notyetlegend | let's do the time warp again

Entry tags:

let's do the time warp again

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 )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Angus follows his direction easily, snorting warm air from his nose as the wolfhound pranced ahead, Moryn comfortable where he was on Angus' back. Merida makes a noise of confirmation when he asks if she's comfortable, resting her head between her paws over his shoulder as her ears perk, listening intently. There's no missing the look of pride in her eyes for him; she's seen him change so much in the last year that she feels like this is good for him.

The purring noise starts up in her throat again when he scratches her ear, tilting her head towards his hand as her tail brushed over his back, wagging slightly before she growled, ears flattening.]

I hope you didn't make it easy for her.

Easy, my girl. She did not try to steal the kill from me. In fact, she helped me.

[Diarmuid continues scratching Merida's ears in hopes of calming her down again.]

See, she had a bow with her. I am sure you have noticed the difference in my spears and Cu Chulainn's. His is meant for throwing. Mine are not. It leaves me at a disadvantage when I am hunting sometimes. I can throw mine over a short distance, but a longer one? No, they would not fly true. Fortunately, this disadvantage her bow was able to offset. Between her, Oscar and me, we were able to encircle the White Hart completely with Ogma watching from above. When we were all in place and ready, Oscar and I drove the White Hart toward her.

[She does, but only marginally, tilting her head into the petting. It's almost enough to make her lose her focus on the conversation at hand, reaching to paw at him. She had noticed, but hadn't thought to comment on it, instead choosing to simply think of them as different kinds of spears. A giggle is chuffed out of Merida, sounding odd due to her current form, returning to tilt her head at him and listen intently.]

[When she paws at him, Diarmuid stops scratching at her ears for a moment so he can grab a hold of the pesky paw and give it a light squeeze. He gives her a grin and then lets it go, continuing his story.]

I have to give her credit where credit is due. Even with a great beast like the White Hart bearing down on her, the young woman did not flinch. She drew back her bow, aimed and fired. It was only some instinct of the Hart's that saved him from dying right then. He turned and the shot did not hit his heart, but his withers instead. The shot seemed like it did not even phase him, truth be told, but she was not about to let him escape so easily and neither was I.

[She wriggles her paw around in his hold, attempting to make sure her claws won't hurt him, snorting a little at the grin. Then there's a small sigh and a shake of her head. He was right; she deserved equal credit, even if Merida herself believed he should be basking in it.]

At least your hunt was more entertainin' than bein' thrown from th' back of your horse.

Being thrown from the back of your horse?

[Diarmuid leaves his story for the moment, worry covering his face.]

When did this happen? Was it when you got changed by the White Hart?

[She hadn't seemed hurt, but it's hard to judge anything accurately with her in the shape of a fox.]

Ah, no I meant last year. Though I did kind of fall off Angus when I couldn't hold his reins anymore.

[She's not hurt or anything like that, and she makes her tail wag in a thump against his back to show it. Her paws weren't broken either as far as she could tell, and Merida still finds that weird to think of. She nuzzles under his chin, licking.]

I'm okay, papa.

If you are sure, then I believe you. You just know how I worry.

[Diarmuid turns his head so he can press a light kiss to her head. He then reaches out and pats Angus.]

You need to be more careful with her, young man. No more letting her fall, you hear me?

[Angus gives him a look that seems to say 'young? You're kidding me right?', tail swishing in the air as he snorts, continuing to walk with the raven on his shoulder and the wolfhound pacing beside him. Merida rests her head back between her paws over Diarmuid's shoulder, a small huff leaving her.]

I'm twenty, Dia. It's not like I haven't fallen from Angus before, but I'm fine, I'm sure. Just...getting used to this body is all I think.

And I am something like 2000 years old now. You are both very young to me so don't go being huffy.

[Diarmuid first gives Angus and then Merida a look.]

Whether it is the first time you have fallen off a horse or the twentieth, there is always a chance something could go wrong and you could get seriously hurt. I will worry whether you like it or not.

[So there!]

I keep forgetting th' lot of you are older than me.

[It wasn't something she thought about regularly, considering her time period. The look is countered with one of her own before she pokes a little fox tongue out cheekily, licking his cheek.]

Anyway, you were sayin' about th' hunt?

[Diarmuid tries to keep the look going, but it's hard to do that when she licks him. Soon he gives in and just laughs.]

Don't worry. I forget sometimes too.

The White Hart wasn't going to just give up because he was wounded. He ran, but even as he did, she put several more arrows into his haunches, eventually causing him to stumble and fall. While she was doing that, Oscar and I closed in on him and as soon as he stumbled, I drove my spear into his heart...

[She wonders how he could possibly forget, before she realizes that some things must be completely new to him sometimes. Merida's ears twitch as Diarmuid continues his tale, listening intently, her tail wagging embarrassingly fast as it got better.]

[Diarmuid tries to reach back to grab that swishing tail and give it a very light pull. He's amused at how much she is getting into the story.]

I fully expected the White Hart to dodge somehow. Don't ask me how which him on the ground and hurt, but I did. That is why when my spear struck true, I did not believe it right away. It was true, though, and no illusion. We had downed him. Seelie and Unseelie. Together.

It was an amazing feeling. I will never forget it.

[Her tail twitches in his grasp and she makes a tiny grr noise, though it's playful in tone, even with the yip at the end, a happy sounding bark. That made her more pleased than anything, she'd admit if he asked, to hear of Seelie and Unseelie working together.]

How do you feel now?

[She knows he hasn't felt the best for the last few months, especially after Samhain and the argument he had with Cu Chulainn.]

Right now? Light. At peace. Hopeful.

[Even if his conversation with Gilgamesh had left him worried about the golden king, his good feelings still remain. And, despite the fact his encounter with the White Hart ended in the majestic beast's death, he feels very alive at the moment.]

This was really a gift he gave to me. I will never forget this. Never.

I'm happy for you. You deserve it.

[It was a strange thing to sound happy about, but the events of the last year had taught Merida that happiness was fleeting, if only for a few moments. She nuzzles his neck, resting her chin against his collarbone. It was the truth; her own success against the Hart last year had been accidental at best, but Diarmuid had earned it, earned it with every step of pain he'd taken in the past.]

I don't know if I would say that I deserve it anymore than anyone else. We have all had a hard year. I am just grateful I was chosen.

[He leans his head into her nuzzling, enjoying this happy moment they can share together.]

Now that my story is done, will you tell me about what happened right before you got changed? Did you have any kind of warning before it happened? What did it feel like?

I couldn't really tell what was going on.

[She'd argue that he deserved it a little more this year, but she leaves it at that. It's a happy moment and one she doesn't want to ruin, especially after the last couple of months. Merida rubs the bridge of her muzzle under his chin, then tilts her head away with her ears drooping and a shake of her head.]

I saw him, an' he looked at me. There was some kind of amusement on his face,,,well, I guess as amused as a deer can look anyway, an' then all I remember is a light for a few minutes. Then I woke up in the snow.

He might be a deer in form, but his eyes are the eyes of something much older and wiser.

[Diarmuid can remember the look in the White Hart's eyes during those seconds when he was driving his spear into the great animal's heart. There was no fear. There was no pain or anger. Instead, there was a deepness, an agelessness. A glimpse into something that never dies a true death.]

It's good to know he still has his sense of humor. I guess that is what makes him different from...his brother.

Aye, I think that makes all th' difference. I don't think he'd be able to find th' humour in it if he was grumpy.

[Like the Shuck, though she doesn't say that. There was no argument from her that the Hart was different, she had gathered that much from their encounter. Merida thought back to what the Black Shuck had said to her, during their brief encounter on Samhain. These the world's last nights. She still pondered over that meaning.]

Gods know he'd probably chase you down if that was the case.

They are opposite sides of the cycle in all ways...and I think I know what side I am on now.

[No matter the death his hands have dealt, Diarmuid's focus now is life. Meeting the Black Shuck had been uncomfortable at best. Meeting the White Hart...had been freeing and enlightening.

Once a soldier who brought death, he is now truly a knight who protects all life.]

I don't think it's really sides so much as it is th' natural order of things.

[Merida doesn't question it, though. She simply smiles in a fox like way, nodding her head at his assessment despite her words. It wasn't something she thought about, really, not since what happened in Treun last month.]

Yes, and it will just hurt our heads if we think about the natural order too much. It is just what it is.

[He reaches up to give her ears another scratch.]

So, what have you been up to lately? Besides turning into a fox? I know I haven't been around as much as usual...

[Merida's body seems to tense at the question, as tense as a fox can get any way, and for a moment she considers springing from his shoulder and running off. Just like she'd been keeping the memory back for the last month. Instead, her ears droop, placing her muzzle between her paws.]

I...went lookin' for some of th' criminals that had escaped Leathann last month.

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