#other mystery woman?

[queeniecook]

February 8

The snow had melted away in Forgotten Hollow due to an odd warm spell. James may or may not of had something to do with it, given the fact that he’s not a fan of snow. The weather was the furthest thing from his mind at the moment. His wife is missing.

Soon enough, he tracks her down in the town’s square using instinct on where she might be. He knows where she’s headed. He needs to stop her.

His first impulse upon seeing his wife’s lovely form is to yell at her. He has told her more than once not to leave The Straud Estate’s grounds.

“Typical female.” James mutters under his breath before approaching her. He doesn’t yell at her, he knows that will get him nowhere. “Dear one…”

“Oh…hello, James.” She greets, knowing she’s been caught. She doesn’t understand why it’s such a big deal for her to meet her sister. She keeps hearing the timing isn’t right. That there’s more going on than just her situation with her sister. She knows that he’s not telling her something.

“Look, I know you want to meet your sister. I can understand that.” James tells her and he’s actually not just saying the words. He does understand why she wants to meet her sister. To have connection to family. “The truth is.” He pauses for drama’s sake, because he knows what he’s about to say will hit his wife hard. “The Vatore’s still stay here. Well, Lilith does. Caleb visits often.”

If the female across from him was still capable of drawing breath, she would have ceased breathing for a few moments.

“YOU DIDN’T THINK TO TELL ME THIS BEFORE?!” She yells at her husband.

Somehow, James wasn’t expecting that reaction out of her. He’s speechless for a few seconds before finding his voice. “I was trying to protect you.”

His words are a lie.

“Whatever! I needed to know this! You know how much I loathe them! They act so high and mighty, I wish the world knew who they really are!” She rants and raves, starting to pace.

She ignores the concerned looks she and her spouse are getting from the humans in the nearby park. Asa and herself, even The Count, don’t sugar coat who they are. They don’t present themselves as wholesome and good. The Vatore’s are hypocrites in her book.

“I need to feed. I will be back at the grounds shortly.” She finally speaks. Thaddeus opens his mouth to argue but she gives him a look that he hasn’t seen in her eyes since she turned. He decides not to mess with her. He accomplished his goal – distraction.

The vampire stalks through the park, finding a visitor from Sulani to feast on. She doesn’t kill him.

Unbeknownst to her, the very sister she so desperately wants to contact is standing across the street from the park.

[copypastus]

Nothing gave me more whiplash IN MY LIFE than going from acowar to acofas.

Remember when Feyre closed the chapter on her relationship with Tamlin and wished him well? Coz the Inner Circle sure keeps forgetting.

[a1sart]

NO BUT HUSK USED TO BE AN OVERLORD? THAT'S SO FUCKING SICK TELL ME MORE!!!!

what's his relationship to the other overlords? do they know that Alastor owns his soul now? What do they think of him? What was his rise to power like? Just HOW powerful is he actually? What is he holding back if he's holding back at all? Did he lose that power or does he still have it? How long was he in power for? Was his rise and fall quick? Is that why no one at the hotel seems to recognize him?

Angel says he isn't one for politics in the pilot so it makes sense why he wouldn't know but what about Vaggie? She seems like the type of person to keep track of that kind of thing. Did he rise to power and then lose it before she arrived in hell? Or does she recognize who the man behind the bar used to be?

And what about products he could have made? Are there old playing cards with his face on them scattered around hell? Poker chips with his branding on them? Abandoned casinos with his name on the sign? Slot machines with dapper little cats on the casing?

How does HE feel about his time as an overlord? Does he miss it? Does he regret it? He regrets gambling his soul away but if he could go back and change that, choose not to gamble with his soul, would he quit while he's ahead or continue to be an overlord? Did he himself own any souls? What happened to them after Alastor got his? Would Alastor own them too?

All questions that could be addressed in the show, but honestly I doubt they will be. We only have 4 episodes left in the season and they're not gonna spend all that precious time on Husk's backstory, no matter how interested I am by it. We might get one or two questions answered though and I would consider that a win :)

[sapphire-drawings]

I love your swapped au Webber and Wendy so much they bully each other recreationally and get married for tax benefits because Wendy couldn’t figure out how to ask Webber out normally

Would they really be swapped with Wilson and Maxwell if they weren't emotionally constipated?? I don't think so. Also the tax benefits thought is pretty funny lol

Wendy would be the first to realize there's... "something" against her will. For Webber... He's still learning about human connections. Been mostly isolated for most of his life makes it hard to notice and understand certain social cues.

Also, Au!Wickerbottom makes an appearance for the first time in comic format

[the-insanity-of-mojiru]

Just two ladies solving supernatural mysteries with their undying, kind of feral man servants

[petpluto]

One of the reasons for my absolute devotion to Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is that the long suffering (and mostly celibate) love interest is a man, and the sexually adventurous, devil may care, rich love interest is a woman.

[jamiesfootball]

Always lowkey simmering a Leverage AU in the back of my head hear me out:

Ted is an ex-insurance investigator who was able to get his son life-saving medical treatment because his first, original Crime Pal Beard was like ‘Ted if your company doesn’t come through with the coverage, we’re doing things my way.’

The company did not come through. The company did let him go due to suspicion of Ted’s involvement in the incident, but Ted will happily remind folks that no charges were formally pressed. Henry is alive and healthy and living with Michelle, who divorced Ted shortly thereafter (not just because of pre-existing marital problems, but because Ted wouldn’t tell her anything about why the doctors “””suddenly decided to do the procedure for free”””). Shortly thereafter, Ted fled the country.

What Ted learned from the whole experience is that there’s a lot of people out there, good people just trying to live by the rules, but sometimes things happen that are just out of their control. And well- if we’ve got the means to help the good people out when no one else will, then shouldn’t we try?

“We’ve got means,” Beard agrees. “And motives.”

They do things Beard’s way now.

[hella1975]

just think this time tomorrow ill be publicly indecent in a spoons somewhere. i am so strong

[pickletrip]

The plot is plotting.

But your parents gave you to the Abbot to extend your life & try to change your destiny. That is why you're still alive today. But young man, I warn you. You must look out for those whom you've wronged in the past life. They are very near. They are coming to take your life.

Totally not ominous. His personal life and professional life are all about dying.

Believe me. Phaya doesn't want to be anywhere but with Tharn. So, rest assured, he'll do his best to be a nuisance to Tharn.

Well well well. That old granny is whoever this is. I have no idea who this is supposed to be, but at least she is on Tharn's side. MDL says she is a mysterious woman. Yes, I agree. Mysterious indeed.

[daysincomplete]

I don't even go here much anymore but I need somewhere to throw my thoughts re: Emilie (Genshin Impact)

Yes, a lot of people have been upset or disappointed that she looks less interesting mostly in comparison to the many leaked concept arts of her, and I've definitely seen a couple colour/other edits on her which looked amazing. For me, the hair colour throws me off a bit and I have some Choice Words about her top but the green of her dress is such a deeply satisfying shade of green that reminds me of velvet, and I enjoy how her outfit, alongside Neuvilette's description and other people's voicelines, paint what feels to be a deliberately curated picture of her.

While we can't know for sure what decisions were involved that resulted in them settling on the current official design, the perception on her is so unnecessarily dampened because of that potential "what could have been" that we weren't meant to see in the first place. If anything, looking at the variety of concept arts leaked, it's at least reassuring that the artists have that skill and freedom to depict a character in so many creative ways.

honestly I'm more interested in seeing how Emilie is as a character - most of other character's voicelines about her are in regards to her business than of her (with the exception of Chevreuse) and she's a "forensic cleaner"? ESPECIALLY since she's probably going to be involved with the Burning Artifact set???There are a lot more layers here I really wish to see more people explore here instead of, well, everything else going on. I'm sitting here imagining situations involving Emilie, Chiori and Chevreuse potentially on a case, or interactions between her and Lisa/Sucrose/Albedo as a chemist (and god forbid what happens when she's put together near the Pyro Folk)

I don't know if I'll pull for her (if I do, it'll be predominantly based on her kit) but I like seeing how artists depict a character once their design is drip marketed on Twitter and it's a bit annoying seeing that the media tab there is just predominantly people talking about the concept art instead

[sincerely-sofie]

Ruby anon again! I’m glad that I haven’t been interrupting your creative process or intervening at all. I can’t wait to see what you do with Ruby and her siblings!

The siblings, btw, were a piece of work for me to write and develop until I decided to peace out on really doing anything with them. The only two things I remember about them really are:

• They’re bounty hunters and their parents did the same thing to them that they’re doing with Ruby. They’re repeating behavior taught to them and they legitimately think they’re helping Ruby. I scrapped that idea quickly because I felt like that could push out the problematic “the abused become abusers” message and that it could possibly make the siblings sympathetic, and I did not want to make them sympathetic in even the slightest way. Anything I had involving the backstory of Ruby’s siblings and/or what happened to their parents was just tossed out after that.

• I thought about the siblings having opposite personalities and looks: one is more loud and aggressive and the other is more quiet and passive aggressive. One is shiny while the other is not. One is the physical abuser while the other is the emotional abuser. Despite their personalities contrasting, they get along well with each other. I wanted it to symbolize that abuse can look different, but it’s still abuse and can often come with other forms of it. I was still on the fence about that idea because I wasn’t sure if I liked it.

I hope you can write the siblings better than I ever could. I can’t wait to see more of your work! It’s amazing! I hope you have a good night. ^^

OHHHHH MY WORD I CAN’T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW AMAZING THESE NOTES ARE AND HOW EXCITED I AM TO INCORPORATE THEM

I love the idea of the siblings embodying different forms of abuse and the significance of how their differences ultimately play off each other in a way that they get along swimmingly. That’s a brilliantly layered piece of storytelling, you’re a genius! And thank you for the compliment, you’re super sweet :>

Real quick, an important thing to note about the possible problematic message that “the abused become abusers”— it’s a heartbreaking fact that many cases of abuse are generational in origin. The documented fact that domestic abusers are frequently victims of corporal punishment is one of the most devastating examples of this. To write a couple of characters who reflect this fact doesn’t automatically push out the idea that the abused become abusers— heck, it could be written as an important insight into the devastating effects of abuse and how it impacts its victims, and how breaking the chain of abuse is even more significant than its already seen.

Just because you write a reason for a character to be a horrible person doesn’t mean they’re automatically sympathetic, or even that they’re sympathetic in a bad way. Villains people can relate to are very powerful from a writing perspective because they make the reader stop, stare into the abyss, and see it staring back at them. A sympathetic or “understandable” villain who is still clearly villainous is terrifying compared to one that’s cartoonish pure evil. I can’t think of anyone who wants to blow up the universe, but I can think of a good few people who are xenophobic to the point of dehumanizing even themselves through their hatred. An origin story isn’t always an excuse. Sometimes it’s nothing more than an explanation— a cautionary tale that says “this could be you, so watch yourself.”

The fact that this is a possible backstory for Ruby and her older siblings is very relevant to Twig’s character in particular. I haven’t talked about Twig’s aunt Rue or mother Rowan’s backstories very much, but Rue was very similar to Twig while growing up— and Twig resembles Rue as a child more than she does her own mother. In a piece I haven’t finished yet, there’s a flashback that reveals the lighter that featured so heavily in the abuse Twig suffered is printed with her grandfather’s initials. Ruby and Twig could talk for hours, I think, about the torrential emotions that come from knowing your tormentor was a victim as well.

[wishesofeternity]

"Antiochos’ and Stratonike’s activities in the eastern part of the [Seleukid] empire are largely shrouded in mystery, but, as Engels has argued, Antiochos was far from idle since he embarked on a large building programme and was active in securing the frontier. There is some evidence to suggest that his new bride accompanied him for much of this period. We can perhaps identify Stratonike’s presence with her new husband in the Upper Satrapies through the gold coinage minted in Susa and Baktria in c . 287. The two gold coin sets are of the same type, the obverse features the laureate head of Apollo facing right and the reverse features Artemis in an elephant biga facing left with the legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ in exergue.

Figure 1: Coin of Seleukos I from Baktria Depicting Apollo on the Obverse and Artemis with Elephant Biga on the Reverse (Houghton and Lorber 2002, SC I no. 163).

Figure 2: Coin of Seleukos I from Baktria Depicting Apollo on the Obverse and Artemis with Elephant Biga on the Reverse (Houghton and Lorber 2002, SC I no. 257).

The reverse image of Artemis in the elephant biga is within the same design type as a large range of other coinage issued by Seleukos I celebrating the success of his elephants and thus his eastern campaigns. The appearance of Artemis is however unique to these coin types. This suggests the emphasis on the close links between the twin gods, Artemis and Apollo, depicted on the obverse and reverse of this coinage . Since there appears to be as a close link between Apollo and Antiochos as there is between Zeus and Seleukos, the presence of Artemis could be seen as a symbol for Stratonike. This would create a series of parallels: Seleukos/Zeus, Antiochos/Apollo, and Stratonike/Artemis. The first two reflect what we see for these two kings at the list of priests of Seleukid kings in Seleukeia in Pieria . Additionally, it may be notable that the sister-wife ideology [...] appears to be evident later in the reign of Antiochos.

As all of the Apollo/Artemis cointypes were produced on high value gold coinage, this suggests that it was issued in order to commemorate a significant event. While the type was similar to other Seleukid coinage, the shift from Athena to Artemis was clearly discernible and unique. The arrival of the new joint-King and Queen in the region to take up residence would have been a suitable moment for the issuing of the new coin type. This advertisement of their new rule certainly falls in line with Seleukos’ wedding speech which confirmed their new roles."

-David Engels & Kyle Erickson, "Apama and Stratonike – Marriage and Legitimacy", "Seleukid Royal Women" (edited by Edited by Altay Coşkun and Alex McAuley). The pictures of the coins are screenshots from the book.

[margridarnauds]

I’m willing to agree with everyone when they say that the evidence we have for the historical Cleopatra VII is that she was Greek, with very little intermarriage, if any, with any Egyptians in her family tree, but I *do* think it’s interesting that the “Cleopatra was Greek. Deal with it” crowd are suspiciously silent when it’s, say, Wardah Khan or Leonor Varela playing her, neither of whom are Greek or Egyptian, for that matter. 

Like, if accuracy is such an issue, why are they okay but a black Cleopatra isn’t? 

[spooky-space-kook]

If we do get more movies and we get cameos from other main characters, I want them to act as an information network. I want them to be informants with unique skills.

Marta's ability is to infiltrate quietly, disappearing in a crowd with absolute ease.

Helen's ability is a to get in and out fast and smash when needed.

I want them to be the phone-a-friends and the suddenly-sat-across-from-you-at-the-diner appearances. I want small appearances that show they're still living their lives, happy and glowing with whatever success best pleases them, have them drop an incredibly helpful bomb, and see them go back to their lives.

I want the newest soul suffering the latest tragedy to be a little in awe. I want them to see their potential future and ask if that's what's seen in them.

[idiosyncraticrednebula]

To find out that all of the people who accused Michael Jackson of being a c***d m****ter and harassed him about him for decades are finally getting exposed for being exactly what they accused him of is oddly satisfying for the fact that this vindicates Michael even more than before, but it's also infuriating for the trauma and pain they severely inflicted upon that innocent man for years and years and how that led to his self-destruction. All of this because they wanted to cover their own predatory behinds.

[non-un-topo]

Genuinely so sad because I wish I could just draw and write again