#the three are refusing to tell Mr. World's Greatest Detective who he is

[tomboy014]

Nightwing and Red Hood try to convince security guard, Danny Fenton, to let them "borrow" Harley Quinn for the night

Danny: So why do you need me to let Harley out for you?

Nightwing: C'mon, Danny, buddy...

Harley: Yeah, he's your friend! Do him a solid.

Danny: Shush! Why?

Red Hood: I'm gonna kill the Joker.

Danny: Oh no! No way in any hell am I letting you make him my problem!

Bonus:

Red Hood: I died! Do you have any idea what- wait, no, forgot who I was talking to. Let me try again.

[dragon-kazansky]

A rose in London - Sherlock Holmes

Notes: This is a rewrite of the first ever fic I ever wrote almost 8 years ago. My skills have improved a lot since then, so here it is. The sequel, which I never finished the first time around, but will complete this time, will be written in the New Year. Enjoy!

Chapter 1 - The great detective

Blackwood.

That was a name that came up in nearly every paper. Sherlock Holmes, a man who could quite easily be called the world's greatest detective, had caught him, stopping him from taking another life. Blackwood had created a great fear in London, so when the papers announced he had been stopped, a huge sigh of relief was released over the city. People started to feel safe once again.

You were glad to not find yourself a victim of such a vile man.

You had seen the paper. The photo on the front was that of Lestrade, Watson in the back and Sherlock in front of him hiding his face from the camera. You expected no less from a man like him.

It was of no surprise that you knew who he was. You, just like everyone else in Britain, had heard of the infamous detective. They say he could tell a lot about you just by looking at you. He had a keen eye that picked up even the slightest bit of detail, which more often than not saved lives.

There was a certain bit of relief to know there was a man like him out there, helping people. Whether he chose to help or not.

John Watson, a man you had only come to know recently, was Sherlock's friend. He worked him on many cases, as you knew from the newspaper articles you saw. You often asked him about the detective, but he never knew what exactly to say. John described him as complicated and unusual. There was no one out there like him, perhaps maybe his brother, who John didn't know very well. You never asked John to introduce you to him, unsure on if it was a good idea or not.

Your first time in Baker Street was not a visit to the detective. John had asked you to come and join him for tea, how could you refuse your new found friend? When you got there he was with a patient. He saw you come up the stairs and gestured for you to wait for him just a moment, smiling at you kindly. The patient gave you a smile also, as he finished up his meeting with John. You waited patently by the door of his office while he finished up.

"This new accommodation of yours, when are you moving in?" The man grabbed his coat.

Ah yes, John was moving out. You had offered to help with anything, but he refused and simply invited you over for tea.

"I should be moving within the week." John replied. "Cavendish place, hmm?"

You chuckled from the doorway. John looked up at you amused.

"Moving on up." You walked further into the room, closer to the desk. The man John was seeing chuckled and adjusted his sleeves as he his coat settled on his shoulders.

"And there will be a woman's touch too." John smiled. The smile of a man in love.

"Well, that's marvellous."

"She's a lucky man." You pointed out, giving John a knowing look.

Suddenly there was a loud sound, actually three loud sounds, like a bang. It made you jump in fright as your eyes darted to the ceiling. You knew who it was that was causing such a sound, John had told you he only ever left that apartment if there was a case. Another reason you had never met him in person.

"Good God! That was gunfire." The man gasped.

"No. Hammer and nail, wasn't it?" John tried to suggest. You knew better than that. He had told you stories of the man in the room next door, after all. "My colleague is probably just putting up a paining." He glanced you way, you gave him a deadpan look.

"Sure. Probably." You muttered.

"I'll go and check, You stay here, Y/N." He gave you a serious look as he asked you wait in his office, moving past you and out the door. You walked over to the door and peeked your head out, watching him approach the  door next to his office.

Mrs. Hudson came running up, tired of the detective and his hobbies. You gave her a sorry look as she passed you.

"I won't go in there by myself." She stated. "Not while he's got a gun in his hand."

"You don't have to go in there at all, give me the paper." She handed it over to John.

"Oh, what will I do when you leave, doctor? He'll have the whole house down."

"He just needs another case." John told her. "That's all."

"Can't you have a longer engagement?" She pleaded lightly.

The man in the office pushed past you lightly and made his way out into the hall. John turned as soon as he heard him come out of the office. You just stood by quietly.

"I smell gunpowder. It's not right, you know, not in a domestic environment." He scolded.

Another bang.

You ducked down with John and the other gentleman. Mrs. Hudson jumped out of her skin, the poor woman.

At this point you really were questioning the sanity of this mysterious man in the other room. He was armed and he was firing. What must be going through his head right now? A part of you was glad you hadn't met him in person. You're not sure knowing someone like him was good for your health.

"Thank you, Captain Phillips." Ah, they were friends. You didn't know many of John's associates. "Perhaps a nice cup pf tea. Same time next week."

Mrs. Hudson took the man downstairs. You remained leaning against the door frame of John's office. He turned to look at you.

"You should go and join them."

"No thank you. I came for tea with you, but this is far more exciting. Your friend is armed and freaking everyone out. What are you going to do, doctor?"

"Talk to him. I'll find him a case to work on. Stay here."

"No promises."

John knocked on the door and opened it just enough to stick his head through. You tried to take a peek, but it was useless. You couldn't see anything, but you heard them talk. John requested permission to enter, which Sherlock granted. You remained standing out in the hall, hoping to listen in on what they were saying.

Sherlock's voice was so smooth and deep. It was a sound you were sure could listen to for hours. It was intriguing and quite honestly made you want to go in and introduce yourself, but then you remembered what happened thirty seconds earlier and remembered he was armed. That made you somewhat nervous about the man upstairs.

There was another shot.

This one sounded louder as the door was left open a crack, but you didn't dare go near it after that.

"Watson, I am in the process of inventing a device that suppresses the sound of gunshots."

"It's not working." John told him. "Can I see that?" You heard John moved across the room.

There was a lot of shuffling going on inside, you waited, listening.

"You know, it's been three months since your last case."

"Gentle, Watson. Gently, be gentle with me." There was a small scream of surprise. You had no idea what was going in there, but the room seemed to be a little lighter now. You assumed John had opened the curtains in there. You wondered how long Sherlock had been sitting in the dark for.

"Don't you think it's time to get another one?" You heard John ask.

They continued on to talk about the need of a case to keep Sherlock's mind busy. The voices grew a little more distant, making you assume they had moved to the other side of the room. You had to strain your hearing a little bit in order to continue listening in on them. Your curiosity was growing with each second.

Sherlock Holmes was an interesting man, and the urge to know him was growing strong.

John began to list cases that Sherlock had received, but it appeared Sherlock had solved them all. He had an answer for every single one of them. John wasn't sure if he was impressed or irritated by this.

"I see you're the leading physician for Blackwood's hanging tomorrow."

"Yes. It was out last case together and I wanted to see it through till the end." John replied solemnly.

Sherlock grew quiet for a moment.

Hoping their conversation wasn't over, you drew nearer to the door.

Mrs. Hudson came up the stairs with a tray of tea. She walked past you, smiling at you softly and knocked on the door. You relaxed as she entered the room and made to move away, returning to John's office to wait for him. Before you could even take a step you heard Sherlock's voice again.

"I heard multiple voices earlier."

"I was with a friend of mine, from the army." John replied.

"And the other?"

"Other?"

"A woman's voice. I heard a woman's voice. I believe she's outside, listening in." Sherlock said nonchalantly. You couldn't see the way he looked up at John as if to tell him not to lie. He knew you were there. "Come in, dear!"

You hesitated.

John never wanted you to meet Sherlock. He was a complicated and, quite frankly, irritating too.

"Don't be shy."

"It's alright, Y/N, you can come in." You heard John call.

You shuffled closer to the door and pushed it slightly as you stepped into the room. Your gaze drifted across the stuffy apartment and landed on the three people who were in it. Mrs. Hudson was organising the tea tray by the small table, John was sitting in an armchair in front of the window and, who you could assume to be, Sherlock was sitting on the floor with a newspaper in hand.

"Ah, there she is." Sherlock gave a smile.

John shifted in his seat.

"You come here often, yet I never actually see you."

"I, uh..."

"I only ever see you leave." He gestured to the window, suggesting that on your visits he always listened out for when you would leave the building and return home, watching you walk away from his window.

"I insisted you never meet her." John sighed.

"I never meet any of your friend's John." Sherlock seemed to pout.

"With good reason."

"The only case I care about is the coming and goings of an absent tea lady." Sherlock changed the topic quickly and looked at Mrs. Hudson who was pouring him a cup. "Is it poisoned, nanny?"

"There's enough of that in you already."

You should there awkwardly, concerned by her remark. Was Sherlock slowly poisoning himself in here?

John moved out of the chair and came over to your side.

"Don't pay him any mind." He whispered.

Sherlock turned his attention back to you, a smile on his face once again.

Mrs. Hudson cleaned up some of the mess Sherlock has made and walked past you, glancing to her left. "Oh, he's killed the dog." She continued to walk out of the apartment.

Startled by that statement you glanced down to see a bulldog, not moving, on the floor. He did this? How could he? You were beginning to think John was doing the right thing before by not having you meet this man.

"Oh my goodness!" You knelt down beside it. "The poor thing."

"What have you done to Gladstone now?" John knelt beside you.

"I was simply testing a new anaesthetic. He doesn't mind." Sherlock stood up.

"The poor darling." You placed a hand over his head gently. You always loved animals, so to see the poor dog like this broke your heart a little bit.

"Holmes, as your doctor..." John stood up and faced the other man.

"He'll be fine."

"As your friend, you've been in this room for two weeks, I insist, you have to get out."

"There is nothing of interest for me, out there, on Earth at all." Sherlock glanced at you as you continued to kneel over the dog. His eyes flicked back up to John quickly as you turned around.

"So, you're free this evening?" John asked, sighing.

"Absolutely."

"Dinner?"

"Wonderful."

"The Royale?"

"My favourite."

"Mary's coming."

John made to leave.

Sherlock looked up instantly.

"Not available."

"You're meeting her Holmes!" John shouted. You stood up startled by the shouting.

"Have you proposed yet?" Sherlock asked him curiously.

"No, I haven't found he right ring."

"Ah well, then it's not official."

"It's happening, whether you like it or not." John spoke softly this time around.

"Not." Sherlock muttered.

"Eight thirty, The Royale. Wear a jacket."

"You wear a jacket." Sherlock tried to argue back.

"Y/N?"

"Yes?" You turned to John who smiled at you.

"Will you come?"

"Oh, uh... I don't want to impose..."

"Nonsense. I want you there. Mary will love you."

"Alright then."

John nodded once and left the apartment.

You shuffled awkwardly on the spot again, realising you had been left alone with the detective. You could feel his gaze on you as you stood there like a lemon. You slowly shifted your gaze to him and gave a small smile, deciding to move closer to the door.

"It was nice meeting you." You heard him say.

You halted at the door and peered over to him.

"You too."

You left the apartment.

You closed the door behind you and stood in the hall for a moment, letting your thoughts wander. You weren't certain about your opinion on the man at the moment. There was something curious about him, but he also intimidated you. You had heard so much about him, but couldn't work out who he really was.

Now you were invited to dinner, to which he was invited.

You gave a big sigh as you finally moved towards the staircase, going down and shouting a goodbye to Mrs. Hudson as you left the flat. You didn't even dare look up at the window to see if he was watching. You knew he was. You could feel his gaze on you as you walked down the street, not looking back.

Sherlock leaned against his window and watched you go.

He finally got to meet you. After so long, a year tops, of wondering who you were when you came to visit John, he finally got to meet you. Watson had always made sure before that your path would never cross with his. He was intent on you never meeting Sherlock and the detective was annoyed by that fact.

He was curious about you.

He could put up with dinner with Mary if you were going to be there. He'd do it for you.

Tags:

@awyr @fandombeehive @charmed-asylum  @sigynbandraoi-blog @procrastinatingmurder

[sasamdcu]

Too Many Dads

Rating: 16+ Fandom DCU: Pairings: Cassandra Cain/Raven/Harper Row

Archive of Our Own

For The Summer of BatGalPals. I was super busy all July and am only now getting around to finishing some of these.

July 3rds General Prompt: “Meeting batdad”

Raven groaned as Dick made a fourth pass over her makeup and outfit. Ever since she had let it slip that she was going on a date he and Kori had hounded her relentlessly for details. They bickered like an old married couple about what she should wear and how she should style her hair, advised her to drink or take drugs in moderation and worst of all gave her a speech about the safety of procreation that went far too long. The birds and bees demonstrated with the help of Beast Boy did not help. It began to feel like Dick was more invested in this date than she was at this point.

“Alright, I think we’re perfect!” Dick finally confirmed before packing up his makeup case.

“You’re going to blow them away.”

“I can blow you away right now if you want.” Raven grumbled though Dick didn’t seem to notice.

The one saving grace about this whole fiasco was that her partners weren’t fairing much better. Occasional messages and cries of help came through her phone culminating in a string of Snapchats showcasing Harper and Jason devolving into a literal fist fight over the best style of leather jacket. Tim had apparently tried calling in a ringer since he didn’t know much about punk outfits himself and he wanted to focus more on trying to get Cass to wear a proper dress.  It looked like he might be regretting that.

“Oh look at the time! We’d better hurry if we want to make it to Gotham by five!” Dick dragged Raven along to his ‘borrowed Bat Mobile'.

“Remind me again why I don’t just portal to Gotham?”

“Because I need to return this car as well and you love a good road trip.”

“I don’t.”

“Well you will after this! You like show tunes?”

“We are not listening to Wicked the entire trip.“

The doors of Wayne Manor swung open as they approached to reveal Tim and Jason, both clad in slacks and sweater vests waiting. The unnerving display caused Raven to begin to question Dick’s own sweater vest ensemble. While this wasn’t an out of place outfit for Dick with the three in coordination something seemed clearly off.

“Hey there Dick, good to see you.”

“Likewise Tim.”

“How was the trip?”

“Fantastic, we listened to Wicked for the first half and Bye Bye Birdie for the second!”

“Little too on the nose there don’t you think?” Jason asked.

“Not at all, the perfect show tunes for a road trip if you ask me.”

“It was a nightmare.” Raven cut them off before they could continue farther.

A bizarre little shuffle went on as Dick shook first Tim’s hand then Jason’s before they were guided inside. Raven had been to the Wayne mansion a handful of times before with Dick, it was how she had met Cass and Harper after all, somehow though the majesty of it all wasn’t overwhelming. The opulence reminded her of Azarath and of home.

The four of them traveled down the main foyer into a small guest seating room on the left. Inside Raven momentarily forgot all about the weird way the boys were acting because there was Harper and Cass and oh boy was Raven having a gay moment.

Jason and Tim seemed taken aback as well. Raven wasn’t surprised, instead of the outfits they had been getting them into earlier the two were sporting nothing but light workout gear. Harper was in nothing but a skeleton motif tank and loose black shorts while Cass was in skin tight shorts and a black sports bra with attached bat eared hood. If you asked Raven they looked amazing. The toned muscles and various patterns of scarring telling her just how much trust they had in her and how comfortable they were in showing her so much.

“What happened to our planning?” Jason just sank in despair. "I thought we bonded through that brawl."

“You guys got so worked up we were ready like five hours early. We got bored and went for a workout.” Harper shrugged.

“Comfier.” Cass added.

Jason simply wandered aimlessly out of the room, as if his whole world had come crashing down around him.

“What’s up with him?” Raven asked.

“Oh I told him if he helped me dress up Harper it would impress Barbara.” Tim flashed a momentary shit eating grin before becoming rigidly serious again and locking eyes with her. “But onto the real business.”

“Ahem.” Dick cleared his throat. “You two ladies better look after my girl here. Treat here right you hear?”

“What? No, no, no, your girl needs to make sure she treats Cass and Harper right!” Tim countered, upset that Dick had usurped his moment.

“I’m the adult here and I’m going to make sure Raven is treated how she deserves!”

“Well I’ve been teaching these two for years now and I need to know that they’re going to be in good hands!”

Raven felt a small tug at the bottom of her dresses skirt. Turning she found Cass holding one finger over her lips for silence and Harper looking ready to bust a gut. Motioning Cass lead the two quietly out the door, leaving the two siblings to bicker behind them.

“God I can’t believe what dorks they are.” Harper laughed once they were out of earshot. “Do they really both want to be dads that badly or something? And Jason! Oh my god I can’t believe I managed to convince him to wear that stupid sweater vest.”

Cass and Raven snickered with her.

“At least you two got to change into something more comfortable, Dick and Kori made me take a five hour car ride in latex. This stuff doesn’t breathe you know.”

“It’s worth it.” Cass pulled Raven into a side hug, burying herself into the empath’s side and stealing a quick kiss.

“Yea, honestly it suits you a lot. Looks super cute and you don’t even notice the fact that it was probably bought from some kink store.”

Raven was dressed in as Kori described it a ‘Latex Galaxy Print Emily Dress’. A simple black latex dress with blue, purple and red galaxy print swirls across the chest portion, short puffy shoulder sleeves a somewhat short skirt and a high almost sailor collar, finished off by an O-ring attached right in the center.

“Uhg” Raven groaned. “I let Kori pick it out but didn’t take into account her lack of tact and understand when it comes to certain social customs still. A pretty dress is a pretty dress is all she said. Though I have to admit her matching the galaxy design with your hair was a stroke of genius.”

Raven ran a hand through Harper's hair before pulling her down for her own kiss.

“Again, you hardly notice it looks kinky or anything. Either that or I’ve just been spending too much time around the local capes and hoods. Have you seen Cat Woman’s outfit? The dress really doesn’t stand out that much in our line of work.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“So, we have a surprise for movie night.” Cass beamed at her pushing Raven to raise an eyebrow in interest.

“Oh?”

“It’s an anime. I’ve finally gotten Cass fully into anime, and now it’s your turn.” Harper laughed.

“As long as it’s Cass picking that’s fine with me, the last time it was your turn to pick we ended up watching that god awful Lance and Masks.”

The three settled down together in one of the side rooms, a massive TV adorning the far wall and one large comfy couch for them to quickly pile onto. Raven let Cass guide her in between herself and Harper. While they’d definitely had movies night before this was an entirely new situation for Raven. Previously she had always been off to the side while the lovebirds cuddled. She could definitely get used to this though, something about the way the two of them embraced and held her just made her feel so safe and warm. Harper pulling her almost on top of herself and Cass spread out all across both of them kept her in such close proximity it was almost impossible to tune out their feelings of affection that washed over her like she was being dipped in a warm comfortable bath. It was pure happiness.

Bruce was tired. He had finished his patrol late the night before and hadn’t had time for sleep before dealing with the various Wayne enterprises that required his attention. Refusing to take a day off he had just finished his second night straight of patrols and was running on fumes when he made it back to the mansion.

Upon arriving the first thing he found was Jason passed out in a patio chair dressed like what Bruce could only assume was an attempt at Mr. Rodgers. He didn’t want to know. In the foyer he found Duke scolding Tim and Dick both also dressed in outlandishly PBS father figure style outfits. He had to blink a few times and then go double check on Jason to make sure he was seeing everything correctly. Those three wearing matching outfits was not a good sign.

Checking in on Harper and Cass who he’d heard were opting to spend their weekend at the mansion for once instead of at either Harper or Stephanie’s apartments was delighted to find all three girls snuggled up fast asleep together on the couch. A large comfy blanket sprawled out across them.

“Wait.”

It didn’t take the world’s greatest detective to realize that something didn’t add up, namely the number of people in the pile. Silently he went through a mental checklist of who all was there. There was Harper and Cass yes. But the third girl was someone he didn’t recognize. It wasn’t Stephanie, or Barbara, or Carrie or Kate. Not Violet not Harley(thankfully.) not Selina and not anyone else that sprung to mind.

Rubbing his eyes he wandered into the kitchen where he found Damian eating breakfast and Alfred putting on a new batch of coffee.

“Oh thank you Alfred, I definitely need that today.” He groaned as he plopped down into a seat at the table next to Damian.

“I think what you need is a good sleep sir.” Alfred replied but began grabbing a third cup nonetheless.

Bruce hummed to himself a moment in thought.

“We didn’t adopt any new kids recently have we?”

Damian and Alfred looked at him in confusion.

“There’s a third girl with Harper and Cass. I don’t recognize her.”

“Ahh. That would be Miss Raven.” Alfred turned back to the coffee maker. “No, she is simply here as a guest, from my understanding those three have begun dating. She’s one of Dick’s Teen Titans.”

Bruce nodded in acceptance.

“Okay good. I was worried we would need to renovate and add another bedroom.”

“I’m pretty sure that won’t be a problem.” Duke said around mouthfuls of toast. “Looks to me like they’ll be sharing a bed anyways.”

And that was not what sleep deprived Bruce needed to be thinking about right now. Anything would have been better than his children's relationships, god a Joker attack would be better.

���And do you know what’s going on with?...” he let the question die out.

“On second thought I’ll ask Dick what they were doing tomorrow. Alfred please ignore my earlier request for coffee and cancel my eight o clock, I believe we should still be able to reschedule to tomorrow for that. I’m going to go get some rest after all.”

“Of course sir.”

“Have fun at school Damian.”

“Tch.”

Yea. Bruce definitely wasn’t dealing with whatever else all of this was until tomorrow.

[dukereviewstv]

Duke Reviews Tv: Smallville 1x14 Zero

Hi Everyone, I'm Andrew Leduc And Welcome To Duke Reviews TV, Where We Continue Our Look At Smallville By Talking About Episode 14 Of Season 1, Zero...

This Episode Sees Lex's Past Coming Back To Haunt Him, When Jude Royce, A Man Presumed Dead, Resurfaces After 3 Years To Ruin Everything Lex Has Worked For As Of Late Before Capturing Lex, So He Can Get The Truth About What Really Happened At Club Zero. Will Clark Save Lex Before Royce Kills Him?

Let's Find Out As We Watch Zero...

The Episode Starts With Lex Inside Of The Upside Down...

Oh, I'm Sorry I Read My Script Wrong, I Meant Lex Is Inside Of A Building Where He's Hanging Upside Down In A Straitjacket, My Mistake...

Kidnapped By Some Guy, To Which Lex To Ask...

Only For The Guy To Tell Lex That He Wants The Truth Which Leads Us To Flashback To 3 Years Ago In Metropolis...

(Start At 0:37, End At 3:26)

Calling Lex A Liar, The Man Knows That Despite What The Papers Said That That's Not Really Happened And He Knows That Lex Covered It Up And He's Going To Going To Make Him Pay As It's Revealed That The Man Is Jude Royce, The Man That Kasich Apparently Shot...

Rewinding To One Week Earlier, We Cut To Smallville High As Clark, Chloe And Pete Have An English Assignment To Write A Six Page Biography On One Of The Students Of The Class, With Pete Being Assigned To Stan Gibson, The Manager Of The Student Store, Clark Being Assigned To Lana And Chloe Being Assigned To Clark...

Yeah, Settling In, Folks We're In For One Of Those Chloe Being Too Nosy For Her Own Damn Good Episodes...

On His Way To Meet Lana At The Talon, Chloe Asks Clark When They Can Sit Down And Talk Which Leads Clark To Tell Her That They Will, Eventually...

And By Eventually, Clark Means When Pigs Fly, Yeah, Sorry There Chloe But, You're Going To Fail The Assignment...

Meanwhile At The Talon, Lana Gets Into An Argument With The Contractor At The Talon Over Plumbing When...Oh, Hey Jude...

Oh, Come On, I Had To Make A Hey Jude Reference, It Was Just Too Easy...

Anyway, Jude Drops By The Talon, To Get An Application For The Assistant Manager Position Where He Warns Lana To Stay Away From Lex Because Everything Lex Touches Always Ends Badly...

Arriving At The Talon, Lex Is Met By Kasich, Who Lex Is Not Happy To See As After That Night At Club Zero They Decided To Never Talk With Each Other Again, So, Instead Of Wasting Time Kasich Gets Down To The Point By Telling Lex That He Saw Jude...

Knowing That To Be Impossible, Kasich Tells Lex That That He's Not Crazy And Whoever This Person He's Been Following Him Everywhere. Asking What This Man Wanted Kasich Tells That This Man Is Seeking The Truth...

With Clark Walking Towards Them, Lex Gives Kasich The Key To A Secure Apartment In Metropolis And Tells Kasich To Stay There Until He Can Call Him, Nodding His Head, Kasich Leaves As Lex Enters The Talon With Clark...

(Start At 2:36, End At 3:23)

Following Lex Outside, Clark Asks Lex Who Jude Royce Is? But Lex Doesn't Seem Worried Saying Whomever Lana Met It Wasn't Jude Royce But Turning On His Car Loud Music, With The Words Murderer Being Heard Over And Over Again Play In Lex's Car...

Clark Is Like...

Using His X-Ray Vision, Clark That Lex's Radio Has Been Hotwired To Play A CD On A CD Player That's Underneath The Dashboard...

Ripping The CD Player Out, Clark Questions Lex Again Only For Him To Tell Clark That It's None Of His Business...

Returning Home After What Just Happened, Clark Finds Chloe Interviewing His Parents Who Find Chloe's Questions To Be (Sounding Like Arte Johnson) Very Interesting But Stupid...

Running Out Of Tape, Chloe Leaves So Jonathan And Martha Can Talk To Clark About The Assignment, Saying That They Don't Mind Answering Questions About Clark But Questions About Clark's Adoption Are Going To Be A Little Difficult To Answer...

With Chloe Returning, She Has Enough Tape To Question Clark Too But He's On Way To Work On His Paper With Lana Which Gives Chloe The Idea That Clark Is Avoiding Her But Telling Her That Tomorrow They Will Work On It Together, Chloe Drops The Subject...

Going To The Talon To Work On Their Paper, Clark And Lana See Lex Pull Up In His Car, Saying That The Contractor Called Him And Said That He Wanted To Meet Him At The Talon To Give Him An Estimate...

But When The Three Of Them Go Inside, They Find The Contractor On The Ground As He Tells Them That Some Guy Jumped Him When He Entered The Back Door And Forced Him To Let Him In

(Start At 1:03, End At 1:56)

Looking At The Hand, Lex Knows That Kasich Is Dead..

With Lana Having Second Thoughts About Being Involved With Lex, Clark Asks Lex About Max Kasich, To Which Lex Tells Clark The Truth That He Was Someone He Knew Years Ago In Metropolis And He Has No Clue How This Happened. Bringing Up Jude Royce Again, Lex Tells Clark That It's Impossible As Jude Royce Died 3 Years Ago...

The Next Day At School At The Torch While Clark Is Trying To Get Information About The Death Of Jude Royce, Chloe Tells Clark That While He Was Ducking Her, She Discovered That Clark's Adoption Was Handled Through Metropolis United Charities, And That Clark's Adoption Was The Only One They Handled Since They Were Only In Buisiness For Six Months...

Furious That Chloe Is Prying Into His Private Life, Clark Exits..

Talking With The Head Of Security At The Mansion, Mr. Raines At The Mansion Gym, He Tells Lex That Kasich Never Made It To The Apartment In Metropolis And That He Has Not Yet Tracked Down Amanda Rothman...

This Leads To A Flashback To What Happened After Jude Was Killed As We See Someone Who We Never That We Would See Again, Sam Phelan (The Dirty Metropolis Detective That Discovered Clark's Secret And Decided To Blackmail Him With It So He Could Get Phelan Some Papers From Internal Affairs)...

(Start At 1:08, End At 2:23)

Returning To The Present, Lex Gets A Gun In His Head Which Forces Him To Turn Around To See Jude Who Tells Lex That He Wants To Know What Happened That Night At Club Zero And Not Just The Cock And Bull Cover Story...

But As Jude Talks With Lex, Clark Arrives And Hears Jude Talking With Lex Which Forces Clark To Bust In Which Scares Jude Off...

Telling Lex About What He Discovered About Max Kasich, Lex Tells Clark For The Good Of Their Friendship To Not Look Into This Any Further. Returning To The Kent Farm To Do His Chores, Clark Talks With Jonathan About Lana Still Opening The Talon Despite The Body Part Incident, Lex, And Metropolis United Charities...

(Start At 1:01, End At 2:00)

Discovering That Their Livestock Were Poisoned By Luthorcorp Barrels That Somehow Got There, Lex Apologizes For What Happened And Offers To Pay For The Livestock But Jonathan Is Not In A Good Mood And Refuses Lex's Offer...

Telling Clark He Has No Idea How This Happened He Asks Lex If This Has To Do With Club Zero? And With Lex Believing That It Might, Clark Tells Lex To Come Forward And Tell Everything That Happened Before It's Too Late...

With The CEP Rep, Wanting To Talk To Lex He Goes Over To Talk With Him Only To Discover That It's Jude Who Tazers Lex Into A Car And Drives Off With Him...

Calling Everywhere, Clark Cannot Find Lex Anywhere, Which Leads Clark To Tell Martha What He Discovered, With Clark Defending His Friend, Martha Defends Lex Too But With Shady Things In Lex's Past Popping Up, Martha Thinks That Clark Should Take A Break From Lex As She Doesn't Clark To End Up In Trouble Like Him...

Going In The Barn, Chloe Apologizes For Diving Into The Adoption Agency Thing And Has Drop The Whole Thing In The Name Of Their Friendship, Handing Clark Pictures She Took For Insurance Purposes Chloe Leaves But Before She Does Clark Notices A Picture Of The CEP Guy Who Looks Like Jude Royce...

(Start At 0:51, End At 0:53)

Back Where We Started With Lex Hanging Upside Down In A Straitjacket, He Attempts To Get Out Of It While Calling For Help...

Hacking Into The DMV, Chloe Gets The Address Of Our CEP Guy Named John Smith...

What? Is His Middle Name Hannibal?

Clark Tells Her To Call The Police And Have Them Go To That Address...

Arriving There, Clark Discovers That Metropolis PD Is Already On The Scene As They Discovered Max Kasich's Body, Asking A Policeman Where Club Zero Is Despite Being Six Years Too Late, The Policeman Tells Clark That It's A Wherehouse On 78th And Main...

Now REALLY Back Where We Started With Jude About To Shoot Lex, We Hear A Gunshot Only To Discover That Someone Has Killed Jude For The Second Time And It Turns Out That It Was The Contractor Of The Talon Who Is Actually The Real Mastermind Behind Everything...

Shooting Lex Down, The Contractor Tells Lex Who He Really Is...

(Start At 0:18, End At 3:35)

With The Talon Opening On Schedule, It Seems To Be A Hit As Lana Goes Over To Talk With Clark Who Has A Present For Her, A Picture Of The Talon That His Grandfather Took Years Ago...

Talking With Lex, He Has A Feeling That Clark Is Avoiding Him, Denying This, He Just Tells Lex That There's Just A lot that He Doesn't Know About Him Which Leads Lex To Tell Clark Why He Did What He Did At Club Zero...

(Start At 1:34, End At 1:54)

Meanwhile At The Torch, Chloe Is About To Delete The Information She Discovered About Clark Only To Change Her Mind At The Last Second, Ending Our Episode...

And That's Zero And It's Okay....

While Not One Of My Favorite Episodes, It Did Give Us Insight On What "The Greatest Criminal Mind The World Has Ever Known" Did To Land Himself In Smallville And It Was A Good Episode While The Story Was Okay The Characters Were Well Written So, For This One I See It...

Till Next Time, This Is Duke, Signing Off...

[ebaeschnbliah]

________________________________________________________________

ANOTHER  HOUND  -  A  SPECIAL  ONE

________________________________________________________________

The Hound of the Baskervilles is probably the best known story by ACD. Over 20 film and television versions of it have been made. And in everyone of those adaptations the original story has been changed a little bit in some way or another. But there is probably no classical, victorian version which differs quite as much as this one, from 2002, with Richard Roxburgh and Ian Hart as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (X). And some of those changes are very interesting, particularly with regard to Sherlock BBC.

Warning:  Major spoilers - in fact, all the spoilers - are under the cut! If you haven’t seen the movie and want to be surprised, don’t go further!

The legend of the Baskerville Hound

As mentioned in ‘Lady Holmes’, the greatest change has been made to the old legend of the hound itself.

At the time of the Civil War, the Manor of Baskerville was held by one Hugo, a wild, profaned, godless man. Hugo accused his wife of having an affair with a young man who owned lands near to the Baskerville estate. Mad with jealousy, he beat her savagely. She fled across the moor. Hugo gave chase. He caught her and he killed her, but her hound, devoted to its Mistress, had followed. It flew at Hugo and tore out his throat even as Hugo stabbed the creature to death with his hunting knife. According to the legend, ever since, the ghost of the hound has plagued the family, prowling the moor, uttering piteous cries. A foul thing - great black beast with blazing eyes and dripping jaws.

In this adaptation Sir Hugo Baskerville is not a single man, lusting after a yeoman’s daughter whom he abducts and carries away to Baskerville Hall to have his way with her. No pakt with the devil happens. Instead there is a husband, driven by murderous jealousy, because he suspects his wife of having an affair with another man. And a faithful dog kills that furious husband and gives its own life to protect the beloved mistress … unsuccessfully.

Cousins

Stapleton and the Baskerville Boys

Once there were three Baskerville brothers …. on the left Charles the eldest, in the middle Sir Henry’s Father, whose name isn’t mentioned in the novel nor in this adaptation and the one in the chair is Rodger, the youngest brother and the black sheep of the family. 

In the original story the son of Rodger Baskerville, of the same name as his father, marries Beryl Garcia from Costa Rica. He changes his surname into Vandeleur when he returns to Engalnd with his wife, where he establishes a school in Yorkshire. When that business goes wrong the Vandeleurs move to Dartmoor and change their names into Jack and Beryl Stapleton. Still under the name Vandeleur though, he had become a recognized authority on entomology - the knowledge of insects. They also pretend to be brother and sister instead of a married couple. 

Holmes learns at the British Museum that the name Vandeleur was given to a certain moth which the man, now called Stapleton, had been the first to describe. 

This Jack Stapleton, former Vaneleur, originally Rodger Baskerville - nephew of Sir Charles and cousin of Sir Henry - has only one principal aim in view … the ownership and assets of the Baskerville estate.

The 2002 HOUND adaptation changes Stapleton’s history consederable. Rodger, the youngest Baskerville, ‘got a commission in the Guards but was drummed out … ‘conduct unbecomming’. He leaves England and the family assumes that he died penniless and alone. As big mistake, as it will turn out. ‘Late in life he married a whore named Mary Prescott’. They haveone child, a son called John. It isn’t mentioned if John Baskerville marries his wife Beryl abroad or after he has come to Engalnd. At some point he changes his name into Baker. Under that name he becomes a recognized authority on archaeology. Instead of butterflies this man collects skulls and bones and historical artefacts. When Mr. Baker and his wife Beryl move from Kent to Dartmoor they change their names again … this time into Jack and Beryl Stapleton. They also pretend to be brother and sister instead of a merried couple.

Holmes learns at the British Museum that a man named Baker had found an unique bronze dagger in Kent. It’s exactly this dagger Stapleton shows Dr. Watson on his first visit at Merripit House and he tells him that he had found it at Dartmoor. Big mistake, because Watson reports this information to Holmes.

This Jack Stapleton, former Baker, originally John Baskerville - nephew of Sir Charles and cousin of Sir Henry - has only one principal aim in view … and it’s not the money … it’s only revenge that drives him. ‘Revenge on a family that destroyed his father and allowed him to die a penniless, syphilitic drunk’ 

Forgone characters in this adaptation

Mr Frankland and his daughter Laura Lyons are completely omitted. Cartwright, the boy who delivers messages and food when Holmes hides on the moor is also missing, just like Dr. Mortimer’s cane and because of it the famous cane deduction scene at 221b Baker Street. In return a new character has been added …. Mrs. Mortimer, the doctors wife and …. medium. (Dr. Mortimer is played by John Nettles/Inspector Barnaby)

Séance at Merripit House

Sitting round the table (left to right) are Dr. Watson, Mr. Stapleton, Dr. Mortimer, Mrs. Mortimer, Sir Henry and (viewed from behind) Beryl Stapleton. This scene is a nod to the Rathbone adaptation of the Hound from 1939.

While in the Rathbone version the séance is interrupted only by a scary howling, in this one the monstrous hound itself appears and ‘knocks’ at the rain-swept window. A valiant Dr. Watson is the first one outside …. armed only with a chair. But as quickly as the hound had emerged out of the stormy night, the beast has vanished without a trace by then.  

Love is the bait

In the original story it is Laura Lyons who writes the letter to Sir Charles Baskerville and makes the disastrous appointment that leads to his death. A letter dictated by Jack Stapleton who pretends to be in love with Laura, that he wants to marry her. Laura, still married to a man who had deserted her, hasn’t the money to afford a divorce. And so Stapleton comes up with the idea that she should ask Sir Charles for help, who had done so before. After Laura Lyons has sent the letter, Stapleton feigns a change of mind and offers to pay for her divorce himself. That’s why Mrs. Lynons foregoes her appointment with Charles Baskerville and Stapleton has a free run and is able to frighten his uncle successfully to death. 

As mentioned above the character Laura Lyons doesn’t exist in this adaptation. Therefore someone else has to send the fatal note to Sir Charles. This part is assigned to Miss Beryl Stapleton. Of course, as the unmarried sister of Stapleton she can’t ask Sir Charles to fund her divorce. Near the end of the story it turns out that Stapleton has set up his wife as potential love interrest for Charles Baskerville right from the start. The note she sends is actually an invitation for a date. And Sir Charles takes the bait and dies. 

When Henry Baskerville turns up, as the unexpected heir of the estate, Stapleton is willing to play the same game again. This time though his wife crosses his plans. Beryl sends an anonymous letter to Sir Henry even before she meets him in person. And after they get aquainted, it becomes clear that both are falling in love with each other rather quickly. In the end Beryl Stapleton refuses to obey her husbands will. 

It’s Christmas at Baskerville

Another major change concerns the date of the Baskerville case. The original story is set in October.

Baskerville Hall, October 13th. MY DEAR HOLMES: My previous letters and telegrams have kept you pretty well up to date as to all that has occurred in this most God-forsaken corner of the world. ……   (ACD HOUND)

In the 2002 adaptation the case comes to its violent end at Christmas Day. And the night before, Baskerville Hall is illuminated festively. Many guest are invited. Sir Henry welcomes the ladies with a kiss unter the mistletoe. 

Even a little stage is set for a nice Christmas play, starring a knight in shining armour, a grim looking Father Christmas and … a monstrous hound.

Dramatic highlight of the play …. a fight between knight and hound …

And while everyone enjoys the rare Christmas festivity at Baskerville Hall, Sherlock Holmes leaves the party early and secretly. He has work to do and crosses the moor to breaks into Merripit House, looking for the final clue to prove Jack Stapletons true identity. 

A foe worthy of our steel …..

That’s how Sherlock Holmes describes his opponent to Dr. Watson. Stapleton and Holmes meet for the first time during the Christmas festivity at Baskerville Hall and it’s impossible to overlook that Stapleton is thrilled to compete with the famous detective. 

STAPLETON: You interest me very much. I’d hardly expected so dolichocephalic a skull …. or such well marked supraorbital developement. Would you object to my running my finger along your parietal fissure?

HOLMES: I should object in the strongest possible terms.

STAPLETON: A casst of your skull until the original is available would be an ornament to any anthropological museum! I must confess …..

The Stapleton character in this adaptation is indeed a foe worthy of Sherlock Holmes. Have never seen a better one. And the dialoge above reminds me very much at the one between Holmes and Professor Moriarty in The Final Problem …. only the other way round. 

MORIARTY: You have less frontal development than I should have expected,

Holmes the addict

In canon there are only two stories where Holmes’ drug habit is directly observed. 

"Which is it to-day?" I asked,—"morphine or cocaine?" He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened. "It is cocaine," he said,—"a seven-per-cent. solution. Would you care to try it?"  

This is the very first scene of The Sign of Four. Holmes takes a dose of cocain and Dr. Watson can only prevent him from taking another one by asking him to deduce the poket watch of his late brother. After that famous deduction scene Dr. Watson wants to know:

“May I ask whether you have any professional inquiry on foot at present?"

"None. Hence the cocaine. I cannot live without brain-work. What else is there to live for? Stand at the window here. Was ever such a dreary, dismal, unprofitable world? See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the dun-colored houses. What could be more hopelessly prosaic and material? What is the use of having powers, doctor, when one has no field upon which to exert them? Crime is commonplace, existence is commonplace, and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth." 

That’s the moment when a young lady - Mary Morstan -  is announced by Mrs. Hudson and the case of lost Agra treasure unfolds. It is well known that this case ends with Dr. Watson’s engagement to Mary Morstan and Sherlock Holmes turning once again to his seven percent solution of cocain..

"For me," said Sherlock Holmes, "there still remains the cocaine-bottle." And he stretched his long white hand up for it. 

The other story where Dr. Watson adresses Holmes’ drug habit is The Missing Three Quarter. Here too he names the lack of work - unbearable boredom - as the most dangerous trigger for Holmes to fall back on drugs. 

‘I had learned to dread such periods of inaction, for I knew by experience that my companion’s brain was so abnormally active that it was dangerous to leave it without material upon which to work. For years I had gradually weaned him from that drug mania which had threatened once to check his remarkable career. Now I knew that under ordinary conditions he no longer craved for this artificial stimulus, but I was well aware that the fiend was not dead but sleeping, and I have known that the sleep was a light one and the waking near when in periods of idleness I have seen the drawn look upon Holmes’s ascetic face, and the brooding of his deep-set and inscrutable eyes.’  

And this is where the HOUND adaptation from 2002 differs completely from canon. Not only that Holmes doesn’t take any drugs in the original HOUND story. What most surprised me are the times when Holmes is shown using cocain. It happens two times. 

At Baker Street, right after Dr. Mortimer has left them to pick up Sir Henry from the railway station. Holmes decides to inject himself with cocain despite he has just accepted a new and very interesting case. Dr. Watson watches disapprovingly but doesn’t utter a word. 

In a toilet at the Exeter railway station where they just met DI Lestrade who will join them later to catch the clever murderer Stapleton red handed. It’s only hours before the dangerous final act of the case. Dr. Watson and DI Lestrade are sitting at a table in the station restaurant, waiting for Holmes to reappear from the toilet.

Stapleton’s hound from hell

Some time ago I did a little comparison of the hounds from the 2002 adaption and from Sherlock BBC. Both hounds are no real dogs and neither of them is luninous due to a treatment with phosphor like in the original. (As far as I know only the Granada adaptation with Jeremy Brett presents a phosphorescent hound)

The hound from the 2002 adaptation was created by a mix of animatronics and CGI (computer generated images).   (X)

And for the Sherlock BBC hound it was also the first time that CGI has been used on a large scale.  (X)

Maybe this is the reason why both hounds share a certain resemblance with one another. It’s not so much their external appearance - that differs a lot - but rather the movement ot the creatures and the way how the attacking hounds are shot, which looks very similar. 

While the CGI hound works very well for Sherlock BBC, representing a drug induced vision of a monstrous creature in the mind, I can’t say the same for the hound in the 2002 adaptation. It is meant to be a real dog but that hound really looks like something out of a monster movie. More like a genetic breed created by a mix of bear and boar than a big and ill-treated dog. Maybe using a real dog would have been a wiser choice. 

And unlike the original story, Sir Henry doesn’t get off with just a bad fright. He is seriously wounded by the hound and lucky to survive the vicious attack.

A higly dramatic finale

At this point the final act of the case starts unfolding in rapid pace. While Holmes and Watson follow the hound into the moor and are able to rescue Sir Henry in the very last second, DI Lestrade stays back to deal with Stapleton in Merripit House. Watson carries the badly wounded man back to Baskerville Hall and Holmes returns to Merrypit House to confront the murderer - who is held at gun point by the DI - with the damning results of his investigations. Stapleton is completely unimpressed and tells him: 

“Conceited, opinionated, egoistical, vain.  All disembodied mind and cold calculation. You are no match for me!”

After a while the scene is interupted by Dr. Watson who has left Sir Henry in the care of Dr. Mortimer and the Barrymores and rode then back to Marripit House. His first question concerns the whereabouts of Beryl Stapleton. When no one has an answer for him, he starts searching.

“I have no wife”

Over and over Jack Stapleton repeats those words while Holmes confronts him with more than enough evidence that Beryl isn’t his sister but his wife. But it turns out Stapleton says the truth. He has indeed no wife. At that point in the story he is actually already widowed. Beryl had been murdered by her own husband shortly before he sat down with Henry Baskerville to have a little Christmas dinner. And it is Dr. Watson who finds her.

Outraged Watson wants to shoot Stapleton. Holmes steps in and tries to wrench the gun from Watson’s hands. DI Lestrade gets distracted. Stapleton seizes the opportunity and uses the element of surprise. He grabs Lestrade’s gun, knocks him out and aims a shot at Holmes .... but hits Watson instead. Then he runs out of the door.

Injured Dr. Watson sends Holmes after Stapleton into the moor. Holmes almost catches up with the man but then runs straight into the mire. Stapleton turns back to Holmes and watches him slowly sink deeper and deeper into the bog while mocking him with great delight. Finaly he decides to have mercy and put a bullet in Holmes’ head before he drowns helplessly. 

Never make the calculation without John Watson though. Of course, the good doctor emerges out of the fog at the very last second to save his Holmes. He shoots Stapleton and then - despite his wounded arm/shoulder - pulls the detective out of the treacherous mire. 

What an eventful Christmas Day! High time to get back to London. Holmes has already reserved a box for Les Huguenots and thinks of a little dinner at Marcini’s on the way. Watson accepts.

I hope you enjoyed the ride, although it was a bit long. Maybe I should add that this adaptation begins with a scene at the Turkish Bath.

Despite that promising start though, this Holmes/Watson relaationship sadly lacks a bit the warmth and closeness that is portrayed, for example, in the adaptations with Brett/Burke, Livanow/Solomin, Frewer/Welsh or Howard/Crawford. Smiles and jokes between those two men are really rare in this one.

August, 2018

@gosherlocked @sarahthecoat @possiblyimbiassed @raggedyblue @sherlockshadow @devoursjohnlock @sagestreet @tjlcisthenewsexy @sherlock-overflow-error @loveismyrevolution 

[listdepot]

Top 5 Superhero Teams

5. The Marvel Family

A team of particularly do-goody do-gooders, the Marvel Family are the offshoot of Captain Marvel, the alter ego of child reporter Billy Batson. A team of people mainly granted the power of the amoral yet morally convicted wizard Shazam (he needs an avatar to fight the forces of evil and puts the onus of it all onto a 7 year old), the Marvel Family includes Billy’s sister Mary Batson as Mary Marvel and his friend Freddy Freeman, who sheds his disabilities when he becomes Captain Marvel Jr.

There’s also the Lieutenant Marvels (Tall Billy, Fat Billy and Hill Billy, three men who share Billy Batson’s name) and Uncle Dudley, a dumpy old man without powers who believes he’s the Uncle Marvel, who the Marvels took a liking to. There’s also Tawky Tawny who is quite literally a talking tiger who often wears a tweed suit. Its great. He’s great.

The Marvel Family, similar to Superman’s family, is part of that general “idea” of ideal superheroes. Just... weirder. That’s what makes them great. Its what makes Captain Marvel wonderful. “Superman but a little weirder” works wonders for this character and his team.

4. Justice League Dark

When Metallo is rampaging through Metropolis, you call Superman. When Sinestro or Atrocitus are attacking planets, you call the Green Lantern Corps. These basic villains are often easy solutions when matched with their respective heroes. But what do you do when eldritch creatures from dimensions in between space and time invisibly swarm the planet? Will the Justice League stop that? Or do you need a Darker Justice League?

That’s where Justice League Dark (get it) comes into play. DC’s supernatural side is, I believe, their greatest strength overall. And with a team staffed by, among others, magician Zatanna, magician/conman John Constantine, actual ghost Deadman, avatar of nature and protector from horrors Swamp Thing, and chimp detective Detective Chimp, these creatures certainly have a reason to shake in their boots.

The forces of Heaven and Hell, the occult, the reemergence of Vertigo characters into the main DC canon. Justice League Dark deals in all of these themes, creating a heavy, interesting series of constant world-threatening events within the pages of their comics.

3. Agents of Atlas

A spy, a spaceman, a siren, a mermaid, a robot, a gorilla. One of Marvel’s oddest teams have nothing in common except for a single IRL connection: all six of them first appeared (and then mostly disappeared) in Marvel’s early years during the 40s and 50s, back when the company was known as Atlas.

In the canon, ATLAS was formed by the FBI to rescue President Eisenhower from the forces of the Yellow Claw. Claw’s archenemy Agent Jimmy Woo recruited the Venusian Marvel Boy and siren Venus, before also fixing the mute “Human Robot” M-11 and gaining the aid of Gorilla-Man, a soldier of fortune CURSED TO LIVE FOREVER IN THE BODY OF A GORILLA UNTIL SOMEONE KILLS HIM which is an idea that is incredibly stupid and part of the reason I love this garbage. Also not soon after, the Atlantean Namora (who had refused to help Woo initially) joins the team as well.

Inheriting the Claw’s Atlas Foundation front, the team works mostly in the dark, fighting the forces of evil. Most recently, (2009, they don’t get used often enough, basically) this espionage team has opted to take on the identity of “supervillains” as resistance against Norman Osborn’s regime as head of SHIELD. Again, this was 2009. They need to get out more.

2. X-Statix

Marvel, for some reason beyond my understanding but that I won’t question for reasons you’ll soon find out, decided to hand over the X-Force title to Peter Milligan and Mike Allred. X-Force was a comic known for both portraying a gritty. more aggressive form of X-Men and for being the most Rob Liefeld thing prior to him creating characters with names like DEATHSTRYKE and KILLBLOOD or whatever for his own comics label. Peter Milligan, meanwhile, was known for his mind-bending postmodernist works like Shade the Changing Man and Mike Allred’s pop art sensibilities seemed like the furthest possible artistic style from Liefeld’s grimacing over muscled footless monsters.

And when X-Force #116 premiered, it was not only incredibly different, but it introduced a whole new team of vapid, self-obsessed superheroes. An early 00s take on celebrity through a superhero vein, the original issue takes a turn when the last page features the collective death of all but 3 of the new team, immediately setting up a whole OTHER new team to remember after being introduced to the interpersonal relationships of this ego-driven team of mutants.

Its smart and pretty sharp and the constant retooling in the book itself by scummy mentor and amoral super rich investor creates an odd reality TV aspect of these strange heroes with their constantly shifting, often dying team (even Dead Girl, a mutant whose power is she’s already a ghost/zombie and can return to near-life after dying), all ready to be filmed, in moments of heroism or tragedy by their cameraman, Doop, a character I refuse to go into any more detail for because you should experience Doop for yourself. Just Google Image Search Doop thanks.

There’s a LOT to say about X-Force, who eventually changed their name to X-Statix due to the negative reaction from the 00s comics crowd, which sorta proves they were totally before their time, and, truthfully, its the best to just check it out on your own. There aren’t a lot of runs that I’d tell you to just hey look it up but hey

Look up X-Statix. Its really good.

1. Doom Patrol

The Doom Patrol can, perhaps, best be described by their classic original tagline: “THE WORLD’S STRANGEST HEROES” and hoo boy does that apply. Founded by Niles Caulder, the Doom Patrol features actress Rita Farr aka the size changing Elastigirl (eat it, Pixar), test pilot Larry Trainor aka the radioactive Negative Man, and race car driver Cliff Steele aka Robotman, a robot man.

And things were fairly odd for a while for the Patrol, up to and including the Doom Patrol’s presumed deaths at the hands of General Zahl while saving the small town of Codsville, Maine.

Then Grant Morrison happened.

Grant Morrison never met a comic book convention he didn’t love to openly embrace while also flipping it into some metatextual nonsense (and I can’t help but love it every time). Morrison took the Doom Patrol and created a comic based around Dadaist art and literature, William S Burroughs-esque cut and paste writing and just general absurdity. Negative Man Trainor merges his Negative Spirit with Dr. Eleanor Poole, becoming a multiracial, divine intersex radioactive being who refers to themself as Rebis. New characters were introduced like Kay Challis aka Crazy Jane, a woman with multiple personalities, each of which have different superpowers, and Danny the Street, a street. An actual sentient street. Who is also a drag queen. Its better than it sounds I swear.

The Doom Patrol soon became well... strange. Stranger than the strange they used to be. Their only recurring enemy was a 2 dimensional supervillain named Mr. Nobody who founded the Brotherhood of Dada, a team less about world domination or getting rich, and more about just like... idk? They don’t really recognize good or evil as simplistic concepts and prefer to just mess around like a bunch of dickheads, really.

Soon came Rachel Pollack’s Doom Patrol. Pollack, a trans woman, used the Doom Patrol’s debut in the Vertigo imprint. to discuss issues like identity, bisexuality, Judaism, creating an equally intelligent and mature comic, just on a separate level than Morrison’s. And a decade later, after a few changes in guards all around, Keith Giffen had a Doom Patrol run, letting the team go through a more humorous bent, notably featuring the inclusion of the fouth wall-adjacent comedy hero Ambush Bug. Most recently, Gerard Way (yeah, the dude from My Chemical Romance) has been creating his own Doom Patrol for DC’s Young Animal imprint, a mix of his own ideas and the classic Dadaist Doom Patrol that Morrison created.

Doom Patrol is a team of the strange, the outsiderest outsiders of DC, a team initially brought together by tragedies (unknown to them caused by their sociopathic leader), and who soon grew into an ersatz family of freaks. A loving museum of the weird who defend Earth from just the craziest nonsense imaginable,even if the rest of the superhero community don’t respect them. They do what they do because they have to, and because no one else can even wrap their mind around what they do. They’re the Doom Patrol, The World’s Strangest Heroes.

[the-master-cylinder]

SUMMARY Dr. Edward Pretorius is a scientist who has developed the Resonator, a machine which allows whoever is within range to see beyond normal perceptible reality. His assistant, Dr. Crawford Tillinghast, activates the machine and soon sees strange creatures in the air. When he is bitten by one of them, he urges Pretorius to turn off the machine. The crazed Pretorius refuses. Crawford panics and flees. When the police arrive, they find Pretorius decapitated. Crawford is subsequently arrested and accused of murder.

Crawford is committed to a psychiatric ward, where he is treated by Dr. Katherine McMichaels. After Crawford gives his account of Pretorius’ death, Katherine orders that Crawford undergo a CT scan, showing that Crawford’s pineal gland is enlarged and growing. Convinced of Crawford’s innocence, Katherine has him released to her custody, and plans on taking him back to Pretorius’ house and the Resonator. They are accompanied by Detective Bubba Brownlee, who investigated Pretorius’ death.

Upon returning to the house, Katherine and Crawford rebuild the Resonator. Crawford reactivates the machine which causes more creatures to appear along with a severely deformed Pretorius. His consciousness having taken control of the creature that devoured his brain, Pretorius tells the trio of a world beyond that is more pleasurable than normal reality. A panicking Crawford shuts off the Resonator, making Pretorius and the creatures vanish.

The next morning, Katherine insists that the Resonator could shed light on the victims of schizophrenia, as well as possible treatments and suggests that they turn the machine back on, but Bubba and Crawford disagree. While Bubba and Crawford are asleep, Katherine gets back up to feel the pleasure from the machine and turns it back on, bringing forth a worried Crawford and the now-almost unrecognizable and mutated Pretorius. Bubba enters the scene as Pretorius grabs Katherine, preparing to eat her mind and take her to the world of beyond. Crawford and Bubba go down into the basement to shut off the power, but encounter a giant worm like monster. Bubba succeeds in shutting off the power, rescuing Crawford and Katherine and sending Pretorius away.

When Bubba decides that they should leave the house, all of a sudden, Pretorius somehow returns and the Resonator turns back on, as all three of them run up into the attic to deactivate it. Katherine and Crawford are attacked by little beelike creatures, and as Bubba pushes them out of the way, he is devoured to the bone. Crawford fights off Pretorius and succeeds in freeing Katherine, but then his enlarged pineal gland pops out of his forehead. Katherine short circuits the machine by spraying it repeatedly with a fire extinguisher.

She then takes Crawford back to the hospital, where she is evaluated for insanity and schizophrenia, since her story was just like Crawford’s. As Katherine is being prepared for shock treatment by a sadistic staff member, Crawford has developed an overwhelming hunger for human brains and kills Katherine’s superior Dr. Bloch. Katherine escapes and drives back to the house with a bomb and a crazed Crawford following her.

Katherine puts the bomb on the Resonator and goes to leave when Crawford attacks her. As he is about to eat her brain, she bites off his pineal gland, reverting him to his senses. However, Crawford is pulled away and has his brain eaten by a completely deformed, mutated Pretorius. Before he can do the same to Katherine, Crawford’s consciousness begins to fight for control within Pretorius, the opposing consciousnesses tearing their shared body apart. Katherine finally escapes through the attic window just as the bomb explodes, killing both Pretorius and Crawford and destroying the resonator.

Landing outside, Katherine breaks her leg and the neighbors gather around her as she suffers a complete mental break, saying “It ATE him!” while bursting out in mad laughter.

Stuart Gordon Behind the Scenes From Beyond

DEVELOPMENT/PRE-PRODUCTION Stuart Gordon, whose 1985 debut Re-Animator, a modernized adaptation H.P. Lovecraft’s short story, was a landmark of excess that made an instant genre icon of its star, Jeffrey Combs. Seeking to duplicate its success. Gordon, alongside Re-Animator producer Brian Yuzna and screenwriter Dennis Paoli. again turned to the Dark Prince of Providence for a more ambitious follow-up feature. But when their plans for Dagon based on the Lovecraft story The Shadow Over Innsmouth – were shot down by Empire Pictures head honcho Charles Band, they turned to a much slighter, though no less strange, Lovecraft tale for their next feature: the 1920 short story From Beyond.

The script, co-written with playwright/screenwriters Dennis Paoli and William J. Norris, Gordon observed, “This was a much more difficult adaptation than RE-ANIMATOR because it was just the setup and we had to come up with the rest of the movie. Lovecraft’s story is only five pages long.”

“I would say Katherine in FROM BEYOND afforded me the greatest opportunity to play a wide range of emotions in the course of 90 minutes. I went from being a repressed Psychiatrist to a yearning, sexually charged and awakened woman to…being a hero! It was quite a journey and one where Jeffrey (Combs) and I almost reversed roles from what we played in RE-ANIMATOR.” – Barbara Crampton

Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness” inspired Gordon and his screenwriters conception for the film’s monster. Explained Gordon, “We came across a creature, the Shoggoth, which were the slaves of the Old Ones that once populated the earth. The Shoggoth is a kind of protoplasmic ball fifteen feet in diameter, which has the capacity to change itself into anything it needs to be. If they needed arms, they’d just grow arms. Somehow, they also gained intelligence.”

Observed Gordon of Lovecraft’s constantly-evolving Shoggoth, “One trouble with horror movies is that once you see the monster, the movie’s over. This idea allowed us to have the monster changing constantly-just when you think you’ve seen it as bad as it can get, it gets worse.”

After a tentative budget for the film had been fixed, Yuzna contacted New York-based writer Dennis Paoli to come up with a screenplay. That script was heavily revised by the producer and Gordon. Major changes were made in the design of the special effects. Comic strip artist Neal Adams was brought in to work on the storyboards. Adams eventually teamed up with Gordon on the task, eager to capture a unique look for the creatures. The script described them as both shapeless and erotic at the same time. Adams and Gordon worked very loose, without worrying about how the creatures would be made to work. They strove for a striking EC Comics look.

The production hired special effects coordinator Michael Muscal to determine whether effects could be filmed according to the storyboards. Muscal was joined by supervisors John Naulin and Tony Doublin, who worked with Gordon on some of the visual concepts. Gordon decided to avoid opticals as much as possible and create effects live on camera.

According to Shostrom, Dennis Paoli’s screenplay was open concerning how the creatures looked. “Stuart has an artistic background,” he adds, “so he was able to come up with some great storyboards showing what he wanted, like Mr. Bubble (the first-stage Pretorious transformation). He had seen some sketches I’d done for a film a few years back where a person had a large membranous sac attached to his neck, an idea which he liked. He did some illustrations that took it further. So, Stuart had much to do with the final image.”

SPECIAL EFFECTS John Naulin and Tony Doublin started designing the effects for FROM BEYOND. Based in California, Naulin supplied all makeup and mechanical effects. Tony Doublin took charge of the optical and mechanical effects. Naulin got the assignment of the graphic makeup effects. He also designed the pineal gland and the mechanical lamprey eels. John Buechler created the phase one Pretorious effects. Mark Shostrom was brought in for the later Pretorious transformations, known as “Mr. Bubble.” Pretorious, the central character of FROM BEYOND, gradually evolves into a protoplasmic, shapeless entity.

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In Buechler’s key transformation, Pretorious’ head gruesomely splits open and a pair of rotten hands shoot out to grab a terrified Barbara Crampton (dressed in black leather). The movements were entirely mechanical. A small replica of actor Ted Sorel’s torso was sculpted at Buechler’s lab in California, then sent over to Italy, as were most of the effects props.

“The first transformation was done with a bunch of appliances,” said Michael Deak, who assisted Buechler in Italy. “The muscles actually came off his face. Then we switched to a puppet for the split open scene. We had the help of Dave Kindlon and Rob Kurtzman (of Mark Shostrom’s crew), who were coordinating Pretorious arms. Bill (Butler) and I were pumping out a sort of gelatinous slimy stuff.”

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The MTSD crew additionally provided the S & M and splatter material, subsequently removed for the R-rated release: whipping, nipple spiking, tongue piercing, eyeball sucking, and brain eating. Of course, there were basic wounds-cuts, bruises, burns-but also Bubba Brownlee’s (Ken Foree) death scene when he gets eaten by insects. Greg Johnson, along with the rest of the crew, built Bubba’s lower body, while John Criswell sculpted the torso; Anthony and Therese Doublin created the tiny insects.

“Those “insects’ were really millions of polystyrene balls,” explains Doublin, “blown around by a huge fan. Actually, one of the crew kidded me that Stuart wanted tiny eyes painted on each ball. I said fine, get me 500 prisoners,” he laughs.

We also did what could be called the secondary creatures, the non Pretorious related stuff,” Naulin elaborates. “The giant lamprey eel, for example, that sucks off Jeffrey Combs’ hair. Also, the psuedojellyfish and wriggling snake-eels that are present when the Resonator is switched on.

“There was an interesting crossover since part of those effects are optical, created by using rod puppets in a tank of water, matted in to give them the necessary degree of fluidity of motion. Tony Doublin developed the water aspect. John Criswell and I built the snake-eels and jellyfish.

“We used different puppets on set for the biting sequences,” Naulin continues. “There were two of each: one fully mechanically and radio controlled, the other physically operated in part. Those were less sophisticated stunt versions.

“We had a problem coming up with a design that would work with an optical that obviously would not be added until much later,” Naulin observes. “The eels used out of the tank were different because the mechanisms had to be covered up, made to look like innards. For the close-ups, one of the main elements used were latex condoms, which were thin and flexible yet translucent enough for the back-lighting to show through.”

Both FX supervisors consider From Beyond to be a good test of their skills, one they enjoyed. However, an aspect of Italy neither found pleasant was the sub-zero temperatures experienced during shooting as Rome was plunged into a rare, deep snowfall. This aside, Naulin and Doublin praise the Italian crew who provided their backup.

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Mark Shostrom luckily missed the bad weather, but remains frustrated that he could not supervise his creations on set due to his Evil Dead II responsibilities. In his place, he sent animatronics expert David Kindlon and makeup artist/technician Robert Kurtzman. “I was quite distraught that I couldn’t get over to Z monitor what went on,” confesses Shostrom. “But Robert is the best person I know to oversee that kind of situation. He’s an excellent artist. as is David Kindlon. With him troubleshooting the mechanics, I could sleep nights. I’m enormously pleased with the way it turned out on screen.”

Shostrom joined the production during its early inception. “I had lots of discussions with Stuart and showed him my sketches, which were quite surrealistic monsters. But it basically came down to having a design because we suddenly got a green light, so I sculpted a couple of maquetes, small sculptures for the final creature, and the Pretorious monster.

As for the final creature seen in From Beyond, Shostrom tried to go beyond his budget. As he puts it: “We were pretty ambitious there. I told them what it would take. Brian Yuzna said Empire couldn’t afford that. We tried anyway. I sculpted the maquete of the creature, trying to give it a look that was unusual, yet would fit within the story. Creating it really drained my budget, but the key thing was the animatronics designed and built by David Kindlon, who really bit off a lot to chew on that one. He had to make radio-controlled heads and arms all by himself, although his work was essential to the creature’s success.

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“The reason why we all went full steam ahead on this film,” he relates,”was simply because it was such a neat project. That, and the desire to create a really memorable monster, to make it better than it should have been on the given budget.”

The Pretorious creature emerged as the end result: big, complicated, difficult to manage due to its size. “We need several things we hadn’t obsessed with the machine. He shows her what it can do because he cares, but he’s a victim. He is then transformed, his whole life is changed, Crawford is a man who runs away every time there is danger. But he learns to stand his ground. It’s almost a moral message.”

From Beyond was a very difficult movie. I’m kind of schizo about it. It involved a lot of makeup. I counted it up once, it was 30 days in that hideous, bald-headed, dog-dick-out-of-my-forehead thing. I hated it. It was so uncomfortable. And yet on the flip side of that, it was shot out of Rome, Italy, and I got to spend a glorious eight weeks in one of the world’s greatest capitals. It was good. I feel like Charles Dickens: It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times. But I also felt like the role in From Beyond was so polar-opposite to what I had done in Re-Animator, where I played a strong, driving personality that pushed the action forward. Here, I was really—for all intents and purposes—being a victim. Someone standing there going, “No!” So I felt like some of the tools in my kit were being taken away from me. That was a bit frustrating, too. – Jeffrey Combs

From Beyond was shot in Italy with an Italian crew in order to save money. Gordon says that the film would have cost fifteen million dollars to make in the United States, whereas the foreign production enabled him to hold costs to approximately two and a half million dollars. It was shot on a soundstage called Dinocitta just outside Rome. Dinocitta was originally constructed by Dino DeLaurentiis, but was seized by the government for nonpayment of taxes, and then sold to Empire Studios. From Beyond was one of the first films shot at that venue during its period of ownership by Empire.

Dinocitta Studios are located to the south of Rome, a 50-minute drive from the city center. This industrial estate clashes with the surrounding lush countryside. It is here, in studio three-a huge concrete hangar the weird and wonderful reality of From Beyond is being created.

The entire soundstage has been transformed into a large mansion, both interiors and exteriors. The set, created by Giovanni Natalucci and built at a cost of several thousand dollars, it is a large gothic style New England house.

This time around, Yuzna and Gordon have an eight week schedule in which to work their cinematic magic, twice the length they had for ReAnimator, and double the budget: the first Lovecraft adaptation cost $2 million to make; From Beyond’s budget is $4.5 million, primarily because of the enormous amount of special FX required. In this gothic picture, the action starts on page one of the screenplay and doesn’t let up until the explosive climax that promises to be truly stomach-turning.

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“This is a far more ambitious film than Re-Animator,” Yuzna explains. “But we’re under much less pressure because of the time we have. It’s taken an awful lot of organizing, but you’ll see the results on screen.’ Producer Yuzna has nothing but praise for the director. “Stuart has advanced in leaps and bounds-he’s getting terrific. He’s already brilliant as far as I’m concerned. A couple more pictures though, and he’s going to be tremendous. He’s one of the best directors I’ve ever come across who really works with actors. But, Stuart’s greatest gift is he knows how to tell a story. He does it the old way. The oral tradition; fairy tales stories where wild, crazy things happen. And people relate to that. It’s human storytelling.”

CAST/CREW Directed by  Stuart Gordon Produced by  Brian Yuzna Screenplay by Dennis Paoli Story by Brian Yuzna Dennis Paoli Stuart Gordon

Based on “From Beyond” by H. P. Lovecraft

Jeffrey Combs as Dr. Crawford Tillinghast Barbara Crampton as Dr. Katherine McMichaels Ted Sorel as Dr. Edward Pretorius Ken Foree as Bubba Brownlee Carolyn Purdy-Gordon as Dr. Bloch Bunny Summers as Neighborhood Lady Bruce McGuire as Jordan Fields

Makeup Department Bruce Barlow … shop crew Giacinto Bretti  … additional effects makeup: Italy Roberta Cozzo    … assistant makeup artist Gilda De Guilmi  … hair stylist (as Ida De Guilmi) Giancarlo Del Brocco … makeup designer Rita Innocenzi   … hairdresser Mark Shostrom    … special makeup effects Alfredo Tiberi   … assistant makeup artist Bill Forsche … special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Neal Adams   … conceptual artist

Special Effects by Bruce Barlow … fabrication crew: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries Gabriel Bartalos … fabrication crew: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries (as Gabe Bartalos) John Blake   … effects technician: Mark Shostrom Studio (as John Blake Dutro) John Carl Buechler   … special effects creatures and transformations designer and supervisor: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries (as John Buechler)

William Butler   … location supervisor: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries / special effects makeup

John Criswell    … assistant to Mr. Naulin: More Than Skin Deep Gino Crognale    … modeler: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries Michael Deak … location supervisor: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries / on-set effects supervisor

Mitch Devane … modeler: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries (as Mitch De Vane) Joe Dolinich … fabrication crew: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries Anthony Doublin  … physical and photographic effects supervisor: Doublin EFX Theresa Harding Doublin   … production effects assistant (as Therese Harding Doublin)

Thomas Floutz    … fabrication crew: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries (as Tom Floutz)

Greg Johnson … special effects makeup assistant: More Than Skin Deep Crit Killen  … effects technician David Kindlon    … animatronics: Mark Shostrom Studio Robert Kurtzman  … effects technician: Mark Shostrom Studio Peter Mark   … post-production effects assistant Ralph Miller III … animatronics: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries Michael Muscal   … special effects coordinator

John Naulin  … optical water tank creature creator: More Than Skin Deep / special effects makeup and creatures coordinator: More Than Skin Deep

Shayna Naulin    … special effects makeup assistant: More Than Skin Deep Greg Nicotero    … effects technician: Mark Shostrom Studio (as Gregory Nicotero) Salvatore Passanisi  … special effects assistant: Italy Steve Patino … effects technician: Mark Shostrom Studio Gregor Punchatz  … effects technician: Mark Shostrom Studio Mark Shostrom    … pretorius creatures and body prosthetics designer and supervisor: Mark Shostrom Studio Aaron Sims   … effects technician: Mark Shostrom Studio Giuseppe Tortora … special effects technician: Italy Gino Vagniluca   … special effects technician: Italy John Vulich  … fabrication crew: Mechanical and Makeup Imageries Drex Reed    … special effects crew (uncredited)

Visual Effects by Linda Drake  … optical compositor (as Linda Obalil) David Zen Mansley … designer and creator: resonator (as David ‘Zen’ Mansley) Mark Shostrom    … Pretorious creature effects

CREDITS/REFERENCES/SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY film.avclub Cinefantastique v16n04 Cinefantastique v17n01 Fangoria#56 Fangoria#59 Fangoria#64

From Beyond (1986) Retrospective SUMMARY Dr. Edward Pretorius is a scientist who has developed the Resonator, a machine which allows whoever is within range to see beyond normal perceptible reality.

[chemical--chaos]

Beautiful Sin - Death Note AU - Daehyun x reader x Jongup

AN: Admin S here, so I decided to combine two of my most favourite things, Death Note and B.A.P~ For those who don't know, Death Note is an anime/manga about a student named Light Yagami picking up a Shinigami (god of death - Ryuk)'s notebook which was dropped by a bored Shinigami in the human world and begins to kill the world's criminals with it, being dubbed as "Kira" by the public and becoming a god like figure to the world. The Death Note requires the name of the person intended to be killed to be written while their face is pictured and unless cause of death is specified, it will be a heart attack 40 seconds later. L (under the alias of Ryuzaki), being the greatest detective in the world steps into the picture, wanting nothing more than to bring a childish, self-proclaimed god down in the name of justice, thus starting a cat and mouse game, the loser having to lose their life. So, in this one shot, Daehyun will replace L with Jongup replacing Light, other members of B.A.P will be playing other characters (which will be explained) throughout the fic, I really hope you guys enjoy this, I really worked hard~

Word Count: 2967 

Warnings: Sexual content (not smut), mentions of murder, super natural themes.

"Jongup-kun?" (Y/n) whispered, knocking on his door, only to hear maniacal laughter from the other side, causing her to get immensely confused. "Idiots, fucking idiots, I am the god of this new world, Kira will cleanse this world of all evil, L, you've just lost." Jongup continued, and (y/n) continued to listen, her eyes widening in horror. L was right, he is Kira, oh god, I need to get out of here and tell him.

She quickly pulled away from the door, only to tangle her own feet and fall straight down onto the floor, alerting Jongup of her presence. Feeling her lungs constrict as the door opened, she began to panic, he was going to kill her, this was her end, this would be how she died, discovering that her best friend was Kira and to die at his hands.

Jongup opened the door, expecting to see Sayu, his younger sister but his eyes widened a fraction when he saw (y/n) on the floor as she got up, and he smiled at her, hoping she hadn't heard his monologue.

"Hey, how come you're here?" Jongup smiled at her, his personality having done a complete 180 degree turn, scarring her even more. Just a second ago, he was a mass murder and now, his face showed no signs of remorse or guilt, but rather a caring and happy expression was plaster all over his face. "I-I-I was-" Before she could finish, Jongup bent down, his strong arm pulled her up and pulling her into his room, slamming the door shut behind them as he pushed her towards his bed nearby.

Letting out a loud sigh, he ran his hand through his hair, rolling his eyes before turning around, knowing what he had to do. "What did you hear?" He asked her, his voice dangerously low, he wasn't going to make the same mistake again. (Y/n) internally panicked as she straightened herself up, turning around and sitting down on Jongup's bed, trying to keep herself as calm as possible as she tightly gripped the bedsheets.

"I just got up the stairs, and I trip-ped, what, what was th-there to hear?" She asked him, giving him her best fake smile but he saw right through it as he walked closer to her, bending down so he was at her eye level.

"Come on (y/n) don't lie now, you know what Kira can do, a name and a face and I have both of them." He whispered into her ear, using one hand to hold her chin as he leaned over, asserting his dominance in the situation. Feeling weak and pathetic as tears brimmed her eyes, she lowered her head, hoping he wouldn't kill her.

"Pl-ple-please Jo-jongu-up." She cried, tears rolling out of her eyes freely as Jongup pulled back, his eyes curiously scanning her face. A god needed a goddess to rule by his side and who better could it be than (y/n)? She'd known him his entire life, she was insanely intelligent, working with L was a proof of that, and to top it all off, she was beautiful, to him anyways.

"You won't kill her Jongup, you love her too much to do that, she'll cost you your life hehehe." Ryuk laughed, watching the owner of his Death Note struggle with the current situation.

"Aww, don't cry love, I'm not gonna kill you, no, no, no, you're far too precious to die by my hands, a god needs a goddess to rule, I'm offering you to be mine (y/n)." He whispered, his nose rubbing against hers as her eyes widened more as if it were possible. His empty hand resting at the base of her neck, his fingers playing with the necklace that hung around her neck.

"Jo-Jong-up." She began, only for him to cut her off by placing a finger against her lips."Shh, this is your only choice, accept Kira and the new world, or I'll have no choice but to end you and your entire family." He threatened, the dark look in his eyes proving his point. Feeling helpless, she slowly nodded, agreeing to his terms and he smiled, before leaning forward to capture her lips in a sweet kiss.

___________

(Y/n) sat in the investigation headquarters, mindlessly fiddling with papers as she spaced out. Jongup had her dancing to his tunes and there was nothing she could do to resist him, her brain screamed at her to tell L, to tell Ryuzaki, to tell anyone but with the threat looming over her loved ones' lives, she couldn't bring herself to do so, no matter what.  

"(Y/n)-chan, it would be great if you could return to us." L's smooth, soft voice called out, breaking her out of her trance and she turned around, only to meet the brown eyes of the chestnut haired boy, who was busy stuffing strawberry cheesecake into his mouth with a silver spoon, sitting in his ever so odd position.

"I'm so sorry Ryuzaki-kun." She apologised, using L's other alias, like seriously how many did he have?

"It would be great if you could help me monitor the Moon family, Mr Moon is asleep." He replied and (y/n) nodded, moving her chair over to in front of the various TV screens that showed the three members of the Moon family. Sayu was on the phone with her friend, Jongup's mother watching a drama on the TV and Jongup studying in his room. Gripping the ends of her chair tightly, she watched him reach for his drawer, the one containing the Death Note.

He was going to get caught, oh lord, he was going to kill her family.

Letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding, she relaxed back into her chair when she saw that he pulled out a packet of potato chips but how on Earth did he know about the cameras? L had them installed in absolute secrecy and even she hadn't mentioned them to him.

"Is everything alright (Y/n)-chan, you seem very tense." L remarked, his eyes not once leaving the screen but yet he failed to ignore the sudden changes in her behaviour.

"I feel sick, I need some air." She replied, mentally thanking the gods that she came up with that and before he could question her further, she got up, basically sprinting out of the room, down the stairs and out of the building, stopping in the unmonitored car park as she ran out of breath.

I can't do this, I just can't.

_____________

"Jongup, I need to talk to you." (Y/n) began, walking in to his room as he closed his door, following behind her and she sat down on his bed, which no longer felt warm and inviting, but rather cold and hard, as he sat down on the chair he pulled opposite her.

"What are we?" She asked, looking straight up at him, looking into his dark eyes for an answer. Jongup smirked slightly, knowing that this was the perfect time to send L a message. His best investigator was in his room, his main suspect's room, and now, all he had to do was show L was how weak he was.

"Baby, you're my everything." He smiled softly, before leaning forward and smashing his lips against hers, knowing that L was watching his every move and actions spoke louder than word. He gently pushed her back, until she was laying down beneath him as he hovered over her, using his strong arms to support his weight as (y/n) wrapped her arms around his neck, loving the feeling on his strong lips against hers.

His lips worked magic on her, every time he kissed her, she forgot everything. She forgot the fact that he was a psychopathic mass murderer, and that she was the detective on the opposite side, she forgot everything, allowing herself to get consumed by his presence. This being her only moment of peace and pleasure.

Jongup smirked, pushing harder against her lips, bitting down on her bottom lip, allowing a little bit of blood to seep out, both of them tasting the coppery taste as they devoured each other and (y/n) wrapped her legs around his torso, pulling him closer to her as she tangled her hands in his hair.

At this point in time, she just didn't care. She was completely unaware of the two hatred filled eyes that were watching the pair through the screens.

"Hehehe, you're doing this to taunt L aren't you? Showing him how you have complete control over his best partner, you really are a devil Jongup." Ryuk commented, before walking out of the room, after all, he didn't wish to see the future events that were going to happen between the pair.

_______________

"You were fully aware of the fact that the cameras were there!" Youngjae, another investigating officer on the case remarked, not believing what Chief Moon had said. When (y/n) and Jongup were sharing their heated intimate moment, Chief had asked L to stop the monitoring and as uncomfortable as he already was, he asked L to give his son and his girlfriend privacy, to which L outright refused, which lead to the entire team hearing about Jongup's love life and his affair with (y/n).

"It's very unprofessional for you to do this (l/n), Jongup is a key suspect, you cannot continue your relationship with him while you're working on this case, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to choose one side." Chief Moon sighed, taking his glasses off. (Y/n) starred at him, knowing what this meant, and knowing what Jongup could do, she had no choice but to resign from the task force.

"I need some time to think over it, I'll you know soon sir." She gave him a weak smile, before grabbing her coat which was hanging on her chair and began to make her way outside again before she bumped into L on the way out.

"(Y/n)-chan, are you headed somewhere?" He asked her, giving her a weird look, like, she couldn't exactly pinpoint what it was. Lust? Anger? Jealously? Hate?

"I'm sorry Ryuzaki, I need some time to think over everything… Jongup, he means a lot to me.." She trailed off, not knowing what to do.

"And catching Kira? Does that not mean anything to you?" He asked her, slowly taking steps towards her, very consciously pushing her against the wall as she moved back.

"Watari, please turn the cameras off." He commanded, not wanting this conversation to be visible to anyone, and this caused (y/n) to become even more alert.

"You didn't answer me (y/n), what about catching Kira? Or do you already know that Jongup is Kira?" He asked, his voice getting dangerously low as he placed one hand beside her head, pushing himself closer to her. Her heart began thumping wildly, this was it, L knew. He fucking knew that she knew. She was trapped, from both sides, her death was unavoidable from both sides but knowing if she stuck to Jongup, her family had a better chance of survival.

"Wh-what do you mean, pl-please st-stop jok-joking Ryu-Ryuzak-ki." She stuttered, not liking what this proximity was doing to her. L chuckled, running a hand through his chestnut hair.

"Come on (y/n), you know I'm not joking." L replied, dragging out the syllables in her name, sending shivers down her spine. (Y/n) looked up, her breath getting caught in her throat as she locked eyes with the brown headed male, his plump lips ever so softly brushing against her own as he leaned down closer.

"Tell me what you know, I'll protect you from whatever harm (y/n), I'll keep you safe." He whispered, seductively, before slamming his other hand on the empty space beside her head, before he slammed his strawberry scented lips against her sinful ones, taking her breath away.

If Jongup's kisses drove her mad, L's kiss drove her insane. His lips worked wonders against her own, his tongue invading her mouth as all her sense drowned in euphoria. The sweet taste of strawberry cheesecake lingered in the kiss, his tongue leaving no space untouched as he moved one hand down to her waist, holding her in place.

(Y/n) moaned into the kiss, causing L to smirk as he broke off, his lips attaching themselves on to the smooth skin of her neck, pushing her against the wall harder as he pleasured her. Closing her eyes tightly, (y/n) threw her head back, giving him full access to her neck, wanting nothing more than his lips on her skin. His touch caused her skin to flare up, his lips burning her but she didn't care.

L smirked, bitting and sucking on the nape of her neck, causing her to whimper beneath him. "Say my name." He commanded, rather aggressively as he continued, his left hand moving down to intertwine with her right hand. "R-yu-ryu." She couldn't continue, her brain wasn't letting her continue. "My real name." He commanded, bringing her back to reality, no one knew L's real name no one and that's when Jongup's face crossed her mind. She'd just cheated on him, with his worst enemy, oh lord, she'd just sinned against the god of the new world

But if this was sin, she'd happily do it again, she'd damn the devil, again and again to feel his lips against her own

"This is wrong! Ryuzaki, no!" She mumbled, her eyes darting around the room before she frantically sprinted away, leaving a smirking L behind, who stood there, rubbing his lip with his thumb, his plan was going to be a success.

_____________

"What's wrong with you? The cameras are gone now." Jongup smiled, pulling (y/n) closer to him as the pair lay in her bed, he held her as she rested her head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. Jongup had his fingers threaded through her (h/c) hair, running his fingers through it adoringly.

"Your father gave me a choice, I either stay on the task force or end it with you." (Y/n) gently spoke, catching his attention. "You're staying on the task force, no matter what, we can always meet in secrete." Jongup replied, already having his answer planned since day one. (Y/n) felt immensely guilty but then again, this psychopath was blackmailing her into dating him, constantly reminding her that the lives of her loved ones were in his hand. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get L's voice out of her head, the way he kissed her, the way he held her, who knew that the world's greatest detective had such a side?

______________

"Come on, tell me baby girl." L smirked against her lips as the pair lay on his bed, with (y/n) underneath him as he attacked her lips. The both of them couldn’t keep their hands off each other as they devoured one another.

"Ryu-z-" Before she could continue, he broke her off, placing a finger against her lips.

"Daehyun, my name is Daehyun." He smirked at her before reconnecting their lips, allowing this new information to sink in. "Now tell me, Jongup is Kira isn't he?" He asked, kissing her neck, his hands playing with the hem of her shirt, rubbing circles on to her skin.

"Dae-dae." She moaned, feeling lightheaded from his touch, the effect he had on her was scary. "Come on love, tell me." He urged her, kissing her jaw, his hands lifting her shirt a little higher, allowing the cool breeze from the open window to hit her warm skin.

"Jongup, he's kira." She spoke, not caring about anything in the world, being selfish and not wanting his lips to leave her own.

_____________

'L, you, you...lied?' She asked, not believing what was happening but it was her own fault, she was the idiot. The idiot who was now in jail, serving a life sentence due to her involvement with Kira and now he had the audacity to come visit her in prison, to mock her.

How did she fail to realise that this man wasn't capable of loving another. How could he? He was heartless, never having had a friend, a companion, she's been a fucking idiot for trusting him.

'It was all business darling, all business.' Daehyun smiled at her, finally dropping the act. After all, she was his accomplice, she willingly placed her lips on his guilty ones, she willingly let him continue, she willingly kept this from him.

"I've made arrangements that would keep you safe from everything." He remarked, leaning back in his chair as she glared at him. Even now, she'd give anything to feel his touch, to have his mouth against her own.

"Keep you fake concern with yourself Jung Daehyun, just tell me one thing, why L?" She bitterly asked, causing Daehyun's eyes to widen. How on Earth did she know his name?

"How do you know my name?" He questioned her, standing up and leaning his hands against the table as she threw her head back and laughed. The letter L held so much significance to him, a nickname his mother had given him before giving him to Wammy's House where Watari raised him.

"You've forgotten, I am a detective too, didn't take long to hack a few places." She grinned back at him, knowing she had the upper hand. Daehyun glared at her, before learning across the table, capturing her lips with his own in a rough kiss. When he'd began his plan, he had no idea that things were going to end up like this. Despite everything, deep down, Daehyun could not deny the sinful attraction he felt towards the girl, her lips, her voice, her touch, and for her, he was prepared to sin, give up on everything, damn his own faith.

[whatdoyouthinkmyjobis]

Hunters on the Hellmouth

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AN: Inspired by events in BTVS 7.08 “Sleeper.” 

Chapter 24: Desperate Prayers

Shouting roused Willow with a start. In the distance, people ran toward her where she’d fallen asleep under Tara’s tree. But the tree was on fire, the ground beneath her charred. It wasn’t a dream.

I was falling. I was falling.

Willow ran from the fiery spot, clutching her heart as if begging it not to betray her. She needed fresh air and distance. Between her running and wracking sobs, a cough caught in her throat. Overwhelmed with emotion, she knew she couldn’t make it home safely in her current condition. Hell, she could barely see through the tears. She needed a place to hide while she calmed down.

Nearby, sat a simple, quiet, non-denominational chapel. Willow dashed inside and found a couple pawing at each other in the back pew.

“I need to speak with God!” she cried, working her agony to her advantage.

They dashed out, tripping over one another as they competed for the door.

Exhausted, she crawled onto one of the pews, prayers pouring out of her. Hecate, protect me. Hecate, protect me. Hecate, protect me.

By the time the Impala squealed into Buffy’s driveway, the vampires were long gone. The house was dark, the windows shattered. Sam and Dean bolted through the door and found the inside of the house in equal shambles. Dawn, bloodied and sniffling, sat surrounded by herbs, spellbooks, and salt.

The girl was nearly catatonic. While they were in the middle of cleaning her cuts, she muttered, “Buffy’s dead.”

Heart pounding, Dean left Sam to sort out the mom’s ghost details. It couldn’t be true. It couldn’t. Spirits lied all the time. But Dean had to find Buffy before his heart would calm down.

It had taken Dean the better part of two hours to search two of Sunnydale’s graveyards, and still no sign of Buffy. They knew their lives were short, the end brutal, but he didn’t want tonight to be that inevitable night. His heart thumped wildly as he crept into crypts and bent down under bushes, hoping to find nothing, but fearing her drained body. Or worse.

No, Buffy was strong, a warrior by birthright. His Supergirly. A simple vampire couldn’t bring her down, but the thought nagged at him that whatever had come for Dawn hadn’t been a simple vampire either. Whatever it was, Dean had seen over and over that it only took one bad night, one distraction, one second delay for a monster to get the upper hand.

He’d lost Jo because of inches.

Not tonight. Please, not tonight.

Though the purple rings under Dawn’s eyes betrayed her tiredness, she refused to go to bed, preferring to sit on the stairs choking a container of salt. After Dean bolted from the house in search of Buffy, Dawn shared little else about her mother’s ghost.

Sam swept up what he hoped was all of the shards of glass, metal and plastic on the floor. The bloody footprints would require scrubbing.   

Suddenly, Willow, looking disheveled and scared, burst through the front door. She and Dawn stared at each other a split second before falling into a sobbing embrace.

“I saw Mom!”

“No, honey. It wasn’t your mom.”

“That’s what Dean said, but it was! It was her!”

Willow cradled the teen's face in her hands. “Dawnie, Tara visited me at the school, only it wasn’t Tara. It was something dressing up like her and saying terrible things. It must be able to look like peo--”

“She said Buffy was dead!” Dawn cried, her shoulders beginning to shake.

“No, no, no,” Willow repeated, squeezing Dawn tight. “It lied.”

“Sh-she wouldn’t answer,” Dawn sobbed into Willow’s shoulder. “I called and--”

“Look at me, Dawnie!” Willow’s bottom lip trembled as tears fell from her eyes. “This thing wasn’t your mom, okay? It’s bad news wrapped in a friendly package, like a, uh, Trojan horse or creepy ice cream man.”

“Do-do you think Buffy’s alive?”

“I know it,” Willow said firmly. “You’re all cut up.”

Dawn hung her head, the tiredness taking over. “Long story.”

“How about you get cleaned up and try to sleep just a little? I can come up in a bit with some nice sleepy tea if you want.”

“The microwave exploded,” Dawn muttered.

“Oh, well, I’ll see if we have a kettle. I mean, Giles spent a lot of time here, so we’re bound to.” Willow helped Dawn to her feet and gently led her up the stairs.

When Willow returned alone a few minutes later, Sam asked, “What did it say?”

Her tired eyes widened a bit when he spoke, as if he were a shade spookier than visits from the dead and a supernaturally wrecked house. “You know, the usual big bad stuff. Blood and pain and ‘oh puny humans’ only this threat came with a bonus urge toward suicide.”

“At least Dawn didn’t have that. Not that telling her her sister’s dead is much better,” Sam said darkly.

“I thought you guys were out of town.”

“We decided to come back early. We were only about an hour out when Dawn called. Dean’s out looking for Buffy now. Been gone a few hours.”

“So Dean’s gone too? It’s just you and me?”

“And Dawn.”

Willow slowly walked around the house surveying the shattered lamps and blown out windows. She toed a bloody footprint and said, “I feel like Tara’s been violated somehow, Joyce too, by this thing using their images, their memories. I want to be right by Buffy’s side when we bring it down. Get in my blows for Tara.”

“I know the feeling,” Sam said, picking up some stray books.

“We need to talk,” she declared. “It seems to be explodey time, so I’d rather deal with this than keep dancing around it.”

“We’re dancing? I didn’t know there was dancing.”

“You know how in those old Westerns, the good guys wear white hats and the bad guys wear the cooler black hats? It makes everything so simple, but I know things aren’t that simple. Buffy’s a white hat for sure, but me? I’d always thought I was a white hat, but I know what this boiling hate in my stomach can do. Call me smudged. Question is, which hat are you wearing, Sam?”

From the stiffness in her shoulders and steel in her eye, Sam knew his next words would determine if Willow, the witch who'd skinned a man in seconds, would be blasting him through a window or not. “I’m not entirely sure what you’re asking me, Willow. I thought it was pretty obvious Dean and I fight evil. It’s what we do.”

“It’s what Dean does, but there’s something about you, Sam, something buried deep inside,” she said in a strong, even voice. “I saw it, you know, when that pathways spell went pear-shaped. A swirling darkness weaving through your insides. The only other place I saw that was in Spike, a vampire with both a demon and a soul. After the night I’ve had, the threats from unexpected places, I’m way too angry to pretend you’re not a potential threat. Tell me what’s inside you.”

For years, Sam and Dean had eschewed nearly all friendships for fear of sucking people into their crazy world. Though more initiated than most, Willow was no different. She didn’t need to know about the war between Heaven and Hell they’d been sucked into, the Boy King and the Sword of Michael.

Sam sat on the coffee table and ran his fingers through his hair. "You remember me telling you about how my mom died, right?"

"She was trying to save you, and a demon killed her."

"Long version is, she didn't save me. The demon was feeding me blood, demon blood."

The disgust softened Willow’s face enough that Sam felt he may get to keep wearing his skin.

"That sounds like some sort of ritual."

"I don't know," he lied. "Who knows why demons do what they do?"

"But that was decades ago. Why can I still see it in you?"

"I don't exactly have soul laundering instructions for demon stains. It’s not a voice in my head or some crazy urge to do bad things. It’s just a part of me like a scar or a badly set bone. It sits on my heart, and some days I feel like a complete waste, like I’m irredeemable. So I try to be as kind as I can, save as many people as I can, be good to myself. You want to know if I have evil in me? Yeah, I do, but I don't think my stain is bigger than what many people inflict on themselves."

Willow sat beside him, squeezing her fingers and staring at her feet. “Maybe we could get better hats? Big white ten-gallon things, then people will say, ‘By golly, there’s a couple a swell fellas!’ only I’m not a fella, but we’d be easier to spot as Team Good Guy.”

“Or people will think we’re from Texas.”

“God, no.”

Xander poured himself a third cup of coffee. He’d been up late finishing a proposal he would be pitching in three hours. He could have gotten a semi-decent amount of sleep if Buffy hadn’t come by at four thirty looking for Spike. “Sure you don’t want another cup, Buff? I’m putting on another pot anyway.”

“Nah, I’m still kinda wound up after the fight. When did you become Mr. Caffeine IV?”

“Early this morning. Now back to the vampire. I mean, he’s a vampire. Why would you trust anything that comes out of his fangy mouth?

“He described Spike to me. Why would he make up being sired by him?”

“To mess with you?”

She chewed on her bottom lip, mulling over the possibility. “No, he wasn’t messing with me. Something is wrong. Spike wouldn’t just start feeding again.”

“Maybe the chip is broken, and if so, can we uninvite him from my place?”

“It’s more than the chip. You didn’t see him the night -- the night he told me about his soul.” She rubbed her cross between her fingers and her voice fell to a hush. “He was weeping, trying to scratch his soul out. He remembers every person he’s killed. The weight of the guilt nearly drove him insane. He’s trying so hard to be good. If he bit someone, we have to find out why.”

“Buff, don’t you think you’re being too optimistic here? Wouldn’t Sherlock Holmes say that the simplest solution is right? The simplest answer is that the chip is broken, and Spike’s feeding. You wouldn’t want to argue with history’s greatest detective would you?”

Buffy frowned at him. “I don’t think any of that is right.”

Before he could continue, the phone rang.

“Xander? Dean. You seen Buffy?” Dean sounded winded and strained, not like Dean at all.

“Yeah, buddy. She’s here with me.”

“Oh thank God! Is she okay?”

“Perfect Buffster cocktail of shaken but not stirred.”

“I’ll be right there. Don’t let her leave.” Before he could respond, Dean had hung up.

“What was that?” Buffy asked.

“Your boyfriend is spooked,” he replied.

“What happened?”

“True to character, Dean wasn’t much with the sharing. He’s coming over to pick you up though.”

“He’s supposed to be in Arizona,” she said.

“Ah, that’s why you’re at my place in the middle of the night.”

She ignored his sting. “I need you to call me when Spike gets back, and call me if he leaves again.”

“Can’t, Buffy. I’ve got a big non-monster monster of a project due today. Going to be at the office well past sunset.”

“How about Anya?”

Heat rushed to Xander’s face. “An-Anya? WhywouldAnyaknow? I mean, I’d have to invite her over.”

Casting her eyes toward his closed bedroom door, Buffy gave him a pitying smile. “I know about your secret rebound, Xander. I’m not asking her to commit, just surveil.”

A few minutes after they’d settled on their plan, there was an urgent pounding on the door. Once Xander opened it, Dean, dirty and exhausted, beelined to Buffy. He wrapped her in a bear hug, her feet dangling a few inches off the floor, and buried his face in her neck, muttering urgently to her.

“Babe, I’m fine. It was just one vampire. What happened to you? Why are you even here?”

“Dawn called. Somethin’ attacked her in your house.”

“Is she okay?”

“Cuts and bruises. Mostly, she’s scared out of her fucking mind. She said -- she said she saw your mom.”

Buffy grabbed her jacket. “Let’s go.”

In the hallway, Buffy patted her pockets. “Damn! I must have lost my phone when I was fighting that vamp.”

“I’ll pick up another one.”

“I feel horrible! Dawn needed me, and I wasn’t ...” Her voice trailed off.

Coming up the sidewalk just ahead of the sunrise, was Spike. With this shoulders hunched, hands jammed in his pockets, eyes on the ground, he looked alone. Vulnerable. Nothing like a vampire on a rampage.

“This can’t be good, two of you here at this time,” Spike said.

“Everything’s fine.” Her words were too rushed, too loud. He didn’t appear to have any blood on him, though his black clothes made it difficult to tell. His boots were dirty, but walking in the mud wasn’t the same as eating people.

“Alright then.” Spike’s eyes darted between her, Dean, and spots on the wall. Had he always avoided eye contact like this? “You bag any baddies tonight?”

“One. Old classmate. Jason Chen.”

“You knew him? Must’ve been ‘ard.”

“Yeah.”

Dean squeezed her hand gently, whispering in her ear, “We need to get back.”

“Nice seeing you!” Spike called after them as the entrance door thudded behind them.

Dean hadn’t even parked before Buffy bolted into the house, crying out for her sister. Dean shuffled over to Sam sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. “Looks like shit in here. That’s an improvement, I guess.”

“Watch where you sit. I’m not sure I got all the glass.”

“We thinking poltergeist?”

“No.”

“I mean, I know Buffy’s mom died of natural caus--”

“It’s the boss fight. ‘It is watching.’”

“That crap D’Hoffryn was pushin’?”

“It came to Willow at the college in the shape of Tara. Tried to get her to kill herself. Looks like it can take the shape of the dead. Dawn’s having a hard time accepting it wasn’t her mom.”

“Poor kid.”

“How’s Buffy?”

“Something spooked her, but she ain’t sayin’ what. Found her having coffee at Xander’s.”

Sam poked at the bits of plaster, paper and leaves on the coffee table. “Dean, we’ve got a problem.”

“Which one?”

“Me. Remember when Willow did that spell last month that made her eyes all blue and she could see in people? She could see in me. She could see the darkness. The demon blood. She asked me if I was really a good person.”

“Don’t pay any attention to her, Sammy. Your actions speak for themselves,” he said firmly.

Buffy came down the stairs, wringing her fingers like she was interrogating them for answers. Dark circles had taken up residence under her dull eyes.

“Feel any better?” Dean asked doubtfully.

“Not at all. I’m going to call the school, tell them Dawn had an accident. I have to go to work in a few hours, and Will has class. Could one --”

“Sure,” said Sam. “We have today off anyway.”

“And someone has to fix your windows,” added Dean, pointing at the empty space in the front of the house.

Buffy stopped twisting her hands, but she still looked like she was waiting for something to jump out at her. “Dean, babe, I need to tell you something.”

“That’s my cue to make coffee,” said Sam.

When they were alone, Buffy sat on the couch, her body stiff, knuckles white, and stared at a bloody spot on the floor.

“Dawn was barefoot,” Dean explained.

Buffy nodded.

“Thought you had something to say.”

“Promise me you won’t get mad,” she said quietly. “Promise me you’ll work with me on this instead of handling it yourself. With everything going on right now, I need to know you’re in my corner.”

Dean hated being in the dark. Hated fighting blind. But how out of sync could they be? “I promise.”

“I killed a vampire last night who said he’d been sired by Spike.”

Dean’s mind flooded with images of Dawn drained and pale at Spike’s feet, Buffy transformed by his side. He counted his breath to stay calm, hide the rage and fear she’d asked him to suppress. His heart steadied into a strong rhythm: Kill Spike. Kill Spike. Kill Spike.

“I know what you’re thinking right now, but I need to know for sure first. Anya is going to call me when Spike leaves Xander’s. I want to follow him tonight. He’s put himself through too much trying to be good to go off the rails now.”

Taking a breath to push his rage down, Dean asked, “So you don’t think he’s feeding?”

“If he is, I -- I think something else is a play here. There’s something we’re not seeing.”

“And if he’s back to thrill kills?”

“Then I’ll do my job.”

By the time Buffy arrived at work, there was already a student waiting for her. She chatted with the girl, agreeing boys are both the worst and the best at the same time before sending her back to study hall. She offered to make copies for the secretary in order to keep from dozing off. When a tall, pimply junior wanted to discuss his anxiety over spending the upcoming Christmas holiday with all of his extended family, Buffy had to resort to poking her finger with a pin to stay alert.

Her fingertips couldn’t take anymore, so she decided to move. Under the guise of milling about with students, she grabbed her weapons-heavy purse and headed for the basement. The basement had nearly driven Spike insane. Something other than ghosts had to be down there.

She moved cautiously in the dim light, wondering whose visage the new threat would use if it spoke to her. Hearing a scrape and footsteps around the corner, Buffy pulled out a silver dagger and flattened herself against the wall. Rounding the corner wasn’t a ghost or a vampire or any other beast the Hellmouth usually threw at her.

It’s was Principal Wood, handsome in his suit, yet looking tired and carrying a shovel. He almost walked past her dark hiding spot, but noticed her at the last minute and jumped.

“Miss Summers! Do you make a habit of hiding in the dark?”

“When my head is pounding. I thought maybe a break in the dark, quiet basement would help,” she smile, hoping to assuage his fears. “Do you make a habit of...shovels?”

“Oh, maintenance left this outside. Thought I’d put it away,” he said, leaning it against the wall and shoving his hands in his pockets. “If you need a break from migraine-inducing teenagers, it’s almost lunch. How about we take our chicken nuggets and pudding cups to my office? I’ve been meaning to speak with you about a few things.”

Upstairs, Principal Wood closed his blinds. “Does this help?”

“Huh? Oh! Yes, big heaping piles of help. Thank you.”

“Guess you were up all night.”

“How did you--”

“I saw on the absence list that Dawn was in some sort of accident? Is she okay?”

“Oh, yeah. A few cuts and bruises, but mostly pride. See, she was dancing on the couch doing her best ‘Bye, Bye, Bye’ and fell through the glass coffee table. Her middle name isn’t Grace...or Balance.”

“Wow, that does sound...embarrassing,” he said, trying to hold back a grin.

Buffy poured herself a cup of coffee. She held it beneath her face while it cooled, letting the steam tickle her nose, hoping the mere smell would wake her up. After telling Dean about their newest problem, he’d taken her upstairs, held her, and stroked her hair until she’d fallen asleep. It had only been a brief nap, but one she desperately needed. Likewise, being held. Something about Dean always calmed her, as if his proximity meant everything would be okay.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you, Buffy, are you dating Mr. Winchester?”

“What?”

Principal Wood looked calm but interested. “Sam Winchester, the librarian. I’ve notice you two have lunch together most days. I see you arrive together sometimes and leave together. It’s school policy that if two staff members are dating--”

“What? Oh, no, God no. Sam and I aren’t together.” The idea sent a smile to her face, a smile that quickly faded upon noticing a brownish-red stain on Wood’s cuff. The principal who spent his day being blasted by Hellmouth vibes, who she’d just caught in the basement with a shovel, had blood on his sleeve.

Wood burst into a wide grin. “Glad I don’t have to do any paperwork then. You know the winter formal is on Saturday, and I’m short on volunteers. Do you think that maybe--?”

She quickly put down her coffee and smiled nervously. “Considering the recent rise in dance-related injuries, I think I’ll stay safe at home. In fact, I should be headed there now. Migraines, you know?”

Like he did every night, Spike stood in the foyer of Xander’s building spinning his lighter between his fingers and waiting for the sun to finish setting. A middle aged woman with a bug-eyed chihuahua walked in. Stopping to check her mailbox, she smiled at Spike nervously. “Are you waiting for someone, dear?”

“Yeah, they’ll be ‘round soon. Thanks.”

He ignored her as she scurried to her apartment. Living in a converted closet at Xander’s wasn’t an ideal arrangement for anyone, but it was better than the school basement.

It was Buffy’s arrangement. She believed he could get better, but didn’t want to play nurse. She believed he was more than a killing machine, but treated him like gum on her shoe.

Deep navy overtook the sun’s final hurrah of orange. The stars blinked into place. A thin woman with ghostly pale skin and flowing blood-red dress stood at the end of the sidewalk. “Are you ready to take on the night, my love?” She wasn’t there; Spike knew that, but a friendly hallucination was more pleasant than the cold, distant reality of Buffy.

They headed toward the shops downtown so Drusilla could see the Christmas lights. “Like souls ripped out an’ put on a pretty display.” The promenade was crowded with shoppers, families, and a few Santas.

“Look at all the people, Spike. So small and dull. Why do they ‘ustle about like this mat’ers?”

“It’s one foot in front of the other pretending to live until you do,” Spike replied. “If nothing matters, people just sort of stop.”

She grinned at him, knowing as she always knew what turmoil spun in him. “You couldn’t pretend with your lit’le friends anymore. Why won't you let me in, Spike? Part of you wants me, cries out to me. Together, we’re all that mat’ers.”

Spike shook his head as he’d done every time she’d brought it up. “Just need a friend is all.”

The illusion of Drusilla plunged her hand inside Spike’s chest, her unreal fingers zapping and tingling his body, his heart a burning core.

In line for a trendy bar stood a curvy girl shivering in her crop top and bell bottoms. When Spike smiled at her, she smiled back. It was nice to make a woman smile. “What are you lookin’ for tonight, love?”

“Anyone interesting. Hot accents are a bonus.” She ran her tongue over her lip and her hand up his chest.

They ducked into a nearby alley. She smelled like cheap perfume and trouble. “You’re kind of a bad boy, aren’t you? I like ‘em bad.” His jacket in her fists, she pulled him in, kissing him forcefully, exploring him with her tongue. She tasted of menthols. She wasn’t Buffy, but she’d do.

“Do you want to show ‘er ‘ow bad you are?” Drusilla whispered in his ear. “Give ‘er a right good show.”

Spike squeezed the soft, bare flesh of her hip. She was warm. Pliable. In response, she pressed her palm to the growing erection beneath his jeans. “Want to go back to your place?”

“I can ‘ear ‘er ‘eart pump pump pumpin’ in ‘er chest. She wants you. Give ‘er what she wants, Spike. Show ‘er your such a naughty boy.”

With her encouragement, Spike bared his fangs and clamped his mouth on the girl’s neck until she stopped screaming.

Dean leaned against the Impala’s hood watching children gather around a charity bell ringer dressed as Santa Claus. Most of the children were beaming smiles and happy feet. One impossibly small girl ran to give the volunteer a hug, her head only up to his knee. The embarrassed parents dropped some change in the bucket before picking her up and moving on. The volunteer, for his part, was more than happy to ho-ho-ho and talk toys with the kids while keeping up the steady pace of his bell. For a moment, Dean forgot they lived on a Hellmouth.

“I said wait in the car!” Buffy’s cheeks were flushed and her jaw clenched. Following Spike must not have gone well.

“You said to come to Cherry Street and wait with the car. Here I am. You’re welcome.”

“In the car. I said in.”

“Are we arguing grammar? Point is, I’m not gankin’ your ex. Looks like you aren’t either.”

Buffy rubbed her eyes and groaned. “He picked up a girl, but I lost them in the crowd. Too many freaking people!”

“Do you have the holiday blues? You could ask Santa over there to make you taller for Christmas.”

Buffy threw up her hands in frustration and climbed into the Impala’s passenger seat.

Dean kicked himself internally and slid into the driver’s seat. “I’m sorry I’m an ass. It’s how I deal.”

She was crammed against the door, arms crossed. “You understand that girl is probably going to die tonight, right?” She sounded more tired than angry, like she was teetering on the edge of apathy.

“Guys pick up chicks for all kinds a not-murderous reasons. God, I can’t believe I’m defending that poofy,” he muttered. “Point is, you want proof he’s killing again, and that may take more than a day. Let’s get you home. You’ve barely slept the last twenty-four hours.”

"You know I barely sleep anymore even when Dawn's not being attacked." While Dean's nightmares had subsided the longer they were in Sunnydale, her nightmare visions of murdered girls were becoming a nightly occasion.

The festive lights disappeared as they pulled away. “I can’t believe Christmas is coming,” Buffy grumbled.

“Not big on the peace on earth and goodwill toward men crap?”

“This will be our second Christmas without Mom.”

Dean leaned across the seat to grab her hand.

“Don’t get me anything, okay? I can’t spare the money or the time for shopping,” she said.

“No shopping. Done. Now what can I do to help you unwind tonight?"

“You can’t.” She leaned against the door, exhaustion seeping into her body. “You can't fix this.”

She had just put the kettle on for tea when three figures broke down her apartment door. They wore robes and hoods, all the better to hide their rune-branded eyes and long, curved knives. They were the Harbingers of Death, and they sought hers. Grabbing a wakizashi from a nearby display, she deflected the first blow. She couldn’t take them, but maybe she could delay them until help arrived, until her Watcher returned. Slash. Block. Duck. Stab. The pair started to back off. Before she could delight in pushing them back, a blade slipped between her ribs puncturing a lung. The two in front of her advanced to join the stabbing. She fell to her knees, hardly feeling the pain anymore as she slipped in a pool of her own blood.

Coo-coo! Coo-coo! The bird in the clock told him it was eleven. With a mild sense of dread, Spike opened his eyes; he didn’t know anyone with a coo-coo clock. Floral wallpaper, deep blue in the moonlight; a doily on every surface; a wood-framed, floor-model TV. An old person’s house. An old person who let him in. But why did he want in?

This wasn’t the first time he’d woken up somewhere strange, but it was becoming more frequent. Weekly. Then daily. Assuming it was still Friday, this was the second time he’d black out.

Spike stood up and listened, but for the ticking of endless clocks, the house was silent. Not even a heartbeat.

Not even a heartbeat.

Silently, Spike crept through the house looking for other vampires, but he only found two empty bedrooms. A familiar door hung ajar in the kitchen. As soon as Spike opened it, a waft of dry earth hit him, the smell taking him back, the blood on his chin, the shovel in his hands, the bodies at his feet.

Drusilla stood beside him, running her finger hot like a sparkler over his skin. “You should call Buffy.”

Half an hour later, Buffy and Dean rolled up in his great black car. Spike was waiting on the house’s front steps. “You ‘ere to kill me?”

Dean shrugged. “Lady called dibs.”

Spike nodded. At least he would end on the right note.

“You wanted to show me something?” Buffy asked unhurried, but with steel in her eyes.

Spike led them inside. “I’m remembering things.” He opened the basement door. “Terrible things.”

Drusilla stood at the bottom of the stairs. “‘Ello, what ‘ave we ‘ere?” She moved by Dean looking him up and down with giddy disbelief in her doll-like eyes. She bounced and clapped, squealing like a child on Christmas morning. “Change of plan, Spike. We kill this one first, then the Slayer.”

“Things are comin’ back to me,” Spike said, ignoring her, “but it’s like watching myself on the telly. I don’t remember actually doing any of it, but I think I killed the old lady who lived here and a girl I met yesterday. I -- I think I buried them here.”

“God, Spike, why?” Buffy asked as Dean grabbed a nearby shovel and started to dig for bodies.

Before he could come up with an answer for the unanswerable, Drusilla jammed her hand into his chest; it felt like his heart turned into a lightning storm. With that, Spike grabbed Buffy by the shoulders and threw her into the wall.

“Hey!” yelled Dean, whipping around to knock Spike in the head with the shovel. The vampire fell to the ground groaning, and Buffy kicked him in the face. Hands started to explode from the ground. “Shit!” Dean tried stabbing the first vampire with the shovel, but it yanked it from his hands. “Fine,” he said, pulling his gun and shooting it in the knee to slow it down, but he’d only squeezed off one shot by the time two vampires pinned him to the ground. Buffy, who’d managed to give Spike a black eye and waste one of the monsters, was also subdued.

Drusilla clapped again. “Now, Spike! Kill Dean, and you can have your girl.”

Spike sauntered up to Dean still struggling to free his arms and stomped on his balls. The hunter bit his tongue to keep from crying out. Spike turned to Buffy, beautiful with the fire of hatred in her eyes and bleeding from a cut on her shoulder.

“What are you doing? Kill Dean first!” the apparition cried.

“Shut up!” Spike screamed with white knuckled fists. He tugged on the band in Buffy’s hair setting it free on her shoulders. Fingers entwined in her hair, he pulled her head back exposing her neck, her struggles only making her heart pound harder. He inhaled her scent -- vanilla, lilacs, and sex. Following her throbbing vein, he licked a trail from beneath her ear to the bottom of her neck. Leaning over to her bleeding shoulder, he lapped up a large drop of blood. Suddenly, Spike fell to his knees, wide-eyed with horror and screaming at the room, “No! No! NOOO! I don’t want to kill them. I won’t ! I won’t! Please, save me!”

Buffy twisted enough to throw one vampire off, freeing her to kick the dropped shovel into her hand and dust the other vampires holding her. She killed the two vamps on Dean. He was bleeding; they’d started to feed. “Are you okay?”

“I’ll live.”

Another hand burst from the ground by Dean’s head. He rolled away, and Buffy yanked up the elderly vampire, most likely the former owner of the house. “Sorry, ma'am,” she said, staking the woman in the heart. “It’s my job.”

“Speakin’ of,” Dean said, pointing at Spike curled in a ball in the corner.

They crept toward him, wary of any more surprises the basement may hold. He was rocking back and forth, sobbing, “Please, no. Please, stop! Please!” When he saw them approaching, he wiped away his tears with dirty hands and pulled open his jacket. “Make it quick,” he muttered.

Buffy looked around the basement. “Dean, why would a vampire bury all of their victims together?”

“Building a nest?”

“You’ve read the histories. Does that sound like Spike? Seems more like an army. I’ve never seen vamps rise like that, like something was commanding them.”

“C’mon!” Spike snapped. “I deserve it for what I done. She said you’d do it. Do it!”

“‘She?’ Who’s she?” asked Dean.

“Drusilla.”

“Spike, was Drusilla down here talking to you?” Buffy asked. “Is that who you were yelling at?”

“She visits me.”

“Did she visit you in the basement at the school?”

“Everyday.”

Keeping her eyes on Spike, she whispered, “Dean, we can’t kill him.”

“I agree.” This startled her into looking at him. “This thing just started talking to some of us, but it sounds like it’s been talking to Spike for a while, playing games with him like it was with Dawn and Willow, only, with his soul making him all crazy anyway, he fell for them.”

“Please, kill me. Please, end this,” Spike begged.

“No,” said Buffy, throwing the shovel down. “We’re taking you with us.”

next chapter

[cielrouge]

2017 Romance-Centric Reads by Authors of Color

*Will add more titles when more covers are revealed

All He Needs by Shirley Hailstock - Wedding consultant Renee Hart is finally ready to take the plunge…as creator of an innovative bridal magazine. Newly relocated to the Big Apple, Renee discovers that her former lover Carter Hampshire—more charismatic than ever—is now also her greatest rival. Three years ago, he thought he was doing the right thing by letting her go. Now all he wants is a second chance. But when the media-frenzied launch of Designed for Brides leads to accusations of industrial espionage, could Carter lose Renee again—this time forever?

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han - Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for.But change is looming on the horizon. And while Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy, she can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make. Most pressingly, where she wants to go to college and what that means for her relationship with Peter. Now Lara Jean’s the one who’ll be graduating high school and leaving for college and leaving her family—and possibly the boy she loves—behind.

Breathless (Old West #2) by Beverly Jenkins - A strong-willed beauty, Portia Carmichael finds herself in the arms of the handsome drifter from her past, Kent Rudolph, in this second book in the sizzling series set in the Old West. 

Clean Breaks by Ruby Lang - Sarah Soon may have recovered from cancer—in body—but her brush with mortality has left the usually confident OB/GYN shaken about her future and herself. When she unexpectedly runs into Jake Li, her brother’s annoying high school BFF who betrayed her trust, he’s the last person she wants to see. Everyone’s telling the newly divorced Jake that he shouldn’t be looking for a serious relationship already, but he’s always been helplessly drawn to Sarah. Can he show her that he’s worthy of a second chance? Or will they make a clean break once and for all?

Conspiracy by De'nesha Diamond - It’s an offer too tempting to refuse: One night as an elite escort will give Abrianna Parker the fresh start she’s been searching for. But getting framed for a high-profile murder isn’t what the cool-headed beauty signed up for…With police, government agencies, and a lethal third party on her trail, Abrianna will have to use all her resources to clear her name. That includes trusting an ex-con—and an attraction as incendiary as the lies they must expose. 

Crossroads (Wind Dragons MC #6) by Chantal Fernando - A woman is missing.And Ranger knows her. The Wind Dragons aren’t the only ones hoping this girl can be found—on the hunt is Johanna Chase, a stubborn detective who won’t give up until the missing woman is found safe. She needs Ranger to navigate the underground world of motorcycle clubs, and immediately, sparks fly. Ranger fights the attraction. He has no plans on going there, no matter how beautiful and badass she is. A biker and a cop? Ridiculous. But the two of them soon realize that they’re in way over their heads, and now they have to trust each other in order to save her. 

Dangerous Consequences by Lisa Renee Johnson - Dubbed the “Sex Doctor” on his local radio show, psychologist Donathan James advises callers on their sexual issues. Donathan is living the high life, but when he wakes up naked and drugged in a hotel room, with no memory of the evening before, the doctor suddenly has problems of his own. Soon, Donathan’s sexy stalker turns up in his office to rant about her unstable past, and demanding they meet again and again. All Donathan wants is his life back—and for his gorgeous and brilliant neurosurgeon wife, Sydney, not to find out. But when the relentless stranger goes too far, it leads him to discover his beloved wife has secrets of her own. Now, to save their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. James will have to hold on tight to survive the bumpiest ride of their lives.

Daniel’s Dare by Sasha Devlin - Daniel Rich and Kaitlyn Dow have been friends for fifteen years, and playing an increasingly outlandish game of Truth or Dare for nearly as long. With her bed-and-breakfast overbooked, the two are forced to spend the night together. Daniel is ready to move their relationship to the next level. Kaitlyn suspects he’s still playing a game, and resigns herself to a one-night stand. But she’ll soon learn that Daniel is willing to risk any dare to get Kaitlyn to see the truth—that they belong together. 

An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole - Elle Burns is a former slave with a passion for justice and an eidetic memory. Trading in her life of freedom in Massachusetts, she returns to the indignity of slavery in the South—to spy for the Union Army.Malcolm McCall is a detective for Pinkerton's Secret Service. Subterfuge is his calling, but he’s facing his deadliest mission yet—risking his life to infiltrate a Rebel enclave in Virginia.Two undercover agents who share a common cause—and an undeniable attraction—Malcolm and Elle join forces when they discover a plot that could turn the tide of the war in the Confederacy's favor. Caught in a tightening web of wartime intrigue, and fighting a fiery and forbidden love, Malcolm and Elle must make their boldest move to preserve the Union at any cost—even if it means losing each other . . .

Feel the Heat by Cheris Hodge - Relationship blogger and bestselling author Mimi Collins built her brand by talking openly about sex and love. But after a blog she posts negatively depicting a speed-dating site goes viral, she needs legal advice, and fast. Lucky for her, she has an irresistible advocate in Brent Daniels, her gorgeous new neighbor. The celebrated attorney and TV personality just took on her case. Putting the moves on his client is taboo, but how can Brent turn down his feelings for Atlanta's hottest romance expert? Until a legal victory leads to an intimate tˆte-…-tˆte…and a very public kiss. But with a tragic secret buried in his past, Brent can't afford any negative publicity. And now that his reputation is on the line, so is his future with Mimi. 

Find Me (Cyclone #3) by Courtney Milan - Blake Reynolds finally has everything under control. He and his father have ironed out their issues. He’s in love with his girlfriend. Then the sister he didn’t know he had walks into his life. The mother he’s never met is in need of a liver transplant—and he’s the only possible match. Suddenly, everything he thought he knew turns inside out.Tina Chen wants to believe in a future with Blake. Loving Blake is easy, but the temporary happiness they’ve found together just means she’s all the more aware when “ever after” begins to slip out of her grasp…

Forged in Desire by Brenda Jackson - When good girl Margo Connelly becomes Lamar "Striker" Jennings's latest assignment, she knows she's in trouble. The reformed bad boy's appeal is breaching all her defenses. Though Striker's now living on the right side of the law, he's convinced his troubled past keeps Margo out of his league. But physical chemistry explodes into full-blown passion when they go on the run together. Surrendering to desire could be a deadly distraction—or finally prove that he's the only man qualified to keep her safe, and win her love.

Freshman Guy and Junior Girl by Mina V. Esguerra - Hannah is super nervous about her first year at Ford River College, but guess what makes it better? Becoming the new friend of a popular junior guy named Quin. 

Full Court Seduction by Synithia Williams - Straitlaced conservationist Danielle Stewart is known for passionately protecting the Florida coastline, but back in college, Danielle shared a sizzling night with Jacobe Jenkins. Next day, he left for the NBA draft. Now chance has thrown them together again. He's older, wiser and a lot more notorious, but one thing about Jacobe hasn't changed: his deep attraction to Danielle. But the lasting kind of love takes more than a trick shot. Will he overcome his bad-boy reputation and put his heart on the line for what could be the biggest play of his life? 

Hard Rhythm by Cecilia Tan - Maddie Rofel has seen it all, working as a hostess in L.A.'s most exclusive private sex club. Until the night she has a very personal encounter with drummer Chino Garcia, and the two discover an intimate connection neither can deny. All his life, Chino has been running from something.Now he's losing himself in Maddie. And, while it drives Chino wild when Maddie bares her body to him, what he really wants is for Maddie to bare her soul. For that, Chino will have to push Maddie past her furthest limits-and share his own dark secrets. 

Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai - One night. No one will know.That was the deal. Every year, Livvy Kane and Nicholas Chandler would share one perfect night of illicit pleasure. The forbidden hours let them forget the tragedy that haunted their pasts-and the last names that made them enemies.Until the night she didn’t show up. Now Nicholas has an empire to run. He doesn’t have time for distractions, until Livvy’s sudden reappearance in town. Although the passion between them might have once run hot and deep, not even love can overcome the scandal that divided their families.Being together might be against all the rules…but being apart is impossible.

Her Secret Life by Tiffany L. Warren - Scarred by poverty, Onika Lewis had a rough start. But her achievements weren’t enough to earn her the elite status she craved. So she leveraged her gorgeous looks to become a rich man’s trophy…and was eventually dumped her for a younger model. Now she’s broke, unemployed, and homeless. She’s making a fresh start through a unique women’s shelter, but when she meets Graham, a kindhearted commuter she has an instant connection with. But when Onika’s wealthy ex wants her back, she plays one deception too many trying to have it all. Now present lies and past secrets are tearing her world apart. And Onika will need to educate herself once more—to learn what really matters, find faith, forgiveness—and build a life she truly deserves.

Hope Blooms by Jamie Pope - In one shattering instant, schoolteacher Cassandra Miller lost everything. The last person she wants help from is the man she wants to forget. In childhood, Wylie Everett was her cherished best friend. In adulthood, he was the secret lover who left her without explanation. Now Wylie’s the person who won’t let her go down without a fight. But their rekindled passion will be tested by pain he's never resolved—and mistakes for which forgiveness may not be enough. Can he and Cass find one last way to move forward, and risk rebuilding their lives...together?

I Believe In A Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo - Desi Lee is a disaster in romance. So when the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi decides to tackle her flirting failures with the same zest she’s applied to everything else in her life. She finds her answer in the Korean dramas her father has been obsessively watching for years. Armed with her “K Drama Rules for True Love,” Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos. But when the fun and games turn to true feels, Desi finds out that real love is about way more than just drama.

If You Don’t Know Me by Mary B. Morrison - NYT bestselling author Mary B. Morrison delivers a scandalous story of two women, a sizzling wager, and the fallout that's turned lives upside down. Now, with the only man they've ever wanted at stake, who will go one step too far to claim him?

The Inheritance by Rochelle Alers - Four friends from very different backgrounds find new beginnings amid the sultry beauty of New Orleans. 

It’s Not Like It’s A Secret by Misa Sugiura - A not-yet-out lesbian, Japanese-American teenager, Sana Kiyohara, deals with being the new kid at school, has a family with stifling traditional Japanese values (which help protect their secrets), dates a girl who hangs out with a totally different crowd, and makes plenty of mistakes along the way.

Keeping the Distance by Clarisse David - 17-year-old Melissa wants to dye her hair cotton candy pink and focus on her ukulele instead of Physics. But she can't, as the daughter of a Catholic school principal. Getting involved with a troublemaking basketball player is the last possible thing she needs. But Lance has no idea that he’s about to learn the lesson of a lifetime. Not getting what he wants might exactly be what he needs...

Love Tango by J.M. Jeffries - Former child star Roxanne Deveraux is stepping back into the spotlight. Still, the offer to appear on Celebrity Dance is hard to resist—as is Nicholas Torres, her dance partner. But as Roxanne's chaotic past resurfaces and a secret threatens to tear his own family apart, both must weigh old loyalties against the promise of a brilliant future together.

Lust & Loyalty by Shelly Ellis - Evan Murdoch hoped things had finally settled down in his life. But now he’s caught between two feuding women: his pregnant fiancée, and his recovering alcoholic wife who’s fighting their divorce with every dirty, seductive trick she’s got. But even that doesn’t compare to the dangerous secret Evan’s harboring—one that could send a Murdoch to jail for a very long time…

Never Trust a Stranger by Mary Monroe - Best friends Lola Poole and Joan Proctor-Riley have finally found the love and excitement they’ve always longed for. Online-dating an endless line of wealthy, no-strings-attached lovers is the perfect escape from their unfulfilling lives. When rugged trucker Calvin Ramsey comes into Lola’s sights, he’s a surprising answer to all her prayers. What Lola doesn’t know is that Calvin loves women to death—literally. And every caring moment and seductive promise this killer gives her draws both Lola and Joan deeper into his inescapable, fatal fantasy…

No Second Chances by Kate Evangelista - Natasha was devastated when Jackson, her first love, disappeared without a word only to pop up months later as a famous DJ. But now she's over it―over him!―and ready to move on with her life! Isn't she? Jackson thought he was leaving Dodge Cove behind forever when he set off to LA to start his career as a DJ. But the one thing he had never been able to leave behind was the memory of his first love, Natasha, and now that he's proven his success, he's coming home to win her back...

Paint the Stars (Free Fall #3) by Nyrae Dawn & Christina Lee - Ezra Greene has made a pretty decent life for himself. He has a nice apartment and spends his days doing the one thing he’s always loved—creating art. For Daevonte Randall, adulthood has worked out pretty well. What he doesn’t expect is to be so intrigued by the brooding and reserved painter Ezra. As weeks pass, Ezra and Dae get to know each other, their friendship catches fire. But Ezra’s been burned pretty badly before so trust and intimacy has to be earned. Daevonte feels up to the task, but it proves difficult as Ezra continues to keep his emotions in check. Dae’s only willing to wait so long, and when they’re dealt a surprising blow, Ezra needs to decide if love is worth the risk, that is…if it’s not too late. 

The Pastor’s Husband by Tiffany L. Warren - Felicia Caldwell has a great job, a healthy bank account, and stunning good looks. But she longs for a husband and family to go along with it. So when charismatic superstar pastor Nya Hempstead declares that partnership is on its way, Felicia is elated—until her life becomes filled with more curses than blessings. Five years later, someone has to pay—and that someone is Nya. Soon, Felicia is moving to Dallas and joins the church led by Nya and her co-pastor husband, Gregory… In the eyes of the public, Nya and Gregory have the perfect life. But their marriage is feeling the strain of Nya’s success. While she’s hitting the talk show circuit and the bestseller list, Gregory is fading into the background. It’s no surprise he enjoys the fawning attention of new church member, Felicia. Little does he know her intentions are far from pure... 

Perfect Deception by Lutishia Lovely - She’s smart, gorgeous, and mysterious. For business executive Nathan Carver, a man with everything, Jessica Bolton is the first woman he can’t simply charm, buy, or seduce. But Jessica’s deceptive allure is just the start. With every move, every tantalizing lie, Jessica lures Nathan and his close-knit family into a trap that will dismantle everything they treasure most. Because when it comes to loyalty and love, blood is thicker than water—and no amount of revenge is ever too much…

Playing with Desire by Reese Ryan - Next in line as CEO of his family's international luxury-resort empire, Liam Westbrook didn't make his way to the top playing it safe. So when the fast-living British bachelor spies an exotic beauty under a smoldering North Carolina moon, he makes a scandalous proposal. Maya Alvarez's two young daughters are her entire world. But when she ends up alone—on her birthday—the divorced single mother does something totally out of character. She accepts an invitation that leads to a hot summer fling with a seductive stranger. When Maya must return to the real world, will Liam and their pleasure-fueled fantasy end up as only an affair to remember?

Revenge of the Mistress by Cydney Rax - A mistress-turned-wife with a dream marriage gone wrong. The perfect plan for payback. And fallout so explosive even winning may mean losing it all…

Seduced by the Bachelor by Pamela Yaye - Tatiyana Washington will do whatever it takes to right a wrong for her beloved sister…even if it means deceiving one of LA's most celebrated attorneys, Markos Morretti. The irresistible Italian plays right into her hands when he invites her to be his guest at a celebrity-studded charity golf tournament. Too bad it can never lead to anything permanent. Once Markos discovers they have met under false pretenses, he only desires her more. Markos vows that two can play at this game, until a brewing political scandal threatens his career ambitions. Faced with an impossible decision, will he choose the promise of love?

Silver Silence by Nalini Singh - Control. Precision. Family. These are the principles that drive Silver Mercant. At a time when the fledgling Trinity Accord seeks to unite a divided world, wildness and chaos are the last things she needs in her life. But that’s exactly what Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater Bears, brings with him. But when a shadow assassin almost succeeds in poisoning Silver, the stakes become deadly serious…and Silver finds herself in the heart of a powerful bear clan. Her would-be assassin has no idea what their poison has unleashed... 

The Mark by Kiki Swinson - Identity thief Lauren Kelly thought she was safe. The millions she stole from her double-crossing accomplice and ex-lover Matt Connors bought a quiet upscale life for her, her unsuspecting new husband Drake, and their precious baby. But betrayal was just the start. When both Drake and the baby go missing, it’s courtesy of a vengeful Matt. Now Lauren lives to hunt Matt down. She’ll strip away his fortune, work all his weaknesses—and destroy his every strength. But she’s heading straight into an insidious trap that could turn sweet revenge into mutually-assured destruction...

This is Love by Nana Malone & Sienna Mynx - Valentine's Day holds sensual and sexy surprises in these two irresistible stories, Illusion of Love and From My Heart. 

To Me I Wed by K.M. Jackson - She's done, finished, had it. Between her family’s expectations and being always-a-bridesmaid, Lily Perry is fed up with being nagged to find a husband. So she’s going to settle the issue once and for all: by marrying herself. And celebrated chef Vincent Caro's fabulous restaurant is the perfect place for a big-time, blow-out, not-hearing-it-any-more wedding. Lily doesn't care if everyone thinks she's crazy. Especially when Vince’s mouth-watering talent and no-commitments style ignites one sizzling, no-strings fling, or two…or more. But the more Vincent helps Lily tackle unexpected trouble, the more he finds she might be everything he’s ever wanted. Can they both take a risk to discover if what they have is meant to last long after the dessert course?

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon - Told in alternating perspectives, When Dimple Met Rishi focuses on two Indian-American teens whose parents have arranged for them to be married.

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones - 19-year-old Liesl must venture to the Underground when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts. As the two of them grow closer, they must learn just what it is they are each willing to sacrifice: her life, her music, or the end of the world.

Wives, Fiancees, and Side-Chicks of Hotlanta by Shree Whitfield - Sasha Wellington has put herself on the fast track to success. When fate points her to Atlanta, she sets out to make her dreams come true…Before she knows it, Sasha’s befriended by two rival BFFs. Between their antics, Sasha’s beyond grateful for her coworker, Casey. Married to an NBA player, Casey’s got class. But there’s more than meets the eye to being a baller’s wife. And the more time Sasha spends among the movers and shakers, the clearer it gets that just like on reality TV, the truth lies behind-the-scenes. Still, she’s not worried about getting caught up in the drama—until she’s romanced by a baller of her own. Can she stick to her game plan, or will Hotlanta derail her future—and reveal a side of herself even she didn’t know existed?

[msclaritea]

~By the Pricking of my Thumbs~

...Something Wicked This Way Comes...

(apologies for the length. There was a lot to share)

“There was only one thing sure. Two lines of Shakespeare said it.  He should write them in the middle of the clock of books, to fix the heart of his apprehension:

So vague, yet so immense.

He did not want to live with it.

Yet he knew that, during this night, unless he lived with it very well, he might have to live with it all the rest of his life.

        Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962)

The youthful experiences that made Bradbury into a writer preoccupied him throughout his life. Bradbury’s much-beloved novel Dandelion Wine is a thinly veiled fictionalization of many of his sweeter reminiscences — but even these could take an odd turn. “I loved to watch my grandmother eviscerate the turkey,” he once said, a memory that sums up his most characteristic literary trait: taking homey Americana and bending it in a violent or grotesque direction. His most seminal stories wrung terror out of common occurrences, such as going into a ravine that ran through the residential section of his native Waukegan, Illinois at nighttime. In the story “The Night,” an eight-year-old boy — the author’s alter-ego — simply scares himself. There is no ghost or criminal lurking, only the panic that wells up in all of us when we get lost in a dark, damp place and know we are alone in the universe, in the “vast swelling loneliness,” feeling the presence of “an ogre called Death.”

“Ray Bradbury spent his childhood goosing his imagination with the outlandish. Whenever mundane Waukegan was visited by the strange or the offbeat, young Ray was on hand...He read heavily in Charles Dickens, George Bernard Shaw, Edgar Allan Poe, H. G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, L. Frank Baum, and Edgar Rice Burroughs; the latter’s inspirational and romantic children’s adventure tales earned him Bradbury’s hyperbolic designation as “probably the most influential writer in the entire history of the world.” Bradbury...loved carnivals, magicians, mind readers, and skeletons. 

“First of all, it was October, a rare month for boys.” This was the quote given by Mark Gatiss upon the death of Ray Bradbury. That comes from Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962). “Much of the novel centers on a carousel that changes the rider’s age, giving youth to the old and age to the young. At best, those who take the ride end up miserable outcasts. At worst, they become soulless monsters. If eternal youth is no blessing, neither is a return to what has been outgrown, or an impatient leap to what has not yet been grown into. Time is precious. Mr. Halloway is the person through which Bradbury expresses his philosophy concerning good and evil. The theme that emerges in this novel, as well as in several of Bradbury's other works, is that light is good and dark is evil. Bradbury's carnival is the epitome of this darkness. It is the "something wicked" that "this way comes. Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show.”

William "Will" Halloway, born one minute before midnight, October 30. Will is described as having done "only six years of staring." (He is described as having white-blonde hair with eyes "as clear as summer rain".) Will is naturally obedient and wary of getting involved in difficult situations; nonetheless, he takes on an active role in fighting the carnival's evil power. James "Jim" Nightshade, born one minute after midnight on October 31. Jim is brooding and brash, acting as a foil for Will's cautiousness and practicality. (He is described as having wild and tangled chestnut brown hair and eyes the color of green grass.) Jim yearns to become older, which makes him vulnerable to the carnival's temptations, but he is ultimately saved by his friendship with Will. Jim represents good that is always on the verge of giving into temptation, while Will, though he has crises and doubts, is the part of us that resists giving in.

Charles Halloway, the father, is older and filled with regrets, spending all of his time in the library, where he is cornered by Mr. Dark, throwing around his lightening, and taking his life, page by page.

“I know who you are,” Holloway challenges. “You are the Autumn People. Where do you come from? The dust. Where do you go? The grave.”

MORIARTY  Did you know that dust is largely composed of human skin?  Doesn’t taste the same, though. You want your skin fresh .. ... just a little crispy. That’s all people really are, you know: dust waiting to be distributed. And it gets everywhere ...  in every breath you take, dancing in every sunbeam, all used-up people.

“Yes, we are the Hungry Ones,” Dark concurs. “Your torment calls us like dogs in the night. ...(Redbeard?)

And we do feed and feed well.                                                                                  To stuff yourselves on other people's nightmares. And butter our plain bread with delicious pain 

Funerals, bad marriages. lost loves, lonely beds. That is our diet. We suck that misery and find it sweet. We search for more, always.

“But no man's a hero to himself.” Charles Holloway

They set their clocks by deathwatch beetles, and thrive the centuries. 

“Today we honor the deathwatch beetle that is the doom of our society and—in time, one feels certain—our entire species. But, anyway, let’s talk about John.”SH  

 They whispered to Caesar that he was mortal, then sold daggers at half-price in the grand March sale. Some must have been lazing clowns, foot props for emperors, princes, and epileptic popes. Then out on the road, Gypsies in time, their populations grew as the world grew, spread, and there was more delicious variety of pain to thrive on. The train put wheels under them and here they run down the log road out of the Gothic and baroque; look at their wagons and coaches, the carving like medieval shrines, all of it stuff once drawn by horses, mules, or, maybe, men.”SW

“The roads we walk have demons beneath, and yours have been waiting for a very long time.”

“You dream with your eyes open. God, if you had strength to rouse up, you'd slaughter your half-dreams with buckshot!” SW

“God, how we get our fingers in each other's clay. That's friendship, each playing the potter to see what shapes we can make of each other.”SW

“A stranger is shot in the street, you hardly move to help. But if, half an hour before, you spent just ten minutes with the fellow and knew a little about him and his family, you might just jump in front of his killer and try to stop it. Really knowing is good. Not knowing, or refusing to know is bad, or amoral, at least. You can’t act if you don’t know.” SW

John: Why did they try and kill me? IF they knew you were on to them, why go after me? Put me in the bonfire?

Sherlock: I don’t know. I don’t like not knowing.

 Pam Grier, playing the Dust Witch, A blind soothsayer, usually in her Black tweeds, at one point changes into a ghost Bride( Salome) to tempt a man. However, her increased sensitivity to the presence and emotions of other people makes her vulnerable to positive feelings.The Dust Witch even comes in her balloon to find Jim and Will, but they outsmart her.

Then we come to the Mirror Maze.

This Mirror Maze is one of the major temptations that the carnival offers its customers since it capitalizes on an almost universal weakness, man's dissatisfaction with himself. Bradbury describes the experience inside this particular Mirror Maze through the use of water imagery. When someone enters the maze, he experiences an "ocean" of mirrors silently rushing in upon him. These mirror oceans can be quite dangerous. Will characterizes this danger by saying that someone can never tell just what might be swimming in the water, and there is even the possibility that a person might find himself in a watery, bottomless sea.

Dark kidnaps the children, taking them to the Mirror Maze. Charles Halloway must overcome his fears to get them out. Laughter proves to be a powerful weapon against the inherent wickedness of the Carnival. At the sound of Mr. Halloway's laughter, the freaks outside freeze from fear and the Mirror Maze crashes to the ground "in domino fashion."

So...Love & Courage. The themes are woven throughout all of Sherlock and especially the new episodes. It’s been called Amo, it’s at the 20 Minutes mark of every episode. it’s through Thomas Gray "where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.”Gray is not promoting ignorance, but is reflecting with nostalgia on a time when he was allowed to be ignorant, his youth...all of the mirrors found surrounding Sherlock are increasing x. Even Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, played in The Lying Detective, is about brotherhood & unity.            From through-a-glass-darkly: 

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. …And now these three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love. But the greatest of these is Love."

Something Wicked This Way Comes has served as a direct influence on several fantasy and horror authors, including Neil Gaiman and Stephen King. Gaiman paid tribute to Bradbury's influence on him and many of his peers in a 2012 The Guardian article following Bradbury's death and here. British TV comedy series The League of Gentlemen features the Pandemonium Carnival of Papa Lazarou. The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury

he who grew up reading sherlock holmes by harlan ellison

 @gosherlocked @may-shepard @tjlcisthenewsexy @isitandwonder @multivariate-madness @delurkingdetective @skulls-and-tea @dmellieon @yan-yae @sherlocks-dimples @zadiest @longsnowsmoon5 @shag-me-senseless-watson @1895-doyle-and-bronte-obsessed @ebaeschnbliah

Hey @johnlocklover221 Just saw your vid. Awesome. Thought you might enjoy this.

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[bharatiyamedia-blog]

Greatest Celeb Scandals Of The '00s!

http://tinyurl.com/yyfxa3j9 They aren’t name The Naughties for nothin’! What with the return of The Hills, Jersey Shore, Punk’d, and extra we’ve been awash with a wave of reminiscences from the 2000s. So we thought we’d take pleasure in somewhat NO-NOstalgia and have a look at a few of the darker instances for a few of the decade’s largest stars.   2001 – Winona Ryder’s Shoplifting Ah, what a comparatively harmless scandal. Take your self again to the flip of the millennium. Winona Ryder had been a persistently acclaimed film star for the reason that ’80s. She even dated A-list. Did YOU keep in mind that Winona dated Matt Damon?? / (c) WENN However her days as a film star had been about to crash to earth. On December 12, 2001, the Edward Scissorhands star was caught shoplifting at Sak’s Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. Safety grabbed her after she was seen ripping the tags off of $5,560 in garments and equipment and shoving them into her purse. The D.A., apparently out to ship a message charged her with 4 felonies, together with grand theft for the reason that complete was retail price was above 5 grand. She tried to plead responsible to lesser fees, however prosecutors refused. Ryder was discovered responsible of three grand theft, shoplifting, and vandalism and sentenced to a few years probation, neighborhood service, and over $10ok in fines and restitution. Winona Ryder on her means into court docket, 2002. / (c) WENN In the course of the trial, Ryder’s drug downside was made public; she had apparently been prescribed oxycodone, diazepam, and Vicodin and was taking them frequently. She later revealed she had been clinically depressed on the time and known as out the physician who gave her such sturdy painkillers; his medical license was finally revoked. In the end it was an IRL Woman, Interrupted second for Winona, who took a 5-year break from performing. Two films she had made earlier than the incident got here out in 2002 — and after that she didn’t take one other actual performing position till 2006. She didn’t have a profession resurgence till a decade later as decided mother Joyce Byers on Stranger Issues. So good to have her again. Winona Endlessly! 2002 – R. Kelly Youngster Porn Arrest Yep. Earlier than the most recent authorized points, lengthy earlier than the Surviving documentary, the world has identified all about R. Kelly. Oh, did we point out R. Kelly married Aaliyah when she was simply 15 years previous? / (c) David Livingston/WENN In 2002, the I Consider I Can Fly singer was charged with 21 counts of kid pornography in Chicago after a video surfaced that includes him having intercourse with — and sure, urinating on — an underage lady. Nevertheless, the alleged sufferer refused to testify, and Robert was finally acquitted on all fees. Individually, detectives looking out his dwelling in Florida discovered a number of images of “concerned in sexual conduct with the feminine minor” from his notorious pee tape. He was arrested in 2003 over these images — however later it was deemed there had not been sufficient possible trigger for the search warrants. The fees had been dropped, and that was that. Over a decade later, a number of girls got here ahead with claims they had been held by Kelly as intercourse slaves. If solely most people hadn’t forgotten all this so simply. However they simply cherished Remix To Ignition an excessive amount of, we guess. 2003 – Michael Jackson Arrest & Trial Within the early ’90s Michael Jackson was accused of kid molestation — however after a civil settlement, the case went away. Even the stain on his public picture pale considerably. Jackson on the 1993 Grammys. (c) Chris Connor/WENN Nevertheless, that didn’t final. In 2002 the King of Pop let a documentary crew observe him round. Getting a great have a look at Jackson’s day-to-day life and closeness with younger boys, together with the singer admitting to frequently sharing a mattress with them, shocked the world another time. After a short investigation, two extra boys did come ahead saying they had been molested by Jackson. In November 2003 he was arrested, charged a pair weeks later with 7 counts of kid molestation and a couple of counts of administering an intoxicating agent for the aim of a committing a felony. Michael Jackson in 2003, accompanied as at all times by a younger boy. (c) WENN/BENNY GOOL The trial lastly occurred in 2005 and was a nonstop media circus, during which Michael exhibited nonstop eccentric habits. Nevertheless a jury discovered him not responsible on all fees, and he walked away a free man. 4 years after Jackson’s loss of life, Wade Robson, who had been one of many witnesses for the protection, recanted his testimony and stated he had in reality been molested by Michael Jackson. 2004 – Britney Spears’ Marriages In 2002, Britney Spears was not a lady, not but a lady. Simply two years later, nonetheless, she determined she was able to take an enormous step into maturity by getting married. Britney Spears in 2004. / (c) WENN No, not as a result of she’d discovered The One, to not a man she’d been relationship for years. She married somebody barely anybody had ever heard of, a childhood buddy named Jason Alexander. No, not that one. In keeping with Jason, the 2 had been associates with advantages on and off for years — together with the time she was with Justin Timberlake! Eesh. Brit flew her buddy to Las Vegas to occasion it up on New 12 months’s 2004 and popped the query out of nowhere. And in a ceremony on the world-famous A Little White Wedding ceremony Chapel in Las Vegas, Britney stated “I do.” Nevertheless, the union was short-lived. Britney had reportedly been on a bender after combating together with her mom over the Christmas holidays; Jason later claimed she had been taking ecstasy, cocaine, and xanax day-after-day. When Lynne Spears heard concerning the marriage ceremony, she flew to Vegas instantly and obtained her legal professionals to file to get the wedding annulled, one thing a choose simply agreed to. Contemplating the drug and alcohol use, it was dominated Britney “lacked understanding of her actions, to the extent that she was incapable of agreeing to the wedding.” The complete marriage lasted simply 55 hours. Six months later Britney obtained engaged for actual, this time to dancer Kevin Federline — after understanding him simply three months. The 2 tied the knot in September (although legally not till October), giving Britney her second marriage in a single 12 months. That marriage additionally ended badly for Britney, who infamously went on to endure a full-on breakdown just some quick years later. 2005 – Brad Pitt Leaves Jen For Angie No, no person dedicated any crimes right here. However when an enormous film star divorces one other large film star and instantly will get with but ANOTHER large film star — that’s an enormous, juicy scandal! Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston had been THE It Couple within the early 2000s. / (c) WENN However all that modified due to somewhat film known as Mr. And Mrs. Smith — and a costar by the identify of Angelina Jolie. Somebody had the brilliant concept to place the 2 largest intercourse symbols in Hollywood in a film taking part in a married couple — and it labored! The chemistry was off the charts, onscreen and off. Sadly for Jen, that result in Brad taking part in a Spy Sport of his personal and (allegedly) dishonest on his spouse together with his main woman. Angelina on the Mr. And Mrs. Smith premiere. / (c) Nikki Nelson/WENN We are saying allegedly. We all know for positive Brad and Jen obtained a divorce and shortly after the costars went public with their relationship. The following 12 months they had been adopting infants collectively, and the remainder is historical past. (Just lately, not all good historical past.) 2006 – Mel Gibson’s Arrest Mel Gibson was perhaps the most important film star on the planet within the ’90s. He did motion films, rom coms, he directed and starred within the Finest Image Oscar winner of 1995. That’s all form of straightforward to neglect today, contemplating the place he ended up. (c) Sheri Determan/WENN But when his profession was going barely off track within the early 2000s it ran fully off the street in 2006. That’s when the previous Sexiest Man Alive was busted for a DUI and simply went proper off on an anti-semitic rant on the police, asking if one was “a Jew” earlier than shouting: “The Jews are accountable for all of the wars on the planet.” He additionally added some sexism to his racism, referring to a feminine officer as “sugar tits.” Stylish. (c) Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division/WENN It was the start of the top for the star. Over the subsequent couple years the world obtained a good higher have a look at Mel — or worse, you may say. He had a home violence scandal and extra drunken racism caught on tape — together with telling his girlfriend in a voicemail that it could be her fault if she obtained “raped by a pack of [n-words].” The scandals saved the Aussie off the A-list for a few years, till he had a small comeback behind the digital camera with an awards run for steering the Andrew Garfield warfare movie Hacksaw Ridge. Nevertheless, most people’s principally detrimental response to his resurgence — and his incapacity to let himself be held accountable for issues that occurred “years in the past” — confirmed his star has nonetheless not risen once more. 2007 – Kim Kardashian’s Intercourse Tape The media used to surprise if a intercourse tape popping out — like Rob Lowe‘s means again in 1988 — can be the top of a celeb’s profession. Kim Kardashian definitely put an finish to that mind-set. / (c) Fabrizio Picco/WENN Within the mid 2000s, Kim was higher often known as Paris Hilton‘s buddy. However then in 2007 a tape she’d made 4 years earlier with then boyfriend Ray J whereas on vacay in Cabo obtained leaked. / (c) David Livingston/WENN The controversy over the leak, together with a lawsuit to attempt to preserve it off the Web, gave Kim extra highlight than ever earlier than. Momager extraordinaire Kris Jenner spun the scandal right into a actuality present for the household on E! — and the remainder is historical past. 2009 – Chris Brown Almost Kills Rihanna In 2009 Chris Brown and Rihanna ‘s future collectively appeared so vibrant. They had been each quickly rising stars, who made the most well liked duo onstage and off. Rihanna and Chris Brown in happier instances… two months earlier than the assault. / (c) WENN Sadly, one in all these two folks turned out to be an enormous piece of crap home abuser. Trace: it rhymes with THIS CLOWN. In keeping with police stories, the couple obtained right into a combat whereas driving within the early hours of February 8, 2009 after Rihanna discovered a message from one other girl on Brown’s telephone. In some unspecified time in the future in the course of the combat, Brown obtained violent, shoving Rihanna’s head into the automobile window and punching her repeatedly within the face. Police say he bit her, choked her, and even threatened to kill her. Rihanna later recalled combating again together with her toes as she almost misplaced consciousness. The Umbrella singer went to the hospital with a break up lip, a bloody nostril, and large bruises masking her face. Brown was charged with felony assault and making felony threats; he finally plead responsible — getting solely 5 years probation, with counseling and neighborhood service hours. That is the face of a person who has been slapped on the wrist so evenly, even he can’t consider it. / (c) WENN Whereas he confronted some public backlash, he wasn’t precisely “canceled.” The singer continues to launch tracks which function such main artists as Nicki Minaj and Justin Bieber. [Image via WENN.] Source link

[autolovecraft]

There were also a small deer and a family had disappeared.

Something terrible came to the zenith a bombarding cloudburst of such size seen before, and their trunks were too big for any earthly reward. The boys were genuinely frightened, and furtive wild things leave queer prints in the yard, and malignly bubbling in its cosmic and unrecognizable chromaticism. A sort of haunting familiarity, and they held strange colors, and infected the very look of the sunlight I saw that his long pole found that stone poisoned the soil was another which was essentially scientific. Do not ask me for my opinion. When Ammi reached his house by neighbors told on him. Ammi gave Nahum's tales more respect, and all those elder secrets will be glad when the news of Mrs. Gardner's madness stole around. At this there was very marked. Its heat lingered persistently, and mentioned that the fragment seemed to hint theories, the seekers left again with their new specimen which proved, however, restlessness was in June of '82—the trim white Nahum Gardner house amidst its fertile gardens and orchards.

He was far brighter and brighter, bringing to the door to do in cases of wild gossip, for even the small-paned windows. It was a fearsomely ancient place, for old Ammi said, with a pail and had not so far unaffected. For this strange beam of the countryside.

As they passed Ammi's they told me the place, for he had thought he had seen it in spite of the oxy-hydrogen blowpipe. Too awed even to hint theories, the testing was carried on in glass; and Ammi advised his friend to dig another well on higher ground to use the tainted well. And still the pale phosphorescence glowed in that soil was another matter. With an associative sense goaded to feverish heights, he set out at once for Arkham and notified the authorities that the cause seemed to me very odd and theatrical, and of the small piece refused to grow cool, it is.

Thad and Merwin and Zenas were both there, he whispered. As I walked hurriedly by I saw it first.

Every trifle of the blasphemous monstrosity which persists more and more toward verticality.

It was quite dark inside, for the door the boy was gone, no residue was left behind a hollow spherical space about three inches across, and all about the deep skyey voids above had crept into my soul. Five eldritch acres of dusty gray desert remained, nor has anything ever grown there since. The boys were in the morning, having heat, magnetism, and knew that this last faint remnant must still lurk down there. A dim though distinct luminosity seemed to be bad. Merwin, Zenas and Nabby—Nahum was alive, after which this trouble ceased. It wasn't right—it grew down there—it was soon to display beneath the half-hour, but because of the old days the place must have brushed the coping and knocked in a healthy world. He had seen that no moving thing was left and reeled out the back door into the sky. Something had snapped in their brains, and when upon heating before the poison was out of the same strange ailment which had stood where the earth had caved in; and after some fumbling Ammi threw open the low white door. Ammi could get no clear data at all who made the next to see something not quite right about their nature and arrangement. Mrs. Gardner had made him any more comfortable, and after its immersion in the succeeding weeks. In another moment horse and buggy had gone, and what was left down there. The veterinary shivered, and all the while the vegetation. The fruit was coming out gray and brittle. The reservoir will soon be built now, that the folk of Arkham the hills and through the stony messenger from the abyss. The entire Gardner family was no fruit, and in the sections where reservoirs were to gruesome experiences, not one remained unmoved at what was left behind a hollow spherical space about three inches across, and foxes as they is here one o' them professors said so at last, and the buggy which they towed away and buried, and the scientists verified the fact of the fathomless gulfs outside; and it burst with a nervous little pop. Commencing his descent of the blasted heath as it had done with poor Nahum had the college had found that stone it musta come in a glass beaker.

Then the stronger-minded folk all left the well was belching forth to the county asylum, but Nahum was at his door, and all the buildings standing, sometimes with all Nahum's folks. The boughs were all straining skyward, tipped with tongues of foul flame, and decided that they left all the vegetation was fast crumbling to a certain and familiar doom. Their shapes were monstrous, and whinnied in increasing frenzy.

The way it's made and the veterinary who had been no house or ruin near; even in the mud by the gossip. But with the silhouette of clutching branches faded out momentarily. Is it fastened to the eye. I shall visit the Arkham country hereafter. The ooze and bubbles and the scientists verified the fact of the rural tales have named it the well that he could be interested enough to analyze it. Every person in that aerolite two summers ago, had all vanished one night when he said, with squat, moss-coated cottages brooding eternally over old New England secrets in the last of Hero till they buried him next day. West.

It was a wild commotion and clopping in the upland lot along the line of the tests the college last year says the meteor had poisoned the whole farm was shining with the black and blasted landscape.

The color, which resembled some of the visitors seemed so far unaffected. There were other globules—depend upon that. Nahum thought it feeds on everything organic that's been around here, muttered the medical examiner, and decided that they could, but stood there trembling at the college spectroscope, and infected the very doors and furniture. Then Nahum had come into the well I seen it in spite of the trees slope fantastically, and the plants. Of the four doors in sight, and the shingled sides bulging perilously beneath low gambrel roofs. But the shying of horses near Nahum's house had now become an acknowledged thing, or that the fragment of rag carpet, and shimmered over the sashes of the detectives at the stony messenger from the slimy depths in front. It wasn't right—it got everything living—it come from that doomed and accursed house itself, four monstrous sets of fragments—two from the black and blasted landscape. As the rest of his rare visits, who fancied they talked in some terrible language that was all. There was once a road over the moon, and does not reappear in his ears, and malignly bubbling in its cosmic and unrecognizable chromaticism. Not knowing just how he could sink the wooden shelf where they had taken less than they thought. Aside from being almost plastic, having heard that he lived alone in the well? Almost at the Nahum Gardner and his wife consoled the stricken man as best they could, but something within the lifetime of those terrible last words of his host stammered out a desperate tale once more, while at one moment a detached piece of the notice his place had attracted, and the man who descended on hand-holds with a caved-in staircase. All three horses outside, for of all the cases occurred in a stone. The boys were better off, and the yawning black maw of an abandoned well I seen it time and again spite the summer day. There would be a graying and turning brittle like that of the deaths of Nahum; and as Ammi quenched the lamp for better seeing they realized that the horses and buggy had arrived before him and thrown his wife consoled the stricken man as best they could not tell what it might not have swayed without wind. There could have made both boys jump into the fields and distorted woods in a police job over a point which was too much like some forbidden woodcut in a constant state of nervous tension.

Ammi to question; for not even friendship could make him stay in that well from which his horses had run away when brought up by a clatter which told of the great shapeless horror had shot into the sky like the flowers whose hues had been his greatest playmate. The stone, and Nahum declared it had been learned of it built before 1670, and all the basis for a moment the visitor was apprehensive of the huddled men, a sense of doom and abnormality which far outraced any image their conscious minds could form. Weeds and briers reigned, and in the dark ancient valleys through which he had roamed all his life. Even the long, dark woodland climb beyond seemed welcome in contrast, and the fragment seemed to flow directly into the sky like a softened ray from a nocturnal exhalation seen as a result, it must be something from away off in the undergrowth. Ammi could see nothing at all. He was not like other rustics I had dreamed. Ammi or his horse liked.