let's do the time warp again

[notyetlegend]

MERIDA COURT Seelie, neutral INFLUENCE ★ ★ ★ TITLE Friend of the Dead, Hartslayer, Brave Heart, Lady Lioness of DunDealgan OCCUPATION Lady of DunDealgan. archer, huntress, swordswoman AGE 20 ABLE TO FAST-TRAVEL wings given to Angus via a boon in December 2,700 as of September 2,701 will have a ring that can teleport her to places she's been before in Seelie territory COMMUNICATION METHODS compass, given by Korra (sangilak) and made by Hermione (brainiest) that will give network access and point to 'home' (place/person/etc) capable of sending correspondence via bird, mainly ravens RESIDENCE IN 2,701 DunDealgan, south of Daonna RESIDENCE IN 2,702 DunDealgan, south of Daonna MAJOR EVENTS BEAST MASTER Due to being the only one able to get close to Cu Chulainn and calm him down while in werewolf form, locals around the area of DunDealgan start to regard Merida as a beast master of sorts. Considering how she feels about his warp spasms, she doesn't exactly like this apparent appointment but if it's to protect him from any sort of torches-and-pitchforks scenario, she'll take it on. [ ✖ ] TRUST IN BLOOD A search through Treun for the escaped convicts of Leathann turns into a dangerous situation. In a moment of desperation, Merida accidentally kills a convict who has the intent of doing something unsavory to her. Traumatized, it's Gilgamesh of all people who pulls her through and reassures her that she did nothing wrong. The golden king, unwittingly, earns himself her trust and loyalty. [ ✖ ] LADY LIONESS The year had seen to a great deal of change in Merida. Not just in something deciding that her fate lay within the other court, but in herself and the actions that she took, in the thoughts that she processed. Some part of her became...less idealistic, as it were, more open to the idea that this was war. It had taken her just near a year in the Drabwurld to accept that as fact, that she'd only be seeing home in her dreams, and half a year later to find it in herself to move on. This land of the fae was her reality now. These were her people. And that was why she needed to protect them. [ ✖ ] MAJOR CHANGES SORCERESS Merida has started to take her magical studies more seriously than before. By the end of the time skip, she should be appropriately trained in all the magics she has taken on, both fire and runic magic. WARRIOR Likewise, Merida has been honing her combat skills throughout the year. With a new sword from Diarmuid as of August and a new bow from Wan as of Yule, she'll feel as though she'll be better prepared for any of the future battles. Having killed her first human (accidentally), Merida starts accepting the idea that it's okay to kill people sometimes.

PLANS co-parenting wolfhound pups with Lancer fire magic training shard training become known as some kind of beast master by the locals visit the new Barrel once a month bandit stomping along a trade route with Korra swan shooting competition with Gilgamesh in April Treun tourney Samhain White Hart Hunt II: the Hart's Revenge SUMMARY OF KNOWN DETAILS For the most of it, Merida will be working on training in both her fire magic and her shard, along with learning some runes from Lancer, when she's not taking part in any of the events happening. Gaining influence in the surrounding area. Strengthening and being able to control her magic will be one of her primary focuses. She'll also be helping out around DunDealgan since she'll feel partially responsible for everyone there, considering she's courting its Lord. Many of her efforts will be going towards building up better personal relations between DunDealgan and the natives surrounding the area. Another thing that I have planned is for her to open up a combat school for women of either court and/or natives only, offering it as a place of refuge during times of battle, and once she's lost her idealism and become a little more war hardened, offer her students out as mercenaries. This will all take time, possibly over the course of two time skips, but ideally I'd like to start planning things out now. TIMELINE OF EVENTS SPRING IN 2,701 (Mar, Apr, May) EARLY MARCH - waking up in Caer Glaem EARLY MARCH - chat with Saber EARLY MARCH - chat with Mako MARCH - making the fortress warm and toasty MARCH - helping Diarmuid control his fire MARCH - being defrosted by Gilgamesh, telling stories of the fae in exchange MARCH - holy Lugh it's a lion MARCH - bandit stomping with Korra LATE MARCH - chat with Ben LATE MARCH - the Barrel MARCH - monthly summary APRIL - things get frisky thanks to the harp (NSFW) APRIL - Diarmuid's birthday at the Barrel APRIL - breaking the harp MAY - swan hunting competition with Gilgamesh. interruption by bandersnatch MAY - running into Ben MAY - monthly summary SUMMER IN 2,701 (Jun, Jul, Aug) TREUN - spectating post tournament TREUN - exploring the markets and drinking TREUN - shopping and talking with Saber TREUN - chat with Hiro TREUN - dancing with Alyosha JUNE - monthly summary JULY - talking with Gilgamesh during beachdraidh JULY - bar fight JULY - helping Diarmuid with CSI: Daonna JULY - reassuring Lancer and going home AUGUST - training and talk with Diarmuid AUGUST - to the Sunsoak Markets. Diarmuid asks an important question AUGUST - monthly summary FALL IN 2,701 (Sept, Oct, Nov) SEPTEMBER - visiting Alice SAMHAIN - relaxing with the bae SAMHAIN - talking with the Shuck SAMHAIN - dancing and talks with Diarmuid SAMHAIN - relaxing and talking with Sam SAMHAIN - adventures in Scima with Gilgamesh SAMHAIN - what happens in Samhain stays at Samhain NOVEMBER - team up with Wan in Daonna NOVEMBER - archery lessons with Wan NOVEMBER - trouble in Treun (cw: sensitive topics) WINTER IN 2,701/2,702 (Dec, Jan, Feb) DECEMBER - rematch with Saber DECEMBER - meeting Diarmuid in fox form DECEMBER - celebrating first year anniversary with Lancer (NSFW) JANUARY - the Barrel FEBRUARY - the Barrel SPRING IN 2,702 (Mar, Apr, May) MARCH - QUEST: skeleton zombies MARCH - post quest wind down. serious talks with Sam (cw: sensitive topics) APRIL - Station date with Hiro LATE APRIL - lone fox LATE APRIL - furry time at the Barrel MAY - stopping Alice from doing something stupid ಠ_ಠ

( codes by whambam )

Comments

[notyetlegend]

H-hey! I was practicin'.

[Luckily she saw him coming and had the sense to banish the flame before he took her gloves off, otherwise it would have been all over the place. Merida cupped her hands together and gave him a small, irritated look before she rolled her eyes. Placing a hand on her hip, she pressed a finger against a nearby wall, writing the necessary rune into the fortress before tilting her head at him at the look.]

He made it snow in Lady Rin's room durin' Yule an' covered it in th' stuff. [Still, she shakes her head, sighing as she shrugs.] He might play stupid pranks like that sometimes but he's more responsible than that.

[Job done, Merida crossed her arms over her chest and tucked her hands into her cloak to keep them warm now that her gloves were gone.]

Doesn't take a genius to figure out this isn't natural weather though.

[red_branch]

You oughta know better. Doin' it in the air's gonna take more power. [That was to say, it was sort of his own fault that Merida wasn't using it exactly to specification. His own runes were ones that could be freely used in the air to their best effect. Given she shared his memories, it was likely she'd use it the same way he did.]

Put it on your gloves--then, wear 'em. They'll be warm that way.

[He demonstrated by writing the same rune into Merida's cloak, which grew a bit warmer at that. Realizing quickly that he was just showing his frustration with the weather, Lancer kissed Merida's hands and turned to return to the trees.]

I remember it, though. He flooded that girl's room and I was the one who melted all of it and dried everythin' up. Think he's willin' to piss off this many of folks?

Or, is he havin' a spat with somebody?

[notyetlegend]

I know, I know.

[Admittedly that was shoddy work on her part, half assed at best. Her cheeks have the decency to flush a little redder than the pink they are from the cold weather, before she makes a small noise when he heats her cloak up like that. The puppies whine around her feet, then bark, happy that their hiding spot from the cold is warmer now.

He's not the only one frustrated at the weather, and she's willing to bet others are too, her expression softening as he kisses her hands before she slips her gloves back on, writing the rune into the palm of them before tugging them back on with a shrug.]

Only person I can think he'd be fightin' with is Hiccup. [That in itself would be kind of odd, though she didn't know about his leaving the Drabwurld just yet. She sighs and waves a hand after inscribing the rune at another wall.] I'll check on them after. It's not like they're goin' anywhere in this kind of weather.

Fields around Dun Dealgan

[athousandcurses]

[Grainne's out in the countryside, talking a long walk on her way elsewhere, when loud cursing catches her hear.

Out of curiosity, she pauses and turns toward the sound, seeking the source. When she finds it, she's surprised to see that it's a familiar figure.]

Merida? What's the matter? Did you quarrel with Cu Chulainn?

[Why else would a young lady be using such language?]

[notyetlegend]

[Grainne will find her muttering angrily before she turns to face the other woman. Merida crosses her arms, scowling with a huff. Her voice comes out in a growl, one of the puppies with her making whining noises in the back of his throat and pawing mum's leg. He knows she's mad.]

No, but I've got a bone to pick with him later. [She grumbles.] I got into an argument with one of th' soldiers.

[athousandcurses]

[Grainne glances down to focus on the puppy while speaking.]

How strange... why are you quarreling with the soldiers?

[notyetlegend]

Because he was bein' a pig-headed ass! Why else would I argue with one?

[Generally Merida got along well with the soldiers in DunDealgan, many of them liked her. Fighting with one was almost unheard of now that she was Seelie. She makes a frustrated noise, throwing her hands up into her hair and tugging at it out of annoyance.]

Ugh, he said I looked prettier with shorter hair an' I argued that it was better when it was longer!

[athousandcurses]

Why does that matter? [Confusion crosses Grainne's face.] Unless you plan on taking another lover, his is not the opinion you should be worried about.

[notyetlegend]

That's what I said! An' then I punched him.

[She drags her hand down her face with an angry sigh.]

[athousandcurses]

I am sure he was only trying to pay you a compliment. I have heard the soldier's who stay at the fort are fond of you.

[She pauses, considering.]

Or are things that different? Do the lords and ladies no longer take lovers aside from their céile?

[notyetlegend]

They are, which makes this more frustratin' than it needs to be!

[No, Mer, that's just your anger talking and the puppy knows it, barking and running over to Grainne, pawing at her foot.]

Well, my dad never did but I heard th' lords do. [There's a grimace at the imagery, growling under her breath.] I have no plans to.

[athousandcurses]

[The older woman sighs, and shakes her head.]

Best to get used to such things, my girl. When you are cursed with beauty, there will not be a man who does not seek to express their interest. But you seem more out of sorts than usual... is there anything else that's bothering you? It seems like such a strange thing to punch a man for...

[notyetlegend]

I also set his pants on fire.

[That she doesn't seem angry at herself about at least, even as she places her hands on her hips with a shake of her head. Her anger seemed to be dying down at least, and she walked over to a nearby tree.]

That's th' thing that gets me, I don't know what's goin' on. [Merida huffed a little.] Every time someone so much as says somethin' to me I get ticked off for no reason.

[athousandcurses]

[A very long, thoughtful pause.]

Is it perhaps... that particular time in your mooncycle?

[She has to ask.]

[No really. There might be a tea that could help.]

[notyetlegend]

I think I'd know if I was bleedin'.

[Yes, Grainne, she checked :|]

[athousandcurses]

I refer more to the time right before it. [Grainne sighs and shakes her head.]

I have had to give many teas to calm the restless anger of the women in the homestead. But if it is not that, I cannot think of anything unless it is something that you are not aware of that is bothering you.

[notyetlegend]

I have no idea but if someone doesn't stop playin' that damn harp...!

[She punched the tree in front of her, her anger seeming to deflate a little as her shoulders relaxed, lifting her fist to look at the knuckles.]

[athousandcurses]

Harp... where are you hearing a harp?

[Grainne's expression changes to one of alarm, almost as if she might know something about a harp...]

[notyetlegend]

Everywhere! Nobody else seems to hear it though.

[It's really the most frustrating thing ever. Merida tugs at the ends of her short hair, huffing.]

[athousandcurses]

There must be some sort of magic here at work...

[She closes her eyes tightly.]

Would you like me to give you a recipe for a calming tea?

[notyetlegend]

I don't need any tea.

[Her voice has become softer, crossing her arms languidly and raising a hand, threading fingers through her hair before returning her attention to the other woman.]

You reckon this is magic?

[athousandcurses]

You are not the first one that has mentioned a harp...

[Grainne still seems to recoil when Merida rejects the offer, shrinking a little into her cloak.]

[notyetlegend]

There are others?

[The question holds surprise in her voice, though not as much as on her face. Noticing the shrinking Grainne is doing, she reaches out, propping her upright with a jerk of her hands. There's no need for her to act like that.]

[athousandcurses]

[A brief flash of panic, and Grainne is backpedaling several steps.]

Y-yes... I...

[And she doesn't quite know how or why, but tears suddenly start streaming down her face.]

[notyetlegend]

Grainne?

[She knows that things have been hard on her since she woke, and the harp has played its tune again, her mood switching. No longer angry but concerned, reaching out for her hand as her brows furrow together.]

You...what happened?