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It’s an odd encounter. That’s the best way that Matthias can describe it. He’d been finishing up his daily work of doing puppet shows outside his father’s theatre when he realized that a man in a white suit had followed him inside.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you!” The man smiled sweetly. “I just wanted to have a conversation with you, if you have some time. You’ve intrigued me.”
Something in this man’s eyes made Matthias shiver. There was no light in those eyes.
“A-and... you are?” Matthias asked.
“Orpheus DeRoss. I’m just a simple novelist looking for inspiration. And you are?” The white-suited man asked with that same charming grin that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Matthias.” He didn’t want to give his last name.
“Just Matthias, hm...?” The author tilted his head. “Do you work here?”
That was easier to explain than his actual relationship to his family, so he nodded.
“That’s funny...” Orpheus’s smile quirked upwards in an odd manner. “Because you look exactly like the doll advertised all over the place. Just older and much cuter.”
Matthias’s cheeks heat at the same time his heart stops. “... If you want to hear more about Louis’s creation you should ask F-- Mr. Czernin.”
“You’ve misunderstood me. I apologize for not being more clear. I don’t care about about that stupid puppet. I came here for you.” Orpheus’s warm smile turned into a cruel sneer as he spoke of Louis that way.
Matthias’s heart starts again, and picks up speed, as his face gets warmer. “M-me? I...” No one had ever come for him before, besides the children...
“Yes, you. I’ve been coming to your shows for a while, though this is my first time inside the theatre. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’ve tipped you quite a lot.” Orpheus smiles sweetly at him, and this smile almost does reach his eyes.
Matthias goes quiet. All the money he makes advertising goes to his father, and then to Louis. He’s just the employee, after all... he wouldn’t know how much he’s being tipped. “O-oh... I did notice, thank you so much.” He keeps his eyes on the ground, but glances up just for a second. It’s enough to see that Orpheus’s expression has become furious. “Sir?”
“Ah, nothing.” Just like that the expression is gone. Was it ever there in the first place? Maybe Matthias imagined it. He does tend to see things a lot...
Orpheus smiles again, and takes his hand in his. “It’s simply... I see the way you make the puppets interact with the children, and I see the way you smile. It’s such a cute smile you have. Isn’t that enough to make me like you? Isn’t that enough to make me want to get to know you a little better?”
Matthias’s heart beat even faster. “I-I...”
“Matthias! Get in here already! Louis’s next show is soon!” Matthias heard Father call.
Matthias’s heart sunk into the depths. Even when he seemed to have one blessing, it was never for long. Not when he had a role to play. Not when he was slowly becoming the grotesque thing his parents wanted him to be. Not when he was coming apart at the seams.
Matthias didn’t know how much more of this he could take. “Please come again.” He whispered, and ran off to do as puppets are meant to do.
And Orpheus watched him, calculating.