“That’s fair. Although I think a small fault like that makes a place even more endearing. If you look at something too perfect, it can be a little unsettling, don’t you think?”
Freddie stares off into the middle distance, trying to look thoughtful and keep a straight face. “Oh, well, once I stood on the edge of the cliffs and stared at the sun sinking below the glittering waves on the horizon and realized, unshed tears welling in my eyes, that I had lost the great love of my own through the weakness of my own fatal flaw.” He stared for a few moments more before he couldn’t hold it any more, and he burst into laughter. “That’s my only one. Why, what’s yours?”
“I think charming imperfections are usually reserved for dilapidated buildings and the like, but I’ll give you that one.”
Ev’s eyes widen, then she laughs with some relief when she realizes he’s joking. “Well, mine’s a level three friendship type of epiphany.” She tilts her head, shrugs, and gives him a rueful expression. “But if I were telling you what it was, I’d say it was a debilitating fear that I may have peaked as an artist and might actually be incapable of once again reaching true emotional depths. It’s caused many a sleepless nights, really. Don’t think mine has anything on yours though ... if I was sharing it.”
Arabella pauses as she waits for Ev to adjust the gift for Rory. Besides Claudia, Ev is probably her second favorite person to walk with, and she gets to do that a lot today.
“He’s not going to hate it. He’s just going to be done with it a lot faster than other kids. I wouldn’t expect any less. In fact, I reckon we should maybe go back and get him another one.”
She unfolds and folds her cane as she pretends to think about getting more food, and she cracks a shy smile. “Hmm, well… let’s not waste any time and get our fair share of pastries please. I’d like to eat enough to pop a few food babies out.”
“He’s going to be bored with it.” Ev protests half-halfheartedly, but there’s pride in her voice too. It’s no secret that she dotes on her godson, and will brag about his cleverness to anyone who will listen. Not that she feels the need to with Ari.“We don’t have to go back though. Maybe we’ll find another gift in one of the other shops. ”
Evelyn laughs softly and nods in agreement. “Deal. It’s a few blocks down this way. Oh, remind me to play a song for you once we’re there.” There’s a pause. “Or maybe I should play it for you somewhere where we have room to dance; knowing you, you’ll probably want to figure out a routine right away.”
Saenoo tapped a tune on the door. “Evie, it’s me. I brought us some snacks.” He knocked again for good measure. “Uh… I also forgot to pee before I came over, please open the door.”
Ev is at the door before Saenoo can tap out another rendition of his tune, exasperation on her face as she ushered her friend into her home.
“The vindaloo hates me. Will you take a look at it when you’re done?” She reaches to take the snacks from Saenoo. “Please tell me you brought Maltesers.”
She’s so friendly. It makes her stomach flip a bit. There’s a word for that— when your chest is heavy and your throat catches and your breathing is uneasy and you feel like you might die. She doesn’t remember it but her mind is racing and she’s just staring at the orange held out to her. All she can think about is her drunken slurring to Evelyn about how she wished she was like other women.
Too much, much too much.
“It’s usually better a bit squished, isn’t it?” She croaks out, finally taking it. Evelyn doesn’t deserve this. She’s so nice. So friendly. It’s a bit obnoxious but that’s just coming from a woman who’s known little niceties and friendliness.
“Is it?” Ev glances back at the fruit, considering it before scanning the display of oranges for a slightly bruised one to test the theory ... and partly to stand in solidarity with Stella and her own squished orange.
As she makes her selection, she asks her companion: “Are you free anytime this week? Or next? I bought a business — Permanent Record, on High Street — and I think I’d like to throw a small housewarming get-together of sorts.”
Freddie smiled over at the woman; he knows he’s never seen her before, but something about her seems friendly and he likes her immediately. “I don’t know about that,” he says, looking at his coffee cup. “Local coffeeshops are a huge point of interest, I think, so maybe the coffee would bring more people. How long would you need to live here to give a qualified opinion, do you think?”
“Oh no, I only meant that saying the coffee’s improved implies it was ever less than the best. Doesn’t make for a great tag line.”
Evelyn tilts her head, pretending to deliberate over his question. “Long enough to have imaginary younger selves running around, definitely. And at least three clichéd epiphanies, at the minimum. I’ve only had the one.” She says mournfully.
“Perfect, I was wondering–” Winifred began before her brain suddenly switched gears without her even meaning to. “Wait, are you American? You sound American. You are, right?” she asked, wide-eyed. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude. I just never expected to meet an American here, of all places. God, I wish I was there instead of here. I mean like, New York- America, not like… Florida-America.”
The sudden change of subject throws Evelyn off-guard for a second as she tries to catch up. People aren’t usually so effusive when they realize she’s an American; more often than not, they assume that means she’s an obnoxious tourist. This is a welcome change.
“I am.” Ev smiles. “And I didn’t realize Florida’s notoriety has reached international heights - or lows, I suppose. You’re not being rude, by the way. Have you visited New York before?”
“Congrats, darling! I am proud to have the honor of being the first customer of such a cool establishment,” Claudia exclaims with a welcoming grin, gently bumping the side of her hip against Ev’s. She knows how much work Ev’s placed into this shop, so she’s genuinely happy for her and hopes that the shop will succeed. “I wouldn’t be worried. You have this. You have lots of good music, and in this era of tech, I bet there are people dying to put their hands on CDs and records, instead of spending their time sifting through Spotify playlists.” She knows she likes to hold CDS and RECORDS in her hands, anyways – it feels intimate, in a way. “Just be patient and people will come. Promise.”
“You flatter me too much.” Ev sighs, but makes no real effort to hide that she’s exceedingly pleased with Cloud’s praise. It’s a true relief to hear that she has no real cause for concern, that the music-lovers will begin to arrive eventually, and that the revamped store shows real promise.
“I think I’m just freaking out that people won’t like it now that it’s under new management but I think you’re right.” Ev bumps Claudia’s hip back. “Should we wait a little longer for the music-seekers to arrive or close up a little early for lunch today? I know it’s probably irresponsible, but I think I deserve breadsticks.”
“You’re the first customer of the day. That is to say, you’re my first customer ever.” Evelyn informs her best friend, worriedly glancing at her phone to check the time. Permanent Record has been open for nearly two and a half hours on Evelyn’s first morning as its new owner and manager but there hasn’t been any traffic save for Claudia. While any face would be godsent right now, the sight of Cloud’s is an immediate relief. “Be honest with me ... should I be worried that I haven’t had any new customers?”
“Okay - the sidewalk is a little steep here. Oh Ari, hold up. I think one of my shopping bags tore.” Evelyn stops in her tracks to remove a box containing a robotics kit from a bag labeled Discovery Kingdom and switch it over to a sturdier one. She frowns at the box as she does so, uncertainty clouding her face. “It’s too easy. Rory’s going to hate it.”
When she’s done, the young woman turns to her companion again. “Should we head to bakery now or is there anywhere else you wanted to go first?”
“Man, some things really never change, do they?” Freddie shaded his eyes with his free hand, looking around the High Street. “Coffee’s better at least, but this place looks exactly the same as it always has. I’m almost expecting to see my younger self come running ‘round the corner like some cliche epiphany from a film.”
“I don’t think I’m qualified to give my opinion on that one.” Evelyn attempts to follow his gaze, amused by the stranger’s observation. It pleases her that her beloved storefront and its surroundings are constant and unaffected. That’s partly why she fell in love with the place, after all.
“Careful though, they might try and put that on the brochures.” She teases. “Minus the coffee thing, that is.”
It’s going to be next to impossible to escape people in this town. There’s literally no way Stella could avoid all those that she wants to avoid. So instead of being an adult and face these things head on, she’s just going to hope it goes away. Like being in the small shop and seeing Evelyn. Maybe she wont notice Stella. Maybe she’ll just go away.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that well, and Stella drops an orange, which rolls itself to knock into Eve’s shoe. She sighs at herself, wondering if she’ll ever be free from the world’s torment. She runs a hand through her hair and meets the other’s eyes, giving a sheepish smile.
Perhaps Evelyn is too focused on finding the perfect peach. Perhaps perfection is a social construct. Perhaps making this selection is taking her much longer than it needs to, but her godson loves fruit pies, and she is going to get the recipe right one of these days, dammit - or at least edible. The task consumes her attention so completely that Evelyn almost doesn’t notice a familiar face at Gawain’s until a wayward fruit rolls towards her and causes her to glance in the direction from whence it came.
Stella. Evelyn smiles, bends down to pick up the runaway orange, and offers it to Stella as she approaches her.
“Hey. I don’t think oranges bruise, but if you’re the superstitious type then you might want to put it back and pick another one.”
“'Scuse me, are you employed here?” Winifred asked with an deliberate tap of her index finger on the shoulder. “I was asked to get a few things for my… job. I don’t really know my way around.”
“Yes, I am.” Evelyn answers, perhaps with a little too much gusto. She’s never been employed anywhere, and the chance to help someone find a new record is still novel enough to be exciting every single time it happens. “What can I help you find?”
“I have this strange feeling that I’m not myself anymore. It’s hard to put into words, but I guess it’s like I was fast asleep, and someone came, disassembled me, and hurriedly put me back together again. That sort of feeling.”
Occupation: Singer/songwriter and owner of Permanent Record
Hometown: New York City, New York, United States
Neighborhood: Avalon Circle
Length of Time in the Cove: 4 years
THE L O N G AND S H O R T OF I T:
“To be careful with people and with words was a rare and beautiful thing.” - Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
1. Evelyn Reyes is born in NYC to a playwright/composer father and a stage actress mother. There was never a time in her childhood where the performing arts didn’t feel like a third parent into whose arms Evelyn fell quite naturally. She’s classically trained as a harpist and singer from a young age, and guitar and piano lessons follow eventually along with long summers spent in theater camps and even a short stint as a child actress on Broadway. Ev relishes all of it. She knows on some level that her parents wanted nothing less than an extraordinary child, and feels that she’s made them proud.
2. When she’s fourteen, her parents divorce and the custody battle that ensues is difficult for Ev, who is asked by both parents to testify against the other one in court. She withdraws into herself after that experience, resenting her parents for using her as a pawn to hurt one another with. It’s at this age that Evelyn begins carrying around journals everywhere she goes and coaxes her father into paying for any prestigious writing workshop she can get into. Performing is still an enjoyable outlet, but Evelyn finds she’s more fulfilled by creating something new on her own. At the age of 16, she pens her first full song, “Golden Thread”- inspired by her first female crush - and it’s this song (with some future modifications) that eventually becomes Evelyn’s breakout single. After high school, Evelyn enrolled in a music conservatory where she studies songwriting and general music performance but leaves early when at the age of twenty-two, Evelyn’s first ever song puts her on the charts.
3. She dated a fairly famous actress for a while and during that time, Evelyn put a pause on her own music for a while to be with her fiancé as much as possible. The relationship eventually went south and the marriage was broken off, but not before Evelyn and her ex had started the adoption process. The idea of having a child is something Evelyn still can’t shake off.
4. Her sophomore album wins even more critical acclaim than her first. After this, Evelyn slowly began to write songs for other artists.
5. Her retreat to King Arthur’s Cove is originally meant to be a small trip to visit a close friend and write a few more songs for her next album. That was four years ago. Since then, Evelyn’s album has remained incomplete, something that increasingly worries her.
6. One of the first places she fell in love with when she moved to The Cove was Permanent Record, quickly becoming a regular customer. When the previous owner began looking towards retirement, Evelyn offered to buy the store rather than see it go to someone who wouldn’t love it the right way. Now she’s realizing she might be in over her head, never having run a business or even worked retail in her life.
EVELYN REYES is played by YURI and her FC is TESSA THOMPSON
Occupation: Singer/Songwriter and new owner of Permanent Record
Orientation: Bisexual
Birthday: February 14th
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Bio:
- Evelyn Reyes is born in NYC to a playwright/composer father and a stage actress mother. There was never a time in her childhood where the performing arts didn’t feel like a third parent into whose arms Evelyn fell quite naturally. She’s classically trained as a harpist and singer from a young age, and guitar and piano lessons follow eventually along with long summers spent in theater camps and even a short stint as a child actress on Broadway. Ev relishes all of it. She knows on some level that her parents wanted nothing less than an extraordinary child, and feels that she’s made them proud.
- When she’s fourteen, her parents divorce and the custody battle that ensues is difficult for Ev, who is asked by both parents to testify against the other one in court. She withdraws into herself after that experience, resenting her parents for using her as a pawn to hurt one another with. It’s at this age that Evelyn begins carrying around journals everywhere she goes and coaxes her father into paying for any prestigious writing workshop she can get into. Performing is still an enjoyable outlet, but Evelyn finds she’s more fulfilled by creating something new on her own. At the age of 16, she pens her first full song, “Golden Thread”- inspired by her first female crush - and it’s this song (with some future modifications) that eventually becomes Evelyn’s breakout single. After high school, Evelyn enrolled in a music conservatory where she studies songwriting and general music performance but leaves early when at the age of twenty-two, Evelyn’s first ever song puts her on the charts.
- She dated a fairly famous actress for a while and during that time, Evelyn put a pause on her own music for a while to be with her fiancé as much as possible. The relationship eventually went south and the marriage was broken off, but not before Evelyn and her ex had started the adoption process. The idea of having a child is something Evelyn still can’t shake off.
- Her sophomore album wins even more critical acclaim than her first. After this, Evelyn slowly began to write songs for other artists.
- Her retreat to King Arthur’s Cove is originally meant to be a small trip to visit a close friend and write a few more songs for her next album. That was four years ago. Since then, Evelyn’s album has remained incomplete, something that increasingly worries her.
- One of the first places she fell in love with when she moved to The Cove was Permanent Record, quickly becoming a regular customer. When the previous owner began looking towards retirement, Evelyn offered to buy the store rather than see it go to someone who wouldn’t love it the right way. Now she’s realizing she might be in over her head, never having run a business or even worked retail in her life.
Possible Connections
Love is a Mix-tape
You’ve always had it bad for someone and your attempts to get their attention have been largely unsuccessful. Who better to act as your own personal Cyrano de Bergerac than Evie, the resident songwriter and record shop owner? Together you’re certain you’ll find the perfect song to express how you feel.
We’d Talk Soft as Chalk
Evelyn has a way of finding all your favorite hiding places and beating you to them - quiet beaches, park benches, coffee shop nooks. Maybe this annoys you, or maybe you’ve come to a quiet agreement to share the place as long as neither of you interrupt the other’s quiet musings. However, it’s been long enough now that it’s getting a little embarrassing that neither of you knows the other’s name despite seeing each other all the time. Or maybe that’s just the way you prefer it.
With a Little Help ...
Perhaps you’re a regular at Permanent Record, or an employee, or simply a local business owner who can see how clearly Evelyn needs some advice on running her own business and you’re more than happy to help her sort through the books and inventory -- especially if she’s willing to throw in a few free records in exchange.
When We Were Young
Old friends !! I love established connections, especially childhood acquaintances, exes, former friends, rivals, etc.
Say the Unsayable, Say the Most Human of Things
Neighbors and late night confidants? A fellow insomniac who doesn’t mind if Evie is at the piano or harp late at night and maybe even texts her a song request from time to time.
Not Everything Means Something, Honey
Maybe it was a one-time thing. Maybe it was more than once. Sleeping together never led to anything more than some fun, but isn’t that enough?
Wouldn’t It Be Nice?
A literary society! Or wanna-be paranormal investigators! Basically a small and preferably unusual club for Evie to join.
Your Song
A muse! Or maybe someone who is looking for guidance from a local artist. A fellow writer. Either way, someone who gets Evie songwriting again one way or another.
Songs I Can’t Listen To
An ex or unrequited past love, someone who inspired Evie before and then things got messy. At least she got a few good songs out of it. Not that they know for sure those songs are about them.
Badly Done, Emma
The two of you have been friends for a while and have decided to set each other up on blind dates with other people. It’s probably a recipe for disaster, but why not try it?
Extra:
- friends to go dancing with!
- fellow vintage store fanatics
- found family !!
- another beachcomber. they’ll probably never find lost pirate’s treasure, but where’s the fun that mentality?
- I’m really bad at these but I’m probably up for anything y’all might have in mind !
Now that’s the million-dollar question. A few years ago Evelyn might have said that the people she loves inspire her, or different myths and stories, or even her travels. Now she’s lucky if she manages to get a single verse down on paper before deciding she hates it, hates everything she’s ever written, and crumples the paper. She’s becoming a real tree-killer lately, Ev thinks ruefully.
“This and that. Inspiration is fickle, you know?” Evelyn evades the question and smiles brightly at the potential customer and the records they’re thumbing through. “That’s a great album, by the way.“
