#sonya malconaire

[forgottenkale]

ooc | Kale & Sonya

Kale used to work at Malconaire, before the war, so he would definitely know Sonya! ngl he probably used to flirt with her a lot #facepalm

[forgottenalaric]

ooc | Alaric & Sonya

honestly @ sonya, I'm so sorry for alaric!!!!

He's been flirting w/ her a lot lately b/c she's pretty and accomplished and charming ... but mostly b/c he's got eyes for someone he can never have/doesn't want him and I'm really sorry b/c he might give off the vibes that he cares more than he does!!

[forgottensebastian]

ooc | Sebastian & Sonya

I feel like Sebastian and Sonya might just get along? He's not one to judge anyone quickly & I also think he might be able to spot that Sonya's also living with an overly controlling parent who does NOT have their children's best interests in mind/using them as a pawn in their own game?? Like Seb is pretty perceptive and I think there's a certain sadness that both of them have from their different situations and I can actually see them maybe getting on pretty well? Thoughts??

[forgottencassandra]

ooc | Cassandra & Sonya

I feel like Cassandra has conflicting emotions/ideas about Sonya and she's not quite sure how she feels about her tbh?? I think, at first, she was prone to dislike her just because she has it in her head that Eithne/Arthur are an otp and it looks like Sonya is trying to get in the way of this (Cass doesn't know her mom is putting her up to it ... nor is Eithne/Arthur the epic love story she's decided it is #faceplam)

But I do think that she would start to have complicated feelings about Sonya when she finds out that she and Guin are such good friends and Cassandra really values Guin's thoughts and opinions on so many things that I think she would start to wonder if maybe she's got Sonya all wrong -- especially if she ever joined the two of them for tea or something and got to just talk to Sonya away from her mom and brother and everything???

[forgottencassimir]

ooc | Cassimir & Sonya

So Cassimir isn't the greatest guy, but I do think he loves his family (at least as much as anyone like him can love anyone) and he does want Sonya to be happy (just not at the expense of his own happiness, of course).

There's literally no one more important to him than his mom & his sister and like, they literally escaped execution together, so that's gotta be a pretty big bonding experience. I'm sure he sometimes sides with his mom when she's being cruel to Sonya (he's her brother and he ofc, likes to pick on her -- especially when his own pride has been hurt and he uses her to feel superior) but I do think that there's been more times when he will actually stick up to her to his mom, too.

I also think he's pretty protective of her and feels a great responsibility towards her/he also means to decide what future is best for her as the man of the household, etc, and he probably was once going to find her a very wealthy lord or something, but now he is very much convinced that she should marry Roderick or Arthur (even though he's not a fan of either of them, they are Varmonts and they are powerful and they are wealthy, so that makes them the best!!!)

Cassimir can be affectionate/considerate towards those he loves, but no one is exempt from his anger/wrath when he is displeased, so yeah idk what Sonya thinks about Cassimir, but they probably have a dysfunctional relationship, at best??

[forgottenbrigit]

ooc | Brigit & Sonya

Lauren, I'm so sorry, but Brigit never really gave Sonya a chance?? She could have been the nicest person in existence and Brigit wouldn't be about adding anyone else to their family circle (Brigit: I don't need a mom!!!!) and yeah, when Valentina and Cassimir both proved to be literal nightmares, she definitely lumped Sonya in with the both of them and is too caught up in her own prejudices against her, to even notice that Sonya might also be suffering under Valentina's authority, just in a different way.

[forgottenedmund]

ooc | Edmund & Sonya

Edmund loves to mess w/ the girls who flirt with his brother and like if he sees that Arthur is into them, too, he really has a lot of fun dropping embarrassing stories about him every chance he gets so yeah Edmund is out here living to talk to Sonya tbh ;D

[forgottenroisin]

Behold! The alternate I promised for House Malconaire from coamaker's new Arthurian "Avalon" collection!

look! it even shows the roots for the 'as above so below' thing! i did add the acorns, 'snowdrops,' and 'ivy' (they don't have any on the site still so i had to make due and diy it) also -- if they choose to present it armed and crested a la the varmonts, i found a malconaire-y vibes variant there too ;D

does that not feel like bark-sculpted armor like lord malconaire may have worn to the battle of m (so probs mostly lost/stolen now bc idk that cillian could've realistically made off w both the sword ~and his armor w/o anyone noticing! but maybe the helm!!) anyway, its meant to be its own sigil not a crested/armored presenter/mantel hence his robe sticking out at the bottom but yeah!! i just thought it was cool and had to share!!!

anyway, what do you guys think? ive also, since posting the og, learned how to play around w the colors etc a bit more so that's def playing a role here but yeah...ngl i think its prettier hahaha

Sigils From Around the World

THE ROYAL HOUSE OF THE RIVERBEND

Portcullis: protection in an emergency

Sable (black): constancy or grief

Or (gold/yellow): generosity and elevation of the mind

Tawny or Tenné (orange/brown): worthy ambition

Crown: heaven; victory, sovereignty, empire; success

THE NOBLE HOUSE OF LORCAN

Cygnet/Swan: poetic harmony and learning, and/or lover thereof, perfection, beauty, grace, light, love, sincerity, (where gorged with a crown around its neck) previous + dignity

Fountain/lake/water/waves: a spring, purification, life, truth, change, water, sea, fountain of life

Castle: safety, spiritiual strength and vigilance, home. may represent an actual building in addition to these meanings

Mountain/rock: (the site doesn’t include this but…its there…in my heart…) security, shelter, protection

Mural Crown: defender of a fortress, token of civic honor; one who first mounted the breach in the walls of a fortress; power

Gules (red/pink): warrior or martyr; military strength and magnanimity (pink: romance, love, friendship, passivity, femininity)

Azure (blue): truth and loyalty

Argent (white/silver): peace and sincerity

Or (gold/yellow): generosity and elevation of the mind

THE NOBLE HOUSE OF MALCONAIRE

Oak tree w/ acorns: great age and strength, peace and concordance, virtue and strength; continuous growth and fertility; antiquity, strength

Acorn: indepdence, strength, antiquity, plenty

Snowdrop (flower): humility, purity, hope; hope and joy

Ivy: strong and lasting friendship, eternal life

Vine: strong and lasting friendship, industry, plenty

Vert (green): hope, joy, loyalty in love

Argent (white/silver): peace and sincerity

Or (gold/yellow): generosity and elevation of the mind

Tawny/tenné (brown/orange): worthy ambition

[forgottenalaric]

Dinner at Malconaire | Alaric & Valentina

Alaric Varmont had been leading a squadron of men on a search party for the missing prisoners. They had been scouring the countryside for any sign of them and while their searches had been close to the Lorcan lands, as time went they found themselves extended to Malconaire. When the sun had set and the rain started to fall, Alaric Varmont and Rian Stafford called upon the hospitality of House Malconaire to give them food and shelter until the storm passed and they could resume.

Alaric was not blind to the fact that, his nephews absent from the table, that Valentina Malconaire had been much more attentive towards him and did not waste an opportunity to comment upon some quality that her own daughter possessed -- nor that she given Alaric a seat which placed him between mother and daughter.

He was more than willing to enter into a private conversation with Sonya -- to spare them both from her mother's incessant meddling. But when Sonya turned and started a conversation with her step-sister, Lady Eithne, Alaric found that he had no other option that to give Valentina Malconaire his attentions.

But first, his gaze lingered upon Eithne. Alaric knew that his nephew and Lady Eithne Malconaire would never be -- for a multitude of reasons to include both the matter of his rank -- and her lack of it -- and a certain princess who Arthur swore he "never thought of". Still, Alaric felt that not only Lady Eithne's company, but also her situation had been good for Arthur.

He'd seen Arthur, once, amongst the trees at Malconaire and he saw in him something he rarely saw in his nephew ... and that was peace. Malconaire was far away enough from the palace and the court and his father that he could be, if only for a few hours, just Arthur.

And for giving him that, Alaric wished Eithne Malconaire every happiness in her future, even if it would not be with his nephew. He would have hoped something better for her than marrying Cassimir, but he suspected that she had her reasons -- and he hoped that, despite everything, she would be happy.

The only true positive to the entire arrangement, was that it had slashed whatever lofty hopes that Valentina Malconaire had had for her son. Even Alaric had noted how she tried to push him towards his nieces and while Alaric knew that that union, too, would never be, it did satisfy him to know that now Valentina knew it, too.

And while Valentina had started going on again about Sonya, now that her daughter's attentions had been diverted, Alaric's gaze met her own and he interrupted her with --

"I hear congratulations are in order, Lady Malconaire. Your son is to be married?"

[forgottensebastian]

What Do You Think You Are Doing | Sebastian & Valentina

If Sebastian had come to know Valentina Malconaire through other means, he would have likely made excuses for some of her behaviors. He was someone who often found the good in everyone and was empathic to their situation and motivations, even if he couldn't agree with their actions.

But Valentina had crossed a line with him, when she had forced her step-daughters into servitude to help offset her own rather lavish lifestyle, while she saw to her own needs and the needs of her children, all while neglecting everyone else who counted on her.

Instead of seeing a woman who had only known what it was like to be royalty, who was then married to a man who was so devoted to his first wife and children, that Valentina could never hope to occupy a place in his heart as she once had -- Sebastian saw a scheming, selfish, and unfeeling woman.

In this vein, it did not surprise him that Eithne and Brigit, both, had been absent this evening. The Varmonts had been invited to dine with the Malconaire and Sebastian and each of his siblings had accepted the invitation.

Rose, Aoife, Edmund, and Cassandra chatted in one corner and all of Cassimir's attentions were upon Guinevere, while Valentina had set up Sonya and Arthur conveniently in another corner where he turned the pages for her as she played upon her lute.

Sebastian had been joining in with the others, but he found he could not concentrate on anything that was said when he caught Valentina's rather pleased expression. From her vantage point, everything was going as she planned. He felt something come over him, as his heart began to race and he could feel the blood running in his veins.

He hardly knew how it happened, but the next moment he was by her side and found himself asking her: "Where are your other step-daughters this evening, Lady Malconaire?" There was a sternness to his own voice that was foreign to him and he found that he had no desire to give her a smile.

[forgottencassandra]

Not Another Dance | Cassandra & Valentina

It wasn't exactly how Cassandra had planned to spend part of the evening. On the contrary, she had promised herself that tonight, she would selfishly take pleasure in whatever pursuit struck her fancy (which, in reality, truly wasn't any different than any other evening). However, when she saw that Cassimir had cornered Eithne and seemed to have monopolized her attentions for more than half of the evening, she decided to take matters into her own hands, and while she had Cassimir distracted, Arthur might spend the evening with Eithne uninterrupted.

Cassandra had forced herself into their circle and hinted (with zero traces of subtly) how much she would like to dance, until Cassimir was practically forced to ask her himself.

While she was, at first, rather pleased with herself (especially as she noted that Arthur was by Eithne's side moments later), two dances later she was beginning to reconsider the decisions that had led her to this.

He wasn't a particularly horrible partner -- in fact, he danced rather well, and if he kept silent perhaps Cassandra could have borne it better. But she found everything he said to be irritating, even if he said nothing offensive to her. She had already cast him as the villain several times over, and nothing he could do would please her.

As he started to lead her in a third dance, she stopped him. "No more, my lord. You have exhausted me." In more ways than one. She hoped to be completely excused from his company, but instead he lead her from the floor to his mother who would "keep her company while he fetched them both some refreshments".

Ugh, the mother was almost as insufferable as the son. As soon as Cassimir returned, she meant to be finished with both of them for the evening.

"Lady Malconaire, you cannot fathom how pleased I am to see that you have all come to join us this evening to celebrate my dear sister. It should have not been the same, without you here." She was only truly pleased to see Sonya and her step-daughters, but she would suffer the rest of the company if that meant that they could be there.

[forgottenedmund]

"And what happened next?" Sonya asked.

"Well," Edmund leaned in a bit closer to her as though he was divulging a very great secret. From his peripheral vision he could tell that Valentina's eyes were on them and he couldn't help but crack a grin when he realized that she must be thinking that she was cultivating some sort of love match between the two. "... then his pants caught on fire."

Sonya giggled, "No!"

"I wish you'd been able to see him run about the yard until the servants finally were able to douse him with water."

Sonya fell into a fit of laughter, which Edmund found was contagious -- especially with such a vivid image of his own brother in his mind. The story of Arthur catching fire was a bit exaggerated. In truth, Arthur had been much younger than Edmund had suggested and it had been a book in his hand that he had carelessly gotten too close to the flame of a candle while he was distracted by some pretty girl. His cloak had caught fire, but he'd untied and the servants had doused it before it caused him to look too ridiculous.

Still, Edmund appreciated his version a bit more and he couldn't have planned a better moment for Arthur to arrive than immediately after this recounting.

"Oh, and Lady Sonya -- " Edmund called after her before she followed her mother's instructions to leave. "Try not to laugh."

And then, he was left alone with her.

As much as Edmund enjoyed toying with Valentina's various plots, he did find her company to be particularly exhausting, especially when he had come here to visit with Rose and they'd hardly been able to say two words to each other thanks to Valentina's interference. (This was one of the many reasons Edmund preferred to simply slip across the border onto the Malconaire lands unannounced).

Truth be told, he was hardly paying her much attention when she apologized for their manners or what it was like for her when she first arrived at this country home. He did decide that perhaps he might amuse himself, however, when she began to focus the conversation towards Sonya.

"I don't doubt it," He replied, "Your daughter does you all the credit in the word, my lady." This, at least, was genuine enough. Sonya, for all of her unfortunate patronage, was far superior than her mother or brother could ever claim to be. "There is no one quite like her. I ... confess that I'm a bit jealous that she seems to prefer my brother's company to my own. But then Arthur can be so charming when a young lady has captured his attention."

Edmund didn't particularly agree with Valentina's statement -- there was little that any of them knew how to do instinctively, regardless of their own natural talents. They'd had to study and practice their manners -- and everything else for that matter -- just as everyone else did. The different happened to be that their situation allowed for the very best instructors that Roderick could find.

Still, he nodded his head in agreement, "You shall have to ask my mother someday, yourself, but I'm sure you will find that she very much agrees with you. A more formal and polite baby, I don't think you'd ever find." He couldn't help but tease her just a bit.

Plan D | Valentina & Edmund

"Roisin, dear, won't you run up to my room and fetch me my stylus?"

"But--"

The girl cast a quick glance towards Sonya and Edmund, nestled cozily in a dark corner, laughing and whispering together rather chummily, and Valentina felt her grin deepen. She'd been at some lengths keeping her youngest stepdaughter busy, tonight: this was a tete-a-tete she was not eager to see broken up, particularly as -- was it just her imagination, or did the two young people lean just a little closer, smile just a little longer, as the minutes ticked by?

"Oh, you silly girl!" Valentina interrupted Roisin. "Not that stylus! The other one!"

"You said that--"

"I wouldn't need to keep repeating myself, Roisin, if you'd only bring me the right stylus. Now, up you pop! And don't you come back down here until you've found the right one!"

Roisin set the stylus down much harder upon the little table at Valentina's side than was entirely necessary -- or ladylike -- and rushed back up the stairs for the umpteenth time. How her legs must be burning by now! Valentina smirked.

Yet, no sooner had she arranged for them to continue chatting together, than Cillian appeared in the room.

"Arthur's here," he said in a dull, irritated voice.

"Cillian! What have I told you about properly announcing guests!"

He smirked. "That it should be according to their just deserts which, incidentally, is precisely what you just heard." With that, he left the room again.

"The cheek!" cried Valentina, springing up, now suddenly quite alarmed by how close Sonya and Edmund were sitting, and desperately wishing Roisin were here again to distract him, and thus keep Arthur from suspecting Sonya might prefer his brother. "Sonya! You must go and greet our guest! At once! And do make amends for that disgraceful servant, won't you? I insist that you not re-enter this room until that is accomplished!"

Good. That would keep the two of them quite alone for some time...which just left Valentina and Edmund. No matter, Valentina thought, approaching Edmund and quickly assuming the spot her daughter had just vacated. It was better for everyone if she entertain the younger prince, than if that little nitwit, Roisin, did it.

Turning her most sacchrine smile upon the prince, Valentina flushed slightly. "Oh, Your Highness, you really must excuse our..." she tittered, a touch nervously. "Country manners. I know compared to the high refinement you are accustomed to at court we must seem so perfectly...quaint. I do recall, myself, you know, what it was like to first come here as one of...royal blood," she added, significantly, arching a brow. "Quite the culture shock, I confess, but...a woman, you know, particularly a royal woman, Your Highness, would do anything for love. And I do pride myself, you know, that my Sonya does boast many of those natural delicacies of manner inherent to those of our...rank. In truth, I didn't even have to teach her! She knew all her manners instictively."

For what it was worth, Valentina did believe this. However, she was mistaken. Sonya had, indeed, been taught her manners, just not by Valentina: her nurse and her governess had done the job, which was lucky as Valentina ought never to be relied upon to tach anything to anyone.

"But," she said, feigning fondness as she looked upon her Plan D. "I'm sure your royal mother found much the same with you, no doubt. It is a thing one finds in royal blood which can never be driven out. Don't you agree, Highness?"

[forgottencassimir]

Unexpected Arrivals | Cassimir & Roderick

It was a miserable day.

The temperatures had risen, so Cassimir supposed he should be glad that they didn't have the bitter cold to deal with, but the rain beat down with unforgiving force, melting much of the snow. The roads had turned into a swampy, muddy mess that were becoming unpassable.

Cassmir was seated comfortably enough near the fire in his step-father's old study when one of his servants entered -- rather flustered -- with a captain wearing the colors of House Varmont.

"Lord Malconaire -- " A quick bow from his servant, "excuse the intrusion -- "

The Captain had little patience for this and sidestepped the servant, to make his own announcement, "His Imperial Majesty, Roderick Varmont the First of His Name, Conquerer of the Twelve Kingdoms, Defender of the Faith, and god's own Champion has bestowed upon you the honor of hosting him and his men, while his carriage is repaired. He shall arrive momentarily. He shall expect to be received in a manner that befits such a guest."

Cassimir sprung into action immediately. He had no particular love for the Varmonts, Roderick included, but he knew the very important role that he and his mother hoped the emperor would play in their plans. Cassimir knew that for Roderick to marry Sonya, he must look favorably upon their family and he was not to allow this sudden development to hinder it.

He dispatched his servant immediately -- everyone must make ready for the emperor's arrival. He knew that even his step-sisters would be needed to help in the preparations (both prior to and during his arrival), so he would need to offer some excuse as to their absences. Besides, he did not want the emperor's eye to be distracted. Sonya was beautiful in her own right, but even Cassimir had to admit that each of his step-sisters possessed a beauty of their own (except, perhaps Brigit. If she had any beauty at all, she did an excellent job of hiding it).

When Roderick and his company did arrive, there was still much work to be done, but Cassimir was pleased as to what had been accomplished in the short notice that he had received. He felt it a testament to his own leadership (but didn't give a second thought to those who had actually performed the work).

"Your Imperial Majesty," Cassimir bowed low. "It is a honor to have you grace our halls. I'm sure you and your men must be hungry. If you would care to follow me, our cooks have prepared a feast."

[rp-comments]

Lauren | The Long Forgotten Realm

LAST UPDATED: 07/05/24 @ 9:39AM CST

Sonya Malconaire

Arthur

Edmund

Rose

Brigit

Roderick

Cassimir

Valentina

Cassandra

Sebastian

Cillian

Godfrey

Eilia

Alaric

Saoirse

Ronan

Amira

Kale

Cormac

Eabha

Rian

Tristan

Guinevere Varmont

Rose

Cassimir

Edmund

Valentina

Arthur

Brigit

Cassandra

Sebastian

Cillian

Ciara

Roderick

Godfrey

Eilia

Amira

Percy

Alaric

Saoirse

Ronan

Rian

Cormac

Eabha

Tristan

[thelongforgottenrealm]

LADY SONYA MALCONAIRE / NATALIE DORMER

♛ Age: (28) ♛ Relationships: Valentina Malconaire (mother), Cassimir Malconaire (brother), Eithne Malconaire, Brigit Malconaire, Aoife Malconaire, Roisin Malconaire (step-sisters), Cillian Frost (servant/annoyance), Roderick Varmont, Arthur Varmont, Alaric Varmont (flirtations/targets), Guinevere Varmont (new friend)

ever since she was a young child, sonya has always felt as though she was a disappointment to her mother

while her brother could do no wrong, it took a great deal before sonya ever received any word of praise from valentina

it was so rare, that sonya began to crave it at every turn

valentina has great plans for both of her children -- they will both marry extremely well, and she will not settle for less -- and sonya has always been determined to, in this at least, exceed her mother's expectations!

when her mother set her sights on the emperor himself for her daughter, sonya ought not to have been surprised

sonya, however, isn't exactly interested in being any man's fourth (or even fifth if his marriage with the queen goes through) wife and, instead, is determined to marry whoever will inherit the throne after him

and as it appears it will likely be his eldest son, sonya has decided that she will not settle for anything less than marrying arthur varmont and she will do anything to have him (his father is her plan b and his uncle is her plan c)

honestly enrages her that he pays eithne any attention at all!!

it's very sad because sonya might have otherwise been friends with her step-sisters, however she enjoys bossing them around/putting them down/generally poking fun at them because it's one thing she and her mom can bond over #family goals

it's also good to just feel superior, not only in her mother's eyes, but in general

at the end of the day, sonya is desperately lonely and has low self-esteem

she's never really had a true friend in her entire life :(

she views men only in terms of how valuable they would be to her as a potential husband and she views women as her competition

only recently has she started to develop a friendship with guinevere varmont

it is in the earliest of stages and she has yet to become someone she confides in, however she does genuinely enjoy her company

TAKEN BY LAUREN.

[forgotteneilionora]

oooh awesome!! I ask bc I’m thinking eilia — maybe via her convo w Sebastian?? — is gonna present this as a cultural, rather than religious, practice done for birthdays, and ask to give these offerings for guin w the rest of the astairans (more for the guardians sake than for guins tbqh but yeah adgjhfss) as a birthday present and goodwill token of astairans' culture to the Varmont one or whatever 

Also I agree that roderick would say ok this, esp bc he knows he’s abt to smash any current goodwill by questioning the princesses' legitimacy in abt three minutes aslajkfksjd so in his own mind, allowing this will cost him nothing and might even help him smdh

A question for you, my dear! Do Astairans have anything they do for the guardians on ppl’s bdays, and/or on days it seems the godly brothers are warring?

I hadn't even thought about the birthday traditions, but I do believe that they make extra offerings to the guardians during the days when it seems the godly bros are warring for extra protection, etc. I also think that they say prayers/blessings over their doorways to further help safeguard the home, etc.

As for the birthdays, I'm going to post your ideas that your wrote here, because they are now canon! :D

Love the idea that they use birthdays as an opportunity to give thanks to the guardians for looking out for that person/their home for another year and that there is some kind of extra traditional token that is bestowed to them on this day

Also that they request a blessing to last through the next year

In addition, I feel like they are, therefore, kinda a big deal when birthdays happen, since they are not only celebrating the person whose birthday it is, but celebrating their guardians as well. I'm sure that there is often traditional feasting that happens (that features the favorite treats of the individual, but also the guardians -- if there happens to be someone there who can ~speak~ to them and knows their tastes, etc. But Astarians who consider the religion to be more folkore than truth, skip over that part, haha)

Also, in some of my own comments I kinda forgot (#facepalm) that most of Astaira actually doesn't really believe in the old religion and that it is more of a cultural thing to them, than a religious thing (which is why Brigit and Aria both keep it a secret that they can actually see the guardians). However, it is still offensive to Roderick & co for them to keep these traditions, as they view guardian worship as ~demon~ worship.

ANYWAY, it might further make sense for Roderick to perhaps allow this celebration, if he believes that most of Astaira does view it more as a cultural tradition than a religious one!