sweet dreams;

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[adclcides]

She gave the other a nod, smiling towards the female as she walked towards her, sitting herself beside the lady whom she recognized as Princess Aine. Her suggestion of enlightening her to the fantasy just made the blonde chuckle, she knew that she wasn’t capable of conjuring imaginary fantasies because she was trying to be realistic at best. “Greece is still beautiful with its views, yes, that I agree with. But it’s marred with pollution now, most of the world is honestly. I think that’s what I’m trying to get at? I mean, it’s still beautiful, yeah, but sometimes, just like fantasies, I wish I lived in Greece during the early ages. But then,” she added, “men were above us during the time so I guess there’s a pro and con for living in whatever age.” She rambled, her face flushing because she might have gone off topic. “I’m not making a comment about politics. I just feel like it’s all a big hypocrisy if I did.” She commented, chuckling.

The curl to her tiers was more knowing than she wanted to let on, allowing her fellow royal continue her ramble while she stifled a wider smile. “You have me confused now. You both agreed with me and disagreed with me in barely a minute. It sounds as if you’re looking to disagree with me to be disagreeable, which would be awfully rude, wouldn’t it?” She didn’t take well to being laughed at and lectured like a child, nor was she one to take an ill-mannered conversation. “Like you’re looking for the negative things to comment on, which is poor company to keep. You’re not like that, are you?”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[kennedyxl]

         “I WONDER how long they’re going to throw us together with our significant others before we’re meant to be wed?” It was more a thought out loud than anything. While Layne had heard the name of her betrothed and seen him from across the room she had yet to formally meet the man. Teeth pillowed into her lower lip. Admittedly she was nervous. “For instance, I’m not much of a dancer. I’d hate to have another … dance of sorts? Step on someone’s feet …”

"Until we can speak comfortably with them, no doubt.” Or at least, it was what she had the most difficultly with her own, as the two of them were too headstrong, too stubborn to bend and break the invisible barrier between them. Something about swallowing pride, she was sure. “It would be an unpleasant wedding night if we couldn’t talk to our future partners. Dancing, I’m not sure is as important, but with those you can enjoy yourself even if you can’t dance.”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[royalreagan]

Reagan found herself outside more often than not. It was warmer than it was back home and she was determined to soak it all in. She found herself on the banks of a pond. She was under strict orders to not get her clothing dirty. Despite not being a child, her caretakers knew that if they didn’t tell her she probably would come back at least a little muddy. In her hands were three small pebbles and she was getting ready to skip her first stone across the water when she heard someone coming from behind her.

“You have to find your own pebbles,” she greeted before she threw her first stone across the water. It skipped twice before dropping into the water.

"That shouldn’t be too hard,” she laughed, stepping past the other to the bank. She stepped into the shore line, no care for her shoes soaking in the water as she searched for the flat stones that would stretch far in their skip. “At least out here, there aren’t any forced smiles or betrothals to account for. I thought I would be enjoying our trip form home, and here I am craving the small things like this that remind me of it.”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[konstantinreinhardt]

         “Speak for yourself.” After his mandatory military service Konstantin hadn’t allowed himself to be bound to a schedule set by the public eye … or his parents. New of his breaking arranged marriages, or fleeing them, had made headlines in German papers on more than one occasion. He was sure he might find a sour face or two in the crowd at the Summit: women he was promised to that he had no intention on wedding years before. “That sounds like a veiled threat. I’m not certain I’m entirely open to the idea of being threatened by a hundred pound woman.” Which was also a joke, she was clearly one-fifteen at least. A grin finally cracked his own facade, perhaps a little hard to seek among his beard, but it was there … lighting the little shine in the corner of his eyes. “When it stops raining tonight and everything heats up again, go to the beach. It’s better at night anyway. No sun to burn you, not prying eyes to peek you. The water will still be a little chillier but not too cold…” He spoke from experience on that, the pleasant memory of night swimming in Italy surfacing. “So you don’t enjoy pointless balls, then?”

“I was speakin’ for myself,” she added, repositioning her hands behind her back. She nodded toward the hallway for him to follow, beginning her stroll away from the dreary window and perhaps any lurking ears that were sure to trail their steps. “You should get used to it. I hear marriages are full of veiled threats, though mine are usually more apparent. And no, that one wasn’t a threat.” Her smile came more naturally, turning back to meet his gaze as she spoke. The Irish princess expected their conversations to be guarded, occasionally hidden behind a language he thought she didn’t understand (filled with lewd comments he didn’t care if she understood as when they were introduced). She expected their exchanged words to be a subtle fight hidden behind an invisible barrier and pleasantries. “You think I would be able to sneak off to a beach without someone knowing, a prying eye that wouldn’t think it strange someone’s out in the dead of night? Not sure where you think that’s an easy feat.” The conversation was more effortless when left on their own, effortless to be candid. “Unless you’d be willing to show me. But I don’t mind the balls at all, I don’t mind the dancin’. I do mind my time being repurposed for the show of it. And you? Do you enjoy the dancin’?”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[ofalannah]

“good morning,” alannah whispered as she lifted the coffee mug to her lips. back home in ireland, she had always gotten up early enough to watch the sunrise, but this was the first time she would wake up early enough in greece. she smiled at the other, patting the chair next to her. “i’m not used to having company this early. why are you up?”

A wide grin stretched her lips as she made her cup, hijacked a pastry without plate before residing next to her sister. "Old habits. I’m used to being up and beginning the day-- running around with my face buried in some piece of paper.” Her eyes were wide, as if mentioning paperwork brought back flashes of war despite serving in a war itself. “For once I have enough time to sit, relax. Far too much spare time on our hands, don’t you think?”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[hadassahsafir]

“When you come from a country with very little rain you learn to appreciate it.” Hadassah took the seat nearest to the girl, following her gaze towards the window. The rain always managed to sooth her. To her it was renewal, a chance to forget about past problems and focus on what was to come. “However,” she smirked. “I suppose it is rather dreary.”

“I suppose the grass is always greener in our minds.” Even if home was where she wished to be in the moment. “I’m used to it, but at the same time bored of it, if only because this place in my expectations wasn’t my home and wouldn’t have been the same. There are always walks inside. Would you like to join me for one?”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[princealexwin]

“Well where I come from, you get used to the rain. Britain is funny like that,” Alex chuckled leaning against the wall. “The rain can actually be kind of fun, if you know how to play in it.” 

“Oh, really? Here all the postcards show bright and sunny London. I’m well aware of the rain, we’re but a channel from each other and the weather makes us both its fools. We try to fool everyone else our weather is anything but.” The soft laugh from her nose accompanied a small shake of her head, eyes intent on him as they were oft, direct and perhaps a touch unnerving. “Are you suggesting we go out into the rain like children? Splash in the puddles with our wellies?”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

edwardwindsor

“I think the rain follows us, to be honest. It’s the curse of being from the British Isles.” Edward smiled warmly at her. The rain had done its duty in calming him down, it was easier to forget about why he was here when the soft pattering on the windows was there to remind him of home. “I’m sure it’ll clear up soon and then we can all get back to sweating and complaining about the sun.”

“You’re reading my mind. I swear to think it’s haunting us, or it’s some grave foretelling on a place pictured to be so bright and warm.” Her smile warmly echoed back his, glancing back out the window briefly. “To be honest, I forgot about that part. Perhaps we’re fish from where we come. We’re meant to be in nothing but the rain. Alas, fish don’t marry. It feels like I’m ripping off a plaster every time I say it, and I’m repeating the words and reapplying it to see if it feels any different with each pull. I thought I was too old to marry off.”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[princenicolaus]

“It’s the only beginning älskling,” Nic mused as he watched the people rather the rain. People kept his attention more than the weather. You could learn a lot about people by watching them when they weren’t aware of his prying eyes. “There will be time for sunshine, warm weather, and bare skin,” he continued, a small smirk growing on his face. He tilted his head a little to the right as he eyed a good looking servant a distance away.

Only the beginning. The smile that graced her lips was more bemused than anything-- what a perfectly ominous phrase for the very reason why they were in Greece. “Only the beginning,” she echoed back, and then continued, “I’m afraid of there being the exact opposite, that when the sun shines we’ll be far busier than we expect. There are preparations to make, after all. Or perhaps you find distractions wherever you look.”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[katrixnes]

Katriane wasn’t enjoying this weather, not because she didnt like the rain, but because it meant that the majority of the inhabitants were holed up inside with her. Most rooms she went into were already occupied by people she either didn’t  want to socialise with. Overhearing the others comments though, she couldn’t help her eyes from rolling. “Christ, you’re speaking as if one day of rain here means that there’ll never be sun again.”

The sharp tone brought a smile to the Irish princess’s lips, pleasant but albeit smart to be spoken to as if she were a child. “You’re right. There will be sunshine, even if I must wait a while. I only hope other festivities and responsibilities won’t keep me indoors when it shows. I did fancy myself on the beach, today, if only because there’s little do within these walls. Have you found your amusement here?”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[kristoford]

Kristofor had merely been passing by; he kept making rounds through each room to try and memorize the counts for his footsteps so he wouldn’t bump into some priceless vase and start World War III. He paused, his guide dog Mia stopped beside him, and he turned his head in the direction of the voice. Irish, for sure. “Unfortunately the colors wouldn’t make much of a difference for me, but some warm weather and a walk outside would be nice,” he agreed. “If I recall, Ireland isn’t known for its tropical weather. I’m sure we’ll get a nice day here soon.” 

She laughed shortly at his remark, shaking her head to herself as she replied, “No, Ireland isn’t known for its paradise in the sun. I never been one for vacations, rarely took a reprieve to another country and here we are. Just like home. We’ll have to share a walk in the sun when it appears,” she added, before her eyes fell to the companion at his side.  “Your guide appears very sweet, very loyal it makes me miss mine at home, though they don’t carry the same weight on their shoulders as yours. You must be Prince Kristofor Domagojević, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[adclcides]

“Looks like you’re living in a world of fantasies.” She commented as she slowly made her way to the other. Fantasies weren’t real, the world was cruel that way that she had thrown away starlit skies and romantic sunsets. “You’d think Greece would once be the beauty it was but right now, I don’t think it would be the same honestly.” She told other, voicing out her opinion, not caring that the other cared if ever, but it was awkward if she left the other alone on her voiced-out thoughts.

“Perhaps you could enlighten me to the fantasy,” she genuinely asked, turning her frame fully to the other. “Last I knew Greece’s beauty was still in tact, the last environmental phenomenon hadn’t scarred the beaches but marred only one city closer to land, months ago.” Of all the things she had heard during her stay, living in a fantasy was unique among them. Áine withheld her laugh at the thought of it, at the thought of her own people vying for her and her family’s heads as a fantasy. “Unless you’re referring to its politics and economical state which I have no opinion while I am guest here.”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[eliseferdinand]

         “To be honest I was looking forward to a little heat, too.” The rain was a bit of a disappointment, but Elise had a way of finding the negatives in things ( even if she kept the negativity to herself ). “Hopefully the sun will come out sooner than later. I’d like at least one beach day here.” Finger traced the rim of her own glass, eyes set down on the growing condensation there. She hadn’t been terribly hungry since the Summit, though she figured it was normal.

“It’s appreciated to hear someone share the sentiment.” One would have thought they weren’t at a royal summit, and everyone who had approached her with sharp tones at the ready were preparing for war. “I’ll have to find you the moment it peeks through, share a day at the beach with you, if you wouldn’t mind. I think we’re all due for some healthy distractions before the world reminds us our duties weren’t left behind when we boarded our planes. You are from the Netherlands, yes? I’m sorry to not know your name. There were far too many faces to memorize before arriving.”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[konstantinreinhardt]

         If he could find a way to unclench his jaw, he was sure he would do so soon. Every since the Summit, the announcement of a Summit … he’d felt the tension in the sides of his skull. There were worse pairs, he was sure, and there was no doubt that the woman before him was beautiful but … but like every other royal there Konstantin was not pleased with the idea of a forced marriage. Though somewhere in the back of his head he knew the day would come, he’d just managed to avoid it for this long. “You’re acting like this is your only night here. I’m sure there will be many more opportunities to witness it.” How was he supposed to talk to her? If she were anyone other than his future wife he’d use his charm, beguile her into finding him appealing and witty. He was just too busy sulking.

“I’m acting as if time and freedom are illusions with which we comfort ourselves,” she trailed on, far too serious tone to be taken as such, airy as if lost in contemplation, “and if you don’t seize opportunities quickly, reality will shatter those illusions and seize it from you.” The Irish princess waited a few moments, blue eyes set on his with a dead stare acting as if she meant their ominous air-- half-heartedly she did-- as a test to see how her soon-to-be husband would react, if he found her display humorous or strange. Yet her features faltered quickly, cracked and contorted until a full smile bloomed across her tiers. “I fancied myself on the beach today, and I’m a little let down, is all. There will be so many ceremonies expected of us, I’m eager to take advantage of the time around them. Aren’t you?”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[princessxniamh]

Niamh sat across from her sister, watching the droplets chase each other and remembering a game she used to play when she was a child. Which would go faster? She moved when she heard her sister speak, and smiled in a teasing way in response. “And what would we do with the sun, Áine? It would burn you to a crisp in seconds with your pale colouring.” Niamh laughed, looking back out the window. “And it’s not green enough to be home. Not enough trees or fields. But who knows, maybe we can burn together when the rain clears.”

“Everything is changing rapidly. Why not burn before the timely crash?” She proffered a soft smile to the younger, pursed lips withholding the mischief behind her words from becoming more apparent. “No, it’s not green enough, not enough hills either but I fancied myself on a beach and happily burning. You can’t get that at home, and you can’t get that with the rain either.” There was no doubt her heart was in the Éire, but knowing they were the third generation and the arrival of invitations, part of her heart beat faster at the prospect of change. And yet here they were...  “ It’s following and haunting us, I’m sure of it. Besides, burns might make the boys go running. Perhaps they won’t like red-face princesses at their sides.”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

[angieferdinand]

“I don’t know, I kinda like it, actually.  Usually rain puts me right to sleep, but there’s something about rain on the coast…makes me feel a bit like a mermaid.  But just give it a day or two and I’m sure Mr. Global Warming will have it sunny and scorching again.”

“I would think global warming would have less to do with it than the fact we’re barely five kilometers from the equator. It’s what I was betting on,” she murmured, glancing back to the window with a light smile and a reminder she wasn’t good at gambling when her hand wasn’t in the pot. “I don’t mind it, earnestly. Rain knows my skin more intimately than the sun. Though I never thought myself a mermaid. You have quite the imagination to make the connection between them.”

[ainelochlainn-blog]

Hands folded in one another, Áine watched the glass in front of her as if the rain droplets that beat against it were speaking to her in their patters or writing an inscription in their fall. “I suppose,” she began, tearing herself from her trance and away from the pane, “it’s no different than home. Past the tourist days, I was hoping to see the classic Greek sun, cascading oranges onto the beach in a temperature too hot for its own good. I should have known better, shouldn’t I?”