#:: the elemental witch of water. || mare. ::

[fctedivided]

HOW   DOES   YOUR   MUSE   HANDLE   EMOTIONS   ?

bold   what   usually   or   often   applies   &   italicise   what   sometimes   applies.

Chosen muse: Mare

anger.        jaw   clenching,  hands   balling   into   fists,  teeth   grinding,   yelling,  going   nonverbal,   stuttering   speech,   rushed   speech, slow   concise   speech, rambling,   quiet, arms   crossing, shaking   head,   tearing   up,   animated, expressionless,   projects, internalizes, vents,   withdraws,   passive   aggressive,  direct,   physical   outbursts,   verbal   outbursts.

joy.         easy   smiles,   fighting   back   grins,   suppressed   laughter,   loud   laughter,   giggles,   chuckling,   smirks,  whole   body   laughs,   covers   mouth   when   laughing,   throws   head   back   when   laughing,   slaps   leg,  touches   people   around   them   when   laughing,   looks   down   when   laughing,   looks   for   eye   contact   when   laughing,   sparkling   eyes,   bubbly   happiness, quiet   subtle   happiness, obnoxious   happiness,   wants   to   spread   joy,   quietly   savours   joy.

sadness.         crying,   bottling   it   up,   seeks   distractions, wallows,   meditates   &   processes,   avoidance,   seeks   out   comfort,   withdraws,   talks   it   out,   internalizes   it,   sad   smiles,   depression   naps, uses   alcohol, uses   drugs,  seeks   out   sources   of   joy,   fidgets   with   sentimental   item, sits   in   silence, broods, gets   moody,   wants   someone   to   share   the   misery,   tries   to   hide   negative   emotions, nurtures   others   to   make   themselves   feel   better.

embarrassment.         /         shame.       blushing,  looking   away, rubbing   at   back   of   head,   covering   face,   laughing   nervously,   laughs   it   off,   overthinks,   lets   it   go,   self   deprecating   humour,   deflects,   gets   irritated,   smiles,   withdraws,   crossing   arms   over   stomach,   crossing   arms   over   chest, hands   in   pockets,   shoulders   sinking,   shrugs,   falling   into   silence   until   comfortable   again,   talking   a   lot   to   compensate.

guilt.      avoiding   eye   contact, shoulders   sinking   low, head   hanging   down,   crying,   chest   aches, lashes   out,   internalizes,   apologizes,   deflects,   communicates,   withdraws, grand   gestures   for   forgiveness,   accepts   fault   easily,   punishes   themselves,   martyrdom,   victim   complex,   over-active   guilt   complex,   healthy   conscience,   internalizes   even   after   forgiveness,   seeking   redemption,   moves   on   easily,   denial, lack   of   guilt   /   conscience,   sorry   they   got   caught   more   than   caused   harm,   can’t   handle   knowing   they   hurt   others.

fear.         /         anxiety. trembling,   crying,   sarcasm   /   sass   (humor)   to   cope, rambles,   goes   silent,   gets   angry,  fidgeting, clenching   jaw,   picking   at   nails,   chewing   at   lip,   pulling   at   clothes,   adjusting   jewelry   /   clothing,   swallowing   thickly, eyes   widening,   overreacts,   underreacts,   calm,   logical,   panicked, irrational,   overthinks, carefully   analyzes,   talks   to   themselves,   breathing   exercises,  flight,   fight, freezes , withdraw.

stole it from @bloodywoes!

tagging: @soulflatter, @eternallyserpentinebutterfly, @boomania, @moonlitsorceress, @hxroic-wxlls-fxrever, @multiverseofmisfits, @dracomultiverse, @askthedetectiveuniverse, and anyone who wants to do this OR steal it from me!

[fctedivided2]

word prompts compilation. - @moonlitsorceress sent:

[ look ]- Mare

[ look ] for your muse to catch mine staring

"Oh, I'm sorry, Saya, I didn't mean to stare you like that." The water witch sheepishly looked away. These fluffy ears of hers, it was kind of difficult for not doing so.

[fctedivided]

"A boiling ocean?!" The water witch reacted quite surprised, already imagining that the mentioned ocean in his realm was literally like lava or similar to that.

"As in its water would cook you to death? And how about the fishes and other aquatic creatures living in that ocean?"

He looks around and he smiles, albeit a small and melancholy one. “I like to swim sometimes, too, but I don’t do it often.” He chuckles. “Yaknow, its kinda funny… Back home, everyone was afraid of water. We had a boiling ocean.”

[fctedivided]

Chloe Reywell (14) - 4'5

Zio (50+ / physically 10+) - 4'3

Quatra (16) - 4'7

Citrine Fionn (28) - 4'9

Murelle Aries (20) - 5'3

Mare Reynn (18) - 5'0

Cassidy Esset Tull (15) - 5'2

Yawmadinne (1200+ / physically 30+) - 3'9

Nisha Tiorr (28) - 5'3

In a nutshell:

Most are uncomfortable and some even scared, two of them are just ready to throw hands if people would try on them, and finally only one is like 'Oh, you're approaching me?~'.

[fctedivided2]

word prompts compilation. - @mortau sent:

[ wave ] Lundy @ Mare

[ wave ] for your muse to gesture to mine to come closer

Mare wondered why the other was gesturing her to come closer instead of just telling her. Nonetheless the water witch was swimming towards her friend. "What is it, Lundy?" She slightly tilted her head.

[beautifulsnake2162020]

The Vitulation Cycle: An Arthuriana fanfiction (King Arthur x OC and Arthur x Guinevere x Lancelot) CHAPTER 10: ARTHUR PART IV

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction I do not make any money from this. Cultist Simulator elements belongs to the Weather Factory, House of the Dragon/Game of thrones elements belongs to George RR Martin and Arthuriana while generally regarded as under the public domain, it comes from the culture of Britain.

"Are they still there kepa (father)?" Daeron asks you through a whisper as he holds your hand tightly as the two of you help settle the horses in the inn's stable as you make sure your hoods were still on. You squeeze his hand back, your sign to him to stay as calm as possible. Just act naturally and neither of you would be noticed.

"I swear we don't know any witches sir!" The inn's owner says as he pleads at the door to an armed man accompanied by two more men who were similarly armed and was thoroughly searching the inn.

"Then have you seen anyone who is going by the name Targaryen?"

"No sir! I haven't heard that name before."

"Nothing in here sire, all clear."

"Hmm very well. If you see anyone using magic or anyone going by the name Targaryen bring them to us immediately. Are we understood?"

"Ye-yes sire." You had never been more thankful that Daenara and Ayrmida were shopping for provisions in the market and were going by the name Bardugon. In Valyrian it means to write, and it was similar enough to your actual last name to not raise any suspicions of its origins.

You continue to quietly teach Daeron how to brush your horses, the black stallion now named Midnight and the white mare now named Aurora, as you eavesdrop on the conversation the witch hunters were having as more of them gathered around.

"No one here so far."

"I'd say it's a dead end."

"Argh you're right, we've been here for a week it's time to move on."

"Let's head for Camelot, maybe they've breached their defenses by now. All in favor?"

You hear their murmur of agreement as they get on their horses and exit the town. You wait until you can no longer hear their horses anymore before you speak.

"They're gone now tresy (son). But we'll have to refrain from speaking in Valyrian for awhile. Can you do that?"

"Yes papa."

"Good."

Later that evening you hold a private meeting with your family. Fortunately the four of you occupied one room to yourselves and could converse in hushed tones.

"They are also headed towards Camelot. Which means we'll have to change our path for now."

"Where are we headed now Arthur?"

"I'm thinking of going to a nearby kingdom."

"The one with many waters papa?"

"Yes Daeron, I wanted to ask your mother first."

"Well if you believe it is safe, then I don't see why not."

"There is something else that I wanted to ask your permission on."

"What is it?" You calm yourself down.

"It is to the nearby kingdom that the Fisher King reigns. It is him who has asked for your blood - or rather he calls it his medicine since I believe no one in his court knows that the concoction they are treating him with must have contained some amount of Targaryen blood."

"Ah I see, is he the one who brought this on you?"

"Yes. I don't know how Oxenburg's influence over him is since there isn't any magic in his kingdom. You don't have to give blood to him if you don't feel comfortable right now and it might even lead to the mages or the witch hunters finding us."

"Why will it lead them to us? It's just mama giving some blood." Ayrmida asks in confusion.

"But the mages whom we ran away from will know it is us. And we need to refrain from using magic until we are safe." Daenara explains gently.

"We'll see once we get there. If the Fisher King could arrange a private meeting when I could provide my blood then I don't see why not. But otherwise I would not want to risk our safety before reaching Camelot."

"Right now it is the only safe place since Camelot might be under attack or the witch hunters heading there might block our way. I have foster family relatives in the Fisher King's kingdom where we can stay."

"Why is the Fisher King's kingdom the safest place for us now?" Ayrmida asks in concern. You couldn't blame her, based on her experiences the witch hunters could seemingly go anywhere. It was why she took advantage of her youthfulness and made it a habit not to reveal her last name.

"It is the safest place for us because there is no magic in the Fisher King's kingdom. Or at least there is no magic in public. If the witch hunters were thinking logically they wouldn't bother searching the Fisher King's kingdom because there are no mages who serve the public. And because there are no mages that serve the public, there might not be any Targaryens. Also they wouldn't want to waste time if their search is fruitless and there is no magic for them to destroy or mage or magical creature to kill."

"Oh, but wouldn't it also be a very suspicious place to find any of our relatives because there is no magic?"

"You are right Ayrmida. But right now the risk of that is lower than if we continued to head toward Camelot the same route that the witch hunters are using. Also I could send a coded message to Camelot that I'm returning."

She relents and after discussing a little bit more, it was agreed that you would depart for the Fisher King's kingdom after breaking fast.

After a few days travelling you finally reached the Fisher King's kingdom. And your aunt from your foster family was more than happy to accommodate your family in her dwelling.

"Oh it's genuinely a delight Arthur, ever since my husband died and since I have no children, it's been quite lonely here." Your foster aunt Fiona says excitedly. She's always loved entertaining and whenever she visited it was always an event you looked forward to.

"Hello children, you can call me Aunty Fiona. Don't worry you're safe here with me although I may need your help every now and then with chores around the farm."

"What will you say children?" Daenara asks gently stirring Daeron and Ayrmida from their awe at your aunt.

"Yes Aunty Fiona." They both say.

"Arthur I'd advice you not to send a message right away." Your Aunt says with a serious tone.

"Why not?"

"Because then everyone searching for you will immediately connect the message to Camelot from you. I suggest waiting till I send goods to Ector and Kay that way it won't be as obvious that there is a message from you."

"Hmm good point."

"She has point Arthur. I'd rather be safe than sorry."

"Oh don't you worry Daenara, I'll make sure all of you are safe here. But enough dreary subjects now I'm about to prepare dinner. Arthur would you like to help with the cooking?"

"OH CAN I SEE!"

"Me too! Can Ayrmida and I watch?"

"Oh of course children. As a matter of fact I think you can all help, but wash your hands first."

"Yay!" They both say as they rush to get their hands washed.

"Children don't run!" Daenara says as she follows them.

"I have to say Arthur they are quite excited to do chores." Fiona says as she is back in her teasing tone.

"This is finally their chance to do so. And it is thanks to you that I learned how to cook almost any meal."

"Oh is it?" She asks in delight.

"It is, whenever we are travelling and have needed to camp I'm the one who cooks the meal to everyone's enjoyment."

"Can we start now? The mages never let us do it!" Ayrmida says with still very wet hands as she runs to you and Fiona.

"Ayrmida come here, I need to dry your hands." Daenara enters with a towel with Daeron following behind as you and Fiona begin clearing the table to prepare it for salting.

"Can we start?"

"Of course Daeron, this is the first step."

"This is called salting children. This is a very important step to make sure everything is clean before we prepare the food."

This was the start of your life in the farm for about a year and a few months. You've began to wonder if Kay and Ector have managed to see or decode your message about preparing three more rooms in the castle discreetly. You have no doubts that they will be assured that you are still alive and staying with Fiona while there was still a high chance of witch hunters in the direction towards Camelot. Originally you were planning to travel to Camelot after the autumn harvest. That way you and your family could use the pretense of delivering the freshly harvested goods to Kay and Ector to divert suspicion. A few weeks before the harvest Kay and Ector sent a letter using the same cipher you have used telling you to stay there since there were still attacks from the witch hunters towards Camelot and they were a nuisance. As promised they've only told Guin and Lancelot that you were still alive but not where you were since the witch hunters may have made a connection between you and the Targaryen family if they were now making themselves a nuisance to Camelot. You haven't disclosed if whether or not you were successful in your quest just in case an unwanted spy were able to read your letters.

There was also another reason.

"What do you desire for your birthday children?" You ask as you and Fiona butcher two freshly slaughtered ewes who have showed signs that their best years are behind them and to put them out of their misery and to do so while they are still healthy to be eaten. Daenara was busy plucking out the feathers of several pigeons that you've shot down with the arrows that Fiona has given you. Rather than just driving away the birds eating and destroying the crops, your family was going to eat them for the birthday feast of the twins as they become twelve years of age.

"Oh I would like to have painting supplies. I miss painting and I want to paint everything here."

"You just miss painting on a flat surface!"

"Am not! I want to sketch Aunty Fiona!"

"Oh I'm flattered Daeron." Fiona chuckles as she hands you the bowl of organs that needs to be cooked and immediately eaten since they don't preserve well over time.

"Cook these immediately Arthur. Daenara could you help me here?"

"Yes, let me just pluck the last few feathers here then I'll be right there."

"Why can't we help?" Ayrmida asks.

"You're still too young to be butchering Ayrmida. You still have some growing to do first." Fiona says as she hands Daenara a similar butcher's knife and they continue cutting and preserving meats. Mainly with salt but some parts were also placed aside to be preserved in smoking. During your stay here and thanks to Fiona's guidance, Daenara and your children have not only learned how to do chores needed to be learned in any household but also how to do them well.

It was also clear that they were enjoying doing these chores. Probably because they weren't allowed to do any while staying with the mages and this allowed them some control over what they can do. Daenara was still not as good as a butcher that Fiona was but it was also clear that she was eager to learn and Fiona was also a good teacher.

"Ayrmida, would you like to help me cook these?" Your daughter enthusiastically goes to your side. You figured you would have her help you so that she wouldn't bother Fiona and Daenara. You remember the frightening time when you almost cut your own finger because you weren't focused on the angle of the cut while you were learning how to butcher. Daenara may have healing blood but you doubt it would be enough to cure a finger that was cut-off. Daeron was enjoying watching and observing and wasn't as much of a bother as Ayrmida may have been.

"Now that we are alone, is there anything you would like to have on your birthday?"

"Well there is but I don't think you will like it Papa." She says as she mixes the dough mixture to make the crust of the pie.

"How do you know if you haven't asked?"

"Because you love me and you, Mama, Daeron, and Aunty Fiona will worry about me. That's why I think you won't like it, but I really want to experience it." You put the organs in the cauldron along with other vegetables to help bulk up the filling of the meat pie you two were making. After being satisfied with the consistency of the filling being cooked over the fire, you go to Ayrmida's side to check the consistency of the dough.

"What is it that you want? I'll do my best to be as open minded as possible." You two sit down facing each other.

She tells you her wish and why she wants to experience it.

She was right that you would be worried. But after listening to her, you also cannot deny her own logic for it.

"I will have to talk to your Mama about this first. She already worries whenever you sneak out and away from us." She nods, you could tell that she had already understood that this would need the cooperation of many people should she want to truly experience it.

Daenara of course was worried.

"Ayrmida why would you want that?" She does her best to stay calm and keep the worry from her voice.

"Because once Ke-Papa goes back to Camelot everything will change. And I want to experience this so I could know what it's like."

After much talk, Daenara couldn't deny that Ayrmida was a lot like her when you two were newly married. And Ayrmida wanted to experience the same thing.

That didn't mean that she needed to be alone in doing so.

"My foster father sir Ector and my foster brother sir Kay will have to know about this so they can ensure your safety. That is non-negotiable." You tell her as your family was having a midday meal and after a lot of discussion with Daenara and Fiona about how to achieve Ayrmida's wish without compromising her safety as much as possible.

"Of course Papa."

"Do not cause too much trouble for your Papa. Is that understood tala (daughter)?"

"Issa muña (Yes mother)."

"Do not let anyone know of our secret."

"But-but what if someone is dying?"

"That's an exception but be discreet. I've taught you how to properly do it but be careful with the blade nevertheless."

"Yes mama."

"No magic until you are behind Camelot's walls. But even then be discreet tala (daughter). Camelot enjoys magic but not everyone may be trustworthy. When in doubt either wait for us or ask Ector or Kay."

"Or when in doubt run." Fiona adds as she pours herself some ale.

"Yes Aunty Fiona."

"Don't be annoying."

"Daeron!"

"But Mama it's true! Also don't be impulsive or impatient." Ayrmida chuckles as she lightly shoves him.

"Kirimvose (Thank you) Daeron."

"Biarvose mandia (You're welcome older sister)."

The time came when sir Kay finally arrived. The first thing you both did was to embrace each other.

"It's been so long brother."

"Too long. Camelot is beginning to really miss you." He pats you on the back and messes up your hair as you both chuckle.

"So where are they?"

"KAY! You better wash up before entering! I could smell you all the way from here!" Fiona says as she was using a wheelbarrow to bring the freshly milled wheat for baking bread.

"Same as ever?"

"Same as ever. At least now she has us for company for the meantime. How are the witch hunters?"

"Thankfully they've stopped attacking Camelot for the meantime. We have efficiently wasted their resources and they will have to regroup before their next attempted siege on Camelot. Since they are only loosely organized they will need to find some other source of livelihoods to restock their supply chain before they will attack us again. The routes are cleared of them now so it is relatively safe apart from a few bandits here and there."

"Thank the heavens."

You both stop as you hear giggling from the apple trees that you pass by.

"PAPA! I MANAGED TO REACH A NEW BRANCH!"

"Very good Ayrmida. Would you like to come down? I would like you to meet your uncle."

"Alright papa." A part of you was concerned but you couldn't deny that she also made you smile. She has learned to be strategic in climbing up and down trees and wore trousers instead of skirts to make things easier.

She almost fell though she was near the ground, but you were able to catch her and help her up.

"Ayrmida, this is your uncle sir Kay." She performs a curtsy as he bows to her.

"Hello uncle, I'm Ayrmida Targaryen Pendragon. But I have to go by Bardugon - oh but can I change it when we arrive at Camelot?"

"My you're very excited." He chuckles as he begins noticing how energetic she could be.

"I've already packed my things - I'm ready to go with you tonight."

"Ayrmida he'll be staying here for a few more days. He and his horse needs to rest too."

"Aww."

"Hahaha don't worry Ayrmida, your grandfather and I will be with you in whatever you want to do."

"Within reason."

"Of course Arthur but let her have some fun."

"Oh I really like you uncle."

"Now freshen up so your mother won't scold me."

"Yes papa." She runs ahead to the house as you and Kay take a detour to wash up.

"By the Gods Arthur, she really is your daughter. No one can deny you are her father." You chuckle at his astonishment.

"Thank you, you should see Daeron."

Dinner was a lively and joyful affair. Kay was having fun entertaining Daenara and the twins with even more embarrassing childhood stories with Fiona adding more details every now and then. You and Daenara finally being able to talk more about your early days in the commune, Ayrmida and Daeron eagerly asking what Camelot was like from someone who wasn't you.

The third night before they leave for Camelot, Kay asks what are your plans for the Fisher King.

"I've managed to make a private meeting happen tomorrow at midday between Daenara, myself and the Fisher King. Since Elaine and other members of his court are the ones doing the actual administration of the Kingdom here, I've managed to have them meet at one of his favorite fishing spots. I was wondering if you would like to accompany me?" Kay snorts at you.

"As if I would miss finally seeing what secret lies in their blood."

"You know you could always ask Daenara."

"Eh I want to see it."

And see it he did. While Fiona was watching over and supervising the twins back at the farm, you, Kay and Daenara met with the Fisher King, his private guards who carried him around and his most trusted alchemist.

"Hmm" Daenara contemplates as she examines the genital injury.

"Is - is it too late?"

"No, the problem is not whether or not it can be cured - which it can - I'm more concerned about your lifespan with all due respect your majesty."

"Oh - but your blood, doesn't it heal the wound of mortality too?"

"Targaryen blood can heal mortal wounds. But even we are mortal and will eventually die. There comes a point when we too will pass on. I don't know how much time you will have left but live while you can still live your majesty. For we all become one when we have our last breath."

And it was then that you felt your love for her grow. Daenara was more perceptive than what she gives herself credit for. The Fisher King's injury may have been his excuse, but it is now that you could see that what he feared was dying or not having lived his life. Traditionally he has no heir, but as much as you detest Elaine for what she did to Lancelot, even you couldn't deny that she was an excellent ruler, even if she did have to use a puppet to implement her ways.

Daenara then takes out her obsidian blade and makes a wound on her hand. She squeezes her blood on the injury and everyone watches as the injury begins to heal with just a few drops of her blood. Once she was finished she puts her non-dominant hand arm out towards the alchemist as he ties her upper arm and sterilizes the needle of the syringe with distilled alcohol. She donates her blood and once it was done, she gives instructions to limit it to at most 5 drops of blood at most should there be any problem that arose later.

The Fisher King awards you both officially and unofficially. Officially he gave some of his finest troops for sir Kay to escort to Camelot - some of whom have been trying to be a member of your round table - thus giving him an official reason to be in his Kingdom. These troops were to help with the Saxons and the nuisance of the witch hunters. But deep down, it was understood that it was also for Ayrmida's protection as they traveled to Camelot.

Unofficially the Fisher King gives you and Daenara treasures and money and bestowed upon Fiona the water mill and the spinning wheel she had been saving up for.

All that and his own favor while he lives out the rest of his new life given to him by Daenara.

"Be a good girl alright?"

"Yes mama. I'll see you and everyone when you come to Camelot!"

The two of you kiss her forehead as she embraces Daeron and Fiona. The Fisher King has given her a beautiful friendly brown mare whom she has named Goldie because of the warmth of her color. You help her up on her saddle as she kisses your cheek one last time before she, Kay, and the new troops in their layman's attire for discretion, begin their journey to Camelot.

You and the rest of your family will remain here for one or two more months. In those two months, the Fisher King would take his last breath and Queen Elaine would have ascended. Fortunately she didn't know you were still within her kingdom as you observe the effects of her policies to the people. It is still too early to say if she is an ally or not, but you could only hope for the best.

[fctedivided]

It was fun to hear that a friend had a collection as well, and also to know that both had the same interest to show each other's.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea!" The witch chirped, her excitement didn't fade away at the slightest. "Oh, I'm getting my collection of seashells! Be right back!"

With that, Mare immediately jumped into the water, heading to her hidden home behind the lake's waterfall. After several minutes or so, she emerged from the water, holding a rather large glass jar full of different seashells that she had been collecting for quite awhile.

"Ta-da!~" She then happily showed Mizutsune her said collection.

"Wah! Seashells? That sounds like a pretty collection!" Mizutsune was particularly glowing at the idea. A collection of seashells sounded like a fun idea. "I'd love to see them! We could both share!"

[ershebet]

Ivan: Cowboy, I'm not going to celebrate your satanic holiday, damn it, you're dressing up as some demons and you think I'll treat this as something normal?

Kolyadki

Ivan as a child:

Ivan: Kolyada, kolyada! Open the gates and take out the chests, give us coins, even a ruble (1), even a nickel (5), we will not leave you just like that. Give us a piece of candy, or maybe a coin, don't be a jerk, Christmas Eve is coming soon!

Ivan: On New Year's Eve I wish you an aspen coffin, a stake and a grave, and a sick mare (curse)

_______________________________

Maslenitsa

(Maslenitsa is a pagan holiday still celebrated in Russia. Meaning: people see off winter by burning an effigy symbolizing the Goddess of Winter Morena. People bake crepes. Crepes, at least in Russia, appeared as a funeral food, which is consumed during funerals. At the moment, crepes are a common dish, but crepes are still an important dish for Maslenitsa):

Ivan: Die, Morana (Goddess of Death/Rebirth/Winter.), die, die, die, yes yes yes, die

Ivan Kupala (Kupala Night):

There is very little information in the English wikipedia

The holiday combines two elements: pagan and Christian. Previously, this holiday existed independently, but after the baptism of Russia, the holiday acquired a Christian meaning and elements. The main feature of Kupala night is the cleansing bonfires. Around the fire, people danced, danced, sang Kupala songs, jumped over it: whoever is more successful and jumps higher, he will be happier. Girls jump through the fire "to purify themselves and protect themselves from dumbness, spoilage, conspiracies," and so that "mermaids do not attack and do not come for a year." Evil spirits come to life on this holiday, people performed certain rituals to scare away witches, mermaids and other evil spirits. Also, people wove wreaths of certain flowers, which also carry a magical meaning, women let such wreaths on the water to tell themselves an early wedding or a long life. Also on this holiday it is customary to look for a fern flower, which according to Slavic beliefs, the fern blooms only for a moment, on the night before Ivan Kupala (on June 24 [July 7 in Russia]); it is very difficult to pluck a flower, especially since the evil spirit prevents this in every possible way and intimidates a person, in some cases depriving him of reason, speech, memory. Picking the flower of a fern and keeping it with him acquires unusual possibilities. Man becomes visionary, can understand the language of animals, see all the treasures.

[luc3]

Solanum Dulcamara /Bittersweet Nightshade/

[Excerpt from P.V Fournier's Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of France.]

-

Common names : Wild licorice, climbing nightshade, Judas vine, wild vine, fever grass, foulbrood, dead dog vine.

Nothing is more graceful than the small, yellow-hearted purple star flowers of Bittersweet, that small vine native to the edges of streams and running or standing waters, light damp woods, dunes, old walls and even hollow trees, especially willows.

It is a climbing plant, more often drooping than climbing, with woody stems and herbaceous branches, which hardly reaches more than 1 to 2 meters. Its leaves are quite varied in shape on the same plant (...), [the flowers are] arranged in clusters and bloom all summer [to then] give way to small scarlet, hanging berries, which are sought by birds in winter.

History :

The history of botany shows us that it is not certain that Bittersweet appears in ancient texts (continual confusion with Strychnos Hypnotikos and Black Nightshade), perhaps in Dioscorides however.

[You have to wait] the 16th century and the Germans to be sure that we are talking about this particular plant.

-

Dioscorides declared the plant a laxative and added that the berries dispelled all stains from the face and skin.

Mathiole asserts that the women of Tuscany also use Bittersweet as a cosmetic and that it is used in a vinous decoction against dropsy.

-

Toxicity :

It would seem that the younger the plant, the less Solanine it contains (which is also valid for Black Nightshade.)

Solanine poisoning causes nausea, vomiting, anxiety, tingling in various organs (?!?), increased secretions, agitation, cramps, convulsive movements of the hands, lips, eyelids, insomnia, vertigo, progressive paralysis of the tongue, weakening pulse, and finally, according to O. Gessner, violent dyspnoea and death by asphyxiation.

Properties :

Bittersweet is slightly laxative, diuretic, stimulant, sudorific, depurative, expectorant, antiherpetic and slightly narcotic.

The part used is the woody stem (at least one year old) chewed, who gives a feeling of bitterness followed by a sweet taste (...)

In fact, Bittersweet is mostly used as a depurative and is effective in chronic skin conditions : eczema, herpes, psoriasis, various scabs, pruritus.

-

Manual :

- Infusion or decoction : 8 to 30g per liter of water; to be taken 3 times a day between meals.

Cazin recommends starting with 4-8g per day and gradually increasing the dose, and assessing body susceptibility as you go.

It can produce at the beginning of the treatment headaches and dizziness, or even an exacerbation of the evil incriminated; but by persisting, the symptoms decrease.

However, it should be done with caution.

- Diuretic wine : 500g of stems boiled in 1 liter of white wine, 2 glasses/day.

- Decoction for lotions and baths : 100 to 200g per liter of water, young shoots or fresh leaves.

- In homeopathy its essence is used against rheumatic affections, urticaria and bladder disorders.

Elements of personal experience :

H. Roth as well as S. Lawless say that this plant can help to "regain its balance" or to "keep it", which seems fair to me.

Nevertheless, there is an old German legend which clearly indicates that this plant is inhabited by a very powerful Fairy (able in particular to fight step by step against *dark* witches / mares) , and I have felt few times, more than an ambivalence, an real ambiguity.

I don't have much experience with the "little people" (apart from the "ones" taken directly from the folklore of where I live), but what I have found is that indeed, the Spirit of this plant can help to find our balance, but (and) he is never there where one thinks he is, and thus he is very "good" to play certain "tricks", typical of the "little people".

With me, he was a sure 'friend' and 'ally' for a very long time, he taught me a lot of things very slowly (because I never understand anything quickly) but the FLASH he showed me once of his great power left me "mute" and "stunned" at the moment.

Also, to guard against nightmares, and unless you have a special relationship with this very powerful "Fairy", I recommend more strongly than hanging a branch of Bittersweet at the head of your bed, to place a branch of St. John's wort (among others, but it all depends on the mares in question, of course.)

[fxtelism-moved]

[ i. basic information ]

FULL NAME. Mare Reynn

NICKNAMES. -

ALIASES. Elemental Witch of Water

FACE. Erio Tōwa (from Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko)

DATE OF BIRTH. 8th April 

AGE: 17

ZODIAC SIGN. Aries

GENDER. Female

PRONOUNS. She/Her

ORIENTATION. Uncertain

SPECIES. Witch

NATIONALITY. Auritic (in the continent Auritem)

ETHNICITY. Elemental Witches

RESIDENCE. In a particular lake of Infiniti Forest

HOMETOWN. Vinas (one of the closest towns near Infiniti Forest)

OCCUPATION. Water Maiden

EDUCATION. Unclear

RELIGION. -

[ ii. appearance ]

HEIGHT. 5′0 

BUILT. Petite

EYES. Light blue

HAIR. Slightly dark blue

SCARS. none

TATTOOS. none

PIERCINGS. none

OTHER. Dark blue markings across her left thigh when using magic.

DRESSING STYLE. White poofy shorts and sleeveless shirt, light blue transparent veil across her body, sandals 

[ iii. relationships ]

DIRECT FAMILY.  Unnamed father and mother

EXTENDED FAMILY. unknown

SIGNIFICANT OTHER. none

CHILDREN. None

PETS. If fishes wish to stay in her lake are considered as pets.

Tagged by: @vixlenxe (thank you for tagging me!)

Tagging: @eternitycyber, @terraeferae, @jardinae, @eliteimperialism, @inseparableduo, @shootingxstardust, @shichishi-chii, @devotionobsessed, @creelsclocks, @mcsesofhope, @tiredstudents​, and anyone who wants to do this OR steal it from me!

[fctedivided]

"A research with plants? That sounds interacting." Mare let out a little smile along with a nod, coming closer which she was now next to White Lily. "I will gladly help you with my water magic. That should make things easier, right?"

"Could you possible help me with some research? More specifically how plants react to normal water and magic water." She replied with a bright smile on her face.

"That if that isn't too much trouble... As I want to see which one is much more effective for plants."

[vikiblood]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythians#Culture_and_society

OK, the link is about the Scythians, but this part is about their most important deity, enjoy:

Artimpasa

Artimpasa (Ἀρτίμπασα), more commonly known as Argimpasa (Ἀργίμπασα) due to a scribal corruption, was equated by Hēródotos with the Greek goddess Aphrodítē Ouranía. Artimpasa was an androgynous goddess of warfare, sovereignty, priestly force, fecundity, vegetation and fertility and was the Scythian variant of the Iranian goddess Arti , a patron of fertility and marriage and a guardian of laws, and from whom the first element of Artimpasa's name was derived.

The cult of Artimpasa was performed by the Anarya, who were powerful transvestite priests from the most noble families affiliated to an orgiastic cult of the goddess.

The Enarei, singular Enaree (Ancient Greek: Ἐνάρεες Enárees, Ἀναριεῖς Anarieîs, derived from the Iranian term *anarya, meaning "unmanly", were Scythian androgynous/effeminate priests and shamanistic soothsayers who played an important role in the Scythian religion.

Religious role

The Enarei performed Artimpasa's cult and played an important political role in Scythian society as they were believed to have received the gift of prophesy directly from the goddess Artimpasa (conflated by Herodotus with Aphrodite). The Enarei wore women's clothing, performed women's jobs and customs and spoke in a feminine manner.They were accepted and revered in Scythian society.

Scythian religion included shamanism and divination, both nature and deities worship and had no temples. Scythian shamanism involved religious ecstasy through the use of cannabis, with modern authors claiming that Enarei likely performed those rites, just like 'gender-crossing shamans' of other cultures.

Divination

Herodotus describes the Scythian divination practices: the method employed by the Enarei differed from that practised by traditional Scythian diviners: whereas the latter used a bundle of willow rods, the Enarei used strips cut from the bark of the linden tree (genus tilia) to tell the future,which they did by splitting the bark and twining the strands among open fingers.

The Enarei were especially consulted when the king of the Scythians was ill, which was itself believed by the Scythians to be caused by a false oath being sworn upon the king's hearth.

Androgyny

Hippocrates wrote that Enarei would "play the part of women", which has been interpreted as referring to being the passive person in a homosexual intercourse.Aristotle described them with the word "malakia" (soft, effeminate), which also carried connotations of the sexually receptive homosexual party.

Herodotus, who uses the term "androgynos" (ἀνδρόγονος), explains their effeminate condition with the story of the Scythians who pillaged the temple of Aphrodite Urania at Askelon, and all their descendants after them, afflicted by the goddess with the “female” sickness. Hippocrates, who speaks about the Enarees in his work On Airs, Waters, Places, theorized that they were impotent as a result of continuous horseback riding, and it was for this reason they have adopted feminine roles.[6] Hippocrates also underlined that only the noble and powerful men (who got to ride horses) became Enarei.

Modern hypothesesThe archaeologist Timothy Taylor in his 1996 book The Prehistory of Sex proposed a theory that Enarei drank pregnant mare urine to induce hormonal feminization.He bases his theory on some pastoralist peoples custom of consuming animal urine,[12] Ovid poems mentioning virus amantis equae ("slime/flux of mare in heat") as an ingredient (in Medicamina Faciei Femineae it is a "baneful"/"hurtful" one) witches would use and modern usage of conjugated equine estrogens for transfeminine hormone replacement therapy. Despite the lack of direct evidence, this idea has gained popularity and has been both cited and passed off as a fact on the Internet.

[best-ghoul]

GRAVEN: Guiltless, brainless, nameless.

@ca314159bara: ooze? 👀

HA! YOU PICKED THE [DATA EXPUNGED]!

+Prose! Stick around under the cut, as I wrote some prose for the occasion I finally get to HOLLER ABOUT GUILTLESS

GUILTLESS ([DATA EXPUNGED] [DATA EXPUNGED] Assassin):

So, as we all well know by now, It's been half a century since the Demiorgos perished by mortal hands, and the Ingenious Isles still don't have a centralized government-- they were a unitary theocracy before, that left a big hole on the way out.

Now, the Ingenious Isles are both essential to the function of the modern world, and A DICKENSIAN NIGHTMARE TRAINWRECK COUNTRY. Ironically, they kinda just defaulted back to the island- and fleet-based warlordism that reached uneasy symbiosis and then died long before black powder and ironclads, so some economists (reaching), argue that we should just let the moneyed nobles sort it out and it'll be a utopia once everyone has their own fiefs back.

Sure.

A good half of the people in the Isles are Din, a Heavened Race who are allegedly the offspring of Djinn and have an elemental theming. At some point, they were the thralls of bronze-age human witches, freed themselves, and have lived alongside Man- and Feykind in pretty much every part of the world since. They're "Genasi" if you wanna put a D&D tag on it, but they occupy the "Dwarf" role on Dis. They aren't especially short-- humans have about six inches over an average one-- and range from truly gaunt to brick fucking shithouse depending on elemental mix.

Most may have literal horns, but they're thinkers and explorers first, and incredibly loyal friends until money gets involved. See, most of them are born into debt (a complex pact and guild tradition curdled), and the red ink soaks up anyone's morals real quick.

Without that, they aren't wired for greed in any way (though many are very good at it), their system's fucked and it doesn't take a lotta bastard per capita to keep it that way.

So, it's a hellscape of Mercantile Satraps sacking each other. Not ideal timing for someone to invent Capitalism, but it sure made the concept popular in a hurry. In less than a generation, Pirates, anarchists and assassins are celebrated folk heroes and security gets rocks thrown at them. Some deserve the adulation, most not. Either way, they drink free.

New forms of economics quickly followed. The Assassin's Guild has branch offices. People bet on pirates like it's the fucking dog track. There is a tiny baby stock market.

Enter Guiltless.

You see, the individual named "Guiltless" is a cipher, even to other assassins, but is unquestionably a very rich individual. They come highly recommended, and leave no bodies or even blood. Lineages have snuffed each other out in the wake of one playboy finding a single maid's corpse in the right bedroom. People have been driven into gibbering wrecks in the corners of their bedrooms thinking they're being gangstalked for weeks, companies have bankrupted themselves hiring security. People have proposed it's an entire ring splitting the profits (which explains both why hiring them is so expensive and why nobody can track a lump sum more than two steps from their fixer).

There are pretenders, but the real Guiltless is one individual who probably "works" two days a month, but they are definitely doing all the killing.

To this day. nobody knows where the fuck all that money goes.

Surely, they must have family. An agenda? A front business?

Ha ha, not really!

See, countless little species have born, flourished, and died here in the belly of the world, and on what little earth is left, science is voiding the planet's warranty in new and creative ways. Still, no matter what runoff they dump into the Mare Temenae, the waters stay clear, and life adapts quickly, as if natural selection were hiding a species up their sleeve for just such an occasion. The place is truly blessed with natural abundance, as you would expect from a place where the entire eastern quarter has giant rocks that float (a place called Maridia).

Imagine, for a moment, you are one such creature on the beach of an island in Maridia (non-floating).

You've just freshly crawled out of the Holy Waters, a nameless, brainless, flesh-eating blob that takes the shape of anything it ate recently (an amoeba doesn't have an especially long memory, so you have to stick with amoeba-sized ideas: flat, round, hairy, smooth, cube).

Everything you eat makes you a little smarter, bigger and certainly less hungry. When you get hungry, you forget things.

It's hard to say how long you have been nameless and brainless (you forgot), but it was probably a good long while for a slime.

You have gotten a little bigger. You can remember upgrading from "worms" to "small birds" around half your lifetime ago. That was a pretty awesome day for you.

You forgot how to fly soon after though. That sucked. You forgot that too.

There were no boats here then. There are now! Boat-barnacles don't make you very smart, but they're good for not getting dumber!

...Then things got really weird when you found a dark hole. "Perfect for conserving fluids!", thought you, brainless and very moist.

At the bottom, you found a cube. It tasted like "tree", was very dry, and much bigger than a bird. It was hollow, so you bored a hole in it on the hunt for organ meat. ...Most of it was useless plant matter, no brains. But there was some iron in a shape you know from the others (cube!)

...Iron's great for pigmentation, too! So, you swallowed it with great haste to be digested when ready, glowing with joy at the fact that you now have a cube to float in you.

You just need to move your acids around a little and-

The cube clicks. Your body glows and nearly boils from the sudden onrushing of awareness that shears you down to your quickly-coalescing id. ...and from that moment, you could remember everything you had ever eaten.

...Or how it was shaped, at least.

Things started to happen very quickly after that.

Within a day, you had eaten your first person. It was a corpse when you started. ...you were like, three-quarters sure.

And with it, you had your first flash of true consciousness

(and fractions!)

...You gained their self-image, preserved in the moment of death. That little thing that could scarcely drag their way to shore from the hold it stowed away in. That weak, little thing that died, curled up and sunstruck near your little hole, against what you now understand is fresh stucco, atop a levee that extends far outward into the sea.

You looked down at the divot you'd digested the body in. A few threads of their little sack-cloth sweater and unravelling pants lay in the sand. You realize there was once was a person. there.

You understood guilt in that moment. Guilt and death.

And with it, you became inconsolably angry. With yourself. With this island. With the boats. With the people and the tower they built, with the airships, all these things you understand now only to immediately despise!

What good is this brain! The starveling died hungry! You will not! Expunge!

...No.

No, wait. The starveling knew something important. To know right from wrong and fail to act is what brings on guilt.

You were just hungry.

...You know now that you are incredibly smart and an excellent hunter compared to the little creature's body you just recycled. You realize with horror that you would be hungry again tomorrow, and begin to forget soon after.

But those- those in the towers above, those with hubris-- they had never killed anybody-- but they were guilty.

And you will soon be hungry again.

You understand death and guilt rather well now. You understand this makes you incredibly smart, for a blob or a person.

Person.

Person!

...As you see your reflection in the waves, for the first time understand mirrors. You are only borrowing this face. It's already a little different from what you ate, but you will never forget this person.

You promise them. You understand a promise now.

You also tell them that you need them to understand: you are going to be hungry again soon, and people far outnumber any other animal big enough to sate you now.

You have always understood what to do about that.

You look against the wall the starveling died against.

...Guh, and what a garish turquoise that wall is. You have had color vision for only a few hours, but gods rise, that shade is too bright. And why bright yellow text? What text could POSSIBLY be that important?

...Okay, you are getting nowhere with those letters.

Starveling couldn't read.

Damn.

If gods invented those squiggles, and ESPECIALLY that color, you conclude you should not be terribly fond of gods, either.

You fiddle with your reflection for a moment. Okay, you look Dinnish at a glance but you're still pretty slimy. ...At least that means you can get over the stucco wall in a hurry,

The spikes and grates likewise prove trivial.

Shit, that's a lot of buildings.

This was a GIGANTIC mistake.

You slip into the smallest crevice you can find.

Guh! Machinery! Noise! Sounds! Shapes! Colors! People! Shit!

FUCKSHIT, PEOPLE COMING. HIDE.

You duck into a dumpster, disturbed, but not surprised, at the lack of heed the noise you make is paid.

From within, you look up at the city's great towers, supported by floating stones that prop them up towards the stars, with those great zeppelins, against the sky. Thin! Slivers! of sky, separated from the squalor below by choking nets of electric cable. Taken together, you can feel the radiation coming off them. They're wired even up to the heavens-- on metal pitons driven haphazardly into floatstone-- All this information, all these broken bodies. This edifice! All this NOISE!

You look at your skinny wrists, fingers. Way too pale. ...It's gonna get worse when you get hungry.

You extract the cube you ate from your cytoplasm and palm the rust off it. Your membrane flushes with color for a moment. That's surface level, for you and for the cube. Whatever's underneath is harder metal, but you still decide the knowledge-giving box is better, safer, undigested in your nucleus.

You return it to your body, sheathed in a protective little protein sheath, to your own core. It's a snug fit, and the little marble in your chest becomes a rounded, cubic prism.

Haha! Your brain looks so cool!

It certainly takes a lot of poise to be fully opaque, and it's a shame to hide such a handsome nucleus, but you'll have to manage.

In your dumpster, you look up to the tower, so tall the wires jumping from it to other buildings peter out one by one, leaving only the stained-glass cupola, reflecting the light of the sun. The colors alone are painful to look at.

What kind of jackass-

Oh.

Oh you have an idea.

You slide from an alley into the sewer grate.

Via the sewage line, you'll make it just in time for dinner.

---- If you're wondering, Guiltless's "resting" form is the body of the Starveling they ate, that same androgynous Din (they forgot the gender), disguising their boneless pseudopods as an oversized sweater with extended sleeves. Keeping 'em stretched out like that means they can turn into big claws on a dime.

The Starveling would have probably would have had a full set of horns if they had better nutrition, but as it stands, they're pretty stumpy, barely grown past their long, ragged "hair" (hair also prehensile if needs must), on stick thin, dirty little legs. No shoes on the body, and Guiltless isn't fond of them anyway, or pants for that matter: they've got shorts on.

If you're wondering about Getting Slimed, Guiltless doesn't experience sexual desire but appreciates the sensation, and is an adult of their species, whatever the hell that actually is.

Their default is an adult now too: they tweaked it with features of other, grown bodies once they figured out what an "adult" is and how to look like one. They can also modify the PH of their body comp so it won't y'know... digest anything, but I wouldn't go swallowing any.

[fctedivided]

My OC Mare Reynn in her Abyssal form is drawn by @flowery-draws! Thank you so much for your hard work!

Bonus art below;

[fctedivided]

"Oh?" The disguised Melusine returned her cup of tea on the table, looking at Lynette with curious eyes. It became apparent that the other was familiar with this place. Perhaps she was regular?

"Do you come here often, miss?" She then asked. So far, Café Lutece was to her liking, and albeit busy at the moment, the ambiance was quite appealing. She could already imagine herself coming here from time to time.

Being sociable wasn't a trait Lynette aimed to embrace daily, but it didn't hurt to let someone innocent sit with her. She did have the appearance of someone small and kind, after all, and the assistant was notably softer towards anyone with a smaller stature than herself.

She didn't show it physically, of course. There was no smile, no twitch of her eyes towards her newest acquaintance. Her attention remained on her tea and how the surface rippled when she blew across it.

"Don't mention it. It's been a while since I've last seen this place so busy." She observed quietly.

[fctedivided2]

“Eh? Where’s the moon…?” The confused water witch just woke up from her long slumber, now realizing something was off during the night.