#Spohie

[stuffingbuttsandshit]

The gasp I gusped when Eloise said she won't miss the masquerade ball next year I almost blacked out cause I am so fkn excited for Benedict's season

[chantssecrets]

portrait of Jean Genet by Anne-Sophie (Blauwdrupje)

[theshenanijiang]

I present the character design I came up for for Howl!Xie Lian. This isn't even the final form! Next, I will work on Sophie!Hua Cheng and then I plan on making some art of them both interacting. This is all due to the post @unforth made about a Howl's Moving Castle AU HuaLian.

I had a lot of fun working on this. It has been ages since I have had the motivation to draw.

Some notes. I wanted to draw on some of the elements of Howl's design without just putting Xie Lian in Howl's clothes. So, we have the big coat, which I view as an affectation of Howl's to make himself bigger and more impressive and dapper of course. This coat has golden chrysanthemum embroidery. I usually pick my emblems for a meaning. In this case, the chrysanthemum is meant to represent nobility, new life, and longevity.

I looked at a lot of pictures of both the Fang Xin Guoshi and Crown Prince eras of Xie Lian to kind of figure out what sort of fancy feeling I wanted to go for. I really enjoy the peach to dusky rose ombre of his clothes and the mint accent was meant to keep it fresh. The touches of white are a nod to the main outfit we see him in in TGCF.

The earring is another nod to Howl's design of course.

I will probably reblog this when I finish Spohie!Hua Cheng.

[solelylio]

Ya know the tik tok trend for SaltBurn to the song “murder on the dance floor” (Spohie Bextor)… just saying, someone needs to animate Bruce Wayne doing the trend and killin it

[helenofjupiter]

Which taylor swift song do you associate with which bridgerton couple?? In my head dress is indisputably THE polin song and of course enchanted is bendict and spohie but i can't figure out the rest of the siblings so please help

[txttletale]

do u have any favorite political youtubers? also do u like sophie from mars

most political youtubers are craven wretches and i do not like them much. their politics are either eclectic and incoherent or they're social democrats who act like they have much broader expertise than they really do. tightly researched deepdives into particular topics that are basically one-man documentaries--like the hbomberyguy vaccine video, the philosophytube trans healthcare video, or the shaun hiroshima video--can be pretty good.

but most political youtubers talk in very vague ideas about sweeping concepts that they love to make very vibes-based unserious broad comments on and that is at best pretty useless. hakim is fine when he's not doing rote Reacting To Conservatives Content i guess. i've never seen any of spohie from mars' videos but her tweets are very funny.

[tkwrites]

How do you go about deciding what your characters will wear when going to an event like the one Nico and Lena went to? You always paint such a detailed image. Do you scroll through pintrest or something and find an outfit or just imagine it all up?

Hi my Lovely,

I don't do much outfit scouting on Pinterest. I find it a little too overwhelming.

Sometimes, I go searching for inspiration on clothing websites.

For example, when I was writing I can't believe you're here, I was scrolling to find inspiration for the set Sarah would wear. I found one with black ties and then spun my own version of it from that. The same thing happened with her bikini in Five Days of Joy. The bikini it's based off of is actually green and has a silver circle in the middle. I just made it my own.

Other times, like with Lena and her backless dress in Can I make it up to you? I had a pretty clear vision of what I wanted that dress to be, and it was based on some things I'd seen in the past.

For Spohie in An Infinite Kind of Love, I did go searching on Pinterest for her wedding dress, which led me to a website where I ultimately found the inspiration for it.

I've found in describing clothing especially, less is more. I'll give some details to get the point across, but I never want to read a full page describing a dress as I find it to be very boring.

[hopepaigeturner]

An Offer from an Avid Reader: Benedict S4: From chillin' to conflictin'

I've finally done it. This is my main ideas for Benedict;s character arc this season. A summary of previous points, then an episode by episode look at how this arc plays out...alongside some BB GIFS ofcourse...

Shall we go?

Summary of my previous points:

Benedict Bridgerton is an emotionally astute caretaker for his family. This could stem from Benedict having to step up as emotional support for his siblings after his father’s death. Consequently, Benedict prioritises others before himself, and has not had the space to work out who he is outside of his family. (full post here)

Benedict enjoys and is not intimidated by strong-willed woman, whether in conversation or in his bed.

Benedict’s previous relationships show that he does not tie ones worth to their class, but treats women as equals. (full post here)

However, while Benedict has all these wonderful personality traits, he has one slightly problematic one—his passivity. He does not actively seek out new things, they happen to him, whether that be relationships or new ideas—like the idea of lavender marriages in S1. In the words of Daphne Bridgerton during Pall Mall...

Benedict is a solid shot but avoids conflict.

(Above GIF a perfect example)

­­­­­­

While Benedict makes plenty of jokes at his siblings’ expense, they are never cruel and always accompanied by a jovial tone.

Even his constant jokes through a stressful situation, (like his moo at the Danbury Ball in S2) reflect how Benedict wishes to set everyone at ease.

Benedict enjoys women speaking their mind, like Eloise or Kate, but only supports and listens—not necessarily encouraging them.

And Benedict does challenge Anthony, but ultimately Anthony steam-rolls Benedict who then relents.

The fencing scene, the poetry scene—especially this scene. Benedict literally lets Anthony take his poem for his own purposes after explicitly telling Anthony that poetry is not deceitful.

As seen through the art academy arc in S2, Benedict is nervous and constantly seeking the approval of others. AKA he is trying to appease expectations rather than challenge them.

So…Benedict is a solid shot but avoids conflict, therefore he must overcome this to gain his happy ending.  We have been shown that he has the interest and the capacity, he just needs the catalyst.

Enter Sophie Beckett, stage Left.

Asking Sophie to become his mistress is easy—he does not even need to let anyone know she is his mistress, not the ton nor his family. Marrying Sophie would be in direct conflict with his family and the ton.

There a couple of other mini-arcs that Benedict ill need to go on, but all that link with this main one.

Drinking to painting. I think we can all see thar the writers seem to be using alcohol to sho Benedict's deterioration—a coping mechanism. In season 4, ith the arrival of Spohie we need to see this behaviour gradually cease (correlated with his love for Sophie), and his art replacing it as a coping mechanism. (see my little delineation of scenes below).

We also have a secondary storyline concerning Benedict—not necessarily a character arc. AKA his family becoming aware of his emotional support role.

His friendship with Will Mondrich.

I want these guys to be besties. You can see more ideas here.

Now, I am going to go sequentially through the series to show the broad trajectory of Benedict’s arc. Below each episode will also be a list of key scenes that are primarily about Benedict and not necc. overlapping with other storylines. (the episode titles are jokes apart from ep6).

Episode 1:

First scene: Masquerade ball from Benophie's perspective.

Second scene: Benedict waking up in a bed from that dream, alone and murmuring “I do not belong here.”

Here we see Benedict lost. Maybe he is waking up after a party, maybe he is just in his bachelor lodgings, but we see a lack of co-ordination, a lack of care in his motions. We see Benedict throughout the episode putting on a face for his family, insisting he’s ‘fine’ and that ‘second sons don’t have problems’ when the viewer sees how much he yearns for family and love. (Inc. a scene with cute domestic Kanthony family).

Violet Bridgerton, bless her heart, is trying the only way she knows how—match-making. It gets to the point that Benedict feels suffocated and decides to take a break from the city and go back to the country at the first opportunity—Cavendar’s party.

Once more we see that hedonism is not fulfilling Benedict and as in the book he wishes to leave and stumbles into Sophie et co. (See written scene here.).

Then we have him on the road home with Sophie. And after laughing (in relief) at escaping Cavendar, Sophie breaks down into tears—a miutre of frustration, relief and terror at that night and the last two years of her life. Benedict pauses—propriety dictates that she shouldn’t embrace her, but his heart says he should. He breaks propriety and embraces her—a little glimpse of what is to come.

Episode 2: My, my, my Cottage…

Read up on my posts about My cottage for more details about specifics. Jus picture Benedict looking at Sophie like above... (Part 1, 2, 3)

Essentially Sophie and Benedict acting unselfconsciously around each other. Benedict finally being able to be himself and not Bridgerton no.2.

Episode 3: The Bridgerton Logic is present—back in London.

We have the lake scene (written here), which leaves Benedict frustrated and confused. At this point, (using the ever-reliable Bridgerton logic) he doesn’t know whether this thing with Sophie is more than a mistress…but ofcourse there is the Lady in Silver. He goes to Grandma Alexandra to talk, and she gives him wise words of wisdom.

Flashback during this: Viewer understands that Benedict never fights/gets into conflict because he spent his time ensuring the peace within family post-Edmund’s death. This scene includes how Grandma Alexandra was the only one who saw his turmoil and helped him cope through art. (This shows that Art—not alcohol—should be his coping mechanism. It reinforces that art is intrinsically part of him—not just a talent).

After this, instead of asking Sophie to be his mistress, he persuades her to return to London and Aubrey Hall—if he can’t have her then he will atleast keep her safe.  Travel back to London where Benedict tries to ease an anxiety-ridden Sophie but everything is wrong, slightly off-kilter with the couple leaving him frustrated.

Primary Scenes:

Scene: Lake.

Scene: Grandma Alexandra tete-a-tete->establish their obvious closeness

Scene: Flashback into Benedict’s role post-Edmund’s death.

Carriage scene: Benophie on their way back to London, tries to comfort a ‘panicky’/anxious ridden Sophie. (inc. “plotting your demise” dialogue). Drops off Sophie at Madame Delacroix’s for the night—which does not help his case. Introduces him to his mother etc. (as in book).

Episode 4: Toeing the line.

Benedict shifts from previous wooing experiences, to start solely caring about Sophie’s wellbeing. And he does numerous things to aid this.

Family sees a shift in Benedict’s mental health—he is not drinking that much (if at all), he is back to joking/teasing and smiling more easily. Most attribute this to country air. Well, almost everyone—mothers are far more perceptive after all.

 (Concurrently we have Sophie being isolated by maids, insights into Sophie’s backstory and Sophie& Eloise relationship)

Primary Scenes:

Scene: 1st tea with Bridgertons-> heavy Sophie flirting.

 Scene: Lounging on servant’s stairs scene-> Sophie gives him a wakeup call

Scene: Asking Mrs Wilson about how Sophie is doing.

Scene: Poetry competition…continues.

Episode 5: Pushed over the line.

First half sees Benedict taking care of Sophie in little moments and in a scene where we see him wishing to ease her emotional burden. We also have little visual clues that he is painting again—although no one realises.

Second half is Grandma Alexandra’s death, which pushes Benedict back into his role as emotional support, forced to shun his own grief to support his siblings. (More on that in Grandma Alexandra’s post). But this time, Sophie helps him—in two key scenes. At My Cottage we had Benedict caring for Sophie (physically and emotionally) when she became injured. Now it is the reverse; Sophie shares his burden, allows him to grieve and comforts him. And after the second scene of Sophie aiding Benedict, as he watches her walk away he whispers.

“I love you.”

This is Benedict’s turning point. Benedict has shifted from wishing/delighting in Sophie to yearning for her. He understands he loves her, and he now knows that he wants and needs her in his life.

Furthermore, this episode highlights to Violet and Anthony about the toils Benedict has truly been under, something that continues in episode 6 (and in another post).

Primary Scenes:

Montage (of all different storylines)-> various little moments of poetry exchange.

Scene: Rewritten Garden scene-> becomes the ‘swing scene’ with Benedict supporting Sophie rather than riling her up. Inc. “your secrets are eating you alive”

Scene: Benedict being the emotional support animal of the Bridgertons to the MA, while squashing his own feelings.

Scene: Sophie comforting Benedict, allowing him to grieve: inc. ‘you have the soul of an artist’ & potentially the ‘you’re different from your family’ speech.

Scene: Lovingly watching Sophie tell stories to his sisters-> filling a role he usually did back when Edmund died. His secret love declaration.

Episode 6: An Offer From A Gentleman (Official title)

This is the height of Benedict’s internal conflict. This is where we get yearning looks, frustration, the jealousy etc.

And this is where various scenes, and various encounters inspire/encourage him to take that step into conflict—by proposing to marry Sophie after their lovemaking. Not for convenience, not for honour, but because he loves her. (I do have this scene semi written already if people want it).

But ofcourse…it takes two to tango and Sophie still refuses due to a combination of not feeling worthy/deserving of a happily ever after, and not wishing to estrange Benedict from his family (knowing all too well how lucky he is to have such a family).

Benedict is left heartbroken, regressing back into alcohol as Sophie regresses and bottles up her feelings.

Primary scenes:

Scene: Jealousy over Francesca and John that leads to Anthony and Benedict on the swings where yearning hearts are revealed (almost).

Scene: Wise advice from Mary Sharma

Scene: Realisation that Sophie is Lady in Silver (leaves him in shock, not anger)

Scene: Confrontation with Genevieve Delacroix.

Scene: Will and Benedict reach revelations. (scene here)

Scene: Benedict starts to paint… (mini snapshot scene)

Scene: Benedict helping Sophie from Araminta (as in book). Sofa Scene & its fallout. Heartbroken Benedict.

Episode 7: Guns blazing.

Most of Benedict’s arc is over now. The last hurdle is learning that one step into conflict is good, but sometimes you have to continue, you have to push yourself forward. And with a little inspiration from Eloise, he does so.

Benedict is isolating himself from his family. However, we see that instead of drinking he is using art to console himself/coping mechanism. Also, his family is more concerned for they have learnt that Benedict’s typical isolation is not actually a need for refuge but because he is spiralling.

Inspired by Eloise, Benedict decides to write a love letter, something that means he can continue trying to persuade her but respecting her boundaries by giving her the choice to read the letter or not. Unbeknownst to him, Sophie is also writing a letter…a resignation letter.

And then the next day, (after a ball) his sisters + Kate come to visit to check up on him. Eventually they talk about teh ball last night and how they got into a confrontation with Lady Penwood. Due to the Penwood servant scandal published recently, Lady Pewnood had been trying to save face. But the Bridgerton girlies clashed when defending a former maid (Nadia, a maid who went to work for Penwoods but returned to the Bridgertons worse for wear). And in that altercation they mention Sophie.

Benedict's tea cup shatters on the ground.

His sisters get increasingly concerned as Benedict seems unaturally agitated, drilling them about how much they revealed and when Daphne explains that they merely revealed Sophie's name and affiliation with the Bridgertons—she has not finished her sentence before Benedict is hastily making the way to the door, his face pale, barely able to explain himself when his sisters press him.

And now we see Benedict Bridgerton striding into Bridgerton house demanding to know where Sophie is. He does not care that his utter terror, his utter desperation, is conveying how in love he is with Sophie. He does not care about revealing that he proposed to her—he just needs Sophie to be safe. Calm, easy-going Benedict is now crying out at his family in unchecked emotion, (no longer hiding his emotions as before). Benedict Bridgerton is shouting at his sisters, his mother, all for the woman he loves. Even though the viewer is seeing, in tandem, scenes of Sophie’s arrest and imprisonment.

Too little too late?

END EPISODE

Primary Scenes:

Scene: From partying to painting

Scene: Eloise confrontation and discussion (in a studio—not on swings)

Scene: Benedicy's sisters come over for tea and reveal that Araminta knows Sophie's location.

Scene: Benedict Bridgerton unleashing his love and feelings

Episode 8: Benedict Bridgerton don’t give two—

In this episode, Benedict is no longer hiding his affection nor intentions about Sophie, especially while he spends two/three days scouring the city for her.

Of course we see real confrontational Benedict when he gets to the jail—lets have the scene of him punching the warden because he made a comment about Sophie. Let’s have Benedict reuniting with Sophie—oh and standing up to Araminta and professing how deeply in love with her he is.

Then Jail scene. This can stay the same—let’s turn comedy gold into comedy platinum. Posy, Benedict proposing, Violet being a badass with-a-capital-M Mama.

After this we have the rest of the episode being happy Benophie, with Benedict not caring for stupid ton rules or whispers as shown at the final ball of the season. As soon as Araminta legitimises Sophie to the King, he stays by her side, dances with her then makes a formal down-on-one knee proposal on the terrace—a mirror to the one two years previously.

The final scene of the entire season is Benedict waking up in bed, heart hammering, terrified—his hand runs over his wife’s hip, and he looks down on a sleeping Sophie next to him. He smiles, settles and whispers against her curls;

This is where I belong.

Primary Scenes:

Scene: getting aid from Ginny an Anthony-> both of them (closest person to Benedict, closest person to Sophie) coming to see how in love the pair are.

Scene: Punch the man! Or the warden.

Scene: Jail scene, jail scene.

Scene: Return to Bridgerton House and sneaking into the bathroom. Bathroom scene—a proper reunification and romanticising. (Yes they do not get into seggsy times at the bathroom, but I'll get into that in another post).

Scene: Bridgerton family dinner. A scene that establishes how natural Benophie are as well as how in love they are with one another. Also shows how Sophie slips into family.

Scene: Ball legitimising Sophie. Dancing and proposing to Sophie (properly).

Montage scenes: Wrapping up of loose ends for all storylines. Benedict courting Sophie. Sitting close to one another at F&J’s wedding.  

Final scene/epilogue: Wedding & wedding night intimate scene. Final shot.

Summary

So there you have it. Throughout the season Benedict is constantly pushed due to his feelings for Sophie to disrupt not only his own beliefs, his family and the ton. But after all is that not what his heart desires?

“What is it to admire a woman? To look at her and feel inspiration. To delight in her beauty. So much so that all your defenses crumble that you would willingly take on any pain, any burden for her. To honor her being with your deeds and words. That is what the true poet describes.” Benedict Bridgerton S2E2

*~*~*~*

What do you think?

I have written a couple of these scenes (or at least done them in greater detail), message me and I’ll see if I can post/edit them up.

Or check out the list here, for more of my ideas.

Or check out the general arcs of my prospective S4 here.

[statementlou]

I'm the same age as Spohie and it bothers me how people are talking abut her like she's too young and it's wrong because she's not an adult she is not a teenager

well anon, I'm sorry people are talking about someone your age condescendingly, I can see how bad that would feel. And I know when I was your age I also thought that was a fine age difference for a relationship and distinctly remember being sad that certain older hotties wouldn't date me. And when I was in my late 20s I actually did date someone a lot younger; but it was weird and I ended up feeling like it wasn't a good idea and ended it. There are a lot of things I feel like younger people have equal or more authority to comment on, but this is a thing that actually I think that being older and a step away from it gives a perspective that's important and in fact, I do think that's an age gap that isn't okay for a romantic relationship so I don't think it's a great look overall. The good news though is that I feel totally fine about a 31 year old EMPLOYING a 22 year old and that she is fully qualified to accept and excel at a job, so best of luck to her with my blessing! (cause boy she's gonna need it😅) I imagine her younger age could in fact be an advantage when it comes to the social media garbage that comes with this position, I feel like she might have a better understanding of what she's in for and how to navigate it than someone older tbh?

[nine-thousand-rats]

The great beef collage

Plus one spohie

[careerjobs92]

Pakistan Army Jobs-Govt Jobs-Latest Jobs

Pakistan Army Jobs-Govt Jobs-Latest Jobs Pakistan Army Jobs. Pakistan Army announced various posts for the Mujahid Raiment. Pakistani nationals who fulfil below given criteria, visit Semi Activated Mujahid Battalion/Head Quarter 103 Burgaid, opposite Ayube Stadium Lahore Choni from 15 Jan 2023 to 27 jan 2023. Vacant Posts: Spohi Spohi Cook Sweeper Agriculture Department Jobs-Govt Jobs General…

[lullabyashes]

Do You Remember Me?

-

Another final attack on @pitohuiart of Sophie and Siren! These ladies have a very fun secret history.

[fishhhsmall]

Recently reread Howl’s Moving Castle And here’s some silly doodle I drew a few weeks ago Can’t stop thinking about how chaotic the last chapter was😂

[luxmavis]

The most annoying thing about Howl’s Moving Castle is when Sophie cleans out Calcifer’s ashes AFTER already cleaning the floors.

[sealbirdy]

Listening to Howl's moving castle audiobook currently and god I still love it. To this day it's one of my favorite books.

Abd yeah, the movie is also amazing and has a special place in my heart, but god I also love the book.

[themadauthorshatter]

OH MY, GOODNESS!

RED SCHOOL UA HEADCANONS/STORY!

Sorry for not picking this up earlier. This part we are focusing on Arc 2: where the RQ cast meets the SGE cast.

Sophie is über excited at meeting the crown prince, but Agatha is less enthused because she's a realist and doesn't know HOW the RQ crew is getting over to the SGE.

Tedros and his friends are ecstatic they're meeting the Nortan princes. They even wonder if there are more than just Cal and Maven.

The students are all on the hot topic of Nortans visiting, though Agatha is pulled aside by Hester, Dot and Anadil, who all express their anger and impatience at Sophie, who won't shut up about Cal in particular, even though he's betrothed. Agatha assures them everything will be fine when Sophie sees that Cal and Evangeline are an item. (Yeah right. Marecal all the way.)

In Norta, it's rumor city among the Silvers, who aren't exactly looking forward to entertaining a bunch of school children.

Our main three in Norta are talking about their upcoming excursion to the school in the Endless Woods, Cal being apprehensive to leave Norta practically unguarded for an unspecified amount of time, but excited at the idea of seeing new lands, Maven just not wanting to go because it seems like a waste of time, effort, and resources, and Mare not exactly sharing her thoughts because she'll be even further away from her family than before.

Evangeline is not amused. At all. She's just playing along until they get back and never have to deal with the students of the School for Good and Evil again.

Regardless, they don't know what could be there, so they need to make sure they're not potentially making any new enemies by this complete accident on Tibe's part. Or, that's his thought process at least. And he's only told Cal this information, as, from what he can tell, the SGE isn't Red and Silver and instead use magic, a concept only found in fairytales. With an entire school of teenage witches and wizards and warlocks, and maybe a dragon or two, assuming this place is prestigious and in the higher end, it's better to make an ally rather than an enemy. And the idea of warring aginst school children does not sit well with Cal.

In training later, though, Maven and Mare see that Cal is absolutely faking his excitement at least a little bit, like 58% faking it. It shows when Arven pits him against Evangeline, Sonya, and Elane.

He ends up nearly burning all three of them alive, lost in wanting to get the fight and group training over with so he can be alone and think his thoughts.

Silly, Cal. Maven is paying attention, and asks what's wrong.

Cal brushes it off and says everything's fine, but Mare and Maven know better, Mare having seen what liars look like and Maven knowing Cal for all his life.

Cal tries to a go about his day and ignore whatever he's thinking, which is difficult to do because Maven's following him. He turns and Maven stops, simply explaining that he's going the same way as Cal. They continue walking, but Cal notices that Maven's not really going anywhere, content to follow his bother. This results in a chase between the two of them, Cal jogying before speinting to shake Maven off his tail, succeeding when he loses Maven down a hall, as in he ran down the hall partially before hiding behind a wall and watching Maven sprint right past him.

Maven only realizes he got played when he can't hear Cal anymore.

He and Cal don't meet up for the night.

He talks about this with Mare, and brings up that Cal's avoiding him.

TV/Graphic novel perspective, over time we see Cal get followed by both Maven and Mare, though over this time Cal grows more agitated and looks more annoyed and tired as they continue to try to see what's wrong with him. Maybe we even get a gag of both Mare and Maven spying on Cal from behind a wall, hiding behind it when he looks over his shoulder, and then continue their spying when he looks back, confused, annoyed, and agitated.

After a week, Cal catches Mare and pulls her into a room before leaving and telling her to wait for him.

He returns with Maven, who's over his shoulder, trying to remain calm, because Cal's stronger and bigger than him, and even tries, in mild panic, to negotiating to not beat him to a pulp, because Cal looks ready to murder them both.

He sets Maven on his feet and tells them both very bluntly to stop following him; not only is it freaking him out, but his soldier instincys are going haywire and he will not heistate to attack them both, which he doesn't want to do because it won't end well.

Mare and Maven apologize, but, being concerned despite herself, Mare asks Cal what his problem is, seeing as how he's avoiding both her and Maven.

Cal gives them a tired look and takes a breath. "Fine."

CUT THE THE SGE!

Tedros, Tristan, and Chaddick are hanging out together away from the Evergirls, though Chaddick does admit that the girls are looking nice today(16 year old hormones, am I right?)

Tedros isn't listening, balancing his sword on his fingertips.

Tristan, arguably the most feel-y of the three, wonders if or when the Silvers will arrive.

Tedros doubts they will, but one can hope.

This turn if pessimism confuses both Tristan and Chaddick, and Tedros happily explains:

They're all just students. What would royals and nobles want with a bunch of schoolchildren? They don't even have magic, don't believe in it, don't know it, just don't have any magic. The closest thing they have to magic is their silver blood, and not even THAT is magic because of how limited it is.

That, and Sophie and the Nevers will probably drive them all away.

Speaking if Nevers, Chaddick admits how weird it is to see them getting showered and clean, presentable in case the Silvers arrive as a surprise visit.

It is odd, but it's in their best interest to play nice with everyone, and that unfortunately includes a very babbly, and planning-to-be-flirty Sophie.

Speak of the devil, Sophie emerges from the trees to find the trio, specifically Tedros, who she wants to talk to.

He leaves, lying that he has some homework to do.

He's really going to find Agatha, who's reading to pass time and get her mind off all the gossip.

They have a rocky conversation about the current events and even wonder what silver blood would even look like, if they ever get the morbid chance to see it.

Agatha asks why he's talking to her and Tedros sighs that he just wants to avoid Sophie, but also wants to be around someone who's smart.

She smiles and asks if he thinks she's smart, sort of silently teasing him as he stammers and tries to come up with a save for the tongue-slip.

He spots Nicholas behind her instead, eyes wide and red as he raises an axe over his head, aiming for her.

Tedros, thinking quickly, tackles him and throws the axe away, which knocks Nicholas out of his daze.

Tedros shouts at him, "What the hell was that?" but Nicholas only looks around, very confused as to how he got into the trees or even got hold of an AXE.

There's confusion all around as Nicholas stumbles away towards some friends, muttering about a headache he now has and how sore he now feels.

Agatha and Tedros only exchange glances, worried and confused.

Was it a curse? A hex? A spell? And how did he get a weapon from the Doom Room?

CUT BACK TO NORTA AS CAL HAS JUST FINISHED SPILLING THE TEA! All three are sitting in a triangle on the floor, because it's close to night time and, because I'm a sucker for parallels in a story, to establish that despite the age differences between them and the students, and the experiences Cal and Maven had on the war front, they're still kids too.

Mare fights the urge to dry heave and Maven only hums at how Tibe is actually paranoid enough to consider war against a bunch of kids.

Cal admits that, yes it is ridiculous, but he's still unnerved. It doesn't help that they're dealing with people who have magic, which is stronger than Silver powers, even Mare's lightning is possibly no match; magic is all encompassing while their powers are limited to one "element."

Mare, in an attempt to alleviate the atmosphere, wonders if everyone will even BELIEVE what Norta says about these kids, as magic doesn't exist in their world.

Cal admits he does not believe in magic. It's not that he's heartless, he's just seen too much to know better. As much as he'd like to, he knows that it's nothing but slight of hand and tricks to fool the other person.

Maven agrees, except he's known because of Elara, but he gives them an explanation closer to what Cal said, only changing that he saw a magic show and saw how the tricks were done to fool the crowd.

When they ask her, Mare admits that if she believed in magic, and if it was real, it would have made things different for her and her family, she also inwardly admits that she'd make things different for all Reds as well.

After a moment of silence between them, Maven asks Cal if he's heard anything about them leaving and visiting these endless woods, and Cal shrugs, sighing that it's all speculation and in the air. If they do go, it will be both brothers and their betrotheds, Elara, Tiberias, a few other High House children(Elane, Sonya, Olliver, and Ptolemus), and a few guards, one of them being Lucas. Volo Samos and the rest of Tibe's council will stay behind to keep Norta in shape while they voyage to the School, stay for a little bit, and then come back, assuming things go okay and don't take long.

WE ALL KNOW NOTHING EVER GOES RIGHT IN STORIES😈

Either way, they all take a breath and leave the room together, Mare hoping Lady Blonos doesn't scold her for being alone with both princes. Cal tells her not worry because they'll cover for her, saying they had a bet and Cal won. Maven mutters, "By default," and he and Mare jog away as Cal chases them, yelling that they'd better explain what that means before he gets his hands on them both.

TIME JUMP/FADE TO THE DAY THE NORTANS LEAVE FOR THE ENDLESS WOODS, THE FADE HAPPENING WITH A PAN TO A WINDOW AND THEN GLIDE DOWN TO THE DOCK!!!

Mare sighs up at the ship before boarding, noting a very anxious Cal looking over the walkway as he himself walks aboard, Evangeline striding ahead of him.

Maven chuckles that Cal's always been a scaredy cat around water, even if he doesn't want to admit it.

Mare admits that while Cal is acting like a child, it's actually a smart move to know yoursl own limits and weaknesses.

From his place higher on the ship, Tibe gives Mare a, "Well said, Lady Mareena," and admits he may have underestimated her ability as a strategist. Maybe her time around Cal and the other High House children is rubbing off on her.

Mare fakes a thank you and notices Maven looking away.

I have not forgotten how Tibe isn't as loving as Maven; no amount of tragedy is going to negate neglect.

Mare tries to back up the now crestfallen Maven, but Elara calls for her son, asking to speak with him alone, mother to son.

He agrees and walks off to meet her, looking back at Mare before he does.

Tibe watches them walk off, and we get a glare off between him and Elara before the Queen leaves to speak with her favorite son.

Once they're gone, Mare asks how he can stand a bitch like Elara. She gets they were arranged to marry, but two people cannot hate each other that much.

For context, Mare's been here for about 4 months. She's visited her family only twice and has had a lot of time with Silvers and dealing with Tibe, Elara, Evangeline, and anyone who isn't Cal, Maven, and Lucas.

Back on track, Tibe semi-scolds her that, as a lady of the court, she should know better than to be mouthy towards him.

Mare, kind of fed up with his BS, folds her arms and counters that as a princess and his future daughter-in-law, they should be comfortable with each other enough for her to ask such a question.

Tibe gestures for her to come closer and she approaches, close enough for Tibe to sneer at her that if she thinks he's letting Maven, his son, his boy, marry a Red rat like her, she's more of a fool than all of the Scarlet Guard put together.

Lost in her anger, Mare asks which he's more afraid of: Telling Mare the truth or having his court, and the rest of Norta, Red and Silver, find out their secret.

With a glare down, Tibe congratulates her on how she's picked up verbal combat, and that she's a good learner. He then admits that the two of them aren't very different.

It offends Mare DEEPLY and she asks what that means as Tibe begins walking away.

Another bit of context, there are two sets of stairs to the upper level of the ship, a left and a right. In a fun bit of camera work/detail for anyone paying attention. Mare would walk up the right hand stairs to meet Tibe and, when he walks down the stairs, he walks down the left hand stairs and Mare follows him, the two walking back to the deck, so Mare basically walked around in a big circle. Just a cool thing I'd add, maybe it'd be symbolic of her situation or of some kind of cycle, I don't know. If you have any ideas, feel free to tell me.

Back to the story, Tibe explains to Mare that they're trapped by who they must marry, or have married in Tibe's case.

Another small detail, on the upper level, Mare would be on the left hand side of the screen/panel and Tibe would be on the right, but on the deck they're sides change, Tibe being in the left and Mare being on the right.

I'm a sucker for small details, so sue me!

Back on track for reals, Mare's VERY confused because she thought princes, or kings, could choose who they could marry. Tibe agrees that, yes, that usually is the case, but the reason he couldn't really choose was because there weren't anymore Queenstrial participants for him to choose from.

"But you have two sons?" Mare ponders.

Tibe shakes his head and asks if she REALLY thinks ending an alliance with Volo Samos of The Rift is a good idea, based on what she's seen from his daughter, Evangeline, half-joking that he's glad Cal is her betrothed and a simple friend of Ptolemus, who's shown how much of a berserker he is. (Yes the Scarlet Guard attack on the Summer palace still occurs.)

Mare asks what he'd do if that was the case, and Tibe chuckles, saying he'd renounce the throne and give it to Maven instead.

The two only chuckle, not comfortable enough with each other to fully laugh, and then Tibe admits that while he isn't sorry for needing to keep Mare a secret, he is sorry that she's alone, and forced into a life she never wanted.

"If you're so sorry, then why not let me go home?"

"Lady Mareena, the high houses would end us both."

For once, Mare can't really tell if he's lying or not, but doesn't get a chance to ask as Tibe returns to the top deck, Cal walking around the desk to Mare. He notices that his father is walking away from her and she looks a little distraught and very confused.

Cal looks between them and asks what happened and Mare simply answers that she and his father were just having a talk before leaving to her room/cabin

It's going to be a long ride to the Endless Woods

This is Part 1 of Arc 2, they do say the second act is the longest.

Keep your eye out for Arc 2, Part 2, because THAT is where things pick up even more

Anyway, Hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading!!!!