𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 | BREIZH, ARMORICA 2008
❧ happy birthday, beloved friend @armoricaroyalty ! this post is so late, but it's done, and i'm happy to share it. i'll save the huge mushy note and just say i'm so grateful to have spent all this time building the best expanded crossover universe ever, to which "collabs" doesn't do justice—that, plus all the friendship stuff, too :^)
❛ Elise, in a restaurant she had never been to, wearing a dress she had never worn, waiting for someone she hadn’t seen in years, was uncomfortable. She maintained a good façade, however. Pretending her confidence was unshaken had become a skill. The doubt crept in as she pushed herself into ill-fitting molds—ones that, even after all this time, she couldn’t break herself enough to suit. At her best, she didn’t want to. The pressure got to her other times. She had felt it like an unwanted touch as she stood in front of a mirror and regarded the assistant who dressed her with wary eyes. Before instructing them to pull a dress to pair with heels and jewelry, she had swallowed her pride. She could imagine, even if she didn’t know what Leonor may wear to a luncheon, how it would feel to sit across from her. She wanted to be secure and able to enjoy herself, and the price was this particular kind of discomfort.
𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 & 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭 ↓
Yet, once they embraced and began to talk, it dissipated. They had both changed over the years, although Leonor especially. She wasn’t the round-faced young woman—just a girl, really, barely out of her teenage awkwardness—Elise remembered. Still, they were transported from their table for two and back to the summer house. Some of the memories were still fond ones. They had talked and laughed many times before, whether as they had breakfast in the kitchen or as they watched Roz carefully collect shells on the beach. Leonor remembered the good times, too. Though this was the first time she requested to meet, Elise had received bouquets on the occasions she was in Armorica, either on her own diplomatic business or accompanying her husband. She knew Elise liked white roses. The note, always a thick card from Breizh’s premier florist, would bear only a signature.
She hadn’t needed Leonor to say anything, but it meant something now that she did.
TRANSCRIPT:
{Indistinct conversation, light music}
[S] May I bring you something else while you wait, Your Majesty?
[E] “Ma’am,” please. And, no, thank you. I think that’s her now.
[L] What a treat!
[E] How long has it been? Almost a decade?
[L] Since the wedding.
[E] So, tell me everything. How are you?
[L] {Exhales heavily}
[L] I haven’t slept more than five hours in as many years, and I can count the days off on my hands, but I love every minute of it.
[E] It must be interesting work then.
[R] Rarely boring.
[E] I enjoy having so much time with my children, really, but … I do wish I had more time for the kinds of things you do.
[L] “Armorica’s Mother of the Year, Every Year.” Modiste.
[E] Women can have it all now, can’t they?
[L] They can. You can. You’re a queen, Elise. You can have whatever you want.
[E] It’s not that simple.
[L] It is.
[E] There are expectations, and other people are involved in—
[L] I’m sorry, Elise, but I know you. You’re confident, capable, and very smart. You should be able to do more than tote around babies and smile for family photos. It’s their loss if you can’t.
[E] I knew what I signed up for when I married in. I’m happy. Do I wish I could do more interesting and important work? Well, not that the children aren’t interesting and important, but…
[L] {Laughs} I know what you mean. And, you know—
[S] Ma’am? Your Highness? May I send your requests to the chef?
[E] Oh … We didn’t even look at the menu!
[S] It’s prix fixe today, but I have been instructed to assure you we can prepare anything you desire, within reason.
[E] I’ll have what she’s having.
[L] {Chuckles} To start, have Abelardo make us turkey stew. He’ll know which.
[S] | I’ll tell him, Your Highness.
[E] Now, I have to ask: how is it, having your own little one? She’s getting big now, right? What’s she like?
[L] {Laughs} She’s five—what is there to say?
[L] I stopped taking to her to work when the breastfeeding stopped … Three years ago? Dan and I try, but I’ve heard her call the nanny “mama” by accident more than I care to admit. We went to a dance recital before the trip. She already works so hard. It’s precious.
[E] Precious is right! Sounds like she takes after her mother.
[E] I remember when mine were that age. You know what Rosalind was like! Freddy? Completely different, and Jacques—
{Elise continues talking}
{Elise, talking}
[E] —and, of course, Roz being Roz, she told Freddy—
[L] I have a proposal for you.
[L] Dan and I were considering inviting you and Andre to dinner sometime this week. Do you think he would be interested?
[E] Um—dinner?
[L] I’d like to invite Roz, too.
[E] Well, I’m not sure. It is last minute, and they both have such full schedules all the time. I could suggest it to him and see, but—
[L] Elise, it’s fine.
[L] It was an idea. I can see them another time. I’m just pleased that you were available so last minute.
[E] I’m glad, too.
[L] I mean it, really. We haven’t had a proper conversation in a very long time, and I’m grateful you wanted to spend time with me.
[E] Thank you for asking me out. Usually it’s just the flowers.
[L] I respect and care for you, Elise.
[E] That’s very sweet …
[L] I always have, and I always will. I didn’t always show it—quite the opposite—but it’s important to me that you know that.
[E] I believe you. I do.
[L] Oh, do you smell that? Chili, achiote …
[E] Sounds spicy.
[L] {Snickers}
[L] I had an idea while we were splitting that poached pear.
[E] Did you?
[L] An interesting and important opportunity for you.
[E] Leonor…
[L] | Leave it all to me. I insist.
[E] Thank you.
[L] My pleasure.
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