𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐭 seemed like it was coming to an end, but then again, eros knew that there was nothing like a solid distraction to raise his spirits. planning a belated birthday blowout for his best friend in the entire world was by far the best of his options in this case, and so he’d spent more time than he cared to admit calling in favors and making arrangements in advance to ensure that everything was planned to perfection. all that remained at this point was arguably the toughest part of all — convincing persephone to go along with it all. he’s jovial and perkier than ever as he drops down in the seat across from her for that reason alone, hoping in vain that it would rub off on her. “ so i know you’re not big on the whole birthday thing, “ he crooned, gently pushing his ear-marked planning binder across the table as he gazed on in keen interest, “ and i know yours is already over and all, but it’s a crime that we’ve not celebrated it yet. what d’you say — better late than never ? “
closed starter // edward amidala ( @proeliatori )
𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 bella’s lifestyle as anything close to settled, the one comfort she could always rely upon was her strong sense of self. rather, that was the case until all hell had broken loose upon her once-peaceful home town, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. there wasn’t a piece of aurora that hadn’t been left unscathed, and her own identity was no exception; it had left her struggling to look past the shockingly crimson eyes and terrifying beauty to find a face she recognized in the mirror and trying to avoid ever-present burn that ripped at her throat. in short, she felt lost — like a ship left adrift without its anchor — and try as she had to stubbornly deal with it alone, she also knew all too well that her only option in understanding what had happened to her was likely lurking right within town. perhaps that’s why it doesn’t take so much as a second thought for her to approach on sight, the slightest hint of desperation coloring her tone as she addressed him. “ hey — you’re not busy, are you ? “ lithe arms cross tightly over her chest, the image of sheer discomfort as she pushes off the memories of him ( of them ) that had haunted her for hours. “ because i really need a word with you ... preferably in private ? ”
𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐲𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 is the last person that he should be worried about. she’s managed to prove time and time again that she’s more than capable of handling herself — more capable than he could ever be, undoubtedly — and orpheus could only imagine that he was just about the last person she’d want to see after the less-than-pleasant encounter they’d shared at the bonfire. still, the visions that had plagued him for the better part of the evening left him concerned enough to swallow his pride and show up at her doorstep if only to ensure that she was okay. “ eury ? you home ? ” he leans his forehead against the doorframe after knockng, his feet tapping impatiently as he wills away the worst case scenarios that whirl about his mind. “ it’s, uh — it’s orpheus. we really need to talk. ”
𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 of being a child assassin , she still had all of the traits and habits , albeit unknown to her that what she was doing was due to her traumatic past . emerald hues surveyed the area out of habit and nothing else . “ i wouldn’t step so close , you might … fall in , “ there’s a smirk on her lips , the reflection of the fire in her eyes . she’s joking , of course . but you’d never be able to tell due to the tone of her words .
𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝-𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚, one would think that packing a sweater would be a no-brainer. that had unfortunately not been the case — a fact that she was now cursing herself for as she found herself huddled by the bonfire, drink abandoned in the sand as she hugged her arms tightly to her chest. “ ha. very funny, ” she deadpans, though the girl’s warning is just convincing enough to encourage her in taking a couple steps back from her original spot. “ d’you think that’s even possible ? i get freak accidents and all, but that just seems a little ... far-fetched, don’t you think ? ” granted, she’s one of the last people that should be criticizing the likelihood of freak accidents; if her nightmares have taught her anything, the fact that she’s apparently the greatest of all flight risks is chief among them.
𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭, there was simply something about the entire atmosphere of the night that had managed to raise orpheus’ spirits to the highest they’d been in weeks. the roar of the crowd over the rumbling waves crashing against the shore, the smell of smoke lingering in the air, the glow of the fire just dimly illuminating the planes of his face as he totes a handful of drinks back for the friends he’d dragged along with him — it was the nourishment that his soul so desperately needed. as wonderful a distraction as it was, his own excitement often proved to be a deadly mix when combined with his own inattentiveness; perhaps that’s why it’s not particularly surprising that he ends up crashing right into another partygoer and subsequently spilling the once precariously balanced cups in his hands all over them.
“ shit, ” he hisses, stumbling back on reflex, “ my bad ! i wasn’t — " and yet as he finally gets the sense to glance up at the person in front of him, he stops short. of all the people he could’ve spilled a drink on tonight, of course it had to be his ex-wife. fantastic. the apologetic grin almost immediately fades only to be replaced with wide-eyed sheepishness as he barely manages to stammer out a response. “ eury. uh ... hey ! sorry, didn’t see you there. ” so much for playing it casual. a hand rises to uncomfortably rub at the nape of his neck, gaze flitting here and there but never quite settling on her as he tries to think of something — or anything, really — to say that could dispel the lingering tension “ you okay? nothing stained or anything ? ” not his smoothest or cleverest move in the world, but then again, this particular ghost in his closet has yet again managed to leave him a nervous wreck.
「 avan jogia , 24 , cis male + he/him 」 ˚╰ ❃ ╮ did you know THE MUSICIAN’S real name is ORPHEUS ?! around the island they seem to be quite ambitious , but also impulsive , but it makes sense given they are a BUSBOY and come from HADESTOWN . you can hear TWO HUNGRY BLACKBIRDS by IRON AND WINE blasting from their house , but be careful ! they can be agitated as nightmares bring back memories of TURNING AROUND TO SEE EURYDICE ONE LAST TIME. even so , it’s impossible to see a bandana tied haphazardly around one’s neck, the wrinkles around one’s eyes in the middle of a smile, a red carnation just in bloom, & an ever-present cloud of doubt looming over one’s head and not think about them . penned by : jo .
tw: allusions to violence!!!
HOW WAS YOUR CHARACTER’S LIFE SO FAR?
orpheus is a man that knows unconditional love and rejection in equal parts. born to an unprepared teenage mother and an absent father, the odds would have absolutely been stacked against him if it weren’t for his kindly grandparents who made the decision to take him in (and pretty much raise him) after his birth. it was an unorthodox childhood by
the family never had much, and while he has every intent of getting out of the cycle of poverty, he’s always been too stubborn to do it in the normal way. he could hunker down and do what it takes without regard to his own desires, but the truth is that orpheus is sold on the idea that his music is the solution he’s looking for. the kid is good – a practical genius on the guitar with a voice that could make the angels cry – and yet try as he might, his determination to do it his way and the series of roadblocks he’s been faced with over the years have kept him largely incapable of making it work. that’s precisely what’s led him to where he is at this moment, dangerously close to his mid-twenties and spinning his wheels in a restaurant job that he doesn’t want while spending more time than he’d like to admit toiling away at finding the song that could serve as the kickstart that his career truly needs in spite of how impossible it may seem.
WHAT WAS YOUR CHARACTER’S FIRST NIGHTMARE ABOUT?
it’s like being ripped from a warm place – the one bright spot in an ocean of cold, grey nothingness and a face that he swears he knows but can’t get more than brief glimpses of as he’s tossed and tugged every which way. dozens of hands grip at his arms, his sides, his legs; they’re rough with the callouses that only come from decades of hard work and equally as violent, using whatever means necessary to tear him from the spot he stands rooted in.
it’s painful in more ways than one. He feels every pull, punch, and kick, but even that dulls in comparison to the twist in his stomach and the hollowness in his chest as if they’d shoved their hands right through his ribcage and pulled his heart clean out. it’s sorrow, a sort of ache that he’s never been privy to before in his life, and it hits him with such a force that he can practically feel the fight sapping out of him with each hit. that bright spot growing dimmer and smaller with each passing moment as he’s dragged away, and it’s only once it disappears entirely that he’s unceremoniously dumped on the ground in a pathetic heap at the feat of his attackers.
he doesn’t move, even if he can. what’s the point ?
HOW ARE THEY FEELING WITH THEIR FIRST FEW MEMORIES?
ever the optimist, orpheus is really trying to put on a strong face. that being said, the reappearance of his lyre has inevitably raised questions as to what exactly is happening to him. unfortunately, he’s not managed to find any real answers to those questions, and it’s fear of what he might find that’s kept him from actively seeking them out.
ANYTHING ELSE?
formerly married to eurydice and going THROUGH IT in the divorce process. he’ll say he’s over it but that’s probably the furthest thing from the truth.
edward amidala is his musical mentor and pal! catch orpheus trying to get the guy to lighten up a little at a nearly constant basis!!!!
he dreams of being a musician and has tried for YEARS to get his career started, but his stubbornness and inflexibility has made that a near impossibility. that being said, you can still catch him busking out on the streets on the regular because, y’know, that’s his first love right there.
will probably be added to as I pull plots together KDSXJFADS
and that is when she sees him ——— poised like a sculpture , kissed by the moon ; a face she’s never seen before , yet the familiarity in his warmth cannot be ignored , a fire burning ampelus to the very core . possession of a siren’s tongue , face as handsome as the GODS . ❛ yes , ❜ her heart reacts to his voice far more quickly before her body can , and she finds herself spinning . a shy smile washes over fresh roseate cheeks . ❛ the view from my balcony fails to do it justice … and besides , maybe you weren’t looking hard enough . ❜ with her attention now preoccupied by this stranger , ampelus nearly forgets about the dagger still clutched tightly in desperate grasps and immediately shoves the wretched thing into her bag , hoping that he hadn’t noticed . one thing is for certain , however — this man is not just anybody . ❛ um … i’m sorry , but don’t i know you from somewhere ? ❜
‘𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡.’ 𝐡𝐚. he just barely manages to bite back a scoff at the insinuation that he could possibly miss someone as pretty as the girl at his side, though he doesn’t conceal the sharp shake of his head in response. “ excuse me, i’ll have you know i’m just about the most observant person i know. ” his head lolls in her direction, brows quirked in wry amusement as he rolls his eyes playfully at her insinuation. the dim light of the moon just manages to catch on the object she so hastily shoves into her bag, and it certainly doesn’t go unnoticed; he’s not lying when he says he’s observant, but he’s also just as sensible to know better than to call her out on it. instead, he leans back on his hands, digging his fingers into the soft sand as he turns his gaze back to the horizon as he shrugs. “ maybe, maybe not. might be one of those weird deja vu moments or something ? ” it’s just as casual as ever, but there’s an undercurrent of uncertainty below the smooth facade; like it or not, there’s an eerie sense of familiarity to the girl’s visage that’s hard to shake, one that makes his stomach twist for reasons largely unknown. regardless, eros quickly decides he doesn’t like the feeling, which serves as enough motivation for him to quickly shift gears. “ so ... are you planning on telling me what you’re doing out here or are you expecting me to just take a wild guess ? "
❝ weird? outlandish? ❞ she offers up various adjectives to finish the sentence. ❝ yeah, maybe you’re right. they would surely end up clashing with most of what i own. it’s okay to have pieces that stand out, but you always want everything to flow. ❞ as her eyes give the other a brief one over, she internally screeches. the word MAKEOVER flashing in her head like a neon sign. ( so. much. flannel. ) and the shoes? no, no. she must take this girl under her wing. ❝ are you sure about those? ❞ she indicates with a slight frown, nodding at the sneakers. ❝ i bet i can find you something better. follow me! ❞ alice takes off towards the shoe department, bouncing with excitement. she loves a good makeover. ❝ come on, come on! ❞
𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥... 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐭. “ something like that, ” bella admits reluctantly, a wry smile just tugging at the corners of her lips, “ but don’t let me stop you if you really liked them. i’m not exactly an authority on style. ” her shoulders tense ever so slightly as the other questions her choice in footwear. “ these? i mean, they’re just — ” her defense is quickly interrupted by the other’s quick insistence that she could find better ( and truthfully, the mere idea of what the girl’s concept of better was is enough to leave her cringing ), and while bella wants no part in whatever she has planned, latent guilt leaves her trailing along almost immediately. “ hold on ! i really don’t — i mean, you honestly shouldn’t — ” synapses fire at a breakneck rate as she tries to come up with a valid excuse to get out of whatever situation she’s managed to land herself in, and yet bella’s still reduced to a stammering mess as she stumbles after the girl. “ it’s nice of you to offer and everything, but i really think i can handle this alone. ”
there’s a sadness in her gaze , thick clouds of melancholy hovering over fragile shadow as ampelus lays her eyes upon the mysterious dagger and shivers . cold to the touch & sharper than a serpent’s tooth ——— with it brings the bite of FROST , coldness she’s never felt before . despite her fear , ampelus’ grip on silver remains heavier than ever . ❛ please … just help me UNDERSTAND . ❜ ocean waves drown out her whispers , crashing against the shore so loudly she barely notices she’s not alone . / @ofrxticence
𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 the lone figure on the beach isn’t one that eros takes lightly. true extrovert or not, the desire to be alone is something he more than understands; he’s troubled – indecisive as he eyes the lone figure standing so still that he could almost be convinced she was nothing but another illusion cooked up by his traitorous mind – and yet he feels an undeniable pull that leaves him approaching her before he can delve deep into some lengthy inner debate.
“ peaceful, isn’t it ? “ his tone’s nothing short of casual, eyes still fixed on the horizon as he stops at her side with arms crossed tightly over his chest. “ i like to come out this way when i need a place to think. gotta admit, though – i’m not exactly used to seeing other people around here at this time of night. ” it’s only then that he tilts his head to glance at her, a half-smirk just barely touching his lips as his brows raised in idle curiosity. whatever she was doing was beyond him, but who was he to judge when his own headspace was royally messed up as it was?
𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 in the world for edward amidala. if a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap meant the difference between comfortably eating out or being swarmed by strangers, he would choose the disguise every time. today he was sporting glasses with a thick black frame and a navy blue baseball cap, and after purchasing his coffee and bagel, he had yet to be recognized. score. with hemingway in his hand, he tucked away in the novel, taking no notice of the time as it passed him by ; he was only snapped back into reality when a somewhat familiar voice addressed him. glancing up at the girl, he recognized her ; betty or belle or something. they had taken biology together in high school, and he had seen her once or twice since then when he was still dating nancy. he had no real opinion of her besides that fact that he found her incredibly boring. “ by all means, “ he remarked, motioning towards the empty seat beside him. she didn’t seem like she was in the mood to take no for an answer, anyway.
𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 that rushed through her following his response was instantaneous, especially considering she’d not been expecting much out of him to begin with. jerk or not, it was nice to know that edward could at least be reasonable. “ thanks, “ she responded, a cautious half-smile just brushing at the corners of her lips, “ i seriously owe you one. ” she wasted no time after, hastily settling down in the seat in the hopes of hurrying through her work. it turned out, however, that all the determination she could muster was simply no match for her addled mind. the better half of five minutes were spent staring at the screen in front of her as she attempted to push the thoughts of red cloaks, bell towers, and engagement rings to the far corner of her consciousness. needless to say, the groan that followed just moments later as she snapped her laptop shut in frustration was proof enough that she wasn’t exactly successful in that endeavor.
“ sorry, ” she grimaced, having realized that she’d managed to break her promise of silence in record time, “ it’s just... this week has been weird, don’t you think ? i don’t know if you’re in the same boat, but i’m getting sick of these nightmares. " she could only imagine that her sleep patterns were low on his list of concerns, and yet it felt surprisingly good to get at least a fraction of it off her chest at last.
