Monday, April 28, 2014

The Nosferatu Adventures S5 p8

The Nosferatu Adventures
page 139, chapter 139

A year and a half ago...

He rolled over, his arm smashing into the warmth of the body beside him. Biting his bottom lip, Dagan climbed out of the bed silently, thankful that his werewolf speed allowed him to move in a flash. He was already out of the room before the magic mist swirled around him, leaving a pair of pants and boots in it's wake. The werewolf rounded the corner of the large hallway, throwing himself against the wall with the nearest open window, before sliding to sit on the floor.
Closing his eyes, he decided to just wait till morning. The three of them had arrived at the camp the day before, agreeing to go with Teshi, to meet Prince Kraven.
The prince had been very taken by Reuben, and insisted that the three werewolves stay the night. Rolf had thought that odd given how the witch Teshi had made it sound so life and death, but still it only took a little bit of convincing and about five bottles of wine to get Rolf to agree.  Dagan on the other hand, had been quickly convinced by the kitchen maid.

For all of them, in Dagan's mind, an acceptable way to waste a few hours. All physical, no emotion.

Scratching at his right knee, the werewolf let his skull slam a few times against the coolness of the castle wall. He was bored. Not just in that moment, but with the idea of it all. The shapeshifter had learned years before that just because the physical was there didn't mean the emotional was going to be too. Dagan opened his eyes to stare up at the sky through the open window, catching a glimpse of the moon. It was nearly full, and seemed heavy against the rich blackness of the night. Pointing at the near roundness of it, he cursed it. For all the power being a werewolf gave him, it took the simplest thing from him. It took from him what it took from all the lycanthropes, a chance to have a normal relationship.

"You so owe me." he whispered to the open window.


Five days ago...

The auburn haired male climbed through the long grass, his boots making slurping noises in the mud as it caked onto him, as he made his way towards the group. Sniffing, he stared down at the female, his hands at his belt.

He was on his ass in the mud before he even realized what had happened. Jumping up, he snarled at her, his teeth snapping just a centimeter away from her face. He could still feel the heat on his chest from where she'd planted both her palms, having shoved him with all her weight. Dagan blinked then as he realized she looked different. It took him a few long seconds to process the fact her hair had changed, the two grey streaks missing from her short red spikes. The streaks that had appeared right after he'd claimed her as his mate.

The werewolf turned his attention then to the Seer who was standing right beside our heroine, letting out a heavy breath. "What have you done?"

Rolf squinted as he too turned to look at the sidhe witch, shrugging his shoulders as he felt the anger rolling off his friend.  The Seer held up his hands as he took a half step back.

"It wasn't me! It wasn't me!" he replied bowing his head. But it was too late, Rolf had picked him up and tossed him about thirty feet into a tree.

"You're the only one who would have gone behind my back like that!" Dagan spat as he was crouched over the Seer pointing behind him at the rest of the group. "So don't lie to me! Don't try to weasel your way out of this." a howl escaped his lips as he kicked the Seer in the ribs. "You've been wanting my position as alpha since day one. Stab me in the back!" he kicked him again.

"He didn't." a voice said from behind him. Dagan spun around, his hair everywhere, his lips covered in spit as he glared at Reuben. Sniffing, the dark haired male stood to his full height, his left hand at the back of his neck. "It wasn't him. He's telling you the truth. Calm down and just listen. Listen to what your guts are telling you." he flicked his hair out of his face as he continued to look at his buddy from under his lashes. His chocolate brown puppy dog eyes turning the amber-grey of the wolf.

Dagan stumbled a step as he moved away from the Seer. His shoulders slumped as he jutted out his jaw, squaring it, his eyes squinting up. "You? You took my position as the pack alpha? You stole the one thing that means anything to me, and did it by shacking my mate?"  he slowed his pace down to a near crawl as he stalked towards Reuben. "That's very unlike you. Very cowardly of you."

"I didn't plan it that way. I didn't plan on it at all..."

"Really? Really, then why did you do it? Huh?"

"I didn't have a choice! You were gone, we thought you were dead. As far as I knew, you were all dead!" he poked Dagan in the chest. "I woke up to find myself in a cell, and the banshee the only other person around. We were stuck together during a full moon." Reuben let out a sound that was half a sigh, half a growl. "If it hadn't of been for the fact the full moon hit while we were locked up together..."

Dagan nodded, taking a half step to the side, his shoulders rotating into a shrug as he opened his mouth. His fangs were exposed suddenly, his own blue eyes having turned to that of the wolf, and what looked like two days of beard appearing on his jaw. "Don't think this is over." he ran the back of his hand over his lips as a growl rumbled from him. "I will get my position as pack alpha back." he turned then towards our heroine, tipping towards her so that his chest was tight against her, her nose getting smashed by his collar bone. "I guess you got what you wanted after all." Dagan's tongue darted out leaving a wet trail between them. "Just remember, sweetheart, you might not be my mate anymore, but you're still bound to me. I'm still your sire."

He was gone in a flash, the others left standing in the mud confused.


Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me (straight up story. Someone needs a hug. I think it's me.)

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

The Nosferatu Adventures S5 p7

The Nosferatu Adventures
page 138, chapter 138

The Cinema...

Pan leaned over, subtly moving his hand over our heroine's side and across her stomach. There was no energy coming from her. No extra boost in her aura. Damn it! There was no baby. He wondered if this reality was the reason, or if she'd already had it, or lost it? There was no way for him to bring the topic up without suspicion, the witch was already starting at him from the corner of his eye.
Pan cleared his throat giving the excuse he needed something to drink, and got up again leaving the screening room.

Meanwhile...

"Did you just see that?" Loki asked, chewing on his thumb. "Something is wrong with Reuben." the god moved out of the small projection room, tracking the male.

Pan sighed as he sniffed, Loki's scent warning him he'd just been found out. He turned in the middle of the hallway, cracking his neck one direction then the other, as he took a stance, feet apart, hands out in front of him. "Now now, you don't want to make a scene here." he smirked, "Might tip off the kids."

Loki said nothing as he moved his right arm in a low rotation, a blast of energy hitting Pan with the force of a truck, sending him flying backwards across the length of the building, into the far wall. Loki was beside him in a blink, his claw like nails digging into each side of his skull. Reuben's body went limp as the black silhouette hovered over them, before disappearing.

Sniffing, Loki grabbed Reuben tossing him over his shoulder, heading back to where Bacchus was. Slamming his hand on the door to the small projection room so that it fell off it's hinges as it hit the wall, he entered. "We need to end this now! Get them back to their own reality."

The sandy blonde haired male turned to look at the other god. "What happened?"

"Pan's back." Loki remarked as he dropped Reuben on the floor of the small room. "I had to practically fry his brains, in order to exorcise the little demon. Field trips over, whatever information you learned from our lab rats in there, will have to do. If we don't get them back to their own reality now, Reuben's not going to survive. He needs to be able to regenerate, which he can only do in werewolf form."


The Kingdom...

Our heroine opened her eyes, her arm numb, and her right leg feeling stiff. Pushing on the Seer's shoulder, she managed to get him to roll off her arm, which he had been using as a pillow, untangling their legs. "Why are you laying on me?"

"Just...um...tore...more..." he snored as he was rolled onto his back, the scent of wet dog heavy in the air. The male sat up with a bolt, rolling into a crouch as he brought both arms out to block our heroine from what was causing the smell. "Uh...what are we doing here?" he asked as he stood up, grabbing the female by the shoulder dragging her to her feet. "When did we get here?"

They were standing knee deep in mud, which explained the wet dog smell, the sun setting over the horizon, casting shades of coral and orange across the path. Somehow, they had arrived near the convent where the Seer had hoped to go. But by his calculations, they still had at lest two days worth of traveling before they got there.

"Where's Roo?" the female asked as she moved away from the sidhe and started searching the mud and high grass around them. She let out a yelp as she tripped over something. "Hey!" she kicked the still sleeping figure.

A smile spread across her pale features as she adjusted her position, throwing her arms tight around the male as he sat up. Leo wiped his face of the dust covering his eyes. They had been sedated with fairy dust at some point, and didn't seem to remember how they got there. Sniffing, Leo hugged her tight, then pointed just off to their right another fifty feet.

Ash sluggishly stood from behind a tree, rubbing his shoulder as he marched towards them. "Anyone know what the hell is going on?"

"I have no idea, but I dreamed of you." our heroine said getting back up to a standing position as she moved then towards the older werewolf. "You were dressed like some hot business man on his day off." she said reaching Ash, running her hand through his hair trying to fix it for him.

"I think I might have had the same dream. We were all together, in a dark room. Dagan was jealous and trying not to show it."  A strange silence came across our heroine and the Seer at hearing Dagan's name. "Any idea where we are?"

"The witch he kept seeing in his visions. This is the place." our heroine said pointing towards the building that loomed behind them. "We need to find Reuben." she turned and started heading towards the trees where Ash had emerged. 
She stopped dead in her tracks when the large male grunted, the rapidly setting sun casting him in darkness. Rolf appeared from the edge of the woods, Reuben over his shoulder.

"He's hurt." the large werewolf said carefully placing him on the ground beside our heroine. "I don't know what happened, but he's got blood everywhere." he sniffed, wiping the back of his hand over his mouth then gesturing to the neck and shoulders of Reuben. 

"You're alive!" the female's voice was filled with something between surprise and joy, as she hovered beside him, not sure if she should dare a hug? "Shack it!" she threw herself at the large werewolf, her arms wrapped up under Rolf's, her face pressed tight to his shoulder.
Rolf  swayed with the weight of her, his eyes turned to look at the older werewolves the whole time, a thin smile on his face.

"I can't be killed remember. I'm superman."

"I don't know about superman, but even dead-ish you look great!" she moved from him, remembering how he had looked in her strange dream. "I can honestly say Rolf, that I don't think there is any possible way you could ever look bad. Even in corduroy."
The smile left the werewolf's face as he turned his blue eyes to look at her from under his hair suddenly.

"How did you know about the corduroy?"

"Seems we all had the same dream." Ash said suddenly as he patted the larger male on the shoulder. "Or at lest someone wants us to believe we did."  he sniffed suddenly, turning in the direction of the trees. Within seconds, the other males were standing beside him, all half turned, their eyes glowing the amber-grey of the wolf, their fangs exposed, beards looking to be about two days worth in seconds.
The Seer moved so that our heroine was behind him, protecting her from whatever the threat was.

Blinking, Ash transformed back to his human form as he watched the figure stalk towards them from the now complete darkness.

"Dagan!" our heroine's voice was almost non-audible.


Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me (straight up story.  So who's the real alpha?)

Nosferatu's Lunchbox 3

The Seer....what would a guy who is half werewolf, half sidhe and all witch be represented by?  That, is the question. Or maybe he's half werewolf, half witch and all sidhe? Either way, he's written as being seductive, protective, and powerful. Isn't that the perfect man?
I wrote him originally as the big bad. The most powerful character before I introduced any of the gods, meant to be a bit of everything.

So what would say signature dish/drink for a man this confident, seductive and slick? Originally, I was thinking this character would have some sort of classic James Bond style martini or something, but no. I think the Seer is more in line with a spiced drink, and more into sneaking up on you.

I believe his signature drink should be something like the Festive Warmer, which contains Kahlua coffee liqueur, Amaretto, hot coffee, slivered almonds, chocolate shavings and whipped cream.
Deceptively innocent looking, but not for kids.

As for his dish, I am really leaning towards a cheesecake. Simply, because I love cheesecake myself and I've had the character eating cheesecake in a few scenes.
There was a really great cheesecake recipe on the LCBO website, that included chocolate and brandy.  (looks like it was in their 2008 magazine)

I've copied it here. I have to admit, I've tasted this before, but have not attempted to make it myself.

Crust

3½ cups (875 mL) chocolate cookie crumbs
2 tbsp (25 mL) sugar
½ tsp (2 mL) ground cinnamon
½ tsp (2 mL) salt
⅔ cup (150 mL) unsalted butter, melted

Cranberry Topping
One 340 g bag fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup (250 mL) sugar
⅔ cup (150 mL) water
½ tsp (2 mL) ground cinnamon
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract
3 tbsp (45 mL) brandy

Cheesecake

Three 225 g pkgs cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup (250 mL) sugar
3 tbsp (45 mL) cornstarch
1 tbsp (15 mL) vanilla extract
3 large eggs, room temperature

Sour Cream Layer

2 cups (500 mL) sour cream (not low-fat)
⅓ cup (75 mL) sugar
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC) and lightly grease a 9-inch (23-cm) springform pan.

2. To make crust, stir all ingredients until evenly blended and crumbly. Press crust into bottom and to the top of the sides of prepared springform pan. Place pan on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes. Cool while preparing other ingredients.

3. To make cranberry topping, simmer all ingredients over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until most cranberries “pop,” about 20 minutes. Cool cranberries, then chill completely.

4. To make cheesecake, reduce oven to 325ºF (160ºC).

5. Beat cream cheese until smooth and fluffy, then gradually add sugar while beating, scraping the sides of the bowl often. Beat in cornstarch and vanilla. Add eggs 1 at a time, scraping well after each addition. Scrape cheesecake filling into cooled shell (it will fill shell only halfway) and bake for 30 minutes. While baking, prepare sour cream layer.

6. Stir sour cream, sugar and vanilla to blend. After cheesecake has baked 30 minutes, remove carefully and gently dollop sour cream layer over cheesecake. Spread to level and return to oven for 30 minutes more. Cool cheesecake to room temperature, then chill overnight before garnishing.

7. To garnish, spread cranberries overtop of chilled cheesecake and chill until ready to slice.


Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me, and more from Nosferatu's Lunchbox.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

year 3 day 84

movie: The Net
starring: Sandra Bullock, Dennis Miller
genre: Thriller, Crime, Drama,
year: 1995
format: TV Edit

plot: A woman accidentally uncovers a major internet hacking conspiracy, and ends up having her identity stolen, and framed for murder.

First thought when I watched this was damn everything is so old. My second thought was, damn this was almost like watching a piece of history. (which all movies are technically speaking "pieces of history")  Third thought, what was with the movies/books/tv shows of the late 80's/early 90's with all these cyber-punk style stories?  (Johnny Mnemonic, TekWar, the Net, Matrix, Hackers)

This movie was done at a time when people were still just beginning to "live online" as the lead character points out more then once in the beginning of the story. Kinda spooky when you think about it, ironically, that society has become what it has in under one generation.
We talk online, read online, watch television/movies/sports online, order food/shop online etc.

It's another one of those I didn't really love it, I didn't really hate it.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

The Nosferatu Adventures S5 p6

The Nosferatu Adventures 
page 137, chapter 137

The Fort...

The Necromancer stomped back and forth in front of the large magic mirror, his lips pursed together like he had chewed something sour.  He couldn't understand why no one had been able to find Ash, or for that matter, why the old lycanthrope hadn't stepped up again and taken his spot as the local pack alpha?
He spun around just before hitting the wall, slamming his back against it, his shoulders making a thud.

"You should be happy. Contented anyways." the female said from the far end of the room. The Necromancer just grunted his eyes cast down, focusing on a small crack in the floor. "You are in control of the kingdom." The female crossed to him, her shoes clicking as she did. Reaching a plump hand out to him, she brushed his hair out of his face. Closing his eyes, he let out a deep sigh, nudging her palm, kissing it. "So why are you still so uncomforted?"

"I wish I hadn't had to sacrifice you for that. How are you feeling?" he asked holding his aunt's hand.

"I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about. This obsession of yours...it will be the ruin of you." she shrugged before moving from him, turning to look at the painting of Ash and Leo. "Your cousin would never have wanted this for you. She loved you, as much as she did her husband." the female looked over her shoulder at the male she'd raised along with her own children. "She would have told you to let it go years ago."

"Had Ash not ruined her life, had he not been the reason she ran from her duties to begin with, we wouldn't have had to resort to this disrespectful...to lower ourselves like this? Pimping you out like a common whore! They will pay for ruining our family. Controlling the kingdom is barely the first step to getting our family back in it's proper place."

"In the meantime, you need to rest. You haven't been taking care of yourself." she commented pouring a glass of wine handing it out to him. He smiled weakly, taking the offering. "And I mean a real meal and real sleep. None of this magical boost from potions and spells. You are not as powerful as you make yourself out to be. And if you are not careful, they'll figure this out." she gestured to the doorway, referring to the Queen. "He's already suspicious of you."

The Necromancer grunted, gesturing towards the door. "He knows nothing. I've convinced him that his real problem is over."

"You get some rest, I will deal with the latest issue at hand." she turned towards the door, referring to the recently kidnapped amazon tribes. "You better hope there are a few decent mid-wives among them, or we'll be in a hell of a ditch in no time. That part of the plan really got shacked up."

The Necromancer shrugged, running his hand through his blonde hair. "Well, the guards, they are distracted at the moment are they not?" he smiled turning his eyes up to look at her from under his lashes. "And consider it killing two birds with one stone."

"Very messy birds and a very bloody stone." his aunt left the chamber and headed out to the courtyard.


Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me (straight up story. What's the plan man?)

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Year 3 Day 83

movie: Delivery Man
starring: Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt
genre: Comedy, Drama
year: 2013
format: Shaw Video On Demand

plot: A slacker finds out he is the biological father of 533 children from his time as a donor, at the same time as learning his current girlfriend tells him she's pregnant.

This is the remake of the French-Canadian film from 2011 called Starbuck.

I would have liked to have seen the original first, but that just wasn't in the cards.  This was actually really good. Funny in all the proper places, and touching enough to balance the crazy notion of the plot. 

The idea that that many women would choose the same profile as their anonymous donor is slightly scary.  But, the film itself tackles a real question/issue; should the privacy clause to things like this be waved? 
In the film, we see the lead character decide to take responsibility for his past while still fighting to keep the right to keep it a secret. Along the way, the question of what's really family is brought up, as well as the basic privacy contract.

I have to admit, I laughed out loud with the little fact they made the Vaughn character a "meat delivery guy" who works for the family butcher shop. Every time the little fact was brought up my inner Beavis and Butthead came out.... he said he brings the meat...


Monday, April 14, 2014

The Nosferatu Adventures S5 p5

The Nosferatu Adventures
page 136, chapter 136

Harker...

He arrived at the cabin, worse for wear. It had been a long and difficult journey emotionally for him. But, if anyone could help him get his brother back, it was the Seer. Looking up at the cloudy sky, Harker felt a sickly chill run over him. Something wasn't right.
As his boots crunched on the gravel and dirt of the front lawn, he spotted a large wolf stretched out on the porch. The animal did nothing at first, just yawned as he approached, sniffing the air around him. Opening the door to the cabin, he entered carefully, his crossbow in hand.

"Ash?" he called out as he spotted the kitchen empty, the fireplace cold. There was a sound as the bed creaked, and was followed by the patter of clawed feet. A nose twitched as it peaked around the doorway, followed by a yelp.  Tombstone was upon him suddenly, licking him, his tail wagging. The animal sat still, howling, then turned around in a full circle, his front paws lifting and dropping again as if dancing in place. The creature continued to make noises, as he shuffled back a few steps, his eyes bright. "I can't understand you. I'm just a human, I don't have the abilities my brother and the others do." he crouched down having put the crossbow on the kitchen table along with the leather bags he'd been carrying.

Tombstone stopped moving, giving a snort as if understanding Harker's words, before running back outside. Harker stood again, spinning on his heels as three timber wolves seemed to enter the cabin. "Hello, who are you lot?" he asked as the largest one shook himself off, fur and dirt flying everywhere. Dewy sniffed the male, seeming to recognize something about his scent, and headbutting Harker's knees before moving on to sit in front of the cold fireplace. Looking back at him, he stood back up, and started to paw at the gate in front of the fireplace. "Are you asking or telling?" Harker said crossing to the fireplace, and grabbing some of the pieces of wood. "How long has this place been empty?" he asked out loud as he lit the fire. Tombstone yawned as he stretched out then on the sofa.

Harker moved through the small cabin, making sure no one was injured in the back rooms, finding himself completely alone with the creatures, before heading back outside to check around the property. There was a strange heaviness to the air in the far corner of the garden. Bending, he picked up what was clearly Ash's coat and a broken shovel. "What happened here? Where is everyone?"  He crossed back to the front door, his boots scuffing as he did. One of the timber wolves came up beside him, pressing against his legs tight, as if afraid to be alone. Reaching down Harker scratched at the back of her ears, wondering why the animals had taken up residence with Tombstone? "Okay, come girl. You go inside, I am going to fetch something to eat."

The sun was going down few hours later, when Harker sat on the front lawn, a small chicken roasting on the outside oven. All four of the animals had taken spots around the yard within sight of him, as if making sure he didn't abandon them. Remembering some of the spell books Nosferatu had written about in her notebook, he'd made a quick trip to the old witch's cabin, and found a few. He sat there as the chicken cooked, thumbing through pages looking for some sort of translation spell. The four wolves guarding Ash's place knew what happened, he just needed to know how to understand them.

"Nice try." a voice said out of nowhere. Harker looked up to see a male coming across the lawn from the main path. Tombstone jumped up running towards him. "I give you credit for being inventive, but even that's a bit far fetched. And you were wrong earlier, just because you're human, doesn't mean you can't understand them. You've just got to watch their body language. Wolves, dogs, canines in general, can express as much as humans can with eye movement, shrugs, etc."

"And you know all this because?"

"Right, I forgot you haven't been around lately. Loki. Your brother and his pack are fine. Mostly. Nothing to worry about, they will be back in one piece soon." he waited for his words to sink in, as he ran his hands through the fur of the hellhound.

"My brother is dead. I watched him..." he cleared his throat. "...he drowned."

"Yes he did. But I won't take that fact for granted. They've only been gone the day so far. Scattered like seeds in the wind. Myself and another god decided to reunite them, just not here. Till then, the animals need to be looked after."  he shimmed then and was gone.

Harker said nothing, did nothing for a few long minutes as the information played over in his mind. "Dagan is still alive." he heard a snort as he turned, blinking back tears as Rufus headbutted his arm informing him to turn the chicken.


Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me (straight up story.  You thought I forgot about the hot pirate brother didn't you?)

Friday, April 11, 2014

Coffee talk April 11th

Do we want to see a sequel to Goonies after 30 years? Or for that matter a remake of Gremlins?
There was a point where I would have said "YES!" (in full on Daniel Bryan mode)  but honestly, I think after 30 years, lets leave them alone.

Speaking of remakes... Charmed. When I first heard about the Charmed tv show getting a remake, I hated the idea. Then I sort of liked the idea, then thought about it and  hated it again, then re-thought and came away liking the idea.
I understand that it's a great foundation, but why a remake? Why not just a spin-off?

One of the new tv shows I'm really loving this year is Remedy.  It's an original Canadian medical-drama/comedy.  It centers around a family of medical staff and their relationships. It's really great to see so many vampire-actors on there. (Catherine Disher, Lisa Ryder from Forever Knight, Sara Canning from Vampire Diaries,) always a bonus in my world.

till later

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Year 3 Day 82

movie: Hobbit 2 the Desolation of Smaug
starring: Richard Armitage, Martin Freeman
genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy,
year: 2013
format: DVD

plot: After being chased by Orc soldiers, the group of dwarfs find themselves first hiding in the house of a skinwalker, then captures by woodland elves. Fleeing once again, they manage to make it to the land of lakes, which brings them one step closer to their destination. Once they finally make it to the mountain base, they end up waking the sleeping dragon Smaug, who retaliates.

Based on the book.

I'm still giddy at the fact this is a Richard Armitage movie. As a fan of BBC's Robin Hood, and Sherlock, and Being Human (the original BBC version) I think I sat there for the first twenty minutes just in awe of how many of my favourite British actors are in this series. (Armitage, Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Aidan Turner {okay technically Irish}, and  Stephen Fry)

Where the first film is about the group coming together, this chapter is about each member's personal journey. There is a bit more depth to the individual personalities and you learn more about their skills.

I did think that the water chase scene was about three minutes too long. Seriously, how long did they really need to express the fact the elves fight the way they did? What, were they trying to out do each other with their Seth Rollins impressions? (all the crazy moves and flips and landings)


Monday, April 7, 2014

Year 3 Day 81

movie: Hannibal
starring: Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore
genre: Thriller, Crime
year: 2001
format: Shaw Video On Demand

plot: Ten years after capturing the case that made her career, Clarice Starling, is given a chance to interview a surviving victim of Hannibal's. Only to find out the man is obsessed with revenge. She soon finds herself as bait, having to choose between the lesser of the two evils.

This is based on the novel of the same name, and the second in the Hannibal franchise.

The first half of this movie is a straight up crime drama, filled with shady characters you would expect. The last 40 minutes, it becomes nearly comical in it's attempt at being disturbing, reminding me a lot of "Nightmare on Elm Street".

Gary Oldman is eerie with just the right amount of loathing, buried under what looks like five pounds of special effects make-up. And all though, Hopkins had already played the lead role before, the feeling in this movie was that it was an unknown character. I don't know if that was the design of the role or not? Given it is a ten year time gap in the story's plot as well as in the real life filming of it from Silence of the Lambs. 

One of the main sub-plots seems to be the relationship between Hannibal and Clarice. It for me just felt like it was not deep enough a romance. You plainly get the notion from the beginning of the film that they have come to more then respect each other, but it comes off as being not sure of itself, like it can't make up it's mind if it wants to be a lover's romance or a mentor's. It's almost too much surfacy and not cerebral enough.   This might have something to do with the fact the movie was sort of left open, as if they figured another sequel was on the way.

And I have one nagging question, how is it the wild boars that were trained to sniff out human flesh and attack, ran past Hannibal while he just stood there?


The Nosferatu Adventures S5 p4

The Nosferatu Adventures
page 135, chapter 135

The Cinema...

Dagan sat in his seat, between Rolf and Reuben, chewing on a gummy worm, the end of it hanging out of his mouth. He leaned forward, his mind not on the movie but on the two people now sitting a few feet away from him in the first row.  Our heroine had abandoned her seat in front of the three males, to sit just slightly to the right of them beside the Seer.

"I can't watch this anymore." Reuben said getting up moving away from them.

"The movie's not that bad given it was done in 1950." Rolf commented.

"Na, not the movie, him." he pointed to Dagan. "He's like a little kid."  Scratching at his jaw, he left the screening room, heading for the men's room. Removing the fedora, the male sniffed, wondering just how he had ended up there? Work had been fine the last few weeks, hit all the press junkets he was scheduled for, did all the photo ops, and then the call from his agent few hours ago, just as he was walking into the meet and greet, telling him it was cancelled. His original thought was to just head back to the hotel, but when he walked back outside, something caught his eye.
He remembered feeling like he wasn't connected to his body, as if it was moving on it's own, his mind elsewhere as he found himself standing in the lobby of the cinema, the need to buy a ticket for the movie marathon jamming his senses.

Shaking his head, the male splashed water on his face, a strange ringing in his ears forcing him to shut his eyes tight. He knew what would follow, what always followed. The dizziness, the skull shattering headache and the sense of panic. The doctor told him it was nothing, over stressed from work, that all Reuben needed was a month off. What he hadn't told the doctor was that while making Death of the Crow People 4, he'd fallen pretty hard, slamming the back of his skull against a steel railing. And that was after a stunt went wrong with a steel chair.

"Hey can you give me a lift?" a voice asked behind him. Reuben mumbled no as he turned to look at the guy, only there didn't seem to be anyone there. Grabbing his hat, he started to head back to the lobby when a force knocked into him, sending him flying backwards into the wall. Reuben was out cold, a small trail of blood seeping from the back of his skull.
Getting up, he looked at himself in the mirror, sighing. "Now that's the trouble with beautiful people, everyone wants a piece of you. But, only some of us know how to have all of you." he grinned at his reflection. He flexed and unflexed his left hand, punching the air as if fitting on a glove.

Turning, Pan left the security of the bathroom and headed back to the screening room.

Entering the darkness of the room, Pan had to wait for Reuben's eyes to adjust to the lack of light. He hoped he wouldn't have to stay in this reality for long, as human Reuben was much more vulnerable than werewolf Reuben. Spotting our heroine, he made his way to where she was sitting. 

The male gave a sigh of disgust at the realization that the Seer was beside her. Pan hadn't counted on the witch being in that reality as well. Even here, the witch would be the strongest among them. Pan just hoped, that the Seer was unaware of it.


Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me (straight up story. Well, what can I say, everyone wants some of Reuben)

Saturday, April 5, 2014

The Nosferatu Adventues S5 p3

The Nosferatu Adventures
page 134, chapter 134

The Cinema...

"Oh, this is rich. You actually have to sit through part three of that movie." Loki said laughing. "No one has made any kind of advancement towards our little batwing in there." he gestured to the screening room. "Would you like me to up that ante again for you? Add a few more broads in there to distract my wolf pack from her some more? Huh? Cause I can do that."

Bacchus snarled as he ran the intermission commercial again. "Keep your wand sheathed. I'm not counting Dagan out of the match just yet. Did you see how he was earlier? So, did you learn anything from the Ninjas?" Bacchus asked not bothering to look at Loki.

"Bach, he was insulting her. Really really badly. And no, not really. They claim it can't be residue magic. They are like us in that regard, they can sense when their gifts have been used and when they haven't." he let his hand slap against his thigh. "They swear the magic they gave Rolf was drained a year ago."

"He wouldn't have bothered to say anything if he didn't have some...interest." Bacchus remarked.

Loki shook his head making a noise, bringing the now empty popcorn tub to his mouth dumping the few kernels into it. "I'm going to get a closer look." he replied, heading in the direction of the lobby.


Meanwhile...

Dagan was leaning on the snack counter, his chin practically resting on our heroine's shoulder as he inched his way closer and closer to her, trying to see what she had in her purse.

"What are you doing?" a voice seemed to slither next to him. Dagan turned to find the Seer standing behind him.

"Getting something to drink." the auburn haired male said standing to his full height, rotating his shoulders. "What's it to you?"

"Huh" the Seer gave a chuckle, his eyes shinning. "Really? Cause it looked to me like you were trying to steal her wallet or something."

"Why don't you go back to your little trophy in there and mind your own business." he raised an eyebrow, making a dismissing gesture.

"She left." the dark haired male said, brushing an invisible crumb from his shirt.

"How? We've been in the lobby the whole time, didn't see her leave the building." he turned to gesture to the front of the building. "uh...hang on." Dagan headed across the lobby to the doors, seeing them chained and locked. "What the hell?" The tall male then began pushing and shaking the doors, trying to open them. "We've been locked in." 
The Seer and Leo were suddenly standing beside him, both trying to open the doors.

"What about the back door? Emergency exist." Leo said.

"Yes, right the back doors." The Seer said, moving from them and heading in the direction of the far hallway. He returned a few minutes later, a look of confusion on his face. "Um...they're locked too."

"Oh my god. What's going on here?" Leo asked crossing his arms over his chest. "Think I saw this once or twice in a really bad horror film." He lowered his chin, pulling his sunglasses down his nose, looking back and forth from one to the other. "Neither of you looks too dangerous...yet."

Dagan stomped across the length of the lobby picking up the receiver of the lobby pay phone to find it broken. The cord having been cut. "Okay, this is like a really bad trip. Did someone slip something into my food?" his bottom lip turned down in a pout as he shifted his weight slightly, first turning to Leo then towards the Seer, pointing the disembodied phone at them.

Our heroine walked past them towards the screening room again, a small popcorn in one hand, and a pop in the other. "You three not sticking around for the final movie?"

"We don't really have a choice." the Seer said, waving his hand towards the chained door. "We got locked in."

"Mm..." she swallowed a large gulp of her drink. "Yeah, they do that during matinees. Cause of the high school kids." she pointed to the main doors with her popcorn. "They were sneaking in and stealing from the snacks counter, having sex in the screening rooms that sort of thing."

"And you know this how?" the Seer asked, a large grin on his now embarrassed face.

"I have no life. I'm here at lest once a week." she moved to where Dagan was standing by the pay phone still, taking the broken handle from him. "That's been broken for years." her voice held a hint of  delight. "Movie's about to start."


Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me (straight up story. Scared you for a second there didn't I?)

Friday, April 4, 2014

The Nosferatu Adventures S5 p2

The Nosferatu Adventures 
page 133, chapter 133

A year and a half ago...

He sat with his back against the wall of the old church, a medium sized branch in hand, whittling it into a point with his long glass like nail.  Every so often he would look up from under his lashes, from under the small patch of bangs that had fallen across his eyes, at the people as they came out of the tavern. A familiar scent crossed his nose, forcing him to look up from what he was doing, across the small main road of the village.
Dagan brought his knees up even tighter to his chest as he waited, watching the female as she proceeded to half carry her husband out of the place and down the road to their home. Every day at night fall, she did this, and every day Dagan watched her from his seat across the road, in front of the old church. That was Dorothy and Bart, the village tailor and seamstress.  He continued to sit, his branch half the size and as sharp now as a knife.
Another scent invaded his nose, along with the low rumbling sound of drunken singing. He didn't need to look up to know that the village doctor was making his way home. Another three minutes, and just like clockwork the mistress of the mayor would make her way to the tavern, like she did every third night. The mayor already there. He was interested to see what would happen when the mistress saw him tonight with his wife. It was after all, their anniversary. Dagan was eagerly hoping for a fight, for blood, for someone to realize they could do better.

But, the werewolf wouldn't get the chance to find out. His ears began to twitch with the familiar sound of Rolf's whistle.  The male made a sound of frustration, getting up brushing himself off and headed in the direction he knew Rolf would be.
It only took him a few minutes to catch up with the larger male up by the edge of the lake. "What's the what?" Dagan asked lackadaisically.

Rolf sniffed the air as his buddy sat down beside him in front of the campfire. "You were in town again." his voice was gravely as he continued to turn the large pickerel over the flames. "You need to stop torturing yourself there man." Dagan turned away from him, scratching at the back of his skull, messing up his hair. "What's that? You want to play fetch?" Rolf teased gesturing to the shaved wooden branch the other shapeshifter still held in his hand.

Dagan shrugged. "Had this strange dream about a vampire a few times this week."

Rolf shook his head. "There haven't been vampires in this kingdom in over twenty years. I actually think they are extinct."

"How can vampires be extinct? They are immortal like us." he replied gesturing between himself and the other male, a slight grin on his face, showing off his dimples. Rolf shrugged grinning himself, flicking his hair out of his face. "Did you want something or did you just pull me away from my nightly entertainment to mock me?"

"First off, I don't know why you insist on hanging around the village, when everyone is scared of you. Not too mention, it's your own fault that the baker's wife has started to lock the doors and windows with silver chains..."

"Hey..." he pointed the wooden stake at Rolf. "...it took me almost three days for the burns to heal from that little stunt of hers."

"...you were sneaking around her like a crazy stalker, she had every right to lock you out."

"She smelled so good though, with the vanilla and the honey..." Dagan said leaning back then suddenly bending to pick up a water smoothed stone, tossing it into the water.

"Doesn't give you the right to break into the bakery."

"Only once man."

"Dagan! You were found naked huddled in the kitchen covered in icing, having eaten four wedding cakes."

The auburn haired male rubbed his hand over his stomach. "What's your point?"

Rolf made a sound of disgust as he shook his head again. "Never mind." he handed him a small pot telling him to fill it from the lake. "I had a strange visit." he sniffed. "A witch. Wants my help."

"For what?"

"Apparently, he was sent by the prince of the next kingdom to get someone out of our Queen's prison. Said if I help him, he can help me get my brothers out of there too."  he scratched at his jaw.

"Wait, your brothers? In prison? And you trust this guy is telling the truth?"

Rolf shrugged. "I haven't heard anything from them in the last few weeks, and you know how often we bumped into them."

Dagan made a clicking noise, as he ran his tongue over his teeth, his eyes darting back and forth. "And you're worried about that? They're grown men, living with human wives. They choose not to have a pack, not to live the way we do." he shrugged his hands out to his sides palms up.  Rolf flicked his hair out of his face having to agree. "Tell you what, if you have any thought that he might be right just a sliver, then go and see about what he needs. But you're not going alone. Reuben and I will come with you."

"Thanks man."

"Where is Reuben anyways?" Dagan asked.

"Most likely chasing rabbits again."



Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me (straight up story.  Anyone else thing Rolf is about to step into it?)

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

The Nosferatu Adventures S5 p1

The Nosferatu Adventures
page 132, chapter 132

The Cinema...

They were a half hour into the second movie, our heroine sitting back in her original seat beside Ash, in the front row. The werewolf was chasing his intended victim, a woman, through the woods when Ash leaned over to whisper in our heroine's ear.

"Notice how the sun is suddenly in the background..." Dagan said leaning in between them, his glasses back on his face, his right arm suddenly around our heroine's shoulders, his other elbow leaning on Ash's shoulder.

"Not really." Ash commented brushing Dagan's arm off of him. "Dude, can you sit back a bit?"

"Yeah but I don't want to." he said flatly, chewing on a piece of gum. "Gumball?" he held yet another baggie of candy out between them. "No?" 

"Dude, come on. Enough." Reuben said putting his hand on Dagan's shoulder pulling him back, forcing him to sit back in his seat. "Leave the woman alone."

"He's not bothering me." our heroine's voice was hushed. "It's cool really." she blushed, waving her hand at them.

"See, I'm not bothering her. I'm bothering him." Dagan stuck his tongue out, then grinned showing off his dimples. "At this point buddy here, is wondering if it's worth his time to continue sitting there beside her, or if he's ready to give up and leave?"  The auburn haired male started to move in his seat, unable to actually sit still. He leaned across Reuben, then sat back, then leaned forward again, his one knee bouncing the whole time.

"What is wrong with you?" Reuben asked, laughing.

Dagan shrugged. "Nothing's wrong with me. I'm just in a good mood." he shifted again in his seat, dangling his arms over the back of our heroine's chair once more. "Seeing one of my favourite movies, meeting new people, talking to this lovely lady right here. And when I say lovely, I mean it in the sense that you're charming, not in the sense that you're pretty, cause you're not really, but you seem really nice."   Reuben shook his head, his hair flying everywhere as he mouthed the word 'wow' hearing Dagan's mediocre attempt to cover up his insult. "I mean, you don't look anything like that chick back there..." Dagan turned slightly in his seat, pointing to the new chick who was still sitting with the Seer in the back row. "...she's like what, a 100 pounds less then you, she's dressed like she knows she could be a model, she's hot. Now that's a solid nine, and you're..." he scratched at his temple. "...in this light I can't tell, are you wearing make-up? I'd say with make-up and a nice dress, something classy in black or something, a solid 2.5. I mean, if you lost like 70 pounds, you would be more..." he made a grunting sound."Ask any of them." he gestured to Reuben, then Leo and Rolf. "They'll tell you. You're cute but, you don't really induce thoughts of shacking up. But you..." he closed his eyes before turning back to look at our heroine. "...you're someone I can talk to." he tilted his head to the side, still chewing on the gum.  Our heroine picked up her purse and left the screening room.  "Where is she going? Hey...hey! The movie's not over. You're going to miss the best part, where the werewolf's uncle rapes his girlfriend..."  Another smile crossed his face, as he got up and started climbing over everyone running out after her. He noticed the door to the ladie's room was just creaking closed. Stopping short, he waited for a moment, his arms crossed over his chest, his shoulders pressed against the wall.
Counting out loud to twenty five, he decided to enter the bathroom. "I know you're in here." he slammed his fist into the wall as he walked through the room checking for shoes. Stopping Dagan knocked on the stall door. "Hey, sweetheart, you fall in?" The word 'sweetheart' dripped from his lips with all the sarcasm and venom he could fit into it, like a dagger dipped in blood.

The door opened angrily, as our heroine walked out. "Prince Charming I presume." Dagan nodded, his mouth open, his eyes half closed, head tilted back.

"Uh...yeah." he stood there while she moved to the sink. Our heroine looked at the tall male's reflection in the mirror. She watched as he stood there, reminding her of a lost puppy.

"Okay, I'll bite. What is it you really want?" she continued to stare at his reflection refusing to turn around. "It's obviously not my friendship."

Dagan shrugged as he played with the door of the nearest stall, swinging it open then close, then open again. Dropping his hand to his side, he slowly moved towards her, stalking her. He realized he still had the glasses on, quickly grabbing them, tucking them into the neck of his shirt. A grunt escaped his throat, as he moved to stand beside her, reaching his hand out about to gently  punch her shoulder, hesitating; biting his bottom lip. "It's going to sound really crazy and I mean really shacked up crazy, but...but, I have had this feeling all day that I know you."

"Yeah, that is crazy." she replied, finally turning to face him. "But that doesn't answer my question. What do you want?"

"Uh...I'm not sure." he leaned in closer then sniffing her. "You smell weird."

"There's that Prince Charming again."

"No seriously, you don't smell like..." he sniffed her hair again, bending to her neck then shoulder. "...like other women. I mean, no perfume, no fruity shampoo..." he clutched his hands behind his back, millimeters away from resting his forehead on her shoulder. "You're really short. How tall are you?" he said bringing his right hand then to rest on the top of her skull.

"5 '7. Why?"

Dagan shrugged once more, licking the corner of his mouth. "I don't know, you just seem really short." he moved his hand then to the side making a bouncing motion, swaying as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "You wanna get something to eat?"

"Didn't I see you have like a burger and fries less then an hour ago?"

The male shrugged again, making a face as he blinked twice. "I don't know. Just given your size..." he held his hands out indicating she was a plus size woman. "...thought that would be the thing to ask. You seem like you wouldn't turn down food."

"Anyone ever tell you you're a total dick?"

"All the time." he continued to sway, getting even closer to her. He grabbed the neck of his shirt between his teeth, making a sucking noise. "So, do you?" he then ran his hand through his short hair fixing it.

"Are you on drugs, like right now?" she asked, clutching her purse strap to her shoulder. The male cracked his neck making another face as he thought about the comment.

"I had a few shots of bourbon during intermission."

"I don't know what your deal is but, I'm going to go finish watching the movie." she moved from him, heading back to the screening room. Dagan stood there for an extra minute, a smirk on his face as he scratched mindlessly at his right shoulder. Bending deep at the knees he made a snarling gesture as he stood up to his full height again, of roughly 6 '4, as he started to sing to himself.

"I've got a razor in my pocket...something something can't remember the words...cause it's 1888...no like it's 1888...cause I'm the ripper...they call me..."


Meanwhile...

"Wow" Reuben said his eyes wide. "That guy is off his marbles. That was just..."

"Mean." Rolf butted in. Looking at the floor. "Two minutes ago he was acting halfway jealous of her sitting next to Ash here, and then he does that." he shook his head, sniffing. "What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know but...that was harsh." Reuben rubbed his palm over his knee, suddenly feeling nervous. "I mean, it was the truth, but he didn't have to say it to her face."

"Or even so bluntly." Rolf added with a grin, little laugh lines appearing around his eyes. "What do you wanna bet she's long gone by now?"

"I would be. That was humiliating." Reuben said flicking his hair out of his face. "Even if there is like no one here." he shrugged. He felt a tap then against his chest as Rolf pointed to the door. They watched as our heroine walked back in, anger drifting off her in waves. "Brave or stupid?"

"Brave. Very brave." Rolf cleared his throat. "I feel sorry for her. And a bit guilty. Just being here when he said it makes me feel guilty."  they watched as she took her seat once again next to Ash.
Leaning over, Ash asked her if she was alright?  Nodding, she pointed to the movie indicating she wanted to him to be quiet.



Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me (straight up story. I'm suppose to write something cute here...I need a hug)