It was almost strange how time seemed to fold in on itself at the first hint of unease. She was unprepared, naturally, and so Greer missed the first few hints that something was off. Later she’d pick them out - voices that sounded to sharp, the underlying tension creeping along the peripherals of the party. At the first flare she dropped her glass, it seemed to take an eternity to reach the grass and she was almost disappointed when it did not shatter - shouldn’t thing shatter in moments like this? She noticed the ripple throughout the guests, the murmurs and the unease - but it wasn’t until she looked up from where her glass had fallen and then down the barrel of a gun that the severity of the situation sank in.
“Oh,” it was soft, surprised, and all that she could manage before her knees gave out and the world fell away. [ for a moment, in that infinite pocket world that existed when one was falling - she was back in her room in the castle in Scotland and rough hands were closing around her arms and gagging her screams and she was being dragged through the window she’d stupidly left open all over again, like she had been those years before.]
The Scottish Princess hit the grass with a jolt, panic flooding her every cell as she opened her eyes to the figure standing above her.
“It’s absolutely fine, Your Highness. This place really tends to get complicated.” He assured her with a polite smile, placing his phone back in his pocket. Naturally, he knew who she was; it was James’ job to know, and he prided himself to be really good at it. His smile remained on his face even at her requests- it wasn’t the worst that he had heard, not even today. “Absoutely. His room shouldn’t be that far away, and I would be more than happy to lead you there.” James offered, even if he had more than enough to do. Another hour or two overtime would not change anything at this point. “I don’t think we have really officially met. I’m James Brixton, one of the advisors here.”
~
The pride in her bristled, palaces shouldn’t be too complicated for a princess - she should know her way around her new home. But then again, Greer had been trying to give herself a bit more grace in these situations, or so her doctor had told her. “I am not usually lost,” her chin jerked upwards, “but I was told his room has been moved several times...” Greer trailed off, slipping into step beside him as they headed back into what she assumed was the main part of the castle. She nodded when he introduced himself. “Tell me,” the princess asked, trying to seem regal, “are you a general advisor or are you attached to one nation or another?”
Greer’s voice brought a smile to his lips as he finished off the cookie in his mouth and parted the blanket to poke his head out. “Hey,” Valentin crawled out of his fort and went to hug her. “You’re always welcome to come in, anytime.” he told her, trying to hold in the tears that wanted to fall. “Y-You came yesterday? How was your trip?” he asked, moving the blanket so she can go in first.
~
Greer laughed as she watched the crown prince crawl out from his fort, but it was full of affection. She couldn’t recall the last time she or her siblings did something that playful, and she loved it. The princess leaned into his hug, resisting her instinct to flinch from any sort of touch - she trusted Valentin. “Thank you, I am very impressed.” Greer smiled than crawled into the fort, working on opening the bottle of wine she brought in and taking a sip directly from the bottle. “Uhm, it was fine. I don’t really like traveling alone but my parents thought I’d be better off here, with Duncan and everyone. I kinda -” she glanced down, twisting a signet ring around her finger like she did when she was nervous, “it was too much at home, but I don’t know how it could be better here. But I am ok, I promise. How are you?”
Magdalena typically wasn’t one with an ear for gossip, but when she’d overheard a maid mention that the youngest Scottish princess had arrived, she just had to confirm it for herself. She needed to see Greer for herself, and see with her own eyes that the younger woman was alright. The two of them were a part of a club that not many were- the kidnapped, the ones who’d been to hell and back. It was a bond, of sorts, and she and Greer seemed to understand one another.
As soon as she’d gotten directions from a housekeeper, it was as though her feet were moving of her own accord, and she found herself outside Greer’s room. She stared at the door for a moment, second guessing herself- perhaps she should’ve given Greer some time to settle in before paying her a visit unannounced. But then the moment passed, and Lena knocked on the door.
“Greer, it’s Lena,” she called out. “I really hope you’re in there,” she added, more quietly. This place felt awfully small sometimes, but she knew that if she were to try to track down a specific person within the castle walls she might have some trouble. And realistically, the Scottish princess could be anywhere.
~
Settling into a new space was always an ordeal, and generally left Greer in desperate need of a drink. Her new room was all wrong mostly in that fact that it was not her old room and entirely in the wrong part of the world. Luckily she’d packed a case of her favorite scotch (partially for Duncan too, of course - or that’s what she’d promised her parents), and was digging through the the various trunks in an attempt to remember exactly where it was she’d put them when the knock came at her door.
For a moment, Greer felt a jolt of panic - who knew she was here? She’d sent away all of the staff an hour ago; irritated and anxious surrounded by strangers. she’d rather either do it herself or have them do it later when she was elsewhere. But then, Lena’s all too familiar voice called out and Greer rushed over to open the door, throwing her arms around her friend and pulling her into the room.
“Lena!” Her sour mood brightened instantly, the two were bonded by blood and trauma, the love and intimacy that came from holding hands at the absolute rock bottom. “I just got here, I hate it already, you want a drink?”
Due to the avalanche, Duncan was misplaced from his room, all his possession destroyed aside from the ones that had been on him - like the useless damn phone that he couldn’t even call out to home one due to the shoddy signal in this place. Though at least the phone had his pictures of his sisters and his dogs on it. A small consolation truly. With Greer here, he couldn’t help but worry about his younger sister. Given everything she had been through, the inane isolation that the castle in the middle of the Russian mountains offered was going to bring up from bad memories.
His room was changing quite often, between where there was space, but he had to hand it to Greer being able to track him down regardless to the fact he felt a little homeless without his own fixed room. “Course, wha’ d’ye need?” he asked his sister as he leaned against the doorframe, arms open to give her a hug as the crowned prince yawned.
~
He sounded like home. Greer’s own accent was more lilting, influenced by their mother’s English heritage. But Duncan’s easy voice, even half asleep, felt more familiar than she’d encountered in ages. She stepped forward, leaning her head against his chest and felt the tension slip from her shoulders as he hugged her. Damn, she’d missed her big brother.
“I - I couldn’t sleep.” She confessed, looking down. “I can’t decide if it’s too quiet or too loud here, but I -” the princess paused, biting her lip, “I don’t really, uhm, feel all that safe yet - can I sit with you, just for a bit? I really don’t want to be alone.”
Klaus moved in hushed steps. A trademark of his as he crossed the many hallways of the castle without making almost any sound save from the occasional creaking of some floor tiles, which could be very anticlimactic whenever he might have wished to sneak up on someone. Still, Klaus did his best until his ears picked up on something. Judging by the hesitation in their walk, the guard had reason to be suspicious. The pauses in their gait were too long, and they lacked in purpose, something most people in the castle seemed to have.
Turning on a corner, he spotted the princess almost instantly, leaning against one of the darkened walls as she tried to control her breathing. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen something like it before. Princesses who dared to have their midnight dalliances when they thought no one could see. But the Scottish’s eyes, so panicked and haunted, told the German a different story. Dropping his surreptitiousness, he allowed the echo of his steps to announce his presence as he narrowed the distance towards the woman.
Klaus offered her a soft smile. “There’s no need to apologize, my lady,” he shook his head while his light brown gaze scanned her. “You should be happy I was nearby. Some of these hallways become deserted at night. Especially after the avalanche that crushed the western wing,” he explained, a sharp tilt of his head indicated the path that would lead to the wreckage. “I would stay away from there while they are still restoring the place,” he heeded, wondering whether she was the sort of woman who would have a glimmer on her eyes at the possibility of doing something forbidden, or she would shy away from the idea of adventure. “I’m Klaus. I work with the security team. And I’m happy to be at your service,” he splayed a hand across his chest and bowed, his eyes never abandoning her face.
~
During her captivity Greer had learned to be hyper aware of the presence of others, particularly when she could not see them. A shift in the air, the electric jolt down her spine, or maybe the instinctual spike in her heart rate, she wasn’t sure exactly how she knew she was no longer alone - but it had been vital to her survival. The princess didn’t hear the newcomer before she felt that she was no longer alone, but the seemingly deliberate echo of footsteps gave her time to gather herself into a much more regal posture before she saw the man.
“Thank you, Klaus, I am Greer Stuart.” She waited until he was fully finished speaking, and bowed before responding. She’d never been all that concerned with decorum and who bowed to whom and when - but she liked the way it felt when he looked at her. “Crushed? Is it truly that bad?” A delicate eyebrow shot up, the distraction of something other than her own anxiety was more than welcome and Greer actually smiled a bit playfully. It did not reach her dark eyes, that hollow haunted look might never leave her.
“You must be the first bit of good luck I’ve had since arriving,” her smile was almost gracious, but there was something of an edge there, a shard of glass that hadn’t been properly sanded down. “I wouldn’t want to vanish again.” The princess peered around him and into the dark hallway, almost as if she could see a ghostly echo of the mountain giving way to swallow up the castle. “We’ve had avalanches at home, although I’ve never seen one. Is this the guard duty you’ve been stuck with? Keeping careless royals from wandering into a disaster zone? Or have I been gone long enough that my brother sent people to find me?”
Even though it was childish, Valentin didn’t care. He made a fort in his new room, mostly to escape the talk about the two countries. His country was neutral, and Austria didn’t get into things, mostly international things. His father told him to stay out of it, after he clearly said that he didn’t think there should be a war. He had everything he needed-candy, chips, a huge TV and every single drink he needed. He was good as he picked a random movie and started to relax. It was an escape from what was going on, and honestly, he was happy about that. “Go away,” he groaned when a shadow came over his fort. “I’m not here, and I don’t wanna talk about the whole…thing that shouldn’t even happen.”
~
Valentin’s new room had been one of the first locations she’d inquired after, besides her brother’s of course. Greer had a soft spot, a sort of connection with the Austrian prince over shared grief and loss, compounded by her trauma. She lingered in the doorway, smiling almost against her will as she took in the fort he’d built, a sanctuary where the messiness of the world could not reach them.
“Val? It’s Greer, I just arrived yesterday. Can I come in? I have sweets and wine.”
when: greer’s first night, past midnight
where: duncan’s rooms
who: @princeduncan
Under the very best of circumstances sleep had always been elusive for the youngest Stuart. Insomnia, maybe, or trauma - perhaps she’d always been a night owl, happier in the inbetween hours when the rest of the castle slept. A little pocket world for Greer and her ghosts, insulated in a protective solitude. Tonight she tried to blame jetlag, the time change, asked for her favorite tea from the kitchens - but nothing worked. It was just too fucking quiet, too cold, too strange.
So she sought out the one bit of home she could count on in this strange and new place, her brother. Greer crept through the halls silently, as if she were a spectre herself, before finally coming to knock on what she hoped was his door.
With the sun having set and the night setting in quickly Rosa was surprised when she walked out of the castle theatre to find the place quiet and dark. A piece of popcorn between her teeth as she looked up and noticed it, she slowly bit down and looked towards the nearest window. It wasn’t common for her to be out of her room this late as the princess felt more comfortable there so the creepiness of the halls had never quite set in until then. No matter, her room wasn’t too far…just on the other side of the castle.
Sighing, she decided to focus on the rest of the popcorn in hand as she trudged her way through the deserted hallways. Scary had never been her thing so focusing on something else was all she could really do.
The voice stopped her in her tracks, Rosa looking up to see Greer looking terrified as her fear laced her words. The popcorn fell from her hands as she ran forward with concern etched throughout her features. “Greer?” She hadn’t seen the princess in a long time and her mind briefly went to the fact that this reunion was not at all what she’d thought it would be but it was pushed aside when the other princess spoke.
“It’s okay. I can help you back to your room…or wherever you were going. I’ve been here long enough to know the halls like the back of my hand.” Rosa’s tone was gentle as she cautiously reached out to place a hand around Greer’s wrist. “Are you okay?”
~
“Rosa?” Greer glanced up, relief flooding her voice. Of all people to find her here in this vulnerable state, Rosa was perhaps the one person outside of her siblings and cousins who she trusted would not use this against her or think any less of her. Her time away (and that was how her parents had so delicately referred to her captivity and trauma) had made her wary of trusting anyone, particularly those outside of the small world of royals.
“I am now,” the younger princess smiled weakly, only flinching slightly as Rosa touched her wrist. She did not pull away. “Stupidly, I went looking for a bit of sunshine, there’s this window seat in the palace at home that gets the very best afternoon sun, it is my favorite place to read.” Greer sighed, “I should have known there’d be nothing that lovely here. Do you think you could help me get back to my room? Or at the very least Duncan’s? I can get to mine from there.”
Casper had been working a job at the opposite end of the castle to where the maintenance office and main hub of activity had been. One of the royals who had asked for their new room to be placed away from others, which he really didn’t get. But it seemed for the royals here, like everywhere, it was ask and ye shall receive. It hadn’t taken too long at all to fix the squeaky hinge on the door, which he was grateful for as it was the last job of the day.
Heading in what he thought was the right direction to make it back to his quarters he whistled as he walked, not paying attention in the slightest to where his feet were actually taking him. He figured that he was getting closer when he spied the figure ahead of him, though as he got closer he grew a little concerned with her pose, pressed against the wall with her eyes closed. That was until she noticed him.
“Oh, hello. That’s okay, neither have I. I can take you where you’re wanting to go,” he answered, looking around himself and not letting his attempt at a friendly smile falter when he realised he actually had no idea where they were.
~
The man smiled and it was kind. He couldn’t have been much older than she was, yet Greer still felt uneasy. It was habit these days, her natural state of mind and she tried her best to release some of the tension across her shoulders, rolling them back quickly. It didn’t work. He was new too, quickly she scanned her memory to see if he’d arrived with her or had been someone her brother had mentioned, but no luck. She smiled back tentatively.
“Thank you,” Greer didn’t move, her eyes glanced down to the bag he carried - or was it a toolbox? “I wanted to get back to my rooms, but I am not sure which way that is, I was walking to find the sun through a window, I am afraid I didn’t really pay attention to where I was going.”
At this point of his career here, James knew the castle better than his old home. Even typing up one email after another, he wasn’t looking where he was going, working on autopilot, his mind working on plenty other things. After all, with everything that was happening, no matter the scale, he was busier than usual.
Only as he heard someone speak up, James finally stopped, looking over at the princess. She seemed panicked, and so he smiled a little, in hopes of helping her relax a little. “That’s absolutely fine. The place can be quite the maze.” He assured her. “Where were you trying to go to?”
~
She still startled when the man spoke, blinking slowly to try and place him. Greer knew most of the royals at least by reputation, and they were all younger. She suspected he was an advisor, or a captain of some sort - as the youngest Scottish royal Greer hadn’t particularly paid all that much attention to who was who in the blur of a tour she’d received upon her arrival. She’d been far too concerned with finding her brother.
“Uh,” Greer bit down on her lip, her mother’s firm yet kind voice reminding her that princesses did not mumble. “I was looking for some place to read before it got dark, now I would like to go back to my rooms.” She jutted her chin up in an effort to seem confident. “Actually, no, I want to see my brother. Duncan.” Greer glanced down at the book in her hand, something she’d borrowed from him without asking. “Prince Duncan”
when: early evening
where: somewhat deserted hallway in the fortress
who: open
She’d always been curious. Greer would like to have said adventurous, but that would be a stretch even for her. Either way, the princess had a tendency to wander. Maybe it was habit from formative years following Duncan around various castles and estates as he explored - a wish to be more like him. Lately, it was far more likely that the princess was seeking out solitude, a place to hide from the crowds and eyes and fear. She had a book with her, some first edition of Scottish folktales she’d somehow convinced the Royal Archivist back in Edinburgh to part with, and had spent a fair amount of time searching for the perfect window nook - secluded, but where she could still see the sky.
Only now, Greer was hopelessly lost.
The princess had refused to admit this for quite some time, continuing on in her wandering and occasionally stopping to read a few pages. But the windows were now dark and the chill that crept along the glass too sharp to ignore. Greer felt the first echos of panic - the tension in her jaw, tightness in her chest, the way her skin seemed to prickle and crawl as if it were a rubber band stretched too far. She stopped, leaning back against a wall and closed her eyes. Nails digging half moons into her palms, she took several shaky breaths before realizing she wasn’t alone.
“Hello?” A hint of panic to her voice before she relented, no one who didn’t belong here could get in, right? “Forgive me, I got a bit lost. I haven’t been here long.”
Everything was chaos once again in Matthias’ life. With all of the rumors swirling around about his country possibly engaging in war with the Russians he was in a slight panic. Not only was war the last thing he wanted for his people but what would that mean for him, Kat, and Maggie when it came to staying in Khatanga? Yes, he and Ivan were trying to work on something but it was slow going at the moment as they wracked their brains for a solution both of their parents would approve of and in the mean time he felt lost. Papers were strewn over the table he was sat at in the village, Honey Brews seeming like a nice place to be able to concentrate in. But the chatter around him was catching his attention and Matthias was finding it hard to ignore. A particular statement caught his interest and he looked up from his work to lean towards the person at the next table. “Do any of you even know what you’re talking about or are you just content with spreading lies around until this whole things dies down?”
~
It was too cold here, way too cold for May - and that was coming from a girl accustomed to the Highlands of Scotland. Or perhaps that was the newness of it all, the clinical sameness of the landscape. Russia was so big, it lacked the ease and comfort Greer found innately on Scottish soil. She sighed and shivered, scowling at the hulking guard lurking too close behind her as the Princess reached for her coffee. Part of her wanted to run back to the palace, to hide in her rooms - or Duncan’s rooms - until the panic faded or she closed her eyes tight enough that she ended up back in Scotland.
A familiar voice interrupted this plan. Greer looked over and spotted her brother’s best friend addressing a table of what seemed to be commoners, a look of irritation across his face. She strode over and took the seat across the table from him, not even sparing a glance at the various documents spread before them.
“My mother would say something like the lion does not concern themselves with the opinions of sheep, but she’s English,” Greer shrugged and took a sip of her coffee, wincing slightly as the too hot liquid burnt her tongue. “Are you alright?”
— ♔ In the past, people were born royal and for GREER CATRÌONA STUART the TWENTY FOUR-year-old PRINCESS of SCOTLAND, that is a tradition SHE intend/s to keep. To others, SHE looks an awful lot like KATIE STEVENS and has/have been painted as DAMAGED GOODS but behind closed doors, SHE is/are ANXIOUS AND VAIN but also GENEROUS AND DEVOTED. It has also been said they are BETROTHED to ANY FITTING MALE FC.
Facts:
Full name: Greer Catrìona Stuart
Nicknames: G, Gre, Greer
Age: 25
Birthday: February 14
Title: Princess of Scotland
Sexuality: bisexual
Height: 5′2
Hair Color: dark brown
Eye Color: hazel
Details:
Greer was part of the group of royals who was kidnapped and is haunted by this trauma. It has brought out the worst in her, a mean streak unexpected from the youngest Scottish royal. They were rescued, naturally, and the rebels all executed - and everyone seemed to think that was it. No one wanted to help her deal with the trauma and the expectations of being gracious and perfect. Grief and pain should be beautiful, a performance for the people and the world. We are stronger than you, the monarchy urges, we will not be brought down by set backs. But the world isn’t there when the nightmares strike, when the walls become to oppressive and memory grips a tight fist around her lungs so that she has to run from whatever room until she can see the sky and feel the air. Greer internalizes her trauma, builds up that hard glossy armor.
Greer idolizes her older brother, and followed him to St. Andrews University where she almost obtained a degree in Classical Studies. She loved school, and excelled at it - her obsessive nature serving her well in the study of dead languages. After being rescued from the kidnapping, Greer wanted to go back to school but ultimately couldn’t handle it. She has continued studying on her own.
Greer has an obsessive nature. She gets deeply invested in whatever her particular fancy is that day. She’s taught herself latin this way, spent an entire summer in her thirteenth year following the Minister of War around the castle with incessant questions about tactics. Her family dismisses these obsessions as her whims, but Greer is careful to store this information away in case she needs it.
Connections:
Hostage Buddy - one of the other royals who was kidnapped along with Greer, they became particularly close in response to the trauma and have almost a codependent relationship. This can go many ways depending on who/what it is! Maybe this person is a really good influence on Greer and is trying to help her cope with things in a healthy way! Maybe its a toxic kinda thing, where they just enable each others worst habits and vices! Anyway we want a complicated relationship born of hardship and trauma pretty please
Betrothed - this match was made after she was rescued in an attempt by her parents to prove to the world/media that all was well. (Tiktok vc: fuck u my child is completely fine) I would like to think even though Greer resented the lack of choice and is distinctly Not fine, she begrudgingly likes/enjoys (Narrator: Could it be the first stirrings of love?) her future partner. He would know more about her and her trauma/darkness than most, but tries to understand, and helps her keep up the mask of propriety. Maybe this person is trying to make her a better person, or maybe they encourage it - at the very least they call her on her shit
Tutor/trainer - Greer has an obsessive nature (see above) and would seek out anyone who knows something unique or with a rare specialty and pester them until they agree to teach her about it. This person could be an actual tutor or not. She’d specifically seek out someone to teach her self defense, especially now that she’s away from her comfort zone. But really anything interesting she’d obsess over for a bit until she got bored or found a new interest.
FWB - both past and present, literally open to anyone & any gender. What better way to deal with your trauma than to fuck it out? Extra Spicy would be a rebel that shes sleeping with who might be using her for information - literally she tries to be all strong and tough and brave but she's a big soft baby
FRIENDS - plz & thx
literally anything else I am up for it all
Interview:
What is one thing you are proud of/love about your country?
“Hmm?” The princess looked up, startled by the sudden question then frowned slightly. “We are resilient, stubborn. Despite everything we’ve kept our spirit & identity,” she sounded almost wishful instead of proud. “And the land, it’s hard to explain, really, but it feels like a part of us, a living thing with a personality to match the wildness of the landscape.”
What is the most important thing in your suitcase?
“My grandfather’s watch,” Greer answered promptly, right hand moving almost unconsciously to trace the heavy gold face & supple leather around her wrist. “It was a wedding present from my grandmother, and has their names engraved on the back of it, she gave it to me when he died,” the princess smiled sadly, “I was always his favorite, I think.”
Who and/or what will you miss most from home?
“I miss feeling comfortable and safe,” she bit down on her bottom lip for a moment, letting her fear show through the armor for a second. “And all of the family pets, my brother has dogs and so does my father, it’s strange to be in a place without animal companions, it feels colder almost.”
hit me up either in my dms or on discord gracie#3533 - i would love any and all plots!
