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Play Me Our Song; Reserved
Topic Started: Sep 27 2009, 10:17 PM (15,007 Views)
lucier
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si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
As the conductor's hand went up, Isaac lifted his scroll by way of a cue, and he knew that Matthias was doing the same, after all, he'd sat concertmaster for an entire season. But after that, they were on their own, because hell, it wasn't as if Isaac and Matthias could play their instruments for them. And things were unrelenting until when it got to letter E. It was a bit of a relief though, Isaac realized, when all the heat in the back of his head disappeared, meaning that people were concentrating now.

Pearce couldn't say that he wasn't doing his job.

But during a small break, Isaac stole a look at Pearce's face. The man seemed totally into it, as if conducting was really what he was meant to do, even though his talent was wasted as a violinist. It was a little mesmerizing, until he realized that the solo was coming up--

And then he realized he wasn't sitting first chair so he relaxed. And Matthias wasn't doing a bad job, because it was impossible for Matthias Derringer to do a bad job, but he wasn't drawing all that he could out of his Poli--something shit, if you had an instrument like that, at least play like you meant it...

Or maybe he was taunting Isaac again. Isaac would have to speak to him about that later. It wasn't like he was completely hopeless. And Matthias was going to see.
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[ *  *  *  *  * ]
It wasn’t bad, Rei could admit that much. For the first attempt as this piece as a whole, it wasn’t horrible. It still needed drastic improvement though. The crescendos were by no means loud enough, the slow notes weren’t drawing out enough sound and the fast paced notes were lacking in excitement.

That didn’t mean that he showed it. He was into it, giving the cues that would soon be gotten used to, knowing the choppy sound would be smoothed over fairly soon. It wasn’t until Derringer was playing that Rei had found a problem.

He was doing it half assed. Again. Where was the sound that had made him concertmaster for so long? The dedication and love for music that made his sound beautiful? It was almost like typing notes into a machine and having them played.

It made him stop the whole thing, his hand coming to a rather sharp end as he raised to rub at his forehead slightly. To think that a solo of all things could make him stop a piece halfway.

“Derringer,” he let out, trying to not grind out the words. “In my office after rehearsal. You have some explaining to do.”

The words gave out a meaning that let everyone know that Rei was unto something. Their was a certain...hidden secret that was impairing his rehearsal, and damn it, he would find out if it was the last thing he did.

“Once again from Section A. Langley, play your solo.” Matthias had successfully managed to piss off Rei just a tad further, the rest of the rehearsal much stricter than usual.
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lucier
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si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Matthias was pulling some shit, and apparently Pearce had realized it too, and Isaac almost rolled his eyes, if Matthias was being smart-alecky about this because he thought Isaac couldn't do it, then hell, Isaac would personally kick his ass too. But Matthias was usually very glib about this sort of thing, and besides, when it came down to it, Isaac was the one that Pearce was suspicious of--which meant...

"All right." Said Matthias, without giving anything away.

"If you lose me my bet before I can fulfill it, the the whole orchestra owes me double." He hissed under his breath as he and Matthias switched seats again. There was sniggering in the back. The glance that he had stolen of Pearce told him that the conductor was far from amused. "He's out to kill."

"Relax, I know what I'm doing, Langley." Matthias almost smirked at him. Maybe not being concertmaster was liberating after all, now he understood why Isaac messed around all the time. And besides, Matthias had a foolproof excuse, one that Pearce wouldn't grudge him for, after all, it happened to everyone.

But he too, wished everyone could stop tittering, it wasn't helping their case, and Pearce looked pissed enough to make them work overtime. At least they were getting paid by the hour.

So they started again, and that was the end of the antics, because everyone knew that they were never going to get home if they really got Pearce started. Isaac's ten measures went off better than he expected, and even he was pleased.
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[ *  *  *  *  * ]
The snickers weren’t helping. In fact, Rei had delivered such a lecture to the individuals who dared to even think of smiling, that left a lasting impression that he had by no means changed. In fact, it looked like he had only gotten worse.

He was going to be lecturing Matthias until his ears bled. An impromptu performance? A zero effort solo performance? He didn’t care if this was rehearsal. If they couldn’t bloody pull perfection out of their ass, he’d have to get them to start here. He just had a few problem players to take care of first.

Isaac played better than Matthias but it was far from what he had heard during the solo. Rei didn’t even want to think about how close he had been to storming off, grabbing a violin and playing the bars himself. That was happily avoided though.

The rehearsal ended an hour over time, not to mention an extra ten minute talk on how this wasn’t a high school string ‘band’ but a job.

It ended finally though. Gathering his things, he let out a sigh as he rubbed his forehead again. “That’s all for today. I expect results tomorrow.”

Now he just had to deal with the previous concertmaster. Joy.
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lucier
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si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
And damn...neither Matthias nor Isaac had Pearce so riled up before. They'd never heard of the 'this is not a high school band' lecture but they'd heard of it from former members, but at least they still were let out at 9:30 sharp, at least Pearce had it in his head not to pay overtime. Isaac had a feeling that he'd fire his whole orchestra if he could, but hell, he couldn't do that. Contracts were for the whole season. That audition for concertmaster had been a stroke of luck, really.

But damn, a lecture about not smiling? Damn.

Isaac was taking his time, packing up his instrument as Matthias made short work of his, he looked totally calm, and Isaac almost hated him.

"That's not funny."

"It's not funny, I sprained my wrist the other day, scrubbing the tub after the Enigma." Matthias' face was a mix of irony and something else, "Now that's funny."

And Isaac was left to wonder if he was telling the truth. Matthias was pretty good at lying when he put his mind to it. While Isaac could not lie to save his ass, he was really good at twisting the truth around as he saw fit.

But now that he was at it, "Next person that sets him off owes me fifty bucks as down payment..." Isaac said once he was sure that Matthias had followed Pearce out of the rehearsal hall.
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[ *  *  *  *  * ]
God how he wanted to fire them all. Rei had a wonderful dream a few nights ago where he got a completely new group of people that not only listened but practiced. It was so perfect that he was convinced it was true. Then he woke up.

It was a recent memory that made him watch as the majority of the members walked out, before casting Matthias a very pointed look and walking toward his room.

To think, that usually he would be telling Isaac to go to his room and sigh to Matthias that he just couldn’t understand the non-commitment. To think that he might be doing the reverse.

So Rei sighed, leaning against the wall like usual as he watched the door, waiting for the violinist to come in, his light eyes glued to his hands.

“I hope you have a good reason for slacking off,” Rei started, raising his brow as he let his statement hang open ended. He'd always liked Matthias's, even though he disapproved of his friends. He certainly didn't hope that one good change meant he would find a bad one.
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lucier
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si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Matthias was a big boy, and besides, Pearce liked him. Still, even after two screwups, he'd still proven to be more responsible than Isaac, sure, he didn't play as well, but he was well enough so that he could stand atop the NY Phil without any fear that anyone would bring him down...unless Pearce decided to fire him. Isaac shook his head, Matthias could take care of himself, he wouldn't be so stupid as he lose his job over it.

...And besides, what Matthias had said could be true. Isaac never buckled down and cleaned anything, he wasn't anal like that while Matthias kind of was...so maybe spraining his wrist while scrubbing the tub wasn't that far fetched after all. It was just...just a tad too convenient. But that would also explain why he hadn't practiced and had to pull Saint-Saens out of his ass.

Matthias took a deep breath and stepped inside the office, he too, wasn't afraid of Pearce, but saw no reason to rile him like Isaac apparently used to like doing. This new Isaac was just a little scary, even to Matthias.

"Ah, well. I have a good excuse. I sprained my wrist the other day before the audition, mostly okay now, but I'm trying not to irritate it too much." Matthias held out his left wrist by the way of explanation. "...And it's not like I can tell you things like that..." He trailed off, and then opted for a gentle inquisition.

"Besides, it's not a bad idea for Isaac to rise to the occasion, is it, Pearce?"
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[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Now that wasn’t how Rei imagined this all to occur. He sprained his wrist? Why wasn’t he wearing anything to support it then? Did he want to practically ruin his career? It was a familiar memory that made him push himself away from the wall, immediately frowning as his eyes zoomed on the side wrist.

His mouth opened to scold, ready to berat the other and possibly give away more than he meant to again. That was stopped with a rather strange, albeit well timed, comment. It made him bit his tongue just in time and not give it away.

“And why would that be? Concertmasters get a bonus and you only get a smaller wage now that he has ‘risen to the occasion’,” he started, raising a brow as he tried to figure out the meaning the words.

“One of the most troublesome violinists managed to catch you on a bad day and gave me such a performance that I couldn’t even dream of not giving him the spot. Sure, he’s calmed down a bit but you’ve also lost some of your spark. It makes me wonder…”

He trailed forward not, his rough fingers lightly brushing over the wrist. “...A negative and a positive in both occasions. Exactly why is it a good thing Isaac has suddenly stepped up? It’s not like you’re all...planning something.”

Rei'd take care of the wrist later. He might have discovered a hidden gold mine..
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lucier
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si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
"It's mostly well now, I can't wear anything when I play, you know that." Matthias said, to further quell any suspicions that Pearce might have had. He finally took a seat across from Pearce's desk. He listened, and was silent while Pearce spoke, and didn't speak for a long time after that, lacing his fingers together. This was tricky, but Matthias had known Isaac Langley for years, long enough to pick up a few bad habits.

"I haven't had a bad day for the past season, I'm not superhuman like you, Maestro."

Look, I survived three years of conservatory with him as my roommate, he isn't..." Matthias sucked in a deep breath, trying to think about how to do this diplomatically and efficiently as possible. Pearce had a point though, Isaac was troublesome, but when he put his mind to it, he came around, blew your mind. "He might be troublesome, but you gotta admit he might be good as you, in your prime." Although Matthias had no way to make that assumption since no one had ever heard Pearce play.

"Well...it's always good if a good violinist steps up, right? The string section likes Isaac, he might even make them work and then we won't always be behind the LA phil like we always are. And if he gets the bigger paycheck, he pays more rent. We worked that out already."

But at planning something? Matthias blinked nonchalantly enough.

"Planning something? What do you mean by that?"
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“Saint-Saens on an injured wrist?” Rei asked once more, raising an eyebrow as he moved to sit on his desk rather than his chair. The height factor bothered him, even in moments that had nothing to do with it. It wasn’t something he could stop though. Even when his gut was warning him that something was being hidden from him.

Rei raised an eyebrow though at the superhuman comment. He almost laughed. A sound similar to it choked past his lips, his smile bitter if anything. “If I was a superhuman I’d still be…” He trailed off, biting his tongue as he suddenly quieted down.

He didn’t speak for a while, just listening as his mind lulled over various thoughts. As good as he was? In his prime? Now that was an insult, even if it was unintentional. It didn’t help when the LA philharmonic was brought up.

“Three things Derringer. One, the entire feeling of the orchestra seems off beat for the past few day. Something is going on but as long as you can promise me that it won’t influence the performance negatively and somehow improve it, I won’t argue. Two, might is a tricky word and also means he can also be nothing close to my prime,” he spoke before pausing and giving the other a stern look.

“You are dismissed,” he stated, waiting as the other moved to leave and only speaking just as the man was right by the door. “And three...you’ve never heard me play have you?” It was a strict bite to the prime comment, giving away that just because he rarely played, didn’t mean he had lost his touch.
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lucier
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si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
"I've been playing that piece for close to ten years now, used it for my college audition, that piece and I go way back." Of course, Matthias didn't treat it fairly this time around, but it was still his piece to pull out of his ass when he needed to. Pearce would still be what? Six feet even? Matthias himself was five-ten, but obviously, the extra three centimeters that he had over his conductor was something that Pearce never forgave him for. And Isaac was six foot even. Did that have any bearings on it?

This made Matthias really want to ask Pearce to just prove it. After all, Isaac had binged, and he'd never made it to Juilliard prep, but he'd been among the first on the waiting list, and Pearce hadn't played for years and Matthias had to watch while Isaac binged for the sake of three thousand dollars. Excuse him if he was feeling a tad protective of his friend even if Matthias knew that he was settling Isaac up for a fall.

Besides, Isaac wasn't even in his prime yet. Just give him a couple of years. "The phil's getting more productive," But yes, that was true, Matthias hadn't ever heard Pearce play, "I haven't, but you haven't seen Isaac binge either. And you'll have to give it to him that he ran an effective sectional tonight..." He stood up to leave.

"Night, Pearce."

In the parking lot, Isaac looked at him, "Fired?"

Matthias shrugged, "Just barely."


[I just realized that I repeated the sectional bit twice, oopsies]
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Rei was being bitter and he knew it. He couldn’t help it. Every time someone in first seat screwed up, he wanted to grab their instrument and show them what it was supposed to sound like. How sound from the violin should sound like. He couldn’t. It was that painful fact that made him so heartless, watching and hearing the countless mistakes. He’d never been good with words.

He could never really describe what he felt. He had grown up playing it all out. Now he didn’t have that. So as he listened to the words, taking in a deep breath as he watched Matthias leave, letting him have the last word. As the heavy door shut, and Rei was convinced he was gone, possibly even from the building, he stood up.

“But why binge?” Rei asked the open air, closing his eyes as he tried to clear his spiteful thoughts. “Why injure your fingers or even your wrist if you can play?” He stared down at his hands, gripping the air loosely as he drew his hands in a mock playing position, drawing the invisible bow back and forth.

He could hear it in his head but he couldn’t bring it out. It made him want to cry. He was past his prime but that hadn’t been from years or lack of practice. It was hitting his prime and standing right there basking in the light before suddenly turning it all off and placing down the instrument. Perhaps he hadn’t even been there yet and could have gone even a step further.

He’d never know. And that’s what made his job more bittersweet than anything else.

His phone rang and caused him to jerk, his motions stopping as he reached for the phone. “Pearce speaking, how may I--”

“Shove a cork in it Rei. It’s Leroy. Want a drink? The gangs all here.”

He didn’t even miss a beat.

“I’ll be there in ten.”
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lucier
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si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Meanwhile, certain members of the celebrated NY Phil were having a drink in Matthias' and Isaac's humble abode, actually...that was an ironic understatement, after all, the two of them were associate concertmaster, and concertmaster of the NY Phil, a humble 'abode' was in the middle of Manhattan and cost two grand to rent each month. The booze in question was Charles Schwartz wine, and they weren't really celebrating anything except everyone was awed that Isaac had dragged out his actual name from Pearce today.

"You're making good time, Isaac." Patricia grinned over at him. "And now he's in a good way to calling you pumpkin."

Isaac almost spat out his wine, "That's just...that's just...I don't want him to call me pumpkin." And besides, Isaac couldn't imagine that word ever leaving Rei Pearce's mouth, even as a food. "Besides, I wouldn't push my luck at just Isaac." And besides, tomorrow it was probably back to Langley again.

"Two hundred if you get a sappy nickname out of him." She waved her wallet at him, probably drunk.

Isaac bit his lip, and then shrugged, why the fuck not? "Deal."

And after the crowd left, Matthias said to him, "...He's...the only way you'll get laid is if you get better than him."

"Hey, I'm not the one that needs to get laid, yeah?" But hell, six thousand dollars were on the line, binging didn't hurt any. "Not gonna practice when I'm halfway to tipsy."
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[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Nick
Leroy
David

It wasn’t a house, condo or even an apartment. Any of those three options would certainly be nicer than where he was heading but they wouldn’t be giving the same feeling that this location would. It was the place where Rei shared his happy memory, as it always meant an announcement of marriage, love, job opportunity or just a funny story in general.

It was also a place of sadness. It was the one place a death was announced to the group, where the drinks shared would not be one of congratulatory meaning but of mourning. It was also the place Rei had announced his retirement from the violin and his entrance into the world of conducting. It was their world.

All five of them...now four. Leroy didn’t let the thought show, so Rei didn’t bring it up, even as they all sat in their usual chairs, their signature drinks on hand.

Leroy, with his chestnut colored strands, had his cognac, swirling in a glass as he inspected the color ever so critically. David the younger brother of the theatre owner with a beer and Nick, good old Nick, with a cigarette on hand and a shot of vodka, probably not his first, being swallowed down easier than water.

Rei wasn’t even surprised that the moment he sat down, a scotch on the rocks was placed in front of him. He raised the glass and took a sip, closing his eyes as his ears caught the sound of ice, reminding him of a few notes that needed to be worked on.

“Stop day dreaming Rei,” Nick snorted, blowing out smoke as he smirked slightly. “Or has someone fallen in love?”

“More like someone’s causing him trouble,” David pointed out immediately, reaching and pressing against the throbbing vein in Rei’s forehead. “This always acts up when someone’s pissing him off.”

“It’s not that,” Rei snapped, frowning slightly before sighing. “I just miss it.”

“Miss what?” Leroy asked, even though he didn’t need to. They all knew the answer.

“Playing.”

“But you said…” David started, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

Nick decided to answer for him this time. “He knows what he said but he promised David. He swore on this bloody bar,” he mumbled the last part, all the men nodding as they understood the significance of the line.

“...Another round,” Leroy whispered to a waitress who passed by. Rei only frowned. It was going to be a long night.
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lucier
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[ *  *  *  *  * ]
"Did you actually injure your wrist?" Isaac asked flatly after the drunkenness had passed and now he was just nursing a headache. "Or did you really just do that on purpose?" He was lying on the bed on his side of the room, while Matthias sat on his looking thoughtful, they actually had a three-room apartment, but one of those rooms had been converted into a soundproof practice room and the other, Matthias had insisted on a study, so they were stuck in the same room. Not that Isaac minded, neither of them were horribly promiscuous, and if they ever felt the need to, they just either went somewhere else or gave notice.

"I did sprain it a little," Matthias frowned at his own wrist. "But it wasn't bad...at least, not as bad as I pretended it was."

Isaac frowned at him, "You almost sound like you want me to win this bet. What's with you?"

"Nothing's with me, it's just...I don't know, can't you see it? No matter how any of us goad him, he doesn't. He has a baton stuck up his ass, as you're so fond of saying...can't you see he wants to play?"

"So why doesn't he?" Isaac blinked at him.

"I dunno, his hands look fine to me, just think about it..." Matthias flopped down on his pillow. "You're good enough, which is why I made the bet to you and not Patricia, you'll make him want to play."

Matthias had a point, but Isaac being Isaac said, "You sound like you have the hots for Pearce, sure you don't want to reverse the bet?"

"Shut up."

But when they got to the rehearsal hall early, early because Matthias was a bitch about setup, and Isaac rather it'd be Matthias bitching than Pearce because...man, could he bitch when you rubbed him the wrong way. When you rubbed him in the right ways, though...

"What makes you so sure that he'll be here?"

"Because," Matthias gave his friend a look that very clearly said, 'duh.' "He's Pearce, and you're concertmaster, so...it works out."
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