#i have been raised on poirot and marple
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who do i have to pay to have a hercule poirot moment a la death on the nile but it's ned with a glorious 'tache (but also arthur as simon, port as linnet and toni as jacqueline because my heart wants what it wants, dammit)
#the answer is me i'm going to have to pay me i'm the only one who'd care for this crap lmao#i'm a 1978 death on the nile girlie#tho i don't hate the 2020 one (asmuchasidisliketheothernewones)#i have been raised on poirot and marple#and i was bought a poirot jigsaw for xmas and i wanted to rewatch some of our old dvds#and death on the nile is one of my fave stories and biTINg my fist bc my heart wanted so to make it PENS and the engport/engspa wor k s#this will be on my mind for a while now brb#helia's aus#helia rambles
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Mm top 5 comfort/vacation reads?
Top five tropes (to write or to read or both!)
comfort reads:
the brothers sinister series by courtney milan! great little romance series, solid sex scenes (the one in the governess affair novella is actually literally to die for), a delightful cast of characters. courtney's books are always solidly rooted in a mix of period detail and thoughtful politics, and i like how everyone likes each other!
kj charles generally but probably specifically think of england and proper english. i love very few things more in life than murder mysteries. i especially love when people initially at odds fall in love during mystery solving. it warms the cockles of my heart.
protector of the small quartet by tamora pierce - all the tortall books are comfort reads to me but this is THEE comfort read for me. i love kel with my entire body! she is precious to me! tall and buff and even-tempered but as stubborn as a mule. she and dom should have kissed!!!
agatha christie - i powered through every single one of her books available at the start of the plague times. i love the poirot books but i think for general consistency miss marple ones are almost always more solid. miss marple herself is a great outsider detective and i think there's few enough books that agatha couldn't grow to be tired of her lmao
i just powered through the goblin emperor books by katherine addison (had read the first but not the next two) and those are great fantasy books! the lingo is admittedly a bit opaque and hard to parse at first, but once you're in you're in, and the stories are really about human decency and kindness (while also providing political machinations (book 1) and murder (2 and 3), which as we all know are very comforting to me lmao)
tropes (this was really hard lmao and is for sure not definitive):
soulbond/mark/etc aus - a well done soulbond au is my jam. my artisanal preserves. the questions it raises about free will and fate? about someone being meant for you? i think there's really fun angles about like, how even relationships with this extra something still aren't going to be easy and smooth. there's also the aspect of like, strong or weak bonds? romantic or platonic (lol)? can you hear inside someone's head? or do you just feel better around them? or do you just have their name or first words to you sitting on your skin? what happens if it's one sided? what happens if it's unrequited? what happens if you're not ready? what happens if one of you wants it more than the other? what if you fall for someone you're not meant to fall for? these themes are SO fun and i love to explore them.
historical or period aus - i love aus, so jot that down, but when an author clearly loves the historical period and has taken time and care? i am there with my spoon. ALSO codes of conduct and manners just create such fun restraints to force characters who would just fuck it out to do other things because they CAN'T just fuck it out due to SCANDAL
slow burn - none of that 7k shit. but like a proper slow burn? a "takes 10k before they physically touch" slow burn? a "we're 50k in and they might actually kiss oh god please let them kiss" slow burn? mmm!!!! mmmMMMMMMMMMM
break up/make up - the thing is. the thing is!!!!! i like when characters have a history. a past. when they were something really important to each other and then that was ruined and now due to fate and or author contrivance they have been tossed together once more. like a salad. and then! the airing of grievances! the bad decision sex! (oh, the bad decision sex). the realization that there are things you know about them that they haven't told anyone else. you were the one who was there. you're the one who knows!!! in some ways you still might know them best! but right now you are worse than strangers because you may never become acquainted! until suddenly perhaps??? unless??????
arranged marriage / woke up married / marriage of convenience - i am combining all of these because the fact is i love when people get married for stupid reasons (or reasons that are not because of their ~heartfelt feelings~) and then they fall in love with the person they married and have big ol' feelings about it. i'm sure this comes as a shock.
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post-knives out glass onion release i get the impression people are a lot less familiar with the staples of detective fiction than theyd like to believe they are. however having been raised in an autism household id of course read everything holmes, poirot, miss marple, nancy drew & hardy boys before the age of 14
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Note #41: Personal romance and platonic companion in Golden Age detective fiction
It is interesting to think about the aversion of personal romance in Golden Age detective fiction. Of all the GA detectives that I know such as Philip Marlowe, Miss Marple, and Hercule Poirot, none of them is in a romantic relationship nor has a (recurring) potential love interest. In particular, the platonic relationship between Perry Mason and Della Street remains a surprise for me seeing as they often flirt with each other in most volumes that I’ve read. While couple detectives do exist in GA fiction, they are the exception rather than the norm.
I wonder if this aversion might have been influenced by Edgar Allan Poe’s Auguste Dupin and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, two most influential classical detectives. Based on my impression of them from reading some of their stories, these two detectives seem to be the embodiments of a solitude lifestyle. Since the detective genre has the tendency to repeat its familiar clue-puzzle structure over and over, I can see how other detective figures might replicate their predecessors' lifestyle. On a narrative level, the exclusion of romantic feelings somewhat made sense also—why should the detective, a representation of order, be associated with romance, a product of feelings? After all, many used to (and still do?) consider feelings to be an irrational, unpredictable thing compared to the orderly, concrete logic. Thus, romantic feelings, with its supposedly high degree of irrationality, might have been excluded to prevent its interference with the ratiocination commonly found in GA detective’s methodology. In a way, this dichotomy between ratiocination and romantic emotion could explain why GA detectives were always accompanied by a male companion: Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes, the unnamed narrator to Auguste Dupin, and Paul Drake to Perry Mason. By pairing two men together, the writer did not have to write a romantic plot between the partners. Nevertheless, this line of reasoning does raise quite a few points:
I basically imply that GA detective writers could not write a male-female detective duo without pairing them together? Seems like a weird conclusion for me to make; it is not as though the writers were forced to write romance, were they? However, romantic stories generally sold well around that time period through, so it might be possible that the writers were encouraged by the publishers to add romance into their novels?
An alternate explanation for the disdain toward male-female partnership is that the disdain might have reflected the Golden Age period’s difference in attitude toward friendship between two men and between a man and a woman: the former is good friendship while the latter is “impossible”. In short, it might just be sexism in writing?
On the topic of sexism, did the myth of rational man/emotional woman that has been circulating around for ages also play a factor in the lack of female companions in detective fiction? Would that be too uncharitable of a reading? Then again, female detective stories themselves really only gained more recognition after World War II (although they did exist before), so I do think that that myth did have an impact on women’s presence in detective fiction.
But ultimately, this is mostly a speculation with no evidence to back up. I probably should do some research on this.
That aside, I should also check out detective stories with couple detectives. I’m curious to see how those stories treat romance between two logical figures as well as how such romance can impact the narrative.
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Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Read time: 11 Days (intermittent)
Rating: 3.5/5
The quote: Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow. — Victor Frankenstein
I find this a difficult book to review. Some things that I need to say on that rating. It might have been higher in a number of different circumstances. If I was reading it in Mary Shelley's time (think early 19th century). If I wasn't delayed in reading it (think reading slump). Or if I was new to it. I studied Frankenstein in year 11 Literature hence the illustrated and annotated edition, studying a text is one way to ruin a book for me a bit. As a bit of an aside, it is remarkably difficult to read this book and not compare it to other things. Its adaptions or works it inspired. Reading Agatha Christie is much the same I believe, reading her Poirot or Miss Marple novels comes across as been there done that to the modern reader. But she did it all first, she formed these devices so prevalent in modern fiction. While it isn't to quite the same extent with Mary Shelley (at least not this book) those thoughts still need to be kept in mind. I will say one thing though the plot and the ethical questions that arise therefrom very much still stand up.
It is very much up to you to deal with the ethics and the questions raised. For some people it will be plain and simple the creature is a monster and humankind was saved by Victor's choice. For others like me, it is more complicated the creature deserved a chance and was driven to his actions. The creature was not much more than a child with a child's knowledge and ability to process, with an adult's body. He was left on his own to fend for himself to develop. If you look at him that way his actions are understandable. I have many more issues with Victor's choices playing god and abandoning his creation. His regret feels more selfish or self-serving than anything else. The second quote I included is from right near the end of the book. Though there is a section where Victor does almost consider aiding his creature is getting a more human existence. That in itself opens up all the what-ifs. Alternatively, just read and not think too heavily about it. Unfortunately, a side effect of studying a book is your way of thinking about it changes.
One thing I had forgotten in the years since I had read this was the intelligent framing of Frankenstein. The framing is letters from an arctic explorer on a ship to a beloved sister. They allow for the story to be told in the first person but with substantial time jumps and some reflective passages. But it does also allow for an unreliable or at least biased narrator. Shelley also makes it clear that the explorer, Walton, has his own life, story, experiences and ethics. This isn't entirely about Victor Frankenstein. It's also about the creature and to a degree Walton. The choice to give the creature a long section explaining his story was a good one. It covers 2 years as concisely as possible. But shows how something of a fully grown man with an infant's compression became so corrupted by hate and vengeance. How his appearance shock people into rash action. Not allowing him a chance at a life.
Just something that needs a bit of a warning there is something in Frankenstein that is akin to incest to modern eyes. When you read this you do need to remember that it was written in the early 19th century a time with extremely different cultural norms. That said given the societal differences the language remains quite readable with only a handful of words truly falling out of favour. Such as paroxysms "a sudden attack or outburst of a particular emotion or activity" (my emphasis). As a side note...which creative fool do I have to blame for corrupting the creature (aka Frankenstein's Monster)? In so many pop culture interpretations he is tall yes but inarticulate and slow-moving. Shelley writes him as superhuman in statute, speed and strength. Articulate and almost polite to Victor.
#philippe munch#mary shelley#mary wollstonecraft shelley#frankenstein#halloween reads#book review#ktreviews#read 2021#illustrated novel#ethics#booklr
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2021 Round - Artists Claims (Round 2)
Round 2 of claims for artists are open! The second round will go this week and then I'll post a new round on Thursday, opening it up for thirds. Everybody spread the word! We have 70 story summaries below for you to choose from, and this round, you may choose 2 stories to do art for! Just use a different check in ID with each sign-up.
This year, art claims are working a little differently than in years past. We are using a google form to streamline things, which should make things easier both for you as participants and us mods. To claim a story, the form requires email, check in ID, and the identifying number of your first choice of story. Putting your top three choices is best in case your first or second has already been chosen. Please be sure you've read the FAQ before claiming.
Click here to claim a story!
Sherlock Holmes (ACD Canon)
#59
Title: Designation: H
Pairing/Characters Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, John Watson/Mary Morstan (mentioned), Mycroft Holmes, young (~10 years old) Victor Trevor (mentioned), and with appearances from teenaged (14-18 years old) versions of: Dorian Gray, Reginald Jeeves, A.J. Raffles and Bunny Manders, Hercule Poirot, Jane Marple, The Phantom of the Opera, James Bond, Tom Ripley, Nero Wolfe, Father Brown, Harley Quin (Agatha Christie), Mr. Satterthwaite (Agatha Christie), Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Ian Fleming), Jason Rafiel (Agatha Christie), the killer from “And Then There Were None” (Agatha Christie), and a very loose adaptation of Gregory House (House M.D.).
Rating: Mature
Warnings/Tags: Graphic Violence, corporal punishment, violence to and by children, eugenics. I’m a little bit squeamish about the violence, it’s there, but I don’t linger on it too much and I ask that the art not linger on it too much either. Also, no sex please (there’s none in the fic).
Summary One minute, Watson is hurrying back along the path from Reichenbach falls, afraid that Holmes has indeed met his fate against the dreaded Professor Moriarty. The next thing he knows, he awakens in the infirmary of the strange Prometheus Institute, unsure whether it was all a nightmare or terrible reality. However, he quickly finds that the real nightmare is only just beginning; both he and Holmes - mercifully alive - are imprisoned along with two dozen young men behind the bars of a circular cell block, where their every move is observed by guards tasked with maintaining discipline and overseeing their training as the next step in human evolution. During the day they are trained in combat and put through complicated exercises in manipulation and subterfuge. At night they are trained in stealth; they must evade the guards and best each other in further exercises, which pit gang against gang.
Watson soon learns the dark secret behind their abduction: Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes - and Victor Trevor - were raised in the Prometheus Institute, but the brothers escaped (around age 10-12). Now, it has caught up with them, and Holmes and Watson’s only hope of getting out alive is to overcome the shadows of their pasts and work with the violent, manipulative young prisoners.
Inspired by umisabaku's fanfiction, Designation: Miracle.
#signal boost#looking for an artist#fanart#sherlock holmes#acd canon#john watson#mary morstan#holmes x watson#mycroft holmes#dorian gray#reginald jeeves#aj raffles#bunny manders#hercule poirot#jane marple#erik poto#james bond#tom ripley#nero wolfe#father brown#harley quin#mr. satterthwaite#ernst stavro blofeld#jason rafiel#gregory house#house md
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1 for Rick Evelyn and Jonathan please
Coffee on the Orient Express
The Simplon-Orient Express, just outside of Paris, late 1929
“There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you lot.”
Rick looked up as Jonathan dropped into the seat across the table and leaned back against the soft red plush. Alex, seated on a velvet cushion beside his father, bawled, “Hallo, Uncle Jon!” As a just-turned-four year old, he was going through a shouting phase. A countess, a marquis, and someone who was probably an exiled Russian prince or something looked around disapprovingly.
“Hullo, Alex,” Jonathan replied. “How d’you like the train?”
“I like it a lot!” Alex shouted. “Dad and me goed to see the driver!”
“That’s excellent,” Jonathan said, even as Rick murmured, “Not so loud, kiddo.”
He cast a glance around the dining car; everywhere eyes dropped back to plates or newspapers. Rick sighed. He doubted that he was ever going to get used to traveling first class, even on trains that weren’t as swanky as the Orient Express. Even Evie and Jonathan were a little cowed by it; though they had been raised posh, their mixed-race status had oftentimes barred them to “polite” society. Rick, a working-class boy from Chicago, was still oftentimes wrong-footed.
“This place is giving me the creeps,” Rick said in an undertone. “Look at this.”
He raised a finger, hand still resting on the table, and a waiter materialized out of nowhere like some kind of liveried djinn. Even though he had expected him, Rick started.
“How can I help monsieur?”
“Could we please have a hot chocolate for the little one, and two coffees? Thanks, awfully.”
The waiter bowed and dematerialized. Rick gave Jonathan a wide-eyed look.
“Spooky.”
“Well-trained,” Jonathan corrected, grinning. “Keep saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and you’ll probably get special treatment.”
Rick snorted. He caught a crayon that Alex was rolling along the table and sent it sliding back towards his son.
“Half these people must be royalty,” he said.
“Nobility,” Jonathan replied. “Royalty usually have their own trains. Not all of them: don’t look now, but that’s Agatha Christie having tea in the corner.”
Under the pretext of picking up a crayon, Rick glanced over at the lady in the corner. She looked perfectly ordinary in an expensive suit and a red fox fur stole, jotting notes down in a small notebook while she drank tea from a porcelain teapot.
“Think she’s plotting a murder?”
Jonathan considered. “It’d be an interesting setting for it. Different from the isolated country house, but not so isolated that the killer couldn’t get away if he wanted.”
“Who would kill someone on a train?” Rick mused.
“Someone who thought they could pin it on someone else, especially if there were stops in the night and the body wasn’t found ‘til morning.”
“Hmm,” Rick murmured. “There’d have to be a twist of some kind, of course, to make it stand out.”
“What kind of a twist?”
“I dunno, I’m not a writer.”
Both men chuckled. The waiter reappeared at their table, handing around coffee and hot chocolate and a cookie for Alex.
“That’s very kind of you,” Rick said, nodding to him. “Alex, what do you say?”
“That lady’s gonna murder someone!” Alex whisper-shouted, pointing his crayon.
The waiter followed the line of the crayon to Mrs. Christie, still scribbling in her notebook, and smiled. “Eh, bien, little monsieur, the lady kills people in her books.”
“It’s not nice to kill people,” Alex said solemnly. “Even in stories. Thank you for my cookie.”
“You don’t think she heard that?” Rick murmured, embarrassed.
“No, monsieur, the lady is absorbed,” the waiter said, smiling at him.
“Five pounds says she writes a novel about the Orient Express,” Jonathan said as the waiter walked away.
“I’m not betting you five pounds to guess the setting of Agatha Christie’s next book!”
“Doesn’t have to be the next one,” Jonathan replied. “Five pounds, the murder is set on the Orient Express and the detective is Poirot, not Marple.”
Rick scoffed. “Honestly, I’d rather see how Miss Sayers and Lord Peter Wimsey handle it.”
“It’ll be Mrs. Christie and Poirot; she sends him abroad more than Sayers does Wimsey. Five pounds. Deal?”
Rick made a face. “Deal.”
They shook on it.
“And don’t you let him forget it, Alex,” Jonathan said, picking up his demitasse of fine coffee.
Alex, chewing his cookie, nodded. “Mrs. Christie is going to murder someone on a train for five pounds. Got it.”
Not quite five years later
The letter arrived at Jonathan’s London flat on a bitterly cold January morning, post-marked Cairo, containing newsy letters from Evie and Alex, and a note from Rick. Inside the paper were a newspaper clipping of an ad for Agatha Christie’s latest Poirot adventure, Murder on the Orient Express, and a cheque for five pounds. All the note said was, “Damn it, Jonathan”.
(Author’s Note: Agatha Christie first rode the Orient Express in late 1929, hence this story’s date; Murder on the Orient Express was published on New Year’s Day 1934. Five pounds at the time is roughly $350 in today’s money.)
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Sul sul! Some non-sims stuff. I’ve been outdoors _a lot_ lately and skipped the computer for a few days, so here’s a bit of catching up:
I was tagged by @pitheinfinite to make an avatar in here and I managed to create this, and it was fun! So thank you Pi the Infinite 💕 I’ve seen so many people do this before and have no clue who’s been tagged already, so if you have not yet been, have a tag by me.
I was also tagged by @technicallyswagpizza to answer to 10 random questions! 😊 This was a tough one.
1. If you could travel one place in the world where would you travel?
I’m copying Technically Swag Pizza, I answer New Zealand and Iceland too, and also Japan. I have decided that I will fly only once again in my life, so I think it will be one of those places. But really I’d love it anywhere decent and safe. I guess it could be kinda cool to once experience a place where there are millions of people, but then again… I appreciate peace and space.
2. What do you do in your free time away from Sims?
I walk the dog, play Age of Empires 2 Definite Edition or mobile games, paint, draw, snooze, do dollhouse stuff or something related to historical re-enacting, meet friends or family, eat, or just waste time in some other way…
3. What other games do you play besides The Sims?
Currently just AoE2DE and on mobile The Simpsons Tapped Out and Plants vs. Zombies 2.
4. How tall are you?
I’m 150 cm short
5. One random interest of yours?
Umm, I have mostly just random interests… Is collecting lichen random enough? 🤔
6. Current favorite bands or artists?
Strangely, I don’t think I have any atm. My music listening comes and goes in phases, and right now I’m in between two.
7. Something you’re looking forward to?
Normal life after corona. Graduation, finding a job, having my own house and garden…
8. Current favorite films?
Hmmm. A few long Hercule Poirot movies come on tv this spring and summer.
9. Who is a historical icon who has left an impact on your life?
When I read this question for the first time, all that came to my mind was Minna Canth, though she’s certainly not the only one nor the one with the greatest impact, but I can’t come up with another one. So Minna Canth.
10. Favorite series (book or movie)?
Oh noe… Silmarillion, Hobbit and LOTR? Narnia? Emil i Lönneberga? Moomins? Vi på Saltkråkan? Marple? Poirot?
I see @pitheinfinite and @simaddix have not at least yet answered this? ^^
Also my little baby boy turned 6 months this week, learned how to raise a leg and pee (mostly) only outside and started eating everything he finds form the ground, again. The way he’s changed my life 💗
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Damn Right, It’s Women’s Work: A Random Literary Recommendation
Wow, a whole goddamn day for little ol’ us-es? Well, let’s not waste it. In honor of International Women’s Day and my English B.A., here’s a rec list of all the works created by kick-ass women that helped shape my life.
Literature is What You Make of It
Don’t ever let anyone tell you that the book you dogeared, accidentally dropped in the tub, left to yellow in the sun, and read year after year doesn’t qualify as “literature.” The entire industry of the written word is completely subjective, and as long as a work is everlasting to you, it counts.
It fucking counts.
Here’s a list of the works that helped shape my life, for better or for worse:
Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
My mom started me early with both Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot in print and on TV. Every time I read one of Christie’s works or see an adaptation onscreen, it’s a nostalgia blast straight to my solar plexus.
The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
This is basically something every person should read to help understand the history of feminism. It’ll help you think about things differently. Or at the very least, you’ll get a head start on your university’s Gender Studies 101 reading list.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume
All works by Judy Blume are 100% recommended for young teens, but this one pushed the envelope by frankly discussing both religion and sex. I think teens could use a little more openness in these areas.
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
I read this during my junior year at university on a whim. People kept telling me to read Handmaid’s Tale, but I didn’t just to be a contrary bitch (and also because the topic of HT frankly freaked me out with its eery believability). Oryx and Crake is also a little eery, but it’s definitely worth it.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Seventh grade was an interesting time to read this, but it honestly helped me discover the uncomfortable truths of being a girl in this world in a healthy way. This is a trauma novel and you should go into it understanding that for the context of its nonlinear structure.
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
This is a story about a black woman’s desire for love in a world designed not to give her any. It’s raw and charged with issues of race, sex, violence, and gender roles. You can’t go wrong with a slow read-through of this novel.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
This book wasn’t actually my favorite. It was a forced read for my eighth grade English class, and it was a bit of a dry end product for what the concept could have been. However, I really do like the novel’s symbolic use of color (and the absence of it).
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
I’m not fucking crying, you’re fucking crying. Seriously, I thought the book was bad enough, but that goddamn movie? Jesus Christ, that was an early lesson in masochism.
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft
This is one of the earliest works of feminist philosophy, and it’s definitely worth the read. Not just to admire, however, but to understand where it falls short and to contextualize how long the feminist movement takes to intersect with other important aspects of life.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
She is the mother of science fiction and, arguably, horror. It’s rather short but packed full of a poetically creepy plot. And just so you know, it’s actually the Frankenstein monster. Frankenstein is the doctor. /s (I understand that this is actually a common misconception, but Jesus tapdancing Christ do you know how many nerds have said this to me? Take your condescendingly raised pointer finger and shove it.)
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Read this because it’s fucking history, bros and brosettes. Also, it really gets you thinking about the integrity of the average white liberal.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Yes. Alllll the yes. Do it.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Move over Emily, the better Bronte is coming through. No seriously, move over because Wuthering Heights was so goddamn dreary I need to take a depression nap.
Sandy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
I read every single book in this series. Sandy Keyes was a sassier Nancy Drew and I was here for it. These books filled every spare minute of my elementary and middle school years. I hope other younglings keep her alive.
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Money, family, poverty, gender roles. This play has everything. I highly recommend reading this work or watching a performance.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
J.K. Rowling may be a no-good fucking TERF, but the bitch knows how to write an engaging fantasy world. It was a flip on whether she’d go on the Dishonorable list or not, but Harry doesn’t deserve that. Also, the third novel will always be my favorite.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I still remember so clearly in my mind my freshman English teacher (whom I hated) in high school asking the class what this book was about. Everyone kept answering with the obvious: racial conflict, the limitations and successes of the law, family, Scout growing up, etc. She kept saying no and then after 10 minutes of guessing and having us squirm she smugly said, “It’s about Jem breaking his arm.” Then she lectured us for 30 minutes about close reading. It’s irrational, but I’ve hated this book ever since.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
The structure of this novel is absolutely fantastic, and it’s a great insight into the relationships between Chinese-American women and their families.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
That goddamn pie. It gets me every time.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
All Works By Maya Angelou Will Always Be Recommended.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Jane Austen isn’t really my favorite author, but this is my favorite work of hers. I’m a rather basic bitch that way.
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
I cried. I was 14 years old and thought I was long past crying over a book. I was not.
The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson
Her diction, syntax, and rhythm are wild. Also, John Mulaney was 100% correct.
The Street by Ann Petry
I read this during my senior year of university in my Black Existentialism class. It was a bit mundane and a little bit sad. Definitely worth a read, though.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
Believe it or not, this was my first foray into LGBTQ+ literature. I have my own reservations about the book itself, but I’ll always be thankful to this novel for knocking me over the head and leading me down a path that I hadn’t thought to discover.
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
This shit was crazy. Literally.
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
The names of the characters are 1000% cringe. And why did you have to do Johnny dirty like that, Susan? Also, am I the only one that kind of hated the movie?
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
This whole book was so goddamn boring. But when understanding exactly what the book was about and how it ended, I feel like it’s appropriate that it was.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
This one is cute and sweet and fit for any teenager to peruse at their leisure.
Feminism is for Everybody by bell hooks
Another Gender Studies 101 required reading to knock off your list. You won’t regret it.
(Dis)Honorable Mentions
Jesus Christ, but I hated everything I ever read by these authors. But I still read them. Blurgh.
Stephanie Meyer. She tried, but it all was just so, so bad. I still read each fucking book in the Twilight series, though, so who really won this battle?
Ayn Rand. Fuck you, Ayn. Nothing further to say, really.
Cassandra Clare. Her works weren’t actually that bad, but her behavior online soured my grapes until I couldn’t read another page of her Infernal Devices series.
Anne Rice. You made vampires boring to me, Anne. Me, an angsty teenager. And you somehow made vampires boring. Congratulations, I guess. Also, fuck off with your holier than thou shit. Ya make boring books, Anne.
#bittah wizard#Random Recommendation#literature#books#novels#writing#rec list#women#women writers#international womens day#you gotta fight#for your right#to write#feminism#authors#women authors
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Quick Fire Facts about the muses!
(Editor Beezie here aka the mun: I will be doing small quick fires of the muses of this blog. This will include upcoming ones too. Just a few four headcanon facts about the guys.These are the official headcanon of the fantrolls in this blog. There is more facts about the trolls but these are the only facts I can tell you without spoiling their whole backstories. If you wish to know more about the mueses please send in a ask and find out. )
Calice Wahron
.Calice makes her own paints at home by mixing flowers,precious stones and clay hence the name dirt paintings or rivercolors.
Calice is highly allergic to salt water, because of her genetic mutation of an olive with sea dweller gills and fins.
Her horns are based off the clovers of the bermuda buttercup or the buttercup oxalis that grow in winter months in the state I’m in and they’re my favorite flower. While her design is slightly based on the book Winds in the willow.
Calice’s sign is the mun’s homestuck zodiac sign.
Eponia Hompis
Eponia was originally a ship baby between two canon characters that the mun no longer ships. But still show a little bit of the ship what she was formally was once in a while whenever interacting with others or in rps.
Yes the mun is fully aware she’s been writing Eponia’s name like this ‘Epoina’ she’s just too lazy to fix it now.
Eponia’s current design was originally adopt for a flower theme of trolls. Her flower being irises. But I fell in love with her design and kept her.
Eponia can make extremely fluffy jiggly grubcakes aka pancakes which she often sees as a failure.
Kimaoi Midria
Like Eponia Kimaoi was going to be a grubling adoption, her design was a bronze grub with vitiligo and rabbit tail. But I decided to scrap the bunny tail and keep Kimaoi for myself.
Kimaoi’s name is the combination of kimo kawaii meaning and please correct me if I am wrong in the comments. It looks a little creepy but cute.
If you guys hadn’t noticed Kimaoi had a few scars on her legs, meaning she had self harmed herself in the past, due to having dealt with depression and had trauma with abuse. And still recovering at her own pace to self love again.
Like the words for her name, Kimaoi loves everything spooky and scary. Basically halloween is her Christmas. She loves it and finds what we see as big scary monsters to Kimi she sees puppy. ( The mun is no better if facing monsters or dinosaurs and willing to call them puppies)
Kotton Poplus
Kotton is at this moment is one of two out of the ask group that has their pale quadrant filled.
Kotton was suppose to be a ship baby from two canon characters but got scrapped and the mun doesn’t ship anymore. But like Epoina, it's hinted who they were who turned Kotton into a clown loving puffball who doesn’t know too much of the rules between limes and purples.
Kotton’s name is the combination of Kitten and Cotton Candy, Hence why she appears to be extremely hyper and overly positive to some situations.
Kotton and her morial are the youngest of the adults trolls, both being 8.77 aka 19 years old. And yes she is the party girl of the cast.
Mariot Lotora
Mariot is the only one out of the group at this moment who has their red quadrant filled and is the mama of Macleo.
Mariot’s name is the combination of two Agatha Christie's characters miss Marple and Hercules Poirot.
Mariot had gone through probably the most design changes out of the group currently.
Is the main mom friend of the group to make sure the younger jades in the caverns are not sneaking off or bringing something back to the caverns. This goes double with the ask cast too.
Mairuz Panais
Mairzu is one of my oldest oc characters, not by age but who came first in the large group when being created. he, Nefiri and Rafina were the big ogs before everyone else was created. And went through a massive design and character change before making his appearance on the blog.
Mairzu’s name is a play on words of the italian almond candy marzipan.
Whenever Mairzu becomes scared or excited he would start to smell like someone’s favorite candy for the whole day. This is from an inside joke me and a friend have about Mairzu due to his namesake.
Whenever Mairzu becomes flustered or has a crush on someone will do the goofy’s very loudly hyuck. He is very embarrassed about it.
Nefiri Bastia
Nefiri is from a very long line of huntresses/tribe leaders. Where her traditions is where both eggs from blackrom and redrom are at risk from the other mate in the chief's black and red quadrant. Nefiri’s egg is the only known recorded redrom egg in the bloodline.
Nefiri is the old lost friend of @ask-swagger-dagger-trolls’s oc Jamari, she is not part of his quadrant. She did had two of her quadrants filled before losing them to a rival tribe forcing her into exile. Making her quadrants empty.
If she really likes you, Nefiri will lick your cheek or rub her head against you much like how a big cat greets their keeper. Or full on big cat hug which she tends to forget how strong she is at times. And if Nef has red feelings to someone she will bring dead animals and extremely affectionate to them.
Nefiri does not know how modern society works at all. If you put her in a city setting, she will become extremely tense and nervous about it. Hell she is kinda the reason if someone has some sort of new tech and its someone she’s close to. Yeah.. She’ll see it as a threat and will destroy it.
Nixiie Apilon
Nixiie has a babyface, meaning she is easily mistaken to be younger than her actual age. She is 10.62 aka 23 in human years at this moment since her wiggling day is in the spring.
To Nixiie she sees any jade in caverns she’s in as family/teachers. For example @princeofdoomrps Viktor, Nixiie calls him a teacher if she knows he is not part of her cavern while with @faithlines ‘s Lacuna she is not sure in that department so big sister teacher. And feels extremely guilty if a higher authority jade sees her and she thinks she’s in trouble like anyone of us would towards our own family,teachers or bosses fearing we will be punished or be a disappointment to them.
Nixiie’s name is the combination of Pixie and Nymph two magical creatures of folklore and her horns and wings are based off of the lunar moth. But went through a lot of design changes before taking in another grub adopt and turn it into Nixiie today. And like a moth to a flame if Nixiie sees something new or is extremely excited she will go after it.
Nixiie doesn't eat meat, she will drink troll blood but will not touch anything that is made from an animal. She’s pretty much the vegan girl of the group.
Pohkin Boines
Pohkin wears a corset under her clothes and will deny it if someone asks if she does wear it. This goes double for the weave. And bust size.
Pohkin was held to a high standard by her lusus when being raised to become a regel and lady of high blood society and look down at her fellow low caste even in her own.
Pohkin carries around a very sharp and large syringe and will use it on anyone she either deems as a riff raff or a threat. However she’s not that strong. Cunning yes, but has no muscles.
Pohkin is at this moment tends to scare the mun and bullies me often whenever something silly comes her way. For example being put in an outfit like idk a chicken suit or something that shows way too much skin.
Rafina Uymumi
Rafina is a run away troll, to get away from her overly controlling lusus. She ran away and joined the circus sort of speak.
She is extremely flexible, able to bend and walk on her hands with ease and stay that way for a while before standing on her feet again.
Originally Rafina was going to be a shut in underwater writer for her blog for fantasy stories, but I didn’t think that would be a good fit for her. I wanted to give her the little mermaid story where Ariel wanted to go to the human world for her own means and not for a prince. But, still writes just for herself and refuse to show it to anyone.
Rafina’s performances either contains acrobatics gymnastics,belly dances or pole dances. Depending what’s on the line up or who’s the audience for the evening.
#Rafina Uymumi#Pohkin Boines#Nixiie Apilon#Nefiri Bastia#Mariot Lotora#Mairzu Panais#Kotton Poplus#Kimaoi Midria#Eponia Hompis#Calice Wahron#quick facts#fantroll#fantroll ask blog#Fantroll community#fantrolls#troll oc ask#long post#info#ask blog promo
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Secret Santa here longing for some Christmas cookies. What are some of your favorite non-BATB related things? Do you love reading like Belle or inventing like Maurice?
Hi secret santa! I wish i could send you some of the warm gooey cookies that my roommate's been making. (She bakes, I cook, so it all works out perfectly.)Some of my fave non-BatB things...well yes, I do enjoy reading like Belle. This summer I rediscovered my love for Agatha Christie mysteries (I have a soft spot for Poirot but Miss Marple is pretty cool too). As my other blogs would indicate, my other obsessions include Marvel movies and everything Halloween-related. I was pretty much raised on Alfred Hitchcock thrillers and the Twilight Zone. My mom and I also like to watch shows together--we would watch Downton Abbey together when that was still going, now it's Call the Midwife and This is Us.I really like historical fiction in general (the only short story I've ever gotten published is set in Iceland circa 900 AD). The research part of it is so fun for me, though I often get lost in all the obscure details I want to know. I've long been a Greek mythology nerd and I took a lot of ancient/classical lit courses just for the fun of it.I'm definitely not mechanically minded like Maurice but I like making things (I made some cute lil paper snowflakes to string across our windows, since Christmas decorations are...expensive). I'm not a great seamstress but my sewing has vastly improved over the past year or so, and I hope to keep getting better!
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A Complicated Slumber - Jughead x Reader
Masterlist
@idle-lanes @sgarrett49 @murderyoursoul @moonlight53
A new story idea I came up with. Let me know if you guys want another part.
Warnings: None yet but will go into physical parental abuse. Do not read if easily triggered.
Music while writing: The Thermals “Now We Can See”. David Bowie “Heroes”. The Black Keys “Tighten Up”. Glen Hansard "Say it to me Now". - takes me a while to write guys.
*Tap Tap Tap*
The noise scared you and made you jump. The small light next to your bed was still on, and you decided to see what was at your window.
“Juggie? What the hell?”, your voice was in a soft whisper but maintained shock behind it nonetheless.
You opened the window as the brooding boy carefully and quietly came in - while almost tripping on a curtain.
“You have to be quiet…if my Dad finds out…well I’m dead. And I mean that literally”, he gave a nod but your recent friendship had taught you enough about his facial emotions. “What’s wrong?”
“Can I sleep here tonight?”. His voice was hushed, almost cracking as he asked.
You had remembered what your face had probably looked like, the room was still darkened so you were pretty sure he couldn’t see your eyes yet. You instinctively pushed your sleeves down.
You gave a slight nod while ignoring to glance back to his eyes. You slowly went to your door and locked it.
You grabbed a pillow from your bed, resting it on the floor as well as the quilt that was folded under your bed.
What you didn’t notice was that Jughead’s eyes were on your every slight movement. He did see your eyes, as the small lamp illuminated your face enough when you gently turned. He was looking you up and down - as he realized he had never seen you so frail before. “Was she always this thin?”. He recalled that you had lately worn baggy clothes to cover up any figure that hid beneath. In that moment, any worry he had for himself and his current predicament was wiped away by his worry for you.
He started to take off his jacket and shoes and then put them in the corner by the window. He laid down to put his head on the pillow as he gave a soft sigh.
You began to go back under the covers of your bed while you reached for the book that sat by the lamp beside you. You paused for a moment to look down at the boy who seemed to have a lot on his mind. “Did you eat something?”, your voice was so gentle and quiet, it barely registered in the room.
You had been making him a lunch for school for almost a month now. You knew enough about his life between the Drive-in closing and his Dad, that you tried to help when you could. “Yeah, I ate at Pop’s. I just didn’t want to fall asleep there again”.
“Alright”. You gave pause and worry to his demeanor as he gave his answers nonchalantly. “Well, if you want I can turn the light off. I wasn’t asleep yet, thought I’d read…”. Truth being that tiring your eyes out with the words in front of you was lately the only way you could go to sleep.
“That’s fine”, he looked up to you finally as you were leaning over the bed to keep your voice quiet.
His eyes caught yours as he looked down to see what he could of your body. You instinctively pulled the covers more over your body. “Do you want a book?”.
He gave a shrug as it seemed that his focus was taken off of you - something that gave you a little relief.
You got up while crossing your arms in front of your torso. A habit that had occurred more frequently as of late when you felt you couldn’t let anyone in.
He got up from the ground and followed you to your closet as you quietly opened it. Revealing instead of a rack of clothing - two bookshelves sitting inside.
He gave a small and quiet chuckle. “Why am I not surprised?”
You gave a smile but didn’t really want to look him in the face - the feeling of anxiousness rising in you.
“Anything you’re in the mood for?”. You scanned the titles in front of you.
Once again, you were oblivious to Jughead staring at you. A smirk had adorned his face as he saw the books ahead of him. “She was always reading”. You two wouldn’t have met otherwise. You were reading in “his” booth one day - giving a chuckle to the words written in front of you. It peaked Jughead’s interest and so started a friendship based upon the books you loved and argued about for hours.
Neither of you really ever went into detail about your families. You had heard enough about Jughead’s situation thanks to the gossip that surrounded Riverdale. You however, never really liked to open up about your family situation. Jughead knew that you just lived with your Dad but that was about it - as you never really invited anyone over to your house for a reason.
“Mystery”, you looked over as he gave you an eyebrow raise with his answer.
“Figures…”, you returned with a smirk. You reached for your copy of The Secret Adversary and passed it to him.
"Agatha eh?”, he turned the cover around to read the back.
“Yeah. It’s not a Miss Marple or Poirot though. Good change of pace. Partners in crime sort of the thing. Last I checked, that was up your alley”. You gave a smile while heading back to your bed.
He slouched back down to the blanket and pillow on the ground. “You know. There’s nothing going on…”
“With Tommy and Tuppence? Not in that one no…”, you were deflecting.
“I meant Betty”, he turned to the first page.
“Its fine if there is Jug”. You gave a sigh while placing your bookmark down on the table to the side of you.
Silence shadowed over the room. The only sound was pages turning between the two of you. After a little while you heard Jughead sigh. You looked down below you to see the book next to him, his eyes wincing while he pinched his eyes.
“What?”. No answer. “If you want me to turn off the light…”
“Were you crying?”, his words cut you off and he was looking directly at you now.
You leaned back into your bed - just staring up at the ceiling. Your hands now fidgeting. You gave a soft sigh, "yeah".
It remained quiet in the room until Jughead finally broke the tension. "Want to talk about it?"
Your eyes remained at the ceiling. "Better if I don't". It was a few more minutes of silence until you turned off the light. A few seconds later you heard a rustling below you. You just figured Jughead was trying to get comfortable on the floor.
The next thing you knew, your covers were lifted from you and Jughead was next to you. Your body was already laying on its side, facing the wall.
You felt his arm reach over your side, his breath against your hair. "When you want to tell me, I'm here". His voice was in a whisper but you could hear the sincerity behind his words.
You grasped his hand with your own, trying to escape from your thoughts of the day that you just wanted to pass. "Thanks Juggie".
In each other's embrace, you fell asleep. A deep sleep that neither of you had acquired in some time.
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Okay, I gotta say it cause it’s gonna hurt if I don’t.
I want to be happy about the Orient Express movie coming. I want to so bad! I’m so happy the queen of mysteries characters are finally getting some spotlight! We've been seeing Sherlock Holmes fucking everywhere, and good on him, but where is my Poirot? My Miss Marple? The characters I love and want to see more of! I know their stories aren’t flashy, but I want even just one adaptation of them cause fuck if I’m not getting tired of Sherlock. Like, don’t get me wrong, I loved Elementary even though I need to catch up really bad, but holy fuck that man, that character is everywhere!
So finding out that a movie for Agatha Christie was gonna come, I was so excited! I didn’t expect David Suchet to show up cause he’s 71 years old, let him do other roles. I loved his acting, but he has the right to do other stuff with his life, you know? However, I did expect either some new and upcoming actor who looks like the book description of Poirot, or some famous actor whose name I don’t know to take on the role of Poirot. Maybe they have to wear a fat suit or use CGI to make them look just right, but whatever, so long as it’s Poirot, that’s all that mattered to me.
But watching that trailer, seeing Kenneth Branagh, the dude who played Professor Lockhart in Harry Potter, a tall, skinny man with naturally blonde hair, and a square shaped face playing “Poirot” made my heart ache, raised my blood pressure, and stunned me into silence. The ensuing rage made me jump onto Tumblr so I could make sure that I was not the only person who was angry about this awful casting choice.
Like, when I first saw him I was like “Who are you supposed to be? It’s been a while, so maybe I’m forgetting a character. Nice mustache, but Poirot’s will be cooler than that. Now I just gotta keep my eye out for another character with a crazier mustache, alright, show up any time now, come on... HOLY FUCK HE’S THE ONLY ONE WITH A WEIRD MUSTACHE HE MUST BE POIROT WHAT THE FUCK HE LOOKS NOTHING LIKE POIROT! Fucking forget David Suchet, he’s nothing like the book’s description of the character FUCK THIS I’M DONE.”
So yeah, unless the movie turns out is amazing, I don’t know if I’ll ever watch this movie. Like, I want to support this and be like “Yes, we want more Agatha Christie!” but I do not want to see that man waltz around claiming to be Poirot when they have nothing in common in looks. Unless the acting is absolutely phenomenal, and the story is either true to the book or even the other adaptation that was made with David Suchet in it, I’m probably not going to go watch this movie.
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The Question Game
Thanks for tagging me @missartemisholmes! <3
You know the rules: answer the questions, add +1 then tag 10 people.
1. Coke or Pepsi: Neither, I don’t like fizzy drinks...
2. Disney or Dreamworks: I don’t want to choose...But It’ll have to be Disney
3. Coffee or Tea: Tea
4. Books or Movies: Books
5. Windows or Mac: Mac
6. DC or Marvel: I don’t care that much, but Marvel I think...
7. Xbox or Playstation: Neither?
8. Dragon Age or Mass Effect: I don’t even know what this is o.O
9. Night Owl or Early Rise: Night Owl
10. Cards or Chess: Cards I think...
11. Chocolate or Vanilla: Dark chocolate
12. Vans or Converse: Both
13. Lavellan, Trevelyan, Cadash or Adaar: What?
14. Fluff or Angst: Fluff
15. Beach or Forest: It’s complicated...
16. Dogs or Cats: Both!
17. Clear Skies or Rain: Depends, I usually like rain, but if I’m on my way somewhere, I prefer clear skies
18. Cooking or Eating Out: Cooking
19. Spicy Food or Mild Food: Mild...
20. Halloween/Samhain or Solstice/Yule/Christmas: The last one
21. Would you rather forever be a little too cold or a little too hot: Fuck me this sounds annoying, I’ll go with hot...
22. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?: Telekinesis or shapeshifting...
23. Animation or Live Action: Animation
24. Paragon or Renegade: ...What?
25. Baths or Showers: Showers
26. Team Cap or Team Iron Man: Iron Man I guess
27. Fantasy or Sci-Fi: Fantasy... but only by a smidgen!
28. Do you have three or four favourite quotes? If so, what are they:
I have so many, these were just the first (short) ones to come to mind...
1. Your life is not your own, keep your hands off it
- Sherlock Holmes, The Veiled Lodger
2. You can always count on a murderer for a funny prose style
- Humbert Humbert, Lolita
3. But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue
- Hamlet, Hamlet
29. YouTube or Netflix: Youtube.... (I was not expecting this answer...)
30. Harry Potter or Percy Jackson: Harry Potter
31. When You Feel Accomplished: This is not a question...
32. Star Wars or Star Trek: .... This is so hard.... I grew up with Star Wars, but Star Trek is so great and gay... I’ll have to say Star trek
33. Paperback Books or Hardback Books: Hardbacks! I don’t care that they are impossible to bring places
34. Handwriting or Typing: Handwriting
35. Velvet or Satin: Velvet
36. Video Games or Movies: Movies
37. Would you rather be the dragon or own the dragon?: Depends on the dragon tbh... would I like to be a filthy rich one just chilling in my own mountain? YEAH! But I don’t want to be chained up in a basement because people complain my mum didn’t raise me properly...
38. Sunrise or sunset: Sunset
39. What’s your favourite song?: Today? Candy Shop by 50 cent (I blame @love-in-mind-palace for this, it has been stuck in my head since this fucking video)
40. Horror Movies yes or no: NO
41. Long hair or short hair: Long
42. Opera or Theatre: Theatre
43. Assuming the multiverse theory is true and every story ever told has really happened somewhere, which one of the movie/book/tv show/game/etc worlds would you pick to travel to first?: Pilotverse...
44: If you had to eat only one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?: POTATOES
45: Older guys or young guys?: If you’re referring to romantic entanglement - which I rather fear you are - older guys I guess...
46: If you could erase any show from TV history, what would it be?: s4 obviously... But if it has to be a whole show, then Idk...
47: Singing or dancing: Dancing
48: Instagram or Twitter: Instagram
49: What is your favorite country and why?: I haven’t been to most of the countries, so how would I know??? I liked Vietnam a lot when I was there...
50: Who’s your role model?: Can’t think of any rignt now...
51: What’s your favourite album of all time?: Maybe Lemonade?
52: What is something that you’re super proud of?: I am still alive
53: If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?: Arthur Conan Doyle, just to set the record gay
54. Who’s your favorite poet?: Claus Høxbroe I think?
55. Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple?: Miss Marple
56. If you could start your life over, what would you have changed?: I’m tryng to keep this light-hearted, so I would have stopped trying to be cool, and just embraced my dorkness earlier.
57. If a genie granted you 3 wishes right now, what would you wish for?
1. No more war
2. No more hunger
3. No more repression of ‘minorities’
My question is: what colour is your toothbrush?
I’m tagging: @love-in-mind-palace, @currently-in-my-mind-palace, @johnnlocked, @memelockholmes, @kilmameri, @autumn-redness and everybody else who want’s to do it, no pressure you don’t have to and stuff :3
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* FINAL CHANCE TO CLAIM FICS FOR WIP BIG BANG 2021 - CLAIMS END JULY 19TH *
We have 11 fics available for claiming in a variety of fandoms. If this fic snippet interests you, please claim it! Our writer would love to have an artist to work with.
Click here to claim this story!
Sherlock Holmes (ACD Canon)
#59
Title: Designation: H
Pairing/Characters Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, John Watson/Mary Morstan (mentioned), Mycroft Holmes, young (~10 years old) Victor Trevor (mentioned), and with appearances from teenaged (14-18 years old) versions of: Dorian Gray, Reginald Jeeves, A.J. Raffles and Bunny Manders, Hercule Poirot, Jane Marple, The Phantom of the Opera, James Bond, Tom Ripley, Nero Wolfe, Father Brown, Harley Quin (Agatha Christie), Mr. Satterthwaite (Agatha Christie), Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Ian Fleming), Jason Rafiel (Agatha Christie), the killer from “And Then There Were None” (Agatha Christie), and a very loose adaptation of Gregory House (House M.D.).
Rating: Mature
Warnings/Tags: Graphic Violence, corporal punishment, violence to and by children, eugenics. I’m a little bit squeamish about the violence, it’s there, but I don’t linger on it too much and I ask that the art not linger on it too much either. Also, no sex please (there’s none in the fic).
Summary One minute, Watson is hurrying back along the path from Reichenbach falls, afraid that Holmes has indeed met his fate against the dreaded Professor Moriarty. The next thing he knows, he awakens in the infirmary of the strange Prometheus Institute, unsure whether it was all a nightmare or terrible reality. However, he quickly finds that the real nightmare is only just beginning; both he and Holmes - mercifully alive - are imprisoned along with two dozen young men behind the bars of a circular cell block, where their every move is observed by guards tasked with maintaining discipline and overseeing their training as the next step in human evolution. During the day they are trained in combat and put through complicated exercises in manipulation and subterfuge. At night they are trained in stealth; they must evade the guards and best each other in further exercises, which pit gang against gang.
Watson soon learns the dark secret behind their abduction: Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes - and Victor Trevor - were raised in the Prometheus Institute, but the brothers escaped (around age 10-12). Now, it has caught up with them, and Holmes and Watson’s only hope of getting out alive is to overcome the shadows of their pasts and work with the violent, manipulative young prisoners.
Inspired by umisabaku's fanfiction, Designation: Miracle.
A SNIPPET:
They ran as far as they could and never looked back.
They fled across the moor, running until they could run no more. Hounds bayed in hot pursuit by day and night.
They faked their deaths for the first time at the bank of a river that flowed into a waterfall. They left their clothes behind and waded through the shallows until they reached the edge of a small town.
They were both children—at least they looked like children, the older no more than thirteen. They lied and manipulated and stole. They used their innocent faces to earn the villagers’ trust and then ran away with all they could carry. They did it to survive. That was the only way they knew how to survive.
They wandered from town to town, stealing food and clothing and a place for the night, until at last they came to London. They lived on the streets, stealing and manipulating and lying. They picked locks and played scams. A criminal empire formed around them. The older plotted and the younger enforced.
The older loitered on Whitehall, watching the politicians and bureaucrats running a country. He had been created and trained to be perfectly rational, and more intelligent than any human. It was only right that he take the lead. After all, there was only so much a human could do with their emotions and imperfections.
The younger lurked in alleyways and spent his time among criminals, watching them and the rise and fall of their aspirations. He noted their follies and, though he would never admit it, learned their ways.
“Enough,” the elder declared at last.
There would be no more stealing or sleeping on the streets, they would not live as common crooks when they were so much more by their very nature. They had acquired enough money to buy lodgings and for the elder to go to university, while the younger began to shadow the defenders of the law. They gave themselves new names, though they never left their designations behind.
#signal boost#looking for an artist#fan art#fanartist#Fanart#wipbb2021#acd holmes#acd watson#acd canon#sherlock holmes#john watson#mycroft holmes#victor trevor#dorian gray#reginald jeeves#a.j. raffles#bunny manders#hercule poirot#erik poto#jane marple#james bond#tom ripley#gregory house#father brown#ernst stavro blofeld
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