#romeo pazzi — interactions.

[rcsplendent]

closed starter — luciana holland. ( @classiqcals ! )

" you know, darling, " he begins as she returns to him, her hand sliding easily into his. it's one of those dances that has them moving from partner to partner — the kind he learned as a teenager & became muscle memory, a given at any social gathering these days. but tonight he finds himself wishing they'd get on with it & switch over to a slow waltz or something of the sort; anything to make it so that he doesn't have to keep letting go of her, so that he can have an excuse to be by her side all night. " we should've had one of these. " he presses a gentle kiss to her fingers before pulling her in to continue the dance, his free hand resting at her waist & his lips settling into a warm smile as they come face-to-face yet again. " it's a shame we didn't, really. although, now that i think about it — at eighteen i would've been insufferable to dance with. perhaps our poor timing was actually a bit of divine intervention in disguise, hm? "

[rcsplendent]

open starter — searchers only ! ( @francehqstarters ! )

"  cazzo,  cazzo,  cazzo. . .  "   his  voice  is  low,  muttering  expletives  as  he  steps  over  a  fallen  branch  &  ducks  to  narrowly  dodge  one  hanging  at  head-height.  he  spins  around,  then,  eyes  scanning  the  terrain  as  it  starts  to  take  on  a  blue  tint.  the  sun  is  seemingly  racing  to  hide  under  the  horizon,  the  last  daylight  casting  steep,  orange  rays  through  the  canopy  high  above  &  scattering  the  ground  with  golden  spots.  soon  enough,  it'll  be  too  dark  to  see.  with  a  heavy  sigh,  he  holds  his  hands  up  in  defeat  —  in  his  right  one  is  a  revolver  (  his  father's,  etched  with  the  same  sparrow  peeking  out  from  his  unbuttoned  &  open  collar  ).  "  that's  it.  we're  fucking  lost.  "    he  turns  to  look  at  his  companion,  lips  pressed  into  a  tight  line,  arms  falling  to  his  sides  &  shoulders  sagging.   "  i  do  not  understand  how  this  happened. i've  hunted  in  these  woods  more  times  than  i  can  count. . . "

[rcsplendent]

𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧 — 𝙡𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙. ( @classiqcals )

so  far,  france  has  been  treating  romeo  remarkably  well. if  it  weren't  for  the  fact  that  he  owes  at  least  HALF  of  the  people  here  a  sum  of  money,  he  would  reckon  his  time  in  france  to  be  a  bit  like  a  vacation. however,  considering  the  fact  that  he  keeps  having  to  dodge  people  and  places  to  make  sure  he  doesn't  have  to  have  any  confrontations  with  his  creditors,  it's  turning  out  to  be  slightly  more  stressful  than  he'd  anticipated.       there  is  ONE  person,  though,  that  he's  been  hoping  to  run  into,  or  maybe  DREADING  —  he  can't  really  tell. it's  not  like  he  WANTS  to  get  married,  is  the  thing. but  also ... it  would  be  so  easy. all  of  the  debt,  those  sleepless  nights  waiting  for  the  day  where  he's  be  exposed  as  the  FRAUD  he  is... gone  with  a  simple  exchange  of  vows.

there's  a  number  of  things  he's  worried  about,  sure  —  will  she  recognize  him?  will  he  recognize  her?  will  she  even  want  to  marry  him  anymore?  —  scratch  that  thought  —  everyone  does.      turns  out,  he  does  recognize  her  as  he's  strolling  along  the  veranda,  and  he  halts  in  his  tracks  as  he  spots  her  out  in  the  gardens,  between  two  rows  of  rose  bushes. he  narrows  his  eyes,  his  demeanor  changing  to  something  more  determined,  smoothing  his  hands  over  his  waistcoat  and  adjusting  his  shirtsleeves  as  he  redirects  his  path  to  approach  her  from  behind.       "  well,  "  a  cool  smile  tugs  at  his  lips  and large, ring-decorated  hands  slip  into  his  pockets,  slowing  to  a  stop  a  few  feet  behind  her. "  you  look... healthier  than  i  remember. "

[rcsplendent]

closed starter — annaliese hölm. ( @hcrexcellency ! )

location : the polo pitch. time : mid-afternoon.

while romeo tends towards hunting during the fall & winter, the warmer months had much more to offer in terms of sporting events — polo included. the gentlemen of versailles had organized a sort of intramural tournament amongst themselves, & romeo had been happy to participate. & while he's never been one to brag, he is quite good at the game. he's dismounting from his horse after yet another clean sweep of a match when he spots her watching from the makeshift stands — the queen of austria. luciana's sister. his interactions with her so far have been interesting ( read: intimidating ), but he's determined to make a better impression, now that thoughts of following through upon his betrothal to luci have cemented themselves in his brain. he approaches her, removing his sport jacket as he goes, light brown curls flattened slightly against his forehead from exertion under the summer sun. " your majesty, " he greets once he's in earshot, slinging his jacket over his shoulder, fingers still hooked in the collar. he bows politely at the waist, before straightening back up. " i did not know you enjoyed watching polo. how is the warm weather treating you? would you like any refreshments? i'd be happy to send for them. "

[rcsplendent]

closed starter — luciana holland. ( @classiqcals ! )

he feels like he's been walking for days — his legs are numb, his arms ache, his head swims. he's seen — so much blood, so much pain, in the past few hours. it's difficult to see himself as lucky, surrounded by the sound of weeping coming from the injured & the sight of ghostly pale skin among the unconscious. regardless of it all, he feels a bone-deep imperative to get back — to return to her. he's got the arm of an injured guard around his shoulder as the group limps through the woods in a solemn parade. an eerie silence fills the air as they break through the treeline & approach the courtyard — those waiting for them hold their collective breath, before it all shatters into wails of relief & horror alike, once the palacegoers see what has become of the search party. rome, slowed down by his companion & therefore towards the back of the group, scans the crowd as he approaches. he spots her after what feels like an eternity, & after he gingerly lets go of the guard & sends him off with a nurse, he moves towards her like a moth to light. " mio dio — i'm so sorry, darling, " he says on an exhale as he envelopes her in a crushing hug, his exhaustion finally making itself known — his entire body sags & his eyes slip shut, muscles trembling from the amount of physical effort he's been exerting. " i'm so sorry i'm late. "

[rcsplendent]

closed starter          —           annaliese hölm. ( @hcrexcellency )

location :  the dining hall.       time : during breakfast.

" your highness, "  romeo greets with a practiced calmness as he approaches the queen from behind, exuding a learned charm in the form of an ever-present smile & an easy, confident posture. he holds a porcelain cup in his hand, filled halfway with coffee — with a splash of cream and a teaspoon of sugar, just how he would prepare it at home ( italian coffee is, admittedly, much better, but french coffee will suffice until he returns ). the way he holds the cup with two hands, as well as the way his gaze remains locked on the woman before him are, admittedly, an attempt to disguise how nervous he is — holding the cup is an attempt to prevent his hands from shaking, & his steely gaze is an effort to keep his eyes from flicking around the room the way they do when he's anxious. as much as he's changed recently, he's still proud & headstrong as he's always been  — ever-confident he can charm his way into people's good graces ( and out of trouble ).  " i'd begun to wonder when i would finally get the chance to formally introduce myself. or, well — re-introduce myself. "  they've ... met already, sort of, when he was much younger & he'd met the entire holland family upon his engagement to luci. but he was eighteen, then, & practically an entitely different person. he removes one hand from his coffee cup to hold it out between them, with the intention of taking hers to kiss the back of it — a sign of cautious respect.  " duke romeo pazzi of florence. it is lovely to make your acquaintance. "

[rcsplendent]

closed starter          —           amara romanov. ( @frvgcleternty )

location :  a tea parlor.       time : evening, after supper.

" amara, darling. "  romeo's words are accompanied by a gentle kiss to both of amara's cheeks, a classic italian greeting for anyone from acquaintances to family members. his smile is warm, posture lax, despite the questions that linger in the back of his mind. he's been meaning to speak with amara anyways — just to chat, to catch up, really; especially amidst the aftermath of the explosions. but finding her had become all the more imperative once valentina had revealed her little secret to him. perhaps it's unfair, going to valentina's most trusted friend in order to find out more information about her relationship — but he can't help it, is the thing. he cares so deeply about his sister's safety, her wellbeing, that he needs to know more about this king of hanover.  " how are you, my dear? how has russia been treating you? "  his head tilts as he goes to prepare the both of them a cup of tea — he imagines they'll be sitting down to chat a while, & of course, beverages are in order.

[rcsplendent]

there, standing in the dust & his delayed brain finally registering the possibility of further danger, romeo can only furrow his eyebrows in mild confusion at her apology. what on earth could she possibly be apologizing for? and as much as she insists that she's fine, he can detect a slight waver in her voice, a mild rattle in her breathing, setting off alarm bells in his own head that drown out any of the fading whispers of anger that might be leftover from their earlier altercation.  " upset with you ? "  he asks, genuinely confused for a moment, before a flash of realization washes over his face & he shakes his head quickly.  " no, i — listen, it's — i'm sorry for what i said — "  the ignition of a nearby tablecloth, soaked in alcohol from the glasses that had spilled on it, suddenly catching fire startles him out of his stop-and-start apology, & his grip recollects on her, resigning himself to sorting out a more eloquent way of putting things once they're safe.  " we must get out of here, "  he insists, desperately this time, even as she begins to pull away from him.

he makes a startled, concerned sound when she falters, hands immediately moving to steady her. as hard as he's been trying to make sure he doesn't cross any lines, a steady hum of panic is beginning to settle in, exacerbated by the sight of people scrambling for the exit.  " princess, you'll have to forgive me, but i think it would be quickest if i — "  rather than explaining, he demonstrates, bending momentarily to sling an arm under her knees while the other curls behind her shoulders, sweeping her up into his arms. he adjusts his grip as he cautiously moves towards the nearest exit.  " don't look, "  he ducks his head towards hers partially to speak quietly & partially to shield her from seeing a particularly gruesome injury incurred by a guest who limps hurriedly past them, but his own reaction is visible in the way his adam's apple bobs, swallowing the wave of nausea that washes over him. he follows the crowd through the main exit & makes a beeline for the courtyard, a decision made partially in haste but also with a fair bit of logic behind it: she can get some fresh air in her lungs, & he can figure out what to do next knowing that she's safe.

he sets her down to sit on the edge of a fountain, the winter air causing his cheeks to flush near-instantly. plenty of people seem to have had the same idea, but the courtyard isn't not full of people quite yet. he kneels in front of her once she's seated, hands coming up to steady her carefully, the left one moving to smooth down her hair where it might've been mussed from him carrying her.  " are you alright? i'm sorry, "  he says quickly, offering a rueful smile that looks more like a grimace, before his eyes drop to the ground below him. it's unclear at first, what exactly he's apologizing for, but soon, he begins rambling an explanation:  " i just — i didn't want you to have to walk. i apologize, i should've asked. i won't do that again. "  

somehow it is not until distance is put between them that luciana realizes at all how little of it there was to begin with - their bodies having been pressed into one another, sharing the air there against the small safety of the pillar. she shivered, a combination of both shock setting in && a confusing swirl of something new in her belly, something to unpack later, after everything else was processed. luci couldn't shake the dull ringing in her ears, and her lungs burned, every breath a sword in her throat - but she'd seen worry flash over his gaze at her first cough. the princess would rather choke than let out another of those coughs, so she swallowed it back. " i am so sorry, " she breathed out, her voice slowly turning raspy with each word, smoke && debris filtering in with the air. her hands loosened from where they had clung to his lapels, gripped in white-knuckled fingers - now, a rip in the fine fabric, from her terrified grip as she'd grabbed a hold of him. immediately, luci let go, though it felt almost silly to be upset over a tear in a suit when literal rubble && injured guests now surrounded them. she'd not realized either just tightly they'd been clung together.

" i'm fine, " she attempted to protest, but the scratch in her throat betrayed her lies, and finally, the cough she kept fighting shook her chest once more until she managed it back, forcing a smile. surely he wanted to find his family - already, her fear for her sisters was threatening to bring tears to her eyes, but luciana would not let him see her cry. " i - i do not want to keep you from what is important. i know how upset you are... with me. " they'd been arguing, hadn't they? right before this happened? he'd yelled at her - he'd called her cruel. her face heated, and suddenly, she worried the guise of strength she continued would falter if she thought much more on anything other than getting out of there. luciana tried stepped away, but felt weak, a hand reaching out to the pillar for support or else she'd fall, suddenly seeing stars. damnit. how much it felt like she were a little girl again, too weak to take another step, air simply fighting the most basic of autonomous responses; breathing. how embarrassing, to need rescued; a cliché, surely, to be the damsel. " on second thought, i will accept your help. may i take your hand? "

[rcsplendent]

closed starter.   —    nico ferucci. ( @effervcscents ) location: romeo's chambers.      time: 6pm.

❝  so,  hold  on,  run  it  by  me  again  —  ❞  for  the  fifth  time.  it's  just  a  lot,  is  all,  the  damage,  both  financial  and  emotional. each  debt  nico  lists  off  is  a  new  wound,  something  to  desperately  stitch  up  before  his  pockets  bleed  out  entirely.  ❝  —  HOW  much  do  i  owe  the  russians?  and  the  —  the  —  jesus. you  know. that  bavarian  bloke,  the  one  with  the  dead  family.  ❞   he  waves  a  hand  dismissively  before  bringing  it  up  to  pinch  between  his  eyes,  trying  to  quell  the  ache  that's  quickly  growing  there. ❝  and  papa's  business  partner  —  he  hasn't  written  you  again,  has  he?  i  need  to  get  HIM  off  my  back  most  of  all,  that  greedy  fuck. ❞  he  neglects  to  mention  the  part  where  it's  not  exactly  greed  if  the  guy  is  just  trying  to  retrieve  his  own  money,  but  romeo's  always  been  a  tad  delusional  about  this  whole  situation  anyways. he  sighs,  dragging  his  hand  over  his  face  and  squeezing  his  eyes  shut,  as  if  opening  them  again  might  get  rid  of  the  ungodly  amount  of  RED  in  his  ledger.  ❝  this  is  so  fucked,  nico.  i'm  fucked.  ❞

[rcsplendent]

☼☾ ( aaron taylor johnson , 30 , he/him , cis man , duke of florence ) - have you seen ROMEO PAZZI?  we’ve heard through the grapevine that they’re PRAGMATIC but also MANIPULATIVE. when you think of them , you think of A WISP OF TOBACCO SMOKE RISING TO THE CEILING, PIANO HANDS GILDED WITH RINGS, & A SUAVE, CONNIVING SMILE.

parallels  :  tangerine  (  bullet train  )  ;  tony stark  (  the marvel cinematic universe  )  ;  lloyd hansen  (  the  gray man  ) ; max wolfe  (  gossip girl  )  

BASIC  INFO

FULL  NAME:  romeo  giancarlo  pazzi

AGE:  thirty

GENDER:  cis man

PRONOUNS:  he/him

ORIENTATION:  bisexual, uninterested in romance ( for now )

LANGUAGE(S)  SPOKEN:  primary  —  italian,  conversational  —  english,  french

ACCENT:  italian

LABEL:  the lothario or the pretty boy; a man who is very handsome and uses it to his own benefit.

APPEARANCE  &  PERSONALITY

FACE  CLAIM:  aaron taylor johnson

HEIGHT:  six feet, three inches

HAIR  COLOUR:   brown

EYE  COLOUR:  light  blue

USUAL  EXPRESSION:  smug, or mildly bored

POSITIVE  TRAITS:  pragmatic, intelligent, witty, protective, charming, humorous, eloquent, charismatic

NEGATIVE  TRAITS:  hedonistic, stubborn, lazy, unyielding, desperate, greedy, crude, manipulative, conniving

FAMILY

FATHER:  unnamed,  deceased

MOTHER:  unnamed,  deceased

SIBLINGS:  unnamed sibling, valentina pazzi

THINGS  TO  KNOW

romeo was raised in a world of unspeakable wealth. he never wanted for anything, never needed anything that he couldn't have — he had servants at his beck and call from the moment he was born, and he always took advantage of it.

when he was a teenager, the king of the netherlands approached his father, the duke of florence at the time, and proposed a deal. the king needed money, and in exchange, he would offer one of his daughters to marry. the duke was more than happy to oblige, and romeo, being the eldest and therefore the heir, was arranged to marry the princess.

however, after the deal was made, the betrothal was ... mostly forgotten about. romeo spent much of his teenage years and young adulthood under the assumption he'd be married off at any moment, so he spent almost all of his time partying, sleeping around, and getting blackout drunk as if it was his last chance to do it. months passed, and then years passed, and still no marriage came; romeo figured the betrothal was a thing of the past.

when he was twenty, he left italy for six years to study at various universities around the world, including oxford, the university of salamanca in spain, the university of aberdeen in scotland, the imperial moscow university in russia, and sorbonne university in france. he mostly studied philosophy and politics, with the hopes that it would help him when he eventually took on the role of the duchy.

he returned home briefly when his mother passed away of a lingering illness about five years ago, but departed again to continue his studies; then, when his father suddenly passed just one year later, he had to return home to accept his new role as the duke.

unprepared and hateful of his responsibilities, romeo continued his lotharian lifestyle, and with new access to his family's horde of funds, he made a litany of poor financial decisions, from throwing party after extravagant party to simply purchasing ungodly expensive things he didn't actually need. the pazzi estate had never looked so ornate and beautiful, and once again romeo never wanted for anything, but at the same time, the pazzi's wealth was diminishing rapidly as a result.

now, romeo is ... well, for lack of a better word, broke. he realized his mistake far too late and is now indebted to too many people to count. when he received the invitation to france, he may even been the first person to accept, not because he was excited to go, but because he needs to make connections who can provide financial help, and FAST.

and, of course, there's that betrothal that never actually happened, but also never really fell through ... technically, he's been engaged for a decade. he only met her once, but he knows she'll be here in france. he's not exactly eager to get married, but ... it surely would solve those debts, wouldn't it ?

HEADCANONS

romeo is betrothed to luciana holland, the princess of the netherlands ! it's actually kind of up in the air if they'll actually get married, since the original arrangement is over a decade old at this point, and made by his father who's passed ... romeo didn't want to get married, but now that he's in his little financial pickle, he's reconsidering, as it would very quickly solve all of the debts he owes.

romeo is an ASS. at least, that's what he is deep down. on the surface, he's very charming, likeable, and just the right balance of confident and humble. but he starting to take after his backstabbing ancestors; he's the kind of person to make friends if he sees some kind of perceived benefit on his end.

despite that, it's not that he's mean or antisocial, necessarily — considering how many parties he's thrown back in italy, it's obvious that enjoys people's company and socializing. it's just that, at this very moment, he's incredibly desperate to make the right connections to secure some kind of financial stability quickly, so he's not afraid to rub shoulders with people just to get them to like him enough to provide him with a "gift" or two.

he is quite protective over his siblings ; the biggest reason why he's trying to recover his lost funds is so that they don't have to suffer the consequences.  

because he spent so much time at university, he is, unfortunately, quite smart. if he were in a modern au he would definitely be a philosophy bro.

the fact that he's spent almost all of his family's wealth is a secret he keeps VERY close to his chest. he finds it humiliating, and almost overcompensates by flaunting his material wealth. especially because of the pazzi's history, he would rather literally disappear forever than have people find out what he's done and ruin the family name for a second time.

WANTED  CONNECTIONS

associates:  people he's essentially trying to make friends with, but in the end, it's for monetary gain - he's trying to get them to help him in some way, but he's not quite sure how yet.

creditors:  people he owes money to ! he's definitely taken out quite a few "personal loans" from people that his parents had been close with, and he definitely has NOT paid them back yet ... and they're all here in france. what a nightmare !

paramours:  he's betrothed, sure, but he's not MARRIED yet ... at least, that's what he'd say. plus, he's on the fence if he even wants to go through with the betrothal, so he's definitely going to sleep around in the meantime.

[rcsplendent]

romeo hadn't expected to run into anybody, let alone somebody who seemed to be amidst an emotional outburst. regardless, he furrows his eyebrows & folds his hands behind his back, ever a gentleman. " well, goodness me. you look a mess. " he tilts his head a few degrees to the left, attempting to glean from the man's words what exactly had happened. he finds himself at a loss. " to be quite honest, my friend, i would feel quite guilty leaving you alone in such a state. may i? " he motions to the spot next to him in a silent request to sit.

Chugging the wine that he had stolen from the kitchen, he allowed himself to be drunk, both metaphorically and literally, in his feelings. He could care less how pathetic he looked right now, he was no longer who he used to be - he was something entirely new and that scared him to no end. "I have no family, no home, hell I don't even know who I am anymore," he slurred, looking up to see someone in front of him. "Can't a person be left alone to drown in their sorrow?"

[rcsplendent]

he's practically tearing his suit coat off before he even gets out onto the balcony — the damn thing has proven to be far too tight & definitely too warm, especially after dancing. he'd decided to get a bit of fresh air to cool off, draping his coat over the back of a chair as he steps outside with a slow sigh. it's then that he realizes he's not alone, his eyes widening for a moment as he attempts to assess whether or not she looks like she'd rather be left that way — but he decides, ultimately, that she looks friendly enough. " taking a break, love? " he asks simply, sauntering to the balcony railing to lean against it.

Devika had been keeping to herself most of the party, not wanting to draw attention to herself, knowing that by now, many of the guests would've heard rumors and whispers about what is going on between her and Ashir. After all, they didn't exactly tried to keep it a secret, mostly after her permanent move to his chambers. As much as she didn't care what others thought, she also didn't want to be bombarded with questions about it. Devika took a sip from the glass of champagne she was holding before walking out into the balcony, wanting to get some fresh air and get away from the partying crowd for a moment. @francehqstarters

[rcsplendent]

it's not that romeo doesn't like dogs. he loves them, actually — he had one growing up, a big retriever his father had gifted him for the purpose of a hunting tool, but the dog ended up being so bad at hunting that he ended up as more of a companion to a young romeo. he just wasn't expecting to run into such a BIG dog while out on a walk, & so unexpectedly — he wavers slightly, taking a small step back with a polite smile as he & the canine make eye contact. " hello, bear, " he greets awkwardly, silently hoping he's deemed worthy or safe or whatever the hell won't get him tackled by this beast for approaching her master. " well, she sure is beautiful, " he comments with a reedy laugh, eyes shifting to the man instead of the dog for the first time since he'd happened upon them. " is she ... friendly? or should i ... turn around & go back that way? " he half-turns, pointing a thumb over his shoulder.

open starter ›› @francehqstarters where: somewhere outside.

        war  had  made  him  vigilant.  his  eyes were closed as he enjoyed the warm weather but the rest of his senses remained alert. his dog also rested at his feet. someone else on guard. another's footsteps approaching was noted, but it was only when he felt their eyes lingering that timur opened his eyes. irritation rose due to being interrupted. could he not have some peace in this damn place?   ❝ her name's bear. ❞   he motioned toward the greater swiss mountain dog. timur would prefer thinking they were looking at the large dog than him, or worse, the scar, though fainter now than it'd once been, next to his left eye.   ❝ she's not as scary as her size suggests. ❞

[rcsplendent]

it's ... comforting, really, hearing amara's confidence in him. all he's heard from everyone in his life recently is that he'd better get his shit together, so the fact that she's so easily able to say that things will work out between him & the princess soothes his frayed nerves a bit. after all, he can only rely on his own ego for so long before he starts to believe he'll mess this up the way he did with his responsibilities as a duke. " i hope so, too, " he admits quietly, with a small, final smile.

he heaves a sigh & leans forward, elbows resting on his knees & his face in his hands. the relief that washes over him when amara reflects his own perspective is like no other — honestly, he had started to feel crazy, like maybe he's the one being unreasonable, here. " i do not know the first thing about him, amara, " he says, face twisted in exasperation. " and quite frankly, i don't feel too inclined to get to know him. i can't help but be afraid she's being taken advantage of. she's too kind — what if he's got ulterior motives? " he's rambling now, his anxieties taken over. he lets out a slow sigh at her words — part of him does want her to forbid his sister from marrying, but amara is his queen after all, and he's not one to disrespect her choices. " i've got to talk to him, too, " he notes simply, a grimace on his face. " i don't want to believe that val is capable of making stupid decisions like this. i want to believe she's chosen a good man. but how can i, amara? i don't have a shred of evidence for it. "

there's a rather peculiar look that crosses the other's features as he speaks of his intended, but one that intrigues amara entirely. it's also a very telling look of how fond he is of the holland princess even before the words fall from his mouth. her gaze softens as a warm smile curves her lips, as she genuinely wished for him to have happiness, and if luciana is the one would give him this happiness, all the better. furthermore, amara and luci are good friends, and she would certainly attest to the princess, a good woman for this man. ❛as long as you are trying for her, romeo, i doubt you will ruin anything. i am quite excited for you, and I hope to hear wedding announcements for you both."

the look of disbelief on the other's face almost has her chuckle, but she understands why he looks as such. valentina is like her sister, and amara's always supported her in her endeavors, and though she could not stand in the way of her wants, it didn't meant she hadn't been vocal in her disapproval of the new king. amara reaches over and squeezes his arm, ❛and i, seeing your horror as I have felt it." amara nods, "i'm surprised as well she did not pursue him, he was the most eligible bachelor in russia before his engagement. yes, he's handsome. more importantly, he is a good man, an absolutely gentlemen, and would be entirely faithful to her. i regret not asking him personally about her. perhaps we could have avoided this stefan entirely." there's a rather wary look flashing across her features, ❛heavens no, you are not crazy, you and i are the only ones rightfully worried. i don't know the man well either, and it's for this very reason you stated, i don't trust him.❜ a pause, ❛romeo, as her queen, i could forbid her, i could end the engagement, but I cannot do that to her. i've my made opinions clear but after all that she's done for me, how can i stand in the way of her happiness?❜ she meets his gaze, ❛i've had a chat with him, though, i made it very clear if he ever hurt her, there would be consequences.❜

[rcsplendent]

romeo lets out a breathy laugh as she pronounces his middle name — quite well, he might add, although the sound of it in her voice, coming from her lips, makes his cheeks flush a shade of crimson he normally wouldn’t be proud of. but he’s unabashed, standing here with her — feeling unexplainably vulnerable despite only having given her a few insignificant facts about himself. it’s exhilarating in a way he wasn’t expecting in the slightest. “ never? ”   he questions at her admission, though there’s an inexplicable fondness on his face — something that indicates he’s not thinking about gin at all. “ well, i’ll have to pour you some, sometime soon. only the best. top-shelf. ”

when her gaze travels to his coin collection, he flushes again, shifting his weight off of his desk to move slowly towards her, standing at her side. he gets a bit excited then — eyes glinting as he moves to lift the glass lid to the case, gingerly setting it aside, exposing the coins underneath.   “ some, yes, ”   he admits, trying terribly hard not to focus too much on the fact that he’s close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her body, to see the detail in her knitted shawl.   “ others i procure from merchants from all over the world. here, you’ll like this one … ”   he pulls a coin from the case — it’s very, very old, not shiny in the slightest, looking more like stone than metal at this point. he holds it in his palm, turns it over to show her the back — on it lies an embossed image of a laurel branch. “ ancient egyptian, ”  he explains with a sheepishly giddy smile. “ thousands of years old, probably. here — "   gingerly, he takes her hand in his own, palm-up, and places the coin into her palm, allowing her to get a closer look. ( sue him if his touch on the back of her hand lingers a bit longer than it should. )

" giancarlo. " luciana couldn't help herself, whispering the name as an echo in a pretty damn decent italian accent. her head nodded knowingly at the mention of his younger siblings - a sister already, she'd met, and an interesting person valentina had turned out to be. maybe it was the little amusing chat the two had shared that brought out a less guarded side to luciana in his presence. reminded now that under the charm && education, well-traveled ego and all, romeo was still the boy bucked off a horse, or fallen into a pond showing off. maybe grown a bit into himself; just as she was. luciana listened, knowing it would be easier to remember these silly, seemingly insignificant facts; easier than she'd like. how many times had she dreamt up an idea of him - until that, too, had grown stale? she listened with a curiosity in her eyes, hands stilled, and her attention following his as it bounded around his well-known study. " it is. you are... different than i imagined, romeo giancarlo. " she liked it, actually. it was very italian, and very much fitting for his grand show of confidence. " yet somehow, quite very much the same. i've never tried gin. " that was what she'd chosen to comment on. romeo was full of new. she was growing used to that. " but perhaps i might sometime. "

there was a beat of silence, and instinctively, luci's finger went to a stray strand of hair, a nervous fidget of hers. typically, she'd make a discreet exit, but found herself compelled to find reason, some excuse to linger, to maybe even peek past the superficial layers each had laid out. inquisitive eyes landed on a small but impressive display, the metals catching the light && presenting the excuse the princess had sought. " do you collect the coins from your travels? "

[rcsplendent]

" my rage? " romeo's expression contorts into a look of incredulity, shaking his head with a sigh. he knows the sicilian royalty well enough, considering they're practically neighbors — he's even vacationed down south, a few times. the islands are lovely, but goodness, the people can be quite straightforward; the royal family seems to be no different. " your little brother? you trust him to know where the hell he's going? " he asks, an air of suspicion laced in his words as he breaks into a jog to keep up with her. why didn't he get a horse?

Maria snorted to herself, even astride a god forsaken horse, of all things, at least she knew her way around a forest ( as long as the sun was up and she had her brother with her ). "Containing your rage will prove to be more helpful when we actually find them," she scolded, "I believe I should know the way by tracking Felix. Vámos."