𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚

task #001 under the cut! i cannot make graphics for the life of me, so sorry!

post count this week ( 10/05 - 16/05 ) : number of replies ( 3 ) + task ( 1 )

points gained : 3 points for 3 replies + 0 bonus points + 1 task point = 4 points

point allocation : + 4 intelligence

he could only hope that being together again after their split could in some ways help mend the brokenness that he felt. his duties often got in the way of the time he wished to spend with family, but charles had known since a young age where his loyalties where to be directed and while his to her was strong, his country had to come first. and there shouldn’t be any doubt within a single soul in france to question just where those loyalties lie. 

‘ and that factor alone should be sufficient to conclude that i am in fact her favorite parent, ’ he teased as a gentle smile crept to his lips. it was perhaps the banter that he missed most; the joyful moments that he desired most. ‘ how was the trip, ma chérie ? ’ the smiles that had been plastered to her lips when he’d first laid eyes on her could have been two things; she was actually happy to return to switzerland or it was all a façade. if he had to bet on one it’d be the latter. ‘ let’s get the two of you to the chambers, yeah ? i can only imagine how exhausting the journey has been. ’

forced smiles and politeness had grown exhausting long before her arrival, in fact --- clothilde was quite miserable ridden with the idea that her son had died alone and there was no justice. maybe someday but her impatience was getting to her, slowly but certainly it was growing and itching. the most of her optimism was put into the thought that her husband could ease her nerves and anger, though she knew they shared it at times. 

“ your pretty face does not give you an excuse to push your luck, darling. “ she was not going to deny however that adelaise might have been a little more attached to him than herself and she could not blame her either --- with his occasional absence she understood longing for his return. “ long, tiring but i’m relieved to be with you again. “ of all the words, relieved was all that could come to mind feeling a weight lift off of her shoulders when she had laid eyes upon him only minutes prior. “ that sounds lovely and you can tell me all about your day, anything fascinating happen in my absence? “

“Not so much under lock and key as… indisposed?” He realizes his phrasing is bad, but he shrugs it off after a moment, “I was down for a while, with an injury.” He turns back to look out towards the horizon and finds himself almost smiling. He looks back towards the woman after a second, and he can’t quite place her. She looks… familiar, somehow. “Forgive me if we’ve met,” Arthur begins, “But you seem very… familiar. And I cannot place you.” 

bold  ─  always  applies. italic  ─  sometimes  applies.

𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬  ─  arms  crossed  on  chest  /  crossing  legs  /  fist - like  gestures  /  pointing  index  finger  /  karate  chops  /  stiffening  of  shoulders  /  tense  posture  /  curling  of  lip  /  baring  of  teeth.

𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞  ─  hand - to - face  gestures  /  head  tilted  /  stroking  chin  /  peering  over  glasses  /  taking  glasses  off  (  cleaning  )  /  putting  earpiece  of  glasses  in  mouth  /  putting  the  top  of  a  writing  utensil  in  mouth  /  putting  hand  to  bridge  of  nose  /  pursed  lips  /  knitted  brows.

𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧  ─  arms  crossed  /  sideways  glance  /  touching  or  rubbing  nose  /  rubbing  eyes  /  hands  resting  on  weapon  /  brows  raising  /  lips  pressing  into  a  thin  line  /  strict,  unwavering  eye  contact  /  wrinkling  of  nose  /  narrowed  eyes.

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞  ─  hands  behind  back  /  hands  on  lapels  of  coat  /  steepled  hands  /  baring  teeth  in  a  grin  /  rolling  shoulders  /  tipping  head  back  but  maintaining  eye  contact  /  chest  puffed  up  /  shoulders  back  /  arms  folded  just  above  navel  /  wide  eyes  /  standing  akimbo.

𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲  &  𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲  ─  chewing  at  the  top  of  a  writing  utensil  /  rubbing  thumb  over  opposite  thumb  /  biting  fingernails  /  biting  lips  /  hands  in  pocket  /  elbow  bent  /  closed  gestures  /  clearing  throat  /  “whew”  sound  /  picking  or  pinching  flesh  /  fidgeting  in  chair  /  hand  covering  mouth  whilst  speaking  /  poor  eye  contact  /  perspiring  hands  /  playing  with  hair  /  swaying  /  playing  with  cane  /  smacking  lips  /  sighing  /  rocking  on  the  balls  of  feet  /  flexing  of  cracking  fingers  sporadically.

times had been a little rough without much comfort over the past weeks. he had been experiencing a plethora of emotions, many of which hadn’t been positive and without a direction to aim them charles was left feeling rather vexed for weeks. the youngest of his children, and mother of them hadn’t been present in the city for quite sometime and the worry for how she’d been handling the passing revolving their middle child he was unsure of but after the correspondence of letters he’d known she’d be arriving soon. well, within the next few hours exactly.

he’d been waiting on the grounds of the montebello castle for their arrival and hadn’t seen anything for a little while. his eyes scanned the area through the crowds of people before landing on the smaller of the pair first; the blue hues widened and a smile covering his lips as the younger ran up to him. ‘ i have missed you both deeply. ’ he commented as he lifted the child from the ground and pulled her into his arms. with his feet stepping forward, the elder of the triad bent slightly forward to place a kiss on the older woman’s lips.

clothilde could not speak for her husband but she knows regardless of knowing, the last few weeks had been restless and lonely without him by her side. it was not a rare occurrence, for her husband to leave for months at a time for duties but she never missed him any less each time --- after all, they were both missing something else entirely this time. letters were filled to the brim with ink but hold nothing of significance, most of the carefully written cursive had been information and lacked the depth to answer any prying questions. she wore forced smiles and would continue her act, but charles must have known she was struggling with the loss of their middle child --- if it weren’t for their youngest and separation it would have been far too clear. 

adelaise finally releases her hand, charging forward towards her father and for the first time in weeks the soft smile the red heard adorns is genuine growing as the gap between them becomes lesser. “ i would hope so, “ she laughs pausing her quips to kiss him back, basking in the closeness. after over twenty years by his side she should have been used to his absence at times but it never felt any less lonely. “ we’ve both missed you as well, someone was talking about you the whole way here. “

post count this week ( 10/05 - 16/05 ) : number of replies ( 2 ) + task ( 0 )

points gained : 2 points for 2 replies + 0 bonus points = 0 points

point allocation : + 2 influence

it was an understatement to claim the last handful of months had been full of stress and misery. both of them were overcome by grief but clothilde’s anger had nothing to seep into, her husband on the other hand had been preoccupied with the thought of impending war. the paranoia the ensued had been understandable, none the less frustrating however. safety was what kept the duchess in france for longer than the rest of her family with the exception of adelaise who had been glued to her side since jacques untimely passing. 

open starter. 

“It is  nice, to get fresh air for once,” Arthur states, to no one in particular. He’s not been in a social situation in nearing a month, so he feels a bit rusty just speaking to people outright. But he’s got to get back into the swing of regular life, now that the last of his bandages have been removed. So he’s here, commenting on the weather like a common man, “At least the scenery isn’t drab, I do not think I would have lasted this long if the view from my window wasn’t as pretty.”