Shengzhe

"   i know. but it was still quite funny.   "           ansegar says, as he watched the other man stand up and begin cleaning himself off. a naughtier part of him wanted to knock the other off again with a swift swipe of his leg-- to show that warriors doesn't usually spend this much time grooming themselves in battle, and that they should accept the grime and dirt of it with honor. but he stops himself. perhaps later ...

"   please. that's nothing a little unicorn drought and dragon's blood salve can't cure.   "    he continues. admittedly, he's never met a changeling before. they were rare even in the night's watch. and looking at the other man now, he doubts a little facial scar would hurt his appearance. if anything, it might make him look better. walking back to the rack of weapons, ansegar skipped the swords and the daggers and instead picked up a staff.    "   how about this for me? no blade. no wounds on your pretty face. what about you?   "

"   you didn't have to knock me on my ass to prove your point.   "   although paric's tone is simply teasing. he grabs a hold of the man's hand and lifts himself up with some help. then he brushes his off, in case there are any leaves clinging there. the changeling's appearance means everything to him, so he also puts on a charming smile. that he at least knows how to do. this whole fighting thing, not so much.

“   do you think that wise? i might cut myself and my face is too pretty to be that intimate with a blade.   ”   he snickers softly, wondering if he can find a way to best him. hmm, which weapon?

Marcus Rutherford in The Wheel of Time (s2) as Perrin Aybara

circe sentence starters

by madeline miller. i altered some quotes so they fit better  ♡

❝  my father has never been able to imagine the world without himself in it.  ❞ ❝  there is a twisting feeling in my chest, like cloth being wrung dry.  ❞ ❝  the grudges of the gods are as deathless as their flesh.  ❞ ❝  it was my first lesson. beneath the smooth, familiar face of things is another that waits to tear the world in two.  ❞ ❝  you think just because you are a daughter of the sun, you may uproot the world to please yourself.  ❞ ❝  even the best iron grows brittle with too much beating.  ❞ ❝  fear of failure is the worst thing for any spell.  ❞ ❝  those who fight against prophecy only draw it more tightly around their throats.  ❞ ❝  did you smile a little? perhaps i only flatter myself.  ❞ ❝  i have a better idea. i will do as i please.  ❞ ❝  what can i say? the world is an ugly place. we must live in it.  ❞ ❝  how many of us would be granted pardon if our true hearts were known?  ❞ ❝  you threw me to the crows, but it turns out i prefer them to you.  ❞ ❝  give me the blade. some things are worth spilling blood for.  ❞ ❝  it is very close. a perfect sleeping spot to ease your weary bones.  ❞ ❝  all my life had been murk and depths, but i was not a part of that dark water. i was a creature within it.  ❞ ❝  most men do not know me for what i am.  ❞ ❝  i suppose i could weep and rub my eyes to please you, but i choose not to live so falsely.  ❞ ❝  there is no wound that you can give me that i have not already given myself.  ❞ ❝  i will not be a bird bred in a cage, too dull to fly even when the door stands open.  ❞ ❝  i stood there for a long time fearing such things, and waiting, as if someone would come and reassure me.  ❞ ❝  this is how zeus felt when he first lifted the thunderbolt.  ❞ ❝  i had a little pride, and that was good. more would have been fatal.  ❞ ❝  will you not come to bed, my love?  ❞ ❝  if my childhood has given me anything, it’s endurance.  ❞ ❝  if you had asked me, i would have said i was happy.  ❞ ❝  that is another thing about you. you make me want to spill my secrets.  ❞ ❝  they do not care if you are good. they barely care if you are wicked. the only thing that makes them listen is power.  ❞ ❝  as for that safety, i do not want it. it is only more chains.  ❞ ❝  all those years i had spent with them were like a stone tossed in a pool. already, the ripples were gone.  ❞ ❝  war always seemed to me a foolish choice from men. whatever they win from it, they will only have a handful of years to enjoy before they die. more likely they will perish trying.  ❞ ❝  are you always so suspicious?  ❞ ❝   in a solitary life, there are rare moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth.  ❞ ❝  i can bend the world to my will, as a bow bent for an arrow.  ❞ ❝  will you do me the honor of dining with me?  ❞ ❝  i know what we owe you. what i owe.  ❞ ❝  i’m afraid i might have floated on, believing those dull memories were all there was, until the end of days.  ❞ ❝  do not be too happy. it will bring down fire on your head.  ❞ ❝  you are a poison snake, and i am another, and on such terms we please ourselves.  ❞ ❝  your words are like a secret. a thing that looks like stone, but inside is a seed.  ❞ ❝  you cannot know how frightened gods are of pain. there is nothing more foreign to them.  ❞ ❝  bold action and bold manner are not the same.  ❞ ❝  a golden cage is still a cage.  ❞ ❝  i am surprised to see you so plain after such boasting.  ❞ ❝  your voice is like balm upon my raw skin.  ❞ ❝  does no one have the courage? will no one dare to face me?  ❞ ❝  those who love me a little do not care to say.  ❞ ❝  it is easily to speak so open with you. your face is like a quiet pool that will hold everything safe in its depths.  ❞ ❝  humbling women seems to me a chief pastime of poets. as if there can be no story unless we crawl and weep.  ❞ ❝  you are weak and blind, and it is worse because you choose it.  ❞ ❝  you can teach a viper to eat from your hands, but you cannot take away how much it likes to bite.  ❞ ❝  i should have known you would be good for nothing to me.  ❞ ❝  gold does not give back a life.  ❞ ❝  it is funny, that even after all this time, you believe you will be rewarded, just because you have been obedient.  ❞ ❝  i have done your work for you, and all you give me is mockery and contempt.  ❞ ❝  where would you go, if you might escape?  ❞ ❝  you are right. this world is a wild and terrible place, and worth shouting at.  ❞ ❝  i cannot bear this world a moment longer.  ❞ ❝  i owe you nothing. you will have of me only what i want to give.  ❞ ❝  however gold you shine, do not forget your fire.  ❞ ❝  that is what you desire most of all: to drive others into doubt, keep them wondering and fretting, stumbling behind your dancing feet.  ❞ ❝  sorry that you thought i was weak, but you were wrong.  ❞ ❝  trickery is for cowards, men not bull-necked enough to show true courage.  ❞ ❝  i have a little pride. if they do not weep, i will not either.  ❞ ❝  you have as many coils as a snake, and an eye always to your advantage.  ❞ ❝  i want the sun to burn me. i want it to scorch me to the bone.  ❞ ❝  what of me? shall i rot?  ❞ ❝  how long would i cling to that handful of minutes, trying to cover myself as if with some threadbare blanket?  ❞ ❝  i have been old and stern for so long, carved with regrets and years like a monolith. but that is only a shape i’ve been poured into. i do not have to keep it.  ❞ ❝  i am not weak. and i will never be sorry not to be like you.  ❞ ❝  you draw me in as if you are winding up a thread.  ❞ ❝  the fragility of mortals breeds kindness and good grace.  ❞ ❝ come, there are blankets here, laid for you upon the soft grass. ❞ ❝ there will be no songs made for you. no stories. you will live a life of obscurity. you will be without a name in history. you will be no one. ❞ ❝ those heroes. you should see the look on their faces when i run straight for them. ❞ ❝ those who fight against prophecy only draw it more tightly around their throats. ❞ ❝ see? we do not need anyone. ❞ ❝ have you not always insisted on being difficult in everything you do? ❞ ❝ you cannot think of it. it will only torment you. ❞ ❝ and that is the least of my powers. ❞ ❝ you are lucky i do not kill you where you stand. ❞ ❝ you do not understand the dangers that wait for you in the world. ❞ ❝ your threats are crude. i had hoped we might discuss this reasonably. ❞ ❝ you showed me your scars, and in return you let me pretend that i had none. ❞ ❝ my whole life, i have waited for tragedy to find me. ❞ ❝ it is not for such as you to question my purpose. ❞ ❝ i felt a weariness in me so great i thought i would sink into the earth. ❞ ❝ have patience, your strength will come in time. ❞ ❝ you have never understood how strong i am. ❞ ❝ you do not know what i can do. ❞ ❝ i have said all i will say. do not ask me again. ❞ ❝ perhaps no parent can truly see their child. when we look we see only the mirror of our own faults. ❞ ❝ i cannot bear this world a moment longer. ❞ ❝ there is no profit in chasing riddles of the fates. ❞ ❝ why can you not be more peaceful? why must it be so hard? ❞ ❝ come. let’s do something fun. i will show you magic. ❞ ❝ at last. i have met the thing the gods can use against me. ❞ ❝ clever. you were testing me, weren’t you? ❞ ❝ i must tell you, all my past is like today; monsters and horrors no one wants to hear. ❞ ❝ you cannot come. it is not safe for mortals. ❞ ❝ come forth, and speak to my face. or do you only do your murdering from the shadows? ❞ ❝ you are safe. we may be happy at last. ❞ ❝ what else have you kept from me? ❞ ❝ all heroes are fools. all heroes but me. ❞ ❝ i know what i was in those days: unsteady, inconstant. ❞ ❝ i will be fine, i promise you. ❞ ❝ i have a better idea. i will do as i please. ❞ ❝ will there never be an end to it? ❞ ❝ i will wear that shame all my life. i cannot undo it, but i will spend my days wishing i could. ❞ ❝ if you want to join me, i will not stop you. ❞ ❝ if i do this thing, it will be the last i will ever do for you. ❞ ❝ i am sorry i put you in such danger. ❞

PLEIADES GROUP PROMPTS ! they'll be split out by different categories (kingdoms, magic, bestiary), just to give you multiple routes to play in. send me a word from the below and i'll make a starter based off of it. please specify muse if i'm a multi-muse blog. if you want it the other way around, just add a reverse to the message.

LYSAIN

POISON → our muses come across a beautiful plant, but it might be poisonous. it's up to us to decipher if it can be picked or not.

HALLUCINATION → my muse just snapped out of a very deep illusion cast by a sorcerer. yours is the first they see upon waking.

LOST → my muse swore that they saw a beautiful library in this spot earlier, but now they can't find it. can your muse help or is it the blind leading the blind?

VARLINNIS

EXPLORE → our muses are exploring part of the untouched old lands of varlinnis. will they get lost in the moment or get too spooked?

ASH → our muses find something buried in the ashes. a beautiful and ornate book. what secrets lie within and how will they use it?

GLAMOUR → our muses are lying about their identity. using the fact that this kingdom is a fresh start. fake dating trope anyone?

RITRINC

DIP → our muses take advantage of the beautiful and large body of water that spans throughout part of the kingdom. time to skinny dip.

BOUQUET → my muse has collected a couple of beautiful (and safe) flowers and they decide to give it to your muse when they see them next.

HEALING → my muse was severely injured in a battle and is currently in a medic's tent recovering, yours is either healing them or coming to visit.

VISSAI

DRAGONS → our muses come face to face with one of the dragons. what's their reaction? bonus points if one of them is a dragonrider, they can be showing theirs off.

ARENA → our muses are in one of the largest arenas ever. time to start sparring. why not take advantage of the old lands?

VIEW → our muses just hiked up to the top of a mountain. now they're able to sit back and enjoy the beautiful view.

CHASQUE

CAVES → our muses are exploring the caves together. they're probably lost, but at least the company is good.

ETERNAL NIGHT → suddenly our muses are engulfed in a lot of darkness. mine starts to freak out and seeks yours out to comfort them.

CRYSTALS → our muses stumble upon a beautiful bunch of crystals and mine tries to take some for your muse.

UMORIA

WHISPERS → our muses start to heart whispers coming from the tree. they stop for a moment to see if they understand.

DARE → your muse dares mine to go into the swampland where people seem to be transported out of if they're not magical.

LEGEND → my muse is telling yours a scary story or old myth about the land. they're sitting around a campfire at night.

FERANTHOR

WALL → our muses reach the wall and mine jokes that they should just stay here forever. really, they just wanted the exercise.

UNKNOWN → our muses venture out pass the wall and start to explore what could be out there. their life is really in danger now.

MONSTER → our muses just saw something breeze by them and it looked like a creature. mine is quick to jump into hunting mode.

NON KINGDOM RELATED

POTION → our muses take a potion together and it starts to make them extremely hot or thirsty. they have to look for a cure together.

GARGOYLE → my muses accidentally activates a gargoyle and now our muses are being hunted down together, forced to hide.

UNICORN → our muses are looking for a unicorn together, but soon enough forget everything (unicorn magic) and just wander around together.

FEAST → our muses are together in some grand feast. lots of wine and tasty food is being had, so they start chatting each other up.

THRONE ROOM → our muses are the last ones left in a throne room, it suddenly feels like an intimate space now that it's empty.

TREATY → our muses are from different kingdoms and trying to see how they can each benefit from working together.

WAR → our muses are from different kingdoms and tend to be a bit competitive, trying to one up each other in the conversation.

SPARRING → our muses are sparring together and things start getting hot and heavy.

HORSE RIDING → my muses picks yours up on the way into town, offering them a ride on their house.

"   why thank you. always nice when people appreciate my ... nimbleness.   "           ansegar says with a smile ... a true, genuine, and amused one, though you might see a hint of smugness if you look close enough. to be fair to solomon, though, he has fought many men both on the wall and off it, both royals and not. there are even some who has been training their whole lives. and he can confidently say that some of them are less of a fighter than the prince.

"   yeah. we definitely can't have that.   "    ansegar chuckled before walking to where the weapons rack was, and coming back to the sparring ground with a staff in his hand instead. he gave solomon a look, as if asking for his permission to use it.    "   no blade, though this is a pretty strong wood. can't promise it won't be painful. and your choice?   "

　　"if my form is weird, your speed is inhumane." it should not be taken as an insult, though. the prince was genuinely impressed by the trainee's abilities in combat. and solomon was not a lousy fighter, at least he didn't think so. but he was aware that his strength lied on his brains, not his brawn. swallowing his pride, he took ansegar's hand, standing up and brushing off the excess of dirt from his trousers.

　　he flashed the man a questioning look, his heart still struggling to slow down its pace. "as long as i can bear a shield. i intend to return to beacon's reach with my head still attached to my neck."

cheese trap.

edits / body claim. bonus spice x x

if what he has read about royals and their peculiar lives,            he was sure that in some other time, or with some other royal, this would have been a capital offense: embarrassing a prince on another land, or dirtying their clothes by sending them tumbling to the ground. in the back of his mind, the young wolf was expecting some hidden executioner to come out of the grass or the rocks and hit him through the neck and his head will be rolling on the floor.

but then again, his brothers have also often told him of the relationship between vissai and feranthor-- how the kingdom on the mountains supported the establishment of the night's watch. not only as a group that will protect the kingdom from the dangers of the unknown. but also as a sanctuary for the lost, banished, or those with nowhere to go.

perhaps the royals of vissai are just different from the stories he read.

with another chuckle, ansegar then approached the prince ... unfastening the dagger that was hidden on his lower back, and handing it to him.    "   if you don't want to learn now, then at least take this.   "    he says, placing the dagger on the prince's hand before he could even say anything else.    "   it's not the most elegant looking. but it's made of drakon scale ... stronger than most metals of the earth. just whip it out and it should protect you from most things. you do know how to use a dagger, right?   "

with that, he then turned to the direction of the prince's ride.    "   alright. show me your mighty steed.   "

"i-..." dusting himself off with a petulant huff, he isn't very good at presenting himself as low-brow. he was decidedly a lover, not a fighter, but the importance of good self-defense training wasn't lost on him. "am fine."

exhaling sharply, he decides to salvage what was left of his ego, shaking his head. "i believe it prudent to return before dark. come, you can ride with me."