sapphire blues

NORA BENNETT 20 | classics | prodigy

[eleanorbennetts]

RHYS

     RHYS GRINS AT nora’s quick response, happy that she’s humoring him when it’s entirely unnecessary. and maybe she’s just buttering him up but so be it, honestly. he looks down at his outfit, unfortunately not all-black: a denim jacket, maroon sweater and black slacks definitely do not give the illusion of secret agent in any way, shape or form but rather a tired uni student. nonetheless, he laughs and makes a point not to mention the fact that he wouldn’t be surprised if those memory zapper pens did exist somewhere in the manor.

there’s no sense in opening the floor with CONSPIRACIES with a prodigy this early on.

he taps his forehead and points at nora. “i like you already,” he teases, though it’s true. “i do, yeah. i have a joint honours degree in music and psychology, so… kind of have to play a bit,” he replies. “it kind of depends on the class. i’m playing bass for jazz, which i only started learning when i got to strathmore. if i had it my way, i’d focus on guitar performance but the duality of my degree and what i actually want to do requires me to stay a bit more… well-rounded, so to speak, when it comes to performance.” once rhys starts talking about his studies and music in general, he very often rambles. he manages to catch himself this time and he looks down at nora, then gestures to her. “and, uh– what is it you study, then?”

          NORA NODS AS SHE LISTENS TO HIM, the finer details of the music world were lost on her. she had never once picked up an instrument, aside from when the toronto school board insisted that everyone learn to play the recorder. but she was never good at that one either. “what else do you play? asides from the bass and the guitar?” she questions curiously -- rhys was nice, and she was already more than keen to get to know him better. 

          “me?” in retrospect, it did feel a little SILLY to be so surprised every time one of the opals wanted to learn more about her. wasn’t that their job? to get to know her and make sure she was a good fit for the society? “i’m studying the classics. greece, roman, their myths, their lives, their language.” having some greek and latin under her belt was probably the most impressive part of her degree. 

[eleanorbennetts]

AUDREY

“helps that this whole campus is stupid pretty year-round. we’ve just got our own little piece of it all to ourselves.” she’d been a little suspicious of both strathmore and guildford when she came there for her first year of university. the town was much smaller than london, and she was worried she’d be surrounded by students whose only interests were sticking their noses in books and acing their exams. thankfully, audrey was pleasantly surprised, and she loves it there, for all its little quirks and charms.

“mhmm…” she hums, keeping up a mysterious air as she busies herself with slathering some soft cheese on to a piece of bread. audrey does think the idea of ghosts is a little thrilling. interacting with some sort of other world, with people who’ve passed on. not only that, it’d be dead (ha) interesting to ask them questions. 

still, even the most casual mentions of death send a shiver down her spine. “i mean, it’s an old school. old campus. never know could be lurking around.” audrey wonders, just for a split second, whether she should tell nora everything. about poppy, about the uncertainty around her fate, about the feeling the manor being haunted already. she remembers the agreement she made with her circlet, though. that promise. she gives the other girl a smile and gives her a comforting pat on the shoulder. “no,” she says. “no one’s died.” and she really, really hopes it’s true.

      THE ASSURANCE THAT NO ONE HAS DIED HERE lifted a weight off of her shoulders, evident by the way she relaxed, letting out a careful breath and having a smile spread back onto her face. smiling came easy in audrey’s presence, after all. the glow of her warming nora from the inside out.        “this place, this manor though... it’s definitely the most gorgeous part of guildford.” at least, as far as nora was concerned. the more time she spent here, the more of the grounds she explored, the more attached to the place she became. 

      “it is kinda weird to think i might be moving in here next year, actually. like, taking over your room and stuff...” she popped a couple more berries into her mouth, chewing and swallowing before speaking again. “is it all the same furniture too? i don’t really have anything out here... you know, moving internationally is a hassle.” 

[intelligentias]

𝐎𝐏𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐓𝐘  ───  a  new  netflix  original  series  ,  directed  by  riley  and  lola  .

character  posters  for  eliot  rivera  ,  laleh  gilani  ,  audrey  choi  ,  eleanor  bennett  ,  amelia  carter - harrington  and  georgia  palmer  .

@elicts  ,  @lcleh  ,  @audreychoi  ,  @eleanorbennetts  ,  @amthvsts  ,  @palmered  

[eleanorbennetts]

AMELIA

     the normalcy of a grassy picnic is oddly refreshing, amidst the continued presence of a dark cloud, comfortably settled above the manor ( and the heads of each of its residents ). there’s also something special with sharing it with someone who’s as appreciative as amelia is, and tucking happily into each of the treats on display. ❝ before i say anything else, i just want to say that no part of that request was silly. i’m sure it’s difficult on you both to be so far away from home, and from family, ❞ she begins, laughably referencing homes and families as if she understood either concept ( thank goodness for her sense of empathy ). ❝ i’m sure audrey’s already told you that prodigies can come and go through the manor, when invited. so, i could invite the thirteen of you to use our kitchen and dining room on the twelfth, and make sure groceries are stocked based on your preferences and what you’ll be needing. all i ask, should this happen, is that all of you respect boundaries by avoiding other parts of the manor, as well as noise levels. the twelfth is a monday, i believe, and i want to make sure fellow opals are able to get their work done, sleep early and go about their lives without disruption, ❞ she adds, fingers reaching into the bowl of jelly babies, trying to best channel the leadership nora seemed to see in her. it’s between jellied bites, that she realizes the compliment ( or, realistically, the idea ) has gone unacknowledged, ❝ thank you — by the way — for thinking of me as worthy of a leadership role. i’m technically not in charge, but i appreciate your trust in the ability that i could be ! ❞

           NORA BRIGHTENS AT AMELIA’S ASSURANCE. and even more at that explanation & conditions she offers. nora holds no hesitation in nodding along. “kevin and i will be doing all the cooking, so i promise, it won’t be loud then.” she assured. “and i mean, all of you guys will be welcome to eat as well.” she wanted to make that clear. this wasn’t just a prodigies only event. it was for all of them. 

          “but, thank you.” that was her next point of emphasis. “for the lunch and for arranging this for us. i really, really appreciate it.” she’d have to set aside something from the dinner just for her --- once she figured out what she liked to eat. “you’ve only proven to me that you’d be a good leader. fair and just!” she adds, and she’s not just buttering her up. nora is genuine as she says it, having another bite of her scone. 

[eleanorbennetts]

RHYS

    HE SOFTENS AT nora’s remark, though his interest is immediately piqued at the mentioning of other prodigies keeping her up. he resists the urge to cringe at the thought of just the past weekend, when a bunch of the prodigies ended up at the same bar as a handful of the opals. that night was fun, sure, but rhys had been incredibly intoxicated and even in his uneasy state, he still decided to call it a night when he saw his own prodigy in attendance. but, it was best to ignore and move on, to pretend like none of it had happened.

plus, the mere thought of bonding with one’s fellow circlet is a fond one at that. rhys remembers getting to know his circlet thorugh drunken nights and absurd tasks. it was the best part of the whole opal society, in rhys’ humble opinion. “nothing wrong with that,” he reassures. “gives you plenty of time to get to know each other. you may drink a lot more this year than you ever have, fair warning.”

without really asking, he finds himself walking with nora through campus. it’s pretty dark out anyway, and he’s in no huge rush to get back home quite yet. a laugh escapes him at her question and he shakes his head. “i wish it was a cooler reason but no, i just have–” he points behind him, vaguely at some other school buildings. “i’m taking a jazz studies course and for some ungodly reason, we meet twice a week starting at 7pm. we have a performance coming up so this class ran a bit longer than usual.” he shrugs. “but if you could tell people i was doing some secret opal business, that would be great. looking to bump my street cred.” which, arguably is the exact opposite of what needs to be happening— rhys knows fully well that some prodigies will have to butter the opals up to get them to like them, and he’s not entirely opposed to it.

“i can, um–” he laughs and points ahead of them. “since i’m already kind of doing it, i can walk you back? not that campus is sketchy but drinking makes people stupid and if they’re taking any notes from you lot, i argue it’s best to look out for one another, no?” rhys snickers, though there’s a hint of truth to his comment. “i’m glad to hear you’re all hitting it off, though.”

           THE WARNING ABOUT DRINKING A LOT THIS YEAR would’ve put nora off about three months ago. hell, maybe even three weeks ago. but now, with her new self flourishing under the company of her circlet, the idea doesn’t strike her as terrible. a bit out of her comfort zone, sure, but wasn’t everything about this year a big step for her?            “right. i don’t know a single thing about jazz studies. all i know about is some top secret opal business, and you walked me home dressed like one of the men in black. maybe you even zapped me with the memory pen... thingy. who knows! i don’t!” she giggles at her own joke, at least finding herself amusing. 

          “but,” she continues. “i don’t think you have anything to be ashamed of with the jazz studies thing, anyways. music is cool! do you play anything?” she questions, steps in sync with rhys as they walked. already, she liked his company. she wasn’t in a rush to get home. 

[eleanorbennetts]

ISOBEL

:// 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 > @eleanorbennetts​ !!

————    *     she  can  feel  the  edges  of  her  lungs  when  she  breathes  in  the  petrichor-ridden  air  ;  rain  plowing  trenches  into  the  dirt  .  not  a  deterrent  ———  isobel  has  gone  hiking  in  worse  weather  (  it  had  been  a  terribly  bad  mood  that  spurred  her  into  the  thunderstorm  ,  knowing  fully  well  the  risk  it  poses  to  her  person  and  white  sneakers  ,  but  she  found  a  hot  spring  for  her  troubles  )  ,  so  she  waits  for  the  sapphire-to-be  .  nora  ,  as  doe-eyed  as  they  come  .  doesn’t  seem  to  be  the  whiny  type  ,  as  far  as  looks  go  ,  but  bad  weather  can  bring  out  the  worst  in  people  .  or  perhaps  the  best  .  isobel  nudges  her  hiking  rucksack  with  her  foot  and  recounts  in  her  mind  ,  making  sure  there’s  nothing  she  forgot  .  for  nora’s  sake  and  her  peace  of  mind  ,  isobel  had  the  generosity  to  extend  ,  packing  a  few  extra  supplies  (  which  the  onyx  will  carry  for  the  prodigy  ,  so  the  girl  better  not  disappoint  )  .  an  itch  of  impatience  gnaws  at  her  ,  and  so  she  turns  her  wrist  so  she  can  look  at  the  time  .  fifteen  minutes  past  four  .  the  smallest  scowl  comes  fleetingly  ———  they’re  already  behind  schedule  .  a  sloshing  noise  draws  isobel’s  attention  ,  and  she  looks  up  to  a  silhouette  in  the  distance  .  a  weight  drops  in  her  stomach  as  nora  comes  nearer  ,  stark  millennial  yellow  rain  boots  and  all  .

      THE PLAN FOR AN OVERNIGHT CAMPING TRIP as her informal with isobel was one that nora hadn’t expected, but it sounded fun in any case. exploring nature, getting to know each other, a night out under the stars. it sounded like a great idea, really. that was until the rain. that really put a wrench in nora’s plans. 

         but nora wasn’t one to be so easily deterred. she had had a plan. and dammit, she was going to stick with it. the point of these informals was to make a good impression. to connect with the opals and win them over. and nora wasn’t going to let herself lose out on this opportunity because of a little rain. 

         it is worth noting, however, that nora’s first and only experience with camping was an eighth grade graduation trip where her class went to muskoka, ontario --- spending three nights in cabins while spending their days learning to make fires, what berries they could eat, and playing volleyball. none of which she remembered how to do.           for the rain, it only made sense to wear her rain boots. as well as bringing along an umbrella to ensure her backpack stayed as dry as possible. it was filled to the brim with her ‘ camping gear ‘ (pajamas, a change of clothes, plenty of socks, granola bars, dried cranberries, a blanket, a small pillow)             unaware of isobel’s distaste for her attire already, nora comes up to her with a bright smile, making the best of a tough situation the best she can. “hey!” she greets. “hopefully the weather clears up by tonight. do you need any help carrying anything?”

[eleanorbennetts]

EDEN

                                                  ⌞          🍒     .          irrevocable    grief    has    settled    into    a    fragile    ribcage    ,    steel    skin    that    presses    into    the    sharp    ,    fragmented    bones    as    she    pulls    away    from    nora    .    hot    fingertips    that    press    against    wet    kisses    until    once    again    she’s    got    her    partner    by    the    neck    .    malicious    intent    should    she    choose    it    ,    but    she    lets    go    with    a    soft    hum    .    seeker    of    pleasure    ,    sought    after    a    distraction    ,    she    wraps    her    hands    around    nora’s    to    pull    her    toward    her    dorm    room    .    roommate    conveniently    gone    ,    she    knows    she’ll    have    an    empty    room    .

                                                  ❝    is    this    really    what    you    want    ?    ❞    she    asks    ,    beginning    their    walk    .    there’s    a    warning    that    sits    on    her    tongue    –    that    the    lovestruck    often    get    struck    down    by    her    .    chaos    reigned    ,    shield    used    to    push    opponents    down    after    heated    kisses    &    honeyed    fingers    ;    she    doesn’t    know    what    loss    feels    like    (    not    really    ,    she    thinks    –    though    this    feeling    right    now    isn’t    ideal    –    the    battle    ,    though    ,    not    the    war    )    –    she’s    never    risen    a    pristine    white    flag    .    only    people    like    nora    have    ,    she’s    left    them    bloodied    &    raw    ,    shivering    in    the    aftermath    .

                           THE QUESTION BRIEFLY RATTLES HER --- because, while yes she wants to feel eden’s touch all over her. she’s more than willing to let herself become undone by the girl. she has to make the correction in her mind that it’s not necessarily eden that she wants. there’s another girl, with a touch not quite so fiery who’s room she’d rather be pulled away to. but still her heart beats on, a quickened pace that insists she has to see this through. and what’s the harm in a one-night stand between her and a fellow prodigy?                               and so, “yes” is the answer she gives, leaned in as a whisper to her ear, following by a brush of her lips against eden’s cheek. eden has been nothing but gentle with her so far, and she felt confident nothing would go further than what either of them were comfortable with. so what was the harm in following through? the night was still so young, and yet, nora was eager to just get there and get going. “how far is the walk?”

[eleanorbennetts]

AMELIA

     her interest is beyond piqued. after all, planned meetings between opals and prodigies who aren’t theirs ( outside of informals ) are a rare occurrence. but, with an opal like audrey, it’s in the cards for the sapphire prodigy to think outside of the box and shake things up. with a tap of her keycard, she lets the girl into the gilded fortress that is the opal manor, with its stone statues, ivy-covered walls and gushing fountain. ❝ first off, don’t apologize, because you’re barely bothering me. if anything, you’re rescuing me from a long to-do list i wanted to take a break from. and second — ❞ she pauses, index finger pointed towards a blanket on the manor’s impeccably mown lawn, ❝ i set up some snacks for us to chat over. i’ve been in your shoes before, and i really wish the opals before me knew about the golden rule of providing guests with food. it makes for a more friendly atmosphere, always ! ❞ a trick learned from a childhood nanny, who plied the overactive twins with clementines in the hopes of being given peace and quiet in exchange. as the pair sits, amidst the cucumber sandwiches, blueberry scones and bowls of candy, the resemblance to a scene out of alice in wonderland is almost uncanny. ❝ now that we’re settled — what’s your big ask ? you have me on the edge of my seat here, nora. though, i will warn you that if it’s paris-related, i need a week’s warning. my mothers’ relations with air france are only so good. and flying private is a thing, but it’s bad for the environment. ❞

           THE FORMALITY OF THE MEETING SHOULDN’T SURPRISE her as much as it does. but, she’s flattered underneath it all. that amelia took the time and care to prepare this all for her. she gives her thanks to the amethyst, before trying a bite of the scone --- still soft and warm on the inside. she smiles after she swallows. 

          “first, this is delicious.” she wants to make her praise known before she begins. “and, no, this has nothing to do with paris or... traveling. actually, it feels kinda silly in comparison.” she knows she shouldn’t belittle herself. it’s a perfectly reasonable request to put in. but still, with all of the grandeur, it does feel a little... strange to request for an almost-family function. “it’s just, something kevin and i have been talking about. he’s the topaz prodigy.” she adds in, as if amelia wouldn’t have known that. “we’re both canadian, and our thanksgiving is coming up soon. on the twelfth. and since we can’t really go home to spend it with our families, we thought maybe we could host a classic canadian thanksgiving dinner at the manor here. opals and prodigies alike. we’d handle all of the food and everything, we’d just... need to use the kitchen for the day.” she explained. “i didn’t really know who to ask about it, like, who was really in charge out of all of you and... i don’t know, you just kinda seemed like someone who would be?” 

[eleanorbennetts]

AUDREY

audrey pauses in her unpacking to watch the younger sapphire for a moment as she steps closer to the statue. her heart warms at the sight, happy to be able to share the things that were special to her with someone else. that was the whole point of the opal - prodigy relationship, right? passing on the knowledge, the spots, the moments. creating a legacy for their lineage within the society and beyond. 

“oh god, please don’t.” audrey doesn’t like liars, especially when they’re trying to do it for what they think it her benefit. she only like flattery if she feels it’s true. “you’re not at all expected to. anything that doesn’t get eaten can probably go back into the fridge or get composted.” the other girl’s honesty just reinforces the fact that she’s the perfect sapphire successor. she opens up a container of raspberries and pops one into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

 “we totally should! before it gets cold and everything gets covered in snow. or maybe revisit things then, just to see how they look. and snow crunch.” she nods with wide, enthusiastic eyes. “surely. i’m just one person, i haven’t been able to cover every inch of the property. maybe we’ll find some sort of abandoned shed. or more statues. or…i don’t know. something haunted.” she leans in and does a spooky voice for effect. 

      NORA PLUCKS A RASPBERRY FOR HERSELF, humming at the sweet taste and giggling softly at the suggestions. “a winter walk doesn’t sound like a bad idea either.” hand in hand through the woods, the cool air drawing them closer, their breath fanning out in front of them, the warm brush of lips against cold skin --- she stops herself there, before she makes herself blush.        “haunted?” she questions, a surprised arch to her brows as she considers it --- a flicker of curiosity, dotted with a pinch of fear forms in her eyes. nora didn’t not believe in ghost, but she wasn’t a film believer either. the occult wasn’t something she wanted to mess with, in any case. 

      “i mean... why would anything here be haunted?” she points out, almost as though it’s a gotcha. but, it occurs to her then that she knows next to nothing about the grounds on which they sit. briefly, she distracts herself with spreading some brie on a cracker. anything to maintain her cool in front of audrey. “it’s not like anyone died here... right?” 

[eleanorbennetts]

JUNIPER

while part of juniper wanted nothing more than to tell nora everything that had happened on the night of their initiation, something in her told her it was a bad idea. the no - touching rule was a firm one, and though it meant far more to basile than it did to her, it wasn’t only her secret to tell. she may not have been his biggest fan, but she wasn’t one to so easily betray trust. “did he seriously? do you want me to kick his ass?” as if it were a punctuation to the offer, juniper removed her blanket from her legs enough to kick one into the air; a threat to an otherwise unassuming predecessor.

“you sound chipper about her,” suspicion and amusement snuck into the girl’s tone, a brow quirking in curiosity as she sat up in bed. “you totally have a thing for her, huh?” she teased, planting her feet firmly onto the ground with a wiggle of her shoulders, “nora’s in love,” she began to sing, crossing the room in order to pounce on her best friend’s bed, body lain evenly over the other woman’s as she allowed laughter to pour from her lips. “nora and audrey, sitting in a tree…”

      WHILE EVERY WORD OFF OF JUNIPERS LIPS IS TRUE --- that doesn’t mean nora has to like it. an embarrassed flush on her face, she opens her mouth to argue, only to have her best friend climbing onto her, laughing and singing. it’s impossible to not laugh with her. 

      “shut up! shut up!” she manages out between fits of giggles, making half-hearted attempts at pushing june away. “you’re the worst best friend ever, actually. have i told you that? seriously, you suck. i’m gonna make a craigslist ad looking for a new best friend.” the threat, of course, is entirely empty. spoken with laughter still on her lips. 

[eleanorbennetts]

DANTE

*  !!!   –––  for a moment, dante wonders how nora was chosen as a prodigy. her words drip with childlike amusement, and her irises shine bright –– it doesn’t seem to require any effort on her part, to be so starry-eyed. it seems out of place in the cold marble that embraces their reality: the walls of strathmore are unforgiving, search for knowledge a ruthless sword. will this remain?, his mind whispers, bitterness seeping through everything he touches. dante is a work in melancholy, hues of blue never quite leaving the light that shines through his smile. of course audrey would be the one to find you, he muses, corners of his lips turned up. as dante had sworn to protect the sapphire, he could easily see the same loyalty being birthed as a gift to this prodigy. this is what must remain, he thinks, fingers brushing through the pages with unmatched care. –––– yeah, that was a very important part of his work. he is very big on identity, i feel. –––– is his reply as he quickly reads one passage of the book at hand, annotating a reference in the notebook he always carried around. –––– archetypes are born out of the collective unconscious, and they both require universality. it is, of course, very… essentialist in nature, and a bit of a reach for philosophical introversion to a point it can’t be understood in a scientific manner, but it’s a concept i am guilty of being fond of. –––– he reveals, a chuckle falling from his lips. he is more critical than most would like to think, and nora perhaps lets him indulge in intellectual debate more than she should. –––– humans are just predictable, or are we truly connected? who knows? –––– he shrugs, always a bit of a devil’s advocate for no other reason than being. –––– about historic parallels, isn’t it just a sign of the ignorance our species is doomed to fall into, time and time again? –––– dante teases, the images of war splayed on his book feeling like a reminder, a threat always near. her touch startled him, ever so slightly–– not a trace shown in his features, as he did not shy away. –––– isn’t it quite obvious? –––– he laughs once more, one eyebrow quirked up. –––– the outlaw inhabits me, i’m afraid. and what about you, dearest?

                HIS WORDS ARE SMOOTH, STICKY, AND SWEET. just like honey. and nora finds herself swimming it in. arms stretched out and slowly wading through it. time felt slower. he was smart, which wasn’t surprising, but the subject matter was. she didn’t think the archaeologist would be so wrapped up in philosophy and the nature of the self.                  “i think it is a connection,” she’s firm on that. “there’s a reason we stick with the same idioms and allegories that have existed for thousands of years. we are still learning the same lessons. we still understand the same concepts. at our core, we’ve always been the same. i don’t think it’s necessarily all ignorance. i won’t say none of it is but... i feel like it’s a rather... pessimistic view.” she doesn’t mean to insult him, if he even takes it that way. but it’s true to how she feels. nora has always been someone to hold a certain FAITH in humanity at large. that humans, in general, are inherently good. and instead of being born into evil --- corruption takes hold. but hardly anyone chooses to be evil. 

                   and maybe she is naive to hold onto such a view. so when her outlaw asks which archetype she’d attribute to herself, the first one that pops into mind is THE INNOCENT. and she almost says it. her constant desire to not think about herself, just say whatever comes to mind, and move on with more questions for the other almost wins out. but, something about him, something about this conversation that she can’t quite put her finger on, makes her stop. it makes her think. it surprises her. 

                   the caregiver pops into her mind next. a nurturer. self-sacrifice. but, that’s not her driving force. just as the driving force of the innocent, the endless pursuit of happiness, does not seem to describe her well. she chases knowledge. she chases people. she desires closeness, bonds, a connection with humanity --- with humans. she chases love.                 “i think i’m the lover,” she settles on. her thumb brushing along the side of his hand, the action barely noticed by her. as if she were just fiddling with a pencil. “maybe? i’m not sure... i’ve never given it much thought, i guess but... it seems right.” 

[eleanorbennetts]

ELIOT

her question leaves him reeling more than it should. blue eyes blinking at her unabashedly for a moment as he contemplates an answer. does he consider himself an artist? the word seems like blasphemy as it hints upon his lips; like he hasn’t done enough to earn a place among the greats. “of sorts,” he decides upon, hint of a smile gracing his lips. “i’m a fine arts major… and i do enjoy painting.” perhaps the understatement of the century. “it’s freeing. like having lifetimes of possibilities at your fingertips when you hold a brush.” the warmth in his smile only grows, before casting a look to the book on the table and giving it a firm tap. “but i’m nowhere near orozco’s level of artistry. not yet.” 

     NORA SMILED WARMLY, listening to eliot talk about art. she hadn’t known he was painter, and while she didn’t really know much about art, she would like to see his paintings sometime. especially with the way he talked about it. “what do you paint?” she asks, eyeing the sketch of the sunflower still. “still life? like the flower?” 

    “and i mean, i guess i don’t know a lot about art but... from what i can tell just from that, you’re really good.” 

[eleanorbennetts]

ROSE

“ YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE that, ” rose said with a smile. “ along with a bunch of legal understanding and all of that.” 

sometimes rose thought about how she decided to go into journalism instead of criminal justice in desperate efforts to please her mother who still, time and time again, decided rose wasn’t worth her time of day anymore. some small part of her, the young child within her that was still so desperate for her mother’s attention, hoped that when she brought her mother her diploma she’d see something akin of pride on her expression, but part of her also knew it was unlikely. 

“ classics is plenty exciting, ” rose replied. usually, the people rose met from that major were extremely dedicated to it and had a strong work ethic, so she was sure nora was the same. 

there was a glow about nora, something sweet, like early morning sunlight, that reminded rose of audrey. she wasn’t surprised audrey picked nora as her prodigy, and if she’s anything like her predecessor, nora’s going to bring a lot of life into her circlet. 

“ we do a decent amount of case studies, to be honest. some are also ones that our professor provides. it depends, but it’s just about really learning how to map out an investigation. ” rose looked at nora. “ how about you? what’s been your favorite part of your major? ”

           SHE’S EAGER TO LEARN MORE --- like with any new topic presented before her. nora could spend hours learning the intricacies and finer details that lay beneath the surface. that’s always what’s fascinated her the most. the details that most people didn’t know about. she always wanted to be on the inside. and she figures someone like a journalist could offer her a lot of fascinating insights --- worlds she had never even imagined.

             “my favourite part?” she’s consistently surprised when rose is the one wanting to know about her. never considering herself to be of much interest to anyone, she’s unprepared for the questions that go beyond the surface level ones asked at family get-together’s. “i think making the connections between the myths and how the greeks and romans lived and what we do today. seeing the echoes of the past in todays society, seeing how while everything has changed around humanity, we’re still connected and theres these things we can relate to and understand even thousands of years later. i just think that’s like, amazing.” 

             her cheeks were a little pink as she volunteered one last piece of information. “i want to be a historian, one day. and that’s mainly why. i like feeling connected with the world. with our history. and i think more people should know that... that not as much has changed over the years as they might think.” she didn’t consider it NOBLE. no, her mothers work, as a firefighter, that was noble work. she didn’t see it as humbling either. an educational pursuit. a thirst for knowledge, and the desire to share it. that was how she’d relate to rose --- isn’t that what journalists did?              “what are the kinds of case studies you do?” she flipped it back around, drawn back in. “are they like, super dramatic... or more tame stories around the college? whats the most interesting one you’ve done?” 

[eleanorbennetts]

AUDREY

audrey makes a pfft sound at nora’s response, awkwardly waving her basket-laden hand in an attempt at being dismissive. she’s more than familiar with self depreciation. she uses it often enough in comparison to the other members of the circlet as well as her peers at strathmore. but the good thing was those sorts of comments did make her feel worse about herself. if anything, they felt like healthy acknowledgments of her own shortcomings while simultaneously knowing that she was, in fact, awesome. but she wants to make sure that nora recognizes her own awesomeness, too.

“you are absolutely cool,” she insists. “if anyone says otherwise, send them my way and i’ll set them straight, i promise you that.” she is protective of nora, but wasn’t that part of her job as an opal? to get close, to build a connection, to guide, to take care of? even if it wasn’t, that’s the way she was choosing to look at it.

the statue unfortunately wasn’t of aphrodite, but of athena, dress for war with a helmet atop her head and impressive robes. in one hand she had a spear. in the other, however, she held an owl. it wasn’t that audrey felt particularly connected to athena (mostly, the statue happened to mark one of her favorite spots on the grounds), but even she couldn’t deny the goddess of wisdom was a bit of a baddie.

audrey takes the moment to pause and take in the surroundings. it really was beautiful, almost as if the spot seemed to exist outside of space and time, completely untouched. she hopes she never takes it for granted. the moment she stops seeing the wonder in things is the moment she will truly have lost herself. “it is, isn’t it?” she finds her gaze settled back on nora as she says it. “and there’s our dear friend athena watching over us…” she tilts her chin in the direction of the statue. “…just in case. i’ve tried to spot other good places from the roof of the manor, but i’ve found it’s much better to find them on foot. too many trees to see anything super useful from up there.”

she reluctantly uncouples her arm from nora’s to set up their picnic. the first thing to come out of the picnic basket is a blanket – one of the many from what could be called her collection of them – to sit on, followed by a couple of plates. then she starts removing the food, ranging from fruits and bread and meats to cheese, as well as the famous cookies. lastly, she pulls out a bottle of wine. “i know i’m an overpacker, but all of this stuff seemed pretty important when i was filling the basket.”

     SHE STEPS UP TO THE STATUE, a gentle awe written across her face as delicate fingers come to trace the smooth stone. athena, while not aphrodite, is a figure nora is honoured to sit under & enjoy her meal with audrey in any case.      and the more she speaks, the more nora melts for her. so far gone, truth be told, that nora can’t help but let her eyes turn to stars as she takes in the sun that is audrey.      she sits down next to her on the blanket, grossing her legs and watching with warmth as audrey unpacked a picnic for five. the effort put into it, the thought, nora could’ve swooned. 

    “i’d like to say i could eat all of this, but i don’t want to lie to you.” she looked up briefly towards athena again. it practically would’ve been a crime to tell a lie beneath the goddess gaze. her cheeks were still pink as she looked back towards audrey. “we should go exploring around here together! sooner rather than later. there’s gotta be places around the grounds you still haven’t found yet, right?” maybe a comfortable nook. an old secret place. a time capsule.

[eleanorbennetts]

RHYS

     ON NIGHTS WHEN rhys got caught up on campus, be it with studying, practicing, teaching lessons, perhaps mingling with second years ( though that hadn’t happened much at all so far ), or a night class like tonight, rhys looked forward to the walk home. there are probably faster ways of getting home but rhys enjoys plugging his headphones in and walking by himself back to the manor. he’d always pick an album to get through, track by track, and he’d let his mind wander. it was just a few moments of solace that rhys lived for.

of course, he knows his privilege in that. quite honsetly, guildford is a nice place and he’s never truly felt that unsafe there besides from the occasional drunken bar fight he’d become witness to or some sketchy kid desperate to sell drugs or something on campus but even then, it was just some posh londoner with a coke problem trying to convince themselves otherwise. regardless, he knows that his ability to walk home with music blaring in his ears is a privilege, which is why when he spots nora exiting the library on campus, he’s inclined to check in on her.

“nora?” he calls out ( because of course rhys’ vision is shit and this wouldn’t be the first time he completely mistook someone for someone else ). a light jog brings him closer to her and he adjusts his backpack slung on one shoulder. he turns to the library, then back at nora, and takes just a few steps in front of her to her side and begins walking backwards. “late night studying?” he asks as he checks the time on his phone. his eyes widen. “really late night studying.”

           SHE RELAXED IMMEDIATELY upon hearing her name in a familiar voice. rhys. while she didn’t know him well yet, she knew enough to know that he wasn’t a threat to her on her late-night trip across campus. and that provided her with enough relief to stop her pace before moving in step with him.            “you can say that again.” she agreed with a nod. “i normally wouldn’t be out this late, but the other prodigies... they’ve been keeping me busy with nights out. i’ve started to fall behind my schedule a little bit. trying to play catch up now.” which she did succeed in, for the record. back on track of where she wanted to be. 

             she did nothing to hide her RELIEF in having rhys join her. just having someone else by her side in the night made it all the easier to walk through the grounds. “what about you?” she questioned curiously. “it’s just as late for you.” she pointed out, a light grin tugging up at her lips. “maybe some... secret opal business?” she suggested playfully --- with an edge of hope that it was true. 

[eleanorbennetts]

closed for @amthvsts​

     WITH HER AND KEVINS PLANS being on the horizon, all that was really left was to confirm that they could take over the manor for the evening to serve dinner for the opals and the prodigies alike. with the people nora now considered to her new family, it only made sense to celebrate the holiday with them. but, given the circumstances of it, and how long a good thanksgiving dinner took to cook --- she figured it would be best to get permission first, rather than showing up and hoping for the best. 

     truthfully, she had been unsure of who among them was in charge. and while she could’ve easily gone and asked audrey or dante, or even hollis or rhys --- but nora saw this simply as another networking opportunity. a chance to make better acquaintance with someone she hadn’t really gotten to know yet. and in that moment, that person was amelia carter-harrington.       she didn’t know much about the amethyst opal, but she did give off a sense of leadership. as far as nora could tell, at least. or at least enough authority to make nora feel slightly intimidated as she approached. even though this meeting between the pair of them had been arranged.      “sorry again for bothering you.” nora started. it wasn’t a formal meeting. just a brief talk in the manor. she should be more relaxed. “i just wanted to ask you about something.” 

[eleanorbennetts]

EDEN

                                                  ⌞          🍒     .          devilish    ,    she’s    found    pleasure    in    the    most    unconventional    of    places    .    sinner’s    daughter    ,    fingertips    have    found    honey    in    churches    ,    lips    have    captured    sacrilege    in    the    grass    ,    eyes    have    raked    over    prey    in    the    sand    .    experience    is    forever    written    in    the    way    she    pulls    away    &    checks    on    her    partner    ,    fingers    pushing    back    a    loose    strand    of    hair    as    nora    murmurs    quietly    .    not    everyone    is    as    comfortable    as    she    is    ,    love    chosen    to    be    expressed    behind    closed    doors    –    she’s    all    too    fine    with    that    as    well    .    silk    sheets    have    heard    her    filthiest    secrets    ,    have    taken    her    in    her    darkest    moments    .    she’s    barely    an    inch    away    from    nora’s    own    features    ,    overtaken    with    –    not    quite    lust    ,    more    a    longing    to    be    held    ,    to    be    kissed    like    she’s    loved    .

                                                  ❝    then    take    me    where    you    want    me    ,    ❞    she    says    ,    her    voice    is    hushed    with    that    desire    ;    it’s    not    as    dark    as    it    is    when    filled    with    raw    lust    .    a    lot    softer    ,    lighter    –    it    isn’t    as    heavy    as    it    catches    in    her    throat    .    a    quiet    kiss    ,    one    planted    on    her    lips    ,    another    on    her    jaw    –    trail    of    kisses    down    her    neck    .    ❝    put    me    where    you    need    me    .    ❞

                           SHE FEELS AS THOUGH SHE’S ON FIRE. burning from the inside out with a blue lit flame. eden, so quick to take her apart. nimble fingers that nora fears she may just let completely unravel her if she’s not careful. but she wants this. she wants this by the beat of her heart, by the butterflies in her stomach, by the warmth spreading dangerously low in her centre. the kiss on her jaw, on her neck. it’s enough to almost make her scream.                               instead, she bites her lip, nearly drawing blood as she tries to pull herself back down to earth. but her head is too far gone from her body. her fingers tighten at eden’s hip, and curl a little bit deeper into her hair. she wants her, she knows that, but how much she wants is a different story that nora hasn’t quite figured out yet.                               when she speaks, she’s breathless. “your dorm.” she’s a bit too shy to bring her back to her own place, a bit too nervous about june being there. “please.” her pupils were blown wide, the blue of her eyes overshadowed by the lust that took over.