[002] tell me everything that happened

[themuseabandonsyou]

Who: Orpheus (themuseabandonsyou), Kyle, Bigby, Kassandra, and Michael
What: December 2021 catch-all
When: Throughout December
Where: In memory (the Road to Hell, the Underworld), Cellar Door (a fountain square, a small cafe)
Warnings: drug-like mental effects/mind alteration, dog attack

I. they had lights inside their eyes (cw: drug-like mental effects/mind alteration) (Cellar Door - a fountain square)(closed to Kyle)

It may be a pretty dreary day, even by Trench's standards - a light drizzle of rain falling down on the city streets and the sky gray and overcast, but to Orpheus, the city's never been more beautiful. He turns, slowly, circling around a mostly-empty fountain square as he a sweet little melody he picked up from Fern on his guitar while he dances, as if waltzing with an invisible partner. It's a bit of a sight, dressed as he is in a sharp brown tailcoat and a very strange top-hat, not to mention the fact that he seems to glow slightly, golden-toned as if the afternoon sun was hitting him despite the heavy layer of clouds overhead, but if he knows how much he stands out at the moment he doesn't seem to care. He's having a great time.

"Let me call you sweetheart
I'm in love with you
Let me hear you whisper
That you love me too," he sings, to an audience of crows gathering around the rooftops up above. It's cold and wet, but he sings and dances his way through it without a care in the world.

II. did you see the closing window (Cellar Door, a small cafe)(closed to Bigby)

Well, that was something. Orpheus takes... a few days to recover, from whatever it was that made the world seem so relentlessly bright and beautiful and easy, unsure of how to feel about any of it. In a way he sort of mourns the loss, but he knows by now that being so caught up in dreams like that can make it very, very easy to lose sight of what's real, and important. It's easy to let go (especially when it leaves him with such a tremendous headache in its wake).

Once that's over with, though, he gets back to work. The cafe's owner welcomes him back with open arms, thankfully, despite his multiple sudden disappearances - happier that he's safe and not dead than mad that they had to substitute in another act for him a few times. Once they've negotiated his pay, (as much of the spare food left at the end of the day as he can carry home, which includes, excitingly enough, a basket of oranges they're setting aside for him) he sets up on the little stage in the corner and begins to play.

He sticks to mostly classical pieces, as this particular cafe has a bit of an air of sophistication about it, though he can't help but dip into some light improvisation when his mind starts to wander, a flickering glow of little firefly-lights starting to accumulate like dust motes around him whenever he starts to drift off in his own direction. Ultimately it's not a terribly eventful day, and as the shop starts to close up he steps off the stage to some polite applause from the patrons, smiling and taking a shallow bow. As he slings his guitar over his shoulder and gets ready to go, he glances around the room, looking to see if there's anyone who seems to want to talk to him. It's not too uncommon for someone to have questions for him, or to have something else they'd like to say, and he's more than happy to wait around for that.

III. did you hear the slamming door (cw: dog attack) (The Road to Hell)(closed to Kassandra)

The desert stretches off into infinity all around, no mountains in the distance nor stars above by which to get one's bearings. The only things for miles are a vast expanse of sand, a half-buried set of train tracks, and the occasional telephone pole jutting up out of the ground. Orpheus, bedraggled and dusty and exhausted, treks slowly along the tracks, his guitar slung over his back as he watches his feet. Occasionaly he looks up and around, searching for some sign that he's making progress, but there's none to be had, and he goes back to the endless plodding of putting one foot in front of the other.

He's not sure how long he's been out here. Long enough that the sun should've risen again by now, he thinks? But there's no way of knowing for sure. All he knows is that he's tired, and thirsty, and that he can't stop for anything despite that. He keeps on - looks up again, and this time sees the distant lights of what looks like a city on the horizon. Surprised, he pauses, then steels himself and sets off again, a grim determination settled over him. He sings to himself, quietly, eyes forward.

"Wait for me, I'm coming."

IV. they moved forward, and my heart died (The Underworld)(closed to Michael)

"Young man."

A low and booming voice comes from the balcony above the factory floor, a man silhouetted against the bright light spilling from the open door behind him. Orpheus, standing among the rows of machines with Eurydice next to him, shields his eyes and squints upwards, catching his first glimpse of the Lord of the Dead. Hades watches him with a critical eye, and speaks again.

"I don't think we've met before. You're not from around here, son. I don't know who the hell you are, but I can tell you don't belong. These," and he gestures to the workers at their stations, heads bowed low but watching the proceedings as subtly as they can manage, "are working people, son. Law-abidng citizens. Go back to where you came from - you're on the wrong side of the fence."

Persephone, all in black and looking deeply concerned, strides into the room and surveys the situation, apparently having been summoned by one of the workers. Seeing Orpheus, her eyes widen in surprise, before she sets her jaw and looks up at her husband. "Hades, I know this boy."

"One of the unnemployed."

"His name is Orpheus."

"You stay out of this." Unimpressed, Hades turns back to Orpheus and Eurydice. "You hear me son? You better run!"

All but shaking with exhaustion from his long journey and facing down an unfamiliar and unsympathetic god, Orpheus hesitates only a moment before shaking his head. Alarmed, Eurydice grabs his arm and tries to pull him away.

"No! Orpheus, you should go."

"I'm not going back alone. I came to take her home."

For a moment, Hades seems taken aback. Then, he laughs - a low, bemused chuckle building into a loud bark of disbelief. "Who the hell do you think you are? Who the hell do you think you're talking to? She couldn't go anywhere, even if she wanted to. You're not from around here, son. If you were, then you would know - that everything and everyone in Hadestown, I own."

V. Wildcard

[ ooc: Want to do something with me this month? Let me know at questionableveracity on Plurk or quodVide#2951 on Discord!! ]

Comments

[enblightened]

It is a relief to hear Orpheus play once again. The music that Ahiru has guided him to find do help when he's alone, but there's something more familiar about Orpheus' playing that soothes him too. Though, really, he's been happy with all manner of music he has listened to as of late. The people here have been so kind to aid him in that regard.

It is tonight, though, that Bigby waits until most people have cleared out, keeping to a seat as far back away from others as he can. He doesn't dislike people, but often the more he is around them the harder it is on his nerves. Something one-on-one won't be terrible.

Once others are more or less gone, he goes to approach Orpheus.

"Your music is a welcome return, Orpheus. Have you a moment?"

[themuseabandonsyou]

Orpheus smiles brightly as the other Sleeper approaches, happy to see a familiar face in the crowd.

"Of course!" he says. "I'm glad you think so. It's good to be playing again, after being away for a while like that."

He rolls his shoulders a little bit, still healing from the incident at the Sleeper Farm. By now he's mostly fine, but there's just enough stiffness to remind him when he tries to move in certain ways.

"Is there something you wanted to talk about, though?"

[enblightened]

"Well..." For a moment, Bigby trails off, abashed for a moment. "More a favor to request, albeit I know not how I can give you much in return."

But since he's here to ask, there's no point in dilly-dallying about it.

Idly, he fidgets with the end of his cloak. "I have been meaning to explore other avenues to keep myself busy. In particular, I wished to learn how to play music. I certainly do not think it would be a quick and easy thing to learn, but you are the most talented person I thought to ask."

[themuseabandonsyou]

"Oh!" Orpheus's expression lights up, eyes shining. "That's wonderful! And - thank you, I'm very flattered? Being called the most talented person you could ask. I'd be happy to teach you, and it may be a little easier than you think, depending on what instrument you favor. Some may come more easily to you than others."

He speaks quickly, clearly enthusiastic about the prospect.

"Did you have one in mind already? Or do you want to explore your options? I'd be more than happy to help you with either! And - don't worry about giving me anything in return. People have been teaching me what they know about music my entire life, so it's only fair I pass it along when I have the chance."

[enblightened]

"I do not think of myself as someone who has any particular rhythm. Either way, I shall look forward to your assistance; if nothing else, it will be a delight to learn, even if I am terrible at it."

It's heartwarming to see Orpheus be so enthusiastic. Bigby can't help but feel a bit charmed by it. Even if he fails, it's good to see the man joyous.

"I would like to learn the lute."

[themuseabandonsyou]

"Oh, well, the nice thing about that is, rhythm is something that can be learned," says Orpheus, beaming. "It comes more easily to some people than others? But if you're determined, I'm sure you can do it. It's all about practicing, and not being discouraged when thing sound bad at first!"

Which, they probably will. Even Orpheus struggled a bit the first time he picked up new instruments, and if if Bigby's as new to all this as it sounds like it'd be stranger if he didn't. But as far as Orpheus is concerned, that's all a part of the process.

"I'm not very familiar with the lute specifically," he says, thoughtfully. "But I know how to play a couple of string instruments that are like it! Maybe we could learn together. Or I can teach you the things that apply to all instruments in that family, and you can go from there."