immersed in the bustling atmosphere of one of the city’s liveliest hubs, veronica enjoyed spending the minuscule time she had off the clock perusing the various boutiques and little stores that lined the streets. she’d spent a solid hour browsing before she found herself with a hankering for a cup of tea and with no choice but to give into her craving, she made her way to her usual haunt — she’d been unusually exhausted in recent weeks and any chance to give her legs a rest was greatly appreciated.
after what felt like a mission to find any empty table, the redhead finally found herself a spot. the establishment was teeming with patrons, and one woman in particular across the room from her was loudly berating a waitress for something that was no fault of the staff’s. such a sight provoked her to grimace, turning towards a person at the table closest to her. “do you think people like that are simply incapable of embarrassment? it’s hard to watch.”
Sofia often found herself at the park going through new routines that she would show to the girls at the academy. the music played inside of her head and her body flowed effortlessly with each movement. it was bittersweet in a sense that she missed being up on the stage, but she was instantly reminded why when pain surged through her knee in the midst of a turn, feeling her body collapse, ready to brace for the fall on the grass when arms caught her.
Her head turns to look up at the person. "thank you," her cheeks turn a rosy shade, quickly moving herself upright and out of their embrace, hand smoothing over her legs. "oh a scale of one to ten, how pathetic did i look?" she jokes. it may have been six years since her accident, but most days it felt like yesterday.
a walk in the park was the perfect way to wake herself up and shake off the hangover that had been plaguing taerin all morning. there was something about the fresh air, the sound of the birds chirping and the sun that seemed to make everything better.
airpods in and iced latte in hand, the blonde was in her own little world as she strolled amongst the trees, enjoying the serenity around her until she was caught off guard by the sight of an all too familiar figure falling flat on her face.
“oh, shit!” were the first words that escaped her lips before she hurried over. “please, i don’t think anyone else saw.” she attempted to reassure, purposefully ignoring the fact that a few of their nearby fellow park-goers had stopped what they were doing to gawk. “it happens to the best of us, don’t you worry.” a smile curved at her lips then, extending her hand for the other. “how did it even happen? all i caught was the tumble.”
everything was a blur. the only thing évelyne was able to register in that moment was the excruciating pain that radiated across her left arm, the result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time when gunfire broke out and becoming the target of an evil that knew no bounds. of course, her only ‘wrongdoing’ was that fact that she under the employment of the table.
for a few moments, she could have sworn that she’d blacked out, but it was the shock that left her feeling that way. she’d dealt with countless gunshot wounds, stabbings and almost any type of injury you could think of, but for the first time, she was the one at the brunt of it.
still conscious, but incapable to focus on anything other than to listen to the muffled sound of frantic talking surrounding her, it wasn’t until the words ‘dr. crowe is on his way’ were uttered that she finally paid attention. while all of the doctors she was lucky enough to work with were incredible at their jobs, there was no one else she’d rather take care of her than elias. she trusted him more than anyone, and in that moment, he was all she wanted, as if he was her security blanket of sorts.
nova tech was headquartered in central london, a beautiful glass tower amongst the rest of the sky scrapers. hanna’s office was near the top, a beautiful view of the river thames and the rest of the taller buildings around. hanna hadn’t wanted the tallest building, just the space they needed for the company. early in the morning hanna refrained from allowing anything on her calendar, enjoying the sunlight streaming into her office and reviewing the newspaper. the sound of steps echoing towards her drew a brow, few people would come see her now, even fewer allowed past her secretary. her expression remains curious when the face is revealed, but hanna at least folds her paper and sets it down. “ early morning visits ? what can i do for you, my favorite sister ? ”
it was a rare occurrence for constance to show up at nova tech — her dear little sister’s brainchild. usually when she wanted to see hanna, she’d simply make a phone call and organise a catch-up, but one this particular morning, she found herself in the vicinity of the company’s headquarters, and in a bid to kill time, she figured it wouldn’t hurt to stop by and say hello.
stepping inside the younger leung’s office, completely bypassing the personal assistant that sat behind a desk outside. she didn’t need permission to see her sister, no matter how much of a tech giant she’d become.
“what? i can’t simply drop by to say hello to my little sister without an ulterior motive?” she responded, feigning an offence with a scoff. “i was in the area and thought i’d come see if you were in and wanted to get a coffee with me? it’s been a little while since we’ve actually sat down and… caught up.”
Open Starter
Location : a Bar in the Bastion, early evening
Xiomara was just leaving the Bastion after her shift in the basement when she got a text from her usual driver letting her know the car had gotten a flat and it would take at least an hour for the replacement to come. “Looks like we’re stuck here for a while longer Saint” she said with a sigh, reaching down to pet the Malinois’ head. Turning on her heel she headed back into the Bastion and made a beeline for the bar.
Scanning the bar quickly she spotted someone sitting alone and dropped onto the stool next to them. “I’m stuck here for at least an hour, and drinking alone is depressing. Mind if I join you?” She asked with a smile, the question a little moot due to the fact that she had already made herself comfortable.
veronica’s week had been STRESSFUL to say the least. if it wasn’t her career working her to the bone, it was her crumbling marriage that was grating at her. she needed an escape, a few hours to herself to collect her thoughts and deal with the newest obstacle that had found its way into her life.
the bastion was her first stop after work — it was discreet enough that people wouldn’t question her presence given who she was, people generally chose to mind their business in their establishment, and that was why she was sat at the bar, all on her lonesome, drinking a glass of scotch that she knew she shouldn’t be even be entertaining the idea of consuming.
her daze was broken when the sound of someone speaking to her hit her ears. it took a few seconds for her to process their question before she looked up at them, simply nodding her head. “sure. why not? i suppose someone else’s company would be a lot better than my own.” shrugging, she moved her purse from the barstool beside her for the stranger to sit down.
gesturing for the bartender to come over to them to take their order. “i’ll get another one of these, and whatever she’d like. you can put it on my tab.” at that, she turned to look at the other woman. “what’s your poison?”
nights spent consuming expensive liquor and finding solace in the attention of strangers had become a frequent thing for jacqueline. given the state of her personal life in the recent weeks, it was one of the few things that brought her a sense of comfort… but even then, it still wasn’t shaking her from the emptiness on the other side of her bed, the spot in which was once taken up by the figure of an endlessly tall, feverishly beautiful russian blonde.
all attempts at freeing herself from the thoughts of her were nipped in the bud the moment she eyed the woman in question from across the bar. of fucking course. at that point, she was sure she’d never be able to untangle herself from her web, but did she even want to?
aided by the affects of a few drinks and several pills in her system, jac decided to approach the woman, closing the space between them in a matter of moments. “tatiana.” she greeted, leaning against the bar casually, martini in hand and icy blue hues taking in every inch of her. “i can never seem to escape you… we always happen to just… run into each other. are you following me or something?”
" mind your business. " scarlette speaks as she hears someone approach. the daughter of the left side had just finished a job, and she was quickly shedding the bloodied shirt to expose a rather... unconventional outfit to work in. but she'd been at the club, and had only snagged a shirt from a store to cover her dress in hopes of it not getting ruined. ducking into the bastion to change was the easiest way to get back to her night.
“bold of you to assume that minding my business isn’t my default.” constance countered as she looked up from her phone, her tone utterly deadpan, yet a slight smirk threatened to tug at the corners of her lips. as the right side, she had come to know the family of her counterpart throughout all her many decades at the table, and couldn’t help but feel protective of the young woman. “but at risk of disobeying your wishes, are you okay, though?” as a mother, she was unable to help the maternal instincts that ran through her veins. of course, she was well aware of the fact that scarlette was more than capable of looking after herself, yet the need to simply make sure remained prominent.
a collection of character development questions based on the arcana and their themes !! this is part of a collection of tarot-themed asks.
if multi, please specify which muse(s) the question is directed toward !!
[THE FOOL] - Do they weight their options when making a decision, or do they impulsively make a choice?
[THE MAGICIAN] - Are they resourceful? What skills do they possess that help them navigate the world around them?
[THE HIGH PRIESTESS] - Do they meditate? Would they be considered "in tune" with themselves, or do they struggle with personal growth?
[THE EMPRESS] - Do they participate in or have a self-care ritual? If so, what does their routine look like?
[THE EMPEROR] - Is your muse a leader? If so, what kind of leader are they? Do they take a hands-off approach, or do they micromanage?
[THE HIEROPHANT] - What are important traditions to them, if any? Do they stay true to these traditions, or do they adapt them to fit their current situation?
[THE LOVERS] - What do they consider to be the "perfect partner", be it romantic, platonic, alterous, etc.? Is there someone like that in their life?
[THE CHARIOT] - Are they confident? If so, what makes them the most confident in themselves/their abilities?
[STRENGTH] - What are they determined to accomplish the most?
[THE HERMIT] - What does their inner voice sound like? Is it self-reflecting and introspective, or domineering and judgmental?
[WHEEL OF FORTUNE] - Do they believe in destiny/fate? If so, what do they believe their "purpose" is in this life?
[JUSTICE] - Are they a mediator, or do they prefer to step away from potential conflict?
[THE HANGED MAN] - Would they sacrifice themselves, literally or metaphorically, for those close to them? If so, what kind(s) of sacrifice would they make?
[DEATH] - What is their view on the cycle of life? Do they believe in reincarnation?
[TEMPERANCE] - Are they a patient person, or do they tend to act on impulse?
[THE DEVIL] - Which of the capital vices is your muse tempted by? (Pride, Greed, Wrath, Envy, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth)
[THE TOWER] - Are they a destructive individual (be it literally or metaphorically)? If so, how?
[THE STAR] - What is their health like? Do they consider themselves healthy, or do they feel like they could make improvements to better their health?
[THE MOON] - If they had to choose one trait to describe themselves, what would it be? Is it a genuine answer, or the illusion/persona they put on for others?
[THE SUN] - What makes them feel good? This can be happy, energized, revitalized, etc. It's all about good vibes, so what gives them to your muse?
[JUDGMENT] - What was an epiphany/awakening they recently had? Did they realize something that they've been naive to? Did they discover something about themselves? What happened?
[THE WORLD] - How would they define a utopia? What would it consist of, and do they see it as something achievable?
send the corresponding symbol(s) for headcanons surrounding the given topic(s)!
🍍 : how comfortable is my muse in their body? how do they feel about their height, weight, strength, and body type? how important is being attractive to them?
🍅 : how does my muse feel about plastic / cosmetic surgeries & procedures? is it something they have done or would do? do they mind if others do it?
🍏 : how stable is my muse’s physical health? do they go for regular or semi-regular checkups by a physician? do they have any diagnosed illnesses and / or take any medication? how often do they get sick?
🍎 : how stable is my muse’s mental health? have they been diagnosed with any mental illnesses and / or conditions? do they have any undiagnosed mental illnesses and / or conditions? do they or should they attend therapy?
🍑 : how meticulously does my muse look after their physical appearance? do they spend a lot of time on their hair, makeup, grooming, and clothing? is there a particular reason why they do or don’t?
🍒 : how much does my muse value companionship? do they constantly keep people around them, or do they prefer to be alone often? do they have or desire to have many friends? do they see every meeting as an opportunity to make a new friend?
🍇 : how would my muse describe their childhood? how much has it impacted the person they are now, or will become as an adult? around what age did they or will they start to mature, and why? do they wish to go back to their days as a child, or have they embraced adulthood?
🍐 : how intelligent is my muse overall? are they smarter than the average person, or less than? are they primarily self-taught, or did they acquire most of their knowledge in school? are they more street smart or book smart?
🍉 : which of the four seasons suits my muse best, and why?
🍌 : is my muse inclined to help others, or will they only do it when it benefits them, if at all? what makes them this way? has it ever gotten them into trouble, or inconvenienced them?
🍊 : does my muse desire romance? is it something they would actively seek out, or prefer to happen more ‘ naturally? ’ what is their love life like? do they have any exes or past flings, or crushes?
🍓 : how is my muse typically seen by others? does it ring true to who they really are? does their reputation matter to them?
🥝 : does my muse have any ‘ unusual ’ habits, interests, and / or talents? do they hide it, or are they proud of it?
🍋 : what kind of diet does my muse have? do they eat regularly, or the standard 2-3 meals a day? do they have to be reminded to eat, or are they likely to remind others? do they cook, or have others cook for them? do they eat healthily, or not so much?
🥭 : how important to my muse is their hometown, or where they’re from? are they proud of it, or considered a hometown hero? did they move away, or do they wish to?
where: the bastion
who: @ultraviolcnces (constance)
kai always liked a little partying, would he have made the ball a little more carefree? probably but he also understood why the theme was more expensive in taste, per say. their line of work is always to be respected and thus, he respects the way the table decided to run the event.
during the ball he drank a glass or two, danced a bit and talking with various people, some he knew, others he didn't and yet he suddenly realized that he barely saw his dear cousin, the right side standing from her seat until it's to have a talk with someone, that has to change. "constance," he smiled, the kind of smile that hinted at mischief.
"i don't invite you to a dance i think i failed as your cousin." he offered his hand, waiting to either be rejected or accepted.
the night had been an utter success thus far, which as one of the gala’s hosts, was an undeniable feat. it was important to honour fracasso antonini, and despite her close friendship with francesca, constance wasn’t at all biased. she couldn’t be — her position at the table forbade such a thing, although, that didn’t mean it was the same case for everyone.
crystal glass in hand, the woman took a long sip of her drink, her dark eyes peering from the top of the champagne flute, closely examining every attendee as they passed her, her focus soon being interrupted by the sound of her dear cousin’s voice.
glancing up at the man with a raised brow, she chuckled at his words. “well, you’re certainly correct about that.” her tone was dead-pan yet laced with the faintest ounce of playfulness that only someone close to her would be capable of detecting. “i’ll gladly dance with you. i will take any excuse to get out of this seat.” at that, she graciously took kai’s hand before leading him onto the dance floor. “now tell me, how has your evening been so far?”
everything around her is a silver pool of light, the people who surround her feel the benefit of it. it makes you calm, she holds you captivated in her palm.
THE HUMAN EMBODIMENT OF SUNSHINE ⸻ carrying your heart on your sleeve, a smile as bright as the sun, the helplessness in being alone, shakespeare’s tragedy open next to an untouched breakfast, a symphony in an empty ballroom, sweet nothings spoken in a thick french accent, love letters that you’ll never send, repressed desire.
trigger warning: miscarriage, infertility, divorce, car accident & death.
NAME: évelyne ines chaudoir.
NICKNAMES: eve, evie.
BIRTHDAY & AGE: september 6th; 59 years old.
ZODIAC: virgo.
BIRTHPLACE: paris, france.
OCCUPATION: doctor for the bastion.
GENDER: cis woman, she/her.
SEXUALITY: bisexual.
RELATIONSHIP STATUS: divorced; currently single.
THREE POSITIVE TRAITS: gentle, affectionate, compassionate.
THREE NEGATIVE TRAITS: reserved, self-critical.
CHARACTER PARALLELS: celia foote; the help. jane bennet; pride & prejudice. donna moss; the west wing.
SONG INSPIRATIONS: hey lover; the daughters of eve. la foule; édith piaf. dernière danse; indila. suddenly i see; kt tunstall. grace kelly; mika. cupid; fifty fifty.
TO SUMMARIZE !
coming from a family of humble means, évelyne grew up in paris, the eldest of four children. her parents owned an antique store, a business they built from the ground up. a lot of their time was spent working overtime in order to put food on the table, leaving eve to take care of her siblings when her parents weren’t around, but she didn’t mind it. she was a born caregiver, always wanting to make sure everyone around her were as happy as could be.
education was incredibly important to her. she wanted to make the most of the opportunities present to her, especially considering how hard her parents worked to put her through one of the finest schools in the city. it was something she never took for granted, and her drive for success fuelled her. her sights were set on a career in medicine and she wasn’t going to stop for anything or anyone.
once university finally rolled around, she was offered a scholarship to medical school — she worked herself to the bone to get to become what she’d always wanted: a doctor.
at the age of thirty, she married her first love — she was certain they were soulmates, that they were going to spend the rest of their lives together, but by the age of forty almost exactly ten years since they tied the knot, her marriage ended.
she has no children with her ex husband. five years into their marriage, she fell pregnant, but it ended in miscarriage at 10 weeks. they tried to conceive again without any luck before consulting with a fertility doctor and being told that the chances of her being able to carry to full term or even get pregnant naturally again were significantly low. for a long time she struggled with the fact that she wasn’t going to be a mother, and it was the reason for her husband divorcing her.
when she first moved to london for a fresh start, she worked at london’s biggest hospital for a few years as a trauma surgeon before she found her way to the bastion, introduced to her by a close friend who worked within the establishment. she has been there for around thirteen years now, and is content with where she’s at professionally. sure, dedicating her services to the underworld wasn’t what she had in mind when first pursuing medicine, but it has been one of the most eye-opening, exhilarating experiences of her life… so much so that it makes the hectic life of a doctor at the average hospital pale in comparison.
several years ago, her brother and his wife were involved in a fatal car accident and were killed instantly upon impact. they left behind a son, who moved to london a few months after the tragedy for a change. évelyne has always been close to her nephew, but the deaths of her brother and sister-in-law strengthened their relationship and she has since become a motherly figure to the young man.
in her spare time, she enjoys reading, playing the piano, visiting museums. she also has an interest in linguistics, often educating herself on different languages and learning them — she speaks five languages fluently: french, english, italian, russian, and she’s currently learning mandarin.