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@sophiestuart
“It’s all been going your way, hasn’t it?” Sophie observed. “A marriage, a baby, England...” She trailed off, raising an eyebrow. “How’d you feel about....it’s not bad to speak ill of the dead if they were absolutely skin-crawling creeps, right?” She grinned. “Or would it have been better for him to live and get dragged to court?”
@catherinestuart
hi everyone just popping in to say I’ve missed you all!! life has been eventful (lmao) but I’m trying to get writing again — like this if you’d like a starter from soph!
scnhaera:
“ i thought they hadn’t found your body or something. i sent flowers to catherine, but she might think it’s because of the baby. i didn’t really elaborate on the card. oh, god — i hope she doesn’t think i sent her flowers because she’s pregnant, i’m not that considerate. ” she’ll have to clear that up later. “ if you want flowers i can ask jinny to pick some weeds off the ground or something. ”
“Wait,” Sophie blinked, unable to suppress her laughter. “What was on that card if it could be interpreted as condolences or a baby gift?” She glanced at Jinny. “Honestly, I got sent so many bouquets you’d think I really did die.”
scnhaera:
“ oh my god — you’re alive?! i literally thought you died. ” no wonder catherine didn’t respond to her condolences card.
“And you didn’t even make an attempt to come to the funeral?” Sophie asked in mock disbelief. “Or send flowers?”
Sophie stretched out next to Sabrina, glancing over at her after a long moment of silence. “I almost forgot,” she began, though she hadn’t, really — but it was easier to maintain a veneer of casualness out of habit. “I got you something in Edinburgh. A little thank you for visiting me.” She slipped the tiny velvet box holding the Luckenbooth pendant out of her pocket, placing it between them. “It’s just a trinket.” She was beginning to feel stupid already. “You don’t have to wear it if you don’t like it or anything...”
𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃 for @yisabrina
𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃 for @catherinestuart
“I might have gone a little bit overboard,” Sophie admitted to Catherine. “But I distracted myself by buying presents so you’re going to have to deal with that.” She took a glass bottle from the suitcase, passing it to Catherine. “I couldn’t drink with the medications I was on and Isobel Innes-Ker sent me a bottle of this elderflower cordial, and I thought you might like it too. And,” she extracted a Pringle of Scotland bag. “And here’s a maternity sweater. There’s one for the baby too. Tiny clothes are just too cute.”
The biggest bag yet emerged. “And a Stuart needs our tartan, y’know? So I got Kinloch Anderson to make...well, I couldn’t really make up my mind so there’s a blanket, tiny highland dress, booties...” She trailed off. “There a couple of things in the Rothesay tartan, too, for variety.”
“And last thing, promise...” she handed her sister the wooden box containing the sterling silver sgian-dubh she had commissioned. “This isn’t for until he’s a lot older, obviously, but I thought that I could get his name engraved on it. Might be a nice keepsake. I hope.”
Sophie stiffened suddenly when a series of chimes sounded nearby, before realizing it was only a ringtone emitting from the pocket of a passerby and relaxing. “God. I thought that was the earthquake warning system for a millisecond—” she laughed, playing off her alarm. “Right off the plane and another one gets me. With my luck the earth’ll swallow me whole next time.”
open for @hshqstarters
nataliademarquis·:
with one step after the other, the measure of time had escaped her. the once searing gash on her arm has reduced to a dull throb; whether it be due to the lack of severity or the feeble attempts to push it to the back her subconscious. the noise has her blinking, making out the scene in front of her – and there’s hair ! it may as well been a golden light. steps quicken, thudding against dirt and she can soon loom over the body … and her heart skips, a stuart. “ soph, “ voice soft at first, before more urgency reaches her voice. she manages to crouch down, slowly. “ SOPHIE, can you sit up ? “
"Where’s Sabrina? Where are my sisters? Are they safe?” Panic washed over Sophie as she realized she had no idea of their whereabouts, slightly tempered by the presence of a familiar face. “Uhh...” Could she? She grasped for the tree and propped herself up, almost crumbling again with pain from the movement of her torso. “My chest hurts.” She blinked up to Natalia, finally taking her in. “Are you okay? Your arm.”
She didn’t know if it had been seconds or minutes or hours, lying in the dirt with her forehead against the root of a tree, ears ringing as dark spots burst across her vision. Lifting her head, she heard the crackling at twigs nearby. A blinding, sharp pain drove itself into her chest when she inhaled. “Hello?”
( open to anyone in the wilderness & hijackable. )
catherinestvart:
her irritation was mounting. there was no conversation with sophie without her suspicions of their mother pulling the strings in some way, and vilifying her for doing the very bare minimum in order to keep the peace. it was such a small ask, in her opinion, that would often go unanswered. “fine, i’m just saying that we’re all trying our best here soph, no one is out to ruin your life.” she clipped, eyes sharp as she glanced from her sister and away. catherine heaved a small breath, willing herself into more patience. “mother isn’t going to be here forever, and i’m determined not to be quite so archaic when it comes to things that count.” she said slowly, deliberately. “i’d like it if we’re friends, to be real sisters and not tip toe around each other — without you assuming the worst of me.”
"We are real sisters, Catherine. That is what this is.” She pointed between the two of them, almost raising her voice but suppressing her voice at the last moment, though the panic still built in her chest at the sharpness. “I love you. And I know you’re trying your best and I’ve always wanted you to be happy!” Her nerves had been shredded since the news about Sabrina, and nothing could push her over the edge quite like her own family. Her eyes filled with tears and her face went red with embarrassment and residual anger, as she drew her knees up to her chest, breathing heavily and willing herself not to cry. God knows what Catherine would say to that.
catherinestvart:
“we are,” she insisted, raising a brow. “i’m merely stating the facts, i’d rather talk to you face to face then through text, i’ve never really been good at that.” catherine bristled lightly at the question, before fixing her sister a knowing look. “a small exchange for her to leave you alone, isn’t it a win-win? you do what you like and she gives you a pass.” it’s sad that their lives must be broken down to acts that will appease their mother, but the eldest stuart had learnt to live with it, for what was wrong for doing the best one could with the hand that one’s been given? “well soph, if those people you’re speaking of really are being overlooked, then it would be good for you to show them some attention, no? there’s no such thing as a bad cause to support.” she tried her best not to roll her eyes at the assumption. “i’m not mother, please don’t make me out like i don’t understand. there’s no such thing as a less-than-respectable subject.” less than useful, sure, but no one could place value on the subject when the learning is done away from prying eyes.
“For two minutes, until any number of her little spies in Edinburgh report that I’ve done something she disapproves of — which, in case you’ve forgotten, Catherine, is me simply living in a way that isn’t miserable. I like the subject, and I like my freedom much more.” As if staying in Edinburgh would get her a get-out-of-jail-free care. “And you know better than most that there’s no such thing as satisfying your mother.” She sighed, rubbing her temples. “If you were our mother, Catherine, I wouldn’t be standing here right now. But you do live your life placating her. And I can’t blame you for it, but that doesn’t mean I have to try to ignore it, either.” Her chest hurt.
catherinestvart:
“i figured i’d like it better to have the conversation face to face — but… i understand.” their mother was difficult to each of the sisters for different reasons. “it’s a shame, it’s so perfectly respectable too. i know you’d rather not be within mother’s vicinity but she’d be very glad if you studied that in edinburgh, it’ll look good and everything.” even she couldn’t deny that fact, their image was one of the things she constantly thought of and what made her sisters regard her less as a sister and more as their mother’s daughter. “well, i think you’d have your pick of schools.” if not, then catherine would have to put her foot down and make a few phone calls. “maybe make some more programs for your charities? or make a new one altogether. finding a type of research to sponsor would be a good idea, i’ve been thinking of doing the same, or perhaps establishing another trust for scholarships.” a light dusting of a blush coloured her cheeks at the distant mention of elspeth somerville, they obviously haven’t been friends for a while now. “what are they doing then? you know if you want to study something we could always arrange for a tutor to come accompany you.”
“This conversation — we’re not just catching up?” She wasn’t surprised ( just disappointed, as their father would say ). “And what her gladness do for me, hm?” Catherine would chuck her headfirst into a meat grinder if it would make their mother happy and her little friends think the Stuarts looked good. That Catherine but be so strong willed but, ultimately, have so little strength where it mattered maddened her. Sophie just wished it didn’t still smart to be reminded of it. “Yeah, I hope so. I feel lucky to be in a specific field where people aren’t nearly as dazzled by titles. Makes it feel meaningful” Sociologists were the first to humble her. “I have been sponsoring research in Celtology, Albais, and Gàidhlig. But yeah, creating charity initiatives would be great. It’s a real pity they can’t help the people most overlooked by Holyrood.” She raised an eyebrow. “I have been studying, actually. Quite a bit. But I don’t need a tutor, and I wouldn’t want to make you have to hire someone to teach a less-than-respectable subject.”
catherinestvart:
“well- perhaps i wanted to know what my sisters were up to!” she was a little more defensive than she would’ve liked, a fact covered up by a small laugh. “oh a masters programme! exciting, will you be going with sociology then? if you’re still thinking america then maybe i could put in a word with some people i know in harvard.” perhaps she knew far less people than margot in the academic sphere, but she’d like to pull some strings for her youngest sister if it meant for them to have a better relationship. “maybe a pet project could occupy you here for a while, i’d assume that laying around in the pool would get old at one point, no?” she took a sip of her coffee then, for once not yearning for something stronger. “well yes,” although the statement sounded much like a question than anything else. “i know you’re friends with one of gio’s brothers, and that… one of annabelle somerville’s younger sisters —” she grimaced then, it certainly did not look good that the last of her sister’s friends she distinctly remember were the ones she made during secondary school.
“Well, if you’re ever wondering again, you’re allowed to text me.” When was the last time they’d just had a conversation? For no particular reason? Apparently some people just hung out with their siblings. “Yeah, America...part of me would love to do a Masters in Scottish Ethnology at Edinburgh, but,” at least Catherine could understand wanting to stay as far from their mother as possible. “That’s really sweet. Um, I’m probably not going for Harvard, though. I might want to go back to Berkeley, it’d be hard to turn down the chance to study under Judith Butler, and of course the queer studies at Columbia and Yale are great, too.” They didn’t discuss intellectual pursuits all that often. “I’d like something to work on. I just don’t know what I can do. Did you have any suggestions?” She still wasn’t quite sure there wasn’t an agenda to all this. “Yeah, I’m friends with Teo. And Luci.” Annabelle Shetland’s sister? Right. “I remember Elspeth Somerville, I wonder what she’s up to now.”
catherinestvart:
“that’s lovely, i’ve heard a bit about that.” something akin to pride swelled in her chest, it was something small that she had always appreciated from sophie. “but i was wondering more about your activities here, in argentina —” the life of non-inheriting royals have always been balanced in a precarious scale, they technicality had no responsibilities in the political field until their monarch puts them to work. “any interesting pet projects? or interesting friends that i don’t know about?” she was floundering, that much was evident. catherine stuart had never been one to be too up close and personal with her own sisters since they’ve reached adulthood.
“You have?” Sophie raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me your briefings were that thorough during your honeymoon.” She’d believe it, of course. Catherine was a different breed. “In Argentina? I mean, I’ve been looking at different masters programs.” Being shipped off to Mar del Plata immediately after graduating college hadn’t been what she had wanted or planned, its only real perk being that it saved her from living in Holyrood. “Pet project? Here? Isn’t that your turf?” Sophie was good at talking to people, making them feel seen by the royal family even if they weren’t. She had never given a thought to being part of international politics. She blinked, trying not to sound perturbed by the next question. “Interesting friends?” She echoed. This all seemed casual enough, but it was difficult not to look for an agenda behind all this -- it wasn’t as if Catherine had ever showed much interest in her friends. Not that she was complaining.
yisabrina:
she rests her head on sophie’s shoulder. she feels safe with sophie, in her arms, and for a moment she wants to believe there is a way out and things will be okay. however, reality is too far set in for her and she knows it’s not true- no matter how bad she wants it to be. sabrina let silence fall between them, listening to the sound of the waves crashing into the shore. “don’t be naive,” she finally says, “there’s no way out of this! it’s done.”
Sophie presses her cheek against Sabrina’s head, carding her fingers through dark hair. Despite the circumstances, she’s at least grateful to do this. She’s come to realize that the dregs with Sab mean more than the devotion of anyone else. The next words sting, and she swallows, shamed, resisting the impulses to argue or joke about it. What do you need? She wants to ask. Why am I here? Am I making this worse? She stays silent, instead, feeling small and useless. “Do you want me to go?”
@sophiestuart
“soph,” she sighs, planting the bottle of vodka between them. where was she supposed to begin? everything she came up with sounded awful, no way to make the situation better. how did san know when things were good for her? like he intentionally had spies or something and he was set out to make her life miserable forever. “you have to believe me, i didn’t know.” hesitantly, she reaches for her hand, “i don’t know- i don’t know what to do.”
“I know, Sab. You don’t — you don’t have to explain yourself to me.” She takes Sabrina’s hand, clutching too tightly for a moment before loosening her grasp. “Look. I —” She finds herself at a loss for words, for once wishing she was maybe a little more like Catherine, a person who can do things. Instead, she edges closer to Sab, shoving the vodka out of the way and wrapping her arms around her. “There’ll be a way out of this.”
call her intimidated, or thoroughly chastised, but ever since the wedding catherine had been scrutinising her familial relationships with a fine toothed comb. the oldenburgs — numerous as they are — had been positively jovial and glad to be around each other. much unlike the almost cordial relationship catherine had shared with her own sisters, not to mention their mother! it was then did she became determined to make some headway in small increments between political headaches. starting with the most difficult nut to crack; the youngest stuart. “so-” she started, crossing her legs as she looked at her sister curiously. “how have you been since i’ve been gone? have you been occupying yourself?” ( @sophiestuart )
What did it say about Sophie — or her family — that her first reaction to Catherine had been a prickle of apprehension? Maybe it was because that they seemed at times to live on different planets and had an undeniable distance between them because of it, or simply that of all of them, Catherine was most in peril of becoming like their mother. “Oh, um, I’ve been alright, nothing to report.” She shrugged. Never mind that her sort-of ex who she was maybe dating again might be getting engaged and had dropped off the face of the earth! “I spent a couple of weeks in Aberdeen. Did some things with the Scots and Scottish Gaelic preservation lot.”
