#ff mead

[vicstenius]

Oh stanners returning nice x

[harmonyrae]

MANIFESTING 2025 Memories

Because we were absolutely FERAL and manifested smex cards, I'm gonna put my ideas for cards/banners/events out there for the Infold team - who I think we can all agree, browse social media and see our collective mental breakdown on the regular.

Some kind of astronomy banner/event with a nod to astrology. They have the boys zodiac signs listed, they know the astrology girlies would eat it UP. Maybe an event exploring a planetarium and there's a booth for a zodiac analysis with special dialogue to associate with your zodiac sign & his. I want to witness Zayne being told how much of a Virgo he is while also being reminded I am also very much a Virgo. Thanks.

Summer beach event with SWIMWEAR for both the boys & MC. I know they probably won't want to give us MC in a swimwear (for many reasons), but imagine the possibilities (full coverage bikini, tankini, dress or skirt coverup, rash guard, etc) which we could buy in the chocolate shop. And then do cute lil beach photo shoots...

Speaking of chocolate shop - PUT MORE OUTFITS IN THERE CAUSE DAMN... I know there must be people drowning in chocolate if you've got everything already. Also, we grind for it for a reason, give us more thingies please & thank you.

And speaking of outfits... if we see that red shirt show up in one more memory... Listen, personally I like the outfit, the choker is cute and it suits MC, but FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY GIVE US MORE! The boys get hot fits on the regular with events, let MC have MORE!

Oh and circling back to grinding tehe can Abyssal Chaos be reset when Caleb comes home? It would be really cool and stuff... There's only so much we can do and I KNOW WE HATE TOBIAS BUT, to be so real, I think we would all deal with him if it meant free resources.

HEAR ME OUT - a spring Renaissance Fair. I can't get the image of Sylus in armor doing a jousting contest out of my head (fanfic incoming?!) and MC in a cute lil medieval hunters outfit. Give us that time travel shit again and I will give all my money. Rafayel critiquing medieval art, Zayne conflicted about using modern medicine & OOH Xavier accidentally getting drunk on strong af mead HELLO?

MC won a bet, the boys have to do something - I've seen some fanfics, I KNOW okay. Put Rafayel in a maid outfit and Infold, you will have enough money to support yourself through 5.0!

Similar to the bet concept, a prank war. Each boy would prank MC so differently so it would be a really funny group event. Like Rafayel would not hold back, he would probably end up making MC mad. Xavier would be super silly with it, old school pranks and MC would be trying to do more modern pranks. Zayne would be hesitant to prank her, but would, only because she pranks him first. And I SWEAR Sylus wouldn't pull a single prank, but the ANTICIPATION would be MCs undoing.

Since we didn't get a Halloween event, might I suggest a Friday the 13th event? First Friday the 13th is in June and methinks that is the perfect time for something SPOOKY. Monster boys. That's all I gotta say. Make em classic horror monsters - WE KNOW YOU CAN YOU MADE THEM CATS FFS - and I will slam my credit card on the table.

Specific to the Boys:

Sylus: - I wanna be on his bike again. Please, I beg, biketok is going away and this is all I'll have (dramatic). Take me on that "joyride" baby! - I want angst. I want MC to come face to face with the consequences of being so close to Sylus. Either the Association coming down on her for her associating with him OR Sylus's enemies making a HUGE MISTAKE and coming after her to get to him. - More big dick gang leader Sylus. Show me his brutal side, WE LOVE IT AND NEED TO BE REMINDED OKAY?!

Rafayel: - MC models for him. Maybe for his birthday event? His "gift" is us modeling for a painting and it turns spicy. The multitude of fanfics speak volumes to how well this would go over. - Please PLEASE give us Rafayel with a tail. Just spend the money, render that beautiful bitch and give us an H20 "oh no I got wet, ahhh my tail" moment. I beg.

Xavier: - COOKING CLASSES. I feel like it was hinted at in the prologue for the Love Tour event, but I would love to see them in a class together. Just domestic cuteness. - ANGST ON HO HO NO... Can we have an actual Sleeping Beauty moment? Xavier falls into a deep sleep thanks to a Wanderer and MC can't wake him up. Then you go all Inception on us and MC enters his dreams to wake him up. You could feed us so much lore disguised as "just a dream" or even have MC discover some truths about his past.

Zayne: - Exchange program. MC gets to experience the other side. She works with the combat medics to gain more knowledge which will help her on the field. Maybe another "hands on training" moment withe Zayne (I MISSED THAT CARD, IT'S ONLY FAIR INFOLD). - ANGST PLEASE - MC has to have surgery after a mission. Maybe it is minor, or maybe make it major and have us cry. And Zayne has to walk his fellow doctors through the procedure because his hands are shaking so badly at the thought of losing the love of his life. (crying) - Two words. Library make-out. I will give you two more. Library smex. Give our nerdy girls the fantasy, TRUST.

For Caleb, I do hope his first card is really sweet or insanely heavy. Make a statement cause people either love him or hate him and those undecided will make up their minds with that card. He didn't get blown up for nothing, give the boy a chance.

Comment below what you'd like to see Love & Deepspace do for events or add to the game! We manifest together.

Tag List (comment if you wanna be added!): @trishiepo0 @not-so-quite-human @kitsunetori @babyx91 @libriomancer @lilyadora

[hail-brod]

Marvel

LOKI (3)

*Oneshots

Put Your Head On My Shoulder || Husband!Loki x FReader

Summary: How can a single song bring so much memories? A tune it may only be, but a moment from it bore deeper than it should.

Warning/s: Angst, short human lifespan.

Nothing Matters || Loki x FReader [Angst FF]

Summary: In Loki's eyes, mortality was a pitying thing to have. A big weakness of the human kind. Which also eventually became his.

Warning/s: Angst, short human lifespan, friends to ???, mentions of death.

*Series

A Chance and Beyond || Loki x FReader [6/?]

Summary: When you realized that your existence is in great trouble, you do your best to find a way to get back to where you were previously encapsulated as a time criminal. After all, they're the reason why you're fucked. But, seems like you'll be needing the Avengers' help first. And Loki's.

Warning/s: Cursing, interrogation, fighting, being contained, angst, Tony Stark, patronizing treatments/mentions, anxiety, forbidden spells, destruction of home and timeline, drinking, being alcoholic to a viking level, mead, a bit of self deprecation?, mention of missing body part.

GWEN STACY (1)

*Series

Smile, Smile. || Gwen Stacy x FReader [2/3]

Summary: Gwen Stacy harboured feelings for you but she resists it. Then again, it's never easy to forget something so beautiful.

Warning/s: Cursing, implication of depression, suicide, some ATSV spoilers, angst.

[homewardskies]

"The Nymphai [of Mount Ida] who haunt the pleasant woods, or of those who inhabit this lovely mountain and the springs of rivers and grassy meads."

-Homeric Hymn 5 to Aphrodite 94 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th to 4th B.C.)

[juliasdowntonstuff]

Chapter 47

New week, new chapter out now on ff and ao3 :)

"The Earl of Grantham and Lady Mary Talbot, milady" Mead announced as they entered the homely sitting room in Rosamund's house in Belgrave Square.

"Mead, there truly is no need for that formality. I am only here to see my sister," Robert said, sounding quite amused as he pushed past the elderly man standing in the doorway. He had told Mead often enough that a simple introduction would be enough when it was just family and Rosamund had said the same, but the butler insisted on it. He was quite like Carson in that regard, all about doing things properly. Maybe it was just their specific breed of butler, their generation that did not want to abandon the rules and customs they were brought up to respect and follow.

Father and daughter walked on in, only to find Rosamund in the same position Mary had found her in the last time she was there. That armchair near the window must surely be her favourite by now, and the decanter of whiskey was still standing on that small side table next to it. Mary threw her father a telling look, which he requited with a concerned one of his own.

"Robert, Mary! What are you doing here? I did not know you were coming down to London today. You could have had lunch!" Rosamund exclaimed when she turned around and saw her brother and niece walking towards her.

"Oh, we just had some business to attend to and we thought we would quickly stop by," Robert said quickly, veiling the truth of their meeting with Murray earlier. Mary and he had decided to wait for dinner with the announcement that needed to be made concerning that. "And we wanted to invite you to join us for dinner tonight. I made a reservation at the Ritz."

"The Ritz? What are we celebrating, brother dear?" Rosamund replied in jest when she kissed her brother's cheek in greeting.

"You will find that out soon enough, Aunt Rosamund. I'll leave you two for a little while, there's a phone call I need to make."

For a split second, Robert looked at her like a deer caught in headlights. They had talked about Rosamund's situation on the way to Belgrave Square and had decided that he should probably try and ask her as soon as possible — today, at best. Was she seriously leaving him alone right now to start this conversation? He had hoped she would be there to help him articulate himself well enough so that his sister would not misunderstand him. So much for that — apparently, his daughter had different plans. That only meant he had to be much more careful with the words he would choose.

[karinamay]

OC deepdive: Tav'ará Naldarai

Thanks for the tag @cinnamontails-ff <3

What common/uncommon fear do they have?

She's very scared to let people in, to trust them, which is just because of how she was raised. She's scared of being unimportant, of not making an impact in the world. She's also very scared of snails, but we're not going to talk about that.

Do they have any pet peeves?

When people ask you a question solely so they can talk about themselves. Also she loves physical intimacy but she hates when she can feel someone's breath in her face and she feels like she's breathing in their out-breath.

What are 3 items you can find in their bedroom?

Her bedroom is extremely tiny, basically just a mattress shoved into the attic space right under the roof. There's no shelves, or anything, but she does have fairylights, and a lot of pictures up, of her and her friends mainly (two of them are very important, one of herself, Alfira and Dammon when they graduated high school, and where Shadowheart is giving her a piggyback ride and Karlach took a picture mere seconds before Shadowheart misstepped and the two of them fell into Grey Harbour.)

What do they notice first in a person?

How they present themselves. (Their vibe if you will.) Not in an "are they attractive" way, but how they want to be perceived. Do they take care of themselves or is their appearance unimportant to them, do they like being the centre of attention or prefer being left alone.

On a scale from 1-10, how high is their pain tolerance?

Probably an 7. She absolutely hates pain, which is why I won't put it up to an 8 or a 9 even, even though she's very accustomed to dealing with pain and can technically deal with a lot. It just pisses her off too much to deal with it in a more composed manner.

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure?

Fight 95% of the time. She's act first, ask questions later. There is however a 5% chance that she'll freeze, in very specific circumstances.

Do they come from a big family/are they a family person?

Tav has a pretty terrible relationship with her parents, which is fair. Jorgeon is just an absent father, and Eildys is extremely strict and holds Tav to an impossible standard, all while just not being very nice. That said, Tav does have a certain level of respect for her mother. She's not a family gal, she prefers her found family.

What animal represents them best?

My first thought it maybe a fox? I'm not sure that's just the vibe.

What is a smell they dislike?

Honeysuckle.

Have they broken any bones?

Yes, she broke her left arm once when she went on vacation to Elturel with Alfira and Dammon. No one is exactly sure what happened, but the doctor that took the x-rays at 3am was hot, though.

How would a stranger likely describe them?

"Loud" may have been a word used a lot to describe Tav, although that's gotten less bad over the past few years.

Are they a night owl, or morning bird?

She leans to being a night owl, but she also just doesn't need a lot of sleep. She likes being awake at night to see what happens in the dark, though.

What’s a flavor they hate and a flavor they love?

She kind of hates the taste of honey in any form - mead, honey cakes etc. She likes powerful flavours, salts, bitters, sours. She likes seafood, pickles, black licorice, campari, the weird kinds of gin & tonics etc.

Do they have any hobbies?

She really likes dancing when she has time to go, whether that's a class or just out at a club.

Boom, surprise birthday party! How do they react to surprise?

She would try very hard to pretend she didn't already know it was happening.

Do they like to wear jewellery?

Not particularly, she doesn't like rings or bracelets to get in the way of her movements. She used to have a lot of piercings but that was mainly to piss of Eildys and now she just has her ears pierced. She is currently wearing a tiny locket with a snowdrop on it. It's new.

Do they have neat or messy handwriting?

Messy, but definitely legible.

What are the two emotions they feel the most?

Determination and joy (shocking, but true)

Do they have a favourite fabric?

She loves knitwear, so chunky woolen sweaters, she's very partial to jeans, but not new jeans when they're still stiff, old jeans when they're soft.

What kind of accent do they have?

Tav has done her very best to take the posh out of her accent, and she's now stuck with what we'd recognise kind of as estuary english, but she does have a certain way of speaking that's still kind of melodic, due to having spent the first years of her life in Astrazalian, and solely speaking Elvish.

[bugsybaritone]

Rereading the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead and realizing Christian Ozera and Dimitri Belikov 100% influenced my type in both real and fictional men. Dark haired and sarcastic? Tall and blunt? God how did I not realize the imprint Dimitri left ffs it’s so obvious help.

[styrmwb]

Favorite Final Fantasy Music (FFXIV - A Realm Reborn)

something something critically acclaimed mmo something something IT'S THE SECOND FF MMO BABYYYYYYYYY!!!! This game is what really started my personal FF renaissance, as I really only played a couple games growing up and watched a lot of them being played, but this is what activated my brain. It was all downhill from the moment I logged into Limsa. If you're reading this, you're on the internet. You know people love this game, you know people won't shut up about this game, and it's for good reason! This game fucks! And you know what helps this game fuck? Its soundtrack fucks!!! XIV has the big dog himself Masayoshi Soken take over as the music director, and my man is god's gift to earth (as well as the rest of the XIV music team who's names are harder to find and credit but I know they're there and they're putting their whole fantussy into it). Like XI, I cannot do this game justice putting it into one list since it's basically multiple games in one, so I will be making lists per expansion again (and that still feels like it's doing it dirty this list was so hard). Let's get started with the definitely first part of this game (no there's no other part what huh) and have me share my favorite ARR songs :)

5. On Westerly Winds Ohhhhh my god. This was probably the first song that really caught my attention when I first started playing the game, which a first area should do! I love La Noscea and this song is half of the reason why. Something about that first melody and the sound of the strings; it's amazing. This song goes through multiple different phases. The intro feels grand, starting off your adventure, then it feels like you're running around the hills of Middle La Noscea; then it feels like a party in a tavern, people loudly cheering and having fun and toasting their barrel mugs of mead, finally calming down in a windy, spiraling, chaotic way to move to something befitting the night, with this amazing mystical finale turning into the sun rising and starting the song over. This song DEFINES La Noscea and the people's lives in it. Musically, I love the percussion, I love the strings, I love the bagpipes, I love the choir towards the end; this song was the first hook that this game put in my head.

4. Dawn of a New Era The only reason that this song is not higher, is that it's Too Goddamn Short. One minute long. But this one minute? Pure emotion. Pure joy. This is the song that plays at the end of the ARR cinematic trailer, but also at the end of the campaign. This song is both a finale, but also as it says, a dawn, a new beginning. The short, plucky start building you up, letting the dialogue occur or to put you back into place after some massive, world ending event. Then the horns come in blasting cheer at you, and one of the most fun bass tracks I've ever heard. The choir shouts at you with the main theme of the entire series, the orchestra plays the prelude, and the entire song plays off with the fucking victory theme. Every single sound in this entire song is amazing, and the way it's composed, the emotion behind the melodies in game, but also for the series as a whole, this is triumph and victory incarnate. When I heard them use this melody later on in Myths of the Realm? Dude I swear I teared up at every song. I still tear up at this song when I hear it. WHY CAN'T IT BE LONGER GODDAMMIT I PUT IT ON LOOP LIKE 7 TIMES BEFORE I'M SATISFIED

3. Through the Maelstrom LEVIATHAN, LEVIATHAN! LEVIATHAN, LEVIATHAN! My favorite summon. My favorite primal. This song is absolutely perfect for what it is, while keeping that rock that XIV is now known for. I can't really explain it, but the guitar riffs SOUND like a storm at sea. They sound like violent, crashing waves. The lyrics are coming straight from the Sahagin chanting and praying for their lord; "Endless! Send us! Breathless! Deathless! Restless! Test us! Tend us! Mend us!", this song sounds like everything is going against you, both the weather and the people all around you. As a song? IT FUCKING ROCKS. The rhythm of the whole thing is a headbanger, and my absolute favorite part is right after the second loop of the chorus, the SWELL, YE SEAS OF OLD section (this is so much easier to place specific parts with the lyrics), it sounds like a modernized surf rock jam, the lyrics are really fun to sing along to (once you understand them), and it's just an absolute joy. I wish this song played the entire time so it made farming all the Leviathan weapons less painful. (WHITE FUUUUURYYYYYYY, BLINDING INDIGOOOOOOOOO)

2. Under the Weight Can you tell I'm a Limsa Lominsa bitch? All of my favorite songs come from this area lmao. I feel like this spot really goes to every song in Titan's fight; On Westerly Winds was where the soundtrack hooked me, but Under the Weight is where I realized this soundtrack was Built Different. Heavy rock in my fantasy RPG? What the fuck??? The heavy drums throughout the entire song, the guitar rocking out, and the vocals screaming and chanting at you, this song is a headbanger through and through, but shows you the intensity of this fight. Kobolds all around you jumping and beating their fists, chanting for their god while Titan slams and knocks you around. This song sounds like an earthquake, and I mean, come on, rock for the rock monster? Absolutely yes. I feel like I'm bouncing for the whole song, with the way the drums beat, but also when the lyrics go solo, saying more than just the "BOWDOWNOVERDWELLER TITAN!", and those are definitely my favorite parts. I also love midway through, with the echoey fading out yelling to the really cool like, pipey sounding guitar. I feel like I'm just gonna keep repeating myself, but it's not hard to see why this song is so amazing. (INTO THE DARK OF AN ENDLESS NIGHT WHERE THE PULSE OF THE LAND OFFERS NO RESPITE)

1. Tempest I feel like everyone knows Under the Weight, it's mandatory content. We all know how good that song is. But you know what not as many people have done? The Binding Coils of Bahamut. This is the song of the final boss in the Second Coils, aka the fight against the main villain of the game leading up to Bahamut exploding everything. This song is also one of the few XIV songs that Uematsu did, and it feels like he took the soul of IX and brought it into the modern era. It has the rock, it has the synth, it even has the souls of the damned again! The intro is incredible, with the heavy hits and the guitar riffs alongside the SHHHHHEEEEEWWWWWWWW synth sounds. The piano/organ playing off right before the song hard stops, bringing in these haunting wails and the classic "Hear. Feel. Think" Hydaelyn chant; then it goes hard again. The drums slam. The guitars shred. The terror truly begins. The song builds up further and further with one of my favorite synth sounds EVER. This sounds like you're facing off against an absolutely demonic evil (which you are!), and the wailing coming back playing along side everything???? DUDE. HOLY FUCK. The build up in this whole song goes absolutely insane, but when it actually starts going is incredible too. I've pretty much already said my praises for every instrument used in this song, and the rest is just going to be me repeating it. I love all the melodies, I love the heavy off beats, and I just love the jamming from both the rock and techno ends. This is The Black Mages all over again.

Honorable mentions go to (there's gonna be so many in all these lists): Torn from the Heavens, Hard to Miss, Fallen Angel, Reflections, Ultima, Spiral, Fury, Rise of the White Raven, Thunder Rolls, Oblivion, and Primogenitor.

[doorrobloxstuff]

Untitled but yea more Seekgure [Human! Seek x Human! Figure]

But what if they were human1!1!1!1? (Atleast before they became entities dunno throwing ideas at the wall)

Also warning, a tad bit spicy. I mean it’s literally washing its hair so it has to be in the B A T H. No, I’m not showing anything.

Eheheh nonbinary hotel staff

———————————————————

“Ugh, can you believe all do this? The guests in room 32 are so disrespectful to our staff.”

The bitter matri de felt its lover’s hands caress its hair. Slow and methodically brushing the suds deep into its scalp.

Its partner chuckled quietly.

“Oh dear, you have no idea. Earlier today, some parents keep allowed their muddy little children to run around the library and destroyed

“My point exactly!” It hissed, its face growing red. “-After all, •••••• is respectful of books…There’s NO valid excuse for why they can’t keep their OWN rugrats or even THEMSELVES UNDER CONTROL!” it crossed its arms.

The partner sadly smiled and carefully guided its hand unto its cheek. “Your making yourself angry again..”

“It’s hard not to be mad nowadays..They treat us like shi-!” A kiss was planted on its cheek that made it shiver pleasantly.

It stayed silent, the hate in its chest creeping away back into the shadowy corner of its chest and the warm happy butterflies returned once more.

“Still mad?~” It purred, though there was a tiny hint of worry in its tone that the other didn’t seem to pick up on.

“Mmm.. I don’t know, perhaps some more kisses shall suffice?~”

Its blind companion mischievously smiled before wrapping its long arms around its neck and the latter placed promptly a hand on its cheek.

“Oh yes, I’d hate to give you an improper dosage.~”

The two exchanged flurries of kisses, hands intertwined and faces flushed as they spoke quiet tender words to the other and sweet surrender burnt holes in their chests.

Too bad it couldn't last.

The Soap-covered person suddenly released a small shriek of pain that startled its partner.

"••••••! Are you okay?!?"

"Ff...Fff..gahh..H-H-Hold on..”

The blind partner’s heart sank as it heard the sound of a flask being opened.

“••••••..please tell me you didn’t mix the laudanum with alcohol again..”

“It..numbs..the pain..Dear.”

The Blind partner shrank little into its shirt collar and stepped away from its partner

“Argh..Dont..Don’t look at me like that! You’ll thank me when we’re all immortal!THEY ALL WILL!” The sighted partner’s breathing was labored and heavy. It shook in place like a leaf before releasing a pained grunt and sinking into the bubbles. It reached for a nearby towel and pressed its face into it.

Trying its best not to dryheave or cry.

Both partners stayed silent for awhile. Both unsure of whether to speak or what to say to the other.

…

“Let me see your arm.” ••••••• murmured.

•••• reluctantly listened and moved closer to edge of the bath. Carefully, it’s partner reached over, and slowly made its way to its upper arm. As it moved its hand down to feel its wrist, all around it could feel all around large dark tendrils rooted deep in its flesh. It had long since claimed its shoulder and was encroaching upon its partner’s neck. It upon recognizing its advancement and •••••• immediately recoiled.

“Oh god..oh god •••• its..it’s so much more then your wrist now.”

“It’ll recede.”

“It wasn’t like this before!”

“Just give it a moment..”

Both went silent again.

Finally, a sound that could only be described as a mixture between moving water and scratching could be heard as the tendrils thrashed for a few seconds before reeling downwards back towards the partners’s wrist.

“See..?”

••••• stayed silent. Emotions stewing in its chest like bad mead.

“Please don’t drink..It makes it worse.” ••••• Murmured at last.

“..It takes the edge off..”

“It’s killing you faster. So please..atleast in earnest moderation..”

“..I’ll try.”

“Thank you.”

The two continued to remain silent

•••• felt a piece itself sink as the aggression dropped itself once more.

Why did it say that..?

And it felt even worse as its partner reached over and pressed itself close again that warmth felt very much undeserved.

“…Do you remember the lake.. and the cabin..?” It asked with hesitancy.

“Oh dear god, how much of that flask did you have?”

“A swig.”

“The entire thing. Alright then.”

“•••••• my beloved, I solemnly swear I am anything but drunk.”

“Alright, stand up then.”

“Gladly!” •••• leaned forward to get up. Only to hear the sound of its spine audibly cracking.

“Ah.”

“Help.”

Gently, it’s partner pulled it out of the bathtub and set it on its feet. ••••

Quietly grabbed a towel and wrapped it around itself.

“..Looks like I’m not the only one who needs a cane.”

“I’d look good in a cane, okay? And see? I am ever so clearly not drunk.” •••• reached for a bathrobe. “That display there? ‘Tis was the arthritis.”

“Mm, alright then you wayward drunk. Time for bed.” •••••• carefully picked up its partner and carried it gently to their shared bed.

And nothing else even remotely eventful occurred. (Yet)

————————————————————————————————————————

So first concept for an au. Have some Seekgure and some fucked up mobile formatting.

Pray for figure it is THIS ClOSE 👌. But yea a bit Rocky for them. Next Time Fig will take it a bit more seriously.

[m-moon-writing-haven]

{preview of an ongoing ff series, draft part of Chapter I}

{once i am approved, i will move the full fic onto AO3.}

“Mirin, love- you’ve barely touched your mead! You should know how unacceptable such a thing like that is.” The tavern head’s gruff tone rang out over clashing glasses and booming laughter as she ran both hands across wiry red locks spilling from a loosely-tied string bun, “An’ you told Mama you weren’t lightweight, yet here you are making a fool out of me. Come on lad, put those papers down!” 

She would linger over her patron’s slumped shoulder until inevitably he would pause, giving an indifferent single nod before lightly tipping his halfway-emptied cup. Truth be told, “Mama Mire” (Rose Gywn, although running Moores Head for ten years or so had seen village residents gift this wonderfully beaming woman with the title) could hardly focus on pouring frothy, bubbling drinks. There’d been something rather off about this one. In other words, he’s far from her standard passing faire: wandering traders, “happily” married men seeking nightly refuge from their wives. Scholarly types are practically unheard of, much less scholars sporting much fancier garments.

“Mama, these are-” Came the young man’s immediate resisting retort. 

He had, as any other, taken to her motherly presence quite immediately. Although someone of Mirin’s stoic, diplomatic frame would never verbally admit such trivial details, at least not under sobriety. “You’re gonna strain your neck, darling,” Mama scolded, resting one calloused hand across his left shoulder. While everyone else was bathed beneath flickering amber lighting or swapping drunken tales of forest expeditions gone horribly awry, Mama’s newest patron distinctly chose to distance himself from any possible interaction, gathered up in dust ridden corners like a bitterly rejected hen burying their sorrows in feed buckets. Had he been expecting another-? Despite only knowing the traveler’s name through her ledger, she did still hope another name would find itself penned in.

“Important letters, or so you’ve said. World-ending or not, they can wait until morning!” 

“...if you say so, I suppose.” 

Mirin briefly let his head drop into his hands, subtle exhaustion taking hold. She wasn’t exactly miscalculating here; every muscle screamed bloody murder several times over. Some could easily speculate, based on tone alone, she’d abandoned some long-forgotten instructors’ position in favor of reining in unruly guests but that time, for her, is lost. With a sharp huff, she wretched several roughly torn, crumpled parchment pieces from the rickety wooden table, carefully lacing them back together.  “An’ I do. You should be socializing, Mirin! For Gods’ sake, go sit somewhere else!” If you do not wish to lose your head (or any other crucial parts), you do not argue with Mama. Family letters confiscated, the young Nilfgaardian ran through several possible choices– early turning in will be utterly impossible given that this highly consistent racket until at least an hour before midnight’s toll would surely, easily travel upstairs. Then again, since he was apparently remaining until further posted notice, lingering among locals wouldn’t exactly do harm. Rented rooms facing outside don’t seem as peaceful, now do they? 

Political knowledge never held any weight against faulty logic, 

That's what his father's lectures meant. 

Tonight, however. Something was different about tonight.

“Hold on, Mama. Could you?” He gently inquired, slowly unbuttoning the heavy, intricately laced coat keeping his entire upper body hostage and she gathered it without hesitation. While no clothing article bore any distinctive Empirical ties or tones, he felt himself more at ease. Better safe than dead, correct? Underneath lay a loose, thinner shirt, buttoned sleeves pulled up slightly past slender wrists.

Delicate skin patterned by three distinctly circular burns. 

Ah, all-observant Mama left several items behind, much to the man’s amusement. He lightly chuckled before gathering up his books, leather-bound tomes carrying a heavy scent of cedar and old-age. Despite lacking printed titles, he’d memorized every last tome’s contents back to front and then some. Wyvern tales, overly fantastical stories where human men drove sharpened blades through towering, lumbering beasts. He did again consider retiring, only pausing when sudden atmospheric shifts cut swiftly into amber-tinted air…

People had fallen completely silent. 

Mirin’s pointed ears perked, gaze shifting.

They’d all gathered their mugs onto an empty table, seemingly drawn toward an unfamiliarity, yet… comforting disposition. “Oi, excuse me,” he murmured. The same dwarf smith he’d noticed shuffling cards earlier that morning returned knowing glances, stained overalls clattering as the man sidestepped enough for another body to tightly squeeze past. You’re not from around ‘ere, the other’s smug smile read. Shut up an’ listen, child. 

So he does. 

He who’d never breathed outside air stood stock still. Who is this Geralt of Rivia? The name sounded somewhat familiar, clawing at the back of his mind— but that doesn’t matter now. Draped in snugly-fitting clothes, dark locks combed back so… He didn’t quite comprehend the lyrics, but the way this crimson clad bard’s fingers effortlessly flittered across his lute strings made Mirin’s breath catch. He found himself leaning forward, hands clasped tightly together, having forgotten his precious tome, abandoned pastime cast astray among dirty cups and discarded food scraps. The Bard’s voice is smoother than silken honey. It echoes through the rafters, projecting so beautifully. Never did any sound bind him in strings, tightly ensnaring every inch of his willowy form.

“Toss a coin to your Witcher

Oh, Valley of Plenty…”

He’d been staring during the entire performance, stoic gaze melted away and just like that, everything became normal again. Activities picked up once more, pints were filled, coins were tossed to the Bard whose name Mirin desperately desired. I’ve only brought Florens; how dreadfully idiotic I am. Then again, Father wouldn’t want me throwing coins away for useless entertainment. 

Am I? No, I can’t be. 

My head hurts. 

[bardic-tales]

FF: Sneak Peak of Fossel

Fossel is the home to Mirne and Wulfric. I have been researching Skyrim homes, as well as castles from the Middle Ages to see what rooms I want them to have.

Manor House The quality of the furniture reveals the status of Frossel’s owner. The manor has many rooms, including but not limited to the following: a alchemy laboratory, bathroom, bed chambers, a boudoir, an enchanting laboratory, a great hall, a kitchen with a larder and pantry, a library, an oratory to Shor (and later Dibella), and several Solars. The top floor features several vases featuring several Skyrim flora, such as snowberries. The great hall is the first room that anyone entered. The door on the east wall leads to the living room quarters. The door on the west wall leads to the master bedroom. This is where the boudoir and the other solars are located. The second floor has a set of shelves, a low table with chairs, and a stool and leads to the entrance of the porch area. The kitchen, larder, and pantry are directly off this room with is laden with food and mead. The enchanting laboratory, bathroom, library, and oratory to Shor (and later Dibella) are located on this floor. The basement has stacks of crates and rugs. At the bottom is an alcove on the right. This is filled with small mead and wine barrels. The next room contains two practice dummies, an archery target. This is where the alchemy laboratory is located.

[aliciavance4228]

Statius, Thebaid 7. 64 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) :

"Barren forest [of Thrake], the sacred haunts of Mars [Ares]... where on the far slopes of Haemus his savage mansion is ringed by a thousand furies. The walls are of iron structure, iron portals bear upon the threshold, the roof is carried by columns wrought of iron. The rays of Phoebus [Helios the Sun] are weakened when they meet it, the very light fears that dwelling, and its murky glare dismays the stars. Fit sentinels hold watch there: from the outer gate wild Impetus (Passion) leaps, and blind Nefas (Mischief) and Irae (Angers) flushing red and pallid Metus (Fear) [Phobos], and Insidia (Treachery) lurks with hidden sword, and Discordia (Discord) [Eris] holding a two-edged blade. Minis (Threats) innumerable make clamour in the court, sullen Virtus (Valour) stands in the midst, and Furor (Rage) exultant and armed Mors (Death) [Thanatos] with blood-stained visage are seated there; no blood but that of wars is on the altars, no fire but snatched from burning cities. All around were spoils of every land, and captured peoples adorned the temple's high front, and fragments of iron-wrought gates and ships of war and empty chariots and faces ground by chariot-wheels, ay, almost even their groans! truly every form of violence and wounds. Himself [Mars-Ares] was everywhere to behold, but nowhere with softened looks; in such wise had Mulciber [Hephaistos] with divine skill portrayed him: not yet had the adulterer, made manifest by the sun's bright beams, atoned his shameful union in the bed's grasping chains [in which he was caught with Aphrodite]...

Lo! Earth trembles, and horned [river] Hebrus bellows and stays his torrent's flow; then all the war-steeds that troubled the valley sped foaming o'er the frightened meads, sure sign of his approach, and the gates barred with everlasting adamant flew open. Glorious in Hyrcanian gore he himself [Mars-Ares] comes riding by; far and wide the dire bespattering changes the aspect of the fields, behind him are borne spoils and weeping throngs; forests and deep snows give him room; with bloody hand dark Bellona [Enyo] guides the team and plies them hard with her long spear."

So... is anybody going to talk about the fact that Ares has a whole ass palace on Mount Haimos? Just me? Okay!

[foodfantasycanele]

FINALLY i have a sprite for mead!! i really really like this one, i think it turned out really close to game-accurate

[captainswanandclintasha]

Considering the importance and impact of Mason's death in the series, you can't tell me you don't see a problem if they chance Frostbite and he doesn't die at the end. It's not like they change something small... This? This one is big. This one is like half of the plot of Shadow Kiss.

[stargirlsfc]

Meademaaaaa

(scoot over and leave space for Jesus pls like why are we glued together like this)

[julieallemands]

"a lot of you would have wanted her to start more games at the world cup" damn right we would JP