#aoife thoughts

[peonypyxels]

✨

[holocene-sims]

next // previous

may 10, 2013 6:20 p.m. actual hell

[hallabun]

refs for my inquisitor, ruairi, and his younger sister, aoife! ruairi is a hunter and the clan's spy, while aoife is the keeper's first.

this is pre-inquisition since i wanted to draw them in their dalish clothing at least once. i have a secondary canon where aoife is the inquisitor, but in canon she goes missing after clan lavellan's destruction :,)

[forgottenroisin]

house malconaire + pre-raphaelite paintings

[forgottensebastian]

Winter Mornings | Sebastian & Aoife

Sebastian had guessed that he had not been the only one to insist that the Malconaire ladies enjoy one of the finer suites that the castle had to offer, for when he had mentioned it to the servants they were not only unsurprised by this request, but seemed to have already begun undertaking it.

But he, more than the others, hoped that they had all rested well and had spent the evening laughing and whispering into the night, with the knowledge that they would not have to wake before dawn to make themselves available to be at Valentina and Cassimir's beck and call.

He'd ordered that food be brought directly to their quarters in the morning, so they need not rise before they were ready.

He also meant not to appear quite so eager to see them, but when it became late midmorning, he found that he was rather anxious to see how they had all gotten on -- and to confirm that Valentina and her son had continued to leave them alone. He may not have much say as to what happens at Malconaire, but he would not allow for them to be mistreated in his father's house.

He was admitted into their quarters by a servant who was attending to them during their stay and found that only Aoife was there. She stood, almost statue-like, by the window and it was only when she turned to look at him that he felt something was wrong.

There was something in her look that Sebastian could not quite place. "Lady Aoife? Are you alright?" He asked, softly. She looked as though she had not slept at all and there was something else, too, besides exhaustion that seemed to wear on her. Whatever it was, he did not like seeing her like this. He was determined, in that moment, to do whatever he could to help her.

He just didn't imagine that he and his family happened to be the very cause of it.

[foldingfittedsheets]

My deer analogy character Aoife has moved from concept into a character sheet. Her color comps were fun- I’m leaning toward either 2 or 3, if you have color thoughts or feelings feel free to share. She’s meant to be inspired by a Thomson gazelle, but she is also an ethereal elf lady and should look Otherworldly.

[morefictionlesslife]

Till death brings us together

It is a continuation of my last story, but I guess you can read it as a stand-alone. Enjoy :)

Aoife/Niten

Niten was standing in front of a mirror wearing a black outer robe with white inner layers. His family crest was embroidered on both sides of his kimono – it was a discreet white crest with two arrows flying beside each other.

It reminded him of her.

Of his fiancée. They, too, had been flying beside one another for so long that he forgot to even hope to have his feelings returned. Until he died and was brought back to life by Tsagaglalal and Prometheus’ aura.

He remembered her strong small body embracing him, calling out to him, getting angry at him. The last one wasn’t surprising. It happened from time to time. But then he had taken the leap he had feared for so long. He had told her how he felt, because then at least, she would know the truth, if nothing else. She teased him, breaking his heart in the process, then she had accepted and kissed him.

Aoife had kissed him.

Niten smiled to himself when he thought about that moment. It was engraved in his mind forever.

He was so in thoughts that he completely missed the dressing room door being opened. Although, he would never admit to such a heinous accusation. He had a reputation to uphold.

“How fares the groom? Having cold feet?” teased Prometheus from the corridor leaning heavily onto the doorpost. When Niten turned around to look at the man, he couldn’t help but smile along. The Elder looked good for his age and the events that had occurred. His reddish hair was somewhat recovered, only a small portion of grey hair peeked through the red. His suit was…acceptable, not Niten’s personal choice, but clothes did not matter to the man. It was already than enough to have the elder man there, even though his orange suit made the groom’s eyes water.

“Never,” promised the swordsman, smiling even wider. How could he ever, when this was everything, he had ever wanted?

Prometheus huffed and straightened himself up. “Alright, alright. The first one out of the two of you, who would break this up, would probably be my niece.” Niten’s eyes betrayed his shock, and his hands trembled. Did Aoife say something? Do something? Was that why the older man was there? Had she changed her mind? Did she not want him anymore?

“Ah, you misunderstood me, my friend, I was merely being hypothetical.” The younger man gave the Elder a warning look. His shoulders slumped as his breathing became regular again. The swordsman had really lost a considerable number of years just from the teasing of this family. The number of times, he had had a heart attack, because one of the redheads or their uncle decided to be playful and lead him astray with their words, was astronomical. He could have grey hair just from those three. Not counting their grandmother, who said would show up for the wedding, making the Japanese swordsman sweat even more.

She had made her threat come true, because Niten had already gotten a glimpse of her when he had checked the garden if everything had gone according to plan. He had contemplated whether to approach the Witch of Endor and risk losing his head for asking Aoife’s hand or just pretend he didn’t see her and bolt. His immaculate upbringing hadn’t allowed him not to greet his fiancée’s family member. But the Witch had decided for him when she turned her back to him and went to greet her brother. Somehow the Japanese had known that she had known he was there. When he turned back to get dressed, he felt a big mirror to his left watching him.

The Elder moved closer to his soon to be son-in-law. He considered the twins to be his daughters so… “She is getting ready for the ceremony just as you are.” Prometheus bowed down to whisper into smaller man’s ear. “And, honestly, being even more nervous than you.” He pulled back. “She is fidgeting around the room like some ancient god is about to attack her. But then again, she would probably be even calmer if that were the case. Aoife can fight with everything…hold a decent conversation and talk about her feelings…not so much. The fact that she is doing both with you, means you are the perfect one for her.” Aoife talked with him about her feelings to a degree, would have the Japanese added, but kept it to himself.

Niten smiled for the hundredth time this day as he thought about his future wife. It was too good to be true, but over time the Japanese had learned to take everything given to him. It would only take a second to be lost, so he intended to make every moment count.

“And your purpose here is to make me even more nervous?” asked the Japanese with a grin as he straightened his kimono and pushed away dust particles, that had found a way to his robe.

Prometheus grabbed an apple form the wood cabinet standing near the door and took a huge chunk from it. “Exactly,” crunched the older, making both laugh. “No, actually I am here for the free food and alcohol, messing with you is just a bonus.” Niten heard him laugh in the corridor as he left the Japanese alone again.

The ceremony was about to start in 30 minutes. Niten couldn’t be happier and more rigid at the same time. In an hour he would be Aoife’s husband to take care of her, to be there for her and fight beside her. And she in return, would be there for him.

So why couldn’t he stay calm? His heart was beating like crazy; his hands were all over the place and his controlled breathing, he had worked for so long and maintained throughout his immortal life, was nowhere to be found. What a swordsman he was when he couldn’t handle his own wedding?

Perhaps, it was his biggest challenge yet. And the most rewarding one. Being Aoife’s husband was both terrifying and everything he could ever want. What if he disappointed her?

“Knock, knock,” said an angel or a demon, depended on who to ask, from the doorway. Though, the man was almost a hundred per cent sure, that he was the only one, who would call Aoife of the Shadows an angel. Even her uncle considered the twins to be little rascals.

Niten stood with his back to the door, but he could see the smiling redhead, when he looked at his fiancée from the mirror he was standing in front of. When their eyes met, the man gave her his biggest smile, which reached almost to his ears, and his dimples framed his already happy face.

“You know, in some cultures the groom should not see the bride before the ceremony,” said Niten to his wife-to-be, who had begun to sneak towards him with inaudible steps. His beloved wore a long black cape that covered most of her dress. Some of the green material still peeked through the opening in the front, leaving Niten no doubt that she will look gorgeous in it. The colour matched the green of her eyes perfectly.

Aoife smirked at him: “And there are cultures, where the bride will feast on her husband’s heart after the wedding.”

He chuckled and turned around just in time to catch Aoife securely in his arms, when she jumped at the man without much thought. The redhead put her hands in Niten’s combed hair, making a mess of it within seconds, and wrapped her legs around his body, taking him into her strong embrace. The cape and the dress underneath it, did restrict some of her movements, but both paid it no heed, while smiling to each other.

The Japanese proposed, while supporting his future wife with his hands around her back: “How about we disregard both of these traditions?” He caressed his beloved’s spine with his right hand, making the woman lean in even closer.

“Mm, and I so looked forward to the second one,” said Aoife slily, while sliding her fingers across his husband-to-be’s face making the swordsman’s face flustered, before finding Niten’s lips with her own.

Showing intimacy in public or even in their own home hadn’t come easily for the warriors. Niten could tell that most of the time, she was worried that she had crossed some lines, even if he had stated many times that she had a permission to kiss and hug him whenever she felt like it. Even the man was not sure, how much he could allow himself to do, what she was comfortable with. That required talking and while Niten had no problem talking to others, it seemed that every time he looked at Aoife, his breath caught, and his face started burning. She made him nervous. So, both held back in fear of hurting or insulting the other.

Some days felt like the old days, like nothing had changed, like they hadn’t gotten engaged or expressed their affections. Niten would wake up alone for Aoife needed very little sleep, Niten would make breakfast, they would go hunt demons or other creatures or the couple would practice or watch TV. The night would roll, and the man would go to bed.

Niten didn’t know how to break the cycle until one rainy day, he took a leap, because the last time he allowed himself to chicken out, he became to regret it a little too late.

The Japanese had sat on a couch and read a fairly good book, when he couldn’t take it anymore. He wanted Aoife to know the depth of his adoration for her. After that morning at the bay, when he had poured out his heart, and occasional words, he hadn’t really had a chance or rather given himself a chance to convey his devotion to her.

“Aoife,” started Niten carefully and stared at the woman training with her nunchaku inside their apartment near the pier, where his boat was. He sat in his reading corner as Aoife had once called it, while she destroyed yet another training doll in the living room. She wore black training clothing, not even a strand of hair out of place, when he drew her attention to himself.

She looked back at him with curiosity in her beautiful eyes. “What is it?”

“Would it be agreeable if I expressed my love for you?” asked the swordsman. He wasn’t satisfied with how the question came out, it left out so much, but it would have to do.

As expected, it brought more confusion than clarity. The redhead blushed, brought her weapon to a standstill, and stammered abashed: “Like right now or…?”

Niten stood up and placed the book on the counter. The Japanese offered the warrior a little smile while explaining: “I meant…always.” The woman put the nunchaku silently on the table and came closer her eyes searching for his. Have they always been that green? That beguiling? “Maybe not always, but more often. You accepted my hand in marriage and yet, sometimes I don’t see any difference, while I loved what we had before my death,” Aoife flinched, her lips grimaced at the horrible memory, “now that you know my feelings and aren’t repulsed by them, I don’t want to keep them silent, I would like to say, you mean the world to me, many worlds, I would like to hug you once in a while and…”

Niten stopped abruptly to shake his head. In his enthusiasm, he had completely forgotten that the redhead could decline any time and decide she didn’t want his affections to be expressed every day. To mend his mistake, he switched the theme and offered quickly: “If you don’t want, I, of course, will…”

Aoife wrapped her hands around his neck to put her head against his shoulder. Niten, while freezing for one second, recovered fast and pressed the woman as close as possible with his hands around her slim frame. He lowered his face into her soft spiky hair to breath his love in. While not having spores, Niten could swear she did have unique smell to her that he could recognize anywhere. To him, she smelled like home.

“Niten,” whispered Aoife, her warm breath against his neck making Niten shiver.

“Yes,” he wasn’t sure, he should add that little endearment, but couldn’t hold himself back, when his heart was overflown with love for his fierce warrior, who clutched him so firmly to her, “my love?” The swordsman had called her that also on that fateful day, when he felt, he could do anything.

The redhead blushed furiously against him, but the man didn’t miss the small smile that had crept up her face and refused to go away.

“What is it?” repeated Niten overjoyed with happiness of being that close to the one he loved.

Suddenly, Aoife looked up at him and removed her hands from around him, letting the cold air hit against his neck once more. She stepped a few steps back and began waving with her hands in no direction: “It’s just, I don’t know how to…to do all of this. I’ve never been engaged before; I’ve never had someone I…someone I…someone I love. Romantically at least, that much. You will have to tell me, what I must do and when I do something wrong.” Niten’s face lit up seeing her saying the words once more. He never doubted the sincerity of her feelings, but it was nice to hearing them out loud.

She remembered an error in her earlier words and added: “Well, there was Cuchulain.”

Niten didn’t think there existed anyone he hated more than Cuchulain. The human had lived hundreds, if not thousands, of years before he was even born, but that did nothing to quell his rage for him. Partly because he was the core reason for so much of Aoife’s sadness; this man had separated her from her beloved sister. While not entirely his fault; the twins should have communicated better or, from Niten’s understanding and few pieces of information from Aoife, at all; the Japanese found himself hating the human.

The second reason was a little bit silly and a lot more personal. Cuchulain had been in love with Aoife, the woman he loved. While Niten was busy pining over Aoife, the unattainable warrior, she had confessed that there were some romantical feelings involved from her part with this Irish warrior. Although Scathach seemed to have been the one that had been falling harder for the man, it had come as a shock to Niten when the object of his affections had said that she had feelings for this ancient fighter.

The night after this discovery was one of the very few nights immortal Niten, the fierce Miyamoto Musashi got absolutely wasted. He didn’t remember half the things he did the next morning, only the ugly emotion of jealousy that had clouded his mind and heart. Aoife made a few comments about his unusual behaviour but didn’t pry further. The man wished she had, maybe then he would have had the courage to state his feelings, but no, he sulked in the shadows and trained harder than ever, so his dreams would not revolve around the happy couple, making him sick and broken-hearted.

Niten really hated the man, this Cuchulain.

It was a few years back, when they heard about the Las Vegas incident with Scathach and Billy the Kid of all people. Cuchulain or Setanta, like he had called himself, had, in fact, survived and tried to kill Scathach, blaming her for his fate. Niten had to physically restrain Aoife from going to Las Vegas and destroying the entire city. The swordsman hadn’t the faintest clue, what that would accomplish, but he felt the urge to do the same. The man he had hated had somehow survived and going after the twins.

Not on his watch.

Their fury was unnecessary, because Scathach had already killed him. Niten didn’t want to know, what Aoife would have done, if the immortal had harmed or, even worse, killed the twin, Aoife’s baby sister.

So now, he took a deep breath and reminded himself, that Aoife loved him and not the dead warrior.

At the same time, he had contemplating bringing back Cuchulain so he would kill him himself, Aoife muttered quietly to herself: “Aoife, you coward, you can fight anyone, but can’t say Niten you love him?” She kicked a cardboard box lying on the ground towards a small ocean view window.

The man watched her adoringly. Niten told Aoife as she finally made an eye contact with him: “I love you, too, very much. I, too, have no previous experience in marriage or that kind of companionship. But…Every romance I have read or heard about is different, unique. I don’t think there is one right way to do things.” The Japanese began to cross the room with steady steps. “It is just us. Do what feels right because our relationship isn’t defined by someone else’s. It’s ours. So, kiss me when you feel like it, hug me when you like it or don’t, and I promise to do the same. If we don’t cross each other’s boundaries and talk about those things, it will be whatever we make of it.” He came to stand in front of red-faced Aoife and held his hand out for her. “So, would you like to learn and explore together?”

Aoife hesitated only for a second before taking his hand and pulling him down to kiss her.

After that, things got easier. Niten allowed himself to hug her from behind when he found her irresistible. Only when she knew it was him because he didn’t wish to end up dead. She kissed him sweetly when he made her a warm drink on a cold winter night.

It was good. Very good.

This was how things got to this point that these two ended up choosing January the 3rd as their wedding date.

“We are not having sex before our marriage ceremony,” told Niten breathlessly as he slowly and regretfully pulled back from Aoife’s relentless kissing, his lips swollen and his black hair like a bird’s nest.

Niten had stumbled, after the first few kisses, Aoife clinging to his shoulders and feet like vices around his midsection, backwards into an armchair, while losing his common sense and deciding that 30 minutes before the wedding would be the perfect time to have a make-out session.

But how could he deny her anything, when she looked at him like he was her world?

Aoife smirked happily and not flustered at all for she didn’t need to breath: “You want to wait until marriage?”

The man smiled slyly: “A little late for that, I think.” Aoife lowered her lips to his neck to bite there, being careful with her vampire teeth, and Niten would have let her; even when a horrible image of him standing in front of the altar with a visible hickey on his neck, came to his mind; when a shriek filled the room, making the woman hop to her feet in less than a second to fight whatever was coming their way. Niten was not far behind.

“MY EYES! I never want to see this ever again!” came an upset voice from the doorway. It was a pitch higher than Aoife’s. “You have 20 minutes to get ready and you two decide to…Never mind, you will have to come. And soon.” Scathach had covered her face and was grimacing while backing away from the dreadful scene that had unfolded before her very eyes.

“Well, you will have to because I am going to kiss my husband in front of everybody,” declared Aoife victoriously. The groom shook his head at the twins. She laughed at the sulking twin: “Nice dress, by the way.”

Scatty looked at the verge of killing the bride before the wedding in her pink bridesmaid’s dress. Niten didn’t think the dress was that bad, but clearly the Shadow thought something else, if her expression was anything to go by.

“I can’t believe I agreed to this,” muttered Scatty to herself and crossed her arms. Then, still upset from walking in on them, she directed her next saying at the man. “Niten, and I thought you had some sense of property. Clearly, I was wrong! I hate both of you.”

With that she walked away but was back half a second later: “You have 20 minutes, well, 19 now. Hurry up! Or you are not getting married!”

Then she was gone.

“Don’t worry,” murmured Aoife catching her fiancé’s arm, rising to her tiptoes, and whispering into his left ear, “I quite like this adventurous part of you.” She let her lips linger on the swordsman ear.

“Was I not adventurous before?” asked Niten with a sly smile. After all those wonderful trips to various Shadowrealms; fights, encounters with strange species and narrow escapes; he still wasn’t adventurous enough for his darling wife?

Aoife smirked close to his face. He felt her breath on his lips; that reminded him of the sweetness of her kisses. Unknowingly, the swordsman licked his bottom lip and Aoife’s gaze was taken over by lust.

She leaned closer so she could touch his lips with her own: her hand found a way to his hair. Niten drew the warrior closer by putting both his arms around her to flush her against himself. Had she always been this soft?

Aoife whispered: “Scandalous.”

Niten snapped. Their lips finally moved against each other, and their tongues danced together. The Japanese lifted the woman up and curling her into himself, while she threw her both arms around his neck and held onto Niten like she never intended to let go of him. The swordsman reciprocated the action. After all, she was his future, how could he ever let go?

A faraway gong brought the couple back to reality, only to realize that they had exactly ten minutes before the ceremony. And they, in fact, were still very interested in getting married; they had to control themselves. To some, it was easier (not easier per se, but they had more control over their desires), to some, it took a bit of persuasion and promises of making it up to them, to get them finally to let go.

The swordsman suggested quietly, while still holding her between his arms: “We should tidy up lest we make it very clear to everyone out there, what we did in here.”

“And how is that their problem? You are to be my husband, I can do what I want with you behind closed doors,” answered in her usual challenging way.

“The door was not closed, my love, as your sister demonstrated,” brushed Niten her unkept hair out of her eyes, “also, I believe I saw your grandmother. Do you want…”

“Tidying up is an excellent suggestion, husband mine,” said the woman quickly and letting the man slip from her grasp to take up a comb. Niten laughed.

Aoife hesitated for a moment in the doorway with a strange expression. The Japanese looked at her in worry.

“I’ll be the one in green,” stated Aoife a little bit wobbly. It was finally here! Their wedding. It was not happening in his dreams. This was reality.

He smiled blindingly at his one and only, at his love, at the reason he still felt alive after 400 years, at his Aoife. He knew that she was nervous. It was his honour to reassure her.

The swordsman placed the comb on the table to cross the room and take Aoife’s hands in his own. “It’s just me out there. Like I said, it’s for us. This wedding is a way of telling everyone what we already have. Do you plan on running away?”

“No,” came an instant reply.

“Do you think I will abandon you at the altar?”

“No,” came a strong answer, but Niten detected a look of fear behind those gorgeous eyes.

He smiled at his wife and didn’t bother on correcting himself because that’s ultimately what she was – his other half. “Alright then, we have nothing to worry about. The only essential people in the wedding are the bride and the groom. And the last time I checked; they are here.”

“Well, there is the one who conducts the ceremony…”

The swordsman sighed. “You have a way of turning my every romantic declaration into…something else.” He was loss for correct words.

“It’s just my charm,” smiled Aoife, but turned serious quickly. “Also, thank you.” She kissed his cheek sweetly.

The Japanese caught a glimpse of her forest green dress underneath of the black cloak. That reminded him. “Beloved, I don’t need anything to recognize you from the others. Never fear that.”

“You can’t just say things like that!” declared Aoife with reddening face. She pulled her hands free at his scandalous behaviour. Ah, so the make-out sessions are fine, but his darling drew a line at romantic nothings. Too bad.

“It’s my wedding day, I can say whatever I want to my bride,” said grinning Niten turning her earlier words to work in his favour.

Blushing woman grinded her teeth. Aoife said an ultimatum: “I still have a chance to not show up!” Both knew that to be a playful bluff.

Niten couldn’t help but take advantage of this. He sighed with a mournful expression: “Well, then I have to preserve them for someone el…” Before he could finish, he had an armful of furious warrior, who would make sure that every single one of his romantic sayings would be directed at her. She would just have to put up with those, because the thought of not having his love was too much, a reality she didn’t want to live in. As if he would ever have anyone else.

She was his forever.

“Don’t you dare! You are mine, Miyamoto Musashi!”

“I have been yours since the moment I met you, Aoife of the Shadows,” assured Niten to Aoife with all his heart.

[tallbluelady]

38. Is there anything they wish they could change about their worldview or thought processes? What, and why?

This is such a weird question for me. Because you don't really wish your worldview changes, you just see or experience new things and it does. Or at least my definition of it.

I mean, I guess Aoife wishes she could change after meeting Louhi, Balor, Leanashe, and Anatu. But meeting them brought about the change in her worldview. Before then, she was content to live life in a self-serving manner. But after meeting them, she wishes to change her actions and be kinder.

Thanks for the ask!

[manysmallhands]

My Favourite Songs of 2023 pt. 3: 20 - 11

Carrying on from yesterday’s post: may the penultimate countdown commence!

20. pinkpantheress - Capable Of Love

While Boy’s A Liar was by far the bigger hit, Capable Of Love was the single that captured pinkpantheress at her best this year, combining her sad girl tales of romantic doubt with a beat that goes hard enough to give you a paradoxically huge lift. While i can't help but worry about how terrified she sounds, her super sweet garage pop is a solid favourite of mine and I'll guess I'll just have to reconcile that with my conscience.

19. Jeff Rosenstock - FUTURE IS DUMB

This year’s HELLMODE album saw Jeff in a slightly more reflective mode than usual but FUTURE IS DUMB was a nod to past glories, setting his frustrations about the modern world to dayglo punk pop played fast enough to comfortably sever your head from your body. While the takeaway - “the world doesn’t owe you” - seemed somewhat nihilistic, the general feeling of one man trying to make sense of a collapsing society was as relatable and moving as ever.

18. Black Thought /El Michels Affair - The Weather

On something of a roll after last year’s album with Danger Mouse, Black Thought uses the El Michels band to full effect here as the pair speed up and slow down in perfect coordination on this summeriest of street scenes. Leon Michels works up a blissed out soulscape as the Roots star rhymes with intricacy and precision, by turns laid back and fiercely intense.

17. Aoife Nessa Frances - Fantasy

Grandiose in design and epic in scope, Fantasy (not the Mariah song) takes Aoife’s moody psychpop template and gives it an extraordinary makeover. Decorated with orchestral fantasia, it sounds like the kind of music you might find in a high class opium den and that’s before you even get to Aoife’s velvety swoon of a voice. I honestly didn’t think she had this in her.

16. Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For?

Billie’s second number one was a grower, a pristine piano ballad that managed the tricky business of projecting deep sadness without veering into mawkishness. Bille is ostensibly talking about Barbie (duh), but the lines seem to blur into her own commodification and the notion of becoming “just something you paid for” cuts uncomfortably close to the bone.

15. Caroline Polachek - Dang

While the best songs from the "Desire, I Want To Turn Into You" album were actually from previous years, Polachek finished 2023 with a flourish, issuing a single that was an improvement on every last one of them. Built around a sample that sounds like a cat being strangled and a flash of old Hollywood melody, Dang sounded strange and glitchy but alway compelling. One of the best examples yet of her idiosyncratic vision of pop.

14. Palehound - Route 22 

Palehound’s Eye On The Bat album was their first to really make a dent in me, and Route 22 is both typical of its strengths and a standout on its own merits. Ellen Kempner’s bleary country rock ballad explores the lines between loving someone and the need to be appreciated, with its honesty all the more touching for the beauty of its setting.

13. Wednesday - Chosen To Deserve 

“I was here first!” I cry as I brandish my old Wednesday albums but it’s still a nice feeling to watch the world catch up, as well as interesting to see bands find themselves exalted who wouldn’t have gotten the time of day a few years ago. “Chosen To Deserve” itself is a sweet natured country rocker powered by a bone crunchingly fierce riff, as Karly Hartman’s tales of misspent youth skirt the line between humour and something more uncomfortable.

12. The Mountain Goats - Fresh Tattoo

Jenny From Thebes is an album that requires a little patience but its second single found The Mountain Goats at their most immediate and effective. While it starts life as a breezy narrative ballad, Fresh Tattoo feeds off of its momentum to make a convincing shift to anthemic territory by the last verse. By turns warm, witty and extremely memorable, this is as good as they've ever sounded.

11. Olivia Rodrigo - Get Him Back

Inescapable for months on Radio 1 (where it even had its own jingle), Olivia's love/hate anthem manages to indulge all her best instincts, especially her theatricality and love of 90s guitar rock. Powered by a surprisingly good rap/rock delivery, it’s filled with immensely quotable lines from top to bottom but be sure to seek out the clean version to hear the best one, cos everyone knew that guy was missing a screw!

[zindoesart]

drew my idol oc group dancing! only 4 members this time, as they're yet to recruit the 5th in this one.

[impossible-rat-babies]

aymeric has seen eyrie’s journals—the sketch books. most of them from before and after the calamity. they brought them out one night, deep in the bouts of nostalgia. Sat and showed him the pages of rough watercolor drawings; the smoother ones of oil and the sadly cracking and flaking temper paint experiments. All still lovingly rendering the flourishing green hills dotted with speckled wild flowers, the pine trees so green and the streams still warm enough to go diving into in the worst of the summer. The sheep herds in the grassy forelands with the mountains so high above as to have snow staring down—the breathlessness of that.

they were beautiful drawings, but more than that aymeric understood a part of eyrie in those drawings; each one a little piece of them drawn out on paper.

[computerexploder]

[aoifereal]

lame. i thought this deck was awesome but i 2-3'd with it.

[ventureawaybitches]

I had thoughts i can try to articulate about ep. 45, i might not be successful but I have two (2) major points.

One, the Tsarina's representitive:

He. Who Sariel trusts to handle this. Hmmm. Well, Rivaan? It can't be Rivaan. But...Very tall cloaked figure (i am physically shaking) i know this is Rivaan, I'm Freaking out. Sariel is sending her paramour to be her ambassador to the fey, great choice, trustworthy, and it's not her in a disguise. He's hot. He's polite. He's literally one of the highest ranking nobles and leader of the Tsarina's army. He's now in Cooper chopping vegetables. Rook approves of him. We get how the bedrooms in Cooper work. It's not what you think your perfect room is. Rivaan's room is Sariel's bedroom. It's Sariel's bedroom. It's Sariel's— Anyway I adore Rivaan and if anything happens to him I'll destroy this place.

Two, Aoife:

I'm thinking about fey nature slowly obliterating the mortal one, I'm thinking about Felix asking do you feel consumed. Did Aoife have any idea what she was doing? what it would do to her? what she would be giving up? There still is a mortal in there, maybe you can hold onto that mortal perspective a little longer. Felix's disgust at her mortal form. The reveal that the transition from mortal to fey isn't immediate and complete, that the mortal part of you will die slowly. When your family no longer recognise you and you realise that you aren't their daughter, sister, granddaughter anymore. When everyone you ever cared for has grown old and died and you don't know if you're capable of loving like that anymore.

[partypanic]

I'm too tired to type it all out but wireframearson your headcannon (/"theory") is so right

Frenrey is weirdly blue to pink coded and it makes me go crazy, deranged even

[harunayuuka2060]

Leona: *doesn't feel like napping ever since he takes over the "pregnancy" for MC*

Leona: *taking a stroll with Ruggie following him behind*

Ruggie: Have I told you that you're acting like MC?

Leona: Huh? Why?

Ruggie: They used to take a stroll like this. I guess they were already pregnant with Prince Liora at that time.

Leona: ...

Leona: I thought they were just away because they didn't like staying in the palace.

Ruggie: Yeah. That one too.

Leona: ...

Leona: Somehow, carrying my daughter in my heart makes me feel at ease.

Ruggie: Oh?

Leona: Yeah. But she doesn't like me sleeping in the afternoon.

Ruggie: Shishishi!

MC's sister: Prince Leona?

Leona and Ruggie: ...

Leona: Tch. *doesn't hide his disdain*

MC's sister: ...

MC's sister: Sorry. I didn't mean to block your path.

Ruggie: You're still in Sunset Savannah, huh?

MC's sister: *feels embarrassed that Ruggie stated it* I tried going to different countries but was not welcomed, so I have returned here.

Ruggie: *goes to whisper to Leona* It's because of the influence of Al Asim. I think they have banned her or something.

Leona: Ah. I see.

MC's sister: B-By the way, how's MC doing?

Leona: None of your business.

MC's sister: !!!

Leona: *the way he glares is somehow similar to MC's*

MC's sister: *is frightened* I-I'll get going now! I-I apologize for ruining your time, Your Royal Highness! *then immediately runs away*

Ruggie: Wow, you scared her off.

Leona: Hmph. It doesn't matter. My day's now ruined. Let's go back.

Ruggie: Okay.

Cheka: Unca! Unca! What will you name my baby niece when she comes out?

Leona: I'm not telling.

Falena: *chuckles* Why? Ah. Are you hoping that you and MC will be thinking the same name for your child?

Leona: I know it was probably a coincidence, but you may never know.

Cheka: *giggles* Unca is so sweet!

Leona: Shut up, kid.

MC: ...

Leona: *has joined them in the bath*

MC: ...

Leona: *avoiding their gaze because he realized late that he's being rude for joining in*

MC: ...

MC: What is it, Leona?

Leona: Nothing. I'm getting out now-

MC: It's fine. You can stay.

Leona: *has a surprised look on his face* *slowly sits back down*

MC: I'm guessing he doesn't realize that he's smiling stupidly.

Leona: ...

Leona: The others are asking if we have decided on a name for our daughter.

MC: You can decide on one. It won't be a problem for me.

Leona: ...

Leona: I would like to name our daughter "Aoife"- *clutches on his chest when he felt a sudden pain*

MC: ...

MC: It seems she likes the name you've given her.

Leona: That's great and all... But why is she doing this to me?

MC: She must be fond of you. *this reminds them of how Liora used to do the same*