serge battour. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
affectueux) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
prismatica2020-03-06 02:16 am
affectueux) wrote in prismatica2020-03-06 02:16 am
( video, un: lavieenrose )
[ maybe it’s insanity. more likely, it’s the combination of the sanguis cycle and his upcoming birthday making him restless and impulsive. he can usually tamp down those urges when things are normal, but he also can’t recall a moment when things have ever been normal in lunatia.
maybe that’s a contributing factor, too. either way, here’s a video of serge—like the cycles before, he’s got little bear features. paws included, even if his hands are off-screen. ]
Er, bonjour. My name is Serge… I’ve cleaned many of your tables at Salon de Marie. [ it gets harder when he’s a bear, but that’s neither here nor there. ] My birthday will be coming up soon, and I—it—
[ he frowns, searching for the words. he should have planned this better, but again. the haste. ]
In my world, I’m set to inherit my family’s estate on my 18th birthday. I’ll be expected to get married and carry on the family name, as I’m the only child of my late father. [ he realizes something, and holds up a hand in brief fluster. ] I’m not saying this to brag! It’s relevant, I promise. I bring it up because there’s—a person. Someone I love. Someone I can neither marry nor produce a child with.
…this is quite heavy, isn’t it? I’ll try to get to the point. When your heart is in conflict with both duty and the expectations of society, what are you supposed to do? What can you do?
Merci, everyone. For your attention.
maybe that’s a contributing factor, too. either way, here’s a video of serge—like the cycles before, he’s got little bear features. paws included, even if his hands are off-screen. ]
Er, bonjour. My name is Serge… I’ve cleaned many of your tables at Salon de Marie. [ it gets harder when he’s a bear, but that’s neither here nor there. ] My birthday will be coming up soon, and I—it—
[ he frowns, searching for the words. he should have planned this better, but again. the haste. ]
In my world, I’m set to inherit my family’s estate on my 18th birthday. I’ll be expected to get married and carry on the family name, as I’m the only child of my late father. [ he realizes something, and holds up a hand in brief fluster. ] I’m not saying this to brag! It’s relevant, I promise. I bring it up because there’s—a person. Someone I love. Someone I can neither marry nor produce a child with.
…this is quite heavy, isn’t it? I’ll try to get to the point. When your heart is in conflict with both duty and the expectations of society, what are you supposed to do? What can you do?
Merci, everyone. For your attention.
video, un: sougo_i7
That's a heavy weight to have on your shoulders... I'm sorry that you have to deal with making a decision like that when you're so young.
[Not that he's much older, but still. His voice quiets a little as he continues, slightly more hesitant than before.]
This isn't something I'm used to talking about with strangers, so I'm not really sure where to start. But to be honest, I've dealt with a similar situation... between my family and something I love dearly.
However... I'm not sure if the answer I chose is the one you want to hear, even if I'm grateful for the decision I made. Should I be honest with you?
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[ despite the burden, he smiles softly—a little sad at the edges, but he wouldn’t be serge if he let his own selfish worries completely consume him. he’ll listen as intently as he would if he were the one being asked for advice. ]
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[That slightly sad smile is so familiar, reminiscent of harder times, and Sougo's heart swells with empathy. It simply wouldn't be right to not be honest. If he were in Serge's shoes, he'd undoubtedly hope for the same sincerity.]
I'm also the only son of my father, the head of a famous business conglomerate. So ever since I was born, I was raised to be the perfect heir, expected to carry on the family name and inherit everything. You must understand more than anyone how much pressure that can be...
But I fell in love too. With music. It took years to realize what was truly important to me, but in the end, I couldn't turn my back on that dream no matter how I tried.
[He doesn't realize it, of course, but his gentle, slightly pained smile is awfully similar to Serge's.]
So I threw everything away. My family disowned me and I ran away from home, leaving the entire life I had up until then. But I've never regretted it.
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he’s lucky that his family has always encouraged the piano—his father for the pure love of the craft, and his aunts, for the promise of fame and fortune. serge never did achieve the latter and stepped all over his own dreams when given the chance, but the passion for music hasn’t died at all. ]
I would make the same choice, if it were between my family and the piano. I wonder why it seems so much easier when I think about it that way.
[ not to sound dismissive, though, he adds this: ]
Pain can change your music, but something like regret would ruin it. You must be an incredible performer, if this is the path you’ve taken.
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You're too kind. Even here, I'll do my best to live up to those words. But you know... I think you're right - about regret ruining music. It may have been a struggle, but I'm glad I didn't give up on my dream.
And if you like playing the piano, then we have something else in common.
[Even beyond that, Serge's words are incredibly wise. If this is coming from someone who isn't even 18 yet, then he must have a good head on his shoulders.]
I'm glad to be able to talk about this with you. I'm not sure if any of it applies to making your own decision, but I think... if you're wavering, it's important to know that valuing your happiness isn't a bad thing.
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[ he’s better than he lets on—he’s passionate, not cocky. not since the incident with henri. ]
And… hearing it does help. Our situations may be different, but it’s that different touch that makes it all the more valuable. While I can never compare my relationship to anyone else’s, perhaps your past gives me the perfect metaphor.
[ he smiles. ]
Hope too, of course! May I ask the name of my sudden savior?
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[Ah, but there's a real smile, and Sougo can't help but grin fondly in return.]
I feel like "savior" is a little much, but I'm Sougo Ousaka. It's a pleasure to meet you.
[He isn't expecting the name to ring any bells, of course - not here, where his idol unit isn't a household name. But if Serge is the type to pay attention to posters related to musical performances and various advertisements around town, Sougo's face or name may be somewhat familiar.]
After how downtrodden you sounded in your initial post, hearing that you have even a little bit of hope is a wonderful thing.
no subject
I think savior is just fine. But it’s nice to meet you too, Monsieur Ousaka.
[ he’s going to be this french idiot until he dies. ]
I admit that I still feel downtrodden… I think the path ahead of me will be long and difficult. It will be painful. But your story reminded me of the miracles that music can work on the heart.
Sorry for the long wait!
Please, there's no need to be so formal. Unless you'll let me do the same.
[French idiots have rights too.]
But it's alright. Just take things a day at a time, and try to surround yourself with people that support you.
This may be too bold of a request, but I'd love to play with you sometime. I really do feel like music has a way of lifting us up.
no problem!
Oh!
[ serge lights up at the offer, excitement visibly suffusing his body. he plays when and where he can, but it’s completely different to have someone in the room with him, or, better yet, someone to play or sing along. it reminds him a bit of afternoons composing with gilbert, even if it’s only a thought right now. ]
It isn’t bold at all, M—Sougo. [ he’s trying. ] It’d be an honor.
♡
Fufu. Don't push yourself too hard for my sake. If Monsieur comes naturally to you, then you should use it. But I think it would be nice to be on a first name basis!
[Listen, he's Japanese and speaks pretty formally as is, so he mainly just wanted to avoid the unbalance of using Serge's first name while being called by his last. They both have the weight of their family names on their shoulders, so in a way, this is freeing!]
Are you used to playing on a grand piano? I only have keyboards and synthesizers at both my apartment and my workplace, but if you don't have a real piano here, I'm sure I can secure one for us without much trouble.
no subject
I prefer grand pianos, but I have a keyboard of sorts here just to keep practicing. It’s not at all the same, though…
[ he frowns, briefly troubled, but in a much lighter way than he had been. ]
So if you know where I can find one, even if it’s old, I can work with it.
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[Weighted keys can only go so far!]
I work at a music agency, so even though we don't have one at any of our studios, we have plenty of connections with venues that have them. How does renting one for a couple of hours sound? If none of the smaller venues are available, we can probably negotiate using the piano at the nearby theatre when it's not in use.
[Maybe it's going just a touch overboard, but if the connections are there, why not use them? Serge seems like he's interested, and that's all the motivation that Sougo needs to pull out all the stops.
Or maybe it's just his rich boy upbringing.]no subject
[ even if it is his rich boy upbringing, serge seems appropriately impressed by the efficiency with which sougo proffers options for a practice session. having a few hours to play piano uninterrupted sounds delightful, but serge has to admit that “performing” in a theatre has its perks as well. ]
Th… that would be incredible! Either option is fine with me, whatever you find more convenient, monsieur.
[ well, he tried to stick to the name. ]
no subject
[That isn't too much to ask, is it? Sougo can't help but laugh somewhat fondly under his breath, both at Serge slipping back to his naming conventions so quickly and simply because he's so elated about sharing music with someone.]
In that case, how about I look into it and let you know when I figure something out?
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Y… yes, please.
[ serge really needs to practice, if he’s going to be able to appropriately thank sougo for the opportunity. ]
I can’t thank you enough.
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[Serge wouldn't know it, but that buoyant sort of brightness to Sougo's voice means that he's awfully excited - far more than he's verbally letting on.]
I'll talk to you then.