Audrey

( naomi scott, cisfemale, she/her, 26) ** ♔ announcing AUDREY DRUMMOND,  the COUNTESS/LADY IN WAITING from SCOTLAND ! upon closer look, they resemble NAOMI SCOTT. it is a miracle that SHE survived the last five years, considering they are SECRETIVE, DUPLICITOUS, and ENDEARING. i hope the plague has not changed them. they are FOR working together with the other kingdoms.

…

With a slightly awkward smile, Ursula did her best not to show frustration at - even jokingly - being asked to rid someone of their boredom. It was hardly a good use of her talents, after all. She ran a fingernail around the rim of her cup, and tried her best to look as if she was not eager for some unnamed bugger to fall down a flight of stairs.

”Such is par for the course at these sorts of things, I’m afraid,” she said. Again her eyes were drawn to the stranger’s hands. Perhaps she had been wrong, and the roughness was simply a trick of the light?

“I suppose. I also think I maybe having more fun if it wasn’t because of everything that has been happening, or that things were so bad for so long” She said with a small sigh, maybe if it wasn’t because all that she would also be having an easier time in this new life although how everything happened did affected her feelings about it, truly she hadn’t really stopped and think about it all because it was easier this way. “Well if most get drunk I think it also means the party may be dying down, or well maybe just for me,”

… 

as   her   lady   spoke   freya   picked   up   grass   and   started   folding   it   again   ,   and   then   again   .   it   was   a   small   habit   she   had   picked   up   when   she   was   little   and   had   spent   hours   upon   hours   looking   towards   the   sun’s   rays   .   she   snickered   because   that   was   how   she   felt   as   well   .   “   yes   the   weather   ,   ”   freya   laughed   ,   shaking   her   head   .   “   what   a   thing   not   to   miss   .   ”

“I know some may not agree but I like the weather we have” She said nodding “I don’t particularly like too much heat” she said shrugging “I find France to be nice yes but I just think Scotland has its own charm and you can walk into a forest there and you can believe magic is real sometimes, of course I haven’t been inside a forest here but I doubt is the same” She said knowing she was being biased “How are you feeling though, giving birth isn’t easy and you had two babies.”

…

“Oh,” slightly deflated, Ursula sank back into her seat, her hands folding gently upon her lap. What a let down. The woman in front of her was a stranger, but from her dress alone Ursula guessed she must have been born and raised in nobility. Anyone below that could not have afforded such pretty embroidery, or numerous specious stones. Her hands, though…

As Ursula’s eyes slid over the detail on the stranger’s cuff, she was struck by the appearance of her hands. Unlike other noble women, whose fingers’ hardships were contained to needlework and the petting of lap-dogs, these were hands which looked like they had seen real work, at some time. Hands with calluses, and firm nails. Ursula’s brow began to crease into a frown of thought, and then the woman spoke, and she almost jumped from being so caught up in her mind.

“I am a physician, My Lady. I am here to offer help, should some soul require it.” If Ursula was also hoping to gain some sort of information that she could use with her Fantômes, she did not share it. “Are you in any need of aid?”

“Is there an aid for boredom” She said with a small laugh and shook her head “No thank you I just,..needed some air and space” she admitted, the party wasn’t terrible she supposed if she was being totally honest but at the same time she couldn’t fully just have fun at least she was good at pretending she was happy for the union though she barely remembered the names of those they were celebrating “I think soon enough there may be need of help though, some are very drunk, and I’m sure there will be something going on either someone falls down some stairs or start a fight.”

@1642hqs-starters​ .||. open .||. servant hall, beside the reception (mini-event) .||. capping at 5

Staff were not invited to Royal occasions. Oh of course they might be present for them, but only ever as nameless help, as silent witnesses, as props. There, a man who wordlessly offered refills of wine. There, a guard who was not allowed to look at the people he allowed into the room. There, a maid who could not wince if she cut her fingers on the broken glass she cleared from the floor. Apart from the talks and the feasts, this was the most segregated Ursula had seen the people at the Summit, and it struck her in her stomach, leaving her sickened.

As one of the physicians within the chateau walls, she had been told to stay alert should any of the wedding guests (or even, she supposed, the not-so-happy couple) over-indulge in wine and require attention. As such, she waited in one of the servant corridors, nursing a hot cup of boiled water to keep the early-autumn chill from her fingers. She had been there for hours now, and had long passed the point of boredom, so when the door to the Proper halls beyond opened she sat herself straight, feeling almost relieved to be called upon.

“Am I needed?” she asked, without entertaining the thought that it could simply be a servant coming through, or some other person without need of her.

“Oh...I don’t know.” She said a little surprised to see someone here, though truly she shouldn’t be, she didn’t know what was behind the door to begin with but she figured most would be at the party “I was just...bored and decided to look around,” She didn’t want to get in trouble but there was only so much drunk nobility she wanted to tolerate. “What are you doing?”

…

freya   thought   about   the   words   of   her   lady   .   if   anything   the   lady   that   out   ranked   her   .   freya’s   only   title   was   dowager   viscountess   but   that   wasn’t   truly   her   title   anymore   since   her   husband   died   and   she   had   not   given   him   a   babe   ,   or   an   heir   .   how   freya   had   gotten   a   lady   of   this   rank   ?   she   was   not   so   sure   .   maybe   it   was   because   she   had   only   come   into   the   role   ,   and   wasn’t   against   freya   and   the   king   .   .   .   yet   .   freya   sighed   and   rolled   to   her   stomach   as   she   looked   to   the   other   .   “   what   do   you   miss   the   most   about   scotland   ?   ”

“Hmm I think what I miss the most is the landscapes, I do believe is far nicer than anything I’ve seen so far in France” She said with a nod “Although maybe is getting away from Paris what may change my mind if that ever happens, I don’t miss the weather though.” She loved Scotland but honestly sometimes she did thought of just escaping all this and start a new life, she could learn french soon enough right? 

…

freya   picked   up   her   head   ,   and   went   to   shield   the   sun   from   her   eyes   to   look   at   her   lady   before   she   sighed   and   went   to   lay   her   head   down   once   more   .   “   i’ve   always   been   a   optimist   but   .   .   .      i   feel   with   every   passing   day   here   i   am   becoming   more   and   pessimistic   of   things   .   and   perhaps   a   little   dramatic   ,   i   feel   as   though   i   might   die   here   .   ”

“I don’t know if I would say dramatic or even a pessimist really, I mean, with all the things that keep happening I’d say it be delusional not to be a little cautious at the very least” And she thought being nobility would be so easy, which in ways it was but, she had never been as stressed as she was now. “But I also don’t think is bad to hope things will be fine either”

@audreydrummond  ━━ freya + audrey !

it   wasn’t   often   now   with   the   autumn   weather   that   freya   and   her   lady   were   gifted   with   sunny   days   .   freya   was   in   one   of   her   plain   white   dresses   ,   laying   down   on   the   blanket   .   she   could   feel   the   wetness   of   the   earth   seeping   in   through   the   blanket   but   freya   didn’t   mind   ,   if   anything   it   helped   with   her   home   sickness   .   “   if   you   close   your   eyes   ,   you   can   almost   feel   the   scottish   wind   against   your   cheek   ,   ”   she   whispered   .

Audrey sat quietly enjoying the sun,  it was a pleasant moment really and she was happy that colder weather was starting, she had always preferred the cold after all. She also didn’t mind the company, in all honesty having to spend time with Freya wasn’t one of the things she was annoyed with about her situation, “I think you’re right... I do miss home, maybe soon enough we’ll be back”

@1642hqs-starters​​​  —  nesrin  +  open​

crimson  tinted  nails  tap  against  a  half  empty  glass  as  the  whispers  grow  :  ‘  look  ,  ’  they  say  in  poorly  hushed  tones  ,  ‘  it  is  the  eldest  princess  of  poland  .  ’  the  royal  family  of  poland  ,  pandemonium  ,  blood  tainted  —  impulsive  and  unlikable  .  nesrin’s  heard  it  all  by  now  .  sharp  teeth  bared  in  a  wicked  grin  ,  nesrin  downs  the  remainder  of  wine  .  it’s  in  that  moment  she  turns  her  attention  towards  her  gossipers  ;  the  eerie  stillness  of  her  figure  contrasts  with  the  crazed  gleam  of  her  eyes  .  there’s  no  warning  when  she  begins  to  laugh  ,  and  what  is  at  first  a  slow  build  up  soon  turns  into  a  harsh  cackle  .  “  madness  you  say  !  do  you  fear  me  ?  are  you  afraid  of  what  i  might  do  ,  of  what  i  might  say  ?  ”  as  her  unsettling  gaze  lingers  upon  them  ,  nesrin  speaks  again  ,  however  this  time  to  an  unaffiliated  party  nearby  .  “  i  suppose  officially  losing  my  mind  has  to  happen  sometime  ,  but  unfortunately  i  left  my  best  dress  to  be  executed  for  crimes  in  at  home  .  so  before  that  happens  ,  want  to  get  out  of  here  and  go  somewhere  else  with  me  ?  you  can  even  choose  the  location  .  ”

Audrey wasn’t paying attention to the people around her, she was trying to play her role and mingle with royals, get higher in the social ladder though everyday she wondered if  it was really worth it, especially with everything that had being going on lately, What if she sneaked away in the night and started a new life in some little french town, she doubted she’d be looked for too much, she would have to learn french though. She was lost in her thoughts when someone’s talking brought her back to  reality “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I guess I wouldn’t mind doing something else than sit here drinking.”  

Yusef turned to face the woman slowly, a snort escaping his nostrils in a quick burst of air. With a shake of his head he allowed his body to slide further down into the chair. “That is one way to approach the situation, I suppose.” Stretching his legs, Yusef kept his eyes trained on the other as he made himself comfortable, wine remaining steadfast in his fist. “Still, it is but one way. For what it matters, the food in my home country is stupendous, that I am able to guarantee.” Shrugging, he ran a hand through his already-messy hair, ears perking at her last comment. “So, you agree it is medocre, then?”

“What country is that?” Though she really felt he was just talking from his own bias though she wasn’t holding that against him really “The food from mine is just fine really.” Or maybe it was the food she was used to eating was just fine, maybe it had been diffrent to others. “I think some is good, some is pretentious and other is probably an acquired taste.” 

since   setting   foot   on   french   soil   it   seemed   as   though   at   every   turn   there   was   more   danger   than   safety.   “and   the   french   claimed   this   would   be   a   safe   place   to   gather,”   ezbieta   said   with   a   role   of   her   eyes.   she   reached   out   taking   a   strawberry   from   the   plate   of   fruit   that   was   before   her.   “they   should   not   have   made   such   claims   when   clearly   they   cannot   keep   such   promises.” // @1642hqs-starters​ ⊰ ezbieta + open ! 

“I can’t really argue with that.” She replied, she would think security in a royal palace would be flawless especially when there were many monarchs around “Maybe they got over confident but I hope after everything they are doubling down.”

starter for: everyone ( @1642hqs-starters​) location: kitchens

Yusef stared dejectedly down at the dry, virtually tasteless morsel of bread on the table in front of him. The corners of his lips turned down as his brow furrowed, the disappointment obvious on his face. Although he himself had been in favor of making the journey to France, he’d been utterly unprepared for what he considered to be the country’s lackluster culinary offerings. Reaching for the pitcher of wine he’d managed to procure from a wide-eyed kitchen maid, he allowed himself a long and appreciative drink, not bothering to stop until he’d been at least mildly sated- not even for the sound of footsteps approaching from the rear of the kitchen. “No matter the length of my stay here, I have come to believe I may never reach a point of appreciation for the absolute sludge these people believe passes for a meal.” He commented, not bothering to look at the other. “Each day I remind myself that seeking something of more substance is futile, yet each day I find myself here, seeking more whilst remaining disappointed and, worst of all, hungry. That is to say, were this exchange taking place in my home country, I would gladly offer you a meal. But alas, we are not in my home country and therefore all I am able to offer is a cup of mediocre wine. What say you?”

“I say you’re the first person I have ever heard say the food and wine in France isn’t good, you must be from somewhere that where famous about how good the food and wine is there” She was trying very hard not to roll her eyes, “Regardless, I  feel is better to have all the mediocare food we want to be starving.”

starter: for everyone ( @1642hqs-starters​)  location: courtyard

As an eligible crowned prince, there was always pressure to marry for his country. Marriage expanded wealth and land ownership, as well as armies and trade. Upon other things. Responsibility was a word that was thrown around a lot, especially now with the recent announcement of another marriage. But who to trust? Who was strong enough to be eligible to an Orsini? It felt like he hadn’t let anyone close enough to be someone he could see spending the rest of his life with, not that pleasantries mattered. Especially not with the plague making royalty feel they needed to show strength and power. These were the thoughts on the mysterious and charming Lorenzo’s mind as he sat in the courtyard on a bench with his domesticated wolf. He should be inside, mingling with the other royals as the servants set up for the event. 

Audrey wasn’t interested in whatever event was happening, maybe she should be paying more attention but in her mind there were many other things she found more interesting not to mention, her situation hadn’t gotten easier since arriving in France. So when she had a moment to just walk away and had time for herself she took it, sadly she ended up running into someone else. “The palace is so big and yet it seems there is people everywhere.” She sighed she shouldn’t talk like that.