Did you eat yet? You were out all day”

He walked over to his door and quietly replied “I haven’t eaten since the morning; it’s been a very busy day for me but I will scrounge up something in the fridge”

Marina did not look enthused, she put her hands on her hips and said “Listen hon, I’m heading back down to the café, I just needed to grab some extra soap for the kitchen why don’t you come back down with me and get something good to eat, it’s on me”

Sergio smirked and said “I really appreciate that but, tonight I need to be alone … I just feel tired from work today”

She rubbed his back a little and gave a concerned smile “I understand, I will bring something up here for you, I won’t be taking no for an answer! I get the feeling you need some comfort food tonight”

Sergio nodded and thanked her and she took off down the stairs. He opened the door to his apartment and shuffled in, he dropped his toolbox to the floor and went directly into the bedroom to flop down on the bed and close his eyes. Every time he started to drift off to sleep he felt a rush of fear and woke up, it happened four more times until he got fed up and just went over to watch the tv, maybe some shows will calm my nerves a bit so I can rest As he slumped into the recliner, he grabbed the remote and turned on the tv, the shopping channel was on and the mindless talking of the hosts made him feel a bit more at ease, until he heard a knock on the door which startled him.

A voice could be heard from behind the door saying “Hey, its Marina can I come in?”

He called over “Yeah its open come on in”

She opened the door gently and shut it behind her, she made her way over to him with a large brown paper bag. The smell of fried food immediately wafted in the room and Sergio’s stomach growled as if it just remembered it was empty. She lay down the bag on the coffee table and went into the kitchen to grab some plates and pour some water.

She opened the fridge and huffed “You have the emptiest fridge I’ve ever seen”

Sergio groaned and said “I think I only bought enough food for the first two days I was here, woops”

Marina walked back over with a plate and a glass of water, she sat in the chair next to Sergio and said “Well, there should be enough leftovers in there for your lunch tomorrow. You better eat up; I could hear your stomach complaining from the kitchen”

He leaned over the table and opened the bag to reveal a hamburger and fries, a container with mashed potatoes and gravy, some coleslaw, a Cesar salad, and some wrapped paninis. His face lit up at all the amazing food in front of him and he said “Marina, this is way too much! How much do I owe you?”

She smiled “I told you, it’s on me”

Sergio opened his mouth in shock “Why are you doing this? It’s so nice! I’m really surprised”

She said “You’re a really kind and handsome man; you can repay me by letting me know what happened today that make you cry.”

Sergio looked down at the food, he let out a sigh “I think I saw Jason”

Marina widened her eyes “What? Are you sure?”

He put his face in his hands and rubbed “I have no idea, maybe I was tired it’s been a weird day”

Sergio proceeded to tell Marina about the weird feelings he was having and the strange silence that hit the forest and then the shadow in the lodge; her face scrunched like she was freaked out but also trying to make sense of the information. He started to eat slowly and his eyes started to sting again from having to recount the experience so soon after it happened. Marina held his hand and gently caressed it, saying

“It’s ok to be freaked out, I would be too after all that weird stuff. I think you may have just been hallucinating from working all day with no food; and the forest being quiet must have been a bear or a coyote” she was doing her best to calm him and make sense of the things he experienced.

Sergio felt a lot calmer after that, he chose to believe the rationale and as soon as the fear and anxiety started to fade, he started digging into the food. Marina smiled and giggled

“I’m happy to see your appetite is making an appearance, you’ll feel a lot better after you eat”

Marina got up and made her way to the door saying “I have some annoying news for you unfortunately”

Sergio lifted his head to look at her “Hm?”

She rubbed the back of her head “So um, Rob said he’s gonna visit the lakeside property while you’re there”

He rolled his eyes and groaned “What’s that guys deal? Do you think he is going to try and fight me?”

Marina shrugged “I think he wants to try and spot Jason, and since there is another strong man out there that he likes… well, he won’t be so scared. He’s obsessed with seeing Jason, I think he just wants to feel vindicated in his ramblings”

Sergio sighed “Well, I’m glad I have that to look forward to; might be nice to not be alone, I guess. Hey thanks for the food, and the chat, it was helpful”

Marina headed for the door “Anytime friend, good night”

After she shut the door, Sergio finished his dinner and not only felt satisfied, but a lot less stressed out. As he began getting ready to go to bed, he couldn’t help but think about the shadow he saw, he swore he wasn’t hallucinating but it was so far away and so dark that it could have even been a bear that found its way in somehow, and stood on its hind legs it just looked so much like a man’s body… I must have just been so hungry I imagined it… I hope. He got into bed and kept the light on for comfort, within seconds sleep washed over him and a slew of nightmares followed. Another long night.

[wynterlanding]

Cult Classics ! Weird Wishes From The Underground !

THERE'S A MAN WITH NO LIFE IN HIS EYES !!!

Cabin retreats gone wrong! Our muses venture to an isolated hideaway in a beautiful forest retreat equipped with a killer local legend. Said killer may or may not have offed some teens the following year. Hence why filming a documentary / camping in this little lakeside vacation spot may prove to be more than bargained for. Consider our masked cryptid to be more real than you EVER imagined. And they're stalking our muses right now! They might be donning a hockey mask OR an old sack over their head. Hell they might even be the least expected person to be said murderer. Let's see if our muses can survive in time to find out!

themes: Friday the 13th. Sleepaway Camp.

TONIGHT WELL MAKE LOVE TIL WE DIE !!!

Life's a party! Then you die! Or in this case our muses are faced with death in every direction. A night gone wrong to say the least. We start with a rather normal morning that leads up to an unexpected incident at the local mortuary. Anybody ask for some acid rain? Our muses sure didn't. Nor did their friends (npcs who are sure to kick the bucket in no time!) but when a chemical disaster resurrects the dead WHILE our muses are attending a party / attempting to get to said party their detoured with a little shambling monster problem.

themes: Return of the Living Dead. Dawn of the Dead. Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things.

I DONT WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE AGAIN !!!

Our muses move into a new beautiful colonial home. We might be having a great time to start. Hell, it's probably our dream home. Come on! The only bad thing is there's a cemetery a hop, skip and jump away from our newly owned piece of land. That's fine though cause nothing bad will ever. Except when an unlikely accident occurs ending the life of one of our muses (or their family members). It's still OKAY THOUGH because we're told about the special spot in the cemetery that totally is not part of some ancient burial. No, it's totally not a place to bury your recently deceased love one to bring them back to life. The thing is that is exactly what happens. One muse ultimately dies and comes back - the wrong way.

themes: Pet Semetary. Sometimes They Come Back. The Monkeys Paw

WE'RE DEMON SPEEDING !!!

Our muses receive complimentary tickets to a lavish movie theater in order to view a mysterious film screening! Sounds like a great time, right? Especially with the promotion being an odd mix of intrigue and hidden repercussions for both muses and fellow movie going patrons in attendance. The film in question is a horror fare focusing on a relic in the form of a mask, discovered among the ruins of a city following a demonic kind of disaster. Funny how that prop in the lobby looks exactly like said mask. The company who made that must be authentic. Or maybe it's the real thing. More real than our muses or anyone inside the theater expect. When one one unfortunate patron dons our grotesque prop they get quite a scratch on their face. Oh wait. Looks like it's become infected. They're not themself! They've scratched another patron! Looks as though our muses are trapped with survivors as a horde of demons run amok. Weird how there are no more doors leading to an exit, huh? Can our muses escape or will be turned next?!

themes: Demoni. Night of the Demons.

MORE TBD

[aether-wasteland-s]

An audience with the queen

Summary: ten years after leaving, Leon and Theo have returned to the kingdom of Leon's heritage, and are almost content to start life again... And all would be well if Theo wasn't a convicted criminal, and if the queen didn't want to see him about a personal matter

Warnings: mentions of death

Masterpost

General taglist (ask to be +/-): @on-noon , @lakeside-paradise , @bardic-tales , @365runesofwriting , @dogmomwrites , @elijahrichardwrites , @j-1173 ((+ @queenofimaginedworlds ))

Note: Leon and Maisie aren't my characters, they belong to @chuuyas-beloved , but this au was created by the both of us and they said I could write this

--

“Uh, Theo?”

Leon hadn’t previously realised how nervous a person could get after hearing only one sentence, but now he understood perfectly how terrifying it was. He wandered the palace halls, contemplating exactly how he was going to give that message. The queen- his sister, Maisie, had requested a private audience with Theonidus, once the kingdom’s most notorious gossip case, now Leon’s closest friend.

He’d escaped into this kingdom after a sentence of banishment from his own. The worst part about that was that he was branded a criminal for four murders that he didn’t commit. In their travels, he’d made that much entirely obvious, and Leon worried for him. If he returned to his own kingdom, he’d likely be killed on sight, but if he returned to Leon’s kingdom while the king was still on the throne, he’d be tortured into revealing that Leon wasn’t coming back.

Leon took a breath and knocked on the door to the room where Theo was staying with his partner, Niko. Theo hadn’t wasted time in answering the call, and now stood before an apprehensive Leon.

They’d been gone from this kingdom for a decade now. Back then, when they left, Leon was a boy of 11, and Theo was narrowing in on 29. Now, on their return, Leon had reached adulthood and Theo was nearing 40, though fate had let him age like a fine wine, and he hardly looked older than he had.

He blinked, glancing at Leon in concern. “You look worried, is there something wrong?”

“Yeah, uh… The- the queen requested an audience with you… Alone.”

Theo’s heart sank. He knew this would happen sooner or later, but he wasn’t quite expecting it this soon. “Oh shit…” his breath caught in his throat. “Your sister is remarkably fast. For that, I have to commend her.”

“What- what will she do to you?”

“If I’m lucky, I’ll be forced out again. If not… Well, you know the worst case scenario.”

“No… She- she wouldn’t, would she?”

“She can do as she pleases, Leon…”

Leon couldn’t help the way his eyes widened. Theo’s all too calm tone wasn’t helping matters in the slightest. How was he okay with this? How could he be so calm presently? “Let me come with you!” He tried, but Theo shut him down straight away.

“I can’t let you do that. I’d get you into enough trouble for aiding and abetting.” he sighed, sparing a brief glance towards Niko. He’d done enough damage as it was, and the last thing he wanted was to get those he cared about in further hot water.

“But you’re not a criminal!”

“That won’t make a difference if she’s already made up her mind about me.”

Leon huffed. “Fine. But I will see you again, right?”

“You can hope. I too can warrant a bit of hope that I may see you again… But you know it’s not guaranteed.”

A rush of something overcame Leon then, and he rushed to pull Theo into a hug, a gesture that was returned without hesitation. Should this really be the last time they saw each other, Leon would prefer to have the memory of this embrace to last. After all, Theo had been like a father to him, more so than the man he should call father, anyway. If he had been told of this audience from his sister personally, he'd have begged her to be merciful. For all he knew, she could be exactly like their father: a cold, unforgiving soul whose only mercy came from death.

As soon as this embrace was broken, Theo walked on, and his heart started swimming with dread the longer he travelled. Leon's father had thought him an unsalvageable criminal since he was forced to admit his story. Now, the king was dead, but as far as he was aware, that may not have stopped this endeavour.

He was fully expecting to have to fight for his own case. He was expecting not to be believed. More than anything, he was expecting to have to leave, or have to run to escape an inevitable death.

Needless to say, he was terrified, but strangely, not of the prospect of death.

He approached the throne room and hesitated in stating his name to the awaiting guard. He disappeared, and when he returned, he stood at the open door and granted Theo passage.

His boots echoed far too loud off the polished floor, pounding in his ears. The door slammed behind him, and he flinched, but didn't turn back. With an ever increasing sense of terror, he approached the queen, who looked far too much like Michael for his liking.

“Theonidus Alberic, I presume?” She hummed, and he couldn’t help but notice how sweet her voice sounded.

He nodded, bowing formally. “Yes, your majesty. I heard you wanted to see me?”

“Indeed I do. You see, I have been curious about this for some time. My father used to mention you on occasion. Is it true that you came into this kingdom on a banishment?”

Theo’s cheeks prickled with an embarrassed flush. “Y-yes… Yes, that’s… that’s true.”

“How did that come to be?”

“If I may, it wasn’t my fault…” There was no point in trying to defend himself, but he saw enough of an opportunity to try. He didn’t know how she’d react, but he wasn’t expecting her to lean forwards in interest and raise an eyebrow.

“It wasn’t? Do go on, Mr Alberic. I have only heard the outsider’s perspective on this tale, perhaps your side of things will be an insight.”

Theo was ultimately stunned by her offer to hear him out, and wondered for a moment whether she was being serious. When it came to pass that she was, and that she was actively giving him permission to tell his story, he straightened up and began. He made a point of going sparingly with the details, but told the whole story of how he heard people engaged in a violent fight, and how, by the time he intervened, it was too late. A friend of his had gotten involved in the fight, and had died in doing so. The only reason he was caught with blood on his hands was because he had tried to save his friend, but to no avail.

Maisie listened with full intent all the way through. This man didn’t deserve the fate he got, and she had to commend him for the years he kept her brother safe. “What was your friend’s name, Mr Alberic?”

“Crow, ma’am, Allicus Crow.” Theo sighed. “He was a good man, undeserving of the fate he was dealt.”

“Much in the same way as you, Mr Alberic.”

“I’m sorry?”

Maisie smiled kindly, holding back a laugh at his surprise. “Sir, you seem to me a man of ill fate. This- as your banishment was- is unbecoming of you.” For a moment, she thought, and then continued. “As such, what would you say if I were to fully expunge your criminal record and guarantee you a life of freedom with your partner?”

If Theo wasn’t surprised before, he was ultimately shocked now. He stammered over a response for what felt like ages. She knew about Niko. they’d been in perpetual danger the whole time.

Only… They weren’t.

Because not only was Maisie lifting all condemnations on him, but she was giving him the freedom to love them as he had for years now.

She was letting him go.

“I dont… I don’t understand, your majesty.” he managed through the confusion and the slights of his own elation.

“Do you not think yourself worthy of freedom?”

“I had hoped for such a mercy, but i never thought it attainable. You’re serious about the offer?”

“Of course I am, Mr Alberic,” Maisie laughed ever so slightly. “You are an innocent man, and deserve to be recognised as such.”

Theo grinned, deciding not to fight the impulse. He couldn’t manage most of the words he wanted to say, but did stammer out a rather profound thanks. “There is nothing that would make me more glad. I owe you my life for this.”

“You kept my brother alive. You owe me nothing, not after what you have already done. Now, please, go tell my brother and your partner that you have no plans to die in the foreseeable future.”

Without wasting a moment, Theo uttered yet another thanks in Maisie’s direction and wandered out of the doors with his head held high, strangely elated. This girl was nothing like her father, and that, if nothing else, was a step in the right direction.

Once he was out of the reach of the queen’s guards, he started running, and didn’t stop until he reached Niko and Leon, who were both waiting in anticipation for his return.

Niko saw him first, and straightened up, worry creasing their brow. “Theo, thank god… How’d it go? Wait-” they could see his face and the way he was trying to conceal a smile. He was relaxed- relaxed? And that was a telltale sign of things going strangely well… “Good news, I’m guessing? How?”

“I can’t get anything past you, can I?” Theo chuckled. “No, it’s good news… But I couldn’t tell you how.”

“Good news?” Leon chimed in, “what did she say?” He was still worried; how did Niko know that it was good news? Besides the fact that they were incredibly smart, these things often went unexplained when it came down to them.

“Well, she believed me. She actually believed me… And she claimed that she could expunge the criminal record and give you and I the freedom of the kingdom!”

Niko’s eyes went wide, and Leon couldn’t help the cheer that followed the revealing of that news. He got up and rushed to properly pull Theo into the room.

“You did great,” Niko hummed, taking him by the hand. “Though, I have to ask, what did you have to do to get her to believe you?”

Theo ran through exactly what he had said in the audience, and attempted to cover up his very obvious nervousness in the face of the queen, but he couldn’t hide it all.

“I thought that would be it. I thought I was done for. But then she gave me that option, and I don’t know how I kept myself together.” he explained, too overcome with relief to care about his own slip ups.

“What I’m hearing is that you’re really not a criminal anymore.” Leon looked up hopefully, and was elated to find Theo nodding in response.

“Not according to your sister, and I would say that it was up to her at the end of the day, wouldn’t you?” Was that supposed to be as surreal as it was? Technically, he was never a criminal in the first place, this shouldn’t feel like a relief. Getting caught with Allicus’ blood on his hands was one thing, but spending the last decade “pretending” that he wasn’t a criminal was another thing entirely.

Those fake identities would stick with him forever. He was incredibly lucky that nobody knew what the supposed criminal Theonidus Alberic actually looked like. He could get away with changing his name.

Now? Now he didn't have to.

[dollycas]

Cozy Wednesday featuring Murder Marks the Page (A Tomes & Tea Mystery Series) by Karen Rose Smith #Review / #Giveaway @karenrosemith @KensingtonBooks

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday! I am happy to share my thoughts about Murder Marks the Page today! Murder Marks the Page (A Tomes & Tea Mystery Series) Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - New York Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies (March 26, 2024) Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496747038 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496747037 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C9W41D6H The first in a new series spun off from the Daisy's Tea Garden Mysteries, Daisy’s daughter Jazzi Swanson has opened her own book and tea shop, providing a variety of literature and flavored beverages for a rural New York community. But Jazzi has not only inherited her mother’s gift for brewing tasty drinks—she also has a nose for sniffing out murder. New York State’s Belltower Landing is a lakeside resort town where tourists spend their summer days boating, floating, and paddle-boarding on the water. It’s also the perfect place to cuddle up with a good book and enjoy a cup of tea, courtesy of Tomes & Tea. Owned and operated by Jazzi and her best friend Dawn Fernsby, the book bar is beloved by vacationers and locals alike, but browsers grabbing brews in the off season aren’t enough to help them make ends meet. Between brainstorming social media publicity ideas for the shop and fending off flirtatious men she has no interest in or time for, Jazzi befriends a woman named Brie who has recently made contact with her biological father. As an adopted child herself, Jazzi is more than happy to give Brie emotional support, especially as her wealthy father’s wife and children see her as a threat. But Brie is also looking to start a family of her own. Unfortunately, all the potential princes she’s met through a dating app turn out to be frogs. Then, when Brie is found murdered, Jazzi finds herself playing detective. With a list of suspects ranging from jealous half-siblings to less-than-suitable suitors, Jazzi may need to consult some of her shop’s bestselling mysteries to help her uncover a killer . . . Dollycas's Thoughts In this spinoff of the Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series, we find Jazzie has completed college and has opened a book and tea shop, Tomes & Tea with her best friend Dawn Fernsby in Belltower Landing, New York. Tourists flock to the town and spend summers there but Jazzi and Dawn need to figure out how to keep their shop profitable year-round. Their friend, Delaney has a friend, Brie, who has just made contact with her biological father but she has a lot of questions. Knowing Jazzi and Dawn were both adopted she asks them to talk to Brie. Jazzi quickly becomes friends with Brie and agrees to help her in any way she can. Brie mainly looked for her birth father because she was ready to settle down and start a family and wanted to know her history. She had been using a dating app and has gone on several dates but she has discarded them all. And while her dad is interested in having her in his life, his wife and their children have very different feelings. When Brie is killed, Jazzi feels the need to investigate. The men Brie had dated and her half-siblings are her main suspects. She had witnessed her mother getting involved in several murder cases and now she has one of her own to solve. Will Jazzi find the killer? Will she live to tell the tale? ______ Jazzi and Dawn make a good team and they have taken a huge chance in opening up Tomes & Tea. They met in college in a group for people who had been adopted. The group helped them navigate their feelings about their birth parents and answered other questions they had about searching for them. Jazzi has found her birth mom and they have a relationship. Jazzi was also very close to her adoptive mom. It now seems like those relationships are strained but readers aren't given any details. We know she is very independent and after suffering a bad breakup she has no interest in dating. As this is the first book in this series, and some years have passed from where the Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery series left off we need to give the author time to develop this new Jazzi, Dawn, and the other core characters in this series. There is a lot of potential there. The book and tea shop is a wonderful theme for a cozy mystery series. I loved the brainstorming about bringing in more business and building a year-round customer base. Jazzi and Dawn's friends and book club members came up with great ideas. The events they held were fun and created a buzz about the shop. The mystery was well-plotted and an interesting twist gave Jazzi the perfect reason to get involved but she is a reluctant sleuth. She doesn't want to follow in her mother's footsteps. Detective Milford urges her to stay out of his case, but she thinks he needs help. She didn't think he was questioning any of her top suspects and he was working on several other cases. She has met a lot of people opening her business and she does have some admirable observation skills. But while those skills helped her put some important pieces of the puzzle together, they also got her into trouble. I really enjoyed the showdown and that Jazzie contacted her mother afterward and shared harrowing the experience. It is always fun when a cozy mystery protagonist has pets. Early in the story, Jazzi finds a kitten behind the shop and a friend finds its sibling and brings it to Jazzi and Dawn. They quickly make themselves right at home - a male named Zander, and a female Freya. Murder Marks the Spot has given this series a strong start.  I enjoy this author's writing style and I am excited for this series to continue so I can get to know these characters better. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About the Author Karen Rose Smith is the author of the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mysteries, the Tome & Tea Mysteries, and the Caprice De Luca home-staging mysteries. Married to her college sweetheart, Karen has convinced her husband that felines can make purr-fect housemates. They share their home in the Susquehanna Valley of Pennsylvania with their three rescued cats. You can find her on Facebook at KarenRoseSmithBooks and on Twitter @karenrosemith.  Find out more about her mysteries at https://www.karenrosesmithmysteries.com. Also written by Karen Rose Smith Click on the covers for more info or to purchase. Thanks to the publisher I have 1 ARC copy of Murder Marks the Page to give away! The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old with a US or Canadian mailing address. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited. You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find something you like here and become a follower. Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow. Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page. Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads for 3 Bonus Entries. Follow Kensington Books on Twitter for 2 Bonus Entries! Follow Kensington Publishing on Facebook for 2 Bonus Entries! Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries. If you share the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link. The contest Will End May 1, 2024, at 11:59 PM CST The winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org The Winner Will Be Notified By Email and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar. Click Here For The Entry Form Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”   Read the full article

[stromuprisahat]

As I examined that baby found at the lakeside, the first question I had to ask myself was not whether this was murder or manslaughter but whether the baby had died at all. Because a baby who has never lived cannot die. Nor be killed. And, in the legal sense, a child in the womb has not lived. Anti-abortionists may disagree, but that is the current practicality of the law. The underlying question for the pathologist in such circumstances is: when is a person not a person? And this is important because a person has rights, legal rights to inheritance or title, and human rights. Kill a person and you can be charged with murder or manslaughter. But not if the person never actually lived. Under English law, a dead newborn is assumed to have been stillborn. If murder or manslaughter is suspected, it is up to the pathologist for the prosecution to prove that the baby lived long enough to establish a separate existence. One breath is all it takes. Or a movement. Or a pulsation of the umbilical cord which indicates a heartbeat. And the baby must be completely out of the mother’s body: a baby born head first, as most are, can theoretically take breaths but still die before the rest of the body is free of the mother. In that case, there has been no separate existence and the baby cannot have been killed.

Unnatural Causes: The Life and Many Deaths of Britain’s Top Forensic Pathologist Unnatural Causes (Dr. Richard Shepherd)

[beardedmrbean]

A 23-year-old man has been convicted of murder after stabbing a father-of-three at a busy shopping centre.

Michael Ugwa, 29, died at the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex on 28 April last year.

Muhammad Khan, 23, of no fixed abode, Ilford, east London, attacked Mr Ugwa with a flick knife after the victim made "admiring comments" towards Khan's female friend.

A jury found him guilty following a trial at Basildon Crown Court.

Brandon Lutchmunsing, 20, of Grafton Road, Dagenham, east London, was found guilty of manslaughter and affray, and Shannon Weston, of Paddocks Close, Canewdon, Essex, was found guilty of three counts of assisting an offender.

Prosecutors said Mr Ugwa, from Rainham, was with a friend when they passed the three defendants in the food hall at the site in Thurrock at about 16:30 BST.

The two groups were not known to one another.

Jurors were told "Michael passed some admiring comments" to Ms Weston - Mr Lutchmunsing's girlfriend - prompting the two men to chase him around the food court tables.

CCTV showed Mr Ugwa defending himself with chairs but Khan eventually stabbed him in the chest with a "single and deadly blow".

The victim was "quickly surrounded by helpers" but died from catastrophic bleeding.

The two attackers - wearing balaclavas - fled the scene and Ms Weston drove them away.

'No danger'

Temporary Det Ch Insp Julie Gowen, the senior investigating officer, said Mr Ugwa was due to get married.

"This case shows the tragic consequences that carrying a knife can have," she said.

"Khan had tried to claim he was carrying the knife for self protection but there was no suggestion that he was in any danger in this incident."

The jury returned unanimous verdicts after about 21 hours and 30 minutes of deliberation.

They are due to be sentenced at a later date.

[laresearchette]

Sunday, May 07, 2023 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: 2023 MTV MOVIE & TV AWARDS (MTV Canada) 8:00pm (…or maybe not) NAKED AND AFRAID: LAST ONE STANDING (Discovery Canada) 8:00pm THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA (Slice) 8:00pm VICE (Crave) 8:30pm THE 2010s (CNN) 9:00pm SUMMER HOUSE: MARTHA’S VINEYARD (Slice) 9:00pm

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

AMAZON PRIME CANADA COLLIDE

NETFLIX CANADA MAMMA MIA!

CURLING (SN360) 1:00pm: Grand Slam of Curling: Champions Cup - Men’s Final (SN360) 5:00pm: Grand Slam of Curling: Champions Cup - Women’s Final

MLB BASEBALL (SN) 1:30pm: Jays vs. Pirates (SN Now) 4:00pm: Rangers vs. Angels (TSN/TSN3/TSN4/TSN5) 7:00pm: Dodgers vs. Padres

NHL HOCKEY (SN1) 3:30pm: Hurricanes vs. Devils - Game #3 (CBC/SN) 6:00pm: Leafs vs. Panthers - Game #3 (SN) 9:30pm: Stars vs. Kraken - Game #3

MLS SOCCER (TSN2) 4:30pm: Seattle vs. Kansas City

SULLIVAN'S CROSSING (CTV) 7:00pm: Maggie struggles to make sense of her personal life; Sully deals with some financial challenges.

HOLMES: NEXT GENERATION (CTV2) 7:00pm: A couple needs help updating their kitchen before putting their house on the market; after a local contractor lets them down and squanders their budget, Mike and the team swoop in to make things right and give this family a fresh start.

NBA BASKETBALL (SN1) 8:00pm: Nuggets vs. Suns - Game #4

INSIDE TARONGA ZOO (Animal Planet Canada) 8:00pm (SERIES PREMIERE): For the first time in ten years Taronga vets get up close to a silverback gorilla; an overprotective White Rhino mom refuses to let anyone near her newborn calf; vets try and save an injured Albatross.

HOMICIDE HUNTER: THE MAN WITH NO FACE (Investigation Discovery) 8:00pm: Joe Kenda's investigation into the brutal rape and murder of a young wife and mother goes cold until DNA technology leads cold-case detectives to the most unlikely of killers 30 years later.

MYSTIC (Super Channel Heart & Home) 8:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Emotions run high after Issie invites an unwelcome guest to Amanda's birthday party. The KP team have something to celebrate and Issie's confused by her latest visions from Mystic.

A TOWN CALLED MALICE (Showcase) 9:00pm: Let’s Go All the Way

CAR S.O.S (Nat Geo Canada) 9:00pm (SEASON PREMIERE): Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend undertake dramatic automobile interventions across the U.K.

SCOTT'S VACATION HOUSE RULES (HGTV Canada) 10:00pm: Emma and her husband Clayton want to future proof their family cottage against Emma's increasing physical challenges; Scott creates a fabulous lakeside rental with an accessible chef's kitchen, a universal bathroom, and a spacious primary suite.

THE CURSE OF OAK ISLAND (History Canada) 10:00pm: While an incredible new discovery is made in the triangle-shaped swamp, Rick Lagina and members of the team make shocking connections in Italy between the Knights Templar and the Oak Island mystery.

PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Makeful) 10:00pm (SEASON FINALE): Sir Lenny Henry

[supnahas]

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[aliwritesfic]

The Wedding Date (Frankie Morales x F!Reader) (part 1)

Fic summary: After walking in on your boyfriend boning the neighbour, you suddenly find yourself single and without a plus one to four weddings over the summer. Wanting to avoid looks of pity and the 'still single?' comments, your best friend Olivia Miller suggests you take a friend of her brothers; Frankie Morales.

Warnings: Swearing, slut-shamey attitudes

Rating: 18+

W/C: 2k

Prologue - Next

You awoke with a raging headache.

“Fucking hell,” you muttered, sitting up and pressing the heels of your hand into your eyes until you saw spots. Deep breath, in, hold, and out. It will not be a disaster.

It was the morning of the first of four weddings you had been invited to. When you had received the invites the year before, you had been in a relationship with your ex Michael, and as such, had ticked the plus one box without a second thought. Now, you were very single and in an effort to not be an asshole at what was probably the most stressful time of someone’s life, you had agreed to go with someone who you had never met. But you trusted Olivia to not set you up with a psycho murderer, and the idea of not having people who knew about Michael look at you with pity was mighty appealing.

You washed your face in your tiny bathroom, popping a couple of Advil for the headache. It was probably dehydration-related, but you figured it couldn’t hurt to speed things along while you slowly downed a gallon of icy water from the fridge.

Walking into your kitchen, you checked on your tortoise tank, dropping a handful of chopped vegetables in for Mr. Baldwin. Mr. Baldwin was the only consistent man in your life, and you appreciated the tiny Russian Tortoise immensely for that.

“I wish you could be my plus one,” you murmured, stroking his shell as he munched loudly on a piece of lettuce. But alas, tortoises were not socially acceptable wedding dates. You were also pretty sure that taking a man you had never met before was also not socially acceptable, but it seemed more acceptable than a reptile who shat wherever he liked. And no one had to know that you had never met this Frankie guy before. Hell, you knew enough about him through casual text exchanges that he wasn’t a complete stranger.

Olivia had told you to think of it as a Tinder hook-up, because in her words, if you use that beautiful brain to think in the abstract, it wasn’t any different.

Except you wouldn’t be hooking up with this man, you’d be taking him to weddings, pretending like your heart still didn’t ache every time you thought of Michael, and about how he had betrayed you, and going home. Alone.

Not that you really minded being alone. You craved it a lot of the time; the freedom it gave for you to be your truest self, but on days where people would be looking at you and wondering . . . Yeah, that wasn’t appealing.

You sat down on your fluffy white rug with a sigh, turning the TV on to a re-run of Love Island, and dragged your makeup case and mirror towards you. Frankie wasn’t picking you up for another three hours, but more often than not you had to re-do your makeup at least twice before you were fully satisfied, so the earlier you started the better.

As you listened to the almost unintelligible British voices, you hoped that Frankie Morales wasn’t a creep.

~

At that moment, Frankie Morales was thinking almost the exact thing about you. Up until that morning, he had been feeling confident about the whole thing; the promise free food had been enough for him to say yes. Now, on the morning of the first wedding, he was feeling less sure. He had made a commitment though, and he was not the type of person to easily back out of one of those.

Frankie sipped on his coffee and triple-checked the directions to your place again. Twenty minutes away in traffic, twelve without. The venue, a lakeside garden, was a further forty-five minutes. Frankie had planned everything down to the minute - he could blame that on nerves and the fact that he hated being late almost as much as he hated the cold.

He looked down at his phone, re-reading the sporadic texts between the two of you. It was mainly introductory stuff, dates he needed to be free (if he still wanted to do this after today), and the dress codes, because apparently weddings now had dress codes that extended beyond ‘your most acceptable shit’. Today was ‘casual’, something that made Frankie blink twice. Surely, he had thought, that doesn’t mean shorts and flip-flops. He had asked Benny, who didn’t have a clue, who had asked Will who shrugged and said to Google it.

Feeling like this was the best course of action, Frankie did exactly that. As it turned out, normal casual and wedding casual were two very different things.

He chose his nicest button-up for the day - pale blue and free from stains. He had borrowed a pair of chinos from Will, which fit surprisingly better than he had expected, and dug out a pair of dress shoes from the back of his closet.

He examined his reflection in the mirror, combing his hair back with gel. He didn’t exactly feel like himself without his cap, but he knew that the old oil-stained thing wasn’t proper wedding attire. Even if the dress code was ‘casual’.

His phone buzzed on the table as he tied the laces of his shoes.

Benny: have fun today playaaaa, lmk if you need a ride home. rmbr dont stress, i met her n shes cool

Frankie sent a thumbs up in response, too distracted by nerves to send anything more coherent. He shouldn’t have been this nervous. He had to think of this as a favour for a friend of a friend, nothing more.

“Get it together, Fransisco,” he muttered to himself when his alarm buzzed, warning him that it was time to leave. He wiped his sweaty palms on his chinos and climbed into his truck. He took the nice truck, his old Chevy smelt too much like oil and stale cigarettes for him to even consider taking it.

He hummed along to the Stones as he drove through the thankfully light traffic. The neighbourhood you lived in was quaint, with brightly painted houses and palm trees lining the streets. When he opened his window, he could hear the ocean in the distance.

Frankie pulled up out the front of the address you had given; a tiny bungalow with a faded yellow exterior and a mailbox made to look like a tortoise that was clearly brand new. Frankie turned the truck off, made sure his shirt was tucked in at the back and walked the path to your front door.

God what if she’s expecting me to do all the date stuff? He thought knocking on your door. He pushed that thought out of his mind with a silent reprimand. You had told him, hell, even Olivia had told him, that all you needed was someone to go with you so you could avoid all the awkward ‘still single then?’ pity glances and comments. He could understand, relate, to that. Shit, he still got them and he had been divorced for almost four years.

“I’ll be out in a second!” You called, your voice muffled by the walls between you. He heard a loud thud, and the door flew open.

Well, shit.

Photos didn’t do you justice.

You wore a dress of pale green that stopped mid-calf, and a pair of heels that almost made the two of you the same height. Your hair was pulled away from your face in soft waves, and Frankie found his eyes drawn to a small gold pendant that winked at your throat.

“Frankie,” it came out more like a statement than a question, but Frankie still found himself nodding. “I really can’t thank you enough for this, seriously you’re doing me a huge favour.” You locked the door and dropped the keys into a small glittery handbag.

“It’s not a big deal,” Frankie said, stepping aside so you could walk in front of him to his car. You shook your head.

“Trust me, it is to me. My cousin Hector offered to come with but he smells like tinned asparagus and lives in fucking Rhode Island so he’d stay with me all summer and he’d asparagus up the place.” You paused for a moment, pink lip curling up. “Plus, my tortoise hates him.”

“You have a tortoise?” Frankie asked, buckling his seatbelt and glancing at the tortoise mailbox.

“His name is Mr. Baldwin and I would die for him. Also if there was some kind of technology developed that would allow him to talk, and he asked me to kill someone, I’d do that.”

Frankie was struggling to keep up with your rapid pace, but filed away bits of information in case it came up later.

“Can I ask something?” He asked when there was a moment of silence.

“Of course,” you said, pulling out a piece of gum.

“Why aren’t you going with Olivia?” It had been a question playing on his mind for the past week but didn’t feel like it was something that could be brought up over text without the tone being misconstrued.

“She’s already going with her situationship for three of them, and the fourth, the one in Virginia, she’s going to Nevada for a work conference.”

What the fuck is a situationship, Frankie wondered, knowing he’d have to Google the word later. Things fell into a not-quite comfortable silence, the only sound was the radio playing some glam rock song from the 80s.

“So, anything I should know about the happy couple?” Frankie asked, breaking the silence.

“The bride, Mariette, tore her ACL in college and it’s her main personality trait,” you supplied. “The groom, Luke, has a vendetta against ‘Big Tech’,” you made air quotes and rolled your eyes, “so if you talk to him probably don’t mention anything to do with any type of social media.”

“They sound . . .” Frankie struggled to find the right word.

“Insufferable?”

“I wasn’t going to say that,” Frankie grimaced, although he had been thinking it.

“They are, trust me, I went to college with both of them. I only said I was going in the first place because Olivia begged me,” you shrugged. “But I don’t know - if anything, it should be interesting. Mariette and Luke never struck me as the type to have a drama-free wedding.”

Frankie smiled, hoping you were right about the interesting part.

The parking lot of the venue was already half-filled by the time Frankie pulled in, people in their best casual wear were milling about or wandering into the gardens. Out of the corner of his eye, Frankie saw you pull a face, gazing out at the gathering patrons.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah just a bunch of people I haven’t seen in years,” you said. You turned to him and bit your lip. “Look, I didn’t want to say anything, but I had a bit of a reputation of being a whore in college, and while most of it is false, there is some truth to the rumours and it’s been years, and like, I’m not ashamed of who I was, but they all still see me as-”

“You’re rambling,” Frankie said gently, reaching out to place a hand on your arm. He was startled at how soft your skin felt under his fingers. “For what it’s worth, I don’t care about rumours, and I don’t care if you had an orgy with fifty people. Who you are now is what matters, not who you were.”

You smiled, hearing the truth in his words. Frankie had experience with people focusing on the past and refusing to look beyond that. He wouldn’t hold your past against you, and he hoped you wouldn’t hold his against him if it ever came to that.

“Alright,” you took a deep breath and tucked a lock of hair behind your ear, “let’s get this shit-show on the road.”

Frankie noticed how you stood with your back straight, face an impassive mask. He had to admire you a little, how easily you were able to become someone unbothered by the words of others.

[feirceangel]

Imagine | Mermaid (Sam & Dean) (Part One)

Imagine being a mermaid and saving Dean and Sam from drowning.

Word Count: 1483

~

Silently, you glide through the water deep below the surface where there is hardly any light. Your slick tail pushes powerfully to propel you forward.

The lake is inhabited by a various fish species and you, a mermaid.

Many don't believe mermaids exist, even hunters of the supernatural have denied your existence. Often, they believe that sailors were referring to sirens whenever they talked about mermaids.

That's not the case though. But, there are hardly any mermaids left anymore, so it is an understandable mistake.

You're one of the few left.

You've managed to survive by living in this secluded lake and limiting your life out of the water. You only leave to get food and other things you could possibly need.

Your tail transforms into legs when you are completely dry, but if you come into contact with water then you change back.

Right now, you're heading into town to get some groceries. You've grown sick of eating fish and berries and other plants that you find by the lake.

Of course, the walk to town is pretty long, but it's worth it in order to get chips and chocolate. Just the thought makes your mouth water.

Tattered running shoes on your feet, you unsteadily walk along the highway. You haven't used legs for a long time and it takes some getting used to.

A car drives past you, but then slows to a stop. When you catch up to it, the driver rolls down his window.

"Need a ride?" He asks in a surprisingly low voice.

You look into the sleek black car. Inside, a man with longish hair sits in the passenger seat, reading a book. Music blares from the speakers, creating a warm atmosphere along with the hot air from the heater. The driver himself looks nice enough - handsome with a charming smile and lovely green eyes.

"Sure, if you're offering," you flash them a sincere smile.

You are about to open the back door but the driver clears his throat. Startled, you look at him, but his gaze is fixed upon the man in the passenger seat.

"Sammy, let her sit in front."

The man named Sammy looks at him in disbelief. He opens his mouth as if to object, but looks at you and then shuts his mouth.

Surprisingly, he gets out and you take his place.

"You didn't have to do that."

"No problem," they say at the same time.

"So, what's your name?"

"Y/n. Yours?"

"I'm Dean and this is Sam."

"What brings you two out here?" You ask.

They share a glance through the rearview mirror, "We're journalists investigating the recent murders."

"Oh, I hadn't heard of any murders. That's terrible."

"Yeah, people drowning in their own homes really sucks," Dean says.

You nod and look at the passing scenery, "Have they caught the murderer yet?"

"Um, no. So far there hasn't been any leads."

Humming thoughtfully, you listen to the music and wait until you get to town. During the twenty or thirty minutes of driving, you've realized that Sam and Dean aren't all that they say they are.

There's something suspicious about them, you think as Dean pulls into a parking lot.

"Know any good motels around here?" He asks, turning the engine off.

You shake your head, "There's just the one. Lakeside Motel just over there. I've never stayed there, so I can't tell you if it's any good. Sorry."

"No problem. It was a pleasure meeting you, Y/n. Maybe I'll see you sometime soon?"

"Maybe," you smile slyly before exiting and heading to the store.

As you enter the store, the small bell above the door alerts the owner of your presence. Eyes wide with hunger and excitement, you head off to browse the aisles.

You grab a basket and fill it with all sorts of things, including a hairbrush, a bag of chips, a few chocolate bars, some candy, some pop, and a large flannel blanket.

Your old hairbrush and blanket were ruined after so many years of use, so you need to get those. The bell dings again, but you don't pay attention to it. You get to the counter and place the items on it.

The other customers finish shopping by the time you hand the shopkeeper your money.

"Um, you're short."

You look at him in confusion, prompting him to elaborate, "You need ten more dollars."

"Oh," you reach into your pockets, hoping that somehow money will magically appear, but it doesn't. You're just about to put away the chips, pop, and chocolate when a familiar low voice interrupts.

"Here, I got it," Dean places the bill onto the counter.

You look at him with an embarrassed smile, "You didn't have to do that."

"Hey, it's no problem," he flashes you a huge smirk. "In fact, me an' Sammy are gonna get some grub, wanna come? Our treat. I hear there's a delicious diner right across the street."

You know you should probably refuse, but the offer of warm food and great company is too awesome to pass up. "Are you sure? I wouldn't want to impose."

"Of course we're sure, right Sammy?" Dean looks to the long-haired giant.

"Yeah, we'd love for you to join us."

"Okay, great."

They pay for their stuff and place it in their car before heading to the diner. Once there, you order a burger and fries and so does Dean, while Sam opts for a salad.

"So, you just passing through?" Sam initiates conversation.

"Um, not really. I live out by the lake."

"You don't have a car?"

"Nope, just my feet," you smile.

"Wow, do you have a job?"

You shrug, "Kinda in-between jobs at the moment, really."

They nod and the food arrives. You eat in silence for the most part. After you eat, you thank them profusely for the meal and then go on your way.

"Are you sure we can't give you a ride?" Dean asks.

"I'm sure. Thanks for everything. Maybe I'll see you again." You leave before they can say anything else.

~

A loud splash wakes you from your slumber. You sleep in the lake a good distance from the shore and away from the docks.

Maybe it was just a fish?

It wasn't, you know deep down. It was way too large a sound to be a fish.

You stretch and go to investigate. Swimming to the surface, you see a small row boat with none other than Sam shouting into the water.

You watch as he then dives into the water after ripping off his shirt. Startled, you wait to see if they'll reemerge.

After a few seconds, it's evident that something's wrong. So, you submerge and go to see what's happening.

A ghostly man is dragging Dean into the depths and Sam is trying his hardest to pull his brother away.

You let out a warning call and swim swiftly to their rescue. Grabbing Dean and Sam's arms, you pull them up to the surface.

The ghost doesn't follow, surprisingly.

You drag them to the shore and watch as Dean sputters and coughs up water.

"Are you alright?" You ask, trying not to stare at Sam's abs as he shakes water from his hair.

"Get out of the water!" Dean yells at you.

You chuckle, "I can't."

"Please, you're in danger!"

"I know. He's a ghost right? Do you know who he is?"

"Ho- wait, how the hell do you know about that?!"

"I knew a few hunters awhile back. Anyways, I think I might be able to help. Stay out of the water," you order them before swimming away, splashing the water with your tail.

After a few minutes, you find what you were searching for - the remains of a man who had drowned here a very long time again. All that's left are his skull and a few other bones.

You take them to the surface. "I found the bones! Quick, burn 'em!"

They take the bones and do as told. You drag yourself out of the water, knowing that you'll have to explain your situation to the brothers.

"What are you?" Sam asks, his voice a mixture of wonderment and shock.

"A mermaid."

"Mermaids don't exist," Dean inputs.

"Sure they do, you're looking at one."

"Uh-uh, this - this is a trick," he argues.

"Not a trick, it's real. I mean you just killed a ghost and you're having difficulty believing that mermaids are real. C'mon."

"Wow," is all that Sam can say.

"I know, I'm pretty cool." You spend the next few minutes explaining the situation. They seem to calm down pretty quick.

"I hope you come visit," you say when they say they have to leave.

"Of course," Sam says, "Next time we're in the area."

You grin, "That's great! Be safe!"

"You too!" Dean calls back.

You watch sadly as they drive away.