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The Tudors: Humble and Loyal

Snippets // updated April 12th & DONE

You should see me in a crown: Anne, Philippe, Louis

The music played in the most cheerful way possible, with the new Queen danced gracefully with the French prince, light on her feet and with a surreal glow about her – the spring became her.

“I have forgotten how delightful of a dancer you are, Your Majesty,” Louis bowed as the song finished – the two of them had known each other for years now, ever since Anne became a lady-in-waiting to Queen Claude of France. She nodded, gracefully bowing to the man before her, reminiscent of the past times: there have been instances where she believed to be falling for the man himself and wished she had been of higher birth and the possibility of marrying the French prince was an option – such thoughts could be considered treason at this point, she’s aware, dispersing that cloud off her mind instantly.

“His Majesty is far too kind,” she continues. –“You have always been,”
“You are the most deserving,”
“And the most happy,” she speaks softly, leading their way into her preferred seat – it was a decision not to sit away from her ladies during unofficial dances, getting close to them without separating their joys from hers. –“Have you gotten acquainted with my ladies yet?” she asked, with a glimpse of mischief in her eye, smirking subtly at Louis.
“Mistress Boleyn,”
“I do believe your Majesty is a more appropriate wording,” Philippe walks towards them, deeply bowing to the Queen and his prince, finding his place with them.
“Surely, I beg her majesty’s forgiveness,” Louis smiled. –“Pleasure to see you, Philippe,”
“Believe me, the pleasure is all mine,” Philippe took a cup of wine offered, taking a sip. –“Seeing so many Frenchmen on the court has made me feel more at home now than I have ever felt,” he continues in French, switching the language of the conversation entirely.
“Surely it has made certain people less content,” Louis replied in a short snark. –“If I may speak frankly—”
“And you always can, with us,” Anne replies in a heartbeat.
“Spanish will arm for a battle, I can assure you, to save the face of the Pope,”
“And masters of Italy seem to be comfortable here at the court,” Anne said. –“Reform is good for England, it’s good for us,”
“And courting the kin of the Roman Pope seems unlikely action for a French man,” Louis looked at Philippe, who let out an amused chuckle.
“As far as I remember, France is still living under the blessings of his Holiness,” Philippe snarks, remembering shortly he is out-ranked by far. Louis smirks shortly. –“Your Grace,”
“My lords,” Anne says with a lower tone. –“We are amongst friends here, I believe, and I do have to say neither of us without some mistake, but neither is without experience either,”
“Agreed, your Majesty,” Philippe replied similarly, watching Louis nod. –“Whatever my endeavor with the Florentine girl might me goes to my accords and I would never let those matters do much harm to our Queen…nor his Majesty, the King,”

Louis took a short look at the man, turning his attention to the Queen at a point.

“You will keep the aforementioned lady in your service?” he asked quite directly, and the Queen nodded, waving her arm at the servant girl who came with a pitcher of wine. He noticed, taking a swift glance at her.
“For the time being, Lady Vittoria seems harmless,” Anne replied, noticing the way he looked at her.
“Lady Vittoria is harmless,” Philippe nodded: she was a spoilt girl who knew nothing of a dangerous plot beyond the stories coming from her own family and he took pride in his assessment of men and women alike – the girl was no threat at all. –“And courting means very little, which is one of the things you have thought me, your Majesty,” he turns to Louis with a smile.
“Very well, my lord,” Louis nodded. –“Perhaps your next love could be a woman of a less formidable descent,” he added a smile to the end, with Philippe chuckling at him – he had a point, yes – he was intertwined with the Holy Roman Empire women: both Vittoria and Catalina seemed like the worst choices he could have done politically, yet he enjoyed both their companies and he had no plans on marrying any time soon – so why would he not enjoy his time at the court? Catalina was a lovely girl – why should he judge her upon her family? He gives a playful little shrug.
“But if love was easy, would it be entertaining?” he asked in the end.
“Love,” Louis scoffed lightly. –“Love and politics have nothing to do—”
“Until they do,” Anne smiles. –“On rare occasions, you can love the person who loves you back and the world might just fall into place.”

Louis looks at her shortly, exhaling a deep breath.

“For the right person, the world does that sometimes,” he smiled at her.
“You give me far too much credit, dear Louis,”
“Perhaps you deserve even more.”

My boy – he ain't a man and sure as hell ain't honest: Katherine, Maria, Blanca, Leo

The Moor was not the greatest place in the planet, but she did not expect such a gloomy place arriving. Perhaps the golden prince had some gold to his touch – he could make each place he visited just glow up with riches. Apparently, Catalina has decided to play along with the tune Henry played.

Perhaps years in England, drizzle, and hail, have cooled off the hot Castilian blood of hers.

Blanca shuddered under her hood, unmounting her horse just a second before Leo.

“What is your rush?” he asked in their mother language, watching her walk a few steps before him,
“This place stinks of death,” she spits, walking into the house to stumble into Maria – platter of tea at her hands already. –“Maria—”
“She has limited help here,” she says immediately as Leo walked into the house and took the tray off her hands, walking towards the room, leaving Maria with Blanca at the entrance.
“Where is the princess?”
“Lady Mary,” Maria corrects her with some sound of disdain in her voice – she pushed through a curtain to see the yard: there was no one around to witness to this encounter and it was of the greatest matter. –“Mary is forbidden to see her mother, Blanca, and the Queen is forbidden to see anyone,”
“You are not supposed to be here either,” Blanca says, eyes fixed on Maria as the woman turned to lead her into the Queen’s chambers.
“We are all someplace where we should not be,” she speaks and abruptly stops before they reach the bedchambers. –“I need to warn you, Blanca, the Queen is fasting—”
“I have seen many women suffering after their husbands have decided they are not enough,” she spat out, walking into the room – but she was, in the end, unprepared.

The Queen sat in the tall chair near the fireplace, cheeks sunken into her pale skin, hair falling on her back loosely. Blanca made her best attempt of not to seem surprised, managing a soft curtsy next to Catalina and smiles at her.

“Your Majesty,” she said in a soft voice. –“It is so good to see you,”
“And your company is appreciated, Blanca,” she said, waving her hand at Leo as he offered her the tea. –“We have no time for courtesies,” Catalina speaks. –“Perhaps now is as good as time as any, but we need to make some plans to help my daughter,”
“Princess Mary is safe, your majesty—” Leo begun, and she cuts him again.
“I am not a Majesty anymore, Leo,” Catalina hissed. –“And my Mary is no longer a princess,”
“Henry will surely—” Blanca starts.

“That whore is pregnant, that part of this is real,” Catalina said in a short breath. Leo leaned onto the fireplace – he knew this to be the truth, a lady who brought the news to him was a trusted woman he paid for information. Anne Boleyn did her bidding early on.
“The second she gives birth to an heir, Princess Mary will be removed from the line,” Maria says. Blanca looked at the queen and exchanged a glance with Leo: the understanding glance in his eyes was a familiar one. Blanca had known it from before – Leo has been a friendly figure in her life for ages now and in many other lives too – there was no religion, no nation, no belief that would make him judge a person – and she had thanked her god it was him who helped her escape. And he is going to do the same thing again. Yes, she is leaving some friends here, and all three of them would be missed by her, but Blanca had to leave.

“My poor child,” Catalina says out of nowhere. –“My poor Mary, I pray for her every night, but perhaps there is nothing our God can do anymore.”

Leo looked away as the queen caught his gaze – as much as he would have liked to pray with the queen, he could not say those words and mean it. His heart went to the princess, but his words would be untrue and it would have been unjust to the queen, to anyone – and Leo could not do that: he was aware people spoke badly of his ways, even those he considered to have gotten to know him, clearly have not. He was, in the end, leaving the country alone, although he had believed he would have had a company on this voyage. Lavinia had a change of hearts only moments after she had shown him kindness and affection: he couldn’t say what went wrong, but perhaps it was best to flee this place without being responsible for anyone’s but his own life.

“Perhaps we can do something,” Blanca replied shortly, catching the attention of everyone else in the room. – “Maybe we can allow the princess to have a better life.”
“Blanca,” Maria sighs the word out. –“Whatever you say beyond this might be—”
“We’re committing treason just by being here,” Blanca spits. –“But maybe some good can still come out of this.

Today, I'm thinkin' about the things that are deadly: Henry, Francis, George

Perhaps things can end perfectly.

Standing next to a window of his bed chambers, Henry counted the faces through the window – familiar and unfamiliar ones. Anne seemed to have known them all – standing outside, surrounded by her ladies-in-waiting and some of his entourage as well, listening to music and dancing – she had her new role all figured out, a delicately balanced dance between being the queen and being adorned for her own self. She would leave her crown behind in these moments of casual gatherings, she would settle a light tiara on top of her head and dance with everyone between discussing politics with everyone. And then, when everyone seemed to have relaxed completely around her, Anne would remind them she is the queen with a simple gesture of occasionally touching the bottom of her growing stomach.

The doors creak open, with Francis entering, joining Henry at the window.
“Anne seems to be having quite a good time,” he spoke shortly, a smile stretching his lips gently.
“Anne is your kin, Francis,” Henry grinned, crossing the room to reach his tonic. –“You might look as if you’re having fun, but everything is done for a purpose.”
“My king,” Francis leans onto the windowsill. –“Sometimes we are just having fun.”

He looked back outside, through the window, Colette stood near the fountain, flirting with the poet boy – strangely enough, he was glad to see her in a better mood and out of the black. Running an estate became her and perhaps she would find some joy in being her own woman, dependent on no one.

“You’ve got your eye on someone?”
“Perhaps,” Francis replied as Henry joined him, looking out. He smirks, giving Henry a tap on his back. –“You?”
“I’m a married man, my dear lord Bryan,”
“And it has made such a difference before,” Francis laughs honestly, glancing outside. –“Anne is pregnant—”
“Anne is pregnant with my son,” Henry smiles, squeezing Francis’ shoulder with a smile. –“I would do nothing to bring grievance upon her now,”
“As you wish,” Francis chuckled, glancing at the king – perhaps some are capable of change. He glanced his way across other people around the queen, recognizing a couple of new faces around. –“Lady Avis has joined us finally,”
“She is here to take over Baroness Willoughby de Eresby’s spot,” Henry nodded.
“Isn’t it a custom to have a high ranking, married lady in such a position?” Francis seems surprised – he’s familiar with Lady Avis back from the time they both spent in Calais after his wife died – he liked the woman.
“Anne never was good with following the rules, hasn’t she?” Henry sounds amused, letting out a little chuckle – his eyes, much to Francis’ surprise, he was really only focused on his wife. –“Perhaps, you’ll find me less of a fool, Francis, once you’ve fallen in love yourself,”
“I would not dream of thinking you a fool,” Francis only omits to mention he finds this to be a phase: Henry and Francis go back a long time and it was never in Henry’s nature to stay put, to rest peacefully, to be loyal. But, Francis was not a fool either – whichever way the king went, he was there to stir the course clear, not throw obstacles his way – so, at this time, this game is to be played as he wanted it.

“Colette seems to be amusing herself,” Henry commented, prompting Francis to at least conclude the king did not go blind with love.
“Since you aren’t here to amuse her, she had to try her luck elsewhere,” he joked, as the doors opened. George Boleyn steps into the room, a smile on his face really leaving little to the imagination about the state of his mind.

“George!” Henry grinned, welcoming his new brother-in-law into the room and stepping forward to greet him properly. –“I thought you were returning to Dover?”
“Our father left instead,” George nodded – Mary Boleyn with him, Francis had no doubts – so the other two Boleyn siblings remained to rule the court. –“What’s keeping you entertained?”

“Your sweet sister,” Henry replied, sitting down into his usual place inside his chambers – George shortly joined Francis at the window but took no interest in watching the events that took place outside: George could not hold a candle to Anne when it came to political savviness, but he doubted George wanted to. –“Marriage is just what you need, George,”
“I’m sure of it,” George smiled – he wasn’t about to get his life rearranged just yet: Anne got what she wanted, he’s sitting across from him, but he did not ask for any of these. –“But not all of us are lucky enough to find it all,” he surprised himself with the words – Francis seems the same – and Henry nodded, distantly, staring through his cup of wine. Something was on his mind.

“I’ll tell you what,” the king livens up from nowhere. –“I will not impose anything on you – should you find it in your hearts – both of you,” he grinned, looking at Francis. –“Should you find it in your hearts to marry a lady from a good family before summer, I shall be the happiest for you,” he finished.

George raised his cup, but Francis took a second too long to join them, tempted to scoff at the statement. And if not? If not, Henry will make sure that by the autumn comes both have a good match made for them – he glanced out the window again shortly. Catriona held close to Anne, despite the fact she was not the fan of the queen – it was not something she hid when it was time to do so. And who could blame her? She did not seem as ambitious as one might have imagined, but not all pretty women should be, in the end.

“And if we don’t?” Francis turns to Henry, who just shrugs.
“Queen’s kin should have good marriages, gentlemen,” Henry replies, seriously. –“Let’s pray that you do.”

Are you death or paradise?: Isabella, Cressida, Mathias

She remembers reading it in a book, a lifetime ago, with Fernando – about finding your place within another, not within a castle, a house – and she remembers he could have been something like this and suddenly stops her mind from going into a darker place. She already had a family, had her home.

Her home came to her now.

The carriage didn’t stop properly when Cressida was outside, arms wrapped one around another. She smelt of their home. Hands buried in the long locks of her sister’s hair; Isabella smiled widely.

“Finally!”
“It was about time, I agree,” Cressida smiled and pushed some strands of hair from her face, looking her sister up and down, with a surprise on her face and a little shock somewhere between the lines. Taking her fingers into hers, she spreads her arms a little, looking at Bella – her sister was always beautiful, but somehow, she managed to look even better after a year at the court. Cressida let out a deep exhale.

“I missed you much,” Bella pulls her into her arms once again, inhaling the smell of her hair once again. –“Finally, finally, finally!” she chuckled happily with the biggest grin. –“Come, let me show you everything!”

She didn’t even have a chance to turn around when Mathias walked near them and smiling lightly at Bella, continuing on his way with one of his servants. Once he was out of sight, Cressida turned to her sister.
“Who is that?”
“Prince Mathias,” Bella replied shortly.
“Oh! So it’s true, you are getting married to a prince!” Cressida exclaimed happily, and Bella tries to subtly let her know she should be quiet.
“Cressida!”
“What?” her younger sister finds no issue with her tone of voice – happiness is to be shared, the good news is to be screamed from the top of a hill. She stops, seeing Bella’s serious expression. –“Are you not?”
“I’m not certain,” she whispers. –“I mean—”
“Don’t you love him?” Cressida is incorrigible, looking over her shoulder and into the handsome man: what was not to love? Was he a monster when no one was around, or utterly boring, only talking about hunts and reading the scripture? She didn’t understand why Bella seemed reluctant.
“I don’t think I do,” she replies, silently. Cressida’s face changed, it almost felt like she disappointed her, but then, she nods, calmly with a soft smile.
“So, we find a better match,” she replies. –“He’s a prince, after all, and a handsome one, surely he can find a suitable wife for himself,” Cressida concludes with a smile on her lips as they went through the yard. Bella smiles, considering the idea – yes, it would probably be easy for him to find one – the matters remained unchanged for her, tho – no one is going to ask for her opinion.


Only a few yards away, Mathias was thinking about the same thing. Isabella was a lovely woman – despite the rumors that circulated about her and the Spanish lord taken by the sickness, which he cared nothing about – well, he wouldn’t have cared about it if came to it. At this moment he could tell his heart belonged to no one – and if it was for him—

So, he stops himself right there – love was a beautiful idea, but in the end, it was only that: an idea. It was clear to him, quite early into his life, that he would not have the pleasure of choosing love over duty. He thought he would have come to terms with it by now.

Man is such a fool: Otto & Magnus

There's a faint smell of the early morning rain in the air, the freshness he barely recalls now – but somehow, this reminds him of home. He doesn’t think about it as often as one might, but there was almost nothing he missed – except in moments like these, when the air smelled as it did once, when he was younger.

Magnus rode close by, with some distance between them and the rest of the hunting party – the king already rode off far with Duke of Orleans and Sir Francis – and there was no thrill in hunting for Otto anymore: the king was in celebratory mood and far too often would men leave the castle for a hunting trip.

“Your mind is elsewhere,” Magnus approached, pacing himself to Otto – two men exchange glances and shortly smile.
“We might have killed everything worth killing in this forest,” he mused.
“Perhaps not the wisest thing to say,” Magnus replied. –“We might have to travel further if Henry hears you,”
“We will move for another castle come May, this I’m certain of,” Otto nodded. Perhaps a change would do them all good – Whitehall was far too political right now – and with Woolsey dead, no new Archbishop appointed by the king, there was a power void that will have to be filled soon. Otto did not want to imagine who would throw themselves into such position willingly. –“Might be for the best, if you ask me.”
“And I usually am asking you,” Magnus shared a friendly smile – young prince was far too guarded, in his opinion – judging by what he witnessed during his time at the court, Otto had women throwing themselves before him, yet he seemed to be far too cautious with it. It reminded Magnus of him, back when he was younger, when in his mind each and every thing that happened was a matter of political dominance asserted over someone – and then, what people tend to forget when it comes to all of this is the human factor: everyone is human, driven by their own personal greed and motivation. Most things are personal, most things will be personal when not made in the light of overall prosperity.

“You seem to have a lot on your mind,” Otto smiles, trying to lighten the mood.
“I’ve had an interesting conversation with a young lady at the court,” Magnus started. –“And she shares this belief of mine, which I do believe you are still to allow yourself to believe in, Otto,” Magnus continues.
“And which belief would this be?”
“The belief humans are, deep down, both noble and commoners, devoted and loose alike, driven by their own motivations, in nature only working for their own gain,” he continues. –“Henry, as an example, might have made it seem as if his decision to part from the Pope had to do with their own shortness of true faith, but tell me, does taking a new queen truly sound like the will of God?”
“You thread a dangerous line speaking those words,” Otto replied shortly.
“Henry needs House of Vasa more than we need Henry,” Magnus replied. –“I choose my words carefully when I must, but I do believe I am in presence of a friend today,” he looked at Otto without hesitation – the question remained the same for both: is this a man I can trust, or not?
“You are correct,” Otto smiled back. –“And to a point, I do agree – we all make decisions to serve us, but duty should come first.”
“Yet, somehow, when you have enough power, you manage to get one to overlap the other,” Magnus replied.
“You are, once again, right, my friend,” Otto smiles. –“Was Lady Girault the one to share this belief?”
“No,” Magnus replied quickly: Lucrezia Girault probably did share the opinion, but Magnus believed she might have shared it more easily with the young prince than himself – she was an interesting company to keep, he had to admit – her mind was sharp and she had wits, and judging by the reaction, Otto was aware of it. –“Lady Douglas is the lady in question here,” he says. Catriona Douglas seemed have found her spot with all the loud and mouthy men of the court – both Francis Bryan and the young Bavarian man have been keeping her company, but the perhaps having powerful men around might not do much for her should she decide to act upon her own beliefs or abuse her own standing – Magnus suspected there might have been more to her own personal motivation than she lets on.

“I do believe I had the pleasure of meeting her, but sadly we are yet to run a conversation in any interesting directions,” Otto replied, somehow glad Lucrezia was left out of this conversation – despite enjoying her opinions on just about everything even when they disagreed, he did not want her to get the wrong kind of reputation by simply speaking her mind. –“Do you know who the young man at the back is?” Otto snaps out of his though, looking ahead.
“Don Cristobal de Luna,” Magnus replied. –“Such a strange sight, to see Spanish arriving,” he continued.
“His sister is here,” Otto nods. –“I assume this is the reason of his arrival, perhaps they felt it would be unsafe for Lady Catalina,” he finished – it could be because the girl seemed to be passionate and speaks her mind often, but Lady Catalina never spoke of politics or put much thought into it – she is a kind-hearted young girl and Otto is sure every queen would love having her as their lady-in-waiting. Much like Lady Eleanor or Lady Isabella, Catalina was a lovely addition to any company of any queen.
“Do you think he should be worried?”
“No, not at all,” Otto replied immediately. Henry is not a stupid man, he would do no harm to an innocent girl just because she was Spanish. –“Henry might be impulsive with certain things, but I do believe, he is not, in his heart, an evil man.”

They were just about the arrival to the small estate where another lord has managed to get the king and his men to reside for the night, the whole group slowing down as they did. Otto slowed down as well, and just as he was about to pass through the stone gate of the estate of Lord Seymour, he noticed a familiar face chatting with Maximilian. It wasn’t until the young man approached with a smile on his face after both Magnus and Otto gave their horses to the servants, did he recognize the man – to his surprise, it was Lord Leopold Girault.

Don't ask questions you don't wanna know: Will, Robert, Max, John

The Seymours were kind hosts – even if it has only been a couple of hours of their presence at their home, everyone already felt like they have been there for a long time.

“May I offer you something else, my lord?”

Will turned around to see a fair-haired young lady and nods his head in respect. She reminds him of Eleanor at once – he might not have been gone for too long, but he did miss spending time with her – there might have been more he needs to know about Eleanor, but he is happy with the fact they will a lifetime to learn.
“Thank you, I believe we have all we need,” he said shortly, as Robert showed up.
“Your family has been the most kind with us, Lady Jane,” he speaks softly and kindly to the young woman. He might have suspected Lady Jane was here for a reason – people were predictable, he was sure by now. One of the reasons he had to try and get out of the court, as soon as he could.
“We do what we can, my lord,” she smiles, the flushed cheeks make her seem even daintier – and he’s unsure if she is aware of the intentions her family has. He was sure Will was a little bit oblivious to whatever might have happened beyond his own nose – he was, undoubtably, in love. –“Would one of you be so kind to try and point me to the king?” she asked in a very calm way and it made no sense to Robert for her to ask such a thing: she was introduced, he was sure, but Will stood up and offered his help almost immediately.

Robert turned back to his food, rolling his eyes a bit too obviously: perhaps a woman would recognize this easily, perhaps Lavinia would have a better insight and allow him to see things without assuming the worst.

“What’s bothering you, my friend?” John sits down, followed by Max – despite the initial idea Robert had about both, he had to admit neither of them proved to be dishonest so far – and he shrugs to the question.
“Is our friend Will going to get himself into trouble?” Max gives a mischievous grin looking at Will casually chatting with the young Jane Seymour. John looks up, noticing Will and Jane only now.
“Did you warn him?” John asked, looking over his shoulder and towards Will.
“No, what’s the point?” he asked, shrugging. –“Your friend is not you, my lord,” he says teasingly, making Max laugh a little. –“He is not governed by his groin.”
“You do have a point,” John chuckled – perhaps Robert had a point: Will was not that kind of man. He was engaged to be married now, and John doubted his friend saw beyond the tiny blond. He looks over his shoulder once again, locking eyes with young Jane Seymour, smirking very lightly in her direction, watching her divert her gaze quickly.
“Now, this looks like you’re going to put yourself to trouble willingly,” Max chuckled, watching Robert’s reaction – and John shrugged lightly.
“I’m only looking for a muse,” John replied,
“You get those once a week,” Max takes a sip of his wine, deliberately looking in the other direction – Henry sat on the other side of the room, Louis and Francis still by his side, with George Boleyn nowhere to be found. –“Muses, patrons—” he teased, making John laugh.
“A gentleman never tells, my boy,” he chuckled, and Rober seems to be less than amused.
“The only gentleman here might be Robert,” Max retorted, knowing well enough what he was getting to. Rumours about John and Lady Clifford swarmed like bees around the castle, and Max had no reason to doubt at least some were true – he did not believe John had the courage to bed a noble lady – consequences would have happened. And, more importantly, he knew Scarlett was – same as most of the ladies there – quite naïve and utterly harmless – girls like her rarely act upon the words they speak during the nights at the garden, after a cup of wine. –“Scarlett—”
“Lady Scarlett,” Robert jumps in.
“Lady Scarlett is a friend, and I believe, nothing more,” John replied. Yes, he loved the idea of people thinking these things, but in reality, Scarlett was not worth the imposed marriage he might have brought upon himself had he visited her bed. Then again, no one was. –“Women at the court are much like men, my friends, a lot of promises and a lot of teasing, but in reality, I believe we all end up in our bedchambers alone,” he concluded, keeping his mouth shut.
“I have to agree,” Max smiles, knowing well what he meant – girls who were the loudest about teasing, about being seductresses, about enjoying the forbidden company might just as well be the ones who did no such a thing. Of course, he had nothing against that – everyone told fables of the person they wished they had the courage of being – and then, Colette never advertised herself as someone liberal, but she enjoyed her freedom to the fullest. As long as he was having fun, Maximilian had nothing against it. –“And perhaps, you need a patron, friend, not someone to warm your bed,” he chuckled.
“Perhaps I found one,” John teased, thinking of Vittoria: she was fun, very amusing and in the end, as for usual, her teasing was only that. He had the same idea about their conversation – about her offering him patronage – and it was a lovely idea, and in the end, it was just that: idea. She promised him something she had no right of offering: money her father had. Despite her seriousness, John knew better than to actually get his hopes up. –“Perhaps our new queen would like to have a talented young poet in her own household.”
“Just hurry with that,” Robert exhaled with his comment, looking over John’s shoulder, and right into the darkness of the hallway, where the blond locks of Jane Seymour softly caught the light, as she chatted with someone whose face remained in the darkness. At the main table, her father wore a proud smile, and the king was nowhere to be found.

Winner Announcements

Hi guys! Given I've had some RL stuff to deal with, this is a little bit late & since I have zero editing software on my laptop at this time, I am not at my top game with banners, but I would like to give credit where credit is due.

Thank you for being amazing contestants, for giving me something to work with and for allowing me to run wild with imagination. Thank you for the support and amazing stories.

Overall Winner: Jadis

Our late arrival, Lucrezia, started as a blank page for me and quickly turned into an enjoyable story, with intricately outlined words, phrases and nuanced way of threading around a very delicate period. I enjoyed all of the stories, loved how you made me think about things in detail with your question and how you wrote my paper people start to finish - looking forward to seeing where her brains take her next - not to mention now, with her brother at the court!

2nd Place Winner: Bambi

Colette turned out to be a wild card: I had no clue when to place her when she began, but then things quickly turned, well, hot. I enjoyed your stories, the subtle jumps between all the hot & heavy bits and real struggle behind her character. I'm looking forward to her upcoming adventures and coming to terms with her sexuality and power alike.

3rd Place Winner: Chayanne

Am I repeating myself if I say I had no idea where this could go? Maybe, but it is what it is: Catalina was fun to read and definitely an amusing personality to add into the mix. There was always an elevated spirit about her I enjoyed throughout the season. I am really looking forward to seeing her with Cristobal at the court next season.

Best dressed: Hhgurl

Easy choice for the category: I honestly loved each and every outfit Vittoria wore during her shenanigans at the court - I enjoyed her interactions with her brother, and other courtiers as well: I know those were not easy to make, took time and probably cost you some nerves. I liked the layers that started showing up with her as she opened up and I'm looking forward to see how you explore her in the next season.

The Most Intriguing Story: Tricole

Cat quickly grew on me, I have to say before anything else: I am hoping to have her back the next season, and given how things at court can sometimes turn out better than expected, I really hope you haven't given up on her - it would be a shame to abandon such a lovely character before we truly get to know her.

The Most Original Storyline: Dare

I honestly had no idea where you would go with Lavinia, and I liked that part of the experience. I love how she kept her personality until the very end, keeping in her own values and character easily, effortlessly and with her whole heart.

The Most Romantic Story: Schogo

Bubbly and stumbly Eleanor was sure to win a heart or two, but when I suggested Will would be a possible match, I had no idea it would turn into such a lovely, organic and intuitive romance - I am looking forward to seeing you explore them more!

The Wild Child: Nina

Perhaps it began better than it ended, but I would like to see you mend Scarlett's broken heart next season and not give up on her due to the slip-up, hopefully, there will be more time and inspiration in the next season!

The Tudors: Always the Same

Let's chat!

So, guys, the new season is not really around the corner, but I'm typing some of the things that have been on my mind because I'm always plotting and planning with at least a bit of my mind.

Lemme start by saying I will ask anyone who has plans of bringing their character back to add the category of a relationship to their form (will be posted in due time) - we can see which relationships we have already and what's your character's POV on them. I will do the same for mine, as well as updating all the people who have gained titles - bare with me, and remind me if you notice I forgot something

As for my paper people, I have made plans to bring between 3 and 5 new ones, given how we have said goodbye to 3 last season. This is yet to be established tho - might be less, but surely the three mentioned in the snippets above.

For this new season, I had some very fun ideas and plans, I wanted to try a new spin on the Tudors and before we all venture into this, if anyone is reading this, I'd like to hear if you have something to say: in private or here, we can start a chat (hopefully just write Tudors in the top of your entry if you decide to go there). So, anything you would like me to know, anything you think there should be less or more?
Are you happy with the amount of stuff happening during a round? Personally, I would like to give you more personalized work and less mandatory group events - would you like the idea?

Anything else, lemme know!

some new things coming here...
..and the next whole season will be somewhat different compared to what we did. You'll see how when this 1 1/2 thing is over

Last edited by Zaralee (14/12/2020 at 22:09)

The Empire of Shadows

Prologue, including OBLIGATORY FORM & QUIZ

Empire of Shadows will emerge you into a world which is so much like ours, but with a lot more control than anyone can dream about...but more about this, in the actual contest. Sorry about that, but also not really sorry.

What you need to know is the following: 
1. The contest will take place in Europe, scattered through various locations, but the majority and the centre are set in Berlin, Germany. Time is not particularly set, but it's a contemporary contest, aka. set in the now.
2. There will be 15 extras in the contest, and right now I'm not planning to introduce you to anymore (once we start, you'll understand why).
3. All visuals have been cut from this part for one gorgeous reason: I feel dramatic tonight! Could be this state of the world, could be just my personality, but we are where we are. What this means is...
4. ...that I'm providing you with scarce character information only and no FC info. Am I secretly inspired by "Love is Blind"? Could be, let's see if love really is blind.
5. That said, there will be no interaction between you and extras in this contest. This little bit is for me to meet your person.
6. I'm giving you this. For some of you here, who have been to my off-LaF contests, you'll know I normally open an account on Ask.fm site (and have a love-hate relationship with it). For you, it's a chance to ask questions about the contest which you might be a bit too shy to ask in person, or you ask me something about charas, or you ask them characters themselves. It can be fun, promise.
7. You'll probably notice I'm upping the age thing a little bit, and I have to say, it's mainly because of my own preference to deal with grownups. You'll see I applied the same rule to the extras too.
8. ...and the last one. In case you miss this prologue contest, you still can enter the contest when it starts, but for you who choose to enter this, it's a fun way to dip your toes into the universe (and for me to have some things ready by the time we start). 

Moving on, there will be three requirements for this prologue contest, so...

Requirements
Fill out the form & the questionnaire found in a spoiler below. Why? It will help me determine which faction of the Shadows you belong to!
For the story part of this, I chose two prompts (go for one, or both):
a. write a scene of your character deciding what she wants to eat for dinner on a Friday night (alone, with SO, with family, whatever you'd like) and/or;
b. write me a scene of your character on a first date.
(Note:the story does not have to happen at a specific time, neither do the outfits, this is just two snippets to show me your person.)
Show me an outfit that would best represent your character.

Form + Questionnaire

Form
Name (you can include a full name if you want)
Nickname (if any)
FC (if any)
Age & Date of Birth age 25 and up; adult themes, no babies allowed!
Place of Birth & what brings you to Berlin
Bio (include traits, personality, general information about your person)
Relationships (you deem important to mention)
Trivia (optional)
Interests (up to 4)
-------
Qs
1. You're playing a sport. Which position are you?
A. Front line offence, of course!
B. Defense, but I'm free to make a surprise attack at a point too. Just for kicks of it.
C. I'd rather be the coach.
D. Sorry, I don't do well in team sports.

2. Surprise party! What's your role?
A. I plan the party & organize it - so much fun.
B. Helping things out, but I wouldn't mind organizing it either.
C. Doing what I was assigned to do, basically.
D. Well, I'm cool with just showing up, but I can help if need be.

3. What does your ideal vacation look like?
A. A secluded tropical beach destination: sunbathing near the turquoise seas, summer breeze, and soft white sands - complete relaxation with no one around.
B. Fresh-aired mountain ski destination, fire-place evenings in the cabin, apres-ski drinks and hitting slopes at night before parties.
C. Camping get-away, with relaxing walks around the lake and hikes, campfires, and being one with nature with a selected few.
D. Exploring a big city, enjoying the authentic food and trying to get into the mood of the place I'm visiting.

4. How would your friends describe you?
A. Smart.
B. Entertaining
C. Quiet

5. You have a couple of hours free for yourself you have not planned. What do you do?
A. Read a book.
B. Watch a movie.
C. Go for a run.
D. Sleep.

6. Morning person or night owl?
A. Morning person!
B. Night owl!
C. Both.

7. How do you deal with assignments/research papers/tasks? What happens after you're assigned, how long before the deadline are they finished?

8. What do you have in common with your family?

9. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

10. Who knows you best?

11. What happened to your last relationship?

12. Pick at least 8 and up to 10 traits that you believe are a match for your character.
agile / amoral / calm / charismatic / charming / cold / collected / competitive / curious / detached / determined / diplomatic / disciplined / energetic / explosive / extroverted / fearless / flirtatious / focused / fun-loving / calculated / moral / intelligent / introverted / manipulative / observant / showy / passionate / quick thinking / rational / seductive / stealthy / straightforward / skilled planner / versatile / violent

Last, but not the least, let me know when you're done...so, let's do this & have fun!

Please read the spoiler below!

READ ME!

Q: Why is the age limit up?
A: Because of the maturity of topics, and because I don't feel like writing huge, cringe-inducing age differences when doing romance things.

Q: What's up with Berlin?
A: The central location will be Berlin. Meaning, you can also live here.

Q: Are we here to meet with the Shadows?
A: Nope, you will not know of them at this point!

Q: Why do I have to write about the relationship?
A: Because it's not just your romantic relationship, it's about your character's relationships: meaning, family, friends, anyone worth mentioning who has a bond with them.

If you did not participate and finish Prologue contests, I would appreciate you sending me your (filled out) form & questionnaire via PM/WApp

Extras

Command

Name unknown
Age unknown
POB unknown
Bio Command, usually known by the rank to all but a selected few, has been the leader of the Shadows in Europe for quite a while. Charismatic and eloquent, Command has this attractive aura that draws you into the vicinity of their own orbit easily. With a mysterious vibe and a certain level of natural dedication that establishes authority, Command can easily leave you at awe. An amazing strategist who has a value of the private life and private time, Command is the natural-born leader unafraid to get their hands dirty. Not many things are known about Command's history, but rest assured they are familiar with all the information they need about everyone on their team. Intelligent and observant, Command often feels cold and detached but is actually a refined diplomat and an enlightened task-focused individual.

Evelyn

Name Evelyn Naora Reid
Age 37
POB Tokyo, Japan
Bio Evelyn Reid might just be the best person to have when you're a leader: and Evelyn knows it very well. She is a clever woman, very aware of everything that surrounds her, loves to have power, but never too power-hungry to ruin things for her. She's highly disciplined and determined, with a keen sense for details and people alike. Well-spoken, quick on her feet and good when it comes to diplomatically stir things her own way, Evelyn is a dependable person you can count on when you need to do so. She's a perfectionist, she dislikes doing things half-heartedly and highly dislikes slackers. Evelyn is insanely self-assured, rarely putting her own sense of worth outside herself. Evelyn runs the majority of things within Shadows, in an organized and efficient manner. She's outgoing and social, but with a particular crowd although she tries to keep up with the appearance of getting along with everyone well.

Eris

Name Eris Asena
Age 31
POB Istambul, Turkey
Bio Fearless and violent can be quite a dangerous combination but with Eris' self-discipline and intelligence, it's really a winning combination instead. Growing up in an emotionally distant family, she learned quite early in life how not to get attached to things, places, people. She doesn't see an issue with it and believes reason should always come above emotions. She's not scared of speaking her mind, yet remains some kind of politeness - or just keeps silent if her words will not bring a solution or anything positive. Despite the cold exterior, Eris is more than capable of caring for people - she values her friends and thinks highly of them, she secretly loves to belong. Eris is competitive, somewhat jealous and doesn't give respect easily. Late in her life, Eris became aware she has a step-sister, which affected her more than she believed it could: it shook her ability to trust entirely, and at the same time allowed her to see she can still be affected by others.

 

Amyas

Name Amyas Renard
Age 45
POB London, UK
Bio Amyas Renard is a man you would most likely notice in a crowd: he is always dressed well, groomed well and normally has a vibe that can easily turn heads. He's a man who is used to luxury and finer things in life, as he likes to say himself: he enjoys good food, good wine, good company, and a good bit of fun. He is eloquent and sharp, his interests and skills are very versatile. He's been through a lot in his life, taking the experience to transform himself into the man he is right now - the man happy with himself, the man he likes. Amyas is an influential man with the ability to pull strings very subtly, very collected and the type you'd like to have around when things go to hell: he normally seems to have a calm solution for just about everything.

 

Sierra

Name Sierra Amber
Age 33
POB Ashwood, USA
Bio Sierra is manipulative and sly, and she can sweet-talk you into just about everything while not considering the consequence. When she was young, she realized you get more flys with honey than vinegar and played that role to perfection. With time, she became more unpredictable and can go from zero to mad quickly. She's easily bored, very impatient and likes to take things to her own hands. Charming and alluring, she gets by with a lot of things that she is not willing to forgive herself: Sierra doesn't get upset when crossed, she gets even. Sierra is good at pretending and normally you can't tell what's really on her mind, but you should take her word if she says she doesn't care. She loves to have a good laugh, in nature she is jovial. On the outside, she's a chameleon - she can be the most brutal and the most innocent in a span of a minute, without being either for real. 

Chris

Name Christopher Carr
Age 31
POB unknown
Bio Outgoing, very entertaining and charming, Chris has always been the life of the party. He's a passionate guy who never seems to keep still, enjoying his life to the fullest. And for someone who is this out-and-about, a lot of people know very little (or virtually nothing) about him. He's curious and flirtatious, and it will be the winning combination when it comes to finding things out about you - he's one of those people you can open up to easily, and while he might not do much of this intentionally. He has gained a reputation with this, but he has no bad intention whatsoever - on the contrary, he's a loyal man with an extremely extroverted personality. Chris enjoys actively spending time, no matter if it's playing sports, hiking or simply exploring. On weekends, you can mostly find him with his closest ones - either a great meal or a great party - and despite the wild night before, he'll easily pick up his trainers and go spend a morning at the park. 

Victor

Name Victor Constantinescu
Age 34
POB Bucharest, Romania
Bio Victor is a resilient man, that's one thing many of his friends would tell you about him. He possesses this heroic quality to him, a kind heart, dependable nature and innate fairness. He comes off as arrogant at times, and his self-restraint might seem like a tad bit too much to him, but he believes there is something fun in a responsible and organized life. Victor can sometimes come off as someone without a direction, and perhaps his own moral ground makes him feel intolerant at times, but he is aware of his own shortcomings and is trying - more or less - to handle them. Growing up in a large family, he is a warm person, unafraid of physical contact and affection - he can come off as possessive at times too because when he likes someone, he really loves spending as much time with them as he can.

Luiza

Name Luiza Cristina Carvalho Maia 
Age 26
POB Porto Alegre; Brazil
Bio The first thing one might pick up from her behavior is that Luiza is a smug girl. She's ambitious and calculated, oftentimes very cruel and bad-tempered, with a tendency for savage acts. Growing up with a single mother, she appreciates her loved ones to an extent, but always prioritizes herself and her own goals - she's also not quick to give her trust if she ever gives it at all. Life was often harsh on her, prompting her to be even more possessive and jealous than she normally is, and from time to time she might feel like she is gluttonous as well. In nature, she is bright, but her impulsiveness seldom helps with that. She stubbornly pushes herself to limits and is very competitive in all she does. Luiza can be seductive and mesmerizing (orbiting men around her for fun), but normally does it to prove herself she can - she enjoys the power struggle a tiny bit more than she'll admit.

Filip

Name Filip Grgich
Age 30
POB Zagreb, Croatia
Bio Born in a rich family of winemakers, Filip has always been used to the hard life, despite growing up with many luxuries. When the work has to be done, he gets it done: no one ever cut him slack and he's not expecting it at all. Filip is competitive and a risk-taker, and in combination with his determination, it comes to the point of recklessness. He doesn't lack in energy and is usually on-the-go, enjoying his days. He will easily admit it when confronted, but his way of communication is open, direct and uncensured in its nature, and can sometimes forget about what's good and bad. His actions can sometimes seem intemperate and explosive unintentionally. He's aware of his good looks, he's flirty and normally the type of people everyone loves to be around - he'll make you feel like you're part of the group and important effortlessly. 

Leon

Name Leon-Christopher Naderer
Age 36
POB Wien, Austria
Bio A highly respected member of his community and Shadows alike, Leon is a person you can really count on. He's the kind of man who brings tranquillity, super chilled and yet in complete control: you want Leon come hell or high water. He does come off a serious - he is - coming from his own inner peace. He has a rational outlook on life, he likes to do the best thing possible and normally balances this by taking small pleasures for himself. Life is about balance, for him, so don't think he doesn't have his fun, far from it. Leon spends his free time catching up on his favourite reads, visiting museums or travelling. He likes to spend his time in nature as well, but he has a curious streak which often takes him closer to more populated areas. He's a loyal person, naturally, and values relationships as something that should bring good into the lives of both sides partaking in one.

Elia

Name Elia Odescalchi
Age 47
POB Como, Italy
Bio One of the longest-lasting members of the Shadows, even if no one knows how that's possible, Elia is eccentric and to say the least: moody, extreme extrovert who slips into episodes of extreme introversion at times, takes no shit from anyone and can at times come off as extremely violent and notoriously unpredictable. Then, at other times, his softer side comes out and his intellect shines through, turning him into a charismatic, hard-to-resist man with a silver tongue. During those times, you'll be lucky to have met Elia - he cares for people unconditionally, he gives himself entirely and the only trouble is that you won't know when it all stops - but, in the end, no one does. He's got quite a reputation for burning bridges and then rebuilding them (with more or less success) and diving into things relying only on his intuition.

Gio

Name Adam Giorgos Lazaraou, aka. Gio
Age 32
POB Nicosia, Cyprus
Bio Adam might just be the all-star everyone (more or less) secretly aspires to be at a point in life. Whatever he decides to do, he seems to be efficient at it. He has an ability to look at things with a clear mind, he is a critical thinker and aware of things. There's a manipulative bit of his personality that shines through when all other methods fail and prefer to subtly push buttons rather than going direct way, but he thinks of it as the balance of life, his way of rationalizing himself. Adam likes to protect those closest to him, despite coming off as hostile at times. He is a tiny bit shallow and tends to be nosey when he's interested in something, but he has enough control of himself to stop when it all starts to feel like too much. 

Eemil

Name Eemil Hansson
Age 34
POB Gothenburg, Sweden
Bio Should you walk next to Emil on the street, you'd immediately say he's cool. Like, turning around once more to take a look because he shines effortlessly cool vibe. He's a hardworking guy with energy that can go for days and a long list of interests. He's normally the first one to initiate the conversation when he's interested in someone and has an overall positive attitude towards life and enjoyment. He's benevolent, but his forthrightness can sometimes seem like a sign of aggression. Emil is well-raised but unlike most of his family, he does have more passion for life and is curious about things, he's more at ease with accepting the indulgent part of himself. He sometimes makes rash decisions based on his current feelings, but rarely regrets those, come what may - he does believe you do everything for a reason, and following your gut is the way to go.

Egon

Name Egon Kestner 
Age 37
POB Sankt Petersburg, Russia
Bio Born in a wealthy family, Egon comes from a good upbringing which ended in a tragedy resulting in him being left the only heir. He's very private, doesn't share things about himself easily and he hasn't truly let people in for a while now. He's not someone who would take the fall for another person: still, he's gutsy in a way that makes him reckless, and in disregard of his life. He really dislikes childish behaviour, has little patience for others and he's usually keeping a serious, even hostile front. He is disciplined but really bad at taking orders. Egon is observant and has a strategic mind. He isn't exactly hot-headed, but during his impatient moments, he's been known to snap, unpredictably and sometimes in a fit of rage. He's keen on prooving people otherwise, but actually likes the sense of belonging to a group.

Theo

Name Theodore Thorup
Age 33
POB Maastricht, The Netherlands
Bio Theo has always felt like he's a little bit out of place: at home, despite the love; in school, despite getting in on a scholarship; at his company, despite the fact he belongs. He's raised to be appreciative of what he has, to be creative and productive. He took up this approach and loves to spend time on self-improvement. He loves art, culture, and architecture. Theo isn't very outgoing, but he is very well-spoken and educated, and always willing to gain a new perspective. He's honest, perhaps too much at times, focused and works well under pressure, usually following his gut instinct. Theo is protective, and often kind, but it takes him a while to warm up to people: once he does, he's really a devoted individual capable of so much. Shy on the first look, Theo is just a slow-burn person who takes time to get to know.

Let's see which people you'd pick without seeing them!
48 hours before the contest starts, I'll add the FCs & you can update your choices then.

We're doing this earlier than the contest so I can handle some things upfront & provide a better contest experience.

Snippets

Command & Evelyn

The ivy reached high on the tree, little dark green leaves intertwined with the branches, and the leaves of the tree before her. She follows a particular vein, right down to the roots of the tree, the stones in front of it, the small tombstone before it. The grave was one of the older, but not the rich crowd – the top was covered by dirt, and some flowers, planted a while back, spreading towards the bottom of the grave and around the tree, which was now one with the top of it, and unless you looked carefully, you could not tell which one was starting and which has ended.

March sun touched lightly on the bottom of the long silk rayon deep green dress, lightly moving with the wind. She stood at the bottom of the grave, hidden in the shadow of the tree, dark waves falling over her shoulders and hands folded on her chest. Her gaze slips into the funeral happening only two dozen plots away – a small group of people standing in the sun, paying no attention to the rest of the empty graveyard.

“Who has he?”

Evelyn showed up next to her, startling Command, who grasped at her chest, thin fingers lightly clutching on the fabric with one hand and her hand with the other.
“You scared the hell out of me,”
“Nothing scares the hell out of you,” Evelyn replied coldly. –“This is morbid, even for you,” she says, watching the mourning crowd, glancing at the grave before them shortly before glancing up again. The sun was reflecting on the black marble – people here seemed to be really into it, showing wealth was somehow mandatory even in death. –“So, who was he?”
“No one important, I guess,” Command replied, a soft smile lingering on her lips – Evelyn knew it was a lie, but she also knew which battles to fight and which made no sense early. –“What are you doing here, Egg?”
“Recruiting,” she replied, making the other woman turn towards her. She just nodded as a reply to the question that was not uttered out loud. Command turns forward again.
“Let’s go,” she says. –“This little vacation is pretty much over now,” she concluded, doing a very familiar gesture before parting with the deceased, saying her goodbyes silently. They both moved towards the arcades of the cemetery, towards the exit.

“You aren’t going to tell me who he was?”
“Egg,” Command replied, turning to the woman next to her. –“Why does it matter?”
“Indulge my curiosity,” she replies, kindly. –“He must be special, for you to be here.”
“He was,” she nodded, pushing her hair back just as the wind blew, messing the waves further. –“He was, and then in a moment, he wasn’t anymore,” she concluded.

They made it a little bit further, when she took Evelyn’s hand, flashing a tiny smile.

“He was one of the good ones.”

Sierra

Sierra Amber laughed, loudly, and very inappropriately. Egon told a joke this morning before she sat down on this train, making it all the way to Amsterdam, well – here – and she laughs at it only now. It’s hilarious, she cannot realize why. She’s not even trying; she’s just going for it.

She laughs, reaching down into her bag, trying to dig out her phone, buzzing through the sound of the music coming through the walls of the other room. Her hair is getting in the way, tiny regret of not getting it blown out yesterday, but she manages to find it, obviously, only a second after it stops.

Amyas.

“Shit, shit, shit!” she exclaims, entering the bedroom again, half through another burst of laughter. She sits at the bottom of the hotel bed. –“It seems I have forgotten I had dinner plans tonight, darlin’.”

The man on the bed lets out a muffled sound, gagging on his own socks and she laughs once again, as he tossed on the bed, tied to the bedpost, trying to untie, horror was written all over his face – or at least the visible part of it. She shakes her head, rolling her eyes as Amyas did not pick up the phone.

“I forgot the gun,” she exhaled, pushing her hair back, getting out of the room, letting out another laugh. The joke was very good, very very good. Sierra picked through her bag, finding the gun right there, getting very annoyed with not finding the silencer in there, remembering it was in the makeup bag when she was done throwing out half of her purse onto the floor. She shakes her head, annoyed, returning to the bedroom, running into the man on her way in – the startles her as much as she startles him, and she exhales a relieved sigh, hand on her chest, a big grin on her lips as she discharging half of the magazine into his chest. Blood was splattered all over her, as he hit the ground and she threw it into the bubble bath he set up sometime earlier in the bathroom.

Sierra picked up her bag and the rest of her stuff, making it all the way to the elevator before realizing she forgot her phone again, letting out a desperate cry before returning to the room, trying to find the phone.

She took it out, sending out a couple of tear-crying laughter emojis to Egon, heading to the elevator, noticing the blood on her hands. She gets to the lobby, heading to the powder room, as her phone chimed, she glances at the message – Egon sending some question marks – and bursts into other laughter as she let the warm water run in the sink.

A woman walked out of the bathroom behind her, smiling as she approached laughing Sierra, standing next to her and turning to face her, stopping in her footstep as she noticed the blood.

Sierra looks at her, a little bit surprised, before she glances back down onto her hands and clothes, letting out a small sigh and a smile.

“Don't worry, darlin', it ain't mine,” she grins through her Texan accent, as the girl rushed out the door, and she laughed once more.

That darn joke was just that good.

Leon & Amyas

The view from their window stretched wide – most of the Berlin laid out before them, a sunny disposition which seemed to be a matter of an outside world, not the situation in the office. Sun is going to set in a couple of hours, yet this day seems to be a never-ending one, to say the least.

“A couple more possible finds, and we’re done,” Amyas said, typing out something into his phone. –“My plans got delayed anyways,”
“And mine was to sleep a little bit, tonight,” Leon managed a weak smile, turning this into some kind of joke.

“Okay, so, who’s next here?”
“Luiza Cristina Carvalho Maia,” Amyas cracks his neck, sitting down and taking his cup of coffee. –“Elia—”
“Jaguar?”
“Yes,” Amyas nodded – Elia went to fetch one of his own, and Sierra was supposed to take over the process, but he had no delusion about either of the two actually being able to schedule anything and do things in time. –“Well, probably not, but we can hope, can’t we?”

Leon leaned back.

“Emil vanished as well,” this morning. –“Recruit?”
“Yes, hopefully, he was right,” Amyas said. –“And I am flying out tomorrow, I hope,” he said, closing hit laptop down. –“I have one potential and one I’m certain would work,”

“That sounds promising,” Leon replied. –“Especially considering…” he stopped.
“The circumstance?” Amyas continued – it might be an imaginary concept they have come up with, but it seems to have some grounds in the reality – things pointed to it for a while now.

“Hector’s body hasn’t shown up yet?”
“Hector hasn’t—”
“I admire your optimism, but you’re not accepting the reality here,” Amyas rubs his temple, exhaling. –“Hector Rubio was good, and he’s been missing for over a week now,”
“Sierra goes missing for days to an end—”
“So does Elia, and even Command, but neither has been keeping out of touch entirely,” he exhaled.

“Why do you seem to be eager to jump into this feeling of paranoia?”
“To protect us,” Amyas said. –“You are my family, can you blame me for wanting to protect it?”

Leon only glanced at him, thinking about the implications this would have – there’s very little chance someone outside their organization made the connection to the work they did. The implication of Rubio’s death would have meant the information was leaking from the inside.

Eris, Filip, Chris

There’s a burst of laughter coming from the other part of the hall – she smiles, closing the door, feeling that sting of guilt about the conversation she just had with Leon.

The laughter grew louder as she walked towards the end room in the hallway. She smiles before stepping inside, getting the attention at once – Filip walked over to her, hand around her shoulder.

“I take it you’ve heard?” he chuckled, looking at Chris’ happy face, glancing shortly at the expression of the girl next to him. Eris never seemed like the natural choice for a friend when they first met, but in their first year together, she really got under his skin, easily, gently, naturally. Years after their first encounter, after thinking she might just be the most insanely self-absorbed girl on this planet, Filip discovered there was something soft, loving under the layer and she became a friend. She held onto her feelings tightly, not willing to share, and she was right now, doing the same.

“I am over the moon for you,” she pipes, sneaking her hand around Filip’s waist – looking up, catching his glance for a short moment. –“I am also scared for the poor soul who is going to get to be inside your mind for the entire day at a point,” she grinned.
“Oh, low-blow, E,” Chris laughs. –“Even for you.”
“I thought we were cool with being honest,”
“Not mean,” he pipes back. –“But, I feel like we could use a drink, to end this day in the perfect way, don’t you think?”

“Chris just ended things with Ana,” Filip pulls Eris even closer, looking at her over his shoulder. –“He might be up for some rebound sex,”
“Please refrain from talking to other girls like this, you two,” Eris chuckled, looking at Filip, beating herself over about this, but she catches herself thinking it over again. And the guilt layers on more guilt, of course, because…Leon was alive and well, he was more than that, he was the primary you could wish to have and at the same time, was she not?

“I said nothing wrong,” Filip says shortly – the honest approached always worked the best for him, but at the end of the day, just like Eris often pointed out to him, it could have been because he never was hurt by this bluntness of his – on the receiving end, it definitely felt nothing like it. –“We should get food, as well,” he touched his stomach. –“I’m hungry, burgers would be so damn good,”
“Burgers and beer,” Chris added, glancing at the pair looking at each other: Eris and Filip got closer far quicker than he got closer with Filip, but he never could figure out what things between them never went in a more serious direction. He could see it happen – well, he could have seen it happen, before. Now, it seems like they crossed that threshold for good.

“Burgers and beer,” Eris confirmed. –“That new place, on the—”
“Next to Friedrichshain?” Filip asked as she was typing something into her phone.
“Yes,” she mused, glancing at Chris.
“I’m up for that,” Chris nodded shortly. –“And hitting a bar after, how about that? Which has nothing to do with Ana.”
Filip nodded, glancing at Eris once more – she seemed off, in a foul mood for whatever reason – and he wasn’t into asking her about it right now, but he hoped her mood will change soon.

“I called us an Uber,” she smiles. –“Let me just run to get my jacket, and we can go,” she smiles, half-heartedly, leaving the room.

“What’s going on there?” Chris asked when he thought her to be far enough not to be able to hear them. Filip shrugged. –“Could the princess be jealous?” he pokes, a mean smirk on his face and Filip rolls his eyes.
“Seriously, man, Eris?”

Chris shrugged, getting off his chair and heading out.

“Stranger things have happened,” he continued. –“Stranger things have gotten us here,”
“Tragedy got us here,” Filip mused, trying to keep his tone up. –“Let’s make sure we put our opportunity to good use.”

Chris remained silent as they stepped into the elevator, getting down – she was there already, standing next to the car, waiting. Eris sat in the front seat, chatting with the driver as she glanced at the duo in the back, both with huge grins on their faces, and a great year ahead.

So, why not her?

She had just as much experience, if not more. She was better at what they did, she did not lack discipline, yet, Chris and Filip both got to be primaries now – and she was aware how bitter this sounded, but she was also aware she deserved it as much as they did. She gets out of the car, plastering a smile on her face, keeping it on for the rest of the day.

Celebrating your friends' success was what she did, but just this once she was wondering when it would be the time to celebrate her own.

Step Into The Light

Elia & Command

go lightly from the ledge babe, go lightly to the ground

It’s been a moment too long since she moved – he moves softly through the gallery surrounding the library where she sat – might have been the noise he made that made her look in his direction, but Elia did not stop.

He was in the shadows, hidden within the gentle darkness, breath settled down to a soft, inaudible sound. After the fervid moment earlier, she seemed to have found her moment of peace. She settles, although he thought she noticed him, but perhaps she was just as suspected.

He couldn’t tell.

There’s a change in the air suddenly. It smelled sweet, almost floral, although nothing has moved, nothing has changed. He stood in his place as if trying to keep himself contained to a certain bit of the room, not to disturb her.

Immortals grew stronger as they grew older.

And you knew, somehow, no matter how oblivious you might have been to other things around you – in life, in general – but with immortals, you knew. You could sense there is something far greater, far bigger than anything in this world in the air shifting around them, and he figured early on that it was one of the few things he could find remotely interesting for longer than a second.

Precognition could change the air for an Immortal, they could sense it coming, it can wash them over like a wave, without a warning, really, and it really made it all simultaneously feel out of this world and make all the sense there can be. Precognition could give you the power of knowing, and the curse of knowing simultaneously, as obvious as it sounded. It gave as much it took.

Immortals grew fragile as they grew older.

Once you’ve had her age, you were strong and delicate at the same moment, equally.

The wave receded; Elia moved.

She took a deep breath, fingers curled around the pashmina around her shoulders, hair falling them in waterfalls of glistening brown. She drew in a sharp breath, looking up to where he stood.

And for a second, he knew she knew

Victor & Lara

and though I can't recall your face, I still got love for you
Sometimes in life, things are simply as they are – people tell you who they were, words mean exactly what they are supposed to mean and sometimes things can be…clear.
 
He’s trying to figure out the encryption on the inner data protection, for someone who’s livelihood did not rely on cybersecurity work, she knew her way around things and the second his screen blinked in black and green he knew he was in for another sleepless night.
 
What made him even more curious is that she never went so far to put a dead switch in case someone gives it one too many tries in breaking through the wall. Confidence, or cockiness? He wasn’t certain.
 
Victor rubbed his eyes, pushing his hair back and resting his head on his palms for a short moment, trying to figure out the direction in which she went with this. He’s threading that fine line between sleep and remaining lucid, but it did not work so well. The typing comes in very effortlessly, some would say too easy, but there’s a moment between consciousness and dreams where the screen shifts from codes to dark and then to light again.
 
He’s awake now.
 
One single file on the screen appears and he clicks on it, this time fully awake, reaching for his phone to call for someone – anyone, really – and they do say the curiosity killed the cat, so he might have been a bit too reckless and yet, the screen turns to the video.
 
He recognized her as she smiles at the camera. Smirks, really.
He recognizes her, not from her photos, but as if watching an old friend, reunited.
 
Fuck, this is going to be such a cliché, she says, but if you’re watching this, it means I’m dead. Lara smiles softly then, a small movement in her shoulder, she tugs some strands behind her ear and smiles. Honestly, it probably means I’ve been killed, she pushes in the same breath and continues without a stop as if trying to ignore what she has said before, and it also means we’re one and the same, person, we’re the same faction and it’s not the one everyone has led you to believe you are, but so much more – and we share some of the powers with Janissaries but we are well into this century, you’ll see, changing and growing.
 
Victor could sense his heart pumping blood in his ears.
 
I hope you find what’s behind the video useful and I wish that what I have learnt would help you, she says with a lot of happiness in her voice, and a lot of weight, a lot of heaviness, too. And I hope you like that I’ve called us the Hive. There’s a smile on the camera, and she nods. And I honestly pray you to have someone you can trust completely because I clearly didn’t.

Evelyn, Amyas, Leon

the truth can't hurt you it's just like the dark - it scares you witless
The small eastern European country has been a place of regrouping, rethinking, rewriting histories for a while now. Amyas would oftentimes took credit for discovering this hidden gem of a lawless country, but Evelyn knew very well that the first paved road that cleared through the wilderness was one of her own making and desire.

Her heart was still there.

It was sunny and quite comfortable to sit next to the sea, in complete anonymity, yet she finds herself annoyed with their lack of care. When you’ve been around long enough, you tend to see the bigger picture, but sometimes you need to take a step closer and get your shit together, she believes.

“She came to you,” Leon caught a glimpse of a lovely woman walking past them, throwing a playful smirk at her. –“We still have the box, we have left nothing behind,”
“You might have to figure out to find a way to actually get close to Nadezhda,” Amyas shrugged. –“Asides your tedious auctions that might point her in the direction of a knowing you might as well be a psychopath,”
“Don’t mix the two of us, Amyas,” Leon smiled, watching Evelyn approach them. She chatted with the owner of the bar – a man, in his late 40’s, handsome, tall, a beautified version of Balkan people you’d see on the big screen. There was something wild about him she liked, she said it so herself.

“I’m going to have to ask you two to leave,” she sits down, exhaling. –“I need to think.”

Leon rolled his eyes, knowing well enough that Evelyn did this when things were about to go to hell: she would turn inwards, she would tell everyone to fuck off and she would not share things until they were ready to be finished.

Come hell or high water, Evelyn pulled through. She did it so many times before.

“I’m serious,” Evelyn said. –“Your fuckery almost costs us a lot,” she said, not speaking to anyone in particular. –“This batch was supposed to be a bit better than the last one, yet the second there’s a bit of plotting to come, I have you all sitting in a shitty dive bar in the middle of fucking—”

Leon scoffed, making her stop. She looked at him, he looked back.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Evelyn, but maybe this time you need to worry about your own insane moves as well.”

Amyas remained silent for a short while, looking at the two.

“Yes, it seems like an overkill to get rid of Lara, cut her head off to keep my blade bloody—” she starts, feigning shock all of a sudden, then chuckling. –“Oh, wait, it was you.”
“And your idea was better?”
“To keep her on ice, like Solomon is right now? Yes, Leon, yes!” she growled. –“I get that Elia’s control levels are beginning to decline with his lucidity, but you? Lara could have gone missing with Sol, it would have made sense.”

“Water under the fucking bridge, Evelyn,” he replies. –“And Elia is not the only one who gets to have the courtesy of getting tolerance extended to him – you never give Sierra the same courtesy.”
“Oh, is this an accusation, Leon?”
“It’s what everyone is thinking, Evelyn,” he replied coldly. –“You can bullshit everyone, but there’s no point denying you and Elia still keep this faithfulness one for another, something he does not even do with his own faction,” Leon says, without losing his cool. He knew it well: Elia would not blink before having to terminate Sierra or Luiza. He did it before, he would do it again.
“Is this about Eemil?”

Leon looked at her coldly, but there was a tiny flinch behind his eyes that gave him away.

Evelyn smirked. “And we’ve found the winner.”

“You put me on the spot, Evelyn,” finally, his expression reflected what he felt, and in the first time in forever, Evelyn felt like there was a great deal of Leon she did not get to know with time. –“You gave me no choice but to deal with a loose end which could have served a purpose still.”
“You had a choice, Leon,” she tries to act calmly. –“You could have—”
“Do not try to diminish your guilt in this,” he cut her off without a blink, slipping back into his emotionlessness.
“Oh, my guilt?” she seems upset now. Evelyn leaned in, trying to keep her voice down, trying to keep her temper down, even if she believed she could have ripped his head off right then and there. –“You have some nerve, Leon, do you realize—"

“You both need to fucking realize we’ve lost some people and we need to get them back to our side,” Amyas jumped in finally – pissed, more than he believed he was. –“I’m not talking about the ones that were never ours to lose, but both of you could have played this a tiny bit better, don’t you think?”

There was no doubt in him that Filip showed loyalty to William so far, besides Eris and currently his Batavi girls. Both Riona and Cailee would go with their primary, that much was clear.

Egon kept Raven close as well, unintentionally, most likely, but just like Nadezhda kept Leon close, but not the closest, Raven took her interest elsewhere, which was still not what they needed.

He did not want to mention Eli – that was such a goddamn waste – but Evelyn dropped the ball there and that relationship was beyond repair. Gio might have been the only salvageable moment there because Theo seemed to have been as lost of a cause as Victor was.

“So, my recommendation is to think about the shit both of you have stirred before you cast a fucking stone here,” Amyas spat his venom very directly. –“Get over yourselves and start using those brains you claim you have.”

Sierra

still don't know my name

She reconsiders her emotions times and again, feeling that choking sense of suffocating at that place where her collarbones met just in the bottom of her neck, her hand reaches towards it, as she downed another drink, again with no effect.

Long, deep exhale as the guided meditation continued with affirmations and breathing exercises.

Sometimes she played it in the background of whatever she was doing, and whenever she realized it, it suddenly felt horribly filthy, mocking, just...wrong. She had beliefs at a point, that much she is certain of, still, it feels like someone else ago.

There's a familiar smell in the air - ripe tomatoes frying with garlic and bell peppers with chilli and salt - yet more, transporting her miles away.
No. Years back.

No, she's back. She's here, and now, her fingers stumble onto the little round pendant. She's back, she's back.

"Can I get you something else?"

She's startled, turning around to see the woman next to her. Oh, right, Bogota.

"I was here...some time ago," she tried, realizing she doesn't remember much aside from that and aside from the man she brought with her. The woman looked at her, somewhat suspicious, somewhat fearfully, and Sierra has enough patience in her to smile and shake her head. -"Sorry," she continues. -"I'm a bit drunk," she tries, but the polite smile on the other side makes her realize it's time to leave. She threw some money onto the table and put her sunglasses on.

She walks towards the hotel with a bunch of postcards that she doesn't remember sending during her several trips to a city she remembers only to have visited once - and no, that wasn't as strange when it came to her - yet Bogota seemed oddly familiar and distant at the same time.

She remembers she met someone, she remembers she brought them here, she remembers she shouldn't have just left them here, yet...how long ago could that have been?

A year? A decade? A century?

She's at the hotel before she knew it, shoving the postcards into the bag again.

"Sierra?"

She turned towards the voice, recognizing it even though she didn't remember the person behind it.

----

Last edited by Zaralee (13/05/2021 at 11:40)

...or perhaps two?

OMG... I really love the photo you found of my character in the banner. I totally did not see that when i was surfing for face claims on her. Thank you so much for lovely comments and feedback. This was such an interesting, twisting and turning story for my particular character and I am seriously interested to see what is in store for season 2. Blanca totally has Colette anxious right about now lol

Zara the banners are AMAZING and I love the idea of everyone getting something suited to their individual story.

Oh my gosh I love the banners and the mentions and everything! Even if I didn't manage to finish the last round (and actually write the most important scene) I am happy that you liked my Vittoria and her shenanigans and I do want to continue her story into season 2 and see what adventures we'll have next!
Thank you for being this great host with LOTS of patience for endless questions and pointers 

I'm going to repeat myself but - thank you for the banner, and no, I'm still sort of half in denial? Thank you for your lovely banner, the comments and - everything really. Especially for putting up with me and my incessant prodding - I've been really rusty, given this is my first story-writing contest in years, but your patience is bonkers.

Yes, I know I've squee'd at you for how much I love love loved the Tudors - both the show and the era - and you're an amazing host through and through <3 There's still so much more I can't wait to explore, and I can't wait to see where you'll take us through!

As for Lucrezia and now her brother Leopold... Well. This is going to be a bit of a ride, innit?

I love the banners! They're amazing 

I can't wait for next season! Honestly I'm so excited for Catalina to finally reunite with her brother!

I mentioned it before and I will say it again and again. Thank for the wonderful banner and the little input... Trust me you weren't the only who was surprised how Eleanor's and William's story turned out. Thank you again for suggesting him to me. Also thank for creating Isabella and Otto who both have a special place in my heart.

A big thank you for hosting this amazing contest. You know how much I love the Tudors, especially my dear Anne Boleyn. Thank for putting up with all my questions and other strange things.

I'm looking forward to the next season

P.s. Sorry for the endless edits... My brain doesn't feel like cooperating today XD

Last edited by schoggettchen (31/01/2020 at 09:39)

Thank you for the beautiful banners and amazing contest. History is just not for me so won't be joining next Tudors will finish Scarlett story however as soon as I don't feel like I have no talent for writing.


Thank you once again for your patience& ideas.

I'm sorry I'm late to the praise-party, thank you so much for hosting Zaralee! Enjoyed the the contest enormously <3 and the banners are absolutely lovely
I'm sorry if a little of my RL anxiety and stress bleed through in the last rounds, but I promise I will write a March-catch-up before the next season, which I'm looking forward to a lot !!

Zaralee wrote

Let's chat!

So, guys, the new season is not really around the corner, but I'm typing some of the things that have been on my mind because I'm always plotting and planning with at least a bit of my mind.

Lemme start by saying I will ask anyone who has plans of bringing their character back to add the category of a relationship to their form (will be posted in due time) - we can see which relationships we have already and what's your character's POV on them. I will do the same for mine, as well as updating all the people who have gained titles - bare with me, and remind me if you notice I forgot something

As for my paper people, I have made plans to bring between 3 and 5 new ones, given how we have said goodbye to 3 last season. This is yet to be established tho - might be less, but surely the three mentioned in the snippets above.

For this new season, I had some very fun ideas and plans, I wanted to try a new spin on the Tudors and before we all venture into this, if anyone is reading this, I'd like to hear if you have something to say: in private or here, we can start a chat (hopefully just write Tudors in the top of your entry if you decide to go there). So, anything you would like me to know, anything you think there should be less, or more?
Are you happy with the amount of stuff happening during a round? Personally, I would like to give you more personalized work and less mandatory group events - would you like the idea?

Anything else, lemme know!

Definitely excited for the next season of Tudors and I love that you are keeping us updated by adding more snippets and encouraging us to share our thoughts with you about the contest and hope you don't mind me updating my post-season one analysis of my paper person (maybe other people will feel motivated to do the same idk... fingers crossed?)

To go with your momemtum, I wanted to piggy-back in and summarize Colette's journey and mindset at the end of season 1.

So #1, yes Colette will be back for season 2.

I will admit that initially I felt out of place with Colette starting out in the Tudor world but I love her character development and where she is right now. Colette is enjoying her independence and having fun with interesting and exciting gentlemen while focusing most of her attention on redeveloping the broken duchy she inherited from her dead husband.

People of interest to Colette:

John

She will continue her friendship/harmless flirting with John and is totally on board with helping him make connections (if she has any that are useful) that will help him achieve whatever goals he has, it's about time for him to earn himself a title I would say

Francis

She is totally infatuated by him. She finds him fascinating and intriguing and exciting and while he likely does not know it, he is the one that inspires her free spirit and ambition. In her world/mind he encourages her to take matters into her own hands, to live each moment and have no regrets for the choices she makes, even her more 'indecent' ones. Before coming to England she never met anyone quite like him and he has had quite a bit of influence over personal growth over the last year. After his accident and at the end of season 1 she is forced to accept that her feelings for him may run far deeper than she meant them to go and she feels like he is not the sort of person that can love the way she fears she may foolishly have fallen for him. In the next season I expect her to try and put him in a "lover not love" box (so to speak). She will try to be logical about him and remind herself that loving him could be the greatest mistake and heartbreak of her life.

Max

She is also infatuated with him but in a lustful way, she knows she does not love him, at least not yet. But he is like a slow burn for her, she barely noticed him at the beginning of the season but that has completely changed now. Ever since Calais she has been drawn to him more and more. The sexual energy between them is almost a power struggle, with him giving up control with ease but then switching gears when the mood strikes him, completely altering course and setting them on a different path. It is both his confident arrogance and his easy charm that appeal to her and make her want to get to know him better. She can vouch first hand why he is (and likely should be more so) popular with other ladies at court. He is a discreet, thorough and energetic lover but she thinks he can also be a confidant and friend. In season 2 I expect her to continue seeing him and really getting to know him, not just how good they are in bed together.

Henry

She appreciates and respects Henry more than anyone. It is because of him that she can be a powerful force in her own right. And while she is not disillusioned to think that they are the best of friends (or even friends at all?), she certainly hopes that he knows she will support him and keep those few secrets of his that she has been given privy to learn. She does not have one single regret about their affair and would not change any of her actions leading up to it, during or after it was over. In season 2 she hopes he knows he can always count on her to ally with him and if he should ever decide he wants to expand on an actual friendship she is there for him/that

Blanca

She genuinely liked Blanca, admired her independence and her brashness and in general would do absolutely anything in support of the one lady that Colette considered a friend at Court. There was a time where Colette felt a strain on their friendship because of her involvement with and refusal to openly discuss the affair with Henry. It was never because Colette disliked or distrusted Blanca, it was solely because to her, the whole situation was a secret and Colette took keeping secrets very seriously. It did not matter that it seemed the entire court was aware of the affair, for Colette it was not her secret to share, it involved someone else and Colette felt conviction about keeping confidences no matter what. Additionally, Colette understood how the affair would put Blanca in the middle of something that she had no control over. Colette both understood and sympathized with Blanca's opinion and her concerns, but in Colette's mind it was not just Colette's but Henry's secret to keep. It meant not discussing it, with anyone. She let the rumors run their course but no one heard of the affair directly from Colette, not even her own friend. For a short while Colette felt the strain of her secrecy threatening their budding friendship but it seemed that with the changing of power (and Queen's) at court the one thorn in their friendship seemed to just vanish. Finding Blanca on the steps of her home had been a jaw-dropping shock and Colette will be eager to get to the bottom of what it all means in season 2.

Mary (she is coming in Season 2 right?)

Colette has a budding friendship with Mary and I totally look forward to exploring that more when she 'officially' joins the cast of characters in Season 2.

As for your questions:

I wanted to try a new spin on the Tudors and before we all venture into this, if anyone is reading this, I'd like to hear if you have something to say

I am totally interested in whatever spin you want to put on this. I am assuming you mean taking it into an alternate reality so to speak? Where everything that happens isn't guided by historical facts? Or do you want to keep it more-or-less historically based? Either way I am in!

Are you happy with the amount of stuff happening during a round?

I am comfortable with the amount of writing activities you had in the Tudor's contest but I could do a little more or less whichever way you had in mind of changing it

I would like to give you more personalized work and less mandatory group events - would you like the idea?

I would love something more personalized to my story and personalized interactions with my interests. I personally still like the 'whole group' activities as well. But if you want to focus more on our personal stories that sounds great.

Thank you for your feedback

I’m actually considering cutting this storyline here, at this season. I’d like to hear all your opinions about that too – two or three seasons for this story arc?

Do you mean ending it after season 2 or not doing season 2 at all?

Ending after season 2.

I’m joining in on the conversation and I’m echoing Bambi here when I say that I’m excited for the next season. The snippets are excellent and I love that you keep feeding the story and keeping us updated like this! And reflection back on what you asked in the story writing thread, I appreciate the extra insight I get into the characters by these snippets you write. I’m always somewhat anxious that I will write the extras out of character and this makes me feel like I get to know them better and hopefully not do that.
    Sadly I never managed to finish the last rounds like I wanted to, which bothers me so here is a summarize where of where I imagine Cat left off at the last season.

Cat

Cat’s year was eventful and, in the end, she found herself in over her head, overestimating her own abilities to deal with the intrigue of court. Instead of the sly player she found herself perhaps proclaiming to boldly and miscalculating the situation. At the end of the first season she will find herself on the back foot. However, she might dislike the new situation, it’s the one she must live in, and she will take up a devoting and demeaning position for now, trying to find some stable ground. The fact that rumours say the King of Scotland is calling the English heretics does not ease her mind. This and the fact that she’s quite sure the new Queen doesn’t trust her has her in mode of constant flight. If a letter would arrive commanding her home, she would be packed to leave within the hour, though this is nothing she flaunts.
    Cat was quite distraught about Blanca leaving, as the woman was the one true confidant she had found in the castle and for as much as Cat knows Blanca has left the country. Leaving Cat asked Blanca to post a letter for her, away from the castle as she doesn’t want it to be intercepted (she may be paranoid or just careful), a letter home.  In the letter she tries to explain the whole situation, hoping they will understand she’s not the turncoat she tries to play, and that she will, until otherwise is said, stay put in her position as lady-in-waiting. Ah, so much drama.
    As for her relationship with Francis: she enjoys their time together, and how he makes her feel desired as a woman. However, after his injury at the jousting she had planned visit him, only to find another lady going into his chambers, Cat is perfectly in the clear that she is just of many, though she has suspected so before, knowing is another thing. The revelation has her deciding that she will not let any emotion into the relationship. As long as they are entertaining to each other, let that be that. The next season will have to show how well that works out.
    Cat views her crush on Lord Magnus as one of the reasons she lost her footing and has concluded that if love makes her feel like the fool, she rather not deal with it. Because of it she will take a step back from him, but not entirely as she figures that spending time with golden boy, as a devoted protestant, will make her own turning more trustful.
    Cat is afraid that one of the ways Queen Anne can make her a non-exiting threat is by marrying her off to some supporter. Though being married off as a bargain is what she had learned is a woman’s lot in life, during the current situation she is not sure she is willing to accept that at any cost.

This turned out longer than I expected, but there you have it and it’s off my chest.

As for the rest, I’m up for almost anything. Perhaps not a too much heavier workload, as even though there perhaps is not too much ‘official’ going on I want to keep up with the relationships with the extras and that takes space and time. But then again last season we had 3 day rounds and I’m guessing next will be 5 days(?) and then the same amount or a little more wouldn’t be a problem, but less would also work out fine.
    With a ‘new spin’ I’m assuming, like Bambi, that you perhaps want to deviate from history a bit? If that is the case, I think it perhaps is a good idea to make it easier for you to spin the story. If you thought of something else, please share if you want to. In any case, I’m up for anything. Since some of us already has established characters I think some personalized work will be necessary, perhaps, but a mix between personalized and group activated would be awesome.
    And lastly if you want to continue after season two or not, is pretty much up to you, as you know best and decide where the story is headed. I would understand and support either decision but would probably participate if you decide for a third season.

Last edited by tricole (13/04/2020 at 23:12)

I agree with Tricole... if ending after season 2 fits with your storyline then I am completely understanding. If you continue with a season 3 I would still participate but depending on how season 2 goes I may continue with Colette or create a new character for a season 3. Again that would depend on how season 2 plays out.

Thanks for your insight guys - and for summarizing where you'd like for your person to head this season.

Speaking of rounds, and to answer Tricole's question (mark), yes, 5 days is what I'm going for, for the precise reasons you've listed. Relationships take time to develop, both in the story and on your side in writing - and I do love when things are written out (as much as possible, according to your schedule, of course), and it makes writing impressions easier when I have something to work with.

As for the storyline and where it might lead us, I already took some historical liberties (ex. Henry and Anne did their little dance for over 7 years, who has time for them being super slow?) - and the little mess I was going to get into involved some real AU stuff which made me think I could end this season with this arc done, and perhaps next Tudors contest will be skipping into the future and showing the kids of your charas (if you like the idea, or someone new, in case you don't) on the court with the new monarch. Point is, 2 or 3 seasons in total is going to happen, I just need to lay things out and decide.

Just to round it up, my 2c about this whole thing: I believe SW is really about the mutual loop of feedback. I know time is sometimes an issue, real life comes first, but I rather play along with contestants being late than reading a short summary of what you would have written if you had the time when it comes to interacting with paper people - summarize the big events you might not be into, but I really appreciate putting interactions to words.