balladofthewhitehorse

[balladofthewhitehorse]

HAPPY JUNE 15TH, EVERYONE!!! Here is the official Sicktember 2025 Prompts list!

Here are some helpful links to help you get started:

Event FAQ: https://www.tumblr.com/sicktember/785439209109454849/sicktember-faqs-for-the-2025-year?source=share

Past Prompts: https://sicktember.tumblr.com/prompts

How to Submit Your Work: https://www.tumblr.com/sicktember/760549128005615616/content-promotion-reminder?source=share

Sicktember 2025 AO3 Collection: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/Sicktember_2025

Text List of 2025 Sicktember Prompts:

Sicktember Prompts Text Version:

“It’s the middle of the night, why are you up?”

Forced to go to school/work while sick 

“Why are you so sweaty?” 

Pneumonia 

Worst possible timing 

The boy who cried sick

“There’s a frog in my throat,” 

Aches and pains 

“Get your butt back in back!” 

Red eyes 

No known cure 

“You’re adorable when you’re sick,” 

Chronic Illness 

Bedridden 

“This is the worst headache of my life,” 

Misery loves company 

Infection

“We’re going to the hospital,” 

Stomach ache 

Fever Nightmares

“I’ll make you some tea,”/tea 

Sobbing 

Overdoing it 

“I feel like I’m dying,” 

Medicine

Slow Recovery Time

“I’m sick, not stupid!” 

Ghostly Pale

Came back worse/round two 

“You’re too sick to (blank)

Alt Prompts:

Gentle Back/Belly Rub

Warm Bath

“I want my (comfort item),”

Lullaby

“I love you,”

[balladofthewhitehorse]

Y'know, I'm kinda surprised I haven't seen Jack Chains more in fantasy tbh, like it's a really interesting and low budget armor style, I'm legit surprised I've almost never seen it in media

[balladofthewhitehorse]

[balladofthewhitehorse]

two strings to her bow

reality version:

[balladofthewhitehorse]

✎ㅤ. . .ㅤ𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑪𝑨𝑵𝑶𝑵 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺.

₊˚⊹ ㅤa collection of character analysis/headcanon questions to learn more about your character and your partners'! writing/headcanon prompts requested by anonymous. feel free to edit these as you see fit.

[ 🖐️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat do their hands feel like: soft, calloused, trembling ? [ ☂️ ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they crave touch or fear it ? [ 🎐 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a sound, like a song or voice, that they associate with peace ? [ 🕊️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhen did they feel the safest ? [ 💤 ]ㅤ.ㅤhow do they sleep ? curled up, sprawled, holding onto something ? [ 🦇 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat is a fear they never talk about ? [ 🔒 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat is a secret they’ve sworn never to tell ? [ 🪢 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhen was the last time they broke a promise ? [ 🫳 ]ㅤ.ㅤwho do they feel they owe, but never paid back ? [ 💼 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat do they always carry with them ? [ 🧨 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat’s the quickest way to set them off, even if they hide it well ? [ ⛓️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat does guilt feel like to them ? [ 💢 ]ㅤ.ㅤwho have they never forgiven and never will ? [ 🩸 ]ㅤ.ㅤis there something or someone that, if lost, would break them ? [ 🌧️ ]ㅤ.ㅤis there a pain they refuse to heal from ? [ 🪞 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhen have they looked at their reflection and hated what they saw ? [ 📿 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat superstition or ritual do they cling to ? [ 🌊 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhen was the last time they cried ? [ 🐾 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo animals like them instinctively ? [ 🪶 ]ㅤ.ㅤhow do they laugh ? [ 🫀 ]ㅤ.ㅤwho taught them what love is ? did it hurt ? [ 💭 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they believe they’re worthy of being loved ? [ 🎀 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat is their main love language ? [ 🔦 ]ㅤ.ㅤwho do they search for ? [ 📜 ]ㅤ.ㅤis there a story they love sharing with others ? [ 🌒 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a dream or goal they have given up on ? [ 🕯️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat memory do they replay when they’re alone ? [ 🌪️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat’s the one choice they regret (not) making ? [ 🧩 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat’s a truth about themselves they refuse to admit ? [ 🍻 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat kind of drunk are they ? [ ✉️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat kind of letter would they write but never send ? [ 🗡️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat is a scar that they have but never talk about ? [ 🕸️ ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a favourite lie they like to hear ? [ 🪦 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat would they want on their gravestone but never admit aloud ? [ 🎱 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat kind of future do they crave, and who’s in it ? [ 🌀 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a recurring dream or nightmare ? [ 🍃 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they feel like they belong ? [ ⚓ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat does “home” mean to them ? [ 🧭 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhere would they go if they could disappear tomorrow ?

[balladofthewhitehorse]

It’s my favourite character’s birthday again, here are his… phases…

Went a little silly but needed to one up last year. Nevermind that it’s not the 14th on this side of the world anymore. I love him dearly.

[balladofthewhitehorse]

Arthur being an embroiderer is not just a joke in canon about how much an old man twink he is but also genuinely has grounds in history don'tchaknoooowwww?

[balladofthewhitehorse]

DAY O3 - HURT/(NO) COMFORT (and crown too if you notice this is still about the iberian union) @hetaberia-week

i'm crazy enough to try to make a porteng comic about the english armada.... tonito wouldn't like this...

[balladofthewhitehorse]

[balladofthewhitehorse]

✎ㅤ. . .ㅤ𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑪𝑨𝑵𝑶𝑵 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺.

₊˚⊹ ㅤa collection of character analysis/headcanon questions to learn more about your character and your partners'! writing/headcanon prompts requested by anonymous. feel free to edit these as you see fit.

[ 🖐️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat do their hands feel like: soft, calloused, trembling ? [ ☂️ ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they crave touch or fear it ? [ 🎐 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a sound, like a song or voice, that they associate with peace ? [ 🕊️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhen did they feel the safest ? [ 💤 ]ㅤ.ㅤhow do they sleep ? curled up, sprawled, holding onto something ? [ 🦇 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat is a fear they never talk about ? [ 🔒 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat is a secret they’ve sworn never to tell ? [ 🪢 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhen was the last time they broke a promise ? [ 🫳 ]ㅤ.ㅤwho do they feel they owe, but never paid back ? [ 💼 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat do they always carry with them ? [ 🧨 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat’s the quickest way to set them off, even if they hide it well ? [ ⛓️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat does guilt feel like to them ? [ 💢 ]ㅤ.ㅤwho have they never forgiven and never will ? [ 🩸 ]ㅤ.ㅤis there something or someone that, if lost, would break them ? [ 🌧️ ]ㅤ.ㅤis there a pain they refuse to heal from ? [ 🪞 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhen have they looked at their reflection and hated what they saw ? [ 📿 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat superstition or ritual do they cling to ? [ 🌊 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhen was the last time they cried ? [ 🐾 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo animals like them instinctively ? [ 🪶 ]ㅤ.ㅤhow do they laugh ? [ 🫀 ]ㅤ.ㅤwho taught them what love is ? did it hurt ? [ 💭 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they believe they’re worthy of being loved ? [ 🎀 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat is their main love language ? [ 🔦 ]ㅤ.ㅤwho do they search for ? [ 📜 ]ㅤ.ㅤis there a story they love sharing with others ? [ 🌒 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a dream or goal they have given up on ? [ 🕯️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat memory do they replay when they’re alone ? [ 🌪️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat’s the one choice they regret (not) making ? [ 🧩 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat’s a truth about themselves they refuse to admit ? [ 🍻 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat kind of drunk are they ? [ ✉️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat kind of letter would they write but never send ? [ 🗡️ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat is a scar that they have but never talk about ? [ 🕸️ ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a favourite lie they like to hear ? [ 🪦 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat would they want on their gravestone but never admit aloud ? [ 🎱 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat kind of future do they crave, and who’s in it ? [ 🌀 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they have a recurring dream or nightmare ? [ 🍃 ]ㅤ.ㅤdo they feel like they belong ? [ ⚓ ]ㅤ.ㅤwhat does “home” mean to them ? [ 🧭 ]ㅤ.ㅤwhere would they go if they could disappear tomorrow ?

[balladofthewhitehorse]

It's a bit unexpected, but I really really wanted to show this piece here

As for translation, it roughly goes like:

You are my shadow

You are my blood

To hell with your friendship, fuck with your love

[balladofthewhitehorse]

Magpies - Drabble

''What are you doing?''

England froze - and spun around, a curse bitten between his teeth as he glared icily at Scotland. What are you doing? Skulking about? Mused England, bitter at being crept upon by someone who was part-ways a mountain; The magpie fluttered off with a whirring of wings, and England dared not look at it (dared not invite bad-luck, dared not to imagine that single white spot in a sea of iridescent feathers). ''Nothing.'' He retorted, staring at Scotland - daring him to ask further.

''…Magpies, huh?'' Scotland hummed. Many supersitions passed through their countries, many of them were manmade - and they in turn were effected by them. ''I prefer clovers.''

England's face wrinkled. ''Clovers are bullshit. Don't even think a four-leaf exists.''

''Don't be like that just because you've never been lucky enough. Have your magpies, you silly wee dug.'' Scotland snorted, rolling his eyes. Typical of him to be so prickly. ''Ireland has a knack for finding them.''

''Cos Ireland is so lucky.''

''England.'' His voice was the rumbling of warning thunder. Too close. Too hurtful. Too cruel, Sassain. You're trying not to be like that anymore.

''Sorry. Sorry.'' Mumbled England, clearing his throat and looking down at his feet. ''…Do you believe in supersitions then?'' He stared at Scotland, hoping he wasn't alone.

''Aye, I do.'' Scotland shrugged. ''Why wouldn't I?''

[balladofthewhitehorse]

You know how when you're cleaning out your parents or grandparents fridge and finding something so fucking old and they assure you it's fine/ they're still using it? Nation's do this a lot.

They try to keep eachother in check but sometines things slip through the cracks. They all have too much lead stuff in their homes that human servants/ employees try to toss from time to time.

England has a fireplace bellows that is falling apart at the seams. One of the handles is duct taped on. He waves it around like a regular fan and insists "No no I'm not buying a new one this one is perfectly fine. I paid five cents for this (in 1804) and I am not blowing money on a replacement".

Canada's microwave model number just says "4". He hired a house cleaner who thought it was some sort of heirloom he couldn't part with and assumed it was a toaster oven till they saw him shove a hot pocket inside and pound his fist on the top till it started working.

Spain owns too many clothes. Romano tries to help (sneaks in when Spain isn't home to toss some of it) but Spain always says something like "I wear that all the time!!" Or "It'll come back into style in a few centuries". He has a drawer dedicated to lace collars, ruffle collars and gaudy looking brooches that he swears will come back around.

Don't ask Lithuania when he canned something. He swears if it's in a can or jar it's fine. He has things from when he still lived with Russia that are nothing but liquified sludge that he swears it's still fine. Many nations have this habit but his food insecurity is really really bad to the point that if it's on clearance at the grocery and he thinks he can use it he will buy it. Estonia once picked up a deep dark jar labeled "Meat 32" and is somewhat concerned that Lithuania responded that he'd eat it next week.

[balladofthewhitehorse]

England & Scotland Musings

Had a conversation with my friend; They presented the below question:

random thing in my brain: how would eng react if the act of unions led up to scots perma death (think. Eng represents the uk now listen listen- suspend normal hcs (/i know eng only represents eng and not uk i know the distinction but for the premise of this idea) for the premise of a thing eng wanted to do to bring them closer ends with it straight up killing scot permanently. And i cannot think of how else it'd happen. But- ejisdienhea

This would devastate England; He never thought his brother would be gone, this man who has been a part of him in numerous, unnameable ways. To England, it should be an incredible moment of his power, of how much more he's become - but England feels an emptiness within, for there is no-one else that he considers his equal, nobody else to compare his might to now that Scotland is gone. England would feel something strange, an emotion he'd felt and discarded as weakness through the centuries. Guilt.

Now how would Scotland feel if England was the one that croaked it

This would devastate England; He never thought his brother would be gone, this man who has been a part of him in numerous, unnameable ways. To England, it should be an incredible moment of his power, of how much more he's become - but England feels an emptiness within, for there is no-one else that he considers his equal, nobody else to compare his might to now that Scotland is gone. England would feel something strange, an emotion he'd felt and discarded as weakness through the centuries. Guilt.

things that would eat him alive. the emptiness is going to haunt him forever.

Now how would Scotland feel if England was the one that croaked it

hm... ... ...hmmm... is it evil of me to say scot would be less haunted by it than eng

i think part of that is because of engs idolisation ofhis brother; it makes scots death hit. harder i suppose for him. but scot. i think, i think he accept it more readily. it hurts, god does it hurt to loose his younger brother but its also just. i suppose part of life, i think scot has always been more accepting of death and loss than eng, in a lot of ways he's just more passive than england. and i think that plays over in how he'd react in this sort of situation. there was nothing he could do, for this sitution, eng was as good as dead the moment the deal was signed. does his passing hurt? yeah a lot. He's not going to forget about it, or act like it never happened but scotland is old. even by then, he knows how he deals with grief. It hurts but it's not going to destroy him, he'll move on. he won't forget him but he won't let it haunt him either.

overall i think in this situation scotland would simple accept it; can't bring him back, couldn't have stopped it. it hurts but what sort of grief doesn't? All he can do is move on and keep his memories close to his heart.

England's ghost watching Scotland moving on: YOU CAN'T DO THAT

Poltergeist activity solely cos your little brother is FURIOUS that you are not donning yourself in full black and mourning for centuries to come.

I think the thing is, Scotland is older than eng (not by much but older still), he's less... stubborn and fiery. more personable to people ngl. Scotlands many times over experienced loosing loved ones (other ch, humans, friends lovers). It hurts but he's survived that before and he'll survive it now. He doesn't need to forget but he can't spend his life wallowing in misery.

He'll set up a shrine, keep keepsakes things to remember them by but he won't let the grief consume him. he has to keep moving after all, he doesn't get the luxury to spend months away grieving he still has a country to help run after all. I think it'd result in him working more if anything. Eng was so hellbent on this idea that it killed him? fine he can work with this; make it something they'd both be proud of, no use to let it go in vain yknow?

Thinking about how Scotland being 'more personable' would rankle England.

england is paraniod anger filled man; scot is more personable than england based off of that alone lets be real-

England who is not personable. England who feels things too intensely and bristles and seethes and stews. England who - no matter how much he tries - will always snap and bite at the hands that feed because that's who England is, a starved dog, an angry dog. He will never be the dog that lays at your feet. He will always be the wary dog, the growling dog.

and in the sitution of this au; i think england would stew in his grief, his misery and anger over how unfair it is. how he finally got his brother to agree with a plan of his and that plan killed him. maybe im entirely wrong but i think eng would bounce rapidly between blaming himself and blaming Scotland for it.

He would, he absolutely would

if eng was stronger maybe scot wouldn't have died. if scot was stronger then maybe it wouldn't have killed him.

He'd probably bounce between a strange sort of 'Hah, I won! Fucking idiot.' and 'Oh God, I won. Fucking idiot.' referring to himself.

and that's the difference. England stews in his anger and misery, cursing everything around him over it. If only if only if only- and scotland simply accepts it. He's almost apathetic, it hurts but he can only continue on.

not to say either is better than the other of course, Scotland accepts it but he's almost apathetic about it. he's cold over it, he couldnt have changed fate but maybe he could have but he'll never know because he just accepted it. England refuses to accept it, he accepts his brothers gone sure but he doesnt want to accept that maybe he couldnt have done anything, that no one could have. he's trapped with the what if's.

I was gonna say Scot's flaw is he cares too little and Eng's is he cares too much, but I think Care isn't the right word.

Feels perhaps, is better.

i think they both care an equal amount but youre right, feels is a better way to describe it

Yeah, like they both care the same - but feel differently.

they both care deeply but. they don't feel the same way about it

Which is kind of funny if you think about how Eng hates feeling vulnerable.

He hates his intense emotions. He hates that Scotland can be so calm. He hates him so much.

and as much as he hates him he loves him to. its his older brother how could he hate him ? what is eng if not a bundle of contradictions and white hot feelings

and i think its fun to place scot at the opposite side of things; hes more passive than england, colder has an easier time compartmentalising things. hes not unfeeling but hes older than most and knows that blowing up over things won't win him any favours. they both have their own issues in different ways yknow :3

I can see how Scot's indifference could drive the wedge between him and his brother just as much Eng's absolute incapababilty to be indifferent could.

Scotland: What's the point? I'm not going to change how he feels. England: I have to change how he feels. I have to. I have to. I have to.

[balladofthewhitehorse]

another year…

[balladofthewhitehorse]

very strange enchanted boy

[balladofthewhitehorse]

for the requests: Ireland playing the harp? (hope you feel better soon!)

im a long haired ireland truther you cannot take that away from me