Warrior Nun - Tumblr Posts
Funny story. I legit didn’t think she was that great of actress. Until I saw her not acting. Mind, fucking, blown. As herself she’s all puppy. I can see why she tried out for Ava because damn, they have a very similar personality. Yet somehow in every Beatrice scene I’m like “Nah, she’s just herself, there’s no acting here. It’s just how she is.” My mind can’t- just- who the hell is the stranger pretending to be KTY on all her videos??
Can we also talk about the fact that Sister Beatrice, this badass free-wheeling secret ass kicking nun is the very first role Kristina Tonteri-Young has played??? How many actresses do you know that have accomplished playing a role like this, that is beloved by many, as their first time acting? Right out of college. That’s crazy to me. Imagine what she could do later in her career. Maybe she’ll be the new Michelle Yeoh or Charlize Theron.
Not my tiktok. Just loved the video. Go give that person some love.
Holy shit! @elizabethgoudge! I had never actually watch Alba interview until now!! What the fuck?! She is so much more serious and earnest. But as Ava she just embodies the joy of living! But as Alba it’s a very ‘I’m on duty’ vibe.
@strongwomenunited you are absolutely correct! This is some god tier casting!
The casting director (probably): “Hey, wouldn’t it be hilarious if we made the *actual* sunshine puppy play the straight laced serious midnight kitty? And if we made the *actual* might kitty play the adorably energetic and beaming sunshine puppy?”
Simon Barry (probably): “Ha! Yeah, it would be. Let’s do it.”
Can we also talk about the fact that Sister Beatrice, this badass free-wheeling secret ass kicking nun is the very first role Kristina Tonteri-Young has played??? How many actresses do you know that have accomplished playing a role like this, that is beloved by many, as their first time acting? Right out of college. That’s crazy to me. Imagine what she could do later in her career. Maybe she’ll be the new Michelle Yeoh or Charlize Theron.
Not my tiktok. Just loved the video. Go give that person some love.
Okay, but! I have ideas now.
Ava tags along with Beatrice because Beatrice is retrieving “The true crown” from the kingdom of the Gods. Ava doesn’t want that, she wants something else. It’s in the same place so Beatrice lets her come. Beatrice talks with the Gods and is very convincing for why the ‘true crown’ should be returned to the mortals. Then one Goddess comes in all flustered. Ava’s stolen something that belongs to them. Ava’s stolen the Spark of Life. With the Spark in human hands all humans will heal faster, better. They will heal without potion or magic or science. Beatrice is having such a face palm moment because this idiot. But also, she loves this idiot very much and the Gods are preparing to go hunt her down and kill her. Beatrice could let them. Could walk out of there with the ‘true crown’ and win the competition definitively. All it would cost is Ava.
Beatrice uses even skill and all the daring she possesses. “Our plan worked then,” she says calmly and the Gods freeze. Like, unhumanely still.
“Your plan?” The Council of Gods Voice asks dangerously.
Beatrice scoffs and fiddle with the crown in her hands. It’s beautiful. The jewel on it sparkles like there’s a sun buried inside. “Of course. You didn’t think I came just for this trinket, did you?” She is lying her ass off to all the Gods her people worship to save the life of someone who thinks she hates them. A new low, but she’s used to finding those when it comes to Ava.
War places a hand on her weapon. Justice bares her teeth. Knowledge shakes her head in disappointment. “You have to know this doesn’t end well for you mortal.” The Voice of the Gods whispers.
Beatrice boxes away all her fear and all her hesitation. She keeps out only her pure burning drive to keep Ava safe. She looks up to meet the eyes of the Gods, one by one. “I know how mortals challenge Gods,” she says as she spins the Crown in her hands. The True Crown that King Benjamin had lost while challenging the Gods for the city of Atlantis. It’s an old story and one she researched diligently before choosing her item.
The Gods had decided the city of Atlantis had sinned too heavily and too often. They sent portents that the city would be destroyed. Atlantis itself had sent a challenger to the Gods. A trial, their champion against any three Gods at any three games. The winner would decide Atlantis’ fate and keep the True Crown. The Gods accepted. The mortal won the first game, then the second, and finally the third. The mortals had won and King Benjamin, in his ego, had bragged. He’d thought them safe as Gods were bound by the Heavens to honour the wager. War had gotten upset enough to lash out, knowing it was futile. The blow landed. The Heavens did not protect Atlantis from the fury of a God and in doing so laid King Benjamin’s trickery bare. The mortal champion was in fact one of five identical siblings who had switched out with each other in order to win their games. The Crown was taken and Atlantis destroyed within the hour. King Benjamin was exiled and his line shamed. Not for tricking the Gods but for letting his ego and pride reveal it.
Beatrice arches an eyebrow, taunting the proud beings before her. “Or do you think you’ll fail?”
***
Ava arrives back at the capital with guilt eating at her heart. She should have told Beatrice. Should have let Beatrice prepare somehow. But she couldn’t, not when Beatrice was going to face the Gods and ask them directly for the item she was after. And she couldn’t wait for Beatrice to do so. The Gods were distracted, it was the best opportunity Ava had. Ava is, faintly, surprised that the Gods have not tracked her down yet.
She’d ran as fast and as true as she could to return to the capital before they caught her. So long as she longed her item as retrieved they wouldn’t be able to take it back. Bound by the Heavens to honour how the humans chosen their ruler. Her… well, she was prepared for them to catch her. As long as humanity got to keep the Spark of Life it was worth it. Some things matter more.
She hoped Beatrice understood. One day.
***
The Trial of Rulers formally ends when all contests have returned, given up, or died. It takes a month after Ava’s return for Beatrice to make it back through the main gate of the capital. She looks the same as when she left. Shoulders back with confidence and pride, gaze steady. If she’s uncertain about being the last contestant to return she doesn’t show it.
Ava’s uncertain about it. Unable to draw her eyes away from how Beatrice stands placidly in line with the other contests at the Grand Reveal. The part where every contestant steps forward and declares the item they brought back and how it will better their people. The ultimate act of the Trial of Rulers and the one that matters most. Kings and Queens are judged throughout history for what they bring. Legends are made here, on this stage.
Ava nudges her hand against Beatrice’s and Beatrice grabs then releases Ava’s in silent comfort. Ava’s shoulders relax and she feels the odd sense of burning where there should be none.
“Ava Silva,” calls the Queen, “what did you bring to your people.”
Ava steps forward at the cue, straightening her stance. Not with pride, but success. “From the Gods themselves, I have brought the Spark of Life.”
The Queen nods and says, “Beatri-wait. What?!”
Ava smiles at the growingly shocked faces in front of her. “The Spark of Life!” She shouts louder as though she’d been unheard.
“But, how?” The Queen protests even as the watching crowd begins to murmur.
Ava grins. “Quickly.” Beatrice stifles a chuckle beside and behind her.
The Queen scowls and raises her hands for quiet. The crowd disgruntledly obeys. “Beatrice Xin, dear niece, what did you bring to your people.”
Beatrice steps up, face neutral. “Nothing,” she says.
The Queen’s eyes narrow, the crowd murmurs again. “Excuse me?”
“I brought nothing,” Beatrice repeats steadily. Ava furrows her eyebrows. She’d been certain that she saw Beatrice holding something gold and shinning in the Council chamber as she was sneaking out.
The Queen opens then closes her mouth. She tilts her head questioningly and Beatrice nods. The Queen blinks, slowly, almost mournfully and turns to address the next contestant.
Warm, rich laughter rings out through the stadium. It feels like a mother’s hug on a sad day. Love steps from behind Beatrice like she’s always been there, hidden in Beatrice’s shadow. She drops an arm across Beatrice’s steady shoulder and meets Ava’s narrowed glare with a smirk. “That’s not exactly true, now is it dear girl?”
Beatrice frowns at the Goddess twined about her. “I have nothing for my people.” She repeats.
Love pouts and walks her fingers up Beatrice’s shoulder to pull her cheek. Ava glares harder. “I must say, you truly impressed me with your performance. Heavens, you impressed all of us. Except, perhaps for Truth.” Love says thoughtfully, pivoting closely around Beatrice’s body to escape Ava’s murderous stare.
“Performance, Your Holiness?” The Queen asks.
“Oh?” The Goddess gasps dramatically, “our dear girl didn’t tell you?” Love raises a hand to her mouth, as though she didn’t know full well Beatrice had told no one. “And after such a compelling showing, for shame dear girl.” Love tsks in clearly faked disappointment.
“I know what your doing and it won’t work,” Beatrice whispers stoically.
Love nudges her head under Beatrice’s chin with a purr. “It already has, dear girl.” She whispers back loud enough for Ava to hear it. Ava unclenches her hands long enough to shake the blood from her palms and takes a half step closer.
“Well, I suppose it would be a shame for humanity to have it’s hero go unsung,” Love says to the crowd. “Especially one as handsome as this.” She trails the tips of her fingers down the middle of Beatrice’s chest with a suggestive wink.
Ava crowds up to Beatrice’s elbow and growls at the Goddess. “Haven’t you ever heard of personal space?”
Love laughs again, like hot cocoa on a cold day, and spins to put Beatrice’s arm around her shoulders on Beatrice’s other side. “This lovely mortal came right up to our Godly gates, pretty as you please,” Love says. “She asked for entrance, as one should. Consent is soo sexy.” Love purrs and rubs herself against Beatrice. She kindly ignores the fingers Ava jabs into her from the hand around the back of Beatrice’s waist. “Our dear girl wanted to talk with the Council of Gods about the True Crown. We were hesitant at first but she talked her way into our hearts.” Love flutters her eyelashes up at Beatrice adoringly.
“How does someone kill a god,” Ava growls lowly, “asking for a friend.” Beatrice fights off a smile.
“She was very, very persuasive and soon denuded us of our, hmm, better sense.” Love tickles at the red flush on Beatrice’s cheeks.
“Please stop making it sound so suggestive,” Beatrice asks.
Love giggles and it feels like a lovers kiss against a bare back. “So we foolish Gods gave up our Crown to her.” Beatrice flushes deeper at the insinuation. “Only to discover, as all foolish lovers do, that our dear girl was not as faithful to us as we’d thought. For while she distracted us with pretty words and her,” Love caresses the muscle on Beatrice’s forearms, “handsome form her partner had snuck inside our house and stolen our glowing golden light.”
Ava, half behind Beatrice and full shoving against the Goddess, stops. Beatrice didn’t have a partner (she checked). Ava had travelled to the city of Gods alone with Beatrice. The Spark of Life hums into golden glowing existence from between Ava’s shoulder blades where it hid. They blamed Beatrice for Ava’s theft?
Love places a gentle kiss against Beatrice’s shoulder and winks down at Ava. “We were, understandably, quite put out that our dear girl chose this little scamp over us. The day, we’d thought, was one of broken hearts.” The watching crowd shivered, made aware by divine ability that it as less emotionally broken hearts and more physically rended and torn ones. “Until our dear, brave girl decided that the Wrath of Gods was best met with a,” Love licks her lips, “challenge.”
The crowd pales. The Queen takes a single unconscious step backwards. Ava sticks her arm in the middle of the Goddess and Beatrice in an attempt to lever herself between them. Love lets Ava nudge her away from Beatrice but pulls Ava away with her.
“Niece, you didn’t?” The Queen asks aghast.
Beatrice meets her aunt’s eyes calmly. Never spark a conflict until you know the odds, Ava remembers Beatrice telling her. “I did what I had to,” Beatrice says peacefully.
Love laughs and it sounds like a grandfather’s amusement as seeing his grandchild experience the first marvels of living. “Oh don’t worry,” she waves a relaxing hand at the tense populous. “She didn’t risk you.” Love turn her eyes to Ava who shivers and feels her back throb with stolen divinity. “Beside, Love makes fools of us all.” Ava swallows dryly.
“What did you lose?” The Queen asks her niece.
Love makes a thoughtful noise. “Dignity, mostly,” she eyes Ava up and down. Ava scoffs and Beatrice turns away to repress her smile. “But I suspect she was always going to lose that.” Love smiles and the sun gleams brighter. “Rejoice mortals, for the first time in all recorded history (and before) your champion has won the challenge against the Gods!”
The despair in the Queen’s eyes turns to greed. She licks her lips nervously. “What did you win?”
Love grabs Ava by the scruff her neck and lifts her easily with one hand. Ava dangles awkwardly, feet kicking at air. “Your prize, dear girl.” Love says as she holds Ava out to Beatrice. Beatrice opens her arms and accepts Ava completely. “May it serve you well,” Love purrs with a saucy wink. Then Love steps forward and disappears into the shadow behind Beatrice and Ava’s combined bodies.
“As I said,” Beatrice says as she holds Ava easily in her arms. “I brought nothing for my people.” She tightens her arms around Ava. Ava snuggles her face into Beatrice’s neck and grins. She’d been telling Beatrice she should do more things for her and it was nice to see Beatrice finally do so.
For the challenges: perhaps a small pilgrimage, where each contestant has to retrieve something they believe is lacking and will be valuable to the land (think Athena and Poseidon's gifts to Athens; also they have to present it, there's a ceremony and speeches, it's a whole event). Maybe B's parents want her to retrieve a long lost family jewel and present it to her aunt to remind her they are family, but she fails the quest, because it's either it or whatever Ava's bringing (maybe a manuscript for a cure or some invention that would be helpful to the people) and she decides it's much more important to help Ava AND their people, than to make nice to her family.
Good luck with the idea, hope you get around to writing it!
anon you are genius THIS IS PERFECT for like the final test and maybe the entire reason Ava joins in the first place is that if she gets to this stage it’s the monarch who funds their trip to retrieve said item so all Ava wants to do is help. also maybe bea does go get the jewel but somehow meets Ava in between like 10 times and they have to help each other maybe bea gives up the jewel to keep Ava safe in a knife to throat situation. THANKS
And the slow slide. Like at the start of the show there are ardent Adriel supports but it shows the common woman is just gossiping about these supposed ‘miracles’. There are a few fringe fanatics but (spoiler) some of them are legit possessed. The man (being?) has unleashed literal biblical plagues and most people’s response is “I’ll deal with the bugs fine or I’ll just stay home today”. The Catholic Church doesn’t even speak out against him because he’s so small and unimportant. It’s not until the whole ‘sun literally burning none believers’ that it shows him having enforces (cult members) hanging around openly while the average person starts believing. I suppose the religious leader of your faith getting fried by lightning on screen was a very ‘oh shit’ moment for the common woman. And even then they aren’t, exactly, Adriel’s smartest soldiers. Like they asked the dude standing in the ‘literally burns none believers’ sunlight and wearing a priest’s garment if he’s heard of Adriel. Um, no?
And this was Adriel’s grand escalation plan. In the very first episode one of the cultists pushing pamphlets talks about the ‘scorching light’ that Adriel brings. To which Ava’s response is “he’s not the only one bringing light”. And it’s true! Adriel spends who knows how much of Jillian’s money, countless hours, and who know how many wraith possessions to set himself up as an angel. As someone people pray to. Only for Ava to show up once on television and steal his show. There’s a fucking mural with her glowing light above him. It’s in the full light of (burning) daylight. That one subtle image, I think, indicates how deeply Ava broke into the human collective consciousness. Was she coming to save Adriel? Or stop him? Is she an actual angel reaching down from him? Or to show what he is not?
What did the people watching at home think? They tune in to see some weird wanna be only for the actual Pope to be struck by lighting (everyone knows that wasn’t God doing it) and the guy claiming to be an angel laughing at the chaos around him (while he heals from a torn throat). And a girl with a halo in her back floats down. I think the mystery of Ava would make her far more interesting than Adriel.
I feel like we should also talk about how brilliant Adriel’s story line is. In most modern media when you are dealing with a supernatural enemy the story tends to get half assed and people would just blindly accept and fold before the supernatural. But that’s just not how humanity works. The most common response would be…skepticism and Warrior Nun portrayed this brilliantly. Humanity took one look at Adriel walking on water, healing the sick and so on and overwhelmingly turned him into nothing more then a subject of gossip . Oh sure he had some followers but it was basically nothing more then a low key cult. Couldn’t even reach the nummbers high profile cults like Scientology, Mormonism or Jehovah Witnesses have His own natural abilities weren’t even enough. He had to use the resources of a major tech giant and combined it with the Other Side’s advance science and it still wasn’t enough. He still had to use demons possession and chemical weapons and if Duretti wasn’t such a dramatic bitch and simply “This man has been using ARQtech technology to create his miracles and he kidnapped and killed a dozen high ranking religious leaders” his entire plan would have ended there. The authorities not just the Spanish ones but half of Europe’s would have descended upon him and it’s not like there is much he can do . Oh sure he can’t die but he is no superman. He could be restrained and basically be turned into nothing more then a lab rat. And he knew this, hence why he was do desperate to get Duretti on his side
I just love how true to humanity Warrior Nun is
Hahahaha, I can just imagine her advisors arguing which they like better and she’s “hmmm, tough to decide, they’re both so good.” And Camilla (as ship Captain) is like “what if?” And smashes her hands together in a kissy motion. “Yes, perfect! let’s do that!” Only no one but the Queen was looking and they’re all too scared to admit it.
For the challenges: perhaps a small pilgrimage, where each contestant has to retrieve something they believe is lacking and will be valuable to the land (think Athena and Poseidon's gifts to Athens; also they have to present it, there's a ceremony and speeches, it's a whole event). Maybe B's parents want her to retrieve a long lost family jewel and present it to her aunt to remind her they are family, but she fails the quest, because it's either it or whatever Ava's bringing (maybe a manuscript for a cure or some invention that would be helpful to the people) and she decides it's much more important to help Ava AND their people, than to make nice to her family.
Good luck with the idea, hope you get around to writing it!
anon you are genius THIS IS PERFECT for like the final test and maybe the entire reason Ava joins in the first place is that if she gets to this stage it’s the monarch who funds their trip to retrieve said item so all Ava wants to do is help. also maybe bea does go get the jewel but somehow meets Ava in between like 10 times and they have to help each other maybe bea gives up the jewel to keep Ava safe in a knife to throat situation. THANKS
AVA and SISTER BEATRICE + S1 QUOTES Warrior Nun (2020-) dir. Simon Barry
It would have been fine, if not for the prophecy. Ava hates very few things but the prophecy is definitely one of them. Before the prophecy Shannon was Aunt Suzanne’s heir. All the responsibility for leading the kingdom fell on her. Ava spent her days roaming around doing whatever pleased her in the moment. Painting at the coast one week and learning a Gallien flourish to disarm an armed opponent the next. The world was hers and she relished it. Then the Oracle interpreted the prophecy.
Ava is to be the next Queen and she will lead the kingdom to prosperity unseen in a dozen generations. No pressure. Aunt Suzanne looks as disbelieving as Ava’s sure she, herself, does. This wasn’t good. “Together with the steadfast love of her King by her side, Queen Ava will be an unstoppable force for good.” The Oracle says and Ava’s stomach drops straight through the floor and the cellar beneath it.
“Fuck, the Hell, no.” Ava whispers. It was bad enough that she was being collared into a crown but this was the last nail in the coffin of her freedom. She could see Aunt Suzanne knew it too, judging by her guilty expression. Whatever freedom Ava had to choose her own spouse has just died ignobly in front of them.
It’s Shannon who tells Ava what the Council’s decision is. Her sad eyes convey how much Shannon wishes she didn’t have to. “They’ve decided on a Grand Melee. The winner will earn your hand in marriage.”
Ava grinds her teeth together, thinking furiously. “How many contestants?” She knows the Lords would try to stack the contest to maximize the chance of their child being the one that wins. The debate around the cut off must have been deadly.
Shannon grimaces. “They tried to narrow it to ten.” Ava grimaces back. She’s well acquainted with the most likely ten and none hold any appeal for her. “Aunt Suzanne insisted that anything but an open contest would be an attempt to control fate and doomed to backfire horribly.”
An idea sparks in Ava’s mind. A stupid enough it might just work idea. “There’s no limit?”
Shannon nods. She bites her lip then offers, “if you want Mary could-”
“No,” Ava cuts off her cousin. She knows where Shannon’s heart had lain for years. Knows also that Mary was too low of station, too foreign, to ever be allowed to marry the Crown Princess. Shannon’s not the Crown Princess anymore and has a chance now at the freedom that always brought Ava happiness. “But I am going to need her help. And yours?”
Shannon nods immediately, shoulders untensing. “You have it, Ava. Whatever you need.”
***
“This is a stupid idea and you should be ashamed for agreeing to help.” Mary says as she scowls at the woman she loves.
Shannon shrugs, shamelessly uncaring. “It’s actually kind of brilliant,” she says. “There was nothing in the prophecy that counteracts the idea.”
“Except the whole King thing,” Mary deadpans.
“I mean,” Ava protests from where she’s trying to get out of one set of armour. “It’s more implied than stated that Queen Ava isn’t also, y’know, King Ava.” Distracted from her tasks of squirming out of armour, Ava unbalances and lands on the ground with a thud. “Fuck! Little help?”
Mary sighs and starts helping Ava out of the armour. “This is going to backfire on us so bad, I just know it.” She grumbles.
Shannon smiles and nudges at Mary’s shoulder. “Does that mean you won’t help us?”
Mary scowls at Shannon in offence. “Babe, I’d help you fight the moon. I just want to be able to say I told you so when it does, inevitably, blow up in our faces.”
Shannon giggles and places the most gentle kiss she can against her lover’s lips. Thrilling as she always does at this new ability. “Thank you.” The two blush at each other like school girls with their first crush.
“Why’s it so dark?” Comes Ava’s muffled voice. “Am I upside down? Guys, help!”
***
The armour they’d finally selected covered Ava completely. They’d forgone full plate (”Aww, but I’d be invincible,” Ava had protested. “Yeah,” Mary snorted agreement, “to everyone but yourself.”) in favour of more flexible chain mail. If Shannon hadn’t help Ava put on the armour herself she’d never imagine that the Crown Princess was the one standing in it. This was the first day of competitions and all over the kingdom groups as large as this one were gathering to fight for the right to be Ava’s King. Shannon watched impassively from the screened throne Ava was supposed to be sitting in. She was thankful Aunt Suzanne was still feeling too guilty to actually talk to Ava or their ruse would be discovered far too quickly.
Shannon was trained diligently in fighting as it was unbecoming of a heir to not be able to do so. She is, objectively, one of the greatest knights their kingdom has. Mary could match her only with her weird machines. She’d never sparred with her little cousin. Always too busy with other responsibilities. Shannon chews at her lip and prays to the Goddess Reya that Ava at least knows how to fight.
Ava does know how to fight. Kind of. Shannon can’t pick a single concrete style out of the eclectic mix of moves Ava uses. There’s a certain brutal minimalism to the foundation of it that Shannon doesn’t expect. It takes two days and four fights before she realizes it’s because Ava never learned formally. What she’s seeing is every move that looked cool enough to learn combined with Ava’s general mouthiness picking way more street fights than a princess should be in. It’s very… Ava.
The preliminary rounds last a week. Ava dominates the smaller competition that occurs in the small town close to the Royal Summer Palace. The heavier competition has likely all gathered at the Capital where the finals will be held. The smarter competitors will have spread to other cities as the top winner of every town and city as well as the top five at the Capital will advance to the finals. Shannon and Mary will three weeks, minus two days of travel, to cram as much structure into Ava’s fighting style as they can before the finals start.
***
Ava sees Micheal only after she came into the competitor’s mess hall. She’d felt confident without her obscuring helmet and armour because “it’s not like anyone knows me here, Shan. I’ll be fine.” Except there was Micheal Fucking Salvius, her best fucking friend who should not be in a competition to marry her. She ducks behind the nearest set of broad shoulders she sees. There are an awful lot of broad shoulders here and in any other circumstances Ava would be eyeing the room up like an all she could eat smorgasbord. It’s a lot less appealing when she no longer has the option to not partake.
Ava pops her head up, half behind her hand and half curled in to the straight backed form beside her. She glances away from watching for Micheal to look up into amused brown eyes and freckles and oh goddess, she’s pretty.
“Can I help you?” The woman asks with soft openness.
Ava grins, unconsciously leaning closer even though she’s already in the woman’s personal space bubble. “Sorry, just trying to avoid a, uh, ex.”
The woman nods solemnly in understanding. “I imagine it would be difficult deal with someone who doesn’t know how to let go.”
Ava draws her eyebrows together. “Why do you think he doesn’t know how to let go?”
Laughter twinkles in those alluring brown eyes. “Who could ever let you go?”
Ava gasps with delight feeling the fine hairs on her body stand up at attention. She’s flirted before, of course she has. And she’s been flirted with. Far to many times for her position, power, or wealth over her body. Since she started this ruse almost two weeks ago people had viewed her as the poor mercenary attempting to reach beyond her station. She’s been dismissed and demeaned and threatened. She’s been scorned and propositioned for sex in the same conversation (if it could be called that). What she hasn’t been is seen as worthy. Not until this woman with her serious expression and gentle eyes. Ava wiggles closer, intrigued by why a competitor for the princesses (Her) hand would flirt so genuinely with her (a poorer competitor). “Are you flirting with me?” Ava asks with clearly faked dismay.
The woman’s freckles stand out more when she blushes. “Yes, well,” she stumbles verbally before she swallows heavily. She fiddles a little with her fork and glances down shyly. “You’re very beautiful,” she confesses.
Ava had poetry written about looks her by some of the best poets in the world. None of it holds a candle to the warmth that blooms in her chest from this honest confession. “Careful,” Ava teases, “or I might fall a little bit in love with you.”
A tiny smile licks at the woman’s lips. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”
Ava laughs and nudges at a well muscled arm. “Maybe not, but if I do I might convince you to run away from all this to marry me instead.” Ava doesn’t know where this is coming from. She doesn’t even know this woman’s name and she’s already threatening to steal her away from what everyone in this room wants bad enough to risk death and marry her instead.
The woman looks at her with a serious expression. “Like I said,” she repeats, “that doesn’t sound so bad.”
Ava grins and rest her hand against the woman’s forearm, feeling the heat and strength with her fingertips. “That’s a pretty bold statement considering where we are.”
The woman nods, looking around the room as though to remind herself of her purpose. “My parents might kill me if I ran away,” she comments.
It could be an offhand comment but Ava already has a firm impression that the woman doesn’t do off hand comments. “Besides which, I don’t even know your name.” Ava says to get the conversation back to something lighter, to free the woman from whatever burden Ava can see weighing down her shoulders. “I think I should at least know what name to call out on my marriage bed.”
That startles a bark of laughter from the woman, leaving her looking as adorably confused as a pup whose never barked before making a noise it doesn’t understand. “Beatrice.”
“Ava,” Ava says with a smile. Beatrice is a beautiful and elegant name for a beautiful and elegant woman.
Beatrice’s eyebrows furrow. “Like the Princess?”
Oh shit, Ava realizes. She was supposed to use a fake name. Should have, even if it meant missing out on hearing Beatrice say her name. “Uh, mmhmm, yep. That’s, it’s a really odd coincidence but, well, I didn’t pick my name.” Ava shrugs and catching the quick flicker of Beatrice’s eyes dropping from her face to her chest then back up to her lips. Ava’s licks her lips and leans forwards slightly, allowing a better sight down her chest. Just to distract Beatrice from her totally not suspicious fumble.
***
Hanging out with Beatrice is easy. They banter and talk like they’ve known each other for years. Beatrice has spent the majority of her life away from the Kingdom, travelling with her diplomat parents. Ava’s spent the majority of her life in the Kingdom, seeing all the life it has to offer. They share stories and secrets as easily as they trade blows while sparring. There’s a certain rhythm between them that makes it feel more like a dance than a fight. Ava grows more tempted to steal Beatrice away and disappear into the obscurity of being a roaming mercenary by the day. Beatrice would probably let her. Even if Beatrice’s parents wouldn’t.
The final fights start a week and a half after she first meets Beatrice. Her first match is against some Lord’s son, J.C. Fortunately he’s too interested in the ladies and their displayed bosoms to offer much of a fight. Ava doesn’t want to admit it but he might have been able to beat her if he’d actually focused on it. She’s pretty sure he’s just here to get laid and get his dad off his back. Ava can respect those goals so she holds her hand out to help him up after she wins. He nods amicably back at her and disappears with the first girl who compliments him with a hand on his chest.
Ava watches Beatrice’s fight afterwards, wishing it could be as easy as that with her woman. Only, just for her. Not for any girl who tried. Beatrice is a force of nature. Ava wonders how she missed it before now. She trades a glance with Shannon through the screen that protects her identity. Beatrice doesn’t win her fight, she dominates it. Ava’s thighs clench at how easily Beatrice floors a bloodied knight with ten years experience on her. It had been like he was standing still, a training dummy before her.
Shannon sends Mary with a message that night and Mary raises a judgemental eyebrow at how she finds Ava nearly sitting in Beatrice’s lap they’re eating so close together. Ava shrugs shamelessly. Mary just sighs and motions for Ava to meet up with her. Ava leaves Beatrice with a visible reluctance.
“This mean you have a favoured winner?” Mary asks ruthlessly the moment they’re alone.
Ava scowls at her pseudo big sister. “Yeah, me.” She replies. “Just because I want to lick her sweat from her forearms doesn’t mean I want to give up my freedom.”
Mary grimaces at the, to her unnecessary, visual. “Ew, I regret asking already.” Ava raises a challenging eyebrow. “Shan sent me with a list to watch for. She’s pretty sure your, hmm, unorthodox fight style would let you win against most fighters. There’s only three she’s concerned about. Micheal knows how you fight.”
Ava scoffs. “I got Micheal,” she reassures. “I don’t know what that brat thinks he’s doing but I know how he fights too. Leave him to me.”
Mary nods easily. “The other two, well, they’re just better than you. Don’t pout baby girl. You know we’re not trying to be mean.” Ava pouts harder. “Shan’s going to try to get them to fight each other before they fight you. That way you only have to fight one of them.”
Ava’s pretty sure she already knows but she has to ask. “Who?”
“Lilith Villaumbrosia,” Mary says and they share a knowing grimace. The Villaumbrosia’s pride themselves on being the best warriors. Ever. Ava’s not even sure they care about winning her hand as much as they do proving their heir kicks ass. “And the Leonidas heir.”
“The who?” Ava frowns with the question. She doesn’t think she’s heard of him. Mary’s jaw drops. “What?” Ava asks.
“You’re so into her it’s made you stupid.” Mary responds, half to herself. At Ava’s continued confusion Mary clarifies. “Beatrice, you idiot. Beatrice Leonidas. Or as she’s publicly known, the Lion’s Pride.”
Ava pales and the world side steps beneath her feet. The Lion’s Pride. She knows that moniker. Everyone does. They youngest general in their neighbouring, thankfully much smaller, Steral Kingdom. The warrior who single handedly fought an ogre chieftain in ritual combat. Who took only a company and razed the thousand bandits of Wild Deer Grove in an absolutely impossible coup. “Who?”
Mary laughs. “You heard me,” she says mercilessly. She shakes her head at Ava’s pleading expression. “Face it baby girl, you’ve got a crush on the pretty girl your whole country would give it’s left nut to have win this competition.”
“Fate is such a bitch,” Ava groans.
***
As Ava promised, it’s easy to win against Micheal. Her longest friend puts up a good fight but her familiar voice shouting “dick” is enough a distraction for her to disarm her at a pivotal moment. “Ava?” He asks soft enough the crowd can’t hear him. His tone is full of disbelief and wonder.
“Duh,” her response is unsympathetic. “Now surrender and tell me what the hell you think you’re doing.”
Micheal raises his voice loudly. “I am defeated. I surrender the fight.” The referee nods acknowledgement and Ava helps her friend up. “What are you doing here? Have you been, well, you this entire time?” He asks impatiently.
“Of course I have,” Ava dismisses. “And where else would I be? Letting some idiot control my choices?” She slaps her friend gently upside his head in pointed emphasis.
Micheal pouts at her. “It’s not like I wanted to,” he protests. At Ava’s fierce scowl he hastily backtracks. “I mean, I just, I wasn’t going to let someone force you into something you don’t want. You’re my best friend.” He shrugs and Ava gets it. They were both sick often as kids, both stuck until his mother’s loving but slightly tyrannical thumb until she could heal them. He says ‘best friend’ but Ava really knows he means ‘sibling’.
“Well, good. I wouldn’t marry you anyway.” She teases. He makes a sour expression at the idea of them marrying. “Now let’s go watch Bea kick Lilith’s ass.”
His eyes crinkle together in confusion. “I thought Lilith was fighting Leonidas?”
Ava blushes. Ava never blushes but she can feel how hot her cheeks get right now. Can feel his stare and jaw dropped shock. “Right. Yeah. Her.”
“A-Ava,” Micheal stutters. “Ava what was that?”
“Nothing!” Ava denies. They both know she’s lying. If not then he certainly knows it by her wide eyed heavy panting awe as she watches the legendary fight between Beatrice and Lilith. Beatrice wins flawlessly, her hair dark with sweat and escaping her cowl as she makes her way to where Ava’s watching her breathless. “That’s my girl,” Ava cheers. Beatrice stumbles and almost trips. “Oh shit! Are you ok? Do you need a healer?” Ava asks with concern.
“Or laid?” Lilith snarks from behind Beatrice.
Beatrice flushes red and Ava bites at her bottom lip at the sight. “I’m fine,” Beatrice says to Lilith, then softer to Ava, “I’m fine.”
“Yeah you are,” Ava growls her agreement and thrills at how Beatrice smiles shyly in response.
She ignores Micheal’s mumbled, “this isn’t nothing” like the professional she is.
***
It comes down to Ava and Beatrice. Like it was fated. Written in prophecy and spoken by an Oracle. All Ava’s freedom locked on the other side of the woman Ava desperately wants to gift it to. On the other side of a woman she can’t defeat, and not for lack of trying. Ava hates it. Hates that she’s fallen in love and probably going to marry this woman only to resent Beatrice for being forced into this.
Beatrice stands polished and proud. Looking every bit the amazing King she’s going to be. Her grip on her spear is easy and firm, practiced and perfected over countless hours. Ava looks pathetic in comparison. It’s intentional, the mismatched colours and contours intended to make people overlook her. No self-respecting Princess would wear this. Ava’s full face cover is down, protecting her face from the scrutiny of the Queen and her Council. Beatrice is holding her helmet under her arm, her serious eyes locked on Ava’s fidgeting form. The referee called start two minutes ago and neither of them have moved.
Ava’s sword is still sheathed. Beatrice’s spear is butted against the ground. The most they’ve done is nod at each other. Ava’s seen Beatrice fight before. Knows that she advances like a storm the moment the referee calls a start. Like the hand of the goddess touching down against vulnerable earth, moving everywhere at once. No hesitation and no regret. Beatrice is chewing a bit at her bottom lip and Ava’s a tiny bit distracted by her jealousy that she’s not allowed to chew at Beatrice’s bottom lip. The referee called start five minutes and the crowd is murmuring loudly in the silence between them.
“Fight.” A voice calls out and the crowd takes up the chant. “Fight! Fight! Fight!” Beatrice’s eyes don’t waver from the lock they have on Ava. Ava feels naked before her, despite being more covered than ever before. Ava wants and wants and curses herself for not finding the words to explain herself. Ava wants to beg Beatrice to walk away, to surrender this competition she’s going to win. Wants to explain that Bea’s Ava is that Ava, the one who should be sitting like a princess behind a protective screen. Present and not seen, like she’s felt her entire life until Beatrice saw her. Would Beatrice? Could she bare it if Beatrice didn’t? If she chose what her family wants her over what Ava asked of her? Ava’s never felt so weak, so alone. The referee called start ten minutes ago and the stadium rocks with the shouts of ‘fight!’
Beatrice breaks eye contact and Ava breathes through the tears spilling down her face. She turns to look at the stern couple who carry her same colours and standard. They nod at her, imperious and commanding. She tilts her head and smiles. Beatrice’s spear stays standing for a moment after she releases it, perfectly balanced until the wind knocks it down. The crowd goes silent enough between her open hand and the wind that Ava can hear the spear hit the ground. Beatrice drops her helmet next, without care for how the shiny metal hits the ground. She steps forward, away from her weapon. Her gauntlets fall right first, then left. Her cloak is ripped off her shoulders the step after. Beatrice slows, pulling at the buckles of her cuirass and it hits the ground with a solid thunk when she’s five steps away from Ava. Ava can’t breathe. The referee called start fifteen minutes ago and Beatrice is unarmed and half defenceless in front of her.
“My whole life, people have tried to make me into something I’m not. To make me normal. Or at least… acceptable,” Beatrice explains as she continues stripping off her armour. “I became skilled at so many things just so I would still have value, despite my flaws. Or what I’d been taught was a flaw.” Beatrice scoffs. “Of course, I tried to fit in. But when you’re punished just for being different, you begin to hate what you are.” She pauses in kicking off her greaves to look at Ava. Ava’s too stunned to lift her helmet so she hopes Beatrice can see how much she’s listening in her eyes. “And what you love, what should make you happy. Only brings you pain. Pain is what made me a warrior.”
Ava blinks tears from her eyes. “Don’t hate what you are. What you are is beautiful.”
Beatrice, stripped down to the soft clothes worn beneath her heavy armour, laughs. “When I’m with you,” she says softly, “I can actually believe that.”
Ava thinks they must have been overheard because her aunt chooses this moment to interrupt. “Contestant Leonidas,” Queen Suzanne’s sharp tone cuts through the understanding between them. “What are you doing?”
“I’m falling in love,” Beatrice shouts back and Ava swoons.
“What about the competition?” Suzanne demands.
Beatrice blushes, as though she’d forgotten they were surrounded by a crowd and why. “Sorry,” she whispers to Ava first. Beatrice turns to Shannon’s hidden form. “I’m sorry Princess. I’m sure you’re lovely and I do wish you luck in finding you’re King to sit beside you. It just won’t be me.”
Suzanne sighs and rubs at her temples. “Contestant Leonidas, your assuming Contestant Silva will agree with you.”
Beatrice shakes her head ‘no’. “She makes her own decisions,” the vulnerable woman says. She turns to make eye contact with Ava again, as serious as she’s ever been. “Whatever you chose, I support. I’m yours. If you want to marry me, well, nothing would make me happier. If you want to strike me down and win a kingdom,” Beatrice holds out her empty hands leaving her utterly vulnerable. “I won’t stop you.”
Ava laughs. She can’t help it, even as Beatrice blinks at her with surprise. She laughs so hard her shoulders shake.
“Contestant Silva,” Suzanne calls over Ava’s laughter and points at Beatrice’s patiently waiting form. “Perhaps you’d like to end this charade.” Ava’s eyes widen. Her aunt knows? And let it happen? Did Suzanne know this would happen? Her shock must be obvious in her body language because Suzanne smiles. “After all,” she calls looking at her Council with an imperious expression, “Fate cannot be denied.”
Ava fumbles with the latch of her helmet and silently curses Mary’s diligence at making sure it wouldn’t accidentally come off. “You promise you’re mine?” She asks, hesitating with the weight of her helmet in her hands. “No matter what?”
Beatrice nods. “In this life and the next.”
Ava tosses her own helmet off and throws herself at Beatrice. Her lips feels exactly as soft and perfect against her own as she dreamed. Beatrice pulls her closer and Ava can feel Beatrice’s smile with her tongue. Her hands wander a little more than is socially acceptable but Beatrice doesn’t protest so Ava doesn’t care either. Ava pulls back from the kiss to meet Beatrice’s heavily lidded eyes. Beatrice cups her face gently with both calloused hands. “I’m going to hold you to that,” she threatens. Beatrice presses their foreheads together and Ava can’t stop grinning.
“Thank fuck!” A voice shouts behind the protective screen hiding the Crown Princess and Shannon stumbles out from behind it.
“Princess Shannon?!” The Council gasps in shock, a few looking behind her for their Crown Princess to magically appear. “Where is the Crown Princess?”
Ava laughs and pulls back from Beatrice enough to turn and face her aunt and the Council of Lords. “It seems the final contestants have tied,” she shouts. “So we’ll be splitting the rewards accordingly. Bea will have the Princess and I’ll get married.” Beatrice pouts and Ava doesn’t have to prevent herself from poking at that tempting lower lip so she does’t. “Don’t be jealous honey,” Ava teases.
“I don’t want some Princess,” Beatrice protests, “I want you.”
The gathered crowd of onlookers murmur to themselves, wondering if such a thing is allowed. Queen Suzanne slams her cane against the ground, bringing all attention to her. “You’ve heard my niece,” she says with a growing smile. “Now, come over here and let me give my congratulations on your upcoming marriage Ava. And welcome your King into our family.”
Ava grabs Beatrice’s hand and skips forward only to pull to an awkward halt when Beatrice does’t come with her. She looks over her shoulder to find Beatrice looking stunned. “Niece?” Beatrice croaks out.
Ava grins and rushes back to press a quick kiss to Beatrice’s lips once more. “So, turns out the reason I share a name with the Princess is because I am the Princess.”
Beatrice’s jaw drops and her eyes look between Ava and her aunt, The Queen. “What?” It comes out half strangled.
“Surprise!” Ava flourishes her hands. “I choose to marry you and win a kingdom. You promised so no take-backies.” She steals another quick kiss and returns to pulling her fiancé over to her family. This time Beatrice goes willingly, if a little stiffly.
“I wouldn’t take it back,” Beatrice protests.
Ava grins. “I know. You’re much too steadfast for that love.”
given how she hates being powerless, ava would be the exact type of person who would enter in as a knight in a contest for her own hand so she can maintain her independence
so, knight!ava-who’s-secretly-the-princess in a contest for the princess’ hand with one of her main rivals being one Sir Beatrice Young, and as the contest drags on Ava quickly discovers that while she would rather die than loose regardless, if she has to loose to anyone she’d rather it be Beatrice
meanwhile Sir Beatrice, who was never all that interested in winning the princess’ hand to begin with, and only entered the contest at the behest of her father, finds that the urge to say to hell with it all and run away with the mysterious, constantly punning, rival knight who fights almost like their life depends on it grows stronger by the day
Ava’s disability has a massive impact on the story line and the theme of the first season. It very much shapes her character and her choices. It also doesn’t go completely away, even with a literal divine plot (mobility) device. I suspect that anyone whose upset at how ‘slow’ the show is went into it with the expectation that the story was “protagonist is chosen, protagonists makes token protest, something narratively happens that forces protagonist to get on board with saving the world/fighting the bad guy, end credits of first episode roll, second episode begins with protagonist fully on board except a pithy one liner halfway through the season that calls back to the fact that they didn’t start on board.”
That’s not the Warrior Nun story. That’s the story that leads to ‘monster of the week’ first seasons (Buffy, Supernatural, Grimm, Charmed, Legacies, etc.). That’s so common that we as an audience almost expect it. We expect the ‘reluctant’ protagonist to get over whatever silly hang up they have so we can live vicariously through them. We wait impatiently for the narrative to plow through that piece so we can get to the ‘real’ story. Because that’s how these narratives choose to introduce us to the world, with the protagonist.
But Warrior Nun does it differently. It intentionally slows that down and says “wait a minute, our character has agency actually and all she’s wanted was to live a normal life. So she’s going to try her darnedest to do that now that she can.” And Ava knows its not the same. She knows that JC’s friends aren’t hers and this life isn’t hers. But it could be.
One of the things I love more about Warrior Nun (and Ava) is that she decides to make the choice to fight. It’s not forced on her. They tried forcing it on her and it fails. Her choices matter. Good or bad, right or wrong, her choices matter. And when given the choice, when given the information and space to decide, Ava makes the caring one. Ava steps up not because she was forced to but because she wants to. And I think that just goes back to the theme of choosing who we are that lies at the heart of Warrior Nun. Ava’s disability was something done to her. Ava becoming the halo bearer was something done to her. Who Ava is has always been the person who decides how she handles it. And who she is, is beautiful.
Hmm so it turns out many people consider Ava a bad protagonist and find her annoying??? And that the show is slow??? And that it endorses disability erasure???
I hardly ever fall in love with main leads especially 'the chosen one' types and yet Ava was so easy to get behind and even relatable and I love her so much. And god I wish the show was even slower and it had more episodes like I wanted to see the dynamics between the sisters in depth, Ava and Bea's relationship progressing, little lost moments, their quiet times, their training sessions, them joking around and being normal idk. It still went by too fast?
And I might be wrong here but to me it wasn't disability erasure. Ava's disability is very much a part of her throughout. It's why she spends half the season running away because she hasn't lived yet. It's why she can't give up the halo either. It's why she can't drain the halo too much or can't fight as good as other warrior nuns (minus not being trained yet of course). It's her deepest fear. And it is so fundamental to her and Bea's relationship too like Bea touching her after that fight with Crimson, Bea reassuring her, Bea understanding her fears and hesitance....her disability is a very much constant presence throughout the narrative even though under the surface and ahhhhh I want to scream so bad rn.
I'm straight up not having a good day today and then finding out about these shitty opinions about this beloved sunshine of a character—
Are people allowed to have opinions I don't agree with? Yes.
Do I want to hit them on the head with a stick despite? Also Yes.
Now I'm wondering am I biased because I've read way too many fics and post analysis' and therefore see more depth than there was? Does it even matter?
avatrice + renee rapp lyrics that make me want to scream into a black hole: pretty girls // willow // i wish // talk too much // i do // what can i do
Besides everything that we went through in 2020, at least we got some amazing wlw representation to warm our hearts!
Let's just hope that 2021 brings more and more content to make us happy!
Let's go lesbians, let's go.
WLW representation is constantly getting cancelled
It’s infuriating how many shows that have positive sapphic media are getting cancelled. The owl house warrior nun, everything sucks, teenage bounty hunters, first kill, paper girls, I am not ok with this, gentlemen Jack, these are se of the shows that have been cancelled and they are just the top of the lesphobic iceberg.
it just fucking sucks!
I made a meme (or at least I tried)
"Warrior Nun" is a Netflix series that was adapted from the comic book "Warrior Nun Areala". The show follows a young woman who finds out she's part of an order of, well, Warrior Nuns, that fight evil demons and what not.
It has no connection to Supernatural.
petition for ava to call jesus bea's ex-husband in ssn 3
petition for ava to call jesus bea's ex-husband in ssn 3
petition for ava to call jesus bea's ex-husband in ssn 3
and when the avatrice reunion episode is titled I Corinthians 13:4-8 WHAT THEN
