#but less creepy and conniving

[asher-turtle]

So I got bored and I have this dress up app it's called batdoll and I was thinking about how Vlad clone Danny and his stable clone Danielle ended up younger (am female) so got me thinking of a younger clone of Vlad so I gave him off White color maybe reminiscent of cream instead of the gray color cuz I'm not giving a child gray hair I had fun with this ghost mode though picking out the colors of Vlads usual colors I may have gone with too much black but I think it looks good

Edit: so I was looking for a name for him I couldn't find any that weren't just Vlad with extra stuff (would probably do that though) anyways I settled on the name Victor

[lotr-bitches]

unhinged Fëanorians AU headcanons

idk if this is even an AU or if they’re just like this

Nelyo: - Loyal - The diplomat - Actually goes fucking crazy after Thangorodrim - Gives off genuinely the most terrifying energy - Calculating af - Will manipulate the shit out of you - He doesn't look insane but then you get to know him and... - Lowkey a cult leader (??) - His followers are also ✨batshit✨ Kano: - Lowkey the most powerful - When he sings you think 'avenging angel' - Not as dramatic as you would think - Has a conscience - 'I will make them in my image' energy with Elros and Elrond - Surprisingly cunning - Has a smile that will make your skin crawl - Gentle hands, cruel words Tyelko: - Filled with rage pt 1 - Ruthless - Backstabbing is fun for him - He loves seeing that face of realization - His laugh shouldn't make you feel so unsettled - Cult leader pt 2 - By the end even Oromë is scared of what he's capable of - Impossible to wrangle (even by Nelyo) Moryo: - Spiritually identifies with Pityo - Smart af - People try to use ósanwë on him but his mind is like a fortress - Greed(TM) - Arguably the least scary - Rumors spread that he wasn't an elf and was actually a dragon - Fëanor anti pt 1 - Used a massive fuck off axe in battle - Fox-like Curvo: - Unsettling pt idek - Conniving bitch of a man - Vaguely antisocial - Talks way less than you would think - A good father for like 10 minutes - Obsessed with lightning storms - (Has been struck by lightning) - Moves like a panther - Raises one eyebrow - #1 dad supporter Pityo: - Lightly crisp - Didn't actually die at the burning of the ships - Can no longer speak because of the scar patterns - Feral af

- Hates that Nerdanel gave him and Telvo the same name

- Would (and has) punched several of his brothers and cousins

- Spiritually identifies with Moryo

- Everyone swears he’s invisible sometimes

- Slightly better hunter

- No mercy

- Filled with rage pt 2

Telvo:

- Also feral

- Dad always mixed him up with Pityo so they switch places sometimes

- Fëanor anti pt 2

- Slightly more diplomatic

- Develops sign language for Pityo

- Uses ósanwë to talk to Pityo

- (Also they use ósanwë to swap bodies)

- Vaguely terrifying

- Gives off creepy twin energy

- Telvo is the more unsettling of the two

Tyelpë:

- When you meet him you think he’s surprisingly normal

- Eyebrow raise pt 2

- Distinctly unimpressed constantly

- Lowkey thinks it might be fun to be evil for a minute

- Sometimes filed his fingernails into points for the vibes

- Filed his canines so they look like fangs

- Elros and Elrond are his favorite cousins

- Always stealing shit

- Sleight of hand ✨king✨

[spiritshaydra]

WOE WARRIOR CATS BE UPON YE

Okay so YEARS ago back when I first got into TFP, I didn’t know how to draw humanoids OR mecha so I just drew catformers instead. Flashback to last year, and I’ve came full circle by doing it yet again 💀

ANYWAYS so my dumbass warrior cat AU where the Nemesis crew is like,, a sort of Great Value Shadowclan? With the ‘bots being off brand Thunderclan. NO idea if they’d have their own unique clan names yet so I’ve just been,, calling these morons Whoreclan 💀💀

FIRST OFF WE GOT MEG who’s the Leader

He’s just gigantic hairy asshole of a Maine coon who you know for a FACT he sheds like hell just by looking at him. He definitely killed the previous leader of the Clan because they sucked. He’s got an addiction to catnip 💀 also no idea what his cat name is yet,, maybe Greystar? Silverstar??? Lmao no clue

NEXT FELINE FREAK is Starscream! He’s the conniving deputy of these losers. I was thinking that his cat name is something like Shrikescream? Because,, he can’t be called Starscream because if he was made leader his name would become Starstar and yeeeeaaaaah 💀💀💀 I was also thinking that all of those rusty red streaks on his fur are also all artificial, like how bearded vultures dye their feathers with clay. But except he’s a cat. So nope, not a weird calico, but just a stained grey cat.

NEXT IS SOUNDWAVE

He’s a very high ranking warrior who’s also easily the best at patrolling and being all around creepy. He’s mute as well. He also seems to be on really good terms with a raven of all things. As for his cat name,, I can’t decide on if he’s just,,, still gonna be called Soundwave or if he’s gonna have a cat name like Silentvoice.

I’m still not sold on his coloration,,, might make those light silvery blue patches that mimic his biolights red or gold instead, which would essentially make him a tortishell instead of a weird colorpoint,,

dude’s just the resident cryptid

HELLA WE GOT KNOCKOUT NEXT

Dude’s the Medicine cat

also not sure what degree of his coat coloration is natural, and what portion is stained with clay like Starscream. Breakdown’s his apprentice and assistant :) The med cat den is also like a hotspot for gossip and other inane chatter, who cares if there’s a cat being patched up on the ground (it’s Starscream) there’s juicy tea to be spilled!

As for cat name,,, I thought something like Redlight would be funny 💀

I still wanna do the designs for the rest of the clowns,, especially Breakdown and Shockwave,,, (and Airachnid who I’ve decided will be called Spiderflight because haheheahaheh spider,,, flying,,,)

ALSO BONUS QUANTUM

Her names Six-Toes (her pre-warrior name being Quailpaw) and she has a perpetual case of that blue eyed stare. Nobody really knows WHAT exactly she is?? Other than she’s the size of a Maine coon, a tortie, has the coat of a Lykoi, and polydactyly. She can often be found in the Freak Corner of the Warrior Den sharpening bones and sticks because “it’s useful I swear” for… whatever reason. She’s also got beef with Shockwave who could,,, literally care less.

might also hit my other OCs with the cat mallet. (The mew mallet?? The miaullet???)

Bonus kittens <33 LOOKIT THEM ICKLE BEASTIES

[leupagus]

OK I keep seeing these "Sassy keeps finding Ted when he's sad, she's a bad person for wanting to fuck him when he's down in the dumps"

And truly, are all the people reblogging this under 20? Because there's this weird infantilization of Ted going on, like he's some high schooler getting seduced by the teacher's assistant or something.

Ted is a middle-aged man going through some tough times. He is not being preyed on, he is not being harmed. He, like pretty much every allosexual man on the planet, enjoys sex; he specifically enjoys sex with Sassy.

Sassy is not some conniving bitch who's exploiting or otherwise hurting Ted. She, like pretty much every allosexual woman on the planet, enjoys sex; she specifically enjoys sex with Ted.

Please for the love of fucking god knock it off with this "She should leave Ted alone!" Ted does not want Sassy to "leave him alone," as evidenced by Ted telling Sassy something that he possibly hasn't even told Rebecca yet. True, it's clear he doesn't want a romantic relationship with her, but that feeling is mutual, and they are still GOOD FRIENDS WHO LIKE AND TRUST EACH OTHER. There is nothing unhealthy or unethical about their relationship; just because they fuck doesn't mean they owe or expect anything more — or less — than friendship.

This show has been very careful to make its relatively few female characters into whole, interesting, and mostly good people (with the possible exception of Jane, who is clearly written as an excuse for Phoebe Walsh and Brendan Hunt to improv their scenes together and go hog wild). Disliking some of them is fine, everyone's got different tastes. But making up an entire sinister reason for Sassy to want to fuck Ted other than "he's cute, he's sweet and he's hung like a horse" is weird. (Aside from which, what... exactly is Sassy's nefarious plan, here? Having a satisfying orgasm or three?)

Plus, the puritanical thread through this is creepy as fuck. Casual sex is not unhealthy! One-night stands are a fine way to live your life! Fucking your friend is not inherently manipulative or wrong! Because I tell you what, if I had a friend like Sassy (or Ted!) who offered to fuck me when I was down in the dumps? I would buy them a little award that said "BEST PAL EVER" or something.

[little-pondhead]

I really need to get this out of my system so I have been sitting on this idea for a while it hasn't left me yet funny thing is I was looking at art that has nothing to do with this idea when I thought of it ok so Vlad accidentally clones himself the clone is younger than him teenagers and is stable the clone aka Victor has a similar personality to Vlad but a lot less creepy and conniving and more sassy and spiteful eventually Victor decides he wants nothing to do with Vlad (cuz he's creepy and obsessed with a married woman) so he goes and bugs Danny

@ashxshadow I'm in love with your brain wrinkles. I had to draw him.

[dreamtydraw]

Very random but i’m eating couscous while watching old short horror games videos and I have to say I’m so thankful to have discovered Markiplier later in my life because that means I have years on content about the wholesome and very creative universe of indie horror game that I have never seen. In france a lot of YouTuber just followed the trend of what Americans YouTuber were playing only if it made views and didn’t gave a chance to smaller or less popular games.

Anyway I love some good indie horror games and here is a small list of games play through i’ve been rewatching and who are direct inspiration for my own games :

-Invitationem

-The connivence store

-Late shift

-Fears of Fathom

-The backroom found footage

-Mr.Hopps

-Phasmophobia

-Emily wants to play

-Joy of creations

-( not horror BUT) What remains of Edith Finch

Other horror inspirations would be :

-The creepypasta fandom ( mainly the slanderman part of this fandom )

-The scp foundation

-(very specific) dubbed reddit creepy pasta stories where a character is given a set of rules to follow in a very dangerous and paranormal situation.

-My own terrifying experience with life-

That all for the small list :} Since I’m a really big fan of soft romance / cute content i really don’t talk about my liking for horror contents but it’s a huge part of the internet I grew up with so It’s fun to talk about it times to times

[langernameohnebedeutung]

a thing worth noting that with the examples the reblogger gave about "female obsessive characters" is that when it is a female character that's obsessed with boys or men it is almost always played as either a joke or meant to be seen as dangerous and creepy - usually both. All the "boycrazy" female characters in the example are meant to be seen as antagonists and/or comic relief, and we know the classic trope of the "maneater". Meanwhile when a male character is "girlcrazy" and behaves in a similar way as the girl characters more often than not he is meant to be seen as an underdog, an aspiration, a guy who is "maybe overdoing it a little" but who you are meant to root for anyways. Take for example the guy in Love, Actually whose only character trait is wanting to sleep with as many women as possible and whose sole goal in the movie was trying to get to US america bc "it is full of hot babes" and who you are clearly meant to root for when he immediately gets flirted with by not one but three "horny sex manic" women at the same time (all of whom he ends up sleeping with at the same time) as soon as he arrives there. The only times I can think of something like that happening to a "boycrazy" female character and being meant as a positive thing may be romance movies targeted at a female audience already, while male characters like that can be found in almost every movie or show there is

That is a good point - usually, the joke is that the woman is being "hysteric/insane/axe-crazy" like the character I think they mentioned from Fairly Odd Parents but not really someone you should sympathise with like we are expected to with the Big Bang Theory guys. Plus, there is also a lot of attractiveness-based dehumanisation happening there. (In fact, ironically, Barney Stinson even directly says this in an episode, describing women on an acceptable hot to crazy ratio)

Plus, I also think it's important to consider that a lot of the bias against women is expressed in a misogynistic, patriarchal framework, not an egalitarian one. Obviously, our point of view (I hope) would be to look at the action that was committed and evaluate the moral implication of that action, regardless of gender. To say: "This Action is bad and you shouldn't treat anyone like that, no matter what gender you are or they are". But 2000s sitcoms do NOT operate based on that standard of morality (hell no, that's kind of the issue here).

(in fact, a lot of media still doesn't do this, that's why movies constantly have those scenes about women slapping their boyfriends which make me want to rip my own hair out. Which is a good example of why this isn't simply a dynamic of 'women are allowed stuff and men aren't': It's a complex interplay of various aspects of heteronormative culture and patriarchal tradition. Most of these movies are made by men. And these men certainly are not some dedicated feminists, otherwise they wouldn't portray (and treat) women like they do. Hollywood certainly doesn't historically or culturally come from a feminist perspective of "abuse is abuse, regardless of gender" and they are certainly not those evul, conniving misandrist manhaters that the right likes to imagine going: "I think physical abuse is okay when a woman does it, so I will portray her slapping around men" (in fact, the right rarely takes offence to these things UNLESS it is to silence conversations about misogyny in media)

The truth is: A lot of writers who write these tropes simply do not consider it abuse. We talked about why they excuse it in men like Barney Stinson (usually by focusing on the men's side of things and using the female characters as props) but that's not how it works for female characters. In fact, the men getting slapped around ARE characters whose interior workings the movie or show addresses. And we are not supposed to find either more or less sympathetic for this. If these writers came from the perspective "this action is bad, regardless of who does it", why would they make light of their lead characters suffering physical domestic abuse? Why would they still treat the woman like a viable love-interest (and her action as justified when they would never portray it vice-versa?) Even make it a punchline? - The reason is that they come from a place where a) women are by nature ineffective creatures for better or worse and b) that a manly Man-Man(TM) cannot be hurt by a woman through the same action through which he might hurt a woman. Because of Man Strong and Woman Weak. A male character who genuinely reacts to being slapped is portrayed as being whiny and weak.)

And I think if we look at the issue in that context, we realise there is in fact (back to the original point of my post) a lot of predatory (or perceived as predatory) behaviour that female characters are criticised for by the narrative that don't really play a role for a male character - BUT: It's usually not about getting The Sex.

The patriarchal, heteronormative narrative is that a) "men always want sex" and b) sex is a resource that women possess and must be "convinced" to give to men (and the more Manly Points you have, the more easily women will drop that sex-loot for you.) - that, on top of the 'women are ineffective' theme is why there are so few shows genuinely judging male and female characters the same just based on their actions. That is the reason why a lot of the time when a (conventionally attractive! of course!) female character commits what is basically sexual assault against a male character, that man is portrayed as happy about it in the end (especially when it's about scenes where he loses his "virginity") - it's because the patriarchal reading of this situation, fucked up as it is, is "she gave him a gift". (She is only treated as predatory if he finds out that he doesn't consider her attractive later) This is also the reason why a lot of men feel more attacked by something like the Barbie movie than all those classic sitcom tropes of men being slapped by their girlfriends - because for them, one of those upholds their worldview of Man = Strong / Woman = Weak and one challenges it. And the one that challenges that view is not the one where a woman slaps a man).

A lot of the time, when movies and shows conceived in this patriarchal framework actually want to portray women as predatory, they (unsurprisingly) also conceive predatory behaviour (in women) in the same patriarchal framework - or rather, their patriarchal framework informs them of what kind of behaviour is predatory in women - something that is usually informed by real-life misogynistic stereotypes and narratives - like the femme fatale, the succubus, the maneater, the vampire).

[nerdydowntherabbithole]

FINALLY FINISHED THE ITERATORS I CAN FINALLY SHOW. Outfits need work but eh. Anyway, here's Forward Movement and Upward Movement! A pair of maybe a little bit really fucked up guys. Lore and whatnot under the cut!

So! FM and UM, often referred to as FU or FUM, was an INCREDIBLY experimental iterator. Largely because half of their purpose was not only trying to solve the Great Problem, but also solve the problem of the rains that were starting to drown places. To do this, they ended up making a very, VERY odd iterator. FM was an iterator built to, quite literally, WALK to find what they need. His can is a quite small one, forced to try to cut down on weight to be able to move. Due to her size, she actually doesn't even reach over the clouds, and instead has been heavily reinforced to deal with it. However it was BECAUSE he couldn't reach the clouds that UM was made and proceeded to be plonked down right on top of him. UM, as you might imagine considering the name, was an iterator built to FLY. The idea for her was, more or less, to gather and recycle the clouds to let them out in much smaller bursts so less rain would form. She is also built to have massive wind power that allows her to blow entire storms in a different direction. Her cloud gathering was also an integral part to FM, as the two are connected and the water she takes in is also used to power him. FUM was,,,,,not that big a success. It worked a bit, but in the end it wasn't enough to make any more like them. Normally this would get them shut down and taken for parts. HOWEVER. Despite not fixing the problem, FM specifically was an INCREDIBLY serious and devoted iterator. She took the job very seriously, and despite all the oddities of the structure, was one of the most devoted to finding the triple affirmative period. UM not as much, but she was a very big part of FM and the two could not work without each other. The ancients decided this devotion was a good enough reason to keep them going, so while they could not built any cities on top of them or anything, they kinda just. Let the two go. NOW. Personality wise? These two are disliked by many, and it is,,,,,rlly not for no reason. FM is an incredibly serious, workaholic, callous, and kinda mean iterator. His immense devotion has not petered out in the SLIGHTEST despite the ancients being gone, completely believing that it doesn't matter and they need to fulfill their purpose, ancients or not. Generally does Not Care what other people think or what they are doing. Also frequently steals people's water, and does not care if you are ok with that or not. FM is also equipped with canons and other combat things to use against predators that try to attack them, and have used these things to quite literally take out probably a non zero amount of iterators. Despite being generally cordial, FM is beloved by nobody.

UM meanwhile is a catty, gossipy, flamboyant, reckless, generally bitchy kind of gal. Also kinda very creepy. Loves to get in other people's business, doesn't care what they think, and is incredibly manipulative for no real reason other than liking having control. Unlike FM, she thinks finding the solution is a useless waste of time, and will actively have fun sabotaging work anybody is doing, including and specifically FM's. As you can imagine, the two are polar opposites. And, frankly? They hate each other's guts. They frequently threaten each other with mutually assured destruction, FM threatening to shoot down UM, and UM threatening to just fly away with all the water. They work shockingly well together, but are constantly at odds. This is not helped by the fact they share a lot of amenities like overseers, experimentation chambers, and such things like that. Both are convinced the other will kill them, and honestly they are correct. UM thinks FM is a uselessly devoted hardhead workaholic, and FM thinks UM is a stupid conniving waste of space. Both love to get on each other's nerves, and half their time is spent sabotaging the other in various petty ways. Unfortunately when they work together they do AMAZING work, and give stupidly good advice about various things like water conservation and stuff like that which they will surprisingly tell you willingly. Whatever the case, they are very fucked up and skrunkly. Open for questions if anyone cares to!

[noonecaresaboutmyreview]

K-Movie Review: Unlocked (Netflix)

"Our phones are listening."

I used to be so amazed how FB or IG could accurately recommend me ads on specific items I've been meaning to buy or try. I always wonder, how do they know? But about 2-3 years ago I realised that our phones analyse our user habits and like it or not, they are listening to our conversations and observing our searches. I guess perks of advanced technology huh?

Anyways, I just finished watching the latest K-Movie on Netflix called Unlocked. Basically the movie is a social commentary about how with only our handphones people can know a lot about you. Where you live, what you like, what's your spending habits, who you like and hate and many more. Pretty interesting and relatable in this day and age.

Brief summary of the movie: Lee Na Mi (Chun Woo Hee) lost her phone in the bus after a night out and a stranger name Jun Yeong (Im Siwan) picked it up. Within 3-4 days Jun Yeong was able to turn Lee Na Mi's life into a living hell.

Honestly, I wanted to watch this movie because of Im Siwan. I miss him playing psychopathic/serial killer characters. Mans really good at playing such characters (please watch Stranger From Hell if you haven't! Lee Dong Wook and Im Siwan, best pairing ever). But I am pleasantly surprised this movie kept me engaged for a little less than two hours.

Chun Woo Hee does a really good job at playing a distressed victim of spyware and hacking and Im Siwan, man is creepy without even trying. I kept finding myself saying "gosh he is so creepy but so good-looking".

Overall this movie got me thinking about how much information we share online and keep in our phones. I wonder if such connivence is worth the risk of getting spied on.

I'd recommend this movie if you wanna come out of it totally suspicious of your phone haha!

Rating: 4/5

--Fary

[julianobungus]

Okay but consider:

Luz having to deal with her mom dating Belos

Okay, listen: Luz is really happy that her Mami has found someone, and that she's putting herself out there again since her dad died. It's great to see. She just wishes it wasn't the guy who tried to kill her several times.

Like sure, he's been 'reformed' more or less, and he's essentially been 'de-fanged', somewhat, but Philip Wittebane is still a smug, creepy motherfucker. As much as she wants to be happy for her mother, the idea of Camila dating him of all bachelors is quite unsettling, to put it lightly.

Even worse is imagining them in bed together. Ugh. It makes Luz wanna be sick - not that Philip isn't good-looking, but the notion of him getting his centuries-old, conniving hands over her mom is torturous. So she keeps an eye on the man, making sure he's not gonna try anything. Even if his curse has been cured, he still has to be the same trickster who tried to kill her.

... right? I mean, her mother doesn't seem to think so.

[emmahada]

i just want for you to be less of a creepy conniving stalker and its not like youre all that interested in what i get up to unless its for comfort bc i barely do anything and its not like i dont tell you everything i think anyway since im scared

[scary-lasagna]

Saw your requests are open, so don't mind if I do 😌 How about reader finding Creepypasta mansion? The reader manages somehow to get pictures of them and get out with their head still on their shoulders? They just stalk them for awhile until Slender finally accidentally teleports behind that lil stalker. Like, what would Slender's reaction be? Would he maybe want them as a stalker proxy, or immediately k×ll them? Maybe some headcanons for this one? 👉👈 - Tootsy Anon

Sneaky [Y/N]!

If someone were sneaky and conniving enough to slip past the protective barrier of the manor, peek in a window, and get a picture of Jack shoveling a heart down his windpipe, then Slender will not only be impressed, but intrigued.

They weren't even discovered until Ben (surprisingly) decided to take a break and look out the window for once, just to see a random [Y/N] peeking into the lounge room window a flight down.

It's not easy discovering the place, much less actually breaking through the magical dome that protects the walls of Slender Manor.

Slender will go after them himself, deeming them too suspicious for his human workers. But reading their aura, they aren't much of a threat, if even one at all.

Just a creepy stalker.

Slender will try passive-aggressive tactics at first (just like his personality) and will shoo them off of the manor grounds, unseen, with a few loud noises, and slap on the neck with a tendril.

This will only drive you more towards the manor, to try and catch a glimpse of the boss-man himself.

It didn't even cross his mind to use you as a proxy until one of his brothers suggested it.

"If they can get past the barrier, who knows what else they're capable of?"

"I suppose I could amuse the idea."

Later that day, he was not expecting to accidentally appear behind [Y/N] with his lunch in hand.

He's a man of preparedness, and didn't exactly have a recruitment pitch planned towards his future proxy.

So, how about you discuss it over a nice potato salad?

[whomst-art-thou-whomst-whomst]

Texts from the Lost Tomb, part 5.2

Also yes this is a 5 part story arc, why do you ask, no I’m not “avoiding real life work”

Main Chat

Wang Pangzi: YOU KNOW THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD COMPLAIN ABOUT BEING DRAGGED OUT OF BED AT AN UNGODLY HOUR FOR THE SAKE OF SOME JEWELRY AND FORCED INTO AN ADVENTURE

Wu Xie: And we are just so grateful you are above all that.

Zhang Qiling: You were fully awake and insisted we pack and go as soon as possible in case there was, and I quote, “more weird shit happening we can cash in on.”

Wu Xie: I mean it’s kind of interesting that the Zhang family sent a car for us. We could have driven. So what is going on there, I wonder?

Wang Pangzi: YOU KNOW FOR A PARANOID AND CONNIVING LITTLE SHIT YOU STILL RADIATE OBLIVIOUS BAMBI ENERGY

HATE TO BE THE ADMIRAL ACKBAR HERE BUT ITS DEF A TRAP MY BOY

WHY DO U THINK WE ARE MESSAGING AND NOT TALKING DUMMY

WERE YOU IN A TOMB ON THE DAY THEY TAUGHT PPL STRANGER DANGER

BUT NO NO YOU WERE ALL “LETS GET IN THE VAN WITH THE FREE CANDY AND PUPPIES I BET WE’RE GOING TO THE CIRCUS”

THIS IS THE LAST STRAW IM LOJACKING YOU FOR REAL THIS TIME, SHOULDVE DONE THIS YEARS AGO

Zhang Qiling: I agree, in this particular case, with Pangzi. You should not have gotten in their vehicle while we were still inside the house. It forced us to follow you into the van to prevent separation, and they seemed to be expecting that. I don’t know whether Zhang Rishan intended this, but I don’t trust him.

Wu Xie: :( I got excited and didn’t think it through. I’m sorry.

Wang Pangzi: DONT YOU GIVE US THE BIG EYES WE ARE IMMUNE

MOSTLY

SPEAKING OF IMMUNE ITS REALLY FUCKIN COLD IN HERE AND UR STILL SICK, PUT YOUR JACKET ON STUPID

Wu Xie: oh relax, I’m fine. No fever at all today, remember? I feel a lot better, too.

Wang Pangzi: YOU LEAVE ME NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE XIAO GE INTERVENE

Zhang Qiling: It is odd to say this, but Pangzi is right again. You are barely back on your feet and could easily get worse again. Wu Xie. Jacket. Now.

Wu Xie: Oh fine. Teaming up on me, I see. Happy now?

Wang Pangzi: FUCKING ECSTATIC. NOW BACK TO HOW WE MAY BE PULLING A LI CU

Wu Xie: If it is an abduction, it wouldn’t be them moving against the whole Wu family—not with Uncle Erbai in charge. Zhang Rishan strikes me as someone who doesn’t make a move unless he is sure of his plan, and this is all a bit last-minute to be a big shift. Besides, they let Xiao Ge keep his sword and we still have all our phones.

Wang Pangzi: TOOK AWAY MY EXPLOSIVES THO THE BASTARDS

Zhang Qiling: In fairness, you were waving them around and yelling that if they tried anything it was going to be “yippeekiyay motherfucker all up in this bitch.”

Wang Pangzi: IT SOUNDS LESS COOL COMING FROM YOU. I THINK I SEE THE TEAHOUSE?

Wu Xie: me too. That’s Zhang Rishan on the steps. This must be urgent. Everybody stay shiny.

Zhang Qiling: I will be getting out first. Wu Xie in the middle, Pangzi at the rear.

Wang Pangzi: AND WHAT A VIEW;)

An hour later…

Main Chat

Wu Xie: Is everyone okay? I tried knocking but nothing is getting through, these are some solid walls.

Wu Xie: guys???

Wang Pangzi: OOPS PHONE WAS ON SILENT AND I WAS BUSY YELLING AT THE CEILING

IM PRESENT AND PISSED OFF

Zhang Qiling: Apologies, I was trying to break down the door.

Wang Pangzi: SO THIS MAY NOT BE THE TIME TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO BUT WHILE WE’RE HERE

Wu Xie: fuck Pangzi, I know, okay??

I’m an idiot, I’m so fucking stupid. It’s not like it’s the first or fiftieth time I’ve put you two in danger, either.

Wang Pangzi: HEY HEY WHOA NOW

STOP SAYING RUDE SHIT ABOUT MY FRIEND

ITS GONNA BE OKAY

DESPITE KNOWING THIS WAS A BAD IDEA I STILL COULDNT PREDICT HOW MUCH CHAOTIC LUCK THIS FAMILY HAS

DAMN IT I HATE WHEN HEI XIAZI IS RIGHT ABOUT THINGS

Zhang Qiling: I’m sorry. This is my fault. My line has a ruthlessly pragmatic streak and they’ve clearly wanted to test us separately to see why the necklace reacted to our arrival like that. It does not excuse Zhang Rishan trapping us in these separate rooms.

Wang Pangzi: UHH BITCH I SAID THIS FAMILY NOT YOUR FAMILY

THIS AINT ABOUT THEM

YOUR FAMILY IS ON MY SHIT LIST EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

THIS FAMILY MEANT US OBVS

UGH ANY SIGN OF THE BASTARDS?

Zhang Qiling: no. Wu Xie?

Zhang Qiling: Wu Xie, answer me.

Wang Pangzi: WU XIE

TIANZHEN

PICK UP YOUR FUCKING PHONE DAMNIT YOU'RE SCARING XIAOGE

Zhang Qiling: I’m going to try breaking down the door again.

Wu Xie: Hello, Wang Pangzi and Zhang Qiling. My apologies for the rather inhospitable circumstances, but this seemed expedient considering the unknown qualities of the necklace. I could not be sure who was causing what, or what could happen next, and thus have temporarily set you in separate rooms for the sake of everyone’s safety.

Wang Pangzi: WTF GIVE HIM BACK HIS FUCKIN PHONE ZHANG RISHAN I KNOW ITS YOU YOU PRETENTIOUS ANTIQUE

WE DESTROYED THIS PLACE BEFORE AND WE CAN DO IT AGAIN

Zhang Qiling: Your concerns for everyone’s safety are noted. Thank you for whatever you believe you’ve done right here.

Now. If you release us immediately and return Wu Xie to us, we will consider leaving without direct personal retribution.

Wang Pangzi: WHAT HE SAID AND ALSO YOU SUCK

Wu Xie: I regret that this has happened, I hope to make it up to you in the future. For the purpose of today’s needs, however—I will have my men escort the two of you out if you so desire, but unfortunately Wu Xie will need to stay until we have finished examining him.

Wang Pangzi: EXAMINING??? YOU FUCKING PERV HANDS OFF HE MAY BE THE BELLE OF THE BALL BUT HIS DANCE CARD IS SPOKEN FOR

I SWEAR I DID NOT GO THROUGH TEN YEARS OF THIS STARCROSSED CLUSTERFUCK FOR YOU TO SWOOP IN AND STEAL MY FRIENDS BF

Wu Xie: There is no call for rudeness. He will not be harmed. The artifact was responding to him directly. It has not lit up like this in over 200 years, and I need to understand why it is responding, and responding to someone who is not our kin, which it has never done before. This could have implications for everyone in my family if it could protect someone at the right moment.

Wang Pangzi: OKAY BUT CONSIDERING OUR TRACK RECORD IN THIS BUILDING AND THE SITUATION AT HAND Y’ALL ARE ABOUT TO NEED PROTECTION

Wu Xie: The testing would be going better if Wu Xie wasn’t worrying himself unnecessarily over where you both are, it’s making our readings difficult.

Wang Pangzi: OH GEE SO SORRY YOUR KIDNAPPING VICTIMS ARENT THRILLED TO BE HERE TO SAMPLE YOUR CREEPY JEWELRY BOX BUT THAT SOUNDS LIKE A YOU PROBLEM

Zhang Qiling: Zhang Rishan. I appreciate that you must think of our family first in your decisions. As must I. I hope you can appreciate what that means for decisions I make.

Wang Pangzi: HEHEHE SO TRUE BESTIE

YOU PISSED OFF THE WRONG GOTH TODAY BUDDY BOY

Zhang Qiling: A compromise: we stay with him as you run your tests. That will calm him and assuage Pangzi’s concerns and prevent me from…testing the limits of your lifespan.

Wu Xie: I accept that this may temporarily impact our relations, but am hopeful that you will come to understand that sometimes I need to make certain choices for this family that are…difficult. I will come to let you—One moment. Something seems to be happening.

Babysitters Club Chat

Wang Pangzi: OH SO WE ARE GONNA JUST POLITELY SIT WITH WU XIE AS STRANGERS POKE HIM WITH NEEDLES ARE WE HUH WELL LOOK WHOS BEING A HELPFUL LITTLE LAB ASSISTANT

Zhang Qiling: I’m attempting to convince him to let us out. Of course we will not simply sit there. Some lying to gain trust is necessary here.

Wang Pangzi: UR BEIN A SHADY BITCH XIAOGE AND ITS HOT

THATS WHY YOUR TATTOO IS SO BIG ITS FULL OF SECRETS

ALWAYS KNEW YOU HAD IT IN YOU TO—WAIT WHAT WAS THAT SOUND??

At the same time…

Bonnie and Clyde Chat

Xie Yuchen: …so, this is not what I expected to find.

Hei Yangjing: yeah kiddo is a bit freaked out:/ this sucks. I mean I get that they are concerned blah blah blah necklace goes brightbright but maybe we should go find the other two

or at least find a way to let Wu Xie know we are here, that room he’s in looks like a dungeon and not in a good way

Xie Yuchen: Does it look like I’m able to do anything right now? Also, I’m fairly certain they won’t be harmed. Zhang Rishan may be callous, but he isn’t stupid.

Hei Yangjing: r u kidding

he split up Romeo and Juliet, then left Romeo with a sword—seems pretty stupid to me

Xie Yuchen: Yeah I’m not going near that. He made his bed with that choice. What can you see? These Neanderthal guards are blocking my view.

Hei Yangjing: uh so there’s like a lab table situation

Wu Xie isn’t tied up, a good sign in this context

I can’t see what those people are holding, they’re talking a lot and some asshole just grabbed Wu Xie’s arm, looks like maybe they are putting in an IV?

The necklace is—oh. Oh shit.

[kintatsujo]

LoZ AU- The Courage of Running Away Part TWENTY-THREE

Here’s the previous post and

HERE is a supplementary post that went right before this and which is relevant!!

This was so late because I slept most of the day on Tuesday.

WARNING for some fantasy horror coming up; but if you can handle Gravity Falls you'll be fine!

#AU August

#LoZ AU: The Courage of Running Away

[Image Descriptions: Princess Hilda is walking down a long hallway, her long black hair, her long cape and her long dress sweeping behind her.  She notices a conversation in a nearby room that piques her curiosity; the first part is unintelligible but the part she catches is "Lost MOST of my crew."  Princess Hilda goes to the door and puts a hand on it to open it further.  "Lord Serenumbra," she says, face placid and regal, "Is everything QUITE all right-" she cuts herself off.  In the room are Serenumbra with his hands behind his back calmly, the Scarred Woman and the Burly Man in less than happy attitudes, and between them- Princess Zelda, tied to a chair, her mouth gagged. Princess Zelda gives Hilda a pleading look, as someone says "Ah, your highness, just in time."  Hilda can't hear them over the sound of her own horror.  "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" she demands, rushing forward.  The Scarred Woman and the Burly Man seem surprised, as she hurries to Zelda and pulls the gag off her face, letting her spit a piece of cloth into Hilda's hand.  "Oh dear," Hilda says, "Yes, spit it out, dear."  The Scarred Woman and the Burly Man give an angry stare in Serenumbra's direction.  "...You mean Princess Hilda didn't KNOW?" the Scarred Woman asks. Serenumbra hums as if he's surprised to be spoken to.  He strokes his chin thoughtfully.  "Did I ever say she DID?" he asks.  The Scarred Woman, furious, shouts, "You conniving slimy little GHOUL RAT!" and pulls a knife to point at Serenumbra's chest.  Hilda yelps and puts herself more in between Zelda and the others in the room, while Zelda mostly just looks angry. "Give me ONE GOOD REASON we shouldn't take you into the GARDENS and GUT YOU FOR THE PIGS!" the Scarred Woman demands, gesturing with the knife. Serenumbra touches the heavy pendant on his chest, specifically the disc meant to represent the Moon Pearl.  "Hmm, if you insist," he says. The disc begins to glow, then floods the room with blue light.  It is, in fact, the actual Moon Pearl.  The Scarred Woman and the Burly Man grimace as the light engulfs them; Hilda presses her forehead against Zelda's and puts a hand up to shield their eyes, both girls gritting their teeth and screwing their eyes shut tight as possible. As the light recedes, Hilda claps a hand to her mouth in horrified terror and Zelda grimaces in horrified disgust. "Now then, your highnesses," Serenumbra says with a cheerful smile.  The camera pans to show what's become of the Scarred Woman and the Burly Man: She has been transformed into a terrified fox.  He has been transformed into a disembodied hand with one horrified eye in the palm.  One of their masks has landed on the floor beside them.  Serenumbra continues: "THIS WILL ALL GO MUCH EASIER IF YOU COOPERATE." Hilda repositions herself around Zelda protectively once more, and demands, "COOPERATE?!  What are you TALKING about, what are you even trying to DO?!"  Serenumbra gives her a friendly smile.  "Why, I'm going to TRANSFER THE TRIFORCE OF WISDOM from Princess Zelda to YOU, of course." The tears of terror on Hilda's face are ruining her makeup, but she's now as furious as she is afraid.  She throws her arms around Zelda.  "WHAT?!  That's CRAZY!!" she yells.  Zelda looks to the side, thinking about the fact that the Triforce of Wisdom is back home with her mother.  "For more reasons than ONE," she mutters anxiously.  Serenumbra smiles and the Moon Pearl glows, lighting his face from below.  "Oh, Hilda," he says.  "YOU'LL THANK ME EVENTUALLY."  End ID.]

This is the one place I'm worried people will shout "plot hole!! Why doesn't he check Princess Zelda's hand!!"  The answer is that he's so sure he's right about her having it that he wouldn't even listen if she waved her hand in his face.  

Anyway I like Serenumbra as a villain he's creepy as fuck.

[redstainedsocks]

So I lost the energy to keep up with the last week of prompts but I wanted to finish off this little series the way I had planned and thankfully it still makes sense! This is the longest one yet, just to fit everything in that needed to make it work. Thanks for reading! I'll make a masterlist at some point too

30. (Alternate prompt) We think of the key, each in his prison - Escape | Multiple whumpee (mentioned)

Warnings: vague noncon drugging (magical herbal tea), attempted mind control, magical mind control, magical whump, intimate whumper/creepy whumper, noncon kissing, blood, escape and bargaining for freedom

One month. Thirty days. They’d made it. They’d survived. The deal was done.

Wasn’t it?

Celeste sat them down for tea around mid afternoon, only a few hours more until they could walk away. The tea tasted strange but it didn’t knock them out, as they’d first suspected it would.

Stone wrinkled their nose at the taste but swallowed it down.

“It’s not so bad, once you get used to it,” Celeste stated.

“What’s in it?”

“Herbs, flowers, things to make you feel content. You feel content, don’t you?”

Stone looked out the window at the early summer day, the sun dancing across the meadow of tall, bright green grass. The sky was clear blue and clouds scudded across it lazily. They breathed in the scent of steamy tea cups, fresh baked bread, sweet jam and cream.

They did feel content. Not a care in the world. They rolled their shoulders and felt the tight pull of the brand between their shoulder blades. It was so much less bothersome when everything else was alright, when nothing else hurt.

Stone nodded at Celeste, even as their eyes filled with tears. Why were they crying? They felt so happy but something was wrong… something… they just wanted not to worry anymore, not to fight.

Celeste stood and wrapped them in a hug, stroked their hair.

“I don’t know what’s wrong,” Stone mumbled.

“It’s going to be okay, soon you won’t have to make any more decisions.”

Just one big decision, just the choice to run and run and never look back and never have to live more of these confusing, bewildering moments. Never have her touch them again.

Never have to miss home, again.

Celeste stroked their temples and kissed their forehead. This could be home, a small voice whispered inside their head, and they shuddered. It sounded so full of promise.

As the sun set Celeste led them to the kitchen, in new clothes but their own boots, a bag of odd belongings—jewellery, sunglasses, a bookmark—slung over their shoulder.

“Our deal is fulfilled,” Celeste said, standing with them at the large kitchen island, the back door open. Sweet dusk air filled their lungs and they smiled. “You may now do whatever you wish.”

Stone looked at her, pulling away from the hand on their arm. “Tell me why? Why do all of this?”

“I get lonely.” She shrugged. “I need what humans have to offer, devotion, energy, love—or hate. None of you give it freely anymore so I take it where I can.”

Somehow the revelation that she wasn’t entirely human didn’t strike Stone as odd, it made sense, given… everything.

“Maybe if you asked,” Stone said through gritted teeth. “Or if you were nicer, and didn’t torture people—”

“Pain is invigorating. And when you ask, people have the chance to say no.”

Stone glared and shuffled away from her, shaking their head. “I hope you’re even more alone when I’m gone then you ever felt before.”

“I will be,” she sighed dreamily. “Until the next one. And you haven’t left yet, I wouldn’t be so sure that’s what you’ll decide.”

“What?!” Stone rocked back, stepped away but Celeste’s hand snapped out and caught them by the shirt collar and dragged them closer. “Of course I’m leaving that’s, that’s…”

She kissed them on the lips and their cry was muffled by it. The brand between their shoulder blades itched, then burned, until then the skin felt clean and new.

“You have until morning,” she whispered against their mouth. “If you’re still here then, we’ll have to strike a new deal.”

She left Stone standing there, heart racing, and disappeared into the quiet, dark mansion with a lilting laugh.

*

Hours passed and Stone stood rooted to the floor. The door was right there, open! Why couldn’t they just walk through it?

Images flashed behind their eyes, dredged up memories: her eyes in the mirror, the contentment of the tea, the dreamlike states where she flitted through their mind.

What did they really have for themself, out there in the world? It was like every possibility had melted away, all the good thoughts… gone. They could barely recall faces, names, places.

Barely. But, enough.

They had a life, a whole world, freedom. They had themself, if nothing else.

It was enough determination to take one step forward, to fight the feeling that kept them stuck in place. But just one step, only one.

At this rate they’d be here all night, it would be too late.

And what if they got away but some other poor person ended up taking their place? Someone who couldn’t fight back, who couldn’t take it, who crumbled under her hands and became putty for her to shape however she wanted? Stone shuddered at the thought.

They couldn’t let that happen. The thought settled around them. They could stay. They could take the fall for everyone else, even if no one ever knew. They could do that. They could take this.

The unease inside them quietened at the idea. It was the easier choice, just to give in.

“No.”

They spoke quietly and then louder. “No!”

They struggled forward another step.

Celeste had tried to rig the game, they understood now. Tried to make it impossible to walk away, so that the ‘choice’ to stay was made for them. So that come morning she could enforce a new deal—and even without knowing what it would be Stone knew it would be terrible. The rest of their life, maybe, traded away because that’s all they had to give and she would demand as much.

“I will leave!” They shouted, voice hoarse and dry. “But… but I will come back.”

Air rushed around them, like the house took a breath, like a spell of quiet was broken. They lurched forward suddenly, stumbling against the counter. “If I can’t leave freely, I will leave on my own terms!”

They stalked across the room, grabbed for a pad of paper and pulled a pen out of their jacket pocket. Their hand trembled and they took a moment to steady it.

“Evil, conniving, wicked woman,” they muttered. “But if this is how I get away, if this is how I don’t owe you everything.”

They grit their teeth and forced their hand to write out the agreement. Line by line, signed with their name, and—in a moment of hysterical laughter in belief in magic and knowing in their bones how it worked—they took a knife from the cutlery draw and pricked their forefinger until a bead of blood welled up.

Stone could breathe once it was done, they felt light and airy, like nothing held them down. Relief filled them, bursting forth like a dam they thought it might make them cry, or whoop with joy, or even fly.

They did none of those things. They left the note on the counter, hefted their bag higher, and ran.

They made it across the meadow as the sky turned from night-black to early morning blue. They made it to a road as the first hint of yellow splashed across the horizon. They made it far enough away that the spell was broken, morning dawned to find they were gone, and free.

Free until the price they offered had to be paid.

*

Celeste woke to a silent house, but it didn’t feel barren. It felt filled with life, still. Alive, happy. Not something she had expected.

She wandered the rooms looking for her newest conquest and was surprised to find it empty. Her bare feet moved quietly through the rooms as her grief and rage began to grow. She’d been so sure, with this one, that she’d done enough. So hopeful… but perhaps Stone had been too bullheaded, too defiant. Just as she was about to give up she found the note on the kitchen island. Amongst the luxury appliances and marble counter tops and glittering china-ware, a scruffy, hastily written bond, on a small piece of paper—crumpled and messy and so very Stone. With a fingerprint pressed in red blood at the bottom, sealing the offer with magic.

I, Stone Machart, will leave this house tonight of my own free will.

I offer this in my place:

I will return of my own free will once a year, every year, for the rest of my life. For one month of each year Celeste can have me, and only me.

This contract will be broken if Celeste hurts another in my absence. This contract will be broken and my freedom forfeit if I do not return within twelve months.

This I swear.

Celeste smiled and warmth bloomed in her chest. Without losing any more time she added her own thumbprint of blood next to Stone’s. Finally, she’d found someone worth keeping, and she had a whole year to plan how to make the most of the month with her beloved, Precious, Stone.

@whumpthisway @lonesome--hunter @kixngiggles

[everything-makes-me-anxious]

My Five Favorite Chilling Tales of Holmes

Given how shocking, dreadful and unbelievable actual crime was in Victorian England, it's a testament to Conan Doyle’s desire to make a mark with Holmes that he did not fashion his stories after the horrible crimes happening around him.

No, Conan Doyle eschewed rehashing the stories of real life murderous doctors, spurned lovers poisoning wives of married men, rampaging tramps committing mass murders of families, and grudge-carrying servants in favor of mostly tame stories of crime (blackmail and theft of inheritances probably being the most common in his tales).

I say "mostly" because he did write some ghastly cases for Holmes to solve. The Hound of the Baskervilles alone would be enough to secure Conan Doyle's name as an author capable of writing great fantastical horror.

But he didn't stop there. Here's my top five favorite tales of chilling crimes that Holmes has ever had to face:

THE CARDBOARD BOX

I can barely bring myself to read this one when I reread the stories. It is not only horrifying -- an elderly woman receiving a pair of severed ears anonymously by post -- but the truth behind the crime speaks to the utter misery that humans can and do render unto others. We see Jim Browner's happily married life crumble to pieces by the connivances of an infatuated sister in law, whose introduction of another man to her sister is the beginning point of so much tragedy. Alcohol abuse, loss of love, affairs, and a terrifying chase scene and death. All because one woman hated her brother in law for not loving her. It is a fine examination of the things we're willing to do to each other out of our own misery, to make others feel as miserable, but by God is it a terrifying and vivid tale.

THE RETIRED COLOURMAN

Probably second only to The Norwood Builder when it comes to stories that feature the creepy things a spurned man will do, this story is almost too much to bear. Most of the stories in The Casebook are unbearable, but that's another matter (and an opinion for another time). For any true crime buff it may ring eerily familiar to spousal homicide cases within the past fifty years. And yet the advanced and almost ingenious double homicide took place well before the stuff Forensic Files loved to pick apart. The fact that you are not certain until the very end that the pair have been murdered (and not just locked up or escaped) is unnerving, and the way in which we find out makes it all the worse: Holmes bluntly asks Amberley, "Where are the bodies?" Everything the murderer does marks him a very cold, diabolical person who is perhaps the third most dangerous man Holmes had the displeasure of tangling with. Then there’s the thought that this man is 60 years old.. someone that old doesn’t begin his criminal career with such a huge and almost perfect crime. What other crimes has he committed?

THE DANCING MEN

Along with “The Five Orange Pips”, this is one of those tragic tales where the client is done to death before Holmes can take any action. However, the tragedy of the wife’s past -- which she so desperately tried to put behind her -- catching up to her AND her husband, leaving her shot in the damn head and widowed is just so much more horrible to me than the events of “The Five Orange Pips”. Holmes was so close to the end, too, to the point that if he had finished his work just a few hours sooner, he may have saved a life. Just because the woman was the daughter of a mob boss and attracted the affections of a thug, she is unable to start a life where all of that is put behind her. The past catches up with an innocent woman, getting her injured and her husband murdered. All because some thug refused to leave her alone. It’s creepy. It’s also plausible and has happened before (with less drama perhaps, and no ciphers).

LADY FRANCES CARFAX

My god. What about this story isn’t gruesome and terrifying? Just imagine you’re an unmarried woman vacationing in a foreign country, and a couple of criminals take a shine to you because you happen to wear an expensive necklace. Next thing you know, after being charmed and delighted by these seemingly good-natured religious folk, they kidnap you back to your home country, gassing you with chloroform all the while, steal all your valuable jewelry (which is all you have to your name) and then stuff your nearly-gassed-to-death body in a coffin, on top of an actual dead person, in order to be buried alive. Jesus Christ. The ineptitude of Scotland Yard was almost fatal this time, as the warrant didn’t come until the woman was practically in the ground, and Watson could barely resuscitate her upon getting her out. Whether in real life or the pages of these stories, I’d hate to be at the mercy of Victorian-era Scotland Yard (Abberline was an insufferable buffoon).

THE CROOKED MAN

Another one to go under the heading “tales that exhibit how shitty the human race is”. It’s another more tragic-than-chilling tale like The Dancing Men, but I find it horrifying all the same. The crooked man in question had his sweetheart and all hopes for a normal future snatched away by the most cunning, cowardly and disgusting excuse of a fellow soldier (!) who betrayed him into a trap in order to get with his sweetheart. Pretty messed up. However you feel about colonialism, this guy spent years being beaten and tortured until his body became deformed, and tried many times to escape unsuccessfully. In Victorian England, a man so deformed as to be stooped over and one who isn’t elderly enough to explain such a posture would be considered a freak and wouldn’t be able to live normally in society. And thus it was for him. He lived a quiet life far away from anyone who might recognize him, and made the only living he could with his exotic pet and snake. All this, just because he was in love and loved by a woman that a fellow soldier of his wanted for himself. And that man got her. She married him, and was married to him, ignorant of his treachery, for thirty freaking years. Imagine being married to such a scoundrel, a man you didn’t even see yourself with and honestly pining for the man you thought long-dead, for so many years and not knowing he was the reason your lover was presumed KIA. Imagine having so many years of your life wasted with a despicable creature. And imagine not being able to be with the man you did love, upon finding him alive, because of the way society was back then. This story is so horrible and tragic.

Special mentions: The Bruce Partington Plans, for the terrifying things people will do for money, and The Devil’s Foot, which at least saw some vengeance.