# 𝙲 𝙻 𝙴 𝙼 𝙲 𝙽 𝚃 𝙸 𝙰 . a rp blog affiliated with maplebrookhq , with a multitude of muses penned and adored by bru [ thirty6 ; she / her ; gmt-3 ] that have found their home in the fictional town of maple brook, ct . do not follow or interact with this blog, unless you're part of the roleplay .
# 𝚊𝚍𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚊 𝚍𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚎𝚜; 48, investor & casa moraes owner.
— ( taís araújo )
# 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚘𝚜 𝚎𝚍𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚘 '𝚌𝚊𝚍𝚞' 𝚜𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚜; 36, social economics professor at davenport academy.
— ( renato góes )
# 𝚗𝚊𝚛𝚒 𝚑𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚐; 35, assistant to the mayor.
— ( im jinah )
› CARLOS EDUARDO SALLES ↻ tally moreira salles ▪ @suturedxsoul
› SETTING: country club, wedding day
Even though Cadu hadn’t been more certain about anything else in his life, he found himself growing nervous as the wedding approached. At least he had Tally around to ease the tension and make him feel less jittery. For the most part of the day, he kept Tally by his side, exchanging old stories and keeping him from being weird and in his feelings. It took him a while to be able to sit down and talk to her again. Once the ceremony ended, there were pictures to be taken, guests to be greeted and a lot of bureaucracy. However, once everything was over Cadu looked out for his little one again. Little Nat he used to carry on his back and make her fly around their parents house in Rio, then in Recife. Funny how she’d grown to be almost his height.
He’d asked for the bartender to mix a caipirinha for himself and another for his sister, then made his way to her, finding her sitting at one of the tables reserved for his family. “ Got you something, Chata. ” He said in Portuguese while placing the drink in front of her on the table. “ Have you met dad’s new girlfriend? ” Cadu practically snorted as he shook his head. “ Do you think she’s older than you? ” Yes, yes, suffice to say, he and the man clashed constantly about their views on things. “ Thank you for being here, you know… It means a lot, and… well, I do hope you stay, mana. ”
› CARLOS EDUARDO SALLES ↻ cordelia moon ▪ @tapestr1es
› SETTING: davenport academy
Carlos wouldn’t say that he was getting nervous because he was saying goodbye to his single life. As a matter of fact, he hadn’t been more certain about anything else in his life in these last few years than he had about marrying Evelyn, but having all eyes on him for something that would be completely unrelated to work was not his favorite thing–and perhaps that was the reason behind his stress. He’d been so caught up in his thoughts that he didn’t notice Cordelia walking into the teachers’ lounge to give some announcements, his mind completely elsewhere until the woman made it abundantly clear, but calling him out on it.
“ Sh–uh… Sorry, Ms. Moon… ” The young professor shook his head as he sat up straight in his chair and shifted his attention towards the dean. “ I was definitely not paying attention there. ” I mean… clearly he had other, more urgent matters in mind. “ Do you mind saying that again? ” Cordelia didn’t seem to be his biggest fan, so everytime Cadu had to ask her something, it always felt like it would be a chore for the principal.
"She likes you." Caroline said, when she noticed that her dog was looking for attention from the person in the bench nearby. Stevie was a mixed breed dog, and the only thing Caroline knew for sure was that there was some kind of bulldog in the mix. She was a rescue and named by her previous owner, and as a Fleetwood Mac fan, Caroline felt like she was meant to adopt this dog. So she did. "She's not going to bite, don't worry. She's just really friendly and wants a pat."
“She does, doesn’t she?” Cadu smiled as he played with the dog by his feet. Usually, he’d come to Pawradise just to watch the dogs play. He knew he didn’t have time for a pet right now, let alone Evelyn, and he wasn’t sure he wanted Nat taking on the responsibility of raising a dog by herself. “ Nah, I’m not scared of this pretty girl. You’re a good girl, aren’t you? ” The professor smiled as he talked to the dog, all the while he scratched behind her ears. “ She’s lovely. What’s her name? ” He asked, right before he set his things down on the grass and proceeded to sit down, then patted on his thighs to welcome Stevie. “ I don't think I've seen you guys around. Are you new in town? Or maybe just at the park? ”
› CARLOS EDUARDO SALLES ↻ evelyn fairmont ▪ @porphyros
› SETTING: country club
The last thing Carlos wanted was to arrive late for his wedding appointment, yet, here he was, annoyed at the traffic. Someone decided it would be an incredible idea to spend the last moments of his class asking questions that could’ve been answered by reading the book he’d told them to read, which meant he was only ten minutes late–but ten minutes in Evelyn’s world was still a lot. While on one hand he was extremely happy that his students were taking an interest in what he’d been teaching them, on the other hand, the last the he needed a couple of weeks prior to his wedding was to piss his fiancée off.
“ I’m here, sorry. ” He started off as he rushed to his fiancée's side, an apologetic glance also being shot at the host who was patiently waiting for him. Granted, he had let Evelyn know he’d be ten minutes late, it also wasn’t like him to be late in the first place. “ So sorry, vida. ” Cadu leaned down, kissing her cheek once, then lowering to kiss her neck, before allowing himself to sit beside her. “ Alright did I miss the entrees? What did I miss? ”
↺ ( cis man, renato goes, he/him ) look who goes there! It’s CARLOS EDUARDO ‘CADU’ MOREIRA SALLES. wait, you don’t know who he is? the thirty-six year old social economics professor at davenport academy has been in town for, like, five years. i believe they live in davenport, but i usually see them around the final whistle. they can be a bit blunt trait, but i think being resilient trait kinda balances them out, you know?
he reminds me of slow dancing to forró, the scent of rain as it touches fresh grass, catching the sunset at the beach, a warm hug that makes you homesick, the endless hope of lessening social injustices
Even though Carlos Eduardo spent most of his youth in Recife, his parents' hometown, he was born in Miami to two big Brazilian stars. His mother was in every prime time telenovela and his dad was the anchor and chief editor of Jornal Nacional, the most watched night news of tv. His parents were the elitist kind, the type to think that Cadu would only achieve greatness by having higher education in the USA, so imagine their surprise when then son ended up having completely different views on economy, politics and social issues. To prevent Carlos from becoming a momma's boy, not too long after his fifth birthday, the couple announced they were expecting their second child. A little girl. And from that day on, it became Cadu's mission to protect his sister, Nathalia.
Yet, his mother seemed to coddle him, spoil him in ways that weren't of his father's liking. Back then, he thought to have been the reason behind one of Brazil's most commented divorces during the 90's, but now looking back, the professor understood that there were many other things involved. Apparently, love wasn't there anymore or something. His father moved permanently to Rio de Janeiro, while his mother spent some years in Miami, with her then boyfriend. A man slightly younger than her, with who she was sharing the screen for the next 9pm's novela. A man who wasn't the nicest to Cadu, but, since he treated his mother nicely, the young boy didn't say much.
Still, the young man seemed to thrive in everything he set his mind on. From his studies to the jobs he worked and the friends he had. He went to college in Yale, where he studied Economy had Sociology as his minor. To much his parents' annoyance, once he was done with his bachelor's degree, Cadu moved back to the US to do his masters in Socioeconomics at the Universidade de Brasilia. It was during that time that through a professor in common, he met Evelyn Fairmont. At first, the duo kept things on a platonic level, however, the more they talked, the more they seemed to have a mutual interest on one another. They spent a couple of years in a long-distance relationship where Cadu would spent six months in the US and Evelyn would spend her vacations traveling with him all around Brazil.
The years passed, and once Carlos Eduardo was done with his post graduation studies, he moved back to the US to be permanently by Evelyn's side. Eventually, they settled in Maple Brook, her hometown. He found a job at the Davenport Academy as an Economy teacher and he had always had high hopes of being able to shaping the minds of the future.
› CLOSED STARTER: nari hwang ↻ ari pineda ( @kalcidoscope )
› SETTING: final whistle
Football season meant that Nari was spending most of her Sundays at the Final Whistle, enjoying the games and chatting with Ari of all people about tactics, players and a few other things. Suffice to say, it was probably one of her favorite days, Sundays–that was, aside from the days she would spend with Zayaan of course. A smile graced her lips when she saw Ari moving close to her at the bar, her attention half on the TV above her head, half on the man coming closer.
“ What’s your take on tonight’s game, Ari? ” The strawberry blonde smiled at him as she pulled her long waves up and twirled her hair into a loose bun. The team jersey she was wearing, hung loose on her shoulders, but Nari didn’t mind. It was nice like that. “ And more importantly, how’s my big guy doing tonight, hm? ”
mcallister green was one of eli's favourite places in all of maple brook. the lush greenery, fresh air, and constant bustle of the town around her made it the idea spot to sit and draw. today, she was enjoying the end of the lunch rush, having just finished her lunch. the wind rustled her hair, eliciting an annoyed whine from the sugar glider trying to sleep on her shoulder. she had her legs crossed in front of her on the bench, sketchbook in her lap, head bowed in intense focus. she didn't know how much time she had left and didn't want to risk running out. every few minutes, she would glance up, looking at one specific person sitting on a bench just down the path.
they weren't sure why this random person caught their eye, but they knew they had to be drawn. finally, they managed to get the last touches done on their art, pulling the now-completed sketch from the sketchbook. they quickly flipped the book closed and jumped up from their bench, dropping the book on the now-empty seat next to their bag. they closed the distance between them and their subject quickly, and held out the drawing by way of greeting. "i drew you." they said with a bright smile. "i hope that's okay. you just...looked like a work of art in this lighting." eli was a talented artist, especially in realism, but even after years of tattooing, they still wavered in their confidence.
Nari absolutely adored how autumn painted cities in all of different colors and shades. It had always been her favorite season to turn into art–back when she could still consider herself an artist. It had been so long since she’d allowed herself the peace that working on a sketch would bring her. So much, that she had almost forgotten the feeling. Art had once been home to her. Back when she didn’t feel welcome and wanted in her own house–because calling it a home would have been a stretch.
That afternoon, the strawberry blonde had her back against a tree, enjoying the shade that the multicolored leaves provided. The usual, heavy music blasted through her earbuds–a pleasant companion during her moments of creation as it helped emptying her mind. On her lap, she had her iPad and for the first time in what seemed to be two years, she had her drawing app open. The pen slid along the drawing in the making, allowing the trees, the scents and the sounds around her to guide her strokes. God, she had missed it so much. She had missed how creating art things made her feel. Granted, it didn’t compare to the feeling of working on a proper canvas, but digital art still helped.
Someone approaching her cast a shadow on her, which brought Nari’s attention from the iPad, to the person coming closer. I drew you. A sentence the artist had been so used to saying to others in the past, but now, it was hardly said out loud in an empty room. “ Oh, this is beautiful. ” She smiled, taking the paper from the other’s hand. “ I think we both had the same idea. ” The strawberry blonde said as she turned the iPad towards Eli to show what she was working on, the hyper realism of the tree leaves in full zoom on the screen. “ I appreciate the compliment, too. It’s not often I’m told I look like art. ” She chuckled. “ You’re very talented. ”
"I know," Julien replied with a simple nod. He'd hired Nari as his assistant because he believed in her. He'd seen a spark in her and knew that she would do well in this environment. Politics wasn't for everyone -- it required personal sacrifice; even more so, it required strong moral fortitude. Having worked alongside her now for some time, Jules knew that Nari possessed the ability to make tough decisions and to remain upstanding. In fewer words -- he trusted her. Still, Zayaan was his son. "I'll be honest," he began, one hand coming to rest over his heart, "I still have the rose tinted glasses on where my son is involved. I know that he's not perfect because no one is perfect, but I also know that he's perfect in the way that a parent always believes their child can be. I will always be biased towards him." It was the truth and Jules prided himself on his honesty. "But I'm rather fond of you and I support you both exploring whatever it is that may be between you."
Hearing Julien talk about his son sometimes left Nari with a bitter taste in her mouth. Not because she didn’t like how the mayor referred to his son, but mostly because she envied Zayaan. She had never had warm, loving parents like he had. What she would give to hear her father talk to her so fondly, so gently. To them, Nari was an accident. A problem they had happily dealt with as soon as she left South Korea. “ It’s not in my plans to hurt him in any way. ” She replied with a hint of a smile gracing her lips. “And I appreciate the vote of confidence, Mr. Crowley. ” Because she too, was very fond of Julien, and if there was anything she could do to keep trouble from knocking on his door, she would. “ Did you drive today? I could give you a ride if you'd like. ”
having nari by his side made zayaan feel like the luckiest man in the world. no championship trophy, no accolades on the soccer field, no game-winning kick could compare to the thrill that coursed through his veins when she so much as smiled at him. he’d hoped their second date would be more romantic, more personal, and more catered to nari’s interests. but, he knew he had to show his face at the yacht party and he couldn’t bear to be away from nari, so it was the perfect excuse to see her again. and he hoped that inviting her to be his date, nari would know what his intentions were : zayaan had feelings for nari and wanted to properly court her, like he’d seen in bridgerton (but without having to be followed by chaperones.) it did feel a bit like bridgerton, looking around at the crowd hiding behind masks of wealth, using their names as leverage, and an abundance of jewels hanging from their necks. but that world didn’t exist when he was in nari’s presence, all he saw was the woman who held his heart in her hands, even though she was unaware of it.
dark eyes flickered up from where he’d been shamelessly admiring the way she looked in that dress, catching hers again as a blush bloomed across his cheeks. zayaan’s eyes always asked, always gave nari an escape if she wanted one. but everything in the thick air between them was temptation. and, god, did he love toeing the line with her, seeing just how unraveled he could make her. the hitching of her breath, the way her eyes grew half-lidded after each touch had his heart racing. his lips had found the apple of her cheek, running a slow kiss against her skin when he heard her say ‘stop’. zayaan’s heart stopped for a moment, pulling away just slightly but keeping his hand on her waist, rubbing soft circles in her skin. each touch was as if he were writing poetry on her skin and he intended for the prose to be reverent. “you make it so hard to behave,” his voice was breathless, low, and needy. it was evident he was coming undone. fingers moved to her neck, like he was trying to fix her necklace but instead they danced along her collarbone. “do you want me to stop?” he questioned with sincerity. but, when her hand met his chest and her lips curved into that smirk, zayaan knew the answer. he was certain she could feel how fast his heart beat beneath her hand. how his heart beat only for her. zayaan inched closer to her as he hung onto each word she spoke, the tension between them was palpable.
as nari’s arms snaked around his neck, zayaan instinctively placed each of his hands on either side of her waist and pulled her body flush against his. with yet another slow lick of his lower lip (was it cruel to do so when he knew the needy response he’d get from nari?), his eyes searched nari’s. could she tell he was losing all control? that he was putty in her hands? the rest of the world disappeared when he looked into her eyes and zayaan forgot where they were for a moment until she reminded him. he nudged his nose against hers briefly, a grin curving onto his lips, ready to respond until he noticed a shift. zayaan’s chest pounded and excitement pooled in the pit of his stomach as her words washed over him. intimacy terrified him, but he was ready to give his heart and his body to nari. maybe it was naive, but he knew he could trust her. and if he did end up getting hurt, at least he’d loved. zayaan shivered as she leaned in, and a smirk pulled on the corners of his lips. his thumb rested on her lower lip as he leaned in to whisper against her lips, “take me. every wish is my command, nari hwang.”
As much as she wanted to be reckless and allow Zayaan to touch her however he wanted, to look at her however he wanted and kiss her as many times as he wanted, Nari had also made a promise to Julien; and if there was something the strawberry blonde was perfectly good at, was keeping her promises. No matter how enchanting and hypnotizing Zayaan was. Still, her arms were around his neck before she could scold herself. The tip of her nose brushed against his and for a split second, Nari allowed herself to be sucked into the vortex that was Zayaan Crowley. The energy of his soul, the brightness of his persona, the sweetness of his words–they were all too inviting. Too enticing. So much, that the blonde caught herself smiling as his lips brushed against her skin instead of pulling away. She caught herself accepting the niceties that were being offered, the worship that was being done in her name. All of it, simply because Zayaan Crowley was standing in her orbit and making Nari gravitate towards him.
“ You are the worst. ” She chuckled, the accusation not meeting her eyes, especially as she moved closer, her nose brushing against his jawline as the blonde drew in his scent. Her body craved for him–it had been doing so for a while now; and regardless of whether they had just arrived at the party, Nari was begging for moments alone in his company. She wanted nothing more than to touch his skin without being judged, to kiss his lips without having to worry about anyone but Zayaan. “ Let’s go, then.” She whispered against his skin, feeling the warmth of their closeness radiate among themselves, before Nari finally pulled away from his embrace. This time, as their fingers intertwined once more, the mayor’s assistant was the one guiding him through the sea of people, allowing him to say goodbye to the people he knew, all the while Nari said her goodbyes, too.
Two teenagers in love was what it felt like–and Nari hadn’t felt that way in so long, that she didn’t have it in her to fight the voices in her head that claimed it to be silly–to be involved with someone so full of light as Zayaan was. The path to his car felt longer than before (or maybe her desperation to be alone with him made her feel that way), but as soon as that car door closed behind her and Zay joined her, Nari felt a wave of relief crashing over her. Maybe once they were past this sexual frustration phase, they would be less eager to touch each other in public? Who knew… All Nari could speak of, was herself, really. And at that moment, all she wanted to do was cling to the man sitting next to her and ignore most, if not all, social norms about what was accepted in public and what wasn’t.
Her hand took a hold of his and she brought it to her lips, planting a kiss on his knuckles as she looked at him. “ Not the ideal second date–or maybe this was our first date? ” She chuckled, unable to drop his hand as the car’s engine gently purred around them. “ I do want to spend time with you, by the way. I just… ” She just figured they were better off ripping the sexual bandaid so they could act like decent human being in public, instead of constantly horndogs. “ I just want to be with you without having to look over my shoulder or second guess everything I do. ” She confessed. “ Not because there is something wrong with you, but because–like it or not, you’re my boss’ son. ” Nari explained. “ And I care a lot about your dad. ” Her free hand reached up, cupping his face and making him look at her. “ I care about both of you.” Which was true. Even if they weren’t exploring this different side of their relationship. “ I want you. ” She said as her thumb brushed against his cheek, caressing his cheek. “ Honestly, right now I want to rip your clothes off and explore every inch of your body, but also… I want to get to know you. I want to know what makes you, you. ” Nari bit softly on her bottom lip. “ So why don’t you take us to my place, hm? ”
