lady horatio

Priest and Hawthorne Investigations: A Modern Fantasy Adventure!

-shy wave-

Hi, all! I was excited to see another incarnation of PHI pop up, and I was already planning to lurk if it was too late to join—but I was even more tickled when I spotted familiar faces from past games. So I wanted to say hi,@vietmyke and @Penny! I can't wait to see what shenanigans Jacob and Emma get up to. :p And to all the new peeps, your cast looks super rad and I'll be Watching This Space in September/October to see how everything unfolds. :)

When Royalty Collides

_{A collaboration between @lady horatio & @Aewin
Set during the welcome ball}

Chris had brought a welcome change to Arabelle’s initial sour mood. Arabelle made a mental note to thank him again later, but for now, she had a mission to complete. With her glass of wine still in hand, Arabelle looked around the room for the recognisable shade of ginger she was after. The ballroom was crowded and had Arabelle not been familiar with her dear friend, she would have easily mistaken her for the countless ginger princesses strewn about the room. No, the princess she was after was unmistakable with her beautifully intricate braids and distinct mannerisms.

And that made it easy to spot the princess ducking back into the ballroom from one of the many balconies. With her target in sight, Arabelle made a beeline towards the youngest princess of Maris. “Princess Genevieve!” She called, trying to grab Gen’s attention before she vanished back into the crowds.

Genevieve, preoccupied with worry about Henri and currently scanning the room for the first person who looked likely to get her a glass of water—and quick—startled visibly at the sound of her name. She glanced up, brows furrowed, but fell into a reflexive smile when she recognized Arabelle hurrying toward her.

Though she wasn’t used to doing so, Gen mimicked Ara and greeted her by her full name and title: “Princess Arabelle.” Then, as Ara came closer, she glanced at the glass in the older princess’s hand. “Is that for me,” Genevieve asked, with a teasing smile, “or are you so stressed by this whole thing that it’s driven you to drink?”

“I'm not going to deny it, but after the evening I've had I've been contemplating downing more than my fair share of these.” Arabelle returned with her own smile. She offered Gen a kiss on each cheek in greeting before presenting her the glass of wine. “I adore what you've done with the rhinestones. You look stunning.“

She then took a step back, allowing Genevieve to have her own space. “How are you doing? Are you enjoying Aciras so far?” Arabelle asked lightly.

Genevieve felt a brief rush of warmth. Arabelle was prim and proper and sometimes more conventional than Gen herself, but she was also very kind. And she was the first person to directly comment on the rhinestone freckles that had tickled Gen so much to put on.

“Thank you. For the compliments and the drink.” She accepted the glass with a grateful nod, taking a sip. Her smile turned rueful as she added, “My night’s not going much better than yours. I’ve already been rude to two people. But in my defense, one of them was Henri’s older brother. Which reminds me—” she looked around, waving a server over as he caught her eye, “—I promised to get Henri some water. He hates parties like this, so he’s taking a break outside.”

Before the waiter could leave, Arabelle requested an extra glass of water for herself. Now that she'd delivered her wine to Genevieve, it wouldn't look good on her if her hands remained empty for very long, and she had no desire to cause offence on her Acirian hosts. While waiting, she regarded Gen's words curiously.

Although Arabelle wasn't very well acquainted with Henri, she'd heard about his brother through the few instances she'd hung out with the quiet prince. Suddenly, Arabelle didn't quite blame Genevieve for her 'rudeness', although she internally lamented the fact she'd missed such a scene. A rude Gen was certainly an interesting sight, one Arabelle was curious to see. “And what of the other?” She asked, wondering about the second person Gen was supposedly rude to.

“Hm?” It took Genevieve a moment to realize what Arabelle was asking, and then she felt a pinch of guilt. She couldn’t explain, not without breaking Henri’s confidence. “Oh,” she said, “just someone who tried to interrupt us when we were talking. I probably overreacted.” She shrugged a little, adding honestly, “I just don’t get to see Henri much these days.”

Gen glanced over her shoulder. “I should get back to him,” she said, raising the glass of water demonstratively. “Make sure he’s okay.” She didn’t like leaving Henri alone, not with the wild-eyed panic, barely-contained, that had been all over his face after the encounter with Raiden.

“But if he’s feeling better, or if he decides to retire early, can I come find you? I really do want to catch up with you, and I can’t just follow Phillip around all night.”

Arabelle nodded understandingly, “Of course, don’t worry about it, I should probably return to Cat as well. I told her I’d return soon.” She was sure Cat was doing perfectly fine, but she couldn’t help but want to check up on her. Call it a sisterly worry. “Give Henri my regards.” She smiled.

Gen gave Ara’s free hand a quick squeeze. “I will. I’m so glad to see you.” And with that, she ducked back out the way she’d come, looking for her errant friend and hoping he’d been okay in the few minutes she’d been gone.

When Royalty Collides

Phillip felt himself ease up as titles were dropped, and with them some formalities. To Han, he said, "That's what I've been saying," with a smile. "I know these kinds of parties can be stressful—" he glanced at Alejandro, "—and you know how shy Gen is; she was very happy to run off with Henri to catch up somewhere quiet." He returned his attention to Han as he finished, "But we have got to have some fun here."

A little stirring of guilt rose up in Phillip's stomach, even though he knew it wasn't really his guilt to feel. Alejandro's situation was complicated and not his fault. More than half the people present were in political engagements that he knew they didn't want.

But it still felt…uncomfortable, to stand across from Han and smile at her—however genuinely—while knowing Alejandro had no plans to maintain their betrothal. While having feelings for Alejandro that he had no business having.

"Is there anything in particular you guys want to do in Aciras?" he asked, because now was not the time to worry about any of that. And they were going to have fun, damn it.

When Royalty Collides

Phillip's mouth curved up in a smile as Alejandro kissed his cheeks, a greeting that had been customary long before they'd shared anything but platonic intimacy. He had to remember to use the Castilyan prince's title, to say, "Prince Alejandro," instead of a casual, "Hey, Ali," like always.

He inclined his head when Ali pulled away and gave him room to hug Imani. "It's good to see you." Briefly, Phillip's smile flashed into a grin. "Though it's hard to miss you."

To Han, Phillip gave a half-bow. She was one of the few people present that he'd never met, so even though he would hazard a guess that she wasn't so formal herself, it would be best to err on the side of caution until he knew her better. "It's nice to meet you," he said. "And I know it's the thing to compliment everyone's clothes, but your tattoos are incredible."

When Royalty Collides

_.

Phillip was in the middle of half-apologizing to Imani—"I'm sorry; I know Cass can come on a bit strong. She means well. She doesn't get to let loose that much, so when she can..."—when a blessedly familiar face appeared. Gen couldn't help it; she felt herself brighten with Henri's entrance.

Phillip and Imani each greeted him in turn, Phillip smiling at Henri's final question. "I think Gen would like it if you borrowed Gen," he said, shooting her a fondly teasing look.

Genevieve, who had, in the mean time, grabbed both Henri's hands in greeting, rolled her eyes at her brother. "I'll see you guys in a bit, okay?"

She turned, giving Henri's fingers a gentle squeeze as she murmured, "I'm so happy to see you."

Henri gave Phillip a small smile followed by a slight nod to Imani as he was led away by Gen. "It's been too long." He pulled Gen in for a brief hug once they were further away from Gen's brother and Imani. "I was going to come up as soon as you guys walked in, but you guys went straight for Imani- and I was kind of hidden. But whatever, how are you? Was your flight shitty too?" Henri continued with a smile on his face, "You look amazing by the way, your braids are so cute!"

The hug was brief but tight, and Genevieve would have held a bit longer if she could. She was very particular about who she allowed in her space and how much, but it was common knowledge amongst her close friends, a small circle though it was, that once she really liked someone, she was given to being quite affectionate.

When it came to Genevieve's personal boundaries, Henri was not just hug-approved; he was very much encouraged.

"Agreed," she said, as they pulled away. "I've missed you." He knew that, of course, just like he knew he'd been the first one she'd called the moment invitations went out to make sure that he would be attending the wedding festivities.

"Phillip and I are both fighting jet lag," she admitted, but beamed at the praise, what felt like her first easy smile of the evening. "Thank you. Do you like the rhinestones?" Henri was just the sort of person to appreciate quirky little touches like that, not just as a part of Genevieve's armor, but as a fashion statement, too.

"I missed you too, Gen." Henri held on to her hand as they continued to walk. Her touch always seemed to calm him down and ground him to his surroundings. It was like a little confidence boost that pulled him out of his corner.

"Love them! And of course, your lipstick too." Henri looked at the many crystals woven into Gen's hair and over her head. "You look beautiful, Gen. Wouldn't expect anything less from you." He squeezed her hand gently.

Genevieve felt a flush of warmth and squeezed back. "You know that you clean up nice, too." Her lips curved up, a soft and private joke. "You're the only guy here I'd want on my arm." Henri had had so much on his plate the last few weeks, and his moods had been so much more volatile. They would talk about it; they would talk about it all when they got the chance, but it felt so good, for the moment, just to feel his hand in hers and see him smile.

"You have to be my escort, at least for a while, so Phillip stops taking pity on me." What she wanted to say was, "Be my date?", but she knew Henri well enough to know he might want to escape the party early if he could manage it. And she knew, without wanting to bring it up before she had to, that his newly-announced betrothal might complicate matters.

"I'll stay with you as long as you want." Henri smiled as they made their way around the tables, "You know you're the only one I want to be around tonight, or ever." He did not want to be close to Raiden or see his face. Not with Beatrice hanging on his arm. Or Fareeha. Henri did not want to see her either.

"Oh? What is this?" Henri stopped when he heard Elias walking up behind them, a glass of whiskey in one hand. "Princess Genevine. It's so nice to see you again," He gave her a proper bow. Elias smirked when he glanced down at their hands- laughing when Henri glared at his older brother. "I do hope you give my little brother some time to greet his lovely betrothed, I can't let him be rude to the woman he's going to marry."

"I will, thank you for reminding me." Henri's hand tensed up in Gen's as he tried not to wince at the whole, marrying a woman thing. It made him believe that Elias knew- what if he knew? He could use it against him. It wouldn't surprise Henri one bit if that were the case.

"Prince Elias." Genevieve inclined her head in greeting, though her stomach rolled. Was Elias serving her a deliberate slight in getting her name wrong, or had he just forgotten it? Unable to tell, she chose to ignore it. She also kept Henri's hand tight in hers—to pull away would be to imply they'd done something wrong, which they hadn't.

"I don't think the lady Fareeha will be offended that Henri stopped to talk to an old friend," she said calmly. And then, though her instincts screamed to let it die there, she added, "I'm sure she understands that men and women can be friends and nothing more—even if the concept is foreign to you."

Henri tried to keep his face controlled as Elias made a complete ass of himself. "Brother," Henri forced a smile, "Really you shouldn't worry- besides you should worry about the image you are painting for our country. Princess Genevieve and her kingdom are close allies to ours. We shouldn't regard them for a newly formed betrothal." He gave Gen's hand a slight squeeze.

Elias looked at them both, a smile still in place. He leaned into Henri as if to whisper, but his voice kept the same level."Christian, you should be the one thinking of our country. Don't be selfish- "

"I like the way you try, really." Henri looked at Elias as he pulled back with a raised eyebrow. "Should I throw a stick?" He kept his face neutral.

Elias scoffed at his younger brother then looked over at Gen. "You should watch it, Henri, we both know who will be the next king." His face had turned a shade of red that was rising quickly from his neck to his cheeks.

It was an empty threat. One that held very little meaning to Henri. "If you excuse us, Princess Genevieve and I have a few other people to talk to." He didn't give Elias time to answer as he led Gen away from him. Once they had left Elias behind Henri turned to look at Gen. "I'm sorry the biggest royal asshole is my brother. "

“Don’t apologize to me,” Genevieve said, reaching with her free hand to give his arm a squeeze. “You’re the one who has to live with him.”

Not for long. Henri thought as he gave Gen a small nod. "Let's just forget him and his stupid face."

When Royalty Collides

Phillip felt a pang of guilt and wished, not for the first time, that Imani could have arrived with him and Genevieve. With the logistics of flights, time zones, and hotels, it just hadn’t seemed feasible, but seeing the Massylii princess hovering alone at a corner table, nursing a drink, he wondered if it wouldn’t have been worth the extra trouble.

“Imani,” he called out as soon as they were close, flashing her a warm smile. If anyone had been paying them much attention, he might have addressed the princess more formally—but as they were both heirs, near-equal in status, and friends besides, he didn’t see much point. And, knowing how much she hated events exactly like this, he wanted, desperately, to put her at ease.

“It’s so good to see you!” Phillip felt Gen gently release his arm and step aside as they reached Imani’s table, giving him space to greet her. “I’m sorry you beat us here. I hope you weren’t waiting long.”

x-x-x

Imani looked up from the whiskey glass she had been staring at for quite a few minutes now. Her eyes lit up when she spotted the familiar faces of Phillip and Gen. Setting her drink down, Imani walked closer to give him a brief hug. It was nice to finally see him again after a few weeks. She had been so nervous about the whole event, but Phillip's presence always seemed to calm her down enough to cope with the public eye and other royals.

"It's so good to see you too," Imani offered a smile before she shook her head briefly. She had been waiting for a bit, but there was no need to make Phillip feel bad. "I arrived a few minutes ago, don't worry about it."

Imani looked over to Gen, her smile returning as she greeted the younger girl. "It's nice to see you again, Genev- Gen." She stood there awkwardly, unsure if she should offer a handshake or a hug. While Gen and Imani had met briefly before, not many words had been exchanged between them. Imani wasn't sure if they were friends of if Gen would be okay with a hug. This is awkward, Imani told herself before she went for a quick hug, cheeks turning red in the process.

x-x-x

Phillip returned Imani’s hug readily, giving her hands a quick squeeze before she pulled away. He watched her hover, uncertain, before Genevieve.

And smiled a small, relieved smile as his sister pushed up on her toes to hug the slightly-taller princess. Not that he’d thought Gen would snub Imani—far from it—but he knew his sister well enough to see that she, too, was trying to make Imani more comfortable.

“Nice to see you, too,” Genevieve said. “You look great.” She smiled, shyly. “I love your curls.”

“Fantastic,” Phillip agreed easily. Then, tilting his head, he asked more quietly, “How are you holding up?” He paired the question with an encouraging smile, lightening the tone a little. They were all going to make it through tonight, and if he had anything to say about it, they would even have some fun.

x-x-x

"I love your braids," Imani gave Gen a smile as she glanced at her hair and the many crystals that adorned her hair. They reminded her of Leo, just a bit. She then turned her head to look at Phillip.

"A lot better than I thought I would." She picked up her glass of whiskey to show the source of her stress reliever. "It's my second one already and I feel less anxious to be here. I hope you two got enough sleep to last this ball." She wasn't sure what the Aciran crown had planned for the evening.

x-x-x

"We're both jetlagged," Phillip admitted. "It's already pretty late back home. But our hotel was very flexible, and I know other people have come from much farther away."

He tipped his head toward Imani's glass. "Pace yourself with those." His lips curved up again. "I might need you and Gen to help support me if I start falling asleep."

"If you start falling asleep, Imani and I will prop you in a corner somewhere," Gen, who had flushed at Imani's compliment, muttered. "You'll be fine."

Phillip raised his eyebrows at his betrothed. "Can you feel the love?" he asked, without the slightest bit of offense. He flagged down a passing server, accepting a flute of champagne for himself and, at Genevieve's request, a glass of ice-water.

"Once we get our bearings," he offered Imani, "I'll introduce you to some of our friends, if you like. I'm sure you'll feel more comfortable once you know a few people, and I promise we'll stick together." He felt his mouth curve into something both wry and confidential. "What else are fiancés for?"

x-x-x

Imani smiled at Genevieve's comment, suppressing a small laugh behind her glass. "That would be great; it would be nice to know some of your friends. I can introduce you to some of my own." She offered. There were a few people she was close to, but it wouldn't keep her from introducing Phillip and Gen to some of her friends. It also gave her the excuse to walk around and sober up just a bit.

"Thank you," Imani looked at Phillip then Genevieve, "I don't think I can say that enough.”

x-x-x

Phillip shook his head. "You don't have to say it at all," he said. He'd lost count of the times Imani had thanked him, even though this arrangement benefitted them both. Even though he was happy to do it.

He gave Imani an encouraging smile. "We have two months of events coming up, and neither of us has to worry about being stuck with someone we don't like. That's almost worth it by itself." He took a sip of champagne, then offered her his elbow. "Shall we take a turn about the room, if you're ready?"

When Imani accepted, he held out his other arm to Genevieve, who shook her head. "Walk with your fiancée," she said, gently pushing him away. "It's going to look a little sad if I'm hanging on you all night."

"I don't think sibling solidarity is sad,” Phillip said, but he let her fall into step beside him nonetheless.

When Royalty Collides

As she scanned the already-crowded ballroom, Genevieve Anders breathed an unexpected sigh of relief. Her eyes caught on violent pinks and midnight blues; necklaces dripping with diamonds and rubies—here, a plunging neckline, daringly low; there, a yellow dress covered in modest lace. So far, the other guests represented a healthy spread between the ostentatious and the understated, which left her to fall comfortably into the realm of quirky-but-unexceptionable.

When it came to going unseen, the younger daughter of Maris had two strategies: either become invisible, or put on a mask—literal or figurative.

For the welcoming ball, she had chosen the latter.

Genevieve had spent hours agonizing over an outfit meant to look like it had involved no agonizing at all. From the winged liner painted above her eyes to the careful array of tiny crystals scattered beneath them like rhinestone freckles, every choice was precise. Long red-orange bangs hung in slashes against her cheekbones, easy to duck behind when she needed a moment to collect herself—such as when she and Phillip had paused in the palace doorway, recovering from the flurry of paparazzi waiting just outside. The rest of her hair was braided into a crown and threaded with still more crystals, taking the place of an actual tiara.

Her floor-length gown was her nod to her country—layers of chiffon, all in shifting shades of blue and grey, like the Marisian sea. That, her parents had approved before she left. The mulberry lip color? Not so much, but it, too, was a strategic choice. She only knew a handful of people in this castle personally. The rest likely had almost no idea who she was—and if they did, it was through either her brother or her skimpy social media presence.

Which meant the only hope she had of being recognized, short of tattooing a line of obscure poetry across her chest, was to show up wearing one of her signature lipsticks.

It was because of that lipstick that Genevieve reminded herself not to worry at her lower lip as Phillip—who had only released her long enough for them to make their respective bow and curtsey to their hosts—took her arm again, wrapping warm fingers around hers. “See anybody we know?”

“Plenty of people you know,” Gen murmured, though even as she said it, she knew it wasn’t entirely fair. Already, she’d picked out one mutual friend in the crowd—Alejandro was hard to miss—and she was almost certain she’d caught brief sight of both Erik and Ara: two of the people she liked most who liked each other least. No sign of the person she most wanted to see, but knowing Henri, he wouldn’t be out in the open.

Genevieve nudged her brother, teasing. “Have you spotted Ali yet?”

There was laughter in Phillip’s voice: “How could I not?” He nodded in the other prince’s direction. “But he’s busy, and it’s not like he’ll be hard for us to find.”

Reaching up to adjust the silk ascot tied about his neck, the same grey-blue as the darkest folds of Genevieve’s dress, Phillip glanced around. “Besides, I promised Imani I’d find her as soon as we got here.”

A second after he said it, they both spotted the princess in question, Gen squeezing Phillip’s arm at the same time that he murmured, “There,” and started walking. Though she knew she’d have to stand on her own eventually, Genevieve let Phillip play escort for as long as sensibility allowed, sticking close as he nodded to acquaintances and wove his way toward the princess of Massylii.

When Royalty Collides

Genevieve Anders​

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." -Dorothy Parker

𝓝𝓪𝓶𝓮
――――――――――

Genevieve Marie Anders (also known as “Gen,” but never “Geni/Jenny”)

𝓣𝓲𝓽𝓵𝓮
――――――――――

Princess—not heir to the throne by birth, but it might just wind up in her hands anyway if her older brother strays too far from the nest.

𝓐𝓰𝓮
――――――――――

19, on the cusp of 20.

𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻
――――――――――

Cis female; she/her pronouns

𝓢𝓮𝔁𝓾𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂
――――――――――

Bi/demisexual

𝓐𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
――――――――――

With long ginger hair, sea-glass eyes, and a smattering of freckles, Genevieve looks like she may have wandered out of the very ocean that borders her keep on one side. When left to her own devices, she's often buried in thick sweaters that hide her narrow shoulders and delicate collarbones; she loves nothing more than to give the shapeless projection of a girl. When forced to dress up, she falls somewhere in the intersection between practical, occasion-appropriate, and eclectic, choosing clothes that are comfortable enough to stand around in for hours at a time and accessories that are creative, playful, sometimes hand-crafted. In public, she favors the kinds of hats, scarves, and makeup that make it hard to pick out too many of her actual features at once—her own sort of armor. On social media, she’s known for her signature purple lipstick and braided crowns—and partial selfies that never show her whole face.

𝓟𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂
――――――――――

Paradoxically, Gen is perhaps best known for her near-total absence from social media. She leaves the endless selfies, Instagram photos, and chatter to her older brother, Phillip, who never met a stranger in his life and has more friends than Gen does polite acquaintances. Genevieve prefers to communicate from behind a Twitter account full of cryptic poetry and wry commentary on current events. She also maintains a Tumblr that is 90% reblogs of aesthetic photos, well-intentioned signal boosts, and yet more poetry. She is self-possessed and curious, and would never admit that part of the mystery she creates around herself is because she would far rather be misunderstood as pretentious than more correctly labeled as shy.

𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 + 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼
――――――――――

Likes: photography; one-on-one conversations; cats; vintage clothes; collecting sea-glass; baubles that her brother sends or brings her home from his travels; ballet (watching, not performing)
Dislikes: media attention; large crowds (though she will happily play wallflower to watch the goings-on, and loves to blend into places she will not be recognized); close scrutiny; any exercise that is not (limited) hiking

𝓑𝓲𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓱𝔂
――――――――――

Genevieve grew up relatively unsupervised. The kingdom of Maris is a place of contradictions: so small that they don't often stand on ceremony and the noble and upper-middle classes mingle regularly, but holding tight to certain proprieties, largely for the purposes of self-protection. This means that Gen has been well-educated in court etiquette (almost all theory; little practice) and knows her keep from top to bottom, as she's always been able to wander it freely. She grew up in the shadow of an older brother she loved but didn't understand, and still wonders if his outgoing, wandering heart will make him a better ruler than she could ever be—or if it will damn their country if not carefully curbed.

𝓕𝓒 + 𝓒𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓻 𝓒𝓸𝓭𝓮
――――――――――

Face claim is, tentatively, Georgie Hobday. Color=48B8B5

𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓶𝓮 𝓢𝓸𝓷𝓰
――――――――――

Sirens of the Sea
_{Leaving reason far behind
Nothing here is cruel or kind
Only your desire to set me free
Let us lie here all alone
Worn away like river stone
Let us be the sirens of the sea}

𝓑𝓮𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓭 𝓣𝓸
――――――――――

TBD/NA? (Maris is an attractive trade partner, but not at the top of anyone's list for marriage alliances, and the feeling is mutual. Hit me up if you have ideas, though!)

𝓞𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻
――――――――――

Gen’s favorite people are, in no particular order: her brother, Phillip; their cousin, Shannon; and her two childhood friends, Chris and Natalie, who are in Acrias with her as bodyguard and handmaid, respectively. She has a few mutuals she chats with via Tumblr (including a dancer she has a crush on that no one needs to know about), a few acquaintances on Twitter.

She knows Prince Henri because his country and hers have a trade agreement. They met during a diplomatic visit and, after some shy overtures and chance encounters, found they had a lot in common.

Gen’s brother, Phillip, is friends with Alejandro, and asks Ali to look out for Gen while she’s in Aciras, as Phillip’s worried Gen will keep to herself and have a hard time in the crowds.

Genevieve's Relations

Genevieve Marie Anders

{"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” —C.S. Lewis }

⚜ Respects ~*~ ☯ Neutral ~*~ ☮ Friends ~*~ ♫ Best Friends ~*~ § Tense ~*~ ♥ Crush ~*~ ⚤ Significant Other ~*~ ☠ Enemies

“Erik sometimes takes himself too seriously, and I'll be damned if he's not just as vain as Alejandro. But he's a great—if smug—chess teacher and an excellent theater date.”

☮ (+♥?)

No one is more surprised than Gen that she is the one who clicked with Erik best, not Phillip. She loves that he's comfortable with silence, that he'll indulge her and just sit in and play cards and tell her Austerundian folktales. They get on exceedingly well and she's looking forward to seeing him in Aciras. Position on the don’t-touch-me scale: hug-approved.

“Ali is a trip, and he wouldn’t mind me saying so. He’s vibrant and funny and very much himself.”

☮

Genevieve knows Alejandro, as she does so many people, through Phillip. She likes him, especially as she’s gotten to see the slightly quieter side of him when he visits Phillip in Maris. He has made a point to include her and talk about things she likes; in return, she has shared hair and makeup tips and taught him one of her signature braids. Position on the don’t-touch-me scale: hug-approved.

“Henri is good company. We’ve only gotten to meet in person a handful of times, but we keep in touch. I’m so happy he’s going to the wedding.”

♫

One of the first things Genevieve did after receiving her invitation was to ask Henri if he was going. He’s one of the few good friends she has outside of court and one of the only people on the wedding guest list that she actually knows. They share a love of photography, of privacy, of quiet conversations. They stay in touch via social media (mostly via private messages) and snail mail. Henri is one of the only people allowed to take Gen’s picture. Position on the don’t-touch-me scale: hugs encouraged.

“Cass is so competent that it’s honestly intimidating. She reminds me of my cousin Shannon that way. She’s had a hard go and more than made the most of it.”

⚜

Genevieve has only met Cass a few times. She respects the hell out of Cass’s charity/advocacy work and the way she has become the exact version of herself that she wants to be (something Genevieve aspires to). Gen would tentatively like to get to know Cass better, especially as she’s so close with Phillip. Position on the don’t-touch-me scale: probationary approval; hugs accepted.

Phillip Anders

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do." -H. Jackson Brown Jr.

𝓝𝓪𝓶𝓮
――――――――――

Philip. No commonly-used nicknames as of yet, and definitely does not go by—nor answer to—"Phil." One girlfriend did dub him "Prince Charming," and he was both amused and flattered, but didn't let it go to his head. The media has since picked up the moniker—and so has Alejandro.

𝓣𝓲𝓽𝓵𝓮
――――――――――

Crown prince and current heir to the throne, though his parents have some concerns—including a private worry that he'll abdicate before they can make up their minds.

𝓐𝓰𝓮
――――――――――

22

𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻
――――――――――

Male; he/him pronouns.

𝓢𝓮𝔁𝓾𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂
――――――――――

Bi. Neither out nor closeted; most people probably assume he’s straight because he’s had a handful of girlfriends. The only man he’s been with is Alejandro, and that is a secret.

𝓐𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
――――――――――

Brown-haired and freckleless, Phillip looks very little like his younger sister, Genevieve, but they do share the Anders family blue eyes. Phillip is pretty low-key about his appearance—always dressed for the occasion, but not very daring or experimental in his fashion choices. He likes to be comfortable while he’s out meeting people and seeing sights; his chosen uniform is a sweater and a fitted pair of jeans back home, a knit-and-leather jacket over a solid t-shirt while on the go. Hovering around six-foot-two, he’s lean and muscled in the way of someone who does a lot of walking, not someone who puts in a bunch of time at the gym. His most important accessory is an easygoing smile, which he wears just about everywhere.

𝓟𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂
――――――――――

Phillip is laid-back and friendly, a people person in the truest sense. He’s a good listener and likes putting people at their ease. He doesn’t abuse social media, but he’s very present on it, staying in touch with many friends and acquaintances from his travels. He’s an open book to Gen’s locked diary. Despite this, he values his privacy where it counts; you’re never going to hear him talking about family matters on the internet or engaging in public disputes or flirtations. Though he’s notoriously a friend to everyone, he values close, comfortable friendships the most.

𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 + 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼
――――――――――

Likes: travel; making new friends; seeing old friends; sending his sister presents; casual nights at the pub; occasional parties; being helpful; good-humored people
Dislikes: conflict; the Marisian tendency to isolate; humor at other people’s expense; anything too crass

𝓑𝓲𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓱𝔂
――――――――――

Phillip has a complicated relationship with his role as heir. He wants to see progress for his country. He doesn’t really want to be caught up in politics. He knows Genevieve as heir would be miserable. And he desperately wants to get her out of Maris, just for a little bit, to come into herself outside of the insular court they both grew up in.

Despite some of the conflict with his parents, Phillip had a largely untroubled childhood, and he still loves his home and his country. Some of his easygoing personality is likely due to the intermingling of classes he grew up with in the Marisian court.

He’s spent the last few years alternating between traveling for fun and diplomatic purposes.

𝓕𝓒 + 𝓒𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓻 𝓒𝓸𝓭𝓮
――――――――――

FC: Julien Sabaud; Color Code: Darkgoldenrod / #b8860b

𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓶𝓮 𝓢𝓸𝓷𝓰
――――――――――

"Must Have Been the Wind" - Alec Benjamin
_{Promise I'm not playing tricks on you
You're always welcome to come in
You could stay here for an hour or two
If you ever need a friend}

𝓑𝓮𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓭 𝓣𝓸
――――――――――

Princess Imani Kore

𝓞𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻
――――――――――

A few years ago, Phillip hooked up with Alejandro on a trip with mutual friends. Already good friends, they found that the physical intimacy only made them closer and have maintained a casual (though entirely private, largely at Alejandro’s request) relationship ever since. They’re friends-with-benefits with a strong emphasis on the friendship. What Genevieve has noticed, however, as one of the few people that knows about this arrangement, is this: Phillip has not dated or even properly flirted with anyone else since he and Ali started messing around behind closed doors…

The kiss that started it all.

Phillip’s Relations

Phillip Anders

{"A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else." —Len Wein }

⚜ Respects ~*~ ☯ Neutral ~*~ ☮ Friends ~*~ ♫ Best Friends ~*~ § Tense ~*~ ♥ Crush ~*~ ⚤ Significant Other ~*~ ☠ Enemies

“Imani’s had to adapt to so much so fast. She’s a little prickly, but so nice.”

♫
{betrothed}

Phillip met Imani when he visited Massylii, more for pleasure than diplomatic reasons. He had a lot of sympathy for her situation, being shoved into the limelight, and she reminded him of Gen with how little she wanted to be there. After a few low-pressure overtures, Phillip and Imani became friends. And then good friends. And then best friends.

And then Imani started receiving pressure from her family to form a betrothal, and Phillip hated seeing her in additional distress…and a proposal was made.

“Arabelle is the perfect hostess and the perfect guest. Just the kind of person you'd want at any party—classy, friendly, easy to talk to.”

☮

Phillip met Arabelle because of a diplomatic trip and found her to be good company. They've since met up at royal functions and, more casually, through get-togethers with Alejandro and/or Genevieve. Phillip's privately amused (and delighted) that the heirs to both Austerund and Arcenia attached to his younger sister. In another world, his family might have proposed a marriage alliance through Arabelle; in another world, he might have let them.

"Ali is a great friend and travel partner—even if he does like to lament over my ‘boring’ wardrobe. We hang out a lot and he’s one of my favorite people."

♫ ♥ ⚤

Alejandro is one of Phillip’s closest friends. They have been known to travel together and visit each other. Privately, they also hook up whenever they’re in the same city—a casual arrangement, as Alejandro likes it, but one with deep mutual affection. What Alejandro doesn’t know (or pretends not to) is that Phillip developed a crush very shortly after things got physical, and he’s not really interested in anyone else.

The Kingdom of Maris

Maris

A picture of the keep in wintertime, before the previous generation of Anderses renovated it. It has since been built-upon and expanded.

𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓭𝓸𝓶 𝓝𝓪𝓶𝓮
――――――――――

Maris (pronounced "MAH-riss," with a slight roll on the "r"); sometimes known (affectionately or derogatorily) as the "duchy of the sea," as the kingdom is quite small and isolated, relying mostly on the nearby ocean and trade with specific allies for resources.

𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓠𝓾𝓮𝓮𝓷
――――――――――

King Devlin and Queen Shanna (for whom her niece, Shannon, is named). Both rulers are known for their shared wisdom and desire to keep their heads down, politically speaking. (Their daughter comes by her shy reserve honestly, though they may come to regret allowing her to be quite so sheltered, especially in light of current events.)

𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓭𝓸𝓶 𝓒𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓼
――――――――――

Keeping their location in mind, the royal family has stuck to a palette of blues and grays—sometimes elevated by gold or silver—for generations.

𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓭𝓸𝓶 𝓲𝓼 𝓚𝓷𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓕𝓸𝓻
――――――――――

Maris is famous for its reserve and stalwart neutrality. Marisians are generally considered to be an odd people, so isolated and close to their court are they. Stereotypes might range anywhere from stuck-up to cowardly to almost backwards. Some might say they're stuck in the past, even though Maris is technically a "petty kingdom" that broke itself away from a tyrant's rule about three generations back and has fought to maintain their own identity ever since.

𝓡𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓽/𝓡𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓿𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓭𝓸𝓶 𝓗𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂
――――――――――

As mentioned above, Maris was once part of a larger kingdom—conscripted into scuffles the people did not want to fight and finding their cliffside fortress used for tactical advantage. "Mad Prince Harry," the cause for most of the dissent, is still spoken off only in disgusted whispers, and the name "Harry" has long been out of fashion for this reason. Marisians won their independence largely by simply locking their doors and keeping out of the fray until Harry's reach eventually extended beyond his means, bringing his downfall. The remaining subjects are descendants of that first court to take a stand and the refugees that they took in during that time.

𝓞𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻
――――――――――

Possible expansion to the keep

Gen's Attendants (NPCs)

As has been mentioned before, the Marisian court is, in some ways, not so rigidly structured as in many other countries. For example, attendants are often chosen by the reigning royals and for some kind of political advantage, but both Genevieve and Phillip largely got to choose for themselves.

Natalie Stewart (19) - Genevieve's lady-in-waiting—an official companion, but also a combination of personal maid and live-in stylist. It's a position Natalie volunteered for, and which Gen accepted readily. The two are close friends.

Christopher Grace (21) - He's been trained as part of the royal guard, but Christopher is not actually Genevieve's personal bodyguard. He has the skills, and Gen wanted him to come, so her parents allowed it. (They might not have, did they know that Chris was also Gen's first kiss, even though the two have long since moved past that.) Like Natalie, Chris is the child of a noble family and one of Genevieve's closest friends.

When Royalty Collides

@HaleyTheRandom Thank you! :) I'll get him and Gen moved over to the character tab. Can't wait!

When Royalty Collides

Genevieve's big brother and my other character! Now ready for his close-up. :)

Phillip Anders

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do." -H. Jackson Brown Jr.

𝓝𝓪𝓶𝓮
――――――――――

Philip. No commonly-used nicknames as of yet, and definitely does not go by—nor answer to—"Phil." One girlfriend did dub him "Prince Charming," and he was both amused and flattered, but didn't let it go to his head. The media has since picked up the moniker—and so has Alejandro.

𝓣𝓲𝓽𝓵𝓮
――――――――――

Crown prince and current heir to the throne, though his parents have some concerns—including a private worry that he'll abdicate before they can make up their minds.

𝓐𝓰𝓮
――――――――――

22

𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻
――――――――――

Male; he/him pronouns.

𝓢𝓮𝔁𝓾𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂
――――――――――

Bi. Neither out nor closeted; most people probably assume he’s straight because he’s had a handful of girlfriends. The only man he’s been with is Alejandro, and that is a secret.

𝓐𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
――――――――――

Brown-haired and freckleless, Phillip looks very little like his younger sister, Genevieve, but they do share the Anders family blue eyes. Phillip is pretty low-key about his appearance—always dressed for the occasion, but not very daring or experimental in his fashion choices. He likes to be comfortable while he’s out meeting people and seeing sights; his chosen uniform is a sweater and a fitted pair of jeans back home, a knit-and-leather jacket over a solid t-shirt while on the go. Hovering around six-foot-two, he’s lean and muscled in the way of someone who does a lot of walking, not someone who puts in a bunch of time at the gym. His most important accessory is an easygoing smile, which he wears just about everywhere.

𝓟𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂
――――――――――

Phillip is laid-back and friendly, a people person in the truest sense. He’s a good listener and likes putting people at their ease. He doesn’t abuse social media, but he’s very present on it, staying in touch with many friends and acquaintances from his travels. He’s an open book to Gen’s locked diary. Despite this, he values his privacy where it counts; you’re never going to hear him talking about family matters on the internet or engaging in public disputes or flirtations. Though he’s notoriously a friend to everyone, he values close, comfortable friendships the most.

𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 + 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼
――――――――――

Likes: travel; making new friends; seeing old friends; sending his sister presents; casual nights at the pub; occasional parties; being helpful; good-humored people
Dislikes: conflict; the Marisian tendency to isolate; humor at other people’s expense; anything too crass

𝓑𝓲𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓱𝔂
――――――――――

Phillip has a complicated relationship with his role as heir. He wants to see progress for his country. He doesn’t really want to be caught up in politics. He knows Genevieve as heir would be miserable. And he desperately wants to get her out of Maris, just for a little bit, to come into herself outside of the insular court they both grew up in.

Despite some of the conflict with his parents, Phillip had a largely untroubled childhood, and he still loves his home and his country. Some of his easygoing personality is likely due to the intermingling of classes he grew up with in the Marisian court.

He’s spent the last few years alternating between traveling for fun and diplomatic purposes.

𝓕𝓒 + 𝓒𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓻 𝓒𝓸𝓭𝓮
――――――――――

FC: Julien Sabaud; Color Code: Darkgoldenrod

𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓶𝓮 𝓢𝓸𝓷𝓰
――――――――――

"Must Have Been the Wind" - Alec Benjamin
_{Promise I'm not playing tricks on you
You're always welcome to come in
You could stay here for an hour or two
If you ever need a friend}

𝓑𝓮𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓭 𝓣𝓸
――――――――――

TBD

𝓞𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻
――――――――――

A few years ago, Phillip hooked up with Alejandro on a trip with mutual friends. Already good friends, they found that the physical intimacy only made them closer and have maintained a casual (though entirely private, largely at Alejandro’s request) relationship ever since. They’re friends-with-benefits with a strong emphasis on the friendship. What Genevieve has noticed, however, as one of the few people that knows about this arrangement, is this: Phillip has not dated or even properly flirted with anyone else since he and Ali started messing around behind closed doors…

The kiss that started it all.