#night lords edition

[leo-fie]

Psst, I wrote it:

The Queen of Mercy, the Regent of Grace, the Mistress of Nostramo, Theophanu Plantagenet Curze liked sewing. It was known. She had of course other interests, mainly not being killed by her husband, and she refused to be pinholed as a sewist only, but still it was what she was known for. And although she had asked her brothers-in-law to restrain themselves in their wedding gifts, both Rogal Dorn and Perturabo have presented her with sewing maschines. Amazing feats of engineering, truly a joy to work with. All her brothers-in-law, except Angron, had also intimated in one way or another they would help her should she ever seek to get away. Horus even said it in Konrad’s presence.

The Primarchs, most of them, were men at the end of the day. Boisterous and pompous and powerful. Knowable. She could handle whomever she probably would eventually flee to. Didn’t even had to fear sexual violence, which was nice.

By contrast her husband was an unknowable entity. She had developed a feel for him, but there was no understanding to be gained of a person who did not know themselves. Sanguinius had been the only one to get this about Konrad’s and her relationship, when he inevidably asked how their marriage happened. For Theophanu it didn’t matter whether Konrad respected her or if he just acted as if he did and not only because it was the same on her end anyway. It was important that he tried.

Funnily enough Sanguinius was also one of only three Primarchs who had reacted immediately positive when Theophanu had called them brother upon first meeting. The others being Leman Russ and Lorgar Aurelian.

So Theophanu sewed. She cultivated a workshop of tradespeople in her household on the Nightfall, who were as enthusiastic as she was about making elaborate stately gowns out of the finest materials the Imperium had to offer. All of their sheers and scissors and snips were always in impeccable condition. Theophanu tended to her duties as Ruler of Nostramo in absentia, but when she wasn’t, she was always working on something. During longer shuttle flights or wait times she would do something small by hand, like embroidery or whipping lacing holes, which also served as a good excuse to not engage in conversation. Which is undoubedly why women had been doing this since time immomorial.

Konrad was clearly fascinated by all this. When she worked alone on turning scraps into decorative patchwork blankets – the people of Nostramo did not waste – he sometimes observed her, initially without really making himself known. After he scared her enough times, he stood there visibly. And over the months, he crept closer, eventually sitting next to her. They didn’t talk much. Theophanu trusted him to leave her bower when she asked him to. She was not afraid of his presence. Sometimes she would even lean against him and rest in the sheer mass of his body. He did wash himself before coming and she decided to be endeared by that.

After a time, Konrad gifted her one of his trophies. A piece of a shirt, the right front and right sleeve, washed out dark grey, splattered in blood and what looked like machine oil. It was dry and smelled of the autoclave. He’d placed it on her work table for her to find. It was not a threat, he wouldn’t do it like that. It was a gift. She put it to her cabbage(1).

He brought her more gifts, clothing of his murder victims, leather made from their skin, standards of defeated foes. It wasn’t the same as the bolts of fabric that came with plunder or tribute and got added to the fleet ressources. It was personal. Eventually it was enough to make a quilt top out of, if she added some scraps from her favorite gowns. A quilt for her bed. Was this Konrad’s idea?

She wouldn’t ask about it, but started working on the quilt top(2). She was long past being scared by her husband’s grizzly displays and had never bothered herself with empathy for the victims. She believed in the righteousness of his judgement, it was the very base of their marriage. A quilt that combined his trophies and her craft was potentially a potent symbol.

Or maybe she was interpreting too much into it. A pattern with triangles would be nice, or fan shapes. Something simple, yet precise. If it was for her bed, it had to be three meters squared at least. Seven by seven blocks and a broder. She was getting into this project.

Konrad was observing her more often, more closely, when she worked on this. Eventually she just asked him: „Do you like the design, my love?“

He did not answer, but crept closer and touched one of the finished blocks in the table. His nails needed to be trimmed, she thought incidentally. He felt how the different materials bordered each other, her gorgeous, vibrant Ikat silk(3) and the rough, dirty coveralls of some criminal. Maybe he wasn’t sure what to make of it. Hopefully he didn’t take it as an insult somehow, but he knew she didn’t mean it like that. His face was a little softer than usual. She realized she wouldn’t get an answer and left it at that.

When the top was done, she quickly sewed together the backing from two selvege-to-selvege lengths of canvas woven cotton(4), dried blood red and midnight blue naturally, and sandwiched the top with it and extra fluffy batting. She could do the quilting with Rogal’s sewing machine, but she instead just fastened it with tons of safety pins and sat down in her armchair with it to quilt by hand.

Konrad watched her closely the whole time and when she threaded two needles and held one out, he was there and took it. He watched her bury the thread end and do running stitches. How she held the needle and took care that the layers weren’t shifting. And then he copied her on the other corner of the quilt.

The thought of the Night Haunter sitting peacefully on the carpet of a lady’s bedroom, handsewing, was absurd. But not more absurd than the thought of him marrying at all. No one would ever see it. And even if, who would believe it? The Night Haunter was an unknowable entity, but he wouldn’t do that, right? Fools.

He was calmer, when he worked with her. His hands didn’t twitch as much, but that didn’t bother him like it would have bothered a human anyway. He was perfectly able to do precision tasks no matter how much he was shaking. Nonetheless, she’d wager that this calming effect was why Konrad returned to her bedroom often to sew with her. Eventually, the quilt would be finished and she would have to think of new projects for both of them. Maybe just more quilts. Konrad’s own bed could surely benefit from one. Theophanu hesitated. She didn’t even know if Konrad had a bed or similar structure. She hadn’t been in his bedroom ever, in his inner sanctum. She would be welcome there of course, just like he was welcome in hers, but she had never made her way to it. She could tell herself that this was because she valued his privacy, but that wasn’t really true. Though she felt that she would disturb his save haven if she ever went.

Maybe she could be a safe haven for Konrad too. Appropriate, as his wife. And something only she could really do. She thought about this before and her title as the Queen of Mercy stemmed from many Night Lords perceiving her as a benevolent presence already. “My love, I don’t think I told you this already, but I plan to use this quilt for my own bed. Since we made it together, I think it’s fitting.”

It was now Konrad who hesitated. Theophanu didn’t press him, just continued sewing. But eventually she felt Konrad’s heavy gaze on her.

He said: “I think that would be nice.”

__________________

(1) Cabbage is all your fabric scraps and offcuts that are big enough to maybe still make something out of. Sewists hort them in a bin or basket.

(2) A quilt consists of 3 layers. The decorative top sewn from repeating blocks, then the batting for volume and warmth, and the backing, which is often just plain fabric. When someone “makes a quilt” they often refer to making the top, as that can be done on a home sewing machine easily. The actual quilting is difficult on a home sewing machine, but can be done by hand.

(3) Ikat is a traditional weaving technique where the warp (the fibers strung up on the loom) are dyed in multiple colours before weaving, leaving to a feathery, soft edged pattern in the finished cloth.

(4) Canvas weave is the simplest type of weave, just over-under-over-under. It doesn’t stretch and can come in many different weights.

If I may suggest:

Konrad and his wife, his regent of grace, the sun of his nature and star of his eyes (that's Charles Baudelaire btw)

quilting together. Sitting on the floor, carefully handquilting the artful patchwork she has made out of human leather and clothing trophies from his murder shenanigans. It will be a bedspread once it's finished. The repetitive work is soothing for him, though he still thinks he is ruining her beautiful work. But she has said it's something they will have made together. What she isn't saying out loud is that she's basically running the Sheherazade gamble, trying to stay interesting enough so he won't kill her quite this moment. Or worse.

lmao just sewing together human skin the desperate attempt to make sure he maintains interest in you, and that you can remain unharmed and safe for just a moment longer...

Meanwhile Konrad be like: uwu <3

[stellarspecter]

@pscentral event 20: antagonists ↳ THE LORDS IN BLACK in NERDY PRUDES MUST DIE

[littlequackerman]

GUYS I just finished the last archon quest and I'm having so many thoughts about capitano...

Imagine reader falling for capitano while hes staying in natlan, but they have a terminal illness (maybe even related to the abyss like atea's was). They don't want to be a burden to him, he has such important goals he has no choice but to reach and they dont want to waste his time, considering they're going to pass on soon anyways.

And capitano has feelings for the reader, but doesn't want to confess because he knows he's going to die in his deal with the Lord of the night, and even if that doesn't succeed, he's still dealing with too much from the souls he carries and his curse to properly have a relationship with them

So reader doesn't confess, and soon they end up dying from their illness, and they go down to the night kingdom for the afterlife, and guess who they find?

Fucking capitano.

And he's dead!! Well, not actually dead, but actually fused with the Lord of the night, which is somehow even more insane than if he was just dead.

And capitanos surprised cause he thought they'd get old with some random natlanese guy, and hed he stuck dead fused with the Lord but then he finds out they had a terminal illness all this time???

And so you two get to spend time you didn't think you'd have together in the afterlife, and it's really nice lol

[ariadne-mouse]

Time to get emotional about the lighting of the beacons

also props to the many folks in that chain whose job it is to hang out in the cold by a massive pile of firewood they can't use

[jugumpuppet]

◗ Got into this thing called One Night at Round1

[luzriels]

CHARLIE VICKERS in Season 2 of The Rings of Power

[sherurose]

"Our Hextech dream." // "We finish this together."

Our fate was carved in starlit streams, Bound by more than earthly dreams.

[m-a-salter]

Period Drama Appreciation Week 2024 | Day 2: Favorite Character | Edward Petherbridge as Lord Peter Wimsey in Dorothy L. Sayers Mysteries (1987)

[seventh-district]

Figured I'd try my hand at some Redacted character post/text edits!

[ 1 / ? ]

Credit to @/sainthowlzon for all the Listener icons, and to @/elisacaleisa for their google drive with all the canon icons!

(slightly alternative version of the Solaires' GC edit below the cut bc i had a lil too much fun with what Vincent would name his contacts)

[autistook]

'Don't you leave him Samwise Gamgee.'

[ladydelena]

Can I just say, the fact that the high lords don’t all wear generic crowns in their colors, but it actually ties to their courts makes me happy?and they probably all have quite a few different themed ones?

Tamlin with his burnished gold laurel leaf crown at the wedding that was a courtly version of the calanmai crown he probably dawns each year? And his tithe crown is so suited to more strict moments with its representation of wealth and stability?

Tarquin with his silver cresting waves and blue gemstones for a casual night out on the town? As asymmetrically stunning as the very waters he connects his court to, the blues of the stones glinting with white and green and the depths of the very ocean hidden by the brash, crashing beauty created by the surface?

Helions spiked gold crown as vicious and pointed yet beautiful and picturesque as the suns rays? As warm in color as his skin yet simple and statement making in it power just like helion himself- not needing much adornment to radiate the strength, beauty and deadly power and wicked intelligence he holds?

Rhys has a raven feather crown which makes me wonder if previous highlords of night weren’t just serpentile like the creatures of the hewn city but dark winged and raven featured in some way? (And Feyres crown - complimentary to Rhys isn’t just a newly made item, it existed in tandem with his for previous ladies of night I’m assuming so it ties to the court that way as well?)

Autumn court with its mixture of Medieval English and conqueror era Spanish style in my head? With traditional red and green stones highlighted the most and silver and gold alike, crosses and points to their headwear? Very formal and structured, not just to denote their position, but to reinforce tradition, wealth, class structures, very inline with what I’d assume of the autumn courts viciousness mentioned in the books? Beautiful but vicious.

Winter court with near white shining metals, carved glass and crystal bases for ice diamonds; blue, gray, & frosty fogged stones? Dark blues and wicked gnarled features representing barren branches and shards of ice????

Dawn court with its sweeping elegance and love of beautiful embellishments and pension for color? The people are noted to be largely from Xian as noted by SJM and I always imagine dawn court to be a beautiful mix of Indian and Chinese culture, and the jewelry reflects it, beautifully Intrically carved warm toned metals that depict stories or symbolism entertwined with the culture? Stoned used abundantly yet they’re never garish? They only enhance and bring out the beauty of the crowns and reflect the cultures within the court itself?

(Like I’d love to dive deeper into it and maybe make or paint the crowns one day but that’s a different story)

That’s it that’s the post grammar be darned.

[lotf-secret-santa]

I’ve given it a few days but it looks like I won’t be getting a lotf secret Santa from whoever got me. I was the one who made those rogermon moodboards but I don’t believe I got anything in return :(

I’d love either some Jack or Simon angst (especially Simon speaking to the beast or Jack reflecting post-island), or if that’s too hard or heavy then something to do with the conch would be awesome, maybe when it was destroyed or somethin :D

Either one works and idc if it’s a drawing, fanfic, or moodboard, just do whatever ya feel like lol

Sorry for the trouble but thank you for hosting a great secret Santa :D

i'm Sorry 2 hear that my friend!!!! :(( Here is a little drawing from your new secret santa: Mod Kara :3 I hope u like it and happy late holidays!!!!! <33

[brotherwtf]

filled with a sadness that can only be described by Gale Cleven

[vaggieslefteye]

CHARLIE MAGNE from HAZBIN HOTEL (2019): Pilot - "That's Entertainment" ↳ "So, I've been thinking: Isn't there a more humane way to hinder overpopulation here in Hell? Perhaps we can create an alternative way to change souls through... redemption?"

[roots-symphony]

I had all and then most of you some and now none of you t a k e m e b a c k t o t h e n i g h t w e m e t

[nastasya--filippovna]

Dead Boy Detectives x The Night We Met || Lord Huron

for @ivankaramazov07 & @mystic-mae