error

lucas oliveira. jax rhodes. alexandros markovna. #lumenouarp

[castelnou]

[liviachar]

Starter for: Open (preferably to characters Lu hasn't interacted with yet. Where: Up to you! When: A few days after the kidnapping and the ritual

Startled was an understatement for Luana’s behaviour when she suddenly heard the noise behind her. Ever since the kidnapping she had been rather jumpy at the smallest sound. She quickly turned around to be able to face the other. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you there. Can I help you?”

[dvrklite]

"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," he spoke after a moment, having been walking silently without thinking about that others wouldn't be so comfortable at this moment with being snuck up on. Luca took a half step backwards and raised his hands slightly, having not meant to alarm as he pressed his lips into a tight lipped smile. "You looked lost. I was only coming over to make sure you were alright, but maybe I was wrong."

[gvldntrbl]

-🦋-

One of Geneva’s eyebrows raised in silent question towards Luca. Long before he took the time to comment in regards to her knowing gaze. While not a mind-reader, thank Goddess, Geneva was able to read people and their emotions. Hell, she’d be a poorly aware nymph, if it were otherwise. For the most part, Eva enjoyed herself at the welcome dinner. Altogether, the company was pleasant and the food and drink were hybrid friendly. However, when she passed Luca from where he stood, of course she felt the shift in his emotions. And so, Geneva paused in her gait and sent him a curious look. Thus the wordless exchange between them, moments earlier.

She hummed at his final comment and her face changed to wear an expression of quiet confusion. “...Who said that?” Geneva asked, brows lowering on her forehead and her eyes moved from Luca to scan the tables across the space. “And which table? There are quite a few.” She eased in, lightly joking as if to lift the new tension.

[dvrklite]

"I wouldn't be good at my job if I didn't have eyes and ears everywhere that Rowan goes," he spoke calmly, though there was plenty underneath his exterior that proved otherwise. And he knew that it was felt by the other despite his best attempts to keep it to himself. It was his problem, no one else's. But the way that he shifted in the suit that was far too expensive for the likes of him was only one indicator of how little that he fit in at a table, when he should have instead had his back to a wall and be surveying the dinner rather than attending it.

It took more effort than he had to stop himself from adjusting his collar once more, instead choosing to tug at the cuffs on one of the sleeves of his suit jacket before he glanced back at Geneva. "The table to her left." It was close enough that he could keep an eye on her but it was clearly a table that was over his position, meaning that he didn't belong and someone pulled strings to ensure that he had a place.

[ocean-eyeslnrp]

Torben's brow rose, "Good people." He nodded, "I kind of hurt them... so I guess you should be more worried about me than them." He shrugged thinking about how his revelation to his father had caused so much pain and anger. "Back it down, Rambo. I was just making an observation." He chuckled but the conversation took a serious turn and he set his drink down shaking his head, "You're not alone in keeping her safe. There are plenty of people here that will step up if you step back a bit. It's how your position works. If da," he shook his head, "you're doing a good job, it's okay to chill though." He said gently patting the other on the shoulder, "So how old is the old bat anyway? Never really pictured Rowan tangling up with him but from what I've heard they've been turning heads. She probably knocked the dust off him."

[dvrklite]

"He's old enough." And he made her happy and feel safe, which was all that Luca could ever ask for towards his best friend. Work aside, he cared about her more than simply someone to protect or as a Queen, which complicated the mess that came with being able to take a break from his job. He didn't want anything to happen to her and he was terrible at letting others take the lead, even though he was the one training them for that exact purpose. "Should I be worried about you? I may not look it, but there is always room for one more for me to worry about." It was an attempt at a joke to lighten the tone of the conversation, but Luca had never been at jokes. He was better at listening to them around him and watch the people that shared them, rather than be in the middle of it all. Luca glanced at the hand on his shoulder. "It's all new, for both of them, so it's not the best time for me to chill until they're settled." Then maybe he could settle as well.

[theartofruling]

"I took a leap of faith and bet on people being true and wound up in a cult so...I understand the hesitancy. But what's your quality of life with no leaps of faith? You can't have much fun. I'm not judging just...my whole job is to make sure people enjoy themselves and have special moments at ceremonies and parties. I know the look of someone who doesn't have fun. Do you remember a time when you actually had a carefree moment? Where those eyes, albeit they are dreamy, seemed like they didn't carry the weight of the world in them?"

[dvrklite]

"Probably before I was born," he replied, though it wasn't the whole truth. There had been plenty of his life already planned out from the moment he was born by his parents, who wanted their son to achieve the things that they could not. But he'd taken a bet on love before and it left him throwing himself completely into his duty and now his work. Only because he knew what it felt like when it was gone again, which he didn't want to go through again as he listened to the other's story with a slight nod. "I remember." It didn't change anything about the now though, not for him.

[ocean-eyeslnrp]

"I prefer witnessing as well. Though I do have to partake most of the time. Things were easier before I became High Lord." He smirked remembering that time. He listened to Luca about Scarlett and nodded, a part of him concerned for how he was feeling and thinking about the familial situation they had. "It is there. It's a love that I don't think I've ever experienced in my lifetime, so it's intriguing and terrifying all at the same time." He had never even considered having children before and now he was faced with one that he was worried on how he would affect her in the long run.

[dvrklite]

"I can only imagine." Things hadn't always been easy for him, but things had gotten significantly more complicated since he took up the position as Rowan's guard in a way. He'd always been a dutiful soldier, but the complications that came with being a guard were ones that took on more of his life than ever before. "I think that's the point. I can't speak from experience myself, but if it wasn't all of that and more then it wouldn't be worth it." And it was worth it from his point of view.

[ocean-eyeslnrp]

Kat shrugged her shoulders but smiled, "no, I call it letting loose." Her brow rose at him and that smile turned devious, "whatever you want me to call you off duty. I'm happy to see though you still share some concern, even if its just for my ankles in these shoes." She laughed before taking his offered armed and wrapping her own around it. "Oh yes, the little princess. Southland is enjoying their newest addition, I take it? Definitely adds work to your list though, which only means less time for you to even attempt to be off duty."

[dvrklite]

"Not sure what I would even do if I had time to be off duty." Though it a common thread whenever him and Rowan spent time together, usually with the princess in tow but he didn't complain. If anything, the complaints were from those around him that wanted him to take some time for himself. The corner of his lips curved upwards at thought. "You can always call me Luca. There is a more official title, but it contains far too much bullshit to be believable." He always preferred things to be simple, even if there wasn't a part of his life that was even close to simple anymore as he steered them towards the bar. "You can always call me too," he added with a throat clearing noise as if it would mask his words.

[theartofruling]

A pout formed as he spoke. They were speaking in vagueness, but she still understood him. Just as well as he understood her. "But in protecting others, you suffer. Keeping things out of your reach means you're alone," she pointed out. "Who takes care of you? Makes sure you are protected and can't be hurt?" She knew the answer was no one because he wouldn't allow anyone to help him. He simply closed himself off.

"You might still be to the people that care about you. You see it as a curse rather than a gift, don't you?" Beau inquired about his abilities. "You know you deserve to live. Truly live, right? I meant what I said when I offered to help you before. Will you let me help you live, Alex?" There were only so many times Beau would offer before giving up. Even if there was a part of her who could practically hear Nikolai telling her to never give up on him. Except she had come to terms that this man in front of her, as handsome as he was, wasn't him.

[dvrklite]

There was no one and he'd made sure of that. No one that lasted a length of time, most usually giving up when they realized that he wouldn't budge on that distance being kept up or they were the ones that suffered because they tried to get too close. Even the woman on the other side of the fire, the one that looked at him as if waiting for something from him was suffering because he didn't know what she needed. Or what it was that she kept waiting for as he stared at the fire instead of her eyes. "It is a curse," he muttered after a beat, ignoring so many of the other's pointed words that cut straight to the chase.

No one should ever have to go through what he did every time that he let his guard down, seeing things that he couldn't explain and less so when they came true and left him screaming out bloody murder in a voice that he didn't recognize. It left him with sleepless nights, cold stares in passing, and plenty of reason to lock himself away until he was forced out of his apartment. "There isn't much help that can be given to someone like me.. even if I were to take you up on that offer, you'd only be wasting your time." He didn't feel like he had a life worth saving, or living. "I'm not whoever you're looking for. I'm not sure who I am."

[theartofruling]

"Maybe not betting on chance with a random sports. But have you ever bet on chance with other aspects in life?" she asked curiously. Roxana was whimsical and she often romanticized life, and doing so meant that she did at times bet on chances it was why she went into planning events, and how she ended up helping the Northland King with his image and PR. "Betting on sports, no. Other things like taking a chance on myself, absolutely. But the actual act of gambling with money not at all. Life chances that's a different story. I took a chance once and ended up in a cult. I took another chance and have a thriving business. Life is full of ups and downs, sometimes I just leap and hope for the best, but I'm guessing because you said money or otherwise, you don't just take leaps of faith?"

[dvrklite]

"I did that, once." And it damn near broke him. Though looking back it was probably for the best, seeing as he wasn't anywhere close to the same person that he used to be years ago. "Now I'm in a job where most people took a leap of faith to see me in this position, rather than think I could handle it." It was why he poured so much of himself into his job and Rowan, making sure that she was safe because so many at the beginning thought that he wouldn't be suited for the position. So watching as others got off on the bets over things that came down to chance, Luca knew better than to bother with any of it. "So to answer your question, that would be a no. Not anymore."

[noblcedits]

marco pigossi as eric → cidade invisível / invisible city → s1e4

[etherivalmuse]

{ @dvrklite​ / luca x mariah } / musical performance. thursday

She was waiting for her friend to get back with the drinks as she waited by the side stage. The crowd lulled down to their conversations and drunken slurs back and forth. Mariah, however, was struck by some inspiration and as the sun set hit Kings Castle. She pulled out her water-logged sketch book and began to draw. Her face furrowed in intensity that she didn’t realize that she spilled her flat beer all over the guy standing next to her. “Verdamit, I am so sorry.”

[dvrklite]

"It is alright," he replied calmly, lifting his shirt off his chest slightly as to try and rid himself of some of the liquid that had been spilled on him. Luca hadn't been paying attention to the one standing beside him as much as he had been watching the crowd entirely. "I should have been paying more attention to those around me more than I was." His safety wasn't in question here, not when he was on duty to make sure that Rowan stayed safe. "Except now I think most are going to think that I am entirely off duty," he added as he squeezed his shirt but the smell of alcohol was too strong.

[ocean-eyeslnrp]

Kat's brows rose, "oh so you can be a bit selfish then." She was interested even more now. "Even distressing damsels. That's a bit upsetting for them then." She looked down at her feet in the heels she was wearing and shook her head, "fortunately for you, I have very strong ankles that rarely shake, but I could always use an escort just in case these shoes do get the best of me." She smiled settling in closer to him, "how have you been since the last time we saw each other?"

[dvrklite]

"Would you call that selfish?" The corner of his lips rose at the insinuation that he could even think to be selfish and wouldn't help someone in need, but with the other's teasing - it was a jest rather than an accusation. "I wonder what you would call me if I were actually off duty for once," he added with a bit of a laugh before it was gone as quickly as it had shown up. "Well I wouldn't want anything to happen to you or your ankles if those shoes should give out on you." Luca offered her his elbow. "Busy. Busier than I have been as my work has doubled in the past few months." Beyond that, nothing else had really changed for him.

[ocean-eyeslnrp]

"You're welcome, it's seemed like something we could both enjoy. I'm not really one for the more outgoing activities." He hummed a laugh, Luca seemed to be the same and that was comforting. "Rowan takes the lead with her mostly, I help where I'm needed." He nodded before his brow rose, "It's not easy at times, I'm sure it's not for any of us. Scarlett is a gift and I enjoy and love her but it's like... it's like." He had no proper way to put his feelings about the situation they all seemed offensive in his head and no way to describe someone he did love as much as Scarlett. "She's very smart though, already figuring out words. I thought Rowan was going to burst when she said Mama."

[dvrklite]

"I have been asked numerous times to join in them, but that would be a true distraction beyond being a witness to them," he pointed out, even though the invitations were more in tradition only rather than actually wanting to see him compete or participate ( or so he told himself ). It had been an adjustment, but one that he prided his team would be able to handle as they began to guard both Rowan and Scarlett as he pressed his lips together at the small story of happiness. "It's not easy, but the love is there. That's all that matters. Everything else will come in due time." He'd never been a father himself, but the desire had been there once before he devoted his life to serving others. Now it seemed impossible for both.

[ocean-eyeslnrp]

"Just some people here I haven't seen in a few years. Don't really want to run into them and ruin their night." His brows raised and he nodded, "I'm sure your hands are busy keeping Rowan safe, but probably wouldn't hurt to get a little comfortable. I mean her husband isn't letting her out of his sight and he's what three thousand years old or some shit?" Torben smirked and shook his head, "maybe you should get comfortable here then. If people are saying you work too much."

[dvrklite]

"What kind of people?" That had his interest, only because he wasn't supposed to be working or looking out for Rowan at that moment but if there was even a hint of threat to her well being then he was going to focus back on her. "It's only become a negative thing recently, something I haven't figured out why people keep telling me that as if they don't want me to do my job properly," he spoke out of turn, questioning himself in the same way that he typically did when he was alone. Before, when he'd been enlisted as a solider - they asked for every second of every day, but here was something that meant more to him, protecting his best friend, and he was told daily that he worked too hard. Luca glanced at the other. "And what if something happened because I got comfortable?" He shook his head. "I can relax when I know that she's safe, her and Scarlett. Until then, I'll fake it for appearance sake."

[ocean-eyeslnrp]

She shrugged, "candles are always under pressure. Waiting to be burned." Her brows raised and she smiled and made the exchange for the candle before handing it over to him. "Here, from me to you." She smiled, "something to remember the coronation by." She shook her head and looked down at the booth, "I'm just browsing really. No real want for anything just wanted to come see what was out and now I have purchased a candle." She smile pointing to the one she had handed him, "now you can ponder it's existence and how much pressure you want to put on it."

[dvrklite]

Alex stared at the candle that the other offered him, not sure they were being serious or not as he considered letting it stay in the other's hands rather than fall into his own. He didn't, barely. He took the offered candle with a forced smile that didn't reach his eyes, though there was gratitude in there. "You didn't have to do that," he responded after another beat, knowing that he could have bought the candle for himself even at the exponentially higher price. "That's a lot of pressure on a candle and now me in association, seeing how much time I put into thinking about this rather than just setting it on fire."

[ocean-eyeslnrp]

Vada's brows raised and she hid the way her smile widened. She had left that out on purpose for him, not so much on purpose for Remi. "It'll be fun, something knew to try." Her brows raised, "who knows maybe I can try my hand at reading your tea leaves or something." She laughed. "I've never been here either. I knew about them and wanted to go but just uh... never really made time to go." She always enjoyed a good garden and one thing she had gushed about to many of her friends were her plants and how she wanted a nice garden one day. "I thought you'd be the best one to join me for this, considering our run in. Gives Maisie some time to nap too because she has been wide open for a while with everything going on with the coronation. Remi wanted to come along though."

[dvrklite]

"I really wouldn't recommend that." His tone was empty when he spoke, but there was a hint of warning that anything that might be seen wouldn't be any good. Though he didn't know how much, if anything, Alden had shared with Vada - he just didn't want anyone else to worry or know what was really going on with him beneath the surface. "Meaning, no one else wanted to go and you didn't want to go alone?" He cocked the corner of his lips upwards at that before he shook his head and let it fall away again, keeping an eye around them should anyone get too close to what he felt was a comfortable distance. "As long as they're not expecting too much out of me, like knowing which spoon to stir the tea with then we should be fine."

[ocean-eyeslnrp]

Viggo nodded because that sentiment was very, very true. "You're welcome. I don't think it's ever going to thin out honestly. You would have been waiting a while." His brows rose, "I'm Viggo by the way. I don't think we've met." His brows pulled together in thought before he shook his head, "I'm pretty sure we haven't but uh my brain's been all over the place." He nervously chuckled hoping he hadn't already met this guy and forgot.

[dvrklite]

The other wasn't wrong, considering how long he'd seen the line only grow over time despite plenty having come and gone but Alex wasn't about to test fate by pushing his way through the crowd for something to help stabilize his mood. "Alex," he replied, taking a sip of his drink before he watched people that crossed in front of them and was careful to take a half step backwards. "I don't think so but," his words trailed off because he didn't know how to explain to a stranger the shit that was going on in his head. Or what he could trust was real or not. "I don't really get out much other than for jobs. So unless you've had need for a PI, then probably not."