“ we have to remember that we’re not only fighting wittelsbach and zielcke. if the king has buried the hatchet, he may move men from the berlin area to the southwest. ” he stared at the tiny pieces on the map, heavily adorning the space around alsace. “ no, no, north won’t work, they are guarding it too well. if we try to approach alsace via haguenau, they’ll move whoever they have left in karlsruhe and our troops will be stuck between two sets of enemy forces. ” he had a terrible desire to throw the whole map into the bin. “ too far south and they’ll use whatever they can spare from basel. west is really the only option, i’m afraid. it will be obvious but safe. ” he did not like the idea of basing a strategy on brute force — there was always a possibility of the germans having an ace up their sleeve.
she shook her head. “ FARTHER and to the left. ” her finger circled around a portion near luxemborg. the last piece of border unaccounted for. “ if we move the troops quietly, saarland is ours. the rhine will slow down their troops on the ground for a little, at least. ” she did the womanly thing and studied their faces to tell if the thought was idiotic. [ @jvlicn + @vrnvuld ]
“ the man’s built like a tree. maybe a weak heart ? ” it is mere speculation and he loathes it the moment it leaves his lips. weak and pointless. “ if they increased their numbers with the aid of other duchies in basel, that means they needed the extra padding that they couldn’t supply by themselves. if you want to call wittelsbach’s bluff… ” he looks to freja, “ is there a third option ? ” [ @frejaedb ]
“ that’s not a very NICE thing to speculate. ” she tutted, completely unseriously, as if she held the power to lecture the d’orleans. rounding the corner of the island, she stared at the map wishing it would just speak to them. “ WHAT IF, we look north ? “ her finger dragged upward on the map. [ @vrnvuld ]
with exuberant force she pushed the door to the pool house open for a moment of shade while the children splashed away. when the door hit a stopping point, she exclaimed, “ my apologies, ” eyes meet with the czar and she grins, “ your majesty. going for a SWIM ? “
“ was wiebke wittelsbach or any of her family harmed ? do you have any idea ? ” he had once before blundered an opportunity simply because he had waited for too long. he was not going to make the same mistake twice. “ if she’s taking a break, the germans’ operation rests on zielcke’s shoulders, doesn’t it ? ” [ ;; @jvlicn ]
“ not anymore than the REST of us, i don’t believe. ” she shrugged. “ well, actually there was something about her husband, but that’s all. ” arnauld’s tone was enough indication that chatty gossip was not the information the question warranted. she turned from the counter, “ WHY ? “
Helena’s jaw tensed at the flippant defiance that was exuded by the princess of Wales. She tried to reason with the fact that everyone reacted to stress and trauma of this magnitude differently. The heavy thud felt shook her sinewy frame, her fingers coiling between the slots of Maite’s. “I think the best thing we can do right now is comply with what they want. It’s not worth tempting them with violence because we know they aren’t shy to use it. They had to have killed some of the staff..” the thought made her nauseous.
She scowled at them all, particularly the frenchwoman. “But like they actually were, they needed us to believe they were guards with the programme, so they had to like–” her hands curled into fists, frustration a far easier emotion to tackle and hold on to. “Look just because they are terrorists doesn’t mean there isn’t a hierarchy and any breakdown or weakness in the organization is a threat–why am I even fucking bothering, you’ve already decided to give up.” Sharp eyes narrowed in on Helena then, anger and frustration having found a new target. “Will you comply when they tell you to give up your country? Your sister’s crown?” The room was too small. She wanted to scream. Had they all already accepted death? Gwen wouldn’t leave her, Manon was the one who left. Wasn’t she? “Gwen,” she suddenly gripped her sister’s hand. “Tell me you’re not giving up.”
｡ A series of thundering applause emanates from between his palms. “Bravo. Can we cut the melodramatics now?” He may find entertainment in being an audience to a manic princess’ whims under normal circumstances but this one in particular could spawn a migraine. There was too much estrogen in the room. “No one is sacrificing anything. We’ve seen this play out before.”
her hardened gaze imperceptibly softened seeing the italian prince from the corner of her eye – her brow unfurling by a millimeter. it had turned out their differences could be mended by something simple: a common enemy. “ CERVEAU D’HUÎTRE ... ” was muttered under her breath, before she straightened her spine on the wall. she would not deal with anymore hissy fits in these confinements. “ and what do you want to do chérie ? SCREAM when they take a misstep ? kill them all – with our bare hands, i assume, hm ? we, ” the royal, infallible we, “ do not STOOP to a heathen’s level. but if that is what you want to do, bonne chance. ”
“Well there’s no telling what would happen if we were hurt each other, but I’m not ready to take any chances.” She looked around, at least appreciative that her sister was in the group with her. “And we probably can’t take them… anyone more perceptive than I pick up anything about our captors?”
Manon ignored Helena, instead pressing her ear to the door and listing for footsteps. Hearing none, she gave the obviously locked handle the slightest jiggle as another test. Almost immediately she felt (and heard) the heavy thud of a fist against the door and jumped away, pouting and rubbing her temple.
“Fuck,” she muttered, moving back to sit next to her sister, who, it seems, had decided to play Nancy Drew. “Well the line up on the dock was way crooked,” Manon offered casually, then realized the others probably didn’t recognize the significance of this. “It lacked precision, like you know the trooping of the colors king’s guard bullshit that happens on major holidays? They are all super in line and in sync with one another. These guys can fake it, but probably aren’t highly trained.” She shrugged, “Obviously it takes a great deal of organization to pull off something like this, but maybe the foot soldiers aren’t as organized.”
it was only at this point freja realized her time in the programme was in a tiny bubble. maybe people were right – all royals were absolutely unbearable, especially the young. the thud made her tighten her arms around her son. “ would you get AWAY from the door ? ” her tone mimicked the one used when eloise pulled at her nerves. “ they are TERRORISTS. i’m positive they didn’t prioritize synchronization. ” [ @rcmvncv @vstridb @olimpiacroy @giorxcci @tvkla @maitedobrasil @hrhmancns @helenadobrasil @tywysoges-g ]
“ to think anywhere in ITALY would be the safest place to be ... ” she shook her head and scowled in the vague direction of the italian crown prince. it may have been an unfair comment but her ire needed a direction. her hands ran through tobias’ hair – more as a comfort to her than to him.
“ YES, YES, i’ll be EXTRA careful. ” freja worried too much ! “ oh hey by the way ! did fanni croÿ ever get in touch with lucien ? ilija asked for his number because fanni wanted it. some sorta business deal or something. are you or is he starting something international ? ”
the ease of conversing with sol had made her forget to steel her expression, a rare reaction of confusion forming on her face. it was too late to lie and sort the details out for herself in private. “ it’s the first time in HEARING about this ... ” because if it were true, why hadn’t she gone to the source ? and out of all the rich men in the the world, why lucien ? “ when was this ? “
“I think it’s just perfect, but if you’re looking to get away, we could go try to find some more solid ground somewhere else.”
“Niklaus,” his voice firmer than usual. This woman was far out of his brother’s league and he had a date. “I think she was just commenting on the odd set up. No need to whisk her away.”
@frejaedb
“ oh it’s FLATTERING, really dear. ” no matter who uttered the words or even if it were crude, there was still satisfaction in being ... wooed. “ if you had ABOUT twenty years on you, ” and a right to a throne, she might add, “ you might have stood a chance. ”
“I hope someone will take a dip to cherish the new year.. so long as they don’t drown.”
the holiday glee on her face tightened. the princess hardly bothered to veil the misanthropist in her. “ drowning while surrounded by so many people would be a FEAT, for sure. not to mention the number of beaches we’ve lived at ... “
“ people feel that in her, the nonhuman. people are afraid of her. something in her inspires a nonhuman attachment. sur elle, the the human feelings seem to slip, they glisser– ”
“But they seem happy together…” He refused to believe it! “Which one of us has any insider knowledge to the czar’s personal life, anyways?” ( @bastivvn )
wasn’t they guy too old to believe in ‘true love’ ? “ i think it’s more likely that they know how to smile for cameras than that there’s some star-crossed lovers story behind this. but i have a bad habit of being a pessimist ! ”
“ i don’t think he’d take to well in me asking. though it doesn’t take a GENIUS to sense a little bit of cynicism in the czar. ” she rolled her eyes. “ though i’d applaud him if he was simply playing the long game for finland. “ [ @robbiestuart ]
“And here I was hoping someone was going to tell me! I didn’t know they were together and then suddenly we received the invitation.”
“ i don’t mean to sound awfully too rude since i’m sleeping under their roof tonight but… this seems like the royal version of a shotgun wedding, doesn’t it ? ”
“ YES, yes. ” the human ken doll made a point. “ but it seems – from what i know of him – unlike the czar, no ? ”
I. devil in a new dress - kanye west / II. house of glass - cage the elephant / III. 6 inch - beyonce ft. the weeknd / IV. smokin out the window - bruno mars / V. lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off - panic at the disco / VI. rules - doja cat / VII. i am everyone else - declan mckenna / VIII. killer queen - queen / IX. no friends in the industry - drake / X. perhaps vampires is a bit strong but... - arctic monkeys / XI. glory and gore - lorde / XII. she’s always a woman - billy joel / XIII. i heard you’re married - the weeknd ft. lil wayne / XIV. high infidelity - taylor swift / XV. e.v.o.l - marina / LISTEN.
there’s a lot of songs, but a good amount of them are just for the vibes. lot’s of songs about her marriage. no friends in the industry and glory and gore are dedicated to her and arnauld. no particular order of the songs either.
I. devil in a new dress - kanye west
Make brash decisions, oh she do it
What happened to Religion? Oh she lose it
She putting on her make up
She casually allure
Text message break up, the casualty of tour
How she gone wake up and not love me no more?
I thought I was the asshole, I guess it's rubbing off
I hit the Jamaican spot, at the bar, take a seat
I ordered the jerk, she said, "You are what you eat"
You see I always loved your sense of humor
But tonight you should have seen how quiet the room was
what falling in love with freja would be like through a song, the quick changes, the brutality... this is her song.
II. house of glass - cage the elephant
Another mirror damaged
Corrected and distorted
I'm underwhelmed, I'm interested
I wonder why I'm over it
Walk it off, the kettle's black
The dotted line, the house is glass
It's an illusion, this admiration
Of mutilation, my isolation
It's an illusion, this admiration
this song is a good one that addresses her insensitivity, i suppose. theres nothing that can really shock her. she’s numb, unfeeling !
III. 6 inch - beyonce ft. the weeknd
Six inch heels
She walked in the club like nobody's business
Goddamn
She murdered everybody and I was her witness
her girlboss song ! it’s mostly the vibe of the song.
IV. smokin out the window - bruno mars
This bitch got me payin' her rent, payin' for trips
Diamonds on her neck, diamonds on her wrist
And here I am, all alone (all alone), uh
I'm so cold, I'm so cold, you got me out here
Smokin' out the window (smokin' out the window)
Singin', "How could she do this to me?" (How could she do this to me?)
Oh, I thought that girl belonged to only me (mhmm)
But I was wrong, 'cause she belong
To everybody, everybody, ooh
frelucien song. it’s pretty straight forward, she’s got him wrapped around her finger.
V. lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off - panic at the disco
Then think of what you did
And how I hope to God he was worth it
When the lights are dim and your heart is racing
As your fingers touch his skin
So, testosterone boys and harlequin girls:
Will you dance to this beat and hold a lover close?
this song is mostly off the vibes, it’s about cheating and just has a good angst to it.
VI. rules - doja cat
Break some bread up, –––, that butter my biscuit (ha)
You ain't talk money, then really, that's none of my business
I'on even need these lenses (yeah)
20 on 20 my vision (woo)
Bad yellow bitch with her eye on the prize
But ––––, I ain't no minion
Millions, thousands, billions
Bobs on me like Dylan, blondes on me like Hilton
this is mostly for the vibe, another girl boss song ya know.
VII. i am everyone else - declan mckenna
Why'd you act sick and pretend
Pretend that you've never known it?
Aren't you just sick of spending
All your time getting noticed?
You showed me the message you sent
And act like you never wrote it
Well, aren't you just sick of your friends
Your friends with ulterior motives?
'Cause I am everyone else
she doesn’t feel bad about her moral failings, because she feels like they’re valid. she doesn’t like the act of pretending to be kind and compassionate, because everyone has had her thoughts.
VIII. killer queen - queen
Caviar and cigarettes
Well versed in etiquette
Extraordinarily nice
She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime
one of those songs that are just perfect for freja. i don’t think it needs much explanation as to why.
IX. no friends in the industry - drake
No friends in the industry
My brothers been my brothers, man
You ––– ain't no kin to me, a fact (whoa)
I was known for snappin' when I chat before the app
Stood on everything I said and never took it back (whoa)
No friends in the industry
I had to draw the line between my brothers and my enemies, a fact
–––– love to start the beef, don't wanna keep it rap
Yeah, you hit us up and now we owe you something back
frenauld song, mainly for the laughs. her and arnauld are bffs that aren’t exactly loved by everyone else !
X. perhaps vampires is a bit strong but... - arctic monkeys
I ain't got no dollar signs in my eyes
That might be a surprise but it's true, said, I'm not like you
And I don't want your advice or your praise
Or to move in the ways you do and I never will
the way in which freja operates isn’t one of a normal person’s, per say. a lot of her life decisions are choice ones for sure, but she’s certain she knows what’s best for her.
XI. glory and gore - lorde
There's a humming in the restless summer air
And we're slipping off the course that we prepared
But in all chaos, there is calculation
Dropping glasses just to hear them break
You've been drinking like the world was gonna end (it didn't)
Took a shiner from the fist of your best friend (go figure)
It's clear that someone's gotta go
We mean it, but I promise we're not mean
And the cry goes out (oh)
They lose their minds for us
And how it plays out (oh)
Now we're in the ring, and we're coming for blood
you could try and take us
(Oh, oh) but we're the gladiators
(Oh, oh) everyone a rager
(Oh, oh) but secretly they're saviors
Glory and gore go hand in hand
That's why we're making headlines
this is THE freja and arnauld song. exemplifies their love for being on top of the world, their understanding that with glory comes gore, and that’s something they’re okay with.
XII. she’s always a woman - billy joel
She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes
And she can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child but she's always a woman to me
She can lead you to love, she can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth but she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her as long as it's free
a frelucien song.
XIII. i heard you’re married - the weeknd ft. lil wayne
And I knew that this was too good to be true
Ooh, I heard you're married, girl, oh, oh, oh
If you don't love him (oh no)
Then do yourself a favor and just leave him
Your number in my phone, I'm gon' delete it
self explanatory.
XIV. high infidelity - taylor swift
You know there's many different ways that you can kill the one you love
The slowest way is never loving them enough
Do you really want to know where I was April 29th?
Do I really have to tell you how he brought me back to life?
High infidelity
Put on your records and regret me
I bent the truth too far tonight
I was dancing around
also self explanatory. frelucien and arnauld.
XV. e.v.o.l - marina
It only takes two lonely people
To fuck love up and make it evil
It only takes a drop of evil
To fuck up two beautiful people
