the-azurite

[the-azurite]

Also pictured: how homegirl effortlessly pulls a 6-foot-plus Russian Great Game agent in the span of four months.

Sometimes a headcanon evidence list isn't even a list, it's a collage

[the-azurite]

who wanna hang out at the house in the well with me

[the-azurite]

Livid Loveday— "The Lost Lover"

Profile and story below the cut!

Age: ~500 31

Gender: Nonbinary, without much further feeling on the topic

Pronouns: They/she

Appearence: Difficult to guess the age of, with features prone to slightly shifting. Androgenous. Often gives people a sense of deja vu. Covered in tattoos, generally abstract— each has meaning to them they often refer to casually, or expand on over drinks. Typically wears hair shaved, occasionally grows it half out or to braid length.

Occupation: Zailor, can fill almost any positions on a ship but usually isn't in a specialised role. They spend as much time as possible at Zee, taking on contract work for various captains. They have a lucky reputation, as ships they work rarely sank, and they always survive those that do intact.

Family: She avoids the topic of family. In truth, her origins are fuzzy, and something in her tells her to avoid it. However, she does have a beloved waiting for her at home...

Romantic interests: Livid has a beloved, who waits beyond the Zee (London, then). Their heart belongs only to this love, though when pressed, describe them very little. Their love is very ill, and all this zailing is in service of that— to discover a cure, some secret of immortality somewhere within the Neath.

Sexual interests: Mostly asexual, and their devotion to their beloved makes them avoid sex with others— though this is more because they fear others growing attached to then, rather than any concern of sex being 'cheating'. They have no gender preferences and do have sex at times, but find little pleasure in the act, and more enjoy it as a novelty or game.

Personality: Friendly to all, but sharp to avoid close connections. She is outspoken and keen to take charge or say what is on her mind. They cannot stand being treated without base respect, and demand it for their fellows too. They're not afraid to threaten mutiny or get violent— they can be terribly intense when angry, especially in contrast to her otherwise relaxed attitude.

Manners: Confident and gregarious. She always has a story or experience to relate, and shrugs off hard feelings with ease— just as she dodges accusations about her stories being lies. The dates don't add up. The narratives don't make sense. She laughs and doesn't mind. Living at Zee has eroded any London Manners she may have once had, and she swears like a zailor and often carelessly causes offense.

Narrative themes: Forgetting. Remembering. The truth. The many lies. You are not who you are. You aren't allowed to remember. You can't remember. Please don't remember. Not yet.

Reoccurring Dreams: a lover with brilliant eyes and no face. A dance through the Heavens. A romance which is worth everything. An all consuming blaze. The crunch of bones. Compression. Breaking. Shrinking. Falling, and falling, and falling....

—

The lie: Livid is a zailor who searches for a cure for her beloved across the Zee. Livid has failed for many years, but one day will return.

The first truth: Livid has been at Zee for close to 600 years. It is important their internal narrative remains plausible, and so this is often forgotten. A lot is. They have altered their face and name over the years. When they do, they wake up on a ship of dead zailors, with no obvious cause but them. They forget this too.

The last truth:

A long time ago, there was a pair of Kings in a kingdom which flourished. Yet one day, the beloved began to rot. There was no mercy of the Heavens which would save them, and so the beloved and the lover sought a solution outside that— a gap outside the eyes of the stars.

With great effort, the Kings pooled their fire to forge the lover a new body and self. The star-soul could never remember what it once was, lest the vessel melt away. Yet the lover-vessel would remember all it needed to: a beloved, a need, a way home.

—

Livid is the vessel for a Judgement who has sought a cure for its dying Judgement love for centuries. There may be no way to save it, but Livid doesn't know that— no one involved does. Perhaps by now the Beloved may have even died. Livid is still searching.

Glimpses of memories haunt Livid, becoming especially clear on close encounters with death. Yet each death makes her body more fragile, and begins to stir an overwhelming feeling of dread. She Should Not remember what is haunting her.... she wouldn't like what she finds.

Livid would have extremely conflicting emotions if the truth was revealed (and this didn't cause an explosion). They are staunchly pro-union and lightly liberationalist. Should they hate what they once were? Is that star in any way them, or are they merely the body? Yet always their Beloved remains, and more than anything, they choose that love. The prospect this Beloved is a dying star intimidating, but the overwhelming feeling there is still of Rightness. It was so good, to be with it. They love it, and want to save it, and feel it is worth it.... (maybe they fear these impulses are false, lies, commands... but she can't deny her heart)

As a Judgement, Livid and the Beloved were the Kings of Wither and Bloom— rather than each having a distinct role of life/death, they were complimentary forces who oversaw a prosperous land of endless cycles. Livid was the Lord of the Roiling Seas, while the Beloved was the Lord of the Roaming Earth. Their kingdom was ever changing yet ever the same, shifting constantly between growth and rot, seed and harvest.

Livid was blue toned while the Beloved was green— by colour names, The Lapis and The Celadon.

[the-azurite]

It's canonical that the Bazaar likes star-crossed lovers and protects and aids them at times. This is obviously selfish (those stories are especially valuable to its Story) but you can't tell me it isn't also rooting for them. He's a hopeless romantic! He wants to see impossible relationships work out because it gives hope his own might. Yes, it may also then melt you down in the lacre floods later, but I think it enjoys the show while you're alive

All this to say: fujoshi crab

[the-azurite]

more emotes using this base!

ocs, as they appear: @vulpine-gentleman's ariel, @thespiderwhisperer's asher, @the-real-dev's cecil, @the-azurite's dunstan, @astudyinviolant's lucky cinnamon, @letters-of-fire's howard and @lord-emerson's oswald!

[the-azurite]

That is absolutely glorious in every manner possible. Unsurprised you commissioned this (in a good way). Props to the artist.

✨Vestige of a Starlit Reverie✨

Commissioned piece for the lovely @starryeyed-seer !

[the-azurite]

What now? We can't just shove Catherine into the role. That would most definitely be going against Alice's wishes. We don't have to, little soul. All we must do is show her the Game and let her learn the same way even the Judgements do - let her move a piece.

...You knew she would get hooked, didn't she? I did. The Game is a siren call for those who love secrets, like you, me, and her. All we did was, as in your mortal book of myths, remove her wax plugs. ...I remember the myth you're referring to, and that was considered a bad thing. I know.

I will leave this one to you, little soul. Now that you have Catherine on your side, killing Alice is hardly necessary, but it will take time for her to gain enough reputation to send agents after you, should you choose that option. No, I agree this once. More death is not what we need.

The church? An interesting choice. It's the opposite of the Great Game. What better place for a grieving spy who wanted nothing more than to get out of it by any means? You and I are not so different in our perceptions of reality and law, little soul. Maybe if we had met in another time and place, I would consider you a friend. ...Thanks?

Context: At this point in Dunstan's storyline, he's most definitely the Azurite, but the mortal part of him is still fighting to remain separate (SMEN is at 10, and Dunstan needs to reach 28 and let Winking Isle throw both mortal and Judgement into a locked room before they make any progress on that front.) Despite the hostilities, the Cheesemonger storyline is one where their interests align - Dunstan as a pawn in the Great Game, and the Azurite as one of the great spymasters of the heavens. The below is the 'conversation' between them as they decide how to resolve things. Dunstan the mortal is in bold, while the Azurite is in italics.

Can enough be murdered at once to stop such a grand scheme? Is it even possible? The Courtesy has gone on for longer than Sol’s projects on the surface, little soul. And yet I still had more than enough resources to continue the Great Game amongst the Conjunctions. You can try, but two hands will not be nearly enough. The Chain abhors a vacuum. But… suppose we tried. What would happen? …A long time ago, when Sol was young and your Earth was only a word on a King’s lips, there was a third who fancied themselves Spymaster of the Heavens. Their Crown was broken by the White for their trespasses, while I ground all they held dear into dust. For a billion years, there was a void. But that game ended, and a new one began, with one less at the chessboard. Different stakes and different pieces, but the goal remains the same. So you’re saying… It would just start again. You are learning, little soul. The Chain abhors a vacuum, at all levels. And one link cannot control what the Chain fills it with. It will, however, permit certain… alterations. …Are you suggesting we replace the Cheesemonger? It has the most predictable outcomes, and it keeps blood off your hands if that is something you are concerned about. It is the option I would have chosen if I were still amongst the Conjunctions. But our best option is Catherine. I doubt the Cheesemonger would be pleased. She will not. But let me pose this question - is one woman’s vengeance worth putting potentially the whole Neath at risk from the attention a void in the Great Game would receive? … …I don’t know. You are indeed learning, little soul. You begin to see the depths of the Chain and the Game, and how they ensnare everything in existence. If you go with Alice’s plan, she will never get her wish. The other players will hunt her down while a new board is prepared. If you replace her, you can then remove Alice from the game and thus partially grant her wish while gaining a new piece. Plus, you already know the stakes for this round. Why end it early? …You make fair points. I am the Hooded King, little soul. only the White is my equal in the Great Game, and he had to resort to kicking me down the Chain to win our last round. I suppose you have made your decision? I have. Then let our work begin.

[the-azurite]

Context: At this point in Dunstan's storyline, he's most definitely the Azurite, but the mortal part of him is still fighting to remain separate (SMEN is at 10, and Dunstan needs to reach 28 and let Winking Isle throw both mortal and Judgement into a locked room before they make any progress on that front.) Despite the hostilities, the Cheesemonger storyline is one where their interests align - Dunstan as a pawn in the Great Game, and the Azurite as one of the great spymasters of the heavens. The below is the 'conversation' between them as they decide how to resolve things. Dunstan the mortal is in bold, while the Azurite is in italics.

Can enough be murdered at once to stop such a grand scheme? Is it even possible? The Courtesy has gone on for longer than Sol’s projects on the surface, little soul. And yet I still had more than enough resources to continue the Great Game amongst the Conjunctions. You can try, but two hands will not be nearly enough. The Chain abhors a vacuum. But… suppose we tried. What would happen? …A long time ago, when Sol was young and your Earth was only a word on a King’s lips, there was a third who fancied themselves Spymaster of the Heavens. Their Crown was broken by the White for their trespasses, while I ground all they held dear into dust. For a billion years, there was a void. But that game ended, and a new one began, with one less at the chessboard. Different stakes and different pieces, but the goal remains the same. So you’re saying… It would just start again. You are learning, little soul. The Chain abhors a vacuum, at all levels. And one link cannot control what the Chain fills it with. It will, however, permit certain… alterations. …Are you suggesting we replace the Cheesemonger? It has the most predictable outcomes, and it keeps blood off your hands if that is something you are concerned about. It is the option I would have chosen if I were still amongst the Conjunctions. But our best option is Catherine. I doubt the Cheesemonger would be pleased. She will not. But let me pose this question - is one woman’s vengeance worth putting potentially the whole Neath at risk from the attention a void in the Great Game would receive? … …I don’t know. You are indeed learning, little soul. You begin to see the depths of the Chain and the Game, and how they ensnare everything in existence. If you go with Alice’s plan, she will never get her wish. The other players will hunt her down while a new board is prepared. If you replace her, you can then remove Alice from the game and thus partially grant her wish while gaining a new piece. Plus, you already know the stakes for this round. Why end it early? …You make fair points. I am the Hooded King, little soul. only the White is my equal in the Great Game, and he had to resort to kicking me down the Chain to win our last round. I suppose you have made your decision? I have. Then let our work begin.

[the-azurite]

I hope those buttons aren’t metal, or this is going to be a lot more enriching than usual-

Enrichment in the LF empty nest support club

flpcs: Ariel - @vulpine-gentleman , Sting - @thespiderwhisperer

[the-azurite]

This is how you do human social activities, yes?

[the-azurite]

By LabradoriteKing on Pinterest

[the-azurite]

Hello! This is mainly going to be a dumping ground for Fallen London stuff, so I don’t end up cross-contaminating things with Warhammer 40,000. If for some reason you want to see that, you want @thelostprimarch instead.

Without further ado, the fools are under the cut:

Lieutenant Dunstan Cassel - The Enduring Watcher

As the second son of the Earl Cassel of Midlothian, Dunstan was expected to join the British Army and defend the Empress’s realms in her absence. And so he did, meeting his end under sunlight in Afghanistan while trying to prevent Russian interference in the Raj.

Or so he thought.

Instead, Dunstan wakes up amongst the dead, with a memory full of starlight and a need to understand.

On a journey that takes him first to Italy and then down the Cumaean Canal to the fallen City of London, Dunstan comes to realize a terrible truth - that he isn’t Dunstan Cassel anymore.

Instead, he is a star - a Judgement forced down the Chain and into a human form. More specifically, Dunstan is the Judgement variously known as The Azurite, The Hooded King, Regent of Mists, or the Regent of Swords, who holds dominion over secrets and the forge. And he is hungry.

In less than five hours, Hell’s monthly cut of the soul trade is devoured and Dunstan is thrown into New Newgate. But he is sated. For now.

The internal conflict between what remains of Dunstan the mortal and the Azurite drives him insane enough to become a Seeker of the Name. It is only the extended isolation on Winking Isle that saves Dunstan from going fully NORTH by forcing him to make peace with his death and his new self.

Currently: Absolutely failing at love in the Empress’s Court and likely to be sent to the Tomb Colonies again.

Sergeant Ilya Morozov - The Unassuming Sergeant

Originally a Sergeant in the Imperial Russian Army, Ilya plays the Great Game on behalf of the Motherland in the heart of London.

...Or he did up until February 14th, 1862, when London fell into the Earth. What came after was the unexpected beginning of the best and worst year of Ilya’s life.

As Ilya helped to sort through the chaos of the Fall, he was brought into the Ministry of Accounting and Recounting as a census agent by his fellow lodger Griselda Smith. Brought into closer proximity thanks to their common employer, the two immediately click and a whirlwind romance follows, culminating first in a stunt involving getting an act passed by a Parliament staffed with drownies on behalf of a mutual friend accused of murder, and then a wedding under the spires of the Bazaar, with Mr Pages presiding.

Forty years later, Ilya is the foremost agent of the Tragedy Commission and the husband of the Efficient Commissioner. As the Unassuming Sergeant, Ilya ensures that both London and the Bazaar can survive and thrive, regardless of what the upstarts set on fire next.

Currently: Wrangling chiropteran officials on behalf of the Efficient Commissioner. He’s subdued one before and will do it again, for God’s sake.

Dame Erisia “Eris” Morne - The Shrewd Violinist, Ms Cards

A scion of Austrian nobility fleeing an arranged marriage, Erisia came to the Neath in search of a card game that will grant her her heart’s desire.

The only thing Eris brings to the Neath with her besides the clothes on her back is her violin. Rumors say that while the redhead’s smiles can break hearts, her music can heal them - even the broken heart of a sun.

Currently: Playing songs of the distant Surface in Veilgarden. She has a feeling these will echo through the centuries.

Morrigan Elsinore - The Salt-Veined Viscountess

Another original resident of the city, Morrigan was raised on the docks and had barely set out on her own when the bats came.

Like Ilya, she was brought on by Griz to help with the census, but Morrigan quickly distinguished herself by untangling a tricky case of murder amongst the early chaos of the Fall, despite scandalous rumors claiming that Ms. Elsinore was involved with a Master of the Bazaar.

In the 1890s, Morrigan has control of a large Unterzee shipping concern and has a reasonably-sized estate on Watchmaker’s Hill. She generally keeps to herself unless there is trouble on the docks or a case no one else can solve, but there are always reports of a figure in the Bazaar Side-Streets who lets themselves into the strange spires through a side door.

Currently: Picking out novels for a certain hoard library. It’ll like these, she thinks.