A DRESS that fits a tad too loosely and seems to be out of season. slippers that her heel comes out of if there's a large gap between her legs when she walks. signs that indicate maybe she doesn't belong there. that doesn't stop her from pretending. maintaining a facade had come naturally to her and now was no different. with her chin held high, she approached the table of refreshments. in an attempt to appear nonchalant, she curls lithe digits around the first crystalline glass that comes into view. the cup is brought to her lips, parting them to quench her thirst.
citrus bursts across her tongue, nose scrunching in disgust. manners go entirely out the window as she spews the drink out, liquid landing on the deck and . . . on someone who had been passing by. for a moment she is stunned into silence with her mouth hanging open. what exactly was the protocol for accidentally spitting out your drink onto someone?
“ i i am so sorry ! ” head turns in search of something to aid in cleaning them up. can hear her heart pounding in her ears as she grabs a nearby napkin, holding it out to them. “ i did not mean to you must forgive my manners. i am deeply sorry, really. ”
OPEN STARTER | VOWS OF LARIMAR EVENT
LOCATION: PIET'S BOAT
Time had gotten away from him but he didn't notice or care. Before the guests had arrived, he and Piet had gone through every inch of the boat to make sure it was perfect and exactly what they wanted. Tobias being the instiable man he was had seduced Piet, unable to resist each other they had lay claim to nearly every room in the ship then an old favourite: the crow's nest. They'd been too distracted to notice guests arriving and only when he'd droppped his coat from the nest did Tobias notice. "I think we better get going," he laughs.
On deck, he quickly gets himself dressed and looks to the shocked eyes that greet him. "What?" he grins not even blushing. "We're newlyweds!"
the shock that flickers across her visage instead takes shape into one of amusement. corners of her mouth curl into a grin, feeling as if she had been let in on a secret. it eases the anxiety that bubbled in her stomach from coming face to face with one of the newlyweds. evelina had planned to try and make friends among the ton but had not imagined conversing with one of the grooms an honor she would not take for granted. “marriage compliments you , sir. i must offer my gratitude for allowing me to be apart of the celebrations. ” in turn with her thanks she curtsies, bowing her head in reverence.
theodosia stood quietly off to the side of the ship, her hands resting gently on the railing as she stared down at the water below. the waves lapped rhythmically against the hull, dark and mysterious, whispering secrets only the sea would ever know. the wind tugged softly at the edges of her dress, but she barely noticed. her thoughts were far from the breeze or the creaking boards beneath her feet. they were somewhere deeper—beneath the waves, perhaps.
she didn’t mind engagements, not really. it was the performance of it all that wearied her. the careful choreography, the practiced smiles, the way every word was weighed and measured. she couldn’t help but wonder if she was simply not made for such things. maybe she was never meant for knotted fates and gilded compasses inscribed with declarations of love. maybe simplicity had always been meant for her. a quiet cottage. a sun-warmed garden. a life unburdened by expectation or spectacle. she was already twice married now. twice bound by promises that hadn’t she didn't understand.
she leaned forward a little, letting her gaze sink into the frothy waves. the sea looked almost inviting in a way that frightened her. not for its danger, but for its promise of escape.
the sound of footsteps behind her broke the stillness. she didn’t turn right away. instead, she spoke softly, her voice barely louder than the wind.
“pardon… i was only looking at the waves,” she said, her tone calm but distant. “i’ve heard stories of mermaids since i was a girl. tales of them waiting just beneath the surface, curious, watchful. i wondered if i might spot one today.”
she finally turned her head, offering a small smile, more wistful than amused. “i think it would be easier to believe in mermaids than in love sometimes.”
excitement thrummed beneath porcelain skin. evelina found herself claiming the size of the ship was larger than any house she had lived in but perhaps that was the delight talking. there was a way in which she found herself getting swept away in anything that she looked forward to. had always convinced herself that if she did not give it her all then was she truly trying?
during her thorough exploration of the venue she happened upon the lonesome femme. normally, evelina might have allowed her to maintain by herself. approaching a stranger was a daunting thought , especially being of lower class. but it was a celebration. one that should not be spent in one's head a habit that evelina was guilty of herself , perhaps the reason she was able to spot it with such ease.
soles click ever so softly as she makes her way beside her , leaving a few feet of space. it is her turn to look over the railing now as lithe digits curl against the metal railing. knuckles slightly whiten as verdant orbs meet the rhythm of the waves. a small part of her wishes to climb the railing to dive right in. it had been so long since she last swam.
evelina lost sight of why she ventured over only to be reminded as the other spoke. she jumped slightly and an embarrassed flush blooms brightly across her mirror. “a thought that you are not alone in.” she reassures her and offering a small smile in return. “while love is out there, it is rare. who is to say mermaids do not share the same fate? perhaps today we shall catch sight of one. a secret for us to share for the rest of our friendship.” a bold assumption but she was not one to shy away from making friends.
(elle fanning, twenty-six, cis woman, she/her) you do not know me but rest assured i know you, EVELINA HEYWOOD. you are the SERVANT TO HOUSE OF GRANT. you maybe be known for your EMPATHETIC but it is only a mask for the true nature of your ENVIOUS ways. however, i am not here to spread slander on the queen’s jewels, though i suspect you are her PREHNITE. the ton says your name reminds them of WILDFLOWERS WOVEN INTO BRAIDS, THE SMELL OF RAIN, THE HOPE OF BECOMINE SOMETHING MORE, AND A BLUSH THAT SIGNALS THE START OF NEW LOVE. how scandalous! you have been warned, dear reader, that i will prove if this is true and share every last detail.
FULL NAME evelina heywood .
NICKNAME eve , lina [ only by those close to her ] .
AGE + DOB six and twenty , september twenty-fifth .
GENDER cis woman .
PRONOUNS she / her .
ORIENTATION undetermined .
STATUS unmarried , unbetrothed .
LIKES sweets , playing the piano , the color pink , dancing [ secretly , ] lilies , those with a free spirit , breaks [ loves to sneak them even when she is not supposed to . ]
DISLIKES lemonade , self entitled nature , reading , being alone for too long .
BACKGROUND
on a cool , autumnal night a blonde babe was born to a mother , father , and one elder brother . all the girl knew was love . her days consisted of following her brother around as a duckling would to a mother duck . any free time was spent in the sunshine scaling trees and diving into any body of water she could find . would return home with muddy shoes and damp braids to a mother who would chuckle and draw her a bath .
during her eighth year of life is when things took a turn . mother and father came down with scarlet fever . they succumbed to their sickness , leaving the brother and sister orphans . in the flurry of their loss oliver makes the decision to move the brighton . leaving eight year old evelina with a promise that they would one day reunite . while a part of her knew that it was all for her , she wanted to hold it against him . a petulant decision made by the eight year old girl .
for what was left of her childhood she tried her very best to remain good but trouble seemed to always find her . behavior that followed even into adulthood . staying out past a given curfew , discovered kissing someone with whom she held little affection for . told herself that she was merely looking for a missing piece . adrenaline seemed to be the only thing that made her feel alive .
a letter arrives finally . evelina is no longer little , now six and twenty . informing her that a job waiting for her under the grant family . it takes her a month to finally respond that she is on her way . a new adventure awaits for her and she is reluctantly ready for it to begin .
