not all in the wilds are monsters; flowers grow too

MORGAN. 21. OUTLAW. WITCH OF THE WILDS. *･☪˙ ˖✶ you LOOK upon the world around you, and you think you know it well. i have smelled it as a WOLF, listened as a ( cat ), prowled shadows that you never d r e a m e d e x i s t e d.

[aesthetic--mood]

Ruby Lucas Aesthetic

[mistressvera]

Meghan Ory | costume appreciation: 3/∞

costume design by Eduardo Castro

ONCE UPON A TIME  | costume appreciation: 26/∞

Ruby Lucas in S1.E1 ∙ Pilot

[wild-mcrgan]

visentoflay.

like a butterfly batting its wings and taking off a bud in the sway of a breeze – at first, it was nothing but a glimpse, alerting the corners of his eyes. instinct flooded his veins before the sight found logical roots in his brain. “don’t let him escape!” he cried out, his heel already removing itself from the ground by the time his sentence trailed off. he left behind a wave of gasps and a number of people who had been knocked over by the group that tore its way through the crowd.

as much as he wanted to hasten his pace, he didn’t want to exhaust his legs before he could reach his target. so ardently his gaze clung to the flutter of the runaway’s cloak that he was hardly mindful of the havoc he wreaked in his path. ah, the cloak. his eyes bore into the back of a guard who’d taken a clear advantage. he might even be able to catch the bastard, if only with a delay. visent’s toes dug into his boots as he stopped abruptly. fingers coiled around the handle of the dagger at his hilt, hurling it with no second thought. should it pierce through the escapee’s cloak and pin it to the tree he’d aimed for, it should be impossible to not end up toppling backwards at their speed.

the HEAVY ARMOR combined with his larger body-built left him a few feet behind the trail--- she’d not deny he was determined, however, she doubted it was for heroic reasons but rather the thrill of the hunt. he’d likely been TRAINED most of his life to chase bandits, while she’d been trained to run away from those who bore that emblem on their chest.

just as nimble feet seem to have won that little race, a SHARP tug coils within her throat as a stubborn blade comes full speed & tears through swaying fabric, sinking deep into the tree’s trunk--- her skinny frame offers little resistance & JOLTS on cue, bouncing backwards like a slingshot as its brought to its knees by the impact; coughing to gain control over her erratic breathing, RAVEN curls veiled by shadows tumble down past arched shoulders.

[wild-mcrgan]

visentoflay.

it all started out as a simple stroll, a patrol of sorts. a few rounds back and forth, mostly out of boredom, but also because he much preferred the feeling of the ground under his feet and the commotion of the people. castle walls were cold and demanding and not cold the way he remembered it from childhood. now, there he stood, standing above the sight of a motionless man, sprawled on the ground at the entrance of a tavern with a deep wound gushing at his throat. not a man, he thought, a corpse.

visent’s eyes rose, embellished in threads of blue iron, and leaped from one person to another amid the circle that had formed around the victim. it took him a moment, but his speech was absolute. “who is to blame for this?”

morgan trailed behind the CROWD like a dancing shadow--- safely under the dark veil of cast by a long hood; it was preferable, traveling without others being able to even pinpoint your exact gender with precision. but as soon as that questions FALLS from his lips, she knows where the fingers will point & those eyes of cyan blue will roam to next; stepping backwards on cue, the HOODED figure recoils & nimble feet are quick to make a run for it.

unlike last night, the sky was cloudless and the moon stood proud amidst darkness, filtered light, however meagre, was sufficient for a pair of extraordinarily sharp eyes to prove useful--- she only needed to be QUICK enough to reach the forest, once in familiar grounds, he’d never be able to catch her.

[wild-mcrgan]

bvenvin.

The young mage couldn’t help but narrow his eyes before he spoke. “Do you always speak in riddles? Sometimes a simple answer should suffice just well.” Braeden commented ever so casually. Nodding his head upon hearing her name, letting her know that he acknowledged it. “Braeden.” The Kederrakath heir omitted his last name – after all, there was no need for such formal introductions in a land known to be everything but formal. Leaning against a tree, the mage kept his stance casual, although his grey eyes never left the woman before him – there was something about her that screamed wild. A lot more different than the people he usually encountered while letting his patience rot away inside the castle of his family. “I was hoping to stumble upon no one, actually. My expectations were pretty low, you needn’t worry.” The dark haired Prince spoke, lacing his words with a somewhat teasing tone, shrugging his shoulders upon speaking. A scoff escaped him, a smirk appearing on his lips when he heard her speak, letting her do all the talking before he actually replied. Braeden shook his head, picking up a twig from the ground and breaking it into tiny small pieces, absentmindedly so, as he looked at the woman again. It was her next words that sparked an interest. “So, you do have the power to stop me. Interesting.” The mage spoke nonchalantly, throwing away the small pieces of twig as he broke it down. “But you are right. My life is my own. No many dare to venture inside this forest.” If she understood what he meant to say – then good. If not, he wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.

“I was not planning on going anywhere but here. Ah – and you were the one to put them in such a mood? I would ask why but I doubt you need a reason.” Braeden commented; although he meant nothing malicious with his words, he wasn’t exactly known for having a filter or even thinking before speaking. The only reason he hadn’t walked away were the choice of words that lied behind the woman before him.

she’d LAUGH, if only this dreadful question hadn’t been the same she’d inquire of her mother for years and years. “ YES... and i do share the sentiment--- but it seems to keep others from asking one too many questions. ” brushing it off the best one could muster, she CROUCHES over the freshly wet grass, fumbling between fallen leafs and broken twigs to locate the desire herbs--- ‘twould be best to feign ignorance, but she’d recognized the poster child of RECKLESSNESS from miles away, the further he dived into the woods, the more she questioned his reasoning. she SOUGHT out the loneliness of these dark surroundings and yet found the company not entirely repellent; not that this was something new... on occasion she’d follow wanderers until they met their death by the fangs of an outraged ogre or hungry spider. “ well then, search through the corpses, i’m sure you’ll find one, eventually... ” her RAW words are coated with dark humor & sardonicism, her golden irises slowly raise from the poisonous roots to meet his eyes, peering from above like a hawk. “ in here? YES. ” she’d possess the advantage of being in her own territory, after all. it wouldn’t be FAIR but witches of the wild were hardly known for playing ‘fair’ --- rules were meant for society. “ but i don’t turn people into toads... regardless of what those foolish guardsman claim. ”

“ i do only as it is required--- if something stands in my way, i either find a way around it or remove it; it’s as simple as that. ” analytical, a single DARK brow arches into a high ‘v’, tongue clicking as she alters to a more inquisitive demeanor. “ ---have you an opinion on me, then? ” 

[jamepotter]

[wild-mcrgan]

regishq.

“Those infernal ducks are at it again.”

“ almost as FRIENDLY as a pack of hungry wolves, aren’t they? ”

[wild-mcrgan]

queenfiona.

hazel hues focused on the girl before her, studying her from head to toe. her clothing, and the way she carried herself giving clear signs that she was far from being a blue-blood. everything about her read WILD, and fiona would be lying if she said she wasn’t amused. 

her words only caused a LAUGH to fall past the queen’s lips. “yours? are you trying to claim a forest?” she took a few steps closer, not paying any mind to the corpses beneath her feet. “i am neither of those, however. i am a QUEEN.” she said abruptly, though she was sure her riding clothes suggested otherwise. fiona had never dressed like a royal wandering about the dark forest, anyone doing so practically asking to be mugged or even murdered. 

there is a FURY in her bones & scorching fire in amber eyes; even the calmest of breezes bow to her whims, a shift in the wings--- HOWLING w i s p s solem within the vacant depths of death plagued forests; of roots wrapped around cold bones & rotting flesh. its AMAZON is destruction & chaos ——— for the student of arcane ruins is striped from purity & delicacy. THUNDER swirls from outstretched fingers, an all-knowing smirk that unravels the darkness that dwells at her core. “ do you PROTECT your k i n g d o m from meddlers, your majesty? ” beware, beware--- warns her tongue with unspoken words. “ do your GUARDS shield you in exchange? ” growling ERUPTS from beneath bushes & behind trees--- the silver pack’s sharp c a n i n e s glow bright in under dim lights, each step forward menacing, merely AWAITING for command. “ do you KNOW what lurks behind every shadow of your kingdom? --- i do. ” ruthless winds begin to soften--- the wilderness of her dark mane settles too, her step forward PRIDEFUL & resilient.

QUEEN? bah! --- the rattling of trees seems to mock, as that stubborn, skinny slipper of a girl FOLDS her arms against her chest in mild defiance, dismay so clearly written on every curve of pale features. “ invoke a TITLE that means nothing here if you wish... i am not threatened. ”

[amythegloriouspond]

[wild-mcrgan]

bvenvin.

Even when the other woman circled him, Braeden knew better than to show her his confidence. Standing his ground, the Prince crossed his arms over his chest, a devious smirk appearing as he heard the dark haired mystery’s words. “I know enough to not get lost. Does that count, milady?” He rolled the last word, letting it drip from his tongue in a velvety tone of voice – whether it was in a mocking nature or not, not even the Kederrakath heir knew. His eyebrows rose when she told him she had been watching and that was when he grew more wary – he hated have scrutinizing eyes on him, whether it be from those closest to him or mere strangers. To him, it was the same thing and he would rather go without. “As flattered as I am, I would rather not have a stranger follow me.” Braeden spoke, instead of actually answering her question, no matter how rhetorical they were or weren’t. “I never said I wished to wander,” he spoke, turning around to meet the woman once again; he only wished to get away “only that I was a wandered more than I was the other two things. You did not present me with much to choose, did you?” The mage asked, raising his eyebrow.

“Interesting.” Braeden spoke, when he heard her tell him it was no place for someone like him. “Perhaps not, but my apologies if I choose not to let a stranger’s opinion hinder my wandering.” The Prince spoke; he knew the dangers of the forest, which is why he stuck to the areas he was familiar with.

  nails sharp as razors tap at the wooden grip of her staff, she’s CURIOUS & that’s the only reason she’s not run off & disappeared into the evergreens that surround them. “ If you’ve crossed paths with me, you’re lost enough. ” her sultry voice comes naturally without pretense, she’s almost TAKEN BACK by the choice of words--- after all, even a girl from the wilds has her pride. “ morgan. ” she offers, more for his sake than his own. “if you’re hoping to stumble upon a lady, ‘twould be wiser venturing elsewhere... ” granted, that’s only an assumption. who KNEW what girls from society truly did on their spare time besides being suffocated by pointless layers of clothing. a HUSKY laughter erupts from her lips & do not be fooled by her fragile appearance--- it’s meant to taunt & vex you. “ of all things in HERE, be thankful i’m the one who’s taken an interest in you... this forest has eyes and ears everywhere, even the roots wrapped beneath your soles cannot be relied on. ” there’s a pause to her SPEECH--- a wanderer, was he? ‘twas true, she was quick to judge others, and even quicker to dismiss them... when it came down to people, it was SIMPLE, was it not? they were always driven by desire or morals. he had the same look on his face as she’d spotted once on a WOUNDED panther the villagers dragged out of the wilds. “ whatever it is you SEEK, you will not find it here. unless of course... you wish to be alone--- is that so? ah. ” there’s an attempt  to soften her words, so often as brutal as a punch in the gut or the cut of a blade, but softness does not come easy for her, it is not easy to conjure up that which she so rarely uses. “ I SEE... your life is your own, do with it as you wish. i won’t say i don’t have the POWER to stop you, but i surely lack the will. ”

    with that, she waves him off in DISMISSAL, returning the staff to her side in retreat & taking a seat upon a fallen oak with a heavy sigh hangs on lush lips. “ still... i advise you AGAINST going in that direction--- the sirens at the pound are particularly feisty today. you set one of them on fire and suddenly you’re the bad guy... ”

[wild-mcrgan]

mcrandus.

         if she shows any sign of fear, irina knows she’s as good as dead. there’s no hesitation, dark gaze steady on the wild woman as she paces around her, never deviating her eyes. still, she appears relaxed, hands at her sides, without reaching for any of her daggers. if she became any threat to her, then she’d become a threat to irina — more than now. somehow, the woman reminded her of alecto and how the wolf had behaved upon their first estranged meetings. pacing around her, a predator measuring up their next victim. PREY. but irina wasn’t prey, she wasn’t a victim and she sure as heck wasn’t going to back down.

                   ‘ isn’t EVERYTHING a matter of death these days? ‘

         she addresses andraste’s day and the events that occurred with a too-calm demeanor, as though she hadn’t been shaken to the bone by all she’d seen and all she’d heard. since then, an EERIE feeling had spread all throughout the kingdoms, or so it appeared to be for irina wherever she traveled to.

                   ‘ YEP. but i can SPARE them for you if you’ve seen somethin’ of interest. truth is, they’re just old scraps. ‘

  She’s CURIOUS of everything that does not belong. Would you not stare at the purple thread in the white gown? Would you not mesmerize color in a bleak world? She’s a PREDATOR & menace, a serpentine, unreliable and utterly detached from all humans & their antics, but that but at her core, she is a girl too, with all that it entails.

                “ i suppose so... but of course, there can be no DEATH, if there is no life.                                 when it ceases to be so, perhaps then i shall worry. ”

    She’s all too aware of the meaning behind those words, but what good will it do not living up to her reputation? Witches of the wilds, they’re infamous for twisting and bending words to their whim; but she does so without malice--- after all d e a t h is merely the future of all that lives & living in midst those forests one learns that is simply how things are.

                      “ And yet you search this forgotten place for them...? ” 

    There seems to be a question, but she expects no answer & instead lowers her red hood over pale features to keep herself from exposure.

                     “ I have as much interest in papers as I do in books...                            Which is none, unless there’s need for a fire.                   I told you I’ve seen them--- but 'twas not I who removed them. ”

[wild-mcrgan]

magiclmegara.

“Neither, my friend. I am simply a traveller who has lost her way.” While her tone is loose and friendly, Megara’s hand is on the dagger she has hidden beneath her cloak. “I would be much obliged if you would be able to point me in the direction of a path that exits the forest and I will be on my way.”

“ Intruder, then. How very CARELESS of you. Have you not heard the tales of this place? One should think ‘twould be best avoiding it altogether. ” digging her staff into the dirt for solid ground, she hops down onto the floor & leans against the wooden stick, making a clicking noise with her tongue in dismissal. “ Hmm... ” there’s a long humming PAUSE as she considering the proposition, her golden eyes skim the other thoughtfully. “ That depends a good deal on where you want to get to. ”

[wild-mcrgan]

mcrandus.

        the inhabitants of the dark forest were not the most welcoming people, irina would know. part of her life passes by as she walks through the dangerous lands with the certainty that she could be obliterated in a second did she stumble upon the wrong person and yet CONFIDENT in her own abilities to survive. the female voice comes as a surprise as she walks inbetween tall, hovering trees and hears the sounds of WILDERNESS surround her. she should be scared, she ought to be scared but instead of a shiver up her spine, what comes is a sarcastic chuckle, spilling from a crooked grin that she wears so well as she turns to face her interlocutor.

                      ‘ NEITHER. i search for what’s mine here, like you defend what’s yours and i mean no harm or threat. apparently, difference is, i seem to know where to find clothes. ‘

         irina has a most pesky habit of being IMPERTIENT and, of course, the words come out sarcastic and yet pleasant, unphased by her appearence and even daring to take a jab at it, although she’s alert already, ready to react in any way if it came down to that.

  She’s the serpent that slithers between bushes & the SPIDER that crawls to your bedside at night. The wolf that howls at the moon & shows its canines to warn off foreigners as well as the CAT that lurks in the shadows, listening to your every hushed whisper. She’s a WILD THING for all it’s definitions, alluring, dangerous & unfathomably treacherous--- but makes no sudden moves, her claws are at her sides and fangs hidden between venomous lips.

     “ Whatever's belonged to you in the past, no longer does. These wilds have long claimed I’m sure, and you’d be a fool to delve deeper... Unless of course, it is a matter of death. I should think the risk would be worthy, then. ” 

    Her approach is as cautious as it is cunning, she encircles the girl to misguide & confuse, as she would a deer, but climbs down to her level with ease, seemingly without any ill-intentions lurking behind the twitch of lips in a bemused grin. 

                  “ Do you not approve of my fashion sense? ‘Tis most unfortunate...                     And what is it that you seek, that which you claim yours, meddler?                         Could those be papers I’ve spotted not too far from here,                                              tucked away into these ruins...? ”

[wild-mcrgan]

bvenvin.

Usually, his time in the Dark Forest was based on a simple thought: me, myself and I. That was the reason why Braeden wanted to escape the castle more often than not. The controlling parents, the impeding doom that was taking care of an Imperium (it was a rather paradoxical thing, too), the people bowing their heads every time he passed by, people coming to him and him just wanting to wave them off… – that’s what he wanted to escape, that’s why he would rather be on his own (unless he was accompanied by someone he didn’t mind, of course). 

So, when he heard a stranger’s voice, his grey eyes rolled inside of its sockets before he turned around with a glint in his eyes. “Perhaps I am just a wandered. After all, the Dark Forest knows no owner – isn’t that right?” Maybe he should watch his witty tongue when facing someone he knew nothing about – then again, some times even the smart Prince didn’t listen to his own little voice.

yet another CAGED BIRD that wishes to spread its wings; oh poor little humans, roaming about without being persecuted with pitchforks & torches, or claimed to be daughters and sons of the fiery pits & still they found enough time to whine and complain of their mundane lives. how sad, she sardonizes in her mind.

mockery threatens to spill out in a husky laugh as she encircles the boy with increasing CURIOSITY towards his dubious behavior.  " And yet I know her as only one who owns them could, " she states matter-of-factly. " Can you claim the same? " the raven-haired wild thing starts walking upon the shattered rocks & around fallen corpses, making her way towards him with a predominant alpha demeanor. " I have watched your progress for some time," she continues. " Where does he go, I wondered. Why is he here? " removing the staff from her waistband, the witch FOLDS her arms over her bosom; for all the witty tongue, hers was lethal --- born of a serpent, every syllable drips with venom. " So you venture into foreign ground while all you’ve ever known crumbles to ashes... Do you truly wish to wander? I could show you the demons that lurk in this place, the things that prowl in the shadows--- 'twould quickly quench your thrist for the unknown, I’m certain. " daft fingers grip at the wooden staff, placing its sharp end, carved out of animal bones & wood beneath his chin. “ Go home. This is no place for a handsome lad such as yourself. ”

[heatherfield]

[wild-mcrgan]

heatherfield:

[insp]

[godswollen-deactivated20171014]

[wild-mcrgan]

“Well, well, what have we here?” a glimmer of golden flashes, piercing through the shadows the flames of her eyes contrast, the witch’s voice is a husky undertone in the chill of the night; cold and eerie, warped in mystery and fog much as the girl who’s chosen to show her true form, at last. The grass was sumptuous & trees were tall, her long raven tresses almost fades in the inky blackness, untamed and wild. she takes firm steps over broken ruins so she stands on a higher ground, circling through that rocky, slippery ground to perceive you out of curiosity, if nothing else. For awhile, she’s watched from a distance, wearing feathers as opposed to human skin, those same feathers that now hang from her skirt & adorn slim shoulders; sandals made out of animal leather made that stealthy approach possible, but she wears ragged clothes, a torn top with a hood and too much cleave and no cloth to cover her back, leaving any nobility in awe, surely; it was tied by a strap laced around her long neck & there was too a wooden staff tied loosely to her bare back. all which indicates that she’s not been part of civilization for a long time, if ever.

“Are you a vulture, I wonder? A scavenger poking amidst a corpse whose bones have been long since cleaned? Or merely an intruder, come into these darkspawn filled wilds of mine in search of… easy prey?” she comes to a stop--- folded arms & arched brows, seemingly POSSESSIVE of her surroundings. “What say you, hmm? Scavenger or intruder?”