#⟡ — {Muse: Seliph}

[lionscion]

♡

Send ♡ to see what my muse thinks of yours (Accepting)

●●●●○ | ATTRACTION (platonic only we don't go there) ●●●●● | AFFECTION ●●●●● | INTEREST ●●●●● | LOYALTY ●●●●● | TRUST

"I always knew of my Aunt, but not her children."

"Never did I expect joining Seliph would lead me to them, or I suppose it was she who led me to them."

"In just the span of our first meeting, she did more for me than I have done for her in years. And then accompanied me to Agustria to do more still. As she shall do for all of Thracia too I'm sure..."

"I could not be more proud and grateful to have a warrior of her caliber as my cousin."

[theofficersacademy]

Happy August! TOA is now officially five years old. None of the mods had this milestone in mind five years ago, but now that we're here, how about another five years?

Housekeeping

Current Month in TOA: Lone Moon

This month is event month, so there will be no new mission board! But like last year, the June & July Mission Board will be extended to run through the end of August. The Unaffiliated requirement remains in effect for the Unaffiliated & Faculty-specific tasks.

The event will run from August 1st to August 31st. Signups are now closed - stay tuned for more information tomorrow at noon EST!

Our monthly submission limit on the site that hosts our event signups has been reset so everyone is free to take the quiz for fun now.

We will be announcing a second 5th-Year Anniversary activity on August 4th and another on August 8th. This will not require IC participation. Stay tuned for the details.

Please don’t forget to leave feedback on our feedback poll for this month! We do check the responses regularly, so if you have concerns during the event, the feedback poll is an appropriate place to pop in. Alternatively, the mods’ DMs are always open. We're wiping the Wanted List this month so our character wish list will be fresh for the new year.

Speaking of the event, stay tuned for noon EST for more information!

Important Updates

The requirements to master a lord class acquired for participation in an event have been updated. You cannot master the class with the same event that you acquired it, but any official event afterwards (Arena, Ethereal ball, etc.) can count for its mastery

We are changing our event schedule for all subsequent years: there will now only be ONE Arena event per year, not two, and it will be held in November. Originally, the biannual Arena design was implemented to rigorously test the combat manual, which was brand new at the time. Now that the manual is more or less stable, we've decided that two Arena events is no longer necessary. Because we already had an Arena event this year in June though, the next Arena won't take place until November 2025.

TOA runs a lot of events, and it makes it difficult for our members (and the mods) to have a life outside of TOA or reply to regular threads in a timely manner. Many of our members also have great ideas of their own and have expressed interest in running their own mini events during the year, but there just hasn't been a good time for them when TOA has a big event every other month. We hope that removing the second Arena will give everyone some breathing room.

Other

BIRTHDAYS

August Mun Birthdays: Axl (1st), Arden (9th), Penny (19th), Ren (20th), Harrow (25th), Maxie (28th), Kuno (29th)

August Muse Birthdays: Ephraim (1st), Eirika (1st), Natasha (6th), Laslow (7th), Alfred (8th), Patty (10th), Yuri (12th), Ares (14th), Dheginsea (14th), Edward (15th), Kliff (19th), Shiro (22nd)

MUN ANNIVERSARIES

1st year: none

2nd year: Kano (3rd), Havoc (30th)

3rd year: Birdie (4th), Vio (5th), Vivi (6th)

4th year: Soji (7th), Maxie (8th)

5th year: Ree (3rd)

MUSE ANNIVERSARIES

1st year: Naesala (4th), Henry (6th)

2nd year: Linhardt (3rd), Seliph (10th), Camilla (23rd), Lloyd (30th)

3rd year: none

4th year: Marth (7th), Farina (8th)

Muses who have been in the group for a solid year will also be granted an Academy Brooch to put in their inventory. It doesn’t do anything. It just lets others know your character has been around the block. These characters are also granted a new opportunity to change houses if they wish to do so.

- The House Leaders

[encantresse]

"It is nice to see that events like this are still able to take place," Deirdre muses as she makes her way next to Dorothea to watch the mock battle begin. "Events like your party, too. It gives hope that things are beginning to return to normal, even if that normal is different from what it was before."

She is a bit surprised to see Dorothea on the sidelines with her. A mage of her caliber would certainly bolster their chances of winning. But, whatever Dorothea's reasons are, Deirdre is glad for the company and she is sure the other healers will be glad for the extra pair of hands once the med tents begin to fill.

"My son is not fighting this year but I do still have a family to cheer for. Do you see him over there? With the bright red hair and sword and the fire tome? That is Lord Azelle. He is my husband's brother and a student in our class. Have you met him yet? Of course I am cheering on all our Black Eagles as well!"

BOEL, BABY! *sidelines addition

truthfully, dorothea hadn't expected the battle to proceed as usual—she had somehow underestimated just how willing her peers were to throw themselves into the fray again. though she did not understand it—how they never seemed to tire of fighting, mock or otherwise—perhaps it boiled down to what professor deirdre said: that people craved the normalcy of it all. a reminder of innocent times, of a school that stood tall and proud.

"it's not a real event until you show up," she replies with a light huff, an attempt to suppress a good-natured laugh. still, there is no hiding that beam. "i'm glad you could make it, professor. i know the others must be thrilled to have you cheering them on."

dorothea shifts over to make space, then quickly runs her fingers through her hair, tugging at loose strands and smoothing the waves. "...not fighting? is lord seliph busy entertaining suitors?" she tucks a few stray locks behind her ear, twisting her head to glance at deirdre, and feigning a pout. "aw. i'm heartbroken. but i'd expect nothing less from a son of yours. you're both quite the charmers. i suppose i'll just have to cheer him on next time."

this time, she does laugh, and when the professor points the other student out, dorothea cranes her neck to search for him. "oh! yes, briefly. sweet guy — did you know he baked the whole class treats? he didn't even burn them!"

[pryings]

once again, there comes a signal that it is time to change tables once more. the last round is about to begin.

12PM. EST FEB 18 - 11:59PM FEB 19 ROUND THREE.

knoll and hubert help people along, assisting stragglers with finding their seats.

"this time, we will be testing the efficacy of questions that, in prior rounds, resulted in mutual approval," knoll says. "you will not be assigned a question you got before, but rather, one that elicited a good response from someone else. please do your best with these topics."

"be sure not to disappoint us," hubert adds.

sothis (@sublimeflowoftime) & zephia (@ruinakete) topic: how do you connect with others on an interpersonal level?

seliph (@virtuoustyrfing) & sakura (@gentlenekomata) topic: which food brings you the most joy?

minerva (@reddragonprincess) & freyja (@foreversnightmare)  topic: which animal you most relate to?

linhardt (@pridelessdaydreamer) & denning (@beholdenning) topic: favorite flower

poe (@loveevangelist) & ike (@ofradiances)  topic: how would you save your current conversation partner if you were in a sandpit together, getting slowly pulled down into the abyss? or would you prioritize yourself?

saizo (@saizov) & l’arachel (@aglaean) topic: music and dancing

dwyer (@apathynoir) & mark (@allyphase) topic: discuss your hometown.

leif (@diadic) & petra (@calderosea) topic: preferred ways to pass the time.

erk (@adalrikr) & lucius (@semperiuvare) topic: what hobbies do you partake in?

selena (FE8) (@fluxrspar) & elffin (@moriddyn) topic: assuming you do not die within the coming months, what are your plans for the future?

nils (@carmennivis) & faye (@fiberflxwer) topic: how many pets you would be willing to adopt, assuming you had the time and space?

hector (@braveryinblue) & eitri (@grimkkr) topic: are morals universal?

raven (@peerlessscowl) & elincia (@amitieos) topic: local sights you enjoy.

xander (@chevaleri) & laslow (@laslow) topic: childhood aspirations/goals compared to current ones.

(per usual, if you don't see your muse's name, check the other half of this post!)

[failnaughted]

ooc; Claude (re)introduction

This is going to be very funny especially for the people who saw me say mere days ago that I hesitate to try a 3H muse again. Although I suppose all of you saw me say this during the anniversary munday, so everyone is welcome to point and laugh.

Well, I've done some test writing with him since then, updated his blog, refreshed myself on his stuff, and felt a strong urge to give him another shot. Truth be told, while I did once get overwhelmed by him, he never REALLY died - even though I thought and said he did, but pulling out surprises to save his skin is just in character for him, isn't it - and I've always regretted a little just how short he lasted. So, let's see how it goes this time.

Aaanyway, just so we know where he currently stands:

Regarding the couple threads he had, I've decided to essentially hit a reset button on all of Claude's budding relationships. Half of his thread partners have dropped, and the other half never got very far. I'm sorry for the interrupted interactions, and I look forward to a new start.

I still have a couple of those "send me a (o・・o)/ to get my muse's opinion on yours" ask memes in Claude's askbox that I never got to, and I do actually intend to answer them for the muses that are still in TOA, those being Seliph, Kris, Raven, Maria, Katarina, Veyle, Edward, Chad and Denning. If you specifically do not want me to answer this anymore for your muse, please let me know. I remember this meme being both very fun and having a lot of people's interest for Claude (which I really appreciate!) so I might reopen it at some point in the future.

I think that about covers it for now! I'll be following this up with a plotting call shortly.

Looking forward to writing Claude with you all!

[anruraiocht]

Abatina and carnation

botanical headcanons (no longer accepting)

abatina :   is there anything in life your muse has changed their mind about over time   ( due to becoming more educated on the topic ,   certain experiences  ,   etc .) , or that they   would   change their mind about under certain circumstances ?

ABATINA: THE EVER LOOMING SHADOW OF LEIF FARIS CLAUS

Smiles thinly.

Look. Look. I'm sorry for the feminism loss as well, but it is so hard to talk about Miranda without talking about Leif. Ten years of projecting all of your issues on a guy will do that to you.

When we first meet Miranda, she seems entirely adamant that she blames Leif for everything that has happened to her. The little blame game she tries to play is extremely emotionally driven (literally what was Leif, age 2, supposed to do girl) and falls apart under scrutiny.

like ok. let's walk through this for a second.

"it's leif's fault" > finn is the one who brought him there > finn only brought him because leonster fell > leonster fell because thracia attacked and ulster didn't step in until the end > (dominoes) (THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF NORTHERN THRACIA VS SOUTHERN THRACIA THAT BROUGHT US TO US POINT)

So. Obviously through the events of FE5 and experiencing the war firsthand, Miranda's opinion on Leif changes. She already knows, deep down, that it isn't actually Leif's fault, but it isn't until she is forced to contend with the reality of the situation that she is able to admit it.

carnation :   what is your muse’s relationship with their gender ? how do they express or not express this relationship ?

CARNATION: JUGDRALI MISOGYNY HITS DIFFERENT

(it gets long here)

Okay so let's get one thing straight: if Miranda was a man, she would be dead. Full stop. When you're taking over a kingdom, the last thing you want is to leave a male heir alive. A male heir, left alive, can eventually take back their kingdom and become king, but a female heir cannot. She, however, can be used as a hostage. And she is! For ~ten years! Before we even learn her name, Miranda's agency is stolen from her.

The moment Miranda gets agency (and her kingdom) back, her advisors tell her that she needs to marry Leif to tie Ulster to Leonster. It's no secret that the Munster District is doing. Uh. Bad. As in, Miranda and Leif are the only heirs left alive by the end of Thracia 776. It makes sense, strategically, to have the only two heirs left alive get married and merge their kingdoms and both of them understand this. Doesn't mean they have to like it, though!

Leif: "...And Ulster was successfully liberated by Lord Seliph, so the people should be happy that their princess was safe.”

Miranda: “Well, yes, but… The people want more than that. My advisors are urging me to marry you so that we can unite with Leonster. They think they can just tell me what to do because I’m a girl…” Leif: “Well, you and I are the only heirs that survived this turmoil. What your advisors are saying only makes sense. But I’m not sure…”

We're not gonna get into Leif's little unhinged moment that happens right after this btw. The important part here is that Miranda is frustrated. Obviously. Miranda has been living in the basement of a Loptr monastery for a year and it's not enough that she made it back alive. Well, yes, your highness, it's all well and good that you survived, but there's not much you can do for us as a princess... would you mind getting married? As soon as possible? To the guy you've projected all of your problems and issues on for the last decade? Thanks!

Jesus fucking Christ!!!!!!!!

When they pulled this line for one of Miranda's skill activation quotes in FEH (albeit shortened from 女だと思ってバカにしてるわ to 女だと思って…！), it has been translated as:

I am a girl, not a fool!

Which I think is very evocative of the way Miranda thinks of herself. She does not resent existing as a girl, but she does resent the way she is looked down upon for being a girl.

And while we're on the topic of how Miranda talks (the most inelegant segue in the world)...!

It's not as noticeable in English, nor is it especially noticeable when you first meet her and she's hissing and spitting at Leif, but Miranda uses feminine speech (女性語) when she speaks! This is a style of speaking in Japanese that is considered "ladylike" and formal, using more polite terms. Traditionally speaking, it's a style of speech associated with upper class ladies.

This is more noticeable in her Conomor recruitment dialogue...

コノモール もうおやめなさい！ ... それなのに あなたは何をしているの！

As well as her conversation with Leif in the last chapter...

リーフ王子 少しいいかしら ... 私・・・ あなたに謝らなければ ならないことがあるわ

I've bolded the relevant parts here. Miranda affixes the polite o- prefix to yamenasai and ends some of her sentences with the more traditionally feminine ending particles of no, wa, and kashira.

It's... a little hard to explain in English but the way she speaks is very princess-like haha.

There is also the Genderisms of Miranda's promoted class: Mage Knight. In FE4, Mage Knight is a male only class (as a promotion for Azelle and Arthur + enemy units). In FE5, we get our first female Mage Knights through Olwen and Miranda, but the rest of the Mage Knights in the game are male. We can say that Olwen is following in her brother Reinhardt's footsteps, but Miranda doesn't have that same connection. Would she be better served as a sage, considering her 70% magic growth and fucking 5% strength growth? Absolutely! However, she saw that sages get staff access and said oh no thank you. i'm here to kill and maim.

And she deserves it.

That last part isn't exactly related to genderisms (or is it? Every other girl capable of wielding magic in FE5 besides Miranda and Olwen gets staff access... :thonking: ) I just think it's very funny characterization through gameplay. her ass is NOT healing.

tl;dr: Miranda is a character that is defined by her status as a princess and as a girl.

[behind-scarlet-curtains]

Out of curiosity you said your muses get with girls, but there are some expectations. Who are the expectations and what are they?

I assume you meant "exceptions" because yeah. There's a handful of situations where I'd have a muse with a male: Yuria with Celice/Seliph is one.

The rest are mostly just "extremely selective".

[swiftscion]

But poor Scathach, his words only serve to empower his second star. Larcei snorts–again sounding strange in his voice–and lets a resounding laugh be the immediate answer to his pleas. To any onlookers, this would look like bullying: the taller, older twin picking on the shorter sister. Ayra might scold him, saying as the more responsible one it’s his duty to ensure they get along. But that is where Scathach suffers today. Larcei has overwhelming power now–all the energy of a younger sibling coursing through a sturdier suit. 

“And pass up the chance to show these off?” She flexes her stolen biceps as hard as she can without popping them out of her skin, eyeing the easily-acquired muscle like a king fish she had just caught, “No way! The world’s gotta know what I’m capable of once I’m taller!” 

He receives a probe in return, only compared to his, it has the force to nearly bowl him over. Strangely though, Larcei feels as if the motion is sluggish. She notes, to herself, that controlling Scathach feels like wading through water. “Maybe I’ll go give Seliph a show. He ought to see what’s been protectin’ him all this time.” 

She begins to back away from him, her smile creeping further into her cheeks. It looks like that idea has really started to stick with her–that maybe it might be best to show a few others how cool and strong her brother can be. “Really,” she muses, aloud, “you should be thanking me for this. I might make you the most popular guy in school!”

could another side effect of this unfortunate mishap be the inability to hear words properly? scáthach could only forced to assume so upon being forced to intake her flippant reply coming from his voice. reason has been shattered, and here he was getting his- her(?) hair ruffled by his sister and her newfound strength. he shrugged the hand away from himself, brow twitching from frustration. here he had been worried about her, and yet she showed no consideration to his position.

"i'm glad you're excited, sis, but do you think we could go over some ground rules first?" it was impossible to contain larcei, this he was well aware of, but he wasn't going to let her stroll out of this classroom without trying. scáthach simply could not let her run around in his body acting like it was her own. an involuntary shiver ran down his spine thinking of what mischief she would get up to. even just looking up to her now, he could tell she had no intention of even trying to act like him.

steeling himself for his sisters nonsense, he placed himself between her and the exit. "like maybe we should stay clear of everyone until whatever this is wears off and we're back to normal?" scáthach probed her, hoping she would take the hint and at least try to calm his nerves with a half-hearted agreement. he was sure that just like him, she wouldn't want his awkward attitude ruining her friendships. besides, he dreaded having to explain to her thousands of friends that she was, in fact, not occupying her body at the moment.

he didn't have much here at the academy, but what little he did have he wanted to retain. "and that smile... for ods sake, larcei, it makes me look like a creep."

[f-ortuity]

      One day...

[theofficersacademy]

At last the temperature begins to rise a little, the blizzard relents, and the snow melts just enough to allow travel to and from the monastery again. A backlog of mail arrives in one giant cart and the couriers spend the next several days sorting letters and packages for their recipients. Among the care packages, the notes from doting mothers, and the pining essays from distant lovers are letters describing situations far more dire. Unfortunately, many are dated from months ago, stalled by the storms until now, but that makes their contents all the more pressing.

In Valentia, without their new king and queen, without their gods, the people grow restless for something to believe in. Some groups have begun to take matters into their own hands, write concerned aides, and rumors have reached the castle about their aim to resurrect Mila and Duma. With resources already stretched thin by the recovery efforts, they could use some help with the investigation and subsequent quelling of such delusions.

In Jugdral, shadows still linger in forgotten places. Now that many of the continent's war veterans and nobility have traveled abroad for education, they have seized this moment to crawl back out into the light. From Grannvale comes news of remnants of the Loptyr church attempting to bring back Loptous. While the letters insist that these are, most likely, simply rumors at best, or a failure in the making at worst, they are not without a note of concern. Children have started going missing again. Others have been kidnapped in broad daylight. It would be wise to return home soon to assess these problems yourself.

In Elibe, whispers surge anew, and they speak of a second coming of The Scouring. Dragons have been sighted in distant skies, they say, real dragons breathing fire and ice and shaking the earth to its core. Elimine's church preaches acceptance, and its criers herald the beginning of a new era of peace and harmony. Those less optimistic instead sharpen their weapons and bolster their defenses in preparation for war.

While Garreg Mach monastery has its own troubles still in the aftermath of the blizzard, permission is granted to students and faculty from Valentia, Jugdral, and Elibe to return home this month if they so choose. A handful of knights and other students will be sent with them, in case trouble is indeed to be found. This is not a mission sanctioned by the church, however. This is entirely personal.

You make your decision to return. It's just for the month, and you're hopeful that these rumors are just that: rumors. Along with the allies and friends you've made from other lands, you travel to Enbarr to set sail.

What’s Going On?

Welcome to Sabbam Vitatham, the fourth anniversary event for the Officers Academy! Please continue reading below for information and rules.

This will be an evolving event. Instead of a traditional mission board, each of the six groups will be given a setting to explore. New information will come to light weekly, and situations will shift as time moves on. Use what your muse knows (or doesn’t) about the country they're in to make decisions, brainstorm threads, and ask questions.

Muses who are not participating in the event will be left behind in Garreg Mach. However, characters from Valentia, Jugdral, and Elibe who did NOT sign up to participate in the event but would narratively be involved (e.g. Celica, Seliph) can be assumed to be tagging along as well. Their participation will be off camera.

The Snowglobe mission board will be extended through the end of this month, but no new missions will be added. Use this month to catch up on past threads or thread together about your classmates and colleagues who have left for the event.

Sabbam Vitatham General Rules

Signups are closed and will not be reopened. The ship has sailed.

Find your muse's boat here.

You must submit your inventory by 11:59PM EST on August 3rd using this link. You can only bring items that you have claimed and classes that you have mastered. Do not include your class' mastery abilities as separate inventory slots. You can choose to not bring a weapon.

You will not be allowed to switch teams.

You may only start Sabbam Vitatham threads between August 1st and August 31st. Event threads may be continued after the event, but no new ones may be started. Likewise, only IC posts made between 8/1 and 8/31 will count toward prizes.

Your muses are already on their boats, so you will only be able to make event interactions with those who are on the same boat with you. As groups are split into different teams, you will only be able to thread with your teammates. However, if you wish to make farewell interactions with other characters who are being left behind at the monastery or journeying elsewhere, you're free to do so. These interactions will not count as event posts.

We encourage creativity and exploration. This is not an event that will solely be focused on combat. The results from your signups will be revealed as the story progresses, so ask questions, think outside the box, try new things, and do what your character would do in these situations.

We also highly encourage “Paralogue” threads. These are mini threads focused on character development or exploring something that interests you or your muse, parallel to whatever main objective your team is after. These do not have to be related to any prompt given by the mods. Paralogue threads enrich your campaign experience, so thread away as the inspiration strikes!

Please tag all event-related IC posts with #toasabbamvitatham2023. When split into your individual teams, your tag will change.

This event will allow muses to die. This can happen at any point during the event. Regardless of what happens to your muse, you will still receive all prizes at the end.

Sabbam Vitatham Schedule

August 1st - 3rd : EMBARK August 4th - 10th : ?? August 11th - 17th : ?? August 18th - 24th : ?? August 25th - 31st : ??

Discord

There is a new lobby channel for general event discussion and a new #openthreads channel for event-use only. Plotting channels for each team will be opened on the 4th. Please use these channels for event-related discussion or planning.

Prizes and How to Get Them

Two sets of prizes will be awarded for the Sabbam Vitatham event.

PARTICIPATION PRIZE.

All muses entering the event automatically receive one of these prizes upon joining. You may message the masterlist as soon as you have made your first event post.

Canon Lord characters: You are granted access to your exclusive promotional class. This class will have mastery requirements of a Master Tier class and will also require rank A in Authority and a drabble. Please message the masterlist to claim it. To see muses that qualify and their corresponding prizes, please refer to the fourth page of this sheet. You will also be granted your Personal Skill. Please refer to the section below.

Characters who have not claimed a Personal Skill: You will be allowed to claim your Personal Skill. Please refer to this sheet for examples and guidance on crafting one for yourself. Characters who already have personal skills in their respective games will receive their canon skill, so you do not need to design one. If you need help designing your skill, please ask for advice in the personal skill workshop channel in the Discord server. All personal skills must be submitted to the masterlist’s inbox to be approved though.

All others: If your character participated in past lore events and has already received all participation prizes that they are eligible for, you may claim an additional ability that you qualify for from the ranking chart.

If you prefer to hold off on choosing your participation prizes (i.e. waiting on skill points, etc.), you may do so until the grand prize claim period after the event. However, keep in mind that you may only feature any new abilities in threads after claiming them.

If you have already received your personal skill but would like to retune it, please submit a new proposal for the skill during this event. Mod Ree will also be rebalancing the ones that have already been claimed to fit the new rules.

GRAND PRIZE.

This will be awarded at the end of the event to any muse who reaches a minimum of 10 IC event posts. Contains:

One free skill point

Two choices from an event-limited selection of prizes

And a third prize — unknown for now

More information on that will come at the conclusion of the event, so for now, use what you know about Valentia, Jugdral, and Elibe to lend your help.

And as always, feel free to message the masterlist or use the Discord if you have any questions.

- The House Leaders

[hosannan]

She breathed out of her nose quietly, half-huffing and half-understanding, as he sidled off the edge of her complement into another of Lord Seliph. Nanna knew Leif enough to know he had a level of admiration for his cousin that could color him green, and she had played into the semantics of it all far too many times. There were days before they even knew of Seliph... Surely Leif remembered those. She moved on without pressing further.

"I wish I had begun to learn at the same time you had." Nanna carefully paced away from the wolf, casually musing about her mindspace in that time. Forget physically, she mentally would not have managed at the time. Her esteem was terribly low then—and much of what she wished for was to be useful or feather light. Light enough to be less of a burden. She thought of him, barely peeking past adolescence, thrusted into a legacy he had to outlive before he could fulfill. If anyone could do it, it would be him. Nanna still believed as such.

"I was very much fighting myself back then."

She could admit that much to him and him only. It felt strange—a confession in the light of day. Nothing delighted her of the fact, but since Leif was nothing but frank, she could be too. At his suggestion, Nanna nodded, arms gesturing to let him switch with her.

"Father? No weaknesses? Are you certain?" They had been together for so long... could it be that her Father looked infallible to him? "He is... difficult to read, but I always suspected..." Her voice trailed off.

She looked at her boots for a second, blinking at her line of thought. No wonder why she was so hard on herself when she was younger. One of his greatest weaknesses was his own daughter, who was unable to handle the heat until she was captive to it.

"Well, I should trust that he'll have a good sense of humor of it." And even if he didn't, she would certainly try to.

The wolf that she had left for Leif stood up, cold attitude changing at the flip of a hat as soon as she decided to pursue other potential steeds. Pushing past Leif, it stared impatiently at her. She pressed her hands together, mouthing the words 'Sorry...!' at him.

"Ha!" Grinning from ear to ear, she muttered. "Would you look at that."

"I've never met a sassier animal in my life, hehe."

Gesturing for it to come close, she held its head between her two calloused hands. Scratching it delightfully, she hugged it's nuzzle close. "You'd think I'd understand the push-and-pull game by now! Awww. Come here, you..." Snorting, it wagged its tail and lowered its hind legs for her to get on. She pulled a leather strap saddle from her satchel, carefully winding it around its furry torso.

And, with one leg over the other, Nanna rose four heads taller from her beast of a steed. "Leif!" She couldn't help but pump one of her fists in the air cheerfully. "Look!"

    “ If there's ever a person to make it happen, ”  Leif mimics Nanna's praise in his deflection,  “ it'd no doubt be my cousin Lord Seliph or Ares first. You've seen them. ”

Seliph in his gallantry and ease with making just about anything on this earth love him. Ares with his strength and tenacity, boldness that skirted the line between bravery and foolishness, and yet the man always came out on top for it.

If it was by coaxing, Lord Seliph would have it done. If it was a matter of force, Leif could not imagine anyone excelling more than Nanna's own half-cousin Ares.

So where did that put Leif himself in the middle of all of that?

It is a bit easier to put all of that out of his mind, however, watching Nanna take to the task with a certain glee. Even though she hadn't taken to it at first, eventually, the wolf succumbs to her charms.

(As did most things, Leif keeps to himself.)

At her next line of questioning, Leif tries to recall.  “ If I had any trouble, I don't remember it, ”  he answers honestly.  “ I didn't have the time to be having trouble with it though. I needed to learn how to ride Fiana as fast as I could, or else I'd never be able to train to promote to a Master Knight. ”

That had been a long goal of his, countless nights after being recruited by Lord Seliph spent devoting himself to such an ambition. He remembers the bruises, the callouses, the blood, sweat, and agony.

He remembers the many faces that had helped him in his journey too however. Asbel with his magic, Selfina with her marksmanship, Osian and Halvan with their prowess with the axe...

...And how could he ever forget the person right next to him now, tireless in her constant support of his endeavour too?

“ If Finn has a weakness, I don't know it, ”  he responds a bit too honestly again.  “ I feel like there were a lot of different things that happened that he reacted to like anything else... ”

Always stoic, always cold... an impenetrable wall. Leif tries to imagine an overly emotional reaction to something so tiny...

No, he can't do it. Nuh uh.

But in that time, the wolf seemed to really be taking to Nanna's company, enough that Nanna felt confident enough to bring out the mounting equipment. Even if the creature began to act a bit cold now, Leif knows Nanna doesn't make these kinds of judgments based on nothing, so he assumes she's figured it out better than him.

“ If you're having trouble, I can try? ” 

[pryings]

a quiet hum buzzes through the dining hall as those assembled are shuffled in. this 'psychological experiment' or 'speed dating game' or 'social gathering' or whatever it is has been prepared. in place of the long dining tables, the hall is filled with numerous small, round tables, each with a number placed upon them. you are to find your assigned tables, chat with your partner, and hopefully make some kind of connection.

the goal of this exercise is somewhat vague, but knoll and hubert seem poised to take notes. so that's interesting.

schedule:

12pm. EST Feb 14 - 11:59pm Feb 15 ROUND ONE. 12pm. EST Feb 16 - 11:59pm Feb 17 ROUND TWO. 12pm. EST Feb 18 - 11:59pm Feb 19 ROUND THREE. 12pm. EST Feb 20 LAST WORDS.

please tag all interactions #toaLoveHypothesis2024. you will receive an ask from hubert or knoll within the next few hours asking if you like or dislike your partner. unanswered asks default to a 'no.' please answer it at any point before the round ends.

rounds will be 36 hours long, but should narratively simulate the speed dating experience of only having a few minutes to talk. it should feel rushed. interactions can be asks or short threads, please communicate with your partner to determine what works best. you can continue an incomplete interaction after a round concludes if you wish, but please note that you need to vote by the round's end!

the questions provided are only suggestions. if your muse would not want to discuss this topic, feel free to talk about whatever you wish.

forrest (@bruniatrobaire) & forde (@renaisguy) topic: you have been stranded in the desert. assuming you have the foresight to have chosen two items to help you, which would you bring?

tormod (@arcelerity) & leif (@diadic) topic: discuss your hometown.

dwyer (@apathynoir) & poe (@loveevangelist) topic: critique the other’s personal style.

elise (@nohrslittleflower) & niamh (@boundlesschaos) topic: if you could speak to one animal, which would you choose?

petra (@calderosea) & edward (@justices-blade) topic: how would you save your current conversation partner if you were in a sandpit together, getting slowly pulled down into the abyss? or would you prioritize yourself?

sothe (@nevassan) & faye (@fiberflxwer) topic: the ideal combination of pastries and beverages.

ike (@ofradiances) & raven (@peerlessscowl) topic: fear.

sylvain (@gauldheri) & goldmary (@flaurum) topic: choose between money, love, and power.

xander (@chevaleri) & farina (@making-dough) topic: tea or coffee? why?

nils (@carmennivis) & freyja (@foreversnightmare) topic: preferred ways to pass the time.

seliph (@virtuoustyrfing) & rosado (@rozyrne) topic: favorite flower

andrei (@ulircursed) & saizo (@saizov) topic: there are twelve orphans in a burning building. there are five adults who have a proven history of enacting positive social change that are being attacked by ruffians. you may only save one. choose.

erk (@adalrikr) & sothis (@sublimeflowoftime) topic: saints. yes or no?

duessel (@obsidiendo) & eremiya (@motheruin) topic: cleanliness of your room and your person.

(tumblr has set a limit on the number of people that can be tagged in one post, so this had to be split into two, if you do not see your muse's name, check the other post)

[cavaliant]

@lightfated​ replied to your post “It’s so funny to me that Sigurd “head in the clouds” of Chalphy who...”

please dad i have enough anxiety

[vantagx]

Try + Seliph!

TRY + A CHARACTER  YOU’D LIKE TO SEE ME ( ATTEMPT ) TO WRITE !

Accepting || @eiriini

        Pink-golden dipped grass swayed gently in the tepid breeze as the sun slowly began to nestle itself behind the grand, ivory palace that had become home to many over the past few months. Its winding, countless hallways almost filled to the brink with the brink with legendary heroes and experienced warriors who seemed to know no equal. Little by little he had gotten to know them, but they still seemed so distant and out of reach to him. Though he was confident in his own abilities, he was still young compared to many of the lords and soldiers who had been summoned to this world. The sheer size of their ever growing army was almost daunting, as were the battles that loomed overhead at times, and it had become nearly impossible for him to keep track of everyone who came and went. The familiar faces that were mixed in with too many nameless ones to recall were almost always a breath of fresh air, though there were others he had a difficult time allying himself and fighting beside, even if it was to save both his own world and this one. 

             He had no love for war or battle or violence, but such was thinking was a privilege he was well aware he couldn’t afford to indulge in too much. Conflict would always arise when others were mistreated and, as difficult as it was for him to grasp, he understood that so long as people existed there would always be conflict. It was their duty - his duty - to lessen that conflict and protect all those he was able to. Perhaps his way of thinking was childish; perhaps it was bathed in a pool of kindness and compassion that much of the world lacked, but he would pursue his beliefs, and continue to make up for the sins his father before him had committed (he wouldn’t repeat the mistakes of his linage, or turn his back on those who were suffering, so he had wholeheartedly agreed to join Askr when the summoner had guided him here and asked for his aid). 

            Running, sword kissed fingers through his silky hair, slowly gathered long, wayward locks into his palm; a ribbon pinned in his mouth as he watched the sun set beyond the castle walls; night not quite having settled in yet, which meant there was still time to train. Weaving the ribbon around his free hand he quickly wrapped it about his hair, tying it into a firm ponytail to ensure it wouldn’t blow into his eyes while he practiced. Brushing his bangs to the side, he allowed a smile to slip onto his lips as he turned on his heels to face his current sparring partner, Kamui. She hailed from a land he knew nothing about - a princess from a legendary kingdom he had heard stories about from the other heroes. Though this was, truly the first time he had met her outside of passing ‘hello’s’ in the hallway.  

             However, regardless of where she hailed or her skill in battle, he would not be bested easily. He’d grown up with his father’s blade grasped in his hands, and was rather certain of his ability to wield it, even if, at times that resolve waived and he become fearful of the legends told here about him (because, truthfully, compared to those who had come here before him, he wasn’t impressive, but that suited him just fine - he had worked for all that he had, and he would continue to do so here; lamenting about his own weakness would only serve to let his comrades and dear friends down).  

               “Are you ready?” He asks, his hand coming to rest on Tyrfing’s golden hilt. “I look forward to our duel, and wish you the best of luck. However, I’ll not allow myself to be defeated.” To train; to become stronger than his father before him, and gain the power he required to protect and save all those he was able to, he would take up his blade time and time again, no matter his dislike of war and bloodshed. He wasn’t naive, saving people wasn’t unlike murder - both required a blade and the skill to wield it. 

[fillespreferees]

“ what if i never see you again? ”  ( seliph for deirdre ─ hiiiiiiiii mommmm

Her son gives voice to her own fears. What will happen when their service to Askr has ended? Seliph has a kingdom to return to and people who need him. And she...she does not know if there even is somewhere for her to return.

But a smile remains on her face. She's smiled through her pain for him before when Sigurd left them behind in Augusti with Shannan and she will smile for him now. He should not need to see the turmoil inside her heart. She is his mother and she must be strong for him.

Deirdre reaches for her first born and pulls him in close. "Then we shall just have to make the very most of this time we have been given." One hand gently combs through the soft waves of his hair and she kisses his cheek. "I have missed so much. Will you tell me everything? Let me feel as though I have been a part of your life all along."

[of-invisible-ties]

awakenedprince replied to your post “[ What if I added Julius as a muse, though … ]”

Julius killed Ares in my file yesterday or whenever it was. My Ares muse is screaming don't do it but you can bet I don't agree with him

“Ahahahaha! What an imbecile that knight was! He thought he could initiate an attack upon me and depart with his life?”

“Bring him here so I may further shame him! Ares, was it? I shall lord my victory over you as I rightfully may. You are but a worm before me!”