#my threads

[goldenhickeyss]

Devil is in the details 😈

[themetalmassacrevault]

[phantomofagoodtime]

Continued from X

@lupaeus

Dean's words were caught off when the young werewolf placed her fingertips against his jaw, the close proximity and the way her eyes were studying him so closely made the hunter shiver. He was not ready to discuss if it was a good one or not. "-well, .... thanks, i think. It's not like I chose it either. But when you're knees deep in vampire nests, and they're constantly trying to get a bite of your -" He stopped, was he getting loud? It was hard to tell in this already busy diner. "-anyway...I'll shave at some point."

[antiquewhim]

I want to make information on Lithuanian folklore in English more public so I am uploading the threads that until now were only on my Twitter. I present to you a comprehensive thread on aitvarai, the ancient Lithuanian deities of the skies

(art credits: Neringa Meškauskaitė, Agroshka )

Aitvarai (etymologically "ones to appease" or "irrepressible force") are domestic creatures associated with all 4 elements: a comet of fire which harnesses wind for chaos, helping Earth and its people while being chased and punished by Perkūnas for stealing water.

Most commonly a black rooster, they can appear as a variety of creatures: different kinds of black birds, grass snakes, whirlwinds, comets and even men if they fall in love with a woman that they want to marry.

Though very powerful ancient beings, Aitvarai choose to associate themselves with people, with villagers being able to either hatch them from an egg of a 7 year old rooster or attract them by leaving out hot, untouched meals like porridge and scrambled eggs.

When part of a household, the duties of an aitvaras were to bring riches to his caretakers, either as money (money carrying aitvarai were golden, deep red or silver in coloration) or as wheat (grey and black colors). Note that aitvarai only served the poor, tricking the wealthy people who tried to use them.

Aitvarai were both a blessing and a curse: while they did bring wealth, they did it by stealing from the neighbors of their master, making them most hated in the local village. They were also clingy and dangerous to keep, burning down the houses of those who mishandled them by feeding them manure, tampering with their meals or disobeying the rules they set for the person.

It is said however that their thieving, evil nature was a characteristic given to them by the Catholic church, which wanted to demonize every pagan creature in Baltic mythology.

In fact, aitvarai were considered genuine problems by those who believed that they would steal from them: from warding off statuettes in granaries to court cases from 1700's accusing people of harboring an aitvaras (I found only one source claiming this, so take it with a grain of salt).

However, the desire to have an aitvaras was apparent as well, shown by modifications peasants would make to their homes: holes in the doors of granaries would be made so an aitvaras could enter the home easily.

Some rituals for stealing back from a flying aitvaras exist as well, ranging from simply showing it your bottom, to cutting oneself with a rusty knife, pinning the corner of your jacket to the ground, ripping or otherwise ruining clothing.

Even if the reaction of people to them was mixed, aitvarai were considered pests by the gods due to their tendency to drink/hoard water, for which they were struck dead by Perkūnas, exploding into sparks that caused forest fires, the thunder god's lightning forming ponds, holes and swamps, terraforming the earth.

[princeluce]

Brotherly Bonds: Shadows of Legacy

a starter with @princeviserystargaryen00

Lucerys stared at the board. His fingers hovered over the board, but as he looked down upon the Cyvasse pieces before him, he found he wasn’t seeing just the game anymore. He looked up to the figure across from him, the fire in the hearth casting shadows across Viserys’s face, turning his younger brother’s place features into something sharper, looking like fire was bringing out little echoes of Daemon that existed within the boy. 

“All these marriages,” Lucerys said, his voice low almost to himself, returning his eyes to the board. “Jace and Baela, and now new ravens coming in of new unions cross the Kingdoms. It’s like watching prices on a board being moved by someone else’s hand. I know Jace and Baela are happy, but how much of it was choice? Did any of the others have say or where they just moved around?”

He slid his dragon forward but paused, his gaze lifting again to Viserys. It had been a while since either of them had spoken, outside of sighs or sounds of victory, as the two had been focused on the game. Lucerys knew Viserys was thinking, always thinking. It was growingly impossible to know what lay behind his eyes, so much complex and sharp then the young child that Lucerys could still easily remember. 

“Do you think they’ll decide for us too?” Lucerys continued, his voice tightening with the thought. “One day, are they going to tell me who to marry? For Driftmark, or legacy, or power.”

The words lingered, and Lucerys shifted uncomfortably, realizing that perhaps he should not be putting this worrying over the future on his younger brother, particularly one that had only known parents of a love match.  He had always known his parents cared for each other, but it was as he grew and watched his mother with Daemon that he could see the difference between loving someone, and being in love with someone. It made him wonder which kind of match he would have.

He glanced down at the board, but his mind was far from the game. Driftmark had always been his future, but there were days when questioned what that would mean. 

“Sometimes I think I haven’t yet seen even half of what I’m supposed to so I can one day rule,” he added softly. “I love the sea, but what do I really know of ruling Driftmark?”

He could feel the weight of his brother’s silence and looked up again, searching Viserys’s face for something, for anything that might hint at what he was thinking. "Do you ever wonder about your future, Viserys?" Lucerys asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What they will expect from you?”

The fire crackled behind them, the only sound in the chamber, as Lucerys’s question hung in the air between them.

a roleplay blog within @asongofgoldenfireandblackblood

[icecoldreactor]

Continued from X

@cardigansandearlgrey

Parties and shows were second nature to the genius but he understood that Q did get overwhelmed with it all at times. Having a good reason to sneak out was always a plus, not that having an excuse every stopped him in the past. "Thanks. Your compliment has been banked in the vault of Tony's pride." He mumbled back playfully.

[ken-page-oogie-boogie-tribute]

[jonswann]

Crown & Swan - In the Shadow of Dragons: A Starter with @black-queen-rising

Ser Jon Swann was walking amidst the bustling streets of King’s Landing, teaming with the life and activity of the small folk. There had been a carriage waiting for him and his luggage, when he docked at the River Gate, the Mud Gate, he corrected himself with what he overheard from the workers of the dock. Jon had sent the carriage along ahead of him, allowing him to walk the streets in person. He was not in the small folk clothing that he often wore when walking among the common streets, but he didn’t yet have a place where he knew he could change from street cloth to lordly. He also noted he would have to adjust his clothes somewhat. Perhaps being at the seat of power in the west gave more options to the small folk, as there was more pop of occasional color and higher quality fabrics than what he found back home in Stonehelm. 

I’ll have to talk to some merchants while I am here. He thought. Simple luxuries like those may not improve the overall life of those living in the towns and villages surrounding Stonehelm, but simple joys did make small folk happier. Happy small folk created trust, and with enough trust, one had power. 

Soon enough Jon found himself standing at the gates to the Red Keep, the seat of power in the Seven Kingdoms. It was said this is where Aegon Targaryen, the Conqueror, landed before making himself king. As he stood, looking up at the looming towers of red stone, shining like blood in the sunlight, Jon’s thoughts turned to the thoughts of the treasures that could be found in the royal libraries. While many men held all sorts of passions, Jon’s greatest was always his thirst for knowledge, old and new, lore, and rumors. He had heard tales of the vast collection of ancient tomes and manuscript houses within the Red Keep, and he longed to walk those ancient halls.  

Jon smirked before making his way to the guards at the gate. 

__________

Jon was ushered through the outer courtyard, full of bustling servants, dealing with the arrival of lords like himself. 

He took note of the banners and sigils he saw as he walked. 

Frey, Dayne, Martel, Blackwood, and… some white animal on a green field. Must be House Stokeworth or Lydd-

A loud roar from above cut off his thoughts, followed soon by a shadow that blocked the sun from the entire courtyard. 

He stumbled as he looked up to see what could only be a dragon flying above, in and out of the clouds. 

“You’ll get used to it,” The guard said with a good-natured laugh. 

“Truly?” Jon asked back with a smile and a hesitant laugh, matching the guard’s humor.

“No.” He chuckled in response, and Jon answered with a smile as they continued their walk towards the tower of the hand. Jon righted his cloak as he looked back at the dragon dancing between the clouds. His face smoothed behind the back of the guard. He might have laughed along but would not again flinch at the sound or sight of a dragon. 

In moments, he was led into the Hand’s Tower, and the guard gave him a polite nod before opening doors into a large room. It could have been a hall for some smaller houses but was clearly some kind of study and workplace, with shelves of books that his eyes lingered on, a table for gatherings, and a desk at the back of the room where a woman sat. The room was splendid but not in open opulence.  Still beautiful and expensive, but the items in the room were ones of quality rather than just flash. 

With a determined stride and a respectful bow, Jon approached the Princess and Hand, his gaze meeting hers with reverence. 

As the heir to house Swann, Jon viewed his every action as one that could affect the future of Stonehelm, and he knew that his meeting with Crown Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen may be the first step on a journey that could shape the course of his destiny. “Your Grace,” Jon began, his voice steady and composed. “It is an honor and a privilege to stand before you today. I am Ser Jon of Heir to House Swann. My father Lord Royce was unable to make the journey here and has sent me in his sted.” As he spoke, Jon’s dark eyes sparked with a fervent intensity, his determination to seize the opportunities that lay before him burning brighter than ever.

A Roleplay Blog within @asongofgoldenfireandblackblood

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