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

[noctyourking]

It would be about three hours before Noct found himself in the throne room, seeking out the Count purposely. He had attended to his room and with some quick work he did his best to dust off the furniture and bedding before he put his clothes away in the ancient armoire in the room. He didn't have much luck in the kitchen in finding much more than the water he went for and by the time he reached the throne room his stomach was turning in complaints up his body.

"Excuse me my lord, I do not mean to bother you--but I wonder," he took a few more steps closer to Radu with anxious hands working at his shirt. "Is there a tavern where I can see to a meal here?" With that he could ask the locals of some work, maybe something to bring in coin or regular meals! Radu's diet seemed to be unique to the Count outside of needing to be prepared in the kitchen! Nothing but cobwebs and dust.

[raduvladislas]

The second he'd come to the throne room, Radu had retrieved the bloodstone from its hiding place in the wall and drank from it. He savored the taste, letting it drip down his chin. He spent the next few hours tending to his work, periodically drinking.

He had been drinking again when he heard footsteps. Radu quickly hid the stone, not even bothering to see if the wall covering was ajar, and wiped his chin with his palm.

"There is a tavern near the foot of the hill, just a quick drive away. You may find food and drink there. Just pay no heed to the gossip, it is all rubbish." Humans and their need for food, so impractical.

[noctyourking]

Noctis was in luck! Within driving distance! Surely it would be the perfect resolution: he didn't have to cook and there wasn't any food here anyhow! Noctis probably looked like he was beaming, but he really was excited to get out of this creepy castle and get some food. Maybe they'll let him take some food here to--

oh, there wasn't a fridge. Of course. His smile calmed some at that thought but he shook it off with a soft huff. "Then, Sir I'll be quick!"

He turned on his heel and went then, by the time he was in his car he sighed audibly and brought his hands to his face in disbelief. What time era was Radu living in! Were there plugs? How was he going to charge his phone? Where even was the nearest market? Or did the tavern act as that well?

Noctis was gone for nearly two hours, it took about half an hour to find the tavern and another to be served. He spent some time talking to the locals in the tavern inquiring about some information on what they thought the town really needed; besides wealth. None of them really seemed to want visitors, however, and many of them didn't really want to talk to him either! Radu did warn him that they were superstitious--just like the reports read.

By the time he returned to the castle he was full and feeling the exhaustion of his journey take its tole on him. He was ready to crash. Before he would retire he wanted to see what the Count was up to and spend some time with him; after all that was why he was here! Part of him then began to feel somewhat guilty that since he got here he didn't really see Radu that much. Noct would do better, starting--now!

He sought the Count out once again and started with gratitude: "Thank you for opening your home to me, my lord, and for being such a gracious host to see to my needs. I was wondering if there was anything I could do for you.. uh, before I retire?"

[raduvladislas]

Radu watched from the window as Noctis drove away. He looked around at the castle, suddenly aware of just how much he hadn't cared about "keeping up with the times", as it were. The castle was thousands of years old, and he hadn't felt the need to have it wired for electricity. He didn't need lights, he didn't watch television, and he didn't need a stove or fridge. But his guest might find it inconvenient.

Depending on how long the prince was going to be here, Radu wondered if it was time to get a few basic appliances and install wiring. It really had been a long time since humans inhabited this castle.

Radu was once again sucking on the bloodstone when he heard Noctis return. He set the artifact on the table and covered it with a cloth for now, making sure he didn't have any blood on his lips.

He had to say, he liked how this prince actually had manners. "You are quite eager to see my village befriend your kingdom, aren't you? I should think it is I who should be asking to your needs, my prince."

[noctyourking]

Noctis licked at his bottom lip and he lowered his eyes a moment to his feet before he lifted them back to the Count. "Oh, well.." For a selfish reason he began to list things off in his head before he rid his spoiled mind of such thoughts. "My father.." He swallowed. "Your king wants to see the village thrive; it's beautiful here and he would see all of his lands in tranquility, my lord." He bothered at his bottom lip again and pulled it between his teeth for a brief moment before his feet shuffled. "King Regis understands there is a close mountain range here that would work perfect for a ski resort, ah in Poiana Brasov. The resort would no doubt bring money to this town.. and perhaps new trade, doctors, schools.. and such for the villagers."

"There's such rich history here, so many opportunities to learn about one another as well.. even under his rule we understand there is different cultures to each lands.." Noctis moved a hand to his chest. "I am here to learn what you may see fit to share with me.. about you and your village."

[raduvladislas]

Radu listened patiently, tapping his long fingers against his arm in thought. Noctis did make a very tempting offer, from the sound of all that. "You make a compelling argument." Bringing the town into the modern world might even work in favor for him.

"I can share many things," Radu motioned for Noctis to follow him and led him to another room. This one was a modest library, containing a few tomes the Vladislas line had collected. Many of them were books on history and folklore, and a few textbooks one might use for homeschooling. "You may use this room to your content. There are... interesting legends about my family."

[noctyourking]

Noctis followed Radu with a grown interest in what the other would share with him more immediately. He wiped the back of his fingers across his left eye then lowered his hand to pinch at the outside of his slacks. As requested by his father (who had made him feel like six) he was meant to wear business-type suits and never jeans. It wasn't something he wasn't accustomed to; he hardly ever got to dress down. Even at school he wore the uniforms and blended in with the rest of the crowd, well at least in look. He never fit in with the other kids being a prince and all.

Once in the destined room his eyes had a hard time focusing on just one wall, rather they bounced from each structure, table, shelf, wall, and wondered on the literature there while Radu expressed what he would find here. "Oh.. wow.." Then he found himself suddenly worrying for the state of the texts, if they were like anything else like this castle they were probably in poor shape!

"Legends about your family?" He grinned over to the count. "I have that too!" A feeling swelled in his chest as he found some common ground to connect with the other.

[raduvladislas]

Radu scanned the spines of the books until he found what he was looking for, pulling it out and placing it on the table. It was an old tome bound in leather with an image etched into the cover. The image was that of the bloodstone, something that someone outside the family wouldn't recognize.

"This is my family's history," Radu explained, opening the book to the halfway marker. "I was named for my ancestor." An easy enough lie. His family had always passed off its history as mere legend, and Radu often passed for his own ancestors. "They say my family were of supernatural origin."

[noctyourking]

Noctis stepped close to the count and looked at both the book and those fingers. However, the picture on the front of the book reminded him of the crystal. He then wondered if somehow their history was intertwined by the crystal; perhaps juvenile and irrational of him to try to find even more connections between the two of them. Either way, he excused the thought and listened as Radu found the marker in the book.

"Supernatural origin?" Noctis asked though it was more a tactic of listening and repeating what he'd heard. "What kind of supernatural origin?" It was true that in their past what couldn't be explained was considered supernatural or magic when it was all really to do with science unknown during those times. Hell, this book looked centuries old, maybe Radu's family were more unique than supernatural due to some heritage genes. Maybe whatever inflicted Radu was passed to him by his family and they all had their long fingers and special diet.

Or maybe he was just jumping ahead of himself and being ignorant about it! "I'd like to hear more.."

[raduvladislas]

Radu turned the page carefully, so as not to tear it. The pages had long since gone yellow and Radu especially had to be careful thank to his clawlike fingernails.

"They say that the original Count Radu was the offspring of a vampire and a witch," He pointed to the passage explaining it in greater detail. He and dear Mum hadn't been on speaking terms in centuries. For all he knew she'd found some other cave to rot in. "Quite the fairy tale, I must say." He next pointed to a picture matching the one on the cover. "Our family was said to possess a stone that bled the blood of saints, and which could keep a vampire fed without the need to prey on mortals."

He had never spoken of his history with a mortal before. It was quite interesting, if he said so himself, with the Prince so eager to learn.

[noctyourking]

Noctis listened carefully as Radu spoke, intrigued by what the man said and what came across the pages as each turned after another with Radu's words. His lips thinned as he half grinned with a nod; only indicating that he was listening. He had no clue what it meant for a vampire and a witch to create an offspring; genetically speaking and what the physiology may portray. Though his eyes were on those long ghostly looking fingers.

This was folklore, legend, fairy tales Noct reminded himself however. Just like his own family had some wild tales that he had no idea to be true brought some legend to his own history. Something alike what Radu was saying; except it was a ring that brought the wearer to speak to the kings of old.

"Where is the rest of your family?"

[raduvladislas]

"There is no one else. It is just me," Radu explained. "I live alone." Well, except for the minions, obviously. But they hardly counted as 'human company'. They were only smart enough to obey orders and help their master.

He had thought about taking consorts in the past, but it was so hard to find people he actually wanted. Most people would rather die than be with him, as he'd learned in the past.

[noctyourking]

The answer struck a chord of sorrow in Noctis as he imagined being alone himself. He had a trio of really good friends but even he had things he had to do that he couldn't do with them. Such as this, he was meant to come here as a friend of the king to become a friend of the count. 

"I'm sorry, I can't imagine.. how, ... I would be sad to be alone." He offered some honesty in response to how he was impacted by the words. However, if it was all he knew then maybe it would be different. He wouldn't be at this perspective looking from a place of having all those he loved around him to having no one.

[raduvladislas]

Radu looked over at Noctis, contemplating what he'd just said. "It does get rather quiet here. And yes, perhaps even lonely." Though he wondered just how much sympathy Noctis would be showing if he knew the truth about what Radu was, and why he seemed destined to be a lone recluse.

"I have tried to obtain companions in the past. It has never worked out." He had even tried to make others into vampires to keep him company, but they always wound up being killed or outright abandoning him, resenting him for dooming them to such a life.

[noctyourking]

"Oh--" Noct gave the count a small nod. "What about traveling? Do you take holidays?" He brought a hand up to scratch at the corner of his mouth before his fingers went to his dark hair and thinned through the locks. He then dropped his hand to his side and hooked his fingers to his hip. For some reason he had a sinking suspicion that Radu declined long travels outside his village.

He then wondered what he would think about Insomnia; and all the crowds there, the shopping, the food (oh, special diet-right), the sights, the culture, and so forth. It seemed like a good opportunity to show Radu some modern technology and perhaps introduce it to his villagers.

[raduvladislas]

"I rarely travel, and even then I only go so far as the cities that are many miles away," Being a vampire had its perks being able to travel at high speed, but even that was limited. Not to mention he couldn't go anywhere during the daytime.

"I confess, my... condition makes me very sensitive to the sun," He counted himself lucky that Noctis seemed to infer that everything about him was due to an unspecified medical condition. What better way to hide being a vampire than claim you simply had symptoms that made superstitious folk cry 'vampire'.

sorry; hectic week :C

[noctyourking]

Noct offered a small nod, though whether or not his thoughts were the result of being exhausted or if Radu was subtly putting things in his head with throwing around things like: special diet, sensitivity for the sun, family legend, was bringing thoughts fueled with his own superstitious stereotyping. Vampire.. He thought with a gentle grin to his lips. "Hm, that must be really rough.. it must be difficult not to be able to see your village during the sunlight.. I'm sure there's loads of places here that look really good during the day." He thought idly. "Perhaps some doctors that specialize in your condition may be of some help?"

[raduvladislas]

"I doubt such doctors exist. My condition is very rare," Radu said. If there were other vampires out there besides the ones in Radu's family and those he'd made, he had yet to encounter any. Other vampires also likely had an easier time hiding their vampirism, thanks to not having Radu's unique parentage.

"I wouldn't know what I was missing anyway. I have had my condition since birth."