build 'em up with worn-out tools

“Perhaps that is because you are looking for the most obvious sign of them. Intelligence doesn’t always mean you can solve an equation in under thirty seconds, nor does it mean the ability to translate fifty languages. We all find our own way.” Anastasia was by no means academic. She’d studied all she had to for her position but maths, the sciences, literature, it had never been for her. She’d been good at languages but they bored her… Her mind had lied with the arts, with persuasion and lies, with seduction and she had learned to respect that about herself now. “He is, a wonderful man and the most wonderful father too. He does his best by his children.” She missed her father deeply, and her mother, distance keeping them separated for years on end. Anya arched a brow, scepticism passing over her features. “Make it easy? My lady, I’ve never met a person of more gentle nature or amiable personality than you. How much easier could you make it?”

"everyone always places so much importance on the obvious, it seems that is all they care about"  the queens words struck a chord within ophélie, sure numbers bored her and even the simplest of equations was beyond her. books took her a while but her hand was neat and dainty. and in every country she had visited had she not been able to pick up the language in a matter of week? and could she not remember some still? yes, perhaps there was truth in what she was being told, perhaps she was not as simple as her father had always told her. yet still, despite all she had been told, all she had come to realise and how much she hated the man, she could not bring herself to completely give up the charade "i have been told i was not the most agreeable child, perhaps it was because of that"

“It is my duty to be as welcoming as i can, to be a good example to the people. I will not have the Netherlands becoming closed off to the rest of the world. But your compliment is most appreciated.” Phillipa was proud of her country, of the way they were coming back from such a harsh loss, and was glad it was being seen.

“and you appear to be doing a marvellous job of it your majesty, if your people are half as welcoming as yourself the netherlands must be a magnificent place” elif smiled with a polite bow of her head. “it must be hard to make a country thrive in the wake of war but i am sure you are the woman for it”

           ‘ as do i. it reminds me of home. ’ charlotte admitted softly, smoothing out her skirts as she surveyed the garden. not before long, she turned a kind smile onto the blonde as she bowed her head in greeting. ‘ – i do not believe that i caught your name, my apologies. ’

“where is home for you" ophélie asked with a curious tilt of her head, her genuine interest in the other clear. "i don't think i gave it"  she laughed, the sound light and polite "but i am ophélie hurault, my father" oh how she loathed speaking of him "is the marquis de vibraye"

“Oh, there are a great deal of things more important than I.” Margery replied with a slight laugh, blush rising on her cheeks. She took one of the lady’s hands in her own, leading her up to her chambers. She kept her living spaces immaculate, there was nothing that would cause the princess embarrassment, and she ushered Ophélie into a chair. “I’ll have tea sent for us.”

“well you must tell me of them, your highness” ophélie replied the flattery in her words genuine “for i do not know of any” she too was blushing now as the welsh princess lead her away, she could hardly believe that any one would willing spend time with her. sitting in the chair she couldn't help but smile “you are too kind” she added.

Angelina huffed a soft laugh, the corners of her lips turning up into a wry smile as she sipped from her own drink to hide the burgeoning amusement. “It’s like watching apes learn to talk.” She murmured, dark eyes pulled away from the sight to the woman beside her. “What is about us that suggest we are so useless I wonder…”

“a pretty face distracts simple minds it’s no wonder they lose their minds” she offered hiding a smirk behind a glass. “perhaps they think of beauty as fleeting and precious? any beauty they’ve ever seen must be long gone. so they see it as something that must be protected? and thus incapable of protect ts self” she rambled, unsure as to what she was saying but the words sounded good.

cosmos: what's one thing you wish you could say to someone you no longer speak to?

galaxies: what are three things you wish to do before you die?

waxing: what is your proudest accomplishment?

waning: what is your biggest regret?

full moon: what type of person do you hope to be?

contemplation: if you could wake up one morning and everything in your life was perfect, what would that look like?

night light: who/what makes you feel safe?

ponder: what do you want to do with your life?

sunset: who is someone you thought would be in your life forever, but you no longer speak to?

midnight: are you a different person late at night than in the early morning?

candle light: are you an indecisive person?

reflection: have you ever changed something you liked about yourself to satisfy someone else?

nightmare: what are you most afraid of?

constellations: who is someone you could talk to for hours and never stop?

reminder: who is someone you will never forget?

11-11: what's something you want, but feel like you will never have?

shooting star: who is someone you trust to help you make the right decisions?

earth: where do you feel most at home?

soothe: what's one thing that always makes you feel better when you're upset?

slumber: what's one thing that helps you fall asleep when it feels impossible?

“I have had many matches arranged for me over the course of my childhood, and they all fell through. Sometimes having things sorted early on does not always mean it will stick.” But then Megaira had purposefully ruined those very matches, always finding something she did not like. “Still, we will find them both good matches in time.” She hummed then, nodding once in agreement. “It’s a shame we’re taught to care at all about opinions that shouldn’t truly matter.”

“do you intend to worry me your highness” she laughed, bright and high, despite her worries. lord knows kacia would’d likely burn through as betrothals as the princess “young ones always find away to wriggle out of these things, your help will be in valuable in time” she nodded knowing not to press the issue. “it truly is, we’re made to care what every person may think and to place weight upon it when really it matters so very little. ”

“But lionesses also hunt in groups. A lion might not bow, but it does see the need to work together to obtain an easier lifestyle. The amount of food is compromised, but she could easily be killed by a water buffalo kick. So compromises for the greater good are not an uncommon thing in nature either.”

“the pride protects its own, as it should be, they do hunt together and eat together but thats because they are a pride. they do not take in wastrels and so the pride remains strong and unified. their is strength in numbers, you just must be careful as to who counts amongst them”

“Men do not think they can be soft. They do not believe one can be soft and strong, so they overcompensate and act like bulls in heat instead.” Anastasia replied in a dismissive wave before she sat in her plush armchair with a sigh, hands curling round the arms of her chair. She frowned then, arching a sharp brow, “I don’t believe that to be true. Not for a moment. We all possess smarts in our own way.” Anastasia could not help but watch the girl completely, noting every mannerism, from the way she held herself to the lines of her face. “Perhaps… Though my father had three daughters and knew what to do with us just fine. Does he treat you badly?” She questioned before gesturing one of her returning maids who had now delivered blankets closer, sending them off once more in search of a fresh pot of tea.

wide eyes watched the queen from ophélie’s perch on the sofa, the girl listening intently to every word the other blonde spoke. a soft polite laugh slipped from her lips at the others imagery, “it is a rare combination, your majesty, no wonder they think it mythical.” her smile retreating back into worry at the others frown. "i do believe my smarts to be of an insignificant nature then, certainly haven’t noticed them in any case” her cheeks growing rosy, was it the fire or the kind words?  "your father sounds a good man then, a good father" she offered envy burning within despite herself. "i- i believe he does treats me as well as he is able, your majesty, lord knows i never made it easy" she lied not wanting to sully her families name, an unmarried girl she was dependant on them.

the day has drawn itself out and Callista has been growing rather restless. Winter meant harsher temperatures, and while she is perfectly content with that, but there were more important matters to attend to. While her sister is absent, Callista had been entrusted with handling matters while they were separated, while she bore no ill-will towards her sister – there is obviously a rift.  Placing herself on one of the chairs in the common room,  the voice mad her eyebrows raise for a moment. The woman had a quiet presence. “my Queen” there is a bit of a foreign sound to it as she says it out loud, “is taking her role one day at a time. And I am doing my best to assist her. How are you and family faring during their time here?”

the cold weather did not effect elif as much as one would assume, raised and living almost exclusively in hot climates, yet she found herself strangely at home here in the swiss winter. though the palaces many fireplaces did help. polite eyes watched the young princess as she answered, she was hardly more than a child and the queen was barely older. “that is good to hear, we wouldn’t want her to loose her way” sweet little words punctuated with a sweet little smile “and my daughters are fairy very well, thank you”

[ closed starter. up to mun. @gvntls. ] 

     charlotte smiled as her fingers gently brushed against the rose petal. she held such admiration for the flowers that persisted to grow despite the bitter coldness that filled the air. glancing upward, she nodded kindly to the woman before her, releasing her careful touch as she stood up straight.

          ‘ the snow is melting. i believe the flowers will be in bloom very soon. ’

“oh that’ll be beautiful!” ophélie declared with a wistful smile. winter had been close when she had arrived and so she hadn’t been able to see many of it’s flowers. with spring on the horizon the gardens true beauty could be shown, the flowers in bloom and longer days. “i hope not too soon though, i do love the snow”