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SALTBURNT | AU.
May. 25th, 2025 08:45 pmALICENT HIGHTOWER
wid.STRONG
STEWARDESS of SALTBURNT
- A childhood friend of Portia's, much to everyone's surprise. Alicent has taken up her father’s former role as Stewardess of the House. Everyone knows she's the reason Saltburnt has never made the news. Instead, Alicent facilitates tasteful whispers of scandal in the circles where rumors trade like gold. Nothing too sticky, despite how often her staff turn the rooms.
The guests really ought to stay on her good side, if they'd like to keep it that way.
BACKSTORY:
Alicent has known Jonty and Portia since she was a girl. Her father Otto was the House Steward back then, and it was altogether charming of Portia to make time for his poor daughter, wasn't it? Even going so far as to room with her at university. All the better to bring a shy little thing out of her shell. She wasn't quite up to snuff, however, even after slotting neatly into their wider friend group — until Larys Strong took a fancy to her. A minor Lord, she knows now that he was looking for a way into their circle, and he found it easily.
Over the years, she became particularly close with Rupert Giles and was a bridesmaid at his wedding to Joyce Summers. Her own nuptials were a smaller affair. In the wake of them, she pulled further away from her childhood companions, though she found joy in raising her son Jace and succeeding her father when he passed.
A most tragic accident befell the late Lord Larys, only the last in a string of misfortunes for his family. His elder brother and father died in a fire years prior, eradicating his family entirely — apart from Alicent and dear Jace, of course.
Despite her now modest inheritance, Alicent relishes her work at the estate. She couldn't possibly retire, when there's so much still to be done for her oldest friends. And the House would fall apart without her, wouldn't it?
Over the years, she became particularly close with Rupert Giles and was a bridesmaid at his wedding to Joyce Summers. Her own nuptials were a smaller affair. In the wake of them, she pulled further away from her childhood companions, though she found joy in raising her son Jace and succeeding her father when he passed.
A most tragic accident befell the late Lord Larys, only the last in a string of misfortunes for his family. His elder brother and father died in a fire years prior, eradicating his family entirely — apart from Alicent and dear Jace, of course.
Despite her now modest inheritance, Alicent relishes her work at the estate. She couldn't possibly retire, when there's so much still to be done for her oldest friends. And the House would fall apart without her, wouldn't it?
RUMORS:
👑 The known factor to Silco's mystery. She vouched for him, though the content of her recommendation remains confidential.
👑 One of the oldest maids in the House once mentioned how close she and Portia were, in their girlhood. She announced her retirement later that day.
👑 There's no scandal too great for her to manage, perhaps because she also inherited her late husband's vast network of business contacts. When she calls, Westminster knows better than to make a fuss over spilt tea (or lukewarm bodies).
👑 Rumor has it Alicent and Rupert Giles had an affair in their youth. Alicent herself has never acknowledged it, though it's obvious Rupert still carries a torch for "Allie" — and if she's been wearing her hair down since he arrived, well, that's her business.
👑 The valets claim Richard Gecko only comes when she calls.
👑 For as long as she's been around, few people seem to truly know her. A particularly troublesome, repeat guest once managed to pick her least favourite flowers, in an attempt to smooth over his transgressions. She told him, "Save those sickly yellow roses for your ailing wife."
👑 They say she never takes guests to bed, but she always takes Silco to tea.
👑 Henry Wright is said to have gifted her more diamonds than even the Crown possesses. And Alicent does sport a glittering tennis bracelet, never worn during her marriage.
👑 She's been spotted at both ends of the manor at the same time, or close to it, at least. All the better to mind you, my dears.
👑 A source close to the Balfour family claims she had a recent tiff with Portia that ended in a stalemate. "She said she'd retire when Portia got sober, so obviously that's never happening."
👑 She once traipsed across the snowy grounds in heels to talk a wailing girl back into the House. No one knows who the girl was, or what happened to her after that.
👑 She never lights her own cigarettes. You'll have to queue for the privilege.
👑 A socialite claims to have seen her at one of Embry Moore-Colchester's infamous sex parties. "She billed the poor thing for the mess he made of her heels and the carpet."
👑 No matter how busy the estate is, Louis de Pointe du Lac always gets the best room. Mistress' orders.
👑 One of the oldest maids in the House once mentioned how close she and Portia were, in their girlhood. She announced her retirement later that day.
👑 There's no scandal too great for her to manage, perhaps because she also inherited her late husband's vast network of business contacts. When she calls, Westminster knows better than to make a fuss over spilt tea (or lukewarm bodies).
👑 Rumor has it Alicent and Rupert Giles had an affair in their youth. Alicent herself has never acknowledged it, though it's obvious Rupert still carries a torch for "Allie" — and if she's been wearing her hair down since he arrived, well, that's her business.
👑 The valets claim Richard Gecko only comes when she calls.
👑 For as long as she's been around, few people seem to truly know her. A particularly troublesome, repeat guest once managed to pick her least favourite flowers, in an attempt to smooth over his transgressions. She told him, "Save those sickly yellow roses for your ailing wife."
👑 They say she never takes guests to bed, but she always takes Silco to tea.
👑 Henry Wright is said to have gifted her more diamonds than even the Crown possesses. And Alicent does sport a glittering tennis bracelet, never worn during her marriage.
👑 She's been spotted at both ends of the manor at the same time, or close to it, at least. All the better to mind you, my dears.
👑 A source close to the Balfour family claims she had a recent tiff with Portia that ended in a stalemate. "She said she'd retire when Portia got sober, so obviously that's never happening."
👑 She once traipsed across the snowy grounds in heels to talk a wailing girl back into the House. No one knows who the girl was, or what happened to her after that.
👑 She never lights her own cigarettes. You'll have to queue for the privilege.
👑 A socialite claims to have seen her at one of Embry Moore-Colchester's infamous sex parties. "She billed the poor thing for the mess he made of her heels and the carpet."
👑 No matter how busy the estate is, Louis de Pointe du Lac always gets the best room. Mistress' orders.
IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS:
PORTIA BALFOUR — the ex best friend, current boss.
JACE HIGHTOWER-STRONG — family, the beloved (and only) son.
SILCO — staff, the work husband and confidant.
RUPERT GILES — guest, the one that got away.
RICHARD GECKO — not staff, but he's on the payroll. the on again, off again.
EMBRY MOORE-COLCHESTER — guest, the sex pest.
HENRY WRIGHT — guest, the pest full stop.
LOUIS DE POINTE DU LAC — guest, the favourite.
ALIA ATREIDES — guest, the brat.
NATALIE SCATTORCCIO — staff, the work-in-progress,
RILEY FINN — staff, the muscle, on Giles' recommendation.
JACE HIGHTOWER-STRONG — family, the beloved (and only) son.
SILCO — staff, the work husband and confidant.
RUPERT GILES — guest, the one that got away.
RICHARD GECKO — not staff, but he's on the payroll. the on again, off again.
EMBRY MOORE-COLCHESTER — guest, the sex pest.
HENRY WRIGHT — guest, the pest full stop.
LOUIS DE POINTE DU LAC — guest, the favourite.
ALIA ATREIDES — guest, the brat.
NATALIE SCATTORCCIO — staff, the work-in-progress,
RILEY FINN — staff, the muscle, on Giles' recommendation.
OTHER NOTES:
👑 Both her and her father have accents that aren't quite right. Rough edges sanded down, perhaps.
VISUALS:
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