#they are farmers by trade too and never had a lot of money

[lexa-griffins]

How old is Saige when she receives her bunnies? How did she react to her new pets? I just love all the posts you tag with Saige and her cute bunnies 🥰

Saige is about five years old when she gets her bunnies. I've mentioned before that they are a gift from Lexa's parents because Lexa mentions to them how obsessed Saige is with Peter Rabbit lately.

They come to visit them with a covered basket and give it to Saige as an early birthday present. At first, Saige thinks the basket is her present, and she's so excited even for it because it means she can use it to pick flowers and pretty rocks. Grandpa laughs and tells her to look inside the basket and when Saige open the flap she squeals as two little noses move agaisnt her hand, both with a little bow around their necks.

There is screaming. The high-pitched scream of an excited little girl that makes everyone wince a little, followed by gigglies and "thank you thank you thank you" as Saige grabs the bunnies out of the basket. She is so so so excited for them and the moment she holds one of the bunnies gently in her arms she is crying softly and looking at Lexa with a pout and a "mommy i love them so much already." We are talking same reaction to when she held her twin siblings for the first time.

Now, the truth is Lexa and Clarke did not know the bunnies were coming. Lexa mentioned it to her parents because Saige's obsession reminded her of her pet bunny when she was a kid, she wasn't fully expecting her parents to come and drop two new pets on their laps. They have the space for them and they have promised to provide the good for the bunnies but it is still a surprise. However it is good for Saige to learn to take care of them since she shows little interest in helping care for the other animals they have and making the bunnies her sole responsibility (within reason for a 5 year old of course 😅) is a good thing in their eyes. It also brings Lexa back to her childhood and it does warm her heart seeing Saige hold the bunnies as her siblings surround her and she teaches them how to pet them correctly, even more so when her mom rubs her arm and tells her how Saige has the same spark in her eye Lexa did.

Now Lexa and Clarke did wish this wasn't a Madi and her chicks pt 2 because now they are back to checking under beds and in the closet to make sure Saige didn't sneak the bunnies in her bedroom at bedtime 😅

[diejager]

👉👈 imagine reader as a cow living in a nice farmer but because they doesn’t produce any milk than other cow, the owner was worry so they brought lot of Bulls (task 141, kortac) to chose as mate but all of them wanted the cow.

Credit to @frogchiro and @nymphany for this!

Pasture Cw: hybrid, mention of breeding, milking (milk and cum), SLIGHT DUB-CON, SLIGHT DARKFIC, tell me if I missed any.

Price, the gentle, bear-looking farmer, had initially planned to have you milked, his high-end and pedigree from an ancestry of HoJos spanning many generations that he bought for a high price, soft and plump in just the right areas. He heard from Kate that she and her wife had bought a couple of HoJos, making quite the profit on their milk, fatty and thick, but silky on the tongue. He wanted to have such luxury in his arsenal, a cute, little heifer that he’d milk for the sake of tasting and drinking it to fill his stomach with warmth until he decided to sell a few bottles.

He wasn’t in any need for money, he had enough to last the rest of his life without lifting a finger, but he liked keeping busy, work and routine beaten into his body from the military. He already had a business with the amount of bulls he bought, broad and sturdy, powerful hybrids that he could milk for their potent semen and labour. Most were obedient despite a bull’s temperament, listening to his orders like his subordinates would, following them to a T without a complain. But there was always that one who acted out, either from sheer cheekiness or mischief, he would reprimand them, punish them if it went too far.

He thought he’d experiment with you, his new little obsession he would coddle and pamper with a house of your own and an open stall. You were so well behaved that he could leave the house open to let you graze and sunbathe under the warm sun when you weren’t busy with him training you with various aspect of your new life as his prized possession. You were everything he could���ve ever wanted, obedient, gentle, soft-spoken and eager to please him, letting him suckle on your swollen and heavy tits, your ears flickering back and forth and tail wrapped around his thigh.

His only issue was that you had problems producing milk. You would produce trickles of it some days and a gush of milk the other, it was a disorderly affair that he sought to fix if he wanted to create a stable trade with you alone. When he brought the issue up with Kate, she told him that cows usually produced more milk after birthing, breasts heavy with milk and aching to be milked of it’s produce, thick and rich tasting to raise a little calf that he would soon sell than let them take your attention away.

“Introduce her to the bulls, they might help,” were the mind blowing words that Kate’s wife gave him, the cementing proposition that had him make his mind on the next step.

He introduced you to his bulls, bringing them outside of their stalls and letting them roam the fenced pasture beside yours, watching you lay under the sun and ears flick away a buzzing bug. They’ve seen other hybrids before, women especially, but have never shown any interest in of them. He feared he’d have to introduce you to another farmer’s hybrid (Price wanted to take thing into his own hands, but he didn’t know how you’d take it to his advances) if you didn’t catch their attention, bringing in a stranger to breed you.

Fortunately, they were quick to scent you out, seemingly riled up and pumping out more seed since he bought you, restlessly wandering in circles in their stalls to sate the need to get to you as fast as they could. Their eyes gleaming with arousal and nostrils flared to sniff you out, stalking to the edge of their pen, the metal unflinching to their harsh grip on the fence. They looked starved - possessed - with how eager they were to cross the barrier, hollering at you and trying to coax you towards their side of Price’s land.

Soap and König looked the most out of it, slumped over with deluded perversion of need and hunger, arms reaching for your seated figure, staring at the group of bulls with wide eyes. Nikto wasn’t any better, both he, Krueger and Ghost glaring down at you with vicious and burning eyes, lost in their minds of dark desires and corrupted dreams. Gaz and Horangi were softer, more hesitant to spook you, but they were as restless as the rest of their housemates. You were none the wiser, gazing at them with your pretty, doe eyes, meeting their eyes with innocent and a cute smile, always ready to please others.

Perhaps he should’ve acquainted you all before.

Taglist: @sae1kie @yeoldedumbslut @bvxygriimes @distracteddragoness @konigsblog @im-making-an-effort @daisychainsinknots @0alk0msan @danielle143 @tuttifuckinfruttifriday @notspiders @brokenpieces-72 @petwifed @randominstake @cassiecasluciluce @hayleybarnesx @shironasumi @sparky--bunny

[super-cosmic-library]

Camboy!Steve Harrington au, where Steve’s majorly successful and decides to treat his boyfriend, Eddie, like his sugar baby. He buys every nerd thing that Eddie expresses interest in.

Steve becomes a regular at the local gaming store, and every time there’s a new employee or customer who hasn’t met him yet, they’re going out of their way to flirt with him. He’s gorgeous AND he knows all about the things he buys? They are tripping over themselves to invite him to join their table top games. But he only knows about the products he buys (and why they’re important) because he loves listening to Eddie ramble on for hours about his interests, which older staff members and regulars know because they’ve heard Steve prattle on about his “baby.”

Even though it’s not his job to spoil Steve, Eddie wants to do it when he can. He loves his boy and the way he pampers him, so he wants to show Steve that he care about him too. So, using the allowance Steve gives him (because Steve insists on being the sole breadwinner so Eddie can focus on his creative talents), he goes to the farmers market to get the best and freshest ingredients he can find to make his boy’s favorite meals. There, he makes friends with all the grannies and the lesbians, trading recipes and gossip. It doesn’t hurt that that’s where his best friend, Chrissy works. She always hides something special for him behind the counter whenever she knows they have an important event or anniversary coming up.

He will also save some of his money up to by Steve special toys and lingerie for his videos. The fellas at the sex/smoke/CBD shop he always goes to are all making bets as to what type of person a guy like him is dating. One of the workers, Argyle, has a hunch that it’s an Only Fans streamer he subscribes to. After all, around a week after Eddie visits, the guy will post a video wearing similar lingerie or playing with similar toys to what Eddie had just bought. (Argyle only remembers his purchases because they spend a lot of time gabbing about this and that.) None of Argyle’s coworkers believe him when he posits his theory because although Eddie looks cool, he’s a total dork and could never pull someone like Steve. And if Argyle hadn’t been blazed out of his mind when it happened, he would have noticed a familiar looking tattooed wrist in the frame of one of Steve’s videos.

[spacealligator]

Uzushiokagure Headcanons

I did a similar post about Kiri and a anon ask got me thinking about making one for Uzushio too! Here are some world building headcannons for Uzushiogakure:

Geography

Uzushio is located in a place with high temperatures and high humidity

likely to be hit with tropical storms, hurricanes, monsons

constant singing of the cicadas as if it's always summer

scorching sun coupled with heavy rain that doesn’t appease the heat

there are no defined seasons, it’s always hot, sunny and rainy

the seas around Uzushio are very hard do navigate, it makes it hard to get to them

the island is located close to the forests of Fire Country coast, so they also have lush green vegetation in Uzushio

Architecture

houses have to be built to withstand recurring natural disasters

subterranean shelters for the tornados, though those also get flooded during the storms sometimes

heavy building materials like stone and concrete instead of wood for example, to withstand the storms

stone also helps with cooling the temperature inside the houses

streets are not paved in anyway to help with drainage, so it's nostly grass and dirt

circular and rounded buildings as a reference to the whirpool also help them withstand the strong winds

People (the Uzumaki Clan)

big chakra reserves, great lifeforce, a lot of energy, long lifespans

they are like that because they are so close in lineage to the Sage of Six Paths

during the warring states era the Uzumaki were known as the people close to the heavens and blessed by the gods

Uzumakis are mostly extroverts and fiery, like Naruto, Kushina and Karin, but Uzumakis like Mito and Nagato, that don’t follow most stereotypes still have that fire burning inside them, they won’t settle, they know what they want, are strongwilled, strongheaded, a bit stubborn and passionate, so really, it’s not because they aren’t loud mouths that they aren’t Uzumakis where it matters

big sense of community and family

even after the massacre of Uzushio, Uzumakis tried to flee together and stick together, building their communities and helping each other wherever they went

Religion & Spirituality

since they have so much chakra and are so close to the gods and the Sage of Six Paths, they're deeply religious people

tons of temples and shrines and little altars spread around the city for a variety of gods

there are small altars inside people's homes too

a lot of rituals bring the Uzushio people together, there are seasonal festivals, parties in honor of the gods, start of harvest season banquets, offerings, weekly meetings on the temple, there are several recurring events linked to temples and gods that make up for most of their social lives

because of that the city is always decorated for some sort of festivities, it’s always very bright and colorful, and even if someone doesn't worship that particular divinity or is not involved in that event, they will still go to the event and celebrate together

Economy

since they're so isolated from a geographical standpoint, trade is not big on the region

no merchant marine or trade routes established with other countries

very closed economy, meaning they had to become self sustained

a lot of farmers between them, since the climate and soil favors tropical vegetation

even if it’s an island, their economy doesn’t revolve around fishing only, because the Uzumakis like their meat, so they also have a lot of cattle, mainly pigs, goats and chicken

they are hired by different villages and people at a very expensive price because their shinobi are very skilled, and an Uzumaki shinobi is never on low demand

shinobi activity is what drives the city's economy

in second comes money from services linked to the temples such as talismans, exorcisms, blessings, burials and others

the money from shinobi missions are reverted to the civillians too, but in general there are no conflict between what civillians want and what shinobis want

Politics

the Uzukage is always chosen by combat, they must be the strongest shinobi in the village at any given time

democratic system of sorts, since at any time anyone can challenge the Uzukage, because they should be able to hold his own, otherwise, they weren't fit to rule the village any way

the challenge is always public, always in form of a battle and always needs to be accepted or you lose by default

there are no main families or branch members like the Hyugas have, the Uzumaki stand in equal footing with each other

but of course there are different groups and parties, with people trying to connect themselves with a poweful shinobi, hoping for them to achieve the position of Uzukage and do their wish

for example, when Uzushio alligned themselves with Konoha there were people in favor and against it, at the time Mito was the second strongest shinobi in Uzushio, so she chose to help strengthen the bond by marrying Hashirama

local politics are not based on blood or lineage, only in power and political opinions

regarding international affairs, Uzushio spent a lot of time defending themselves from attackers

it's mostly an easy thing for them, since Uzumakis are strong and the way to Uzushio is long and hard but there are always constant ruckus on the borders

Culture

wear a lot of traditional clothing due to their religious traditions

people refer to others by their first name, since most of the population comes from the Uzumaki clan, and also because everybody is close and not very shy

they have great handwriting from practicing writing seals and talismans so much

very wary of spirits and respectful of the desires of the land and its creatures

not afraid of ghosts, or the dark, or haunted houses, they are very serious about leading a life in harmony with all the forces at play, including spiritual ones

big on oral tradition and not so much on the written records because: first everybody knows stuff, knowledge sharing is common and encouraged, and second, the elders and professors would live very long, so they can teach the youth themselves, instead of writing it for posterity, and that’s why after Uzushio was attacked, a lot of knowledge was lost

a lot of nursery rhymes, lullabies, supersticions, old wives' tales and popular sayings are passed down to the new generations

they also read cards, stones, tea leaves, stars, palm lines, whatever there is to draw their luck on

big eaters, all that chakra and boundless energy means they need a lot of food to fuel themselves

their cuisine is all about abundance, a lot of protein and fat, always a big volume of food, a lot of seasoning, spices, condiments, and such, loud flavors

they don't focus on veggies, fruits and baking as much as i meat, warm dishes, broth, and of course lamen

they put a lot of meaning and importance in getting together for a meal, it's a core moment for the familiar and comunal lives

the city closes during lunch so everybody can go back home to have lunch with their families and/or friends and be together in quality time

festivals often have banquets or traditional dishes linked to them, along with competitions for the biggest eater, and Uzumaki are very competitive

they're also big in games: card games, mahjong, shogi, go, dominos, bocce, drinking games and so on

there are also games that are linked with specific festivals and times of the year

they're great drinkers because of their big chakra reserves

Shinobi World

shamanism and shinobi activities blur, priests and priestesses make for great shinobi and vice versa

most of the shinobi are sensors, even some civillians are sensors

specialized in sealing

focused on research knowledge about minor gods and yokais, that's why they have things like the reaper death seal and can summon shinigamis and spiritual beings

they hunt for yokais like goddamn pokemon, and the tailed beasts were just an extention of that

when Hashirama sealed Kurama in Mito, the sealing of tailed beasts were already under research by the Uzumakis and she was the one who volunteered for it, they just needed someone like Hashirama, the god of shinobi to activate the seal

[is-the-owl-video-cute]

Okay, first sorry for presuming you didn't work with children - the way you talked about them at first was really oversimplificated, easy to misunderstand.

About "using Third Wolrd countries as props", sometimes they pop in the middle of an argument out of the blue and with no nuance at all. Like "don't eat quinoa, eat meat!" - we export meat and the contidions of workers in slaughterhouses are AWFUL too. We plant too much things to export (both for animal feeding and people), and for the exchange farmers don't plant local crops anymore, prices rise, and stuff. Not to mention mineration. Almost everything produced here, specially most brute products, come from exploitaition. I don't think individual buyers interfere much, maybe organized though.

Or the parrot thing. Shelters here are full too, to the point of workers saying "please find a new home for this lost bird yourself." (Happened to a co-worker that found a lost, absolutely healthy, and clearly imprinted parrot).

And to be honesty the discourse of "undomable parrots" "the WILD!" sounds also fetishing to me. You see? It is still a open question. You say what you want about husbandry, but how *we* feel is still open. What Europeans did to parrots is fact, what we make from it? It's *our* turn to discuss and decide.

These are just random ideas. Idk how you will receive them.

Also, I'm amused by the idea that some comments threw "imagine until they know about unicorns or dragons" or "they are adad". I'm totally for imagination, and if I made understand I'm against it I'm sorry. I'm not *against* whatever dino toys, I just *wish* we had more variety than JP bootlegs, including pleasant and accurate critters.

What I will say to you is that my response to parrots is very US-centric because that is where I live and have experience and knowledge about the exotic pet trade on a first hand level and because that is what OP specified they were speaking on in the first place.

I am not speaking for your country because I have not lived there and you haven’t disclosed which country you reside in meaning I can’t give any assumption to what the situation is there.

The state of parrots in the pet trade in the US is that anyone can buy as many parrots of whatever species they want as long as they pay a lot of money to the seller. The seller very rarely does any kind of background check to ensure the buyer even knows what they’re doing or what the bird eats, they take money and they give bird. There is often no way to verify that the parrots were bred for health and good temperament, or even that they weren’t bred to parents or siblings. There is often very little transparency about what methods they were imprinted with, there are several types of imprinting and some result in a nightmare bird and others result in a very calm bird.

Because you can profit off of selling large quantities of parrots with unique patterns or colors, there are a lot of people breeding them in unethical ways to do so cheaply while selling at the highest possible price. This, much like the human labor and land exploitations you’re referring to, are just the end result of capitalism. Rich white countries like things cheap and convenient so they imperialize and leech off of countries they intentionally sabotage financially so they have to stay in line.

Because of the mindset Americans have towards convenience and instant gratification, they go to a store, see a parrot, buy a tiny cage, and bring the parrot home with a bell toy, dowel perch, and just whatever bag of generic “parrot food” they happened to grab on the way out. Then the parrot is loud or bites or never talks so they cover it with a sheet, release it into their backyard, or force it onto an already overcrowded rescue.

Every type of parrot has unique needs, but they at the very least should be able to fly, have others of their species to interact with, and bonding activities that don’t frustrate or upset the bird. So many parrots in the pet trade here have never actually felt the sunlight aside from through a window. So many parrot cages are designed in ways that lead to damaged feathers. So many parrot cages have no room for the bird to stretch their wings or even have a private place to hide.

My stance on parrots is at the bare minimum people should have to go through a similar process falconers have to go through before getting their first raptor. Falconers here must build an enclosure that meets guidelines approved by the state department of wildlife, they must pass an exam regarding the natural history, husbandry, equipment, and training of the animal. They must study under a master falconer for two years before becoming fully independent in the sport. If we held people to this standard and required it before they could buy a parrot, I would have far less complaints I’m sure. But that isn’t the case. Every parrot I’ve worked with was a rescue, and every one of their stories was heartbreaking. Yes, true, people will neglect any given animal because people can be cruel, but the vast majority of parrot owners are still keeping them in terrible caging, still keeping them all by themselves, and it’s still greatly encouraged to breed more and more which just gets parrots killed or dumped at a rescue.

[duchessofostergotlands]

Hi!

I want to start by saying how much I love your blog and your podcast! I love how balanced your answers always are!

I have a question but I’m not sure if you can help me, do you know if King Philippe of Belgium during covid asked the Belgians to eat more potatoes because they were producing too much of them?

Thank you in advance!

Thank you very much. That's really lovely to hear! Nice to know I'm not just shouting into a void (or at Grace lol).

I'd never heard this before and genuinely thought you might have had some kind of dream and imagined it! I can't find any reference to Phillippe saying it but I did find that the head of the potato growers' union did indeed say that during COVID. Belgium produces a lot of potatoes - it's a big thing in Belgium - and during COVID you obviously had closed restaurants and markets, disrupted trade etc and so they had a big stock pile of unused potatoes. This impacts farmers financially as they've already invested the money in growing the potatoes and then can't sell them and recoup the funds, hence the call out. As I say, I can't find anything about Philippe saying it. That doesn't mean he didn't, I don't follow him closely enough to know what he says in off hand comments at engagements. But it's much harder to find things in the foreign language press so someone said it, but if Philippe agreed or repeated the sentiment I can't find it.

[fly-sky-high-dragon-hoard]

Morning Hues Of Sky (He/She)

Slightly younger than his Big Sister Moon, MHOS was a city that was the largest hub for a trade, shops, markets and food. It functioned as a giant "mall" or rather an open market of different trades and a good place to come to spend and earn money for the ancients.

Being mostly filled with floors full of shops and stands, there wasn't a lot of apartment buildings but it had a lot of rails and entrances for the sellers to bring their goods and for buyers to arrive and leave. There is a living quarter bellow the level where some shop keepers did live but since there were agriculture fields and farms and such right next to the city, there was no need for all of them to stay there.

It was also those very farmers who named her Morning Hues Of Sky, indicating early starts of the day when most of the sellers were awake and setting up for another day of trade.

Nowadays, the city resembles those abandoned mall images taken over by nature due to time. Bunch of liminal space with sense that once lively place full of work is frozen in time and covered in plants.

Abandoned by the ancients, MHOS had a stage where he was angry and upset by the idea of being left behind, much like many of his siblings. With time, frustration faded away as he started to turn to what was present at the time, being the ever so evolving and developed creatures that started to inhabit the city.

Eventually she grew found of tribes of scavengers and how they developed, survived and grew among other animals. MHOS started taking interest in the development of messengers but then experimented personally with scavengers instead of slugcats, discovering their perks and cons in comparison.

MHOS himself is a playful iterator. While he wasn't like that at first, working hard with ancients around and then just growing angry as they disappeared. With the triple affirmative of SOS, he grew more frustrated and vain, snapping at fellow iterators in chat and spamming until he was either kicked out or left the groups on his own. Eventually took time to calm down turn to things that use to look unimportant and significant. Suddenly things were much brighter and fun.

At the moment the task of finding the great solution is put to side to focus on ways to stay in contact with siblings. She claims she is focusing on the task but that's not really the case and is lying to her siblings. After observing the critters around her domain, she settled on the idea of cycles existing for a reason and coming to accepting that if they were meant to escape the cycle of life and death then there wouldn't be cycles at all. There was suddenly comfort that lives will continue to exist even with ancients gone.

The Advocate AKA Ad (He/Him)

A personal experiment of MHOS, this scavenger was first grown of his kind to have mark of communication from birth onwards. MHOS is fairly attached to him but due to the experiments Ad is growing and ageing faster. He is a test subject to see how well he traverses and travels to carry signals for communication which he carries on his back in form of broadcast dishes, acting as a less effective but mobile antenna. He can understand MHOS but he can't speak back outside of body language.

Ad is a bit of grump, not exactly annoyed by anything in particular but his oddly built body and rapid ageing would result in exhaustion if he strain himself for too long so he dens between cycles often. He feels most comfort among other scavengers but never stays too long between packs and tribes to grow too attached to them. MHOS tends to drive him crazy with cuddles, which he is not a fan of at all as he use to be somewhat smothered with love and care by his iterator as young cub. Ad doesn't hate him but staying away and just being in contact via broadcasting and overseer is better.

The two "holes" on his head is how he "hears" the broadcasts.

Pup Emergency AKA PE or just Pup (???/it/its)

Little fella that was misplaced by its group of slugcats. Supposedly they are all fine but the pup has no idea where they left off to. With no proper sense of direction, it stumbled onto Ad and his mission of traveling to carry broadcast was temporarily put to side as MHOS called in the code: Pup Emergency. Ad is now its temporary caretaker in search for the slugpup group pup belongs to.

Very curious pup that doesn't seem to hold fear for a lot of things. Surprisingly good with a spear but ever since it met Ad it just hides behind bigger and stronger scavenger. Wanders off a lot, giving Ad a lot of scare moments because he knows he won't hear the end of it if something happened to the Pup while under his code and care.

Loves to eat centipedes.

[loominggaia]

If every FGG's dads fought who would win? (The moms probably shouldn't fight since Karenza exists)

This is a fun question to think about! First, let's see who we're working with here...(let's all assume they're in their prime)

Foster (Evan's dad): Big, tough, mountain of a man. Farmer by trade. Mean. Picks fights for fun. Gives no fucks.

Ekwame (Lukas' dad): Tall skinny guy. Skilled in archery but otherwise not very active. Lived an easy, privileged life and has never known struggle. Probably never threw a punch in his life.

Vingevar (Glenvar's dad): We don't know much about him except that he was big and tall like most Maskamar men. The Maskamar's culture is quite aggressive, so it's safe to assume he had some fighting experience like the rest of his people.

Sebastian (Alaine's dad): Wiry little dude. Was a drug-dealing thug in his youth but cleaned himself up later. Doesn't want any trouble, just trying to get by. Definitely had a lot of scraps in his day, but nothing serious.

Darshaan (Isaac's dad): Tall, well-muscled man. Raised by soldiers, highly skilled combatant, later became a mercenary. Peaceful until he's pissed off, then resorts to violence quickly.

Nemeto (Linde's dad): Tall, twiggy guy. Cowardly. Boat salesman by trade. Born into wealth. His only "active" hobby is probably golf or something.

Eindrid (Elska's dad): Huge guy with big muscles. Skilled in combat. Not the brightest, but he is quite kind and doesn't like to resort to violence unless he has no choice.

King of Tekee (Mr. Ocean's dad): Physically burly and magically powerful. Mostly chill, but has a dark side too. A bit arrogant, not very smart, and lacks awareness.

Adel (Zeffer's dad): Tall and lean. Barkeeper with a sketchy criminal history. Barkeeper by trade. Lots of experience wrangling unruly drunk people.

I think the King of Tekee would take an easy win here. Then again, he did get killed by a random spear-toss, so it's possible that one of the other dads could take him out by surprise.

Otherwise, I think Eindrid and Darshaan would give eachother a run for their money. Eindrid is a mighty centaur and Darshaan is just a spongy human, but I still think Darshaan could eke out a victory here, just because he has a lot more actual combat experience than Eindrid. Eindrid trained a lot, but didn't see any real major battles in his lifetime.

Behind them is Vingevar and Foster, who are almost evenly matched. Vingevar would be the better combatant and probably bigger physically, but I feel like Foster's sheer stubbornness and aggression would win him the fight. Vingevar is prone to running away from his problems, apparently, while Foster charges through them like a bull.

After them, it's Adel vs. Sebastian. They come from similarly rough backgrounds, except Sebastian took the high road and Adel stayed on the low road. Because of this, I think Adel would win. He fights dirty and he's genuinely vicious, while Sebastian's kind nature would cost him the fight.

Lastly, we've got Nemeto and Ekwame...Prepare to witness the saddest, sissiest little slapfight you've ever seen. Nemeto breaks his wrist punching Ekwame, and Ekwame cuts his hand on Nemeto's teeth. It's a tie because both of them tap out.

*

Questions/Comments?

Lore Masterpost

Read the Series

[headcanonsandmore]

Once and Future, Chapter One

Summary: Is disguising yourself as a young man a sure-fire way to get a job in the big city? Tegan, a young person from Cornwall, is about to find out. Only the big city is Camelot and she's becoming less concerned about the gender thing by the day. Oh, and this cute handmaiden called Nyssa keeps flirting with her? Anyway, all in a days work for Camelot's newest apprentice.

(Arthurian!AU with some fantasy elements mixed with distinctly Terry Pratchett-esque themes)

Tagging: @squirius @serenbex and @lonely-space-ace

~~~~~~~~~~

                           Read on FFN.                        Read on AO3. 

~~~~~~~~~~

It was about the socks, Tegan decided.

The way boys could stalk forward, the way they walked with a weird swing to their torso and limbs. Tegan had wondered for years why they felt the need to. It was definitely the socks jammed down the front of the trousers.

Tegan laced up her old boots, and gave herself one last look in the mirror.

The short haircut hadn’t been much of a change, to be honest. She had never liked having long hair, after all. In fact, she enjoyed the feeling of air on her neck. She had been a bit more concerned about flattening her chest but, somewhat to her annoyance, that hadn’t been much of an issue either.

Well, regardless, she glared at her reflection in the wonky glass, looking to all the world like a young man.

She had left a note to her parents, of course. Nothing that gave much detail; only that she was leaving to find a job and would send them almost all the money she earned.

The farm had not been doing well for years. The trade had really declined since the Romans had left Southern Britannia, even if the extent of their empire had never really much impacted on Cornwall. There hadn’t been large scale battles or lots of new cities. Just far more trade than previously; after all, the Romans liked their tin, and Cornwall was known for it.

Tegan picked up her bag, hoisted it over her shoulders, and set out through the door. Both her parents were out working in the fields, and wouldn’t return until lunch.

She sighed, and continued up the path.

The walk to the coast took her a good hour and a half. As her legs carried along the well-worn stone path, she could see fae creatures hiding just out of sight in the trees and fields. They didn’t bother her; Tegan knew better than to offend the fae. There was deep magic there that she did not want to cross. Every Cornish child was taught to be wary but courteous to the fae people, and with good reason.

As the time passed, the fields began to slope slowly downwards, and Tegan could make out little glimpses of the sparkling sea. She had been to the village before to help her parents sell what little extra crop they could grow. But she had never been on her own; she just hoped that no-one would recognise her.

Tegan’s boots stumbled beneath her as she arrived over the crest of the last hill.

The Celtic Sea glistened below her, with houses clutching the shoreline, boats bobbing on the waters of the port. Sunshine beat down from the immense sky. The strong winds ruffled through her short locks, and Tegan took a deep breath, savouring the taste of the Cornish air. She wouldn’t taste it again for a long time, she suspected.

‘Well,’ she said, softly, to herself. ‘Off we go, then.’

She set off down the hill and joined the road, dodging out of the way of carts weighed down with Tin from the mines heading to the harbour. The village was a lively place, full of trade and commerce. Some ships came from as far away as Hispania and Sicily, bringing goods and money in exchange for tin and other raw materials mined in Britannia.

‘Careful, lad!’ one old man declared, as Tegan dashed out of the way of another cart.

Tegan smiled and waved in greeting. If even people from the local area didn’t recognise her, then maybe she could fool the folks at her destination too.

The villages streets were even busier, full of loud voices and the bargaining of farmers and merchants from all over. Tegan could smell tin and fish on the wind, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up as the weight of where she was going finally settled in her mind.

Good grief, she would likely not be back in Cornwall -her homeland- for a very long time. The thought left her strangely tense, and she almost wanted to turn back. But it was too late; she had made her decision. Regardless, her parents farm needed the money, and she wasn’t going to make much staying at home.

There was a crash from nearby, and Tegan startled. Her mouth falling open, she noticed a short burst of flame rising into the air from a small courtyard away from the road.

Walking towards it, Tegan could hear the sounds of scrabbling feet upon the ground. As she entered the courtyard, she could see several cast-iron pens erected in the centre. An immensely tall woman, wearing a leather apron, was stood nearby the nearest one.

‘Sorry, young lad,’ she said, speaking with a cheerful and slightly posh accent. ‘Didn’t mean to scare you; Chubby does like his coal.’

‘Chubby?’

‘Here,’ the lady said, gesturing to the pen.

Tegan approached, cautiously. Inside the pen was a small reptilian creature covered in scales, with a long tail and large wings. It wasn’t much bigger than a dog.

‘Is… is that a dragon?’ Tegan gasped.

‘Well, swamp dragon,’ replied the lady. ‘Drakonis Vulgaris, to give the technical term.’

Tegan stared. The creature called Chubby stared up at her, mouth widening in a sort of smile to reveal sooty fangs. Once you got past the initial shock, the effect was actually rather cute.

‘Rescued him in a blacksmiths workshop on the continent,’ said the lady, frowning slightly at the memory. ‘Poor bugger wasn’t being treated well. I thought to myself; Sybil, you can’t leave this little chap here.’

‘You… you rescue dragons?’

‘Only the swamp dragons.’

‘There are more than these?’

‘Oh, yes,’ replied the lady known as Sybil, grinning. Tegan had a vague sense that she had been waiting to be asked this question. ‘You see, it’s theorised that dragons all originate from Drakonis Lunaris-that’s moon dragons to you and me- but Drakonis Nobilis are the most widely recognised. Sadly, they get hunted quite a lot nowadays and so stay away from populated areas. Swamp dragons are bit more friendly to people, though, although I suspect that humans stay away from them.’

Tegan stared down at the seemingly harmless creature in the pen.

‘What, are they dangerous?’ she asked, baffled.

‘To themselves more than anyone else, I’m afraid,’ said Sybil, sighing. She pointed down at Chubby’s stomach, which was gurgling away. ‘Swamp dragons aren’t really designed like their Nobile and Moon forebears. You see that stomach? They eat virtually anything, because they need to convert it into flames. But, well, one small bit of indigestion and… bye bye dragon.’

Tegan goggled. Now that she thought about it, she had heard tales of dragons blowing themselves up by mistake. She supposed that, if most people only heard about these types of dragons, it was little wonder that a lot of the awe for the species had disappeared. You certainly wouldn’t expect them to be taking maidens prisoner, that was for sure.

A species made exclusively out of runts of the litter, with stomachs like badly-run chemical factories. Poor buggers.

Tegan scratched Chubby behind the ears. The dragon gave a little burp.

‘He likes you,’ Sybil said, cheerfully.

Tegan felt rather pleased about this.

‘You seem rather good with dragons,’ said Sybil. ‘You wouldn’t like to help me with loading the pens up, would you? We’re heading for Hibernia.’

‘Sorry,’ Tegan said. ‘I’ve got another ship to catch.

‘Oh, nevermind then,’-Sybil shook Tegan’s hand-‘You sure I can’t tempt you? We’re always looking for young lads at the Sunshine Sanctuary.’

‘Unless you pay well, afraid not.’

‘Ah, money,’ Sybil said, nodding in understanding. ‘I see your point, Master… I’m sorry, I don’t believe I caught your name?’

‘Tegan,’ said Tegan, giving Chubby one last scratch behind the ears. ‘Thanks for the offer.’

With a final wave, Tegan headed out of the courtyard. Her ship wouldn’t be leaving for another hour, so Tegan decided to head to the village pub. She didn’t drink, but she could rest for a minute and take her mind off of things.

However, as she entered the pub through the side entrance (just in case anyone did recognise her), she could begin to hear the sounds of argument. Several men, by the sounds of it, and none too happy. Tegan froze in front of an open doorway, and peered round.

A young woman, of similar age to Tegan, was being accosted by several angry men.

‘You can’t break someone’s beer mug without paying for it!’

The woman stammered, seemingly terrified.

Without thinking, Tegan darted forward into the room.

‘Run!’

Tegan grabbed the young woman’s hand, and pulled her away, dashing through a doorway opposite and up a set of stairs.

Thinking quickly, Tegan elbowed through another door, and across to a window. Through it, she could see a large haystack below.

With one hand, Tegan pushed open the window.

She then turned to the woman, and her stomach seemed to turn over.

A pair of large, blue-grey eyes stared out of a pale, delicate face. A few tufts of curly light-brown hair were slipping loose from the hair-covering the woman was wearing. The hand clasped around Tegan’s own was achingly soft against her skin. A perfume of some kind hung around her, delicate and strong at the same time. There was an aura of deep, inquisitive intelligence mixed with deep compassion in the blue-grey orbs, through which Tegan could now see herself reflected. Tegan’s entire world seemed to alter on its axis as her eyes took in the young woman.

Beautiful.

‘Er…’ Tegan said, her brain frantically trying to form coherent sentences. ‘Jump?’

The woman nodded, squeezing Tegan’s hand.

‘Oy!’ came an angry voice from behind them.

The men were standing in the doorway. Tegan pulled a few coins from her pocket, and threw them across the room.

‘Have a drink on me,’ she cheeked.

Tegan and the woman jumped, without looking back.

The two landed in the haystack. Spitting bits of the stuff out of her mouth, Tegan helped the woman to her feet, and the two of them hurried away, hearing the sounds of yelling from the first floor of the building they had just escaped. The cobblestones clattered under the soles of Tegan’s feet. And here she was hoping not to attract attention…

‘Thank you,’ said the woman, as they hurried along. ‘I wandered off from my travelling companions, and got lost.’

‘Easy to do, if you don’t know the place,’ Tegan replied. ‘Are you waiting for a ship?’

‘Yes, I was hoping to reach-’

The two of them stopped, as the back alley they had hurried along had come to an end, running out into a busy street.

‘Oh, there is my physician,’ the woman said, pointing to a blonde man dressed in light-coloured clothing. She then turned to Tegan, squeezing her hand.

Tegan’s stomach flipped over.

‘Thank you for rescuing me,’ the woman smiled, cheeks dimpling.

‘N-no problem,’ Tegan stammered.

‘Er, what is your name-’

‘Sorry; have to go!’

Feeling her face burn, Tegan reluctantly dropped the woman’s hand and hurried away, running full-pelt down the road towards the harbour. Her heart was hammering in her chest. The young woman’s face -pretty and kind- was still firmly planted in her minds eye. Tegan’s stomach flipped over as she ran, the feel of soft skin still remembered on her hand.

What on earth was that?

                                                          *

 Sure enough, the boat Tegan had been hoping for was anchored at the dock. She sprinted aboard, tossing a few coins to the person waiting on deck.

‘Heading to Albion?’ the boy, barely a few years younger than herself.

‘Yep; when are we setting sail?’

‘Probably another half hour,’ the boy replied, scratching his ear with a dirty fingernail. ‘Waiting for some nobles of some sort-’

‘Yes; they’re on their way,’ came a voice from behind Tegan.

A knight had climbed aboard. He was tall, with short, well-groomed hair that matched the beard he wore. He wasn’t wearing standard armour, but instead durable, tough clothing. A scabbard, sword included, hung at his waist. A huge shield was strapped across his back.

‘Sir… Dynadan, was it, sire?’

‘Indeed, lad,’ replied the knight. Tegan now noticed that he spoke with the same Cornish accent as she did; sunny and true. ‘The nobles are currently in the village, but they request that we wait a few more minutes for them.’

At this point, he turned to Tegan.

‘Lad, I take it you are travelling to the citadel as well?’

‘Yes.’

‘A pleasure to meet you, er…’

‘Tegan.’

‘Good name. Er… Master Tegan?’

‘Yes,’ Tegan said, quickly. ‘What of it?’

‘Nothing,’ said the knight, cheerfully. ‘I just like to know what you’d preferred to be called. Politeness and all that.’

‘You two best head below deck,’ said the young boy.

‘Right,’ Tegan said. ‘I’ll just…’

‘I’ll join you, lad,’ said Sir Dynadan, clapping Tegan cheerfully on the shoulder. They crossed the deck, and climbed down the ladder into the area below it. The two of them then headed to a corner.

‘The nobles will probably stay in the posh rooms at the back of the ship,’ Dynadan said.

‘Shouldn’t you stay with them?’

‘I’m not their security,’ he replied, shrugging. ‘Besides, I like to keep my ear to the ground.’

Now, Tegan could hear the sounds of posh people speaking to the crew above, before the footsteps headed towards the back of the ship.

In time, the ship pulled out from the harbour, and into the waters of the Celtic sea, heading roughly north. To what, Tegan wasn’t entirely sure, but she knew it would be very different from the land she had grown up in.

                                                            *

 ‘So, Master Tegan,’ Dynadan said, leaning back against the wall. It was several hours later. ‘I take it you are also heading to the citadel?’

Tegan nodded. She was conscious that she probably shouldn’t reveal too much of her background, just in case she accidentally said something incriminating.

‘I’m hoping to find work,’ she said. ‘My parents farm need the money.’

Dynadan nodded, sympathetically.

‘There is work for young people like yourself,’ he said. ‘A knights squire, perhaps?’

‘Does it pay decently?’

‘Certainly more than you would get in Cornwall,’ said the knight. ‘There is far more wealth with the court.’

‘I’ll see what I can get,’ Tegan said. ‘Can’t imagine many knights would want some kid from Cornwall as their squire.’

‘Some may not, but they are neither here nor there. A knight is an admirable profession,’ Dynadan said. ‘Although I am biased.’

Tegan chuckled.

‘I’m not much of a fighter.’

‘Neither was I at your age; being a knight is about being scared but acting regardless.’

‘You fight for the love of courtly ladies?’

Dynadan let out a bark of laughter.

‘No; I leave that to my fellow knights,’ he said, grinning. ���Fighting for sport is not for me, as is the whole prospect of courtly love.’

‘Are you sure you’re a knight?’

Dynadan laughed again, and Tegan found herself blushing; she had spoken without thinking. Damn it! Why could she not keep her opinions to herself?

‘A smart knight, Master Tegan,’ he laughed. ‘A smart knight who uses his wits and intellect, not simply just his muscles.’

The face of the woman she had rescued earlier that day blossomed in Tegan’s mind, and she found her face flushing once again.

‘I… do not have a lady.’

‘That makes two of us,’ Dynadan said. ‘Although, unlike yours, my position is by choice, judging from your face?’

Tegan let out a groan, feeling her face already flushing scarlet.

‘No matter, Master Tegan,’ he continued, kindly. ‘There are many admirable women your age.’

‘Do… do you prefer men?’

Dynadan chuckled.

‘I prefer no-one,’ he said. ‘Romantic love has never been my interest; my friends and my comrades are who I protect. There are many forms of love, after all.’

Tegan nodded, as the knight cheerfully grinned.

After a hearty meal of meat sandwiches, Tegan and Dynadan eased back in their stools. Night was already drawing in.

‘I think you best get some rest, Master Tegan,’ Dynadan said, cheerfully. ‘We will arrive at our destination tomorrow, and I imagine you will need all your wits when we arrive.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘I have experience with this. Take my word for it, as a Cornishman.’

Tegan eased her boots off, and climbed into the hammock nearby. It would take a little while to get used to, but she wasn’t used to an especially comfortable sleep at home anyway (good beds were hard to come by in Cornwall these days).

After a while of ruminating on the events of the day, Tegan drifted off to sleep, feeling the ship sway to and fro in the waves.

                                                               *

 Tegan was woken up by the calls of the crew on the deck above. Grimacing, she awkwardly climbed out of her hammock. Dynadan was already washing at a basin nearby.

Tegan made her way to a small cupboard at the side, and got changed into a fresh set of clothes. They weren’t anything impressive, but she felt better wearing clothes that she hadn’t slept in. She wanted to make a good first impression when she arrived, after all. She hadn’t slept especially well, possibly due to a combination of the nerves and the novelty of sleeping on a ship for the first time. Whatever it was, she was glad to feel refreshed and renewed.

After re-emerging, she joined Dynadan in a few more sandwiches to break their fast. She made sure to belch a few times. Boys seemed to enjoy belching a lot, although Dynadan did not. Perhaps it wasn’t something knights were allowed to do.

Once they had finished eating, the two of them headed onto the deck.

Sure enough, they had arrived at the ships final destination. A bustling port, with warehouses lining the harbour. Tegan could already hear the calls of many people, crying for lines to be brought in, baskets to be carried, and boxes to be moved. She could even make out the snorts and grunts of animals of all descriptions.

‘Shouldn’t be more than a few hours walk to the citadel,’ Dynadan said, pointing inland. ‘It’s been a few months since I was last there, but I know the way well.’

Tegan nodded, feeling a sudden spike in nerves.

‘You’ll be fine,’ the knight said, somehow noticing this. ‘Just stick by me, keep your nose clean and don’t say anything rude.’

‘You give my control of what my mouth says far too much credit, sir,’ Tegan mumbled.

Dynadan laughed, patting her companionably on the shoulder.

‘I’m sure you’ll be excellent,’ he chuckled. ‘C’mon; time we were heading off. Need to get off the ship before those nobles wake up.’

After stepping off the ship, the two of them set off through the harbour, heading through the sea of people and eventually up the steep slopes of the hill. Even compared to Cornwall, this was a pretty tough climb, and Tegan was glad of the durable boots she was wearing.

After an hour of walking, a large forest loomed ahead of them. It was the sort of place that made someone hesitant to stray from the path, and Tegan was glad that they did not. She could hear sounds of animals in the trees, and even the tell-tale signs of the fae people. Keeping her eyes firmly on the path ahead, Tegan followed Dynadan in stony silence, although the knight himself did not seem to mind Tegan’s lack of conversation. Perhaps, as a Cornishman, he could also sense the magic around them. It wasn’t necessarily evil in nature, but it was certainly not completely benevolent either.

The forest was a massive place, and it took them another hour for the trees to begin thinning around them, small gaps of sun illuminating little clearings. The path turned a corner, and the two of them emerged from the forest. The sunlight hit Tegan’s eyes, temporarily blinding her. As she shielded her eyes with a hand, Tegan was aware that they had arrived in a valley, filled with dotted farmlands and villages.

And above them all stood-

Tegan’s mouth fell open.

An immense castle and city stood high above, on a huge hill that dominated the surrounding valleys. High walls stood, behind which were the tops towers and buildings, too numerous to count. The walls were so high that those guarding them seemed like ants at the top of a mountain. Birds seemed barely able to fly up that high. Multiple flags blew from atop each building, catching in the strong winds. Tegan could hear the noise of hundreds of people working, talking, laughing and living within, even from this distance.

The heart of the kingdom of Albion; Camelot.

‘Oh, my…’

‘Impressed, lad?’

Tegan turned. Dynadan was standing next to her, his eyes glinting as he stared up at the castle.

‘Er… yes.’

‘Still gets me every time,’ he said. ‘How could it not? You’d have to be pretty cynical not to marvel at it.’

‘I… I didn’t imagine it to be so grand.’

‘Bit of a change from that tiny place King Mark calls his palace back home, eh.’

Tegan nodded. She had never been to Tintagel but, from what she had heard, King Mark’s stronghold there didn’t have quite the same majesty as the enormous structure above her.

‘Come on,’ Dynadan said, clapping Tegan on the arm. ‘Time waits for no-one, after all.’

As they slowly made their way up the hill towards the citadel, Tegan was struck by how many people were also heading the same way. Presumably, the way Dynadan had suggested was something of a short cut, as the path leaning up the castle headed back along the other end of the valley, cutting round the forest in a loop.

‘Dynadan, my friend!’

A cheerful knight stood at the side of the main gate. He was wearing a full suit of armour, and had a weather-beaten kind face.

‘Percival!’ exclaimed Dynadan, shaking the man by the hand. ‘Good to see you; how goes it in the city?’

‘Oh, about as can be expected,’ Sir Percival replied, shrugging and making his armour jangle. ‘I believe the new physician is due to arrive today.’

‘We may have travelled on the same ship as him; this young lad Tegan is wishing for employment.’

Percival smiled kindly at Tegan, who was standing awkwardly to the side.

‘A pleasure to have you, Master Tegan,’ the knight replied, grinning.

As Tegan followed Dynadan into the citadel, she was unable to stop her mouth from hanging open in amazement. The place was absolutely packed with people of every description; Cornish merchants, travellers from across Albion, tribesman from the land west that the Romans had called Hibernia, merchants and traders from Gaul, even a few men in blue warrior-paint from the lands to the far north. Accents and languages of all descriptions were on every mouth, buffeting Tegan’s ears with their exotic and exciting tones. People were yelling across the streets out of windows above, houses packed in close to the streets, so that they blocked out some of the dazzling sunlight beating down from above. The cobbles beneath Tegan’s feet were surprisingly clean and well-maintained, as if the fae folk themselves were keeping them scrubbed. Garlands and streamers hung across the road from the houses on each side, many of the ground floor stories being used for shops selling everything from baked goods to fine pottery. There were the smells and noises from a market just out of side, and Tegan could only imagine the types of animals kept here for the court of such a wealthy and prosperous land.

Eventually, Dynadan led her up toward another gate, and Tegan’s mouth open again at the castle that rose behind it, covered with turrets and flags. It seemed almost supernaturally impressive, so much so that Tegan began to suspect the work of the fae folk once again. But she didn’t say anything, mainly because of the awe rising within her once again.

Dynadan nodded cheerfully to the knight at the gate, who smiled in return and let them both pass.

The central courtyard was enormous. Bunting stretched from the windows of one side to those on the other, and everywhere were large banners, illustrating the various knights of the round table. Men and women of the court were clapping, as musicians entertained them.

‘Dynadan!’ called several of the knights, and the Cornish knight grinned, waving a hand.

‘Hello, my friends!’ he exclaimed. ‘It is most welcoming to be back in Camelot; I’m glad to see that you have not accidentally dissected each other whilst jousting in the intervening time!’

Laughter erupted from the knights and onlookers.

‘Oh, before I forget,’ Dynadan declared. ‘Does anyone wish to have a young lad to be apprenticed to their household?’

The other knights shook their heads.

‘Very well,’ Dynadan replied, turning to Tegan. ‘Master Tegan, I would be honoured to apprentice you within my household.’

‘B-but,’ Tegan stammered. ‘A-are you sure-’

‘I’ve seen you’ve got something to prove, and you have a quick mind,’ Dynadan grinned. ‘A perfect fit for my household. We are few, but you will be well-cared-for and paid well.’

Tegan bowed quickly, stammering her thanks.

‘I am very happy to have you in my household,’ Dynadan said, formally shaking Tegan’s hand. ‘Don’t worry; I’ll teach you everything you need to know.’

‘Except for finding a lady of affection!’ a knight in the crowd called.

‘No matter,’ Dynadan said, without a pause  as he turned to address them all. ‘Master Tegan will just have to avoid what you do, Lancelot, and he will be fine.’

There was an outbreak of laughter from the assembled knights, including Lancelot himself. There was clearly a lot of affection between them all.

A door opened at the side of the courtyard, and two people emerged. A man and a woman, both wearing rich clothing and crowns. The people of the court went very silent. Tegan found herself stood next to Dynadan in a spot in the second row of people.

King Arthur and Queen Guinevere arranged themselves on the two thrones, raised from the floor on a small dais in front of an old tree that was losing its leaves. Their clothing was not especially practical, Tegan observed. It seemed more designed to be looked at than to wear. She supposed it come with the job. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to wear anything like that as part of her new role.

‘My lords, ladies and gentlemen,’ Arthur said. He was an older man, with specks of grey in his beard. He spoke with an accent that was at home in the land of Albion. ‘Thank you all for coming. Let the court session commence.’

Guinevere turned to her husband, and whispered in his ear. Nodding, the bearded man continued.

‘And we have a newcomer. I present to the court Nyssa of Traken, the newest handmaiden of Queen Guinevere.’

A woman stepped forward out of the crowd, curtsying to the two people sat on the thrones. She was pretty, with a few tufts of curly hair slipping out of the hair-covering she was wearing.

Tegan’s heart stuttered.

It was the woman she had met earlier in the village. Everything from the bright, kind eyes to the curl of brown hair slipping out from the head covering was exactly the same.

‘A pleasure to meet you,’ Queen Guinevere said, smiling. ‘Tell me, how is the kingdom of Traken at present?’

‘Much the same as ever, your highness,’ said Nyssa of Traken. ‘Peaceful and full of intellect.’

‘A good ally to have,’ Arthur nodded, approvingly. ‘We are touched that your father finds Albion such a worthy place for his only child.’

‘And I have honoured to be welcomed here.’

The young woman’s eyes swept through the assembled onlookers, and settled for a second on Tegan. Their eyes met, and Tegan felt a swooping sensation in her stomach.

Oh, no.

                                                          *

  Well, Tegan thought, as she followed Dynadan through the corridors of the castle, that was terrifying.

Nyssa of Traken had definitely recognised her. Well, hopefully, Tegan wouldn’t be interacting with her much anyway; she doubted a random apprentice with Sir Dynadan’s household would be called upon to help the Queen’s handmaiden.

Weirdly enough, the thought didn’t cheer Tegan up.

‘I think we best have you checked over by the court physician,’ Dynadan said, looking over his shoulder at Tegan.

‘W-what?’

‘Oh, nothing extreme,’ Dynadan said, quickly. ‘Take your temperature, a few physical tests for your strength, etc.’

‘O-okay,’ Tegan said.

Dynadan pushed open a door. There was immediately a chorus of people calling his name.

Tegan followed him in.

The room was fairly large, with long columns at regular intervals. There were huge bookcases stacked against one wall, with various desks dotted around, each covered in medical paraphernalia. It was the platonic ideal of a physicians laboratory, which was presumably why the place was so messy and so very busy. By the huge windows, Tegan could see various star charts and telescopes. Was… was that a sketch of Moon Dragons?

A crowd of people were stood around Dynadan, all taking turns to shake his hands.

‘Tegan, this is Quinque, our newest physician,’ Dynadan said, turning and gesturing to a man dressed in cream-coloured robes made of a pinstripe material. A light hat adorned his head, under which was a tidy mop of blonde hair. He had the air of a quietly bemused father.  

Tegan bowed quickly.

‘Oh, don’t stand on ceremony,’ the physician said, cheerfully. ‘A pleasure to meet you, Master Tegan.’

He pulled a thermometer from his pocket and handed it to Tegan.

‘Put this in your mouth, please,’ he continued, before dashing over to a table and grabbing a book and a pencil. ‘Now; Tegan, your age?’

‘Er…’ Tegan said, the thermometer bobbing awkwardly around in her mouth. ‘I’m eighteen, sir.’

The physician nodded, scribbling this down.

‘Any prior illnesses, medical maladies or history of disease?’

‘No.’

‘Jolly good,’ Quinque said, noting this all down as well. ‘In this case, I’ll pass you over to my colleague Tredecim for your physical checks.’

He turned, calling over the room.

‘Tredecim?’

There was a sound of recognition, and a blonde person poked their head out of a cupboard. They were wearing a long, pale cloak with a hood, and seemed to be wearing a pair of trousers held up with braces.

‘Heya!’ they said, darting forward and shaking a startled Tegan by the hand. ‘Nice to meet you; you need a medical? Me ‘n Yaz will sort it out-’

‘Easy,’ said a young woman, who darted across the room and promptly eased the blonde away from Tegan.  ‘Stop scaring ‘em.’

The younger woman turned to Tegan, shaking her hand in a far more calm manner.

‘My name is Yasmin; Yaz, to my friends.’

‘Nice to meet you,’ Tegan replied, as Tredecim was handed the notes that Quinque had already collected.

Yasmin led Tegan by the hand into a small alcove at the side of the room, and Tredecim closed the dividing curtain behind them.

‘If you could just take your top off,’ Yasmin asked, already pulling out measuring tapes. ‘We can check your vitals and make sure you’re healthy. Can’t be too careful with a citadel with this many people. Since the Romans left, diseases have started to spread a lot quicker.’

‘T-take my top off?’ Tegan stammered, pulse shooting up. ‘I… er…’

‘Oh, just the top layer,’ Yaz elaborated, smiling. ‘No need to be embarrassed.’

‘R-right…’

Tegan took off her shirt, revealing her shift underneath. If either Yasmin or Tredecim noticed anything, they didn’t comment on it. Yasmin placed an ear trumpet to her own ear before placing the other end to Tegan’s chest, listening to her heartbeat.

‘All seems fine,’ she said, as Tredecim noted this down in Tegan’s notes. The young woman removed the ear trumpet and picked up a wooden instrument instead. ‘Tegan, please open your mouth.’

As Tegan did so, Yasmin put the short wooden digit into her waiting mouth, and pressed down on her tongue.

‘Say ahhh…’

Tegan obliged, feeling a little embarrassed.

‘Looks healthy,’ Yasmin said. Tredecim was bent over the ledger, continuing to write down notes with a quill. ‘No inflammation, teeth are all accounted for, gums are fine…’

She removed the digit, and Tegan closed her mouth.

‘I’d say that gives you a medical pass, Tegan,’ Yasmin grinned. ‘Just let us know if anything else crops up.’

‘Okay,’ Tegan said, still a little overwhelmed. ‘Thank you.’

‘Our pleasure!’ said Tredecim, grinning widely and throwing an arm around Yasmin’s shoulders. ‘Happy to help!’

Yasmin chuckled, and pulled the curtain back. Tegan then crossed the room to where Quinque was standing, and Tredecim duly handed the blonde man the ledger.

‘Sorry this is a little ad-hoc,’ he said, speaking to Tegan again. ‘But I do need to check on the tree.’

‘Er… tree?’

The blond man turned to Dynadan, shooting him a quizzical look.

‘Have you not explained our current predicament yet?’

Dynadan sighed, as he gestured to Tegan to follow him and Dynadan out of the room. Tegan gave a quick smile to Yasmin and Tredecim, who replied in kind.

As they headed through the labyrinthian halls, Dynadan turned to Tegan.

‘I was rather hoping we could discuss this later on today,’ he said. ‘But I suppose that this is as good a time as any. And you will probably hear it from someone regardless in the next few days.’

‘Er… what is it?’

‘I’ll be frank with you, Tegan; Camelot’s magic is dying.’

Tegan stumbled, her boot slipping on the stone floor beneath her feet.

‘D-dying?’

‘Yes,’ Dynadan said, and here Quinque let out a heavy sigh. ‘It’s… well, it’s probably best to show you…’

They had emerged into the main courtyard once again, but the crowds had gone. It was silent, except for a couple of other apprentices playing with one of the castle dogs.

Tegan followed the two men towards the raised dais, darting around it to stand in front of the old tree. Tegan hadn’t spared much thought to it earlier, but… did it look even older now? She could have sworn that it had more leaves even barely one hour earlier.

‘The tree of Camelot,’ Dynadan said, sadly gesturing to the withering branches.

Quinque sighed, hands on hips as he stared at the leaves littering the ground.

‘The tree is dying,’ he said, quietly. ‘It cannot keep going with only Lady Fay’s magic supplying it. It needs the other half of the two sorcerers as well.’

‘Merlin,’ Dynadan elaborated, for Tegan’s benefit.

Quinque nodded.

‘They’ve been missing for months,’ the physician said, now pulling various instruments from his pockets. He set to work, measuring the girth of the tree and the strength of the branches. ‘I estimate… maybe a few weeks more, at most. The leaves are slowly turning brown and dropping off; the more of them die, the worse the decay gets. Already, Camelot’s magic has depleted by half since Merlin first went missing.’

‘You suspect Mordred?’

Tegan looked between the two men.

‘Who is Mordred?’

‘My son.’

Tegan swung around. An older woman was standing nearby. She was tall, with commanding, strong eyes and a shock of bright red hair. The resemblance to the king was uncanny; this must surely be-

‘Lady Fay,’ Tegan said, bowing quickly.

‘A pleasure to meet you, Master Tegan,’ she said, smiling kindly. ‘And, yes, I am sad to say that this whole sorry state of affairs has likely been caused by my own son.’

A herald arrived, calling for Dynadan, who duly followed them away.

‘Mordred… well, he used to be a knight of Camelot, but his mind has been warped by jealousy and pride,’ Lady Fay elaborated. ‘He considers himself the true heir of Camelot, and wishes nothing but to kill Arthur and seize the kingdom from him.’

‘I am Arthur’s twin sister, you see,’ she elaborated, seeing Tegan’s confusion. ‘Arthur was the oldest by a few minutes, but Mordred has it in his head that I was the oldest and therefore the crown should fall for me and my heirs… therefore, Mordred believes the crown to be rightfully his. Unfortunately, during his youth, before his traitorhood became known, he studied under Merlin; he knows magic, but he went searching for more in dark places…’

Tegan didn’t say anything, but listened as the older woman continued.

‘I wish I knew where Merlin was,’ Morgan said, her eyes anxious. ‘I miss them so. Even with my magic, I have no way of ascertaining where they are. For all I know, Mordred could have captured them, tortured them, or… or…’

The grand lady looked away, her eyes twinkling with tears.

Quinque placed a supportive hand on her arm.

‘Merlin can handle anything,’ he said, earnestly. ‘I’m sure they’ll find a way to make it back to Camelot.’

‘I hope so.’

‘Master Tegan!’

Tegan turned. Dynadan had stepped back into the courtyard and was now walking across to where Tegan was stood with the Lady Fay and Quinque.

‘Congratulations, Master Tegan,’ he said, grinning as he came to a stop in front of her. ‘You are promoted; having been recommended as an apprentice squire to me.’

‘A… a squire?’ Tegan repeated, dumbstruck. ‘But… who would…’

‘The handmaiden to the Queen gave her own personal recommendation as to your abilities,’ Dynadan continued, a rather knowing look in his eye. ‘Stating that you rescued her from a band of dangerous men, and led her to safety.’

‘H-handmaiden?’

Dynadan stepped to the side, revealing a young woman stood behind him, and Tegan’s heart seemed to fail.

It was Nyssa.

‘Master Tegan; meet Nyssa of Traken.’

Nyssa smiled, curtsying prettily.

After a pause, in which Tegan goggled at the woman, she quickly did a bow, her face already turning red. Oh, by the gods, this was not good. The last thing she needed was a crush on a handmaiden of the queen-

‘A pleasure to meet you again,’ Nyssa said, her face dimpling. ‘Er… Master Tegan, was it?’

Oh, no, Tegan thought. Her stomach seemed to drop several inches.

Oh, no.

~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading, everyone; hope you enjoyed the first chapter! This series has been a long time coming, so I’m really glad to finally start publishing it! 

[1armed-and-dangerous]

Hello! What is a simple way to meet your muse? (aka, places they frequent, activities one could meet at, etc.)

This is a harder to answer question than you might initially think. Bucky isn't the social butterfly he was in his youth, but he isn't a shut-in either.

That being said, here are 10 places you could bump into Bucky:

He frequently hosts roof-top community gatherings at the apartment building he most frequently calls home. A unit Barton generously offered when Barnes was still trying to re-integrate into 'civilian' life. It shouldn't be surprising to know that there are probably half a dozen down-on-their-luck or trying-to-fly-under-the-radar ex SHIELD operatives, Government Agents or 'super-humans' living there, too. There is an unspoken pact between them all that it is their job to keep the ordinary people living there safe. They bump into eachother in the hallways and stairwells or during the community activities.

SHIELD HQ - Barnes has not really settled into Civvie life well and contracts out. Natasha and Barton (among a handful of others he's gotten to know) reach out when they feel they need a little help or he's meeting someone for lunch.

He frequents several restaurants and grocery stores (mainly in the less touristy parts of the city). Small mom & pop shops in Little Italy, Chinatown, etc. He hits the farmer's markets and small ethnic food and specialty shops when he needs to put food in his home and on the weekends he will sometimes work the booth at the local farmer's market that his apartment community run. He started a rooftop garden as a hobby and they have contributed and continued to maintain and grow it in his absense. They sell the excess from the food garden to raise money that goes to a community pool for things they couldn't otherwise afford. Hospital bills, car payments, phone bills, etc.

A local vet office - he has a cat whose health he takes very seriously. He also volunteers some of his time to local shelters.

Cat cafe's - he has a soft spot for felines and the vibes at these sort of places are right up his alley. Coffee & Cats? Perfect.

He sometimes hits up the bar downtown by the SHIELD HQ for Karaoke nights. He doesn't make it a habit to be super social, but he does his best Aragorn impression and picks a nice, shady corner to brood in.

Library - He's got a lot to catch up on and he is all about supporting community services like the Libraries. Where else can he catch up on a century of movies, music, television shows, written word all in one place? Alternatively, he's a frequent bookstore goblin and when he finds something he has to have on his shelves, he inevitably gets distracted by all the other things in the store.

Local Game Store - He hasn't found a group yet, but he'd be down for DND or tabletop war-gaming. Mostly, he collects dice (because he feels weird going in without actually buying anything) and watches the local history buffs move little plastic figures around on a table.

Shooting Range (both mundane and at the SHIELD training facility) - He is a super-soldier, yes. But he likes to keep himself sharp.

Gym - as above. He might not -need- to workout as much as he does, but it gives him an outlet for a lot of the things he needs an outlet for and the little gym available at Barton's is nice for those late nights he doesn't feel like going out, but an actual gym suits his needs better.

(BONUS): Boxing School/club - he never lost his love of boxing, even though he had to trade it in when he joined the WW2 efforts. He doesn't compete because it would be unfair, but he trains regularly.

[foodandfolklore]

Tale of Three Magic Pumpkins

I find this story interesting because this folk tale comes from India. Pumpkins are native to North America. So is this just a newer story? Not necessarily. It seems India has been growing and eating Pumpkins or "Kaddu" since 645 AD. Almost 1000 years before the North Atlantic Trade routes were set up between Europe/Asia and the New World. So how did India get Pumpkins? Well, the story is the gourd and it's seeds just washed up on shore one day. But that's not the story being told today. I've heard this story a few different times, so this is my own retelling.

Three Magic Pumpkins Once, there were two brothers. The first brother always thought about the long term and married a woman with a big family and lots of money. The other brother wore his heart on his sleeve and married for love, even though she was an orphan with no wealth. The two lived their lives, but life was not easy on the poorer brother. Though the brothers grew up as equals and friends, they eventually parted ways after a big fight. The richer brother became so angry that he told his poorer brother to never step foot in his house again. One spring came, and the poorer brother did not have any seeds to plant. Not a single crop. He feared for him and his wife and the hardship of winter. His wife suggested he go ask his brother for help. She was optimistic he would be kind and help. But when the poorer brother went to the Richer brother and explained his situation, the Rich brother just reiterated that he did not want him in his house ever again. Sad and defeated, the poorer brother went home. His wife comforted and assured him things will get better. The next morning, as he was making his rounds, a large gust of wind knocked a nest out of place. All of the birds in the nest died, except one. This bird had a broken wing and could not fly. Feeling pity for the bird, he took it with him and started to nurse it back to health. He splint the wing to help it heal, gave it water and kept it warm. After it was healed, the poorer brother let the bird go and it flew away. However, to his surprise, it soon came back to deliver three seeds. He and his wife were overjoyed at these three seeds. Now they can plant them and be real farmers! They planted the seeds in their vegetable garden and soon, vines and leaves started to grow. Before the fall, three massive pumpkins had grown. The pumpkins were so big, the Brother needed his wife's help to carry just one. She suggested they eat one then sell the other two. He agreed and grabbed an axe to cut the massive pumpkin open. But when the pumpkin opened, food of all different types poured out. Enough to last for years to come. His wife then suggested they try opening the other two pumpkins. So, he again took his axe and split the second pumpkin. From there, many silk and embroidered garments burst out. Enough to dress the entire village. Finally they opened the third pumpkin; silver and gold coins rained out. So many it was impossible to count. The poor brother was no longer poor. He no longer needed to ask his Rich brother for anything. But when the Rich brother found out, he became extremely jealous, and wanted to learn how his brother came into such good fortune. So he sent his wife to talk with his brother's wife. She was all too happy to tell the story of the hurt bird who left them three seeds and the treasures that were in them. In the following spring, the rich brother found a nest of baby birds. He knocked the nest down himself with a stick, and killed all but one bird. He took that one bird, broke it's wing, then took it back home to care for it. He made sure to take very good care of this bird, letting it rest on the softest pillows and giving it the clearest water to drink.

Finally, the bird was able to fly and the rich brother let it go. After some time it came back with a single seed. Excited, the rich brother planted the seed. From it sprang a large vine with many flowers; but only one pumpkin grew. Still the brother could hardly wait for autumn to come, as he stood guard each night to prevent someone steeling his pumpkin. At last, the pumpkin was ripe. He and his wife brought the pumpkin inside. But as soon as he struck the pumpkin with an axe, it exploded with fire and flames. The house they were in burned down, as did the barn and any other crops. The entire property was scorched black, and everything they owned was gone.

The rich brother was no longer rich. He was too ashamed to ask his brother for help. He instead succumb to a life as a beggar, roaming the world hoping for a kind gesture.

[sldlovescartoons]

I know this old-ish, but I’m doing it anyway. I have a headcanon about this. Like yes, he was being dramatic and also pay might have increased over the decades-

I think that Leofric didn’t get to serve long. So he didn’t have time to build a proper pension up. He only served a couple years before getting a neck injury that left him unable to serve and made farming difficult. So he goes home to his new wife, spends most of the money he had saved on a small home and land where they could grow beans. Besides the fact he could afford a lot of land, he had something like mild nerve damage. Most of the time it was mild weakness in his extremities but it got painful with too much activity or when it got cold. He could work the fields, but not much. Not enough to cover more than the very basics. He tells his son lots of stories of his time serving, and probably of their family serving too. Una does favors for the neighbors for their own services or petty coin. Mending cloth, things like that.

Little Caleb was scrawny, he didn’t have the strongest constitution. But he was smart and charming and was great at using it to get what he wanted. Was clever enough to get most simple tasks down quickly. Little Bren, he never let anything bother him. Couldn’t afford books? He’d charmed the local librarian into letting him stay and read all day. He’d convince you to give him some food in exchange for some service. Bren glided through problems that his situation presented like they were nothing (“They say I glided through life”), and everybody was so excited. They had three little sparks (cause, you know, Astrid and Wulf), and he was going to lead the pack as the brightest. Show their town was more than farmers and retired soldiers working trades.

But it didn’t go so well.

Ah. Opps, got away from me again. Sorry

Also in regards to the Caleb and Jester and money conversation, I've always liked to think Leofric was more an injured veteran of the righteous brand than actively a soldier when they were raising Caleb (which now I'm thinking about it I don't think there is any evidence for so who knows why I assumed that was a thing) but that could also be a potential explanation for why Caleb thinks that much gold is a lifetime's worth for his family as I can't imagine the empire having a good veteran support system in place?

That's an interesting headcanon. I always hc'd Caleb being a sickly child. Fine in the long run, but would never be any sort of physical fighter. His parents were still loving and supportive, although they were thrilled when they realized Caleb could climb out of poverty and serve the Empire with his intellect.

But wrt your headcanon, Leofric did not seem like an active soldier in the origin comic. At the very least, he seems retired, but forced retirement due to disability fits in nicely.

[readingstufffff]

Where Red Meets Blue In The East

Okoye x OC Valentina

Warning:(Includes sensitive info)

Chapter 1 - kind of a prologue but not really :)

Next chapter

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I never thought I would have ended up here separated from my family and on the verge of death. I always thought it’d be something worse, left to starve, eaten alive, maybe even torn apart. However, the plans the gods had for my life never seized to utterly surprise me.

I could feel the cold ground beneath me. My mind fuzzy and my body weak, I could hear my heart beating in my ears, and the brisk night air. Everything around me moved so slow, it was making me dizzy. The numbing pain running through my body weakening my ability to think clearly as I grabbed at anything near me. I felt so scared, but giving up felt like the best thing to do right now. My only clear thought being that of a calm endless sleep far away from the pain I felt. Not only on my physical body, but also the never ending replay of nightmares that plagued my head. A sleep where maybe I would be reunited with my parents and younger sister. A place in which the gods would allow us to be a family once more.

Then again life’s never been fair with me.

The moment my life began to go down hill was when I had just turned sixteen. Turns out being gifted by the god Tezcatlipoca wasn’t at all how I’d thought it’d be. My parents and I weren’t special as we were simply villagers, farmers that had a routine in our society. We never wished for anything outside of that routine let alone to be “blessed” by such a god. Then without warning on the morning of my sixteenth birthday I was given the very gift to manipulate power in any form imaginable. Being so week at that age I had absolutely no control of such a strong power. My power turned to destruction. Soon word spread quickly that A kid with such a gift existed, and everything in my life tumbled to the ground like mere pile of rocks.

I was soon separated from my parents and little sister in a savage manner. Ripped from the arms of my crying mother and not being able to say goodbye to my father. I was caged then taken to many buyers, horrible people with money, who wanted to use me as a party trick or for their rich fancy party friends. My traffickers never disclosed the details of my powers to anyone as they did not know it themselves. So, I was glad that I was never bought as a weapon. Many times I made appearances at rich kids birthday parties. My name, Valentina Siuapilli, helped with the names they gave the shows. My name meant “Strong princess”. The markings on my skin, my glowing eyes as I did floating tricks, and my native tongue made me that much more exotic to these people. They treated me like a simple party animal. The only good side of those parties is how I was able to learn English by listening to them as they spoke around me throughout the years. They angered me so much at times and that would cause me to lose control of my power. I quickly learned how to calm myself if that were to happen again and I was able to keep the markings on my body from turning blue. Which was not too difficult as they only appeared when my emotions were out of control and oddly enough breathing through it does help. A lot.

Soon enough I was old news to them. A one trick pony as they hated how I had learned to speak English. They said I wasn’t so exotic anymore and that my tricks were boring. I was glad I never had to perform for those brats again. Unfortunately a couple years later, when being traded off I landed in the hands of a group of scientists. By now I was at the ripe age of twenty-five. I was older now could understand more and these scientists were not the good kind you see on tv.

They experimented on me in many ways: blood samples, energy levels, and they tried to touch me in ways I do not wish to remind myself of. Luckily I used my power in those moments and never let them get to far. I know I could have freed myself many times, but every time I was bought or simply passed on to a knew owner they were given the location of my family. I could do nothing but play my part until I could make sure my family was out of harms reach.

Life apparently had other plans for that too…

Not long after, the scientists gained control over a couple of other kids. Some younger some older. It pained me too see their tired faces, helpless looks in their eyes, they had given up. And I soon found out why, though I wished I didn’t because it was far worse than any pain I could have ever received.

One by one every kid or teenager was taken a blood sample of. Then sent into their own individual capsules. I did not like these scientists but I was curious, and when I questioned why we were all being put in capsules my question was met with a grin. A grin that had haunted me every night even now. My heart sank, and everything went silent. My body numb. No longer feeling the sting of the needle in my forearm. My head slowly dropped as a man walked me towards an open capsule. Looking up and remembering my surroundings my body reacted. I ran put was quickly caught and shoved into the plastic looking tube, but when I tried to used my powers it was no good. Over and, and over, and over again, I wailed and screamed at the man who smiled back at me on the other side. I hated the grin that was still plastered on his face.

I was terrified. I had just been told we would all be frozen so we could be preserved forever. I didn’t want to die this way! Then it clicked… what about my family. I banged on the glass harder begging the man through teary eyes to let me out as the salty drops of water hit the metal ground. I begged and pleaded. The palms of my hands turning red and my blue markings starting to glow. I told him I wanted to see my family that I couldn’t die yet. His grin became wider more sinister. His words nearly caused my death alone.

They were dead… they had been killed as soon as I was handed off to these men.

Tears now rushing out like a waterfall no sound came out of my mouth as I hit the back of my now cage. My body slowly slid down as I hugged my knees. My body quivering as a couple of short and shaky breaths left my body. My markings dimmed for a moment. I could not believe it. Were they really gone? No. He surely just wanted to torment me. Right? I shook my head hugging my knees tighter to the point I could rip the the old shags these men had given me. I didn’t want to loose my parents. Then the thought of something worse hit me harder than ever when I realized my sister could be dead too. I could no longer breath, my eyes wide and tears still falling. I started to sob my cry’s slowly increasing. And my markings increasing in glow. I tried to hold back but, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I let it all out ripping my pants where my fingers squeezed. Drawing blood with my finger nails. I screamed as loud as my voice allowed me too. Letting my markings fill the room with a blinding blue light. Slowly I felt cold, my eyes started to droop. It was difficult to stay awake; then without any warning it all went black. At least I left without pain, or at least I thought I had died that day.

I didn’t. I wish I did. That however, was not the case. I was awoken a hundred years later, not by choice, a group of armed men found us in the forgotten lab. The scientists left us for dead apparently. No sign they would come back for us. And just like that the few of us that were able to come back from the ice were taken and once again sold. This time I was sold with two other boys to three men which abused us. They beat the boys almost killing them and I couldn’t do anything either. I didn’t have my family so I could run away this time, but I soon found out that now a hundred years later technology was far greater. Somehow these men took away any power ever I had.

Those two years were painful. The first weeks I simply mourned the death of my family. Not being able to use them I soon forgot how to control my power’s; I was never touched by these men they called me their diamond, but the boys were abused everyday. At the two year mark they were both dead. They had both ended it one following after the other. I was alone. Again.

Just like the many times before, I was sold. Thankfully this was the last time. I was given to a skinny man in the black market. Still powerless. By this time I was twenty- eight, somehow i had kept track. I ate the food he gave and on the nights I wasn’t in the tiny cage at the entrance of his shop, I worked out. In hopes that maybe one day I would get out and be strong enough to defend myself. As I was skinny my whole life and never gained any weight. Halfway through that year I had nearly lost hope of getting out, or being bought, but two tall white men entered the shop wanting a set of weapons. They claimed they wanted to steal something called “vibranium” from a country called “ Wakanda”. They both described the city as futuristic capable of far more than any other country in the world. They continued to tell the man about how it was hidden in plain sight away from the rest of the world; with flying ships and an endless supply of whatever vibranium was. The men argued like five year-olds as they rumbled about how they got to live peacefully while the rest of us struggled in life.

I didn’t think much of it that night not wanting to get my hopes up for a possibly mystical fantasy place. I did however memorize every word those two men said: Wakanda, in Africa, barrier, safe place. That was all I wanted from life right now. If it wasn’t death than Wakanda could be my best option for a better life.

There was my motivation. I kept going, kept pushing on. I did not want to lose hope just yet if it meant there was even the slightest possibility of me getting a normal life. Then over the rest of the year I continued my routine of working out and by the end of it I had enough muscle to be considered lean. The hardest part of having hope is being patient. Patient enough to sit and wait for the best opportunity to escape. This was the first time I witnessed what people refer to as a miracle. A woman in a leather jacket passed by my cage looking me up and down before walking inside. I thought the act was an insult so I rolled my eyes and focused on the neon lights across from me again. Then I heard key jangle behind me. I looked back to find my cage door open the woman standing there telling me to come out. So I did. She paid the man and walked out of the shop with me following her footsteps. I asked her what she needed from me and she said she only wanted me out of that cage and that I was free now. To do as I pleased. She then pulled out a remote switching it off then crushing it under her shoe. I blinked not knowing what to say as the energy of my power spread through my veins. The feeling was nostalgic. I thanked her, then considered trying my luck by asking her if she by any chance could take me to Wakanda. She told me the farthest she could take me was Nigeria. I asked if it was close and she told me it was right below Wakanda. I thanked her once again asking for her name, the woman said she would like to keep that hidden. I nodded and I continued to follow behind her.

Before I knew it I was on a plane with her from the United States to Africa, or at least that’s what she told me. I had never flown in a plan before considering how airplanes weren’t a thing were I was from. In 1918 planes weren’t worldwide.

After the flight she got me a hotel and gave me enough money to sustain myself for a few weeks. The first week I simply did my research by listening to conversations in bars, and found out the men were right, the hidden Wakanda was out of sight no one knew exactly where. All they talked about was how they resided beyond the thick rainforest far past Nigeria.

The next morning I packed a bag with supplies and headed out to find a man willing to take me out to the middle of the Sambia Forest, It was the fastest way to get to Wakanda, one man did agree. Taking me as far as he was willing to Im order to keep himself safe. Saying it was dangerous to go further than halfway due to the dangerous men who drove through this forest. I did not listen, nor did I care and left the car walking deeper into the forest.

I walked until sundown, and though my feet hurt I started climbing up tree. It had a perfect view from the top to be able to see any danger and it was next to a dirt road that signaled my path to Wakanda. Plus it was comfy…enough. I knew I still had a long way to go, but with a small village ahead I was sure I could ask, in some way, for directions. I stayed awake as long as my eyes could fight to stay open but eventually fell asleep.

Not long after, my ears picked up the sound of tires traveling across the dirt. Leaves rustled and engines were closing in. I panicked quickly getting up to see what was happening. Were they her for me? I hoped my markings weren’t glowing. I did not want to lose my cover.

A group of six or more cars stopped directly in from of me. A man with a large gun stepped out seemingly inspecting his vehicle then looking around. The leader. Another stepped out of the vehicle behind him asking what had happened and if they were in danger. The leader said nothing. He raised his head looking around once more before telling his men to get into a defense position. They spread the word to the other twelve men, that’s when I saw the big truck, something important must be in there. I saw a shadow move to my left. I couldn’t see who it was but when he, or it, jumped down he moved faster than any of the men. Slowly taking down each of the men. The bullets being shot in an effort to defend themselves, not penetrating his cat like black suit. A woman stepped out of the big truck taking one of the fallen men’s gun and using it to knock two other men out. The men in the suit was just about to kill a young looking boy. The woman who stepped out of the truck pulled the boy away from his reach telling the other to stop. That the boy was still a child. She seemed mad taking of a green scarf and tunic off, but the man only stood frozen mumbling something you could not hear. A hidden man with a gun pointed at a hostage claiming he would shoot her if they did not surrender. He was quickly stabbed by another woman. This one wore red armor covering the were it was crucial and she looked like a warrior, a very strong one. She seemed to joke to the man in cat suit saying that he had frozen. The man sighed heavily. The three all stood together not seeing the last and final man pointing his gun at the lady from the truck.

Without hesitation I jumped from the tree. Using whatever knowledge I still had about how to use my power to perfect my landing to be in front of this lady. Taking the powerful shot. The bullet landed right below my heart, making it feel like the air had been knocked out of me. As I fell i could faintly see the warrior woman stab the man through the chest.

My landing was soft as I could feel soft fabric on my neck. I tried to blink and open my eyes but it was far to difficult. I only saw blurs of green and black, a hint of red came into view. My ears rang from how close the shot had been hearing muddled noise. I was able to open my eyes slightly, the pain increasing but I saw the warrior her face was neutral I could only make out the slight confusion as her brow furrowed and un-furrowed . Blue light slowly filled the corners of my vision. My markings were increasing the amount power that ran through my veins keeping me alive. Slowly I closed my eyes. I could feel my conscious slipping and as it did a wave of energy hit my body before I completely blacked out. Something was happening to me, or my body.

I wanted the god Mictlantecuhtli to take me to Mictlan, the underworld, So I could end this suffering for once and for all. I wanted him to so bad, but I could feel it in me. The defiance of death. I needed to live. I didn’t know for what, or who…

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I don’t know what to say other than enjoy!! I hope to be updating this soon, if not by next week. :)

<3<3<3<3<3

[wuxiaphoenix]

Worldbuilding: The Tax Man Cometh

Ah, tax season. That time of year when the weather is veering from cold to thunderstorms and otherwise upset, but not nearly as upset as the harrowed souls tangling with the labyrinth that is the U.S. tax code.

Mine needed at least eight separate sheets of paper (any amount of royalties counts as self-employed and that is a lot of paperwork), meaning I always bring the envelope to the post office directly to be weighed and have correct postage applied. If the government loses my forms again, it’s not going to be a fault on my end.

...I had someone ask what I was doing as I was photocopying said forms at the library. Evidently it wasn’t obvious.

“Why would you want to do that?”

In case the government loses the originals. Again.

“But that would never happen!”

For a moment I could only blink at her, because this lady was at least a decade or so older than me, meaning way more than old enough to know better. Because it has to me in the past. On at least three separate occasions. How do people sail through life this oblivious?

...Anyway. If you have a government in your world, you have taxes. Even if it’s something as simple as “I’m the head of this clan, I get first pick of everything.” How taxes are collected, and what they’re used for, make a big difference in how your society works, whether or not trade and technological advancement are supported or discouraged, how upset people are with the government in general, and how much power they have to do anything about it.

One of the ways taxes make a big difference is, are they collected in kind, in a specific produced thing, or in money? In a lot of Asian countries, for example, taxes were often historically collected in rice. In the short term this was relatively convenient for the government, which could assess land for its potential rice production and assign taxes accordingly; not to mention acquiring the rice necessary to feed the court, with extra to sell for everything else. But there are several potential problems. Bad weather and famine years would hit marginal farmers with a double whammy; they couldn’t produce enough rice to pay their own taxes, and they couldn’t buy enough food to stay alive. In contrast good years meant the price of rice dropped and the government was suddenly short of cash. Demanding taxes in rice instead of money also forces more people to stay in agriculture, even if the area is better suited to, say, herding, fishing, or long-distance trade. And one of the things about taxing in rice that was particularly convenient to the Tokugawa Shogunate starting out bit them in the rear big-time over two centuries later.

I’m going to elaborate on this because it’s interesting, especially if you’re a Rurouni Kenshin fan. If you’ve looked into the Bakumatsu, you know two of the major drivers of it were the Satsuma and Choushu domains. What you may not know is that when Tokugawa Ieyasu assigned domains and assessed taxes for the Shogunate (which were then mostly followed for centuries after), is that those two domains in particular had been very hard-hit by the Onin War a century before the whole Tokugawa takeover, and thus had lost a lot of farms, and on top of that had land that was otherwise undeveloped. So... their taxes were assessed relatively low, compared to the farmland they potentially had.

Mind, it took them two centuries to realize the whole potential of what they had. But the Shogunate kept on trucking with the same assessed taxes, counting on alternate attendance to keep the daimyo too poor to make trouble. And eventually Choshu and Satsuma... weren’t that poor. And other nations were knocking on the doors, able and willing to sell firearms, among other things....

Taxes, like everything else government does, have consequences. Give them some thought for your world!

[gokubrain]

Img gmoing insane I need KakaVege or else I'll dehyrdate pls give me ur headcanons or fav things about their relationship pls anything

okay so i've posed my headcanons thousands of times here BUT i will do it again so here is my kakavege masterpost (feel free to add):

for starters here's my ultimate kkvg playlist i would go in depth about why every song is kakavege coded but i dont think anyone cares that much LOL :

okay now here r some of my fave kakavege pics:

okay and now finally...

HEADCANONS:

vegeta is still really sentimental about saiyan culture and tries to implement it into their relationship when possible--the most prominent of which being the earring. when saiyans get married, they get the cartilage of their ear pierced. at first, i think vegeta gets this piercing without really informing goku of its significance and kind of just hopes goku won't notice because he's a bit embarrassed about it, but of Course goku notices immediately and upon further coaxing gets vegeta to spill. after knowing what it means, naturally goku wants to get one too, but here's where my headcanon splits into two separate ones: either goku braves his fear of needles and gets it pierced to match vegeta, or he wears his somewhere else, like on a chain around his neck. its up to you to decide which you like better lol

vegeta doesn't sleep well at night, i feel like his time spent in the freeza force conditioned him to wake up at the slightest noise in case he needed to defend himself or something--between that and the nightmares i'm sure being a freeza force soldier would give him, he wakes up a lot in the night and thus tends to sleep in late. this is the opposite for goku, who needs to rise early to tend to the farm, and tends to go to bed far earlier that vegeta does.

as aforementioned, vegeta has a lot of nightmares, especially before dating goku. but i feel like the more vegeta and goku sleep together, the safer vegeta starts to feel at night in goku's arms and thus has less and less nightmares. still, even when he does wake up in the middle of the night because of a bad dream, goku is always right there to pull him close and tell him it's okay. likewise with goku--though not as frequently, i'm sure goku has occasional nightmares too from all the shit he's been through, and while vegeta is not the best at comforting i still feel like his presence and understanding is enough to make goku feel better. <3

while we're on the subject of sleeping i'd just like to say that vegeta definitely wears goku's clothes to bed it's just a fact ALSO vegeta and goku always sleep facing each other and holding each other hhngnghghg

vegeta is a terrible cook. i think between being a royal child, spending his formative years eating random aliens over an open fire, and living with bulma, he's never had to cook a day in his life. luckily, goku is a great cook, so vegeta is once again well-fed by someone more capable lol

sometimes goku will go on long camping trips that last days at a time, i think goku is just like this in which he has this ingrained saiyan urge to go exist with nature and explore the unexplored and discover new things,, vegeta hates this though lol he hates being apart from goku for so long even if he doesn't want to admit it. goku will wake up earlier than usual one day and kiss a half-asleep vegeta goodbye and then just be gone for a weekend or so. vegeta spends a lot of time sitting by the windows watching the treelines.

goku makes enough money to survive from his crops and stuff and also i believe he trades things with other farmers for all the things they need but vegeta has NO concept of money,, this is just true

speaking of no concept of money i know everyone thinks im crazy for this but to me vegeta is a gamer and likes spending lots of money on video games like webkinz and DS games like nintendogs and stuff LOL OKAY i know everyone probably things im just insane for this but its TRUE i promise vegeta is a gamer its how he and trunks bond b ut anyway goku doesn't get it and is always just like. where did all my money go and vegeta's like yeah i spent $400 on this rare webkinz strawberry cow plush just trust me okay i'm right

getting into shrumo territory now i hope thats okay but whenever shrumo is born vegeta is the one who spends the most time with her at night given as how he doesn't sleep well anyway and any time she makes any sound he's just. awake lol,, meanwhile goku takes care of her mostly during the day they kind of cycle every 12 hours to take care of her

this is the last shrumo one i'll do (lmk if u want a separate post) but i think goku and vegeta actually get into a lot of arguments about how to raise shrumo even tho they both do a fine job and they agree on a lot of things,, vegeta is just a bit harsh bc he wants her to be the best she can while goku is a lot more lenient and wants to be easier on her given the guilt he feels towards gohan (cell games era) but specifically they like to argue about who gets to train her every day and they just wake up earlier and earlier and earlier to get to her first because they both want to train her LOL but they agreed early on to train her separately bc ,, they have very different training styles and different approaches to training their children specifically so

okay i already typed wayy too much i hope that's all legible and understandable but i hope this post quenches ur kakavege needs anon mwah

[saturnsstufff]

The Empress (pt. III)

Hello lovelys! Incase no one told you today, I think your spectacular!

Also, lets be real. This part really shows how much I love Buff Techno

Warnings: mentions of violence, swearing, blood

   You couldn't believe what you were hearing. The Emperor was asking you to sit and eat with him. With his family. You didn't want to come off rude or impolite, so you simply nodded and walked over to the remaining open seat. Phil pulled the chair out for you a bit, you lowered yourself onto it and pushed yourself in.

   To say the room was beautiful was a understatement. The table was made of elegant dark oak, the edges lined with detailed gold. The chairs matched the table with wood. But the seats had a plush Black velvet cover over the cushions. The backs of the chairs stood taller than you, Techno's chair was the most detailed and the tallest out of them all. When you glanced up at Techno you were only met with the skull staring forward.

   You honestly became nervous now. Your hands grew clammy as you held a bit of your cloak. Yesterday you had no problem being in front of this family and now you were terrified of offending them. The Family was known for being nothing short of dangerous, and blood thirsty. Yet when you look to Philza, or Wilbur who sat in front of you. You couldn't see how, they were perceived as dangerous. Don't get yourself wrong, you saw how Techno could be seen as terrifying, the man stood at well over 6ft, maybe approaching 7ft?

   Wil watched you a bit, taking note of the complex look you had. "So where are you from?" He asked simply, taking a drink of his milk. "Dadza said you were wearing really light clothes when he met you." The boys tone was casual. Trying to set your wild nerves at ease.

   "O-oh, I'm from a little village in Madagascar" techno's mask faced you as you spoke. Showing you had his full attention. "It's pretty... small..." You tried of how to explain it but, every way you turned it in your head, it was still bland.

   "What's your village like? For the small size is it well off or strugglin'?" Phil inquired. At this a few butlers came out with platters of food. They placed a plate full of eggs, toast, sausage and oatmeal in front of Techno, Phil and you. Talk about a meal fit for a king- no pun intended. Techno only nudged his mask up a tad more. His mouth now visible more. Your eyes lingered on him. A slight scar could be seen on his lip, it looked a bit fresh if your being honest. You averted your gaze before he noticed your lingering eyes.

   "It's... struggling. We were slightly larger, but years ago there was a raid by some Pilliagers" you couldn't help your face twist into a bit of disgust. After how they humiliated your village, and father, you couldn't help hold a high distaste for them. "They ransacked what we had. The men of our village defended what they could, but too many lives were taken if you ask me." You took your fork into your hand, starting to cut up the egg.

   "Did you loose anyone close to you?" Phil spoke between bites. Only speaking when his mouth was empty. You hummed and nodded as you chewed your food. Waiting to respond out of courtesy.

   "I lost my uncle, but that luckily was all. My father was injured too, but he survived.” your eyes scanned your food, slightly pushing the food apart so it wasn't touching. “I was too young to understand when it happened, but I guess one pillager took a swing at his leg. It never healed properly since during the attack, the Pilliagers targeted the women and children mostly. Who for the most part were in charge of medicine and occasional potion brewing" You could feel Techno's lingering eyes on you. He ate in silence only listening.

   "I'm sorry to hear of your uncles demise. however, we are glad that you are ok." Phil said, resting a hand on your shoulder reassuringly. You smiled gently and nodded. the action was similar to that of what your father did. Even if Phil didn't recognize it, the little actions he did put you at ease.

   Everyone ate for a bit longer. the sounds of silverware and plates clinking were the only sound that filled the room. Techno finished his plate first. Neatly setting his dishes together. Phil and I worked at our plates still. Mostly because we were the ones talking. "What made you get into Smithing?" Phil asked. Having previously recalled you mentioning the blade was your creation.

   You took a sip of Orange juice to clear your throat of food. "When my father was injured our family suffered. Smithing was how we made money. My father couldn't stand long- he still cant. even if he could, I'm pretty sure the hammer would be too heavy for him." You paused thinking a moment. " I think I was eleven or twelve when he started showing me the tools and the trade. After a few months I could put a tool out. By no means was it good though.” You could still remember the first tool you put out. It was a twisted, warped mess. At the time you were proud, but now you rather not admit it was yours. “By the end of the year I at least could put something worth a show out. Ever since then I just continued. I didn't know how to sew or weave like my mother so I never strayed from the forge."

   "It was somthin' in your blood" Phil commented. You tilted your head slightly as you ate a bit more. Starting to feel utterly stuffed. "A lot of trade's or artistry’s get passed down so long that it just becomes part of their heritage, they seem to have a natural born talent for those knacks." He fallowed up with. "Techno is like that with sword combat" you herd a sound of disagreement from under the boar mask.

   Wil decided to chime in now. "If your blade pasts the test, what will you do with the money?" You thought a moment. In your heart you knew you had no use for it really. Your father and village however did need it.

   "I'll probably give it to my village and my father." It was a simple and cliché answer but you meant it. "I have a roof over my head at home, parents who love me, support me. For once I wanna support them." You set your spoon down. Only having ate half your oatmeal, feeling too full to finish. "My village also needs the help. The baker. The farmer. They all could use a bit of spare change." You looked up from your plate to face Phil. His eyes were kind. They glittered like your fathers, when he was proud.

   "Your very kind to offer your riches to others." you didn't expect Techno to voice his opinion. But you graciously took his complement. Your cheeks a faint pink. As you nodded. He moved his mask back to where it fit comfortably. He stood up from the table. the action commanding attention, The mask faced you. "Fetch your blade. I wish to test it."

   Ok now the nerves really set in. You stood outside on a snow covered training ground. Your head was covered by a cozy fur lined cloak. Beside you stood Wilbur, and Philza. You had the cloth wrapped sheath in your hands firmly. The sword secure in it's place. Waiting for someone to release it and show the strength it held.

   You were unsure where techno was, he was supposed to give the test but as it stood, he was nowhere to be seen. That is until he turned the corner with a thick wooden log over his shoulder. You couldn't help how your jaw dropped. You knew he had to have some strength but you didn't expect him to turn the corner with a good size Hickory log. He dropped the log in front of Phil, Wil and I. Next to it was a rather large block of ice, and a Anvil. Once Techno situated the log securely in the snow he unchained his cloak. Handing it off to Phil.

   There he stood. This monster of a man. broad shoulders drawn back, his posture perfect. Where he looked as strong as twelve oxen, he also had a elegant, ethereal beauty. His jaw was sharp, lips drawn into a thin line. His hands, although gloved, moved with precise elegance. When he breathed a puff of cloud would push itself out of the Boar's empty nasal cavity. He looked terrifyingly beautiful.

   He turned to you and outstretched his hand. A wordless request for your blade. You bit your lip. The moment had come for you to truly test it. Carefully you unwrapped the cloth, the simple sheath was the underwhelming part of the blade. however when you moved the Sheath towards Techno he made no comment on the simplicity.

   His hand easily took the handle. Skillfully he pulled the blade out. The black blade shimmered brilliantly. The purple-blue pearlescent really popped against the snow. When he saw the color of the blade you could have sworn you saw his hand falter slightly. “tis’ a beautiful blade...” was the first comment. “what is made of?” he inquired.

   You swallowed the slight lump in your throat. “It’s Netherite and Diamond” You didn't expect them to know what Netherite was, but the look Phil gave you shown that he very well knew what it was. Even Techno turned his head to face you. This is the part where you wondered if you shouldn't have said the true material.

   “Netherite eh?...” the angle was just right, you could see into the empty eye sockets and pinpoint techno’s eyes. they lingered over your blade fondly. he seemed very familiar with that type of material.

    You watched as he took notice of how the blade was well balanced. The handle was comfortable and surprisingly it fit his hands. He tossed the blade between his right and left hand. Seeing how it felt. Mentally he assumed the blade's handle would have been made small to accommodate your own hand. But he was pleasantly surprised to see you took account that maybe you would not be the one handling it. He moved the blade back to his dominant hand. Looking to the mound of ice. You felt a hand rest on your shoulder, pulling you away from Techno. You looked up to see who the hand belonged to, only realizing it was Phil. well you stood in front of Phil pressed up to him, you didn't have to look to know how much he towered over you. His wings only adding to the height. you thought it was a tad weird  that he pulled you so close, until you realized he did it to Wil was well. The action was out of protection.  your gaze shifted back to Techno. He rotated the sword in his hand once. From Phil, Wil, and your stance, all you saw was a quick movement of purple, the light bouncing of the blade beautifully as it swung. He did not delay on his swing back, it was fast and powerful. Techno simply stepped, and swung back down, hard. The idea of being on the other side of the blade seemed impossible to survive. Well he beat the sword edge against the ice, his body moved as if he was reciting a simple dance. He was testing the durability. Seeing exactly how much your blade could take. The sheer force of his hits only needed two, to break the ice chunk in half. Sliding both halves away from each other upon the swords impact. You could only watch in shock. His strength was raw and powerful. You were genuinely terrified for your little sword.

   Techno didn't let up his assault. Moving from the ice to the wood in one swift movement. Continuing to strike the hard wood. The woodchips flew in the air, you averted your eyes a bit, worried the wood might hit you. After beating a decent size gash into the wood, you spared a glance back up. He shoved the sword into the snow bank next to him. Lifting the abused log up. Placing his hands on both sides of the gash, he with little struggle, tore the log in half with his hands.

   To say that it wasn't a little bit attractive, would have been a lie. Your cheeks were pink again. but luckily you could blame it on the cold nipping at your face. You watched as techno looked at the log, now in two parts at his feet. He made no sound of disproval, or really said anything. He simply took the sword from the bank and looked over at the Anvil. ‘surely he wouldn't hit the blade on the metal’ you thought. Oh, don't worry he would. He looked down to the blade, judging it breifly before glancing the anvil. You looked away, you couldn't watch. the blade was going to break as soon as it hit the anvil. It was evident on why no one was able to past the test. The test was a fucking nightmare. 

   The only sound you could hear was a harsh ring. He did it, oh shit he really did it. Phil from above you just whistled. “tha’s a mighty blade (y/n).” you spared a glance. in Techno’s hand was your sword. structurally intact. you let out a rather large, breathy laugh of relief.

   Techno didn't congratulate you, or make a remark on your blade. instead he removed a glove and pressed his thumb to the blade. He wanted to see if it was still sharp after the pure beating it just took. You watched, now unsure if this was all positive or negative. He hummed, he wanted to say he was surprised. but he wasn't. what you didn't understand, was that he was used to Netherite. He knew it took something almost godlike to break anything with that material.

    Although the sword was beat to hell, when he pressed his thumb against the blade and applied pressure, it was still sharp enough to draw blood. He put his thumb to his lips. The hard metallic taste of blood filled his mouth from the cut he received. his lips only twisting into a bemused smirk.

    "Your blade passes" he turned to face you. Wiping his bloody thumb on his black pants before offering his hand to you in a handshake. "You are the only one that somehow designed, dare I say it. The perfect blade."

   After the event that occurred out on the field you were a giddy mess. You did it. You fallowed techno down the hall. He explained that since you did impress him, he was now wanting to open the table for a discussion and a possible contract. But first, he wanted to know how much knowledge you possess.

   He opened a large door that was detailed in gold. when you stepped in he fallowed. walking past you in a easy, lazy stride. You were in his office. the shelves were lined with books, many having titles about Mythology, histories of wars, war tactics, potion brewing, etc. The titles were endless. From the books alone you could assume he probably had knowledge on a plethora of subjects. The walls were high, the detailing never faltered however. Two Antarctica Empire flag's hung on the walls, framing the main desk. There were paintings, but unlike the one of the whole family you saw on your arrival. There was one of Phil and Techno, the mask painted on his face. The second painting was Tech and Wil. But similarly. The mask was present. Looking about a little more, there were also swords of all types on the walls. In the center of the celling there was a massive candle lit chandelier. A fireplace stood tall behind techno's desk. You only assumed the desk was placed there solely for the point of warmth.

   Technoblade took his seat at the rather large desk. His posture, was still perfect even when sitting. His hands were folded together. The rings still adorning his fingers. Everything he did, and wore just screamed elegance. "I will give you 3k for the blade. An additional 2k will be added for your trip" he said, his voice still straight.

   'Holy shit, 5k? That's far more than I thought' you were speechless. You could already imagine how the money would help. ‘Father could get the help he needed.’ ‘The farmer could build a new barn possibly’ The upgrades flowed through your mind. Hope and joy surged through your veins. "Thank you your Imperial Majesty..."

"You said you used Netherite, correct?" You nodded to him. The mask was facing you, he was quiet. But you assumed he was thinking. "Were did you find the Neitherite?" He leaned onto his desk, moving his folded hands to the desk top. Resting his head on his hands.

"A man in my village had it. It was pretty cheap to buy it off him" you thought back to the man. Trying to recall the conversation. "He uh.." you paused trying to remember it properly. "Oh- he said it was a great material when used properly. But he couldn't understand what he needed to achieve it." Techno stayed quiet a moment.

"So how did you come by the proper techniques?" He questioned. You thought back again. It was a off day when you discovered it really. You weren't trying to use it. It just fell into your pan.

"Well, I was trying to make a diamond sword for a sister village originally. But when my pan was over the fire heating, I had left the room. Not realizing the small chunk of Netherite I had on top of the mantle had somehow fallen in. When I came back I saw the discoloration of the metal, that wasn't normal so I pulled it from the fire. When it cooled I noticed it made a unusual harder substance, so from there I just started experimenting with it" he nodded and pondered what you said. He didn't linger on the subject for long however, Instead he changed it.

"I have a proposition for you. That is... if your interested of course" You looked to him. Showing he had your attention. He had mentioned something along the lines of a deal well you walked down the hall with him. "With your permission, I would like to hire you as the royal blacksmith." The skull never faced away from you. You swallowed thickly.

   "You mean... I would work here?" Your brows furrowed. "I don't live anywhere close to here..." he nodded his head, shrugging a bit.

   "I'm aware" he paused. "We would give you a room, Pay you weekly, you would have benefits. Access to the best quality material" he didn't rush all the information out. He simply just read the list from his mind. "The only thing in exchange, is for you to make my armor, weapons, and anyone else I deem fit for them." It was a basic comply. He wanted you to work for him. Have your craft explicitly his only.

   You shifted your weight as you stood. "Do I have to make a choice now?" You were hoping you didn't have to hurry this. you were already hesitant on bringing the sword down here, but now the idea of staying in this frozen tundra had you uncertain. Yes you would live in wealth, and possible glory. But, at the cost of being over a thousand miles away from your family. You also were still uncertain of the land itself.

   Techno shrugged a bit. "I mean, I'm in no particular hurry" he explained. Tilting his head to the side a tad. If you accept, you knew what it meant. Your devotion to a nation, to the royal family, to the Emperor. You really would be making a shot in the dark.

   "If I work here. Could I send the money elsewhere?" He watched you. You couldn't see his eyes, but you could feel them eating away at you.

   "We can arrange that." You watched him in turn. Trying to see if he had a underlying plan, or possible catch to add. "I mean, I am a lenient man" his hands unclasped. Opening his arms slightly to motion to himself.

   "R-right... of course" you nodded. Agreeing with him, not wishing to anger him. He pondered a moment before he stood from his chair. The chains, and pendants around his neck jingling slightly from his movement.

   "I look forward to hearing your answer"

   About a week had gone by before you had your answer. During the said week you started to notice the family had a slight routine. Phil would come for you in the morning to walk you to the dining hall for breakfast. after that Wilbur would either roam to the music room, or to the library to do some of his studies. Techno was harder to pinpoint, sometimes he would leave to his office, be in the library, or other times he would walk towards the room with the planes. No matter what, Phil kept you in good company and made you fell welcomed.

   You choose to tell techno of your answer over dinner. Assuming it would be a decent time since that was when everyone was together. The dinner was casual. Since your stay was expanded, the boys would roam the hall’s in there casual wear instead of there more formal, business attire.

   “So I've thought on it..” Your voice broke through the peaceful silence. Techno and Phil lifted there heads to address you. Wil looked up at you as well, the noodles from the dinner slipping from his lips back into the soup bowl. “I’ll work for you... if you would still have me.”.

“of course we’ll have ya’” Phil said, his smile wide. “It’s been nice havin’ someone new and different around these halls” you smiled a little and nodded to him, looking over to Techno. 

“I do have two questions though...” techno gave a slight nod to you, motioning for you to continue. "If I choose to quit at any point. Could I?" Techno, hummed and nodded.

"Of course, that would only be right." a bit of weight was lifted from your shoulders knowing this wasn't a endless contract type of deal.

”My other question is a bit personal, but could I go back to my village to explain my new job to my parents? I don't feel right sending it through a letter.” You chewed your lip, hoping you weren't over stepping your bounds of what you could request.

Phil answered for Techno. “I don't see why not, me and Tech were discussing going on a trip anyway.” your eyes lit up, you would see your parents again. “You could tag along with us. of course we’ll be making trips other than Madagascar. techno was talking about visiting Russia, and France” you tilted your head a bit.

“why Russia? you already live on a ice cube” you said, humoring Phil, earning a chuckle.

“They have a few things Techno and I have been looking for” he said, continuing back on his dinner. You thought on it a moment and shrugged. nodding your head, you turned your attention back to your food. 

“when would you like to leave?” you asked, curious of when you should pack your bag again. Techno hummed a bit.

“We were thinking of leaving in two days time.” He set his fork down before looking up at you. “I wouldn't worry about packing, we will not be traveling in our typical attire. We plan to dress down” Techno said as he wiped his mouth with the napkin. “I'll have some simpler clothes sent to your room”

You were a little surprised. They planned to travel, but not in there imperial attire? That's what you assumed he meant at least. Either way you were excited. Not only would you be seeing your parents, but you also would be taken to Russia and France. Man if this was your new job, you could get used to this.

@goldensunshineshit @snobunns @olyink @lolitsellieletsgobro