#7kpp week

[fyeah7kpp]

Hello, friends!

I hope everyone has enjoyed the early access to 7KPP! Now that we've had a few months to play around and try out many MANY branches in the game (and Mod Tina has had some time to recover from finishing her graduate degree), it's time for 7KPP Week!

As a reminder, and for any newcomers to the fandom, 7KPP Week is basically a week of short prompts that we the mods come up with, intended as an opportunity to inspire and share fanworks that showcase our love for the game. Any types of fanworks are welcome, from fanart or fanfiction to meta, playlists, or just long rambles about your thoughts! We're all just here to spread our love and positivity!

Note: As the game has been out for several months now, spoiler content is perfectly welcome, and indeed encouraged in some of the prompts, and some prompts may include spoilers! Please be aware if you wish to participate or spectate!

So, without further ado, the details!

When: Between October 20 and October 26! Where: Post on tumblr (and elsewhere is fine too but we’ll be organizing here on tumblr)

The prompts are as follows! (Since some of these are rather vague, there are some more details and some questions that might help inspire you under the cut!)

Day One - Background (Remix) Day Two - Date Night Day Three - Letters Day Four - Angst Week (Turnabout) Day Five - Secrets Day Six - Suitcase Day Seven - Epilogue

Feel free to use the tag “7KPP Week 2024“ and/or mention this blog, and we’ll do our best to reblog everything!

As always, please feel free to send an ask/DM me if you have any questions! We look forward to seeing everyone’s submissions, and hope that you have a great autumn!

-Mod Tina

Day 1 - Background (Remix)

What is your character's background and why did you pick it? How do they feel about it? If you've talked about this before, you can instead consider the following: Have you considered using an existing MC for one of the secret backgrounds? Is there another background you think might be interesting for your MC? Elements of another background you could incorporate into them for an AU?

Day 2 - Date Night

If your MC had a friendship date (or a real one), what would it be? How would it play out? Who would they invite? What stat(s) would it raise? What would the achievement for success be named?

Day Three - Letters

Over the course of the game, we received letters written from loved ones of both our characters and our LIs. Who would send the LI a letter on behalf of your MC? What would it say?

Day Four - Angst Week (Turnabout)

Let's share in the angst of week 5! If your LI had a near-death experience during the courting phase, how would your MC react? Alternatively, did your MC ever consider breaking things off? If so, why?

Day Five - Secrets

If your MC had a discoverable secret at the Summit for other characters to find, what would it be? Would it be a chain? Something that is needed to get to know them? Is it blackmail material?

Day Six - Suitcase

Does your MC bring any non-essentials with them to the Summit? What do they take home with them afterwards?

Day Seven - Epilogue

We got glimpses of what the ending looked like for your character post-Summit. Are there any other scenes you have in your mind's eye? Anything that you would change? What does life look like for your characters after the end?

[quilleth]

7kpp week: Letters

yes, this is technically the prompt for day 3, but I need a little more time to finish the prompt for today, and this one is done, so I'm switching them up and sharing a letter Elisabeth may have given to Hamin. A flowery shovel talk if you will. I usually imagine that she still invites Hamin to spend time with her on date day, for the sole purpose of giving him a shovel talk about Noah, which Hamin is far too amused about for his own good.

Yes Elisabeth is my ethical, compassionate, noble character. Her bark is worse than her bite. Mostly. Just don't hurt her brother and you should be fine!

And because tumblr kills images like that's its job, the text:

Dear Pirate Prince Hamin,

Thank you for agreeing to meet with me on the coming Fireday. I am sure you would much rather spend the time finding mischief with my dear brother and he likewise. However, it is on my brother's behalf that I have requested a meeting and am writing this note.

You seem to like Noah very much, which is good because he deserves happiness, and besides he is ridiculously besotted with you. If I have to hear about any of your apparently numerous good qualities one more time, I may take to wearing earmuffs, which would be difficult as I do not have any, and it is quite the wrong season for them. I digress.

My brother is the kind of person who devotes himself fully to his partners, whether a formal arrangement has been made or not. Some people, in the past, have taken advantage of his affections and soft-hearted nature, but he has continued to make connections in a pursuit of happiness despite this.

I certainly hope you are as genuine in your affections as you seem to be. If you are simply toying with Noah, I must insist you stop immediately. I shall remind you that our family is well known for the study of botany, and while Noah may be forgiving, I am not. There are several plants in the gardens here that would make the rest of your time at the Summit rather uncomfortable should they find their way into your belongings.

If you are sincere, though, I shall be the first one, other than Noah of course, to welcome you to the family.

Sincerely,

Elisabeth

[angstmongertina]

7KPP Week 2024: Day 1

So I said I wasn't going to finish this but I decided I needed to start getting in the habit of posting SOMETHING to kickstart my muse again, so here we are already late for day 1 of 7KPP Week 2024.

Technically, the prompt was Background (Remix) and this is perhaps a loose at best interpretation of this, but when @teaandinanity went "psychic MC who is actually aware of the other lives she's lived re: new game plus bonuses," my brain decided to latch onto it and work that into one of my existing characters, so now here we are. Thank you for the inspiration, Tea! ILY!

It's short, but still, to spare you my nonsense, the actual writing is under the cut!

It was a strange thing, the brief glimmers. The feelings of familiarity, the tingling sensations, the sudden visions that would flash before her eyes, vivid and intense and oddly, impossibly, comforting.

She knew better than to talk about them, now. She did once when she was a child, following in Constance's shadow as her sister led her away from the nursery. As they shuffled through the hallways, her feet dragging, tangled in clothes both too big and too rough against her skin, a flash of boisterous laughter and thick furs and pouting blue eyes, bright against a rough snowy mountainside, steadied her footsteps, until she fairly floated down the hidden staircase and through the servant's entrance into the city. The bright bursts of the fireworks shadowed the worry in Constance's eyes, but could not disguise the urgency in her voice, in the hand that gripped her arm, gentle but firm. Grave.

After all, imagine the shame of having an Arlish princess who was half-mad or worse, had been touched by witchcraft.

So instead, Princess Fidelity learned to hold her tongue, watching, knowing, as she grew, as tutors came and went, marveling over her knowledge of history (comfortable companionship and shared responsibility) and academics (nights spent poring over scrolls and tutors in a language at once both foreign and familiar) and politics (bargaining and machinations in a palace that gleamed like a jewel against golden sand), as she plotted with the memory of necessity and talked her way out of trouble with the finesse of handling two powerful crown siblings, as her beloved sister sailed off to the Summit, pale and docile and never to return, ensnared in the web of a brute of a man she has never met but knows she already loathes with the burning fire of multiple suns.

She learned to recognize backgrounds, languages, people, far more varied, more interesting than the parade of nobles through the castle. Honeyed flirtation and quick banter would help her draw attention, while a vague pitching under her feet hardened her spine. Sharp catlike grins approved of careful maneuvering and clever conclusions. Tall, stoic nobles and bright, grinning captains commended her wit, her command. She said nothing, but, in flashes and bursts, she knew them all, loved them all.

So when the king and queen held a banquet in her honor, she knew what was to come. Seven years had passed since her sister had set forward on her path. She would sail to Vail Isle. She would attend the next Summit. And she would do it well.

After all, it was time now to find out her story.

[pizzafishandchips]

22. "Why are we doing this again?"

Fandom - Seven Kingdoms: The Princess Problem/7KPP Content warnings - none Pairing - Clarmont x MC Summary - In the wake a dangerous attempt on someone's life, Clarmont reflects and receives a letter. Other notes - contains spoilers for week 5 [A/N - For day 3 of 7KPP Week 2024: Letters as well]

For the umpteenth time that night, Clarmont runs a hair through his tousled hair.

Why is he doing this again? He came here with a goal, a singular, clear goal. Gathering information, forging alliances, all in the name of peace. For the sake of all the innocents who were caught in these deadly games, for the sake of those they’d already lost. How much time had he spent preparing for this? How many times had he repeated this to himself?

And yet, in the end, he’d somehow forgotten it all so easily. All over a single woman.

A woman who somehow met and then exceeded any expectations he had. An intelligent, driven woman who stood firm in the face of adversity and challenge. A beautiful, insightful woman who somehow made him forget himself, the first person in his life who tempted him over the edge of selfishness. All he had to do was jump.

No, not again. He rubs his face with his hands; combined with his lack of rest, he knows he’ll have dark circles under his eyes come morning. No matter how hard he fights, Clarmont finds himself coming back to her, again and again, like a creature underwater drawn to a light on the surface before diving back below, afraid of what it might find when it breaks through.

He can’t do this to her. He knows this, he’s told it to himself over and over. He can’t do this to himself, to the cause he’s utterly devoted himself to for years, completely unwavering, until now.

She might die, he reminds himself, and his heart would likely never recover. He could die, leaving her behind in the most unfair way possible. And given the enormity of the task, the latter seems far more likely. Better to end it now, before they’re too entangled. Better for her to be angry at him, to hate him, than to break her through grief and loss.

He believes in his cause, but Clarmont has long given up on himself. And she deserves more than a man who has nothing left to give.

It isn’t until he hears a knock on his door that he notices the slivers of light dripping in from the gap between the curtains, signaling the onset of morning. In the end, those long late hours did little for him; his resolve is no stronger than before.

The Revaire lord nods absently to his servants when they come in to help him prepare for the day; the gaunt look in his eyes is evident enough, but they know him well enough to not press. He’s handed a small bundle of letters before they bow and leave. Collapsing into a chair, he absentmindedly peruses through his correspondence. There’s a letter from Lyall; he’ll read that one later since he already has an idea of what it might say, and for once he’s not in the state of mind to entertain his friend’s fanciful notions about his bachelorhood.

And mysteriously, a letter hailing from Jiyel in handwriting he doesn’t recognize. The addressee is what surprises him; he doesn’t have any notable contacts from that particular kingdom, aside from one, and she’s here. He looks it over—it doesn’t appear trapped or dangerous in any way. Preliminary checks done, Clarmont gingerly unfurls the parchment.

[ To the esteemed Lord Clarmont of Revaire,

You do not know me, but I write on behalf of my granddaughter, Lady Octavia of House Leigong. My name is Sarantuya, and I have raised and watched Octavia grow since birth. As such, while I know she is perfectly capable of handling her own affairs most of the time, I feel obligated to speak in her favor when it comes to matters of marriage, and of the heart.

She does not speak of you often in a direct way in her letters home, but I know my granddaughter well enough to read between the lines. For a long time, Octavia has always been content in solitary endeavors; there was little that she wanted aside from the pursuit of her own goals. Her heart is not one that is easily stirred. I’m sure you can imagine how surprised I was that she spoke so highly of someone she met during her time at the summit, someone she had intentions to marry, no less.

Truthfully, I worry about my granddaughter. I worry that she will not surround herself with those that care about her. I worry that she will devote so much of herself to her ambitions that she will lose sight of other important things in life. I know as I grow older, I grow closer to a day when I cannot watch over her as I once have.

Lord Clarmont, during your time with her, I am sure you have already gleaned some things about her nature. Octavia can be arrogant and overly reliant on her intelligence. She can pour every ounce of her energy to a task to the point of obsession. She can be cold and indifferent, and care little for strangers, a byproduct of the circumstances in which she was born. My granddaughter has experienced little of the world outside her homeland through no fault of her own. It is my wish that through this summit, she will learn to look beyond the pages of her books and the walls of our small family estate.

In spite of all these things, you will find no one more capable and more devoted. Whatever your dreams are, they will become her dreams, and she will give everything she has to fulfilling them. Whatever challenge you may face, whatever obstacles you must cross, she will stand by you through it all, on her own two feet, strong and proud.

My lord, I can only hope you believe my word when I say my granddaughter is not a weak woman. She has the capacity to reach heights she herself is not aware of yet; the only thing she needs is a supportive hand. The blood of a people who have braved harsh winters, who have survived war, who wander and ride freely through endless, vast plains, courses through her veins. The same blood that runs through my veins. She is not meant to remain in a small cage of her own choosing. It is my wish that she will find the opportunity to fly, and it is my belief that you may be the one who can help her.

I cannot see the future and I will not compel you to a decision. But from what I know, I hope one day to have the pleasure of calling you my grandson. Please watch over Octavia in the meantime.

Safe journeys,

Qiyan Sarantuya of House Leigong ]

Clarmont leans back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling as his sleep-deprived mind struggles to process everything.

My granddaughter is not a weak woman.

He knows that. He knows that so painfully well. Because in the end, he knows that he’s the weak one, and he’s never been more frustrated over it.

Maybe…

He shakes his head, painfully aware of the bright sunshine breaking through to dispel the shadows of the night. Time is not a luxury he has, and eventually he has to face his demons. He folds the letter and sets it aside for safekeeping, praying from the depths of his heart that he can live up to whatever expectations people may have of him.

[malmiele]

7kpp Week 2024 Day 2: Date Night

If your MC had a friendship date (or a real one), what would it be?

A lot of the delegates go for sharing meals together as dates which is the safest, most normal option and probably what Ulyssa would go for as well. To keep it interesting however she would hold a lunch/high tea at the gazebo, with those fancy finger foods. If it's an early game date I'd say she raises intelligence but if it's late game and she's willing to share more stories about her childhood shenanigans maybe cunning or street smarts! Because they're siblings Paris would also have a similar date, although conversation-wise hers would be a lot more like Avalie's. Her stat boosts would probably be either cunning or people.

Queralt would probably go for something a bit more exciting. She'd book the practice room and set up vases. Typically the game involves throwing arrows into the vases but no weapons on the Isle allowed so instead the target is to throw hoops around the vases. It's fun but not too strenuous so they can still have a good conversation, and she will be watching and assessing how you go about playing the game. It's a game that needs finesse so I'd say her date raises poise.

[sayonaramidnight]

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO HIM???

[queen-scribbles]

It's hilarious to me I'm getting this prompt now, bc not only do I have a sideblog, I've posted to it recently. tumblr is a webbed site.😂

[englishotomegames]

Seven Kingdoms: The Princess Problem

Release date (Windows, Mac OS, Linux) English (Early Access): June 28th, 2024

"You are one of the delegates.

In this world of politics, intrigue and danger, will you find love? Make friends? Alliances? Or will you fail and be forced to watch as the world once again crumbles into destruction and despair?

It is your story and it is not yet written.

Seven Kingdoms: The Princess Problem (or 7KPP for short) focuses on player choice, customization and consequences. Politics and people are the core challenge of the game. (And it is challenging. So much so a story mode has been created for those who prefer their failures to end up less game-endy.)

Spanning seven weeks of gameplay, almost a million words of content, 12 different romance/marriage routes (3 of which are with female characters) hundreds and hundreds of choices, a detailed character creation that has has over 40 stats to master, including personality traits, a choice from six separate backgrounds (all with their own storylines and unique reactions, choices and dialogue) and world-changing outcomes that vary with every choice you make, 7KPP is massively replayable.

This is the early access version.  Expect bugs, errors and typos. Many things are subject to change for the final version. The GUI, information pages, extras and gallerys are not in their final version. Three unlockable romance routes (two full GxG and one secret GxB) and three special unlockable backgrounds will be added for the final version."

The early access version of Seven Kingdoms: The Princess Problem has been released by Azalyne Studios! You can try the demo or buy it from itch.io here.

[faejilly]

Lisle Route Overview in Seven Kingdoms: The Princess Problem

Per a request on the discord, because my brain is only 7kpp now 😍

Character Creator/Personality Notes

You cannot be a Tomboy Countess

Personality MUST be noble as opposed to selfish.

(You can get away with starting out indifferent & immoral if you're manipulative enough to hide it.)

Generally speaking, choose eloquent options. Make jokes! He does have a good sense of humor, since that's pretty much the only break from duty that he allows himself.

Acknowledge and respect the responsibilities of rank.

Welcome Feast

First impression is likeability (beauty, charm, charisma, etiquette). I'm not sure if it's been re-balanced for Early Access, but for the demo the guide broke it down that you got +5 friendship at 60 likeability, +10 @ 100, and +15 @ 120, so as long as you don't tank all four stats, you should be fine.

+5 friendship for "friendly" greeting. (A polite greeting won't bring anything down if you want the etiquette boost.)

Insight check & +5 friendship choice is "compliment his sister"

The best 'tell him about yourself' option is "engaging" which requires 30 eloquence. (Possible with the "introduce yourself politely" option at the end of the CC, if you didn't take a full eloquence boost to get you to 50.) Either the charming or becoming (charisma) options will also get you friendship, but only +5 instead of +10.

You must also successfully greet and get along with Penelope!

Her first impression is also likeability.

Her ideal first dialogue choice is "make her laugh" which requires 30 charm; next is "reassure her" which requires the same 30 eloquence as Lisle's best answer. I think 'inspire' requires leadership.

The default "smile" for the greeting choice is still fine though, just not as many friendship points.

Be "glad she's there" for the insight check.

Rescuing her from Jarrod maybe helps? But I may be making that up because it feels like it should narratively but it's not in any of my guides.

Hosting

Lisle will attend all three of the potential hosted events for week one (tea / musicale / history) if you make a decent impression at the welcome feast. I think you can still unlock his route if you just invite Penelope however, and she will attend both the tea and the musicale but not the lecture. You do get a higher +Wellin Approval boost for the musicale as long as you invite either of them, so that's usually the one I do when I'm planning on playing Lisle's route.

For week 3, Lisle can't attend the ladies' night, while Penelope won't attend the Onvu Tournament, but you can get both of them to the midnight picnic. I think they both give better boosts for the picnic too, but I didn't write it down, so I'm not sure.

Week 1 Invite

Don't be insulted that you're kept waiting for the ride with Lisle.

Either greeting is fine once he gets there, (if you have enough etiquette to see the "polite" one), but he laughs if you rant about last night's sleep which is great.

"Adore" that he brought Penelope

As long as you don't complain about the horse your relationship won't go down, but animal knowledge or persuasive will get you a higher respect bonus than either defensive or quick thinking.

IF you have at least 20 politics, 50 insight, and are ethical, you can ask Lisle about his goals for the summit.

Otherwise, as long as you're not all greedy/overt and asking about getting to be queen, the other two options (holding up/something about yourself) are both fine.

Formal Introductions

Don't have your ambition be "my best future"

Between nations/best serve my nation won't *hurt* but only give bonuses to your BG nation's approval

"Katyia" gives approval & respect bonuses

Don't lie about your ambition unless you're at least at 300 persuasion/50 manip.

Weeks 2 & 3

Request Penelope join your team for the ship race. (She's ideal for the morale check so it's a good pick regardless.)

For Penelope's breakfast, I don't think it matters? (I mean, don't be mean to her, obviously, but I don't think it effects any Lisle stats there.)

The best gift for him is the Pirate book.

For the MM date, start with either "Penelope" or "spent some time"

"Of course" is the best answer to 'bother you?' but 'rather be here' will also work.

Pick trust or communication for the 'most important' question

"Far worse fates" is the best answer to his confession, but "thank you" will also work.

Talk to the matchmaker about him and make it clear you know what you're doing

BE TACKLE-HUGGED BY PENELOPE AT THE FEAST, 🎉

TL;DR Be a responsible adult, be nice to his sister, have a sense of humor, and you should be fine!

I don't have as much of a breakdown for how to *continue* his route (and also I don't remember where the demo cuts off vs the Early Access which isn't quite public yet) but basically you can get more respect & friendship by being eloquent and dutiful and encouraging Penelope when you get the chance.

[fyeah7kpp]

We'll post this here as well as in the 7KPP fan community (please message me if you want me to add you!)!

We're down to a week before early access is out! To have a countdown and to have some discussion to make the time go faster, we're going to be posting some prompts!

And because we have polls, I figured I might as well add a poll and keep it going until early access is out!

Looking forward to screaming with everyone! (We'll have to implement a spoilers policy soon, I think.)

6 days left!

--Mod Tina

[teaandinanity]

7KPP Week, Day 2: Date Night

Under a cut to keep things tidy, as usual.

Today's prompt:

If your MC had a friendship date (or a real one), what would it be? How would it play out? Who would they invite? What stat(s) would it raise? What would the achievement for success be named?

Even as an NPC, Valeriya would still have a massive crush on Lyon, which would make her a rival romance candidate. Her friend-date could present an opportunity for the MC to either decide to help things along or try to nip it in the bud.

The bulk of her date is probably talking history and books, and - if MC has the insight or history score to understand - discuss Summit goals. Due to her own fairly good insight, she’s liable to know if she’s being lied to unless MC has 75+ manipulation, and catching a lie will raise her rivalry and tank friendship. Outside of blatant lying, though, she’s not terribly judgmental unless MC is intent on being genuinely terrible; noble/ethical is great, but she’s fine with a person having self-interested motivations as long as they are not An Inveterate Asshat.

If MC has attracted interest from either or both of the Revaire siblings, she may also try to give a delicate warning hint about the danger of that and also what’s coming up, but her warning will not be as overt as Lord Adalric's – both because Valya knows less, and because she is much more frightened of reprisal.

Now, fake screenshots! I made a new Grand Library bg for this, please be nice to me.

Options 1 & 2 lead to the first reaction, 3 leads to the second.

[quilleth]

7kpp week day 1: background

Happy 7kpp week everyone!!

I've been a bit stuck lately, but I REALLY wanted to have at least a few things to share. And I also want to play around with nerd Bro Noah a bit more, so here's a short attempt at writing down the kinds of notes that might be included in a delegate profile for the staff. Technically, he is also a Jiyel scholar, so there's not too much variation in the kind of background information that there would be for him I think. The big difference for them comes to what actually happens at the Summit and the fact that Noah actually did take the placements exams (and scored quite well I think! He's more of a jack of all trades kind of person than Elisabeth with her focused flora and fauna knowledge, though if she had taken the tests, she would also have beat him in history).

Delegate profile: Lord Noah Dai of Jiyel (courtesy title)

Background: As the eldest son, it’s expected by many that he will eventually take on the family’s small holding, and much of his education appears to have been focused in that direction with skills such as land and financial management. The Dai family is a very minor family, bequeathed a title and small estate near the Arlish border as a reward for agricultural research and innovations conducted by Lord Noah’s paternal grandfather a few decades ago. Records do not indicate Lord Noah’s aptitude lays in similar directions, though he scored above average in natural sciences when he took placement exams. Jiyel has sent a summary of his scores along with the nomination for his placement as a delegate (see included notes). His interests appear to lean towards more people oriented skills, as well as an interest in the arts, mathematics, and geography.

Important note: Lord Noah has an ongoing illness. Along with the usual physician’s reports, additional notations about his symptoms and treatment has been sent. No additional comments were made as to his suitability as a candidate despite this, and it seems to be well managed with infrequent episodes. Still, he may require extra monitoring. Staff have been chosen accordingly for him.

Note: Lord Noah’s cousin, Lady Jiya has also been chosen to attend this Summit. Records indicate that the two are acquainted, though their families have been distant since the marriage of Noah’s parents.

Addendum: Lady Jiya will not be attending this Summit owing to a sudden elopement. Lord Noah’s younger sister, Elisabeth is being sent in her stead.

[angstmongertina]

7KPP Week 2024: Day 3

Well, I was going to post this alongside my fill for day 4, but I got nothing written so far because it's just one of those days, so here's my fill for day 3, and I'll just stay a day behind. Might start chipping away at it now, at least.

ANYWAY, here's Day Three -- Letters.

Again, the actual writing under the cut!

To My Daughter’s Suitor,

I must confess, sitting down to pen this missive is an altogether odd experience, for I expect it will be some time yet before I have so much as a confirmation of your existence. Still, I feel it would be remiss of me not to take advantage of this opportunity to greet you for the first time. Camellia is a singular young lady and her father and I are certain that anyone she wishes to wed will be a welcome addition to our small family.

Though we have yet to meet in person, I fear I must burden you with one request. As you have no doubt discovered, Lia is an intelligent and sweet young woman of strong principles, whom her father and I are proud to call our daughter. If you have won her hand, you will also have won her loyalty and devotion. And, we hope, her heart. Whatever she might think of her duties towards her family, our only hope is for her future happiness.

I know not what she has told you about her past, though I have no doubt rumors regarding her belated addition to the Jiyelese delegation have circulated throughout the summit, but she has spent these last eight years sacrificing her own dreams to help care for her family. As unexpected as her selection to the summit’s delegation was, we hoped, illogical though it might be, that she might find it an opportunity to find her own happiness, with whomever that might entail. And while I hope that your reception of this letter may prove otherwise, I fear that she might still choose to put her own vision of duty to Jiyel and her parents before herself.

To speak more plainly, my request is simply that, should you care for her at all, remind her that knowing our daughter is living for herself, prioritizing her own happiness, is all that we need.

If you can show her this, then her father and I will rest easy, knowing that she is in good hands. I look forward to the day I might greet you as family.

Lady Hyacinth of Grenwold

[pizzafishandchips]

21. "We've done worse"

Fandom - Seven Kingdoms: The Princess Problem/7KPP Content warnings - none Summary - Penelope stumbles upon the Jiyel lady in one of her hobbies. An art lesson ensues. [A/N: This doubles up as well for day 2 of 7KPP Week 2024: Date Night!]

“Oh, Octavia, that’s so beautiful!”

The lady of Jiyel blinks before looking towards the voice. Princess Penelope looks over her shoulder with a look of awe; she’s paused with brush in hand, hovering mid-stroke over a half-finished painting.

“I didn’t know you were such a talented painter!”

Octavia internally feels herself curling inwards as a shyness slowly takes over her. She’s never considered herself a bashful kind of person, but painting has always felt more personal, something she likes keeping more to herself. She’d come out here to destress, a rarity in the tight, stacked schedule of events she’d been thrown into since coming to the summit.

“Oh, this?” She looks down at her half finished work. It’s a black and white inking of the landscape, filled with winding brushstrokes in a recognizably Jiyelan style. “I wouldn’t say I’m that talented, and I started this on a lark but… Thank you, Penelope. That’s very kind of you to say.”

The princess’s eyes continue to shine with admiration as she examines the rest of the piece. Octavia doesn’t know what to do: should she ignore her and simply continue her work? Would that be rude? She’s not used to being watched like this, even in the presence of the lovely and well-tempered princess.

“You’re incredible, Octavia. You’re so intelligent and capable, and you’re a wonderful artist. What beautiful brushwork!” Penelope sighs dreamily. “I wish I could paint as well as you could. They don’t teach that in Wellin.”

“Well, would you care to learn?”

The idea comes to Octavia suddenly and without much consideration, quite unlike her usual methods. She can’t explain why she gives in to such an impulsive thought so easily; before, even social calls were things she devoted time to deliberate no matter how small. Perhaps it’s simply Penelope’s natural charm that’s lowered her guard, or she’s changed more than she thought since coming to the summit.

“Oh, I don’t know,” the princess fidgets. “I don’t think I’d be very good at it, and I hardly want to waste your time giving me a lesson…”

Octavia shrugs with a smile. “Who said you needed to be good? I assure you, Your Highness, that when I picked up a brush for the first time, I hardly knew what I was doing either. It would be no trouble for me, I promise. Just a bit of fun, really.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive!”

They agree on a time, and after the princess leaves, Octavia is suddenly left wondering how she ended up becoming an impromptu art teacher.

When next they meet, it’s on a private balcony overlooking another scenic view on the isle. Octavia waits patiently as she sits at her table. There’s another table next to her, meant for Penelope, both set with blank parchment, ink stones, and fresh brushes.

She’s surprisingly nervous, something she’s not used to. The scholar has learned to project confidence in most of her endeavors, whether she felt truly worthy of it or not. Debates, academic pursuits, so much of it all is a matter of putting on a strong face, and she’s been doing it for so long that it’s not even much of a front anymore.

But her art has always been a more delicate affair, and at the last moment Octavia panics, wondering if this was such a good idea after all. Maybe she shouldn’t be doing this. What if last time had been a fluke? Perhaps Penelope had simply made a mistake and something got caught in her eye. Maybe—

Her thought spiraling is interrupted when Penelope’s butler approaches with the Wellin princess cheerfully in tow. Her merriness is infectious and dispels Octavia’s doubts as she excitedly takes her seat.

“Good morning, Octavia! I will admit, I was so excited about our plans today I hardly slept last night,” she admits. “I suppose I was just nervous that maybe I’d embarrass myself but… I’m willing to try!”

“You have nothing to fear, Penelope. If anything, my ability to teach is what’s truly being tested here. I should be the nervous one; I hardly want to be the one to let you down.”

The princess shakes her head. “No, I can’t imagine. You’re so patient, especially with someone like me. I can’t wait to learn from you.”

Now how could Octavia doubt herself, when Penelope believes in her so? Taking a breath, she begins as best she can, starting with proper brush holding technique. It’s slow work, full of lessons for both of them, but Octavia is quick to adapt, and the princess proves she’s underestimated herself, being a rather quick study. They’re able to move on to actual painting; they quietly work side by side, Penelope’s face tight with concentration as she painstakingly tries to reproduce the techniques she was taught as her companion occasionally gives advice. Octavia eventually learned to loosen up, perfectly content with letting the princess draw whatever she pleases. To no one’s surprise, she’s chosen a flower as her first subject. The young noble can’t help but reminisce as she watches Penelope work, recalling afternoons spent arduously attempting to perfect her strokes, surrounded by crumpled pieces of her failures.

Her own piece gradually comes together. She’s chosen to depict something from memory this time: a mountain range with uniquely shaped peaks, a famous site within Jiyel. Leaving Penelope to her own devices for the time being, her brush gracefully moves across the canvas as she shapes out sharp, craggy mountainsides, the low hanging fog that sits near the base of the mountains. Octavia doesn’t chase perfect recreation or strong realism; she’s always secretly enjoyed that aspect of art, its general inability to be quantified in any meaningful way. There’s little objectivity to be found, no logic that can reasonably be applied. Most people would think this odd, going against her nature, but she enjoys a bit of subjectivity every now and again. Not everything in the universe needed a definitive explanation or analysis; for once, it’s an opportunity to just let her portray how she feels.

She’s so lost in her work that she doesn’t immediately notice how Penelope has abandoned her work in favor of staring over her shoulder. “Amazing,” she whispers.

Octavia is shaken from her thoughts, eliciting several apologies from her companion before she calms her down.

“I’m so sorry, you were just so mesmerizing to watch, I couldn’t help it. Would it be alright if I just watched you for a little while longer?”

“What about your own piece?”

Penelope is bashful when Octavia takes a look. It’s not perfect, obviously a beginner’s work, but something about its simplicity makes her smile.

“I like it! And it’s a good first step. You should sign it with your name; I think you’ve made something worth being proud of.”

The princess, blushing from her praise, is quick so ink her signature in the corner, but her attention quickly returns to her. The noblewoman feels that familiar shyness creep up on her again as she’s being watched, paying more attention than usual to the quality of her strokes.

“Your hand moves with so much purpose,” Penelope observes, in awe. “I suppose that’s what happens when you’re so skilled… But, Octavia, I have a question. Do you always use black ink? Or do you use other colors?”

All of a sudden, she’s uncomfortable. It’s not the first time this has been brought up. She’s tried before, a few times, but for the longest time she never felt she could utilize colored ink in a way that made her work better. Black was simpler to her, more straightforward to use. Aside from some shading, she didn’t need to bother with much more than outlines and shapes. A flower was still a flower after all, whether it was painted purple or pink; what difference could it possibly make? Eventually, she convinced herself that she didn’t need it and was better off.

But she’d be lying if, since coming here, she hadn’t found her art a little lacking in something, and that maybe she should try again.

“I’ve tried. It’s just never been something that fits my style, I suppose.”

Eager to move on, she reaches over to grab something, but she’s agitated. Her hand brushes her inkwell, jostling it enough to knock it over. Both women yelp as dark ink pools across the table; cursing in her mother tongue, Octavia is quick to jump forward to right the well, ripping the parchment away in the process.

“I’m so sorry for my carelessness, Your Highness. You didn’t get anything on your clothes, did you?”

Penelope thankfully is free of any stains, while the scholar managed to escape with only blackened fingers. Her artwork on the other hand is not so lucky; one corner is completely darkened by ink, the rest of it splattered with little dots and streaks. She purses her lips, disappointed.

“Well, we’ve done worse. Or not, I suppose. I thought this one came out rather well, too.”

To her surprise, the princess reaches over and plucks it out of her hands. She gazes at it with a strangely pleased expression. “What are you saying? I think it’s charming. It’s got… character! Yes, that’s the word for it. May I keep this?”

“You want this?”

“Of course! It’s beautiful. And all the extra ink makes it memorable and extra special to me.” Penelope beams. “I could get a painting anywhere, but I’ll never have one that will remind me of a special lesson I got to have with a friend! So… Please, Octavia?”

How could she say no to that face? Realizing that she’s somehow found her first fan in the Wellin princess of all people, Octavia can only smile and shake her head. Picking up her brush once more, she places her signature on the piece.

“Who knows? Perhaps I’ll be well known enough in the future and this will become incredibly valuable in the future,” she jokes.

Penelope vehement shakes her head, not realizing that she jests. “Absolutely not! I could never sell something so precious from a friend.”

Their “lesson” soon comes to an end as the princess’s butler appears to escort her back. They wave goodbye as they part, leaving Octavia and Jasper to clear everything else away. She stares at a used inkstone she picks up, eyeing its dark sheen.

Next time I’ll give you a prettier piece, Penelope. One with color, I promise.

[malmiele]

7kpp Week 2024 Day 7: Epilogue

When I played Ulyssa I decided to go in not trying too hard to minmax and just enjoy the ride.

The idea of her feeling less welcome in Jiyel after the Summit despite everything was so compelling to me. The epilogue also goes through a few things Ulyssa did in Wellin like reforming the royal guard, building a national library and modernising many outdated customs.

The Summit was a turning point for Ulyssa's life but ultimately it probably wouldn't place anywhere near her greatest challenges. I can imagine a lot of things that could go wrong for Ulyssa as a crown princess, or even as a queen. Even just adjusting from minor noble to royal is kind of crazy to be honest.

There was definitely some drama regarding heirs. I don't think they get a son on the first try. Both Ulyssa and Lisle wouldn't mind having a queen regnant but whether the court thinks the same is another matter, so they probably end up being pressured to try again (regardless of gender they would probably also need a spare). Ulyssa is a carrier of X-linked albinism too, and if they do have a son he'd have albinism. And the court...well. Obviously our royal besties and their family come out on top eventually but the struggle to get there is something I'm almost tempted to write about.

If I play Ulyssa again, I do want to uncover the rebels this time. She might not have the stats to prevent the war entirely though.

[notomys-mordax-blog]

I wanted to do a style test do I drew Crown Prince Lisle from 7kpp -- I'm playing around with striking a balance between simplifying facial features and character designs. The full game finally came out, and I've been rolling around in nostalgic feelings for the last week or so.