#antoine the swan

[justineportraits]

Antoine Coypel Leda and The Swan ca. 1700

[whatamigonnawatchtoday]

Anatomie d'une chute (Anatomy of a Fall)

2023. Courtroom Drama

By Justine Triet

Starring: Sandra Hüller, Swan Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner, Antoine Reinartz, Samuel Theis, Jehnny Beth, Saadia Bentaieb, Camille Rutherford, Anne Rotger, Sophie Fillières

Country: France

Language: French, English

[rwpohl]

isabel, paul almond 1968

[girlwithadragonheart]

Chapter 5 - In War, Victory

This story contains major spoilers for Dragon Age the Veilguard. Read at your own discretion!!

Rook x Lucanis

Summary: This is the one chance they have to face Ghilan'nain. Will Weisshaupt survive?

Word Count: 5.2k

Warnings: Swearing, death, blight, shit keeps going wrong, Minrathous is rough

A/N: Shit's getting real

Chapter 4 DATV Masterlist Chapter 6

After trekking through Rivain and then the Necropolis, we had two new members in our little Lighthouse gang. 

We had a meeting and had some introductions. Harding said Morrigan wanted to meet at the Cobbled Swan, and Davrin said he had news from Antoine and Evka, so we had two new directives to follow. What I didn’t expect was for Neve to come strolling back in at the last second.

My eyes went wide and my chest tensed with everything I’d been wanted to say to her in the last several days.

“Neve! I…” I took a step toward her.

She looked over at me. She looked tired. So, so tired. “Look, you made a tough call with not enough information, and I don’t blame you, I just– It might take time to shake off.”

I only nodded, not trusting my voice with words for her right now. I wasn’t sure if I would shout, scream, or cry, but I knew one of them would happen, and no one else needed to deal with the storm inside me right now.

I decided that meeting Morrigan had to be our first priority. If she wanted to meet, there was good reason, and likely a good deal of urgency as well. I grabbed Harding and Lucanis to take with me. I paused at the Eluvian, hand tightening around my sheathed dagger.

Was I ready to face the consequences of my decision? Was I ready to see Minrathous in ruin? Likely not. But I had to.

I glanced back as Lucanis rested his hand on my shoulder. “We are with you, mi tesoro.”

I frowned and took a breath before stepping through the eluvian. 

My eyes roved over my city, now in ruin. Some places were still on fire, smoke billowing into the sky. Several parts of the city were collapsed. This building, this place where I spent years of my life was in ruin. The old lair of the Shadow Dragons.

There was blood everywhere and broken furniture. I picked through the ruins, feeling that tightness building in my chest again, trying to find any signs of my friends who had cast me out. The minute I stepped foot into the next room, a Venatori executioner tried to jump me.

In a flash, my dagger was in my hand, slicing through his midsection, my magic pulling him into the air as I sliced through his flesh before slamming him down on the ground. I yelled with the force of it, falling to my knees. Silent tears slowly dripped down my cheeks.

“Rook…” Harding said sadly.

“It’s all gone…” I mumbled.

Lucanis put his hand on my shoulder, “Kalais…”

I shrugged him off, standing and wiping my tears harshly. “Come on. Let’s not keep Morrigan waiting.” I could feel their gazes on my back as I left behind what I once considered my only home.

The streets were anything but better. There were bodies littering the streets, Venatori and civilians. But the ones hanging were Shadow Dragons. My people. My friends. The bags over their heads kept me from seeing if I knew them. Worked with them. Had meals with them. Shared stories with them.

“This will not stand,” I seethed through my teeth.

I needed to keep my mind on what we were here to do. I didn’t think it would be this hard, seeing this city in ruin. Foolishly, I suppose. I had thought it would be easy after it mistreated me for so long. But I had friends here, I had family, once. And now they were suffering because of me. It shouldn’t have been a trade.

As we entered the Cobbled Swan, Harding spoke. “Why did Morrigan want to meet in Minrathous? Isn’t she helping the Veil Jumpers in Arlathan?”

“Indeed,” Morrigan said as she approached, and I looked over, surprised. “But today, we have a guest, and she needed the anonymity that only a city provides.”

“Well, look who it is!” Harding said with a big grin as a woman approached from the shadows.

The woman smiled, “Good to see you, Lace.”

“Rook, you remember how Varric and I served the Inquisition? Well, this is Inquisitor Lavellan. The woman who led us all,” Harding said.

I bowed my head to her. “Andaran atish’an.”

“Aneth ara. I wish we could be meeting without our gods threatening to blight the world,” Inquisitor Lavellan said to me. She was beautiful. Round purple eyes, blood red lips and the hair to match which fell to just below her shoulders. She had Vallaslin dedicated to Mythal curving up her cheekbones and a scar across her left eye.

“A blight that spreads wider with each passing heartbeat,” Morrigan said.

“Morrigan and Harding have told me about what you’ve accomplished since taking over for Varric. You’ve put together an impressive team, and you’ve got the best chance—maybe the only chance—to stop Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain,” Lavellan said.

“We’ve been doing what we can, but I’ll be honest: Right now, it feels like we’re in over our heads,” I told her.

“You’ve already faced setbacks. You’ll face more. Your actions will have consequences,” she said in response.

“Have you seen Minrathous? I know all about consequences,” I said, almost defensively.

“Such thinking is a trap you can ill afford,” Morrigan said. “The Viper was blighted because of Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain. But the city of Treviso was saved because of you.”

“I wasn’t ready to become the Inquisitor,” Lavellan told me. “I wasn’t ready to have to choose between helping templars or mages, or decide the fate of every Grey Warden in southern Thedas. Eventually, when the choices I made caught up with me, I disbanded the Inquisition rather than let it turn into another problem. Maybe someday you’ll face the same situation. But I’m asking you not to worry about the future until we have one. Right now, we need you to stop the gods.”

“All right,” I took a breath. “I’ll do my best.”

“And while you do so, Rook, the Inquisitor will do her best to ensure that the rest of the world remains intact. A daunting prospect, given that most of the South is under siege by darkspawn,” Morrigan said.

“It’s that bad?” Harding asked.

“If not for the Inquisitor, the South would have collapsed completely. She has not been idle while you assembled your team. She did not come all this way to leave you with empty words, however. She brought something no one else could,” Morrigan told us.

I saw a glowing blue wolf statuette sitting on the table beside her. “A wolf statuette. We’ve found others like it in the Crossroads. Where’d you find yours?” Harding asked.

“I found it right around the time Solas’s ritual failed, when he was pulled into the Fade. We’ve examined the magic, and it’s tied to the Veil. To him. Somehow,” Lavellan said.

“Solas is ancient, and his magic is part of him in a way far beyond that of mortals. I suggest you take it to the Crossroads and see if something in the Lighthouse calls to it. Perhaps it will yield some insight into your new “ally”,” Morrigan told me.

“Right now, Solas is giving us the information we need to track down the gods,” I said.

“Yes. He is a vital source of information and advice, just as he was to the Inquisition before. He is the Dread Wolf. He led a rebellion that lasted centuries. How many alliances do you think he has made and broken?” She asked.

“I considered Solas a friend. I’d hoped to convince him to see reason,” Lavellan said. “It’s too late for that now, but still… if this can give you some insight, help you understand him… Whatever it turns out to be, I hope that it helps,” she told me.

“We should go, Inquisitor. The armies in the South need you,” Morrigan said.

“Right… Harding, stay sharp. You’re my eyes in the North.”

“Always, Inquisitor,” Harding replied.

“Rook, good luck. If I come across anything else that can help, you’ll be the first to know,” Lavellan told me.

“Thank you.”

—-----------------------------

The dining hall was quiet, save for the faint creak of the old wooden beams overhead and the occasional whistle of wind through the cracks in the shutters. I could work out the logistics of wind in the Fade, or drafts, but I wouldn’t think about it too hard. 

A single candle burned on the table where I sat, my fingers idly tracing patterns on its surface. I’d brushed everyone off all day, avoiding their eyes, deflecting their questions. I told myself it was for their benefit. They didn’t need me falling apart when there was still so much to do.

But now, in the stillness of the empty hall, my mind turned traitorous. Images of Minrathous flashed behind my eyes: the crumbling walls, the smoke curling into the sky, the bodies hanging in the streets. My friends, my family, my people—all of it lost. And it was my fault.

The sound of footsteps broke through my spiraling thoughts. I tensed, schooling my expression as Lucanis stepped into the room. He didn’t say anything at first, just walked over to where I sat and leaned against the edge of the table. His chocolate eyes studied me, unblinking.

“You’ve been quiet all day,” he finally said, his voice low, gentle. “That’s not like you.”

I forced a smile, though it felt more like a grimace. “Not much to say, I guess.”

“That’s a lie,” Lucanis replied, tilting his head. “Your silence is heavy enough to weigh down the whole hall.”

I huffed out a humorless laugh. “You always did have a flair for the dramatic.”

“And you always try to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders,” he countered. “Talk to me, Rook.”

My chest tightened at the tenderness in his voice, and the way it reflected in his gaze. I wanted to shrug him off again, to throw up the same walls I’d built with everyone else today, but the cracks were already forming. My hands curled into fists on the table as I spoke, my voice trembling despite my efforts to keep it steady.

“It’s all my fault,” I whispered. “Minrathous… everything. They’re dead because of me.”

Lucanis’s hand twitched as though itching to reach out. I didn’t blame him for withholding his touch after I brushed it off earlier. “You’re blaming yourself for the actions of the gods, Rook. That’s a burden no one could bear.”

My throat tightened, and I shook my head. “I should’ve done more. I should’ve known—”

“Listen to me,” He said firmly. “It should not have been a trade. You are not them. You’re human—or close enough,” he added with a wry smile, trying to coax some warmth back into me.

But I couldn’t muster even the faintest grin for him right now, and that pained me more than anything. The tightness in my chest was unbearable, the weight of it still crushing my lungs, my heart. I stood abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the stone floor. “I… I can’t do this right now,” I said, my voice breaking.

I didn’t wait for his response. Turning on my heel, I fled the dining hall, my vision blurred by the tears I refused to let fall.

By the time I reached my room, the dam finally broke. I slammed the door shut behind me and collapsed against it, my knees giving out. Silent sobs wracked my body as I buried my face in my hands. The weight of my grief, my guilt, my rage—all of it poured out in the safety of my solitude.

For a moment, just a moment, I allowed myself to be weak. To break. To feel.

—-------------------------

Davrin, Lucanis and I made our way to the Hossberg Wetlands to meet with Antoine and Evka. We had to collect samples of the blight for them to study. Antoine said he could almost hear the gods commanding the blight in the samples we got him. The First Warden showed up, calling me a snake and a liar and told me to meddle somewhere else—typical of him—before commanding that Antoine and Evka return to Weisshaupt and stop listening to me.

After he left, they told me they would continue to do what they could against the Blight, and if they knew anything about the gods’ plans then they would tell us immediately. I was frustrated with the First Warden, and I may have snapped at him. He told me that anger was better aimed at my magisters, and oh, trust me, it is, but he was in my immediate vicinity.

We regrouped at the Lighthouse afterward, and Davrin sought me out.

“Rook. Just got word. First Warden’s calling everyone back to Weisshaupt. Everyone except me, seems like. Guess the First Warden didn’t like me joining your team,” he said with a shrug.

“Calling Wardens back from all over Thedas is a big step,” I said. “Did he give any reason why?”

“Not exactly. But I’ve heard rumors of a massive darkspawn horde on the move. Even hearing there’s an Archdemon with them.”

“How long do we have?” I asked.

“A day? A week? Darkspawn are charging through the Deep Roads. Makes it hard to get an accurate idea of where they are. Rook, if the gods have an Archdemon… Warden lore says Archdemons only show up during a Blight. Doesn’t say anything about elven gods. Seems like the rules have changed, and we’re going in blind. We need to know what we’re up against,” he said.

“I’ll talk to Solas. See if he knows anything about any of this. Make sure the others are ready to move.” He nodded before leaving me.

I headed up to my room, passing the Taash’s space and the Infirmary as I went, only taking a second to glance up those stairs. After. After I talked to Solas, I would talk to Varric.

I took a seat on my chaise lounge, closing my eyes and leaning my head back to trance.

—-------------------------------

“How fares your battle?” Solas asked as I entered the Fade.

“The gods are moving against Weisshaupt and the Grey Wardens. We’ve heard rumors the darkspawn are being led by an Archdemon,” I told him.

“And you have questions,” he observed.

“I need to know how Archdemons relate to the gods. Are they just like the blighted dragons, or are they something else?” I asked. “I also need to know how to deal with the gods if they show up at Weisshaupt.”

“I propose a bargain. I will answer your question, if you answer mine.”

“What?”

“How are the Grey Wardens? Do they understand the truth of the danger yet?” He asked.

“I’ve gotten a few of them to come around,” I told him.

“”A few of them”?” He questioned.

“We’ve even got a Grey Warden on the team now. Davrin.”

“But the Grey Wardens as a whole still do not trust you yet, as I feared.”

“We’re making progress,” I said carefully.

“When I asked you why you should be trusted to lead the fight, you said you were no stranger to fighting stronger opponents. That sufficed for me, but the Grey Wardens fight darkspawn and Archdemons, foes no one else can stand against. They see themselves as the best prepared for this battle. You cannot defeat Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain without the Wardens. What will you do to bring them to your side?”

“All I can really do is keep trying to get through to them,” I said.

“Have you ever ridden home in a wagon and felt the streets go from paved to dirt beneath the wheels? The horses slow, and everything grows quiet as you near home. What do you call that feeling?” He asked.

To say I experienced that feeling would be a lie. I had never known what he described, as I never had a true home. It was arrogant of him to assume I did.

“I don’t really have a word for it,” I replied smoothly.

“No, you do not. Elgar’nan destroyed that emotion. He burned it from the mind of every living being. There were spirits of that feeling, just as there are spirits of joy, or fear, or despair. I begged them to fight,” he told me.

“What happened to them?” I asked.

“They waited too long. Without the emotion in this world to focus on, they faded until nothing remained,” he said sadly. “When you grow quiet, it is a part of your soul reaching for a feeling and finding emptiness, because I failed.”

“I understand. I’m not going to fail.”

“How?” He questioned. “What will you do?”

“Whatever it takes,” I said firmly.

“Easily said. But it will have to be enough for now. You have answered my question, and I owe you an answer in return.”

“Yes, The Old Gods of Tevinter. The Archdemons.”

“There never were Tevinter gods. The Archdemons, as you call them, were always merely the weapons of the Evanuris.”

“All right. Let’s hope we can find the gods before they find their “weapons”,” I said.

“Unfortunately, the dragon thralls’ life force is bound to the Evanuris as both power and protection. You will not be able to kill, or likely even harm, one of the Evanuris until their dragon thrall is slain,” he told me.

“It says a lot about these talks that “kill an Archdemon” is the easy part.”

“It will not be easy, but you are this world’s only hope. I would not suggest this path if I did not believe you could succeed,” he said.

“Aw, the god of lies believes in me,” I jutted my lower lip out in an exaggerated pout.

“Even with their dragons dead, the Evanuris are powerful and well protected,” he continued. “You will need to use my dagger, the one you recovered. It can pierce their enchantments and strike them down.”

“All right: Kill the Archdemons, then use the dagger to take down the gods.”

“Even a single opportunity to strike the Evanuris down will be rare, fleeting, and costly. You will not have another chance to catch them unawares. When you strike, you must be fully prepared.”

—-----------------------

I was pulled out of my trance to a knock on the door before it swung open. I looked back, seeing Varric hobbling over to me. He took a seat on the chaise next to me.

“Hope I’m not interrupting,” he said.

I smiled. “I was getting tired of listening to him talk anyway.”

“I can imagine,” he chuckled. “Solas loves nothing more than to listen to himself talk.”

I huffed a laugh. “Yeah…”

Varric nudged my arm. “How are you holding up, kid?”

“I don’t think I am, to be honest,” I told him, getting up and starting to pace around the small space. “Minrathous… Things are bad there, Varric. My people- My friends are hanging in the streets. Ventori are everywhere like some kind of parasite, almost worse than the blight. Shit’s on fire and barely holding together. The Wardens aren’t listening, the gods have Archdemons protecting them and keeping them untouchable, and now every Warden in the vicinity is getting called back to Weisshaupt except Davrin because he actually sided with us.”

Varric let me talk uninterrupted. He always knew when there was shit on my chest that just needed to come out. He knew me well enough to know I let it build and build and build until there was an inevitable explosion. Usually, he was able to get to me before that explosion happened for minimal collateral damage.

“Alright…” He stroked a hand over his beard. “What are you going to do about it?” He asked.

I blinked. “We have to go to Weisshaupt. The gods are marching there with their army of darkspawn. It’s our only opportunity to face them so far.”

“Sounds like you have it figured out.” 

That was Varric. Always able to straighten things out and simplify them to make it sound attainable. Or that was the effect he had on my thoughts at least. A straightforward question with a straightforward answer to get me out of my head.

“I don’t know how to handle an Archdemon, let alone two, let alone the gods, Varric,” I said with a defeated sigh, taking a seat beside him again. 

He turned to face me. “You’ll do it anyway,” he said. “Because you have to. Because they depend on you. Because I need you to,” he told me, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Because I know you can do it.”

“What if I can’t?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Then you die and it won’t be your problem anymore. But that won’t happen,” he said easily. “Because you’re spiteful enough to not quit and cautious enough to know what the right thing is. There’s a reason I brought you here, kid, even if you can’t see it, I can.”

I leaned down, hugging him. “What would I do without you?”

“Hopefully, you’ll never have to find out,” he said, patting my back.

—--------------------------------------

Our plan so far was to sneak into Weisshaupt via eluvian without the First Warden noticing. Hopefully skipping out on any conflict with him. The whole team was geared up for this fight, and one way or another, we were ending this today or we were going to die trying.

We slipped through the eluvian, and Davrin commented about how they must’ve moved it. Anything else was interrupted by the abrupt shaking of the fortress. The wall behind the eluvian crumbled, and the mirror fell through, landing several meters down on the ground. By some miracle, it didn’t break.

“Darkspawn!” A young girl said behind us. I turned back, seeing a girl probably no older than ten.

“Sit tight…”

“Mila.”

“Stay hidden, Mila. We’ll be back,” I told her.

We cleared out the darkspawn outside, and Mila ran out to us. She said she was the blacksmith’s daughter and that she would lead us to the war room.

If I had to protect anyone today, I would protect her.

“When did the darkspawn attack, Mila?” Lucanis asked.

“Just a while ago. They started climbing the walls!” She told us.

“You should stay here,” I told her.

“I can’t. I need to find my dad.” She stood firm.

We pushed the door open and the aspect of Ghilan’nain’s head floated in the sky. “Grey Wardens. I wield the power of the blight.” Her archdemon roared and flew straight at us, its great wings knocking the soldiers back against the walls. I planted my feet firmly. “Today, you face the finest child of the gods!”

“A dragon!” Lucanis exclaimed. “Ghilan’nain brought a bloody dragon.”

“Worse, that’s an archdemon,” Davrin said.

“We have to get inside!” I said.

“The war room isn’t far!” Mila told us.

“Stick close,” I said to her. 

Darkspawn were swarming the building and with a sweep of flames, I was able to knock them off the sides.

“How are you doing, Mila?” I asked.

“Better than you!” she exclaimed.

“She’s a cloud!” Lucanis shouted. “How do I kill a cloud with a dagger?”

“One thing at a time, Lucanis. Let’s not die before we even get the chance!” I said.

I really needed to focus. Darkspawn swarmed us, but that was the easy part. I tried to shut out whatever Ghilan’nain was saying. She was just gloating at this point, bragging about her bringing the Archdemon back and restoring her cunning. Whatever. I just needed to not die out here before I could give Lucanis the shot to kill her.

We pushed open the doors to the war room and Mila yelled good luck to us before running off. I hoped she would be safe, but I knew it was likely none of us made it out today. The Wardens were arguing, voices rising and getting heated the longer it went on.

“No one’s retreating,” The First Warden said.

“There’s no choice, ser. We’re under siege—we have to fall back to the dragon trap!” Evka argued.

“Forget the trap. Send word to Commander Janos. Rally outside the wall,” The First Warden commanded.

“Janos is dead,” I interrupted, throwing his sword on the table and scattering his war map.

“Rook?” The First Warden stood up. “What are you doing here?”

“You need all the help you can get,” I said.

“You’ve caused enough trouble,” he sneered. “Arrest them!” He started marching around the table.

Antoine got in front of him, trying to stop him as one of them grabbed my wrists, pulling them behind me. “Non! You need to listen to them! We are under attack by a god!”

“Do you hear yourself? There’s no such thing. Stop finding excuses to be a coward. We’ll stop the enemy outside the walls.”

I pulled my hands free, taking steps toward him. “The enemy is outside the window.”

“Grey Wardens don’t hide in our castle. I won’t ask good soldiers to turn tail and run. We’re an army of steel holding back the blight. Order every blade out of Weisshaupt.”

“We’ll all die, ser!” Evka slammed her hands down on the table.

He leaned down to get in her face. “That’s an order, Warden!” He marched around the table, stopping in front of me.

And by the gods, evil and good, I wanted nothing more than to punch him in the face. But I remembered what Varric said to me so long ago. The biggest thing I had up my sleeve was my charm, and it was better to talk than to fight, especially when we were up against a bigger enemy.

So, as much as I wanted to reel my elbow back and sucker punch him right in the nose, I took a breath and faced him, standing tall. “First Warden… you’re confused. Notice the blood in your ear?” He put his hand up, bringing it back down to inspect the blood. “It’s the Calling, isn’t it? The Archdemon’s messing with your mind while its master mocks you.”

“No one mocks the Wardens,” he said defiantly.

“Of course not. You’re the only force in Thedas that can stop this. But not if they burn your castle to the ground,” I said firmly.

“Not on my watch.”

“This is your watch,” I shot back. He turned away, facing the Wardens. “Unless you become the leader who defied a god.”

“They’ll know our steel.”

Our talk was interrupted as the Archdemon blasted fire through the windows. We all ducked behind the overturned war table. The First Warden told me to get to the trap and get it working. He said he would have my back. I was holding him to that.

There was a lot of running, a lot of fighting, and a lot of rerouting as we tried to figure out how to get to the trap. It seemed every chance we had was getting squandered, and the long we went, the less likely it looked that we would make it out of this alive. Mila lowered a ladder to us to save us at one point, and that was the only reason we lived at all.

We managed to fight off a horde and regroup at the library where Mila found her dad and reunited with him. If the two of them made it through the end of this, it will have been worth it.

Evka said the trap would work. Ghilan’nain would see me and send everything in her power after me, Davrin would kill the Archdemon, and then Lucanis would take his shot. And hopefully, I would live to see another day.

We killed a lot of Blight as we made our way up to the trap. And now… I die. I walked to the edge of the ramparts, holding up the lyrium dagger. “Hey Ghilan’nain. Come and get it, bitch!” I yelled.

The giant cloud of her head floated over to me, massive blue eyes looking at me. “The Dread Wolf’s knife? Retrieve it!” Her voice boomed.

The Archdemon landed behind us, and I looked back. Come on, come on, come on… It rose up on its hind legs, wings spread out behind it. If it wasn’t blighted, I could almost call it majestic, but the blight twisted the dragon beyond beauty.

It dove for me, and I jumped down a set of stairs. The movement had it step on the plates, and the spikes shout out from the walls, about ten of them hitting the archdemon, and it wailed. The Wardens cheered.

“Davrin…” I said.

“Give Assan a hug for me,” he said to me.

“Stay your blade, Warden,” First Warden Jowin hobbled down the stairs, blade in hand.

“Ser…”

He coughed. “Let an old man spill the blood today. And make amends for his mistakes.”

“No hard feelings,” I told him.

“There should be,” he coughed again. “But thanks for lying to a dead man.”

He walked over and Davrin stepped aside. I watched as the First Warden mounted the Archdemon, pledging. In war, victory. In peace, vigilance. In death, sacrifice. He lifted his blade, and the second before he could plunge it into the dragon’s neck, Ghilan’nain burst up, grabbing him by the throat.

“Racing heart. Ragged breaths. A waste of useful blood.” She plunged her fist with open claws into his stomach. “Lasa hedallin ghellara…” She motioned down at the dragon with her fist, and I watched the Archdemon melt into blood, seeping into the ground.Ghilan’nain looked down at it as she dropped the First Warden, discarding him like shit on her boot. “...fenathra mellas…” Another, different dragon head burst out of the ground on a blighted tentacle, all teeth and no skull.

It was no use. Every time we got one down, she summoned two more. I was losing hope. I was losing my will. And I was exhausted. So exhausted I didn’t dodge in time, one of the spiked teeth on the dragon getting me right through my side. 

“Kalais!” Lucanis yelled.

“I’m fine!” I gritted through my teeth. “Bring it down, Davrin!”

As he climbed atop the dragon, I focused on pulling the blight out of the wound, keeping it from spreading. Instead of the essence going into Davrin, it shot back into Ghilan’nain.

“Lucanis, now!” I screamed, throwing the dagger at him.

He caught it in a sprint, wings coming out as he flipped and dove through the air straight at her. Before the dagger met its mark, a large blight tendrill slammed into him. Somehow, he landed in a crouch, sliding back in the dirt and sand.

Ghilan’nain screamed, the small cut on her face bleeding. I watched her warp blood magic between her hands, screaming in rage. Blight started popping up everywhere.

I winced from the pain in my gut, running over to him. “Let’s go!” I yelled.

“Give me another shot!” Lucanis looked pissed.

“Too late!” I said. I felt blood soaking through my fingers. “Back to the eluvian.”

Lucanis looked down where I clutched my side. “You’re hurt.” Immediately, his attention was on me, and I grabbed his wrist, breaking for it even though it was burning me up to do so. Every movement I made spread fire through my center.

“Is it working?” I shouted.

“Hope so,” the Warden blacksmith replied.

“Best odds all day!”

I made sure all the others got through before I did, sprinting through as the blight overtook Weisshaupt.

I landed on the other side on my feet. Pain lanced through my stomach, and I cried out, my vision gaining spots. A second later, I was falling.

“Rook!” Someone yelled. Not someone. Lucanis. 

Then the world went dark.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Raising the stakes

Le me know if you want to be added to the tag list <3

[telekinetictrait]

"A happy ending was imperative. I shouldn't have bothered to write otherwise. I was determined that in fiction anyway two men should fall in love and remain in it for the ever and ever that fiction allows." (Maurice – E.M. Forester, written in 1913, published posthumously in 1971)

i forgot to do a full body screenshot of the second 1920s look :( but the headshot will be under the cut! argh!!!!!!

23 years left :)

1800s directory / 1900s directory

cc links under the cut!

see my resources page for genetics

keaton : get together hat / base game hair / get famous suit + shoes

kit : base game hair / chere-indolente's newlyn fisherman cableknit / cyber-frog-cc's modern man trousers / seasons boots

levin : coeurdavide's boaters for the boys / i don't remember where the hair is from sorry :( / cyber-frog-cc's modern man shirt and trousers / mmoutfitters' fancy feet shoes recolor

lonnie : i don't remember where the hair is from sorry :( / linzlu's 1910's mens set (download here) / get together shoes

maxwell : historysims4's mr hat + antoine hair + not so formal outfit

neil : happylifesims' 1930's fedora hat / twentiethcenturysims' swan suit / base game shoes

norris : cottage living hat + outfit / seasons boots

oberon : johnnysimmer's kyrie hair / vroshii's vintage vest and pants / get together shoes

odie : johnnysimmer's kyrie hair / twentiethcenturysims' tommy knicker suit / get famous socks / vintage glamour shoes

patrick : base game hair / wyattssims' tucked button up with long sleeves / simstrouble's robby trousers / base game socks + shoes

phocas : all base game!

reiner : johnnysimmer's ramdi hair / madameriasims4's retro polo / wyattssims' high rolled pants with rope belt / base game socks + shoes

ryland : paranormal hair / happylifesims' harold lloyd turtleneck / paranormal pants / base game shoes

shelton : sheabuttyr's andre afro / paranormal open suit / makesims' rolled corduroys / i don't remember what pack the shoes are from but i know they're from a pack

sylvain : qrqr19's moonstone hair / base game earrings / serenity-cc's faux fur coat + terra jeans / discover university shoes??

terell : ceeproductions' sponge curls / aniraklova's vice city shirt / base game pants + shoes

tyodor : dbasiasimbr's afro mohawk / base game earrings + necklace (magic earring ken, anyone??) / bustedpixels' decades glam rock conversion / wistfulpoltergeist’s night city gloves / vampires leather pants / base game boots

ulrich : okruee's adonis hair + flowers / base game necklace / definitely not grunge revival top + pants + sneakers

upton : johnnysimmer's will hair / bustedpixels' vintage adidas jacket / nucrests' comfy loose joggers / base game sneakers

thank you to @chere-indolente @cyber-frog-cc @coeurdavide @mmoutfitters @linzlu @historysims4 @happylifesimsreblogs @twentiethcenturysims @johnnysimmer @vroshii @wyattssims @simstrouble @madameriasims4 @sheabuttyr @makesims @qrqr19 @serenity-cc @ceeproductions @aniraklova @dbasiasimbr @bustedpixels @wistfulpoltergeist @okruee @mossylane and @nucrests !!!

as promised, heres what would have been the second 20s look (miles)

[utilitycaster]

Does Dock Town only have two bars and are they both named after animals? Discuss.

Companion quests! I mean this in complete seriousness: I know that failure to do companion quests doesn't just mean your party is less bonded and leveled up and happy but also literally the problems you didn't deal with come back to bite and kill you. Which is why it is kind of awesome that Taash's quests have thus been "how do I fit into my culture and my home and my gender and my mother's expectations" because like, not to get too deep but in real life you're way more likely to encounter that being a risk to someone's life and well-being than, say, a blood mage who tortured them for a year in an underwater prison and was also sleeping with their sketchy cousin.

It's been a hot minute since 10th Grade Honors English but I think that Lucanis and Emmrich's companion quests are like, each at one polar extreme of what is technically covered by Gothic Horror. Lucanis is the psychosexual blood-soaked betrayal kind in a setting that makes "Hellfire" from Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame look Lutheran; Emmrich's is in a haunted house. This sounds like I'm dunking on Emmrich's quest and I'm not. Johanna is incredible. I'm obsessed.

Hossberg Wetlands update: solved two more creepy wet mysteries. In one, the person was dead (and the new doctor is nonbinary which was actually hilarious because you ALSO do Taash's realization of their gender in the Hossberg Wetlands. Literally that and Antoine and Evka only things going for it). In the other, two wardens were dead and the third so wracked by near suicidal survivor's guilt that Antoine and Evka sent him to the Free Marches. I get the Wardens are facing existential dread with the theft of the griffons and the fall of Weisshaupt and *gestures around at everything* and their whole deal is fighting the blight but I cannot imagine Lavendel: Come for the Seasonal Depression, Stay Because You Died is helping morale.

GOT HARDING HER TREE AT THE BLACK EMPORIUM. I've gifted everyone everything.

I still have a bunch of sidequests but I have learned from the fucking necropolis dragon; I'm going to progress along a bit further. I think I heard the reviews of YOU CAN GET LOCKED OUT OF SIDEQUESTS and swung too far in the other direction.

I accidentally stumbled on further music room puzzles and now the second door in the library is 2/3rds open. RIP Solas you would have loved Myst. Speaking of I still need to talk about the Crossroads.

There's certainly criticism to be had about some of the writing but I have actually been impressed at how...natural the companions feel? Like, the banter changes notably after Weisshaupt, and further after companion quests! The conversations back at the lighthouse that you can eavesdrop on do as well! Neve actively becomes more emotive and relaxed and sociable after the Cobbled Swan case if you prove to her that you didn't abandon Dock Town, just made an impossible call and couldn't be in two places at once; she is also a shipper on deck for Taash and Harding and she's NOT subtle. Davrin and Lucanis visit each others' rooms and don't kill each other!

Speaking of: Lucanis and Neve flirting is like tell me of your childhood and your deepest fears and your love for your home and rage for the people trying to destroy it and your hopes and dreams. Harding and Taash flirting is, and I'm only barely paraphrasing, "are you looking at my legs?" "yes, you are like 3 feet taller than I am, they're all I can see," "you know they go all the way up?" "*flustered giggling*" Lucanis and Davrin doing whatever the fuck they are doing is like "I would never kill you. No one would take a contract out on you and you're not the type of Warden to take a contract out on yourself." "I'd kill you over Spite but I have been convinced to get the approval of at least two other team members first."

Taash called Emmrich a skullfucker which was funny as hell honestly. I'm playing a Mourn Watcher and the dialogue gets a little wonky due to my not being a mage sometimes (Taash: your necromancy is fine it's spirits not corpses. Reaper Warrior Watcher Rook Ingellvar: bestie I just do necrotic damage when I throw my shield. why is THAT not a dialogue option) but like. honestly an extremely funny conversation. Emmrich has NEVER fucked a skull, he's too professional and not attracted to the dead sexually, but also, Taash you think this man is a top? where is THAT dialogue option. I mean I wouldn't say it because my Rook is like BE NICE NECROMANCY IS NORMAL AND CHILL but like, for other people.

[leatherandmossprints]

‘Leda and the Swan’

Jerzy Hulewicz 1928 | Michelangelo 1530 | Unknown artist & Attributed to Rosso Fiorentino (1494-1540) | Paul Cézanne 1882 | Greco-Roman mosaic C3rd A.D | Antoine Coypel (1661–1722) | Théodore Géricault 1780 | Arturo Michelena 1887

[backgroundagent3]

Thanks for the tag @accidental-spice!

Three non-romantuc duos: Daisy Johnson and Jemma Simmons from AoS, Joey Tribianni and Phoebe Buffay from Friends, and Emma Swan and Regina Mills, from OUAT.

A ship that might surprise others: I don't know if this is surprising, maybe cause it's not canon, but Daisy Johnson and Antoine Triplett would have been an amazing couple.

Last song: Diamonds by Rihanna.

Last film: I think it was The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but I'm not sure.

Currently reading: Book Lovers by Emily Henry.

Currently watching: 2 Broke Girls.

Currently consuming: air.

Currently craving: the Christmas holidays.

No pressure tagging @aintinacage, @zephyrmonkey, @redwidow616 and @redvanillabee!

[blackhakumen]

Mini Fanfic #1156: Nightly Christmas Shopping Around Southtown (King of Fighters)

6:45 p.m. at Southtown's Stanfield Mall: Clothes Store........

Rock: So that's what a onesie looks like, huh?

Shingo: (Happily Shows Off a Blue Colored Cat Onesie He's Currently Wearing in Front of the Dressing Room) Yep! Comes with various different sets and colors: cows, horses, elephants, lions, King of Dinosaurs, you name it and they're probably selling a few of them elsewhere. I'm thinking of getting another cat one for Leona-san for Christmas this year so we can match. Different colors though, I'm hoping Teal colors are still in stock.....

Rock: (Nodded in Agreement) Yeah, I can see her wearing something like that on her off days. You two would look more like a cuter pair than you are already.

Shingo: More like cuter trio. We can't forgive about Heather in the equation. Check it! (Presents Rock Another Onesie, Kitten Size)

Rock: (Chuckles Lightly) They actually cat sized onesies too?

Shingo: I know, crazy right? I just found out about it after I left the house. It's looks so adorable~ (Presents Rock a Wolf Onesie in his Other Hand) I even got you cool wolf one if you ever wanna join in on the club.

Rock: (Smiles Sheepishly) I'll.....give it some thought later, bud.

Few Minutes Later at the Candy/ Sweets Shop

Rock: (Picks Up a Tall Looking Candy Cane From Out of a Barrel) How about we give the girls this candy cane? It's nothing too special, but I have no doubt she'll enjoy it regardless.

Shingo: (Nodded in Agreement) Sounds good. (Shows Rock Four Chocolate Bars in his Hands) We could also give them these Willy Wonka's Chocolate Bars as a bonus, but we're gonna have a find a really clever hiding spot for all of them.

Rock: ('Sigh') That's easier said than done really. Kula has a nose of a bloodhound.

Shingo: ('Sigh') So does Naomi.......You think Terry still have that Mini Fridge of his?

Rock: Probably? I'll have to ask him tomorrow. But for now, let's try and hide them somewhere neither of their noses can find.

Shingo: Right.

Few Minutes Later at a Sunglasses Store

Rock: (Sighs While Looking for the Coolest Looking Sunglasses They Have in One Selection) I swear, of all the things he could want for Christmas this year, why does it have to be pair of sunglasses? (Turns to Shingo) Doesn't he already have enough of them back home or something?

Shingo: (Shrugs) Probably. Even then, that won't stop him from getting more.

Rock: (Forms a Bit of a Teasing Smirk at Shingo) Sounds like a certain someone else I know with notebooks.

Shingo: (Starts Pouting at Rock) Hey, at least I use my notebooks for strategic and research purposes. K' has a million sunglasses under his belt and I have YET to see him wear anything different than the one he's wearing now!

Rock: True, but you can't deny some similarities you guys have from each other

Shingo: ('Scoffs') Oh please. (Crosses his Arms Together While Turning Away) I'm way more mature and proactive than that mopey, lazy bones wishes he would be!.....(Slowly Turns Back to Rock) D-Don't tell him I said any of that, okay?

Rock: Help me bake a few treats for the party in a few days and I'll pretend this conversation even happen. (Put his Hand Out)

Shingo: (Gives Rock an Agreement Handshake) Deal.

Few Minutes Later at the Pet Shop Store

Rock: (Looks Down at Some of the Items He Got inside the Basket He's Carrying) Okay. I got one two marten plushies for Itokatsu to play with, a star-shaped chew toy for Antoine and a mini Terry costume for Ukee to wear.

Shingo: You know, I always keep forgetting you guys used to have monkey for a pet.

Rock: Yeah, it has been a while since we last saw him, but I heard from Uncle Andy that he's been doing great in hus and Aunt Mai's place as of late. Speaking of which.....(Pulls Out a List From his Coat Pocket) After we leave here, we gotta head to the Besuty Shop to get a hair spray for Aunt Mai, a Swan Soap for Mary, and a Sakura Flower hairpin for....(Clears his Throat a Bit While Blushing) Hotaru.....

Shingo: (Chuckles Lightly) D'awww~ You're buying your girlfriend a Christmas gift already?~

Rock: (Sighs While Rolling his Eyes) Don't start. She told me was going to get me something days ago, so I figured I would try and return a flavor. I just hope there's still some more left in stock. Heard they ran out quicker this time of year.

Shingo: Then we'll just have to get it before anyone else does. Im sure sure it won't be that hard to do, right?

An Hour and a Half Later at the Beauty Shop

'Door Opens'

Rock and Shingo jumps out of the store in an exhausted state.

Rock: (Starts Panting Along with Shingo) Thank.....GOD.....we got out of there......

Shingo: Right!? It was like.....a freaking WARZONE in there!.....

Rock: And those perfumes.....Who idea was it spray them all over the place!?

Shingo: I dunno, man.....But those ladies in there.....REALLY weren't holding any punches at all.....

Rock: They didn't. (Pulls Something Out From Inside. Bag) But at least we got what we were looking this whole time- Ah dammit! I got the wrong flower!

Shingo: (Takes a Look at the Rose Shaped Hairpin Rock's Holding) Well, you can never go wrong with anything rose related.

Rock: ('Sighs Heavily') I guess....At least it's better than coming out here empty handed. I'm never going back in there for as long as I live.

Shingo: Neither will I. (Notices a Bench Sitting Right in Front of Them) Wanna go sit down for a bit? I'm too exhausted to walk now....

Rock: (Gets Himself Up From the Ground Before Helping Shingo Up Afterwards) Sure. We could use a bench break right now.

The duo makes their way to the bench and sit themselves down, exhaling plenty amount of relief from out of their systems.

Shingo: Don't know about you, Rock, but I think I might be done with Christmas shopping for now

Rock: The list is near completion, so we'll get more done in a day or two. Maybe have K' and Kula tag along next time around.

Shingo: I'm down with that motion. It'll give me more time to think about something special I wanna give you this year.

Rock: (Turns to Shingo) You don't have to go out of your way to do that for me, even if it is for the holidays.

Shingo: (Turns to Rock) I know, but you're the first new friend I've ever made since I've moved here. So I wanna show just how much I appericate you and our friendship so far, you know?

Rock: (Heart Begins to Melt in Genuine Happiness) I appericate you too, man. Our friendship alone is more than enough of a Christmas gift for me to have going forward.

Shingo: (Heart Starts Melting in Happiness as Well)

Rock: (Shrugs) Buuuut if you still insist on getting me something regardless, then I won't stop you. Just don't get me something too expensive, yeah?

Shingo: (Starts Smirking a Bit) Give me a hug and I'll get you cheapest looking jacket known to men.

Rock: (Chuckles Lightly) Sounds good to me! (Gives Shingo His Much Need Hug) Thank you.

Shingo: (Hugs Rock Back) No problem. Happy Holidays, Rock Howard Bogard.

Rock: You too, Shingo Yabuki. You too.

@thelexhex

@tampire

@albion-93

@theweebmaster31

[shadouko]

more detective and camellia stuff. edith, tiger lady. swan guy, antoine (long-time friend/former lover/co-performer? not too sure about that).

[princessnielle]

　 ҉ welcome to my mini library

want to read

Seaside (Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie)

The Midnight Library (Matt Haig)

Black Showman dan pembunuhan di Kota Tak Bernama (Keigo Higashino)

Di Tanah Lada (Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie)

Jakarta Sebelum Pagi (Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie)

White Wedding (Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie)

Kita Pergi Hari Ini (Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie)

Tiga Dalam Kayu (Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie)

Laut Bercerita (Leila S. Chudori)

The Poppy War (R.F. Kuang) [Owned but haven’t read yet. ]

Befofe The Coffe Gets Cold (Toshikazu Kawaguchi)

Dollagot : Toko Penjual Mimpi (Lee mi Ye)

The Turn Of The Screw (Henry James)

The Seven Husband of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jenkins Red)

Pasta Kacang Merah (Durian Sugekawa)

Six of Crows (Leigh Bardugo)

The Little Book of Sloth Philosophy (Jennifer McCartney)

Norwegian Wood (Haruki Murakami)

Rumah Lebah (Ruwi Meita)

Gadis Kretek (Ratih Kumala)

Persuasion (Jane Austine)

The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)

Pemetik Bintang (Venerdi Handoyo)

Atomic Habits (James Clear)

currently reading.

Babel (R. F. Kuang)

If You Could See The Sun (Ann Liang)

Six Crimson Cranes (Elizabet Lim)

The Song Of Achilles (Madeline Miller)

A Little Princess (Fances Hodsgon Burnett)

Restore Me (Tahereh Mafi)

You'd be Home Now (Kathleen Gasglow)

Girl Who Feel Beneath the Sea (Axie Oh)

A Good Girl Guide To Murder (Holly Jackson

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop (Satoshi Yagisawa)

This Time Its Real (Ann Liang)

Sapiens (Yuval Noah Harari)

finished.

Crime And Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)

White Nights (Fyodor Dostoevsky)

The Idiot (Fyodor Dostoevsky)

Percy Jackson series (Rick Riordan)

Harry Potter series (J.K Rowling)

Normal People (Sally Rooney)

Auntumn In Paris (Ilana Tan)

Pride And Prejudice (Jane Asuten, Anna Quindlen)

A Brief History of Time (Stephen Hawking)

Dunia Sophie (Jostein Gaarder)

All The Light We Cannot See (Anthony Doerr)

The Star are Fire (Anita Shreve)

Mitologi Nordik (Neil Gaiman)

if He Had Been With Me (Laura Nowlin)

It Ends With Us (Collen Hoover)

Seperti Dendam Rindu Harus di Bayar Tuntas (Eka Kurniawan)

A Monster Cells (Patrick Ness)

Almond (Sohn Won Pyung)

Tarian Bumi (Oka Rusmini)

Perempuan yang Menangis Kepada Bulan Hitam (Dian Purnomo)

Progressnya Berapa Persen? (Soraya Nasution)

Simmer Down (Sarah Smith)

Semesta Cerita Kita (Ruth Pricilia Angelina)

Memor Marla (Safira Haspari)

Shatter Me Series (Tahereh Mafi)

Addicted To You (Krista Richie)

Mengapa Luka Tidak Memaafkan Pisau (M. aan Mansyur)

The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint Exupery)

The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde)

The Old Man Eating Alone (Howard Pearlstein)

Blink The Power of Thinking without Thinking (Malcolm Gladwell)

Reason To Stay Alive (Matt Haig)

Wonder (R. J. Palacio)

Open Water (Caleb Azumah Nelson)

Rumah Jadah (Royyan Julian)

We Should All Be Feminims (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)

The Devotion of Suspect X (Keigo Higashino)

Malice (Keigo Higashino)

This is how You Lose The Time War by Amal el Mohtar and Max gladstone.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Kapan Nanti (Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie)

Kitab suci kesatria cahaya (Paul Coelho)

Near to the wild heart (Clarice Lispector)

heaven (Mieko Kawakami.)

The Luis Ortega survival club by Sonora Reyes

tidak ada new york hari ini by M Aan Mansyur

resign by Almira Bastari

1984 (George Orwell)

Black Swans (Eve Babitz)

the newcomer (Keigo Higashino.)

Breast And Eggs (Mieko Kawakami)

Keajaiban Toko Kelontong Namiya (Keigo Higashino)

[sanjarka]

tag nine people you want to get to know better. or however many. whatever.

was tagged by @kindsoberandhalfhope. thanks 🌹

three ships - captain swan (ouat), nick and jess (new girl), olek and ling yi (1889) / outside of everlark obviously

first ship - a tie between lucia and kaito (mermaid melody) and auslly (austin and ally)

last song - because dreaming costs money, my dear / mitski

last movie - i think it was a rewatch of amélie back in february or atonement

currently reading - i'm not going anywhere / rumena bužarovska

currently watching - nothing at the moment

currently consuming - like soft buns with cheese and ham

currently craving - ramen

tagging @ladyalayne @rosaaeles @bellairestrella @iimpa @rosegardeninwinter @katnissmellarkkk @districtunrest @antoine-triplett @a-little-bit-of-my-everythingg @endlessnightlock no pressure <3

[omgkatsudonplease]

my duty to you both (on equal love)!

Versailles, 1779

“You know, I’m quite impressed that you’ve managed to stay on your horse for so long,” said the Duke after a couple hours of slow and easy riding at the back of the company. “Your predecessor didn’t have as much luck in the saddle as you seem to have.” 

“Lord Tureis wasn’t one for hunting, then?” asked Uncty. 

“Oh, he had quite a spirited go at it, at first,” said the Duke cheerily, “but unfortunately for Thierry le Petit Chevalier, all his aspirations for hunting glory went tumbling right off the back of this horse here,” he nodded at the gelding that Uncty was currently riding, “alongside his person, when the flutter of his wife’s skirts startled the poor thing into bucking him off, nearly trampling Madame la Précieuse in the process.”

Uncty frowned. “What was Lady Virginia even doing out in the park?” 

“God only knows.” They were now approaching a cluster of nobles, Muggle and magical alike; the laughter of some of the court ladies were pealing out as clear as bells. “Despite the whole thing having played out in front of several witnesses, those two insist to this day that the injuries they’d sustained from their little misadventure stemmed from a run-in with a werewolf. As if there were any werewolves at Versailles—we haven’t seen one here since François Antoine brought us the pelt of the Beast of Gévaudan!” 

Uncty hummed. “It seems to me that Lord Tureis and Lady Virginia were not as popular at the court as they have led me to believe,” he remarked.

“In their first couple months here, the two of them kept a modest pair of rooms in the Couloir de Sorcellerie, alongside the rest of the magical courtiers, and immediately began to swan about like they were the ones who owned the place.” The Duke shook his head with a wry little smile. “Perhaps it was a happy misfortune that le Petit Chevalier’s inadvertent injury to his wife gave them the excuse they needed to fall back to Paris. Her Majesty the Queen had been most upset about Madame la Précieuse’s insinuations regarding Her Majesty’s behaviour towards her friends.” 

Uncty had yet to see the Queen. He couldn’t help but fear the possibility that his predecessor might have completely killed the Queen’s interest in receiving visits from Avalonian envoys. Perhaps Lord Black, Lord Tureis’ father, had simply been pulling strings in the Department of International Magical Cooperation to give his third son a plum posting abroad, where he and his young wife could be exposed to the world beyond the shores of New Avalon.

((Basically, it's part three of a prologue triptych to Heirs of Avalon! It covers the rise of Unctuous Osbert to the post of Minister for Magic. Osbert, per Pottermore, was believed to be a puppet of Septimus Malfoy, so this fic also covers the span of their relationship:))

With a sigh, the Duke extended a hand towards the sylph. “Monsieur Osbert, might I introduce to you my second cousin, the Comte de Landerneau?”

“My friends call me Septimus,” added the Count, with a playful little grin.

“And do your lovers call you Septy?” teased Gabrielle. “It’s what they’re saying in the latest libelles, you know.”

“And whatever is printed in the libelles must be the truth,” rejoined the Count with a wink.

“Oh dear. I had no idea our little get-togethers in the Petit Trianon were such scandalous orgies,” mused Gabrielle in mock-horrified tones. She then reached out and grabbed the Count by the hand, pulling him back from Uncty. “Come, come, Septy, the Queen’s tired of dancing with that clod Lafayette and needs a better partner!” 

“Until our next intersection, Monsieur Osbert,” trilled the Count before he was led away by Gabrielle into the crowd. Uncty watched him go with his heart in his throat.

((Thanks for the ask <3))

[percervall]

hi mar!!

just had a thought of like… how beautiful friendship is 💕 I get to giggle w you about so many things and it’s the best. I’m so grateful for you 🥰

on a side note, would love to know your top 5 driver / player bestie duos (trios?) and why they’re your fav!

Our conversations always make me feel so much better, us becoming friends is the best thing that could've happened 🧡

I love this question!

I mean, Carlando is the obvious one. Carlos and Lando are so different in many ways but them together brings out the playfulness in Carlos and it is truly my favourite brand of chaos 🥰

Charlos is a close second. Charles and Carlos are often described as white swan, black swan, and I think that encapsulates their friendship beautifully.

Lando and Daniel is just so dear to me. They are little brother - big brother coded

Esteban and Mick 🥰 but also Esteban and Lance

Andy Robertson and James Milner, it’s such an unlikely pairing but it just works so well? The golden retriever/black cat pairing of my dreams

Robbo and Trent are also so dear to me. I miss the Wing Men series, Liverpool please bring it back

Karim and Nico is another besties pair that I have so much love for. The “Eines Must Weg” (sp?) video has my whole heart

Antoine and Marcos Llorente is also so dear to me. Same with Anto and Jan tbf. I love a grumpy/sunshine pairing.

Thiago and Kostas has my whole heart and I don’t understand why there are barely any fics for them. Although these two would fall more in the married couple category than besties

Speaking of Kos, Kostas and Mo! Somehow them together shouldn’t work but it’s the cutest thing ever

Curtis and Cody! 🥰

Darwin and Lexi are just adorable and constantly ribbing each other and I love them so much

Can’t leave out Trent and Dominik, they are pretty much attached at the hip

That’s all I can come up with!

[ilovelotsofthings]

So they other day (2 days ago) I was at work and brain just went Selkie Eggs (qsmp)

My head just is holding these thoughts in and putting them on scraps of paper so I could move them to my Google docs

There isn't a lot for it yet but I am so smiley about this au

So here is the list of everyone.

It is pretty set in stone what they are now

Some of them are up to change in the other category but we'll see.

===

ADULTS

Selkies

Foolish 

Jaiden

Slimecicle 

Missa

Spreen

Cellbit 

Bagi

Felps(?)

 Baghera

Etoiles 

Tubbo

Rivers

Half Selkie 

Quackity 

ElQuackity

Wilbur Soot

Mike

Mariana 

Maxo

Roier (¼)

Aypierre 

Lenay

Nihachu

Tinakitten

Willyrex

Carre

Other

BBH (Demon)

DanTDM (Human)

Fitmc (Human)

Philza (Bird Hybrid)

Luzu (???)

Vegetta (Human)

Forever (Werewolf)

Pac (Human)

Antoine (Human?)

Kameto (Human)

Irommouse (Demon)

German (Human)

Pol (Human)

====

Some random facts (train of thoughts)

Selkies cannot become human until they are 5+ years old.

All the folks (minus A1, Hope, and ElQuackity) arrived all at once

Well there was still a 2 week period without the eggs but still

All the "Eggs" have 5 lives in this universe

I have no plan at the moment to perma-kill the eggs but still want some deaths

For example when Hope appears, Hope is down 1 or 2 lives because of the Feds

A1 I have decided is ElQuackity's which means A1 is with ElQuackity through everything.

Also is why the name wasn't changed.

ElQuackity isn't the best or really a good dad 

The Feds are just normal basically. Testing for who knows what reason. I mean Selkies are interesting 

Also we are going by taking a Selkies skin has them under your control but only so they can try and get it back

A lot of Selkies choose to live on land 

A Selkies coat can turn into a piece of clothing or just actual clothes

Still working out what all the Selkies and half Selkies with skin turn the skin into when it isn't in use

Also I started this 10/5/2023 (October)

So today Kameto came back so now I actually know what do do with him

The Tragedy of your friend (Kameto) selling you out for cash (This Au, not canon… I think)

Also that helped me confirm to keep him human.

Also yes the Feds kidnapped some of the older ones and had the other be born under their custody 

Paid the Selkies to sell out their own babies. Also probably to stay alive and keep their skins.

OH and yes Hope and A1 are still literally seals

Not helpful for ElQuackity as he has no seal skin so he has no idea how to raise a baby seal

Hope at least ends up with Cellbit and others who can teach her 

Also everyone if a hybrid is still a hybrid just mixed in somewhere along side Selkies genes or no Selkies genes

Aka demons still demons, birds still birds, etc

So yes Baghera who is full Selkie had some folks bring in fun genes.

Also ElQuackity is currently in my au is Quackity's brother. Just looking like clone half brother :|

Also ElQuackity is a black swan hybrid alongside being half Selkie with no skin (went to Quackity)

Currently ElQuackity and A1 on the brain A1 lost a life due to ElQuackity neglecting them. Man is having trouble raising a seal with the intelligence of a toddler

^^^

That is all for now. I haven't typed all my thoughts down yet.

Trying to work on it but I am bad at ever doing anything with any aus I make.

[bonheurportatif]

Contacts

Une Alexandra, deux Alexandre, une Alexia, une Alice, une Aline, un André, une Angélique, deux Anna dont une Anna-Maria, neuf Anne, dont une Anne-Charlotte et deux Anne-Gaëlle. Une Anouk. Un Anthony, un Antoine, deux Arnaud, deux Aurélie, deux Aurélien. Une banque, une banquière. Un Baptiste, trois Barbara, un Barry, une Béa, un Benjamin, une Bérengère, un Bernard, une Bertha. Trois Camille, deux Carine, trois Catherine, une Cathy, deux Cécile, une Cécilia, une Céline, plusieurs Centres, deux Chantal, deux Christelle, un Christian, deux Christine, un Christophe, deux Claire, une Corinne. Un Damien, un Daniel, une Danielle, deux David, une Delphine, trois Denis, un dentiste, un Didier, un Djib et une Doria. Une Edwige, un Élian, une Éliane, une Élise, un Elliot, une Émeline, trois Émilie, une Emma, un Emmanuel, une Emmanuelle, cinq Éric. Un Fabien, une Fabienne, un Fabrice, une Flavie, une Florence, trois Florent, deux Florian, deux Floriane, deux Franck, deux François dont un F.-C., une Françoise, trois Frédéric, une Frédérique. Une Gaëlle, une Garance, un Gérard, une Ghislaine, un Grégory, deux Guillaume, un Gwenaël. Une Hélène, un hippocampe. Trois infirmières, deux Isabelle. Un Jack, un Jamal. Un Jean-François, un Jean-Marc, un Jean-Philippe, cinq Jérôme, un João, un Johann, un Jordane, une Judith, une Julie, huit Julien. Une Katy, un Kervin, deux kinés. Deux Lætitia, deux Laurence, trois Laurent, une Leslie, un Lewis, trois librairies, un Louis, une Louna, un Luc. Une Manon, un Marc, une Mariane, quatre Marie, une Marina, deux Marine, une Marion, un Martin, deux Martine, un Matthieu, une Mathilde, deux Maud dont une Maud-Elisa, deux Michèle, deux Mickaël, un Mirko, une Morgane, une Murielle, une Myriam. Une Nadine, une Nani, une Natacha, neuf Nathalie, une Néda, deux Nelly, un Nico et un Nicolas, un notaire. Une Odile, trois Olivier, un orthodontiste, une Oskia. Une Pamela, deux Pascal, deux Patrick, une Pauline, une Perrine, cinq Philippe, un Pierre, un Pierrick, un plombier. Une Quitterie. Un Raoul, un Raphaël, un Rémi, deux Renaud, une Rieko, deux Robert, un Roland, deux Rose dont une Rose-Marie. Une Sabine, une Sabrina, une Sandrine, une Sandy, quatre Sarah, un Séb et un Sébastien, un Serge, trois Séverine, un Simon, une Solenne, cinq Sophie, deux Stéphane, un Swan, une Sylvie. Un Théo, un Thibaud, deux Thierry, un Tony. Trois Valérie, un Victor, une Viki, quatre Vincent, trois Virginie. Un Wilfried. Un Xavier. un Yannick, un Yarol.