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astrxls​:

every moment inside the ballroom was pure torture, aly no longer even trying to play the smiling teacher. she hated it here, and she hated the nobles she was forced to suck up to. leaving wasn’t really an option, but aly was determined anyway. “is it? what a pity.” she mused, an irritated smirk gracing her lips. of course they would lock easy escapes. “do you want to become my favorite person for the night? i don’t come with much, but i’d like to think it’s quite an honor.” she was a prickly bitch, but anyone who could help her leave was a person she’d like.

  ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ from all the attendees, isla found the ones that didn’t bother with fake pleasantries the most interesting ones. sadly, it was a little difficult to spot anyone like this amongst the crowd... seemed like everyone was playing their part in hopes to not offend the crown. so when someone who was so obviously irritated presented herself in front of her, she silently wondered about the reasons. without dwelling too much into this, isla offered a smile and a shrug. ❝ tempting offer, i must say. ❞ she says, a little teasingly as she pretends to think about it, though this doesn’t last long. ❝ what’s your purpose, though? to leave or to see what’s behind that door? whichever it is, i sure can help. ❞

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svnnymist​:

     ❥ ・。. — so maybe curiosity had gotten the best of her, maybe she wasn’t making smart choices at the moment, but she saw a chance in front and she was going to take it. as someone who grew up on the countryside, she would’ve never had much of a chance to be surrounded by such splendor in her life. only clinging onto the words that her patrons spoke of, trying to imagine chandeliers made of crystals shimmering with different colors and champagne flutes so shiny that one could see their own reflection in it as best as she could while sitting on her apartment floor, the room illuminated by the flickering of a single lamp. what started as a curious turn of a doorknob (only to find it locked), soon became a journey through the hallways, trying each door to see if one would finally open to uncover the ravishing splendors within. she already saw the chandeliers and the champagne flutes, she wanted to see more. 

only to have her mission come to a halt when she is caught, her eyes turning in the direction of the voice, hand lingering on the doorknob as a sigh on relief falls from her lips. 

“ oh, is- um, elina, it’s just you, ” she greets her old friend with an apologetic smile, the girl must be working right now and she was definitely interrupting with her antics, “ i, uh, i was just looking… it’s not everyday you get to walk around a castle, you know? you’re not gonna turn me in… are you? ” 

  ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ if isla had to list the highlights of the night, she’d mention a drunken noble making a fool out of himself, the gorgeous decorations in the ballroom and, last but not least, the expression on margo’s face when being caught red-handed. this has her chuckling, though this time is less of a mocking sound and more of a heartfelt laugh. ❝ yes. hello, margo. ❞ the harpy says, swirling the liquid in her cup as she listens to what the other says.

❝ it really isn’t. ❞ isla easily agrees with her friend. even though she’s able to explore the castle grounds ‘freely’ (so long she doesn’t get caught by those who don’t know about her endeavors with the crown), there’s always something new to discover, which is fascinating. she can only assume that being curious for the unknown is a shared feeling amongst those who don’t share the same liberties. had she been in margo’s situation, she’d honestly act the same.

❝ you must have little faith in me if you think i’d snitch on you. ❞ there’s nothing but jest in her words, simply looking to poke fun at the question made. ❝ but no, i won’t. it’s not like anybody’s going to be bothered anyway... though that door only leads to the courtyard. impressive, yeah. nonetheless, the view from one of the towers is even more breathtaking, if you ask me… and i just so happen to know how to get there. ❞

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at the castle, with @delrium​.

  ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀isla was on the move after being given a new assignment a couple of days prior. there was underlying discomfort as she approached the next target. he was a guard and the crown deemed necessary to be cautious about him, asking her to keep an eye on him. it didn’t quite sit well with the harpy how they would so blatantly suspect one of their own, one that has probably put his life in the line to protect their kingdom’s interests several times. however, she kept her concerns to herself. after all, she didn’t want them to question her loyalty. so she complies, carefully crafts a whole new persona and easily slips into a new role along with her new uniform; kaia clarke, a new member of the guard.

she spots him easily, all alone down the hall and, even though she’s certain it’s him, isla has to take a couple of minutes to assess his behaviour. the next moment, the harpy walks up to him, putting on a mask made of timidness with a hint of anxiety. isla has been tasked with pretending to be a new recruit and the order of her addition strictly commanded him to supervise her progress. isla wanted to take credit for it, but truth was that all the paperwork was taken care of by her contractor before putting the plan into motion. 

❝ theodore hwang? ❞ isla asked after making her presence known by clearing her throat. ❝ i’m kaia, the head guard told me to look for you. ❞

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Lily James in Sky Mobile’s Hello Possible Commercial 

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kazassin​:

There was no question that large events like these were not Kaz’s forte.  There was no promise of being comfortable, between the constant socializing and the inability for them to have their wings out, it was a doomed operation from the start.  However, it would look very bad for the master assassin to not show up to a ball while there was civil unrest - it would look as if there were already being unofficial measures being taken.  They hadn’t noticed Isla, however her voice caused Kaz to nearly jump out of their skin.

“Jesus,” he let out a soft huff of hair, casting the other harpy an incredulous look.  Of all the people in the castle, he supposed Isla was in the stack of those he disliked less that others.  They had similar personalities, tending to keep to themselves, so her offer caught him off guard.  “Why do you know which doors are and aren’t unlocked?”

  ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀it was a first for isla to see kaz so taken aback. from everyone she knows, she had assumed that the harpy would be one of the few she could not, under any circumstance, take by surprise. her smile stretches into a grin while she pushes herself off the wall. ❝ don’t look at me like that, it’s just me. ❞ it was sometimes easy to talk to kaz after learning of their similarities and they made her feel a little more comfortable compared to other people. she first answers his question with a shrug before she spoke again. ❝ i like being aware of the available exits at all times. you can say it’s part of the duty, but... why were you trying to leave? got anywhere more interesting to go to? ❞

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the bar where puck works at, with @mischicvous​.

 ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀for someone like isla, nights off happened once every blue moon. had she been any wiser, she’d do more productive things she couldn’t otherwise in this free time. however, such plans have never crossed her mind; she liked to waste and drink her nights away whenever the chance was given. that night she paid her regular visit to this particular bar, but something happened that made it all the more interesting. after the third drink, her bracelet (a cheap trinket she got from one of her many trips) had gone missing, but her expert eyes didn’t miss either the culprit nor the method used. all part of her job’s description. approaching the bartender, a grin shows in isla’s expression as she leans over the counter. 

❝ hey, you.❞ the harpy calls out rather loudly to catch the other’s attention. ❝ what do i have to do to get my bracelet back? ❞

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the grand ball, with @spiroslabyrinth​.​​​

 ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀isla could feel his eyes on her for a good part of the night. as stunning as her dress was or the effort she exerted in looking a little bit more presentable for the occasion, she knew neither of these were at fault for catching his attention. it comes from a prior encounter, one she had quite some difficulty getting out of without raising suspicion. running into spiros again after that was bound to happen, but isla hoped to have some more time to come up with a good narrative in order to convince him that she poses no threat. at least not to the crown. thus, isla keeps herself busy to avoid having that conversation with him, but the inevitable happens when she stops by the bar to get a drink and out of the corner of her eye she sees him getting closer. the harpy forces herself to smile as if she hasn’t done anything wrong (because technically she hasn’t) and turns around to greet him.

❝ why, hello there, spiros. ❞ she says before having a sip from her glass. ❝ another rough shift of babysitting all these people? ❞

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the grand ball, open. [ @solariarb​ ]

 ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀back against the wall, cup in her hand with some kind of liquor that burns her throat rather uncomfortably, but she’s not one to say no to a free drink. inquisitive eyes wander around the room, wondering how long until she’s able to leave the ostentatious event without coming across as either suspicious or, much worse, impolite. not that anyone was paying attention to her exactly; the royals, nobles and company were far too busy in their own world while onlookers such as herself stood by the sidelines. still, isla didn’t want to risk it. it’s then that a figure walks in front of her, seemingly determined to get to the door nearby. their intentions were clear, even the harpy could foresee them, and she couldn’t help the unladylike snort that escaped her when the door didn’t waver under their push. ❝ that one is locked, by the way. ❞ she says, amusement clear in her tone. ❝ but i know one that isn’t, do you want me to show you? ❞

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❛ lily james, cis female, she/her, 56 ✶ was that isla nightingale gracing the streets of alestria? i heard the aries’s order is the harpy, and rumor has it they are observant + secretive which must be why they are a spy. their allegiances are currently with the crown, but who knows how serious that is. ❜ lia . 26 . cst . she / her . [ @solariarb ]

stats

name: isla nightingale (it’s rare that she gives her full name) current alias: elina date of birth: april 5, 1965 (is around 56, but looks 32) sign: aries  gender: cisfemale orientation: bisexual birthplace: unspecified, was found somewhere in the northern mountains. hometown: alestria family: unknown, raised by an ex head guard of the castle. (earl nightingale)

story

a kid left to her own devices, one that never knew the warmth of a parental embrace and was forced to fend for herself in the rocky mountains. she has no recollection whatsoever on how she ended in such a place and her earliest memory, besides the aimless wandering on a hopeless land, was of the man who found her and took her to alestria. 

a simple guard, earl, sent to a mission to the northern mountains. it was an accident that he stumbled upon a little girl, one that seemed almost feral as she bared her teeth in a silent hiss. this should’ve been enough of a warning for him to continue his path, but had he done so, he would’ve missed how she seemed to control the shadows to conceal herself from any danger. it was all instinctual back then, and the guard immediately noticed the little to no control she had over this, but he knew of another harpy with a similar gift. all it takes is a moment for him to know that she’d be a great asset to the guard with the right upbringing.

asking for her name, all he got as an answer was a shrug and an “i dont have one”. he lowered his sword, raised his hands to not appear as a thread and promised her a better life if she decided to come along with him. it was an easy decision to make, after all, he was her one-way ticket out of the tundra to a promised land.

before returning to the palace, the guard made one last stop… somewhere in the outskirts of alestria where a small cabin could be found amidst the trees. it was a  place rumored to be abandoned, even haunted. truth was, a fae well over one hundred years lived there in secrecy and self-exile; her strong opinions against the crown earned her an awful reputation and she decided to make herself a home away from alestria. the guard knocked on her door and she easily understood the situation after a simple “you owe me one” and being briefed about what he saw in the mountains. 

bidding goodbyes, the next time the little girl saw the guard, she wasn’t so little anymore. 

she was able to learn more about herself and her abilities while living with evanora, her “mentor” (she never allowed the girl to regard her as a mother), but something about alestria always caught isla’s (name given by evanora) attention. from a young age, isla learnt to disguise herself in order to sneak out of the cabin and into the town. it’s not that evanora wasn’t aware of her little antics, but more so she knew that it’d be a good practice for what earl had in mind for her future. 

isla developed an affinity to observe and pay attention to others and despite the isolation, she intuitively understood how to move and convince people in order to accomplish something, mostly always getting free goods from the townspeople.

it was around sixteen when earl, once again, came knocking to their little cabin. now, he was the head guard and had plans for isla. the first one involved taking classes in the alestria academy. it was all part of a bigger scheme; he needed her to learn certain things for what he had envisioned. along with her regular classes, earl came up with a training plan for her to start immediately along with other soon-to-be guards.

much to earl’s content, isla had very much developed a set of skills that only needed to be honed. he noticed how easily she managed to connect with others and he never missed her wandering fingers with the affinity to take things that weren’t her own. he saw, too, her way with words and how, with a whispered nothing, she’d get anyone to do whatever she wanted or turn against their closest friend. isla knew how to manipulate the narrative in her favor and she did so in a way that the trust invested in her was never broken. 

graduation comes and isla thought she’d become a guard much like her peers… but earl had something else in mind. under his personal recommendation, she was sent to small missions, mostly to recollect information and keep tabs on people around alestria, which she fulfilled with ease: disguising herself within the shadows always came in handy. it started with merchants who earl suspected had shady dealings... until the day came that she was appointed to work for the royals as a spy when she turned twenty six. 

it’s only then that she becomes aware of how earl had a perfectly manufactured masterplan. the extra private classes she had to take on diplomacy, royal affairs and history, etiquette… everything made sense and, even though she’s not completely sure of her allegiance to the crown, she was satisfied to have a purpose. she finally found one. 

thirty years have passed since her very first official mission and even though earl passed away in a tragic fight, she remains committed and dutiful to her job; fulfilling any request the royals have for her. when she’s stagnant, she likes to take other miscellaneous jobs as a cover and, if asked, her story is ever changing. one day she can be marie, the daughter of some merchants from a faraway land and the next one she’s olivia, a widow of an honorable doctor. right now she goes by elina, a waitress somewhere in astra avenue waiting on her next assignment. 

personality

gifted at reading people, even those she’s just met, quickly assessing and mirroring their emotions, expressions and body language, granting her great insight into people and allowing her to establish rapport with them rather fast.

she’s direct and has an ability in calling out failures with a chilling degree of insensitivity, not shy about pointing out what could’ve been done better or being honest about what she sees. isla tends to be blunt and driven to get things done, becoming critical, brusque and hostile in the pursuit of her and the crown’s goals.

if there’s anything she loves, it’s a good challenge. she avoids being weak, vulnerable, controlled or manipulated, embodying the gifts of charisma and confidence. when the situation calls for it, isla has a tendency of becoming confrontational and has difficulty backing down or admitting defeat, pushing things to the edge.

emotional expression isn’t isla’s strong suit, she actually tends to distance from her emotions, especially in public. in her line of business, she thinks that such displays are displays of weakness. she might not pick up on emotional subtleties in other people that she’s not as close with. isla might look like someone strong, independent and with her life apparently sorted out, but beneath that front she’s worked so hard to build lies an insecure woman with a lot of fears, one of them being caught off guard, getting harmed or being humiliated.

puts a lot of pressure on herself to perform a certain way and will constantly second-guess herself, never quite sure if her behavior is being received well. not being connected to her emotions only adds to her insecurity and it’s the reason why she becomes unsure about people either liking or judging her. she also has a secret need for validation, thus the pressure only increases. even though she will never voice this, isla feels fulfilled when her efforts and ideas are recognized.

owner of a natural confidence that generates influence around her, isla takes a great deal of pride and joy in the abilities she has worked hard to master over the years. though, she has a tendency of overestimating her own development and those that don’t know her well, might mistake it with arrogance. her speech isn’t helpful to avoid these misunderstandings: when coming face to face with someone that is in direct conflict with her beliefs and way of working, she puts a barrier between her and the person, becoming albeit defensive and purposely trying to talk down the other.

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Baby (2018—) Created by Antonio Le Fosse

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          you are nothing but a  wolf  in  sheep’s  clothing           always pretending to be something you’re not :

                                                                                              SOMETHING GOOD                                                                                               SOMETHING PURE

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Lily James

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“You would stand in the room so still sometimes, so wordless sometimes, as if the greatest betrayal of yourself would be to reveal one more inch of your character.”

— The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje (via existential-celestial)

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Lily James photographed for Stella Magazine, April 2018

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                         the one with lace wings                                      A F R A I D of getting hurt.                          seeking P E N U M B R A                                       in the splendor of the day.

—  ❛❛  //  𝖎𝖘𝖑𝖆   ¦   MIRROR —  ❛❛  //  𝖎𝖘𝖑𝖆   ¦   MUS —  ❛❛  //  𝖎𝖘𝖑𝖆   ¦   INSP —  ❛❛  //  𝖎𝖘𝖑𝖆   ¦   INT —  ❛❛  //  𝖎𝖘𝖑𝖆   ¦   SOLO —  ❛❛  //  OOC —  ❛❛  //  MUSENAME   ¦  username ch i. —  ❛❛  //  MUSENAME   ¦   username —  ❛❛  //   𝖎𝖘𝖑𝖆 𝖓𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖆𝖑𝖊   ¦   THE OPAQUE

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