#verse: historical au

[ask-nyc-boroughs]

Early Appalachian frontiersman Alfred in buckskin circa 1790- 1810s. I’m trying to figure out how to paint like NC Wyeth digitally (so lol the background is Wyeth’s).

Gonna ramble a bit about my nor’easter au and Alfred below the cut

Following the American Revolution, Alfred is immediately sent out to squash any rebellions (like whiskey rebellion) and to partake in wars against Indigenous nations like the Cherokee. I’ll save a discussion about the Cherokee wars for another time because that’ll take a long time to explain + I’m still working on my Cherokee oc and I need to understand Cherokee history and perspective more before I go forward with talking about this topic.

Now the many of the east coast states are older than Alfred, and they mostly supported him during the revolution because they thought he’d be easy to control given at the time of the revolution he wasn’t tied down as any colony or city. However, he was a New Englander and very obviously so

He was once Plymouth colony and he grew up alongside his cousin Henry/Massachusetts, but by the time the revolution occurred, his status was unclear and he was simply living with his cousin (who’s his earliest and most fierce supporter) .

These states operated like countries and part of why the had the revolution was to continue to self-govern and maintain their regional cultures. It’s also part of why the federal government initially was rather weak. Given Alfred’s closeness to his cousin, and his very staunch New England identity, I think the states would be hesitant over a strong New England national control. And so I think they especially Jennie/NY & Rich/Virginia encouraged Alfred to leave his cousin for a while, and partake in military campaigns (+ he was good at battle).

Also Alfred was like 14, and I don’t think he’s ever been the type to sit down and do paperwork. Honestly he was always a bad student, who was far more interested in the outdoors, horses, sailing and hunting. While he won the war, and he was fine with being head of state, he still didn’t 1) have confidence in himself to make non-military related decisions 2) he just wasn’t mentally ready to take on the responsibilities and was fine deferring it to his states like Jennie, Rich, or Henry to figure out matters that weren’t military related. He was irresponsible and it would come back to bite him in the ass during the Civil War.

Alfred on a personal level it was probably good for him to get away from his overly critical cousin who can be overbearing, but also so he would get more experience to deeply get to know his states.

Also Alfred, growing up in New England, he was a little ball of rage as a kid and he has a difficult time managing his emotions. He wasn’t exactly the personable seemingly fun loving Alfred of the present. Not that he couldn’t crack a joke, but ok I’m not from New England, but in the northeast I find we’re rather cynical, un-filtered and sarcastic and tbh kind of asssholes in the way we have fun and in our humor. That’s how he was, which is like fine unless you’re trying to appeal to the rest of the nation lol which he would have to

I think his time spent in Appalachia and the south did help him learn more about his other states especially Maisie/ North Carolina. But also helped him learn more how to let go some of this intense New England rage, and how to better control his emotions. But also let loose in a way that isn’t so dark and cynical. Also I think this helped him slowly learn how to speak with less of a New England specific accent

He was also able to observe states like Rich and Carl/ South Carolina and gain an understanding of how being able to control your emotions, can help control your image and how others perceive you. So these are the origins of how he slowly began to shape and become at least in public this overly friendly happy go lucky Alfred.

I’ll save a discussion about his interactions with the Appalachian states more explicitly another time I’m just tired😴 fr rn

[boleynqueenes]

i love your writing and your stories! plus you're pretty much the only one i found on ao3 who actually centres on anne and henry? so thank you for allowing me to feed on my obsession without making me feel wrong for it lol <3

you are so welcome...like snow on the beach:

[fizzigigsimmer]

To B, With Love: Chapter 23

💕 Moodboard by  @prettyboylikeyousteve   💕

Genre: A/B/O Mail Order Bride Au!

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Harringrove

Summary: Steve, a society omega travels west to marry the cowboy who answered his matrimony ad. The problem? Billy isn’t the one who was actually writing to him. That was his ward, Max who is determined to find her stubborn alpha brother a mate.

In which Billy finds Argyle and Steve finds trouble.

[ertrunkenerwassergeist]

I imagined Regis or Cor or anyone from the Citadel asking Drautos if he knew about the Conqueror going to Galahd, and. Drautos would say no. Because he didn't know.

And for the Insomnians that's reasonable, this happened centuries ago, not everyone is interested in history, for all they know the fleet never made it to the islands.

Except Drautos is pretending to be one of Galahkari. One of the people who hold grudges like it's a national sport and discuss historical events like it's yesterday gossip. Whichever Glaive was nearby to hear this would realise that the Captain is being honest about not knowing - and that he's definitely lying about his past.

Axis did not want to be here. His youngest was sick again and had both him and Librita up for most of the night. Thank the spirits for his wife's ability to work from home. Otherwise one of them would have had to quit their job a long time ago.

He supressed a yawn and did his best to ignore Captain Drautos, who was doing some sword drills not too far away from him. Blearily blinking down at the clipboard in his hands, Axis distantly wondered which style of pildura the Captain would prefer. Gekkan maybe? Certainly not puhna. He shook his head. This was not the time to think about it. If he could get his work done in a timely manner, maybe he would be able to go home sooner and help his wife look after Isoro.

Crouching down to inspect the damage done to the stone wall of the training ground, Axis nearly missed the Lord fucking Marshal himself approaching. Suddenly he was wide awake, tracking the man's movements out od the corner of his eyes, while trying to look like he was still concentrating on his work.

"Titus, a word please," the Marshal said once the Captain had stopped his current moveset.

"Has there been an attack?" There was an undercurrent to that question Axis couldn't place.

"No," the Marshal said and something within Axis relaxed. "Regis, Clarus and I are just curious about something."

By the spirits, Axis had never heard the Marshal say so many words in a row.

Captain Drautos rolled his shoulders and sheathed his sword, stance relaxing. Axis couldn't see his expression, but for someone who often insinuated that the King and his men didn't really care for the Glaive beyond their capabilities to be a meat shield, his everything seemed awefully friendly.

"If this is about Shield Hearts again, the answer is still no."

Axis nearly did a double take. Like, what? What by Pitioss was Shield Hearts? The Marshal honest to the spirits snorted. Axis noted down the need for five new stones for this section of the wall and started to search for non-existant cracks in dirt floor.

"Clarus still hasn't given up on it, but no. Do you know about the diary they found not too long ago?"

"The one that mentions the Conqueror? Hard not to have heard about it."

"We were wondering if you know something about it. Do you Galahdians have any records about it? It would be interesting to know if the Conqueror really made it to Galahd or not."

Now Axis wasn't even pretending to work. What would the Captain say? Would he actually tell this outsider the story? Hopefully not. He chanced a look at the two men. Captain Drautos looked contemplative.

"I'm sorry," he said, and if not for his next words, Axis would have sighed in relief. "I don't know anything about that. This was also the first time I heard about it. And with Galahd's conquest I don't know if any records survived."

"I see. What a pity."

Fuck. The Captain was serious. He was actually serious about this. He did not know. How could he not know? Every Galahkar grew up hearing about the Black Ships, the attempted conquest and the murder of Perses Ulric.

What the fuck?

He scribbled something on his clipboard - he had no idea what - and marched out of the training ground as inconspicuously as possible. He needed to talk to Luche.

[melpomeneprose]

"Nothing has more strength than dire necessity." - Euripidies

[starsarefire824]

the winter tree resembles me

The winter tree Resembles me, Whose sap lies in its root: The spring draws near As it, so I Shall bud, I hope, and shoot.

Preface

October 1776- Philadelphia Will was staring at the sky as the Clydesdale plodded thunderously by, heaving a wooden wagon full of dead fish pulled from the Delaware across the cobblestone. The Heavens were so blue it made his eyelids ache. He blinked it away, and tugged at his waistcoat where it had gathered awkwardly under his simple black coat. Huffing out a nervous breath, Will scrunched up his nose at all of the intense pheromones that permeated the air, even out in the open. He already longed for the fresh air of his home, where the fields he’d inherited from his step-father and people he loved had been left behind. Corn and wheat and barley. Those are things he understood.  This ���-secrets and espionage and lies at every turn- well —-it was something Will would probably never be used to. It was how he came to find himself taking over the running of a boarding house located not far from the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. He’d taken up the post with “intention of procuring a substantial income” before he was married and settled back into farm life. It was what was expected by his parents before he chose a mate, and the perfect lie that could roll off his tongue easily. The perfect lie that caused the least guilt when he left his mother with false hopes. He inwardly rolled his eyes at the thought of marriage. The list of dutiful Omega women his parents had waiting for him seemed endless, and he was bound to have to meet them when he returned home in the winter. If he returned home at all that is.

[charmantevamp]

All I ever wanted, was the open sea and sky, freedom from the life I always knew now all I am is haunted. As days and hours roll by all I ever think about is you.

Benjamin Tallmadge, sailor au: @honorhearted.

[honorhearted]

Do you think Modern Ben would like Nirvana?

Modern Ben strikes me as more of the "I listen to all my dad's music" type, so artists like Jim C.roce and E.ric C.lapton would be gracing his shelves more so than grunge bands. However, I feel like he does at least know and like "Smells Like T.een S.pirit," so he is aware of N.irvana -- he just doesn't truly know much beyond two or three songs.

[imprvdente]

@tmvoldemort​ . 𝐆𝐎𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐀𝐔 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋

An eerie vision stepped out of the cold waves, long blue hair trickling down her back. Water flowed against her skin to return to the Ocean, leaving little droplets behind. Rán looked ageless, wild, and most importantly... angry. 

“You have been trying very hard to catch my attention,” she told the hooded silhouette standing on the beach, “well, now you have it.” Her voice was menacing, like a storm brewing on the horizon. Calm and yet implacable. 

“It is not very wise, to anger a Goddess. Speak before I decide to punish you for the mayhem you have caused.”

[stygicniron]

@dragetunge is getting a plotted starter!

Nico's shoulder brace under his thin garments, trying to gather just a a little bit more warmth that the biting wind seems determined to steal away. This is the furthest north he's ever traveled, the furthest north that anyone he's ever known has traveled, and from all the reading and preparation he's tried to do before his trip, he's not convinced anyone has traveled so far north. Of course, he knows he has a little bit of a biased sample size, given that whoever lives up here is not as likely to come down to the Greek Underworld, but that only adds to the intrigue. And Nico intends to get as much out of his experience of the upperworld as he can.

Although maybe he should have packed better.

Fishing around in his small pack, he pulls out a bit of his prepared food. Technically Nico doesn't need to eat, but the small bite does give him more energy, enough to not feel too cold. And as he eats, he looks around, drinking in the stunning vista before him-- the rugged pine forests and rocky outcroppings over a distant ocean shrouded in mist. Or at least Nico thinks it's an ocean, he will have to get closer to see for certain.

Suddenly a roar echoes from behind him, rattling the trees and the very ground beneath. "Gods above and below," Nico gasps, spinning around as he fumbles for a weapon, a darkened shape cresting the hill above him, emerging from the trees. A drakon! Has he heard about these northern lands having drakons? He wonders wildly, head wiping around, hoping to find a place to hide as the creature bellow again, fire belching from its mouth. And the creature surges down the hillside, making its way towards the distant water.

[pathstread]

this isn't the character info i was planning on posting today, but a little quick bullet-point run-down of hestia:

hestia isn't actually her name. she does know the meaning of it, which is why she chose it - - turning expectations on their heads, etc.

gains a reputation as "the lady."

while the percentages swing back and forth, her crew is always comprised of women as well as men (and people who wouldn't necessarily identify as either). while a pecking order is allowed to be established, and the crew can be rough - even with each other - she does not allow any kind of sexual violence or harassment onboard, and will deal swiftly with anyone who breaks those rules.

hestia was born to a relatively well-off merchant family. her father attempted to arrange a match for her that would be beneficial to his business, but the young man attempted to attack her one night, and she fought back against him. she was able to get ahold of a knife and killed him on the spot. her parents refused to hear her side of the story, refused to defend her, so she slipped away in her older brother's cast-off clothing.

(her brother died of an illness some years prior. she is still firmly of the opinion that none of it would have happened if he had still been alive. she doesn't let herself doubt that.)

she disguised herself as a man to greater and less success, and managed to scrape by on the streets for a time. eventually, she was able to follow some of her father's business dealings backward and then underground, to a kind of black market, which eventually led her onboard a ship as a member of its crew.

history loses track of hestia. she's presumed dead by her family, and she climbs slowly, gaining herself experience and reputation bit by grueling bit. eventually, she has herself her own ship, the beginnings of a crew, and some deadly-sharp knives.

not all that much is known about her, except the fact that she's a woman, that her hair is red, that she must be fierce and brutal if she has been able to climb so high (or sink so low, as some would have it) so seeming suddenly.

hestia is not merciful, and she does not feel much by way of guilt when it comes to taking what she wants. she is, however, known to leave any women and children aboard a vessel untouched, and usually with some method to signal for help or find their way back to shore (if she doesn't take them there herself, which she has also been known to do. often for ransom.)

(any people she takes captive / "under her protection" aren't likely to have much faith in any of this, even if they've heard stories. she doesn't actually deal in captives very often, but it's hard to tell the difference when your ship has been attacked by pirates and you find yourselves onboard their ship. and, well. for the right price, she might go after someone on purpose.)

[ask-nyc-boroughs]

Proud of how this came out. Anyways some revolutionary war Alfred. I’ll share some thoughts I have about him in regards to my au lore beneath the cut

He’s a stubborn angry irresponsible kid from New England when the war begins, and tbh he’s like this until the American Civil War. He accepted a lot of responsibility at a young age, was rather insecure, too stubborn to really admit he needs help, and deferred a lot to his states - eventually his irresponsibility catches up with him. And he’s also later forced to change his disposition to be more friendly and diplomatic.

He barely gains the support of his own states. He was initially Plymouth colony, existed as basically nothing except as a ward of his cousin Henry/Massachusetts. The states just tbh saw him as the most neutral option amongst themselves given he has no real role & all the other states have great qualms with each other. But they do admire his commitment, and his battle expertise, and also pure strength. They do however see him as an irresponsible kid so they think he’ll be easy to control (they’re not much that older than him)

His cousin Henry is quite supportive of him and sees his potential so he’s really the one pushing Alfred forth. Alfred just agrees to appease his cousin, whom has taken good care of him up until this point. He’s a kid who accepts way too much responsibility and is way in over his head.

Alfred isn’t a stranger to war or violence prior to the Revolution. However during the revolution, I think under the guidance of General Washington he refines his battle skills and learns to better channel his anger into battle rather than being sporadic. He comes to view General Washington as a father-like figure.

[vordenburg]

When years later in my large-scale Star Trek: Strange New Worlds AU Ambassador Spock and Praetor Sera unify Vulcan and Romulus after forging a new lasting alliance and peace with Admiral La’an of the rebuilt United Federation of Planets, I will know peace.

[fizzigigsimmer]

For the WIPs game… can I ask you both To B with love (because I love it!!!) and the Dragon Shifter or it’s too much? 🥺

Of course! ❤️

So the quick summary of To B, With Love is: an A/B/O period romance. Steve a society omega, wants more than a loveless union and being a pretty trinket on an alpha's arm. He puts out an advertisement for a husband in the hopes of finding real companionship. Billy Hargrove, a cowboy from California answers his add. He seems perfect - but there's one big problem. Billy isn't the one who Steve has been writing to. It's Max, Billy's ten year old ward who believes firmly that a miserable alpha must be in want of a mate. 😉

And Because I know most of y'all know all that already, here's a sneak peek at an upcoming chapter:

“It all has to go back!”  “Billy!” Steve grabbed at Billy’s arm, attempting to stop him as he lunged for the table. Steve had no idea what the alpha intended to do, just that whatever it was it would be bad. The alpha’s scent was roiling and dark, so brittle and bitter that it stung at Steve’s nose. Billy was dangerously close to rut. It made his skin cold, fear twisting his stomach. But it wasn’t fear for himself, odd as that was. In that split moment between observation and action, Steve’s only thought was to prevent Billy from hurting himself.  Steve would think any omega very foolish indeed not considering their own welfare in the face of an incensed alpha sliding into rut – if it were anyone but Billy. Because he'd seen for himself how hard Billy tried not to hurt him, even when all the world said he had a right to.   Despite Steve, the alpha grabbed ahold of the lace table covering – possessed of a strength Steve would have admired if it wasn’t currently being used to drag their supper along with the table settings across the wood.   “Stop! Billy stop!” Alarmed as the candles toppled from their candle holders, Steve yanked at Billy with renewed urgency, finally succeeding in pulling the alpha back slightly and beginning to wedge himself between Billy and the table. Billy’s scent flared sharp and hot with fury but the alpha shoved himself back with a snarl rather than risk injuring Steve in his attempt to rip everything off the table.  “Move Omega!” he growled, the order slamming into Steve so hard it made his teeth ache.  He might have buckled to such a strong command if not for the fact that he’d held a crying child all night whose only crime was loving this bullish arrogant knothead, and if he himself weren’t dangerously close to doing the same. And that – well that made Steve rather furious actually.  “I will not!” Steve hissed through clenched teeth. And he did not budge an inch.  

For those who might want to read the fic.

[eriny3s]

@stygicniron asked: forgive me ,  i didn’t know . @ meg?

the  young  prince  says  he  did  not  know  ,  and  megaera  has  to  refrain  from  dragging  her  hands  down  her  face  .  she  is  here  on  business  ,  not  pleasure  ,  and  it  is  the  sight  of  the  youngest  of  lord  hades'  children  that  has  her  remembering  why  she  often  stayed  away  and  communicated  via  letter  .  she  is  so  easily  frustrated  here  ,  wrenched  off  her  focus  points  like  an  unruly  kitten  by  scarred  hands  she  has  bitten  many  times  .  

hades  does  not  control  her  and  her  sisters  but  she  still  has  to  be  respectful  .  so  there  is  a  reason  alecto  came  with  her  ,  leaving  tisiphone  to  her  own  devices  elsewhere  in  the  capital  .  at  least  tisiphone  won't  get  into  too  much  trouble  .  

but  it  was  alecto's  CONFIDENCE  that  sparked  a  question  in  the  child  ,  asking  why  she  seemed  so  ...  at  home  ,  in  lord  hades'  estate  .  why  the  second  of  the  erinyes  did  not  bat  an  eye  ,  seemed  to  know  what  corridors  to  pay  attention  to  regardless  of  direction  from  the  servants  .  megaera  had  not  anticipated  him  to  be  so  observant  ,  and  alecto  had  taken  exception  to  the  question  ,  and  promptly  disappeared  in  a  supernatural  burst  of  speed  ,  nearly  teleporting  ahead  to  the  meeting  room  .  

megaera  had  remarked  that  young  nico  had  offended  the  second  fury  ,  and  thus  comes  the  apology  .  

if  only  it  were  that  simple  .  

❛  you  would  not  be  expected  to  know  ,  young  one  ,  ❜  she  murmurs  in  her  naturally  husky  voice  ,  golden  eyes  focused  down  upon  the  prince  of  the  estate  .  ❛  but  it  would  be  a  good  lesson  to  learn  .  if  you  have  such  suspicions  ,  bring  them  to  your  FATHER  —  not  the  suspicious  party  .  especially  not  one  much  ,  much  older  than  you  .  ❜

the  youth  of  today  —  it  is  always  something  .

[melpomeneprose]

We don't take direction, Lucretia My reflection, dance the ghost with me. - Lucretia My Reflection, Sisters of Mercy