NORTH

[brideglooms]

“There are things worse than death, Miss Stern.”

#BRIDEGLOOMS - Independent & selective portrayal of Bertram Boyce North THE BRIDEGROOM from Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House.

Established Jan. 2023. Haunted by Sarah. Sideblog to @kcrclrezni 👑 Status: Hiatus

CARRD

[tylerposey]

JONATHAN BAILEY as Anthony Bridgerton "Out of the Shadows" — Bridgerton (3.01)

[homebehind-x-deactivated2025013]

she knows he's there. she noticed the moment he started following her. tried to tug her coat around her shoulders and move on as if he was nothing more than a particularly strong wind, but he's persistent.

once - - - just once - - - she'd like to cross campus and not meet up with some phantom, some spirit, some ghost, who thinks its time is so much more important than hers. (and where did that come from, anyway? they have so much more of it than she does.)

"i don't know," she grumbles, shifting her eyes around her to make sure no one's close enough to hear. "i'm doing a pretty good job of it so far." well... she was.

[brideglooms]

At least his presence prevents all other Grays from descending upon on her. They're far too terrified to associate. And stupid, in his opinion. How embarrassing to be always seeking a semblance of life? Peering into windows hungrily? At least his cause is more noble.

She can continue to avoid him. He has plenty of time. Deadlines mean nothing to the dead and it seems that she always has one. She'll come around eventually.

"Forever is quite a long time." He keeps his pace, though he floats forward as opposed to her jarring steps. "No matter. I suppose I could go back to opening doors to scare tourists. It's endlessly entertaining."

[brideglooms]

@homebehind for Alex

The Bridegroom keeps his distance, following behind Galaxy as she crosses campus on her way to Il Bastone. She's clearly in a hurry, though he has never noticed her to not be one. Perhaps she's always eager to avoid those like him who may like a word - much like he does now.

But the two of them share a bond, making communication far easier. "You cannot avoid me forever, Miss Stern."

[moranjpg]

reading ninth house rn i love the bridegroom. i love the suggestion that hes scandalized by alex threatening the wolfs head girl. hes a murderer but at least he has manners ig

[setmeatopthepyre]

I feel lighter than I have in so much time I've crossed the borderline of weightless One deep breath out from the sky I've reached a rarer height now that I can confirm All our weight is just a burden offered to us by the world

And though I burn, how could I fall? When I am lifted by every word you say to me If anything could fall at all, it's the world And it falls away from me

I do not have wings, love, I never will Soaring over a world you are carryin' If these heights should bring my fall Let me be your own Icarian carrion If the wind turns, if I hit a squall Allow the ground to find its brutal way to me

If I should fall, on that day I only pray, don't fall away from me

[brideglooms]

b e r t i e

There's a shift in the energy of the room, as though it's becoming charged with static electricity. "You're more than welcome to continue..."

Since he obviously doesn't know what's best for him.

[brideglooms]

you don't LOOK LIKE A BERTIE THO

"What precisely do I look like, hmm? Bertram. My name is Bertram."

[brideglooms]

B E R T I E

"There is power in a name, Mr. Lantsov. You must wonder why so many fear to call me by mine..."

[stygicniron]

Nico nods shortly, brushes off his knees from the dirty work before he begins to open the lids of drink and food. Even without beginning the incantation, the air thickens with attention. Something is listening, present company excluded, and one of Nico’s brows lifts with interest. Is he missing something here? Too late now.

“Let the dead taste again. Let them drink,” he intones, the words summoning more power and attention to the spot, beckoning whoever might be listening. “Let them speak.” He beckons, before continuing on in Ancient Greek, invoking the power of the Underworld to whoever might respond.

[brideglooms]

The Bridegroom hovers a few feet behind Nico, gaze wandering around the vicinity just in case they are joined by his intended (or perhaps any other entity - never a bad idea to have one's guard up when dealing with the realm of the dead, he supposes). He too feels the shift in energy, as though something out there is keen on seeing the results of this ritual.

He'd learned Ancient Greek as a schoolboy, along with Latin, both of which have served him well in his afterlife. He's able to follow along with Nico's words until...

Nothing happens. Nothing at all happens and he's left finds his pleasant, hopeful mood souring by the second. Sure, there are spirits milling about, but they've been attracted by the food and the invitation. One glare from the Bridegroom sends them scurrying away. "Rather disappointing, don't you think?" There's venom in his words. "Seems it's not just me my Daisy is ignoring."

[brideglooms]

"That's not true at all, actually. I've never been known to be chill. What sort of terrible rumors are you spreading about me?"

[stygicniron]

Nico digs as the ghost speaks, slowly widening the hole he'd been working on as he tried to sort through just what might be going on with the ghost. He seems earnest enough, although Nico can't help but worry that the guy is actually the cause for his wife's death. It's not exactly unheard of, ghost forgetting traumatic moments from their last instances of life, but usually Nico can tell something is wrong about those ghosts. This one seems whole as far as he can tell. He mentally shakes his head.

Nodding his thanks, he leans back to look at his progress. There, that should be about it, and he straightens, pulling himself upright again. "Her full name is helpful, thanks. And yeah, that does help, like I said, anything to help her remember who she was." And he turns to finish setting up the rest of the food for the ceremony. "She sounds like an amazing person."

[brideglooms]

The Bridegroom would have offered to help, had he still been among the living. Or would he have? Sometimes he cannot remember the attributes he'd adopted when his heart was beating. Now he watches unblinkingly, arms folded behind his back, floating half an inch off the ground.

"I thought it might be," he responds with a curl of a smile, cocking his head to the side. He's spent enough time in enough corners of the underworld to understand the importance and power of names. Hence why he is reluctant to give his out. Hence why the living of New Haven are reluctant to speak it freely. "She truly is. Was." He peers into the hole, eyeing the offerings. "Are you ready to begin?"

[ohisms]

↪     𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐍𝐄 , 𝑰'𝑴 𝑨 𝑭𝑬𝑾 - ᶰᵒ ᶠᵃᵐᶤˡʸ ˒ ᵗᵒᵒ . 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑎𝑚 𝑖 ?    (  a  series  of  sentence  starters  from  season  1  of  “ orphan black ” .   adjust  phrasing  as  necessary . will be updated !  )

i wanna see [ name ] .

well , that's not fair , is it ?!

oh my god , you look like crap .

i didn't miss your birthday , did i ?

something really weird just happened at the train station .

what the hell is wrong with you ?

listen to me , [ name ] , i'm only gonna ask you this once .

oh , i'm fine by the way , thank you .

get in the car .

when you don't give a damn , i get pissed .

you'd better be ready . are you ready ?

you're sure as hell overdressed . what , were you out all night or something ?

this shit is as hard as it gets . but you've gotta stop making it worse .

i panicked , what do you want me to say ?

i'm kidding . where's your wit gone ?

you don't have to babysit me , dipshit .

i know this thing's got you all twisted up , but try to forgive yourself .

[ name ] , open the goddamn door !

yeah , the last thing i am is special .

[ name ] , where have you been ?

where have i been ? uh .. long story .

oh , jesus , are you alright ?

you have a few words , [ name ] ? anything you want to express ?

plead your mercy & your pity .

love is imperfection itself .

say it . go ahead , say it's my fault .

who the hell are you ?

of course not . you think we'd let that happen ?

i'm at home , you've got it all wrong .

you know what ? don't . i'm going to ignore that .

i'm worried you're losing the plot again .

sorry , i've got ... i've got a lot of work to do .

i mean , what am i supposed to do ?

you don't have to take this on .

i can't keep waking up every night , checking your breathing , worried you're mixing your meds , booze ... god knows what else .

i knew it was too good to be true .

why would you help such a stupid plan ?

i'm not going to play [ name ] in the middle .

i'm not dirty , i just freaked out .

if there is another version of this story ...

walk me through it again . so i know you won't crack under questioning .

you're making me nervous .

finally ! where have you been ?

who am i speaking to ?

how did you find me ?

idiot . do you even know who you're talking to ?

i don't care who you are .

nope , that is not my responsibility .

go , & wait for a call .

what i'm trying to do is move on .

we have known each other for awhile now , [ name ] .

i nailed it , man . every detail .

come on , [ name ] , give me a little love here !

you know , my skin just breaks out every time i leave downtown .

whoa , hey , [ name ] - you always do this to me !

i don't do backup , i don't even know what backup is !

i got stuck , i was running from my own shit .

i'm not giving you shit 'til you give me some answers .

don't ! do not shoot me , please !

seriously , it's life or death .

am i going insane ?

[bangbangwhoa]

books I’ve read in 2023 📖 no. 005

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

“Life is cruel. Magic is real. And I’m not ready to die.”

[dcvina-claires]

i love when a character is a ghost but in a tragic way instead of a scary way. i love when a character has been dead from the beginning but is still holding on to stay in the narrative. i love when a character could choose to resent the living but ends up loving them instead. i love when a character drives the story but isn’t quite there enough to be at the center of it. i love when the ghosts are the protectors instead of the ones causing the harm. i love when a character is at the heart of the story because depending on where you began it, no matter how you told it, the story is about the ghost who struggled to keep their humanity

[ohisms]

↪ 𝑹𝑬𝑰𝑵𝑪𝑨𝑹𝑵𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 ; ᵀᴼ ᴮᴱ ᴿᴱᴮᴼᴿᴺ . ( a collection of lyric starters from ᵐᵉˡᵃᶰᶤᵉ ᵐᵃʳᵗᶤᶰᵉᶻ'ˢ 2023 album , 𝔭𝔬𝔯𝔱𝔞𝔩𝔰 . adjust phrasing as necessary . )

my body is dead , but i'm still alive .

your words mean nothing , so take them back .

you're always on my mind , i can't help it .

my mind wants to control me .

i fear i won't live to see the day tomorrow .

there is no other choice .

i hate who i was before .

lay all your burdens to rest .

you're no good at acting , it's obvious what you're after .

i know how to make you go crazy .

you are the light , i've been searching for forever .

i never once was treated right .

you make me feel like i'm on drugs .

i'm feeling too scared to sleep .

i'll wreck you if you chase me .

i'm done , i'm done .

why do you always act so serious ?

i don't give a fuck , 'cos i'm so strong .

you're messing with my cycle , that's dangerous .

be the manic pixie dream girl you fucking ought to be .

i won't lick your wounds today .

don't treat me that way .

i won't be ashamed for loving you .

i never knew what it meant , to be content with you .

if you bite my hand again , i will never feed you .

it took me way too long to put this to bed .

every time you tell a lie , i'm praying that you choke .

i won't be mistreated .

it's all a game now , but once i'm in the world it's lost .

i know what's coming .

all of the planning , yet i still feel unprepared .

[stygicniron]

Nico's eyes tick over to the ghost, mouth twitching with a thought before he shakes his head slightly. "What do you remember about her?" he asks instead. If the Bridegroom were alive, Nico might have been a bit harsher, but ghosts tend to bring out a gentler side in him. He understands the dead; he's familiar with the dead.

"Talking about her might help bring her spirit back here." It's not even fully a lie, Nico tells himself virtuously, when loved ones recall those they care about, it can help the ghosts remember themselves too sometimes. And he sets about the business of digging a small hole, pulling a little shovel out of his backpack to begin the work. He's pretty sure he has some food in there to use as well.

[brideglooms]

"What do I remember about her? Everything." Though slowly his jaw unclenches and his slight irritation seems to disappear, the perpetual gloom shrouding him fading for just a moment. "Daisy Fanning Whitlock - that's her full name in case you need it for your summoning purposes - is the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on in my life. I always wanted to make her laugh because her smile is utterly contagious, almost as though it's some kind of reward for it. I remember she wore a light pink dress and a white bonnet on the day I proposed and all I wanted was to kiss her senseless."

For a brief moment he almost feels alive through the memories, but soon the gloom returns. "Is any of this helping? I'd hate to bore you with more details of our love affair."