#that human girl taken to horror-wonderland part

[tfotababe]

Did I?

Two months ago, my dad noticed I've been reading. He asked what the book was about, I told him it was about 'Fairies' that existed with the human world kinda like Harry Potter or Peter Pan. He asked if there were villains, I said no, there aren't any, they just fight amongst themselves (I really didn't think about our dear I hate you = I love you couple) But did I lie???

[queenslayerbee]

👑⚔️🐝 QUEENSLAYERBEE'S INTRO 👑⚔️🐝

a bit about me

I was born in 1996 in Spain, where I've lived all my life, and I've been in tumblr for a few years. Recently I pondered making a new writeblr, keeping the older one as an archive, to give more distance between my original stories and my fandom presence. The final push was, of all things, an absurdist dream where among many other bizarre occurrences, I had a page with this title.

The B(ee) was for the initial in my first name (and certain affinity to said animals; or at least to their honey 🤤). "Slayer" was to satisfy my anti-monarchy sensibilities, I suppose! Or maybe a Buffy Summers reference. With me, it could be either.

I write speculative fiction in many forms, always directed at adult audiences, and always, always centered in women. At the moment all my stories are in progress; even the short stories I had a draft ready for are going through a remodeling process. However, I hope to slowly post WIP intros of each, as well as updates on my progress and excerpts, once I'm a little less busy in my regular life.

You're also welcome to send me questions, but I ask for a little patience as I know I'll be slow to answer.

You can take a peek at my stories under the cut; I'll update the information below and add links as I build up this space.

multipart series in progress

-THE REDSTART'S LEDGER. In a faraway galaxy already heavily populated before it was colonized by humans, Captain Latoya -pirate, hybrid, daughter of tyrants- has an eventful day. After being released from prison by a suspicious organisation, she meets a mysterious and beautiful woman, and steals a ship with a faulty artificial intelligence, now on the run with a new crew of mismatched criminals. [space fantasy].

-THE WICKED WITCHES OF TRICKSTOWN. Early 1980s. Everyone knows the town of Trickstown, USA, is cursed. It's never more clear than when you look at the lives of three young women: Sadie, a talented witch; Gillian, her non-magical, abrasive best friend, and Denise, the prodigal daughter returning to town to clear up the murder of her last living relative... where everything points to Sadie as the culprit. [dark fantasy]

-THE TRAVELS OF SOYOLMAA. In a world of creatures of magic alongside humans born without it, Soyolmaa, an immortal centenarian woman, has lived through medieval times into a futuristic society. Part of a now disolved order of fellow human women turned invulnerable, she's determined to continue honouring their mission of making information available to the masses. Strange adventures, hidden treasures, and historical mysteries will interrupt her path. [high fantasy]

As Soyolmaa's particular interest within her order consisted on folklore and legend, her chronicles are accompanied by short stories she hears on her travels. These are the most solid ideas I have so far:

"Petal Decay". Gyeong, a young Mirou from the fruitful and flowery valley, is taken to the tundra to enter an arranged marriage with an ice monster as condition to a peace treaty. [dark fairytale]

"The Leech of Wonderland". Vivian is a naive girl living in a land with no more than three hours of daylight during social season. In her debut she'll meet a strange, entrancing suitor that hides a dangerous secret. [gothic horror]

"A Smile Like a Breath of Spring". The courtly tale of woe of Lady Sabine and Sir Yvonne. [courtly love epic, paranormal romance]

"Chasing Fanny". Series of stories written by Soyolmaa's late friend about two human women in a city of monsters: Giulietta, a lovelorn private investigator, and Fanny, the femme fatale who seduced and wronged her. [noir, satire]

standalones

-"All About Eve(s)" (novel). 1950, Paris. Magical creatures of folklore have coexisted with humans for generations. It's still the shock of her life when Eva, a young woods fae and a Spanish exile, finds herself face to face with her hateful older self. [magical realism]

-"Beneath the Foam" (novella). Three unhappy sisters lived in the city of Qadis during Al-Andalus' times. The youngest disappears, the middle one hides secrets, and the eldest must go against the timid nature that was nurtured upon her to save them all. [historical fantasy, horror]

-"A Child's Covenant" (novelette). Years ago Vela requested the fairies' aid to free herself from the monsters raising her at home. Now the fairies want to collect the debt. [dark fairytale]

-"Underground Elysium" (novelette). When rotting corpses awoke and began feasting on humans, one visionary vampiress took the opportunity to put her species at the top of the new world order. But it's election season, and Lucretia's position is put in danger for the first time. [political fantasy]

-"House of Providence" (novelette). A pair of mirror twin sisters and their stern, identical mother live in a quaint house that hides a horrible secret. [gothic horror]

-"The Wings Behind The Stage" (novelette). When an angel becomes obsessed with a play in progress the actors in the production, and especially the central, past-her-prime diva, are caught in its game. [existential horror]

-"One Over Many" (novelette). It's been a year since the day men disappeared. Maude, however, is more concerned with investigating the same-day disappearance of one Odette Farrow, with whom she feels a strange connection. [mystery]

untitled, vague ideas

-magical boarding school WIP. Co-dependant female friendship, betrayals, well-kept secrets, horror.

-

[justsomerandomfanfic]

What 10 Books Can You Not Live Without?

A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova; Published in 2020, this is a fantasy romance story about a human girl who is married to the Elf King. I love this story and literally can not put it down! I've read it about four times now since I got it in December last year. It's also amazing since it is loosely based on the mythology of Persephone and Hades! (Even with the whole enemies-to-lovers trope!)

Beauty by Robin McKinley; Published in 1978, this is a retelling of the original story of Beauty And The Beast, with a twist! (Obviously the genre is fantasy romance as well). Basically, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, Honour, also known as Beauty, is the youngest of three daughters. It goes along with the original story of Beauty And The Beast, but with a few changes, and honestly it's the best retelling I've ever read.

The New Year's Party by R.L. Stine; Published in 1995, this book is part of the Fear Street Series of R.L. Stine's and I first read this back in 2014. Like all of Stine's books, this is a horror/thriller, with dashes of romance and murder, how lovely! Here's a bit from the back of the book: "P.J. wasn't supposed to die. It was just a practical joke, no big deal. But P.J. had a bad heart." I truly recommend this but beware, you're in for a scare.

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins; This series was Published in 2003 - 2007, and is about a boy named Gregor who has to save his baby sister, Boots, after she falls down an old air duct grate in the basement of his apartment building. Similar to Alice In Wonderland, they both fall into a subterranean world called the Underland. I love this series and highly recommend it if you love fantasy, mystery, and adventure with a splash of romance.

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw; Published in 2022, this is the story about what happened after the events of Nightmare Before Christmas. Basically, Sally's a bit overwhelmed about her new title as Pumpkin Queen.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani; Published from 2013 to 2020, this story is a fantasy, fairytale, romance, with adventure and mystery. I haven't read the full series yet, but I've read the first two out of nine. Basically, every four years, two children are kidnapped and taken to the School for Good and Evil. Where they would be trained to be good and bad. I loved the first book because of the slight twist.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux; Published in English in 1911, this is the story about an Opera House that is presumed to be haunted by an Opera Ghost, also know as the Phantom of the Opera. Since the making of this book/story, there have been 33 films from 1916 - 2014. It's a wonderful story, and film, though through the years they have changed it a bit.

Cruella (Disney Live Action Novelization + Photo Insert) by Elizabeth Rudnick; This is just the novelization of the 2021 Disney live action movie, Cruella.

Deadpool: Paws: A Novel of the Marvel Universe by Stefan Petrucha; Published in 2018, in the words of Deadpool, "... This book is about puppies. Puppies that turn into big nasty monsters. And then I gotta kill 'em. Thing is, I like killing people -- the ones that deserve it, anyway -- but even I won't kill puppies. No way. So that's what we call a character dilemma..."

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood by Oliver Bowden; This was Published in 2010, based off of the Multiplatinum Video Games from Ubisoft; Assassin's Creed. This is book 2 of 9, about the beginning of Ezio and his journey of becoming an Assassin. I've read this book twice, and finished it in the same day. That's how good it is.

Reblog with the 10 books you can't live without!

[tbznewberry]

The madmen of Wonderland | TBZ [IV/End]

Part IV: escaping wasn't as easy as she had thought. The result of it is a shade of beautiful red. Y/N gets to know the truth about Wonderland and atarts to understand if it really is possible to get out or not ...

Genre: yandere, horror

Warnings: beheading, blood, kidnapping, throwing up, over all uncomfortable atmosphere.

Previously

She has come up with a plan. While ‘showing’ the way, she’ll escape from the kings and try to find the way out on her own. The three kings gather a lot of playing card-guards and make their way out of the castle on check horses. Y/N sits in front of Younghoon on the horse as they ride out into the forest. She’s wearing this light blue flowing dress that rides along in the wind. She looks down at Younghoon’s arms that cages her in when holding the horse. How will she get away? There are too many guards and they’ll catch her in no time. And then the innocent bunny will die. Poor little bunny.

“Wait”, she says suddenly. “I’ll get off here.”

“Here? Is this the right way?” Younghoon asks. 

“Let me see.”

When the horse stops, she jumps off. 

“Guards, go with her”, Juyeon demands. 

She hurries into the forest before the guards can come with her and then … she runs. She runs as fast as she can. Behind her, she can hear surprised shouts, but she doesn’t stop to look. Her heart is beating too fast for her poor body, too loud, knowing all too well what will happen if she gets caught. 

“Y/N?” a voice asks. 

She looks to the side, seeing the platinum blonde twins. She runs into their arms and pants, looking back. 

“Run, run!” she shouts and pushes them in front of them. 

“I know a place!” Jacob smiles and grabs her arm, pulling her with him. 

He pulls her into a cave nearby and holds his hand over her mouth. He smells like tea. 

“The kings got you, how unfortunate!” Kevin scoffs with a smile. “You belong to the hatters, Y/N. Not the kings. Let’s go. If we’re quick we can still come home to afternoon tea-”

“No, no, I can’t go back there!” Y/N begs. “I have to go home, I can’t-”

“Home?” Jacob asks. “That reminds me of a story-”

“N-No, Jacob, please … no more stories …”

“You want to listen to this. There was once a girl trapped in Wonderland that couldn’t get home. Do you know why? Because there was no way out. She was sad and cried a lot, but then accepted that her fate was to be with the hatters.”

“That’s … that’s just about me! Jacob, please don’t! Stop this!”

They ignore her pleads, grab her arms and start to pull her with them. She fights against them with all her might and begs them over to be let go, but they manage to pull her with them in the end. The sight of the hatters' house makes her brain bleed. The three hatters hurry out and grab the girl, hugging her tightly as if she had come back from the dead. 

“We’ve missed you, human”, Changmin says. “You’re home now.”

“Please leave me alone”, Y/N begs. “Help me get home!”

“Stupid little human, there are no ways home”, Haknyeon scoffs, taking a grop on her arm. “Stop fighting or we’ll make you stop.”

That can only mean one thing. They’re called ‘witchdoctors’ for a reason. 

“I don’t want any drugs, I don’t want anything!” Y/N screams. 

“Leave her alone”, a familiar voice says. 

Y/N turns around and sees the three men with purple eyes. 

“Y/N doesn’t belong here”, Sangyeon says. “And we’re bringing her back.”

They can spot guards in the distance.

“No …”, Y/N whispers, shaking her head. “This has to be a nightmare!”

“We’re not giving over the human”, Eric says and takes a harsh grip on her arm. “She’s ours!”

“Wipe your years, girl, you’ll be back soon”, Chanhee says coldly. “And then you’ll have something worse to cry about. Save your tears.”

The guards come closer. They grab her and push her into the arms of the kings while the guards capture the twins and the hatters. They’re fighting against them, knowing all too well what happens if they are taken to the castle. 

“You disobeyed”, Younghoon says and takes a harsh grip on the girl’s arm. “You know what that means.”

“No, please, please, please!” Y/N begs as they pull her with them back to the horses. “Leave me alone, I don’t want this…”

“Be quiet, you’ve caused enough trouble today.”

Back at the palace, Y/N gets pulled out on the balcony. She tries catching onto anything in the corridor to prevent her from leaving her room, but they’re stronger. The beheading is about to start. They’re going to kill them all, starting with the bunny. The ears poke down as soon as the neck gets cut off. Y/N looks away, too horrified to watch. 

“You’re going to watch this, human”, Juyeon says, holding her head locked towards the horrific scene. “Maybe it’ll teach you a lesson about trying to flee. This is what happens when people disobey us, or try to ruin our plans. Don’t become one of these people, Y/N.”

One by one they lose their heads, the blood running down the white gravel path. The heads roll down the grass, racing towards the gates. Y/N wants to cry, to scream, hell, maybe even to fight … but she remains still, watching everything play out in horror. She realizes that these kings aren’t just insane, they’re dangerous too, even for someone in Wonderland. The only ones remaining are the three kings and the three cat-looking-like humans. 

“I need to go”, Y/N whispers, horrified, feeling like she needs to throw up. “I need to …”

They grant her wish this time and she runs inside. Her footsteps echo through the big halls. 

“You better tell us how to get to the real world!” Jaehyun shouts after her. 

Y/N ignores him and runs into her bedroom, closing the door behind her.

The days turn into weeks. Y/N sits in her prison they call her room, looking out the window. They enter the room every day to ask her on how to get out to the real world … but she doesn't have an answer. The more she thinks about, the more she understand that there really are no physical way out of here. To get out of here would require a way that humans can't access.

Oh how she wishes that this was a nightmare.

Wait.

What if it is? How does she wake up? Why isn't she waking up?

"Why aren't I waking up?" she asks Juyeon one day when he enters the room. "This is a dream ... isn't it?"

"You can't wake up. There are no way out of here, Y/N", he answers calmly.

"Then ... then I can't show you the way out."

"You need to teach us how to wake up." He squints his eyes. "You don't get it, do you?"

"What?"

"You don't just go to bed and end up here, Y/N. You will never wake up again. But there has to be a way. I refuse to believe that it's over."

"D-Do you mean that I'm dead?"

"Otherwise you wouldn't be here, would you?"

"A-Are you all dead?"

Juyeon nods as he grits his teeth, madness taking over him.

"This is a special Hell made for us", he spits angrily. "And I want to fucking leave."

Y/N gulps as he walks out and slams the door shut behind him, realizing the horrible truth. They'll never be able to leave. Their real bodies are dead, they can't wake up again. They'll never leave this nightmare. She sinks down on the floor and sobs into her hands.

[A/N: a twist there! That was probably all I've planned for this little series, I hope you've liked it!]

[variousqueerthings]

Daniel LaRusso: A Queer Feminine Fairytale Analysis Part 1 of 3

Disclaimers and trigger warnings: 

1. These fairytales are European, although there’s often overlap in themes globally. I know European fairytales better, which is essentially the reason I’m not going to branch out too far. I opted to also stick to Western movies so as not to narrow things down, but also in particular “waves hand towards all of Ghibli” amongst many others. There’s a reason the guys in Ghibli are so gender.

2. TW for discussions of rape culture and rape fantasies

EDIT: FUCK I’M A GOBLIN CHILD! FORGOT TO PUT A MASSIVE MASSIVE THANK YOU TO @mimsyaf​ WHO HAS BEEN THE NICEST, KINDEST EDITOR ON THESE THOUGHTS AND CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO THEM AND GENERALLY IS A WONDERFUL PERSON!

Part 2

Part 3

1. Introduction

I recently wrote a little thing, which was about Daniel as a fairytale protagonist – specifically one that goes through some of the kinds of transformations that are often associated with female protagonists of fairytales.

I used quotes from Red Riding Hood, Labyrinth, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and Dracula, which, as an aside – the overlap between fairytales, horror, and fantasy and the ways each of those genres delve into very deep, basic questions of humanity and the world is something that will always make me feral. I will be generally sticking with fairytales though. Also I am very excited about some of those Labyrinth concepts going around!

I’m going to use “feminine” and “masculine” in both gendered (as in relating specifically to people) and non-gendered (as in relating to codes) ways throughout this, depending on context.

To be binary for a moment, because sample-sizes of other genders are low, women are usually able to fall into either feminine or masculine arcs, although sometimes the masculine-coded woman can become a “not like the other girls” stereotype and the feminine-coded woman a shallow cliché – in both cases they’re also under more scrutiny and judgement, so it’s always worth asking “is this character not working for me because of the writing or because I have ingrained biases? (Both?)”

Men don’t often get feminine-coded arcs. Because. Probably a mix of biases and bigotry. But there are some that seem to have slipped beneath the shuttered fence of “Sufficient Narrative Testosterone,” and Daniel LaRusso is one of them.

2. Some Dude Comparisons (Men Doing Manly Action-Hero Things like being trans symbolism and loving your girlfriend… seriously those things are hella manly, I wish we saw more of that onscreen…)

a. Neo

Much like Neo The Matrix, whose journey is filled with transgender subtext and specifically and repeatedly references Alice In Wonderland, Daniel doesn’t go through quite the kind of hero's journey usually associated with Yer Standard Male Hero, especially the type found in the 80s/90s.

Neo is my favourite comparison, because of the purposefulness of his journey as a trans narrative and the use of Alice. But I’m sure there are other non-traditional male heroes out there (but are they trans tho? Please tell me, I want trans action heroes).

Neo “passes” as a socially acceptable man, but online goes by a different name - the name he prefers to be known by - feels like there’s something inherently wrong about the world around him and his body’s place in that society, and then gets taken down the rabbit hole (with his consent, although without really “knowing” what he’s consenting to) to discover that it’s the world that’s wrong - not him. And by accessing this truth he can literally make his body do and become whatever he wants it to.

Yay. (The message of the Matrix is actually that trans people can fly).

Neo is – kind of like Daniel – a strange character for Very Cis Straight Guys to imprint on. He spends most of the first movie unsure about what’s going on, out of his depth, and often getting beaten up. He is compared to Alice several times and at the end he dies. He loses. He has to be woken up with true love’s kiss, in a fun little Sleeping Beauty/Snow White twist. Yes, after that he can fly, but before that he’s getting dead-named and hate-crimed by The Most Obvious Stand-In For Normativity, Agent Smith, and being carried by people far more physically capable than he is (people who also fall outside of normative existence).

Trinity and Neo in The Matrix. The fact that a lot of the time neither of them is gendered is something. Literally brought to life by true love’s kiss.

I’m not about to argue that Daniel LaRusso is purposefully written along these same thought processes, so much as the luck of the way he was written, cast, directed, acted, and costumed all came together in the right way. And this is even more obvious when compared to That Other Underdog Fite Movie That Was By The Same Director as Karate Kid.

b. Rocky

The interesting thing about Rocky is that he is (despite being a male action icon) also not written as a Traditionally Masculine person. Large portions of Rocky – and subsequent Rocky films – are his fear and insecurity about fighting vs his inability to apply his skills to another piece of work and wanting to do right by his girlfriend (and future wife), Adrian. The fighting is most often pushed onto him against his will.

Much like in Karate Kid there is barely any fighting in Rocky I. Most of it is dedicated to how much Rocky loves Adrian and the two of them getting together. The fight is – again like in Karate Kid – a necessary violence, rather than a glorified one (within the plot, obviously watching any movie like this is also partly about the badassness of some element of the violence – whether stamina or the crane kick, it’s all about not backing down against a more powerful opponent).

Rocky is played by Sylvester Stallone. He’s tough, he’s already a fighter (albeit in the movie not a great one yet), he’s taking the fight for cash – so although he’s also soft-spoken and sweet, you’re aware of the fact that he’s got those traits that’d make a male audience go “Hell Yeah, A Man,” or whatever it is a male audience does watching movies like that… cis straight men imprinting on oiled muscle men sure is a strange phenomenon, why do you wanna watch a boxing match? So you can watch toned guys groaning and grappling with each other? Because you want to feel like A Man by allowing yourself to touch the skin of other men?

Apollo and Rocky in Rocky III. This sequence also includes prolonged shots of their crotches as they run. Sylvester Stallone directed this. This was intentional. Bros.

Daniel LaRusso is not built like that. But that doesn’t really have to matter. Being smallish and probably more likely to be described as “pretty” than handsome, and not having a toxic masculine bone in his body does not a feminine archetype make. It just makes a compelling (and pretty) underdog. 

c. Daniel

So where does the main difference really lie? Between Rocky and Daniel? Well, Rocky has the plot in his hands – Daniel, largely, does not. Rocky is acting. Daniel is reacting or being pushed into situations by others. Just like our boy Neo. Just like Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Snow White – just like some of the women in some contemporary(ish) fairytale films like Buttercup (Princess Bride), Dorothy (Wizard of Oz), or Sarah (Labyrinth).

This isn’t a necessary negative about stories about girls and women, so much as looking at what it is girls and women in fairytales have/don’t have, what they want, and how they’re going to get it. It’s about power (lack of), sexuality (repressed, then liberated), men, and crossing some taboo lines. It’s also about queerness.

3. The Karate Kid Part One: Leaving Home

Daniel LaRusso is a poor, skinny, shortish kid (played by a skinny, shortish twenty-two-year old) who doesn’t fit in after having been taken away from the home he was familiar with against his will. Not every male protagonist in a fairytale leaves of his own will, and not every female protagonist leaves under duress – Red Riding Hood, for example, seems perfectly happy to enter the forest. However generally a hero is “striking out to make his fortune,” and generally a heroine is fleeing or making a bargain or being married off or waiting for help to arrive. She is often stuck (and even Red Riding Hood requires saving at some point).

Daniel then encounters a beautiful, lovely girl on the beach, puts on a red hoodie (red is significant), is beaten up by a large, attractive bully, loses what little clout he may have had with his new friends, and generally has a mostly miserable time until he befriends and is saved by Mr Miyagi. To do a little Cinderella comparison: Miyagi is the fairy godmother who pushes Daniel to go to the ball in disguise as well, and that disguise falls to pieces as he’s running away.

Then Daniel asks for help, Miyagi gets him enrolled in a Karate Tournament, and starts teaching him. Daniel wins the tournament and gets the girl, the end.

While Daniel has chutzpah and is a wonderful character, none of the big events are initiated by him, except for the initial going to the forest/beach (and within all of these events Daniel absolutely makes choices – I’m not saying he’s passive): Lucille takes them to California, Miyagi pushes him to go to the dance, Miyagi again decides to enroll him in the tournament and trains him, and only because Kreese doesn’t allow for any other option, Ali is the one who more often than not approaches Daniel, and even their first encounter is pushed by Daniel’s friends.

Daniel really is at a dance/ball in disguise and receives a flower from a girl who recognises him through said disguise, it’s unbearable! It’s adorable! I get it Ali, I fucking get it!

Daniel’s main journey within this – apart from not getting killed by karate thugs (love u Johnny <3) and kissing Ali – is to learn from Miyagi. He’s not necessarily a full-on feminine fairytale archetype at this point, although there are fun things to pull out of it, mainly in the context of later films and Cobra Kai: the subtext of karate and how that builds throughout all the stories, the red clothes, the themes of obsession, his being targeted by boys whose masculinity is more than a little bit toxic and based on shame… more on all that coming up.

He doesn’t technically get a home until they build him a room at Miyagi’s place, but he definitely leaves the woods at the end of this one, trophy lifted in the air after being handed to him by a tearful Johnny and all.

And then they made a sequel.

4. The Karate Kid Part Two: Not Out Of The Woods Yet

Daniel’s won the competition, Kreese chokes out Johnny for daring to lose and cry, more life-lessons are given (for man without forgiveness in heart…) and Daniel and Ali break-up off-screen, confirming that TKK1 was not really about the girl after all, which, despite Daniel and Kumiko having wonderful chemistry, is also an ongoing theme. Daniel enters the screen in The Most Baby-Blue Outfit seen since Tiana’s dress in Princess and the Frog? Or that dress in Enchanted? Maybe Cinderella’s (technically silver, but later depicted as blue)? 

(Sidenote: At everyone who says Sam ought to wear a callback to that suit,  you are correct and sexy).

Surprise, Miyagi’s building him a room.

Double-surprise, Miyagi needs to go to Okinawa.

Triple surprise, Daniel reveals he’s going with him, because he’s his son dammit.

The Karate Kid Part Two is maybe the least Daniel-LaRusso-Feminine-Fairytale-Protagonist of the three, because it’s not really his movie. Daniel runs around with Kumiko (aka the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen), continues to be The Best Non-Toxic Boy a middle-aged Okinawan karate master could ask for, lands himself another Built Karate Rival (twice is just a coincidence, right? Right?), and eventually doesn’t die while wearing red again – twice: When Chozen almost strangles him to death at the Miyagi dojo and then during the final fight. The Saving Of The Girl (both the little girl in the storm and Kumiko) actually puts him in a more traditional masculine space than the previous movie did, even if the main theme of the film is about compassion and kindness and by the end, once more the boy whose masculinity is built on rockhard abs and matchsticks is on his knees. Daniel just has that power over big boys. It’s called kick/punch them in the face hard enough that they see stars.

There’s an aside to be made here about how much Daniel really is an observer in other peoples stories in this, although he is the factor that sends both Chozen and Kumiko into completely different directions in life (Chozen and Kumiko main characters when?) Anyway he comes out of it presumably okay, despite being almost killed. Maybe a few therapy sessions and he’ll get over it. Too bad Terry Silver is lurking around the corner…

5. The Karate Kid Part Three: The Big Bad Wolf

Alright people have written Words about the third movie. It’s fascinating. It’s odd. It’s eye-straining. It’s like olives – you’re either fully onboard the madness or it’s too off-putting for you (or you’re like. Eh, don’t see what all the fuss is about either way...). It’s basically a non-consensual secret BDSM relationship between a guy in his thirties (played by a Very Tall twenty-seven year old Thomas Ian Griffith) and a 17/18 year old (played by a shorter twenty-eight year old Ralph Macchio).

Also recently we got more information on Mr. Griffith’s input on the uh… vibes of the film. Apparently it wasn’t just The Sweetness of Ralph Macchio’s face, the screenplay (whatever that amounted to in the first place – release the script!), the soundtrack, the direction to not tone it down under any circumstances, the fact that Macchio categorically refused to play a romance between himself and an actress who was sixteen, no: it was also TIG coming up with fun ways to torture Daniel’s character and suggesting these to the director. Clearly everyone has fun hurting Mr Macchio (including Mr Macchio).

The point is that aaallll of that amounts to that Intense Homoerotic Dubiously-Consented-To D/s subtext that haunts the movie and gives a lot of fun stuff to play with. It’s also a film that – if we’re analysing Daniel along feminine-coded fairytale lines recontextualises his role in this universe.

The Fairytale goes topsy-turvy. Through the looking glass. Enter Big Bad Wolf stage right. Karate is a metaphor for Daniel’s bisexual awakening. 

“Oh, when will an attractive man touch me in ways that aren’t about hurting me?” he asks after two movies of being hurt by boys with rippling muscles. “Why do men continue to notice me only to hit me? Do you think wearing red is making me too noticeable? Anyway, Mr Silver looked really good in his gi today.” 

Daniel’s diary must be a trip.

[themonotonysyndrome]

Emerald Onlooker

Part 2 of the Successors to the Future is here! I, uh, didn’t expect a lot of people liking it, but since I’m still pretty excited about this AU, I want to write as much as I can. 

Thank you again @tri3tri for inspiring us with your Second Wive AU and many, many wonderful Yandere!Malleus content. A little summary about this AU: Yandere!Malleus married and took MC against her will. He turns her into a Queen and they had 2 daughters. However, Yandere!Malleus is pushed to take on a second wife (a Fae woman, Gekkon) to give him a son, a male heir. During the wedding ceremony, MC took the opportunity and escape to NRC with her daughters in tow and Crowley finally did them a solid and send the three of them to MC’s world.

Successors to the Future, summary: Without a court of condescending Faes and Malleus’ oppressive affection, MC and her daughters live happily in the other world. When she left Twisted Wonderland, MC didn’t realise that she was pregnant and thus, she gave birth to a son who grew up as carefree as a bird and just as kind. However, now that her eldest daughter had just turned sixteen and discover her Unique Magic, she was returned to Twisted Wonderland as a first-year student in Diasomnia. Since it’s only a matter of time before Malleus and his court discover her presence at NRC, MC and her children did their best to prepare her for that inevitable day. 

This oneshot is a continuation of that. 

FD/N = First daughter’s name/Renata Draconia (half-human, half dark Fae Princess. Malleus & MC’s eldest child)

SD/N = Second daughter’s name/Sherrie or Cherry Draconia (half-human, half-dark Fae Princess. Malleus & MC’s middle child)

S/S = Son’s name/Lucien Draconia (half-human, half-dark Fae Prince and the heir to the throne. Malleus & MC’s youngest child). 

MC/S = MC’s surname

-

Sherrie enjoy going about her daily lives on her lowest brain capacity most of the time. There’s nothing like just... switching off your brain and ignore all the boring things around you.  

The only thing that gets the gears and cogs in her brain spinning is when she plays video games like Portal or coming up with schemes to get her eldest sister out of trouble. 

When she jokes about only having 2 braincells and that both are constantly on holidays at the same time unless Renata did something stupid, Renata howl with laughter while Lucien just rolled his eyes at his cackling sisters. 

But now that Renata is playing student in Night Raven College, Sherrie is surprised to find herself looking forward to not only help her oldest sister dodged their father’s steps, but also pulling the proverbial rug underneath the Thorn Kingdom. 

Especially Lilia Vanrouge. 

It’s addicting. The unholy glee running within you when your cute puppets finally realised who’s been tugging on their strings all along. 

Humans are easy and oblivious enough for her to practise on. Despite how monotonous school can be, the environment was a good place for Sherrie to learn and play. Everyone has a chip on their shoulder; everyone wants to stand out among the rest. 

So it’s really not that hard to learn who’s the right person to blackmail, who’s desperate enough to do anything to make their crush look at them and how to make the key figures dance on the palm of her hands. 

This year’s prom night was certainly a memory she won’t ever forget. 

And now? Now Sherrie can’t wait to play with the so-called ‘superior’ species - their father’s ancient court and loyal retainers - once she and her sister could establish contact. 

They’ve been working hard on this little project. Everyone in her little family is. Renata is off being a good little student and let the gossips travel on its own, their little brother is doing his best to assured their mother that all would be well and Sherrie?

Sherrie is busy setting up the stage for the climax once Renata usher all the important players to where she wanted them. 

(Mama likes to call her a ‘smart cookie’, always rubbed her head affectionately and said, “You’re a brilliant girl, Cherry. You’re just lazy. I know you can achive anything you want with the proper motivation, just like Floyd-senpai.”.) 

(Their Mama can never know just how far her daughter had use the same skill that she praise to manipulate others.) 

In the middle of the evening - just shy after midnight -  Sherrie heard a water drip somewhere in her bedroom. 

Drip... drip... drip... 

She pushes her chair away from her gaming laptop, game paused and just listen. Her eyes scan the dimly lit bedroom. 

Drip... drip... 

“This better not be the start of a horror movie.” 

It’s coming from... somewhere near her vanity table. Sherrie ignores the clutter of make-ups, perfumes and figurines on the table and waited eagerly. Her leg couldn’t stop bouncing when the surface ripple like water’s surface once. 

The ripple clears and instead of staring at her reflection, her oldest sister stares right back at her. 

“It works!” Renata said incredulously. “I can’t believe the headmaster’s half-assed runes actually works!” 

“The fuck? What happened?” Sherrie reply, a bit taken back. Behind her sister, Sherrie could see a bed, study table and walls and other furnishing that eerily looks similar to the ones back at the castle. 

Renata waved her hand in a dismissive manner. “I had to literally bullied a grown ass man to help me contact you. It took me a week of camping in the library to figured out how, but we managed to come up with runes that allow us to create a link to every mirror in the house.” She explains in an exasperated tone. “I’ll teach you the drawing tomorrow. All you guys need to do is just draw them on any mirror and it’ll send me a signal to find a mirror of my own.” 

“That kinda sounds like a phone call. Like, an interdimensional phone call!” 

“I know right! I already put a compact mirror in my purse so I can call you anytime!” Renata said with a smug grin. She’s clearly proud of her clever little trick. Even with the help of the headmaster. 

Sherrie never doubted that her sister couldn’t find a way to contact them. She’s a prodigy when it comes to magic. 

She might be young, but she could still remember how their tutors gave out praises as if they were candies when it comes to her older sister and her affinity for magic. 

It’s just too bad that their compliments are worthless when they always ended with, “If only the Princess is a full born Fae...” 

“Ok, so, contact established. Now are you still in Phase 1?” Sherrie said, bringing their conversation back to important matters. She made sure to properly and slowly explain their game plan a week before the Ebony Carriage took Renata to Night Raven College. The words are clearly written, highlighted colourfully and important steps are accompanied by cartoon stickers. 

Despite being a prodigy at magic, her sister woefully has short attention span when it comes to playing the long game. Her attention spans burn hot and fast, just like her anger. It also burns out just as quick as it came. 

Renata rolled her eyes, unimpressed. “Yes, yes. I’m still in Phase 1. It’s hard to make friends when everyone is wary of you. Do you know they hung up portraits of past Dorm Leaders and their Vice Dorm Leaders in each dorm? It’s so annoying when everyone stares at me and at father’s portrait whenever I walk into Disomnia!” 

Sherrie hums and made a quick dash to grab her tablet. The one where she wrote down her plans. She swipes the screen to the list of names that their mother had given them. 

“They’re just NPCs, don’t worry about them. What you need to focus on are the students with the surnames that Mama gave us.” Here, Sherrie is tapping on the screen of her tablet to the mirror. “Have you met any of them or did you fucked up the plan already?” 

“Calm your tits, I’ve been following your instructions.” Renata assured her, not the least riled up. “We’re only in the first semester; I only managed to match the names and faces of my dorm mates so far. It’s gonna take me at least a month of snooping around before I could find them.” Renata paused and her eyes suddenly lit up as if she just remembered something. “Oh, but I’ve been farming intel of the Thorn Kingdom using the Lucky Leanan spell every day after curfew. It took some trial and error but I successfully managed to find the castle again!”

Sherrie recalls that one of Renata spells - Lucky Leanan - creates a small fairy made out of pure magic that would do sneak attacks by shooting lightning bolts while Renata fights. It’s small enough to flit behind an opponent’s line of sight and take them off guard. 

Small enough to sneak into the castle without anyone none the wiser. 

So Sherrie nodded. “That’s a good move. You’re safely far away from the castle and you can remotely dispel Leanan if it gets dicey.” 

“Yup! Look at my one braincell go!” Renata cheered. “If I keep this up and give it plenty of water and sunlight, maybe it’ll grow!” 

Sherrie burst out laughing alongside her sister. Her joke took her off guard. Hopefully their laughter didn’t wake up their mother and Lucien. 

Sherrie hiccups and wipe the tears from the corner of her eye. It feels nice to talk to her sister again.  

She misses her disaster of sister already. 

“Anyway, I need to hit the bed soon.” Renata said, breaking her train of thought. “I’ll do my best to gather as much info as I can about the ongoings inside the castle for you. Are there any heads up you want me to look for?” 

Sherrie smiles brightly and reply, “Of course! If you could, be a dear and get everything about father’s... other wife. Everything - right down to the most boring shits.”

“On it.” 

-

That first-year Diasomnia student has been the talk around campus for weeks now. 

Not only is she the only girl in Night Raven College, word on the streets quickly spreads that she’s look too similar to one of the previous Dorm Leader of Diasomnia to not be related. 

Staring at her while she’s busy taking a selfie of the Great Seven statues, he agrees that the similarities are too uncanny. 

Now, why would he sends his own Princess to a villain school without any retainer? 

That, and why under a different surname? 

Something’s not right. 

Renata MC/S brought with her an interesting mystery to Night Raven College. A mystery that caught his interest at the first whiff of her scent. And oh Great Seven, her delectable scent. The first time his nose caught that mouthwatering smell, it had his tail swishing in eager and his head spinning. 

It’s the scent of his favourite flower - blood lily - with a hint of something... otherworldly. He still can’t quite put words into it. 

He wants to unravel her. Understand what makes her tick. 

Uncover what she’s hiding. 

Four days later in History class, Professor Trein gave him - and Renata - their golden ticket. 

“Kingscholar, MC/S - you two will be partners for this assignment. I expect you two have no objection.” 

“It’s fine...” 

“I don’t have a problem with the arrangement, professor.” 

The professor nodded and class is dimiss. Students began making their way out of the room. Except for him... and her. 

Renata steps in front of his desk when they finally have the class all to themselves. He takes a good, long look at her. 

She’s certainly beautiful; a real heartbreaker. But there’s something interesting within her bright green eyes. Something volatile. He wonders what could it really be. 

“Hi there. So you’re Bakari Kingscholar, hmm? Hope we can ace this assignment without any problem.” Renata said with a small smile. Is she trying to be friendly? Because it just looks condescending as hell. 

But that just makes this a lot more fun. 

“Same here. Girl or not, I won’t let it slide if you prove to be a dead weight.” 

His warning clearly took her off guard with the how her smile froze. It was only for a moment though, before she let out a laugh. As if he just told a funny joke. 

“Kitty-cat is flexing his claws, huh?” Renata had the audacity to grin. The other Savanaclaw students would’ve lowered their heads at his tone. “Don’t worry. Do your part and I promise I won’t light your tail on fire.” 

Oh, his old man needs to know about this girl. 

-

You have no idea how much fun it is to write about Malleus and MC’s children! Especially the Princessess. Unfortunately, they’re more like Malleus than they or MC even realise it. Anyway, my main reference for SD/N is none other than... TADA! Fyodor Dostoevsky from BSD!

It’s just that Sherrie is a lot more lazy and rather keep to herself and stay at home. She only goes out of her to way to mess with people because of Renata and her tendecies to get into trouble.  

I’m still thinking on the draft for part 3 so we’ll see how that goes. Also, I was struggling wether to name Leona’s son or not. I think that honoured should go to @tri3tri​! 

[lollia-tea]

im bored and ive done nothing productive at all today and spent half the day staring at my bookshelf so here's some manga that i have that aren't (i don't think) super well known but i thought were good (i also haven't read some of these in years, so lmao...)

Rust Blaster - by that lady that did Black Butler. i hate BB with a passion, but this funky little oneshot is 😘👌 there's vampires but i don't remember why

Are You Alice? - My love!!! My love!!! My love!!! Favourite manga ever!!! Hands down!!!!!! I have an eight page essay written about the White Rabbit and the March Hare and that only encompasses 2/12 volumes. Basic premise is that this dude Alice(?) finds himself in Wonderland and is told that he needs to kill the White Rabbit to fix the story of 'Alice in Wonderland' and everything just s p i r a l s from there. Okay im not really 100% sure on wtf is going on in the plot, but this is the manga i point to for reference to what subtext really is. The White Rabbit and the March Hare own my entire heart, i love my sons....

Nabari no Ou - like, it has an anime so its not as unknown as some of these, but its still pretty underrated. The anime's not bad, but it finished before the manga did so the endings are different. Be Prepared to Sob. my fondest memory of this series is eating Taco Bell while reading it and crying so hard my taco legit melted in my hands. Found family feels straight to the heart. Ninjas. By Yuhki Kamatani so that's reason alone to read it (literally, everything by Kamantani is gold and so underrated, Shounen Note and Shimanami Tasogare are also some favourites)

Dolls Code - my favourite horror manga hands. down. (warning, its psychological and gorey horror. also a warning for r*pe and other s*xual ab*se, self h*rm, m*rder, human xperimentation...it can be a bit intense) people are taken to this remote place and have body parts taken from them that correspond to their crimes, if they pass all these tests one of them can leave but *gasp* there's an imposter among us made from everyone's stolen body parts

Takeru: Opera Susanoh Sword of the Devil - geez that's a long name, anyways idk wtf happened in this i just know i binged it in one night and scoured the web to buy it the next day. a+, obviously

Seven Princes of the Thousand Year Labyrinth - s...seven dudes....stuck in...a labyrinth. of death. Found Family feels to the max again. Its really good and. i love it, okay. i had to wait so long for an official translation for this, you guys, you dont understand

The Girl From the Other Side - im going to sOB its precious i love it. a sweet little girl and the demon who takes her in and looks after her. they can't touch but they love each other sO MUch...Demon Dad Best Dad (note: i haven't...read all of this yet whoops)

Ohana Holoholo - i am a sucker for people finding families through a single parent and their kid okay. that's my Trope. also bi rep! we love

Bloody Mary - vampires and gay, what more could you want

🌸🌷🌼🌷🌸

[holidaysat221b]

2018′s Halloween at 221b - A Sherlolly Celebration Master List

To help get you in the Fall/Halloween spirit, here are all the submissions we received during the 2018 Halloween Fest.  Please give them another look, leave a comment or a kudo (or both!), and show a little love to the creators who took the time to participate in 2018.

We’ve listed where the works are archived, mult-chapter or not, complete or not, and rating.  In progress fics are marked in bold as a reminder for a mod to periodically check for updates.  Tumblr accounts have been tagged where possible, some could only be linked to, and some are completely unknown to the mods.  As always, the complete Master List for all years can be found here.

Alice in Wonderland/Sherlolly Mashup  - Created by @simplyshelbs16xoxo And through the looking glass we see she’s painfully returned. But now off with her head I fear is everyone’s concern.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

All Souls - Written by @geekmama The rain had nearly stopped by the time they reached the village of Grendon and the house where Molly had grown up, and where her mother still lived. He’d been there once before, a few months ago, not long after the Sherrinford/Musgrave debacle, and the house hadn’t changed. Still quite undistinguished from the other residences in this thoroughly middle class neighborhood. For the second time, Sherlock found himself wondering that the unique creature beside him, his beloved, could have sprung from this thoroughly mundane environment. Of course, it had taken him an unconscionably long time to realize exactly how unique Molly was. It seemed irrefutable proof that, while he was very quick in most areas of perception, he could be slow to the point of idiocy in others – and some of them rather essential. It was always possible, Sherlock reflected, as he pulled the car into the drive, that there was more to Molly’s childhood home, too, than first contact had suggested.   (On Tumblr, Complete, Rated G)

By the Light of the Moon  - Written by @mizjoely Annabellioncourt on tumblr said: There’s a lovely old English myth that if someone who truely loved and trusted the werewolf called it by name that it would turn back to human. Others include throwing their human clothes at it and it’d turn back but that’s a bit less romantic. This is my response to that prompt.   (On Ao3, Complete, Rated G)

Corpse Bride/Sherlolly Mashup  - Created by @simplyshelbs16xoxo Yet I feel my heart is aching Thought it doesn’t beat it’s breaking And the pain here that I feel Try and tell me it’s not real I know that I am dead Yet it seems that I still have some tears to shed   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Crimson Peak  - Created by @myqueenismollyhooper  (On Tumblr, Complete)

Dead Man Walking  - Written by @willsherjohnkhanAn alternate reality. Halloween-ish companion piece to The Familiar Stranger…   (On Ao3, Complete, Rated T)

Devoted  - Written by @the-sapphiresky She loved Halloween. It was the one time of the year she could go all out, no holds barred on her morbidity, and no one would bat an eye. She traded her jumpers and comfy trousers for tight leggings, fake blood, bat wings, whatever struck her fancy that year. But this year, the temptation to be morbid wasn’t as alluring as usual.   (On Tumblr, Complete, Rated G)

Edward Scissorhands/Sherlolly Mashup  - Created by @simplyshelbs16xoxo (On Tumblr, Complete)

Happy Sherlolly Halloween  - Created by @darnedchildA Sherlolly kiss pumpkin  (On Tumblr, Complete)

I Had A Dream, Molly  - Written by @thehiddenlawyer Sherlock and Molly, in a rough patch in their relationship, are investigating a mysterious death at infamous 50 Berkeley Square in London, when a thunderstorm rocks the house, and Molly walks away with new abilities.   (On Ao3, Complete in 13 Parts, Rated M)

It’s no secret that Molly Hooper loves Halloween  - Created by @simplyshelbs16xoxo It’s no secret that Molly Hooper loves Halloween, but it is something Sherlock finds endearing about her. They spend the afternoon walking through cemeteries, and the evening at her flat, watching cliché slasher films, and handing out candy to children who happen upon her doorstep. That’s when the activity begins. First it’s footsteps here and there, but then it escalates to objects being thrown, and the lights flickering. Turns out the thrift shop mirror Molly purchased for Halloween decór is a portal for spirits. And by the looks of the I.O.U. being painted on the glass, it seems Moriarty is back for revenge.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Jack the Ripper/Sherlolly Mashup  - Created by @simplyshelbs16xoxo Jack the Ripper is on the loose, but Sherlock and Molly are on the case. They set out to find the identity of the ripper, unaware that they’re closer to the answer than they think…Sherlock’s cousin, H.H. Holmes. With hesitance, they attempt to acquire help from criminal mastermind, James Moriarty, who is imprisoned. He knows the identity of the ripper, but will only speak in riddles.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Life in Death  - Written by @simplyshelbs16xoxo Molly Hooper finds an antique pocket watch in a thrift shop, resulting in her being haunted by the ghost of a Victorian Era Sherlock Holmes, who happens to have once been a tenant of her flat. Follow this annoyed-at-first-sight story full of witty banter, eventual romance, and an attempted murder most foul.   (On Ao3, Complete in 8 parts, Rated T)

Little Red Riding Hood/Sherlolly Mashup  - Created by @simplyshelbs16xoxo Once upon a time, a girl named Molly wandered into the woods in her red hood, only to come across the large black wolf everyone hides away from at night. The first thing she noticed was the strange, but beautiful, cerulean eyes. The wolf, she learns, is in fact a man who can shift into the large beast; a man named Sherlock. Upon finding out that the wolf who attacks her village isn’t him, but another shifter by the name of James Moriarty, Molly begins to set up a trap to catch him. This angers him, and Moriarty bites Molly before he is taken by the men of the village. Sherlock takes care of her through her transition into becoming a wolf herself; a beautiful copper coat covering her. The more time she spends with him, the more she falls in love with him… and he with her.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Nightmare Before Christmas/Sherlolly Mashup  - Created by @simplyshelbs16xoxo My dearest friend, if you don’t mind, I’d like to join you by your side, where we can gaze into the stars, and sit together, now and forever. For it is plain as anyone can see. We’re simply meant to be.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

The Phantom of the Opera/Sherlolly Mashup  - Created by @simplyshelbs16xoxo Close your eyes, start a journey to a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Close your eyes and let music set you free. Only then can you belong to me. Floating, falling, sweet intoxication. Touch me, trust me, savour each sensation. Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in. To the power of the music that I write. The power of the music of the night.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Sherlolly Moodboard #1  - Created by @mel-loves-all Sherlock woke in a hotel room without any memory of how he got there. A case had led him to erotic underground clubs the night before. Flashes of hauntingly lonely brown eyes, skin soft as satin and ecstasy so pleasurably intense, it bordered on pain, bombarded him as the scent of crushed berries and sex lingered on the bed sheets.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Sherlolly Moodboard #2  - Created by @mel-loves-all Dreams. Fevered, erotic, all consuming. A woman whose beauty takes his breath away. Sherlock doesn’t ever want to wake up.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Sherlolly Moodboard #3  - Created by @mel-loves-all Mysterious murders lead Sherlock Holmes to the front door of a leading Historian of Witches and Witchcraft. He doesn’t believe in the supernatural but the beautiful professor’s smile could definitely be described as magical.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Sherlolly Moodboard #4  - Created by @mel-loves-all On Halloween night, there’s a murderer on the loose and Molly’s been kidnapped. Sherlock saves her and finally gets his head out of his arse and kisses her from relief and love.)   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Sherlolly Moodboard #5  - Created by @mel-loves-all Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Sherlolly Moodboard #6 - Created by @mel-loves-all Who would have thought Molly and Sherlock both had a taste for the macabre on the scariest night of the year? lol, date night.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Sherlolly Moodboard #7  - Created by @mel-loves-all What started out as a fun ugly jumper purchase of Molly’s for Sherlock turned into a Halloween themed party where Mrs. Hudson took the grand prize for her “Frequent Flyer” sweater.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Sherlolly Moodboard #8  - Created by @mel-loves-allMoriarty. Even in death his presence lingers. All Sherlock can do is be there for Molly as she comes to grips with the remembered horror of the man.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Sherlolly Moodboard #9  - Created by @mel-loves-all Was she going insane? This was the urgent missive Sherlock Holmes was sent. A woman in danger. A woman who was being systematically poisoned and driven towards madness. He would not allow it. The beautiful widow, whose vulnerability, but incredible inner strength, drew forth Sherlock’s protective instincts like no one else before.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Sherlolly Moodboard #10  - Created by @mel-loves-all “They talk to me, always…whispering all the things they wished they had time to do…all the things they want me to do…for them" He looked around the morgue, and for one terrifying moment, he could hear them too…”   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Sleepy Hollow/Sherlolly Mashup  - Created by @simplyshelbs16xoxo The Pickety Witch, the Pickety Witch, who’s got a kiss for the Pickety Witch?   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Spellbound  - Created by @simplyshelbs16xoxo A trailer for both stories in my Spellbound Universe.   (On Youtube, Complete)

Spellbound: All Hallow’s Eve  - Written by @simplyshelbs16xoxo Sequel; takes place a year after the epilogue of Spellbound (I suggest reading that first). Sherlock and Molly encounter a man who’s out for revenge at the Watsons’ Victorian themed Halloween party. Meanwhile, there’s a woman roaming around London, impersonating Emelia Ricoletti. Magic, Mayhem, Mystery, and a Murder (or two) Most Foul.   (On Ao3, Complete in 7 Parts, Rated T)

Spellbound: All Hallow’s Eve Edit  - Created by @simplyshelbs16xoxo An edit created to accompany “Spellbound: All Hallow’s Eve”.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Universally Monstrous - Dracula  - Written by @darnedchild It’s Molly’s voice. The woman he had buried just six days prior.   (On Ao3, Complete, Rated T)

Universally Monstrous - The Hunchback of Notre Dame  - Written by @darnedchild “The Quasimodo Killer?” Sherlock scoffed. “Really, John. That’s the best you could do?”   (On Ao3, Complete, Rated T)

Universally Monstrous - The Phantom of the Opera  - Written by @darnedchild It was a well-known secret that New Scotland Yard was haunted.   (On Ao3, Complete, Rated G)

Vampire Edit  - Created by @simplyshelbs16xoxo Post tfp. Sherlock has opened his eyes when it comes to matters of the heart. A passionate snog in the morgue showed Molly exactly how he felt about her. But there’s danger lurking around the corner… Moriarty never died on that rooftop. He’s a vampire with an agenda… to sire Molly Hooper. By doing so, it will make her undyingly loyal to him, and in turn, burn the heart out of Sherlock. Molly is on the run whilst Sherlock tries to track his arch nemesis down. He finds out that Moran has found Molly, and Sherlock will do anything to save her, but time’s running out.   (On Tumblr, Complete)

Veils of Memory Infected With Dreams  - Written by ALC_Punk (@lyssisbored) Molly was dragged into joining a search through the woods, or so she remembers… Yet the fog is growing ever deeper, and she can’t quite place what she’s supposed to be doing.   (On Ao3, Complete, Rated G)

Witchy Woman - Written by @mizjoely Sometimes a witch just wants a night with a hot demon…what’s so wrong about that?   (On Ao3, Complete, Rated E)

[thenightling]

Films and shows to get you ready for Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman

Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman is getting adapted into a series by Netflix.   Though this is a DC comics property, The Sandman is NOT like Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman.  The Sandman is a gorgeous and surreal fantasy that only partially takes place in the human world.  A big part of it takes place in the fantasy realm known as The Dreaming. 

There is very little combat action though there is horror.   To give you an idea of what you are in for (Or if you are a Sandman fan already and want something to hold you off) here are twenty-five films and shows that share some of the traits (or atmosphere) you might find in Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman.

25.   The Raven (1963 film).  This might seem like an oddball one to list since it’s a Gothic Horror fantasy comedy from the 1960s but it gets referenced in The Sandman by Matthew imitating Peter Lorre and later Matthew compared Cain to Vincent Price.  I think it’s safe to say Matthew was a Price (or Roger Coman) fan.  

24.   Death.   Death is a short animated film from DC and was featured as bonus content for the Blu Ray of the animated movie Wonder Woman: Bloodlines. 

Though she looks younger (appearing about nineteen-years-old) Death is the older sister of Morpheus AKA Dream of The Endless, the main protagonist of The Sandman.  She was first introduced in The Sandman issue 8, The Sound of Her Wings.

23.   Stardust.

Stardust is a fantasy film based on the novel (and graphic novel) by Neil Gaiman.  Though there are liberties taken, this should give you some idea of what his fantasy writing is like.

 22.    Beetlejuice the animated series. 

If you want an idea of what The Dreaming (realm of Dreams) is like then I urge you to check out the surreal Neither (that’s not a typo) World from the Beetlejuice animated series.  The monsters that inhabit this realm are the stuff of fantasy and nightmares.  Some are living puns.  And they are ruled over by a broody Goth who makes it rain when he’s depressed and feeling melodramatic, much like a certain Dream Lord from Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman...

21.  Bonus listing:   The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.  

One major antagonist of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman is a nightmare entity known as The Corinthian who escapes into the waking world and becomes a serial killer.  Had Sandman been adapted in the mid-90s I think many would have loved a crossover with Freddy Krueger.  

20.   Return to Oz.

If by some weird chance you have never seen The Wizard of Oz or any faithful (read: Not 2010) version of Alice in Wonderland I would recommend those first.  But under the assumption you may have already seen those I would suggest watching Return to Oz.   Return to Oz features an adorable Jack-o-lantern headed character called Jack Pumpkinhead.   Jack Pumpkinhead was the loose inspiration for the grounds keeper dream entity character of Mervyn Pumpkinhead in Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman.  

19. Tales from the Crypt (TV series).

Issue 2 of The Sandman is called Imperfect Hosts because all of the characters introduced in that issue are former horror host characters from horror anthology comics.  Cain and Abel were DC’s answer to The Crypt keeper and The Vault Keeper.  For a good idea of who Cain actually is (assuming he’s in the show along with his House of Mystery) I strongly recommend checking out the TV show Tales from the Crypt.  

18.   Tales from the Cryptkeeper (animated series)

In the mid-1990s there was an animated series adaptation of Tales from the Crypt called Tales from the Cryptkeeper.  Season 2 featured the three original EC comics horror hosts of the Cryptkeeper, Vault Keeper, and the Old Witch.  These storytellers might give you an idea of who (or what) some of Morpheus’ Nightmare minion are in The Sandman.

 17.    Hocus Pcous.  

I chose to put this one here because the three witches of Hocus Pocus very much remind me of the Hecatae version of The Three-in-one from The Sandman Issue 2.   There’s also a powerful Grimoire that is a plot catalyst. 

16.   The 10th Kingdom.

The 10th Kingdom was a fantasy mini-series that aired on NBC in 2000.   It dealt with a twenty-seven-year-old young woman who discovers that her estranged mother is the evil queen in a faery tale world.   It is very much a story about stories (much like parts of The Sandman) and shows you the original dark and unvarnished versions of some classic faery tales as well as how those characters (and their descendants) carry on centuries later.

15.   Once Upon a Time (TV series.  Particularly seasons 1 through 3.)  

Much like with 10th Kingdom we have here a story about stories and those characters from classic stories trying to live in the human world with varying degrees of success.  You see how important their stories are and how carefully and intricately each tale was interwoven with each other.  (...Until around season 4 that is...)

Also it begins with a very powerful creature imprisoned and later undergoing an extremely long redemption arc and a sense of guilt tied to the death of his own son.

14.  Constantine:  City of Demons.

John Constantine appears in one issue of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman.   Issue 3.   Constantine: City of Demons gives a good crash course on who Constantine is and where he comes from.  John Constantine’s ancestor, Johanna Constantine is a recurring character in The Sandman.

13.  Justice League: Dark animated movie.   

Justice League:  Dark is the first animated movie to feature The House of Mystery.  The House of Mystery is a building whose roots are in The Dreaming in The Sandman.

12.   Constantine (2014 series).  

 In 2014 Constantine got his own live action series but it only lasted for one season. 

11.  Locke and Key.

Only recently did I learn Locke and Key will be doing an official crossover with The Sandman Universe.

 10.    Lucifer TV series.  

The TV show Lucifer is an oddball thing since it was based on a comic that is actually a spin-off of The Sandman.  The storyline that introduces us to Mazikeen, where Lucifer quits ruling Hell, opens Lux, and takes up playing Piano all come from Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman.

When Fox got the rights to Lucifer no one thought The Sandman was going to be getting an adaptation, at least not in the near future.  As a result several conversations and key pieces of dialogue that originally passed between Morpheus and Lucifer in The Sandman comics now went to Lucifer and his therapist, Linda, and his angel-brother, Amenadiel. 

Bonus: If at all possible check out the Crisis on infinite Earths event from the CW as the real Crisis on Infinite Earths (original comic event) eventually gave way to things like The Sandman.

9.   The Witches (1990) and Coraline (2009)   I couldn’t decide which one to put here so I put them both.

  The Witches is a children’s horror film based on the book by Roald Dahl. I suggest this here for its darker themes and you get a group of dangerous, child-killing witches attending a meeting at a hotel, much like The Corinthian’s Serial Killer convention in The Sandman.

Coraline is a stop motion fantasy / horror story for children and can give you some idea of what certain aspects of The Sandman are like, as it is by the same author.

8.    Pan’s Labyrinth.  

The Sandman is very much part fantasy and part Gothic horror and no director alive quite fits that criteria now better than Guillermo del Toro and possibly Tim Burton.   Pan’s Labyrinth has the surreal beauty and darkness you are likely to see in The Sandman.

7.   Doom Patrol.

Doom Patrol was the first DC show that made me have faith that yes, they CAN adapt Sandman respectfully and unafraid of the strangeness it might entail.  Doom Patrol seemed unafraid to tackle the strange, quirkiness of it’s own content.  From a talking roach, to gender-queer sentient street named Danny, Doom Patrol was not afraid to be strange.  

6.   Swam Thing (2019 TV series from DC Universe Streaming Service).

I mostly suggest this for one character in particular. Matthew Cable.  After Matthew died in The Sandman comics he chose to spend his afterlife as Morpheus’ raven.

Besides featuring a character from The Sandman Swamp Thing gives a very good Gothic atmosphere and supernatural content, giving you an idea of the sort of horror DC can do.  

6.  Justice League Action:   Trick or Threat.   And Justice League action: Supernatural adventures in Babysitting.

The episode of Justice League Action called Trick or Threat features Cain, a nightmare character from Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, as well as The House of Mystery.   This was Cain’s first appearance in media.  The version of Cain in the TV show Lucifer is nothing like his comic book counterpart.  This cartoon is the first and only faithful adaptation of the character from the comics.

The episode of Justice League Action called Supernatural Adventures in Babysitting features the Magdalene Grimoire. This is the grimoire used to summon Morpheus in Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman.  It also features John Constantine.

    5.   She-Creature:  The Mermaid Chronicles (2001 film)

This is an odd from about some humans have a captured mermaid.  The majority of the film is about her escape and revenge on her captors.  You will see something similar to that with Morpheus in the very first episode of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman.    

4.  The Company of Wolves. 

The Company of Wolves is a story about stories.  In the ontemporary world a pubescent girl sleeps during her first period. She dreams that she is Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother tells her horrific stories about werewolves.  The wolves become metaphors For puberty, masculinity, and waking sexuality.  Toward the end Rosealeen (the protagonist) becomes one of the wolves.   You get random stark reminders that this entire film is set in a dream world, and yet it’s still strangely easy to forget.

 3.   The Nightmare before Christmas.

The Nightmare before Christmas is a fantasy musical about the king of Halloween.  Though he’s adored by his subjects he longs for more.  The surreal landscape and strange creatures can be reminiscent of The Sandman.

2.   Labyrinth.

One of the earliest efforts to talk me into reading The Sandman entailed someone telling me that Morpheus was “Like a Goth Jareth.”   This effort (at the time) failed to entice me though I do love Labyrinth.   

1.   Over The Garden Wall. 

I only saw Over the Garden Wall for the first time about a year and a half ago and loved it very much.   This is a strange animated mini-series about two brothers lost in a forest called “The Unknown.”   The setting has been debated among fans as to if it’s purgatory (a place between life and death), a dream realm, or something else entirely.  I choose to believe that though it may be a place between life and Death that it’s also a part of The Dreaming, especially with so many surreal and Gothic visuals, and characters and creatures directly out of vintage seasonal cards.

[eddiebaresgazebos]

Beautiful Trauma

*Location* Canada Toronto 1985

The snow fell down heavy. Leaving a beautiful pure white mist behind like a paranormal entity delicately fluttering across a dark room being lit by the moonlight blooming like a snow drop on a beautiful springtime day. This world has many mysteries, horrors and dark secrets that not even everyone can come to terms with no matter how hard they try.

Kimberly Rough Watson is a petite girl for her 17 years of age, withholding a pasty white complexion, deep emerald eyes anyone could be possessed by and the richest shade of caramel locks that trailed down to the very ends of her back. Kimberly in reality was a “sad” girl always looking into the latest crime cases and keeping every snippet of Crime articles containing horrific detail about Milk carton kids, Certain Serial Killers, conspiracy’s and the most spine chilling thing of all exposed experiments kept top secret for years. It gave the girl mixed feelings of amusement and fascination what went through the average humans brain to make them think such despicable thoughts? Was there something in their backgrounds that snapped them into the sinister infamous killers they are known for today? All of Kim’s thoughts were put on holt as she was put into a feeling of great shock when a violent tapping sound came from her window slowly and hesitantly picking up the thickest book she owned of her bed titled “ The secrets of a serial killer” for her protection, peeping her head slightly out from behind her mahogany coloured curtain’s all traces of crippling anxiety and blinding fear taking control over her entire body, plastering her into place like when you use a thick, sticky white substance to plaster wallpaper onto a painfully dull wall when moving into a new house.

{tap, tap,tap} the noise came again only more violent this time Kimberly in this moment becoming blinded by fear with every tap against her window.By the seventh tap something snapped in the back of Kimberly’s mind and her anxiety and fear was exchanged for shear fits of rage “how dare someone or something do this to her in her own house” still hesitant the poor girl gathered all traces of courage she had and picked her book up leaving it protrude over her head, levelled exactly to damage whatever was bothering her and attacking her window. “one…..two…….” counting slowly in her head ready to attack Kim took a breath after each count “THREE” Kimberly screamed in her head pulling back the drapes protecting the secrets of her room from the outside world and shot the book out of her window in sheer fits of aggression, crippling anxiety and paranoia. “OUCHHHHHH FRICKIN TAP DANCING JESUSE!!!” a familiar voice screamed out in agony Kimberly looked out her window analysing with great care for who she hit and after a few seconds of analysis she concluded that she hit her best and only friend a tallish boy withholding a tanned skin tone with the cutest of freckles to compliment his face , soft chocolate coloured eyes in which anyone could get lost in and deep brown hair neatly cut and styled that went by the name of Jack Hunter Andison splattered onto the floor like a fly being smashed against a wall. “Oh well done Kim you’ve done it again” a quick thought passed through Kimberley’s brain as she raced down the stairs to aid her friend back to health. “Oh, Jack I’m so sorry, I didn’t know it was you” The petite girl screamed in sorrow and guilt

“No, no” Jack insisted “Surely it was my fault, I mean its not everyday you get stones attacked at your window and spattered back with a book onto the sidewalk” Jack laughed in pain and embracement from the events which just occurred. “What did you come here for Jack?” Kimberly askes with a hint of interest in her voice as she carefully aided Jacks bruised head, Jack took a few moments to answer thinking with great concentration on how to spill the news.“Well.” Jack winced in pain as Kim aided his injury “You know about the Russian Sleep experiments from the 1940’s right?” “Oh boy! Have I ever, it’s so fascinating about the events that occurred and how the human body reacts to certain things Jack!” Kim’s voice projecting the happiness in her voice, this was one of the worlds mysterious experiments that intrigued her deeply. “ Well something like this has happened again recently Kim.. and.. there’s been one lone survivor. There bringing the survivor to our town for recognition and because this is the last place the creators of the experiment will look, nobody ever comes here to our crappy lil town” Jack explained in great detail slightly ranting towards the end.

Kimberly was hit with a wave of confusion soon after following with a massive wave of unanswered questions. “can we check this out in the library at school tomorrow Jack?” making it sound more of a fact then a question. “Yes but we have to be careful, if anyone finds out were getting ourselves into this were basically screwed” Jack stated in complete seriousness. The very next morning Kim and Jack arose before the slightest beam of sun touched the Earth giving it’s usual Morning greeting. Out onto the crunchy white blanket called snow a petite girl and lanky boy roamed the winter wonderland that was set before them like a black and white picture taken at Christmas time capturing the very essence of “perfect.” Soon after the duo set out onto their journey they were met by Juniper Hill founded in 1920 and the only high school in town, met to educate 600 this old fashioned bricked building educated 1200 making everyday a literal world war 3 creating a sense of irony since the second war ended in 1944, 14 years after the third held at the one place that was supposed to educate and protect juxtaposing its entire existence. Jack swung the doors open allowing the sudden violent bursts of heat to attack their cold body’s and bring a sense of hope to both teens, down the dark hallways a tapping of poorly made winter shoes made its calling down the one hallway which for once possessed all signs of peace, tranquillity and relaxation.Trailing down every book stall and looking through book after book they finally found what they had come for an entire essay had been written about this survivor with crimpled pictures provided and showcasing how old and long this case has gone undetected and heard. Two pairs of eyes scanned every detail being shown to ma kind the columns read { Project B~ Number 1927 formally known as Dylan Robinson as been under scientific measures for 8 years and in that time the founders have concluded that this experiment has given extraordinary results that could change the world however this experiment is very dangerous and with the results in the wrong hands mankind could be obliviated so all traces will be destroyed, results will be said to be conclusive and project B will be disposed of.} “This isn’t real” Kim said to herself

“It’s very real Kimberly” a sinister voice responded trying to mask it’s dark deeds with Jack sweet and husky like voice “What did you say Jack?”“Hmmmm” Jack managed to let a random noise escape this lips, Jack still deep reading and deeper in thought wasn’t properly listening to Kimberly and made some random noise to keep her from becoming angry and annoyed“Kimberlyyyy” the voice summoned again dragging out the Y in a very painful way “Non of this is real, Your crazy, Your Crazy Kimberly, Your never alone when your with meee, You’ll never be sane” Like when dragging chalk across a chalk board this dark and dangerous voice kept hitting Kimberly down shot after shot like a gun firing a full round of bullets intending to cause agony at any cost. Kim looked around her, her head becoming heavy. Body light like helium. The world begun to spin. The confused and scared girl turned to her only friend for comfort and support in this scary event that was taking place but her so called best friend just stood and stared withholding a stone cold face and neutral expression. Kimberly couldn’t believe him. She had been there for him for so long and when she really needed him he does nothing and just watches her, Jack’s face begun to change shape and slowly melt away his cute freckled face, adorable chocolate caramel eyes, his neatly cut hair it was all gone.The floor beneath Kim’s feet ripped open like when a saddo picks their grossly set ruby red scabby wounds the teen was submerged to a world of darkness and shadows as a shocking sensation attacked the left side of her rib cage.

A blurring light shot into Kimberly’s defenceless eye’s as the same shocking sensation as before weakened then disappeared leaving the poor girl’s body on the edge. “Yep it’s she’s been having a Episodes again Doctor” a mysterious voice emerged out of thin air“Take the Patient back to her room, well sort her treatment out later first I must see to Miss Gittus , she has been well mannered enough to return to her room were she has been placed with Miss Watson ” A tiny light blue room with two beds on one side of the room and another 2 on the other side of the room with a single wooden cabinet to contain house the patient’s essentials awaited Kimberly and her future roommate. Kimberly awoke from a peaceful slumber gazing out of the window into the outside world trying to remember what life she had outside of the Ward, her mind was blank the only thing she could think about was Jack. His soft caramel hair neatly styled back, his perfectly tanned face complimented by his freckles and his mesmerising deep brown chocolate eyes anyone was guaranteed to get lost in. Was her real? Or just part of the episodes Kim suffered from? Kimberly was suddenly pulled from her thoughts startled as to what was making a nose, slowly peering over the night Curtin that separated the beds Kimberly was shocked to see a girl in the bed next to hers. You see that bed had been empty ever since Kim was brought into the Mental Hospital which was exactly 5 months ago.

“Hello?” Kimberly questioned walking towards the mystery girl’s bed the girl just sat there staring at Kim blankly. “It’s okay” Kimberly protested in a innocent voice “I was scared to when I first arrived here but I’m not going to hurt you.” The girl still looked blankly at Kim who by this point had already given up trying to make her first friend in this place. The expressionless girl then got up out of her bed and exited the room with out a word. Kimberly soon following into the Dinner Room and she saw the girl from before just sat there with the same expressionless face staring down at a glass of water “Look you don’t have to talk to me, but I hate sitting alone and it’s good to have at least one person you can trust” Kimberly explained taking a seat opposite the girl “I’m Kimberly by the way what’s your name?” after a few agonising seconds the girl responded with “ Lauren” giving a weak smile after. “Well it’s nice to meet you Lauren, if you’ll let me I could show you around since it’s your first day here?” “Hmmm Okay deal” Kimberly took in every detail of the girl sitting before her taking note of her perfectly thin body, Beautiful brown ish eyes which reminded her of Jack’s and light brown locks trailing down past her shoulders. Although Kimberly didn’t believe in love at first sight she believed in that single moment that this Girl was the most mesmerizingly gorgeous person she had ever seen, in some ways Kimberly saw Lauren as an Angel all Elegant and Stunning. Soon after finishing their breakfast the 2 girls entered the game room or so it was called it basically consisted of checkers, chess and cards as Kimberly and Lauren were playing cards and having casual convocation getting to know each other since they were sharing the same room the topic of why they were there was soon brought up which made both Girls entire body’s go ice cold and paralysed with fear.

Kimberly first spoke breaking the silence but not really knowing how to start “Well I’m here because I suffer with Episodes or Hallucinations as they are most commonly known.” Kimberly explained to Lauren watching the girls eye’s have a river of sympathy and somewhat understanding, when Kimberly finally got around to the second reason she was locked up and treated like a disease she became very very hesitant and scared of what the girl in front of her may think. “I’m also here because.. em..Because…. Because I’m apparently sick up here for liking girls” Kimberly finally got the right words out motioning her fingers to tap her head.“Ahh I see well there’s nothing wrong about that Kim don’t you worry I’m here because I had a break down and people think I’m off ma rock for suffering with Social anxiety when it’s not even my fault you see a few years back I lost my brother due to him being taken for a top secret experiment inspired by the 1940’s sleep experiment only it went horribly wrong and my brother and several others faced a sickening death.” Lauren explained raising her voice with tears forming in her eyes, Kimberly felt really bad for Lauren because she couldn’t really do much but explain to her that everything is going to be okay and that’s exactly what she did Kimberly the petite teen wrapped her arms around Lauren’s slim frame embracing her into a hug and whispering in a gentle and sweet like honey tone “everything is going to be alright, I’m here sweetie, everything is going to be okay you are safe with me there’s nothing to worry about.” Lauren felt safe in the girls arms, like nothing could harm her and she was on top of the world soon after Kimberly was loosening her embrace around Lauren when Lauren hugged tighter causing Kimberly to do the same for a few moments.

Both girls never wanted it to end but knew it had to especially Kimberly who refused to get another shocking treatment for being “mentally Sick for liking girls” soon after the comfort Kimberly showered Lauren with all patients were sent of to their room for medication time.

[juleswolverton-hyde]

Word by Word | 01 (Bangchan x Reader)

Genre: Fluff, Romance, University/College AU

Pairing: Graphic design student!Bangchan x Literature student!/Irish!Reader

Warnings: Swearing (but what can you honestly expect when dealing with an Irish person?)

Summary: An ancient saying dictates that polar opposites attract, which is proven once again once an introverted whiskey-loving aspiring author meets a fairly extroverted boy initially proposing to survive the loneliness brought about by academic administration together.

But soon the meaning of ‘together’ expands as personal creative worlds are explored and understanding stirs up hidden emotions.

Masterlist

Next Part

For anxious people, friendly support from strangers oddly turning into companions is often needed to get through the day, finding solace in the kindred spirit of the bond has been established despite being not worth a dime. The previous semester could only be survived thanks to the small group of friends that made the seminars more bearable, huddling together and always having at least one to have as a research partner or discuss a primary source with. Withal, the university administration has different plans for the second half of the year, resulting in the complete split from familiar faces which will now only be seen on Monday for the start of the academic week with lectures.

Henceforth, yesterday was only the misleading silence before the storm, chatting and fooling around with curiously close relationships during the day. As per usual, multiple pairs of shoes found themselves to the habitual café by the canal to go for lunch together in between lectures, but a lonesome soul listening to the vivid chatter only settled for a cup of coffee since the stomach could possibly not handle more because of the all-nighter working on the next chapter of the attempted novel and composing a few more poems for a to-be-published-someday poetry bundle.

A chip off the old block, taking after the grandfather who raised a timid girl to become like this: full of too many voices and writing them down since that is the only acceptable form of schizophrenia in today’s society. Fortunately, it is while enjoying the company of Dante, a Birman with hellishly blue eyes of an extremely distrustful and arrogant nature except when being with an aspiring author rivalling with a relative. He mostly lies on the duvet on nights filled with the self-inflicted torture of bleeding behind a typewriter, occasionally jumping on the desk beneath the attic window where often a raven nicknamed Edgar settles down and demanding to be pet whenever a repose is taken for a glass o’ Irish whiskey when threatening to fall on hard creative times. Otherwise, dirty bean water is grand as well. Whatever the case, Dante conveniently though perfectly times it each time.

In the meanwhile, Virgil is likely functioning as company for Charles, who is also known as “Grandfather” during formal events of which most relate to publishing houses and to which he always has to be dragged while muttering unintelligible Gaelic profanities. Alternatively, it is the first full name whenever competing with one another or simply “Charlie” when the old balding man with a snow white moustache reviews the latest result of typing on the historic sidekick of every author. According to the in-house editor and occasional enemy, a typewriter is the sole source of ‘’pure writing’’ and imprinted the habit of working with the old school machine as soon as hands were able to write the letters formerly merely read in books.

For those unfamiliar with the cats, it is impossible to draw a distinction between the two, but those who look closer notice that Virgil does not share the same eye colour with his brother, the ocean grey betraying the fact the fluffy bastard is indeed that. 

A bastard. 

Exactly like his owner and the owner’s granddaughter who was also born out of wedlock. 

However, even in Dante there is a trace of being not a full blood Birman since his slender skull hints at a Ragdoll influence though the selective sweetheart would never admit to it even if the ability of speech had been given to cats. 

All in all, all of us are outcasts so it has become the running joke beneath the roof of the outskirts mansion we are glorious bastards. Honestly speaking, it has a nice ring to it because if being separated from others for whatever reason counts as a qualification for becoming this, then the lack of pals in primary and high school is not minded. The same goes for the adoption by a loving howbeit harshly critical grandfather because the son who should have been a proper father could not bear the sight of the offspring originating in a scandalous affair with a secretary who had no mother instinct at all, thus sharing in the shallowness with her one-time lover.

Whiskey story nights filled with almost empty pens, digits stained with ink, reading breaks and lots of swearing in frustration or joy have come to form a steady aspect of life, Charlie clearly in a better mood when settling down to shape the rough paper diamonds in each other’s company despite the exchange of insults pertaining to manuscripts or in a loving manner. An Irishman can leave Ireland, but the Irishness will never leave the individual and the island tales that at times seem mere fantastic fancies create a bond with a heritage that would otherwise have never been known.

It is because of Charles, his upbringing that has not been without it struggles, and Dante and Virgil I am still here, exerting power as an author on the Internet after creating a manuscript on the typewriter that once belonged to the moustached man’s close American friend who, too, had a taste for liquor and a talent for writing. 

Apparently, one night at a party, this comrade was hit in the face by a drunken accountant who tried his hand at poetry nobody understood and insulted the boxer’s manhood, causing the offended party to strike the provoker down in drunken rage. Fortunately for the injured, the American was willing to forgive the insult after being offered an apology and the next day the papers reported the incomprehensible poet fell down the stairs, the accident resulting in a broken hip alongside other injuries, thus covering up the truth of being beaten black and blue.

When asking why nothing was done to stop the fight from escalating, the answer is always the same. ‘It was too much fun to see that idiotic sod being beaten up. Furthermore, he had it coming sooner or later because he was a fecking racist prick, Y/N. It was more of a service than a true crime.’

Basically, Granddad sat back with a bowl of popcorn and cheered his boxing buddy on.

Truly a gentleman bastard.

As proves to be an inherent characteristic, judging by the rage coming from the classically furnished writing room on the east side of the house bought with the royalties from writing pieces critical of the human condition and problems rooted in society under the guise of a cleverly composed story. ‘Virgil! For fuck’s sake, ye bloody gobshite!’

‘Charlie, how’s she cuttin’?’ Not so well, judging by the look of pure horror in fast passing stone-toned irises with elated pupils framed by deep earthy brown fur and liquid onyx paw prints creating a trail on the freshly mopped floor. What a way to leave the house before facing the horror of being left alone at the university because everyone has been placed in a different time slot. ‘Although, never mind.’

In the faux leather spinning chair behind the intricately designed baroque desk, agitated calloused fingers run through pale thin hairs while lips are pulled into a snarl at the sight of the obsidian pool of ink staining the pile of blank pages meant to be engraved with poetry. ‘Well, this is just fucking grand, isn’t it?’

‘Think about your blood pressure, ye aren’t all that spry anymore and your fans will not like it if you kick the bucket already.’ Grinning like the purple cat in the favourite story to listen to while sitting by the hearth during childhood, dark flats wander the afromosia floor to the stout big man with an irritated iron gaze that slightly softens at the sight of the lass raised as a daughter rather than a granddaughter, the pupil who has turned more and more into a peer as time went by. ‘And Virgil isn’t as graceful as Dante, prone to causing accidents yet you love him all the same.’

‘Ah, feck off.’ An eyebrow raises in question when settling down into the fauteuil in front of the bureau, casually crossing one leg over the other and endeavouring to suppress the pressing yawns as best as possible. ‘It’s yer first day of university after a week of being a dosser and you pulled an all-nighter while having to show up early. You’re not the full shilling, are ye?’

‘No. No, I’m not, but you are what you eat. I’m fine, Charlie. And I worked on a couple of poems, mind you, and also wrote two more chapters for Paper Wonderland. Furthermore, I read ahead for this block’s course so, overall, I’ve been productive.’

‘You haven’t been until I’ve seen the first drafts.’ It is a house rule: there are no actual original versions of a part of a tale unless the stern editor has seen it and given feedback. Otherwise, it is nothing more than stained paper. 

‘Oi, I want to keep some element of surprise to blow you off yer socks when you read the full result. Where’s the fun in being spoiled beforehand when it can become the reason I’ll finally conquer the throne you’re currently sitting on. One day, one day I’ll finally be recognized as more than mere family.’

The mentor stands up to walk around the chaotically ruined heavy piece of furniture to put an encouraging hand on the shoulder and give it a little encouraging squeeze, which gets nullified by a comment that makes the characteristic need for rivalry flare up. ‘Keep dreaming about that day, ye wee chiseler, and maybe, just maybe you’ll manage.’

A sarcastic mirthless chuckle functions as a nullifying factor for the elder’s smugness while standing up from the oddly comfortable espresso brown chair to head for the door. ‘You really like throwing shapes, don’t ye, gramps?’

‘As much as any grand man.’ The old great man matches the pace to the young feet eventually coming to a halt at the entrance of the writing office. 

At the double doors, on the edge of a casual temporary farewell, all devilishness fades away into fatherly concern due to the realization a difficult social challenge has to be faced, having had many conversations about the introverted anxiety of a mask-wearing lass who merely acts like a young professional while working as a barista to earn a little cash on the side. ‘Take that puss off yer face, Y/N. You’re gonna be grand because you’re a full-grown woman with an Irish background. We’re tough people made of iron who don’t take anyone’s intimidation.’ 

Two big wrinkled hands wrap themselves around upper arms clad in a neatly-ironed alabaster collared shirt as a moustached mouth places a familial hope-giving smooch on the forehead before giving the right cheek a weak playful slap. ‘Now, go, you fine thing. Maybe you’ll catch the eye of a proper laddie.’

‘Feck off.’ A playful punch on the shoulder undoes the intimacy and grants the opportunity to crack on to catch the bus towards doom after putting on a khaki trench coat and slinging the stone-grey laptop bag over the shoulder.

‘I don’t recommend effin’ and blindin’, though. Tends to give a bad image,’ is the last piece of laughingly uttered advice which is seemingly also disregarded howbeit with an absently-minded waving hand wandering down the sandstone cobblestone path towards the main road. 

And before taking an immediate right out of the gate towards the nearest bus stop, the other one holds the habitual saviour in the form of a book already.

An opportunity to escape the nervousness brought about by cruel reality that is taken away when bumping into someone, an accident which still tends to happen despite the mastery of avoidance skills, and the account of the life of a bookseller falls onto the concrete. 

Eyes as big as a doe’s when caught in the headlights of a rapidly approaching car stare in horror at annoyed molten chocolate irises above an admittedly adorable big nose, irritated by an ignorant daydreamer under the constant scrutiny of the world, which quickly gain a weird gentleness when truly looking back. ‘I’m so, so fe- sorry. I should watch where- no, watch my footing. Again, I’m so sorry.’

Please, don’t get mad. Grand job, Y/N. The day’s barely begun and you already messed up.

‘It’s alright.’ Bleached short locks clad in an onyx leather jacket squat down to pick up the paperback on the ground, long pale fingers dusting off the little dirt the impact of the fall has caused to stain the cover before handing it back. ‘You dropped this.’

Trembling hands accept a small piece of peace of mind, gaze averted from the small fading kind smile on the young man’s face to stare with burning cheeks and a raving heart at dark flats aching to flee the situation. ‘Thanks.’

‘Miss? Are you alright?’ The lost distant type of contact from just a second ago is futilely tried to be re-established, unable to connect thus to a soul with a thousand voices within now all rendered to a flustered whisper. 

‘Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll- I need to go. Don’t want to miss the bus.’ A curt nod ends the conversation abruptly, turning away as fast as lightning while muttering a form of apologetic goodbye as the walking pace enhances to a speed barely shy of running. ‘Again, my apologies.’

However, as Fate or mere coincidence would have it, this meeting is not the last as tracks are silently retraced by foreign sneakers as blasting songs from various genres disclose the world from a never tranquil consciousness.

A few minutes more the blissful unknowing continues, reading irises stuck in the sceptic description of a man able to do what wants to be done in case becoming a writer does not work out.

A few minutes more the wind has the possibility to play freely with locks without it being noticed nor minded.

Then all changes with the approach of the awaited vehicle. 

The loudness comes back with the bus.

And an ink-black leather jacket.

[twitchesandstitches]

The Great Library was a vast enough eldritch realm that there were enough room for smaller pockets for magic to carve out enclaves of spirit sanctuaries within them, and establish little pocket realms loosely tethered to the rest of the Library; close enough, so to speak, that you could walk through a door in the Library and into someone’s personal realm with ease and comfort, but distinct enough that the all seeing eyes of the spirit that commanded the Library had no actual influence or power there.

He probably didn’t care what anyone did, as long as it was not misusing his knowledge or stealing it, but it paid to be cautious around spirits… divorced from understanding of humans, or so Raven understood. Magnus had taught her this with some urgency when she was young; she knew that spirits were more direct than mortals. They were a purpose and domain given its own form, and did not understand the complexities and changes that a human did. Some dealt with this magnanimously, such as spirits of righteous concepts like Valor or Honor. Some, like the great knowledge spirit of this Library, regarded mortals as hopelessly treacherous and insane, as lost as the tides upon the ocean. And he had told her scary bedtime stories about entities like Koh the Face Stealer, and those like him altogether too interested in mortal weakness, taking the faces and perspectives of mortals to experience it for themselves.

Ever since she was small, long before she had ever towered over him and everyone else, Raven had always listened closely to him. One day, a red giant with one eye had taken in a half-demon girl, on perhaps a whim or a stirring of compassion within his heart, and a longing for a father who had long since left into the ether.

To Raven, the demon Trigon was a monster. A nightmare that even the great demonic Who’s Who tomes refused to talk about in detail. Talking grimoires clammed up, stifling their screaming voices, and would say nothing of him. He was many things in her mind; a looming inevitability, something she would have to take care of, a reminder that she had been born wrong. But he was not Father to her.

When Raven thought ‘Father’, she saw a giant of a man, with a great mane of feathered red hair, a single shifting eye. Always a word for the curious, sarcastic snarking for the unwise, and moments of childish pique… but always kind with her, patient and encouraging her talents no matter how they might frighten her, or she frighten others.

The sanctuary of Magnus the Red, his students, and those he had named sons and daughters, they lived within a realm partially modeled after many worlds he had taken a liking to, an ever shifting magical wonderland of infinite possibilities, and the multiverse’s most complicated antique shop. Buildings lay within this realm at odd angles to one another, streets sticking out around invisible trajectories to create mountains of buildings all twisting around one another, and talking raven-spirits flapping about to make sarcastic comments at people.

Presently she and Magnus were within his own sanctum, a place of power to preserve his incorporeal form and make him properly solid for a while and stabilize his powers a bit. It pleased him to follow her whim to make it look like a giant T-letter. Within it, they were having a meeting.

“Sit, my child,” he said, squatting down upon a heavy mat in the fashion of his homeworld from lost antiquity, Prospero. Raven sat in precisely the same way, her gargantuan backside serving the role of a chair. Awkwardly, she pulled her heavy cloak over herself, trying to wear it like he did and she had some trouble. Her chest was getting in the way. Granted, he was quite broad in the chest but not quite in the same way she was.

She was, in every way, a loving daughter who wanted nothing more than to be like her father. Not Trigon. Magnus.

He looked fondly at her, but also sadly.

“There is…” he started, and stopped. He fumbled for the words. “Ah. ...You are well, today? My child?”

Raven nodded demurely. “Yes, father. I am well. The nightmares of…” she shifted anxiously. “Well, you know. I am not dreaming of that anymore. I suppose the medicine worked?”

“That’s good to hear. Yes, good. Er…” he looked awkward again. “I think I know what was causing those nightmares.”

“You do? I thought the general idea was that… he… was growing in power and was attempting to contact me through my dreams.”

“I had thought so too, and that is indeed the case. However… I may have unintentionally given him a route, of sorts.”

Raven’s face, as red as his own, paled into a grayish horror. “You, you what?”

“Not on purpose!” He waved a great hand anxiously. “I was studying a summoning spell for him!”

“Oh dear lord…”

“Not to summon him, not at all! I was simply trying to find out his name!” He sighed. “I don’t want to have to wait for him to make the first move. When we face him, and we will, I swear to you, I want it on our terms. But I needed more information; his name, something to use to track his realms of power or fiendish armies, a way to figure out his cults in the material realm. So I was decoding his summoning spell, working out the programming in it, so to speak.”

Raven calmed down, a bit. A summoning spell ,of the classic ‘call up something into a circle’, was effectively the magical version of messaging someone with the bonus of making them materialize under certain controls. What he was talking about was theoretically possible, and she had no doubt he could do it.

“Then, you have his name?”

Magnus bowed his head. “Yes. I have a name, of great importance to him. The seed of his existence.”

“You do!? What is it?”

He hesitated. “Raven… this is… ah. Look, I called you here to tell you this because we both know the day will soon come when you will have to face him. Sooner or later, he will press that matter, and I intend to see you slay him and take his power for your own. But… now, there is something else. I have to fight him. Not just because I want to, for your sake.”

Raven frowned. “I’m not sure I understand. Do you not have his name?”

“I do. And that is what worries me.” He sighed. “Daughter, you understand that many ages ago, I was… very, very badly hurt.”

She recalled her history lessons. “The Thousand Sons teach that in ages past, your essence was shattered into many shards. Each one containing a portion of yourself.”

“Yes. And in order to retain me, my shards sought each other ought and enough recombined to allow me to keep my mind. And I was badly weakened, as most of my power was scattered. And over time, I found more of them, becoming more whole and powerful… but I never did find them all.”

“The best of you remained as the core aspect, and over time, you found more pieces of yourself,” she said.

“Yes! Very good. Now tell me, how many shards do you think a soul would break into? Bearing in mind that the soul is, by its nature, indivisible and infinite.”

She considered this riddle. “I would think that there is no limit. You could have any number of shards, and since the soul encompasses all you are and COULD be, you might have many, each comprising a minute facet of your being. Is that not so?”

“Indeed. And as I embody the magical potential of humanity as a whole, and therefore multitudes, I could be stretched farther than mortals would be.” Magnus tapped his chest, a nail clicking against one of the spike/horns growing from his chest. “So how many do you think I was reduced to?”

Raven took a guess. “Hrm. A few hundred?”

He winced. “Selling me a bit short there.”

“...A thousand?”

“I wish. More manageable and I enjoy the theming. But no.”

“Father, I don’t know. How many did you break into.”

He looked up, his face weary with an ancient ache. “Trillions. More.”

“Trillions!?”

“I broke apart into so many pieces, each one aware, if barely. Some larger and more powerful. Others less so, but each one an aspect of me. When some of these shards found one another, they fused into what I am now; myself, if not quite whole at least stable. And there were still vast gaps in my being, for eons I searched but never found them all.”

Raven leaned forward, eyes wide and fearful. “Father… do you mean that… oh, are you alright? Are you hurting, even now?!”

“Don’t worry, dear child. I have become whole, over time. The soul is a growing thing, and experience, understanding, growth? I have found all that. I have changed, and so my soul has healed itself. My power is weaker, yes, I would have to fuse with my shards to truly regain my full power, but my being, the essence of what makes me who I am? I have grown into a new Magnus, and made myself whole. I fixed myself, you see.”

Raven sighed, looking relieved. “I was worried there, Father. And, why do you tell me this?”

His single eye narrowed gravely. “You must know that, therefore, many of these shards are still out there. Most are just pockets of raw potentiality, unlikely to do more than exercise random magic. No mind there, just a sense of will. But some, with more essential aspects in the beginning, took on their own life.”

“And, if you grew back into someone…” Raven pondered this. “Then perhaps they have grown into something else as well?”

“You have it! And for the most part, this is not so bad. Some of them are harmless. Others, mutated into dangerous monsters that I must find and slay. But others embodied… terrible aspects of who I was. Spiteful tendencies, vindictiveness, thoughts of wanting to be extremely important, and overwhelming arrogance.”

Raven loved her adoptive father, but she was also realistic. “Thank goodness you left all that behind,” she said sarcastically.

“Yes, it’s rather a good job, isn’t it?” Magnus replied proudly, quite blind to it. “But those parts of myself are still out there. They are still in existence, and over time… I believe they found one another. All the worst in me, coming together without a single aspect of the parts of me that knew compassion… trust, love, the need for other people and a desire to help. Everything, in short, that makes me human.”

Raven frowned. “And those shards might have grown, as you have.”

Magnus’ expression was terribly blank. “This is no hypothetical situation. I can prove it.” He pulled out a roll of parchment, and upon it were many things, but at the bottom:

A summon spell, decoded in messy script, and below it, was the name of Magnus.

“Father?” Raven took it and studied it. “This spell… your name is the central part of it? What is it?”

“A summoning spell for the demon who sired you,” Magnus said grimly. “This is what I’ve been studying, and he used that to try to pinpoint your location. I’ve created wards so he cannot do that now, but I’ve learned his origin.”

Raven tried to work this out. “Okay, but what do you have to do with-”

The shards of myself can grow…

Pieces of myself, the very worst in me, without any shred of humanity or compassion…

Father’s name, on the parchment. On a summoning spell for Trigon.

Evil pieced together, without any room for goodness in there, evolving… growing… and demons, fiends, were just what happened when evil took on a face and a will.

And Trigon looked so very much like Magnus the Red.

Raven paled again. “Oh dear, sweet Primus.”

Magnus shuffled away from her. “Please… Raven. Understand, I am not Trigon! And he is not me! I-”

“But he was made from a piece of you,” she said, understanding dawning. She forced herself to calm down.

This is Father. It has always been Father.

He is not the monster you fear.

She remembered a great red hand, always at her shoulder. Giving her treats. A warm voice, making snide comments at the more fussy Thousand Sons. Always standing up for her, and so kind to her mother…

Father.

Raven tried not to think about the terrible feelings welling up, the confusion and random surges of fear, and silenced them. Deal with them later, she told herself. She wiped away tears. “I’m sorry, Father,” she said meekly. “I.. I don’t… this, this isn’t your fault…!”

What have I done to Father? He must think so terribly of himself…!

Magnus’ face curled in horror. “My fault!? I, no! This isn’t about me, this is about you! The demon that plagues you, he is my fault! Now, more than ever, it is my responsibility to help you end him.”

“Does that mean… you can become more whole by making him fuse with you? Will that help you?”

Magnus shook his head. “No. We’ve been apart for so long that I haven’t the faintest idea what he has become. A fiend, yes, but apart from that? He’s certainly far less human that I ever was, and I suspect he’s evolved into something else entirely. I’m more interested in how you can help yourself by… hrm, how do i put this delicately… ‘absorbing him’, I suppose?”

“You, you really think that’s a good idea?”

“I trust you, daughter. And whatever power he has, I’d rather have you claim it, and make yourself the best you can be.”

“But, it’s your power!”

He didn’t look at her. Just saying ‘I don’t trust myself to stay me after absorbing him’ was out of the question.

Magnus trusted Raven. He did not trust himself.

“We can end him,” he promised. “Whatever happens after that. We are the key to undoing that monster’s evil. I, the remnant of what he once was a part of. You, the person he made as a vessel. We are in a perfect position to ruin his plans, and for you to become something even greater than you already are!”

Raven bowed her head. “I am willing to try, at least.”

Sometime later…

“And that is the situation,” Magnus said to the assembled Thousand Sons, the Blood Ravens, his other orders, and the human wizards and witches that were allied to him. “Are there any questions?”

A Blood Raven raised his hand.

“Yes? Gabriel Angelos!”

“The plan is still to kill this wretched fiend,” Angelos said. “So apart from a technicality, that the fiend was born from pieces of you, has much actually changed?”

“A lot has changed! It’s a lot more personal than it already was, and it was really damn personal to begin with!”

“Doesn’t sound like much has changed.”

“Oh, shut up and let someone else ask something. You! Tall wizard, the one with red hair.”

A human wizard, red-haired and peeking out of the copious masses of Hermione Granger’s hair, had his hand raised. He was called Ron Weasley, and he had a point to make. “So does this make Lady Raven your actual daughter, or what?”

“She already was,” Magnus said flatly. “Next question.”

“No, no! I mean, adopted, yes, but… biologically! Is she your actual daughter!?”

“We have different meanings of ‘actual’. She is my daughter, end of story. Next question?”

“But if she’s Trigon’s daughter, and Trigon is a part of you, is there some kinda, what’s the word, transitive property that make her your kid too?”

“For pity’s sake! No one actually cares!”

Raven raised a hand. “I care, Father.” She smiled at that.

“Oh come on! Don’t tell me you believe that biological parentage is more ‘legitimate’ than adoption!”

“Well, no… but it’s still a nice notion, all the same.”

Magnus sighed. A Thousand Son - Ahriman, perhaps - piped up. “This, I think, makes the Lady Raven Lord Magnus’ first heir!”

“SHE ALREADY WAS!” Magnus bellowed. “It’s even in my completely pointless will!”

“I recommend a grand celebration!” Ahriman continued, ignoring him. “Let us celebrate the downfall of our eldest enemy, and the discovery of a true scion to lead us all!”

“How is he an eldest enemy?” asked a witch; Luna Lovegood, Raven thought. “You’ve only known of his nature for a short while.”

“He is retroactively a greatest enemy,” sad a Blood Raven, with a straight face somehow. “And he was at one point part of Lord Magnus. Everyone knows that Lord Magnus’ greatest enemy is himself.”

“Hey now!” Magnus complained.

“I’m sorry, Father, but they’ve a point,” Raven said.

“Oh gods not you too.”

[lizabethstucker]

Book Review: Classics Mutilated: CTRL-ALT-LIT edited by Jeff Conner

Thirteen stories in which classic tales and authors are combined with horror or fantasy tales and/or tropes.  Or, as the editor calls it, Monster Lit, only with an updated twist or two to keep the new sub-genre alive.  Each story has a black and white drawing that invokes the tale that will follow.  I’m tempted to copy some of them to frame, they are that good.  I’ve never heard of this publisher, IDW out of San Diego until I stumbled across this book at my used book store.  

As with any collection, there are highs and lows.  Sadly I DNF’d two of the stories, one due to animal/animal-human hybrid abuse.  Abuse, especially of animals and children, is a hard line for me, one I do not handle well.  If it is a main part of a story, I’m not reading, no matter who the author is or how talented they might be.  Most of the stories within this collection were good enough, a few were fantastic.  Would I recommend it?  Primarily for horror fans.  The literature side was more prevalent at the beginning compared to later in the story.  A good read overall.  3 out of 5.

“The Fairest of Them All” by Sean Taylor.  The dwarves worry about the human girl that they’ve taken into their lives and home.  Leader, believed to be the oldest, knows that sooner or later the Wicked Queen will find Snow.  Then there will be choices to be made.  When an enchanted mirror is discovered deep in the mine, with a girl trapped inside, they take it to Snow.  Wow, this really twists the two stories (“Snow White & the Seven Dwarves” and “Alice in Wonderland”) off-kilter, yet there is also a certain logic to this mashup.  As they say, “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely”.  4 out of 5

“Anne-Droid of Green Gables” by Lezli Robyn.  Matthew Cuthbert needed help on the farm so, using his savings, he purchased a refurbished prototype android that was never put into mass production.  Only he didn’t get the expected androgynous adult droid.  Instead he receives a female child overflowing with curiosity about the world and longing for both a bosom friend and a forever home.  Let’s start with that illustration, an adorable mix of android and big-eyed rag doll.  It makes you want to hug her and keep her safe.  As to the story, there are a few changes, other than the obvious.  For instance, Matthew and Marilla are a married couple rather than siblings.  I absolutely enjoyed this sweet story!  4.5 out of 5

“Little Women in Black” by Louisa May Alcott & Rick Hautala.  The March girls are knitting socks for the Union soldiers while lamenting being poor.  Their father is serving as a chaplain in Mr. Lincoln’s Army.  Beth appears to be a ghost, unable to interact with her family despite her best efforts, yet still present.  Jo is still tomboyish, although there are hints that she might actually be trans, or would’ve been in modern times.  She makes it clear that she would much prefer to be male and fights the attempts to make her into a proper woman.  Jo still meets Laurie, but here we’re given strong hints that he is from another planet.  I was fascinated by this story, but I felt it deserved expansion.  4 out of 5

“Death Stopped for Miss Dickinson” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.  Poet Emily Dickinson, very much an introvert, meets a mysterious man in the graveyard outside her window.  She becomes terrified that he could become immortal if her sister doesn’t destroy all her work after dying.  The tale is jumpy, told from different viewpoints, but never settling long enough to connect.  Perhaps a more fluid method of storytelling would’ve increased my enjoyment as there were some jewels of pure beauty in the story, but the nonlinear method just constantly jolted my enjoyment.  And, by the way, was Thomas Higgonson really needed?  I think not.  My first disappointing story.  3 out of 5.

“Twilight of the Gods” by Chris Ryall.  Loki is exiled to Jotunheim, his presence unwanted by the people of Asgard.  Fine with him as Asgard was no longer working for him.  He’s dropped into a new environment that helps Loki find himself.  That’s pretty much as far as I got.  I could blame Marvel and Tom Hiddleston giving us such a marvelous and witty version of Loki or perhaps the fact that this is a mashup with 90210, a series that I abhorred (along with all the other CW/UPN series in this vapid style), but the reality is that Ryall’s writing voice alternately bored and annoyed me.  DNF

“Pokky Man” by Marc Laidlaw.  When Hemlock Pyne was found “asleep” at a Pokkypet Reserve, his films were turned over to filmmaker Vernor Hertzwig.  Hertzwig interviews Pyne’s friends and acquaintances as well.  Huh, a skewed look at Pokeman and Werner Hertzog in this deep dive of what happened to Pyne.  Or perhaps it should be why it happened is more accurate.  After the disappointments of the last two stories, I was happy to find myself engrossed once again.  Strange and intriguing.  3.5 out of 5  

“Vicious” by Mark Morris.  Sid Vicious is sick, turning on his friends and bandmates, dealing with what is probably crabs, and not giving a shit about pretty much anything when a beautiful black woman appears in the broom closet where Sid had fucked the American fangirl.  He’s at a crossroads and must make a decision that will direct his life.  This one was hard to rate, but the writing is hardcore and, based on what I remember of Vicious, dead on characterwise.  3.5 out of 5

“From Hell’s Heart” by Nancy Collins.  Three men, all new to the trapping trade, decide to pool their resources and partner up.  It is successful until the night they trap a strange creature who manages to bite one of them in the hand.  As the hand becomes horribly infected, the unnamed narrator goes to the trading post for laudanum, meeting a man named Ahab, a former sea captain, who asks to accompany him back to the cabin where his two partners await.  Once there, they discover one man dead and the other no longer recognizable as human.  Ahab relates an extraordinary tale before following the creature into the night.  I delayed reading this for a bit as I was not a fan of either Moby Dick nor Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner, the inspirations for this story.  Yet I found it surprisingly intriguing, although with a most disturbing ending.  3 out of 5.

“Frankenbilly” by John Shirley.  While working as a soundman on the set of “Billy the Kid Versus Dracula”, our unnamed narrator meets a mysterious cowboy who claims to be the real Billy the Kid, although he prefers to be called Henry now.  He relates a strange tale of how he met the doctor who inspired Mary Shelley’s Dr. Frankenstein before changing his mind about letting that story out.  The mixture of fact (the film, the location, the actors involved, some of the history of Billy and Pat) and fiction makes for an interesting horror tale.  3.5 out of 5.

“The Green Menace” by Thomas Tessier.  Fleeing Washington after his Senate censure, Senator Joe McCarthy checks into a fishing lodge in the middle of Wisconsin to reconsider his future plans, brood, and do some heavy drinking.  Instead he finds himself at war with frogs unlike any he has seen before.  I’m honestly not certain why this story appealed to me considering my absolute abhorrence of McCarthy, but it did pull me into its universe.  I was pleased to see that the narrator, young Kurt, comes to see McCarthy for what he really was as he grew up and did some research.  3.5 out of 5.

“Quoth the Rock Star” by Rio Youers.  When a raven appears at a Doors concert, Jim Morrison is drawn to follow the creature despite believing that it might be a hallucination due to LSD.  Walking through the streets of Baltimore, Jim comes to believe that it might be the soul of a broken person.  He didn’t expect to meet the long dead Edgar Allan Poe.  There begins a partial meeting of two men with much in common, merging into a fight for control, for life, for another chance to create.  Two troubled geniuses, both burning themself out through depression, in desperate search for love and a different life.  Youers’ voice is so compelling.  Knowledge of both men’s lives and works will definitely add to a reader’s enjoyment.  4 out of 5.

“The Happiest Hell on Earth” by John Skipp & Cody Goodfellow.  After 37 years in solitary confinement, the elephant man breaks loose, committing suicide, and leaving behind a manuscript that describes how the Animal Wars came to be.  I was nervous enough to read this story based on the art that preceded it, but once I started reading, I knew it was more than I could stomach.  The animal and animal/hybrid abuse is throughout the entire story, the callousness too much for me.  Before I quit, I saw references to Dr. Moreau, another story I find difficult to read, and some barely disguised swipes at Disney.  DNF

“Dread Island” by Joe R. Lansdale.  Huck Finn and Jim are convinced by Becky Thatcher to go after Tom Sawyer and Joe Hardy when they decide to go to Dread Island.  The island, set in the middle of the Mississippi River, can only be seen on the first night of a full moon.  Its reputation is that of deadly danger, but Huck cannot abandon his friend and disappoint Becky.  Jim reluctantly goes with him.  I’ve never read anything from Lansdale before although I’m aware that he has a strong fan base in SFF.  If his books are as imaginative and engrossing as this story, I can understand why.  First I love that the relationship between Jim and Huck is very father and son as well as friends.  Plus Jim is so much more knowledgeable about things and Huck is willing to listen, even if he still insists on going after Tom.  Lansdale has mixed Twain’s Huck with Uncle Remus’ Brer animals and Cthulhu into a horrifying adventure.  There are even a few recognizable guest appearances from both literature and history, giving a hint as to how this island operates.  Brilliant!  4 out of 5.

[kimjongdaely]

Series Masterlist

*Go to Scenarios Masterlist for scenarios*

If any links don’t work, please tell me.

Haunted Mini Masterlist

All members; EXO

Miniseries

Status: Completed

Genre: Mystery, horror, choose your own adventure

Warnings: gore, blood, death, violence, language

Summary: Following your friends into a random creepy abandoned house will be a mistake that haunts you forever.

Escape Mini Masterlist

Superhero!AU/Villain!AU

Pairing: Kai x Reader x Baekhyun

Status: On-going

Warnings: Language, violence, torture

Summary: All your life you were caged and tortured, a never-ending cycle of pain. You no longer remember a life beyond that. All you wanted to do was escape this cruel fate. But finally finding your escape and being saved by a masked criminal was just the beginning of your nightmares. Can you ever really be free?

🎃The Masquerade Mini Masterlist

All members; EXO

Miniseries

Status: Completed

Genre: Mystery, horror, choose your own adventure

Warnings: Violence, blood, language, character death

Summary: What started as a fun Halloween masquerade turns out to be much darker than you thought. With all these masks, how do you know who is friend and who is foe?

Mismatched Destinies Mini Masterlist [Discontinued]

Fantasy!AU, Royal!AU, Arranged Marriage!AU

Pairing: Chen x Reader

Status: On-going

Warnings: Language, violence, maybe future smut

Summary: Your kingdom has been invaded. While trying to run from your pursuers, you accidentally fall down into the “Monster’s Realm.” But they might just be your only hope to fight back.

The Art of Sin Mini Masterlist

EXO Customs Collab Masterlist

Gang!AU, Racer!AU, Tattoo Artist!AU

Pairing: Chen x Reader

Status: Complete

Warnings: Language, violence, sexual situations, vandalism

Summary: He’s an artist. He does it all for the ‘art.’ Tattooing. Racing. Sex. All because he thinks they’re beautiful. There’s no one here that doesn’t know his name, because it’s everywhere. On every graffiti-filled wall, every tattooed skin, every cheer of the crowd. His name is there somewhere, because it’s all his—this world. And when he lays his eyes on you—well, he’s never seen anything more beautiful. And he’s going to make you his masterpiece.

High Tides Mini Masterlist

Mermaid!AU, Arranged Marriage!AU, Royalty!AU

Pairing: Kai x Reader

Status: On-going

Summary: You were sent on land to marry the king in order to form a peace treaty between your two kingdoms. Forced to a foreign world and culture, you know you will live out your life being discriminated and unloved. That is, until you meet who exactly it is you’re marrying.

Wonderland Mini Masterlist

Alice in the Wonderland!AU

Baekhyun ft. EXO OT9

Miniseries

Status: Completed

Warning: Language

Summary: Baekhyun was just a bit too curious for his own good. He just thought the rabbit looked strange…he never thought he would fall into a whole new world. 

Alluring Mini Masterlist

Mafia!AU & Motorcycle!AU

All EXO Members

Status: Completed

Warnings: language, violence, fire, kidnapping, guns, sexual situations

Summary: EXO, a mafia feared by all. A lair filled with devils who know no love, whose hearts have never moved for anyone. And it seems they have found something interesting that they want to get their hands on.

🎃 The Wizarding World of EXO Mini Masterlist

Hogwarts!AU

All EXO Members

Status: Completed

Summary: Welcome to the Wizarding World, ten years after the Second Wizarding War. Now, nine students at Hogwarts each have their own story to tell, secrets to discover and identities to grow.

My Pet Human Mini Masterlist

Vampire!AU

Pairing: Chen x Reader

Status: Completed

Warnings: mention of blood, violence, slavery and sexual situations.

Summary: Every wrong step, every wrong turn led you to this moment. This moment where you would belong completely, utterly to the vampire Kim Jongdae, who never even wanted you in the first place.

Eternal Mini Masterlist

Vampire!AU

Pairing: Baekhyun x Reader

Status: On-going

Warnings: Language, violence, abuse, sexual situations, abortion

*Continues from My Pet Human*

Summary: You’re not sure how to deal with your current situation. Your owner, Byun Baekhyun, isn’t helping with the stress. But what happens when you find a risky solution that might just solve all your problems?

The Labyrinth Mini Masterlist

All members; EXO

Status: Completed

Genre: Mystery, horror, choose your own adventure

Warnings: Violence, blood, language, character death

Summary: You are now on The Labyrinth. Are you ready to play?

Exodauntia Mini Masterlist

Vampire!AU

Pairing: Chen x Reader

Status: Completed

Warnings: mention of blood, violence, and sexual situations.

Summary: You just wanted to help. But you accidentally saved someone you shouldn’t have, and now you’re running for your life while trying to help the person you saved execute his revenge plan, plummeting into a foreign world you never knew existed.

Façade Mini Masterlist

Pairing: Chanyeol x Reader

Warning: Language

Status: Completed

Summary: You thought you wanted fame. You thought you wanted this. But a part of you still yearned for that normal life, a normal love: finding someone that you love and will love you back with all his heart. So soon enough, this became too much for you.

The War Mini Masterlist

Mafia!AU

Pairing: Kai x Reader x Xiumin

Status: Completed

Warnings: Language, violence

Summary: After the tragedy of your ex-boyfriend, you find yourself constantly thinking about him. Memories are hard to erase, after all. Then in comes a man you met by chance and who stole what’s left of your heart. You find yourself stuck between your old love and new love.

Gambling Mini Masterlist

Mafia!AU

Pairing: Xiumin x Reader

Status: Completed

Warnings: Language, violence, sexual situations

*Continues from The War*

Summary: After his ruined wedding, Kim Minseok puts all his time into his mafia to distract from the heartache. That’s when he finds himself in a gamble with you. The deal is simple: whoever falls in love first, loses.

Taken Mini Masterlist

Mafia!AU

Pairing: Suho x Reader

Warning: Language; may have triggering situations including sexual situations, abuse, violence, etc.

Status: Completed

Summary: You were just a normal girl. You were just trying to get by. Until a rather unfortunate relationship brought you to the hands of Suho, the leader of the greatest mafia in the country.

Elyxion Chronicles: Masterlist [Discontinued]

Superpower!AU

All Members

Status: On-going

Contains nine separate series. All from the same universe, each with their own story. Recommended to be read in chronological order.

🎃 2017 Halloween Countdown Mini Masterlist

Warning: mentions of blood, violence and sexual situations.

Status: Completed

Vampire!AU

Summary: A chilling little series to countdown to Halloween. Each fated meeting with nine mysterious men leads you that much closer to your dark future…or rather, your end.

Bachelor Boys

The Bachelor!AU

All Members

Status: Completed

Summary: You find yourself on The Bachelor Boys reality TV show to choose the man you want to pursue.

Prologue│Part 1│Part 2│Part 3│Part 4│Part 5│Part 6│Part 7│ Part 8│Part 9│Part 10│Part 11│Part 11.5│Epilogue

The Deadly Sins

All Members

Status: Completed

Summary: Nine one-shots based off of the Deadly Sins.

Pride│Sloth│Gluttony│Wrath│Lust│Greed│Presumption│Envy│Despair

©kimjongdaely

Request and let’s love!

[takenews-blog1]

These Panoramic Photographs Went Horribly Fallacious

New Post has been published on https://takenews.net/these-panoramic-photographs-went-horribly-fallacious/

These Panoramic Photographs Went Horribly Fallacious

Our fancy smartphones nowadays allow us to do some superb issues with images. One enjoyable function is to create a panoramic picture, which is finished by way of the digital camera app stitching collectively a number of photos. When completed proper, they are often fairly lovely, capturing lovely sweeping landscapes, the shoreline, and extra. However as everyone knows, know-how is flawed, and typically the digital camera doesn’t do such a stellar job of sewing collectively these photos. The end result might be ridiculous and infrequently even creepy. See what occurs panoramic images epically fail, and hilarity ensues.

Polycephaly is a situation through which an individual is born with two heads and shares one physique. It may be seen in people and animals, although it actually is kind of uncommon. So we’re guessing this younger woman doesn’t even have two heads and it’s only a results of a panoramic picture fail. The 2 fully totally different expressions is fairly spectacular although. Maybe she is simply making an attempt to emulate Sara Poulson’s two-headed characters from American Horror Story: Freak Present, Dot and Bette. If she is, I’d say she nailed it…the reality is although, she sneezed mid-photo, and this was the fantastic end result.

This shot makes us dizzy and terrified . Maybe it’s the weirdness of the earth seemingly folding in on itself coupled with the darkness of the sky, and that slowly creeping wave. It seems to be as if the ocean is opening up and about to swallow these folks into its watery depths. This may be a fantastic image to ship to all of these flat Earth-believers. It’s proof that we’ve all been improper all alongside; the world is neither spherical not flat, however relatively U-shaped. Or possibly it’s a zig-zag? To be continued.

A vacationer picture that was meant to depict a panoramic shot of a tremendous historic area as an alternative changed into a bizarre shot of a lady’s floating, disapproving head. What makes it even a bit more unusual is that the girl’s physique seems to be going through the opposite means along with her palms on her hips…however then there’s her head with with that loopy expression, as if it’s saying, “I’m watching you!” It sort of offers off an Alice In Wonderland vibe, with the Queen of Hearts yelling “Off along with her head!”

This man was most likely doing one thing actually cool—an epic cliff dive maybe—however we’ll by no means know. As a substitute, we had been gifted this unnerving shot that appears like a bunch of chopped up physique components (minus the blood fortunately) being tossed right into a lake. We’d actually prefer to know which means he was going through as a result of it’s not possible to inform merely from what we see right here. Was he doing a flip? Was he diving? And now that we’re trying carefully, what occurred to his head? Perhaps we must always join him to the floating head woman.

In all honesty, this explicit panorama isn’t a fail, however a win. Whereas it will not be what the particular person was trying to seize, it turned out fairly rattling cool. It shows a creative shot of a fowl gracefully flying in sequence. Other than a blurred spot behind the person’s again, and a probably elongated head (although possibly that’s its form?) there’s nothing actually improper with this image. Nationwide Geographic could be proud.

For the primary time ever caught on digital camera, the traditional Inexperienced mythological monster Orthrus. Orthrus was the two-headed canine who guarded the fort of Geryon, a fearsome big who lived west of the Meditteranean. He was supposedly killed by Hercules, however this picture is proof that the creature lives on! Properly, both that or this man’s canine turned his head whereas he was taking a panoramic shot. That clarification is unquestionably not as enjoyable, however it’s the extra possible of the 2.

Whoa, It’s like an actual life Tremendous Stretch Armstrong. Or Plastic Man! Inspector Gadget! No, wait, I acquired it…Elasti-Woman! (For these non-nerds on the market, that listing contained an ’80s toy, ’80s cartoon character and some comedian ebook tremendous heroes for good measure). How a lot simpler would life be if we might stretch our our bodies like that? We’d by no means have to maneuver to once more! Eh, we’d most likely get fairly lazy, chubby and weak although. Oh effectively, it might be a neat occasion trick! Aspect thought, what the heck is she holding in her hand?

The very first thing this panoramic picture makes us consider is that ugly Dutch horror flick The Human Centipede. Haven’t seen it? Good. Don’t however should you should know the movie’s plot, right here’s a fast rundown: A mad scientist kidnaps three younger vacationers, and sews them collectively, connecting their bottom to their mouths, in an try and make a human centipede-type creature. We gained’t expose any extra ghastly particulars, however you may solely think about what occurs as soon as they’re sewed collectively (sure, all the things you might be pondering does occur). Probably not the picture we’d prefer to affiliate with a photograph of a child. If we had been his or her mom, we’d’ve completely deleted this one.

Okay, what? We’re stumped and truthfully, don’t know of what’s happening right here. So, a man is taking part in round in a…bathtub? That may be a bathtub, proper? What’s he doing in there? Enjoying peekaboo? Truly, is there a couple of man within the bathtub? Upon additional inspection, you may see there’s one hand gripping the aspect of it on the far left, after which a foot hanging off the aspect on the far proper. So both two dudes are in there or one man was flopping throughout like a fish. And why was a panoramic picture being taken of this? Oh how we’d have liked to have been a fly on the wall throughout this picture.

Nothing to see right here of us, simply transfer it alongside, nothing to see in any respect. It’s simply your common two-legged (and earless?) cat taking an off-the-cuff stroll down the road. The kitty seems to be fairly critical, too, as whether it is on an vital mission. Maybe he forgot his briefcase. Or possibly this cat is simply speeding with that expression as a result of they’re sick and uninterested in getting gawked at and picked on all the time. It’s not their fault they had been born with solely two legs! And residing in perpetual silence as an animal is just not simple. Poor factor. The world might be so merciless!

That is what occurs once you and your pals get collectively, have a bunch of drinks, and begin messing round with the panoramic function. It seems to be as if Mr. Bare right here was sleeping together with his again in opposition to the chair when he instantly flopped proper over mid-panoramic picture being taken. Hopefully there was no puke concerned. One factor worthy to notice is that it’s sort of superb how his abs appear to mesh completely into the road down the middle of his again. He sort of seems to be like some creepy horror movie monster, however his wasted expression makes it not fairly as scary.

There’s nothing like sitting out in your yard, consuming a beer, and having fun with the summer time climate (simply make sure you have that bug spray useful). That’s, except your torso will get chopped off. This picture fail by some means managed to cut off the highest of this particular person, however you may nonetheless see the complete chair. Maybe they had been additionally drunk and swaying backwards and forwards. And what’s that lengthy black bag sitting by its lonesome within the background? A random bag of deserted golf golf equipment? What’s that bottle subsequent to the chair? This picture fills us with so many questions.

Oompa Loompa doompadee doo, I’ve acquired one other puzzle for you. What do you get once you attempt to take a panoramic shot of two boys and epically fail? A creepy picture of some shrunken, mouthless, boy-like creatures. Okay, in order that doesn’t actually rhyme, or sound musical, however you get it. These guys even appear like they had been crouching down in a synchronized dance. If you happen to look carefully, you see that there’s additionally somebody shrunken within the background who seems to have on one very lengthy shirt.

This one is fairly cool as a result of at first look, it apears to be an everyday image. However you then see it…his eyes are trying in two comepletly totally different instructions. Whereas there may very well be some folks on the market who’re born like this (or much more uncommon, can by some means handle to shift thier eyes in reverse instructions) this was a reasonably seamless panoramic picture fail. A minimum of we hope it’s, and we’re not simply choosing on some poor dude. In our protection, we stumbled upon it on a panaromic picture website, so of thats the case, it’s thier fault, proper?

Caught on digital camera, for the primary time ever, the large furry centipede! Simply kidding, we’re guessing that’s most likely a canine. Properly, we’re hoping it’s a canine no less than, as a result of if not, I’m by no means sleeping once more. It’s fairly bizarre how the shadow falls completely alongside its physique. Oh, god, we’re getting sick simply on the considered such a creature present. Our greatest query, although, is why somebody felt the necessity to take a panoramic image of that deck? There’s nothing actually thrilling happening there. Aside from a large furry monster. Perhaps it is actual.

In a world of limitless selfies, this lady has found out the last word answer. She has no want for a selfie stick, an anti-gravity case (a cellphone case that sticks onto any floor), and even an AirSelfie (that contraption that flies up into the air holding your cellphone to take a pic–sure this does exist). She has simply taken some hints from Elasti-Woman and found out a option to stretch her arm out for that good shot. In all honesty, we wouldn’t be too shocked if science created a means for us to do that strictly for selfie taking functions.

Whereas on trip in Vermont, the spouse of this mysterious headless man was simply messing round with the panoramic choice on her cellphone, in hopes of capturing a particular second. She requested her husband to please smile for the image, however he was actually not within the temper to have his picture taken, so he made a grumpy face (which we can’t see) and shook his head “no” in hopes of getting her to cease. Properly he acquired his want…with that shake, his face, effectively, his entire head, disappeared. Although should you look actually carefully, you can see a sliver of his hat.

Ah, marriage. They are saying that after marriage, we’re merely now not two single people, however relatively two folks joined collectively to change into one unit. I ponder if this husband and spouse knew how literal that will be once they first mentioned, “I do.” After they managed to take a panoramic picture of themselves on the Grand Canyon, they had been melded into one particular person. We see a lot of the spouse, however that’s the hubby’s left arm and half of his torso, and that further leg is his as effectively. They do say you lose your self in love.

We retract our earlier assertion concerning the flat Earthers being improper and the Earth truly being a zig-zag. (In case you don’t know what a “Flat Earther” is, they’re individuals who belong to a society, the Flat Earth Society, that really believes the world is just not spherical, however flat like a pancake, and that all the supposed science that claims in any other case is a lie. Yup, these are actual folks.) Properly, it appears the world does have an finish and these poor persons are about to search out out what occurs once you fall proper off. They appear fairly calm contemplating what’s about to occur. We’d be a little bit extra panicked.

It might sound foolish, however this woman actually freaks us out; It appears like she’s going to come out of the display screen and are available after whoever is in her means. It’s most likely simply because she is paying homage to the evil lady from The Ring and that film was completely spooky.For individuals who haven’t seen the film,anybody who watches this creepy tape will get attacked and killed by a good creepier little lady that has lengthy darkish hair that hides her face. Besides this chick is even creepier as a result of she has a misshapen and distorted face. In actuality she was most likely simply shaking her head and flipping hair round in the course of the shot, however we’d be completely satisfied to by no means have to have a look at her face once more.

[chocolotte]

List #02

1. If someone wanted to really understand you, what would they read, watch, and listen to?

The most difficult thing would be what to read. I love reading but my taste ranges from YA princesses and mermaids to Greek Mythology to Charles Bukowski’s novels to some real good old-fashioned horror. However I would probably have them read “Bloem en vlinder” [Flower and butterfly] which is a children’s book that I keep reading and rereading over the years because its meaning changes to me a lot and it’s beautifully illustrated, so yeah, they would get my honest thoughts on that since it means a lot to me.

I would probably have them watch The Real O’Neals and (not or!)  F.R.I.E.N.D.S. It might sound crazy but there’s a little part of me in all of those characters somehow. I watch TOO many TV shows but those are the only ones that matter. When it comes to movies, I’d have them watch Love Actually or Jurassic Park which are the only movies I like rewatching.

Then finally, I’d let them listen to Introducing Me by Nick Jonas; My Wish by Rascal Flatts and probably ever single song in my UNDERWEAR PARTY playlist.

2. Have you ever found a writer who thinks just like you? If so, who?

I think my writing comes from two different points. On one side, I have the mind of a teenage girl who’s perky and loves romance and the unique little things in a story, the details that do or don’t matter to the story line. So I would say John Green. And I love a good plot twist every now and then and all these things that make more sense/come together further on in the story, so maybe Lemony Snicket as well.

On the other hand I tend to write rather cynical and dark, with a hint of pure lust. I don’t usually post it, it’s a side of me that I’d rather keep to myself for now. Maybe that’s why I don’t go out and search any books of that genre either, but if this reminds any of you of a writer, feel free to let me know!

3. List your fandoms and one character from each that you identify with.

- One Direction (music/band): I want to say Harry. I don’t know him personally but at first he seemed a bit of a cheeky lad. [I quote him (and myself): “My worst habit is... probably being naked all the time.”] I think he found a nice way to grow up in, he seems really kind and friendly and a benefactor. That’s not completely who I am yet, but it is who I aspire to be. And when it comes to his art (so singing and songwriting) he writes things that are important to him and is just a huge fan of his own work which applies to me as well.

There’s no other fandom than One Direction that I’ve completely succumbed to because it’s time consuming and probably bad for my health. Lately I’ve taken it down a notch on fandoms but here are a few others I’ve been in/a huge fan of:

- The Selection Series by Kiera Cass (book series): I identify a lot with Marlee. Sweet, little Marlee who unfortunately fell in love with someone she wasn’t supposed to fall in love with. I think everyone’s felt that attraction to something wrong before. Myself included. I identify with a few things from a few characters like Maxon who puts on a smile to hide his scars; America who isn’t afraid to speak up and who’s a walking contradiction when it comes to feelings, she has them but she’s afraid of them and she wants to show them but then she doesn’t; Celeste who hides behind her femme fatale persona (which I don’t have except when there’s a lens on me but still).

- John Green fandom (does he have a fandom??) (writer): Everything about John Green is me. Except he’s more successful and a better writer.

- The Vamps (music/band): I don’t know if any of them apply to me, honestly. Maybe Brad’s dog.

- Twilight (movie):  Probably Rosalie because I think I would regret being frozen in time after a while, especially when it comes to doing the little miracles of life like having a child or breathing. (Also, the first thing I would do as a vampire is probably kill someone in a very dramatic manner for some twisted revenge reason?)

- Winx Club (animated TV series): Bloom because her element is fire, she’s always trying to help, feels like the new kid sometimes etc.

P.S.: There should really be a fandom for James Corden because I worship that man.

4. Do you like your name?  Is there another name you think would fit you better?

My name is Lotte which according to the webbernet means free man. It’s also a name of a fish otherwise called sea devil. Alas, I think I have the best name out there, just saying. It’s part of who I am so I can’t imagine myself with any other name but I’ve always loved the name Emma!

5. Do you think of yourself as a human being or a human doing? Do you identify yourself by the things you do?

A human being. Besides the fact that I’m pretty lazy, I don’t do anything interesting? And I’m often more worried about existing than about what I’m doing in my life.

6. Are you religious/spiritual?

I was born and raised a Catholic but I don’t really think there’s one almighty force out there. I do however like to believe in magic and karma.

7. Do you care about your ethnicity?

I care in the sense that I’m aware I’m very privileged just because of my skin colour but I will never use that against someone and I wouldn’t mind having another ethnicity. 

8. What musical artists have you most felt connected to over your lifetime?

Easily Harry Styles, Taylor Swift and R.M. Drake.

9. Are you an artist?

In the sense that I like to create new things and express myself, yes.

10. Do you have a creed?

I believe in the truth and equality, loving each other and respect.

11. Describe your ideal day.

On my ideal day, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like, or who I’m with or where I am. My ideal day would just be spent with people I love (including myself!), maybe discovering a new place or rediscovering an old one and have delicious food in it. It would be a day that doesn’t end when the night falls but when it ends, you’ll have cheeks that hurt from smiling and a content longing to get in bed with your dreams.

12. Dog person or cat person?

KITTY!

13. Inside or outdoors?

Inside. I admire the outdoors but mostly from inside, sorry.

14. Are you a musician?

I can play ‘do re mi’ on the piano, that’s about it.

15. Five most influential books over your lifetime.

1) Bloem en Vlinder 2) Pluk van de Petteflet 3) The Selection - Kiera Cass

16. If you’d grown up in a different environment, do you think you’d have turned out the same?

I hope so!

17. Would you say your tumblr is a fair representation of the “real you”?

It is a little more positive sometimes than who I am. Maybe I’ll balance that out soon with some writing, but I’m not comfortable enough for that right now.

18. What’s your patronus?

According to the Buzzfeed quiz I have a doe, which means: You had a dark side to you that people too often remember, but deep down, you’re actually a courageous, loving person. You like to wear the color black and have no problem telling it like it is.

According to the Quotev quiz I have a dragon which means:  The Dragon is one of the more unique patronuses.  Those with a Dragon patronus tend to be strong on to the inside and out and protective.

19. Which Harry Potter house would you be in? Or are you a muggle?

Hufflepuff

20. Would you rather be in Middle Earth, Narnia, Hogwarts, or somewhere else?

I’d love to be in Wonderland or back in the 70s

21. Do you love easily?

I’m afraid so.

22. List the top five things you spend the most time doing, in order.

This was very eye-opening, and not in the good way

1. Sleeping 2. Tumblr 3. Obsessing over something/Overthinking 4. Getting sad or mad about what I’m overthinking 5. Draw/Write/Taking pictures

23. How often would you want to see your family every year?

I still see them every day now, I really can’t say how much (I want) that would change?

24. Have you ever felt like you had a “mind-meld” with someone?

I firstly had read this as “mind-melt” and my thoughts immediately raced to Harry Styles wowie. But, I’m guessing you mean whether I have felt telepathic with someone, as in merging our brains, thinking the same way? Yes, I have it all the time with my sister and my friend Ben.

25. Could you live as a hermit?

I think I could pull it off. I at least have more potential than anyone else in my family haha. Although I think I might go slowly insane without social contact after a long period of time.

26. How would you describe your gender/sexuality?

Female and bisexuality

27. Do you feel like your outside appearance is a fair representation of the “real you”?

I think it is. You can easily tell when I’m feeling lazy, sleep, confident, happy by the way I dress. And my hair’s always a mess so that pretty much sums me up as well. 

28. On a scale from 1 to 10, how hard is it for someone to get under your skin?

If they know how to set me off, an 8. In general life, probably way less.

29. Three songs that you connect with right now.

- You R In Love by Taylor Swift

- My Wish by Rascal Flatts

- Meet Me In The Hallway by Harry Styles

30. Pick one of your favorite quotes.

“Faites que le rêve dévore votre vie afin que la vie ne dévore pas votre rêve.” - A. De Saint-Exupéry. [English: Make the dream devour your life so that life does not devour your dream.]