Now is the Mad Blood Stirring

"Delays have dangerous ends."

June 27th

On another day, watching Romeo spar with Benedick might have been amusing. Romeo was slim and fast, with an almost supernatural ability to lean and thrust at odd angles. He was a challenging opponent for his brother when Romeo could be bothered to practice. Benedick's form was also heavily reliant on leaning - as a means of survival. At sixteen, he fought like a novice, swinging his sword like a baby with a toy. Once or twice, by pure luck, he had beat Romeo back. He had spent the rest of the exercise avoiding a friendly flaying.

This Bud of Love: Part Three

"Only my blood speaks to you"

May 4th
Continued from Part Two

If he had noticed the lonely book in the grass, Tybalt would have chosen another tree. He had wanted a place to sort his thoughts. Instead, he was stuck with a view that only scrambled them further.

This Bud of Love: Part Two

"You have bereft me of all words"

May 4th
Continued from Part One.

Romeo wasn't a nature lover, but where Rosaline went, he followed.

Unfortunately for Romeo, the lady neither wished for nor welcomed his presence. Rosaline had pledged to enter a convent once her sickly mother passed, having felt a calling to serve God from a young age. To Romeo, this seemed like a grievous waste of youth and good looks, and he was determined to convince the great love of his life to choose him instead. Two weeks into this non-relationship, Romeo had made no positive progress.

This Bud of Love: Part One

"There is such confusion in my powers."

May 4th

Valeria Jacobs, consort to Frederick I, created a large, public garden in Outer Verona, as it was then called, to compliment the Grand Garden at the Duke's castle. As the wealthy and noble built up Outer Verona, each of Valeria's successors felt the importance of the Gardens. It was an extension of the Court, where people of consequence could see and be seen in the midst of the flowering benevolence and care of their duchess. The Gardens were still a place of pride and assembly for Verona's elite many generations following the death of the last duchess, Alice Fitzwilliam.

Bound More Than a Madman Is

NSFW.

"O, what may man within him hide..."