#Ancient Knives & Daggers

[memories-of-ancients]

Bronze dagger with bone crescent pommel, Egypt, Middle Kingdom, 2033-1670 BC

from The Louvre

[peashooter85]

Roman pugio unearthed by archaeology intern in Germany, dates to the 1st century AD and underwent 9 months of restoration.

[treasure-of-the-ancients]

Minoan bronze dagger with gold hilt, 18th-15th century BC

[kultofathena]

Windlass – Peloponnesian Bronze Greek Dagger

In 431 BC, Sparta, a city on the Greek peninsula of Peloponnese, declared war on Athens and its growing power. Sparta and the Peloponnesian League encircled Athens and destroyed its food supply. Athens brought its population inside the city walls, creating a disastrous situation that resulted in a plaque wiping out a third of its people and army, including General Pericles and his sons. Sparta became a leading power in Greece. This dagger is copied from an original in our possession (which is pictured above) that dates from the 9th -7th century BC-older than the Peloponnesian War but a design that was still in vogue at the time.

This Greek dagger is based on an original and its blade is bronze with a full tang like its historical example. The original likely had wood scales (which would have rotted). Windlass has instead used bone because of how attractive the material and color contrasts with bronze. The handle is very slim, but surprisingly durable due to its full tang construction and the grip is scalloped to aid grip during a thrust. The crescent-shaped pommel is an integral part of the tang and is flush with the scales. Windlass designed the sheath to be worthy of nobility (the original dagger doesn’t have one), with a highly embellished bronze throat and tip and three square medallions. The scabbard has a wood core and is covered with leather. A bronze ring is attached for lashing the sheath to a belt. A truly unique weapon suitable for any historical collection!

Please Note: We can sharpen the blade, but please be aware that the edge of the blade will be bright and lighter in color than the rest of the blade. Also, even though it is sharpened it is bronze and will not stay sharp for as long as a steel dagger would and may dull quickly.

[s10127470]

My Ideal Revival of the Disney Heroes Franchise

What you’re looking at is the official logo for a now defunct franchise known as Disney Heroes.

Disney Heroes was basically meant to serve as the sister…..or more appropriately, the brother franchise of the Disney Princesses, with the focus being placed on the male heroes of the Disney pantheon.

The franchise initially started back in 1999, but under the name of Disney Adventurers. Not only that, but the line-up was rather small, consisting of the titular protagonists of Hercules, Aladdin, Peter Pan, and their most recent film at the time, Tarzan.

The franchise mainly existed through toys, with some notable merchandising besides that here and there.

The franchise remained this way until about 2003, when it got a notable revamp.

The franchise would get its current name and it would expand the roster quite a bit. The new members included Merlin and Arthur from The Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood, Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty, and Li Shang from Mulan.

I also think Simba from The Lion King was a part of the roster as well, I think I remember seeing him on a backpack done for the franchise.

But in 2005, the Disney Heroes franchise had a another revamp…this one notably different from the previous ones.

Although the franchise mainly existed through toys and play-sets that more or less stayed faithful to their respective films, these however…..

Your eyes are not deceiving you….these were actual action figures created and designed by Disney for the Disney Heroes franchise…..and I couldn’t be anymore happier.

Hercules looks like an ancient Greek warrior with the golden armor, plus he’s carrying a big xiphos and a golden shield with the face of a lion.

Peter Pan is now sporting some tan gloves, boots, and ever a mask, carrying a bow and quiver of arrows alongside his trusty dagger.

And Captain Hook has a more swashbuckling look, and his rapier has been replaced with a big ass cutlass!

Prince Phillip and Maleficent were also apart of this line-up of action figures as well.

Phillip had a more knight-like appearance, even having a helmet with a golden falcon on top.

And Maleficent…well, she was in her dragon form.

Sadly, only five action figures were made in this style….

And it’s a shame, given that there were plans to revamp the franchise with a more action-oriented style.

These designs by Disney animator Ruben Procopio for planned future figures for the franchise really highlight this…

Aladdin was gonna look like an Arabian Knight, complete with a dagger and a huge ass scimitar that would make Cloud Strife impressed.

Tarzan was gonna go for a Conan the Barbarian-esque look, complete with a headband, a vest, a tooth necklace, boots, and even a quiver filled with spears, knives, and arrows.

And as you could see, they were even gonna introduce The Beast from Beauty and the Beast as a new member of a roster, with the appearance of a warrior prince and a mace as his weapon.

Unfortunately, these figures never came to be....

Although Disney Heroes franchise was doing decently fine, it was nowhere near the level of success of the Disney Princesses.

As a result of that, Disney slowly but surely phased out the franchise over the next three years.

By 2008, the Disney Heroes franchise silently ended, only merchandising through coloring books and their only new addition since 2003 being....of all characters....Milo Thatch from Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

So yeah....that's pretty much the story of the Disney Heroes franchise.

It's honestly a shame because I could totally see this franchise being pretty successful today.

And given the rise of nostalgia and crossovers in media over the last decade, I could see this being an absolute goldmine for all parties involved.

And today, I'm gonna share on how I think a revival of the Disney Heroes franchise should play out.

.It would aim more towards a older audience, mostly teenagers, similar to the Disney Villains franchise. It wouldn't really focus all that much on toys like the Disney Princesses, though there would be some figurines here and there, instead focusing on media that's more accessible with a older crowd like novels, comic books, video games, and even animation.

.Unlike it's previous iteration, and to that extension the Disney Princesses, it would be more gender-neutral, featuring male and female representatives of most of the represented films as members of the roster.

.Also unlike the Princesses, this franchise has its own backstory. Various Disney villains have joined forces in other to further their respective goals. In retaliation, a group of various Disney heroes, led by Merlin, have united to fight against the villainous alliance and protect their respective realms. I know it's a pretty simple premise, but I think it's the perfect that way.

.The franchise will have a major focus on action and adventure....which for a franchise like this, should be expected.

.Many of the characters will be receiving redesigns in the veins of the ones done for the franchise back in 2005, which give off a fantasy warrior, almost Dungeons n' Dragons vibe. While these wouldn't be to the extent as say, Disney Mirrorverse, they would clearly by different from the characters' usual attire and makes them come off as more like warriors ready for adventure and battle.

.The series will essentially expand on the worlds of the films and bring in elements from their original source materials, official continuations like the TV shows, and even the cultures they represent.

Okay, now that we got the major elements out of the way, I'm gonna briefly share who would be apart of the roster for this new franchise, and list them in chronological order of movie release.

.Alice

.Peter Pan

.Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip

.Merlin and Arthur

.Mowgli

.Robin Hood

.Ariel and Eric

.Belle and Beast

.Aladdin and Jasmine

.Simba

.Pocahontas and John Smith

.Quasimodo

.Hercules and Megara

.Fa Mulan and Li Shang

.Tarzan and Jane Porter

.Milo Thatch and Kida Nedakh

.Jim Hawkins

.Tiana and Naveen

.Rapunzel and Eugene Fitzherbert

.Merida

.Anna and Elsa

.Moana and Maui

Just imagine.....seeing this iconic heroes going on various adventures, from the hottest deserts to the deepest jungles. Fighting against mythical monsters, thieves, wild beasts, villainous knights, deadly invaders, mysterious spirits and swashbuckling pirates!

Anyway, that's all for now. I'm planning to go more in-depth on this idea, fleshing out the characters and their worlds.

If you have any ideas for this franchise, let me know.

[azzo0]

Pickpocket

Summary: You often pickpocket people in hopes of finding a silver or two. You land a jackpot, but the person you've recently pickpocketed from happens to be Prince Bakugo.

Pairing: Bakugo x f!reader

Part 2; Part 3

Every now and then, Prince Bakugo liked going undercover in a cloak and a piece of cloth covering the lower half of his face. He enjoyed going to the marketplace without people cheering, bowing, scurrying away and staring at him. He felt more free this way.

He took his time passing by the stalls, Kirishima following not far behind to make sure the prince was safe. Although Bakugo preferred to spend his time in peace and quiet, sometimes he liked the chaos of the weekend market. Vendors shouting slogans of drop in prices, confectioners shoving sweets into his hands in hopes he'd buy some, old ladies fighting each other over who picked up the pumpkin first, kids running around and crashing into his legs. Bakugo loved watching it all unravel from the background instead of being the centre of attention. 

His favourite stall was the one selling artefacts and used items. If it was his lucky day, Bakugo would be able to buy a rare stone or an ancient dagger. Once he even found a dragon tooth from that stall. He stood by the stall, eyes skimming through the items the old man had available. Seemed like he didn't have anything eye-catching today. 

He was about to step away to leave when someone bumped into his chest. He looked down to see you tear your face away from his chest and step away to glare daggers at him. Bakugo took a moment to let your features in, his eyes darting up and down your figure once. He could tell you weren't exactly from the richest part of the city with your tunic that was losing its colour. It must've been a navy blue colour when it was brand new. He noticed the assortment of knives sitting on your waist. Maybe you were a hunter's daughter?

"Watch where you're going, you old man!" You hissed at him. Bakugo was taken aback. You were the one that bumped into him, and now you were telling him to watch where he was going and had the nerve to call him an old man? Hillarious.

"I ain't the one that bumped into you," he scoffed. "And we're the same age, sweetheart." 

"Well, too bad you look like a creepy old man covered up like that." You snorted. Bakugo's eyes lingered on your face, amused. Were you snarky like that all the time? Did you have any idea that you were talking to the prince? 

"You don't know who yer talkin' to, brat." Bakugo leaned by the stall, a devilish smile under his mask as he watched you roll your eyes skywards. 

"Oh, yeah? Don't go around pretending like you're some prince." You sneered. Bakugo couldn't help but snicker. If only you knew. He let you purposely bump into his shoulder as you walked past him, his head turning in your direction. Now, he was going to make sure to come here again next weekend so he could catch a glimpse of your bratty face.

"Ready to leave?" Kirishima asked, now standing beside him. 

"Yeah." 

On their way back to the castle, Bakugo found a boy sitting on the dirty roadside with a cup in front of him. Despite how fast the country was recovering from war, there were still people suffering from its aftermath. His hand reached into his pocket, searching for his coin bag. He frowned when he didn't feel it in either of his pockets. 

"What's wrong?" Kirishima asked.

"Lost my coin bag," Bakugo tried recalling where he might have lost it. He didn't make any purchases at the market, so he didn't take it out. There weren't any holes in his pockets either. Then he smirked, remembering you bumping into him. It was odd how he standing by the stall, and you still bumped into his chest. 

"That damn brat." He didn't need to visit the weekend market again because he'd be seeing you at the castle very soon when his guards brought you to him.

[du-shadowraven]

INK AND WASH AU

Finished the new au design!

(Please excuse my limited writing skills.😂)

*No y/n for this au.

*Feel free to interact if you want! You can choose to interact with the sun and moon by substituting your own y/n.

⚠Please understand that any form of NSFW is prohibited when interacting.⚠

(This au is inspired by the Yin-Yang Bagua diagram.)

World elements: Chinese-style / ancient style / martial arts

Dynasty: Similar to Han Dynasty.

Sun and Moon still share the same body, and their forms can be switched freely. (However, there are restrictions on the conditions of change, daytime is Sun, night is Moon.)

Background story:

"TAIJI BAGUA, with the center of the same circle as the boundary, draw two equal Yin and Yang fish to show the relationship between everything. The Yin fish is black and the Yang fish is white, which is the representation of day and night. Yang fish has a Yin eye on its head, which means that all things are transforming and penetrating each other. There is Yang in Yin, and there is Yin in Yang, and Yin and Yang are compatible and mutually reinforcing."

The ink drips onto the Xuan paper and the Yin-Yang Bagua diagram in the paper creates a ripple. When more ink is spilled on the paper, they quickly merge with the Yin-Yang diagram and then the Yin-Yang diagram starts to split into a black and a white individual, which is the prototype of the moon and the sun, and after they merge again, the Xuan paper extends into a long scroll and the ink in the paper continues to shape the picture......

Finally, the scroll slowly emerges as a painting of the river and the lake in ink, and a new world is created-----a world made of ink.

About Sun:

Sun is a scholar who is also the "Yang" of the Yin-Yang Bagua diagram, and is sometimes followed by white fishes with black eyes, they can be touched and feel smooth as silk........

Sun's body is mainly made of light ink, and the fan he holds in his hand is shaped with his own ink, so he can change its appearance freely.

About his personality: gentle and elegant, treat people sincerely, he will not use any violent means to solve problems. Sun occasionally will have a strong side, he can not tolerate to bully the weak behavior, although Sun is far less dangerous than Moon, but with his "good at words" ability, many of the abusers have been convinced by him.

About Moon:

Moon is the exact opposite of Sun. He is an assassin and the "Yin" of the Yin-Yang Bagua diagram, and is surrounded by black fish with white eyes that cannot be touched and are so corrosive that the slightest touch will cause the wound to decay and a black liquid to flow out. Moon often uses the ink on the black fish to apply poison on the concealed weapon.

Moon's body is mainly made of pine smoke ink. The cold weapons he uses for assassination are daggers, flying knives, and sword thrusts, but for him, any tool can become a weapon, and he can also use his own ink to shape a weapon.

(For example, the sword he carries on his waist.)

About his personality: compared to Sun, Moon is more calm and collected. Moon has always been used to staying in the shadows and observing things around him, but occasionally he has a gentle side: he strokes wild cats in his free time, because he prefers quiet creatures.

About what they have in common: They can also see what's around them through the white and black fish, which is good for Moon, who often conducts assassination operations, and Sun, who often uses them to view the view from high up. (But black and white fish cannot hear sounds.)

[nemainofthewater]

This poll might look a little familiar.... Due to a timing mix-up yesterday, I am proud to present the 'Best Non-Sword Weapon' poll take 2: Electric Boogaloo!

This time I've chosen to group the options by weapon with wielders in brackets*. Due to space issues, the media that each of them come from is under the read more, and this is definitely a non-exhaustive list!

*Except Xie Lian, who by virtue of winning the previous poll has been brought straight through to part two!

Thank you to everyone from the NiF discord and the watch party discord (and especially @shadaras) who have been amazing at suggesting characters with non-sword weapons! Couldn't have have done it without you! Also thank you to @thebansacredbanned who looked up the names of various obscure characters for me.

Propaganda, examples, and write-ins absolutely welcome!

Fan Wen Kexing (Word of Honour) Shen Qingqiu (SVSSS) Qing Ming (Yin Yang Master)

Umbrella Lord Grim (The King's Avatar) Chu Xuanji (Love and Redemption) Zhan Shiqi (Ancient Detective) Su Muyu (Blood of Youth)

Musical Instrument The Lan Sect (The Untamed) Wei Wuxian (The Untamed) Huang Yaoshi (Legend of the Condor Heroes)

Gun Wang Zhi (Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty) Fan Xian (Joy of life, novel)

Spear/Staff Sikong Qianluo (Blood of Youth) Hong Qigong (Legend of the Condor Heroes) Sun Wukong (Journey to the West) Guan Yu (Romance of the Three Kingdoms) Wu Zhu (Joy of Life)

Knives/Other Bladed Weapon Tang Lian (Blood of Youth) Yang Lu (A Journey to Love) Xiao Mei (House of Flying Daggers)

Whip Chu Wanning (Erha) Gu Xiang (Word of Honour) Jiang Cheng and Yu Ziyuan (The Untamed)

Bow and Arrows/Crossbow Bo Ya (Ying Yang Master) Yan Xiaoyi (Joy of Life) Mei Changsu (Nirvana in Fire, Novel) Xiao Yao, Fangfeng Yiying, and Fangfeng Bei (Lost You Forever) Strip of cloth Xie Lian (Heaven's Official Blessing)

Needles Gong Yu (Nirvana in Fire) Wen Qing (The Untamed)

Giant Bell Wu Xin (the Blood of Youth) Demon Monk (Mysterious Lotus Casebook)

[i-am-vita]

Fic Teaser: A Diversion Fight

So, Stupid Brain made me go into full new Ghost Rose and Phantom Pirates Lore just for writing some unconnected scenes. I promise I'm working on them but meanwhile suffer with me enjoy a little advance of next chapter:

If you haven't read Part 1 go before keep reading.

👉 My Masterlist & Oc Ghost Rose Masterlist.

.

Warnings: SFW but sexy, fighting with knives, smooching against a tree.

(...)

Upon seeing his arm rise towards Yoru's handle, you reacted immediately by throwing your knife towards him to halt his movement. You knew the moment he unsheathed his sword you'd be doomed.

With a swift movement, Mihawk detained the blade with two fingers. His eyes roamed the stylized form and elegant carvings in recognition.

"Bara no Toge... The Rose's Thorns..." He murmured, a hint of admiration in his voice. "It is said a swordmaster melt the O Wazamono twin swords Bara and Toge into a set of knives as a gift for his beloved, the ancient Queen of Daggers of the Shikkearu Kingdom." He toyed with the blade within his fingers, testing its perfect balance. "They disappeared from her tomb years ago." His sharp gaze focused back onto you. "This doesn't belong to you, little rose."

"Neither did to Do Flamingo, but they like me enough."

A sense of pride permeated your voice while the iron ring on your finger glowed and, with a flourish of your hand, the blade escaped Mihawk's fingers back to yours, the black metal pulsating in harmony with your Haki.

It had been one of your firsts and only infiltration to Dressrosa. The Phantom Captain was set to recover a treasure of his after "That Fucking Flamingo Bastard" stole one of his ships.

You have found the chest by mere chance, thrown away in Dressrosa's treasury like some minor antique instead of the lofty weapon from a queen that it was. They've been yours since then, honing your abilities and Hakis until mastering the knives to obey your will.

"You retrieved a Kuraigana treasure right under the nose of the King of Dressrosa and submitted them to you."

Mihawk stoic countenance softened with a flicker of surprise, eyes slightly widened and a knowing smile hinting in his lips.

(...)

His right hand pinned your left against the tree bark but your right managed to escape his hold, aiming your knife against him. His free hand halted your arm, stalling the sharp edge before it pierced the skin of his throat.

"A fitting master for a queen's weapon." He sighs appreciatively in your ear, his lips grazing your skin deliciously. "Although, the Queen of Daggers wore her rings on another finger." More nimbly than you could react, his fingers removed the ring from your middle and slipped it on your third finger. "My lady..."

Something in Mihawk's teasing tone nagged at your mind but his lips started wandering to your neck like before, when you dared to steal a kiss from him.

The blade on your right hand slipped away from your idle fingers and tangled in his dark locks to bring his lips towards yours once more.

.

.

.

To be continued...

Yes, that's my writing process. Throw around some scenes and find the way to make them coherent together. Sorry, not sorry 🤭

Originally, Mihawk was NOT suppose to catch Ghost Rose after the fight but, as we know, he does as he wants 😂

Yes, The Phantom Pirates have messed with Doflamingo (and viceversa) and came out whole and without witnesses. Doffy was not pleased but would die before acknowledge he was rob.

Tags I remember: @white0x0rabbit, @h0n3y-l3m0n05, @gingernut1314, @cinnbar-bun, @jintaka-hane, @fanaticsnail, @writingmysanity

[post-it-notes7]

If this has been answered and I just didn't see it. , I apologize, but what is the weapon of choice for Sir Falspar?

It's mentioned a couple times in my fics, but in H&S Falspar's signature weapon is a dagger!

He sifted through several different weapons before coming to it, so he's not half bad at sword-fighting, axe-wielding, and a handful of other odd ones either (though, some may argue his best skill is really his fists). When all else fails, he'll probably just start throwing whatever he can grab—nowadays, he typically carries a satchel that might be able to back him up.

To end this off with something silly, here's a list of what's usually inside:

Old granola bar; it's incredibly bland (Falspar keeps telling himself he'll eat it if he's hungry enough, but it's ancient at this point)

Standard compass; it adjusts to the magnetic field of whatever planet it's on. A bit useless in open space though.

Set of throwing knives. These rarely see the light of day, but they're still in good condition. Falspar goes a bit quiet whenever he has to use them.

Pile of notes; these are scrawled in Falspar's infamously chaotic handwriting. At least one of these is probably from Dragato.

Star badge; the mark of a star warrior serving the GSA. It's a bit scratched up, but cherished all the same.

Thank you for the ask!

[memories-of-ancients]

Bronze dagger, Egypt, circa 2055-1650 BC

from The National Museum of Scotland

[peashooter85]

Bronze dagger uncovered in Switzerland, circa 2000 BC

[treasure-of-the-ancients]

Gold and silver inlaid bronze dagger, Mycenean Greece, 16th century BC

[kultofathena]

🗡️ This short and more compact Kopis with its forward sloping blade delivers fierce chopping power beyond what is typical of a sidearm dagger. The blade is crafted from sharpened 420 stainless steel. The spine is robust and thick; the blade and its grip tang are crafted from a single steel billet to ensure it has the most durable construction possible.

🗡️ The grip is completed with steel-riveted plates of polished bone and included is a sheath of thick leather with an integrated belt loop and brass-buttoned retaining strap.

Available to Order Now

[draguta]

.a court of fate and fortune | thirty-seven.

pairing: lucien vanserra x fem!reader

summary: | book two | lovers separated, powers that won't be controlled, a doomed wedding. with the threat of war looming over prythian, lucien, Y/N, tamlin, and rhysand's inner circle must scramble to find allies and prepare themselves for what is to come. but Y/N only has one aim; to find her way back to lucien, and protect him at all costs.

chapter warnings: canon level violence, death

chapter word count: 2318

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please remember to reblog, like, and share a comment if you enjoy this series - it is always appreciated by writers to see their hard work valued.

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BATTLE OF VELARIS

Rita’s eyes slid to you as you hurtled toward the four soldiers surrounding her, but it wasn’t fear that you felt in that moment, as reflected in Rita’s eyes. Rather, it was surety that ran through your veins, determination that pumped throughout your body as if it was always meant to have been there. You had fought before - fought for your life, fought to train, to become stronger - but it was nothing like that moment. In that moment, it was almost as if you were born to do this, to be the defender of those more innocent than you, those who had never committed the sins that you yourself had.

Your feet skidded on the blood-slick stones as you brought the knife in your right hand up, slicing through the right lumbar of the soldier closest to you, the small size of the knife making it easy to slip up under his armour to cut through his skin. The soldier cried out in pain as your knife came back wet and red with his blood. Your hair, damp with sweat, flicked across your face as your head turned just in time to see the blade aimed right for your throat; it wasn’t difficult to dodge it, a move that you and Silas had practised countless times.

The movements you made were slick and smooth, carefully executed strikes and blows with such precision that it would make both your old and new tutors proud. There was a soldier on all sides of you, from left to right, in front and behind. You were surrounded, encircled by enemies that wanted nothing more than your head on the end of their sword as a prize to return to their vicious king.

Each and every blow struck against your knives, sparks flying from the metal as they clanged together. You ducked and dodged every attempt made by the four soldiers, slicing endless jabs at each of them as they circled you, a dance where the leader was outnumbered, but knew every step by heart. You couldn’t help the grin that spread across your face, one of maniacal clarity; this was everything you had been waiting for, a chance to prove yourself.

“I never would have expected such flawless swordsmanship from the Spring Court sister.” The voice was rough and gravelly, enough to pull you momentarily away from the fight you had found yourself in, quick enough that you didn’t miss the sword aimed for your abdomen, deflected with graceful ease, but with enough counted seconds to catch glimpse of what was taking place behind you.

Rita’s eyes were resolutely wide, determined but fogged with panic and fear. The old dented metal of an ancient-looking dagger was pointed into the soft flesh below her jaw, enough to draw a drop of blood from the column of her throat.

“Is this what they were teaching you in the fields, hmm?” The soldier holding the dagger spoke, his grip on Rita’s arm pinching her tighter, to the point that the skin surrounding his fingers was turning a ghostly white. His yellowing grin seemed to glow eerily from amongst his thin lips, coated in a sheen of scarlet blood as he cocked his head to one side, eyes trained on you. “Did your little trainer never teach you that it’s usually those you’re trying to protect that become your greatest weakness.”

No, Silas had never taught you that. But Azriel had. Time and time again he had drilled into you that your first priority should be making sure any innocents made it to safety - you cursed yourself for forgetting what he had taught you.

“Just let her go,” you said, attempting to sound stern, commanding, but failing as the bile in your throat made your voice croaky and weak. You flinched as that dagger pressed closer to Rita’s throat, masking the slight movement with a flick of the knife in your hand as you jilted your head toward the bar owner. “You don’t need her. Your fight isn’t with her, it’s with me. Let her go-” you spread your arms wide as an invitation to finish what you had both started, “and we can finish this here and now.”

It was then, as the soldier grinned in an almost unearthly manner, pushing Rita from his side as he took the first strides toward you, that you felt the pain; sharp and unyielding and unbearable right in your side, just below the final rib. A scream ripped from your throat, your bones cracking as you fell to your knees beside Rita, barely able to see the figure of the two soldiers - the one who had held Rita and the one who had snuck up behind you and pierced you with their blade - looming above you through your tears.

Your eyes slowly slid to Rita, even as the cobblestones surrounding the bar keep’s knees grew sticky with your own blood. Her eyes were wide, her skin so pale it almost seemed translucent. But that wasn’t important, not when those soldiers were still lingering so near, when the city itself was under siege, when your friends were out there on the streets fighting for their lives. No, what mattered was that female before you, your friend, an innocent.

“Run!” A pained croak that seemed to echo across the river. And as the two Hybern soldiers behind you muttered something about letting the Attor finish you off, the last thing you saw was Rita’s boots as they slammed against the cobblestones in the opposite direction.

A gnawing ache, just below his last rib. It only seemed to grow with every second that Lucien paced the bare stone floor of his rooms. At first, he had thought that it was perhaps his worry manifesting itself into physical pain - anxiety and panic ruminating in his body, only swelling with each second that passed on the clock. Each second that passed without him knowing if she was safe. If he had - in his loyalty to Tamlin - sentenced her to death.

It was his fault.

His fault.

His fault.

It was heinous.

The words seemed to echo through those empty, silent streets, carried on a phantom breeze straight to the House of Wind standing tall in the golden hues of the morning, across every rippled of the Sidra, across each and every blood-soaked cobblestone.

A putrid smell hung in the air like a heavy blanket on Velaris, that once beautiful city now turned to ruin. The place where so many had lost their lives that day. Amongst them you lay, unsure if you were dead or alive; unsure of which you’d rather be. Something warm and heavy lay upon you, crushing your body under its weight. The Hybern soldier, now dead it would seem.

You drew in a deep staggered breath, ignoring the sharp-shooting pain that ran through your stomach at the movement. If you could just keep breathing, keep inhaling and exhaling, perhaps you could make it through this. If it was even worth trying to survive at all.

No, of course it was.

Minutes, or even hours passed, you weren’t sure. The buzzing of flies spun around you, and you could hear the far-off caws of the crows, likely coming to claim their victims, the bodies of the soldiers that surrounded you, littering the streets of the city.

You dared a glance to your left, your neck tight and stiff. You almost wished you had never done it; the glassy stare of a young fae on the front steps of a building you presumed had once been a store gazed back at you, unblinking, mouth agape and tongue hanging out to lick at the ashes of the building that had fallen around you. A fly crawled across her eye, but the fae did not move. You looked up, eyes trailing over the body toward the sky, an attempt to dissipate the vision from your mind, but froze. A sword was embedded in the back of the fae’s skull. She looked no older than a girl - older than you were, but young for her limitless years. You wondered what the girl’s name had been, if she had lived in Velaris for long, if you had ever stepped foot into the store she now lay dead outside. This fae’s death was on your hands, her blood staining your palms. You knew that, just as well as you knew that the girl’s soul was now no more than dust in the air that you were inhaling. You could have saved her, if you hadn’t failed.

Was it truly fair for you to survive - to walk away from that battlefield when you had caused her death? That fae’s ghost would no doubt haunt that riverside for centuries to come, for longer than you were sure your years would grant you even if you did make it out of there alive. Perhaps you should join her, should go down with those you had damned to that fate, who had died defending their homes - defending Velaris.

Once again, as if she were still the mortal that wandered those frozen woodlands so long ago, death seemed somewhat welcoming in those moments of solitude, the heat of the body across you seeming almost like a swaddle, the type that would lull a child to sleep. Perhaps that was your fate, after everything, to die like a stray dog, forgotten and alone, with only those crows and the rising sun as your unwavering companions until your last breath. Your name would become yet another scrawled on the list of fatalities that this battle had already stolen from this realm.

Slowly, as if the very weight of the world you were trying to protect was upon him, you allowed your eyes to open once more, the sunlight near blinding as it continued its descent over the looming mountains that surrounded the city. A great groan ripped from your dry and aching throat as you pushed the body of the Hybern soldier above you, the resounding thud of the body slumping to the ground rippling through the eerie silence. You didn’t know how he had died, who had delivered the killing blow, and perhaps you never would. You inclined your head; there were no sounds of Hybern soldiers coming to collect their dead and rid themselves of any of their enemy that were still breathing, but that didn’t mean that they wouldn’t be there soon enough. If you were going to live, you would have to move. Now.

Every bone and muscle in your body seemed to scream at you to stop as you rolled himself over onto your stomach, pushing yourself onto your knees. Your chest heaved with the effort, rising and falling with every sullen breath, every breath that you breath whilst those around you would not. One glance across your surroundings told you that the House of Wind was to your North, across the sea of the dead. It was illuminated by the setting sun behind it as if Mother Nature herself were guiding you. And so you moved.

You barely paid any heed to the bodies of the dead as you passed by as fast as your shaking legs would allow you. You crawled over their outstretched limbs, black from dirt and dried, coagulated blood. You ignored their glassy stares and tried to block out that smell, tried to avoid the gags that were pushing your way up your throat. That smell seemed to cling to the inside of your nostrils. The smell of death.

There would be time to mourn their losses later, to take in the faces of each and every fae that died in that battle, whether on your side or the enemy, when you reached safety. Your eyes slammed shut as you desperately dragged yourself away, willing your feet to move, to run as far as you could from that place, as far as you could from the faces that would no doubt haunt you.

Your surroundings were unfamiliar, unknown to you despite having walked the route a thousand times before. It looked different now, no longer an ethereal paradise but rather only the setting of the bloody massacre that you had fought through. You moved faster, although you were more than acutely aware that should any of Hybern’s soldiers still be lurking down any of the side streets, they would likely be on his trail in no time, seeking out your body amongst the dead on the streets. Crimson blood stained the hand that you used to clutch the wound in your side, your own mingling with the blood that had been smeared on your hands from the bodies you crawled over, marring your skin, enemy and kin combining in the rivets of your palms after death.

But your vision was growing darker, blurrier, and your foot caught on something below; an outstretched arm hidden by your watering eyes. You groaned in pain as you hit the ground, not even trying to hide the sound from any enemy soldiers nearby. If they killed you, then they killed you. At least it would put you out of your misery. Your hands reached out to cushion your fall, leaving scratches and grazes along the heels of your palms.

That was when you caught sight of the figure that loomed above you. Freshly polished boots scuffed with blood and dirt planted on the stones mere centimetres from the tips of your fingers, reflecting your own bloodied and battered impression back to you, just one more amongst the other broken corpses that lay surrounding you. A squint, a hint of what you were sure was auburn hair silhouetted by the sun, and then a voice.

“Come now,” the voice said, smooth and warm and velvety. “This is no place to die.”

Your lips twisted into a pained smile as they curled around the word. “Lucien.”

And then everything went dark once more.

Taglist

Complete: | @loveshineslikethesky | @elleclairez | @lostpirateinwonderland | @judig92 | @old-enough-to-know-better73 | @atrashsith | @chanaaaannel |

Lucien Vanserra: | @luna-foxglove | @lumos-barnes | @cumuluscranium | @dreamlandreader | @enrichmenttimeinmyenclosure |

[chinesehanfu]

【Historical Reference Artifacts】:  

・Eastern Jin Dynasty Female Pottery Figurines:

・ Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties “绯碧裙/Fēi bì qún / Fēi bì skirt”:

・ Eastern Jin Weapon Shape Gold Hairpin,unearthed from Eastern Jin Dynasty Tomb in Nanjing

・ Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties Female Figurines showing woman makeup at the time:

[Hanfu · 漢服]Chinese Eastern Jin dynasty (317–420 AD) Traditional Clothing Hanfu & Hairstyle Based On Relics【东晋仕女装束】

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【History Note】

Since the end of the Han Dynasty, the silhouette of clothing has gradually become a trend of "Top are closed-fit to the body, with full and wide shape in the bottom".

Until the Eastern Jin Dynasty, this style became more exaggerated, with fluffy and bulging skirts and higher waists;The tops are short and mostly have narrow sleeves, and the bottoms of the tops are often placed outside the skirts.

At the same time, the fashion of make-up and hairstyle has also changed,face makeup have become more colorful, like“花黄/额黄(forehead yellow makeup)” , "面靥(a makeup which on the dimples of the cheeks)”, and “XieHong/斜红( a special kind of face decoration in ancient times, is a red crescent is drawn on both sides of a woman’s face )” have become widely popular. 

For hairstyles, taller and big ring-shaped hairstyles are popular, and the hairstyle become more plumply,as recorded in "Book of Jin·Five Elements《晋书•五行志》": “太元中，公主妇女必缓鬓倾髻，以为盛饰。用发既多，不可恒戴，乃先于木及笼上装之，名曰假髻，或名假头。 mean "In Taiyuan, princesses and women hairstyle are sloping and seemingly loose hairstyles. This kind of hairstyle are difficult to comb with real hair and not easy keep this hairstyle, so requires the help of wig.

In the hair accessories, hairpins in the shape of knives, axes and weapons are popular, which look majestic. There is such a record in "Song Shu Wuxing Zhiyi/《宋书·五行志一》": " “晋惠帝元康中，妇人之饰有五兵佩，又以金、银、玳瑁之属为斧、钺、戈、戟，以当笄。”：

During the Yuankang period of Emperor Hui of Jin Dynasty, women wore five weapons. They use gold, silver, Eretmochelys imbricata, horn, tortoise shell and other materials to make into axes, battle-axes, daggers, and halberds and use them as hairpins.

Such hairpins was unearthed from the Eastern Jin Dynasty tomb in Nanjing

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Recreation Work： @裝束复原 ​​​ & @桑纈

🔗Weibo：https://weibo.com/1656910125/MfCPWsgnN

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