notscary | inbox. duplicity.

That's how I've always thought, too.

Well I'm having more earnest conversation with you, so I don't think so. :)

I like to believe my little circle of friends is some of the best, and I've met even more of those great people since being here, actually. Honestly, Calliope, you're not gonna jade me. My town basically thought I was possessed by Satan himself and were hunting me down for something that I didn't do -- which, it was all a pretty big mess and I don't think all of them are bad, but it seems like the majority of humanity wants someone who's easy to blame rather than asking difficult questions.

If I am to be honest, this is the most I have spoken with someone in what feels like weeks, perhaps the entire time I have been here.

I am sorry that you went through such an ordeal, Eddie. Your heart is kind to give them so much grace and understanding. I feel I am not as gracious toward humanity as I once was.

I'm glad you feel like you can talk to me, then. I know we just met, but I'm always around if you need an ear.

Thank you. I wasn't that gracious at home. I've never been one to conform, and I've only ever egged on their judgmental opinions. But I've had a bit of time to think about it since I've been here. A lot of the town is made up of questionable people, but I don't think many are as close to the evil that they think exists.

Do you like telling stories? Writing? Or is there another kinda hobby you have?

I play guitar, too.

[ just rattling it off, since calliope sure seems to enjoy talking with him, so why not? ]

Thank you. If you need the same, I am here as well.

Creative souls often stand out, I have known many. You should not let them mold you. Do not allow them to smother your spark.

I once wrote. Daily. But my scroll was burnt away to ash and I could no longer write, or do anything I wished to do.

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

Never planning on letting anyone else mold me. Really do like how genuinely you say that. It's how I've lived my life for as long as I can remember.

Someone took the ability to write from you? And...even more than just that?
I'm sorry, Calliope.
That's bullshit.

[ deducing that that's what she meant, anyway. ]

[ she didn’t mean to kind of. give a non-answer. but the question had dredged up so much.

even here, more often than not she feels stuck.

she doesn’t know what compels her to tell this man she has never met this. her story, the last of it. ]

I was… confined for a very long time. Against my wishes.

I was taken from my home, by a man. He kept me as a possession. And he did worse than that to me.

He then gave me to another to do the same.

[ for as young and often reckless as eddie can be, he's very respectful of the privacy, the stories, of people who entrust him with more intimate details. he doesn't expect calliope to go any direction with what she shares. eddie doesn't think that far ahead, but he can be a good listener, sometimes. especially when it's words on a screen that peer back at him: he focuses, even if he isn't suited to be a wise, sagely confidante. ]

God.
And then you got kidnapped and brought here.
There's no 'sorry' in the world that's ever gonna be enough.
I wish you had more autonomy here...it's wrong that you don't. For any of us, but going through that?
I don't think it's fair to suggest I could do anything other than listen, but I'm glad that I get to talk to you. I hope we can be friends, do something together in person sometime.
If you want.

[ giving a distraction sounds ludicrous, but he has to offer something. and this is what eddie settles on. ]

[ her eyes sting, for a moment. she has not wept since she left her world and came here. not for herself, not over what happened. not even when the city paraded the memory of her dead son. calliope does not cry much — not since she was a young goddess, and her life was torn asunder. she has withstood much. ]

I do thank you for listening. For being kind.

I feel as if I have been transported from one prison to another, promised the keys of freedom only to have them wrenched from my grasp.

I would like that. We are friends already, Eddie, if it is not so bold to say.

I always try to be. It sounds wrong to say I'm glad that I was the one to be able to listen, but I am.

[ while he cannot empathize, eddie knows in his heart of hearts how sincere he is. and someone who is hurting should have an earnest ear tuned in. ]

I hope you can find something here that will bring you some peace of mind. I know it would be hard, but there are nice places to go in the city. Even more nicer, kind, people.

Not bold. I consider you a friend now too, Calliope.
Do you have anything you remember doing with friends that you haven't gotten to do in awhile?

[ she thinks about it. ]

I confess, for the most part I have been reluctant, and hesitant, to enjoy any part of the city. My Mothers have called me bullheaded… Besides the library, though I find the collection somewhat lacking. Most of it is pornographic. It gets repetitive.

I do miss playing music, and painting. You say you play the guitar?

Can't blame you for that, when coming here must've came with extra punch. Yeah, you'd think they'd diversify the selections for people, since the powers that be like to claim that the dominant/submissive dynamic is about more than just sex...kind of disproving their point.

I do, yeah. Have since I was a kid. What do you play?

[ but she’s definitely not been helping herself with the matter of acclimating. but she feels lighter after telling eddie her past. ]

Perhaps I will help, in some way, to offer more options for the casual reader. Morpheus possesses some books that are not just pornography. They are out there.

It would be easier to ask what I do not play. Will you play for me?

Yeah, I have a friend who has a library in her home. I know she's acquired some other books. Takes time to find them, I guess. She's been here over a year.

[ assuming morpheus is the friend she'd mentioned, but eddie won't pry. ]

Kind of sounds like maybe I should be asking YOU to play for me. But. Yeah, I'd love to play for you sometime. Can do whatever you like, though my favorite is a genre called metal. It's heavier. My guitar's electric.

Is that so? I would be interested in seeing what she has acquired.

I will play for you, if you wish. My favorite was the larp.

I have never heard of it. I look forward to being introduced to the genre. You have much to show me.

Edited 2023-09-05 08:37 (UTC)

She has a pretty impressive collection from what I've seen, and she loves talking about books. I know she'd be delighted to show it off.

I'd love that. I've never heard a larp played.

I have and can play an acoustic too, if the electric's too loud for you. I feel like it could be surprisingly so. [ as is metal music in general! ] I could show you sometime at one of the places I work. It's a bar called Jolene's, my Dom owns it. It's in the Up, so in a pretty safe spot. You could come by some day before opening hours.

You will have to introduce us. I love books as well. [ understatement of the century. she and eloise would get along well. ]

Then you have not truly lived. I will have to show you. I will sing for you as well.

I will do so.

Thank you again for listening to me, Eddie. I have not told anyone else that did not already know what has happened to me. You must let me repay the kindness.

Will absolutely do that.

I'd love that, Calliope, really looking forward to it.

You don't have to thank me, I'm glad I could be here. Even if you got sent a weird picture as the catalyst for that to be the case. :) I'm always here if you need someone, okay? We can play for each other, sing together maybe even. That's all I really want.

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