Vår väg är havet

We are a people of the sea; the sea is our way. We live with, off and on the sea. We know that the sea gives and takes, isolates and connects. The sea is in our past and in our future. The sea is here and now. Indie APH OC Åland Islands Selective and Historical written by Sussu

[velivolans]

url change

paradisisk -> velivolans

lat. flying/speeding with sails

[velivolans]

MANGA MUSE MAKER

TAGGED BY: @skogsmark TAGGING: it’s free for grabs

[velivolans]

//I know I’m months late in saying this but... remember the colour asks where I said Lilja reminded me of a migratory bird who flies away in the fall and returns back home for the summer? I’ve now decided on her animal motif. (Just so you know, all my muses have animal motifs, and also signature colours and such in my head, someday I should make a post on my theme tables for them.)

Anyway, Lilja to me is like a swallow. 

Which also happens to be my favourite bird but that’s beside the point- I’m basing this on a Finnish proverb for predicting the arrival of summer based on the return of migratory birds: one month from the skylark, half a month from the chaffinch, a little bit more from the white wagtail, and not a day from the swallow. The swallows are a sign that the summer has come to the North.

Another thing this is based on is one of my childhood favourite fairytales, The Swallow from Egypt, which you can read in English here.

[velivolans]

khoailok‌:

@paradisisk | starter call

.. So, there’s a lot of places we could go to. The beach is 15 minutes away from here, and there’s a really cheap cafe on the way there. There’s a park 10 minutes away in the opposite direction, too.

I don’t really care where we go; I’m okay with whatever you choose! Oh– if you have any other suggestions though, I’d love to hear them. 

"I’ve never been to Taipei before! So you’ll have to show me around.” Lilja had barely dropped off her luggage and she already wanted to go sightseeing, showing no sign of jetlag despite her long flight earlier in the morning. If anything, she was restless, practically dancing on her spot with excitement.

“Oh, I’d like to visit the beach though! I saw it from the plane and it looked so pretty.” She was as predictable as ever in her preferences.

[velivolans]

islndhrt‌:

“you have a beautiful country.” eser tells her, kindly. “it’s much chillier than it is back on my island.” she laughs, softly.

@paradisisk

“Is it? Chilly, I mean?” Lilja tilts her head curiously, her gesture like that of a confused puppy. “It’s actually warmer here than in the mainland... but the sea breeze can be pretty strong. I’m glad you like the views, though!” She gives a big smile to the other girl before her curiosity gets the best of her again. “How warm is it in Cyprus this time of the year?”

[velivolans]

💤

Symbol Starters: Send 💤 to wake my muse up from their nap. 

Lilja napped in the corner of the sofa, curled up in a foetal position under a quilt. It looked like she was planning to sleep off her jetlag after showing up at 9 am sharp at Berwald’s house from an early flight back home to the distant North. Given that her waking self was a bundle of neverending energy and she could normally be trusted to run at any hour of the day or night, it was somewhat strange to see her so calm and motionless. Still, she stirred quickly under Berwald’s hand and pushed herself to sit up, stretching her arms up and taking all of around five seconds to build up her energy again. “God morgon! How long did I sleep?”

[velivolans]

😢

Symbol Starters:Send 😢 for my muse to comfort you.

Lilja approached the Finn carefully, her socked feet barely making a sound on the parquet. She could sense the heavy atmosphere and saw the other’s slumped shoulders. Slowly, she laid her hand on his back and soon followed the gesture by laying her golden head between his shoulder blades. “Jaako, you okay?” Her voice was quiet and frail, tears prickled her eyes. Lilja had always been awfully sensitive; when she sensed sadness in the people around her, her own heart responded in kind. “It’s… it’s okay if you’re not okay, of course. But remember that even if your mind is trying to k-kill you right now… it will pass, and things will be okay again. And I will be here with you.” She wrapped her arms around him in a tentative hug from the behind.

[velivolans]

☁

Symbol Starters:Send ☁ for our muses to watch the clouds together.

“Oh! Ludwig, look, that one’s like a ship!” This was the only warning Ludwig got before his attention (and his left arm) were captured by a girl excitedly pointing up to the blue sky. “Look how the headsails are billowing! It reminds me of Pommern in her prime! It’s a shame they don’t make windjammers like her anymore.” Her tone changed a bit dreamy when she spoke of her favourite ship. But whatever melancholy she felt was quickly shaken off as she tore her eyes from the ship in the sky and pointed another cloud for Ludwig. “What does that one look like to you?”

[desultory-suggestions]

She’s like warm days, sunshine, honey and love.

[quotespile]

I had always thought of the sea as a boundary keeping me in my place on land. Now, though, it became an opening.

Tracy Chevalier, Remarkable Creatures (via quotespile)

[saintsandvirgins]

🌊

modern vellamo, finnish goddess of water

she is always at the beach, even when the wind is cold and the water icy. her friends wonder why is it that with her in the boat, the weather is always great at sea. when they go swim in a lake, the tips of her fingers never get wrinkly. her arms have tattoos of perch and pikes, water lilies, mermaids, and sea shells.

more water myths

[velivolans]

Crimson, Honey & Chartreuse!

colourful headcanons

crimson: how passionate is your muse about the things they love most?

This is a hard one for Lilja loves both her freedom and her family equally. And oftentimes, especially once winter comes, she ends up leaving her family behind for months at a time because she doesn’t do well with the polar nights or being tied to a single place. Once she got her first taste of freedom at the sea, she hasn’t really been quite the same person since. She needs to travel to feel alive, needs to detach herself from the familiar but binding routines now and then and go on an adventure by herself. Take some time off to rediscover herself or the world would wear down a sensitive and aesthetic soul like hers.

To be passionate about something means you have to make sacrifices. She has to leave her family to guard her freedom and abandon her freedom to be with her family. In the end, she lives for both her freedom and the unconditional love she has for other people, and those are the two things she’d do anything for. But she respects herself and knows choosing one over the other would never work for her. She has to pick whichever one feels the best at a given time. It gets hard sometimes but at the same time, it’s an easy choice to make.

honey: when your muse loves someone (whether it be romantic, platonic, or familial love), how do they show it?

Lilja is always bright and energetic around those she loves and she loves pretty much everyone. She’s also pretty touchy-feely, probably the most touchy-feely muse I have, even topping Zinon who’s from the Mediterranean where they culturally have no concept of personal space. Tho I suppose the difference is that Zinon is more aware of other people’s boundaries and can moderate himself around people who are not used to the Mediterranean ways. (That and he’s actually a way more closed-off and private person than Lilja is, just great at playing an extrovert.) Lilja, on the other hand, probably doesn’t know what moderation is: she expresses her affection with no limits or conditions. She’s unapologetically herself with everyone and in every situation and you kinda deal with it or you don’t, it’s not her problem.

But yeah, she’s all for hugs and (cheek) kisses and lots of skinship with those she loves. Everything sweet and platonic only tho. As she’s ace, she has no interest in sex and also denies people from kissing her on the lips, as she’s saving that for someone special who she hasn’t found yet. She’s surprisingly keen at reading other people and how they feel about her. Just that you won’t see her changing her act based on her observations.

chartreuse: if you had to describe your muse with a colour, what colour would it be and why?

Lilja’s always been yellow in my head, like sunshine on a hot summer day. She’s exuberant, optimistic, empathetic, warm, fun and full of light. There are not many things that can put a damper on her mood. She’s almost annoyingly bright, sometimes it feels like you might be blinded if you look at her directly. xD A wide-eyed idealist who wears her heart in her sleeve and hasn’t yet lost sight of the magic in the world. But that is not to say she’d be stupid and naive. Well, she is naive at times because she wants to believe the best of other people and has near unshakeable faith to her own abilities. But certainly not innocent or ignorant of how cruel the world can be sometimes: she has seen her share of wars, invasions, and suffering already. But her image has always been very… pure in my head. My other muses tend to be heavily burdened by their history, but Lilja’s a different kind. She’s untainted because she keeps looking forward, always forward, and lives in the moment instead of mulling over the mistakes she’s made or the slights she’s faced in the past. (Other colours I associate with her are soft pinks, sea blue, and white - like the flower I named her after.)

[style-and-stuffs]

[aseaofquotes]

Joyce Carol Oates, Missing Mom

[velivolans]

Character’s virtues and vices

please repost and not reblog ; bold attributes you see your muse having. 

VIRTUES: BEHAVIOUR SHOWING HIGH MORAL STANDARDS

ability // acceptance // acuity // affability // altruism // assiduousness // assertiveness // attentiveness // autonomy // awareness // beauty // benevolence // candor // caring // caution // charity // chastity // cleanliness // commitment // compassion // confidence // conscientiousness // consideration // contentment // cooperativeness // courage // courteousness // curiosity // daring // dauntlessness // dependability // detachment // determination // diligence // discernment // discretion // dutifulness // empathy // encouragement // endurance // enthusiasm // equity // erudite // excellence // fairness // faithfulness // fidelity // flexibility // focus // foresight // forgiveness // fortitude // friendliness // generosity // gentleness // graciousness // happiness // health // helpfulness // heroism // honesty // honor // hopefulness // hospitality // humility // humor // idealism // imagination // impartiality // independence // industriousness // ingenuity // innocence // insightfulness // integrity // intuition // inventiveness // justice // kindness // knowledgeable // lovingness // loyalty // meekness // mercy // meticulousness // moderation // modesty // morality // neatness // nonviolence // nurturing // obedience // openness // optimism // patience // peacefulness // perceptiveness // preciseness // perseverance // persistence // perspicacity // philanthropy // piety // prudence // punctiliousness // purity // purposefulness // refinement // reliability // respectfulness // resilience // responsibility // restraint // righteousness // self-confidence  // self-discipline // self-respect // selflessness // sensitivity // sharing // sincerity // skillfulness // sternness // strength // sympathy // tactfulness // temperance // tenacity // thankfulness // thoroughness // thoughtfulness // trustworthiness // truthfulness // understanding // unity // valor // vivaciousness // welcoming // wholesomeness // wisdom

VICES: WICKED OR IMMORAL BEHAVIOUR

addiction // adultery // aggression // alcoholism // anger // arrogance // avarice  // bias // bigotry // boastfulness // bragging // brutality // callousness // chauvinism // cheating // conceit // condescension // corruption // covetousness // cowardice // craziness // cruelty // decadence // deceitfulness // dishonesty // disloyalty // disrespect // doubt // egoism // envy // erratic // extremism // faithlessness // fearfulness // foolishness // glumness // gluttony // greed // grouchiness // grumpiness // hastiness  // hatred // heartlessness // hubris // hypocrite // idiocy // idleness // impatience // impetuosity // incompetence // indolence // infidelity // inflexibility // injustice // insanity // insolence // intemperance // irritability // jealousy // lewdness // liar // malice // manipulative // mercilessness // moodiness // murderous // narcissism // obduracy // obsessive // obstinacy // offensiveness // perversion // petulance // pitilessness // pomposity // pride // prejudice // pretentiousness // profligacy // promiscuity // rage // rashness  // recklessness // resentfulness // rowdiness // rudeness // ruthlessness // secrecy // self-importance // self-indulgence // self-pity // selfishness // senselessness // short-sighted // sloth // snobbishness // spiteful // stingy // stubbornness // sulkiness // tetchiness // thieving // thoughtlessness // treasonous // triteness // tricky  // twisted // unfaithfulness // unloving  // untrustworthiness  // vanity // vengeful // voracity // wastefulness // weakness // wrath // zealousness

[velivolans]

anise!

colourful headcanons

anise: when it comes to self-care, what does your muse do to take care of themselves? do they take care to spend time on it, or do they feel they don't deserve it?

Lilja does a lot of things based on feeling. If she's not in the mood for doing something, she won’t do it. And she has no problem telling that to other people either. She can seem a bit selfish to others at times, I guess, putting herself before other people’s needs and occasionally before her own duties, plainly refusing to do things that make her uncomfortable (whether it’s in the moment or in general). But while she is usually more of a busybody, she knows the limits of her own energy and knows her right to claim time for self-care. Sometimes, rather than stressing over reports and deadlines, she wants to sink into a plushy armchair instead, sip her favourite herbal tea and enjoy the quiet, comfortable ambience of being home. After all, if her mind is well-rested, her work performance will be better too.

[velivolans]

tea orange!

colourful headcanons

tea orange: what is something that your muse is fascinated with?

The sea, the sea, the sea!

Or well, the world in general. She lived her childhood in a poor fishing and farming society where her opportunities would have been limited until the other Nordics found her. But despite a disadvantaged childhood (or perhaps precisely because of it), Lilja has always been a rather inconvenient dreamer, her heart always filled with longing for something bigger and grander than what she could see in her immediate surroundings, for a taste of adventure to break the death and stagnation that hides in the routine of things. The sea is something that she has always known and what forms a huge part of her identity but to her, it also symbolises freedom and possibilities. The sea is at the same time very familiar to her but also a great unknown to discover. So when life was tough and uncertain, she would have raised her eyes to the horizon where the sky and sea met and dream of one day going to see what lied beyond that foggy line.

In the modern day, she all has the time and wealth to live up her wildest dreams, so she uses every opportunity to travel and discover more of the world around her. She still prefers sailing and the sea over any other element but admittedly flying is more convenient in the current era.