"she would've made such a lovely bride what a shame she's fucked in her head, " they said but you'll find the
real thing instead. she'll
patch up your tapestry that i shred lady charlotte de vries
resident of narcissus street
* ˖・ﾟ⧓ :: lily james,cis woman, she/her — Lady S has her eye on LADY CHARLOTTE DE VRIES and they should be flattered and terrified. The THIRTY year old is a LADY and has chosen to place their loyalty with NARCISSUS STREET, a very intriguing move on their part. SHE is CLEVER, GRACEFUL, yet Lady S believes them to be CONNIVING and DISTRUSTFUL. Do not fret loyal readers, their secrets will be in print very soon.
hello everyone !! the name is anna and i’m so excited to be here with you all. i hail from good ol’ est and use she/her pronouns. under the cut is some info about my rebellious lady charlotte. hit the heart if you’re interested in plotting and i’ll come hit you up !!
born on the eve on one of the worst storms ever seen, charlotte came into this wailing, already a force to be reckoned with. the devries family is one of generational wealth, having held the favor of the monarchy for as long as one can remember. money breeds more money and with the marriage of lord and lady de vries, their power and influence was only cemented. if only their first child had been a male heir and not a girl.
charlotte, or lottie as those close to her often refer to her as, grew up in the lap of luxury, in the beautiful de vries ancestral home along narcissus street, wanting for nothing. she received the finest tutelage, wore the finest garments, kept the finest company --- yet she was always unhappy just beneath the surface. there was something in her that longed for more.
when it came time for her to be presented to society, many thought she would be crowned the diamond of her season, just as her mother had been. and perhaps, if she presented well, she would have been --- with such lovely features it was a shock that she hadn’t. although she was of age, she wasn’t quite ready to give up her freedom just yet and settle down. while she had been courted by a few suitors, no engagement was made. and so she entered another season. and another. and another.
by charlotte’s fourth season, charlotte’s father had enough. his eldest daughter was to be wed by the end of the season. at the start of the season he arranged what he thought would be a suitable match with a man from another respectable narcissus street family. there was nothing wrong with the match. on the surface, it was nothing short of kismit --- finally, someone willing to take the time to tame the wild de vries girl. she was to be a dutiful wife to a devoted husband.
as the end of the season drew closer, so did charlotte’s dread. despite having her hand promised at the start of the season, she still continued on speaking to other men and realized that if she was to finally be wed, she would not wed the man who she was promised to.
just days before the season was to end, charlotte’s fiance left town under mysterious circumstances and their engagement was broken.
charlotte never entered another season, now written off as a spinster by society. but she still has her fun. still plays her games. perhaps this is the life she wanted all along.
now, however, with her sister catherine’s entrance into society, and since their mother passed years prior, she is in charge of running her sister’s season and the pair couldn’t be more different.
“My brother more so than most.” Juliet sighed, but it was all in jest. Anyone who knew of the Collier family knew that despite their bickering, Juliet and Sebastian would always take care of one another. “Yes, recently returned after eight years on his travels. I have missed him dearly, although I haven’t missed his laundry.” She patted the top of the box fondly. “I am not sure how long. Perhaps he will flee as soon as possible since mother is already determined to get him on the marriage market this season.”
“ i wouldn’t know --- ” she retorts with a shrug, “ i haven’t seen the man in years. ” and despite that, despite time and distance between them, she does believe she knows sebastian collier quite well . . . more than she should be proud to admit ( so she doesn’t, keeps her silence ). “ oh ? your mother wishes him to wed ? how interesting. i’m sure he won’t take too kindly to that. ”
“ she’s well, unless you consider a proclivity for dramatics an illness. ” she lets loose a soft chuckle, “ to be entirely honest with you i think she’s trying a new tactic to draw attention, seeing whether people question her absence. but of course, you didn’t hear that from me. so i’ll be sure to pass on your concern, i’ll wager she will be delighted to hear it. ” maisie’s hand absentmindedly reaches to brush at her hairline, unable to contain a smile, “ so kind of you to say, i do feel rather as though i showed my hand too early, but i suppose madame lacroix has never lead me astray thus far. ”
“ your secret is safe with me, ” she teases, a glint of playfulness in her eye. she does wonder if rumors of elspeth sinclair and her oh so mysterious illness would soon reach lady scarlet’s pages --- perhaps that was the goal. “ oh, please do. and tell her she’s always welcome to come call when she decides that she wants a change of scenery. “ i only speak the truth, ” she replies with a nod, “ and that she would never. she’s the maker of taste in this part of town, after all. what she’s whipped up this season for my dear kitty only proves that. ”
“Yes, mostly my brother’s shirts.” Juliet laughed as she rearranged the boxes into a more manageable stack. “How he has managed to tear so many in such a short space of time I do not know.” She tutted. “Much less do I know why I am running his errands for him.” Another business meeting with father, and since she was not privy to their discussions she thought it prudent to get out of the house rather than traipse around the place wondering what they were talking about.
“ men are careless, ” she responds, with a wave of her hand and a laugh, “ leave it to them to not treasure their well made things. for example, my father’s coats are always missing buttons and he never notices. a right shame, but it’s what keeps dear madame lacroix in business --- that and the exquisite gowns she makes. ” she thinks for a moment, unsure if she wants to let on how pleased she is that sebastian collier has made his return to thistle gardens. “ your brother is back in london, then ? does he plan to stay for long ? ”
Although Wickford’s was at the heart of the marriage market, and therefore the one place Alexander should have avoided the most during the season, they served a brandy of supreme quality. He simply couldn’t stay away.
Watching the marriage market was certainly entertaining if one was not involved. Unfortunately his mother seemed to spend every waking moment ensuring people that he was unattached and therefore up for grabs, and he found himself avoiding the glances cast in his direction of people hoping to catch his eye. One particular parading peacock was amusing him tonight and he was confident that a certain lady would soon have a proposal coming her way from this lord currently trying to showcase his wealth. Alex turned to the person sat at the nearby table. “Care to make a little wager?”
she should be out amongst the crowd, mingling and doing her best to secure her dear sister a match --- she knows this, and yet her mind insists on taking a break from the droll atmosphere, the benign task. this is not how she wants to be spending her time, but she must, for kitty’s sake . . . it is what she has promised her and she intends to follow through. instead, however, just for a moment, she gives her feet a rest and downs the remains of her glass as she takes perch at an empty table.
lottie is pulled out of her own thoughts as someone nearby turns to speak to her --- ah, the infamous duke harcourt. someone who could finally provide her with a modicum of entertainment. “ a lady should not gamble, ” she replies, all cheeky grin and teasing tone, “ but then again, i’m only a lady in title . . . ”
Juliet was so concerned with her delicate balancing act of boxes that she was quite oblivious to her direction. That is, until a sudden, although perhaps not unexpected collision sent them crashing to the floor. “Oh think nothing of it. The fault was mine for not paying better attention.” She stooped down to retrieve the boxes, relieved that there was nothing of particular value in them - just a nightdress of hers and a handful of her brother’s shirts that needed mending. “See, it is all quite alright.”
apology is greeted with warmth radiating from her smile, quite relieved that juliet didn’t make a fuss out of her misstep. she too crouches down to help her retrieve the remaining boxes, placing the packages back in her awaiting arms. “ good --- good. i’m glad. lots of tailoring to do, yes ? ” she questions, gesturing to the stack of packages. “ madame delacroix is the best, so i’m not surprised you have her busy. ”
a warm smile acknowledges the other’s apology, glad that the outcome of the minor faux pas was favourable. “ as it happens, i do, but sadly it’s not for me today. i’m picking out some fabric samples for mama. she has not felt like leaving home of late but she doesn’t trust anyone else with the task, so here i am. but thank you! i assure you that means a great deal coming from yourself ” she gestures toward the window, “ but having already made such an enduring statement with my colours last season, i’m sure it’s going to be quite the task to live up to myself. ”
“ oh --- ” concern colors her tone, brows knitted with worry, “ is she alright then ? feeling well ? ” surely, if the sinclair matriarch had fallen ill, word would have made it’s way around thistle gardens by now --- especially with the timing of such an illness coinciding with the start of the social season. “ yes --- of course. ” everyone remembers miss sinclair. lottie had made the same splash herself many seasons ago, drawing all eyes toward her, attracting the envy of others. but for her, the rush soon faded --- she could sense that for maisie, she felt anything but. “ you do look lovely in green though, with your hair and all. ”
somewhere along the journey home, a tear had transpired in his favorite tailcoat, and while rumors of his vanity were greatly exaggerated, the act of caring for all things precious was instilled in him from birth — even if said precious thing was a sapphire frock that had lived more lives than most of the gardens’ inhabitants combined. with the nimblest fingers in all of london, the repair was a job for none other than madame lacroix, whose services were always in high demand this time of year. but as he collides with someone emerging from the shop’s entrance, sebastian decides no coat is worth all this . . . until the offender’s visage come into view. “ it seems our footwork is just a bit out of practice. ” he replies pleasantly and personally, stepping aside to let others pass. “ i was hoping i might run into you, lady charlotte — though i confess i hadn’t anticipated such a literal interpretation. ”
“ is that so ? ” charlotte counters, arms folding over her chest in a most unladylike manner, a knowing smile curling the corners of her lips up ever so slightly. it had been years since sebastian collier graced thistle gardens. not since the last season she was an active participant in had she glanced upon his roguish features. although time had gone plenty by he remained the same --- quick witted and breathtaking all in one instant. “ and what, pray tell, were you hoping for then, mister collier ? tell me how you pictured this chance encounter ? ” she wants to ask if he thought of her in his absence, wants to ask what the world looked like outside of london, wants to ask why he’s returned --- but she bites her tongue. all in due time.
she could be forgiven for not noticing the woman, her gaze was fixed on the display in the shop window. a rich emerald taffeta gown, not dissimilar from one she herself had donned toward the end of last season. but the realisation that she had accosted lady de vries, who is on every account a striking and handsome woman, nevertheless has her shaken. a small curtsey, a bowing of the head accompanied with a coquettish smile; “ the fault was mine, i ASSURE you! please, are you alright? ” she shakes her head, in admonishment of herself; “ i would do well to pay better attention to what is ahead of me, rather than around me. ”
“ not to fret, dear maisie, ” she replies in kind, a small laugh floating off her lips, “ i’m quite fine. and it is i who should be more careful with their steps. ” she smooths out her skirt, despite it being devoid of wrinkles --- appearances always matter. “ do you have an appointment ? tell me, what colors are you going for this season ? you always go so bold. ” it’s not the look she’s chosen for her sister, the demure flower that she is --- but she can appreciate the way in which she steps outside of the norm. she too steps outside of the norm.
status : open
location : just outside madame lacroix’s dress shop
@scandalrp-starters
she leaves the shop in a whirlwind, turned out before the next set of customers is pulled right in. she has plenty of gowns at home, as does her sister, but the latest and best is required of them ( of both of them ) for the season. “ someone will be by at the end of the week to pick those up, ” she shouts over her shoulder, as the door shuts behind her. gaze is still focused backward as she takes a step forward, clearly not looking where she’s going as she slams into another. “ pardon me, ” she gasps, finding her footing again, “ how clumsy of me. ”
oh, how she had missed this - basking in the fresh, mid-day air, the comforting warmth of the sun while promenading around the park. nodding to greet the people she knew and demurely avoiding the gaze of the people whose attention she had just captured.as much as she loved the country, eloise missed the excitement of the london season terribly, and was glad to return every year.
eloise nodded towards an aquantaince, about to appraoch them for a chat, when she was ripped out of her thoughts by the sight of something before her feet. she turned around quickly. “excuse me?”, she called for the person that had just passed her, bending down to pick up the object - much to her chaperone’s dismay - “i believe you have just dropped this.”
she strolls through the park in haste, past promenading pairs and groups of galavanting children, in search of her sister. she was meant to be kitty’s escort after all, and how could she do such a job when the girl slipped through her hands like water ?
she’s broken out of her own thoughts at the sounding of a voice behind her --- terribly close, approaching closer. turning on her heel she spots a familiar face dangling a familiar glove. “ oh --- yes --- thank you, dear, ” she greets the other brightly. a familiar face from seasons past stands before her. “ might i welcome you back to london ? it’s good to see you. ”
“You know I do suspect there will be a lot of trouble this year,” It was usually her husband’s job to be the optimist, as people began to return to London for the season or simply get ready for it Elinor often found herself nervous for what may happen. The rumours of someone telling secrets certainly wasn’t helping. “What do you hope to gain this season then?”
she doesn’t frequent the tea room, preferring to stay away from idle gossip and chatter --- but with the task she’s taken on this season, she must play the game for a while, feign interests, be pleasant. “ what am i hoping to gain ? ” she echoes, a slight smile painted upon her lips, “ a suitable match for my sister. one rooted in something solid and lasting. ”
