#*event: 20

“psst- gio! giovanni--” it wasn’t difficult to find her cousin, ostentatious blue suit and all, ariel tugging at her cousin’s arm as she pulled him away from a conversation with a particularly animated russian duke. “come with me- c’mon! i have a surprise for you, do you absolutely promise not to be a bore?” she led them to sparsely attended corner of the ballroom, ornately golden and filled with opulence in every breath, casting a look around to make sure no one could fully see them. thankfully, it seems as if all the attention was on a particularly enthusiastic couple that was showing off on the dance floor. 

“lara! oh i knew you’d come- willa was besides herself, also goodness, how did you become even more beautiful? i’m endlessly jealous.” in her eyes, lara was all blurred in the edges, glowing from within and decorated with an array of subtle diamonds up and down her golden hair. “i heard about your engagement too, doesn’t that make us technically family? ...a cousin-in-law, yes?” ( @hrhlara​ ) 

the russian palace was all golden light, quite as colossal as the sun, and ariel hummed contentedly as her eyes took in every new detail, every beautiful carving on the walls. it took her a good ten minutes or so of staring at a particularly ornate bust of a beautiful lady did she realise that she was coming up, up, up. so the princess laughed out loud, hopefully not looking terribly strange in this corner by herself, only to look up to find another thoroughly beautiful face right next to the bust she had been eyeing. “oh mimi! oh goodness hello! it feels like i haven’t seen you since the wedding... you look absolutely divine, my darling -- did you get even blonder? or maybe that’s just my eyes.” perhaps she was blinded, somehow, blissfully so. ariel took both of the other girl’s arms, and pushed quick air kisses on each cheek. “oh pardon me -- would you like a pick me up? i gave gio some earlier and we’re just coming up... it’s just molly though, i don’t have any coke with me.” she didn’t know exactly why, but mimi seemed as if she preferred snow. ( @mimidbg​ )

“i heard! i heard!” ariel came bounding into her best friend’s arms, laughter bubbling in her lips and light in her eyes. “2020 is going to be your year, wila, i feel it -- in my bones-” she paused suddenly, and for some reason, she suddenly could feel her hair grow in rapid speed, half expecting it to touch the floor before she could open her mouth to continue. “lara is suddenly engaged? germany coming to the rescue? i’m floored. i didn’t know that luca could swing this to be honest - and oh!” suddenly she jumped, eyes all wide and heartbeat racing. “mio dio! we’re actually going to be family!”   /   @hrhwilhelmina​