HAIL TO THE CHIEF.

the moral of the story is, 𝐢 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐟 𝐢 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨. i will carve my way out with 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩.

[halechief]

WHATEVER FRANCIS TOLD YOU, don’t believe a word of it.  𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞. 

independent, headcanon - driven writing blog for claire hale of netflix's house of cards. canon - divergent. heavy themes present, to include death, murder, abortion, gun violence, dark political themes, and terrorism. standard etiquette rules apply.

[halechief]

fear is a tool.

@ruskayas from here.

the silence that answers is in no way a contradiction -- claire's agreement goes unspoken, but not unexpressed, a slight quirk at the edge of her lips that is knowing. it's often that she is reduced to such things : never quite able to speak her mind plainly, never entirely disabused of the notion that eyes and ears exist all around her, salivating tongues lying in wait to paint her concessions in whatever hues might be most damning. "yes, well..." claire pulls in a breath through rose colored lips that have been chewed at their seams, an unseemly habit informed by a paranoia that is made all the more frustrating for her awareness of its inconvenience. fear is a tool, yes. but in this case far sharper than the sort she has at times found enjoyment in wielding, despite her accomplishments past. it is just as easy to mishandle edges like these, and look down to find the most well-intentioned blade of necessary, minimized evil protruding from the wrong ribs. "be that as it may, i don't know how much longer i can wait for results on this." how distasteful. claire does not believe in fate, but rather liberation from it. she does not wait for what will be to be, she prefers to make it so, and despite the bitter taste of the knowledge on her tongue, she does not find herself surprised that when faced with the possibility of a war of attrition, she herself prefers blood.

"maybe it's time we stop beating around the bush."

[coincounted]

THE BATMAN (2022) PROMPTS. adjust as necessary.

the city’s been renewing for 20 years.

look where it’s gotten us. crime has skyrocketed. murder and drug use are at historic highs.

we have a masked vigilante running the street.

drops and other drugs are still rampant.

i’m not saying there isn’t work to do, but listen…

okay, you know what? i can’t watch this anymore.

i must choose my targets carefully.

it’s a big city. i can’t be everywhere.

fear is a tool.

watch where you’re going, drophead!

they think i’m hiding in the shadows, but i am the shadows.

holy shit, it’s him.

you’re gonna let him in here?!

the killer may have taken his thumb as a trophy.

security detail said the family was out trick or treating.

the killer may have come through the skylight.

what does a liar do when he’s dead?

any of this mean anything to you?

this is a crime scene.

you know, i cut you a lot of slack, ‘cause we’ve got history, but this is way over the line.

this must be your favourite night of the year, huh?

was there anyone else in the house when you arrived?

i wish i could say i’m making a difference, but i don’t know.

the city’s eating itself. maybe it’s beyond saving.

a citywide manhunt is already underway as police and FBI search for the brazen killer.

if this continues, it won’t be long before you’ve nothing left.

what i’m doing is my family’s legacy.

if i can’t change things here, if i can’t have an effect, then i don’t care what happens to me.

what if this is the whole key?

it’s been two years now, and i don’t even know who you are.

what are we looking for?

we’ll never get in there without a warrant.

i don’t know what you’re talking about.

get out of here, freak. you hear me?

put the bat down, or i’ll blow your head off!

i wanna know who she is and what she has to do with this murder.

don’t make me hurt you.

what people do here ain’t got nothing to do with me.

you let me know if there’s anything else i can do.

we’re gonna get the hell out of here, okay?

i didn’t kill anybody. i’m here for my friend.

whatever she knows, it’s got her so spooked she won’t even tell me.

i will kill again, and again, and again, until our day of judgement, when the truth about our city will finally be unmasked.

you’re gonna help me on this.

you’ve got a lot of cats.

i have a thing about strays.

you’re not safe here.

i can take care of myself.

there’s a needle mark on his neck.

what kind of demented son of a bitch does this to a person?

you make it sound like he had it coming.

i need to see in there, this hunting ground.

why am i starting to feel like a fish on a hook?

you really don’t care what happens to me in there tonight, do you?

that’s one of the guys i got into it with the other night. looks like i broke his nose.

don’t worry. i’m watching you.

these guys have a little problem with eye contact, don’t they?

jesus, i hate dropheads.

you don’t know what you’re talking about.

can we not do this right now?

if i look back, it’s gonna be a whole can of worms.

it’s a hell of a time to be the new girl.

i live on the edge.

i’ve got a lot on my shoulders with that psycho running around.

if this guy. knows, it’s gonna come out. and when it does, this whole city’s gonna come apart.

keep him talking.

what, you got a death wish?

well… don’t be a stranger.

you didn’t tell me you had a relationship with him.

if we find the rat, maybe it’ll lead us to him.

i think the killer’s targeting people close to that case.

they made a secret deal with this guy. who knows how many people it touches.

jesus, this is a powder keg.

shall i take this as a good sign?

are you making an actual appearance?

serial killers like to follow reactions to their crimes.

where are your cufflinks?

you have to keep up appearances.

some event, huh? brought out the one guy in the city more reclusive than me.

aren’t you afraid someone’ll take a shot at you?

what good’s a safety net that doesn’t catch anybody?

why haven’t you called me back?

i wouldn’t be bothering you, but your people keep telling me you’re unavailable.

you really could be doing more for this city.

your family has a history of philanthropy, but as far as i can tell, you’re not doing anything.

you got people looking for him?

let’s clear this place out now!

your guy’s gonna get himself killed in there.

i’ve been trying to reach you.

you deserve to be dead after what you did!

i’m giving you a chance. no one ever gave me a chance.

he’s asking you how much it cost for you to turn your back.

what’s his name?

i’m a dead man either way.

it’s so much bigger than you could ever imagine.

what was he afraid of?

you have any idea what kind of trouble you’re in?!

you’re gonna put yourself on the line for this scumbag?

time for for me to have another conversation with him.

you want to move in?

dangerous crowd you’re stealing from.

is this how you get your kicks? sneaking up on girls in the dark?

i would love to sit and go over every gory detail with you, but, uh, those assholes are coming back.

you think you can come after my money, huh?!

what the hell is this? good cop, batshit cop?

there’s only one problem with your little scenario, okay? i ain’t no rat!

do me a favour, shithead, shut up!

you think he made a mistake?

you realise i’m still here, right?

too many have been left behind for too long.

something terrible is gonna happen!

i need to talk to you.

wasn’t sure i’d see you again.

yeah, well. things were getting a little hot for me, so…

i’m gonna find him and i’m gonna make him pay. you gonna help me?

your friend got involved with the wrong people.

your choices have consequences.

was it worth it? compromising yourself for money?

you assume the worst in people.

maybe we’re not so different after all.

who are you under there?

what are you hiding?

as far as i’m concerned, that psycho’s right to go after these creeps.

listen, if i can find that dickbag, will you help me?

just don’t make any moves without me, understand?

i told you, baby, i can take care of myself.

do you know who i am?

i thought i might hear from you.

what do you want to know here?

did you kill him?

you’d be surprised what even a good man like him is capable of in the right situation.

do me a favour, don’t lose any sleep over it.

this is what you wanted, huh? this little conversation here?

why didn’t you tell me all this?

i know you always blamed yourself.

i could teach you how to fight.

i thought i’d never feel fear like that again.

please do’t hurt me, please.

we’re gonna get you out of here, i promise.

let’s go kill that son of a bitch.

there is no other way!

cross that line, you’ll be come just like him.

don’t throw your life away.

don’t you mean ‘we’?

just put down the gun.

you don’t think this hurts me?

you think you’re gonna scare me with that mask and that cape?

what are you doing?! it wasn’t me!

the shots came from up there!

nobody gets in, nobody gets out!

i just ordered a slice of pumpkin pie.

my whole life has been preparing me for this.

that’s a murder weapon.

maybe this is all coming to an end.

i told you i’d see you in hell.

if only you knew how long i’ve been waiting for this day. for this moment.

they’ll remember both us.

your mask is amazing.

i wish you could’ve seen me in my mask.

all everyone wants to do is unmask, you but they’re missing the point.

you and i both know i’m looking at the real you right now.

my mask allowed me to be myself completely.

you’re a part of this.

we’re such a good team.

you showed me what was possible.

this is all in your head.

this is not how this was supposed to go!

oh, you’re really not as smart as i thought you were.

what’s black and blue and dead all over?

hey man, i don’t think you should be touching that.

let’s just say, none of us is alone anymore.

the day of judgement is finally upon us.

you’ll be there, waiting.

it’s time for the lies to finally end.

we’ve spent our lives in this wretched place, suffering.

i’m just trying to get out of town, man!

we’re just trying to get a handle here.

i am not gonna let those people die out there.

it’s not safe for you here.

i’m not going anywhere.

we’re under attack!

everyone’s afraid to stand up and do the right thing, but i’m not.

i can already see things will get worse before they get better.

vengeance won’t change the past, mine or anyone else’s.

people need hope.

our scars can destroy us, even after the physical wounds have healed.

let me tell you, there are worse things to be than a clown.

you know, the city loves a comeback story.

you’re leaving.

don’t you ever just say hello?

you know this place is never gonna change.

it’s gonna kill you eventually. you know that.

why don’t you come with me?

who am i kidding? you’re already spoken for.

take care of yourself.

[halechief]

you guys’ll never guess the 2024 tea

[halechief]

i am already not really here anymore anyways so this probably won’t come as a surprise but! it’s not super likely that i’ll be returning to writing on tumblr in any capacity comparable to how i used to. i definitely love and miss claire and all the WORK i put into her characterizations over the years lol, i miss all my partners and dynamics and seeing my faves of y’all’s dynamics and new interests and new blogs as they come across the dash, but. my life is just very much different these days and while for the most part that is a good thing, i do unfortunately struggle to find a good balance between what i have going on irl and channeling what little energy and time i have leftover into creative pursuits. i have felt in sort of a creative rut with this particular website many times, but this time i guess the best way of saying it is that it feels less like a rut than it does like an ending of a chapter. i could definitely be wrong and end up back here 6 months from now lmao but. i just thought after .. almost 11 years of writing claire and even longer writing with and getting to know some people from the very beginning of that, i wanted to at least say something, even if this does end up being a temporary hiatus and not a permanent one. regardless, it’s a goodbye for now, even if it’s not the last thing i’ll ever post here. thank you guys for everything! i hope for only the best things for all of you 🤍🤍🤍

[halechief]

stunning. 

[halechief]

im thinking of carmela :sob:

[halechief]

i will have health insurance again in october and i am big looking forward to that so i can get back on track w my mental health and so forth and hopefully be around more <3

[halechief]

might fuck around and log in to katya to make one of those “are you x’s type” memes bc … lmao

[halechief]

DAY TO DAY.  button downs, skirts, lighter sweaters, sometimes with ribbed detailing. the occasional tweed. typically form fitting in the skirt, but when choosing tops, they may be loose, they may be tighter. typically claire is wearing a watch, it will never be bulky, more often than not with a leather band rather than metal linked. she’s unlikely to choose a dress over this combination, though from time to time she will go for slacks and a button down rather than a skirt. there is often a belt included in her outfits, she prefers to have one over not having one. there is a lot of room in her daily wardrobe for color and texture, which she does take advantage of in variation, and claire subconsciously does choose items that are pleasant to the touch. (which does not always mean soft, one of her primary self - comforting gestures is to smooth her hand along her covered knee, for this, a rougher tweed is just as satisfying a feeling as suede.) 

[halflunar]

“Something’s not right about what I’m doing but I’m still doing it—living in the worst parts, ruining myself. My inner life is a sheet of black glass. If I fell through the floor I would keep falling. The enormity of my desire disgusts me.”

— Richard Siken, Birds Hover the Trampled Field

[halechief]

kiss kiss fall in love

you tempt fate you silly fuck <3

[halechief]

Interesting...

well looky looky ... with that free space we have three bingos

[halechief]

help I can't stop sneezing

just what i always wanted <3 jacob heugh dresses like shit propaganda

[halechief]

<3

if only he were down with defrauding the public ... could have had three bingos as well. skill issue.

[halechief]

well? are you?

[halechief]

so cool logging in to see claire has chris brady’s type bingo three times over