Outfit | Solo |Dalca Manor| 18/7/2024

Dalca Manor is a rather unusual place, it is as if all things merry and joyful disappear when your eyes are laid upon it. There are many things you hear about the family that occupy the home, the mother and father are polite but private, the mother seems to prefer being a stay-at-home mother and the father says he works in law enforcement.

The teenage children are menaces, you could see them around the otherwise peaceful neighborhood wreaking havoc, and unsettling others with their...unique personalities. The youngest is the one to talk about, the few times the girl is seen is when she's tending to her family's garden, snipping away at weeds presumably unaware of the curious eyes lingering on her.

One peculiar thing about her is that while she seems to take after her mother with her light blonde hair and light eyes, her siblings take after her father with dark hair and dark eyes, it was quite the scandal with others suspecting that her mother had an affair. The one thing her entirely family seems to have in common are their unsettling auras, the way they go about things are enough to make even the bravest people quiver.

The aforementioned blonde at this very moment resides in her family's lounging area, her fingers are locked in a chilling dance with the piano keys as a portrait watches closely, it is then that she accidentally goes off key. The once serene portrait now has a glare on her face directed at the girl, "Look at me Achelous Ophelia." The girl is not startled by the voice, instead turning expectantly toward the portrait, as if she knew what was going to happen the moment she pressed the wrong key.

The woman in the frame has her father's signature dark hair and dark eyes but a deeper scowl, her eyebrows are furrowed and she appears to be bothered by the girls nonchalant reaction to her.

"There was a time I thought your bravery was admirable but now, I find it smug and frankly insulting. As your namesake, it is my job to make sure that there isn't a single imperfect thing about you and by extension your talents, must you deliberately provoke me," the woman's voice is carried sharply with a Romanian lilt, a smile threatened to form on Achelous's face, the woman was always easy to anger. She's pleased to see that death didn't change that.

Whatever retort Achelous had planned was interrupted by the ringing door bell, with a nod of acknowledgement to the framed woman, the blonde girl made her way to the front door. Her house elf, that she named herself, Bela stood with two people she know well, her aunts Katrina and Ellisabeth stood there, their matching gazes pointed at her as if she was an anomaly.

Her youngest aunt, Ellisabeth, has blonde hair and green eyes, a trait she seems to share with her mother. She has always been the most pleasant one but according to her mother she is a bimbo who has more hair than brain cells.

Her aunt Katrina is the second child, having the same blonde hair and green eyes as her three sisters. Her mother says that she has no regard for anyone who isn't herself and that she is poisoning her husband and that's why he's always bedridden, but Achelous doesn't know if it's true or if her mother is just bitter.

Finally, her aunt Ellisabeth breaks the silence rather loudly, "There's my favorite blonde niece." Her smile threatens to stretch further as her aunt Katrina speaks, "She's our only blonde niece Elli. The rest of them take after our dear brother in law." They both share a dark look before whisper-arguing, they share a mutual dislike of her father but she doesn't know why, but she's sure that even if she asked they wouldn't tell her.

While her Aunts were busy squabbling, Achelous thanked Bela and dismissed her, not wanting the poor house elf to be frightened by what Achelous knows will be her mother and father's annoyance upon seeing her aunts in the Manor without so much as a letter.

Their presence was signalled by the sound of her father's office door creaking and the sound of someone clearing their throat, the squabbling ceased and their previously annoyed faces were now neutral, Achelous turned to the door and seen her mother standing there with an intense glare present on her face.

"I would ask why you two didn't inform us that you were visiting beforehand but I doubt you'd be truthful. Would you care to explain to me why you feel the need to argue whenever you enter my home," Achelous feels a surge of annoyance go through her when her mother addresses her own sisters with such a tone, she spoke about siblings being there for each other to the blonde and her siblings but treated her own sisters like distant cousins.

"Achelous, go spend time with one of your siblings, this issue isn't for a child's ears. " her blood runs cold as her mother addresses her suddenly. Achelous met her mother's gaze thoughtfully, the woman flinched but not from Achelous herself, but from something else. Her eyes are haunted, as if she's remembering a distant and painful memory, "Now." Her voice was hoarse, which worried Achelous who opened her mouth to ask if she's alright. In her haste to haste to ask, she noticed that her mother has stepped inside the study and seems to be closing the door.

The door was barely closed before her aunt Katrina's sharp laugh breaks the silence, it echoes through the house threatening to wake the sleeping portraits and the other sleeping occupants. Achelous glares at the door before storming away to the Greenhouse when the only person who hasn't lost their mind most likely resides tinkering with the music box she received the day before.

Achelous's steps faltered as she was addressed by possibly the most unsettling member of her family, "Hello little Soră." Her blood ran cold as she turns to face Artemis, her third eldest sister, who has an aloof smirk on her face. Artemis has no physical quality that separates her from Achelous's other siblings, they all have dark hair and eyes, what she does have is a history of losing her temper at the slightest bit of provocation and getting revenge in....ways that couldn't be traced back to her.

She would never do that to her own family especially Achelous, in fact, she seems to dote on her only blonde haired sibling, which is worst in Achelous's opinion. Achelous loves her sister but there is no doubting how all of her roses have thorns that are impossible to get rid of. Achelous snapped out of her thoughts, choosing not to trust her own voice to speak, only smiling at her sister.

"Complaining to Corrine won't solve all of your problems Achey. She won't be able to tell you what you want to know, only what you want to hear." Achelous nods slowly as her sister continues, "I would tell you what they are speaking about but I sadly have a prior engagement but you know where I reside when all is said and done. I expect to see you up on my return." Her sister embraces her in an oddly warm hug, Achelous rushed to reciprocate the unexpected hug before letting go and allowing her sister to leave her wondering what she meant. Achelous absentmindedly made her way to the Greenhouse still lost in thought.

Translation(s):
Soră: Sister

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