#then I did it for Mhoirbheinn

[arcxnumvitae]

what is your cosmic persona ? Mun v. Muse (Eilidh)

Tagged by: Stolen from @saiwola Tagging: Steal it

[thewolfisawake]

Balmoral does fully blame Foirtchern for Faolan's fate. Like yes, she did get thrown down there but he fully believes she could have changed things. She was, at least in his understanding of her, a Fateweaver. He does think that his existence narrowed and eventually closed that path and of course, he blames his 'father' for even proposing it in the first place.

Especially because he is so sure in his head that Foirtchern did not give a shit of her chances. Odds are together, they could have escaped. But he doubted that Foirtchern wanted to remain any longer than he had to. If he had to screw over some fae to do so, so be it. And even more...it's actually interesting because Bal has his own idea of what Foirtchern is like and he's never met his Abyssborn parent until his appearance recently. But it so happens, he's a lot of what Bal did imagine.

Which probably contributes to his disdain of his parent. Like being cause for Faolan's suffering alone was already terrible terms with Bal. Side note that yes, Faolan was just as terrible of a parent as Foirtchern to Bal. However a combination of an innate loyalty as a Harbinger to her and sort of seeing an 'idealized' version of her in his memory, Bal doesn't view her anywhere as terribly as Foirtchern.

The other part of dislike, I am finding, is because Balmoral can see himself within Foirtchern. And he hates it. He hates it so much. Because he's seeing it as 'this is probably how all of them (his enemies, those he's tricked, etc) view me' and honestly? He can't blame them for not liking him if that's the case. He would want to be rid of himself too.

[soulsxng]

💕 (JJ-Bal // I’m sorry I’m too entertained 🥺😂)

@lunarxdaydream, mentions @thewolfisawake | Love Calculator | Accepting!

98%

Dr. Love thinks that a relationship between Jawyr Ravi and Balmoral Sitheach has a very good chance of being successful, but this doesn't mean that you don't have to work on the relationship. Remember that every relationship needs spending time together, talking with each other etc.

"Huh? Hold on, I don't think that's right..." JJ laughs sheepishly, his hand lifting to rub at the back of his neck. Normally he'd laugh and make a joke about this sort of thing, but this probably wasn't the best person (or pair, rather--) to do that with. "Can I give my score to Mhoirbheinn? It was probably just confused-- everyone else mixes us up, after all!"

[arcxnumvitae]

We talking red flag muses?

[arcxnumvitae]

It’s very interesting that Mhoirbheinn in present day focuses on his father as the “big evil” of his past because, aside from being the twisted reason he was brought into the world and his general lack of being a…you know, loving and supportive father figure, Bhaltair never actually did much to Mhoirbheinn. Aside from some callous and uncaring remarks, Bhaltair ignored and mostly never interacted with his bastard spare.

Mhoirbheinn’s brother, however… Eogan was his main tormentor growing up and Mhoirbheinn’s first lesson in cruelty. He seemed to take great pleasure in hurting his brother, be it physically or emotionally, and, of course, it was Eogan’s last cruel act of killing Mhoirbheinn’s mother that detonated the bomb and set Mhoirbheinn down on the path he ended up traveling, and changed his personality (for the worse I’ll always say). It was the buildup of years of little and big cruelties from his brother that ultimately turned Mhoirbheinn into such a bloodthirsty man that delights in causing harm to others and exacting vengeance against those who have wronged him and who he cares for. It was ultimately Eogan’s doing that caused the “monster” Mhoirbheinn’s mother claimed she saw to be nurtured and birthed.

Eogan had the larger impact on Mhoirbheinn’s life, but Mhoirbheinn doesn’t seem to realize that.

[arcxnumvitae]

Tally

Muses with the most votes: (a lot had 4 (Soon-hee, Kareena, Kaisei, and more) so I made that the cut off. Just about all get an automatic +1 from Iomhar being down to sleep with them)

Iomhar: 6

Mhoirbheinn: 5

Muse with the most names on their list, minus Iomhar and Ven:

Ruaidhri: 25

Eilidh came second with 13.

Muses with the least names on their lists:

Zhaohui and Zhifeng: 3

[thewolfisawake]

Muir Uaigh

Muir Uaigh, or the Sepulchre Sea, also called the Buried Sea is a location within the Unseelie. The Buried Sea is its common name and merely refers to the fact that the sea, like the rest of Unseelie, is 'buried' beneath the mainland. It does indeed flow to the oceans. It is actually a little deeper than most of inhabited Unseelie. Yet paradoxically, as fae tend to be, the sea is not dark nor dreary. It's essentially their equivalent of beaches. There are geometrical rock structures that can serve as areas to rest, there are rich black sands that can be played and lie in. And the water is very navigable with the underwater scape its own marvel.

However, this is only one part of the Buried Sea. The part that the Unseelie have made habitable and safe. The other half is truly called Muir Uaigh and is meant to be treated like you would with fae...with caution. This part of the sea does appear similar to the main beach, in fact there are several other beaches that do exist but its protection is not nearly as strong as the Buried Sea. Protection from what?

Well, obvious are kelpies. While they cannot charm fae quite the same way, as they have similar mythical origins, they are can be quite aggressive if they are startled or feel that anyone is treading in their stomping grounds. As such they might pummel or trample unfortunate folks or just outright drag them out and drown them (fae are immortal in that they do not age, not that they cannot be killed). They are like other creatures in nature though to Unseelie.

No, the real issue comes with the mermaids. Yeah, yeah, everyone knows what they're like. Half-fish, half-humanoid. Can be good or bad. And yes, these kinds lean towards the siren sort of danger. But in a different way. See, the legend behind the mermaids that reside here and why it is called the Muir Uaigh is that this sea draws souls on the verge of being lost or wishing to be lost. So often it draws Unseelie that do not wish to live to its depths either by jumping from the cliffs to it or walking into the waters. It also draws souls that are in grief or suffering grave misfortune. It is release and freedom. Unfortunate to quote the song, it would take the suffering.

It is believed souls lost this way are reborn into mermaids that have a vagueness or no memory of their previous life. They seem to live normal lives in the sea and do not eat others. However, there are some that have this feeling within to relieve others. And its these...rather motivated mermaids that are a problem. Their songs reaches to find a being's longing. Whom or what they long for, positively or negatively. This what lures others into their depths to be drowned. Even if their bodies are retrieved, their 'soul' or 'essence' is stripped from them and thus can never be returned unless you, idk, risk fighting some fish people for the soul. To which, yeah, you could have time for that in theory. Once a body comes within the water, it is usually wreathed within the long and colorful seaweed to be anchored in place until, well, the soul releases.

Now, these mermaids aren't as irresistible as a siren so it's possible to escape but it's really a 'but would you risk it?' question. They also aren't very durable and can be injured and killed like any other creature. It's also, not every mermaid is like this. Some do just want to be left alone and some just want folks to heal. The latter of these are called caesg, mermaids that assist and actually travel very far (like to rivers and streams on the surface far). They can grant minor wishes to those that capture them. But the odds of getting a caesg vs a mermaid...is it really worth it?

So yeah, the naming sense is fitting in both senses. The Buried Sea is usually what's referring to safer areas, spots that either mermaids do not tend to frequent or have been repelled from. It is named such because it quite literally below the land. Muir Uaigh refers to the sea at large and is a 'sea of graves.' It is the part that fae are to be careful about.

[arcxnumvitae]

Complicated Feelings

Silence stretched in the night, the king's room finally at peace. The winter palace remained still, devoid of most of its servants and denizens. Intentionally so, Bal had decided that absconding to the winter palace without the usual retinue would provide more cover to deliver the heir.

Or...heirs.

Mhoirbheinn sat in the chair pulled up next to Bal's bed, and though exhaustion weighed his limbs and sleep called to him he'd be loathe to disturb Bal as the other slept in his bed. After all, Mhoirbheinn's strain had only been a miniscule fraction of what his lover had endured. All to birth not one child, but two. It'd taken some convincing to even get Bal to put the new heirs down and agree to get some much needed rest.

Mhoirbheinn had seen countless battles and caused countless atrocities. The sight of blood and the screams of the pained and dying were as familiar to him as his own breath. Yet watching Bal's agony had been an excruciating misery that the man had been unprepared for. So much pain and anguish, and all for...that?

A vivid gaze rested on the crib that sat on the other side of the bed, only an arm's reach from Bal if he wished it, as he had insisted. Already, his lover had become attached to the two children, the causes of hours of unending agony. Mhoirbheinn couldn't understand it.

Raising to his feet, the man silently strode around the bed to the crib where two tightly wrapped bundles lay inside. Tiny. Fragile. For hands that had shattered bone, it would be all too easy for an accidental, errant move to snuff out their new life in but an instant. The thought unsettled him. It was difficult to believe that the security of Bal's rule of the Unseelie had lain on their shoulders. But they were sired by him as well, shouldn't he feel some sort of stirring emotion at the sight of them? Shouldn't he feel whatever instant latch there was that Bal had felt towards them? Yet there was nothing.

As a red-orange eye peered down at the sleeping heirs, Mhoirbheinn couldn't help but wonder-- what had his father thought upon seeing him for the first time, a baby just as impossibly tiny as the ones before him? Had he stared imperiously down at his bastard heir the same that Mhoirbheinn stared down at the two now? The similarities struck him, both him and his father bringing new life into the world for an agenda, the necessity of an heir. And much like his father, he would have little to do with them, as per the agreement that had been made with Bal prior. Truly, history repeated itself and a soft chuckle echoed into the night from the man.

"Truly, what an unfortunate beginning for the both of you, to be born into a cycle renewed." The words deceptively soft, a wry smile touched the fae's lips. Loose, dark hair slid over his shoulder as his head tilted. "Let's hope Bal can save you then, hm? But, I cannot complain should I ever find myself slain by your hands. It'd be fitting." With that, he turned to return to Bal's side.

It seemed the legacy of the Rathais continued in its own small, twisted way.

[arcxnumvitae]

I also remembered that those two have technically slept together before. I don't know why I keep forgetting that.

[arcxnumvitae]

Not a sound echoed throughout the expansive manor. It was silent. Dead silent. Despite it all, that single, errant thought pulled a bit of laughter from Mhoirbheinn’s lips. It sounded a touch hysterical, even to his ears. It was probably because he had gone mad. Staring down at the delicate glass goblet set before him, he reached for the nearby bottle of wine and began to pour, watching with fascination as the deep crimson liquid splashed haphazardly into the glass. 

As for the results of that madness...

A clamor was heard from the entrance of the manor, audible even to the youth seated in the sitting room. He already knew what sight would greet them, and he could only imagine the looks crossing the soldiers’ faces as they beheld the carnage.

Bodies, scattered everywhere. Mortal servants at first, who had been going about their daily tasks. Then, perhaps they would enter the study to find the lord of the house, a carcass nearly eviscerated and left slumped over his ornate desk. Perhaps they would follow more bodies up to the second floor, into the main bedroom of the lord and lady, where they would find the latter slumped by her dressing table. A single, gruesome line of silver torn across her throat would make her end clear. 

If they continued onwards, perhaps futilely hoping for more survivors, they might come across the bedroom of the young master of the house. There, they would find the most gruesome massacre of them all. His body would be nearly unrecognizable, taken apart in a frenzy of slashes. He died painfully, that fact would be obvious.

But no, chances were that the king’s soldiers would remain on the ground floor for the time being, searching every room they could find in hopes of locating a survivor, or...a culprit.

His suspicions were confirmed when the noise of movement congregated outside of the sitting room, and the doors were shoved open with violent force. Soldiers filed into the room, several clearly incredulous at the sight that greeted them.

A young fae, covered head to toe in a gore of red and silver, reclining on a chaise as he beckoned them in as if he had been expecting guests. Mhoirbheinn’s eyes swept over the contingent, lingering only briefly on one-- a young one. What did that look in his eyes mean? Not that it mattered.

Mhoirbheinn smiled widely at the soldiers and held out his glass in offering with a wink. “Welcome! Care for a drink before you sever my head from my body?”

[thewolfisawake]

She had us in just two words

Come inside

Welcome to the best part of your lives Go ahead and rest wherever you like I've got you, don't worry Circe's got you now

I've got all the power, yeah, I've got all the power No, I'm not a player, I'm a puppeteer No, I don't play, I puppeteer, yeah

This is the price We pay to live The world does not Tend to forgive

She's a clever witch And she's hard to slay It's a game of wits But you don't have to play

I've got all the power, yeah, I've got all the power No, I'm not a player, I'm a puppeteer No, I don't play, I puppeteer, yeah

I have had this one on my mind for the Consort for a hot minute now. Because it works as like intro to their shenanigans. And very much has that allure to sink into someone from the first introduction.

[arcxnumvitae]

Despite being such a prominent figure in the Unseelie world, one thing about Mhoirbheinn that perplexes many is that his past is a complete mystery. Prior to his time serving in the militia, no one knows a single thing about him. He's a total enigma, a man who seemingly appeared out of thin air.

The only hints there are for those that closely interact with the man is that he doesn't seem common born. From a manner of speech that's more "refined" than his king's to his bearing, his style of dress, and even some other facets like his penmanship and the like. In some ways, Mhoirbheinn seems noble-born.

[arcxnumvitae]

Out there they'll revile you As a monster (I am a monster) Out there they will hate And scorn and jeer (Only a monster) Why invite their calumny And consternation Stay in here Be faithful to me (I'm faithful) Grateful to me (I'm grateful) Do as I say Obey And stay In here Safe behind these windows and these parapets of stone Gazing at the people down below me All my life I watch them as I hide up here alone Hungry for the histories they show me All my life I memorize their faces Knowing them as they will never know me All my life I wonder how it feels to pass a day Not above them But part of them And out there Living in the sun Give me one day out there All I ask is one To hold forever

[arcxnumvitae]

Part 6 (aftermath)

Gentle hands touched the quickly developing bruises at his neck.

"Fy calon bach! What happened?! Who did this to you?! Are there bullies giving you trouble?" Loving eyes, eyes glazed once more with glamour, worriedly took him in. Not a single trace of her hysteria from a few moments before remained, but of course it didn't.

She was glamoured again, this time by her own son.

Warm arms wrapped around him to pull him into a loving embrace when not long ago she had just pushed him away. He trembled like a leaf in her hold, shaking so hard that he may have just fallen apart had her arms not been there to keep him in one piece.

"My poor boy, don't worry, I'll hunt those bullies down and toss them in the well! No one hurts my sweet one." A kiss was pressed to his feathered temple, and Mhoirbheinn choked back a sob.

[arcxnumvitae]

Dreamy sigh

[arcxnumvitae]

Mhoirbheinn, chuckling: Reminds me of the time my brother hid a sewing needle in a pastry he offered me. Balmoral, horrified: I'm sorry what.