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

[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.

[When Merida tenses as much as she does, Diarmuid finds himself wishing he had not asked. It is all he can do not to pull her off his shoulders and cuddle her to his chest.]

As did I, but I have a feeling your hunt didn't go as smoothly as mine did...

[And considering how unpredictable criminals can be, Diarmuid can't help but suddenly be extremely worried about her. Not physically. She is obviously fine aside from being in fox form. Mentally, though...]

[An uncomfortable whine comes from the back of her throat, followed by a shake of her head, fur ruffling around her neck. He deserved it. It had become a mantra as much as it had been comforting words at the time, and a full body shudder ran through her before she got control over herself long enough to answer.]

I'd caught a few. Handed them back over. But when I got to Treun I...

[Her voice dies into a small whimper, front paws coming up to cover her head. He deserved it. I did nothing wrong.]

One of them dragged me into an alleyway.

Baby girl...

[Diarmuid reaches up hoping she will take the opportunity to crawl into his arm for those cuddles. Trying to pull her down with her as upset as she is will not be a good idea. She might accidentally hurt herself or him.]

Come here. You're safe. None of them can hurt you now. Just take your time. You know I won't judge you...

I only meant to scare him off. I didn't...

[She takes the offer of a hug, pawing her way down from where she was draped across his shoulders. Merida feels silly, shaking her head and settling down into his arm with her ears flat against her head as she lowered it, words a whisper.]

I killed him, papa.

[Ah...and that explains everything. No amount of killing animals during a hunt can prepare someone. No amount of seeing people die around you or training for battle makes the impact less. When someone takes human life for the first time with their own hands, no matter what their experience before that, it changes them. It makes them see the world differently. It makes them think of the world differently.

Diarmuid stops walking and leans his head against hers, hand gently stroking her fur where he can reach it.]

You did what you had to do, my darling girl. In moments like that, there is no right or wrong. You just do what must be done. Now, grieve. Be angry. Feel what you must, but don't doubt yourself. Don't blame yourself. It is all right.

[You did what you had to do. Gilgamesh had said something along the same lines when he found her, that she didn't do anything wrong. Merida nuzzled her head under his chin, curling herself to sit as well as she could in his one arm. She'd been going to say he'd deserved it if Diarmuid had said anything else than what he did, but for now there's a low, mournful noise from the back of her throat as she rests her muzzle against his neck.]

I'm...I've been tryin' not to think about it. Since Gilgamesh took care of me.

He did? Good. I will have to repay him for taking such good care of you.

[It's papa's duty and all.]

Unfortunately, this is not the kind of thing you just can not think about. You have to come to terms with it, my darling girl. It won't just go away if you don't think about it. It will still be there, festering, making you feel worse and worse.

[Diarmuid sighs then, realizing something important.]

There are things I have been doing that with and trust me, it's not helped. I really need to take some time and work them out...

I've been tryin' to think of how myself. I owe him a great deal.

[She didn't know what would have happened if the king hadn't found her, and it was something she didn't want to think about. She'd be different, that's for sure. Merida nestles her head near his collarbone, making a noise.]

I know. He deserved it. I just wish I didn't feel awful about it.

[Awful and guilty. Though she looks at him out the corner of her eye when he says that. She had a feeling she knew what about but she didn't want to say anything to upset him.]

Kings are not the easiest people to thank. That is for sure...

[Diarmuid laughs softly and then gives Merida a comforting squeeze, rubbing his chin gently against her head as he does.]

Listen, the reason you feel so awful is because you know just how big a thing taking a life is. Even if he was the most horrible person to ever live, he was still a person and you ended his life. This is a feeling you need to remember no matter how many more lives you may need to end during your lifetime. Each life has value and each life has weight. Only take that life if you are willing to take that weight upon your shoulders.

[Merida grows quiet at that, resting in his arm and against his chest. In a way, she was glad that her first experience killing someone else wasn't on the battlefield, glad that she'd let that soldier go after Cu Chulainn was pierced through. That was one thing to take away from it. Now she knew what it felt like, what to expect if she had to do it again. Her tail droops over his arm, a small sigh leaving her.]

I know. At least if it happens again, I'll be ready for what it feels like.

[Accidental or on purpose.]

And I will always be here for you. Don't ever forget that.

[Diarmuid presses a kiss to the top of her head and then reaches over, giving her tail a gentle pull.]

Enough of that for now. This is suppose to be a happy and fun time, right? Even the White Hart himself was having fun before he came to his end. We should follow his example. No more serious talk, okay?

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