maisie !

harper !

     harper was running through the halls of the palace, already late for her meeting with her sisters. usually, the young princess was a punctual person, but today was an exception. “i’m here, i’m here !!” the youngest of the barclays exclaimed, busting through the door a few seconds after her phone had pinged. her hair was flowing down her back, she was wearing black leggings, and one of nolan’s hoodies – a look uncharacteristic for her to sport in public, but quite common to those who knew her. “sorry, i was busy with… stuff. where’s vi ??” she asked, out of breath, trying to get her hair to look like less of a mess. 

@outgrvwn​

violet will get there when she wants to - moreso when she can handle the weight of the illusion she has to keep up when both of her sisters are in the same room - and she will call it fashionably late. it’s no skin off her back and when she slinks in a minute or so after harper, there’s a sheepish smile on her face but none of harper’s flustered guilt. “hope you didn’t start without me,” she hums, a light laugh tinged with guilt rolling out of her. “i couldn’t figure out if i wanted the black dress or the maroon one - and i ended up going with neither, so a whole lot of good that did me to get hung up on!” harper dressed like that - like a college student on the way to the gym in her husband’s hoodie - is a slap in the face, but it doesn’t show.

“well, grace isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” scarlett softly scoffs as she turned the page of the paper to the sports section. unfortunately, even that pages had it’s fair share of sordid drama and once her eyes found her own name, she promptly folded the paper shut and set it aside. “in fairness, it’s pretty difficult to find anything that’s not embedded in patriarchal tradition. that’s why half the world is going down the pot.”

“ oh, but it surely has its place, ” maisie’s quick to quip back. “ i find it useful in navigating complicated situations. ” she watches her fold the newspaper after seeming so invested -- she wonders what it was that caused her to close it. “ hmm, ” she hums thoughtfully, “ you’re unfortunately right. i can’t say that i haven’t benefitted from some of it -- but i don’t think it’s right either. ” 

“ we’re going out. ” it’s a statement, but underneath the gentleness of maisie’s voice, the fact that it might be a demand shines through. she sips the last sip of her wine before grinning at gio. she likes looking at him, she thinks. she likes him, she thinks, too, but only sometimes -- and sometimes could be enough. sometimes was now. “ but instead of you following me around, i’ll follow you around. don’t argue. just take me somewhere interesting. ” she smiles widely as she looks at him, expectant and teasing all at once.

         the table is set with tiny cups, tiny plates, and a teapot sat square in the middle. besides maisie, though, there is no one else at the table. her own cup is filled, her tea a milky tan, and her eyes are focused on her phone. were other people there, she’d think it rude, but being alone, there was neither persons to impress or offend — speaking of offend, her lips pursed as she looked at the time. neither of her sisters are there yet. she gives it until five minutes past to send them both a text message. ‘ you’re both late. hurry it up. ’ it’s sent with love. she looks at the door expectantly.

@genoviastarters​ || open starter!

location: the village

character: scarlett dupre`, olympic figure skater (team canada)

“I don’t understand how this princess lady isn’t losing her mind,” Scarlett says, nose wrinkled as she turns the pages of the local Genovian paper that seemed to keep very close tabs on every motion in the palaces, including the arrival of new royals and who had been rumored to be seen with whom. 

“Dating is hard enough under normal circumstances without everyone getting their noses in it and giving their opinions. Isn’t this whole thing basically an international episode of The Bachelor but for really rich people?”

“ oh, i’m sure that she is -- ” maisie drawls, her eyes flicking between the girl and the paper. “ -- she just has the grace to act as if she isn’t. ” she folds the magazine in front of her shut, raising her chin slightly as her attention falls fully on the other. “ interesting analogy -- perhaps a little lacking, but you’ve got the bare bones there. i suppose i do find it all a little -- ” she sniffs “ -- embedded in patriarchal tradition, though it’s not my place to say anything. ”

STARTER FOR @maisiebarclay​ 

     harper missed hanging out with her sister. since the engagement, she’d been incredibly busy. between wedding planning, visits to new zealand, press conferences, dealing with her charity work, parties and apparances, and quite literally planning a move to the other side of the world, there hadn’t been a lot of time for her to catch up with maisie. “y’know, i thought it would be a little colder out here in genovia, but it’s actually really nice.” she said, smiling at her sister. “but, anyway, tell me !! how have you been ?”

PLACE: winter palace TIME: evening FOR: open starter @genoviastarters​

“What lives in these mountains that could eat me?” Bas asked, stretched out on a sofa in front of a fireplace. His coat, boots, scarf, and various other layers were in a pile on the floor, discarded temporarily even though he wasn’t ruling out the possibility of running off into the wilderness forever. “I bet I could fight a wolf if I had to. They’re just dogs, really.”

“ a bear, maybe ? i don’t know -- australia, on the other hand, if you’re curious, i could tell you all the dangers of. ” maisie had walked into the room, taking off her coat and letting it hang over her arm. she hadn’t expected the conversation to go where it was going, she hadn’t really expected any conversation at all, if she were being honest, but she thought she could enjoy it. maybe. “ that is a terrible idea, i assure you. dog-like, maybe, but they’re still wild. if you frighten it or try to fight it, it will fight back. ” 

felix leaned back into the couch cushions, sitting with his legs crossed as he contemplated the question. it was a big one. felix often felt trapped in his life but he also struggled to imagine anything else. he chewed on his lip for a moment. “i think… i’d just want to go somewhere i’ve never been before and do dumb tourist-y things. wait in long lines. take ugly photos. ride a roller coaster. wear ripped jeans. crowd surf. i — anything real.” he swallowed, unsure if he’d said too much. “you?”

“ don’t consider this a cop-out, but i’d want to do the same. ” her head tilted back and she stared at the ceiling, imagining. “ i mean, i don’t know. i really don’t know. you would think i’d give it more thought considering it’s my question but there are just too many options. ” she took a deep breath before saying, “ maybe i’d go back to school. just be normal. drink too much. party on the weekends. just be a kid. you ever feel like you’ve had your life stolen from you ? i mean, i bet you have, i know i have, and that feels slightly selfish to think given all the privilege i have, but -- i feel like i’ve missed out. i really do. ”

aveline arches an eyebrow, laughter spilling from her lips. “ well, i’ll admit that takes the fun out of it. but they’re not all bad, see — ” from where they stand by the bar, she directs her gaze to a diplomat’s daughter expertly swinging her hips to reggaeton. ( the last song was rap. so much for consistency. ) “ oh, shit. ” aveline suppresses another laugh, pointing towards some guy who’d tried — and failed — to get their numbers earlier. “ he’s terrible. oh, it’s probably a little of both. once you hit your fourth? fifth? drink, you really stop giving a fuck. come on, let’s get another shot. ” 

maisie shrugs her shoulders, hesitant to agree, but she finds herself nodding her head. “ sure, there are exceptions but -- ” she follows aveline’s direction and she lets her gaze land on the man. she tips her head back and lets out a laugh. “ i think that only serves to further my point. ” she giggles again before nodding again. “ maybe that’s a good thing then, if only to enjoy yourself. ” she cuts through the crowd and moves toward the bar. she catches the bartender’s attention and says, “ a shot of jager ” she looks towards aveline “ and whatever she wants. ”

> @maisiebarclay​   /   alfred’s room

alfred was sitting on the edge of his bed, sticking his legs through his sweat pants. he looked back to see maisie, still in bed. “you have a nice glow about you.” he smirks. “after all that. you’re glowing.” he snickers, getting up from the bed to walk around to her side, kissing her forehead. “tea?”

maisie pulled up the bed’s sheet until it was just tucked under her chin; she was still staring lazily at alfred. “ i’d say the same about you, but i’m sure i look better,” she retorted, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “ coffee, if you have it, but i’ll take tea if it’s all you’ve got. ”

lottie’s eyes widened. “oh! gross — i mean, not the eggs or the toast and butter but — sorry, i had vegemite once and it tasted like tar,” she said, not even realizing that perhaps insulting the other woman’s food wasn’t exactly tactful. “but thank you… maybe i can just get someone to make me some cinnamon french toast.” she flagged down a servant, making the demand, and then took a seat across from maisie, not bothering to ask if her fellow princess wanted company. 

maisie’s mouth twisted into a deprecating smile. “ i can agree that it’s an acquired taste. but it is good, and i won’t hear otherwise, charlotte. ” she picked up the corner of her toast and bit into it. at the other girl’s idea of a breakfast, she wrinkled her nose. “ that’s too sweet. it’s more of a dessert than a breakfast, isn’t it ? ”

@genoviastarters​​ / winter’s palace.

genovia was … in a sense, annoying. plain and simple. posing as a maid? kind of fun, mostly in the sense that going through a bunch of royalty’s bags quite amusing. who knew some of these people were freaky? but she had to focus. finding her mark inside of the castle with what intel she had on them? not entirely easy. so here ionna was doing, keeping up the maid act. playing another part of another identity. three knocks at a door before slowly pushing it open, “ if someone is in here, i am here to clean. please be clothed. ”

maisie stood at the window of her room, eyes gazing on the snow-covered ground outside. it was a change of scenery, a welcome one perhaps, but even pretty distractions couldn’t soothe all the aches one had. sound behind her caused her to turn. chin raised, her lips were pursed when she said, “ would you mind leaving and returning later ? i have no mind to leave right now and you’ll -- ” it sounded harsh despite her intention “ -- you’ll only be in my way. ”

@genoviastarters​ ☓ open.  location: a coat room or some other small, private place within the palace/slopes

Unbeknownst to the other, Sabina had entered the room moments ago, but rather than make her presence known she chose to watch the other quietly. 

“It’s mink if you’re curious.” Which, clearly, they must have been if they thought it alright to touch. “A gift from an Italian consul.” A prized possession; one of few.

“Would you like to try it on?” 

maisie had been admiring the coats in the room while she had gone to grab her own. fingers ghosted over a pretty coat, lightly feeling the fur. she startled when she heard a voice behind her. “ it’s beautiful. ” her remark was simple. “ i have no need to try it on. i just have a like for pretty things. ”

annalise was reading a book when she heard someone enter the room. the princess never was the most social butterfly in the world since she spent most of her life so cut off from anyone who her parents didn’t have the best relationship with. they wanted to protect her from the world, but that also led to her being so isolated from everyone else. “hello.” annalise said softly to the person. “i can leave if you want to be alone.”

@genoviastarters​

loneliness was a novel idea. no matter where maisie went, someone else would be there. even in her own room, her chambers at home, someone was only ever a call away. maybe it would be reassuring if she had fear of being abandoned. instead, she only felt stifled. it was selfish to think, considering her station and position, that there were still things she so desperately wanted, but she was only human. she reassured herself that all too often. she walked into the room, her shoulders falling when she noticed someone in there already. “ oh, don’t bother. you were here first. it’d be rude of me to ask you to leave. ” she rolled back onto her heels, glancing back over her shoulder, wondering whether or not she should leave. “ you don’t mind if i’m here, do you ? i promise i won’t be a bother. ”

“ alright. here’s the deal: you have one day to do whatever you want. it can be whenever, whatever, honestly, possibilities are endless. ” maisie pauses for effect, a smile on her face as she looks at felix. “ there are no interruptions, intrusions -- no nothing. what do you do and why ? the why is very important, don’t forget about it. ” she leans back on the couch she’s seated on, her head resting on her hand as she waits for his answer expectantly. 

“ i know that this is a club and that the majority of the people here were never classically trained in dance, but is it wrong of me to wonder if they know their left foot from their right ? i mean, really. ” a laugh bubbles up off of maisie’s lips and she finds herself bobbing to the music. she keeps thinking to herself, fun, this is meant to be fun. maybe with another drink, she’ll believe it. “ do you think they know they look like careless fools, or do you think they’re enjoying themselves to much for it to matter ? ” there’s something wistful about her when she says this, something envious and wanting.