#adept. ownership

[hayatheauthor]

The 7 Faces of Friendship: Character Types to Include in Your Book’s Friend Group

Having a balance of different personas helps create a comprehensive cast for your novels. To get started, here are the 7 main friend personas to consider:

1. The Leader

Description:

The leader is the driving force behind the group. They are often assertive, confident, and willing to take charge in various situations. This person is typically seen as a decision-maker, guiding the group toward plans, activities, or goals.

Traits:

Charismatic: Naturally draws people in and inspires others.

Decisive: Quick to make decisions, often with a clear vision in mind.

Responsible: Takes ownership of the group's well-being and direction.

Role in the Group:

The leader often organises outings, mediates conflicts, and keeps the group focused on shared goals. They are instrumental in making plans and ensuring that everyone feels included.

2. The Caregiver

Description:

The caregiver is the heart of the friend group, always looking out for others. This person is empathetic, nurturing, and willing to lend a helping hand or an understanding ear.

Traits:

Compassionate: Deeply cares for the feelings and well-being of others.

Supportive: Always ready to offer encouragement or assistance.

Attentive: Notices when someone is feeling down or needs help.

Role in the Group:

The caregiver often acts as the emotional glue, fostering connections and ensuring everyone feels valued. They are typically the ones organising gatherings to celebrate friends or supporting them through tough times.

3. The Comedian

Description:

The comedian is the life of the party, always ready with a joke or a funny story. This character brings humour and lightness to the group, helping to relieve tension and elevate the mood.

Traits:

Witty: Quick with humour and often makes clever observations.

Playful: Approaches life with a sense of fun and spontaneity.

Positive: Maintains an optimistic outlook, even in challenging situations.

Role in the Group:

The comedian keeps the atmosphere lively, ensuring that laughter is a common thread in the group. They often defuse tense situations with humour and help create cherished memories through fun experiences.

4. The Adventurer

Description:

The adventurer thrives on new experiences and excitement. This character is always seeking thrills, whether that’s trying out a new restaurant, going on spontaneous trips, or participating in extreme sports.

Traits:

Daring: Enjoys taking risks and stepping outside of their comfort zone.

Curious: Eager to explore new ideas, places, and experiences.

Energetic: Brings enthusiasm to the group, often encouraging others to join in.

Role in the Group:

The adventurer often leads the charge for new experiences, pushing the group to try things they might not have considered. They inspire others to embrace spontaneity and explore the world together. Often contradicts the leader.

5. The Intellectual

Description:

The intellectual is the thinker of the group, often delving into deep conversations and pondering life's big questions. This character values knowledge and is well-read, informed, and curious about various topics.

Traits:

Analytical: Enjoys breaking down complex ideas and analysing situations.

Inquisitive: Asks questions and seeks to understand the world.

Articulate: Communicates thoughts clearly and effectively.

Role in the Group:

The intellectual can help stimulate meaningful conversations, adding depth to the group's interactions. More of a quiet yet important presence. They help get the Adventurer out of trouble, and are likely found bantering with the Comedian from time to time.

6. The Connector

Description:

The connector is the social butterfly of the group, adept at bringing people together and building relationships. This character thrives on interaction and often knows everyone’s stories, interests, and backgrounds.

Traits:

Sociable: Enjoys meeting new people and introducing friends to one another.

Empathetic: Understands social dynamics and helps others feel comfortable.

Resourceful: Knows where to go for recommendations and suggestions.

Role in the Group:

The connector enriches the group by fostering relationships and creating opportunities for social gatherings. They often organise events and help deepen bonds within the friend circle. They are generally close to the  Caregiven and the Leader’s partner/close friend.  They help the Leader and Intellectual settle on ideas that are both fun and functional thus appeasing to the whole group. 

7. The Realist

Description:

The realist is grounded and practical, providing a balanced perspective within the friend group. This character approaches situations with a level-headed attitude and often focuses on the facts at hand.

Note: While the intellectual is an inherently smart person, the realist is the apathetic and logical force of the group. They don’t have to necessarily be smart but are insightful.

Traits:

Pragmatic: Values practicality and often offers sensible solutions.

Sceptical: Questions overly optimistic or unrealistic plans.

Honest: Tends to speak their mind, even when the truth is uncomfortable.

Role in the Group:

The realist often acts as a counterbalance to more idealistic characters, helping the group assess risks and make informed decisions. They provide a sense of stability, ensuring that plans are not just fun but also feasible.

Edit: you don't NEED to have 7 friends each with one persona. You also don't need to have all 7. One person can be the caregiver to A and realist to B. They can be the leader in one friend group but the comedian in another (showcasing their comfort with the latter). This is just a list to help pan out your character personality types!

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

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[astrocafecoffee]

Groom Persona chart Observation ✨

✨ For entertainment purposes only, enjoy ✨

~~~~~~~~~~~~~✨✨~~~~~~~~~~~~~

💖 1st house stellium in GPC means your fs maybe someone who is noticeable and stands out in social situations.

💖 5th house stellium in GPC means your fs could be an artist, musician, writer.

💖 7th house stellium in GPC means your fs could be attractive and socially adept, drawing others to them with their magnetic personality and charisma.

💖 Union (1585) in 1st house meaning meeting your fs while attending social events, gatherings, or parties where you can connect with new people/ professional connection/ shared interest.

💖 Union in 3rd house means you can meet your fs during short journeys or travels close to home.

💖 Union in 8th house means you may meet your fs in context where there is a shared investment and mutual dependency, such as through work, joint projects or shared social circles.

💖 Juno in Capricorn means your fs is known for their ambitious and goal oriented nature. They may be highly driven and motivated to achieve success in thier career, personal goals and relationships./ Could be famous too .

💖 Juno in Sagittarius means they can be a foreigner, philosophical and open minded.

💖 Juno in Taurus means your fs may prioritise creating a stable and secure home environment and may value financial stability within the relationship.

💖 Juno in leo means your fs may be confident, outgoing and enjoy being the center of the attention in social settings., Creative, generous, romantic.

💖 sun in 11th house means your fs is likely to possess a charismatic and Magnetic personality within their social circles ,may value friendship highly and their social network may play a significant role in shaping their identity and opportunities.

💖 Sun in 12th house means your fs may be introspective and contemplative with a rich inner world that is not always readily apparent to others.

💖 sun in 6th house means your fs may prefer predictable schedules and organized workflows that allows them to efficiently manage their time and responsibilities., Possess strong problem solving skills and an analytical mindset.

💖 Juno / groom/ Venus in Sagittarius or 21°/9° or in Aquarius or in 9th /12th house means a Foreign spouse.

💖 Venus in 5th - creativity, music/ art , your fs may have a strong desire for children or a nurturing instinct towards family life.

💖 Venus in 10th house - ambitious, successful, well liked , respected spouse.

💖 Fama in 1st / 7th house - could be famous spouse.

💖 POF in 4th house - fs may have a deep connection to their cultural background or family traditions., May have interest in real estate or property related work.

💖 leo rising means your fs may have a strong desire for recognition and appreciation.may carry themselves with Grace and poise projecting on air of authority and nobility.

💖 Virgo rising -Fs may be modest and humble , health conscious, possess a discerning eye and critical mind.

💖 Scorpio rising - fs may have mysterious allure and a penetrating gaze that leaves a lasting impression on those the encounter, have a rich inner world with complex emotions that run Deep.

💖 industria(389) in 3rd house - your fs career-

musicians, blogger, public relations, possess creative ideas, small business owner.

💖 industria in Libra - your fs career may be something with public relations or marketing, art or design, legal advocacy, or event planning.

💖 industria in Aquarius - you fs may be in technology or IT specialist, social activism , scientist or researcher, humanitarian work or international development.

💖 industria in Pisces - creative arts , healing arts , oceanography or marine conservation, healing arts , charity work.

💖 Industria in Aries - entrepreneur, may thrive in leadership roles , sales , marketing, or sports management.

💖 industria in Taurus - financial sector, buisness ownership, agriculture, horticulture, real estate, painting, sculpting or in music composition.

💖 industria in cancer -

Hospitality, home based business, psychotherapist, food blogger, art therapy.

💖 industria in gemini - social media influencer, journalist, writer, teaching profession, tour guide , hotel manager.

💖 industria in Scorpio -

- psychology and counseling, detectives, private investigator, forensic scientist ,holistic/ energy healer.

💖 Industria in Virgo - doctor, nurse , scientist, data analyst, , office manager, project coordinator, teachers, or instructors.

💖 industria in leo - actors , musicians, artist, brand ambassador, publicist, marketing manager.

💖 industria in Sagittarius - professors , researchers, journalist, media, philanthropy or in social justice advocacy.

💖 industria in Capricorn -

Buisness and management, politician, policy advisors , civil servants, lawyers, engineering, architect, judges.

💖 Northnode in 7th house suggests that your relationship with your fs may have karmic significance., Soulmate placement.

💖 Northnode in 3rd house means your fs may play a significant role in facilitating your growth and development in the areas of communication, intellect and learning.

💖 Karma conjunct ascendent/ descendant - karmic relationship.

💖 your fs may share similar placement like your groom pc. Example - if your sun in Aries in GPC, they could have sun in their 1st house or at 1°,13° or 25°.

💖 Groom conjunct vertex - fated/ predestined encounter with fs. They may have a profound impact on your life and personal growth. they may serve as a catalyst for important experiences, growth opportunities and transfermetive changes is in your life .your relationship with them maybe characterised by depth, intensity and sense of spiritual or emotional connection.

💖 Groom conjunct Venus -

The conjunction of groom and Venus indicates are strong attraction between you and your fs. there may be a magnetic pull or chemistry that draws you together, fueling feelings of romance ,passion and desire. your FS may possess qualities that you find irresistibly attractive both physically and emotionally.

💖 your fs may be drawn to individuals who embody the qualities associated with the seventh House lord for example-

* if the 7th house lord is sun then your fs may be attracted to individuals who support their ambitions, encourage their creativity and contribute positively to their self expression. they may be drawn to partners who are confident, self assured and have a strong sense of individuality.

* if 7th house lord is moon - your fs desires a partner who can meet there emotional needs and provide a sense of comfort and belonging. they are drawn to individuals who are empathetic, nurturing and emotionally supportive. emotional intimacy is a priority for them in the relationship.

* if the 7th house lord is Venus -

Your FS values relationships highly and seeks harmonious and loving partnership. they may prioritise finding a romantic partner who complements their own sense of beauty and aesthetics. partnership is Central to their sense of fulfillment and happiness.

* if the 7th house lord is mercury - your fs places a high value on mental simulation and intellectual compatibility in the relationships. they seek a partner who can engage them in stimulating conversations and share their interest and ideas.

*if the 7th house lord is mars - your fs may seek a partner who can match their level of energy and enthusiasm and they may be drawn to firey and spirited individuals. they thrive on excitement and adventure in their relationships.

* if the 7th house lord is saturn - your fs value tradition and stability in relationships. they may have traditional views on marriage and may seek partners who share their values and commitment to building a secured and enduring Union.

* if the 7th house lord is Jupiter - your fs seeks meaningful and enriching connections in their relationships. they may be drawn to partners who share their values and aspirations who can inspired them to expand their horizons and pursue their goals with confidence.

~~~~~~~~~~~✨✨~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading ~💫

-piko💖

[blutesser]

MASSIVE EDIT: I've added more to the post!

Okay guys: jiang shi Stone and powerful sorceror Ivo

Jiangshi are hopping corpses with vampirism from Chinese myth. They are resurrected by a master with a written script/spell/seal attached to their forehead. It is both to revive the dead and is a sign of ownership. The zombies are stiff so they have their arms raised and their legs can only hop and hobble. The vampire comes in with their sharp teeth drinking qi, life blood, and their bite turns another into a jiang shi under the control of their master unless killed.

Just thinking about him clumsily hopping around, following his master wherver he goes, shockingly deft in preparing tea and food for Ivo. And an even more adept assassin. His movements while not as graceful as he was in life are still swift. It hurts when he fights against the rigor mortis to protect his doctor, becoming stiff again once the threat is neutralized, but it is all worth it to serve his master.

Little does Ivo know that the seal he made is imperfect and doesn't guarantee loyalty from Stone. That's entirely all on his own. His cold, dead heart is so madly in love with the evil sorcerer that he's stuck by his side for many, many moons of his own free will. Perhaps one day he makes Stone steampunk limbs or even a body to keep him limber all the time while still allowing him to drain life force, but until then he will happily hop along right behind his master. Forever.

Perhaps his skin is a dull purple hue?

Anyway, Touhou got me back on my jiangshi shit. Here's a shitty chibi beneath the cut.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!

[solei-eclipse]

[ dry coughing ] hey

I'd like to introduce the ocs/concepts I previously mentioned! they were thought up mostly for fun (and HEAVILY inspired by a few things, try and take a guess) so I'm not sure if I'll spend as much time on them. who knows, maybe they'll grow on me.

they're super funny to me. i think i made them just to have a laugh. sorry. you'll see why soon!

anyway, this is Jiu and Kioku! They have a long history together (well, at least one of them thinks so).

Jiu ( jee - yu )

A very dutiful and serious person

Has a formal way of speech (he almost never speaks casually)

Carries himself with a regal air, behaves like a young noble

Incredibly melancholic

His eyes have a strange quality to them, almost as if he's looking far off into the distance or straight through certain people (even if they're standing right in front of him)

Often takes a leadership role, adept at managing and organization (class president/class rep type)

Very cold and distant despite taking on multiple responsibilities

Neutral in stance, polite but in the detached way

Willing to help his classmates with whatever is needed, but won't do more than what's absolutely necessary

Holds his duty and responsibility in high regard, always in service to someone or something

Used to have a gentle, caring, and protective nature, but was forced to snuff it out due to his cruel home environment and those who took advantage of his kindness

Under the ownership of a rich and illustrious segyein, the hostess of an establishment where human pets were put to work

Due to his exceptional mental abilities and sense of duty, he was promoted to a high position at a very young age. He handles accounting and is the hostess' right hand man

Because of his duty and devotion to service, he is made to carry out illegal and immoral acts in secret

Whenever he returns from the Anakt Garden, Jiu is immediately put to work

He is pale to the point of his veins showing and has a dull, steely gaze

Jiu sleeps face-down. There's no reason for it, he just does

Yes, it's suffocating. Someone has to turn him over in his sleep just to make sure he can breathe right. There was once someone who used to do it for him, but now nobody does

Kioku ( kee - oh - ku )

Prefers everyone to call her Kio !

She arrives to the Garden quite late due to certain health complications (according to her guardian)

Has a very open face and unguarded eyes, which may lower the guard of other people

It's genuinely a strange quality. Those who hold secrets or ill intent may feel uncomfortable looking into her eyes for long periods of time.

Kio herself almost never lies. She will tell the truth even if it brings about consequence

Very athletic! Excels in sports and ranks high during Field Days

Kind in a way that's incredibly stubborn. Wills herself to forgive those who have wronged her and regards them with gratitude despite everything

Very persistent, has a great amount of inner strength

As a child, Kio was weak, cowardly, and codependent. She entered an establishment at a young age in exchange for her safety, but since she refused to adjust herself to the environment (perform actions she deemed cruel) she was often picked on and treated unfairly

Since she was weak, she clung onto the first person who gave her the slightest bit of help and blindly trusted them

Currently so different from her child self. Those who knew her back then find the change incredibly jarring (almost like she's become a completely different person)

There is something off about her. She can't seem to recall anything about her past and feels like something has been taken from her in a way

The fact that she can't recall her childhood pushes her to live in the present, she'd prefer not to look back

She is still unaware of how she got the scar on her cheek

Together :

Jiu seems to regard Kio differently, almost cautiously

As Kio arrived to the Garden late, the responsibility of looking after her fell into Jiu's hands

He was in charge of getting her acquainted with routines, past lessons, etc.

Though Jiu is normally as imperturbable as a rock, there is a unique air of awkwardness to him whenever he interacts with Kio

He refuses to look her in the eyes

Kio, for her part, tries very hard to catch up and makes sure she isn't a burden to him

His odd treatment of her makes her conscious that he dislikes her, which pushes her to work harder

Jiu is the only person who refuses to address Kio by her nickame. He only calls her Kioku, or if he can help it, doesn't refer to her by name at all

Particularly observant individuals may notice how Jiu begins to lose composure. It's incredibly subtle, so it's not obvious to others

Kio has a strange feeling about him that she just can't put her finger on.... at times it makes her uneasy

Random tidbits:

Jiu ( ジウ ) : samurai, warrior, knight. or "to serve someone of high rank or status with respect and loyalty."

( emphasis on themes of service and devotion )

Kioku ( キオク ) : literally translates to memory.

( to remember, remembrance, recollection )

Jiu's sharp strands of hair that fade to white are meant to vaguely mimic a dragon's features (two sharp fangs on his forehead, two long whiskers on the sides of his head)

Kioku vaguely resembles a bird feather.

Her eyes are wide, round, and far apart. They not only emphasize her openness, but are also reminiscent of fish eyes (associated with empty-headedness, a certain lack of something + the concept of goldfishes with bad memory)

Kio's main emotion is curiosity

Jiu's main emotion is guilt

[ocrpsearch]

hello! 30nb writer looking for a modern frankenstein style plot with ocs, with the basic outline being that my guy is a young savant who builds robots — and you’ll play his creation! think westworld, companion, be right back (black mirror).

themes of creator x creation, control, and ownership. wanting to control your invention versus wanting to see it develop and thrive. being so lonely that you create something to talk to, and then being jealous that it’s more beautiful and socially adept than you. ideally yc will be curious about the world and human life in general!

discord, third person, past tense. 21+ at minimum. no ultra-submissive muses, please. nsfw can be included but will be sparse. yc can be whatever gender you want but please bring your own ideas to the table and at least have some notions of how you’d like to develop them. thanks <3

interact and anon will reach out!

[doverpf]

hello! 30nb writer looking for a modern frankenstein style plot with ocs, with the basic outline being that my guy is a young savant who builds robots — and you’ll play his creation! think westworld, companion, be right back (black mirror).

themes of creator x creation, control, and ownership. wanting to control your invention versus wanting to see it develop and thrive. being so lonely that you create something to talk to, and then being jealous that it’s more beautiful and socially adept than you. ideally yc will be curious about the world and human life in general!

discord, third person, past tense. 21+ at minimum. no ultra-submissive muses, please. nsfw can be included but will be sparse. yc can be whatever gender you want but please bring your own ideas to the table and at least have some notions of how you’d like to develop them. thanks <3

if interested, please like this post for the user to reach out. ♡

[hecateamalitumaat]

P2 9/11 to Grab Nola - Sutookh the planet over

Why we refer to this system as the Academiurge is because it seems it is Anunnaki actually dealing with a Demiurge(composed of entities referred to as shmeezledrakspawns(oh no! its retarded).  Theory goes as follows the Demiurge headed by Yaldaboath is actually the real identity of Jehovah according to ancient Gnostic priests, the Demiurge composes of entites known as Archons that have complex systems in the aetheric planes to bind, control, modify and recycle beings into Talas or third dimensional realms.  They seem to be not only ancient cosmic alien parasites but likely adept master-geneticists as well.  They may be behind as they are multidimensionally parasitic all forms of physical predation ultimately, what is referred to as the 'archontic infection' has to do with the origins of all physical and astral predation, noting predation connotes pre-dating as in these forces being very primordial.  According to ancient Gnostic lore there are all different types of primordial cosmic forces that are many a times adversarial towards one another.  They seem to be fashioners of physical worlds and races mastering the art of perfecting them specifically on tangible dimensional levels.  In effect binding spiritual beings into physical worlds to make sure those beings are not aware of their true spiritual origins in aetheric worlds is the main idea.  It is possible the so called Anunnaki/Egregoroi being referred to as matrix-world programmers obtained many advanced-world-designing artifices from this ancient Demiurge.  Alarming theories Gnostics bequeath down to us indicate our understanding in orthodox contexts of god in terms of the Abrahamic system may be grandiloquently fabricated.  They reveal to us the true identity of the E.T intelligences behind orthodox religions that have little to less than a maligned orientation towards the spiritual and psychical as well as sexual health of the human race, attempting to design systems to control humanity on a religious level.  Many references across the alternative research forums of the internet seem to indicate the Archons of the Demiurge may be cosmic 'insectile' alien races.  The whole idea of Atlanteans surviving the flood catastrophe has a lot to do with wars these ancient human guardians were having with E.T intelligences for being in control over the portals that link humanity out of talas to lokas, this has a lot to do with the ascension cycles of the human race and how those cycles get thwarted and hi-jacked.  One main force behind that agenda seems to be the Anunnaki fallen angel races likely multiple different types.  As it is this same force behind global ritualistic quarantine as well as the ownership of the human races timelines by controlling them with well-planned out and orchestrated false-flag-operations, which seems to be there chosen method of dominating the timelines.  Researching the history of these conspiratorial contrivances and global catastrophic events reveals to us various patterns related to how these dark forces are managing how the timelines play out.  It seems two primary forces are behind the concept of what E.T intelligences actually own this Matrix-World.  The two terms are the Demiurge and the Lucifuge.  In terms of Alien Intelligences impacting ancient patriarchal and monotheistic orientations never-mind royal and dynastic ruler-ships over the human race it in fact seems it is the Archons and the Anunnaki that are the two forms of identification specifically referring to the alien owners of this world.  Now the terms Archons and Anunnaki are basically Gnostic and Sumerian forms of communication.  What has to be understood is there are ancestors from all across the planet in distant timelines that may have been dealing with the same entities however calling them different names. It looks as though the alien forces behind Demiurge were behind the flood catastrophe that allowed the Luciferian Covenant to takeover the world after the event, they also seem to be involved in genetically tampering with the human race all different types of ways.

[conceptionsofconciousness]

Individuals born under Dhanishta Nakshatra are renowned for their inherent knack for amassing material wealth. They are naturally inclined towards real estate investments, frequently becoming proprietors of several investment properties. These individuals possess a sharp eye for lucrative opportunities in the real estate market and are adept at utilizing their assets to augment their wealth. They have a profound sense of ownership regarding their investments, favoring property ownership over renting whenever feasible.

More posts on Dhanishta Nakshatra

Nakshatra Notes Masterpost (Link collection of all 27 Nakshatras)

[lynxgriffin]

Hypothetically, in ER if Ralsei were to die or take too much damage to hold on to Kris’ soul, would they immediately die too or would they be fine and it would just be their deal is off and the contract is null and void?

As Papyrus just explained in the last comic...you can't kill a demon, they're immortal! And Ralsei is pretty adept at avoiding taking damage by doing his teleportation trick. So, there's not really a conceivable scenario where Ralsei would lose ownership over Kris's soul by being hurt.

[forgottenguinevere]

Heartpiercer

The greatbow that launched a war;

Heartpiercer is an ancient and legendary recurve war bow that is a heirloom of House Foxe. It is composed of yew and ash wood that is regularly oiled to maintain its orange and white color reminiscent of a fox's tail. Known as a very formidable weapon, Heartpiercer measures nearly six feet in height when strung and was known as the bow that began the war between House Foxe and House Grey. While the truth has been lost to time, what scholars have managed to piece together is that the first Lord Foxe, Raginhard, likely was participating in a festive hunting party with the rulers of the neighboring lands (later to become House Grey), and thought he saw a wolf prowling through the woods out of the corner of his eye. Fearful for the well-being of his wife and children who had accompanied them, along with those of Lord Grey, Raginhard shot an arrow into the heart of the beast without a second thought. When he went to claim his prize, Lord Foxe instead found the body of Lord Grey's eldest son and heir clad in a wolf-pelt cloak. Lord Grey declared war upon House Foxe from that moment forward, beginning a civil war that lasted for many years until the events of the local fable of The Wolf who Swallowed the Foxe. Raginhard's youngest daughter Aella Foxe is often thought to likely be the witch referenced in the same local fable, and some scholars speculate that it is possible Heartpiercer received its name not from its use in the civil war between the two families, but instead that it was the bow used to kill Aella Foxe just as her lover was killed by the House Grey's Wulfsbane. There is also speculation that her engagement to the second son of House Grey was part of the concessions made by House Foxe during peace treaties to end the civil war, which would have made her elopement with the third son and subsequent death even more impactful upon the area. Much like Wulfsbane, this bow too has been passed down amongst the generations until it came under the ownership of the Imperial Princess Guinevere Varmont. While the Imperial Princess is herself quite an adept archer, she does not possess the height and strength required to shoot the bow herself. This means it is often stored at Castle Harburrow instead of remaining with Princess Guievere. It also has become a ceremonial weapon featured in many feast days and local holidays in the lands of House Foxe and House Grey, especially those in remembrance of the war between their families and the fable of The Wolf who Swallowed the Foxe. Often sons of House Grey are taught to string and shoot Heartpiercer for these ceremonial purposes if a generation of House Foxe has no sons of their own. Ser Alistair Grey is one example of this, as he was taught by the Imperial Princess' grandfather due to Her Imperial Highness, Empress Elaine Foxe Varmont being an only child who also could not string Heartpiercer herself.

Recurve Bows

A recurve bow is one of the main shapes a bow can take, with limbs that curve away from the archer when unstrung. A recurve bow stores more energy and delivers energy more efficiently than the equivalent straight-limbed bow, giving a greater amount of energy and speed to the arrow, making it a very deadly weapon in battle. If a person who is unskillful or weak attempts to recurve and string one of these bows, if they are not very careful it will spring back, and regain its quiescent position; and in doing so perhaps break their arm. (This is also precisely the kind of bow mentioned by Homer, Odyssey xxi, which none of Penelope's suitors could bend, called καμπυλα τοξα [kampula toxa] in the state of rest; but τοξον παλιντονον [toxon palintonon], the recurved bow when prepared for use.)

Advantages: *More power behind shot than a self bow *Efficient energy transfer - archer doesn't tire as easily *Dependent on size - may be easier to utilize while on horseback or in more cumbersome environs

Disadvantages: *Difficult to string without proper strength/training *Makes more noise when shot than standard bow *Much more sensitive to moisture if not properly cared for

[mariacallous]

During the US elections, centibillionaire and X owner Elon Musk became a central figure in right-wing and Republican politics, helping to propel former president Donald Trump back into the White House. But now it seems like he’s just getting started. In the months since Trump’s victory, Musk has begun to wade into politics in Europe, starting firestorms in the UK and announcing that he’ll be hosting an X Spaces discussion with Alice Weidel, the head of the German right-wing party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), ahead of Germany’s elections in February.

“We should understand Musk as a sort of international far-right leader,” says João Vieira Magalhaes, assistant professor of media, politics, and democracy at the University of Groningen. “He is an articulator of a truly international far-right movement, which of course, already exists, but in a way that's way more fragmented.”

Through X, and his own larger-than-life celebrity presence, Musk is bringing together and boosting the far right across the globe.

During the US elections, Musk emerged as one of Trump’s most important allies. Not only did he help support and fund Trump’s campaign via the America PAC and appear on the campaign trail with the former president, he also used his ownership of X to elevate the campaign’s talking points. After gutting Twitter’s trust and safety teams and allowing previously banned figures back on the platform, research indicated that engagement on X with posts from Musk and other conservative voices were boosted after after Musk publicly endorsed Trump to favor conservative voices and deprioritize critics—what Magalhaes calls “illiberal content moderation.” “He is signaling to whoever wants to listen that this is the space for this kind of political actor,” he says.

In December, the German government accused Musk of trying to meddle in the country’s elections after he authored an op-ed in which he endorsed the AfD. The AfD rose to power in the wake of the 2015 refugee crisis, which saw millions of people, particularly from Syria and other parts of the Middle East, flee to Europe, and has a staunchly anti-immigrant stance. Last year, it was revealed that members of the AfD had met with German and Austrian leaders associated with the far right and neo-Nazis to discuss plans for mass deportation if AfD gains more political power, and members of the party have been monitored by the country’s intelligence agencies. The AfD has also been particularly adept at using social media to garner support, including running anti-immigrant ads on Meta’s platforms that appeared to violate the company’s policies at the time.

In response to Musk’s op-ed, Weidel posted a video in which she thanked Musk “so much for your note,” and wished Trump and Musk “all the best for the upcoming tenure.”

Germany isn’t the only country Musk is weighing in on on behalf of the far right. Since the close of the US election, Musk has taken aim at politics in the UK, attacking British prime minister Keir Starmer, a member of the left-of-center Labor Party, and even calling for his imprisonment. Starmer’s government “is one of the very few governments in rich countries or especially important countries that is leaning left,” says Magalhaes. “And [Musk] has been especially resolute in how he attacks the administration.”

Most recently, Musk spread conspiracy theories about Muslim “grooming gangs” in the UK, and called for Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist, to be released from prison. Musk’s support for Robinson, who has a history of posting racist and Islamophobic content, initially saw Reform UK leader Nigel Farage push back against the X owner. But in a TV show he hosts on the right-wing GB News station this week, Farage appeared to bend the knee to Musk.

“I don’t think [Robinson’s] wrong in everything he says,” Farage told his viewers. “I do question why he’s in prison, and being kept in solitary confinement.” (Robinson is in prison after being found in contempt of court for repeating lies about a Syrian refugee.)

Last year, Musk spent months antagonizing Brazilian supreme court justice Alexandre de Moraes after the court issued orders for X to remove a handful of accounts and content that, it said, had violated the law by undermining faith in the integrity of the country’s elections. After Brazil’s right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro lost his reelection bid in 2022, his supporters stormed the country’s legislature on January 8, 2023, claiming that the election had been stolen (it hadn’t), in an echo of the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol. Moraes was a staunch opponent of Bolsonaro. X spent months refusing to obey the order, even turning over sealed court orders to the US Congress’ Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, led by right-wing congressman Jim Jordan, which then released them publicly.

At the time, many in Brazil felt that Musk’s actions, as well as the release of the orders, were a move to undermine the country’s democracy and sovereignty. The Brazilian court eventually issued an order to block X in the country for noncompliance and issued a fine against Musk-owned Starlink, after which X complied with the orders.

He also fiercely attacked Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela, during the country’s elections (which many in the international community believe to have been rigged).

“He has established himself as a powerful connection hub between different groups of people across many countries,” says Christian Katzenbach, professor of media and communication at the University of Bremen. Those groups include people in the tech industry, moderate conservatives, advocates of economic liberalism, and right-wing movements. “These groups did not have many connections in the past, but increasingly align on opposing modern mid/left governments.” By amplifying a variety of voices, he says, Musk is actively bringing right-wing perspectives into mainstream debates and opening up new population groups as voters for right-wing parties.

Even outside of elections, Musk appears to be building alliances with like-minded leaders. In April, Musk met with Argentina’s right-wing president Javier Milei. Milei’s government has slashed spending in ways that Musk said in an X post “will be a helpful model for the rest of the world.” Argentina’s poverty rate under Milei’s government has risen to over 50 percent.

And while Musk certainly seems to be motivated by particular political ideologies, Katzenbach notes that Musk’s involvement in European politics could benefit his business interests, particularly by rolling back social media regulations in the bloc or opening new avenues for his companies. The EU is currently probing X for breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA), which could result in fines. In Italy, Musk is exploring a deal with the right-wing government led by Giorgia Meloni for a deal to launch satellite communications through Starlink to the tune of $1.5 billion, which would compete with a European satellite initiative.

“Internationally his motives are surely a mixed bag,” says Katzenbach. But either way, Musk seems determined to be a political force beyond any national border.

[cruesuffix]

I think we all know by now Nikki acts like he’s the creator of Motley Crue and thats the vibe he’s been giving off since he has so many song writing credits in the bands songs

absolutely!! no credit to the fact that tommy is technically a co-founder since he was literally the first person nikki teamed up with when they started the band. it was tommy that called mick to get him to audition and it was mick who suggested vince. but with the way nikki goes about things, you would have thought it was him doing all of it.

also, because vince and tommy have left the band when they did, they’re considered employees of the crue and not owners of the band. nikki and mick had ownership of a couple of companies within the band for a while, so by now nikki is probably the only one who owns those companies now. mind you, the entire band has contributed to song writing at some point or another, but because nikki was churning out lyrics like he was alexander hamilton, now all of a sudden he was the only one writing songs. mick was all over the feelgood album and nikki has constantly talked about how mick was his songwriting partner but now that micks out of the band he wants to downplay his influence on the band and the music.

i’m pretty sure nikki said once that mick wasn’t good at songwriting… yet his name is very prominent on a lot of their tracks. he thinks songwriting is just writing lyrics but it’s also composting the music. sure maybe lyrically mick wasn’t as adept at it as nikki was, but sonically, he was a master. he thinks he has the upper hand cause he was the spokesperson and the lyricist, but tommy, mick and vince still should have as much of a say of what goes on in the band as nikki does.

idk i just think nikki has too much of an ego when it comes to the band. the band works because of every member, not just him. sure, he put in a lot of work to make the band work… but that doesn’t negate the fact that the rest of the band did too and they should be represented fairly. to me, tommy and nikki started the band. i would argue that mick did too! i would say vince, but they had a singer before him so he came in dead last. but the full original lineup is what created motley crue. nikki could have found three different other guys and the band would have flopped. tommy, mick, vince and nikki created motley crue.

[morsmaledictio]

Name: Proserpina Mors Occupation: Forensic Toxicologist, Seventh Daughter Age: 56 Sexuality: Polyamorous Pansexual Species: Witch Coven: Ironwood Hometown: Boston, Massachussetts Relationship Status: Open Personality Traits: Spiteful, egotistical, strategic, manipulative, insightful, patient, self-sacrificing.

The Seventh of a Seventh:

It is said that the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter will have immense magical power. But the mother of that seventh daughter is only just that, a mother.

Proserpina Mors was born into the significant seventh position of her lineage, burdened with the task of breeding the seventh of a seventh. From the very day she entered the world, the witch was made to spend every moment preparing for the birth of her own daughter. Her entire life was meant for this.

Of course, there was the matter of birthing six other children, and the expectations of Ironwood Coven, to attend to before that day would come. There was no time for love, gentleness, trial and error. There was only discipline, strategy, and efficiency. The ends justified the means – no matter how she arrived at the point in time, all they wanted from her was the seventh child. That child was a blessing to their coven, and a curse upon her womb. Desire was never part of the equation.

Whether her circumstances created her magic, or her magic created her circumstances, Proserpina would never be certain. She studied with the witches of her coven rigorously and grew adept in the art of weaving enchantments to better serve herself and her lineage. Curses, most would call them. But oh, how a curse for one was a blessing for another. Still, it couldn’t be denied the witch was spiteful and enjoyed exerting a power and influence she felt had been denied to her since the very beginning. To prescribe truth to the life of someone else where her own had been defined since birth – it only felt fair. She worked in sigils and runes, creating a magical tongue with which to bind, bend, and break others to her will. The coven crafted these spells carefully, but still Proserpina lacked the full strength to achieve her ends; she was only as strong as her birth order dictated.

There were many fathers and several lovers in her years with Ironwood, but the only one who mattered in the coven’s plan was the seventh girl’s father. She named the baby Anathema, a gorgeous, hateful word befitting all the years and possibilities the girl took from her. Her magic was beyond the coven’s and that much was evident from an early age. Proserpina wished she could take pride and ownership in that fact – because it was her careful planning and sacrifice that had enabled this seventh of a seventh to be born. But the magic was all her daughter’s, and as much as she would try to control the child, the coven had not prepared her for this. Anathema’s magic was woven into life and death and nature itself, forces far stronger than could be manipulated by simple good breeding. Proserpina was jealous of the child, her other six offspring quickly given over to the coven’s machinations as well. But none were as strong, as full of potential as that curse laid upon her by time, circumstance, and man.

Which isn’t to say Proserpina didn’t love Anathema’s father or the child. But perhaps it was that love looked like power, love looked like service and sacrifice in a grand plan like Ironwood’s. But as the girl grew older, her mother came to understand the curse was far beyond the birth – this child would be a trial for her throughout her life. Anathema owed her mother courtesy and respect. Proserpina was the very reason this child had any power to begin with. And so, why shouldn’t she lay claim to it?

Anathema was 14 when her mother saw fit to siphon the girl’s power; she was well past age where she should have understood its weight, but still young enough that the child couldn’t possibly stand up to the entire coven. And so with the very sigils the girl wrought, Ironwood twisted this power into a language they could better wield – power, discipline, structure. And with the potency of a proper line of seven at their disposal, there was little they could not speak into being, be it a curse to outsiders or a blessing for those within the circle.

Of course, the girl fled and tried to hide herself – but mother and daughter are bonded by something deeper than magic numerology, deeper than the blood and water of the womb. Anathema is her curse. She put her into this world and she will wield that child like a sword against others, even if it cuts her in the process.

The Wolf:

When one feels trapped, cornered by life and its inescapable pressures, what is the most natural reaction? To lash out with snarling, sharpened teeth, of course.

While she was quite devoted to Ironwood’s cause, Proserpina couldn’t help but steal some pleasure for herself in little moments, like a child sneaking sweets before bed. But her desires were less sugar and honey, and more venom and power. A sense of control where she had been denied it.

The witch had already had the first of her fated children when she encountered Ael Ryan, born of a proud wolf lineage in the Midwest. Turned wolves were one thing – weak, incidental, the results of a curse left unchecked. But born wolves… something in Proserpina’s heart found revolting kinship and even more unreasonable anger at the notion that she was bred like a dog for her coven’s purpose. But unlike a werewolf pack that is led by a strong, wise, elder member, she’s destined to be second to her own child in strength and influence.

She met Ael in a bar far less refined than what she’d usually deign to drink in – but taking a strange bedfellow would require some sacrifice on her part. She was no stranger to that. Ael wanted children of her own, and Proserpina was forced to have more – though the coven took care in raising them. Still, the witch promised the wolf that maybe this next one, they could watch over together. But each child wasn’t the right child for them – maybe the next. Soon, Ael was separated from the pack, and the collar was leashed. The seventh child eventually came, and the stage was set.

Proserpina had no nesting instincts, thought she ensured the cabin was settled to her specifications – sigils scratched carefully into the door jambs, into the floorboards, each with a purpose for keeping the wolf bowed to her. Ael was beautiful, fiery, wild. So could she have been if it weren’t for this curse. It was only fair that they were both bound by something beyond their control. The only difference was that Ael’s fate could kiss her and fuck her in all the nicest ways. And Proserpina’s curse was meant to raise Ironwood’s standing – Ael’s would raze the Ryan Pack to the ground.

A golden coat was made to keep the weak wolf warm while those fires were burning. The witch almost felt motherly, having Ael dependent on her. Of course, she had real motherly duties to perform, births to endure, and so would disappear from the cabin for short spells. All the while, she was working on the curse that would keep the Ryans humbled, out of touch with their humanity and easy for the slaughter. And maybe then Proserpina would feel like she had more control over her own fate, still able to manipulate that of others.

She didn’t hate Ael, necessarily. And maybe once, she loved him. But she hated her own circumstances most and would do anything to feel like she had control. When Anathema was 14 years old, Proserpina’s sacrifice returned to her. While their line was bred in sevens, witches have always known the threefold-law. And her daughter’s power was greater than hers, ripe for taking and enacting her curse upon the Ryans.

And one day the girl fled. And the witch lost interest in her wolf – if Ael ever returned to her full strength, it would be the death of the seventh daughter who dutifully bore seven daughters. But the curse was powerful enough to make her certain that she was safe. Proserpina would let the thing live its half-life. Wasn’t there something about nature and the survival of the fittest? She had to find Anathema, and one wolf on its own wouldn’t last long.

Now:

Her chase has brought her to Port Leiry, a place brimming with magical energies. But Proserpina only cares for one – her daughter’s. Whispers of surviving wolves don’t bother her greatly, because once she has Anathema in her arms once more, she’ll never feel the burden of her curse again.

Headcanons/Other:

Proserpina works as a forensic toxicologist in what little spare time outside of the coven she possesses. Selfishly, she does take interest in the profession because she wonders if she can still track her child’s magic and connection to nature through any incidental poisonings or remnants of plant materials – though she knows Anathema to typically prefer a knife.

Proserpina once leveraged favors from the Ironwood Coven with budding Fellowship hunters in Boston to permit them their tattoos – a mix of her own sigil-work and other sources. Ask Valka Hadley about it sometime.

Her seven children have at least four fathers between them, all chosen for her through the coven’s strategic breeding plans. Proserpina is convinced that of all of them, she did love Anathema’s father – but that may perhaps be because he was her final breeding partner, he only fathered Anathema, and he was powerful and clever in his own right.

[edwardseymour]

soo ... about that seymour adaptation...

edward seymour

i adore his whole ‘prodigal son’ vibe; norton repeatedly calls him “the star of the seymour family”. scard recounts his position as the second son as: “the eldest surviving son, john, may have lived until he was about 20 but he appears to have been overshadowed from an early age by his brother edward”. because edward does have a good start to his career, in some ways paralleling anne boleyn: he is selected to be a page of honour to the king’s sister, mary, when he was about fourteen years old. he therefore spent time in france, with scard pointing out that edward was a part of “one of the grandest households in europe”, before being the first recorded seymour to study at oxford.

i think his treatment of his first wife and their children is probably less to do with any kind of quasi-incestuous, patrilineal affair between katherine and his father (although, i am not opposed to that being included in an adaptation — with the stipulation that her youth and john’s position of authority over her be sufficiently acknowledged; i really enjoy the dissonance of two teenagers playing at adulthood, playing house while edward’s father accommodated them) and more to do with a ruthless willingness to take advantage of the system for his own benefit. he would similarly meddle “very craftily” (according to cromwell and audley) and “aggressive[ly]” (according to scard) over land ownership. he was ruthlessly opportunistic, “adept at trying to manipulate legal loopholes for his own benefit”; he would later attempt the same with katherine parr (frustrating her so much that she ranted to his brother that she would have bitten him). one contemporary professed “it is hard trusting to his courtesy, for he hath small conscience”.

likewise, he also aggravated the howards, through being of lower birth and newer money. i do not care for whether or not it is factually accurate, i very much intend to have henry howard, who hated edward, punch him in the face. (also iirc, edward later struck gardiner in the face. fabulous.) i would very much want to keep that element as a throughline in an adaptation; this monstrous class system, with it's horrific wealth divides, and the absurdity of old versus new money — especially given edward’s later complicity in the desperately punitive vagrancy act. the aristocracy of england is monstrous, and the howards and seymour exemplify different facets of it’s monstrosity: the ancient, old feudal monopoly of lands and resources (and that sense of innate superiority to others), and the ruthless drive to bleed resources dry in a constant pursuit of more. i have no interest in shying away from that; the sumptuousness of edward's career was paid for with the toil of the commons. somerset house, the grand and beautiful renaissance residence he built, was built at the same time and nor far from the religious houses edward tore down for building materials: st john of jerusalem (smithfield), was “undermined and overthrown with gunpowder” for it’s stone, st paul’s cloister and charnel house was partially demolished for rubble, the bones of those laid to rest there dumped in finsbury. he was granted and spent thousands on syon abbey. plundering of religious buildings and desecration of human remains was inexorably tied to the wealth and prestige of edward seymour’s (and the howards) career; “if the seymours had drunk innocent blood, then the howards had allowed them to do so” (childs). (“and thus behold my kind, how that we differ far; [...] i can devour no yielding prey, you kill where you subdue. my kind is to desire the honour of the field, and you, with blood to slake your thirst of such as to you yield. [...] and if to light on you my hap so good shall be / i shall be glad to feed on that that would have fed on me.”)

i think his marriage to anne stanhope, would be fabulous as a relationship dynamic. it seems like a successful marriage; the pair are active at court and are, certainly, the centre of the seymour faction at court, in the 1530s. it is the pair who facilitate jane seymour’s courtship with henry viii, for example. under edward vi they occupy the awkward position of functional royalty, with no real claim to it (yet, who is to say they are autocratic power-grabbers when assuming they have no legitimate claim to that power and wealth assumes it is possible to ever have a legitimate claim to that level of power and wealth). they had several children and through his disinheriting his children by katherine filliol, he sought to protect his family with anne, with the same ruthlessness we should come to expect from him.

good wolf imagery with anne stanhope's family emblem being a wolf. thumbs up.

his successful career as a military man, despite his inflexible, abrasive attitude makes me think that his otherwise promising career was handicapped by flaws in his personality rather than his skillset. van der delft recorded that edward was “looked down upon by everybody as a dry, sour, opinionated man”. i feel like he fundamentally failed to co-operate at court, amongst those more attuned to courtly love tropes etc., arguably in-keeping with the idea of the seymours being less chivalrous/romantic, and more practically minded, a la edward’s sisters being educated in bastard script.

(also arguably a foil to anne boleyn in that idea of two up-and-coming, humanist leaning, reformist courtiers (with slightly controversial betrothal/marriage histories prior to court) whose talent is undermined by their arguably ‘unpalatable’ personalities and their overreaching ambition... could be fun to play on that as edward undermines anne in 1536, especially when he has to carry her motherless (made motherless by his actions) daughter for his nephew’s baptism, and ultimately they wind up buried together.)

tbh the way i envisage edward is summed up nicely by this quote from tudor times: “it may be that his talents fitted him to be a second-in-command, but that the very attention to detail that had made him a successful commander in the field, made him unsuited to the strategic vision and ability to delegate and consult that mark out the true leader. consequently, he became defensive, unwilling to take advice, and quick to take offence”.

primary sources: margaret scard, tudor king in all but name: the life of edward seymour; stephen alford, kingship and politics in the reign of edward vi; diarmaid macculloch, tudor church militant: edward vi and the protestant reformation

henry seymour

kind of obsessed with second sons, the embodiment of ‘the spare’ (henry was born around the same time as henry viii ascended to the throne, so he’s named after another spare).

he entered royal service in 1526, so a few years ahead of jane seymour probably going to court — which is also interesting considering they both joined catherine of aragon's household. i actually would like their relationship explored more — jane’s will bequeathed him “several valuable chains”, and he named his daughter after her.

i actually have zero interest in the idea that henry was the ‘good’ brother… he was clearly very much part of the seymour ‘faction’ of the 1530s — he was willing to pick at the carcass of anne boleyn’s household, as he took mark smeaton’s position after anne boleyn’s fall. likewise, jane rewarded him with several offices and entrusted him with administering her estates as queen. so, whilst he may not have been as ambitious as his brothers, he was clearly an active part of the seymour family’s ambitions, and was adaptive and willing to reap his spoils at court.

in spite of norton describing him as “content to remain in the country”, a man who “never sought the glittering careers of his siblings”, he was at court for a significant time, occupying significant positions. he ultimately did not seek, or at least did not achieve (as we don’t know enough about him to conclude he did not want them) the kind of promotions his brothers achieved, but i don’t honestly think his career was distinctly less ‘glittering’ than thomas’ or his father’s…

and his court career otherwise argues for him to be of more significance than he gets recognised for. the idea that henry “remained in the shadows” (scard) is rather difficult to reconcile with someone who held onto such a ridiculously expensive and coveted position such as queen’s carver under multiple queens. given the prominence of strict hierarchy in carving and serving food, henry would surely have been well-versed in the court dynamics, the politics of meat (to steal the phrase).

his responsibilities and seeming skill as carver also lend itself to imagery of hunting and butchery that goes so well with wolf hall and savernake forest. henry would have been skilled at carving and dismembering animal carcasses for the queen — which would be potent imagery to play with considering the seymour rise (like a phoenix) out of the ashes of anne boleyn, an old, dead bird (falcon); more bluntly with the imagery of carving and meat and picking at the remains of anne boleyn's carcass....

(fabulous wolf imagery continues with him marrying barbara wolfe.)

i think it’s interesting that of all john’s sons, henry’s seems to follow his most closely. he has a decent career at court, and clearly enjoys favour (being made knight of the bath & receiving royal grants of land under edward vi) with some military positions, but never seems to establish himself as a major personality. he ultimately establishes himself more locally, elected the mp for hampshire, and serving as high sheriff of hampshire between 1568-69.

as for family motivations, he may well have been close to his family as he was the sole executor of his mother's will. but when edward seymour asked him to send troops for support, henry supposedly ignored him and did not reply. he also did well under john dudley's administration, showing the same ability to reap the spoils of someone's fall as he did during anne's fall, only this time it was his own brothers.

it must also have been a challenging time for him in the 1560s-1570s; he was with his mother when she died, and had (at this point) lost his father, jane, thomas, edward, and three other siblings. it seems like he had lost a few children of his own at this point, too. his niece, mary seymour, quietly disappears from the record, and probably dies young, removed from her seymour family. he is presumed to be the last seymour child of this generation to die.

therefore, henry seymour (alongside sisters dorothy and elizabeth) becomes witness to the decline of the seymour family that he knew — the family would remain prominent (edward’s children, for example, retained careers and significance at court) — but in many respects the seymour ‘faction’ was obsolete at this point, and because he was at court, i feel like his perspective of this decline is the most significant: he would have seen the highest highs, in ways his sisters would not have.

primary sources: david loades, the seymours of wolf hall; elizabeth norton, jane seymour: henry viii’s true love

thomas seymour

🐀

firstly, i think it’s profoundly significant that thomas seymour would have been at wolf hall when katherine filliol came into his father’s house. he and katherine were around the same age. he would have been about eleven when katherine gave birth to her baby, john, in 1518. i think it’s really worth remembering that thomas seymour may well have witnessed his father groom his teenage ward. the set up for thomas’ relationship with lady elizabeth is there from the beginning.

his first position, under francis bryan, can be dated to the mid 1520s — so there seems to have been a mass exodus of seymour children from the family home to court (as henry and jane also come to court around this time), and in more than one case, probably in connection to francis bryan. which i think makes for fun potential, considering the dormer’s allegedly not wanting to associate with the seymour's on account of scandal, which has been attributed to the vicar of hell’s reputation.

in an adaptation, he’s a fabulous foil to edward: he seems to have been considerably less able, his career far more being credited to the successes of his immediate relatives, his blood carrying him further than any innate talent. throckmorton’s decription of him — “hardy, wise and liberal […] fierce in courage, courtly in fashion, in personage stately, in voice magnificent, but somewhat empty of matter” — creates this fun parallel of thomas having the charisma that edward lacked, but none of his ability; as elizabeth described him, thomas was “a man of much wit, but very little judgement”, or, according to nicholas throckmorton, “somewhat empty of matter”. norton likewise describes him as: “he was not a man of half measures. he entered into everything with gusto and determination, but not always skill or foresight.”

and there is something poignantly frustrating about how impotent and insignificant thomas seymour is, as the youngest seymour son (even if henry arguably had a less distinctive career, it seems considerably more stable, and he was with their mother when she died). his personality was praised, he seems to be popular with members of court, but he seems to fail to achieve much off of that in his own right. his first known role was in the service of his kinsman, described as “servant to sir francis bryan”, so a minor role at court and likely a family affair. he was made a gentleman of the privy chamber in october 1536, almost certainly on account of his sister's marriage to the king, and had the honour of being one of the gentlement who held the canopy over baby prince edward’s canopy at his christening in 1537, and knighted at the same ceremony that saw edward made earl of hertford. numerous grants of lands and titles probably can be attributed to his (and his family’s) friendship with thomas cromwell — “these two are more likely to have come via cromwell's mediation rather than that of the queen”. whilst edward was inducted into the order of the garter in 1541, thomas took longer to get there, despite being nominated every year from 1543 to the year of his eventual induction: 1547.

so there is this strong set up for a resentment and jealousy, not specific to edward, but to this general sense of resistance to his own juvenile status. which is, to some extent, an inevitability within a system that relies of primogeniture: he is the third surviving son, after all. he has no claim to a solid inheritance. but it also smacks of entitlement when you remember how privileged he was, and how many rewards he enjoyed on behalf of his family. we can’t identify these thoughts or feelings in the historical man, and assuming them of him would be an anachronism, but i think it would be interesting to explore in an adaptation.

still, i think he could be interesting as a man desperate to assert himself: loades speculates that presumably thomas was a gentleman volunteer on the king’s ships for some considerable time before his being made captain of the sweepstake in 1537, as such a position would demand experience of which no evidence survives. i do enjoy the idea of this, and would like to carry it through into an adaptation - of thomas throwing himself at opportunities to try and make his mark. clearly, he otherwise must have proved himself, since he did receive rewards in 1532 - his first grant, forester of enfield chase, which he likely did not obtain through his brother or bryan, and certainly not his sister jane. so, it would not be unreasonable that thomas was capable of progressing his career on his own merit. but, i think there’s something significant in the fact that most of his ‘achievements’ were granted by virtue of his blood rather than any personal achievement, both as an indication of how parasitic the court world of tudor nobility was, but also as characterisation of a man who had a lifelong relationship with doing the utmost to climb to the top of said parasitic ladder. thomas was a monster a monstrous system created.

so he's tossed about in marriage negotiations with mary howard, up until around 1540, which he seems enthusiastic about (irrespective of the fact that mary very much is not), and these two families that do not like each other are forcibly trying to force themselves to be tied to each other, all in the name of the prestige of being a little closer to the royal circle.

on that note, it would be interesting to adapt his time as ambassador to the king of hungary in 1542, where he travels to nuremberg with charles howard, both brothers to late queens of england (katherine howard, and jane seymour), especially after thomas seymour was the one to confiscate the queen’s jewels from katherine. fun foreshadowing for the later drama between his wife (katherine parr) and anne stanhope, as well as a play on the timeline of his relationship with katherine parr, as their courtship is interrupted by henry viii’s marrying katherine, in an ironic repetition of recent history as the same seems to have taken place between katherine howard and thomas culpeper.

by 1543, he has met katherine parr, and she later claims that she would have married thomas after latimer died, but it's not known what thomas felt about her. perhaps controversially? i do think he had feelings for her: she was an attractive, resolved and intelligent woman. norton points out that they shared a common interest in religious reform, and arguably one can see a compatibility between them, considering parr’s noted love of finery. and moreso in an adaptation, if we characterise thomas as ambitious and trying to accumulate more wealth, power and prestige for himself, i don’t think parr was enough of a notably, wealthy widow to be that attractive to him without some kind of personal incentive. and i am not interested in characterising thomas (or any of these people) as fundamentally incapable of love.

and i do think thomas, with that constant, entitled sense of juvenile inadequacy, raging against the patriarchal, primogeniture system, while still determined to co-operate within it, and seemingly only able to cope with it if he is able to be at the top of the pecking order he feels he is oppressed by... being in a competition over a woman with henry viii, himself an aberration against the ideal of masculinity (old, obese, his virility thoroughly undermined in both his ability to father sons and his being cuckolded). well, i adore exploring toxic masculinity with sensitivity, but also, it’s fascinating and very funny. it completely exposes the ridiculousness of these systems and structures.

it’s the same with his relationship with edward vi: whilst i don't doubt he may well have felt genuine affection for his nephew (and i did like how the brothers saw edward, in part, as an extension of their dead sister in becoming elizabeth — and i am shamelessly stealing that idea), edward vi is also the embodiment of peak masculinity whilst inherently an inversion of it by virtue of his age.

primary sources: david loades, the seymours of wolf hall; elizabeth norton, catherine parr; elizabeth norton, the temptation of princess elizabeth; stephen alford, kingship and politics in the reign of edward vi

[sgiandubh]

A stupid shipper's guide to the Peloponnese, part 2: Mycenae, my Craigh na Dun

Forgot to mention: Praxiteles' statue of Hermes still has faint cinnabar traces in its curls. Which makes that Hermes a ginger, hehe. You simply can't make this shit up. /end of poetic justice moment

Anyways. The very minute your car, bus or bike crosses the Corinth Canal, even if you cannot see it from the modern, German highway, you just know you are in the Peloponnese. Everything changes: the light, the landscape and even the silence. In summertime, cicadas reign supreme: mercifully, after a while, you don't hear them anymore and sleep like a log in daytime. Summer nights are always for something else, in this land.

Odysseas Elytis, my favorite Greek poet, knew something about all this:

"Drinking the sun of Corinth Reading the marble ruins Striding across vineyards and seas Sighting along the harpoon A votive fish that slips away I found the leaves that the sun’s psalm memorizes The living land that passion joys in opening."

So really, forget about the islands, spare some unsung, almost unknown gems. The heart of this country beats South of Corinth, and once you've realized this, there is no turning back.

Olympia and her little sister, Nemea, are all about joy and cheer and the sort of organized happiness the Ancient World was so adept at. But at Mycenae, we hit a different chord. It is home to this guy - the filthy rich, ruthless, rogue King Agamemnon.

"Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair":

Mycenae and I go back a couple of years and too many repeated, insistent expeditions to count properly. Even Zorba the car knows the way by himself, so all I have to do is wait for the right week-end, climb at the wheel and enjoy the scenery. Many dinners in town and embassy receptions have been traded for the simple joy to be awaken by kyria Panagiota's impertinent rooster (across the street) at 5 am and open my room's French doors to this view:

A mix of olive groves and vineyards, with the odd cypress tree randomly thrown around. 354 inhabitants. Two churches. Two stone bridges, built somewhere at the narrow end of the Stone Age and still treaded by tractors, cattle and unsuspecting pedestrians. And also this:

The Lions' Gate (the real one, not TPTB related), as photographed by me the day before yesterday, for the umpteenth time, proudly standing at the end of a steep-ish climb cursed daily in tens of different languages by thousands of tourists. As for Angkor Wat, you'd have to see it at sunrise or sunset to fully get the magic, in complete silence. Patience and determination will certainly be rewarded. For this place is rich with all the memories of those who once called it home, back in the day when it was one of the most powerful political and trade centers of the known world. The Cyclopean fantasy of a demi-god, which is all about flawless ownership of space and aggressive affirmation of one's worth. Or, as the obscure Alpheus of Mytilene aptly put it in an epigram, written some time around 0, AD: "a city built by giants and passing rich in gold".

Pic taken by me in late October 2021, that blessed age of innocence when I had no frigging idea of Craigh na Dun. Different light, same arresting view that plunges all the way to Argos and farther away, to the sea.

Cats rule the world. We know that (January 2023):

And then there's the Vault, half a mile down the road. If the Lions' Gate is about Space, the incorrectly named vault - a mausoleum, really - is about Time. Or rather the complete irrelevance of it:

Because I am not only stupid, but also nuts, I sometimes flip a coin, once inside. All binary answers were proven to be eerily accurate, with time. But things like this only show themselves to the believer. Last question asked is still technically up for confirmation, yet I - along with all of you here - know already it's a yes:

And yeah, I did it. What the heck. I had the place just for myself, and that is rare. Wouldn't you?

Mordor, I don't care about your pearl-clutching reaction. There is poetry to be found in the most unlikely of places. Especially in the most unlikely of places.

Walking back, I challenge you to pinpoint an exact year. It is impossible and there is a reason to it. This place and this view are timeless, of course:

In an unexpected, involuntary homage to the Atrides, the 354 inhabitants of modern Mykines still bury their dead all around Agamemnon's Vault.

Around an almost icy jug of Retsina wine, I asked my treasured friend V, the archaeologist: do you really think they ever left?

Are you nuts? And what would we do without them?

Coming back to a sweltering Athens, just imagine my head shake in disbelief watching Lasagna Lady once again clinging to that poor guy's T-shirt, the bickering between C's stans about who is the most telepath of them all and the wailings about the lack of secksay content in Episode 7.

Seriously, Fandom? Is this the best you can give me?

Episode I am hurrying to watch, nevertheless. But first, the laundry. Fair's fair.

[darlingzelda]

Match!

Request from @videtur-existentia

Looks like you have captured the heart of….

Toa Qelsum

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ Compatible Qualities

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ Good at Reading other People

Toa is often described as calculating. He can tell what you are thinking at a glance and read body language easily. Because of this. he is not easy to fool and will call out foolish or ridiculous behaviour among peers.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ Stable and Dependable Prince

Toa makes it a point to get what he needs to done. He is diligent and hardworking, and chances are, if you ask him for something, you’ll get it right away even though he is an eternally busy man.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ Skilled in Social Interaction

Being a crown prince, Toa knows how to manage difficult conversations and often interacts with other royalty because his job demands it of him. However, if the necessity is not there, he is not an altogether social man. He prefers to keep much to himself and is peaceable with remaining by himself (or with Knight) for long amounts of time.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ Rarely Agitated

Toa has a very chilly demeanor usually. Unless he is provoked by Guy, he very rarely ever loses his princely composure.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ Intellectual Artistic Taste

If there is anything that describes Toa, it would be tasteful. He is a lover of classical music, as seen through his ownership of Colde’s music room. Qelsum is home to a number of intricate architectural structures and as such, he is proud of them. He enjoys having intellectual conversations and often plays strategy games with Knight to practice his sharp wit.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ Qualities Toa Likes in You

Mindful intuition

Adaptable

Intellect

Stable/dependable

Quiet and peaceable

Assertive

Tasteful

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ Your Relationship With Toa

He would invite you to tea with him almost every afternoon. From the start, he was intrigued by your competent nature and taste, and he often would find himself having relaxed conversations with you even before you started to grow close.

He enjoys having intellectual conversations with you over meals or even relaxing together in the music room with a record playing in the background.

He would teach you to dance to his favorite waltzes as a love language.

Toa would often challenge you to a game of chess, because he enjoys the challenge of a new opponent as well as having fun with you.

Even though Princess Idina rarely takes a liking to Avarian women, Toa had no problem introducing you to her. She surprisingly took a mild liking to you based off of your extremely competent nature.

He would often invite you to spend an evening in his company, whether it be over Qelsan wine or desserts on the veranda.

He feels as though he can let down his guard around you, which is a rare thing for Toa.

Congratulations on matching with Saligia’s Immaculate Adept!

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

A/N: If you would like a match, please see the post on rules in our blog @darlingzelda . Thank you for your participation!