#claireedarby

[princesteffansayer]

Like most of his family, Steffan has a passion for books. After finding out about a small bookstore in the village, he sets out with one of the guards from the castle. Arriving at the store, he peeks through the window and sees dozens of books filling the shelves. Opening the door, he steps inside, noticing the store to be rather empty of people. “Hello?” He calls out. “Is anyone here?” He asks as he walks over to the closest shelf to browse.

[sofiahanover]

@claireedarby​

The holidays had arrived and despite it being one of her favorite times of year, this year had felt off. It was the first time she had fully been away from her mother and her friends, and it was rather heartbreaking. Instead, she found herself surrounded by a group of acquaintances aside from a very select few, including Sarika, who didn’t really want anything to do with her, a few princes and princesses she had met at functions years prior, and then her cousin, Matthias; whom she barely knew, except for an arranged meeting set up by his father to keep the peace.

However, wallowing in self-pity wasn’t going to get her anywhere, but alone and miserable. So making the best of it, she snagged her royal babysitter and found her way down to the village.

The decorations and lights seemed as though they had appeared over night. Set with a snowy backdrop, it made for a picturesque scene and had brought on the first genuine smile to her face. For once, Sofia’s fears and worries seemed to disappear, “Come on, Batman. Follow me, we’ve got people to shop for.” If Sofia was going to have her own personal bodyguard, she was going to affectionately call him something funny.

Laying eyes on a nearby bookstore, she made her way cautiously across the street and into the tiny shop. The smell of old paper, along with heat radiating from the innerworkings of the store, hit her in the face when she opened the door. And stepping inside seem to take her to another world completely, “Okay, now...what to get for a cousin I know nothing about...” She set her eyes on the right side of the shop and headed down the first aisle she had come to, Batman trailing behind to give her some space.

[luciaxalvarez]

@claireedarby​

Lucia was in town just doing some window shopping. She had already grabbed some stuff to snack on while she walked and was now looking for another shop to browse in. Coming to a stop in front of the bookstore, she remembered that there was a book series that she wanted to start reading. Heading inside, she made her way over to the fiction section and started to go through the action/mystery books. Managing only to find a couple that were in the series, she grabbed them and went to the checkout desk. 

“You have any more of the books in the series on their way here?” she asks Claire as she sets the books down onto the counter. “If not, is there a way I can order them through you and you can get them shipped here?” 

[leawxlf]

❄️ (Claire)

Lea had seen Claire and Tyrzah together in passing, but it was enough for her to latch onto. Making friends was how she had gotten this far in her quest to have a little one-on-one time with her enemy. Of course, Claire didn’t need to know her true motives. Fate, however, had given her a little assist as a winter storm moved in quickly right after closing time forcing Lea to take shelter in a neighboring shop, “Sorry, to slip in so late, but this storm seemed to have come out of nowhere. Did you want me to flip the Open sign to Closed for you?” She knew Claire had probably been ready to close up shop herself, but a friendly gesture or two and maybe an offer of free chocolate for letting her seek shelter for a little while would put Lea in Claire’s good graces, and things could build from there. After all, Lea was in it for the long game and prepared to do what she had to do, even if it meant living in Russia for several more years.