we have accomplishments to acquire.

“ah- well-“ it would be very rude to decline such a polite invitation despite the fact that she had not necessarily intended to enjoy her tea with anyone. even so, perhaps a dash of company would do her some sort of good. perhaps she will be better at making conversation when it was simply one person rather than a pack of women all making conversation regarding topics that on some days could bore her to tears. “of course, yes, thank you,” she stumbles over her words for a brief moment, making much too loud of a noise with the chair as she pulls it out to sit down upon it. “do you spend time here often?” such riveting conversational skills, eloise.

location : the park tagging : @loveternls @gildedgloryhq @themiddlebridgerton ( anyone )

“when one yells at another in warning, it would most behoove the person being warned to be addressed by name,” eloise grumbles in return, rubbing her knee rather pitifully. her book has subsequently been abandoned but not before placing her bookmark inside of it to mark her place. “perhaps you ought to spend more time improving your aim in an area where innocent victims are not in your path of destruction.”

➝ closed starter : @bridgertonlegacy , @irxn-stxxl , @afterglowmuses , @themiddlebridgerton , @ivygrovvs !

eloise startles, her reaction a bit disproportionate considering how much the intrusion has truly bothered her. mild irritation gives way to genuine concern. she looks unwell, and an illogical urge to summon her mama wells up in eloise. "are you all right?" is the first thing that comes out of her mouth, which is a bit stupid, considering. eloise amends it quickly. "how can i help?"

➝ closed starter : @bridgertonlegacy , @irxn-stxxl , @afterglowmuses , @themiddlebridgerton , @ivygrovvs !

for a split second, her expression is wounded. however, she refuses to allow that to show on her face for very long. in fact, she had been in a relatively good mood, if a bit bored, when seeking out her brother's company. "all right, then. what's got you in such high spirits?" a more direct question would be which of their siblings has done something now, but she must not look too eager for gossip, and a part of her really does wish to know if it is that or something else.

"and am laughably bad at pretending otherwise," eloise confirmed his question with a half smile, pleased that at the very least he is being direct with her in turn. "though it does make me wonder how many of us genuinely enjoy the forced small talk these occasions require of us, and how many are simply more skilled in the art of pretending," she mused. then, matching his directness. "what do you think?"

→ @themiddlebridgerton → philip crane & eloise bridgerton

“the air,” eloise repeats, eyebrows raised in dubious skepticism just before she remembers social pleasantries and decides to somewhat shift her attitude, so it at least seems like she is trying. but truly, how is it fair that she has to be the one trying when this fellow is the one extolling the virtues of the air? “by the air, do you mean that which we breathe, or the air of genteel ladylike charm that i am attempting to equip in order to placate my mama?” too direct, as usual. a self-deprecation rooted in societal woes that no one cares to hear of.

her brow furrows and she frowns, an unbecoming expression of a lady, not that she's ever bothered herself much with worry of such things. even more unbecoming is being alone with him like this, but in truth it only matters if someone else sees them. a matter of impropriety is only relevant if they're caught. besides, her mama is... somewhere nearby. "pay him no heed. often, those who are critical are the most in need of self-examination." it was a never ending point of frustration for el, how the corrosive fathers seemed to live on forever, and her kind one is... departed. "that was not the matter upon which you sought my advice," eloise states aloud, an acknowledgement that she has all too likely once again found herself overstepping. "come along. but do continue to maintain the respectable distance in the event we are..." she hand waves the sentence of the way, knowing that he must understand what she is referring to even as she hates to subscribe to society's absurd rules for them all.

open   for   𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄   °   ♡   •    post   ball    ;    𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚘𝚗   𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎    .

it is a blessing indeed that all three of her sisters are still out, so she rarely has to field her mama's questions about her goings on. in truth, eloise has no interest in marriage. she would much prefer to be a spinster. to take care of her siblings' inevitable children for a mere night or few days only, encourage their worst habits, and return them the picture of innocence. to pursue her own intellectual pursuits rather than engaging in all of the same humdrum conversations that ultimately result in the same words in slightly different arrangements. unfortunately, rarely does not mean never, and el is torn between what will please her mother to hear and what will technically constitute the truth. she nods and tries not to give anything away with her facial expression. "pleasant, yes, as it usually is in the presence of certain company." she does manage a convincing smile at the thought of certain company being penelope featherington, one of the few she has met who does not limit the topics of conversation to dance cards and types of stitches and the pianoforte. "how was your evening, mama?"

➝ semi closed starter : @themiddlebridgerton , @sonofnyx , @thetonrunson !

"of course i do," eloise replies with a bit of an affronted expression, chin jutting out in as much of an act of defiance as she is allowed to express regarding a man presumably insulting her competence. "although i am curious as to what has caused you to be so directionally impaired. is this a usual predicament for you, or has it perhaps been invented due to some... ulterior motive?" she has reason to be wary, after all, he is a man she is not related to.