forgottencormac

[forgottencormac]

She took both his hands and, despite his natural and overwhelming emotional courage, Cormac sniffled at the gesture. She said his name. Her questions were urgent and he sighed, touched by her obviously great desire, still, to unite with himself. Was this not a pretty tableau? Two lovers, here, sundered by the ambitions of an emperor? Cormac had no doubt that, in future days, many heartbreaking lays would be written of this heart-rending moment and he sighed, gripped with the knowledge that he'd been meant, always, to be a romantic hero. Granted, had she been Cassimir rather than herself, well, that is where the real drama might have occurred, but short of that -- was this not the next best thing?

Mentally attempting to conjure the yearning expression he thought such a hero ought to wear in such a moment, he attempted to turn towards her what he considered to be the most striking angle of his face -- imaging them caught in a painter's imagination and, for centuries to come, fixed in a portrait that would haunt generations to come. Had it not been Cassandra, herself, who stood between them, Cormac could think of no one who would better appreciate the drama of the moment, and he half-wished to tell her of it, though he would not risk wounding her either, by making her believe the idea of their life together had caused him any pain. He sighed again.

"Dearest Aoife," he sighed. Her pain, he knew, must be extreme to go to such a desperate thought, and his heart wept for her. "It is no use! We cannot over-interpret our way out of this, much as we both might prefer such an outcome! My hand is no longer my own to bestow." There. That sounded fittingly poetic, he thought.

"But it is not so very bad, Aoife. We will not be parted, not entirely. You will be everyday at my side as Finnegan's wife, will you not? Next to Aine, you shall be my very favorite sister." This was not really saying that much, given how he felt about his other sisters, but it sounded really quite splendid, he thought, and thus duly fitting of the emotional drama of the moment! He wondered what Cassimir might make of this moment -- how the drama of watched Cormac in such a situation might effect his heart and, despite himself, he smiled softly. It was always comforting -- pleasing, even, to think of Cassimir moved by his own actions and woes...

"It is desperately important that you think very hard about this conversation."

As she requested word for word account, Cormac screwed up his face in memory. How had it gone? He tried to remember, but the whole thing was a blur. But it had been a request, Marian touching his arm, determined to engage him and...

"Aha! Yes! I perfectly recall the occasion!" he cried, rather delighted with his gift of immaculate recall. "The Queen took my hands, just as you have now, and looking deep into my eyes, she said, 'My lord cousin, how I do so wish you to be my own son. Indeed, next to only Lord Malconaire, himself, there is no greater lord in all my husband's domain. But with our dearest lord already sworn elsewhere, I know of no candidate better to wed my own darling daughter. Lord Calleary, I wish you to wed Princess Cassandra. I'm afraid I must insist. I must know that my dear girl shall be cared for as she must be when I am gone.'

"Naturally, I could hardly refuse so tender a request -- and from so loving a mother! -- and, though perhaps not in that way, I do dearly love the sweet princess. I mean to make good on my promise, and care for her as she ought to be cared for, to the end of her days!"

Surprise registered in Cormac's face as she spoke of delay, and he was on the verge of protesting -- he did not see why they could not be wed within the next few hours, if they so wished! It was true that the imperial fashion was for long betrothals, but that was not always the Astairan way, and Cormac wished for Aoife to have her consolation prize secured as quickly as porsible, lest she do herself a harm! Yet, his face gentled into tragic comprehension as she gave her reasons.

"Aoife," he said very gently. "Your instincts do you credit! You are too right. It would not be seemly to outdo Cassimir, and no doubt your sister will have need of you and your sisters as she prepares the occasion to befit one of such august standing as your own most gracious brother! How good of you, how self-sacrificing, yet how wise of you to put such lofty needs above your own. You are right, of course. That is, indeed, how it must be, particularly if you believe it is what dear Cassimir would prefer.

"But Finnegan shall be awaiting you when the time comes! He shall not so much as see another woman! Besides our sisters, of course. We will not announce it, as you say, but I shall myself hold him as sworn to your most esteemed self, and I solemnly swear that I shall dress him, myself, for your wedding day, that he might bring all that masculine splendor a bride should be proud to look upon on her wedding day! I will spare no expense or article in conceiving of the perfect wardrobe! Oh, Aoife," he added, growing rather enthused at the thought. "What is your favorite color? Oh! Perhaps I ought to stud the garment with precious stones -- what do you think?" He gasped, eyes widening with excitement. "Shall I have you a dress made, as well. Oh, stand up! I will take your measurements, myself!"

At that moment, however, something occurred to him. Her measurements were due, after all, to change over the next few months. "Though...not to be indelicate, my lady, but..." He put his finger to his lips. No man had ever been more polite in addressing so delicate a matter, he prided himself. "I speak no word of recrimination -- believe me my brother will be delighted he need not...well, his heir is already secured -- but...Is it not perhaps for the best that...even if a quiet affair, the marriage go ahead...sooner rather than...later? It should not reflect well upon Cassimir should word spread further, and his sisters grow...visible, and yet unwed! No, no, fear not my lady, I shall settle it all with your brother, forthwith!

"Just think, Aoife! You could be married as soon as today, if all goes well!" He paused, agitation growing in his eyes, tears beginning to stand out in them. All he wanted was a way to make them all happy, all at once! Why was it proving so difficult? He wrung his hands. "Do you truly believe it would discomfort Cassimir?"

The Most Admirable Traits || Cormac + Aoife

Aoife stared at Cormac, wondering if he was finished with his speech. For some reason Aoife could not particularly understand, Cormac had decided to inform Cassimir of what he believed were Cassimir's most admirable qualities, possibly in alphabetical order though Aoife had not been paying particularly close attention.

It had been a long speech which was also quite surprising. Perhaps it had come from years of living alongside Cassimir, but she did not think there were enough to even made a two minute speech, let along going on five minutes.

Cormac had always been... unique, but this obsession with her step brother might be one of his most unique traits of all. Part of her felt sorry for Cormac-- she doubted Cassimir would pay him much attention when he had located to the new seat of House Calleary hundred of miles away. Cormac, however, didn't seem to notice that their friendship-- if it could even be called that-- was completely one sided.

"Oh... is that all of them?" Aoife asked before taking a sip of her tea. She realized she'd made it half way through taking a drink when she'd paused, not fascinated by Cormac's words but by just how many words he managed to say in such a short amount of time.

Not really wanting an answer, Aoife leaned forward and picked up the tea pot. "More tea, Lord Calleary?" she inquired, figuring he must be quite parched after such a soliloquy as the one he had just given.

[forgottencormac]

Sweet Sister | Cormac & Guinevere

"Oh, my dear sister!" cried Cormac, half floating into the room, arms raised high above his head as if he were holding something large and round and quite invisible over his head. "What a triumph you look this evening! How overjoyed you must feel at the prospecting of wedding sweet Eoin! Quite a handsome young man, is he not? I had little doubt he'd catch himself quite a beauty, but that he should turn your imperial head! You must both be so overjoyed!"

Cormac was mistaken on quite a few things. He was mistaken in believing himself related to Guinevere; he was mistaken in thinking her adulatory about her future nuptials; and he was equally mistaken about what he was about to say.

"Oh! But I have gotten ahead of myself. Ever since your dear half-mother, Marian, told me of my own betrothal to your dear sister, Cassandra, I have longed to eschew the title of cousin for that much more familiar one of sister. Will you not permit it? Why what could possibly be more pleasing to any of us than a union between our two great Houses, after all this time?"

He was right that there had been a Varmont/Calleary match in the past, but he did not rightly understand that it had been between Bartholomew and his wife, and therefore that Guin was of no blood relation to himself, whatsoever. And whatever a half-mother might be, Marian was most certainly not that to anyone.

Cormac was, as usual, wearing quite a concoction. Boasting endless tulle, festooned with embroidery, and sporting a cocaphony of clashing color and pattern, he was a sight to see at the Malconaire gala. This was, however, his way and, much as he might draw stares (all of which he interpretted as admiring or else envious) from those who did not know him, all those accustomed to him were perhaps a touch less shocked by his attire than they ought to be.

Yet, Cormac had managed to outdo even himself, tonight, with a most extravagant hat that rose, folding over itself in a wide array of shocking clolor, rose high to the point of appearing rather like dirty laundry mounted upon his head. It was also rather heavy and, whenever he dipped his head one way or another, he was rather in danger of his whole self collapsing that way, something that was troubling him even now as the hat tilted left and Cormac half-danced, his head tilting with it, trying not to tumble. At last he righted himself, the hat slouching now more right than left, and Cormac with a rather studied gesture, confident no one had observed how he'd nearly lost his balance, reached out to lean against the wall.

Suddenly, gasping loudly, both hands flew to his mouth as, overcome by his realization, he staggered back a pace, and then another as the hat leaned sharply back. "I was not to tell a soul!" Tears, a very usual element with Cormac, rushed to Lord Calleary's face, but he did not shed them. "Oh, but, Your Highness," he hissed. "I was not to say! Oh! It is such a secret, and I have no wish to steal your most illustrious thunder! Princess! Oh! I AM A WORM!" he wailed, seizing hold of her arm. "Pray, pray tell no one what has passed here! Pray tell no one! But, now you know, oh my dear sister, say you will give us your blessing! I know I am equal to anything, should you be with us!"

[forgottencormac]

Proposals | Cormac & Sebastian

"Oh, pity me!" cried Cormac, riding towards Sebastian as soon as he saw him on the road. "I have lately had the most grievous duty, cousin!" Cormac was weeping which, in another person might have been alarming, but in him, even accompanied by such histrionics, was nearly a daily occurrence. Still, approaching Sebastian, he reached out and seized the prince's reins, tugging his horse to a stop that Sebastian might stop and console him.

"The God knows," he wailed. "I have broken my own heart and, in so doing, that of near the fairest maiden in all Astaira!" He pressed his hand to his chest, hiccuping out breaths before managing to check himself. "Shall I tell you it? Oh, but you shall no doubt know, presently -- I only pray the lady do herself no harm! But I think I have managed to distract her for the moment."

Cormac paused, wishing for Sebastian to eagerly beg of him what tidings he bore, but Sebastian looked more surprised than intrigued. Bravely, Cormac pressed on. "I believe I had told you that I meant, this week, to make my proposals to the Lady Aoife!"

He paused, again. Finally, Sebastian, he thought, looked rather more absorbed in Cormac's news. "But, with your most majestic mother's most...gracious tidings -- if you have not yet heard them, you soon will -- I was obliged to cancel these plans."

Cormac thought he really had Sebastian's full attention, now. He did rather enjoy telling a dolorous tale to a riveted audience! And Sebastian had a decidedly pleasant face -- not so breathtaking as Cassimir's mind, but then, whose was? -- which made speaking with him all the more easy and enjoyable.

"Oh, but my dear cousin, this is where the pain begins! That sweet girl! I feel now I have led her on terribly, though I assure you my intentions were most sincere and honorable! Instead of making her the offer as I had intended, I was instead forced to break her heart. Oh, I feel I shall swoon!"

The back of his hand shot up to his forehead and, for a moment, he swayed precariously in his saddle, but soon re-composed himself, grasping Sebastian's arm for support.

"Sweet prince--" fresh tears rolled down his cheeks. "You should have seen her! She was so brave in the face of it, my whole heart went out to her! It was too painful to watch her try to rationalize the event afterwards. She began to ask a whole host of nonsensical questions -- you know how women are -- but it was more than obvious it was only a way of distracting herself from the pain of it, trying to...trying to understand why I had tossed her dear heart away so." He bit his lip, entirely sincere in what he said next. "I would have given anything not to hurt her, cousin. You know that, don't you?"

Pausing, he let Sebastian go, clearing his throat as he righted himself in the saddle. "But the tidings are not all ill and, I fancy, I have saved her from a pain too crushing and bleak with my quck thinking." Despite his tears, his smile turned beatific. "Saved her, most like! Shall I tell you of my cleverness? You will be most overjoyed and, I wager, impressed to hear the news, my friend! I have betrothed her, instead, to my brother!" He beamed.

It was more the case in reality, perhaps, that Cormac had offered his brother than that they were as yet betrothed, but in Cormac's mind, the matter was settled entirely. Having tragically lost her chance at both Cormac and -- worse -- Cassimir, he could not imagine that she might risk losing her chance at the next best thing: Cormac's brother.

"Oh, congratulate me, cousin! I could not have been any cleverer, could I? No. The alliance with Cassimir is saved; Aoife is safe; Finn shall have the third most desirable Astairan bride there is! And I know...I know her dowry is not...not so very vast, and Cassimir or the Lady Valentina shall likely ask a bride price, as I believe that's how things are done in the Riverbend, and Finn cannot pay because he has no money of his own, but I shall make the payment thereof my wedding gift to them! Is it not clever? Is it not all so charmingly arranged? Truly," he added, a touch self-importantly. "Éabha could not have done better, for all father's training!" His laugh was bright, and he clapped delightedly.

"Now, you mustn't go spoiling the surprise!" He tapped his nose. "Keep it to yourself, my good man. Lady Aoife of course knows, but no one else! I'm on my way to tell Finn the glad tidings, even now! Is it not the most thrilling--?"

Grinning, he clapped his hand to his chest. "Oh, say at once how wonderful it is. I cannot possibly dream of a more delightful sister!" He said this as if he did not already have quite a few. He frowned suddenly, remembering this, cleared his throat. "Save my dearest Aine, of course." He did not mention either of his other sisters.

"Oh, congratulate me at once! I feel quite on top of the world! Have you ever saved a life, my prince? It is a most...I cannot tell you what a feeling it is! And the lady could not possibly be more deserving!" He frowned, thinking then of poor Brigit and Roisin and the peril into which their own lives must now, per force, be thrown, having been passed over without a single word by both Cassimir and Cormac. Alas! He prayed they chose merely to take the veil, and not their lives...Hastily, Cormac squeezed his eyes shut and offered up a little prayer for the repose of their souls, just in case. He decided it was only right that he help pay for their burials, should it come to that. Gone too soon! Tears rushed into his eyes again and, for a moment, he wept but, remembering Sebastian was there, he bravely managed a smile, his excitement overcoming his grief as he recalled the glad tidings he had just shared.

"But, now, I am so glad to have met with you here on the road where we may speak in all discretion. Please understand that I--" Cormac paused, attempting to be delicate as could be, the matter of Aoife's pregnancy occurring to him. "Please understand, my cousin, I am...well aware of the lady's...condition and have no bone to pick with anyone upon the matter. My brother, too, shall, I am sure, prove most delighted that he need not...endeavor, himself." He winked. This, he thought, was the height of delicacy.

"Indeed, I pray that you shall feel most comfortable at Lorcan when the lady moves thence to take up her new abode, and once again in Calleary when we move there. Further, my dear prince, I hope that you shall be most involved in the upbringing of your soon-to-be littlest cousin! There! What do you say to that?"

[forgottencormac]

(smth i learned abt cormac's outfits while working on cormac's closet section on pinterest...if you can ask yourself 'would a particularly flamboyant matador wear this?' and the answer is 'yes' you're probably on the right track. now just throw in heaps of pastel rococo, and a pinch of fem cottagecore...and you've got yourself a patented cormac calleary riot of textures and colors and patterns outfit alkdsjfjksdf) l

[forgottencormac]

I had a dream last night where @forgottenfiona & Finn convinced @forgottencormac that Lorcan was haunted. I don't remember all of the details, but there was definitely a scene where Cormac was hiding underneath his comforter and writing an SOS letter to Cassimir to come and save him alsdjflsadfj

[forgottencormac]

so tragically cormac will not get to live in a world where cassimir is emperor due to his marriage to guin, now that ~both parties are betrothed to ~other ppl but!! he carries on bravely despite this crushing defeat of all that is good in this universe...

affectionately, (bc i adore him <3 but) cormac is a BUFFOON and like...completely extra and just...the callearies all have a lil ~eccentricity/chaos in them and like...cormac is a total drama queen. he's besties w guin's lil sis, cassandra, largely bc they see the world the same way -- its all abt fashion and romance and parties and drama etc -- but yeah also cormac 1) thinks that he's cousins w roderick + ALL the varmonts (only true of ~two varmonts bc he's related to ciara and eoin on their mom's side...he's in no way related to ~any of the others but he doesn't understand that) but also he's ~lately gotten it into his head that he's betrothed to cassandra (he's not!) which he thinks is really sad bc he loves cassandra like a little sister!!!! but he's just not into her like that and both he ~and she deserve a high romance

but yeah basically cormac's off living his own lil au (delusion) and also...he's a big matchmaker but he's dead wrong abt like...every single ONE of them. also he thinks that aria and alistair are having a steamy affair on the side (idr why??? iirc literally he saw them standing on like...the same side of the room one time and ???? that was enough ig alkjsdfkjsdfkj) so he ~might hint abt both that ~and his own betrothal to cassandra and like basically...

generally if a character tells you smth ic you can trust that that's going on, or at least smth like it. w cormac...who knows, BUT it is MORE likely that it is wrong than right tbqh lakjsdfakjdfjdjsf but yeah esp bc ur getting ur sea legs still in this world i didn't want to like...throw cormac at you w all his wild disinformation and leave you like 'wait WHATS happening' lakjsdfjkdsfkljas

also he thinks cassimir is a GOD and will talk abt him as the greatest human being ever to walk this good green earth so like...there's that too laksdjfklsjdfjk

he will also def assume that guin iS DEVESTATED by having had a shot at cassimir...and then having had him slip through her fingers!!!! bc he assumes every woman in the world is in love w him bc yknow he's THE greatest guy to eVER live, but naturally the second choice would ~always be cormac himself so like guin's just out here taking it on the chin, first losing her chance w cassimir, and now her chance w cormac to her ~own little sister!!!!!!! so dramatic and tragic SOB laksjdflkjsdfjksdf also no amount of explaining otherwise will ever convince him re cassimir btw lakjsdfjksdf you've been warned lajkdsfjkdsf

but anyway!! he ~is v excited that cormac and guin will get to be ~double cousins now given that he's related to all the varmonts [footage not found] AND to eoin's calleary mom so!!! he's deffffff gonna wanna throw her the most extravagant insane party ljsfakslkdjfkjsdfjsfdjk

but yeah despite all of this he really does mean well but he is uhhhh a menace lakjsdfjsdf

OOC | Cormac & Guinevere

hello cousin! (they're not related but he ~thinks they are)

cormac thinks guin is cool and he's excited for the day that she inevitably marries cassimir and cassimir becomes emperor over them all!!!! in cormac's mind, this is the best possible timeline and he frankly cannot waiT for it to transpire!!!! you heard it here first ;DDDD

[forgottencormac]

OOC | Cormac, Aoife, & Finn

ok so since cormac just went ahead and spilled the beans in a moment of weakness at "rejecting" aoife laksjdfklsdf (which i did not expect him to do btw!) and went ahead and proposed to @forgottenaoife on @forgottenfinnegan 's behalf (without sm as consulting me, or even ~more shockingly, @forgottencassimir -- gasp!) [ here ] i thought i should reach out since obv this impacts ur characters!!

im perfectly happy to say this was just an impulse of the moment and cormac literally forgot abt it the moment he walked away!! or that @forgottenvalentina put her foot down that she absolutely could noT afford to lose her most useful aoife AND her dowry at all once like that!!!! esp w everything going on!!!!!! or simply that the other callearies got cormac to re-think it since, quite obv, finn and aoife aren't in love etc, or...honestly whatever!! cormac could even get it in his head that roderick has plans for finn's own wedding idek alkdjfkjdf or...whatever we like hahaha if you guys don't want this plotline hahaha

but also im equally cool if you ~are interested in pursuing it/want to see where things go, etc!! honestly its 10000% up to you guys since, clearly, it impacts aoife and finn most out of anyone hahaha! <3333 cormac just kinda pushed in lakjsfkjsdf *facepalm* and im so sorry abt him hoenstly lakjsdfkjsdf

so yeah!! lmk what you think! we can def do literally whatever!! <3

[forgottencormac]

"Oh!" Tears still standing out in his eyes from his previous emotive state, Cormac's whole face transformed however into exuberance as she offered him a biscuit and, happily, plopped one into his mouth whole, his brows rising as a sign of his enthusiam. "What extraordinary powers has your cook!" he exclaimed when he had, at last, swallowed. "My lady, you simply must lay claim to her as part of your dowry and bring her with you when you wed! I insist!"

Clearing his throat a bit uncomfortably when his own words reminded him of the unpleasantness at hand, he fell silent for a moment and, to fill the silence as much as to comfort and fortify himself, he swallowed another.

"Well?" Tears crept back into his eyes and, Aoife having managed to extricate her hands from his own, he reached out once again to squeeze one. "My dear, dear girl, you must be brave." He swallowed hard. "Despite my own profound desire to wed you, it seems...It seems it is no longer in my power to make the offer I had conspired to make you this morning. The title of Lady Calleary has, it seems, already been claimed by Her Imperial Highess the Princess Cassandra, as Her Royal Majesty the Queen Marian, herself, told me of her wish that we should wed."

He did not pause, not wishing to give her too long to contemplate such a bitter blow to her hopes -- and not wishing to bear witness to her inevitable grief. Instead, he hurled her a life line as quickly as he might.

"But by no means, my dear, do I wish to leave you high and dry! No, indeed! It is for this reason that I...I am so very glad to hear that you do not find our Finnegan repugnant for, you see, if it proves agreeable to Lord Malconaire, and you are not too repulsed at the notion of his decidedly damp person so intimately connected with your own immaculate self, well--I mean to arrange a wedding betwixt the two of you!

"It is true that I have yet to mention this plan to a single other soul besides your dearest self, as I do not wish to raise any hopes should you find such a husband, understandably, disgusting to your sensibilities, or should you wish instead to enter holy orders at this juncture--"

What her despair must be at this present moment, having first been rejected by Cassimir and now by himself, whom he was utterly confident must have been her second choice, he could not begin to imagine! Yet, at least, he hoped he had managed to soften the blow. He would not be overly shocked to hear, after he left, that Ladies Brigit and Roisin, devoid of the hopes of even Finnegan as a consolation prize, had hurled themselves from the highest peaks of Malconaire, come tomorrow morning...(Indeed, when Cormac would later bear witness to Roisin's downcast aspect at Valentina's gala, he would feel not even a jot of surprise.)

"But I may assure you that, for all that he does not dress so well as I do, nor possess quite so many of the most admirable traits as does your own hallowed brother, well...He has the very best heart on earth, excepting that of dearest Aine, and is a very dear creature. You need not decide just now, but say you will think it over, darling Lady Aoife! And, pray, forgive me. Were the matter up to me, I should have asked you to be Lady Calleary this day, instead of my -- admittedly dear, though...not in that way, I do fear -- little Cousin Cassandra.

"And, though I do not know his own opinions on the match never yet having mentioned it, I have little doubt dear Finnegan must come very shortly, indeed, to adore you for all your own admirable traits! On that count, you must have no fears, Lady Aoife! You know, already, seeing as I myself preferred you, how profoundly capable you are of attaching a Calleary lord to yourself!"

He popped another biscuit into his mouth. His eyes grew wide, a brilliant scheme occurring to him. "And, as I said, you really must bring your cook with you! You will, of course, live with me for, no doubt, many years until my brother can find it in himself to form his own establishment...which may be never," he added with a laugh, thinking of his brother's sluggish demeanor.

He frowned, realizing this was hardly tantalizing talk and feared he stood now upon the threashold of seeing her tears, despite her heroic calm at his rejection. Quickly, he added, by way of explanation: "He is very devoted to me."

The Most Admirable Traits || Cormac + Aoife

Aoife stared at Cormac, wondering if he was finished with his speech. For some reason Aoife could not particularly understand, Cormac had decided to inform Cassimir of what he believed were Cassimir's most admirable qualities, possibly in alphabetical order though Aoife had not been paying particularly close attention.

It had been a long speech which was also quite surprising. Perhaps it had come from years of living alongside Cassimir, but she did not think there were enough to even made a two minute speech, let along going on five minutes.

Cormac had always been... unique, but this obsession with her step brother might be one of his most unique traits of all. Part of her felt sorry for Cormac-- she doubted Cassimir would pay him much attention when he had located to the new seat of House Calleary hundred of miles away. Cormac, however, didn't seem to notice that their friendship-- if it could even be called that-- was completely one sided.

"Oh... is that all of them?" Aoife asked before taking a sip of her tea. She realized she'd made it half way through taking a drink when she'd paused, not fascinated by Cormac's words but by just how many words he managed to say in such a short amount of time.

Not really wanting an answer, Aoife leaned forward and picked up the tea pot. "More tea, Lord Calleary?" she inquired, figuring he must be quite parched after such a soliloquy as the one he had just given.

[forgottencormac]

Unreliable Narrator Alignment

new alignment just dropped! ;D

ok so ngl i had waaaaaay too much fun w this heehee but yeah i made a thing! since i truly believe ~any character can be an unreliable narrator in the right circumstances, since we all have our blindspots, i put all my characters on here, w the poles representing each of my ~most unreliable narrators oblivious (cormac), in denial (roderick), and liar (amira) and so, without further ado, here it is!

ok so ~some of these have slightly mitigating factors --

for instance, bc of the situations in which he's found himself, cillian is much more likely to lie rn than he would under normal circumstances, but still even when he was a kid, i do think he would occasinally bend the truth (why no i absolutely did noT break my leg by climbing on the roof after you explicitly told me not to!) and eilia, as another example, is pr well informed but is being currently held in a tower so...she's oblivious against her will, however i ~do also think she's the type to sometimes be a bit ~too confident in her own opinion/source of knowledge and thus can sort of...be willfully oblivious to some things from time to time, which yes, def dips into being in denial as well, but since its more out of blind confidence than pure delusion, i put her where i did and anyway here we are! but anyway, weighing all these factors in, this is sort of where i more or less landed

the most fiddly re: placemaent are i couldn't quite place godfrey or valentina where id like...valentina can be all three, ofc, but obv she veers most strongly towards lying and denial; godfrey will absolutely lie but he's more in denial (this whole apocalypse thing will totally fix everything, boys!) but yeah bc of the shape i couldn't quite angle them enough so its sorta handwave but this gets the idea across i hope! <3

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(i made this using pixlr express, my icons, and the .png ill share below if anyone wants to try it -- it was v silly and v fun but also a good exercise in understanding my characters' blindspots! ;D anyway all due credit to all creators tho unfortunately idk who they are alas!)

[forgottencormac]

"The dryness of the beef!" exclaimed Cormac, a touch too loudly, in sheer relief that what he had perceived as awkwardness had simply been discomfort.

Roderick glowered, and Cormac nodded sagely in response to the look. The Emperor turned towards the Queen Amira, who had evidently leaned forward to say something to him and, soon, his gaze flicked against towards Cormac, eyes flickering with a snort of laughter, which caused Cormac to beam.

Cormac supposed the Emperor had not heard what Cormac had said, but Queen Amira had explained. He dipped his head to her in recognition. Queen Amira laughed aloud. She, at least, was greatly enjoying her supper, it seemed.

"You know, I thought I detected something of the sort, myself. It is a pity that His Imperial Majesty must be subjected to subpar cookery!

"Why do you think it is dry, Aria? Do you imagine that perhaps the cattle were given too little to drink before being cooked? But perhaps the farmer did not wish their ankles to swell too much. One would not want unattractive cows in one's pasture! After all, isn't half the point of farming the idyllic aesthetic? It is tragic, is it not, when one cannot satisfy one principal without betraying the other?" he clasped a hand to his heart. "My soul weeps, Aria! Weeps!"

He turned at once green, and dispirited, his fork falling from his hand to clatter at his plate. "Two days!" he cried. "You have not heard where I am condemned to go!" At once, his hand went to his face, tears trickling from his eyes. "Oh, Aria, were it but two days..."

"Cormac!" hissed Eabha. "For pity's sake!"

Dropping his hands away, he sobbed, sopping at his face with his silk napkin.

"Everything all right, down there?" Arthur's voice.

"All is well," supplied Eabha quickly, jumping in to engage the group in conversation that whatever Cormac said next might not be overheard by all...It was a rare thoughtfulness on his part, he considered, to bear him some privacy, though he wouldn't have minded overmuch had all the table heard.

"Oh, Aria," sniffed Cormac. "I'm being sent clear to the north! The far north! To Calleary! All that...snow and...ice...I am condemned to freeze, freeze! Do you know summers rarely touch so dreadful a place? Can you imagine? Me?!

"And when will be the next time I might come south to bask in the pleasures of civilization? I cannot know! And until that time I must live in murky, awful Lorcan, Aria! You do not know the hardships I bear!

"All of my treacherous father's doing! Oh, he was dull and simply followed where he was led, but that we loyal sons and daughters must suffer for it pains me beyond all telling, Aria! Beyond all telling! His punishment was swift enough buts ours...ours is to last...unto...eternity..."

Another Family Dinner || Cormac + Aria

Aria despised the formal dinners Roderick insisted they attend nearly every evening. She hoped that, upon his declaring of she and Eilia as bastards Roderick might not require their attendance. This was, unfortunately, not to be.

Arthur had, during their short walk through the garden directly adjacent to the castle (the Stafford sisters were still not allowed out of doors without a guard or other member of the Varmot household present) informed her that they would have guests that evening for dinner. An entire party was coming from Lorcan-- her detestable cousin Rian along with a few members of houses Lorcan and Calleary.

Aria's first question was, of course, if the twins were to be coming-- she thought perhaps having Fiona to sit next to at dinner would raise her spirits-- if nothing else, she would have stories of how she'd managed to terrorize her eldest brother that week. Arthur, seeming rather perturbed by her question, answered with a quick no and that it would only be Lord Calleary and Lady Eabha in attendance.

Aria was quite displeased to find herself seated next to Cormac that evening, as if the evening weren't unpleasant enough already. Adding to the strangeness of this dinner party was the strange looks coming from Arthur at his own seat down the table. She wasn't sure if these were meant as looks of sympathy or if he was trying to hear what Cormac was telling her,

"Cormac-- Lord Calleary," Aria shifted her body slightly in her chair, turning to face Cormac more directly. "Tell me again-- I am woefully uninformed with times about the familial ties in all the great families..."

This was a lie but she also knew the question she was about to ask was utterly ridiculous, so she didn't particularly care.

"... how is it you are related to our illustrious Emperor?" she inquired, her eyes darting up momentarily to meet Arthur's, the prince seated a few chairs down the table. She smirked before turning her gaze back to Cormac.

[forgottencormac]

Cormac gasped so loudly, so sharply, he choked. Coughing and spluttering, then, he shook his head urgently -- even without the power of speech he must find a way to assure her that this was, indeed, very far from being the end of Cassimir's greatest qualities!

"Oh, my dear Lady Aoife," he managed, at last. "Surely you cannot think such a thing, you who have the great benefit of sharing a life and home with him! Every minute -- oh!" he clasped a hand to his heart, eyes pressing shut, as for a moment he pictured the sheer bliss which must be her existence, allowing every moment to simply bask in his magnificent presence.

Envy grumbled at the edges of his chest, as it struck him most forcefully that, being but a woman, she could not possibly appreciate such delicious pleasure quite the way he could and, oh, it was no fault of poor Aoife's, but sudden sadness came, too, crouching in his guts, for Cassimir, doomed not to be so appreciated as he ought in his own home, crowded as it was by women with not a single higher, masculine intellect to fully grasp the wonder of it!

Still, he tamped down on these emotions. The fact was, despite the high hopes he'd had of his future life with her, he must now surrender them -- and risk crushing her soul, having been now twice rejected by the two most desirable men in Astaira: Cassimir and himself. It was not, after all, in Cormac's power to go against the will of the most august Emperoro and, it seemed, he and his Queen had high hopes for the wedding of the Princess Cassandra...to himself.

Cormac felt guilty, as regarded Aoife. He'd led her on, after all! Oh, it'd not been of his own determining, he'd truly meant to make her an offer! But it seemed that, once again, she'd have to settle for a lesser contender. Though very dear to himself, Finn was certainly a far cry from Cormac, himself, with his own rather...nondescript attire and rather sodden aspect. Perhaps Cormac could sober him up before the wedding, however, (though he would recommend they both be a bit worse for drink to endure the actual wedding night!), and he'd be sure to make a most magnificent wedding present, but when one had such refined taste as the Lady Aoife, having first fancied Cassimir, and next himself, well, the blow could not help but be felt...Even Cormac was grieved. He had, after all, since learning her eldest sister was otherwise engaged, pictured a whole life with Aoife, as near a thing as he could manage, he supposed, to a life with her brother...

Leaning forward, with a look of profound pity writ upon his features, he rather dramatically -- he could not deny the power of such a moment! he did not wish to injure her, after all, though it now fell to him to do -- took both her hands in his own. His eyes stung with unshed tears. "Oh, my dear Lady Aoife -- I'm afraid, I'm afraid...oh! But I cannot say it!"

She was a gentle creature, and dear to him, and he found he was rather th choked. Perhaps there was a gentler way to begin than rejecting her directly...

"Lady Aoife," he began again, drawing himself up. "What--What do you make of my younger brother? He is...He is a dear fellow, is he not? And, as my brother, not so very unlike myself, perhaps...?"

The Most Admirable Traits || Cormac + Aoife

Aoife stared at Cormac, wondering if he was finished with his speech. For some reason Aoife could not particularly understand, Cormac had decided to inform Cassimir of what he believed were Cassimir's most admirable qualities, possibly in alphabetical order though Aoife had not been paying particularly close attention.

It had been a long speech which was also quite surprising. Perhaps it had come from years of living alongside Cassimir, but she did not think there were enough to even made a two minute speech, let along going on five minutes.

Cormac had always been... unique, but this obsession with her step brother might be one of his most unique traits of all. Part of her felt sorry for Cormac-- she doubted Cassimir would pay him much attention when he had located to the new seat of House Calleary hundred of miles away. Cormac, however, didn't seem to notice that their friendship-- if it could even be called that-- was completely one sided.

"Oh... is that all of them?" Aoife asked before taking a sip of her tea. She realized she'd made it half way through taking a drink when she'd paused, not fascinated by Cormac's words but by just how many words he managed to say in such a short amount of time.

Not really wanting an answer, Aoife leaned forward and picked up the tea pot. "More tea, Lord Calleary?" she inquired, figuring he must be quite parched after such a soliloquy as the one he had just given.

[forgottencormac]

Catching Up | Cormac & Cassandra

Cormac still had no earthly clue that he caused Cassandra to believe at their last tea that he had caused her to believe that it was Lord Ormond, and not Lord Malconaire, who was betrothed to one of the daughters of Malconaire, as Cassandra's obvious distress at the news had struck him as very reasonable -- and measured, really -- given the devestating nature of the revelation that Cassimir was no longer a viable maritable option for herself. He had found he could not say the lady's name, however, simply that she was, perhaps, the most treasured daughter of the House of the Oak, whose very face was near as pretty as a rose, with a wink, given Cassandra's own connection to roses -- failing to recall that Cassandra's favorite daughter of Malconaire was, indeed, named little rose. It never once occurred to him that a mistake on this point might be made, instead mentally congratulating himself for the delicacy of the little compliment he'd managed to pay the princess.

He'd tried to answer all her questions -- without once betraying Cassimir's confidence! A fact forcing him into vague suggestion rather than outright statement. He'd further shared that the affection had persisted for some duration, the two growing up together, Cromac had no doubt that they'd loved each other all their lives long, really, though had perhaps not spoken of such directly until late, with the union coming on a trice suddenly. At the time, he'd ensured the princess that he was sure there could have been no reason beyond passion for the sudden nature of the betrothal, but now he wished he had not, as he'd lately heard something very different, indeed. In fact, it was this news that had caused Cormac to call an emergency session of their teas.

Cormac didn't know if this particular meeting was more to his benefit or to hers. She had been present, after all, at the very Malconaire gathering where, it was said, the revelation had first been made, but she was the one who, being a lady, was more likely to be distressed at the news. He reasoned, given this, that perhaps it was of mutual benefit. She could unburden her female soul and he could, with his male mind, thus gather the news while, simultaneously, comforting her. Besides, it seemed that Her Majesty the Queen Marian intended for their relationship to take on yet another angle...

It was true that Cormac loved Cassandra, but it was also true that he was a bit...uncomfortable with the notion of wedding her. Oh, he was completely confident they would have shockingly good fun together -- constant shopping trips and teas and long talks and a mutual understanding of how best to set up all their friends to their benefit but...His feelings for his cousin, though deeply affectionate, held not a wink of anything he could turn to the least bit of romantic passion. Though he had no doubt she must find him attractive (Cormac was sometimes so struck by the beauty of his own reflection that he had trouble tearing himself away from a mirror!), he did not think she felt any passion for him, either, and it grieved him to think of poor Cassandra deprived of the high romance in a partner she so craved! Still, he vowed to himself that he would find a way to make her as happy in every other aspect as he possibly could! She deserved that much, at the very least! And he did, indeed, wish her very happy, indeed. In truth, she was one of his dearest friends.

Still, he thought he understood what she wanted, at least (better, perhaps, than that Lord Ormond who had once caught her eye!), and hoped he could give her a little taste of it, notwithstanding! Who knew -- maybe someday she'd fall for him, after all! But the truth was, he was not so sure he wanted that...might it not make her more miserable to adore a man who could not return her affections the same way than to find platonic happiness with a hsuabdn who adored her in another way than romantic?

He'd arranged -- demanded, in fact -- the finest room in all Lorcan for the express use of the imperial princess, tirelessly instructing the servants in how it was to be put to its best advantage to please her. The room's scenic qualities could not be doubted, boasting massive windows high over all, overlooking it seemed the world entire! Little as Cormac liked Lorcan, he thought -- with his romantic heart -- he could better appreciate a scenic view than any of the other silly creatures who populated these halls, save Cassandra who he knew to be like him in this aspect...or, of course, Lord Malconaire who was capable of anything...of everything...

Cormac had decked the place out in style, though attempting a color palette more to suit her sensibilities than his own, ordering silks from across the empire to suit the sort that she often wore, and lining the cold stone walls with these (Rian had been absolute and terrible in his certainty that Cormac may do only that which could be undone, much to Cormac's displeasure -- even hurling himself to the floor weeping and wailing and pounding his arms and legs had not moved Rian's cold, tasteless heart!) to discourage the cold. He'd had them embroidered in a way he thought she might like (commissioned artwork by Lady Roisin's seamstress -- some of the designs, admittedly, suggested by the lady, herself), depicting heroic escapades from tales and legends he knew her to best like. Everywhere he'd dotted soft-burning candlelight and festooned fresh flowers, with the doors to a balcony flung open to invite sweet breezes. All in all, he felt he'd outdone himself by the time the princess arrived.

"Ahh, Your Imperial Highness!" Cormac cried, when she was shown in, gallantly taking her hand and kissing it before leading her to the table where the tea was already set, piping hot, with a bevy of sandwiches and scones and all manner of festive finger foods populating a score of trays and plates, each for their own delight.

"It is has been far too long since last we had one of our chats! And I simply must know everything about Lady Malconaire's little gathering! It seems it must have been a singularly shocking affair! Pray, tell me your every thought and feeling -- leave nothing out, my dear! I'm sure there is must you must say, and I would be your friend and hear every word!"

[forgottencormac]

OOC | Cormac & Event 5

ok so stuff from various replies abt our boy (these are i think in backwards order but anyway alkjdsfkljsdf):

giadesstrin said:  @forgottenfiona Fiona, shoving yet another into Cormac’s room: ‘I just think they’re neat’ jk jk 

forgottenfiona said:  @giadesstrin Fiona, not at all a Lorcan but somehow has the power to summon swans 😂 

giadesstrin said:  @quillington Forgot to say…Cormac only betted on Cassimir <3 Eabha: you somehow just lost us even ~more money wo doing anything at all today except getting dressed… 

giadesstrin said:  @forgottenfiona Cormac, crying furiously; ‘the only thing that’s embarrassing today is ~you trying to enter the lists!’ Why do I sense another heated argument dhkhdfjj was it a coincide he saw Swans?? 😂😂😂🦢

before his tragic accident (stubbing a toe, seeing swans) cormac probs requested one from brigit, aoife, and roisin but at least in the last one he got rejected

quillington said:  @forgottencassimir also yes cormac and valentina are ABSOLUTELY taking turns cheering the loudest for cassimir…meanwhile rosie is booing him (but only when @forgotteneithne wont hear bc she doesn’t wanna hurt ~her) 

forgottencormac said:  @forgottencassimir WEAR HIS FAVOR IM SCREAMINGGGGGG ‘its just bc…due to the severity of my injury [his stubbed toe] i am unable to join the lists today, but perhaps i may be w you in spirit if you but wear this…’ its like…hot pink tulle that’s at least two years long so it can gracefully trail along his horse and…trip it while trailing in the mud presumably 

forgotteneabha said:  @forgottenfinnegan real talk, i feel like eabha and ofc fiona <3 have some actual weapons training…they aren’t allowed to enter. cormac, who is a danger to himself and those around him (but not in the way you want in this kinda competition) ~is allowed alkdsjfkjlds eabha: this whole situation is so unserious… 

forgottenfiona said:  @forgottencormac Fiona is so embarrassed right now. 

forgottencormac said:  @thelongforgottenrealm cormac is a hero who saved lives (his own) this day…;DDD laksdjfkljsdf

saoirse is betting on arthur bc she might despise the guy but this isn’t abt pride its abt odds and she’s here to get cash for the revolution. for the same reason, she is betting ~against cormac and, tho she’ll probs get her money returned and told its moot…she will argue that he ~did fail to anyone who’ll listen alksdjfsd

(including him bc i feel like he signed up bc #peerpressure but then def backed out at the last minute)

Name: Cormac Calleary Participating Categories: Jousting Skill Levels in the Following –

Melee (on foot): Level #0

Melee (on horseback): Level #0

Archery: Level #0

Jousting: Level #0

forgottencassimir: said:  @forgotteneithne Haha excellent point. ( except for maybe @forgottencormac who I am now imagining trying to get Cassimir to wear his favor in the tournament ashdhdj jkjk )

---

cormac ~also got so excited that cassimir was going into round two that he started weeping and, blinded by his tears, didn't see who won so, since there was cheering, he just ~assumes it ~must have been cassimir...i did not know this, he revealed it to me in writing a comment me: 'wonderful' lkajflksdjafdf

he also ~may now think that roderick is thinking of wedding @forgottencassandra to him, given that roderick is thinking of wedding eoin to guinevere, and that marian has now asked him if he's engaged! lakjsfjklsd sorry @forgottenaoife/brigit/rosie! ;D aklsdjfaklsdfjsdf he's now probs thinking one of the malconaire girls should deffffff marry @forgottenfinnegan if cormac, himself, isn't available to do so, bc cormac aint going against roderick's will! (roderick irl if he knew: stay away from my daughter)

cormac wore one of the gaudy pendants he brought from valentina in a show of display for @forgottencassimir , he also absolutely ~did try to get him to wear his own favor (tho he didn't put it that way!) bc he gave him a ring set w the largest emerald which he'd had engraved w cassimir's birth!coat of arms and begged him to wear it for good luck alkjdsfkldsfj he thinks this worked bc he thinks cassimir won the archery contest alkjsdfjklsdf he's def picturing a robin-hood-esque moment where cassimir's arrow bissected the other to take the win!!!!!! he was fully screaming his lungs out (unwittingly for brigit laksjdfkjlsdfjk) at the time al;sdjflkjdsf he's too over the moon to even really care abt ~swans today lakjsdfkljdsf (that wont last tho!)

he's def mad at @forgottenfiona more than usual bc she tried to enter the competition and he thinks that's personally embarrassing! aldksjfksjdf

there's def more bc i just never know what this mad lad is gonna do next but yeah!! here's the stuff i can think of rn lakjsdfkljsdf

oh! i ~do think he might be tryna organize a swan hunt at lorcan w his male friends tho laksdjfksjdlfksdf SCREAM (i feel like @forgottenrian hasn't heard bc he'd def put a stop to this -- he ~will hear asp tho bc cormac thinks they're close and will def invite him lkjasdlkfajskdjf)

[forgottencormac]

Cormac had been sobbing, shrieking, unable to catch his breath, half-hyperventilating, mere moments before the party, but now his face was the picture of perfect happiness. His cause of weeping had not, after all, been any kind of sorrow but, rather, joy. Watching Cassimir fell Rian Stafford (though Rian, himself, was a dear friend, of course!) in the archery contest, oh, how his heart had soared! That Cassimir was finally -- as he well deserved! -- going on to the second round had been too much for his heart to take.

"Get ahold of yourself!" Eabha had hissed, but the truth was that this comment had only encouraged his already profound histrionics. He hadn't quite seen what had happened through his tears, after that, but he could only assume, given the fierce cheering, that Cassimir had taken the day and been crowned victor! His cheeks ached from grinning so much! It was, perhaps, the finest day of Cormac's whole life to think how pleased Cassimir must be!

Unfortunately, he'd yet to find Cassimir in the crowd to laud him for his sweeping victory, but perhaps that was best saved for a moment in private, anyway, as he had little doubt the supreme drama of the moment of being congratulated by his own best friend would overwhelm even Cassimir's stoicism, and he'd end with Cassimir joyfully weeping in his arms.

This pleasing notion had consumed most of his thoughts till he noted his sister speaking with Cousin Alaric, and, smirking smugly to himself, decided to remind her of just how foolish she'd been in warning him to get himself together when the greatest triumph of the age had, in fact, unfolded before their very eyes and, this pleasure, paired with that of being able to hear Alaric's description of it had him litterally gasping as he began his march across the room -- only pausing in these pleasing meditations to note how his glorious shoes flashed in their bold color palette against the floor.

Distracted as he was by his own feet (it was true that there was some pain, both from the pinching and from the terrible stubbed-toe injury he'd lately sustained!), he did not note the queen sweeping into his path until she was quite upon him.

"Oh! Your Royal Majesty!" cried Cormac, perhaps a touch too loudly (between enthusiasm and perhaps a bit too much of drink, regulating volume seemed quite out of the question). "Is this not the most joyous day to be alive?!"

Instantly, he pressed his free hand (for Cousin Marian had slipped one hand into the crook of his arm) to his mouth, feeling happy tears once again prick his eyes. For a moment he breathed heavily, gallantly attempting to regain control as he did not wish to distress the lady, should she think these tears were anything but joyful, while the power to explain quite eluded him.

When the fit had finally passed, he gleamed a wide grin in her direction, and at last attended to what she was saying to him.

"Ah!" exclaimed Cormac, exuberant. "Is it not a most incredible piece? I am so pleased that you enjoy it, but I am hardly surprised! Whose taste could possibly excede that of a queen?" He paused, wincing slightly as he remembered that poor Cousin Amira was wearing all black, this evening. Really, whoever was in charge of her wardrobe ought to be sacked, and probably scourged! At once! Breezing past this unfortunate fact, he turned once again to the queen on his arm.

"Oh!" A delighted giggle. "Of my own design! Oh!" Another hand to his mouth, his eye contact never breaking from her. "You do me such exquisite honor, Your Majesty, but sadly I cannot claim such artistry! No, this is a jewel which once belonged to the illustrious Lady Malconaire, herself! When she wished to part with it, why, I could not do other than add it to my own collection! Her taste is most exquisitely singular, is it not?

"I thought," he continued, hardly breaking for a breath. "Given its provenance, it would prove the perfect token -- as I was tragically unable to participate in the tournament, myself -- I wore it as a sign of my support of our own most glorious Lord Malconaire! Do you not think it just the thing, my Queen? Oh, and well that I did, too! What great good luck, is it not?"

His hand went to his mouth again, and this time a single tear leaked from his eye, but he managed to control himself beyond that for Cousin Marian's dear sake.

Her next words surprised him, and he blushed, red as a maiden, at the thought. Yet, it is was not altogether displeasing to see that Cousin Marian was taking such familial interest in his prospects!

"I fancy that I shall have the great good fortune of wedding one of the Malconaire girls," he said, gently patting her hand in appreciation. "Being relations to Lord Malconaire, himself, well, that will be a wonderful alliance, will it not? I confess, I had hoped for the hand of Lady Sonya, but as she seems quite promised to another, I'd turned my eye to Lady Eithne, but she too has found another. I will not deny that Lord Malconaire, I believe, hopes I shall wed either Lady Brigit or Lady Roisin, but I cannot deny that my own inclination leads me to think of Lady Aoife..."

Yet, as he considered, his eyes widened, turning to look at her as understanding grasped his expression. "Though," he said quickly. "There is no formal understanding there." He paused. "I have heard some...whispers that the His Imperial Majesty the Emperor wishes to see the Lord Eoin and the Princess Guinevere united in marriage..." Did Cousin Marian, perhaps, intend Cormac for her own daughter?

Not a Nephew || Cormac & Marian

Cassandra clearly found Lord Calleary amusing-- Marian, herself, did at times but often was exhausted spending too much time with the young Lord. He seemed never to need to take a breath when speaking and also did not fully grasp that he, Cormac, was not related to the Emperor in any fashion.

This evening, Marian was observing her brother in law, Alaric, as he spoke with Lady Eabha on the opposite side of the room. The Calleary siblings (along with Rían Stafford-- which at this moment in time did not please Marian) were frequent dinner guests at the palace. Lorcan was an important holding in Astaira and the Calleary's family to the Emperor's own cousin. Marian also assumed that her husband had perhaps noticed that Alaric was often in the company of Lady Eabha during these dinners and, hopefully, was encouraging of the match.

They made a handsome couple, Marian thought to herself. She would have the Lady Eabha to tea, soon, as Alaric had asked for Marian's opinion of the young woman.

It was then she noticed that Eabha's brother, Cormac, seemed to be traipsing towards the pair with that rather ridiculous gait of his-- which Marian assumed it was due to the rather severely pointed toe boots his was wearing-- with a look that appeared determined to disrupt the couple. That simply would not do.

"Lord Calleary," Marian made a few small steps to put herself in his path, "you are sporting the most... interesting... pendant," Marian commented, observing the very, very noticable piece of jewelry (which was saying something as the fabric of his jacket was quite exuberant). "Is this a Calleary family piece or have you designed it yourself?"

Marian linked her arm with the Lord's, determinedly steering him away from Alaric and Eabha, which was not particularly difficult. She knew she might be destined to spend the rest of the evening listening to some rather ridiculous conversation but, for Alaric, she would make this sacrifice.

"I have lately been occupied with thoughts of marriages, Lord Calleary, and I wonder... you must be planning to take a bride, yes? I imagine your new holdings should be repaired soon and I would think you'd wish to start your family once you have settled there."

[forgottencormac]

LORD CORMAC CALLEARY / HUGH SKINNER

♛ Age: 29 ♛ Relationships: Eabha Calleary, Aine Lorcan, Fiona Calleary (sisters), Finn Calleary (brother), Padraig Calleary (brother-in-law), Ciara Varmont, Eoin Varmont (cousins), Bartholomew Varmont (uncle), Cassimir Malconaire (idol), Laoise Lorcan (former unofficial betrothed)

Arrogant AF!!!

has a taste for the finer things in life and cares a little bit too much about his own appearance

(in fact, he's been known to spend more time getting ready than his sisters)

yes sad about his dad but lowkey thinks that maybe things are better w/ him in charge

(He is, in fact, a Moron™)

was quick to bend the knee to roderick after he saw what happened to his father

while people may say it was out of cowardice, it did save his life and likely the lives of his brother and sisters (even if fear for his own life was certainly the top motivator)

cormac and his father never had the type of relationship that cormac craved and he genuinely did not understand why his father did not name him heir and, instead, opted for his elder sister

he speaks affectionately of his father now, but admits that he was "quite dull" and "rather idiotic"

due to his father's treasons, hanthom was taken from the calleary family and gifted to the emperor's brother-in-law upon his engagement to his cousin -- which means that cormac and his family was removed from their home

while cormac is certainly disappointed that he will not rule over the traditional calleary seat, he has been gifted an estate in northern astaira which he shall lay claim to once proper restorations have been made to make it livable again

until that time, he and his siblings remain guests at lorcan

there had always meant to be a union between the house of lorcan and the house of calleary and when they were young, it had been hoped that cormac would marry laoirse lorcan

but when laoirse vowed she would not have him and padraig and aine began to form an attachment, the arrangement was dropped

while it was never official, cormac prefers to believe that laoirse was very much heartbroken from having lost her chance with him ...

TAKEN BY KATE AA.

[forgottencormac]

OOC | Love Languages

continuing w this series...

5 love languages:

words of affirmation

physical touch

giving/receiving gifts

quality time

acts of service 

and here's what i said my initial instincts were re: my peeps...

Godfrey — appears as a words of affirmation dude but if he ~really loves you it’s acts of service!!

Tristan — acts of service he is literally a knight!! Send him on a quest!! He will goooo!

Eabha — bc of her ruling lady outlook she looks like acts of service but she’s really more physical touch

Cormac — giving of gifts

Ronan — acts of service!! I hope you like someone just wordlessly doing smth for you bc that’s what ur in for here bc sadly he’s pr rubbish at a lot of the others these days

Cillian — quality time

Saoirse — physical touch

Rosie — quality time

Valentina — receiving gifts

Eilia — words of affirmation 

Rian — quality time

Roderick — giving of gifts

Amira — tbd

Arthur — tbd

ok so in the OPPOSITE corner from amira (in almost everything lbr laksjdfkljsdf) is cormac calleary, perhaps my most openly affectionate character of all (tho rosie certainly gives him a run for his money! ;D but she's got more sense so she can and will rein it in -- does cormac ever tho???? ;DDD)

also yes, i ~did pull a roderick and just pass right over eabha to get to cormac lkajdfkljdsfsdf i find him a delight i will not be apologizing for this lkajsdflkdjsf

words of affirmation

cormac is here to build you up!!!! real talk, his wild and flagrant compliments, not always being fully grounded in reality, may indeed miss the mark more times than not, but not for lack of trying!!!! cormac wants you to know that he thinks ur the best and loves you v much!!!!!!! he probs (definitely) has some fantasy built up in his head abt just how he perceives ur relatinship and, sure, unless ur cassimir, ~he is the hero of the story of whatever ur relationship is but!! youre still pr great to have managed to draw ~his attention!!!! i mean look what he is wearing!!!!! cormac is smth extraordinary so ur doing smth right just to have drawn his attention!!!!!!!

even fiona, who is his least favorite loved one atm (see: even MORE swans in his chambers last night!!!! *cue unbridled sobbing*) is entitled to words of affirmation when she needs them, but she ~is at a point where she must need them to hear them bc they're in a tiff rn. same goes for eabha, generally, but that's actually much more complicated. other than that tho no solicitation needed!!! he will drown you in praise just for coming near him if his mind strays to that, esp if ur cassimir who is heartily deserving of all our love and devotion!!!!!!!!

physical touch

don't think cormac strays from this one either!!! its not as natural to him as some of the others, words of affirmation and gifts probs being his primary means of conveying affection, but as we all know, cormac is of a rather flamboyent turn, and his gestures and touches are no less so!!! the man is given to histrionics, BIG TIME, and you can see this in how he interacts w others as well. he WILL be pulling you into a big hug or seizing your hand as he screams or pulling you out onto the dance floor if you happen to be a woman (esp a malconaire!) or gasping way too loudly and grasping the fabric of your sleeve while holding his hand to his mouth...cormac isn't one to be shy!!!!

giving/receiving gifts

ok so here's a big one!!!! real talk, idk that any of these gifts are things that you particularly ~want!! but you wiLL be getting them!!! i feel like bolts of like tulle is a go-to gift -- no one is wearing enough!!!!!! the gaudiest toothpick case you've ever seen (yes, that ~was a sense & sensibility reference <3)???? the most useless, extravagant, and tasteless things imaginable!!!!!!! and he wiLL be insisting you use it, too!!!!!!!!!! he might (probably will) cry if you don't!!!!! or if you try to return it!!!!!! he defffff feels that he's doing you a huge favor w this btw!! like...he's got faults, but a lack of generosity isn't one...unfortunately, a lack of taste ~is one tho lajkdsfljksdf and these are noT gifts that are taking your tastes into consideration!!! they're what ~he thinks would suit you/you should try out or whatever lakjsdfjklsdf

cormac also relishes receiving gifts!!!!! while they rarely meets his tastes, he understands that his level of taste is untouchable by the rest of the world!!! and the thought!!!! he WILL weep!!!!!! it means sm to him that you thought of him and wanted him to have smth like that!!!!!!! like!!!!! you were going abt ur day!!!!!! and he was in ur thoughts!!!!!! and here is a symbol of that for him to keep!!!!!!! yule is a really emotional time for him lakjsdfkljsdjkf

quality time

cormac is here to have a good time!!!!! and sure his idea of that is hardcore gossip w tea and finger sandwiches and everyone he knows there and dancing to loud flamboyant music and everyone in their best looks, all surrounded by the most ostentatious decor you've ever seen but!!! quality time is quality time!!!! he'll whine bitterly but if you ask him to he'll go to the swamp w you (tho...if you really want him there maybe don't mention the swamp just that ur going on an adventure lkajdsfkjlsdjf) cormac, in his way, is pr loyal...like...if ur in danger he will noT fight (he wouldn't do that for himself!) he'll just cower and cry and possibly scream, but he wiLL go live somewhere where there are a ton, and i mean a TON, of swans bc ur there (aine!!!!! this one is for you!!!!!!! and sure there's another dude living in his house but!!!!! its really for aine bc he kows otherwise roderick would've called him to the palace to be at his side!!!!!!!!!) and if that's not love, cormac doesn't know what is!!!!!!!!!!! ofc there ~will be heavy complaining abt this too but honestly that's just the dark side of his total openness -- like you never have to wonder if he loves you; you also never have to wonder if he's uncomfortable w the situation!!! you will hear ALL of his thoughts!!!!!!!!

no but real talk he does enjoy hanging out w ppl he cares abt!!!! that's a good time in his book!!!!! cormac is a heavily social person and he gets bored and lonely really easily so he sees basolutely no downside to this!!!!!!!!! lets spend some quality time, ppl!!!!!!

acts of service 

ok. finally one that cormac is NOT vibing w at all!!!!! i mean, the dude who do absolutely anything for even a crumb of validation, so its not outside the question like if cassimir called him a good boy for like bringing him smth he'd do that!!!!!!!! that's all he wants/needs!!!!!! he loves words of affirmation <333333 buT!!!!!!! he also is lazy af AND incompetent to boot like?????? he can barely comprehend this one!!!!! it freaks him out on multiple levels!!!!!!! he wiLL if you really want it but god he will suck at it and it'd probs be easier for everyone if you just did it urself -- unless you really just enjoy watching a grown man cry bc that's practically a guarantee in this scenario bc he does! not! want! to! disappoint! you! but he inevitably will alskdjflkjsdjkf and he might even start to resent you if you keep asking w/o giving enough validation (aka whole speeches etc) like with *cough*eabha*cough*

[forgottencormac]

"Oh, no!" cried Cormac, stretching out his hands as if to catch Cassimir and thus prevent his leaving. "No, not at all. I assure you His Lordship's cares pale in comparison to yours. Why, his is a conquered and disgraced House," he began as if this weren't, in fact, true of both Cassimir and Cormac, as well. "But you? No, my lord, I would hear every word you have to say before any of his!"

Still, in his eagerness to keep Cassimir in place, Cormac had missed the spirit of what Cassimir had expressed: a wish to wait, if necessary to speak with Cormac and, finally processing this, Cormac felt tears of gratitude pricking his eyes, a greedy smile stealing over his face.

Cormac's glassy-eyed expression shifted, however, from a look of utter devotion...to one of tremulous anxiety as annoyance entered his friend's voice, his whole stance turning rigid as guilt overtook his every expression and the held-in tears leaked out. Cormac clapped a hand over his mouth. "Oh, my dear friend, forgive me! How selfish I have been! Why, I was too transfixed with the glorious notion of your reign to think of the still-more glorious one of your triumphant joy! I am a worm, Cassimir! A worm, to think so! You mustn't look at me! No! No, don't look at me! I am a worm!"

Turning away, Cormac wept for a moment. Who could be so selfish as to put such callow hopes above Cassimir's own happiness -- and to think he'd come so eagerly to him! Been prepared to wait for him! Only for Cormac to hurl this greatest confidence into his face. Yet, afraid that Cassimir would go away, Cormac got to business wiping his eyes and nose on a fuschia handkerchief and blowing into it twice, rather loudly, before turning back to him. A thousand thoughts ran through his mind.

"Forgive me, dear Lord Malconaire, and tell me everything, positively everything of your betrothal! Why, how great is the luck of Eithne of Malconaire -- Eithne Malconaire as she soon shall be! -- blessed with such beauty and with such love! She will be the envy of every maiden -- and indeed of every matron, too! -- in all Astaira! And beyond it as well! To have snapped up the most desired bachelor in all the Empire! Oh, I must know exactly how it transpired, do not spare a single word or a single look! Tell me all! Oh, but when is the wedding to be? Oh! What will you wear, Cassimir? I could have something made up for you -- perhaps even...in a color? It need only be one, I know you have little regard for them, but...perhaps...Eithne might? Oh! And where is it to be? Perhaps the Emperor himself will host? I can think of no grander event in all the Empire than your wedding shall be, Cassimir! Or...or has the bride yet been told? There can be no doubt that she shall accept you, my friend! Who would not? No, she will be yours, there is no doubt about it!"

Engagements | Cassimir & Cormac

Cassimir was not often visibly anxious for the arrival of Lord Calleary. While he privately craved the affirmations of his own greatness that Cormac was only ever too willing to provide, even Cassimir found he had his limits when it came to being in his company. He'd found early on in their friendship that a little of Cormac Calleary went a long way and if he did not have any particular use for him on any given day, Cassimir was almost as likely to avoid his company as anyone else.

However, today presented a unique situation in which Cassimir found himself eagerly awaiting Cormac's visit.

One would not have known this, however, from his greeting.

"Where have you been?" Cassimir demanded, as though Cormac was his own to command and not a lord in his own right. He did not like to be kept waiting -- especially by Cormac who he had come to assume should always be at his beck and call, "I have news that I am eager for you to hear."

He had barely admitted it to himself as to why he was so eager -- for the reasons behind him summoning Cormac Calleary to Malconaire that day was not something he was particularly proud of. The short of it was this: there was no one else in Cassimir's acquaintance who would be happy to hear of his engagement to Eithne Malconaire.

Cormac Calleary was the only person in the entire world who would offer him a genuine congratulations.