Week One

[stagemanagers]

[Yesterday, everyone woke up in a strange place and realized that they'd been kidnapped, and also that everyone else around them may or may not be kinnies? Wow, what a weird escalation of kin drama! Given what some people have seen of Spongebob's freaky arm thing, though, maybe it's not that at all?

Your Assistant Director, Hester, showed off her stuff and immediately had her life threatened by Lumpy Space Princess, who got her life threatened right back. Maybe you should keep that in mind if you decide to pay Hester any more visits! She won't be making another public appearance this week, but as promised, she'll be available for visits and consultation in the Principal's Office during business hours.

If you don't want to chat with Hester, there's always the school to explore! Some of you might also be receiving mysterious coins next to your bedside this week - those must be useful for something, right? There's lots to do, and you all seem like a group who can make your own fun, so enjoy your first week of school!]


Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday


(( OOC: This will be the last mod post for this week! Feel free to start submitting regains for any threads that aren't with Hester. Remember, song threads mean an extra coin! This is a peace week, so get all that CR while you can! ))

Comments

[themuseabandonsyou]

Yes. The muse Calliope? I guess you'd already know her, if you work in theater.

[ Even if plays and operas specifically fall more under the purview of her sisters' domains. Anyway, he doesn't sound like he's too enthusiastic about it, like he's namedropping or anything. It's just a fact about himself. ]

1/2

[violentenvies]

I...I know of her, yes.

[Salieri is going to just...lean back a bit and fold his arms over his chest, doing his best to school his expression into something a bit less telling to the absolute circles his mind is running in. He takes a moment, then--]

2/2

[violentenvies]

...well. [if there's a person who is literally a Narrator, why not Actual Orpheus.] I suppose I should've guessed, what with your talent. If you'd be willing, I should be rather curious to hear you play sometime.

[because honestly, what musician in their right mind would pass up a chance to hear Orpheus play.]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ That's a bit of a confusing reaction, and Orpheus blinks owlishly at Salieri as he seems to think about it. Maybe his mom is an even bigger deal than he thought? ]

Of course! There's a song I've been working on, too, if you want to hear it now. I just have to find a lyre.

[ Honestly among the ocean of upsetting things going on right now is not knowing where his lyre is. He's used to taking it with him basically everywhere he goes. It was a gift! It's very important to him! It's probably just back home, but not knowing for sure makes him kind of nervous. ]

[violentenvies]

[your mom is kind of a big deal, Orpheus, but you are an even bigger deal, Buddy.]

I would very much like to hear what you've been working on. [he's kind of maybe actually internally starting to just kind of

fan boy

a little

internally. internally fanboying because he just might get to hear a song from Orpheus himself. Fortunately, he's well practiced at keeping more of a neutral disposition, and boy is he employing that here.

He glances around the room, frowning slightly]

Ah...I don't know if I've spotted a lyre amongst these instruments, but I'd be happy to help you look.

[ please let there be a lyre please let there be a lyre please let there be a lyre]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus is casually oblivious to all of this, and just smiles at Salieri before turning to look through the cabinets. There's a lot of brass instruments lying around, a cello, some drums - oh, there it is!

Emerging from instrument storage with what is definitely a guitar and not a lyre, Orpheus says, ]

This will work!

[ And slings the strap over his shoulder, starting to tune it. ]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri had just stood to start looking through the instruments when Orpheus proclaims he's found something that works--and Salieri turns, startled and pleased, expecting a lyre...and sees Orpheus tuning a guitar?? A larger than normal one at that. He frowns, folding his arms over his chest, observing for a moment]

A...guitar?

[themuseabandonsyou]

If you want to be specific! [ says Orpheus, strumming an experimental chord to make sure he's got it tuned correctly. When it comes out sounding right, he smiles, and looks up at Salieri. ]

Are you ready?

[ The idea of performing for an actual professional composer is a little nervewracking, especially since his song isn't finished yet, but Maestro Salieri was nice enough to share his work, so he feels like it's only fair. ]

[violentenvies]

[Normally, he might argue about the lyre thing, but Orpheus asks him if he's ready, and Salieri sets his bewilderment aside for now, instead folding his arms and leaning against the piano a bit, though he does gesture with a hand, encouragement]

Please. I am ready whenever you are.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus nods, grinning nervously, and takes a deep breath before beginning to play. ]

King of shadows
King of shades
Hades was king of the Underworld
But he fell in love with a beautiful lady
Who walked up above in her Mother's greenfield
He fell in love with Persephone
Who was gathering flowers in the light of the sun
And he took her home to become his queen
Where the sun never shone
On anyone

The lady loved him and the kingdom they shared
But without her above, not one flower would grow
So King Hades agreed that for half of each year
She would stay with him there in his world down below
But the other half, she could walk in the sun
And the sun, in turn, burned twice as bright
Which is where the seasons come from
And with them, the cycle
Of the seed and the sickle
And the lives of the people
And the birds in their flight
La la la la la la la...
La la la la la la la...
La la la la la la la...
La la la la la la la...

[violentenvies]

[Salieri watches as Orpheus begins to play and...is surprised to find himself feeling almost breathless.

The melody is simple but poignant and the accompaniment from the guitar allows the vocal line to float above it, which Orpheus's falsetto does so seamlessly and with surprising volume, one would almost think he was a countertenor. There's something of an aching longing in the music; a yearning for something beautiful long past. It feels like it wraps around his lungs and squeezes, ties his stomach into knots with the bittersweet emotion of it, and Salieri finds himself openly staring, absolutely mesmerized by Orpheus's performance.

As the last note of the guitar dies away, he realizes even that his eyes feel as though they're stinging and he blinks them rapidly to will away the wetness there, sucking in a breath, momentarily speechless]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus breathes out slowly as the last note rings out, coming down from the odd mix of nerves and tranquility that comes with performing for an audience. He looks over at Salieri expectantly, anxiously, waiting to be assessed. ]

It isn't finished yet. [ he says, a little sheepishly. ] There's still a few things missing. It has to be perfect. But, did you like it?

[violentenvies]

[Did he like it? Did he like it???

What a question.

And yet, it still requires an answer. Salieri clears his throat, trying to gather himself back together and effect some kind of decorum]

I, ah...yes. It was [sublime] impressive. I enjoyed it very much. [which is very much an understatement] You composed that yourself?

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus looks positively thrilled by the feedback, understated though it is, grinning broadly and laughing a little with relief. ]

Some of it - la la la la la la la - is the song Lord Hades sang to Lady Persephone, the first time they met. I didn't know that when I started writing, it just came to me in a dream. But the rest of it, I wrote, yes.

[violentenvies]

[Oh!!! Oh, he's happy to have Salieri's critique!! His critique was valued!!!

Salieri finds himself immensely warmed by that simple fact alone, and cannot quite help the small smile that curls the corners of his mouth as his eyebrows arch a little in disbelief]

It came to you in a dream? Somehow, I believe it.

[there's a crinkling at the corners of his eyes as that smile widens slightly]

But truly, Monsieur Orpheus, I am immeasurably impressed. Your talent is simply fantastic.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus practically glows with the praise, smiling away. ]

Thank you! I've been working on it for a really long time, and when it's done - when I get it right - it'll put the seasons right again. I just have to find out what's missing.

[violentenvies]

[...hm????]

Put the seasons right?

If I may, what is wrong with them?

[themuseabandonsyou]

Oh, right.

[ That isn't happening everywhere, or everywhen, or whatever's going on here. ]

Lord Hades and Lady Persephone are, um. Having some problems, with their marriage, and it means she's been showing up later and later every year and leaving earlier and earlier. So winter's been getting longer and colder, and summer's been getting hotter and shorter, and spring and fall basically don't happen anymore. It's been causing a lot of problems.

[ He frowns, thinking about how much of a struggle last winter was, before shaking it off and fixing a smile back on his face. ]

But I think I can fix it, if I get this right!

[violentenvies]

[wow. That information is...well, honestly, at this point it's not as much of a shock as it could be. Things are turning out more and more strange here with the more people he meets, so he's just returning to a strategy he has often employed with his friend Rosenberg whenever he says something strange, which is just to simply roll with it.]

I see.

Well, I don't know if I can be of any assistance but, should you wish it, I would be more than willing to help you try and discover what is missing.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ If it's possible for Orpheus's expression to light up even further, it does here. ]

I'd really appreciate that! I've been stuck for a while, but maybe having someone else look it over would help. [ And a more professional touch couldn't hurt, either. ]

[violentenvies]

[Salieri's expression also lapses into a small smile]

Perhaps tomorrow, or the next day we could look at it? Perhaps discuss more in depth what feels wrong about it, to you?

[themuseabandonsyou]

Sure! I'll look forward to it. I should probably get going now? But it was really nice to meet you, Maestro Salieri.

[ Orpheus slides the guitar around on its strap so that it's resting on his back and takes a polite sort of half-nod, half-bow. ]

[violentenvies]

It was a pleasure to meet you as well, Monsieur Orpheus. [Salieri returns that half-nod/bow] I look forward to further discussing your composition with you.