#ask maiora

[lightbulb-warning]

Idk how to explain this without this sounding mean but you draw Ouma so cringe looking and it's. Yes he IS a cringe loserboy you capture that vibe/pos

be cringe be free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[filia-floris]

for the ask game- 3, 6, 9, 11!! :D

3. What ideas come from when you were little

*long and intense thinking with a blank silly facial expression* um... uh.. I don't think I took anything from my childhood. Sorry, head empty..

6. Anything that might inspire you subconsciously (i.e. this horse wasn't supposed to look like the Last Unicorn but I see it)

I didn't notice if the last shows I watched inspired me. thousands of images viewed on pinterest have a greater impact on me. All my works are just some kind of Voltrons of Pinterest images 👁️👁️

9. What are your file name conventions

Usually the file name shows the actual topic of the work, but sometimes it's just stuff that only I can understand...

I answered the 11 question in the previous post!

[webxgal]

[Ⅴ] maiora premunt

greater things are pressing.

When you open your eyes, you feel the bile rise to your throat and are overcome with the intense urge to throw up. Your body feels unbearably heavy, barely being able to turn your head to look blearily out the window. The setting sun paints the room in orange hues, and you realise these white walls were not of your dorm room. The itchy and stiff sheets underneath you were not yours either. You notice the IV pole propped next to the metal frame of the bed. Oh no.

The call of your name almost startles you. Almost. It feels like a great amount of burden even to move to acknowledge the unfamiliar voice in the room. Upon your groan of pain, they step into your field of vision. It is a bespectacled man with slightly unkempt brown hair. He holds himself with a level of importance, or maybe you believe so with the crisp beige coat he is wearing.

“I’m glad you’re awake,” He begins, your name rolling off his tongue as if it had been practised. You try to reply, but your throat feels like sandpaper and the sound that leaves your lips sound like a strangled wheeze.

“Oh, no, please don’t force yourself,” He interrupts you swiftly, moving a chair closer to your bed. He sits himself down, cross-legged in a sophisticated manner. He holds a placid expression and doesn’t pay attention to the wearied look you give him through narrow eyes.

“It’s only fitting I introduce myself to you. I am Shuji Ikutsuki, chairman of the board for Gekkoukan High School,” He begins to stretch out his hand on instinct, but quickly retracts it when he realises you have no means of returning the gesture. “Do you… perhaps remember the events of yesterday night, Miss?”

You think of Inferno. Of the monorail. Of your classmates. Of the demons with empty eyes that had attacked. You ready yourself to say ‘no’, but it seems that Ikutsuki has already caught onto your seconds’ worth of apprehension.

“Please. I assure you, this is a safe place where you can confide in me. I believe whatever you saw that night, I will have answers for you. You deserve to understand how and why you ended up here,” His persistence pricks your judgment, weighing your options. You aren’t sure how much of his words you can take for the truth, but he speaks like he knows exactly what’s happening. You do deserve to know what is going on, and you doubt you’ll be leaving the hospital anytime soon to confront Arisato, Takeba and Iori yourself.

So, you resign yourself to nodding. Ikutsuki sits up straighter immediately, hands folded on his lap as he appraises you with a once-over.

“I see. Thank you for your honesty, it’s my utmost priority to figure out how and why things had turned out the way they did that night,” He shoots you a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes, but in this moment of time, you are unfortunately too lost and too ignorant to take note of this. It will all make sense later. “I will begin with explaining the secret hour, otherwise known as the Dark Hour…”

The sun had long since taken its slumber by the time Ikutsuki had finished his ‘abridged’ explanation, interrupted by the occasional noises of confusion you made. Barebones of the information you were given have clicked with you, and so far all you understood was; that the phenomenon you have experienced for the past year is called the ‘Dark Hour’, the monsters that attacked you were called ‘shadows’ and their existence itself was another can of worms, and the school apparently have an entire club for getting rid of them and you somehow had no idea about it.

Ikutsuki smiles sheepishly at the scandalised look you shoot his way, and when a nurse pokes her head through the crevice of the door, he stands up quickly.

“It may confuse you now, but you will understand later,” He assures you, and walks across the room to head for the exit. “Please rest well, I will be back tomorrow to check up on you. Until then.”

You watch him go and in his leave, a nervous-looking nurse hurries over to ask about your condition and if you need anything. You suppose Ikutsuki had told her to not come in until he was done. You ask her for an extra pillow and try to will yourself to sleep. The curtains to your window are drawn, and if you think hard enough then you can pretend that after twelve, there is no such thing as a Dark Hour and you will wake up ready to spend the day with your camera and Yuko.

Unfortunately, nothing you had hoped for had happened.

Ikutsuki is apparently a big fat liar because it was not him who came to visit you the next day, but the student council president, Mitsuru Kirijo herself. You barely notice Takeba trailing behind her amidst your obvious shock. Rumours did not kid of the upperclassman’s elegance. Her crimson hair fell over her shoulders, her locks tightly curled to perfection. Her gaze is powerful, and the tension of the situation is alleviated by the audible clicking of her heels against the tiled floor. She doesn’t smile at you, but she doesn’t look angry either. She just looks you over like Ikutsuki had done the other day, and Takeba is the one who interrupts the awkward silence.

“I’m so happy you’re awake,” She genuinely sounds relieved, and you feel your face heat up in embarrassment at the sudden attention. “I wanted to see you earlier but—”

“The chairman wanted to set the record straight so you were kept up to speed,” Kirijo cuts in, and it seems she was done surveying you. This time, regret seems to sweep into her voice as she continues. “I will take responsibility for your injuries. If I had been able to detect civilian presence on the train, the situation wouldn’t have been so dire. You have my apologies.”

You don’t know what to say, slumped uncomfortably against the headboard of the bed as you fiddle with your fingers. You kind of wish you could go back to watching Phoenix Ranger Featherman R, a sudden interest of yours after channel surfing all morning.

“So…” Kirijo takes a seat on the sofa in the room. Great, she’s staying. “I take it the Chairman has adequately explained the situation to you?”

You don’t notice the sudden side-eye Takeba throws Kirijo’s way. You slowly nod to the older girl’s question.

“Good, then this makes for an easier discussion—”

“Discussion?” Takeba suddenly cuts in, looking down at Kirijo from where she stands, eyebrows furrowed and you’re not sure why she’s visibly upset. “Don’t you think we should give her more time to at least recover? The doctor said she’s still too exhausted to even move, right?”

She spontaneously poses the question to you, and you are caught off-guard by your sudden involvement in the conversation. You wouldn’t consider yourself particularly observative, but the borderline desperation in Takeba’s hazel eyes and the abrupt confusion in Kirijo’s forces you to hunch in on yourself. You draw out a forced cough, pretending to conceal it behind your arm. Kirijo looks obviously displeased, in contrast to the relief that floods Takeba’s expression, but she merely sighs as she stands once again.

“Very well, I’ll come back another time. For now, please focus on healing. I’ll take my leave here,” She turns to Takeba when the other girl doesn’t follow after her. “Takeba?”

“I’ll come back to the dorm in a bit,” the brunette assures and awkwardly shifts on her feet. “I just need to, um, talk to her for a bit! Personal stuff, y’know. Since we’re friends and all.”

If you had a drink with you, you would have done a spit take. Kirijo, thankfully, doesn’t take note of your bug-eyed expression and the obvious lie Takbea told, nodding sharply.

“Very well. However, you can only be here for a little while. Visiting hours close soon and I expect you back in the dorm on time.”

She closes the door behind her without much fanfare and immediately Takeba relaxes her shoulders as if unloading a massive weight from her back. She sighs when she notices your silent stare, her lips quirking downwards apologetically.

“I’m sorry that I got you to lie for me like that… but I promise it’s for a reason! I just need to tell you something before you listen to what Kirijo-senpai has to say,” She holds your gaze, eyes solemn as she speaks. “No matter what… it’s your choice what you do with your life, okay? Don’t feel pressured to accept or do anything if you don’t want to do it.”

You blink, startled by the sudden bout of wisdom sprung upon you.

“Um… okay?” You agree unsurely, and Takeba lets out a puff of air, fixing you with a strained smile. She looks unpacified and even a little jittery, but she’s already begun to turn her back before you can look at her expression closer.

“Thanks for hearing me out. I’m glad you seem okay so rest well and…” Her eyes flicker to the TV screen and you forgot you had paused it right on the scene where Feather Swan slaps Feather Hawk for trying to kiss her. “Enjoy your show… I guess.”

A small part of you couldn’t help but wish that the shadow had finished you off that night.

[appelboompennen]

The Pen Fans Series: Yair Greenberg - CEO of Conklin and Monteverde | Appelboom Pennen

The Pen Fans Series: Yair Greenberg - CEO of Conklin and Monteverde | Appelboom Pennen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKWoEm2D0Ac Discover the fascinating world of fountain pens with Yair Greenberg in "The Pen Fans Series" by Appelboom Pennen. As the CEO of Monteverde and Conklin, Yair, unveils his favorite writing instruments, shedding light on his passion for pens and their significance in his professional and personal journey. Please Visit our website for our complete collection of luxury fountain pens, ballpoint pens, inks, and more: https://appelboom.com/ It's time for another chat with a fountain pen enthusiast! In this YouTube series, we ask Pen Fans three fountain pen-related questions about their hobby and discover more about them. In this episode, we asked Cary Yeager three pen-related questions. Cary Yeager is the founder and man behind Fountain Pen Day. ✅Important Link to Follow: Www.appelboom.com ✅TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 00:56 - How did you get into fountain pens? 03:58 - What do you like most of running Yafa brands? 05:57 - What is your top tip for someone who is using fountain pens? 07:58 - Ending Video Title: The Pen Fans Series: Yair Greenberg - CEO of Conklin and Monteverde | Appelboom Pennen This video concerns The Pen Fans Series: Yair Greenberg - CEO of Conklin and Monteverde. But It also covers the following topics: Pen Fans Series Fountain Pen Day 2023 Conklin pens 🔔Join the Appelboom Pennen community and stay updated on the coolest and newest pens: https://www.youtube.com/@AppelboomPennen/featured ✅ Stay Connected With Us. 👉Facebook: https://ift.tt/56Ps30e 👉Instagram: https://ift.tt/ZJXAm6N 👉Twitter: https://twitter.com/appelboomLaren 👉Website: https://appelboom.com/ ✅ For Business Inquiries:info@appelboom.com ============================= ✅ Recommended Playlists 👉New Products https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NpjqJSKzl8&list=PLYoxN5LfwWnz7ZaH7Sa1cboILvmxvqRc0 👉Montblanc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxcM172EYz4&list=PL8849558EE98B01EA ✅ Other Videos You Might Be Interested In Watching: 👉 The Pen Quiz Show - 5 - Douglas Rathbun, Hemingway Jones, and Clare Coco https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrCv1i6JrMI 👉Top 3 Pens of Alex Roden (Workshop Manager at Yard-O-Led) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NUrBMDL2KM 👉Top 3 Pens of Marc Kompaneyets (Marc Kompaneyets Studio) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sai3zv-t57U 👉The Pen Fans Series: Douglas Rathbun (Inquiring Minds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-aCX8ZnQUI 👉Top 3 Pens of Nino Marino (CEO of Delta/Maiora/Nettuno) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRenzqxor1Q ============================= ✅ About Appelboom Pennen. We created this channel to connect with pen enthusiasts worldwide and share our passion for pens with you. This platform lets us share the coolest and newest pens and show insights into the writing world. Here, you can find the Top 3 Pens of important people in the writing industry, influencers. The latest collections of popular brands like Montblanc, Pelikan, Lamy, Kaweco, Leonardo, Aurora, Montegrappa, and many more. For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: info@appelboom.com 🔔Dive into the world of luxury pens with Appelboom Pennen! Subscribe now for reviews and the latest collections from top brands: https://ift.tt/irDOu9a ================================= ADD HASHTAGS Disclaimer: We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of our publications. You acknowledge that you use the information we provide at your own risk. Do your research. Copyright Notice: This video and our YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Appelboom Pennen. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to our YouTube channel is provided. © Appelboom Pennen via Appelboom Pennen https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHNOs96YK8azszH8IZ1b7Bg November 15, 2023 at 10:00PM

[lin-cang]

Black Sands and theories.

It's been a minutes since the last time I sit and pour my clouds of thoughts in here. Life 's been in so many flavor to taste, but the best yet, in literal meaning, I found my love on Bali's brewery with their ultimate Black Sand IPA. Its bitter, fresh, airy, and from the moment I tried it with my friend, Indira, its the benchmark of the good kind of beer that I could actually appreciate it, not just liquid with spark pops in the middle. Around our many tall glass of IPA, me and Indira toying around the idea of being women in our generations. For the longest time, I didn't have a older figure to look up too because newsflash, I always being in the middle of younger crowds (don't ask why) so when I met Indira through his husband which is my senior at Youth Exchange Programme I feel that instant click!

She's a Leo, the same side of the element I was born into. Our conversation always lively and we jokes about taboo or old norms that we think its more than outdated. I remember when She sat next to me on a BBQ night in front of the bar. It was our third time move the seating because maybe we too comfortable. She look comfortable of course, wear blazers and sneakers, hair down, with pack of confident that makes people dart on her presence- very Laura Dern vibes Marriage Story version, while me, on my tennis uniform unbothered to change into something cute like what I initially planned to, digging the peanuts on the second bowl refill. The beauty standard and women presence always be the foundations of our starter talks, how I single woman like me put my self on work place and dating life nowadays, how She-the one who already married since she was teenager help me to straighten the ideas of being independent but also sexy in mind not just body. I often circling in my own ideas of idealism at any subject on my life, and most of the time I caught up on my own web of thinking, thats why having somebody more mature help me to lay out the urgencies of every idea that I'm eager to pour it in my life.

That night ended with some guy hitting on me (?) but I couldn't careless because I'm in the mood of being in my own presence. Something that for a long time I consider as a selfish trait, but hell, when your on your 30's the most important thing in this life is: you. Many weeks before that night, I always try to entertain someone else but not myself. When I go places always because of someone not because I want to. That thing ended when I already believe that in this track of life I chose, it is me myself, that I need to support, protect, and carry. I born to big things, bigger than my body, Ad Maiora Natus Sum. Those things that I spoke about during my drinks, during my speech to myself, maybe only the littlest thing that I need to be worry about. The bigger things is better. It will eventually elevate me as a person in all level of aspect in my life. I remember me and Indira joking about to make a podcast that hopefully will reach to the younger audience or whomever needed new perspectives about small things in life.

One time, I was sitting at my living room just need to wind down after work, and numbly browsing through movies on the Netflix catalog. It was boring but just before I fixated my mind, my pointer show me this "The Year I start Masturbating". A very provoking-but not really-title. It's a Swedish movie about 40yo woman who keen to have the second child before its too late, but apparently her boyfriend whom he share her first born with, didn't seem that eager, after that her almost perfect life went downhill in a snap. This is the kind of movie that accidentally suck up your attention because you feel relatable to the notions. I caught myself full attention to the next one and half hours grasping every nook and turn of the story. It is a quite simple story, but when life gets you to places of trial and errors this is the one you needed too, almost like when the main character Hannah get her shit together again, I feel like somehow, I will get the same trophy as she is after those rocky wonky life event. See, sometimes we need just somebody else to convince or introduce us to the theories, maybe also with nice pint of good beers.

[wendimydarling]

Short moment of self praise. I don't think I'm good looking. I think I'm average, like most of the women in this world and I'm fine with it. But one thing love about myself. My pussy! Like, it looks better than most top porn actresses I watched on the internet. Perfectly proportioned and symmetrical, light pink, cute labia minora well hidden by soft labia maiora, with a perky clit. Isn't it a pity that no man seems to be interested in it like no one came even close to it???

GIRL. FRIEND.

I absolutely love this. Self-praise is everything!! Keep finding things like that and soon, you’ll love your entire self, even the parts you hate, and that confidence will draw the right kind of man in. Patience is hard, but so worth it!

Thank you for sharing this with me; you’ve given me a theme for today!! 

It’s self-worth Monday; send me an ask telling me one of your favorite parts of yourself!

[yabookers]

Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto

In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.

Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.

Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. And, meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders' return and intends to destroy them once and for all.

Crown of Feathers is an epic fantasy about love's incredible power to save or to destroy. Throughout is interspersed the story of Avalkyra Ashfire, the last Rider Queen, who would rather see her empire burn than fall into her sister's hands.

Disclaimer: I received a copy free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

An empire was built by the Phoenix Riders – legendary warriors who soared through the sky on the backs of fiery phoenixes, until a war for the throne between two sisters tore the empire apart. Sixteen years later, Veronyka and Val dream of becoming phoenix riders. However, an act of betrayal from Val means Veronyka sets out on her own and when she finally finds somewhere she thinks she belongs, until her sister comes along and changes everything.

‘What did the great heroes do when the sun fell from the sky? They leapt onto those wild flames and learned how to fly.’

Crown of Feathers is a lush and vivid fantasy with intricate storytelling and a richly woven world with a superbly thought-out history. Crown of Feathers is perfect for fans of epic fantasies full of intrigue, history, nuance, and magical and mythical creatures. It is a slow paced book, but I enjoyed every page of it. It is a book about sisterhood, fighting injustice, warrior women, and about how love can either protect or destroy.

I really love a well developed sibling relationship and Crown of Feathers really delivers in this aspect. The relationship between Val and Veronyka was a really intense and interesting one. It was built on protection and dependence but it morphed into something much darker – control and cruelty. I loved how the book explored the contrast between the sisters, and I loved how their relationship played out, and I especially loved the twist at the end.

“It’s just your sister’s nature,” her grandmother used to say whenever Val would be cruel or controlling. “She’s like fire – she devours.” … “What am I like, Maiora?” Veronyka would ask.“You’re like fire too – you light the way.”

What I also loved was the secondary story that was also woven through the original one. The story of the two previous warring sisters, Pheronia and Avalkyra who tore the empire apart. I also really adored the little snippets of the world’s history that were scattered throughout the book.

Crown of Feathers has an incredibly strong plot and world-building, but it also has some really great characters and character development. It has three different POVs. Veronyka, an animage who has to disguise herself as a boy in order to be eligible to be a phoenix rider. Tristian, an animage and phoenix rider who is also the commanders son. And Sev, a secret animage but he’s also a soldier for the empire that are intending to wipe out the phoenix riders. My favourite character was Veronyka as I absolutely adored her compassion and how determined she was.

Also, the fact that this book also has a bunch of brilliant fiery PHOENIXES should make you want to pick this up immediately .

Overall, Crown of Feathers is an incredibly strong and immersive debut from Nicki Pau Preto and I will definitely be keeping an eye on the next book in the series, and her future books.

Rating: ★★★★★ | book depository

[themispronounced]

Ad Maiora

Okay. Real quick. 2020 is one of the worst years ever. It may even topped my 2017 wherein I broke up with my long term relationship, found out we have this huge debt and wasn't able to graduate as planned because I just lost all desire in life. I was thinking about this a few days ago, “is it 2020 or 2017?” so now I have concluded that it is indeed 2020. I drank a lot then to which is the same for this year but what makes 2017 a whole lot bearable was the fact that I have an awesome support system. I have the privilege of going out the house because it was unbearable to stay in. Every aspect of my life then crumbled down all at once - my lovelife, my family and school - the only thing left was that I have my friends and I am so thankful. Even though my family is doing okay now and I’ve already graduated with a reasonable income this year, I still consider 2020 as the worst. Here’s why:

2020 confined me in one room or house with the people I try to escape from. Don’t get me wrong please. I love my family to death - really - but I can’t stay with them 24/7. Being an introvert, I can’t manage to be with people all the damn time and I may have a room but our house is, well, noisy due to the diners here. After a few months of loving the confinement, I lost it. I need to breathe a different air. I miss my long commutes to work wherein I have my thoughts to untangle. I have time to ponder on things. I get to walk early in the morning with the streets still quiet because people are still asleep and I get to see the moon in her shining glory whenever I walk home. I miss those quiet times alone be it on the way to work or home or in the mall - it feels like all those things were taken for granted. Meeting with friends now feels like a luxury too. Before all of this, we used to just drink after work or during weekends just because we want too not because we haven’t seen each other for a long time. It was those times that I really took for granted. My mental health suffered severely. It was a lot to cope up to and I don’t know how I’m still able to write this.

As I’m sipping my almost empty 2nd glass of wine, I’m going to tell a few more reason why 2020 sucks. Aside from the overwhelming amount of work, I fell inlove - real hard - to the wrong guy. Yes, after sometime, I will finally admit to myself (after countless of self intervention - I don’t know if that’s a thing) that he is the wrong one for me. That one I think was the biggest highlight of the year. Who knew I would feel so betrayed like that? It still stings up to now but as the saying of the year goes “we don’t have much of a choice but to deal with it” and so I did. A few days ago, I cried not because I was still hurting but because I survived. At last, it was over. I kept asking myself how the hell did I do that? The day I found out that I was being fooled, I have a meeting to attend to (online) and I managed to pull it together and present to the said meeting. It was phenomenal. I was amazed at my own capability. 

So I guess what 2020 taught me was strength. Something I asked God for the previous years - and now here it is along with overflowing patience and understanding. It was truly a remarkable journey - 2020. I am so proud of myself for all the things I’ve overcome, endured and survived. For this year, I guess the things that needed to be focused on is my wellness and boundaries. To surpass a lot more challenges for my growth. I know I am meant for greater things otherwise I wouldn’t be experiencing all of this. To be brutally honest, 2021 scares me but in a good way. I now know that whatever comes my way, I will be ready. 

So now I will be raising my third glass of wine (I’m getting a little tipsy) to 2021 and to what is meant for me. May 2021 be filled with nothing but fulfilled promises and hope to keep us going.

To a much stronger heart and a brighter smile.

Ad maiora.

[lightbulb-warning]

im shaking, im cackli g so much at the artwork

caesar NOT BORINB

fence SHUICHISCUTE

spiral YOU ARE MY FAVORITE

*triumphant trumpet noises*

🎊🎊🎊 !!we have a winner!! 🎊🎊🎊

*there is now confetti everywhere. you'll be finding confetti stuck to your socks for the next few weeks. confetti is what your life has become.*

solved the codes in the draw- here's the prize!

[ekmaryachting-yachtcharterclub]

Star of the Week! Unique Charter Yacht #forSale and for #charter located in the #Mediterranean with Striking Naval Architecture Please ask for Price! Contact for more information - info@portyachting.com or chat on www.portyachting.com Check the brochure - https://yacht.link/2849G8C8G2580G The MAIORA 30 WalkAround features interior style by Fossati Design Bureau was built in 2019. Exterior design and naval architecture were done by the yard. Italian design studio Fossati Design Bureau created the interior style. The WalkAround concept means that it is possible to reach the foredeck from the sundeck/flybridge. The helm station is in the center with are ways on both sides. Additionally, there is also an “easy access” solution for wheelchair users to get on board and reaching the salon and owner's cabin. The interior design by Umberto Fossati is very bright. The generous window surface on the main deck ensures a lot of natural light inside and great views over the sea respectively by while at anchor. Furthermore, the owner’s suite is also on the main deck in the forward part of the yacht. It features an ensuite bathroom with a double sink and a vanity that also serves as a desk. #luxuryyacht #yachtforsale #yachtlife #dubaiyachts #pleasureyachts #yachtsindubai #mediterraneanyachts #miamiyachts #steelyachts #yachtclub #yachtmarket #yachtbazaar https://www.instagram.com/p/CFJoOpeMXYn/?igshid=1uc8bm9gsh9td

[qqueenofhades]

What do you think is the likelihood that Richard II of England was queer?

Short answer: Possibly yes, but most likely asexual if anything.

Longer answer: Have some Thoughts on the ways in which we construct historical “queerness” and standards of proof (this also serves excellently as a post for Queer History Friday thank you very much) and emotional relationships vis a vis sexual ones, especially in the limited medium of medieval chronicles.

To start, Richard was only 10 years old when he became king (his father was the Black Prince, who died in 1376, and his grandfather was Edward III, who died in 1377) and he died when he was only 33 ( b.1367-d.1400), so he was quite young during all of this time. Even during the 1387-88 crisis with the Lords Appellant, which set the stage for the troubles that basically ended his reign, he was only 20 years old, so it’s pretty understandable that a young man would turn to wise older courtiers for experience and advice. This was especially the case because Richard had three powerful and full-grown uncles, led by John of Gaunt (whose son, Henry Bolingbroke, would later depose Richard and become Henry IV). They were definitely viewed as a possible threat to the throne (as was usually the case with primogeniture, when an underage son of an eldest brother got the heirs and honours and the other brothers missed out) and a regency council was quickly established in hopes of giving Richard a power base away from them. But the English people deeply mistrusted these councils/councillors, and that discontent led to the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, the first major crisis of Richard’s reign (he was only 14). In the aftermath of that, there was continued shuffling around as to who had the effective reins of government and who had influence and so forth. So there was plenty of environment for an ambitious man to get close to the young king and influence/try to win his patronage and trust.

Richard was definitely known to have had male favorites, particularly Robert de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, and Michael de la Pole, his chancellor. The only actual imputation of his possible homosexuality with de Vere comes from the Chronica Maiora of Thomas Walsingham:

According to rumour, his [Richard]’s closeness to Lord Robert and his deep love and affection for him was not without some taint of an obscene relationship, and Lord Robert’s fellow nobles and barons spoke in whispers of their indignation that so mediocre a man should aim at so high an office, seeing that he had no nobility of birth or endowment of other virtues that might rank him above the others.

While Walsingham’s work is one of the major and indeed only sources we have for some events in mid-to-late 14th century England, he definitely had a few axes to grind (against John of Gaunt, Henry IV, and others, as well as to some degree Richard himself) and furthermore, all this proves is that jealous rivals of de Vere’s had no trouble suggesting that he and Richard must be having a sordid affair. This is very understandable given that Richard’s great-grandfather, Edward II, had also had male favorites (Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser the Younger) who he had extensively relied upon and given honors seemingly above their station (and as I have discussed in some other posts, 14th-century England was ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED with class/station. It was the be-all and end-all of their lives, including dictating how they were allowed to behave and what clothes they were allowed to wear; the heretical/religious reformer group, the Lollards, and their leader, John Wycliffe, mocked this with their famous couplet “When Adam delved and Eve span/Who then was the gentleman?”) Furthermore, Edward II was absolutely having affairs with Gaveston and then Despenser, and he had been forced to abdicate (as indeed Richard II was later deposed) and this memory was definitely the first thing that would come to mind for the question of whether a 14th-century English king was once more too dependent on and attached to male favorites.

Jean Froissart, a French chronicler, describes Michael de la Pole in his Tales as a sort of Iago/Wormtongue figure giving Richard bad advice, but doesn’t seem to think there was anything scandalous about their relationship per se:

But in one night, Michael de la Pole, earl of Suffolk who at that time was the heart and sole council of the king, and in whom he placed his whole confidence, undid the whole business. I know not what his intentions were for so doing; but I heard afterwards, he should say to the king, “At, ah, my lord, what are you thinking of? You intend then to follow the plan your uncles have devised. Know, that if you do so; you will never return, for the duke of Lancaster wishes for nothing more earnestly than your death, that he may be king. How could he dare advise your entering such a country in the winter? […] Take care of your own person, you are young and promising; and there are those who profess much, but who little love you.“  (ch. 173).

 As noted, Froissart was French, therefore not intimately familiar with the inner workings of the English court, and the takeaway here seems to be that de la Pole, supposedly warning Richard against the treachery of his powerful uncles, steers him into a military disaster instead. He describes de la Pole as “the heart and sole council of the king” but again, doesn’t feel the need to intimate anything else. (Which, although the French got along fairly well with Richard II after the endless wars of Edward III, Froissart would probably do if that was there for the bad habits of an English king to be remarked upon.) Furthermore, both de Vere and de la Pole were definitely into women: de Vere caused a scandal by divorcing his wife, Richard’s cousin, and marrying one of the queen’s bedchamber attendants instead (so yes, powerful people have always had affairs with the nanny, apparently) and de la Pole had eight children with his wife. As we like to remind folks around these parts, Bisexuality Exists, so obviously, both of them having affairs/fruitful marriages with women would not necessarily preclude some kind of strategic sexual liasion with Richard, especially if questions of power or career advancement were involved. But given that the only source on this is the hostile hearsay passed along by Walsingham, aka that de Vere’s enemies were happy to accuse him of deviant sexual behavior with the king in the model of Edward II’s scandals, I am less inclined to think so.

Furthermore, Richard’s relationships with both of his wives were emotionally close and loving. His first wife, Anne of Bohemia, married him in 1382, when they were both about 15. They quickly became devoted to each other and she was known for her influence on him. What is now known as the Crown of Princess Blanche may have been made for her, and she appears alongside Richard in the Liber Regalis, a book possibly made for her coronation service and which still mostly functions as the order of service for major royal ceremonies. Anne’s death in 1394, probably from plague, absolutely devastated Richard, to the point he ordered the manor where she had died torn down. The Historia Vitae et Regni Ricardi II notes this and memorialises her warmly:

Hoc anno, die 7 mensis Junii, die viz. festo Pentecostes, apud Shen Anna, Regina Angliae, diem suum clausit extremum. Propter quod Rex, ejus mortem dolendo, illud nobile regiumque Manorium solo prosterni fecit. […] Sepulta est cum maxima solennitate in Ecclesia Westmonasterio, in die Sanctae Annae sequente, cujus festum ut Ecclesia Anglicana solennius celebraretur ista Regina et Domino Papa impetravit. (p.126)

I can’t be arsed to do a full word-for-word translation, but the sense of the passage is that Anne died on the 7th of June, near Pentecost, and that Richard in his grief ordered the manor where she died to be destroyed. She was buried at Westminster with full solemnity and feasts and commemoration from the English church, and from the Pope. The chronicler goes on to praise her kindness and her piety, as Anne came from Bohemia and was not popular at first because Foreign, but had won over the people with her charity and mercy. We see this also in Richard Maidstone’s Concordia, a verse epic detailing Richard II’s reconciliation with the citizens of London in 1392, in which Anne’s intervention was pivotal. Multiple passages are devoted to praising Anne’s beauty, her love for Richard and vice versa, and her moderating effect on him:

The queen is able to deflect the king’s firm rule,    So he will show a gentle face to his own folk.A woman soothes a man by love: God gave him her.    O gentle Anne, let your sweet love be aimed at this!(line 227-230)

A queen can, for her people, speak the words that please -    None but a woman can do what no man would dare.When fearful Hesther stood before King Assuer’s throne,    She brought to naught the edicts that the king hadpassed.For this, no doubt, almighty God gave you to be    A partner in this reign, a Hesther for the realm.(439-444)

At his command she stands. “What, Anna, do you seek?”    He asks. “Just speak, and your desires will bemet.”“Sweet king of mine,” she said, “my man, my strength, my life!    Sweet love, without whom life to me would be likedeath! (465-468)

Therefore, Richard and Anne’s devotion to each other can barely be questioned, but nonetheless, they had no children. (They are now buried jointly in Westminster, and Richard had ordered their effigies to be carved holding hands.) Jeffrey Hamilton suggests (p.190) that the marriage may not have been consummated (though I’m not sure on what evidential grounds, and unfortunately a page is missing in the e-version so I can’t get his full argument). (See my followup discussion of the deep unlikeliness of a fully chaste marriage here.) Furthermore, when Richard did remarry in 1396, it was to the seven-year-old daughter of Charles VI of France, Isabella of Valois, in an attempt to make a peace treaty. The youth of the bride was brought up as a potential stumbling block in negotiations, but Richard essentially replied that he was fine waiting (he himself was still only 29) and that wasn’t a problem. He then proceeded to befriend the seven-year-old girl, visit her often at Windsor, make funny conversation with her, and otherwise be genuinely decent to a young girl in a foreign country, and he’s not recorded as having any mistresses or illegitimate children that we know of. So even if he was married to a young girl, he a) treated her respectfully and kindly and like a friend, and b) apparently didn’t have the need to go elsewhere for sex. For her part, Isabella adored Richard, so much that she flatly refused a remarriage, after being widowed at the age of 10, to Henry V, son of Richard’s usurper Henry IV. It’s fair to say that she probably wouldn’t have if he mistreated her.

So as ever, this has gotten long, but yes. This is why I am inclined to suggest that if anything, Richard II was probably ace. He had close and loving emotional relationships with both men and women (and as I’ve also discussed a bit, emotional/romantic male friendship was a thing in the medieval era, especially as related to knights and chivalry, in a way that would be considered homoerotic today). However, his political difficulties and probable personality disorder ended up getting him deposed, and he didn’t have any children even though he and Anne loved each other very much and were married for 12 years. He was also fine marrying a young girl for political reasons, but was not very interested in/fine with waiting for any possible sex, and instead actually treated said child well and kindly. The accusations (and as ever, it is “accusations”) of homosexuality come from hearsay hostile sources, and Walsingham is, as far as I know, the only chronicler to suggest it (in comparison to the numerous pieces of chronicle evidence in many different places that discuss the queerness of Richard I). Which as I said above, makes sense given that Edward II had been brought down by reliance on (sexual) male favorites, and it was an easily available paradigm to critique the resented influence of Richard II’s male favorites.

In terms of “Probably Asexual/Ace-spec Historical Figures,” moreover, there is almost no way to prove it, since the underlying assumption (as @extasiswings and I were chatting about) is that all people must be having sex with someone, and the “default” for this sexual expression is het/straight sex. Richard II was by all appearances biromantic, and emotionally close to members of both genders, but it is less clear if that translates to sexual relations with either. 

[appelboompennen]

The Pen Fans Series: Tim Steiner - Hemingway Jones | Appelboom Pennen

The Pen Fans Series: Tim Steiner - Hemingway Jones | Appelboom Pennen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNsqEboMG6s Discover the fascinating world of fountain pens with Hemingway Jones in "The Pen Fans Series" by Appelboom Pennen. As Hemingway Jones, Tim Steiner unveils his favorite writing instruments, shedding light on his passion for pens and their significance in his professional and personal journey. Please Visit our website for our complete collection of luxury fountain pens, ballpoint pens, inks, and more: https://appelboom.com/ It's time for another chat with a fountain pen enthusiast! In this YouTube series, we ask Pen Fans three fountain pen-related questions about their hobby and discover more about them. In this episode, we asked Hemingway Jones three pen-related questions. ✅Important Link to Follow: Www.appelboom.com ✅TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 00:46 - How did you get into fountain pens? 02:56 - How do you store your fountain pens? 05:18 - What is your top tip for someone who is using fountain pens? 07:30 - Ending Video Title: The Pen Fans Series: Tim Steiner - Hemingway Jones | Appelboom Pennen This video concerns The Pen Fans Series with Tim Steiner - Hemingway Jones. But It also covers the following topics: Pen Fans Series Hemingway Jones Pens Tim Steiner pens Discover the Youtube channel of Hemingway Jones here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCUiDIApvh8OarYLHlACsyVw 🔔Join the Appelboom Pennen community and stay updated on the coolest and newest pens: https://www.youtube.com/@AppelboomPennen/featured ✅ Stay Connected With Us. 👉Facebook: https://ift.tt/ekrRhCp 👉Instagram: https://ift.tt/3Apvk6l 👉Twitter: https://twitter.com/appelboomLaren 👉Website: https://appelboom.com/ ✅ For Business Inquiries:info@appelboom.com ============================= ✅ Recommended Playlists 👉New Products https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NpjqJSKzl8&list=PLYoxN5LfwWnz7ZaH7Sa1cboILvmxvqRc0 👉Montblanc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxcM172EYz4&list=PL8849558EE98B01EA ✅ Other Videos You Might Be Interested In Watching: 👉 The Pen Quiz Show - 5 - Douglas Rathbun, Hemingway Jones, and Clare Coco https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrCv1i6JrMI 👉Top 3 Pens of Alex Roden (Workshop Manager at Yard-O-Led) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NUrBMDL2KM 👉Top 3 Pens of Marc Kompaneyets (Marc Kompaneyets Studio) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sai3zv-t57U 👉The Pen Fans Series: Douglas Rathbun (Inquiring Minds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-aCX8ZnQUI 👉Top 3 Pens of Nino Marino (CEO of Delta/Maiora/Nettuno) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRenzqxor1Q ============================= ✅ About Appelboom Pennen. We created this channel to connect with pen enthusiasts worldwide and share our passion for pens with you. This platform lets us share the coolest and newest pens and show insights into the writing world. Here, you can find the Top 3 Pens of important people in the writing industry, influencers. The latest collections of popular brands like Montblanc, Pelikan, Lamy, Kaweco, Leonardo, Aurora, Montegrappa, and many more. For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: info@appelboom.com 🔔Dive into the world of luxury pens with Appelboom Pennen! Subscribe now for reviews and the latest collections from top brands: https://ift.tt/AKO35D9 ================================= ADD HASHTAGS Disclaimer: We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of our publications. You acknowledge that you use the information we provide at your own risk. Do your research. Copyright Notice: This video and our YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Appelboom Pennen. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to our YouTube channel is provided. © Appelboom Pennen via Appelboom Pennen https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHNOs96YK8azszH8IZ1b7Bg October 25, 2023 at 09:00PM

[ad-maiora--sara-albanese]

🇬🇧 English version below 👇 🌻Ciao Amici! Mi arrivano tramite mail gentilissime proposte per supportare il mio canale ed i miei corsi gratuiti su youtube. Grazie di cuore! 👉 Per donare tramite Paypal esiste un bottone in alto a destra nella home page del canale di Ad Maiora http://bit.ly/35ds6yj (dal computer) 👉 Sempre tramite Paypal (ma da qualsiasi dispositivo) è possibile usare l'indirizzo email del canale per poter fare la vostra donazione: admaioratutor@gmail.com Grazie a tutti quanti voi! 🌹 Trovo straordinario che diverse persone si propongano spontaneamente di essere di supporto ad una canale didattico di cui possono usufruire tutti senza spese. 💕 Siete straordinari! 💕 --------- 🌻 Hi guys, I have received many emails from some of you who ask me how they could eventually donate a little to support my youtube channel and my free courses. Thanks a lot for your request! 👉 You can find a PayPal button at the top right corner of your screen when you visit the Home Page of AD MAIORA using your computer 👉 You can use PayPal from any device and the recipient is admaioratutor@gmail.com (same email address as the channel itself) Thank you so very much everybody! 🌹 I think it's awesome that several people spontaneously ask to contribute and support a learning channel that everybody can use for free. 💕You guys are amazing💕 Thank you again 😘 #admaiora #saraalbanese #youtube #canaleyoutube #youtubechannel #lingueeletteraturestraniere #lingue #inglese #english #tedesco #letteraturaamericana #letteraturainglese #letteraturatedesca #englishliterature #americanliterature #grammaticatedesca #donazioni #support #paypal #thankyou #donate https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ClP3lAMmt/?igshid=16txfp6hbk96z

[burclay]

Halfway Between

Jenny’s radioed ahead, knows where to land, steps out of her spaceship and checks herself in as a visitor to the planet, and then she steps outside, onto purple grass, and looks around.

And that’s where she sees the ghost, blonde, distant. Only half-there. -- Women the Doctor almost saved, seeing the stars.

AO3

The first one Jenny meets looks like a ghost.

She’s only just set off in her spaceship, leaving the orbit of her home planet, still breathing wisps of emerald-gold light, when she sees a strange blue light through the port side window. She’s moving at thousands of miles a minute, but the blue light seems to be following her, chasing her, keeping pace perfectly.

Jenny can’t stop and take a look, as much as she wants to. She’s going thousands of miles a minute. She can only hope the blue light will follow her to the nearest planet.

Sure enough, as she enters the atmosphere of what her computer tells her is Alethen 2, she sees a wink of blue amidst the flames of reentry. She’s radioed ahead, knows where to land, steps out of her spaceship and checks herself in as a visitor to the planet, and then she steps outside, onto purple grass, and looks around.

And that’s where she sees the ghost, blonde, distant. Only half-there.

“Hello?” Jenny says, stepping closer.

“Hello,” the ghost says. Her face is expressionless.

“Are you all right?” Jenny asks. She’s not sure what to do in this situation. “Are you dead? You know, I am, too, technically.”

The ghost smiles at that.

“Yes,” she says. “I have just enough life to see the stars. I’m flying, you see.”

Grinning, Jenny sticks out a hand, even though she knows the ghost won’t be able to touch it.

“I’m Jenny,” she says. “I’m flying, too.”

“Astrid,” the ghost tells her, and she meets Jenny’s hand with her own. Jenny doesn’t feel anything, but she mimics a handshake anyway, and then she invites Astrid to come with her, on this adventure and maybe some of the others.

It turns out Astrid knows Jenny’s dad. Jenny mentions him offhandedly, her immortal Time Lord father with a title for a name, and Astrid says she’s met him.

“Years ago,” she says. “He said he was going to show me the stars.”

“Never got the chance?” Jenny asks. “Me, too.”

Astrid smiles.

“I can see them for myself now,” she says. “There’s so much to the universe. I’ve been exploring for hundreds of years and haven’t seen everything.”

“I’ve barely got started,” Jenny says with a grin.

Astrid comes with Jenny, inside the spaceship, this time. She dissolves back into a stream of blue light and flies around the cockpit while Jenny, laughing, tries to fly.

They go everywhere. They see everything. Astrid directs Jenny to some of her favorite places, and they discover new ones together. Sometimes Astrid goes off on her own, and sometimes Jenny rockets about without her, but they always meet up again eventually. The

They’re at an amusement park in a galaxy neither of them has visited before when they see it. Neither of them know what it is at first, the strange building with its rounded edges and neon lights. Astrid says it looks vaguely like a sort of restaurant she saw on Earth a few times; Jenny just knows it doesn’t match the sharp angles and bright colors of the park around them.

Of course, neither of them can resist a good mystery. Jenny marches right up to the door, Astrid drifting behind her, and knocks three times. They wait almost a full minute until the door pops open and a woman pokes her head out at an angle, brown hair swinging as she speaks.

“Hello,” she says. “Sorry it took me a moment, I was all the way back in the library. Did you need something?”

Jenny glances at Astrid.

“We were just wondering about your building,” Astrid says. “It doesn’t match the others.”

“That’s because mine is special,” the woman says. She has big brown eyes, Jenny notices, and long eyelashes, and when she smiles, her eyes sparkle and half her mouth quirks up. “It’s not from around here.”

“Neither are we,” Jenny says.

“Want to come inside?” the woman asks.

Jenny and Astrid glance at each other and nod.

The inside isn’t at all what Jenny expected. From the outside, she thought it’d be some kind of restaurant, but instead it looks like a spaceship of some sort, maybe, or a highly specialized physics lab. The walls and floor are white, and in the middle is a huge column surrounded by a 360-degree control panel.

“I’ve only just gotten it,” the woman explains. “Haven’t had time to customize.”

“What is it?” Jenny asks.

“My TARDIS,” the woman says. Something about that rings a bell in Jenny’s head, but she can’t figure out where. “I stole it.”

“What’s a TARDIS?” Astrid asks.

“Stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space,” the woman says. “But between you and me, I think they just needed a convenient acronym.” She winks. “I’m Clara, by the way. Clara Oswald.”

“I’m Jenny,” Jenny says, “and this is my friend Astrid. It’s lovely to meet you, Clara Oswald.”

Clara figures out what Astrid is right away-- something to do with the imprint of a teleport. She says she had an old friend who used to tell her about things like that, who had a library full of books from all over space and time.

“I’m trying to build up my own collection,” she explains. “That’s why I’m here-- this planet has some excellent universities.”

“At the amusement park?” Astrid asks.

“What, a girl can’t have some fun?” Clara retorts with a smile.

Clara joins them at the amusement park-- she and Jenny ride roller coasters together, and Astrid flies alongside them, a streak of blue. Clara is delighted when she sees Astrid keeping up with the coaster-- she’s arguably more excited about that than the ride itself.

The next day, Jenny and Astrid join Clara in going from university to university, looking for new books. Jenny finds a few on genetics and cloning that she buys for herself; she’s been trying to learn more about her own creation. Astrid’s been interested in speculative fiction lately; she can’t hold books herself, but Jenny went to a workshop on one of the planets they visited together and managed to rig up a page-turning device for her that works psychically. So she buys the books Astrid wants, too, and by the end she has two full bags.

Not that she can rival Clara’s collection, of course, which Jenny thinks might just wind up breaking Clara’s back. She has a stuffed backpack and three canvas bags besides.

“Good thing the TARDIS is bigger on the inside,” she says to Jenny and Astrid with a wink.

“How do you mean, bigger on the inside?” Jenny asks.

“I don’t know how it works,” Clara says. “Although eventually I’ll get some books on dimensional engineering. It’s just bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.”

“That’s amazing,” Astrid says, eyes wide.

Clara grins.

“Isn’t it?”

Clara invites them to go along with her, then, in her TARDIS. She can travel in time, she explains, but she’s still learning the controls, so it might be a bit bumpy.

“Although I used to fly with the most experienced pilot there is,” she says, “and he got lost all the time.”

Astrid and Jenny don’t mind getting lost. After all, it’s all they’ve been doing.

It takes them ages to realize that the “friend” Clara is always talking about is the Doctor. It takes them even longer to realize that Clara’s half-dead too, her heart stopped before her final breath. When they find out, they both laugh-- Clara looks offended until they explain why. It’s just such a coincidence, they say. A funny coincidence. All of them have met the Doctor, and all of them are half-dead.

Although maybe it’s not a coincidence-- after all, if you have all of time and space to contend with, you’re bound to bump into others like you eventually.

They go everywhere. They go back to see Astrid’s family on Sto before they died-- Astrid keeps her distance, scattered into blue light, and afterwards she cries on the floor of the TARDIS while Jenny tries to console her. They see the aurora of Broxton Maiora, and they find a planet where half the people have the faces of cats, and they get tangled up in a civil war that reminds Jenny uncomfortably of home.

They sit in the TARDIS, in the space between adventures-- Astrid and Clara don’t sleep, and Jenny doesn’t need nearly as much rest as most humans, so they just sit in the growing library. Clara’s found a sofa somewhere, and usually Jenny lies across it, her feet on Clara’s lap at one end, while Astrid floats nearby, and they talk until Jenny either goes to bed or falls asleep. (Either way, she always wakes up in a warm bed.)

“Do you ever feel like a leftover?” Clara asks one day. Astrid and Jenny don’t know what she means, but once she explains, they both agree.

“We’re what’s left when the Doctor leaves,” Astrid says, her eyes trained on the ceiling, or maybe on the stars.

“Better that than dead because he wasn’t there,” Jenny says. Clara’s told them enough stories by now that Jenny has a picture of what the Doctor does for people. He saves worlds, Clara says. (She hasn’t said it, but Jenny gets the feeling that Clara’s saved her share, too.)

“I wonder sometimes,” Clara says. “I wasn’t ready to die, but I don’t know that I was ready to be immortal, either.”

“Can’t you go back and face the raven anytime?” Jenny asks.

“I suppose,” Clara says. “But it could always be a mistake. I haven’t seen everything yet.”

“Maybe we’re not leftovers,” Astrid says. “We’ve found each other. We’re living for ourselves. I think we’re just travelers.”

“I like that,” Jenny says. “I love our traveling.”

“Me, too,” Astrid admits, a gleam in her eye.

It’s a few adventures after that conversation, on a crowded walkway through a forest of trees bigger around than Jenny’s old spaceship and as tall as anything she’s seen, that she feels something wet brush against her. She looks up, but the sun is streaming through the branches; she looks to either side, but she just sees a crowd of people.

But then she catches something out of the corner of her eye, and she turns. A confused Clara taps her on the shoulder, but Jenny is distracted by the two women right next to her, looking up at the trees with water absolutely dripping from every inch of their skin. Jenny taps one of them on the shoulder-- her hand sort of goes through, like the woman’s actually made of water. But she turns, and Jenny realizes she doesn’t know what to say now.

Luckily, Clara’s picked up on what’s happening.

“Are you made of water?” she asks, her face the picture of innocent curiosity.

“Sort of,” the woman says. “Not really.”

Just then, Astrid, who’s been floating above them as blue light, materializes fully next to Jenny, and the woman raises both her eyebrows.

“What’re you, then?” she asks.

“Teleportation energy,” Astrid says. “I’m sort of a ghost.”

“How’d you get that way?”

“How’d you get to be water?” Jenny asks.

“Who says I wasn’t always?” the woman retorts. “Could be a-- a water alien.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” her companion says, one hand on the woman’s arm, an affectionate note in her voice. “Of course we weren’t always water. We might not always be water, either. That’s what’s beautiful about us. We’re so temporary.”

“That’s a bit deep,” the woman says. “I’m Bill, by the way. And this is my girlfriend Heather.”

Heather smiles. She looks a little like a puzzle, Jenny thinks. She wonders whether it’s on purpose.

“I’m Jenny,” she says. “And these are my friends, Astrid and Clara. We’re all dead.”

“Me too,” Bill says, a smile beginning to form on her face. It’s not necessarily a joyous smile, or a malicious one. It’s more-- a curious smile. An interested smile. A smile Jenny’s seen a million times on Clara or Astrid, but not so much on anyone else. She smiles back with just as much curiosity, and Bill and Heather join Jenny, Clara, and Astrid on their walk.

Bill and Heather turn out to be fascinating. They’ve been traveling together for years, and separately before that, Heather says, and they have all sorts of stories. They’ve been all over the universe. Jenny can’t quite figure out the physics of their travel-- or their existence-- but then again, she’s never quite worked out how Astrid’s ghost thing works, either, or how it is that Clara doesn’t need to breathe.

She knows what’s going to happen before it does. She feels like she shares something with Bill and Heather, the same way she feels about Astrid and Clara. There’s a sort of nebulousness that they all five have, a sort of liminal existence. Hovering between life and death, traveling the stars.

So it’s not a surprise when Bill mentions the Doctor, and it’s not a surprise when Clara asks if they want to join the next adventure in the TARDIS. And it’s not a surprise when Bill and Heather agree.

They go off together, a TARDIS full of liminal women.

And that’s it: the five of them, traveling, seeing the stars together. They all come from different places, they all have different stories, but they love each other like a family.  They've all died, or come close, and they're all still dealing with what that means, but they deal with it together. 

Eventually, of course,  Clara decides it’s time for her to die. Jenny feels herself, ever so slowly, beginning to age. But they pick up more stragglers, more liminal women, all of whom have fantastical stories about almost being saved, and their number waxes and wanes, throughout all of time and space.

[worldyachtgroup]

HUGE price reduction on this special Maiora 84' luxury yacht, now asking $1,320,000 USD. This luxury 84' Maiora yacht was built by the renowed Italian shipyard Maiora SPA, from FIPA Group, to the highest standards, fully loaded with all extras and equipped with the best systems available in the market. Karanita is one of a kind and unique Maiora due to featuring gyro zero-speed stabilizers and a large jacuzzi in the fly bridge. With refit in the spring of 2016. Contact info@worldyachtgroup.com #worldyachtgroup

[lightbulb-warning]

Your Kokichi fits are so gender fr. Tiny ass gremlin rocking the styles.

*bonks roof of kokichi*

THIS DIPSHIT CAN FIT SO MUCH GENDER AND/OR LACK THEREOF!!! <3