thank you, evening star

anything you want, sugar.

[eveningstarwiishes]

get to know charlotte la bouff :

If there was ever an argument that southern belles no longer existed, one look at Charlotte La Bouff would be enough to quickly shut that idea down. While she may not dress quite the same as they did back in the day and her views on the world are far more progressive than the southern conservatives of the past - everything else that encompassed a southern belle lives strong in Lottie. She’s a natural born flirt, the daughter of New Orleans biggest business tycoon, and a girl of golden beauty.

Ever since she was a child, Lottie has dreamed of becoming a princess. Quite literally. Almost all of her wishes focused on a prince of a far away land coming to the Louisiana city and sweeping her off her feet. Of course she wanted other things in life too and eventually came to the realization that the chances of being an actual princess were slim, but she never stopped hoping and wishing for a storybook true love. Maybe the person of her dreams wouldn’t be an actual prince - but they would make her feel like a princess on the inside, and that would be good enough.

Not that she didn’t already feel like a princess as it was - Big Daddy made certain that Lottie always grew up having everything she wanted plus some - but it was different coming from her father versus in a relationship. Though, it’s not like she’s found that true love she wishes for quite yet. There have been a few times she thought maybe she was close - but it never worked out the way she wanted it to. Some might argue that’s because she expects too much out of her relationships, but Lottie says that’s wrong. - she just knows what she’s worth and what she deserves. Settling for anything less isn’t an option.

That type of determination is something she learned from her best friend, Tiana. Of course, Tia’s determination was a bit different than Lottie’s - dedicated towards her career rather than her love life - but it was still an important lesson that the blonde learned over time. And certainly not the only thing she gained from Tiana and her family over the years. Though Lottie has no real need for hard work in her life, she could easily live off her father’s money for the rest of her life, growing up seeing how hard Tiana’s family worked and then even in her older years seeing Tiana’s work ethic put a bit of a spark in Lottie to want to do something worthwhile as well.

That’s why she first asked Tiana’s mother to teach her a few things in regards to designing. It started with just simple things like Lottie giving more opinions during the process of designing her dresses or paying attention to what the older woman was doing - but eventually she started to mock up her own drawings of potential dresses which then turned into Tiana’s mom teaching her some simple sewing, tailoring, and embroidery.  It was just supposed to be a simple little hobby - but it turned into something far bigger than that. It was a passion in Lottie, one that she decided to pursue.

So when it came time for college, after convincing Tiana to finally accept her help the two girls moved to Echo Isle for their schooling. Lottie studied fashion design and textiles at Echo University, while Tiana went to culinary school and focused on finding a spot for her future restaurant. The drive that she always saw in her best friend may have rubbed off some on the blonde, but it wasn’t enough for Lottie to be running around ready to run her own business as well. She got decent grades and loved what she did in school, but that was just focusing on the designing part. Opening up a boutique like she dreams of one day doing… that’s an entirely different scenario, one that she’s far from ready for. So instead she’ll keep living off her daddy’s money, work on her own designs, and create some fabulous dresses for herself.

for all lottie has lived her whole life in her own little world, she’s always listened closely to everything tiana told and taught her. lottie knew she was rich and white and with that came a lot of privilege. but she did her best to do good with that. she isn’t really an activist by any means - but she tries to keep herself educated. everything tiana tells her she believes wholeheartedly and when someone else tries to get her to question it she never budges - believing her best friend more than anyone else.

lottie never really knew her mother or the story of what happened to her. she’s never met any of her mother’s side of the family either. there were pictures of her around the house and a giant painting of her and big daddy - but she was never given the story of what happened. as a kid it didn’t really bother her and by the time she did start having question, she quickly learned it wasn’t a topic her father wanted to discuss so she just stopped asking. she still wonders from time to time what could have happened - there isn’t a grave in the la bouff cemetery so she’s pretty sure the woman isn’t dead, which just leaves her with so many more questions that she knows she’ll likely never get the answers to. it’s the one thing in life lottie’s ever accepted not getting her way on.

favorite color is pink

has a dog named stella and a cat named princess - they both moved to the island with her. both are fairly old but she still loves them nonetheless

LOVES shopping and is constantly buying new clothes, despite the fact that she already has a wardrobe so big that she has to rent out two storage units just to fit it all – though she does do a deep clean every season to donate what she may no longer want or need. and anytime her friends ever say they like something of hers she’s quick to give it to them instead, unless it’s something that has sentimental value to her

has a huge makeup collection as well. but these all stay in the house. one of her walls in her bedroom is entirely dedicated to her beauty supplies. she has organizing drawers stacked on top of each other as high as they can go without tipping over that are all filled with products.

has a very strict skincare routine that she follows every morning and every night

big believer in fairy tales and magic and happy endings and true love and all that type of stuff

during college she lived in the hotel her daddy owns in echo isle, but upon graduating and deciding she wanted to stay around in the city she bought a house for herself and tiana. it wasn’t really necessary, considering she could have kept living in the hotel as long as she wanted, but lottie wanted to start settling in real roots in this town.

has a very strong southern accent that she’ll probably never be able to get rid of. not that she wants to - she loves it. even more so surrounded by so many other accents now, she likes that it makes her even more unique.

wants to open a boutique of her own but hasn’t told anyone about that dream - not even tiana. she isn’t sure if she really has what it takes to do it, to run a business. she sees how hard it is for tiana sometimes being the owner of a business and lottie doesn’t think she can handle all that. of course, she knows she could easily higher people to take care of that kind of stuff for her, but she feels like that’s kind of cheating. tiana didn’t have that kind of help.

[blaiselumi]

//closer starter @eveningstarwiishes

Skiing had always been Blaise’s escape, a rare hobby that allowed him to leave everything else behind—the job, the expectations, the curse. It was a tradition deeply rooted in his French household. This year, he had come to the mountains early, anticipating that Claude and the rest of the group would want to spend the actual holiday back at the mansion.

He had invited his girlfriend to join him once her work was done. But for now, the slopes were his sanctuary. Gliding down with practiced ease, Blaise moved like someone who had memorized every turn and shift of the routine. The cold wind against his face and the adrenaline coursing through him cleared his mind in ways nothing else could.

After a few exhilarating runs, he took the lift back up the mountain, his thoughts blissfully blank. That was when he heard it—a voice, soft but unmistakably frustrated, followed by a string of complaints. His curiosity piqued, he turned to see a figure dressed in a striking bright pink ensemble, visibly struggling to find her footing on the snow.

He couldn’t help but notice her. For a moment, he thought she was just another tourist, lost and out of place. But as he got closer, the familiarity struck him. “Allo, are you new here?” he asked, his thick French accent giving the question an air of politeness as he leaned in for a better look. Then, a nervous chuckle escaped him. “Oh, Lottie,” Blaise said, his voice faltering slightly. Of all people. They hadn’t exactly parted on the best of terms. “You need help?”

[eveningstarwiishes]

As a southern girl born and raised, places like the mountains weren’t something Lottie experienced often. Of course she’d gone on enough skiing trips throughout her childhood to know the basics of what she was doing, but it had never pulled her in and captivated her heart. She was more of a one or two trips down the slopes then call it quits and go cozy up to the fire type of gal. But here she was, finally having sharing a Christmas with Big Daddy again after the past few years under locked borders, which meant putting up with more skiing than she ever wanted to do in her life.

Her father had already taken off, assuming that the blonde would be following right behind him with ease the way she always did, but the snow had a different idea for her. Falling on her butt while trying to get into position to ski off, a very unladylike curse leaves her lips before she can stop herself. Followed by a huff and a loud noise of frustration as she tries to get back to her feet. And as if that weren’t embarrassing enough, fumbling around like some kind of middle schooler, it seems she caught the attention of one of the other skiers on the slope. Oh this was just mortifying.

But as the man approaches, Lottie thinks to herself that maybe it doesn’t have to be all bad. Perhaps this mishap could lead to her finding her prince finally. She’s just about ready to play it off as if she were some damsel in distress, waiting for the stranger to become her knight in shining armor, when she realizes just who the hell it is that’s approached her. Gone was any idea that this could be some kind of meet cute or romantic type of situation. Instead she simply glares at the man, refusing to even consider accepting his help. She’d rather stay right here, stuck in the snow, and freeze to death than let Blaise think he’s in any way wanted or needed. “No, I am perfectly fine, thank you very much,” she declares, though she doesn’t even make another attempt at getting up, simply staying put and letting the cold continue to seep into her bottom. “You can go ski on away now - I’ve got this all covered here.”

[kaceyrps]

BRIANNE HOWEY on INSTAGRAM

[bigdaddieg]

//closed starter @eveningstarwiishes

"Oh, what has he done now?" Gaston pondered as he noticed her obvious distress. He feigned empathy, though, in truth, he cared little for this chef boy, especially after discovering his association with Adam. Gaston considered it beneath Lottie to involve herself in such a mess; she could do better. She could do him, for starters. And he certainly needed some to pass the day.

"It's best you avoid crossing paths with him. Clearly, you need to take your mind off things. Somewhere nice, somewhere warm," he suggested smoothly, downing his drink in one gulp before casually sliding his hand to rest on hers. "Perhaps you'd like to talk about this at my place? You might find yourself more comfortable there" he added with a charming smile, his gaze locking onto hers, daring her to resist his invitation.

[eveningstarwiishes]

It isn’t until he speaks up that Lottie even realizes Gaston had moved to come stand beside her. She’d been so pissed about her interaction with her ex-fling, the magic of the spelled candy she had eaten earlier beginning to fade, leaving her with nothing but her anger and embarrassment. Truth be told, she wanted to be alone - but the party was still going strong and leaving by herself at this point would just be embarrassing. So she supposed she should be thankful for the man, offering her at least some form of distraction.

“I intend to do exactly that,” she agreed, having absolutely no plans of ever running into one Blaise Lumiere again. As a hand slid to rest on top of her own, Lottie stared at it for a brief moment before letting her eyes return to the man himself. Truth be told, she had very little interest in Gaston anymore, at least not for anything serious, but with a smile like that and an offer to whisk her away from all of this… well, how was a girl to deny that? “No talkin’ will be necessary. But I’m sure we can come up with somethin’ else to occupy our time.” It was far more straightforward than Lottie ever usually was with men, practically just asking outright for him to fuck her troubles away, but she was tired of playing games tonight. She knew what she wanted now, a distraction from the thoughts of certain exes floating through her head, and Gaston could offer exactly that.

[blaiselumi]

"Hey, hey, that's not what I meant," Blaise said, taken aback, as he placed both his hands on her shoulders to keep her calm. No, he wasn't going to ruin it this time. "Yes, you can come around and say hello," he reiterated, his eyes fixed on hers. He didn't know what else to say, but Blaise figured this was good news. At least he had a chance to talk to her, and that's what he wanted anyway.

"Lottie, look, I know you're mad at me. I'm really sorry," he repeated, his voice softening with sincerity. There wasn't much else for him to say, and he hoped she would understand that he was genuinely remorseful for leading her on, for falsely raising her hopes. This wasn't his first rodeo, but with Lottie, she was too pure, too naive for her own good—and so he knew how deeply this hurt her as well. "Can I make it up to you? I'll do anything you want, whatever," he suggested, his expression earnest, biting his lip before lowering his hands.

[eveningstarwiishes]

When both of his hands came to rest on her shoulders, there was nowhere else to look but right up at him. And the sight of his face was enough to make her stupid, traitorous heart skip a beat or two for a moment. “I am mad,” she agreed, vocalizing that feeling not only as a reminder to him but to herself as well. Because Lottie knew she shouldn’t be doing this - she should be inside with her own date or hanging around with Tiana, or just anywhere else but right here out in the hallway with him. But the magic that had been spelled into the little chocolate she had eaten kept her right where she was, ignoring all the logic that screamed to leave. “I’m very mad. And hurt. And… and angry.” Though the way her eyes softened as she looked up at him, glancing down at lips for just a brief moment, said a different story than the one she was trying to tell.

“I don’t know, Blaise,” she admitted with a sigh, eyes dropping down to the ground now as she fights back on every part of her body that screams to reach for him again. It was ridiculous, how badly her heart and body wanted him again despite the way her brain screamed to let it be. Looking at the floor made it a bit easier to remember all the pain she had gone through because of him, but it would only be a matter of time before she snapped and remet his gaze. “I don’t think there’s anythin’ you can do - not anymore. The time for makin’ it up to me was before you ever let it happen.”

[blaiselumi]

"If I catch Chip speaking in a British accent, that's my signal to pull him away from Claude's presence. I've made up my mind to raise that boy French, and French he shall be," Blaise remarked nonchalantly, quite content with the idea of annoying his best friend at a party he probably shouldn't have attended in the first place. Nonetheless, Adam had extended the invitation to them, and Blaise saw no reason not to bring the rest of the gang along. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to nudge him and Belle closer together, despite Claude's objections to meddling with their relationship. Blaise firmly believed that Adam needed a little push, and he was more than willing to be the one to give it — the ultimate matchmaker. Engaging in lively conversation, cracking jokes, and exuding his usual charisma wasn't anything new for Blaise. He was having a good time, despite the fact that he had previously dated quite a few of the party attendees, all of whom cast curious glances his way, wondering if Blaise Lumiere would once again play with their affections. But this time, he remained firmly with the group, showing no interest in revisiting his past flames.

However, his evening took an unexpected turn when he found himself face-to-face with a familiar blonde girl, and he was just as surprised as she seemed to be. Her approach caught him off guard, and he couldn't help but feel terrified and confused at the same time. "Oui?" he responded, equally nervous and bewildered. Lottie approaching him wasn't exactly how he anticipated their interaction after their last conversation. Yet, perhaps he was relieved that she wasn't here to kick him out. Nonetheless, his confusion only deepened when she uttered her next words, causing his eyes to widen slightly. "Uh, okay, let's step away for a moment," he chuckled nervously, guiding Lottie away from the group to a more secluded area. "What's the matter?" he inquired, sensing there might be an issue, the only reason he could fathom for her sudden approach.

[eveningstarwiishes]

The way in which he hardly seemed pleased to see her sparked the annoyance within her once more. Yet, she couldn’t bring it in herself to leave. It was as if something in her had decided that being near him, even if it angered the life out of her, was better than being apart. Which was ridiculous and logically Lottie knew that. She knew she should be heading back to her own date, spending the rest of the night with Jim Jr. as she had originally intended to when they had arrived together. But something kept her glued to Blaise’s side, following him away from his group of friends and into a quiet corner of the party.

“Nothin’s the matter,” she answers, her lips curling downward into a frown at how obviously clear it is that he wants nothing to do with her right now. “Does somethin’ gotta be wrong for me to talk to you? Is that where we’re at now? You ditch me for another woman with no warnin’ and then decide I can’t even come ‘round and say hello to you at a party if I want to?” It was a strange feeling, being pissed off and wanting to leave yet being unable to do so. Normally Lottie would have never even dignified the man with her presence after what he’d done to her, but the magic in the candy she had taken had done its job far too well. Of course, it couldn’t take away her anger at him, not completely for it was far too strong to just be ignored, but it had the blonde feeling as if maybe she still had a chance anyway. It was pathetic and the exact type of behavior she always refused to allow herself to show towards any man now that she was grown, but since she’d popped that candy in her mouth it was as if she was right back to being a teenager girl again - desperate for a man’s attention, even when it was clear that she wasn’t the girl he wanted.

[eveningstarwiishes]

closed starter for @blaiselumi location: engagement party

Ever since Halloween, when any and all potential desires and thoughts of having any kind of a future with Blaise Lumiere had been shot dead in the water, Lottie had been determined to keep her head high and move forward. Despite the heartache and rage that had followed their ending, she refused to let him get the best of her. Instead she had dived head first into the first steps of potentially starting her own fashion line, just as she had always dreamed of doing. Her time had also been spent sticking with the people she knew truly mattered in her life - like her best friend and an ex that she couldn’t help but begin to fear she may have been wrong in dismissing so quickly. Sure, at the time she had thought it was the right thing to do - Jim Jr being ready for something far more serious than she had been wanting to commit to quite yet. But now, now that she was starting to think that perhaps that might have been exactly what she wanted, it was too late. He was gone. Or at least, in the romantic sense of the way she believed him to be out of reach. Even if he continued to agree to attend events such as these with her, Lottie knew better than to think he saw it as anything more than just a friendly favor on his end.

However that may be, the blonde was still more than content with spending the night bouncing between spending time with her date and floating about the party, saying hello and acknowledging everyone else of similar status as was expected of her. That had been all Lottie planned to do for the event - she had been determined to avoid a certain french man at all cost. But halfway through the night, after indulging on a candy offered by a pretty young girl, the urge to seek out her former flame became too strong to ignore. It didn’t take long to hunt him down, finding him standing alone with a glass of wine in hand. Though she’s not sure if the fact that he wasn’t with another girl was a relief or only enraged her more, Lottie did know that she wanted to slap the silly little smile off his face from a distance away. Which was exactly what she planned to do as she marched over to him, only once she was actually standing in front of him it was as if everything else melted away, leaving only her desire to remain right here as close as she could be. “Blaise,” she breathes out his name, staring up at him as if seeing him for the first time all over again. There’s so much more she wants to say, but the words seem stuck in her throat until she finally chokes out a statement that was equal parts the absolute truth and a complete lie. “I’ve missed you.”

[tags-ohara]

GEORGIA MILLIER GINNY AND GEORGIA SEASON 2 (2023)

[blaiselumi]

Blaise nodded, his gaze contemplative. Lottie was just one among many, that much was certain. He had grown so accustomed to getting his way that the idea of settling down never crossed his mind until recently, until a new glimmer of hope entered his life. "No," he confessed, "I was playing a game, Lottie. I didn't know what I wanted until she came," he explained. That was the honest truth. Blaise had been a player, no doubt about it. Unrestricted and noncommittal, he pursued his desires, navigating a path that left a trail of broken hearts in its wake. It wasn't until Fifi entered the picture that he realized he no longer desired to play games. He had no interest in continuing his escapades because, for the first time, he knew what he truly wanted.

"I know she does, and I know you do," he replied, meeting her gaze as he detected the anger in her eyes. Despite his resolution, he couldn't ignore the sting in his chest when he witnessed her anger. Even though he didn't seek more in their relationship, still, she was a great friend to him. Blaise had no intention of arguing, especially considering the multitude of loose strings he had and the looming curse above him. She was correct; they both deserved a better man, someone who was forthright and knew his heart. This confession, he believed, was his first step toward that.

Blaise sighed deeply, his blue eyes locking onto hers. "You're right, and I'm trying to do better. I'm sorry if you felt I strung you along. You are important to me, Lottie. I just… I tried, but I got lost in the moment... I know who I want, I hope you can understand that."

[eveningstarwiishes]

There wasn’t any ounce of her being that believed a single word Blaise was saying right now. She’d heard it all before - how one perfect woman could completely change a man, take him from a playing fool and turn him into a faithful partner. Usually Lottie was the one that these men were claiming had changed the game for them, but even still being on the other side of it she knew better than to fall for it anymore. Or maybe it was easier to see through the bullshit standing on this side of things. Perhaps if she were the woman he was choosing she wouldn’t be standing as strong as she was right now - but that was beside the point. What mattered in this moment was that once again, Lottie was the one getting thrown aside.

“Important to ya?” she echoes back, a harsh and humorless laugh escaping her at the question. This almost hurt just as much as the original words of rejection Blaise had given her. To think that he really thought someone could be important to him, could actually mean something in his life, just to treat them like this… It really showed how little he understood about romance or relationships. “No, no. I’m not important to ya at all. If I were you wouldn’t be doin’ this right now. You woulda let me know the moment you decided to chase this other gal instead.” Shaking her head once more, she took another step backwards to put even more space between them, less she somehow get sucked back in. “A word of advice, Lumiere, you need to really evaluate what ya want. Before you hurt anyone else. Because if you were so into this gal like you say ya are - you never woulda gotten lost in the moment like that with me.” Or at least, that was the way Lottie saw it. No way could he actually care about this mystery girl as much as he claims he does if he so easily fell right back in with someone else the way he just had with the blonde.

[ohdeare]

The Halloween mood wasn’t bringing up Jim’s spirits as it usually could. Maybe it was because he was still healing from his injuries that he resigned to a quiet night instead of dressing up and passing around treats or even, as an invitation asked him to, join the evening at a masquerade ball. He simply wasn’t physically or, really, mentally able just yet. Seeing someone, who should be dead, all of a sudden in your house and breaking your kneecap on his way out wasn’t easy to comprehend. Not to mention, the paranoia of Tramp coming back left him on full alert. Jim Jr. just wasn’t having a fun Halloween, to put it lightly. The only thing that was getting him through the night was a bowl of candy and even that was starting to give him a stomach ache.

Jim Jr was expecting to hear something from the host regarding his lack of attendance but he wasn’t anticipating it happening the night of the party. Given that it was her event, he’d imagined Lottie was off socializing and dancing the night away rather than spending her precious time ringing him. Still unsure if this was an accidental phone call, he’d hesitantly answered, “Lottie?” An inkling of a feeling that something had happened was already brewing in his mind, but he tried to move past that in the hopes that he was wrong. “Far from it, actually. I’m sticking to my doctor’s orders of no vigorous break dancing while my knee is still healing. My only plans for tonight consist of lying in bed and seeing how much more sugar I can take before I pass out.”

[eveningstarwiishes]

Any lingering thoughts she had about her mess of a love life or the disaster that had happened tonight with Blaise went right out the window the moment that Jim Jr mentions a healing knee and doctor’s orders of resting. “What?” she asks, immediately feeling silly for the instinctual reaction and continuing on to clarify what she really meant. “I mean, are you okay? What happened?” Surely if some kind of big accident had happened Lottie would have heard about it - but she can’t imagine what other kind of trouble he could have gotten into that might cause this much damage. Sure, she knew little kids could be rough at times, but enough to put him on legitimate bed rest seemed a bit of a stretch.

“Are you home alone?” she questions, not even realizing the implication behind her assumption that he wouldn’t have anyone else with him on the holiday. Really, Lottie was mostly just thinking that nearly all the rest of the island was at her ball tonight, so she didn’t even know who could be with him if he did have company. Glancing around the room, the blonde decides right then and there that she’s had enough of this party. Between Angelique and Tiana, she’s sure the fort could be held down without her. And after the night she’s had so far, going and just simply hanging out with Jim Jr and potentially eating all that sugar he spoke about sounded far better than sticking around here. “I’m comin’ over. Just give me a few minutes to tie things up here.” It was mighty assumptious again that Jim Jr would even want to see her, that he wasn’t perfectly content all alone, but Lottie didn’t care.

[angelangeliques]

Angelique immediately shook her head, an attempt to relieve her anxiety with little hesitation. "Nothing that a little makeup remover won't fix. You still look magnifique," she insisted, truly meaning the words. She wasn't sure there was anything the other blonde could do that would make her look bad, per se. Angelique always kept an emergency kit on hand for situations like this when she was in charge of planning--it had started as a small pouch, but had expanded into a whole tote over years of learning to expect the unexpected. "Don't worry about that. You'll look good as new when we go inside."

What concerned her more, though, was finding out just who this mystery man was who hurt her heart so badly. Angelique had a strange, sinking feeling that it could be a certain notorious bachelor, but tried her best not to jump to the conclusion that it was a particular French man. There was no indication that it would be Blaise from the first half of the story, not until she mentioned flowers, and, more importantly, cooking. There was only one man in her past who had ever done exactly that for her, and it was the same one who had been oddly noncommittal with her just a few weeks ago. "I could be completely wrong here, but the man you're talking about ... is his name Blaise?" Angelique asked slowly, delaying the question and its answer. "Either way, Lottie, I'm so sorry, that's--it's terrible. No one deserves to be treated that way, especially not you." She gave her a sad, apologetic hint of a smile before giving her shoulder a light squeeze. "A man like that will never know what he wants. He'll always be leaving a trail of regret behind him."

[eveningstarwiishes]

A small, partially forced smile grew on her lips as she nodded her head ever so slightly at Angelique’s insistence that she still looked fine as well as her offer to help fix up the few flaws that were there. Likely running mascara and smudged eyeliners from the crying, even though she had worn waterproof everything - even the best of the best wasn’t completely immune to the damages of a crying session. “Thanks. You’re a real doll, you know that right,” she compliments, genuinely meaning it and not just using the expression sarcastically the way so many other women from the south might.

The smile falters though the moment that the other blonde says Blaise’s name as her heart drops instantly at the realization that Angelique could potentially be the woman that he had been talking about tonight. Or potentially not, she could still be just another girl he had on the side, much like Lottie was herself. Either way knowing now that her newfound friend had also in some way been burned by the same man only caused the ache in her chest to worsen, her pain now for both herself as well as Angelique. “Yes, it was Blaise. I take it you know him too?” It was a rhetorical question, as that much was already clear even as the tears continued to lightly fall down from Lottie’s eyes. “It seemed pretty clear he didn’t me, at least not as anythin’ serious.” shaking her head, she wiped at her face and pushed her shoulders back to both figuratively and literally stand a bit taller. “Angelique, if you’re the gal that he’s actually after, I gotta let ya know - he is not worth it. I bet anythin’ the only reason he broke it off with me was ‘cause I asked for more. If it weren’t for that, I really think he’d still be draggin’ me along. He might say you’re the only one he wants, but I wouldn’t believe it for a second.” Or at least, that was how it felt to her, considering Blaise had been more than happy to pull her aside for a quick potential hook up tonight, only ever pulling away or seeming like he regretted it when she had opened up about her own feelings.

[blaiselumi]

Her words were clear and concise, leaving Blaise utterly speechless. He stood there, grappling with uncertainty about how to respond, and acutely aware that it was Lottie's special day, and he was unwilling to spoil it due to his actions. This was far from what he had expected when he approached her. He wished he had heeded Claude's earlier warning, but now he found himself confronted by Lottie's doe eyes, who was confessing her feelings for him.

Blaise felt lost, and an oppressive, awkward silence enveloped them. Finally, he managed to muster some words, "Lottie, I'm sorry," as he shook his head and gently withdrew his hands from hers. Words failed him, so he resorted to offering an apology. His gaze fell to the ground, his demeanor heavy with a profound sense of defeat and remorse. "I have feelings for someone else, Lottie," he confessed, his voice laden with sorrow and regret. "I wish I could have told you sooner, but I can't continue with this. I can't be with you."

[eveningstarwiishes]

As the silence between them continues to go on for a few moments, the smile on Lottie’s face slowly but surely begins to falter. Before she can say anything else though, even just repeating his name to ensure he had heard her fully and wasn’t confused over anything, Blaise is pulling his hands away and apologizing. “Why are you sorry?” She asks, though a sinking feeling in her chest tells her that she already knows exactly why he was sorry.

And then not a moment later he goes and confirms it. Admitting that he has feelings for someone else. And not even just that - he confesses that he should have told her sooner, implying that he’s had these feelings for a while. That he’s known he had no intentions of ever being anything more than just a fuck buddy to the blonde - that he’s been wanting someone else romantically and has just been stringing her along on the side for his own benefit. Perhaps if she were hearing this a few months ago, Lottie might not have been as upset, but as it was it had truly seemed like he was giving her a real chance. They had gone on a date, something she had thought meant they were potentially going to start moving forward. But no. He probably had the other girl all lined up and waiting even back then.

In the first few seconds she was hurt but then a spark of anger overpowers that pain. “You like someone else? And you’re only just now telling me? After pullin’ me aside for a quick makeout session? And takin’ me out on that date? Does she know about that? Does she know about me at all?” The questions were all rhetorical, Lottie not even wanting to know the answers but rather simply pointing out how ridiculous and wrong this situation was. None of this was fair, not for the blonde nor for whoever the mystery girl was that he claimed to hold genuine feelings for. “Well, I feel sorry for her. ‘Cause she surely deserves better than a man like you. And so do I.” Taking a few steps forward, she shoves her shoulder aggressively into his own as she moves past him, turning around only once she had put a few feet of distance between them. “You’re an asshole, Blaise Lumiere. You don’t deserve any lady - I hope she sees right through your bullshit.” And he better hope that Lottie never finds out who this gal was, for she would not hesitate in the slightest to burst the delusional spell he likely has her under.

[angelangeliques]

Asking the other blonde with whom she'd planned the party to be her date was a no-brainer to Angelique. With Blaise unable to make up his mind about what he wanted, she wasn't going to chase him for his heart back. If it was meant to be, it'd come back to her. Besides, she was far too busy to be chasing after a man when she had the biggest party of the year to plan. Letting down Lottie's big dreams for the most extravagant thing the town had ever seen wasn't an option, especially when she had a blank check to work with. With the night finally there, Angelique had been rushing around the hotel all morning trying to put the finishing touches on it. It wasn't until everyone was there and dancing that she finally felt like she could relax.

Except, she couldn't find her date. Shamelessly, Angelique went around the hotel in search of the other blonde, determined to track her down. Maybe she'd found someone to canoodle with off in an empty room, or was taking care of a guest. With knocks on bathroom doors leading her nowhere, she tried outdoors, finding a familiar silhouette of a dress on a balcony. "Lottie?" she called out, ignoring her request to wait. "I've been looking for you, is everything--" Angelique stopped herself short, immediately seeing the smudged mascara. "Oh, what happened, cherie? I should've brought a bottle out here with me," she mumbled before sliding an arm around the other girl's shoulders.

[eveningstarwiishes]

“Does it look that bad?” was the first question out of her lips the moment Angelique came over and took in her likely disheveled appearance. Or well, disheveled from the heiress’s point of view - a bit of smeared mascara and tear streaks might as well be a screaming cry for help as far as Lottie was concerned. It was rare for her to ever let her guard down long enough to be seen like this. But thankfully it was only her date and event planner seeing her like this, meaning if her ruined makeup really was as bad as she was picturing it to be, Angelique would help her take care of it. It was just girl code, really. You don’t let another sister in distress drown without throwing out a life vest for her. And the other blonde seemed exactly like the type of woman to honor that unspoken rule.

Sighing softly, there was the briefest of hesitations before Lottie owned up to everything that had just gone down. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust the other woman, of course she did, but admitting how she had been so obviously and heartlessly rejected by the man she had been pursuing for months was just embarrassing. It’s not the type of story she really wants to share. But the same overwhelming feeling that had urged her to confess to Blaise in the first place had her spilling her guts once more to Angelique this time. “I’ve been seein’ this guy, just casually, for awhile now. And I really liked him. I kept thinkin’ maybe things would change and we could bee more than just you know, fuck buddies or whatever he would want to call it. And he kept on givin’ me signs like maybe he wanted more too - or at least, I thought they had been signs. He took me on a nice fancy date, brought me his cookin’ flowers and everything, and then tonight he pulled me aside and we started kissin’” she paused to sniffle a bit as she got to this particular part of her story. “I don’t know what came over me, but I just told him everythin’ - that I liked him, that I wanted to be with him, I mean practically everythin’ and he… He told me he liked someone else.” Turning to look out over the courtyard, Lottie glared into the distance as she realized just what that truly meant. “All this time - we’ve been hookin’ up for months, Angelique, and the whole damn time he’s been pursuin’ and goin’ after someone else while I’ve just been his little play thing on the side.”

[blaiselumi]

Hearing his ex's name in the context of a girl he was trying not to date wasn't what he had hoped for. But he felt somewhat resigned, realizing there was little he could do at the moment. Blaise simply shrugged. He sensed that there would be more details to know later, but for now, his hands were pulling her closer, as if he were ready to own her once again.

Lottie, with a hint of vulnerability in her doe-like eyes, toyed with his collar and began to speak, punctuating her words with another reassuring kiss as if trying to make him relax. It was at that point that he understood what she was aiming for. He knew he was backed into a corner, and it felt like he was in a hot seat, compelled to make a definitive decision about cutting loose ends.

Blaise let out a deep sigh, a sense of dread hanging in the air. "What do you mean by 'like'?" he inquired, even though he knew the answer. However, for some reason, he wanted to be absolutely certain that they were on the same page about not being on the same page. "Acknowledge?" he repeated, still a bit dazed but determined to grasp her words. "What is it that you're looking for, Lottie?" he pressed, attempting to clarify her intentions before he could begin to talk.

[eveningstarwiishes]

The sigh that left Blaise’s lips was less than reassuring and had a frown forming on Lottie’s own lips as she began to think that maybe this wasn’t going to go as smoothly as she had hoped. Which isn’t really that big of a surprise, considering head always made it perfectly clear that they were just a casual thing. But that couldn’t stop the blonde from hoping for more, from taking small moments to maybe mean he also felt something more. “I mean exactly what I said. That I like ya. A lot. In a romantic sort of way, you know.” She felt silly having to explain herself, but if that was what it took to potentially make him understand, she was willing to do it.

“I’m lookin’ for something more. I’m not askin’ ya to marry me or anything like that but… some level of commitment is what I want,” she admits, hoping she doesn’t look like some kind of lovesick fool for simply just asking for what she wants. Because that was exactly how Blaise made her feel sometimes, like a girl running around crushing on the unattainable - getting just a taste but not nearly as much as she needed. And it was tiring, in all honesty. But that was going to change, right now - whether for better or worse, Lottie finally speaking up and asking for more from him was going to completely change their dynamic. “I don’t wanna be casual anymore. I want you, Blaise. For real.”

[blaiselumi]

"Hey, princess, I just wan--" His words were stolen as their lips collided. The kiss was far more passionate and intense than Blaise had originally planned, but he surrendered to the moment. He knew he shouldn't be doing this, shouldn't be giving in to the seductive dance of their lips, wrapping his arms around her slender waist, acting like he had some kind of claim over her. It was so easy to get caught up in the moment, and the cocktails he'd had earlier only made it all the more tempting. He pulled back, taking a moment to catch his breath.

"Congratulations," he added, a playful chuckle escaping his lips. Blaise gazed into Lottie's eyes, a voice in the back of his mind warning that this was a recipe for trouble. However, her warmth was too comfortable to resist, and her taste lingered in his mouth.

"What?" he replied, his voice still slightly ragged from their passionate exchange. He found it difficult to form coherent sentences at this point. If he allowed himself to pause and think, logic would catch up to him, and he'd have to force himself to leave. After all, he had come to the party with a date, and Lottie was not her. "Do we really have to talk?"

[eveningstarwiishes]

Despite the fact that she had stopped them for a reason, an important one at that, Lottie still couldn’t hold back the grin and light giggle that escaped her at his own laugh. “Why thank you. It wasn’t easy, bringing New Orleans Halloween to the Isle. But I think Angelique and I did a pretty bang up job, if I do say so myself.” While she had hosted plenty of parties and events before back in Louisiana and even in college on the island - this masquerade ball was by far her biggest achievement yet. And she was proud of the work she and Angelique had put in to get it to be as successful as it already was - and the night was hardly even halfway over.

The brightness of her smile remained, even as Blaise made it clear that talking was the last thing he wanted to do right now. But Lottie was staying hopeful, the feelings of her crush for the man intensified stronger than they ever had been before - even back on their date when she had really thought for a few moments that he might be taking her seriously. It was a feeling she wanted to try to recreate right now, praying that she had read the situation correctly. “Yeah, I think we do,” she answers, leaning in for another quick kiss that she simply can’t help herself from stealing before she pulls back and lets out another giggle. “I like you, Blaise. Like a lot. I think we got somethin’ really great goin’ here - and I think it’s time we finally acknowledged that and did somethin’ ‘bout it. I mean, more than just hookin’ up from time to time.”

[eveningstarwiishes]

closed starter for @ohdeare location: halloween ball

The party hadn’t even reached the halfway point and so much had already happened, Lottie wasn’t even sure if she wanted to go through with the rest of the night. From being rejected by Blaise to a wonderful but confusing kiss with Angelique… there was honestly only so much more the blonde thought she could take tonight. But she wasn’t a quitter - and this was her event, so she’d be damned if she let a bit of drama stop her from continuing on and being the best damn host this island’s ever seen. She made a singular lap around the ballroom, complimenting others on their outfits and making small talk when approached, before heading back over towards the punch for another glass.

It only took a few sips for the potion to kick in again and everything suddenly every feeling inside of her heightened. Perhaps if she knew more about magic or if she weren’t so upset, she’d be able to piece together that it was the punch causing these emotions - but as it was Lottie simply continued drinking and her head swam with the hundred of different feelings floating around. She was pissed, she was upset, she was confused. But most of all, she was lonely. And it was that loneliness that drove her to rush out of the ballroom and towards the coat room to retrieve her purse and phone. Without thinking through what she was doing at all, she pulled up an old familiar contact and hit send, pressing the phone to her ear as she listened to it ring and waited on baited breath for an answer. And when she finally got one, the voice she knew all so well saying her name in confusion, Lottie’s heart skipped another small beat. “Hey there,” she greets, suddenly feeling a bit foolish for this call and everything that had happened tonight. But it wasn’t enough to make her hang up, no instead she moved further down the hallway to get a bit of privacy. “You didn’t show up. Don’t tell me you had better plans that seein’ me tonight.”

[eveningstarwiishes]

closed starter for @angelangeliques location: halloween ball

Running away wasn’t something Lottie La Bouff did - it simply wasn’t in her nature, no matter how messy of a situation she might find herself stuck in. But right now? After being rejected by the man she’d been hoping to find something serious with down the line and feeling that pain what seemed like almost ten times stronger than she normally might, the blonde needed a break. She wasn’t ditching the party completely, no that would only make the situation even worse. And she refused to let any man have that much control over her that they could completely ruin the night she’d worked so hard to plan. She was simply just getting some air on one of the otherwise empty balconies that so many people have been avoiding due to the chill in the wind. Her back remained pointed at the glass door looking out onto the balcony, ensuring no one saw the tears that were slowly but surely streaming down her face.

At the click of the door opening, Lottie took a deep breath and steeled herself, her shoulders tensing visibly. “Just one moment, sugar. I’ll be right on back in. Just need a bit of a breather, that’s all,” she promises to whoever it may be coming out to see her. Thankfully she managed to keep her voice steady enough that she hoped the stranger would simply accept her word and move along without realizing the minor distress she was in. But it seemed like she couldn’t quite be lucky enough for that as the sound of heels clicking against the ground moving towards her indicated the new visitor wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. “Really, I’m fine,” she insists one last time before glancing over and seeing that with Angelique. In an instant Lottie knew her facade was about to be seen right through.