Gothic Romance Meme

[marlowe_tops]

Gothic Romance Meme

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…


The story goes like this: There is a house. It may be haunted. The house has a resident, or two, who has some secrets. They may be charming, or brooding, often both. Someone may have been murdered. A newcomer arrives, either as bride, governess, or journalist, and they begin to unravel all the secrets and lies lurking within the house of Usher.

Locations may be in any country, in any era, but there must be a gloomy and opulent old mansion, and some sort of dark and terrible secret to be uncovered (or just ghosts. ghosts are always an option.)

The Newcomer
1. The new bride or groom. Your new spouse is charming and attractive, but do you really know all their secrets?
2. Tutor or governess to the estate children. They seem like such innocent children.
3. Companion—perhaps as a chaperone, perhaps merely as company, but you’ve been hired to come to some remote old house to keep an unknown stranger company. Probably just reading to them, or listening to them chatter on whenever travel is required.
4. Hired hand. You’ve been hired up from the local village—or perhaps the city—as a footman or a maid. Just an ordinary job. Nice house, though.
5. Distant relation. Thanks to your circumstances, you’re reduced to accepting hospitality from some remote relations of yours. They may never turn up to family gatherings, and you’ve never heard much about them, but they’re probably just reclusive.
6. Journalist. You’ve heard some interesting rumours about this old mansion in the middle of nowhere.
7. The neighbour. You know that things are not quite right in that old house on the hill. Perhaps you feel it’s your duty to interfere. Perhaps you’re just curious. Perhaps you are childhood friends with the house’s resident.

The Resident
1. Past transgressions. Perhaps a mad wife in the attic? Someone buried in the cellar?
2. The unquiet dead. Look, you just live here. You’re not responsible for the ghosts. Even if they do all seem to be related to you.
3. The monster. You are the thing in the house to be feared. Actual monsters or monster AUs totally an option here! Vampires, werewolves, beasts and horrors all possible. Perhaps put an ordinary face on when you receive your new guest.
4. Wildcard. Choose your own deep dark secret: maybe your character naturally comes with one.

Comments

[restlesspuppy]

According to the scientists I know, I'm not a good test subject.

And besides, people are going to come looking for me. You'd be saving yourself some trouble letting me go.

[doctor_terror]

I'm not too worried.

[He gets out a syringe and fills it with a strange orange liquid]

If you are not lying, I will deal with them when they come. As for you, well, let's hope you last longer than some of my previous subjects.

[restlesspuppy]

[he shifts a little uneasily but there's no where to go right now. He's really going to have to complain to Shinra about their choice of missions]

What's that?

[doctor_terror]

[Scarecrow smirks at the young man's unease, even as he prepares the man's skin for injection]

A toxin of my own making. This is just a diluted dose, for now. We wouldn't want you tearing your skin off now, would we? If I were you I would hold still.

[He grabs Zack's arm and slides the needle into him, injecting him with the fear toxin]

[restlesspuppy]

[Zack doesn't flinch but he can feel the toxin flowing up his arm.]

What does it-?

[and then he sees it, feels it, spiders crawling up his body and trying to burrow under his skin]

What the hell?!

[he squirms, trying to buck them off.]

Get off me!

[doctor_terror]

[Crane watches the young man's reaction, nodding]

Interesting. Quite a common fear, but interesting nonetheless.

[He leans in close to Zack]

Everyone is afraid of something. Even tough guys.

[restlesspuppy]

Ugh. They're gross! What is this? What did you do?

[he grit his teeth and glared at Crane, trying to ignore the disgusting sensation of hundreds and thousands of legs skittering across and under his skin]

[doctor_terror]

I merely brought them out. But I believe we can do better than this.

[Crane goes back to the cabinet and fills another syringe.]

Let us up your dosage. I want to bring out your deepest, darkest fears.

[He makes Zack hold his arm still again and injects him with more toxin.]

[restlesspuppy]

H-hey! [he's so not happy about this. The prick of the needle doesn't even hurt but the toxin is starting to take effect. He squeezes his eyes shut and when he opens them again, he sees himself breathing in green liquid within a tank.

Alarmed, he begins to pound at the toughened glass. His shouts muffled as he watches a blond friend get experimented on beyond the tank.]

[doctor_terror]

[Crane leans in to watch Zack, taking note of his expressions.]

What hidden fears keep you up at night? Tell me what you are seeing. Give in to the fear.