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I am gutted. This isnโt fair. I have so many stories to tell and so much left to give to these muses of mine. I love them and the stories Iโve told with them so much. I had so much more to give. There was supposed to be so much in store. But what would it say about me if I continued to RP with an admin who said changing a white FC to POC would mess things up. AND I QUOTE. โI donโt want the siblings from all over the placeโ. Is this how we treat characters of color who are adopted?? Like they are โall over the placeโ? Like theyโre not truly family? Like they donโt belong? It disgusts me that I played so many adopted muses and all the while the admin who accepted those applications thinks siblings who are different ethnicities because of adoptions arenโt true family. Mind you, there was a chance to remedy this and they, instead, agreed to remove the person who called out the injustice. I JUST revamped Maria, who stands for equality and justice and it would be hypocritical of me not to do whatโs right. I hope the admins are happy with their decisions. I hope they are happy wasting the time and talents of WOC writers.
Esmeray was supposed to be a mother and realize that superficial things and power are not what the world is about.
Victoria was supposed to grow up and get her heart broken, but be all the braver for it and overcome those fears sheโs always carried.
Joanna was supposed to be a fighter, for her husband, for her country, for her sisters. She was supposed to learn the true meaning of sacrifice.
Maria was supposed to find her heart again, after so many years of abandoning it. She was supposed to understand that service to justice is an entirely selfless act.
Gizella was supposed to be a mother and find that true, fulfilling love that she has always felt had been missing.
Natasia was supposed to rule. Itโs what she was meant to do. She was supposed to show the world that she was not as small as they made her feel.
Salome was supposed to overcome her past and put the heartaches of her childhood behind her.
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living in close proximity to gizella had brought an excessive amount of one certain thing in ruby's life - and it came in the shade of pink. any shade - every shade. yet, as reuben sauntered through the shared common quarters, he realized something was awry. there was a suspicious lack of pink, and though gizella sat centered around a flurry of activity ( as per usual ), none of it felt very... her. in fact, ruby realized with a puzzled, furrowing brow, she looked almost as if she were surrounded by the half-packed contents of an entire wedding. pity dawned next then on his features, almost disappointed, glazed only with a cruel, selfish glee. " oh, gizella, even for you... this is a new low. " tongue clicking despairingly, reuben's head shook slowly in dismay. " are you so disappointed with my cheap brother that you must soothe yourself by planning by wedding, so many years into mine && joanna's future? if you do love her, you must tell me, you are obligated as my sister to do so. "
Gizella hasn't slept in several days. The anticipation of the upcoming wedding, which seemed now to be fast approaching, had kept her up at night. This was her chance. This was going to be the first defining social moment at court. Sure, there were politics and alliances and betrothals and such, but throwing a party, an entire wedding reception, was going to determine her status among the socialites. Everything had to be perfect to impress the Scots, as well. Reuben's presence in the room was, presently, like a pestering fly. "You'll have to speak up if you want to annoy me today," she announced with a booming voice, eyes widened and silghtly red, "The Scottish bagpipes are brutal, have you ever actually listened to them for longer than a few minutes?" Slowly, but surely, the words of her chaotic brother-in-law come to fruition in her ears. "Wait..." she paused, shaking her head, "What do you mean years...?"
โผโพ ( jeanine mason, 30 , she/her , cis woman , de la rosa 5 )ย - have you seenย MARIA DE LA ROSA?ย weโve heard through the grapevine that theyโreย DAUNTLESSย but alsoย TEMPESTUOUS. when you think of them , you think of A SHIP SAILING IN A SEA OF FOG, SMEARED PAINT ON CANVAS, HANDS COVERED IN GOLD RINGS.
Basics:
Name: Maria De La Rosa
Title: Princess of Sicily
Age: 30
Birthday: January 25th (Aquarius)
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Marital Status: Unbetrothed
Positive Traits: Brave, tactical, creative, loyal, decisive
Negative Traits: Violent, short-tempered, bold, cunning, vengeful.
Hobbies: Painting, sailing, fishing, swimming
Family: Felix De La Rosa (brother), Mechai De Medici (sibling-in-law).
The Story: (tw; starvation, )
It began with two villagers from another land, so poor but rich in the love they had for one another and for their baby girl. Sadly, the life of a peasant is not a very long one, and a terrible government left them to starve to death, leaving their daughter utterly alone. The plan was to deliver the girl off to an orphanage in England, but the ship was overrun by pirates. The poor girl washed up on the shores of Sicily, found by their rulers, and taken into their family. She had no memory of her previous life, no recollection of the raid.
They named her "Maria", for she came from the sea and was given to them as a miraculous gift. Though rebellious in nature and defiant by desire, she was a difficult, yet devoted child. Having younger siblings, as she grew older, only made it easier for her to sprinkle her bad influence all over them, taking them out to bars, going out with sailors, and learning their pirate heritage from the pirates themselves.
The more time she spent with the pirates, the more she heard stories of how oppressive and terrible the other countries in Europe were to those who had no choice but to steal for themselves. It motivated her, studying politics and seeking justice for the serf class. However, the one thing she could not shake was how she could do nothing from her little castle with no crown of her own. So, at the age of 25, she packed everything up and disappeared aboard a pirate ship.
For nearly five years, Maria was a pirate captain of her own crew, even recruiting another defiant royal just like herself as her first mate. They stole from those who were more fortunate, gave to those who were less fortunate, and kept a sum of the prophet for their own selves. She even met another pirate, like herself, and fell madly in love. It was a seemingly perfect life until a battle against another crew resulted in her ship going down. Her lover sacrificed himself in the name of the code: "Anyone who falls behind is left behind". The broken ship and sky of fire began to trigger memories of a similar experience, but she still does not understand what it means.
Wishing to live between the world of royals and the world of thieves, she returned home to her parents, to her family. She did not beg on her knees, but simply asked for a chance to prove herself. Maria was permitted to come with them to France, so long as she set up a decent betrothal for herself; find the next King of Sicily.
And so she shall. Maria has to come to grips with who she really is, a princess destined to be queen, and find a way to become the kind of queen who can make a real difference. She's eager to learn, but also eager to use this newfound information against anyone she needs to in the future. She will get her justice for the thieves and beggars if it is the last thing she does. But will she ever find out where she truly came from? Will that knowledge change her desire to sit on a throne?
TLDR: She is the child of peasants. They died b/c the government SUCKS. She was supposed to be shipped off to an orphanage, but a pirate raid changed things. She was washed up on shore with no memory of the raid and the Sicilian rulers adopted her. She loves her family but also has a fierce sense of justice, which is what took her away from home for 5 years. She met a bestie and a lover and lost the lover in another pirate raid, which started to trigger her memories. Maria came home, but she has to get engaged in France to make up for it.
Similar Characters: Imelda Rivera (Coco), Emma Swan (Once Upon a Time), Angelica (Pirates of the Carribbean), Anastasia (Anastasia), Esmeralda (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), Ember Lumen (Elemental).
Established Connections:
The De La Rosa Family. The Pirates-Turned-Royals are the toughest of the other royals families that reside in Versailles, though they tend to come off the most awkward at most royal functions. Maria loves her siblings very dearly, but wishes their lives amounted to more than a "the spare". She hopes to teach them to care enough about the rest of the world to want to do something about it.
WC'S
FIRST MATE. They met on one of Maria's voyages when she first disappeared from Sicily. She was a royal, just like her, and they both shared a heart for the working class... and for their own riches. They were excellent at scheming against the rich (think like Miguel and Tulio and Maria is more like Tulio LOL). Now that they're both here in France, her first mate intends to make a royal splash.
BETROTHED. Maria needs to find the next King of Sicily and that's pretty much how she sees it. She wants someone who will be fair to their people, but won't stand in her way when she has plans she wants to execute.
MENTORS. Maria is here to learn and to gain as much wisdom as she can from these other monarchs before she is to ascend to her own throne one day, but she has every intention of using their tactics against them to seek the justice and peace that she desires. She is not afraid of war if that's what it takes.
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"Hopefully not the guy wearing feathers in his hair and calling himself Europe's Next Big Influencer?" Araminta musters with a laugh, peering behind her at said spectacle. Her eyes steady back on Victoria, steadying her with a no-nonsense gaze. "Have you tried dropping hints? Or making your intentions known?" In an effort to help, she pushes aside some of Victoria's hair behind her shoulder. "Show off a little?"
"No, no, definitely not," Victoria laughed, though the spectacle of it did seem like an entertaining idea. Maybe crushing on someone more eccentric like that would never result in a dull or boring moment, "I may fall easily, but not that easily." Her eyes blanked, blinking several times as though to flash the sparkly eyeshadow she wore, "How would I even do that? I haven't shown off a day in my life."
โit's a terribly outdated practice to have your familiars, friends or family address you by such formal titles.โ as it always has been amara reserved the titles to strangers, and acquaintances only. despite her coming to her own in her crown and loving russia whole heartedly, being addressed as 'your majesty' by close ones leaves her exasperated. while the tsarina's relationship with nat is..different from most, she's still given her lady, and friend full freedom to address the empress by name. โnew or old friends, it's amara to you all of you.โ with nat one didn't what know what one is getting, and though she's never given amara reason to believe otherwise thus far, things with the younger woman are never as they seem. amara rarely ever ungrateful, nor would she deny that when it matters, nat is always there beside her empress, despite whatever agendas she seems to be working on to the side. โthe last we spoke you expressed some concerns over your fiance, how is that? has it improved?โ
"You're right," Natasia conceded, "Still, I have to come up with something to bring back from the stone age. That is how we set trneds nowadays anyway... looking to the past." Which would prove very difficult for someone whose past was covered in blood and ash. Her completely false relationship with Klaus was a counter-argument to that, convincing viewers to look forward. "Oh, absolutely. He's even agreed to make a few guest appearances on the Lukin family reality show, were you able to watch that episode I sent you?" she asked with a raise of her mischievous eyebrow, "As it turns out, my family makes for great television. Who would have thought?"
ย ย ย ย ย noย oneย ย madeย ย himย smile ย asย much as she. each of her smiles he held dear; the sight made his heart swell, and he constantly wanted to see it more. confidently, he lead them across the dance floor. ย โ you a bumbling mess? impossible. โ ย chuckling, he shook his head. ย โ it was everyone else who looked bumbling in comparison. but tell me more about this charm that surprised you so. โ
Esmeray's laugh was low and soft, but it always sounded like it came directly from her heart and not her gut, like so many others do. "And so you are opening that door, are you?" she playfully cautioned. Practically all of Europe knew it was unwise to get Austria's queen started on another iconic speech about her husband, "I think it started by the way you looked at me when I was more expecting some kind of indifference. You were so very forward in a way I didn't expect. I thought I would have to work harder to convince you to like me."
So this is what sisters were really like, they'd ask themselves quite regularly each time she spoke to Priscilla. As a Ferrero, which seemed like an entire past life by now, there was only competition, pettiness, tricks to stagger the other's course on the track. Though she was not a Ricci by blood, it was as though none of that didn't even need to count to really become family. She was comfortable as though Priscilla were her own sister. "I'll allow it for the next hour," she giggled, gently leading her towards the open bar, "but then we're going to dance and celebrate. I'm sure Angelo will find some way to make a fire on the terrace, as well."
Even in Isolde's little corner of life (she was not very internet adept), she had heard of Salome Ricci. In fact, Isolde had done some studies in holistic and herbal medicine while she was in medical school and had turned in to Salome's videos to learn how to grow herbs on her own. Her apartment in the city featured a small gardenbox right by the kitchen window where she grew her own herbs. "Salome Ricci, you flatter me when you, yourself, look like Persephone. I am honored that you like my dress," she said with a bright smile. She could hardly believe that her sister's nuptials would be coming so soon and when the event was mentioned, she beamed even more. "I am excited, of course, but a little nervous too. I think my sister and I will probably have to speak at the wedding and I am afraid that when I go to talk about Jo and how much I love her, I'm going to fall to pieces and blubber like a fool."
Salome glanced down at the dress laid upon her body, a chuckle escaping her nose as she hummed, the laugh sounding like a song. "I was hoping to go more for Demeter," she joked, "Though being perceived like the Goddess of Spring and Queen of Hell isn't too bad. I guess that makes my husband the alluring Hades." Though he seemed to be the furthest thing from it in their eyes, so warm and open hearted with kindness in spades. Together, they made the perfect environment for a loving family, the same kind that the Stuart sisters appeared to share with each other. Their lip pouted slightly at the vision in forming in their mind. Oh how Salome would weep at her own siblings weddings, if she were still talking to anyone on the Ferrero side of the family. "It's so beautiful how close all of you are," she mused, "Thankfully, weddings are the perfect time to get emotional about these things. I promise, the second you allow yourself to feel all of these things, the less it will sound like blubbering."
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โ no ! i am, โ they reassured their mother, glancing up at her with a little grin. they closed their eyes and enjoyed the soothing feeling of her hands in their hair, always enough to make them feel young again. rowan truly was having a good time, being the social butterfly they were. but there was no denying that they were fading fast, social battery running out. they were growing tired. โ are you having a good time ? โ
Salome couldn't help but worry and wonder and ponder, gifting themselves the impossible task of making sure their children had a better life than she did as a child. Rowan's kindness and gentility was, at least, a testament that they hadn't totally failed as a parent in most cases. "I am as long as we're all here together," she nodded sweetly, "I think I may have gained a couple new sponsors to broaden my audience, which never hurts. Now I just have to convince them I'm not one of those stage moms who pretends to live this lifestyle for click bait."
"Guess I didn't expect much of anything from Ruby. Least of all a wedding." Elias would've bet money the Schellenberg's didn't have that his brother would be the eternal bachelor. Then again, he also would've bet on his own non-existent fortune that he'd never marry himself. But Gizella's what happens when Elias is making other plans. "I'm glad. We only get one, after all." Sure, they could afford a grander one at any point. Or splurge on some extravagant wedding vow renewal. But Elias likes the singularity of one wedding day; his simple tux and the pink sheen on Gizella is uneclipsable in memory. "Besides, we more than made up for it with the honeymoon." He teases, wandering hands touching her back from beneath the fabric of her shirt. Those long days and nights spent together, fervent and untamed. Elias is already imagining it when Gizella makes mention of an heir. Fatherhood, like marriage, is something Elias never expected in his life. With her, however... He's reframed expectations. "You mean a baby, don't you, love?" Elias teases, noting the impersonal way heir sounds compared to a child of their own. The wistful energy is there, but replaced with something more serious as he takes stock of Gizella's every expression. "You know I don't care what other people want, right?" If he did, he'd concern himself with the fact that everyone wanted any other Schellenberg but he for the crown. "I just care about what you want, if you ever want it."
"I'm trying with him, baby, I really am," Gizella sighed in an exasperated manner. It was the bait and switch, the cat and mouse game that was played that tired her so often. Every time she thought she was going to break through, to make this family happier than it was, he would shut her out again, "He must be a fucking saint to Joanna and we just don't see it." Rubbing her hands on her temples, she let her head fall onto her husband's shoulder. There is relief, however, in knowing that her endless game of push and pull is finished here in Elias's arms. At least this was happiness, this was true family, true love. "I'd sooner ask for a second honeymoon than a second wedding," she breathed, a slight gasp leaving her lips as she felt the coarseness of his hands against the softness of her skin ( a regimen she was meticulous about, thank you very much ). But her heart rate slowed at the questioning; a baby. His attempt to bring her back to focus succeeded, to her dismay. A speed bump was how she chose to reframe the serious tone that overtook the heat that had begun to rise. "Whatever happens... happens," seemed to be the only proper response to encompass the thoughts that swirled around behind those dazzled blue eyes, "Baby or not, I'm not going anywhere. It's not going to change anything here," her hand pressed against his chest right above his heart, "and it will keep us safe." With a baby in arms, no one could attack Elias and Gizella's seat on the throne, not even Dorit, which she had to admit was a big reason why she'd wanted to quicken the timeline. "It may not even work out the first time around... we may have to go at it a few times, just in case..." she winked.
" Actually. Not too bad of advice. " And in such, Reuben had experience && practice with not choosing his family. Rarely did he, and rarely would they choose him, either. He was left behind at parties, forgotten in pictures; taken advantage of, at the best of times, and vice versa with his own behavior. Choosing Joanna... would be the easiest fear he'd conquered yet. A tiny, genuine smile lingered on features, as if forgetting with whom he shared it with. " I do not hate you. I just... I don't... think all that highly? Of you? "
The shrug that followed was sheepish, and in a way, he was surprised by her answer. " Heh, annoying little sister. " So, they were alike, more && more. A horrible realization, one he'd surely cringe under later, when the moment of odd companionship had settled. Then, offense recognized on his face. She'd taken it a step too far, had been just a touch too warm. " I am not lost. I am doing better than ever before, than I ever imagined. All my own successes, I have found && made for myself. " It was something not all his family could say, or at least, Ruby's belief on it remained.
"Wow," Gizella feigned a delighted gasp that successfully managed to look more like exhaustion, "You know, from the sound of that, it's almost as though you just complimented me." It would always hurt, secretly, the idea that Reuben would never truly care enough about her as his sister, that he would always be more happy to see the criminal than the one who actually tried. Taking those crumbs of niceties was a familiar act, one she did for years with Elias before he, too, turned around. Perhaps there was hope that Ruby would do the same. But would she actually want to open herself up to the possibility of it? Or was the opportunity for trickery too great that she would have to, instead, close herself off to it? "Well why not?" she frowned, "Don't stop there, it seems like you're on a roll."
"Yes, yes, everyone knows it," she scoffed, "It took Elias years to get over that image of me as my older sister's yapping pet... but, like everyone else will one day, he realized there was much more to me. I just had to be confident enough to know what I had to offer him..." She hoped the metaphor was seep into his mind, that all he had to do was know what he had to offer Scotland, to offer Joanna, and to offer the public. But the sting of his words pierced her first, letting the kindness and encouragement out through the wound. "Did you ever wonder why you've had to do it all on your own?" she asked sharply, yet quietly. One thing that even Elias knew about his rather loud wife was to be worried when her voice was barely above the sound of a whisper, "There is strength in having the balls to ask for help. I sure hope you can at least apply that with your wife or else that marriage won't last a day."
Nora smiled as Gizella recounted her wedding and she gave a small hum. "Perhaps overshadowed in extravagance, but in love? That will be a high order." She gave a certain nod before turning her attention to the fabrics. "And what is her gown to be like? Or is that still top secret?"
A shade of pink fell so obviously on her pale face, slightly biting her lip from just inside her mouth at the thought of the whole ordeal. "That might be because I'm just a little bit too obsessed with my husband," she giggled, "Perhaps her gown is the best kept secret in all of Europe right now, despite how incredibly in-trend it is..." she paused, her head moving from left to right to avoid any listening ears, "I think she looks like a Greek Goddess in it, if that gives you an image to compare to."
ย ย ย ย ย heย tookย ย aย ย momentย to ย considerย her outfit and the imagine how it'd look with her hair down, ultimately shaking his head. ย โ no. you look very regal but vibrant like this. at least one of the king and the queen shouldn't look dull. โ ย he smirked. joking at either of his brothers' expense far too difficult to pass up. tonight it was only in good fun, even where elias was concerned. ย โ i make sure he's very happy, don't you worry. โ
"He does not look dull," she playfully nudged his shoudler, though entirely meaning to scold him in the most gentle way possible, "At least not tonight, he doesn't. I think he has a sorta glow about him... probably because I made him shower after practice today." A teasing snicker was only meant for her own pleasure, as it was directed towards the floor. "The only thing dull about this party is the lack of piping hot tea. Everyone's so... well adjusted."
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as someone who has no involvement with the scots, the tsarina's knowledge of the broken alliance between spain and scotland came simply from word of mouth of the ton. as she suspects, the wedding planning is indeed coming along better now that money is no longer an issue for her new friends. it is a word she's careful with, while no doubt they are allies now, she hardly knew of any of them to consider them familiars just yet. but anyone who knows amara would know making an effort, and keeping an open mind is not something she struggles with. furthermore, she did truly wish for a friendship with the liechtenstein monarchs. it's with that thought in mind she approaches the freshly crowned queen, in an efforts to know her, and perhaps even offer council if the new queen wished it from the empress. โit's still his daughter's wedding, regardless of how he feels of this union, it's a king's pride to ensure it's grand.โ or some form of damage control in front of the ton. her eyes linger on the colored fabrics the other was debating before they shift to the petite blonde, โI have another type that might work even better, they appear bright gold with a hints of peaches. similar to this.โ holding up the fabric she'd suggested. โi saw them when I was paris, if you're not set on one, I can have them send a sample here for you to see? i was looking at a few things for my own brother-in-law...โ a date had not been set for the grand duke, but amara knew it would not be too long. better to start having some things in mind ahead of time.
"It's definitely a queen's honor, too," Gizella nodded her head in concession, "I really am proud of Ruby, even if he drives up absolutely out of my mind," the constant push and pull of a struggling sibling relationship was bound to have its effects on her headaches that appeared weekly, "Neither Elias or I thought he had it in him to actually settle down." A shaking hand took the fabric and frowned as she examined it, more important than the look of it was the texture and how it balanced in the light, how it bent and flowed when it was moved around. These details came so very naturally to her, which was perfect for a wedding that had to be perfect. "I love it. But I do wanna see some more samples, if you have any? I'm just having them all shipped from my suite here in Portugal back to my castle so I can further examine everything there."
"She should be...and Dorit should be too. You are the lioness of Scotland; there has never been a challenge that you have not overcome with flying colors. You are incredible and I think both of them are a little worried that you might outshine them." Isolde brushed a newly blonde hair back from her sister's face affectionately. She had always embraced every side of her firecracker, including her love; if Reuben made Joanna happy, then Isolde would welcome him with open arms. She only wished that Reuben's family were not so difficult. "Could we not just send them money and have Reuben stay in Scotland? He could go back to Liechtenstein for visits, of course, but I need my sisters close to home," Isolde teased. If she thought that Joanna would truly wish to leave Scotland, she would embrace her wishes in a heartbeat, but Isolde knew that Joanna's heart beat for Scotland. "Thank goodness for that. Can you imagine any of us in an arranged marriage or being forced to wed? We're rebellious, the lot of us even if you're getting hitched." Isolde's rebellion had always been quiet, but she had her own streak, most of which revolved around the man that currently had his arms wrapped around a Dutch princess. She shook the thought for a moment, some tears coming to her eyes as she filled with pride for her sister. "You have to stop it or I'm going to start crying and then the reporters are going to wonder what happened." She smiled and looked up, willing the tears to recede, though talking about Javier immediately afterward did nothing to help. "I don't know. They have been smiling for hours. Plus, maybe things have changed...I really pushed him away hard. He'd have every right to move on and be happy."
"You boost my ego too much, Is." Whether she needed it or not was another question entirely. Perhaps knowing how formidable she actually was is what propelled her to think she could carry the weight of this wedding on her own shoulders. Because she was, indeed, The Lioness of Scotland. "He is lucky to be gaining such a wonderful new sister like you, and with any luck, one day Evelyn will stop being so skeptical of him too," she laughed, "We want to live in Scotland together, for sure. I am a good wife, I did give him the option to do half the year in his homeland, but he insisted." Just the idea of romanticizing married life was enough to push her through the cold feet and the fear of what marriage would altogether turn out to be. Now she could dwell on the thought of a cozy castle, Sutherland all to themselves, Isolde and Evelyn coming to visit every weekend for tea and parties and watching sporting events together. Suddenly, urgency overcame her, grabbing her sister's arm, "Come on, let's get you a drink or something," she rushed to the bar top, "Trust me, we are all better off without him and this drama that would come into all this. We will find someone to go to the wedding with you, or you could just go with Reuben's brother. I'm sure Stefan would be happy to be your date for the night."
