sure she’s evil but look at those tits
Sweet Seals For You, Always
$LAYYYTER
todays bird
Sade Olutola

Kaledo Art

roma★

tannertan36

No title available
Stranger Things

oozey mess
noise dept.
Misplaced Lens Cap

Love Begins
Cosmic Funnies
One Nice Bug Per Day
Peter Solarz

Origami Around
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
No title available

祝日 / Permanent Vacation
seen from Germany
seen from United States

seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from T1

seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Italy

seen from Maldives

seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from United States

seen from United Kingdom
seen from South Africa
seen from Peru
@bouiettes
sure she’s evil but look at those tits
𝒅𝒖𝒑𝒏𝒕𝒔
teddy recognizes that look, he’s seen it plenty of times before. even as he’s grown accustomed to it, he’s unable to hold her gaze–––– a clear sign teddy is guilty. but, that doesn’t mean he misses her back handed compliment. all this extra workload, he’s not used to it echoes through his thoughts over and over and he has to stop himself from responding. he’s never had an issue keeping up with classes, perhaps this go around is twice as hard because he has an ungrateful girlfriend breathing down his neck. however, that isn’t a discussion to have in front of your creepy professor. or anyone, really. so, teddy focuses on the office’s floor, his freshly shined oxfords, textbooks stacked higher than griswold’s desk–––– avoiding the two sets of eyes currently on him. and when he feels céline’s grip on his knee, teddy can only assume she wishes it were his neck and it were a bit tighter. nonetheless, he does manage a small smirk to show he’s proud of his newfound standing as well: tied for second place. if they are second, then there is one more obstacle standing in their way. first place. and that would be… kamile, obviously. teddy adjusts his position in his seat, moving away from céline’s hand, as he begins to feel uncomfortable at just the idea of kamile. she’s the woman who was too good to spend a night out with teddy, though has no problem having a drug addict as her best friend. goes to show that no matter how friendly, funny, or charming teddy is–––– there are always going to be people in this world who won’t care unless he has a title. and he’ll need céline for that. therefore, before her hand can drop into her lap again, teddy grabs it and holds it in his own. griswold notices the sudden public display of affection and wonders what it is that’s changed for teddy to suddenly become such a doting boyfriend. he clearly has no clue what’s going on in his students’ head. if he did then he’d be aware of the nature of teddy and kamile’s relationship and wouldn’t have to worry–––– not that he didn’t find perverse pleasure in toying with the couple, because he most certainly does. he simply can’t help himself. i’m proud of you both, the professor leans forward in his chair, now theodore, i heard about your friday night with miss yener and if that is your plan to take the number one spot you may have to try harder. there is a big gap between first and second place. this is the moment teddy almost loses the composure he’s been desperately hanging on to. he clears his throat and turns to céline, intertwining their fingers while knowingly being caught in a lie by none other than the already hated man himself. but, i do believe in you two. yet, i also have my concerns. this competition won’t affect your relationship, will it? “ no, sir, ” he nervously adds, voice slightly breaking, “ no, it won’t. right, cél? ”
teddy moving his knee away from céline is all the confirmation she needs to know that he’s uncomfortable. good. watching him squirm and be unsettled beneath her stare and that of the professor’s brings immense joy to the princess. boyfriend needs to be humbled, reminded that at the end of the day he was just as ordinary as anyone else. goes to remove her hand but in that moment he intertwines their fingers and that catches her off guard just slightly, but not as much as griswold’s following words. teddy and kamile? he has to be joking. if the princess wasn’t so damn good at masking her fury, it would definitely be present on her face right now. first vera… now kamile. knows she shouldn’t be so bothered by this revelation since she herself is having an affair with another love club student, but céline isn’t perfect and she’s never claimed to be. despite what others might think. add salt to injury, teddy had completely blown off their date night that friday; making up some excuse about him studying when in reality he was in cahoots with kamile yener. so far, cél has managed to keep a neutral demeanor despite the ongoing turmoil in her mind. it isn’t until the professor brings up their relationship that she snaps back into the conversation. “ no, but my education sits on a higher pedestal than our relationship. ” says with conviction, squeezing her boyfriend’s hand, “ so if my education is what i have to focus on to secure the number one spot, then so be it. what’s a relationship without a few compromises? ” her answer tells griswold everything he needs to know about the couple, and if he wasn’t paying attention to them before he definitely is now. “ we all knew this was going to be a cutthroat competition. ”
𝒅𝒖𝒑𝒏𝒕𝒔
teddy turns to céline, expecting to be met with a correspondingly concerned look. but, she doesn’t even flinch. it’s as if he is the only one here who got the ‘your professor is a pretentious dick’ memo. it seemed so painfully obvious to teddy, and yet no other classmate happen to notice. what he doesn’t realize is that he picks up on griswold’s insincerity because it reflects his own. if anything, teddy is projecting his fears of being exposed on the man. he manages to bite his tongue all the way down the hallway to girswold’s office. however, teddy puts up a fight when he gives them instructions. “ i prefer to stand, thanks, ” he doesn’t appreciate being told what to do and he’s much too anxious about the subject of the meeting to sit down for its reveal. in the process, failing céline’s test. teddy stands in the back corner of the room, arms crossed over his chest as his eyes scan the pictures displayed on the shelves. memories of academic achievements, paper evidence of awards won, and a group of eight friends dressed in glamorous attire–––– perhaps, the first love club. he begins to wonder if twenty year old griswold would have won in a competition between his friends or if he would have experienced equal difficulties that teddy is. for so long, he admired the professor from afar–––– wanted to be exactly like him. yet that dream has slowly faded away. the two are similar, but the more he gets to know griswold, the more his mind changes. it started once he noticed the mask he wore is just that, a mask. it made teddy feel insecure, even vulnerable. he saw griswold putting on a show. were there people out there that see the same from him? he wishes to be respected, not tolerated. i’d really enjoy your full attention, mr. duponts. with his back still facing griswold, teddy rolls his eyes and then puts on his best, phony smile before finally turning around. “ right. my apologies, ” he says, walking towards a chair opposite of their professor. so, i know you both must be worrying why i asked you in today. don’t–––– it’s good news. teddy lets out a deep breath, a weight being lifted off his shoulders. mr. duponts, at our meeting last week, we spoke of needing to do better and i am pleased to tell you that you are… doing tremendously better. in the midst of griswold’s praises, teddy quickly glances at céline. he hadn’t mentioned doing poorly in class–––– this would come as a surprise to her. so much better, in fact, that you and ms. bouiette are now tied for the second spot in my class.
she could kill him, céline really could. can already see herself reaching out and strangling theodore to death for embarrassing her like this in front of their professor. not only by leaving her standing by the chair like an idiot, but also with how he had responded to the older man. i prefer to stand, what a pompous answer. leave it to him to make a moment out of nothing. céline’s right eye twitches and it almost goes unnoticed by griswold but he catches it just in time. this right here is exactly why he had decided to reach out to the couple. there was more to them than meets the eye and he absolutely needed to know just who they really are. none of that royal nonsense that precedes their names. after finding out that kamile and theodore had spent an evening together, it sent the professor into a fit of jealous rage that led to him send out the email to them both. if duponts could meddle with what he has with kamile, what’s stopping him from doing the same? cél takes a seat after theodore leaves her hanging, crossing one ankle over the other and sitting properly just as she’s been taught to. keeps the delusion of killing her boyfriend with her two hands tucked away in the back of her mind, already knowing she was going to blow up on him about it when they were alone later on. attention is fully on the man as he sits and begins to explain why they were here. the princess knew from the jump that there was no reason for to be worried so she’s relieved to hear that she was correct in assuming so. there’s a polite smile on her face throughout it all . . . except for when it’s mentioned that theodore wasn’t doing so hot academically. this is a tremendous surprise to her, this whole time she’s been under the impression that he was doing exceptionally well. it is all he ever boasts about. bites down on the inside of her cheek to keep her face from revealing just how bothered she’s become by this tidbit of information. however, next words have all of that dissolving immediately. tied for the second spot, it fills her with gratification. “ that’s… wonderful. amazing news! ” lights up, finally turning her head to look over at her boyfriend. though the look behind her eyes doesn’t match the words nor tone she’s just displayed. it’s more of a you’re in such deep shit look. “ we’ve both worked so hard. especially teddy. i know how hard this semester has been on him. all this extra workload… he’s not used to it. baby, i’m so proud of you. ” hand reaches over to fall onto his knee, squeezing it gently.
𝒅𝒖𝒑𝒏𝒕𝒔
a week ago, when teddy met with professor griswold for his one on one meeting, he was warned to pick up the pace or he’d be falling behind his classmates soon. thus, led to his bright idea of asking kamile for help. their time together didn’t quite help their budding alliance ( if you can call it that ) since teddy found even the most impossible way to ruin their night. although, it did have an affect on his grades. he’s been speaking more in class, joining in with relevant points during heated discussions, and aced the last quiz. so, when he’s invited back in for another meeting, teddy can only assume it’s good news. why else would the man personally request his presence at his office after class? but, as he walks in to see céline and catches the end of the ongoing conversation already happening, teddy is quickly knocked off his very high horse. “ i have a meeting–––– sorry, did she say you two? ” his eyes stay on céline, hoping she’ll crack a devilish smirk and expose this for the joke that it is. she, of course, does not. therefore, teddy, who is clearly irritated, looks to the secretary. “ excuse me, could you clarify what is happening here? ” handling an arrogant, rich kid is nothing new to the woman. she flashes a fake, polite smile as she explains the situation, like she is speaking to two toddlers. you, mister duponts and miss bouiette have a meeting with professor griswold. to-geth-er. the three syllables are dragged out for good measure. here he is now.“ what? ” griswold walks into the room and immediately captivates it, every head turning in his direction. the waiting area feels much smaller with him and his big ego. there’s the lovely couple. you both must be confused, but all will be revealed. care to join me?
teddy’s tone has céline’s skin crawling and she has to bite back a major eye roll at the way he’s speaking to the griswold’s assistant. however, she’s satisfied with how the woman replies and doesn’t hide the smug smile that tugs at her lips as she speaks to theodore as if he is a child. he can act like a toddler throwing a tantrum sometimes, but he’s very good at hiding it. same way she’s good at hiding that unhinged side of hers. once griswold appears, the princess stands from her seat quickly and straightens her posture, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. tries not to feel intimidated by the man, but it’s hard not to with the way he speaks and maneuvers around the space. “ professor griswold. ” cél greets, that smug smile from before changing into her signature, friendly one. stands besides teddy, almost cringing as he refers to them as a lovely couple. “ i–– we didn’t expect this to be a joint meeting, but i’m sure you have your reasons. please, lead the way. ” the professor looks at both of them briefly before clasping his hands together and nodding. of course my office this way. and with that, he turns on his heel and begins to lead them both down the long corridor. they follow and céline thanks the woman at the front desk as they descend down the hall and into his office. it’s silent the whole way as she really doesn’t know what to expect from this meeting they’re about to have. stays optimistic, especially since theodore is here with her and she doubts griswold has ill intentions. once they’re in his office, the blonde can’t help but look around and admire all the paintings that hung on the walls and the tall ceiling. can definitely tell this building is old but in the most elegant way possible. please have a seat. motions for them sit in the two large chairs. waits for theodore to do the gentleman thing and pull out the chair for her, testing to see if he was going to play this perfect boyfriend role in front of their esteemed professor.
@dupnts
when céline had received the email from professor griswold asking her to meet, her heart plummeted straight into her stomach. immediately she began to reevaluate every single assignment turned in, exam taken, and interaction with the professor. has been working so hard to stay on top of everything with proficiency, so the idea of him wanting to meet with her one on one has her mind spiraling wondering if she had done something wrong or messed something up. is usually good at taking criticism, but it’s nerve wracking here at northridge when there’s so much at stake. then again, if she were the one to be accepted into the law firm at the end of the semester, she couldn’t possibly accept the offer. liroux was waiting for her. mind races a million miles per hour as she pushes open the large, wooden doors of the building his office is in, sauntering up the freshly waxed staircase until she’s at the second floor. is greeted by his assistant, who immediately recognizes her and kindly asks cél to sit in one of the three chairs that were pressed up against the wall. he’ll be with you two shortly. says the woman and this causes céline’s expression to turn into one of confusion. you two? own question is answered as she hears nearing footsteps, then suddenly theodore appears and it seems like he wasn’t expecting her to be here either. “ hey… what are you doing here? ” perhaps griswold accidentally scheduled them both for a meeting at the same, but he doesn’t seem like the type of person to make such a small mistake. any mistake, if she’s being honest.
𝒚𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒔
kamile knows it’s stupid to be this nervous to have someone over to her apartment. no, not just someone, a friend — kind of, she reminds herself as if that makes her feel any better. in theory, it should. in theory, there’s a level of forgiveness that comes with friendship. in theory, friends don’t care if your apartment isn’t absolutely spotless, or if you don’t pick out the perfect wine to pair with your charcuterie board, or if the candle you lit is an overwhelming scent, or if you picked the perfect season of love island to introduce to a reality tv novice. but kamile doesn’t know if any of that is actually the case in practice; the only friend that’s ever been to her apartment is nicolás, and her and céline are definitely not on that level of friendship. so kamile’s put a lot of pressure on herself for the night to be perfect, desperate to impress céline enough that she wants to keep her around.
she’s contemplating wiping down her kitchen counters a fourth time, when there’s a knock at her door. smoothing down her sweater — and trying to ignore the creeping anxieties about her choice of attire — kamile rushes over to let céline in. “céline, hello!” she chips as she pulls the door open and steps aside. “come on in.”
céline had been looking forward to spending more time with kamile, their little shopping trip cementing to her that there was room there for a potential friendship to blossom. sure, the two women didn’t have much in common but they had enough to keep personable small talk going, which was enough for the princess to jump at the chance of seeing her again. she finds kam to be interesting, a respected academic but also a really driven athlete. even snooped around online and found a few videos of her matches, intrigued by her playing style. needless to say, it was refreshing socializing with someone who wasn’t in her usual circle of acquaintances. however, things between céline and teddy have been steadily getting rockier and while that usually has nothing to do with kamile, circumstances are different now. or at least, that’s how cél sees it. had planned a date with theodore weeks ago, even making sure to remind him the days leading up to it… yet somehow he still completely forgot about it, standing up the princess which in turn made her furious. gave her the excuse that he was studying, which she believed at first. that quickly changed once she found out he was with kamile that night. felt more betrayed than anything, even though she shouldn’t considering her current relationship with ezra.
still, céline has an appearance to upkeep and she’s decided to play this close to her chest. something about keeping your friends close but your enemies closer. even stopped by a local flower shop to purchase a stunning bouquet to bring over to kamile’s place. when the door swings up, blonde girl smiles warmly and immediately puts on the princess facade. “ thank you. ” steps inside, looking around the space and taking in all the details. “ these are for you. smells great in here, by the way. ” compliments, holding out the vase that held the flowers for her to take.
–––– sandra cisneros.
𝒅𝒖𝒑𝒏𝒕𝒔
teddy is truly shocked to hear the princess of liroux almost curse, his mouth hanging slightly open. silence fills the space between the couple as she attempts to compose herself, and though he’s still figuring out céline and her mannerisms, he’s receptive to how she struggles through it. can’t she see how much he loves her? she need not worry. perhaps teddy should confirm his feelings, instead of letting her suffer. céline, in her own way, just showed him she cares. so, it’s the least he can do to settle their first, real argument. “ i know you will, ” he places a hand on either side of her face, looking down at his girlfriend with wide eyes, “ but, victoria isn’t a threat for us… because… i love you, céline. ” he has never said those words to her, or anyone( outside of his family ) . this is a big deal for them both. and as he nervously awaits his response, heart hammering in his chest, teddy contemplates the next discussion he’ll have with his mother. mom, we’re in love. she’ll be the proudest she’s ever been. her son in a serious relationship with the future queen.
stares up at him with glossed over eyes, not because she’s sad but because of how frustrated she feels with the entire thing. hopes teddy understands that she’s only acting out because she’s afraid to lose what they have. gloved hand comes up to rest atop of his as she hangs on to every word he utters. i love you céline. the statement causes a warmth to spread in her chest and the petty argument is seemingly forgotten. he loves her, and the proclamation makes her realize how foolish she was for lashing out on him over something so small. cél knows that the feeling is mutual, how could it not be? he’s the first real boyfriend she’s ever had. the princess spends most of her time daydreaming and counting down the minutes before they’re reunited. writing about him in her diary or even talking the château staff’s ear off about their most recent date. it’s sappy, but she loves sappy. it makes her feel as if she’s living an actual fairytale instead of the calculated life that she lives. can’t help but lean in to kiss him, letting her actions show him exactly how she feels. “ i love you, teddy. ” she repeats his words back to him, “ and i’m sorry for overreacting. ” is all céline says, not wanting to ruin their moment.
𝒚𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒔
briefly, kamile wonders how the hell someone who has never read tolstoy was accepted into the same program she is in; given the way kamile worked herself to the bone for this. it’s a harsh reminder that kamile’s in the presence of a princess, and she can feel her anti-royalist tendencies flair up. nepotism is a disease among the elite, and what’s a better example than the crown? kamile just manages to strangle the contempt that threatens to creep into her tone, smiling as she nods. “please. and you have to tell me what you think when you do. it’s one of my favorites.” she completely misses céline’s line about the relatable themes.
“oh, well, obviously you need accessories.” her voice sounds oddly chipper as she tries to push away her judgmental thoughts and get the afternoon back on track. for once, kamile’s grateful for how unfamiliar she and céline still are; it means she’s unlikely to pick up on it when she’s forcing her enthusiasm. and at least it’s a topic kamile doesn’t have to try too hard to care about — she’s passionate about accessories. but even still, it’s another reason why she prefers to shop alone: she prefers pearls and red garnets to diamonds, and simple gold jewelry over any gemstone, but she doesn’t want to shoot céline down when she’s been nothing but sweet. “that is nice,” kamile nods as she reaches for the hate céline holds out. it’s a gorgeous material. “i’ll keep it close while we keep looking. ” if only due to her personal rule that she doesn’t make impulse purchases.
she continues browsing the racks, and feels her chest tighten as a silence settles between them. kamile doesn’t want to bore céline, especially not when they basically made plans to spend more time together over reality tv. kamile would die of embarrassment if céline changed her mind now. she fumbles for a new topic of conversation, grasping for their shared connection. “hey, you and ezra have become friends, right?” it’s an assumption, but they had surprised kamile with how well they got along while they were preparing for the mock trial.
satisfied with the reaction from kamile, céline continues to browse silently, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. the silence is comforting. she tries to mentally piece together something that would be more of the other’s liking. she’s really trying to get to know her better, and céline figures since she’s got an eye for fashion, why not use it as an opportunity to bond? that and the reality tv, which she feels like she can really get into if kamile is suggests the right thing. however, as the topic of conversation switches over to ezra, céline doesn’t let the mention of his name bring any effect to her demeanor. “ i guess you could say that. he’s really intelligent and offers an interesting perspective on things i’d never think to stop and think about. ” like her relationship. ezra has her questioning if being with theodore is actually worth it. she knows it is, it’s the only thing that’ll keep her comfortable in this life she has. but did céline want to stay comfortable? bored out of her mind and trapped in a loveless marriage? that would mean betraying her family, and she doesn’t know if she’s capable of doing that. realizing she’s stayed silent for too long, céline speaks up again. “ he’s really funny, also. ” finds a lovely set of golden hoop earrings and she shows them to kamile, “ these are cute. simple, but the gold is just beautiful. ”
𝒅𝒖𝒑𝒏𝒕𝒔
“ forgive me i can’t distinguish a specific conversation amongst the two hundred i’ve had tonight, ” teddy finds her argument so insane that he can not take it seriously. céline must be pulling a fast one on him. this isn’t real. why would she be hurt over a hug? a hug he doesn’t recall even transpired. he lets out a dry laugh before humoring the madness with a sarcastic response, “ okay, right, got it— hugging is off limits. now, i’d like to understand the rules here… does that go for my mom and theresa, too? because i did hug them earlier when they arrived. my sincerest apologies. ” this could all be solved with teddy expressing genuine remorse. he did something that bothered his girlfriend and in the future, he could make a promise to never do it again. problem solved. but, there’s a little part of teddy that enjoys this. it’s the first time since they’ve become official that céline has shown more than the simple, royal relationship standards. this is different from the motions they go through for the cameras, or for their parents during an aristocratic dinner. she’s displaying emotions— passion. she watched the interaction with victoria. she’s worried of another woman stealing him back, of losing him. it’s being demonstrated in the wrong way, and yet teddy is just delighted it is. therefore, if he provokes céline, it’s only because he savors these moments where those he loves most reveal their inner appreciation for him.
“ don’t mess with me, theodore. ” céline hisses at him, stepping in much closer than before, her chest almost up against his. she can feel her vision blurring but instead she blinks away the tears. “ you know what you did and you’re trying to spin it on me. as if... as if i’m the crazy one for worrying about some bi––– ” céline cuts the insult off by turning away from him as she tries to collect herself before things escalated past the point of no return. she has no interest in knowing what that entailed to. the temperature outside causes those few tears of frustration that leaked to feel like icicles against her skin. cél takes a moment and lets out a deep breath to bring herself back to reality. you’re overreacting. thinks to herself. but she can’t get her feelings under control at the moment. the idea of someone taking theodore from her. it hurts. céline doesn’t want to lose him. he’s the first thing that has felt right to her in a long, long time. maybe even for the first time. she can’t let anything jeopardize what they’re building together. not even victoria. her names causes the princess to cringe. “ you tell her to back off or i will. ” is what she says once they’re facing each other again, feeling a little less teary but a whole lot more determined to make it clear that she wasn’t going to tolerate something like this again.
december & september –––– no, you are not my property. you do what you want and i trust you, entirely.
But you, you’re so… kind, and open. Well, it’s made me want to be a better person.
Glee | 2.04 “Duets”
𝒚𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒔
kamile doesn’t push the topic further, because this time, she agrees with céline. she really does want the best for nicolás, which is why it frustrates her so much to see him so dead set on self-destructing. though it’s reassuring to know her and céline are on the same page. however, from céline’s tone, kamile suspects they would also agree on how confident they are that their classes will be enough to convince nic to get his act together.
some of the tension in kamile’s shoulders dissipates with céline’s reassurance. while the best part of northridge is obviously the education — the rigor and opportunities are second to none — the love club is the next best thing. it’s the first time she’s felt any sense of belonging with people her age; if anyone could understand her passion for russian literature, it’s the other people that got into the prestigious program. “have you read it? what do you think?” céline’s praise has kamile standing a bit taller, incredibly please with her success. immediately, she’s turning back to the racks of clothes, determined to find something even better for céline, but apparently the blonde has other ideas. “oh, i don’t really need anything right now.” the moment the words leave her lips, kamile wants to take them back; why would she come shopping if she wasn’t going to buy anything. never mind the fact that her wardrobe was planned with a spreadsheet, she can lighten up this once. “but i’m sure we can find something that’ll change my mind. i like all of the above. i usually gravitate towards a neutral color palette; browns, creams, whites, grays, and blacks. and i’ve been really into menswear silhouettes lately, especially when i can pair them with something more feminine.”
“ i haven’t had the chance to read it, but i’ve heard of it. you might have just convinced me to look over it soon, though. it seems to have some pretty relatable themes. ” and it is true, céline makes a mental note to do just that when she makes it home. maybe it can be something the two bond over later? over a reality tv show and comfort food? “ i can’t be the only one to walk out with something today! ” she giggles, readjusting the bag on her shoulders again. hearing her describe what she likes and prefers intrigues cél. she’s read many articles about the kamile yener and her impeccable sense of style. aside from being a gracious athlete, she is also a style icon. so being able to shop around with her is fun. “ what about accessories? that’s what really makes an outfit, i would say. but i might be biased since i think diamonds look good with everything. ” she continues her search through the current rack before wandering over to the other side of the small boutique. “ or a hat! ” cél exclaims, raising a black boy cap made of soft leather for the other to see.
𝒅𝒖𝒑𝒏𝒕𝒔
it only now occurs to teddy that he may love céline more than she loves him. and it stings. he should’ve been smarter than to put all his feelings into one person. it gave her too much power. one wrong move and it’s over. that is, unless she had no idea he invested his whole heart into their relationship. which option is worse? teddy can’t accept either. but he hasn’t known céline very long, because if he did he’d see her insecurities have nothing to do with him. they were there long before he arrived. “ family… the law program… i don’t know, christmas? ” if he sounds unsure, it’s due to the fact that he is. teddy would rather not admit the reality of a conversation with his ex to his new girlfriend. there is a right answer, yet he’s having a hard time coming up with it. especially since he doesn’t want to come off more vulnerable than he needs to. céline already holds all control. a silent pause, and then he scratches the top of his head, “ sorry, i’m still stuck on how you think i’d do something so awful, like cheat on you. ”
half expected for his reply to ease her nerves, however it does the exact opposite. céline scrunches her nose in anger and frustration, “ what do you mean you don’t know? it’s not that hard to remember a conversation you just had. ” only listens to that specific part of the entire answer, since her boyfriend seems like he’s not being completely truthful. really doesn’t like how this small interaction between the two has her behaving, but it is not the first time she’s acted like this. to theodore, yes this is the first instance of the small blonde losing her shit over something so trivial. growing up is a different story, since there were plenty of times where the princess would lash out irrationally if things did not go her way. if attention wasn’t her at all times. a nasty habit she slowly overcame as she got older, but never truly got rid of. there’s a few glimpses of this selfish trait here and there, though cél has learned how to maintain it better. for the sake of her image and keeping the family name as clean as possible. nic is already doing enough damage on his own, last thing they need is the other bouiette monarch to be exposed as a pampered brat. she blinks quickly, staring up at theodore. “ with the way you were hugging up on her what else was i supposed to think? ”
𝒚𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒔
“he gets distracted, or he goes looking for distractions?” kamile doesn’t mean to challenge céline on a topic she knows as well as her own brother, but it slips out. the root nicolás’s problems have always been frustratingly simple to kamile’s eyes; the man lacks discipline. it doesn’t matter how smart or capable he is, the second he comes up against anything that challenges him, he goes running in the other direction — towards drugs and alcohol and women. he doesn’t have the self-control to stay and try when something seems difficult. he refuses to see anything through.
a smile tugs at kamile’s lips with céline’s offer. “yes, that sounds nice.” provided céline ends up liking whatever she picks, and doesn’t end the night thinking kamile’s even stranger for binging love island. and, oh, god, what food would she prepare? what wine does céline like? this is why kamile doesn’t host.
céline puts the sweater back and finally, kamile has a purpose that isn’t just aimless browsing: finding a replacement sweater for cél. she moves on to another rack, her hands moving with renewed propose; she feels much more comfortable with a goal. “not so much my interpretation, but each time i reread anna karenina i find something new to appreciate in it. i’ve always gravitated more towards kitty and levin, but this copy’s previous owner was apparently quite taken with anna and vronsky. the annotations have me thinking about how their relationship is so rooted in spontaneity and physical attraction, while there was no real emotional bond. neither of them seem to think their connection is built to last; and how could it be when the foundation is lust and infidelity? i mean, ‘he looked at her as a man might look at a faded flower he had plucked, in which it was difficult for him to trace the beauty that had led him to pluck and so destroy it,’” she quotes. “how tragic is that? to have your lover describe your love as a plucked flower; destined to die from the second it starts.” she’s lost in her thoughts as she rifles through clothes, only coming back down to earth when her fingers land on a soft brown sweater. immediately, a blush rises to her cheeks, “i’m rambling, aren’t i?” her fingers pluck at the tag, checking the materials. 100% merino wool. pulling it off the rack, kamile holds it up to céline. “what about this one?”
céline tries to opt out of answering, but fails as the conversation she was sure would have ended by now continues. “ a little bit of both, i think. hopefully being at northridge instead of . . . out in the world helps with his discipline. ” though, she knows it probably won’t. her brother, much like their father, was a stubborn man who was too stuck in his ways. she doubts a semester here would change much. if anything. still, she wants to hold out hope for nicolás. wants him to prove her wrong so bad. cél casually glances over at the brunette and stares at her briefly before eyes return to task. pleasant to hear that kamile was open to the idea of them meeting up again. the prospect of this friendship makes céline giddy. she needs more friendships, so why harbor one within the love club? aside from desirae, of course. it is interesting to hear the other’s thoughts on a book she’s only ever heard of in passing. it intrigues her, mostly because the princess can’t help but apply some of kamile’s ramblings to the current conflict in her love life. theodore and ezra. she can’t help but wonder which of the two sees her as a plucked flower. decides not wallow in that for long, not wanting kamile to pick up on anything. “ you were rambling but it was, nice. makes me see how passionate you are about it. don’t feel bad for doing that. especially around me. ” encouraging smile is flashed as eyes fall on the garment in her hands. “ now that is super cute. ” taking it from her gently, cél presses it up against her body and turns to a nearby mirror, observing herself before sighing with content. “ i’ll have to try it on but i love it. thank you. now that i found something, it’s only fair that i help you. ” is said excitingly, now joining the other’s side. “ what are you into? skirts? jeans? dresses? ”
𝒅𝒖𝒑𝒏𝒕𝒔
brows raise when she snaps back, taken completely off guard. the whole thing feeling as if it’s coming from total left field. they’re been good, they’ve been happy. but, were they really? has céline spent the duration of their relationship secretly miserable and now looking for an easy escape? teddy is overthinking it. he needs to waste less time worsening the made up problems in his head and focus on the woman in front of him. “ they’re what? ” he shakes his head, nearly choking on his own saliva. every girl in liroux is after him? more like they are terrified to be near him. teddy does a great job with the perfect boyfriend act for the public. the girls in this country, any country for that matter, are obsessed with him and céline. they’re untouchable. no one would dare get in their way. “ no, ” standing his ground, offended by the words she’s putting in his mouth, “ you are not my property. you do what you want and i trust you, entirely. ”
the nausea from earlier returns at his reaction and she almost gags. anger subsides and is replaced with so much embarrassment that cheeks heat up due to the emotion and not the frigid weather they are in. her attempt at justifying her reaction by putting him on the soot backfires, and oh does it scald her character. decides not to speak, instead scans his face in search of something, anything that could condemn him in her mind. it’s ridiculous that she’s even trying to find something to be mad about now. céline realizes that she’s reacted disproportionately, letting the princess veil slip and accidentally revealing her not so graceful nature that lies underneath. a few more beats of silence pass before cél finally speaks up. “ what did . . . what were you two talking about? ” question has been ringing in her ears since the interaction was spotted. if theodore doesn’t tell her exactly what was said, it’s going to eat at her until she finally lands on an unlikely scenario. painting it perfectly in her mind enough to where she’ll think it is true. he needs to be detailed about it now before it does more damage in the future.
𝒅𝒖𝒑𝒏𝒕𝒔
the whole walk over to the alleyway, teddy’s heart is pounding in his chest. if they’re slipping away to be in private, it’s not a good sign. all he can think is, this is it. they’re over. although, he’s still puzzled on what it was he did wrong. looking her up and down, noticing céline’s defensive body language— confirming his anxieties. and then victoria’s name is brought into the conversation, and it starts to make sense. teddy blinks twice in disbelief, the princess is threatened by victoria? and she said fuck. wow. “ i wasn’t aware we weren’t allowed to speak, ” teddy would do anything to please his girlfriend. the possibility of losing her is scary enough as it is. he’s going to fix this. he has to. “ but, she’s no more than a friend. that was meaningless, ” motioning towards where the party is continually ongoing. lying may not be the best tactic to mend the situation, and yet it was necessary. he and victoria’s discussion marked the end. teddy could have just explained that. he’s scared céline would take it the wrong way, and he doesn’t want to chance it. “ i’m always going to be faithful to you. i’m shocked you believe otherwise. ”
eyes narrow at beginning statement, and while she knows he’s right, it still pisses her off. céline shouldn’t be upset that he was being friendly, yet something about the history he and victoria shared really ticks her off. what if the other girl was trying to win him back? jeopardize what they’ve been building in the past year? mind begins to jump to conclusions and it all but feeds into her anger. “ was it, though? ” she bites back, surprising herself at the manner in which the words leave her lips. so much for gathering her thoughts. though, she does ease up slightly and feels bad for thinking theodore would go behind her back like that. he hasn’t shown any signs of being unfaithful, if anything he’s been nothing but caring and comforting since they began dating. arms drops from her chest, now resting on her hips as she eyes him carefully. “ can you blame me? every girl in liroux is after you right now. ” lips purse, she’s never been one to be insecure by any means, however this is one of the few relationships that she’s been in where she feels content. cél’ll be damned if anyone tries to interject. “ wouldn’t you react the same way if the roles were reversed? ”