hypnotichaze

[hypnotichaze]

Being on the outskirts of society allowed Bahar to watch and observe the nobility of the ton without worrying what it might do to her. After all, how much lower could she sink in their eyes. All that mattered was if she had a roof over her head and a full belly. She had managed to take more than they ever gave her, but she still was sometimes at the mercy of them when it came to her passion: dancing. Without them, she could not perform and that would be a worse fate than death.

"That would be me," she smiled at the Lord, "is there something I can help you with?" She smoothed out the tutu that adorned her waist as she readied herself for the performance. Whether it was on the arm of some wealthy patron or on the ballroom floor, twirling about, she managed to be invited to every event.

Who: @hypnotichaze for one, Miss Bahar Talbot Where: Inside the house, time before performances

Atticus made it a point to thank each and every person who made this event possible. Not just their own staff, but anyone who even moved a plant was likely to get a handshake, a nod, something of genuine pleasure. Something instilled in him from his father. It made the mark of a true gentleman and Atticus enjoyed it, strangely. It meant he could meet them all, know their names, so on- sure. He also enjoyed it for it meant seeing people who were not the same faces and names he had come to become a little too familiar with.

"I hope I am not bothering you-" Atticus opened up the door after knocking, hearing confirmation that he was to enter. "I was looking for a Miss Bahar Talbot. Would that be you per chance?"

[hypnotichaze]

𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐉𝐀𝐈𝐙𝐀𝐍𝐈 as 𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄 𝐃𝐄 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓

Versailles. Episode 9, Season 3.

[hypnotichaze]

Some nights, Bahar ended up at the inn to watch those who came and go. Often it was her that was watched: whether it was her dancing on stage at the royal opera house or on the arms of some wealthy patron. She often heard the whispers about her, but did her best to ignore them. Sometimes, she needed a respite, so she sat with her glass of wine admiring strangers. It was easier to be on this side of the murmurs.

Chuckling softly, “I do not believe she has gone into retirement,” Bahar mused, “I think this retreat has been to whet our appetites for more.” The Tom could not help themselves: if there were no more Lady Whistledown, she was sure that another would come to take their place. Grinning, “as a performer, there are no shortages of gossip,” every woman in the ballet company would whisper about the others in the ton. Rumors easily spread at the opera house.

“I do not think that she has disappeared into the shadows or put her pen down for good,” she sighed, always worried that her secrets may come to light next. "Of course, I'm like every other person in the ton, curious to see what juicy scandal she is writing about this week." She had worked so hard to rise above the odds to where she landed and she did not want her ballet career ruined. “Sounds like you’re anxious to read the next scandal sheet. Are you hoping for a mention?"

open starter // the silver latern inn

Edward leaned casually against the polished mahogany counter of the Silver Lantern’s tavern, a glass of dark brandy cradled between his fingers as he studied his guest. The fire crackled in the hearth behind him, casting a soft, amber glow across the room, but it was the glint of mischief in his eyes that truly illuminated the space. A charming smile played on his lips, the sort that suggested he was already several steps ahead in whatever game was unfolding. The inn was quiet this evening—too quiet for his restless nature—but that was the beauty of a well-run establishment like the Silver Lantern. It didn’t cater to the boisterous crowds of lesser taverns, but to the ones who liked a quieter drink, a discreet conversation, and perhaps, the occasional secret shared in the shadows.

The patron before him had only just entered, and Edward found himself bored and ready to find his own entertainment for the evening. “So, how are we feeling, then, without the latest dirt on London’s finest? Doesn’t seem quite right, does it? One moment, there’s a whisper in every corner of the city, and the next…” He let the words hang in the air as he tapped the rim of his glass, watching his guest’s reaction carefully. “You must be starving for some juicy tidbit to chew on,” Edward added with a smile that was half mischievous, half sympathetic. “A bit lost, perhaps, without the ever-reliable Lady Whistledown to serve as your source of entertainment.” He leaned a little closer, the flickering fire casting shadows over his roguish features, eyes twinkling as if he were already planning his next move. “So, what do you think, then? Is London’s pulse truly quiet, or is it just a matter of time before someone else picks up the pen?”

[hypnotichaze]

icons of Maddison Jaizani in Versailles (s2) as Sophie de Clermont [x]

[hypnotichaze]

Bahar politely bowed and nodded to every Lord and Lady that she was introduced to by the man on her arm. Her date for the morning festivities. It was all under the guise of earning patronage from those most affluent in their society, but it was more so to elevate his own appearance. Having a beautiful woman of the arts on his arm would do more for his reputation than hers. He had demanded her payment on the carriage ride to the matinee. Bahar knew nothing this Lord was doing was out of the goodness of his own heart.

Everything she had done was to survive the horrors of her life and to care for the one thing that kept her soul alive: ballet. Every horrific thing that had happen to her would have been worth it if she could continue to dance in happiness. She would take care of any patron in anyway. who would give her enough to continue to dance upon that stage. Although she heard whispers from the ladies of the ton, no lord would dare say they recognized her in fear of losing their own livelihood.

All morning, everything had gone perfectly from promises of others to support her, becoming patrons to no one directly cursing her to her face. In her mind, that was a celebration in it of itself. Until her eyes found a familiar face.

Teddy.

Or Theodore as he was formally introduced to her that night he had arrived with the men he served in the war with. Despite her attentions being fragmented to please every paying customer, she couldn't help but return to his attention the entire night. He was nothing but saccharine to her, a drunken smile adorned his face all night and when his friends paid for the rest of her night to be spent with him. None of them concealed Teddy's inexperience to her and hoped that she could make a man out of him and she did.

Their night spent together had been wonderful and memorable, if only for his kindness to her. Most men who bought her time used her as much as they could, for every selfish desire they could have fulfilled. Bahar had numbed herself to every semblance of love because in her profession, there would be none of it. However, if there was a man she could have loved, Teddy had been her best bed. She knew better than that.

There was softness between the two that she cherished, even now she remembered their entire night together. Bahar guided him through everything patiently, teaching him gently and as their night progressed, passion took ahold of both of them. It was the first time in a long time that she felt something as wonderful at him. The daylight was jarring and it reminded her that everything that she loved about their would surely change under the sun.

Now, as he stood before her, remembering her name with that same glint in his eye that he had when they first met . She lost all thought as he greeted her and curtsied.

Offering him a smile, "I would love to, if Lord Fitzwilliam allows it of course," she turned towards the Lord that had brought her to the matinee.

closed starter for : @hypnotichaze location : thorpe manor ; the musings of spring matinee

Teddy always enjoyed a gathering — no matter the occasion. He’d throw a party for the sun simply for rising each morning if he could. His laughter bellowed across the garden as he sneakily poured whiskey into his tea cup, offering some to those who surrounded him. Teddy Alwyn was quite the romantic and had folded up a few poems in his suit pocket to choose to read from, hoping he’d find a muse to dedicate a reading to. So far, no such luck — until his gaze found captivating brown eyes, brown eyes that he was certain he’d swam in before.

Knees nearly buckling as a dizzied grin played on his lips, Teddy could hardly believe it. It’d only been one night they’d shared months ago, but she remained etched in his memory — every coy smile, every curve, every melodious giggle. She’d taken him to a place he’d never been before, turned him into a man — as his friends had jested. But she was more than that to him. Soft touches and gentle, careful kisses — at least on Teddy’s end — had turned into heated passion as she guided him through it. And the cycle repeated itself over and over again until the morning came. Teddy had begged her to let him hold her, keep her warm and safe, and rescue her from the life she was living — but she’d left him with an apologetic smile on her lips. Teddy, perhaps naively, believed he was in love with her.

Bahar.

He could still hear himself moaning her name and then pleading her name, begging her to stay.

Bahar was mere yards away from him. But the young woman who still had a hold on his heart was walking arm-in-arm with a stuffy looking lord, who Teddy didn’t care to know the name of — his heart sunk.

Teddy wasn’t going to let Bahar slip away from him again, so he set down his spirited teacup and walked towards her, a lopsided grin on his lips. Despite the fact that his heart was pounding in his chest, he maintained his carefree composure.

“Miss Talbot,” he bowed his head as he greeted her — but his giddy smile betrayed any semblance of the formalities he’d been trying to uphold, “Might I interest you in a turn around the gardens?”

[hypnotichaze]

— 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥

CHARACTER BASICS

full name: bahar talbot

nicknames: bahar

gender: cis woman

pronouns: she/her

sexuality: bisexual

age: twenty six

date of birth: october 13

zodiac sign: libra

height: 5'6"

eyes: chocolate brown in color, almond in shape

hair: chestnut brown

faceclaim: maddison jaizani

CHARACTER BIOGRAPHY (tw: sex work)

Bahar was taught that luxury was the most important thing that she could have and it was the only thing she should strive for. Her father, a lesser lord with more wealth can he could imagine, was fickle with his money. A habit that would follow him into the war to cause him to lose every dime he had earned in his lifetime and with a debt that would follow him forever.

Bahar, needed to care for her family in the way that she was taught became a brothel worker, using her charm and looks to earn favors and money from patrons desperate for affection. Thinking that this could solve her family's problems, came to her father with everything she earned, but instead of thankful blessings from her father, he cast her aside, disowning Bahar and leaving her to fend for herself.

Instead of crumbling underneath the sorrow, she continued to work as a brothel worker and used every pound she earned to save to get her out of the situation she felt her father had put her in. She had eventually earned enough to leave that life behind, or so she thought. A passion of her youth, ballet, had been a dream of hers since she could remember and made her way to the royal opera house. However, the only way to keep her lifestyle was to find patronage from the wealthy lords of the ton who expected more than just a dance to support her career.

She had found herself in the same place as when she first started her journey. Now, her father, who has fallen well below the accepted social standards has returned to blackmail her for money. Despite acting as if she is part of high society, beneath it all she is the same poor girl desperate for saving.

[hypnotichaze]

VERSAILLES  S01E08 ( 2015 )