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theodoradevlin · 1 year

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CHOSEN BLOOD - Theo//Andrew BG

I SWEAR I tried to make this the cliff note version, but here is some background on our two BFF's in question:

Andrew Montrose Back Story |Blood Cursed|

Andrew is part of a historically prestigious animagus family. The Tamerlaines have all shared the form of shifting into lions as their shape. It fits, considering they act as though they rule everything. The Tamerlaines have a dark history of a fight to power, and are involved in business both commercial….and illicit. Montrose has always been subjected to the need to show strength, considering his father had him in a fighting ring at 5 years old. He has seen many a show of violence at his father’s hands, and so he decides to turn to books instead in defiance….to use knowledge and words as a weapon and not his hands.

However — as an unfortunate result of a business deal gone wrong, Andrew finds himself in a crossfire. A vindictive business partner casts a blood curse on him in revenge for his father’s misdoings. Similar to a maledictus, he transforms into his beastly shape with no warning, rhyme or reason. And that shape is certainly no lion. As he grows older, it gets worse. And violent. To the point that his family constrains him at the slight warning of the transformation. For this affliction, though not of his own fault, he his shunned by his family after already being named second to his brother in all ways. He is sent away to Hogwarts, and told to never return, for they cannot be shamed by his nature. It adds to his thankless drive for perfection, to prove himself without the shadow of his family name. Those who try to befriend him because of his family’s ties to power cause him to distrust everyone, wondering if he will ever be seen as himself beyond his affliction, or name.

Theo Back Story| Wild Magic|

Theo’s parents were archeologists, and she was always happy to be towed along on each of their digs. It is one unfortunate dig that calls out a power in her that was unknown before. A fire sparks, the camp is taken out.

Theo is left parentless and living with her aunt. Her aunt reveals to their family has Huldra blood in their line. When it arrises, it may cause stronger calls to nature, shifting one's magic trace just slightly. It is one that causes affinity to certain ‘wild magic’ that can be produced without a wand. It’s possible that in Theo’s case, that magic is fire.

She blames herself endlessly and turns to Herbology, and plants, to show she is capable of creating growth, and not just burning things down.

Humble Beginnings:

Despite a rocky start with much fighting that lasted from their first year to their fifth (mainly Theo trying to stand up for those Andrew snaps at, and Andrew passing jabs at how she is entirely too willing to help others when no one asks for it) Theo and Andrew both somehow find themselves as loners.

While both of their family histories had preceded them to Hogwarts, the reasons for their isolations were much different. For Andrew, it was a choice. He was devastatingly aware that people tried to use him, whether his own family connection or just to social climb. But none of them truly know him. For Theo, it was a constant battle to prove her worthiness - that she was not the accident that had stained her family name, and that she could be worthy of friendship because it was all she wanted to give.

It was slow, but over time it was as if they both saw a reluctant recognition in each other despite being total opposites, both trying to prove they were more than their demons.

As opposite as they were in every manner, one night their opposite schedules was the reason a disaster was averted. Theo liked to be up into the night, spending evenings under the stars in her flower grove, while Andrew enjoyed the solidarity of the early dawn before the rest of the world was awake to pass judgement.

He had been running in attempts to keep the blood curse from rising. Somehow physical exercise helped with keeping it at bay. Until one night.

During his run, he was wracked with a sudden chill, his breathing uneven and pallor drained.

Theo had been walking back to the castle, and heard the anguished scream as she rushed to find Andrew, seeing him doubled over, body spasming as the transformation took place. Not knowing what to do, she simply holds him to remind him he is not alone. Her parents told her to always be the hand that reaches out, and despite the fighting between her and Montrose, she never stopped.

Eventually, the shaking stops and the transformation stills.

Conscious again, Montrose is at first shocked that now she is now the only other soul behind his family that knows his truth. He is shocked when she doesn’t run from it, but offers him her own truth instead. Her wild magic and it’s volatile threat that plagues her constantly, and his curse that offers no promise of any future no matter how hard he tries to overcome and be the best at everything.

They are friends reluctantly, only to see if they can help each other find help for both of their natures, knowing they are worth more than their demons.

An experiment and a deal is struck. Theo mentions that the Huldra in her bloodline and it’s ties to nature may help dilute the blood curse with another sort of magic, perhaps confusing the curse.

She offers him her blood, and he takes it, and it works to subdue his blood cursed form….and it also helps her to release some of the fire that lingers. It is not a gift that Andrew takes lightly, and it makes him realize that she does it without asking for anything from him. It is that part of her that instills their friendship, and it is also why he allows her all the ‘dog and leash’ jokes….for there is no better way to deal with trauma than with humor.

It seems that while they help each other this way, they can survive. And so they help each other survive through more than just blood. But the true gift is the friendship and bond that forms.

There is a side effect to this transaction, however. The alchemy of this mixture creates a bond between the two of them, heightened to each other’s emotions. This comes in handy when Montrose is being especially hissy, but Theo knows his true feelings underneath it all, and therefore pushes him to accept that side of him more than the one that lashes out.

In return, Montrose pushes her to stop being such a ray of sunshine all the time, when he knows she doesn’t want to be.

There are SOME times where this connection is rather unfortunate. But that’s another story.

Overall, they are still very much opposites in all ways, but their connection is one of chosen blood, and chosen sacrifice. Despite their pasts, they know if that isn’t family, then what is.

#Theo #Andrew #RP #CANON EVENTS #Hogwarts Legacy #Spotify

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scotianostra · 1 year

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On July 8th 1296 King John Balliol was unceremoniously stripped of his office and forced to abdicate at Montrose.

To understand this event we have to look back on how it came about. The disastrous deaths of Alexander III and his heirs left Scotland with a power vacuum and several candidates willing to fill it. No less than fourteen contenders put themselves forward as potential heirs to the Scottish throne, among them Robert de Brus (grandfather of Robert the Bruce), John Balliol and yesterdays man, England’s Edward I, yes he really did put himself forward to be our monarch!

Anyway Edward himself knew that his own claim was weak but his chance to take control of the Scottish throne, by other means came when the Scottish magnates requested that he arbitrate in their dispute as to who had legitimacy to rule, with "The great cause"

Edward insisted on the loyalty of the Scottish nobles, landowners and other influential people by making them swear an oath of loyalty to him. This oath was repeated in 1296, and was signed by most of those who were asked. The treaties became known as the Ragman Rolls, possibly because of the ribbons each signatory attached to his parchment, those amongst the 2,000 signatures were the aforementioned Robert de Bruce,the 2nd Earl of Carrick and, William Wallace's uncle, Sir Reginald de Crauford, this was and still is one of the most important documents in Medieval Scotland and a hive of information for historians.

Edward, meanwhile, finally settled on John Balliol as his choice of king, and Balliol was duly crowned at a ceremony at Scone on 30th November 1292. Finally, after six years, Scotland had its king and any English interference should have halted to allow the Scots to get on with the governance of their own country.

Things came to a head, however, when Edward declared war on the French king, and demanded that King John muster an army and send it south to London to assist him in his campaign in France.

Matters then descended into open war, with Scots forces conducting raids across the border. An attack against the English castle at Carlisle failed though and the Scots had to make do with the usual excesses of destruction and pillage against the poorly defended towns and villages of the north of England.

King John had finally tried to shake off the overbearing southern ruler. He now faced the real possibility of invasion. The only question remaining was whether or not his country would be strong enough to resist.

The attack, allegedly led by the monarch himself, was a devastating assault on a poorly-defended town. Edward’s seasoned troops easily overran the feeble earthworks and engaged in an orgy of murder and butchery, which saw men, women and children slaughtered in a three-day rout.

It is probably unfair to call the action a battle, since the garrison surrendered almost immediately and was given quarter. Little other organised resistance was offered by the inhabitants, except for a small contingent of Flemish men who were trapped within a building and burned to death for their defiance. It is said that Edward only called a halt to the carnage when he saw one of his soldiers cutting off the head of woman who was in the process of giving birth.

The exact death toll from the attack on the town varies wildly, as they tended to do in such times, but it is generally accepted that between 17-23,000 perished. This would account for a huge percentage of the population and the news of the deaths of so many was the catalyst for the Scots to rally behind their king, albeit briefly.

A month later, on 27 April 1296, the Scots assembled in support of King John and took to the field near Dunbar. The English forces were commanded by John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey, one of Edward’s most distinguished and trusted professional soldiers.

The Scots were positioned well, with a height advantage and, if some historical sources are to be believed, an advantage in numbers of three to one. What they lacked, however, was discipline. Taking no heed of the ground they held, the Scots infantry charged downhill towards the English lines.

The English knights, hardened by years of campaigning in France and Wales, easily managed to sidestep the headlong lunge of the Scots and brought their mounts to bear in a shattering assault, dispersing the Scots infantry. The attack by the English knights was so comprehensive that they overwhelmed their enemy and destroyed them completely.

Scottish casualties were high and in this one action alone, the Scots resistance all but crumbled and many of their nobles were captured and imprisoned. With the near disintegration of resistance, Edward easily subdued the rest of the country in a matter of months, capturing the country’s most strategic castles and strongholds in a fairly effortless operation.

And thus began the occupation of Scotland.

(The ‘Stone of Destiny’, or An Lia Fail, on which Scottish kings for centuries had been crowned, was also taken south by Edward and fitted into a chair known as Edward’s Chair. This was intended as a symbolic gesture by Edward and the stone would remain at Westminster Abbey for 600 years. It would only return to Scotland in 1996, except for a brief period in the 1950s when it was repatriated by a group of Scottish students.)

On 7th July 1296, three months after the Battle of Dunbar, King John formally surrendered his kingdom to Edward the day after he was humiliatingly stripped of his royal insignia in a ceremony at Montrose, giving rise to his nickname of Toom Tabard or ‘empty coat’. His reign had lasted less than four years.

The defeat of the Scots was complete. Edward I was now the ruler of Scotland.

John Balliol was imprisoned for a time in the Tower of London before being held under a form of house arrest. The Scottish rebellions under William Wallace in 1297, meant that Balliol was again imprisoned and he was eventually allowed to leave England to go and live in France, where he died on 25th November 1314.

#scotland #scottish #King John #john balliol #england #english #longshanks #the first war of scottish independence #history

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carewyncromwell · 4 years

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You have yourself a big fan of Orion/Carewyn. I was wondering if you have any headcanons for them yet?

-rosievixen

^.^ Yatta! Another passenger on the HMS Carion! Hahaha.

I’m still developing stuff, but here are a few things I’ve come up with --

Orion’s feelings for Carewyn really started “going off-balance” for him when she got hurt in the Quidditch Final, but he first realized that Carewyn could be someone he could fall in love with when he saw her Patronus. Orion learned how to cast Expecto Patronum earlier that year, and he was so stunned to see someone else with an Abraxan Winged Horse Patronus. He knew, however, that he was about to start on a path toward his future as a Quidditch player and that Carewyn herself was on a path centered around the Vaults, so he kept his thoughts to himself, telling himself that if they were truly meant to be, like the Patronus superstition dictates, they’d find a way back to each other someday. In the subsequent years they were apart, Orion often scolded himself for his cowardice.

Carewyn was always very fond of Orion, but she didn’t really acknowledge to herself how much the love she felt had become something deeply romantic until they were adults. Looking back, she realized that most people probably wouldn’t throw themselves in front of a Bludger just to make sure someone else’s dream came true.

Once Orion graduated, he and Carewyn exchanged letters somewhat infrequently, since Orion’s schedule as a Quidditch player is so erratic. Orion didn’t see Carewyn in person again until the Second Wizarding War.

In the years between their meetings, Orion had several romantic partners, but none of them lasted very long. The longest was with a young woman named Delilah Flint, the mother of Orion’s daughter, Eos Amari. Delilah gave birth to Eos right after the revelation of Voldemort’s return in 1996, and she not only was deeply afraid of Voldemort due to her family’s history with the Death Eaters, but she also suffered from severe post-partum depression after giving birth to Eos. To top it all off, Delilah was in such severe financial trouble that she soon would have no choice but to go to her family for help, who would not be all right with her having had a child of mixed ancestry out of wedlock. All of this weighed on Delilah enough that she was ready to give Eos up to an orphanage, which of course Orion couldn’t bear the thought of. Although he tried everything he could to try to convince Delilah to reconsider, even going so far as to propose marriage to Delilah so as to keep both her and Eos in his life, Delilah rejected all of his attempts, practically dropping six-month-old Eos in Orion’s lap and leaving for her family’s house that very night, never to return. When the Ministry fell, Orion had to go into hiding (a bit difficult with an infant in tow) -- fortunately thanks to fellow members of the Quidditch League like Andre Egwu, Oliver Wood, Skye Parkin, and Erika Rath, Orion was able to escape the Death Eaters when they swept over the League looking for people with “questionable” magical ancestry. One of those Death Eaters sent after Orion was Night Rhea @nightrhea-hphm, who had played alongside him on the Slytherin Quidditch team once upon a time -- no one knew until well afterward that secret-double-agent!Night had actually gone a bit over-the-top in her burning of the Quidditch League’s headquarters so as to give more fugitives like Orion the chance to escape.

Orion and Carewyn end up colliding during the Second Wizarding War when Carewyn and her friend and coworker Angelo Lancaster @angellazull were enlisted in helping smuggle several prisoners out of Ministry custody, including Orion. One of the very first things Carewyn and Orion said to each other was “You cut your hair.” “So did you.” (I see Orion taking on the “long hair with an undercut” look and wearing a short ponytail so as to keep the hair off his neck while he’s competing in Quidditch matches. Carewyn of course wears her hair shorter as an adult.)

The two reconnect further after the War while Orion tries to build a new home for himself and Eos. Carewyn, being a lawyer, helps him sort out the paperwork designating Orion as Eos’s legal guardian since he hadn’t been married to Delilah when she first gave birth to Eos.

Orion finds a wry amusement in how his daughter and Carewyn’s “son” have the same initials -- Eos Amari and Erik Apollo -- and both have names evocative of Greek Gods.

Carewyn is more amused by the fact that one of Orion’s primary lullabies for Eos is “Walking in the Air” -- the same song she sang for him after the Final match against Ravenclaw.

Orion loves listening to Carewyn rattle on about her court cases. He gets great entertainment out of the “Fire Crab” level of fire she expresses. Despite his amusement when she’s informally discussing the cases, however, he’s also always totally proud beyond belief when she wins one of those cases, even if he doesn’t explicitly say so.

What Orion loves more, though, is whenever Carewyn sings. One of the only times Orion’s ever cried happy tears (or even cried, period) in his life is when Carewyn first sings a lullaby to put fussy toddler Eos to sleep one night.

Carewyn loves watching Orion fly with the Montrose Magpies. She usually doesn’t tell Orion if she’s coming ahead of time so that when she rushes to greet him after the match, it’s a nice surprise. The first time she did this, Orion was so overwhelmed and happy that he couldn’t stop himself from pushing past all of the reporters to get to her. When she threw her arms around him in a hug, Orion -- not used to receiving or even expressing a lot of physical affection, thanks to his childhood -- kind of froze up like a startled cat, before mirroring her and holding her back. He then didn’t let go of her for a solid ten minutes.

Expect moonlit broom ride dates for these two. Carewyn’s a little out of practice on a broom given how much of a workaholic she is, and she loves taking the opportunity to fly side by side with Orion again.

After finding out Orion was vegetarian, Carewyn goes out of her way to learn a good amount of vegetarian-friendly recipes for whenever Orion comes over to visit. (She gets some good advice from friend Wendy Gordon @drinkyoursoupbitch while doing research.)

Even though Carewyn is the Mama Bear and frequently reminds Orion to assert himself more and meet important deadlines, Orion “Papa Bears” Carewyn just as much by encouraging her to sleep more and trying to ween her off of caffeine.

When Orion’s around, you’ll often see the two of them drinking tea together instead of coffee (which Carewyn drinks a lot at work) or white wine (which Carewyn indulges in at parties). Orion’s favorite is lavender tea -- Carewyn prefers a nice Earl Gray.

When Orion uses his own Abraxan Winged Horse Patronus in front of Carewyn for the first time, it’s right around the time that both of them have realized the depth of their feelings for each other but have yet to actually verbalize it. Needless to say, Carewyn can’t stop herself from crying at the sight of it.

Although Orion frequently says Carewyn’s inner fire rivals that of a Fire Crab, he still most frequently compares her to an Abraxan. His pet name for her ends up being “his Abraxan.” Carewyn will dip into the usual things like “dear” and “love,” but when she’s feeling particularly affectionate, she’ll call Orion “starlight.”

Orion most frequently compares his daughter Eos to a Mooncalf because of her big, cutesy eyes. He most frequently compares Carewyn’s ward Erik to a Jarvey because of his snarky attitude and overzealous swearing.

Orion/Carewyn would be a deeply romantic legal partnership more than a domestic partnership or marriage. Despite being partners under the law for legal reasons like child guardianship and healthcare, they’d each have their own flat -- Carewyn’s in London, England near her job at the Ministry and Orion’s in Montrose, Scotland, the hometown of his Quidditch team -- and their own routine apart from each other. They frequently will Floo over to their respective partner’s place for a meal or to stay the weekend and they’re very affectionate with each other, but the two never really create a traditional “nuclear family” with Carewyn as Eos’s stepmother or Orion as a second legal guardian for Erik. Despite this, Eos does see Carewyn as a mother figure and Erik does have a lot of respect for Orion however much he snarks his face off.

#shipping #orion amari #carewyn cromwell #hphm #hogwarts mystery #other people's mcs #angelo lancaster #night rhea #gwendolyn gordon #skye parkin #andre egwu #oliver wood #erika rath #erik apollo #eos amari

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sympathyfortheblinderdevil · 5 years

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All is Fair: Ch 11

Hi, Y’all! Thank you for being so patient and not giving up on this fic even though I have been egregiously late with updates. At best, my life is erratically populated with periods of leisure time and periods of hectic, soul-crushing work. I, like many of you, am in the midst of a forced period of leisure time, so you will probably see more frequent updates. I appreciate those of you who are willing to stick around to see what happens next, and I hope you are in good health. Tell me what you think! x

Discovery and Dissolution

Polly Gray sat in her Bentley, wrapped in fur. Through her dark glasses, she watched the scene on the street where Lia worked. The bitter north wind cut straight down the sidewalk in front of the library and sent patrons scurrying for shelter within. A cluster of people shuffled through the arched brass doors, and Lia stepped out. She was a vision in a blue cashmere long coat, a mink collar clutched around her neck. The wind caused her coat to flap and play peek-a-boo with leather boots that stretched up to her knees. Both items were gifts from Tommy, Polly surmised. She noticed that Lia still wore an older pair of wool gloves. Guess he couldn’t think of everything.

Despite the cold, Lia wore a little smile as she walked along. She’d been hard at work referencing and cross-referencing research with a professor of Art History at the University of Birmingham, and he was pleased with the help she’d given him. He had mentioned working with her again in the near future. Lia had come a long way from shelving books. She was beginning to realize the kind of life she had only dreamed was possible when she first came to Birmingham. As she neared the corner, though, she was pulled out of her thoughts when she noticed familiar-looking woman in a posh car was watching her.

Polly lowered her window and called out, “Lia, Lia Montrose!”

Lia slowed down and warily approached the car. Polly extended a sumptuously gloved hand, looked over her sunglasses at Lia, and introduced herself, “Polly Gray…Tommy’s Aunt Polly.”

Lia visibly relaxed and took her hand at those words, “Mrs. Gray…I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Get in, it’s time we got acquainted.”

In a matter of minutes, Lia found herself sitting in the kitchen at No. 6 Watery Lane while Polly found two cups and put the kettle on. She then reached into the cupboard where she found a tin of tea. Upon opening it and sniffing the contents, she decided that it would do. Decked head to toe in Parisian tailor-made garments, she looked odd moving around the kitchen with such familiarity.

While they waited for the kettle to boil, she offered Lia a cigarette and lit one of her own. They’d spoken hardly a word since they entered the house. Lia was loathe to break the silence with small talk, so she waited for Polly to say what was on her mind. They sat, smoking and soaking in the dusty quiet of the dimly lit room.

Only when Polly poured the tea did she finally speak. “I brought you here so that you could see where Tommy lived...where we all lived before the money came.”

Lia looked all around the room and smiled, “So this is where Tommy began.”

Polly waved her hand with a flourish and laughed, “Who knows where Tommy began. If I hadn’t witnessed his birth I’d swear that he was flung out of heaven and barred from hell.”

Lia smiled knowingly, “Well, Lucifer was a fallen angel.”

“Exactly.” Polly raised an eyebrow and leaned back in the rickety chair. “I want you to understand why Tommy is,” she searched for the right words and finding none she continued, “the way he is.”

Memories flooded Polly’s mind as she looked all around herself, gesturing here and there with the hand that held her cigarette. “Look around you, Lia. This is where we moved when things got better. You don’t want to know where we lived before when things were worse.”

Lia swallowed hard and held her cup with both hands as if to draw every bit of heat out of it. She was suddenly cold. She had not grown up with much, but she was certainly comfortable. Her home had a lightness about it. The room where she sat with Polly was cozy, homey even, but the air was laced with soot and traces of despair.

“Does that explain why he is so driven?” Lia wondered aloud.

“Partly,” Polly mused. Then she looked at Lia with soft brown eyes, almost like she sympathized with her. She felt sorry for anyone who loved Tommy, even herself. “He has always been different. Clever and driven since the night he was born.” Then she looked away, “But he did have a big heart.”

Did.

It wasn’t Polly’s intention to make Lia uncomfortable or uncertain of her place in Tommy’s life, but Lia couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated. Lia’s chair creaked as she shifted her weight and sat her teacup on the table, and Polly saw in her eyes a vulnerability that hadn’t been there before.

“We all had to make sacrifices to get where we are today, but Tommy has sacrificed the most. Business comes first. Always. Ada says that Tommy likes you, he may even grow to care for you, but there are certain things you will have to accept if you want to be with him...”

“So he has said,” Lia broke in. She immediately regretted cutting Tommy’s aunt off, though Polly showed no sign of being offended. She just sipped her tea and smiled.

“Has he said what he plans on doing with you when he returns to London, Dear?”

Lia winced a bit at the question. “No.”

There was silence between them again. A clock ticked out the seconds from the next room and the sounds of people shouting to each other in the street filtered through the walls. Having finished her tea, Polly lit another cigarette and let the quiet grow around them. She believed that you could learn a lot about a person by how they chose to deal with spaces in conversation, so she waited and watched.

Lia ruminated on Polly’s last question as long as she could, then stood and looked toward the parlor, silently asking permission to go in. Polly rose and accompanied her. Dusty furniture and photographs sat frozen in time as if they were waiting for Polly to run the sweeper or Ada to polish the tabletops. The fireplace sat waiting to be lit. But she couldn’t see Tommy until she looked up the shadowy stairwell. It was narrow, and she could barely see the top stair in the darkness, but something in the woodsy smell that drifted down reminded her of him. Polly caught the wistful expression on Lia’s face and placed her hand on Lia’s back.

“His room was up there,” Polly nodded.

Polly peered into the darkness and flipped a switch, then nodded in the direction of the stairs, inviting Lia to climb them.

***

The sleek grey Bentley rolled along Cannon Lane and splashed slush in its wake. Lia sat in back with a heavy woolen blanket wrapped around her legs. She made small talk with Rodney, the Blinder up front. Already, she knew that he had a fiancé and that they were to be married in June. His mum and dad were from Coventry, and they were both deceased. Also, Tommy had taken him under his wing as a boy of thirteen. Tommy kept him from starving and from, as Rodney put it, “…falling in with the worst sort of criminal element.” It seemed like everywhere she turned there was another person with a story about what Tommy had done to help them.

Rodney delivered her to her door, and eager to get out of the cold, Lia darted inside.

“Jenny, are you here?”

A few snowflakes floated to the floor while she hung up her coat and unbuttoned her mink lined gloves. She noticed that the kettle was on, and so she called out again.

“Jenny!”

Her cousin bounded down the stairs, pulling her arms through the sleeves of a cardigan as she came.

“Jesus, Lia!” she laughed. “Is the bloody house on fire?”

“I have news,” Lia beamed.

Jenny nodded her head and set about fixing tea, “Go on then. Tell me your news.”

“WE have the use of a car.”

Jenny froze and her heart sank. “Come again…”

“A car, Jenny! Tommy doesn’t like the idea of my riding the bus and walking to work, so he is sending a car ‘round for us every morning and afternoon. One of his men will drive us to and from work,” she enthused.

Jenny stood blinking at her for a moment then responded in a monotone voice. “A Blinder, Lia. ‘One of his men’ means a Blinder. I’d rather walk in the rain and snow.”

She turned her back to Lia and got out the plates, careful not to take her simmering mood out on the crockery. She tried her best to keep her distrust of Tommy out of her relationship with her cousin, but it was hard to keep things light when every other word out of Lia’s mouth was “Tommy”.

Jenny had taken quite a bit of flack at work because of Lia’s connection with Tommy Shelby. She’d had her fill with entering rooms full of chatter only to have them go silent, and she had dodged several sideways comments about her recent promotion. She hated to kill the mood, but someone had to be the voice of reason. Rolling up to work chauffeured by a flat cap wearing thug was more than she could tolerate.

Lia balled her fists and tried to modulate her voice as she asked, “Why do you hate him so much? Hmm? He is good to me and he wants to help you too.”

“Help? Is that what he calls it?” Jenny turned back around and eyed Lia’s obviously new and obviously bought by Tommy clothes. “If you want to play house with him and let him dress you up as his little doll that’s your business, but I won’t be ferried around town in a car that was paid for with blood money.”

“That’s not fair, and you know it. Our family weren’t always saints. Granddad was the first one in the queue to spunk away his wages on the horses and the last one out of the pub at night.”

“Right, and it was people like the Shelbys who were more than happy to take his wages off of him while Nan and our dads went shoeless.”

She had a point. Lia hated the fact that she had a point. Damn Jenny for always knowing how to snatch the stars from her eyes. Lia sat down and put her head in her hands to hide her tears. It was so easy to let Tommy do little things for her, to buy a scarf here and some gloves there, to make life easier for her in a thousand little ways. He never made her feel like it was payment for services rendered. How could Jenny take all of Tommy’s kindness and turn it into something dirty, something tainted and wrong? The gifts and the thoughtful things he did for her were not part of a transaction, they were just part of the way he liked to take care of her. She wished that for once Jenny could see the goodness in Tommy.

Since Aunt Polly had shown her the house and the betting shop where Tommy had launched his empire, she had a deeper understanding of him. Since she’d stood in his tiny bedroom where he had wrestled with the echoes of the tunnels and sweated through nightmares of poverty and war, she saw him through different eyes. She had grown to tolerate his last-minute cancellations and welcome him without pouting when he’d kept her waiting half the night.

Polly had opened her eyes to the man behind the façade in a way that he could never do himself. With that understanding, she opened herself up to the possibility of a life with Tommy. No, nothing about what happened between them was mercenary. Tommy just took care of people in his life. She was used to Jenny acting like an older sister and alerting her to pitfalls she had overlooked, but this was too much. The tears of frustration and despair that she had hidden behind her hands were becoming tears of rage. Over and over Jenny had proven that she wouldn’t ever approve of her relationship with Tommy, and Lia was finished with seeking her cousin’s approval.

She wiped her eyes and spoke through gritted teeth, “You know, Tommy has offered to let me stay in one of his properties near the library. Maybe it’s time to take him up on that offer. I’d hate for my reputation as the Shelby whore to rub off on you.”

Jenny put down the knife she’d been using to slice the bread. “Calm down. I didn’t say that…”

“But that is what you meant.” Her words came out clipped and cold. “I don’t want my reputation for sleeping with the Gangster of Parliament to ruin your chances with some nice mid-level clerk, so I’ll just move out.”

“No…don’t! I’m just worried about you. You are like my little sister and I’m afraid you’re riding for a fall. What happens when this is over?”

Lia abruptly stood and lashed out at Jenny, “Over?” Lia growled.

The word struck a chord of fear in Lia that made her dizzy. In an instant, all of her nights with Tommy, the taste of his sweat, the feel of his mouth, the smell of his sheets, flashed through her mind. She turned that fear into rage and took a step toward Jenny as she shouted, “I love him! That’s enough for me! Why can’t it enough for you?”

It was true. She loved him so much that it hurt. Her face was red and blotchy and her chest heaved with every breath. She was tired of fighting Jenny at every turn, and at that moment all she wanted was Tommy’s arms around her. She needed him so badly that she felt like she would fly into a million pieces without him holding her together.

Jenny took a step backward and bumped into the kitchen counter. Lia looked truly deranged. A realization came over Jenny like a wave. Lia was a different person now— a person who turned a blind eye to the ugly side of her man and made excuses for his shortcomings. It had been happening gradually over the last few months; the absent-minded dreamer that she had grown up with had disappeared. Back then, no matter how far out Lia got Jenny was always the voice of reason who could reel her back in, but Lia wasn’t listening to her anymore. This was different.

There seemed to be no turning back. Jenny knew that she had already said too much, but couldn’t resist a parting shot as she headed for the stairs. “Love? How can you love him when the only things you have in common are each other?”

Even as Jenny said it, she wondered if it was true.

***

Tommy and Arthur were sitting opposite each other at Tommy’s desk in their shirtsleeves talking about horses. Arthur had put too many logs on the fire and the room was like an oven. It was past the close of business and they should have been heading home, but they had lately taken to staying for drinks a couple of nights a week. Arthur would tell stories about Billy and the chickens, and Tommy had even opened up a bit about Lia. Arthur was cursing the heat and rolling up his sleeves when they heard someone pounding at the door.

“You expecting company?” Arthur asked in his rough, whiskey soaked Brum.

Tommy ran the tip of his tongue along his teeth and shook his head, “No.”

They stood and Arthur made his way toward the door, his hand on his pistol.

“Who’s there?” he boomed.

A muffled voice called, “Lia Montrose. I need to see Tom…Mr. Shelby.”

Arthur turned in his brother’s direction and feigned seriousness. ”Shall we let her in, Tommy?”

Tommy rolled his eyes and huffed, “Open the fookin’ door; it’s freezing out there.”

Lia entered the building shaking snow from her disheveled hair and stamping the slush from her boots. Her cheeks were pink from the cold and her eyes were a bit watery from the wind. She imagined that she looked a fright, but Arthur thought she looked like an angel.

Arthur stood there looking her up and down while she tried not to gawp at the pistol hanging loosely under his arm until Tommy cleared his throat and began to make introductions.

“Lia, this is my brother Arthur. Arthur, Lia Montrose.”

Arthur straightened up and offered to take her coat. As he hung it on the rack, he smiled a bit too broadly and said, “Tommy has told me a lot of nice things about you.”

Tommy knew that something was wrong because he and Lia hadn’t planned on seeing each other until the weekend. After a few pleasantries, Tommy stared at Arthur until he made his excuses and left.

Chills shook her body; she was shaking like a leaf, so Tommy took her by the hand and led her into his office where a fire roared and two glasses of whiskey were already waiting. He sat her down on his desk and took a seat in front of her, all the while rubbing the warmth back into her arms and hands. She looked down into his crystalline eyes and tried to find the words to say what she’d come for. At that moment, she was ever so grateful that Tommy knew how to take his time with her. He would wait until she was ready to talk.

She finished her first glass of whiskey and leaned into him. She breathed deeply and sighed, feeling better already simply for having him there to hold her.

“I don’t know what to do,” she mumbled into his collar.

“About…” he prompted her while stroking her head.

She sat back up and his hands went to her thighs rubbing slow, soothing circles over her skirt. She watched his hands and thought about what Jenny had said. She didn’t know very much about him, other than what they did together. Hell, she only just met his brother. His business dealings were a mystery and she had learned more about him from the papers than from his own words. So what if she became breathless around him? So what if her tummy fluttered every time he entered the room? Surely there was more to love than the helpless infatuation she felt for him.

Tommy lay his head in her lap and wrapped his arms around her hips thinking that maybe she would be able to tell him what was wrong if his eyes weren’t watching her. She ran her fingers through his hair and took a deep breath.

“I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”

“Is that right?” Tommy whispered.

Lulled by the sensation of her fingernails on his scalp, he could feel the knots in his shoulders loosen. He was trying his best to be attentive to her needs, but his mind drifted to what he’d like to do with her on his desk.

“Jenny and I had an awful row… the worst one we’ve ever had,” she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat and went on, “I can’t live with her anymore.”

That got his full attention.

#Peaky Blinders #peaky blinders fiction #Tommy Shelby #peaky blinders fic #tommy shelby x oc #peaky blinders fanfiction #all is fair

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thefloorisbalaclava · 4 years

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Hubby and I did!!! It was crazy!!! I really did love the whole metaphor for Ruby this episode. Just how hard it is to navigate the world as black AND a woman. Ruby got to experience both and see that even though her life was easier, it still wasn’t BETTER. She became disillusioned to it, and in the end, wanted to live as her pure self. At least that’s how I saw it. Plus I guessed episode 2 that Christina was William.

OH MY GOD YES!! this episode was just *chefs kiss*. i thought episode four was wild but this one just had me sitting there like 😲😲😲

i love how ruby got that nasty ass manager back at the end! and did you see that whole thing with montrose coming? i swear this episode had twists and turns EVERY MINUTE.

also my mom is watching and she had texted me a few episodes ago saying Christina was William and i was like "nah". i had to text her last night like "YOU WERE RIGHT?!?!" lol

this is such a good show! i can't get enough!

#lovecraft country spoilers

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avrored · 7 years

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hello , hello ! it’s c again , here with the certified Grumpy Dad Friend alastor moody. i’ve never played moody before , but i’ve always wanted to. i’m definitely hoping to do him justice , as i find his character in the books to be baffling & wonderful ? i also sort of want to examine who he was before the end of the first wizarding war , as i genuinely believe a lot of what he saw & faced impact the character that we see in the books. so stay tuned as i figure that hecking stuff out.

( RICHARD MADDEN , HE | HIM. ) don’t you remember ALASTOR MOODY? the TWENTY - NINE year old PUREBLOOD? they’re working as an AUROR now. that’s not surprising, considering how DEDICATED and SEVERE they are. rumor has it they plan on siding with THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.

so , to start off ? he’s very scottish. just . . . very scottish and very proud to be scottish. he was born & raised in the wizarding village of montrose , and is an avid supporter of the montrose magpies.

he was raised by a single mum. his dad was kind of a jerk and ran out on them when alastor was young

the sorting hat had a great deal of trouble with him, because he possessed distinct qualities indicative of each house ( courage , cunning , loyalty , wit / learning ). in the end, the importance of loyalty won and he was sorted into hufflepuff. ( in my head, this explains why he takes such a shining to nymphadora in the novel because he understands her plight. )

he excelled at school , and was relatively ( not really , lmao ) popular with his classmates because he was just a guy that was really focused but also had some humor. he’s an incredibly sarcastic , witty guy and i love him for it.

he was in school right when the beginnings of war were kind of starting. when people knew that things just weren’t right, and it drove him to study as hard as he could and work as hard as he could so that he could make a difference.

it’s very common knowledge that the moody family has a lot of incredible aurors in its history , but that wasn’t what made him join up. he is just a very passionate guy, and he’s resilient and always looking for some sort of new challenge.

he breezed through auror training. he’s an incredibly capable wizard, and once he was finished training, began to gain a lot of acclaim and a bit of fame for his series of arrests.

now , in the sort of height of the war , he’s definitely considered to be one of the most famous aurors. he’s good at what he does.

the order of the phoenix is something that he’s really passionate about , but he has a bit of trouble with all of the young lives that are being put at risk. sure , he’s grateful for them & he certainly is going to encourage them to fight , but he’s definitely also protective of the other members.

his job & the order kind of caused him to lose the great love of his life ( i’ll probably put in a wanted connection for this , tbh. it’s dramatic ) so rather than mourn those losses , he’s just decided to dive deeper into his work.

he’s a complete mama’s boy?

he hasn’t lost any of his body parts yet !! he is not mad-eye yet !! just !! let’s make that clear !!

he’s grumpy 100% of the time. he seems cold and sometimes a bit harsh, but that’s because he cares ?? a lot ?? he’s just learned how to detach his feelings from a situation in order to be more effective. he’s just a complicated boy and i love him.

but he’s also trash. he drinks a lot. he swears a lot. he’s kinda rude ?? he’s major trash.

#dark:intro #intro

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curlsncarryons · 7 years

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Today, while walking around Chicago, on my way to the blue line, I saw a letter tumbling in the wind. It didnt take long to figure out that it was a love letter and a heartfelt one at that. It was beautiful to me that this man felt so strongly about this woman, Ada. I felt a little guilty reading someone’s deep feelings, clearly meant only for one other woman, but I snapped a picture anyways to save the moment. Yet, I had to wonder why the letter was here on the concrete in front of me like trash, instead of safe with Ada. Theories swirled in my head and I concluded that neither one of them would ever see this anyway… so I took the liberty of writing her response.

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I saw your note at the of foot my door frame this morning among the neighborhood takeout menus… I thought it was a note from the landlord warning us about the volume of our music last night. No, it was from you. I immediately wondered when you could’ve placed it there as it was 7a when I was on my way to the airport. I unfolded the paper, cold in my hands and read your letter during my walk to the L train. What could you possibly want to tell me that you couldnt simply text??! The wind nearly whipped it from my hands but I held on with curiosity.

At the top, it read 5:39p yesterday, so it was there before I got home. How did Yvonne and I both miss it? We didn’t have that much at happy hour. I recalled the chilly night of laughter and triumph that we had passed all our classes. I smiled at the thought and winced from my headache. Ok maybe, we did have a lot to drink. I reminded myself I had two weeks ahead of me with no responsibility and focused on your letter again.

As I read, pressure began to push down on my chest and my breathing quickened. “Summer is going to rock so much with you being here!” I swallowed and continued reading but your words didn’t help. “I just really hope you’ll stay here in Chicago….” My heart immediately fell into my stomach. This semester with you was fun but… I looked around for someone to hear me out. “I didn’t lead him on, I swear!!” I wanted to say to the homeless man who lived under the bridge. My eyes began to water as I read on. “…baby… I miss you… I can still feel your body…” I wanted to scream, “I told him my studies come first!!” How can I respond to this? How am I supposed to explain again that I have way too much going on to be distracted? I could see the train entrance by now and I wanted to run towards it, to escape! And before I knew it, I was scanning my CTA card in pursuit of home, my luggage swerving along behind me. I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened to your letter. I dropped it somewhere on W Montrose Ave. I don’t even know how it ended. I’m so sorry, I just can’t.

-Ada

Hopefully, whoever wrote this letter was able to get in touch with the real Ada and that she received his love openly.

Thanks for joining me!

A Love Letter Lost in Chicago Today, while walking around Chicago, on my way to the blue line, I saw a letter tumbling in the wind.

#chicago. Story telling #lost #love #love letters

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scotianostra · 4 years

Video

youtube

April 27th 1296 saw Scots defeated by Edward I at the Battle of Dunbar.

After the sack of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edward remained in the town for a month, supervising the strengthening of its defences. On 5th April, he received a message from King John renouncing his homage, to which he remarked, more in contempt than anger, "O' foolish knave! What folly he commits. If he will not come to us we will go to him."

The next objective in the campaign was the Earl of March's castle at Dunbar, a few miles up the coast from Berwick. March was with the English, but his wife, Marjory Comyn, sister of the Earl of Buchan, did not share her husband's political loyalties and allowed her fellow Scots to occupy the castle. Edward sent one of his chief lieutenants, John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey, John Balliol's own father-in-law, northwards with a strong force of knights to invest the stronghold. The defenders sent messages to King John, to the main body of his army at nearby Haddington, asking for urgent assistance. In response the army, or a large part of it, advanced to the rescue of Dunbar. John, who was showing even less skill as a commander than he had as a king, did not accompany it. The campaign of 1296 was now to enter its final phase.

According to the history books The Battle of Dunbar was an action between two bodies of mounted men-at-arms, the two forces came in sight of each other on 27 April. The Scots occupied a strong position on some high ground to the west. To meet them, Surrey's cavalry had to cross a gully intersected by the Spot Burn. As they did so their ranks broke up, and the Scots, deluded into thinking the English were leaving the field, abandoned their position in a disorderly downhill charge, only to find that Surrey's forces had reformed and were advancing in perfect order.

The English routed the disorganised Scots in a single charge. The action was brief and probably not very bloody, since the only casualty of any note was a minor Lothian knight, Sir Patrick Graham, though about 100 Scottish lords, knights and men-at-arms were taken prisoner.

According to one English source over ten thousand Scots died at the battle of Dunbar, however this is probably a confusion with the casualties incurred at the storming of Berwick. The survivors fled westwards to the safety of Selkirk Forest. The following day King Edward appeared in person and Dunbar castle surrendered. Some important prisoners were taken: John "the red" Comyn, Earl of Buchan, and the earls of Atholl, Ross and Menteith, together with 130 knights and esquires. All were sent into captivity in England.

The battle of Dunbar effectively ended the war of 1296 with the English winning. The remainder of the campaign was little more than a grand mopping-up operation. James, the hereditary High Steward of Scotland, surrendered the important fortress at Roxburgh without attempting a defence, and others were quick to follow his example. Only Edinburgh Castle held out for a week against Edward's siege engines. A Scottish garrison sent out to help King John, who had fled north to Forfar, were told to provide for their own safety.

Edward himself, advanced into central and northern Scotland in pursuit of King John. Stirling Castle, which guarded the vital passage across the River Forth was deserted , well almost, according to the history of some chroniclers there was a janitor who stayed behind to hand the keys to the English. John reached Perth on 21st June, where he received messages from Edward asking for peace.

John Balliol, in surrendering, submitted himself to a humiliation at the hands of The English King. At Kincardine Castle on 2nd July he confessed to rebellion and prayed for forgiveness. Five days later in the kirkyard of Stracathro he abandoned the treaty with the French. The final humiliation came at Montrose on 8th July. Dressed for the occasion John was ceremoniously stripped of the vestments of royalty. Antony Bek, the Bishop of Durham, ripped the red and gold arms of Scotland from his surcoat, thus bequeathing to history the nickname Toom Tabard (empty coat) by which John has been known to generations of Scottish schoolchildren. He and his son Edward were sent south into captivity. Soon after, the English king followed, carrying in his train the Stone of Scone and other relics of Scottish nationhood.

Scotland was more or less in the hands of Longshanks army, and by all accounts, with the exception of Berwick, with little bloodshed, soon after The Comyns, The Bruces and other Scottish nobles would be free again and given lands and their titles back, after swearing allegiance to King Edward, but murmurs of discontent were beginning and the emergence of a rebellion were starting, with the often overlooked Andrew de Moray in the north, and on William Wallace in the south.

The video has the story of this time in Scottish history, if you can excuse the mispronunciations, it is well worth 15 minutes of your time.

#Scotland #First Wars of Scottish Independence #medieval history #History #england

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scotianostra · 4 years

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On July 8th 1296 King John Balliol was unceremoniously stripped of his office and forced to abdicate at Montrose.

But Edward had other ideas and made a series of humiliating demands on Balliol, demanding that John pay him homage and to cede legal authority to the English throne. This undermining of the Scottish king was to continue, with taxes being levied against the Scots to pay for Edward’s increasing campaigns, and leaving Balliol with no real option but to agree to each and every demand made. Things came to a head, however, when Edward declared war on the French king, and demanded that King John muster an army and send it south to London to assist him in his campaign in France.

Tired of his treatment by Edward, Balliol finally took the decision to resist the demands of the English monarch and shortly thereafter concluded a treaty with the French instead. A further little known treaty was signed with Erik II of Norway and mutual aid was promised if any of the countries were attacked by England. Matters then descended into open war, with Scots forces conducting raids across the border. An attack against the English castle at Carlisle failed though and the Scots had to make do with the usual excesses of destruction and pillage against the poorly defended towns and villages of the north of England.

On 30th March 1296, Edward led his army north to attack the rebel Scots. The Scottish Wars of Independence had begun. Edward’s first action was to take Berwick, the largest city in Scotland at that time, and its most prosperous port. The attack, allegedly led by the monarch himself, was a devastating assault on a poorly-defended town. Edward’s seasoned troops easily overran the feeble earthworks and engaged in an orgy of murder and butchery, which saw men, women and children slaughtered in a three-day rout.

And thus began the occupation of Scotland.

The defeat of the Scots was complete. Edward I was now the ruler of Scotland. John Balliol was imprisoned for a time in the Tower of London before being held under a form of house arrest. The Scottish rebellions under William Wallace in 1297, meant that Balliol was again imprisoned and he was eventually allowed to leave England to go and live in France, where he died on 25 November 1314.

A wee post script I was going to mention yesterday but it wasn't enough for a stand alone post. In 1297, I think we all know about Wallace's and Andrew de Morays' campaigns against Edward I, but in July 1297 there was a third band who took up arms to try and rid Scotland of the English, The Nobles, this included Robert the Bruce and John Comyn, unlike the two warriors who won at Stirling Brig in September that year, the Nobles were easily beaten by Edwards army and surrendered at Irvine on July 6th 1297. It would be another 9 years before Bruce would again take up the cause of Scotland.

Pic is of John Balliol his crown and sceptre symbolically broken and with an empty coat of arms as depicted in the 1562 Forman Armorial, produced for Mary Queen of Scots.

#Scotland #scottish #King John Balliol #history #First Wars of Scottish Independence

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scotianostra · 6 years

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On July 8th 1296 King John Balliol was unceremoniously stripped of his office and forced to abdicate at Montrose.

Edward, meanwhile, finally settled on John Balliol as his choice of king, and Balliol was duly crowned at a ceremony at Scone on 30 November 1292. Finally, after six years, Scotland had its king and any English interference should have halted to allow the Scots to get on with the governance of their own country.

Things came to a head, however, when Edward declared war on the French king, and demanded that King John muster his army and send it south to London to assist him in his campaign in France.

Matters then descended into open war, with Scots forces conducting raids across the border. An attack against the English castle at Carlisle failed though and the Scots had to make do with the usual excesses of rape and pillage against the poorly defended towns and villages of the north of England.

On 30 March 1296, Edward led his army north to attack the rebel Scots. The Scottish Wars of Independence had begun. Edward’s first action was to take Berwick, the largest city in Scotland at that time, and its most prosperous port.

And thus began the occupation of Scotland.

On 7th July 1296, three months after the Battle of Dunbar, King John formally surrendered his kingdom to Edward and was humiliatingly stripped of his royal insignia in a ceremony at Montrose, giving rise to his nickname of Toom Tabard or ‘empty coat’. His reign had lasted less than four years.

The defeat of the Scots was complete. Edward I was now the ruler of Scotland.

Pics are of John Balliol and his great seal.

#Scotland #History

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