dormernts

[dormernts]

despite claiming her unwillingness to dwell on business, there was only so much nerve within augusta's body to allow an opportunity to pass. so when she catches sight of a faintly familiar lady, she can not miss it, or her, and within a moment's notice, she has found herself within miss townsend's vicinity. "oh, miss townsend! how lovely it is to meet you. i do hope you're not too inattentive tonight. some see a ball like akin to a hunt." a passing jest it was, a recalling of their first meeting, but a few weeks past. then, it had been a moment of a softened heart, less of a rarity than augusta herself would believe, but now, there is not as much as that for now she was aware of who georgiana was, and, more importantly, whom she related to ( how ironic would it be that augusta was the huntress, when she advises the prey so? ). "may i be so bold in asking, where is your chaperone? i seem to have lost both of mine. men, you know..." she makes a dismissing move with the hand, and a nicely matched shake of the head. "would you mind terribly to accompany me for some fresh air?"

@whimsiicals

[dormernts]

a single look at the scowl nathaniel wore, augusta would not expect differently from her eldest brother, but instead of her usual diminished frustration, at least this time she let out a small giggle. nate was nothing if not consistent, after all. "low picking fruit, this time around. we can barely tell who has a bigger dowry, with the way the queen made us all mingle," it was an exaggeration on her part. if she did pay more attention, she'd see some ladies tended to glitter more than others, or simply show how higher a breed they had. augusta sure expected she qualified as the later, and to assure that, she stands a little straighter, as she puts a hand on her brother's arm. "i did write you in my dance card, however, brother. we need not to dance, of course. i can only torture you so much." she gives him a look. "not of our beloved hare, but of the dormers still, brother. we must make a hefty donation, lest the ton be swayed by silly rumors." truthful ones, but much as he, she was not thrilled to endeavor on the wavering finances of the white rabbit.

who: lady augusta, @dormernts where: in a secluded corner of the ballroom

If Nathaniel had had his way, he would have spent the evening in his study pouring over the books, but he'd promised his sister that he would attend the damned event, and so, here he was. He'd purposefully sequestered himself in a corner of the ballroom in hopes that he would remain unseen by the most social members of the peerage, namely the mothers who were determined to offload their talentless churlish daughters on an eligible widower. The very thought of it caused Nathaniel to balk. "I will not be entertaining offers this evening," he reiterated for his sister. The younger Dormer sibling was far more social than the elder and Nathaniel shuddered at the thought of Augusta casting her attentions on his marital status. "Truth be told, I'm hardly even interested in pursuing business matters tonight."

[dormernts]

its so much and its dishonest work

[dormernts]

word has it the lady amelia dormer adored the opera. augusta had inherited her mother's music sheets, etched with notes here and there, and though her own skills at instruments were just a notch above mediocre, it was not the music that enticed her, but the entire atmosphere. where else could one find such pomp, on stage or outside of it? even now, on one of the hallways, she catches sight of one who could have very well been pampered by the most talented modiste, so beautiful was the woman that stood there. augusta approaches with caution and something akin to awe, and once she hears word exchanged, she can not help but to feel a faint surge of pink dust on her cheeks. "were you expecting company, my lady? i do not wish to disturb your interlude." features play with her recognition, but even if she can not give a name just yet, she knows the woman that stands next to her to be of the noble sort. 

"indeed. boucher had quite a talent with the brush, didn't he? must have cost a good penny to find such beautiful pieces." she knows from experience, seeing as she had splurged on the purchase of one of the frenchman's racier works to the hidden walls of the white rabbit, finding it well - fitting to the acts that occurred within its premises. puckering her lip lightly, augusta allows her gaze to fall from the painting to the lady once more. "though some expenses are worth it, especially when it is about beauty. i am certain your ladyship shall concur, as you seem to have a good taste about it."

𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 ! location : lobby of the opera house

contrary to most people, ceren found the opera anything but boring. as someone who loved music herself, it was a haven for her. the only time she ever got to enjoy it was whenever she was in london. hence when she arrived, it was on top of her things to do. during the intermission, the duchess of richmond briefly exited her box, she had asked her maid to look for some refreshments for her while she stretched her legs. ceren had noticed that new art pieces were installed along the corridors and she could not help but admire them. "were you able to—" she spoke, turning her head to face the person. "— oh! you must forgive me. i thought you were someone else." her maid to be exact but she was not going to tell them that. "the newly installed art pieces are wonderful, are they not?" ceren cleared her throat, switching the topic immediately.

[dormernts]

even if augusta thought it wise to keep her distance from the royals, even the adjacent ones, it was difficult not to know their likeliness, from their noble faces to their confident postures. when the prince approaches, she tells herself not to flinch as to not offend, and allows a smile to pour in her features, tugging at the corner of her lips and making dimples poke in. "most nights at vauxhall are quite splendid, dare i say, your grace." and it was not falsity. she enjoyed the paths, as well as the performances, of all sorts — it was for this very reason she had been alone, sending her companion to poke about one of the troupe's availability for steady employment. obviously she did not expect to converse with one of the gentlemen of illest repute of the ton in their absence. "i believe it has been rather eventful, no? i trust we shall continue to be able to appreciate the merriment provided, even in these minacious times."

open starter     /     arthur hanover location: vauxhall gardens.

        the gardens were bustling with activity, the muscians' tune filling the air, and arthur was the sun shining at the very center, the very image of a charming prince as he conversed with others enjoying the gardens. there was no denying that more rumors followed him about this season, but he'd never been one to pay them any mind nor would he let them spoil his enjoyment of the season. he finished his conversation with his current companion, an old earl, and wasted no time looking around. upon spotting someone standing alone, the prince approached with a warm smile.     ❝  it's a lovely evening,  ❞ he remarked.     ❝  how do you find the start of the season so far?  ❞

[dormernts]

much as everything that happened within the vicinity of the white rabbit estates, talk of the incident should have no place within proper society, and yet, it seemed that some tongues could not be stopped. augusta's own had to be bit, her expressions controlled at each opinion given across the table, and it was no different to when the foreign prince spoke on it — mind you, one of the reasons for the purchase of the terrain that now laid the famed the white rabbit ( besides its strategic location ) had been the already existing sculptures that reminded the dormer siblings ( particularly augusta ) of a few pet rabbits she's once nurtured. "the gardens have rabbit statues of marble, your highness. thus, the name." she speaks, tediously. it was no secret that the gardens of the inn were beautifully staged, after all, no harm, no foul. 

"it seems the lord chief of justice has not chosen to disclose the reasons yet to us feeble mortals, your highness. do you have any guesses yourself? i admit i am ignorant if such horrid acts of violence also plague your homeland, though i should hope not." polished and feigning well - rehearsed horror, she raises a hand, and dips her head gently in sympathy. "what it is known is that the deceased was no gentleman." god forbid the poor devil had been, then things would be even stickier than they already are.

𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 ! location : dining rooms at vauxhall

"a death, you said?" prince wilhelm's eyes widened at the mention on the recent incident at the white rabbit. he wasn't sure why the other person would mention such a morbid topic at dinner but he will not deny that he was not at least intrigued. "did anyone find out why the servant had died?" he wondered out loud as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "— white rabbit? you said was the establishment's name? a horrible name by the way. let alone to perish in."

[dormernts]

math people scare me. math people will be like "math works in mysterious ways TO YOU. i get it though." and they do and it's fucking terrifying.

[dormernts]

Becky Sharp + breaking the 4th wall for @olliviacooke ✨

[dormernts]

the ton is buzzing ! have you heard ? AUGUSTA DORMER , LADY DORMER has arrived in mayfair ! i’ve been told that she is + ASTUTE & HIGH - SPIRITED but are also - MEDDLESOME & UNSCRUPULOUS but we shall more know about them throughout the season. they aim to HELP HER BROTHER REHABILITATE THE WHITE RABBIT AND SEE BUSINESS BOOM AGAIN before the season ends. we cannot be too sure but it is said that their loyalties THEIR FAMILY & WITH THEMSELVES. how true ? we are yet to find out.

[    basics    ]     ⸻

full name  :  augusta josephine dormer.

meaning  : augusta means magnificent; josephine means god will increase. she was named after a princess of the dynasty, and her father, joseph.

also known as  :  gus, goose ( by her brothers ).

titles (  if applicable )  :  lady dormer of wyng.

gender + pronouns  :  cis woman  +  she/her.

orientation  :  bisexual.

age  :  twenty eight; going twenty nine in two months.

[    background    +    familial    ]     ⸻

date of birth  : may 12th, 1784.

place of birth  :  london, england.

residence : ascott house, near wing, buckinghamshire.

rank  :  gentry.

father  :  joseph dormer ✝ tba.

mother  : amelia dormer, née ? ✝ 1784.

siblings  :  brother one, brother two ( both older ).

partner  :  publically, none. privately, see wanted connection below.

other familial relations  :  elise dormer, née tba ( former sister in law ) ✝ tba.

languages : english, french. has repeatedly attempted to pick on greek and latin.

[    appearance    ]     ⸻

portrayed by  :  olivia cooke.

height  :  5′5″ / 165cm.

hair color + style  :  dark brown, nearly black; though originally wavy, or faintly curled, she primly curls them tighter with the assistance of hot tongs and overnight rag curls, pinning them to the latest of fashions. she is a big adept of hairdresses such as bonnets and big hats.

eye color  :  chestnut brown.

voice : per olivia's own voice, her tone is husky, yet honey - coated and she has an inclination to speak rapidly. as of the norm for the period and her station, her accent is posh, most likely some form of the RP english accent.

distinguishable marks + scars  :  dimples in her cheeks when she smiles, big doe eyes.

piercings + tattoos  :  pierced ears.

[    personality    ]     ⸻

zodiac sign  : taurus sun, aquarius rising.

mbti  :  tba .

enneagram  :  tba.

temperament  :  the executive ( choleric - sanguine ).

moral alignment  :  lawful evil.

element  :  earth.

inspirations  : becky sharp ( vanity fair ), jackie bukhart ( that 70s show ), capitu ( dom casmurro ), petra solano ( jane the virgin ), nurbanu ( magnificent century ), lucrezia borgia ( history ).

[   history ]     ⸻

trigger warnings for: parental death, death by childbirth, gambling addiction.

the former baron and baroness dormer were once forces to be reckoned in, in the public eye. the first of his line to attend the house of the lords, and the minor cousin of a gentry family who became the diamond of her season, joseph and amelia were both gregarious and expansive, and their match was an envious one, both for their matching of wits and of the matters of the heart — they were desperately in love, and one accommodated and partnered the other: amelia aided him in relations outside of the parliament while commanding their household, and he rejoiced in oratory, as well as giving her every opportunity to shine on society. 

her last labor came as a surprise — it was by the end of the season, and despite being heavily pregnant, amelia would not waste precious time, but the babe came too early. the birth was a mess, and though the child would come out hearty and loud, lady amelia would remain quiet and pale for the rest of the week. joseph fell in denial, believing his wife could somehow recover, but by the end of the week, amelia had made her peace with dreaded death, ordering her husband to care for their children and their life together, and naming their only daughter augusta, after a princess the lady had once much admired.

it was the least to say joseph did not entirely abide to his wife's plans. though there were some self - insistence, at least at first, not to forgo his family — particularly, augusta never believed her father wished her harm or believed her some evil that took away his beloved wife, nor did he ever remarry, when he as well could have had — his social excellence seemed to have been tightly connected to amelia, and, without her to guide him, the baron soon turned to vices. it was a method of relief: long nights with drinks over games of cards, locked in rooms with his friends from the parliament, but once friendly games became a constant monthly debit — for joseph's luck had run out, it seemed — it was felt. tongues began to wag, a rumor here and there about how often joseph was politely escorted away or denied from gambling tables, or how much he lingered at the tracks, and at boxing rings; when the london house was "closed off", "lended" to a "friend of the family" for the season, all that was said was that the family needed the fresh airs of buckinghamshire, away from the memories of lady amelia and her immense joy.

for augusta, however, those memories were important. without the guidance of her mother, she relied on her ghost, on the many portraits, on words of her brothers and father and every one who had once felt the glimmer of lady amelia. though in distance, augusta wished to emulate her mother: her beauty, her elegance, her charisma. like a silly girl, she would play with her clothes in front of the mirror, reigning over a society of dolls. her innocence was often interrupted, however, for her father's sake. there were costs to be cut, no matter how much she begged for a gown of the finest silk or for a new hat. at some point, her brother, impatience with the burden of the keeping of the house and of the family name due to their father's negligence, went on to show her the disorganization of the books, and the lack thereof of funds to spend in more frivolities than necessary for appearance's sake.

already better at card games than her father at the cusp of teenagehood, she tried to learn accounting. her odds were improved when she realized she took to numbers better than her peers; she was too young to handle the household finances, but alongside the governess, augusta sought to familiarize herself with the matters of keeping the household, taking a load off her brother's back. by the time she was of age, she controlled the ascott house herself, gladly so, and was more than eager to debut and return to society. london was a dream come true, but not only its societal aspect. augusta realized, along with her siblings, that there were gains to be had, less explored by those of higher society — and how foolish they were, not to see the opportunity spark!

tragedy struck merciless when the new baroness dormer, too, found her demise in the birthing bed. repeating his father's tale, baron dormer returned to ascott house to find relief in the fresh air, and though augusta more or less willingly accompanied him, instead of wallowing in purposeless misery, the family found gold on the purchase of a less than savory establishment, the white rabbit. theirs in all but in name, the dormer siblings are partners, and, of course, that includes augusta, who takes care of the books of the place meticulously, always seeking for an opportunity to improve their gains, as hands on as she can possibly be under the cloak of distance. naturally, the recent misfortune situation at the white rabbit much displeases her, but she is nothing if not positive this will be but a forgotten misdemeanor in no time, and the white rabbit — and their fortunes — shall continue to rise.

[    personality ]     ⸻ 

grasping, opportunistic, materialistic, quick witted and dissimulated on the inside, on the outside, augusta is the typically accomplished gentlewoman, with practiced tunes in the pianoforte, polished steps of the cotillion and memorized pleasantries spoken with a honeyed tongue, paired with big eyes gleaming with mirth and faux innocence. she relies on keeping a clean image, and has no qualms to lie, fake, buy and manipulate her way into forcing the belief that her family’s reputation is unfounded ( #girlboss #gaslight #gatekeep, so true of her ). though she is contented with their entrepreneuring agenda — finding that running successful businesses built by them and not simply inherited all ready as many aristocrats do is very fulfilling, especially as a woman that would not have a place otherwise — she is eager for a spot in society as well, wishing she could shine as much as her mother once had.

 [    tidbids ]     ⸻

is mildly (quite) scared of horses due to an incident on the track as a child, and never learned how to horse ride.

 [    wanted connections ]     ⸻

the dormer family! they are deliciously cunning, but also very tight - or, at the very least, augusta believes herself able to manage both men and bring them together to uphold the family legacy as a whole, not just individuals. for the elder, i generally imagine that he has taken their father's failures and followed a path of improvement, and the younger, he may have been in the army or something? both of them have had a hand on bringing her up as a person, despite the not so big age difference between them all.

the white rabbit employees as a whole, but particularly, the madame, whom would be aware of the family's involvement with the estabilishment and augusta's, and fighter one, employed under the dormer state and whom i imagine to have a secret relationship of the romantic and/or sexual nature with augusta; it's not entirely pleasant, because she isn't, but there is a bit too much affection in there to loose the attachment ( slutty rec would be jack o'connell :cattongue: ).

friends, new or old! this also includes people who could have tried to pull away or have succeeded at that, believing the dormers to be too shady / improper, or people who don't believe the rumors ( augusta is certainly lying her ass off about it, so )

people who have hostile feelings towards the dormers for their alleged shady behaviors, and may try to keep them out of society somehow, which frustrates augusta as she longs to be a functioning part of it all. they could either believe being able to see past the airy nature she keeps and believe her a wolf just as her brothers, or not notice her dissimulation

regulars at the white rabbit, whom augusta would know either by official bookkeeping, or by gossip. she may use the knowledge of their enjoyment of the estabilishment to blackmail or simply to amuse herself. alternatively, people who owe debts to the dormers, or to the white rabbit, would also fall on this category

crushes, exes, etc! augusta may have a constant interest in the fighter, but she has a hidden romantic nature that has her fixating on pretty people as well as pretty things, and she just may be genuinely sweeter to those who hold either such exterior beauty or objects of luxury ( obviously open to women, men, etc, with a bit of a preference towards women )

suitor (s). augusta is not in a rush to marry, but if she is to do so, she would like it to be of high position and of good finantial situation; either way, feelings are not at all involved, nor does she want them to be.

[dormernts]

Halloween Alphabet: C, the glow of candles

[dormernts]

Elena Ferrante, from Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay (translated from the Italian by Ann Goldstein)

[Text ID: she wanted everything and pretended to want nothing.]