veldaon

[veldaon]

ACTIVITY CHECK! VELGROVE TASK 000 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐘 — how does your muse react in a dangerous situation? are they more likely to fight or to take flight or freeze?

daon's pulse races, heart crawling it's way into her throat — her breath stills, bicycle falling to the wayside, scraping her ankles before it lodges itself into the muddy shores around the lakeside. the sensation stings, flesh burning, but it's not enough to overcome the fear coursing through her veins — cold, biting, blistering at her skin as she stares across the water towards the figure wading waist-deep in the murky depths. it's not facing her, features unrecognizable, body hunched, but daon just knows. she just knows it's her mother — the soiled clothes, the knotted hair, the furious way she swipes at the lake, movements frantic, mumbling and grumbling, incoherent words spilling from her mouth. it's a scene that daon knows too well, but it's different this time — it's frightening. not because it brings painful memories to the surface, but because it's been five years since song areum has been presumed dead.

she can't feel her limbs, finds herself motionless, frozen, weathered shoes sinking into the heavy ground. daon struggles to inhale, exhale, anything, desperately wanting to breathe again. she wants to run, she wants to scream, but her body denies her and her breath hitches at the realization, the sound catches the attention of the figure in the lake. it turns, matted hair hanging in it's face — daon can't see her eyes, but she knows the look — can feel it settling on her skin, knowing her mother is furious, desperate, consumed with every negative feeling one might name. it croaks something, and though daon can't make out what it says, she hears a familiar echo in her ears, 'why couldn't it have been you?'

the sound brings tears to her eyes, burning, lungs on fire, and she blinks as the tears cascade down her cheeks — only for the figure to be gone a moment later. before her stands nothing, only the gentle lapping of the wind on the surface of the lake. daon lets out a choked sob, mobility finding her again as she raises her trembling hands and presses them to her eyes — it's not real, it's not real, it's not real.

[veldaon]

the near-end of growing season brings fresh heat, high noon settling on her shoulders, carrying the weight of bright, scorching sunbeams. it warms daon's exposed skin — by the time she's made it south of the town center, the frayed cardigan she had pulled on this morning is all but abandoned into her basket, now better used to protect the small pile of envelopes sitting inside from the harsh sun. once the tavern comes into view, she finds herself exhaling — the trek through town is much less precarious than the rest of her route, but there aren't enough shadows to grant her reprieve during the hotter months, something she at least appreciates when she's riding through thistle forest. the town center and surrounding areas always seem more stuffy somehow, a little more stifling than she would care to admit. it isn't until daon comes to a slow stop in front of the tavern — sweeping herself off her bicycle in one fluid motion — that she feels her muscles begin to instinctively unwind, shoulders relaxing ever so slightly as the notion of familiarity creeps into her bones.

it's a foreign feeling — comfortable, but uncomfortable, relaxed, but still on edge — her mind tells her this is a safe space, a welcome part of her routine, and her body responds to it, but there's something in her that makes it difficult to completely slacken. she feels an ache in her chest as she steadies the kickstand, lithe frame that had moments ago began to release tension now finding it again, reacting almost as if she doesn't deserve to feel secure. breathe, daon, she thinks, pulling her cardigan on and thumbing through the letters addressed to sol graves — just breathe. and so she does, inhaling through her nose once, twice, before plastering a bright, cheery smile on her face and pushing open the doors — the creaking of the wood almost like it's welcoming her back into it's protective fold.

"the post is here," she announces in a sing-song voice, letters in one hand, a package covered in wrapping twine tucked under her opposite arm. she shifts the deliveries ever so slightly, balancing the weight of them as she heads towards the bar where a familiar face — a part-time helping hand of the tavern — greets her warmly before heading off to fetch the man of the hour. daon stands there for a moment, eyes sweeping over the bar once, twice, mind lingering somewhere else, before graves finally emerges. she tilts her head, beaming, as though she hadn't felt absence in her heart moments ago. "special delivery," she chirps, smile stretching as she places the letters on the parcel and holds it out to him. "i'm not sure what you got but i have a feeling it's something really, really good." / @velxgraves

[veldaon]

the end of spring slowly transitions into summer, the cool breeze that settled on her skin during her morning deliveries now something more balmy — the slightest bit of sheen coating her skin as she opts to push her bicycle up the dirt path through thistle forest. normally, the earth is forgiving to the aging wheels of daon's trusty bicycle, but the trek is a little more treacherous than usual in the wake of the last rainstorm. the ground has been kicked up from the storm, puddles of rainwater still lining the path with twigs and branches scattered about as the trees hang lower than normal. it'll tack on a few extra minutes to her delivery time, not that she particularly minds, however, as there's something peaceful about being able to walk the path as the sunlight filters through the trees — the birds chirp in greeting, the leaves whistle a tune, and she ignores the blood rushing to her ears as she thinks of the countless times her mother screamed jua's name into the forest. daon swallows, the lump in her throat settling in her stomach. she breathes through her nose, willing away the memories beginning to surface just as one particular cottage comes into view.

she's had a particular route over the last several years — thistle forest, the lakeside, the fields and the beach shore — she makes sure to deliver everything to the furthest parts of the surrounding land first before doing her rounds in town, but today she goes out of her way to one of the more secluded cottages to make her first delivery. but it's not just any delivery, however, as today, it's a special one — one that she looks forward to each and every year as it marks a very unique celebration. she pauses at the foot of the cottage's path, the echoes of her mother's screams fading away as she forces a bright smile. there's no time to dwell on the past today, as daon knows there's even more in store for the festivities later on this very special day — dropping off this letter is only the beginning of what's to come.

she kicks up the bike stand on a slightly uneven patch of dirt, shuffling around in her basket for lyra's letter. it's contents have gotten heavier and heavier each year, and it seems that today is the day that whatever inside has finally broken the seal. daon blinks as she lifts the envelope, the seams all but coming undone as it bursts, folds upon folds of currency slipping past the wax seal. some spills out into the basket and daon is quick to collect it, trying to carefully fold it back inside the letter just as the door to the cottage opens. she turns, sheepish smile on her face as she tries to press everything back inside, greeting lyra with her normal enthusiasm, "whoops— sorry, it looks like the seal broke. everything should be accounted for though," she assures the older female before her smile widens every so slightly, "oh, and by the way, happy birthday!" / @lyravel

[veldaon]

greetings beautiful beings! 💕 my name is cece (27+ in the cst time zone) and i'm super excited to be here at velgrove! i'm bringing you my very beloved, albeit unresolved trauma-infused daughter, song daon! 🙃 she's your local mail deliverer who has a kind heart and pleasant disposition, though she has a smile that never quite reaches her eyes these days — but hey, she's trying (and burying everything deep deep down) after going through some pretty terrible life events! on that note.. please don't mention anything about her mother or sister to her i'm begging you :'') or terrorize and traumatize her so more her idk whatever you want anyway! you'll find some information about daon such as her stats, background and some v bare bones connections in the links below. tbh i'm not really good at intros but i'd love to plot with each and every one of you and your lovely muses. just go ahead and click that ❤️ for me to jump into your dms to start plotting!

dossier. background. connections.

[veldaon]

❤︎ ━━━ ⭒. 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐀𝐎𝐍 / PART OF VELGROVERP / PENNED BY CECE.

introduction. dossier. background. connections. visuals.

[veldaon]