“ do you think he left her at the altar because you made him hate women, because he’s a miserable excuse for a human being, or because he’s going to come crawling back to you ? ” | @fannicroy
“ it’s pretty late... ” she paused the tv show on the tv and turned to the figure by the door. “ where have you been ? ” she wiggled her eyebrows. | @fannicroy
she was a vision in her tidy dress and pretty curls. fanni always was. the moment olimpia’s eyes landed on the figure in the doorway, she stood up — quickly, ungracefully, sending a fork onto the floor, and made the table wobble. her foot nearly slipped out of her heel when she took her first steps and she ended up taking three hops. the quicker she removed fanni from the room, the better. “ fanni. ” she placed a kiss on her cheek and took fanni’s hands into her own. “ we should go. like right now. ” | @fannicroy
“ hey so i have some big news and also a request... ” she gingerly took a seat. “ so i’m getting betrothed to alessandro di savoia. ” she paused and waited for a reaction. her heart beat at a stupid rate: it was only fanni, there was nothing to be anxious about ! | @fannicroy
“ heya ! ready to go ? i have the star of the day right here with me, ” olimpia chirped at the doorway with nilsa in her arms. the girl was getting a bit heavy and she wasn’t sure if she’d survive through the greeting if fanni wasn’t quick to give the girl a kiss. | @fannicroy
[ 24/08 ]: did you move back?
[ 25/08 ]: can you at least open the message?
[ 25/08 ]: thanks.
[ 25/08 ]: are you skipping tekla’s birthday?
[ 12:18 pm ]: happy birthday, lmk when you’ll come get your present
“ let me see, let me see, let me see it ! ” she squealed as she finally spotted fanni. “ you should have met up with me beforehand, now i can’t admire it in peace. ” ( @fannicroy )
i started working on a croÿ aesthetic board and decided to put into words all the things we’ve discussed over the years ! the focus is mainly on fanni, tekla & olimpia... because this also has elements of the psyche task. but this is more or less an explanation of the family dynamic rather than just an explanation of olimpia’s relationship with her family. ( @lcvcntc, @tvkla, @fannicroy ) ( and also i hope y’all agree with what i’ve written because otherwise this is embarrassing )
Ⅰ ⸻ The Croÿ dynasty is not much of a dynasty. The Croÿ family are pretty much the nouveau riche of royalty. There is no Saxe-Coburg, Braganza,Habsburg, Bourbon or Schleswig-Holstein blood mixed in with the Croÿ blood ( more on that if hails ever finishes the modern history task ). People don’t necessarily bring it up, it would be a weird thing to do, not to mention difficult now that three generations of Croÿs have sat on the Hungarian throne, however it’s something that hangs over the Hungarians’ heads. They aren’t a dynasty. They don’t have a family tree that can be traced all the way to the the 12th century. There’s a subconscious effort to prove themselves.
Ⅱ ⸻ So blame it on the subconscious need to be equals with other royals or on the outdated societal norms of Hungary but the Croÿs, especially the Croÿ women, have always played a role. They have fitted themselves inside a mold and adopted mannerism and personality traits in order to appear to be the best Croÿ-approved version of themselves. It’s not by design, it’s due to the conditioning that happens without anyone noticing. It there is almost only one way to flourish as a Croÿ and if you stray too far away from what is desired and accepted, you’ll be cut down. By your own blood. The Croÿs are as demanding as they are well-meaning. It happens slowly: you stop receiving compliments and praises from other members of the family, then comes quick and almost casual comments, then comes actual criticism, and eventually the family that speaks loudly about being there for you makes you an outcast. To be fair, you’ve brought it on yourself if that happens. At least partly. The Croÿs believe in unity but it’s clear that each and every one of them is deeply selfish. Sometimes that selfishness isn’t put aside for the good of the family: Levente and his infidelity, Fanni never trying to ease Tekla’s burden, ( up for debate but ) Tekla leaving Hungary, and Olimpia concentrating on her own thing, not bothering to match her siblings’ sacrifices. They’ll help, protect, fight for their family members as long as the personal sacrifice isn’t too great.
Ⅲ ⸻ The youngest generation ( or... second youngest since nilsa and katya exist ) have bent the rules a bit but not enough. Fanni didn’t end up like that by accident, Tekla doesn’t breathe easier in Copenhagen for no reason, Levente is not emotionally guarded because he wants to be, and Olimpia isn’t drawn to the people who are her antitheses because she finds them interesting. Fanni and Levente are examples of what happens when you accept your role without a single question. It’s why the two are a team too. They haven’t learnt to look outside of Budapest. Hungary first, then the family, and then themselves. Tekla is arguably the smartest one out of the group for creating something for herself on her own terms. Olimpia’s saving grace is the fact that she’s some years younger than her siblings and was never made to partake in politics.
Ⅳ ⸻ ( okay my love for the tekla-fanni parallels is infinite ) Tekla and Fanni are the perfect way to assess the Croÿ family. Tekla was born unlucky, there really is no other way to put it. So you have the two Hungarians growing up together, as close as sisters, and you have the absolutely unfair difference in the treatments they receive. Fanni is not harassed, all her decisions are supported and she is lead onto the right path. It’s easy for her to slip into the mold: it’s so safe and shiny. People adore her for doing what is correct. Why would she challenge an institution that treats her so nicely. Then we have Tekla who, in theory, should get everything Fanni’s getting. The adoration, the attention, the unconditional love. That doesn’t come. People keep challenging Tekla, try to pigeon hole her into a role that doesn’t quite fit... maybe because it’s so directly in Fanni’s shadow for no good reason. The girls, the young women they stay close until Tekla leaves and gets her own life. Tekla thrives outside of Hungary since the expectations are different. They aren’t lower by any means but her worth isn’t based on the angle of her chin and the straightness of her back. She exists as a person, not as a woman.
Ⅴ ⸻ The real problem with the Croÿs is that the game is rigged for the female members of the clan. There is no way to win. Levente’s issues sprout from toxic masculinity and the unrealistic expectations that have been placed on him but he doesn’t need to strive to be something impossible. People will even let him trip a few times. Olimpia is dumb and essentially worthless since she isn’t hard-working ( in the right useful way ), never mind she’s barely past her mid-twenties. Tekla is selfish and difficult for having created something for herself... and Fanni is simple and embarrassing for not having created anything for herself. You can see it in the way Levente talks to the women: Olimpia is just the annoying little sister, Tekla deserves respect but only if it is delivered with a small amount of guilt tripping, and Fanni is a book he has read a dozen times and has lost interest in a long time ago. How can you be ambitious but dutiful at the same time? When each one of your accomplishments is the family’s accomplishments, not yours? How can you be loyal but independent when doing something on your own makes you a turncoat?
Ⅵ ⸻ The Croÿs, however, are a forgiving bunch. Every fight gets forgotten almost immediately. If it lasts longer than a week, someone is just making a point. If it lasts for months... well, then someone needs to get on their knees and beg for forgiveness. Fights are explosive but it has a lot to do with the way the Croÿs express themselves. They know how to add bite to their words and it’s an efficient way to get a point through. Fights are great for introspection too since family members tend to pick out your worst flaws, the things you truly, without a doubt, work on. It’s a raw way to communicate but it’s an honest way. The Croÿs have no need for secrets since they know the family will stand behind them no matter what. Even through the most questionable decisions. The transparency is what makes them strong. They can lie to others, not to each other. It’s an unspoken rule. Something will break if words are swallowed instead of spoken.
Ⅶ ⸻ And one last word on loyalty. It’s unconditional. It’s why it’s difficult to be an outsider among the Croÿs. New members struggle at first because the family’s mentality is difficult to understand at first. The fights are impossible to grasp: how can you claim to love someone so much and still scream such cruel things at them? The Croÿs expect honesty, they expect unfiltered words, they expect to see the ugliest parts of you. Family knows you through and through and still accepts you ( though among the Croÿs the worst bumps in your person will be gotten rid of ). No one else knows you like family does, no one else could ever accept you like family. Family is strength and that strength comes from loyalty. You keep your lips sealed and lie and lie and lie if it’s necessarily. Among the Croÿs it’s a greater crime to be disloyal than unjust. Sylvia will learn it the hard way.
