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#mrs bluebeard
chrishoughton · 1 year
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You probably get asked about this from time to time, but have you seen the subtle-ish nod(s) to Cricket in the background of the video for Mrs. Bluebeard by They Might Be Giants?
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I did know of the Cricket cameo in that music video because my wife, Kassandra Heller designed/directed said music video!
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devoutjunk · 3 months
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be bold, be bold, etc.
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majestativa · 4 months
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Bluebeard’s Castle – dark, haunting […] – tells a lot about women, always wanting to look behind the next door, driven by desire and a need to know, mostly to their detriment.
— Karina M. Szczurek, The Fifth Mrs Brink: A Memoir, (2017)
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powernappin · 1 year
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i want to say I learned something valuable today
alas, my murdered remains are incapable of learning anything
...
AKA it's been like two years so i'm rewriting virgil's lore again!!
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fleursdesmorts · 2 years
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the story of mister fox, as told in holly black's 'the lost sisters'
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cheshire-creeper · 1 year
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I think we should analyze both music and lyrics more often. Come on. That’s the best part about obsessing over a song! Bang the Doldrums but instead of focusing on pEtEkEy or whatever ship you wanna push, let’s focus on the parells found in the verse of “Come, Hell or High Water/When I’m feeling Hot and Wet!/I can’t commit to a thing, be it heart, or hospital!” LIKE. That’s an entire essay in and of itself. Just the way that all of those words are two parts of something, some of which are seen as a binary and some seen as being the same state of being. And how that ties back into the song’s entire story...it’s sooo good I TELL YOU! WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT TO NOT JUST FALL OUT BOY LYRICS EITHER, BUT TO OTHER BANDS LYRICS! ANALYZE “HELL” BY TEGAN AND SARA! ANALYZE “MRS. BLUEBEARD” BY THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS! ANALYZE “WHEN “YOU’RE” AROUND“ BY MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK LIKE THAT! DO THAT AND THE WORLD BECOMES MORE MAGICAL, NOT LESS, is what I’m saying
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tillman · 1 year
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my biggest regret is deleting my cringey highschool p8cr8 playlist it was so fucking good
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cmrosens · 3 months
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The Dangers of Blue Beards (in Books)
Bluebeard Retellings and Reimaginings As I’m sure you all know I’m not a folklorist or anything like that, but I LOVE folktales and stories, and I think in worldbuilding one of the best and most fun ways to get to grips with a culture is by imagining what stories people tell about themselves and their world. In The Crows I made up local legends and sayings, and put out a little eBook collection…
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wiiwarechronicles · 1 year
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It’s also funny how everyone in my family has a different favorite tmbg album…
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lauralot89 · 9 days
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Horny Dracula fans, take two
I made this poll already but I left off names like an idiot so let me do my spiel again
You have been given an unlimited budget and an unlimited run time to make your ideal adaptation of Dracula. You can be as faithful or unfaithful as you want, it's all up to you, with one caveat:
Dracula has to have a relationship, sexual or romantic or both, with one of the humans.
Now if I just made a poll right here, the answer would overwhelmingly be Jonathan Harker. Let's be real. Even if you don't personally ship it, he's the one Dracula spends the most time with, he's the one Dracula declares to be his and stares at while saying "I too can love," Jonathan's plot parallels so many damn "pretty lady with dangerous man" narratives like Bluebeard and Scheherazade and so on and so forth, it all writes itself
so I have removed him as a choice because I'm genuinely curious as to who your second choice would be and why
You don't have to vote on what you think would be cute or whatever (I mean you can if you want but given what Dracula is and his goals I don't think he can have a cute or even vaguely healthy relationship with a human), just whatever you think would be most narratively interesting. Whether within the narrative of the existing story or going off in some other direction.
Give me your vampire romance thesis
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The Green Prince | Bluebeard!Aemond x Wife!Reader
-Based on the Fairytale 'Bluebeard'- Halloween Special!
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Summary: Six wives before her mysteriously disappeared, and someone in Dragonstone calls for her once her new husband entrusts her with his master key | Word Count: 8k~ | Warnings below the cut~
Links to my Taglists: General Taglist | Aemond Targaryen Taglist
Warnings: dub-con, arranged marriage, victorian england setting, era-typical sexism, murder, uxoricide, blood, toxic behaviour, apparitions/ghosts, manipulation, threats of violence
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She's heard only tales of Aemond Targaryen.
The Green Prince of Dragonstone. A wealthy gentleman who often stayed within the confines of his estate.
When she abandoned the frills and wide smiles of girlhood, thrust into the pomp and practice of womanhood, that is when the stories began.
She had never seen him. And she began to believe, that the people around her who spoke of him never had either.
They were of a decent background, her and her family. Not overwhelmingly rich. But well-off is what her father always said.
Enough to employ a small army of servants.
Enough to never have to worry about the troubles of daily life that so often would hinder an everyday individual.
She doubted Aemond Targaryen ever had to worry about that either.
One fact that simply could not be frayed, was that he was royalty.
Only in the sense that he was utterly untouchable.
He had this elegance about him, they would say, a sort of curious exoticisim from the way his long, silver hair would drift down his back, to the way his inhuman purple eyes would glimmer, half lidded and looking straight ahead, as if he were piercing a knife through the individual with his gaze alone.
Though they were technically neighbours, she saw very little life pass through the iron gates of Dragonstone. His estate so vast, that by foot, she would have to commit a whole hour to simply brush by the border of what she deemed was a forbidden land.
There seemed an aura of darkness over it, that she could not quite comprehend. But one that intrigued her all the same.
Last year, at the same time as now, she had been considered a child. No better for company than being banished upstairs to dwindle about her books and writings, out of the way of adults and their serious business affairs.
What had really changed in 12 months, that they now considered her a woman?
She felt age had little to do with it.
She felt that she had been grown in her mind for some time, and had actually changed very little from the age of three and ten.
But now, at the tender age of nine and ten, there was still a girlish nature about her face. A brightness to her eyes, and a plumpness about her cheeks. One that her mother had once commented that men would find appealing in a wife.
And so here she was.
Dressed in her finery, a glass of wine in a crystal glass delicately placed in one hand, she stood beside her eldest brother, who had torn himself rather blatantly from a woman he himself was courting in favour of supporting his sweet, youngest sister.
"Do not, for the love of our mother, allow yourself to be approached by Mr Gardner. He has had five servants in as many months. I am sure you can understand why", her brother mused with a contented chuckle.
She did not know why. Nobody had told her plainly.
Sometimes she wished people would just be honest with her. And not assumed she knew the inner workings of people's minds, after years of being shut away upstairs by her parents and brother alike.
The foyer and adjoining rooms alike were filled with people, all pretending to make pleasantries with each other. And as the night dragged on, several well known bachelor's having tried their hand at impressing her, she found her glass of wine was not as endless as she thought.
When a servant had spotted her, appearing at her side to refill her glass, she had turned her body sideways and locked eyes, finally, with him.
The one people affectionately named, The Green Prince.
Like most of the men tonight, he was dressed in a suit with a long overcoat that covered his dark green waistcoat. So dark were the colours of his outfit, that they almost appeared black, like the rest of it.
His hair was loose, with a few strands falling to the front over his shoulders, and as her eyes trailed up to his pale collar, where a tie was loosely wrapped about his neck, she saw that when she met his gaze, he was already looking at her.
He held his glass in a manner most unbecoming. Hanging at his side, his long fingers grasping the edges so delicately, she was sure for a moment it was floating in his hold.
His finger, she noticed, tapped idly at the side of the room, as if deep in thought as he looked upon her.
She saw his gaze drop to her outfit, one that her mother had chosen for her. A red, almost burnt tea coloured dress, with very little flounce and fancy to it. The collar hung delicately at her shoulders, the bodice tight and the only detail of any colour was in the stitching of her skirt, which he noted was a shimmering gold.
When he lifted his eyes, he took a sip from his glass, still almost filled to the top, his burning lilac gaze hovering over the brim. She sucked in a breath, her own eyes flitting over his face. And to the patch that covered the left eye.
She didn't know why her chest felt tight, and why she hoped suddenly for the appearance of her brother. Or her father perhaps. He was staring at her so unabashedly, that for an unmarried woman such as herself, she would be looked upon with immense judgement if she were found to be staring back at him in the same manner.
Knowing his gaze was burning at the back of her head, perhaps tracing the intricate pattern of braids her hair had been styled in, she decided to ignore him, until he had the decency to approach and introduce himself to her properly.
As any good gentleman would.
She meandered through the menagerie of figures, careful to keep her wine close to her so that she wouldn't repeat the same embarrassment as last year when she spilled the entire glass down Mr Bray, whose wife near lost her voice with incessant shouting.
Her father, ever cheerful, as rich men so often are, materialised at her side, grasping her elbow and tugged his daughter close to him. His breath smelled like red wine as he whispered to her.
"It appears you have captured the special attention of Mr Targaryen, daughter"
Her father chuckled when her wide, terrified and yet curious eyes met his.
How could she have captured his attention, when she had done nothing at all? She thought.
She did not yet know, the charms that the appearance of a female body could offer. And how it could transform a respectable man from a pillar of society, to a hungry, lustful beast at a moment's notice.
"I shall introduce you to him" her father insisted, leading her along at his side, despite her quiet protests.
"But father-"
"Hush now. Remember your manners".
His tone of voice was enough.
She had not experienced it as a mere female. But she had seen first hand what her father did to her brother when he disobeyed. Finding a sort of punishment worthy at the end of his cane as it cracked against her brother's palm.
Her brother still wore gloves often. That was his shield.
She had yet to find her own.
Perhaps hers was in her mind, she thought. That she might be able to protect herself with her ideas and opinions, twisting the minds of men, as her elder sister had said once, to suit the needs of the women they owned.
She often had to remind herself, she was property. And could easily be bought and sold, and kicked to the roadside if she had done something to mar her family name.
She was thrust into a sort of social assassination once again once stood before the famed Mr Targaryen, who nodded his head in greeting but said nothing.
"My Targaryen. What an honour it is to have you here. Please might introduce my daughter"
He bent somewhat at the hip, his hand moving to grasp hers, the skin soft and feminine.
"The pleasure is all mine, Miss"
His voice was like the purr of a cat. And though terrifyingly intriguing, she couldn't find it in herself to look away.
"And to you, Sir. Many thanks for the invitation" Aemond turned towards her father, giving another barely existent nod of his head, his expression flat and almost bored.
"It is no problem at all, Mr Targaryen. Please accept my condolences on the passing of your wife"
Late wife?
She felt rude to ask, so said nothing.
Aemond seemed to understand her curiosity, and gave a light smirk in her direction, though she was on his blind side.
"Thank you, Sir. It was a great tragedy indeed"
"Indeed" her father repeated, leaning forward as if to emphasise the size of his empathy for him, "I understand she was quite distressed for some time, was she not?"
She almost passed her father a warning glance. Thinking it rather rude for him to say such things about his late wife. Whether she may have been mad or not.
But Aemond merely nodded.
"Indeed. I am afraid, however, it was an inevitable accident"
Accident.
She of course, remembered hearing the gossip, and hearing her father read the newspaper every morning. An update about the mad Alys Rivers at the top of the page every time.
Alys Rivers, the Lady of Dragonstone, found dead in God's Eye Lake. A wound to the neck spells suicide.
A wound to the neck was a kind description.
Her pale skin was said to be slashed open on one side, everything visible within. And once the water had got to her, she was swollen, pale and blue, completely drained of blood. Almost entirely unrecognisable.
It was just as well she had no family. They would not have wished to see how she met her end.
The article found it necessary to articulate, that her body had been returned to her husband.
Across the room, another gentleman called for her father, and she felt the hot whips of panic at the back of her neck at the thought of being left alone with Aemond.
"Do excuse me" her father said quickly, disappearing into the sea of black and grey.
She herself turned back to Aemond, not wanting to be rude, and tapped her fingernails on the crystal glass nervously.
"I am very sorry to hear about your wife"
Aemond hummed, one of his hands behind his back like he had a secret.
"Thank you, Miss"
There was a long period of silence between them. And for a while, she wondered if she should be the one to break it.
Aemond laughed lowly, leaning down to her face as he caught something interesting in his sights.
"See your brother?" He murmured. And her face turned as well, not realising at first how close their faces were, but she could not very well pull away without offending him.
All the same, he smelled of sandalwood.
Her eyes followed his, to her brother on the other side of the room, where he was thoroughly embarrassing himself by laughing too widely with the woman he had been courting for several months.
"He is awfully close to that woman, is he not?"
She swallowed, raising her chin to appear more confident as she spoke, "She is to be his intended. It is only natural they speak freely with one another" she reasoned.
Aemond did not move away, his shoulder brushing against her side. It made her shudder.
"He is certainly doing something freely" Aemond hummed deep in his chest, a tone which sent a dull ache through her body.
Her brother leaned in close to the woman. And she watched her blush and throw her head back with a demure laugh, her brother leaning close to run his nose along her neck, grinning against her skin.
It felt forbidden to watch them be so close.
And yet he was so brazen about it.
"She seems to be enjoying herself, at least"
She couldn't find it in herself to reply.
For the woman did appear as if she was enjoying herself. And briefly, stood beside Aemond, his breath softly batting against her neck, she wondered herself, how it would feel if he did the same to her.
She wondered if he was thinking the same thing as her. Sneaking into her mind like a whisper, as if he were being a locked door, and was peering through the keyhole to uncover her darkest thoughts and desires.
Her brother leaned towards his intended, planting a kiss to the column of her neck. And she felt herself parting her lips as the other woman had, not only at the shameless behaviour of her brother, so consumed in wine that he felt no need to appear reasonable in front of other people, but also because she felt Aemond’s slender fingers at her forearm.
It was not at all like the way her father had pulled her to him, in ownership.
Aemond tugged her towards him in a sort of longing, his nose pressing into the plaits of her hair.
“I am going to ask your father for your hand” he whispered, “and he will say yes. And you shall be mine”.
She listened with her fingers wrapped around the wooden pillars of the staircase as her brother shouted obscenity after obscenity at her father. Every now and then her mother would insert her little, sweet voice that was inevitably crushed by the low boom of the two males in the room.
With her gaze planted firmly in her lap, tracing the patterns of the lace of her nightgown as she listened, she thought with a sort of sadness that the offer of marriage should be a joyous and happy occasion. And now in her household, the prospect of her being tied to the Green Prince himself was so offensive to her brother, that he felt the need to fight on her behalf.
Perhaps knowing his sweet sister had no choice in the matter.
“He is barely half a decade older than her and has had six wives in as many years, father!” he boomed, and she could tell by the way his voice bounced off the furniture that he was pacing and throwing his arms around.
“To give her away to that brute. It is unthinkable!”
“Be quiet!” her father roared back, “the wedding will go ahead as planned. We will not get a better offer than this!”
While she was happy, that her brother was trying to stick up for her, it was no use. He nor her had a choice in the matter.
Her father had said it himself.
We will not get a better offer.
Not she.
She was property. Something to be sold and given in exchange for goods or reputation. What she wanted, was of no consequence.
And she couldn’t help but think of her mother, several decades younger than her father, and how she must have felt at her tender age when confronted with the prospect of marrying a man much older than she.
In a way, she felt connected to her mother in that way. But also in a way that she resented her, for dressing her up, plaiting her hair and pushing her out into the rich man’s world, ripe and ready for the taking.
Passing her the torch of a woman’s anguish.
The wedding felt clinical. More akin to a funeral than a union of two people. 
Her brother stares dagger into the back of her intended for the entire ceremony. All while her mother cried softly into her handkerchief and her father sat, stoic and silent, his chubby fingers caressing the sculpted ornament on the top of his cane.
She remembered his hands as they were bought together and the officiator had placed a sort of sacred cloth over them as he muttered his prayers. Binding them lawfully and before the eyes of God, for their whole lives.
His hands were large, his palms completely dwarfing hers and his long fingers wrapping around hers like tight vines. And at that moment, she had never felt so small in her life.
And noticed that his side of the wedding chapel, where his family members were supposed to sit and witness their union, was completely empty.
Six wives in as many years.
That is what her brother had said.
She knew Aemond had been married multiple times prior to her, but was her brother merely exaggerating?
In contrast to his hands, where the blood swam warmly through his limbs, his lips where the officiant asked them to seal their union with a kiss, were cold, and not forthcoming. As if he had not asked her father for her hand in marriage, but that this entire affair was so useless and merely for looks, that he’d rather be somewhere else.
That said. She could not escape the intensity of his gaze.
He seemed to focus solely on her, much to her discomfort, to the point where it seemed like he was not listening to a single prayer or hymn that was uttered in the chapel all afternoon. And though her eyes were elsewhere, to try and place the feeling that bubbled in her chest somewhere else, she often found his lilac eye drifting to the details of her necklace, to face, and pausing where she wet her lips nervously.
If he hadn’t possessed such a domineering, strong presence, she thought he would be devilishly handsome.
Perhaps a fact he already knew.
It was unlike her family to have celebrations, so they didn’t.
She gave each of the servants, some who she knew for most of her life a final embrace, thanking them for their hospitality and care where she did not receive it from her parents. And as her luggage was packed meaningfully in the back of Mr Targaryen’s carriage, with two large horses at the front, she gave her brother a tight embrace as well. Inhaling and savouring the musty smell of tobacco on his coat.
He looked saddened, but for the sake of appearances, forced a smile onto his face.
“Good luck, dear sister. Remember you may write to me, even though you are a married woman” he smiled, teasing her softly with a nudge to her shoulder.
She gave a softer hug to her mother, who usually was not keen to shower her with affection. But she supposed, she was the youngest daughter, so it was only natural.
Her father, after having busied himself in an idle chattering session with Aemond, merely tipped his hat, and did not shed one bit of emotion as she climbed into the carriage before her husband. Aemond's hand helped her up the step, watching as she disappeared inside.
The smell of his sandalwood perfumes on his coat was stronger as he sat beside her on the cushion, instructing the handsome, olive-skinned driver to move forward and away from her home.
She only waved to her brother. And watched as he had wet eyes, stepping forward a few paces like he was about to break into a run after her.
The carriage was much nicer than anything she'd seen in her young life, and though they were for all intents and purposes, considered neighbours, it was still a half hour ride to his estate.
Dragonstone.
Her skin prickled at the mere thought of it.
She'd never seen it before. Nor had any of her family.
All she knew was that it was often clouded in fog, that when you stood at the front gates you could barely see the arching towards and dark brick in the distance anyway.
All she had heard was what people said.
That it was a frightful, maze of a place. With winding corridors and crooked doorways, and barely any servants.
He was a rich man, why not employ more?
He did not say a word the entire way home. He only sat, cross legged, and fiddle with his fingers like he was nervous. Turning them over in micro-movements.
Don't speak unless spoken to.
As Dragonstone came into view once they crossed the boundary of the iron gates, she felt her breath taken away.
And it was only when Aemond assisted her with a hand as she stepped down from the carriage that she could really appreciate the sheer size of his estate.
It was so big it was beyond comprehension.
She briefly wondered if she would get lost in such a place.
"Cole will bring your things to our room"
Her heart started to flutter, and pitter patter all at the same time.
Our room.
She had almost forgotten her one wifely duty she was to fulfil this evening.
To appease him.
The thought made a sort of tightness in her belly, though she was unsure why. Of course, her elder sister had divulged her own horror story of her wedding night. Though her sister was twenty and she herself only five and ten at the time, the nitty gritty was of great curiosity to her.
"For several hours the poor thing just cried and it rather spoiled the mood. Turned out that he had…pleased himself the morning of the wedding so as not to become too excited when the evening rolled around.
Oh well, no matter. Instead, when he had a rather excited visitor the next morning he crawled atop me and breathed heavily into my neck while he tried to get it inside me. 'Twas over in an instant dear sister and I did not feel a thing".
Though the anecdote was funny, although awkward seeing as she sat next to her brother-in-law the next morning and tried not to giggle, right now, it did little to quell the gnawing inside her.
Aemond did not seem as quiet and unsure of himself as her brother-in-law was. She doubted a man of his standing would have any issue fulfilling his role as a husband.
As he had done, six times before.
Which triggered yet another question.
Why no children? Surely all six of his previous wives could not have been barren?
Did they commit suicide? Ashamed of themselves for failing to fulfil this task? Were they all mere accidents? Or did someone break in at night to steal his plethora of fine jewels and artefacts and run into one of his unfortunate wives along the way?
It seemed entirely impossible.
She watched Aemond walk confidently to the front doors, where a couple of servants stood to greet the new Lady of Dragonstone. His coat fluttered around his thighs as he turned, the ends of his silver hair hung like they were floating.
"Wife. May I introduce you to the staff. Anything you so wish, please do not hesitate to ask them"
The two servants stood, hands clasped, looking entirely scared stiff. One was a middle aged man with an apron dirtied at the edges, and the other a maid, barely five and twenty, who offered her a polite curtsy.
She simply smiled at them, "a pleasure".
They said nothing.
There was something melancholic. Ancient. And crushing about Dragonstone.
She felt the weight on her shoulders the moment she passed those gates. Did they feel it too?
Did Aemond?
This was the only moment he seemed to smile, as miniscule as it was with a darkened gaze, was when he turned to look at his new wife and nodded.
"If you will forgive me, I have some business to attend to. I will see you tonight for supper"
His expression never wavered, even as he bent at the middle to press his lips to her hand, above the ring he had placed on her finger not a few hours before.
The servants quickly scuttled out of her sight and so she thought to amuse herself by exploring her new home. Out of habit, she started upstairs, going straight to her bedroom to inspect.
There was a large four poster bed made of what appeared to be walnut in the middle of the room, with various ornaments strewn about, but very little to suggest that he actually relaxed in here.
There were no mementos, keepsakes, and she thought briefly she couldn't get a grasp on his personality this way either.
She blushed and felt that tightness again at the thought of sharing a bed with him, of what they might have to do.
The rest of the house was indicative of the first room she ventured to. Lacking a certain personality she was sure existed in her new husband but one he refused to show.
The estate was cold and empty, with flagstone floors stretching along the long dark hallways.
There were so many doors it was difficult to know what on earth could be behind all of them. She'd so far discovered the Library, the Dining Room and even happened upon the scullery rather by accident.
And then, one room…
It had a oxblood red door, worn around the edges and the colour faded somewhat. She noted the scuff marks around the handle and the hinges, as well as the stone beneath the door where overtime, footsteps had worn it down.
So she was doubly surprised to find the door locked.
Curious.
Her skin prickled, and she was sure for a moment that she saw her own misty breath. Like that feeling that someone is watching you but you are too afraid to move an inch. The tips of her fingers suddenly felt numb.
She felt it on her neck, an iciness.
But when she turned, her breath stuck in her chest from panic, she could only see nothing but the empty corridor.
And all was silent.
There was a heaviness in her chest which seemed to pass through her like trying to walk through honey, trying to pull your feet up just an inch to step forward.
And as quickly as that feeling came, it was gone and she turned back in panic once she heard soft, careful footsteps behind the oxblood door.
She clenched and unclenched her fists in fear, trying to reason with herself.
Undeniable footsteps, ones that had started at the threshold and we're now walking slowly away from her.
The blood rushed warmly back into her fingertips, and she rubbed them painfully against her navy dress, trying to will a feeling back into them.
Footsteps…
She only heard her own as she hurried down the corridor again, her shoes clocking against the flagstone.
So desperate to get away from that heavy, morbid feeling that she nearly hurtled right into the young maid.
"My Lady!"
"I do apologise" she uttered immediately, her chest pushing against her bodice with her hurried breath, "I was not looking where I was going".
The maid curtsied, as if she'd forgotten to and straightened, "Supper is to be served, my Lady. May I-"
"What is that room? Down the hall?" She asked.
The maid raised her eyebrows, "Which one, my Lady?"
She turned her head down the hallway once again to point to the one she meant, and her words died on her lips.
The door moved.
It was unmistakable.
The shadow where the door was leant ajar quickly disappeared, and the frame was filled once more by the large wooden slat against it.
There was no click of a lock to be heard.
She was so afraid she lost herself for a moment. Going all pale. So much so the maid had to prompt her.
"My Lady?"
She shook her head, looking back to see if the door would move again, and drift open as it had before.
But it never did.
And the thought that as she was running away before, the door was slowly inching open, scared her beyond belief.
"It's nothing, I apologise" she said quickly, "Supper, thank you".
There was nothing of note for the rest of the evening.
Supper was quiet. And the table was so long with husband and wife sat at either end, that they may as well have been in separate rooms while they ate.
It was nice enough food she was grateful for that. A selection of soups and meats, and breads to fill her belly between courses.
He did not speak.
He barely moved any other muscle than his arm to fork the meat into his mouth. She watched him every now and then, over the barely dancing flame of the candelabra, otherwise the room would be completely dark.
So she drank her wine, and stayed silent. Waiting to be spoken to.
The only thing he said was right at the end.
"Shall we retire for bed, wife?"
And she could not very well say no.
She made brief eye contact with the maid as she followed her husband to the grand staircase, each step feeling heavier and more nerve-wracking than the last.
Her husband was tall, broad and she had no doubt be enjoyed the domineering aura he gave off. Judging by the dark colours of his waistcoat and trousers, as well as the leather eyepatch over one eye, he enjoyed inhabiting darkness.
She thought with some amusement that the only bright things about him were his hair and eyes.
Things he could not change.
He was certainly a marvel of a man. And truthfully, she should count herself lucky that he is at least somewhat close to her in age.
Aemond closed the door softly once they were both inside. The curtains were now drawn, and the room was filled with an amber glow from the candles the maid had lit for them.
She needn't ask him for help, for her new husband immediately stood behind her, and began to unlace her dress as if they had been married an age.
His movements were so sure. And she felt with jealousy of some kind that he had done this with six other women before her.
No wonder he was practiced.
There was no room for romance when to him, it was all just a matter of duty.
She stood only in her chemise, having pulled her hair free of her braids, feeling his gaze the entire time.
"Are you intent on remaining silent, wife?" He asked, and she heard him pull off his waistcoat with every pop of his buttons.
"Or might you become more vocal in the marriage bed?"
She felt her cheeks flush and thickness in her throat. Inadvertently pressing her legs together where a sort of excitement was blooming.
"I could not say…" she answered.
And chuckled lowly, pressing his front to her back, dragging his nose up the side of her neck, just as she had seen before.
She felt something hard press against her backside, his hips pushing it against her and moving softly, creating just a tiny bit of friction.
"Tell me" he muttered, his lips tickling her ear, "tell me what a good wife does"
She was suddenly nervous, thinking about what other people had told her.
And it was increasingly difficult to think, with his large hands pulling her chemise off her body.
"A good wife…is loyal to her husband" she recited, her breath coming in short pants, "she is…loving"
He blew air from his nose, like he was amused.
"..and she is obedient"
"That's it"
Aemond peeled the chemise off her, letting it drift to the floor.
"A good wife makes herself available to her husband"
She gasped and he revelled in it, as he pushed her newly naked body onto the bed, her body sinking into the mattress and watching as her husband bared himself one button at a time.
"Of course. There a many other wifely duties" he grinned.
His fingers moved to his trousers.
"But for now, I only care about this one".
Being touched all over was strange. There was a dull ache in her core when her husband touched certain areas, a feeling that she didn't recognise.
Her confused and somewhat distressed face at the whole ordeal was endearing to him.
Her young, plump face looked up at him with gleaming eyes and shame arched in her eyebrows.
It hurt. Not as greatly as she thought. But it still did.
"Close your eyes. It will be over soon"
She did as he said, turning her face away. But it was not over soon.
His member throbbed inside her, and she thought she'd never felt more full in her life. Since closing her eyes, she could not see the way his hair began to tangle around him, as his hips chased hers and came against hers with a soft smack.
The pain gave way to another feeling still.
That same ache she felt when he'd touched her.
Aemond smirked when he saw the confused, ashamed expression on her face. At the way she pressed her lips together.
"I think you are enjoying this" he murmured lowly, pushing harder into her like he was intent in piercing her stomach, "if I did not know any better, you would almost be moaning".
She didn't want it to feel good.
Or did she.
It felt wrong.
And yet she couldn't deny when he raised her thighs, his fingers wrapped into her flesh, it did feel good.
"Look at me" he whispered, never stopping, "Look at your husband, who is giving you pleasure"
Some excitement sparked inside him, when she didn't do as he asked, her warm embarrassed face pressed into the sheets as much as she could. Her eyes closed.
He laughed when she refused.
"Yes - you feel it, do you not? No need to act all coy. I can feel your body's response"
Shame crept into her body, her limbs going all tight just as he'd said. Feeling herself hit that irreplaceable point, she simply whimpered and felt his length throb once more before he spilled inside of her, releasing all he had to give.
She thought with lewdness, that his spend was warm inside her.
Aemond seemed to take great pleasure in making his wife shrink into herself with embarrassment and shame every time they coupled. He loved that doe eyed look she gave him, as if he did not have his cock buried between her legs every night he could since the wedding.
He would have her any way. Fully clothed if the moment presented itself.
There was something erotic about taking something that looked so innocent and filling her with his spend. How she would act all coy, with it dripping down her thighs.
He delighted in the fact that he had managed to kidnap this sweet young thing, and use her for himself and his pleasure any moment he was able. And the month that passed since the wedding, he could not think of a time that was sweeter.
So it was with great irritation that he was called to King's Landing. Some business with his brother that apparently couldn't wait.
He did not want to leave her.
He spoke firmly, stood before the oxblood door in his travel wear.
"While I am away, you must not enter this room. Do you understand?"
When she nodded without asking why, he smiled in pride and placed the master key in her small palm. Entrusting that she would do as she had promised in his absence.
He thought he'd reward her when he returned, by fucking her in the comfort of their bed sheets, until she was pink in the faxe and begging him to stop. Just as he liked her to be.
As soon as her husband left, she felt even more that she was being watched. All the little hairs on the back of her neck pointed upwards.
The maid kept clear of her, which was nothing unusual. But it was almost as if she was escaping rooms before she herself knew why. As if she knew what invaded the invisible space within them as soon as her back was turned.
Did she hear the voices too? See the dark figures and closing doors?
Anytime she passed the long dark hallway to the oxblood door, she felt her curiosity grow tenfold. But also a sense of dread, heavy in her gut, tugging her back to this wretched place.
What could be behind the door, that her husband wished not for her to see?
In the Library, the fire crackled comfortably as she turned the faded pages of her book. The maid busied herself collecting the dirtied saucers and teacups beside her, humming to herself gently.
The air suddenly went cold around her neck, and a breeze passed, evident by the dangling of her earrings. It was not only her imagination.
"A golden key. Oxblood door. Give the six souls rest, sweet child"
She looked up at the maid, "I am sorry, did you say something?"
The maid straightened and shook her head quickly, eyebrows arched in confusion, "No, my Lady"
Why did the maid always flee like that? Like someone was chasing her? With their claws at her back like an animal in the forest?
The key was ornate, with winding patterns and several notches at the top. And when she held it in her small palm, it felt hot to the touch like an iron rod.
Aemond would punish her.
How? She did not know.
She slotted the key into the door, without the energy to turn it. And her limbs felt heavy, and her knuckles cold, like someone was pushing on it. Forcing her will.
"That's right. Insert the key into the keyhole, and turn…"
A voice echoed off the stone.
A low, sweet, mature voice.
Click.
The oxblood door gave way to light, torches lit at every corner, illuminating the oxblood colour of the floor before her.
A step down.
The floor rippled like liquid.
"Our souls…"
Her shoe was slick with something oily that clung to the suede. Irreparably staining them.
Her skin prickled. Vomit bubbled at the back of her throat.
Six torch-lit figures reflected in the blood on the flagstone floor.
Hung, wrists bound over their head. White skulls in various stages of deterioration, with strings of what was once luscious hair drifting past their bony shoulders.
She saw with dread, they were still wearing dresses that hung off their ivory skeletons.
She was sure she collapsed with grief, a scream echoing around her that did not feel like her own. The only sound she registered was the clanging of the key as she dropped it in shock, blood of Aemond's ex-wives enveloping the brass.
Her throat felt sore.
She watched their empty eye sockets. The dust over their bound hands and their feet as they dangled inches off the floor.
Breath hot in her lungs like she was clinging to life as she knew it, she scrambled for the key and pulled the door shut behind her with a mighty boom.
Darkness crawled up her skin, now that she knew what was behind it.
Was this her fate?
If she displeased him, would she be their successor?
She was sat, with head in hand, in a state of complete distress with sweat on her brow and neck as Aemond returned.
She had paced the room for hours she felt, wringing her hands, as if to find what she might say to him on his arrival. He'd see it on her face.
He would know she had seen the corpses of his precious wives on her soft, innocent features. Scarred forever by death.
His tall, broad form filled the doorframe. And he dropped his coat onto the bed with a tired huff, but said nothing.
She almost wished he would say something. To spare her this horrible anticipation.
But she watched as he took two careful steps in. His one eye flitting over to the key he'd left her on the bureau.
The blood had not lifted from the brass. She could not wash it. No matter how much time she committed to it, it would not become clean.
Her husband looked back at her like she was something to eat, his eye half open with only half his iris visible.
She sobbed and cried when he advanced and held her to the wall by her neck with ease, slamming her small body against it.
"You thought you would get away without punishment, hm?"
She sobbed like a child, her tears wetting her cheeks and neck, to his fingers. Her own tried to pry his away, feeling that he was hurting her effortlessly with his grip around her throat.
"Please…husband…"
He could have laughed.
"Now is no time for begging. Tell me, how should I punish you, wife?, he grinned widely, his tone low and condescending as he spoke to the small woman before him.
"Please…you may do as you like with me - just first, let me pray-" she begged with a hoarse, tired voice. Never feeling that she could be scared of him in this way.
He pulled his head away, looking down at her past his nose, his lips tight.
She felt his grip loosen, but the places where his fingers had been were sore and red.
"I shall do as I please. But since you asked so nicely to pray. I shall let you"
She felt herself breathing like she was swallowing fire a she stepped out the door, allowing her privacy to pray before he inevitably drove a dagger through her, or something of the like.
She rushed to the master key and locked the door with a quick slam and click, locking her husband out and flinching when his palms pushed with urgency on the other side. Rapping on the wood like an animal who couldn't see their prey.
She had no intention of praying.
"Open this door! Now!"
Her eyes scanned the room anxiously and with urgency. She felt her fingers shaking as he pushed the window open, looking down at the great height she would have to jump to escape him.
A sure death.
She clambered over the bureau, her knees knocking painfully on the wood as she advanced in a panicked state towards the ledge.
Her brother.
If she could just escape to him.
He would save her.
A clang of metal rattled against the floor as her husband, as strong as she was, sent the door flinging off the hinges. His large arms wrapped around her waist as she writhed, fearing her life. Expecting a blade to her neck. Or perhaps to be dragged to the oxblood door, to never return.
"Husband - please - have mercy-"
"It is too late for 'please'. It is time for you to feel the consequence of your actions"
She struggled so much, he tackled her to the floor, holding both her forearms behind her back in one hand, pushing her front to the cold stone floor, her warm cheek moulding to the pattern of it.
"I beg you - have mercy and kill me quickly-"
Her tears wet her face entirely, feeling his body over her back, pressing his hips into her backside, letting her feel his wrath.
"Mercy?" He chuckled darkly, "why would I show the likes of you mercy?"
"You who I have treated with care and respect. You who has disobeyed me"
"My Lady shall learn this lesson now"
His voice was dark and low, and it scared her more than the whisperings of the paranormal and the sight of what was behind the oxblood door.
She panicked with a warm face as he rucked up her skirts to her waist, flinching when she felt two of his thick fingers swipe across her hot centre while he continued to hold her down.
"I do not often take pleasure in teaching my wife a lesson. But, for you, I shall make an exception"
She pressed her lips together, not wanting to anger him with her whimpers and whines as she felt him slide his trousers down and rub his hot, throbbing member, ready and waiting for her, against her cunt, collecting her wetness on his length for ease of entry.
He sighed longingly, his breath tickling her neck, his eyelashes fluttering against her jaw.
She choked on her breath as he slid into her, his fingers holding her hips desperately to widen her legs to accommodate him deeper inside her.
"None of them were worthy - fucking none of them -" he breathed, his breath hitching with each soft smack of his hips against her, stretching her walls to the shape and size of him and groaning at the way her hot insides parted.
"Do you wish me to give you a child, hm? None of them - fuck - none of them could give me what you do-"
She whimpered, feeling his length fill her repeatedly and bully the end of her, each blow against that rough spot inside increasingly making her shame and despair at his use of her body ebb away into a forbidden and unknown feeling.
"If you do not behave, you will not be allowed that pleasure" he muttered, his breath coming in short bursts, his thrusts as well becoming sloppy and unconfident.
Her gut warmed with his length piercing her insides. And she felt as though she was missing something he was telling her in his own way. Eyebrows arched in confusion.
Even now, while he fucked her on the floor, she felt afraid for her life.
"Oh, little one, I am almost disappointed that it took so long for you to realise that I do not intend to kill you.”
Her wet eyes cracked open to turn her head in discomfort to him. Her cheek rubbing against the stone floor as he pulled her hips up to fuck her deeper.
"No. You shall give me children. Many of them if you wish to please me"
She tightened around him completely out of instinct, and Aemond groaned loudly above her, pushing his chest so hard against her back she felt she might break.
And her hands clenched into fists, absentmindedly pushing her hips back to him to chase the remnants of that sweet rapture she was sometimes awarded when coupling with him.
A sweet escape from this prison.
He laughed, when he realised that she was quite resigned to her fate.
That she, compared to his other wives, was finally worthy of giving him children. Of satiating his desire to dominate a woman so easily. How he enjoyed watching the look of shame and pleasure on her face, as she battled with herself to submit to him or not.
He slammed with a wet squelch back into her again, filling her with his warmth with a long, shuddered groan. His grip so hard around her forearm, she was sure blood did not reach her hands.
He continued to move shallowly into her, pushing his spend as deep inside her as it would go. As if, whether she wanted to or not, he would fuck his child into her and watch her grow fat and round.
And then, once she had one, would fuck yet another into her.
Her breath came fast and hot from her swollen lips as she trembled around him, unknowingly prolonging his pleasure inside her.
His lips brushed against her ear.
"No other words before I begin?"
It was difficult with her head pushed against the floor, but she nodded softly in confirmation. Relief flooding her as she saw her husband's smirk rise to his lips, both his hands dropping to her hips to tug her back onto his length.
"Then let us begin"
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General Taglist: @aemondsfavouritebastard | @bellstwd | @blairfox04 | @hb8301  | @jamespotterismydaddy | @mochi-rose | @nenelysian | @natty2017 | @randomdragonfires  | @risefallrise  | @theoneeyedprince  | @thelittleswanao3 | @tsujifreya  | @urmomsgirlfriend1  | @valeskafics  | @watercolorskyy
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bookcub · 9 months
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my fairy tale professor: and ofc when we talk about bluebeard retellings, we cant forget jane eyre
me: 😯😯😯
her: because ofc mr rochester is a bluebeard figure
me: 😲😲😲😲
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olivexii · 10 days
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⁀➷ ┄─ ˑ V . ☆ ──ㅤ Knee Socks
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Joseph Descamps x reader
Chapter 5
Masterlist
Warnings: Smoking
┌── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──┐
“How’s your exposé coming along?” I asked the two girls as we walked to school.
“It’s alright. We haven’t started writing yet but we picked a theme, so that’s something!” Simone replied, “How’s yours? What was Descamps like?”
Michèle remained silent, listening.
“He was alright. Upset about his eye but, he was alright.”
“He didn’t start anything did he?”
“No, he was actually nice. He worked for a bit and tidied everything up at the end.” The two gave me a look of suspicion when I said that.
“He definitely wants something from you.” Simone exclaimed and Michèle nodded in agreement.
“No he doesn’t.”
“What if he does?” Asked the blonde girl.
“What could he want?”
“I don’t know, but keep your eye on him Y/N.” Simone said as we neared the school gates.
I grumbled a response that they couldn’t hear as we headed to class, Simone pointing out yet another cute boy in the corridor.
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
During first lesson, Annick came running in late, blonde hair untidy and her pretty blue dress wrinkled.
“Miss Sabiani, how kind of you to grace us with your presence.” Bluebeard called to her with the intention of embarrassing her.
As Annick looked off to the side, I curiously followed her gaze, turning my head until my eyes landed on Pichon, who was smiling back at the blonde girl. Cute.
Unsurprisingly, Descamps catches my eye as I start to turn my head back to the front. I’m guessing he could feel my eyes looking towards him as he turned to face me as well, a soft, rosy pink colour coating his cheeks as we made eye contact
I quickly turned to the front after meeting his gaze, embarrassed, now focusing on the teacher and Annick.
As Mrs Giraud was distracted with reading the late note she was given, I heard Descamps’ voice call for Pichon.
Pichon stuttered out a response nervously, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying, I was too nervous to turn around and look at the two incase they caught me eavesdropping.
“You’ve come to class looking like that?”
“I’m sorry, I had to run.” The blonde at the front of the class replied, trying to catch her breath.
“Well you should leave earlier shouldn’t you? One hours detention.”
“But-”
“Do you object?” The teacher leaned towards her, late note still in hand.
While Sabiani protested against Mrs Giraud (earning her multiple hours of detention.) I turned to look at Simone on the right of me, her doing the same. We both rolled our eyes at the stubborn teacher and waited for the class to be over.
Not much else happened for the rest of the day, just a lot of eye rolling and sighing out of tiredness.
Descamps had come up to me at break, telling me that we were going to his after school to work on the project, and that he would wait for me outside of my last class.
“We need to get the Camus books from my house before we go to yours.” I told him, putting on my cardigan as he held onto my satchel.
“It’s on the way anyway.” He replied, handing me my bag back.
“Thank you.” I mumbled, throwing it over my shoulder.
We had not talked about what had happened last time we saw each other. We were both nervous to bring it up.
“My ma also wants to know if you’re staying for dinner” Descamps broke the silence, hands slumped into his pockets.
“Uhm- I’ll have to ask my brother when we get to mine.”
Suddenly his hand grabbed my arm, moving us over to the right as a car sped past us, the breeze blowing my hair into my face.
“Prick.” Joseph grumbled as he tucked my hair behind my ear before looking angrily at the car which had now sped away.
“T-thank you.” I stuttered, looking up at him as he started to walk again, leaving me stood there blushing. I ran after him to catch up, my legs not as long as his.
We didn’t speak another word until we got to my house, just awkward eye contact and the grazing of our arms as we moved out of the way of passing cars.
“I’m going to go pack the books, can you ask my brother if I can stay at yours for dinner please?” I told the tall boy as I opened the door.
He just nodded and followed me into the house.
“You took long walking.” Michael said as he stood up from the couch, walking towards us with a bottle of beer in his hand.
“Yep, I’m going to pack books, we’re study at Descamps’ tonight.” I said, pulling my cardigan and shoes off before running up the wood staircase.
“Okay…” Was all I heard from Michael as I got further away, his conversation with Joseph fading out as I entered my room.
Quickly I grabbed a bigger satchel, placing the books that Joseph had put away yesterday into it.
As I slung it over my shoulder I leant down to look at my self in my vanity mirror. My hair was out of place and my face was still red, either from walking or Joseph tucking my hair behind my ear.
I ran my hand through my hair, trying to tame it as I sighed, mentally preparing for the next few hours.
“Alright, let’s go Descamps.” I said, running down the stairs and slipping my shoes on.
“Be home before the street lamps come on!” Michael said as he turned to sit back down on the couch, papers sprawled over the floor messily, probably his homework.
“Yes I know. Come on Joseph.” I huffed, grabbing him by his jacket and walking back out onto the street.
“You’re in a rush.” He chuckled, shutting the door behind him with one hand, his other gripping onto my bare arm that was holding onto his jacket.
“I’m tired and want to sit down. Now can we hurry up and walk to yours?” I complained as I let go of him.
He laughed in response and started walking. We walked a few steps before he realised he was still holding onto my wrist, quickly letting go. I mentally pouted at this, crossing my arms in an attempt to warm me up as the autumn breeze ran through the streets.
“You’re cold.” He stated, looking at me before pulling a packet of cigarettes and a silver lighter out of his brown jacket.
“No I’m not.” I replied, bringing my arms closer to me, “I just left my cardigan back home, I’m fine.”
“You’re shaking.” The boy carried on, lighting his cigarette and taking a drag.
“I’m fine.” I stated again, my pace quickening. I just wanted to sit down in a warm house.
“Here.” He stopped in his tracks, cigarette in his mouth and lighter in hand as he pulled off his brown jacket, revealing his deep green jumper.
I didn’t reply, only turning to look at him.
He pushed the jacket into my arms, “If you die of hyperthermia, I won’t get a good grade on this project .” He chuckles and puts his lighter into his trouser pocket.
I pouted at him, putting my satchel onto the pavement and fitting my arms into his jacket. It came to my mid thigh, the arms length covering my hand completely.
“You look like you’re drowning in it.”
“Shut up. You’re abnormally shaped it’s not my fault.” I sigh, picking my bag back up.
“YOU’RE the one thats abnormally shaped.” He took another drag of his cigarette and turned to carry on walking.
“You’re like what, 187cm? That’s not normal for someone our age.” I followed him.
“Excuse you. Anything under 170 is not normal for someone our age.”
“Okay. No need to be mean about it.”
“I’m not being mean, I’m being honest. There’s a difference.” The boy turned his head to me, one hand in his pocket, the other holding the half burnt out cigarette in his smirking mouth.
“Okay fine, just unlock your door Descamps.” I grumbled as we reached his front door, happy that I could finally sit down.
“Say please.” He held the key in front of me, one hand on the door nob.
“Please unlock your stupid door Descamps.” I repeated.
“There we go. See, I have a good influence on you, teaching you manners.” He smiled as he opened the door, discarding his cigarette in a white ashtray that lay on a nearby table.
We both took our shoes off, placing them by the table and closing the front door. I kept his jacket on, not sure what to do next as I awkwardly stood in front of him.
“My room is this way.” He pointed out as we walked towards a white door. He took his green jumper off, the white shirt underneath slightly riding up.
He threw the jumper onto a brown chair and jumped onto his bed, hands behind his head and legs resting at the end of the bed.
I stood still, not knowing what to do as the boy closed his eyes.
On one side of his room there was a big window, the shelf nearby holding a few plants (pothos specifically) and a collection of vinyls.
I curiously wondered over, placing my bag by the window as I stood on my tip-toes to glance at his collection.
“Here.” I heard from behind me, the bed creaked and he walked up to me, reaching above me to grab the music. As he did so his chest touched my back, and my breath hitched in my throat.
I took the opportunity to look up at his face. Small dark freckles dotted his cheeks and his brown hair was tousled.
Joseph stepped back, not looking down at me as he turned and carried the collection to his bed. He lay back down and brought his arms behind his head again.
“Knock yourself out.” He said as I stood still, admiring him, “Why are you just stood there? Don’t be so stiff, sit down.” The boy grumbled and sat up.
Quickly I walked over and sat on the edge of his bed, looking between him and the vinyls. He just looked at me back, his hands on his lap.
I could still feel his gaze on me as I looked through his music collection slowly.
“Françoise Hardy?” I asked, looking between him and the record in front of me, “Really?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong with her? She has a good song, released last year. I forgot the name…” He tried to recall, “the one that goes, et les yeux dans les yeux?” He hummed, and pointed towards his eye, as if that would help him to remember.
“You like Françoise Hardy?” I asked again, smiling.
“Yeah… what’s wrong with her?” he questioned, head titled to the side and worry etched on his face, eye brows knotted together. He looked sort of cute. Almost like he couldn’t brutally bully half of the people in our class.
“N-nothing!” I exclaimed back, “Just figured you for more of a Johnny Hallyday kind of guy.”
The boy just looked back at me, confused as his head tilted more, his body leaning more on his hands and towards me.
“You know, the ‘French Elvis.’”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He replied softly, looking back down at the vinyl in my hands.
“Françoise Hardy however, me and my ma love her.”
“You’re so unpredictable Joseph.” I laughed, suddenly feeling hot under his gaze. I took off his brown jacket and slung it over a nearby chair.
“So, Camus?” I said, picking up my bag from by the window and going to sit down with by back leaning on his bed, books laying in my lap.
“If we have to.” He grumbled in response.
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
Papers were sprawled all over his bed when his mother entered the room.
“Joseph?” She whisper-shouted, before walking into the room and realising that we had both fallen asleep.
Joseph lay on his side, his head resting on his arm as his other one dangled by the side of the bed, holding the back of my head up as I was sat, legs crossed and books still sprawled on my lap.
His mother sighed before exiting the room, “Teenagers these days are so interested in their school work.” She sarcastically stated.
└── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──┘
A/N: sorry for not uploading in a month, two deaths happened so I had a lot to take care of 😭
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marzipanandminutiae · 13 days
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First off, your blog has increased my sympathy for Lucille's character, so congratulations, I hope you're proud. Though, to be fair, I was never in the EvilTM camp, more of the Batshit Crazy Because Of Massive Trauma viewpoint, which, you know, she was.
Anyways, my actual reason for the ask is about Eunice. I've never read any of the extra source material so I don't know if this is explained somewhere. But basically why Eunice McMichael?
The Sharpes presumably met the McMichaels while they were visiting Alan in London (perhaps his graduation?). There's no father in the picture, but otherwise, she doesn't seem to fulfill any of their criteria. She has family and is highly social (lots of people to notice and care if she went missing/died), she's young and desirable to have as a wife (there must've been some competition for her back home at least), she's not older or widowed (i.e. "undesirable"), and while she's clearly rich, she's not the sole inheritor of her family's estate (they'd be working solely with her dowry, a much lower figure).
It's heavily implied (/stated outright?) that Lucille is the one who chooses Thomas's brides. There's no logical reason to choose Eunice. But following with your "sapphic" take on Lucille, I think she just has a thing for Eunice.
A lot of words just to say that but what are your thoughts?
Welcome to the Lucille Appreciators Club! Meetings are Fridays at 7:30. I'll bring snacks.
So, this is such an interesting question. The bios don't shed much light but they do provide some on how the Bride Selection Process works
Namely, that it's far from an exact science.
Per the bios, Bluebearding has never been Plan A. Plan A is finding investors for the goo-mining business. Marriage + Murder is the fallback option- that they keep having to fall back on. They've never actually chosen a bride on purpose before Enola, exactly- Margaret developed a passion for Thomas on her own; Pamela's dying father begged Thomas to marry his disabled daughter so she'd be cared for. Enola seems to have been the first one who didn't just fall into their laps, so to speak
And Thomas picked her.
So no, it's not always Lucille's choice- she encouraged him to go along with Mr. Upton's notion and propose to Pamela, the first time, but how much she was involved with the inception of the other marriages is up for debate. Which makes me think Thomas picked Eunice- I can't imagine such a fluttery little social climber being other than annoying to Lucille.
Why EITHER of them thought she was a good idea when she had so many friends and family to miss her...well, the Sharpes aren't very good at crime, frankly. Enola still has relatives writing to her five years later, so I suspect they would have come looking for her eventually. The snare seems to have been tightening around Thomas and Lucille for a while now, without them knowing it.
I do imagine that Edith's superior "qualifications" made a key lynchpin of Thomas' argument to convince Lucille to switch targets, though. And an interesting Word of Actor tidbit: Jessica Chastain thinks Lucille's desire to protect Edith by leaving her alone, at first, was genuine. Because she loves delicate, beautiful things, and saw Edith that way.
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blacktobackmesa · 6 months
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God damn it. Mrs. Bluebeard is a GLaDOS song, isn't jt
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nofatclips-home · 6 months
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youtube
Mrs. Bluebeard by They Might Be Giants - Video by Kassandra Heller, Jeremy Galante and David Cowles
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