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klausysworld · 3 months

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Hi could you write some angst about a deeply insecure reader who hates her appearance and is sort of friends with Elena and everyone(pushed to the side kind of relationship)but when klaus comes around it’s clear that she has a crush but believes he’s out of her league then klaus uses it to his advantage by showing an interest in her for information and helps her with her self worth.klaus then starts to develop feelings for her but then it’s revealed that he was just manipulating her and reader is devastated and utterly humiliated and it sets her back to how she was before him.(sorry if that was a really long explanation,you can decide the ending)thanks I love your writing btw

Real

Growing up in Mystic Falls is a bizarre experience.

There were town events almost every month where you had to dress up and act better than everyone, parents basically had a competition over who had the prettiest daughters or the most handsome sons.

Not my parents.

They didn't think I was good enough to even pretend that I could compete. I was told my worth from a young age and became more aware of it with time. When your own parents don't think you're good enough it's sort of an eye-opener if you will.

It didn't help that everyone in this town seemed to be born into modelling.

Somehow I was lucky enough to wind up 'friends' with people like Elena, Caroline and Bonnie but I knew I didn't belong with them. Somehow they were gorgeous enough to get whatever they wanted.

Sometimes I wondered if everyone else at the age of 17 looked like them and I was behind or if somewhere, I was above average. I doubted it. A lot.

Occasionally I would look at a mirror and think that I wasn't even that bad to look at. There was nothing particularly ugly about me, there just wasn't anything special. I looked plain in a way, bland and forgettable.

I was very forgettable actually. My 'friends' made that abundantly clear throughout the years when they would go out without me or forget to ask if I also wanted something or liked something.

Somehow I was of no value to them. Perhaps I was simply there to amplify their beauty. Like a DUFF. I was definitely the DUFF.

Damon actually told me that I was once, after Tyler had made the joke and Damon asked what it meant. Even though I already knew it to be true, to be told it was much worse.

You could sort of tell everyone else was thinking it, especially when I was stood beside Caroline.

Stefan was the only one who was nice but I wasn't sure if it was out of pity or just because that was who he was. Then again, I'd rather just not know.

So I tried my best to keep in the background, avoid attention and stay out the way.

Even with all the vampire and werewolf drama that took course, I kept myself quiet and to the side. Strangely it was Katherine who was kind to me, whether she had an ulterior motif I'm not so sure anymore but she never hurt me in the time she was there. Neither did Elijah when he came to town, he was polite to everyone but it was obvious that my presence was irrelevant to him.

And then of course, Klaus arrived.

I didn't officially meet him until the senior prank night, he sort of just threw to the side and told me to keep my mouth closed and not to bother running because he'd just kill me. Part of me thought about running anyway so he would just end it but I didn't.

Klaus dragged me by my wrist into his car, told me to keep quiet while he drove Elena to the hospital. For whatever reason he brought me along and left me in the car as he went to drain her of blood for his hybrids. I did as told: sat silently and waited.

He came back out and spoke to Damon for a moment, I saw them glance over in my direction only for Damon to laugh and smirk. I sighed to myself and got out the car. It was clear that Klaus thought I could be a good pawn but was surly mistaken and Damon told him to do whatever he wanted to me. In response I walked home, neither noticed so it was fine.

A week or so later he came back, crashed homecoming or something? I dunno, I wasn't there but I was told about it the next day via a stroppy Caroline.

It was that same day that he came and sat beside me at the grill. I ignored him for the most part, confused by his attempt at what I could only guess was flirting? I wasn't really sure. I think he could tell.

"Not easily impressed are you love?" he questioned as he leant forward, uncomfortably close. I sort of just looked at him, still unsure to what he wanted. A smirk pulled at the end of his lips and his hand lifted, his fingers wrapping around a piece of my hair making frown and pull away abruptly. Without hesitation I stood up and spun on my heel, going to leave. His laugh followed me and a hand grabbed my waits, it was stange.

"Calm down love, It's not like I was going to rip it out, I just wondered what it felt like" he chuckled, pulling my back flush against his front making me tense and squirm.

"It feels like hair" I stated simply "Now get off" I grunted, shoving my elbow into his side to make him let go. I kept walking, keeping my eyes on the ground.

The next time I saw him he apologised for the previous encounter which again, i didn't understand but there was no point in questioning and arguing so I just accepted it and tried to leave but he asked if I'd stay for one drink, he asked so nicely and he smiled. I was stupid enough to think it was genuine and accepted.

Looking back it was pretty obvious that this was a game for him or a trap, whatever you want to label it but in the moment I ignored what was right in my face. Deep down I knew it was all a joke of sorts really.

But no boy, let alone a man had shown me this sort of attention and the soft fluttering it made me feel had me staying for far too long. I listened to his little stories and asked a range of questions as the drinks kept coming. He asked a couple about me but i gave relatively vague answers. There wasn't much I had to give him on me, I wasn't up for a pity party about friends and I didn't really fancy talking about my shitty parents either. I think Klaus picked up on the fact that I didn't really want to talk about me and eventually gave up with it.

It was late when I realised I needed to get home and he offered to take me which I admit made me wary. I didn't want him to kidnap me and think I'd be any good as leverage again, though I guess Damon made that pretty clear already. I decided to just walk home which he eventually accepted and got into his car.

Walking by myself probably wasn't my best option after drinking so much in one go but I made it home with minimal stumbling. My mother shook her head when she saw me and asked what was wrong with me. When she realised I had been drinking her mind jumped to two very different conclusions. The first being that I was being a slut which was ironic as in the past she'd made it clear that no guy would want to sleep with me, and the second being that I had taken pills to kill myself.

Listening to her drastic thinking made me wonder what kind of pills she was on but I didn't question it and waited for my father to come and take her to bed, telling her to just ignore me. Then I proceeded to make my way to the bathroom, getting changed and washing my face before going to my bed.

My phone dinged making me sigh, thinking it was Elena asking me to help her with something dumb and life threatening however much to my surprise it was Klaus. A smile involuntarily spread across my face and we messaged back and forth before he told me to rest.

The following few days he would just check in. Not too much but he also made it clear that he hadn't forgotten me which was all I had ever truly wanted from someone. To be acknowledged at the very least.

Of course I didn't tell the others that he had been talking to me, besides they didn't ask so I didn't see why I should. I guess I just wanted something for myself.

I wasn't completely stupid. I always had the feeling that he was using me, especially towards the start...but he was just so wonderful with his words and his ways.

When he began to make and buy sweet gifts and claim they were tokens of his affection, I couldn't help the blush on my face. When he would find a way to have his skin against mine, or how he would pick up my hand and gently tug my along. Somehow we always seemed to end up somewhere for food, and he would always refuse to let me pay.

Something about him was so enticing, addictive if you will.

He began to make me feel a certain way. He made me warm and happy. His touch was so soft, it made me feel like I was buzzing. i was stupid for thinking he could feel the same way about me.

I had been so scared to admit my feelings.

He had assured me that he would never push me to.

He told me that he liked me, that he didn't want me to be frightened of him or nervous around him. "Not unless it's the sort of nervous that puts butterflies in your stomach sweetheart" he had teased and my cheeks had glowed red.

Over the space of months his presence never lessoned. He always made time to see me, and speak with me. I found myself longing for his voice, his touch.

On days where he was too busy at home, he would urge me to come over. I would spend as long as I possibly could with him, a few times I even stayed over but he had slept on top of the duvet so that I would feel comfortable.

This had gone on for a small while until he actually said the words 'I love you'.

Perhaps I was just so happy to actually hear those words. Maybe I believed them to be true, real. Or I just saw what I wanted to see, heard what I wanted to hear and ignored the rest.

The time I gave myself to him used to make my smile and blush. Now it just makes me feel dirty, humiliated and embarrassed.

Knowing that he could and has had his hands all over my body, his lips and eyes. In the moment I felt like a goddess, probably because that’s what he told me I was. The memory of him inside me haunts me. I had thought it to be such a beautiful experience, romantic and personal.

I wish I could say that I had slept with him only once but as the months went by we would share intimacy often.

I had even told him that I loved him, so many times and I meant it for all of them.

So you should understand why it was so hard to accidentally hear him tell his sister that he had been compelling me for any information on the others.

It had felt as though my heart had stopped when the words hit my ears and tears already made my eyes burn. I heard a weak laugh and turned my head to see Damon, strung up by chains whilst bleeding all over, looking straight back at me.

“Y/n…” I heard Klaus’s voice, his tone one of panic or maybe it was just surprise. He probably didn’t want me to know of his routine. Damon only rolled his eyes and gave me look,

“You didn’t…think it was real, right?” He coughed, a cruel smile on his face.

His words just made me quieter. They made me think. Why did I think it was real?

My eyes slowly lifted to meet Klaus’s. I could see and feel Rebekah looking at me, everyone was silent. Even Damon shut up for a second. I think maybe he was expecting me to say something but I didn’t really have anything to tell him.

As awful as it all made me feel, and even with the amount of emotions swallowing me, I felt more disappointed in myself than I did him.

My right hand went to my left arm, pinching my skin through my jumper in some sort of hope that I’d wake up from some stupid nightmare but it didn’t work.

The first tear fell from my eye and I sniffed to keep the other ones from coming.

Klaus just looked at me, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, I didn’t want to know either. I could just guess anyway.

So without a word I just turned around and left, walking quickly back out the door before breaking into a sprint in the direction of my house. I could feel the mascara running down my face, ruining the foundation I had only recently started wearing, for Klaus’s benefit.

My hands wiped at the tears as I pushed my from door shut behind me and went upstairs, blocking out the annoyed voices of my parents and locking myself in my room.

It was only once I was in the shower that I was flooded with memories. That I remembered all the things I had done with him. By the time I stepped out of the bathroom my skin was scrubbed raw in an attempt to wash his touch away. Even the slightest touch made me feel as though my body was burning, stinging with pain but I would have rather felt that every day than have to realise Klaus had been using me for over a year now.

I was curled in my bed, hidden under the blankets and surrounded by the dark as I let every comment not matter how small or petty play back through my mind.

I wasn’t even sure who to be upset with. I chose myself.

Klaus must’ve known I was an easy target. Desperate. I wonder how much he’s had me tell him. To be fair I knew more than you’d expect about what was going on. I had gotten good at observing and overhearing so I still knew what was going on, even when spending so much time with Klaus himself.

I also wondered what else he had compelled me to do. I hoped he wouldn’t do anything other than ask questions but I couldn’t help that fear creep inside me. It made me sick to my stomach, and then I wondered if he would just wait to compel me again so that I could continue to be his information feeder.

The idea made my fingers dig into my arm, bruising the skin purple but I wouldn’t stop. I only did so that I could go get some vervain that I kept downstairs in one of the cupboards at the back. I was reaching for the little glass bottle when I heard a door close. I spun around quickly to see Klaus in the doorway of my kitchen. My hand clutched onto the vervain tightly and I noticed his eyes glance at it briefly. His hands went up as if to show no harm but there was no way I would believe that meant a thing.

“Sweetheart- listen to me..” he began and I let out a breathless laugh

“Get out” I whispered making him sigh and frown as though he had the audacity to be upset or annoyed.

“Y/n..”

“No Klaus. I’m fucking serious, get out.” I told him, my eyes watering again. I let out an involuntary whimper when he stepped forward making him stop and stand still.

“I never meant for you to know that” he whispered and I frowned, swiping a tear away.

“Sorry I ruined your plan” I mumble, exhausted.

“No- no I didn’t mean it like that- I meant that-“

“Klaus it’s fine” I murmur, avoiding his eye, “It’s fine, I get it. You needed to know what was happening, you got to be two steps ahead. I’d appreciate if you just found someone else now please”

I could feel his stare on me, it make my skin itch and I just needed him to go. I could feel my hand getting clammy as I held onto the bottle.

“I haven’t compelled you in such a long time” he muttered, as though maybe that made it better. “I used to, but I truly have fallen for you Y/n. I love-“

“Please get out” I cut him off, my spare hand resting on my forehead to cover my eyes.

“I love you”

“No you don’t” I cry, “you wouldn’t do this to someone you love. I know you don’t love me. You never have and you never could. You’re just pretending again so I’ll let you control me, I don’t like it” I whimper, tears streaming again. I could hear him getting closer but I was already against the counter and I couldn’t out run him. There was no point in trying.

“Sweetheart, I’ll never use you again-“ he tried to argue but I couldn’t listen to it.

“I really, really need you to leave. Please Klaus just get out, I can’t stand you” I tell him honestly and for a second as I look up at him, he looks almost sad but I have to assume it’s still apart of his act.

“You- you’re not going to do anything…anything harmful are you? To yourself, I mean.” He asked and I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. I should never have told him that I’d had those thoughts or feelings once. I shouldn’t have ever said a word to him.

“No…now go away” I whisper, my hands trembling as I stared at the ground, listening to his footsteps eventually get further away.

I knew there was no way I could sleep, he was probably still outside my house. Waiting.

I wasn’t sure what he was waiting for but I could him there.

I had no idea what I was going to do.

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bonefall · 1 month

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Sawing in a circle around myself while drawing Maple Whisker with a thought process like

"It would be cool if Maple Whisker and Bright Whisker were actually ancestors of Bluestar with the wolf motif"

"So I should grab reference images of medieval wolves"

"Usually these depictions make them kind of slinky and conniving, which will be fun since Bright is The Diplomat who is poisoned at the end of Riverstar's Heir; I could subvert things by making her cousin Maple seem like an evil advisor who turns out to have no ulterior motives"

"Bright's looking kind of like a heraldic lion with the way I'm drawing this fur, I'll work that shape into Maple too"

"Canon!Maplewhisker has no description but people tend to make her a reddish-brown. So I'll look at a red wolf."

The circle is complete. I look comically at the camera before plummeting to my doom.

She looks like if Scar Lion King was a lesbian. so OBVIOUSLY I have to stick with it now

Other little design trivia things;

Forest Cats at the time tended to have "manes," Mountain Cats contributed ear tufts, traits that will be heavily concentrated in modern ThunderClan

I feel like Maple was born with ear tufts, but they get bitten off at some point. It feels like an intentional rejection of the influence of ThunderClan, considering the context here, but it could also have been a coincidence that was remembered as Maple having them removed.

Since this story is SO ancient, it's also likely that it's misremembered as "relinquishing a crown"

I should add tons more scars, since everyone gets thrashed at The Second Battle.

In the current draft, Maple Whisker is Bright Whisker's cousin, but I'm not totally committed to it yet. Specifically, their mothers were sisters.

I'm thinking maybe it would be cooler if they were siblings, and Maple was almost eliminated in the same poisoning Bright caused.

But, Maple is younger, so Bright was always going to have a better claim.

There's a suggestion (which I'm gonna answer in a minute because I like it a lot) that Flowerstar's name refers to Monkshood, THE deadliest poison native to England, which I'm going to lean into. It's why I pulled in the wolf motif.

Monkshood is also called Wolf's Bane. It was used to create poisons which helped drive wolves extinct in Britain.

#better bones au #bone babble #fennelposting #I have to stress that Scar did not cross my mind until I stepped back and looked at the colors #It was a complete and utter accident #BB!Maplewhisker #Riverstar's Heir

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t3acupz · 8 days

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1, for the ask game :3

1. the character everyone gets wrong

Abigail

So many people portray her as completely innocent, and her involvement in her father’s murders was just a survival strategy. But I think a part of her enjoyed the hunt, and that’s a major reason why Hannibal was drawn to her as a surrogate daughter.

Hannibal finds would be/fledgling killers; inserts himself in their lives to wind them up and watch them go. He saw that same potential in Will, Randall, Chiyoh, Bedelia, and Francis.

I like to think about what purpose each character serves, and Abigail’s is to show the audience that killing can be done out of love. Initially, Abagail’s reaction to finding out she has been eating the victims was horror. With Hannibal’s coaxing (and ulterior motive to convince her to become his protégé/daughter) she then came to the realization that helping her father kill those girls was an act of love. This motif continues as a thread between Will and Abigail — both being loved by Hannibal while also hurt by him in the process.

Similarly, Will and Abigail found ways to excuse killing if it served a greater purpose. In Will’s case, he saw it as a way to exact justice (at least that’s how he justified it to himself at the time). For Abigail, killing wasn’t murder as long as every part of the victim was consumed or repurposed.

Even her apparent apathy concerning her mother’s murder, and her nonchalant attitude when realizing that Hannibal was a serial killer is often excused as a trauma response or Stockholm syndrome. I see it as more evidence that she is a psychopath like Hannibal and Will. Abigail kills because it makes her feel powerful. Even her killing Nicholas Boyle wasn’t purely self defense, and she acknowledged that. What makes Abigail unique compared to the rest of the serial killers in season one is that she is able to hide her true nature behind a veneer of girlish innocence.

#ask #abigail hobbs #meta #hannibal meta

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optimisticstudentangel · 1 year

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Side characters’ reaction to you getting drunk

Warning: use of alcohol. no Luke.

Gender neutral reader

Summary: you are drunk. i wish i was too. May write second part, with drunk side characters

Diavolo

It was one of Diavolo’s never-ending parties. And as always it was a lively celebration that RAD hold. You thought about it a lot, but why exactly every social gathering in RAD has a demonus or some kind of alcohol? Isn’t it a little dangerous? Especially if it makes demons behave in more aggressive way…

But you don’t really have to be a worrywart. You’ve got bunch of demons, angels and a human, that were willing to save you if something happened.

Anyway… This time you were able to indulge in this kind of fun as well. Demonus doesn’t have any effect on a human, which is a little sad. But hearing your complaints about this problem, RAD’s student council members decided to get some beverage for you. Several bottles will surely be enough, right? And it is a special occasion too…

So you have a one glass… and then another… and then a little more… And now you are drunk. Oh to be so happy like you are right now. You are a giggling mess, but you are so funny like that.

Demons around you encourage you to have even more alcohol. They invite you to dance with them, to have a chat, to go some places, where no demon brothers will interrupt their fun.

And you laugh, you are going to agree to anything right now. Every offer will get an yes from you.

Luckily Lord Diavolo comes to rescue you. He sees their ulterior motifs and he is not letting anything bad happening to his human.

- MC, come join my company, - he says. And of course demons that were previously surrounding you, disappeared. You smile and go to Diavolo.

He took your hand and led you to his room. This state of yours was for his eyes only. No other soul can see you like that.

Some part of him found you adorable when you were under alcohol. You became more frank with your words and feelings.

- Diavolo, I loooove you sooo much, hehe. Give me your attention, will you? You are so busy with your work, it makes me sad and irritated, - you whine. Diavolo chuckles at your honest wording.

- Well now, now, my dearest. No need to get upset about it, right now we’ve got all the time to make it up to you, don’t we? Let’s spend the night to the most of it!

Barbatos

Lord Diavolo send him to the human world to buy good quality liquor. Future king liked to test-taste new things for diversity. And he also liked to share the experience with his friends.

Barbatos poured some alcohol on your glass, and offered you the snacks he made himself.

You sipped a little, and tried to hold yourself properly in front of everyone. You didn’t want to disappoint Barbatos, because he would scold you aftermath.

But even so, the fact that you drank a little didn't save your situation. The strength of the alcohol was too much for you to bare. Your body and your movements have become relaxed and slow. With a bleary eye, you started looking for the figure of Barbatos.

- Barbatooos, where are you? I need you right now, - some of the demons sitting next to you laughed a bit. Other nobles looked at you with judgement, and whispered about your poor manners.

Despite this, as soon as Barbatos appeared in your field of vision, everyone calmed down, and room became silent.

- Yes, darling. What it is? – he smiled at you with consolation.

You became a little needy, asking him for a kiss. Everyone including Lord Diavolo stopped eating, and focused all the attention on you two. You waited for Barbatos, he wouldn’t ignore your request, right?

He stood silently, and then shook his head and grinned.

- All right, if that’s what my darling asks for, then so be it, - the demons were looking at both of you, waiting for Barbatos' actions. They could not believe that a butler could afford such a thing in front of a large crowd.

He took your hand and left his kiss there. You certainly wanted a lot more, but do not forget that Barbatos is not going to arrange such a show in front of the friends of the future king.

- Don’t worry darling, we will continue a little later. Now I have to take care of other duties.

Solomon

The wizard invited you over. He wanted to share a present from his incubus friend with you. It would be nice to steal you from the brothers for one night, wouldn’t it?

So you came, and both of you decided to just chill and have a calm night.

He asked you about the latest news, about how Lucifer was doing, and you told him about everything that happened recently.

He poured liquid into your glass and you quickly emptied it. Which one is it? Were you counting? Your cheeks were becoming red and your mind was as empty as your glass.

- Hehehe. Is alcohol started kicking in? We should have made a bet, for how long we can stay collected. But alas I poured most of the beverage to you. Ahahah, it’s not bad though, seeing you tipsy is an interesting sight…

- Whaa… - didn’t you notice that he didn’t drink any of the liquor?

- I know it may seem a little suspicious to you, but don’t be afraid, there is nothing bad. Only my magic… But isn't it fun? We now have more opportunity to extend our enjoyment.

- What was in there? – you asked.

- It’s a secret, at least for now… you will know later~

Simeon

Your angel invited you to a bar so that you could forget about your duties for a while. You both dressed up in your presentable clothes. Simeon booked a table in advance, so you just sat down on your reserved seat.

Calm music was played, demons cooed with each other, so, to say the least, there was a stormy life around you.

The waiter came to give you a menu and started offering you something that you might have liked.

- We'll have a bottle of wine for now, please, - Simeon said. “My love don’t rush with your choice, we have a plenty of time on our hands” – angel said.

The waiter brought you your wine and you decided to drink a little. After a couple of glasses, you felt how confident you were becoming. It would be stupid to just sit still, at such moments it is necessary to create chaos and problems for others.

That's why you asked Simeon to come out and dance with you. He liked the idea, he's always for having fun with you.

The angel took your hand and placed it on his shoulders, meanwhile his hands were on your waist. You moved to the rhythm of the song, dancing slowly and mesmerizing other demons who were looking at your side.

Because of the alcohol, you were staggering, so you had to hold on to your partner more tightly. He noticed it and grinned.

- Did my little lamb had too much? Hahah, you look so cute right now, I can’t hold myself from kissing you, - he admitted.

He pressed your body closer to his so that you could use him as your support.

- Can’t wait to until the evening when we will be alone. So that I could shower your body with my kisses.

#obey me #obey me scenario #obey me side characters #obey me diavolo #obey me barbatos #obey me simeon #obey me solomon #diavolo x reader #barbatos x reader #simeon x reader #solomon x reader #simeon cult

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i-guess-im-into-this-now · 7 days

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The Apothecary Diaries

S1E10 First Watch

Here's where I watch The Apothecary Diaries for the first time and give my thoughts, analysis, predictions, and occasionally I stumble into a joke.

To start at the beginning:

Episode 1

My character/location cheat sheet

Lady Ah-Duo - Pure Consort, one of 4 top concubines

Garnet Pavilion - Lady Ah-Duo's residence

Fengming - Head LIW at Garnet Pavilion

Xiaolan - Maomao's servant friend

Lady Lishu - child bride concubine

Lady Lihua - the consort who was poisoned by powder

Jade Pavilion - Lady Gyokuyou's residence

Luomen - Maomao's physician father

Sir Kounen - Jinshi's older acquaintance who died

This episode fought me hard. Like, I struggled a lot with it. I'm more lost than I've ever been in this show. And forewarning, much of this episode's blog is me spinning wild theories, since I couldn't actually figure out what is happening.

And full disclosure, I had to watch this episode twice. I watched it once while I was tired, and could not figure out a lot of it. So I slept on it, let the mysteries roll around my head all day, and then watched it again and I'm still confused about many things! But I had some insights about a couple things, and added some more notes to my initial watch responses. Enjoy!

Cryptic opening. A person sits drinking alone on what appears to be the walls of the palace.

Palace gossip! The girl who drowned used to serve at the Garnet Pavilion. Word has it that she's the one who poisoned Lady Lishu's food. Could she have done it because Lady Ah-Duo is at risk of losing her place as one of the top consorts to a younger concubine?

At age 35, Lady Ah-Duo is so, so old. She's practically geriatric. Way too old to be a favored consort, even if she has been married to the emperor since he was the crown prince, and bore him a child that died.

And the math is funny when you have to consider child brides, but there is a possibility that if that infant that she bore had in fact not died, that they would be a young adult right about now. Right around the age of Jinshi a lot of young men in the palace. This possibility isn't my leading theory, since the show has already implied that Jinshi is the emperor's brother, but it's a good back up. For what it's worth, Lady Ah-Duo has the right coloring and look to be related to Jinshi. Also, I have no idea how old Jinshi actually is, but Gaoshun keeps referring to him as a young person, so I'm guessing young 20s or late teens. Which means there is an age gap between him and his brother the emperor who we now know is 34.

I'm starting to notice a motif. Maomao describes the Rear Palace as a garden, and the concubines as flowers. I remember her talking to Lady Lihua about how one could not compare a peony to a bellflower. And now she says:

Even the most beautiful flowers wilt eventually. And those unable to bear fruit no longer serve a purpose.

The ladies of the Jade Pavilion prepare and host a tea party for Lady Lishu, which is fraught with politics. The party is attended by Lady Lishu's food taster, who is terrified of Maomao after the events of the Garden Party. But even so, it seems Lady Lishu is still being bullied by her ladies.

Of note: Maomao is dressed up for the party, and doesn't have her freckles on.

The ladies of the Jade Pavilion won't let Maomao help clean up and they toss her out into the hall claiming she needs to rest, but they may have ulterior motives, because a certain palace manager is waiting for Maomao there.

Jinshi wants to know about the tea party, and Maomao realizes that he may have had a hand in organizing this event. I assume he wanted Maomao to observe Lady Lishu with her ladies in waiting to determine if the bullying is still happening, which is a noble intention. Why he does these things without simply asking Maomao to help, I don't know. She doesn't appreciate being maneuvered, and her natural curiosity and desire to help usually get her involved anyway, so there really isn't a good reason for him to continue operating this way. But things have been weird since Maomao became despondent after the servant girl drowned. He's retreated to old behaviors, which include manipulating Maomao. And the mask of the enigmatic palace manager is back. He's all sparkles again.

Maomao tries to brush him off.

Jinshi: I am far from being done with you.

Understatement.

Maomao: Funny, I'm more than done with you.

A lie.

But she may be done with him in this moment. When he's sparkling, he's manipulating, and she knows it.

They are bantering as they always do, but this isn't honest or fun. And he's put his hand on her shoulder. She has asked him before not to do that. She slaps it off as she did last time. Nothing has changed. What she said before is still true. His status makes anything between them impossible, and he shouldn't be touching her.

His tone immediately changes, signaling his sincerity as he wants to talk about the servant girl who died. He's not convinced that it was a suicide. He's heard Maomao's thoughts on this before, and he believes her. He also doesn't want to give up on finding the truth and getting justice for that girl. And... I just love that.

We see Jinshi through Maomao's distorted lens so often, that it can be hard to see that he has heroic qualities. When we first met him, he seemed to be almost an antagonist to Maomao. He was using her in his machinations, trying to seduce her to more firmly control her, and keeping information from her. But his role in this story, is not that of an antagonist, he's the love interest, and he's got to be worthy of the hero. As we've moved through the story we've caught glimpses of his better nature, and we can read between the lines to see what his motivations and actions have been. He's got some growth yet to do, no doubt, but fundamentally, he's a good person. And here, with his pursuit of justice for the murdered servant girl, we get a good example of him becoming a hero in his own right.

This also demonstrates the impact Maomao has had on Jinshi. I do believe he cared about justice before Maomao arrived in his life, and I think he would have pursued this case regardless, but this case in particular has extra meaning to Jinshi, because of Maomao.

The woman who died is a servant girl, just like Maomao. Someone targeted this woman and murdered her, because she was expendable.

Maomao: I am but a lowly commoner. My life is easily taken away over the slightest error. [From episode 9]

And that is unacceptable to Jinshi.

He saw a despondent Maomao, and listened to what she had to say, and in the moment he had no idea what to do. And he still might not know what to say to Maomao, but he does know that servant girls don't deserve to die when they become an inconvenience to someone in power.

And servant girls shouldn't have to live in the palace feeling like their lives are expendable.

Maomao: We wander through life, never knowing when it's our time. That's fate. There's no way of resisting it. [From episode 9]

No. Not okay. Not to Jinshi.

He might not be able to escape the obligations of his station or be able to take off the mask he needs to wear, but he can at least use his power for this.

He saw Maomao at her darkest moment to date, and it threw him. He has pulled back a bit but as he said he's far from being done with her. Jinshi never gives up on Maomao. Big male lead energy.

And so Jinshi asks for Maomao's thoughts, as he always does. He always wants to know her thoughts, her conjectures, and he believes her. As he did with the drowned servant girl. Now he wants to know if she thinks the servant girl could have done what it's being said she did. He's not sure himself, but he trusts that Maomao will have some insight. Just as Jinshi's support and encouragement helps Maomao to solve mysteries, Maomao's careful analysis and even unfounded conjectures, help Jinshi make sense of the cases he's call upon to handle. They work better when they work together.

Jinshi has heard her thoughts about the servant girls death before, but he has to ask again:

Jinshi: Do you think she really committed suicide? Maomao: I've already told you that's not for me to determine.

And if Jinshi is back to masks, and sparkles, then Maomao is back to conjectures shouldn't be spoken out loud and "a mere lady-in-waiting wouldn't know."

Jinshi: She was a common servant girl. What reason would she have for attempting to poison Concubine Lishu? Maomao: I don't know.

The walls are up. The communication is down. Jinshi makes a frustrated sound. He tried asking her earnestly, and it got him nowhere. If Maomao is going to retreat to old behavior, so will he. It's time to ✨sparkle.✨

Jinshi will get to the bottom of this case goddamnit, even if he has to maneuver Maomao to do it. She's been sent to the Garnet Pavilion to help out get answers. She acts like she's upset at being sent, but don't listen to her. She wants to solve this case as much as Jinshi does.

That's... a hell of an intro for Lady Ah-Duo. She's going to be someone important isn't she? See wild theory above.

Caught it on the second watch, but the person on the wall was Lady Ah Duo. Her guan and hair style are the same, and when Maomao pictures her riding a horse, it's the same outfit at in the beginning.

Which begs the question, what was she doing sitting up on the rooftop drinking and staring at the stars?

Lady Ah-Duo is getting the kind of starstruck reaction usually reserved for Jinshi. And Maomao is wondering who Lady Ah-Duo reminds her of. Don't tell me my off-the-wall theory was correct? Shit, I'll have to rework all my other theories if that's true...

Everything at the Garnet Pavilion seems... nice. The servants work hard, and the head lady in waiting is kind, and approachable, different from what we've seen before with Lady Lihua's and Lady Lishu's servants. Maomao isn't sure what to do. She didn't get any specific instructions from Jinshi, and she's not sure where or what to look for. She's considering all of the angles though. In fact those thoughts are keeping her up at night. A servant girl who used to live and work in that very pavilion, was murdered. And someone did try to poison Lady Lishu. Maomao knows there must be a clue somewhere. It's driving her crazy.

This show just casually drops in commentary about the role of women in society.

She's (Fengming) well past her prime, but in another life, she would have made a great wife. I wonder if she ever considered marriage? Or if she chose to serve Concubine Ah-Duo for life?

I wonder if Maomao considers this her fate as well. Will she ever consider marriage? Will she choose to serve Concubine Gyokuyou for life? Do servants even get a choice? Do their desires matter at all? What about the concubines? Do they get a choice? Do their desires matter at all?

Lady Lishu shows up to the Garnet Pavilion acting weird as hell. Looking all around like she doesn't want to be seen. And she only has her one food taster with her. Strange for someone who may have been the target of an assassination attempt from the Garnet Pavilion.

Something about this doesn't add up. Why is she hiding her visit? Is she hiding from her own ladies? Is that why she only brought the one? Or is she avoiding someone else and didn't want a large retinue that would make her more noticeable. And why visit the Garnet Pavilion? What is the connection? She had the weird reaction to honey at the tea party she attended at the Jade Pavilion. Does this have something to do with honey? I really don't know. Maybe there will be some clues later on.

When she's done Maomao reports back to Jinshi, who... is acting very strangely. I think he's trying to seduce Maomao again. But, why use methods he knows will fail? Just what the hell is going on here?!

Maomao: And what's with his casual attitude recently?

Maomao thinks it's weird too.

He starts by lounging suggestively across the couch. Maomao finishes her report of the facts, and Jinshi asks her to go on... and I think I've figured out what he's up to. She's still holding back, not willing to share her thoughts and theories with him. He's pushing her. He tried talking it out before, and it didn't work, so this is plan B.

He pushes her with a pointed question, and that works! She tells him the facts she knows, her reasoning, and her opinions. Gaoshun and Jinshi share a look. Everything Maomao said aligns with what they already thought about Fengming.

The honey. Does the fact that Jinshi brought it mean anything?

Maomao: Given the way he's lapping up that honey, he must have already suspected her (Fengming).

I actually don't know how she gets to that leap of logic. Does she think he went to request a pot of honey from Garnet Pavilion to investigate himself? Maybe he or Gaoshun really did do that. Maybe that is how Gaoshun discovered that Fengming has a bandaged arm. I don't know.

What does he already know, before Maomao even gives her report? We know he knew about the bandage on Fengming's arm, but didn't tell Maomao about it. She noticed it and figured out it's significance on her own. She realizes that he already knew everything that she reported. So why bother to ask her?

My theory is that he's not sure, but he trusts Maomao's judgement and wanted to hear it from her to confirm his own thoughts, or see if she had any additional insights. Maybe to see if she can tie in any of the other mysteries. Or maybe he is seeing if she is a good spy. Perhaps he will use her this way again in the future, since she performed so well.

For what it's worth, I think he would like to be able to ask her opinion and have it freely given. And they may reach a day where he can simply consult with her, without her pulling away. But that day is not today.

There are also the mysteries of who tried to poison Lady Lishu, and why the servant girl that worked at the Garnet Pavilion was murdered. I think both Jinshi and Maomao would like to know if any of those things are connected.

Jinshi then does something so deeply weird... it's... he.... he tries to put his fingers In. Her. Mouth.

He offers her a pot of honey. An expensive luxury, with medicinal properties. It's something she probably would be willing to accept. However:

✨Jinshi✨: This is for you. Good girls should be rewarded.

She declines, completely freaked out. So he dips his fingers in the honey and corners her. What the absolute fuck Jinshi?!

Maomao: Offer it to someone who wants your fingers in their mouth!

Back the hell off with your honeyed words and your honeyed fingers!

Jinshi: Don't be so modest.

Is he doing this because she smacked his hand off of her shoulder earlier?

Maomao yells for help from Gaoshun, who pretends he can neither see nor hear what is happening. Holy hell. Don't these guys remember her story about nearly being assaulted? What the hell does Jinshi hope to achieve here?

Maomao is pissed at Jinshi, unnerved, and uncomfortable, but she's not triggered into having a trauma response. I think she must know that Jinshi would not force her. Even with the honey, I think he would stop shy of forcing his fingers into her mouth. I think, he thinks he is teasing her (it's harassment as Lady Gyokuyou says when she comes in). Maomao considers fighting. She considers submitting. She considers fleeing, but before she can decide what to do, she has an insight, which is what finally stops Jinshi.

Maomao has a moment where she thinks through some earlier events, like Lady Lishu not wanting to eat honey, and having had an allergic reaction to fish. She draws a connection that Lady Lishu may also be allergic to honey. Then she thinks about the servant girl who was drowned, about Lady Ah Duo, the servants, and Lady Lishu acting shady. And... I'm not sure what connection they have to honey, but I'm glad Maomao was able to connect all of the events. I knew she could do it, even if I can't!

My hero, Lady Gyokuyou walks in and Jinshi is caught honey red handed. And he runs away, like the guilty asshole that he is. Did I say he had heroic qualities earlier? I take it all back.

Gaoshun calls Maomao "Xiaomao" and tries to make excuses for Jinshi, calling this a prank that went to far. And barf. Fuck that excuse. And boy do I think there is some commentary happening here about sexual harassment and rape culture, but I won't digress into it.

Maomao: Since it was nothing but harmless fun, next time you can do the licking for me?

So, what is the point of this scene?

I've thought about it, and I'm swinging in the dark, but I think Jinshi is acting bizarrely because he is getting desperate. We've seen him slowly unraveling for awhile now, as he struggles between craving authenticity, and living up to the expectations of his status. To be clear, what he did is way across the line. It's certainly across the line in Maomao's eyes. It's also crossing the lines of propriety which is why Gaoshun pretends not to see, and why Lady Gyokuyou reacts so strongly when she sees it. But I think Jinshi has even crossed a line of his own that he normally wouldn't. So what would compel this usually composed and calculating man to behave in such an unhinged way?

Well I think it comes down to a few key events that happened recently.

Maomao left.

Jinshi has gotten rather used to having Maomao around. Being able to call upon her whenever he wants to take advantage of her incredible mind and unmatched skills. Or if he just wants to tease her or banter with her. She's the one who sees him. The one who makes him feel like he's a person, and not like he's just filling a role. So when he shows up and she's just... gone. Well. Jinshi did not like it.

He thought he lost her to another man.

Not only was she gone. She was gone with another man! Hadn't Jinshi been clear enough when he gave her a hair pin? How can she prefer Lihaku?! Also, doesn't she shrink away or cringe whenever Jinshi tries to touch her? How could she allow herself to be with Lihaku?! It turned out she wasn't physical with Lihaku, but for a moment there he saw what could happen. Jinshi did not like it.

Maomao's despair

That the machinations of the palace could tangle Maomao and get her killed, and that Jinshi would be powerless to stop it, well... This is intolerable to Jinshi.

Mix these feelings of loneliness, jealousy, and desperation and we get a Jinshi that is irrational. We've usually seen Jinshi in control of himself and everyone else around him. He's the mastermind, who knows how to move the pieces around the board to produce the outcome that he wants. And if he feels some way about what's going on around him or inside him, we usually have to guess, because he doesn't have anyone that he can talk to about it. So to now see him behave without thought, or reason, just from a place of desperation, of wanting to connect with Maomao, who just won't let him in, no matter what he does. Well, it's really weird, and inexcusable, but also kind of sad.

Whatever the case may be, Maomao uses this opportunity to ask Gaoshun for a favor. She's put the pieces together and now she needs evidence. Gaoshun accompanies her to visit Lady Lishu. His presence implies that the visit is sanctioned by Jinshi, which it is not. Maomao feels he owes her this one.

She wants to ask Lady Lishu about honey. Things are starting to come together for Maomao but I'm lost. I haven't figured out how exactly the conspiracy works yet, or what connection Lady Lishu has with the Garnet Pavilion. In any case, Lady Lishu had a dangerous reaction to honey as an infant and was told to never again eat it. And when Maomao asks about Fengming, Lady Lishu looks downright terrified. I'm also remembering that Lady Lishu was the child bride of the former emperor, and was mother-in-law to Lady Ah-Duo. That little tidbit probably wasn't dropped into this story for no reason. Just what is the connection between Lady Lishu, Lady Ah-Duo, and Fengming? Whatever Maomao suspected she didn't share it and now I'm starting to understand how Jinshi feels because I also want to force her to tell me what she thinks!

Gaoshun may not be a fan of JinMao but he is becoming quite a fan of "Xiaomao." He's giving her cutesy names and doing her favors with no reward. He has seen the way her brilliant mind works, her passion for protecting the powerless, her composure under pressure, and her superior competencies. She's earned his respect. When she asks, he searches through the court library, without question.

Wait a god damn minute. Honey. Lady Ah Duo's child appeared dead because they gave him honey. Of course they did, they have honey in abundance at the Garnet Pavilion. Then when the doctor was called he... took him out of the palace to safety? No that doesn't sound right. If the baby were a girl I would say yes, and that the baby was Maomao. But if that were true and we assumed that the emperor was her father, and we assume that Jinshi is the emperor's brother, than that would make Jinshi Maomao's uncle. Lol! Perfect. Absolutely perfect. But I don't think that's right.

So I've thought some more and I'm reminded that someone said the Emperor and Lady Ah Duo were foster siblings. I'd like to know more about that scenario, but regardless, I wonder if they truly saw themselves more like siblings than as spouses. I wonder if they didn't have physical relations at all. It would explain why they never had another baby in the many years they have been married. But then how did Lady Ah Duo end up pregnant you may ask. Well, there are not a lot of named male characters in this show that could fit the bill, so with my limited information, and a shot in the dark, I'm going to guess Sir Kounen. He was around in the palace with access to the imperial family, which we know because he had an impact on young Jinshi. Was he friends with the Emperor and Lady Ah Duo? Did Lady Ah Duo used to ride horses with him, then sit under the stars? Was that why she was drinking while stargazing at the top of the episode? Was she toasting to her past lover? I don't know. I don't really have any evidence at all.

So then what is with Fengming burning secret communication sticks? Well, if we consider that Lady Ah-Duo sneaks out to go horseback riding or meet up with her fellow who isn't the emperor, then maybe those communication sticks are for setting up secret rendezvous.

When Maomao was figuring out the connection of honey to every as yet unsolved mystery, she thought about how honey can nearly kill an infant, she thought about the servant girl who was murdered, and of Lady Ah-Duo, and if Jinshi is that baby, and honey was used to feint his death, then maybe the reason the servant was killed, was because she found out that the baby that was born was not the emperor's, or maybe that the baby lived. Or maybe she found out about Lady Au Duo having an affair, or maybe she saw Fengming using the secret communication sticks. Hmmm, could be a lot of things. There are a lot of secrets to keep in the Garnet Pavilion.

But how does Lady Lishu tie in? Am I way off here?

So I guess I'm now leaning towards Lady Ah-Duo's baby being Jinshi. Was Sir Kounen actually his father? And that would make Jinshi 17. He seems older to me. With all of his responsibilities, that makes me very sad to think he's so young.

There were two baby boys born around the same time, the baby of the emperor and the baby of the crown prince. Was there a baby swap in the palace? Did the emperor's child die? And they replaced that child with the Lady Ah-Duo's baby? Therefor removing Lady Ah-Duo's baby from the line of succession, since the child is a bastard and isn't actually of the imperial bloodline. That would kind of fit with how Jinshi is treated.

But you may ask, if Jinshi were Lady Ah Duo's baby and honey almost killed him at an infant, how can he sit around lapping it up now as an adult? Well, babies' deadly reaction to honey isn't due to an allergy, it's a rare infection. So even if you have a reaction as a baby, that doesn't mean you can't eat it as an adult. Will this be relevant later? Is that why the storytellers made such a spectacle of the honey scene? So we would remember it later?

Also, Maomao thinks it strange that the current emperor only had one concubine while he was still crown prince. That's even stranger if that one concubine was his foster sister whom he didn't have a physical relationship with. Did he also have a secret lover on the side? In the annex maybe? Perhaps someone that it wasn't appropriate to make into an official concubine? Perhaps Maomao's mother? Do we even know any characters that could fit this role? Fengming, maybe? The emperor comes to visit Lady Ah Duo, but he's actually there to see her head lady in waiting? Is Fengming actually using the communication sticks to set up a rendezvous for herself with the emperor? Did the lady in waiting find out, and the emperor's people had her killed? But Fengming is quite a bit older than the emperor so that's probably not it either.

Ahhhhgggg! This episode is too confusing! I give up! I want to threaten Maomao with some honeyed fingers and make her tell me what's going on!

I am really sorry to the people who read all of this. I have nothing good to offer you this episode. Just a ton of really wild, conjectures. Maybe I should take Luomen's advice and keep some of those to myself. Or maybe put them to use in writing a fanfic. lol.

If you want to start this blog series at the beginning:

Episode 1

Next episode:

Episode 11

#the apothecary diaries #apothecary diaries #maomao #jinshi #jinmao

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takaraphoenix · 3 months

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Hades is planning a wedding between Percy and one of his children? How does Poseidon feel about that? Or Medusa and Sally? Does Persephone get pulled in to plan?

As I have not yet decided how I feel about show!Poseidon, his thoughts on the matter have not come up yet and will remain tbh (so far I just really do not care for show!Poseidon so I'm feeling Very Little Involvement of him in the story). On the overall, my tendency is always that Poseidon would much rather favor a union with his brother over a potential war with him. This marriage would put him in Hades' good graces.

NOW MEDUSA AND SALLY THOUGH!! Sally absolutely sees the benefit in the underworldly protection, and over the past couple years that we're gonna span this story over before the Nicercy Wedding Plans commence, Hades is already going to patron Percy - the story isn't called Champion of Hades for funsies, Percy is going to be the claimed and declared champion of Hades in it.

Medusa probably finds the whole thing a little amusing. She likes the idea of her son becoming the prince of the underworld, she also hopes that this union might gain favor of the god of death to the extend of immortality for Sally; Medusa would very much like to keep her wife around for more than 50 years. So she has her own kind of ulterior motif to wanting a union between Percy and the prince of death.

I plan to involve a Persephone-Sally friendship of sorts in the story and yes, Persephone is very much involved in all of this. Because chapter 2 is totally gonna open up with her - I like the idea that Hades WANTED a first impression like he did in the book and then his wife went "babe no you want something from the kid, maybe don't antagonize him off the bat, be nice and a bit more... normal?" - so I like the idea of her very much scheming with Hades.

Sooo, the moms are all on board with it! ;D

#Fic: Champion of Hades #PJOverse #Nicercy #Medusally

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writingquestionsanswered · 11 months

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Hi! Thanks so much for running this blog :). I’m sure you’ve heard about the 7 basic plots for novels, is there something like that for short stories too? You’ve mentioned that you like short stories that end with a twist, but are there any other kinds?

Types of Short Stories

I can give you an idea of some different types of short stories... and bear in mind, most of these types of stories can be long fiction as well. Short stories often fall into one of these categories:

Fable - short story featuring animals, mythical creatures, anthropomorphized elements centering on a moral lesson

Parable - short story using relatable characters and events to teach a moral or spiritual lesson

Allegory - short story that uses symbolism to convey a hidden or ulterior meaning, typically one that makes a moral or political point or statement

Folk tale - short story that has been traditionally retold over centuries in a particular place, a modern short story reframing a traditional folk tale, or a modern short story emulating a traditional folk tale

Fairy tale - an imaginative short story, often aimed at children, featuring enchanting and fanciful creatures, magic, and often conveying a moral lesson

Fan Fiction - a short story based on another writer's source material, such as a story based on an episode of a favorite TV show, or a story to illustrate an off-screen moment in a movie

Anecdote - a short story about a person or event recounted in a way that is interesting or amusing

Vignette - a short story lacking in plot or narrative that centers on a defining moment in a character's life

Slice of Life - a short story lacking in plot or narrative that centers on a mundane but interesting moment in a character's life

Feghoot - a humorous short story centered on a pun or poetic joke

Lyrical - a short story with limited plot which centers on a motif (repeated imagery, symbol, word, theme, etc.) that unfolds over the course of the story

Artifice - a short story featuring an impossible or incompatible element that is introduced into the narrative

Sketch - a short story lacking in plot or narrative which serves only to give an in-depth description of a particular character or setting

Farce - a humorous and often absurd short story that uses ridiculous plots, exaggerated and improbable situations, and silly characters to entertain the reader

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

Learn more about WQA

Visit my Master List of Top Posts

Go to ko-fi.com/wqa to buy me coffee or see my commissions

#writing tips #writing help #writing advice #wqaadvice

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chemzee · 4 months

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Soooo... Morgan... Oh Morgan.

This guy was hell to design at first: I had so many attempts to capture the vibe I wanted to go with him and for a long time, I wasn't satisfied with the way he looked. But now I can say I'm definitely very satisfied with it (maybe not with the clothes but it´s easy to fix).

ofc I still gotta think about like his patronus n wand and whatnot

Just how I created Melly for sake of Cassandra's character development, so did I create Morgan for Daniel's development.

What crossed my mind was "Now that Daniel has high chances of joining NOTME now (if he didn't join it already) , given everything, he might get more and more isolated from his friends. So how about I give him a friend there, around his age? A genuine,healthy friendship with no ulterior motives?... Except I'll give that friend a tragic fate."

I wanted Morgan to be an oddball among NOTME members of sort, like despite believing in their cause he feels out of place/different to most members, but I went a lil too hard and an oddball part. :"D

Other than that, I always wanted to have a character who's sorta very unceremonious about more macabre topics and is rather calm about concept of death or the idea of dying in general, as a defense mechanism at least. Rest of my characters with death motifs (almost an entirety of DSAA cast + other ocs) were outwardly very sensitive about death/the fact they are going to die, so I wanted to go in opposite direction, explore a different grief coping mechanism.

#its the dying victorian boi hehe #always invisioned the said “oddball friend” as ravenclaw btw #also fun fact: when I first made him I intended him to be year younger than main cast #now he's same age/year older (born 1996)#it made more sense like that #morgan grimmes #hpma oc #magic awakened #my art

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tired-and-gay · 1 year

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what makes me want to scream about young dracula from the rooftops is the character of malik and the theme of family (and how it leads to his death). malik is introduced and we slowly kinda see that all he really wants it to be loved, his mum doesnt seem to show him love or affection (literally mocking him for being upset when she put him in a position where he could have died) and even though he says to his mum he wants to get close to the count to carry out their plan, throughout the season he clearly just wants a dad and someone to love him.

there's a scene that I really like where him and ingrid are in the bar and it goes like this

ingrid: why are you hanging around vlad?

malik: because

ingrid: nobody loves you, and you’ve no better place to be.

and he responds, “actually I do”, before leaving referring only to the fact that he has somewhere else to go and not denying no one loves him. so thats heartbreaking. then he spends the season trying, and actually succeeding getting his dads attention (dont know about love) before being forced to leave.

then, s5, he comes back with a kid (asan) and its obvious theyve formed a father-son type bond. like he is the only person malik seems to genuinely protect/care for without an ulterior motif. the season develops, he finds out he’s not a dracula which means the one father figure he had is not related to him and his mums been lying to him his whole life.

and he has another heartbreaking episode where he just spirals about never having a dad and turns to asan in the end, to kill the Draculas but Ramanga ends up using him, because of his relation to vlad. but because hes not related, it kills him. the man was murdered by his greatest insecurity, that he never had a family (and no one loved him). he died alone.

Jesus Christ this was a kids show

#Young Dracula #I should stop thinking so deep into this #malik #and that scene when's hes punching and reciting what his mum has called/said to him #give him a break #and his bf was murdered by his mum??

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bl00dblight · 2 months

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GOING INSANE OVER THE SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE TRAILER

WHO IS MESSMER? WHY THE RED HAIR? AND WHY IS HE SETTING THE LAND OF SHADOWS AFLAME? WHY DOES HE HATE TARNISHED? The serpent and dragon motifs are interesting...especially the Dragon Communion eyes

WHAT ARE MIQUELLA'S "ULTERIOR MOTIVES"? Is he dead...? Did he manage to sever himself from being an Empyrean? WILL HE KICK MOHG'S ASS? WHO'S HIS "PROMISED LORD"? Please don't make this weird, GRRM

GODWYN HAS TO BE INVOLVED SOMEHOW. There's so many Deathblight aesthetics...from the palette, to the twisted trees

What happens in this world parallel to the Lands Between? Are there parallel versions of all the characters? Was that woman in the trailer a parallel Rennala? HUH??

#I'M INSANE /POS #elden ring #rubedo ramblings

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sihayadunee · 5 months

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Sleeping Beauty in Mayfair Witches

Finally getting to my Aarne-Thompson-Uther folktale analysis, inspired by @allgirlsareprincesses. This first instalment will cover the ATU type 410, aka Sleeping Beauty or the Search for the Lost Bride. Future posts will cover ATU type 425, aka Beauty and the Beast or Search for the Lost Husband.

A fair warning, this post will cover some spoilers for Deirdre’s storyline. Rowan’s story potentially has some similarities to a tale variant called The Nineth Captain’s Tale, but I will save that for another time when we cover the Animal Husband motif. For more of a focus on our protagonist Rowan, you can check out my mythic symbolism series: Part One, Part Two. If you wish to watch the show first, Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches is available to stream on AMC+ as well as purchase physically on DVD and Blue-Ray. Now let’s jump right in!

The tale type 410, or Sleeping Beauty, is related to Snow White, and other such Lost Bride tales. Typically a princess is the subject of a warning or prophecy, before succumbing to a cursed sleep either by consuming poison or being pricked. She is then awakened by a prince.

In the first episode, we open with an overgrown and desolate house in New Orleans. Much like the hidden castle overgrown with forest and thorns. This is the Mayfair House, and we follow Dr. Vernon Lamb as he makes his first house call to his new patient Deirdre Mayfair, who exists in a medically induced catatonic state. Dr. Lamb is the first of three characters who fill the role of the “prince” in this tale.

BEFORE THE SUN SETS ON HER 16th BIRTHDAY, SHE SHALL PRICK HER FINGER ON THE SPINDLE OF A SPINNING WHEEL — AND DIE!

The pricking of Sleeping Beauty’s finger, is a phallic symbolic of sexual awakening, first blood and transition out of childhood. This is represented a number of ways in the show. In our flashbacks, we see Deirdre as a young women at the age between childhood and adulthood. Her Aunt Carlotta and the local priest, constantly warn her against indulging “The Man” who we learn is called Lasher.

In her room she has a snow globe depicting the Eiffel Tower, a phallic symbol, which represents her yearning to escape from her overbearing aunts. Interestingly, she will actually cut her self on this broken snow globe at some point. She also longs for a relationship with Lasher, which she can’t have while she is a child.

When she sneaks away to her Uncle Cortland’s party, he secretly arranges for a handsome youth to sweep her off her feet and deflower her. Here Deirdre physically crosses that threshold into maturity.

Later after a great trauma, her Aunt Carlotta arranges with Deirdre’s doctors to give her Thorazine shots. This is the first of many terrible procedures which eventually cause Deirdre to become catatonic in adulthood.

*trigger warning for mentions of sexual assault in the following section*

It is revealed later in the season, that the night Deirdre had her first sexual experience, she is also raped. Her Uncle Cortland has his own ulterior motives, and wants to ensure she gets pregnant before her aunts lock her away forever. So after the young man leaves, and while Deirdre lies sleeping, Cortland puts on a mask and forces himself on her. She is still in a dream like state during this so does not know, and afterwards regardless of who it was, Deirdre becomes pregnant. This is something we often see in variations like The Sun, Moon, and Talia. A passing king or prince raping the sleeping princess, after which she becomes pregnant.

*end of trigger warning*

FROM THIS SLUMBER YOU SHALL WAKE, WHEN TRUE LOVE’S KISS, THE SPELL SHALL BREAK

When Dr. Lamb sees how young and otherwise healthy Deirdre is, he reviews her file and decides she is in danger from her Aunt Carlotta. He decided to pretend to give her the Thorazine shot, intending to help Deirdre wake up and be free. This is similar to the accidental removal of the curse, such as in The Sun, and Moon, and Talia where her child sucks the flax from her finger and she awakens.

While there isn’t a formal awakening kiss, the power of true love component presents itself through Lasher, who is technically trapped with Deirdre inside her mind. He helps coax her awake, telling her to take control again. So she does.

ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE: THE LOST BRIDE TALE

Unfortunately for Deirdre, like Padmé in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy and Eurydice before them, she meets a grim fate. No pun intended. Lasher is bound to each Designee of the Mayfair bloodline, and Carlotta Mayfair often found the most suitable means to suppress his power and keep him at bay, to be killing his witches.

As they pass on to the next life, Lasher’s only connection to them is through the other Designees. So with each death, he feels each loss. But Deirdre is particularly representative of this Lost Bride myth, because she was already in a death-like sleep which he was trying to save her from.

Even before Dr. Lamb arrived, it’s clear Lasher had been trying and failing to get through to Deirdre, thanks to the Thorazine. Once the doctor stops her dosages, Lasher can finally find her. Just like Orpheus, it is his voice that leads her back to the realm of the living. And just like Orpheus loses Eurydice at the last moment, so too does Lasher lose Deirdre.

#greek mythology #fairytales #anne rice #mayfair witches #folktale #folklore #sleeping beauty #deirdre mayfair #mythology

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