iStoleYurVamps
First thing, I love our avatar, two I moved a section over this here because it is cannon now! <3
Once upon a time she was Emillie Seer, a child prodigy that took the classical music scene by storm; now she was Ofie, a girl who nobody knew, but still they came to listen.
It had been a lifetime since she held a violin in her hands but one might have not have guessed it by the way she played, the notes sang through the cold night as the audience looked on bundled up in warm coats and scarves. Overhead fireworks from the main city district burst into various patterns and lit up the park in an array of colours. The brunette did not know how she had ended up here, playing Auld Lang Syne to welcome in the New Year, she had certainly not planned on it but when asked she could not refuse. Especially when the request came from one of the friendliest customers of the Coffee Shop in which she had been working.
The celebration in the park was always quite small, appealing more to families and the older generation. Most people gathered in the main square to be in middle of the party that was going on across town and would probably continue into the night, compared to that this was always serene and hauntly. She was not complaining though, even though she did occasionally hit the clubs with Sid, she did not think she could cope with how busy they would be tonight. Nightlife was still knew to her, she could dress up in all the clothes and drink with her friend until dawn, a tactic she had used to distract herself from her thoughts. But at heart she was still a girl who liked nothing better than some good wine and a dusty old book.
A few weeks ago she was on Castor, and a few weeks ago she had lost him. She did not cry, she did not let it show on her face, but she felt like something was missing and had tried to fill that void with one night stands and new experiences. Live every day like an adventure, that is what she had promised herself, and she had been enjoying it - It was bitter sweet, she felt grounded and optimistic for the future, but had lost her pillar of support. She missed him.
Packing the instrument back in its case and carrying it by her side she stopped to send a New Years text to her friend, not expecting to hear back until the morning. The brunette fixed her coat and felt an ever so obvious shiver run up her spine, it was snowing gently and she could tell by the sky it would probably just come down heavier as the night went on. She smiled, hoping that Sid had covered up for once, or else she would catch her death.
After a moment she wandered over to one of the few stalls that were scattered around the area, she was not planning to stick around, but a cup of coffee for the walk home would not go amiss. She was a little concerned about walking through the city with an instrument, she was not able to return it to the music shop until morning and the area which she walked through was anything but classy. Something that she had overlooked when she agreed to the event.
She took the cup from the man and smiled, holding out the money in a gloved hand as the case rested against her legs. Steam rose from the lid and danced off, warming her face.
New years eve social dinner party held by a man you knew for a fact was sleeping with not just his secretary but also his personal assistant along with his intern? Oh yes Marlo, how he would love to go and verbally rip into the man for his infidelity to his wife who was battling breast cancer. Elzo was a man of questionable morals, but ten minutes of being near that slime had made his skin crawl. He'd left that work related party and gone to one that he felt held actual promise. The park was lit up, it had better food and wine, and it didn't have as many rich pricks like himself at every single turn. He could admit that much. Too many rich assholes would sour a gathering faster than the stuff they stuck on children's candies.
That, and the park was calmer, more organic than forced. It gave the new year the right tone. One of serenity if that could be ironic enough, given how the name was for someone who had to him brought anything but.
That subject was a world away. What wasn't was the sight of a woman he knew from such a world, playing elegantly on a violin and it nearly making him stop to gape like a fool. Of all the things he could have seen that night, Ofie playing the violin so well was not one of them. Sadly, before he could go talk to her, he remembered himself. She did not know Elzo, she knew castor. This was a second opportunity, as well as a different dynamic. He was not a prince, he was a rich man posing as a everyday man. He was a strange man late at night with an interest in a woman. A different dynamic, a different world.
Still, he'd be damned if he let the opportunity pass him by.
"Here, Twenty. For my drink and her's. Change can be your tip." He told the barista, inserting himself into the transaction into her space. Blue eyes met her warmly and he smiled, noting the pink hints of cold on her face, yet a nice healthy look to her. Loss of Castor had to have been rough, but she seemed to be holding up alright.
"Consider a gift for playing so beautifully. It's been a while since I heard that song played by someone with skill."
Her hand fumbled rather awkwardly as the man stood at the stall reached to take her money; but then instead accepted the offer of the stranger that had approached them. There had been a time where she could not afford food or drink and because of that she never refused it when it came free. You never know when your luck would change and she was not stubborn enough to protest her independence.
Her hand came back, money in her pocket, both hands around her steaming cup.
Golden eyes drifted to the side to look at the man before they darted back to the drink, he was a stranger, but there was something about him that made her heart twinge. There were many people in Destiny City with a vibrant range of hair colours, but she had only ever met one with white hair before. Holding her cards closer to her chest and doing all she could not to project her thoughts on her face, she just smiled sweetly, looking back in his direction.
It was a kind gesture and not one she could ignore.
"T-thank you." The words came from her mouth when she realised she had paused, her mind caught up in thought as she looked at him. His handsome face had caught her off guard and his cold eyed had trapped her - was she actually attracted to this man? It was very unlike her. Her face flushed with more than the cold as she decided to just accept the compliment, it was a simple song, but it would almost be rude to point that out.
She brought a gloved hand to her mouth, biting the tip and pulling it from her hand before that too found its way to her coat pocket, the same coat he had brought to her not too long ago. She then held her naked hand to the stranger, fingertips painted black. "My name is Ofie. Happy New Year, Mr."
What else could she say?
She was much shyer when he wasn't Castor, but then, he recalled how closed off she'd been at first. Cold and in pain. Now some of her pain had healed, but how could he expect a not reserved woman to a virtual stranger? It was a disconnect that came sometimes and he almost forgot. Elzo didn't know her. Elzo could know her, even if Castor couldn't. Not as a friend, not as a human. That was what she needed though. He hadn't sought her, but he'd damn himself if he didn't take this opportunity.
"What? Don't people tell you good you play?" He frowned finding it a shame. Music was beautiful and he could only play a child's instrument.
"I don't know many people that can play that well in this day and age. Well, those outside of concerts who've made it their careers."
He inserted himself to her space, and he wasn't about to lose her now. Plus, she was just cute to see outside of his senshi form when she looked at him like it was an early Christmas.
"And a most pleasurable New Year to you Ofie. I'm Elzo Xanis." Taking her hand, he pressed his lips to her finger tips, noting the warmth in them.
"Ofie- Short for Ofelia?" He asked, eyes flickering to her nails. He wasn't sure he liked the color. Dark was dark, maybe she just wasn't the festive type.
"I hope so far this year is looking good for you?"
"They used to." She nodded as she reflected on the time she spent on the Competition Circuit.
She received so much praise that it had lost all meaning to her; call it overconfidence but there was a time where she expected a standing ovation and for flowers to be left for her backstage after every performance. It was just the world she was apart of, a reality very different to the one she lived now. "But it has been a long time since I played casually or professionally. This was just a favour someone asked of me, there was some issues with the band that were meant to be playing tonight." Her brow farrowed slightly, at least she thought that was what had happened, the person who asked her to preform was not very forthcoming with the details.
"So, I appreciate it. It is very nice of you, Elzo." His name left her lips and she could not help but smile, it was a nice name, an odd thing to note maybe. She raised her card cup with with a small nod of her head and took a small drink, before she continued. "That is such a wonderful sounding name though, where does your family come from?" She would not make a fool of herself by trying to guess.
He was not a judge, he was not a die hard fan, he was just someone who had enjoyed her performance and it made his words seem very sincere. Ofie blushed and looked away as he brought her hand to his lips, expecting a simple handshake it took her back a little and made her insides flutter. Was he hitting on her? She could never really tell.
What she did note is the distance between them was dwindling, but it did not make her uncomfortable. What was he up to? She thought. Maybe he was just looking for a New Years Kiss? She tilted her head one side at the thought, well she would not be totally against it, he seemed harmless enough.
"Yea, that is right. Ofelia Delilah Bathory." She had just gone by her nickname for so long that her full name felt strange as it left her mouth, even though she had picked her own name, every word of it was taken from people who she used to care about. It is the pieces she had kept from them after they could not longer recognise who she was.
"Well, we are only about three minuets in. The new year is still very young. But I have a good feeling about it."
She let out a small laugh as she kept her hand in his, she was dumbfounded and certainly not used to the attention but at the same time not against it. "What are your plans for the rest of the night? Are you out with friends? Going to attend the Parties in the centre?" She was making small talk, but she also wanted to know if he was actually out with anybody. She was quite sure she was the only person in the whole of DC who was spending tonight alone.
"Used to? He made it a question. She was trained, that much was certain. The way she held herself, the skill at which she played spoke of a professionalism he saw with the bands his brother hired out, the ones at the fancy dinner parties and various shows he attended through the year.
"Shame then. You have the skill. Takes a blind man not to see it or appreciate it." He blew on his hand before rubbing them together, fending off the chill that dominated the late night air. As much as he was hail, a fan of the cold he'd never quite be. Gloves pulled over his hands, he smiled warmly at her, offering that they walk for a while in the park. A cafe was down the way, still open for the holiday, and it would be as good a place as any to sit and enjoy the warmth while chatting.
"I'm Italian, though my mother wished to name myself as far from my roots as possible. Ofelia is an old name though, classic and yet beautiful in it's timelessness. Your full name sounds English, lower in the isle." He mused winking.
"I travel a lot for work, so you run into a bunch of different people and I learned that brits can be a bit.. frank where exactly they are from. As far as the new year goes, I heard a lovely musician with an even lovelier name. My plans however are woefully void. I ditched a posh party my brother dragged me to. Not my scene." Technically, it was supposed to be by nature of his work and 'social status'.
"If you don't have anything planned, I'd love to hear more of your music, er, or just about you. You don't have to play. Truly, it was just a very lovely performance."
"I would never have guessed." Admittedly, she did not know many Italians, if any at all.
The brunette slid her glove back onto her hand before she started to walk through the park with Elzo. In one hand she carried her warm drink and in the other was the case where the violin was stored. She did not know where they were heading, but he seemed cold and she instinctively followed when he started to wander.
She smiled at his words, shrugging her shoulders and letting a small chuckle escape her lips. "You got me there, my last name is Hungarian, but my parents met in London, where my father was born. She was a professor of Literature at the London Metropolitan University and my father at the time was an actor on the West End. My mother was American by birth, and after she had me they decided it was best to move to Destiny City; she was a Crystal girl, and very much wanted me to be one too." Her mother had always cared so deeply about her education, so much so she moved her whole life back to her place of origin so her daughter could follow in her footsteps. How ashamed she would be to hear where she had ended up, all those hopes and dreams she had for her, it made her glad she was not around to see it.
"What profession are you in? It must be exciting to be able to travel." He sounded like a rather important person, especially when you noted the fact that he had escaped what sounded like a rather formal event this evening. He seemed rather young to be in such a position?
She looked at his rather confused, shaking her head with a small smile. She was not quite expecting that. "About me? There is not really much to tell. I attended Crystal Academy, preformed as a musician for a number of years; and now I work in a coffee shop. That is it really." Her life as a civilian was rather mundane when push came to shove, she worked through the week and occasionally went out with Sid on the weekends; she spent most nights reading books and searching the newspapers for career prospects. She tried to keep busy, Mjolnir always had more than enough on her plate, but as Ofelia it was hard to keep her mind in the present. Away from lingering thoughts of times past.
She took another drink and looked up at the man walking besides her.
"How about you? What is your story?"
He listened, letting each drop of information pool before he picked it apart. She was different towards him and while he expected as much, he also couldn't help but notice that she was more open than she was. Even with him As Castor, she was a lot more open than in the past.
A small hum, he led her into the warmth of the cafe, quickly ushering her towards the plush seats. A lucky break, as the second they sat down, it was like the entire blocks worth of revelers for new years followed them in.
"I work in uh, well." It was a touch awkward to admit just what he did when he was looking at a barista.
"I own a hotel chain." He muttered. "The one downtown that just opened all those boutiques on the main street? Thats... my company." Mentally he berated himself. Way to not flash his wealth.
"It was inherited. My brother manages it mostly. I actually ditched him at the fancy dinner party to get away from it."
Looking up at her he grinned. "Glad I did too."
"Gotta say though, I'm an ex Hillworth boy. Think you can handle me? I mean, it's new years, you're ex crystal out after midnight with a handsome Italian ceo that went to Hillworth. What will your mother think?" He joked, making light of it. And flirting. Blatantly.
"Oh? I can not say I have seen, you must forgive me I really am quite oblivious to these things; I do not get around much." Well, that was not completely true; she had spent time on another world, stepped through a mirror into another dimension. She just... did not really spend much leisure time around the city itself. She really did need to get out more; and not just to the club with Sid. She needed to go OUT out.
Ofie had thrown away the empty cup on entering the cafe and followed the pale haired man over to a table. She placed her case under her feet and took a seat; elbows resting on the surface and hands propping up her chin. Locks of brown hair fell either side of her face, and for the first time in proper light she got a look at the stranger from the park. She smiled at him almost sweetly.
"It sounds really impressive though! I will make sure to keep my eye out next time." Maybe she was not as secretive as she had been once upon a time. She did not lie to Castor; they never talked about their lives really - they had no place in each others worlds. Besides, her life and her own problems did not hold a candle to what he was going through. She had lost her home - He had lost his Kingdom. "It must be a lot of work, my head is spinning thinking about it. But to get to see other countries, to have that kind of security and recognition. It must be a fun life to lead. All those well dressed foreign ladies and the food."
There was no resentment or jealousy in her voice, just curiosity. This guy must have a girlfriend, she was sure of it. Handsome, rich, charming, single and exotic with a reduced work load due to his brothers duty? This man could not be single.
"Haha, I am sure she is rolling in her grave." She closed her eyes, there was no pleasant way to put that across in conversation; but hoped that she had done it subtly enough to spare his feelings. She had come to terms with it some time ago. Truth was, Cassandra would have thought she was being a promiscuous little slut; even when she was not doing anything untoward she had those words screeched at her quite regularly towards the end.
"Hillworth? Now you were an infamous bunch. I can not say I have ever had the pleasure of talking to a student from there before. I mean, there were occasions where they got into the Academy..." Thinking back she seemed to remember this infamous story about underwear thieves; but the truth was she was too busy studying to listen to gossip. She did not live at the grounds anyway so it was of no concern to her. "I was one of those ice-queens, every year has a few, I honestly think those boys were scared of me - with good reason." She smirked, flicking her hair over her shoulder for comedic effect.
"Afterall, I am not your average Crystal girl, Mr Xanis. So the question is...
Do you think you can handle me?"
