#shardsofarendelle

[counterpunches]

shardsofarendelle replied to your post: shardsofarendelle replied to your post ...

You fucking heathen. Mustard + mayo is the only way to go. Fuck ketchup. Gross.

[birger-wuvs-elsa]

I realized something about Jenny and Birger, and how they’re more alike than I previously thought. Then...this came up, and, well...

I’m sorry. @shardsofarendelle

Birger sat quietly, unmoving, and it unnerved Elsa to see him so statuesque. He’d asked to see her, had said he had an important matter to discuss with her. But the tone he’d used...he sounded almost...sad. Elsa was immediately concerned, because Birger just doesn’t sound that way. Even in their darkest hours in their earliest times together, he never sounded so morose.

It didn’t help that he had his emotions blocked from her, and that scared her.

She reached out and gently pet his forearm, and cringed when he flinched. “Birger, what is it? What’s wrong?”

It was some time before he dared speak, and he remained still.

Don’t lose her...

Elsa frowned, and it took her a few moments of opening and closing her mouth before she finally found the will to speak.

“What do you mean? Don’t lose who?” She pursed her lips and all but hugged his large, muscled arm. “I can’t feel you when you’re like this, Birger. Please...speak to me...”

The frost dragon slowly lowered his head to her level, and gently pressed his nose to her head. The fluffy thing was so much bigger than her head, but Elsa welcomed the contact, and nuzzled back. They remained still in this cuddled closeness until he spoke again.

Your pup, Jenny...I have come to a startling revelation, one that worries me. I beg you, my heart, don’t lose her...

Now Elsa was very concerned, but she dared not pull back from him. Though he did not make to fully hug her, even through the block she could sense the way his emotions roiled and thundered. He was not well, not emotionally, and what little contact they currently made was far more than he usually allowed when in such a state. 

Birger, you’re scaring me. What do you know that I don’t? Is something wrong with Jenny, has she told you something?

He all but shuddered beneath her arms. No, no your pup is fine. The problem lies more with me than with her...

Elsa’s frown shifted from one of worry to confusion at that. Birger...?

Don’t let your daughter grow up to be like me.

The blonde immediately pulled away, released her dragon’s arm and took several steps back to look him in the eye. Birger did not look away this time, but rather met her gaze. That sadness, so sharp and terrible, shone bright and painful in his azure eyes. It looked far too similar to the look Elsa once had herself...

“Wha-what do you mean? Why shouldn’t she? You’ve done nothing but good for those you care about, you’ve comforted us, protected us, celebrated with us. Birger, I would honestly and truly be proud if my daughter grew up to be like you. It would be fitting, as much of an uncle to her as you are.”

Birger didn’t move, but she could’ve sworn she saw his lips quiver...as if to snarl.

I am not the paragon of protection and loyalty you make me out to be, Elsa. There is no pride to be had in what I am, in what I’ve done. Protect her, Elsa, don’t let her be like me.

Elsa scowled, and clenched her fists. Her dragon wasn’t making any sense, he wasn’t explaining anything. She would have her answers, and he would give them. The queen drew herself up as she cooled her expression, and she saw the twitch in Birger’s ears. He’d noticed the change...good.

Elsa took a step forward and glared at her dragon. “Then why don’t you properly explain to me what your supposed fatal flaw is then, hmm? What is so wrong with you that I shouldn’t be beyond thankful my daughter would take after you?”

The twitch of his lips as he struggled to keep a snarl at bay grew, but Elsa did not so much as blink.

It’s not important, just rear your pup calmly and cooly, and make sure her rambunctious spirit doesn’t grow too wild.

“No, you will tell me what’s wrong, here and now.”

Pearly sabers and ivory canines glittered in the sunlight as the snarl grew ever stronger. His breath had begun to mist in the air as his grasp on his magic grew as tenuous as the one on his snarl. Elsa merely clenched her fists tighter, and ignored the crackle of frost on them.

It. Isn’t. Important. Just keep her away from my path, that’s all that matters.

“Your path brought you here, to us, so either find a better excuse or tell me the truth!”

Birger’s snarl now came in full force, and he rose to his feet as he faced his bond mate.

It doesn’t matter! The truth doesn’t matter! Don’t make me say it, Elsa!

The ice on Elsa’s fists now spread beneath her feet, but she wasn’t the only one. As Birger had risen on his four paws, a prickly layer of his own ice sparked beneath his padded digits. The icy pair now truly glared one another down, but Elsa would not lose this battle. Even through the cracking block her dragon had, she could all too easily feel his rising pain, and the sorrow that she could feel piercing her own heart must’ve long since run Birger’s through.

Elsa had to win, for both their sakes.

“You will tell me now, Birger, or so help me...” Elsa gulped as she hesitated, almost unwilling as she was to make her ultimatum. But Birger feared very little, and she had no choice...

“You will be blocked from me until you do.”

The world around her shook as Birger lunged at her, but instead of making contact, he skid to a thunderous stop right in front of her. His snarling maw came upon her as he roared in her face, but it was more akin to a desperate scream than the true, fearsome bellows the furry warrior had once uttered. Elsa would not be fazed, however, and stared unblinking into her dragon’s roaring maw, even as icy mist and frost blew past her, and tossed her hair in its gale. Snow had begun to fall around them, but Elsa knew it wasn’t her.

JOHANNA DESERVES BETTER THAN TO BE LIKE ME!!!

As his roaring scream ended following his mental shout, Elsa met his eyes and gasped. They froze as soon as they were shed, but she saw them: tears. Her Birger was crying, but his anger froze them to his fur and he snarled at her, ears pressed back hard against his head. But she knew that look in his eyes, and she knew there was no true malice. He was hurting...so badly...

Don’t let her be like me, Elsa! I fought with my own sire, disagreed with him and clashed with him, so like how Jenny clashes with you! I would run off, wander the lands around the herd’s valley, try to avoid my duties and shirk my responsibility. I fought, saber and claw, against my own father, Elsa! I had a little sibling as well, a sister, and everyone loved her! I was to be their next leader, but what did I do?! After we lost her, after my herd blamed me and my own sire grew disappointed and angry with me, what did I do!?!

He roared again, but that desperate keen from before remained, if not stronger.

I RAN AWAY AND ABANDONED THEM ALL!!!

The ice and snow that had been in Birger’s air froze in place, suspended in the air. Elsa’s heart broke as she saw the frozen tears in his fur melt, and the pure sadness fell freely from his eyes now as he cringed.

Don’t let her be like me, Elsa...don’t lose her...don’t let her be like me...

Elsa took a shuddering breath as she regarded her dragon. “Oh Birger...”

She took steps towards him, and kept her eyes on his as she held out her arms. Without hesitation, he fell prone on the ground with a thud that hardly fazed her, and he met her with his head. Elsa hugged his snout fiercely, and buried her face in the teal mane that had grown down onto his face. It had grown as the years went by, and no doubt Birger’s growth resembled his sire’s, which Elsa feared might’ve excarbated these feelings he’d been festering.

My dear Birger...you didn’t abandon them, they pushed you away.

He whined, but said nothing, so she continued.

Your father blamed you, your herd lost faith in you, but your sister always loved you. As do I, and everyone here, all of Arendelle loves you so dearly. You left a home that had grown too cold for you, you are not at fault. I’m sorry you still carry this pain, and I swear, I will do everything in my power to help you as Anna has helped me.

Elsa then smiled as she scratched the soft underside of his jaw, and chuckled at his pleased hum.

And once more, with feeling...I would be so proud if my daughter grew up to be like you...

Birger closed his eyes and thrummed, and the force of the vibrations pleasantly shook her to her core.

Я люблю тебя, Elsa.

Jeg elsker deg også, Birger.

[kuwaneko]

London, Rome, Lisbon?

london: when you visit a city, do you take in the tourist points or the more unknown places?

It mostly depends on how much time I have in a city, and on the kind of tourist points; my (and family in general) tourist points of interest veer more towards “Museums first; Oh? landmark on the way there? Cool! Can check that one off the list”. The Museo Cappella Sansevero, in Naples for example isn’t in all the tourists guides (which is a shame cause we almost missed all the sculptures in it (this one in particular)

so, 1 day in city (can’t understand a single word): “... well, might as well see if there are bus-tour guides”

2 - 5 days in city: “Museums!, Landmarks, food?, Oh and I heard there was something interesting over there!”

a week or more: “let’s go back to x Museum, but this time taking THIS other rout, see if there’s something interesting on the way”

rome: ancient rome or ancient greece?

I’m not sure I could actually decide, I want to learn so much about both (so much SCULPTURE)  I’d love to see how they did it, how much it’s changed if it has at all). Right now I’m leaning towards Rome, but that’s mainly because I’ve been there and seen the ruins (and would like to compare). I’m fairly certain if I get to go to Greece, I’d likely choose it. (my kingdom for a time machine so that I could go hopping around through time learning EVERYTHING)

lisbon: if you had the chance to become a prince/princess, would you?

No, not really; as of monarchies right now? too much politics and media, too little actual sway in anything. not worth it. and back when there was actual swaying to be done, too much backstabbing... yeah, I still think not worth it.

[ammg-old]

1, 4, 11?

1. Do you have a passion project? What is it?- I want to learn 50 languages, but time is running out...I’m 30 already and I’ve lost most of my French and Japanese and other languages I did at uni (thanks depression!) so I may have to switch to focusing on dead languages rather than spoken ones.  Old Norse is my current focus, I really need to get back onto it.

4. Where in the world would you most like to visit?- I really, really want to go back to Japan.  But learning-wise, I’d love to see the pyramids & other architecture of the Maya, in Central America.

11. Which historical figure fascinates you and why?- Hmm, not sure...I don’t tend to focus much on individual people.  I used to be obsessed with the story of The Great Escape and was fascinated with Roger Bushell (Big X, the leader of the escape), but then found out that the story wasn’t quite what I’d been lead to believe, and he was not quite the person he’d been presented as by Brickhill.  That was quite a let-down.

[punkpoemprose]

Donna Tartt and Michel Faber are always my recommendations. If you haven't tried them, you're in for a treat. Chris Cleave, Nick Hornby, and Sue Townsend are also great. ("The Queen and I" by Townsend is spectacular and almost no one has ever heard of it.)

Oh my goodness you just reminded me that I’ve been meaning to read The Crimson Petal and the White! The Queen and I sounds like a wonderful read! I do love a good dose of British humor!Thanks so much for the suggestions! They’re very much appreciated!

[raksha-the-demon]

DRY BANANA HIPPY HAT YOU YOU

I can’t believe it took this long to get a “dry banana hippy hat”

Gold star to you for being first!

(also thanks!)

[kalikoke]

shardsofarendelle replied to your post “Because I am Very Persistent, my fishing skill in Stardew Valley went...”

Mastering fishing in Stardew Valley is the ultimate feeling of accomplishment.

It really is! I hated it at first because I couldn’t quite get the hang of it, so I started a new save where all I did at the beginning was fish for practice and now that is apparently my best skill. 

raksha-the-demon replied to your post “Because I am Very Persistent, my fishing skill in Stardew Valley went...”

....I suddenly want a horse. brb need to visit my farmer's in-laws

The horsey is awesome. 

[frozenartscapes]

shardsofarendelle replied to your post: So I just applied for a government job back in...

There’s no snow in Toronto yet? Eurgh. Also, fingers crossed for you! I mean… however you say that in French. I don’t know French either.

Thanks! And no snow, at least not in Hamilton (aka the western edge of the Toronto Satellite Cities). We had flurries today, but they likely won't stick around. Ottawa meanwhile had probably gotten an accumulation of a foot or more by now.