through the meadows

maybe they’re too sick to move. maybe they’re injured and broken. maybe they’re dying.

And it never sit right with me because the situations were different but I couldn't put it into words. Now? Now I have the words.

Despair was murdered and there weren't any other options for her. Morpheus killed himself. There were several different options for him, including fucking retiring. That WAS an option. Instead he chose death, which yes I AM still fucking bitter about. He did not have to call on Death and take her hand. Especially since the show SHOWED MULTIPLE TIMES THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO DIE!!!!

Despair had no choices. Morpheus HAD choices but the narrative ignored those choices in an attempt to be a tragedy. Morpheus should have lived on, even if it was as a human.

It's been almost a year and I'm still pissed about this. Not because I don't like tragedies (though I typically don't) but because the show provided so much HOPE and then deliberately spit in our faces. The comics are much more dire about it. There IS no hope there. What's more, there is no evidence that Morpheus DOESN'T want what he's set in motion. The show is different. It's a FAILED tragedy and it makes me so mad. "You just don't like tragedies." No, I don't but I also fucking loathe something failing to be a tragedy. And it DID fail. Morpheus did not want to fucking die in the show. There were other options. And I swear if someone tries to say that that makes it "even more tragic" I am stabbing you with my mind. No, it doesn't. Giving your audience and your MAIN CHARACTER false hope isn't "even more tragic", it's bad fucking writing. They wanted to have their cake and eat it too and the cake is rotten and infested with maggots and I hope they fucking choke on it.

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Huge credit to @aralezinspace for the best comeback. I couldn't resist putting it in here!

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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.

pulled into small alleys or alcoves

grabbing their hand to pull them back from the group and giving a quick peck before someone can notice

blowing a kiss from across the room

sliding over a paper with their lipstick imprint on it or a request to meet somewhere private

quickly in passing for just a fraction of a second

before going out, to get their fill before mingling with others

having their designated spot to meet where they don’t have to hide for a minute or so

no physical move, but their eyes speak volumes about how much they want to kiss