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vredeir · 3 years

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GUIDE : CANON DIVERGENCE, POST S5A AFTER CONQUERING KATTEGAT to clarify how the journey of my portrayal for Ivar deviates from the interpretation of the show - trigger warning for child death and a warning for heavy s5 spoilers !

I am mostly concerned about the second half of season 5 which, in my opinion, has taken an abrupt and rather unreasonable turn on Ivar. Too much, too quickly, especially upon considering a few key moments from the first half of season 5. I have no intention to erase everything from the original show content because I can partially understand where the show did foreshadow some of his actions, but I want to approach most events from a different point of view as well as establishing a different motivation which is not based on a simplified explanation such as a character who develops a god complex. Long story short, my portrayal for Ivar is primarily based on his character development & character growth which happened throughout the first half of season 5 and I consider him highly canon divergent.

I am not saying I’m writing a “better” version of Ivar. I’m only saying I’m writing a different and more personal ( for me as a writer ) version of him.

“ WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE WORD KING THAT MAKES EVEN REASONABLE PEOPLE BEHAVE LIKE IDIOTS ? ”

He can not, nor want to, empathize why most men consider becoming king as the highest achievement one could reach. It’s beyond him how far men will go just to burden themselves with the responsibility over an entire community. He does not want to become king, & by extent, I am also inclined not to support the idea that he wants to be a god. The only reason why he cares about becoming the ruler of Kattegat is to overthrow Lagertha’s rule and to take her place in stead, to mock her as much as he’s able to for as long as she’s on the run. However, in the long term he has no interest to claim a throne which won’t deliver the glory & recognition he seeks. He suspects that, upon keeping the throne & keeping a tight control on everything that’s happening within Kattegat, he will irritate Lagertha enough to have her engage an attempt to re — conquer Kattegat.

Let me clarify: HE IS NOT A GOOD KING OR WHATSOEVER, and he’s aware that it’s not peasants, villagers & slaves who will respect him, but Vikings fighting & winning battles with and for him. For one, because the residents of Kattegat still love their former queen Lagertha, but also because Ivar’s true strength belongs on the battlefield considering he’s a tactical genius with a keen mind. He’s a conqueror & a defender, not a ruler.

IVAR THE GOD !?

The ceremony, to celebrate Ivar the god, is also something which I will consider with a different motivation. It’s not Ivar’s intention to celebrate himself as a god nor to lie about the woman’s identity they are about to sacrifice. He does not claim they have caught Lagertha and will burn her to revenge the death of his own mother. Instead he spins a narrative in which he promises Kattegat that this woman symbolizes Lagertha & the deep pain as well as hatred & wrath she brought upon him. He tells Kattegat that sacrificing this woman shall be enough to the gods to consider the promise Ivar made ( to revenge his mother’s death, ) as fulfilled. However, it does not change how the majority of Kattegat feels about Ivar on the throne. Following scenes which concern his god complex are— not accepted into my portrayal. Does he make his own brother as well as the majority of his subjects feel worthless under his reign ? Yes. They still have their reasons to betray him & to want him overthrown, but he is not a ruthless ruler who executes countless of his own people just because of some vandalism.

Note however, that Ivar IS commonly considered and believed to be a descendant from Odin. It’s always been delivered by all of Norway that Ragnar, Ivar’s father, is descendant of Odin. Which is something Ragnar himself claimed, too.

“ IF SHE WAS A VIRGIN, HOW COULD SHE BE A MOTHER ? ”

When Freydis tells him that she’s expecting a child, Ivar knows he can not be the legitimate father & that she is lying to him about his fatherhood. To me it makes little sense that someone as smart as Ivar, someone who scoffs at Christians who believe that Virgin Mary gives birth to their prophet despite being a virgin, readily accepts Freydis’ lie that he’s the father of her child despite his impotence. I also do not see any romantic feelings involved on Ivar’s part, for he knows that Freydis is using him as much as he is using her. However, I am inclined to consider it reasonable that a character who’s been exposed to many betrayals and who has always been underestimated before, that he decides not to question her & even uses her pregnancy for his own advantage. I consider their relationship rather toxic - on both sides - because neither of them is innocent - which is exactly why I consider their bond a result out of convenience but not necessarily, genuinely, based on love. In the end Ivar even tells her that he did not really love her, or doesn’t think he did.

Upon the birth of Baldur, a baby with severe dysmorphic features, so much it will not be able to drink from its mother’s breast, Ivar did decide to release Baldur from a life full of pain. Ivar could never quite forgive nor forget that he’s been forced to live a life in which he’s almost always in some kind of pain, to grow up angry because he is either exposed to pity or mockery, and to be underestimated no matter his achievements. Unlike how it happens on the show, Ivar killed Baldur himself to make sure he won’t suffer dying, at least.

IVAR AND THE SEER.

Ivar killing the seer out of sheer spite and in a moment of anger ? During a scene in which it seems very likely that the seer is about to die anyway ? We are going to approach this just a little bit differently as well. Ivar is many things, ruthless and impulsive among them, but if we consider how much he regrets accidentally killing Sigurd just because he antagonized him, I am not inclined to believe he didn’t learn anything from his mistake then. In his bitterness towards the seer it’s also not quite unreasonable to imagine he just watches him die and suffer naturally. However, upon knowing how little his subjects trust him already, he still decided to bury & burn the body.

#—— III. HEADCANON : WE / CEASELESSLY MUSING AND SEEKING THE SPHERES / FOR SOUL AND BODY HAVE NO BOUNDS #this is actually three years old #i have adjusted the wording a little but surprisingly i still agree with my past self #in which season 5b is and always will be a mess if you are asking me #i do not particularly like to erase canon events entirely so... i am simply approaching them differently #i probably forgot about quite a few things concerning 5b #that's because i am refusing to rewatch season 5b #asdfgghjkl

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eagleshaped · 6 years

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hc + summer

the hottest of the four temperature seasons, summer, is his favorite. altaïr overall prefers anything close to the cold desert clima which usually features hot and dry summers, and tends to have cold but also dry winters where snow is rather unusual. whereas he does not necessarily like cold temperatures, he prefers cold and dry weather over rain and snow.

even during summer it’s very unlikely to witness him more casual about his attire. he is used to wear several layers and does not have any tendency to sweat despite the warm clothing.

fellow assassins often believe him paler in comparison with their own complexion due to his european mother, but it’s more likely that he may appear less sun tanned in complexion due to always wearing long robes. he does have a naturally darker complexion due to his ethnicity despite what fellow assassins claim.

in modern verses he tends to wear sunglasses.

especially during heat waves he prefers different dishes than through the rest of the year. he will still prefer bread made from wood fired oven but overall falls back to fruit salads or other cold dishes he can eat along with any kind of bread.

jerusalem is one of his most favorite places to be during summer. he enjoys exploring the surrounding region as much as he enjoys the usual activities of the HOLY CITY during the day. during night he often sleeps inside well hidden balconies rather than seeking refuge with the bureau. he prefers the safety of the bureau during the day.

@bowarisen // meme.

#bowarisen #—— II. ANSWERED : INFLUENCING FUTURE DECISIONS / LIKE WHISKEY IN THE HANDLE OF A WALKING STICK #—— II. ASSASSIN : HE / FIRST UNDERESTIMATED FOR HE THINKS DEEPER THAN SPOKEN AND KNOWS MORE THAN SAID #—— III. HEADCANON : WE / CEASELESSLY MUSING AND SEEKING THE SPHERES / FOR SOUL AND BODY HAVE NO BOUNDS #thank you so much for sending this!#c:

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vredeir · 3 years

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GUIDE : IVAR’S FASCINATION WITH FIRE to clarify where ivar is drawing inspiration from regarding the worshiping of fire

For my portrayal of Ivar I currently see two main reasons why he has such a notable fascination with fire. First and foremost, it is definitely due to Vikings having a close relationship with fire in general, both in society as well as regarding their faith & the path of a vVking. The second reason is a subtle side remark which keeps popping up every now and then through the show: Ancient Roman.

THE WORSHIPING OF FIRE IN THE VIKINGS’ CULTURE

A viking does have a very close relationship with fire. in their belief, fire is mostly connected to the giants. A völva ( female shaman, seer, ) claims that, during Ragnarök — the age of fire and gravel, Surtr will come from the south with flames, carrying a bright sword. He is believed to be a ruler & a fire giant who will destroy the world by fire in Ragnarök. Vikings believe that the flames protect them against revenge of evils powers & they think it’s an honor to their enemies that they will suffer the same fate. It is also very apparent that they consider fire & water as the boundary between the living and the deceased. There is no denying how much they love their boats, so much that it is considered a great honor to be interred in one. According to this, Vikings place their dead in ships along with slaves, valuables and weapons to set the ships ablaze. Further more it is also notable that they are notorious arsonists, burning both enemies and their deceased. It’s also becoming common for them to burn down everything they come across: Monasteries, Castles, Churches and Farms. In their belief fire is the best protection against witchcraft & dark powers which is why they always feel very confident that no evil spirits will punish & avenge as long as they make sure to burn everything down after looting a building.

There is probably a lot more to say about Vikings and their relationship with fire, but in Ivar’s case I just want to remind that he has been mentored by Floki & embraces a huge awareness for the path of a Viking as well as the depths of their faith and rituals. To him it’s a very pragmatical reason why he would want an enemy to burn him at the stake: In imprisonment, he can not expect that his enemy will bother enough to execute him honorably & send his body back home where he can receive the burial of a true Viking. as such he considers the execution by fire, being burned alive, as the closest alternative for a safe and honorable passage to Valhalla.

ROMAN EXECUTION AD FLAMMAS

Taking Ivar’s strategic mind into consideration, it becomes apparent that he must have taken inspiration from somewhere. Through the show we keep receiving subtle remarks about Ancient Rome and I like to believe that Ivar has used whatever resources are available to study them. To learn about the battles & warfare they fought, as well as additional information he comes across concerning the society and politics of Ancient Rome.

Thinking of Ancient Rome, most people tend to consider crucifixion as one of their most common method to execute. Whereas that might be true, there are several sources describing the method of burning people alive as an execution the romans used routinely for crimes such as arson & treason in the roman world. The Romans are also notorious for often using mythological reenactments with criminals to entertain the crowds at Roman games. As such the execution “ad flammas” was actually one of the specified methods in Ancient Rome’s governing XII tables, ( the legislation that stood at the foundation of roman law. ) According to the tables, men might be bound, beaten, and burned alive as an ancient penalty for treachery and arson. The Roman masses knew the violent use of fire as a threat & as vengeance. As such it was common under the empire, to use execution by fire for arson, desertion, magic, and treason.

To Ivar, there is nothing worse but being betrayed, lied to, and to feel, or believe, like someone’s committing treason. To him it’s a homage to the roman empire, considering how fascinated he is about their culture, to execute with fire. At the same time there is probably a small part of him who still wants to make sure the supposed traitors still have an honorable & cleansing death by fire. a safe passage to Valhalla.

#—— III. HEADCANON : WE / CEASELESSLY MUSING AND SEEKING THE SPHERES / FOR SOUL AND BODY HAVE NO BOUNDS

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vredeir · 3 years

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GUIDE : IVAR’S MOTHER, THE SECOND WIFE OF RAGNAR to clarify why i consider ivar’s mother, aslaug, as one of the strongest women in the show

The fandom ( on as well as outside tumblr ) does have an overall negative opinion on Aslaug. That’s a fact. I can understand the bitterness and some of the reasons, but for now I want to share my point of view and why I consider the idea and concept behind her character very important and admirable. I also want to give some insight how the show highly disappointed me with decisions they made regarding the portrayal for Aslaug. I agree that the character development we received was more than unpleasant and does not paint her in any good light. However, I am very inclined to make my opinion, on how it should have been, as a part of my portrayal for Ivar. To honor her determination, bravery and strength not many people can see nor understand.

DISCLAIMER : MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

My entire opinion regarding Aslaug is highly driven by personal experience and how she reminds me of my own mother. In my family we are four siblings and I am the youngest child. My brother, the second oldest child, was born with a mental disability — one which made him dependent on constant care because he often suffered from seizures. Each seizure was a potential threat to his life. I am not going into any details what that meant for my family but I can definitely say this: The pressure of trying to be a good mother to four children - each with their own needs and expectations and difficulties - along with the constant fear and worry that her sick child suffers or might die when there’s another seizure again... it made her sick. And even after my brother died, amazingly he lived for 21 years and he was probably the most positive human being I know, she never really recovered. She still suffers with chronic pain today.

ASLAUG : DOES SHE REALLY DESERVE ALL THE BLAME ?

For an entire season long we are all in love with Lagertha because the show introduces a mother who cares for her children and who’s capable of protecting them even when her husband is off to raid. We learn about shieldmaidens and that these are honored women fighting like men. It is beyond dispute that Lagertha is an important representation for strong women and that she is overall a major character for the show. With Aslaug we are introduced to a woman who is a progeny to a legendary shieldmaiden as well as a hero who killed the dragon Fafnir. You can only try to imagine under what pressure Aslaug must have been growing up. As an orphan, I might add. To me it immediately stood out that Aslaug is unapologetic to the fact that she is nothing like her parents. That she has apparently decided to follow her own path away from warfare and glory through triumph. To anyone who accuses her that she’s the reason why the relationship between Ragnar and Lagertha ends I can only say this: It takes two to tango. That characters in the show believe she bewitched him is one thing, but we, the audience, we should be able to consider the bigger picture. As such I can not understand why it’s entitled to judge her for sleeping with a married man, but not put the same amount of judge and blame on Ragnar. Is it not true that he was certain to have 5 sons and did come to the conclusion that Lagertha will not be able to deliver his last 4 sons ? That, upon Aslaug becoming pregnant, he believes she might be the one to gift him with more sons ? So, I am not quite sure why the blame regarding the end of Ragnar’s relationship with Lagertha is entirely on her.

ASLAUG : AN IMPORTANT REPRESENTATION

Fast forwarding, we have the birth of Ivar and the realization that he will never be a healthy child, that he might not even survive long enough to become an adult. We are talking about a mother who loves her children unconditionally, who’s dealing with remorse and guilt, who naturally does not want any of her children to suffer pain, who is torn between the decision whether or not her child should live. I already respected her before and considered most of the writing reasonable, but her decision to raise her child in spite of his physical disability made her one of the strongest and most bravest women in my books. I consider her representation as a mother raising a child with a disability so important because we basically do not get that in media. These mothers are overlooked both in media as well as in real life. I have seen it with my own mother who felt like no one acknowledges that she’s trying her best to satisfy everyone. I am not trying to argue that Aslaug is a perfect mother. That’s impossible anyway. Regardless the number of children you raise and regardless their health. We all make mistakes. However, I believe the show did her very dirty to imply that she was more interested to get laid repeatedly than to look after her children. That she would neglect them so much that two of her children almost die only to repeat the same mistake which does lead to a child death. I am very inclined not to accept this into my canon idea of Aslaug because I think the importance of her representation does not deserve this kind of slander.

To be honest, even though my post concerns Aslaug only, I also want to note that I generally think the show could have done a much better job on writing all female characters. For example: Isn’t it peculiar that all female children die and that, 5 seasons later, we have witnessed several boys growing up, but not one girl ? I dare arguing that tells us a lot about the priorities of the show.

#i am super nervous about posting this #it feels like i am about to open a can of worms #but in the end everyone is entitled to their opinion #it's okay not to like a character #it's okay not to like aslaug #but i feel like most people dislike her for the wrong reasons #so it's important to me to clarify why i consider aslaug an amazing character who deserved much better #why i respect her even with her mistakes attached #—— III. HEADCANON : WE / CEASELESSLY MUSING AND SEEKING THE SPHERES / FOR SOUL AND BODY HAVE NO BOUNDS #mental disability #physical disability #chronic pain #misogyny

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vredeir · 3 years

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GUIDE : IVAR AND HIS PHYSICAL DISABILITY to clarify his disability and to talk about how I intend to approach his disability in character as well as out of character

First I must clarify that I, the writer behind Ivar, am not a person with a disability. I have no first person experience. This is why I will do my best to keep researching and to avoid disability - related terms with negative connotations. I am aware that, for some terms, it’s the grammar structure of their use which determines if they are offensive. I make all my research in english but I must additionally clarify that english is not my native tongue. It’s very possible that mistakes will happen, especially as soon as grammar structures are involved, and I would be grateful about anyone who will nudge me about it even though it’s my responsibility to treat the matter very carefully and to do my own research.

ABLEIST SLUR WARNING FOR THE C-SLUR

Out of character it’s a term I will obviously never use as reasoned above. In character I will be very cautious about using this term because I have no intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable. In case I will ever use it within an in character interaction for Ivar, I will limit the use to dialogues only. Dialogues in which Ivar claims the noun himself. I might have to add that when talking to other people, Ivar claims this term rather often himself through the show. Often with an intent to disarm a person before they can even try to oppress him. Be aware that Ivar’s story takes place within a period where they did not use terms which are considered appropriate and have no negative connotations. I will always tag threads with #c slur if the occasion ever arrives in character. However, I suspect it won’t happen very often.

OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA “BRITTLE BONE DISEASE”

Ivar Ragnarsson from History’s Vikings is loosely based on the historical figure who is also known as Ivar the Boneless. His disease is unidentified in the show, but due to how Ivar is portrayed, it raises the suspicion that he suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, commonly known as “brittle bone disease,” — a genetic disorder that mainly affects the bones. After some careful consideration I suspect that Ivar may fall into the Type 4 OL category in which it’s common for those affected to need crutches to walk. His life expectancy is close to normal. The symptoms of brittle bone disease differ according to the type of the disease. The following symptoms are applicable in Ivar’s case: Fragile Bones, he was especially vulnerable to fractures before puberty, Bone Deformities ( one leg more severe than the other, ) Blue Sclera, a bluish color in the white of the eye and impotence. However, impotence is not a commonly noted symptom regarding brittle bone disease, but it's a concomitant effect in Ivar’s case.

#—— III. HEADCANON : WE / CEASELESSLY MUSING AND SEEKING THE SPHERES / FOR SOUL AND BODY HAVE NO BOUNDS #most important to note i dare say 😬

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vredeir · 5 years

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i have re - watched the scene in which ivar learns that his mother is dead and i realize how surreal this entire scene is. first thing sigurd and ubbe do is to inquire about ragnar upon which ivar tells them he is most likely dead already and that sort of reminds them they may be should tell him about their mother ? and that sigurd is the one to say “we have to tell you something,“ even closes the distance between him and ivar and sits closer, ivar already realizes there are bad news waiting for him because siguard usually is not that considerate or... careful towards him. i think this scene, as well as the scene in which ivar returns from england, is a good example where you can see that sigurd does not entirely feel indifferent about ivar, he just don’t want to deal with ivar’s antics most of them time and is straight forward about what he thinks of ivar during these moments. but he doesn’t really hate him. with these two brothers it feels like it’s mostly just tragic miscommunication. sigurd was the most neglected to be honest ? he did not get to spend much time with ragnar and was forced to stay behind with aslaug and ivar and ivar got more attention because he was a) the youngest and b) it was necessary due to his disease. that is something ivar can not see nor empathize with and no matter how much sigurd claims he does not care about their mother, he never vented on her, instead he mostly vented on ivar. but going back to the scene it struck me how quiet ivar is upon hearing about their mother’s death, he who is usually so loud and always speaks his mind, no matter how brutal his opinion is. it also tells a lot about his relationship with sigurd that ivar immediately looks at ubbe for confirmation whether it’s true what sigurd is saying or not. i suspect it would not have been the first time that they each prank on each other.

#—— III. HEADCANON : WE / CEASELESSLY MUSING AND SEEKING THE SPHERES / FOR SOUL AND BODY HAVE NO BOUNDS #long post #what a tragic family let's be real

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vredeir · 5 years

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SHIPPING INFO MEME — Answer the following for your muse so people know how shipping works on your blog !

TAGGED BY: ivar’s favorite Valkyrie @xenovair TAGGING: @queenofkategat, @ofodinn, @aelfred, @sgyns, @curiiousman @aprincessoftheblood, @heamundus / @antlred, @iilvecchio & you, if you’d like to !

WHAT IS YOUR OTP FOR YOUR CHARACTER ?

crazy meets crazy and sparks fly, i think that might be one way or another to describe what i imagine my OTP for ivar to be like. it has to be someone who is confident, whose feet are firmly on the ground, who can counter ivar’s mood swings, who understands that ivar is asking for loyalty and the truth, above everything. he will rather be confronted with brutal honesty rather than feeling deceived and betrayed, no matter how well someone meant. or, a wonderful suggestion by @queenofkategat, ivar x knife.

WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO WRITE WHEN IT COMES TO SHIPPING ?

it has to be legal. it’s that easy to be honest. such as age of consent ( by our standards and not by the standards of the canon material, ) no incest and i am generally not interested in writing explicit sex scenes.

HOW LARGE DOES THE AGE GAP HAVE TO BE TO MAKE IT UNCOMFORTABLE ?

it honestly depends on the circumstances, the muses, the dynamic between both muses ( if they consider each other as equals regardless, ) as well as how comfortable it feels for both writers. in the end it also depends what their relationship looks like, its foundation as well as its purpose.

ARE YOU SELECTIVE WHEN SHIPPING ?

yes, and no. it’s something that might just happen upon writing with one another. it helps a lot if there’s out of character communication to feel comfortable about approaching a romantic relationship if both writers feel like it could be a thing.

HOW FAR DO STEAMY MOMENTS HAVE TO GO BEFORE THEY ARE CONSIDERED NSFW?

i tag nsfw very early concerning threads and images, but only because i always consider the question whether or not i would want any of my colleagues to see that kind of content on my screen. so, the way how i tag things as nsfw might not be helpful because i take it very literal and it’s not always because there’s something steamy going on. but regarding steamy moments, i have fun writing them when i do not have to think about appropriate terms for genitalia. as soon as genitalia are involved, it might not be something i am interested to write, unless it’s a meme or a consensual exception.

WHO ARE OTHER CHARACTERS YOU SHIP YOUR CHARACTER WITH?

i do like the relationship between ivar and heahmund a lot. or at least, the little we got. there was certainly some kind of tension going on, some kind of crush from ivar’s side, but overall it was very intellectual, intriguing, respectful and maybe a little bit sensual. it would not be an easy relationship for many reasons, ( regardless which kind of relationship we are talking about, ) but i definitely see the potential for a lot of character growth on both sides with a relationship like what theirs promised to be, except we never got it.

DOES ONE HAVE TO ASK TO SHIP WITH YOU ?

if we communicate out of character or engage with one another through threads as well as memes, it might come up as a subject anyway assuming we both see the potential. but yes, i do not see myself shipping with any muse if there isn’t any in character writing nor any out of character communication.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU LIKE TO SHIP ?

let’s just say, i tend not to ship very often. it’s already an accomplishment when i have one romantic relationship for a muse going on. but that’s less about whether or not or how often i like to ship, and more about me being a potato who sometimes struggles a lot to keep up with the necessary out of character communication.

ARE YOU SHIP OBSESSED OR SHIP MORE-OR-LESS ?

i love platonic relationships of all kind. whether they are familial, friendly, less friendly, healthy, unhealthy... that’s where i am definitely obsessed with and where i can imagine to develop my portrayal with. regarding romantic relationships i am more reserved. i rather have a little number of romantic relationships and try to be as attentive and communicative as possible, rather than overwhelming myself with too many.

ARE YOU MULTISHIP ?

i am certainly not single ship. when it comes to romantic relationships i tend to prefer to only ship with one portrayal of the canon muse, or the face claim of an original character, but that’s not something i would expect from my writing partner in return. but within a cozy fandom like vikings it’s less likely. it’s only something i do within bigger fandoms or when there are several portrayal of the muse / with a specific face claim.

WHAT IS/ARE YOUR FAVOURITE SHIP(S) IN YOUR CURRENT FANDOM ?

lagertha and ragnar. helga and floki. aslaug and happiness.

FINALLY, HOW DOES ONE SHIP WITH YOU ?

if you want, you can approach me about it directly. or we can interact with one another through threads, memes, ims, asking for insight of each other’s muses and just see where it goes. it’s usually something which just comes up when we are talking about our muses anyway, upon sharing headcanons or what kind of plots we’d like to write.

#—— III. HEADCANON : WE / CEASELESSLY MUSING AND SEEKING THE SPHERES / FOR SOUL AND BODY HAVE NO BOUNDS #long post

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eagleshaped · 6 years

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altaïr often acts rather contradictory. he does not pledge to any religion, neither islam ( for his father was a muslim, ) nor christianity ( for his mother was a christian. ) he even considers himself an atheist despite the religious background of the assassin brotherhood & its origin. thus, regarding islam, he never declared belief in the oneness of god and the acceptance of muhammad as god’s prophet ( shahada. ) he still honors some religious acts such as charity ( zakāt ) considering how often he’s dealing with beggars or victims of his targets during his travels. though it’s not only about giving coins to some beggars, but also about supporting those he finds oppressed. releasing them from their oppressors. and even though he never knew his father well ( an assassin first, a father second, ) he eventually started to do fasting ( in the month of ramadan ) as well. which also includes assassinations during that time. instead he rather reads to gain more wisdom, makes sketches ( of new tools, people & places, ) and writes. though not because he’s hoping to feel the nearness to god, but rather because he wants to honor his father and perhaps understand him better.

#—— III. HEADCANON : WE / CEASELESSLY MUSING AND SEEKING THE SPHERES / FOR SOUL AND BODY HAVE NO BOUNDS #for someone who does not want to believe in any gods #he still admires the amount of hope people draw from these religions #which is why he respects both old religions as much as the more recent religions of his time #in a way he does favor ancient pagan faiths though

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