the stealthy maid

Viola Solomon. Housekeeper to the Underwoods. Witch.

[tv-lestat]

Even though Lestat should have moved to give Viola more room on the porch, he stood his ground and waited - long enough to make it uncomfortable - before smirking and taking a few steps back. It was hardly a surprise that the house had a history. Most did, after all, although he rarely saw a physical decay - or evidence of the a rotten outside matching the inside. Lestat didn’t know very much about the Underwood twins, but he had read enough in Madeline’s mind to be acutely aware of their taboo relationship. But given their family history, he might have been more shocked if they had been strictly platonic. He leaned one hand against the edge of the railing, his clear nails scraping the dirt off distastefully. “Foolish, yes, but he isn’t ignorant of what he is dealing with.” Nathaniel was one of the mortals Armand had confided in - the first one, if he wasn’t mistaken; it was his voice that had been on the recording. “I haven’t spoken to him myself.” The few times Lestat had come into contact with him, Nathaniel had seemed utterly terrified. It was ironic, considering the vampire he had chosen to consort with. He waved his hand, as though to put Viola’s concerns at ease. “Either way, the association protects him.” …Sort of. It could only go so far. Armand wouldn’t be able to keep tabs on him, but Lestat respected the connection enough to not bother Nathaniel for his sake. 

He laughed richly at Viola’s “joke”, even though the woman hardly cracked a smile, and pushed away from the railing as he closed the space between them. “We have an open slot at the theater.” He smiled, looking down at Viola thoughtfully. Tapping two fingers against his lips, he shook his head, but his voice was distant. “It isn’t really about fooling them. I don’t care if they know. I mean, it doesn’t matter to me. Oh, but that’s not quite right. It does matter, because I want to say it. I enjoy it. You can’t imagine what it’s like.” Lestat leaned closer, his head tilting down, and his voice also dropped to a whisper. “I seek them out from the stage. I reach out and grasp - connect - with their thoughts, pull them to me, and the embrace is extraordinarily intimate. A connection based on pure truth, even if it is taken as lies. I can tell them my name. I can say what I am. But so few know the truth.” He pulled back, not smiling anymore. “It is a flagrant, unapologetic search… but not for attention. Rather… it is for understanding.” 

The subject of Claudia was instantly sobering. Lestat’s eyes narrowed, but he wasn’t taken aback by it. He lifted his eyebrows, not bothering to hide his amusement. “No? What would you have pegged me as?” 

[violasolomon-blog]

She simply glared at him as she moved away. This one enjoyed pushing himself to the limit with others. He would just have to be careful how far he pushed himself with her. She wasn't something to be dealt with lightly, even though she hadn't engaged in the practice in years. It was like riding a bike; you never forget. "As long as he understands what he's gotten himself into." The protection aspect calmed her nerves a bit. Their ways were different, and it appeared they sometimes took on humans as pets. Or something of that sort. Still, Viola was well versed in the area of protection. When he invaded her personal space again, she scowled but remained calm. Any commotion she made would be noticed. Viola listened to him as she spoke. It was true he had a lot of pull over people. She'd seen his posters and the lines of people waiting outside the theater to see him. If Viola had been a weaker woman, she might have succumbed to his charm. It was evident Madeline had somewhat, though she wondered if Madeline could ever fully succumb to anyone as strong willed as she was. When he pulled back, she relaxed her face slightly, though not by much. "It can be difficult to be understood in any form. Human or not. People are always afraid of things that are different. Things they don't understand. Not the norm. But still so drawn to it." She thought of the twins and their relationship. Doubtless if they were ever found out, there would be a backlash. Madeline would never be able to leave the house again. Yet she knew people were interested in the family. It sickened her. As if they were some act in a circus to be gawked at. But she couldn't expect anything different from a town full of hypocrites and Bible thumpers.

Viola caught the subtle change in his expression when she mentioned his daughter. "It would be hard to peg you down to a few specific nouns. But I can say father wasn't my initial thought. You seem quite young yourself. I assume the child is of your kind as well?" The thought of a vampire child unnerved her. To damn someone so young to a life such as that seemed ghastly. Viola was aware that vampires didn't age, as most other people were. She wondered how the girl dealt with not being able to age physically. It seemed to her as eternal purgatory. Viola gave a short laugh. "See. I'm the perfect example. Something I don't fully understand, yet I am curious about."

[tv-lestat]

"Very little surprises me." Lestat was still smiling, although his eyes were analytical, almost cold, even though there wasn’t a trace of threat in them. He wasn’t there to be intimidating - but there was an unnerving stillness about their kind that he often used to his advantage. Lestat lifted his eyebrows at the way Viola said ‘needs’ and then laughed, his eyes practically dancing with amusement. "Oh, I imagine any town would suit my needs. I have a rather eclectic palate.” There was no use in hiding the obvious fact that he killed. He had his own way of doing it - rather discriminately, despite his teachings - but that was nothing he thought to share. For now he would keep it a mystery. 

It was immediately obvious that Viola had no idea that her houseguest was on close terms with Armand. Nathaniel. Lestat had mistaken him for Daniel at first, partly to be purposefully aggravating, since their names were so similar, and they were both tall and blond. A superficial likeness, perhaps - and adding Cate to Armand’s mini-coven of mortals, it seemed that he simply preferred blondes. While this might have amused him in the past, Lestat simply looked thoughtful as he flicked a piece of dust off the white cuff of his shirt. “This house is rather depressing, isn’t it?” He mused, as if completely unaware that Viola had just asked him a question. His gaze flicked back to her almost lazily and he shrugged, finally responding in a low drawl, “Friends? Perhaps. I really don’t know the extent of their involvement, if I’m being completely honest.” 

Nodding, Lestat smirked as Viola talked about the other witches. “Of course they do. But what is better than hiding in plain sight? If it were up to me… oh, but you’re asking the wrong person, aren’t you?” The Vampire Lestat was a way to shove the truth into the world. Even the lyrics were thinly veiled secrets, betraying ancient vampires that could destroy him simply by willing it, and yet… no one truly believed in it. It was disappointing, yet somehow satisfying.

[violasolomon-blog]

Viola walked further out onto the porch, closing the door behind her. It wasn't worth taking the risk Madeline or Roderick would overhear. And she had already let in enough bugs to last a week. Viola crossed her arms in front of her, tilting her head slightly as she surveyed him. "This house has a history. Not all of it happy." She was aware that everyone in Walpole tended to steer clear of the house. Not only did it give off a ghoulish appearance, the rumors of what had occurred there didn't help matters. Viola knew of the horrible history of the house and the Underwood family. There was even an entire room that had been dedicated to fiendish occult practices over the decades, though Viola kept it locked. She sometimes wondered if the twins really were cursed, as so many rumors spoke of. Her eyes narrowed. "Well, Mr. Whitaker can be terribly foolish. Not always the best at judgement, poor boy. Breaks nearly everything in this house." Viola thought back to the night he'd come stumbling in drunk as a skunk. Kissing Madeline. Nathaniel's lingering glances didn't go unnoticed by Viola. Madeline was breathtakingly beautiful, but she knew what would happen if Nathaniel ever got too close to her. Viola almost shuddered to think. Over the years, Roderick had begun getting increasingly paranoid and protective of his sister. Though they were friends, Viola was certain Roderick wouldn't hesitate to become violent with Nathaniel if he came between he and Madeline.

"If they wish to hide in plain sight, so be it. I prefer to hide the old fashioned way. Out of the public eye. Helps to keep my mysterious aura." Viola smirked. "I know all about that band of yours. A vampire pretending to be a human pretending to be a vampire. So many layers there. You certainly are one for attention. Maybe I should start a rock group. Viola and Her Witch Bitches." She laughed, though there was very little humor in it. Viola found little amusement in life anymore. Through all the things she'd seen and had to endure, a type of pessimism had taken over. "Though I have to give you credit for fooling so many people. Everyone that looks at me probably assumes I'm a witch. I've often thought if I walked around in a black hat and carried a broom if things would be easier on me. They're already half afraid of me in this town."

She paused for a moment, her eyes lazily roaming around the front yard. "You have a daughter, correct?" Viola's gaze returned to him. "That music box Miss Madeline sold to you. I remember she said it was for your daughter. Odd. I would never have pegged you for a father."

[hotnight]

[tv-lestat]

The blank expression made Viola even more difficult to read, but Lestat enjoyed the challenge. He smirked as she talked, flicking his tongue across his teeth, and lifted his head in silent acknowledgment when she mentioned fire. It was preferable that he know up front just how much she knew - although he already imagined it to be a great deal. “Mm, yes, although this lovely town is beyond burning anyone at the stake.” He had no idea that she was thinking of similar incidences. Briefly, his own thoughts went back on some buried memory, one that made him appear almost solemn, but the expression faded and he smiled again. “We both have quite a history here.” Lestat didn’t mean the two of them personally - well, not Viola, at least - but Louis was the original owner of his plantation. Of course, neither one of them were around for any sort of witch trial, but he had heard his fair share of superstition. “I imagine you feel right at home. So do I.” Both of them clearly intended to stay in Walpole; at this point, it was a matter of discovering just how they would stay and… co-exist. The witches kept to themselves and the vampires did the same. Rarely did they mingle with one another… but with the strange incidences that were happening, occurrences that he knew had nothing to do with either of their groups, it might be time to bridge the gap. There were powers they possessed that the witches did not, and vice versa.

He’d expected an answer similar to the one she gave about Madeline, so Lestat only waved his hand dismissively. “I have no interest in Miss Madeline’s thoughts.” His gaze lingered on the dark home and what he could see of the interior. “Or this house. I do find it… curious, however…” He made a gesture with the cello case to a forgotten tin of Altoids. “For someone so paranoid of our kind - rightly so, of course - you’re sharing your home with someone who is very… close with one of us. Or did you know that already?” He shrugged, tilting his head back slightly to look up at the cracked stone above the front door. “But that isn’t what I came to talk about. Are you associated with the others? The ones who are like you?”

[violasolomon-blog]

Viola's brown eyes darkened at the thought of burning. She had witnessed her own grandmother dragged into an empty field, doused with gasoline, and set aflame. Viola had been forced to watch as a warning against future practice. They didn't even tie her down. They set her on fire, and she ran in circles, screaming. Viola swallowed hard, easily blocking the thought from his vision. "You'd be surprised what they do to witches in these parts." That smile. She wondered how many naive souls fell victim to it. "It's always been my home. I've never known any other. Unlike yourself, I'm sure. Your obviously of French heritage, and not the Cajun type. I can see how a town like this would suit your - needs." She spat out the last word, though Viola had no room to judge. Her powers frightened even herself at times, though she rarely used black magic anymore. She could as easily kill a human being as Lestat could. Both of them were monsters in their own right. It took her a moment to register his comment about the Altoids. Viola's gaze flickered towards the ground, to the empty tin. Silently, she cursed the Whitaker boy for being so forgetful. New tins seemed to pop up every other day. It seems he'd taken her advice about using more. That didn't mean he had to leave them lying around like beer bottles outside Eudora's. Viola didn't have long to dwell on how she would reprimand Nathaniel. Lestat's next comment nearly struck her dead. Her eyes moved back to his, wide. For a moment, she forgot how to breathe. Viola had been a ffearlessin her youth. Ever since Madeline came into her life, she learned how to fear.

"What are you talking about?" Whatever he was talking about, Viola was ignorant of the matter. Clearly, he was speaking of Nathaniel. "Do you mean to tell me that Mr. Whitaker is friends with one of your kind?" Viola could hardly speak the words due to the chill that ran through her blood. Foolish boy. If he had invited one of them inside... She would have a strong word with him about all of this. Granted, she would have to reveal herself, but it was worth keeping the family safe. Viola raised an eyebrow as he mentioned the other witches in town. Scoffing, she shook her head. "No. I hold no association with them or any others. I belong to no coven. Or whatever that group calls themselves. Apparently they parade around as sisters. I know the eldest, Finola. She's fairly powerful. The other two I haven't heard much about. Seems a bit foolish for them to let the entire town know what they are. Unless everyone in town thinks they're kooks."

[agothicstoryrpg-blog-blog-blog]

❝A valet, of stealthy step, thence conducted me, in silence, through many dark and intricate passages in my progress to the studio of his master.❞ 

Name ➣ Viola Solomon Age ➣ 65 Incarnation Of ➣ The Valet from The Fall of the House of Usher Occupation ➣ Housekeeper/Witch Face Claim ➣ Jessica Lange

Past Life

There are only a few mentions of the valet in the story. He is described as having a “stealthy step” and is the one who takes the narrator to meet Roderick Usher.

Present Life in Walpole

Raise by her eccentric grandmother, Viola was taught witchcraft at an early age. When she was 12, she began working for Josephine Underwood. Viola worked for many years as the maid for Roderick and Madeline’s aunt. When the twins moved in, she became the personal maid to Madeline. They formed a close bond, and Viola was never far behind the young girl. When the twins turned eighteen, Madeline begged her aunt to let Viola accompany them. She got her wish, and Viola traveled to Walpole. While the Underwoods hired a few more staff members, Viola was always head of the house, making sure everything was in order. While Madeline and Roderick went off traveling, Viola stayed behind to look after the house. She is a powerful witch who is knowledge is both white and black magic. She keeps her practices secretive due to having seen her grandmother burned for practicing witchcraft.

After many years, Viola is the only one left at Underwood House, aside from the twins. All the other staff have left under strange circumstances. Being the only one, she is kept quite busy with the cooking and cleaning. And then there’s Madeline, who is starting to need more and more attention. Viola looks upon Madeline as a daughter, and takes special care of her. She is the one who calms Madeline down after fights with Roderick and the young woman’s confidant. Madeline considers Viola her only friend and never refers to her as “maid”. Viola has become increasingly wary of Roderick due to his declining mental state. Afraid of losing her position and having to leave Madeline, she keeps quiet. She gives Madeline remedies to keep her well, but magic always comes with a price.

Connections

Roderick Underwood ➣ Roderick is the master of the house and Viola’s boss. She respects him in a way that one would of their boss, but she is grown uncomfortable of him.

Madeline Underwood ➣ Viola dotes upon Madeline as a mother would. She is Madeline’s friend and confidant. Viola is very protective of her, and she is the main one who takes care of her.

Personality

+ Observant, Hardworking, Caring

- Blunt, Sarcastic, Cautious

Interested in Viola? You’re in luck! She’s available. {Note: Viola is currently a side blog being played by the admin for plot purposes. If there is interest, the player will definitely relinquish portrayal of her.)

[tv-lestat]

"Charming, aren’t you?" Lestat said with a slow smile, but didn’t seem to be anything but amused. His gaze briefly went to the cello, since Viola was looking at it, but he met her gaze and nodded appreciatively when she agreed. "Good. Yes, I had suspicions about you, but it seems you already know a great deal about me - or my kind.” He laughed richly, something in his eyes brightening at the assessment that the ones she knew hadn’t been terribly bright. “It really isn’t. Odd, I mean.” Tapping his fingers idly against the case, he tilted his head and continued in a matter-of-fact way, certain to keep his voice low and directed only at her. Even though Lestat could hear nothing in the house, he knew how to keep himself from being overheard. “Not many of them move with the times, you see. They are the ones who won’t survive it.” He sighed heavily, as if it were such a terrible thing, but his expression registered nothing but mockery. “The danger of being immortal in a mortal world!”

Lestat turned the cello case over, calmly unlatching it and opening it right there, as if to prove the instrument to be perfectly restored. “Beautiful, isn’t it? His work is always immaculate.” He took his time to replace it in the velvet case before speaking again. “I came to see you, just as I said. I wanted to learn about you; you intrigued me, you know, when you so easily guarded that girl’s thoughts from me. You must know a great deal, to take the time to put up barriers against my kind.”

[violasolomon-blog]

"I could say the same about you." She met his smile with a blank expression. Viola wasn't one for smiles, unless they involved Madeline. "I know quite a bit about your kind. There's more of them in Walpole then I would like, but I'm sure you think that way about our kind." There was a slight inflection of humor in her tone, but her face remained solemn. "You didn't strike me as one stuck in the past. I'm not sure how old you are, but physically you don't much older than 20. Probably why you act as you do. Charming everyone. Or attempting to at least." She'd seen how he was at the estate sale with Madeline and the few others that were there. Viola noticed how he lowered his voice, and for that she was grateful. "There are plenty of dangers for both our kinds. Fire tends to hate both equally." She shuddered slightly, thinking of the numerous witches or those accused of it having been burned in Walpole over the decades. These things still happened out in the swamps or deserted fields. She still couldn't wrap her head around the fact there was an occult store in town. Perhaps it was only certain types of witches Walpole hated. And feared.

Her gaze dropped to the cello. Viola couldn't help but agree with him. It looked exquistite. Just as it had once looked when Madeline was younger. Hopefully playing would be more of an enjoyment now than it had been then. Either way, Madeline would be pleased. Viola looked back up at him, an inquisitive look on her face. "More about me? Well, you came to the right place. Better to go straight to the source." When he spoke of the barriers, Viola stiffened. Not that she had suspected he would be ignorant of the fact, but it confirmed her suspcisiouns that a few thoughts had leaked. Her eyes narrowed. "I put up barriers because Miss Madeline's thoughts are her own. They're especially not anything you need to be interested in. Same goes for why you can't just waltz into this house."

[tv-lestat]

When the door opened, Lestat wasn’t surprised to see that it was Viola there - even though he had no way of knowing if anyone was home, aside from the vehicles that occupied the driveway. He smiled slowly and leaned one elbow against the frame. “Viola! The lady of the hour. Exactly the person I wanted to see!” He held the cello case by his side, and his thumbnail scraped over one of the latches even as his gaze remained cool and steady. He laughed when she asked him that, his eyes gleaming unnaturally in the porch light. “Oh, yes, I think you can help me.” Lestat straightened, his hand lowering form its position against the door, but he only brushed the backs of his fingers over his mouth as he studied the woman in front of him. His fingers curled and he smiled, but his eyes remained distantly scrutinizing. “We can drop the pretenses, yes? It would save us both some time.” Just as it had been at the estate sale, he found himself unable to read her thoughts. At first, Lestat had thought the power extended to Madeline, but then realized otherwise when the girl’s thoughts were readable once Viola was not present. He might have dismissed the whole incident as being natural, if it weren’t for the strange shift and the obvious use of power. There were, after all, some mortals whose thoughts were not easily accessed.

But that wasn’t the case here. Lestat didn’t know what she was or who she was, but he was undoubtedly intrigued. There were other witches in Walpole, ones he hadn’t spoken with yet, but Viola seemed to be quite… on her own. 

[violasolomon-blog]

She raised an eyebrow at his informal greeting. The way he leaned against the door frame didn't go unnoticed, and she scowled even more at it. Her eyes met his briefly before glancing down at the case in his hand. Madeline's cello. Viola had wondered if he would keep good on his word to get it repaired. He seemed he had, though she knew he had ulterior motives. That was revealed when he said she was who he had come to see. No one ever came to see Viola. She was always in the background, where she needed to be. In the background and watchful. Her face relaxed slightly as she spoke. "If saving time means less time to have you around, then yes. Let's drop them." Viola straightened, still not allowing him to enter. Not until she knew more. "I know what you are, and I assume you know what I am. Though I'm taking a risk with that assumption, as I've met plenty of your kind who aren't that terribly bright. Odd, considering how long they've been stuck on this earth."

Viola glanced down at the case again. "I see you brought Miss Madeline's cello back. She'll be pleased." She kept her voice low. Roderick was in the very back of the house in the library she guessed. Madeline was in her studio, but she sometimes surprised Viola by appearing out of nowhere. She'd always been a sneaky child, and Viola didn't want to risk Madeline overhearing their conversation. "I also assume there's more to this social visit than the return of a cherished instrument?"