escteric

    one could think he'd had enough of those conversations in the mere weeks since their wedding to expect always them. but he didn't this once, and maybe it was because he assumed anneli of all people could see things from lenya's perspective considering her marriage with alexei. “ as much as i would trust any foreigner in her place. ”

" even you don't believe that, " anneli challenged flatly. " loyalty makes it extremely difficult to put another country first. if she was from the americas or africa the conflict of interest would be nearly nonexistent. i just worry she'll behave so well that you'll forget to question her opinion and her reasoning. she won't be even able to help it if she ends up in a situation where it's either or. "

Elizabeth Debicki in Dior Couture at the Olivier Awards in London on April 6, 2025.

" zero. in fact, i'd even say i'm in the negatives... as in i'm making positive impact. have you heard about my run club? " jean smiled smugly, it wasn't often he could defy his sister's expectations like this. though their standards of what constituted as 'damage' may differ, and he knew far too well that nothing went past her. his smile faltered. " i may have had a bit of a dramatic public encounter with suvi... and it's come to my attention that i may have brought an inappropriate plus one to a wedding... and i totaled a golf cart the day i arrived but don't worry - no witnesses. "

" a run club ? " the speed at which the temperature of her blood went from regular to boiling was irrational. this was an insignificant fact, it should have born no difference to her, and yet... even the lightness of his tone irritated her. " ah i see — and you think these things are something a man in his 30s does ? " of course suvi was around. it meant jean's head was even emptier than normally. all coherent thoughts muddled because of the woman's presence. " who did you bring ? " gosh ! she didn't even want to know. she dreaded the answer but it was like a train crash: impossible to ignore. " please don't tell me it was an influencer. "

    “ morning, mother ! viscount , fancy seeing you here. moving back in ? ” the words came out as soon as bernard entered the manor to find beatrice and barron ― always making a point to call his brother by every other noble title than the one he'd been named after. speaking of nobility... “ is father home ? her majesty has sent another dinner invitation to the marquess, namely. ” he handed his mother the envelope while speaking, noticing her reading glasses were nowhere in sight. “ here, take mine. ” — @escteric & @aristocracics ( @sirenoire bring bradford back )

" all these invitations... " her social calendar was too full for a 64-year-old. she was supposed to be golfing and having wine with old friends. her hand searched for her reading glasses that she had expected to find on top of her head. instead of touching the metal rim, her fingers brushed the air above her head. " for god's sake... " with an annoyed huff, she accepted the glasses from him. " thank you, darling. " the glasses sat on top of her nose poorly and barely improved her vision. just enough to make reading somewhat possible with squinted eyes. " does either of you have any interest in attending ? it's an invitation for two. fortie has one of his... i do not even know what it is. a squash tournament ? a bridge night ? someone needs to accompany me. " which one would it be: the man whose only saving grace was the charm that hid his worse qualities but had not saved him from an unadorned ring finger, or the boy who had too boldly skipped too many steps and was now responsible for a child ? either way she needed them to meet some nice suitable women sooner rather than later. [ @aristocracics ]

" if you were the heir or the monarch, would you arrange your siblings? — or would you give them free will. " ( @escteric )

" that is insane. " would she be detained if she reached over the dinner table and flicked her finger against the crown princess's temple ? " you can try convincing them if there's a good candidate but you'll shoot yourself in the foot if you try to strip them of autonomy. it always plays out badly. the messes i've seen have convinced me to be an anti-arrangement woman. the only exception is when it's been proven that the person has the worst taste in men. then it's a protective action and acceptable. " she swirled the wine in her glass. she did not want to entertain gianna's delusions but she was a naturally curious person... " which one would you set up and with whom ? "

" is there a way for you to opt me out of these shareholder meeting notifications? this shit is blowing up my phone, feyza. " ( @escteric )

" you could sell your shares. " he needed to quit whining. half of those messages had been from her !

" for the last time , i don't need an appointment . i'm your boss' sister , " aysel yelled as she walked past the assistant's table not even sparing her a glance . the entire office stopped as she walked past them . older keskin pushed heavy glass doors of her sister's office , lifting sunglasses over chestnut tresses . " is that one new ? i'd fire her if i were you . " pointing at the assistant . " competent staff is so hard to get these days . " tossing her coat on the coach , aysel finally erased the annoyed expression and put a wide grin . " how is my favorite sibling ? " // @escteric

" aysel ! " feyza hissed worriedly. her voice was too weak to convince anyone. let alone aysel, that they were being reprimanded. feyza was not delusional in that sense: she was incapable of even trying to reign in her sister. if her parents had failed, she really had no chance. " she's a good one. she's like never on her phone. i swear half of the people here spend half of their work hours scrolling photograpp-h. " to be fair, they had spent a lot of time and energy on making it as addictive as possible... but knowing that, her employees should have been more in control of their screen time ! " if i get hit with some lawsuit because of you, i am making you pay everything. like everything. besides, i'm trying like super hard to be the cool boss. i want to be liked. " the story of her life ! " okay so, actually it's a good thing you're here. " a second passed as she processed her own words. " i mean. it's always good. for you to be here. i like you. " she was starting to sound suspicious — it was time to change the subject, stop the flood from becoming a tsunami. " i mean, you have an impeccable timing. halston cinemas are holding some big party for some new movie. lots of a-listers coming. " lots was probably an exaggeration. " i need a plus one. i do not do well at those events when i'm solo. " she needed someone to keep her grounded. " are you up for it ? it's uhm... it's tonight. "

" oh my god — " she rushes to stand in front of aurel, arms spread out as if it would reverse whatever her mother just saw. " shut up! " she says between clenched teeth as aurel shouts for orange juice. " um! uh! " her mind was racing for something to say — this is worse than when aurel saw her jaurel tattoo! " mama! i — yes! we need orange juice! can you get some orange juice for ... us! " her voice is unusually high pitched. ( @opvline )

she blinks at them both, her eyes moving from the towel, to the shade of pink that colours both of their cheeks. she doesn't look away – why should she be embarrassed ? this is her house after all ! " orange juice, " she repeats, lightly, but her tone carries much weight. " so that's what we're leading with. " an assessing gaze lingers on aurel, disbelief tugging at her brow in the slightest. " i had imagined, when i finally met the prince of germany, it would be under rather... different circumstances. " she turns to araya, voice firm, " darling, if you value this young man then introduce him to me properly. not like this. whether you realise it or not, you are teaching people how to treat you, and you were not raised to invite disrespect. " then, she lifts her voice towards the hall. " claudine, would you be so kind as to bring us some orange juice ? our guest is thirsty. "

with newfound confidence, aurel swaggered back into the living room. he offered a hand for a shake, and was glad to note that it didn't wobble. " aurel. nice to meet you finally. " what did one say in these situations ? what had araya talked about with his parents ? his mind was blank. this was way worse than all the times he had had wiebke breathing down his neck in meetings. " i really did not mean to ruin your morning. " [ @sirenoire ]

THROWBACK  :  "  you're  really  here  ,  "  the  smile  on  amalia's  face  grew  by  the  second  ,  slender  fingers  wrap  around  lover's  bicep  .  she  could  not  believe  that  he  was  really  here  ,  still  in  a  daze  —  it  was  like  a  dream  .  if  it  were  ,  she  never  wanted  to  wake  up  .  the  past  few  weeks  have  been  brutal  on  amalia  and  seeing  tyoma  for  the  first  time  in  —  she  couldn't  even  remember  when  the  last  time  she  saw  him  in  person  was  —  made  her  forget  about  everything  around  her  .  "  i  thought  you  couldn't  fly  out  until  next  month  !  how  did  ...  why  did  ...  you're  really  here  ...  is  it  my  birthday  ?  " // @escteric

hearing the joyful note in her voice, seeing the brightness of her sunny smile, and feeling the gentle warmth of her touch made him feel like a complete fool. fool for having feared that she would greet him with polite indifference. fool for having thought that she had begun to slip away. fool for having imagined disdain and pity on her face. the delusions were wiped away by the firmness and clarity of her affection. he pressed a gentle kiss on her lips, tempted to hold her lips captive just a while longer ( or for an eternity ). his arms wrapped around her. " i uh... i managed to do some rescheduling. " he had chosen to skip the exams. there would always be the retakes. he frowned and looked at her quizzically. it wasn't her birthday, right... ? that wasn't her being passive-aggressive, right... ? " i just wanted to see you. truthfully. " his face felt red admitting it. he could never shake off the feeling of embarrassment when admitting to a weakness. " i have to be back in five days but for those five days i'm all yours. "

D. A. Powell, from "Chronic"

milena's jaw tightened at the sharp dismissal. "understood." her voice went flat, professional. "i'll handle kozlov myself ." she stood there for a moment, clearly uncomfortable with the charged atmosphere between the two women but unwilling to simply flee. inna was proving far more difficult to win over than she'd ever anticipated. her hand found her stomach almost defensively, as she debated whether to push the issue or let it drop entirely. ( @escteric & @sirenoire )

did she not just say to let leon handle it? and her brother should know, tolerating to see milena as often as she does is already a favour in itself. to ask more from inna is humilating. he may choose to degrade himself to be involved with the romanov family, but she will not stoop to his level. the same could be applied to anneli, but she is not flesh and blood. " okay. " ( @escteric & @hcirlooms )

perhaps anneli's predicament wasn't all that different from everyone else's: it was difficult to fit in the family you had married into. yet, she still had no empathy to offer to milena. had milena been anyone else, having to face the coldness in inna's tone might have tugged at anneli's heart. but this was milena. milena who was so proud, it occasionally felt difficult to reach her eyes. milena whose kindest offering was the sincerity her dislike came with. " even if kozlov is unworthy of your attentions, " anneli's eyes moved between the two women. already irritated by the indifference and the egos. " his issue hardly is. " her eyes remained on milena just a beat longer than on inna. milena was known to play the long game, and even if she seemed very in love with leonid, was it possible that the whole truth had more facets than just that one ? " you can leave it resolved, rely on russia more. it certainly does not sadden kremlin. " milena had a reason or two to leave kozlov without attention, inna had no other excuse than selfishness. [ @hcirlooms + @sirenoire ]