— paper rings

Juliette waved off her sister’s question. “ I don’t keep an inventory of your closet. I will take that one of your hands, though. ” Reaching forward, she sifted the fabric through her fingertips, pleased with the newest addition to her own closet. “ Black is a classic, but I’m sure you’re right. How dare anyone envision you as elegant or timeless ? ” she teased as she sat up. “ How much do you have left to go through ? ”

"Go ahead and enjoy it.” Letting her sister take the dress without a second thought. She didn’t mind that they shared clothes; she always considered her closet open to everyone. “Black is classic, but it’s you— not me. Plus white can be just as elegant and timeless as long as you have the right shade of white.” She pointed out. “I still have about two racks. Do you want to help me with this or should we just break and go get brunch?”

who: @celestedeniz​ where: a cafe in notting hill when: late morning, sunday

“I know the Paris metro system by heart, and I still got lost coming here,” Adeline huffed as she pulled out the seat across from Celeste. Sure, she could’ve called a driver, or an uber, but no, she’d wanted to take the long route and see the city. And now she was late. Adeline hated being late. Just another downside of London, she figured. Moving to a new city where she hardly knew anyone outside of her husband had Adeline calling up all the acquaintances and somewhat-friends she’d made at a lifetime of high society events, desperate for something to do. Luckily for her, Celeste had agreed to brunch - a start, at least.  “So, what’s good here? I’m dying for a decent meal,” she said, glancing up from her menu with a smile that quickly turned into an exaggerated pout. “And by here, I mean London in general, too. Oh, please tell me the best parts of living here so I dread it a little less.”

"It happens.” Celeste tried to reassure her with a smile. “You know if you don’t want to take the metro system I can alway arrange for a car to come get you. I mean you shouldn’t have to take the metro.” She couldn’t even recall the last time she’d taken the met. David just drove her and Juliette around, she never thought twice about it. “I mean it’s a cafe so don’t expect the best meal of your life.” Bracing her with realistic expectations of what she was going to eat. “Although the chicken cesar salad here is divine. Honestly most of their salads are.” Not even opening her menu as she thought back to some of her favorites. “Oh well there’s tons of amazing things about living in London. Although before I get into them, how about we get into why you’re dreading being here so much? I mean it’s London. This city is amazing and you should embrace that.” 

“Well, I might not be British, but this is the only store I have, so I’m kind of local too?” The blonde joked. “All my models are exclusive, I tend to not keep them similar to one I already produced, so hopefully I can work on something for you.” Sam honestly said. “Hmm okay, would you like to check some of the models we have in the store just for you to have a feel of things before we dive into something more personal to you?”

At Sam’s comment Celeste stayed stone faced, she didn’t know how to reply to Sam’s words especially since she wasn’t actually a local. “Okay. If you only do exclusive models then I’m going to pass at looking at your stuff. I don’t want to fall in love with any piece than not be able to have it.” She admitted to her. “I think we should pass on that. Maybe instead I can show you some things I like and we can work off of that? Or honestly I just can tell you the style and color of things I like? Might help out?” She counter offered.

“Not bad, just not fun - but let’s be honest, Celeste, have they ever?” Savannah asked as she folded her laundry. For a moment, her brow furrowed and then she nodded, “Right, my paper. Thankfully, yeah,” she said, throwing open her closet and rummaging around to avoid looking at her sister. “Celeste, I didn’t go to socialize. I went because you wanted me to, so I stayed my two hours and went on my merry way.” She looked from behind the closet door, “Really? Yeah! it could be fun!”

"I mean I thought this one was fun. Plus, they can be fun, but you just have to be at them with the right person.” She pointed out. “So there wasn’t really a paper?” She questioned once more. “So? At least you went out of the house? I mean that’s half the battle most of the time. I’m okay with you going for two hours.” Nodding her head with a smile. “Yeah, it might be nice to do something that’s more you than well everyone else. Plus it’s been a while since we were out together. I love being out with you anyways.” 

Location: Heart of London Time: Night time.  Tagged: @londoncitystarters​

“No! You’re being absolutely rude right now and for the fourth time I am asking you to leave!” How badly she regretted insisting walking back home on her own. it would just be a walk to the bus stop, I’ll be fine! She told her friends, but she’d missed the last bus and her father didn’t pick up, so he most likely was still at work. So she had to walk all the way home. This guy however hadn’t gotten the memo where she told him, repeatedly, to leave her be. Even when she told him she wasn’t even into guys, it only made him more aggressive. “Please get out of my way.” 

Celeste had been on her way home from a night on the town when she spotted a woman clearly being harassed by a man. It was something inside of her that snapped at the site, she leaped into protective mode. “Hey, hun I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Putting herself in between the two before he could get more aggressive. “I have the car waiting over there. We should go.” She told her before pulling out a can of mace. “Unless you have an objects to it sir?” She asked as she turned with the mace in her hand. As the man took a step back Celeste smiled. “Thought so.” She remarked, but didn’t dare put it away. “Come on hun the car is waiting.” She told her as she extended her arm out to the woman.

Fingers flew across her screen, determined to get the text about a last minute change of location sent despite the persistent ‘low battery’ warning that kept flashing up. “Just two more seconds.” Pleading whisper was given to her phone but it was either deaf to her pleas or chose to ignore them, the screen going black midway through her text to Félix. “Shit.” Putting her phone down on the bar with an indignant huff, gaze quickly lifted from the glare she was giving the object to glance around in search of someone who might be able to help. Eventually she turned her most winning smile onto the person nearest to her. “I know this might be hard to believe when I look so tech savvy but I’ve managed to let my phone die.” Self deprecating sarcasm dripped from her words in the hope that it would soften them to her request even just a little. “Would I able to use yours to let my fiance know there’s been a change of plans? I’ll buy you a drink for the trouble.”

Celeste stood at the bar waiting on her drink when she heard a voice next to her, she smiled at the familiar face. Giving a soft laugh at her words before she nodded. “Sure, I’m just more impressed that you remember his number off hand.” She told her as she handed over her cellphone, she made sure it was unlocked. “It’s okay I’ll pass on the drink considering I’m waiting on one, but you look like you could use one. Want to order something and drink while we wait for you fiance to text you back?”

Sam was excited to see what Celeste would come up with after the girl won one of her dresses in the auction. Cleaning her schedule to work on an appointment with the woman wasn’t a very easy task, but she was glad they managed to work something together. “Hello, Celeste.” The blonde gritted the other, a warm smile on her face. “No, no. You are just in time. I was thinking you could tell me what you would be looking for and we can work from there? I don’t know how familiar with my work you are, but I can show you some models and sketches for you to have an idea if you would prefer.”

"Hey Sam,” She greeted once more. “Awesome, glad to know that I’m not too late.” She was thankful that this appointment still held. “Oh well that works. I mean I have a couple upcoming events, but nothing that is too special.” She remarked honestly. “I’ll be honest I’m not as familiar as I would like. I try to mostly support British designers and smaller shops.” While she did have stuff from higher end designers, she did make it her goal to try and support local designers as much as she could. “I’ll gladly take a look at the models and sketches? This way we can plan something together?” She offered. “As long as it’s not black though I’m pretty much open to anything.” 

It was almost as if it happened in slow motion. Dodger was typically such a well behaved dog. But she saw the deep, muddy puddle and her irish setter making a bee line for it. Her hand covered her mouth as he barred through the onslaught of water, straight to the person the other side. “Dodger,” she hollered just as he coated them in a thick spray of mud, water and paw prints. “Oh my god,” she muttered under her voice, rushing around and to them. “I am so sorry–– she loves puddles and people and i…” she trailed off, at a loss of words as she took in their now brown streaked appearance. “I can pay for it to be dry cleaned?” she offered, Dodger sat in front of them with a wagging tail and cocked head.

Celeste had been on her way home from her latest meeting when she came in contact with the unfortunate interaction of mud. Looking over at the dog who was happily splashing around, continued to cover her legs and white skirt with mud. It was in situations like this that Celeste couldn’t help but laugh. Plus the dog was rather cute, so it made forgiving them easy. “It’s okay.” Celeste waved off the notion of the woman paying for dry cleaning. “I’ll have my driver take them and they’ll be fine.” She promised. “At least someone is having fun in the aftermath of all this rain.” Giving a wink to the puppy. “I’m Celeste.” She told her as she extended her hand with a smile. 

Atlas smiled at the familiar woman, letting out a small breath before he answered her question. “Well, the one I’m currently working on is a brand new book. However, I am in works with the publishers to get my second book out.” He replied, closing his screen to see her better. “However, you still have a bit before they’ll be calling you for any book launches. Unless, they get it rolled out faster than I’m thinking.” 

"Really now? What is this one about?” Raising an eyebrow at his words, she was curious to know what this book would be about. “That’s okay I still have plenty of parties to plan in the mean time. Plus it’s almost spring which means wedding season.” Waving a hand to let him know it was okay, she still had plenty of work to keep her busy. “I mean I don’t think they can roll it out any faster. After all it has to be written first.” She pointed out with a laugh. “How far from being done are you?”

Juliette’s gaze slowly rose from her book as she lounged on her sister’s bed. This was helping, just… from a distance. Celeste was capable of lugging her own clothes around. Her eyes narrowed, inspecting the fabric. “ Mm… is that the one with gaudy buttons down the back or the one with the corset-style backing ? ”

Celeste continued to star at her sister while she waited for an answer to her question. “Gaudy buttons?” She questioned, she turned the dress around to see that it was a corset style backing. “What dress do I have that has gaudy buttons?” She continued before tossing the dress on the bed, she walked over to her closet to search for the outfit. “I’m not feeling the black anyways. It’s too dark. Plus I don’t want mistaken for you.” 

Atlas was sitting in one of the local coffee shops, typing away on his computer, working on his next novel. A small sip from the cup next to him gave him a little energy to keep typing and progressing through the story. He had several windows and tabs opened on the computer, making notes and changing things wherever they were needed. Part of him knew that he should’ve been getting ready for the interviews he had lined up all day tomorrow, but he honestly just wanted to write. He finally was getting passed this writers block he had been writing, and knew he would need to take advantage of the break while he could. With his brain lost in the work he was doing, he didn’t give much notice to someone standing at the table in which he was sitting. Looking up finally, he paused before speaking. “I’m sorry, um, did you say something? I’m not even going to pretend, I honestly wasn’t listening.” 

“I was just asking how the book was coming along.” Celeste repeated once more, she sat down across from him. Holding her coffee cup in her hands, she tapped the sides of it softly. “Are you working on a sequel or is this a brand new book?” She questioned. “I’m just wondering if I should get ready for a new book launch.” She teased. 

“I’m one of the best god damn neurosurgeons in this country and he had the audacity to tell me I only got here because of my fathers name?!” Elyse exclaimed, and if looks could kill.  An important and well known patient  had asked for another surgeon simply because she was a woman, and when she had told him while it was his decision to make, that she had a record in the hospital. That’s when he told her he knew her and her family, and that she wouldn’t have gotten as far as she had without her father and his name. “Fuck” she says, finishing off the rest of her gin and tonic, and sighing “I need another drink, and keep them coming, please” she says, tapping her fingers on the  bar top anxiously. 

Celeste sat there listening to the blonde go on about the man who accused her of only getting here cause of her fathers name, it was one thing she easily understood. People assumed she got to the point where she was because of her dad, but in reality she’d tried to make sure they were as far apart as possible. “Sounds like it’s been a very long day.” She commented finally. “I’ve got the next round for us.” She told the bartender, she handed her card over to her. “What are you wanting this time?”

“Nice swing out there.” Celeste complimented as she took a drink from her water bottle and made her way towards her car. She’d spent the last hour and a half in an intense game of tennis with her father, but the game that was next to them had been far more interesting. “You’re Lexa, right?” She asked curiously. She could vaguely remember seeing the woman on TV. “I vaguely remember seeing you on my TV.” She admitted softly. 

“So was the party honestly that bad?” Celeste asked as she laid back on Savannah’s bed and looked over at her. “Plus you still got your paper done so that has to be a bonus.” She pointed out with a soft chuckle. “Did you at least see or meet anyone interesting?” She questioned. She was hoping that her sister at least had somewhat of an enjoyable time at her party and it wasn’t all a bust. “You know if you prefer maybe we can go to a gay club this week? We can maybe get some drinks and hang out more in your scene?” She offered with a smile. 

“What do you think of this one? Should I keep it or toss it?” She asked as she continued to reorganize her closet. This way she could make room for the new things she’d plan on buying and restocking in her closet. Mostly so she wasn’t repeating too many outfits. “If you want it you can have it? Although I’ve been spotted wearing it like five times already. Someone might confuse us for twins.” She told her jokingly. 

Celeste had always loved a good outfit or two, so it wasn’t a surprise when she was willing to drop a pretty penny on a custom outfit. Walking into the office of the blonde, she smiled at her assistant on the way. “Hello Samantha,” She greeted. “I hope I’m not too early for our appointment.” While she knew that she was a bit earlier she didn’t think she was too early for it to matter. “So do you have any ideas for this surprise outfit?”