of satin of stone

I should have a hell for my anger, a hell for my pride – a hell for every caress; a proper symphony of hells. Almira 'Kaya. 30 36. Human. Healer. Divine Forest.

[intrcpidus]

Through war and triumph [ ALMIRA KAYA ] rises, at [ 30/36 ] years old, serving as [ HERBALIST/HEALER ] residing in [ THE DIVINE FOREST ]. They are a [ HUMAN ] that resembles [ MELISA ASLI PAMUK ]. Upon meeting them, they are [ FEARLESS ] and [ PASSIONATE ]. Don’t be fooled, they can be [ COCKY ] and [ OBSTINATE ].

I.

N A M E

Almira Kaya

N I C K N A M E S

Al, Mira, Mimi

A G E

36 (appears 30 due to finding her true mate at 30)

B I R T H P L A C E

King’s Hill

C U R R E N T   R E S I D E N C E

The Divine Forest

F A M I LY

Burak Kaya (father)

Adja Kaya (mother)

Siblings (TBD)

O C C U P A T I O N

Herbalist/Healer

S E X U A L   O R I E N T A T I O N

Pansexual/romantic

II.

E Y E   C O L O R

Brown

H A I R   C O L O R

Dark brown

H E I G H T

5′9

S C A R S

TBD

F A C E C L A I M

Melisa Asli Pamuk

III.

B I O G R A P H Y

‘Where did you grow up?’ was an easily answered question, ‘King’s Hill’.  It was when they wanted to know more did Almira get a little finicky.  ‘Where abouts? I’ve spent some time there’ Hedged answers are given, ‘Oh, you know, around.  Small town you wouldn’t have heard of it.’  It wasn’t that she was ashamed, per say, it’s just that she’d rather not have to explain her family situation to every person she encountered who deigned to ask about her background.

Almira doesn’t remember much about her younger years, but she does know she was born in the capitol of King’s Hill, and her family lived there until she was about 4.  But something, something no one would ever explain to her, happened around that time, and the family quickly left the busy city streets and retreated into the wilderness.  Paranoia and prejudice reigned supreme, horrible things whispered into young ears about other species, instilling the idea that only humans were safe to trust.   They spun stories to explain their sudden exclusionist views, why they decided to live off the land as much as they could, convinced they were waiting for the imminent oppression of humans.  

So in some ways, Almira’s childhood was more than a bit fucked.  But in others, it was golden.  Her days were spent quite literally frolicking in the woods, having adventures wherever she went.  Her days were spent with her hands in the soil, harvesting the food that would sustain her family.  Hands were held over dinner, thanking the earth for providing.  Sure, she was no nymph, but she had a true and innate love and understanding for nature.  

And maybe that’s why she didn’t understand or believe her parents’ teachings of hate for other species.  Nature had created them just like it had created humans, how could they be wrong?  Like most beliefs based on unfounded prejudices, there were plot holes, so to speak, and as she grew Almira spotted each and every one of them.  After that, it wasn’t long until Almira started to rebel.  Secret trips taken to the city, meeting people of all sorts and species, coming home with new ways to refute her parents’ hatred.  

Unsurprisingly, eventually Almira left her parents’ home, working random jobs throughout King’s Hill until finally she decided that she needed more.  The adventurous kid in her, the one who climbed the tallest trees and ran through the woods was calling, telling her to go.  So she did, making her way through the realms, having experiences and making memories, meeting even more types of people and learning from them.  She was desperate for knowledge, to understand what her parents had kept from her.  

Who knows, she may have travelled forever if it hadn’t been for one fateful night in Northland.  Her and some friends had made their way to a club.  Sure, it looked a bit sketchy, but they had heard of the great drinks and atmosphere and went in anyways.  It wasn’t long before Almira was rushing her and her friends out, though.  Several times throughout the night the trio were approached about donating.  Each time they politely refuted, despite how progressively aggressive each offer was getting through out the night.  Despite telling one such offerer to fuck off in no uncertain terms, he followed them out onto the street, only to be intercepted by the man on the door they had seen on their way in.  She also told him to fuck off in no uncertain terms as well.  She had it under control.  He looked a bit shocked at that, and sometimes even now she  pulls up the image of his face and laughs.

She wasn’t going to say it was love at first sight.  Of course she thought he--Niklas was his name, she would learn--was hot, beautiful even.  But she thought he was just another too-gorgeous-to-be-fair nymph or faerie or whatever.  It took a bit, some time spent together to realize he was more.  There was a connection there, one she couldn’t exactly understand, a desire to be around him regardless of what they were doing or how they defined themselves.  Friends, fuck buddies, dating; she didn’t really care, as long as they were together.  Eventually, she’d come to find that was their true mate bond building, pulling them together in whatever way it could.

It took awhile for the two dumb asses to realize, though.  She was in the kitchen, chopping up some veggies for a snack after she had beat his ass in cards.  He was in the living room, shuffling the cards for another round, and the knife slipped, sliced a line right across the entirety of her palm.  It wasn’t that bad nor was it deep, but it definitely stung.  She hadn’t even had a chance to cry out or cuss before she heard his worried voice calling in from the other room, ‘are you okay? how bad is it?’.  It wasn’t until he was in the kitchen with her, gentle hands prodding at the wound did she question exactly what had just happened.  How had he known she had cut herself? She hit him with the same line of questioning, and the two realized.  Empathy, telepathy, that feeling of being drawn towards each other, and the empty feeling when they were apart.  They had mated, they were true mates. 

It changed everything, yet also nothing at all.  Mostly, it changed Al’s look on the world.  Before, she was a human with a normal life span, she expected to be in the world for another sixty or so years tops.  But now?  Now she had hundreds of years ahead of her.  The idea of doing whatever, bumming around from job to job to support her travels until she felt like settling down no longer seemed to be enough.  These feelings only increased after moving with Nik back to his home, to the Divine Forest.  His family was an impressive one, Nik was impressive.  She saw a side of him she hadn’t before, and quite frankly she felt more lost than she ever had during her aimless travels.

Eventually, though, the spirit of the nymphs reignited her love for nature, and Almira decided to put her experience of living off the land for most of her life to good use, and became an herbalist and healer.  It also helped lessen the anxieties she had as Nik returned to work as a soldier, gave her some semblance of control in what was now her very out of control life.

It’s been 6 years since she met her true mate, 5 since she told her parents and was practically exiled more than she already had been, and 4 since they moved to the Divine Forest.  Now Almira is left wondering what the next several hundred years have in store for her.

UPDATE:  She doesn’t care to count how many, but it’s been a couple months since Nik went on a mission on Adrik’s orders, and never came home.  Things had been in such chaos after her kidnapping during the events in the Dark World, and Nik going away, that Almira couldn’t be sure if their bond had been broken due to her trauma, or if her lack of feeling him anymore meant he was in another realm or worse...Dead.  She might not know where he is, or if he’s okay, but what she does know, is she wouldn’t have gotten through the past couple of months without the rest of the Hansens.  Adrik and Svala the only things that kept her standing, and Etta and Adrienne the only things that kept her smiling.  The future she had only just started to accept seems to have been ripped away from her, and things may be unsure, but she knows she will always be able to consider the Hansen’s family.

[tvdversegifs]

[intrcpidus]

for: @fortiteretfideliter​ ( nik hansen ) where: home, in bed

She was being a creep.  She knew this.  Staring at a sleeping person was creepy.  But she’d fight anyone who told her to stop.  She had earned the right, after all, through months of worry and grief.  She had paid for it in dark thoughts plaguing her mind with pictures of her future, all bereft of the single most important presence.  So she stared, and she’d continue to do so until she saw fit, or at least until he woke up, thank you very much.

[mavixdeniz]

MELISA ASLI PAMUK

Asu in Kara Sevda Episode 70 

[intrcpidus]

for: open ( @lumenouastarters​ ) where: an overgrown, off the trail meadow

The earth felt alive to her, again.  She was ashamed to say just how many things had lost their pleasure in Nik’s absence, and now that they had returned, she realized just how deep of a hole of grief she had buried herself in without realizing.  But she tried not to dwell on that too much, anymore, now that things were seemingly back to normal, and she found that getting her hands into some dirt was the best medicine.

She had been meaning to venture out to the meadow, having heard of some of it’s rarer plant inhabits, all ones she could more than use in her work.  

“Didn’t think i’d have company, this far out,” she commented when it became clear she was no longer alone in the meadow, “And if you promise not to murder me, you’re welcome to join.  I might even tell you a few secret hiding spots.”

[intrcpidus]

fortiteretfideliter​:

ocean-eyeslnrp​:

theartofruling​:

Adrik spent a lot of time in their weapons and sparring room. The punching bag there had been getting worked overtime these days. Each punch packed with the force of the anger that coursed through his veins. Even if the anger left him with each punch, the disconcerting fact that he had made the call to send his son out always reverberated back to him. He wanted to have hope that he hadn’t lost a child, but with each passing day that he wasn’t home or hadn’t sent word of his wellbeing, it was harder and harder not to think that all hope had been lost. 

It was hard for him to even mention his son’s name in the presence of Svala or Almira, and then there were the girls. Etta and Adrienne asked about their brother, and most days he simply placated them with the answer that he was working before he tried to distract them. That was what he was doing today with Adrienne. He was teaching her how to effectively punch. They were staring small. Sword work would come, but throwing a punch was first priority. Especially in wake of his son being somewhere unfathomable. 

He held the punching bag while the little fists connected with the bag repeatedly when he heard the words he’d only dreamed of hearing echo through the house. 

 It’s Nik!  He’s—He’s out there!

Their bond, no doubt giving the indication. He picked Adrienne up in his arms to rush out into the hallway. “You hear him? Feel him?” he questioned. “Where is he? Is he close? Can he tell you?” he asked. As much as he wanted to stay grounded keep his hopes low, and shut out all of his thoughts especially the dread of what state Nik would be in, his mind was racing. He knew that wasn’t good for Svala. She could hear everything he thought. He didn’t want her to worry anymore than she already was. 

“I’m going to grab some weapons just in case he’s not alone, and if we can get something we can head out and search. If he can’t give us a location. I can fly above if I need to.” 

@ocean-eyeslnrp​

~

Svala had been fiddling and getting lost in mundane tasks. Not that she could really chop housework up as mundane but it did help keep her busy and away from the pending thoughts of doom and sadness that tended to be around her and in her own heart at the moment. 

While Adrienne was busy with Adrienne, she had Etta. The softer of the twins and the one that tended to enjoy crafty things a bit more. Mending clothes was the current task, even though they could easily replace them Svala had grown to enjoy mending and taking care of her things, especially mending her own armor. The little hands held tight to her own needle and a simple piece of scrap cloth, a way to practice and learn. 

Her brows raised at words and she felt her own heart jump at the thought dropping everything and pulling Etta with her.

They furrowed at Nik’s question and she nodded, “I’ll get the girls dressed.” She gave Almira a reassuring nod and smile, “we’ll go find him together.” She was prepared to take all night if they needed it as long as they found Nik it didn’t matter how long it took. 

She rushed off the girls to go grab their own things before turning back to Almira, “you just focus on him right now.” She then disappeared after the girls to get them and herself better dressed for the search that would potentially take place.

She waited impatiently outside, once she and the girls were ready, scanning the forest around their home and hoping maybe he was closer than they realized, but knowing it was possible that he wasn’t.

@fortiteretfideliter​

_

At times it had felt difficult to keep a sense of self as all the days and nights blurred into an intangible length of time. He had no idea how long he’d been kept away and what impact that might have had but he knew that there’d been moments where he’d felt like he was losing himself. What was he if he wasn’t allowed his purpose nor his family? But the moment he felt Almira reply, all of that doubt vanished and he finally felt those parts of him that had darkened light up again. It was more of a soft glow than a bright flame but he couldn’t help but feel like with every step that he took, it burned that little bit more.

He was so close to feeling whole again, back with his family by his side and once again doing what at times it felt like he was born to do. A burst of energy surged through him along with his rekindled determination and so despite the weight of his comrade on his shoulders, he kept going. He told Almira as much, knowing that there was quite possibly the hint of desperation in his tone that he should try to conceal from her. But it would be futile when even without their ability she knew him too well. “I’m coming to you.” To all of them.

From a strategic point of view he knew that it would be easier if he stayed in one place and let them come to him, it was easier to find a stationary target than a moving one after all. The strain that his body was under seeming to cry out that logic was right, begging him to take at least a moment of rest before he kept going. But he’d already waited too long to be reunited with his family and his familiar stubbornness was kicking in with full force as he continued to move, determined to close the distance between them all as quickly as possible. 

Time had lost some of its meaning for him and so he wasn’t sure how long he’d been walking for before exhaustion eventually, inevitably, won out. Coming to a halt he could feel his limbs go heavy, knowing they’d refuse to move again he settled both himself and his unconscious companion down. “By the river. We came in from the west.” This time he was certain he was more penitent, the tiredness creeping into his tone as he glanced around to try and give her more information. “I’ll wait here for you.” 

@intrcpidus​

Almira nodded in response to Adrik, both in disbelief and relief.  She had begun to prepare herself that she would never feel that comforting thrum that filled her mind, and now that she had, she wasn’t sure how she had stood the haunting emptiness these past few months.  As he continued to bombard her with her questions, she held up a finger, trying to find him in the reaches of her mind.  She understood the desperation, and how the eagerness to find their son was channelled in Almira’s direction, their only link.

Perhaps it was dramatic, but Almira closed her eyes and tried to tune out the rest of the fuss now understandably going on in the house as Adrik and Svala rushed around the house, trying to collect any supplies they may need, as well as ready the girls.  All that mattered now was Nik, and with each moment, he seemed closer to her, clearer.  He continued to communicate with her as they hurried about the house, giving her a better idea of where he was and his overall state.  He may have not been telling her, but the more he pressed on, the more she began to worry, there was no way he could have been in the physical condition to push on, supporting his comrade’s weight, but in typical Hansen fashion, he did anyways.  She wondered if he could feel her relief once he decided to wait for them to find him, rather than carrying on.

“He’s stopped by the river, they came from the West.  He has one of his fellow soldiers with him.” She paused, unsure just how much to divulge, but figuring now wasn’t the time to conceal anything, no matter if it was worrying.  “I don’t think he has any major injuries, but he’s not in good shape, and it feels like he’s fading.  Fast.”

Her words seemed to put a pep in everyone’s step, so to speak, and time seemed to pass both in light speed and as if caught in molasses, simultaneously, in spurts and syrupy slogs.  

As they neared where she thought he was, she spoke up once more.  “He’s...Not really clear, right now, but I don’t think they’ve got any company, so to speak.  Should we call out for him?  Whoever had taken him wouldn’t be stupid enough to cross realm borders, would they?” She questioned, knowing that Svala and Rik could answer that question way better than she could. 

@theartofruling​

[thcfinalgirl]

Scott Eastwood & Melisa Pamuk Manip

[intrcpidus]

ocean-eyeslnrp​:

@lumenouastarters​

Location: Random pond in Divine Forest For: Open

After Nik had returned home everything, for the most part seemed to fall back into place. So adventures with the girls were in order, something to get their mind back to where it belonged. So the giggles as the girls delightfully skipped rocks across the icy surface had the valkyrie smiling wider than she had in a while.

Before long though, Adrienne was up to her usual mischief and throwing snow balls at her sister and then Svala. The three hadn’t noticed the other that had walked up on the snowball fight until Etta’s snow flew threw the air hitting them. Svala’s brows raised at the other and she rushed over slightly breathless and worried, “Are you alright? We didn’t know had an audience.” She smiled hearing the girls giggle and smirking over her shoulder at them before reaching out her hand to the other.

-

After Nik’s returned, understandably Almira refused to part from his side for more than a second, the idea of being separated physically even with their re-established mental bond, practically painful.  But as time had passed, and normality had returned, she had begun to venture off a bit more and more, though still never too far.  The house had become startlingly empty, and it took a moment for Al to realize that Svala must’ve taken the girls out and about.  

She hoped she wasn’t intruding, but with some idea of where they may have went, Almira wandered in the direction of a pond that Etta had told her about once or twice.  With the cold weather, maybe she should have known what to expect the three spirited Hansen women would be up to, but she was still taken by surprise when a snowball hit her square in the chest.  

“Well, really wished I had some of those handy air powers handy right now.” She laughed, remembering how some had used it to dodge at the snowball fight in the dark world.  “Hope you don’t mind me tagging along, but figured i’d score some time with my favorite ladies, if that was alright?”  They of course, had all been together quite a lot since Nik was back, but it had been awhile since being out and about doing something completely unrelated and unweighed down by the recent events. 

“I can make a wicked snowball, if that helps.”

[intrcpidus]

theartofruling​:

Who: Open ( @lumenouastarters​) 

Where: Any Realm  ( probably out for a drink or coffee) 

Jackson was itching to do his fast talking to keep Northlands relevant to other realms. Especially the Falls. He did his job as Count and even went above and beyond for his High Lord when asked and sometimes not even when a request was made. Today though, he was out on personal business for his art studio, and decided to grab a drink while he was out. 

“These other realms had some pretty great social events, but I can’t wait for the world to experience Northland Falls. But while we wait for that day to come, I’m considering having a little start of the year soiree at my museum or studio to bring a little excitement and shake somethings up. Tell me, would you attend?” 

-

She was trying to get back out there, again.  Her sense of security had slowly started to creep back in after Nik’s safe return, and never one to play it safe, Almira had begun to push on the boundaries her recently shrunken circle of comfort.  A day trip and a cup of coffee in a different realm was easy and low stakes enough, right?  While normally a social butterfly, today she had been content to people watch, but it seemed as if the world had other plans, and secretly she was relieved, having realized she hadn’t talked to anybody all day other than murmured niceties.     

“I don’t know,” she clicked her tongue thoughtfully, “I may have a bit of bias against Northland falls.  Almost got eaten there once, you know,” She started, her head tilting toward the side as if she was thinking about it real damn hard.  “But to be fair, i did also meet my true mate there.  So it is a point in your favor. --- I guess if I had the promise that no one would be trying to snack on my neck like it was a juice box like last time...I’d attend.”

“Although, if you’re showing any of that new-agey art that’s just a single red paint stroke across a white canvas, I take it back, I’m not coming.”

[intrcpidus]

gvldntrbl​:

Location: Not in the Divine Forest

Open Starter @lumenouastarters​

-🥀-

“That’s not-” Hale sighed, gaze falling briefly with the exhale. He scratched at his beard. “I’m not your highness or any of those pompous titles, alright. Just… Just call me, Hale.” He looked back over at the person. “Now, what’s up? Why am I seeing you here? ‘Cause if you’re following me, you’re doing a poor job at surveillance. Just saying.” Hale finished with a shrug.

-

“Alright, Just Hale.” Almira paused, wine glass still in hand from where she had been raising it to her lips before he had begun to speak.  “You’re very attractive, and maybe in my younger years I could have gone a little boy crazy and stepped over the line and followed you a bit without realizing the creep factor there.  But in this case, I think it’s just a coincidence that us two Divine Forest residents happen to also be here in Kings Hill.  I promise.  I know what I’m doing here, but what about you?”  It felt odd, to be so informal with a ruler of her own realm, but she figured from his insistence to ditch titles, he wouldn’t mind.  “How do I know it’s not you who’s following me?” She questioned with a raised brow and a faux ‘gotcha’ tone.

[intrcpidus]

dvrklite​:

          “I have heard that one before. Usually it’s directed solely at me and me alone in being wrong, not so much everyone else and especially not the person pointing it out,” he spoke with a hint an amused grin that shifted into a more serious look when he took a moment to double check their surroundings with a quick glance. It wasn’t so much needed as it was a habit, something that worked well enough so far to keep those that he was meant to protect, safe. And that was exactly what he planned to do now. “It’s not bad. And you know to point it away so you’re already better prepared than half the recruits that I used to train.”

There were better ways to stay safe, which he wanted to point out but did his best to keep that tidbit to himself as she probably already knew them like not being out all alone in the dark. Luca stopped to stare for a moment, trying to work through his past words that indicated that he thought her a weak link. “That’s — that’s not what I meant at all.” He frowned slightly, more at himself than anything before he glanced away. He’d store that thought away, something that he’d process through later in the night when Almira was back with others and he returned to his post by Rowan’s side. A place that he apparently wasn’t welcome to be near for the time being until he found something fun to do. 

           “I used to be good at it, or so I’m reminded more lately but it’s been — far too many years to remember what that even means anymore. There’s a lot on my plate and it doesn’t leave room for fun. Only room for others to criticize that even being away from Rowan is me not doing my job, so to have fun on top of that? It’s a tricky situation.” But one where he didn’t want to upset Rowan by ignoring what is important to her right now. “Yeah, I’m willing,” he added after a beat as he rubbed the back of his neck.

-

“What can I say, I like to shake things up a bit.  Keep you on your toes.” She teased, although the mirth died on her lips as she saw his eyes flick around them, subtle enough that she was certain she wouldn’t have even noticed if it wasn’t for her paranoid state as of late.  “That’s saying a lot about the sorry state of your recruits if you can compare them to me.  I’m glad the Hartwells have you looking out for them, then.”  Her words were said in jest, but they were genuine.  She may have never met a Hartwell nor did she owe any allegiance to the Southland realm other than it was the home-realm of her future father-in-law, but she was just so sick of the seemingly soon to be normalized violence, that she was glad someone like Luca was around to try and help prevent it. 

“It’s okay, really.  I just...--Well, after 36 years on this earth, I think I’m finally getting the idea that as a human, I’m naturally the weakest link around all of you.  Took me long enough, huh?”  Her last words were accompanied by a sardonic chuckle.  She knew it had been reckless youth and pure luck that had kept her naive to the fact that her life could so easily be snuffed out by those around her.  She looked back remembering times when she had mouthed off to creatures who could have so simply killed her, and wanting to smack herself silly.  

But, she was more than happy to busy herself with the new task of getting Luca to have fun, rather than dwelling on her new thoughts of her mortality.  “Well, the argument could be made that if Rowan ordered you to have fun, doing anything but would also be you not doing your job.” 

“So, we can either take part in some of these interesting events, or Rik gave me a checklist of things I should see while I’m here.  Would you wanna join?  And maybe give some colorful commentary on your best friend’s picks?”  A mischievous tick of her lips at the words ‘best friends’ alluded to the fact she had heard of the, ahem, tension between Rik and Luca.

[ocean-eyeslnrp]

intrcpidus​:

-

“And that’s why I love you Hansens, you’re the only people I know who would be mad if I didn’t try to physically assault them,” She couldn’t help but laugh at that, but also feel a strong kindred sense with the family that she had begun to think of hers more than the one she had been born into.  Perhaps even a year or two ago, Almira would have been unsure of her place in a time like now, with no Nik to be her tether to his family.  Her own family had taught her time and time again that their love was conditional on any number of things.  But the events of the past year had left her with a deep sense of knowing that for better or for worse, the Hansens were her family, no matter what.  She hated that the world decided that she had to be proven right, but she took comfort in knowing she had been right in her feeling.

“And my naive hope is it’d be long enough for me to skedaddle my way on out of there,” she admitted, that innate need to try and lighten the mood despite her own heavy admission from only a moment before, still hanging in the air.  There were so many plans gone unfinished, no longer a chance to act on them, and it haunted her, even the small ones such as that.  But she knew if she didn’t start talking about them, didn’t let his name fill her mouth, she never would.  And that almost seemed worse. “That’s what he gets for being gone so long, a wife who can kick his ass” Her words rang with a hollow sounding hope.  Did she really believe that?  That he’d come home? That she’d ever get to wear that title in reality? She wasn’t sure.  It felt naive to hope so.  She had spun in circles trying to come to any conclusion that wasn’t the worst possible outcome and had failed time and time again.  

“–I accept, despite knowing that the girls will most likely kick my ass based on their genetics alone.” Sure, the thought was funny, but she wasn’t even joking.  She had no doubt that purely based on the fact that they had Adrik and Svala as parents and Nik as a brother, the girls would and could beat her at any skill placed before them.  Those two were special, and more than ever Almira treasured all the moments she got to spend with them.  “Adrienne sounds a bit like me when I was younger, to be honest.  My favorite thing to do was climb up a tree, like…Really climb, higher than you think someone could, and then I’d just sit up there, and watch as everyone went just a little crazy looking for me during hide and seek,” She couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips, it being one of the few, untainted and fond memories she had of childhood.    “I know that, Svala, and it truly means more to me than you could ever know, having you all as a family, no matter what.”

~

Svala smiled and nodded, “we would most definitely be upset if you didn’t try to assault someone but we are a family of fighters.” She chuckled but nodded, “it would definitely get you out of there but if there is more than one. You may be in trouble.” And Svala would never want that for Almira again. She nodded but she felt everything Almira was. Unfortunately it was at times somewhat of a curse, “It is, although I have to admit. I plan on kicking his ass first.” She sighed, “but I’d like to know you’re safe like the girls if it ever came to something physical but your training would be a little bit more advanced than theirs right now.” She chuckled, “they are only four after all.” 

Svala nodded memories going back to her children, Nik’s youth and now the girls growing up. “She is a lot like that, at times but takes after Adrik. She hides long enough to prepare an attack. Etta is our hider though. She’s meeker.” She smiled, “she’s the one that nearly killed me and I think she knows it. Most would think it was Adrienne as head strong as she is. Etta though, she scared us all.” She held tight to Almira and nodded, “I want you to know it and never forget it.” She felt the tears sting her eyes and it just made her hug Almira a little tighter, “we’re all holding out hope, and scared for the worst. No matter the out come though, you’re family.” She held on a little tighter before pulling away, knowing the tears still stood in her eyes, “You’re more than welcome to come stay with us anytime you like too. The girls would love it.” She smiled and nodded, “we would too. I just want you to feel like you have us to lean on.” She sighed, “because I know it’s hard. It’s been hard on all of us.” 

[intrcpidus]

~END~

[intrcpidus]

theartofruling​:

“Honestly, that’s truer than you know.” If he were honest, he’d wished for her her recognition to have been too late so she had blasted him with hellfire in the eyes. It might make him feel a little better. He often felt as though he was at fault for his son missing. And maybe somewhere deep down inside maybe the rest of his family, present company included did too. Blasting him could have made them both feel better. Or so he thought. 

Rik laughed, not surprised that she was wanting to move to hitting things. It was one of the things he truly admired about Almira. She was strength personified and a lesser person would have broken. Even given up. Being kidnapped and losing the person she loved. But here she was ready to hit something. “I can help with the hitting people stage. Believe me. It’s my favorite stage. Probably the constant stage. I choose that over talking far too much in my life. But I do appreciate it. Svala’s probably more the talker. I’m more of a bottle things up and punch it out later.” Punch it out he had been doing. He’d been running drills for the Emergent a little too hard. He’d been pushing the guards to train more, be more alert so that this never happened again to anyone else. He’d pushed his own body to limits of exhaustion that he didn’t even know he could reach, but it was all better than stopping to think about how his son’s disappearance was all his fault for sending him on the mission. 

“I’d say yes. I might get a little too into fun and start a fight or two. I’ve already warned Iris that I might ruffle some feathers. Svala already knows. But mostly I just over indulge in everything.” He didn’t have to think about it long before he his favorite places came to mind. “We’re standing in my favorite place, after trainings with mom, the beach would be the perfect place to just be alone with my thoughts. But there’s also this pretty incredible cave. There’s an alcove that has water, and it was indescribable beauty that I’d never seen before. We got into a lot of trouble in that cave it was a party spot growing up. The Rugged Royale is a tavern that you definitely want to visit. It’s not for the dainty. The shops along the boardwalk are another. Every place feels like family here.” 

-

“Between both you and Svala, I’m going to be ready to steal Nik’s job in the Emergent by the time he gets home,” She chuckled, having already decided to take Svala up on her offer to train her in some more advanced techniques than ‘kick them in the balls and run’ of self defense.  She was never the damsel in distress type, and having felt like that once was more than enough for her.  She could be mistaken, but her feeling of helplessness seemed to be mirrored in all those who loved Nik.  As there was simply nothing that could be done but wait.  Or at least she assumed, she was no Svala or Rik, but she knew if there had been other avenues of investigation, they had already been traversed.  But with no leads or at least no way to follow them without political consequence, all they could do was wait.  And what was worse than that?  At least if they were doing something, they felt as if they were trying.  But to sit and wait?  Felt like a betrayal of the love held for Nik in a way.  

She shook the thought from her mind, not wanting to go down that hole she knew all to well these days, knowing just how hard it was to climb back out, and tried to focus on his suggestions.  “Alright, well, i’m conscripting you against your will once again, tour guide.  You show me your spots, and I keep you out of trouble, deal?”

~END~

[intrcpidus]

fortiteretfideliter​:

There was no denial about what had happened to him nor had the gravity of it all failed to sink in. He was all too aware of what he and his brother in arms had been subjected to but upon their escape, he’d stubbornly refused to give it anymore thought ( a decision that would most likely come back to bite him but it felt necessary in that moment ). Instead he only allowed himself to think of home. To where he needed to get back to. His fiancée and family had been all he needed to motivate him to continue to put one foot in front of the other, his desire to see them again vastly outweighing whatever aches and pains and exhaustion he might be feeling. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was aware of his body protesting, each step pushing it closer to the limit, but it was ignored when the promise of home was all that occupied his mind.

It’d be a lie to say that there hadn’t been a part of him dreading this moment almost as much as it had served to fuel his determination to get back. He’d been so confident that they would have forever together, all the time in the world in their possession, but now he knew that there was a chance that he’d have to face a reality in which their bond had been severed. It would be more complicated than that, of course, but he knew the effect that trauma could have on true mates and dreaded to think that his disappearance might have hurt her to that extent. So he was somewhat tentative as he reached out for their mental link, his first call more of a whisper  than anything else. “Almira?” 

Relief flooded through him, strong waves to wash away the unwelcome thoughts of what a life without her might have looked like. It was a future that had crept in unbidden and he was grateful that it wouldn’t be one that he had to live through. His steps began to slow, the weight of his fellow soldier’s arm over his shoulder beginning to make itself aware. But the tiredness hardly mattered when he was finally feeling as though he could begin to relax. That he might have done enough, however belatedly. Through the exhaustion that started to tighten its hold on him, he reached out once more. “Almira?” It felt as though their connection had strengthened, filling him with more confidence that he hadn’t just fooled himself into believing that things might actually be fine.

@intrcpidus

-

Being in the Hansen home was both the burn and the salve.  Whenever she turned a corner or entered a room, she couldn’t help but think of the happy memories that filled it; Nik introducing her to his family for the first time, the two telling his parents of their engagement, endless family dinners, simple moments not worth a dollar but happy nonetheless.  And it hurt, to think that all those memories were the last ones the house would have of Nik.  That he may never walk through the door, his footsteps may never echo down it’s hallways, his laugh may never fill the dining room again.  

But Almira also knew that the joy that still filled her heart as she stood next to Svala in the kitchen with a glass of wine in each of their hands, or bumping shoulders with Rik after he greeted her at the doorway, or watching the girls play in the backyard, was worth the sharp pangs of pain that Nik’s absence brought.  But still, it didn’t stop her from sometimes staring off, reveling in the pain for just a moment, on the nights she was invited over for dinner.

Her hands had stilled on their current task of changing the water of a vase of flowers, in one of these moments, when she felt it, someone reaching out for her in the dark recesses of her mind.  For the past months, she had so felt like a house emptied of it’s belongings, starkly cold and full of echoes.  And all of the sudden, it was like it was full again, furniture in all it’s rooms and light filling it up to each and every corner.  It felt both like a bolt of lightening and like slipping into a warm bath, sharp after it’s emptiness, yet instantly comforting.  

Nik.  He was alive. 

“Svala!  Rik!” Almira called out, having lost track of where they were in the house, her foosteps beating against the floors as she ran through the home, trying to find them.  “It’s Nik!  He’s---He’s out there!”  Where there was, she wasn’t sure.  But it had to be somewhere in realm if he was reaching out to her.  She paused her search for her in-laws for a moment, trying to focus in on the familiar hum in her mind, reaching back out to him ‘where are you?’ she tried to ask.

@ocean-eyeslnrp  @theartofruling​

[ssweeneys]

Melisa Asli Pamuk in Çarpışma

[intrcpidus]

[intrcpidus]

who: @ciara-james​ where: apothecary in kings hill

If someone had told Almira that one day she’d find herself in Kings Hill seeking out comfort, she would have asked how their stay in the asylum was going.  Almira had run from the place some 16 year ago, and could never imagine going back for anything other than brief pitstops on her way to elsewhere.  But, yet, here she was, perusing the wares of an old haunt.  She had begun taking her trips back to Kings Hill only a week or two after Nik had disappeared.  Am momentary reprieve from it all.  From her grief, from the saddened eyes of his family, from the questions of nosy acquaintances, asking if there was any news, or how she was holding up.  It had been so long since she had been in Kings Hill, for all intents and purposes and other than a select few, all were strangers, and she was free from prying eyes and inquisitions. 

But really, she shouldn’t have been surprised as she was when she saw a familiar head of that beautiful ginger hair walk into the shop.  It took her a moment to decide whether to call out or not, but in the end figured she’d regret it if she didn’t.  “God damnit, Ciara, I know it’s the faerie in you but it’s truly not fair that you look the exact same.”    That was one way to say hello.