* ( & le royaume enchanté !

      AT that, she can’t help but laugh. ten year olds are definitely more enthusiastic than alec - in fact, most people are. “ well, i’m happy to work with what i’ve got here. ” although it’s clear alec is cold and closed off, the two of them have somehow always managed to get on just fine, even with their contrasting personalities. giselle is hopeful but not naive and passionate but not overly emotional. she can handle the coolness. in fact, sometimes she finds herself preferring it. “ you don’t? and here i thought you were ready to meet everyone? best friends forever and all that. ” she teases with a raise of her eyebrows, amused at even the thought of it. “ as capable as they all seem i’m finding myself sticking to the people i know and enjoy. ooh -- did i tell you my falcon, lady, has finally made it to the castle? i believe i told you about her last time we met.. you could see her, if you wanted. ”

      “ EXACTLY, see -- at least you understand the ramifications that come with crossing me. ” there’s an ironic little smile there - a private joke, even - but she continues on, much too excited at the prospect of an adventure. “ my ideas to tend to have an edge of genius. ” she looks around, eyebrows furrowing as she tries to muster up the best way for them to make their way down. it’s been too many days of cold stares and stiff silence, all giselle wants to do is stuff her face with pastries and see if there are any nice bookshops for her to explore. “ should we walk? i have no concept of how far these places are, exactly. but it’s cold ... ”

      “ i wish you the best with that, then. ” it’s not her place to debate maddox’s intentions, anyhow. especially if she plans on making sure his winning doesn’t happen. she keeps her expression and gaze even as he goes on to explain, quirking a brow when she’s met with a plethora of information she hadn’t anticipated. but she says nothing on it and instead gives a small smile, lips turning up just slightly in a way that’s more sympathetic than anything. “ you seem to be quite the passionate person, maddox. i think some of that comes from something beyond anger and lust -- but perhaps i’m getting ahead of myself. either way, everyone has their own motives for being here. i’m not going to judge yours. ” although she’s curious to see which angle he’s coming from, it’s not part of her plan right now to collect any intel. that comes later, once she wins the affection of the people that really matter. “ well, it’s no secret that i have a weakness for sweets. are you going to check it out, then? i think i might make myself sick if i wandered into such a place alone. ”

     when louisa admits to their love for apple strudel, giselle can’t help but smile a bit. that’s something most people can have in common: their love for different foods or sweets. “ i haven’t baked it myself before, actually, but i’m hoping some of the staff will be around to give me pointers. it tastes amazing fresh, i think. i could save you some, if it turns out well. ”

      IMMEDIATELY, she feels her skin start to thaw, aching just slightly from the stark change in temperature. although she’s used to the constant company of strangers, it’s relaxing to be with a familiar face -- someone she could trust, maybe. eventually. “ most definitely not. i’m glad we get some freedom here with that. in france i was locked up.. well, as much as they could keep me. i didn’t take to it too kindly, not when there was plenty to do. ” they’d tried to reason with her and forced her to take several precautions, but giselle knew the desperation they had for hands and help. there was no way to sit safe and comfortable with that weight on her shoulders. “ i’ll take that as a compliment. i would’ve grabbed a coat, of course, but my room’s the other direction and i was much too excited to see you. i’m sure you’ll make tons of friends. or at least a few -- some people here seem not too keen on the concept of friendship. wouldn’t take it personally, of course. ” her tone has dropped to something much more casual than she’s taken with everyone else so far, since she does consider iggy a friend. a good one, at that. “ just need to know your teas so you can know the right temperature and the perfect brewing time. practice, practice! ”

warmth.    66%    /    supportive, comforting. intellect.    82%    /    cerebral, analytical. emotional stability.    62%    /    level headed, calm. aggressiveness.   54%    /    controlling, tough. liveliness.   54%    /    wild, fun loving. dutifulness.    62%   /    conforming, traditional. social assertiveness.    86%    /    unhibited, bold.  sensitivity.     34%    /    coarse, tough. paranoia.    74% /   wary, suspicious. abstractness.    78%    /    strange, imaginative. introversion.   74%    / private, quiet. anxiety.    30%    /    confident, self-assured. open-mindedness.   50%    /    closed-minded, set-in-ways & curious, exploratory. independence.    58% /     loner, craves solitude. perfectionism.    70%    /    orderly, thorough. tension.    38%    /    relaxed, cool.

      “ IF i can get ten year olds into pointe shoes, i can teach you how to bake something. ” the insistence is adamant -- maybe they’d start fairly simple. a recipe that’s not so.. delicate, depending on what they had in the kitchens. although alec was known for being reclusive and maybe even a little mean at times, the two of them had always managed on friendly terms ( well, at least as friendly as he could be ). giselle shoots him a curious look, green eyes narrowing just slightly in contemplation. “ there’s a few i haven’t met yet. have you come across anyone new, then? anyone interesting? i’m sure some charmer is likely to come and put a crack in that broody shell of yours.  ”

      IN her life, giselle has learned to be suspicious of everyone. make friends, smile big, trust nobody. it’s a staple in their world and it’s one she sticks to, even if she makes it seem otherwise. but she sees no reason to openly treat someone like a suspect - what good could come from giving someone the opportunity to anticipate your next move? so she sticks to pleasantries and baking, meeting others and chatting over dinner; the only thing she doesn’t do is peel away her careful eyes, allow herself to forget that anyone here is capable of putting a knife in her back. “ they even let me go into the kitchen to bake with them. a good opportunity to practice my german -- it’s gotten a little rusty and i’ve never been perfect at it. i’m hoping this move will change that. as much as i want to say avoiding the drama is the best route, i’m sure the majority of us will be pulling up front row seats. it’s always a little more amusing when you’re on the outside, don’t you think? all the entertainment and none of the hassle. ”

      “ SO, why are you here, then? if you don’t mind me asking. ” giselle has always been a curious girl -- perhaps too much for her own good, but maddox already seemed so keen on sharing.  she’d never had that struggle - choosing between herself and her title, though she imagines it would be difficult to make such a choice if she’d been forced. in the end, though, perhaps it’s smart to reject something you have no interest in -- there’s no way to excel with a mindset like that. “ maybe they don’t trust you, since they don’t feel you have their best interest in mind. and with all due respect, monsieur rivera, that seems to be the case. i’m sure there’s an appreciation for you pursuing your own interests, but when they’re meant to respect you as a leader and you have no respect for them as your people -- well, reverse the situation and you might be able to see where they’re coming from. ” it comes out not like an accusation but more of a contemplation, her eyebrows furrowing together as if to take it all in herself. “ if it’s making you emotional we can certainly drop the topic. have you taken the opportunity to explore the city at all yet, then? i imagine you’d be the first. ”

“ let them be angry. let them be resentful. and rebellious. let them be hard and soft and loving and sad and silly. let them be wrong. let them be right. let them be everything. because, they are everything. ”