#the arabian viking

[love1979]

Merciful Father,

I have squandered my days with plans of many things. This was not among them. But at this moment, I beg only to live the next few minutes well.

For all we ought to have thought, and have not thought.

All we ought to have said, and have not said

All we ought to have done, and have not done

I pray thee, God, for forgiveness.

[bluejulius]

Howdy Train Your Dragon??

HEAVILY INSPIRED from @tragisbawls western AU and also I believe that one “Howdy Train Your Dragon” post by @wardenofdragons

please let me know if I’ve made any mistakes in crediting but these guy’s posts were my main inspiration fr

enjoy some WIPs, currently I’m making them for reference so I can draw the gang doing some scenes

might have gone a bit insane over the festive season and fallen head first into this western AU. basically everything is the same but instead of Vikings it’s cowboys! I’m gonna colour these all and want to do more art/drawings of this too bc it has been occupying my thoughts lol

more info 👇

- set in a fictional Old West, similar to how the canon treats Viking lore and accuracy, assume this is the same 😂

- in this AU, Hiccup loses his leg before he meets Toothless in some sort of stampede/horse-related accident, which makes Stoic, the cheif of the town, more protective of him/not want him to go near them

- Hiccup finds Toothless as a wild mustang, trapped in a gorge. Hijinx ensue, Hiccup saves him, and they bond.

-Hiccup and Fishlegs live in the same town. Astrid, Lout, Ruff and Tuff are part of a group of travelling cowboys from out of town or somethin lol. Something happens and Legs and Hic have to travel with them for a bit. Haven’t worked everything out yet but if people have ideas feel free to let me know!

- Ruff and Tuff are in charge of the supplies wagon and they often confuse Barf & Belch with their arguing. The poor horses go in different directions or one of them might stop while the other keeps going 😭

- Meatlug is usually seen pulling a little wagon with extra supplies/Fishlegs rides in the wagon sometimes when they go on adventures so she ends up being the slowest in the group, similar to how she is the slowest of the gang’s dragons

- Hookfang is an Arabian horse and he has a really firey temper and has a similar relationship to Snotlout as in the canon. Snotlout made Hookfang rear up on his hind legs once, but Snotlout fell off and Hookfang left him in the dust 💀

- Astrid is the leader of the cowboys. Stormfly has little braids in her mane as that’s Astrid’s way of showing affection.

(alsomyaskboxisopenifanyonewantstodiscusthisauI AM HAPPY TO YAP-)

[medievalandfantasymelee]

THE HOT MEDIEVAL & FANTASY MEN MELEE

FIRST ROUND: 46th Tilt

Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan, The 13th Warrior (1999) VS. Robin Hood, Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)

Propaganda

Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan, The 13th Warrior (1999) Portrayed by: Antonio Banderas Defeated Opponents: - Trumpkin [Peter Dinklage], The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

“He's a diplomat who got dumped into the Norse wilderness and had to adapt. And he did! He was given a Quest and he stuck with it, despite not speaking the language! Learned Norse by listening and was pretty respectful of the people he found himself among despite having reason to feel superior. Wears eyeliner, looks great in black, kicks ass with a sword and is really nice to his horse.”

Robin Hood, Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) Portrayed by: Cary Elwes Defeated Opponents: - Jaskier [Joey Batey], The Witcher (2019-)

"I saw this movie when I was about 10, didn't understand most of the jokes but fell in love with Robin. I love a silly guy! (especially when he's this hot)"

Additional Propaganda Under the Cut

Additional Propaganda

For Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan:

“i havent seen the movie in over a decade but theres a scene burned into my mind forever where all the vikings are making fun of his horse for being so small (as his is an arabian and theirs are warhorses) and he proceeds to absolutely whip ass on an impromptu show jumping course to display its agility and i think thats pretty sexy of him”

For Robin Hood:

[syerra-637]

I HAVE AN IDEA

I'm studying History, and for some time now, I've had just one idea lingering in my head for so long. I was thinking about fanfiction with the characters from Twisted Wonderland set in different eras and locations. Here's what I had in mind:

Heartslabyul characters as 19th-century Londoners (specifically the Victorian era)

Savanaclaw characters as a pre-Columbian civilization

Octavinelle characters as 1920s mafia members

Pomefiore characters as medieval Europe inhabitants

Scarabia during the time of the Arabian Nights (obviously)

Ignihyde characters as ancient Greeks

Diasomnia characters in some sort of ancient East Asian empire (primarily with Chinese and Japanese inspirations)

Actually, I'm undecided between creating a Viking universe for Pomefiore and a medieval universe for Diasomnia. Which one seems better ?

As for the staff, I haven't thought much about it yet, but it's clear that Divus would be set in the 50s/60s in Europe. Same period for Sam, but in New Orleans.

__♡__♡__♡__

This is an original idea, so please do not take my idea without notifying me first ^^

[whencyclopedia]

Vikings: Jewelry, Weapons & Social Change at The VIKINGR Exhibition

In April 2019 The Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, Norway opened its doors to the new exhibition VÍKINGR containing rich treasures and unique archaeological finds from the Viking Age (c. 750 - 1050 CE). The Viking age is considered Norway's and the rest of Scandinavia's “golden age”, and the tales of violent warrior seafarers have fascinated people all over the world for centuries. The Vikings are famous for their plundering of monasteries on the British Isles and the Viking helmet (wrongly depicted with horns in popular culture), but by visiting the VÍKINGR exhibition you will also learn that the Vikings were international traders, and that the Viking Age (c. 750 - 1050 CE) was an important period of transition in the northernmost part of Europe. This period saw the opening of new trade routes, the unification of Norway and the conversion to Christianity. The artifacts exhibited, including the world's best-preserved Viking helmet, the sword from Langeid and the largest Viking treasure ever found in Norway, are not only worth admiring for their beauty but also for what they can tell us about the Vikings' lives and values in a time of transition and change.

Walking into the exhibition, which is on the third floor of the museum, feels a bit like walking into a fancy jewelry store as it is beautifully curated with open spaces, complimentary colors and glass displays - very fitting for an exhibition consisting of invaluable jewelry, weapons, coins and other treasures. There are 20 items or collections of items on display, almost all inside the glass display cabinets, each telling their own story.

Trade & International Treasures

The first glass cabinets showcase jewelry and other items that are a testimony to the many different trade routes and international networks of the Vikings. The first Vikings of the 7th century CE were pirates in small ships, but by the 10th century CE they had built larger ships that traveled further and they established larger armies and contact points in Europe and beyond.

The items in the first display tell the story of the establishment of the silver route connecting Scandinavia with the distant east. The treasure, consisting of several silver pieces and rings, as well as Arabian and Persian coins, was originally from areas in today's Iraq and Iran. The silver treasure traveled the long way to Norway in the 10th century CE, when the Vikings who were engaged in international trade brought large amounts of silver back to Scandinavia. Further proof of the Vikings distant and exotic trade and international contact network can be seen in the next display, where the largest Norwegian Viking treasure ever found to date is showcased. The Hon Hoard was found in 1843 CE in Buskerud, Norway and consists of large gold rings, Frankish gold jewelry, Arabian coins, colorful beads, a Roman antique gemstone, and an English ring. Admiring this beautiful treasure makes you wonder what stories the items would tell of their long journeys and their Viking owners.

Especially eye-catching are some of the gold objects, originally made in the Carolingian Empire (800 - 888 CE). A large gold brooch is the most impressive piece, and it is believed to have adorned a warrior's belt at the Carolingian court before it was transformed into a brooch after coming to Norway. Other brooches are also showcased in the exhibition as they tell the story of objects that originally were used as decorative mounts on sacred objects used in churches in the British Isles. The objects were often refashioned into brooches after the Vikings raided many of these churches and brought the items back to Norway.

Continue reading...

[initial-lime]

I am. Relentless and bitter at the turnout of ancient history. As a norse pagan I have to meticulously sift trough archeology articles, museum reports and academic texts just to have any semblance of my own god damn culture and religion. (Please take this as gently as possible) I don’t want. The wishy washy mash of pagan traditions that have been smushed together and salvaged from all over the world. Learning from different cultures is good and awesome but I want MINE. MY culture. DANISH tradition, and not the christianized version of it.

Even in my own damn country most people would rather believe fucking marvel about our traditions than what actually was, and don’t even get me started on the westernized macho man bigot version of norse mythology where it’s just a sorry excuse for people to steal everyone else’s shit.

Do y’all realize one of the only complete accounts of the old Nordic funeral rite comes from an Arabian traveler who himself added in the account that the Vikings called him stupid for not understanding anything.

I do my best to not be bitter towards the religions that over shadow mine, the Christian’s alive now had no hand in stealing my traditions, all I want is my things back. They where oral traditions and sharing them became a crime, all that’s left is the monuments and the texts from foreign hands

[annachum]

Some ASOIAF/ASOMAM houses and their cultural influences HCs ( and such )

The House Mormont clearly has several Scottish and Arctic influences, with their big coats and all that shit

The House Stark clearly has Scottish, Celtic and Pictish influences

For House Manderly, I think they are more on a mix of Scottish and Viking influences, what with seafaring and Guardians of the Northern Sea and all

For House Redwyne, I can see several French, Ancient Greek and Byzantine influences ( cuz Marseille was once also an Ancient Greek colony and then a Byzantine settlement )

House Hightower clearly has a mix of Dutch, Belgian and French influences

And the House Tyrell has strong ass French influences

For House Estermont, I think there are several German and Northern Italian influences in the mix

House Martell clearly has several Arabian and Desi ( particularly West Indian ) influences in the mic

House Uller seem to have a mix of Egyptian and Moroccan influences in spades

And House Dayne clearly has Persian influences

The House Targaryen often has a jumble of Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek, Etruscan, Phoenician, Carthaginian and Byzantine influences

House Velaryon often has Ancient Greek, Ancient Egyptian and Byzantine influences

House Barlaeris often has Ancient Greek, Slavic and Byzantine influences

And House Rogare often has Ancient Greco Roman, Phoenician and Southern Italian influences

House Macklyn seems to often have a mix of Eastern Italian, Ancient Greco Roman and Byzantine influences

The House Lannister often has Celtic and Southern English influences

House Baratheon seem to often have a jumble of German and Italian influences

House Arryn has a mix of Irish and Swiss influences

And House Tully has a mix of Welsh and Dutch influences

For the House Greyjoy, it's clear Norwegian influences are present, yet there are several other Scandinavian influences in there too

For the House Seaworth, I think there are several Danish influences in spades

For the House Chen of Leng Ma in Lenghi, I can see several Southern Chinese and Vietnamese influences

The House El Martill of Rhohynar clearly has a mix of Arabian Peninsula influences

I can see the House Al Amdullah of Haqodesh having mixes of various Levantine ( particularly Palestinian ) influences in spades

And then House El Faouly of Ghiscar having Ancient and Islamic Egyptian, and Byzantine influences in spades

For the House Drumm of Summer Isles ( aka the ruling house of Summer Isles since after the Dance of Dragons in ASOMAM ), I can see them having a myriad of Carribbean influences, with bits of Aztec, Mayan and Polynesian influences too

House Marko clearly having a jumble of Italian Renaissance, Byzantine and Ottoman influences

I can see House Storm of Myr having a mix of Florentine and Byzantine influences in spares

House Richards of Pentos having a mix of Ancient Grecian and Byzantine influences in spades

House Grey of Braavos ( aka the household Jeena is from ) having a mix of Venetian and Ancient Grecian influences in spades

And House Blackfyre clearly has a mix of Papal States, Byzantine and Ancient Greco Roman influences in spades

In Mossovy

I can see House Maximov having a mix of Polish and Ukrainian influences in spades

House Nikolev having Slavic Russian influences in spades

And House Karinkov having several Cossack and Tartary influences in spades

[tanadrin]

At risk of being controversial i believe I found the best parallels between the Abrahamic religions and the nations of Scandinavia. The Swedes are the Christians of Scandinavia, the Norwegians are the Muslims of Scandinavia, and finally the Danes are the Jews are Scandinavia. Feel free to rearrange though

As a follow up to blow people's minds. Canada is the Norway of North America. The United States is the Sweden of North America. Mexico is the Denmark of North America.

none of these analogies make any sense. islam and christianity aren't ethnic groups. arabic and hebrew are much less closely related than any north germanic langauges. there is no norwegian hegira. there's never been a kalmar union of north america. and scandinavia was never colonized by outside powers.

norway has oil, and so does the arabian peninsula, so maybe a vague norway-arab analogy there...? but arabs aren't synonymous with muslims. and the big viking conquests didn't originate only in norway.

[merovingian-marvels]

Payment in Silver

Coins were truly a Roman matter. They existed during the Germanic age, but were not used as actual currency. Coins were a status object, with coins sometimes even being worn as jewerly, to emphasize said status. Although trading goods was one of the most important methods of payment, the late Merovingians and during the entire Viking age, silver was used as currency.

Not in the shape of coins, but rather long thin strips of silver which was literally worth its weight. Payment consisted of breaking of bits and weighing them.

The only coin currency used may have been with and by traders from the Arabian Peninsula, as many Dirham coins have been found in Viking Age Scandinavia. The silver itself was imported by Arabs, due to the lack of minable metal in Europe. Tacitus mentions it in his writings, stating "he doesnt know what the Germans did to anger the gods that there are no precious metals to be mined in Germania"

Depot unknown

Found in Tiel Passewaaij, Gelderland - The Netherlands

Image copyright:

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - Stijn Heeren en J. Roymans

Stephan Weiss-König, CC-BY-NC-SA

[musingsofmonica]

January 2024 Diverse Reads

January 2024 Diverse Reads:

•”How We Named the Stars” by Andrés N. Ordorica, January 30, Tin House Books, Literary/LGBT/Hispanic & Latino/Coming of Age

•”Red String Theory” by Lauren Kung Jessen, January 09, Forever, Romance/Romantic Comedy/Asian American

•”Come and Get It” by Kiley Reid, January 30, G.P. Putnam's Sons, Literary/Coming of Age/Women

•”Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar, January 23, Knopf Publishing Group, Literary/Family Life/LGBT

•”The Storm We Made” by Vanessa Chan, January 02, S&S/Marysue Rucci Books, Literary, World Literature/Asia/Historical /20th Century/Post-World War II/Women

•”The Mayor of Maxwell Street” by Avery Cunningham, January 30, Hyperion Avenue, Romance/Historical/African American/Women

•”The Queen of Sugar Hill: A Novel of Hattie McDaniel” by Reshonda Tate, January 30, William Morrow & Company, Biographical/Historical/African American/Women/Own Voices/World Literature/American/20th Century/Post-World War II

•”A Quantum Love Story” by Mike Chen, Mira Books, January 30, Romance/Time Travel/Science Fiction/Time Travel/Family Life/Siblings

•”The Bullet Swallower” by Elizabeth Gonzalez, January 23, Simon & Schuster, Literary/Hispanic & Latino/Magical Realism

•”When Things Don't Go Your Way: Zen Wisdom for Difficult Times” by Haemin Sunim & Charles La Shure (Translator), January 23, Penguin Life, Buddhist/Mindfulness & Meditation/Philosophy/Personal Growth/Buddhism 

•”Black Women Taught Us: An Intimate History of Black Feminism” by Jenn M. Jackson, January 23, Random House, Women/American Government/Feminism & Feminist Theory/Women's Studies

•Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think about Race and Identity” by 

Michele Norris, January 16, Simon & Schuster, Ethnic Studies/Discrimination & Race Relations/Social Classes & Economic Disparity/Cultural & Social

•”River East, River West” by Aube Rey Lescure, January 09, William Morrow & Company, Literary/Coming of Age/Family Life/Asian American/Cultural Heritage/World Literature-China/21st Century

•”Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity” by Soo Jin Lee & Linda Yoon, January 09, Tarcherperigee, Ethnic Studies/ Asian American Studies/Mental Health/Personal Growth

•”Your Utopia: Stories” by Bora Chung & Anton Hur, January 30, Algonquin Books, Horror/Science Fiction/Short Stories/World Literature/Korea

•”On Thriving: Harnessing Joy Through Life's Great Labors” by Brandi Sellerz-Jackson, January 09, Ballantine Books, Personal Memoirs/Inspiration & Personal Growth

•”The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years” by Shubnum Khan, January 09, Viking, Historical/Gothic/Women

•”Behind You Is the Sea” by Susan Muaddi Darraj, January 16, Harpervia, Literary/Short Stories/Humor/Coming of Age/Women/Family Life/Cultural Heritage/Feminist/Muslim/Own Voices/World Literature/Middle East/Arabian Peninsula

•”Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World--And How You Can, Ijeoma Oluo, January 30, HarperOne, Activism & Social Justice/Ethnic Studies/Personal Growth/Anthropology/Cultural & Social/Race & Ethnic Relations/Civil Rights/Social Activists/United States/21st Century/Human Rights/Motivational & Inspirational

.”The Night of the Storm” by Nishita Parekh, January 16, Dutton, Thriller/Mystery & Detective/Family Life/Asian American

[intrepid-fictioneer-7]

"Historical Civilization Cohabitation", for lack of a better term, has always been an obsession of mine.

I don't mean fantasies where the cultures and realms are inspired by historical ones, like in Warhammer Fantasy. I mean a story where a strange (frequently artificial or supernatural) event forces different "great"™ civilizations that rarely or never interacted, as they were separated by great distances or stretches of time, to be stuck together in a new environment where they are neighbors, and the clashes that ensue.

An example of this is For Honor. After a Cataclysm in the 10th-11th centuries that drastically altered the planet's geography and destroyed countless civilizations, three nations consisting of knights, Vikings, and samurai arrived at a new land and compete for its resources by warring against each other, up until what would be present-day for us. It explicitly takes place on our Earth after a point-of-divergence, so these are actual European knights, Norse raiders, and Japanese samurai (who came west after Japan sunk). Although For Honor, being a live-service multiplayer game, has somewhat of an inconsistent lore subject to retcons that is more beholden to what will be interesting for the game than what makes sense. For example, it went from somewhat grounded to magic being real now. Other factions from historical culture have since arrived in the setting, some of which make some sense (a group from ancient China, Scottish highlanders, Arabian warriors, Aztec jaguar warriors who sailed east, Asian pirates similar to wokou and with firearms, etc.) and others that are just straight up impossible (apparently, both the Roman Empire and Ancient Egypt were still alive before the Cataclysm hit them). Another example of Historical Civilization Cohabitation is Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, whose map I posted months ago. The gist is that a science fantasy posthuman civilization (basically elves, dragons, magic, etc. but with added scifi nonsense) recreates world history like a giant historical reenactment experiment, hoping that by retracing their steps they rediscover space/dimensional flight and return to the heavens/space (it is deliberately unclear if actual outer space or actual heaven is meant) they fell down from. They are stuck on the Japanese islands to do it, as the Earth had become mostly uninhabitable at this point, so the archipelago is treated like the "world" in miniature. It's a gonzo series, though it has a lot of, um, sus element in both the plot and the worldbuilding.

The tabletop role-playing game Banestorm is somewhat close to what I mean, but a bit of a different example. It's a setting in which Christians and Muslims from around the First Crusade were transported to a fantasy planet by a botched spell, and now in what would be our modern-day, humans are the dominant species over native elves, dwarves, and orcs as well as fellow transposed races such as hobbits and goblins, and many of these species have converted to either Christianity and Islam. It's really peculiar, but the civilizations there are mostly the medieval Christian and Islamic worlds. There is a land of pagan tribes and a realm created by transported Asian populations, but the pagan savage land is boring and nonsensical, while the Asian realm (named "Sahud") is has aged so poorly it's embarrassing.

But my fascination with this trope started with an old book from my childhood:

For some reason, world history has actually operated in successive cycles, with the same civilizations rising and falling again, in the same process, from the dinosaurs to mankind nuking itself while fighting its robots. While this was happening, the continents continued to drift until they rejoined once again into a super-continent, the Atoll of Zoombira. And the third time history repeated, the civilization found themselves next to each other.

It was not high literature, if you couldn't tell by the title and the goofy map. And not just that, but revisiting it showed really amateurish writing, especially compared to other YA books at the time.

But the setting, of multiple civilizations on a new Pangea separated by walls to stop a literal world war, always stayed stuck in my mind like mold, because of the basic concept but also because of the numerous things it didn't do. The original series never explain why history repeated 3 times, leave much of the history of the nations of Zoombira (just the worse names) blank save for specific plot relevant thing, nevermind the state of the place before they raised their walls. You would think this cyclic history would be something important or a cycle to break or something when it always ends with human extinction. And there is also a fair number of "great"™ civilizations present, but not others for some reason: why no ancient China? Persia? Arabs? Mongols? Incas? Sub-Saharan Africa? North America? And the mechanics of "Jurassium" are outright bizarre, like who built the walls keeping the dinosaurs in and why haven't some of the species spread across the continents instead? Jurassium also has cavemen cohabiting with dinosaurs, and the idea of Paleolithic or Neolithic humans living among dinosaurs is not explored at all. There is the "modern" world in the "contrée oubliée (forgotten country)" that is basically post-apocalyptic and radioactive, which raises even further questions like why didn't they curbstomp the others, why is it still radiated if it's a new cycle (did they nuke themselves again?), and where are the robots who war start the whole end of the world.

All this wasted potential has severely rotten my brain and hasn't left me, making me desire to see more of the same or similar concepts elsewhere as seen in the examples I mention above.

And Historical Civilization Cohabitation, while a cool concept to me, is rarely executed the way I would personally want it to.

[richincolor]

The first quarter of the year is almost over, and it has been filled with so many great books! In case you haven't been able to catch up on all of the new releases this year, why don't you check out these?

Spice Road (The Spice Road Trilogy #1) by Maiya Ibrahim Delacorte Press

In the hidden desert city of Qalia, there is secret spice magic that awakens the affinities of those who drink the misra tea. Sixteen-year-old Imani has the affinity for iron and is able to wield a dagger like no other warrior. She has garnered the reputation as being the next great Shield for battling djinn, ghouls, and other monsters spreading across the sands.

Her reputation has been overshadowed, however, by her brother, who tarnished the family name after it was revealed that he was stealing his nation's coveted spice--a telltale sign of magical obsession. Soon after that, he disappeared, believed to have died beyond the Forbidden Wastes. Despite her brother's betrayal, there isn't a day that goes by when Imani doesn't grieve him.

But when Imani discovers signs that her brother may be alive and spreading the nation's magic to outsiders, she makes a deal with the Council that she will find him and bring him back to Qalia, where he will face punishment. Accompanied by other Shields, including Taha, a powerful beastseer who can control the minds of falcons, she sets out on her mission.

Imani will soon find that many secrets lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes--and in her own heart--but will she find her brother?

The first book in an epic fantasy series set in an Arabian-inspired land with secret spice magic. Raised to protect her nation from the monsters lurking in the sands, sixteen-year-old Imani must fight to find her brother, whose betrayal is now the country's greatest threat. -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

The Cartographers by Amy Zhang HarperCollins

Ocean Wu has always felt enormous pressure to succeed. After struggling with depression during her senior year in high school, Ocean moves to New York City, where she has been accepted at a prestigious university. But Ocean feels so emotionally raw and unmoored (and uncertain about what is real and what is not), that she decides to defer and live off her savings until she can get herself together. She also decides not to tell her mother (whom she loves very much but doesn’t want to disappoint) that she is deferring—at least until she absolutely must.

In New York, Ocean moves into an apartment with Georgie and Tashya, two strangers who soon become friends, and gets a job tutoring. She also meets a boy—Constantine Brave (a name that makes her laugh)—late one night on the subway. Constant is a fellow student and a graffiti artist, and Constant and Ocean soon start corresponding via Google Docs—they discuss physics, philosophy, art, literature, and love. But everything falls apart when Ocean goes home for Thanksgiving, Constant reveals his true character, Georgie and Tashya break up, and the police get involved.

Ocean, Constant, Georgie, and Tashya are all cartographers—mapping out their futures, their dreams, and their paths toward adulthood in this stunning and heartbreaking novel about finding the strength to control your own destiny. -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

Last Chance Dance by Lakita Wilson Viking Books for Young Readers

Leila is crushed when Dev, her boyfriend of four years, breaks up with her right before graduation. Just when she's thinking she wasted her entire high school experience on a dead-end relationship, her best friend Bree reminds her that Last Chance Dance is just around the corner.

A high school tradition, Last Chance Dance gives all the students one last opportunity to find love before they graduate. All Leila has to do is submit three unrequited crushes to the dance committee and if any of her crushes list her too, they'll get matched. Presto: new relationship, just like that. To her utter amazement, Leila is matched with all three of her choices--and with someone she never, ever expected, Tre Hillman, her chemistry partner and low-key nemesis.

Though at times skeptical, Leila embarks on her Last Chance Dance mission--trying out her matches and going on dates. If Dev wasn't her true love--then maybe someone else is. She knows it's definitely not Tre, even though he seems more and more determined to convince her he's right for her.

But thoughts of Dev keep sneaking back into her mind, and as graduation and the dance approaches, Leila must figure out what--and who--she really wants. It's her last chance, right?

[sarahfucka]

"Shakespear was black", "Jesus was black", "Jews are black", "Kai from "Blood+" is black", "Vikings were black", "Russians are black".

I'm don't support #BLM (Black Lives Matter), i'm support, that all jews and arabians are powerful and cool aliens from planet Nibiru called annunaki, and slavs lived with real dinosaurs and red pandas and fought with annunaki to save lake Baikal.

[lookslikethatsallthetimewehave]

A detail I just noticed from me writing a fic:

In Poptropica, everyone can understand each other. Even if they're from different time periods and regions...

In Time Tangled Island, I made the excuse that the time watch thingy is translating things that you speak and is spoken to you.

I guess in Red Dragon Island, the magic from the tree house translates things. Maybe it did that in the books, I don't remember.

They're kids, chill out!

Now, as for Arabian Nights Island and some others... I'll say that the Map that the player has translates everything. In the novels, the Trio are able to understand the Vikings, and vice versa.

Although that doesn't explain why you weren't able to understand Balloon Boy's mom without the translating dictionary!

Conclusion: I love overthinking things, and I'm insane :)

[inactivebcthiswebsitesucks]

Her Royal Highness Princess Marjorie Iona Friseal of Scotland

In the eye of a hurricane When I got one foot in the grave I’ll dig my boots into the dirt And face the rolling thunder

I’m five generations of blazing a trail Through barbed wire valleys and overgrown dells I’m barefoot and bareback and born tough as nails Whoa, whoa, whoa

I’m four-fifths of reckless and one-fifth of jack I push like a daisy through old sidewalk cracks Yeah, my kinda crazy’s still running its courses with Wildflowers and wild horses

It’s in the water in my veins That bread of heaven falls like rain So I’m taken care of either way Make something out of how I’m made Until I hitch a ride on glory’s train

I'm barefoot and bareback and born tough as nails - Early Life

To put it simply Marjorie was never born to be a lady. She loved the skirts and pretty dresses that adorned her but her love for the effeminate stopped there. From the moment she could notice the young princess resented the difference with which she and her brothers were treated. Marjorie wanted to learn the dance of swords and how to show a bow. To get muddied exploring the crags and moors. Instead she was held inside. Lessons on needlepoint and how to act like a proper lady. At aged eight she had enough and began sneaking out to the training yards in the dead of night. Wiggling from the warmth of her featherbed she trudged stolen garments in hand to have a go at the training dummies. Her first attempts were hilariously disastrous. It was only after her brother Caelen followed her one night that she began to improve. With his tutelage she began to become adept at both sword and bow. She took hits from him that would leave bruises and welts. When asked about the injuries she would simply claim she fell. Her governess was even fired under suspect of abuse. Once good enough, she would often swap places with her brother William. Disguised as him underneath training armor she would get lessons from the masters at arms themselves. It invigorated and enthralled her. On a good day she earned her little brother praise on his improvements. On a bad her father would be called down to give them both a lashing.

When her eighteenth name day came, she was offered a horse of her choosing as was custom. Rather than choose the dainty Arabian, a true lady's horse, that was presented to her, Marjorie picked out Fargus. A draughty war horse colt. He had been reserved to be a well-respected guard's personal mount, but the princesses insistence meant that Fargus became hers.

When I got one foot in the grave - Before the Alliance

Marjorie's adventurous spirit did not quiet as she aged. It soared as her parents gave up on trying to control her. She even shed the love of pretty dresses that had carried through her childhood. Now she adorned herself in more practical clothing, still finely made but better suited to a fight. The bodices clung to her figure, adorned in mail and the breaches that completed the look were fit for any princess. To complete the look a longsword was a constant companion at her hip. When out riding a bow at her back. Marjorie participated in tourney's and fought alongside Scotland's men against the Vikings. Many men proposed to her and she refused them all. They wanted a trophy, the youngest princess of the kingdom to show off their own power. Marjorie would be no one's pawn. Her power was her own, not to be shared with those who had not earned it.

Despite familial nagging she chose to remain single and at twenty-seven was practically considered a spinster. Her love was for the wildness that ravaged her soul. Of course wild adventures led to remarkable circumstance. Such is the tale of how she fell in love with a warrior of one of Scotland's enemies; a member of the Madsen Clan. Their love burned hot and fierce, brought upon by an initial skirmish between the two. Swords had been drawn and minor blood spilled. When they came away panting for breath, neither having gotten advantage over the other, it was as if their souls collided.

Though no maid, the news of Marjorie's pregnancy shocked the royal family. For her own protection she was kept out of the spotlight, her absence explained away by sudden illness. Nine months passed with a plan for the babe to go to his father. A bastard in Scotland and a son of the enemy Marjorie feared for her child's life. She wanted him to be raised to know his own power. To be a true warrior like his father.

The child's father disappeared right before the birth. Left with no other option, she snuck the babe to Hal. As leader of the clan he would protect the child. Her son. Baird.

Until I hitch a ride on glory's train - Present Day

Marjorie strives to become in a position of power. She wants to rule. Not as princess or queen, but as a leader deemed worthy in her own right. Six months have passed since Baird's birth. The family mourned the 'death' of her child and Marjorie herself spent weeks locked inside her rooms. She mourned for the lover she had lost and the son she would never know. Slowly she began to pick the pieces of herself back up. Vowing that once she ruled she and her son would be reunited as kin.

Currently the only contact she has with the babe was through the occasional visit carefully planned and hidden. Those stolen moments were never enough, yet they had to be. For her son's safety as well as her own.

Her experience in battle has earned her a place at the table with her father and brother. From it she is able to argue that her interests and ideas be present. With that ability she has been able to gain a bit of control. Enough control to keep her son hidden and occasionally help Hal Madsen. Marjorie does not believe in the total nihilation of either party. They can each get what they want through sacrificing lesser empires. She resents Scotland's alliance with the the clan of Ragnar Eskilsen. With the formation of the alliance she believes Eskilsen clan has grown weak. Painting a target across Scotland's back.

Misc. Facts

Like many men, Marjorie has frequent affairs. While she doesn't share them with the other kingdoms her family is well aware of her trysts.

She seeks to have a hand in the current politics and uses conversations and the like to better her position and is slowly trying to build up the amount of those loyal to her.

The longsword Marjorie currently carried was forged with steel from her lover's weapon. It was all that was returned to her after his disappearance.

Frequently wanders off to wherever she pleases. Often goes looking for bandits or trouble to keep herself entertained.

[outstandingmenshair]

Vikings meets Arabian Nights for this fantastic fucker. Lemme go find that lamp so I can make my first wish…