our lady of tears. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
unapparent) wrote2025-06-01 10:10 am
unapparent) wrote2025-06-01 10:10 am
Entry tags:
SALTBURNT AU | INBOX.
WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK
USERNAMe
@stewardess
text đź‘‘ audio đź‘‘ video
WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK
USERNAMe
@stewardess
text đź‘‘ audio đź‘‘ video
[ Left by Alicent's door sometime during the month, a note with no name attached: ]
Then again, maybe it's already with the person it's meant for. ]
HATE TO BOTHER YOU WITH SOMETHING SO TRIVIAL AS LOST AND FOUND, PRETTY GIRL, BUT THIS RING'S MISSING AN OWNER.[ And, accompanying it, a ring — delicate flowers of gold formed into a band. As the month progresses, it becomes clear that it doesn't actually belong to anyone here.
Then again, maybe it's already with the person it's meant for. ]
Edited 2025-06-01 18:25 (UTC)
Let me know if you're in need of any help.
[ It’s the sort of message that she would have found annoying, if it had been signed. That pretty girl, a reductive assessment, if not for being tucked inside a more thoughtful consideration of her time. (And the care to return a ring when all the guests can afford finer replacements.)
She turns the ring over in her palm and finds herself reluctant to return it to its owner — whoever she may be. For once, she doesn’t even text Silco about the find, instead tucking it inside her vanity drawer. ]
She turns the ring over in her palm and finds herself reluctant to return it to its owner — whoever she may be. For once, she doesn’t even text Silco about the find, instead tucking it inside her vanity drawer. ]
Thank you.
Though I imagine you’ll have your hands full with your darling charge.
[ lmao ]
And your possible date?
[ she twigged the auction. ]
Though I imagine you’ll have your hands full with your darling charge.
[ lmao ]
And your possible date?
[ she twigged the auction. ]
[ A trembling maid returns Alicent’s invitation to Embry’s rooms. No note, but she includes a business card for the head of the Balfours’ historical trust, dedicated to preserving the house and the grounds.
A donation will be expected, before the month is out. ]
A donation will be expected, before the month is out. ]
( he messaged the colchesters privately. called greer accidentally privately. his nonexistent antennae go up.
he glances up at one of the video cameras in the room. they were all conversations and not even in person... )
She's not a layup, that's for sure.
( not to sleep with, dear alicent, but to keep track of. his shift yesterday lasted twelve freaking hours. but she knows all about buffy. was it her idea for giles to bring him along?
as for the date. he treads lightly. )
And who's my possible date?
he glances up at one of the video cameras in the room. they were all conversations and not even in person... )
She's not a layup, that's for sure.
( not to sleep with, dear alicent, but to keep track of. his shift yesterday lasted twelve freaking hours. but she knows all about buffy. was it her idea for giles to bring him along?
as for the date. he treads lightly. )
And who's my possible date?
[ it amuses her a little, how careful riley is with her, thinking her far more clever and machiavellian than she is. he isn’t alone in that — most people think her a dangerous, slippery thing.
they don’t understand why she serves. perhaps they never will. ]
The highest bidder.
You’re up for auction, my darling boy.
Or didn’t you know?
they don’t understand why she serves. perhaps they never will. ]
The highest bidder.
You’re up for auction, my darling boy.
Or didn’t you know?
Edited 2025-06-02 18:05 (UTC)
[ okay, audacity.
sent in the same envelope — the invitation once more, though this time accompanied by a fat check in the sum of $500,000 made to the balfours’ historical trust, not from the white house but from embry’s personal account. on the back of the invitation, in his loping handwriting: ]
sent in the same envelope — the invitation once more, though this time accompanied by a fat check in the sum of $500,000 made to the balfours’ historical trust, not from the white house but from embry’s personal account. on the back of the invitation, in his loping handwriting: ]
Have you decided what you’re going to wear yet? It’s making it hard to pick out your jewelry.
Embry
( he leads his life in deference to a cause. first, his country. then, his clients. now, to the purse strings. maybe he's wrong in thinking they might constitute as friends. no, she is still his employer and referred him to one of his hardest assignments to date. and he extracted a detained reporter in Kosovo.
What does he have to offer, anyway? )
I know you want me to have more fun, but I assure you this isn't my idea of it. I'm working this summer, Alicent, thanks to you.
( this is not very on brand for her... )
Why me, anyway?
What does he have to offer, anyway? )
I know you want me to have more fun, but I assure you this isn't my idea of it. I'm working this summer, Alicent, thanks to you.
( this is not very on brand for her... )
Why me, anyway?
( Normally, he sends her a voice note instead of a text but the last few weeks have been busy with exams and then the short trip to Majorca just keeps getting extended, he'd met the sort of people who'd be really good for Saltburnt if he can charm them into paying a visit to the estate.
Let no one say that Alicent Hightower-Strong didn't raise a hard worker. ) Would you be horribly cross with me if I can't make it home for two more weeks?
( The question is genuine but the premise is a lie. Jacaerys is already on his way to the grounds, driving the all too familiar road that leads to an all too familiar manor. He's a week early, in fact. )
Let no one say that Alicent Hightower-Strong didn't raise a hard worker. ) Would you be horribly cross with me if I can't make it home for two more weeks?
( The question is genuine but the premise is a lie. Jacaerys is already on his way to the grounds, driving the all too familiar road that leads to an all too familiar manor. He's a week early, in fact. )
[ the cheque clears.
alicent answers him the same way: invitation and envelope returned, a formal acknowledgment letter tucked alongside their exchange. from the foundation, obviously, stating they’ve recorded his donation in their database and will keep him informed of its impact. no takebacks.
underneath his note: ]
A nightgown. Perhaps an eyemask, in preparation for my assessment of the ballroom on the morning of the 15th.
alicent answers him the same way: invitation and envelope returned, a formal acknowledgment letter tucked alongside their exchange. from the foundation, obviously, stating they’ve recorded his donation in their database and will keep him informed of its impact. no takebacks.
underneath his note: ]
A nightgown. Perhaps an eyemask, in preparation for my assessment of the ballroom on the morning of the 15th.
And how would your pleasure or displeasure benefit the House?
[ as callous as it seems, his “fun” concerns her far less than his utility. ]
I haven’t a thing to do with your stepping onto the plinth and flexing those muscles, though I’m sure you’ll raise a fine sum for charity.
Why you, indeed?
[ she immediately has a theory, given the few who stand to benefit from his split attention, but there’s no fun in spoonfeeding the young. ]
[ as callous as it seems, his “fun” concerns her far less than his utility. ]
I haven’t a thing to do with your stepping onto the plinth and flexing those muscles, though I’m sure you’ll raise a fine sum for charity.
Why you, indeed?
[ she immediately has a theory, given the few who stand to benefit from his split attention, but there’s no fun in spoonfeeding the young. ]
You tell me.
( Doesn't he serve at the pleasure of the house? Technically? If not its' stewardess. )
Thanks for the heads up.
( It has Buffy written all over it. He has no doubt the kind of specimen he is. Nor the distraction this could create. But, he's not about to disrupt the ecosystem of this house, as much of it as he understands. )
( Doesn't he serve at the pleasure of the house? Technically? If not its' stewardess. )
Thanks for the heads up.
( It has Buffy written all over it. He has no doubt the kind of specimen he is. Nor the distraction this could create. But, he's not about to disrupt the ecosystem of this house, as much of it as he understands. )
Edited (don't look at me) 2025-06-03 16:17 (UTC)
[ A long pause. ]
That’s quite a delay.
[ Trying not to be Cross or Disappointed. ]
You couldn’t get it down to a week?
That’s quite a delay.
[ Trying not to be Cross or Disappointed. ]
You couldn’t get it down to a week?
Now, now, you’re cleverer than all that.
Would you like me to outbid the competition?
[ a sincere offer, though it’s not entirely appropriate, is it. ]
Would you like me to outbid the competition?
[ a sincere offer, though it’s not entirely appropriate, is it. ]
I can handle a little competition.
( Selfishly, there are a few people in this house he'd hope would bid on him. And people he wouldn't. )
Anyone who wants to bid can bid. It's for a good cause, right?
( Selfishly, there are a few people in this house he'd hope would bid on him. And people he wouldn't. )
Anyone who wants to bid can bid. It's for a good cause, right?
So it is.
Still, I’ll intervene if any troublemakers put their money where their silver-spoonfed mouths are.
There are some things even staff needn’t offer.
Still, I’ll intervene if any troublemakers put their money where their silver-spoonfed mouths are.
There are some things even staff needn’t offer.
Instincts say I can hold my own, but I'd like to see that if it comes down to it. Can't hold money in a chokehold.
They wanted me here for another three :(
I’ll make it up to you when I’m there.
( By absconding her for dinner later by first, but before that with a well time delivery of two dozen pink roses in her rooms. Timed when she slips away from her duties for the early afternoon. )
Is anything interesting happening? ( Is there anyone he needs to work his way close to to keep an eye on? )
I’ll make it up to you when I’m there.
( By absconding her for dinner later by first, but before that with a well time delivery of two dozen pink roses in her rooms. Timed when she slips away from her duties for the early afternoon. )
Is anything interesting happening? ( Is there anyone he needs to work his way close to to keep an eye on? )
Edited (upping the momsonning ) 2025-06-03 22:57 (UTC)
Darling, I don’t even need to lay hands on a man to put the fear of god in him.
But if you ask nicely, I’ll consider it.
But if you ask nicely, I’ll consider it.
If I need it, I'll ask nicely.
I'd like to come out of this summer not needing a lawyer.
I'd like to come out of this summer not needing a lawyer.
I see.
I suppose there’s nothing to be done.
[ when she raised a boy as dutiful as she is. ]
It’s busier than usual.
Mr. Wright’s back. [ a suitor she regards most warily. ] Rupert and his darling Buffy, after so long away. The Atreides siblings. A banner summer.
I suppose there’s nothing to be done.
[ when she raised a boy as dutiful as she is. ]
It’s busier than usual.
Mr. Wright’s back. [ a suitor she regards most warily. ] Rupert and his darling Buffy, after so long away. The Atreides siblings. A banner summer.
( Wow. Why does he feel guilty even though he's not actually showing up so late??? )
Can't you put Mr. Wright in a room by the summer garden remodel? ( Furthest away from her rooms and where Jace can keep an eye out on him. Also a room where he'll be driven to leave given the noise. ) And the Atredides siblings? How fortunate for us.
( No comment regarding Rupert Giles 🔪 ) I heard that Clarisse will be coming for the summer months.
( Speaking of exes. But how many royals and American politicians can they house under the Saltburnt roof before the scandals overtake. )
Can't you put Mr. Wright in a room by the summer garden remodel? ( Furthest away from her rooms and where Jace can keep an eye out on him. Also a room where he'll be driven to leave given the noise. ) And the Atredides siblings? How fortunate for us.
( No comment regarding Rupert Giles 🔪 ) I heard that Clarisse will be coming for the summer months.
( Speaking of exes. But how many royals and American politicians can they house under the Saltburnt roof before the scandals overtake. )
I’m sure you will.
[ ask ever so nicely. ]
Do tell me if anyone requires extra attention.
[ here meaning scrutiny, so oft followed by clean up. ]
[ ask ever so nicely. ]
Do tell me if anyone requires extra attention.
[ here meaning scrutiny, so oft followed by clean up. ]
Edited 2025-06-05 12:30 (UTC)
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