#disport

[mybuddyjimmy]

Disport

Disport [də-SPORT] Part of speech: verb Origin: Old French, 14th century 1. Enjoy oneself unrestrainedly. 2. Frolic. Examples of disport in a sentence “Let go of your inhibitions and find a way to disport yourself every day.” “Put a smile on your face by watching a video of puppies playing and disporting.”

[girljeremystrong]

"The stars, as if knowing that no one was looking at them, began to disport themselves in the dark sky: now flaring up, now vanishing, now trembling, they were busy whispering something gladsome and mysterious to one another."

Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

[caenith]

Strongest of limb, and greatest in deeds of prowess, is Tulkas, who is surnamed Poldorea, the Valiant. He is unclothed in his disport, which is much in wrestling; and he rides no steed, for he can outrun all things that go on feet, and he is tireless. His hair and beard are golden, and his flesh ruddy; his weapons are his hands. He recks little of either past or future, and is of small avail as a counsellor, but a hardy friend. He has great love for Fionwe son of Manwe. His wife is Nessa, sister of Orome, who is lissom of limb and fleet of foot, and dances in Valinor upon lawns of never-fading green.

This description of Tulkas is everything to me.

Running around naked? Checked. A great potential for Tulkas/Eonwe ship? Also checked.

[bohemian-nights]

Almost all the reasons Daemyra stans hate Dattles are the same reasons they should hate their own ship.

Similarities between Daemyra and Dattles.

They both have cheating. (Daemon is married to Rhea Royce when he starts to pursue Rhaenyra. Despite this a lot of Daemyra stans like to use the excuse that at that point in time Daemon and Rhea were having “problems.” When Daemon starts to pursue Nettles he is married to Rhaenyra but just like Rhea, he and Rhaenyra are having “problems.”)

They both have an age-gap. (While the age-gap between Daemon and Rhaenyra is less than the age gap between Daemon and Nettles, but we must remember however that when Daemon first meets Nettles she is by Westeros standards an adult, whereas Rhaenyra wasn't.)

Children

Then there are some who say they don’t like Dattles because Daemon had children specifically with Rhaenyra during when all of this was going down. These children being Aegon III and Viserys II. This troubles people because they worry how that would affect Aegon and Viserys's view of what a healthy relationship let alone a marriage should look like.

But the same people neglect the fact that (at least show wise) not only do Daemon and Rhaenyra's actions (Rhaenyra having an affair with Harwin while being married to Laenor, Daemon being at the very least a emotionally unavailable husband to Laena and a neglectful parent to Baela and Rhaena ) but also their marriage (them getting married so quickly after the death of their respective marriage mates and in Rhaenyra’s case also her lover) could have very well given Jace, Luke, Baela and Rhaena an unhealthy view of what a healthy relationship should look like.

Grooming

Rhaenyra and Daemon:

He gave her pearls and silks and books and a jade tiara said once to have belonged to the Empress of Leng, read poems to her, dined with her, hawked with her, sailed with her, entertained her by making mock of the greens at court, the "lickspittles" fawning over Queen Alicent and her children.

Eustace, the less salacious of the two, writes that Prince Daemon seduced his niece the princess and claimed her maidenhood. When the lovers were discovered abed together by Ser Arryk Cargyll of the Kingsguard and brought before the king, Rhaenyra insisted she was in love with her uncle and pleaded with her father for leave to marry him. King Viserys would not hear of it, however, and reminded his daughter that Prince Daemon already had a wife.

"When he looks at you, he sees the little girl you were, not the woman you've become," Daemon told his niece, "but I can teach you how to make him see you as a woman."

He began by giving her kissing lessons, if Mushroom can be believed. From there the prince went on to show his niece how best to touch a man to bring him pleasure, an exercise that sometimes involved Mushroom himself and his alleged enormous member.

Daemon taught the girl to disrobe enticingly, suckled at her teats to make them larger and more sensitive, and flew with her on dragonback to lonely rocks in Blackwater Bay, where they could disport naked all day unobserved, and the princess could practice the art of pleasuring a man with her mouth. At night he would smuggle her from her rooms dressed as a page boy and take her secretly to brothels on the Street of Silk, where the princess could observe men and women in the act of love and learn more of these "womanly arts" from the harlots of King's Landing.

Viserys at first refused to believe a word of it, until Prince Daemon confirmed the tale was true. "Give the girl to me to wife," he purportedly told his brother. "Who else would take her now?" Instead King Viserys sent him into exile, never to return to the Seven Kingdoms on pain of death.

Nettles and Daemon:

Maester Norren writes that "the prince and his bastard girl" supped together every night, broke their fast together every morning, slept in adjoining bedchambers, that the prince "doted upon the brown girl as a man might dote upon his daughter," instructing her in "common courtesies" and how to dress and sit and brush her hair, that he made gifts to her of "an ivory-handled hairbrush, a silvered looking glass, a cloak of rich brown velvet bordered in satin, a pair of riding boots of leather soft as butter." The prince taught the girl to wash, Norren says, and the maidservants who fetched their bath water said he oft shared a tub with her, "soaping her back or washing the dragon stink from her hair, both of them as naked as their namedays.”

To which his brother answered, "It may be we shall be destroyed whatever choice we make. The prince is more than fond of this brown child, and his dragon is close at hand. A wise lord would kill them both, lest the prince burn Maidenpool in his wroth."

All we know is that the maester, a young man of two-and-twenty, found Prince Daemon and the girl Nettles at their supper that night, and showed them the queen's letter.

"Weary after a long day of fruitless flight, they were sharing a simple meal of boiled beef and beets when I entered, talking softly with each other, of what I cannot say. The prince greeted me politely, but as he read I saw the joy go from his eyes, and a sadness descended upon him, like a weight too heavy to be borne. When the girl asked what was in the letter, he said,

'A queen's words, a whore's work.' Then he drew his sword and asked if Lord Mooton's men were waiting outside to take them captive. 'I came alone,' I told him, then foreswore myself, declaring falsely that neither his lordship nor any other man of Maidenpool knew what was written on the parchment. 'Forgive me, My Prince,' I said. 'I have broken my maester's vows.' Prince Daemon sheathed his sword, saying, You are a bad maester, but a good man,' after which he bade me leave them, commanding me to 'speak no word of this to lord nor love until the morrow.’ ”

No word of farewell was spoken betwixt man and maid, but as Sheepstealer beat his leathery brown wings and climbed into the dawn sky, Caraxes raised his head and gave a scream that shattered every window in Jonquil's Tower. High above the town, Nettles turned her dragon toward the Bay of Crabs, and vanished in the morning mists, never to be seen again at court or castle.

That Prince Daemon died as well we cannot doubt. His remains were never found, but there are queer currents in that lake, and hungry fish as well. The singers tell us that the old prince survived the fall and afterward made his way back to the girl Nettles, to spend the remainder of his days at her side.

+Bonus

[As to the girl Nettles, "She is a common thing, with the stink of sorcery upon her," the queen declared. "My prince would ne'er lay with such a low creature. You need only look at her to know she has no drop of dragon's blood in her. It was with spells that she bound a dragon to her, and she has done the same with my lord husband." So long as he was in the girl's thrall, Prince Daemon could not be relied upon, Her Grace went on. Therefore, let a command be sent at once to Maidenpool, but only for the eves of Lord Mooton. "Let him take her at table or abed and strike her head off. Only then shall my prince be freed."]

—Rhaenyra about Nettles.

Conclusion

Personally whether or not someone ships either of these couples is up to them. I however can’t stand a hypocrite, and I’ve noticed that’s what a large percentage of Daemyra stans are especially when it comes not only to Dettles but Nettles as a whole.

And I especially as a black woman, can’t stand the misogynoir that I've seen Team Black (and Green) display when it’s comes specifically to the black/blackish women in House of the Dragon.

This was eloquently put 🙌🏽 I’ve got nothing to add except my praise, I love how you have shouted out Team Green's antics cause they also b!tch and moan about how it makes Daemon a villain(and not all the other crap he’s done) to choose Nettles over his psychotic racist wife.

I too didn’t really care about Dumbnyra, its stans, and its sympathizers until they started going off on a hate campaign against Daemon and Nettles.

Very unserious bunch of racist morons who think they can get away with calling Black/Blackish women the n-word: 

Yes, that was directed at Laena, but it's only a matter of time before Team I don't want Nettles to be on the show, and if she is on the show don't let her be a Negro, goes calling Netty the n-word too for “ruining” their Appalachian mountain realness ship.

Or throwing a temper tantrum because a canon character, who despite their best efforts to ignore her existence or bash her, is all but confirmed to be in the show:

Don’t get me started on Team Green who are populated by white feminists who believe themselves to be morally superior when in reality they are just as racist as Team Dumbnyra or bust when it comes to Nettles and her relationship with Daemon:

(The irony is not lost to me how they point out Rhaenyra’s racism then proceed to treat Nettles like a toddler or sometimes even defend Rhaenyra’s racism because she’s a woman🤪 Black women shouldn’t be in romantic relationships in their minds)

Or those upset because they can’t use Nettles (like how they wanted to because in their mind she’s only there to show how evil Daemon is to their white sister) to dunk on Daemon:

I can't take these people seriously when they complain about Dattles and label it problematic while they ignore their ships problems.

Alysmond(still love you, but I’ll drag some of the white and non-Black fans who are suspect), Rhaicent, Helaemond(aka Hellmanns), and Dumbnyra are all equally if not more problematic than Dattles.

(I have a mini rant on this in my drafts that I’ll post this weekend).

Their anti-Black misogynoir is clouding their views on Daemon and Nettles.

[horizon-verizon]

Jaehaerys I vs Daemon // Braxton Beesbury vs Aemond Targaryen

some time ago, I responded to an ask that said:

I feel like i am in the minority in team black spaces who liked that Aemond lost control of Vhaegar and killed luke because to me this provides a good explanation how Aemond despite having the largest dragon still lose against his 50yr uncle with a much smaller dragon. Because he is that incompetent in controlling a dragon lmao

I want to remind people of something they don't know about older men and young men (both or one being of superior fighting skill) fighting each other in context to Daemon's final battle with Aemond.

Jaehaerys and Braxton Beesbury also fought each other in a trial by combat after Jaehaerys gave him the "choice" between that and mutilating/castrating him, as punishment for "disporting" with Saera at the brothel the Blue Pearl ("Policy, Progeny, & Pain"):

and this was Daemon & Caraxes taking advantage of Aemond's weaknesses, and in particular his lack of an eye. and Caraxes making sure he stays connected to Vhagar so Daemon can do his thing "Rhaenyra Triumphant"):

Ironically, both men stab a young boy through the face, the text specifically using words related to eyesight or eyes: "blind side" vs "visor of his helm"//"laid Blackfyre's point against his eye".

Aemond was 20, Braxton was 19; Jaehaerys, like Daemon, was 49. Jaehaerys beat Braxton by essentially tiring him out and using his rashness of youth against him. Plus his own rage at Braxton "despoiling" Saera. By contrast, Daemon fought to protect all his remaining family members form Aemond and Vhagar being the biggest threat to Rhaenyra (besides Aegon's fewer followers/Larys Strong's manipulations/the KLers' fear).

Yes, in ASoIaF, "old" men & "smaller" or presumably weaker dragons can disable or kill an opponent whose strengths might be their weakness simultaneously.

[catalinadearagonsblog]

Elizabeth of York and Katherine of Aragon

In 1501, Queen Elizabeth would help organize the wedding of her eldest son, Prince Arthur, and Katherine of Aragon.On October 2, the Spanish princess at last arrived in England, coming ashore at Plymouth after a stormy voyage. Ladies and officials had been appointed “to give their attendance upon the princess at her landing,” summoned by letters sent by the Queen herself. When Katherine set out on her journey eastward to London, she received a rapturous welcome from the people who flocked to see her on the way. Elizabeth must have been delighted to hear that her son’s bride was pretty and golden-haired, with a pleasing dignity. Preparations for the coming wedding advanced briskly. 

On November 12, as all the bells of London rang out, banners fluttered from windows, crowds packed the streets, music sounded from every side, and the conduits ran with free wine, Katherine made her formal entry into the City. She was greeted by a series of lavish pageants in the Burgundian style as she passed along the processional route; all were designed to underline the success of the Tudor dynasty in obtaining such a highborn princess for the heir to the throne. The King, the Queen, Prince Arthur, Lady Margaret Beaufort and many other notables watched the procession from the windows of the home of a haberdasher in Cornhill. It was from her window that Elizabeth glimpsed her new daughter-in-law for the first time, as Katherine’s procession passed below; looking out, she would have seen a young girl riding “a great mule richly trapped after the manner of Spain,” flanked by Prince Henry and the papal legate, and wearing “rich apparel” in the Spanish mode: 

“a little hat fashioned like a cardinal’s hat of pretty braid with a lace of gold to stay it, her hair hanging down about her shoulders, which is fair auburn, and a coif between her head and her hat of a carnation color.”

Arthur and Katherine were married on November 14 at Old St.Paul’s Cathedral in London. Katherine was now second lady in the land after the Queen. Afterward the Prince and Princess of Wales were conducted in a grand procession led by Prince Henry to the Bishop’s Palace, where a great feast was prepared.The previous afternoon and evening Katherine had been spent at the recently rebuilt royal residence of Baynard’s Castle, on the riverside, getting to know her mother-in-law. During her audience, Katherine and Elizabeth both spoke in Latin.They enjoyed themselves with pleasant and goodly communication, dancing and disports. Already Elizabeth had begun the process of preparing her successor for the role she would one day occupy, and probably Katherine was glad to have the guidance of a kindly mother-in-law who could initiate her into realities and mysteries of English court life. After the wedding, Elizabeth and Katherine shared days of celebrations with tournaments, disguisings and pageants.

The plan therefore was for Katherine to remain in London, under the tutelage of her mother-in-law (not forgetting her dominating grandmother-in-law), while Arthur was to be allowed to continue his growing-up undisturbed by the distractions of a wife, in the Marches of Wales at Ludlow Castle. But this plan was not carried out. Instead, Katherine and Arthur left together for Ludlow on December 21. Less than five months after their wedding, at the end of March 1502, Arthur and Katherine both fell ill. It took several weeks for her to recover from her illness. However, Arthur died on 2 April at the age of fifteen. He was buried in Worcester Cathedral. The news of Arthur’s death caused Henry VII to break down in grief, as much in fear for his dynasty as mourning for his son. Elizabeth comforted him, telling him that he was the only child of his mother but had survived to become King, that God had left him with a son and two daughters, and that they were both young enough to have more children.

In addition to Elizabeth’s other burdens, she was concerned for her daughter-in-law, and seems to have felt—as the Spanish sovereigns would when they heard the news of Arthur’s death— that Katherine of Aragon “must be removed without loss of time from the unhealthy place where she is now.” To this end   Queen Elizabeth had sent an escort to bring the bereft and isolated young widow back to London, as soon as she was well enough to travel, and herself provided a black velvet litter, with valances and fringes also of black made by her own tailor, to convey her convalescent daughter-in-law. In this mournful equipage Katherine was brought to Richmond Palace. When she reached Richmond, she was conducted at once to the Queen, with whom she shared a mutual sorrow.  After a short stay with the King and Queen, Katherine was given the choice of two residences: Durham House, the Bishop of Durham’s palace on London’s Strand, and Croydon Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s residence in Surrey. Katherine chose Croydon and, by 4 May, was lodging there.  

Late in May, Elizabeth of York sent Edward Calvert, her page, to Croydon, possibly to check on the Princess’s health, and perhaps discreetly to ask her servants if there were signs of any pregnancy. During the months Katherine stayed at Croydon, her future remained under discussion and her stay must have been shadowed by sorrow and anxiety. If Katherine had conceived a child by Arthur, the baby would be the new heir to the English throne and her union with Prince Henry would contravene canon law. Doña Elvira, her duenna, was adamant that the marriage had not even been consummated and wrote to Queen Isabel insisting that the Princess remained a virgin. Katherine was not pregnant with Arthur’s child. With her future still uncertain, Katherine has moved to Durham House.

In September Elizabeth sent Katherine books. In October sixteen oarsmen rowed her barge to the Durham House steps.They took Katherine the short distance to the Court of Westminster, where she seems to have stayed several weeks.The kindness offered by Elizabeth of York dried up abruptly ten months after Arthur’s death.The Queen had immediately got pregnant.The baby was a girl named Katherine, who died shortly after her birth. Succumbing to a post partum infection, Elizabeth died nine days later. It was her 37th birthday. Protocol suggests it is unlikely that Katherine attended the solemn funeral, where Elizabeth’s full-length effigy lay upon a coffin draped with black velvet and topped by a white gold cross. With Elizabeth’s death Katherine would have lost an ally, an alternative mother figure, and witnessed the effects of grief upon the king and his son Henry. Now the whole court was in mourning again.  

Sources:

Elizabeth of York: A Tudor Queen and Her World by Alison Weir

The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser

Catherine of Aragon: Henry’s Spanish Queen by Giles Tremlett

The Six Wives and Many Mistresses of Henry VIII: The Women’s Stories by Amy Licence

[skxrbrand]

It’s only been a few days...yet the potent Slaaneshi corruption of this place seeps into his very bones. Skarbrand is...well, he can’t quite describe. It’s a new feeling. All he knows is his rage is far away and even glimpses of his brother, Kha’xanzyr, only makes him irritated at best. Sleep clings to him and all pleasurable emotions linger long past their welcome.

He’s outside, where the refresh air provides at least some remit from the fumes a. His lesser legions aren’t fairing much better; Bloodletters curled up like housecats, mortals disporting themselves with N’kari’s handmaidens. Where he lurks in the tangled gardens, the Reaper is already figuring where else he might go. Or if the desert is salvageable.

[kaeyx]

Imagine some other mer pointing out how Krankenlovecrafts limbs are looking..too long..or too disportional while you're together and so you kneel down to get better look, Lovecraft just gives them **the** stare

PLS he'll make them regret it

Now there's two ways this could go, one being you just brush it off as normal mer weirdness (Dazai has weird teeth, Chuuya has weird eyes, they're merpeople ffs of course they look weird); and two you already know he's some sort of amalgamation that's even wackier than the normal mers but you don't care. Still, Lovecraft doesn't like that it got pointed out. He's trying very hard to look human, okay?? >:(

[komikoma]

Faruzan: Do you want to disport in this card game? Youngsters love it! And look! It's you! In card form!

Wanderer: Why would I want to play a children's card game? It's beneath me.

Faruzan: True, it's not for the weak-minded. I suppose continuously losing against me can't be very fun...

Wanderer: So that's your game? Taunt me so I play? Fine then, I'll knock you down a peg or two.

Faruzan: Yay!

[edwinspaynes]

A Combination of Shock and Awe - A Matthew Fairchild Fanfic

You can read this fic on Ao3! I'm just posting it here because it's short. And also because it's a Festive Halloween Fic and my blog should have Festive Halloween Content.

-

1899

Matthew thought that becoming parabatai with Jamie was an astounding development for a multitude of reasons. He was never in want of a training partner; he was never left to fend for himself when it came for book recommendations. He always had someone to decamp and disport himself with, someone who he could try new fashions out on so he himself did not need to fear looking ridiculous or unstylish.

But another peculiar thing about preparing for his parabatai vows was Matthew’s newfound proximity to James’s family. He had always liked them, Aunt Tessa and Uncle Will. Uncle Will was especially amusing, and Matthew enjoyed nothing better than amusement.

Which is why, when the calendar read 31 October, Matthew determined that he would dress himself up as someone who completely lacked charm or wit or anything else that made life worthwhile: his noxious nob of a brother, Charles Buford Fairchild.

Granted, it was unkind of Matthew to steal Charles’s clothes in an attempt to mock his horrid dress sense. Still, because Matthew would never wear something so drab himself, he was forced to scrape through the stuffy, pretentious, colourless nonsense that was Charles Buford’s dismal wardrobe. He unearthed a suit that was entirely too big for him; sensible, he supposed, considering that his brother was nearing his twenty-first birthday while Matthew himself was a mere thirteen.

Age, he knew, did not cause a person to develop good taste.

Putting on the dark green and speckled grey abomination was like nails on a blackboard. But Matthew persisted. Commitment to the bit was important, he knew, and he did not like to do things by halves.

So when he looked in the mirror, he was pleased to note that he shuddered dramatically. He then strode over to his closet and pulled out his coup de grace: a low-quality red wig that he had obtained from an odd faerie woman selling hideously ugly apparel in Westminster. It was slightly uneven on his head; he suspected that it was made for an adult, which made it sag awkwardly on his face.

Matthew steeled his expression into seriousness. “I am quite important,” he said in what he believed to be a passable impression of his worm of a brother. “I am to be the Consul one day.”

Satisfied, he emerged from the room to head over to the Institute; Jamie would be waiting, dressed as someone from such-and-such Greek mythology. Matthew thought this was mostly an excuse for him to dress up in rags, or perhaps a burlap sack. He wished to throttle his parabatai to-be for his lack of taste, but alas, whither he diest, Matthew would also die.

Yes, he would-

“What,” said a disapproving voice behind him, “are you doing?”

Matthew turned to meet Charles’ narrowed green eyes. He laughed brightly; Charles could look immensely sour when he wished to. “I am headed off to the Institute to wreak havoc and cause mayhem. Would you like me to bring you back a souvenir of some kind? Perhaps faerie drugs? May lighten you up a bit.” He paused as Charles’s face turned quite a bright shade of red. “Do you remember what it was like to smile, Charles?”

“Those are my clothes,” Charles said, not answering.

“Unfortunately,” Matthew agreed. “No accounting for taste.”

“What is with…” Charles made a vague gesture about his head.

“A wig. Angel, Charles, I thought that even you might recognize that.”

“You have dressed as me as some silly prank,” he said. “Are you ever going to grow up, Matthew?” He shook his head. “Angel, I will never understand your ridiculous nonsense. Take it off.”

“You wish for me to disrobe? We’re brothers. That ought to be one of the few limits on my charm.” Matthew raised his eyebrows.

Charles flared his nostrils.

“Oh. I nearly forgot,” Matthew said. He walked up to Charles and clapped him on the shoulder. “I did not draw freckles.”

“What?”

“I said that I did not-”

“I will be coming with you to the Institute,” Charles said angrily, swatting Matthew’s hand away. “Just because Mother and Father are out of town does not mean that I need to contend with this… this grave insult-”

Matthew laughed cheerfully. “Alright,” he said fearlessly. “Lead the way.”

-

As Matthew often thought, Uncle Will was a truly amusing person.

He sat across from Matthew now, dressed as Frankenstein’s monster. His feet were kicked up onto his desk, and his position as the head of the Institute felt a sharp contrast from the devilish smile on his green-painted face. His eyes darted between Matthew and Charles, and Matthew did his best to mirror Charles’s precise expressions. He supposed he was likely succeeding; Will’s blue eyes were shining brightly in amusement.

“So,” he said. “Charles. You appear to have a complaint. Do tell.”

“Yes.” Charles’s voice was businesslike, detached. “I demand that Matthew remove my clothes and cease impersonating me at once.”

“Hm,” Will nodded. “Why do you wish for him to do that?”

Charles blanched. “Obviously because of how foolish it is.”

“I see,” Will responded calmly. “Much like Newton once said, I understand the gravity of the situation.’ Speaking of, would you like a caramel apple? Tessa did not let me put bits of chocolate onto the surface – I do so wish my wife’s perfection extended to her tastes. But alas, one cannot have everything, and as she has dressed up as Elizabeth Frankenstein to accommodate my whims…” Will shrugged.

Matthew laughed; Charles blinked, clearly baffled.

For his part, though, Will continued. “In any case, though, I do wish to hear Matthew’s perspective on the matter at hand. Matthew, why are you wearing that ghastly wig?”

“It is ghastly,” Matthew said somberly. “Thank you for noticing. It’s quite simple, really – I needed a costume that would leave a combination of shock and awe in its wake, which posed a challenge as I am routinely shocking and awe-inspiring.” Will nodded approvingly as Matthew continued. “This seemed an entertaining concept, and I do believe that Charles needs someone to poke at his lack of humor periodically.”

“Are you honestly listening to this? William-”

Will held up a hand, silencing Charles. “I do believe I have heard both sides of the argument,” Will said. “I must take all angles into consideration without bias. Having said that, though, I have made my decision.”

“I am a busy man,” Charles bit out. “I am to be the next Consul, and I am far too old for this childish nonsense. This was a lot of work just to make you take off a horrible costume.”

“So you admit that it’s horrible?” Matthew smiled like a cherub.

“Now, now,” Will interjected. “I have a proposed solution to the problem. Charles, you are angry that Matthew has dressed up as you; you wish for him to remove the costume. Matthew, you wish to continue to dress up as Charles.” His eyes darted between both brothers. “Do I correctly understand the situation?”

“Yes,” Matthew said happily. Charles hissed the same “yes” angrily; Matthew thought that he should learn to take a jest. After all, as his personal hero once said, life was too important to be taken seriously.

“Alright,” Will said. “It seems that the only fair course of action, then, would be for Charles to dress up as Matthew in turn.”

“What?” Charles hissed.

Matthew cackled. “Oh, I quite like that solution, Uncle Will. I think you ought to mandate it. A decree, as head of the London Institute.”

“This is an outrage.” Charles’s voice was dangerous.

“I fail to see the issue,” Will said, his calm tone laced with lazy amusement. “So your brother is mocking you, Charles. Fight back! Put on something bright, possibly pink-”

“Pink is a very stylish color,” Matthew agreed. “Especially paisley print. Scarves-”

“You are both terrible,” Charles said, his face puce. He stomped out of the room like a very bad actor in a very bad play, and Matthew clapped fittingly before turning back to Will.

“Well,” Will said. “That was truly something. Do you truly intend to wear that all day?”

“Yes,” Matthew informed him. “Do you dislike it?”

“Not at all. It’s a fine impression.” Will reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a blue taffy. “Here – you dressed up. It would be poor form to allow you to leave without a treat in exchange for your clearly painstaking efforts.” Matthew popped the taffy in his mouth as Will continued, grinning. “No do get out of my office, Matthew. And call your Aunt Tessa in, would you? I wish to attempt to scare her again with my face paint – perhaps this time I can make her truly jump.”

[sugarangelz]

°You can call me Miss Pastry/Marshi!°

🍦. She/Her.

💕. 21yrs.

🍦. Dni; minors, transphobic/homophobic, problematic, etc, etc.

°What I Write°;......

🍦. Male-Centric Only.

💕. Male/Male,Dom Female/Male, Futa/Male¬¬Pairings Only.

—---

🍦. Prefer writing on softer notes¬¬[ex.full tummy comfort/No severe sickness/torture/overall mutual loving and consensual characters, detailed stories.]

—-

💕.Kinks&Likes¬¬Mpreg,Stuffing--Hiccups, Auralism[tummy & swallowing noises in general], reversing/defying gender roles[femdaddy or male being referred to as mommy, etc.],Oral Vore[soft & safe] 

- Big Pecs, Big disportional bellies/Small starter bellies, Taut full bellies are fine but I prefer soft still somewhat fleshy tummies, body worship, drables, shy feeder x dom feedee.

- I write smut & fluff, third pov & second pov only, I write at least 5k words per story.💕💕💕

🍦.Dislikes & No,No's¬¬Scat,most bodily fluids,Hardcore in general,Blobs/slobs, No Rp, Furry characters. No age in bio or not customize = Blocked🚫, any fed character that looks underage or is underage.!!Kink Blog, dni if you are not a kink blog!!

[rjalker]

haven't read it yet

Melion

by anonymous

A story of a werewolf knight of King Arthur's court

4k words long

[read more was here]

In the days when Arthur reigned, he who conquered lands and dealt out rich gifts to knights and barons, there was with him a young lord whose name, I have heard, was Melion. Full brave and courteous was he, and made himself beloved of all; and he was of right great chivalry and goodly fellowship.

The king had a full rich following, and throughout all the world he was famed for courtesy and prowess, and bounty and largess. Now on that day when all the knights made their vows—and know ye that well they held to them—this same Melion pledged him to one that thereafter brought him sore mischance. For he said he would never love any maid, howsoever noble and fair, who had ever loved any other man, or had been talked of by any. For a long time matters went on in this wise: those who had heard the vow spread it abroad in many places, and told it to the damsels, and all maids who heard it, had great hatred of Melion. And they who were in the royal chambers and served the queen, and of such there were above a hundred, held a council concerning the matter, and swore they would never love him, or hold speech with him. No lady desired to look on him, or any maid to talk with him.

Now when Melion heard this he was right heavy thereof; no more did he desire to seek adventure, and no will had he to bear arms. Full heavy he was and sorrowful, and he lost somewhat of his fame. Now the king had news of the matter and had great grief thereof, and he called the knight to him, and spoke with him. "Melion," saith King Arthur, "what hath befallen thy wisdom and thy worth and thy chivalry? Tell me what aileth thee and conceal it not. If thou would have land or manor, or any other thing—so that it be in my realm—it shall be thine according to thy desire; for gladly would I lighten thy sorrow," so saith the king to him, "if that I might. Now upon the sea shore I have a castle, in all the world is not such another; fair it is with wood and river and forest which are full dear to thee, and this castle will I give thee for thy cheer; good delight may ye find therein."

So the king gave it to him in fee; and Melion gave him thanks thereof, and went away to his castle, taking with him an hundred knights. Right pleasant was that country to him, and so was the forest that he held full dear; and when he had lived there a year through, he grew greatly to love the land, for he sought no disport but he found it in the forest.

Now on a day, Melion and his foresters rode to the chase; with him he took his huntsmen, who loved him with true love, inasmuch as he was their liege lord, and all honour was found in him. Soon they came upon a great stag, and forthright let loose the dogs upon him. Thereafter it fell that Melion drew rein amid a heath that he might the better listen for his pack. With him was a squire, and in his leash he held two greyhounds; and anon, across the heath, the which was green and fair, he saw come a damsel on a fair palfrey, and right rich was her array. For she was clothed in scarlet samite, laced full seemly, and about her neck hung a mantle of ermine, never did queen wear better. Well fashioned was she of body, and comely of shoulder; her hair was yellow, her mouth small and shapely, and red as any rose; gray-blue were her eyes, and clear and laughing; right fair was all her seeming, full winsome and gracious; and all alone without fellows came she.

Melion rideth to meet her, and courteously he greeted her: "Sweet, I salute you in the name of the Glorious One, of Jesus the King; tell me of what house you are, and what bringeth you hither." And the damsel maketh answer: "Even that will I tell you in all truth: I am of good parentry and born of noble lineage, and from Ireland have I come to you. Know ye that I am much your lover. Never have I loved any man save you only, and never will love any; so great praise have I heard of you that no other save you alone have I ever desired to love, and never shall I feel love for any other."

Now when Melion heard that his vows were fulfilled, he clipped her about the middle, and kissed her thirty times over. Then he called together his folk, and told them the adventure; and they looked upon the damsel, and in all the realm was none so fair. So Melion took her to his castle, and the people rejoiced greatly. He married her with great splendor, and made great cheer thereof, that for fifteen whole days the tourneys lasted.

For three years he dearly cherished her, and during those three years they had two sons, whereof he was right glad and joyful. And on a day he rode into the forest, taking with him his much loved wife, and a squire to carry his bow and arrows. He soon came upon a stag, and they pursued it, but it fled away with lowered head. Thereafter they came into a heath, and in a thicket the knight saw standing a right great stag; laughing, he looked down at his wife. "Dame," saith he, "if I would, I could show you a right great stag. Look ye, he is yonder in that thicket." "By my faith, Melion," said she, "know ye that if I have not the flesh of that stag never more will I eat morsel." Therewith she falleth in a swoon from her palfrey. Melion raised her up, but might not comfort her, and bitterly she began to weep.

"Dame," saith he, "mercy in God's name. Weep no more, I beg of thee. Here in my hand I have a ring; see it now on my finger. Two gems it hath in its setting, one white and one red, never were any seen of like fashion. Now hear ye a great marvel of them: if ye touch me with the white, and lay it upon my head when I am stripped naked, I shall become a great wolf, big of body; and for your love I will take the stag, and bring you of its flesh. But I pray you, in God's name, that ye await me here, and keep for me my garments. With you I leave my life and my death; for I shall have no comfort if I be not touched with the other gem, for never again shall I become man." Therewith he called his squire to take off his shoes; the youth stepped forward and unshod him, and Melion went into the wood and laid aside his garments, and remained wholly naked, save that he wrapped his cloak about him. Now when his wife saw him stripped of all his raiment, she touched him with the ring, and he became a great wolf, big of body. So fell he into sore mischance.

The wolf set off running full swiftly to the place where he saw the stag lie; forthwith he set himself upon the track,—now great will be the strife before he hath taken and caught it, and had its flesh. Meantime the lady saith to the squire: "Now let us leave him to take his fill of the chase." Therewith she got her to horseback; no whit did she tarry, but she took with her the squire, and straightway turned her towards Ireland, her own land. She came to the haven, where she found a ship; forthwith she addressed her to the sailors, and they carried her to Dublin, a city upon the seashore, that held of her father, the king of Ireland. Now hath she all that she asks. And so soon as she came to the port, she was received with great joy: with this let us leave her, and speak we again of Melion.

Melion, as he pursued the stag, pressed it wondrous hard, and at length he drove it into a heath where he soon brought it down. Then he took a great collop of it, and carried it away in his mouth. Swiftly he returned again to the place where he had left his wife, but did not find her, for she had taken her way towards Ireland. Right sorry was he, and knoweth not what to do when he findeth her not in that spot. But none the less, though he was a wolf, yet had he the sense and memory of a man. So he lurked and waited until evening fell; and he saw men loading a ship that was to set sail that night and go straightway to Ireland. Thither he went, and waited till it grew quite dark, when he entered into it at adventure, for he recked little of his life. There he crouched down under a wattle, and hid and concealed himself. Meantime, the sailors bestirred themselves, for the wind was fair, and so they set forth towards Ireland, and each had that he desired. They spread aloft their sails, and steered by the sky and stars; and the next day, at dawn, they saw the shore of Ireland. And when they were come into port Melion tarried no longer, but issued out of his hiding-place, and sprang from the ship to the sand. The sailors cried out upon him, and threw their gear at him, and one struck him with a staff, so that well nigh had they captured him. Glad was he when he escaped them; and he went up into a mountain, and looked long over the land where he knew his enemies dwelt. Still had he the collop he had brought from his own domain, but now, in that his hunger was great, he ate it; sorely had the sea wearied him.

And then he went away into a forest, where he found cows and oxen, and of these he killed and destroyed many. So began his war, and in this first onset he slew more than a hundred. The folk that dwelt in the greenwood saw the damage he wrought to the beasts, and ran flocking into the city, and told and recounted to the king that there was a wolf in the forest that wasted all the land, and had slain many of their horned beasts. And for all this they blamed the king.

So Melion ran through the forests and waste places, and over the mountains, until he joined company with ten other wolves; and he so cajoled and blandished them that they followed after him, and did all his desire. Far and wide they wandered through the land, and sore mishandled both men and women. So lived they a year long, and wasted all that region, harrying the land and slaying the folk. Well knew they how to guard themselves, and by no means could the king entrap them.

One night they had wandered far, and wearied and spent, they lay in a wood near Dublin, on a little hill by the sea shore. Beyond the wood was a meadow, and all round about was plain country. There they entered to rest, but there they will be ensnared and betrayed. They had been seen of a countryman, who ran forthright to the king: "Lord," saith he, "in the wood yonder lie the eleven wolves." And when the king heard him he was right glad, and spoke to his men of the matter.

Now the king called together his men: "Barons," saith he, "hearken to this: know ye of a sooth this man hath seen all eleven wolves in my forest." Then round about the wood they let spread the snares with which they were wont to take the wild boar. And when the snares were spread, the king went thither without tarrying, and his daughter said she would come with him to see the chase of the wolves. Straightway they went into the forest in all quiet and secretness, and surrounded the whole wood, for they had folk in plenty, who bore axes and staves, and some their naked swords. Then they cheered on their dogs to the number of a thousand, and these soon found the wolves. Melion saw that he was betrayed, well knew he that sore mischance had befallen him. The wolves were hard pressed by the dogs, and in their flight they came upon the snares, and all were torn to pieces and slain, save only Melion. He sprang over the traps, and fled into a great wood; so by his wit he escaped them. Meantime the folk went back to the town, and the king made great joy. Greatly he rejoiced that he had ten of the eleven wolves; well was he revenged on them, in that one only had escaped. But his daughter said: "That one was the biggest. And yet will he work you woe."

When Melion had stolen away he went up into a mountain; full heavy and sorrowful was he because of the wolves he had lost. Great travail had been his, but anon he shall have help. Now at this time Arthur came into Ireland to make peace, for there was war in the land, and he was fain to bring the foes into accord, in that it was his desire to subdue the Romans, and he wished to lead these men with him to battle. The king came privately, bringing with him no great host; some twenty knights only had he in his train. Sweet was the weather, and fair the wind, and the ship was full rich and great; trusty was her helmsman, and full well was she dight, and plenteously garnished with men and arms. Their shields were hung along the side,—right well Melion knew them. First he spied the shield of Gawain, then saw he that of Iwain, and then the shield of Idel the king; and all this was dear and pleasant to him. Then saw and knew he the shield of Arthur, and wit ye well, he had great joy thereof; glad and blithe was he, for he hoped yet to have mercy. So came they sailing towards the land; but now the wind was contrary to them, and they might not make the port, whereof they were right sorry. So turned they towards another haven some two leagues from the city, where, of old, had been a great castle which was now ruined; and when they were come thither, darkness fell, and it was night.

So the king is come into port; sore wearied and spent is he, for the ship had much discomforted him. And he called his seneschal: "Go forth," saith he, "and see where I may lie this night." The seneschal turned back into the ship, and called the chamberlain, saying: "Come forth with me, and let us make ready the king's lodging." So they issued out of the ship, and came to the castle; and they had two candles brought thither, and forthwith had them lighted; and they let bring carpets and coverlets, and speedily was the chamber well garnished. Then the king issued forth, and went straight to his lodging, and when he came therein right glad was he to find it so fair.

Now Melion had not tarried, but straightway went to meet the ship. Near the moat he halted; right well he knew them all, and well he knoweth that if he hath not comfort of the king, he shall come to his death in Ireland. Yet he knoweth not what to do, for he is a wolf, and so hath no power of speech; yet none the less will he go thither, and set himself at adventure. When he came to the king's door, right well knew he all the barons; for nought staid he, but hath passed straight in to the king, though it be at the hazard of death. At the king's feet he cast himself down, nor would he rise; whereof, lo you, Arthur hath great wonder, and he saith: "A marvel see I; this wolf hath come hither to seek me. Now see ye well that he is of my household, and woe to the man who shall lay hands on or hurt him."

When supper was made ready and the barons had washed, the king likewise washed and seated himself. Napkins were spread before them; and the king called to Idel and made him sit at his side. And Melion lay at the king's feet,—well knew he all the barons. Oftentimes the king looked down at him, and anon gave him a piece of bread the which he took and began to eat. Then greatly the king marvelleth, and saith to King Idel: "Look now, know ye of a sooth this wolf knoweth our ways." Then the king gave him a piece of roast meat, and gladly the wolf ate it; whereat Gawain saith: "Lords, look you, this wolf is out of all nature." And the barons all say one to another that never saw they so courteous a wolf. Thereupon the king let wine be set before the wolf in a basin, and so soon as he seeth it, he drinketh it, and certes, he was full fain of it; good plenty he drank of that wine, as the king well saw.

Now when they arose from meat and the barons had washed, they issued out upon the sands. And always the wolf followed after the king, and might not be kept from him, wheresoever he went. And when the king desired to go to rest, he commanded that his bed be made ready. So he withdrew him to sleep, for he was sore wearied; but with him went the wolf, and he lay at the king's feet, nor might any man dispart them.

Passing glad was the king of Ireland in that Arthur had come to him; great joy had he thereof. Early at dawn, he rose, and went to the haven together with his barons. Straight to the haven they came riding, and each company gave fair welcome to other. Arthur showed the king much love, and did him much honour. When he saw him come before him, he would not be proud, but raised him up and kissed him. And anon the horses were made ready, and without any tarrying they mounted and rode towards the city.

The king mounteth upon his palfrey, and good convoy he hath of his wolf, who would not be disparted from him, but kept always at his stirrup. Passing glad was the king of Ireland because of Arthur, and the company was rich and mighty. So came they to Dublin, and lighted down from their horses before the high palace. And when Arthur went up into the donjon tower, the wolf held him by the lap of his garment; and when King Arthur was seated, the wolf lay at his feet.

The king hath looked down at his wolf, and hath called him up close to the dais. Side by side sit the two kings, and right rich is their following; right well are the barons served, for throughout all the household great plenty is dealt out. But Melion looketh about him, and midway down the hall he saw him who had brought thither his wife; well knew he that she had crossed the sea and was come into Ireland. Forthwith he seized the youth by the shoulder—no stand can he make against the wolf—but Melion brought him to the ground amid the hall. And he would have straightway killed and destroyed him, had it not been for the king's sergeants, who ran thither in sore disorder; and from out all the palace they brought rods and staves, and anon they would have slain the wolf had not Arthur cried out: "By my faith, ill befall whoso layeth hands on him, for know ye, the wolf is my own."

Then saith Idel, the son of Irien: "Lords, ye misdo herein; the wolf would not have set upon the youth, and if he had not sore hated him." "Thou sayest well, Idel," quoth the king; and therewith he left the dais, and passed down the hall to the wolf, and saith to the youth: "Thou shalt tell us why he set upon thee, or else thou shalt die." Melion looked up at the king, and gripped the youth so hard he cried out, and prayed the king's mercy, and said he would make known the truth. So now he telleth the king how the lady had brought him thither, and how she had touched Melion with the ring, and how she had borne it away with her into Ireland; so hath he spoken and told all, even as it befell.

Then Arthur bespoke the king: "Now know I well this is sooth, and right glad am I of my baron; let the ring be given over to me, and likewise thy daughter who stole it away; evilly hath she betrayed her lord." So the king went thence, and entered into his daughter's chamber, and with him went King Idel, and he so coaxed and cajoled her that she gave him the ring, and he brought it to King Arthur. Now so soon as Melion saw the ring right well he knew it; and he came to the king, and knelt down and kissed his two feet. King Arthur would fain have touched him with the ring, but Gawain would not so have it: "Fair uncle," saith he, "do not so, but rather lead him into a chamber apart where ye twain may be alone together, that he have not shame of the folk."

Then the king called to him Gawain, and Idel likewise he took with him: so led he the wolf into a privy chamber, and when they had come within, shut the door fast. Then he laid the ring upon the wolf's head, and all his visage changed, and his face became human. So turned he to man again, and he spoke, and fell down at the king's feet. They covered him over with a mantle; and when they saw him very man, they made great joy. But the king fell a-weeping for pity, and weeping asked him how it fell that by sin he had lost him. And then he let summon his chamberlain, and bade him bring rich raiment. Fairly they clothed and arrayed him, and so led him into the hall; and all they of the household greatly marvelled when they saw Melion come in amongst them.

Then the king of Ireland led forth his daughter, and gave her over to Arthur that he might do as he would with her, whether it were to slay or to burn her. Saith Melion: "I will touch her with the ring, nor will I forbear." But Arthur said to him: "Do not so, rather let her be, for the sake of thy fair children." All the barons likewise besought him, and Melion accorded it.

Now King Arthur abode in Ireland until he had assuaged the war; then he went again into his own land, and with him took Melion; full glad and blithe was he thereof. But his wife he left in Ireland, and commanded her to the devil; never again would he love her for that she had done him such wrong; never would he take her unto him again, rather would he have let burn or hang her. And he said: "Whoso believeth his wife in all things cannot help but come into mischance at the end, for it is not meet to set your trust in all her sayings."

True is the lay of Melion, so all good barons declare.

[sketching-shark]

Hallo! I have a question because I'm a bit confused. Do the demon kings from the Fraternal Seven come from the Demon Kings of the 72 caves? I assumed they did and would like some confirmation :0

Hi there! Okay, so I'm working from the Anthony C. Yu English translation from 2012, so it might be different in the original Chinese text. But in Yu's work it's not actually clear if the yaoguai kings of the Fraternal Seven came from the 72 caves or elsewhere. Here's Yu's translation of their introduction:

"...the Monkey King felt completely at ease to soar on the clouds and ride the mist, to tour the four seas and disport himself in a thousand mountains. Displaying his martial skill, he made extensive visits to various heroes and warriors; performing his magic, he made many good friends. At this time, moreover, he entered into a fraternal alliance with six other monarchs: The Bull Monster King, the Dragon Monster King, the Garuda Monster King, the Giant Lynx King, the Macaque King, and the Orangutan King. Together with the Handsome Monkey King, they formed a fraternal order of seven. Day after day they discussed civil and military arts, exchanged wine cups and goblets, sang and danced to songs and strings. They gathered in the morning and parted in the evening; there was not a single pleasure that they overlooked, covering a distance of ten thousand miles as if it were but the span of their own courtyard."

So if my understanding is correct, while the members of the Fraternal Seven COULD have come from the 72 caves, there's also a real possibility that they came from caves great distances away and were able to do so because they're yaoguai of great power who can travel even thousands of miles in the blink of an eye. Of course if someone has a more clear answer to this question please tell us what it is, but it can't be forgotten that Sun Wukong traveled all over the place making friends wherever he went.

[pwlanier]

John Anster Fitzgerald 1819-1906

The Nightmare

Watercolour with bodycolour; signed

6 ¾ x 9 ¾ inches

Fitzgerald, the ‘King of the Fairy Painters’, evoked worlds where the fairies seemed very close to us, separated at times only by the veil of sleep. There are overt references to drugs in his ‘dream’ pictures, and nowhere more so than in this picture, dated 1857/8. The red and yellow bottles which stand by the girl’s bed look as though they might contain opiates. The girl writhes on the bed, garlanded with flowers and wrapped in a brilliant red sash that spills to the floor like a haemorrhage, surrounded by eerie creatures of her dream, disporting themselves in the moonlight.

Maas Gallery

[ukdamo]

Prometheus

Goethe

Cover thy spacious heavens, Zeus, With clouds of mist, And like the boy who lops The thistles' heads, Disport with oaks and mountain-peaks; Yet thou must leave My earth still standing; My cottage, too, which was not raised by thee; Leave me my hearth, Whose kindly glow By thee is envied.

I know nought poorer Under the sun, than ye gods! Ye nourish painfully, With sacrifices And votive prayers, Your majesty; Ye would e'en starve, If children and beggars Were not trusting fools.

While yet a child, And ignorant of life, I turned my wandering gaze Up toward the sun, as if with him There were an ear to hear my wailings, A heart, like mine, To feel compassion for distress.

Who helped me Against the Titans' insolence? Who rescued me from certain death, From slavery? Didst thou not do all this thyself, My sacred glowing heart? And glowedst, young and good, Deceived with grateful thanks To yonder slumbering one?

I honour thee, and why? Hast thou e'er lightened the sorrows Of the heavy laden? Hast thou e'er dried up the tears Of the anguish-stricken? Was I not fashioned to be a man By omnipotent Time, And by eternal Fate, Masters of me and thee?

Didst thou e'er fancy That life I should learn to hate, And fly to deserts, Because not all My blossoming dreams grew ripe?

Here sit I, forming mortals After my image; A race resembling me, To suffer, to weep, To enjoy, to be glad, And thee to scorn, As I!

[mia-studyhaus]

5 Minutes, 5 Words - #60

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Microcosm /ˈmaɪkrəʊkɒzm/ (n.) - a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristics of something much larger.

This room is a microcosm of the house I am going to buy and build in the next two years - I use it to plan my vision for the architecture and aesthetics.

Purvey /pɜːˈveɪ/ (v.) - provide or supply (food, drink, or other goods) as one's business

There are many kiosks purveying Chinese food in the mall this week in light of the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations.

Disport /dɪsˈpɔːt/ (v.) - enjoy oneself unrestrainedly; frolic.

My English teacher took our class to a bowling alley to disport and rejuvenate after a stressful exam season.

Palmistry /ˈpɑːmɪstri/ (n.) - the art or practice of supposedly interpreting a person's character or predicting their future by examining the palm of their hand.

I am looking forward to set up a palmistry stall at the community fair next month.

Palpate /ˈpælpeɪt/ (v.) - examine (a part of the body) by touch, especially for medical purposes.

The nurse palpated the veins on both of my hands.

(๑˘︶˘๑)

Definitions from: Oxford Languages.

IPA Phonetic Transcription (UK English) from: tophonetics.com

Sentences are fictitious, though they may be based on real issues.

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