little dove

updated intro shhhh

&     @hshqstarters​     .

     her fingers push her sunglasses high atop of her head,   a lazy gaze settling across from her.     “   i don’t suppose you’ve seen my date,   i would have called ahead but who cares about that kind of cordiality these days.   ”

     A small chuckle came from Cecilia before she shook her head. “Haven’t seen mine either,” she said with a shrug. “I usually send scented invitations, it usually manages to convince them to come. I can lend you a few, if you’d like.” She took a sip of water before turning a bit to look at the other. “I can offer to be a replacement date and then you’ll get to recieve an invitation instead of having to give one.”

AUCTIONED GOODS 3 -  nadine beau cecilia aisling isabela fanni mimi vitaliya layla

“ i don’t really remember agreeing it this but if it’s for charity…. ” she glances nervously at her fellow table mates, “ though i hope no one actually bids on me. ” lie, as if her entire self-worth wasn’t now riding on this auction. 

     “I don’t think we get a say in anything, ever,” Cecilia mumbled as she glanced around, taking a few sips of water. If only it was wine or champagne. “It almost feels nice knowing someone might bid an insane number, except for the fact that your worth is dimmed to the value of money. And I’m worth much more than just money.”

Cecilia Diana Reid attending the human auction charity event on September 18th, 2021

Here’s what the media had to say about Cecilia at today’s event:

❝ I kinda miss surfing. I’m looking at spots I could reach by train. Do you want to help ? ❞ ( @caecusheir​ )

     “Surfing?” Cecilia repeated and then shrugged. “Um, sure? I’m not sure where to start, but I can try to help.”

     Cecilia hadn’t talked to anyone in a long time. It felt weird, being fully back and indulged, again, in the whirlwind of the world. Almost an uncomfortable feeling, but she ignored it. She sent her sister an invitation, apple spice scented, to join her for lunch. It was in a more secluded place, where not many would see them together and risk their privacy and safety. “Hey,” Cecilia said when she saw Natalia, standing up and greeting her with a warm smile and hug. “I think it’s needless to say we have a lot to catch up on. How are you?”

       “ if only they could be so lucky, ” he joked. raymund didn’t know if he would able to actually live the life of a prince - even if it was only a title he got through marriage. maybe if there was very little possibly of his spouse actually having to be crowned. “ is getting a country a political reason? i guess it is, ” he muttered, answering his own question. “ whenever you’re ready reid. i mean, i’m not sure you can keep up with me anymore. ”

     “I’m sure they’d be thrilled.” Cecilia wondered how Raymung would manage. How he would react, learning the secret history of a new country that wasn’t ihs own but now was something he’d have to care for. “Is that a serious question? Of course it is. All countries care about is politics. It’s a power thing.” She was almost surprised at his question. “Keep up with you? If I remember correctly, I was the one planning to streak across the yacht full of royals and politicians, not you.”

“So the woman fixing her hair by the bar is your mother?” Antonia could have sworn the woman had had her hands in her hair for a good portion of a quarter hour. “I wasn’t aware she was invited.” It was her own fault for not doing more than eyeing the guest list before approving it. “Is she a suspect?” How unexpected. Antonia couldn’t have even imagined the case having more than just a few suspects. She had expected people to have good alibies, the kind that are difficult to prove false. ( @caecusheir​ )

      “Yes, she is unfortunately my mother,” she answered. Cecilia looked over at her mother, watching her fix her hair with no reflection. Her mother had always been focused on looks and repuation. Not a single strand out of place was a common thing said to Cecilia when she was younger. By instinct, she brought her hands to her hair, combing through her hair with her fingers to make it look neat.  “I didn’t invite her, so you’re just as shocked as I am.” She shrugged, fingers tapping lightly on her glass. “I saw she was questioned, so she probably is. I know she has a very strong hate for our father.” She turned back to her older sister as she took a sip of her drink. “How are you? With...everything.”

all he could offer her enthusiasm was silent judgement. perhaps they really were so unalike that he couldn’t fully engage herself in her mood. only natalia would understand, it seemed; only those who considered this their home would find offense and bitterness and shame in the way everyone pranced around the remains of their family’s reputation. “..riiiiight,” he finally replied with a nod, before looking around for another drink. “look, i’m not nearly drunk enough for this, but we’ll get one together and you can tell me your ideas for my new alias, alright?”

     Cecilia rolled her eyes at him, wanting to smack him upside the head and tell him to have just some sort of emotional weak moment. But she wasn’t going to, and instead just let out a sigh as she finished her drink. “Agreed,” she mumbled. If Art was going to sulk all night, she had no problem at least getting him to drunkenly sulk. She started walking towards the bar, assuming he was following after. “Here’s a couple alias ideas: Arthole, Asshole, Dick, King Dick, King Asshole, He Who Shows No Emotion.” They were jokes--mostly. “Oh! And Grumpier Cat. What do you think?”

“ GOOD ONES. that’s a tall order, don’t you know. “ a smile whispered on her face. “ i can show you a few things … ” after a few seconds they were able to thin out the crowd, until there were only the occasional bouts of people. “ AH, i have a funny story. i used to take my music lessons here. on that piano – “ she pointed at the grand piano, now velvet roped, “ and i think i caught a stomach bug one day and just threw up all over my tutor and her chair … i mean it was a mess. i think the palace historian wanted my HEAD. they had just reupholstered the chairs, or something.  and i swear they had it clean before they even got me a doctor ! ”

     “Careful saying tall. In Starbucks language, that’s very short,” she joked. She followed after her sister, weaving through the crowd, avoiding and dismissing anyone trying to talk to them about anything. She glance over at the piano, eyebrow raised as she wondered what fun stories could come from piano lessons. Was it going to be funny or one that was more sentimental? Her explosion of laughter answered her question and she covered her mouth to not encourage anyone else to walk over. “That’s--oh my god. I’m sorry, that’s hilarious,” she chuckled. “Unfortunate for your tutor and that you had a stomach bug. But still funny. Did your tutor ever come back or did they have to replace her?”

ohrcymund:

       “ okay, i know this is serious, ” raymund started, looking over his shoulded before continuing on, “ but i feel like he will not be missed by many people. ” { @hshqstarters​ }

her eyebrows practically hit her hairline. “hey dude,” she began, her voice low. her fingers were trembling around a whiskey tumbler. “i have a really neat suggestion: maybe try reading a fucking room.”

       Cecilia was holding back her tears, blinking them away and letting out slow and shaky breaths to keep her from breaking down into tears. She swallowed thickly as she glanced over at the two talking, not surprised that it was Raymund who said the dumb thing and was immediately corrected by someone. “You’ll have to excuse him.” she started and took another deep breath. “He knows how to be a comedic relief, but doesn’t know his queue.”

he was too tired to be appalled by the fact that she kept tabs on the things she had paid for him. salads did not cost enough for it to be necessary. he let out a low hum and turned his head to loo at her. he really knew nothing about her. “ is antonia really making people pay for their drinks at a party ? ” she was the second person to imply so. antonia had attended enough events at the palace to know it was not the way things were done ! even someone like her would stop counting pennies when there was a party to plan. a laugh escaped him and he shook his head. “ i don’t think i’ll be going to jail. we’ll wait and see what the verdict is, and then if i don’t like it enough, i’ll simply appeal, make it into a five-year-long legal proceeding… repeat it until the day i die. ” he waved his hand. “ it’s why i have lawyers. you don’t need to be worried about my future. yours is much more uncertain. ”

     Cecilia blinked. “It was a joke. I know you’re old and probably going blind, but if you looked around, not a single person has pulled their wallet out. Like not even to bribe anyone, it’s really weird.” Maybe he was joking too and she completely missed the joke and decided that calling her father old and blind was the way to go. Waving the bartender over, she ordered a jack and coke. Maybe it was some odd sense of wanting to impress her father with her choice of drink because on the inside, she really wanted a strawberry daiquiri or a cosmopolitan. She’d have to settle with ordering it after finishing this drink. “Is there a verdict with an outcome that you’d like? My second statement still stands, lots of people aren’t in your fanclub. There’s definitelly going to be someone who will do anyting to keep you from--well, having any power.” Cecilia didn’t know all of the details but she knew how things worked. She heard all the talk that went around when people didn’t think she was listening. “Mine may be uncertain to you and others, but I already know what I’ll do if the Windsor family is no more. So don’t worry about having to play curious or concerned. I’ve got it figured out.”

all he could offer was the bitter upturn of his lips, which disappeared just as quickly as it had surfaced. then she told him about her mother, as if it made them similar in any way. he appreciated the fruitless attempt to sympathise, but sympathy never got anyone anywhere, which was why he didn’t refute her claim. “all because my mother’s family has a conscience. this one, though?” he scoffed again. “some great evils don’t stay dead, as much as you celebrate it when it falls. and when this family falls apart, i wouldn’t blame you if you walked away. it’s what i should’ve done. except i can’t, because of this stupid name…and, i suppose, even after all this time, i’m still hoping for his approval. it’s silly.” he motions for a server to return, wanting a drink of his own after that. “i don’t even think he considered me his son, ever. i suppose that’s sad enough, if you think about it.” he shrugged, and added, “but i don’t. i’m just embarrassed to have his name attached to me.”

     Not even a ‘thanks for sharing!’ or a sarcasitc comment in response to what she said same from Art, and it almost bothered Cecilia a little bit. She made a note to herself, to maybe think about it before opening up to him even just the slighest. “If I walk away? I wouldn’t have much of a choice.” The end of their family would be belittled to nothing but a ticket back to Canda. She sipped her drink as she listened to her brother. Were these the drunk, depressing confessionals that she was expecting to get much, much later or never? She wanted to make a joke about his daddy issues showing and warning him that he was showing some sort of emotion. But she didn’t want to ruin this one chance of ever seeing Art be somewhat vulnerable with his emotions. “I’m sure he considers you his son. Our father is just a huge textbook fucking narcissist  and doesn’t show any emotion if he doesn’t have to.” Not that she’s known him long enough, but she knows her words are pretty close to accurate. “Why don’t you start by going by another name? An alias. It’ll make you seem like a spy, like James Bond!”