For our second task, you all will be receiving an action in your inbox that must, in an existing or new thread, be completed. The action must be kept secret, and your chosen partner must not know that your interaction will be used for the task. Before you begin, you must provide a link to your chosen thread — and notify the main if/when you successfully complete your task.
In example — if you were to receive the action “ a punch in the face ” in your inbox, you must then choose an existing or new thread to work a punch into. Your character can be giving or receiving said punch, but the partner you’re writing with must NOT be made aware that this is for the task.
You must notify link the main with your chosen thread prior to beginning so we know you’re only attempting the task with one interaction, in order to make the game more difficult. The success rate of the task will determine how the war moves forward. A success rate of fifty percent or more will ensure a victory for the kingdoms three, whereas a fail rate of fifty percent or more will ensure a cutting loss as the battle moves forward.
Please let the main know if you have any questions. Enjoy!
a lover: someone clive believes can look past oddities, things quite sporadic, laughed at, obsessive, and conflicting, and peel back something to view a real person. a real heaven in hiding! goodness under the grime and smudged makeup, under fears.
THE JOKE
a crowd: admirers turned red with hatred or never adoring to begin with; that fear of being laughed at rather than with! sometimes clive can’t tell, and it’s a complicated thing. both bring on a particular sensation that one might not be able to find anyplace else.
NANA
a grandparent: clive’s grandmother, a quite unforgiving woman, strapped tight to her faith and idea of morality. not a fan of their chaos or unwillingness to fall in love with her ideas of life as they knew it. sometimes kind and soft like spring, completely dependent on weather and moods and victim to her own deteriorating health.
DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF ME
a romance: complete indulgence! allowing oneself to submerge completely into a love, true or false, tossing self preservation out to touch gently or lock eyes in something that feels true even as it lingers once it leaves. clive fears and craves this, something unlike a show, behind closed curtains!
BAD BODY DOUBLE
a reflection: conflicts with self image and all that comes along. clive often feels sabotaged by versions of themself, sometimes dainty and forgiving, masked in powder and mimicking decadence, and other times gross and disturbing; miming a childhood smeared in mud and grass sticking to adolescent knees. it’s unkind on the eyes.
YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN
a rival: resentment stemming from jealousy and insecurity. a real battle for limelight! clive is a confident performer but not without some downsides, and sometimes it’s hard to witness beauty and talent without questioning your own. clive often has a hard time subsiding this part of themself, and bitterness blossoms.
YOUNGER
a lost friend: someone clive would’ve known growing up or rather a few years back. a case of people changing and drifting, or a disagreement -- clive is an everchanging thing and something of an unconscious loner. it’s hard for people to stay in their life for long.
— josslyn’s playlist —
“ and if you’re homesick, give me your hand and 'll hold it “
— (( listen on spotify )) —
* * *
— star by reamonn (( youtube ))
“ tell me if you got a problem
tell me if it turns your way
tell me if there's something bothering you
tell me what should i say you know i did most anything
you know i change the world
you know i do most anything
for my little girl ”
josslyn has that unconditional love for her little sister. she’d do everything for her. their parents can be cruel at times, forget to care about their children like parents should, that’s one of the reasons why josslyn’s so protective over her.
— people help the people by birdy (( youtube ))
“ people help the people
and if your homesick, give me your hand and i'll hold it
people help the people
and nothing will drag you down ”
josslyn has a kind heart and she’s willing to help others without expecting anything in return. living in eden’s court she can people being driven by wealth, they can be greedy and spoiled.
— dance in the dark by au/ra (( youtube ))
“ everybody's scared so dance in the dark
da-dance in the dark, da-dance in the dark
party with your fears, da-dance in the dark
da-dance with the dark, da-dance in the dark ”
the best way to conquer one’s fears? face them. get to know them. hiding where it’s safe won’t help. bottling up emotions, if someone hurts you, won’t help either, josslyn had learned that long time ago. she can be driven by emotions, but after a while she gets over it, deals with it and moves on, knowing now another way life could throw a curve-ball at her or hurt her somehow.
— believe me by austra (( youtube ))
“ mother,
everything you did before you hit the ground I found
believe me, believe me, i'm mad ”
her parents. they want nothing but the best for their family, for their daughters. but it was not a rare occurrence that they obliviously hurt others along the way. so many times she had been let down or hurt by her parents. every time she hopes that would be the last one, but they do it over and over again. yet at the end of the day she forgives them. they are her parents after all. people who gave her life, raised her.
— bloodstream by stateless (( youtube ))
“ i think i might've inhaled you
i could feel you behind my eyes
you gotten into my bloodstream
i could feel you floating in me ”
when she was younger she dreamed of love that would be stronger than everything else in the world. even if they’d have disagreements they could get over them, because love conquers all. but as she grew older and, well, life happened, she realized how naive she was back then.
— a story you won’t believe by marcin przybylowicz, percival (( youtube ))
“ — ”
one restless spirit she is. can’t sit still and do nothing. and if she hears a song she likes, there’s a high chance she’ll grab your hand and pull you in a wild dance. sometimes she likes to go to the centre aisle, visit a esker’s inn or a tavern and dance all night. and it would be no rarity to see princess avianna by her side dancing with her, both ladies laughing and having a great time.
— sunday stroll by benny treskow (( youtube ))
“ — ”
her mother thought a lady should know how to play a musical instrument, that way a it would be easier to find a suitor. from young age josslyn has been playing harp. it was not easy to learn it, she got bored fast, but with hard work she finally managed to learn it. this is her favorite piece to play. a go to song when she feels like playing something.
i. BROTHER
ii. KING & QUEEN
iii. FATHER I HAVE NEVER KNOWN
iv. THE ONLY ONE I TRULY LOVED
v. THE SERVANT
vi. THE WHITE KNIGHT
vii. SISTER-IN-LAW
viii. ACACIA
Am I super late? Yes. But has this been sitting in my drafts for a week? Also yes so here you go!
i. BROTHER ;
the weight of the crown is heavy upon dominic’s shoulders, but she will always be here for the only person she truly calls family.
Dust by Oh Wonder
When people try to get you down
Remember that I'm here for you
No one else can wear your crown
It's yours, just yours
ii. KING & QUEEN ;
the luckiest girl in the kingdom, they call her. to be raised by the man who ordered for the death of her father. but that’s the safest place she could ever be, right?
Birthright by Sleeping At Last
She was raised by wolves
In the warmth of their fur
Surrounded by fangs
She knew that she was secure
iii. FATHER I HAVE NEVER KNOWN ;
she doesn’t remember him, much. but sometimes she wonders. makes up stories about what he would be like, cobbled together like ill-fitting puzzle pieces from people who would dare mention gaheris in the palace.
Mountains by Radical Face
My father seemed a mountain then
With a voice that could shake the seas
My mother's ghost hung across his shoulders
And he said she was still watching over me
iv. THE ONLY ONE I TRULY LOVED ;
for a girl full of falsehoods and pretence there was one, once, that she loved. their downfall was of her own making. she regrets it to this day.
Hardest of Hearts by Florence & The Machine
Darling heart, I loved you from the start
But you'll never know what a fool I've been
Darling heart, I loved you from the start
But that's no excuse for the state I'm in
v. THE SERVANT ;
through rain and shine they have been by her side. seen how royalty changes a person.
Gold by Imagine Dragons
First comes the blessing of all that you've dreamed
But then comes the curses of diamonds and rings
Only at first did it have its appeal
But now you can't tell the false from the real
vi. THE WHITE KNIGHT ;
and they would defend her with every breath, whether she be deserving or not.
I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons
And I'll kneel down
Wait for now
I'll kneel down
Know my ground
And I will wait, I will wait for you
vii. SISTER-IN-LAW ;
this new queen — maybe she needs a reminder of whose turf she’s on.
Smile by Maisie Peters
It's my party, my body, my business
It's my town and my ground and my hit-list
It's my world and you're just living in it
Did I, did I, did I finish?
viii. ACACIA ;
home.
Stay, I Pray You by Anastasia (musical)
How to break the tie?
We have shed our tears and shed our sorrows
Though the scars remain and tears will never dry
I'll bless my homeland till I die
𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐄 𝐀 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐎𝐔'𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 . . . 𝐮𝐡 , 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐃? a collection of songs for all the folks who’ve had the misfortune of meeting elena taliesin.
i. PRAY , kodaline / for her parents ii. ALL WILL BE WELL , gabe dixon / for her mentor iii. IT WASN’T EASY TO BE HAPPY FOR YOU , the lumineers / for her ex iv. MONEY POWER GLORY , lana del rey / for her patrons v. WOLVES ( YOU GOT ME ) , dreamers / for her mistake vi. WITH ME ALL ALONG , bronze radio return / for her friends in low places vii. DON’T TAKE THE MONEY , bleachers / for her weakness bonus track. MONEY MONEY MONEY , abba / the song constantly playing in elena’s head
peek under the cut for a more in depth look at the lyrics and wanted connections !!
i. FOR HER PARENTS / how many nights do you lie dreaming? i’m counting the days since you went away. when i lost my heart , life lost all meaning. what i would give to see you again . . . i’ll pray for you. do you pray for me?
her parents are cloaked in childhood memories. what elena knew of them was from before she was sent to train for her kingdom , and that information comes in flashes. her father was a hard worker , tending to his land religiously , but he cared more for his flower garden than his vegetables. when his roses bloomed , he was always sure to cut a few for elena’s mother. she would blush every time he presented the flowers to her , even if he had done it every year of their marriage. her mother was clever and intelligent , a scholar to her core. elena remembers her mother’s voice whispering fairytales as elena drifted to sleep. she never learned how a farmer and a scholar married , but her parents did. elena clings to her memories in which her parents are basked in light because the family she returned to after training was not the one she remembered. they sent her in a hurry , thus elena never met them for who they were and she fears it is too late to change that.
ii. FOR HER MENTOR / the winter’s cold , but the snow still lightly settles on the trees. and a mess is still a moment i can seize until i know that all will be well. even though sometimes this is hard to tell , and the fine is just as frustrating as hell , all will be well.
ever present in her life , elena has known them since she was a child. while she has grown and endured , they were there , never leaving her side. she feels an allegiance to them that very few people earn from her. they rescued her from acacia , helping her flee from debt collectors and build a life in aura. they pushed her to study music , folk tales , and history — even teaching her when she made the decision to become a bard. they are her home , the last piece of her family she has left. and they keep her grounded when things feel like they are falling apart at the seams. ( open )
iii. FOR HER EX / on the last time we met , your love was there. you held my hand , bit your tongue , shut me out , spilled my blood all around. yeah , it wasn’t easy to be happy for you. yeah , i took the poison praying you’d feel it too. you held your punches back and i left the room. yeah , it wasn’t easy to be happy for you.
maybe a part of it was real , in between the conspiratorial smiles and absentminded touches. but for elena , she swore up and down she was just playing the game. her patron was all too eager to fall for her tricks. they offered her the world , how was she to say no? it was easy for her to pretend , to flirt and dote on one of her first benefactors. lies fell from elena’s lips and neither of them batted an eye , allowing her to weave a fantasy , all the while lining her pockets with the other’s wealth. she waited until another opportunity was just around the corner and then she disappeared. elena left nothing for the other person , except for a vague note. she hoped it would be enough. alas , it seems they found her again , bitterness painting their memories of her — the fantasy has unraveled in their mind. they want retribution , to pull the same tricks she played on them , to hurt her like she hurt them. ( open )
iv. FOR HER PATRONS / you talk lots about god. freedom comes from the call. but that’s not what this bitch wants , not what i want at all. i want money and all your power , all your glory. hallelujah , i wanna take you for all that you got.
sweet melodies and sweeter words have begun to earn elena a slew of high class patrons. in them , she sees the way to a bright future where she has saved her family and home , all while dripping in beautiful jewels. they are the key to the power and wealth she is all too desperate to call her own. by playing the game right , she can manipulate them to twist themselves around her finger. there is little she won’t do to have the attention of the most powerful and wealthy. ( more are always welcome! )
v. FOR HER MISTAKE / still i chase you down , couldn’t keep away. fever’s coming now. i want the high again. you got me brainwashed , you got me so lost , you got me fucked up like you.
they belong in the past , a remnant of the girl who died to be reborn as the siren. when she thinks of them she remembers a loaf of bread shared between the two of them , offering up secrets without realizing how dangerous it was , and a hand covering her own — anchoring her. then something better came along , elena was offered a chance she could not say no to. she said goodbye to her first love , trading them in for riches and comfort. she thought they would stay in their own worlds , never to cross paths again. elena refused to imagine a world where she could have them next to her in her new life that she forged from nothing. but then , they were there again . . . and elena couldn’t stay away. since reuniting , she has said over and over again they can’t pretend they’re teenagers playing at romance. still , she goes back to them without fail. elena calls it a mistake and pretends she’s not going to do it again. ( open )
vi. FOR HER FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES / we’ve come a long way since the early days. always had a spot in the escapades and a suitcase for the getaways. and all along you were always down. showed up and you would hang around , singing loud , standing out in every crowd and you’re still here now.
when it was elena and her mentor against the world , she was allowed to take refuge in inns and taverns , sometimes trading a song for a hot plate. those and many other instances of kindness are moments she will never forget. she guards herself against vulnerability , shying away from real relationships with patrons and other performers , but those who opened their doors to her earned a spot in elena’s heart. it is a weakness she will not share , but what she shares with those who have been with her since the beginning is genuine. she softens around them and attempts to shield them from the harsh realities of the four kingdoms. ( always looking for more friends! )
vii. FOR HER WEAKNESS / somebody broke me once , love was a currency. a shimmering balance act , i think i laughed at that. and i saw your face and hands , colored in sun and then . . . i think i understand. will i understand?
they came out of nowhere , just another patron who elena could swindle out of a pretty coin and walk away from. until . . . they weren’t just another anything. they are something new and scary. elena feels a bitterness towards herself for the way she acts like a fool around them , often bumbling and speechless — two things she is unfamiliar with. the symptoms of blossoming feelings confuse her ; a constricting chest , butterflies fluttering in her stomach , pouring over the exchanges between them late into the night — it is almost too much , still , elena refuses to leave them. she continues to offer her services , performing at their parties and events all to be close to them . . . ridiculous. what hurts the most is elena’s quiet fear that they are doing to her what she does to everyone else. ( open )
Isolde kept to the side streets of Eden her grey hooded cloak pulled around her despite the warm weather, it was mostly to protect her and the tiny bundle held protectively in her arms from prying eyes. She stopped for a moment underneath a doorway gazing down at her daughter Liliana for moment, her long black eyelashes fluttered as she slept and it took all of Isolde’s strength not to turn around and walk back home. She continued on, convincing herself that a bastard child from a potential wife of the future King would never be accepted in the palace. At least she knew that the seamstress would love her child unconditionally and even though Liliana wouldn’t grow up in as much comfort and luxuries as Isolde would have provided, she would have a mother and father who loved her. She finally reached the seamstress’ tiny cottage and loitered outside for a few minutes singing a soft lullaby to her daughter even though at this time it was more of a comfort to her then the child.
Finally, she knocked on the door and was greeted by the plump, happy woman she knew so well. Before she could respond though, Isolde burst into tears, drops running down her cheeks and falling off her chin. The baby as if sensing her distress woke and began to wail, her soft pale skin quickly became mottled and red. Isolde placed her child against her chest and began to rock her, slowly soothing the infant down. With one hand she reached into the pocket of her cloak and pulled out a sizeable bag of coins “Here’s some money for you so you can hire a wet nurse and anything else you may need. If you ever require more just write to me and I can send you more coins.” Isolde knew that it was time to hand over Liliana but she found that her hands just clung tighter as if she were afraid that the seamstress was just going to snatch the child straight out of her arms. Isolde softly kissed her daughter head, inhaling the scent of her for the last time “I’m so sorry Liliana” she whispered tears stinging her eyes “Mummy will always love you.” Isolde reluctantly handed her daughter over feeling a sharp pang in her chest when her baby began to cry.
As soon as the seamstress held the child her face lit up, and she rocked Liliana back and forth cooing at her. Isolde dropped her gaze to her boots watching another woman with her child was too painful. “I almost forgot something” she said, quickly unclasping the heart pendant that hung around her neck and handed it to the other woman “So she’ll have something of mine.” The seamstress took the necklace and started telling her that she could visit Liliana anytime she wanted and Isolde nodded agreeing to do so even though she knew that that would never be the case. She said goodbye unable to even look at her daughter and headed back the way she came her shoulders back and head held high. It wasn’t until she got around the corner that she allowed herself to break down. Leaning against a wall for support she let out gasping sobs feeling like a part of her heart had been ripped out of her chest. It was in that moment that she vowed that if she had anymore children she would never abandon them like she had to Liliana.
Our first task is a classic playlist — but with a slight twist! We’re wanting SEVEN SONGS about different connections in your character’s life. Past connections, current connections with other characters, or wanted connections you’re currently hoping to see.
Any format is acceptable: tumblr posts, links to spotify, etc. The deadline is February 26th, at which time our next task will be posted.
Please tag your playlists with cavalry:task. I can’t wait to see them all!
When the barbarians had attacked Aura she had immediately submitted to their rule knowing that she would be able to avoid less pain than if she didn’t. She had been sent to a part of the kingdom that she had never seen before and instructed to sow crops. When Isolde had suggested to one of the barbarians in charge of them that the soil here wasn’t suitable for growing these types of food she had gotten a beating for her efforts. Her eye was still swollen shut and she had a long cut on her lip but she no longer had the courage to speak to anyone. Isolde wiped a bead of sweat that had begun to trickle down her brow leaving a mark of dirt in its place. The sun continued to beat down on her and her skin which wasn’t used to being outdoors was red and blistered. She leant forward a little from her crouched position on the dirt and pulled out a carrot, if it could even be called that, the plant was so limp and shrivelled that if she was in her own garden in Eden she would have thrown it away.
A barbarian walked past and she instinctively tensed keeping her gaze to the ground, they’d been known to hit the workers for no reason and she hoped that today wouldn’t be her turn. “Keep working” a gruff voice commanded as a sword swung into her line of sight. Isolde nodded her head quickly and crawled on her knees to the next carrot carefully pulling it out of the dirt and throwing it into a pile that was lying nearby. All she wanted was to be able to go home to her beautiful Eden, to see her beautiful garden and all her people whom she loved dearly. It broke her heart that she couldn’t be there for them when they needed her the most. Isolde had been planning an escape for a few days now and she was hoping that it would work and she would be able to finally go home.
