𝔏𝔢𝔶𝔩𝔞 𝔅𝔞𝔯𝔟𝔲

leyla miray barbu , lady of house barbu , meek yet poised , 28 , vrajiit - power nullification , cherry red lips curving in coy smiles, soft rose petals on white bedsheets, expectations weighing heavily on her shoulders . [ sideblog of thcwandcrcr ]

[sonh00d]

who:     you !!!      where:   the king’s barracks.

There is something ultimately dark about someone who has been spat back up from whatever depths immortality sends them.      A recurring nightmare as one lies awake,     eyes blinking out into the blackness of the abyss.        Sadism is a thickening disease that causes one to feel sluggish,      as if they were constantly moving with pressure against all their limbs.      An underwater symphony of fleshy catacombs.       Like a memory of what was once his day to day routine,      he fades in and out of focus.     The mirrors don’t recognize him, and he thinks this is for the best.       What sunken age lines and materialistic scars need to be memorized,      anyway?       He always feels them just above the surface,     dragging across his cheeks like a beheaded snake searching for its head.       His gods,     like all old kings,      remain elegantly distracted.      The throne houses those too lazy to capture their own prey,   too involved in corruption and power to see what the world has begun to grow into around them.   His lips smack together before they part for a wide grin followed with a slightly patronizing,    if not less than serious form of chastisement.      ‘    Ah,   something tells me that you are not supposed to be here.  ’    Index finger tapping gleefully on his chin before casually bringing it to point in their direction as he feigns a thoughtful pause,   ‘   What will the punishment be,   I wonder!   ’

[softflowcr]

          The puppy, ever since she found him, has never been tired, it seemed. Always running around, wanting to play, not being able to sit still. It was not her intention to get a dog, but it seemed this puppy had no home and was scared, so she took him in. She had taken him on a walk when he decided it was playtime. “No, no! Where are you going?! Come back!” Leyla called after the puppy, but with no avail, he rounded a corner and disappeared. She ran after him, but she wasn’t as fast, at least not in this dress. She saw his tail disappear in the doorway of the King’s barracks. “Great,” she sighed and switched to walking. It wasn’t like the puppy could disappear there, she would find him there eventually.

          Leyla felt very much out of place, she shouldn’t be there, but she should be quick - in and out. No big deal. Until she ran into someone. Slightly startled she turned to face the man. “I’m sorry, sir,” she averted her eyes shyly for a moment. “Punishment?” she asked a little nervous. “Please. I don’t think there’s need for that. I’m just here to find a puppy, who ran in here just a few moments ago. I’ll be out of your hair in no time.”

[sapphvms]

who :  @softflowcr​​ ( ft. LEYLA BARBU )

where: sparring grounds

when :  chapter iii.  full of terrors

On the brightest days, Sirinay would smile and say that YES, they quite strong. Strong in how they always bounced back right after a fall, they forged their way towards without any fear of failure. But it was different this time, and a corner of their part was consumed by something they had never quite known before. 

Was it fear? But they had never been the timorous kind. They had laughed the loudest and jumped the highest. But suddenly they were afraid of nightfall and cowered to their sister’s side with the guide of missing her.

‘Tis was such a night, huddled up next to her, her arms hugging the other’s as they rested their head on Leyla’s shoulder. 

‘I’m glad you’re here. Truly.’ Their voice came, soft and tender and unlike them at all. Because Sirinay felt and spoke in superlatives and words were so saturated in emotions that one could’ve tasted across the hall. Then, looking up at their sister, they tried on a smile, ‘It’s been a while since we just sit together like this, hasn’t it? Well, it’s mostly my fault. But that peddler that came to our house was just SO dreamy and I was whisked off my feet and before I knew it, mother and father was sending me really angry letters!‘

[softflowcr]

          That one faithful night left everyone scared. What people saw in those waking nightmares was different for each one, but just as traumatizing. Even for Leyla, although she tried her best not to show it while she was around Sirinay. What kind of big sister would she be if Sirinay couldn’t come to her seeking support and something that reminded them of home, where everything was good and there were no nightmares?

          “And I am glad I could be there for you,” she replied with a smile and turned her head to place a soft kiss at the top of her sister’s, her arm around them tightening just a little bit. She could easily tell what happened really affected them. Never before Leyla had seen Sirinay like this, not the joyful, lighthearted self they used to be. “True. I don’t remember when was the last time we sat like this,” she agreed with a small sigh, but hearing them gush about a peddler they met a while ago a light laugh escaped her lips. That was the Sirinay she knew. “Don’t beat up yourself for it, it’s just as much your fault as it is mine, maybe even less than mine, because I tried so hard to make our parents like me, that I forgot about us. I’m sorry. But I am here now. Tell me, what was so great about that peddler? Was he handsome?”

[softflowcr]

vuotriste​:

sylus  couldn’t  help  his  laughter  at  leyla’s  worries.  it  was  so  small,  yet  so  significantly  her.  he  understood  it  all  too  well.  

“  well,  i  think  if  you  just  hide  behind  me  no  one  will  see  you.  i’m  big  enough  to  sneak  you  in  without  being  seen.  ”  he  chuckles  quietly.  the  picture  of  the  two  of  them  suspiciously  making  their  way  back  into  the  castle  with  leyla  tucked  behind  him  was  perhaps  too  silly  -  even  for  him.  

“  oh,  my  lady,  you  have  done  everything  right,  ”  sylus  says  with  a  shake  of  his  head.  he  glances  down  at  her,  taking  in  the  softness  of  her  cheeks  and  the  fan  of  her  eyelashes  before  looking  away.  “  you  are  a  gem  of  your  own.  anyone  who  can’t  see  that  and  treat  you  accordingly  is,  dare  i  say,  blind.  ”

          “That... sounds like a plan!” a soft laugh escaped her lips as she imagined them trying to sneak into the castle. It was a thrilling idea, maybe a little crazy one too, but it should work! At least her slightly drunk mind thought it should. He was big, while she was shorter and petite, what was there not to work?

          When she mentioned doing something right in her life, she was just speaking her mind, she didn’t expect anything in return. Hearing his words made her heart flutter and heat rise in her cheeks. “You are flattering me,” Leyla looked away coyly. “I have hardly done things right. I have done what my parents think is right, but me... Not quite. But apparently I have done something good to have you by my side,” she smiled with adoration and looked at him, placing her other hand on his and giving it a light squeeze.

[softflowcr]

Sylus

          “What’s there to admit? We’re close friends, that’s it,“ she laughed a little nervously and averted her eyes. “To be honest, this friendship happened very unexpectedly, but I am glad it did. I always feel safe with him, I know he will protect me, and it gives this inexplainable inner peace. I quite enjoy his company, I just hope I’m not a burden to him, because I somehow find myself wanting to visit him or seeking his tall figure among people wherever I go. It’s stupid, I know,” the soft, nervous laugh was back. “I don’t know what has gotten into me,” she slightly shook her head and smiled.

[softflowcr]

vuotriste​:

there  is  a  moment  of  memory  as  leyla  moves  closer.  images  of  a  woman  he  can’t  recgonize  flicker  through  his  mind.  lost,  forgotten,  left  behind  as  time  continues  to  move  forward  -  further  and  further  away  as  he  lives  a  life  that  doesn’t  belong  to  an  older  version  of  him.  

it  is  swift,  but  it  brings  grief  right  to  his  front  door,  knocking  and  knocking  and  knocking.  

slamming  right  into  him.  

leyla  wraps  her  arms  around  him,  and  he  is  thankful  that  she  can’t  see  the  expression  on  his  face.  he  doesn’t  want  her  to  know  he  is  any  more  of  a  broken  man  than  he  already  physically  is.  and,  it  is  a  reprieve  from  the  onslaught  of  sadness  that  he  deals  with  on  quiet  nights.  it’s  silly,  just  how  quickly  his  sorrows  will  dissipate  with  just  one  touch.  he  relishes  in  her embrace,  squeezing  her  just  a  little  harder  than  usual  -  because  he  needs  it.  

“  of  course,  ”  he  mutters,  unable  to  hold  her  gaze  when  she  pulls  away  from  him.  “  couldn’t  leave  you  alone  in  this  world,  could  i  ?  ”  there’s  a  pause,  a  moment  of  silence  as  he  gathers  himself.  “  i  hope  you  know  just  how  important  you  are.  i…  ”  he  tries,  but  there  are  no  words  to  quite  explain  it.

          She felt him squeezing her tight, and she did the same. There was that realization at the back of her mind that the previous time she saw him could have been the very last one. Oh, she couldn’t even begin to think of losing him. In the somewhat short period of time they had known each other, she had gotten to know him so well that losing him would cause a great deal of pain.

          Leyla looked at him while his gaze was somewhere else, avoiding hers. Her lips curved in a small smile at his words, it had been a long time since someone (other than her sister) had said something like that, and last time she heard something this touching it was said just for an act, as it later turned out. An unpleasant memory, really. But with Sylus it felt different. It felt real. She brought her hand up to gently brush a few strands of his hair from his forehead, fingertips lightly grazed his skin. As he was at loss of words, Leyla smiled ever so lightly and leaned in to place a lingering kiss on his forehead. She stayed close for a little bit longer before leaning back to look at him. “I think I might have an idea just how much,” she replied in almost a whisper and smiled affectionately.

[softflowcr]

jacket !! cus u already know hehehe

[ JACKET ] : sender gives receiver their jacket after seeing them shiver in the cold.

          “Back home I thought I was a good daughter doing what my parents wanted, but... But I was never happy,” she shrugged with a small sigh as she was slowly walking beside him, enjoying the beautiful castle’s garden. “Now that I’m here finally doing what I want, it is so much better!” she beamed and looked up at him for a moment. “It’s scary, but I can be myself,” Leyla continued, her smile becoming smaller, but it was just as warm as before. “And I have you here,” she looked up at him, stepping a little closer as it was starting to get chilly.

          Unfortunately a warm smile was not enough and she felt a shiver run down he spine. Apparently she wasn’t the only one, who noticed that, because just a moment later Sylus put his jacket around her shoulders. She wanted to protest, Leyla felt bad for leaving him in cold, but she was sure it would be pointless to argue and he wouldn’t change his mind. “Thank you,” she smiled, looked at him and held onto him by his elbow.

          As they kept walking, she couldn’t help but to secretly, thinking he wasn’t watching bring the collar of his jacket to her nose. It had the smell of his forge. She couldn’t quite place what exactly it smelled like, it reminded her a bit of smoke and metal, and something else. But whatever it was, together it was now very familiar since she sometimes liked to visit him at his work to check up on him or bring him something to eat.

[softflowcr]

𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖚𝖘: closed & continued ; @vuotriste​​​

          Her thumb brushed his skin while her hand softly cupped his cheek. If she hadn’t had that late night walk to clear her mind, she wouldn’t have noticed Sylus coming home holding his own shoulder while wincing in pain.

          It hurt her to see him in pain even though he tried his best not to show it. “It is easier said than done,” she replied with a small, slightly sad smile. “I will always worry.” It was in her nature to worry about everyone, who were dear to her.

          She had her doubts about his words, the wound on his shoulder looked bad, but she didn’t press on this matter. At his gratitude Leyla couldn’t help but take a step closer and, standing between his legs, wrap her arms around him, carefully not to squeeze the wounded shoulder. For a moment she hid her face in the crook of his neck, then lifted her head. “Please be more careful, alright?” she asked in almost a whisper. “If that thing would have hit you just a bit more to the left, you wouldn’t be here and I don’t want that.”

[resqectable]

I need to stop fantasizing about running away to some other life, and start figuring out the one I have.

Holly Black (via resqectable)

[ohmyviscount]

🌸✨

[softflowcr]

❛ Part of being a best friend is caring more about them than you care about a damn job. ❜ //leyla and aerick

          His words took her off guard. Did he just say 'best friend'? She blinked a few times looking at him stunned, then her cheeks changed their color to a shade of red in a matter of seconds. She didn’t know how to reply tot that, she was at loss for words. They had gone from a failed attempt to get them into an arranged marriage to best friends apparently, and she had no idea how. But it did make her happy to hear that. “I, uh... I don’t think anyone has said anything like that to me before,” she confessed feeling her cheeks burn. “Well, as much as I like hearing my best friend cares about me,” she started and a huge smile broke out, “your people need you, and I will not stand in the way of that. You take care of the family business. I will not disappear, I promise.”

[softflowcr]

vuotriste​:

ah.  the  anger  dissipates  within  a  moment.  this  isn’t  about  him.  sylus,  briefly,  wonders  if  he’s  made  a  fool  of  himself  for  acting  so  rashly.  

he  looks  away  from  leyla  to  the  drunken  man,  who  has  coincidentally  decided  to  sober  up  at  his  intervention.  it’s  no  surprise  that  he  wears  a  look  of  fear  on  his  features.  sylus  knows  he’s,  for  lack  of  a  better  word,  a  giant  man.  it’s  rare  to  find  anyone  who  looms  over  him  instead  of  the  other  way  around.  

with  a  jerk  of  his  chin  the  man  is  sent  scrambling  in  the  opposite  direction.  and,  finally,  he  looks  back  down  to  his  companion.  

“  certainly.  ”  he  offers  leyla  an  arm  to  take  before  leading  her  towards  the  door  and  into  the  open  air.  the  night  is  crisp  and  sylus  relishes  in  the  light  of  the  stars  above.  

“  i’ll  walk  you  back.  it’s  dark  out.  ”  and  where  there  is  darkness  there  are  monsters.  and  where  there  are  monsters,  there  are  men.  

sylus  glances  down  at  leyla,  “  apologies  for  my  behaviour.  you  shouldn’t  have  to  see  me  like  that,  ”  he  murmurs.  then,  hoping  to  ease  the  tension,  “  i  hope  you’ve  drunk  enough  to  forget  it  by  morning,  ”  he  jokes.

          If she didn’t know Sylus, she would have been afraid of him too. He was a big man and the anger previously heard in his voice didn’t help, and Leyla understood why the drunken man was so eager to get away from them when Sylus jerked his chin at the man. It was an amusing sight to see, and it made her lips curve in a small smile.

          She held onto his arm as they both walked out of the tavern. The cool air sobered her up a little. “Thank you,” Leyla softly replied and looked up at him. “I hope nobody will catch me sneaking back in the castle. I probably smell of ale and drunk people,” her brows furrowed and a small, embarrassed laugh fell from her lips. It was the ale taking control over her, Leyla was usually well mannered young lady, but the ale was making her lips loose, saying what was on her mind, doing whatever she wanted at that moment. She took a strand of her hair between her fingers and put it to her nose. At east her hair smelled of lavender like they always used to, so she brought her other arm up to her nose. The sleeve did seem to smell a bit strange.

          His words earned another soft laugh. “Unfortunately I am not that drunk and I will remember every single detail,” she playfully poked his arm at each of the last three words and then continued, “about this night.” She looked up at him with a bright smile. “Don’t apologize. You were protecting me, and that I am very thankful for.” Her smile didn’t falter as her eyes were locked on his. For a moment she was just silently walking beside him and nothing else. “You are so kind to me. I guess I did something right in my life to deserve it.”

[softflowcr]

vuotriste​:

there’s  a  moment  of  pause  as  sylus  considers  his  options.  he  isn’t  particularly  fond  of  the  way  the  man  is  looking  at  leyla,  beautiful  and  ethereal  as  she  is,  but  he  isn’t  quite  fond  of  the  consequences  for  sending  the  man  to  an  early  grave,  either.  

a  protective  hand  comes  up  to  press  atop  leyla’s  shoulder  as  she  bumps  into  him,  a  gesture  sylus  does  often  -  just  to  let  her  know  that  he  was  near,  that  he  had  her  back.  

“  the  lady  isn’t  interested,  ”  he  says,  doing  his  best  to  reel  in  his  anger  -  although  failing  quite  miserably.  “  i’d  suggest  leaving  her  alone.  ‘less  you’d  like  to  be  branded  like  the  animal  you  are,  ”  he  threatens,  eyes  narrowing  ever  so  slightly.  he  thinks  of  his  forge  back  in  his  keep,  hot,  burning,  seering.  

“  are  you  alright,  my  lady  ?  ”  he  shifts  his  attention  to  leyla,  hoping  that  by  looking  at  her  instead  of  the  man  he’ll  be  less  inclined  to  tear  the  tavern  apart.

          She was about to apologize for bumping into them so rudely when she felt a familiar hand on her shoulder and her worries and fears dissipated. She hadn’t noticed Sylus around when she was drinking with her friend, but she didn’t worry her head about it, all that mattered was that he was here and she could count on him to protect her. Leyla listened to him defending her and she could easily tell what this drunk man did bothered Sylus more than it should, she could hear anger dripping from his words. She put her hand over his, that was on her shoulder, and gently rubbed it, hoping it would help him to calm down.

          “Yes, I’m better now,” she turned around to face him and nodded. The drunken man did scare her, but he didn’t deserve to be beaten up either, and there was anger in Sylus’ eyes. She put her hand on his chest in a further attempt to calm her friend and to show she was alright. “I would like to leave now. Maybe you could come with me? Please? I’d feel safer that way.”

[softflowcr]

𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖚𝖘: closed ; @vuotriste​​ 𝕻𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖊: the drunk impaler tavern 𝖂𝖍𝖊𝖓: sometime after the power swap, but honestly could be anytime

          Somehow Leyla had managed to get herself in way over her head. These past months was a stressful time for everyone, she took it hard losing her home - Crysala. Everything in her life seemed to go wrong, so a night of unwinding was very much needed. She spent her whole evening in the tavern with her friend, it was getting late and her friend had just left, Leyla stayed behind to finish her drink, which was definitely not a smart move. Once it was empty, she got up to leave, but was stopped by someone grabbing her wrist. “Where are you going, pretty damsel?” the clearly drunk man asked as he got up from his seat. Leyla managed to twist and pull her hand out of his grasp. “I am not interested, please leave me alone,” she replied with a polite smile, but as the man walked closer, it did a poor job of hiding her fear. “I can show you good time, if you want to,” the man smiled. With each step forward, Leyla took a step back towards the exit, until she bumped into something solid.

[softflowcr]

𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖙𝖚𝖘: closed ; @remmbrance​ (( aleyna ))​ 𝕻𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖊: somewhere where they could be alone 𝖂𝖍𝖊𝖓: a good amount of days after the swap

          Leyla had been nursing her drink for a good amount of time, her mind busy with something else. All the bad things that had happened while she had been here, they were a lot. For a moment she wondered if it would have been better if she stayed in Crysala. It would have been invaded, but maybe it would have been better that way. At least she’d be home, but now... Now she had no home. “I am tired of this,” she finally spoke with a sigh. “Everywhere I go bad things happen. I know it’s not me, but surely feels like it’s just... it’s a bad period for me and for everyone.”

[hxllfiire-deactivated20230928]

@softflowcr​​

Aerick had been pacing around the better part of…well, he wasn’t sure how long it had been since he’d isolated himself in his room. It was too risky for him to be out and about, hell–he’d only found out something was amiss when this…power nearly floored the person he was talking with. He didn’t know the details of what had happened to him, he wasn’t vrajiit. But now?

Now he wasn’t sure what was going on. And the king–selfish man that he was–was far more interested in his newfound power instead of helping his people. Aerick was beginning to understand why there was a brewing rebellion.

He turns suddenly as the door opens, holding up a finger in an effort to stop Leyla. She was the last person he wanted to see right now. Not when he didn’t have control. “Don’t-just—” He took a step back. “–you shouldn’t be here right now. It’s too risky.”

[softflowcr]

          After the rumble that pierced the air in all this land Leyla didn’t feel much different. It seemed like there was something amiss, but she had never felt her powers in the first place. They just were there, she couldn’t feel them, couldn’t control them. In fact, she found out about them only when other vrajiit tried to use theirs standing next to her and they didn’t work. But when she came to Aerick’s room she didn’t care if she had her powers or not. She heard of him gaining powers, which he couldn’t control, and she was instantly worried.

          She stopped in her tracks as she stepped into his room. The fear in his eyes scared her, but she was also worried. “I don’t care,” Leyla replied honestly and walked into his room, closing the door behind her. “I want to help you - either to figure out what is it that you can do or just be there for you. You’ve been locked in this room for too long. Please. Let me help.”

[softflowcr]

∗ 1oo﹕ sender has just died , receiver finds out . ( s-sisters... )

          Another attack had broken out right when the royal family seemed to be the most distracted. It came as no surprise to her anymore, but what did came was something else. Leyla grabbed Sirinay’s arm and pulled her along with other nobles looking for a safe place to hide, when suddenly Sirinay saw a friend of hers in danger. “I need to help them!” she called and pulled her arm out of Leyla’s hand. “No, please come with me!” Leyla called over the screaming, metal clanking and building slowly collapsing. But she pleaded and Leyla gave in. “Fine. But be careful! I will come back for you!” she promised before heading away with others, who were hurrying her. She turned around to have one last look when she saw it happen. A sword piercing her sister’s petite, fragile body. For Leyla everything seemed to slow down. The way the blade was sticking out of her, blood slowly seeping through and onto her white dress and how Sirinay looked back at her with pain and horror filled pleading eyes until they rolled back in her skull and she collapsed on the floor. “NOOOOO!!” Leyla cried out, tears bursting out, she was about to run towards her sister, but those, who were near her, managed to grab Leyla to stop her from running towards the enemy soldier and into a certain death. “No, let me GO!!” she ordered, pulling her arms out of their grasp, but with no avail. It took three men to hold her down. “We must go! There is nothing you can do anymore. She is gone,” one of them insisted, trying to talk some sense into Leyla, but it flew over her head. She was sobbing uncontrollably, still wriggling and struggling to get out as she was physically pulled away. “No, LET ME GO!!” she was still trying to get out, the hands holding her were leaving bruises on her skin, but she didn’t care, she had to get to her sister! She wasn’t dead, she couldn’t be! She needed help! If a healer could get to her, Sirinay could still make it! “I am very sorry, lady Leyla,” one of them said when she had stopped struggling from exhaustion and was letting them carry her away, still a sobbing mess. But she didn’t reply. It didn’t matter anymore. Sirinay was gone.

[softflowcr]

— frances “baby” houseman / “dirty dancing”

Baby is innocent, idealistic, and kind. She might be an inexperienced upper-class girl, but Baby has a thirst for life and love— two things she’s never truly experienced until now.

— savannah curtis / “dear john”

Virtuous and sweet. Savannah doesn’t drink, smoke, or sleep around. Her wholesome nature contrasts with John’s combative personality, but that doesn’t prevent them from falling for each other. After all, opposites do attract.

— rapunzel / “tangled”

Rapunzel has a heart of gold; she is kind, generous, caring, and trusting to most anyone she encounters. She is loyal to her friends and family and is willing to do anything for them. She is fiercely protective against those who try to endanger her loved ones. Her entrapment in the tower gave her adventurous drive and irrepressible spirit. Because of her imprisonment, she also hates restrictive rules, like those imposed by her father, and snobby royal etiquette.