#they need to stay close to nobles to become divas even if they are the best at singing like

[randomnameless]

One of the things about the Horatio Hornblower series is that it keeps pointing out that while Hornblower can raise through the ranks of the English navy on his own merit, it is very difficult to do so without friends in high places whereas those with peerage and connections can do so far easier. In his youth he pushed himself to take risks he wouldn't have otherwise in order to distinguish himself, and even then his promotion to commander was delayed by the British navy due to England and France signing the Peace of Amiens when he was on the way back home to confirm his appointment (he impressed the lord of the admiralty with his analytical skills playing whisk before conflict broke out again who confirmed his appointment. Hornblower, meanwhile, was reduced to poverty because he had to pay back his additional pay for the unconfirmed promotion while also being on half-pay due to the peace).

Think about that, then look at Shez's C support with Hubert.

I think that's the discussion we had some time ago (I think?) about the Doro mention in this support ?

Doro sacrificed a lot and worked very hard (and "caught the eyes" of many nobles who asked her to "sing" for them) to become the famous songstress she is when the game starts.

And yet, while Shez still calls her a commoner, Hubert corrects them, Doro isn't a mere commoner like Joe the carpenter or Karin the miller or Shez the mercenary, Doro became an important commoner. Just like noblity has minor and not minor nobles, commoners come in different "importance", you have Doro and... Leonie.

Even still, Manu, in her support with Flayn, reveals that hard work and stuff isn't sufficient to become a diva - at one point, aspiring divas have to "catch the eyes" of a noble, and raise through ranks like this.

So yeah, without "friends" in high places or positions, a random commoner, even if they are the best at doing what they do, will never raise through the ranks and transcend their initial condition of beta commoner.

Wait...

The more I think about it, the more I realise that some supports unvailable in CF, especially with Nabateans, blow massive holes in Supreme Leader's rhetoric.

[dramaticmusic-and-otherthings]

OH BOY

so here comes a long ass post because I have a lot of idea but no motivation to write stuff or draw (maybe I’ll do some sketches later today) for this au that’s stuck in my head....

Phantom thieves-backgrounds/personalities Yuya Sakaki- arrested and on probation for a fake crime(almost like the P5 protagonist), lived out in the country with his mom and Dad. Staying in Yuto’s family café which makes Shun, Ruri and Yuto originally wary of him but he earns all their trust eventually, first few months every one at you-show hated him but after joining the acting club he’s only looked at mildly cautiously and ends up making a decent amount of friends, one of the founding members of the phantom troupe of thieves and co leader does a lot of the flashy stuff due to his background in gymnastics which he learned because “all the cool actors do their own stunts”

Reiji Akaba- Schools resident rich kid, most people find him intimidating, attends you-show due to a falling out with his mother so he went as an act of rebellion, at first cant seem to agree with Yuya but learns to trust his spontaneous way of thinking while Yuya learns to trust his strategies, co leader of the thieves with Yuya and the strategists of the group

Yuzu Hiragi - The troupes fem fatale using her voice to seduce enemies , a choir/ musical nerd all the way through and one of the few people that liked Yuya right off the bat, was originally distrusting of Reiji due to his mother trying to take over you-show but learns to trust him

Gongenzka- the teams muscle, thinks Yuya and yuzu are dating, likes everyone on the team and would kill for them if need be but he also wouldn’t cause he’s a noble samurai

Yuto Obsidian - after hanging out with Yuya for a while he trusts him with his life, the teams knight, kind of emo and has a massive crush on both kurosaki siblings and doesn’t know how to handle it

Serena Luna- the teams integrator/get away driver, the most aggressive member of the team, only person in the school besides Yuya who can tolerate Yuri, got suspicious of the team as the student council’s unofficial muscle went to investigate but ended up joining them and now keeps the student council off their tail

Rin- teams Navigator/tech person, a total gear head along with her best friend Yugo, Yugo was a huge thieves fan due to the Robin Hood personas they had( yes I aware of the irony of that) so she looked into them and somehow caught them in the act and later joined them after a certain palace required a lot of techie knowledge

Phantom thieves- thief outfits/personas

Yuya- entertainer/ ringmaster motif with an odd eyes looking mask mainly red with few other accenting colors thrown in, persona a famous performer like P.T Burnham with jet black skin demonic hands, dichromatic eyes that are red and green

Reiji- sleek strategist/wizard look with some robotic looking features an doom king Armageddon inspired mask , persona a philosopher like Aristotle that’s a mechanical puppet with a dark thing at the core

Yuzu- a diva outfit mixed with those classical music singers and a mask like those that are for party’s, persona a famous songstress that resembles a fallen angel 

Gongenzka- a ragged black samurai armor with some red highlights, persona a rebel samurai that fought for the people instead of for the rich, the most Japanese looking of the thieves though his persona would heavily resemble a custom made gundam

Yuto- a ragged brown cloak with some light black armor, persona Lancelot  a hollow piece of armor with a ghostly spirit in it (break sword basically) 

Serena - probably something resembling a boxer with a cat astheic through in (honestly she’s the one I’m having a tough time with)

Rin- ice witch motif, persona a giant fucking jingle bell that turns into a motorcycle no idea what it’s name will be or based off of but probably something with the Salem witch trials (super simple but giant jingle bell that turns into a motorcycle)

Palace 1: Himika Akaba( Reiji’s Mom) - palace ruler

Yuya- first to discover palace along with Reiji, the wildcard for the phantoms thieves cause I’m lazy, him and Reiji fight a lot at the start but half through they become an unstoppable team

Reiji- discovered his mom’s palace along with Yuya, wishes to help her change her ways, was the one to suggest maybe the palace would have a way to do so

Yuzu- gets dragged into thing because mama Akaba is threatening you-show school

Gongenzka- thought Yuya and yuzu were being weird so he followed them and ended up becoming a thief instead of spying on a date like he thought he was going to

_______________________________________________ Confidants gained:

Shingo- originally Yuya found him annoying but due to their shared passion of acting they now get along great, ended up running the Phan-site even though he’s pretty bad with computers

Sora- the son of a model weapons seller, gets Yuya and yuzu those sweat deals so long as they give him some candy 

Kurosaki siblings- both originally distrusting of Yuya they decide to try and get close to him as a way to protect Yuto. eventually trust Yuya but it takes a while

Tea/Anzu - the schools drama teacher who sees a lot of potential in Yuya and wants him to succeed

 Jack Atlas- Yuya’s strict as hell homeroom teacher however after Yuya learns that jack races in an underground motorcycling ring they enter a mutually beneficial deal 

[doe-wiegenliedofgreen]

Chapter 3, Section 1--The Diva’s Waltz; Scene 1

Wiegenlied of Green (VG), page 122-133

🍀 Michaela ~The Country of Elphegort, "Aceid Center District/Inn"~

.

Aceid was the largest city in Elphegort. Also the capital, the place was split into five districts--the east, north, south, and center. The townspeople gathered in the central district. It was popular to have business transactions in the southern district, which had a road running through it that lead to the Kingdom of Lucifenia, so there were a lot of booths and stalls lined up in it. The western and northern districts were filled with neighborhoods for relatively affluent citizens and nobles. There were a lot of poor people in the eastern district--it was such a rough place that the average citizen hardly ever went there.

Clarith and I were currently staying in a small inn in the center district. The missus was the midwife who had delivered Ayn, and was allowing us to live there out of that good will. After sending us there, Ayn then headed for Toragay, where Earl Felix's mansion was located.

"That naughty brat's really grown into a fine young man," the inn's owner said, rubbing his balding head and watching Ayn head off. Apparently Ayn's mother had died when he was quite young, so the missus had acted as a mother figure to him once.

They had taken lodging fees for business, but took us in cheerfully enough. As both of them were immigrants--that is, not Elphe people--they looked upon Clarith with no biases.

We were drinking tea one night in the foyer, around one week after we started living in the inn.

"As expected it's very hard for immigrants to do business in this country," the missus grumbled while tallying up the inn's proceeds.

"There are people like Mr. Keel who have success despite being immigrants, though. I think it's just a matter of your business savvy," the old man replied. It sounded like the inn wasn't taking in a lot of profit.

"Mr. Keel is the one living in the big mansion in the northern district, right?"

"Oh, you're well informed aren't you? Yeah, to immigrants like us that man's like a ray of hope!"

At my question the old man seemed to become pleased at being asked about a person that he respected, and told me various things about him.

Among all the people who did business in this country--nay, in the whole Evillious region--there was no one who didn't know the name Keel Freezis. The Freezis Firm that he managed was a large company that had branches in Lucifenia, Marlon, Holy Levianta, and of course Elphegort too.

Even further, due to having joint control of all beneficial information under the trade association made by his joining forces with other firms, he was a success at gaining vast profits too. His authority even reached to the royalty of several countries; due to buying a court rank he was endowed with political influence that rivaled that of the aristocracy, or even greater.

It's said that Keel was originally a Marlon citizen born in the island country of Marlon over the sea, and when he was young had his hands in considerably crooked dealings. Because of this his life ended up being targeted, and so for his own safety he fled to Elphegort with his girlfriend.

Said girlfriend was the current Madam Freezis.

"They've got three children between them, and my wife helped with the birthing of all of them. Nowadays Mr. Keel is the greatest merchant in Elphegort, and the whole Evillious region. Even his mansion is a several story building larger than most lesser nobles' houses, like a palace."

The old man proudly cooed about it as though he was talking about himself.

"With a mansion that big, he's probably got a lot of servants. …--That's it!"

"Hm? You hit upon a get-rich quick scheme, little miss?"

The words that I had inadvertently spoken aloud had led me to a brilliant idea. When I clapped my hands together, the old man poked fun a little questioningly. He had a habit of connecting everything back to business, and as one could expect I could tell he wasn't really paying attention to the words of a "little miss" like me.

The inn's management apparently wasn't so good, so I too was starting to get a little worried about money. The moderate cash that I'd gotten from Elluka had started to run out, and thanks to fleeing from the village like we did, we didn't have anything we could sell. We needed some employment, and fast.

We were persistent, but this inn didn't have the means to hire anyone on, and thanks to the influence of this year's poor crops the whole town was in a bad economic state. Me aside, of all the various places we searched there wasn't anyone who would hire a Netsuma like Clarith. We had wanted to work together if possible, but in our current situation, about to run out of the wherewithal to take care of ourselves, we might not be able to do that. The old boss was a good man, but when it came to money he was fairly strict. If we weren't able to pay our lodging fee, he'd chase us out without mercy. Worse comes to worse, I would have to go out to work on my own.

"Hey, has there been any talk of them looking for new servants at Mr. Keel's mansion?"

At any rate I needed to research Keel for my search for the "Vessels of Deadly Sin". If I was able to get in there as a servant, I'd be killing two birds with one stone.

"That's right, you'd been looking for some work like that, hadn't you? How'd it go?"

"A servant of Mr. Keel's is coming over tomorrow, so I could ask them about it for you?" came the happy proposal from the missus, listening in to the conversation while counting up the coins.

As I was told, in this inn they dealt in black Rollam bird feathers in their spare time, so every month a servant from the mansion would come to purchase them. I had no good memories of the black Rollam bird, but it seemed that in Elphegort their feathers were a precious commodity, and among other things used to make pens.

"I would like that very much! Thank you miss!"

"Ha ha, you can thank me after you've safely gotten hired."

Keel and his wife weren't Elphe people, so if things went well they might be willing to hire Clarith on with me. When I nimbly walked up to our room at seeing this ray of hope, Clarith was already sleeping in bed. She seemed to be worn out from walking around looking for work every day. Deciding that we'd talk about it when she woke up the next morning, I fell asleep.

 .

The one who arrived at the inn the next day was not a servant, but Madam Freezis.

Not knowing her face, naturally I was filled with admiration at the thought that even a servant from the Freezis household was so elegant and refined.

"I've come to receive your goods today. Everyone else is too busy to come down here," the madam explained with a dignified voice, quietly taking a seat close to the reception desk. Very flustered at this unexpected guest, after directing me to make some tea the missus hurried to the storeroom.

Without meaning to I took a long, hard look at her face while bringing her tea. She held an extremely unapproachable air, clearly different from that of the people in the village. I had heard that the madam was a prominent noble in Marlon, and that even now that she was the wife of a merchant she had not lost that high-mindedness.

"…Are you taking an interest in my red hair?" The wife said after drinking one mouthful of tea, grinning.

"Ah--…I'm sorry for staring…"

She didn't change her smile at my wincing. She had to be used to being looked at.

"Ha ha, that's alright. I imagine it's rare to see someone who isn't green-haired in this country."

"No, that's not it. It's just, you're very lovely…I was charmed by you."

“Oh? I'm glad. Thank you. But you are far lovelier than I am. So much so that I was shocked when I first saw you. Your voice is lovely too."

"Thank y…Uhm, you have my gratitude for the compliment."

"Ho ho. You don't have to be so formal. From the look of your hair, you're a natural-born Elphe aren't you? You don't seem to be a relative of the couple running this place. And…you hold a strange air around you. It feels somewhat like you're something from beyond this transient world."

Maybe when you become the wife of a merchant, you get better at reading people. She couldn't have seen through me, that I was originally a spirit, but I was a little alarmed all the same.

"Due to some circumstances I've had I'm staying here for a bit."        

"I see.  It must be tough, with you so young."

She herself looked to be pretty young.  She should be middle aged from what I'd heard of her personal history, but due to her youthful face I couldn't really gauge how old she was.

"I myself had it hard when I was younger. The period after I had first come to this country was especially difficult."

"Yeah, Elphegort can be a pretty harsh country for immigrants, huh? It's amazing that despite all that the Freezis Firm has been so successful that nowadays there's no one who doesn't know about it. Lord Keel's mansion is so big that even from far away I know it at a glance."

I indirectly brought up the topic of her mansion. I didn't have any confidence in my conversational skills, but it was worth a try.

"Thank you. But the mansion being big is a problem of its own…Several of my veteran servants have quit recently, and I'm short of hands one way or the other…It's a little embarrassing, but that's why I came here today."

"So that's how it was, huh…?"

Her slightly troubled smiling face looked like that of a younger girl.

Even so, them being short on servants was quite welcome news.

"Um, if it's alright by you…me and one other person are actually looking for work right now…"

The madam rested her chin on her hands with her fingers by the corner of her eye, expression turning serious--perhaps inferring the intention behind the conversation.

"I see. And…you're wondering if I would be willing to hire you on?"

"Yeah…"

The madam looked me from head to toe, as though evaluating me. I started getting nervous, my hands shaking.

"You said there was one other person. Who would that be?"

"She's out right now… Although I think she'll be back shortly."

Right before I was finished talking, the entrance door opened. It was Clarith. When I saw her discouraged expression I guessed that she hadn't found any work today either.

Before Clarith could try to say anything upon seeing the madam there, she stood and walked closer to Clarith.

"Is this girl the other person? Are you two friends?"

"Uh, erm, yes."

Overpowered by the madam's sharp gaze, Clarith began to back up. Whenever she drew closer, Clarith would simultaneously take another step back. If they kept going on like that, they'd end up going right outside the inn.

"White hair and red eyes…A Netsuma, huh? First time I've ever seen one."

At those words, Clarith's feet came to a sudden halt. The wife smiled at her reassuringly, and then turned back to once more sit in her chair.

"…Come to think of it, I haven't heard your names yet, have I?"

"M--my name is Michaela. And this is Clarith."

Clarith timidly arrived at my side, and looked to me with a questioning expression.

"That's a good name. Alright, I shall let you work at the mansion. But only Clarith."

I once again took in the breath that I'd let out.

"Uh, but that's…we had wanted work, together…"

"You want to work happily with your friend? Work isn't such an easy-going thing as that."

"But…Why not hire me too?"

"Because I hate Elphes."

An incredibly blunt, single sentence. As she spoke, for just a moment she seemed to glare at me with eyes full of anger.

"…That's just a joke. In this country there are a lot of people who  can't take up employment solely because they are foreigners, more than just Netsuma. In order to help them out even just a little, I hire such people as servants in my own home. Michaela, you are an Elphe. So I think you will find some other means of employment. And--" The madam let out a breath and then looked over my once more. Clarith made an anxious face, as though finally grasping the situation. "You're just a little too beautiful. With you by his side my husband might possibly be tempted to cheat on me. And, while this is little more than my intuition…I feel as though you might bring some unnecessary trouble upon us."

Her eyes were stone serious. Something did come to my mind as well--because I had the whole issue with the "Vessels of Deadly Sin", I couldn't refute her claim.

At that point, with me silent, Clarith went in front as though trying to protect me and deeply bowed her head.

"Wait, please! Please let Michaela work with me!"

"Surely you've suffered at the hands of Elphes, haven't you? Why are you supporting her?"

The wife made a disbelieving expression.  She had evaded the point earlier, but I was sure that her declaration of hating Elphes was in fact the truth.

"It's true that I've been continually oppressed by the Elphe people. But she…Michaela has treated me with kindness. I'm truly grateful for her."

"Nevertheless--and I told you this before--you do know that playing bosom buddies isn't fit for work, right?

"I know that what I'm saying is selfish! But…" Clarith continued her entreaty with a tone that was clearer than I had ever heard of her until now, her head bowed. And then finally, she murmured, as though reflecting on it, "I want to stay with Michaela for as long as I can…"

Clarith continued to keep her head down all the more, and I lowered my head to beg with her. After a heavy silence, the madam spoke as though lifting her head up.

"…I understand. I shall let the both of you come to the mansion. But I warn you, the work at the house will certainly not be a leisurely thi..."

Before the madam could finish speaking, Clarith raised her head with a smile that took up her whole face, and hugged me.

"Thank goodness! We can work together, Michaela!"

"Clarith…!"

I hugged Clarith back, each of us sharing in our joy.

 .

And so Clarith and I decided to work at the Freezis estate. Being a servant there was a live-in position, so we packed up what few possessions we had and left the inn.

"Let's go, Michaela," Clarith said, tightly grasping my hand.

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[aloemilk]

A Silent, Noble Kiss: Bend The Rules

Drabble #2 in the Kisses Drabble series, part of the OTP Day celebration. Prompt requested by @diva-gonzo: Silent, Noble Kiss, based on this prompt/poem list.

She eventually surrendered to sleep, limp against him and surrounded by his arms. It took her a long time to let go and keep her eyes closed, but he understood. Who can sleep after being tortured like that? Hell, he couldn't sleep and it hadn't been him who had to fight to stay alive as searing pain gripped every one of his cells. No, he had been helpless and terrified, but he had been spared the pain. Maybe it was fair, then, that he was the one trying to close his eyes, attempting to convince himself it was okay, she would be fine, and she wouldn't dissolve and disappear from his side as he dreamt of better times.

Oh, but how he wished it had been him, that he could have taken the pain from her. They weren't at risk anymore, and yet he still wanted to beg to be the one cursed to oblivion. Me, take me, spare her, kept invading his mind as if he could somehow change the past. While she was awake, he had managed to put all those thoughts away from his mind, focused as he was in trying to assure her she was safe now, that she was brave and strong and that everything would be fine, she would survive this too. She had hesitantly believed him; now he had only to convince himself.

He squirmed a bit on the many pillows behind his back, uncomfortable, trying to ease the tension left behind by their escape from Malfoy Manor but determined to stay there. He couldn't care less about the knots clenching his neck and shoulders, not when her torso rested against his, her head right on the centre of his chest, his arms around her. He kept on cradling her, allowing himself the slightest tension in his arms to feel her just a tiny bit closer. He tried to use the feeling of her as an anchor, as definitive proof she was all right, and she was with him. Because, as selfish as it made him, he had no idea what he would do if anything happened to her. Where would their future be, if she was not there? How could he tell himself that it was okay, that it was noble to wait, if he had no certainty she'd be there to choose to be with him? Where would all the kisses he had imagined himself giving her go, if she was not there to receive them anymore?

A shaky sigh left him, fleeting memories of those times he had clung to as the fight had worsened; sudden, missed opportunities for kisses that would have told her of his feelings, kisses that he held back because he had to, because telling her he loved her in the middle of war didn't seem like a promise of anything good. It was a constant battle inside of him, the push and pull of wanting to kiss her, to love her, to be with her, when he was afraid for her safety, when he wasn't sure she reciprocated. But he kept on holding on to the dream, even when it could so quickly become a nightmare if anything happened to her. So yeah, he would still hold back the next morning… but tonight…

Tonight, with her safe in his arms for a few hours, he would allow himself to bend the rules. In the silence filling the room, he lowered his head, taking a deep breath filled with the smell of her hair. How could he convince himself it would be all right for them, that there was a future for them? Because, nobility aside, he was weak, and he needed something tonight.

He did all he could think of, only for the sake of what he liked to think was their promised future. He let his head fall further, his lips softly pressing against her hair, as chaste a kiss as he could make it. Because he had to believe they'd have that future. Nothing else would suffice.

[cathygeha]

A damaged cowboy full of pride must find a way to be the man his childhood sweetheart's always needed, or come to terms with losing her forever.

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Title: Vaughn’s Pride

Series: California Cowboys #2

Author: Selena Laurence

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 21, 2017

Length: 235 pages

 Blurb: She's waited a lifetime. Can she stop him from wasting one?

Vaughn Jenkins is the youngest in a long line of proud men. But he was only seventeen when his parents were killed during a storm on a California highway. Seven years later, another stormy night nearly took Vaughn's life. Now he's half a leg lighter, full of shame and doubt, and taking it out on everyone around him, even the woman he's loved most of his life.

 T.J. Brisco is the girl next door. She and Vaughn grew up together, inseparable friends, then high school sweethearts. But when tragedy strikes, Vaughn retreats, and this time is no different. She's determined to help him recover from his devastating amputation, but Vaughn's not going to make it easy. When his anger becomes too much for T.J.'s shattered heart, she decides their story is over for good.

 Now Vaughn is faced with the rest of his life—as an amputee, as a brother, as a man—and as T.J. moves on, Vaughn falls farther and farther behind. Can he learn to run fast enough to catch up to the only woman he'll ever love? Or will his pride stand in their way forever?

 Find out more at: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

  Excerpt: He waved over his head and kept moving, looking down to make sure his leg didn’t get caught on anything in the crowded space. While the trajectory of his leg could be controlled well because he had an intact knee joint, he couldn’t feel if anything below his knee got knocked or caught when he was in close quarters. It made the navigating somewhat more difficult, and since he preferred not to fall on his ass in front of half the town, he kept his gaze down.

Which was why he knocked right into something, eliciting a squeak that jolted him out of his hyperfocused state. His hands shot out in reflex, and he caught whatever—whoever—it was as they stumbled. The other person’s weight pulled him off-balance, and he was forced to take another step, planting his good leg to keep upright. The extra step meant that his victim was now virtually under him, bent back in a slight dip as he held what was definitely a her.

His gaze moved up from a set of perfect breasts snug in stretchy azure fabric with a deep V in the front, and on to a neck that was smooth and slim. And then he reached the face, that face, the face that haunted him day in and day out, even when he wanted nothing more than to be free of it.

 “Sorry,” he murmured as they stayed frozen in their embrace, T.J.’s big brown eyes blinking at him. But then his gaze dropped, against his will, to her breasts again, and he jerked both him and T.J. upright, setting her away as much as he could in the middle of the tables, stools, and people.

 T.J. cleared her throat and smoothed her tight, short dress. Vaughn was caught speechless at the vision of his wholesome, lifelong best friend wearing something that looked like it belonged in a Los Angeles nightclub. The brilliant shade of blue contrasted with her black hair and golden skin, making her glow like some sort of goddess.

Fuck, she was beautiful.

 More from the California Cowboys!

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About Selena Laurence: Selena Laurence is an award-winning and USA TODAY bestselling author who loves Putting the Heat in Happily Ever After. Her super sexy stories take place everywhere from rock concerts to family ranches, and her books can be found around the world in four languages, at libraries, bookstores, online, and in audio. 

Selena lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she can often be found at a local coffee shop, hiking the trails, or watching soccer. At home Mr L, her kids, "goldendoodle" and "demoncat" keep her busy trying to corral chaos. A veteran Indie author, Selena also coaches writers through her blog and workshops on turning #Passion2Profession. 

If you'd like to get to know her better, join Selena's reader/reviewer group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/180909955632263/

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