maisiebarclay

[maisiebarclay]

violet !

harper !

     harper was running through the halls of the palace, already late for her meeting with her sisters. usually, the young princess was a punctual person, but today was an exception. “i’m here, i’m here !!” the youngest of the barclays exclaimed, busting through the door a few seconds after her phone had pinged. her hair was flowing down her back, she was wearing black leggings, and one of nolan’s hoodies – a look uncharacteristic for her to sport in public, but quite common to those who knew her. “sorry, i was busy with… stuff. where’s vi ??” she asked, out of breath, trying to get her hair to look like less of a mess. 

@outgrvwn​

violet will get there when she wants to - moreso when she can handle the weight of the illusion she has to keep up when both of her sisters are in the same room - and she will call it fashionably late. it’s no skin off her back and when she slinks in a minute or so after harper, there’s a sheepish smile on her face but none of harper’s flustered guilt. “hope you didn’t start without me,” she hums, a light laugh tinged with guilt rolling out of her. “i couldn’t figure out if i wanted the black dress or the maroon one - and i ended up going with neither, so a whole lot of good that did me to get hung up on!” harper dressed like that - like a college student on the way to the gym in her husband’s hoodie - is a slap in the face, but it doesn’t show.

“ vi is -- right there. ” just as maisie is about to say later than you, the middle sister skulks in. she smiles at the both of them, having no real opportunity to greet either of them individually. “ i’m glad the both of you could make it. ” it’s genuine. she loves her sister more than she thinks it should be possible. they’re -- a part of her. “ honestly, being in genovia has thrown me out of routine. it’s lovely, though, isn’t it ? a nice change of pace. ” she reaches for her tea cup, taking a long sip before she adds, “ i trust the two of you are enjoying yourselves ? ” 

[maisiebarclay]

scarlet !‌

“well, grace isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” scarlett softly scoffs as she turned the page of the paper to the sports section. unfortunately, even that pages had it’s fair share of sordid drama and once her eyes found her own name, she promptly folded the paper shut and set it aside. “in fairness, it’s pretty difficult to find anything that’s not embedded in patriarchal tradition. that’s why half the world is going down the pot.”

“ oh, but it surely has its place, ” maisie’s quick to quip back. “ i find it useful in navigating complicated situations. ” she watches her fold the newspaper after seeming so invested -- she wonders what it was that caused her to close it. “ hmm, ” she hums thoughtfully, “ you’re unfortunately right. i can’t say that i haven’t benefitted from some of it -- but i don’t think it’s right either. ” 

[maisiebarclay]

@outgrvwn

“ we’re going out. ” it’s a statement, but underneath the gentleness of maisie’s voice, the fact that it might be a demand shines through. she sips the last sip of her wine before grinning at gio. she likes looking at him, she thinks. she likes him, she thinks, too, but only sometimes -- and sometimes could be enough. sometimes was now. “ but instead of you following me around, i’ll follow you around. don’t argue. just take me somewhere interesting. ” she smiles widely as she looks at him, expectant and teasing all at once.

[maisiebarclay]

open to: @outgrvwn​ @hcrpergrace​ location: uhhhhh somewhere they can eat lunch together

         the table is set with tiny cups, tiny plates, and a teapot sat square in the middle. besides maisie, though, there is no one else at the table. her own cup is filled, her tea a milky tan, and her eyes are focused on her phone. were other people there, she’d think it rude, but being alone, there was neither persons to impress or offend — speaking of offend, her lips pursed as she looked at the time. neither of her sisters are there yet. she gives it until five minutes past to send them both a text message. ‘ you’re both late. hurry it up. ’ it’s sent with love. she looks at the door expectantly.

[maisiebarclay]

scarlet !

@genoviastarters​ || open starter!

location: the village

character: scarlett dupre`, olympic figure skater (team canada)

“I don’t understand how this princess lady isn’t losing her mind,” Scarlett says, nose wrinkled as she turns the pages of the local Genovian paper that seemed to keep very close tabs on every motion in the palaces, including the arrival of new royals and who had been rumored to be seen with whom. 

“Dating is hard enough under normal circumstances without everyone getting their noses in it and giving their opinions. Isn’t this whole thing basically an international episode of The Bachelor but for really rich people?”

“ oh, i’m sure that she is -- ” maisie drawls, her eyes flicking between the girl and the paper. “ -- she just has the grace to act as if she isn’t. ” she folds the magazine in front of her shut, raising her chin slightly as her attention falls fully on the other. “ interesting analogy -- perhaps a little lacking, but you’ve got the bare bones there. i suppose i do find it all a little -- ” she sniffs “ -- embedded in patriarchal tradition, though it’s not my place to say anything. ”

[maisiebarclay]

HARPER !

STARTER FOR @maisiebarclay​ 

     harper missed hanging out with her sister. since the engagement, she’d been incredibly busy. between wedding planning, visits to new zealand, press conferences, dealing with her charity work, parties and apparances, and quite literally planning a move to the other side of the world, there hadn’t been a lot of time for her to catch up with maisie. “y’know, i thought it would be a little colder out here in genovia, but it’s actually really nice.” she said, smiling at her sister. “but, anyway, tell me !! how have you been ?”

     for all the people maisie had chance to meet or to know, undeniably she considered her sister to be one of her utmost favourites. she didn’t say aloud as much as she should, but she hoped harper knew. she leaned back on the chaise she was lounging on, glancing towards the bright window. snow was falling softly. “ i don’t know -- i think it still might be a little too cold for my tastes. i can’t deny that it’s pretty to look at though. ” she returned harper’s smile with ease. “ i’ve been -- i suppose i’ve just been. not too much more than that. ” her nose wrinkled slightly and she shrugged her shoulders. “ i feel downright boring, honestly. ”

[maisiebarclay]

bastille

PLACE: winter palace TIME: evening FOR: open starter @genoviastarters​

“What lives in these mountains that could eat me?” Bas asked, stretched out on a sofa in front of a fireplace. His coat, boots, scarf, and various other layers were in a pile on the floor, discarded temporarily even though he wasn’t ruling out the possibility of running off into the wilderness forever. “I bet I could fight a wolf if I had to. They’re just dogs, really.”

“ a bear, maybe ? i don’t know -- australia, on the other hand, if you’re curious, i could tell you all the dangers of. ” maisie had walked into the room, taking off her coat and letting it hang over her arm. she hadn’t expected the conversation to go where it was going, she hadn’t really expected any conversation at all, if she were being honest, but she thought she could enjoy it. maybe. “ that is a terrible idea, i assure you. dog-like, maybe, but they’re still wild. if you frighten it or try to fight it, it will fight back. ” 

[maisiebarclay]

kaia

somewhere outside, @genoviastarters​ // in her foolishness, kaia had ran out into the snow in just a thin sweater, entirely too eager to experience snowfall to realize how freezing it was. in her defense, she didn’t often get to experience this type of weather and was woefully unprepared but still stubborn enough to stay outside lest she miss it. off in the distance, she saw a rabbit hurriedly scurry into the woods, prompting a wistful smile from her. she missed her pets so much more than she realized, she missed her home, she missed the warmth of an ocean breeze on her skin. was this homesickness? blinking away her sad thoughts, she turned quickly to try to hurry inside and stepped back in surprise at the person who seemed to have mysteriously appeared next to her. “oh, i’m so sorry.” she shivered, folding within herself to try to retain her body heat. “i didn’t see you there, i was just… experiencing the snow.”

“ don’t apologize. ” maisie pulled her gaze away from the sky and the falling snowflakes and turned to kaia. “ i was actually going to do the same thing. there’s not a lot of snow in australia, and i’m not going to say i like the cold, but there’s something certainly beautiful about it. ” she folded her arms across her chest, and stared out. unlike kaia, maisie had actually dressed for the weather, and with only a few second thoughts, she peeled off her gloves. “ here. if you’re staying out here, at least put these on. i can use my pockets. ”

[maisiebarclay]

felix

felix leaned back into the couch cushions, sitting with his legs crossed as he contemplated the question. it was a big one. felix often felt trapped in his life but he also struggled to imagine anything else. he chewed on his lip for a moment. “i think… i’d just want to go somewhere i’ve never been before and do dumb tourist-y things. wait in long lines. take ugly photos. ride a roller coaster. wear ripped jeans. crowd surf. i — anything real.” he swallowed, unsure if he’d said too much. “you?”

“ don’t consider this a cop-out, but i’d want to do the same. ” her head tilted back and she stared at the ceiling, imagining. “ i mean, i don’t know. i really don’t know. you would think i’d give it more thought considering it’s my question but there are just too many options. ” she took a deep breath before saying, “ maybe i’d go back to school. just be normal. drink too much. party on the weekends. just be a kid. you ever feel like you’ve had your life stolen from you ? i mean, i bet you have, i know i have, and that feels slightly selfish to think given all the privilege i have, but -- i feel like i’ve missed out. i really do. ”

[maisiebarclay]

aveline

aveline arches an eyebrow, laughter spilling from her lips. “ well, i’ll admit that takes the fun out of it. but they’re not all bad, see — ” from where they stand by the bar, she directs her gaze to a diplomat’s daughter expertly swinging her hips to reggaeton. ( the last song was rap. so much for consistency. ) “ oh, shit. ” aveline suppresses another laugh, pointing towards some guy who’d tried — and failed — to get their numbers earlier. “ he’s terrible. oh, it’s probably a little of both. once you hit your fourth? fifth? drink, you really stop giving a fuck. come on, let’s get another shot. ” 

maisie shrugs her shoulders, hesitant to agree, but she finds herself nodding her head. “ sure, there are exceptions but -- ” she follows aveline’s direction and she lets her gaze land on the man. she tips her head back and lets out a laugh. “ i think that only serves to further my point. ” she giggles again before nodding again. “ maybe that’s a good thing then, if only to enjoy yourself. ” she cuts through the crowd and moves toward the bar. she catches the bartender’s attention and says, “ a shot of jager ” she looks towards aveline “ and whatever she wants. ”

“ make sure i enjoy myself tonight, will you ? i know i’m in my head but -- i don’t want to be. ”

[maisiebarclay]

alfred

> @maisiebarclay​   /   alfred’s room

alfred was sitting on the edge of his bed, sticking his legs through his sweat pants. he looked back to see maisie, still in bed. “you have a nice glow about you.” he smirks. “after all that. you’re glowing.” he snickers, getting up from the bed to walk around to her side, kissing her forehead. “tea?”

maisie pulled up the bed’s sheet until it was just tucked under her chin; she was still staring lazily at alfred. “ i’d say the same about you, but i’m sure i look better,” she retorted, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “ coffee, if you have it, but i’ll take tea if it’s all you’ve got. ”

[maisiebarclay]

charlotte

lottie’s eyes widened. “oh! gross — i mean, not the eggs or the toast and butter but — sorry, i had vegemite once and it tasted like tar,” she said, not even realizing that perhaps insulting the other woman’s food wasn’t exactly tactful. “but thank you… maybe i can just get someone to make me some cinnamon french toast.” she flagged down a servant, making the demand, and then took a seat across from maisie, not bothering to ask if her fellow princess wanted company. 

maisie’s mouth twisted into a deprecating smile. “ i can agree that it’s an acquired taste. but it is good, and i won’t hear otherwise, charlotte. ” she picked up the corner of her toast and bit into it. at the other girl’s idea of a breakfast, she wrinkled her nose. “ that’s too sweet. it’s more of a dessert than a breakfast, isn’t it ? ”

[maisiebarclay]

“ a party ? ” maisie raised a brow before shrugging her shoulders. “ i’d be lying if i were to say i wasn’t interested. ” she folded her arms across her chest, raising her chin appreciatively. “ what did you have in mind ? ideas ? a theme ? a rave ? ”

@genoviastarters​ | Open to all | Somewhere in the village

          The  best  thing  about  coming  to  Genovia  had  to  be  the  freedom  she  had  here.  At  home  that  was  a  word  that  wasn’t  really  in  her  life  anymore.  Not  that  she  didn’t  enjoy  all  those  social  events  she  had  to  go  on  or  the  charity  things  her  mother  had  her  participate  in.  But  there  was  just  something  about  going  out  for  a  night  and  just  forget  all  those  responsibilities  and  just  be  stupid  for  a  while.

          But  going  out  alone  was  never  really  that  much  fun.  And  seeing  as  this  was  last  minute  she  didn’t  feel  like  she  could  be  selective  so  the  first  person  she  saw  would  be  her  candidate.  ❝  So  I  know  it’s  really  last  minute  but  I’m  so  bored  right  now  so  what  do  you  think  about  a  little  party…  maybe not that little  but  a  party  nonetheless.  ❞

[maisiebarclay]

ionna

@genoviastarters​​ / winter’s palace.

genovia was … in a sense, annoying. plain and simple. posing as a maid? kind of fun, mostly in the sense that going through a bunch of royalty’s bags quite amusing. who knew some of these people were freaky? but she had to focus. finding her mark inside of the castle with what intel she had on them? not entirely easy. so here ionna was doing, keeping up the maid act. playing another part of another identity. three knocks at a door before slowly pushing it open, “ if someone is in here, i am here to clean. please be clothed. ”

maisie stood at the window of her room, eyes gazing on the snow-covered ground outside. it was a change of scenery, a welcome one perhaps, but even pretty distractions couldn’t soothe all the aches one had. sound behind her caused her to turn. chin raised, her lips were pursed when she said, “ would you mind leaving and returning later ? i have no mind to leave right now and you’ll -- ” it sounded harsh despite her intention “ -- you’ll only be in my way. ”

[maisiebarclay]

sabina

@genoviastarters​ ☓ open.  location: a coat room or some other small, private place within the palace/slopes

Unbeknownst to the other, Sabina had entered the room moments ago, but rather than make her presence known she chose to watch the other quietly. 

“It’s mink if you’re curious.” Which, clearly, they must have been if they thought it alright to touch. “A gift from an Italian consul.” A prized possession; one of few.

“Would you like to try it on?” 

maisie had been admiring the coats in the room while she had gone to grab her own. fingers ghosted over a pretty coat, lightly feeling the fur. she startled when she heard a voice behind her. “ it’s beautiful. ” her remark was simple. “ i have no need to try it on. i just have a like for pretty things. ”

[maisiebarclay]

annalise

annalise was reading a book when she heard someone enter the room. the princess never was the most social butterfly in the world since she spent most of her life so cut off from anyone who her parents didn’t have the best relationship with. they wanted to protect her from the world, but that also led to her being so isolated from everyone else. “hello.” annalise said softly to the person. “i can leave if you want to be alone.”

@genoviastarters​

loneliness was a novel idea. no matter where maisie went, someone else would be there. even in her own room, her chambers at home, someone was only ever a call away. maybe it would be reassuring if she had fear of being abandoned. instead, she only felt stifled. it was selfish to think, considering her station and position, that there were still things she so desperately wanted, but she was only human. she reassured herself that all too often. she walked into the room, her shoulders falling when she noticed someone in there already. “ oh, don’t bother. you were here first. it’d be rude of me to ask you to leave. ” she rolled back onto her heels, glancing back over her shoulder, wondering whether or not she should leave. “ you don’t mind if i’m here, do you ? i promise i won’t be a bother. ”

[maisiebarclay]

@felixwindsor​

“ alright. here’s the deal: you have one day to do whatever you want. it can be whenever, whatever, honestly, possibilities are endless. ” maisie pauses for effect, a smile on her face as she looks at felix. “ there are no interruptions, intrusions -- no nothing. what do you do and why ? the why is very important, don’t forget about it. ” she leans back on the couch she’s seated on, her head resting on her hand as she waits for his answer expectantly.