#alder manor

[cathikesny]

ALDER MANOR - WESTCHESTER, NY

Alder Manor is what one might call an “addendum” to a park… a sort of illegal one but there aren’t “No Trespassing” signs EVERYWHERE so I like to think it’s a vague policy no one told me about...

Alder Manor is what resides on the other side of the brick wall that denotes the property line ending for Lenoir Preserve, and unfortunately, for the Wightman Mansion on Lenoir Preserve property, Alder Manor is the mansion and estate that really catch your eye as you walk through Lenoir. The brick wall has been vandalized enough over the years that you can pretty easily find a way over, around or literally through it and onto the Alder Manor property…. which again, I plead the Fifth if anyone comes asking… 

The piece of land that Alder Manor resides on was the same ancestral home to the Weckquaesgeek, who were a part of the larger Wappinger chieftancy who generally lived in the Yonkers area as was the case for Lenoir Preserve. The informational plaques at Lenoir Preserve indicate that the land was originally inhabited by the Lenni Lenape tribe (translates to “true people”) and they called the area “Keskeskick”, which isn’t necessarily wrong as the Lenni Lenape is a broad name for any native who lived between essentially the Hudson Valley down to the area around modern-day Philadelphia. I don’t know the exact details, I’m sure they involved trickery, violence or misunderstandings, so I’ll put it in the nice way of saying, the Lenni Lenape were “pushed” out of the area in the 1600s and eventually a man named Frederick Philipse III, whose family had acquired the land two generations prior, then owned the property of what is now known as Lenoir Preserve and Alder Manor. 

Fast forward to the 20th Century and Alder Manor is a little bit of a New York history geek’s dream come true. AKA, my dream come true.

Alder Manor is also sometimes known as the W.B. Thompson Mansion, named after William Boyce Thompson, a mining tycoon and later Wall Street financier in regards to mining who had intended to use this palatial estate as his weekend home…

This part though is roughly where I suddenly became DEEPLY obsessed with the history of Alder Manor. 

Mr. W.B. Thompson, in all of his apparently ridiculous riches, commissioned the architecture firm of Carrere and Hastings, who are better known for being the architects of the NEW YORK FREAKING PUBLIC LIBRARY! YOU KNOW, THE ONE WITH THE LIONS AND BRYANT PARK OUT BACK AND THE BREATHTAKING OLD NEW YORK ARCHITECTURE?!!?!? You know which one I’m yelling about? 

..... I'm assuming you're as stunned and excited as me...

Anyway, Thompson lived in the house until his death in 1930, when it then passed on to his wife who lived there until her death in 1950. (If you’d like to see his absurdly nice mausoleum by the way, you can OF COURSE find it at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, like everyone else famous from the area.) Upon her earthly demise, Mrs. Thompson legally willed the Manor and estate to the Archdiocese of New York and Alder Manor was converted into the first Catholic high school in Yonkers. 

By 1989, the estate had switched hands again and was made a part of the Iona College campus due to space limitations in New Rochelle on the main campus. This was short lived, however, and the property began to be sold off to various developers.

The property has clearly been neglected and vandalized over the years, but since the late 1990s, the Irish Cultural Heritage Center, The Tara Circle, bought the manor and plan to revitalize it and turn it into their base of operations and an event venue. 

Alder Manor has actually been used for scenes in movies such as A Beautiful Mind, The Royal Tenebaums and Mona Lisa Smile, which as a movie nerd, pleases me greatly. 

BECAUSE OF COURSE, my favorite non-bird related part of Lenoir Preserve is NOT EVEN TECHNICALLY PART OF LENOIR PRESERVE. SOOOO, yes, I guess it is TECHNICALLY “trespa$$ing” but it’s owned by the Tara Circle, which is the Irish Cultural Heritage Center of Westchester and I’m Irish so I’m gonna say screw it. I get a free pass, and my free pass extends to my Italian boyfriend. LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE (of a brick wall)! But also, don't vandalize things ever please.

[stark-raving-romantic]

Since we all agree the Harry Potter is NOT it...here's a fun poll! These are just my picks but if you feel that I've neglected one, tell me and I'll make another poll, the winners can face off or something.

Please reblog to break containment!

Pride and Prejudice: It is a truth universally acknowledged , that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

Northanger Abbey: No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be a heroine.

Anne of Green Gables: Mrs. Rachel Lynde lived just where the Avonlea main road dipped down into a little hollow, fringed with alders and ladies' eardrops and traversed by a brook that had its source away back in the woods of the old Cuthbert place; it was reputed to be an intricate, headlong brook in its earlier course through those woods, with dark secrets of pool and cascade; but by the time it reached Lynde's Hollow it was a quiet, well-conducted little stream, for not even a brook could run past Mrs. Rachel Lynde's door without due regard for decency and decorum; it probably was conscious that Mrs. Rachel was sitting at her window, keeping a sharp eye on everything that passed, from brooks and children up, and that if she noticed anything odd or out of place she would never rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof.

The Graveyard Book: There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.

Romeo and Juliet:

"Two households, both alike in dignity

 (In fair Verona, where we lay our scene),

 From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

 Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean."

Tuck Everlasting: The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning.

Fahrenheit 451: It was a pleasure to burn.

The Hobbit: In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

A Christmas Carol: MARLEY WAS DEAD, to begin with.

The Secret Garden: When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Far Out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.

Percy Jackson/The Lightning Thief: Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood

[tanith-rhea]

Only Pretending #4

Ok, this time I'll tag everyone who ever asked! @the-bagel24, @regalbootie, @tundra1029, @thoroughly--confused, @lilsmeaux, @poorwritingandstalecoffee, @alder-saan Thank you so much, lovelies 💛 And of course, the person behind all of this @anti-bright-places 💛💛 This one was very fun to write, Morticia is the spice we needed to get a move on and realize our dumbass feelings (more or less)

Word count: 3k words

Of course Larissa had issues about pretending to date you. She didn’t like you; it was clear from how she treated you so professionally and never sought to know you before all this. If she didn’t outright dislike you, at least she didn’t care for your existence and wasn’t thrilled to spend her weekend with you by her side.

It all made sense. She could tolerate being physically close but dismissed kissing as soon as you suggested it, the best she could. You had drunk an entire bottle of wine the first time before getting close. With just a few fours of bourbon, she wasn’t nearly as welcoming to your advances. These were the thoughts plaguing your mind for hours after you left her office and hours after you woke up the next day. The day of your trip. She only indulged you when she was drunk, and what did that make of you? Taking advantage of her like that? If it weren’t so on the spot you would have sent her an e-mail pretending to be sick to get rid of going.

You spent the entire morning in your room and didn’t go out for lunch, not wanting to risk seeing her in the corridors or, even worse, in the staff’s kitchen. You could wait until three p.m. to eat.

You would leave at four, arrive before dinner and spend the night at the Addams’ Manor. You felt nauseous simply thinking about it. You would dine together, pretend to be a happy couple, and then go to your shared room and sleep in the same bed. All that against Larissa’s better wishes.

She chose Vlad because she was comfortable with him. On the other hand, you barely knew each, and she couldn’t mask her unwillingness even when it was only the two of you. The whole thing would probably go wrong before dessert.

At least then you wouldn’t have to deal with feeling this awful.

Before you knew it was only half an hour for you to part. You hadn’t eaten and rushed to take a shower and look presentable before going down to the entrance where she would be expecting you.

Larissa rented a 1960’s Phantom V and you thanked god for the small mercy of not having to travel four hours in the academy’s van.

When she saw you, you could feel her immediate hesitation like it was a material wall between you. Her posture was impeccable, her hair meticulously done and her make-up flawless; she looked like the picture of the perfect woman, including all the incommodiousness that brought.

“I can help with your bag.” She said calmly, taking the heavy thing you were carrying and easily putting it in the trunk. Everything seemed calculated; civility 101.

“Thank you.” You only managed to mumble before opening the passenger door and avoiding her altogether.

She didn’t try to chat, which you were grateful for. Starting the engine, she focused solely on driving and left you alone in your own world.

It was hell. You were hungry, tired, sad, and pretty much in love with Larissa Weems. While you looked outside the window, trying to ignore the tightness in your chest, the only thing you wanted was for her to hold you and kiss it better. When you were seconds away from asking her to pull over and call off the entire thing, she spoke.

“I cannot do this anymore.”

Oh, so you both wanted to stop.

“What can’t you do?” you asked, trying to facilitate it for her.

“I can’t force you to come with me when you’re so obviously distressed by it.” She stopped the car in a roadside grove and turned to look at you candidly. “If you want to go back, I’ll drive you. I can say I came alone again, it’s what I should have done in the first place.”

You were surprised and uncertain. She was denying her own feelings and making it sound like you were the one to not want this. She was being kind.

“I just wanted to help you…” you started, but she interrupted you.

“You see, I wanted that to be possible. But I cannot ask you as my employee to do something like that for me. It’s unprofessional, unethical and bordering on assault.” She was so agitated and had such a pained expression on her face that you felt almost guilty.

She left the car in a sudden move, leaning against the door after closing it. Probably can’t stand being near me, you thought, but she couldn’t run from the conversation, try as she might.

You left as well and walked around to her side, her face was covered by her hands, and she was taking deep breaths. She seemed so stressed, on the verge of crying or screaming. Maybe you weren’t the only one who couldn’t sleep thinking about the disaster of last night.

“I hoped you could do it as a friend.” She said behind her hands, her voice weak and muffled. She let them fall to look at you once again, her eyes were clear, the blue lighter than a morning sky, but she wasn’t crying. “But you clearly cannot,” she admitted as if it was true.

You didn’t know what to tell her at first, seeing her so distressed and, apparently, fully convinced that it was you the one rejecting her company.

“I would like to do it as your friend.” You whispered, walking closer to be in front of her.

A small line formed between her eyebrows as she shook her head looking puzzled.

“I would,” you continued, “I just didn’t think you saw me as one. I can barely believe I already consider you mine after so few meaningful talks.” The bittersweetness of the sentence left a bad taste in your mouth, but you yearned to say it again, in another context, another world, really.

She seemed deep in thought, surveying you with care before saying, “Do you mean any of that, truly? It won’t change anything in our professional relationship, I want you to understand that.”

“Why do you think I’m so scared of you treating me differently?” you snapped, more frustrated than angry, “I know you, Larissa. I know you’re professional and would never abuse your power or make me feel uncomfortable at my place of work! If anything, you are the only boss I’ve ever had whom I trust not to be like this.”

You were so sick and tired of her checking in on you, asking if it was truly all right. You said it from the beginning and didn’t understand why she was so hung up on it.

“You do?” her confusion only baffled you further.

“Of course, I do! Why would I agree to something crazy like this if I didn’t trust you?”

She nodded as if understanding your point. Honestly, it would be adorable if it weren’t so exasperating.

“Now can we resume our trip? I’m hungry and as soon as we arrive I can finally eat,” you confessed.

“I brought some sandwiches if you’d like,” Larissa said, and you could kiss her, “They’re in the back seat.”

“I’ve never loved you more, woman.” You said before quickly opening the door and getting the food from the container you didn’t notice before.

The principal seemed satisfied with that, less tense and actually smiling at you devouring the goods.

“If that’s your reaction to sandwiches I definitely cook for us when I need to soothe things over,” she mused and your chest hurt at the thought.

“That’s good for cute anecdotes if someone asks,” you smiled to mask the forlornness you felt, and eating the rest of your food suddenly turned into a difficult task.

When you were finished, you put away the container with the other sandwiches and plastered an actual smile on your face before looking back at her. You did feel better on a full stomach. Less tired and a lot less sad. She wanted to be friends and if that was all you got you were happy with it, at least she didn’t despise you.

“So, are we getting back on the road?” you chirped, and Larissa gave you an earnest smile.

“Only after you give me a hug to prove everything’s fine.”

You weren’t expecting it, but you would take whatever you got, so you went right to her arms. She held you tighter than anticipated, resting her chin atop your hair, and you felt tingly and content when you parted.

“Alright!” You went back to your side. “On we go, then.” You opened the door and slumped on your seat; it wouldn’t be so horrible as you thought.

The next three hours passed easily. Time flowed when you and Larissa started talking about work, the students, idle musings about Jericho and hot spots in Burlington that you never thought of going to. You learned each other’s taste in music, preferred weather, hobbies and general things a partner would know, but the funny thing was that you hadn’t planned to, it wasn’t for the sake of pretending; it was just conversation. You had to remind yourself time and time again that you weren’t on a road trip date or getting to know each other in any other capacity besides Larissa wanting to be friends with you.

Her interest in your PhD dissertation was exhilarating and she was very polite to not mention your ridiculous excitement and incessant babbling about it.

Overall, you didn’t see the pass of time, and suddenly you were entering the gardens of the Addams Family Mansion.

“How do you want to be when we leave the car?” you asked, looking at the imposing building and noting someone opening the door.

“What do you mean?” she was busy parking and adjusting whatever it was in the car buttons – not many on an old model like that one. You knew she was just trying to look busy.

“Do you want to hold hands? Maybe I can loop my arm in yours… hold your upper arm?”

“Oh…” for someone who had been so relaxed just a few moments before, she seemed a second away from restarting the engine and getting the fuck off.

You decided to be brave for a change, and clicking free of your seat belt, leaned over her to kiss her cheek. She was looking straight forward, so it was difficult to see her expression, but her shoulders did lose a bit. You put a hand over hers in the parking brake, gently squeezing until she took a long breath and nodded, appearing to have returned to the land of the living.

“Yes… I think the looped arm will do,” she said vacantly.

You left the car and a giant pale-grey man walked close to you – he was even taller than Larissa, around five or six inches so – and from behind him a dark sauntering figure emerged, Morticia Addams.

“Lurch, be a dear and take Larissa’s belongings to the second guest room,” she said in her smoky, forcedly charming voice. You didn’t want to be the bitter girlfriend, but you couldn’t help the pang of annoyance she instantly sparkled in you without doing so much as look at Larissa. “I didn’t know you were bringing someone,” it wasn’t a question, but her arched brow and higher tone at the end prompted a presentation.

“Pleasure to meet you,” you said with the world’s fakest smile on your lips, “I’m Y/n L/n, Wednesday’s chemistry professor and Larissa’s partner.” You reached a hand for her to take, and she only lightly touched your fingers out of forced politeness.

“I believe we met briefly at Nevermore,” she gave you a nauseatingly sweet smile while looking at you from top to bottom and back up.

You grabbed Larissa’s arm more from the need to have something to hold and ground yourself than to pretend at intimacy. You needed some sort of reassurance to keep you from jumping at the woman’s throat.

“Yes. Wednesday likes to pilfer some things from the lab every now and then,” you chuckle at the thought. You didn’t mind it as long as she wasn’t getting herself and others in danger, which sometimes was the case. She never took big quantities to be a real problem anyway. Larissa disagreed.

“I try to keep her under control, but you know how they are at this age,” she said, looking truly regretful, and you felt a bit of sympathy for her.

“Yes, I deal with about a hundred of them. I don’t mind it, don’t worry,” you smiled, and Larissa mumbled in, sounding peeved as you would expect.

“Doesn’t mean she can do it. One day she’ll create a hazard and it will be your responsibility, I won’t defend you to the board, do you hear me?” she was adorable when irritated; especially by silly things such as those.

You only scrunched your nose at her, trying to keep your smile at bay, before Morticia asked you to accompany her inside. Lurch had already vanished and the darkness was thickening at every passing moment.

You were shown to your room, where you both were to shower and prepare for dinner. Your things were on the bench at the end of the bed, both suitcases carefully piled not to fall.

“So,” Larissa walked into the room after Morticia closed the door, “What do you think?”

“Of what? Her? The mansion? Answers may vary severely.”

“Entertain me with your reasoning.” She arched a brow and sat on the bed, looking more relaxed than a few instants before and clearly amused.

“First, if we were together, I would have killed that woman already,” you began, and she laughed.

“Jealous, much?”

“You don’t understand! The way she looks at me and talks to you makes my skin tingle, not in the good way! Someone has to teach her good manners, you’re mine!” it slipped, it completely slipped, and you scrambled for something to say to fix it, “Supposedly, I mean!” you felt your cheeks already burning, “You know what I meant…” you descended, defeated. With any luck her mind didn’t even go there in the first place.

“And second, the mansion is creepy paradise. I love it. I mean who has on-suit bathrooms in their ‘second’ guest room? Are you kidding me?”

Larissa hummed, taking off her shoes and letting her hair loose, “Morticia did marry into a good life,” she mused.

She looked so beautiful like that, you couldn’t speak for a while. She was the picture of homely comfort, of domesticity. You felt so privileged to see her in anything other than her professional self. You had to acquire Vlad some AB Positive to thank him.

“Do you want to go first? I’d like to rest a bit before getting ready,” her voice was soft, and you were engulfed by the need to kiss her silly into the comfortable-looking bed she sat at. However, you only nodded stiffly and went to the bathroom, leaving her to lie down and decompress for a while, she would need it if Morticia planned a five-course dinner as she said.

The bathroom was almost half the size of your quarters at the academy, with a bathtub and separate shower space, double vanity and an enormous mirror with a black gothic frame. You were torn between feeling amazed and vexed at the blunt display of wealth, but the thrill of having it at your disposal overpowered all else.

After a long, hot shower, your muscles were singing praise to Morticia and all her descendants, blessing them for expensive supplies and relaxing steam.

Just before entering the bedroom, you remembered not taking any clothes with you. There were two tidily rolled robes between the sinks, so you wouldn’t leave completely bare, but the thought of wearing close to nothing in the same space as Larissa made your stomach turn. It would have to do.

You steeled yourself before opening the door, taking a deep breath and tightening the belt. When you entered the room, all the air you took escaped your lungs in a slow, fond realization: she fell asleep. Larissa had taken off her jacket and lay on her side across the bed, one hand close to her face and the other loose over her middle. She looked so peaceful. She must have been tired from driving; that and the bad sleep you probably caused her by making her think you wanted out of the plan. It was becoming more and more difficult not to kiss her, hug her, lie with her and smother her with love and care. You thought it was all just a passing fancy for your boss, but every second that passed made you question if that was all it really was.

Cleaning your throat, you busied yourself with opening your suitcase. “I’m done, Larissa… if you want to go now, you can” you tried to sound less strangled and only half-succeeded.

Her adorable “Hm?” right before fully waking made your heart clench.

“Right, yes, thank you.” She said absentmindedly before getting a change of clothes, like any normal person, and going to the bathroom.

While you were readying yourself, a knock came at the door. Larissa was still in the shower, so you prepared to ask whomever it was to wait.

“Mrs Addams. Hello,” it was Morticia, of course.

“I just wanted to pass and see if you’re comfortable. Is Larissa inside?” she tried to look over your shoulder into the room.

“She’s having a shower,” you felt suddenly protective and half closed the door so the only thing she could see was you.

She arched an eyebrow at your comment. “So you aren’t…” she smiled, looking off into the distance for a while as if her musings were much more interesting than finishing her sentence or you understanding what she meant.

“We aren’t what?” you snapped, not meaning to sound so annoyed.

She shifted her gaze at you instantly, looking surprised with your intromission. “Aren’t intimate enough to have it together.” She only smiled at that, smugly, and turned to go. “Oh, and dinner will be ready in half an hour, so tell her, you know, through the other side of the door, to hurry.” And then she was off.

Chapter Five

[blueopinions49]

ENFP “The Campaigner”

Enthusiastic~ Optimistic~Jovial~Talkative~Merry

““When you are joyful, when you say yes to life and have fun and project positivity all around you, you become a sun in the center of every constellation, and people want to be near you.” ― Shannon L. Alder

CHARACTERS (IN ORDER)

Misato Katsuragi (NGE) 2w1 Saggitarius (Dec 8,1986)

Harley Quinn (DC Comics) 7w6 Cancer (July 20,1990)

Aang (Avatar the last Airbender) 7w6 Libra

Issa Dee (Insecure) 7w6 Capricorn (Jan 12,1985)

Jules Vaughn (Euphoria) 7w6 Pisces (Feb 28,2001)

Peeta Mellark (Hunger Games)  9w1 Libra 

Judy Hale (Dead to me)  9w1 Pisces (Referenced in S2)

Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto) 3w2 Libra (Oct,10)

Dani Clayton (Haunting of Bly Manor) 7w6 Cancer (July 2,1960)

[sam-glade]

Ends of a Sword

I love this scene, but it has to be cut from Gifts of Fate, so... enjoy!

Characters: Varré (POV), Lissan, Gullin Setting: Sunblessed Realm WC: 1400 CW: weapon training, no injuries Context: In Gifts of Fate, the main cast spends the winter in an abandoned manor, hiding from the Traitor and training Lissander.

“Roof-plow-ox, then strike, fifty times,” Varré instructed and observed him for the first dozen or so sequences.

When Varré attended the Academy, they were taught how to use a sabre, not for sport, in the style favoured by nobility, but the practical techniques, known to the guards and road patrols. Fighting a Dark One was obviously different than facing another armed human, but the muscle memory was invaluable. Knowing how to strike precisely, how to follow through, how to recover from a fumble, without thinking through the movements, could save a Sword’s life.

They shook their head. Of course the Princeling had taught the kid the sanitised techniques.

“Lissander, how many ends does your Sword have?”

He fumbled the strike and reset to fool’s guard without thinking, then restarted the sequence. Varré allowed themselves a small approving smile.

“It’s just the one end actually, sir?” the kid wagered, looking at them with wide eyes.

“Wrong.”

Their gaze swept up to Gullin, and the Brigadier caught their eye. He jumped down to the ground floor, cushioning his fall with air; Varré should really tell him off for using his Knife for parlour tricks, but no, a reminder to the kid that he was outmatched was needed every now and then.

“Let’s take it outside.”

~*~

Winter in Surya reminded Varré of the Princedom of Air, of the rolling hills around Gale’s Rest. These were ancient memories, from before their parents moved with them to the City of Light when they were in their teens, and they’d never returned East. They imagined that  there were fewer lakes there than in Surya, but then that was true about every region of the Five Princedoms.

The manor, with the smoke rising from the chimney, looked almost homely by now. The snow hid the threadbare sections of the roof and the lack of decorative plants on the flowerbeds. The Dragon Tree detracted attention from the peeling plaster. It was a sight to behold, with the frost shimmering on its blue leaves. When the Princeling went back to Siltwood, Varré gave into the temptation and touched the pearlescent bark, which was said to be as hard as a dragon’s scales. It was cool and smooth, smoother than the silvery trunks of ashes or grey alders. Then they tried breaking off a leaf, belatedly remembering that the juices of the tree were rumoured to burn like a dragon’s fire. It was a moot point; they didn’t even bend the leaf’s stem in their fingers.

The lakes disappeared under the two-foot blanket of snow, their edges smoothed out, their surfaces frozen solid. To Varré reeds looked very much like woundwort or mullein in this season, and they could tell where the lake’s shore was only by where the snow cover was too flat and unbroken. They’d honestly forgotten about the pond behind the orchard, since it was so small, and they walked out onto it until the ice creaked — and shadowstepped off of it post haste. That was a month ago, and now they considered utilising the flat surface as a sparring ring, however they couldn’t take the risk, not knowing what Lissander’s Sword did.

The meadow past the utility buildings had to do; anything to trip over was covered by snow anyway. They tossed a bundle they’d brought from Redguard towards Lissander — it was a long-sleeved padded jack, patched many times over. He caught it easily and unfurled it.

“Put that on, kid.”

Gullin narrowed his eyes, observing Lissander as he pulled it over his head and adjusted its shoulders. The Brigadier turned to Varré.

“Sir? Isn’t that mine?”

“Yeah, I thought it might fit him.” Gullin kept looking at them pointedly. They shrugged. “Your orderly was very obliging.”

He ground his teeth.

“I see. I’ll have a word with her next time I’m in Redguard, sir,” he drawled, then realisation dawned on him. “Do I not get protection?”

“You’ve got your greatcoat and decades of experience.” They swirled their hand. “Sword sparring, no release,” they instructed Gullin and swept snow off of a stool-sized boulder.

“Yes, sir.”

Gullin drew his Knife and Varré felt the wind picking up — not too strong; it was only the manifestation. They shifted their woollen scarf to cover their cheeks and ears; the itching was preferable over the frost needles flung at their face.

Lissander unsheathed his Sword, but kept glancing at Varré, as if asking for further instructions.

“Go on, the day’s short.”

Gullin closed the distance before the kid’s head turned back to him.

Lissander yelped and leapt back, severely underestimating Gullin’s speed. Varré tutted. True, Gullin might not be channelling Water or Fire, but it didn’t mean he was slow, and on the other hand, the kid should learn to use what advantages he had.

Wind picked up snow from the ground around their feet, and carried it together with the Brigadier.

“No release, I said!”

Gullin acknowledged sharply. He stepped around Lissander, while the wind subsided. The kid tried a horizontal cut tracking him, but with one more swift step, Gullin was behind him, flicking with his Knife the tip of the Sword, which had lost most of its momentum by that point. Gullin elbowed Lissander in the kidney, forcing him to catch his balance, and the Knife went up to the kid’s throat. He froze there, not quite touching the skin, until Lissander gulped.

“Point to Gullin. Again.”

Lissander shot them a look of irritation as the two Swords stepped away from each other.

“How—?” His question was interrupted by Gullin closing the distance again.

“By not repeating your mistakes!”

This match up would have been ridiculous in a standard fighting pit that allowed mixed weapon matches — or under any other circumstances when both opponents didn’t wield Gifts of Fate. Even when sparring with other Swords, Gullin often avoided the ‘no release’ rule; the reach on his Knife was frankly, silly. However, it served well to teach Lissander a lesson.

He started being more observant of the distance between him and his opponent, matching Gullin’s steps, but that led to frustration when they were at an impasse. Gullin stepped to the side, Lissander mirrored the movement, and neither of them gained anything. The few times when Gullin closed the gap, the kid put his Sword horizontally between them and shoved him away. He would try attacking then, but every time Gullin responded by stepping into the attack, before the blade gained momentum, and deflecting it, letting it slide against the Knife.

“You can get more creative than that,” Varré gave them a hint.

Gullin must have thought it was directed at him, for, in his arrogance, he shot Varré a look. They grinned, not tearing their eyes off of the kid, who’d crouched and scooped up a large handful of snow, under the guise of ducking a wide slash of the Knife. He sprang back up and tossed the snow in Gullin’s face, a fine white powder, bitingly cold. It hit the Brigadier’s eyes, was inhaled into his nose and mouth, and they guessed that a non-negligible amount of it fell between his scarf and his throat. He yelped with indignation, sparring forgotten, and Varré almost fell off their boulder, laughing.

“Point to Lissander,” they managed to announce a little bit later.

Gullin attacked with renewed verve, and Varré congratulated themselves on thinking of the padded jack — it certainly saved the kid from a series of lacerations. Lissander in turn was overly careful, aiming his attacks far away from any vital points, and not striking as fast as he was capable of, but then that wasn’t the point of the exercise.

Varré narrowed their eyes. Was he afraid of fighting instinctively, in case the Nameless took over? It was quite likely. It would be great if they could arrange for him to take out some Dark Ones the next time a rupture appeared in the area; but then they’d have to announce their presence to the outpost’s commander.

The two Swords were again locked in a shoving match. Gullin held his Knife more or less horizontally, pushing just below the crossguard of the kid’s Sword, which was held blade-down. Varré watched Lissander’s eyes flick from the Weapons to Gullin’s face, and more precisely his chin. Finally.

Lissander pulled his Sword up, hitting Gullin’s jaw with the pommel. The snout of the wolf’s head was blunt enough not to cut the skin. Gullin stumbled back, eyes wide-open in surprise.

“Point to Lissander! Sheath Weapons,” Varré called, hopping off the boulder. “So, kid, how many ends does your Sword have?”

He took a couple of breaths, winding down.

“Two, sir. It has two.”

Days of Dusk taglist (please message me to +/-): @acertainmoshke @another-white-hole

[cocowritesstuff]

corvus oculum corvi non eruit

Meet my Harry Potter (au) OC 🖤💚

Name: Lyra Solène Lestrange-Weasley

Nickname(s)/Titles: Ly, The Slytherin Sweetheart, Little Lestrange, Mademoiselle Lestrange, Madame Lestrange-Weasley

DOB: Jan 13th, 1979

House: Slytherin

Quidditch? Yes

Position: Keeper

Family: Bellatrix Lestrange (mother), Rodolphus Lestrange (father), Narcissa Malfoy (aunt & godmother), Lucius Malfoy (uncle), Andromeda Tonks (aunt), Draco Malfoy (cousin), Aradia Malfoy (cousin), Nymphadora Tonks (cousin), Rabastan Lestrange (uncle), Theodore Nott Sr. (godfather)

Loyalty: Death Eaters (forced/“defected”), The Order of the Phoenix, The Dark Triad, Slytherin House, Herself

Wand: 10 inches exactly, alder wood, dragon heartstring & “switch-like,” flexibility

Patronus: was unable to produce one until age 20, when she did, it was a Capuchin monkey.

Marital Status: Married George Weasley in 2002

Residence: Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire (school days), 12 Grimmauld Place, London (post graduation/wartime), Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire (wartime/post-war), Lestrange House, Mayfair, London (post-war)

Occupation: Student (formerly) Socialite, investor, philanthropist (post war), eventually went on to work in Wizarding Crisis Management, making her a direct hindrance at times to the DMLE and Ministry.

Background: The s*rial-killer’s daughter of the Wizarding World. Born with a gift for Occlumency yet cursed with a name almost as notorious as the Golden Boy himself’s, but for all the wrong reasons, this Slytherin aristocrat dedicated her immense reserves of ambition, cunning, and determination into ensuring that her peers, along with the rest of society, would never, ever view her in the same light as her parents. Due to her charismatic and overall easygoing, if not slightly aloof and arrogant personality, as well as her behavior throughout her school years, she became known amongst her peers both sincerely and insincerely alike, as The Slytherin Sweetheart, and was known throughout Hogwarts as one of the more approachable members of the snake house in her time. However, as the events of the Second Wizarding War began to unfold, it became apparent that in times of hardship, blood often runs thicker than water, and she and her mother had far more in common than either of them had originally anticipated— to neither one of their benefits.

random shit-

Lyra has an Alder wood wand which speaks to her natural aptitude for nonverbal magic, which she began practicing her first year and mastered by her fourth. She is also a natural born Occlumens, which helped her tremendously during the war.

Her favorite spell is crucio, just like her mum’s. She unfortunately has a natural gift for Dark Magic, and is able to use it in limited amounts without it entirely corrupting her soul and mind (something that she gets from her father and uncle, as it runs in the Lestrange family— obv Bella was driven mad by it sooo… sorry NHOB).

She, like most Purebloods, follows the Old Ways of magic (i.e, celebrating Pagan holidays, using ceremonial magic, etc.), something she gets from Narcissa. Litha is her favorite holiday.

Lyra is a small constellation which is often represented by a bird, such as an eagle or vulture, carrying a lyre through the night sky. This ties into how the symbol for the Lestrange family is a bird (raven/crow), and the lyre is a musical instrument favored by Apollo, and when placed in the hands of Orpheus, was said to produce the most enchanting and beautiful music with the ability to charm anyone, even inanimate objects. This relates to Lyra’s personality, and how she is known as a very good talker, able to slither her way in and out of any situation using only her words.

Lyra & George’s relationship is loosely based on Orpheus and Eurydice— one loses the other due to circumstances beyond control, and makes a seemingly impossible journey in order to get them back.

She was handed off to Narcissa and Lucius right after she was weaned, and her mother was incarcerated not long afterwards. As she was raised by the Malfoy family, she considers Aradia and Draco to be her siblings rather than her cousins. She did not remember what her mother looked like, and only had 3 conversations with her father before he died. Due to this, she considers Narcissa as her mother, and it is reciprocated. Narcissa adores her, as Lyra is more interested in knowing how to network and thrive in society, which was greatly utilized after the war, and Aradia, her other daughter, is much closer to Lucius and more interested in learning how to be the next Malfoy Heiress.

Her patronus memory is when George stood up to Molly and defended her to the Weasley family. It was the only happy memory she had that did not have any negativity/impurity attached to it on her end.

The Lestrange Family words are not just a motto, they are a fatal blood curse on every member of the family, that typically lays dormant, as its sole focus is prohibiting them from ever doing anything directly to intentionally betray or turn against a member of their family. Due to this, she could not testify against her parents. However, due to his involvement in helping Lyra and Aradia escape Malfoy Manor, she testified for her uncle, Rabastan post-war and this led to him receiving a reduced sentence in Azkaban, followed by permanent house arrest… unfortunately, she did not predict him having to live with HER, due to her being his only kin. Rabastan spent most of his time keeping to himself, and eventually began to unlearn his bigoted ways. He died soon after as a man on the pathway to complete reformation.

[the-hunter-of-teufort-rp]

"Who might you be?" asked Edgar.

Johanna had been mildly surprised when she'd found herself invited in to the opulent manor. She was half sure she'd find herself turned away by the foreign dignitary. But she'd heard he enjoyed taxidermy, what harm would there be in trying to sell the pelts and wares she'd gathered on her travels. Worst thing would be she'd be turned away at the gates and be on her way.

But here she stood.

"My name is Johanna Alder, Your Grace." She replied as she gave a small curtsy, mentally frowning at the sound of her rough Dutch. She wasn't well versed in it, but when one was going to travel in a country, it paid to learn enough of the local language to be able to make your way around. "A trader, if you will. I sell pelts and the like, or my services hunting and trapping."

[colorsunimaginable]

the spare // chapter fifty-four // death eater ! tom hiddleston oc x plus size ofc - voldemort wins au

story summary: 

While on a mission to avenge the death of her best friend, Ilvermorny graduate Melisa Alder finds herself in the middle of the fight to defeat Voldemort. Upon capture after the Dark Lord's triumph, she's being sold at an auction with other muggle borns and blood traitors. Her only hope is also her only bidder - the tall, dark, and handsome Thomus Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy's younger half-brother. Is he just another Death Eater or is he hiding more than just his face beneath the mask? Will she realize her true potential to be one of the resistance's greatest weapons?

*a Voldemort Wins AU with Tom Hiddleston cast as an OC x a plus size protagonist* *takes place in The Auction universe by Lovesbitca8*

words for this chapter: 3.4k warnings for this chapter: violence, attempted rape

CHAPTER MASTERLIST

Chapter Fifty-Four:

Thomus lured me into his bed that night. Though that honestly might be a bit of an exaggeration. He lead me by the leash and I happily followed him. After what just happened, I want nothing more than to curl into his side and hold him close.

In the morning, I wake up alone. This doesn’t surprise me, but I am disappointed my time in bed with him was limited.

I don’t find him in the house as I start another boring day. As I start cooking breakfast, I realize he didn’t leave a suppression potion.

I don’t have time to wonder because the back door swings open. The moment I hear the sound, I hold the handle of the frying pan with a death grip, ready to whip it, frying eggs and all, at whoever steps in.

“Oh, it’s you,” I say with relief when Thomus glides in.

He grunts an acknowledgement, his chest huffing. He fills a glass of water and chugs it down. My saliva production triples as I take in what he’s wearing.

He’s wearing a long-sleeve grey shirt with a green stripe going around his biceps and chest. The fabric is soaked with sweat down his back, clinging to the muscles there. His black shorts aren’t leaving much to the imagination, either, and my eyes almost leap away out of pure guilt for ogling the man.

Finished with his water, he turns, pushing the cuffs of his sleeves back up his forearms, and I nearly give in the bubbling female hysteria within. He pushes his damp, curly hair off his forehead as he brings his eyes to me.

I immediately drop my eyes, turning back to my eggs. I have to start scraping partially stuck bits off the bottom since I was too busy eyeing his bottom.

“Didn’t know you run,” I say, forcing a casual tone. I’d thought he’d just up and left like the countless times before.

“I run almost every morning,” he shrugs.

“Really?” I say, genuinely surprised. “I’ve never seen you.”

He crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the counter. “I usually do it on the Manor’s estate, simply because of the size.”

“Why change that?” I ask. “Just for the fun of it?”

He tilts his head, hesitant. “No, not exactly.” His eyes follow me as I move my eggs to my plate. “I… felt it was safer, if I remained here this morning.”

“Because of last night?”

He nods.

“I suppose that makes sense,” I give him a teasing grin. “You scared the shit out of me, though. You almost got a face full of hot egg.”

He chuckles. “Lucky you rely on your muggle instincts and not magical.”

“It would get the job done, though, wouldn’t it?” I say defensively, feeling a blush crawl up my neck. “Um, hungry? I can… I can make you eggs.”

His lips press together and his eyes crinkle with laughter. “I think I’m going to have a shower, then figure all that out.”

“Okie,” I mutter as he scooches past me, but speak up when he’s almost at the door. “Would you want to watch a movie tonight?” He stops and looks back at me. His gaze burns into me and my insecurities rise to the surface.  “Uh, if you want.”

“What movie?”

“I’ll let you pick. The backs of the cases have little synopsis’ on the back.”

“Well, I’ll have to check my schedule,” he sighs. The corner of his mouth turns up, so I know he’s only teasing.

~*~

Later, when he’s digging through the VHS bin, that teasing smile is gone.

“I had no idea this would be such a difficult decision.” He’s kneeling at the foot of my bed, bent over the bin. I’m busy walking around the bed, tucking the fitted sheet under the corners.

“What looks good?” I ask.

“Something for adults preferably. Most of these seem to be for children.”

I sigh. “You might like Star Trek or Monty Python.”

“The Holy Grail?”

“Yup. It’s a comedy.”

Thomus sighs, too. “Very well.” He pushes the bin back under the bed before standing.

“Don’t act too excited,” I tease, stuffing my pillows into their cases. Then I settle them on the bed and spread out the comforter.

Thomus us reading the back of the case as he drifts to the door. “You’re still staying in my room tonight, yeah?”

I look up at him to see him eyeing my bed. “Of course,” I say with a shy smile. “Your bed’s way comfier than this one.”

He chuckles. “Right, I’ll see you downstairs.”

~*~

Thomus seems to enjoy the movie, even if he admits to not understanding things sometimes. He’s sitting up on the couch, and I’m laying down with my head in his lap. At first I lied on my side, facing the TV, then I turned onto my back.

I can tell when he loses a little interest in the plot when his hand slips under the blanket covering me. He starts drifting his fingers along my jaw and neck. I peek up at him out the corner of my eye, but see he’s still looking straight ahead.

His hand moves lower, cupping and kneading my breasts. They shift under my t-shirt from his grip and the fabric rubs my nipples and they quickly stiffen. I inhale sharply through my nose and bite my lip when he pinches and rolls them between his fingers. He does this long enough for my hips to start shifting and my thighs fall open.

He cups my jaw in his big hand, turning my face to look at him. His thumb brushes over my lips. “If I put my fingers on your pussy, am I going to find you wet for me?”

I swallow hard and nod. “Yes.”

Thomus chuckles low. “A little eager?”

“Only if you want to,” I whisper.

“Think of it this way,” he murmurs. “Your pleasure is my hard day’s work; satisfying, rewarding…” His hand inches down my stomach, dipping under the band of my shorts. “It’s like –“

A buzzing goes off, making Thomus pull his hand away from me. He pulls out his wand to stop the timer. He looks down at me with a guilt expression.

“What?” I ask, sitting up. “You have somewhere to be, I guess?”

“No, um,” he stands, summoning the bag of Floo powder and starting up the fire. “You can keep watching. I won’t be long.”

“Okay,” I say slowly. Mostly I’m bummed because whatever it is, cheated me out of an orgasm.

He calls out for the Manor and steps into the green flames.

~*~

To his word, he isn’t gone long. Enough time for me to pee and grab a glass of water without looking like I’ve moved at all. I stop the tape, too. Just because it seems rude not to.

When he comes back, he has potion vials in his hands.

“I’m sorry,” he says, “I had to let it simmer for three hours.”

“Let what simmer?” I ask, point-blank. I can’t help the apprehensive look on my face.

“The suppression potion,” he replies calmly. “I, er, had to make it stronger.”

My voice is soft, almost pleading. “Are you really going to make me take it? You know I’m not going to hurt you. Or, try to hurt you.”

Slowly, he moves forward to sit on the edge of the couch, angled towards me. His expression is guarded.

“Strangely, I believe you,” he admits. “I shouldn’t, but I do.”

Right… Owner, property. “But you still –“

He nods. “I still have to suppress your magic.”

“Why?” I ask. “Draco hasn’t been suppressing Hermione’s magic.”

“Granger isn’t abnormally skilled with wandless magic, is she?” he bites out with an irritated tilt to his head. “What my… nephew and his parents decide to do with their charge is their own risk.”

“What risk?” I snap. “I’m not –“

“Please,” he says, leaning forward on his elbows. He reaches out and covers one of my hands. “It’s safer this way.”

“Safer?” I ask, anger rising in my voice. “What’s safe about me not being able to protect myself?” I try to pull my hand out from under his, but his grip tightens.

“If anyone found out I knowingly let you possess your magic –“

“Let me guess, they’d kill us both?”

“They’d make me kill you,” he states, his eyes on me intense. His words ring in the silent room. He puts the new batch into my hand. “So, please. Don’t fight me on this.”

I grip the vial tightly in my palm. “What happens when this becomes ineffective, too? There has to be a limit.”

“That is a problem I will deal with when the time comes. For now…” He raises his eyebrows expectantly.

I sigh, resigned and pull out the stopper, tipping the vial into my mouth. I give him my middle finger as I do.

~*~

Thomus doesn’t leave again until the next day. He gets summoned by the dark forces behind his tattoo just as we sit down for supper. He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek goodbye and then he’s gone.

He didn’t say how long he’s going to be gone so I finish my meal and get up to start clearing it away. I’m contemplating what to do with his still full plate when there’s a knock on the front door.

Immediately, I put his plate back on the table and crouch. The curtains on the living room window are wide open. After making sure there’s no eyes on me, I crawl on my hands and knees to the front door. I put my eye to the peep hole and I stagger back a step out of pure shock.  

It’s Rodolphus.

He knocks again, stepping back to peer into the living room window. “Hello? Mudblood!” he calls. “I know you’re in there.”

He must think I’m a fucking idiot if he believes I’ll just open the fucking door for him. My hand hovers over the deadbolt, turning it until it locks. I do the same with the door handle lock.

He sighs and pulls out his wand, pointing it at the door. He mutters Alohomora and the deadbolt unlocks. He tries the doorknob, but after seeing that’s locked too, he redoes the spell. While he’s casting it, I relock the deadbolt. Then when he tries for the door again, it’s locked. While he unlocks the deadbolt, I relock the doorknob. This goes on for a few minutes and I’m almost laugh at how many times he lets it go on.

The blasting spell catches me by surprise though. I’m not sure what happened because it was so quick, but I know I was airborne based on where I wake up, sprawled out in the doorway to the kitchen. The front door is off its hinges, broken into pieces. Rodolphus stands in the doorway, wand fisted in his hand.

“There you are,” he smiles. He takes a step inside and I try to flee. My left shoulder is in so much pain and I can’t move my arm. I manage to sit up, gripping the doorway to get me on my feet. My eyes never leave him.

He takes another step towards me, studying the room. “Not much, is it? With how heavily enchanted and protected this place is, I’d expect Thomus was stockpiling gold.” He looks curiously at me. “But no, it’s just you, isn’t it?”

“Thomus will be back any minute,” I lie, slowly taking steps back.

Rodolphus laughs, an off-kilter, disturbing sort of laugh that sends fear racing down my spine.

“No, he won’t,” he says. He turns toward me, body language screaming that he’s ready to pounce on me at any sudden move. “You’re all mine now.”

I spin on my heel, dashing towards the knives drying on the rack from dinner. I grab one and aim it, knowing full well that it won’t slice through any sort of skin. But he doesn’t know that.

When I turn to him, he’s in the kitchen now, his hip pressing into the island. He’s barely an arm’s length away. If he gets any closer I’m gonna slice him right open. Or try to.

“I don’t belong to anybody – especially you,” I seethe through my teeth.

He laughs again, breathy and casual. “Fine,” he concedes, holding up his hands. He takes a heavy booted step towards me and I mirror him, taking a step back. Rodolphus’ voice deepens. “But your cunt belongs to him, doesn’t it? Do you think it’ll cry and weep for him as I fuck you?”

“Stay the fuck away from me.” I’ve backed up so much I’m by the door now.

With as much force as I can muster, I whip the knife at him and yank the door open, bolting out into the autumn evening barefoot. I just need to make it until Thomus comes back. I need to hide.

The panic is starting to take over as I speed off towards the creek. The cold water will clear my head and there’s rocks. I can use rocks.

And of course, I’m a fucking idiot because how could I ever think I could defeat a wizard with fucking rocks?  I’m surviving on pure luck and whim since he hasn’t casted another spell on me.

“Oh, mudblood!” Rodolphus calls from up the path. I’m at the creek now, I barely splash my toes into the water before I bend to pick up a rock. One light enough to throw and heavy enough to bash his brains in. “Mudblood, I know you’re here. You won’t get very far. This property is embarrassingly tiny.”

Of all the times for my magic to randomly kick in, this would definitely be the time. I see movement through the dying brush and briefly try to cast a disillusionment spell on myself. I know it doesn’t work because he spots me immediately.

I hold the rock up as I half-concentrate on walking over the stones that make up the bank of the creek. He just watches me back up, his wand isn’t even raised.

He smiles wide. “Go on, run. I like it when they run.”

Needing no more encouragement, I book it down the path. He might be baiting me, but at least it’s an opportunity.

I follow the path along the creek until I can see the front of the cottage. I get right to the tree line when a massive weight blows right into me, putting me flat on my face. I scream and struggle against Rodolphus’ weight on top of me. His hand’s twisting my hair into his fist and he pulls, my back bowing. I push my working fist against the ground, trying with all my might to get my knees under me.

Rodolphus’ breath is at my ear. “Hope. That’s what they get when I allow them to run. They get this brief rush of hope that they’ll survive, that they’ll get away. It’s exhilarating to watch it drain from their eyes as I fuck it right out of them.” He grinds his hips into my backside, his boots digging into my calves.

He pushes my face back to the ground and a painful moan escapes as his weight forces the air from my lungs. My elbow gives, my arm shoving outwards across the dirt. The pain in my shoulder is almost blinding.

“But enough about me,” he taunts. “Let’s talk about you. You’ve managed to get so deep under Thomus’ skin that pureblood cunt just isn’t enough for him anymore. He’d rather dirty mudblood cunt now, and that’s a problem, you see.”

He pushes up, his load bearing hand the one that’s twisted in my hair, driving my head into the ground. My glasses bend and the nose piece presses far too close to my eye. His other hand pushes up my shirt, grappling for my breast where it smushes out under my arm. Each touch feels like a sharp pinch.

“Thomus thinks he can just walk away,” Rodolphus pants from above. “As if he hasn’t been fucking my wife for the last fifteen years.” He turns my head out with enough pressure that I feel my neck popping. His hair tickles my face when he leans down. “He thinks he can just walk away.”

I scream when his teeth sink into where my neck and shoulder meet. I use whatever core strength I have in attempt to shake him off, but this only tightens his hold on me.

He tears his lips from my skin, boldly licking up to my ear. “It’s only fair, right, love? That I get to fuck what’s his? Fuck the only whore he’s ever laid claim to?”

Then his weight is off me and I can breathe again. He’s rolling me, my dislocated shoulder getting the brunt of my weight. My fist clenches at the dirt and I whip it at him, unable to control my cry of pain.

The dirt lands right in his eyes and as he’s stumbling back, I kick him right in the face. It’s just enough for me to stagger to my feet, shakily hauling ass through the front yard, without time to look back. I don’t really have much of a thought besides hide.

The front door is open, obviously, and I skid to a stop in front of the laundry room. The door is already open and it makes sense to me at the time to leave it as I climb onto the dryer. I push the attic panel aside, pure desperation and tunnel vision the strength that pulls me up. I shove the dirty collar of my shirt between my teeth to stifle my pain when I roll onto the attic floor.

I manage to put the panel back into place just as Rodolphus’ boots come stalking their way through the living room. I’m on my stomach, watching through the tiniest crack between the panel and the ledge.

“Where did you go, mudblood?” Rodolphus calls, a gentle lure to his voice. I see the tops of his boots through the doorway to where his stands in the living room. “I’m not finished with you yet, you daft thing.”

I’m holding my hand over my mouth, not even daring to breathe heavily. My heart is pounding so hard in my ears that I almost miss the second pair of footsteps as they approach.

“Thomus!” Rodolphus excitedly greets. “I was just looking for your mudblood. The naughty little minx has escaped. You’re lucky I was here.”

I wait for Thomus to respond, but he doesn’t, and I panic for a brief moment, wondering if this is a trap.

But Rodolphus’ boots disappear and I assume he’s stepping closer to whoever came in.

“This can’t last forever, you know,” he continues. “I will have my way with her.” He chuckles. “Might even make you watch.”

The second person still doesn’t say anything. If it really is Thomus, I can only imagine he’s giving Rodolphus his thousand yard stare.

“I will ruin her,” I hear Rodolphus whisper in the quiet.

Then more footsteps, heavy like they’re Rodolphus’. My eyes are locked onto the floor, hoping and praying that the one who remained is Thomus.

The moment his familiar dragon leather boots come into view, I shove the panel aside. I go down legs first, keeping my weight on my good arm to lower myself to the dryer. My feet are on the floor and I feel dizzy with relief when I see Thomus standing there.

I don’t run to him. He doesn’t come rushing to me. There’s only silence as we stare at each other. What is there to say that our eyes couldn’t?

“Can I…” I whisper, my breaths still shallow, “have a hug?”

His face twists with an emotion unfamiliar to it, and I just can’t hold it in anymore. Can’t hold back the tears that fill my eyes and blur my vision. I can’t hold back how afraid I am and I can’t stop myself from running to him like he’s a port in a storm. He doesn’t push me away when I slide my arm under his, pulling him close. My chest shudders with my sobs as I bury my face in his shoulder. His arms instantly swallow my shoulders, holding me just as tight. His cheek presses against the top of my head and his breaths are deep and measured, like he’s breathing me in.

“You never have to ask,” he whispers.

[lunarcovehq]

Baby, it's all I know That you're half of the flesh And blood makes me whole I need you so So take these broken wings And learn to fly

TAKE THESE BROKEN WINGS - PLOT DROP

TW Violence, Gore, Blood, Physical Assault

It was the first truly warm day of the year. The temperatures had reached the mid 70s (that's around 23°C for those who use Celsius) and, as the sun began to set, the warmth wafting in from the water brought along a thick mist that clung in the air, casting an eerie sight over the small Rhode Island town that only grew eerier as one Aiyla Baysal began her walk home.

The banshee had worked late and, now, a quarter past 10, the fae wandered the lonely streets of Sunny Harbor back to the small cottage she called her own. But, as she rounded the bend, the banshee found herself overwhelmed with the urge to scream. Collapsing onto her knees, a desperate and soul shattering cry rang out into the night. A warning that someone was about to die and someone almost did.

At the same time, across town, over in Celestial Hills, a doorbell rang for the past has a way of repeating itself and, as Meena Raja descended the steps of her manor, she found herself stopping short at the door. Her stomach dropped at the sound of a rather distinct thud and the faintest murmur of her advisor who was now coughing up blood. In less than a split of a second, Meena was at Aaliyah Rose's side. But, the damage had already been done. The Clan Advisor had been attacked. Aaliyah Rose's chest had been carved away at with what appeared to be a stake of sorts. Her now exposed heart still beating, but slower now than before, within her chest. Someone had attempted to rip Aaliyah's heart out the way Meena had once received Theodore's supposed heart in a box. But, rather than finish the job, they left her advisor on her doorstep with a note that read-

Your husband and his Council let me take the blame for their misdeeds and now your advisor will take yours.

But, if that wasn't bad enough, Aaliyah Rose would not be the only attack that night. For as the Fae Queen and banshee screamed, a masked figure made their move. Grabbing the fae from behind, they slashed at Aiyla Baysal's wings with an iron knife. Another blood-curdling cry broke from her lips as her knees gave out from under her. Her sight flooded by an illusion her attacker wanted her to see.

Rather than the misty streets of Sunny Harbor, Aiyla found herself on the Town Green back in 1992. A crowd was beginning to form around the coven advisor of the time, River Cassidy, who stood up on the front steps of the Town Hall, watching in silence as the crowd shouted obscenities and questions at her. How could this have happened? How could the hunters have gotten in?

But, rather than answer them, River's gaze locked onto that of the Supreme and Mayor, Yasmin Badawi, who was attempting to push their way through the crowd. "Either you tell them or I will," River warned. But, before River's could utter the truth, the clan leader, Theodore Moore, began to usher the crowd back- Everyone stay back. Stay back- while Yasmin acted as if River had gone mad. River, it's okay. I know you didn't mean to let them in. Just stand down. But, River hadn't been the one responsible for the hunter attack. She had been the only voice in the room who had urged them not to go through with it. The sharp pains in her head from all of the town's peoples memories she had absorbed for her Coven leader mixed with their shouting became too much to bare and, before anyone could stop it, River lunged at Yasmin. But, before the advisor could reach the other, Saskia Alders intervened. She grabbed onto River, using the strength of an alpha to hold her back, as the Fae Queen, Hazal Kaplan, casted an illusion over River to subdue her. They dragged her away. Aiyla watching through the vision as River Cassidy was taken into a backroom as the others decided what they should do with her. The truth, they all decided, would result in anarchy and chaos. A vote was cast and a verdict unanimously made to save their own skin. River no longer stood with them and, while they didn't feel that it was right to strip the witch of her magic given everything she had done for them (and the fact that she was currently holding all of the other residents forgotten memories of the attack in her head), they banished her. She was to leave Lunar Cove and never come back. The Alpha, Saskia Alders, would later announce that River Cassidy was the one to let the hunters in and had tried to attack them all. But, out of self defense, they fought back. River Cassidy was no more and would be pronounced dead the following day in the papers. While, the real River Cassidy lived on, out there, somewhere, having been sacrificed as a pawn in a much bigger game the leaders had been playing.

As the illusion came to an end, Aiyla's vision went dark. The fae leader collapsed on the street as her attacker vanished into the night, leaving behind a note of their own-

Your kind created the Catalyst and now every supernatural will pay the price.

REMINDERS

This will be the last plot drop before the event which is our masquerade event starting on 5/4. These plot drops are completely optional for your character to react to. We also hope these plot drops will inspire starters and different threads to be had between your characters. Please feel free to continue any plot drop threads before this and react to what you would like.

For the fae: There have been multiple attacks tonight. Any banshee in town likely spent the whole night screaming, having either found their Fae Queen through sleepwalking or woke up the next morning with a sore throat. If you are in the Fae Court, your leader has now been attacked. Also, written in the blood of the Fae Queen on both the outside of the Daily Drip & the Selvi house in Sunny Harbor is a note that reads "If you thought you saw the last of me, think again". A message from the Fae Queen's attacker who has been working with the Catalyst.

For all Vampires: Your advisor has been brutally attacked and is currently recuperating at the Moore Manor. Feel free to have your characters react in any way you'd like.  

For the Council: Feel free to HC out the Council Meeting and discuss where the remaining leaders plan to go from here. As for Aiyla & Aaliyah, it’s up to you if you feel they’d be released from the Hospital to join the meeting or if they’d call in or sit this one out. Royce may be still out for this one as well.

For everyone else: Feel free to react to both the attacks and the foreboding message you may have stumbled upon in blood outside of your local coffee shop.

And, as always, we hope you have fun!

[whimsykeii]

Wolchefant Week Day 2: AU

AU: Childhood Friends

Instead of going to Thanalan like most Ala Mhigan refugees, a wrong turn in Alder Springs lands the Walders in Ishgard.

Growing up as the sole child of a potter and a carpenter, Altheia knows what it’s like to feel like a stranger in your own home. Frequenting the Pillars, she has seen Haurchefant storm off to House Haillenarte many a time, sometimes from within that very manor.

[grayintogreen]

LitMoR Original Character Guide

FINALLY a guide to the massive amount of OCs featured in LitMoR. Despite how big this is, this doesn't contain every goddamn character in my expanded universe, just the ones that have appeared multiple times, have a significant impact on the narrative/world, or because I just wanted to throw them in because you've probably seen them in OTHER works of mine and maybe you'd like to know a bit more about them.

This list doesn't include characters like Ishel, Nima, the Jagentoths, and any other character I took straight from the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount. Those are Canon OC's and while I have thoughts on all of them that goes beyond little blurbs in a book that doesn't make them mine.

I have also avoided MOST spoilers for the entirety of LitMoR but there still are some.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO: THE LIST.

Narcissa “Agee” Ageratum Female firbolg, Rogue (Thief) After exhibiting a series of troubling unchildlike behaviors when she was six that she can’t fully remember but were considered ill omens by her tribe, Agee was left in the care of a shopkeeper in Nogvurot and was “communally raised” by various locals who looked after her for ten years before she began to have strange dreams that exacerbated a sense of anxiety around the Righteous Brand. Fighting off her own growing anxiety with kleptomania, she began to alienate her adopted family and when she was all set to run away, she was approached by members of a Kryn party looking for their own people in the Empire. Believing that she might finally understand her strange dreams, she went with them but panicked and robbed them in the night.

Ashley Allard Male human, Paladin (Oath of Treachery) The youngest child of Yves Allard of Nicodranas and his late wife, Ashley was born into privilege and immediately found it to be a complete bore. Through a series of cutthroat victories, he stole the Blade of Broken Mirrors and the title of Champion of Tharizdun from his uncle Alder. As a paladin, Ashley has a strong personal code, despite the atrocities he’s willing to commit to get what he wants, and believes very strongly in his objectives to the point of playing long games for years to reach what he believes to be his magnum opus.

Yves Allard Male human, noble Ashley’s father and a founding member of the Court of Nightmares, alongside Rinna Pathan and her patron. As the eldest member of the Allard family, he maintains the family’s massive shrine to Tharizdun in the basement of his manor in Nicodranas, though he has no particular interest in the Epoch of the Ends and prefers to use his family’s old money to feed his obsession with the Calamity and indulge his own cruelty. He uses his considerable connections to gather members of the Court for Rinna.

Calpurnius Amabilia Male aasimar, Bard (College of Whispers) Cal is an immigrant into Aeor from the floating island of Zemniaz, who managed to excel quickly through the ranks in Cognouza by being extremely good at finding and keeping secrets. Using his quick wit and charm, he maintained personal relations between Cognouza and the other wards as “Cognouza’s voice,” but when Cognouza was shut out, he turned his attentions to spycraft, instead. Cal is known more for his compassionate nature and easy-going charisma more than anything, but he is absolutely ruthless when that which he loves is threatened.

Levitica Arrenhall Female elf, Cleric (Twilight Domain) The High Priestess of the Midnight Vertex and one of the Dawn Marshalls of Vasselheim. It is said she saw the construction of the first Moonweaver temple in Vasselheim and will not die until it crumbles to dust. She considers herself a mother to all those who find themselves in her temple and guides them like a shepherd as an extension of Sehanine’s will.

Seneca Candidus Male elf, Wizard (Order of Scribes) A vocal philosopher who developed a reputation among the wards of Aeor for outlandish ideas on the belief of manifestation and higher achievement through dreams, which were considered particularly backwards in a city on the cutting age of advancements in arcane sciences. After becoming the head of Cognouza, he gathered like-minded debaters and scholars and scientists who were outcasts in their own right and formed the Somnovem.

Tacitus Camillus Male human, Wizard (School of Enchantment) Before coming to Aeor, Tacitus was lord over a small community on an island in the Lucidian Ocean that he attempted to manipulate into a perfect society where everyone lives up to their exact potential, after becoming disillusioned with the majority of societies within Domunas. When his attempts to mind control the masses led to a series of misfortunes, he covered up his mistake and fled to Aeor where he was readily accepted into Cognouza as a Lorekeeper, leaving nothing behind but his guilt. Calculated and manipulative as well as charming, Tacitus often assuages his own guilt by placing the blame on others, instead. It’s often said that he cares more about preserving history and leaving something behind that future generations will find pleasing than he cares about the present.

Gertrude Blakenship Female aasimar, Bloodhunter (Order of the Mutant) The current head of the Order of the Mutant in Wildemount. Gertrude is an anxious, spacey woman who compensates for her shortcomings by crafting elaborate mutagens, preferring ones that increase her strength and make her a menace in hand to hand combat.

June Blessedthane Female dwarf, Bloodhunter (Order of the Lycan) A boisterous werewolf who runs the Order of the Lycan compound in Trostenwald. Primarily jovial and easy to get along with she has no patience for any lycanthrope who gives her Orders a bad name and has mercilessly killed her own students for even showing the potential to go rogue.

Melancholia Cheveron Female human, Druid (Circle of Spores) Huron Stahlmast’s childhood friend and eventual lover. Despite coming from two entirely different worlds, Melancholia’s devotion to Stahlmast allowed her to overlook his obsession with industrializing Wildemount, which he often promised her would be used towards reclaiming the land for her and her people, long wiped out by Hupperdook’s advancement and constant encroaching upon the mountain. Whether or not it was true, Melancholia believed it wholeheartedly and therefore supported him in everything he chose to do, often defending him publicly when the rest of Hupperdook shunned his ideas, which further othered her as an outsider and left her with no one else but her long time friend.

Wake Dashwood Female dwarf, Ranger (Horizon Walker) A follower of Sehanine and friend/daughter figure to Levitica, Wake acts as a go-between for the Midnight Vertex and the rest of Vasselheim as the clergy rarely, if ever, come down off the mountain. She knows the Vesper Timberlands like the back of her hand and runs with a group of rangers called the Riftkeepers who keep an eye out for extraplanar threats to Vasselheim.

Balbus Delphina Male human, Wizard (School of Divination) A former member of the Hall of Prophecy in Avalir, Balbus washed out when his visions became too much for him to handle and he no longer wished to serve as an oracle. Knowing this would bring shame to his family, he fled to Aeor where he studied under Seneca in dream-based magic, at first, and then eventually turning to astronomy after discovering a love of the stars, though he could never properly escape his visions.

Antioch Dodger Male elf/halfling, Bard (College of Glamour) The “Beggar Lord” of Shadycreek Run, Dodger developed a reputation among the Tribes when he created his own tribe consisting of the cast-off children of the working girls, which he eventually expanded into various other orphans that the slavers couldn’t catch. Thanks to his skill with illusions, he managed to obtain enough blackmail material on the tribes to keep himself in enough standing to provide his own form of service, until he was as much a staple in the Run as anything else. It’s said that he makes deals with things far more dangerous than simple crime lords.

Heather Dougal Female human, commoner A staple of Shadycreek Run, Heather Dougal has been surviving on sheer grit and kindness for sixty years, despite the town trying to drag her down. She saved Ophelia Khar from succumbing to injuries and illness when she first came to the Run and helped her eventually become Jack Mardoon’s heir. In return, Ophelia left her infant son Lucien in her care.

Fergus Dougal Male human, commoner Heather’s deaf-mute husband and a talented fisherman and woodcarver.

Eda Female human, Artificer (Artillerist) No one in Hupperdook can exactly tell you where Eda came from, only that she turned up as Nima Cinnarid’s protege some years ago and has been building more and more terrifying cannons ever since. When Lance, Fayne, and Obsidian settled in town, she declared herself a member of their group. The trio have accepted her over time, even going as far as to call themselves the Clockwork Hounds after her automaton dog, Auto.

Faint Chance Male tabaxi, Bard (College of Eloquence)/Rogue (Thief) A member of the Rifenmist Jungle-based Briskmist Clan, Chance believed he was born for more than simply languishing in the trees and spent considerable amounts of time taking risks by engaging travelers who came through the jungle for stories- risks that earned him his name. His love of a good gamble and a better yarn led him to Byroden where he developed a lust for both card games and music. A wandering bard trained him up enough that he felt capable of taking his skills on the road and he left his home to see the world and seek out more stories.

Gabriel Ferreira Male black dragonborn, Warlock (Pact of the Talisman) A member of the mysterious "Seven" along with Ashley Allard and Jayne Merriweather and captain of the Feywild Delight. Gabriel originally hailed from the Rifenmist Peninsula to a nomadic tribe until his pirate father returned to claim the son that one of the women had borne, slaughtering them all when she refused to give him up. His father taught him piracy, which he continued long after his father died, eventually taking on a ship staffed entirely by fey after an encounter in the Feywild no one really knows the truth about.

Augusta Felice Trans female half-elf, Wizard (School of Conjuration) A former Genesis Ward arcane scientist, Augusta became the Architect Arcane of Cognouza after being humiliated at a conference by Laerryn Corramar-Seelie who held many of the same theories as she did about extraplanar travel. Unable to prove whether or not her work came first, Augusta was laughed out of the Genesis Ward and taken in by Seneca Candidas where he allowed her room to build a machine capable of transporting Cognouza to the Astral Sea.

Claudia Felice Female half-elf, Artificer (Armorer) Augusta’s twin sister and the meeker of the two Felice twins, Claudia prefers to exist in her sister’s shadow, though she is a considerable scientist in her own right, having been responsible for the Aeormaton sleeper assassins that the Genesis Ward took full credit for after she was banished to Cognouza with her sister because she refused to denounce her. Claudia is one of the only Somnovem who is well-liked by nearly every single one of her peers due to her lack of guile and ambition, though her inability to ever see when Augusta might be wrong about something has led her to butt heads with Balbus, specifically, quite often. She prefers the company of her Aeormaton “babies” more than she does other people besides Augusta.

Fayne Hart Female elf, fighter (gunslinger) Born in Syngorn, Fayne left after robbing the home of a minor lord and spent the next several years of her life as a casual cat burglar. She met Lance and Obsidian in Kymal by insisting they help her with a casino heist that would mutually benefit all three of them, but when the plan went sour and not a one of them got what they wanted, she tagged along with them, much to their immediate disdain.

Stasya Hydriss Female tiefling, Druid (Circle of the Moon) Daughter of Kashaw Vesh and Zahra Hydriss. Stasya acts as an acolyte and “assistant” for the Voice of the Tempest of the Air Ashari in Zephrah, offsetting Keyleth’s kindness with her bossy, brash nature. She is her father’s favorite even if he insists he doesn’t pick favorites.

Tasya Hydriss Female tiefling, Monk (Way of the Cobalt Soul) Daughter of Kashaw Vesh and Zahra Hydriss and younger twin of Stasya. Despite having a vested interest in the arcane, Tasya has no inherent magical talent nor any real knack for picking it up and therefore has devoted her life to the study of it. Her ability to see through deceptions and understand magic has made her an asset in detaining illegal arcane magic users in Vasselheim and because of this, she was made the personal warden of Gulliver Thurston. Unlike her grumpier sister, she is bubbly and excitable, which comes as a surprise to anyone who knows her solely by reputation.

Spurius Juventus Male elf, Artificer (Alchemist) As an alchemy savant, Spurius was one of the first to be picked as a member of the Somnovem with Seneca Candidas citing his skill with potions as a necessary part of his plans to achieve power through manifestation and dreams. On top of numerous other advancements in alchemy, Spurius created a potion that helped promote lucid dreaming that helped the Somnovem learn to harness the aether of the Astral Sea long before they ever planned to set foot there. Despite his skills, Spurius is considered off-putting to anyone outside of the Somnovem due to his poor social skills and intensity about his work.

Tyne Kerthis Female dragonborn, cleric (Knowledge Domain) The High Curator of the Cobalt Vault in Vasselheim. Tyne runs a tight ship despite her gregarious and jovial nature, though some question her desire to rehabilitate criminals such as Gulliver Thurston out of a desire to not waste their knowledge. On top of being a dedicated to the preservation of knowledge, she is a loving wife and aunt to her sister-in-law’s multiple children.

Bastian Klinger Male human, Wizard (School of Necromancy) A nobleman from Nogvurot, Bastian Klinger attended the Academy while Delilah Briarwood was still Archmage of Antiquity and became one of her star pupils. Delilah’s casual interest in necromancy inspired him and after she was cast out, he left the Academy and began to pursue his own necromancy experiments, which eventually attracted the attention of Rinna Pathan who was building up the Court of Nightmares. At the suggestion of her patron Ira Wendagoth, Rinna encouraged Klinger to create creatures that were a fusion of living and dead flesh that could withstand divine magic. The task became his obsession, squandering a chunk of his fortune in the pursuit of it.

Cassia Livio Female human, Wizard (School of Necromancy) An arcane scientist of considerable clout and even more considerable attitude, Cassia was shunned in her home ward for her violent outbursts and extremely outspoken beliefs in the science of divinity and how precisely one could extract essence of Fate from those who were said to be Fate-Touched. Her cruel methods and outlandish theories and philosophies led her to be scouted by Seneca Candidas to become one of the Somnovem, though she admits to only being part of the cabal out of a lack of any choice, as Seneca is more than willing to support her extremely brutal experiments.

Lydas Male halfling, Warlock After being shipwrecked on the island of Rumblecusp as a teenager, Lydas quickly rose to the ranks of leadership through cuttthroat ambition and a not insignificant amount of prodding from the corrupting forces of the island.

Miriam Marchen Female human, Wizard (School of Divination) Trent Ikithon’s annex and one of the first Volstrucker and the longest surviving member of Trent’s original experiments, Miriam earned the nickname Dornroschen after she killed her parents in her sleep as part of her initiation. She is considered an “imperfect” experiment due to lacking some of the refinement of the later Volstruckter, though she makes up for it in sheer loyalty and tenacity.

Joni Mennolly Female tiefling, Bard (College of Lore) An archivist for the Cobalt Soul in Vasselheim who performs in the Lady Luck tavern. Her interests lie primarily in Betrayer god and Calamity mythology.

Sparrow Mistral Female air genasi, Wizard (School of Illusion) Vess DeRogna’s annex. Initially stoic and serious, after Vess took the Somnovem tome, she became increasingly nervous about her superior’s behavior and threatened to take the matter to Ludinus. When Vess attempted to modify her memory, she resisted it, resulting in a fight leading to Vess using her newly acquired Somnovem gifts on her. Sparrow survived the attack, but between the Rend Mind and the successful Modify Memory, she was left mentally shattered leaving her unable to regulate her emotions to the point of seeming vapid and empty.

Obsidian Noire Male dwarf, fighter (gunslinger) A former member of the Public Defense in Kymal, Obsidian’s entire life was destroyed when he began to suspect a member of his team was acting against the margrave by feeding information to Clasp and Myriad members. In an attempt to expose them, he teamed up with Lance Veidrodis and Fayne Hart to uncover the truth, but the resulting catastrophe left him exiled from Kymal as a wanted man- his arrest ordered by the very margrave he sought to protect. Disillusioned, he now works as a bounty hunter as the de facto leader of the Clockwork Hounds.

Gorazm Pathan Male human, noble Gorazm Pathan rose to power in Marquet as a drug lord, running one of the most successful residuum smuggling empires in Exandria and using it to manufacture suude, which he then smuggled back into Tal’Dorei to be sold at high prices by the Clasp. After the Clasp began to fall apart, he began to expand his business by selling to the Myriad, the tribes of Shadycreek Run, and even to the margrave of Kymal to be distributed in her casinos. On top of being a successful businessman, he dotes and fawns over his only child Rinna, though due to his lifestyle he remains professionally paranoid of losing her, keeping her under tight scrutiny to make sure nothing ever happens to her. When his daughter was five, he purchased a tabaxi kitten from the Jagentoths to raise alongside her as a companion and protector- a kitten he named Creek, eventually shortened to Cree.

Rinna Pathan Female human, Warlock (Pact of the Chain) As Gorazm Pathan’s only child, Rinna was raised like a hothouse flower, kept in a gilded cage with only her tabaxi servant Cree for company. Over the years, Rinna became resentful of her father’s overprotective nature and took her anger out on Cree by bullying her. After Cree fled, she became extremely lonely and desperate, eventually attracting the attention of Ira Wendagoth who made a pact with her- power in exchange for helping him sow chaos and gather fodder for his experiments. Together, they formed the Court of Nightmares, a group of like-minded individuals who sow discord and cause harm for the sake of it.

Phaedra Quavein Female drow, Rogue (Thief) The head of den Quavein, nearing status as a Umavi, Phaedra gained a reputation in the Dynasty by being their most dedicated and talented spy- earning her the title of Queen's Blade- before eventually settling into a life of running her den and training up the next generation of spies and rogues for the Bright Queen. Despite the Bright Queen’s protests, she demanded to be sent out to seek the lost beacons sixteen years ago and was captured by the Righteous Brand near Pride’s Call. To avoid interrogation, she slit her own throat knowing that a beacon was nearby and would eventually be reborn as Narcissa Ageratum.

Valerius Severna Male human, Sorcerer (Draconic Bloodline) The latest in the long line of Cognouza wardens from the Severna family, Valerius is unique in being the first of his family line to have inherited magic (which gained him a position as a member of the Somnovem), but with the cost of some of his humanity, due to his red dragon blood. Though he tries to be tolerant and kind, the dragon blood leaves him with a nasty temper, which is exacerbated by his fellow Somnovem not quite jiving with his particular morals.

Beagan Starhollow, the Luna Moth Non-binary archfey The former Solstice Sentinel of Sehanine Moonbow's court before she ascended into godhood. After the dissolution of the Moonweaver's court, Beagan fell into a deep melancholy and decided to shirk any and all responsibilities going forward by taking the form of a child (calling themself Luna) and running wild through the Feywild. This behavior allowed them to be geased by the hag Granny Nightshade, who was then captured and brought to the Material Plane by Isharnai. From there, they remained bound to the woods surrounding Mount Mentiri, desperate to get someone to destroy the hags and break their geas so that they can finally be free again .

Malachi “Doc” Stursk Male human, Cleric (Tempest Domain) A surgeon who served under Vandran while he was in the Revelry with an incurable genetic lung disorder that left his faith in the Wildmother wavering. When Avantika and Vandran agreed they needed a third person to help them release Uk’otoa from his prison and divide the seals up evenly, they went to Malachi, appealing to his waning faith and his desire to be strong enough to fight off the disease claiming him. When Vandran left, he and Avantika disagreed on how best to proceed (Avantika wanting to continue and Malachi wanting to take Uk’otoa’s granted power and simply leave him be) and split ways shortly after, with the two of them both ending up captaining their own ships.

Maira Thistleeyes Female halfling, Cleric (Blood Domain) The High Priestess of the Wildemount Claret Orders and Cree’s previous mentor. She and Derrin Zacrux have been friends for years and, as such, have a similar mindset about the Orders and the necessity of them. She was extremely dedicated to Cree’s tutelage and was the first to point out her prodigal gifts with blood and had attempted to groom her to become the next High Priestess before she abandoned the Orders entirely.

Sir Gulliver Thurston Male human, Druid (Circle of the Land)/Wizard (School of Transmutation) Thurston started out as minor nobility from a druid clan from deep within the wilds of Issylra and left that life to come to Vasselheim, changing his name (the “Sir” he tacked on to make himself noble without being overblown about it) and most of his nature, preferring books to the land he’d once been raised to tend. He spent a great deal of time in the Slayer’s Take where he developed an interest in arcane pursuits and developed himself as a powerful transmutation wizard up until he was caught for trafficking in illegal transmutation potions by the Cobalt Soul. He was able to plead a case for himself to become an asset rather than face the Dawn Marshalls and the Soul have kept him on ice ever since.

Lance Veidrodis Male human, Bard (College of Whispers)/Monk (Way of the Drunken Master) A former member of Thordak’s Tongue, an order of spies that began to operate out of Emon following the Clasp falling apart, Lance left the order after being betrayed by his partner and turned to alcohol and pit fighting to ease the sting. After discovering his partner and his ex were both in Kymal, he teamed up with a guardsman trying to find evidence that the guards in Kymal were corrupt and a thief trying to rob the place in the hopes of settling the score. When the plan went tits up, however, the three of them fled Tal’Dorei together.

Victoria Female human, shopkeeper The daughter of Victor the Black Powder Merchant from Vasselheim. She built her father’s business into a franchise by expanding into Wildemount and opening a shop in Nogvurot. Her intention was to open several others, but her lack of ambition hasn’t allowed her to progress very far.

Werner Vogel Male human, noble After meeting a beautiful tiefling woman in his home of Odessloe named Ophelia, freshly released from a Dawnfather chantry, he pursued a meaningless relationship with her to balance the boredom of his nobleman’s life, finding her to be both naive and exotic. Knowing that his indiscretion would soon be found out, he tricked her by offering her some of his wife’s jewelry and asked her to come by his home and they would run away together. When she arrived, he summoned the Crownsguard, labeling her a thief and had her chased out of town. This would have been enough to cover his tracks had Ophelia not been inclined to vengeance and carrying his child. He allegedly has sired two other children with tiefling lovers.

Derrin Zacrux Male human, Bloodhunter (Order of the Ghostslayer) A no-nonsense Bloodhunter who was chosen to head the Ghostslayers in Wildemount by Elias de Corvo, himself. After gaining horrific scars and losing his eye in a fiend attack some years prior to his promotion, he’s developed a completely intolerant few of anything that comes from the Hells, including tieflings, which led him to often push his tiefling acolytes much harder and much more unfairly than the rest.

[cathikesny]

LENOIR PRESERVE

Sometimes its really fun for me to introduce my boyfriend, Rob, who grew up in the area, to places in Westchester that he didn’t know existed previously. Lenoir Preserve is one of those places and I DO think passing by it in the car and saying “what was that?”, him shrugging and me saying “let’s check it out” absolutely counts. 

💰 : FREE

⏰ : open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year

🌎 : 19 Dudley St, Yonkers, Westchester

♿️ : ADA accessible and handicap specific spots

🏃‍♀️: please see link in bio for trail recommendations and intensities

🐶: service animals only, no pets

🚗 : parking lot on North Broadway by the mansion, parking lot on Dudley Street (off N. Broadway), by the Nature Center

📸 : moderate Instagramability, depending on your willingness to “break rules”

📍: Weckquaesgeek, Wappinger, Lenni Lenape ancestral home

The most recent time I came here with Rob, after I had decided to make this account, I looked at him as we were walking through the park and said “I don’t know how to sell this place when Untermyer is right down the road.” 

I still don’t really know how to sell it if you’re comparing it to Untermyer. Like, how do I convince someone who’s driving to the area to go here instead of Untermyer? The only mind-blowingly unique part about Lenoir Preserve is that Rob and I have seen a bald eagle there twice now. 

Lenoir Preserve has a few dedicated paths, one of which is very easy and nicely paved, one mansion that’s on the property (and under restoration currently) and a second mansion (that’s under restoration) with beautiful and dilapidated gardens that’s not.. quite… ON…. The property…., (more about that to come next) and is a really spectacular place to see some great birds, year round. Lenoir also has a dedicated butterfly garden, but that’s only really worth the visit in the summer months. As a park that has access to the Old Croton Aqueduct, it obviously also has fantastic views of the Hudson River and the Palisades across the way. 

BUT, it has none of the grandeur or maintained, manicured gardens of Untermyer. 

The sell for Lenoir Preserve, that I’ve been able to come up with is the following:

Untermyer draws a lot of tourists and a lot of people taking professional photos and a lot of people taking pictures for their Instagrams, and Lenoir is not like that and sometimes that is SO REFRESHING. 

Lenoir has really nice and well-maintained trails, that run the gamut of intensity from beginner to moderate

At least one bald eagle most definitely lives there, and I’m sorry, you don’t get how cool they are until you see them in person.

The bird feeders. We all know I’m a boring old person who loves me some birds but that’s a draw for me and if it’s not for you too, I don’t care. Let me love my birds, okay?

Lenoir Preserve is insanely steeped in history but really it’s the nature that makes this park so awesome. Every park is special because nature should be cherished and preserved every chance we can get. Lenoir wouldn’t be so spectacular if you weren’t able to “smresspass” onto the Alder Manor garden ruins, or if there weren’t freaking bald eagles and what feels like millions of woodpeckers, or it’s peacefulness compared to Untermyer, or its access to the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, HOWEVER, Lenoir HAS all of those things, so it is 100000% as worth your time as its better known sibling down the road from it. 

HISTORY:

Lenoir, as a piece of land, has an interesting history dating back to before the colonization of North America. The land was most likely originally home to the Weckquaesgeek, who were a part of the larger Wappinger tribe who generally lived in the Yonkers area. The informational plaques at Lenoir Preserve indicate that the land was originally inhabited by the Lenni Lenape tribe (translates to “true people”) and they called the area “Keskeskick”, which isn’t necessarily wrong as the Lenni Lenape is a broad name for any native who lived between essentially the Hudson Valley down to the area around modern-day Philadelphia.

I don’t know the exact details, I’m sure they involved trickery, violence or misunderstandings, so I’ll put it in the nice way of saying, the Lenni Lenape were “pushed” out of the area in the 1600s and eventually a man named Frederick Philipse III, whose family had acquired the land two generations prior, then owned the property of what is now known as Lenoir Preserve. 

Frederick Philipse III was a loyalist and in 1776, he signed the “Declaration of Dependence”, pledging his loyalty to the King of England. And, I imagine if you have stumbled upon my blog and are from the New York area or even just have even a rudimentary knowledge of U.S. colonial history, you would understand that 1776 is when everyone was like, “fuck the King and fuck England.”….. 

So, I think you can probably guess how things went for Mr. Philipse III since we, inhabitants of the future, know who won the American Revolutionary War… 

As happened to many Loyalists in the Westchester area, Frederick Philipse III had his land and home stripped from him and it was sold off to two different families. In theory, according to the Lenoir historians, you can still see some of the ruins of the earliest stone homes built by the Philipse family and by the people who gained his property after him. I’ll admit though, I haven’t found those ruins yet as far as I’m aware.

Let me know if you do.

The mansion that sits on the property of Lenoir Preserve has been around since at least 1836, or at least that’s the first time it appears on any written record. It changed hands many times until Caleb C. Dula, a native of Lenoir, North Carolina, who amassed his wealth in the cigarette industry, bought the property in 1906. He named the mansion and property “Lenoir” after his hometown. 

In 1939, the Lenoir property was inherited by Mr. Dula’s niece, Mrs. Purl Wightman, who renamed the mansion after her husband’s surname but allowed the property as a whole to retain its Lenoir identity. As goes everything in New York, it seems, real estate developers caught wind of an eventually empty estate and attempted to demolish the history and create apartments or a country club.

Thankfully, the city of Yonkers and Westchester County decided to intervene and bought the property instead, allowing it to be turned into a nature refuge and museum. The interiors of the mansion have also since been used as the setting for TV shows like The Knick and The Following. 

TRAIL RECOMMENDATIONS:

My preferred trek (very beginner intensity): I advise parking in the lot located off Dudley Street. From there look for the trailhead sign for the Copper Beech Trail (0.2mi) straight from the parking lot (if you hit the Nature Center, you’ve missed the trailhead, turn around, it should be on your right if your back is facing the Nature Center). Take the Copper Beech Trail to the Meadow Loop paved path, which does in fact loop all the way back to the Dudley Street parking lot. 

IF you are feeling a little dangerous, perhaps you might partake in some light adventuring (AKA a word that rhymes with smresspassing… I deny EVERYTHING!) into/over/around/through the brick wall that denotes the property line between Lenoir Preserve and the old Alder Manor estate property. 

There ARE cameras so “smresspass” with caution… I feel like as long as you don’t vandalize anything, who cares if you take a little peek… right???? 

No? 

Okay, well anyway…. 

Don’t forget to keep your eyes to the skies throughout your stroll, as this preserve is very well known to be frequented by red-tailed hawks and AT LEAST one bald eagle, and also like a million woodpeckers.

An important stop for Rob and I, or really just me, before we head back to the car is the bird feeders outside of the Nature Center, which is where Rob and I first spotted the bald eagle actually. He wasn’t eating bird seed… but we were sitting there and he flew over, and Rob saw him first, which I think he would want me to mention. 

MEADOW LOOP TRAIL: The Meadow Loop Trail is easily accessible from both parking lots and is paved in its entirety making it beginner and ADA friendly. 

WOODLAND TRAIL (0.4 mi): it’s a quarter of a mile, Cat, how bad could it be? Like I’ve said before, Rob and I are what you’d call “lazy active” people and this trail is STEEP… like REALLY REALLY STEEP. I was huffing and puffing and my old lady knees were HURTING by the time we got back up to the top. HOWEVER, if you’d like to partake in some of the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail or even walk down to Untermyer, that can be achieved by taking the Woodland Trail and going south (left, if you’re looking at the Hudson). 

COPPER BEECH TRAIL (0.2mi): a wooded walk with very mediocre “elevation gain”. Also the place I suspect the eagle has his nest. 

Lenoir does not necessarily make my "Run, Don't Walk" list. But that doesn't mean I don't love it and think it's worth a check out.

[vampire207343]

Potter Twins

What if… when James and Lily Potter died they both end up leaving their two daughters, Iris Lily Potter and Amaris Dorea Potter.

The youngest Potter daughter Iris Lily Potter survive the killing curse that took the lives of their parents, and she was declared by Dumbledore as the Girl-Who-lived. Before she and her older twin sister are both left in the door step of private drive number 4 in the cold November night of 1981 with just a letter.

The Potter twins grew up different from one another, while they are indeed twins they aren't close like other twins and Iris the oldest Potter child prefer to stay away from her sister that by the time they were 9 years old the Dursley abandon one of them which happen to be the Youngest Potter, Amaris Dorea Potter was left in a park alone where she found by Nana Sawada and when she hesrd her story she has chosen to adopt Amaris Potter as her newest daughter.

Nana Sawada isn't a normal she is a daughter of Lyra Black who is a core witch and Alder Elymas who is a magi, Nana's parents marriage was to see if it was possible to produce a child with both a magic core and circuits, normally a person could only be born with either a magic core or with magic circuits, a hybrid of the two before until now.

Nana Sawda took Amaris Potter to gringotts to have an inheritance before she offical adopt her as her daughter.

Inheritance Test Result.....

Name: 

Amaris Dorea Potter

Siblings:

Iris Lily Potter (older twin sister)

Parents:

James Charles Potter (deceased)

Lilian "Lily" Juniper née Evans (deceased)

Godparents:

Sirius Orion Black (false conviction)

Marlene Mckinnon (deceased)

Grandparents:

Charles Henry Potter (deceased, parental Grandmother)

Dorea Potter née Black (deceased, parental Grandmother)

Rosemary Evans née (deceased, marental Grandmother, Magi)

Alexsander Evans (deceased, marental Grandfather, Magi)

Great Aunts & Uncles:

Fleamont Potter (deceased, parental Uncle)

Euphemia Hesper Potter née Burke  (deceased, parental Aunt)

Aunts & Uncles:

Vernon John Dursley (maternal Uncle through marriage; Muggle)

Petunia Ann Dursley née Evans (maternal Aunt; Muggle)

Great Grandparents:

Henry Alexsander Potter (deceased, parental great-grandfather)

Heirship:

Black (Blood & Magic)

Peverell (Blood & Magic)

Abilities:

Natural Transfiguration

Natural Dueling

Spell creation

Nonverbal magic

Wandless magic

100 magic Circuit with Maximum output is of 1000 unit

Double Origin Holy and Creation

Double Elements Wind and Water

Properties:

Peverelle Manor - Paris France

Black Castle - Kyoto Japan

Nana Sawada never loved her husband Iemitsu Sawada the only reason she even married him at all was because she wanted to study about the Flames of the Mafia and he happen to one of the rarest flame so she married in order to learn more about his Sky flame and it's Element in general and the only good thing about marrying him was the birth of their daughtet Tsunami Sawada their five years old daughter who recently  had her flame sealed before leaving for work. After they left Japan, nana removed the seal on her daughter and she took her and tsunami to England were the meet the 9 years old Amaris Dorea Potter in the park who Nana adopted since any evidence the Dursley are abusing their neices disappear without reason and the one on their caste fosen't remember at thing so Nana presume a core witch/wizard wants them to stay their but Amaris abandon by her so call relatives so Nana manged to adopt her with the help of the Goblins who gaved Amaris the Heir ring of both the Black and Peverell family. After Nana adopted Amaris legally to both Magical and Muggle world they return to Japan.

Nana also hidden that she adopted a 9 years old girl from her husband. She taught both her daughters magic along with her parents more of Lyra Elymas née Black who taught her everything she knows before entering Mahoutokoro school of Magic.

Amaris and Tsunami got to know each other and got along well became so close like real sisters which is something Amaris Dorea and Iris Lily Potter has never had bond with each other even though they are twins. They were never close grewing up since they were far to different to one another even though Tsunami is different from Amaris they still get along well with one another.

9 year later....

Amaris Dorea Potter now 17 years old and recently graduated Mahoutokoro school of Magic. And she has became one of the seven master of Holy grail war and summon the servant Hero Gilgamesh the King of Hero himself as Servant Archer. Amaris fight along side her servant through the war but during the middle of war they both fell in love with one another.

During the destruction of the Holy Grail a taint mud spill out of the grail and end up touch Gilgamesh and infoing so cause him to have a body of flesh and bone once more. Amaris purified Gilgamesh new body before leaving Fuyuki. As one of the survivng master of the grail.

        The Vongola family sent the Sun Arcobaleno to tutor the only heir of Vongola left the 14 years old daughter of Iemitsu Sawada. To train Tsunami Sawada as the future 10 Boss of Vongola since the other legitimate candidate as the next boss all died and she is the last Legitimate heir, so the Sun Arcobaleno Reborn was sent to Namimori to teach Tsunami to be tge next Vongola Boss. No matter how much she deny wanting to be next candidate as the Vongola Boss which is blood inherite so no one who isn't blood related to the Vongola could inherit the seat. 

--------

9 years has pass since Iris Lily Potter last seen her younger twin sister who tge dursley abandon her somewhere I thought she was long dead or a squib since she never appeared in Hogwarts when we both turn 11 years old but I was proven mistaken after the war end a couple montgs ago I took an inheritence test it show that Amaris is still vety much alive and a witch that only meqns she could have gone in different magical school than Hogwarts so she would most likely have grew up outside England and away from the war when it broke out.

I also found out the friends I thought I have weren't really my friends at all they were all with her because of the money my old headmaster has been paying them since the beging of their first year and the only reason they efen help her tract down all the dark lord's horcrux and destroy them in order for their family to survive they help her tract them all down. She also potion in her system that wasn't suppose to be their at all. She payed the goblins handsomely to flash out all the potion in her system before asking them all retrived all her stolen money get it back with intrest.

After the war she didn't want to stay in England, she decided to reunite with her sister while they didn't always get along, but then again siblings fight sometimes but they are still family. When she was leaving England, 

Draco Malfoy decided to join her since nothing is holding him back in England. And during their 4th year they became secretly friends so it was no suprise to them both that they fell in love.

They both settle in japan quite nicely, while Iris Potter dose miss her godson Teddy  Lupin who is currently beging raised by his grandmother Andromeda Tonks who lost almost all her family except for her godson which is why Iris isn't the one raising Teddy since he is the one one holding Andromeda from taking her own life and join the rest of her family.

It wasn't long before Iris Potter saw her younger twin sister the current lady of the house of Black and Peverell. Amaris and Iris are catching up to the lost time they both have when they were both sepereted from one another. Iris even meet Amaris current fiancée Gilgamesh

Who they found out was once a heroic spirit until ancident happen during the fourth Holy Grail War that made him bone and flash. Which Amarus has purified his new body after words just incase before they left the Area and continue their life. He once was a king during his first life before he became a Heroic spirit. They got to know him Iris like him better than her ex-friend Ron Weasley. 

   During that time Iris Potter also meet her twin's adopted sister Tsunami and her adopted mother Nana, she got along with the two people who was with Amaris after they seperated. Nana evenutaly became Iris 2nd mother figure better than Molly Weasley ever did. 

Tsunami Sawada is try all she can to stop herself from become the next Mafia Boss of Vonogola.

       It wasn't long before Amaris Potter who now gose by the last name Peverell Black and Gilgamesh got married and Iris Potter and Draco Malfoy attend her wedding with her friends. It wasn't long after they got married that Amaris Peverell Black got pregnant with her first child.

And it wasn't long before Iris Potter and Draco Malfoy married as well. And Amaris it didn't take long for Iris to find herself Pregnant with her first child.

9 months later...

Amaris Dorea Peverell Black and Gilgamesh both wellcome two beautiful daughters on May 7, 1997 which they gaved them the name Euphemia Anastasia and Estella Amara Peverell Black. The oldest is born Raven hair little girl with the most beautiful Emerald green eyes while the youngest has strawberry blonde hair and Emerald green the same shade as her twin sister.

And two months after they were born did Iris Lily Malfoy née Potter gaved birth to a beautiful little girl she was given the name Lilian Narcissa Malfoy on July 7, 1997.

2 years later...

On June 22, 1999

Amaris Peverell Black gaved birth to her third child and only son Apollo Sirius Peverell Black.

And Iris Malfoy also gaved birth to her secound child and only son Scorpius James Malfoy on January 13, 1999 who look identical to his father Draco Malfoy while his cousin Apollo Prevell Black look so simlier to their grandfather James Potter.

By then the girls Euphemia, Estella and Lilan are 2 years old already.

-------

17 years later...

Euphemia Anastasia Peverell Black who gose by the name Yufie is now 19 years old and she already graduated Mahoutokoro about 2 years ago. She could pass as the famale version of her grandfather James Potter except for her Emerald eyes which she has inherited from her grandmother Lily Potter née Evans.

Then their's her younger twin sister Estelle Amara Peverell Black who gose by the name Stella. Who is also 19 years old like her twin sister who also graduated Mahoutokoro about 2 years ago. She look identical to her grandmother Lily Potter née Evans. They are the precious daughters of Gilgamesh and Amaris Peverell Black.

Then their's the only son of the family would continue their family name Apollo Sirius Peverell Black who is currently 17 years old and recently graduated in Mahoutokoro like his two older sisters and mother once did before him.

Then their's Iris Malfoy's two children the firstborn is a daughter by the name of 

Lilian Narcissa Malfoy who is currently 19 years old like Yufie and Stella Peverell Black who is 19 years old and graduated Mahoutokoro instead of Hogwarts who is very much behind from other magical community especially Japan so Iris and Draco decided against sending their two children to Hogwarts instead they sent them to Mahoutokoro.

Then their's the only son of the Malfoy family and the only heir of the Malfoy's Scorpius James Malfoy who is also the same age as Apollo and slso recent graduate of Mahoutokoro.

By then Sawada Tsunami

is already 33 years old and she is already the boss of the vonogla family even though at the beging she didn't want anything to do with Mafia, but evenutally she gaved in and became the 10th Boss of Vongola the Decimo. And over time Tsunami's italian heritage surface when her appearance change she look nothing like she once did her Caramel brown hair turn Blonde and her once brown eyes turn light blue, and her hair became tameable unlike before. By then Tsunami

end up marrying her cloude Guardian Hibari Kyoya. They haven't have kids yet but it wouldn't be long until they have their first child with Tsunami currently 7 months pregnant with her first child.

[ruki--mukami]

[Landing onto the branch above the eldest brother of the manor, the eldest didn’t sense the winged animal in his presence never breaking concentration from his book. That was until the Eagle swooped down claws landing onto the chair cushions before transforming into his form]

“Salutations,Ruki I’ve heard you’d never met a Adler before? My apologies for the unaccounted drop by into your territory. I’m Massanori. Us Alders are territorial with our home and the riches that come with it, anyone who dares steal from us is executed on sight.”

"...Oi. Who goes there?"

Shutting his book in surprise, Ruki turned around to face the rustling of a tree branch and several of its verdant leaves swaying under the weight of the Adler perched upon it, steel blue eyes immediately discerning the demon as a member of the realm he once grew accustomed to during his time in Eden with Karlheinz as well as his other siblings. After hearing the Eagle explain himself, the Vampire surmised he posed little to no threat, especially when he never once resorted to thievery.

"Greetings, Massanori. I'm Ruki Mukami. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," he set the novel atop the nightstand, opening the window of his bedroom to gain a better look at the man before him. "It's no inconvenience whatsoever, but now that we are acquainted at least warn me beforehand. I can assure you my brothers and I are not after whatever riches and fortune lie in the Adler territory. So, what brings you here? Don't tell me you've suffered a robbery recently."

[cursed-herbalist]

💋🥝 for my bois Abe and Alderic?

💋 How affectionate are they with their friends? Their family? Their romantic partner(s) (if they have any)? Are they more physical or emotional when it comes to displaying their affection? Why?

So Abe is pretty outward with his feelings and thoughts. I don’t think he’d shy away from being affectionate in public. He always keeps it appropriate even though there might be times where he just lets himself get carried away 😂 In regards to his friends he‘s pretty much the same honestly. He also likes to see others happy so his affection also shows in just being there and helping others through their struggles.

🥝 What does a bad mental health day look like for your OC? Walk us through it with them. What kind of things can help them out of this slump and what kinds of things comfort them when they start to feel like this?

When Abe’s down he likes to grab his bike or a horse and just keeps biking/riding for hours, without a particular destination, until he‘s feeling better. He also finds comfort in reading a good book, hanging around his friends, interesting conversations and revolutionary ideas. Luckily, he rarely ever has such bad days though. Abe is naturally inclined to do whatever makes him happy anyways so he‘s pretty content and happy most of the time.

💋 How affectionate are they with their friends? Their family? Their romantic partner(s) (if they have any)? Are they more physical or emotional when it comes to displaying their affection? Why?

Aldéric isn’t overly affectionate with his friends but he does like to hug them and wrap his arm around their shoulders. Generally, his level of affection is based on the depth of the connection. The closer you are the more affectionate he’ll be. His kids are an entirely different story though. Especially when they were little he was all over them, hugs and kisses were daily fare as well as thorough emotional support. He honestly was so scared to loose them (still is ngl) that he did everything in his power to be a great dad. Now that they’ve grown into their own and more independent he expresses his affection in more subtle ways but still checks in with them regularly. He still loves to hug them and to put his arm around their shoulders but in a ‘cool’ dad manor lmao

🥝 What does a bad mental health day look like for your OC? Walk us through it with them. What kind of things can help them out of this slump and what kinds of things comfort them when they start to feel like this?

Now that he’s older Aldéric tends to play bad days down a lot … just because he feels like he has to function and so much responsibility. He does try to squeeze in time to go train/workout which has been his preferred method to let off steam and clear his mind since his Hogwarts days. When he’s especially down he likes to go for dragon flights or simply relaxes next to a crackling fire with a glass of rouge 🍷👌🏻 Kaari and his jokes also cheer him up and so do his children of course.

[sam-glade]

Find the Word Tag

Tagged by @talesofsorrowandofruin here. Thank you💜

Passing the tag gently to: @acertainmoshke @flock-from-the-void @j-1173 and leaving open tag. Your words are: flower, bush, tree, fruit.

My words were: dizzy, forward, ripple, snowball and various.

DIZZY

He shivered and forced his attention back to the living. Gullin was coming back to consciousness, his breathing less shallow now, although it still wheezed through his clenched teeth. Marta straightened up, kneeling by his side. “How… are you feeling?” she asked. She sounded exhausted. He took a few more breaths before managing an answer. “Dizzy— Blood loss?” He mumbled, barely comprehensible. “Yeah, a bit.”

FORWARD

“I was hoping to speak to a Sword. Please pardon me for being so forward, my prince, but you and your Adamant Guard might be the only ones in attendance. I understand that you are not on duty…” Nerves got the better of her there, and her speech turned into a haphazard ramble. Ianim relaxed, hoping to project an air of calm. He sipped his drink before saying: “What can a Sword help you with, Lady Alina?”

RIPPLE

He quenched his thirst, then filled the bucket he’d found hooked under the little roof over the well. He avoided looking at his reflection in the water’s surface — he shook his hands, so that it rippled. He knew how haggard he looked. His hair was an unkempt mess, and the patchy beard was almost an inch long by now. He didn’t want to see himself like this. It suits you. Or rather, the running animal you’ve become.

SNOWBALL (but I can give you snow x3 in two paragraphs)

The manor, with the smoke rising from the chimney, looked almost homely by now. The snow hid the threadbare sections of the roof and the lack of decorative plants on the flowerbeds. The Dragon Tree detracted attention from the peeling plaster. It was a sight to behold, with the frost shimmering on its blue leaves. When the Princeling went back to Siltwood, Varré gave into the temptation and touched the pearlescent bark, which was said to be as hard as a dragon’s scales. It was cool and smooth, smoother than the silvery trunks of ashes or grey alders. Then they tried breaking off a leaf, belatedly remembering that the juices of the tree were rumoured to burn like a dragon’s fire. It was a moot point; they didn’t even bend the leaf’s stem in their fingers. The lakes disappeared under the two-foot blanket of snow, their edges smoothed out, their surfaces frozen solid. To Varré, reeds looked very much like woundwort or mullein in this season, and they could tell where the lake’s shore was only by where the snow cover was too flat and unbroken. They’d honestly forgotten about the pond behind the orchard, since it was so small, and they walked out onto it until the ice creaked — and shadowstepped off of it post haste.

VARIOUS

There were few Swords who’d agree to spar with Gullin full-release. Fewer still would pose a challenge to him. Officers of various divisions would ask him to hurl his knives at them, to hone their reflexes and precision. He’d still have to hold himself back. If they reacted fast enough, they channelled Water, not Matter, so he had to be careful not to cut them. If they did heal from the cuts, their reaction time was lacking, and it forced him to slow down.