hi folks!! my name is lyra (she/her, 24, gmt -8 aka pst), and iโm so excited to write with you all. unfortunately i have work later today, so i wonโt be around very long for opening ๐ญ but i should have my intros posted shortlyย i didnโt get to proofread them, so excuse any grammar mistakes or typos, and plan on posting a plotting call in the ooc server!! but i also figured it would be good to post on here as well. so!! if youโd like to plot with one or both of my muses and would prefer to use ims on here, please feel free to message me!
Astrid had always liked parties in general and she was particularly fond of masquerades. That said she still felt weird being part of parties like this, part of her saw the benefits of having a party beyond just having a fun night without stressing about everything, they were good places to create deeper bonds with people, meeting new ones in a more pleasant stage than a meeting or something like that. But still, it also felt tone deaf and truthfully deep down she just didnโt feel like partying at all. However she was there wearing her mask, smiling and trying to make the most of the night. After dancing for a while, she walked out to a balcony to have some air and rest for a while, she smiled when she noticed someone was already thereย โGood evening, I guess many want to have a little break.โ
mikael leaned on the balcony railing, swirling the last few sips of wine around his cup. there was nothing he enjoyed more than the chance to converse, to peacock, to endear himself to a wider audience. the masks also provided the opportunity to meet those he would not under normal circumstances, and without the necessity of complete propriety no less. but the room was becoming increasingly stuffy, and so eventually he wandered outside. at the sound of a voice, one he would know anywhere, he straightened up, โastโyour majeโโ he cut himself off, glancing around for other listening ears. though the masks made it possible to obscure oneโs identity, he could not help still being cautious when it came to addressingย the queen. especially if other advisors from sweden overheard.ย โastrid, good evening,โ he relaxing his shoulders. โyes, indeed. i thought i might take a moment, get away from all the noise.โ
The masquerade was in full swing and as much as Eva adored dancing and socializing, sheโd been in the middle of a story with some other royals when something in the corner of her eye piqued her interested.ย โExcuse me a moment,โ she said without even finishing her original thought and she was out the door into the palace garden, searching for whatever sheโd seen. She moved easily through the maze of flowers and shrubbery, peering around every corner and over fountains and benches to see anything she could. And just when she had chalked it up to most likely a child playing or a rogue dog or cat wandering about, she turned, gasping as she came face to face with another person.ย โOh!โ she cried, placing a hand over her heart.ย โYou frightened me. Do you make it a habit to sneak up on people in the dark?โย
the longer the masquerade went on, the more he itched with restlessness (and the more his mask itched his face. he regretted not asking one of the staff for a better-fitting one). to get out of the sweltering room full of people and into the cool night air. to have his own space. to think. mikael enjoyed the festivities, yes, but having a moment alone with his thoughts was beginning to sound ideal at the moment. and so, as the conversation came to a natural conclusion, he bid his companions goodbye and meandered his way through the crowd, out of the ballroom.
once outside, in the gardens, he slipped the mask off his face, taking a moment to appreciate the relief of having the damned thing off. which was when he noticed another figure nearbyโwas he mistaken to think there was something familiar about them? as he came closer, he opened his mouth speak, but was interrupted by the other turning to face him. โi may have some habits, however sneaking up on others has never been one of them.โ he bowed his head, grinning sheepishly,ย โmy apologies for startling you. i required a moment of respite, you see.โ
She felt like she stood out, she wasnโt sure why but she just feltโฆ shy. It was weird, normally she wouldnโt be like this, sheโd enjoy the crowd, but she just wanted to hide until the party was over and pretend like it never happened.ย โI thought I was the only one who frequented this wall,โ she joked as she looked towards the person who appeared next to her.ย โIโm guessing youโre here for the same reason I am?โ
@1642hqs-startersโ
if the idea of a masquerade was to be anonymous, seojeong hadnโt done well to conceal their identity. not intentionallyโthe fact of the matter was that their garments were distinct, to say the least, if the european gowns they had seen just that evening were anything to go by. they had been to a masquerade once before, during their travels, and certainly enjoyed their time back then immensely. but those days were far in the past, fond memories that meant little in the current moment. not when there were other, more pressing matters to think about. despite any reservations they had about the event, though, the empress made the rounds of the ballroom, all smiles and sweet words, as if they had nothing on their mind. all the while searching for a glimpse of someone, something they recognized.
and, as luck might have it, she found one such familiar sight standing idle along one of the walls of the room. โperhaps. or perhaps not,โ she paused.ย โi came to see how you were fairing.โ she explained with a slight smile. as she gave her sister a once-over, though, her lips formed into a frown, โyou arenโt usually so reserved, soonee. have i caught you in the middle of resting, or is something the matter?โ
( cis man, he/him, 27 ) announcing ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐, the ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ and ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ from ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ! upon closer look, they resemble ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. it is a miracle that ๐๐ survied the last five years, and for that reason, they are ๐ ๐๐ the kingdoms working together. reflecting on them now, they remind me of ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ / ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ / ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
many years before his birth, mikaelโs parentsโa wealthy merchant and a daughter of the chief of the kumase kingdomโsettled in sweden. his father (niklas) was an ambitious man, and caught the eye of the king, so much so that niklas later became one of the kingโs advisors, and was gifted land and an introduction into the swedish nobility.
a middle child, between two sisters. growing up, the three of them spent much of their time in the swedish court, as well as in the company of the princes and princesses. in mikaelโs case, he became closest to the eldest two, ebba and astrid.ย
while his sisters were raised to be perfect ladies, so that they might become ladies-in-waiting to the princesses, or marry into more powerful noble families, their fatherโs ambitions for his son were to have mikael follow in his footsteps. to become an advisor. and mikael, seeking his fatherโs approval, did everything he could to make that happen. he studied diligently, endeared himself to members of the court. it would be years before his fatherโs plans began to come to fruition, however.
just before the plagues began, ebba requested mikael join his council of advisors, and mikaelโs father graciously stepped down, feeling his job was complete. around the same time, niklas also revealed that he had arranged for mikael to be married to the eldest daughter of the count of skรฅne.
they were meant to be married some time in 1642, but with everything that happened, they were married by proxy instead.
when ebba passed away. mikael was devastated. he couldnโt dwell on his friendโs death for too long, however, because his father-in-law passed away soon after. he traveled to the south of sweden to comfort his wife as she grieved. even though they were strangers. he traveled between skรฅne and the stockholm, juggling the responsibility of being a husband, count, a friend. and a royal advisor, all at the same time.
raised to further plant the osafo familyโs roots in sweden (and the rest of europe too, eventually).
since taking the helm, mikael canโt help but feel heโs more of a sympathetic ear than someone who actually counsels the crown. the monarchs he has served thus far have been people he has known since childhood, after all, people he would call his friends.ย
so, on one hand, he wishes he could do more and be taken more seriously by his fellow advisors. on the other hand, though, he wants to support astrid however he can. and if that means acting a little bit two-faced, he can live with it for now.
the most important thing to note about mikael is that he does well blending in with and adapting to others. he also craves acceptance and praise from most anyone. unfortunately, that also means he can come across as fake when he contradicts himself.
but anyway... heโs a very friendly guy! and pretty easy to talk to.
skรฅne countyโs location means that he has frequent interactions with danish nobility. but because his appointment as count is recent, he doesnโt know them very well, and heโd like to change that. more people to appeal and endear himself to ya know
despite its status as both landed gentry (barony of jรคrfรคlla) and introduced nobility in sweden, as well as mikaelโs mother agnesโ ties to royalty, the osafo family has a reputation in sweden for being social climbers.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
his wife/spouse!! theyโve been married for a few years now, but are still in the getting to know each other stage (sent to the main)
( demi woman, she/they, 35 ) announcing ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐,ย the ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ! in a recent portrait they seem to resemble ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. it is a miracle that ๐๐๐/๐๐๐๐ survived the last five years and for that reason, they are ๐ ๐๐ the kingdoms working together. reflecting on them now, they remind me of ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ / ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ /ย ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
born hwang hui yeon, the eldest of the emperor and empressโ children.
from the beginning, she has had but one goal in lifeโto become empress of joseon. she devoured her lessons with glee, wanting to gain as much knowledge as possible and learn to best lead their nation in the future. she clearly had drive, but that fervid personality of hers didnโt stop there.ย
they were also headstrong, hotheaded young princess who would do anything to prove their worth as heir. and though they could be a doting older sister, if their siblings showed anyย ambition for the crownโtheir destinyโthey were ruthless and cold until their younger siblings promised to act otherwise.
over time, though, she learned she couldnโt be so impulsive, petty, and stubborn if she truly wanted to be a good ruler. so, she adapted, slowly but surely stamping out their undesirable traits, repressing their emotions, hiding their burdens. and eventually, that became who they are known for being today.
officially named crown princess seojeong at age 15, and in the years that followed, their responsibilities grew. this culminated in severalย diplomatic missions they went on, acting as leader of emperor gyeonghyeโs envoy, in their twenties.
always looked up to her father, seeing him as the epitome of what it meant to be a leader of joseon. but he was far from perfectโemperor gyeonghye, as it turned out, was not nearly as virtuous as he seemed. with a penchant for gambling, drinking in excess, and shirking his responsibilities to the empire in favor of hedonism, palace staff and his own advisors wished to depose him and seat crown princess seojeong on the throne instead.ย
their plans were of course, complicated by the fact that seojeong would surely charge them with treason, and couldnโt possibly trust them not to do the same to her in the future.
but, the potential coup never needed to happen. for as conditions worsened in joseon, the emperor retreated to his personal quarters on the palace grounds. when he returned, he announced his intention to step down from the phoenix throne.ย
although she had prepared her whole life for the responsibility that the throne of joseon required, seojeong was overwhelmed with the issues and country she inherited. it was only through collaboration with her advisors and careful planning that she managed to begin getting joseon back on its feet.
more neutral to working with other countries than anything; they came to france because they know joseon canโt recover in complete isolation, and while they feel badly for using their past connections to try and accrue wealth and power, they know deep down that itโs the best way to help their country in the long run. theyโve also considered setting up betrothals for their unmarried siblings to strengthen alliances and joseonโs coin, similar to the king of portugal. so theyโre especiallyย pushing for their brothers to marry. yโknow, for the dowries.
she hopes, through fortifying joseon again, she can eventually lend aid to the ming dynasty, whom she actively chose not to help over the past five years (though she would never admit to that). basically, i see sj having a strong connection with the ming royal family in the past! but that can always change.
hold themselves back so much for two main reasons: for one, theyโve carefully curated their reputation for years, so deviating from it would, in their eyes, be a problem. makes them think others would find them two-faced or something. and second, showing weakness or too much hesitance is ill-advised; it would surely undermine their authority.
said image is the picture of calm and thoughtfulness, so she canโt just. go feral or have an outburst or be impulsive like she used to. but sometimes she really wishes she could.
still, they have their moments of feeling irritated or upset. thereโs a reason theyโve got such a deep crease in their browโlots of furrowing and biting their tongue, both literally and figuratively.
a stalwart and empathetic leader. some might say sheโs a bit too softhearted.
more open with their feelings around their siblings, but never in a way that seojeong thinks those feelings would burden them. so they still internalize a lot of their negative emotions.ย
loves to see a young lady who's just a little bit unhinged. not vocally, bc her vibe is very much that they and other people should remain calm and show restraint. but if you've got a lil bit of spunk... just know sj's a big fan and lowkey wishes she could be you.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
a broken betrothal that seojeong most definitely may or may not still have feelings for (sent to the main)
their โprotรฉgรฉ,โ a young state official / burgeoning diplomat who seojeong believes is tied to corruption in joseon. the empress brought said state offical along to france to keep a closer eye on them (might send to the main one day)
their siblings!!
friends of all sorts. also allies.
lovers, dalliances, and romantic entanglements (past and present)
enemies and annoyances
vassal(s). could be from anywhere, but historically there was a connection between joseon and tsushima island that i think could be interesting to explore!! this would def be combined with another connection, since "vassal" is so vague.
spies and secret royal inspectors
anyone from joseon, pls ๐ฅบ ladies in waiting, other palace staff, nobility... the list goes on!!
In the link below youโll findย #30 gifs of Kofi Siriboe in his role as Ralph Angel in Queen Sugar. These gifs were made from scratch, no editing besides sizing and sharpening. Please like/reblog if youโre using. Made for @tasksweekly task #21
โ In THE SOURCE LINK BELOW ย youโll find #144ย 333ย gifs, all made by me, from queen sugar (episodes s04e01-s04e04 ) requested by myself and made to be used for roleplay purposes. Iโll continue to update this gif pack because there are still plenty of episodes to go through of season 04, and this is part 02 of my gif packs of S04. If youโve found this gif pack useful, please like this post or reblog. I kindly ask you not to use these gifs on gif hunt, crackships, rp bios or turn them into gif icons.
โ In THE SOURCE LINK BELOWย youโll find #266 #106ย gifs, all made by me, from queen sugarย (episodes s04e08-s04e09 ) requested by myself and made to be used for roleplay purposes. Iโll continue to update this gif pack because there are still plenty of episodes to go through of season 04.ย If youโve found this gif pack useful, please like this post or reblog. I kindly ask you not to use these gifs on gif hunt, crackships, rp bios or turn them into gif icons.
