#2024mobawards

[eleanorxshipley]

For: @hasan-demir

Awards After Party.

"Fancy running into you. I thought we had been at parties together before the book shop. But you know sometimes these things go by in such a blur." Eleanor offered a warm smile; she was always happy to see someone she could have a real conversation with at these things. Although her friendship with Hasan was new, she enjoyed his company. "Are you having a nice time?"

[eleanorxshipley]

For: @drrutherford

Awards After Party.

"I know how you feel about the spotlight, but that's too bad. You are getting a hug whether you want it or not." Eleanor laughed insistently as she hoisted her arms around Gideon for a quick embrace. "You should be incredibly proud."

[eleanorxshipley]

Self-para (Post Plot Drop).

Awards After Party.

At first Eleanor thought it was some sort of sick joke-- just a horror movie flickering on the giant screen. It only took her a moment as gasps and growls filled the air to realize this hell was all too real. She didn't even know the person that was butchered and tortured, but her stomach churned at the sight, and the thought of how their last moments on earth had been spent.

It reminded her that despite the bubble she had been exiled to when it came to the different factions of their city, there were some honest-to-God monsters among them. Some in this very room. Eleanor had always the mind-set that if someone were nice to her she had no right to not be the same unless given reason to be wary. That was now out the window. Even if she didn't have a target on herself, Eleanor wasn't sure who to trust, either.

Feeling like the indulgences of the evening were about to be all over the floor if she didn't leave, Eleanor swiftly fled the room, but tried not to cause a disturbance. The last thing she wanted was attention to her weakness. Finding the nearest bathroom that she could, Eleanor drew her hair up and out of her face, just in case.

Her hands trembled and her body felt too weak to even rid herself of the churning contents. Instead, Eleanor tried to calm herself with several splashes of water to the face; uncaring if it ruined the make-up she had spent so much time on just hours before. When she had been kind of excited for the night and the awards she was up for. When there was still a sliver of optimism that everyone could gather for once without any bloodshed.

Clenching the edge of the countertop in desperation, Eleanor silently prayed. She prayed that her and everyone else would get out of that place unharmed. Especially those she cared the most about. That footage would haunt her in nightmares to come, but even worse, it made her think about Henri.

Had his murderer killed him him in one clean shot? Or was he tortured until beaten to a bloody pulp? She had been spared the details of his death save from it being a gunshot wound, but had always wondered what really went down. The very idea that some heathen could have taken Henri's sweet soul in a similar manner brought Eleanor to her knees, sobbing. It was all her fault. Not even her hands were clean anymore.

The blonde's breathing escalated, making it difficult to even think, but Eleanor knew she needed to escape. Or search for her loved ones and make sure they were safe. By the time she slipped out of the bathroom, footsteps rattled the mansion. Some she was sure were scattering to hide - others may have been hunting. Hanging out in the small guest bathroom was not an option, even if no one cared to come after her. It was too far to slip outside, nor was it an option when her friends and family were trapped inside. She couldn't lose any others in her life.

Bright eyes misted over with the burn of salty tears, as Eleanor high-tailed it to the kitchen, hoping it might be a harmless place to make camp. That the worst she might stumble upon would be a pissed off chef barking orders at his staff. However the place was silent. Eerily silent. Spotting a kitchen knife on the butcher block, Eleanor quietly took the weapon just in case it was necessary. She really didn't think she would be on anyone's radar. Then, again, maybe the guy in the video hadn't been either.

Eleanor had always been told to never hide somewhere you couldn't escape. Not to allow someone to back you into a corner. Yet, at the sound of footsteps she realized there were only two options for her. The pantry, or freezer. Neither were a great choice, but as voices grew louder she knelt to the floor and crawled her way into the roomy cupboard, thankful for the door that hid her away from sight. The thin crack in the heavy wood allowed her a small peek of the shadows wandering around the room.

Unfortunately for Eleanor, she couldn't make out a word. They could have been civilian wait staff, or fellow innocents trying to hide like herself. Everything sounded like a rampant buzzing. But she couldn't chance it. Shaking fingers curled around the handle of the knife in preparation. The jolt of her phone vibrating with texts from Lara and Samar asking if she was alright made her jump slightly, and she fished her phone out of her handbag to respond and let them know not to come to the kitchen for her. She couldn't take a chance on losing either of them.

Both texts were unsent, for the slam of something in the kitchen (perhaps the freezer door or door to the room itself, she wasn't sure) slammed with impressive strength. Out of anger or frustration... or hell-- knowing this crowd, they may have hid a body in there. The force was so fierce that it not only literally shook Eleanor, but the pantry shelves as well, causing several of the cans and items to rain down on her. Eleanor narrowly dodged a jar of spaghetti sauce as it shattered to the ground, dousing the floor and her dress in what looked like blood.

Eleanor tried to avoid the shards of glass that now sprinkled the floor, which distracted her from one last scuffle of a few spare pans careening to the floor. The very last one, as if a magnet to her, rammed Eleanor into the head on the way down.

Eleanor's phone and knife skittered across the floor as her body slumped, succumbing to the shroud of temporary darkness and unconsciousness.

[eleanorxshipley]

Eleanor Shipley attends The London Awards After Party at The Berkeley Estate.

Date: Friday, March 22, 2024.

Escorted by: Herself.

[eleanorxshipley]

For: @konstantinvorshevsky

Reaction to all of his awards

Everyone had warned her of the Big Bad Wolf, Kosta, before their auction date. It meant the awards he was given throughout the night didn't come as much of a shock. Although she still didn't know him all that well personally, Eleanor found it difficult to accept the guy who had been a complete gentleman and even burned his hand making strudel with her in Austria could be deserving of such harshness.

[eleanorxshipley]

For: @mrofontaine

Reaction to Biggest Dumbass and Biggest Trainwreck

Eleanor had to keep control of the fit of giggles that threatened to spill by clamping her mouth shut and exhaling deeply. But the smile was still present.

[eleanorxshipley]

For: @samar-sehgal

Reaction to Best Sense of Humor

Eleanor knew he already had it in the bag before his name was even announced. She tried not to make it obvious that she clapped a little louder and smiled a bit brighter at the results of this particular award. It was well earned.

So far no one had noticed just how perfectly his cufflinks matched her dress.

[eleanorxshipley]

For: @samar-sehgal

Awards After Party.

"Best Sense of Humor? I suppose you've managed to pry a chuckle or two out of me." Sidling up next to him at the bar, Eleanor nudged Samar's arm gently with hers. She didn't bother to suppress her smile as she beamed up at him, bright eyes twinkling with mischief. "But really. They hit the nail on the head. I've yet to meet someone that makes me laugh more than you. Even when you're being a sass king."