elem-entals

[elem-entals]

drabble - 7/18/21

Irid walked by the doorway to the Eastern training room, a sparse training ground with a softened clay floor and a few posters lining the wall with minimal design. “Focus, training, discipline and balance...”

They were welcome and familiar sights, but they didn’t hold a candle to the sight of Marco training.

Tall, with broad shoulders and a lithe build, he cut a fine figure. Lit by the warm sunlights in the ceiling of the otherwise cavernous room. Practicing his fighting forms and looking somehow unbendable and iron strong and swift and agile enough to evade any attack.

He came to the end of a few swift hits in the air, coming to settle with his hands to his sides.

And then his eyes open.

“See something you like, Iridona?”

Iridona startled, shifting back and forth on her feet, her face growing hot. “Oh, uh… right,” she mumbled and cleared her throat. “I was admiring your form.”

One of Marco’s eyebrows went up.

“No, uh,” Irid fumbled. “I meant I Was admiring your Dragon form.”

This time both of Marco’s brows went up. 

“NO, uh, I meant the- your fighting form! The- uh, the Dragon one. That one.”

Now Marco’s mouth twitched into a smirk and irid wished she could sink into the clay under her feet like Dohlia could. 

Marco stretched his arms above his head, doing nothing to help Iridona’s two remaining brain cells one bit.

“Well, thank you,” Marco smirked. Now it was a full blown smirk. “Maybe you should take down some notes.” 

Maybe I’ll take down something all right… wait-

“Shuddup.” Wow, good one, Iridona.

Marco walked towards her, grabbing a towel from the rack doorway and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Even though it’s just his arm, everywhere they’re touching is like a firebrand against her skin. 

“C’mon, let’s get a smoothie at Wey’s, I’m on fire.”

When Irid dares a surprised glance, the bastard has the nerve to meet her gaze at out of the side of his eye, and wink.

“Ugh,” Irid says, but she can’t keep the smile off her face all the same, and she leads Marco down the hallway toward the cafeteria. 

[elem-entals]

first draft p 2

“What?!” 

Hestia sighs, rummaging through the dust covered documents on the Head Alcoyte- well, her desk. She sighed as if Iridona wasn’t cooperating over something simple and not choking on the news that she was descended from the last Fire Elemental in recorded history. 

“You mean Sir Bolivaris?” Iridona asks, hands flailing. “That crazy pyromaniac? That guy?” 

“Of course, why would your family want to broadcast him?” 

[elem-entals]

after the revolution, hestia is convinced by charlie and marco to help  teach the new battlemages. Marco being annoyed because Hestia’s been hiding all this magic badassery and didn’t even teach some of it to her “favorite” grandson.

Karl because he used to pull some crazy powerful attacks as a knight in their parent’s wars, even back when other knights and royals looked at mages with disdain.

[elem-entals]

im just gonna start writing, if i dont, i never will finish these books

Feb 15 - First draft 

All Iridona could smell was fire. Smoke and fire.

Her mother was laid out on the ground, having been struck by one of the asshole bandits who were ransacking their carriage. 

Tendrils of smoke were wafting through the air, obscuring her view of the rest of the fancy new house she and her mother had settled in since she became a noble. 

And were greeted with seeing a bunch of thieves breaking into their new house. 

One minute, Iridona was trying to run back toward the carriage with her mother, the next she was watching her mother try to fend off the bandits that had caught up to them, and then one hit her mother across the face-

All Iridona could feel was redhot rage, anger and indignation - how dare he - and then the redhot rage exploded behind her ears, up through her arms, and through her hands-

She opened her eyes, and all she could see was smoke.

As the valley winds started to dissipate the smoke, she could make out her mother, beginning to shuffle out into conscious on the ground, and the bandit who hit her, knocked out and clothes singed.

“What?” Iridona panted, seconds from hyperventilating. The bandits were calling out to one another, sounding as perplexed as she did.

[elem-entals]

Wey and marse becoming really good friends

Wey: [some ridiculous slang said in an enthusiastic way]

Marse: [the same slang repeated but in a dry but sincere way]

Wey: c; [finger guns] Marse: [finger guns] ;|

[elem-entals]

marco on starling courtship culture

Marco: for a culture that takes a billion years to get together y’all are cheesy as hell

[elem-entals]

wow a clans au update - jan 27

I finally got some new inspo from recent au’s with B. Now with more uptight Marco.

Crossing into the library, he finds the reference section, a little dusty offset desk with rolled up maps of the area, and sets  out the map of the surrounding territory. If Marco’s going to help with the patrols, he may as well get familiar. “Oh dear,” says a voice from the shelf that separates Reference from the rest of the Nonfiction section, “the last time I saw someone so intently focused over a map, it was when Senior was a stuffy old War General and had absolutely no life.” The woman steps closer toward the table Marco is seated at, and closer, he is able to notice her features. She is deeply tanned, a smatter of freckles and big brown eyes, a flick of liner across her eyes accents the mischievous glint in them as she studies him as well. Her hair is a shock of blond against her dark roots and half gathered in a ponytail, wisps framing her sharp jawline artfully. She smells of a mix of natural and synthetic and magical herbs and plants and the curious smirk on her face becomes all too familiar. This must be Iridona’s sister, Serena. His look over her person must have went on too long, because her smirk grew even more smug. “Like what you see? Everyone was gushing about how polite and proper the new guy was, imagine if they saw him checking a young maid out?” Face burning, Marco all but tries to bury himself in the richly illustrated landscape of the map and maybe six feet under the stone floor he is standing on. “Forgive me, Miss, I merely took too long to recognize your resemblance to Captain Iridona.” He hears slow, meandering steps bring her closer to his side of the table as she says, “ Oh,please, I’m just teasing.” A tanned, well-manicured hand is held out in front of his view of the map. “I’m Serena Velezquez, but you probably already figured that one out.” He shakes it with the upmost propriety. “Marco DeSantos, Lady Apothecary.” She lets out a laughing squawk as her eyes widen. “Lady Apothecary! What manners, indeed. The old biddies who are chattering on about you weren’t wrong.” Her face softens into a more sincere smile. “You really aren’t faking with that shit, are you?” Marco blinks. “What-” Her hand makes a vague gesture in the air between them, her now standing next to him before the map. “The whole polite, virtuous knight schtick. Plenty of knights come waltzing through here only to show their true colors on the first full moon night.” She flicks her eyes down, brow furrowing as she suddenly studies the map. “Or party. Or drink.” Ah, asshole knights Marco has plenty of experience with, albeit from a whole nother realm than Serena probably does. “Indeed, it’s often hard to sort out the real representatives of my former trade from poor childish wannabees. I try to be the best knight I can be.” Serena lets out a hum of acknowledgement, neither approving or disapproving, a finger winding around a swirling ribbon of river that ran across the side of the map. She recovers quickly enough after a few moments of silence, and looks back up at him. “Well, let’s hope that works out for you, Saint Wolfman.” Her smirk is back, but something indiscernible in her eyes as she studies his face. “If you ever need a tour guide, handsome, I’ll gladly volunteer.” Marco feels a little off kilter again, whiplash from a flirtatious to a somber and back to flirtatious mood, feeling the weight of her scrutinizing gaze on him. “A um, kind offer, Lady Serena.” Serena smiles, that goofy, sincere, genuinely amused smile again, chuckling to herself as she leaves the map section and Marco wanders once again at this weird clan and it’s members.

[elem-entals]

concept updates

I wanna incorporate some from the Old Timelines, I’m looking back and there’s some stuff I like.

The Old Gen Elems concept: complicated, but I feel like the Old Gen having their memories adds some drama and intrigue. Or I can adapt it; perhaps Carla is affected by the Elements because she’s also related by blood to the Fire Elemental ancestors, like Irid. (Headaches, replacing the memory corruption symptoms with symptoms of merely being a part of the element as well.)

Trial updates: 

Whit: vulnerability and protection (A trial where whit has to morph into water and get hit by spears or something to pass onto the other side and pass the trial). Whit has to spot running away from his problems and be vulnerable. Water can withstand a lot of hits simply by being flexible and persistent. Wey maybe? Whit runs away from difficulties to survive his problems? 

Ollie- learning not just clobber, but that there are other ways to fight and be strong (learning improvisation with Carla). 

Irid - calm is stable but more powerful in anger. Can inspire her teammates but can go overboard (balance?). Balancing passion and anger and tranquility. Learning to embrace all sorts of emotions, including the negative ones. But learning to balance them in order to be her most powerful self. Lots of meditation and self moderation with her element.

Marco- sacrifice, truth. Being so willing to sacrifice himself, his Trial is based on not going overboard and becoming a martyr. Learning to accept others help, sacrifice. Lots in his Ancient texts about a variation on the words “Sacrifice” and “Martyr”. Sacrificing everything for the truth.

Demetrie- others sacrifice (what if both is sacrifice??) sacrifices of memory other side of the truth. ???, truth. The other side of the coin? The same phrase, but different variations in the ancient texts. Because they are so vague, the Two Elementals can interpret this. The Asrani’s see it as an endeavor that they will stop at nothing to gain the power. The DeSantos see it as a self sacrificial thing to sacrifice everything for the truth.

Win - energy, being influenced by those around it and more powerful around others. (Win having the most ability to pair with other elements and strengthen them??). Now this one is the weakest. Maybe it’s based off a similar concept: dont run away and be vulnerable dammit. Don’t hide behind self defense and built up walls. Wey created a persona to survive. He needs to get rid of it and be himself. 

The Post Asrani Trials, with flashbacks to Marco and Serena’s harrowing court trials as Demetrie is put on the chopping block.

Demetrie still discovering the Light Elemental on accident while at battle, looking for who knows what. A young Demetrie in his armor, looking at the glowing jewel holding the Light Elemental power with awe and schemery on his face.

[elem-entals]

plotline update for books 1 +2

Jan 21 2020

Irid and Carla escape bandits

Hestia guides the kids to the first temple

Marco arrives to help them escape and they get ambushed

They find the temple and run into it, the baddies are kept out

Ollie? (oh yeah I’ve always hid out here)

Hestia explains to them that they’re being hunted down by Demetrie because they are descendants of the elementals

First temple: Ollie?

(lol this place was just abandoned??)

Hestia: I’ve taken down the illusions.

Ollie goes through her trial and succeeds

Hestia: you have to keep moving, if he gets to the elements before you all, they will be lost and he will grow out of control

The gang leaves for the next temple

They move toward the north, surrounded by more and more water

They get attacked by selkies and merpeople

They regroup and pass cross with a young blonde traveler who chuckles at their reception from the selks

He offers to help reluctantly, they offer something he wants

So when they walk up, he is welcomed by the selks 

The temple is revealed

Did Wey notice? Was it a crumbling ruin? 

And they go inside, Wey gains his powers

Whit’s temple? Whit swims up?

Maybe Wey cant get to his before Wey does?

Irid’s temple? 

Sitting meditating on her trial

She has to save her friends and passes the trail (focus? Ignoring her worries and trusting??)

They travel to the light temple? Dark temple? Maybe because that temple has been unlocked forever (the academy is the dark temple? The storage thing?)

They are ambushed at the light temple? 

“I havent found it and my power is waning”

They battle demetrie and expose him

Marco gets his powers

The DS family is lauded and the Asrani’s exiled

Dahlia is exiled but given a home on the outskirts of the kingdom in return for her last minute help 

Book 2

The gang is strengthening their powers

New Academy

Trying to find and fend off the Scientist

Marco goes rogue to find him because he doesnt want the team to be at risk

The team escapes to the outskirts of the kingdom? 

They need a light elem?

Either Serena or Dahlia is the light elem?

OR maybe they need someone who knew Demetrie’s systems or something

Maybe he had something locked away with blood magic

The team tracks Marco down and saves him

Defeats the Scientist 

Goes on adventures around the magical world

[elem-entals]

colors + symbolism

clans iris vibes 

the Clans au and iris' warriors being colorful and a variety of peoples and demetrie's are all black and grey and restricted.

demetrie's knights in Elems being black and dreary and the elems being a variety and colorful

[elem-entals]

dm makes his announcement

Marco made his way down the corridor of the Main Hall, ignoring the heads that turned to look at him as he rushed into the library for the evening meeting with Captain DeSantos. He glanced at Hestia, who pinned him with a sharp glare.

He nodded, as if she was just greeting him after breakfast. She spent the morning flirting with Karl, pretending to “organize the archives” so she could shove it. 

Not that he’d tell her that.

The Captain clapped his hands, calling for attention from all gathered in the library, about a dozen or so members of the Academy. Granted, they were all mainly silent when Marco burst through the doors, they actually got here on time like good Academy girls and boys. You’d think as his son, Marco would get better at making good time.

“Let’s get started, shall we.” DeSantos says, eyes cutting toward Marco pointedly before he sighs. “There’s no way to break this to you all but...”

“...The Scientist is alive.”

[elem-entals]

Jan 7 - Irid and the gang approached the doors of the Earth Temple, looking over at Ollie with gaping expressions.

Ollie, chewing on the apple in her hand, sitting on a moss covered rock like it was a chaise lounge, stared back at them. “What? I found this place forever ago and the folks inside were super chill about me visiting.”

[elem-entals]

[elem-entals]

More Elems concepts:

Brent: irid as a spunky trainee palace guard for seb's kingdom. so more training than a normal knight? and shabi is/was her mentor? some trouble in the neighboring kingdom starts up and seb sends irid out on her first mission there to find out what's going on?

Me: Irid as a hapless commoner turned noble, but when her and her mother’s new carriage is ambushed, suddenly she’s wielding flame and fighting them expertly.

[elem-entals]

If I'm being honest, I'm at a loss for where I want Elems to start or evn base around besides the following things:

Irid being either secretly trained or having subconcious fighting ability/powers (badass Irid)

Sebastian being the secret ruler/royal of the Eastern kingdom? Maybe Western?

I love Shabi the new Starling warrior, maybe a subject of Seb's

Is Seb a half brother of Ollie/and a descendant of the late Eastern Queen?

The basic premise of Elems (Kids who find out they have powers and end up travelling to each temple and having magical adventures as they overcome Trials and become a team and take down the Asranis and the Scientist)

Marco going rogue and havingto stay hidden once he finds out the truth of Demetrie sealing the other elements and Demetrie framing him.

Irid and Marco fight bickering their way to friendship

Win, the asshole knight in training with his mom terrorizing him, becoming Weylin, the scrappy young cook who just wants to enjoy his life. And just when he carves ut his own place in life, he finds out that he's half avian, and has a cousin who's half selkie, andd both immigrant communities in the kingdom call on them for help.

[elem-entals]

undercover irid, crown prince seb, single dad sam au

from the rp with Brent Pt. 2

Nads marveling at the academy

Nads: :OOO

Nads: it's so much bigger than I imagined Sam: that's what she said Sam: anyway

Also shabina telling irid to just “ride that wolf already”

"Break him"

“Make him your bitch for a week and then move on, if you dont want to date, jeez”

"Like you would a beast of burden"

Irid: >:c stop this

“Look you even sound like him”

Sam: ah, ser Velezquez Sam: back from a rousing session of kicking Marco's ass?

Irid: pfft

Irid: indeed ;D

Irid: hello @nads

Sam: choice

Nads: :ooo Nads, quiet voice: I like your armor

Irid; 😀

Irid; thank you!

Irid; his majesty helped me design it!

Irid; some of our fellow knights nicknamed me the phoenix, so ya know

Irid; feather scale thingies c:

Nads: that's so rad!

^thats what clans au irid’s armor is

It might also be canon irid

Nads: I have those too but they're a part of my body c:

Also valley irid becoming a good fighter eventually

But clans and sm@l irid becoming way more advanced

Irid: :D neat!

Sam: look at that, already making friends

Nads: oh I already had friends here

Sam: oh? Nads: you, sir c: Sam: right, right

Sam: uh, Sam is fine

Irid;

This is a very soft nads

Shabina later, looking between this pre sads: ah

Shabina: you’ve chosen a fine bed partner, young miss

Nads: I've what now

Shabina: very eager to please and moderately fine breeding stock

Sam: no no no

Sam; NO NO NO Sam: that is not what is happening here

Irid; Shabina, we’ve talked about this

Nads: ah Nads: this is...the other half of the egg I presume? Sam, covering his face: yes

Nads: Nice to meet you miss?

she's like a whole foot taller than nads

she's also taller than sam

Everytime she sees them together she winks

“Ask him to do the tongue thing later. Also, Samir, the third shift guards need to work on defense, please relay that to The Elder DeSantos”

Nads: the what 😰

Sam: 😤

“The elder Desantos”

“Isnt relaying message one of your jobs, Desk jockey?”

Sam: 😒 among other things, yes

Nads: I think maybe there's been some kind of misunderstanding

She appreciates the werewolf view of life

Shabina: One of your peoples concepts, except I dont act like I invented it 😌

Marse: Thank- We do not >:|

Shabina: yes you do

Shabina: “oh we have the best soda bread recipe, our people originated it even though its recorded in history way before”

Marse: >:| that’s- we perfected it

Shabina and Marse are battle buddies confirmed

Learning from each other

Shabina: lovemaking

Sam: I cant dispute that one

Marse: oh i’ve heard more than I’ve ever needed to from this one

Shabina: just try one of the things i’ve described on your thin pale Courted one

Marse: he’s not thin, you should see him shirtless

Marse: ugh I’m sounding like you

Marse: goodbye, I’m not waiting on you to come to the meeting

Shabina: cc;; do you

shabina is an eastern starling with 4 eyes

Sam: "courted one"? Do we not say boyfriend here anymore ,':T

Shabina: one of them is always open

Shabina: wouldnt you know, with your fancy education

Irid: pfft

Sam: everyone says it >:T

Shabina: oh, another one of your functions here

Shabina: I will trust you to stay abreast of modern slang

Sam: 😒 and trust me with the hatchling we made

Sam: because I'm soft and domestic

Shabina: ah, you’re soft and domestic but smart

Shabina: soft and caring

Shabina: some of our country’s greatest battles were won by the soft hearted you had mercy on what would become our greatest allies

Sam: I dont like the emphasis you keep putting on soft

Shabina: soft

Sam: please stop

Marse from down the hallway: SHABINA

Shabina sighs: I take my leave

Shabina: stop whining, Desk Jockey

Sam: >:T

Sam, calling out as she's walking away: my name is samir by the way! >:T

By the end, she’s calling him Soft Samir

Samir the Soft

Sam: that's not Sam: ugh

Nads later@shabina: I feel like Nads: maybe there's a misunderstanding here

Shabina: lets clear it at once, my dear

Nads: I'm not here for- Nads: my dear?

A starling form of endearment usually meant for a younger starling maybe?

Nads: anyway I'm just here to be the new librarian

Nads: not

Nads: not to move in on your

Nads: territory

Shabina: hm? Oh Samir remains unclaimed, as it were

Nads: okay well Nads: I'm just stating for the record that I'm not trying to step on any toes sopleasedonthurtmeyouresobig

Shabina: c👀,’

Shabina: I will not hurt you, young one.

Nads: 😰

Nads: okay

Nads: you just Nads: keep making lewd comments Nads: I dont plan on doing any of those Nads: activities

Nads: tbh I dont know what half of them were 😰

Shabina: ah

Shabina: I keep forgetting about the different cultures of Starlings here

Shabina: forgive me, I come from a clan that follows a lot of the traditional werewolf way of being completely blunt and forthright

Shabina crossing a fist over her chest and bow shallowly: Forgive me for making you uncomfortable

Nads: well also I'm not super concerned with all that stuff

Shabina: I mistook this as Samir saying what he doesnt mean or being overly modest

Nads: no its uh, fine (you're so tall when you bow you're my height 😰)

Shabina: hmm

Shabina: very well, consider me mum on the subject.

Shabina: at least when you’re around

Nads: thanks I think

Shabina: or perhaps all the time? 🤔

Nads: that's- that's a personal decision

Nads: no one can make that choice but you

Shabina: hm... something to ponder

Sam, strolling up: DM wanted me to hand you these reports

Sam: Charlie's performance review of the third shift

Shabina:Ah, good

Shabina: Charles is of sound judgement

Shabina, looks over the reports: Charles is an idiot

Stalks off i guess

Sam: you're welcome

An au for charlie where his first wife is inspired by shabina

Finding comfort in the middle of a country at war

By a fellow soldier

Shabina kinda but not really bullying/teasing nads

Irid: Hey Nadia, if you want, I could ask some of the royal librarians to lend some extra copies of cultural books?

Nads: :DDD

Irid; maybe we could set up a lending program with less expensive copies?

Irid: interlibrary, maybe?

Nads: that would be fantastic!!!

Irid: :DD

Nads: I need to make more blood pact papers 🤔

Irid; I-

Irid: I mean do you tho.... 😨

Nads: of course! Nads: I have a nearly 95% return rate

Irid; that might

Irid: I mean maybe theres a less intense way, maybe you can talk to some of our librarians

Irid: I’ll let y’all hash it out

Nads: 🤔

Nads: so Nads: what can you tell me about everyone 🗒️🖊️

Nads: I like to keep thorough notes 👀

Irid: o- okay

irid: anyone you wanna start with?

irid: remember i've only been here for about 4 months

marco: hm

marco walking up i guess

[elem-entals]

undercover irid, crown prince  seb, elems academy marco, librarian knowledge nads au

Brent and I had some really good ideas in this whole rp Pt. 1

Undercover irid but seb is also there undercover

Maybe irid is from some far off kingdom secretly

And helps/recruited the elems

And surprise she’s actually an agent from the Eastern Kingdom

And the lovable seemingly dumbass refugee who’s been putting his blacksmithing skills to use since the academy changed hands to dm

He looks at irid; and tells her to cut the act, the mission has been accomplished

Irid:

Irid; >:| dammit, sire

Irid: there’s still more to acc- Seb holds up a hand: it’s high time we stop the charade and make things clear

Seb: we all know how cozy you’ve gotten here, Fire elemental Iridona c; Irid: >:| 😳 your Majesty

Marco: what

Irid: Seb: Crown Prince Sebastian Warbourne at your service c;

Irid as one of the palace guards and a close friend of the prince

Irid muttering: >:| we had more to get done

Marco, later: sam what the fuck

Marco: she’s some sort of highly trained palace guard warrior chick

Marco: no wonder she picked up on training so fast, common girl with secret powers my butt

Seb, walking around a corner: that was her original origin

Seb: she really was a commoner who learned to fight rather quickly

Seb: and I’d watch how you talk about her, especially in front of me c;

Sam: 😗🍷

Sam: just your type marco

Seb: 👀

Seb: she hasnt dated much, but you are quite her type as well, Marco.

Sam: great, I love watching marco get his ass kicked

Seb: I do, as well 🍹

Marco: >:|

Sam: we ain't friends, guy

Marco: you get all fluttery whenever she’s near and you practically glow whenever she’s paying attention to you

Marco: me thinks she’s more than a bodyguard to you

Seb: Seb; 🍹

Seb: my interests are her happiness

Seb, picking lint off of his shirt: she is more than capable of being a mere palace guard

Sam: like a wife

Seb: if I can help her be more, find more of what could make her happy, live up to her potential, I will do nothing to stand in the way

Seb knocks back his drink

All of it

At once

Sam: impressive

Seb: no

Seb: its really not

Sam: I did like 3 at once one time during breeding season a few years back 😗

Seb:

Marco:

Marco: what

Sam: it was hard to position all three

Sam: without spilling it

Marco: OH drinks

Sam: I was already hammered so I dont think I would have noticed anyway

Sam: oh

Sam: yeah drinks

Marco: ...

Sam: and then maybe some very impressed ewes 😗🍷

Marco: what

Sam: anyway your kinglyness finish your ominous speech

Seb: 👀🍹no that was it

Sam: oh okay cool

Marco: will your guard terrier approve of another drink or does she need to test it

Sam: [takes a sip]

Seb: Seb punches Marco’s arm

Sam as a former party boy for this au I guess

Seb: maybe if its poisoned you should try it first 😒

Sam: oh damn I'll do it, I'd love to die

Seb:

Marco: 😕

Seb: yikes

Sam: jokes

Sam at some point to marco: y'know there's probably a few Samir jr.'s out there somewhere 🤔

Marco: wow

Sam: I know, weird to think about

Sam: I dont know if you wolves feel the same way but sometimes during breeding season some people just let loose

Sam: a lot of hatchlings are raised communally

Sam: dont know who their parents are, 's not really a big deal to us

Sam: sorry, there was just a hatchling that ran past a few hours ago and I got to thinking about it

Starling lore for this au

And maybe in general idk

This is a single dad Sam au now I guess

Marco: what if

Marco: what if you met a kid that was yours?

Is this assuming he doesnt have nadir with him yet?

Sam: I Sam: I don't know

Sam, elbowing him: maybe this upcoming season eh?

Whichever you think is more fun for this point im the au

Sam having a tryst with a starling from the eastern kingdom and he keeps the egg for himself

Lol she drops it on his desk

she's a badass warrior (maybe another palace guard?) And doesnt have the time/safe place to raise it

a starling version of iris

And is like "this is yours to do as you please"

"Wuh"

“Have fun byeee”

Warrior starling with a dry personality and a love of violence

Yes exactly

"This is soft cushy work, perfect for you"

"Uh"

Marco:

Marco: so you have a kid now?

Marco: mazel

Sam: one that I know about, yeah

Sam, with the egg: I could Sam: bring it to a hatchery

Marco: ...

Sam: this is the first time I've been face to shell with a product of a tryst

Sam: oh dont look at me like that, it's a normal starling cultural thing

Sam: it's not like your orphanages

Marco: yeah i know but

Marco: 👀 you were saying you could use a bit of something stable

Marco: company

Sam: 🌕🖊️ Sam: look [shows him the egg]

The egg has a face scrawled on it

Marco: you have a support system here too

Sam, egg voice: hi marco, it's me, Samir Jr.

Concept: Iris as a visiting consultant as a favor to Dm as he’s trying to set up the new Academy

Sam: 🤔 I am getting a bit long in the tooth

Iris: Samir, for the last time, I need those reports on-

Iris: 👀|

Iris: that’s an egg

Sam: it is

~

Someone asks Iris if she’s dating dm

Sam: very astute observation, I can see why you get paid the big bucks

“Not my type”

Dm: she likes twinks but like straight

Iris: >👀|

Sam: so like all starlings

Dm: mhm

Iris: >👀C

Sam: I know a buddy who's single

Sam: not afraid to mingle with those of the flesh

~

Iris: you’re about to see my foot up your ass

Marco: this is why I liked having you around

Sam: [cups his hands around his eyes]

Marco: Sam, seriously, it could be nice

Marco: having a little one around

Sam: hmm Sam: I'll give it a week to decide

Iris: ugh you and your father are so domestic

Sam: he's getting old iris

Sam: he wants to settle down

Sam: maybe with someone from out of town 👀

Sam: isnt that right eggbert Sam, egg voice: sure is

Iris: your dad met your mother and like a month later “oh she’s so wonderful, I could see us settling down in some house in the Valley or something”

Iris: [fake gags]

Sam: [sighs] I want that

Sam: marco is your dad into single dads

Sam: this could be your step sibling

Marco: dont even joke

Iris, in a bad dm impression; Samir, you’re claws are looking very pointy today

Iris: may I escort you to the Fall Ball in August?

*your

Sam: why thank you Marco, you're so kind~

Sam, bats his lashes: what a gentleman

Iris, pretending to be faint: Oh, Iris, he’s so lovely, we’ll have a June wedding

Iris: I’m assuming you’re the same way in love, Marc-y

Sam: I need a nice, strong man to help me raise my hatchling

Marco: >:| I hate having you around

Marco: No you dont

Marco: you are strong

Sam: not as strong as this little dude's ma

Sam: she could have bench pressed me

Iris: ooh👀

Sam: I think I pulled something when we were together

Iris: oooooh👀c

Iris: gimme the hot goss

^monotone lucretia voice

Sam, scooting closer: so she drops this on my desk, right?

Iris: ‼️

Sam: "here, you live a cushy, domestic life. Take this"

Sam: what am I supposed to do with this? I ask Sam: she snorts, patronizingly I might add Sam: "use your fancy academy education and figure it out"

Sam: >:T she must think I'm some kind of coddled highborn

Iris: she sounds cool

Marco: you would think that

Sam: she was that big tall starling his fancy pants-ness brought with him

Sam: look at me forging alliances

Sam: you're all welcome

Sam: you're next marco

Iris: oh, you mean

Eh?

Iris: Shabina?

Sam: is that her name? Huh 🤔

Iris: you didnt even know her name? 👀c

Sam: she doesnt know mine so I think we're square

Sam: she called me desk jockey at one point

Iris: oooh, she mentioned you

Sam: oh?

Iris: “the desk jockey had these soft hands, and knew how to use them”

Marco: uGH

Sam, leaning back: ha, totally me

Marco: what do you mean I’m next?

I like this iris dynamic with sam and marco tbh

Sam: maybe I can teach you sometime Marco, y'know, to get a leg up in his royal ominous-ness

Yeah same

Marco: what the fuck is that sentence

Iris: language, pup

Sam: I mean we're going to help you seduce iridona

Sam: get you a palace guard

Marco: what

Iris: now that you’ve got an egg you’re wanting to play matchmaker?

Sam: yes

Sam: I'm feeling domestic

Marco: oh please after you got Celi in your clutches you wouldnt leave me and Dad and Marse alone about “finding someone”

Sam: you're welcome btw, told you I'd find you a twink

Iris: my private life is not up for speculation

Iris: how did you find him for me?

Sam: oh you think you found him on accident?

Iris: I like to find my own beaus thank you very much

Sam: [snickers] okay

Iris: [narrows her eyes]

Marco: nice

Marco: maybe Sam can get you ankid too

Iris slaps his arm

Sam: yeah, maybe Sam: my cup runneth over with them, apparently

Sam: I'll keep doing a whirlwind tour of the willing starling ewes that could break me in half in the eastern kingdom and make everyone an egg

Sam: [sighs] Sam: I'm gonna go to the library to get some books on parenting I guess

Sam: who wants to come with?

Iris, winding her arm thru sam’s: there’s a section on combat training that could be useful for a growing young starling

Sam: just because my hatchling's mom was a meathead doesn't mean they have to be

Iris: oh no no

Iris: not a meathead per say. but a cool and collected young ewe or ram with the ability to defend themselves from enemies

Marco: should you decide to keep the hatchling, you’ll have so many people to help with the kid, they wont even need it

Iris: but they should know

Iris: maybe young master DeSantos can learn some seduction techniques

Marco: >:|

Sam: yeah I've got plenty of that

Marco; Irid has enough on her plate

Sam: what, some kid playing king?

Sam: if the other palace guard has enough time to waste with me I'm sure irid can stomach a date or two with you

Sam: c'mon, let's go to the library

Marco: maybe he was just looking to make friends

Sam: mostly because I don't remember how to get there :<

He was but also sam’s right

Iris: pfft

Iris tugs on his arm

Iris moved over to the capital after losing her first husband. She lost him awhile back when she was just friends with dm

Later when she struggles marco and dm and sam help comfort her

Iris and sam and marco at the fantasy baby store

Trying to figure out what to get a soon to be hatchling

this is a knowledge nads au also

Ooooooo

to prepare you for this variant

is Nads a librarian

nads is a librarian

Bookmage

Book battle mage

We gotta figure out how to incorporate some of this into one of our long standing au’s

Nads: Hi, welcome to Talondrop Library :DDD

Iris: 👀|c hello, young miss

Sam, muttering: it's way too early in the morning for this kind of pep

Iris quietly: I like her, hush

Marco nods

Iris: might we be directed to the section on baby care?

Nads: how can I help you all? c: Nads: unless you're part of that group that's been stealing books in which case I won't hesitate to use force >:c [pulls out an envelope opener]

Iris: 👀|c like a real life Bilbo

Nads who is probably as tall or taller than Iris

Nads: oh, sure! :DDD [she still doesn't put away the opener]

Nads: right this way

Nads: what kind of baby is it? I've organized the whole section by species

Iris: impressive

Iris: a hatchling, eventually

Nads: ✨✨✨

Nads: I see! Nads: that explains why you walked in with an egg 🤔

Nads: I didn't want to assume

Nads: what in particular are you looking for? feeding? education? c: Sam: uh...everything? Nads: first time parent? I got you c;

Nads grabs one of those book carts

Nads: I'll be back in just a second with a selection!

Sam: This vibe is weird

Sam: this is making it all so...realy

Sm@l iris befriending sam after she and celi visit to have their case looked at

Iris and sam gossiping

Iris: true, but we’re at the intel gathering stage

Iris: if you’re gonna decide, you should do it well as informed as possible

Sam: intel gath- Sam: iris I'm getting baby books, I'm not on a mission

Sam: marco, you've been awfully quiet

Marco: ... just taking it in

Marco: dont want to add more noise

Sam: more than our new "friend"? I'm sure you're fine

Sam: it is awfully quiet in here though

Sam: like more than a library usually is

Nads, with a pyramid of books: I'm back, hi c:

Sam: jeez, this is uh Nads: just a small selection, I know

Sam: wasn't what I was thinking tbh

Nads: I've got a small sampling of everything you'd ever want to know

Nads: feeding, bathing, teaching; the works

Sam, looking over a book: uuuuh

Nads: and, most important of all, hatching

Sam: Sam: oh shit I forgot that part

Marco leafs thru a book

Iris: thank you, Miss...?

Nads: Nadia~ c:

Nads: Talondrop Library's head librarian

Iris: Nadia c: I’m Iris

Iris: this is Marco and thats Sam

Nads: ...!!! :OOO Nads: you're from that academy aren't you?

Marco nods

Nads: I hear you guys are hosting the King of the Eastern Kingdom

Marco: pft

Marco: yeah now we are

Iris: always interesting, having visiting foreign entities

Nads: that's so neat, it must be exciting to swap stories c: Sam, muttering: and fluids c:', c: ', c:',

Sam: right marco

Marco: oh gross

Sam: marco

Sam: right

Nads: is there anything else I can help you all with today? c: Sam: yeah, you got any books on seduction so we can help my man over here? c:',

Marco: >:| stop this

Nads: 🤭 we have some romance books if he would be interested

Marco: I am not

Nads: of course! If you'll follow me to the counter

Nads: okay, so you have two weeks before you either have to return or renew them

Nads: I'll just need your signature right here Sam: alright

Nads: and right here Sam: 'kay Nads: and a drop of your blood Sam: ok- what

Nads: for the blood pact c: Nads: if you don't return the books on time there'll be a fee, and if you don't return it in a month's time I'll hunt you down

Sam:

Marco:

Iris: 👀

Sam, taking the pin: fine, I don't want to have to walk to the bookstore

sam pricks himself and a drop of blood falls onto the small magic circle on the counter

it evaporates into a cloud of pink smoke

Nads: the contract is sealed Nads, pushing the books towards him: have a lovely day :DDD

Sam@marco and iris: what, don't look at me like that

Sam: I need these books, I'm completely lost without them

Sam studying the books in his office while marco chills

maybe talking about how irid kicked his ass during training that day?

yes i love this

marco puts his feet up on sam's desk

what does sam do in this?

what if its the same gag

he does everything and nothing

and has an office

I like it

nobody knows what he does

but dm says he's invaluable

marco: so I look up she has the dumbest smirk on her face

marco: and decks me and I fall off the log and loose the whole ass challenge

Sam: HA, classic

marco, throwing the candy wrapper from the candy he nabbed from sam's candy dish on his desk in the wastebasket: stupid

Sam: was your love rival there

Marco: my what?

Marco: I have no such thing

Marco: Iridona is a colleague

Marco: who lied technically

Sam: we've all lied once or twice

So ya know how in older movies, a couple dancing in a big fancy number was like

Lowkey highkey hinting toward their chemistry in bed

That but its how irid and marco fight or fight together

Marco: Samir

Sam: like when you asked what happened to your piece of cake that day in third grade

Marco: excuse you

Sam: and I said your sister must have taken it

Sam: and Marco, you don't have to lie about that absolutely sizzling sexual chemistry you have with her

Sam: and don't let what's his face psyche you out

Marco:

Marco: 😳 n- no-

Marco: aw fuck it

Marco: It doesnt feel right to just up and

Sam: 👀

Marco: “hey so how about this thing I think is between us”

Sam: well sure if you wanna be all Sam: werewolf Sam: about it

Sam: take a starling approach

Sam: romance her

Sam: flirt

Sam: flash her that roguish smile

Sam: instead of ballroom dancing to express your feelings you two spar Sam: it's like its own dance, in a way

Marco: ugh dont remind me. If i was gonna go all werewolf, I’d tackle her during training and growl into her ear about all the stuff i’d love to do to her and see if she’s down

Sam: rhythmic, passionate

Marco: not cool

Marco:

Sam: hey now that's not werewolf Sam: werewolf is "hello milady, I would like to mount you, do I have thine permission?""

Marco: “would thou consent to be bred-eth?”

*wouldst

Sam: "I think you'll find I'm a suitable caretaker, watch me bench this deer carcass"

Marco: heheh

Marco: seriously, I dont even know if shes interested

Sam: well

Sam: test the waters

Sam: you don't have to be blunt about it

Sam: even though I know it's in your desantos dna

Sam: maybe we should have gotten you one of those seduction books

Sam: I've finished all these books and have to return them, I could pick one up c;

Marco: hatred

Marco: utter hatred

Sam: love you too

Marco: wait you read all of those books?

Sam: yes

Sam: Also I haven't slept

Sam: I'm sure it's fine

Marco: soo

Marco: have you come any closer to a decision?

Sam: mmm

Sam: I don't know

Sam: it's only been one day

Sam: Maybe once I get more books

Marco: I-

Marco: hold on

Sam: and return these before I get stabbed in my sleep or something 😒

Sam: what is it boy

marco: are you gonna chat up the cute head librarian

Sam: is celio stuck in a well

marco: utter loathing

Sam: what? I mean I guess I have to

marco: u t t e r  l o a t h i n g

Sam: I'm pretty sure she's the only librarian

Sam: cute eh? should I alert irid that she's lost her chance? 👀

Sam: anyway I need more books because honestly I'm starting to freak out

Marco: aw sami

Sam finding nads one day super depressed looking in the dark by herself

And when he gets her attention she's like "!!!" And tries to put on her customer service persona

He asks what's wrong and she tells him that the library's going to be shut down soon and it's all she has

Sam asking dm if there's any openings for the academy library

Dm: well

Dm: theres a lot of openings since part of every intellectual department was infested with Asrani loyalist so

Dm: yes

Sam: nice Sam: um Sam: can I ask for a favor

Dm: and poor Avalene is stretched thin between sorting out the archives and trying to sort out the library

Sam: nothing big this time, I promise

Dm:

Sam: look

Sam: the library in town is slated to be shut down

Sam: and the librarian there has really been helping out with the whole Sam: surprise fatherhood thing

Dm: ah yes

Dm: that aside, I hope you know you can count on me and Marco for support with that.

Sam: I mean granted loaning out books is a librarian's job

Sam: right, thank you sir

Sam: I'll...keep that in mind

Dm: >:| you mean isolate yourself eventually

Dm: anyway 😤

Dm: I’ll see what I can do

Sam: [bats his lashes]

Dm: the young woman in Talondrop? The enthusiastic one?

Sam: that's her

Dm: hm

Dm: I’ll get back to you

Sam: thanks

Dm dials the extension for the library where avilene has set up shop

The academy one

Dm: would you like to take on an experienced young librarian with enthusiasm for the jo- Avilene, loud enough for sam to hear thru the phone: yES

dm nods at sam

Sam: great, I'll let her know

Sam: see, I told you I'd be an asset

Sam: strengthening ties between our neighbors, finding new employees

Dm waves him away: yes yes

"So like I heard you knocked up one of my guards?"

Dm: tell my son to stop dancing around his very obvious crush on Ser Velezquez

Sam: I've tried

Dm: 😒

Sam: I promise I've tried