#mulberry court

[thatsbelievable]

[horror-beeings-artandwriting]

May I put in a request for Headcannons of your oc's with characters you ship them with?

Of course!!

Prompt: my ocs x canon!

Charcters/ships: Rose Tea x Dark Choco, Fig Brie x Cappuccino, mulberry thorn x pitaya dragon, black iris x elder faerie, and crème caramel x second watcher!

Ship names: blood rose, Courtdate, dragons princess, inky silver, never hunt alone. TW: mentions of fantasy racism, and disability due to accident, mention of arranged marriage(between adults)

A/N this’ll be a long one folks so buckle up!!

Bloodrose: Dark Choco and Rose Tea have been aware of one another since they were children. their parents had a very good relationship. Their parents wanted to try and have them marry one anther once they grew up (only if both of them wanted to of course) but they never got that chance. Rose became the duchess of the kingdom of Tribia. While choco abandoned the cacao kingdom. They met again while he was trying with other members of the cookies of darkness to break into a museum which he thought had something they needed. Rose who was in the exhibit at the time, not knowing who they were or what they wanted kindly informed them, that everything there was in fact a replica. Rose obviously didn't recognize choco, due to the last time she saw him being about 25 years ago and when he was still the young prince, but choco recognized her instantly. due to funnily enough, the way she smelled. That sounds creepy but rose due to the type of cookie she is, smells very strongly of roses, similar to how while lily smells strongly of lilies. Choco remembered a few things about her, mainly her odd mannerisms around other cookies. Choco introduced himself under a false name. Later on, Choco applied to be one of the guards for her. not only to get more information from her, but to see if she would recognize him again. My au focuses on their relationship a bit so that's where I will leave it for bloodrose. :)

Courtdate: Fig Brie cookie and Cappuccino cookie met while he was in law school they started dating during college, then later on got married. They have been married for over 8 years now. Fig works as a court reporter while cappuccino works as a prosecutor. Fig brie cookie isn't actually a cookie, she's a cake, (Similar to Schwarzwalder) she just looks more cookie like, cappuccino is aware of this and doesn't really care. Cappuccino is more introverted while Brie is more extroverted, Very black cat meets golden retriever! Cappuccino is really overprotective over brie due to Fantasy racism. (cakes aren't treated well in canon and that doesn't change in this au) they are an already established relationship in my au :) and play a small role :3

dragons princess: Mulberry and Pitaya get a wonderful start to their relationship, IE Pitaya starts beefing with one of her guards and like any normal princess, knocks them out. They get better I swear!! Pitaya wakes up to mulberry putting ice on their cheek, pitaya is into strong women...so safe to say they start smitten, due to and I quote "She isn't afraid of me, and has a great punch!" Mulberry apologizes for punching them asking them if they are alright, and making them something to eat. as they get to know each other better due to pitaya insisting on helping her out of the dragons valley, they find out she's supposed to get married to someone she hasn't even met before. Pitaya. Doesn't like this. So later that day, pitaya wakes her up, and explains in their extremely subtle way that they are in fact a dragon and they can fake a kidnapping, to get her out of this marriage. Mulberry originally thinks they are kidding, until they show her their wings and tail. Mulberry agrees to this plan, and they pull it off! In the au takes place after this event, so mulberry and pitaya are "Dragon married" idk how to put it, mates? eh, and she resides in the dragons valley. :)

inky silver: morticia and gomez core <3 we love old people in love, and thats what they are! Elder faerie and Black Iris have been married for a couple hundred years at this point, and Iris still looks like she's in her 30s. Due to being vampire <3 they're just very loving towards one another and take on a parental role to while lily when she first comes to the fairy kingdom! Black iris is more reserved, staying behind the curtin, helping him make choices. when they were younger, Iris had just been turned and got chased into beast yeast...she was scared and couldn't go out in the sun anymore. so when Elder Faerie took her in she was grateful. She never hid the fact she was quote "A blood sucking beast" Faerie didn't care though. He uses his wings to cover iris during the day or, has stuff held at night so she can join! Again minor- major role here, since the fairy kingdom wont show up for a while in my au!

never hunt alone: This is the ship between Creme Caramel and Second watcher. Creme was born and raised in the cacao kingdom, her sister is actually caramel arrow cookie. She grew up along side both her sister and the second watcher. Creme caramel was trained to be one of the more ruthless warriors, not to stay in the cacao kingdom but to clean up loose ends after the war. While second watcher became a watcher! After a particularity bad mission Cacao told Creme she could not continue hunting, at for a while and when she got back, she couldn't go alone. Creme, now has to walk with a cane, but her faithful comrade Watcher doesn't let her feel useless, Their relationship similar to Rose tea and Choco builds throughout the AU!

Hope you enjoy, sorry for the wall of text!

[muirneach]

mmmm i think tomorrow i will make mulberry jam

[qwimblenorrisstan]

The Clandestine Culinarian | Azriel x Reader

Summary: Azriel requires a deadly poison, and the only place he can get acquire it is through a bakery in Hewn City, and in the process grows closer to you, the owner of the shop, and is there for you when tragedy strikes.

Word Count: ~3.1k

Warnings: A lil bit of angst, mentions of blood, weapons, family death, nudity (taking bath), poisons, nothing explicit.

A/N: Got a little carried away with this, but I had a dream abt it so I think it’s the chosen one, hope you enjoy <3

Masterlist | Next

Requests are open!

Azriel found himself all ready for his newest mission, leathers on, Truth-Teller sharpened, siphons gleaming, however, there was just one thing he needed…

In truth, he hadn’t been surprised when Rhys asked him to take care of a group of Halflings that were lurking in what had been Hybern’s lands, attempting to create even a shadow of the power the fallen King had once possessed. Though Azriel could easily just slip in and slaughter all of them, Rhys advised him to exercise caution with this. Azriel was always cautious, silent as a mouse, moving in and out of the shadows at will.

Rhys didn’t want to have the blood of those Fae on his hands, and would rather have it seem like someone took them out quickly and quietly. And the way he wanted his Spymaster to carry this out? With volucrae, one of the deadliest poisons that had been discovered, and hidden.

“A single vial would cost a fortune, Rhys.”

He said, watching his High Lord closely. The poison cost a fortune for many reasons, as it had no scent, no taste, and didn’t cause any discoloration or effects to what you planted it in. It worked quickly, as well. Within minutes of consuming it, your body would start to shut down, and you would slip into death before you could even register what was happening. The only reason it was so rare was because the way to attain it was deadly.

“I’ve already done the math, you need one and a half vials to thoroughly poison their food supply.”

Rhys replied, his expression holding a look that said Azriel was not getting out of this, no matter what happened.

“Where would that even sell in this Court?”

He asked, though a part of him already knew the answer. The most wicked things were sold within the most hateful and wicked environment, which in this Court, was most likely..

“Hewn City.”

That didn’t surprise him, but what Rhys then said next had him very skeptical about anyone wielding the poison, let alone willing to sell it.

“There’s a bakery not too far from that brothel we visited once, a bit up the street and to the left. You’ll know it when you see it. When you get inside, tell the woman at the counter that you’re looking for a mulberry pie, but you’d like to adjust the flavoring.”

Rhys said, that annoying smirk on his face that said he knew he was right, that this would work, and that he could already see Az’s begrudgingly thankful look.

“Fine.”

Azriel said with a huff. Before he could even mention how he would pay for it, Rhys handed him a pouch of gold coins.

“Our secret.”

He said, before going back to the paperwork that sat in stacks in his office.

The shadowsinger stalked off, gathering his things before he went off to the balcony, and took off, headed to one of the places he’d prefer never having to look at again. Hewn City.

*********************************************************

It was business as usual for you; baking up the pies and assisting your coworkers, who were only family if not the closest of family friends, as they worked the shop alongside you.

Not too many customers today, which wasn’t unusual, as Hewn City wasn’t exactly the most profitable place to put a bakery. The citizens here were exactly how they’d been her entire life, harsh, bitter, and hateful to the very end, and their taste in pastries reflected that so clearly it was almost funny.

However, a face she recognized walked in while she had taken a break from kneading dough to work the register. She could easily spot the shadows that shrouded his being and trailed behind and onto him in the shop. The shadowsinger, otherwise known as the Spymaster of Night Court.

She’d heard plenty of rumors about him, most, if not all being terrible awful things, but a customer was a customer, and judging by the fact that she assumed he wasn’t here for baked goods, a potential client was a potential client, no matter who they were.

“Welcome to Baked Goods, how can I help you today?”

You asked the man, with your customer voice and smile being worn. He seemed to scan over you for a moment, his gaze sharp and piercing, and intimidating, before he spoke.

“I’d like a mulberry pie, but I would like to adjust the flavoring.”

His dark, smooth voice replied. He hadn’t even glanced at the menu. We didn’t serve mulberry pie. That was your confirmation that he knew what he wanted and for the right price, he could get it.

“Sure, I can get that for you. What kind of flavoring are you looking for? Weaker tasting, smelling, we could even adjust how it looks if you’d like it.” Do you want it to be noticeable?

“The weakest flavoring you can find.” No.

This Spymaster caught onto the game fast, you’d admit. Then again, the High Lord had probably told him of it, as he occasionally came by for his favorite mulberry pie, just to keep you in order, as some of the local females looking to break free of their forced marriages also happened to like mulberry pie.

“I can take you back for you to see our selection if you’d like?” Do you want to see our collection and pick one out?

“Yes.” I’ll pick it.

And so, you led him around the counter and to the back of the bakery, and as you opened one of the cabinets that was empty, with remnants of flour in it. Reaching in, and using your hands to unlock a mechanism in the back of the wooden cabinet, the back of it came off and swung open like a door.

You walked inside, and he followed. It was an old stone passageway, stairs leading down, down, down, thick with humidity, their every sound echoing due to the cave system at the bottom of it.

After minutes of walking, they reached the bottom. It had shelves full of vials and bottles of all sorts of poisons, all undiluted and in any sort of form. He studied the wall a minute and then gestured to one of them. It was a bottle you hadn’t dared to sell in all the years you’d owned it. Hell, you had almost grown attached to the thing, like a little friend, always there, lurking and waiting inside the dark tunnels of this place.

“Volucrae?”

You asked him, studying him with suspicion and intrigue in your gaze. What could he possibly need that poison for? Sure, he was a Spymaster and a honed killer, but she wouldn’t give that away easily.

He gave a little nod, holding out a heavy pouch of pure gold coins. You took it, opened it, and counted the amount. It was more than enough, you would admit. Not looking too happy about it, you gave him the amount for his money, one full vial, and about one half.

And then you both walked out, gave him a cookie as a parting gift, and he was gone, just like that.

*********************************************************

Azriel walked out of that ‘bakery’, wondering how Rhys knew about it, and why the hell he hadn’t shut it down yet. They were illegally selling poisons, possibly even trafficking them and buying them from someone. Problems for later, he reminded himself as he took a bite of the cookie he’d been given by the girl as he walked out.

The vials of valucrae were safely secured within a pocket, the glass was reinforced. Whoever had bottled it must’ve known exactly how deadly it was.

He had no idea how that girl or her shop had gotten her hands on that. To even make the poison was incredibly dangerous, first having to take down one of the ancient, cunning beasts that lived in the darkness of the Illyrian Steppes, using their blood and drying it, turning it into a fine powder, and storing it.

Nonetheless, he had a mission to get done.

And so, with a flap of his wings, his shadows trailing behind him, he set off for what had been Hybern’s lands. The mission was simple.

The lands were still scorched and covered in a certain heavy feeling, the remnants of the war and the mass destruction and carnage that had followed. The halflings were gathered in the center of the lands. They seemed to have congregated together in a group of around 25, having tents and temporary homes, a large campfire in the center, and one tent that his shadows whispered to him that held the food.

He crept up, opening the vials with a silent pop, and slipped into the tent. They all seemed to be asleep at this point. And with a flick and movement of his wrist, the poison was sprinkled into their daily rations, and after smoothing it into the wet meat. The flakes turned transparent as they got wet and just like that, they weren’t even noticeable anymore.

Cleaning his hands off religiously, and scrubbing it off of his hands, he then took off silently into the night, his large, leathery wings flapping as he went back home, to Velaris.

*********************************************************

The shadowsinger had been visiting more than usual over the past few months, you realized, as you saw him coming into the shop again, another order of mulberry pie with adjusted flavoring, and you led him down to the ‘basement’ again.

The air of the stone passageway felt different this time, tense and dripping with something other than humidity.

The little drips that echoed through the stairway and the sounds of their feet hitting the stone were the only ones. Neither spoke. They reached the bottom eventually, where the familiar shelves with vials and bottles waited.

“What’ll it be this time, Azriel?”

You asked, one brow raised as you watched him. He was undeniably attractive, pretty, almost. His lean and muscular body, his golden hazel eyes, or his short, almost boyish style of black hair. His large, powerful wings, or the scarred hands that you had wondered many times what had happened, but never dared to ask.

He opened his mouth to speak, and that was when the entire world exploded.

*********************************************************

Fire licking up his face and body was the first thing he processed, the second was Kier’s men at the top of the stairway, blood already dripping from their blades, the wooden cabinet’s secret door splintered into pieces and shoved open. His shadows writhed in agony.

With a glance towards the girl, he quickly realized that she didn’t seem surprised, or particularly shocked, but looked like a little bit of her died with every drip of the blood from the men’s swords onto the ground. She was very close with her coworkers, he had observed that immediately. They had been a team and some legitimate family that were just bakers working here.

“Follow me.”

She said, and before he could even draw Truth-Teller, she grabbed his arm and began running, dragging him at first, then leading him through the convoluted cave tunnels that were behind the bottom of the stairwell. She ran with a practiced ease through these caves, as if she’d done it many times before. As if she’d practiced running as if she’d known that Kier’s soldiers had been lurking around the corners of her shop and watching every customer a little too closely to just be a coincidence.

He didn’t have time to think about it as he heard some of the soldiers close behind. Some had gotten lost in the tunnels due to her winding through them.

Her voice didn’t waver, it was firm. Sad, but recognizing that this wasn’t the moment to grieve.

The tunnels winded down and up until even he could barely keep track of them, despite his centuries of practice memorizing the layouts of the most complicated structures. They soon surfaced on the edge of Hewn City, and without even thinking of the potential consequences of his actions, the political repercussions that they could cause, he grabbed her, scooped her up, and took off.

*********************************************************

At least the adrenaline had kept her from thinking of the loss when you’d been running. Here, during this terrifying flight, you got plenty of time to think all about your family members who had been in that shop.

Your cousins, both willing to help just to have a job and get paid in the awful economy of Hewn City. Your uncle, just happy to be involved in the family, and also a male who hadn’t ever been able to explore his passion for baking, always told it wasn’t masculine. Or your sweet little niece, who had absolutely no idea what was happening at all, but was generally just happy to be there and spend time. Not to mention how many pastries the girl had snuck off of the shelves.

All gone.

You had seen the blood dripping off of that steel. You knew that Kier had been watching your shop a little while more than usual, and you’d practiced escape routes and alarm systems with the family and workers, but it had all fallen apart. They had been waiting for Azriel to arrive, you were sure of it.

You couldn’t stop the tears that welled up and fell as you were curled up against the shadowsinger’s chest while he flew, making her stomach churn. His shadows, cool and soothing against your skin, seemed to almost wipe your tears away, attempting to comfort you the best they could.

The colorful city of light came into view, Velaris, the city of starlight, she’d been told. It was beautiful, she’d admit. It felt like it was spitting in her face, taunting and mocking her for what her family hadn’t had the chance to see, and now wouldn’t ever get the chance to see. Azriel went to a specific house overlooking a large river, The Sidra, his shadows whispered to you, their voices thin and quiet, barely more than a whisper. It seemed to be a townhouse, a beautiful one at that, he arrived at.

*********************************************************

Azriel landed, and slowly set you on your feet. You looked very unsteady and probably about to throw up. That was a common reaction from someone’s first time flying, assuming it was your first flight ever. He couldn’t imagine any other male flying you around, knowing it would never happen, but even the thought of it sent a little pang of jealousy that he knew wasn’t appropriate through his mind.

“Rhys’ and Feyre’s home. You’ll be staying here.”

He said simply, his voice firm but not empathetic. The tears had mostly stopped, but as soon as he guided the female inside, only to meet a concerned and curious Rhys sitting on the couch with Feyre, who looked equally confused, it started back up again.

She managed to give a basic explanation between tears, and he filled in any details Rhys asked for that she couldn’t or wouldn’t provide.

“You can stay here until we find a solution, and definitely until things calm down. I’ll…talk to Kier.”

Rhys reassured her, eyes narrowing slightly as he noticed Azriel’s hand around the female’s waist. He shared a glance with Feyre, a little too long for his comfort, before giving Azriel a nod. He was to take the poor thing to a room, and most likely console her. He wasn’t too great at the latter, he thought.

His mission was complete, but at what cost?

*********************************************************

You had met the High Lord before, but never his Inner Circle other than Azriel. He led her to a spare bedroom in the townhouse, leading her inside and closing the door behind her.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

He asked. His voice was calm and deep as it had always been, but filled with a sort of sorrow that told you he’d lost many people close to him as well. He knew your pain.

“I don’t know, I just…they’d still be here if I hadn’t..”

You stammered out, before words turned into choked sobs, and choked sobs turned into him sitting beside her on the bed as you wept into his chest. His warm, scarred hands rubbing your back soothingly as you cried.

You cried until you couldn’t anymore until the loss consumed her so wholly that it was a black pit you couldn’t crawl out of.

“It’s not your fault. Kier gave the order to murder them, not you.”

An order he would make Kier pay for, even if he got himself killed in the process.

“Take a bath. It’ll help.”

He said, and you knew he was right. A bath might help. You managed to get up and stumble over to the bathroom, starting a warm bath, and peeling off your clothing before settling into the water. You barely managed to rub some shampoo into your hair before scrubbing it back out.

You sat in that tub for a while, sitting and thinking, reminiscing about your family, grieving all you could for them. Maybe a little too long. Before you knew it, you had slipped into unconsciousness.

*********************************************************

Azriel had waited for almost two hours for you to come out of the tub now. He would admit that he felt more than a little creepy just waiting, but he felt it was necessary, as something deeply instilled in him told him to stay, and to wait to make sure you were okay.

He didn’t know when he’d suddenly become so protective over you, it had crept up on him until he hadn’t even realized how much he wanted to shred Kier’s men to pieces for upsetting you and threatening you.

When you hadn’t come out and almost two hours and thirty minutes had passed, he cracked open the bathroom door, only to find you fully asleep and naked in the bathtub. It felt wrong, looking at you while vulnerable, and so he closed his eyes and let his shadows guide him as they helped pick you up.

The shadows, doing what he willed, dried you off, before slipping some clothes on you that were fresh spares. He laid you in the bed, tucking you in.

He stayed there longer than he’d like to admit, watching you peacefully sleep, and for some odd reason, his shadows wouldn’t let him leave the room. They tugged him to a nearby armchair, and using the shadows as an excuse, he fell asleep a few hours later while watching over you.

The shadows seemed to not want to leave your side.

Almost as if they knew something he didn’t.

Part 2

[astrolovecosmos]

The Planets & Random or Obscure Associations

~Sun~

Creativity, vitality, head of state, the father, games, yellow and orange clothing, articles of value, jewelry, gold, brass, power, diamonds, citrine, topaz, jasper, amber, rhodochrosite, mistletoe, almonds, citrus, succulents, sunflowers, fevers, heart, back, spine, grapes, walnuts, rice, chamomile, frankincense, juniper, saffron, marigold, rosemary, rue, palaces, towers, luxury.

~Moon~

Eternal, cycles, silver, aluminum, pearls, moonstone, opal, selenite, chest, glands, lymphatic system, nervous system, emotions, mother, ancestors, nurture, rebirth, tides, baths, ocean, brew, boat, sap, willow trees, succulents, pale color plants, white flowers, cucumber, cabbage, lettuce, melons, shellfish, pumpkins, lakes, fountains, ports, fishponds, pools, springs, sewers, dairies, toys, reflection, blankets, objects of comfort.

~Mercury~

Communication, journal, pen/pencil, any writing tools, wings, phosphorous, mercury, agate, tiger's eye, brain, nervous system, eyes, respiration, thyroid, speech, hearing, intellect, vehicles, money, bills, paper, books, pictures, parties or social gatherings, scientific instruments, butterflies, messages, mail, hazel, mulberry, myrtle, seeds, aniseed, dill, fennel, lavender, liquorice, marjoram, parsley, valerian, hazelnuts, beans, mushrooms, pomegranates, carrots, celery, libraries, schools, markets, fairs, public spaces, tennis or badminton court, studies, banks, bowling greens, offices, blue, white, or light colored flowers.

~Venus~

Love, relating, lust, high-quality fabrics, copper, bronze, sodium, malachite, tourmaline, emerald, rose quartz, kunzite, sapphire, pastels, throat, kidneys, lumber region, art, music, aesthetics, social life, fashion, jewelry, wine, pleasure, alder tree, fruit trees, paint, ash tree, birch, pomegranates, early flowering, daisy, mint, marshmallow, meadowsweet, mugwort, plantain, tansy, roses, thyme, vervain, yarrow, potatoes, strawberries, wheat, sugar, nectarines, ballrooms, bedrooms, dining room, gardens, fountains, wardrobes, theaters, looking and feeling good.

~Mars~

Lust, conquest, desire, flaming sword, red things, fights, iron, brass, bloodstone, carnelian, cinnabar, pyrite, magnetite, ruby, garnet, hematite, muscles, reproductive organs, blood, kidneys, immunity, heat, action, arms, pepper, sharp instruments, cutlery, attacks, scissors, weapons, physical intimacy, bites, stings, scalds, burns, accidents, hawthorn, pine, thorns, cactus, aloes, anemone, arnica, belladonna, garlic, ginger, hops, mustard seed, nettles, wormwood, chives, onions, leeks, radish, rhubarb, tobacco, labs, furnaces, distilleries, bakehouses, ovens, smiths, butchers, fields, anger, passion, self-focus.

~Jupiter~

Expansion, optimism, religion, religious sites, tin, seduction, turquoise, chrysocolla, topaz, citrine, jasper, liver, pancreas, pituitary gland, sciatic nerve, excess, abundance, prophecy, philosophy, knowledge, universities, foreign travel, luggage, honey, oil, silk, fruit, distinct clothing, merchandise, horses, domestic birds, gambling, indulgence, entertainment, oak, dandelion, sage, endive, chervil, asparagus, figs, churches, temples, palaces, altars, courts, mansions, woods, orchards, winery, cornucopia, connecting with the soul.

~Saturn~

Limits, boundaries, father time, lord of death, shadows, lead, iron, steel, calcium, asbestos, sulphur, diamond, onyx, calcite, skeleton, spleen, skin, teeth, nails, joints, structure, crystallization, old age, blockage, anything dark, wool, heavy materials, agriculture, wheelbarrows, spades, farm houses and buildings, cold, laws, aspen, blackthorn, buckthorn, cypress, elm, toxic plants, hemlock, henbane, belladonna, hellebore, barley, beetroot, safflower, parsnips, spinach, deserts, woods, valleys, caves, church yards, ruins, coalpits, sinks, wells, mud, institutions.

~Uranus~

Eccentrics, mavericks, invention, genius, revolution, change, trends, disruptive science or tech, uranium, magnesium, lapis lazuli, sapphire, aquamarine, azurite, chalcedony, electricity, neon lights, plaid, nervous and circulatory system, pineal gland, chaos, violence, upheaval, astrology, steam engines, coal, machinery, coins, baths, fishponds, dangerous places, computers, magnets, quantum physics, research, welfare, humanity, hypnotherapy, railways, banks, gas, psychiatric hospitals, offices, hospitals, dispensaries, fortified places, chemicals, mingled/mingling, spirit and matter.

~Neptune~

Illusions, veils, diffuse, deception, water, oceans, mysticism, enlightenment, artistic pursuit and understanding, zinc, potassium, amethyst, fluorite, jade, sugilite, coral, aquamarine, pineal gland, lymphatic and nervous system, spine, mental processes, addiction, psychoses, disease, photography, music, substances, gas, religion, poetry, mimicry, chameleon, anesthetic, telepathy, empathy, dancing, psychic gifts, places near water, hospitals, places of healing, jeweler, painters, brewers, musicians, visionary.

~Pluto~

Power, influence, darkness, new life, what's hidden underneath, seeds, volcanoes, deep earth or ocean, bury, explosions, eruptions, abduction, plutonium, smoky quartz, obsidian, jet, pearl, deep reds, reproductive organs, the unconscious, nuclear, transformation, death, birth, rebirth, underworld, riches, earthquakes, big business, murder, detection, detective, invisibility, sneak, enforced change, hidden places, underground, drains, sewers, radioactive places, the occult, black magic, sacrifice, renew.

[starsreminisce]

Elain in ACOTAR

She shrugged her slim shoulders. “People acted as if we’d all just been ill for eight years, or had gone away to some distant country—not that we’d been a few villages over in that cottage. You’d think we dreamed it all up, what happened to us over those years. No one said a word about it.” “Did you think they would?” If we were as rich as this house suggested, there were surely plenty of families willing to overlook the stain of our poverty. “No—but it made me … made me wish for those years again, even with the hunger and cold. This house feels so big sometimes, and father is always busy, and Nesta …” She looked over her shoulder to where my eldest sister stood by a gnarled mulberry tree, looking out over the flat expanse of our lands.

Lucien in ACOWAR

As if sensing my thoughts, Lucien said, “You don’t need to waste your time convincing me. I get it. I get … I get that we were not what you wanted. Or needed. How small and isolated our home must have been for you, once you saw this.” He jerked his chin toward the city, where lights were now sparking into view amid the falling twilight. “Who could compare?”

I love how Elain and Lucien both expressed essentially the same sentiment to Feyre about what they thought was enough. Elain mentioned how the house felt big, and I can imagine how she must feel now in the River House, with Feyre busy in her art studio and Nesta living in the House of Wind.

Lucien, on the other hand, tried to make sense of why Feyre would leave the Spring Court because he felt what they had there was enough until he saw the splendor of the Night Court. It's important to note that this was before Lucien came face-to-face with Elain.

Sometimes I like to think that Lucien doesn't feel like he is enough for Elain—not enough to provide for her, not stable enough to give her a home, unsure of where he belongs, and not wanting to drag Elain down with his mess. But then, Elain comes back to tell him that he is enough and that they'll figure it out together, as long as he involves her.

This understated similarity between them—their shared and expressed idea of what makes a home—is significant. Both believe that it's not the size of the home that matters but the moments inside it.

It's telling that they are both struggling to define what a home means to them right now, and how they'll both realize that they'll find home within each other.

[princesscatherinemiddleton]

Princess of Wales - 2023 Statistics (FULL YEAR)

In 2023, the new Princess of Wales completed (by my count) 137 engagements. While this is around 30 engagements fewer than 2022, 2023 is still Catherine's second busiest year and - by far - her year with the most appearances not in the Court Circular. As well as this, she was sighted (or appeared) 17 times and appeared in a whopping 43 official (or unofficial and leaked!) photographs.

She gained three new military positions throughout the year and finished with 29 patronages. Of her 137 engagements, 76 were related to one of her patronages, averaging at one patronage visit every 2 engagements. Her most visited patronage was, of course, the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, with 48 visits. This was followed by the Rugby Football Union and the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (with 4 visits each). She performed no engagements on behalf of Action for Children, The Air Cadet Organisation (she visited the air cadets during her visit to RAF Fairford, but this was not recorded as an official engagement), EACH, Family Action, the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, the Natural History Museum, NHS Charities Together (although she met with NHS workers to celebrate the NHS's 75th birthday), Place2Be, RAF Coningsby, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal Photographic Society, or the 1851 Trust.

Of her engagements, 70 have been solo and 41 accompanied by her husband, the Prince of Wales. Three were also with her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, five with a range of foreign royals, as well as 16 with either the whole or most of the working British Royal Family, and two with both foreign royals and members of the BRF.

118 of her engagements physically took place in England, with all bar 3 physically occuring in the United Kingdom (with none in the Republic of Ireland). Of the 118 engagements which took place in England, 37 occured in London and 51 in Windsor. Catherine’s engagements also took her to 31 other areas of the UK. Catherine also performed engagements in Wales and Scotland. Catherine also undertook two engagements in France (for the Rugby World Cup) and one in Jordan (Crown Prince Hussein's wedding).

During the year, she performed engagements on a variety of themes. 42 of those engagements were predominantly related to her Early Years initiative, while 12 were linked to the military and 11 linked to culture, sport and diplomacy apiece. 10 engagements were specifically linked to the Coronation, while she also completed 9 engagements linked to mental health, 7 linked to children and young people, 3 linked to the outdoors, and 2 linked to the Commonwealth. Catherine also completed 19 engagements which could not otherwise be categorised.

Clotheswise, her most worn designer has been Alexander McQueen, with 28 outfits, followed by 14 outfits from Holland Cooper, while 11 items of clothing were unidentified. Her most carried bag designer was Mulberry (11), followed by Emmy London with 6, and 1 which was unidentifed. Mulberry has been her most carried bag designer in every year apart from 2020. Her most worn shoe designer continued being Gianvito Rossi (with 39 wears), followed by 8 pairs from Emmy London, and 6 from both Veja and Aquazzura. Once again, Catherine predominantly wore pieces inherited from either Diana (10) or the Queen (16). Aside from them, she also wore Daniela Draper jewellery 12 times. When it comes to accessories, her most worn item was her Anderson's belt (6 times), and she continued to return to hats made by Philip Treacy (6 times). She also wore 9 unidentified pieces. According to my (100% wrong) calculations - created from my own criteria (where items are counted each time she wears them), she wore £65,669.41 worth of new clothes this year and £267,495.29 worth of clothes in total.

[dandyville]

Residential Lots new in Version 0.2

The Lonely Lodge, 50 Plumbbob Road Who used to live here?

Cost: §9,345 Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1

The Verdant Dwelling, 62 Mulberry Court Green and lush, this home with extensive garden lies in a shady grove and has enough room for a small family to breathe.

Cost: §9,345 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1

The Lagoon Cabin, 67 Mulberry Court This idyllic lot features a cozy hut and scenic ponds for nature enthusiasts.

Cost: §7,800 Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1

The Crimson Ranch, 74 Llama Lane A rudimentary vineyard to kickstart the careers of entrepreneurial Sims or for enjoying a relaxing retirement in the countryside.

Cost: §10,358 Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms: 1

[ann7av]

I’m visiting museums with my family and I know I have an issue when all I could think seeing these was “that’s so autumn court coded”

Special attention to the little mulberry salt and pepper shaker, it’s adorable and would 100% solve all my problems.

[ae-neon]

Part 1

The Well was not supposed to work.

It was a silly story told to wayward children at night to fall in line. Mind the wishes you make at The Well, for you know not what lives at the bottom. Never mind that The Well could only be found over the wall where the Fae and their beasts roamed. Never mind that humans weren’t allowed there, and the ones that dared to venture to The Well were never seen again.

Nesta Archeron never believed those stories.

If a human died because they ignorant enough to travel over the wall, well then, let the fae have their fun.

But it was different now. Now, Nesta was fae. Now, Nesta definitively knew there was more to Prythian than even the High Lords and Ladies knew. So she was not surprised when she, after another fight she’d had with the mongrel of a mate she’d been cursed with, stumbled upon what she instinctively knew to be The Well as she ran from Velaris to Cauldron knew where. She simply needed out of that godsforsaken court.

The Well was simply that—a well. If anyone else, namely a human, came across it, they would walk past it. Nothing about it was special. It didn’t glow. It didn’t have a talking face. It seemed all but abandoned with it’s snapped winch, crumbled concrete bricks, and frayed rope with no bucket in sight. Still, Nesta knew this was The Well so many died to find.

Though she did not believe, curiosity got the better of her. She leaned over to catch a glimpse of what may lurk at the bottom, but even with her far improved fae vision, nothing but darkness lay at the end of The Well. As all of them.

Nesta chuckled at herself. “A fool’s hope.”

Then a fool she must be, for she fished a coin from her pocket and tossed it in. Water did not splash nor did it ring when it reached the bottom. And though her pulse quickened and gooseflesh covered her skin, though her ears rang in the sudden deafening silence that befell the woods, though fear weighed as heavily as her doubt on her bones, still she said, “I wish I was a man, that my bond may break and I may finally be respected.”

For a few tense moments, nothing happened. Just as Nesta expected. But just before she turned away, a clawed hand reached forth over the well and grabbed her by the neck, paralyzing her completely. First, bejeweled mulberry eyes sparkled through the darkness, catching and holding her gaze. Then, a withered skeletal crown emerged from the inky shadows that parted almost acting as the sea. It’s rows and rows of razor-sharp teeth extended past its mouth, becoming one with its jaw. She could’ve swore what already looked to be a grin extended into a greater one, exposing even more teeth and a bottomless pit for throat.

Its growl of a voice crashed through her skull, shaking the ground beneath her. “Be careful what you wish for, Lady of Bloodshed.”

It pulled her half down the well, mashing her lips to its teeth. The stench of rotting flesh and blood filled her nose. She choked, tasting it on her tongue. Something within her snapped. Distantly, she heard a roar. And then, the one thing that haunted her dreams even after all these years. The familiar scraping and breaking and remaking of her bones. She pulled away to scream, but the creature’s teeth tore into her lips, her face, dragging her further down The Well with it.

Darkness covered her.

Anon!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS AMAZING

I am reading this at 4am, the hand coming out the well genuinely scared me for a sec

[delightingintragedy]

Jupiter Correspondences

From Christian Astrology by William Lilly

(It is mostly word for word. I tried to format it to fit into a nice correspondence list, but the information itself is untouched.)

Zodiac: Sagittarius is his Day-house, and Pisces is his Night-house. Detriment in Gemini and Virgo, Exalted in Cancer, Fall in Capricorn.

Nature: He is a Diurnal, Masculine Planet, Temperately Hot and Moist, Airy, Sanguine, the greater Fortune, author of Temperance, Modesty, Sobriety, Justice.

Profession: Judges, Senators, Councillors, Ecclesiastical men, Bishops, Priests, Ministers, Cardinals, Chancellors, Doctors of the Civil Law, young Scholars and Students in a University or College, Lawyers, Clothiers, Woolen-Drapers.

Diseases: Pleurisy, all Infirmities of the Liver, left Ear, Apoplexies, Inflammation of the Lungs, Palpitations and Trembling of the Heart, Cramps, pain in the Backbone, all Diseases lying in the Veins or Ribs, and proceeding from corruption of Blood, Squinzies. Windiness, all Putrefaction in the Blood, or Fevers proceeding from too great abundance thereof.

Savours: Sweet and well scented Odors; or that Odor which in smell is no way extreme or offensive.

Colours: Sea-green or Blue, Purple, Ash-colour, a mixed Yellow and Green

Herbs: Cloves and Clove-Sugar, Mace, Nutmeg, Gillyflower, the Strawberry, the herb Balsam, Betony, Centaury, Flax, Arsesmart, Fumitory, Lungwort, Pimpernel, Wallwort, Oregano or Wild Marjoram, Rhubarb, Self-heal, Borage, Bugloss, Wheat, Willow-herb, Thorough-leaf, Violets, Lackwort, Liverwort, Basil, Pomegranates, Peony, Liquorice, Mint, Mastic, the Daisy, Feversend, Saffron.

Plants & Trees: Cherry-tree, Birch-tree, Mulberry-tree, Coral-tree, the Oak, Bayberries, Olive, Gooseberries, Almond tree, the Ivy, Manna, Mace, the Vine, the Fig tree, the Ash, the Pear tree, the Hazel, the Beech tree, the Pine, Raisins.

Beasts: The Sheep, the Hart or Stag, the Doe, the Ox, Elephant, Dragon, Tiger, Unicorn, those Beasts which are Mild and Gentle, and yet of great benefit to Mankind, are appropriate to him.

Birds, etc: The Stork, the Snipe, the Lark, the Eagle, the Stockdove, the Partridge, Bees, Pheasant, Peacock, the Hen.

Fishes: The Dolphin, the Whale, Serpent, Sheath-fish or River Whale.

Places: In or near Altars of Churches, in public Conventions, Synods, Convocations, in Places neat, sweet, in Wardrobes, Courts of Justice, Oratories.

Mineral: Tin.

Stones: Amethyst, the Sapphire, the Smarage or Emerald, Hyacinth, Topaz, Crystal, Bezoar, Marble, and that which in England we all Freestone.

Weather: He usually produces serenity, pleasant and healthful North Winds, and by his gentle Beams allays the ill weather of any former Malignant Planet.

Winds: Northern Winds

Element: Air

Number: 3

Angel: Zadkiel

Planetary Alliances: Friends with all planets except Mars.

Week Day: Thursday

Correspondence posts for the other planets: [Sun] [Moon] [Mercury] [Venus] [Mars] [Saturn]

[garden-ghoul]

Happy Gushiwensday Sunday, everyone! Tonight we have a social criticism poem by Song Dynasty poet Mei Yaochen, titled "Small Village."

The River Huai is wide, dotted with islands--- you'd easily miss this village on the shore. Thorn fence so full of holes you might be tricked and think the gaps were put there to be doors. A shivering chicken calls out to her flock, wondering if there's food around the barn. An old man, barely clothed in thinning rags, clutches his grandchild tightly in his arms. A small boat's bird-tail tilted in the air plucked of feathers, broken mooring-line. Dried-up mulberry trees are washed away, parched yet drowned, roots drinking only brine. I have no words, only a helpless sigh at calling this poor life of theirs a living. How absurd to call them citizens of Song, to tax them when they've nothing to be giving.

original text and notes under the cut.

小村

淮阔洲多忽有村，棘篱疏败谩为门。 寒鸡得食自呼伴，老叟无衣犹抱孙。 野艇鸟翘唯断缆，枯桑水啮只危根。 嗟哉生计一如此，谬入王民版籍论。

Whew! This was a fun one. While it's in a poetic form, the way Mei Yaochen uses imagery here is really starkly different from the way most of the other poets we've translated do; this is from the standard set of "moved to poetry" emotions, and it doesn't conceal its meaning in metaphor or allusion at all. Therefore, I felt it was actually more important to translate it as verse, because I wasn't sure I could make it sound like a poem otherwise. So each couplet here is rendered as one stanza. Anyway, some notes:

might be tricked --- I just want to point out 谩 from this line and 谬 from the last line as words for deception and confusion. There are only two in this poem, but they make a big impact on me! The first can be read as deceive, disrespect, or slander; the second as deception, confusion, or absurdity. In the first line there's also 忽 neglect, ignore, or overlook. Those are the tone words of this poem, to me: Mei is making the point that the way these people are treated as citizens is ridiculous, unfair, and hypocritical.

around the barn --- in the literal, the chicken just calls out for food. The barn is an invention so I could get this line to rhyme with the end of the couplet.

boat's bird-tail... feathers --- okay so actually what it says is 鸟翘, which is the word for a bird-tail-shaped bow ornament/mooring cleat, but I read it literally as "a tilted bird" and got the image of a boat that's heavily tilted as if the water has abandoned it. The image of a plucked bird isn't in the original either but I liked it too much to get rid of it once I realized what was going on.

roots drinking only brine --- actually reads "[leaving] only dying roots." Brine has a couple good qualities, though: 1, it rhymes; 2, it's water that only makes you thirstier. I think the original has more of a sense that the river has abandoned this village, whereas my translation has more of a sense that the river has turned on the village.

I have... living --- the literal reads something like "sighing 'ah!' that people are living this way."

call them citizens --- I really like the way Mei uses bureaucratic language here, but I couldn't replicate it in meter. The literal is tricky because I don't completely get what's going on with all these characters in relation to each other, but it's something like "It's absurd to include them in 'the king's citizens' and write them down in the tax registry." ie, there is an official record of the fact that the emperor owes them help, but instead the court is taking taxes and no help materializes.

[ladypiscesmoon]

PART 2 READING MATT BOMER/JONATHAN BAILEY

As promised this is part 2 of the reading for Matt and Jonathan. This is an UPDATE ON THEM

Part 3 will follow as soon as possible, and it will contain the QUESTIONS you send to me. Have a nice Sunday!!

From the green witch oracle:

Matt: wisdom, affection

-external assistance should be sought which can take the form of personal consultancy or research, bay heralds new romantic relationships. Be wary of speaking your mind without care for others around you

-new experiences come your way, you feel prompted to find new things of doing things. if you're seeking a solution, be open to suggestions and openings. a valuable proposition comes your way, but don't get carried away. Put true feelings in everything you do

Jonathan: wholeness, emotion

-everything should come together in projects and plans. The completion of something is indicated with black mulberries and the energy of the fruit asks you to put your knowledge and skills to the test. Balance and stability are present and from this foundation the possibilities are expanding. setbacks and miscommunication are challenges to watch out for.

-any uncertainties that have been hanging around should begin to fall away soon. A commitment and even perhaps a major life decision will come up and you are to take hold of your emotions before you determine the right path for you. someone near you may express themselves in an unsettling way, so try and ride that wave gently until it passes. It could be time to make a new step forward

Clarifiers from the love truth oracle/situational love oracle deck for the cards above:

Matt: we are not suited for each other/addiction: codependent, obsession & restraint, possession&control/emotional block/ I know I messed up, I'm sorry/love call: expressing love, messages of love, thinking of you, informing you

Jonathan: I'm fixated on you/love: unconditional love, self-love& wholeness, affection&attraction/selflessness/ we'll reunite someday/sunglasses: watching, looking, perception, stalking

The way I see this is that Matt does know what he wants and feels. He's not the best at expressing his feelings loudly and boldly, but he should seek some help with that, because it's taking its toll. The other day (after the dead of his co-star) he felt really isolated and sad, I think he is someone who processes all his feelings and insecurities internally and therefore doesn't appear as open as Jonathan. With the right people he does, though. Jonathan is someone who makes him feel loved and cherished and he makes Matt laugh. I don't know why, but Matt's husband to me feels very serious and "grown-up". Matt doesn't need someone as serious as him, he needs someone making him feel lighter.

I still feel Matt's marriage is rocky, and I do think his husband knows this too. It may take a while before they both come to the same conclusion, but eventually they will split. That's what I see at the moment. Matt will feel courageous enough to tell Simon he is unhappy in the end.

Jonathan tries to concentrate on his career. He will have many more possibilities and thrive. Emotionally, his feelings for Matt are the same, but he has told him what he wants, so the ball is in Matt's court.

The cards love call and sunglasses indicate to me they are frequently in contact with each other

Fairy tale Lenormand: ring, clouds, lilies, fox, gentleman, bouquet

Light and shadow tarot: ten of pentacles, the high priestess, temperance, king of wands, knight of pentacles, two of cups

confusion about commitment or promise

commitment to lover, commitment to purity

suspicion about commitment or promise, a commitment based on self-interest

a man that is committed or bound, or has a relationship with querent

social commitment, a promise of a visit

With all that I think Matt is more clear about what he feels for Jonathan, and more clear about his marriage. It doesn't mean necessarily that we will see him taking a step to actively end it, but I feel he's more aware of what he should like, and thinking about how to achieve it. Thinking about life in general, also after the death of his co-star.

Jonathan has still a lot of feelings, but he feels okay, in general he's a very bright, cheerful person full of energy and love. I think that's why he's irresistible for Matt, who is a lot more pessimistic and introverted

Last but not least I pulled from the messages from your animal spirit guides deck:

Matt: Condor He should be thinking about what steps to take before just jumping into something

Jonathan: snow leopard He should take some time for himself rest

*PLEASE BEAR IN MIND; THIS READING IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY/ALLEGED*

[tidebreaker]

moonglade/moonscales:

moonglade is the largest of a chain of islands called the moonscales. this is where the members of house silversea reside and would be considered their 'seat'.

the climate is compariable to countries located in the mediterranean. pre-climate change, of course.

moonglade palace, house silversea's main residence, is quite large and is located at the northern most tip of the island. the architecture is reminiscent of the greco-roman in style in real life, featuring arches, columns and domes.

a curious feature (at least to outsiders unaware of their true nature), are the stairs that lead directly into the water.

The throne room of Moonglade Keep is truly remarkable in terms of design and architecture. A large circle portion of the floor is made of glass that can see through to the waters below, sort of like a wild aquarium. It can be opened to allow merlings from their undersea kingdom in whenever they hold court.

underneath moonglade is a network of caves and caverns. there is a "stables" found within that houses hippocamps.

cereals, fruits and vegetables found on all islands: apples, apricots, artichokes, arugula, asparagus, barley, blackberries, broad beans cabbages, carrots, cherries, chickpeas, crabapples, cucumbers, figs, grapes, lemons, lentils, mulberries, nectarines, olives, oranges, peaches, peas, pears, plums, pomegranates, spinach, squash, watermelon, wheat, wild strawberries.

wildlife: anchovies, bats, blind-mole rats, blue crabs, cranes, crows, cuttlefish, deer, dolphins, doves, ducks, flamingos, foxes, frogs, geese, goats, grouse, hares, hawks, herons, ibis, jays, jellyfish, kingfishers, kites, lizards, lobster, lynxes, mackerel, magpies, mertens, mice, minnows, mussels, nightjars, octopus, osprey, orca, owls, oysters, pelicans, pigeons, pigs, pheasants, polecats, ring-necked parakeets, ravens, salamanders, sandpipers, sardines, seagulls, sea urchins, seals, sharks, sheep, shrews, shrikes, snakes, sperm whales, squid, sturgeon, swallows, swifts, tortoises, tuna, turtles, woodpeckers, wrens.

flowers, trees, plants, etc.: almond, althaea, amaryllis, anemone, aster, basil, bay laurel, beech, bellflower, cardamom, cassia, centaurea, chamomile, chestnut, cinnamon, cistus, chrysanthemum, clove, coriander, crocus, cumin, cypress, daphne, dianthus, dill, evergreen, fennel, fir, ginger, heliotrope, hellebore, hyacinth, iris, larkspur, lemon balm, licorice, lilac, lily, lotus, mandrake, marjoram, mastic tree, mint, myrtle, myrrh, narcissus, nutmeg, oak, oleander, oregano, orchid, palm tree, parsley, peony, pepper, pine, poplar, protea, rose, rosemary, saffron, sage, savory, sunflower, thyme, violet, walnut, wolf's bane, yarrow, yellow pheasant's eye, yew.

main trades include pearls, seafood, fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, fish sauce, olive oil, as well as a specialized fabric dubbed seasilk.

several fishing villages can be found throughout the moonscales. fishing and farming are how a large number of the population makes a living.

do humans live there? yes. but the humans who live there are beholden to the silversea's in one way or another and are sworn to secrecy, lest a terrible fate befalls them. there are other merfolk populating the area as well.

[digitalnewberry]

Race, empire, and cartography

Map of lands in the Tultepec and Jaltocan regions adjacent to the Hacienda de Santa Ines (Mexico), 1569

The Farmers vs. Covarrubias map... depicts the local setting of a community of Indigenous people in colonial Mexico. It was painted on paper made from the bark of a mulberry or fig tree, using paper-making traditions practiced in the Americas long before the arrival of the Spanish. The pigments used to color the terrain derived from botanicals and minerals found in the landscape. The Indigenous mapmaker who made this map did so with subtle knowledge about the land, not only its topography, but also details about where to find the materials to make the map itself that can only be attained through studied interactions with its flora and fauna across generations. Despite this ancestral relationship to the land, the mapmaker who made this map did so to defend his community’s claim to it and right to be on it. The Farmers vs Covarrubias gets its name from the 1569 court case in which the two named parties appealed to a colonial court to settle a dispute about the boundaries of property. Made just under fifty years after the Spanish military conquest of the Americas, the Farmers vs. Covarrubias map shows us how race was mediated by property lines in the earliest moments of Spanish occupation. Maps produced to support legal claims to territory in court cases demonstrate how Spaniards attempted to control the Indigenous population, los naturales, through a system of bureaucracy that was far from natural. As an example of this type of map, Farmers vs. Covarrubias shows how an Indigenous mapmaker, who represented the people of Tultepec, made claim to space and navigated a bureaucratic web using a system of picture-writing that was illegible to the Spanish court system. -- Ricardo Padrón and Risa Puleo

Read the full essay in Seeing race before race (ACMRS Press, 2023)

Explore this and other maps at our interactive resource Seeing race before race: a closer look

[butterflypeatea3456]

Rhaenyra x Reader | Berries and Dragonfire | Chapter 1 

Summary: New to Westeros as a diplomat, you find a friend in the princess of the realm. POC-coded reader, purposely vague about some details, self-insert away!  

Some would say you were of noble blood, others would call you a high-born bastard. Residing in a new-ish kingdom had exposed you to many things. Being known as the mulberry maiden to those outside your family. A name born from the deep purplish red color of the berries juice that surrounded your home. And nickname your siblings enjoyed teasing you with. And despite them, you never heard it more in your life till you came to King’s Landing. Since your grandsire aimed to strengthen his ties with the powerful houses in Westeros. 

Rhaenyra was familiar with the other houses and the lords who ruled them. They talked of nothing uncommon while she carried their cups. What spiked her interest was news of visitors from an ocean away, that was meant to meet with her father. A mention of a girl is what made her perk up even more. “Will she really reside in the palace, your grace? There have been some concerning rumor’s on how they live out there ” Otto Hightower questioned. “Nonsense, they’ve worked with Targaryens before, even King Jaehaerys trusted the L/n’s work” her father responded. Rheanrya held a small smile things were going to be getting interesting in the coming moons. 

“I know you dislike travel my child but we are almost there” Your grandsire sympathized. In response you huffed and held tighter onto your book. “I bet she’s going to puke” jested your youngest sibling. “Well I’m going to puke all over you” You shot back. It was hard to tell if it was the constant motion or nervousness that nauseated you. Sure you had encountered important people before, but never a King, never a Princess. 

Finally, the day came when you all arrived in King’s Landing. Greeted kindly by the palace servants and other diplomats, they quickly lead everyone to their chambers. “I wonder if we’ll see the dragons today!” Your younger brother chirped. The very hyper boy of six the boy was, practically jumping up and down your bed. “We must greet the royal family first, if all goes well I’m sure we’ll see the dragon pit at some point” You chucked. “I wanna ride one!” the older twin girl joined her brother in making a mess in your room. A knock on the door gathered your attention. “Children, your grandsire says to start preparing to meet members of the court” A maid informed you all.  

Proper posture, head held high, with a painted smile. 

You had done this before and will support your family. These words repeated in your mind. A sense of control through repetition.

You wore a lavender short sleeved silk gown. With a respectable royal purple top layer and a gold belt to match the necklace and earring you adorned. You looked more important than you felt. 

“Surely I have enough time for a walk” You muttered to yourself. Slipping out the door you managed to make your way outside. A Ser Strong was kind enough to offer directions to the garden. It was a lovely place, lush and green. 

“That’s a very interesting tree” You mused out loud. “It’s a Weirwood tree, a symbol of the oldgods, and a marker of previous battles” A voice of a girl explained. Still staring up at the tree you responded “That’s absolutely fascinating, to be standing in the presence of such history”

You continued “I’m afraid I’m new to King’s Landing, how long have you resided here?”. She chucked in response “My entire life I suppose” Finally, you turned to the girl. 

Not many people stoped at the Weirwood tree. Especially with a meeting of the court soon to be. It was hard not to notice the other girl. Rhaenyra approached the stranger who looked wide eyed at the trees face craving. As you both talked she soon realized what a lovely voice you had. With a smidge of an accent from the place you were from. 

When you finally turned to her it felt as though your heart nearly stopped. Seeing long silver-white hair and eyes almost the same color as your dress. “Your grace I apologize! This was such an informal way to meet. Had I known it was you I would have–” You rambled. Grandfather forgive me, we've been here less than a full day. And I've already made a mess of things.

She held an amused smile on her face at your words. “It’s fine, I honestly find it refreshing” She chuckled. You gave an awkward smile, relaxing a bit.

“What is your name” Rhaenyra asked. “I’m Y/n L/n, from (you decide), my family arrived early today” You responded. “I see my father mention your arrival, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Y/n” She said. What a sweet smile she had. 

“I know I haven’t seen very much of it, but you have a beautiful home” You politely said. “I would love to give you a tour sometime” Rhaenyra replied. “I think I’d like that very much princess” You smiled at her. “The court will meet soon, shall we go together?” She suggested, offering her arm. You hoped she couldn’t feel your rapid heartbeat once your fingertips met.