Caipira wedding but it's Identity V
There's very little chance I'll actually finish this one, but have what little I've written: Eternal Manor AU + a theoretical Festa Junina/Julina-inspired event!
"Why can't I be the bride?" Memory crossed her little arms, a disproportionately huge pout on her face.
"Because you are a child, sweetheart," Orpheus explained for the umpteenth time. "Children don't get married."
"But you always say acting and telling stories is like playing pretend! I chased Robbie around the Race Course yesterday pretending I was a Hunter, but I'm not! Why can't I pretend to be a bride?"
"Acting is similar to playing pretend, but it is a little more sophisticated. You cannot simply pretend to be a character—you have to look the part." He smiled conspiratorially at the little girl, crouched on one knee to be eye-level with her hoping she would be swayed. "I couldn't cast Mr. Kreiburg as a princess now, could I?"
"And I couldn't cast you as a decent human being, and yet here we are," the Composer bit back.
This was the fifth production Orpheus had them put on since the beginning of the year, and it would be an understatement to say some of them were not feeling it anymore.
Still, Memory did not seem convinced yet. Orpheus sighed. "How come you want to be the bride so strongly?"
"She gets to wear a pretty dress..."
"Then I promise to cast you as a character who wears an even prettier dress." An affectionate little tap on her chin. "How does that sound?"
Her little face scrunched up in deep consideration for a moment before melting in a satisfied smile. "Ok!"
"Spoiled brat," Richard muttered, earning a side-eye from Annie, who happened to be within hearing distance.
In fact, all of them—Survivors and Hunters alike—stood at the entrance hall, feeling a tad like a bunch of sardines in a tin. Orpheus stood apart from them, under the statue, to give the big announcement of yet another play he had written for them to perform.
"With that out of the way," Orpheus clapped his hands together, calling their attention back to him. "Let us begin with auditions. Could I see a show of hand of those interested in playing the role of the bride?"
One hand—Violetta's—shot up immediately and enthusiastically. No one else manifested interest, so the matter seemed settled.
Still, Orpheus spared the manor's resident couple an amicable glance. "I was under the impression Mr and Mrs Mesmer would be interested in such roles."
"And yet we are not," Ada answered, hostility veiled in practiced cordiality. It was no secret that their psychologist had no fondness for the novelist.
"The story is stupid," Emil added, less eloquently. "Why would the woman still want to get married after the groom tries to run away from the wedding? And why would he run away in the first place if they're lovers? Shouldn't he be excited that he gets to marry her?"
Someone in the crowd cooed, which only deepened Emil's confusion.
On his part, Orpheus merely waved his hand in patronizing dismissal. "The heart is unknowable, Mr Mesmer. Affairs of love are not as simple as you make them out to be." He then proceeded to ignore the murmurs that arouse from the crowd arguing on his ability to argue romance with Emil when only one of them had actual proven experience on the matter. "Now show of hands for those who wish to play the runaway groom!"
Silence followed. In fact, Luca had to stifle a laugh when a literal cricket flew in through a window and began chirping, becoming the only audible thing in the hall. That is, until Hernando, one of their newcomers, stepped forward with a smile as if he wasn't just doing this for Violetta's sake.
"I'll take it! Though I'd never leave such a lovely lady at the altar," and reached his hand out to his co-actress, who took it overjoyed and immediately began discussion on what their costumes should look like.
