soft and beautiful

[prettymysticfalls]

[ofvcrity]

rosalina!

rosalina had a sweatshirt on since today was a chilly day on the island. the blonde just starred off into the ocean. she couldn’t believe how a country with such a large navy like england hadn’t found this island yet. she had been here for over a month, and still no sign of anyone from home. while the young princess would rather stay optimistic about going home, as the days turned into weeks the hope started to fade. 

verity’s on her own a lot more than she would’ve expected. she’s taking advantage of the solitude and getting more adventurous, wandering further and further away from the main house, despite the heavy chill in the air. she tends only to come back as the sun goes down, when she can withstand the weather that long, and that’s where she’s headed now -- back to the house. as she passes by a forlorn looking royal, the norewegian princess takes a chance and calls out to her. “you should head back in soon, princess -- the temperatures drop once the sun goes down.” it’s gentle, friendly, and almost motherly. she wouldn’t want any of her fellow royals to catch cold.

[ofvcrity]

greer!

the weeks and days had started to run together for greer. the only normalcy being her sleep schedule, waking up around the same time of day and going to sleep close to the same as well. it was about the only sense of structure she had and she had to admit having so much free time was disconcerting. there was only so many times she could draw the scenery before becoming displeased with her sketches, god she would almost do anything for some good drawing implements. looking up from the balled up sketch in her hands, she sighed, “i’m sorry, how long have you been standing there?”

verity is starting to wonder if maybe they’re being slowly but surely trained into complacency. the same monotony day in and day out was making even her contentment in the little things seem hard to find. she’s heard less royals complaining and seen less outbursts of anger from the kidnapped heirs. she isn’t sure that there’s a plan but if there is, maybe this is a part of it. the norwegian princess is staring out into space when the other speaks and blue eyes flutter over towards her. “no need to apologize,” she offers instantly, voice soft. “if anything, i should apologize for staring. i really... i got lost in my thoughts.” the blonde inclines her head gently before pointing a finger towards the balled up drawing. “what’s that?”

[ofvcrity]

persephone!

“Ah - we had a shoreline but for some time I only ever visited once a year. Since college, the occasion has grown far more sparse.” Her eyes wandered over to look at the blonde, chin  dipping into a small nod of understanding. The only time her family had been able to have the time to look at the stars had been on their vacations to the seaside. “Let us hope that we are returned soon, hm?”

“Helpful enough.” Persephone remarked, making a mental note that if she were careful in her ventures, she’d be left alone. “Flower crowns? I think I have yet to see any real flowers around.” Plus the idea of making anything crown shaped mildly terrified her - particularly of the reaction she’d gain. 

she doesn’t understand how a once-a-year visit to the shore could make the sights and sounds of this beach feel like home but who is she to judge someone’s coping mechanism? if she could find the same comfort in such simple things, verity is sure she would be less agitated and easily upset. “as much as i would like to hope for that, it seems less and less possible by the day. what would they gain from returning us now? why have they taken so long?”

she lets out a sigh before the smile returns easily to her lips. “there are plenty of flowers! -- or, at least, there were before the frost. it was so peaceful just out in the island’s flora and fauna, i very nearly forgot where i was.” slim shoulders lift in a shrug. “suppose that was naive of me.”

[ofvcrity]

hoseok!

Hoseok sat as far away from the boisterous noise of the pirates as he could, the flames of the bonfire barely illuminating his exhausted face as he stared absentmindedly, deep in thought. His hands itched to take drastic measures, to use what little he’d learned of this godforsaken island to get the hell off it, to at least destroy the criminals responsible for this disaster. It was only for his siblings he kept quiet, having not seen them safe and sound as of that moment. 

Letting sand run through his fingers, the cool particles relaxing, he prepared himself to wait out another night frustrating ignorance, learning what he could from the quick and heavily accented English he could barely make out. 

it all seems frivolous and loud and, in general, a bonfire on the beach is not her style, especially with all the drinking and socializing implied by such an event. she’s grateful that the royals are being allowed to partake and the pirates seem more... relaxed than usual but that’s about where her enjoyment of the experience ends. she’s bundled up far more than the blazing heat probably requires but with her plans to remain on the outskirts of the party, she doesn’t expect she’ll end up near the fire much. instead she ends up near another apparent loner and, given his almost nervous habit, she ends up extending a soft greeting his way.

“is this not your scene either?” verity queries politely, using a hand to gesture towards the individuals who were having a far better time than she. “i’m glad i’m not the only one diving in headfirst.”

[jeremy-white]

[ofvcrity]

persephone!

Her eyes finally moved to look at the girl who had spoken, her mind contemplating her words. She were likely right - funny wasn’t exactly a fitting word for such a thing. “The water is unfamiliar but the scent and sound are the closest thing to home I’ve been able to find on this island. That and the beach offers relative silence compared to the rest of the island.” It was likely they’d search for her at some point - demand her return to her quarters. But for now, this was solace. 

“Though I’m curious what others have done to occupy time. I’ve found sitting and staring at my walls makes my mind race rather unpleasantly. Any suggestions?”

“do you come from a place with many beaches?” verity queries in polite small talk. being from norway, of course there were coasts but the princess spent most of her time inland. to visit the shores was a luxury that her busy schedule and overprotective father didn’t always allow. “i find the stars themselves, alone, more... reassuring. i still struggle to find comfort here, necessarily, but there’s always that thought that, somewhere, my family and my country are standing beneath the same sky.”

instead of following the other royal’s gaze out to the waters, she tilts her head back to look upwards. “i haven’t really been doing all that much. mostly avoiding the pirates by wandering the island -- which doesn’t sound very fun, but it keeps me safe. otherwise, i’ve just idled, talked with a few royals, made some flower crowns. nothing terribly helpful.”

[ofvcrity]

Centaurus, Hydra, Meteor, Black Hole

centaurus: favourite holiday?

"new years, i think. it feels like the whole world is being reborn and, most years, everyone seems to get more optimistic, even if it is only shortly lived.”

hydra: favourite sound?

“laughter. string music. church bells. kitten purrs. baby cooing noses. birds chirping. waves. how can you pick just one?”

meteor: what’s something you wish you could tell, but can’t?

“i wish i could tell my father that i am alive and mostly well.”

black hole: what’s the last thing you want to see?

“this could be taken two ways, could it not? the last thing i want to see as in, something i’d never want or the last thing to see before i inevitably pass. taking it the former, i hate to see my father suffer in any regard. whether that be physically or emotionally, that man has seen enough pain to last him one lifetime. and i suppose the latter would be just the faces of the people that i love. i hope that when i go, when i am very old, i am surrounded by people who genuinely care.”

[sentencestarters-and-asks]

Send a space thing for questions

Planets: Life

Mercury: What’s your full name? 

Venus: What’s your first language? 

Earth: Where’s your home? 

Mars: What’s your sexuality? 

Jupiter: Do you have any siblings? 

Saturn: Any pets? 

Uranus: What’s your hobby? 

Neptune: When’s your birthday? 

Pluto: What time is it right now where you are? 

Moon: What are you currently studying/hope to study? 

Stars: Experiences

Sun: Have you ever had alcohol? 

Sirius: Have you ever failed a class? 

Rigel: Have you ever gone on a rollercoaster? 

Deneb: Have you ever been out of your home country? 

Arcturus: Have you cried out of something other than sadness? 

Betelgeuse: What’s something you can never forget about? 

Aldebaran: What’s something you care desperately about? 

Canopus: Have you ever broken a bone? 

Bellatrix: Have you ever been forced to lie/keep a secret? 

Alphard: Have you ever lost a friend?

Vega: What’s something you’ve done that you wish you hadn’t? 

Constellations: Favourites

Centaurus: Favourite holiday?

Orion: Favourite month?

Cassiopeia: Favourite book?

Delphinus: Favourite study?

Hercules: Favourite instrument?

Gemini: Favourite song?

Pegasus: Favourite place to be?

Libra: Favourite colour? 

Phoenix: Favourite thing to wear?

Aries: Favourite movie? 

Cygnus: Favourite weather? 

Hydra: Favourite sound? 

Galaxies: Love/Friends  

Milky Way: Who’s your oldest friend?  

Andromeda: Do you consider yourself social? 

Black Eye Galaxy: Do you believe in love at first sight? 

Cartwheel Galaxy: When was your first kiss? 

Cigar Galaxy: How’s your flirting skills? 

Comet Galaxy: Have you ever had to leave a relationship because someone changed too much? 

Pinwheel Galaxy: Would you date the last person you talked to? 

Sombrero Galaxy: Do you have a crush right now? 

Bode’s Galaxy: Have you ever had a secret admirer? 

Sunflower Galaxy: Would you date/make friends with someone out of pity? 

Tadpole Galaxy: Would you deny a relationship/friendship? 

Whirlpool Galaxy: Have you ever cried over a breakup? 

Other stuff: Wishes 

Comet: What’s your big dream? 

Asteroid: What does your dream life look like? 

Meteor: What’s something you wish you could tell, but can’t? 

Nebula: If you could undo one thing in your life, what would it be? 

Shooting Star: If you could bring back one thing, what would it be? 

Pulsar: What do you hope to do in the next 10 years? 

Supernova: What’s one thing you want to do before you die? 

Quasar: If you could spend the rest of your life with only one person, who would it be? 

Wormhole: What’s something you wish would happen, but know won’t? 

Black Hole: What’s the last thing you want to see? 

[ofvcrity]

persephone!

Toes buried deep into the sand and arms slung over her knees, Persephone’s eyes didn’t even bother falter from their place on the horizon as the sound of footsteps neared and stopped just behind her. She wasn’t sure if she were waiting for her countries colors to come into view - or if it was just the gentle lull of the waves that had kept her there once the sun had dipped beyond the horizon. 

“I remember when I was young, we would visit the seaside every year for a vacation. I remember being shocked by the stars - how bright they were. We stopped going a few years back. Funny how no matter what shore, the stars on the water are… breathe taking.”

she can’t imagine not turning around for approaching footsteps and she has to wonder if the other woman is hard of hearing or just unafraid of danger. she wishes she herself could claim the latter. even if the young norwegian princess was no threat, it still seems far safer to her to check. but maybe that’s just her and her generally timid outlook on life; still, she’s not sure if it’s entirely wise, is all. her arms cross her chest and she keeps a safe distance away all the same, not wanting to intrude on the other’s space.

“i am not certain that funny would be the word i would use in this situation,” she offers delicately though unsure as to whether or not the statement had been addressed to her at all. “the stars are beautiful but with the waters so unfamiliar it’s hard for me to find comfort in them.”

[prettymysticfalls]

[inkhcart]

Josefine Frida Pettersen for Elle Denmark

[ofvcrity]

emma!

“it’s alright princess,” emma said, always gentle and always kind. she held up both palms, one bandaged the other with her mother’s ring, as signs that she was of no threat to the fellow royal. “just a friend.” though there were no history of any real interactions between the two women, as both countries were at opposite ends of europe. but on an island surrounded by pirates and the threat of death and harm that hung around them like a cloud, emma had decided that friendship at least was a small kindness she could afford when she had little else to give. “i think it should be me who should be the one apologising. i didn’t mean to interrupt.”

her eyes dart to the wrapped injury and she makes an empathetic noise, understanding the gesture of harmlessness though, even if she hadn’t, the soft voice of the other royal would certainly  have done the trick. “thank you,” she hums with a nod and a gentle smile. “a friendly face is always welcome.” even if a pirate were nice to verity, she’d likely let them come and join her. she’s a firm believer in treating others the way one wanted to be treated. “oh no, there’s really no need to apologize to me. you’re not interrupting anything of importance anyhow.” she holds up a daisy chain with a half shrug. “it’s not like i can weave us a bridge off of this island.”

[ofvcrity]

zehra!

“That’s the point. I have more energy than sense. Or at least, that’s what all my tutors told me at one point or another.” She laughed, rolling her her eyes at those words. Her boundless energy had never been a bother to her before, but now it was leaving her stir-crazy, despite having an island to wander about. “I suppose I can’t judge anyone else’s means to keep themselves busy. It’s just a pity that I don’t have the patience for any of them. I would have far more options in front of me, otherwise.” She sighed, though she offered a sympathetic smile. “If the first person who gets off this island doesn’t come back for the rest of us, I think we might have a revolt among the royals. If that ever happens.”

“in this particular situation, i do believe energy may be just as useful as sense,” verity appeases. “while all my idling may be good for keeping me out of trouble, it’s not going to motivate me to get off of this island. your energy is going to be much more useful in devising a plan and seeing it through to action.” she feels grateful that her own entertainment methods aren’t being judged. royals were always meant to be cordial but that doesn’t mean they always were -- this one in particular seemed to be making good on her etiquette expectations. “i think even i would support a revolt if that were to happen. my father must be worried sick.” i’m all he has left, she thinks to herself.

[ofvcrity]

freya!

freya wasn’t use to this much downtime, usually she would spend much of the year on a ship. but due to the fact she needed to watch over the royals, freya had to stay on land. she didn’t mind being on land too much, but she still missed the smell of the ocean air all the time. but she would do what she needed to do to protect her family, pirate and biological family. the brunette had her hair in a braid, she had long hair so she always had to make sure to keep it up some way. she was checking on everyone around the island, making sure no royals were causing too much trouble. in their kingdoms they might be in charge, but on this island she was. not only because she was a pirate, but because she was the daughter of the main captain. the girl went over to the grassy knoll when she noticed someone there alone. she knew that none of the royals should be left alone since they might try to do something to alert their families. “what are you doing out here all by yourself?” freya asked.

her fingers still where she’s threading another flower into the braided chain. although she doubts a royal would be asking her such a question and so she knows the newcomer is in fact a pirate, the way it’s phrased isn’t the harshest thing she’s heard on this island. in fact, it’s rather simple, inquisitive, which makes verity inclined to answer. “i just needed to clear my head a bit, i suppose,” she speaks only just loud enough to carry the short distance left between them. “i’ve been making these.” her hands gesture to the various adornments scattered around her figure -- some half finished while others just needed to be tied off. they’re a bit silly, probably, and they certainly aren’t productive in any case but they look nice, verity thinks. 

[ofvcrity]

isabella!

with a bottle of vodka and another with orange juice burried in the sand, izzy was somewhat enjoying the sun with her plastic cup of alcohol. she had managed to escape the sounds of nagging for a minute and that was enough to celebrate. not that she ever needed a reason to pour some poison down her throat.

she heard footsteps approach from behind and an audible sigh escaped her parted lips. “i’m gonna implement a rule that we gag every royal little brat— so if you’re one of them, i’d tread gently. if you’re not, well, i’m not a ‘sharing is caring’ type of gal.”

verity was tentative even just approaching the unknown figure in the first place. having only really familiarized herself with the nearest european royals, it was hard for her to gauge whether or not the stranger was a friend or foe. though she’s seemed to run across more of the former than the latter, she’s still a naturally nervous soul and so the irritation she detects on the young woman’s tone takes her aback.

“what if i am a royal but not a brat?” she asks in a voice that’s scarce above a whisper. she’s not really sure what constitutes being a brat in the pirate’s book -- if wanting to get off this island qualifies her, so be it. there couldn’t possibly be a royal who enjoys being kidnapped. “but don’t worry -- i don’t really want any of your drink anyhow; so no need to share?” she tries for a friendly lilt to her voice but it’s harder to fake than she would’ve thought. 

[prplglw]