DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

“I- think they’re doing their best.” she settled on after a few seconds of silence. No. She thought to herself. But that wasn’t the end goal. “I suppose they believe if not good they’re not doing damage either. And their options are limited. I’m fine, thank you for the concern. Please direct your thoughts and prayers to Salvatore and his family right now.” @vslvano

“Probably how much I talk. I’ve been told I talk to much - and most people who’ve never meet me kinda imagine shy girl locked in a tower or something. Other than that what you see is kinda all you’re ever going to get. If we’ve talked I don’t see anything ever surprising you about me. I’m extremely un-mysterious.”

“ shouldn’t you be looking much much sadder ? if my fiancé had gotten shot, i’d be looking very devastated. i mean, i’d have the decency to pretend that i’m devastated. ” ( @cmiray​ )

“ my empiric study finally reached a conclusion. i don’t like to make assumptions, ” nike mused with a shrug. her hands touched the sides of her face, gently adjusting the black accessory. “ yes ! you have sharp eyes. some poor design student made it for me. i would have gotten it for free if i had wanted. apparently the pictures will be such good advertisement for her. ” and the bragging rights were priceless. “ it’s surprisingly light, i’d let you try it on if it weren’t sown into my hair. ” 

“ — as if matters. “ he mumbles mid taking the last gulp of his champagne. gabriel’s gaze still starting the unfolding scene of bodies moving through the room, some of them already a blur to him. “ we are speaking of every single important family in the world, well, some better than others, but all with second agendas. this could easily turn into a real board of a war game. ”

“Bit of a pessimist aren’t you?” she commented no longer being able to help herself. It wasn’t like this party was in itself any different to any other moment in their lives. As public figures they were all at the hands of faith and their people love. She found it more likely a country revolt that the world itself. “ah yes, of course.” If you were mad, it could almost make sense. Sure there had already been a fist fight at the ball - and her brother had been involved in one not long ago either. But those were personal matters. War was a thing important commanded. Not took part in. “are you planning on taking part?” she wondered. She might as well amuse herself as long as she was here.

“ second cousin, ” he confirmed. with a glance to his right he noticed how nervous miray looked, and for the first time that day he felt like he’d made the right decision in going to pick up miray from the hotel himself instead of sending a car. “ they’re not worth worrying over, ” sav said, angling his own body towards hers. “ i mean, they’re nice, nobody is going to be unkind to you. and you’re friends with my sister, aren’t you ? luci, not noe. ” he vaguely remembered luci mentioning meeting her, or talking to her. “ they combine into one for me too. but i’ll introduce you to everyone, and i won’t hold it against you if you don’t remember their names. and dani will be on your side, the gift he’s getting is from the both of us, and it’s exactly what he told me he wanted. ” 

*   @cmiray   .   ⤿   𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐄   𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐋   .

            ❛      miray   ,   isn’t   it      ?      ❜      there   was   a   smile   on   his   lips   as   he   approached   his   brother’s   betrothed   ,   the   new   addition   to   her   ring   finger   glittered   noticeably   under   the   lights   .   he   was   certain   he   didn’t   see   the   ring   the   first   time   they   met   ,      &      he   recognised   it   from   the   family’s   collection   of   jewels   .   salvatore   had   been   busy   .      ❛      i   hope   you’re   not   feeling   overwhelmed   already   by   the   amount   of   us   .   or   how   loud   we   are   ,   for   that   matter   .   have   you   enjoyed   your   stay      ?      ❜

Miray nodded at the man a smile easily on his face. She had no real idea who she was speaking with. From the voice she could tell he was likely Salvatore’s family - but she’d met so many this week alone. And the masks did nothing in her favor. She would simply have to play along. Smile and answer and hope nothing would come up later on “Hi. It’s a beautiful party.” She looked around the room at the words and let out a small laugh “It takes a bit of getting used to I won’t lie. But I can’t say my extended family is in a lot smaller. But yes thank you. Lovely country.”

26/07 - Rome, Italy

“Here,” Aslan said, handing Miray her gelato and sitting next to her. He had offered to take her to get gelato as a peace offering and he could only wait and see if it would work. After a moment he said, “So, we have a free day. What do you want to do? I mean, is there something you want to see?” @cmiray​

“Hello, Ms. Osmanoglu.” Once she heard the name of companion, Stefania returned the smile that she was given. “That’s a beautiful name, and the pleasure is all mine.” Due to how big her family is, meeting the fiance of a relative was something she has gotten used to and sometimes, said fiance did give her a good first impression. Fortunately, she cannot say that about the young Turkish princess. “I actually wanted to speak with you. Off the record, how are you holding up?”

“Esmeray or Miray is fine please.” she commented. She keep her smile neatly on her face until the question. It feel only for a second - Why was she alone here. Why had Salvatore left her alone here. Where was he. They’d agreed on a couple of pleasantries and then moving on. “I’m good your majesty. Thank you. May i ask - why?”

“ you like colors ! ” she ran her fingers along miray’s upper arm, the blue fabric smooth beneath her fingers. “ it’s pretty. especially the headpiece. ” she twirled the white wine inside her glass as she assessed the other’s outfit. “ very very pretty. ” ( @cmiray​ )

The conversation she’d had with Miray had indeed strike a nerve, but the exchanged words weren’t the sole reason for Layla’s lack of enthusiasm. Just the thought of having to publicly support Italy by being in attendance was gut-wrenching. An apology was unexpected — while Layla had been deflated after the conversation, resentment didn’t exist toward the Turkish princess. “Miray, you do not have to feel bad, really. I should not be meddling in your personal life anyway, I just… I want to help you any way I can.” She wasn’t sure which interaction was more difficult to have, this one or the previous one. At least during the latter, she held some confidence. Too many emotions were coming up at once now, fingers fumbling together and breath quickening — then, she blurted, “I do not want you to end up like me.”

open to ; anyone | savoy masquerade ball, 2020

“here’s a thought… if someone wants to abolish the monarchy systems, this would be the perfect time and place.” he confessed, perhaps it was the previous drinks installing in his system that gave the nerve to spoke such thing out loud. “i don’t understand why to make such an event so public. everyone is here, literally, everyone.” @hshqstarters​

Miray’s eyes widened as she took a sip of her drink - just coke but at least while she drank she didn’t have to answer. She simply nodded at him “Yeah - I guess.” She settled on. She had only been trying to meet everyone in Salvatore’s family like she was supposed to. She had expected to be in awkward conversations with some of the older relatives - not. God what was his name. She already forgot. “I suppose it’s good that we all brought security.”