#caoimhe fae

[pronoun-checks]

My friends only ever use it/it's for me so can I get a pronoun check for Caoimhe with moon/moons/moonself/bone/bones/boneself/neos I don't really care which ones

I like goth music, impressionist art and cats.

Caoimhe is a 'default name' in a way as I use others as well so I might come back for name suggestions.

Sure thing!

Wait a second, is that Caoimhe? I think I see Caoimhe over there! Do you see moon? Moon’s the one sitting by moonself with moons headphones on. I wonder what moon’s listening to? Moon said moon likes goth music, so maybe moon’s listening to a goth artist? Anyway, you’ve met Caoimhe before, right? No? Well, you’ll have to meet moon sometime; I think you’d get along nicely with moon. I’ve only spoken with bone once or twice, but bone seems pretty neat! Bone said bone likes impressionist art, so maybe you could talk with bone about that sometime! I forgot to ask what bones favourite was, so I’ll have to ask bone the next time I walk with bone. Oh, hey! Caoimhe’s looking this way now! I think fae’s waving at us? Yeah, fae’s definitely waving at us. Do you want to go meet Caoimhe? Sure, let’s go say hi to faer! Hey, Caoimhe!

[blackcat2907]

I hope it’s not too much of a challenge, but 19 with Tim and Caoimhe? No pressure tho :D

Promised: Part One

MH Fae AU: Fae AU - Person A’s hapless parents promised them to the Fae King (Person B)

Content Warnings: implied abandonment, greed, minor bullying and implied discrimination Word Count: 1968

Princess Caoimhe Callaghan’s world turned upside down on the day of her twenty-fifth birthday. She was the heir to the throne of the human realm, Terra. Her parents, the King and Queen, had decided to make peace with the Fae kingdom. The catch was that their only daughter, Caoimhe, would be gifted to the Fae King as a sign of peace. Kind-hearted, caring Caoimhe had an open mind, excited to learn about the Fae and their ways, yet she felt betrayed by her family. She never had a choice or say in the final decision. This was her life her parents were meddling with. She didn’t want to leave home and have the chance that she would never return. She didn’t want to become a consort to any king. She didn’t want to be captive anymore. 

The princess was a kind soul, loved by her people. Her flaming red hair and piercing green eyes made her a sight to behold. Her fair skin was littered with light red freckles. Her ears were slightly tipped like the pointed ears of the Fae. Caoimhe loved nature and its beauty. She always sneaked away as a child to play in the woods, the power she felt when surrounded by nature addicting. As she grew, she got caught up with her royal duties, her trips to the forest becoming sparse. However, that didn’t stop her from studying nature. In the palace, Caoimhe had her own wing dedicated to the floral world. She would spend hours there studying different kinds of plants for their uses. She learned many, many wonderful things, both life saving and life threatening. 

But now, her work would be locked away, hidden from all. With the princess leaving her home, she vowed to keep her research to herself. Call it petty or cruel, she didn’t care. Her parents' decision to give her away would come back to haunt them. That she was sure of. She adjusted her cloak, casting one last sorrowful look at the grand palace. With each step she took, a part of her became locked away. All she had left were the clothes on her back and the knowledge in her mind. She wore a simple green dress with a white petticoat, brown corset, white stockings, and heeled brown lace up boots. Her brown cloak kept her hidden from her former subjects as she walked down the streets. Around her neck was a brown leather bag with the necessities she would need to live.  

The forest loomed over her as Caoimhe and her guards stopped at the border. Stoic as ever, Collin Harper, the chief of the guards, dipped his head to the princess. “This is where we leave you, Princess Caoimhe.” He stepped forward and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Stay safe out there. May we meet again.” 

With a tearful smile, Caoimhe hugged Collin goodbye. “May the gods allow us to meet again,” she whispered, forcing herself to let her closest friend go. She sucked in a shaky breath and stepped back, pulling down her hood, letting her wavy hair free. “Goodbye. I shall think of you all.” The guard patrol slowly left, each member wishing her well. Her heart painfully pounded in her chest. She wiped away a stray tear. Now was not the time to cry and show weakness. She had to stay strong for her people. This was the only way for peace. 

“So,” a voice drawled, “this is the Princess. You don’t look like much.” Caoimhe tensed and took a deep breath. She turned to look into the forest. A man about six foot four stood at the treeline. He had dirty blond hair and dull blue eyes that looked gray in the darkness. He sneered at her, hand on the sword attached to his belt. He wore armor over a faded yellow hoodie, blue pants, and black boots. He narrowed his eyes on her. “Well?” He tilted his head. 

“May I ask your name?” Caoimhe gripped her bag tighter. She stared calmly at the man. “I assume you already know that I am Princess Caoimhe.” She dipped her head respectfully with her greeting. 

The man’s hard gaze made her shiver. “Brian. Let’s go.” He harshly gestured for her to follow him. “It is not wise to keep the King waiting, Princess.” He spat her title like it was poison on his tongue. “And keep up. I won’t wait for you.” As he turned his back, a small, albeit cruel, smile formed. He bolted into the forest.

“Hey!” Caoimhe shouted, almost tripping over a few roots. She panted as she tried to keep up with the fae. He jumped over fallen trees and expertly avoided roots and thorns. Caoimhe huffed, thorns ripping at her cloak. She grunted as she tripped and fell, dirt covering her dress, arms, and face. She growled, slamming her fist into the ground as Brian laughed at her. “Can’t keep up, Princess?” he taunted. He stood over her, smiling down. “I’m not surprised. You are a human after all.” 

“Shut up!” Caoimhe snarled, getting to her feet and running after Brian. The deeper Brian led her into the woods, the more Caoimhe found hidden beauty. Her eyes widened in awe as sunlight filtered through the foliage, leaving rays of light. Soft whispers and giggles surrounded her. A gentle breeze blew by, followed by flying fae. ‘The air fae!’ Caoimhe gasped. Brian slowed down to a slow jog, waving for one of the air fae to come down. The redheaded Princess saw another man with pale skin, light brown almost grayish brown hair and gray eyes come down to talk with Brian. He wore light shades of green and gray. 

“Jay, where is he?” she heard Brian ask the air fae–Jay. Brian glared at her, as if warning her to back off and ignore them. He flicked his wrist and a jetstream of water hit Caoimhe in the face. Jay followed Brian’s gaze, whispering to the water fae. Caoimhe gasped at the shock of the cold water. She groaned and used all of her self control to not flip off Brian. Brian smirked. “Come with me. He’s ready for you. Maybe he’ll save you the embarrassment and just send you back,” he bitterly whispered as she walked by him. 

Caoimhe tried not to let Brian’s words affect her. She could understand his resentment. She wasn’t one of them. She was a human out of her element. She cast Brian a sympathetic smile, to which he returned a death glare. She shied back, not wanting to anger the water fae anymore. Jay floated on the other side of her, gazing at her as if studying her. She didn’t doubt he was trying to figure her out. What sane human would willingly go along with this? Too bad she never had the choice. 

The two fae led her to a large, hollowed out tree with a blanket of moss covering the entrance. Behind the moss, she could make out soft orange and yellow lights. Jay blew the moss to the side and Brian gestured for her to enter. Sucking in a shaky breath, Caoimhe stepped into the tree, eyes widening as she took in the beauty. Fireflies flew around, lighting the room. Fairy lights were struck up in a circular spiral up the walls of the tree. A carved throne sat in the middle of the room, covered in decorative moss, flowers, and berries. On the throne sat a burly man with dark brown hair and sideburns, hazel eyes, and exotic antlers on his head. Patches of moss were scattered over his arms and legs. He wore a green tunic, blue pants, and a thornlike crown. Above his throne was a white mask with black, almost feminine features. With narrowed eyes, he stared down at Caoimhe, face unreadable. His lips twitched as he took in her soaked figure. 

“I see you met Brian,” he spoke, sending the water fae a glare. Brian sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “Welcome, Princess. I hope you will find your stay enjoyable.” He shifted in his throne, awaiting an answer. 

The anger and resentment Caoimhe had felt seemed to melt away. “I…I hope I will,” she respectfully bowed. “I shall do my best to not be a burden.” She mentally slapped herself for her choice of words. The King had tensed up, eyes widening ever so slightly. Looking at him, Caoimhe saw how uncomfortable he was. He struggled to maintain eye contact with her, glancing back at Brian. 

“Leave us,” the King ordered, and Brian left, casting a warning glance at Caoimhe as if to tell her if she made one wrong move, he’d make her pay. “I’m sorry about him,” the King spoke softly. “He doesn’t take well to humans.” 

“I understand, your Highness.” Caoimhe smiled. “It takes time to adjust to someone new. Especially someone who isn’t like you. I’m not mad at him, or any of your people. It’s just a natural response.” 

“Please, just call me Tim,” the Ki–Tim groaned, leaning his head onto his hand. “I don’t care for that royal title crap. And…” He hesitated, grimacing, “for what it’s worth. I am sorry.” 

“What?” Caoimhe dumbly responded, blinking in shock. 

“You don’t deserve this,” Tim sighed. “You should be home, at your kingdom. Not here.” He avoided looking at Caoimhe, guilt and regret on his face. 

“Your Hi…err…Tim, I don’t understand.” Caoimhe tilted her head to the side. She shivered slightly, her soaked clothes chilling her to the bone. “What are you talking about? Didn’t you want me here?” 

The question only made Tim even more guilty. “That’s not…I don’t…You didn’t…This isn’t what I wanted,” he stammered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Did anyone tell you?” He finally looked at Caoimhe, staring at her with disbelief. 

“Tell me what?” A bad feeling started to grow in Caoimhe’s gut. She thickly swallowed and her teeth chattered, body shivering more violently. She gasped softly as a new cloak was draped over her shoulders. Tim tried to smile at her, but he couldn’t. “Thank you,” Caoimhe whispered, wrapping the warm cloak around her body. 

“This isn’t right,” Tim said. “You deserve the truth.” He took a deep breath. “Your parents came to me with an offering. They’d give me their most valuable item and I’d allow them to take some herbs that would grant them longer life. I…” he paused, clenching his fist, “I didn’t know they meant you until after the deal was made.” 

Caoimhe’s eyes widened and her jaw clenched with barely contained rage. “You mean to tell me, my parents gave me up, practically kicking me out to be given to you, for a longer life?” she hissed. Tim flinched and nodded. “Why would they…their own daughter?” she whispered, brokenly. “I…Am I really that worthless they’d throw me away?” 

“Shit, no!” Tim snapped, shocking Caoimhe. The ground around her began to shake. Anger rolled off of Tim in waves. “You are a princess for fate’s sake! I shouldn’t have agreed. HUman greed always finds a way to hurt others.” 

Caoimhe squeezed her eyes shut and reached out to grab Tim’s arm. The earth cracked around them. “It’s not your fault!” Caoimhe cried, pulling him down into a hug. Tim froze, tears welling up. “They tricked both of us.” She hugged him tightly, burying her face into his chest. Sobs wracked her body. “We can’t change this. We can only move forward.” 

Tim took a deep breath. “You are too kind and caring, Caoimhe,” he wetly laughed. “Come, we have much to do.” He got to his feet, extended his hand out to her. “It’s time for you to meet your new family.” 

Caoimhe dried her tears and took his hand. “Yeah, it is.”

[forgottenroisin]

Malconaire Samain Traditions

AUTHOR'S NOTES

ok so!!! before i get into this too much, some author's notes, starting w fun facts abt irl samhain (which i wrote samain above bc that's the old irish spelling and we're mostly going w old irish spellings here -- caoimhe rather than keeva, etc) that im running w here are as follows: ancient celtic tradition holds w largely two types of major celebration on their quartered calendar: Beltaine and Samhain which occurred on opposite times of the year, and Imbolc and Lughnasa which also straddled the year. The latter set marked important crop rotations: sowing and harvesting the fields.

The former, however, are said to have been dedicated to the movements of cattle herds and their shephards. At Beltaine, the shephards and their flocks would wrap up their half year of having held their beasts at home amongst the village in the valleys where they were safe from winter snows. at samhain, the shephards would do the opposite: begin driving their herds home across the treacherous montain passes from where they had been grazing in upland pastures for six months, and heading home to the valleys. Both Samhain and Beltane were seen as liminal or threshold holidays. Yet, they were also seen as inverse of one another, with Beltane being a festival for the living and Samhain for the dead.

Many Irish and British Neolithic tombs are aligned such that they are illuminated by the light of the sun as it over Samhain and Imbolc.

In Celtic belief, all spirits appear to be interlinked, w ghosts alternately appearing as faries or gods and vice versa, so I've used guardians, gods, and ghosts here where I thought most appropriate as stand ins but yeah this is just my interpretation??? Anyway, fairy mounds are often literally burial mounds so make of that what you will! I did ultimately choose to include ghosts but I strongly considered restricting it to purely guardians and gods, but yeah! Lmk if you think I should go back and restrict it to just those two!

Samhain in Ireland and Scotland are pr similar, so there'll def bc riffs from both cultures but, bc Rosie's name means little rose, and the very related ancient Welsh tradition of Calan Gaeaf ties in both roses AND ivy v strongly, I'm gonna be pulling a lot from that, as well.

I'm also gonna steal some Venetian St. Mark's Day beliefs and practices and English St. Mark's Eve ones. I have zero excuse except that it dovetails really nicely, and that its frankly sooo fitting for our Miss Rosie.

all the 'tales' here are inspired and even drawn directly from ancient lore!

Cleansing fire and light, cleaning, divination, guising (dressing up and trick or treat-esque shenanigans), dancing, mummery, saining (blessings), feasting, belief that spirits (good and evil, human and fae and godly and demoic, etc) walk amongst us that night, and veneration of the dead are common themes, and it is believed that it is this time when the veil is thinnest between the various otherworlds and our own.

Samhain is a last deep breath before the plunge. It is a time of preparing for the death of winter to come. Interestingly, Samain, the Old Irish root word for Samhain, is thought to come from an ancient word for 'summer,' though it was celebrated in November. No one knows why, but imma lean into it as a rebirth kind of symbolism -- yknow that 'spring in winter' sort of concept. Another explanation is that Samain comes from yet another ancient word that means 'reuninion, assembly,' and imma lean into that, too.

There was initially a fortnight of celebrations for Samain, which overtime got cut down to our modern night of Halloween, so idk how long this celebration should last hahaha and i deliberately left the timeline vague bc of that

Conveniently, I'd already hc'ed that Rosie actually views autumn as more a time of rebirth than spring (weirdly enough, it was actually one of my v first hc's for her!), and all this will allow me to tie it in nicely with her character theme of wonder <3

(Also disclaimer that you might notice some similarities between this and my TFW not!halloween traditions in which case...no you didn't ;DDDDD its just that i was inspired by the same sources hahaha except here i pulled in welsh and venetian things as my secondary instead of ancient roman and greek things aklsjdflkjdfdf)

SAMAIN TRADITIONS

like her sisters, rosie was born around the time of an ancient astairan holiday, causing the celebrations to overlap in malconaire

hers falling near samhain, an autumnal festival celebrating the midpoint between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice, and is held to mark the beginning of winter

it is said that it is at this time that the veil between this world and the other is said to be at its thinnest and, thus, the guardians are feted in an effort to strengthen them during this most dangerous period, w seers and all the ppl of astaira gathering to do whatever they can to help

it is a time of unity and mutual faith, generosity and thanksgiving, of finding strength and hope and cheer in ourselves and in one another even as things grow their darkest

as twilight gleams its last, all the fires in the region are put out and a great bonfire lit by a seer at the local shrine. from this protective blaze, every fire in the region is relit so that cleansing, protective fire burns for the guardians against the gods in every home, every shrine, and every gathering place across all malconaire

it is said that on this night, sometimes even non-seers can hear the whisperings of the guardians -- and that, at times -- the howls of the gods echo across the world, but beware to any who hears ought, for gods can appear and speak as any being they wish and, it is said, one must never trust a stranger who arrives upon samhain who will not go into the light

according to ancient tradition, anyone who believes w a true heart may wield some of the powers of a true seer because the veil is so thin, and in addition to being able to hear the voices of gods and guardians, can also sometimes hear the voices of their deceased loved ones

sometimes this is said to be a trick of the evil gods, but many believe that deceased loved ones do in fact arise

in addition to the fires, many gifts of food and drink and harvest and flowers etc are offered to the guardians, in addition to gifts of delights and entertainments such as dances and plays

as it is said that ghosts rise from their graves at this time, whether crossing over from an otherworld or revived by the power of the wicked gods, welcoming feasts are held in every home and, during the feasts, in addition to offerings made to the guardians, places are set for dead members of the family who may be visiting their loved ones while they are able

hoping to thwart any wicked spirits or gods who might be walking the earth, many wear a guise each night when the protective power of the sun is snuffed out

bc it is said that everyone may have use of a seers powers, it is also tradition to go from house to house and give offerings and blessings back and forth there, and this is often when fires from the great shrine bonefire are brought to each home, as well

following feasting in homes, there is also a tradition of gathering around the great bonfire in the evening and sharing sweets

while there, dancing and plays go on with gift-giving continuing well into the night

traditionally, one carves their name into a stone and then tosses it into the fire. those stones that had had the name burned clean off of it will receive good fortune. those whose names are still writ upon the stones will do well to take care over the course of the winter, with death or misfortune said to hunt them

Myths, legends, and ghost stories are all frequently told around the bonfire, with some tales being considered specific to Samain, and others simply tall tales or simply invented stories, but whatever their origin, stories play a highly important role on Samain, both as offerings and as entertainment. i'll include one or two as a sample somewhere in here

traditionally, all across astaira, peace was delcared during samain and it was a great time of unification, of treaties, of mending fences great and small, neighbor to neighbor and nation to nation, alike, w any conflict or even grudge, save that against the gods, being seen as borderline blasphemous, and an insult to the guardians for all efforts must be communally poured into that conflict at this time

in this same vein, it is a time for housekeeping, both great and small -- houses are cleaned, spick and span, and great councils are called by the rulers to undergo yearly reforms

anyone who broke laws during this time would, therefore, be banished for the rest of the year for the grievous offence of having wounded the goodwill of the guardians

traditionally, astairans avoid crossroads during samain, said to be haunted by nefarious deadmen and gods

on the morning samain, young and unmarried people traditionally go out into the fields and collect ivy and autumn roses. traditionally, girls collect ivy while boys pick roses, after which they come together again, with the girls presenting the boys they admire with ivy and the boys presenting roses to the girls they fancy. if a couple's presentations are mutual, they then wind them together and create crowns of roses-and-ivy to wear. at the end of the day, each girls collects all the roses she has been given, and each boy all his ivy and mingle them till they do not know who gave which. then they toss one into the bonfire for the guardians are return home, placing the remaining plants under their pillow. it is said that they will then dream of their future and, if they remember any of the dream, some of it will come true in the coming year. it is also sometimes said that if they dream of a particular other person, they will likely wed that person.

unmarried women are instructed to darken their rooms in the evening, and then a married woman can look into the mirror to see the face of the future groom. If a skull appears in the mirror, the unmarried woman is meant to die within the year. If a future groom cannot be seen, unmarried women are instructed to peel an apple and throw the skin over their shoulders. The shape the apple skin makes is said to show the first initial of her future husband

just before midnight, any remaining children are bundled off to bed and, then, it is tradition for those who wish to see to gather on the holy ground of the shrine, for surrounded by the guardians is the only way one may safely witness what is to come. those who do not wish to see must return quickly home and close all their windows and close their eyes and try to sleep, for any not protected by the guarian who looks upon it shall die on the spot. those who stay at the shrine may see, but they must maintain absolute silence or it is said they shall never see again. at midnight, the dead walk. a whole squadron of them troop by, but if one should spot oneself or any known to one trooping with them, that person is doomed to die within the year. some say the cause of death may even be observed, drowned victims soaked to the bone or hanged men marching with nooses around their necks, and such the like.

games and friendly competitions around the bonfire are common, such as dares and apple bobbing

two hazelnuts roast near a fire; one named for the person roasting them and the other for the person the desire. If the nuts jump away from the heat, it is a bad sign, but if the nuts roast quietly, it foretells an excellent match. 

Items were hidden in food—usually a cakes and breads — and portions of it served out at random. A person's future is foretold by the item they happened to find; for example, a ring means marriage, and a coin means wealth

A salty oatmeal bannock was baked; the person ate it in three bites and then went to bed in silence without anything to drink. This was said to result in a dream in which their future spouse offers them a drink to quench their thirst

Egg whites are dropped in water, and the shapes foretell the number of future children

SAMPLE OF SAMAIN TALES

story of a seer who rushed up to the door to the otherworld in the repulsion of gods, but closed the door as the gods were sealed off on his thumb. he then sucked on his wounded thumb and, from that moment, was said to have gained otherworldly wisdom but the cost was that he was, too, a link that the gods had to this world so he ultimately sealed himself, too, away inside a tree using their own magic to bind himself so that he could harm no one, but it is said that the gods have no mercy and that they force his ghost to walk the world on the night of Samain and sow the seeds of their ill-will for the year to come.

the monstrous gods used to demand two-thirds of the ppl's crops and livestock and even children during samain before they were sealed away, causing many to starve

a certain god, it is said, would command three men to go to a certain goddess every Samain to seduce her. when they inevitably failed, he would take their lives and force them to walk the world as his undead vessels for the rest of the year, wreaking untold havoc upon the world till at least one did succeed and the goddess gave him her magical garter. before the god killed his two companions, the goddess' lover, said sometimes to be from the snail house and alternately from the frog house, warned the vile god that it would spell his own doom if he struck those men down. laughing, the evil god did so, and so the lover used the magic girdle to fight and defeat him and help the guardians seal him away ((fun fact, this is drawn from a story said to have been the origin of the bog men...hence the frog or snail house being involved!))

one samain night, before the veil was raised against the gods, the king offered a prize to any who could tie a band around a hanged man's ankle. each challenger after the other fled in terror to the king's hall but one. when the band was tied, the dead man asked for a drink so, feeling pity for the hanged man, the challenger carried him on his back, stopping at three houses. when they entered the third, the dead man drank and spat it on the householders, killing them. returning to the gallows to bind him again, the challenger spotted an army of the gods burning the king's hall and slaughtering those inside. the challenger pursued the host through a portal into an otherworld where he learned that what he had seen since touching the hanged man was only a vision of what would happen the next samain unless something was done. he returned to the hall and warned the king, and astaira began to arm themselves against the gods who plotted against them.

another tale tells of a man who fell deeply in love w a goddess before the veil was raised against them. so in love was he that he followed her to an otherworld, despite her warnings that if he followed her, he could never return home. they lived happily together for two years before he began to long for home. watching him pine away, the goddess agreed to allow him to visit the mortal realm on her own horse, but only if he solemnly swore never to dismount the horse which would take him there and then back to her. he hastily agreed and started on his way. yet, when he arrived, he found that in the mortal realm two hundred years, and not two, had passed and that everyone he loved had died. distressed to see their graves, he fell from the horse to kiss them, but as soon as he stepped upon the ground, mortality found him and he grew old and died on the spot, collapsing as no more than bones and dust upon the earth of the graves of those he loved.

according to legend, the tradition of presenting roses and ivy to a lover originated when a man of low social standing is said to have fallen in love with a lady of house malconaire known for wearing ivy in her hair. in order to win her father's approval -- who said he might only wed his daughter if he could prove his love for her was true -- he became involved in a distant war. he was mortally wounded in battle, but managed to pluck a rose from a nearby rosebush for his loved one. a companion was entrusted with returning the blood-stained rose to his lover, who cast the ivy from her hair and wore the rose until the day she died. from their graves, buried beside each other, ivy and roses still grow.

CHARACTER HC'S

it was during samain, many years ago, that domhnall and later his heir, eilionora, offered roderick a treaty but both efforts he rebuffed. to the first effort to achieve peace he did not reply. yet when eilia tried again, he did, sending her only a piece of paper that bore simply a list of the countries he'd already conquered, with astaira's name listed at the bottom. eilia did not try again.

on the samain before bran and sorcha began courting, he decided that he would woo her with the traditional roses. sadly, however, he wasn't able to get out into the fields until late and, when he finally did, all that were left were very, very small roses, indeed. fortunately, she had the same idea and presented him with ivy as well. when she saw the wee rosebuds, which he presented with some embarrassment, saying he ought to have given her something far greater, she laughed and declared that someday he would -- if they ever had a daughter born in autumn, her name should be roisin, for the first gift he had ever given to her.

last samain, rosie presented edmund with ivy, forgetting he problably knew nothing of the tradition (and would likely consider it heresy, if he did!) realizing too late that he probably didn't know what she was telling him, she laughed and made a joke of it, weaving him a ivy crown, anyway, saying that if he meant to rule over astaira, someday, he best pay attention as he would have to know how to make a flower crown. she never mentioned it again.

bran threw eggs into water with sorcha the year they were married. when her egg predicted four children and his six, he was terrified it might mean he would outlive her and she laughed and told him that was a ridiculous thing to suppose, for he'd come to their marriage with two children already: his raven, and malconaire.

the year of sorcha's death, she stayed out to watch the ghosts walk, hoping for a last glimpse of a loved one whom she had just lost, while bran took the children home to sleep. she was drawn and white when bran awoke the next morning and, though she made jokes of it when he mentioned it and proceeded about her day, she seemed distracted, but would say nothing of what she had seen. at the time, bran only assumed that she was distressed about her loss, but after she died, he always wondered if perhaps she had seen her own spirit on the march that night.

though usually done privately for their parents, rosie always enjoyed mumming with her sisters at samain, telling tall tales and dramatic ones alike amongst themselves

while she hasn't done any mummery since childhood, as she imagines its likely not dignified for a lady of her age and position, she does still enjoy guising and generally dresses as favorite heroines from fairy tales and other stories. she is convinced cassandra would enjoy this as well and wants to bring her to such an event one of these years. no o ne can seem to convince her this is terrible idea.

cillian stays out late every year to watch the souls pass and, every year, he informs saoirse that he has seen her go by, but she says she'll have her revenge one of these days, because someday he ~will see her, and then he'll be sorry when he has to tell her so and she laughs in his face.

[starlightsuncrow]

Heyyy :3 can I hear about how Crow and Momo met each other for the first time in each version? I know you mentioned in Starfall at least that there should've been a rivalry between them, but how exactly does that go? And at what point in GW2 do they meet? (Am also curious to hear more about the Starfall Guild if you'd like to talk on that as well!) - @magitechbatt

Oh this will be so fun to explain!!! I'll start with the meetings and if i got space, the guild ! If not, i'll make a post <3 In Gw2 Crow stayed under Dragora's wing for a long time, but in s2, right after the meeting in the grove and its disastrous ending, Dragora urged Crow to join the commander and the others, since he couldn't. Thing is... Crow is very quiet in general. So you got this weird sylvari who barely talks and has a piercing gaze following you around because a firstborn told you they would be helpful. Okkk. Caoimhe wasn't impressed, but hey, any help is appreciated. At least he was extremely cuuuurious in understanding them though!

Crow who doesn't care about titles and actually despises them , which didn't help in this case, it's less about Momo as a person and more because...of the role? and Caoimhe who doesn't quite know...how to approach warmly this guy. Very formal for a long time! Until HoT starts and that's where formality was thrown into the wind. Working together closely and for survival truly does wonders to relationships. It's not as serious as I make it out though. They trip on each other because social stuff is neither strong suit.

As for Starfall! The meeting is funnier. Crow was scraping for money ( he's wanted by the Guild and so hunted constantly. I mean it) and went for bounties in small areas where the help is highly needed but less "seen". Momo was staying in the same area, driven by his purpose, meaning slaying anything that was a danger to a magic imbalance. So uh... Crow was looking at the bounties on a wall and uh.. Momo kiiinda was asking him to move, putting a hand on their shoulder but uh. Crow reacted and punched immediately. Startled them. Not a great impression. Crow decided to work together with him because it's safer and as a ...favor? apology? for that. It was supposed to be just for one big bounty. They kept going. First it was for safety, then to test each other, became a sort of amicable rivalry in who was gonna deliver the final blows and such, friendly competition. As for last...well, the company was nice wasn't it? Crow doesn't know yet he's a fae and Momo frankly didn't care in telling anything, because he thought it was gonna be a fleeting moment with a person. Too bad Momo <3. The rivalry was in part due to the dryad/fae thing, it isn't easy to surpass this eternal hate the two have, but ...neither Crow or Momo are quite normal for their own race standards. The other part is because they are goobers. Both isolated and tripping over social cues and stuff, they bonded over spars and fights and moments of reprise until it got harder to imagine going back to be alone ( It happens in Starfall for a while sadly <3)

They're enemies by race, rivals and friends by progression and then something more i dont have the right label for it and neither do they ahah. There's always that sort of friction with them but they make it work! As for the Guild... that's all me ! It's a place, a bit isolated from the big city, where the mages get "reformed" into mage hunters. Starfall is a world where magic in the big towns and stuff is considered scary and kind of forbidden. So if people got caught or seeing a child with magic? Guild time. In Northward ( city) a mage child has to go to the Guild. Mandatory. In the public's eye it's just normal! Nothing bad happens to them after all. ( wrong). There's a lot of propaganda and brainwash. The Guild is formed by recruits, hunters, teachers, professionists, a leader and its right hand. Plus other mansions that don't need soldiers like librarians and such. Recruits go through a period of training and learning, slowly forgetting the outside and learning rules and what's needed to survive. Passing the test, which gives you a lovely magic brand ( tracker), you are now bound to the Guild, going out needs permission and the brand acts as a leash. Fun, i know. Hunters then go through actual training, where they can slowly decide what profession they wanna be: Spellbreaker, Assassin and Reflector. Each of them is to stop a mage to cast and be captured/killed ( the black gradients on the body is a tattoo that indicates how many tasks you completed. It's painful. It's a stain) In picking one or more, you get your own mentor. Not many can pick 2 or even 3, it's a lot of work and dedication ( or high ranks want you to shine). The more you prove you're a good asset , the more you're sponsored? That's how Crow ends up with two professions and a lot of people who wanted to see him rising up in the high ranks. This is where they form teams too, after seeing how the hunters work together in the trials and missions. It's where teams solidify , due to mentors being friends too or smth. (In my case... Crow and Swan were a team, no i've never shown Swan here aaaa) High ranks are mentors usually, people who can go in the fields but usually are the trainers and the ones with power to discuss and decide with the Leader. One of them is also the right hand. Hunters usually ...die in the fields. Not many had the chance to retire and work in the Guild, even less Hunters who were able to retire out of it ( these...usually are killed from the Guild itself to protect secrets ) It's a bleak prospect for a future but the brainwash is so powerful they don't quite realize or fight against it, and when it's too late...well... you know. Mentors don't treat you bad per se, but... it's all to create soldiers and weapons after all, there's affection or care but rarely it goes beyond that. You're numbers to them unless you're ,again, sponsored and quite loved in the Guild due to status etc... Let's not add the fact Crow got the worst mentor ever , that added even more fucked up things to the training and we're good /jk. There's some snippets still but they're related to Crow mostly. Like...you have no contact with the outside even if your family is alive. Yeah, it's a secret, yeah Crow found it, no the reaction to know it wasn't pretty and it was one of the small sparks that made him fight back. In Fallen Au... Crow becomes the leader of it and it's 10x more fucked up. I think this is the gist of it! Sorry about the length! And thank you so much for asking!! The Guild is my personal playground >:)

[thecreaturecrossroads]

Character Headcanon Generator

Done for Cairi, Puck, Keeva(Caoimhe), and Val Tagged by: @nykrose

Tagging: @distoretion @jiaolong-rp @bastard-basket

Link to Generator

Cairi 1.) Cairi was dropped out of a window as a child. (lol No.) 2.) Cairi watches My Little Pony. (Nope. Didn't and doesn't have a TV) 3.) Cairi crashed a riding lawn mower into their fence. (No! Her Chickens are her lawnmower) 4.) Cairi is a switch. (Yes she is) 5.) Cairi would buy clothes from the soup store. (I'm laughing but she's to tired sometimes she totally would XD) 6.) Cairi is an introvert. (Nope. Ambivert) 7.) Cairi has not showered in two and a half weeks. (Eww, gross, no! She takes regular baths) 8.) Cairi is a simp. (For her garden, animals, and if she has a lover? Yes) 9.) Cairi is very good at walking in platform heels. (They don't make heels for her hoofs.) 10.) Cairi is very willing to eat inedible things. (No.) Puck 1.) Puck instinctively cleans messes in their own house as well as other peoples. (I could see this of him) 2.) Puck desperately needs a hug but doesn't know it and refuses to ask for one. (Sometimes yes) 3.) Puck has an incredible short-term memory but an awful long-term memory. (WRONG! SO WRONG) 4.) Puck hacks their stats in every video game they play. (hE WOULD NEVER!) 5.) Puck is a theatre kid. (I mean, he has a whole ass PLAY written about him and his Fae Family XD) 6.) Puck listens to 80s music. (Yes he does.) 7.) Puck voted sans in the tumblr sexyman poll. (I don't think he would have a Tumblr xD) 8.) Puck likes being alone. (Only when he's angry as hell) 9.) Puck chews their nails when nervous. (Nope! He might tap out a beat to an old song though.) 10.) Puck does intricate and expensive cosplays. (Cosplays no, but sometimes he is expected to dress up for Fae Court appearances) Keeva 1.) Keeva wakes up on November 1st and starts decorating for Christmas. (Winter Solstice? OH SHE'S HECKING ALL OVER IT. But she doesn't sleep from the start of fall till roughly sometime in spring.) 2.) Keeva can't spell restaurant. (Yes she can!) 3.) Keeva has an incredible spice tolerance. (She has Descent spice tolerance.) 4.) Keeva has an incredible long-term memory but an awful short-term memory. (She has great BOTH) 5.) Keeva has been canceled on Twitter. (She doesn't have a Twitter) 6.) Keeva hates being alone. (Yes) 7.) Keeva is bisexual. (Pan) 8.) Keeva is the gay cousin. (XD MAYBE) 9.) Keeva cringes at their middle school yearbook photos. (Middle school didn't exist when she was that age) 10.) Keeva is a simp. (For her Lovers? Yeah she is! She thinks it's stupid NOT to be) Val 1.) Val believes in ghosts and insists on trying to summon one at every sleepover. (HELL NO!! Why would she incur Hade's and Thanatos' wrath?) 2.) Val crashed a riding lawn mower into their fence. (No, her goats, Horses, and chickens are her lawn mowers) 3.) Val enjoys doing taxes. (No. Who would?) 4.) Val knocks people over by hugging them. (She can! But she usually doesn't.) 5.) Val cries while watching Disney movies. (Yes. She would deffs do this) 6.) Val likes to eat straight coffee beans. (No. Coffee anf caffine are actually rough on her heart.) 7.) Val has a mary sue oc. (No.) 8.) Val has a roblox account. (She doesn't even know what that is.) 9.) Val is not good with social cues. (Modern ones? Sometimes!) 10.) Val will go feral. Watch out. (HAHAHAHAHA LOL No, not really)

[writingmyheartoutforyou]

is Caoimhe the mostly human one 👀

She is! One of her ancestors (her great-great-great grandfather) is a member of the Tuatha de Danann. They're often considered the pre-Christian gods of Ireland and eventually became what we now call the "Fae" or "fairies."

[arcxnumvitae]

How rejuvenating it was to be in one's own home again! He greatly enjoyed the festivities that the Novian delegation put on-- well, mostly enjoyed them, but after the chaos of the last little while, even he was looking forward to things settling down and returning to some sense of normalcy.

If only fate would be so kind.

Immediately upon entering his manor, he was faced with the head servant. An older mortal woman generally composed and calm under pressure, she now paced the entryway, wringing her hands. The woman seemed to feel a rush of relief upon seeing him, even if the worry line between her brow deepened.

"Lord Mèinnearach!"

"What ails you, Caoimhe? I rarely seen you fret so!" The only time that came to mind was when she was relaying the news to him of his parents' passing. Iomhar's brows suddenly furrowed. "Has something befallen someone in the manor?"

The woman shook her head. "No, my lord. They-- I-- I'm not sure how to say this exactly, but the master and mistress are waiting for you in the parlor."

The who? Iomhar scanned the woman's face, then burst into laughter. "Is this some sort of jest? Who put you up to this, Caoimhe? Who on earth would introduce themselves as the master and mistress of the manor when the master stands right here before you? And I certainly have taken no mistress." Surely, it must have been some prank played by one of the gentry or a wandering fae. Perhaps a former lover or two was simply teasing.

Without waiting for a response from the woman, Iomhar strode down the entryway to the parlor, stone hands pressing against the double doors to throw them open.

Inside, two figures were seated together, and as they turned towards him, the smile on Iomhar's face left as swiftly as it had appeared.

"Athair? Màthair?"

"Iomhar." His father greeted simply.

"Without a spouse or even an heir, we see."

[khorren]

Updated the character page again, sort of bringing things up to modern day / quick summary of such. Need to get a pic for Caoimhe, but should probably level her first :) https://khorren.tumblr.com/characters

Text below:

Aoife

7th child of the family

Guild Leader

Commander’s bodyguard + 2nd in command

Took the Commander job in Icebrood Saga

Writes stories, poems, and sings

Siobhan

Twinned with Roisin

Vigil Crusader

Smashy

Roisin

Twinned with Siobhan

Totally normal Priory member

Yep. Just a gal in the Priory

Nothing to be concerned about

Likes animals

Fia

Has different mother than the others

Has kinship with the Spirit of Darkness

Likes exploring caves

Vigil Crusader when it suits her

Isla

Fia’s daughter, grew up with dad

Doesn’t say much

Contract killer / sniper for the Whispers

Aisling

Adopted into the family

Sister to Saorise

Raven Shaman

Keeps Wolf close

Saoirse

Adopted into the family

Sister to Aisling

Research into Jormag went wrong

Slightly corrupted physically

Misses her dad :(

Astrid

Canthan heritage

Sister to Aesa

Knowledge nerd

Librarian

Aesa

Canthan heritage

Sister to Astrid

Jade Tech Engineer

Likes things that go boom

Saga

Former Wolf Shaman

Exiled from her village

Pretty bummed out about it

Trying to make things right

Kristin

Mountain life not her thing

Lives in the Heart of Maguuma

Frog dudes are besties

Orathali

Un-norny norn

Lives in Lion’s Arch

Joined the guild as administrator / book keeper

Decent healer. Crap fighter.

Serenity

“The Commander”. Now retired

Complicated family history

Lost her memories age six

Doesn’t know her name, so goes by many

Doesn’t like Ruby

Ridley

Found in the Mists. Spooky

Vigil Warmaster

Champion of Aurene since Serenity couldn’t bond with her

Ruby

Ooooooold

Like seriously. Made a deal with Grenth

Been manipulating the family lineage for decades

Still not a fan of Charr, with a few exceptions

Calixae

Ruby’s kid. Could come in handy

Whoops, has very little magic ability

Lives with dad in Ebonhawke

Involved with the Ebonhawke Peace Treaty

Prefers to fish rather than attend diplomatic meetings

Kensi

Old. Kind of been living in the Mists for a long time

Also made a deal with Grenth

Used to be a Warrior, used to be a Ritualist, now a Revenant.

Was a Reaper of Grenth for a while

Looks after dead family

Natalia

Sister to Sienna

Oops, killed a minister

Hidden in Priory for a while.

Sneaky sneaky

Learned more about shadow magic while hidden away

Fae

Natalia in disguise

Rainbows and unicorns!

Still serves queen and country despite everything

Sienna

Sister to Natalia

Got hidden away in the Whispers after Nat killed a dude

Paired with the Commander and follows her everywhere like an annoying shadow

Bit of a hardened badass which is a bit concerning considering she’s pretty young

Ordered to kill Commander if she works against the Whispers

Alexis

Twin sister to Maidson

Bandit/Thief living in Ebonhawke

Turns to Dwayna and reforms herself

Priory nerd, Friend to Zephyrites + Crystal Bloom

Has a totally normal nothing to worry about Priory girlfriend

Madison

Twin sister to Alexis

Bandit/Thief living in Ebonhawke

Turns to Balthazar and reforms herself

Loses her magic after the events of Path of Fire

Re-trains with fire within with Alexis’ help

General mercenary + helper in Elona

Kyra

Befriended the Ebonhawke girlies for bad times

Died in the Battle for Lion’s Arch (noob)

Got crazy dead people powers

Came back when the Commander snuck out of the Domain of the Lost

Made it everyone’s problem

Allianora

Kurzick family been living in Divinity’s Reach for a long-ass time

Likes Beetle Racing

Whispers gal

Cantha opened. Yay. Living there now

Xunlai

Is she real? Is she a weird Mists creature? Who knows

Gets stuff for the guild

Aloreca

Former pirate

Sister to Blixxie

Formed a krewe with Yhalea after abandoned in a mission

Yhalea

Former Inquest

Formed krewe with Aloreca after Inquest abandoned her

Whispers agent, but kind of forgot about it

Blixxie

Sister to Aloreca

Barely made it out of college

Kinda ditzy but good at running errands

Likes minipets

Viianna

Krewe member

Spends more time doing stuff for the guild

Liaison for Pact stuff since the others have the social graces of a shoe

Nokomai

Krewe member

Likes magitech, holo-tech, and jade tech

Magic gremlin. Could be part-chak

Makes minipets

Oxia

Leader of Ember Warband

Trying really really hard to keep the team functional

Got the team out of the Fire legion and into Blood

Oops, Blood leader went crazy. Allied with the guild.

Reyna

Member of Ember warband

Going a bit crazy learning her magic potential

Not a fan of authority. Will listen to Oxia though.

Prima

Member of Ember warband

Show off

Guns and Ghosts are cool

Amarilis

Mama Pale Tree wanted her to be Special

Amarilis didn’t want to be special

Has rocky relationship with Mama Tree and the Dream

Got rid of her Wyld Hunt

Had to kill her boyfriend. Big sad.

Lil grumpy goose for a while

Doing okay now

Khorren

Surprise! Mama tree tried to make another Special sylvari

Amarilis didn’t like this

Now mostly tends to Mama Tree and is a liaison to the Guild and the Pact in sylvari matters

Camdinn

Sneaky plant man

Kaidalis

Likes animals

Likes hitting things

Pact Commander who tends to animals used in warfare and keeps them happy

Teaghaann

Left the dream with Khorren

Looking for someone she met in the dream

Fights dragons to look for her

Listens to Mordremoth. Whoops.

Is saved by dream-friend! Yay! Happy gay adventures.

Brynndera

Helped Teaghaann and Khorren in the dream

Sleepy pod child, didn’t wake up til after Mordy’s defeat

Went looking for dream friends

Found Teaghaann, took her home and fed her soup til she was better

Nierithi

One of the first Sylvari to appear after Mama Tree got a bit better after Shadow of the Dragon attacked her

Dreamed of being a healer, wanted to do nothing but heal.

Came out wrong. Woops. Necromancer

Very sad about it. Never really went adventuring, stuck to the Grove and Caledon Forest

Barrier healing exists! She’s happy. Yay! Goes on Tyria adventures with her little minion friends and heals people with sand

Cosima

When Serenity died to Balthazar, so did Cosima. Serenity escaped the Domain of the Lost but Cosima lingered there a long time

Didn’t go back to her Tyria, but Serenity’s. Very confused.

Takes over role of Commander after helping save the world not get consumed by Void.

Caoimhe

One of Cosima’s allies in the other Tyria

Escaped to the Mists when Kralk started eating the world

Landed in a quaint little pirate town called Lion’s Arch. Uh…. That’s not good.

Aoife

Commander of a completely different non-connected Tyria.

Only has one elder sibling (brother) and no younger siblings

Studying under Havroun Wiebe to be the next Raven Havroun

Had a small corrupted by Jormag arc. Is kind of okay about it now. Kind of.

Sebastian

Brat

Keeps getting to places before Aoife much to her annoyance

Become besties during season 3 stuff

Absolutely no romantic connection to her, but the pair love each other like super platonic best friend soulmates.

[draighean]

Did Blackthorn want children before he fathered Caoimhe? Did he want a family?

Its something he's thought about, for sure. Like many of the Fae, children are precious to him, and knowing the rarity of his kind adds extra weight to that.

He had no specific plans, but did want to try for children at some point, so Caoimhe is cherished.

[thecreaturecrossroads]

A soft "What the Fekk..." came out of her mouth. She could do whatever she wanted and he would submit to her?? What was she hearing??

What did you expect Caoimhe? You called up a demon from hell and you expected reasonable boundaries??? The forest around them was mostly pines and oaks, but there were some few maples and birch here and there. They passed rings of mushrooms and crystals softly glowing amongst ferns as Keeva carried Infe along the deer trail.

"There's... so much tae pull out of the proverbial trunk with what ye just said..." she stumbled over her exhausted mind and what to have come out of her mouth in response. Animals of the night paused as she went, speed reaching breakneck but still she carried him unjostled and safe in her arms.

"Fer now I'll leave it at, since ye're goin tae be living with me, I'll not be treatin ye like a toy I can do whatever I please with. I'm not that kind of person. Ye will have a say in what happens tae ye. In fact, tis expected of ye."

The forest opened up on a wide lake that was shrouded in mist. In a moment Keeva gave a leap, her mighty wings reappeared, and she was sailing over the lake. Skimming over the water with ease.

"If by that ye mean me Kin and other Fae like me? Aye. We all can be as tall or as small as we wish, but tend tae stick tae between yer height an how tall I was when I first summoned ye. An all of us are... forces of nature when it comes tae strength." She gave a small 'heh' at her little joke there. Now where had that come from? She hadn't felt like making jokes in... well 2 decades.

They remained airborne for some many minutes till a feeling as if they had flown through a gentle waterfall passed over them and the mist seemed to disappear at once. Keeva landed lightly on the edge of a plain in the middle of a dirt path that was clearly a main road. It stretched out before them through a countryside broken up by stone cairns and walls, patches of homes, and woods. Rivers, creeks, and ponds here and there as well. It was all picturesque in the way that made the landscape look like a patchwork quilt. On the horizon a truly massive Oak rose, seeming to dwarf the mountains around it. It was lit up in the night enough that even from here one could see parapets and walkways of a castle were built into it. And at it's sprawling roots were more homes.

"Welcome tae me Kingdom." She murmured and began walking down the road. The Fae Sheperd hailed their Sovereign from atop the wall where they sat with a reverent flutter of gossamer wings. Keeva nodded and kept moving forward.

"I've a few questions fer ye meself. The most important at the moment is what do ye need tae be healthy? Can ye eat regular food or do ye need somethin else instead?"

bastard-basket​:

bastard-basket​:

| Summoning | @thecreaturecrossroads |

     How odd it was that the ritual called not for the blood of lambs nor a living sacrifice of some sort, but instead the sigil had to be decorated with a couple jars of honey, roses, and white candles. This one specifically stood out from the others in the Summoner’s Tome for this reason, though this was also the only Demon that was labeled companion and guardian rather than something a bit more sinister or violent. A gentle disposition was also described somewhere in the scribbles of ancient text.

Keep reading

[lightswcrn]

blood. fae  blood  everywhere.

  ˑ༄ؘ ۪۫۫ ▹ ; YOU  KEEP  ON  RUNNING  ON  PURE  ADRENALINE  ALONE. they  knew  what  they  were  doing  ,  they  w  a  n  t  e  d  you  to  be  like  this  ,  wanted  others  to  see  you  like  this  &  rain  has  already  seen  you  she  wasn't  supposed  to  see  you. a  monster. you  were  a  monster  -  you  were  the  one  who  was  causing  this  violence  ,  when  they  were  the  ones  who  came  in  &  bothered  you  -  it  was  y  o  u. you  were  slicing  ,  splitting  fairy  flesh  in  half. no  different  than  fae  ,  they  were  nothing  like  the  face  ,  they  deserved  so  much  better. they  deserved  love  &  respect  &  you  were  no  monster  -  you  would  never  hurt  them.

 the  walls  thump  rhythmically  ,  as  if  you  were  in  the  ribcage  of  some  unjustly  ,  disgusting  &  cruel  monster  -  in  time  with  your  anchor  ,  your  hair  t  w  i  t  c  h  e  s  ,  your  body  is  moving  so  fast  &  so  dizzying  that  you  could  barely  process  it  ,  trying  to  remove  all  of  them  ,  everywhere  - blood  is  over  your  face  &  you  can  taste  it. &  the  rot. &  the  monster  trying  to  break  through  your  chest  &  take  over  - 

EYES  ALL  OVER  YOUR  BODY  ,  &  WINGS  WANTING  TO  SPREAD  -  YOU  WANT  TO  F E E D.

. . . . . . . . .

 no. no no  nonononononononono  no no  no no  no  - 

no  -  he  saw  you  -  he  saw  you  - 

even  if  a  sharp  strand  of  your  hair  was  r  i  g  h  t  through  caoimhe  ,  you  sit  there  ,  staring  at  sparrow  ,  oh  sparrow  with  his  bright  suit  &  heavenly  white  wings  ,  almost  b  l  i  n  d  i  n  g.

. . . . . . . .

you say nothing. you STARE.

[himbos-hotline]

I have many OCS and much brainrot so here we go. A list of OCS [turned alters. Look OC fictives are valid and were not doing hate for them on this account or anywhere else]

Cora Josephine Higgins [Modern newsies AU] // Cora Josephine Armstrong [Canon Newsies AU]

Caitlin Sierra Rizzoli-Isles [Rizzoli and Isles]

Meredith Fae Blackwood [Markiplier cinimatic universe (shes dating the markiplier in our system so yall will here about this)]

Avery Leo Taylor Starling [AHWM sona]

Elizabeth-Rose 'Eliza' Caoimhe Bloodheart [Jackseptic Cinimatic universe- Cannonly dates character!Jacksepticeye ya know the one that was ? is ? in the coma]

Solstice Nova Cole [Captainsona]

Avigail Harlow David [NCIS OC]

Madelyn Scarlette Jena Orton [WWE/ wrestling OC]

come yeet me asks, send me questions. Nothing is off the table. Gimme all the questions please pleae please

[drowningisinevitable-retired]

There’s Shroom For All || Group

TIMING: Current, late evening PARTIES: @evebrennan, @detectivedreameater, @shroomsbysolomon @deathisanartmetzli @riseofmurphy @drowningisinevitable SUMMARY: It’s mushroom szn, babeyyyyyy CONTENT: Drug use (mushroom ring), drug manipulation, Lydia plot mentions

It was the last major ring of the season, which meant that the celebration was in full swing. The night was well underway, and yet it was not dark, the glow from various creatures and people and lights keeping the area lit and warm in spite of the autumn chill. It was a time of celebration. It was a time of revelry. It was a time of togetherness, of bond making. The last ring was always special, and many fae had come from all over to experience it. Some came from New Hampshire, Vermont, Canada, even, the allure of White Crest’s sense of fae community drawing them.

The mushroom ring itself was giant, and there were plenty of people already inside, laughing and talking and laughing some more, drunk and high off all kinds of feelings. Glamours were, for the most part, gone, washed away as if the moonlight had dripped onto them, horns and leaves and fur and antlers and a variety of other inhuman features out and proud for all to see. After all, what did they care of humanity? The humans here were well under the circle’s thrall as soon as they stepped into it, bound to whoever had been lucky enough to step across it with them. There were drinks. There was revelry. There was life. All who entered the mushroom ring were bound to enjoy it, whether they wanted to or not. Such was the way of the mushroom ring.

Mina was overwhelmed. There were a lot of people, many of whom were in the nude, many of whom weren’t, but all of whom seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was a lot. It was almost too much. Even Mina’s ears had been able to pick up the sounds of merriment and noise making that was coming from in the woods when she and Caoimhe had parked, and there were so many people, and she wrung her hands, trying to get rid of some of the nerves. She had a lot of nerves recently. Mina was practically vibrating with them. “This looks..” she said quietly, pausing, like a lot, “like a lot.”

Metzli didn’t realize what they had stumbled upon on their run. They had expected to see strange things. It was White Crest after all. But…people, faes and humans in the nude? Glamour down, and everything revealed? That was a total surprise. The only thing stranger was that it was so bright that it felt like day. And that made Metzli almost scramble for cover until they looked back up and saw the moon.

Without thinking, feet walked towards it, as if they were being beckoned forward. Metzli didn’t mind once they were aware, and they continued forward. A distraction was a distraction. But just as they were about to step over the boundary, two familiar scents registered, and they looked around. Mina and Caoimhe had to be nearby, but they couldn’t see them. They didn’t bother to look very hard. Whatever was happening in the ring was far more interesting.

The day had been spent in quiet contemplation, mushroom-dotted back leaned against the Tree’s trunk, opposite the offering he had brought that morning. As the sun began to set, a new sound struck up—one that was not the typical orchestra of the forest. Curious, Solomon got to his feet and pressed a hand to the trunk as if to say goodbye, then wandered off into the twilight. Dusk turned to night as he lumbered along, heavy footfalls thumping, thudding, crushing dead leaves and abandoned twigs that had fallen from his cousins’ tops. The sound, so strange at first, became somewhat familiar. Voices, many voices. Music, laughter… gaiety. Interest piqued even further, the leshy did not feel compelled to activate his glamour, instead following the lights until he stepped directly into the large clearing where all the fae were gathered. Towering over many of them, the nymph hung back, overwhelmed by the sheer number of them. He’d been to one gathering like this before, but this one was even larger and louder. Masked eyes were drawn to the ring of mushrooms that sprouted from the ground, and joy sparked in his chest. He watched, delighted, as people of all types stepped carefully over the boundary to enjoy what he now knew was an extremely intoxicating experience. Perhaps this was some small part of his reward, after all?

It was so much. Caoimhe could hardly remember the last time she’d seen anything like it; it had to be Ireland. If this were years ago and her mother had been there, there would’ve been a human somewhere with a violin, giving the best performance of their lives. And as much time as Caoimhe had spent running, it had never been this. The community, the fun. The feeling as though, no matter how far she went, there would always be something like family to fall right back into, given the right circumstances.

The right circumstances happened to be one doozy of a mushroom circle. Caoimhe was nearly bouncing on her feet as they approached, so excited for something so familiar and fun she almost missed the nervous buzzing beside her. It wasn’t until Mina spoke up that Caoimhe looked over, finally pausing at the way she was twisting her hands together.

“Hm, it is, but...you’re not alone.” It was almost, almost, the best part. She glanced over at the circle, at the fae and others laughing and dancing inside. “If you’re uncomfortable, we don’t have to step in. That’s an option, okay? But we’re here, and it’ll be fun, if we do.”

They didn’t have to go in. Right. Okay. This was okay. Mina was okay. She was totally okay with this. And, really, she wanted to go in. Or, at least, she was telling herself that she wanted to go in. Mina wanted to have fun. She’d been a little starved for it for most of her life, really, the concept of fun. And the last time she’d walked into a ring hadn’t been bad. It’d actually been alright, despite the fact that she’d almost killed a werewolf and ended up with the worst tattoo in the most embarrassing place. But she’d be aware this time! It’d be okay. She was going to be aware, and she was going to be careful, and she was going to have fun. “I want to do this,” Mina said, and her voice sounded a lot more sure than she was in all actuality. She wanted to do this. She wanted… to understand what she’d been missing out on for most of her life. If this was something that was a part of who she was, then Mina wanted it. “I do. I… don’t have to get undressed, do I? Because I– I don’t think I want to do that.”

Marley was nonplussed when the disturbance call came in, but she was the only officer on duty who could go check it out, and that was how she'd ended up standing outside a mushroom ring of all things, in the middle of the woods. Great. This wasn't a problem she could deal with, but it also wasn't a problem that was going to solve itself. As far out in the woods as this was, it was the elderly couple in the cabin a few miles back that had called it in, complaining about noise and "some sorta disco orgy" in the woods weren't going away. Marley rubbed the bridge of her nose and she stood back, trying to decide what best to do here. She could probably easily put the old couple to sleep and let the fae have their festivities-- who was she to interrupt?-- but for some reason, her feet wouldn't move. She just kept staring.

Finally, as she tried to move back, she bumped into a woman with a rather nervous looking girl next to her. "Fuck, sorry," she mumbled, fumbling to put her glasses back on.

Foot stepped over the ring and there was a strange feeling immediately. Like a tether was attaching itself to them and grew taut too fast. It was dizzying, it was confusing, it was…something Metzli paid no mind to as soon as a new distraction appeared in front of them. Everyone was just connected and inebriated in a way they had never experienced. Even clubs in the seventies weren’t as crazy as what they saw. It was too much then, and it was too much now. They stumbled back, put their hood on, and shut their eyes tightly to readjust themselves. Metzli hadn’t even noticed that Mina was directly behind her until they scowled down at whoever ran into them.

“Mina? Caoimhe?” Their face was covered by the shadows of their hood for only a moment. The lights from inside the ring were too powerful to keep their face hidden. The hood was more for their comfort anyway. Then just as jarring, another familiar face registered. “Marley?”

“No.” Caoimhe laughed, though it was a fair question. She couldn’t speak for anything that might happen once they crossed into the circle, she could only hope that Mina had some fun with it. That was the point, after all. “Just...deep breath, you only have to do what you want to do. If you need to leave, ju– oh!”

A woman bumped into her, decidedly not fae in an area swimming with fae. Caoimhe wondered at the look on the woman’s face, how it looked a little like how she felt. There was something magnetic about the circle, there always was. It was hard to say no once she was standing right beside it. There were humans in the circle, of course, there was something to be had for everyone. Some may have even gone in of their own accord, others–

“How dare you.” She grinned, tone light, crooking a thumb over her shoulder. There was a tree in the clearing; the woman was out of place. Caoimhe kind of wanted to keep her there. “You here for this?”

She glanced sidelong at Metzli of all people, though she wasn’t entirely surprised. They seemed to be everywhere. “Well, it’s really a party now, isn’t it.”

Fan-fucking-tastic. Seemed everyone knew each other, but the only person Marley recognized was Metzli and she wasn't eager to run into a vigilante cohort in the middle of the woods. "I was just leaving, actually," she grumbled, glaring over at the vampire, "and you should be, too." Did they not know what being in a mushroom circle did? Marley only knew because of-- well, she really didn't wanna think about her right now. She shook her head and slid her glasses on and pocketed her hands. "Just try and keep it down," she mumbled, knowing it was of no use to suggest. She glanced at the younger girl. "Don't do anything stupid," she added on.

Finally gathering the courage to move out of the shadows at the treeline, Solomon wandered farther into the clearing. His antlers rose high into the sky, skull almost glowing white in the moonlight as he moved through the other attendees. His pace was slow and deliberate, careful not to run into (or step on) other fae as he made his way toward the ring. “Excuse me,” he breathed, his voice raking like branches on a windowpane in the heads of those nearest to him. Once at the edge of the ring, the leshy took a delicate step over it, relishing the high that immediately flooded his senses. Sinking to the earth as others moved out of his way, Solomon lowered himself into a crouch and closed his eyes, grinning to himself as he just listened to others around him enjoying themselves. He’d missed this, as much as he enjoyed the Tree’s company.

“Okay, okay, okay,” Mina muttered, more to herself than to Caoimhe or the other woman or even Metzli as she looked at the ring and then all the Fae. People. Lots and lots of people. They were people. Mina could feel them, that strange bond that all Fae seemed to share thumming through her system, making her antsy. It could be a comfort if she learned how to let it She wanted to let it. She did finally cock her head to the side as she looked at Metzli. “This– I– You really probably shouldn’t be here,” she told them. Though, really, there were plenty of non-Fae around, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. The boy that Mina had entered the other ring with seemed to enjoy himself. Maybe this was something for everyone. She wished she knew more. Faerie rings weren’t exactly common knowledge, though. All Mina had ever known was to not enter them on purpose, and now she was blatantly disregarding that. She watched as a leshy lumbered forward, and she looked up at him. “You’re– Hi.” She looked back at Caoimhe. “Right. Okay. Just–” It was like jumping off a waterfall. She just had to do it. “Right.” And Mina stepped into the ring.

Caoimhe wondered at just how okay Mina looked, but watched her step through regardless. It was going to be fine. It was going to be fun. She’d come out to have a good time, but she found herself honestly invested. It was Caoimhe who’d pulled her out there, who’d suggested coming in the first place. And hell if that wasn’t disorienting. These were things she stumbled upon alone, somewhere new, somewhere that didn’t mean anything to her. None of it, none of them, were supposed to mean anything to her.

“You know.” With Mina in the ring, and with every intention of following her, Caoimhe turned to look at the only person she didn’t recognize. There was some safety in that, right? “The best way to make sure none of us do anything stupid is to stay, keep an eye on us.” With her hands tucked away and only short sentences to offer, Caoimhe wondered if she should just salute and walk away. “Might actually enjoy yourself, if you’re open to it.”

When looking at Mina after she stepped into the ring, the tether from earlier pulled harder and all they wanted to do was listen to whatever she might say next. What the fuck? They disregarded this thought immediately though, and rolled their eyes at Mina. “I can be wherever I want. This looks interesting enough. This doesn’t really seem up your alley, though.” Metzli retorted with a scowl and pulled their hoodie over their head more.

Looking at Marley, they flipped her off and stuck out their tongue. “Listen, you should live a little. Heard these things are fun. Besides, you heard her, with me, it’s a party now.” Metzli grinned and waved Marley over. “Caoimhe is right. She’s pretty smart. You should listen to her.”

The light was what had initially peaked Murphy’s interest as paws padded silently across the forest floor. Triangular ears were pricked forward, nose high in the air as she stalked towards the weird sensation. For a moment the wolf had considered turning back, something in the air seemed to warn against the way forward. And perhaps she would have, had she not come across a familiar scent. Metzli. At that point worry over took instinct, and so she crouched ever closer to the ground, the white of her coat helped her to blend into the brightness the closer she came. Once she finally came to the source, Murphy felt her hackles rise. Every inch of fur stood on end as she took in the scene; human and fae nude and unhidden in euphoria under the light of day that somehow seemed to permeate despite the moon high in the sky.

A conglomerate of scents took root within Murphy’s snout, and just as the intrigued animal prepared to step into the mess, it paused. A warning had loomed high in the wolf’s mind, of a phenomena it had heard of but never seen. It took a step back, only to feel something, perhaps someone, bump into it. That small movement was enough to tumble Murphy into the false daylight, her shift abruptly ending as her physical body joined the chaos. Nude, green hues took in everything around her, before they rested on the person responsible for her indoctrination. “Son of a bitch.”

Marley watched the young girl step over the line and realized she, too, must be fae. Her eyes went back to the older woman, who was trying to coax her into going in as well, playing at her responsibility to keep others safe. It was her job, she supposed… and it was easier to keep people out of trouble if she stuck around. Logically, Marley knew going into a fairy ring was a bad idea. But at the moment? She felt like she didn't care. Something was pulling her towards it, and something was pulling her towards the woman. "You seem familiar," she said to Caoimhe, "have we met?" Moving closer to her, closer to the ring. There was no harm in sticking around for a little bit, right?

She shot a glare over at Metzli, but didn't respond. "You do this often?" She asked Caoimhe instead.

This felt a lot different than when Mina had stepped into a mushroom ring. Which to be fair, that ring was back in February, and, now that she thought about it, probably not nearly as potent. This, though. It was so much and everything and nothing at all, and Mina felt like she had all the control in the world and none at all. Like she’d given up control of herself in favor with a connection to the world that she’d never thought possible. And her pupils were dilated, and she felt like she’d had too much caffeine and something warm and wonderful. And maybe that was why everyone was taking their clothes off; because, despite the autumn chill, she was beginning to feel warm, uncomfortably warm. She thought about taking her clothes off. She wasn’t going to take her clothes off. Instead, she stumbled back over to Caoimhe and Metzli and the leshy and the other woman, and there was someone else that had just stumbled out of the brush, and that was fine, and everything was fine, and everything felt electrified, and Mina didn’t know what to do. She would have asked Caoimhe if it was supposed to feel like this, but she was busy, so she looked at Metzli instead, looking up at them and cocking her head as she asked, “What does it feel like to you?”

Wherever her eyes landed, it was not the true source of whoever had pushed Murphy into the ring. Instead, all she would find was a root protruding from the earth, waving at her like a hand before it slithered back into the dirt. To her left Solomon still rested in his squat, watching the werewolf with an amused glimmer in his golden eyes. “Thought you could use a little… push,” he explained in his deep, rumbling voice. “Welcome. I do not have a mother, but if I did, I bet she would have been a bitch.” Sitting up, Solomon held out a massive hand to her. “Lily,” he said, giving his false name, “and try not to overthink it. Just… have fun.”

“Hey!” Finger guns felt a touch juvenile, but Caoimhe still threw a grin Metzli’s direction. She wasn’t necessarily on a mission to force anyone into the circle, but she was flattered nonetheless. “Metzli is pretty smart themselves, you should listen to them.”

But it didn’t seem like much more was needed. The woman took a step closer, and Caoimhe could almost feel the edge of the ring, how many steps she’d need to get them through. There was always a feeling of breathlessness just before, anticipation blending with nerves and excitement in the perfect way. “I don’t think we’ve met.” She offered a hand, “I’m Caoimhe, and...no, not necessarily. Once a year, if I’m in the right place at the right time.” She took a step towards the line of mushrooms, “Sticking around?” And she stepped through.

Turning to face Mina again, Metzli blinked several times and a euphoric weight began to settle. Skin vibrated and everything began to hum and buzz. A smile tugged at their lips and they had to touch their face to feel it, make sure it was actually there. What they felt was akin to an out of body experience, but they could see everything in a way they hadn’t before. “I feel…free. But also like…my clothes are constricting.” The tether grew stronger again and they stepped closer to Mina, pupils dilated and boring into her.

Sight buzzed in a similar fashion to their skin and they let out a shaky breath that they didn’t even need. “How do you feel?” Metzli wanted to know, needed to know. They didn’t even look at Mina as they asked, their focus waning and bouncing from Marley, to Caoimhe, to the giant tree, and then to Murphy. Murphy? Thoughts were too fast though, and they looked back at Mina. Eyes were red now, letting themselves go slowly.

Green hues glowered in the direction of the looming fae. Though their body was in a crouch, they still rested above Murphy. “You might not be the son of one, but you certainly are one.” Though she felt the ire from being thrust into a situation she was not comfortable with, and did not want, it was clouded by the music and gaiety around her. Despite her desire to be angry, to round on the fae she now faced, her body took things into its own hands and pushed a giggle forth from her mouth. It was such an un-murphy-ish sound that her eyes widened in shock. “Lily,” The name rolled over her tongue lavishly. The fae were truly a sight to behold without their glamour; beautiful, unique, powerful. Everything that seemed to be the very embodiment of nature, and this one was no different.

With another giggle Murphy bounded in their direction, her feet hitting the soft earth with enough speed and force that the dirt beneath her path flung out from all directions until she was situated directly in front of the fae responsible for her predicament. Lily. Instinctively, prompted by the freeing music and warmth that enveloped her, she reached out to delicately touch a horn. Almost as soon as her fingers had made reverent contact they were pulled back and a squeal of delight parted from between full lips. “I guess since you thought I needed a push that must also mean that you’re responsible for showing me a good time.”

“It’s really warm,” Mina said, and, yes, it was definitely very warm. And free. She didn’t know if free was the right word. She felt like she was falling and there was a pool of water below her, so she knew everything would be okay, but there was still that sense of falling. She was still falling. It was a good kind of fall, though, exhilarating, reminding her of the first time that Bex had kissed her in the parking lot of the Stacked Deck, and she hadn’t been able to think then, and she wasn’t really able to think now. “I feel– I feel like– You’re very close, can you step back, please?” And then she was laughing because, really, they were right. Free. She’d never felt this free, and she didn’t know what to do with it. She wanted to enjoy it. She wanted to fully experience it. She… wanted Bex. But not to be there because the non-Fae all seemed to have a strange look in their eyes, and Metzli now had a strange look in their bright red eyes, and there was a very, very tiny part of Mina that worried that look wasn’t a good thing, and maybe Bex shouldn’t experience it. But this was still fun! And she wanted to have fun! And Mina was having fun!

Marley glanced around before her eyes landed back on the woman. Caoimhe. Quite the name. It was a nice name. Marley watched her step into the ring and felt that something familiar again, but everyone around her was stepping in, and they were all laughing and happy and didn't Marley deserve that? No, she didn't think so. But she wanted it. And that was enough. She took the last step forward and into the ring and reached for the other woman's hand as she did. Something more tugged. She felt it inside her like a rush. As is she'd just consumed a fear that was greater than any other. It filled her up and made her arms tingle and she did something she never did-- she smiled. "Wow," she breathed, "does it always feel like this?"

Her anger fell on deaf ears—or rather, ones that did not comprehend the insult. The attitude was quick to fade, of course, once Solomon bade her a jolly evening. Almost immediately, her mood perked up and she came hurrying over, drawing a delighted laugh from the leshy. His head tilted into her brief touch, a hum following quickly on the coattails of her laughter. “A good time? Of course, of course… though I would argue, simply being here is a good time.” He breathed a sigh of relief, glancing up at the sky. “You know,” the leshy added thoughtfully, “I can think of something that is a very good time that you could help me with! But that would require leaving here, and I would like to… to stay a little while longer…” Pushing his hands into the dirt, he willed the sprouting of a ring of flowers, and as they grew taller, they began to intertwine into a circle. Once they’d fully bloomed, it was easy to pluck them all free of their stems at the same time and lift the little crown of flowers up to place it gingerly on the wolf’s head. “Cute. It suits you.”

Step back, please. “Yes, I can.” Metzli replied and obeyed with no retaliation. The tether was tighter and it demanded to be felt. It demanded that they stayed close. As close as Mina would let them. The feeling to want to listen was infuriating and against everything that made up their being. But that was quickly overshadowed by the sheer amount of warmth they felt. Mina was right. It was so warm. And without thinking, if it was even possible to think at that point, Metzli removed their hoodie and threw it to the side. As always, they had a binder on.

“I feel really good. Really weird, but good. My body is shaking. But…I’m not scared. I’m excited.” Metzli chuckled and paced around, running their hands through their hair and tugging. It felt good to do so. They needed to do more. They needed to act on all of the impulses they had. But there were too many to pick from, so they had to just settle for standing in one place until something moved them.

It still took Caoimhe a little by surprise every time, no matter how many times she stepped into a circle. That warm giddy feeling, the way it started in her chest and spread until she couldn’t stop smiling. She wondered if it ever would, if one-hundred years would pass, then two, then...then she looked to the Leshy and she thought maybe it wouldn’t. Maybe this would always be a thing she could have, no matter where she ran. It was familiar but not, warm and tingly, and of course she’d keep her clothes on, but the glamour was gone after only a moment.

Her eyes found the woman who’d stepped through just behind her, and she was smiling, reaching out for her hand. Caoimhe thought she looked nice, when she wasn’t telling them to keep the noise down. And, oh, this was going to be fun. “More or less.” She rocked back on her heels, pulling in a breath, “Like warm and exciting and–” And words, Caoimhe couldn’t find them. “It’ll be fun. We’re going to have fun, uh…you know, I never did catch your name. Just! Just your first name.”

Marley stared, eyes wide. She remembered why this was familiar, eyes stuck at the woman's glamour dropped. She stared at her, unmoving. The gleam of her skin, the opalescent sheen of her hair, sparkling like diamonds. She remembered why this was familiar. "Lydia." The name left her throat in a breath. She remembered now. The woman, the monster, who, almost a year to the day, had given Marley something she'd never thought she could have. Marley remembered reading the newspaper, the police reports, about the woman named Lydia Griffin and what she'd done. She remembered how the woman, the monster, had convinced Marley they were the same. Had convinced Marley that she didn't need to be ashamed of what she was, who she was. The monster who had shown her a kindness and compassion and understanding no one else ever had. The monster who was cruel and kept people for herself. The monster who had loved, but was a monster all the same. The monster who showed Marley, convinced Marley, in all her undoing, that the only thing Marley would ever be was a monster, too. A monster that could love, but was a monster all the same.

"Marley," she answered as the tug inside of her demanded her to. "My name is Marley. Just Marley."

“It’s– It’s– Yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s what it feels like!” Mina said, nodding quickly. “It’s weird but good and nice.” And it was also weird and good and nice the way that they listened to her almost immediately, and Metzli hardly ever listened to Mina. So that was a welcome surprise. All things about this were becoming welcome surprises, and Mina wanted to experience more of it, feel more of it. And it was nothing for her hands to become webbed and clawed, and it was nothing for her to take off her jacket and roll up her sleeves and get rid of her shoes and feel the earth underneath her feet. And this was as far as she’d go because excitement didn’t mean confidence, and Mina still had a lot of nerves, but they were happy nerves. When was the last time that she’d felt this happy without it being weighed down by stress and anxiety and fear? She didn’t know. She couldn’t remember. This felt foreign but natural, so natural, and then Mina was laughing again. “This is awesome.”

Caomhe knew that look. She’d never really needed a mushroom ring to get that look. Something tugged at the back of her mind, like she should be uncomfortable, like she should be stuffing her violin into another box, submitting a two-weeks, and leaving. But she wasn’t. She was warm and she was happy and it wasn’t like she hadn’t already known. This one, this one would go away. Eventually. This one’s name was Marley, and she had smiled, and some strings weren’t permanent, not really. “Well, just Marley. It’s a pleasure to meet you..”

This was going to be fun. It was. She looked around to find Mina, with Metzli just outside the circle. She didn’t look panicked. Everyone was accounted for, and she let herself fully settle, no room for anything else. This was going to be fun.

Metzli marveled at Mina, watching her scales form and listening to her grow enlivened. They’d seen her claws before, her scales on her arms, but never this. They’d never seen her so free of anxiety. “Whoa…” Breath hitched and their head whipped to catch Caoimhe’s glamour fall. “Holy shit…you guys—you look incredible.” Their smile continued to grow and they had to tighten and release their fists to keep themselves grounded. It was so much at once, but they didn’t want to stop experiencing it. “The stories don’t do the actual experience any justice.” Staring at everyone for only a moment longer, they walked towards Caoimhe and tapped her shoulder.

“You look incredible, Caoimhe. Amazing. Beautiful. Powerful. You—sorry.” Metzli was rambling, filled too much with energy from whatever was permeating within the circle. There was so much life. So much. Flowers blossomed and so too did everyone around them. It was like everyone was letting go and becoming one. They couldn’t wait for what was to come.

[noseblxxd]

Oh no... No no no, this wasn't right. Heart in her throat, blood running cold, and the branch falling from her hand. Visually, something was off. Eyes that pierced through her like daggers, his intensity unwavering. Of course, the strong possibility of violence against the lamb, her potentially. But his voice, the sounds that left his mouth, impossible for the human tongue to recreate.

The tales were true, this was a faerie.

His inquisition, as simple a question as it was, must be a trick. Do not share your name with the fae, the women in town had told her such as a little girl. But don't lie, they'll know and be angry. She could hardly speak, but her gaze stayed fixed on the scared animal paralyzed in his grip. Her eyes wide, a quiet panic.

"Up the hill-" Her voice trembled, raising her hands up in front of her. Truthful, enough at least. Or she hoped it was, dancing around a direct answer. Creatures like him -if her suspicions were correct- found power in names. An invitation for future involvement.

God in Heaven she just needed Caoimhe back, so she could leave and never come back.

"I came from up the hill... You have my lamb."

Shock had overtaken the little lamb in his arms, neck unnaturally tense, a vein protruding where the fleece was still thin. The whites of its eyes, usually hidden in the fullness of it´s irises, shone now in the wildest display of fear. Somewhere beneath the hummingbird thumping of its heart it knew exactly what he was. Despite the human limbs that came to a stand or the familiar curl of his seemingly mortal lips, the blood in its body screamed in remembrance. Old beast.

Gabban restrained the sheep with a deathly grip, and was about to start walking deeper into the forest until he caught a different scent. Then came a rustling of leaves and a cry. 

All at once he was angry to see the woman so deep in the tangle of his home, defiling the good soil with the touch of her clothes. But he stood back in a moment of caution, feeling the dog bites across his body seethe with a warning. Humans brought with them other animals that maimed and things of steel that drew out his blood. He´d yet to encounter a person that he couldn´t eventually turn into a bloody feast, but it had always come at the price of his tender skin. 

The woman before him didn't look like much, however. Unaccompanied, armed only with a fallen branch, she was severely out of her depth. He watched her for another breath, amused by the flecks of sunlight that marked her face. Maybe he could have two meals. The thought alone made his lips part slightly, now smelling the richness of her blood with the roof of his mouth. 

His voice sounded like the trickling of a shallow river or the flapping of wings in a deep cave, then slowly, it formed into something she could actually understand. 

“Who are you?”

[thecreaturecrossroads]

@reddiadem

It was coming on the middle of the day. The time where Caoimhe should have been asleep. Nocturnal creature that she was. So she couldn’t really help dozing off, even though she’d been trying to explain some things to Infernum.

A soft cooing sound came from her as what served her for a snore, and the feathering around her shoulders was fluffed and puffed out in contented sleep. A soft smile on her face at the sound of Infernums’ purring. That is till one of her Fae dogs barked at something out the window and went rushing out the door. She was wide awake with a start, blinking her round eyes.

“Och! What? What’s goin on?” she looked about, and to Infernum, hearing the hound barking outside. Then quickly realized what had happened.

“Did I fall alseep on ye there? I’m sorry bout that, I didn’t mean tae...” she brushed her bangs out of her eyes, embarrassed and assuming she’d made him uncomfortable.  

“I don’t have many personal boundaries when I get comfortable with a person. And I get comfortable with people faster than they do sometimes. So if there’s anythin’ ye aren’t alright with don’t be afraid tae tell me. Or just move me if somethin like this happens again. Ye’re not goin tae hurt me. I’m tougher than I look an I trust ye. And I’ll respect yer wishes.”

[evebrennan]

An Understanding

TIMING: Current LOCATION: Around White Crest PARTIES: @detectivedreameater & @evebrennan SUMMARY: Marley gives Caoimhe a tour of White Crest, because she kinda has to. CONTAINS: Drug use (fae mushrooms), mentions of the Lydia plot

Caoimhe just wanted a milkshake. No, Caoimhe wanted more than a milkshake, but it was so much easier to say she wanted a milkshake. Easier than a home or just one fucking meal that wasn’t a strike or a puppet or a ghost, staring at her through glazed and happy eyes. She wanted to shove down her conscience, and she’d found just the thing. She wanted to say she wanted a milkshake and, well past unreasonably giddy, Caoimhe could proudly say she wanted a milkshake and mean it.

The problem came when she was halfway through said milkshake, tripping down a side-street she hadn’t explored yet. She’d asked for a tour of White Crest two sips in, grinning around her straw and using every ounce of stop this is fun to get out of thinking about how easily Marley complied. Like there were strings, like she could run run run and they’d still tug along behind her. She caught on it and spun back to don’t worry about it, this is fun. The tour was fun. The way her thoughts slipped one over the other over the other was fun. “Is this fun? For you? What do you do for fun?”

Marley had looked at her phone and regretted it immediately. Caoimhe wanted a tour and she’d stood up from her desk at work and walked out without being able to stop herself. Sorry, emergency, she’d told the Captain as the elevator doors shut. Groaning to herself when the bright light of afternoon hit her and she tucked her shades on, slinking through shadows until she found where Caoimhe had been waiting for her. Hands in her pockets, she tried her best not to look too disgruntled about being here, but she kept her distance, and not just because she was mad about being forced to give her a tour on some whim. 

“Fun is subjective,” she answered, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “I’m not really a daytime person.” The sun, luckily, was passing behind some clouds at the moment, and she looked over at Caoimhe sipping her milkshake. “Sex,” she answered, unable to help herself, “I like doing photography, too, but I don’t usually tell anyone about that. I liked doing it as a teenager, it made me feel close to people even if I really wasn’t.” 

Caoimhe watched the way Marley rubbed at the bridge of her nose, and felt safe in assuming the tour wasn’t subjectively fun for her. It was different, almost refreshing. It stood in stark contrast to the devotion she avoided. Marley could still look at her and want to get away, and oh, if that didn’t cut and heal all at the same time. There was a careful amount of space between them for which Caoimhe would typically feel grateful, and she was trying to decide if it was better or worse that Marley had placed it there.

“Ha! I mean...yeah, fair.” Caoimhe’s laughter died off in the answer that followed. It was a compulsion, not trust, that had Marley answering her honestly. Somewhere Caoimhe knew it should bother her. She could ask anything, questions tumbling over and over themselves, and it was a marvel in self-restraint that she was able to keep them from spilling out. She wondered if they’d still talk, if the day came where Marley wasn’t forced into it. She wondered if she could blame her if she didn’t. Wondering didn’t hold for very long, “Getting close to people is...” She wanted to say overrated, but the lie churned and died in her chest. People came with strings that hurt when they grew taut, but she still found herself seeking them out. “It is. Photography, though, that’s interesting. Is it something you still do?”

There was a sense of familiarity in Caoimhe’s words as she pondered on Marley’s words. Marley glanced sideways at her, squinting even through her sunglasses as the sun trickled in above them. There was something about the way she said them, how she trailed off and Marley watched words turn in her head, but fade away. She’d trained herself since she was very young to be able to read people, even if she couldn’t understand or imitate their emotions. She needed to know how to do that in order to manipulate people and keep herself safe. She looked back forward. “No,” she answered simply, hands tucking themselves back in pockets, “I stopped a long time ago. It had no value in my life, didn’t really have time for hobbies.” Photography didn’t gain her anything from anyone, therefore she’d had to stop. When everyday was a battle and wondering if she’d have a meal or a place to sleep, there wasn’t really room for hobbies or things just for fun.

“I still have my old camera, though,” she found herself admitting, “I kept it.” It was one of the only personal effects she had and kept close. It was in a box, buried with some of her old photos and degrees. “What about you? Any hobbies?”

“Just because you don’t have time for something, doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t hold value.” Caoimhe tried to remember all of the things she’d picked up and discarded over the years. Some things she held onto with a vice grip: there was still a violin in her office, the fingerboard just beginning to wear. She had letters tucked away in a box that would serve her much better in a trash can somewhere four towns back. Better yet, in an airport in Ireland. Piano had been an interest she’d managed to passively maintain, but for as many things as she’d loved and kept, there were twice as many she’d loved and let go. It didn’t make them mean any less to her. They were empty loves, but they still left a space behind.

“I like the violin.” She offered, skipping ahead to the next alley and poking her head around the corner. It was less an alley and more a side street, a sign boasting “oddities” not too far in. “Hearing it, playing it. Art is more than just–” A meal. “A means to an end. I genuinely love it. Someone heard the sound taut strings made in hollow spaces, and made music out of it. Beautiful music.”

Marley chose not to comment on that. She could be patronizing or choose to say something angry in return, but she didn’t really want to. That was the old her. It was best to just keep your mouth shut when people talked about things they didn’t really know about. And she didn’t really feel like explaining her entire sad, pathetic childhood to this woman whom she’d really just met and walked into a mushroom ring with. 

“Violin, huh??” she asked, glancing over at her. “So you’re musically minded, too.” Although Lydia had kept more than musicians, hadn’t she? She’d kept writers and painters and pottery makers. All just beneath Marley’s feet, simply because she decided not to ask what was behind locked doors. Her jaw clenched at the thought but she tried not to show it too much. “I don’t really consider my photography ‘art’. Don’t think I’m really the creative sort, but I’m sure you figured that out by now, haven’t you?” She hadn’t meant it to sound bitter, and she hated that she was judging someone simply by their species, but her heart had been ripped in half by a woman she hadn’t even admitted loving and left her in the dust to try and pick up the pieces. Sometimes Marley wondered if her heart was still in pieces on the floor because of it. She loved Erin, but there was something blocking her from being her true self with her, wasn’t there? She’d always felt it. She’d thought perhaps it was her head. Perhaps she was wrong.

“Too?” Caoimhe wondered if she knew Mina, or Bex. Or any of the others she’d stumbled upon who had at least a passing interest in the arts. She knew asking would mean some kind of compulsion, but the question was out before she could stop it. There were too many questions she’d wanted to ask since the mushroom ring, and they only seemed to be growing in number. They started with ‘who is Lydia, if not you’ and ended with ‘how do you feel about practical jokes.’ Some she’d held close to her chest, while others...well, they were on a tour of White Crest, and only half of it was because Caoimhe wanted to see the town.

“I did figure that out.” Questions. They shifted from nagging to burning, and Caoimhe spun herself around to walk backwards in front of Marley. She liked photography, but she didn’t strike Caoimhe quite like her violinist did. She smiled, curious, and not caring enough to hold herself back. “So you know exactly what I am.”

“I knew someone else like you who loved musicians,” Marley compulsively admitted. She didn’t think that information was particularly guarded, though it tasted acrid in her mouth. When she thought about Lydia, she didn’t feel hate-- she felt hurt. And she didn’t know how to get rid of it. She’d tried and tried and tried, but she didn’t know how. Eventually, she’d just given up. She’d locked away the pain and the hurt and pretended it didn’t exist anymore. But now it was all coming flooding back in, and Marley glanced at Caoimhe as they turned a corner. “You familiar with Amity street, yet?” she asked, another compulsion to continue their tour. 

“I do,” Marley said, watching her face closely as Caoimhe turned on her heels and started walking backwards in front of her.. “Fae. Leanen-sidhe. You feed off artistic creativity.” A pause. “Of which I have none. Fuck me, I can’t even dream or imagine shit.”

Caoimhe’s feet stumbled and she paused, “Someone like me?”

The thought of her mother caught then slipped away just as quickly. She’d come by her interests honestly. But as far as she knew, her mother hadn’t wandered far from their estate in Ireland since a few years after Caoimhe had left, certainly not as far as Maine, United States. If she had, Caoimhe would know. She had to believe at least that much. And curse that there was a little bit of hope mixed into the question, like running as soon as she figured herself out had left her wanting for a guidance she’d been steadfastly refusing herself since. It was a hope she’d normally bury, but as it was she found herself grasping onto it.

It took her a moment to absorb what it all meant, Marley knowing what she was. Marley possibly know someone like her. “Photography can be art. Right? Not tempted to string you along or anything, you’re not there, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing.” She shrugged, finding it in her to move again. “And, no, I haven’t seen Amity Street.”

“She’s not around anymore,” Marley answered even without being prompted to. But Marley knew the hope of a false promise and she wasn’t about to lead someone on with anything of the sort. Not knowing anyone who was like you was painful and it ached in a way that only someone of your species could fill. Even when Marley had left her mara commune and sworn her hate for them, she’d missed them, missed knowing she wasn’t the only one of her kind around. And that gleam in Caoimhe’s eye was one Marley had worn many times, only to have it snuffed out. Destroyed. She dropped her gaze.

“Sure,” she shrugged, “just don’t think what I did was anything like that. Didn’t make it, like, mosaic or meaningful and shit. Just a kid taking pictures of people. Laughing, smiling, playing together.” Having all the things Marley never got. Families, friends, safe places. Her brow creased. “For me, it’s nothing.” She stopped and pointed at a shop across the way. “Amity is known for it’s more paranormal influences. You know,” she gestured, “people like us.”

“Can you–” Caoimhe bit the question off, some self-restraint breaking through the haze. This wasn’t fun. This was supposed to be fun. Her fingers curled into her palms and she considered changing the topic, finding something else to do. She’d jokingly suggested placing smoke alarm gags around the music department; it was still an option. They didn’t have to duck around side streets and talk about people who weren’t there anymore. But her curiosity won out over common sense, and she tried to work her way around asking without asking. “I know someone, they’re creative but I don’t have to think about what that means to me. It’s nice. Was it the same, with you and her?

“I could see that. Spending time with someone when it’s simple. Because it’s simple.” It was an oversimplification; Caoimhe’s friendship with Metzli was something a touch more genuine than simply being able to exist with someone who shared her interests without considering what would come of it. But it did help.

“Though...there’s some level of interest that comes with just picking up a camera and framing a shot, you know?” She smiled, her hands up and moving and mimicking pressing the button of a camera. “Art isn’t always ‘this looks pretty.’ Sometimes it’s just ‘I like this thing I do.’” Her hands dropped and she paused for another moment, holding her smile. It wasn’t a lecture, she wasn’t standing in front of a class, but it certainly felt like the introduction to one. She wasn’t at work, she was having fun.

“People like us.” She noted, but she didn’t ask. “I like the sound of that.”

“Yes. At least, I think so,” Marley replied quickly. She’d thought she would hate having to talk about it, but she found that the words came out easier than she’d expected. “We were similar in so many ways, and yet so different. She understood me in a way I don’t think anyone else has before or since.” Not even Erin. Even though Erin was like them now, enough, at least, she couldn’t understand how it felt growing up in the way Marley or Lydia had. In having to feed off people, having no other choice but to feed on the physical life force of another person. She chewed her lip a moment. “I could just be me around her and she could just be her. At least, that’s what I thought. Turns out she was keeping secrets.” And humans, locked away. Marley shook her head.

She watched Caoimhe’s ghost camera take an invisible picture of herself and she frowned again. “I’m not an art expert by any means,” she said, “so you’re probably right. I didn’t do it for art or even just cause I liked it. I did it cause...it made me feel connected. Normal.” Her frown deteriorated. She was putting a lot of blame on Caoimhe just for simply existing in the way Lydia did and that wasn’t fair. 

“Yeah, people like us.” It was a simple statement, one she was glad Caoimhe wasn’t trying to elaborate on. She wasn’t sure she could forgive someone who compelled her to reveal her species. Trust was hard earned and easily destroyed, after all. “You’ll find that most of the bars down here are owned and operated by supernatural people. Most of the crowds are, too. Occasionally humans, but they tend to stay away from Amity.”

“It’s hard to be what we are and not have secrets.” Caoimhe wondered about the shapeless Leanan-Sidhe of the past, and what mark she’d left on White Crest. It seemed she’d left enough of a mark on Marley. She wondered if she had strings, too, or if she was more like her mother. Always keeping them close at hand, playing fiddle at the edges of a bonfire. She wondered what it was Marley had understood about her, and vice versa. Caoimhe wondered too many things, and she couldn’t seem to hold onto a single one of them long enough to voice it, only to feel it. “Hopefully mine are still stuck in customs.”

It fell out, more reflex than a conscious decision to say something. It was the truth. White Crest had places like Amity, and people who found understanding even in those who did monstrous things. Caoimhe wasn’t ready to run yet. There was a lot of weight behind feeling normal.

“Lead the way? If–” She started and stopped, contemplating. Marley had come because Caoimhe had asked. It had occurred to her she might be busy, but it hadn’t mattered much at the time. “If you have a moment. If you’re done, I’ve got a few things I wanted to do, anyway.” RE: Smoke alarms, music department. “You’re welcome to get back to whatever you were doing before.”

“You’re not from around here,” Marley stated simply. “Where are you from?” And how long had she been in town? Had she known Lydia? It didn’t seem like it. Caoimhe didn’t seem anything like Lydia, and yet Marley couldn’t help but see her in her face, remembering the opalescent shine of her hair, the pearl of her eyes. The sparkle of her skin. Marley blinked and looked away again. “Hope so.” Customs meant overseas, but it was present in her voice moreso. Marley didn’t have to take a hard guess to figure it out, but she’d rather hear it said. That was one lesson she’d learned.

And then Caoimhe was offering her an out, but somehow, Marley didn’t want to leave. She didn’t know if it was because of the ring or because of something else. She took a pause. “Wasn’t really doing much before,” she said after a moment, “don’t mind walking someone new around town. Plus, you’re not bad to look at.” 

Marley was staring, and Caoimhe couldn’t help the laugh when she looked away. “There’s a joke somewhere in here about taking pictures, you being a photographer and all.” She pivoted and skipped a few steps ahead, before remembering Marley was the one who would have to lead the way and falling into step beside her. She wondered how long it had been, since the other Leanan-Sidhe had left. If Marley still needed that understanding, or if it was even something Caoimhe was remotely capable of. Much of what she should be was still in, “Ireland, by the way. I’m from Ireland, originally, but I haven’t lived there in quite some time. It was a little like White Crest, in a way. Coastal, green. We didn’t have an Amity, though.” She hadn’t talked about Kenmare in a way that felt good for long enough that it struck, when she finally did.

It wasn’t missed, how Marley didn’t take the out. It was noted, and Caoimhe settled in a way even the slip-slide of her thoughts hadn’t allowed before. Marley knew what she was, beyond just the nebulous fae, and hadn’t taken the out. “I’ll return the favor of a tour, should you ever find your way out there.”

Marley blinked and looked away. “Before you get any ideas, I’m taken,” she grumbled. “And I love her.” She didn’t know why she needed to assert that, it wasn’t like Marley needed to give a reason. She looked around, then back to Caoimhe, sighing. “Yeah, thought so, from the accent. Never can be sure though. You’d never guess I was born in Colombia. Don’t sound like it.” She also didn’t remember it in the slightest. Supposedly she was just a baby when she’d been brought to America. “Well, welcome, I guess.” 

As they headed down the street, Marley pointed out some of the bars that she frequented. She could’ve taken the out, but she didn’t. Because she knew, she understood how it felt to be abandoned because of your species. She understood the pain that came with that. And Marley didn’t want to do that to anyone. Before, she wasn’t sure she’d have cared. But Marley was different now, and that meant she did. She cared. And maybe, just maybe, that was why it still hurt so much.