#themadamelioness

[handhourgalleries]

Masquerade - Unmasking

Couple commission done for @themadamelioness -- thank you again for your support and letting me draw some lovely characters ;)

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[safrona-shadowsun]

"Hate me, Love me, Miss me."

{ Prompt Here }

"I hate that politics complicates the avenues to simply see you, more often than not." A smirk set to the Courier's lips as she spoke to her dear friend. "But we do what we need to do, don't we? Business goes on."

"I'll always love that you become someone's light at the tunnel, Nara," she let herself laugh at a dozen memories of their antics, the laughs shared between naughty little glances and jokes on a dance floor. "You're horrible in all the right ways."

The smile, and the laugh dwindled, knowing that she sent her voice to a friend that had not responded in too many days. The Lioness was unwell, her guard had stated. A golden goddess in repose, silenced. "I miss the sound of your laugh already, Nara."

Safrona closed her eyes in dismay, and sighed. Her words sounded like a memorial. The Light was not out...simply dimmed.

"Wake up soon, lovely lady," she murmured across the chatterstone channel. She hoped the Lioness would one day soon wake to the dozen messages left, and realize how well she was loved.

{ @themadamelioness , enjoy lol }

[kelzthalasbandtherion]

If you were offered the position of Matriarch, would you take it?

The Patriarch's death happened so quickly.

There were no symptoms or signs to the illness that consumed him. The healers suspected it derived from his elongated period of self-isolation and grief. Others suspected it was foul play - stating that he was otherwise in good health to carry on. Each and every scenario was whispered like a line of rumors or gossip, but it didn't change the reality for those who were surviving members of the House.

Haldir had pulled both Allasticus and Kelz'thalas aside to discuss the matters in which needed tending to first.

"It is with a heavy heart that I cannot avail you the time to grieve. Matters in relation to this House's future and all assets are to be reevaluated and reassigned to a new Patriarch or Matriarch."

A glance was made between them both, but Allatiscus was already on the edge of his seat. Hands gripped in an iron vice while his head hung over them. As for Kelz'thalas, she sat like time had actually frozen and stopped altogether. The faraway and glossy look that was offered to no one in particular showcased her visible shock and former tears.

Outside a vocal response, Allasticus's chair shifted behind him as he rose.

"I withdraw my candidacy in becoming the Patriarch." He looked to Haldir first before turning towards his sister. "I'm sorry sister, but I cannot shoulder this mantle or responsibility. Even if my life had been put on a course to do so, I know that I could not carry out our family's legacy."

His plated hand shifted to her shoulder to give a firm reassuring squeeze. Then he exited the room and shut the door behind him. A fresh set of tears christened her cheeks as everything that had been put into place to make this sort of transition bearable was removed at remarkable speeds. Both eyes closed as she leaned forward to cover her face with her hands.

The door would open yet again behind her, as Haldir glanced up to see who was permitted entry into the otherwise private room. His features seemed to soften somewhat as he nodded to their new visitor who strode into the room without delay. Allasticus's former chair was adjusted so that it was bridged closer to Kelz's own before someone assumed a seat there.

A hand smoothed over the curve of her back in a show of reassurance before words were delicately chosen to ease her pain.

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but love leaves a memory that no one can take. There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they are gone, the light remains. I'm here for you should you have need of me, Kelz'thalas."

As the consoling words washed over her, both hands shifted to again wipe at her eyes. Haldir had moved around the desk of the Patriarch's study to offer up a handkerchief for her to take. With a feeble hand, she brought it up to accept the token of empathy before clearing away her shed tears. A grateful smile was offered to the Naralinthe for her words of assurance before she held tightly against the damp cloth of her tears.

But it seemed Haldir was willing to be patient with her, until she found her answer. Thoughts and memories of Adonis circulated within her mind - which often threatened to break her mentally and emotionally again. But she was trying to rationalize reason and logic with a heavy heart - something she should have been conditioned in doing since assuming the role of Commander.

Perhaps that little time with Adonis living had really shattered that sense of unwavering resolve. Or perhaps she just was that fragile all along. There was a lot that she could stand to oppose in the way of becoming Matriarch - but ultimately, was it best for her? Was it best for the family? Was it best for everyone? She had built her life up from nothing and knew little of the noble sphere outside catering to their every direction and convocations.

She thought back onto her father's wishes. What he wanted for the Sin'dorei people. What the House was supposed to represent in the ears of all those that heard the spoken name. It was within her element to protect, was it not? Even if she didn't have the experience of being a noble, perhaps living the life as someone less made connecting to all that more important.

Once more her mind thought on Allasticus and his relinquished hold on the role of Patriarch. But this wasn't a moment where either would want to be weighed down by regret.

Her gaze passed over one of the murals in the room. Without surprise, the glaring flames of a proud phoenix stared back at her. It was so easy to forget that when a phoenix dies, it rises back stronger than ever.

A heavy, steadying sigh was expelled as she straightened her position in her seat. Her gaze settled on Haldir as she steeled herself and spoke her answer.

"I accept the role of Matriarch, Haldir. Tell me what it is I must do..."

@allasticus - thanks for the ask, turd >:O @grumpyoldfker - don't fucking die or i'mma beat you when I die @themadamelioness - for mention :3 I trust she would be there for Kelz <3

[grueviolette]

Send 💿 for my muse to choose a song that matches your muse's vibe.

"Take these." Mei hands her a vinyl. "This music suits you perfectly."

( @themadamelioness)

[iskrenthebear]

📹 What’s their saddest memory?

Iskren turned his eyes from the flame roaring within its hearth, towards the blonde goddess that sat nestled in the chair near him. Lips forming into a line, the Elf leaned forward, arms still balancing on his knees and... sighed. It was evident how much it weighed on the old man, the way his shoulders tensed, the way that those fingers of his stiffened. 

His lips moved, but for a moment, nothing came out. Then... it began.

“Keep pushing! We cannot afford to lose this ground!”

Boots crashed against the stone, as the front line pushed as hard as they could, tower shields pushing away the crack of magic that nearly tore them apart. It was an ambush. A damned good one at that. Something that they weren’t expecting at all when they had set foot upon the grounds of Northrend. Being requested to report to the Grizzly Hills had set up a rather unique opportunity for the small force under instruction of Lor’thane La’sen.

Drawing his shield back, Iskren, meanwhile had eagerly drawn his blade downward, cleaving into the already fractured skull of a scourge minion, and kicked hard to send it back. “Commander! They definitely aren’t giving up!” The young Elf hollered, as three of his fellow comrades, brothers in oath and arm had covered their Second. Drawing away, Iskren scouted what was still barreling towards them, and then back to the distance. Conquest Hold was nowhere near entirely situated, and they knew that reinforcements were still at least a good hour away, perhaps less. How long had they sounded the call for aid? Even he couldn’t remember during this.

“I know Iskren. I know. But we cannot give up. Any ground that we gain here, means that the Horde will have access to it as well. While we can do more here in the Hills than Quel’thalas, our family’s pride is on the line.”

Iskren nodded his head and turned, not towards the men fighting before him, but behind. “Magi! Prepare for bombardment!” He hollered, raising his blade. There were rallying cries as some of the less armored individuals had moved forward to their placements. They had done well to scout as much of the Hills as they could to determine the best locations for magic strikes. And that damned army of dead and shambling nonsense had set themselves up perfectly.

“Ready... FIR--”

The crack of a large explosion had rocked the land about them, as well as that ominous horn that sounded. And everything had been going so well.

Both Iskren and Lor’thane knew what that horn meant. They had gained the stories about those damned soldiers, the so-called ‘special’ ones of the Scourge Army. Death Knights.

Three had stepped out of their gates, two of them wearing hoods, while the third refused to wear one, instead carrying it at his side, obviously one who had, perhaps, more ranking over the duo.

“No survivors. The Lich King needs simple fodder for the Scourge Machine. Kill them all!” The dead Elf ordered. Iskren’s eyes widened, especially as he watched the helmless Knight travel downwards. 

“No... Not you...” 

... Iskren shivered, almost feeling like something cold had fallen over him. He barely registered the feeling of arms slipping about his shoulders. Glancing over, tears lined those green orbs, although he didn’t sniff, they didn’t fall.

“When the chaos had settled, all I saw, was the Death Knight drawing his rune blade out of father’s chest, taking his soul with it to probably torment, or who knows what. The Expedition had shortly arrived after, and the Knights left the scourge minions to their fate.”

He felt the Lioness squeeze him, and his hand lifted to grip along her forearm, squeezing reassuringly. “I didn’t know you witnessed the death of your father. I’m sorry.”

Iskren chuckled. “Aye. But, that’s not what makes it sad. It’s that I watched Pride, without any control over himself, kill my father, and ordered his followers to massacre my brothers and sisters in arms.

“Father did exactly what he wished. He fought to the end. Lor’thane could have run. Could have pushed more of our soldiers to cover for him. Fel, the old man could have asked me to fight while he retreated, Yogg knows I’d have done it. He died with his sword in hand, as a La’sen, not as a coward.” He smiled weakly.

] @themadamelioness Ah, it is so good to see you back in the inbox. Thank you so much for this ask. Been thinking about this all day since I saw the message. Still a bit rusty, and sadly, I didn’t feel confident for a lengthy combat scene, but I did want to show that there was more to Iskren and Pride’s relationship and history than some might have figured. [

[centoridellanir]

Gender bend for the Lioness please!

Michael Fassbender seems like a good fit. 

[ @themadamelioness ]

[gloamingdawn]

32: Have you ever been in an abusive relationship?

“Yes. It lasted longer than it probably should have.”

( Thanks @themadamelioness! )

[kelzthalasbandtherion]

The Loops of Fruit

Her return home didn't quite match the vision, she had in her mind, of riding upon the saddle of an armored hawkstrider. Instead, she was splayed out along the back of a traveling mercenary's wagon and staring skyward with a dazed look in her eyes.

At the helm of its wooden frame, he sat there with his head ducked down in the crevice of his shoulders. From behind, it gave his shadow a bit more of a menacing and unhappy look. But who could really blame him given the excessive beating of wings, loud and egregious cawing, and a large pecker seeking to scoop the matter from his eyes or ears every time it circled him.

"Incessant creature. Stay back now, honestly!" His frustration made that rigid look project in the spitting image of her father and she brought her arm up and swung downward with force. Her hand made contact in a loud smacking sound as his shoulders twitched from the shock and his head whirled around to see the Lady B'andtherion in a more disheveled state. Her hair that had been held back in a loose tail now had lost any sense of collective restraint as it bared down against her shoulders like a screaming banshee.

"You'reeeeee funny when you get mad. It reminds me of my dad. He can get really fired up and look like an ogre who had its toy taken. Sometimes I can see him like a kid more than a father. It's sad that I'm like the mom some days. Can't remember a time that I got to be like a kid. I mean I was at this party talking about not going to parties and having fun at home in sweatpants. I mean are they wrong?"

The armored mercenary shifted with a hurried shove of the reins from his hand and then swung one of his legs over the side of the wooden footing. He strode around the wagon with such speed, I had forgotten we had stopped. A blink and I'm staring at the sky instead of at him. My legs were pulled on and ... oh.

Feet now settled on the ground, the mercenary is under my arm and I laughed. More profuse squawking is made overhead of us as the bird I was gifted from Greatfather Winterveil insists on keeping its eye on me and seems to respond well when I call him Fruit Loops.

"Fruittttt Looopssssssssss!"

The bird squawked again.

"FRUITTTT LOOPS!"

"Lady B'andtherion, would you please cease with this caterwauling wailing. People are trying to sleep, and I only agreed to bring you back to the estate. You insisted you would pay me a hefty sum, and I certainly hope you meant significant."

Kelz swayed with every step they took. Her arm was held firmly to his side as her head leaned into his shoulder as she began to mumble.

"It mwill be. Just mwask Haldir."

There was a glistening sheen of Kelz's indulgence dangling from the corner of her partially ajar mouth. There was no modesty expensed for this knight in shining armor.

"By the Eternal Sun, woman. You are more animal than lady, that I can assure you!"

"CAW-CAW! SQUAWK!"

"ANYONE PLEASE?! HELP ME WITH THIS!"

At the gates that led into the estate, two elite guards shifted from their station and made their approach towards the pair. Night had long since settled over the landscape. The few magically attuned light posts illuminated the grounds in small patterns of circles. So, the light really only exposed the feet on their pass.

"Mm... Guards, pay the man his dues. Let me walk into the manor unaccompanied. I have a task I must accomplish in this state. Failure to do so will be reported to the Patriarch. Your heiress has spoken!"

Whether or not the guards reciprocated her command was not yet made known. At least not until one guard turned to the mercenary to offer him compensation for his trouble. Errant flapping overhead caused her head to peer up as the small shadow of her new pet grew in size before settling on her plated shoulder.

"Caw-Ca-" The noise was quickly subdued as her left hand rose up to pinch the toucan's beak shut.

"Shh... We need to enter the manor quietly. No nonsense noise."

After speaking to her bird like another understanding individual, she realized her error in her way of thinking and burst into a fit of giggles.

"You don't know what I just said, do you, Fruit Loops? I was suggesting that you had a brain enough to understand me in there. Oh how dumb I have become."

With her sole free hand, she limply reached for the door. But a guard that was on post beside it would assist her in the endeavor, perplexed whether or not to remain posted or follow the heiress into the main foyer.

"I got it," Kelz said as if reading their thoughts and body language. "This bird is in my capable care. And no one must attack it or attempt to detain it. It is now an honorary B'andtherion pet and you will be fired if you do! So you better listen!"

A short laugh leaves her as she stumbles into one of the many corridors that lined their house. Her body was exposed to the wall mounted magical sconces as she hobbled onward in the direction of the wing where her room resided.

"So Fruit Loops, you have to be good while you are here. That means only pooping on staff when they are bugging me when I try to sleep or circling my father's head while he's angry and squawking. We're a team now and I so can't wait to see how you fit in."

"My lady?" A servant had emerged from their room and sought to appease her every need. "Would you like me to escort you to your room?" Her tone was so mousey, almost as if she worried if squeaking any louder would dock her pay. Her eyes narrow as she stares at the servant before becoming resolute in her posture.

"Very well. But we are making a detour to my father's study first. You will not speak a word about it. Do not tell the Patriarch that this was my doing, but rather that of Greatfather Winterveil. And that he has to abide by holiday spirit to let my pet stay. That's the rules and he promised to be nice. I should have asked Greatfather Winterveil if my father was on the nice list. But he's probably on the naughty list for firing that guardsmen Selithar Duskblade. And clobbering Allasticus. And breaking that table... And... being mean to Lady Naralinthe Emberdawn."

Her focus lessened a bit as the blurs in her vision made the lights blend together as they walked. She didn't even hear the servant answer her command. And was perplexed by the sudden silence of her assistant.

"Well don't be quiet now. I'm getting the chills like there's a ghost abound. Please."

It was a near plea, and the servant - was only happy to acquiesce as she nodded vehemently. "Right, my Lady. What is it you want to discuss or talk about?"

"I don't know... Just tell me you will listen to me fully and take care of my wishes. And then talk to me about your Winter Veil holiday?"

"Of course, my Lady. I do hear you fully and will see to it that you arrive to your father's study. Which... we are about to arrive in a few steps. Was there something you wanted to do there?"

"Yes, that's Fruit Loops new home." She said with a finger crookedly soaring through the air towards the ceiling. "I think he will enjoy a high place on one of father's bookshelves. Overlooking the study like a multi-colored phoenix flamboyantly flapping its wings and greeting my father in the morning! I think he will come to appreciate my winged friend."

"My Lady, I-" The servant caught herself as if briefly forgetting her station, then promptly silenced herself from speaking further. Though the sound didn't escape Kelz's notice.

"What now? I assure you it will all be okay. My father wants me happy you know. And he promised he would do better. For all of our sakes. Oh, I could so go for some pancakes."

The servant smiled dutifully and made a mental point to arrange that for the B'andtherion daughter. "My Lady, we have arrived at your father's study."

Though, the servant didn't make an effort to open the doors. Instead, it was Kelz's doing as the wooden gates to her father's sanctum opened wide by the strength of his daughter's ambitious resolve.

"Fruit Loopssss!"

Her voice merrily sang as the toucan tried to speak with its clamped shut beak as wings flapped erratically at Kelz.

"Oh right, I'm sorry." The hand on the bird released as it squawked and bludgeoned its nose against her ear roughly in annoyance. But it was loving too, she reasoned. Again, those wings flapped aggressively as it soared up towards the top of the bookcase just as Kelz had prophesized with the intoxicated workings of her thoughts and visions.

"Sleep tight, Fruit Loops!" She declared before turning on her heel and shutting the doors behind her. The lights fell away in the study as Fruit Loops settled on the bookcase's top ledge. In the hall, Kelz stumbled a few steps to the side of the servant awaiting further direction.

"Fetch me a guard. And request he dress himself as Greatfather Winterveil. Ask him to carry me to my bed and tell me what a good girl I have been this year."

"---M-M-My Lady, are you sure?!" The servant's voice was becoming quite annoying as Kelz irritably replied.

"Yes. And the pancakes, make sure they are there before we arrive!"

"Of course!" She snapped at an octave higher than Kelz had heard it before. With her escort dismissed to fulfill her wishes, Kelz swayed side to side before sliding along the wall into a seated position. Her hands coming to settle on her palms at her sides as she tried to hold herself up from leaning too far to her right. Her head felt so heavy, and she enjoyed closing her eyes and just humming playfully while she waited.

It would be a few moments later, but her head would lift to see a shadowy silhouette galivanting his way towards her. This guard was hard to make out as her eyes squinted to try to see past the shadows on his face. A hand took to raising on its own volition as her pointer finger lifted to point at him.

"Are you Greatfather Winterveil?" She called as she tried to sit up and felt her legs drift further away on the floor.

But there was no answer given to her as she watched the man take to a knee beside her. There was a gentleness she had never seen before on his features as she took note of his beard and face. Recognition was functioning at about half capacity as she knew who she was looking at but couldn't account for the word or name.

Without her asking of it, the man's arms shifted forward. One sliding beneath the base of her knees while his other slid behind the center of her back as she was compressed in against him and herself. She felt so small in his grip while glancing up at his broad shoulders. A hand raised to his chest as a sadness took hold of her unexpectedly.

"You look like the hero our world needs." She spoke lightly as tears christened the edges of her eyes. Her focus became increasingly lost as she felt him begin his progression down the hall towards her room. Idly, she rocked in his arms as he hesitated on any form of reply to her. But eventually, he would find his voice only to have her cut it off again with an impulsive interjection.

"What put me on the nice list, anyway, Greatfather Winterveil?" She would ask, as her tears ran down her cheeks in the curve of her cheek.

Her father shifted his arms so that he drew her closer to him before speaking.

"Just by being you, my child." His head pressed unexpectedly against hers as there was a tightness forming in her throat. "Now let's get you to bed."

More tears slid down her cheeks as an unbearable discomfort grew in her chest. She felt nothing of the sort for having failed so many people and others so often. Why did everything just seem to escape her in this single second? The unsteady tremble in her body began as her weeps carried through the halls of the Estate before fading to silence once more.

The light to her room was on as the servants had already prepared her bed and stood at the ready to help remove her armor as her father carried her in. Gently he eased her down onto the mattress and leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead. A sign that he was glad that she returned home safe and sound. But his ever-present look of duty returned as he retreated from his daughter's sanctuary to see what other chaos lurked in his home. Despite her insistence that it was to be kept a secret; a little birdy might have let that slide. Or perhaps that was what she wanted to believe as her head sank into the comfort of her pillow. Every second was consciousness drifting in and out as the weight from her body became less and less until the light left the room yet again. And once the darkness took over, soon too did she fall asleep.

@grumpyoldfker - Dad thanks for putting me to bed. :)

@allasticus - Brother, I got a bird!

@themadamelioness - Thank you for inviting me out to a great time! <3

@succulent-tart - thanks for the rp event :D

@thehopelessyouth - you were the reason Dad was on the naughty list!

@kalren-daelish - not sure if you were watching me drunkenly stumbling home, but tagging in case you wanna be!