( video, un: lavieenrose )

[affectueux]

[ 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.

Comments

[affectueux]

[ it’s nice to skip the formalities, though serge too struggles a little bit with the idea of calling his elder by his first name. though, he got to a fairly casual relationship with rosemarine in the end… it’s something like that, he imagines. ]

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.

[koboreta]

Fufu. I know what you mean.

[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.]

[affectueux]

Oh!

[ 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. ]

[koboreta]

Really, I'd be happy to. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind playing a real piano again either... But I'd be even happier to hear you play.

[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?

[affectueux]

[ sougo is so nice. serge has met plenty of nice people here, but a part of him never expects to be on the receiving end of kindness from strangers—maybe that’s his own upbringing. ]

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.

[koboreta]

Really, it's my pleasure. I'm looking forward to it.

[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.