#fergus iii

[roehenstart]

Legendary Kings of Scotland (by Jacob Jacobsz de Wet II):

61: Etfinus. Áed Find (Áed the White), or Áed mac Echdach (before 736–778), was king of Dál Riata (modern western Scotland and County Antrim, Ireland). Áed was the son of Eochaid mac Echdach, a descendant of Domnall Brecc in the main line of Cenél nGabráin kings. According to later genealogies, Áed was the great-grandfather of Kenneth MacAlpin (Cináed mac Ailpín) who is traditionally counted as the first king of Scots. This descent ran through Áed's son Eochaid mac Áeda Find and Eochaid's son Alpín mac Echdach. The evidence for the existence of Eochaid and Alpín is uncompelling.

62: Eugene VIII (Eógan mac Muiredaig).

63: Fergus III (Fergus mac Echdach; 778-781). He succeeded Áed Find. He is stated to have been a son of Eochaid mac Echdach, and thus a brother of Áed.

64: Solvathius (Selbach mac Ferchair). He (died 730) was king of the Cenél Loairn and of Dál Riata. Selbach's existence is well-attested as he is mentioned repeatedly in Irish annals.

[nahokura]

Watching every show Angus MacFadyen is in because he's a cutie and I like his voice and I get gender envies from him and I want to hug him and squish him and he's just overall a good actor.

[ninanonanani]

Немного юмора.

[swordofmoonl1ght]

them!

[2023himbotournament]

Coming to you all soon: The 2023 Grand Himbo Tournament!!

Inspired by the @nonbiney-swag-competition mainly, created and hosted by @makerofmadness

edit: guys it's already started pleas catch up I can't tell everyone who thinks it hasn't started yet dndndndndndn

Edit 2; The tournament has officially concluded! Thanks for your participation, I will still be using this blog for helping spread other tournaments, and also posting cringe

Welcome one and all, to the most ambitious tournament probably so far (that is to say, I chose way too many characters but in my defense I had found a blank template for a smash bros character roster thing and wanted to fill the whole thing up, even if I had to turn to the dark side to do so for one or two picks): The 2023 Himboff!

Round 1 Part 1 will begin on Friday, hopefully giving everyone enough time to prepare themselves for battle (I describe this as if it's a war and not a tumblr pollnament-).

EDIT: Yes I am being told that I may have included characters who may not fit the himbo criteria perfectly but in my defense i am not in every fandom and my research consisted of furious googling so if google lied to me then blame that

Now, without further ado, here is our roster!!

The himbos, in order from top to bottom, left to right:

Johnny Bravo (Johnny Bravo)

Kronk (The Emperor's New Groove)

Milk Cookie (Cookie Run)

Glamrock Freddy (Five Nights at Freddy’s)

Asgore Dreemurr (Undertale)

John F Kennedy (Clone High)

Joseph Joestar (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Son Goku (Dragon Ball)

Fred Jones (Scooby Doo)

Knuckles (Sonic Boom)

Chandlo Funkbun (Bugsnax)

Hercules (Hercules)

Milo (Pokémon)

Tom Dupain (Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir)

Jake English (Homestuck)

Launchpad McQuack (Ducktales)

King Dedede (Kirby)

Jonathan Joestar (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Lupin III (Lupin III)

Bolin (The Legend of Korra)

Big the Cat (Sonic)

Joey Wheeler (Yu-Gi-Oh)

Maui (Moana)

Phoenix Wright (Ace Attorney)

Sun Wukong (RWBY)

Terra (Kingdom Hearts)

Dimitri (Fire Emblem)

Brock (Pokémon)

Emile (How Not to Summon a Demon Lord)

Galo Thymos (Promare)

Gladiolus Amicitia (Final Fantasy)

Groose (The Legend of Zelda)

Hector (Fire Emblem)

Gonta Gokuhara (Danganronpa)

Indus Tarbella (Epithet Erased)

Tyko (Harmoknight)

Okuyasu Nijimura (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Toshinori Yagi (My Hero Academia)

Zeke von Genbu (Xenoblade)

Reyn (Xenoblade)

Koichi Zenigata (Lupin III)

Zhongli (Genshin Impact)

Killer T Cell (Cells at Work!)

Jean Pierre Polnareff (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Muscle Cookie (Cookie Run)

Flynn Rider (Tangled)

Prince Naveen (The Princess and the Frog)

Captain Underpants (Captain Underpants)

Kofu (Pokémon)

Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story)

Larry the Lobster (Spongebob SquarePants)

Ralph (Wreck-It Ralph)

King Fergus (Brave)

Kyojuro Rengoku (Demon Slayer)

Joey Tribbiani (Friends)

Steve Harrington (Stranger Things)

Jason Mendoza (The Good Place)

Troy Barnes (Community)

Kamina (Gurren Lagann)

Alfred F. Jones (Hetalia) (sincere apologies)

Andy Dwyer (Parks and Recreation)

Thor (Marvel)

Nate Archibald (Gossip Girl)

Valhallen (Powerpuff Girls)

He-Man (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe)

Arthur Morgan (Red Dead Redemption)

Leon (Pokémon)

Sam (Stardew Valley)

Reigen Arataka (Mob Psycho 100)

Clawd Wolf (Monster High)

Guillermo (Himbo Harem Homicide)

Galio (League of Legends)

Mirio Togata (My Hero Academia)

See you all on Friday for when the Himboff commences!

[scotianostra]

On July 13th 1249 Alexander III, was crowned King of Scots at Scone.

Son of Alexander II, and a direct descendant of the first king of the Scots, Kenneth mac Alpin, Alexander was born at Roxburgh in 1241.

Walter Bower, canon of Inchcolm writing some 200 years later described the coronation as such:

In accordance with the custom which had grown up in the kingdom from antiquity right up to that time, after the solemn ceremony of the king's coronation, the bishops with the earls brought the king to the cross which stands in the cemetery at the east end of the church. With due reverence they installed him there on the royal seat which had been bedecked with silk cloths embroidered with gold. So when the king was solemnly seated on this royal seat of stone, with his crown on his head and his sceptre in his hand, and clothed in royal purple, and at his feet the earls and other nobles were setting down their stools to listen to a sermon, there suddenly appeared a venerable, grey-haired figure, an elderly Scot. Though a wild highlander he was honourably attired after his own fashion, clad in a scarlet robe. Bending his knee in a scrupulously correct manner and inclining his head, he greeted the king in his mother tongue, saying courteously: 'God bless the king of Albany, Alexander mac Alexander, mac William, mac Henry, mac David.' And so reciting the genealogy of the kings of Scots he kept on to the end. In Latin translated here into English as this:

Hail Alexander, king of Scots, son of Alexander, son of William, son of Henry, son of David, son of Malcolm, son of Duncan, son of Bethoc, daughter of Malcolm, son of Kenneth, son of [Malcolm, son of Donald, son of Constantine, son of Kenneth, son of] Alpin, son of Eochaid [or Achay], son of Aed Find, son of Eochaid, son of Domnall Brecc, son of Eochaid Buide, son of Aedan, son of Gabran, son of Domangart, son of Fergus Mor, son of Erc, son of Eochaid Munremor, son of Engusafith, son of Fethelmech Aslingith, son of Enegussa Buchin, son of Fethelmech Romaich, son of Sencormach, son of Cruithlinch, son of Findachar, son of Akirkirre, son of Ecthach Andoch, son of Fiachrach Catmail, son of Ecddach Ried, son of Coner, son of Mogolama, son of Lugchag Etholach, son of Corbe Crangring, son of Daradiomore, son of Corbe Findmor, son of Coneremor, son of Ederskeol, son of Ewen, son of Eliela, son of Iair, son of Dethach, son of Sin, son of Rosin, son of Ther, son of Rether, son of Rowem, son of Arindil, son of Mane, son of Fergus the first king of the Scots in Albany.

Two years later,aged about 10, he married Margaret, daughter of King Henry III of England. He had been "engaged" to her from infancy.

He became a strong ruler and as a result of his marriage there was little conflict with England. He successfully defeated an invasion by King Haakon of Norway at the Battle of Largs in 1263. Following this, the Treaty of Perth transferred the Hebrides and the Isle of Man to Scotland from Norway. As part of the peace-making, his daughter married Haakon's grandson, Eric II - their daughter Margaret later became Queen of Scotland, well on paper anyway.

Alexander's first wife died in 1275 and the death of his sons, David in 1281 and Alexander in 1284, left him without a male heir. Alexander married a second time in order to produce a direct heir. His bride was Yolande of Dreux, but on 19th March 1286, within six months of his marriage, his horse stumbled in the dark in Fife as he was returning to his wife and he died at the foot of the cliff.

[nasuverse-most-breedable-tourney]

The contenders have been chosen! A whopping 256 characters have been sent to me. Brackets will take awhile to be made but the tournament will start when I'm ready.

Achilles Agravain Altera Altera the Santa Amakusa Shirou Amor Anastasia Andromeda Anne Bonny & Mary Read Antonio Salieri Aoko Aozaki Arash Archimedes Arcueid Arjuna Arjuna Alter Artoria Artoria Alter Artoria Caster Artoria Lancer Artoria Lancer Alter Asclepius Ashiya Douman Asterios Astolfo Asvatthaman Atalanta Atalanta Alter Angra Mainyu Avicebron Baobhan Sith Barghest Bartholomew Roberts Bazett BB Bedivere Beowulf Bhima Billy the Kid Blackbeard Boudica Bradamante Britomart Byrnhild Caenis Calamity Jane Carmilla Ceil Circe Charlemagne Charlotte Corday Chen Gong Chevalier d'Eon Cleopatra Constantine XI Cu Cu (Alter) Cu (Caster) David Daybit Demon King Nobunaga Diarmuid Dioscuri Dobrynya Nikitich Dorothea Coyett Durga Duryodhana Dust of Osiris Edmond Dantes Emiya Enkidu Ereshkigal Europa Fergus mac Roich Fionn mac Cumhaill Fiore Forvedge First Hassan Florence Nightingale Francesca Prelati Francis Drake Fujimaru Ritsuka Fuma Kotaro Gareth Gawain Georgios Gilgamesh Gilgamesh Caster Goetia Goredolf Gorgon Hassan of Serenity Hassan of the Hundred Faces Hildr Hector Henry Jekyll & Hyde Hephaestion Hercules Hippolyta Huang Feihu Huyan Zhuo Ibuki Douji Iskandar Ishtar Ivan the Terrible Izumo no Okuni Jacques de Molay Jacques de Molay Foreigner Jalter Jason Jeanne d'Arc Jinako Carigiri Jing Ke Kadoc Kama Karna Kato Danzo Katsushika Hokusai Kiara Kiichi Hogen Kijyo Koyo Kintoki Kirei Kiritsugu Kirschtaria Wodime Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg Kishinami Hakuno Koyanskaya Kriemhild Kukulkan Lanling Wang Leonardo da Vinci Leysritt Locusta Luviagelita Edelfelt Mandricardo Mash Mata Hari Medea Medusa Meltryllis Mephistopheles Merlin Merlin Prototype Mikiya Kokutou Miss Crane Miyamoto Musashi Miyamoto Iori Mordred Mori Nagayoshi Moriarty (Archer) Moriarty (Ruler) Mozart Muniere Murasaki Shikibu Mysterious Heroine XX Nagkura Shinpachi Neco Arc Nero Nezha Noah Noel Aizome Night of Wallachia Nitocris Nitocris Alter Nrvnqsr Chaos Oberon Oda Kippoushi Oda Nobunaga Odysseus Okada Izo Okita Souji Ortlinde Osakabehime Ozymandias Passionlip Patxi Penthesilea Percival Perseus Phantom of the Opera Proto Arthur Ptolemy Qin Liangyu Queen Himiko Queen Medb Queen of Sheba Quetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl Samba Raikou Rama Richard the Lionheart Riesbyfe Stridberg Rin Tohsaka Roa Robin Hood Romani Saber (Fate/Samurai Remnant) Saint Martha Saito Hajime Sakamoto Ryouma and Oryo Salome Sasaki Kojiro Scandinavia Peperoncino Scathach Scheherazade Sei Shonagon Semiramis Shakespeare Sherlock Holmes Shi Huang Di Shiki Tohno Shiki Ryougi Shirou Emiya Shuten Douji Sieg Siegfried Sigurd Sisigou Kairi Skadi Souichirou Kuzuki Spartacus Suse Ritsuka Suzuka Gozen Taiga Fujimura Taigong Wang Taira-no-Kagekiyo Takao Dayu Takasugi Shinsaku Takechi Zuizan Tamamo Cat Tamamo no Mae Tenochtitlan Theseus Thrud Tiamat Tomoe Gozen Touko Aozaki Tristan Ushiwakamaru Van Gogh Vlad III Vlov Arkhangel Vritra Watanabe-no-Tsuna Waver Xiang Yu Xuanzang Sanzang Yamanami Keisuke Yan Qing Yang Guifei Yu Mei-ren Yui Shousetsu Zenobia Zeus

[gryffindorkxdraws]

M E R I C C U P // Bodyguard AU

Merida Dunbroch x Hiccup Horrendous Haddock iii

"You. I like you." Hiccup regards at the girl with a nod of his head. Like he's just made one of the most important decisions of his life. And perhaps he did. When the girl grinned at him, he knew that she was the right one. After all, it wasn't everyday that he saw a kid his age beat down a bunch of other older trainees, then continue their bickering like nothing happened. It also helped that she seemed to glow, almost sunset-like. Or at least that was what he was reminded of when she flashed him her toothy grin. He then turned to his father and, without hesitation, asked "Can she be my bodyguard?" Stoick stared at his ten year old son, then at the other ten year old girl, before shaking his head. "She may be skilled, but she's far too young." "I'll prove to you that I can do it!" She said with such a fierce determination. "And that you'll regret-" "Alright! Why don't you go and show Hiccup the new moves you've been learning?" Fergus interrupted before his daughter could say something wrong. "Losing your touch, old friend? Your trainees were pulverized by the girl." Stoick chuckled as he patted his friend's back." "Actually, she's one of our best. And I'm not saying this just because I'm her dad." "You would risk your daughter in your line of work?" There was this proud look on Fergus' face as he answered. "She volunteered." Stoick quieted at that as his gears churned, then turned to look at his son chatting animatedly with the girl. With her age, she could easily go wherever Hiccup needed to be, school included. And perhaps even become a friend of his, because god knows his son needs one. But she's young. "We'll have a trial run then." Stoick finally decided as he watched the girl show Hiccup how to judo flip. "See if she's fit for the job, and then I'll decide if she stays or not." or An AU where Hiccup, the only heir of the Haddock Enterprise, needs a bodyguard. What better place to look for one but from one of their partners, the Dunbroch Company Line? After all, they're known for their extraordinary bodyguards. Except, nobody expected Hiccup to choose chaos in the form of a redheaded girl. [as my friend lani said, adding anime logic strength to merida]

@allthingsmericcup for mericcup month [modern au]

[underthewingsofthblackeagle]

PSA: “We only do this for Fergus!” - New Chapter is out :)

         Panorama Helsinki / Finland - Dom und Parlamentsplatz (by tap5a)

As the title says, the newest chapter of “We only do this for Fergus!” is online. You’ll find  “Chapter 28: Second Christmas Day (III) - Visiting the von Klarenberg Family (II) - Claire & Matthieu (I)” on AO3 only (due to all the problems with AI): Click! We will follow the little group of friends during the afternoon and also get some glimpses of Claire's thoughts about Matthieu and how she prepared for the upcoming talk with him. Special thanks to @asgoodeasgold​  for helping me with a picture of the "Matthieu von Klarenberg" aka Matthew de Clairmont (played by Matthew Goode) in this story.

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in Irish History | 26 January:

1316 – At the battle of Ardscull, Co Kildare, Edward de Bruce defeats the army of Justiciar Edmund Butler. The Scottish dead are buried in the graveyard attached to the Dominican Priory in Athy which occupies the area on the east bank of the River Barrow. Among those buried are two Scottish chiefs, Lord Fergus Andressan and Lord Walter de Morrey. 1699 – The second session of William III’s second…

[eismaedchenxiii]

What the Weirwood Knows, Chapter 3

Summary: 170AC, forty years after the end of the Dance of the Dragons, the realm has enjoyed a long peace. Serena Stark, granddaughter of King Jacaerys I and Lord Cregan Stark has come into young adulthood and has been thrust into the serpentine politics of King's Landing and the southron lords. Armed with only her wits, her loyal friends, and her dragon, she must learn to navigate this unknown territory--lest she lose it all.

Previous Chapter: Chapter 2

Characters: Stark!OC x Targaryen!OC. I would say 85-90% of the characters are original with 10-15% characters from GRRM's writings. Some of the names are lifted from canon family trees. The Targaryen!OC is a very OOC, self-indulgent mixture of Aegon III and Aegon IV. Make of that information what you will. This takes place in an AU where Jacaerys was crowned king of the Seven Kingdoms after the Dance.

Word Count: 4.4k

Warnings: brothels briefly mentioned, alcohol (Please let me know if I've missed anything!)

Author'sNote: "<Text>" denotes dialogue in a foreign language, such as High Valyrian that I did not have an exact translation for.

For the second time in as many days, Serena stood outside the gates of Winterfell with her family. Except, unlike the last time the castle had assembled, Prince Aegon joined them, standing to the side of Lord Cregan. He stood out like a resplendent raven in his pure black finery.

Serena had not seen the prince gracing the halls of the castle with his presence since the impromptu feast held in his honor. She knew a room had been made up for him—as was the case with every royal guest—but when she inquired about his disappearance, Ser Brandon had played uncharacteristically coy.

”He left for the winter town after dusk. When Gerrit and Fergus asked if he required an escort, he declined. Acted as if he knew where he was headed.”

”Winter town? There’s nothing to do there.” Most of the small village just outside of Winterfell’s walls had left to return to their farms and hovels after the ice had begun to melt.

”There are…certain things a man can do there to entertain himself.” A rosy blush bloomed across his nose. When pressed, he refused to say anymore. Serena didn’t understand why. She wasn’t so naive as to not know what a brothel was. She just didn’t understand why someone would want to trudge through the cold mud in the dark to visit one.

Just hours ago, scouts had spotted the royal carriage train coming up the kingsroad and sent word to prepare the welcome party. The castle staff and the lord’s family had been thrown into an organized chaos to prepare. Lord Cregan and all his present family had gathered in the castle courtyard. Cregan, of course, stood at the front, flanked by Princess Laena and Prince Aegon. Serena and her sister stood close to their mother. Although they weren’t in her sight, Serena knew Missy and Brandon were somewhere in the assembled crowd.

Serena attempted to stand somehow casually and regally, but she grasped her hands in her sleeves nervously, hoping her mother didn’t notice. Laena currently had her hand firmly on Sansa’s shoulder. Ten minutes ago the girl had begun to fidget and shift her weight from foot to foot. Serena couldn’t blame her—waiting in the chill was less than fun. 

Serena heard a sigh behind her. She risked a look over her shoulder and saw Ser Lucien Vypren, her aunt Mariah’s new husband, rolling his eyes as he spoke quickly in his wife’s ear. 

“Is there a reason all of us needed to be present for the wait?” the riverlander knight hissed. He shivered and rubbed his gloved hands up his arms. “My cock is going to freeze off before I—“

A growl silenced him. Serena saw that her uncle Jonnel was shooting a glare in his good-brother’s direction. The look seemed to work, as Ser Lucien’s flapping mouth turned into a tight frown. During the entire exchange, Mariah had stood passively, saying nothing.

The exchange behind her had drawn her attention for so long that the lead carriage was in sight of the gate. It was a beautiful work of craftsmanship—a blaze of red, gold, and black against the grays and browns of the landscape. It was pulled by a team of pure black horses, their coats shiny and heads held high. Intricate dragon designs graced almost every inch of barding. With all of this splendor before her, it was hard for Serena to not feel so very small in its wake. 

The carriage finally shuddered to a halt, and two footmen in black-and-red tabards swiftly appeared to place a block at the door of the carriage. They stood at attention as the door opened to reveal Queen Baela Targaryen. 

Queen Baela, although only in her fifties, used a cane to assist her as she stepped out of the carriage. Her cane tapped on the block as she stepped, and one of the footmen held out an arm for her to settle onto the dirt ground. Serena was glad it had not recently rained or snowed and the ground was mostly solid. As she walked toward the gathered Starks, she pulled her white fur-lined cloak tighter around her body. 

“Seven hells, it’s cold. Let’s dispense with the pomp and ritual and move into the Great Hall, shall we?”

Serena had had little prior experience with her grandmother, or any of her mother’s family. But she very quickly discovered that her preconceived picture of the queen of the Seven Kingdoms was lacking.

After her arrival, the queen had ushered herself and a small retinue inside to warm themselves. With a quick bow, Prince Aegon swiftly moved to his aunt’s side and offered his arm. Leaning down, he whispered a few quick words in her ear. Whatever it had been, it had made the queen smile.

When the doors to the Great Hall were closed and those assembled were finally enclosed in the warmth of the surrounding fires, Serena finally felt herself relax a little. She felt like a wolf pup settling into the safety of its den, secure from any dangers outside.

Queen Baela, flanked by three of her ladies, stopped to examine the Starks before her.

Serena’s mother, more timid than she had ever seen her, stepped forward. “Mother?” her voice barely raised over a soft murmur.

 In seconds, Baela had moved to her daughter and grasped her in a tight embrace. Laena wrapped her own arms around her mother in return. The two women stood in place for several moments, simply existing and breathing in the same air after so long apart. Serena stood silently and observed her mother be the most vulnerable she had ever seen. After an indiscriminate amount of time, the queen pulled away to gaze upon her daughter properly. She gave a small laugh and a sniffle, and pushed a lock of Laena’s hair behind her ear that had fallen loose. Tapping her cane on the cold, gray stone, she turned to Serena’s grandfather.

”Cregan,” she began wryly. “Gods be good, you’ve gotten old.”

“And yet, you are the same as you’ve always been, my queen.” 

The queen smiled at Lord Cregan, offering a hand gloved in white kidskin to be taken by the Warden of the North as he bowed. The skin around her violet eyes crinkled as her eyes searched the faces of Serena’s family. 

Besides Serena, her sister, grandfather, and mother stood most of her half-uncles and aunts born from Lord Cregan’s marriage to the late Lady Alysanne. Jonnel, the spitting image of his father in youth, stood close behind his lord. His wife, Lady Robyn of House Ryswell, stood silently near her good-sisters Mariah and Lyanna. Edric, the next eldest son, stood off to the side a few paces away from his family, eyeing the scene with apprehensive black eyes. 

When at last Baela’s gaze fell on her and her sister, Serena felt herself blush. “My beautiful granddaughters,” she sighed, walking toward them. 

With a tap of Serena’s hand on her shoulder, Sansa joined her sister in a deep curtsy, reciting the words they had been relentlessly taught by their mother for this day. “Welcome to Winterfell, Your Grace.”

Baela had taken off her gloves and raised a brown hand to stroke her granddaughters’ faces. “You both look so much like your father as I remember him.”

Serena saw her mother stiffen. “I think we favor our mother too. Perhaps not in look but in spirit,” Serena said in her most polite tone. She saw Laena soften at her words, a small smile flashing across her lips.

The queen chuckled. “I would say so. All the best parts of your forebears. I will be wanting to see your dragon as well.” She patted Serena’s cheek as she spoke. 

“Of course, Your Grace. I’ll land him in the courtyard for you to see if you’d like.”

“I’d very much prefer you didn’t,” her grandfather spoke up. 

Baela laughed and leaned her weight on her cane. Upon closer inspection, Serena was able to examine the cane and see that the ornate dragon’s head had been carved out of a piece of weirwood. The artistry of the carving held Serena’s attention long enough for servants carrying a myriad of trunks and other luggage to enter. Some servants carried sacks full of grain and other foodstuffs.

“A gift from the king,” the queen waved her hand at the flurry of action behind her. “It will not be said that House Targaryen are not good guests. We are dragons, not locusts.”

Lord Cregan once more, awe in his gray eyes. “Many thanks, Your Grace. This is a mighty gift indeed. We can’t possibly repay this–”

“Don’t grovel, Cregan, it's unbecoming. Let me feast and drink tonight and we’ll consider it even.”

*************

Whereas the feast held in Prince Aegon’s honor had been of a more sedate affair, the true welcoming feast for the Targaryens was nothing of the sort. Every inch of the Great Hall had been draped with crimson and black finery and every table was covered in the most sumptuous of foods. A great roast pig was displayed below the lord’s dais, pieces being sliced off to fill the plates of the guests of honor first. The castle as a whole had been restricting their meals for weeks to provide for their royal guests. This event, coupled with a harsh three-year winter, had left many bellies–highborn and low–rumbling on several evenings. 

Now, at the dais, sat the queen in the high seat of honor. Lord Cregan and Princess Laena sat on both sides of her, with several members of House Stark and Targaryen flanking either side. Prince Aegon sat beside his cousin, sometimes whispering a comment in her ear and engaging in polite conversation. Serena, sitting next to her sister on the other side of her grandfather, could see that her mother had not become more comfortable in her family’s company. 

“My Lord Cregan,” Baela put down her fork and licked her lips. “Your youngest boys–are they well?”

“Barth is being fostered at Last Hearth, and Lord Manderly took Brandon to White Harbor. Hopefully, they come back having learned something.”

“Hard to think they’re old enough for fostering. I remember when they were but little boys. And Sarra, I heard she had lost a babe?”

At the mention of his and Alysanne’s eldest child, Lord Cregan's eyes fell to the table. “Aye, Your Grace. A year ago. She’s with child again and near as ready to give birth. Otherwise, she and Lord Karel would have come.”

“I am very sorry to hear that. When you lose a child, part of you dies with them, and you never recover. I’ll send a raven to Karhold with my regards. I wish her well.”

Serena kept quiet and listened during her conversation. She had eaten her fill of food and had begun sampling some of the wine the queen had brought north with her retinue. It was stronger than she was used to, and with a sour taste that coated her throat every time she swallowed a mouthful. 

Before the wine had been served, the most curious thing had occurred on the other end of the table. A servant–a Targaryen servant, in black and red–had brought forward a bottle to offer to the queen and her Stark hosts. Serena could barely hear the servant describe the vintage over the din of the Great Hall, but she did catch him describing it as a “sweet Dornish red with notes of dark oak and cherries.” Almost everyone present requested a taste, a rarity to see so far north and inland. Everyone, that is, except for the Prince, whose demeanor changed as soon as the servant uttered the word “Dornish.” He pointedly refused a glass and instead requested a mug of northern ale. His stormy disposition had not adjusted since as he sipped his ale, frowning at the taste.

It was an odd thing to see, but Serena was not overly concerned. At least he had not stared at her during the feast. Actually, he had not so much as looked at her since the queen’s arrival. No matter, there were more important things to think about. 

Excusing herself, Serena pulled away from the dais, goblet in hand. She had seen Missy’s dark head bobbing through the crowd and had decided to seek her out. Weaving between people—northerner and southerner alike—she finally found her friend grasping her goblet and in conversation with two finely dressed highborn ladies.

As Serena approached, she recognized them as two of Queen Baela’s ladies. One, a girl with red hair tied in intricate plaits turned her thin, angular face towards Serena as she closed in. Her dress was a dark silver color, and as she turned, Serena could see the fine details of the beading and embroidery on her bodice forming the shape of a brilliant blue swordfish. A Bar Emmon…if I’m remembering correctly.

The other girl was harder to place. Her black dress was striped in bright yellow and her curly brown hair was tied in a black hairnet jeweled with small topaz stones. She spoke so quickly at Missy that her small lips seemed to blur at the speed. Whatever the topic was, Serena could tell Missy was not remotely interested as she sipped her wine. When her Bar Emmon companion cleared her throat, she stopped mid-sentence with a squeak. “My lady!” 

Both ladies curtsied and bowed their heads at Serena. Serena allowed herself a small smile—she could get used to this. “My name is Cosella Bar Emmon,” the red-haired girl began. “And this is Beatrix Beesbury.”

Beesbury. Of course. ”Please, don’t let me interrupt,” she glanced at Missy. “It seemed to be a riveting conversation.” 

Missy’s dark eyes widened, and she gave a nod, smiling politely. “It was. Lady Beatrix was describing their journey up the kingsroad. Not a single detail spared.”

”Oh? I do hope you didn’t run into too much trouble.”

“Well, not much, my lady…as I was saying to Lady Melissa, I…um…” Lady Beatrix, previously so animated and verbose, struggled to find her tongue. Luckily for her, Cosella stepped in.

”What Beatrix was saying is we were harried by mountain men as we passed the Mountains of the Moon. The carriage train was caught between the Green Fork and the mountains. They would attack, then retreat into their holes to hide. They proved so elusive, Prince Aegon could not rain fire upon them from above. Ser Amaury, Ser Robin, and Ser Jon took some men to flush them out.”

”They’re kingsguard,” Beatrix added, the curls loose from her hairnet bouncing as she spoke.

”Any casualties?” Serena asked, legitimately curious.

Cosella frowned and scrunched her nose. “However am I supposed to know that? I was in the wheelhouse with Her Grace the whole time. I was more annoyed that they left Ser Mervyn behind to guard us.”

”He’s in love with Cosella.”

”Shut up Bea.” Cosella glared at her friend. “He’s kingsguard, and old. Just an up-jumped reachman who gained his position due to being the bastard half-brother to the Master of Laws.”

Missy and Serena stood silently, sipping their wine. Serena’s head was starting to grow fuzzy, she’d need to slow down soon.

”The mountain clans are most fearsome.” Missy interjected. “But honorable in their way. They trade with each other, rule over each other, they have their own traditions going back to the Age of Heroes. Some are not so different from ours.”

“They are savages,” Cosella spat.

”And heathens,” whispered Beatrix.

Both Serena and Missy, educated by a castle maester, understood that there was a difference between the mountain clans that clashed with the knights of the Vale of Arryn and those who swore fealty to the Lord of Winterfell in the north. Lord Cregan’s first wife, Serena’s grandmother, had been a Norrey from the high mountains north of the wolfswood. But it rankled Serena listening to southron ladies fret when there were far worse things than a mountain man. The “heathen” comment had turned both girls’ knuckles white as they gripped their goblets, too.

”Mountain clans are not so fearsome,” Serena ventured, emboldened by the sweet wine in her cup. “The ironmen are far more terrifying. Unlike the mountain clans, they don’t lack numbers or commanders. They come in their ships and raid all along the coast from Bear Island to the Shield Islands. They steal women and take them back as saltwives. Then they put castles to the torch, killing everyone within.”

”W-what’s a saltwife?” Beatrix’s lip trembled, her round face looking more childlike.

”Like a slave, but worse.” Missy’s eyes bet Serena’s. “Lady Morgane Flint was taken during a raid last summer.”

”Whatever happened to her?��� Cosella asked. She did not seem as terrified as her companion, but she was chewing her bottom lip most nervously.

”She waited till the captain and crew had gone to rest and escaped. Killed the men with an axe and leapt off the ship. She swam all the way back to shore and reunited with her father at Flint’s Finger.”

Beatrix had grown pale and Cosella had looped her arm through her friend’s. Both girls had gone deathly silent as their eyes darted back towards the dais. 

“That was such an…interesting tale! Bea, don’t you think we should see if the queen requires us? I believe we’ve indulged for long enough, don't you agree?”

”Yes…Yes, Cosella, I believe you are right.”   

They both curtsied hastily and hurried away, lifting their skirts to move swiftly through the crowd back to the queen. When they arrived at the dais, Serena could see Cosella whispering to another girl with a Bar Emmon swordfish on her dress. They both made glances at Serena and Missy with less-than-happy looks on their faces.

”Was that cruel?” Missy asked. 

“Did you want to listen to them disparaging wicked ‘heathens’ any longer?” Serena raised her cup to take another swallow of wine, only to find it empty. Sighing, she placed it on a tray carried by a servant striding past them. 

“No.” Missy turned her back to the southerners at the dais. “It was rather rude.”

”Exactly.”

”It will only get worse when we go to King’s Landing, you know. We will be the outsiders,” Missy sighed as she eased herself onto a bench that had just become vacant. “With nary a surface around us not covered in a seven-pointed star.”

”I know, I know.” Serena groaned as she sat beside her. She gazed at her dear friend and spoke quietly. “You can always stay here if you’d like.”

Missy looked taken aback by her words. “You don’t want me with you?”

”No! That’s not what I meant. What I’m saying is, you’re right. Things are different in the capital. I cannot guarantee people will be kind just because you are with me. I cannot even be sure people will be kind to me just because I marry the Prince of Dragonstone.” 

Missy still looked hurt. “My place is by your side.”

”My duty is to my family. I don’t have a choice in leaving,” she said sadly. “I’m opening a way out for you if you’d like to take it.”

Missy looked at Serena with her giant, brown eyes. It was not often, but there had been times in the past when her friend had looked at her and Serena could see her grandmother staring back at her. This was one of those times.

”I’m coming with you. You can’t get rid of me that easily.” Smiling and lovingly taking hold of Serena’s arm, she continued. “Furthermore, we both need to keep Brandon out of trouble.”

They both laughed, and Serena looked around at the walls of Winterfell’s Great Hall. The gray stone was alight with the warm glow of candles and braziers, and her people surrounded her laughing, drinking, and dancing together. She felt like a piece of stone being hewn from the masonry, chipped away but leaving parts of her behind. 

Clattering from the dais brought Serena out of her thoughts. The queen had risen from her seat and was bidding goodnight to her hosts. Her three ladies trailed behind her as she left, Cosella and Beatrix seemingly recovered from the frightful storytelling. Many other guests made to take their leave as well. There was not much point in celebrating the queen’s arrival when the queen herself had retired.

”Gods be good I’m exhausted,” Missy sighed.

Serena echoed the sentiment and made her way out of the Great Hall by way of one of the hallways that would lead to her bedchamber amongst the other rooms. Before she could be free of the crowd, she heard her name trilling over the noise of the feast breaking down. 

“Serena!” She turned to see Sansa hurrying after her. “Wait for me!”

Serena groaned in exhaustion. “What is it?” She tried her best not to sound mean.

”Can I stay in your room tonight?” She asked her sister meekly. “I don’t want to be alone. There are too many strangers here.”

Rolling her eyes, Serena took her by the hand. “There is no one here who will harm you. You know that, Sansa.” But as she looked at her sister’s gray eyes beginning to bubble up with tears, Serena relented. “Fine. But you must sleep. No fooling around. Do you understand?”

”Yes! I promise!”

*************

Sansa did not, in fact, fall asleep quickly. It seemed that the excitement of the feast had given her a second wind while Serena attempted to shrug off her dress and take apart the many braids in her hair by herself, her head beginning to feel heavy with exhaustion mixed with too much wine. It took until she had changed into her nightgown, climbed into her bed, pulled up the covers, and rolled over for Sansa to see she was serious about getting some rest. It was after she stopped grunting in response to Sansa’s pestering that she finally heard the candle being snuffed out and felt the smaller body of her sister slide into bed beside her. After a moment of silence, Sansa’s whisper penetrated the darkness.

”I don’t like the prince.”

Serena was taken aback at the girl’s words. ”Oh? Did he mistreat you at the feast?” Truth be told, she had barely seen the odd man during the festivities.

”No.” Sansa buried her nose into the furs, not meeting Serena’s gaze. “I just don’t like him.”

Serena held her sister a little tighter. She felt her heart ache for her. Sansa was twelve, but in a lot of ways, hadn’t begun to grow up in the same way Serena had. She hadn’t yet bled and still seemed to have the heart and mind of a little girl. Serena hoped beyond logic that she would stay that way for a little while longer. 

After a few more beats of silence, Sansa asked in a whisper, “Do you have to get married?”

She means, ‘Do you have to leave me?’ The words rolled in Serena’s head like dice in a cup. “Yes. It’s my duty.” The last word, “duty,” caught on her tongue like a burr. 

“That’s stupid.”

”That’s life.”

The girls laid in silence for as long as it took for both of them to start drifting off to sleep. Serena withstood the cloying tendrils of slumber the longest, only succumbing when her sister’s breathing slowed and turned to soft snores, but as she was beginning to fall into the deep she felt her sister jolt. She put her hand comfortingly on Sansa’s arm and held her close.

Since she was very small, Sansa had rarely had a night not interrupted by dreams. Serena could remember when she was barely three-and-ten, and her sister had begun to climb into her bed when she was awoken by her nightmares. When pressed about what she had dreamt, Sansa would be as an iron lock, shaking her head silently—sometimes even beginning to weep. 

Their mother had taken Sansa to Maester Manfrey to see what could be done about her daughter’s affliction. The maester’s learned opinion was that without knowing the manner of the dreams, there was naught to be done to cease them. It was then that Sansa revealed that her dreams were a series of scenes and images that made no sense to a small child. Sometimes it was a flock of crows coming to attack her, at times she was being hunted by a shadowcat while riding a great hind, but the most striking of all, and the dream their mother paid most mind to, was the dream where two great dragons—black and red—battled above her, only to crash down in flames. 

Princess Laena had forbidden Maester Manfrey from using milk of the poppy to send Sansa to a deep, dreamless sleep. She had gotten it in her mind that Sansa could be what the sorcerers of Old Valyria had called a “dreamer” and that her nonsensical nightmares were really portents from the gods and were not to be interfered with. Serena didn’t much care what a “dreamer” was, but she could see the growing darkness under her little sister’s eyes morning after morning when she had failed to fall back asleep. It broke her heart, but there was very little she could do about it without offending their mother.

When Sansa turned to Serena, her eyes were open. “I’m sorry I woke you,” she apologized quietly.

”I wasn’t asleep yet,” Serena lied. “Would you like me to get you some dreamwine from Maester Manfrey?” As much as she wasn’t fond of procuring medicine out from under her mother’s nose, Sansa had slept soundly the few times she had gotten it for her. Surely, there would be no one roaming the halls so late after a raucous feast to tell on her.

”Yes…I think so.”

Serena nodded and slipped out of bed. With what little light came through the window, she padded around her room until she found her slippers, nearly ramming her toes into the hearth. Groping around, she reached her thick robe at last and pulled it on, relishing the soft warmth it gave. Looking back, she took a moment to gaze at her sweet sister, the moonlight casting a glow across her tranquil face.

[theawkwardterrier]

Wednesday 100: Four Thoughts During a Separation

i.

Claire knows that Frank means well, knows that he's trying. Still, she wishes he'd chosen a flat with some green space, somewhere she could sink her hands into the earth. She takes Brianna to the park instead, although it isn't enough.

She is sifting a bit of dirt between her fingers when she hears a spitting sound. Pulling Bree into her lap, she clears her mouth and holds her daughter there.

With no one else to hear, she whispers, "It seems that you and your father have different opinions on the taste of grass," and laughs to keep from crying.

ii.

He dreams sometimes of venturing to the stones, pressing his face there and whispering "I am alive," so they would carry his words through time until Claire and the child appeared. He would bring them home and finally begin the life they nearly and never had too many times.

But then he thinks of Ian arrested over and over for his sake, of Jenny's straining shoulders and Fergus's futile fury and the children learning never to ask for even an extra scrap, and he knows that he could not pull her back, could never doom them too for his selfishness.

iii.

The thought comes the first time that Brianna has a fever, when she goes through a phase of picky eating, when she tells Claire, "I don’t love you anymore" with more vehemence than Claire thought a child could hold, especially her daughter.

Each time, she closes her eyes and thinks to herself, I don't know how to do this. And then, although Frank is there each day, although he has been better than she ever might have expected, she thinks, We were supposed to learn to do this together, Jamie Fraser, her anger and heartbreak calcifying over everything lost.

iv.

There was so much that he knew he would never forget about Claire, but he hadn't realized that he would remember this: herblore murmured over books or transcribed to her notes, treatments demonstrated to one of her nurses or pointedly mentioned to an impatient Fergus, the exhausted "...make the comfrey ointment tomorrow" muttered against his own neck.

It hurts - the memories, the scents which remind him of her skin - and it does not bring joy, but there is something soothed, just a bit, by the feeling that the ghosts of her hands are guiding his as he heals his men.

[zeravmeta]

Top 5 Fate blorbos NOT including Limbo.

this one made me laugh bc like, yeah limbo is my special little princess but also he is one of my many special little princesses, like i love limbo but im not The Limbo Guy, if that makes sense (i have many guys)

That said there are simply too many fate blorbos i have and no easy way to list them in a perfectly objective top 5, so I shall do something fun instead, listing them in tiers. As expected, the list expands as it goes on (not every servant listed obvs)

5. Characters who I am passively aware of. This is for characters who are somewhat relevant enough for me to like. think about

Gilles Saber, Caesar, Paris Hektor, Circe, Lu Bu, Spartacus, Eric Bloodaxe

4. Characters who I have a light inclination towards. Maybe they were useful for farming or I read their profiles and was satisfied

Jason, Billy The Kid, Oda Nobukatsu, , Tristan, William Tell, Medusa Lily, Janta Lily, Tawaru, Achilles, Wu Zetian, Cleopatra, Darius III, Kiyohime

3. Characters who I just like. I look at them and go "its the guy :)"

Senji Muramasa, Fergus, Robin Hood, Leonidas, Enkidu, Nezha, Anne-Bonny & Mary Read, Bartholomew Roberts, Red Hare, Scheherazade, Anastasia, Kyokutei Bakin, Charles-Henri Sanson, Assassin Emiya/Kerry, Ushiwakamaru, Gray, Huyan Zhuo, Penthesilea, Kijyo Koyo, Asterios

2. Characters who I love. This one is a substantial jump upwards in quality and they only have like 1-2 things missing (to me) that prevent them from being numero uno

Altera, Bedivere, Okita, Beni Enma, Sigurd, Saito Hajime, Artemis-Orion, Emiya, Atalante, Baobhan Sith, Cu Chulainn, Romulus (and Quirinus), Caenis, Vritra, Melusine, Boudica, Marie Antionette, Mandricardo, Habetrot, Dobrynya Nikitich, Hans Christian Andersen, Mata Hari, Charlotte Corday, Katou Danzo, Koyanskaya of the Light, Tezcatlipoca, Sen no Rikyu, Kriemhild, Koyanskaya of Darkness

My special little princesses. Play this song while reading

Mash Kyrielight number one forever, saber classes artoria pendragon nero claudius siegfried void shiki miyamoto musashi ibuki douji barghest archer classes david arjuna oda nobunaga artoria pendragon archer swimsuit james moriarty tomoe gozen calamity jane nightingale santa sei shounagon zenobia lancer class scathach artoria pendragon lancer artoria pendragon lancer alter brynhildr tamamo no mae lancer minamoto no raikou lancer swimsuit ereshikigal elizabeth bathory rider class medusa francis drake artoria pendragon santa alter astolfo sakata kintoki rider quetzalcoatl artoria pendragon rider alter swimsuit leonardo da vinci rider murasaki shikubu rider swimsuit caster class mephistopheles cu chulainn caster tamamo no mae nursery rhyme helena blavatsky xuanzang sazang nero claudius swimsuit nitocris leonardo da vinci shuten douji caster ascelpius chen gong artoria caster assassin class phantom of the opera jack the ripper mysterious heroine x ryougi shiki assassin shuten douji scathach assassin first hassan nitocris assassin osakabehime okada izo yu mei-ren kama berserker class sakata kintoki vlad III caligula tamamo cat nightingale cu chulainn alter minamoto no raikou mysterious heroine x alter hijikata toshizo atalante alter jeanne d'arc alter berserker swimsuit xiang yu arjuna alter mori nagayoshi salome miyamoto musashi swimsuit brynhildr swimsuit morgan sei shounagon swimsuit ibuki douji swimsuit ruler class jeanne d'arc saint martha swimsuit sherlock holmes qin shi huang quetzalcoatl samba santa artoria pendragon swimsuit ruler himiko leonardo da vinci swimsuit james moriarty lily iyo avenger class edmond dantes jeanne d'arc alter angra mainyu gorgon antonio salieri demon king oda nobunaga space ishtar kama avenger swimsuit nitocris alter alter ego class meltryllis passionlip sessyoin kiara okita souji alter ashiya douman xu fu larva tiamat mooncancer class bb bb summer sessyoin kiara swimsuit archetype earth foreigner class abigail williams katsushika hokusai mysterious heroine xx voyager van gogh mysterious idol x alter kukulkan pretender class oberon beast class draco nero

[2023himbotournament]

2023 Himboff, Round 1 Part 1 Masterpost

*Indus Tarbella vs Lupin III

*Clawd Wolf vs Groose

*Koichi Zenigata vs Brock

*Valhallen vs Joey Wheeler

*Maui vs Leon

*Nate Archibald vs Okuyasu Nijimura

*Tyko vs Toshinori Yagi

*Jonathan Joestar vs Fred Jones

*Glamrock Freddy vs Launchpad McQuack

*Tom Dupain vs Prince Naveen

*Muscle Cookie vs Hercules

*King Fergus vs Sam

*John F Kennedy vs Alfred F Jones

*Asgore Dreemurr vs Kofu

*Zeke von Genbu vs Phoenix Wright

*He-Man vs Kamina

*King Dedede vs Son Goku

*Sun Wukong vs Joseph Joestar

EDIT: Round 1 Part 1 has officially ended! Here are the results

[ao3feed-destiel-02]

Objects in Motion

Objects in Motion https://ift.tt/kxSGQMP by camwelgrace When Castiel trades a professor position in Boston to be a high school physics teacher in Lawrence, Kansas, he's looking to start a new life. Though it's a considerable change, he's determined to get away from his family and to make something for himself. And everything would be going perfectly if it weren't for one senior in his fourth period who is arrogant, brash and a constant distraction. The student does his best to anger and humiliate Castiel whenever possible, and worst of all Castiel fears that beneath his swagger and charm, he may be more genuine than he likes to let on. Either way, Dean Winchester seems determinately set out to ruin everything Castiel is trying to build. Words: 13391, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Supernatural (TV 2005) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: F/M, M/M Characters: Dean Winchester, Castiel (Supernatural), Sam Winchester, John Winchester, Meg Masters, Anna (Supernatural), Michael (Supernatural), Victor Henriksen, Chuck Shurley, Marv (Supernatural), Fergus MacLeod (Crowley), Lisa Braeden, Garth Fitzgerald III, Ruby (Supernatural), Kevin Tran (Supernatural), Krissy Chambers, Claire Novak, Becky Rosen, Kaia Nieves, Ed Zeddmore (Supernatural), Harry Spangler, Eva Wilson, Eileen Leahy, Ash (Supernatural), Bela Talbot, Cole Trenton, Mick Davies, Patience Turner, Max Miller (Supernatural), Benny Lafitte Relationships: Castiel/Dean Winchester Additional Tags: Destiel - Freeform, Alternate Universe - High School, hot for teacher, age gap, Dom/sub Undertones, Dean is of age but be warned large age gap, Teacher-Student Relationship, Dom Castiel/Sub Dean Winchester, Alcoholic John Winchester, Mental Illness, Anxiety, Underage Drinking, Smoking, Marijuana, Cigarettes, Explicit Sexual Content, Sexual Tension, Physics teacher Castiel, Castiel is Dean's teacher, High School Student Dean Winchester, Teacher Castiel (Supernatural), Cas has anger issues, just a little, Internalized Homophobia, Mentions of homophobia, More tags to be added, written in two time periods via AO3 works tagged 'Castiel/Dean Winchester' https://ift.tt/zjINYwL July 06, 2024 at 12:26AM

[lanymme]

"Master, Master!" the tension between them is broken by the boisterous cry of the loudest monk Ritsuka has ever known. Kiara's hand surreptitiously drops from the small of her back, and she feels a disconcerting mix of relief and loss at the retreating touch.

Her thoughts are scattered as Caster bounds down the hallway, her strides eating up the ground between them until she comes to her feet before them, grinning at Kiara.

"Ah, a dancer!" The Third Beast of Humanity claps her hands together and tilts her head like an excited young lady at a festival. "My, Chaldea truly is open to all kinds. Master, you truly have put together a special collection of people."

Sanzang's boundless energy halts, and with heartfelt, almost passionate solemnity, she bows with her hands clasped together. "Namo Buddhaya," she intones, and her eyes hold a weight of wisdom and uncreated joy, like bubbles of light trailing up from a stone cast into deep water. The moment melts away as her puppy-like cheer surfaces once more, and she turns to Ritsuka, clasping her hands in her own. "Why didn't you tell me, Master! A nun, another nun is here!" They both stare at her, Sanzang up in her face, giddy and gleeful, while Kiara waits at a more appropriate distance, one eyebrow arched in inquiry.

Fujimaru Ritsuka, once the Last Master of Humanity, has spent more than two years here, in Antarctica where the wind always whistling and howling on the windows is drowned out by the even more constant chatter of humanity's greatest heroes (and some villains) in constant discussion, camaraderie, and, often enough, argument. She has mediated disputes between Darius III of Persia and Alexander the Great, between Nero of Rome and Boudica of the Celtic Iceni, between Minamoto-no-Raikou and Shuten Douji, Atalante and Fergus--she has personally reached the heart of a god of Central America through words and actions, and negotiated peace with a vengeful spirit (she is kind of proud of it, too). Her ability to connect with other people, to read the room, is… really her only skill. It’s something she has faith in.

Her palms begin to sweat.

"...Right. Yeah, I guess I should... introduce you?" Sanzang nods at her. Kiara continues smiling.

"So, uh, this is Alter Ego, Sessyoin Kiara," Sanzang gives her a small wave, and Kiara tilts her head, smiling radiantly with closed eyes. "...And this is Caster, Xuanzang Sanzang."

"...Oh?" Kiara's expression does not change. She continues to smile, gentle and relaxed. But Rituska feels a chill down her spine, feels her heartbeat pick up its pace, and a strange pressure fill the room. "What a pleasure it is, to meet another woman who has taken the Bodhisattva Vow for the sake of all living beings.”

She makes eye contact with a passing staff member—Marcus—before he puts his head down and hustles quickly down the hall. Ritsuka’s not the only one who has had to develop a keen sense for tension.

You might think Sanzang would have that kind of intuition as well—or at least have learned to be a better judge of character, after being kidnapped by so many disguised demons. But, well, the Journey to the West wouldn’t have been quite as memorable a story that way.

She thinks of tendrils and eyes, splitting flesh and tangling outward from head, from chest, in a small room far below the ocean. Her skin crawls.

“And especially one so accomplished. I believe it is thanks to your efforts in your time that I was able to receive the Dharma in mind. She is motionless, just for a hair too long, looking Sanzang in the eyes. “Yes, I owe you a particular debt.”

“Kiara, uh. I think we have to keep going to make our appointment with the acting Director.”

“… A shame,” she says. “Truly.” She doesn’t shift her posture in the slightest.

"Awww, are you busy? Sorry for taking up your time! But we should totally have tea later! I think I would learn a lot from talking with a like-minded follower of the Buddha!"

Sanzang, please stop being so friendly, she thinks, just this once.

“If you want,” Kiara says, “perhaps it will happen. I think you will find my understanding of the Dharma to be quite unique.”

And Ritsuka takes that as her cue to grab her hand and pull her down the hallway, waving at Sanzang with a tight smile as they go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just a little excerpt from the in-progress chapter 7 of Karuṇā.