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pawnshopbleus · 5 months

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On Top

Young!Coriolanus Snow x Fem!Plinth!Reader

Warnings - Smut, Penis in vagina sex, Cunnilingus, Squirting, Abortion is mentioned once, Angst with a happy ending. Not beta read :0

Authors Note - I think this is the first time I’ve written p in v sex so please bear with me.

Standing in front of the door to the Snow residence, you made sure you had everything. The basket you brought over for Coriolanus and his family was filled with food, gifts, and roses for Grandma’am. You wanted to celebrate Coriolanus’s historic win in this year's Hunger Games. Well, Lucy Grey won, but she wouldn’t have done without your Coriolanus.

Your knuckles tapped the door three times and you patently waited until the door opened to reveal Grandma’am’s signature snow-white hair. She smiled at you and embraced you. She stepped aside and let you enter the home you had become so familiar with over the years.

“Grandma’am, I wanted to bring this little gift for Coriolanus’s big win. The flowers are for you, by the way,” you winked and placed the basket on the table. “Speaking of, where might he be.”

Grandma’am's eyes softened at your comment. “He’s with the dean,” she said, “He will be here any moment. You can wait for him in his room if you’d like.” Grandma’am rushed over to examine a particularly pretty white rose.

You sat on Coriolanus’s bed tracing hearts on his pillow for what seemed like hours before his door opened. He looked frantic as if someone found out something they weren’t supposed to find.

“Come on, Coryo, you’re supposed to be smiling. Lucy Grey won. Aren’t you happy?”

“I cheated,” he sighed.

Your heart stopped. He what? Never in a million years did you think that he would do such a thing. With strong women like Tigris and Grandma’am raising him, you would have thought that he had the decency to break up with a woman before he did that.

Coriolanus shook his head as soon as he realized that you might have been taking his comment in the wrong way. “I cheated in the games. Not on you. I would never do that.”

Your body relaxed and then it shot back up again. “Wait, what do you mean you cheated in the games? Is that even possible?”

Coriolanus explained what he did in order to get Lucy Grey to win. The compact mirror that used to belong to his mother had been packed with rat poison, poisonous to anyone who came in contact with it. He also put his father's handkerchief which was covered in Lucy Grey's scent in the snake's cage. If the snakes were familiar with her scent then they wouldn’t kill her. So it wasn’t her singing that saved her, it was Coriolanus.

“What are they going to do to you?” Your eyebrows scrunched together with worry. You couldn’t lose Coriolanus for his stupid, yet chivalrous actions.

“I don’t know yet. I don’t want to think about the future. Right now, I want to live in the moment with the prettiest girl in all of Panem.” Coriolanus smiled at how your face heated up so quickly, but deep down he was hurting. He knew what his punishment was. Twenty years of service as a peacekeeper in the Districts. He would leave the Capital and everything he’s known since he was a baby. That he could deal with, but losing you would be the hardest thing he would have to deal with.

He knew that you would run to your father and beg him to get Coriolanus out of serving, but he didn’t want you over-exhausting your father's resources. He was a big boy and he needed to learn how to deal with his consequences. He would be fine. After all, Snow lands on top.

He wanted to live in this moment with you. He wanted to memorize every inch of your body. He wanted to hold onto that memory and make it last.

Your smile calmed him. “Can I kiss you?” he asked, eyes focused on your lips.

You nodded your head and smiled into the kiss. It was soft and sensual, vastly different from the kisses that the two of you usually share. Your lips brushed together as your bodies got closer to each other. By the time the two of you broke apart, you were under him, his forearms caging you underneath him. There was no need for him to do that. This is where you wanted to be, with Coriolanus. The toxic and tyrannical world that you lived in was long forgotten as she swooped in for another kiss.

His lips traveled down to your cheek, then your jaw, and settled on your neck. He spent the majority of his time kissing and nibbling at the skin on your neck. There would be pretty little marks on your skin later, reminding people that you belonged to him. Coriolanus doesn’t remember when he got this territorial, but he sure loved the fact that Strabo Plinth’s beautiful daughter was his girlfriend. His girlfriend to mark and fuck and love whenever he wanted (with your consent of course.)

You laughed as Coriolanus licked the sensitive patches of skin that he nibbled raw. “My parents are going to kill me when they see what you’ve done.”

Coriolanus kissed your lips one more time in response to your comment. He then resumed his exploration of your body. His hands traveled down to the hem of your shirt, lifting it up to reveal the bra that he unclasped in less than five seconds. He threw it on the floor of his bedroom, letting it get hooked onto the pile of books in the corner.

Coriolanus kissed in between the valley of your breasts. He flicked his tongue over your sensitive nipples. It was cold in the Capital of Panem and unfortunately, the Snow’s didn’t have indoor heating. Maybe it was because they didn’t want to melt.

You sighed in pleasure as Coriolanus continued to explore your breasts. After five minutes of teasing, he began to travel south to the part where you needed him the most. He hooked his fingers into the belt loops of your pants, “may I?”

You nodded, “Ever the gentleman.”

With your permission, he ripped your pants off of you and threw them on the floor. They were lost in the pile of clothing that had gathered on the floor. Coriolanus had shed some of his clothing as well. His ripped body was adorned in nothing but his white underwear.

Coriolanus spread your legs apart, “Look at how wet my girl is.” He traced a finger down the cotton of your underwear and slowly slid it up your legs. He wanted to drag this on as much as possible. You let out a grumble of frustration, getting tired of his constant teasing. Coriolanus gave in and got rid of your underwear.

The same finger that was used to skim the fabric of your underwear was now being used to gather your slick and spread it across your sensitive pussy. You took a deep breath of air into your lungs. The feeling was new, but not unwelcomed. Coriolanus flicked his tongue over your sensitive clit. Your clit was pulsing with need. You needed Coriolanus to drop the act and eat you out like he was a starving man.

“Coriol-” Your word was cut off by a moan as his mouth did exactly what you wanted it to do. Coriolanus delved into your pussy, tracing shapes onto your clit with his tongue. Your back arched off of the bed again. Coriolanus’s fingers teased your hole, trying to find the perfect time to ease into your channel.

Coriolanus’s fingers weren’t thick, but they were long making it easier for him to tease your G-spot. He fucked his fingers in and out of you as he sucked your clit. You had to bite your lip in order to keep quiet. Your lips were sure to be chewed raw after this, but they would serve as a reminder that you had a man who was willing to do this for you. Many high-society women told stories about their husbands not pleasuring them when they had sex. It sounded like a horrible life to lead, but they were rich and beautiful so they needed to sacrifice something.

Coriolanus curled his fingers up, letting them knock against your G-spot. He continued to kiss and lick at your clit. You were close. By the way you were clenching down on his fingers, he could tell that the waterworks were coming. Your naked chest rose and fell as you played with your nipples, increasing the pleasure that you felt. Your head fell even deeper into the pillow as a chill ran down your body. That chill eventually led to where Coriolanus was currently still working. He ate your pussy like a starved man, just the way you liked it.

Without warning, your juices painted Coriolanus’s face. He wasn’t surprised that you came so fast. The last time you had sex was two months ago. You were burning for him and he was burning for you.

Coriolanus wiped his face with the back of his hand and laughed. That was the first time he had actually made you squirt. It had always been a personal goal of his after Tirgis explained to Coriolanus how a woman's body works. At first, he was traumatized. He didn’t want to have the sex talk with his dear cousin, but when he laid eyes on you for the time, he wanted to do everything Tigris said and more.

His cock was hard. You could see the outline of it through his white underwear. You would tease him about his tighty whities later. Right now, you were laser-focused on the fact that Coriolanus hooked his thumbs under his waistband and lowered them, exposing his cock to the cold air. His hard cock slapped against his lower stomach. He jerked his cock off, spreading his precum all over his length. He wanted to make sure that it went in as smoothly as possible. The last thing he wanted was to hurt you.

He lined himself up at your core. He slid his tip up and down your pussy, gathering your slick with his dick before he pushed into you. Your insides welcomed him with little to no problem. The stretch felt good. You were all slicked up and ready for him.

Contraceptives weren’t a problem for you. Coriolanus was always careful and made sure to come somewhere that wasn’t your vagina. You didn’t want to have a kid just yet. First, you wanted to study at the University and travel back to District Two if you were given the chance. Then you wanted to get married. Pereferabbly to Coriolanus, but you didn’t know if that was possible yet. With his fate still undecided, your plans to marry the love of your life dwindled. Besides, even if you were to get pregnant your father would have enough money to get you an abortion

Coriolanus’s head fell forward as he buried his cock in your tight pussy. Two months and he had forgotten how good you felt. Your insides fluttered around him as he bottomed out.

Coriolanus began to thrust his cock in and out of you. He was methodical with everything he did. Coriolanus set a rhythm as he fucked into you. He fucked you hard and fast. The side of his bed slapped against the wall and his mattress cracked and groaned as he fucked into you. You prayed to the heavens that Grandma’am and Tigris were in a deep sleep. Or that the walls of the Snow residence were thicker than Coriolanus’s cock.

Coriolanus peppered your mouth with kisses in order to muffle your moans. He kept his pace as he did this. Your breasts jiggled as he fucked into you. Your hands found their way down to your extra-sensitive clit. You circled it with your fingers and moaned in pleasure at the feeling.

His balls slapped against your ass as his strokes became more deep and labored. He was going to come soon. He needed to come soon. He couldn’t hold on much longer. Two months with no sex had gotten to him. “Fuck,” he said under his breath as your pussy clenched around him. “Where do you want it?” He asked, his voice was strained from trying to keep his composure.

“Inside me,” you said. You were close too, the feeling of your finger frantically rubbing your clit and the feeling of Coriolanus's cock buried deep inside of you spurred your orgasm to come out from the woodwork.

You have come a second time, your pussy fluttering and squeezing Coriolanus cock that was still inside of you. A string of curses fell from Coriolanus’s lips as he came inside of you. His pulsing and throbbing cock pushed his come deep inside of you as he continued to fuck you as he came. His thrusts were slow but intentional. He would have lasted a few more seconds, but with the way that your pussy squeezed his sensitive cock, he came instantly.

Coriolanus slowly eased his cock out of you. The both of you were breathing heavily as Coriolanus went to grab a towel from his closet. He eased your legs open one more time as he cleaned you up. He was slow and gentle with it. He knew that you were still sensitive after two orgasms.

His come eased out of you and onto the towel. The sight almost caused him to get hard, but he didn’t feel like tiring you out even more.

Once he was done cleaning you up, he tucked you into his chest and covered the two of you with the blankets on his bed. He kissed your forehead and your cheek. Coriolanus’s love language was kissing. He loved kissing you. He loved doing anything with you, but kissing was his favorite.

Your eyes closed, but you weren’t falling asleep. Not yet. Sex might have been a clever distraction, but now that you were coming off your high you needed to know what will happen to the future of your relationship.

“Coryo, what is going to happen to you? I know that you know what your punishment is. I'm not stupid.”

Coriolanus sighed as he tried to keep his voice from waving. He rarely cried, but in moments like these, he did. Just you and him shielded away from the rest of the Capital were his favorite. “Twenty years as a peacekeeper.”

You let out a shuddering breath as you tried not to cry. Your body ran cold as you repeated those words in your mind. Twenty years as a peacekeeper. Twenty years without your Coriolanus. Your Coryo.

“My dad can-”

“No,” Coriolanus said. “I don’t want your dad to get me out of this one. I need to learn how to do things on my own.”

“What if I had a crazy elaborate plan to get you out of it?”

“Nothing could be crazier than this.” Coriolanus got this crazy idea. It has been sitting in the back of his mind ever since you agreed to be his girlfriend. “Marry me?”

This isn’t how he wanted to propose to you. He had already gotten your father's approval months ago. You were perfect for him and you deserve a perfect proposal. He wanted to take you to a fancy restaurant, get down on one knee, and ask you that way. Traditional and expected of Capital people, but things never go as planned when you’re a Snow.

“Seriously?” You were in disbelief. Of course, you wanted to marry him, but this all seemed a bit rushed. “I mean, yes, I’ll marry you, but Coryo. You’re about to leave.” Then, your brilliant mind comes up with the perfect plan.

You’ll marry Coriolanus, making him one of the heirs to the Plinth fortune. Thus making him more valuable to the Capital. This way you get to marry the love of your life and keep him within arms reach. Were you being possessive? Maybe, but it was better than the dean having to deal with an angry Plinth.

And your plan worked. You and Coriolanus got married a week after he proposed to you. It was a bit rushed, but the two of you were ready. He was going to be a loving husband, and you, a loving wife. Coriolanus’s punishment would be reduced to two months of training in District Two. He would then return to the Capital as a peacekeeper. He would keep the peace during the day and return to you at night.

Turns out Snow does land on top.

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Time to study up on straight people sex!

#coriolanus snow smut #coriolanus snow x reader #coriolanus snow fanfiction #young coriolanus snow #coriolanus snow x you #coriolanus snow #coriolanus x reader #the hunger games

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chinesehanfu · 12 days

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[Hanfu · 漢服]Chinese Western Han (202 BC – 9 AD) Traditional Clothing Hanfu Photoshoot

“这个位子我有何坐不得？” “我欲问鼎天下，试问谁与争锋”

"Why can't I sit in this seat?"

"I want to conquer the world, who can compete with me?"

【About The First Empress of the Han Dynasty Empress Lü:Lǚ zhì(吕雉)】

Lü Zhi (241–18 August 180 BC), courtesy name E'xu (娥姁) and commonly known as Empress Lü (traditional Chinese: 呂后; simplified Chinese: 吕后; pinyin: Lǚ Hòu) and formally Empress Gao of Han (漢高后; 汉高后; Hàn Gāo Hòu), was the empress consort of Gaozu, the founding emperor of the Han dynasty. They had two known children, Liu Ying (later Emperor Hui of Han) and Princess Yuan of Lu. Lü was the first woman to assume the title Empress of China and paramount power. After Gaozu's death, she was honoured as empress dowager and regent during the short reigns of Emperor Hui and his successors Emperor Qianshao of Han and Liu Hong (Emperor Houshao).

She played a role in the rise and foundation of her husband, Emperor Gaozu, and his dynasty, and in some of the laws and customs laid down by him. Empress Lü, even in the absence of her husband from the capital, killed two prominent generals who played an important role in Gaozu's rise to power, namely Han Xin and Peng Yue, as a lesson for the aristocracy and other generals. In June 195 BC, with the death of Gaozu, Empress Lü became, as the widow of the late emperor and mother of the new emperor, Empress Dowager (皇太后, Huángtàihòu), and assumed a leadership role in her son's administration. Less than a year after Emperor Hui's accession to the throne, in 194 BC, Lü had one of the late Emperor Gaozu's consorts whom she deeply hated, Concubine Qi, put to death in a cruel manner. She also had Concubine Qi's son Liu Ruyi poisoned to death. Emperor Hui was shocked by his mother's cruelty and fell sick for a year, and thereafter no longer became involved in state affairs, and gave more power to his mother. As a result, Empress dowager Lü held the court, listened to the government, spoke on behalf of the emperor, and did everything (臨朝聽政制, "linchao ting zhengzhi"). With the untimely death of her 22-year-old son, Emperor Hui, Empress dowager Lü subsequently proclaimed his two young sons emperor (known historically as Emperor Qianshao and Emperor Houshao respectively). She gained more power than ever before, and these two young emperors had no legitimacy as emperors in history; the history of this 8-year period is considered and recognized as the reign of Empress Dowager Lü. She dominated the political scene for 15 years until her death in August 180 BC, and is often depicted as the first woman to have ruled China. While four women are noted as having been politically active before her—Fu Hao, Yi Jiang, Lady Nanzi, and Queen Dowager Xuan—Lü was the perhaps first woman to have ruled over united China.

Lü Zhi was born in Shanfu County (單父; present-day Shan County, Shandong) during the late Qin Dynasty. Her courtesy name was Exu (Chinese: 娥姁; pinyin: Éxǔ). To flee from enemies, her father Lü Wen (呂文) brought their family to Pei County, settled there, and became a close friend of the county magistrate. Many influential men in town came to visit Lü Wen. Xiao He, then an assistant of the magistrate, was in charge of the seating arrangement and collection of gifts from guests at a banquet in Lü Wen's house, and he announced, "Those who do not offer more than 1,000 coins in gifts shall be seated outside the hall." Liu Bang (later Emperor Gaozu of Han), then a minor patrol officer (亭長), went there bringing a single cent and said, "I offer 10,000 coins." Lü Wen saw Liu Bang and was so impressed with him on first sight, that he immediately stood up and welcomed Liu into the hall to sit beside him. Xiao He told Lü Wen that Liu Bang was not serious, but Liu ignored him and chatted with Lü. Lü Wen said, "I used to predict fortunes for many people but I've never seen someone so exceptional like you before." Lü Wen then offered his daughter Lü Zhi's hand in marriage to Liu Bang and they were wed. Lü Zhi bore Liu Bang a daughter (later Princess Yuan of Lu) and a son, Liu Ying (later Emperor Hui of Han).

Liu Bang later participated in the rebellion against the Qin Dynasty under the insurgent Chu kingdom, nominally-ruled by King Huai II. Lü Zhi and her two children remained with her father and family for most of the time during this period.

Even after Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang)'s victory over Xiang Yu, there were still unstable areas in the empire, requiring the new government to launch military campaigns to pacify these regions thereafter. Gaozu placed Empress Lü Zhi and the crown prince Liu Ying (Lü Zhi's son) in charge of the capital Chang'an and making key decisions in court, assisted by the chancellor Xiao He and other ministers. During this time, Lü Zhi proved herself to be a competent administrator in domestic affairs, and she quickly established strong working relationships with many of Gaozu's officials, who admired her for her capability and feared her for her ruthlessness. After the war ended and Emperor Gaozu returned, she remained in power and she was always influential in many of the country's affairs.

In his late years, Emperor Gaozu started favouring one of his younger consorts, Concubine Qi（戚夫人）, who bore him a son, Liu Ruyi, who was instated as Prince of Zhao in 198 BC, displacing Lü Zhi's son-in-law Zhang Ao (Princess Yuan of Lu's husband). Gaozu had the intention of replacing Liu Ying with Liu Ruyi as crown prince, reasoning that the former was too "soft-hearted and weak" and that the latter resembled him more. Since Lü Zhi had strong rapport with many ministers, they generally opposed Gaozu's decision but the emperor seemed bent on deposing Liu Ying. Lü Zhi became worried and she approached Zhang Liang for help, and the latter analysed that Gaozu was changing the succession on grounds of favouritism. Zhang Liang invited the "Four Whiteheads of Mount Shang", a group of four reclusive wise men, to persuade Gaozu to change his decision. The four men promised to assist Liu Ying in future if he became emperor, and Gaozu was pleased to see that Liu Ying had their support. Gaozu told Concubine Qi, "I wanted to replace (the crown prince). Now I see that he has the support of those four men; he is fully fledged and difficult to unseat. Empress Lü is really in charge!" This marked the end of the dispute over the succession and affirmed Liu Ying's role as crown prince.

In June 195 BC, Emperor Gaozu died and was succeeded by Liu Ying, who became historically known as Emperor Hui of Han. Lü Zhi was honoured by Emperor Hui as empress dowager. She exerted more influence during the reign of her son than she had when she was empress, and she became the powerful and effective lead figure in his administration.

Lü Zhi did not harm most of Gaozu's other consorts and treated them according to the rules and customs of the imperial family. For example, consorts who bore male children that were instated as princes were granted the title of "Princess Dowager" (王太妃) in their respective sons' principalities. One exception was Concubine Qi, whom Lü Zhi greatly resented because of the dispute over the succession between Liu Ruyi (Qi's son) and Liu Ying. Liu Ruyi, the Prince of Zhao, was away in his principality, so Lü Zhi targeted Concubine Qi. She had Qi stripped of her position, treated like a convict (head shaved, in stocks, dressed in prison garb), and forced to do hard labour in the form of milling rice.

Roles in the deaths of Concubine Qi and Liu Ruyi

Lü Zhi then summoned Liu Ruyi, who was around the age of 12 then, to Chang'an, intending to kill him together with his mother. However Zhou Chang (周昌), the chancellor in Liu Ruyi's principality, whom Lü Zhi respected because of his stern opposition to Emperor Gaozu's proposal to make Liu Ruyi crown prince, temporarily protected Liu Ruyi from harm by responding to Lü Zhi's order that, "The Prince of Zhao is ill and unfit for travelling over long distances." Lü Zhi then ordered Zhou Chang to come to the capital, had him detained, and then summoned Liu Ruyi again. Emperor Hui tried to save Liu Ruyi by intercepting his half-brother before the latter entered Chang'an, and kept Liu Ruyi by his side most of the time. Lü Zhi refrained from carrying out her plans for several months because she feared that she might harm Emperor Hui as well.

One morning in the winter of 195-194 BC, Emperor Hui went for a hunting trip and did not bring Liu Ruyi with him because the latter refused to get out of bed. Lü Zhi's chance arrived, so she sent an assassin to force poisoned wine down Liu Ruyi's throat. The young prince was dead by the time Emperor Hui returned. Lü Zhi then had Concubine Qi killed in an inhumane manner: she had Qi's limbs chopped off, eyes gouged out, ears sliced off, nose sliced off, tongue cut out, forced her to drink a potion that made her mute, and had her thrown into a latrine. She called Qi a "human swine" (人彘). Several days later, Emperor Hui was taken to view the "human swine" and was shocked to learn that it was Concubine Qi. He cried loudly and became ill for a long time. He requested to see his mother and said, "This is something done not by a human. As the empress dowager's son, I'll never be able to rule the empire" From then on, Emperor Hui indulged himself in carnal pleasures and ignored state affairs, leaving all of them to his mother, and this caused power to fall completely into her hands.

When Lu first came to the court, she planned to establish the Lu family members as "kings (nobles)". This was not only to commemorate her deceased relatives, but also to strengthen her power in the court. However, Wang Ling, the prime minister at the time, immediately pointed out that the great ancestor Liu Bang(Husband of Lu, founding emperor of Han Dynasty)once killed the white horse and agreed that "if someone who are not Liu family be come the king, the whole world should attack them." Therefore, the move of establishing a foreign surname as the king violated the ancestral system established by Liu Bang and was really inappropriate.

Faced with the obstruction of Wang Ling, Empress Lu responded by deposing him and insisting on honoring her deceased father and two brothers as King Lu Xuan, King Wu Wu, and King Zhao Zhao. After setting this precedent, Lu was out of control. She not only named her three nephews Lu Tai, Lu Chan, and Lu Lu as King Lu, King Liang, and King Zhao respectively, but also named her grandnephew Lu Tong. He was the King of Yan, and his grandson Zhang Yan was granted the title of King of Lu.

In addition, there are also quite a few people with the surname Lu who have been granted the title of marquis. As a result, it can be said that many princes surnamed Lu appeared in the court in the blink of an eye. They controlled the government and became the cornerstone and support for Empress Lu to control the right to speak in the court.

Empress Lu's life was emblematic of the intricate power dynamics of the Han Dynasty in ancient China. Born into a modest family, Lu rose to prominence through her marriage to Emperor Gaozu. Her astute political acumen and strategic alliances allowed her to wield significant influence behind the throne. As the mother of several emperors, she orchestrated their ascensions and manipulated court politics to consolidate power for her family. However, her ruthless pursuit of control and elimination of rivals earned her both admirers and enemies. In the end, her ambitions led to her downfall, as her unchecked power and manipulation of succession angered the nobility.As a result, after her death, the Lu family was retaliated and killed by the nobles and courtiers who supported the Han Dynasty, and the family was almost exterminated.Empress Lu's life illustrates the delicate balance of power, ambition, and intrigue in ancient Chinese imperial courts.

Literati in every dynasty in China often likened women who attempted to participate in government affairs and influence national policies to Empress Lü, saying they were vicious. One of them was Wu Zetian, the first official female emperor of China. However, compared with Empress Lü, Wu Zetian was more talented. Unlike Empress Lü, who was simply vicious, she ignored the system and stability of the empire and put personal and family interests first.

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📸Photo & Model :@金角大魔王i

🔗Weibo:https://weibo.com/1763668330/NFVOXthxX

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#chinese hanfu #Western Han (202 BC – 9 AD)#hanfu #Empress Lü #Lǚ zhì(吕雉)#china history #chinese history #hanfu accessories #hanfu_challenge #chinese traditional clothing #china #chinese #woman in history #漢服 #汉服 #中華風 #金角大魔王i #historical fashion

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leeknowsintrusivethots · 2 months

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A Stray Concubine

| Part 1 | Pairings: Prince!Lee Know/You, Prince!Bangchan/You, RivalNoble!Hyunjin/You? We are all about possibility here. Summary: Entering into a harem choosing was something you have been groomed for since you were young. Your aim is to make Crown Prince Christopher fall at your heels in order to restore your ruined family name and fortune, but games of love are much harder than games of lies and deceit. Content: Angst (is it me if it's not?), slow burn, smut(warnings below the cut), fictional historical universe, dark themes, second person perspective, historical-typical gender roles, imperial harem-inspired concubine system, multi-pov WC: 5119 Minors do not interact. Do not repost my content to other websites. Notes: I'm back to writing again, keyboard slappin' again. Also, I am having trouble figuring out a way to format POV shifts on tumblr that is clean but not intrusive. I am open to suggestions.

Smut Warnings: very brief/very vanilla smut, sex with a stranger, no strings, mentions/illusions of oral, smut is not between leads of the story?(idk, I think some of you might be peeved by that. We do it for the plot.)

You

Powerful was a word that most would not place on a woman.

Women were meant to be demure and delicate. They were meant to rear children and attend to household affairs as their husbands brought in income and fought in wars where there would be no true victors. It was not a woman's place to meddle in affairs of politics and governance outside of securing marriage alliances for unwanted daughters to bring extra wealth and prestige to the family name. That is simply how the world worked.

You never questioned it in your childhood. You wore the pretty, colorful silks. You learned to speak eloquently but never out of turn. You played instruments and studied embroidery and other womanly arts. You were exactly what society dictated you be: a pretty face being prepared to be sold off for the honor of your family name.

It was a single, fateful trip to the capital with your mother and father that had changed not only your perspective but the entire course of your life. Your family name was tarnished and your father was executed by the ruling Bang family for murder and treason. The only thing that had saved you and your mother was the grace of the sex you had been born with and her tears and pleas for mercy. Even as she cried and begged in front of His Majesty, the truths you had known crumbled to dust.

Your father had been a puzzle piece in a generations long game of chess where the kings and queens played with the lives of others to gain power of their own. He had been a disposable pawn, easily lost to the ages as a traitor whom there would be no songs written about. Everyone knew it, and it didn't take long for you to realize it for yourself. You, even at a young age, looked beyond your mother's pretty tears and prettier words.

You knew Princess Mai was set to wed the young lord Hwang.

The Hwangs were a powerful family - rivaling your own in terms of wealth and influence. Hwang Hyunjin was the sole heir to his family's fortunes. A marriage alliance with Princess Mai would tip the precarious balance of power to favor the Hwangs more greatly. It would have been a match that would have been detrimental to your own family's power.

You knew all of this. You also knew the vial of dark purple liquid your mother had hidden under the flowing sleeve of her gown was not nail polish as she had told you. You had watched keenly as she had slipped the liquid into Princess Mai’s goblet as you all supped with the Queen without anyone else the wiser. Your mother's poison had killed the young princess before the physicians could even get through the door. As Queen Bang had cried and screamed for the loss of her child, your mother had secretly smiled.

She had ruined the Hwang’s grab for more power and gotten rid of a Bang daughter in one fell swoop. She was the chess master, and she had outmaneuvered them all with a pretty face and a pretty smile. You don't know if she foresaw any of the consequences of her actions: the execution of her husband, the ruin of the family businesses, and the loss of your family's prestige.

Your mother had broken the mold. She had held your father under a spell with her looks alone. His station allowed him to take other wives if he chose, but he never did. He allowed her the freedom that many women would never get to taste in this lifetime, and she took it with greed and left him in a grave of her making.

“Was the power worth it, Mother?” You asked the carriage window that tottered down the street.

Through the pristine glass, the lush landscape was ruined by the image of heavily armed men on horseback. They wore the colors and heraldry of the Bangs, and they patrolled the road to the palace with keen eyes and sharp blades. Their numbers were more than usual as they surveyed the throng of carriages and ladies on horseback that made the journey in an unlikely parade.

The Selection was the only time that the Kingdom of Miroh would see such an odd assortment of women making their way to the Palace of Kings. It was a rare event, only happening when the Royal family required more women to act as concubines and maids. The needs of the Palace had nobles and commoners alike sending their daughters off for the possibilities of fame and fortune.

Serving the royals as a maid was an honor that most of the peasantry could only dream of, but even nobles would be pleased if one of their younger daughters could secure a spot in the Royal household. It would ensure that they were at least in the line of sight of the many princes, and the maid staff were compensated fairly for their time along with accommodations and food provided for them. There were certainly worse places for a woman to find herself.

You, however, were not sent by your mother with such plebeian goals.

It was not comfort you sought, nor was it the possibility of an affair with the princes. You were to aim higher. You were to become one of the women that history scorned for reaching beyond her station.

Your aim was to ensure that you became Prince Bang's Most Favored. Your mother would accept no less. She wanted the favor, the prestige and wealth that would come along with your rise. It had always been her goal, and it had been fed to you for so long that you weren't even sure how much of it was your own desire over her influence.

Did you want that level of power?

Did you even care to join the Royal family in such a fashion?

Would you ever even come to care for Prince Bang as more than a chess piece on your own board?

These were questions that you could not answer. You often thought of being a young girl again - ignorant to the world and the affairs of adults. You liked your pretty dresses. You loved running through your family's well maintained gardens with your favored hunting hound on your heels. You loved scrubbing paint off your arms and being scolded by your governess for ruining good gowns after a day of painting lessons. You were innocent then, but that was certainly no longer the case.

The frivolities of childhood had to be left behind. You were an adult, and you knew more of the world than you cared to. You knew that as a gently bred woman, you would never be more than a broodmare for a rich and powerful man unless you took charge like your mother had so many times before. The consequences could be grave; you could lose your head if you weren't careful, but great queens had never become so by following the status quo.

As you toiled with emotions far beyond your depth, the King's Gate shadowed your carriage eerily. It was an original part of the palace’s structure, built so solidly that the centuries had done minimal damage to its intricate design. It towered over the road, blocking out the sun with marbled walls inlaid with precious metals and jewels. It was meant to intimidate, and belittle. It was meant to make everyone passing in its shadows feel weak and small in comparison to the glory of the Royal Family. It opened seldomly, and only for whatever family sat the throne at the time.

Its momentous shadow lasted for what felt like an eternity as the line of carriages trudged along the walls of the palace to a more appropriate entrance for those not of royal blood. You and the other women arriving for the selection were being directed to the same gate used for supply carriages and merchants. It was yet another mind game: being delivered like fine cattle to await the murderous whims of a king. It was a way to ensure all women of the selection knew their place - but you saw things through the lens of your mother.

The Gate of Kings was the first thing all arrivals to the palace would see by design, but it would never open for them. Instead of intimidation, you saw a challenge to inflame and inspire your heart. You would enter through the Merchant's Gate, but you knew that the Gate of Kings would open for you one day. It was all a matter of what you had to do to make it happen - consequences be damned.

Prince Minho

Head held high. Feet light and delicate. Body slim and lithe. Features sharp and regal despite station. Gown loose and flowing in bright, ostentatious colors.

She could be a candidate, Lee Minho thought to himself as he watched the dancers practice.

The brightly colored fabric of her gown rode up her ankles as she moved, offering the briefest flash of a pale and delicate ankle. It was inappropriate – bordering on scandalous. Had it been even a decade prior, she might have been imprisoned for her lewdness but times were changing. It was a fact of life as set in stone as the changing of seasons: people evolved and people learned.

Minho liked that concept. He liked the ideas of society shifting and expanding. He liked the change of pace from the monotony, but what he liked even more was the prospect of those daring enough to enact that change. It took an uncommon spirit to go against the masses – to challenge the very knowledge that civilized society was built on.

As if reading his thoughts, the dancer’s eyes found his and held them. Her's were not the wide eyes of an innocent maid. They were heavily lidded, seductive in their intent.

It was another act of impudence, a daring so strong she probably would be locked in a labor camp if his father witnessed the scene. A woman so open in her sexuality was a threat to the masculinity of the insecure men around her who grasped at whatever shred of power they thought was within their reach. She would be scorned – likely punished by her closest male relative had she acted so with any other man.

Lee Minho was certainly not just any man off the streets of Miroh. He was so much more, and arguably so much worse. A Prince of Miroh could easily have her pretty head taken off for such an insignificant slight against social norms. He hated himself for even thinking about it, but he did. He hated himself even as the dance practice came to a natural end and the dancer approached him carelessly.

It was a silent exchange – not a single word passing her rouged lips as he took her slim hand in his and led her from the banquet hall. He knew what she wanted. It's what they all wanted. Motivations differed, but the methods never changed. A fun time with a Prince of one of the most powerful nations in the world. He was never one to reject the advances, never had been.

Lee Minho was many things. He was a Second Prince of Miroh. He was the son of the most powerful man in the kingdom. He was the younger brother of the Crown Prince. He was an intellectual, a graceful fencer, and the official Spare of the Bang family. These were all monikers and titles the public used to describe him, but behind closed doors they sang a different tune.

He was the shame of the Royal family. He favored arts over swordsmanship. He was an alcoholic who frequented ill reputed pubs and discussed philosophy over ale with criminal scholars. He was a rake who lived at brothels and slept with low class whores. They talked as if they knew him. They spoke as if he sat at their tables and discussed with him personally over hot tea – but they had no idea.

They knew nothing of the self hatred that coursed through his veins. They knew nothing of the helplessness he felt due to his station. They would never understand the uncontrollable guilt that never failed to find him.

He was a Prince. He held all the power in the world but that power was wrapped up and presented to him with strings attached ever since he came into the world. He could drink, he could talk and he could sleep his way through the entirety of Miroh but that was as far as his freedom extended. The second he even stepped over the invisible line of what was acceptable, everything could be taken away.

The change he wanted was within his reach – a delicate treasure that would be so easy to share. Reaching up to break it free for the rest of the world would spell the end of everything he had, but he was not brave enough. He was a coward – a coward hiding behind fancy words and under the colorful skirts of women far more courageous than he.

His frustrations often manifested in indulgence in the freedoms he was allowed. He would drink, he would dine, and he would fuck in a vain attempt to fill the deepest pits of his tarnished soul. He never wanted it. He had wanted to change it, but his own desires had twisted him. He became the very thing he feared: a powerful man taking advantage of the luxuries given to him without giving anything in return.

The dancer’s back was pressed against a thin wooden door. Her lithe legs had wrapped around him of their own accord and her hands were threading into his hair and the fabric of his shirt – pulling him deeper into a brief moment where he was not a Prince. He was a normal man without a moral compass, enjoying the pleasures of a woman's body.

There was no foreplay – no kissing or passionate words. He didn't even get her name before he was pushing her skirts up and sinking his sheathed cock into her cunt. It was not an act of love. It was the act of a desperate fool seeking to forget the world around him.

And he took. He took the brief reprieve with abandon. The door shook dangerously behind her. Her nails raked him though his shirt hard enough to leave marks. Her moans and whines intermingled with his hushed pants to fill his ears with sensual distraction as her walls squeezed him.

It was over too fast. The sounds, smells, and feelings of arousal tapering until all that was left was grim reality. Post orgasm clarity was never a good moment sober. Words failed him, and all the truths he ran from distracted him from the beautiful woman who had originally caught his eye.

“Talia,” she spoke as she adjusted her skirts.

“Excuse me?” He questioned dumbly. He had put space between them, giving himself a moment of reprieve and allowing her a moment to collect herself.

“My name: Talia,” she repeated.

“You're telling me now?” He asked in mild amusement.

“Figured you might want to know who just made you cum,” she shrugged nonchalantly.

“Is that any way for a lady to speak?” he asked at her audacity. It was brazen and crass, but he was far from mad about it. Her words had his cock twitching in his pants again.

“M’no Lady. You know as well as me that I'm not gentleborn.”

“Since we're being so frank, relieve me of my curiosity,” he said as he propped himself against an abandoned and dusty desk against the wall opposite of her. He regarded her levelly, but with the easy charisma that he was often praised for.

“Anything for Second Prince Bang,” she mocked with a quirk of her brows. She never shied away from his stare, never let herself be subdued by the power his titles held. He liked that – a lot.

“I figured you knew.” He was not surprised in the slightest. His portraits were few and far in between, but it was highly likely the palace staff had informed the dancers one of the princes was watching in on their practice. She made no comment of guilt, so he continued, “What did you want from this entanglement?”

“Other than being able to brag that I fucked a Prince?” She laughed. It was not a malicious laugh, but a genuine one. She also found their exchange amusing.

“Are you going to join my fanclub?”

“I'll be the leader.”

At her remark, he laughed. It was an honest laugh, one that had him feeling light and free. It was an uncommon feeling for him, one only his brothers had managed to make him feel. He liked this girl, but that's all he ever could do was like her. He was under no illusions that this was just an exchange of banter. She was a passing moment in his life, not a permanent fixture.

“Were you that pleased?” He asked with a spark in his gut. He made to move from the desk, but she put her hands up in surrender.

“So pleased, I fear another round would have me fainting.” She let out a sigh as she fanned herself in exaggeration before letting out a snort of derision. “Isn't that what the gentleladies say when their ladybits can't take it anymore?”

“Even noblewomen like to dabble in the fine art of overstimulation,” he smirked back.

“I find that hard to believe.”

“Are you avoiding my question?”

“I would never dare,” she hummed with a twinkle showing in her eyes. It was teasing – daring on its own.

“Then answer.”

“Is that a command, Your Highness?”

“Would you obey if it were?”

His question had her approaching him, a smirk that mirrored his own pulling at her painted lips as the gauzy material of her dress flowed around her slim figure enticingly. When she was directly in front of him, close enough that he could feel her breath against his skin, she sank to her knees before him. Her hands deftly handled the ties of his trousers to pull them down enough to free him.

“If the Prince commands, I will serve.” Her mouth, hot and wanting, was on him before he could even think of a witty response.

Prince Christopher

As heir apparent of a nation, Christopher Bang was not unaccustomed to worry. He worried about the coming winter and if the provinces had prepared their food stores accordingly. The winters in Miroh could be harsh– deadly even. If the cold didn’t kill the populace, hunger was a certain second contender. If he could help alleviate that in any way: he would. It was his birthright and his duty, and he was nothing if not a man of his station.

Any indication of increasing hostilities in the Borderlands would have him holed up in his personal offices for weeks on end. He would analyze patterns. He would discern strategies. He would rethink choices in generals. He would make plans to advocate for peace treaties with the neighboring territories. WIthout fail, his efforts would be rebuked by the King and the conflicts would continue unchecked. He never stopped trying.

The conflicts never turned to all out war. They were simply petty squabbles with centuries long history over dejure land rights. It was almost ingrained as tradition– sons carrying out the same trite battles as a matter of pride over any true cause. Ofcourse, it wasn’t the Kings or Princes that suffered.

It was the common soldiers with wives and children waiting for their safe return. It was the fishermen who watched warily as flagships came to shore. It was the farmers who worked full days for a meager loaf of bread only to watch their livelihoods be put to the torch in a war they never asked for. It was average people who held no stake nor say in the matters of governance or state. It didn’t matter to them who held the territories they called home. Their lot would stay the same regardless of which Lords called themselves King, but the battles for that title hurt them more than anyone else.

Christopher knew that. He wanted to change it. He wanted to right historical wrongs and be the King his people needed. Alas, he couldn't. All he could do was worry.

It wasn't even just grand matters of state that occupied his mind. Smaller, more personal affairs piled on his already overloaded platter of responsibilities. He was the eldest of his family's sons – even in the circles of peasantry that came with its own responsibility. He had to look out for his younger siblings. He had to ensure they played their parts as royal children and kept the family name clean and as prestigious as ever. Some of his brothers made it harder than others.

Changbin had taken his duties easily as had their younger brothers: Seungmin and Jeongin. They knew their stations and how to conform within the standards that befit them. Felix and Jisung tried, but they were more empathetic. They struggled with their places on the world stage– questioning the morality of their way of life and the responsibilities they held. It wasn't a negative thing, and Christopher could not fault them for it. It was a natural part of being human.

In his youth, it wasn't at all uncommon for his studies and training as heir to lead him down a spiral of questions. He was one of the most powerful men in the world thanks to nothing other than being born a son of the Bang Family. He could make people tremble in fear if he so much as looked at them with ill intent. He held the power of life and death in his hands. How could that possibly be fair? How could he live knowing that he had everything while others had nothing? He was as well aware of the moral quandaries as Jisung and Felix. He would not fault them for floundering – he could not.

The hardest thing – he had learned – was having all the power in the world and still trying to be a decent human.

The duties and power of royalty were a loaded hand cannon given at whim by an unfair creator. Some men would tremble at the burden, and lay it down without problem. Some would take the power to head and heart, and become a terrible beast whose machinations could ruin entire realms with a single shot. Others – a very rare few – had the sense and sensibility to know not only how to shoot, but how to aim.

It was Christopher’s only hope that he ended up in the history books as one of the latter. He would be a good king when the time came. He would care for his people and not let the burden of rule turn him hard and corrupt. He would be the role model his brothers needed.

But these were simply hopes and dreams. In reality, he was simply one Prince amongst many others. His father still held the crown of governance, and he answered to the King as well as anyone else.

“You can not simply force him!” Beauty Lee cried out with as much emotion as Christopher had ever seen her express. She was usually so calm, and collected. She was a Beauty of the King’s Harem, but he had learned far too early that even his father could break the cool facade of the Palace women with little effort.

“And what's to stop me, Woman?” King Bang grunted back with a bite. His voice was not to be forgotten. It was distinct in its unyielding harshness, and it suited his appearance just as well.

He was a hardened man – a King but a true warrior at heart. He was graying and wrinkling in age, but he was still considered a handsome – even fearsome – man. Under the wrinkles covering his face and hands were scars from battle. He had seen war, but his age and dress showed he also knew luxury in equal measure.

“He is your son! You must have an ounce of compassion for your own blood!” Beauty Lee protested.

“Compassion? Is compassion what he needs, now?” The words were not spoken, but spat in frustration. It was a testament to Beauty Lee’s determination that she did not shirk away from the words. “I'd rather a firm beating to undo all the years of coddling you've put the boy through.”

“Is a mother's love coddling? I shall not deny he is flawed. Heaven knows we all are, but he's grown into a good man with a good heart!” Her voice was calmer, but still burning with resolve.

The feeling of dread that had been slowly rising in Christopher’s chest engulfed him until he felt bile rising in the back of throat. He knew he had not been summoned to the King’s receiving chambers to simply witness a lover’s quarrel. They were speaking of Second Prince Minho - Beauty Lee’s only son and the Second of the Bang Sons.

Minho wasn’t like his other brothers. He had always been incredibly brave even if outlandish. He broke tradition: galavanting across the world with intellectuals, keeping the company of whores and artists, and never accepting his duties as a Prince of the Royal Family. He had always done what he wanted, and Christopher admired him for it even if it stressed him out to his wits end.

“A heart our enemies would tear out of his chest and eat for protein. He is soft. Sometimes I question whether he is even my son,” King Bang said viciously. It was a tone that could cut down enemies. I was not a tone to take with a gentlewoman, especially not regarding your own blood.

“You– you can't say such things! He is your true son! I swear it,” Beauty Lee prostrated.

“Ah, bugger off woman! If I had any true suspicions you would be dead and he would be left to rot in a cell.”

“Please, Your Highness. Minho admires you so much, he just needs time.”

“Time? Had I known you and your welp would be so resource intensive, I would have left you both in the whore house you came from.” King Bang said it as if he were discussing the menu for the upcoming festivities. It was as casual a threat as could be delivered, but it was a threat.

“Plea–”

“Save your whimpering. There will be no further discussion. Minho will cease his fruitless adventures and settle down here in the palace with a harem befitting his station – or he will be sent to the Borderlands indefinitely.”

“You would send your own son to die in such a way?” Beauty Lee cried. As if suddenly realizing he was present, her wild eyes fell on Christopher. Before he could even register what was happening, she was tugging the sleeve of his shirt in desperation. “My Prince! He is your brother! Minho will die in the Borderlands! You know it.”

“Unhand the Crown Prince, Woman! I have taken heads for less!” King Bang roared amongst her pleas for mercy.

It was moments like this that Christopher liked to pretend. He was not simply Prince Christopher: he was King Christopher. He held the power. He would never let Beauty Lee be in such distress and he would be content to let Minho live as he saw fit, but those were still dreams. He was but a Prince, and Minho was too. If they wanted to survive for a future, they all had their parts to play. He could not pretend: he had to take action.

“Father,” Christopher spoke up as Beauty Lee clung to him. “I will take responsibility.”

“For Minho?” King Bang questioned with narrowed eyes. He was always suspicious– always seeing a play even if there was none, and truly Christopher didn’t have one.

“Yes. I will ensure he settles down into Court Life,” Christopher assured his dad and the bleary-eyed Beauty. She blinked up at him with hope, and even fondness. She always had been kind to him and his brothers. She would sneak them sweets when they were young and practiced at swords and the King forbade it. She was a kind woman – maybe too kind for the world she had been adopted into. “I will make sure he accepts it, and adjusts appropriately.”

“Sometimes, I fear I have raised no sons, but seven bleeding hearts instead,” King Bang sighed. He contemplated for a moment, his eyes flashing between his concubine and his heir with laser focus. If he were looking for something, he seemed to be content with what he found. “I will let you.”

“Oh, Your Majesty. I will be forever grateful. You are good, and just!” Beauty Lee cried as she dropped Christopher’s arm only to bow as low as possible at the foot of the King’s ornate desk chair he occupied.

“Save your words,” he commanded her. Her words stopped at once at his admonishment. “If Christopher should fail to tame my most wayward son, it will be a statement of his right to rule.”

As he spoke, he stared right into the eyes of Chrisopher.

The young prince was not surprised. He had spent his entire life jumping through hoops to earn not only his crown, but even a shred of affection from the larger than life figure that he shared blood with. His aptitude had never failed him, but he would never feel safe relying on his father’s love for anything in his life.

“If I cannot trust my heir to command his own blood, how can I trust him to command the people of an entire kingdom?” the King added. He let the threat hang in the air before turning his attention back to the sniveling Beauty at his feet. “In other words, if he fails: you will ruin two of my sons.”

It was another threat meant for the woman who had borne him a child.

She was one of his longest lasting concubines. It was rumored that Beauty Lee was the one woman of the harem that held any love from the King, and she had suffered for it. She had been scorned and bullied by the other women of the King’s harem. She had been attacked in countless games of court intrigue. She had outlasted all the attempts to have her ousted from the court and from his favor.

Christopher could only wonder: how would she survive the biggest threat of them all?

#stray kids smut #skz ff #skz smut #lee know fanfic #lee know ff #lee minho smut #lee minho fanfic #lee know smut #stray kids fanfic #bangchan smut #lee know x reader #bangchan x reader #bangchan ff #bangchan fanfic #stray kids ff #stray kids x reader #stray kids scenarios #skz scenarios #skz fanfic

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stephensmithuk · 17 days

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The Sign of the Four: The Statement of the Case

CW for the end of this as it includes discussions of child murder and detailed discussions of capital punishment.

Turbans have never been particularly common in the United Kingdom; these days, they are most likely to be worn by West African women or those who are undergoing chemotherapy.

It was the norm for a married woman to be referred to as "Mrs. [husband's name]", especially on something like a dinner invite. Historically, in the English common law system the United States also uses, a woman's legal identity was subsumed by her husband on marriage, in something called coverture. In some cases, a woman who ran her own business could be treated as legally single (a femme sole) and so sue someone - or be sued. This practice was gradually abolished, but did fully end until the 1970s.

@myemuisemo has excellently covered the reasons why Mary would have been sent back to the UK.

As you were looking at a rather long trip to and from India, even with the Suez Canal open by 1878, long leave like this would have been commonplace.

The Andaman Islands are an archipelago SW of what is now Myanmar and was then called Burma. The indigenous Andamanese lived pretty much an isolated experience until the late 19th century when the British showed up. The locals were pretty hostile to outsiders; shipwrecked crews were often attacked and killed in the 1830s and 1840s, the place getting a reputation for cannibalism.

The British eventually managed to conquer the place and combine its administration with the Nicobar Islands. Most of the native population would be wiped out via outside disease and loss of territory; they now number around 500 people. The Indian government, who took over the area on independence, now legally protect the remaining tribespeople, restricting or banning access to much of the area.

Of particular note are the Sentinelese of North Sentinel Island, who have made abundantly clear that they do not want outside contact. This is probably due to the British in the late 1800s, who kidnapped some of them and took them to Port Blair. The adults died of disease and the children were returned with gifts... possibly of the deadly sort. Various attempts by the Indian government (who legally claimed the island in 1970 via dropping a marker off) and anthropologists to contact them have generally not gone well, with the islanders' response frequently being of the arrow-firing variety. Eventually, via this and NGO pressure, most people got the hint and the Indian government outright banned visits to the island.

In 2004, after the Asian tsunami that killed over 2,000 people in the archipelago, the Indian Coast Guard sent over a helicopter to check the inhabitants were OK. They made clear they were via - guess what - firing arrows at the helicopter. Most of the people killed were locals and tourists; the indigenous tribes knew "earthquake equals possible tsunami" and had headed for higher ground.

In 2006, an Indian crab harvesting boat drifted onto the island; both of the crew were killed and buried.

In 2018, an American evangelical missionary called John Allen Chau illegally went to the island, aiming to convert the locals to Christianity. He ended up as a Darwin Award winner and the Indians gave up attempts to recover his body.

The first British penal colony in the area was established in 1789 by the Bengalese but shut down in 1796 due to a high rate of disease and death. The second was set up in 1857 and remained in operation until 1947.

People poisoning children for the insurance money was a sadly rather common occurrence in the Victorian era to the point that people cracked jokes about it if a child was enrolled in a burial society i.e. where people paid in money to cover funeral expenses and to pay out on someone's death.

The most infamous of these was Mary Ann Cotton from Durham, who is believed to have murdered 21 people, including three of her four husbands and 11 of her 13 children so she could get the payouts. She was arrested in July 1872 and charged with the murder of her stepson, Charles Edward Cotton, who had been exhumed after his attending doctor kept bodily samples and found traces of arsenic. After a delay for her to give birth to her final child in prison and a row in London over the choice the Attorney General (legally responsible for the prosecution of poisoning cases) had made for the prosecuting counsel, she was convicted in March 1973 of the murder and sentenced to death, the jury coming back after just 90 minutes. The standard Victorian practice was for any further legal action to be dropped after a capital conviction, as hanging would come pretty quickly.

Cotton was hanged at Durham County Goal that same month. Instead of her neck being broken, she slowly strangled to death as the rope had been made too short, possibly deliberately.

Then again, the hangman was William Calcraft, who had started off flogging juvenille offenders at Newgate Prison. Calcraft hanged an estimated 450 people over a 45-year career and developed quite a reputation for incompetence or sadism (historians debate this) due to his use of short drops. On several occasions, he would have to go down into the pit and pull on the condemned person's legs to speed up their death. In a triple hanging in 1867 of three Fenian who had murdered a police officer, one died instantly but the other two didn't. Calcraft went down and finished one of them off to the horror of officiating priest Father Gadd, who refused to let him do the same to the third and held the man's hand for 45 minutes until it was over. There was also his very public 1856 botch that led to the pinioning of the condemned's legs to become standard practice.

Calcraft also engaged in the then-common and legal practice of selling off the rope and the condemned person's clothing to make extra money. The latter would got straight to Madame Tussaud's for the latest addition to the Chamber of Horrors. Eventually, he would be pensioned off in 1874 aged 73 after increasingly negative press comment.

The Martyrdom of Man was a secular "universal" history of the Western World, published in 1872.

#letters from watson #sherlock holmes #history #factoids #acd canon #sign #the sign of four

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saisons-en-enfer · 1 month

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#thank you to p4k (weirdly) and my (mostly) neofolk mutuals back in 2014 that always posted this album #resulting in me blind buying it the vinyl of it #putting it on my turntable #full volume #and literally by force of nature turning me into a noise fan #prurient #power electronics #noise #legendary song tbh #the time signature of the synth drones still really throws me off #dominick fernow #cocaine death #hospital productions #greatest songs of all time #also greatest song name of all time #Bandcamp

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aurumacadicus · 8 months

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There are still a couple weeks left to read The Lightning Thief, but we're voting for our next book now so we have plenty of time to get it for the first day of reading on October first! Book summaries are under the cut! Each new title is in bold for clarity.

If you'd like to join the book club, now or for the next book, feel free to send me an ask and I'll give you the link to our Discord!

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore

The Curies’ newly discovered element of radium makes gleaming headlines across the nation as the fresh face of beauty, and wonder drug of the medical community. From body lotion to tonic water, the popular new element shines bright in the otherwise dark years of the First World War.

Meanwhile, hundreds of girls toil amidst the glowing dust of the radium-dial factories. The glittering chemical covers their bodies from head to toe; they light up the night like industrious fireflies. With such a coveted job, these “shining girls” are the luckiest alive—until they begin to fall mysteriously ill.

But the factories that once offered golden opportunities are now ignoring all claims of the gruesome side effects, and the women’s cries of corruption. And as the fatal poison of the radium takes hold, the brave shining girls find themselves embroiled in one of the biggest scandals of America’s early 20th century, and in a groundbreaking battle for workers’ rights that will echo for centuries to come.

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them – setting three lives across centuries on a collision course.

Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.

Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.

One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose – selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when he new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.

In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Elizas in a stunning twist of fate – and not everyone will survive.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it’s to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpic unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.

To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.

Artemis by Andy Weir

Jazz Bashara is a criminal.

Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you’re not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you’ve got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent.

Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible is just the start of her problems, as she learns that she’s stepped squarely into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself—and that now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit even riskier than the first.

The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang

An epic historical military fantasy, inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic.

When Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe an orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard—the most elite military school in Nikan—was even more surprising.

But surprises aren’t always good.

Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away…

Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity…and that it may already be too late.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here – it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On – The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story – but far, far more monsters.

Here, The World Entire by Anwen Kya Hayward

After being accused of desecrating Athena’s temple and subsequently cursed with monstrousness, Medusa lives alone on the outskirts of the world, secluding herself from everyone so as to keep both herself and the rest of the world safe. When Perseus comes to ask for her help, Medusa tries desperately to make him leave, but no matter what she does, Perseus stays. As the days wear on and she reveals more about the events that led her to the cave, it becomes obvious that there is a choice to make: stay safe and alone, or re-enter the world with Perseus. One question still remains, however: what does Perseus want?

#polls #book club

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targaryen-realness · 1 year

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Witchling chapter 3

Title: Witchling

Pairing: Osferth x Druidess!Reader

Warnings: Canon depiction of violence, mention of slavery, wounds and scars, magic, historical innacuracy (sorry medieval Scotland is not my specialty), talk about faith and christianity. The reader is fem but there is no physical description except for the fact she is a scot from the Highlands. Spoilers for season 3 of the Last Kingdom

Summary: As they are riding away from Winchester, Osferth and Lord Uhtred’s group come across a mysterious woman. She needs help but the power within her is obvious. Captivated, Osferth hopes she will stay, but as Uhtred asks her to travel with them, he cannot help but wonder what is going on in his lord’s head.

Notes: Thank you for the support on this work so far! I hope you will enjoy this chapter!

You dreamed of death. The cries of pain and sadness woke you up, and it took you seconds before you realised this was all in your head. You took your head in your hands trying to collect your thoughts and stop the shivers that travelled through your body.

“Are you alright lady?”

It was Finan and his comforting irish accent that was approaching you. You looked up and found him carrying some bread.

“Had a rough sleep?”

You nodded, simply accepting the food. You did not know if you should tell the truth. Someone had died or was going to die. You knew it. You felt it. The intense pain and fear. The cries of life and death.

“It’s okay. It’s time to get up anyway.”

You understood immediately the reason for your dream. People will die today. You did not approach the top of the wall before Uhtred screamed at you:

“Osferth and you, open the door! Finan, come with me!”

Everything was in shambles as you heard the king behind you. You saw Osferth for the first time since last night and tried to avoid his gaze as much as possible as you made your way to the door.

“Let me do it, go somewhere you’ll be safe,” he said.

You frowned, taken aback by his words. You had known greetings that where more welcoming during your years as a slave.

“We are just opening a door. I think I’ll be fine” you answered with as much pettiness as you could. You did not wait to see his reaction simply grabbing one of the doors and hoping he would do the same on the other side. You were now as close to the danes as you could without being outside the walls. You could hear the cries of terror from the women and children and it made you bite your lip hard, so much you could taste blood. You hated this, death and pain. The way men always choose to abuse the one that could not fend for themselves. You had seen first hand, you had been one.

“They are killing them” you whispered hoping no one could hear.

“They have women and children my lord”, shouted Osferth.

“The gates!” screamed Uhtred

You put yourself in action and opened the gates for the lord and his witch to pass. For a brief moment, your gaze met the one of the blond woman, and you thought you could see the hint of a smile on her face. You watched half hidden behind a guard as the lord negotiated with the dane called Blood hair. His energy, his aura, was as poisoned as Uthred’s. His curse, though, seemed to run deeper. It was now one with his bones, his blood, his very soul. When Uhtred punched the witch in the stomach and she fell down you cringed. You wanted to turn around and leave, not to have to look at this, but you could not. That was until you saw him. Your blood froze and your stomach turned. You could have thrown up on the spot if it wasn’t for the lack of things in your stomach.

“Y/n? Are you okay?”,you heard a voice but was unable to distinguish anything. Because in front of you, behind Sigurd, was Gorn. He looked exactly the same as the last time you saw him. Still as tall and terrifying. You could not move but thankfully you were well hidden behind the guard. Him seeing you would probably kill you on the spot. You felt arms shaking you and as if you just had fainted and regained consciousness you emerged from the fog of your own mind. Osferth looked worried and he was holding you close to his tall and lean body.

“He is here” you simply said, scared to say more.

He did not seem to understand but kept you close, shielding you from the view of others.

“It’s okay”, he said, his voice calm and soothing, “no one is going to hurt you”

And for a brief moment, you believed him. You find yourself seated, a very concerned Osferth fussing over you. He had given you water, asked if you wanted something to eat, or if you needed to lie down. You did not need any of these things. You needed to go back home, back to Alba, back to your parents house. The safety and comfort of a known place, this was what you needed. What you wanted though, was probably different. You wanted them dead. All of them.

“The man behind Blood hair. He was one of the men who kept me-”, your voice cracked. You saw a torrent of emotions cross his face and tears almost started rolling on your cheeks. Someone called for the both of you, but the voice seemed far away. Osferth gently led you inside. Lord Uhtred was speaking with the king, everyone surrounding them. You could not pay attention, so you just stood next to him in a dark corner of the room. You were grabbing his robes hard, trying to peak around his shoulder. The atmosphere was tense, and as you looked around you did not miss the side look of Osferth toward his father. You clenched your hand tighter and he seemed to feel it. He did not look at you but you felt his hand grab yours. Your skin against his had you blushing, but you found comfort in it. Way more than you should have.

When Finan left, you prayed for him to return safely and to find the mercians easily but when you found yourself on a horse next to Osferth and lord Uhtred, you started to pray for yourself. The adrenaline was pumping in your veins, making you forget about Gorn being somewhere in these woods. You needed to leave and with a bit of help from the gods, you would reach your goal safely. You rode until you reached Fearham. It was empty. No Finan and no army. Osferth looked like he shared your doubts because he immediately said:

“Is this the place lord? Is this Fearham?”

But almost as soon as the words left his mouth you could feel something happening. Finan was here, he was approaching, and the mercians with him. You smiled and looked at Uhtred who seemed to understand.

“Perhaps Finan did not make the journey.

-He did” you simply answered.

The moment you pronounced those words, Finan emerged from the top of the hill, the soldiers just behind. You did not miss the look of Sihtric and even less the one of Osferth. You did not wait for the fight to start and you made your way up the hill to join a woman with Osferth and Skade. As the sun was slowly appearing from behind you, you all watched the battle unfurl. The danes had the numbers, but the saxons had the advantage of the site. The fight was violent and deadly. Plenty of soldiers died, slayed by the blades of the enemy. Finally it was clear the saxon army had taken the advantage, and it only became clearer when you saw Blood hair, and even Gorn ride away like cowards.

“Do not yield Blood hair.” you heard Skade say.

For a second you pitied her but then you just said:

“Seemed like your master has definitely abandoned you this time”

She looked at you and you holded her gaze.

“We’ll see how that mouth works when Gorn will get you back.

-I’ll slit his throat before it happens.”

She probably saw in your eyes how serious you were, because she did not answer. Osferth was looking at you and you simply nodded at him. The victory was not celebrated for long as you and the rest of Alfred’s men all rode back to Winchester. You wished you could have been happy like the others, but the weird feelings of death you felt during the night did not disappear. You had thought that this dream had been about the hostages, even the battle. The feeling did not leave you, even when you slept a little this night. You were having the same dream, except this time you could hear the screams more distinctly. It was a woman. You woke up sweating and in pain. You could not explain it but you knew something was wrong. You wanted to say something, tell Uhtred that something was going on, but you did not want to spoil the happiness of everyone. You could feel the joy of Uhtred and Sihtric especially, as they were about to return to their wives and children. You kept quiet. Osferth had not said a thing about the events of a few days prior, he offered you polite smiles and when his pretty eyes fell on you, you could feel your heart beat faster. The casual conversations he initiated, just to make you feel less isolated you presumed, were the highlights of those days on the road. You had met a lot of men in your life, some you had loved from fraternal and deep love, and some other you had hated with a passion that could burn. None had ever made you feel like you did now. Which made the distance between you even more painful. You almost regretted having a horse of your own now, missing the feeling of his body. You felt like a lunatic, having thoughts like this about someone you barely knew. You probably were just starving for affection, having forgotten what gentle touches and genuine kindness felt like. You felt selfish for a moment but even that feeling of guilt did not stop the warm feeling in your chest. A question remained though. Once at Winchester, what would you do? You obviously could not leave just yet. You had made a promise to Uhtred that you would find a way to break his curse, but you knew that once in Winchester you won’t be able to do so. You needed nature, and time. Maybe you could sneak out with Finan or Sihtric outside of the walls to perform your ritual.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost” said Sihtric, his horse walking next to yours.

You had not talked much with him but he seemed like a good person. He was a fierce warrior, you had seen it first hand but there was more to him, in his eyes you could see it.

“I feel like something bad is going to happen. I can’t explain it.”

He looked at you for a moment and said:

“I always had doubts about seers, you know. I grew up amongst danes and I feel guided by the gods every day, but I did not believe for a long time that some people could see things that had happened or were going to happen. Then I lived and saw for myself that, indeed, some people could see things that I could not fathom” he marked a pause and directed his gaze in front of you.

“You knew Finan was going to come back with an army, didn’t you?

-I could feel it, when we were on that hill. Seeing the future, it’s not my specialty. I used to heal people, back at home. That’s what I do best. But I have been having dreams. Of someone dying. A woman,I think, that I do not know. I just did not want to ruin everyone's happiness.

-Are you sure it is that type of dream?”

You wish you could be sure, but the truth is that it could be anything. A reminiscence of your past, of the trauma and pain you had endured.

“I can’t say with certainty. But-

-But you still think it is.

-Yes”

He simply nodded at you, words obviously still unsaid. You did not press him to talk more, feeling like he had already said enough. You stayed silent until you reached Winchester and the joyous cries of the crowd. Winchester was bigger than you had expected, and there were way more people you thought there would be. This joy was contagious, as you started to smile despite the uneasy feeling that had made his nest in your heart. You were just behind the king and his son, and this is how you saw the very specific moment where everything went to shred. You saw Uhtred get off his horse, his triumphal look soon whipped away, leaving room for confusion and panic. He walked away to find a blond woman standing, waiting for him. You understood immediately when you saw the young babe in the arms of another one behind them. A cry of death and life. You closed your eyes, trying to contain the tears as your heart settled in that deep pit of sadness. Useless, powerless, that was what you were. You did not miss the reaction of Finan and even more the one of Sihtric. The man looked at you and you met his eyes. You could not decipher his expression but he could see yours clearly. You looked around you, lost, and you met the eyes of Osferth, incomprehension written on his features. Just next to him, it was Skade that was looking at you. She knew too. She had known for a long time, and like you, she had been useless.

No one said anything, because there was nothing to be said. You did not say anything to Uthred about your dream because what good would it have done? He needed to grieve, but first he needed to honour his wife. It was Finan that told you that Gisela was a pagan just like you. They still had the nerve to bury her in christian land, which you found insulting. At first you had the intention of staying inside the house and not say a word but it was Uhtred himself that called for you. You followed without a word. There was that same woman that you recognised from earlier. Her name was apparently Hild, and she was an Abbess at Winchester. A close friend of Uhtred, enough so that she had cared for his children since their mother’s death. You had simply nodded at her and walked with them toward the cemetery. You let her ask for her lord’s forgiveness before Finan and Uhtred started digging. You stayed silent, not knowing why exactly you were here. The moment was moving, full of sorrow and regrets. Everything felt heavy, like the air was weighting on you now, trying to put you underground with the other corpses. The body of Gisela was soon put on a pyre, Uhtred ready to light it.

“Could you-”

His voice cracked but you understood immediately. You came closer, taking the torch from Finan’s hands and you started. The songs of the druidess were famous even all the way down here, so far away from Alba. Even without music, you could feel the energy of nature all around you. They were mourning her too. As your voice elevated in the sky, you closed your eyes, and nodded at Uhtred. You put the torch near the base of the pyre and felt it catch on fire. You did not stop singing. The air was lighter but still full of sadness. But Gisela was going where she was supposed to. Even if she did not believe in the exact same gods you did, she would be welcome there, as their daughter. She would return to nature, to start a new life. Maybe she would even cross the sea all the way to the lands of the immortals. Maybe she will find peace with her ancestors. As you opened your eyes again, to see her remains flying high in the night sky, you thought it was beautiful. She was finally returning to her rightful place after being deprived from it for long enough. You ended the song, your melodious voice resounding all around you. In the language of your ancestors you wished her a good and safe journey, and stepped away. You had not looked around you while you were singing, only watching the dance of the flames, but now you saw how Finan and Abbess Hild’s eyes were on you. Uthred had his head low, but you could see his tears. He looked at you briefly and you simply offered a smile of compassion and understanding. Her soul was safe.

“The gods will welcome her, she is where she is supposed to be now”

You were calm, calmer than you had been in a while. Reconnecting with that part of yourself, even in the saddest way possible, was still appreciated. Finan looked like he was on the verge of tears. Even his christian soul had been moved by your song, the song of his people, that was a part of him as well. Abbess Hild looked sad as well. She did not say a thing, but you could see it in her eyes. Gisela had been a friend, and she too, was suffering. It was the noise of Uhtred’s sobs that distracted you. You approached him, your hand taking his. He looked at you, an expression of surprise on his face but he didn’t say a thing. Abbess Hild took his other hand, and Finan put his on Uhtred’s shoulder. And just like this you waited, until the fire was no more, having taken everything from Gisela.

#the last kingdom #osferth x reader #osferth the last kingdom #finan the last kingdom #sihtric #the last kingdom fanfic #reader insert #witch reader #uhtred of bebbanburg #uhtred the last kingdom

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catghoulz · 5 months

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DISCLAIMER: im a tranny mystic not a historian so probably dont take this az rigorous academic analysis or w/e

ykno. ive alwayz been bothered by ppl saying tht dragonz are this universal thing in all culturez bc like. bro ur just applying th modern western conception ov the dragon to any large folkloric reptile. & i stand with that but the corollary im arriving at az i get more autistic abt world mythology iz. on the other hand the motif ov a large serpent who createz and/or holdz the waterz ov the world, often a primordial being and/or killed with the assistance ov the incarnation ov stormz IZ really fucking common in culturez around the world, with strikingly specific similaritiez between even thoroughly geographically isolated culturez.

i mean my analysis iz certainly colored by a lil ov teh ol mysticz psychosis but like. imo the modern western princess/treasure hoarding dragon iz just a local variation on the water serpent motif, swapping itz valuable possession ov the life-giving rainz for the contemporary european valuablez ov gold & women.

while one must stretch hard to see winged fire-breathing lizardz in world culture, belief in water-giving serpentz seem to me so abundant az to have either come with the initial continental migrationz or to have independently arose many timez in many placez. either possibility fascinatez me honestly. the chinese long, mesopotamian tiamat, many ov th supposed derivativez ov the proto-indo-european *H₂n̥gʷʰis, the various rainbow serpentz ov australia & africa, indigenous american horned serpentz, probably many more tht i or th historical record have forgotten

anyway in conclusion uhhhh. letz all love teh water serpentz from whose body the waterz ov our world flowed everyone. to be perfectly honest the water serpent iz still in there AND that includez the water in the sink. by the way. and our bodiez but also a variety ov other thingz. so i think we should be very grateful. o also by filling a serpent with poison we are not hurting her but we Are hurting ourselvez. but thtz prety obvious

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ecargmura · 12 days

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The Apothecary Diaries Episode 9 Review - Double Homicide

A double homicide case? What in the Danganronpa third case craziness is this? While the anime is great, I think the only bad part of this story is that they keep piling up different cases that it’s hard to keep up if they’re all connected or not. Sometimes, some cases are not brought up until later on, like how the color-changing fire case finally got a new lead when I had assumed it wasn’t going to be explored upon.

Though, I do commend the author for coming up with creative ways for people to die. In the first of the two homicide cases, the cause of death is from salt poisoning. Excessive salt can cause thirst and later swelling. The salt was put in the sweet alcohol that the victim liked to drink. The culprit is implied to have been caught, but nothing has been shown on screen yet. Apparently, the victim was someone close to Jinshi, so he was rather emotional and vulnerable throughout this segment. Maomao even sees him in a different light for a while. I do like how the bill to pass the legal drinking age hasn’t passed, so the show isn’t breaking any laws that is showing minors drinking. I did think it was cute how she was super into drinking booze. However, the main lesson of this story is that alcohol is bad for you and if you are addicted, someone can use it against you.

The second case is a drowning case. A servant girl drowned and no one knows why. Was it suicide? Murder? Unfortunately, there’s very little evidence to place a true verdict, so the case was closed as a suicide case. I do note some interesting historical context. In ancient China, foot binding was apparently a thing with some women as having small feet was seen as a beautiful thing. The victim had one of her feet bound. It was stated that the servant girl had been present in the garden party, so it feels as if it was intentional. Is this case and the alcohol poisoning case related in motive?

While both of these cases have an undisclosed motive, there seems to be a connection. One person was a rather high status person who knew Jinshi. The other was someone at the garden party, meaning they were a lady-in-waiting or just a regular servant girl that helped out at the party. Maomao realizes her position in all of this. Whether she’d be of a high status or just a servant girl, there is potential that she can be targeted and killed one day. The moment she had with Jinshi, telling him if she were to be killed, she’d want it to be poison but also realizing that she doesn’t want to die was rather memorable. Even if she can cause someone to die, it could happen to her some day.

With a potential suspect in Fengming, maybe her motives and connection will be revealed? Is she the true culprit behind all these mysterious cases or is it just the color-changing fire one? I just hope that these mysterious cases will reveal their motives and culprits. What are your thoughts on this episode?

#the apothecary diaries #kusuriya no hitorigoto #maomao #jinshi #fengming #gaoshun #review #anime #anime review #ecargmura #arum journal

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libraryleopard · 2 months

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The TV show Mary and George premiered in the UK and has gotten some good reviews which reminds me that i read The King's Assassin by Benjamin Woolley, the book it's based on, back over Christmas break and I should stick my thoughts here for posterity so I can compare later

So the political machinations and scheming and gay drama in the court of King James VI and I is some really interesting history and I have to say I did enjoy reading the sections that are just really wild historical anecdotes (George Villiers and James's son, Charles, go on a TRULY wild road trip to Spain in an attempt to secure a match for Charles that has a truly comedic and jaw-dropping number of ridiculous problems and I had a fantastic time relaying that story to many people)

It seemed clear to me that Woolley did his research—there is an extensive list of primary sources included at the back and his understanding of how James’s favorites played into the broader political and religious maneuvering of the time is very thoroughly laid out (there is a LOT about parliamentary meetings and promotions and papal dispensation)

What I thought was weird about how the book is advertised is that the title and description HEAVILY emphasize that Woolley has new cutting-edge evidence to prove that George Villiers assassinated King James which is a) not actually a huge part of the book (literally the epilogue, maybe 20 pages out of almost 300) and b) not…that convincing?

Certainly there’s a LOT of ruthless behavior done by the Villiers family and the political environment of the time is one in which assassination, even of the king, is totally on the table, but Woolley’s new evidence is that he…described the situation to a forensics expert who said he thought James had been poisoned while being treated for malaria? That’s it!

And like, cutting-edge medicine of this time literally included “smearing brick dust and oil on the king to cure him of gout” so I’m not convinced that James wasn’t just killed by a bunch of 17th-century physicians just not knowing how to treat malaria TBH

Also how do you even get malaria in 17th-century England…?

I think when you’re analyzing the death of a king from the 17th century you can’t really rely on forensics to prove he was murdered because you can’t exactly do an autopsy, and I think if Woolley wanted to convince me that Villiers murdered the king he should have backed it up with some solid analysis of why Villiers would have murdered the man who raised him up from a backwater noble second son of a second marriage to one of the most influential men in England and the most Woolley managed was “well maybe George Villiers and Prince Charles liked the vibe of how monarchy functioned in Spain [a country they were in active conflict with at this time so I feel like would not have been a role model??] and murdered James together so they could create a new monarchy” which is literally introduced in the final paragraph of the book (that is a very silly way to organize your argument)

Also I was unsatisfied by how Woolley analyzes the queer aspect of the history he's discussing

It’s not that the book no-homos the relationships between King James I and his “favorites,” because Woolley does clearly understand these relationships were romantic/sexual even if these men were both married to women and had children with them, but the book seemingly has no interest in analyzing what it means for the king of England and Scotland to have fairly public relationships with men in a country in which sex between men could be considered a capital offense punishable by death and I was frustrated by the fact that Woolley simply doesn’t touch on how the relationships and historical figures he’s discussing in his book fit into queer history, it seemed odd to not touch on it at all??

Also, this book taught me that the novel Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston is incorrect for saying that King James met George Villiers at a jousting tournament! That was Robert Carr, James’s previous favorite who Villiers replaced (George Villiers met James I because he was a cupbearer at court).

My ultimate analysis of the book was that I think the history it's drawing on has the possibility to make a REALLY fascinating TV show but I thought the book was not improved by some weak analysis of James's possible assassination

Also, I am very excited that Julianne Moore's Mary has a high billing in the TV show and seems to have a lot to do because I found her a very fascinating historical figure (she tried to steal bales of wool from her second husband to sell for her own profits and when she was caught just said she needed the money to pay off debts!), but she basically drops out of Woolley's book once George is instated as the king's favorite

If this show is good I am going to be so annoying about it and I'm not sorry

#the roadtrip story is really so funny i should find my notes on that #lulu speaks #lulu reads #lulu reads the king's assassin #the king's assassin #books #mary and george #history #lulu talks history

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mermaidsirennikita · 3 months

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spare revenge romance recs?

Aaaabsolutely!

Try:

A Rose at Midnight by Anne Stuart. Dark historical romance. The heroine literally tries to poison the hero to death within the first couple of chapters. They knew each other when she was a teenager and she had a crush on him and her dad wanted him to marry her and take her out of France before the Revolution began, but he was like "nah I hate myself too much" and as a result she had to stay and suffer GREATLY while her family was annihilated! The beef is REAL! Super intense, super dramatic, check your triggers because a lot happens here (SA, dubcon (with the hero), general Terror stuff). It's beautifully written and I loved it and I found the romance so moving in the end. But it's rough!

Mafia Madman by Mila Finelli. Obviously mafia romance. Obviously I adore it. Enzo kidnaps Gia and puts her in a cage on his yacht because her brother-in-law tortured him for a month four years ago (and that was kinda revenge too, Enzo and Fausto are mafioso real housewives) as REVENGE but he doesn't realize that Gia can give as good as she gets!!! Mind games, hot sex, ridic drama, SO GOOD.

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean. The heroine fakes her death before being forced to marry the hero's father; the hero is accidentally framed for her murder, avoids jail but has a ruined rep. Years later, he finds her alive and is like OH. FUCK. NO. A Rogue by Any Other Name is also a revenge book, but the hero is using the heroine as he tries to get revenge against someone who isn't related to her.

What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long. Alex tries to seduce and ruin Genevieve as revenge against her brother, who slept with Alex's fiancee. Genevieve figures this out pretty quickly, though, and begins using Alex to try to get the attention of the man she wants.

Beyond Scandal and Desire by Lorraine Heath. Mick Trewlove is a duke's illegitimate son and resents his legitimate brother, so he sets out for revenge, which includes seducing and ruining his brother's fiancee. Sadly, he does in fact.... like her a lot.

The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe. Florence is a rich man's daughter who wants to open a casino for women and asks Clay Madden, casino owner, to mentor her. He agrees, while plotting to use her for revenge against her father.

The Winter King by C.L. Wilson. The hero conquers the heroine's kingdom as revenge for her brother killing his family; as part of a truce, she's forced to marry him, but her father in turn wants counter-revenge, it's just a lot of revenge and it's great.

The Art of Scandal by Regina Black. The heroine is a politician's wife who agrees to stay with her husband for a limited amount of time after she finds out he was cheating. She does, however, get mad and fuck the hot young guy's been flirting with in revenge. Only to find out that the guy is her frenemy's son.

King's Captive by Amber Bardan. The hero kills the heroine's father on her birthday, and then keeps her as his captive on a private island for like... three years? Lol. Now she wants to escape/get revenge, but there is a looot happening.

The Ranger by Monica McCarty. The hero is a spy for Robert the Bruce on this lord's property, and I believe the lord guy struck out against the hero's family...? Or vice versa lol. But anyway, while secretly installed on this property, the hero falls for the lord guy's daughter without her knowing who he really is and it's very ILLICIT AFFAIRS.

The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne by Elisa Braden. The heroine's brother shot the hero's brother in a duel, and the hero tricks the heroine into getting caught in a vERY compromising position with him, basically forcing her into marriage.

Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas. CLASSIC. McKenna and Aline are separated by her upper class father, McKenna is led to believe it was her idea, and he returns years later for REVENGE!!!

#romance novel blogging #book recs #romance novels

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readsofawe · 2 years

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Need some #ReadsOfAwe inspo? Here are some of my recent favorite Jewish reads.

Please reblog with your own faves!!!

Hex by Rebecca Dinerstein Knight A botany student studying poisons develops an obsession with her professor. Dark Academia AF. Fits the prompts LGBT Rep, Contemporary, Novella

The Girl With the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke A Modern Jewish teenager on a field trip to Berlin is accidentally transported back in time to 1988--on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall! Fits the prompts YA, Fantasy, Non-Holocaust Historical

The Deep by Rivers Solomon Merfolk descended from enslaved Africans thrown overboard forget everything quickly--except Yetu, who remembers for everyone. Fits the prompts LGBT Rep, Jewish Author of Color, Fantasy, Novella, Themes of Renewal, Blue Cover for some editions (The audiobook is read by Daveed Diggs, who is also Jewish!)

Like Falling Through A Cloud by Eugenia Zuckerman A memoir-in-verse about the onset of dementia. Fits the prompts Poetry and Non-Fiction

Dancing on Tisha B'Av by Lev Raphael Short stories, mostly about gay Orthodox men and graduate school. CW for teacher/student relationships. Fits the prompts LGBT Rep, Frum Rep, Short Stories, Contemporary, Fall Colors

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon In the slums of a generational ship, a grouchy healer named Aster foments revolution. Fits the prompts LGBT Rep, Science Fiction, Jewish Author of Color

The Seep by Chana Porter The aliens have invaded, and they brought utopia. But when Trina's wife decides to start life over as a baby, Trina feels left behind by all the touchy-feely bullshit. Fits the prompts LGBT Rep, Science Fiction, Novella, Themes of Renewal

The Future of Another Timeline by Annalee Newitz The Daughters of Harriet are a group of time travellers who work to protect women's rights, but a mysterious group of reactionaries seem to be undoing their hard work. Fits the prompts LGBT Rep, Science Fiction, Non-Holocaust Historical

More recs that I don't own physical copies of under the cut!

The Trans Space Octopus Congregation by Bogi Takas Short stories about disability, Judaism, BDSM, aliens, magic, neuroplasticity, polyamory, nature, and more! Weird as hell. Fits the prompts LGBT Rep, Frum Rep, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Short Stories, Blue Cover

He, She, and It by Marge Piercy Classic dystopian about a woman whose grandmother creates an android to protect their small Jewish town. Robot golem who fucks ;) Fits the prompts Science Fiction, LGBT Rep, Fall Colors

Avi Cantor Has Six Months To Live by Sasha Lamb Avi Cantor is a depressed trans boy in high school. When he sees bathroom graffiti telling him he has six months to live, sunshiney Ian steps in to help. Fits the prompts LGBT Rep, Fantasy, Novella, Blue Cover, YA

The Man Who Never Stopped Sleeping by Aharon Applefeld A recent Holocaust survivor tries to find his place in a Kibbutz. Fits the prompts Translation, Non-Holocaust Historical (arguably)

The Puttermesser Papers by Cynthia Ozick Acerbic Ruth Puttermeiser's fantasies have a tendency to come true, including a female golem made from potting soil in this surreal, gorgeously written series of linked short stories. Fits the prompts Fantasy, Short Stories, Contemporary

Proxy by Alex London Syd is a Proxy--he takes punishments intended for hideously wealthy Knox. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death. Fits the prompts LGBT Rep, Science Fiction, YA

The Second Mango by Shira Glassman Queen Shulamit searches for her bride, along with her buff bodyguard Rivka and a whole dragon. Fits the prompts LGBT Rep, Fantasy, YA

#readsofawe #jewish books #jewish #judaism #books #queer books

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ackermental · 2 years

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Hi! Hi! I hope you’ve been having a beautiful day or evening so far! How are you? :D I saw this post this morning, and I love how you dissect and go into detail with different accounts of stories or opinions and I was genuinely wondering, is it true that Daemon cheats on Rhaenyra with a mistress? Or was that another false claim from Mushroom/The Maester? Also there is that dreaded claim that Daemon is only after the throne and not after Rhaenyra’s heart! I wanted to know your honest take on this, I love open discussion a ton and it gives me further knowledge and insight truly! :D (Ps LOL am I a sick fuck for actually smiling about the Mysaria comment towards Daemon about Rhaenyra? I’m sorry, but Daemyra could cause me to go bankrupt, I’m absolutely addicted to them, I simply CANNOT. 🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️🐉🐉 anyways! Thank you for taking the time to read all this if you find time, I appreciate it as always! :)) DAEMYRA FOR THE WINNNNN MFSSSS 🔥🔥🔥!!!

Please, don't feel like I'm dismissing you, but I've already answered the question about the ridiculous claim that Daemon didn't love Rhaenyra and only used her to get the throne in this post and I don't feel like repeating myself all over again.

And that post you sent me only proofs that people don't understand the Rogue Prince and the Princess and the Queen at all. My god, only a complete moron can write something like that, exposing their own stupidity for the whole world to see.

Maesters were the ones who used young girls for their own gain. They were the ones who told Viserys it would be perfectly fine to rape Aemma when she was eleven. They were the ones killing women and unborn children left and right. Oldtown Triad has so much blood on their hands, they are the ultimate creeps in this story, they are the ones who should make your skin crawl.

Here you have my take on F&B being a crooked mirror of historical sources in our own world.

How can you read those books and don't notice that Oldtown with it's Citadel, Sept and Hightowers is a reference to Vatican, only worse? Worse because in ASOIAF they are going to the Sept during the day, preaching to other people of Westeros about how they should live their lives while being assholes themselves, and then at night they go back to play with their creepy, dark magic. I shit you not, they are like some frickin’ Illuminati of the Seven Kingdoms. Like, Jesus, did any of those idiots even do some reasearch on Hightowers? Those fuckers are fanatic zealots!

And they are responsible for writing Westeros' history! They are the ones who control all letters aka communication system in that world.

When you hear the word 'maester' you're not supposed to think about some poor, educated fellows who were suffering under their masters' ignorance. You are supposed to think about priests, who were keeping all of the ancient knowledge to themselves, whispering lies to their lords, poisoning their minds and their bodies, while trying to control them.

I've never seen a 'history book' as biased as Gyldayn's. This man is contradicting himself not even every second page, but sometimes every second sentance. Maesters murdered Aemma and Laena in cold blood, at the least. You want to be a defender of women, take it out on some creeps grooming children or old men causing trauma for little girls? Oldtown Triad is right there for you.

And they hated the Blacks with a burning passion.

So you know what? I'm standing over there in the corner with those Black guys.

Here is me ranting to poor @ladyalianora about maesters being suss.

//Not to mention: this whole grooming shit? The brothel visits? Daemon teaching Rhaenyra how to suck dicks? Daemon having a lover? Even Gyldayn doesn't have the audacity to say those rumors are true.

Makes you wonder why did he put Mushroom's nonsense in his 'academic' work at all, doesn't it? (Not that the other sources, them being a septon and yet another maester, are any better). And the real reason he did it, was so the people would come to the same, idiotic conclusions as the person who wrote that post above.

It's insane, isn't it, how easy it is to manipulate history, if you only use the right tools. It's almost like GRRM was trying to make a point with F&B other than telling a story about 'huehue, incest, dragons, big fight'.

So what am I saying? That some of those things didn't even happen in the first place?

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm trying to say.

It's almost like Daemon and Rhaenyra could've become close, fall in love even, after his return, without him teaching her how to fuck dwarfs 🤔🙄😯. It's almost like Hightowers accused him of grooming the Princess of Dragonstone in order to get rid of him for a second time 😮. By lying. You know? Just like they did it all those years before, by providing false witnesses and lying 😱😵. Or they simply had an affair and some Hightower spy told the King everything. Mind-blowing stuff, huh?

By this point I know I'm like a broken record BUT IF YOU CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THAT DAEMON HAD ROMANCE WITH NETTLES, THEN I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE ALICENT WAS RIDING JAEHAERYS' DICK. IT'S THE SAME FUCKING SOURCE!

Two more asks about this, and I swear to god, I'll put those words above my bed.

#hotd #house of the dragon #daemon x rhaenyra #daemon targaryen #rhaenyra targaryen

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mediaevalmusereads · 6 months

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The Disenchantment. By Celia Bell. Pantheon Books, 2023.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Genre: historical fiction

Series: N/A

Summary: In 17th century Paris, everyone has something to hide. The noblemen and women and writers consort with fortune tellers in the dark confines of their salons, servants practice witchcraft and black magic, and the titled poison family members to obtain inheritance. But for the Baroness Marie Catherine, the only thing she wishes to hide is how unhappy she is in her marriage, and the pleasures she seeks outside of it. When her husband is present, the Baroness spends her days tending to her children and telling them elaborate fairy tales, but when he's gone, Marie Catherine indulges in a more liberated existence, one of salons in grand houses, forward-thinking discussions with female scholars, and at the center of her freedom: Victoire Rose de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Conti, the androgynous, self-assured countess who steals Marie Catherine's heart and becomes her lover. Victoire possesses everything Marie Catherine does not--confidence in her love, and a brazen fearlessness in all that she's willing to do for it.

But when Victoire's passion results in a shocking act of murder, she and Marie Catherine must escape from the tight clutches of Paris' eager chief of police. As they attempt to outwit him, they are led to the darkest corners of Paris and Versailles. What they discover is a city full of lies, mysticism, and people who have secrets they would also kill to keep.

***Full review below.***

Content Warnings: blood, violence, spousal abuse, miscarriage, abortion

Overview: I picked up this book on a whim at a local bookstore, where it was featured prominently on a queer lit bookshelf. I'm always up for some queer historical fiction, and I was excited for this novel because I haven't read a whole lot set in 17th century France. Overall, there was a lot about this book that I liked; Bell's prose is atmospheric and captivating, and I loved the complex portrait of a wlw woman trapped in an unhappy marriage, using stories as escapism. While there were points at which the pace seemed to drag, I did enjoy this novel, so it gets 4 stars from me.

Writing: Bell's prose is incredibly evocative and, at times, lyrical. It contains a lot of figurative language and the metaphors Bell uses are sensual. There was often a phrase that made me pause because of how utterly captivating it was, so if you like that kind of prose, this book might work for you.

But there are a few things that made the book as a whole more difficult to read. For one, Bell's pacing can be extremely slow, and while I didn't always mind, there were times when I wanted the action of the plot to progress. For two, Bell's does a lot of "head hopping" - changing perspective within the same chapter without something like a section break to signal a new POV. Though the entire book is in third person, Bell will occasionally switch perspectives and give us the thoughts and feelings of a different character, right in the middle of a scene. While I could generally follow the switches, it did make for more disorienting narration and interrupted the flow.

Plot: The plot of this book primarily follows Marie Catherine, a thirty-something year old baronne trapped in an unhappy marriage during a period of intense paranoia about witchcraft and murder by poison in late 17th centry France. Marie Catherine tells original fairy tales to her children and keeps a female lover named Victoire to escape from her husband's controlling behavior. But when the Baron is brutally murdered and suspicion falls on her, Marie Catherine must put together a tale that will protect her and the ones she loves from the law.

Personally, I didn't feel that this plot was infused with much urgency or suspense, and I can't quite tell if Bell meant it to be more of a character study. There isn't any mystery as to who killed the Baron, and I never felt that Marie Catherine, her children, Victoire, or anyone else for that matter were in any serious danger due to the chief of police (LA Reynie) or the historical setting. Scenes also didn't quite build on one another in a way that gave shape to what one might expect from a thriller, mystery, or historical fiction plot; instead, the narrative wandered and lingered on things that were more character-focused than anything, so I had to wonder if Bell was less interested in plot and more interested in character.

But even if that was so, it was difficult to be fully drawn into the way the characters inhabited their world because their motivations felt fairly obscure. Marie Catherine and Victoire's relationship didn't feel very passionate or emotionally intimate - they were apart more often than not, so it was hard to see them as a couple. Jeanne, Marie Catherine's maid, seemed at once loyal to her employer but then seemed to cut her losses and run, which made me question how loyal she really was and for what reason.

But perhaps my biggest disappointment was that Marie Catherine's storytelling skills weren't woven into the larger narrative very well. The fairy tales themselves were phenomenal, but they seemed to be dropped into the scenes without much ceremony, and neither the themes of the tales nor Marie Catherine's knack for tale-telling seem to be major drivers of the plot.

Characters: Marie Catherine, our protagonist, is sympathetic in that she's trapped in an unhappy marriage and later, is trapped by the law's suspicion of her and her household. I liked that her tale-telling was figured as a method of escapism and that she seemed to be genuinely warm and kind, however, it was difficult to really get into Marie Catherine's head because her relationship with Victoire was perhaps the least interesting influence on her character. This isn't me saying that I don't like wlw stories - I very much do. But I don't think this one presented a very compelling relationship, which meant the main motivation for so many character actions felt a little underdeveloped.

Victoire, Marie Catherine's lover, is interesting in that she's impulsive and acts without fear of repercussion. I liked that shebwas presented as this wild, convebtion-flaunting courtier whose entire being is shaken by the death of the Baron. I do wish we had gotten more into Victoire's head, though, because as it stands, I felt like the book kept her at more of an arm's length than it did other characters.

Jeanne, Marie Catherine's maid, was perhaps the most complex in that she has a jaded past and an interesting connection with the Parisian underworld. I loved the moments when Jeanne felt pulled between her loyalty to the baronne and her desire to atone for her past, and I think her character arc involved the most tension. However, I also think Jeanne's motivations weren't as clear as they could have been, so a little more scaffolding would have gone a long waynwith this character.

Other characters - such as Lavoie the painter and La Reynie the chief of police - are compelling due to their complexity, but again, their arcs tend to fall a little flat because their motivations are a bit underdeveloped. La Reynie's arc was perhaps the most clear in that he was motivated by truth and justice, even if it was a little unpopular with the upper crust. I liked the idea of Lavoie, and his attraction to Marie Catherine was multi-faceted and intriguing; but I didn't fully understand why he would act as he did, even if he didn't like the Baron and fancied his wife. Overall, it seemed like Bell wrote a lot of characters with a lot of great personalities, but didn't quite give them anywhere to go.

TL;DR: The Disenchantment is notable for its lyrical prose, historical setting, and cast of complex characters with quirks that make them memorable; however, this book doesn't quite give readers a clear sense of direction, withholding character motivations and sending us meandering towards the denouement to the detriment of what would have otherwise been a very clever, unique story.

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