AU Week!

[golden_lyre]

The door opens to the sounds of a rowdy dance hall, jangly piano playing what seems to be a cover of "Eleanor Rigby."

Orpheus grimaces slightly as he steps through the door. The new kid's okay, but he needs practice.

Which is something Orpheus can get here. He orders a whisky at the bar, then makes his way to the piano, where he launches into a rendition of Radiohead's "No Surprises".

It's not exactly a favorite at the Mariposa. Too melancholy, but Orpheus likes it.



[ooc: Orpheus is going Westworld for this AU. He's a host, the piano player at the Mariposa.]

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[thewidewideworld]

A pretty female voice sings along from a nearby booth, wistful, sweet and absent. As of she's not really noticed she's singing aloud.

Early 20 something, if that, and doll-like pretty Sona could be a host herself. From some beach resort. If she wasn't busy forging a fresh passport.

[golden_lyre]

He plays, fingers dancing over keys, graceful and light, and says, "You sing a pretty song, nightingale."

As with many things in MIlliways, passport forging doesn't look like anything to him.

[thewidewideworld]

She answers with a charming blush, as if caught out. "I didn't realise I was sing loud enough to be heard. I do so love that song."

[golden_lyre]

"Ain't no trouble, sweetheart," he says with a smile. "Anything else you like? I take requests." There is something in his voice to suggest he takes requests of any kind.

[thewidewideworld]

It's a very sweet smile and part of Sona is tempted to take advantage of that suggested offer. But not just yet. "My tastes are eclectic and obscure. Play me something you enjoy?"

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus pauses, like the request takes him by surprise. "Lady's choice, then," he says, and he starts to play something a little different.

[thewidewideworld]

Sona listens, attentive and quietly charmed. Her hand itch for a violin, a life she put aside a long time ago. But the ache of missing it shows.

She licks her lips, lowering her eyes to try to hide it.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus catches her eye as he finishes the song. "If you don't mind me sayin', ma'am, you looking like a woman with a hankering for...I don't know. Somethin'."

[thewidewideworld]

"You're very perceptive, sir." She offers a shy little demure. "I use to play, violin that is. A lifetime ago." Three lifetimes technically. "I don't think I realise how much I missed it till I watched you play. Music can express so much more than words alone."

[golden_lyre]

"That it does," Orpheus says with a smile. "Couldn't give it up myself. If you'd like, I can scoot over and let you have a turn?"

[thewidewideworld]

She smiles, sweet and innocently happy as she sits down next to him. She sweeps her hair back and over her shoulder, exposing her pale throat in what seems like an unconsciously seductive gesture.

Resting her long fingers on the keys for a moment, she takes a slow breath and begins to play. The tune isn't recognisably this thing or that. Classical baroque with a hind of something more modern. A composition remembered more than felt.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus picks up his whisky as she plays, taking a long drink and pulling out a cigarette to light.

"You got yourself some talent there, ma'am."

[thewidewideworld]

"Sona." She turns her head just enough to catch his eyes. "My name."

She lets the song draw to an end, flexing fingers that feel the stain of disuse. "Thank you, but I'm terribly out of practice."

[golden_lyre]

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Sona," he says, tipping his hat. "I'm Orpheus. Pretentious name for a musician, sure, but my ma had big dreams for me."

[thewidewideworld]

"A beautiful name." Sona smiles softly. "You live by your music?"

[golden_lyre]

"I do, indeed." He grins and picks out a serious of tripleted arpeggios. "I am the piano player at the Mariposa, an establishment of, I am happy to say, the illest repute, in the beautiful little town of Sweetwater."

[thewidewideworld]

Sona resisted the urge to play the counterpoint. That would be showing off. And she really is rusty.

"Of ill repute but good reputation?" Her eyes glitter with humour. "I'd imagine a job like that, you see the whole gamut of human experience."

[golden_lyre]

"You know, I reckon I do, between the newcomers and the townsfolk and others passin' through."

He takes a drag on his cigarette and nods to her. "Where are my manners, Miss Sona? Would you like a smoke?"

[thewidewideworld]

"Thank you, but no. I don't smoke any more. But don't let it stop you." She reaches for the keys, playing a Paint it Black. "What's it like, working in your house of ill repute?"

Again, that arch of her neck. A trick of seduction the girls of Mariposa probably don't need. Their business being rather more direct in nature.

[golden_lyre]

It's one Orpheus comes programmed with knows, and he plays along with it, a weirdly haunting, one-handed descant. (He's still smoking with the other.)

"It's as fine a place as a dissolute such as myself could hope for. The girls are pretty, the boys are beautiful, and the whisky flows like water until Maeve catches on." He smiles like the Mariposa is a little slice of paradise.

"Music's not too bad, either," he adds with a wink.

[thewidewideworld]

Pretty girls and beautiful boys. Something about thought makes her hesitate, missing a note and fumbling the next. "Forgive me, I really am out of practice." She apologises.

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus takes over easily enough. It's his job to keep the music going.

"Not at all, miss," he says, fingers easing the song into completion. "Nothin' to apologize for at all. Anythin' I can do to help?"

Again that hint in his voice that she need only ask.

[thewidewideworld]

She studies his face for a long moment, massaging her aching palms. What harm would there be in it? He doesn't seem trapped. His patter is smooth but not false. Would she be taking advantage of him, if he did genuinely choose this life.

And she has no knowledge of Westworld, no reason to doubt his nature. "If I asked you to kiss me, would you want to?"

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus taps the ash from his cigarette and sets it on the edge of the tray. He tilts his head, leaning in just a little, and says, voice low, "Why don't you ask me and find out?"

[thewidewideworld]

"Would you kiss me, Orpheus?" She asks, soft and a little lost. "Kiss me the way you play."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus lifts a hand to her hair, brushing it away from her face as he leans in to press his lips to hers, gently at first, but she'd asked him to kiss her like he played. So he slides his fingers into her hair as he deepens the kiss, his arm sliding around her, pulling her closer.

[thewidewideworld]

She melts into the kiss, opening to it like a flower. Delicate in his arms, she moulded against him, her skin flushing with heat.

[golden_lyre]

He lets his fingers trail down her neck, fingertips playing across her skin, moving down until the settle at her hip. She's warm and soft and her body presses against his. Construct though he is, he is not immune to such things.

When he breaks the kiss, he pulls back just enough to look her in the eye. "Guess I wanted to after all."

[thewidewideworld]

Sona whimpers softly when the kiss breaks, blushing pretty in embarrassment. "I'm glad. I shouldn't want you to do anything you didn't want."

[golden_lyre]

He laughs softly, still close enough for his breath to huff against her lips. "Oh, there's no chance of that, darlin'," he assures her.

"Now," he leans in to press a kiss to the corner of her lips, "the question is, are you satisfied with a kiss?"

[thewidewideworld]

She sighs and kisses him again, fleeting and soft. "I'd like more but...I'm not like everyone else." She looks up and into his eyes. "I'm not sure you'd want me if you knew."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus keeps one arm around her waist, and with his other hand, slides his fingertips along her cheekbone.

"No way to know but to tell me," he says, his voice a soft, soothing cadence.

[thewidewideworld]

The touch is lovely, making her close her eyes with a warm sigh. "I'm transgender." She opens her eyes, studying his and tensed to move if she has to.

[golden_lyre]

Like most words that are beyond the time period Orpheus is meant to represent, the word 'transgender' slides by him like he didn't even hear it.

Still, he's seen a lot at the Mariposa, and nothing has shocked him yet.

He blinks and says, "I don't see how that would be a problem."

[thewidewideworld]

She reads that as easy understanding. Something she's very grateful for. And answers it with a slow, warm kiss. "Thank you."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus leans into the kiss, his fingers moving back into her hair. "You are more than welcome, darlin'," he murmurs, catching her lips once more, briefly, before pulling back.

"Shall we see if Bar has any rooms free?"

[thewidewideworld]

She smiles and takes his hand, following gladly. "It's been a while since... I just took a night to... enjoy myself. With someone who wasn't asking anything of me but my company."

[golden_lyre]

Orpheus grabs his cigarette and leaves his empty glass. "I promise not to ask anythin' of you that you ain't willin' to give," he says with a gentle smile.

[thewidewideworld]

Sona smiles and takes his hand, fetching a key from the bar.