#vikramadeva

[angel-hawthorne]

I'm back with more brotherly shenanigans. This time, it's Vikramadeva and big bro Bijjaladeva. The latter is just as bad as Bhallaladeva. Well, like father, like son.

Enjoy, guys!

@mayavanavihariniharini

[carminavulcana]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Prompt- Vikramadeva, believed by all to be dead, secretly follows the knife-wielder (from the Nadaswaram scene) and Kumara Varma

He does not belong anywhere. And he hides where he can never be seen but from where, he can see everything; the imposing Mahishmati palace, the 30-foot high statue of the Adi Shakti overlooking the battlefield, the antechamber to the court, the balconies behind the royal bedrooms, and the amphitheater where the princes used to practice their archery and swordplay under the watchful eye of the his sister-in-law Sivagami Devi and his old friend Katappa.

For years, he has found his solace in watching the capitol from afar.

But now, his gaze has shifted.

And it has become harder to stay hidden.

However, a part of him does not mind. He could never get too close to his son when he was a prince. But as a common man, he is approachable.

Written for Challenge 5, Daan

@teambaahubali @teammahishmati

[avani008]

For the 5+ headcanon memes: Baahubali- A world where Papa Baahu didn’t die and Bijjaladeva died instead.

Already answered HERE!

(Still, this is always such a happy AU to imagine–thanks for the reminder of it:)

[bleedinknight]

Sivagami realised then that she never understood who Vikramadeva was. The man who was quick to smile, and slow to speak had a strong heart that could rival the might of Vindhyas.

As he lay on the deathbed, frail like he was old, cracking dried lips to smile at her, the least she could do was control the tremble in her hands. She steadied herself with a long inhale as she spooned the last of the medicine into his mouth. The medicine held the secret to his health.

"Sivagami Devi," he murmured softly, before sealing her fate, once and for all.

[queenofmahishmati]

V I K R A M A D E V A   &   M E K H A L A ; King and Queen of Mahishmati

you and i we are made of the same stardust

[avani008]

5 AU Headcanons Meme: Sivagami and Vikramadeva Raise the Boys Together

1. Sivagami worries that she may have overstepped, but of course the King was known to have been too distracted with grief to think of trivialities like naming his child. To think he should have miraculously risen from his deathbed only to have found such loss!

“Baahubali,” he repeats. “A fine name. Thank you, my sister.”

2. She is not surprised when he puts her in charge of the boys. And why not? She is a widow now, and he a widower, and there are two princes to be raised. She does not mind: she loves them both, and the nursery fills her with joy—but it concerns her that Vikramadeva makes every excuse to avoid it.

“This one afternoon alone,” she tells him firmly; “I will attend the council in your place”—and truly she means it to be so, those few hours alone so that her brother-in-law can know his son, but the advisors describe the few faltering decisions Vikramadeva has made.

Sivagami blinks. Just what sort of senselessness is he capable of if allowed to rule alone?

3. Vikramadeva has an easy manner with the boys when allowed to spend time with them. He always seems so guilty about it, as though convinced he ought to be doing something else: but when she convinces him that she can review the latest missives from their neighbors as well as he, he relaxes and bounds to his sons as though hardly older himself.

Bhalla in particular adores him, preening in his praise—and Vikramadeva sees in him a chance to atone for the mistakes made with Bijjaladeva, Sivagami raises no objection.

4. She has her own reasons to be grateful. When the night stretches on, and her eyes blur from studying merchants’ bills to calculate taxes owed, Vikramadeva takes them from her and sternly commands her to rest. Whenever any question his sister-in-law’s influence, he silences them with a look.

It means something of softness remains on her face, and laughter lingers about her eyes.

5. She wonders what her life might have been if Vikramadeva had succumbed as well, and the prospect offers no jpy. To be alone and unallied, doing the work of two people while worrying that none of it was done well—

“Mother, look at this!” Calls Baahu cheerfully, and relieved, Sivagami sets her mind to happier things.

[avani008]

Four Seasons Meme: Vikramadeva

Spring the circumstances of his/her birth | favorite (or least favorite) family member | first word | happiest birthday | gender swap au

The answer ought by rights to be his father, who teaches him all he knows of ruling, but Vikramadeva cannot speak it; always his father speaks to him with the utmost detachment. He might be anyone at all—son or nephew or no blood kin at all—so long as he is not Bijjaladeva, and there is no warmth to be found there, not in the slightest.

His mother might serve as an acceptable alternative, if ever she lowered herself to display actual affection. Serenely she greets him, unconcernedly she hears of his fears and frustrations, indifferently she watches him leave when he despairs of gaining her attention.

If Vikramadeva cannot have love, he will settle for hatred instead; in the darkest corners of his mind, he admits he prefers his brother by far.

Summer

fantasy | love languege of choice | a pet or other animal companion| the decoration of their bedroom| fusion au

His hands are clumsy on a horse’s reins, and he lacks his mother’s easy way with the palace elephants. Slipping scraps to the palace dogs leaves him with nibbled fingers rather than undying loyalty, and he is quite certain he does not care for the way the cows in their sheds eye him.

These misadventures do much to dissuade him from hope of any animal companion—nonetheless, Vikramadeva takes care to set out birdseed every morning for the sparrows that flock outside his window.

“Pathetic,” sneers his brother. “At least a hawk might have been halfway useful.”

True; but though they might not carry messages or defend his borders, his birds wake him every morning without fail, and Vikramadeva supposes that ought to count for something.

Fall the one person/cause/ideal they would sacrifice everything for| storms| nightmare | the lie(s) he/she has told | hero/villain reversal au He speaks with his sister-in-law, about the nature of sin. Her mouth tilts downward; always this has been a sensitive subject, and why should it not, with a husband such as hers?

“Murder, I suppose,” says Vikramadeva abruptly, “must always be the worst of sins.”

Not for nothing, however, is Sivagami considered wise; “Not so,” she soothes, “far worse is foolishness.”

And so Vikramadeva, who slew his brother before Bijjaladeva could slay him, comforts himself at night.

Winter haunting | tarot | then and now | gods and mortals | reincarnation au/historical era swap

Then: Vikramadeva raises his cup in salute to his brother, already more than a little drunk with exhilaration. Today is meant, though, to celebrate Bijjaladeva, not him; his brother won great fame in feats of strength at the friendly wrestling-matches organized for the anniversary of their father’s crowning, and whispers start again about which of his sons the King will choose. “To your health, brother!” Vikramadeva crows without thinking; and it is testament to Bijjaladeva’s good mood that he only waves the words away.

Now: his tongue tastes bitter even before he sips from his cup, but to refuse it would only be to bring an accusation against his brother, one that would result inexorably in Bijjaladeva’s execution.

Bijjaladeva knows it too; his eyes are bright with triumph as he hisses, “To your health, brother”—a perfect echo of those words unwisely chosen years ago.

Vikramadeva drinks.

[avani008]

ABCDE Meme: Vikramadeva

Some contest that he must never have lived at all; others that he must have been the first born, for why else would his brother be so overlooked? Some claim his name was not even Vikramadeva after all, but Veerendra instead; and others think this was only a posthumous nickname earned by his valiant son….