COGITO, ERGO SUM.

for @margotstuarts​

“Margot!” Geneviève couldn’t help but grin when her friend opened the door, reaching out for a hug. “I brought you something,” she said.  “I know you’ve been missing Paris, so I thought I’d bring some of Paris to you,” extending the gift basket in her hand, she grinned. “Just in case my own sparkling presence doesn’t succeed in teleporting you back.”

"geneviève,” margot greeted, a wide grin spreading across her face easily before stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her tightly, dropping a small, instinctive kiss to her cheek as she went. “all you had to bring was yourself, but thank you,” she said and took the basket, excitedly peeking in at the contents. “it’s so good to have you here.” she stepped aside and motioned for geneviève to come inside. “how was your flight?”

“i think i did - might’ve almost cried when i spoke to bruce about it, but i wont go there.” she pursed her lips, utterly refusing to act like a spoiled child who did not get her way, but the frustration had almost pushed her to the brink of exploding. “it wont be summer or fall now, that’s for sure – not unless we could imprison the exiled king and put an heir – any heir – on the throne. i do love bruce, but it seems like the english wont accept anyone but their own to govern… which is understandable, but thoroughly inconvenient.” catherine smiled tightly, sighing deeply. bringing children into an uncertain rule would not be particularly smart. “i thought of maybe having a child that would strengthen andrew’s claim to the throne… an english child, a baptised protestant – but that would be terribly difficult for the child’s upbringing if the crown falls to another.” an english child that suddenly must be scottish! catherine wouldn’t know if the scottish people would ever forgive her.

with a raise of an eyebrow, tilly smirked at just that little detail. “a band? are you planning already?” with a wink, she made a rather large gesture. “even if you arent, please take on of the many wedding magazines that keep mysteriously finding their way here. i don’t want them.”  reaching in for a strawberry, she looked at her sister with a laugh. “i think if you wanted to be worried you should have been worried a long time ago.” it was a truth, a heavy one, but one none the less. letting it hang there for a minute she took a sip of her coffee. “i don’t think i’ve ever done anything that could be called wholesome.” picking up her phone, she looked at the notification before teasing. “she’ll be here in less than 10, you’re a real treat hungover, you know that?”

“ but how would they know you disappeared on your own accord ? would you leave them a note ? text ? be specific. ” those ‘i’m fine, don’t look for me’ notes were dramatic and normally had people do exactly the opposite so either way she would not be getting what she was aiming for. “ a social interaction is an exchange between two or more individuals so, yes, that would’ve been one. not a social day but still counts. ” he adjusted his posture and sat straight on the couch. “ there are, i’ve been in one. get up, let’s go get you a dog. staycation is officially over. ”

“ oh, don’t worry, i UNDERSTAND- and tilly was all too happy to entertain me for the time being. “ she pretends to shudder at the events in new york. she cupped her hands around the mug and sunk into the chair again, “ same old same old. the two ARTHURS in my life causing problems, as always. “ they never failed to be the root of her issues. “ i hear you’re arranged. how’s ilija treating you ? “

            ale   is   normally   the   sort   of   person   who   will   cling   onto   friendship      ;      he   values   the   people   in   his   life   more   than   anything   ,   so   to   let   his   friendship   with   margot   just   slip   away   was   a   strange   occurrence   .   but   he   was   under   a   lot   of   stress   .   the   loss   of   his   father   ,      &      everything   in   between   had   caused   him   to   distance   himself   to   people   who   had   distanced   themselves   from   him   ,   which   is   what   eventually   led   to   this   .   in   the   end   ,   anything   that   was   salvageable   between   him      &      his   old   friend   disintegrated   to   dust   .      ❛      you   could   say   that   .      ❜      he   clears   his   throat   .   the   amount   of   radio   silence   between   the   once   good   friends   had   chipped   away   at   what   they   had   built   .      ❛      so   i’ve   heard   .   i   was   ,   but   i   didn’t   see   you   either   .   busy   entertaining      ?      ❜

“and...what have you heard?” margot wasn’t normally so keen to beat around the bush, but there had been a major change in her life that she would rather not break to ale herself. although only marginally aware of his and ilija’s distaste for each other, it was still present in her mind. she and ilija had gotten closer while she and ale had drifted apart, but she would hate for ale to think that she’d picked sides for some reason. “you could say that,” she said, parroting the phrase he had used with a tentative but wry smile. “trying not to make a fool of myself is more like it, really. it’s been ages since i was last forced to make a public appearance. by that point, i’d lost whatever few social graces i’d gained. did you enjoy yourself, though?”

“if i had whose to say i’d have even told you i took a video, i’m smarter than that, come on. i’d wait and show it at your wedding if i had taken a video. right before the dj plays best song ever.” with a teasing wink she took the mug of coffee, sipping on it. “margot you have to drink smarter and harder, not just harder. i eat a full meal before a night out, hydrate- i know shocking, i also have a regular iv drip appointment, when i do go out i have a glass of water and something to eat before bed. it’s just about consistency, also i have a much higher tolerance than you. we have pedialyte too if you get desperate, that helps.” 

“how patriotic of you.” she laughed, shaking her head at the namesake. however, at the mention of meeting the new addition, catherine only managed to push a smile back on her face. it was slightly concerning that any large dog might scare the eldest stuart despite her feeling perfectly at home on top of a towering horse. “you know, about that - father and i were thinking of a summer wedding… even a fall one, but mother is adamant in waiting until the whole issue with the english succession was firmly decided.” she shuddered at the thought of the current situation brewing there, and huffed in frustration. “can you really imagine all of us, married with children? truly, a circus.” 

“ but you could be dead. kidnapped. suffered a horrible accident and lost your memory. the possibilities are endless and you’d need someone to find you. ” when he didn’t want anyone’s company — which very rarely happened, ilija loved being surrounded by the people he liked — he’d just tell his closest friends he needed some space. it was all it took. “ of course it does, it’s still social interaction. this conversation counts. ” a weak argument but one nonetheless. at her question his interest peaked. “ why, do you want one ? you know i love dogs and i think wolf would like a friend. ”

𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝟎𝟎𝟖: instagram

@margaretstuart  |  i don’t think margot even knows the password to this account. it’s run exclusively by her communications manager and is for Official matters only -- pictures with family and/or famous/royal friends, public appearances, updates about the charities she supports, etc.

“i don’t know what to get dogs, but charlotte told me that something like this would suffice… she grew up with three big dogs, so–” she handed off the little bag filled with chew and plush toys to her sister, before reaching forwards to give her a tight hug. “where is she … or is it a he?” catherine’s eyes darted around her sister’s living room, wary of any sudden movements. “you two are getting comfortable, hm? some people say that getting pets in a relationship is a precursor for children… or was it ‘to replace children’? i can’t remember exactly.” ( @margotstuarts​ ) 

“ i just like to think that, if i completely disappeared, there would be people looking for me everywhere. ” because he was the annoying person that was always looking for the people he was closest to to keep him company even when they wanted to be alone. “ a lie, you’ve seen catherine and tilly. that counts. ”

“Margaret, darling,” Fanni quipped after her when she spotted the girl’s retreating back. With quick short steps she caught up with the Scot. “I heard about the news! I know I’m not Ilija’s closest relative but I thought I should still welcome you to the family.” ( @margotstuarts​ )

she tried really hard to not laugh at the sight of her sister. watching her move around the kitchen like a zombie in pain. “you know, i’m not the smart one but i don’t think your brain can actually split apart.” opening up the fridge she pulled out a container of chopped up fruit, setting it on the counter in between them. “eat, i’ve already sent lola to find greasy breakfast food anywhere she can for now the fruit should help. if not, we can order an iv drip.” pulling herself up on the counter, tilly nodded an entertained smirk on her lips as she watched margot react to the hangover. “you did do the splits, truly the best moment of my life seeing you do the splits to fucking live while we’re young. i hope someone out there in the world recorded it because i didn’t and i wish i did. pass the coffee?” 

           there   are   certain   things   that   ale   has   learned   to   let   go   of      ;      his   friendship   with   margot   is   one   of   them   .   there   was   a   point   where   he   realised   that   if   people   wanted   to   be   in   his   life   ,   they   would   make   an   effort   to   stay   there   ,      &      that   was   how   life   was   .   still   ,   he   had   a   mild   curiosity   about   just   what   happened   to   their   friendship   ,      &      he   hasn’t   had   the   chance   to   wonder   about   it   before   they’re   bumping   into   each   other   .      ❛      hi   .   no   ,   it’s   okay   .      ❜      he   brushes   himself   off   ,   frowning   a   little   .      ❛      i   haven’t   seen   you   in   a   while   .   i’ve   been   good      ;      have   you      ?      ❜

their friendship had a slow descent, so slow that margot hadn’t realized how much it’d slipped away until it was too late. even with a few lingering regrets, she’d managed to make peace with letting it go -- right up until she was actually faced with it. she found herself wishing that there had been a fallout between them, just for some kind of definitive conclusion. getting a good look at ale, she couldn’t help but note the differences, and that made the time that had passed even more obvious. “yeah, it’s been a long time.” a hand raised to scratch at the back of her neck. “not too bad. a lot’s happened in the past month, though, it’s a bit wild. were you at the wedding? i don’t remember seeing you...”