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Random Thought for the Void

Unsure if anyone will see this but must ask:

If vampires had to drink something other than blood as a food solution whilst constricted to the rest of vampire lore what do you think they'd drink?

Would it be something like orange juice since in contains vitamin D which they can't get from the sun or like prune juice which has a lot of iron similarly to blood, or maybe raw eggs after all if blood can be a substitute for eggs why can't eggs be a substitute for blood?

#vampirism #Vampires #questions #random thoughts #answer my question #food for thought

When you're listening to EPIC on shuffle and Full Speed Ahead is followed by Thunder Bringer.

The dark timeline when Odysseus personally chose to kill Polites before they even get to the Cyclops' cave.

#epic the musical #shuffle #EPIC Shuffle #dark timeline #epic odysseus #epic polites

deverauxwrites-deactivated20251

It’s the Little Things That Make Them Real: Character Quirks

Physical Quirks ❖ Cracks their knuckles when thinking. ❖ Tilts their head too far when listening, like a curious bird. ❖ Always rolls up their sleeves; even when it’s freezing. ❖ Bites the inside of their cheek instead of nails. ❖ Writes with their non-dominant hand for notes/doodles. ❖ Compulsively counts stairs, tiles, or ceiling beams. ❖ Uses hand gestures way too big for the conversation. ❖ Stares just past someone’s shoulder instead of at their face. ❖ Always needs to fiddle with coins, rings, or a pen cap.

Speech/Language Quirks ❖ Uses outdated slang like it never went out of style. ❖ Slips into another language for swears or exclamations. ❖ Repeats the last word of someone else’s sentence under their breath. ❖ Adds a little whistle or hum between phrases. ❖ Ends most sentences as questions, even when they’re not. ❖ Misquotes famous sayings but insists they’re right. ❖ Can’t resist giving everything and everyone a nickname. ❖ Stutters only on words starting with the same letter as their name.

Behavioral Quirks ❖ Always chooses the same seat in any room. ❖ Eats one food at a time, in strict order, never mixing. ❖ Picks up random objects (salt shakers, paperclips) and rearranges them neatly. ❖ Never steps on cracks, lines, or patterned tiles. ❖ Hoards receipts, tickets, or fortunes from cookies. ❖ Stares at light bulbs until their eyes water. ❖ Reads the last page of a book first. ❖ Never finishes a drink—always leaves the last sip.

Psychological/Emotional Quirks ❖ Laughs during tense or uncomfortable silences. ❖ Refuses to say “goodbye”—always changes it to “see you.” ❖ Finds comfort in exact routines (same breakfast, same route). ❖ Talks to inanimate objects as though they’ll answer. ❖ Gets unreasonably angry at minor inconveniences (a pen running out, a sock slipping). ❖ Collects bizarre little “lucky” items like bottle caps or broken charms. ❖ Panics if they don’t have something in their hands. ❖ Over-apologizes, even when clearly not at fault.

#Reblogging so I can find later #writing tips

inky-duchess

Fantasy Guide to the Servant Dynamic

I often get asks about the relationship between servants and those they serve and how the relationship develops over time or what's appropriate between servant and employer at any given time. Many period dramas do get this right but a lot don't and send mixed signals to the audience about the true nature of the relationship between servant and employer.

There's a Strict Hierarchy

This is one inescapable concept that often gets forgotten in a lot of modern media. The relationship between servant and employer is a hierarchal one, the employer and servant are not on the same level socially.

Servants will always address their employer by their title or by sir/ma'am - at least in public and if there is any deviation of the rule, it's in private and only at the invitation of the employer themselves. Employers in turn would use the appropriate title for the servant in question (I outline these here). This done very well in Downton Abbey, especially when Tom marries into the family and they struggle with calling him 'Tom' rather than Branson.

A servant would never greet their employer informally or answer back. This is inaccurately portrayed in the exchange between Mrs Russell and Turner in The Gilded Age.

Servants would also not address their employer directly without being addressed first. This is very single meeting.

Servants would not walk in step with their employer or sit in their presence. They would walk two or three steps behind at all times and only sit when invited. They would not touch their employer without leave either. This is done well in Queen Charlotte, with Brimsley.

A servant would have to obey orders from another member of their employer's family or their guest but only within reason. This is shown in The Gilded Age the lady's maid Adelheid is borrowed by Mrs Russell from her daughter for a time when she fires her own maid.

Above and Beyond

Some employers might expect more from their servants that aren't exactly in the job description. It was understood in service that sometimes you would be asked to tackle things not in one's paygrade. In Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury's maid Coral helps her lady lie about the death of Lord Danbury to allow her time to gather herself and appear more upset. For example:

A lady's maid might act as messenger between a pair of lovers.

A footman might lie to the mistress about the whereabouts of his master (with the master's approval of course)

A butler might procure some less than legal party favours for a bash his lord and lady are throwing.

A guardsman might aid their charge in escaping the house/palace for a night of fun.

No matter what, a servant is expected to go above and beyond without complaint. The response to "jump" should nearly always be "how high". However, if there is a strange or harmful request, a servant had recourse to ask a higher ranking servant or employer whether or not they should agree to the request.

That being said, servants are people at the end of the day and might have scruples. Often, servants were far more conservative than their employers but more often that not, they would swallow their morals to do the job that is needed. This is accurately portrayed in Downton Abbey when Mrs Bird complains about Mrs Crawley asking her to wait on Ethel, a former prostitute, leading to Mrs Crawley to dismiss her.

Bonding

Because some servants work closely with an employer, relationships often evolve between employer and servant. There must be a certain level of trust between servant and employer or else the house would fall apart. Bonds do form but these bonds don't interrupt the hierarchy or the professional relationship - at least in public. For example:

A lady's maid or a valet might act as confidant to their mistress/master, keeping their secrets. This is seen in Downton Abbey where Anna and Bates act as confidants with Lady Mary and Lord Grantham respectively.

A kitchen maid may slip the children of the house an odd treat in defiance of their parents or governess.

The staff might chip in for a gift for a beloved employer on an anniversary or special occasion.

The same is said for employers, who would also show favour by gift giving or promotion.

A loyal servant might be left some money on the death of their master/mistress.

A retiring lady's maid might be granted a gift from her mistress.

Employers might listen to the advice of their servants or servants may approach employers in times of difficulty. An employer might see a servant's child educated well or might pay a doctors bill, but these are kindnesses. Because there is a certain level of proximity, certain familiarities can grow but it is unlikely that either will consider it 'friendship' exactly.

Boundaries

However, there are boundaries between servant and employer. Even in cases of familiarity and good will, a servant and employer would not meddle in each other's affairs. For example:

A servant might dislike an employer's guest but would not refuse to serve or wait on them. This is depicted inaccurately in Downton Abbey's Christmas special, where the butler Stowel refuses to serve former chauffeur Tom Branson.

An employer in some eras could not deny a servant the right to get married.

A servant may be expected to be available at any given time and come running at the sound of the bell. But if a servant is on a day off or ill, an employer can't punish them for not being available when knowing beforehand they wouldn't be.

A good servant knows when they are needed and when to disappear. They should not linger if it is clear they shouldn't be here.

A servant might see their employer engaging in harmful or immoral behaviours but would not have the right to criticise or inform anybody.

A servant might be tasked with dealing with their employer in a state of undress (but this never crossed gender, a valet or a butler would handle a naked male employer and only a female servant would deal with a lady's intimates) and while seeing them in this state, would not look or make a big deal over it.

The professional boundary should not be breached on either side of the divide. A servant wouldn't approach an employer with personal issues nor would an employer welcome the servant's unauthorised counsel.

The Downsides

This is an uneven system most times and the employer does wield a lot of power. Servants are in this dynamic because they need to survive and provide a life for themselves so often they stick out bad situations rather than risk not being able to find a job again. Servants in some eras could be physically or verbally abused without recourse. Some servants often faced harassment and sexual assault from other staff, guests and/or employers. Servants desperate to keep their positions would often keep quiet about their circumstances in order to retain their place. This is accurately portrayed in Outlander: Blood of my Blood, with Mrs Porter and Julia, along with many other possible unnamed women and girls.

#Rebloging so I can find easily #fanfiction #writing tips

inky-duchess

Fantasy Guide to the Royal to Royal Dynamic

I often get asked about how the dynamic works between royals of different nations and I thought I would make this guide to help you beteer understand and write how those interactions would go. Royalty tend to expect formality before they allow themselvesto embrace informality and this goes for evej with other royals. So lets’s get into it.

Who Bows First?

Royalty does bow and curtsy to one another but it is a tricky sort of dance with so many rules that anybody could get caught up with.

With monarchs, they would not bow or curtsy to one another, instead as they are equals they would go for a handshake or a kiss on the cheek or am embrace. They do not address each other by their titles but would refer to each other as “cousin” or “brother/sister” or “my friend”

Consorts, male or female, would bow to monarchs and sovereigns but not to one another as they are equals. They would greet each other with kisses or an embrace or a nod

Princes and princes is a littler tougher. They would not bow to each other if equally ranked, but if they aren’t, say the spouse of a second son meeting the heir’s spouse, they would cursty/bow especially if their spouse wasn’t present. They would address monarchs/consorts by “Your Majesty/Your Grace” until or if told otherwirse by the monarch or consort themselves.

During a State Visit

If one royal family is visting another, and they do from time to time, there are a myriad of concerns that might arise. For example, who enters a room first, who is served first, who gets the first bow/curtsy? It is all very mind-boggling especially if you are a noble or a servant. Generally, this is how the deal goes.

Nobles and servants would bow and address their monarch first, then the guest monarch, them their consort and then the guest consort and then the HRHs in order of precedence. It can be a little confusing.

At events, the host monarch would enter a room first, sometimes with their own spouse but sometimes with the spouse of the guest monarch if they attend the event. The guest monarch would follow closely behind, with the host heir and then the HRHs following after them.

At State banquets, seating is arranged by rank: monarchs at the center next to each other with their consorts beside them, with Princes and Princesses sat on other side according to rank. The first toast would be the honour of the host monarch and usually answered by a speech by the guest monarch and then if the heir wishes to speak, they would be permitted a short speech but usually the two monarchs talking is enough. Non-royal guests and those who are not the monarch/consort being addressed would rise during toasts.

Entente Cordiale

Royalty usually have personal relationswith each other outside being royals. Some are related to a degree or some are just good friends with one another. Royals often wrote to one another or sent each other gifts of their esteem. This correspondence wasn’t exactly scandalous unless the two countries were at war or something. Two consorts writing to each other in peace time? Perfectly fine. The wife of the Crown Prince writing to the monarch of a nation at war with her new nation? That’s not a good look. Most royals would exchange letters or tokens of good will. This is not only just because it is good PR to seem chummy, often royalty found solace in writing letters to perhaps the only people who understood their situation. However, it is advisable not to put anything in a letter they wouldn’t want read on the front of a newspaper - letters can get stolen.

#Rebloging so I can find easily #fanfiction #writing tips

inky-duchess

Fantasy Guide to Royal Progress and Travel

I often get asks about the logistics of a royal travelling somewhere, either abroad or just to the countryside. So this post is going to focus on how those journeys would be planned, how they would prepare, who would come with them and others nitty gritty details.

Destinations

Royals were actually commonly on the move around betwen various palaces and homes across their kingdom. Because of all of the homes available, it was not uncommon for a royal to get permission from the momarch to travel to a certain estate or palace, either owned by the Crown or a noble to stay or live for a while. Royals would sometimes undertake tours in foreign countries, living as the guest of neighbouring royal courts or visiting on behalf of their nation to improve relations. Royal families would go on holidays, usually into the countryside or to palaces by the sea but some would go off on foreign holidays to visit relatives in other countries, though this was usually a rare thing.

Packing

Royals didn’t pack light, not unless they wanted to make a swift getaway. Their ladies/maids in waiting/lady’s maids or valets would pack their things for them into trunks, suitcases and chests and it was up to the royal themselves to designate what would be worn or brought. Sometimes if the royal household was travelling in a large capacity, they would even take whole furniture sets with them or tapestries from certain palaces to furnish their rooms. If a royal was travelling for a social event or diplomatic event, they would bring along some bling and no royal would travel without a set of mourning clothes in case somebody. Now, if a royal is only heading somewhere overnight, they probably wouldn’t take a lot of stuff with them.

Staff

Royals would not travel alone. They can’t hop on a horse or train and motor down the road without a companion or a guard. Official tours and travels would see a royal accompanied by guards, personal body servants, companions, people to take care and unload lugguage, people to drive and take charge of horses or cars, their households etc which would total to about fifty or so people. But of a royal was just going privately, they can get away with taking a few guards, one personal servant. Royals travelling even in cognitio under a false name amongst the public would never venture out alone because to do so would risk their lives and reputations. There is no exact number of what is appropriate or what would be seen as too much. It is mainly a show of luxury and power to have as many servants as possible and to impose their care upon your guests.

Transportation

Royals would travel by all means. Trains, planes, automobiles, zepplins, horseback, in carriages and sedan chairs. These routes would all be vetted first, swept for bombs or assassins, their routes double checked for any traps or adverse conditions that could put them in harm. No royal is getting into a carriage and speeding off without everything being cleared beforehand or a plan in place from security.

#Rebloging so I can find easily #fanfiction #writing tips

inky-duchess

Fantasy Guide to Royal Households and How they Work

When I say Households, I mean the entourage that follows around the royal family. The household went everywhere with them to care for their needs from the people who would empty their chamber pots to their noble companions. Most royal households are basically the same as noble ones, only on grander scale. Every royal had a household and an entourage as well as every noble at court.

Palace Personnel ~ The Commons

The commons were an intregal part of every household. They made up perhaps 80% of the work force. Royal courts were often on the road and never spent more than a few months at every palace. The court was constantly moving. Some positions were not permanent, meaning certain servants did not travel with the court because they were employed at the palace only. They would be paid by the Monarch's paymaster.

Scullion: The scullion was a relatively easy position to fill so they were often changed as the court went from palace to palace. They would be responsible for scrubbing and cleaning the servants quarters and the kitchens. They would scrub floors with lye, scour pots with sand, sweep put the fireplace and clean up after the other servants. They were the first to rise in a castle and tasked to light all the fires in the kitchens. Scullions would just be employed to the palace and serve a multitude of chambers

Laundress: The laundress was responsible for the cleaning of anything made of fabric in the household. Since they are handling unmentionables, they knew what happened behind closed bedchamber doors. They knew when the King visited the Queen or hadn't, they knew when marriages were consummated or not and they knew when the Queen and royal women were not pregnant. They often sold secrets to pad their pockets. Laundresses might be permanent staff but sometimes not.

Minstrels: The minstrel was a commoner hired to play an instrument or sing for the entertainment of the royal. A royal might staff a few at a time but they would always have one on hand. The minstrel would likely come with their masters as they travelled. The minstrel might serve the main royal household but a royal might retain their own.

Cook: The cook was one of the most important servants in the household. They would have the task of overseeing the running of the kitchens and keeping supplies in order. They would likely be on call at all times. Henry VIII's cook was often woken in the night because his royal master wanted a midnight snack. The cook was a valued member of the household and would have been highly sought after if they were a very skilled cook. They would have travelled with the joint. Cooks were apart of the greater royal household but often royals retained private cooks for their own use.

Maidservant: The maidservant cleans the castle. She would sweep the floors, scrub them, empty the chamberpots, get rid of the ashes from the fire and ready the fire for later. She would make up the bed or strip it for the laundresses. She would wash anything that needed washing including furniture and ornaments. She was likely not a travelling servant and would be strictly employed at a single palace.

Jester: The jester was the hired entertainer. Working under the master of revels, the jester had the daunting task of making the monarch and their family laugh. They would tell jokes, tell stories, cause havoc in the court for laughs and lighten the mood. The most successful jester of all time was Will Somers, jester to Henry VIII. Will broke bad news to the infamously bad tempered monarch and got away with things that would have sent others to the block. Will survived most of Henry's reign, his head intact. Jesters would be apart of the main household though each royal might have one of their own.

Positions within the Royal Household ~ Noble

Nobility were always welcomed at court. They eat at court, slept at court and were cared for by the monarch. Some nobles had to sing for their supper and most were hired as royal servants. They weren't exactly scrubbing floors and would be paid handsomely with land that would generate wealth for them

The Steward/Seneschal: This person was the head of the royal's staff. They would have the task of running the lands and servants their master or mistress. The steward served as a backup and assistant in all the tasks even representing their master or mistress when they were unavailable. Would be a high ranking noble. Each royal household would have them.

Treasurer of the Household: The treasurer was the accountant and pay master. They would be in charge of ensuring debts were settled, wages were paid and the household was running within the budget. This was a coveted position because it gave the treasurer insight into the financial situations of the royals. Such info was wroth its weight in gold. Each royal would have one.

Usher: The Gentleman Usher would be in charge of escorting guests into the royal chambers and into the royal presence. They would act as a go between their royal master/mistress and the guest often going back and forth with messages. It was just as coveted as the position of chamberlain but with less responsibilities.

Master of Horse: The Master of Horse was in charge of seeing to the horses of their master. They would oversee the grooms or the stableboy/hands who were employed at the stables to actually care for the horses. The master of horse would ensure that the stables were in order and the horses were up to parr in order to bear royalty across the kingdom. Each royal would have one but there would a main one who acted as overseer.

Master of the Wardrobe/Mistress of the Robes: These are the nobility who are employed to look after the clothes of the royal they serve. This would mainly involve a managerial position, overseeing the inventory of the royal wardrobe (a warehouse like building that housed the clothing) and placing orders for new clothes. It was a tidy job that rarely involved getting the hands dirty. Each royal would have one.

Chamberlain/Valet: The chamberlain is employed to look after the Lord's bedchamber. This was the most sought out position as they effectively were the gateway into the royal presence. Their main task was making sure their boss was comfortable and happy. Could be a well born commoner or a noble. Each royal would have one.

The Page: All royal households had pages. They would be a young noble boy about seven years old sent to their royal master. He would be in charge of tidying up after the lord, carrying messages to other servants and occupants of the castle and serving him at meals. Unlike others on the list, the page would not be paid. His experience was his payment as he would learn the running of a court and how to be courtier. Each royal would have one.

Squires: Squires were like pages though they only served the men. They would accompany their royal master to battle, look after his armour and mail, ensure that his lord's horse was saddled, caring for their master's weapons. The squire would always be a young nobleman on the cusp of becoming a knight.

Governess: The governess is a noblewoman woman employed to oversee the Monarch's children's household. She would be the first teacher a royal child would have and would oversee the nursemaids who would have care of the physical person of the child. She would be appointed when the child was four or five. Notable governesses include Katherine Swynford (wife of John of Gaunt and mother to the Beaufort line), Margaret Pole (wife of Tudor Loyal Sir Richard Pole, sister of the last York heir Edward of Warwick, daughter of George Duke of Clarence and niece to King Edward VI and Richard III), Kat Ashley, Margaret Bryan, Madame de Maintenon and Baroness Lehzen. Most unmarried Princesses retained their governesses while Princes generally outgrew their governesses after they were breeched.

Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber: They were the male companions of a King or Prince, sort of like ladies in waiting but manly. They would accompany the King or Prince everywhere they would go and shared duties with Groom of the Stool (royal toilet paper dispenser) and the Chief Gentleman of the Chamber (overseeing the staff and maintaining the chamber). They would help their master get ready, serve him at the table and organize hunting and games to keep him entertained. Gentlemen and companions where often chosen for their connections as well as their master's own opinion. Henry VIII's gentlemen included: Sir William Compton (ward of Henry VII and heir to rich lands), Sir Henry Norris (the grandson of William Norris who fought with Henry's father at Stroke and a relation to the Yorkists Lovells), Sir Anthony Denny (son of Sir Edmund Denny Baron of the Exchequer) Sir Michael Stanhope (brother in law to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset), Charles Brandon (ward of Henry VII and son of Tudor Loyalists)

Ladies in Waiting and Maids in Waiting or Maids of Honour: These are the female attendants to the Queen or Princess. Ladies in Waiting were married while the Maids were unmarried. They would have to attend their mistress wherever she went, help her get ready, keep her chambers in order, write letters for the Queen and maintaining her honour. They were chosen for their connections. Using Katherine of Aragon as an example, her Ladies in Waiting included: Maria de Salinas (daughter of Juan Sancriz de Salinas secretary to Isabella, Princess of Portugal and a Spanish courtier in the service to Katherine's parents, wife of Baron Willoughby de Ersby), Elizabeth Howard (the daughter of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, sister to Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk and wife to Thomas Boleyn, ambassador to France), Anne Hastings (daughter of William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, wife to George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and Lord Steward.), Agnes Tilney (wife to Thomas Howard, Earl of and 2nd Duke of Norfolk.), Elizabeth Scrope (wife of John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, a loyal Tudor lord), Margaret Scrope (wife of Sir Edmund de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk cousin to the King), Anne Stafford (sister of the Duke of Buckingham, married Sir George Hastings, Earl of Huntington and daughter of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (cousin to the King) and Lady Katherine Woodville (sister of King Henry VIII's grandmother and his great aunt by her marriage), Elizabeth Stafford (sister to Anne Stafford wife Robert Radcliffe, Lord Fitzwalter and Earl of Sussex around). Their connections are what got them their places and you can see why they were chosen.

Accommodation

Accommodation can be a difficult thing to sort both as a writer and a steward. You might have a palace of 200+ bedchambers in which you must house a staff of 500-/+, a varying amount of nobles, the royal family (of a varying amount) and their own households. When assigning rooms it is best to think of a Russian nesting doll. Start from the inside and work your way to the outside.

The best rooms go to the monarch, their consort and their children/siblings/parent(s). These chambers would include the bedroom, a drawing room/ common area, a privy, a closet (a small chamber that can be used for prayer or work). They would be furnished with the best cloth, the best candles and whatever furniture brought by the resident since most royal courts travelled from palace to palace. They will also have chambers for their personal servants such as ladies in waiting and grooms.

The second best set of rooms would go to the highest ranking nobles/people in the court. These rooms would be less fancy and a little smaller. These would be given to from titled nobility descending from those of Ducal rank (Dukes/Duchesses) or even members of the council such as Thomas Cromwell in Tudor times.

The next set would be considerably smaller, perhaps minus a closet or a drawing room. Given to lower nobility.

The next level of chambers would be smaller perhaps only the bedroom and a common area given to minor nobles.

The last set of rooms would be small and only hold enough room for a bedroom. Servants would have to sleep on the ground on pallets beside their masters.

Any other guests at court would have to stay at off-site locations around the palace in the city. Some nobles at houses around major palaces just in case they arrived late or were kicked out of court.

#Rebloging so I can find easily #fanfiction #writing tips

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tenaflyviper

If you can’t find a place on your blog for Patrick Stewart in a bathtub dressed like a lobster, then your blog probably doesn’t deserve such majesty anyway.