#millicent’s sisters

[catcas22]

Malenia, Blade of Miquella

After her soul shattered beneath the Aeonian Bloom, Malenia was left with only her name. Her achievements and her sins, her pride and her legacy, all were stripped away by the madness of the Scarlet Rot.

Even with the Rot held at bay by Miquella's needle, she could not truly return to what she once was. Wounds may heal, but that which is severed remains lost.

When the daughters of Rot journeyed to the Haligtree, Malenia refused to reclaim the fragments of her soul. Though they had grown into neither lords nor gods, her children would not be sacrifices.

Perhaps more of Malenia's true self remained than she imagined. Throughout her decades of madness, only her name had been left to her. But even then, a fragment of her true nature remained -- she was Malenia, the Blade of Miquella. What could be a truer expression of her sense of self, than to endure her severing and provide a safe haven in spite of all that she had lost?

[lorianbladeoflothric]

CIRCE!!!!!! Idk your OCs very well sadly so instead I'm going to ask you about your interp of Millie's sisters! (apologies for the size of this ask I just really love ur fic about them! Please leave any blank if you dont wanna!!!)

Mary-

alone: How does your OC deal with loneliness? Have they ever been completely alone before? How do they act when there's no one around to see them?

hate: What does your OC hate? Why? How do they act towards the object of their hatred?

Maureen-

hide: What does your OC hide? Why do they hide it?

wound: How does your OC handle being wounded? Are their wounds mostly physical? Mental? Emotional? What's the worst wound your OC has ever experienced?

Pollyanna-

secret: What's one secret your OC never wants anyone to know about them?

midnight: What keeps your OC up at night? Do they have nightmares? Fears? Anxieties? What do they do in the small hours of the morning when they should be sleeping?

Amy-

mistake: What's the worst mistake your OC ever made? What led to them making it? Have they been able to fix it? How have they moved on?

fear: What is your OC's greatest fear? What do they do when confronted with it? Are they open with their fear, or do they hide it away?

They count as ocs to me lol, i haven’t written anything with the others (maybe later this year I will >u> ) Ty! This was fun and it helped me expand their characters a bit more since I didn't have an answer for some of these yet.

Mary

Alone: Mary is rarely completely alone. The cottage they live in is small and she shares a bedroom with her sisters. She spends her days among the kindred and servants of rot, praying with them and tending to the young or dying, or training against the cleanrot knights in the swamp.

When she does find herself alone, she tends to dwell on things she knows she shouldn’t. Like her and her sisters’ inevitable painful death, the idea that it’s too late and there’s nothing she can do to win her mother’s favor, the urges she sometimes gets to attack her sisters and what that could mean for her mind. Sometimes she prays in earnest, which is a desperate plea for her mother the Goddess to just acknowledge her.

Hate: this one is complicated. I could say she hates Millicent, but she doesn’t. She loves Millicent, and because she loves her she wants what she thinks is best for her and gets angry when she argues. I could say she hates her whole situation (what with the dying slowly thing), but she revels in her connection to the Goddess and adores Gowry and his cult. The truth is, the two things she hates the most are herself and Malenia.

Rather, her idea of Malenia. She hates that she would leave 4 of her daughters to die and only favor one. She hates that Malenia won’t answer not only her, but all of her children (including the kindred.) she feels abandoned, and because she feels this way— in addition to not being good enough for The Goddess in the first place— she hates herself.

Maureen

Hide: Maybe at one point she tried to hide how scarlet rot was affecting her mind, but once it got to a certain point that became impossible. Mostly, she hides her emotions. To her, everyone already has enough to deal with, so she downplays her fear and sadness or deflects with a joke/rude comment.

Wound: Like above, when she gets wounded, she tries not to let on how much it hurts. She's also pretty bad at taking care of her own injuries because she'll just forget they exist until they start hurting again (ex. Not changing a bandage on a cut until its already infected). The worst wound she's ever experience (outside of the brain-eating fungus) is when she was only five years old and they were fleeing Sellia, a sorcerer got her eye with a Night Comet spell, permanently scarring her and rendering her blind in that eye.

Pollyanna

Secret: So it's not something that nobody knows about, but it's something she hasn't told anyone but Mary and that was years ago. Polly can see Grace, and she was born with the ability to channel runes into strength, like a finger maiden. When she told Mary about the strange light she saw, Mary thought she was hallucinating and so she pretended that it just went away over time. Still, she feels drawn to it, she secretly hopes to one day be allowed to follow the guidance of Grace (even if she doesn't know what that is yet)

Midnight: All of the girls get nightmares thanks to the rot god trying to influence them. Pollyanna's also play on her insecurities when it comes to her sisters, specifically she often feels ignored or like she doesn't belong. Sometimes in her dreams they'll all have bloomed, leaving Caelid-- and her-- behind. Sometimes they'll all have died, and she's truly alone. A lot of the time, it's just bugs and rot and violence. They don't really phase her anymore, but she doesn't like to go back to sleep after having a nightmare, so she'll sneak out of the bedroom and practice her swordsmanship until everyone else starts to wake up.

Amy

Mistake: It was Amy's fault that they got run out of Sellia. She was very young, literally only three, so to say it's her fault is kinda extreme, but she feels like it is. She had trouble controlling the rot within her and was easily overwhelmed. She got lost one day and, in her panic, trailed spores through the town. It wasn't a huge event, but finding a lost child in a place that was suddenly growing scarlet rot and having that child be totally fine was cause enough for people to become suspicious. Within a week, Gowry and the other cultists had been found out and they had to flee into the tunnels. At this point, Amy is the only one who still blames her for this (well, Maureen does when she feels like being mean, but she doesn't mean it.)

Fear: Amy is afraid of losing herself. Her body is decaying faster than the others, but her mind has yet to be affected. She's scared that when it does, she'll just completely waste away and become a hollow shell of herself, like the cleanrots and the servants. She's often confronted with this fear, either through the people I just mentioned, or through Maureen's bouts of memory loss and brain fog, and she just tries to ignore it. To her, it's inevitable, and she'd rather live without the slow creeping dread of it looming over her.

[catcas22]

I love this so much. I was so stuck on thinking of the sisters as fragments of Malenia's personality, I never considered that they might be relationships that she's forgotten.

It makes a certain amount of sense, though. The people who matter most to us often shape our personalities just as much as environment, experience, and inborn personality.

Somehow this makes it all even sadder...

Idk if I've asked you this before

but what are your thoughts on Millicent's sisters in Elden Ring?

Hey Bim! No, you haven't asked this before, and sorry for the delay :pensive:

I've been thinking about the sisters for some time, but moreso conceptually than developing the characters on their own (this one is for later I guess)! But, I agree with the interpretation that Malenia's spawn are fractions of her self. Millicent is the one we can judge by, she is the dignity and pride Malenia had forgotten when she gave into Scarlet Rot, the courage to live and perish as herself rather than persist to see herself become something else.. The side of her that would rather amputate her own limbs that are afflicted by the Rot the most, after all. I personally ended up focusing on this "loss" aspect in my interpretation of the girls, and with them I've found their weapons of choice can tell us something?

(Images by Zlofsky ( x ), careful though, this is a large compilation of references)

So, Malenia's spawn having two "types": one are the stronger kind, which is also the one capable of blooming (Millicent and the sixth sister but about her later), and another are more "underwhelming" in comparison (Mary, Maureen, Amy and Polyanna themselves). And whereas the former result from cracks in Malenia's strongest, most fundamental qualities, the latter are loss of memories and influence from the important people for her! Scarlet Rot eats away memories; Malenia has to repeat to herself that she fights for Miquella like a mantra to not forget, and he is the most important person for her, so it would only be expected she barely can hold others in mind, if at all..

Amy was the one who made me think this way, since she is using Flowing Curved Swords! They were once wielded by the blind swordsman that taught Malenia to battle the way she does, and I thought Amy reflects Malenia forgetting her mentor, or having the impact he had on her as a person slowly vanish. Following this idea, Mary reflects Malenia's memories about her connection with Finlay fading. She is using Halo Scythe, a weapon wielded by commanders of Malenia's army of Cleanrot Knights.

Heck, now that I think of it, maybe Malenia didn't recognize Finlay upon waking up at all.. At the very least, I think Scarlet Rot definitely attacked their connection.

The Treespear Maureen uses is even less personalized and belongs to the guardians of Leyendell, but I think if we are to choose a Golden Order person that influenced Malenia the most, that'd be her losing memories of Godwyn. The statue depicts both Miquella and Malenia being hugged by him, and Golden Order was still a large part of her life apparently, even if Miquella (and herself) had to abandon it as it'd avail them no help with her condition..

Polyanna actually had me puzzled for a bit, because the Blade of Calling she uses is very much associated with Melina within the story.. but in fact, this is a very possible answer too - Malenia should have known Melina, if Melina knew the "previous owner of Torrent" who so far seems to have been Miquella! And they could have been close too, like if she was a third sibling standing in the shadows. (All three are also associated with types of a butterfly <:3) It could even be a reason why the sisters instinctively gravitate towards dressing up this way x)

Melina cherishes life in all its forms, no matter how broken or struggling. I'd imagine she would be another person to help Malenia to love herself. Sure, these people all loved Malenia, but Melina could offer a sort of unique support, de-focused on Malenia's recovery, and it would be so helpful should Malenia doubt her life could ever get better... Who else would reassure Malenia (or anyone) that life was worth living, even if so painful and dangerous, even if it was to be shortened and full of wrestling with inner horrors for every next day of it?

....soo, yeah, I think this is a working interpretation for now! Malenia's rune offers recovering if attacking right after taking damage and it is explained by her spirit of resistance, so sides of self that she'd lose persisting for some longer even if in other form feels appropriate for me! (I also have this theory that when something bad effects the body of an Empyrean they will spawn an "alter ego" to defend their integrity as one, so Radagon was a defense against a curse from Giants and Trina was a defense against FF, so being permanently afflicted would mean frequient alters lol) Personalities of the four sisters would be taking the effects associated people had on Malenia and how she remembered them. Polyanna is the only one helping us to fight that guy for the golden needle, determined and autonomous like Melina, Mary the only one who survives the battle with Millicent, being the last one standing like Finlay tended to be. Always restless Amy and diplomatic Maureen (source: dude trust me xd). I will get back to this properly but this is roughly the direction I want to work in!

And I am not sure whether this one is going to count in this context, but...

This is a big flower not far before Malenia's arena, and next to it you pick the same traveller set the sisters are wearing! I think this could be a sixth (known) sister, but of a similar kind as Millicent; coming from Malenia's core traits rather than memories and connections. But if Millicent is her pride and dignity willing to return to her after giving a crack during battle with Radahn, which one would this sister be?

I am thinking, maybe her faith in Miquella being able to find the solution wavered some time? It would be a crack in her hope and faith. And this sixth girl had a similar pursuit to return Malenia what she had lost, only, she succeeded. We get Miquella's Needle from Malenia after defeating her, and I don't think this is what Unalloyed Gold Needle "turns" into; the designs are too different for that implication IMO:

So maybe Malenia had HUMANITY RESTORED when this sister brought Miquella's Needle to her? I concluded this needle is "useless" for her condition, but simply holding one of the tokens of Miquella's talent and effort helped to recollect that sense of knowing he will always figure something out?

_________________________

I might find a different interpretation later, for the last one especially, you just never know for sure with Soulsborne games! But these are my thoughts at the moment! This post.. turned out unexpectedly sad for me, not gonna lie hhhytfhggfg It still was helpful to actually organize my thoughts on the topic, thank you for the ask!

[dragoncult-handmaiden]

I want to be every soulsborne woman at the same time. Why are they all so ethereal and divine and mysterious and powerful and feminine and graceful and elegant and dark and I love women

[baerryjj]

COMMISSION FOR @bimbomcgee 🌸🌷 its THE scarlet butterflies and co

[skeletonoli]

all I want is more Slytherin focused fics.

I want to see knights of walpurgis.

I want to see the fallout of Grindelwald.

I want to see how Tom Riddle rose to power, how he gained a following.

I want to see how this era dealt with these young marriages and young families.

I want marauders era.

I want to see the back sisters navigate pure blood politics.

I want to see lucissa mentoring Severus.

I want to see Severus navigating pure blood politics as an outsider and how him and many others were groomed into joining the death eaters.

I want to see Lucius and Narcissa's struggle to have children.

I want to see fresh out of war Slytherin.

I want to see Severus Snape becoming a teacher at 20 after watching his friends die, having little to no support system.

I want to see these young Slytherins deal with navigating life and school with parents who are locked up or dead.

I want to see how the attitudes towards Slytherin changes over time, how they become hated and dehumanised.

I want to see lighting era.

I want to see how this new generation of heirs deals with the turbulence of the second wizarding war.

I want the stories of Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini.

I want to see the stories of the women.

I want to see how Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bullstrode, Tracy Davies and the Greengrass sisters are treated in society.

I want to hear more about muggleborns and half-bloods in Slytherin.

I want to see how this generation of Slytherins were pressured into becoming death eaters and the consequences of this.

I want to hear their stories.

[arx-aru]

Loretta, bleeding out: Malenia- Finlay: she asleep Loretta: Okay well her daughter- Finlay: she has a daughter???? Loretta: Yes she looks just like her and- Finlay: oh my god we have a daughter Loretta: AND SHE TRIED TO KILL ME. Finlay: and i'm so proud of her! Loretta: Finlay: you- you didn't kill her did you? Loretta: No. Finlay: then where- Loretta: She turned into a flower before I could. Finlay: oh... Loretta: Finlay: well i guess we should pot her Loretta: Finlay: what Loretta: She. Tried. To. Kill. Me. And my horse. Finlay: yeah i hear you but do you think she's full sun or half sun. how much should we water her. do you think normal soil will be okay

[wrenwinchester]

Something about Millie taking this picture sits right with me.

[keekity]

bisexual gym rat and her cheerleaders

[janusfranc15]

What did the Forager Brood ever do to You?? They’re just little Guys.

shoutout to malenia blade of miquella, my favourite deadbeat parent

[catcas22]

I know all of Malenia's daughters have feral cat energy. But Polyanna seems especially so.

Polyanna: I need affection right now or I'll die. *Brief pause.* Okay, that's enough affection. *CHOMP.*

[lorianbladeoflothric]

Millicent and her sisters were raised to be worshipped, to fight at the side of their mother, the great Goddess of Rot. However, only she was granted the ability to bloom and ascend after her death. After suffering years of nightmares and horrifying urges, Millicent decides to set out on a journey to find Malenia and return her vile "gift". But though she is her favored daughter, she is not her only daughter, and Mary, Maureen, Amy, and Pollyanna join her on her quest, each with questions and goals of their own. Though they are strong, the Lands Between are dangerous, and even more so to those who have had so much knowledge kept from them.

I wrote a new fic, and this one is going to be longer than the others! It's about girls with mommy issues.

[katyspersonal]

Poll for the Demigods: ( x )

[thatsbelievable]

[bri-the-nautilus]

Malenia is so dignified, and her daughters are just absolute gremlins

[clobbo]

Mother of the Year

A scene for the end of S13 Ep 8 as Sister Julienne comes to terms with her award. Obviously Shulienne, and also a short visit from Miss Higgins.

Once the photographer had left the hall, Sister Julienne began to feel a little bit more relaxed. Posing for a camera on a stage had never been something she’d done before, and to be honest, it wasn’t the most comfortable experience. She was grateful for the youth and vibrancy of Trixie and Joyce who seemed to take it all in their stride and take her under their wing in that way.

The night itself had been superb. Sister Julienne had enjoyed listening to and relishing the stories and tributes to the mothers of Poplar. Heart-soaring stories of love and care. Motherhood was something she was surrounded by in her work, although so very often she just saw the very beginnings as it was blossoming. She spent less time with mothers in full bloom once they had found their stride. It had been such a celebration to hear amazing stories from around the district of mothers who had meant so much to so many people.

When Sister Monica Joan and Sister Veronica had got up on stage she had no idea what was coming. She was surprised to see them there as she’d not been made her aware of any plans. And as they began to speak she thought perhaps they might be talking about their dear friend Shelagh...although Shelagh’s children had already given their own tribute. Hearing her own name though - well to say she hadn’t expected it to was an understatement.

Aside from the fact she wasn’t actually biologically a mother, she had never really taken into account that she could be seen as one. She was simply doing God’s work...which was to love, as best as she could, all that she came into contact with.

Laying her flowers down on the table, Sister Julienne smiled and greeted the many well wishers and congratulations coming from those around her. Comments and congratulations swarming around her. So deserved. Thank you, Sister. No-one better. None of us could have said it better. We have been so grateful for you, Sister.

She smiled, and nodded. And really, had little to say in response, other than “It has always been my pleasure to serve you all.”

She removed the rosette from her habit and placed it next to the bouquet on the table - it seemed frivolous and wasn’t really in keeping with a life of humility. Around her her friends, colleagues and community were celebrating the whole event, music had started and some of the children were dancing. There was true joy.

Sister Julienne smiled to herself and took a brief look around before making her way towards the exit.

* * *

Sister Julienne inhaled deeply, taking in the cool evening air. She already felt instantly more peaceful by stepping outside and closed her eyes with her face to the stars. God was good. God was very good.

She became aware then of a presence on the bench just to the side of her, and she turned to see Miss Higgins staring a little less peacefully into the middle distance. Sister Julienne immediately felt her heart pierced with sorrow. Miss Higgins had faced so much in the last few days that Sister Julienne could hardly believe she was still standing, let alone able to attend this event with the composure she had. She took a seat next to her on the bench, both women sat facing forward not turning to look at one another.

There was silence for a while, and Sister Julienne did not know what words she could offer, if any. Over the last few days Miss Higgins had been a semi-frequent visitor to Nonnatus, Nurse Crane offering her meals and the general solace of being around others. The pair had a firm friendship, which Sister Julienne could see was of enormous comfort to Miss Higgins at this time. She, however, didn’t know the woman well despite having worked together now for years. Their acquaintance had been almost strictly professional up to this point.

“The air is very refreshing,” Sister Julienne said quietly. “It is quite stuffy in there.”

Miss Higgins nodded. “Congratulations,” she offered in response quietly, genuinely and tentatively.

Sister Julienne shook her head, smiling. “It is quite remarkable, and not a title I feel in the least bit deserving of.”

“People want to show their regard for you, Sister.”

“I understand that. And I am not ungrateful of the gesture in the slightest. But it doesn’t sit comfortably with me....at least not at the moment. Perhaps that will change.”

“Motherhood...being a mother I think...” Miss Higgins began, her eyes still fixed ahead of her. “Well, I think it means a lot of different things. And I think to be one, is such a privilege.”

Miss Higgins looked down and swallowed any threatened emotion. She wasn’t likely to lose her composure, she had always been a resolute, firm and an in control woman. But Sister Julienne had felt the energy shift around her, a sadness pressed in to them both. She rested her hand on Miss Higgins arm, a touch most unusual for the pair of them to experience together.

“It most certainly is,” she squeezed her arm. “And it is not a privilege that will go away, or fade or disappear, Millicent. It will always be with you.”

Miss Higgins looked up at that moment, her eyes damp and reflecting the surrounding light from the hall. She nodded, agreeing with Sister Julienne. “Thank you, Sister.” She squeezed the nuns hand in gratitude and stood up making her way to Nurse Crane’s car where her friend was waiting for her.

Sister Julienne gave a wave of acknowledgement to Nurse Crane as the pair headed back in the direction of Nonnatus House and Sister Julienne leant back on the bench closing her eyes.

I cannot understand the meaning in this. I love these people, this community, my work...but I don’t need the recognition. I would always have continued to do the work joyfully and to love as best as I am able if no one would ever have recognised it. It is what You have called me to do. There are so many genuine mothers who deserve this recognition. Mothers who have sacrificed their lives for their children, who have changed their world to make sure their children have everything they have ever needed. All I have ever done is do exactly what I was called to do...hardly seems like a sacrifice.

“Penny for them?” came Shelagh’s voice as she sat down next to Sister Julienne.

Sister Julienne smiled. She knew Shelagh would be here with her at some point this evening. She’d noticed Shelagh keeping a quiet eye in the background on her, provided her a small smile when the attention ramped up and she began to feel uncomfortable.

“I was just taking it all in,” the nun explained. “Letting the idea of it all...settle.”

“It isn’t a bad thing to receive praise, you know,” Shelagh offered quietly, holding the rosette that Sister Julienne had left on the table, knowing that the idea of praise and attention would be niggling somewhere in Sister Julienne’s thoughts.

“No. But I don’t need it, I haven’t asked for it...”

Shelagh chuckled quietly. “I think that’s the point and what got you the nomination!”

Shelagh shuffled along the bench closer to her Sister and took her hand, resting her head onto her shoulder. The peaceful surroundings only slightly interrupted by the distant murmur of chatter in the hall from the celebrations inside. The wide open starry sky above them, Sister Julienne tilted her head so it rested on Shelagh’s, the pair sat next to each other, leaning on one another.

“I love looking at the stars,” Shelagh began. “It reminds me of how vast it all is, and how delicate and intricate we are. How, in all of the world, we are here in this one space. We could be anywhere, but we were placed here...to do God’s work...to live the life he wanted us to, right here.”

She paused for a moment, hearing the slow breathing of Sister Julienne, totally relaxing in that thought.

“You didn’t need an award tonight, it’s true. You don’t need it because you are already loved and cherished right here in this place. But, how are we all to repay such love that you’ve shown? It’s not the title, or the flowers, or the rosette...it’s our honour and our privilege to show our love and appreciation to you. And this is the way we were able to do that. There is no doubt to me that you were called to be a mother right here in this community and to all these people...In all of the universe, in all of the world, this is exactly as it was always meant to be.”

“Being a mother is a privilege...” Sister Julienne repeated from her earlier conversation.

Shelagh smiled. “Well, yes. But it’s also hard work. And it’s joyful. And it hurts. And it’s realising you don’t know what you’re doing, but doing it somehow anyway out of love. It’s disappointing. And it’s rewarding. It makes you furious...and it makes you love fiercely.”

“Yes, I suppose that does sound rather familiar,” reflecting on everything she had felt whilst working in the Poplar community.

Shelagh sat up right to look directly at her Sister, emotion beginning to etch its way into her voice. “Sister, having being cared for by you has been the greatest privilege I have known. You have taught me so much, cared for me so patiently and kindly, sat with me in my darkest hour and offered me your wisdom and your love at every turn. The privilege and the honour have always been mine.”

“Oh Shelagh...” Sister Julienne took her friend in her arms and kissed her gently on the cheek. “I could never have loved you any more than if you were my own flesh and blood.”

The two women looked at each other, smiling amongst their tears. Shelagh opened her hand to display the rosette from earlier. “May I?”

Sister Julienne nodded, and Shelagh reattached the rosette to the habit, placing her hands on the nuns shoulders and beamed. “I could never have asked for more in my life. And I could never have been more proud.”

Mother of the Year