— * 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈 & make better. @ofastors - Tumblr Blog

LILY - ROSE DEPP .

#*˖ ⊹ 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 ╲ musings ⋅#her <3 #idk if any of u ever look back at this blog but fuck u all lmao

𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 — * 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐎𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐄

teddy hears an unexpected voice piercing through the calming sounds of wind blowing through trees and students chatting on the quad, causing him to flinch in response. head turns to the direction in which the sound comes from, squinting his eyes to see who it is. isabel, of course. she burns so bright, he isn’t sure if it’s the sun or the girl blurring his vision. i’m so glad that i ran into you.and that makes one of us, teddy thinks. he faces forward again, walking a little bit faster in hopes that she’ll be unable to keep up. and he knows exactly what it is she’s insinuating. he’s already not looking forward to speaking on the engagement once it happens and the last person he wants to discuss the plans with is isabel. on the bright side, it couldn’t go worse than the proposal conversation teddy had with his future fianceé’s brother. so, he’ll humor her for the time being–––– just until he reaches his destination. “ uh… you’re going to have to be more specific. i am the talk of the campus… ” a genuine smile at the thought. true or not, the mere possibility of the attention has teddy in high spirits, even as he’s in the presence of someone he usually neglects. “ now, what rumor do i owe the pleasure of this ambush? ”

isabel clicked the heels of her boots along campus as she sped up her pace to match teddy’s. she wasn’t blind to the absence of a welcome from the other or the ego in his voice as he accepted her questioning. it’s familiar to isabel, the same air of superiority she grew up surrounded by, one she was eager to escape, one she found respite from in the company of ezra. still, she wasn’t willing to let any lack of kindness impact her opinion of theodore. he’s part of her beloved love club after all, her found family she’d do anything to protect. isabel was certain theodore had hidden depths that her kindness would eventually unlock. so she retained the sweetness of her smile as she continued, even giving him a soft giggle and brushing her hand on his shoulder as if he had told a dazzling joke, “ of course, i’m sure everyone’s fascinated with the theodore dupont, the man, the myth, the legend, ” attention had always been a side affect of her family’s prominence, not something isabel had ever asked for, so it was always surprising to her that someone could so easily smile at the thought of it, “ personally i’ve only actually heard the one rumour about you, that there’s a proposal in céline’s future ? so of course i just need to know everything, make sure you pick out the perfect ring and all. ”

#*˖ ⊹ 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 ╲ theodore ⋅#so done with this reply

𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 — * 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐀·

if there was one thing vera was grateful for, it was the fact that her group for the mock trial included someone who didn’t outwardly hate her ( though she was 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 avoiding teddy at every turn ), and isabel, a friend. so when isabel offered up her time vera nodded, shooting her over a small smile. vera knew the rest of the information would be offered the day of the trial, so there was only so much she could prepare, but regardless. she needed to do what she could. “ i can come over, yes. we can practice it a few times in different outfits and see what works. ” vera’s tone was a little softer. “ you have 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 to worry about. i trust you’ll do wonderfully. ” the reassurance would be the same thing vera would offer one of her brothers — vera liked the way isabel brought of a sweeter side of vera, as if vera didn’t have the strength to be unkind to the girl. “ have you looked at the few cases he’d suggested ? they’re helpful. ” vera had already read and reread the transcripts a few times now, practically 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 them. “ we can go over them together, if you’d like. ”

“ that sounds perfect. ” a smile broke out on isabel’s face as her eyes scaned over vera, “ are you a size seven ? i have these amazing little brown louboutin kitten heels, they’re perfect for court. they’d be amazing on you, you should try them on. ” her gaze fell to her own feet at vera’s kind words, a softness that isabel was grateful to receive, “ as long as i have you on my side i know we’ll do wonderfully, you’re seriously incredible vera. ” perhaps isabel was selling herself short, but it was worth it to offer vera a well deserved compliment. from the moment she met vera she’s been in awe of vera’s cool intelligence, a quiet power that isabel herself didn’t possess ( her own intelligence far less controlled and her manner far less serene ). “ i’ve been trying to read them over but i haven’t been able to focus, going over them together would be perfect. ”

#*˖ ⊹ 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 ╲ vera ⋅#my little !! brown !! bebe shoes !!

𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 — * 𝐂𝐄́𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄

it’s a beautiful saturday morning, with the sun hitting just right and the temperature being bearable. it’s the type of weather to get anyone outside doing something. so, when cél wakes, morning routine is done as usual before she sun bathes out on the patio of her loft apartment. it felt relaxing being out there on her own; using this time to indulge in a little bit of self care. classical music plays softly throughout her home as cél lets the bliss of this peace wash over her. the princess felt more than ready for the mock trial that was only a few days away. she studied multiple different cases, viewed footage of actual court hearings, and made sure to look over all notes taken during griswold’s lecture. cél was excited to finally step into the mindset of a lawyer––– even if she was just playing an eyewitness role. every person and component of the trial was vital in some way. the girl has every intention of excelling in her role to prove that point. letting out a soft yawn, her stomach begins to twist and turn, meaning she needed to get some food quickly.

sitting up in the comfortable hanging chair, she reaches over for her cellphone and scrolls through contacts before stopping at 𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒍. it’s been so long since the two have seen each other, and while they’re in the same class; cél has yet to find time to catch up with isa. now was as perfect time as any, céline thinks, and she sends the other a quick message inviting her out for brunch before she’s up and in her closet looking for the perfect outfit.

once the princess arrives to the restaurant, she politely asks for a table outside and away from the rest of the crowd, wanting no interruptions for when isa came along. now sitting, she retouches her makeup as she patiently waits for her friend’s arrival.

isabel was elated when she discovered that her and céline would be attending the same legal program. the other had been very dear to isabel from the moment they met as children, isa instantly labeling her as a kindred spirit. time spent in person between lovingly handwritten letters was rare but cherished for the two, and being on the same campus was sure to offer them more time together. still, both girls had more than enough work to consume all the time in their days, so quality one on one time remained a rarity. receiving an invitation to brunch from céline was an instant yes from isabel, the quietness of saturday morning offering the perfect respite for the two to catch up.

it was a peaceful morning for isabel, sunlight warm as it peaked through her linen curtains. she took her time getting ready, freshly washed and dried hair smelling of chamomile as it hung delicately around her face. she picked out a sundress, pairing it with a cardigan to ensure she’d be warm in the early autumn weather.

seeing céline at the restaurant a smile appeared on isabel’s face, a familiar warmth at seeing her old friend that never really seemed to go away no matter how much time they spent apart. she embraced her friend as a greeting, air kissing each of her cheeks. “ it’s so good to see you, ” lowering herself into her seat across from céline, “ you have to tell me everything about how you’ve been, don’t leave out a single detail. ”

#*˖ ⊹ 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 ╲ céline ⋅#them <3

𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 — * 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐀·

“ i will, thank you , ” vera said with a quick glance at the shorter girl before looking straight ahead again. manners were taught to vera at such a young age it felt like second nature to always reply with please, or thank you, or anything that showed proper etiquette and 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒆. sometimes vera even said it so naturally she forgot she was talking to someone else and not having an immediate knee - jerk reaction to their words. vera raised an eyebrow, a smile teasing on her lips as they walked through the halls. “ quite 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒕 of you , isabel , ” vera offered, though not unkindly. “ i suppose so . ” whether he was or not, vera was certain no one could say no to isabel in a rude way. professor griswold seemed like he was 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 enough to take a scone just to make someone like isabel happy. “ are you free, by the way, this afternoon after class ? i want to go over some things for the mock trial . ” vera kept it 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍, not wanting to be so blunt about how nervous she was for it. not because it was a chance to impress her counterparts — but more so because she didn’t want to let anyone down. isabel happened to be one of those people.

isabel felt a tightness flicker through her shoulders at the mention of the mock trial. it wasn’t that she was afraid of the trial, no — isabel was set on her path into the legal world and this was her first opportunity to prove her valour. excitement tinged her outlook on the mock trial, but it was held equally to an overbearing sense of anticipation. it wasn’t fear exactly, but a heightened feeling of stress. her nerves amplified to a hundred, the mock trial a make or break moment to set the tone of the year. “ for you i’m always free, ” she was always so quick to offer herself to others, a habit that could verge on the self sacrificial at times. still, there wasn’t a moment she didn’t mean it. her fellow love club members were officially a chosen family of sorts for her from the moment classes began, there wasn’t a single one of them she wouldn’t make herself instantly available for. “ but really after class is perfect, i’ve been wanting to go over the mock trial a bit with you, practice our examination. you should come over to my place, i need help picking out an outfit too. i feel that looking the part is so important to making my testimony believable — maybe i’ve just been going crazy researching mock trial etiquette though. ”

#*˖ ⊹ 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 ╲ vera ⋅

𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 — * 𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐀́𝐒

( @ofopulence ) location: ezra and nic’s apartment

to — * ezra : 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚗. 𝚋𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚌 𝚡𝚡

ezra’s presence had always felt like a second home to isabel, so it was no surprise that she made his shared apartment ( that really belonged to nicolás if we’re being completely honest ) feel like home almost instantly after they settled in at northridge. with the mock trial looming it felt natural for her to go over to cook a meal, a feeling of home perfect to distract and nourish her in preparation for the stress filled week to come. so isabel arrived groceries in hand thirty minutes after sending ezra a text to announce her plans, unbothered that he was busy and couldn’t actually be there to help her cook.

she smiled as she greeted nicolás, hands too full with bags to pause and give him the air kisses that were the standard isabel astor greeting upon arriving at someone’s home ( a gesture stolen from her grandmother ). “ hi nic, i’m making dinner for me and ez tonight, are you hungry ? ” breezing through the apartment to the kitchen to set the bags of vegetables and the baguette still warm from the bakery on the counter. returning her attention to the blonde “ i’d love a sous chef, are you free ? ” isabel loathed to cook alone, far too fond of company to work in silence. the thought never even crossed her mind that asking a prince to slice vegetables might be presumptuous. “ i have cooking snacks too, fresh berries from the market. ”

#pov: ur roommate has an annoying friend who simply won't leave your apartment #*˖ ⊹ 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 ╲ nicolás ⋅

𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 — * 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐎𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐄

( @dupnts ) location: northridge campus

isabel had always enjoyed the early days of autumn, the serenity of september as the world gasped it’s final breath of warmth and sunshine. today was one of those days she felt an inescapable urge to be outside, the sun leaving a golden cast on the world. she had tried to do her readings in the library, but it was no use. instead she found herself tucked away on a quiet bench, shaded by the library’s ivy covered walls. she hadn’t been trying to people watch, but when she couldn’t help but to notice a familiar face walking past. she always felt an instant wave of excitement when she spotted a love club member on campus, her natural openness heightened with her new surroundings. seeing theodore walking alone on campus was no exception, especially with a question she was dying to ask him.

“ theodore, hi, ” she called out, quickly catching up with him, book and bag in hand. she matched her pace to his, smiling at him through the afternoon sunlight. “i’m so glad that i ran into you,” there’s an inquisitive sparkle in her eye as she continues, unable to wait through pleasantries before bringing up what she’s really curious about. “ so i heard a rumour about you... ” dipping her toes in the water to see his response before bringing up the ever present engagement rumours.

#not vibing with this starter but oh well #*˖ ⊹ 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 ╲ theodore ⋅

𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 — * 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐀·

perhaps vera’s inability to be as standoffish as she could be to isabel came from the way isabel reminded vera of her brothers. their genuine curiosity, overwhelmingly sweet and genuine nature. vera wasn’t 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒅 — she knew she wasn’t exactly the most welcoming person. she knew growing up with whispers reminding you how unapproachable and cold you were made things more difficult. vera’s pain made her wilt, while isabel’s made her bloom. 𝒂𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 may be a word used to describe what vera thought of isabel, but regardless the girl pulled a softness from vera the princess thought she only reserved for her siblings. maybe it simply reminded her that she was more than others snap judgements of her. “ no thank you , ” vera said, taking a small peek inside of the bag when isabel held it out for her. they did smell delightful, and isabel’s reasoning for carrying around more scones than she could eat on her own made vera smile a little. “ that’s 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 of you . maybe professor griswold enjoys pastries , ” vera said, adjusting the bag on her shoulder with her free hand.

“ you can always let me know if you change your mind, ” isabel gave vera a smile as she delicately slipped the bag of scones back into her bag, determined to offer her kindness if she can’t offer her baked goods. vera’s quietness never felt like a rejection to isabel as it so often did when others met her kindness with silence. no, with vera isabel had instantly felt that there was an unspoken understanding, a secret oath to each accept the other for exactly who they were. she shot vera a knowing glance at the suggestion of offering a scone to their professor, a quiet confidence overtaking her presence “ oh he will, ” she looked at vera, an analytical light reflecting off her eyes. she would rank observation among her most prominent skills, if asked, and her professor was no exception. “ his office smelled of citrus when i met with him to discuss our readings last week, and don’t you agree that he just has the air of someone who loves sweets. ” isabel was never afraid to lay all of her cards on the table, especially with someone whose presence felt as comfortable to her as vera’s. still, the idea that it might endear her to their professor with the mock trail was a distant second to the idea that it might bring joy to someone that had become such a significant figure in their lives.

#she's a scone empath :-)#*˖ ⊹ 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 ╲ vera ⋅

itsdaniclayton

We work at a police force full of dudes. We gotta have each other’s backs, okay?

Requested by anonymous

#*˖ ⊹ 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 ╲ vera ⋅#that's love <3

𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 — * 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐀·

vera actually rather enjoyed mornings, especially after she had gotten a good night’s sleep and was able to wake up a little earlier than usual. this morning she was able to even stop by a local shop walking distance from her cottage and buy some fresh bread and a scottish shortbread. after taking her time eating breakfast and getting ready at home, vera took a coffee tumbler filled with coffee and headed to northridge for griswold’s first class. driving past the streets as shops opened and people started their days bustling around — it was 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍. vera took it all in as music played in her car, windows opened just a crack to let in the warm breeze of the september air.

she parked her car in an empty spot and stepped out, throwing her jacket over her shoulders and grabbing her coffee and bag, locking her car behind her. vera walked along the pavement, her heels clicking against the ground when she heard a familiar voice. vera stopped and turned around, seeing isabel jog up to her with a smile on her face. it still took vera by surprise sometimes — the 𝒔𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 of isabel’s nature, the gentle and painfully earnest curve of her smile. genuine people like her seemed difficult to come by these days, and even though in their few interactions vera had always had her guard up around isabel, the other never seemed to quite mind. there was no expectations from their short and simple communications. “ good morning , ” vera said, starting up a slower walking pace, now with isabel by her side.

isabel was undoubtedly a morning person. she loved the soft grey light when the sun first kissed the tops of the trees and the arches of buildings. she loved the beginning of the day, when everything was washed in a blissful sense of possibility. she loved the morning’s capacity for moments of serendipity. it was exactly that sort of series of perfect coincidences — deciding to walk to campus, stoping at her favourite little cafe to get her second tea of the morning, waiting for them to take a fresh batch of scones out of the oven — that brought her to campus at the exact moment to see vera heading to class. she. smiled when she. saw her, warm and welcoming as always.

“ vera ! ” she called out, quickening her pace to reach the other. she fell into step easily with the presence of the other at her side. “ good morning to you too, here, ” she paused, reaching into her bag to pull out a parchment bag with the cafe’s name printed across it in a looping cursive. “ do you want a scone, they're orange and white chocolate, freshly baked. ” she extended the bag to vera in offering, the scones still warm and fragrant inside. “ i bought extras, i thought everyone could use something sweet this morning — something to celebrate the sunshine. ” the warm september day was lacking in the fog and that so often defined the edinburgh sky. it's not as if isabel came from the sunshine state, but the scottish climate still took time to adjust to. it felt easy to isabel to speak to vera so freely, it didn't matter one bit whether the other matched her energy. sure, isabel never really had a dificult time speaking with anyone, but there was a serenity about vera that instantly made isabel feel at home in any conversation with her.

#*˖ ⊹ 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 ╲ vera ⋅

there’s a bio for isabel here if you want to read that.... more coherent intro to come ( maybe ? probably not but you know maybe ! ) graphic to come... pinterest here !

#pls love me in spite of this #*˖ ⊹ 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 ╲ ooc ⋅#drug tw #addiction tw #death tw #overdose tw #hospital tw

𝓣𝓱𝓮 astor family tree

the astor name has become synonymous with 20th century architecture. the family has it’s finger prints on some the most prominent buildings around the world — architecture is an art for them. the family has influence, prestige, and lots of old money, but they aren’t always what you would expect. creativity runs through the astor bloodline and when an astor sets their mind to something there isn’t much they can’t achieve. they aren’t celebrities in the traditional sense, but you’ll definitely see their name as a jeopardy question.

adriana was born in california in the sixties. she was raised by a single mother, her father never known. her mother was a wannabe painter, a woman who rarely wore shoes and always smelled of sandalwood. she made adrianna’s childhood magical and volatile in equal measure, joni mitchell always crackling through the speakers of her mothers record player. adrianna grew up with freckles on her skin and salt water in her hair, always acutely aware of the world around her. she hadn’t expected to become one of the most renowned architects of her era when she was sketching skylines in the margins of her school notes, she just had a unruly imagination, always wondering how things could be different. she was named one of forbes’ 30 under 30, she was on the covers of magazines, people would say that she ushered in a new era of design. she was happy with her accomplishments, but she never had a big head. she designed because she loved it, not for any praise. she was the sort of woman who felt things very deeply, both love and pain. when she met charles they were coworkers, but they quickly fell in love. even as successful as she was and as free spirited as the astors seemed she never quite fit in to their world. she was still the poor little girl from california, and no matter how creative the astors were they were still old money at the end of the day. she never liked the press, but she dealt with them for her love of architecture and she never liked society, but she dealt with it for her love of charles. and she was happy with her life, happy with her children. she loved her children endlessly, always determined to make their lives warm and their worlds magical. she was the kind of mother that could make even the dullest things seem fun. when charles left her she felt as though her heart had been ripped out of her body. she wasn’t sure how to go on without him, so she didn’t. she became a recluse, only peaking her head out for the sake of her two children. the death of her son came quickly as another blow to adrianna. she still loves isabel dearly, although she isn’t the doting and supportive mother she once was.