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eyes-like-a-pisces · 1 month

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My style root nr. 1: 𝔈𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔩

~ celestial, mystical, out of this world. Inspired by mythical beings, fantasy lands and spiritual world.

Key words: fairy, witchy, gothic, nature, white, silk, satin, velvet, lace, linen. Floral and celestial prints. Crystals, gemstones. Corset lacing, cross jewelry. Sparkly, dimentional, transparent fabrics.

#style

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fanaticsnail · 4 months

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The comments' section has not enough space to express how wonderful Sapsorrow is coming out and I can't abuse the poor DMs.

The pinning just keep growing!!! 🌲🌲🌲

Governess wandering the castle at the early morning!!! Are you really a lady protagonist in a gothic castle if you haven't wandered the halls in your nightdress while perusing your growing feelings for the lord of the land???

And the twist of the tale with Mihawk in the place of Sapsorrow!!! I live for this kind of retellings. And of course, he's going to keep his secret identity now that he's found a way to interact with her without the pressure of their station. Ohhh, that's going to payout later XD

The ghosts gossiping to Perona is so funny! That first glimpse of Croc and the moon had me all 😱 Mihawk is asking for help to the other pirate lords and then boom! The calls!

Buggy calling him baby, I can't XDDD I read it exactly with Buggy's voice when he's sweet talking Arlong XDDD

I can totally envision Shanks doing lingerie as a hobbie 😳 but come again, he had a ring too??? There's literally ten rings out there at the hands of ten Pirate Lords waiting for some unsuspected women to be married to them??? 👀👀👀

Shank's may be so sure he got rid of his (and why was he actually wearing the ring? How on earth he didn't proposed to some random woman while drunk at a bar? XD) but with how these things work, his may be found by some sexy huntress who managed to catch that sea beast and found the ring while butchering it... And now we have a sequel XD

We can't have a fully domesticated Zoro. He has to get cocky from time to time. And of course he would be the kind of guy who gets a crush on his teacher XDDD

I can't wait for the ball!!! There is no better scenery to fertilize the pinning soil than a good ol' ballroom. This I say!

Also, I've made something 🫣 I told you I have a design degree to abuse and sometimes it kicks (me) until I use it. And all fairy tale related themes get me all creative.

I don't know why I have a feel this story is going somewhere and it needs a proper fairytale title to go with it 💌

I may or may not know how to bind books 🫢

OH. MY. GOSH. MS. VITA.

Holy shit. what the hell did I do to deserve such beautiful words and imagery.

I am screaming, crying, throwing up. Oh my gosh.

I am in the process of brainstorming lore for Sapsorrow's Rings, but absolutely Shanks had one. T'would be a shame for it to, I don't know, wash up on a deserted island to be found within the hands of someone wild huntress of a woman.

You really do have to have a midnight explore in a castle in your nightdress. It wouldn't be the same without it: especially if it means she gets to catch out a precious Farm-Hand bringing her fresh flowers and humming to himself.

I am IN LOVE with the banner. I can't even believe it. It's beautiful. Stunning. So fairytale and absolutely charming.

#one piece #opla fic #opla #one piece live action #x reader #mihawk #mihawk x reader #sapsorrow fic #sapsorrow fan art

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isabelcanasauthor · 1 year

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hi!! i'm isabel cañas, i'm a full-time writer living my best chaotic life between nyc & pnw.

tbh i'm here for a good time, not an organized/professional time. that said! one! must! hustle!

i wrote a Gothic horror novel called the hacienda. think the haunting of hill house in 19th-century mexico + a healthy dose of the hot priest from fleabag s2. out now!

i have a new novel out in august 2023 called vampires of el norte! it has hot vaqueros, monstrous vampires, western vibes, and heaping dose of romance

aaaaand i have some book-sized surprises in store for 2024 and 2025 👀

i also write short fiction! here's a selection of my favorite things i've published, available to read free:

six goats: bite-sized sapphic high fantasy

there are no monsters on rancho buenavista: a feminist twist on an old mexican monster folktale

my sister is a scorpion: magical realism that stings

the law of take: tristan & isolde, but make it space fantasy

a land of saints and monsters: more vampires, this time in late medieval anatolia

no other life: sapphic vampires in 16th-century istanbul

the weight of a thousand needles: a retelling of the fairy tale the needle prince

#writerscommunity #novels #gothic #short stories #fiction #writeblr #sapphic #fantasy #historical fiction #vampires #horror #scary stories #gothic literature #dark academia #hot priest #fleabag x the priest

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shakespeare-official-account · 21 days

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-By who? Lord Farquaad. He ??? All right. Who knows where this Farquaad guy is? Oh I do. I know where he is. Does anyone else know where to find him? -Anyone at all? -Me. -Anyone? Oh pick me, I know! Me, me. Ok, fine. Attention all fairy tale things! Do not get comfortable. Your welcome is officially warned up. In fact. I'm gonna see this guy Farquaad right now and get all off my land and back w

We're no strangers to love You know the rules and so do I (do I) A full commitment's what I'm thinking of You wouldn't get this from any other guy

I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

We've known each other for so long Your heart's been aching, but you're too shy to say it (say it) Inside, we both know what's been going on (going on) We know the game and we're gonna play it

And if you ask me how I'm feeling Don't tell me you're too blind to see

Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

We've known each other for so long Your heart's been aching, but you're too shy to say it (to say it) Inside, we both know what's been going on (going on) We know the game and we're gonna play it

I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you Lain considers Alice to be her only true friend. Alice seems to be the only person that truly cares about Lain and wants her to be happy. She is the first to attempt to help Lain socialise by taking her to a nightclub. At school, she checks up on Lain to make sure she's okay.

I bite at the hand that feeds me Slap at the face that eats me Some kind of animal cannibal (Animal? Cannibal)

How do I meet the strangest men They always seem to find me Remember that time way back when I Kissed a guy who ate his women friends Now only dogs will follow me(is he following?)

I bite at the hand that feeds me Slap at the face that eats me Some kind of animal cannibal Made impressions on me

Have we met before? (Possibly in Michigan) In some strange department store (We won’t see him anymore)

Who knows how some people turn to strange ones Is it up to me to make them into dead ones (Here we go again)

I bite at the hand that feeds me Slap at the face that eats me Some kind of animal cannibal (Animal? Cannibal)

The next day I woke up in my coffin. I put on a black miniskirt that was all ripped around the end and a matching top with red skulls all over it and high heeled boots that were black. I put on two pairs of skull earrings, and two crosses in my ears. I spray-painted my hair with purple.

In the Great Hall, I ate some Count Chocula cereal with blood instead of milk, and a glass of red blood. Suddenly someone bumped into me. All the blood spilled over my top.

"Bastard!" I shouted angrily. I regretted saying it when I looked up cause I was looking into the pale white face of a gothic boy with spiky black hair with red streaks in it. He was wearing so much eyeliner that I was going down his face and he was wearing black lipstick. He didn't have glasses anymore and now he was wearing red contact lenses just like Draco's and there was no scar on his forhead anymore. He had a manly stubble on his chin. He had a sexy English accent. He looked exactly like Joel Madden. He was so sexy that my body went all hot when I saw him kind of like an erection only I'm a girl so I didn't get one you sicko.

"I'm so sorry." he said in a shy voice.

"That's all right. What's your name?" I questioned.

"My name's Harry Potter, although most people call me Vampire these days." he grumbled.

"Why?" I exclaimed.

"Because I love the taste of human blood." he giggled.

"Well, I am a vampire." I confessed.

"Really?" he whimpered.

"Yeah." I roared.

We sat down to talk for a while. Then Draco came up behind me and told me he had a surprise for me so I went away with him.

見え透いた嘘信じ切ったりして気付いたこと気付いたこともう立ち止まるには遅いということ

黒ずんだ心放っておいたりして分かったこと分かったこともう立ち直るには遅いということ

ああ、そんな奴の子に生まれて惨めを真面目に蔑まれて分かってることは否認の失敗と形骸化した愛よ

おぼこ娘のおとめさび役立たないものと覚えたり残った役目は奴隷の再生成それだけが生命

この輪廻転生を仕舞えよいざぶち壊したれよこの世と心と体とこれまでの無数の安寧を

はびこった偶像を見捨てよ絡まった現状を見切れよ冷たく正しく切り取れよ、歪んだ迎合を

残念に生まれ損なったあなたにはどう足掻いても見るも無残な生き先しか残っていないからいっそのこと、涙は枯らして潔く諦めようぜそうして幸せになろうぜあ、そっか

オーケー! 見え透いた嘘貪ったりして気付いたこと気付いたこともう夢の終わりが近いということ

黒ずんだ言葉言い放ったりして分かったこと分かったこともう罪の咎めは近いということ

そんな無様なカタチに生まれて自分に向く吐き気に追われて分かってることは否認の失敗と機能不全の愛よ

おぼこ娘のおとめさびげに下らんものと見付けたり叶えて進ぜよう、まだ見ぬ君の「産まれたくない」を

この輪廻転生を仕舞えよいざぶち壊したれよこの世と心と体とこれまでの無数の安寧を

この森羅万象を逃れよ入り組んだ感情を躱せよこの手にこの目に刻まれた無数の重態を

度重なる自問自答、危険思想大体喰らい尽くした愛の本性今に見てろよと切った啖呵の純然かつ不格好な敗走「生きてる間だけが全てだ」って信じきってる純な妄想誕生！と、奴隷の再生産、それだけの生命

繋いでは切って安全を自ら失っていく妙な快感湿っぽい言葉ぶちまけてやって密室に湧く次の犠牲者こんな気持も味わえる時点で解っているだろうこの世のことこんな痛みも味わえる時点で解っているだろうその後のこと

笑えないことばかりだったよないつからか積り積もった思い出にクラっとくるわ！両の視界を濡らして濡らして終わったあれと別れようぜ

完全に生まれ損なったあなたにはどうもがいても見るも無残な生き先しか選べないからいっそのこと、涙は枯らしてためらわずに旅立とうかもう一度産まれ直そうかそうして幸せになろうぜ君は何も悪くないぜ (多分)

May I please be a part of your family? :3

whoa. This-this is-something else. I have never been more confused. But yes, you’re my kid now. @i-bless-your-heart and I are considering a discord, and I’m going to remake the extended family tree, so yeah. We’ll update you for anything <33

#shakespeare #I’m adopting children like a maniac and i will not stop #i regret nothing #shakespeare approves #william shakespeare #asks #gimmick blog

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headcanonsandmore · 7 months

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'Fright Night' Chapter One

Summary: In a dark and stormy planet, the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa find themselves separated from the TARDIS and are forced to seek refuge in a old castle nearby. However, strange things are afoot on this alien world and, in the gothic rooms and corridors of the castle, one of the time-travellers begins to find themselves changing...

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Read on AO3.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘Tegan, I think you’re being a bit overcautious.’

Tegan zipped up her waterproof jacket.

‘I don’t care what the Doctor says,’ she replied, checking to make sure that her boots were properly laced. ‘We don’t know what weather this planets going to have; I may as well be prepared.’

Nyssa chuckled. The Trakenite was sat at the end of Tegan’s bed. She was wearing her new stripy shirt, with the jersey tied around her middle. Tegan ignored the stammer in her own heartbeat as Nyssa kicked her legs absentmindedly beneath her.

Why had Nyssa decided to stop wearing her usual jumpsuit? On the one hand, Tegan could understand that Nyssa had likely gotten tired of wearing the same sort of clothing every day, but… good grief, Tegan’s heart was having a tough time seeing so much of the Trakenite’s legs.

It really wasn’t fair. Nyssa had always been pretty, but Tegan seemed to get distracted by her every other moment these days. It was as if her time spent away from the TARDIS had changed how she viewed the wonderful woman she shared a room with. Nyssa was her best friend, and she had developed a crush on her, probably from the moment they had first met on Logopolis, but now… that attraction had evolved beyond a simple crush. And Tegan knew -was absolutely certain- that Nyssa had no idea that Tegan saw her that way. More than that, Tegan was sure that Nyssa did not see her the same way.

So, here she was, in love with her best friend who didn’t realise that her feelings had grown beyond the platonic.

‘You sure you’re alright? We can pick up a thicker jacket for you from the TARDIS wardrobe if you want’

‘It’s fine,’ Nyssa said, smiling as she got to her feet. She picked a light waterproof jacket off the coat-stand nearby, her brown curls bouncing prettily. ‘Let’s go.’

Nyssa slipped the jacket on, and immediately linked one of her arms through Tegan’s. The Australian felt her heartrate escalate, as it always seemed to do whenever Nyssa initiated physical contact without warning.

Hoping against hope that she wasn’t blushing, Tegan allowed Nyssa to walk them out of their bedroom, and down the corridor towards the console room.

The Doctor was, of course, waiting for them, wearing an expression of excitement as he took readings from the central console.

‘Ah, there you both are,’ he declared, looking up as they entered. ‘Rather splendid planet, by the looks of things.’

Tegan exchanged a look with Nyssa, who giggled. The Australian ignored the giddy dance that her heart made at the sound, and raised a disbelieving eyebrow as she turned to look back at the Doctor.

‘Really?’

‘Oh, ye of little faith,’ the time lord, wagging his finger at her. ‘Come along, let’s go and have a look around…’

Tegan stared at the brooding forests around them, the dark clouds above that seemed to cast the entire landscape in a dim twilight, and could even hear the sounds of unpleasantly course birdcalls. The TARDIS had landed on what appeared to be halfway down a mountainside. In every direction, all that could be seen were dense forests with a scattering of towering cliffs inbetween them. If Tegan didn’t know any better, she would have assumed the Doctor had deliberately landed in darkest Germania during the dark ages.

‘Splendid planet?’ she repeated, with a frown in the time lord’s direction. ‘That’s one way of putting it. Doc, this place looks like something out of Grims Fairy Tales!’

The Doctor glared irritably at her, before unfurling his hat from his jacket pocket and setting it neatly on top of his head.

‘Always the pessimist, aren’t you, Tegan?’ he said. ‘Cheer up; you and Nyssa both have jackets, and I’ve got my umbrella, after all.’

‘What umbrella-’

Out of (apparently) a jacket pocket, the Doctor pulled out a long umbrella. The handle seemed to be formed into the shape of a question mark.

Smiling smugly, the time lord unfurled the umbrella, and put it over his shoulder.

Tegan gave him another glare. The Doctor ignored her, and set off along the path that weaved down the mountain towards a river, which streaked jaggedly through the forest.

Nyssa gave Tegan an encouraging smile, and the Australian allowed herself to be led along by the arm. She really wished she could say no to Nyssa when the Trakenite smiled at her like that, but she knew that it was impossible. Those soft grey-green eyes had a habit of burrowing into her soul. And the irritating thing was, not only did Nyssa clearly have no clue as to the effect she had, but that Tegan liked it. She would have stopped time if Nyssa asked her to. It was as if her heart had a massive “property of Nyssa” stamp on it.

Overhead, there was the distant rumble of thunder. In the horizon, Tegan could see rain falling over the forest trees. She felt gooseflesh erupt unpleasantly up her skin; every single atom of her being was telling her to get back inside the TARDIS now.

‘That doesn’t sound good.’

‘Oh, probably just a spot of light rain,’ said the Doctor, airily, from in front. ‘I find the weather isn’t nearly bad as initial impressions suggest.’

Tegan doubted this very much, but by this point they had reached the river. A small stone bridge lay across it.

There was another rumble of low thunder.

Nyssa slipped her hand into Tegan’s as they followed the Doctor across the bridge.

‘Nys?’ the Australian asked, softly, as she turned to look at the woman stood next to her. ‘You okay?’

Nyssa nodded, quietly.

There was another crack of thunder, and this time, Nyssa’s hand squeezed tightly against Tegan’s.

‘It’s okay,’ Tegan said, giving a soft smile. ‘I’m here.’

Nyssa smiled, cheeks dimpling.

‘Thank you, Tegan,’ she said, softly. ‘I always feel safe when you’re here.’

Tegan felt her heart well with love for the Trakenite. It was all she could do not to burst into tears right there and then, and throw her arms around her friend.

‘I’m sorry for leaving you,’ she eventually said, ignoring the lump in her throat.

‘Don’t blame yourself for that,’ Nyssa said, with a nod of her head towards the Doctor. ‘You weren’t to blame.’

‘I heard that!’

Tegan laughed, as the Doctor let out a huff and strode off at a faster pace.

‘You didn’t leave me, Tegan,’ Nyssa said, still smiling at the Australian. ‘I’m just happy that I managed to find you again.’

‘Almost sounds like you missed me.’

‘Of course,’ Nyssa said, with a gentle nudge of her shoulder. ‘I can’t have a universe without you, Tegan Jovanka.’

Tegan’s heart seemed to pummel against her chest. What the hell did that mean?

‘N-Nys,’ she stammered, feeling her face burn. ‘I… you don’t have to… I don’t deserve you-’

There was another loud rumble of thunder, and the two women startled, coming to a stop.

The path they had been walking along was stretching upwards across the other side of the valley. The Doctor, a few hundred feet in front, turned to face them and pointed up the path.

There was a crack of lightning.

On a rocky outcrop sticking out from the mountainside was a castle. Well, somewhere between a castle and a fortified keep. It must have been at least two hundred feet tall, with ramparts and several towers stretching up. Gargoyles of strange creatures adorned the outside and Tegan could have sworn that, in the afterglow of the lightning, they seemed to move.

The path led up to the main doors, which stood at least ten feet high.

There was another crack of lightning, and the heavens opened.

Near instantly, the rain seemed to crash down around them, turning the path into a mud pit. Tegan squeezed tightly on Nyssa’s hand to help them both stay upright.

The Doctor charged down the path, wobbling as he struggled to maintain his balance amid the mud and rain. His umbrella was barely keeping him dry.

‘Over the bridge, now!’

The two women turned.

A horrible sight met their eyes.

Looking down the path towards the way they had come, Tegan let out a groan. The bridge had sunk beneath the rising water of the river.

The three time-travellers turned once again and, feet slipping, ran up the path towards the castle. The path gradually became stone-paved as they grew closer, and Tegan was glad for the change, as she could already feel her boots beginning to get dirty. As they reached the entrance, the Doctor hammered on the huge doors, which swung open with a horrible creak. The time lord hurried inside.

Scrambling inside out of the wet, Tegan pulled Nyssa by the hand after her. The Trakenite seemed to have been momentarily shocked by the sudden change in weather.

Looking around, Tegan now saw that they had entered into some sort of entrance hall. It was rather small and cluttered, with various suits of armour haphazardly shoved anywhere they could fit. Several pairs of walking boots had been left scattered nearby a large doormat, which was a tired burgundy colour and had clearly seen better days. The door, in front of which the mat stood, was in barely better condition.

The Doctor pulled the doors shut behind them, and put down his umbrella, wiping his brow with a damp sleeve.

‘Well,’ he said, with a bit of irritation. ‘I suppose you’re going to tell me that you told me so-’

‘Never mind that!’ Tegan exclaimed. ‘Look at Nyssa!’

The Trakenite was shivering under her jacket. Damp curls lay against her face, and Tegan was horrified to see that Nyssa’s cheeks had turned a cold pink colour.

Without thinking, Tegan unzipped Nyssa’s jacket and helped her friend out of the wet garment. She wasn’t sure why she herself wasn’t feeling the cold as much; perhaps Traken had a much milder climate? Whatever it was, Tegan didn’t like how cold Nyssa was to the touch. She immediately put her own hands around Nyssa’s and began to rub them, trying to get some warmth into the younger woman’s skin.

‘You bloody stupid time lord!’ Tegan said, glaring now at the Doctor. ‘I swear, if she gets hypothermia…’

‘She’ll be fine,’ the Doctor said, feeling Nyssa’s forehead with his palm. ‘Although I don’t recommend that we go back out into that storm anytime soon. Perhaps if we see if the inhabitants of this place can put us up for the time being…’

The Doctor stepped over to the door, and wrapped smartly on the wood with his knuckles.

‘Hello?’ he called. ‘Anyone home?’

Tegan quickly pulled off her jacket and was glad to find that, aside from a little bit of rain on her trousers, she was mostly bone dry. Her boots, of course, had been waterproof anyway. She was immensely thankful that she had decided to wear a warm wool jumper over a blouse, with thick winter trousers; why on earth she had ever thought that a pair of shorts and matching tube-top was a suitable outfit for rainy cold Amsterdam was beyond her.

Well, actually, she had thought it was cute and decided to wear it on the off-chance that she might meet Nyssa again, but that was beside the point.

She immediately wrapped an arm around the young woman’s shoulders, rubbing her side. With her other hand, she continued to rub Nyssa’s hands.

Nyssa gave a shiver, before sneezing.

‘T-thank you, Tegan,’ she said, a little nasally. ‘Sorry, I’m not normally this bad when it comes to rain.’

‘Hey, don’t worry about it,’ Tegan replied, as softly as she could. ‘We got caught unawares by that storm; let’s just focus on getting you warmed up, okay?’

Nyssa nodded.

At this point, the door opened

‘Oh, hello!’

The speaker was an elderly man. He was balding, but with large tufts of white hair around his ears. A large pair of spectacles was perched on his nose, and he wore a long white lab coat over a battered suit. He looked like the textbook definition of “mad scientist” but his eyes -magnified through his glasses- were kind and gentle.

‘Good evening!’ exclaimed the Doctor, hurrying forwards and shaking the man by the hand. ‘My apologies for the intrusion, but I’m afraid we have become separated from our craft in the storm.’

‘Oh, another storm?’ said the old man. ‘Those are always terrible at this time of year. I tend to stay inside mostly… can’t deal with the cold at my advanced years, I’m afraid.’

‘Understandable,’ the Doctor agreed. He then looked back at Nyssa and Tegan. ‘Er… my young friend here is somewhat the worst for wear; could we get her some warm blankets?’

‘O-oh, yes; please, come in…’

Nodding encouragingly to the two women, the Doctor followed the old man inside. Grimly, Tegan squeezed Nyssa’s side in a supportive manner, and followed. The door creaked shut behind them.

‘Welcome to my home,’ said the man, as they walked into a large sitting room. It was a rather cluttered place, filled with bookshelves crammed haphazardly with old tomes. A couple of slightly dusty-looking sofas adorned the middle of the room. Several test-tubes lolled on a desk, which was covered with scattered papers. ‘I’m afraid I don’t normally have visitors, so you’ll have to excuse the mess. You know how it is, being on your own and focused on work.’

‘I know the feeling,’ the Doctor replied. ‘I’m the Doctor, that’s Tegan, and the young woman who is currently feeling the worst for wear is Nyssa.’

‘Professor Brockenfeld,’ the old man said, smiling kindly at Nyssa and Tegan. ‘And it’s a pleasure.’

‘Oh, you’re a scientist?’ exclaimed the Doctor, now squinting at the titles of the books on the shelves.

‘Yes!’ exclaimed Brockenfeld, eyes widening in excitement. ‘My current field of specialty is preventative medicine, you see. All throughout the galaxy, people want to live longer and healthier. So I’m currently researching scientific means beyond the usual diet-and-exercise that is normally recommended.’

‘Fascinating,’ said the Doctor, keenly. ‘Gosh, it’s wonderful to meet another scientist. Nyssa, weren’t you looking into preventative medicine a while back?’

In response, Nyssa gave another squeeze. Tegan glared at the Doctor reproachfully. However, the time lord didn’t seem to notice, and instead launched into a lengthily discussion with Brockenfeld about the various aspects of his research.

Tegan rolled her eyes.

‘Can you understand what they’re saying?’

‘Mostly,’ Nyssa said, thickly. ‘But I’m afraid I won’t contribute much to the conversation.’

‘That’s more than I can. C’mon; let’s see if we can find a kitchen and get you warmed up; that rain chilled you to the bone…’

The kitchen was thankfully not too far away.

It was a bit tidier than the rest of the house, and reminded Tegan somewhat of recreations of Victorian-era kitchens that she’d seen during history class in school. Well, except the various machines that kept steaming randomly. Tegan gently eased Nyssa into a chair, and then doubled back to an airing cupboard they had passed on the way.

She pulled several thick, warm blankets out from the wooden shelf sat above the boiler, and hurried back to Nyssa. She quickly wrapped several of the blankets around Nyssa, who gave a contended sigh of gratitude.

Now… hot drinks were in order.

On the plus side, the kettle did not steam randomly, and barely a minute later, Tegan had poured out two mugs of hot chocolate, one of which she gently placed into Nyssa’s hands.

The Trakenite gave a soft moan as she slowly digested the warm drink.

‘Better?’ Tegan said, smiling as she sat down next to the younger woman at the table.

Nyssa nodded.

‘Thank you, Tegan,’ she said, returning the smile. ‘You’re always so lovely to me.’

Tegan shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious.

‘Hey, what are best friends for, eh?’

Nyssa’s cheeks turned a healthy pink hue as she grinned.

‘Oh, Tegan…’ she said, eyelashes fluttering. ‘Am I really your best friend?’

Tegan wished Nyssa would stop smiling at her like that; it wasn’t doing her heart any good to see the undisguised joy on the younger woman’s face.

‘No-one better,’ Tegan said. ‘I… you mean so much to me, Nyssa.’

‘I imagine probably roughly the same as you do to me.’

Tegan doubted that very much, but she decided not to say anything. It wasn’t Nyssa’s fault that Tegan had fallen in love with her, after all. Well, technically, it was her fault, but Tegan could hardly hold that against Nyssa. If anything, she held it against herself for continuing to pine for the sweet, kind woman who clearly saw Tegan purely as her platonic best friend.

Once they had finished their drinks, and when Nyssa was thankfully warming up, Tegan had suggested that they head back to the Doctor and Brockenfeld. However, Nyssa had then suggested that they take a detour.

‘Are you sure it’s alright for us to be walking around?’

‘I don’t see why it wouldn’t be; Brockenfeld did welcome us in, after all.’

Tegan looked around. The corridors of the castle were uncomfortably dark, even with the pale electric lanterns that dotted the walls at regular intervals. The darkness was… heavy here, as if the light was intruding on it at its own risk. Tegan also felt uncomfortable speaking loudly. It almost felt like the castle itself was listening in on them. An uncomfortable shiver went up her spine.

‘You’re braver than me, in that case.’

‘I’m not as brave as you, Tegan.’

‘You always say that, but didn’t you hold up the high council of Gallifrey at gunpoint?’

Nyssa flushed. In the half-light, the effect was rather wonderful.

‘How did you-’

‘The Doctor told me,’ Tegan said, trying not to think about how cute Nyssa looked whilst blushing. ‘You’re a bit of a dark horse, aren’t you, Nys?’

‘What… what does that mean?’

‘A bit different than initial appearances would suggest.’

‘Oh,’ Nyssa said. ‘Er… what is my initial appearance, then?’

‘Cute as a button and twice as adorable. Too good for this world.’

‘Oh, Tegan…’

Nyssa was now smiling fondly at her. Tegan felt her own face flush.

‘W-well, it’s true,’ she stammered. ‘You are cute. Cutest woman I’ve ever met, and all…’

‘I would have thought you were cuter, Tegan.’

‘Now you’re just trying to make me flustered.’

‘Is it working?’ Nyssa giggled. ‘You do look pretty when you’re blushing, Tegan.’

‘Oh, ha ha…’

Tegan reached out and put her arm around Nyssa’s shoulders, pulling the younger woman closer to her. The Trakenite let out a happy sigh.

‘Thank you,’ Nyssa said, softly. ‘You’re so sweet, Tegan.’

The two walked in silence for a while, before coming to the end of the corridor. A large door -open- stood in front of them.

Nyssa smiled at Tegan, and the Australian found herself being pulled by the hand into the room.

The room -or laboratory, as it clearly seemed to be- was mainly covered in large work benches, which were themselves covered in all manner of scientific instruments. On one long wall, bottles of brightly coloured liquids bubbled away, as if on a slow simmer. Tegan bent down to examine one of them; even from a distance, it smelled vaguely of gone-off cheese.

‘Geez, what do you reckon all this stuff is?’

‘I suppose it’s part of the professors research,’ Nyssa replied. ‘If he’s trying to prevent diseases, then it would make sense to investigate animals with different immune systems to humanoid creatures.’

Tegan nodded, as she continued looking. There appeared to be two huge vents in the ceiling, one of each end of the room. At present, both seemed to have grates covering the entrance to each. Strange, Tegan thought. For ventilation, perhaps?

‘Bit Hammer Horror, isn’t it?’

‘Er… what?’

Tegan cursed her own ignorance.

‘Sorry, Nys; it’s a series of films on Earth.’

‘Oh.’ Nyssa said, with a nod. She didn’t seem hurt by Tegan’s forgetfulness. That she’d forgotten Nyssa wasn’t human, again. ‘Are they any good?’

‘The TARDIS probably has some; I don’t know if they’d be your thing, though. Bit scary.’

‘Scary?’

‘I… oh, I’m explaining this badly. Horror films are films that you watch to deliberately scare yourself.’

Nyssa stared at her, perplexed.

‘Why would you do that?’

‘Er… it’s kinda thrilling, I guess,’ Tegan replied, lamely. ‘And… well, when you watch it with friends, it can be fun.’

‘Oh, I see!’ Nyssa said, eyes widening with apparent understanding. ‘It’s an earth bonding activity, yes? Well, I’d be happy to do that with you, Tegan. As… as long as you don’t mind me holding your hand during?’

Tegan knew fully well that she wouldn’t mind that at all.

‘S-sure,’ she stammered. This was bad, this was bad. ‘I’d gonna go check this bit out…’

There was a portion of the room that was separated off from the rest. Almost like a bunker of sorts, with thick panels. The door stood open.

Tegan headed inside. There was a panel located just inside, looking out over the room. The panel itself was covered in buttons and levers, all of which seemed to be connected to different wires, that ran down into the ground.

TEST 3624 ENGAGED!

Tegan swung around, shocked at the robotic voice that had spoken out of the speakers set into the roof of the booth. The door slammed shut behind her.

Nyssa hurried over, and stared at her friend through the glass of the booth.

‘Tegan?’

‘Nys, there’s some sort of test happening!’ Tegan yelled, through the thick glass. ‘You need to find Brockenfeld and get him to turn it off!’

‘I will!’ Nyssa said, eyes wide with concern. ‘I’ll be back soon!’

The Trakenite hurried across the room but, as she got halfway to the door, there was a horrible… horrible sound.

The sounds of the grates being opened, as if automatically. The door to the laboratory swung shut.

Nyssa spun round, confused, and her eyes met Tegan’s.

And then they heard it.

Out of one of the huge grates, there was a noise. It was low level at first, but it grew louder by the second, increasing with each passing moment. It was a ghastly, haunting sound. It was a sound that gnawed at the primordial corners of the human psyche. The sound that had terrified Tegan’s distant ancestors, way back in the mists of time. Of a multitude of animals all screeching at once.

Before Tegan’s horrified eyes, a black cloud of bats erupted from out of the duct. Hundreds of them, wings flapping wildly, each of them screeching at the tops of their voices. And heading straight for the Trakenite woman stood in the centre of the laboratory.

‘Nyssa!’

The bats swarmed around the Trakenite, who gave a great cry of surprise. The bats were so great in number that Nyssa vanished inside the buzzing mass of them all. There was a sickening thud as the Trakenite dropped to the floor.

Tegan cried, banging her hands on the glass, ignoring the pain that came with it. She had to do something! Her mind buzzed with terror.

Thinking widely, she turned and began to press buttons on the control panel.

TEST 3624 TERMINATED!

The bats fled out of the second shaft, leaving the crumpled form of Nyssa lying on the ground.

The door to the control room (as Tegan now understood it to be) swung open, as did the main door of the laboratory, and Tegan charged out, running straight for Nyssa.

Dropping to her knees, Tegan turned the Trakenite over. Was… was she…

Tegan’s brain refused to contemplate the end of that sentence. A universe without Nyssa was too horrible a prospect to consider.

Nyssa’s head lolled on her shoulders, eyes closed. Her face was horribly pale, but…

Thank goodness; she was breathing!

Tegan’s pulse calmed slightly, but only a little. Nyssa was clearly much the worst for wear, and she needed medical attention immediately.

No broken bones…no bruises aside from the one on her leg from where she had landed on the stone tiles… no visible signs of trauma…

Tegan’s eyes swept over her friend, quickly assessing the situation.

Unfortunately, maybe a little too quickly.

Because, as she checked Nyssa’s breathing, Tegan failed to notice the marks. Barely visible, just under the collar of Nyssa’s shirt, were several bite marks in the white flesh of her neck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading, everyone; hope you enjoyed the first chapter of my spooky Halloween fic! I did promise a fang-tastic October, after all!

#'fright night'#doctor who fanfiction #tegan jovanka #nyssa #nyssa of traken #tegan/nyssa #nyssa/tegan #indestructible #heathrow scientific #tyssa #tegan x nyssa #nyssa x tegan #doctor who #fifth doctor #happy halloween #vampire!nyssa

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glauconaryue · 19 days

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I have been on this hellsite for years and only now do I learn that writeblr introductions are, apparently, a thing. So here goes my

Writeblr Introduction

Glauconar Yue (they/them, xe/xir)

Nonbinary trans femme lesbian

I write horror, weird fantasy and poetry.

I also do drag and theatre sometimes.

I grew up with Spanish and German, I write in both and also in English or mixing it all up.

I love to meet people on tumblr dot com so please send asks and dms if you see common interests.

My novels

El Empalador (Spanish)

Gothic horror, historical fantasy

A retelling of the life of Vlad Tepes Dracula, blending myth and history through the paranoia of a doomed antihero.

Las crónicas del templo negro (Spanish)

High fantasy, metafiction

Immortals form a community to share their knowledge, but their individual personalities and strange abilities make coexistence no easy task. The book includes many notes on alternative translations of the cryptic source texts.

Das Herz des Zahnradmädchens (German)

Steampunk, romance

An inventor finds a mysterious female automaton whose body contains mechanical and magical secrets. To confront industrial and supernatural threats, they must first figure out their own feelings.

Many shorter texts have been published in magazines and collections, see a longer list here.

My WIPs

Graustadt: Kopfgeldjäger und Mythen

Urban fantasy, crime thriller

A couple of bounty hunters trying to make a living in a run down city. They hunt for magical artefacts and literally for the heads of luckless outlaws, while trying to not get caught up in the rising gang wars.

Status: Volume 1/3 completed, figuring out how to best publish it.

Princess on the Run

Quest fantasy, queer fairy tale, road story

After her castle is burned down, a princess roams across the land, stealing cars, fighting ghosts and con-men, questioning both her gender and nobility.

Status: Scattered fragments in various languages.

Discurso de Transmutación Alquímica

Queer poetry, witchcraft

A queer reading of alchemical mysticism, celebrating gender transition as a spiritual process. The poetical essay with embedded sonnets mixes Spanish and English, historical language and neopronouns.

Status: Revising and expanding on it.

Voyage of the Lieutenant Nun: Transition of Public Spaces

Experimental theatre

My second take on the historical queer figure of an infamous swashbuckler and sinner nun that terrorized South America in the 17th Century. Likely to contain Catholic drag and mixed language gibberish.

Status: Funding approved, probably showing in Cologne this summer. Writing in process, dates tba.

These are the book-sized ones, many small texts are constantly in the works or just happening.

Thanks for reading, I'd be happy to hear from you!

#fantasy #gothic #horror #theatre #writeblr intro #glauconaryue #my writing #weird fiction #queer poetry #author

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nihilisticlinguistics · 9 months

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can't remember where i saw the post reccing Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid, but they were so right.

Juniper and Thorn is set in the fantasy Russia-esque city of Oblya, in the midst of change as it industrializes and draws in immigrant populations. The protagonist, Marlinchen, is the youngest daughter of the last wizard in Oblya, a man cursed to be dissatisfied with everything in his life.

It's very tightly written -- I could tell within the first few pages that this was a book to pay close attention to. Elements introduced in the first few chapters remained relevant throughout, from the beauty of the eldest sister Undine to the spiny-tailed monster under Marlinchen's bed.

Like a good Grimm fairy tale, Juniper and Thorn uses the fantastic to underscore the real. Marlinchen doesn't just live under her abusive father's thumb; she lives under his abusive, magical thumb, with all the power he can wield to control her life. His curse drives the central conflicts of the story, feeding into his consuming hunger, his relentless desire for money, his anger at his daughters, his anger with the changing world that no longer respects his magical gifts.

Juniper and Thorn contains a romance that I would compare, if anything, to the fairy-tale, Cinderella-esque story of escaping family abuse coupled with the realism that shines through the entire novel. Sevastyan, the male romantic lead, is the youngest principal dancer in the local ballet company, but he's also an ethnic minority (if Oblya is "fantasy Russia," the Yehuli people can be read as "fantasy Jewish") in an unfamiliar city and victim to abuses of a different kind. He's drawn to Marlinchen for reasons that similarly thread the line between fantasy and realism, and he's both an archetype to her (emphasized by his heroic role in the ballet) and just a hurt, lonely man who likes her.

Anyone with a close familiarity with stories is likely to be able to guess the twist, if you're paying attention, but it's a credit to Reid that even after I figured out what was coming, enough story elements were left open that I was never quite sure how it was happening until I was almost upon the reveal. When the last piece clicked into place, I actually said aloud, "Oh, there it is!" It was such a delight, like being led blindfolded by the hand and being able to trust my guide to deliver me through the woods.

Reid's world-building also stands out. It lands in perfect synchrony with the plot; the industrialization of Oblya caused Marlinchen's father to lose his standing as a great wizard, keeps their situation on the verge of poverty, and brings the temptations of the outside world that put the daughters in conflict with their wizard father. Juniper and Thorn spends only just enough time on the worldbuilding to paint a vivid portrait of local life and imply the scope of the world beyond Oblya's gridiron streets. Reid neatly avoids the temptation to over-design her world with more details than the story can use; the entire tale occurs in Oblya, so she sticks close to Oblya, to great effect.

If there's any quibble I have with Juniper and Thorn, it's in the overuse of simile in the early chapters. It's clearly meant to establish the gothic atmosphere, with striking metaphor that calls up gory or spooky symbols, but early on it seems that every other line contains such a line. While each simile and metaphor has the intended effect, taken all together they can feel over-saturated and lose their impact. This issue lightens up as the story continues, and eventually these similes become more clearly defined as part of Marlinchen's own grim and violent thoughts.

A few warnings, however; if you're sensitive to depictions of sex, gore, sexual assault, or abuse, this book may not be for you. All four appear throughout this book, and while the depictions vary in explicitness and intensity, Reid doesn't shy away from their effect on Marlinchen's psyche.

All in all, an excellent adult fantasy fairy tale! I would highly recommend this book to fans of dark fiction, especially dark fantasy, and those seeking a fairy tale with more bite.

#juniper and thorn #ava reid #reading #book rec #book review #? is this a book review?

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glasskey · 8 months

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THT : A Gothic Fairy tale Pt 1

If you haven’t realised it by now The Handmaid's Tale is a bloodthirsty gothic Fairy tale..…with a twist. It may be littered with timeless figures, tropes and classic story lines, but these are not the traditional tales of yesteryear anymore.

THT is the Brothers Grim made flesh and let me just say this, some of their stories are fucking terrifying. They’re riddled with murder, cannibalism, kiddy napping and the dark arts at every turn, a “Fairy tale” they are not.

I don’t know how “magical” Gilead is, but there’s definitely something other worldly and timeless about it, a cursed mystical land, trapped in amber. Its governed by a deadly authoritarian regime and populated by a mix of terrified robotic citizens and homicidal fanatics. Like any respectable cursed kingdom, a constant sense of mystery surrounds Gilead and once you go in, you’re likely never heard from again.

Places like these never have an open door policy and they always require supreme effort and / or a personal guide to leave them. There’s always a bridge, a river or a forest that must be navigated, signifying the transition from one world to the next. S2 Emily and Nicole barely survived crossing a freezing river to Canada. S3 saw children led through a darkened forest to board a plane to freedom. In season 4 June crossed a bridge, a railway line and a river to freedom.

We are first introduced to Gilead by a chaotic chase through a forest where the protagonist is caught, torn from those she loves, knocked unconscious and dragged into its deep dark heart. It’s a classic opener reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty or Alice in Wonderland. Her beloved flees, forking over his wedding ring for safe passage across a river and reluctantly abandoning his wife and daughter to Gileads evil clutches.

Once successfully snatched, our protagonist is promptly imprisoned in a tower of the castle that is the Waterford house. Much like any good castle it has iron gates, spacious gardens and guards at every exit. June’s figurative “tower” consists of the highest room in the house at the top of a winding staircase with a single window, from which she stares wistfully out of day after day.

The tower is essentially glorified solitary confinement, its boring AF with literally nothing to do but stare endlessly out of the window and wait for release…..welcome to Rapunzel’s Hell. Flash forward to season 5 and once again our June is living in a room at the top of the stairs with an eerily familiar window seat. One might well ask, has the Handmaid traded one tower for another?

Next time I’ll be discussing our resident villains, stay tuned for part 2 and 3.

#june osborne #max minghella #nick blaine #hulu streaming #nick x june #june x nick #osblaine #elisabeth moss #bruce miller #hulu series #hulu #tv series #gothic aesthetic #brothers grimm #fairy tale vibes #handmaid's tale #the handmaid's tale #handmaid's on hulu #hulu tv

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cinnabon-sweetroll-tiramisu · 2 years

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My favourite or one of my favourite headcanon is Merlin living the cottagecore life, his magical witch cottage be cozy asf with fairies as his gardeners that help him with gardening plus the garden gnomes protecting his cottage from any invaders, a unicorn hanging out in his front yard chilling and blessing his lands.

Like my boi Merlin be pretty wearing those soft pastel or gothic dresses and he has many cats lmaoooooo 🧡🖤🧡🖤🐈🐈‍⬛

Sometimes he visits the village that's near his forest and they fondly call him their witchy cottage cat, they're the only people who knows he has magic and vowed to keep it secret to any visitors they don't trust.

So yeah, Merlin + cottagecore? Feckin purrfection 😘 And when Arthur returns he will be smitten at Merlin looking cute, they'll be living the domestic life together 😍

One day I'll draw this or write it lol

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ash-and-books · 7 months

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Rating: 3.5/5

Book Blurb: Bestselling author Ava Reid makes her YA debut in this dark academic fantasy perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Elana K. Arnold.

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, she’s had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharad—Emrys Myrddin’s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him—is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain it’s her destiny.

But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin’s legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them—and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

Part historical fantasy, part rivals-to-lovers romance, part Gothic mystery, and all haunting, dreamlike atmosphere, Ava Reid's powerful YA debut will lure in readers who loved The Atlas Six, House of Salt and Sorrows, or Girl, Serpent, Thorn.

Review:

A gothic dark academia mystery featuring two rivals-to-lovers who find themselves hunting down the truth about the author of a famous story... only to find themselves fighting against the Fairy King and other dangers as the truth will come at a price. Effy Sayre lives in a world where women aren't afforded the same opportunities as men, and as the only woman in the architecture college (when she wants to be a literature student but it is forbidden for women to be in the literature college), life is hard enough, especially since she is still reeling from the scandal with her advisor... the one in which people think she slept with him to get ahead when the truth is that she didn't want any of it. Effy's only solace from her haunted visions, her terrible childhood, and the assault she faced is her book Angharad, a book that tells the epic story about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King and destroys him. Effy idolizes the author, Emrys Myrddin and the author himself is shrouded in mystery. Yet when the Myrddin family is offering to let a architecture student redesign the house, Effy knows its her chance to find out more about her author. What she didnt expect was that she would be going with Preston Héloury, a literature scholar who wants to expose Myrddin as a fraud and not the true author of Angharad. Things to also note about this universe is that Effy's home land is at war with its neighbor and one of Preston's parents is from the neighboring war land and he is also faced with prejudices. Effy immediately dislikes Preston because he rented all the books on Myrddin when she wanted them, she is also jealous that he is able to be a literature student. Though they both get off on the wrong foot they both find that they are hunting down the truth of the Fairy King, yet Effy is plagued by visions of the Fairy King and she doesn't know what's real and what's in her head. Yet the more they try to find answers the more danger closes in on them. Will they be able to find the truth before it's too late or will they die trying?

This is Ava Reid's third book and her first young adult novel, it features her gorgeous writing and its definitely an atmospheric read. The story deals with a lot of triggers: sexism/misogyny, a sexually-exploitative power imbalance, grooming, rape and dubcon, ableism, mental illness, an emotionally abusive parent, alcoholism, PTSD and intrusive memories, mentions of drowning, and child abandonment. Effy isn't really a likable character and comes off very very young and the writing feels a bit juvenile at times when it comes to her. I did like the overall mystery but I wish there was some character work on Effy and Preston, I wanted them to be a bit more fleshed out and kind of wished there was a better flow to their romance. I liked the book overall but it's definitely not my favorite of all her books. This is her first young adult novel and it definitely feels young as the characters read a bit more juvenile despite being in college. Overall, it's a beautiful atmospheric gothic read with a dash of mystery, romance, and fantasy!

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #a study in drowning #bookish

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ichangenameseveryfiveseconds · 16 days