somewhere only we know

We have a piece of strong, invisible thread connecting us. It's indestructible. It can never be broken. Long live Atherion.

[princessbrielle]

@atherian​

The princess had a needlepoint project on her lap, sitting at the family mealtable. there were some crackers in front of her, but she wasn’t really eating those, more focused on the flowers blooming under her fingers. she didn’t even notice her sister was in the room until her chair was brushed slightly by her sister walking past. she looked up, smiling at kaya. she snapped, to grab her sister’s attention.

“up to anything important?” she asked, dropping one hand to sign the words. “Care to sit with me? i’m very quiet.” she smirked, laughing a little at her own joke.

[atherian]

                                               ꧁｡.:* 𝓚 *.:｡. ꧂

If Kaya was in the castle rather than out amongst Atherians, she was always running around here and there tending to what needed to be done. It seemed like if she was gone for an hour there were ten things that popped up she had to do when she returned. 

She nearly walked by her sister without even noticing she was there. “Oh,” she said out loud, then waved her hand off to the side. “You scared me,” she signed with a smile. She considered Brielle’s question, rolling her eyes at her joke. “Okay,” she said, then sat. “Important? Kind of. But I could use a break. — What are you up to?”

[unaia-deactivated20220420]

Location: The Bazaar Time: Midday Open!

Unaia lounged back in their chair, balancing her weight on just the back chair legs. Around her the square teemed with activity, but from behind the modest stall she ran when she had amassed enough goods (and had stored up enough patience to endure chatty humans) kept her free from bumping shoulders. Really, she would rather be elsewhere, even if it was back on her roof as she figured out how to patch the leak from the last storm. Alas, however, these civilized folk loved their bustling markets and she wouldn’t pass up the coin they’d cop over. They had their feet up on the table top. Beside their boots were clean pelts and bowls full of teeth and talons for sale. Business was slow, so Unaia scanned the passing crowd for anyone to snatch out of it. 

“You there,” she half-growled with a smirk as her gaze alighted on somebody with the misfortune of getting caught looking in her direction. “Aiming to buy, gawk, or try and steal from me? I only like one of those options.”

[atherian]

                                                                 ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆

Jules scavenged the market, not really interested in anything specific today, but looking for something to do on their day off. If that meant getting into a little needless debate for fun, so be it. 

“I have a name,” Jules said with a raised brow. She was simply gazing at the wares around her, when she was nabbed by this person. They grinned a little at the other. “And if it were the latter?” Jules was no thief. Maybe in another world or another life, one that took advantage of its citizens and capitalized off the backs of the lesser classes, but not here. Never from these people. It couldn’t hurt to play, though, could it? At least not too badly.

[atherian]

lacxna​:

“Just a few, I promise.” A promise that she was going to easily break because Safiye was the biggest liar around. Arms hooked together, Safiye led the other out her room and into the castle halls. “It’s terrible really! I can’t decide on what dress to wear to my weekly tea party with my friends. I need your opinion on the matter.” 

“Safiye,” she said sternly as her sister lead her into the halls. “You interrupted my work for an opinion on a dress?!” She huffed a little, but it didn’t stop her from walking with the other, or even entering her room as they’d approach. “You... are something else. But I will help you.” She ended her complaints with a smile.

[atherian]

heavyburdcn​:

while ariella felt completely out of place around her family, calista had always been the easiest to understand (and be understood by). that same feeling extended to calista’s friends, including kaya. admittedly, ariella had always admired kaya’s grace–she must have felt out of place amongst her siblings before and yet never shows it. ariella found herself beaming when kaya recognized her without needing a reminder. she schooled her expression into something more serious, nodding solemnly. “that’s what calista had gathered. good to know we were working in the right direction.” 

ariella unconsciously picked at her skirt, considering kaya’s question. “well see, i was thinking,” ariella cleared her throat, looking down at the floor between them. she knew with everything going on, they would get more done apart, but ariella can’t quell the flighty feeling in her chest at the thought. “i was thinking we could team up. show unity, or something.”

                                                         ꧁｡.:* 𝓚 *.:｡. ꧂

“agreed,” kaya nodded, looking around as people passed them in different directions. she felt a tightness in her chest, stress at whatever had just happened, even more so about how some of their people were responding. she did not like knowing there wasn’t much she could do about it, not much she could do to immediately quell her people’s anxieties.

the brunette nodded again, encouraging ariella to explain what was on her mind. she smiled at the other. “that sounds like a good plan to me.” she offered a hand to the other princess, and lead her way deeper into the castle. “i think we should check restrooms, and hallways, make sure there was no one lingering who are now oblivious to what is going on. what do you think?”

[atherian]

lacxna​:

“As I thought, nothing important.” She fanned the idea away. “You’re always busy and stressed, you need to take a break.” Safiye was closer now, hands reaching for her sister’s, tugging her gently. “Just for a few minutes, please? Don’t make me beg.” 

“Ugh,” Kaya huffed with a roll of her eyes, but still, she smiled gently at her little sister. “Just a few minutes?” She considered letting her sister guide her away. “Okay, okay. But what is so pressing?”

[atherian]

FOR: @vesperadragor​ LOCATION: The Madan Castle post event

                                                                  ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆

Jules planned to exit the castle right away. She didn’t even want to stay at the party for so long when the whole situation happened. So, the last thing she expected was for her to get so swept up in helping others. She couldn’t help it though. Her heart always ached for a person in need, especially when it was women or crying kids. “Hey,” Jules said, turning to the next person she found looking a little pale in the face, “you alright? Can I do anything?”

[zexhyr]

LOCATION && WITH WHOM : : THE MADAN CASTLE W / @atherian​

“Kaya.” She knocked on the other’s door, though she was already opening and stepping inside before her sister gave her permission to do so. “What are you doing? Nothing important I assume.” Not important to Safiye she should’ve said. “Go on a walk with me. I won’t take no for an answer.” 

[atherian]

Kaya sighed before her youngest sister had even finished knocking, knowing she wouldn’t even get a word in before she was barging in... and she wasn’t wrong. “Only going over a royal decree, nothing important at all.” She ran her fingers down her temple with another sigh. “A walk? Sister, I’m busy.”

[atherian]

heavyburdcn​:

ariella stood off to the side and kept an anxious eye on her mother and the madan queen while they made plans. she wasn’t sure how to thrust herself into the action quite like calista could; so, she twisted the fabric of her skirt nervously around her index fingers and waited for some sort of orders or task. mostly, she tried to stay out of the way and offered a reassuring smile every so often. 

she was camouflaged for quite some time, long enough to lose herself trying to gauge the two queens’ conversation. that was when she nearly ran straight into the crown princess herself. her eyes went wide at the sight of a familiar face and the narrowly concealed gaunt expression. “oh, i’m not sure mother would let me decide where to stay even if i wanted to,” ariella said with a soft smile. “what about you? i haven’t managed to speak to her for long enough to know what i’m supposed to be doing.”

                                                          ꧁｡.:* 𝓚 *.:｡. ꧂

kaya was so distracted by everything going on, she had asked her original questions without really looking or realizing who she was talking to. “oh, ariella,” she said, looking almost relieved. she cared so much about calista, that her other siblings she thought of almost as her own as well. “that’s true,” kaya agreed with half a smile.

“well,” kaya sighed, sneaking a glance back at the two of their mother’s, “right now we are just making sure no one is panicking. getting everyone to a safe location, either sending them home with a guard, or leading them deeper into the castle.” she looked around at all the chaos, people moving in all different directions, some crying. “should we split up or team up?”

[atherian]

lenmonteiro​:

“do you know what is going on? everywhere i look… there is panic and uncertainty,” she replied quietly as her eyes fell to her hands and pressed the flat to knock out the last of her nerves. “i can help.. if someone needs some assistance.” her voice was softer than before, almost unsure even though she knew that she had some kind of ability to help others. it wasn’t something that she offered up or even had a chance to use, not when her ability to be someone that others could depend on wasn’t something that she was good at as she slightly frowned. “or i can find my own way home — ” her eyes turned towards the darkened night, remembering how she felt in the moments of pitch black without anyone by her side that she could lean on. “eventually,” she added as she chewed on her bottom lip.

                                                          ꧁｡.:* 𝓚 *.:｡. ꧂

“i’ve no idea,” kaya said softly. “i absolutely hate to say that, but i’ve no idea.” len was right. panic and uncertainty everywhere, and as much as kaya needed to be the princess everyone needed, she was just as in the dark as everyone else. quite literally. “are you a healer?” kaya questioned in response to her offer to help. “that would be quite helpful. i will accept any assistance i can get right now.” an important part of being a leader is knowing that everyone in the community matters, which means letting them assist matters too. she can’t do everything herself. “that won’t be necessary, elena,” kaya says, gently resting a hand on her shoulder. “let’s go.” she directs her to the nearest person, crying amongst the panic.

[atherian]

status: OPEN where: Madan Castle when: after the candles have relit

                                                           ꧁｡.:* 𝓚 *.:｡. ꧂

         Kaya’s heart pounded in her chest so hard it felt like it would jump out. What the hell was that? She looked around, locating her mother and watching her whisper with Queen Ayesha. She ran up to her, fear in her eyes. She’d always been prepared for something unexpected to happen, and yet... she never expected it really would. Not here, not in her lifetime. She got instructions from her mother, and moved on.

          “Hey,” she said to the first person she turned around to find, “are you okay? Would you like to stay or be escorted home? How can I help?” She didn’t want to overwhelm them, but she was overwhelmed herself, a little understandably shaky as she stepped into her role.

[highbcltage-blog]

why should i resolve things peacefully when i can fucking punch you in the face

[filmtribv]

#same

Margot Hanson, The Magicians (05x05)

[kirkewrites]

“Water remembers everything it travels over and through. / If you have been in water, part of you remains there still.”

— Natalie Diaz, from Postcolonial Love Poem; “exhibits from The American Water Museum” (via luthienne)

[atheriontheo]

Location: Madan Castle Time stamp: Event one, Unity Ball closed for @atherian / benjamin​

Even after forty years in Atherion, it can often feel like he isn’t making any progress—as if he’s the same Theodore who took so long to gather the courage to come here in the first place. The world around him has changed, but has he done the same? When he can, it helps to find something concrete that says yes.

He wasn’t kept away in some secret room before Atherion, where he wouldn’t be of any use. But people always seemed to speak at him rather than to him. Humans loved to marvel at the advances in automa, but they didn’t understand what they’d created. And, no, Theodore doesn’t understand himself either—but he knows enough to know he deserves more than that. 

And, in turn, Theodore didn’t care about the humans around him, even if he was built to care for them. He hasn’t spared much thought to them now, certainly hasn’t missed any of them over the span of four decades since he left. The proof that he’s changed, then, is when there are people he would miss.

Benjamin—Bandit—is one of those people. Twelve years shouldn’t register in an existence as long as Theodore’s, but the moment he ran sometimes feels like the first moment that matters. He’d been thinking about it for years, but finally making that choice, the first of many, was committing to reinventing himself. And, anyway, he won’t pretend he doesn’t cling to anything that makes him feel something these days, friendships included. Maybe especially friendships. 

So, when he goes out of his way to find the other man at the celebration tonight, it’s selfish—as much as he loves these events, watching so many people in the kingdom come together can remind him of how isolated he still is. Bandit’s on the sidelines himself, likely wishing he was anywhere but here, but that doesn’t stop Theodore from stepping into place beside him. 

“Here,” Theodore says, by way of greeting. He holds out the goblet of mead, mostly untouched. It doesn’t feel right to let anything about tonight go to waste. “You might have more use for this than I do. It’s boysenberry.”

[atherian]

Twelve. Benjamin “Bandit” Moore had now been to exactly twelve of these events. Twelve, and he still could not, for the life of him, stand all the noise. Don’t get him wrong, he loved the concept. Unity? Great. Free alcohol? Even better. Too bad he couldn’t even get close enough to the drinks to have any. There was just too much noise. 

So, he stood as far off to the side as possible. Away from as many people as possible. There were too many thoughts roaming free. The alcohol doesn’t help as people let go of their inhibition, the mental walls usually up just as an instinctive defense often come tumbling down. 

Bandit had never had the opportunity to learn how to control the thoughts that roll in, and at this point, he was far too stubborn. A grown man needing to learn how to work his own mind? Yeah, right. You can forget him ever asking for help in that department. Isn’t gonna happen. 

Is he an idiot for preferring to suffer over asking for help with it? Absolutely. Is that gonna change anything? Absolutely not.

Bandit nearly threw a punch at the way Theo slid up next to him, half surprised, half disgusted at anyone coming near him. Theo likely wasn’t trying to sneak or be quiet, but Bandit’s mind was so loud right now that he snuck up on him like a damn cat. 

“Gods, Theodore,” he started in, “I nearly shit myself. — However, I will be taking that.” He gladly snatched the goblet from him and drank it down quickly. “Boysenbarely give a fuck what it is, as long as it’ll get me blasted.” 

He sighed and fidgeted with the now empty goblet as a bit of relief washed over him now that Theo was here. A bit of static buffering between him and the other people now, Theo being automa saving him. “How are you, mate?”

[atherian]

flxradawn​:

jules’ question opened the gate for a sea of memories to flood flora’s mind - happy memories that glowed with sentimentality and pride. she saw herself as a young elf - ancient songs sung softly in traditional language, dances where she felt wild and carefree, leaping around the open fire to instruments made of whittled wood, sacred stories of old that made goosebumps prickle her skin. 

where those parties fun for her? they were everything. the thought of her friend just so disconnected with this side of her heritage caused flora’s heart to ache, mourning their missed opportunities for connection, for knowledge, for identity. she made a silent vow to change that. she didn’t know how just yet, but she knew it was her elvish duty to reignite jules’ sense of self to her ancestry.

“they made me who i am” flora explained, standing a little taller, a sense of pride filling her - “I mean, they made me proud to be who I am, proud to be an elf, proud to be a citizen of atherion. a kingdom that doesn’t just accept … but celebrates our own individual stories and differences”. 

“what about you?” she gestured around at the grand party, turning to face jules, “what does this party make you feel? what does it, all of it, mean to you?”

                                                                   ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆

they made me who i am. 

that line struck jules right in the heart. something about it... the weight it carried, how beautiful it was to hear. it was a sentence of strength to be sure, one of knowing, understanding. how jules yearned to understand who she was, who she could be. on most accounts, of course, she did. but it runs deeper than that. 

not to mention the pride. jules had no pride for herself as an elf. how could she? she didn’t even know what it meant to be one. unlike flora, who knew elven history, knew elven songs. their songs. 

“wow,” jules finally replied, eyes glazed over from being in thought. “that was beautiful. that is beautiful. i long to feel that way.” 

what did this party make her feel? proud to be an atherian as well. “this party? it also makes me proud to be an atherian. i see the faces of my friends, my chosen family. all the people i’ve helped throughout the years and those who have helped me in turn. there is no place i would rather be.” 

                                                                  ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆

[atherian]

EVENT I: UNITY BALL

                                          𝓚αყα  𝓜αԃαɳ

[atherian]

flxradawn​:

before jules could finish talking, floss disappeared in a flash and returned with an additional goblet filled with the dark, sweet nectar. “drink! it’s truly divine. it’ll help you forget all about your hard days work-” she urged her friend to take a sip, drinking deeply from her own cup. flora rarely had a chance to enjoy herself such as this, so much of her former years was characterised by toil and responsibility so any opportunity for fun and luxury, it was a real treat for her. 

“have you ever seen anything so grand?” she asked her fellow elf, gesturing to the magnificent ball room with awe. “all of the elf ceremonies and dances that there was growing up seem rather inferior compared to this, don’t you agree-” her voice trailed off, suddenly thinking about her friend’s  upbringing, wondering how many traditional elven ceremonies and parties she actually had did attend, if any…

“oh dear - I haven’t put my foot in it, have I?” 

-

                                                                    ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆

jules didn’t even have time to process what flora was up to before she was back with the sweet drink. “okay,” jules said with a laugh, shaking her head. “i’ll drink.” she wouldn’t mind forgetting about her work for the night. she absolutely loves her job, adores it above all else, but for as much joy as it brings her, it is also often exhausting, grueling, and sometimes depressing. 

“not really,” she replied, “even last year’s ceremony wasn’t as beautiful as this year’s. i don’t know how.” jules got a little quiet, having not been to many elf ceremonies. she didn’t have parents to take her to them, and the few she’d been invited to she simply felt... out of place. 

“no,” jules assured, “you’re totally fine.” she gave flora a small smile. “are they fun for you?”