charmed the heart right out of me;

you may have not played fair, but frankly i don't care. celestina warbeck. 31. singing somewhere near you.

[c-elestinawarbeck]

amcarrows‌:

amycus was shaking - fully, violently shaking as he waited for celestina to answer (she had to be home, didn’t she? then again, who was to say that she’d even help him if he asked –) and he let out a small yelp when the door did finally open, happy that she was there but unsure of where he was to start. 

“no, we have to - we have to be quiet,” he insisted as he made his way inside, turning again to look at the door even though he clearly knew that celestina had shut it only moments ago. “something happened, celestina,” amycus finally managed, after taking a deep breath in, “something really, really bad. the people i work with, they - they’re going to kill someone - or two - and i need - i need to stop it and i need your help. please.” 

Celestina had never seen her friend so nervous; with the yelp at the front door and the constant shaking as she pulled him inside, she wondered what on earth could be happening. She wasn’t entirely sure what he needed, but she was sure that something was going quite wrong. “Amycus, what’s going on?” she asked, a hand resting on his arm.

As he explained what was going on, her eyes widened in shock. “Did you say kill someone?” she asked, her voice as soft as his for fear that someone, anyone was listening. “Amycus, what can I do? I...I don’t work for anyone like that, I’m just...what is happening?” she stammered out. She wasn’t a part of this world for a reason, but she didn’t want to leave Amycus to deal with this alone either. “Do you...have a plan?”

[c-elestinawarbeck]

amcarrows‌:

date: june 22nd, 1925. location: celestina’s apartment. status: closed to @c-elestinawarbeck

those who knew him knew he usually wasn’t the type to do anything like this - this was rebellion at its finest, betraying those who’d given him a chance and an opportunity to make something of himself.  even more than that, he would be betraying his sister’s trust - it was something unthinkable but he couldn’t let peter and remus die like that. for once in his life, he’d do something good, even if it meant running from everything he knew.  

so amycus found himself running to celestina’s apartment building, heart in his throat and sweat running down his back, and he didn’t let himself stop until he’d reached her door, and began to knock. 

inappropriate, of course, especially at this time of night - but time was of the essence now. 

“celestina? celestina, please - it’s amycus.” 

As she slowly woke, Celestina wasn’t entirely sure of what she was hearing. No one would be at her door this late at night, right? Though, the knocking continued, and she searched her room for a few moments for her robe. If they were here this late at night, they couldn’t complain that she was indecent. Right? 

When she neared the front of her apartment, she realized she recognized the voice. “Amycus, what happened?” she asked as she opened the door, immediately seeing the worry in his eyes. She ushered him in, eyes looking him up and down for any visible injuries. “Are you okay, dear?” she asked again as the door shut behind them both.

[c-elestinawarbeck]

strcetrat‌:

even the sound of her damn laughter was like music to his ears… did everyone hear it like he did or was it just him, riding on some kind of high with the way that he worshipped her very presence? it wasn’t that she was famous though, no, it was the fact that she was famous but remained humble and kind through it all that peter could fawn and awe the way that he did… otherwise, a certain she-who-must-not-be-named, the bane of his existence and the scourge of his past, would be up there with celestina.

“how is it not exciting? everyone knows who you are, everyone loves you!” maybe it said more about him than it did about her, that these were his standards for measuring how well one was doing in life… although it didn’t really matter to him, glory and recognition, but the adoration, the support… it would be nice to have that unconditionally and with some security for once in his life. “you probably see hundreds of people every week, seeing me’s really like nothing, i bet.” as she gestured to his drink, peter seemed to suddenly remember that he even had one in the first place, finishing it off with a flourish before smiling back at her. “only if you want to deal with me blabbing on and on… which i guess is what’s already happening, but it’s gonna be at least… twice as worse, fair warning.”

“Not everyone, darling, not even close,” Celestina said with a smile, shaking her head at the man’s comments. She always wondered if it was selfish, to be friends with so many fans who had nothing but nice things to say to her. Who else was she supposed to find in New York, though? The few celebrities she had run into had been less than desirable, and she was content with the company she kept.

“Don’t sell yourself short, Peter,” she said with another laugh, patting him gently on the arm. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that he was a kind person and that he seemed to look down on himself far too much. “I’d listen to you talk for hours, don’t worry,” she said, before waving down a bartender and ordering them both a drink. “C’mon, you must have gotten up to something interesting this week,” she finally said as she focused her attention back on the man.

[c-elestinawarbeck]

syncopatedsongbird‌:

Mary didn’t think the high of meeting Celestina would ever fade-but it certainly wouldn’t occur in the duration of this meeting between them. Her heart felt a bit calmer now, her nerves steadier, than they had when Celestina had first approached her, but it was still an overwhelming situation to be in. 

“Evelyn is truly lovely,” Mary said, her voice soft. “I really don’t think there are words but-she’s a good person, and the first friend I really made when I moved to New York,” she admitted. It had been hard, those first few months before she met Evelyn, started singing at the club regularly and gaining a source of income. “Really, Celestina, you flatter me. I’m really not sure my voice is good enough for anything much bigger than this,” she confided in the other singer. “I know I have talent, and your compliments are so appreciated, but I don’t think I’m really made for the big leagues.”

“Perhaps I’ll have a chance to meet her someday. I have a feeling I’ll be back here soon,” Celestina said, her smile only growing as she glanced around the bar once more. Though she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to entangle herself in the seedy underbelly of New York, there was something that seemed safer about this club than the others she’d heard about. 

“Oh, darling, I’m telling you: it is,” she said, her voice gaining a bit of a serious tone. There was no reason for Celestina to lie to the woman in front of her; they were mere strangers to each other, but she could tell Mary was a genuine person. “You have something special, you really do. Life on the road can be a challenge, but you’ll surely make more money than you ever could here. Just think about it, would you?” she said. “So, what do you want to drink?”

[c-elestinawarbeck]

strcetrat‌:

even as it happened again… and again… and again… peter still couldn’t quite wrap his head around the fact that he was on speaking terms with none other than celestina warbeck! didn’t she know that she was a famous singer?! by this time though, the initial fawning adoration had died down, more so because she had an aversion to it and had asked him not to, and he would hate to scare her off completely. there was still giddiness bubbling from deep within him that had him smiling widely and hanging unto absolutely every word that was aimed at him, gesturing to the empty seat even as she was already moving to take it.

“my week? oh, it’s been…,” terrible. i have no idea what’s happening with my friends, everything is confusing and messy, recently reconnected with a man i’ve been avoiding for his own good… it would be easy to bombard her with the truth, but the truth, even called that, didn’t make any sense, and at the boulevardier with a drink in him to a relative stranger who wasn’t part of the gangs was hardly the ideal place to start untangling the mess. “uneventful. i’d say this is about the high point of it, having you drift down my way. i imagine yours is much better.”

“Oh, Peter, you’re too kind,” Celestina said, a laugh falling from her lips. She had become fond of the man, as she had many of the regular patrons at the Boulevardier. Though she knew that it was foolish to assume no one here was involved in the gangs, she felt a bit safer in the knowledge that it was a neutral space. If Peter was involved in anything, she hadn’t heard even a whisper about it, and perhaps that’s how she wanted it to stay. 

“Everyone thinks my life is so exciting, hm? I haven’t been up to much of anything this week, though it is quite nice to see you,” she said with a gentle smile, “Do you need another drink?” she asked, nodding to the mostly empty glass.

[c-elestinawarbeck]

syncopatedsongbird‌:

It was wild to Mary, that she was sitting here casually talking to the woman who had influenced her with one singular performance to go into music. If she hadn’t stumbled across that Celestina performance all those years ago, she wouldn’t be where she was now-and Mary could admit to herself that she wasn’t sure where she would have ended up if not for that. 

“Oh thank you!” Mary gushed, her smiling so broad it was almost painful. “Really, that means so much coming from you, Ms. Wa-Celestina,” she corrected hastily.  It was wonderful, to get her skills validated by someone of so much talent and experience in the industry. “After this?” Mary repeated, chewing her bottom lip lightly. “Well, I’ve never-never really thought about that,” she admitted. “I owe Evelyn everything, really, and it’s hard to imagine ever leaving here,” she said, with a shrug. Mary looked away from Celestina as she confided, “I do wish the pay was a bit better, but I really do love it here-the Boulevardier is my home.”

“Of course, darling, of course,” Celestina says with a genuine smile. It made her heart feel full, that she had a small part in this woman’s presence on the stage tonight. Of course, she was used to people falling all over her. However, Mary seemed just as cheerful and genuine offstage than she had on. 

The next statement gave her pause, however. There was nothing wrong with performing in bars, in getting your start on a smaller stage. Celestina could tell that this woman was made for something more. “Oh, of course. From what I’ve heard, Evelyn sounds absolutely lovely. But you have something special, dear. It would be a shame to waste it,” she said, hoping the words didn’t come out too harshly. “Anyone would be lucky to have you. Evelyne sure is,” she said, her voice softer. 

[c-elestinawarbeck]

date: june 1925 location: the boulevardier  availability: closed to @strcetrat

There was an inherent sense of calm in the Boulevardier, one that she hadn’t found in the other bars she had visited since her return. Of course, there was still a lively crowd and a singer beyond compare onstage, but she felt as if she couldn’t get into as much trouble at a bar known for its neutrality. She’d become used to seeing some of the regulars, and wondered when she herself would be considered one. 

It didn’t take her long to grab a drink from the bar, and wander over to a mostly empty table. Empty save for Peter, a somewhat regular patron she had spoken two a few times before. “Hello, darling!” she greeted as she sat down beside him. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it? How’s your week been?”

[c-elestinawarbeck]

syncopatedsongbird‌:

Mary couldn’t stop herself from beaming up at the older woman, too awestruck and overwhelmed at the way she had been offered such familiarity with someone she had admired for so many years. She laughed, a little breathless from her nerves, as the two made their way to the bar. “I do suppose you have a point there,” Mary demurred.

She sat down in the seat next to Celestina-Celestina!-letting herself get comfortable before answering the questions posed by the other woman. “Oh, a few years now,” Mary explained, fingers tapping gently on the bar. “Evelyn-the owner-she saw something in me worth hiring, and I’ve been here ever since.” The smile on her face was find as she thought back all those years ago, to the chance Evelyn took on her and the way it had shaped her entire life. “This is actually a bit embarrassing, but when I first moved to the city, I actually saw you perform,” Mary admitted, blushing as she spoke, “And you’re really what inspired me to get into performing-before here I really only ever sang at church.”

Celestina knew it would take some time to find her place in the city, even if she had called it home years and years ago. She figured the best place to start would be with the locals, and the Boulevardier seemed to be safe enough.  

“Well, I think she made the right choice. You were just marvelous tonight,” Celestina said, offering the woman a bright smile. It was always nice, to see new artists get their start. There was something special this girl had, and Celestina could tell already. “Oh, really?” she asked, her eyes seeming to light up at the mention of being an inspiration to the younger woman. “Well, that’s simply brilliant. There’s no use in letting all this talent go to waste,” she said with a shrug. “Did you have any plans for...well, for after this?” she asked, raising a hand to gesture to the stage the woman had graced a few moments before. 

[c-elestinawarbeck]

divincrights‌:

the jade necklace was absolutely beautiful, that was something sybill could recognize for sure. “you know, jade,” sybill said, fingers hovering of the green gem as if there wasn’t a glass case between them. “is supposed to be really purifying for the soul.” sybill wasn’t as in deep with healing stones, but it was a miracle what a little reading could do. “plus, it’s beautiful, of course.”

Her grin only grew as Sybill spoke, and she glanced over at her friend. “Are you saying my soul needs to be purified?” she said, the words followed with a bit of a chuckle. If they were, they wouldn’t exactly be wrong. “Oh, it’s absolutely lovely. I’ll talk to Arthur about it later,” she murmured, her eyes falling to the case once more before glancing around the rest of the shop. “We haven’t looked at the books yet, have we?” she said, before linking her arm through theirs. “Come on, then!”

[c-elestinawarbeck]

ofremuslupin‌:

the boulevardier was certainly the only place remus felt most at home ( besides there, he found home and comfort in people – the marauders and evelyn, specifically ). it was loud and bustling at its peak during the night, and really it wasn’t the sort of place he thought he belonged, but he loved it despite all notion of who he was. he sat at the bar, alone, quiet as he watched the other patrons. he talked to evelyn when she passed by but only a few words here and there. he didn’t mind. she was working and if there was anything truly pressing at him he knew she’d talk with him later.

the seat beside him had been empty for ages. someone had been there at the beginning of the night, but it seemed to remus they got their fix and left. that didn’t bother him. he didn’t notice someone was coming to take it until she was beside him. he looked towards her, giving a casual shrug. “ be my guest, ” he looked around briefly ( in an attempt to pretend to find someone who he could claim was going to take it maybe ? ) before letting his gaze settle on her. “ it’s always a little hectic in here. my piece of advice is to get here before it opens – ” remus cracked a slight smile “ – it lets you have your pick of the place. ”

Her new companion didn’t seem too bothered as she sat beside him, and she let her eyes fall on the man. He seemed safe enough to talk to; she learned quickly that you never really knew who you were running into at the Boulevardier, but she wasn’t one to worry much. She glanced at the bartender (who was, sadly, at the other end of the bar), before sighing and turning back to him. “So, you’re a regular, hm?” she said, her eyes seeming to sparkle. “I never plan things that far in advance, though perhaps I should start. Especially in a city like this,” she said, a laugh leaving her lips. “So what brings you here, Mr....” she realized, a bit too late, that she didn’t have his name, so she let the sentence trail off. “Is it the drinks? The entertainment?” The singer hadn’t started yet that night, though she had heard good things. 

[c-elestinawarbeck]

k-ingsleyshacklebolt‌:

closed to. @c-elestinawarbeck loc. police station date. uncertain

One of his officers waved frantically at him as he entered the building, groggy and sleepy-eyed from a night disturbed with far too much revelry from neighbours, spilling out late into the moonlight with the enthusiasm of youth. Kingsley had little of that left in him, particularly on a Monday, and what with that being the day of the waving, he had little energy in his voice, merely grunting enquiringly as to the particular nature of the problem. “There’s – she just walked into your office! I couldn’t stop her! And she’s–” Kingsley held up a hand, mouth in a flat, unamused line.

“Are you a police officer? One of New York’s finest? Good god man, do better.” The other opened his mouth to continue, but one of his quintessentially Kingsley the-captain-wants-silence glares shut it in a hurry, and Kingsley rubbed at his temples as he ascended the stares, entirely not in the mood for whatever awaited him. He opened the door with a frown on his face, unable to see the face of the woman who stood in his office, clearing his throat in an attempt to signal his arrival.

Perhaps Celestina had been a bit on the dramatic side, though wasn’t she always? To be fair, her purse had been stolen and no one at the police station seemed even mildly concerned. She’d spoken to two separate officers who were incompetent, and with her last interaction demanded time with the captain. When told that he wasn’t in yet, she requested to sit in the man’s office until he arrived. With a deep sigh, she leaned against the wall and wondered if anyone would enter the room soon. The other useless officer had assured her that the captain would be in soon, but how long had she been waiting?

It only seemed to register when she heard a man clear his throat that someone had joined her in the sad excuse for an office. "Finally," she said with a sigh, walking towards the man. "My purse was stolen last night, and your officer had no idea how to handle a theft! Who trains them, anyway?"

[c-elestinawarbeck]

amcarrows‌:

date: may 28th. 1925 location: amycus’ apartment status: closed to @c-elestinawarbeck

it continued to baffle amycus, even as he sat right in front of her, that celestina warbeck was in his apartment, and for no other reason than to hang around with him. of all people! still, he knew it was rude to gawk so he busied himself with the can of peanuts on the floor near him. 

“ - and then she goes ‘i don’t come here often. this seems like more your crowd.’ like i’m some sort of - i don’t know. circus trash.” he finished, recalling his run-in with emma vanity at the bar the other night. with a sigh, he learned back, looking up at one of the spots on his ceiling. 

“new york isn’t as glamorous as people think it is, is it? i mean, you must’ve been everywhere - is europe really as nice as they make it seem? or asia - someone told me they have tigers there. real tigers.” 

Celestina didn't mean to make a habit of collecting interesting people, trying to shelter them under her wing whenever possible. However, she found it a lot simpler to maintain connections when she actually stayed in one place. She met Amycus in one of the bars she had stopped into, and he seemed to warm up to her almost instantly. Now, he spoke of another celebrity in the area, someone she hadn't had the pleasure of running into just yet.

"She said that to you?" the woman murmured, a small frown on her lips. "This Emma Vanity sounds like quite the character, hm?" Celestina wasn't certain, but it seemed as if his distaste for this woman ran deeper than the mere conversation they had at the bar a few nights ago. "Don't pay her any mind, darling. There's always going to be people like her, who let the fame go to their head. It's unfortunate, of course, but you're a million times better than she could ever dream of being," she said, giving him a gentle pat on the arm.

Laughing at the man's next question, she shook her head. "I've only been to Europe once, and it is quite lovely, but it's not as glamorous as they make it out to seem. And I've never been to Asia, though it would be fascinating to see some live tigers.”

[c-elestinawarbeck]

date: june 1st, 1925 location: the boulevardier status: closed to @ofremuslupin

There was quite the crowd at the speakeasy tonight, and Celestina hadn’t even managed to get to the bar for a drink without getting stopped by people who seemed to recognize her. That was to be expected, of course, but she couldn’t help but feel as if it would be easier with a drink in her hand. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted an open seat at the bar. She would have companions, it seemed, but a seat at the bar was better than nothing. 

Slipping past a few patrons with drinks of their own in hand, she placed a hand on the back of the chair and turned to the man beside it. “Is this seat taken, darling?” she asked, her gentle smile still ever present on her lips. “It’s been almost impossible to get up here,” she continued, taking the seat and attempting to flag down a bartender without waiting for much of a response. 

[c-elestinawarbeck]

syncopatedsongbird‌:

Mary wondered if she would ever be able to breathe again. If the whispers she heard backstage were true, the Celestina Warbeck had seen her perform, and there suddenly seemed to be a lack of air in the Boulevardier. It had been years since Mary, wide eyed and new to the city, had snuck into a club and saw the Celestina perform for the first time. It had sparked her own passion for performing, and her heart fluttered at the thought that a woman she so admired had heard her sing. Before she could even look around the crowd to try and find the older woman, she appeared beside her.

“Ms. Warbeck!” Mary exclaimed, “This is-what a-an honor, really, to meet you, Ms. Warbeck,” her voice breathless as she stumbled over her words. Celestina Warbeck knew who she was and she thought Mary was amazing? This was the greatest moment of her life. “I, I would, that would be lovely, if its not too much of an imposition,” Mary agreed, still not entirely sure what was happening.

Celestina was used to the fans stumbling over their words and just about everything else in the book when meeting someone new. The kind words from Mary, however, brought a cheery smile to her lips. “Oh, sweetheart, please. Call me Celestina,” she said, tugging the woman over to empty seats at the bar. “If I’m asking, would it really be an imposition?” the woman said with a laugh, offering one of the seats to the other singer. 

“So, how long have you been performing here? All of the regular customers kept raving about you, so I just had to catch a show,” she said, settling herself back in the chair. She wasn’t exactly in a rush to get a drink, and the bar seemed quite busy anyway. For now, she was content with speaking with the woman who she’d been watching all night. 

[c-elestinawarbeck]

date: may 20th, 1925 location: the boulevardier status: closed to @syncopatedsongbird

Still trying to get used to the city that used to be her home, Celestina figured there was no harm in sussing out the nightlife. For her, that usually meant seeing local talent, though having a drink or two certainly didn’t hurt. It had been a good night, and the performance by the woman onstage left her with a satisfied feeling she hadn’t entirely expected. 

She wasn’t entirely under the impression that she was the best singer in the country, though she was starting to realize that she had been missing out on talent in her own backyard. It didn’t take long for the woman who had been singing to reappear among the crowd, and Celestina didn’t hesitate to find her way to her side. “Hello, darling. You were simply amazing tonight. Mary, was it? I was wondering if I could grab you a drink,” she said, her hand settling on the woman’s arm.

[c-elestinawarbeck]

divincrights‌:

sybill’s eyebrows furrowed for a moment, trying to recall their jewelry box. elephant brooch? yes. giraffes, lizards, birds, yes. owls? sybill might’ve had a pair of earrings, maybe a necklace, but they couldn’t remember an owl nestled among all of the other little treasures that they have collected over the years.

“no,” sybill settled on. their memory tended to be a bit shoddy, but  there’s no way one owl brooch is exactly the same as the other. “i’m going to keep looking,” they tapped the glass above the brooch. “but i’m going to come back to that.”

“I think it was made for you,” Celestina said, gently nudging her friend in the side as they glanced upon the brooch in the case. “C’mon, let me show you what I found!” she said, tugging them towards the necklaces. “I think I might get that one,” she said, pointing a finger at the jade necklace that she had set her sights on only moments ago. 

“Do you like it?” she asked, knowing she probably wouldn’t find much else to catch her eye in the small shop. It wasn’t where she usually shopped, but she could see the allure for the other. 

[c-elestinawarbeck]

divincrights‌:

where: pawn shop when: may 11, early afternoon status: closed for @c-elestinawarbeck​

sybill always enjoyed traipsing through whatever the small pawnshop had to offer, and they didn’t seem to ever bother the man at the front. arthur? they thought his name was arthur at least, but he usually looked very disinterested as they decided to sift through miscellaneous items.

“celestina,” sybill whispered as if it were a secret. they were the only ones in the store and it felt odd to talk above a whisper, even if it was filled with excitement. “come look at this brooch. it looks like an owl.”

Shooting a small grin at Arthur as they both wandered further into the pawn shop, Celestina wondered if Sybill had any idea of what lay beneath the shop. Of course, she had to admire her friend’s fascination with whatever could be found on the shelves, and had busied herself with looking at the pieces of jewelry only a few steps away. 

As her fingers ran over a jade necklace laid out in a case, she heard Sybill’s voice and moved over to their side. “Oh, Sybill, it’s just darling. You don’t have anything like this, do you?” she asked, a small smile coming to her own lips.