If you're writing anything involving cons, scams, heists, or morally questionable characters who are very good at lying, here are some free resources I've been using for research. Saving you the "why is this in my search history" anxiety.
1. The FBI's Famous Cases & Criminals archive (fbi.gov/history/famous-cases) has detailed breakdowns of real fraud cases, Ponzi schemes, and confidence operations. The language they use is clinical and precise, which is perfect for getting the procedural details right.
2. The FTC Consumer Sentinel Network publishes annual reports on the most common fraud tactics in the US. Great for understanding how modern scams actually work and what makes people fall for them.
3. The Smithsonian's American Art Museum has a free digital collection of forgery case studies. If your character forges documents or art, this is gold.
4. Court Listener (courtlistener.com) is a free legal database where you can read actual court transcripts from fraud trials. Want to know how a real con artist talks under oath? This is where you find out.
5. The Internet Archive's collection of old newspaper crime sections. Search for "confidence man" or "swindle" in papers from the 1920s through 1960s and you'll find incredible real stories that would feel too dramatic for fiction.
Bonus: The Psychology of Fraud section on the Association for Psychological Science website has accessible articles about why people trust, how deception works cognitively, and what makes someone a convincing liar. Essential reading if you want your con artist characters to feel psychologically real.
Reblog to save for later. Your WIP will thank you.
i headcanon Adrian to be an environmental landscaper and architect, who designs clothes for fun because they're just that talented and badass. they spearheaded the making of Grace's biodome and his erid-cultural closet lol
Description: Back in Summerhall, you spend time with your goodsisters as Daeron waits to see what Aerion's punishment will be.
Your chambers were quiet, only the scratching of your quill across parchment, the soft sounds of the birds outside, and the wind rustling through the trees, floating in through the open doors of the balcony to stir the silence.
The doors to your chambers creaked open, then two pairs of small quick footsteps followed, splitting in opposite directions.
βY/N, can I sit with you?β Rhae asked, although she was already dragging a chair next to yours and trying to see what you were writing.
βI cannot believe that Egg is gone but not Aerion. How is that fair?β Daella complained, flopping down onto a nearby overstuffed settee with a huff.
You looked up from the letter you were writing to Aemon at the Citadel, giving Rhae a smile before turning your attention to Daella. βI do not think the gods assure us of a life of fairness.β
Daella huffed again and rolled over onto her side to look at you, wisps of her warm brown hair escaping her braid. βYou sound like my septa.β
βWell, that may be because I learned that bit of wisdom from my septa.β
βOf course,β she sighed, clearly fed up with the platitudes everyone had been giving her when she complained about Aerion still living.
You blew gently on the letter to help the ink dry and then set it aside, taking care that Rhae could not read the contents. βWhere are your septas? Should you both not be in lessons right now?β
Rhae pouted. βThey are boring; everyone is so busy with Aerion that they will not even let us go play in the gardens.β
You leaned back in your chair. Maekar had been particularly tense since all but Aegon had returned home from the tourney. The younger children were not allowed out of an adultβs sight, and you even heard rumors that he was considering recalling Aemon from the Citadel. Aerion had made most of the journey back in an open air wheelhouse, and now that he was under the care of Summerhallβs maesters, he was milking their attention for all it was worth.
βHe deserves his injuries; he should never have demanded a Trial by Seven,β Daella said.
You bit the inside of your cheek. Of course, you agreed, but you could not say so.
βWhere is Daeron?β Rhae asked, looking around as if he were hiding behind a curtain or bookshelf.
βProbably drinking or passed out in a ditch,β Daella snorted, turning onto her back and staring up at the vaulted ceiling.
βDaella,β you said sharply, giving her a warning look.
βOooo, you are in trouble,β Rhae snickered.
You gave her a look too, and she fell silent, ducking her head.
Daella was seven and Rhae three when you came to court to marry Daeron, their mother having passed three years prior. As such, you became something of a maternal figure for the girls, more so Rhae than Daella, but you knew it was within your bounds to speak up when they stepped out of line.
Your voice was firm but not cruel. βIt is not kind of you to discuss Daeronβs drinking so negatively when you know he is trying to be better. Especially since the maesters and I are attempting to aid him in any way we can. Besides, he is your brother, and he has sacrificed much for you, so I do not want to hear such words again. Do you understand me?β
Daella sat up and folded her arms over her chest, the expression on her face so very like Maekarβs you wished you could show it to him. βBut that is what Aerion always says.β
You sighed and rolled out your shoulders. She was still young and bored, pushing boundaries as only a child can. She did not mean it; you knew that. βYou want Aerion dead; why would you listen to him?β
Daella tilted her head side to side, thinking on her reasoning before speaking. βSometimes he says smart things.β
You looked at her flabbergasted. βWhen?β
βWell, he once told me that love makes you a fool, and then a few minutes later I saw Daeron walk right into a wall because he was too busy staring at a portrait of you. Which is a pretty foolish thing to do, so he was right then.β
You bit back a laugh. βThat is not enough to take his word as law.β
βI never listen to Aerion; I like Daeron more,β Rhae chimed in sweetly, hating when your attention was on another for too long. She was so like Daeron in that way.
"Liar," Daella said.
Rhaeβs eyes widened. βI am not lying!β
Daella wrinkled her nose at her. βYes, you are; you are a big lying babe.β
βY/N!β Rhae cried, clinging to you, tears welling in her eyes.
βSee, you are a liar and a crybaby,β Daella teased.
You pulled Rhae into your arms, letting her hide her face in your shoulder. βDaella, I understand you are bored, but being cruel to your siblings is not the right way to expend your energy. Why not go to your father and see if he will let you play outside if you annoy him enough?β
She perked up. βDo you think he would?β
Gods you wished Daeron was here, but alas, he was discussing plans to retrieve Aegon with Maekar.
βIt does not hurt to try,β you said, rubbing Rhaeβs back soothingly.
As if on cue, and you thanked the gods for it, Daeron strode in, causing Daella to scramble off the settee and fling herself into his arms. βBrother!β
He caught her, though he stumbled back a step in surprise. βDaella, have you been torturing both our sister and my wife, or only our sister?β
βI have not tortured anyone, ever. Now can we go play in the garden?β Daella asked, looking up at Daeron with a look akin to a pup begging for table scraps.
He chuckled and smoothed down her hair. βMayhaps later, I have something important I must tell you three. It is a message from Father; he saw fit for me to deliver.β
You met his eye over Daellaβs head. Aerion, his fate must have been decided.
Rhae lifted her head, her bottom lip still trembling. βIs it about Egg? Did you find him?β
Daeronβs face fell. You both knew Aegon was with Ser Duncan, but you knew not where exactly. βNo, but we are still searching.β
Rhae buried her face in your shoulder again.
βTell us the news, Husband, then we can take the girls out to the gardens,β you said.
Daeron nodded, steadying himself. βFather has decided that it is best if Aerion be sent away to Lys for a while. He shall be leaving as soon as a ship can be outfitted properly and arrangements are made.β
You thought perhaps Aerion would be sent to Dorne, seeing as the Daynes were kin, but Lysβ¦you were not expecting that.
βLys, home of beautiful women and expensive wines?β
Daeron nodded, a slight grimace on his face. βMayhaps Father is hoping he will find a wife that settles him.β
βGood riddance, I say,β Daella said, already skipping towards the door. βNow let us go play; we can say goodbye to Aerion when his ship leaves.β
You shared a glance with Daeron, the both of you trying not to burst into laughter.
βWell, that is not how I expected this conversation to go, butβhe stepped closer and took Rhae from youβdo you wish to go play as well, little one?β
Rhae smiled. βYes, can we go now?β
βOf course, as long as you promise to act sad when Aerion leaves.β
βI promise,β Rhae said with all the seriousness a child her age could.
It seemed good enough for Daeron; he held a hand out to you, and to the gardens you went.
End Note: this is for my long time supporter @generalkenobitrash who has stuck by me from the very beginning, and through all my random phasesπ₯Ί ILYSM and I hope you enjoyed this little fic!!!πππ
WONDER WHY THOSE ALL DONβT LOOK LIKE THE SAME COLOR? BECAUSE THEY ARE NOTΒ
OTHER THAN BEING PART OF THE SAME FAMILY OF BLUES, THEY ARE NOT ALL THE SAMEΒ FUCKING COLOR! WHY WOULD THEY ALL BE THE SAME FUCKING COLOR! DO YOU THINK WE JUST NAME NEW COLORS FOR KICKS!?!?!?
WHEN DESCRIBING A CHARACTERβS GOD FORSAKEN EYE COLOR, PICKΒ ONEΒ YA GODDAMN HIPPIE
I was told that Iβd get used to not having a headphone jack. I still want a fucking headphone jack. I hate that phones donβt have them. Itβs stupid and awful and I hate it
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