LUMINOUS RIDER

#bxldrsdraumar #| thread | definitions of home

Altena wonders what it might be like if she had grown up in shoes similar to Sigurd's. If she had known she was the older sibling. Would she have held back when sparring with Leif or would she have given it everything she had every time?

If she sparred with Leif now, how would she act? Admittedly, she doesn't know how to answer that question. She knows Leif is strong and capable and can take on anything that comes his way. Baldr's blood is competitive indeed. Thinking about it has her wanting to issue a challenge to her younger brother just to see how it would go.

She doesn't like the quiet that falls over her uncle. It should be a relief for him to finally have shut up but it's unnatural. It should have served as a warning for the question that he was about to pose.

"No." Altena answers far too quickly and far too sharply. She turns looking for anything to focus on other than those blue eyes attempting to peer past the walls she's tried to build up. The pigeons. She tries to focus on the pigeons.

It isn't a lie. He didn't specify which brother.

Are you serious? Right in front of my waffles?

She tries so hard to just sit there. To listen to the two men talk about her as though she is not there. To sit and enjoy her meal as though everything was normal and fine.

It isn't easy.

She can defend herself. She knows she's far more than capable. She doesn't need anyone to step in, especially not Raven. But she does not want to cause a scene either. She doesn't like the anger that bubbles beneath the surface. She doesn't like the feeling of losing control and exploding.

But this guy just won't shut up. Every word out of his mouth is grating. It seeps under her skin and spreads until she can't take it anymore.

Her chair scraped against the floor as she stands to join them. "I'm right here. Show me how you'll teach me yourself, coward." She is not about to let anyone fight her battles for her, least of all Raven.

peerlessscowl

This appeared to be precisely what, and exactly not what, the interloper was expecting, releasing a nervous chuckle as he cocked his head in mimicry to Raven’s - those little gestures of mirroring, the attempt to garner a connection and foster commiseration, only to meet the steel and flint of Raven’s eyes - and the curl of his lip as Altena rose.

“Gettin’ some real mixed messages here, but maybe I’m just old fashioned.”

Or maybe he was beginning to notice that he was outnumbered, as his flickering gaze certainly seemed to indicate as he glanced over the heads of the rest of the gathered patrons, many of whom had begun to look in their direction. Raven wouldn’t have been terribly concerned if more arrived, from any direction, but he felt the skin on his back prickle with tension at the thought of something long or drawn out.

“But if you want someone to make you yell pretty, then c’mere.”

The man circled around the table, a kiting motion that Raven was well-familiari with - the instinct to put not just distance, but an obstacle between himself and a threat, and to draw his opponent into a position more advantageous for himself.

His boot lifted, kicked the edge of a chair out from beneath the table into the direction of the other man to block off his path, but mostly just resulted in the chair bumping up against him.

“Rude to dine and dash, isn’t that what they say?”

#ew I hate every fucking word I've written in this but it's sat in my drafts too long and I refuse to look at it again so now #it's your problem sorry aldbdkdbdkbfkdbd #peerlessscowl #| thread | right in front of my waffles #is that the tag I've been using for this I don't know #I'm over it #as the toddlers would growl “Erica all done”

Unarmed and on foot is far from Altena's preferred way to fight. Even with a lance in her hands, even with her lance in her hands, she still feels incomplete without her mount. If she had to admit it, she might even describe the feeling as clumsy. Here she is left without either.

It's not enough to bring her to retreat. This man is a nuisance and hardly worth her time but he is also clearly violent. If he isn't bothering her and now Raven, he could be picking a fight with someone else who might not be able to hold their own against him. And if he truly isn't going to back down, she definitely does not want to appear to be a coward.

And against both herself and Raven? This poor bastard doesn't stand a chance.

"This is your last warning," Altena's eyes demand that his meet them. "Stand down now."

The man laughs and stances up further, fueled by brash overconfidence or the eyes of the growing crowd eager for a fight around them. Perhaps even both. Altena can tell he has no intention of heading her warning and she sighs. Her waffles are going to be so cold.

a verse in commonality

mission board: epidemic - +1 gauntlet (making chocolate)

Altena is glad for this setup for the class. They have written instructions and are allowed to work at their own pace. She much prefers this to an instructor standing at the front of the room dictating what to do. This way she can take her time if needed. And, well, it's easier to continue talking with Maria this way. Altena might not be the most sociable person but there is something about Maria that weakens her walls.

She gets to work on her half of the chocolate, keeping her cuts as even as she can. "Maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both get to see our brothers again in time to give them this chocolate." It's wishful thinking and thinking she doesn't actually think will happen, at least on her end. But there is something about Maria, too, that inspires a little bit of hope.

"You could come with me, if you wanted, when I give these to Leif. It's only fair that you get to take credit for knowing what he might like." She wonders what it would be like to spend time with Leif if Maria was there, too. If the young girl's sunny warmth might be able to cut through the awkwardness that still lingers between the two siblings.

But she stops cutting and tilts her head curiously to look at Maria. "What do you mean, Altena Altena?"

"Do you think so?" There is a softness to her voice as she poses the question, a smile that curls the corners of her lips even as she tucks it behind the sheaf of paper bearing their instructions. "Hee hee... if he comes back... then it's okay even if he's late! Then I'll just make him better chocolates! Fresh ones, with fillings he likes! And maybe I'll learn how to make them into cute shapes -- like wyverns!" Even as she continues setting up their station, she laughs. "I don't think he'll care what shape they're in, but... hee hee! It makes me happy. Oh -- I should look into treats for wyverns, too!"

And she laughs again, well aware that she's babbling, the smile flashed toward Altena packed with a mischief that all but admits it. Wishful thinking it may be, but it puts dreams in her heart and a sparkle in her eyes, and she fails to see anything wrong with that.

"If you need help making anything for your brother, let me know, okay? After all, we're kind of like partners now, aren't we? --partners in having sillyhead brothers!" Whether or not that's the case for Altena's other brother, she isn't sure, but Michalis is at times certainly, incurably silly, and he'll have a hard time convincing her otherwise. Then: "Oh! Are you sure? I like both of you, so of course it sounds fun! But if you're making chocolates for the Day of Devotion, too..." Her smile turns gentler now, half hidden behind the thoughtful reach of her fingertips, the corners of her eyes made soft. "...hee hee. I'd be just as happy to cheer you on instead!"

Sorting through the bowls until she finds the designated 'right one', Maria's expression shifts again. This time her smile is pressed into a wide line, quietly, utterly pleased.

"Well... I don't know why I didn't think of it before," it's because of continuity, "But my sister tells me about her friends sometimes! And there's one of them she really likes spending time with -- her name is Altena, too!" Oh, but there's a sparkle in her eyes. "That's you, isn't it? Do you know Minerva?"

#princessmacedon #| thread | a verse in commonality

Sillyhead, huh? It's not exactly the word she would have described her older brother with as they flew above the battlefield, powerful holy lance in each of their hands, ready to destroy the other if she wasn't able to convince him to see reason. Stubborn ass was probably the better term but looking at Maria's sweet smile has Altena keeping her language in check. "Partners in having sillyhead brothers for sure," she agrees with a nod.

"I think they had molds for making different shapes of chocolate at the front of the room. I wonder if they'd have a wyvern..." She's seen cute shapes of chocolate before. There's no way she's the only person who thinks wyverns are absolutely adorable. But would Leif like that? Would wyvern shaped chocolates just be projecting her own interests on him? And her father...would he think it was too childish? Altena frowns. "They probably would only have the Fódlan breeds anyway..."

Altena listens as Maria talks fondly of her older sister and their clearly close relationship. She wonders if she could be the kind of big sister who talks to her little sibling about her friendships someday. She can't claim to have many of them and she doesn't know if Leif would care at all about something so mundane as that. But she does think she'd like it if she knew that Leif spoke fondly of her.

But then Maria keeps speaking and Altena is pulled out of her own thoughts with a jolt. "Wait...Minerva Minerva?"

wolfhednn

———　( modern au )　how do they feel about enabling location sharing on their phone with their partner? family? close friends?

dash game! reblog and include your muse's answer in the tags!

#aaaand Altena #I think if Leif asked her to share locations she'd do it if it went both ways #I think she'd like having this weird awkward way to bond with him and she what he's up to without having to push for conversation #she's also I think pretty protective and would appreciate being able to play the role of big sibling and look after him #she'd share with Arion too but less of an I want to protect you want and more of a well we already share everything kind of way #maybe her close friends if they ask too but there is a very small handful of people that would fit into that bill #but I don't think she pays all that much attention to a feature like this #and I can also see her not keeping her phone charged enough for her own location to be all that accurate idk I just get that vibe

a verse in commonality

mission board: epidemic - +1 gauntlet (making chocolate)

"Leif likes almonds?" His sister frowns. She's glad to learn something about him but she doesn't like how she's had to learn it from Maria. Little things like this should be easy for her to know but she doesn't. There is a pang of jealousy as she pictures Leif and Maria and Ronan hanging out together and talking about almonds. But she supposes she's never offered what foods she used to like to him either.

While they have been growing closer, it still feels like an almost impossible dream that they might form a bond as strong as some of the other sibling sets that they know.

"I'll have to use almonds for his then," she nods, corners of her lips pricking back up the slightest bit. It really is hard to remain dour around Maria, especially when she gives the opportunity to talk about family.

"Arion, my older brother, he isn't at the Academy either. I haven't seen him in years. Maybe I'll have to give his chocolates to someone else too."

"Yeah! I bet they'd be really tasty in chocolate, too -- don't you think they'd have a really good crunch?" It helps that they're among the fillings provided for later; it's hard not to be confident in her hypothesis when it feels like Steffanelli himself has her back!

A short series of claps cuts through the air, and the little cleric looks up as her fingers still sift through the goodies. She takes precisely four almonds and only that, leaving the lion's share of them to Altena. There are plenty of other goodies, besides, and she has just placed a spoon next to a small jar of jam when their instructor begins speaking.

"Given your disparate goals," he begins, hands pressed together, "We won't be going through the steps together as a class. Instead, you'll find the instructions at your tables. You may work at your own pace and, if you need any help, do raise a hand and fetch the attention of myself or one of my aides."

"Yes!" Maria answers alongside the rest of the class, reaching for their written instructions and holding it slightly higher for Altena to look as well. "Hmm... Cut the chocolates into small, uniform-size pieces...

"Silly brothers, huh?" But she smiles so gently as she places blocks of chocolate in front of both Altena and herself. "Hee hee... well, I'll still make him some when he comes home, so it's okay." At least she still gets to spend time with Minerva, and for once Minerva gets to just be Minerva. Her world has grown beyond the Whitewings, a traitorous brother, and an imprisoned sister -- now she has Leif, who Maria's lucky enough to know now, and that girl who makes her smile--

"Wait... Altena? Altena Altena???"

#princessmacedon #| thread | a verse in commonality

Altena is glad for this setup for the class. They have written instructions and are allowed to work at their own pace. She much prefers this to an instructor standing at the front of the room dictating what to do. This way she can take her time if needed. And, well, it's easier to continue talking with Maria this way. Altena might not be the most sociable person but there is something about Maria that weakens her walls.

She gets to work on her half of the chocolate, keeping her cuts as even as she can. "Maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both get to see our brothers again in time to give them this chocolate." It's wishful thinking and thinking she doesn't actually think will happen, at least on her end. But there is something about Maria, too, that inspires a little bit of hope.

"You could come with me, if you wanted, when I give these to Leif. It's only fair that you get to take credit for knowing what he might like." She wonders what it would be like to spend time with Leif if Maria was there, too. If the young girl's sunny warmth might be able to cut through the awkwardness that still lingers between the two siblings.

But she stops cutting and tilts her head curiously to look at Maria. "What do you mean, Altena Altena?"

My Little PonyWyvernPegasi Friendship is Magic

#I never write my drafts in docs but I did this time and I didn't see it in my Tumblr drafts and was like surely I posted it because it's not #in my drafts but no it was a doc this whole time and never made it to the dang dash #virtuoustyrfing #| thread | my little PonyWyvernPegasi Friendship is magic #feel free to do whatever with this npc I have no attachment to her hahahahaha

The Herald of Spring Festival requires a specific plant: the lumenthus flower. It's characterized by its bright yellow petals that naturally glow, many likening it to a firefly. While Baile is able to grow its own supply, Derdriu aims to supplement that with their own yield, being the one location in mainland Fódlan that can support lumenthuses. However, once plucked, unless it's given proper care under a skilled botanist, the lumenthus flower has an exceptionally short lifespan before it wilts. Cavalry and flying units are given the high-speed mission to deliver these plants from Derdriu to Garreg Mach's own greenhouse. Just as your group sets to return from Leicester, you notice your supplies for the journey back have been looted and tampered with and some of the mounts in your unit are agitated. There's no saying who did this, but whispers that the rivalry between horseback riders, wyvern riders, and pegasus knights at the monastery has been getting worse these days… Could this be the result of that petty conflict? And do you even have the time to investigate it as the lumenthus flowers begin to lose their glow? [Grants Riding/Flying +1]

"You did this!" a young woman that Altena recognizes as a student from the Academy waves an accusing finger at her. "My whole pack is ruined! Ruined!" The pack is tossed at Altena's feet and it is very clearly as ruined as she claims.

Altena has no idea, however what could have possibly happened to it. She's never spoken to this woman. She is pretty certain she flies a pegasus but she isn't even sure which house she's part of. Why she so aggressively thinks the Thracian is the one to have messed with her things is completely beyond Altena.

"What are you talking about?" Altena's scowl deepens. She doesn't like being accused like this. Going behind someone's back is dishonest and cowardly. She's better than that.

"Don't play innocent!" the other woman hisses. "You wyvern riders are all the same!"

@virtuoustyrfing

"Suspicious? I don't think...well, he does always seem rather oddly stiff, doesn't he?"

She pauses for a moment to consider it. It also seems odd that Leif would ask this. What would Finn need to be suspicious about? But it dawns on her and her eyes widen.

"Wait, you don't think..." Altena leans a little closer so she can keep her voice hushed. "You don't really think he was trying to prank me do you?"

She'll be the first to admit that she doesn't really know Finn all that well outside of being an extension of Quan. Leif would know far better than she ever would if the knight was even capable of something fun like this. It's pretty hard to believe but she supposes it's possible.

"I guess that would explain why no one wanted them when I offered..."

diadic

“Prank you??” Leif's eyes narrow. “Oh, no. That man doesn't have a single fun bone in his body. He wouldn't prank you.”

Especially not as the daughter who carried Prince Quan's blood most strongly of all the people in the world. Leif imagines it'd be so great a sin on Finn's conscience that he would immediately prostrate himself before her for a flogging.

“But he did seem like he was trying to trap me,” Leif adds, not recognizing the potential overlap between what constitutes as 'trapping' and 'pranking.' “When I took them, he started taking it as a declaration that I was going to get some.”

A pause as he realizes what he just let himself say in front of his sister. Every nerve in his body flares to life, rendering him stiff and awkward.

“...er, ARE you seeing anyone, Altena??” Enough to make Finn suspicious of you, anyway.

#diadic #toaball2026 #Leif don't worry about it there's nothing going on #also wingman Finn is a hilarious image to me

Altena snorts a laugh. No, she really didn't think Finn had it in him to do something fun. She can't even remember if she's ever really seen him smile. "You're right. He seems more like he would be the victim of a prank rather than the one orchestrating it." It's probably a good thing that he's employed here as a knight rather than a professor. Some of the students can be pretty ruthless.

She barely has a moment to consider reacting to Leif's admission about his own experience with the Finn Mints when he abruptly turns the spotlight right back onto her. A brutal tactic that heats color into her cheeks.

"NO!" She answers too loud and too quickly. "It was just one dance. That's it."

Their uncle had called her out on it, too. Had that been before or after Finn approached her. Had she even danced with Minerva at that point? The events of the evening blur in her memory as she tries to piece everything together to figure out Finn's motivations. Had he seen it? Had Sigurd told him about it? Both options are equally horrifying.

"He couldn't have been trying to play wingman, could he? Why would he possibly want to do that?"

bigbadbaltie

They just let guys walk around like this? No shirt and just covered in chains? Why's he wearing so many chains?

Not that she's complaining or anything...

But she's definitely staring. And oh shit he's noticed. Where is she supposed to put her eyes when his abs are fully out and glorious like that?

"You..."

She's got to say something or else she's going to seem like a total freak.

"You...must train a lot."

Oh! Balthus pulls his punch halfway through a swing, the badly-beaten training dummy in front of him shuddering almost as if it were sentient and had been expecting to be pummeled. All it takes is a hop to adjust his stance, wiping rivulets of sweat off of her cheek with a quick rub of his sleeve-- and the girl that had approached him? Damn, she's cute. Looks like she can hold her own in a fight, too; but he thinks he'd rather hold her. (Hah. Smooth. Yeah, baby!) It's a rare moment of victory that he's approached first, and following her sight... At least SOMEONE at the Monastery has good taste. Casually lifting up one side of his coat, he winks before flexing enough to show off the dip of his abs and the slant of his hip-- maybe talking to someone down in Abyss would make it to where he can make this coat sleeveless or something, too. She's missing out on the guns! The pythons! How he's jacked! "Hah, you've got a good eye, lady!" Balthus runs his hands through his hair before shaking his head, damp locks making him look like nothing short of a model seductively coming out of a swimming pool. (Or so he thinks it does.) "It takes a lotta liftin' to become the undefeated King of Grappling. Can't slack off for even a day." Low chuckle and a tilt of his head has him flashing his most dashing smile, and for those close enough, maybe they'd even think they saw a little twinkle from it. "Name's Balthus. You interested in throwin' some blows, too? I'd be a fool to say no to sparrin' with a girl as pretty as you. Whaddya say?"

Hands-on instruction always works best, right? "I'll even make a wager with ya. Beat me, and we can go out for dinner, yeah? And if I beat you..." Uh, he didn't think this through entirely. "... I'll, uh, still take you out for dinner. Yeah."

#bigbadbaltie #I had to look up his height #hello what #he's like 900 feet tall

Well shit. He definitely knows she had been staring. And he definitely knows why she had been staring. Altena isn't sure which would be worse: this blatant show of...everything or if he had called her out on it instead.

Now she has to do whatever she can to keep her eyes on his. And that certainly isn't easy considering how tall he is. He's taller than both Arion and Father. He might even be taller than General Hannibal. And it's difficult to keep her head lifted up but if she doesn't, her eyes are directly at chest level.

But he's impressive! It takes dedication and hard work to achieve muscle like that! It can't be so terrible to admire the time and effort he's put in, can it?

"No, you can't slack off," she agrees with a nod. It's why she's here at the training hall, too. There's always more work to put in. "I'm Altena. I've been wanting to improve my skill with gauntlets." Did he just call her pretty? "It would be foolish to pass up an opportunity to learn from someone so expert."

And he wants to go to dinner. Altena remembers the last time she indulged a little with someone else. How her uncle made a point to insert himself right into the middle of it. She would hate a repeat of something like that but she can't just say no either. She'll look like a coward.

"That's a terrible wager but I hope you're prepared to lose."

when the flowers met, so does the heart | Minerva+Altena

continuing from here

Altena wonders if wearing gold this year might make the flush that surely spreads across her cheeks less obvious than if she wore red again. Minerva is going to think she's so lame for this. Everyone is. She really really hopes no one who might turn this into a thing happens to notice.

She's not entirely sure what she should do with her own hands but, thankfully, there are enough other couples dancing that she's able to look around and figure it out from their example. Shoulders then. That's doable. Her hands hover awkwardly a moment over Minerva's before she commits to it.

And she's not entirely sure where she should look either. When she looks around to see what others are doing for that, the inspiration is less helpful. That person has their head leaning against their partner's shoulder. And over there is someone looking deep into the other's eyes. Both options feel way too bold. Awkwardly over the shoulder it is then.

She still needs to figure out what to talk about. Is she supposed to talk? Minerva is. It feels too intimate with nothing between them but the music. "The weather is nice." Idiot. No it isn't. It's been dreary and cold and miserable. "I mean, if you like weather like this maybe it would be. I don't."

The uncertain touch of Altena made the Macedon princess amused, but at the same time doubtful: didn’t she feel at ease with her? She felt a little disappointed thinking so, so she shrugged off the bad vibes and she did her best to lead the dance, wondering if the brunette would love to something else or if she was actually enjoining the evening with her.

“Don’t worry… we don’t need words” she simple said as she delicately felt the head of the young woman placing over her shoulders, a soft touch that Minerva enjoyed with guilty pleasure. In all response, she simply twiirled around with her, moving along the ballroom with slow pace, but steady, until the music eventually finished –dancing, enjoying each other company, feeling each other bodies, hearts, feelings. As most couples bowed in gratitude to their partners, the two of them were still there, together.

“We can do another round, if you wish” and she let go of her sumptuous body, her hand handed her one of his flowers, a hyacinth. “For you and for your boldness in dancing with me”

#reddragonprincess #| thread | when the flowers met so does the heart #toaball2026

Boldness? No. Altena does not feel particularly bold. All she did was let herself get swept up in the moment by someone else. She didn't initiate. She didn't offer to lead the dance. She simply followed Minerva.

Altena offers a huff of a laugh and shakes her head. "You're so much better at this than I am..." Whether she means dancing or socializing in general, Altena isn't sure but she's glad Minerva was willing to put herself out there.

Maybe she should try being a little bolder.

"I don't know if dancing is really for me. Not that I didn't enjoy it. I did. With you. I just..." Minerva is so much better at this. Altena can't imagine the other woman fumbling this much. "What about those projection screens? We could sit together." She doesn't have to know the steps or where to look or even what to talk about if she's sitting in the seat of a quiet theater.

grxstnnefealltoir

does the church cover the cost of moving? || altena & darios

route the bandits mission

It's something she's noticed, too. There are a lot of people drawn here from other places. A lot of people from her home continent. Too many, if she really thinks about it. It's definitely made her stop and wonder before.

"Me? I came here originally to study." That's an easy answer and a truthful one. There was more to it, of course, but ultimately, she did come here to try to learn.

"I suppose if you're wondering why I stay, well, there is good money to be made as a mercenary." That answer is more complicated. She's created connections here and, as much as she aches to return to the home she loves, she doesn't want to just sever them. Not yet.

She shifts her shoulders under her armor, uncomfortable with too much personal talk about her. "And you?" She turns the conversation onto him and away from herself. "Have you come from abroad, too? Or are you just curious?"

grxstnnefealltoir

He can't fault her answers in the slightest. Honestly, for all the jobs there were to do in this land... the bonds alone felt worth it. It's easy to underestimate the value of knowing and being know across different lands.

When the topic switches to him, he thinks back. "I'm from abroad." Not worlds apart like he once thought considering Rowan and Lianna made their way here, but certainly far considering all he'd gone through before winding up here.

"It's quite the blur honestly, but I owe my life to some people who live in Adrestia and took me in... being a knight-" Is his way to atone. "It was something they suggested to me. I somewhat understand why now."

It's a bit stiff but he smiles. "We're coming up closer on their camp," he says looking forward. In spite of that, he continues speaking.

"Mercenaries definitely have it easier." A particular one who's torn a hole in his pocket comes to mind. "But I kind of like the monotony of the knights, some days you feel like your mind really will just run whilst you stand guard and watch nothing happen."

It's the kind of thing only peace can really bring about.

#cute that he ends up getting to go see her home oldplead #grxstnnefealltoir #| thread | does the church cover the cost of moving?

The camp can indeed be seen coming up on the horizon. It is exactly where their intel suggested. A good sign that the rest of what they've been told is correct as well. Still, it's far enough away that Altena does not feel the need to shoot Darios a warning glare to keep quiet. She does, however, lower her own voice when she responds.

"I don't mind working with the knights but I could never join them officially." As a mercenary under her own employ, Altena is able to choose jobs that mean something to her. As naive as it might sound, she enjoys being able to follow her heart. And besides, it's what she's always grown up around.

"Do you have any thoughts on how we approach this? With my wyvern, I am not exactly stealthy. A head on approach might be best."

a verse in commonality

mission board: epidemic - +1 gauntlet (making chocolate)

"What kind?" There are so many options for fillings. Nuts, fruits, even other types of candies. Too many options, Altena thinks. It would be easier to narrow down if there were only a few. She reaches for a glass jar labeled as dried blueberries. "I guess I was hoping to try making a variety. Sweets like this were a rare treat when I was growing up so I think it would be nice to try several different options."

The fillings aren't the only choices for variety in flavor. Altena is also impressed with the different types of chocolate. Even the molds all have different shapes. She imagines it must be difficult for each soon to be chocolatier to create the exact same candies as someone else. It's nice to know that whatever she makes will be something truly personal.

"That's what I thought I'd make for my older brother, at least. Maybe my father, too. I want to make something for my younger brother but I still don't really know what it is that he likes." Altena huffs a laugh. "I guess a variety box would be good for him, too."

She didn't know Maria had a sister. It's nice knowing they both have a similar motive for coming here. At first, it seemed everything this time of year was themed toward romance but at least Maria is on the same page she is.

"I'm sure your sister and your friends will be happy you thought of them."

"Lots of different kinds...?" It is a curious eye that turns back toward their bevy of potential fillings, the gears in her mind churning anew. "Kind of like those boxes of assorted chocolates, right? That sounds really fun!" Are those other candies tucked in among the ingredients? Oh, the layers that could be made with those!

Still her smile warms and grows as she listens to Altena ponder, how she considers what to make and for who. Had any of the other people she thinks of so fondly now been on that expedition? Maybe she might have even run into them! And of course, she knows Leif. But is he the older brother or the younger brother?

(...Probably the younger one, right? It feels like Altena is a little bit taller.)

"When I went to Iz with Leif and Ronan," she begins, already excitedly sifting through fillings and imagining what, how many, for who, "He got some almonds at the general store! He told us--" Oh! That he used to sneak them between meals, actually, but should she go telling that to his sister...? "--that he used to like eating them. It might not be the same kind, but it's probably a good bet, right?"

At Altena's reassurance, however, she pauses in her many contemplations to look back at her and beam.

"Hee hee... I'm sure your brothers and dad will be happy, too! But I didn't know you had two brothers, Altena!" Holding up a couple dried fruits for little more than dramatic effect, the little cleric laughs. "I have two siblings, too! But I'm the youngest. My sister's at the Academy, but my brother isn't, so--" Somewhat defiantly, she tosses her head to the side, playfully sticking out her tongue. "--I'm giving his chocolates to my friends!"

#so like...has your sister ever talked about me KSHDKRHEKS #also very funny to me that Altena could name drop her dad and Maria would have no idea #| thread | a verse in commonality #princessmacedon

"Leif likes almonds?" His sister frowns. She's glad to learn something about him but she doesn't like how she's had to learn it from Maria. Little things like this should be easy for her to know but she doesn't. There is a pang of jealousy as she pictures Leif and Maria and Ronan hanging out together and talking about almonds. But she supposes she's never offered what foods she used to like to him either.

While they have been growing closer, it still feels like an almost impossible dream that they might form a bond as strong as some of the other sibling sets that they know.

"I'll have to use almonds for his then," she nods, corners of her lips pricking back up the slightest bit. It really is hard to remain dour around Maria, especially when she gives the opportunity to talk about family.

"Arion, my older brother, he isn't at the Academy either. I haven't seen him in years. Maybe I'll have to give his chocolates to someone else too."

bxldrsdraumar

definitions of home

"Is that so strange?"

It is. She knows it is. She hasn't heard from her brother since the end of the war. No one has. Far too many rumors are spread around that he died but Altena wants so desperately to believe that Arion is stronger than that. As naive and foolish as it might be, she still hangs onto the hope that he might return home one day. He'll find the letters she's been sending and know where to find her and that she hasn't forgotten him.

"I tell Arion everything."

She always has. From the moment she stepped into Castle Thracia and was introduced to the little boy she'd call her brother, Altena adored him. Whatever fear she had felt dissolved immediately and they became instant friends. Even if he'd been willing to keep secrets from her, there's nothing she wouldn't share with him.

"Though 'infuriating' and 'nosy' were the words I was planning on using. Do you harass everyone you run into like this?'

bxldrsdraumar

Arion.

Not Leif.

There was a pinch in his brow and a moment of silence longer than perhaps Sigurd had noticed or intended before he tilted his head and said, simply, "Ah."

While his jibing had been in the spirit of familiarity, all good fun, there was something unsettling about hearing a name he could put no face to and knowing that she called him brother. Was he older? Younger?

No, Ethlyn could not have had-

"Infuriating is certainly a word I've heard associated with my presence," he conceded, forcing a smile. "In fact, by my sister, more than anyone. She could not best me during training, either," he added idly, tilting his head, the edges of his smile turning softer.

"She was rather smaller than you, though, and did not inherit the Major Blood. She thinks that I don't know of my natural advantages, but I'm not so much a fool as she believes me to be. But if I admitted them to her, then she would get even more annoyed, wouldn't she? Better that she believes I'm unaware, and that she can overpower me if she simply catches me off-guard," he added with a laugh.

#bxldrsdraumar #| thread | definitions of home

She tries not to listen to him as she approaches the pigeon cages. Fingertips run along the cage bars and she tries to focus on the birds in front of her instead of her uncle's yapping. At first glance, they all seemed rather similar, but they are slightly different sizes. Even different personalities.

But she can't ignore Sigurd's ramblings completely. Not when the fondness with which he speaks of his sister mirrors her own feelings of her brother so well. Infuriating. She feels infuriated again when she realizes this similarity between the two of them.

Even if the way he speaks holds fondness and love for his sister, she can't shake the meaning of what he actually says. Turning her head over her shoulder, Altena shoots a glare at him. "You'd lie to her, then? To your own sister? You'd keep things from her and call it better? You really are a fool."

diadic

@luminousrider sent: "Hey uh, did Finn give you mints too?" She still doesn't know what the knight had been getting at with the minty offering. Did her breath stink? Was he expecting her to kiss someone? She can't decide which option is worse. ( ethereal ball. )

“He did,” Leif answers simply at first, seeing no reason to hide it. “He said he took them because there were a lot, so it's his way of helping us since he assumes that's what they're there for.

“...but if you're asking me, that answer isn't what you're asking for, is it?” the prince wagers a guess. She must not think it innocuous... or something happened. After all, it's not like this is her first year at the Ethereal Ball either, and thus with it, it's not the first year she's encountered those very same candies in this hall.

And although Leif and Altena are hardly the same person, there's a part of Leif that can't imagine Finn as being very flexible in his approach. He could make a follow-up guess, but when it comes to Altena, if she's already this troubled, Leif hesitates to take big risks. So instead, what he asks next is, “Did he seem suspicious to you afterwards, Altena??”

"Suspicious? I don't think...well, he does always seem rather oddly stiff, doesn't he?"

She pauses for a moment to consider it. It also seems odd that Leif would ask this. What would Finn need to be suspicious about? But it dawns on her and her eyes widen.

"Wait, you don't think..." Altena leans a little closer so she can keep her voice hushed. "You don't really think he was trying to prank me do you?"

She'll be the first to admit that she doesn't really know Finn all that well outside of being an extension of Quan. Leif would know far better than she ever would if the knight was even capable of something fun like this. It's pretty hard to believe but she supposes it's possible.

"I guess that would explain why no one wanted them when I offered..."

#diadic #toaball2026

[ GOSSIP ]

Arms crossed, Hector leans against the wall. As he watches pairs of dancers twirl and step in tightly prescribed patterns, he wonders what on earth the appeal is. Turning to see if the woman beside him is on the same page, or waiting her turn, he realizes she's—

"Altena." He nods, first in greeting, then at her shimmering dress. "That fits you way better than my clothes."

Then, turning back to the dance floor, he asks "Does this number look as ridiculous to you as it does to me?"

He looks different when his clothes fit. It's easier to figure out where to put her eyes at least.

"You look...covered." Who even talks like that? "Not that you looked bad." That's worse. Altena is ready to kick herself for sounding so dumb. She's grateful for the change of subject and looks out at the couples dancing together.

"I grew up making fun of the type of people who enjoyed this sort of thing. I wonder what my brother would think if he saw me here dressed like this." She folds her arms across her chest and huffs. "I'd rather find a partner to spar."

of-ostia

Hector barks a laugh. She's not wrong. Now that the embarrassing laundry mix-up is well behind them, he can laugh about it. The drink in his hand helps, too.

Brothers. What would Uther think of his showing here so far? A poor representative, Lachesis had called him. But he hadn't blown off the event entirely, and he hadn't been thrown out yet, which had to count for something. Right?

"I'm with you there. I wish they'd included the training grounds in the festivities." He drains his glass, then asks, "Older or younger brother?"

"Both, actually. Though it's my older brother that I mentioned. It's been years since I've last seen him. I hope he doesn't think I've become a snob." There is a hint of a smile as she thinks about him and she really does wonder what he might say.

"My little brother is here somewhere, I'm sure. He's a student in the Golden Deer house."

She looks up at Hector rather curiously. Something about the way he thought to ask if her brother was older or younger and how he also would prefer to escape to the training grounds. She knows she has to be right.

"You have one too, don't you?"

#toaball2026 #of ostia

when the flowers met, so does the heart | Minerva+Altena

continuing from here

@luminousrider

“Me neither” she simply replied, the smirk on her face slowly grew wider, into a genuine smile, a somewhat allusive expression, but she just picked her hands and placed them on her shoulders, then she gradually let her hands slide along Altena's bare arms, brushing the petals of the tulips, which were placed together with the hyacinths between their bodies, wisely put as if they couldn’t fully became that close to each other. Then, Minerva’s hands lastly landed on her hips, slightly above them, she didn't want to appear too intrusive in front of her.

She accepted the compliment with a glance, her response was not long in coming, “You shine like a diamond in the night sky, Altena” she actually admired her dress a lot, her boldness in choosing that was somewhat attractive to the Macedon princess, who considered it a trait of beauty and strength.

Then, she began to walk, slowly, guiding the bodies along the ballroom, hands gently tightening the grip, but always with a delicate touch. “I hope our bouquet do not squeeze to much between our bodies” she made a small laughter, implicating that the vicinity of their figures might get a little… dangerous.