#young patrician lady

[artthatgivesmefeelings]

Vlaho Bukovac (Croatian, 1855-1922) Young Patrician Lady, 1890

[drunken-ender-art]

Blightknight Amity

The younger scion of House Blight, Amity is a prodigy in the arcane art of Abomination Magic, rivaling the likes of Hunters and Students of the Blood Coven.

Her talents and skills put to service under the illustrious sigil of her House, stalking the dark alleys and moonlit squares of the giant city of Bones'yard with unmatched elegance and finess, as she purge the streets from beasts and enemies of the House alike.

It's during one of those many nights of Hunt that she would meet a particular new huntress... from that day on the nights of Hunt became less lonely, and blood was not the only thing she would eventually be looking for.

"The tale of House Blight is written in blood, human..."

House Blight is as pompous as it is powerfull on the Boiling Isles.

While the House as a whole is formed by a court of witches and knights, its heart and lead is the Blight Family itself, formed by Duke Alador and his wife Duchess Odalia, the twins Lady Emira and Lord Edric, and the young prodigy Lady Amity.

They are the only one, outside the Students and Researchers of the Blood Coven, to perform and actually create Abomination magic, a dark arcane art made from a very difficult and obscure process of refinement of the blood.

While all the youngs of House Blight are required to be trained in the way of the Hunt in a way proper to the House's status, only the scions of the Family are trained in the way of Abomination magic, seeking the precious blood needed to fuel their magic... this, with their pomposity and snobbish attitude, often led to many ill mouthed rumors such as the Blights being vampiric monsters.

Obviously no one ever dared to say that to their face.

"...I don't know what those dreams of yours means, but these are not people anymore ..."

House Blight is also known for his own Workshop, led by Duke Alador himself and few others students, producing a vast arsenal of Abomination-fueled weapons, mostly for the Blood Coven and few very rich patricians that can afford such pieces of arts. Those weapons however, are toys compared to the power of a real Abomination magic wielder, for when properly "brewed" and used, Abomination goop has the capacity to latch onto the flesh of its victim and eat away the tissue, drawing the blood to the surface and letting it spill copiously.

Spectre is no such toy.

The handle is but a conduit and container for the abomination. The blade, its sharpness and power are all fruit of Amity's ability of manipulating the goop. The ability to effortlessly change and shift the blade mid-combat into two claws' like daggers a skill honed in infinite bloodshed under the light of the moon.

Spellcaster, while a more standard House Blight weapon in function, is nonetheless a masterpiece of Alador's craftmanship. A gift for the most skilled daughter House Blight has ever seen.

"...so close your heart and let the blood flow copiously... until our heads spin together drunkenly into the night~"

Amity, Blightknight of House Blight, one of the best huntresses on the Boiling Isles.

Continuation of my Owlborne concept: The Owl House X Bloodborne crossover

[specialsituationsgroup]

Lego Discworld - Patrician's Palace

Patrician's palace exterior with Ankh-Morpork coat of arms. Giant beehive / pidgeon roost / clack's tower on roof. Statue of old Stoneface and hoho in front. City catacombs under the surface.

Palace interior with secret passage. Palace garden with lilac bush and BS Johnson's exploding fountain. Ginger tom and unprofitable butterfly.

Patrician's palace, closed, front.

Havelock Vetinari, Wuffles and Igor in the puke green room. Includes candle stub on nightstand and candle stick hidden in the chest of drawers.

Mr Pump in Vetinari's study. Incudes a crossword puzzle/thud board, music sheet and the manuscript of The Servant.

Leonard of Quirm, Sybil Ramkin, Erol and Rufus Drumknott in Leonard's atelier. Includes the model of the Kite, device for removing mountains, internal combustion kettle, scultping and painting equipment, and Vetinari's portrait.

Library / secret passage. Includes Oswald, modle of the disc and a death mask / head for young Vetinari.

The low king of Dwarves in the Oblong office. Includes Vetinari's and Drumknott's desks, "world's best boss" mug, and dog biscuit.

Commander Vimes, Angua von Uberwald and lord Rust in the Rat's chamber. Includes sprig of lilac, old Stoneface's axe, and Angua's collar / stygium ring.

Otto Chirk and palace guard in the waitng room / entrance / throne room / ball room. Inclues Vetinari's clock and the gilded throne of Ankh.

Palace Cook / Glenda Sugerbean / Grace Speaker / Interchangable Emma and food taster / Young Sam in the Kitchen. Includes bread, water and hardboiled egg. Roasting salmon, caviar and goblet of blood. Wine, cheese and a spoon.

Foul ole Ron and Rincewind in the treasury. Includes snake and scorpion. Paper money, Agatean gold coin and a head of cabage.

Tears of the mushtoom and Detritus in the saferoom / bathroom. Includes matress and shaving equipment. Bathtub, chamber pot with nightsoil, and shoft lavatory paper.

Moist in the janitor's closet / botomless pit. Includes trap door and chain for mimes. Stoker Blake's shovel and the Sweeper's broom.

Death / mime and death of rats / rat spy in the dungeon. Includes barred door, Dwarven locks, and a plaque inscribed learn the words.

Possible minifig permutations, with acessories:

Charlie, assasin Vetinari, Patrician Vetinari, Stoker Blake

Drumknott, Vetinari, Adora Dearheart, Albert Spangler.

Vimes under the Summoning Dark, young constable Vimes, Commander Vimes, Sargent Keel, Sir Samuel the duke of Anhk.

BLT Sybil, Dragonbreeder Sybil, dwarf opera Sybil.

Buggy Swires, Nobby Nobs, Fred Colon, Angua von Uberwald, Carrot Ironfounderson. Commander Vimes, Reg Shoe, Cuddy, Cherry.

Groat, Moist, Stanley

Ponder Stibbons, Mustrum Ridcully and Rincewind

Mrs Rosie Palm, lady Sybil Ramkin, madam Roberta Mersole

Otto Chirk, Margolata von Ubervald, dragon king of arms

Dragon king of arms, lord Rust, mr Pin and mr Tulip, Reacher Gilt, mr Slant, lord Downey

Low king of dwarves, Bashful Bashfullson, Cuddy, Cherry

Buggy Swires, Tears of the Musroom, Of the lathe the swarf

[vickyvicarious]

Several very funny back-and-forths in today's update...

“What did you think of him?”

“A pathetic, futile, broken creature.”

Imagine just casually describing someone in this way. Incredible. The first words out his mouth.

“The Haven is the name of Mr. Josiah Amberley's house,” I explained. “I think it would interest you, Holmes. It is like some penurious patrician who has sunk into the company of his inferiors. You know that particular quarter, the monotonous brick streets, the weary suburban highways. Right in the middle of them, a little island of ancient culture and comfort, lies this old home, surrounded by a high sun-baked wall mottled with lichens and topped with moss, the sort of wall—”

“Cut out the poetry, Watson,” said Holmes severely. “I note that it was a high brick wall.”

“Exactly.”

SO funny. Feels very much like they are treading old ground here. Watson doesn't always talk like this out loud, though he does in narration, so between that and his very nonchalant reaction to Holmes cutting him off, it kinda feels like he might be winding him up on purpose just for fun.

And then the classic:

“With your natural advantages, Watson, every lady is your helper and accomplice. What about the girl at the post-office, or the wife of the greengrocer? I can picture you whispering soft nothings with the young lady at the Blue Anchor, and receiving hard somethings in exchange. All this you have left undone.”

“It can still be done.”

We start off with the typical 'good job! you didn't notice anything relevant' when Watson gets to investigate, but then take a hard turn into Holmes joking about him being a big flirt and yet failing to weaponize his charm. So funny. Especially Watson's petulant 'well I can still go charm them now' and Holmes immediately firing back 'no need.' Is this revenge for the poetry, Holmes. Why are you two being so silly today.

...finally, not quite as funny but the always-enjoyable:

“Did you personally examine this ticket? You did not, perchance, take the number?”

“It so happens that I did,” I answered with some pride. “It chanced to be my old school number, thirty-one, and so is stuck in my head.”

“Excellent, Watson!”

Watson Notices Something Important but doesn't understand the full significance (though it's still a cute proud moment)

and:

“It was undoubtedly the tall, dark man whom I had addressed in the street. I saw him once more at London Bridge, and then I lost him in the crowd. But I am convinced that he was following me.”

“No doubt! No doubt!” said Holmes. “A tall, dark, heavily moustached man, you say, with gray-tinted sun-glasses?”

“Holmes, you are a wizard. I did not say so, but he had gray-tinted sun-glasses.”

“And a Masonic tie-pin?”

“Holmes!”

“Quite simple, my dear Watson.”

Watson Notices Something but not in the right way (AKA Holmes in Disguise Again)

[helenvader]

Hm. This absolutely sounds like there was something more. Even though it's (not just) my HC that Havelock is very much gay.

‘Oh, in my younger days I spent some time in Uberwald,’ said the Patrician. ‘In those days rich young men from Ankh-Morpork used to go on what we called the Grand Sneer, visiting far-flung countries and cities in order to see at first hand how inferior they were. Or so it seemed, at any rate. Oh, yes. I spent some time in Uberwald.’

It was not often that Leonard of Quirm paid attention to what people around him were doing, but he saw the faraway look in Lord Vetinari’s eye. ‘You have fond memories, my lord?’ he ventured.

‘Hmm? Oh, she was a very … unusual lady but, alas, rather older than me,’ said Vetinari. ‘Much older, I have to say. But it was a long time ago. Life teaches us its small lessons and we move on.’ There was that distant look again. ‘Well, well, well …’

‘And no doubt the lady is now dead,’ said Leonard. He was not much good at this sort of conversation.

‘Oh, I very much doubt that,’ said Vetinari. ‘I have no doubt she thrives.’ He smiled. The world was becoming more … interesting.

[thiswaycomessomethingwicked]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Spread the self-love ❤️

❤️ oh man! I'll give my current faves, but I like most of things I've written for different reasons:

What Makes a King (aka Grima out here comitting Crimes but it's because he wants to Lady Macbeth Eomer into Kingship; also lots of weird gender and magic and sexuality and political intrigue happening)

Swimming Through Fire (the Boromir lives rewrite of LOTR)

To-morrow and To-morrow (ahhhh young Downey and Vetinari performing Shakespeare and being very Normal about each other)

The Feast of San Giovanni (aka that time Marsilio Ficino and Giovanni Cavalcanti were REAL DUMB about how much they love each other. Also overwrought Catholic Neo-platonism)

Wild Thing (Grima again, out here being super traumatized after the Scouring of the Shire, but still somehow getting into local political messes. Except it's Literary~~~~)

Thus Always 2.0 (Downey has Dad Issues and is fucking the Patrician which means he and Vetinari are being Normal about Each Other, also there's murder and mayhem)

Yeah, those are my current faves that I've written ❤️❤️

thank you for the ask!

[welcome-to-ratterrock]

I wonder if the cast's names have any special meaning?

Oh, indeed they do! Golly but this was fun to answer…

Let’s start with Sage. In traditional Celtic lore, sage is a symbol of wisdom and immortality, and in Indigenous traditions, sage is used in rituals to clear negative energy and promote balance. We wanted to give Sage a name that touched not only on intelligence, but wisdom - you can be intelligent and not wise, and that’s very much the case with Sage. He’s going to have his eyes opened and gain new insight and wisdom in this story…

Sage leaves can be cultivated in cemeteries and sprinkled across the graves of loved ones, and the long time the leaves take to wilt symbolizes remembrance. Sage Locke is intrinsically connected to death - it is his work and he tries to understand it as best he can, and he uses his life as a way to restore justice for those who are now dead, bring balance to an unbalanced world…

As for his last name, Locke, it’s a reflection of how his mind operates- he locks onto certain things, information and theories that he becomes obsessed by. We also wanted to convey how he tries to operate, breaking things down methodically and mechanically…

For the rest of his family, Rosemary and Sorrell and Mace, we wanted to continue the theme of herb/plant names, and Baji chose some amazing ones. 

As for those in the Regal family, we wanted them to have a surname that was Irish and inspired a lot of images of power and strength and beauty. It was a wonderful surprise to learn that Regal was in fact an Irish surname!

The name Padraic comes from the Irish Gaelic name Pdraig and the Latin name Patricius, which means “patrician” or “nobleman”. It’s a name suited for a leader, someone meant for nobility and privilege and wealth. Combined with his last name, it’s very much a name for a king…

Sorcha means "bright" or "shining", and comes from the Old Irish words soirche or sorchae, which means "brightness.” Appropriate for a woman whose talent, intelligence and beauty shines like a star, a diamond. 

Lorcan means "little fierce one", and comes from the Gaelic word lorcc, which means "fierce". The name is thought to have been used as a nickname for brave warriors, making it a fitting name for someone with a fearless spirit like Lorcan.

Saoirse means "freedom" or "liberty", and became popular in Ireland in the 1920s, possibly in response to the Irish independence movement. It's also closely linked to the Irish War of Independence and the creation of Saorstát Éireann. All in all, perfect for a spitfire who works for the freedom and rights of her people and the other underprivileged. 

For the bats of the Night Court Colony, Baji chose Nadia to honor the best vampire lady of all time, Nadja from “What We Do In the Shadows.” For her sons, we wanted names that are Slavic, since their father came from the Ukraine…

Because Baji and I met through “Strange Magic”, I rather sentimentally chose Bogdan as the name of the solitary and fearsome Duke of the Night Court. Ironically, he and the Bog King have a lot in common…

Casimir means "proclaimer of peace", but it can also mean "destroyer of peace", which is true to form for the wild and often dangerous Cas. Due to his injury with the downed wire, he himself can’t find peace…

I named Rilla after Rilla Blythe from the Anne of Green Gables series, a young woman who despite being slightly frivolous and immature is still very sweet and kind, and who undergoes a lot of growth through dark times. Marilla means "shining sea”, which was a delightful surprise given a certain mythical creature Lorcan compares her to in our story! 

Baji named Luella and Brig and Clifford, and told me that while she didn’t have particular reasons for going with Lu or Brig’s, she wanted a very English sounding name for Clifford. Also, Luella’s last name, Woodmouse, was inspired by Jane Austin’s character of Emma Woodhouse.

And these are only some of the characters to come! Even more shall appear, and their names shall have meaning too, oh yes…

Thank you for this wonderful question!

[portmantaur]

actually hang on, nobody asked, but I do have thoughts about moist von lip wig and the office of the patrician. because while I couldn’t bring myself to believe that vetinari only has one single option in mind for possible successors, I do think that the idea of him “grooming the city” (a la this post) and leaving a very specific shape behind to fill is absolutely why he’s testing to see if moist specifically can tie himself into the appropriate knots to fill the post.

I actually think that Night Watch’s depiction of young vetinari paints the picture of a young man quite similar to moist in a lot of ways. Yes, young havelock is reserved in ways that feel familiar to people who have read all of discworld up until that point, but he’s got this distinct unfamiliarity of youth that feels echoed in a lot of moist’s inner narrative. He’s cocky, he stirs shit on purpose sometimes just because he feels compelled to, he is motivated by and invested in Big Ideas even when he can’t quite grasp them fully or think all the way through to all their possible logical conclusions. Even at the end of the book, adult vetinari describes himself as having joined the melee over Keel’s body with a lilac bloom clutched between his teeth. Even in a position where he’s supposed to be - and is quite adept at being - understated and subtle, he has an urge to be showboaty that he sometimes, at least in the throes of youth and revolution, cannot resist. he’d rather take a failing grade in his concealment class if it means he can truthfully say he faithfully attended every lesson and was simply never seen by the instructor. he hides the last remaining manuscripts of a specific author on the art of camouflage inside the cover of a large book on accounting.

and, as the patrician, he’s in the perfect position to see the truth of moist as a young man who can be incredibly creative, pragmatic (especially socially), and almost absurdly dedicated to the Long Con when sufficiently self-motivated. I see so many moments in moist’s stories where vetinari seems to be very clearly testing the idea that moist might maintain all of these useful qualities while being Something-Else Motivated. and so, much like Carrot sort of proposed to angua with the city itself, vetinari begins to introduce moist to Ankh Morpork like a gift, like an engagement ring. yes, the stakes are not necessarily immediately city-sized, but the rewards by the end of it absolutely are. by the beginning of making money, moist has his very-nearly gold chain - he’s a Respected City Figure. and when vetinari sees that moist is internally conflicted about how Boring this feels, he then dangles another challenge - he opens another door and says “but look, there’s still more.”

and I think something that’s interesting about vetinari’s relationship with moist being viewed through this specific lens is that vetinari is also being really very practical and forward thinking. for all that the two are alike, moist has qualities that vetinari doesn’t - possibly that vetinari could not have, to have done the job as well as he has up until this point. but he’s looking to the future, and he sees a man the the people - the big, nebulous, mob-like creature that is The People of The City - cannot help but love, cannot help but be open to. vetinari is older by the time he, for whatever reason, sees himself as someone who can invite lady margolotta more officially into his life, and moist already has a similar bond in adora that could practically be described as load-bearing. miss dearheart is as integral to moist’s life as a functioning heart or brain, maybe moreso given what silliness he engages in when she is away, and she absolutely has a sharp bear trap of a mind that could and did tame the clacks and could and absolutely would tame some equally wild aspects of the city itself. she is exactly what it would take to temper moist in necessary ways, and she is fully the only one who can.

and since carrot cannot, would not succeed vetinari in all but the most extreme and likely temporary of circumstances, moist might also be the closest person available to fill the vetinari-shaped hole left behind while also cultivating a similar Good With People quality that has thus far not significantly existed in any of ankh morpork’s leaders. vetinari is distinctly good At people, much like granny weatherwax, and carrot is good By people, both for his apparently infinite ability to seek out and wrench forth the internal goodness of most anyone he comes across, and for the mysterious nobility quality that would absolutely mark him as a well-intentioned step backward into the divine right mindset that many people (especially Vimes) see as messy at best and harmful at worst.

But moist is good With people. he doesn’t have to like them, and often doesn’t, to appeal to them and to guide them into his own way of thinking. people don’t necessarily like him because “he is moist von lipwig,” the way carrot once described his reluctance to step into an official leadership role in the city. they don’t like him because he’s “what works” or the “least bad option” the way many citizens have describe their views on vetinari. people like moist genuinely for how he treats them, for how he moves through the world, for how relatable he is both in his wild & lucky success and his predictable and dramatic failures (that he still manages to turn around for himself in the end). and what a thing that might be, for Ankh Morpork to have a patrician who is beloved not by obligation or by lack of suitable alternative, but by his humanity and his willingness to love right back - imperfect and clumsy and even somewhat insincere as any other citizen might be. a man of the people because he is just a person, and he just happens to be the exact right person for the job.

[awriterofdivinedreams]

Name Meanings/Etymologies of Devil May Cry Characters

Classic Devil May Cry Canon A: Agnus - lamb Alice - noble, of nobility Alex Lowell - to defend, to protect | young wolf Alyssa Martin - rational, noble | warlike, of Mars, warrior Amanda - worthy to be loved Angelina Hagel - messenger of god | farm Arius - warlike, devoted to Ares Arkham - happy

B: Beryl - colour of the sea Bobby - bright fame, shining glory Butler - servant in charge of the wine cellar

C: Carlo - man, free man Cindy - light Chen the Cannibal - dawn, morning, great, tremendous Christopher Lowell - bearer of Christ | young wolf Claude - lame, disabled Credo - I believe

D: Dante - enduring, steadfast, lasting Ducas - leader, to guide, general

E: Elena Huston - bright, shining light | hugh's town, settlement on the hill Elise - oath of God, God is satisfaction Ernest - serious, determined Enzo Ferino - home ruler | iron Eva - life, living one

F: Fredi - peaceful ruler

G: Gloria - glory Grue - shiver, shudder

I: Isaac - he will laugh

J: J.D. Morrison - son of the dark-skinned Jeffrey Turner - pledge of peace, district, traveler | lathe worker Jessica - to see before, god beholds, to behold Joe - he will add Julio - youthful, youth, downy bearded

K: Kalina Ann - viburnum tree, to make red-hot | grace, mercy, favour Kerry Marcus - dark, dark-haired | warlike, dedicated to Mars Kyle - narrow, strait, channel Kyrie - lord

L: Lady - noble, bread kneader Lucia - light Lynn Marcus - lake | warlike, dedicated to Mars

M: "Mad Dog" Denvers - crazy, insane | canine | green valley Margaret - pearl Mary - bitter, beloved, drop of the sea Matier - friend, friendly Michel - who is like God Mike Hagel - who is like God | farm

N: Nell Goldstein - bright, shining light, weaver, merciful, god is my light | gold stone, touchstone Nero - black, strong, powerful Nesty - place to sit down, pure, chaste Nicoletta “Nico” Goldstein - victory of the people | gold stone, touchstone Nina Lowell - little girl | young wolf

P: Patty Lowell - noble, patrician | young wolf Patty Lowell (heiress) - noble, patrician | young wolf Paul - small, little, humble

R: Rock Goldstein - crag | gold stone, touchstone Roy Martin - king, red, redhead | warlike, of Mars, warrior

S: Sally - princess, noblewoman Santa Claus - saint, holy | victory of the people Sanctus - holy Simon - he has heard, flat-nosed Soldier “Crew Cut” - mercenary | short-length haircut Solemnis - annual, ceremonial, religiously fixed Sparda - sword, simple, frugal

T: Tiki - hope, waterfall, image Tim - to honour

V: V “Vitale” - Roman numeral for five | life giving, lively Vergil - flourishing Vincent - to conquer

X: χ (Chi) - christ, Greek numeral for six hundred

BOSSES and/or DEMONS

A: Abigail - father's joy Argosax - bright, shining Agni - fire, flame Artemis - butcher, safe

B: Bael - lord, master Balrog - demon of might Baul - snail, slow like a snail Beastheads - wild animal | top of body, leader, ruler Belphagor - lord of the gap, lord of the opening Beowulf - bee wolf, war wolf, bear Berial - worthless Bolverk - evildoer, worker of evil Bradley - broad meadow Brian Lowell - noble, high, hill, strong | young wolf

C: Cavaliere Angelo - knight, horseman, rider | messenger of god Cerberus - hound of the earth, black wolfhound, death-darkness

D: Dagon - grain, fish Demon of Capulet City - spirit | hat | citizen Demon of Morris Island - spirit | dark-skinned | watery land Director - to guide Doppelganger - double-goer, double-walker

E: Echidna - snake, viper Elder Geryon Knight - old | earth | boy, youth, servant

F: Freki - greedy, ravenous Frost - to freeze Furiataurus - fury of the bull, furious bull

G: Geri - rules with a spear, greedy Geryon - earth Gigapede - giant foot Gilgamesh - the ancestor is a hero Gilver - [ERROR 404: meaning of word not found]

Gilbert - bright pledge

Goliath - to uncover, reveal, running, destroyer Griffon - curved, bent

H: Hell Vanguard - to cover, conceal | before guard

I: Infested Chopper - to attack, hostile | helicopter Infested Tank - to attack, hostile | reservoir of water

J: Jester - reciter of romances, minstrel Jokatgulm - [ERROR 404: meaning of word not found]

K: King Cerberus - ruler | hound of the earth, black wolfhound, death-darkness

L: Leviathan - to twist, coiled

M: Machiavelli - bad little nail Mad Hatter - crazy, insane | maker of hoods, maker of cowls Malphas - mischief Modeus [Asmodeus] - wrathful spirit, demon of wrath Mundus - world

N: Nefascapitis - head of sin, head of violation of divine law Nefasturris - tower of sin, tower of violation of divine law Nefasvermis - worm of sin, worm of violation of divine law Nelo Angelo - black, strong, powerful | messenger of god Nevan - little saint, little holy one Nidhogg - malice striker Nightmare - a female demon suffocates sleepers Nina Lowell (demon) - little girl | young wolf Noctpteran - night wing

O: Orangguerra - war orangutan

P: Phantom - an apparition, specter Plesio - near, close Plutonian - relating to wealth, relating to riches Pride - brave, pomp, valiant Priest - one who leads cattle

Q: Qliphoth - husks, empty shells

R: Red Eye - airplane flight that deprives travelers of sleep, raw and inferior whiskey Rudra - howler, roarer, to cry

S: Sara - princess, noblewoman Secretary - one entrusted with secrets Sid - wide Sloth - indolence, slowness, laziness

T: Tartarussian - relating to a deep pit Tateobesu - vertical, length, height | fat, stout, plump The Savior - the one who saves others Trismagia - three magicians

U: Urizen - your reason, to limit

W: White Rabbit - bright, shine | young rabbit

Ninja Theory's DmC: Devil May Cry Canon

A:  Assiel - created by god

B: Bob Barbas - bright fame, shining glory | beard, uncle, stammering

D: Dante (DmC) - enduring, steadfast, lasting

E: Eva (DmC) - life, living one

H: Hollow Dante - empty place | enduring, steadfast, lasting Hollow Kat - empty place | pure, clear Hollow Vergil - empty place | flourishing Hunter - one who chases wild animals

K: Kat - pure, clear

L: Lilith - spirit of the night

M: Mundus (DmC) - world Mundus's Spawn - world | to spread out, expand

P: Phineas - mouth of brass, dark skinned, serpent's mouth

S: Sparda (DmC) - sword, simple, frugal Succubus - to lie beneath

V: Vergil (DmC) - flourishing

[the-baschet]

#18 - A Fish Out of Water

Golds and pearls nearly blinded Chance once the doors of a vaunted Haillenarte banquet hall opened, their new captain at the head to lead them inside. They all adorned themselves in the same uniform to match the formal occasion. Long-sleeved black-as-pitch tops decorated in golden-trimmings fitted to each soldier and ivory trousers and dress shoes to complete the appropriate look. “And we have to be here too? ...All night?” Mulled laughter, dialogue, and a heavy fragrance of flowers and expensive musk intoxicated the soldier’s senses.

“Yes,” Mattisaux muttered at a volume easily heard by his troop. “I will do my best to dismiss you all earlier, but this is not at my behest-”

“Captain Baschet!” An Elezen, one that matched the description of several other well-dressed men in the room, appeared before his wary eyes. “How terribly sorry I am for your late father though we all know he is proud and happily looking down at you and your accomplishments in Her heavenly Halls. Come. Yes, come!” The man’s bejeweled fingers snatched the young captain by the upper arm when he idled back at his initial beckoning. “I must show you to my lovely daughter, Aveline.”

A few onlookers giggled at the scene created by the patrician, though namely at Mattisaux’s reluctance. As much as he wanted to jump out the nearest window, he simply resigned himself for a night of proper courting, conversation, and forced smiles. He knew his responsibilities by now. “You ought to take care in exactly which guests you show to your precious daughter, good Ser. Some of us are not for the faint of heart.”

Chance stood behind with Severin, Nicholas, and a few others, staring as Mattisaux and a small gaggle of ladies and lords disappeared behind lavish double doors. “They took him.”

“That they did, Chance. And now we will never see him again,” Severin sighed with a bit too much extravagance. “Let us hope that our dear lord does not make a fool of himself. Not here, at least. Now follow me, we need to look busy so no one bothers us.” His idea of looking busy, however, was merely to loiter about the table of hors d’oeuvres and dangle a wine glass in hand.

[csdarkfantasy]

Bane of Blood: La Gorgona, Part 2

The Amazonian odyssey of young Fernando San Martín. [A dark fantasy erotic novel. Read the full summary here -> La Gorgona ]

WARNING: No trigger warnings. Read at your own risk. 18+ only.

Previous Part

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Fernando's golden days with Carmencita were few and far between. Golden or not, his days with her were altogether numbered. He was eight years old when she died. Had she not been the type to leave him to his own devices for long stretches at a time, he might have worried at her being gone from the apartment for a day and a night together. As it was, he was merely puzzled when the policía showed up at the door, to tell him that his missing mother had been found drowned to death and washed-up downriver.

Whether it was foul play or not which had ended Carmencita’s wayward life, Fernando would never know. Not much investigation went into the cause of her death, as she had no family in the city except for him, little money and even fewer friends. Her funeral mass was an alms service, poorly attended. After it was over, a young nun came up to him. She knelt, smiling kindly at him as she met him eye-to-eye.

"Have you any family to take you in?" she asked.

Fernando shrugged. Everyone knew he was Don Juan Francisco’s bastard, but this nun was new to the city. Perhaps being ignorant of the don’s rakish reputation, or full of righteous naïveté, or simply moved by compassion for this winsome young orphan, she packed Fernando off to his father’s hacienda to plead his cause herself.

Juan Francisco was not at home when they arrived. They were received instead by his noble wife, the grave and sanctimonious Doña María Luisa (‘Santa María Luisa’ Juan Francisco referred to her snidely, though never directly), who grew only more grave and sanctimonious as the interview progressed. María Luisa remembered well her husband’s late and only mistress, the slattern Carmencita and this whelp of hers Fernando—the one innocent by-blow of a litany of infamous debaucheries.

In truth, María Luisa de Aria took pains to remember even the least and most casual of her husband’s many transgressions, a faithful accounting which had served her well throughout the years of her marriage, as righteous ammunition against him. She was a woman of great conviction and great fury, and these traits each fueled the other, stoking her temper to blazing heights which were terrible to behold. Her cold demeanor made these blazes all the more frightful.

Perhaps sensing something of this capacity in her, Fernando kept tensely still and silent throughout the interview, intimidated by those light grey eyes of hers scanning over him, coolly and inscrutably. Her statuesque beauty intimidated him all the more. Whatever María Luisa was searching for in him, she seemed to find. Perhaps it was a font of self-martyrdom against Juan Francisco which would never run dry. Perhaps it was a living symbol of her graciousness which could be held aloft for all to witness and admire. A symbol no doubt enhanced by the fact that Fernando was a good-looking boy, who, except for his tawny skin (which could be forgiven him), bore his father’s fine patrician features in perfect miniature. Had he possessed his mother’s uncouth gypsy eyes, had he been a sickly or an ugly child, the fastidious lady might not have found herself so magnanimous toward him.

"My hope, señora, is that you'll find it in your heart to—"

Raising a hand to cut the nun off mid-sentence, María Luisa declared, "The boy is clearly a charming, affable child, and an innocent besides."

Fernando glanced to the nun, seeing his own puzzlement reflected in the slight knit of her brows. For Fernando had not spoken a word to María Luisa, 'affable' or otherwise. Nor she to him. But this seemed irrelevant.

María Luisa went on to proclaim, "Not only will Juan Francisco and I provide for this child, we will raise him here in this house, as one of our own, with all the rights and privileges afforded thereof."

The kindly nun was flabbergasted at this pronouncement. To have Fernando adopted by Don Juan Francisco and his wife was not what she’d ever expected from this visit. She’d merely hoped to prevail upon the San Martín family’s spirit of charity—or perhaps even their sense of shame—to help make arrangements for the woebegone Fernando. Taken aback by the fairytale ending unfolding before her eyes, an outcome which seemed too good to be true, the nun hesitated, uncertain now as she looked upon this austere noblewoman what her intentions toward the poor, bereft orphan might be.

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[sobeautifullyobsessed]

You know I gotta ask about my dilfy, Shakespearian babe, Defender. Reread "No Defense for the Heart" the other day, and you write him so romantically, I gotta do a few. 💖

☾ - sleep headcanon

✿ - sex headcanon

♡ - romantic headcanon

♒ - cooking/food headcanon

Thank you so, so much - I love Defender an unfathomable amount, and he presents an exquisite canvas upon which to paint my ideal romantic qualities!💖🖤💖

☾ - sleep headcanon

617 Stephen perfected the art of maximizing his sleep time during grad school (getting his MD & PhD at the same time necessitated it), and that skill served him well during his internship and residency. Basically, he trained himself to fall asleep just about anywhere and anytime he could. Now, with the great demands on his time, as both the Sorcerer Supreme and leader of the Defenders, he has even less time than ever before--so when the chance for several hours uninterrupted sleep arises, he seizes it with great relish. Sleeping deeply while experiencing dreams he can often recall with great clarity. Such sleep--whose ultimate purpose is to enable him to better serve his responsibilities--refreshes him beyond any in his life. Perhaps we should call it the 'sleep of hte just'.😉

✿ - sex headcanon

Defender was always a man of rich appetites, and so had never stinted from drinking fully of whatever cup came his way. Which was fine in his life as medical student and then doctor--but now he chooses an ascetic lifestyle so that his energies can be directed more fully to his mission. Yet still, he possesses a powerful sex drive--and all that honing his body into a powerful weapon in service to good, has resulted in a stamina he rarely has time to expend.

Ah, but when he does!

When he does, he lavishes waves and waves of pleasure and ecstasy upon his lucky lover. Devotes himself to pleasing them before he fulfills his own pressing need. Takes supreme satisfaction and pride in wringing multiple orgasms from their flesh with his skilled fingers and sensual mouth, reveling in the sinful taste of them and in their moans and the sound of his name cried out like their truest prayer as they peak. He delights in being the one in control and in how softly his lover concedes herself to him. Only then does he seek his own resolution, setting a breathtaking rhythm as deeply inside as he can get, spilling himself with abandon (he prefers unprotected sex, but will wear a condom at the lady's request). Afterwards, he lingers inside her for as long as possible, for the reality of that physical connection is too beautiful to forgo until he absolutely must.

Defender adores the act of cockwarming, but will always ask first if it's alright to indulge in. And if he ever goes a bit rough in his enthusiasm when he fucks, his aftercare is the loving offering he gives to prove the depth of his devotion.

The man he is now--the man he was always meant to be--views romantic love and sex as inextricably bound. And he wouldn't want it any other way.

♡ - romantic headcanon

Stephen has always had the gift of a deep and romantic heart--and although he hasn't always allowed himself to follow it's inclinations due to the circumstances at the time, he sees the world through loving eyes. He fell easily in love as a teen and young adult. Wrote poetry (usually kept secret) for the girl/woman of his affection, used music as a means of romantic expression. Taught himself to play the guitar for that very reason, in fact (his mother taught him to play the piano as a child, and he was good enough to briefly consider making it his career, until his heart directed him to saving lives through medicine).

With his patrician good looks and easy charm, pre-accident Defender had a score of lovers--mostly short term--in his past. Though contradictory to his deeply romantic nature, he found it best to avoid entanglements of the heart as he single-mindedly pursued his goal of innovating the science of neurosurgery. He had so much to do, and so little time in those days, that he couldn't allow himself such a beautiful distraction. That was until Christine of course.

But by that time, he had become out of practice with allowing himself to be vulnerable, of speaking the truth of his heart, of trusting that he was as worthy of the love he felt for her to show her properly and let her love him in return. Once he realized he could and should, the weight of his life-altering responsibilities precluded that. He'd always hoped one day they might yet get it right, when things calmed down, when he finally had time. When she would see past his ineptitude and failure to say and show her the things she deserved, and finally claim what had been hers all along. But along came Charlie.

The most devastating lesson of Stephen's life--for his romantic nature could only experience that heartbreak as even worse than the loss of his hands.

But like the most hopelessly romantic among us, though his heart bears its scars, Stephen still believes that one day he'll find someone to love and be loved by again. He's confident he won't be repeating the mistakes of his past--for he has vowed he will follow his heart completely the next time.

♒ - cooking/food headcanon

In his old life, Stephen could afford to frequent the finest restaurants in the City, and his work gave him the excuse to do minimal cooking for himself. After the accident and the depletion of his fortune, he had to resort to much simpler choices. Lots of meatless days, lots of pasta or rice because they were the most filling. Before he found his way to Kamar-Taj--where the kitchens were always open for Masters and students alike to use between meals--he'd had to frequent soup kitchens to keep from going days at a time without eating. What a humbling experience that was!

The first night he availed himself of the smaller compound kitchen (he'd been deep in study of texts on interdimensional energies and had missed supper completely) he'd made himself a simple grilled cheese sandwich. And wept as he ate it, to realize the gift of the freedom and luxury which the haven of Kamar-Taj now provided him.

These days, the Sorcerer Supreme enjoys cooking for himself on quiet nights as a means to relax. His meals may not be anything to brag about, but Defender made a point of teaching himself at least one dish from every culture represented in the compound's population. He figured it would be useful if there came a student experiencing difficulties or homesickness; Wong keeps him informed of those who might need that extra bit of care, and though such students are admonished not to share the secrets of their meals with the Sorcerer Supreme, with others, it soon became common knowledge that a summons to meet with him after the cafeteria was closed for the night, meant they'd be experiencing a taste of home.

And since the success of his little program, Stephen finds the most satisfying meals he makes are those meant as gifs to others.

Ohmygosh, writing these for Defender has been a most satisfying experience of it's own! Thank you once more @thealleydog for prompting me to put these instinctive headcanons into words.

🥰🦋🥰

HEADCANON MEME

[running-on-narrativium]

Hogswatch Headcanons

So, with the winter holidays just around the corner I thought it might be fun to make some holiday related headcanons for my muses!

Because of Juliet’s rocky relationship with her biological family, she spends the holidays with her friends and her boyfriend. It works out pretty well for everyone since they don’t really have any family to spend it with either. Glenda and Trev’s parents aren’t around anymore, and other than Lady Margolotta and Pastor Oats, Nutt’s on his own too. (I mean I can see Lady Margolotta inviting Nutt and Glenda over for the holidays, but that’s a headcanon for another time.)

Since Shine of the Rainbow didn’t grow up celebrating Hogswatch, she’s pretty new to most of the customs. Still, she’s very excited about getting to celebrate it now with her boyfriend. And she has a lot of fun doing them. Decorating, making sweets, exchanging gifts, (side note, she’s likely the only person who doesn’t give Nobby bath stuff and that must make him extremely happy.) mistletoe… She’s also probably Nobby’s plus one to the Hogswatch party the Watch throws every year.

Speaking of parties, Moist definitely throws a killer Hogswatch party for his and his wife’s employees. On a more heartwarming note, I also like to think he uses his positions at the bank, post office, and railway to help make sure that less fortunate families have a nice Hogswatch too. Like, toy drives, donating food, travel fare so they can visit family in other parts of the disc, that kind of thing. Oh! And I also like the idea of him reading the letters of poor kids that the Hogfather skips and having his postal workers deliver what’s on their list to them.

Cheery definitely takes the opportunity to wear cute holiday outfits during the Hogswatch season. Oh! And she pains her nails red and green too.

Sybil definitely makes Hogswatch a sweater for Sam. It’s a horrible misshapen thing with a very blobby looking dragon in a Hogfather hat on it. He loves it, the coppers at Psudopolis Yard know very well not to comment on it when he wears it at the Hogswatch party. Though he just stays about an hour to wish his officers a happy Hogswatch. Then, he spends it with Young Sam and Sybil.

Drumknott works on Hogswatch Night along with Vetinari. It’s quiet, not super exciting, but they both appreciate the companionable silence. He might bring some hot cider to share, and he’ll watch the patrician do the holiday edition of the Time’s crossword puzzle.

Otto definitely takes silly Hogswatch iconographs with William and Sacharissa. Whole nine yards. Props, ugly sweaters, and everything.

[byneddiedingo]

Robert Montgomery and Audrey Totter in Lady in the Lake (Robert Montgomery, 1947)

Cast: Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully, Leon Ames, Jayne Meadows, Dick Simmons, Morris Ankrum, Lila Leeds, William Roberts, Kathleen Lockhart, Ellay Mort. Screenplay: Steve Fisher, based on a novel by Raymond Chandler. Cinematography: Paul Vogel. Art direction: E. Preston Ames, Cedric Gibbons. Film editing: Gene Ruggiero. Music: David Snell, Maurice Goldman.

I am not a camera. If you ever want to see what movies could be like if no one had discovered montage, crosscutting, expressive camera angles, and other techniques that make them so involving, just watch Robert Montgomery's debut* as a director, Lady in the Lake. The gimmick (and it's little more than that) of this film based on a novel by Raymond Chandler is that the audience sees everything that happens through the eyes of Philip Marlowe, thereby becoming the detective. Montgomery plays Marlowe, but except for occasional reflections in mirrors, he's on screen only in set-up segments that clue the audience into the gimmick. Naturally, the film has to cheat -- there's a cut when Marlowe travels between one location and another -- but the major problem is that what the camera mostly sees is people standing there talking to it, a point of view that soon gets tiresome. Some of the cast rise to the demand of the long takes and extended dialogue without the usual shot/reverse shot cuts. Tom Tully, for example, makes his police captain threatening and then undercuts the threat when Marlowe witnesses him on the telephone with his young daughter, promising to come home early on Christmas Eve and play "Santy Claus." (The choice to set the film at Christmas -- it isn't in the book -- is perhaps meant to create a kind of ironic dissonance. If so, it doesn't work.) Jayne Meadows is fun as the apparently scatterbrained landlady who later turns out to be a somewhat more menacing figure. But the female lead, Audrey Totter, as the Chandlerian femme fatale, is an inexpressive actress, resorting to a lot of eye-popping to express emotion. She looks like her face has been shot full of Botox, years before it was invented. Montgomery, who is heard more than he's seen, is miscast as Marlowe, his patrician handsomeness much at odds with the hard-boiled Marlowe made familiar to us by Humphrey Bogart, Dick Powell, and others. There are some good moments, such as an effective sequence in which the camera is behind the wheel in the car Marlowe is driving, but too often the gimmick makes us pay attention to itself rather than to the story being told. *Official debut: Montgomery had done some uncredited work behind the camera for John Ford on They Were Expendable (1945).

[spifflocated]

She’s had a very peculiar few years. She’d expected a fairly quiet life, marrying a shopkeeper, and for a long time she’d had one. Doing the accounts, helping in the shop, cooking and housework in exchange for all the standard trappings of middle class respectability. Pseudopolis might be past it’s golden age, and the haberdashers was never a roaring success, but it was a home and a livelihood and provided all the hat ribbons a sensible and economical woman could ever want. Latterly the wine merchant’s bills had begun to cause problems, but she and Charlie had rattled along together well enough.

And then, that strange winter, her Charlie had gone missing. There’d been no note, no letters, no sign of him at all. She’d reported it to the Watch of course, but they’d done nothing except for asking some extremely leading questions about the financial state of the shop and those two charges for drunk and disorderly conduct the previous year. Her responses had been sniffy. She hadn’t tried to contact them again.

Charlie had been missing for several weeks when the message arrived, by the clacks of all things. There had been mention of a kidnapping (though why anyone would think they could have afforded ransom with the shop barely turning a profit, and indeed why no demand had ever been made, continued to puzzle her), and new contacts, and a job offer, and suddenly she was selling up the shop and the draughty old house on Pike Street and moving herself and the children to Ankh Morpork, to go and join Charlie in the city.

It wasn’t until the startled reactions of her new neighbours that she realised that the handful of etchings she’d seen back in Pseudopolis had never done justice to just how much her Charlie looked like the Patrician. It wasn’t until she was summoned to the palace for a ‘quick chat’ with a clerk about the expectations of confidentiality which came with Charlie’s new role that she realised just how uncanny the resemblance really was. When they were called through to a second room, and then a third, and then the man was there, tall and severe despite his obvious reliance on his cane. When Charlie, at her side, stood straighter and looked at the man, the Patrician, with a level of focus she’d not seen from him since before the drink, and began to mirror his facial expressions. She had managed to stop herself from visibly shuddering, but the kindly way the little secretary offered her a cup of tea as he led her from the room made her think she had perhaps not hidden it very well.

Life was better now. Ankh Morpork was a strange city, very different to Pseudopolis: a grand old lady and a thief and a bright young thing bursting with innovation all rolled into one. But she had made friends here, and Charlie’s work with the palace paid more than well enough for a nice house in a nice part of town, and opportunities for the children, and new hats for every season should she want them, instead of just offcuts of ribbon. She tried not to think too much about Charlie’s palace work. The acting was much easier to discuss with her new friends anyway. But their rising social status meant that, from time to time, she would see the Patrician. He was unfailing polite every time, although always still frighteningly severe. She was learning to deal with the deeply disconcerting feeling of seeing the wrong expressions on her husband’s face from across a crowded ballroom. And the little secretary who seemed to accompany the Patrician everywhere was always very kind to her. In an odd way, he seemed to understand.

New Discworld thought: So, Charlie, a character introduced in The Truth, looks exactly like Lord Vetinari. Like exactly like him. So much like him that Charlie was used to try and frame Lord Vetinari in an attempt to remove him from office. The attempt failed, but Charlie was able to get work as a Lord Vetinari impersonator. Kids parties and the like. But he can also fill in for Lord Vetinari, as he did in Raising Steam. In Raising Steam, it is revealed that Charlie has a wife.

So somewhere out there, is a woman who is married to a man who looks like Lord Vetinari. What's that relationship like? Do they roleplay? Do... Do you think... that sometimes he... pretends to be Lord Vetinari... in the bedroom?

What if she doesn't like it, but one time, when they were in bed, and he went 'don't let me detain you.' In the Vetinari voice and she shut that shit down.

Does he sometimes try and use the Vetinari voice to get out of fights. Anyone who knows about marriage can tell you that that doesn't work for long. She very well could be immune to him.

She could be talking with Lord Vetinari, and he tries the 'Don't let me detain you.' Trick, but she's just 'don't you use that voice on me.'

What kind of woman marries a man that looks exactly like The Tyrant of Ank-Morpork?

Who is she?

[richo1915]

What the Emperor Basil had in mind was another diplomatic marriage to strengthen the link between Byzantium and Venice.

The son of a Doge could not, of course, be offered the hand of a blue-blooded princess like Zoe, the disappointed bride of Otto III. But a suitably distinguished young lady was found in the person of Maria, daughter of the patrician Argyropoulos.

The marriage was celebrated in the imperial chapel in Constantinople. The blessing was given by the patriarch and the golden wedding crowns were placed on the heads of Giovanni and Maria by the two emperors. There followed three days of festivities in one of the palaces. Maria brought her husband a substantial dowry which included a house or 'palace' of her own in Constantinople where they stayed after the wedding.

The emperor had to hurry away to his war against the Bulgars. When he came back he invested Giovanni Orseolo as a patrician and, at Maria's request, gave her the holy relics of St Barbara to take with her to Venice.

Maria was loth to leave the civilised comforts of Constantinople and her parents were sad to see her go 'as if into exile in a foreign land'. By the time they boarded ship she was already some months pregnant.

The couple reached Venice safely. They were greeted by the Doge with a reception the like of which had not been seen before. 'In truth,' says John the Deacon, 'no one could recall such a show of rejoicing in Venice as there was over this wedding.' Maria gave birth to a son a few days later. The Doge assisted at the child's baptism and, since he had been conceived in Constantinople, gave him the name of Basil after the emperor.

But the emperor's plans were again doomed to failure. In 1006 a comet was seen in the sky, always a portent of disaster. It was followed by a famine and then a plague, among whose many victims were Maria, her husband Giovanni and their infant son.

They died within sixteen days of one another. They were buried in the monastery of St Zaccaria. The Doge Pietro was inconsolable. He made his younger son Otto Doge in place of Giovanni and retired into obscurity in a wing of his palace. He died in 1008. Nothing was left to remind him of his high hopes for his eldest son and his grandson conceived in Byzantium and born in Venice, except for the relics of St Barbara, the Emperor's gift to Maria Argyropoulaina. These he presented to the abbey of St John, his son's namesake, on the island of Torcello.

Long after Maria's death a cautionary tale was told about the Greek wife of a Venetian Doge which seems to refer to her. It was related by St Peter Damian, a fervent reformer of the evils of his time, who died in 1072.

The moral of it was that the Good Christians of the west should beware of the decadent and sybaritic ways of the east, lest the Orontes flow into the Tiber. Peter records with vindictive satisfaction how the Greek princess who came to Venice died a hideous death as a result of her self-indulgence.

Distrusting the water supply of Venice, she had her servants collect rain water for her ablutions. Too fastidious to eat with her fingers, she carried her food to her mouth with a two-pronged golden fork. Disliking the stink of the lagoons, she filled her rooms with incense and perfumes. For such depravity and vanity she was a victim of the wrath of God, who smote her with a vile disease.

Her body putrefied, her limbs withered, her bedchamber was permeated by such a stench that only one of her maids could bear it; and after a lingering illness of excruciating agony she passed away, to the great relief of her friends.

It is a nasty tale, but it is eloquent of the difference in living standards between Byzantium and the West in the eleventh century. Maria's parents had been right to sympathise with their poor daughter going off to exile in a foreign land. To a lady brought up to the refinements of aristocratic life in Constantinople, Venice must have seemed rather barbarous.

What Peter Damian and his like took to be signs of depravity were esteemed in Byzantium as marks of urbanity and civilised living. The princess Theophano who had married Otto II was believed to be burning in Hell because of all the baths she had taken during her lifetime.

If eating with a fork or taking baths were thought enough to bring down the wrath of God, western society had still some way to go to match the cultured habits of Byzantium.