#verse: historical.

[lvciddreamt]

@ovriit

“speaking of our wedding, i would much prefer it if we could avoid the bedding ceremony.” occurred to her that he may not know what she was speaking of, and her face flushed. “are you…familiar with the custom?”

[charmantevamp]

( trace )     for the sender to trace their finger of the receiver’s body. - @ofravensandseas

"You're a tease," Audrey observed with a false calm. It was calm before a storm. Her mouth clashes with his and she pulls him closer, pressing her body against his.

"So stop teasing."

[melpomeneprose]

Continued from here ~ @audaciiae

The Major sighed -- sadly -- defeated, trying and ultimately failing to repress his emotions for P.eggy S.hippen, John said finally, "Well besides driving my mind to fits of lust and love that drives Eros to shame, I am afraid... I am vexed, of course, I also care for Madam Cheer, I do regret hurting her, making her something she is not, but... there is a botomless pit in me that is empty without Madam S.hippen, but she is not mine to lose anymore... I'm afraid. In losing the woman I've gained the man, I did this for you, you know, my dear," a sigh. "My love is to be Mrs. Arnold within a week, and there is nothing I can do. But, as I've said, in losing the woman I've gained the man, A.rnold will bring our E.ngland victory, still... this wound is a dugout and I wish I could crawl out, but I can't."

[isprins]

My  muse  pulls  your  muse  under  their  umbrella  during  a  sudden  downpour. -- with willy wonker < 3

while caspian had heard of the rather unpredictable and yet often gloomy weather in london, he was still caught off guard when the sky above seemed to suddenly open up. his eyes were wide as he felt the first few droplets that landed upon him, only becoming bigger by the second. thankfully, before he could become too damp, he was whisked underneath an umbrella. he was expecting to see his guard that he had snuck away from to explore the streets, but instead his gaze locked with a face that made him feel borderline perplexed. he blinked a few times before nervously clearing his throat, “thank you for sheltering me.” he offered a polite bow of his head in gratitude. “this rain came out of nowhere, didn’t it? i’m not quite used to the weather here.”

[sharmawit]

"that is obvious, Kate. everything i do is a blessing."

@smiletimeisrunningout

Kathani chuckles, innocently enough -- at first. It is not bitterness nor malice towards Princess Emma. The truth, rather is it is complicated. Often, despite her best efforts Miss Sharma feels unwanted... a burden. It isn't an often occurrence, nevertheless -- it sometimes strikes her. The melancholia time and again. It always leaves, but this morning it has decided to strike.

Kathani truthfully spends so little time considering herself that it rarely is a problem. But, despite the laugh sweeping her brown-coloured sharp lips, there's a mild look of pain in her eyes. Perhaps the worst part is -- she blames herself for Edwina's current troubles, isn't it? "Well, that makes you the exception, my friend, Emma. I am not sure such a notion applies to me... after all, what do sharp-tongued spinsters contribute to society? After all, aren't we women... aiding dear Edwina, supposed to be soft-spoken and seldom seen?"

[sharmawit]

Fear? Surely the brunette is not so naive, nor plain as Kathani dare say... the rest of London. Surely, they can converse as equals, more than equals. Though Miss Sharma is rather new where she treads, she is neither plain... nor gullible.

"Miss Kathani Sharma, a pleasure to make your acquaintance," she says. Of course, Kathani can put context together, still, the question... why fear is ever present, if not out of most sincere concern.

"I don't believe so." Despite the woman's kind features, Anne couldn't help the lingering fear in her bones. "I'm Anne. You are?"

[charmantevamp]

@ofravensandseas / continued.

Audrey's mouth curled into a gentle smile, but, this once, there is an air of sincerity and honesty they -- Audrey, are most often bereft of. To most people, but, Aloïs isn't most people.

"Go on then, tell me," the raven-haired lass said. "And," a beat. "What manner of demons?" Audrey is not awfully determined to tell their story -- in its entirety, no one, not even herself, is privy to that. Still, if allowed to recollect the thing. Perhaps, maybe, who knows... she can figure out the meaning of it all. If, indeed, it has any meaning at all.

[melpomeneprose]

send me  ‘🃏 !’  and i’ll write you a starter using a tarot card as the inspiration

Anne Boleyn for visiting v: phoenix queen Relta?

From here. / @joyfulmagic

The Magician - Upright: power, influence, resourcefulness, intellect, and skill. Reversed: a warning to be careful and 'mind where you step or step on.'

Admittedly Lady Anne B.oleyn hadn't been in England long, still, somehow she got H.enry the E.ighth's attention. Almost without saying a word. It would be tedious if it didn't benefit her and her family. She's made her way to court with her sister, Mary. Hoping at least one B.oleyn girl would have some staying power. Silently, Anne thinks, 'Is it not enough? The man is married, I bear Catherine of Aragon no ill will, I am merely a reformed P.rotestant, and he does have my sister and several others already.' but Anne doesn't voice such words, it would only get her in more trouble with her father.

She was new at court, as new as one educated keenly at French Court could be and already Catalina saw her as a challenge. Was her summons so much to bear? Well, she's determined to make this difficult. She will be no mistress.

Anne had almost gotten lost in her train of thought when I bright haired woman approached, she seemed respectable enough, though really -- respectability be damned. At French court she was taught to be memorable.

"Bonsoir, Madam, I am Lady Anne B.oleyn, at your service, a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

[melpomeneprose]

"Why ever not? -- I am a loyalist, not a monster. I may find you beastly rebels to be ignorant and fighting a fool's errand, but that doesn't mean I wish you all dead. At the end of the day, we all want the same things, do we not? The success and safety of this nation?"

Benjamin didn't know what to say, too much pain, so much he has unknowingly caused and enabled. If anyone's the beast here-- it is me. He wished to say, but he did not. He wasn't sure what was restraining him. So far, he'd shown so little. "I never said you were a monster," Tallmadge managed gently. You are quite the opposite.

"War makes wretches of us all," he added, praying she understood.

"You don't know that -- you do not know whom you will and will not hurt, so such promises are cruel and faulty. Perhaps your staying will be the worst mistake of your life."

What do you want from me? His eyes said, but he could not muster the words. He was too afraid, to afraid of himself.

"I imagine if I blamed our king for the death of a loved one, I would wish to fight too. But perhaps it isn't our king who's at fault. Perhaps it's Washington's pride for thinking we can win this war in the first place."

"I will not trouble you with the numbers, Madam," Benjamin sighed sadly. "To the best side then I suppose. Though, G.od has not left us yet."

Clara blinked at Benjamin's response, a nettled heat burning beneath her fichu. "Why ever not?" she coolly asked. "I am a loyalist, not a monster. I may find you beastly rebels to be ignorant and fighting a fool's errand, but that doesn't mean I wish you all dead. At the end of the day, we all want the same things, do we not? The success and safety of this nation?"

When Benjamin reached for her hands, she jerked, startled by his sudden touch. "Do not shush me," she warned, agitation welling within her eyes. "I am just some ignorant, hysterical woman to you, is that it? Perhaps you do not wish to hear my words, because you know them to be true!"

He fetched a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes, and despite the almost infantile sensation of being cared for -- she doubted that even her own nursemaid had cared for her in infancy -- she remained skeptical as her eyes appraised his face.

"You don't know that," she whispered. "You do not know whom you will and will not hurt, so such promises are cruel and faulty. Perhaps your staying will be the worst mistake of your life."

A brother... It didn't take unveiled words to know he was yet another victim of this hellish war. Mouth curling, Clara looked away, worrying her fingers over the fabric of her neckline. "I've never known anyone killed in this conflict," she confessed. "Our friends and family...they are not serving. But I do love, and quite fiercely, so I couldn't even begin to fathom the hurt and ache that must cause...and yet here you still stand. And here you still fight." Chewing her lip, she raised her eyes again. "I imagine if I blamed our king for the death of a loved one, I would wish to fight too. But perhaps it isn't our king who's at fault. Perhaps it's Washington's pride for thinking we can win this war in the first place."

[isprins]

“It is dangerous to love you, but a life without danger is no life at all.” -- dimitri

caspian’s lips pursed as he drew closer to the other on the bed they were seated upon, practically crawling into the man’s lap. his hands settled upon dimitri’s chest before they slipped upward to frame his face, “what’s so dangerous about loving me, dima? do you think you’re not worthy of love just because you’ve been on your own for so long?” his thumbs delicately brushed over the other’s cheekbones, savouring the warmth that radiated from his skin ― a brutal contrast from the bitter cold that lingered in the room they shared. “love always comes with a risk, but i don’t want you to be constantly worried about that. even if you are used to a little danger in your life, i want to be that safe place for you.”

[sharmawit]

[Skates] for sender and receiver to get ice skating

From here. / @apurekindness

Riding out to meet the blonde, the Sharma 'spinster' wasn't sure what to make of her. Though, Kathani was by far the last person to throw stones or accuse without evidence. 'A witch' some said, 'a healer and medic,' said others. Still, the truly observant ones said the blonde was a 'doctor' and 'nurse.' She didn't know what to make of it, and Kathani was not entirely certain that she cared. She grabbed her ice skates-- something rather new to the coffee-coloured, raven-haired 'spinster'.

"I do hope, I'm not terribly late," she said as a footman took her horse and she got down with ease. "I also don't believe I've done this before."

[lvciddreamt]

@painfools

“you…sent for me?” lingered in the doorway apprehensively, hesitant to make eye contact. a fortnight had passed — a fortnight of walking by her husband’s disembodied head every time she made her way across the courtyard. it was a gruesome sight; tongue lolling, blank eyes staring down from the spike it had been placed on. as a result, she was feeling less than enthusiastic about being in aksel’s presence. “is there something you needed?”

[charmantevamp]

“.. Let me explain to you.. what happened to me.. Will you still be mine?” - @ofravensandseas

@ofravensandseas

Audrey looks shocked, then she takes a sip of her drink... eying him dangerously. She takes it as an odd, well-intentioned dare of a sort.

"I have no reason to leave unless you prove yourself a threat," like my maker. "Truth-telling, is it? The truth, the whole truth, not the flowery perfumed lies we tell ourselves? Sure, Mon Cher, I'll listen. The question is, can you handle mine?"

[melpomeneprose]

“you clearly needed help.”

henry tudor, duke of cornwall for anne of cleves

@officerwaltons

Anna thought for a moment. Were she permitted a policy of truth, as her Christianity so often demanded. She’d question why she was here. What with Henry VIII’s four children. Two sons. Two daughters. Elizabeth, Mary, Edward and Henry Tudor. All of whom had taken her as a stepmother so well. She only prayed the King’s firstborn legitimate son didn’t know that she was soon to be but a ‘beloved sister’ to his majesty, Henry VIII.

Still, she had indeed needed help. It’d be wrong to deny as much. She knew, of course, why she was here at all. At least initially. She was to bare the King more sons. Secure the Tudor line. After all, the War of the Roses had happened a mere fifty years before. All because the English royals couldn’t act accordingly and the line of succession was unclear. That and some unlucky children died young. It was a fact of life. Anna had survived to 24. But her mother had lost at least two babies before her and Amelia, and her brother, the now Duke of Cleves.

“I… thank you, my Lord,” Anna managed awkwardly.

She had no interest in baring sons and the acts it required and she much preferred the soft touch of women. An aunt perhaps, but not a mother. A flirt, in words, but not a lady of Greensleeves.

“Should you and your siblings need anything, I am here, you know. I don’t intend to leave England. Despite the ‘divorce’, I should know. I won’t be denied my dues and payment. I love your father, as a sister protects her brother. But as marriages go. Declare me but a well-to-do titled spinster! I fancy myself a Pallas Athena, or better still, Artemis of the hunt!”

[sharmawit]

"let us take a turn about the room." Finally Emma meeting Kate

@smiletimeisrunningout

Somehow Kathani— Kate, still manages to be a bit taken aback by such attention. Never mind that her sweet and most suitable sister, Edwina Sharma, the diamond was elevated in the eyes of the public by Queen Charlotte herself. To say nothing of her own efforts, and माँ— mata—mother Mary's efforts and Kate’s own.

She was ‘the spinster’, unconcerned with propriety or vanity, as some philosophers might insist. Still, praise from a royal, even a not native Briton, was nothing to scoff at or minimize. Of course! Maharashtra had its own long history of royals, warrior Rani’s—Queen’s rather, saints and her home was the ‘gateway to the subcontinent of India’ at least, if you believed the scandalous Lord Byron, or the erudite John Keats. Emma and Kate were alike in that way… ‘foreigners.’ As though William the Conqueror’s line wasn’t still going in King George III. But she need not point out the problems present in their world, not right now, anyway. Not when Kate had just been extended a friend’s hand, metaphorically.

“But of course,” Kathani said, placing Newton down on the couch and rising to walk with the Princess Emma.

[lvciddreamt]

@obsesionadas

“you may have won this battle, but that does not mean you have won the war. my kingdom will never be yours.”