The cliff in Dark Shadows is gorgeous.

on women haunting the narrative, wearing a dead girl's dress, ill-fated love stories, a wavering border between life and death. ft. victoria winters & josette dupres, elizabeth swann & esmeralda de sevilla, mrs. de winter & rebecca de winter.

dark shadows 233 / dark shadows 5 / curse of the black pearl (2003) / rebecca (1940) / dark shadows 233 / "road to hell (reprise)" hadestown / dark shadows 4 / curse of the black pearl (2003) / the oresteia, t: anne carson / curse of the black pearl, deleted scenes / dark shadows 285 / dark shadows 214 / curse of the black pearl (2003) / at world's end (2007) / curse of the black pearl (2003) / dark shadows 245 / curse of the black pearl (2003) / the price of freedom, a.c. crispin / dark shadows 494 / rebecca (1940) / dark shadows 70 / rebecca (1940) / dark shadows 280 / curse of the black pearl (2003) / dark shadows 281 / dark shadows 425 / rebecca (1940) / curse of the black pearl (2003) / curse of the black pearl (2003) / rebecca (1940) / dark shadows 15

Dark Shadows' Hottest Character?

625, 5.

WILLIE LOOMIS. @retrograderesemblance

❝    BARNABAS COLLINS is a fine, upstanding gentleman. I refuse to hear you speak ill of him.   ❞

those well-bred brows of hers draw together in stubborn consternation. for a STRANGER to say such things of her fiancé ! ( if indeed he is a stranger, which is not what he seems to believe ) no, no it must be so, for she CANNOT believe that Barnabas would associate himself with such a person, much less to the point of familiarity. and there is that quieter voice, too, that whispers low at her ear: if he is a scoundrel, a villain, what does that make you ?

the young heiress busies herself with picking up her abandoned embroidery, but in her distraction the needle goes astray and PIERCES a fine, delicate finger. Josette brings the bead of blood to her lips before it can stain the fine linen ––  a pillowcase destined for the marriage bed.

❝    you think you know the man I am to marry better than I ?   ❞

DOSSIER : JOSETTE DUPRES

studies in: girls haunting the narrative, the violence in storytelling, the dead wife at the beginning of the movie

FULL NAME: Josette Aimée Dupres-Collins  AGE: 24 (at time of death) BIRTH DATE: July 9, 1774 ETHNICITY: white, French GENDER: cis woman ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: biromantic (interest in women largely unacknowledged as period "female friendship")   SEXUAL ORIENTATION: bisexual (interest in women largely unacknowledged as period "female friendship")   RELIGION: Catholic, mostly. some spiritualism & vodou practice interwoven. not extremely pious, but cherishes the sense of order, routine, and the social environment of church & organized religion in general, as well as the sense of being connected to the dead  SPOKEN LANGUAGE: French and English, a little Italian  CURRENT LIVING CONDITIONS: Collinwood OCCUPATION: heiress, socialite. ghost. 

RELATIONSHIPS

PARENTS: André and Marie Dupres. raised in part by her aunt, the Countess Natalie Dupres, after the death of her mother SIBLINGS: Angelique Bouchard, half-sister (unknown) SIGNIFICANT OTHER: Barnabas Collins (former fiancé, lover); Jeremiah Collins (husband) CHILDREN: none (in the main timeline)

PHYSICAL TRAITS

EYE COLOUR: green HAIR COLOUR: brunette HEIGHT: 5'7″  BODY BUILD: slender TATTOOS + PIERCINGS: no tattoos, ear piercings NOTABLE PHYSICAL TRAITS: in the Maine winters, she bears almost a permanent flush and constant shiver, being far more accustomed to the Caribbean heat. she wears a beauty mark on her right cheek, sometimes in the fanciful shape of a heart or a star, but often simply a circle. her hair is nearly always arranged in the fashionable European style, but has a tendency to fall from its curl especially in humidity.

PERSONALITY

INTELLIGENCE: far more emotionally, and socially, intelligent than academically, though her judgement tends to err due to her optimism in almost everyone. her schooling was primarily in what was necessary for a fine lady: housekeeping, dancing, fashion, flirtation, art (drawing and embroidery), and music (she can play both the harp and the pianoforte). Josette is isolated almost entirely from politics, and remains blissfully unaware of stirring revolution in France and the West Indies, as well as Enlightenment ideals: she can therefore come off as very pretentious and self-absorbed, and aristocratically conservative, which is only partly true. she has a natural humanitarian, pacifist, and compassionate nature that would lead her to support human rights for all people, but you would find her hard-pressed to sacrifice the niceties that result from her father's plantation wealth. LIKES: warmth, Caribbean flowers and greenery, fish, the sea (though mostly the shore), the smell of jasmine, expensive perfume, fashion plates, fine fabrics - especially silks, love, sex, a nice bath, clean linens, sunshine, the French language, French food, the countryside, horses, traveling by carriage, cultivated gardens, the pianoforte, violin, harp, and harpsichord, the compositions of Joseph Bologne, Romance, the novel, the aristocracy, large houses and elegant architecture, polished wood floors, dances, sherry, white wine, bread and cheese, porcelain (especially Sevres), strawberries, raspberries (not blueberries), seafood –– especially shrimp and lobster, chicken, purples, blues, pinks, whites and creams DISLIKES: large cities, industrialism, the cold, politics, war, violence, felt and wool, traveling via sedan chair, English food, hard labor, dirt, loud noises, red meat, whiskey, rum, tobacco, snuff, bronze and iron, oranges, greens, Atlantic travel –– the deep sea in any respect, sea shanties and work songs, pirates and highwaymen, revolutionaries, grave robbers, witchcraft, ink and ink stains, preserved rather than fresh food, insects (especially mosquitos and spiders), most animals (especially large dogs, pigs, and foxes), dense intellectual writings, business, math, excess of patriotism and nationalism (including soldiers/sailors/politicians), Samhain, gluttony, drunkenness, deceit   DISPOSITION: sweet, quiet, genteel. makes no waves personality-wise –– it is only her love affairs that stir the drama, all behind closed doors.  well-bred and everyone can see it, from the way she moves, speaks, and dresses. English is not her first language and she is very much still in the process of learning by the time she arrives in Collinsport, so she's even quieter than her standard around English-speakers: she finds refuge and relief conversing in French

Biography:

Josette was born in Paris, France, the daughter of an heiress and a West Indian plantation owner, André Dupres. At six years old, the family crossed to live in Martinique, where her mother perished as a fatality of the hurricane of 1780. Josette was thereafter raised partially by André, but largely by his sister, the Countess Natalie Dupres, who saw to it that she grew from a hollow-eyed child into an elegant, and eligible, young woman. At 18 years old, André secured her an English tutor, Barnabas: a polite young man that was heir to the Collins family, whose shipyards in Maine had grown even more profitable during and after the American Revolution. Josette swooned over her tutor in the blooms of a first love, and Barnabas fell desperately for her in return: but Barnabas was simultaneously carrying on an affair with Natalie's maid, Angelique, while in Martinique (though unknown to both Barnabas and Josette, André's illegitimate daughter and practicing witch). Josette of course made the better target of marriage, being high-born, accomplished, and virginal, and the two made plans to wed with the promise of mutual wealth on both sides. The engagement was prolonged by the Dupres' return to France, where Barnabas and Josette exchanged letters frequently, and where they both romanticized the affair into notions of a great, passionate love.

In 1795, Josette, along with André, Natalie, and Angelique, voyaged to Maine from France in preparation for the impending nuptials (and so that both families could properly survey one another). This was to be the last glimmer of Josette's earthly happiness. Angelique, jealous that Barnabas now wanted nothing to do with her in favor of his fiancé, set out to interrupt the marriage, and cast a spell on Josette and Barnabas' uncle, Jeremiah (his elder, but not by much), to force the two to fall in love. Jeremiah and Josette absconded together and married, regretted by both in their moments of clarity but ultimately determined to make some shadow of happiness out of it together. Barnabas, furious at his uncle's betrayal (as well as the implications that he had deflowered his fiancé while she was living in his house), challenged him to a duel. Jeremiah was killed, and Josette made a premature widow.

Angelique coerces Barnabas into making her his wife; when he attempts to kill her, however, she curses him with an unknown sickness that will reveal itself as vampirism. Barnabas' father keeps his death a secret (out of fear that the community will think it the plague) and tells everyone Barnabas has departed for England. Unknown to the members of the Collins family, however, Barnabas rises from his grave, intent on being reunited with Josette in his new, undead state. But before Josette can transform into fully-fledged vampirism, a vision (summoned by Angelique) reveals what future awaits her as a member of the living dead, and she recoils from Barnabas in fear, plummeting from the cliffs into the rocks below.

As a ghost, Josette haunts the Old House of Collinwood, the home that was to be gifted to herself and Barnabas as a wedding present. she remains trapped there as a spirit until the prophecy has been fulfilled and a final woman dies off the cliffs of Widow's Hill. Josette looks out for not only the Collins descendants, such as David Collins, but also those who might be harmed by Barnabas' extended cruelty, like Maggie Evans. Victoria Winters she has a particular regard for, and sees to it that she is shielded from all harm, from Barnabas and elsewhere.

Bella Heathcote as Victoria Winters / Josette DuPres

What You Own ~ An Astarion Fluff Once Shot

Takes Place after this written by @demigoddessqueens

What You Own ~ An Astarion Fluff Once Shot

Started: Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Astarion owned by the Creators of Baldur’s Gate 3

Author’s note:  I only have basic knowledge of this character based on watching clips.

What You Own ~ An Astarion Fluff Once Shot Started: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 Astarion owned by the Creators of Baldur’s Gate 3 Author’s note:  I only have basic knowledge of this character based on watching clips. As he fed He had become aware that someone had been following them afterwards as they stood up, she looked at him and gave him hug. The figure that was hiding in the shdows stepped forward and Astarion immediately felt Annie tense up as a man with greying auburn hair and dead eyes looked them up and down “Of course my brother’s daughter would become a fang banger.” Annie glared at him, “how long have you been following me you asshole?”  she paused and gathered her thoughts "He may be a vampire but he never tried to kill me for merely existing." Annie says as she glares at Gabriel Collins her uncle and the man who mindlessly slaughtered all the people in their family. the man who caused the jagged scars on her neck they were faded....but still visible.

Astarion noticed Gabriel drawing a dagger, it was obvious his intentions were to finish what he had started ten years before. Astarion placed him between Annie and Gabriel as the man fueled by rage and greed lunged at Annie. Before Astarion could raise his hand to defend he felt a burning of course it would hardly harm him since he had been walking the world like a ghost. But he would know that this dagger was laced with poison. After nearly an hour of fighting this old man, Astarion was about to kill him and he looked at Annie “Gods Be Damned.” He muttered under his breath “You Mister Collins donlt deserve this. Because you never showed it to the people you should have held dear. I am showing you mercy.”  He leaned in so Annie wouldnlt hear his next words “But if I we cross paths when Anastasia isn’t there to witness you will be the newest denizen of the nine hells.”  After Gabriel limped away Astarion collapses to his knees. Annie knelt next to him “Thank you, Astarion. You didn’t need to protect me.” “I needed you to trust me. You can trust me.” He said as he caressed her cheek a a few days later they arrive in small down the most noticeable thing is a gothic mansion. “this whole town wreaks of death and despair.”

Annie looked at him “Now you know why I evade the questions when you ask about my past.” She looked at him “go into the woods and feed on few wolves I want you to help me bury my family. I doubt Gabriel did anything.” That night in Collins mausoleum “Put Galen in my vault I don’t intend to be buried here.” Astarion looked around the mausoleum “Daphne Rose Harridge Collins.  Josette DuPres Collins.” He looked at her “You were using the maiden names of women in your family as way to keep him from finding you.”

Annie looked at him “My 16th birthday was the day before he slaughtered them. You asked me about the silver bell I wear around my neck. It is a family Heirloom from my mother’s family. She gave it to me the day before she was killed.” In the previous ten years she had never allowed herself to mourn them. She had been blaming herself for soemthign that wasn’t truly her fault. He hesitated and placed his hand on her shoulder “Annie, this was never your fault. Something was broken inside Gabriel Collins.” Astarion wrapped his arms around her and let her cry into his chest.  She had been carrying this around for almost 11 years. As they left the mausoleum they swore they could hear Piano music. The sign that her family was finally at Peace Annie could move on. As they traveled back to Baldur’s Gate, Astarion looked at her “Gottverdammt.” He muttered  “If you don’t want to be lovers. We can be friends. I do love you, Annie.” [Note: gottverdammt is the German translation of god damn it.] Annie looked at him and gave him another hug “I have never had friends no one trusted the Collins family.” He gently took her hand in both of his. His touch was still warm from feeding on three wolves  “Thank you, Astarion.”  The way she said his name always sounded like music. Everyone else always sounded disappointed or frustrated when they said his name. “You are the first person to show me any sort of kindness without asking for anythign in return.” He said before they entered town after traveling for two days. This was the start of something new for them both. No telling where the path would lead but they would do it together. Wednesday, September 27, 2023

I told one of those new fangled AI services that I wanted to write a novel based on “Dark Shadows”. This is how it responded!

The year is 1966. The place is Collinsport, Maine. The Collins family is one of the most wealthy and powerful families in the area, but they are also cursed. For generations, the Collins family has been haunted by the ghost of Josette duPres, a young woman who was murdered by her husband, Barnabas Collins.

Barnabas Collins is now a vampire, and he is determined to avenge Josette's death. He has returned to Collinsport, and he is slowly but surely taking over the family. He has already killed several members of the Collins family, and he is not stopping there.

The only person who can stop Barnabas Collins is his descendant, Quentin Collins. Quentin is a young man who is just beginning to learn about his family's dark history. He is also in love with a young woman named Maggie Evans, who is also a descendant of Josette duPres.

Quentin and Maggie must team up to stop Barnabas Collins before he can destroy the Collins family and Collinsport. They will need all of their strength and courage to defeat the vampire, but they are determined to save the ones they love.

The novel follows Quentin and Maggie as they race against time to stop Barnabas Collins. Along the way, they will uncover the dark secrets of the Collins family and the true nature of Barnabas Collins. They will also face many dangers, including the ghost of Josette duPres, a werewolf, and a group of witches.

In the end, Quentin and Maggie must make a choice: will they save the Collins family and Collinsport, or will they succumb to the dark forces that are trying to destroy them?

The novel is a dark and suspenseful tale of love, loss, and redemption. It is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Kathryn Leigh Scott and Jonathan Frid filming House of Dark Shadows wedding scene, 1970

Josette’s blue dress in Dark Shadows (2012)

Requested by anonymous

Non white dark shadows fancast

Jada Pinkett Smith. Elizabeth Collins Stoddard

Quvenzahné Wallis. Carolyn Stoddard

Anthony Mackie. Roger Collins

JD McCrary. David Collins

Ashley Walters. Barbabus Collins

Amber Stevens West. Josette Du Pres/Victoria Winters

Ruth Negga. Angelique Bouchard

Gabrielle Union. Julia Hoffman

Dark Shadows' Hottest Character?

409.

portraits at Collinwood

Jardinet, Portrait of a Yankee Sea Captain, 1835 / N. Currier, William Henry Harrison / miniature, Portrait of a Young Boy / Portrait of a girl, 1790-1800 / Valentine Green, Martha Ray / Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, Portrait of a Young Man

 part 7.