♚ ✖ CURRENTS.

his royal majesty estienne poitier-lusignan, king of cyprus

[averypft-blog]

Blue orbs glistening in the dim lighting of corridor candles, Claude gave the King a halfhearted smile. She was tired, exhausted even, but for some unknown reason she could not sleep. Perhaps the fact that the bed where she lie at night was not her own was to blame. However, this was something she could not change– at least not at the moment. “ If I were not sure, then I assure you I would not ask, ” the Princess countered. “ Besides, if I remember correctly, you are in my debt. Wine, wasn’t it? I’ve come to collect. ”

[esticnnes]

“ of course. shame on me for questioning you, princess. “  he joked, laughing a little at her response. the reminder made him nod, understanding, and he offered a respectful, regal half-bow, the tilt of his head, still so unused to the weight of the crown, even when it wasn’t present.  “ and a wonderful time to do so, as we are free to wander and drink as we please. “  he offered the crook of his arm, smiling a little.  “ would it please you to try some of the cypriot wine my court has with us, milady ? surely it won’t be as magnificent as the french style, but we can certainly attempt to please. “

[itsmelissabitch]

Clara had spent the majority of her morning in her chambers reading. She was just beginning to relax when she heard her stomach growl, sighing she closed her book. The blonde was just walking through the corridors to make her way to the kitchen to ask the servants to make her something to eat when she accidentally bumped into someone. She looked up, a mixture of embarrassment and shock written across her features. “Forgive me, I didn’t see you there.”

[esticnnes]

estienne, suddenly in collision with a warm body, startled out of his stupor and blinked hard, peering at the person he had stumbled into. immediately, propriety took over and he smiled graciously, inclining his head and stepping a ways back to maintain respectful space. “ ‘tis no offense. all minds wander at times. “

[blckdog-deactivated20200410]

She turned, glancing at the young man with a perplexed expression on her face. It was not his words that caught her attention but the sharp snap of his book as it closed, the noise was alarming in the otherwise silent bedroom. “You do not believe they are right?” She had never pondered the idea that scholars and healers may be wrong in their theory. Other people’s notion of how the plague came about intrigued her. “Mayhaps the air released in previous earthquakes was not bad. But I am curious, what do you believe is the cause?”

[esticnnes]

“ not those scholars. “   estienne said, absently, shaking his head. he stroked the cover of his book for wont of a better occupation for his hands, and then tore his gaze away, eyes on the wall, soemhow both calculating and charming.  “ mayhaps. —— what else but the cause of all things ? we have displeased god, and for that we will surely suffer. “  

[corviidae]

woodes was mindful of the small details presented forthwith of him, particulars casting themselves within the appearance of the man whom stood REGALLY before the captain. it was noted that within the royals’ words a challenge did not lie, and instead james was left faced with nothing but a profound reticence pouring into the distance between himself and this so very typically guarded stranger.  ❝then i am led to believe your majesty’s curiosity wishes to OBSERVE my men whilst they adhere to their orders?❞ he pressed, a sweeping hand towards the bustle framing the edge to his words — one not of an unfriendly nature, even if it did skim the surface of mockery in tone. he turned to face his men, briefly, as a soft bout of laughter was elicited from those close enough to hear his response to the king, before his attention was obligated to return to the man inevitably more POWERFUL than he in any circumstance, regardless of the soil on which he stood upon, the smallest hint of amusement flickering through a voice of feigned innocence as he asked, ❝—— shall i have a chair fetched for you, sire?❞

[esticnnes]

estienne’s eyes drifted off of his companion, over his shoulder, towards the horizon. he tore his eyes away so he could once again focus on an empty conversation, a vague wistfulness settling into his stomach. he sighed a little, tilting his chin to regard the men in question. while he was no stranger to ships and sailors and the particular stench they brought with them, he was hardly going to perform an impromptu expose on the exact history of the king of cyprus. the chilly air refreshed him, and the slightest facet of relaxation tore his thoughts back to the pile of demanding and frightening letters from his sister, his advisers, and even his nieces, all organized prettily on a desk in a room somewhere above them. 

he shook his head.   “ i enjoy open doors, “   he began, curling the side of his mouth into a smile and glancing at the man’s face, and back to the pretty strip of color where the sky and the earth held each other.  “ and i enjoy the flutter.  —— no. you may not. today, in a positively shocking turn of events, my legs work. “   his tone, briefly steely and full, quickly disintegrated to that charming, partially-there thing he wore between his skin and the outside world. he did not relax.

“ hmm. i suppose i can see the amusement in the picture i provide. “   he was thoughtful, blue-green eyes once again making the trip towards face and voice.   “ after all, what interest would his gracious majesty have in bustling men and boxes ? aren’t the words of english sailors much too harsh for the delicate ears of a sovereign prince ? amusing, the curiosity. amusing, the continuing entitlement a king shows in the eyes of a traveled man such as yourself. amusing —— and yet, against all odds... after a year of being stuck behind stone, even the highest-born of men would like to breathe the sky. “

[bianca-demedici-blog]

Bianca’s eyes lit up when he mentioned the ballroom again, feeling more at ease around him now that he was leaning so casually against a table in the kitchens. He looked just as regal as ever, but beneath that the King seemed also to be just another soul far away from home. “Truly! I’ve always thought the Scottish accent a bit abhorrent, but now I think they’re just so cold that their jaws are frozen in one place!”, she joked, happy to hear that she was not the only homesick one in the Keep. 

“If that is how thickness is attributed, then I am the most unworthy wretch on this good earth because no matter how many pasties I eat, I cannot earn a single pound.”, a smile hung on her face, looking over at the man he laughed.

[esticnnes]

estienne, watching her ease up, relax around him, felt relatively successful that he might inspire this kind of comfort in any other human being. she had him chuckling again. while he was too polite to outright laugh, and especially to do so at the expense of someone else, he couldn’t help his mirth.  “ it certainly does sound that way, doesn’t it ? “  he agreed, shaking his head, and taking another bite of his pastie.  he was tempted just to shove the rest in his mouth, fuck propriety. he did not. 

“ you will be thankful for that in the future, much less expensive to commission gowns for women with less to cover. “   he pointed out.   “ as my own sister has come to show me, gowns are a necessary expenditure and  most, if not many, of the finer makers i subscribe to on her behalf charge by the roll of fabric used. “

[servantliliya-deactivated201606]

small difference | estienne & bella

[servantliliya-deactivated201606]

“I am already ruined..” A laughter escape her mouth, “I am engaged to at least another two or three man. My father made sure that if other engagemants fail, as three already did, I shall  not worry about the others. If one man says no, I simply get passed on to the next one..“ Bella pushed his arms away, not harshly though, rather playful towards him. “It is your loss then…“ The princess wasn’t suppossed to let others know that three engagements had already failed but the inebriated you are the more honest your words were. Looking through his room she was laying her eyes on his crown before she walked over and picked it up, putting it on her head, a grin forming on her lips as the auburn haired girl turned around to face Estienne, holding onto the crown because it was to big for her head.

[esticnnes]

Estienne sighed. It was the sad truth of women these days. Ruled by men, by engagements, by reputation. It was also something he couldn’t change — and a rule he abided by as well. He was a king. He needed to know his future wife would only be having true heirs.  “You are not ruined as long as people still accept engagements,”  he said.  “How many of those men will want  to be engaged to you after you are seen leaving my room at all hours of the night?”  Shaking his head, and feeling rather like he was at a lost for the proper course of action, he watched her play with his crown. Part of him thought he might want to contain any possible damage, given that this crown had been in his family for four hundred years, but he just shook his head, amused. “What are you doing with that?”

[esticnnes]

modern!esti + social media  —  bc i didn’t want to do a character aesthetic

[ablankkk-deactivated20160913]

[corviidae]

❝Get your slatternly arses moving these troves, ladies!❞ James Woodes hollered at his crew, his enunciated accent ensuring he was heard and thus enticed many a chuckle from the large bustle of men currently OCCUPYING themselves with clearing the castle’s walkway. Freshly anchored and dragged LED ashore by an armed Scottish escort, his men were tired and in need of refreshment (as well as, naturally, the undivided attention of women). The Captain cocked a smirk towards his Quartermaster, before the faint scuff of footsteps behind him drew his attention and caused Woodes to turn slowly to face their source.

❝ — APOLOGIES for the obstacle. We’ll be finished here in a moment.❞

[esticnnes]

estienne, drawn to movement and activity the way a moth was to candlelight, had wandered out into gusts of air and the sight of burly men hoisting burly boxes into the castle. the fresh air and promise of sea called him more than the movement, the yelling, and perhaps even more than the newness of sailors and the yelling man with finery and angry accent.  estienne gazed over the bustle of activity, out upon scottish view, markedly relaxed, against cold, hard stone; this changed when he was addressed.

summoning the kingly regalia into his shoulders and the set of his jaw, the king stood straight and tense. haughtiness was ill-fitting on a kind face, but the grace and elegance settled easily.   “ it is no obstacle. “  hands clasped carefully in front of him, eyes lazily wandering over the stranger’s dress as he politely continued,  “ t’was curiosity that brought me to this doorway, yet it will be caution that shall keep me inside. “

[psfaye]

katerina’s dark gaze studied the cup in front of her, chocolate hues seemingly hypnotized by the fine designs - however, it was more so that she was deep in her own thoughts. at the sound of a voice, calling her - she blinked before snapping her eyes towards the source. “ oh i - pardon me, my mind seems to have wandered… i pray it is not too bold of me but would you kindly speak once more? ”

[esticnnes]

estienne cleared his throat. it was no small amount awkward to revisit her after their last conversation, however he had summoned up the willpower ( from rather impressive reserves, and only growing during his captivity, )  and addressed her.  her response, however, had estienne humming, and sitting back in his chair, turning his own goblet under the guise of following her gaze.   “ it matters not. “   he dismissed.  “ where has your mind wandered ? “

[averypft-blog]

“ –I’m aware of the hour. However, I can’t sleep. I was hoping that you may sneak a walk with me. ”

[esticnnes]

it was likely that estienne brought this upon himself. lately his unhealthy habit of wandering the halls at night instead of sleeping had found him no strange amount of conversation partners. a princess of france, while a surprise, was not an unwelcome addition to this list.    “ are you entirely sure i am the company you want right now ? “   he asked, politely, turning from his perch half-in a window and snapping his book shut. gazing out at the stars and sketching out the countryside in pitch black was so far more entertaining than sleep.    “ i would be honored, if it was the case. “

[blckdog-deactivated20200410]

She gazed out the window, seeing the destruction the pestilence wrought with her own eyes but still failing to understand the severity of the situation. For Adelina, like so many of those with royal blood running through their veins, the disease brought nothing more than the inconvenience of having to leave home. “I heard a Scottish scholar teach that the disease is brought about due to pockets of bad air being released during earthquakes.” She said, so casually she might have been taking about the weather and not a pandemic that had killed thousands. “I wonder how they found that out.”

[esticnnes]

estienne, roused from a particularly moving passage of his poetry, inhaled, snapping the book shut and glancing up at her with no small measure of the careful charm he wore like armor.    “ mmm. if that were true my country would have been stricken dead many times over the last century. earthquakes are no new facet of life in cyprus. “   he said, mimicking her tone, although personally despising himself for it. his sister and nieces were stuck in quarantine in his own castle, having had a member of their household struck ill the very week they were to join him in scotland.   “ well. i do hope their methods improve and they might cure it “

[lauranderson-deactivated2021101]

—–  “Excuse me for thinking you wouldn’t understand that, your highness.” She teased, picking at the cuticle of her nail as she watched him peak into a bowl, hoping that a miracle had occurred and something delicious had been placed in there for her to eat within the past few seconds. The brunette sighed, and leaned her head against the row of shelves, “Perhaps you are right, or perhaps I should just not have the sweets at all and eat an apple, as you are doing. Otherwise, I will end up looking like a house and I will never be married.” She said dejectedly, her bottom lip jutting out some. 

[esticnnes]

he rolled his eyes, giving her a smile.   “ my italian education taught me the important words. —— grazie. piu. piu veloce. piu forte. per favore. cazzo. “   he seemed pleased by his own joke, letting his hand, and the apple, fall back on his wrist, a grin stretched across his mouth. in a rather contrite mood, his strange brand of dry, honest humor shone through, he tilted his head and continued.  “ of course i am right. i have discovered that among certain ladies in this castle i am always right. i might tell them that the sky is black and the grass is the color of my arse and they would agree — for a chance at the diadem of cyprus, of course. “   the humor melted into a laughable seriousness, and he took a bite of his apple, before he set it down and swept into a mocking bow.   “ were you the size of house, you would be the most lovely house. with tapestries on every wall and candelabras of gold and jewels, of course... and i should have my castle doorways widened so a house might fit through. “

[faeblcssed-archive]

“ drooling, my lord? oh i do hope not. it is rather unbecoming.” amorette teased with mirth. she couldn’t pretend she’d never caught any lords of the court glancing at her or her ladies with such looks, but she never let anything become of them. “of course, it is perfectly understandable. my lord father has done such things himself, though now he seems to prefer to send others to do his bidding.” pink lips held in their bright smile and the girl listened closely as he told of the foreign country. she had to admit it sounded quite wonderful. “oh i do hope one day i may visit such a place. it sounds absolutely delightful.”  

[esticnnes]

“ aye. drooling, my lady. “   he replied, amused.   “ maybe not.  i find lords are less conscious of what becomes them when their bellies pop out of their tunics. “   it might have been rude to say, but he thought she might appreciate the humor behind it, at the very least. he wanted to be careful, implying anything negative about a french king might be devastating.  “ cyprus’ main function is trade between the ottoman empire and the settled european sovereignty, “  tactful,  “ so it would be of highest priority to a prince to negotiate, —— of course, that is to say france has many other important functions, yes ? and i imagine it is of no insult by your father to send a nobleman or a well-weathered merchant in place of a child. “   he smiled, although some of the pleasure was gone from it, speaking of his role and political things. he inclined his head a bit.  “ with any luck, princess, we shall be free from the castle soon, and you safe to travel to castille and enjoy the blossoms in the spring as i have. “

[emmelinewtf-deactivated20160820]

“yes, of course, sire.” feliks smiled, picking up two tarts. “she will be grateful, sire, but not as grateful as i. thank you.”

[esticnnes]

“ there are some benevolent rulers, and i’d like to think a tart or two and a rescue from laundry duty might at least begin to earn me the title. “  he grumbled a little, amused, inclining his head in a polite, you’re free to escape if you wish type way.

[faeblcssed-archive]

“a bore i do believe. we simply cannot have that. perhaps i’ll have to bring forth more ladies, one can never have too many jewels or flowers, truly.” she laughed. it was amusing to talk with him of such light topics, unlike the others of the court who spoke of politics or the plague. “oh i do promise to keep such improprieties a secret, we shan’t have you be shunned for amusements. you’ve stayed in paris, m’lord? was it to your liking then? i do quite like spending my days there. i have not been to castille, though i have only heard good things of it. was it lovely?”

[esticnnes]

“ and take mercy on all these foreign men drooling after you and your ladies ? never. “   estienne said, that laughable twinkle in his eye once again. it was not the kind of speech most men his age enjoyed, nor the candidness with which he spoke about the things most people let slide.   “ i greatly appreciate it, princess. you are doing me a favor. “   a smile,  “ absolutely. it was positively artistic. i was there only for half a month, pursuing a trade deal, you see. no better representative for a badly needed trade negotiation than a member of the royal family. “   he laughed a little, and then titled his head.  “ it was lovely. in the summertime, the palace there smells like sweet flowers. and the waterfront vistas were the things a poet might write about. “

[bianca-demedici-blog]

Bianca couldn’t deny that she was impressed by the respect the King showed the kitchen maid, probably more than she herself would have given her, and reacted with a soft smile to match his own. The girl took the pastie from his hands, and looked at it in peculiar wonder. They rarely had such treats in Florence, or at least not this specific treat, and so it was with hesitation that she took her first bite. 

“Then I’ll be happy to have found it so soon with your help.”, she tried, not quite deciphering this man in front of her. He was a little peculiar, simultaneously exactly as she expected a King and not what she expected at all. “It’s rather difficult living in a place such as this. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a blessing in all of this disease but there’s nothing merciful in being ripped from one’s home.” 

Bia shook her head a him, “You’re not a disappointment. And the Pope is a rather fat man. I am sure he is quite fond of sweets like this.”

[esticnnes]

estienne carried himself like he wasn’t aware of the renewed scrutiny he was under after having announced that he was, in fact, king of a very rich trading country with a very nice beach palace. he always felt like he was under scrutiny. he picked away at his pastie, enjoying the sweet sugar glaze that coated his tongue and made the dough taste heavenly. it was amazing how well a castle could function on a well-trained cook, and he’d never disrespect them. estienne wasn’t fond of a side of spit along with his meat pie. he settled back against a table and watched her, blue-green eyes unwavering on her pretty face.

“ and the ballroom, perhaps. “    he said absently. the more pleasant she seemed around him, the less aversion he felt to showing her around.   “ no, there is not. i miss my beaches and my sand. there is nothing warm here, nor any scent of salty water. “   

after a polite, huffy laugh, he spoke again.  “ his excellency has earned the right to be fat, having given his life in service of our lord, and —— perhaps a bit of his walking too. “   his eyes glittered with a boyish humor.