#vitaiisms

[svnshone]

@vitaiisms​

She removed the key she kept tied to a ribbon beneath her sleeve, used it to unlock the box that sat on the table within her chambers. She had little trust for the maids here, nor most of her ladies in waiting- so Dorothea kept the key close to herself.  The box held the jewelry she had brought along for the trip- shimmering stones, shiny metals, irredescent pearls. Not near the entire royal collection, but she had dreamed of such a trove as a girl.

Dorothea heard the door as she was removing her earrings to set into the small chest. “How was your day, käraste?” She spoke their own language to her husband, for who knew if these walls had ears- perhaps the Swiss had called this summit just to spy upon monarchies in privacy. Few tried to learn Swedish while conquering the languages of the world, and these days Dorothea was grateful for it. “Rings, please.” She held out her hand for his jewelry, to set them away with her own for the night. “I’ve had them heat water for a bath in the dressing room.” The distaste so many had for them clung to her skin like a film and she always slept better after washing it off. The disrespect cleansed, it was easier to fall into dreams the world their reign would create, generations down the line.

[porcelcinarchived]

⊰ her smile softly graced her lips , yet her heart was heavy when she seated herself beside fran. elsa’s eyes could barely meet theirs , instead it fell on the flower, bent and crooked from the pressure she was holding onto it. she’d chosen the white chrysanthemum carefully, trying to remember the last conversation she had with francisco about the meaning of flowers and their language. although she attempted to listen to their words attentively, she couldn’t recall anything with her mind so foggy and only ever allowing guilt to plague it . “ i’ve thought of you when i saw them, franzi. ” back then she’d often bring them flowers, always eager to see their reaction,. but lately, she’d found herself growing distant, building a wall around her heart in case something would happen. “ i must apologize for only bringing one, i didn’t want to ruin the other one by plucking them. ” her words fell mindlessly from her lips, rambling and never daring to draw closer to a truth she wanted to share but couldn’t . “ i am sure you must be busy … there is something i must tell you … wanted to tell you but i fear i do not have the heart nor the courage to do so . ”

𝒂 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 @vitaiisms ( francisco )

[svnshone]

"Safer than here no doubt." There was an edge of bitterness to her voice. It had been sometime since a royal had been murdered in an English palace, at least. Their hands clasp together at the mention of Elisabet, jaw tightening. She was upset- not just at the loss of a staff member, but the feeling of betrayal that creeped in. She did not understand how a woman could abandon her post. There were few traits she expected in every member of her court, but loyalty was one of them. It would be one thing to simply resign- another entirely to turn ones back on their kingdom and take up with another. "If I were you I would caution your wife," the dowager queen said. "For if someone is willing to leave her post without replacement in a foreign country to take up with someone new there is every chance that the same shall be done to her."

maxim was more familiar with tyr than he was with any of the other danish royals, but this was on a more personal level rather than formal. the queen was -- well, honestly, they frightened max a bit. perhaps unnerved would be a better term for it, even now they sit next to him and are so utterly brisk. maxim has been around many different types of people, royal and noble alike, during his time, but in all honesty this type of curt behavior reminds him of his father, has him straightening his posture without even realizing. questions he hadn’t even deeply thought of yet, so wrapped up in the joy of his first child brought into the world, and he must sit here and give answers he isn’t altogether sure of. “i -- don’t quite know yet,” he answers honestly. “it doesn’t feel safe here. i’m not sure it’s much safer in england.” for two completely different reasons, but still. he sighs, looks down at the girl in his arms. after a moment, maxim speaks up again. “i hope this isn’t untoward -- about your governess. she seems to have formed a bond with my wife over the months of this pregnancy, i just. wanted to be sure there were no ill feelings about her position change. and if there were, is there anything i can do to smooth it over.”

[histxries]

//Open starter for anyone in the Danish court ( @cftragedy @cfbooksntales @vitaiisms @svnshone @ofdevotiions)//

Elisabet felt...useless. The baby was napping with her guards and one of the maids, and the halls of the Danish court's chambers were quiet. She knew why, but she was used to the bustling noises.

During the plague outbreak in her village, she hadn't had time to take in the silences until after the spread had been stopped. Even then, it was only for a moment. Now, with one child to watch and help, her hands felt idle.

She could barely sleep the night before from the mourning sounds and everyone expressing their grief...despite that, she got up at her usual time, did her duties, and now she wandered the halls. She finally decided to stop and knock on a door, hoping she wasn't intruding.

"H...hello? Is there anything I can do to help?"

[cftragedy]

they had spent much of their life wanting half the recognition for their accomplishments maxim got by just existing, but if that sort of attention could so easily turn critical, scrutinizing, disappointing? they recoiled as much as they wanted to reach for it.

gif credit

@vitaiisms

[mountebanks]

heels  slammed  against  smooth  stone  floors  as  the  once  and  future  crown  princess  of  switzerland  tore  through  the  palace  .  mads  might  have  been  known  for  her  excesses  ,  but  this  was  a  cold  fury  of  rare  heights  ,  and  guests  and  staff  alike  scrambled  out  of  her  wake  .  deep  brown  eyes  lit  with  something  cruel  as  she  found  the  source  of  her  rage  ,  and  she  did  not  bother  with  courtesies  ,  snarled  ″  windsor  !  ″  as  though  she  could  kill  with  the  word  alone  .  her  hand  on  his  shoulder  was  not  light  with  years  of  camaraderie  ,  no  gentle  brush  of  love  and  companionship  -  it  was  tight  as  a  vise  ,  nails  digging  into  him  through  his  shirt  as  she  forced  him  to  walk  in  front  of  her  ,  shoving  open  the  door  to  the  nearest  room  and  slamming  it  shut  behind  them  .  only  then  did  she  let  go  of  him  ,  rounding  on  him  with  teeth  bared  .  

“  i  will  tell  you  this  once  and  once  only  .  you  will  pull  yourself  together  and  apologize  to  my  sister  ,  or  i  will  GUT  YOU  .  you  think  you  can  make  her  cry  and  walk  away  from  this  ?  do  not  play  the  FOOL  .  this  is  your  responsibility  just  as  much  as  it  is  hers  .  ″

for  the  prince  maxim  windsor  ,  @vitaiisms​  .

[ofdynasts]

Closed starter for @vitaiisms​

Stomach queasy, Sorcha was mature enough to admit that she was likely hiding. If she had to talk to one more person that viewed her as either a demon or a cautionary tale, then Sorcha might just scream. Finally alone in what had to be one of many sitting rooms, Sorcha sat penning a letter in perfect quiet for the first time in days. And then the door opened.

Eyes flicking up, Sorcha recognized the blonde hair before anything else and let out a heavy sigh as she closed her eyes, smiling without really feeling it. "Please don't tell me I wandered into a room allotted to the English by mistake." Perfectly calm, perfectly pleasant, and likely pressing half moons into her palms from her nails as she finally opened her eyes and stared at the prince.

[diademic]

“I wasn’t trying to start a brawl.” Soren said before swallowing heavily, fingers wrapped tightly around the arm rest of a chair as if that single point of contact was granting him stability. It didn’t feel like enough, his body disconnected from his mind as his temple throbbed with a hot, erratic sort of pain. “Steffan said he was bored, I just wanted to...”

Where was that sentence going? He couldn’t remember suddenly, and his grip tightened even further on the arm rest of the chair. Maybe if he squeezed it enough, the tension and tightness would distract Soren from his head and make it easier to focus on. He didn’t want to be sitting on the chair at all, he wanted to be on the floor, less of a distance to fall and not worries about collapsing back in the chair and it tumbling to the ground. But wait, Nikau was there, even if it hurt too much to do anything but look straight ahead, and Nikau wouldn’t let him fall, would he? Oh, he was probably so disappointed.

“I’m fine.” Soren thought he might be sick. Something felt wrong with his breathing, like it was too thin, and it was a struggle to keep it even, air entering and escaping from his mouth. He was fine. It was all fine. “What happened...” No, no, how did he say it? He needed to be a king now. “Is there trouble? An incident?” Diplomacy, was that the word? Had he caused a diplomatic incident? Closing his mouth to keep from saying something foolish like how he needed help, Soren tried to clench his jaw only to feel another wave of pain and gave out an unpleasant whine. “Nikau...” @vitaiisms​

[sicarivss]

@vitaiisms​ |  Kazimierz

Magda watched the crown prince for a moment, never quite sure what  Kazimierz had in mind. She did know he cared for Raine, and that was enough for her to respect him; having spent enough time amongst the siblings, she felt comfortable enough to approach him and talk to him, though never forgetting that his station was above hers - she was but a mere farm girl turned personal guard. “ Your highness, “ she greeted him as she approached, though with him she didn’t bother with a courtsy. “ any thoughts on the wedding, a future memorable celebration or as dull as the summit thus far? “

[reginamater]

@vitaiisms | Úrsula

The area alocated to the Netherlands was small, given the limited number of representatives that had arrived thus far. Though that didn’t stop Jiang from wandering about the castle, learning about which wings she could or couldn’t access and most importantly in her mind - the library���s location. With a couple books in her arms she made her way back ot the Dutch wing, stopping by her lady-in-waiting’s door. “ Úrsula? “ She called out her name, as she knocked on the door. “ Are you up? Are you in there at all? “ For all she knew, her protégé could be running wild in the castle.

[svnshone]

@vitaiisms

She had stayed clear of most of the Swedes since their arrival. Dagmar had no desire to mix with usurpers, no wish to know those know occupying the throne of her neighbouring country. Perhaps in another world, in another life, she would not mind- but now, staring at a man who claimed descent from royal blood, who stole a throne, she could not. Nor could she shut her mouth, even with all her upbringing screaming at her to keep quiet, to play the politics. “Have you thought,” Dagmar began, her tone almost blase, almost careless, “that your arrival might have signaled an ill omen? Royals do have a tendency to drop dead around you.” 

[diademic]

@reginamater​ @vitaiisms​

Silas Denver Melvin, from Grit: Poems; “Twenty”

[Text ID: “im sorry, ill clean up the mess. you tell your mother im sorry you spent all that time carbonating me inside yourself just for me to end up the way i am.”]

[histxries]

starter for @vitaiisms

location: library

There had been one. One single flower that Elisabet had not been able to identify when she was out foraging, and it was driving her absolutely mad. It was nice to have thought of something other than the princess, the death, and all the other awful things as of recent. The baby slept in a cradle beside her chair and table, a guard posted at each entrance to the library. "Alright, my princess. We'll get this flower figured out and written down, hm?"

Documenting flowers and herbs was only something she had done in passing, to aid in midwifery, but thinking on what Florian had told her, about finding things to do outside of taking care of the princess, Elisabet thought she would give this a try. So far she had enjoyed the hobby, and she scoured the library for books on the subject. She closed the book she had, putting it on the table and reaching up for a higher shelf. "Fandme," she cursed quietly, stretching her arm to reach the book.

[cftragedy]

@vitaiisms

whispers of illness already had him on edge. everyone seemed to keep saying it was something simple, the sort one might encounter by a stroke of bad luck when travelling, but ezrak's mind couldn't help but wander to-- no. no, that wouldn't be the answer. surely it had to be something simple. he needed it to be something simple, nilani and now his own sister struck by similar symptoms. it had to be something else. he would know if it was worse. he knew the signs, was well aware of the way it came on and wracked a body, choked the very life from--

he needed air, and space. of course he was concerned for nilani. of course he was terrified for layla, memory of the last time he'd had to endure a sister taken ill leaving him nervous, so incredibly nervous. he wanted to be at their sides, wanted to feel like there was anything he could do. but what was there to do? what was there ever to do? the air felt too thin, everything around him too quiet and yet too loud, and he had to get away. it felt like he was the one dying, a nausea washing over him as he felt like he might very well shake apart, ducking his head as he walked off and muttered some half hearted excuse. this had happened only a time or two before, and he didn't know how to make it stop, but he needed it to stop because he was of no use running off in near tears like a child.

he needs it to stop and that feels like it only makes it worse and by now he can't even fully comprehend what direction he's walking in. he won't look up either, convinced everyone around him sees this reaction already and knows. he can't bear to look at them too. so when he fully collides with another, it startles him enough that he almost thinks his head clears. he looks up. maxim standing in front of him, likely heading in the direction he had just come from --nilani was important to amara, max would always be important to nilani, these were things he knew and thinks he loved about her, her heart and its capacity and its generosity and--

he's looking through max rather than at him, and he blinks it away, trying to focus. "um. nil--" his voice sounds wrong and he just barely keeps from cringing at it. he hates being seen like this. he clears his throat, tries pulling his shoulders back. tries again. "nilani is, at present, feverish and fatigued, but alert when she does not sleep. i, ah, would not recommend you see her. because of the baby." nilani had been so worried for everyone else. was max well, was amara alright, was the baby safe, all the while she herself was the one taken with fever. he knew for all her concern, seeing max would only make her worry more.

[grandqueens]

Out of all the encounters she'd experienced with other royals following the attack on Priya, so far the one with the English prince had to be her favorite if only because he didn't seem to be in danger of losing his head or his manners about it. Perhaps it was finally someone that realized that they weren't the only one impacted by the events that transpired and that they couldn't pull rank when attending a summit filled with kings and queens. "Prince Maxim, I've also heard the exact opposite, that we are not doing enough to provide safety. I think our effort should be put into tracking down who did this and not watching us when we're all gathered in large numbers. If your King would agree that the extra precautions for the safety of his family are unneeded, I'd be happy to talk to my king about a different arrangement for England."

“i understand that, your majesty, but--” maxim takes a breath, poised despite everything happening. he knows how to maintain himself, especially with the hosts of this summit lest his father have his head served on a platter for disrespect. still he still can’t help the irritation he feels whenever he tries to go to the kitchens at night and is questioned every step of the way. he leans, as if what they speak about is a secret and not common knowledge. perhaps he just doesn’t want to make a scene, not have his own selfish wants fulfilled. maxim has more couth than that, surely. “wouldn’t it make a bit more sense to lessen the guard status? it might unintentionally raise more panic, seeing one posted at every pillar, corner, and table in the palace, no?”

[ofloyaltiies]

closed starter: @vitaiisms​

location: the gardens

AS STEREOTYPICAL AS it was - the queen of france enjoyed nothing more than to walk through a garden. any garden. there was so much to learn about a place, and the person who took care of it, by the state of it’s garden. despite herself, she had to admit this one was beautiful. she walked through the rose bushes, inspecting them carefully so as not to prick herself on the thorns. 

she turned as she heard a figure approach, and put on a reserved smile as she saw her daughter’s betrothed stand before her. “thank you for meeting me here, your highness.” gathering up her skirts, she bowed into a quick curtsy, one she’d been rehearsing for over forty years now. “i dare not take too much of a prince’s time. i did that enough as a young lady.” the accented words are spoken quietly as she finally let go of the rose she’d been inspecting. “i don’t mean to be too forward, i can’t help but to ask - how are things with ma chère anastasia?” she ends her prying question with an innocent smile upon her rouged lips.