you could feel life burning us

clara lefèvre the entertainer

[claralefevre]

Clara Lefévre is known as the Entertainer. In Summerset they work as a magician but this is only one side of their life. They are also a 34 (217) year old fae. They identify as nb and use they/them/she/her. Some people even say they resemble Tessa Thompson, but they wouldn’t be caught dead on the isle. 

Name: Clara Lefèvre 

Age: 34 (in reality 217 years old)

Species: Fae

Pronouns: She/her and they/them

Orientation: Bisexual

Occupation: Magician

FC: Tessa Thompson

1921. She’d always thought leaving Albion would be difficult, all those years ago. Instead Clara found that leaving was effortless. The land didn’t claw at her heels. None of their fellow fae stopped them from crossing the border between worlds. In fact, nobody looked twice as a young fae slipped away, leaving Albion behind for a world of twinkling vaudevillian lights and jazz songs.

2021. The past century has been an endless road trip for Clara. The circus life that called to them like siren song has never grown old or repetitive. They’ve toured much of the world, never residing in cities for more than a few weeks. A century of practice and a ‘borrowed’ French accent has turned them into an enthralling performer, capable of dazzling even some of the most jaded cynics — all for the price of an admission ticket.

It’s cheating, perhaps, to use real magic in a show of skill — but the omission is a harmless one, she thinks. She’s never actually lied — is it her fault if humans see what they want to see?

In recent years, Clara has found new ways to share their magic with the less fortunate by writing books and performing live shows — and while she has never been adverse to change, she can’t imagine ever giving up the spotlight.

possible connections: 

a fellow fae that knew them long ago! especially any that take things more seriously than clara does and will laugh at their dumb fake accent no it doesn’t make u seem mysterious  

a sibling!! see: first bullet point

old old old flames 

missed connections. it was 1928, i was the flapper who spilled my gin on you. you said something witty and charming. i left the party with scott and zelda fitzgerald before i could give you my mailing adress. i have email now. 

anything really! let’s plot

[claralefevre]

mayanpatel​:

Mayan had a late appointment back at the vet’s office so they decided to finish as many errands as they could so that way the weekend could just be used for relaxing.  One of the main errands, and the one being completed at this moment, was shopping for groceries for the week.  Now normally the shopping experience was aa mundane one, you get in and get out with little to no events happening.  However, Mayan saw the whole interaction play out in front of them.  Banana and all.

Mayan’s eyes went back and forth between the banana caller and the man walking away in defeat.  “By god that actually worked.  He - he does know that was just a banana right?”  To say Mayan was confused was a huge understatement.  “You have to teach me how you did that.  I always need new ways to get out of conversations.”

“I hope he does.” Clara shrugs, rather pleased that her banana stunt worked so well -- and that it’s garnered her positive attention. “Do you often get stuck in conversations you don’t want to be in? Because there’s really not much for me to teach -- you just need to do it with so much confidence that they're too taken aback or uncomfortable to argue with you.”

“Are you going towards the bread? I am and if you escort me there, it might deter that guy further.”

[claralefevre]

isledougie​:

Doug had been minding his business, but when the woman pulled the banana out of the basket. He didn’t quite know what he was watching. He blinked, still trying to make sense of the situation that was unfolding before him. “And you’d do it with such confidence.” He chuckled. “Honestly if he doesn’t get the hint, then at least he’ll just think you’re crazy and run for the hills.” 

Clara smiles, pleasantly surprised to realize she’s not being judged, and bows with a little flourish. 

“I hope so. If that doesn’t work, I think my next strategy will be introducing him to my boyfriend --” They reach into their basket for a box of custard mix. “You think he’d find that off-puddin’?”

[claralefevre]

ofwolfleader​:

-

Pete’s was the local hangout and he was pretty much a regular there.  Having grown up in Summerset he knew the people who lived there; it wasn’t small enough to know everyone’s name, but you recognized familair faces and turning his head to the voice that responded, hedidn’t recognize her.

“I only get those two options?” He asked with amusement twinkling in those blue eyes of his. “Well, definitelynot bemoaning anything…and celebrating….it’s a little bit of a stretch, but my week off from work, so will go with that.” He gestured over to the bartender and without a word passed between them, he hinted to the empty shotglasses and then between himself and the new company.

“So, what brings you to Summerset?”

-

Clara considers the question briefly before offering up another possibility. “We could contemplate but I’m warning you now, I’m better at the other two options.” She smiles, happy to accept any and all cause for celebration. “Celebrate it is then!”

“I’m supposed to be on a writing retreat.” Clara makes finger quotations as she says the words supposed and writing — not having done much of the latter. “And I’m doing a couple of magic shows a week while I’m here. So I guess the answer is ‘work’. What about you? Are you a local or just here for your week off?”

[claralefevre]

open to all / @theislestarters location: the lanes / a market or grocery store

generally, clara likes being approached by adoring fans -- but this morning she’s still nursing a slight hangover, would really prefer to finish her grocery shopping so she can try to squeeze in a nap before her next performance, and is starting to suspect that the extremely dull person now following her around the market is about to ask her out. the worst part is that he hasn’t let clara get a word in for quite some time -- which is a feat in itself, since even clara can admit that she’s not easily silenced either. she briefly considers pretending to recognize a passerby in order to get away but suspects even that would not be an obvious enough deterrent for her companion. 

then he asks for her phone number. she could honestly tell him she doesn’t have one, but a better idea flickers in her mind.

“of course -- wait one moment though, i think i have a call coming in.” clara reaches into her basket and pulls out a banana, then holds it to her ear. “hello? oh yes, i’ll be right there!”

she rushes away before the man can say anything else, quite proud of herself -- as she does, her eyes meet those of someone who has clearly just witnessed the entire interaction. she shrugs unapologetically. “i’d do it again.” 

[claralefevre]

ofwolfleader​:

Location: Pete’s

Tag: Open to all ( @theislestarters​ )

This close to the fullmoon, the shots of whiskey that he was knocking back at pete’s hardly did anything. Werewolf metabolism as the phasing of the moon slowly transitioned him from the six foot two human to a large wolf on four legs. But this close to the fullmoon and he was a little stir crazy. It was his week off from work, so he didn’t have that to preoccupy his time and going home would have made stirrings worse. He downed the last of shot glasses and turnedthe empty glass over on the counter just as another joined him. “I’m ordering another round, care for a whiskey shot?” 

     It’s still early by Clara’s standards and as nice as her room at the local inn might be, she’s not interested in spending much time in it. Especially not when there’s so many of Summerset’s fine establishments to become acquainted with— beginning with the bar, Pete’s.

  Once at Pete’s, she finds herself a stool to sit at — conveniently located next to someone giving away free drinks, which she’s not about to refuse.

  “Absolutely.” Clara beams at her generous neighbor and asks, “So what are we celebrating? Or bemoaning? Either way, I’m terrific company. I can bemoan with the best of them.”

[claralefevre]

emelavci​:

“Sean Parker, the inventor of Napster, also known as the guy you stole that quote from in a movie.”  She laughed, but quickly dropped it when it was clear that the other was serious about her story.  “Wait you’re serious?  You know Mr. Craig and his lists?”

Emel was genuinely too shocked about Craigslist to care if she was getting the raw deal out of this negotiation or not.  “Lucky for you we absolutely do have Mozarella sticks.  I’ll get those right up for you.”  Emel looked around at the bar and lack of people.  “It’s not lively at all.  I have to agree that some entertainment would be better than this.  But between you and me, the owners are never here.  At least I haven’t met them in the short time I’ve been working here.”

“What is a napster?” Clara asks, still not following. “Just Craig. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the lists.” 

The fae claps her hands in mozarella-induced excitement. “Oh? Well, if you’re basically the person in charge, you should consider hiring some entertainment. Or even better -- an open mic! Think about it, you could scout local talent and benefit from having some free entertainment. I might even deign to perform a song or two on your opening night.”

[claralefevre]

phoebeorpheo​:

@claralefevre​ // (the call)

   a magic show? had going to one ever killed someone? perhaps. but she still found herself some how entertaining the idea to the point of actually going. the number of things she could have done instead yet she was sitting amongst the crowd, it was definitely a show above her expectations. the witch even questioned the use of real magic twisting into the show, of course there had to be right? the place was full of nightly creatures. 

    when the audience was finished clapping, and the crowd began to part. phoebe took a step toward the entertainer, offering a polite smile when close enough. “your show was very impressive, you must have been doing this for a long time.”

the crowds in summerset are modest but enthusiastic and as if to reward them for it, clara finds herself performing grander and more complicated tricks for her exceedingly receptive audience. her show requires the use of real magic to supplement the tricks she’s mastered over the years, of course, but what’s the harm in dazzling the humans a bit?

once their performance is over, clara is approached by someone they presume to be yet another admirer. they flash the person their most self-effacing grin and attempt to sound demure when they answer, “why, thank you! i’ve been performing for a couple of years, at least -- but never for such a lovely audience.” 

she extends her hand. “clara lefèvre, pleased to meet you.”

[claralefevre]

w: @isledougie

A library isn’t usually Clara’s idea of a fun time, but the thought occurs to them as they walk past Summerset’s that one of their own books might have taken up residence within and the temptation to say hello to an old friend is too much to resist.

As luck would have it, she finds not one but two volumes of her Now You See It, Now You Don’t series... neither one are signed editions. Eager to remedy this, Clara sets them on a nearby empty table with a heavy thud and pretends to rummage through her bag as she materializes a permanent marker under her fingers. Then she begins signing.

[claralefevre]

emelavci​:

Emel knew the reference and she was trying to hold back her laughter.  “Sean Parker is that really you?”  She said with a slight gasp.  “So what is the Craig like?”

The other person clearly met the parameters of the agreement, Emel truly was amused.  It at least made her night interesting, something that couldn’t really be said about the other customers in the bar that night.

“You know what, I can arrange that.  Anything in particular you’d like?”

“Who?” Clara asks, brows furrowed in confusion at the unfamiliar name. “Craig? Oh you know, he’s kind of a hoarder.” Clara grins and bounces onto a nearby barstool, fiercely pleased that she’s gotten more out of this deal than initially bargained for. “Mozarella sticks if you have them. Please tell me you have them.” She props her elbows on the bar and lets her face rest on her hands. “Is this your place? It’s not very lively, is it? With some better entertainment you’d get some bodies in here, stat.” 

[emelavci]

Open Starter: @theislestarters​

It was a boring night at the bar, one of the most boring nights she had serving in a long time.  So when one of the few customers actually in the joint seemed to be low on their drink, Emel decided to slide up to them and strike up a conversation.  “Alright I’ll make you a deal.  If you can tell me a joke that makes me laugh or even just an entertaining tidbit about yourself, I’ll give you not one but two drinks for free.”  She gave a charming smile.  “And if you can’t, then you’ll get just one drink for entertaining me for at least a little bit.  Either way it’s a win win for you.”

[claralefevre]

Clara was close to leaving in search of a more lively scene when the bartender issued her challenge: one fascinating tidbit in exchange for two drinks. The fae in her couldn’t resist an interesting bargain. And the part of her that remembered the Great Depression viscerally (and still cringed whenever people threw out perfectly good jars) couldn’t resist free shit.

“I was the one who told Craig to drop ‘The’ — just Craigslist.” Clara waves their hand as if the words were appearing in the air before them. “Sounds cleaner that way.”

“Do you guys serve food here? Can I trade in my drinks for something else?”

[angelstoker]

tucked away amidst the solem greenery ,    amara’s leg sways idly through the wind like an unhinged doll-limb,   rocking back and forth down the willow ;    white-socks crumpled down bird-boned ankles and muddy locks tumbling down the sturdy tree branch .    lost into the pages of her leathered-cover novel ,     she only feels the pull of gravity slip back into consciousness once it’s too late — and her shoe has already slipped the tip of her foot ,  falling down like a ripe apple or orange might’ve atop somebody’s head .

she winces ,   scrunching up her nose on cue — palms clutching to the barked wood as beady eyes peek cautiously over the book ,   ridden with guilt .

❛   uh–   i’m so sorry !     are you okay ?    i lost track again …     ❜    the last bit is mumbled in a single half-breath to chastise herself .   // @theislestarters​

[claralefevre]

“This has happened before?” Clara asks, too surprised to soften out the edges of her words with her usual affected accent.

She motions that she’s fine with a wave of her hand (and perhaps adds more flourish than is required in this situation), then bows as she picks up the shoe from where it landed after bouncing off her head and holds it up. “Will you be coming down to fetch this or should I send it back up, Cendrillon?”

[phoebeorpheo-deactivated2021071]

open. @theislestarters​ loc. public place *anywhere fitting

   all her pieces were ones made out of the emotion caused by a dream; the signified whatever ‘prophecy’ dearest apollo delivered to her. that’s who her mother blamed for such a gift, she choked it up to fate getting a laugh… yet her artwork sold so she at least had some revenue from it, happily avoiding a fortune teller job title. once in a blue moon though people would want a specific piece; requesting colors or a portrait. nothing new, nothing unacceptable either. the old man bought a piece months ago and suddenly called her out of the blue. he was chit-chatting like they were old friends, phoebe nodded along politely wishing for him to get to the point. all too soon did he when he slid out the think envelope, like a drug deal. before she could say something he made clear his intentions – he wanted future advice, he wanted to know his.

  as phoebe took the envelope her gaze never left his. “you want to know your future? i see an old man who will stay in this shitty place, with shitty people and his shitty money. you will wake up one morning and wonder if you wasted your life or if life was wasted on you.” leaning back in her chair, she had to bite her cheek watching him stomp away like an animated character. as her fingers gently skimmed over the top of the cash - still hidden in the white paper - the feeling of eyes lingering on her caused phoebe to glance up. 

[claralefevre]

Clara doesn’t intentionally eavesdrop, really. They’re usually more interested in creating stories than overhearing them from several feet away — but there’s something interesting about the older man and his companion that makes Clara stop and watch them for a moment or two as the man leaves angrily. The other person seems to catch them staring once he’s gone and Clara isn’t about to feign disinterest now that she’s been found out, so they sidle up to the woman.

“He seems nice.” Clara says, then pauses. “Actually, he really didn’t — but I admire the effect you had on the guy. He couldn’t get out of here fast enough.”

[claralefevre]

(Before the Devil Breaks You // Libba Bray )