#ride operator

[ask-shutter-ghost]

Rose Moon: If the parents that raised you are earth ponies, who taught you to use your unicorn magic?

Shutter Ghost: Glad you asked! The ride operator from the haunted house where I got my cutie mark taught me. His name's Tortoise Tin!

-----

I was heavily inspired by @dollbunnie's paper drawings for this piece and couldn't resist trying a similar one! It was a lot of fun playing with the lighting and framing for this :D

#dollbunnie #Shutter Ghost #ask-shutter-ghost #ride operator #Tortoise Tin #Rose Moon #splungecoyote #daisydandfriemly

[cibguts]

Ride Op Ace reference commission ! 

#art #digital art #reference #commission #ride operator

[operafantomet]

UHM... wait, what... like, authorized?

According to this site, Germany's largest theme park Europa-Park will launch a Phantom of the Opera roller coaster ride. it is described as a 360-degree experience where the visitors wears a VR headset, they enter a pre-ride room and finally the ride itself. It opens this spring, according to the plan. Someone on YouTube seems to have tried it out already, but no visuals.

#phantom of the opera #phantom der oper #europa-park #poto ride #they use the official logo #but no mention of an eventual collaboration or maria bjørnson #so i frankly have no idea what to expect

[lunarw0rks]

cowgirl!Valeria would be so confident.. you’d be in a bar and she’d just come over and place her hat on your head.

“You ever ride a vaquera, hermosa?”

and you know those thighs are strong from riding horses all day..

THE HAT THING !! THE HAT THING !! THE HAT THING !!

and u just know she's got the strap in her pants when she goes to bars,,, gotta have easy access ;)

#oh to ride a cowgirl #cowgirl!valeria #valeria garza #valeria cod #valeria garza smut #valeria garza cod #valeria headcanons #valeria garza x reader #los vaqueros #kortac operators #kortac #mw2 #call of duty #rachel speaks #not writing

[the-pinterest-god]

#musical theatre #theatre #operation mincemeat #operation mincemeat musical #musical #theatre kid #six the musical #something rotten #wicked #beetlejuice #be more chill #heathers #mean girls #hamilton musical #ride the cyclone

[bakageta]

Next part of the untitled blue beetle fic! Nothing super body horror-y in this one, just build up. Khaji is getting ideas in its little scarab head, tho.

Jaime didn’t start having nightmares until he and his family moved back into their rebuilt home.

The first night, Jaime woke up gasping, tears in his eyes. Khaji burned under his skin. The scarab was frantically processing their surroundings, searching for any reason for its host’s distress. Jaime took huge, bellowing breaths, loud enough that he was worried that he might have woken up his family.

But the house had been rebuilt stronger and sturdier than any landlord would have bothered. No one woke. Jaime calmed on his own. He didn’t want to try going back to sleep.

Scarab still buzzing in his veins, Jaime headed to the kitchen. In law school he'd picked up a habit of making and drinking chamomile tea. The motions and steps were as soothing as the tea itself, and the neighbors had given them baked goods to go along with the dinners. He sat at his spot at the dinner table, nibbling at a cookie while he waited for his tea to cool.

"S'okay, Khaji. It was just a nightmare."

You were frightened.

"Yeah." He reached across his chest with his empty hand to touch the scarab’s leg where it was embedded around his shoulder. The new strap of tendon flexed under his hand. Jaime liked to think it was Khaji reacting to his attempt at reassurance, but he wasn’t entirely sure. It was the intent that mattered, he thought.

This did not happen at the hotel.

"Nothing bad happened at the hotel." Reflexively, Jaime rubbed at the front of his neck. He shuddered and sipped at his tea. It was still too hot

We should return to the hotel.

Jaime laughed softly. "We can't, s'too expensive. And besides, Jenny already got us our house."

Jenny can pay for the hotel, as well.

Khaji was fixated on the hotel. Jaime frowned lightly, running back over their conversation. "The hotel isn't my home, Khaji. What's wrong?"

I do not want you to be afraid, relocating is the least energy–

"It's not an option,"He spoke over Khaji’s last few words. Jaime swallowed, immediately regretting the sharp tone. "It's just, I'm gonna be scared. A lot of bad shit happened, right?"

Correct.

Jaime huffed a quick, quiet laugh. "Exactly, I just need time. It's like– like when you picked me, yeah? I was terrified at first, but then we talked, got to know each other, built trust. So I stopped being scared."

Additional information helps.

"Yeah." He smiled. It felt like they were finally getting somewhere, and–he sipped–his tea was cooled enough to–

"Ohmigod, Jaime!?"

They flinched, violently, at Milagro’s shout, nearly falling out of the chair. Jaime hadn’t heard her coming and Khaji had stopped tracking her as a potential threat after the bunker.

“Milla, what the hell!?” Jaime spun to face his sister after he steadied himself. He was just in time to watch her flick on the lights.

Milagro gave Jaime a moment to squint in the sudden brightness before she shoved her phone, in selfie mode, into his face. “Your eyes are fuckin’ glowing, Jaime!”

On the little screen, Jaime’s eyes glowed luminous orange just like they did in the armor. His eyelids were rimmed in gray-black. He grabbed his sister’s phone– “Hey!” –and held it up to his face. Concentric rings and radial lines traced around and out from back lit irises, they shifted and focused like a camera lens, and as he looked, Jaime saw that there was something like a snake's scale over his eyes.

He blinked a few times, over the scales or lenses or whatever, and they dissolved just like the armor did. Weird.

"Did you not notice?" Milagro asked incredulously.

"Nope." Jaime looked up and down, left and right. Everything seemed fine.

"Weird," she observed, just as sagely as Jaime had thought it. "Anyway, I'm glad you're just talking to Khaji instead of being, like, the world's loneliest burglar or something."

"Crap, did we wake you up?"

"Nah, I just had to pee," Milagro lied, breaking eye contact.

"Suuuure." Jaime ate the last piece of his cookie in one mouthful and did his best not to inhale any crumbs from the too big bite.

“Yeah, what about you? You got the munchies?”

Jaime’s face fell. “Couldn’t sleep. It’s hard being back, y’know?”

“Mm-hm,” Milagro agreed. “Roof?”

“Yeah.”

They spent the next hour and a half on the roof in comfortable quiet before retreating to their respective bedrooms. Khaji was silent the whole time, ticking and processing in the back of Jaime’s head.

#blue beetle #jaime reyes #khaji da #my writing #blue beetle 2023 #feel free to give me ideas! #operation pimp my ride

[incorrect-ikevamp-quotes]

Spoiling You With All My Might -- Comte Collection Story Translation

I've been meaning to post this one for a while, as it's honestly in my top ten Comte events of all time. For this Collection story event, it was basically all the suitors comforting MC when she's stressed/tired/overworked. And lbr, who doesn't need that in their life?

Enjoy everyone, and just a reminder that I'm no professional--I just translate these for my own enjoyment. Without further ado:

In the early afternoon, when the hands on the clock are pointing to 3pm-- I was alone drinking tea in a quiet kitchen. (I’ve been busy lately…I think I’m a little burnt out.) My cup of tea was already empty, but somehow I didn’t have the energy to stand up-- Comte: MC, are you taking a break? Turning around revealed Comte standing in the middle of the doorway.

Okay but like. I gotta say just the thought of him peeking around the corner is killing me, he's the cutest man alive I swear

But also. Now I'm wondering if he's lowkey like IS IT MEOW MEOW TIME? MEOW MEOW T I M E!!!!!! pounces on the opportunity for quality time. Somehow that's even more adorable I'm going to explode from uwus

MC: Indeed I am. Would you like to have some tea, too? Comte: That’s an attractive invitation, but if you don’t mind, would you spend some time with me for a little while after this? MC: Go out with you…? Comte: I’m thinking of going for a walk. Would you like to join me? His hand was outstretched in a gentlemanly gesture that touched/eased my heart. MC: Haha, I’d love to.

I laughed a little at this because I'm definitely the kind of person that's like "omg pls, you are not beating the silly goose allegations!!!" over him being all suave over a walk together but. At the same time. HEART EYES M-- King of romantics everywhere. Gentleman of my heart. Mellifluous seducer have MERCY

More under the cut!

Comte’s escort led me to a forest a short walking distance from the mansion. As I walk alongside him, the sunbeams penetrate through the trees as they sway with the breeze. Comte: The weather is lovely today, making it a perfect occasion for a walk. MC: You’re right…the wind feels nice, too. As I walked slowly listening to the rustling trees, I could feel the fatigue/tension draining out of me little by little. (It feels like my heart is being cleansed. It’s so soothing…) Comte: … It was then that I noticed Comte gazing at me calmly.

As somebody who used to be plus ultra literally every minute of my life, this made me so softe inside. The way he cares so much about her ;-; he really said "I will die before I disrespect a girlboss, but also. I am here. For to help PLS. Also a crumb of attention...p l swleseskje...."

(Ah…by any chance) MC: Comte Comte: Yes? MC: …You invited me out for a change of pace, didn’t you? Comte smiled softly at my words. Comte: I just wanted to take a walk with you like this.

I do love how, especially in recent events, MC notices his gestures more and more 🥺💛💛💛💛💛💛 I think it's really cute that he wants to be sneaky sweet and supportive, and whenever she realizes it he's like. C'est moi? You're not fooling anyone pretty boy!!! I know you have brain cells up there!!! But also the sincerity in that last line, of how he really does also just want to spend some time with her. How he's always saying the most wonderful thing she can give him is her time.

Just put my body out to sea I can't do this anymore--

I was enveloped in the sound of his voice, warming my heart, and my feet stopped involuntarily. Comte: MC? MC: Every time you treat me so kindly like this…I’m so happy I could cry Jokingly, Comte turned around and spread his coat. Comte: If you want to do so, that’s okay too MC: Huh… Comte: After all, there is no one here but us. If you want to cry, you can cry. Comte wrapped me gently in his open coat and murmured in my ear. Comte: Like this, there will be no trace of tears left behind. MC: Oh… (It’s okay to cry…that’s not something you hear very often when you’re fully grown.) (Just hearing him say that in such a sweet voice makes my heart feel lighter…) (Comte really is amazing)

Honestly this part just made me melt, I have no words--I'm down bad fellas. We love a man who encourages his partner that its safe to be vulnerable 😭🙏🏼

But also I feel the need to say. Comte don't offer this to me because from that point on I will live in your coat. It will no longer be 'Comte's nice coat,' but rather:

MC: Thank you. But…Aren’t you spoiling me too much? When I looked up and asked him, he leaned over to drop a kiss to my forehead… MC: Oh… Comte: I see. I think I don’t spoil you enough. Comte’s long fingers reached out to wipe my eyes gently. Comte: MC, I love everything about you. Comte: Your fatigue and your tears, don’t forget that it’s my privilege to soothe them with these hands. He gazes deeply into my eyes, and I can’t help how my heart races in response.

So like. Do you ever just cry and die. Because.

I'm like somewhere between "WE GOT A 2319!!!!!!!!!" and inches from professing my eternal love and loyalty like some kind of lovelorn knight too afraid to even touch the radiance of their beloved. Comte how on earth am I supposed to look at you without being blinded. Sun that's too bright!!!!! That's too b r i g h t!

I just. "Your fatigue and your tears, don’t forget that it’s my privilege to soothe them with these hands." [muffled wailing noises] Did I ASK--

Mfer out here like 'oh the terrible fate of being tied to me for eternity' meanwhile every second of being with him is either dizzyingly passionate or like being wrapped up in the warmest, fluffiest blankie imaginable. I HAVE TO S T A N SIR--

MC: Ah, if you spoil me so much, I’m afraid I won’t be able to do anything on my own anymore. Comte smiled a little as I laughed deceptively in the hopes of hiding how delighted I was. Comte: That’s great. I’d love to see that, myself. The fingers that had been stroking my eyes slipped down my cheek to touch my lips. Comte: If you can’t manage to walk alone--I’ll be there to hold you up, and walk alongside you. His sweet whisper ends when his lips gently cover mine. MC: Mn… In the midst of his enveloping kiss, I gently entrusted my body to the person dearest to me--

Can I just ?????? Say????? How much I love MC being teasing/catty with him as the events go on. I LOVE it here. I think I really like how she grows into her own strength, and how she feels comfortable expressing her shyness without ceding that integrity. One thing I've noticed that I love in relationships is this ability to air grievances in a playful way, where the stakes are low--but the person can still express their feelings and be comforted. I think I like how it's not about putting pressure on the person, but getting it out in the open and resolved all the same. It just fills me with warm fuzzies c:

Also. "If you can’t manage to walk alone--I’ll be there to hold you up, and walk alongside you." Like not to beat a dead horse, but wow. Pretty sure this metaphysically changed me as a person. Thanks, I will never be the same. True love exists, [unhinged barking noises], etc etc

#ikevamp #ikemen vampire #ikevamp comte #ikevamp saint germain #ikevamp mc #i am So Normal About Him i promise (egregious lie) #no i do not have a dragon's hoard worth of transcribed stories #look a w a y #but fr this one really just ended my life #i'm so so so weak to the idea of a couple as two people supporting each other through good and bad #like i know that's the foundational operating precept of the thing but #nothing will ever ruin me the way comte does when he gets Ride Or Die #honestly all i think of when i see comte and mc tg is that one meme of like #team/couple be like: 'fk it we ball (tank)' and 'but did you die? (healer)' #not incorrect quotes #comte propaganda #fangdad propaganda #baguettosaurus

[webdiggerxxx]

꧁★꧂

#coin operated #ride #cat #bucket #cute #kawaii #kitsch #tokyo #2004

[theeldergoals]

my nice little boat ride turned into an adventure under and over skyrim after bumping into a duck in the river

#weeeeeee #she just kept on going #this mod is great when you have it patched up right tho :') #its called "boats - operational animated travel #you can even ride around with your followers #my skyrim #I love mods so much

[holditdown-dare]

you want me to operate a rollercoaster? the thing that killed the former St. Cassian Chamber Choir?

#just occurred to me that I never crossposted this from twitter. my most sincere apologies #me (ride operator): oh i have the opportunity to be the funniest person here #ride the cyclone #rtc

[imhollering]

#rollercoasters #el toro #six flags great adventure #ride operator gothic

[martyrbat]

[ID: a comic book advertisement for a Batman themed bike horn. His mouth is slightly open and his cape and cowl is dark blue. It markets, "Ride down the road with the Dark Knight-Detective Batman sounding the way. Adjustable, fits all bikes!" END ID]

[ID: the actual product of the advertisement. The first photo is the side of the product's box, where there's a painted photo of a smiling kid that's riding their bike with the horn. The horn's design has Batman smiling and has little glistens on it. The product has a very simple, bulky plastic design. Batman's cowl is bright blue and he has large, closed lips. It lacks the shading and detail on his face and the base of is thicker than the advertisement and box art. END ID]

#ok last one i promise #but north im getting u this and the vintage batman battery operated toothbrush one day #70s plastic my.... beloved ?? #im trying to think if i have more bike mutuals or if im just the one mutual that cant ride a bike.... but im getting this for all of u too

[lunarw0rks]

Cowgirl position with vaquera val

it's customary. we have to do cowgirl with vaquera!valeria

how would it be a wlw cowgirl romance without COWGIRL ?!?!?!

#she lets you wear her hat while you ride the strap <3 #vaquera!valeria #valeria garza #valeria cod #valeria mw2 #valeria garza smut #valeria garza cod #valeria garza x you #valeria garza x reader #valeria x reader #los vaqueros #kortac operators #kortac #mw2 #call of duty #rachel speaks #not writing

[toytulini]

Okay i have yet to see a post about this that isnt filled with ppl being Annoying as Fuck on it, but,

theyve found wreckage of the submersible, it imploded (thank god, thats better than a drawn out suffocation over the course of several days, implosion means it was pretty much instantaneous) and the us navy have revealed they heard a weird sound on sunday from about where communication with the sub was lost, that was probably the sound of the implosion, [implied that they didnt say anything cos they didnt want to jump to conclusions without evidence of a wreckage, if there was a chance they were still alive.] no idea what the banging sounds were.

I do hope rescue efforts are extended to the migrants off the coast of greece, and am angry and horrified at their mistreatment, and that the media clearly cares less for their fates than that of the billionaires on the sub.

also, while i have you here,

The difference between a submersible and a submarine is not that one is safer. The titan was a submersible that was unsafe, but that is not because it was a submersible.

A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater.

A submersible is a watercraft designed to operate underwater, usually supported by a nearby surface vessel, platform, shore team or sometimes a larger submarine.

submarines generally dont go as deep as our deepest submersibles, but some can be down there for months at a time bc it is like. a self sufficient Ship. not all submersibles can go crazy deep, but to my knowledge, the only crewed vessels that can go that deep, are submersibles. (Alvin, deepsea challenger, limiting factor, trieste, fendouzhe or "striver").

#toy txt post #titan submersible #if ppl start being annoying on this post. ill turn off reblogs and block all of you. make your own post. #reblog the other ones where people are already being annoying #yes i hate billionaires. but im glad it was a quick death. it was a horrific situation. hope those migrants are given support and help. #i hope oceangate is fined to hell and back and bankrupted and never gets to put anyone in any sort of vehicle ever again #especially not in the ocean. im a little glad that ceo is dead in his own stupid sub im just frustrated he was able to take other ppl with #him. the fact that he was able to operate that unregulated non safety standard meeting ass vehicle and charge people money to ride in it is #fucking insane and unconcioable however you spell that #and now i need to go shower real quick and try to get like. a little over 3hrs of sleep. which will suck but i did accidentally nap for #like? 2 hrs already so it doesnt suck as bad as it could. goodnight please dont be stupid on this post please please please #if you have a hot take on the situation im begging you to hot take it Some Where Else! thank you! good bye #im not gonna bother linking shit feel free to fact check just fuckin. google titan submersible. James Cameron is tossing his 2 cents in now #saw 2 separate articles on that already. thats fine i guess he has been down there in safer vehicles so i guess he can shit talk how unsafe #it is. anyway. saw someone in the comments of a post say it was a submersible bc it was too unsafe to be a submarine and i wanted to start #screaming. thats not what those fucking words mean! at all! god! #irl death #idk what else to tag #behave. bye

[bakageta]

I think I'm gonna post Blue Beetle stuff here first and not worry about things like editing and coming up with a summary and thinking up a title. I'm running off vibes right now and don't wanna wait.

This is totally inspired by @wazzappp's anatomy post. I already wanted to do something about why it took (relatively) longer for Jaime's back to heal and that post just gave me more to write about. I wanna write more too! So throw body horror ideas at me plz!!!!

---

After the wake and the funeral and the burial and the mourning, after everything calmed down and everyone had a chance to breathe, Jaime looked at the scarab on his back again.

It wasn’t the first time he’d showered since everything, of course, but it was the first time he’d been able to focus on his thoughts instead of quietly disassociating until he was clean. Now he was appreciating the amenities in the hotel suite Jenny’d set the Reyes family up in while their home was repaired. There was a rainfall shower head. The toilet had an actual bidet that had sprayed Rudy’s ass the first time he’d taken a shit.

As always Khaji was ticking away in the back of his head, reassuringly present in a way Jaime didn’t want to look too closely at yet. It didn’t say anything though.

“Soap won’t bother you, right?” He hadn’t scrubbed himself down in a week or so. Partly because he’d been busy and then distracted, but also because just the shampoo running down his back during the first shower after it all had burned at the raw edges between his skin and Khaji Da.

Correct. We are fully healed now.

“Bien.” He squeezed the last of the sample sized hotel soap onto a washcloth and reached over his shoulder to start scrubbing. The scarab between his shoulder blades is anchored firmly, he can feel its legs under his muscles. 

That wasn’t a surprise. Jaime had felt every moment of Khaji burrowing up his spine and digging a home in his back. What was new was the strange… straps? the straps crossed above his shoulders and under his arms beneath his skin. They came from the scarab, where its front and back legs would be like, like it was some kind of awful fucking backpack.

“Khaji?” Jaime dropped the washcloth and shifted so he was able to trace up his spine. The three knots of alien tissue that Khaji had left like breadcrumbs also had straps running below his skin. Bending forward, Jaime realized he was able to feel where the straps anchored and the dips in his back where nothing had changed. “What am I feeling Khaji?”

The anchors for my carapace and sensory nodes. It hesitated, something it had only started doing after, as it started to learn when and when not to elaborate. They secure me and reduce the risk of damage or dislodgement. The growth of new tissue is why your back took so long to heal. Our efforts were split: your body prioritized your epidermis and my systems prioritized my security.

Sure. That made sense. Self preservation was a thing for alien symbiotes. The odd tug Jaime’d felt moving around was the growth of Khaji’s anchors and not muscle soreness like he’d assumed. Or maybe Khaji’s anchors counted as muscles. Wonderful. It also answered a question he’d never thought to ask: why his back had looked so bad for so long while cuts and scrapes healed in minutes. Great.

The hotel probably didn’t let guests on the roof.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t get there.

Jaime waited until after his shower, after Millagro took over the bathroom, after he hugged Mama and Nana, and after he swore up and down to Rudy that he wasn’t gonna fly off, to go to the roof. He made his way up the stairs, shorted out the electronic lock with a subtle lick of blue energy, and laid down on the flat gravel and tar paper roof. Like this he could feel Khaji and its nodes digging into his back alongside larger chunks of stone, foreign objects embedded in his body.

The sky was clear, but this close to Palmera, the stars might as well be invisible except for the most bright. Still enough to ground Jaime, to make him feel a part of life when everything was too much. A jet flew overhead, beacon flashing against the night. Jaime wondered if it was coming or going. 

Flight DL1332 is on approach to Palmera International, Khaji intoned.

“Huh. How d’you figure?” Jaime folded his hands behind his head to cushion it. 

After a moment the itching growth of the blue beetle’s carapace spread across the backs of his hands and arms. It stopped short of the full thickness armor Khaji was capable of, only forming the tough black underlayer.

They are communicating using radio frequencies. It is not difficult to interpret.

“Cool.”

Would you like to listen?

Jaime sighed. “Sure.”

Static faded into Jaime’s ears, interrupted regularly by steady trailing voices. It was calming. Like listening to another language, even though the pilots and controllers were still speaking English.

#my writing #the doc title is Operation pimp my ride #Operation pimp my ride #Jaime: if I ignore it everything will be fine #Khaji: I am helping and also doing a good job #but srs plz reply or reblog or ask me ideas for this kinda thing #blue beetle #blue beetle movie #blue beetle 2023 #jaime reyes #khaji da

[nerevar-quote-and-star]

That moment when your bestie gives you Thongvor Silver-Blood/Last Dragonborn as a crackship and you roll with it to surprising results

So @elder-dragon-reposes gave me this prompt. She wanted to see what I could do with Leara Rose-blade and one of the Silver-Blood brothers. I chose Thongvor. So, to start Leara off with Thongvor, I read his UESP page. And I learned some things. You can get Thongvor to talk about Talos, and if you're an elf, like Leara, he says:

"He founded the Empire, and now they've turned their back on him. To appease your kind, Elf. Do your people rule Skyrim, or do the Nords?"

Leara would cooly reply,

"You may find that some of my kind stand with Skyrim. I'm here on behalf of Ulfric Stormcloak."

(Floor him, Lea, c'mon)

He may also say:

"Your kind started the Great War. Nearly destroyed the Imperial City. Then the Emperor took the coward's way out and surrendered. Now you people dictate everything we do. Don't want us acknowledging a "mere human" like Talos as the god he is."

At which point Leara, Thalmor agent though she was at the time, would say,

"Your gross generalization of all elves under one banner is fascinating. Tell me, do all Nords see eye-to-eye with you? Because I thought you and Jarl Igmund had a few fundamental differences of your own."

Leara just dismantles him. Deconstructs his worldview until she dominates his perception. That's my girl.

This conversation happens:

Thongvor: "Reburrus, I need you to draft a letter to Ulfric requesting more men." Yngvar: "Ha! About time we got some more muscle in this city." Reburrus: "Thongvor, do you really think that's wise? I mean, King Ulfric is such a busy man, and there are so many areas of Skyrim to protect." Thongvor: "Whose side are you on, Reburrus? I'm not worried about Skyrim, I'm worried about the Reach. Specifically, the part of the Reach we're standing on." Reburrus: "Yes, Thongvor. I'll draft the letter immediately."

And after Reburrus sends the letter, Ulfric's natural inclination is to send his trusty Rose-blade.

"I know you're inclined toward the negotiator's table, but with the situation in the Reach, I need someone I can trust on top of things."

And Leara smiles at Ulfric.

"Of course."

And she's off to Markarth.

Does Ulfric know that his old friend Thongvor is about to simp for the woman Ulfric loves? No. If he did, he'd have sent Galmar or literally anyone else.

So then I asked my friend: What do you want to bet that this is the conversation Leara walks in on when arriving at Understone Keep?

Thongvor: "I want soldiers sent to deal with these dragons. Every able-bodied man and woman who can carry a bow." Reburrus: "We can't do that. Every soldier we send to hunt dragons is one more man that can't defend the Reach." Thongvor: "Killing dragons isn't defending the Reach?" Reburrus: "Our men know how to kill Forsworn and Legionnaires, not dragons."

And she clears her throat, light and delicate, and says,

"I can handle the dragons for you."

And Thongvor is going to put his foot in his mouth [see above where Leara dismantles him and informs him Ulfric sent her], and Thongvor just has to trust this half-elf, apparently from "King Ulfric" (she probably has a letter with a seal or something) to go handle the immediate dragon problem. And she does, and it's amazing.

Right now Thongvor is catching feelings for Ulfric's liaison and he has no idea what to do. She's not what he's perpetrated elves to be. And it's got him on the wrong foot.

Thongovr does need help in Markarth and Leara is surprisingly effective. She's diplomatic and soft-spoken and has an uncanny ability to introduce logic into situations and to soothe hot tempers. Thongvor can see why Ulfric sent her of all people. And after a while, he doesn't particularly want to send her back. Thongvor isn't an idiot: He knows there are many people in Markarth who still sympathize with or are on the side of the Empire or the Forsworn. He can't name names, but he knows they're there and they are a threat to his family's hold on the city. But Leara Stormcrown is keeping everything together. The dragons aren't so much of a threat now and there hasn't been a Forsworn attack or riot in several weeks. Thongvor is living high on Leara's success.

And then Ulfric writes, requesting Leara return to Windhelm at Thongvor's earliest convenience, because he needs his negotiator. back. Unfortunately for Ulfric, Thongvor doesn't find this convenient at all. He almost anticipates the city falling into anarchy as soon as Leara leaves and he can't have that. Markarth needs her. He needs her–

So Thongvor starts inventing excuses to keep her in the city. Leara knows Ulfric needs her to help him handle the Imperial deligations from Solitude, but Thongvor hasn't signed off on her mission to Markarth. She's getting antsy to leave, but she can't abandon her orders.

And this leads into the Forsworn Conspiracy/No One Escapes Cidhna Mine. There are problems from the Forsworn. When Leara starts looking into it, Thongvor doesn't want her to, but she does anyway and Thonar, what do you mean you arrested her?

And then Leara is in Cidhna Mine and Thongvor, Mr Foot-In-His-Mouth, is stalling on getting her out and his concern that Ulfric is going to find out.

(Firm belief that Thonar doesn't like Leara at all, by the way. Thinks his brother is a fool.)

And then . . . the Forsworn break out of the mines, and Leara is standing in his quarters. It's 3am. She's in rags. She's never looked more mesmerizing. Why is it so cold all of a sudden?

"I stopped them from killing your brother – barely. I did that for you, by the way. You're welcome, Jarl Thongvor. You're welcome, because Madanach is free, and he's gone to spread the truth to the Reachfolk."

Oh. She's . . . cross.

Her finger, directed at his throat, is a jagged spear of ice as it presses into his skin. There's a blizzard in her eyes and frost on her skin. That's what they meant when they called her Dragon of the North.

"Since coming to Markarth, I have followed your every direction. I have aided the people and dealt with your problems for you. But no longer. When your idea of aiding the people is the eradication and abuse of half the populace, then you are no longer worth my attention. People say Ulfric oppresses the Dunmer, but at least they have roofs over their heads, food in their stomachs, fires for warmth, and city walls for protection – the Reachfolk have nothing. You would take everything from a people whose only crime is living in the land you desire for your own! When I return to Windhelm–"

And then Thongvor snaps. He grabs Leara by the shoulders.

"I did it for you! I tried to protect you from the Forsworn! I would drive them into the depths of Oblivion so you never suffer at their hands again, like you have tonight!"

Leara's stare is a long winter.

"You did it for yourself."

And then her skin – he can almost feel the softness of her thin shoulders through the prison rags – is so cold it burns.

"The only one who hurt me tonight is you. I thought you were better than that. Really, I did."

And then Leara walks away. More painful than watching her go is knowing that she would never look on him again. That all her regard, so carefully attained in recent months, is shattered and gone. And Thongvor cries.

LATER IN WINDHELM:

Ulfric is just lounging on his throne, waiting for Thongvor to send Leara back, when the doors just blow up and she's there and she's brought the winter wind in her wake, but she's got a stiff lip and an iron spine. Ulfric is on his feet in moments because this isn't laughing Leara, this is Leara struggling, and he meets her across the room in moments.

She almost flinches back when he reaches for her.

His hand falls.

"Leara . . ."

Her eyes are distant, off to the side, and then she looks at him, and maybe there's a thaw but it comes with a swell of rain and barely restrained tears.

"I failed in the Reach, Jarl Ulfric."

Ulfric doubts that. Leara doesn't fail. But he hesitates to ask what she means because there's something haunted in her eyes. He reaches for her hand and when she takes it, slowly, he says,

"Tell me."

And she does, and Ulfric hears thunder.

Clear across the province, Thongvor shivers.

And that's it. That's the post. Thank you for coming to my TES talk

#ulfric is ride or die for leara and I will accept no slander thank you #she will pull skyrim back together like an epic winter queen diplomat #i also want to read the long fic for this pitch but I don't want to write it alas #friendly reminder that leara was an undercover blades operative in the aldmeri dominion during the great war #just for context #oc: leara roseblade #thongvor silver blood #ulfric stormcloak #last dragonborn #mod post #skyrim #the elder scrolls #tes #markarth #the forsworn conspiracy #rosecloak #thank you for coming to my tes talk