ASTORIA CAELUS
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“Why are you visiting the United States?” The border guard suddenly droned, making her jump a little.
“I- I’m visiting some old friends.”
“Is this your first visit to the United States?”
“Yes.”
“Where will you be staying?”
“I have a hotel booked near my friend’s house.”
“Who will you be visiting?”
Jesus Christ, she was starting to feel like a criminal. She’d binged enough crime dramas late at night to know that this was basically an interrogation. Sure, she wasn’t in a cold room with a two way mirror, but the way the guard was staring at her was exactly the same way the lead detective always stared at the perp.
“Demetria Tempala.”
“How long are you planning on staying?”
“A month.” In reality she didn’t know, but her co-workers had warned her that saying that would probably result in her being kicked out of the country. That was the amount of time she’d put on her documentation. If it didn’t take quite that long, she could do some traveling. If it was going to take longer... they’d cross that bridge when she came to it.
“How much money are you bringing?” What the hell did that have to do with anything?
“Five hundred dollars.” The border guard nodded slightly, stamped her passport, and gave her documents back to her silently.
“Thank you,” she said, shoving them back into her bag and making her way to baggage claim. Traveling on Earth made her heart sink. On Aurum, she could have travelled so easily, instantaneously. How she missed it. Her bags reclaimed, she stopped briefly to double check the address. She’d taken off her jacket while on the flight and hadn’t put it back on yet. She went to pick it up... and immediately dropped it. It had become a cloak, black and gold, with her district emblem on it. She picked it back up, and the minute her hand touched it, it shifted back to her usual jacket. It had never turned that easily. Perhaps it was just because she was so homesick. That was all, she told herself, as she pulled on the jacket and stepped outside. That was all.
EILIAN AMINUS
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This was their first time playing in the US, and they were determined to make an impact. Their manager had been working with them to try and build up some publicity. And this was their biggest move. Eilian hadn’t been able to get the golden comet out of his mind, but right now, he needed to be present. An “impromptu” performance in the middle of Washington had gathered quite a lot of attention from those on their way to work. The music made Eilian feel free, the violin feeling like an extension of his body. He never could have pictured something like this for himself back on Aurum. Being a central part of something, something which wasn’t really seen as a part of his district.
But he couldn’t hide from it for ever. He would have ignored it, if it wasn’t for the name engraved on the comet that had struck earth. Demetria Tempala. The closest thing he’d had to a sister. He didn’t want to go home, but he did want to see her. So packing his violin into the case, he got in a taxi and made his way to the address he’d jotted down. He was looking forward to seeing Demi again. But he was lying if he said it wasn’t a little worrying. He didn’t want to go home. He knew that the others would. He knew that they’d all be striving to go home, and he’d have to say no, that he didn’t intend on joining them.
This was the reason he’d brought his violin with him. Well, that and he felt if he’d gone back to the hotel, he wouldn’t have been able to come back. Even in the back of the taxi, he found himself idly plucking the strings of it, the case never staying closed for longer than five minutes. It was who he had become, and he needed a visual symbol of that.
He climbed out of the car and had to do a double take, making sure he’d taken down the right address. This was... impressive. Demi was clearly doing quite well for herself. Eilian has been proud of his small, two bedroom apartment back in Brighton. But it was the right address, so he took a deep breath and knocked the door.