Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to High Voltage RPG. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Play Me Our Song; Reserved
Topic Started: Sep 27 2009, 10:17 PM (15,006 Views)
Cup of Coffee
Member Avatar
Would you like Cream with that?
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
The depressing topic was changed and the night turned for the better as each of them spoke of their own various news. It was almost ironic, how all their lives rotated around the strange, enchanting stringed instrument.

Leroy whose deceased wife was a violinist, now owning a theatre that was known for its string performances. David who taught a strings class at musically dedicated high schools and occasionally subbed in during Julliard prep. Then there was Nick, who got in an accident and had his left hand torn, the muscles and nerves destroying themselves until all he was able to hold was a cigarette. Now he was a critic. Which brought them to tonight's meeting.

“They want me to write an article about the New York Phil,” he started, blowing out smoke with a slight sigh. “i let it slip that we were friends and they put me on the job.”

Rei could tell that Nick as bitter. His former rival whose body grew up holding an instrument could do nothing but pick up a cigarette and hold a pen. It was no wonder he took the topic of Rei’s abandonment of the instrument the most personally.

“Don’t you dare sugar coat it,” Rei warned, raising a brow as a smile finally cracked through his lips.

“I won’t. I doubt it’ll be any good,” he began, the frown returning to his features as he eyed the conductor. “Not unless you pick it up and show them how to play. Damn brats just care about money and that’s the only reason you’ll any see improvement. Fucking kids…”

“Nick,” Leroy warned, sighing as he noticed Rei begin to go back into his slump.

“...That’d get them to shut up though. Fucking past my prime...my ass I’m passed it. I haven’t even hit it yet,” Rei cursed, taking another swig of alcohol. “Fuck it. Come to the rehearsal tomorrow and let them have it. Maybe another opinion will make them shape up.”



So that’s how it happened. Waking up at six in the morning, groaning from a partial hang over and seeing a silver convertible parked right in front of his apartment. The drive had included a quick stop to get coffee and discussing exactly what Nick should expect.

However, it was Rei that was most surprised when he opened the door and noticed two males setting up. Nick very calmly walked forward, taking out a cigarette and lighting it up, inhaling deeply before exhaling. “So where do I sit?” Nick asked, swinging an arm over Rei’s shoulder as he offered the conductor an inhale.

Rei was almost tempted to take it.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
lucier
Member Avatar
si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
"And what did I tell you?" Matthias quirked a mild smile as the door opened to reveal Pearce and another man he didn't recognize, "The guy's like clockwork."

Isaac wore a smile that was just faintly ironic, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you stalk him." Once the setup was done, he sank into his chair and got out of his instrument, plucking the strings experimentally a couple of times before going off to mess on the opening bars of the Tartini's Devil Trill Sonata, and Matthias just rolled his eyes.

But the fact that Isaac was slightly hungover did not show in the precision of his fingers, and even though he hadn't continued binging after the rehearsal, Matthias could tell that he had gotten more solid. And the scary thing was, Isaac Langley was almost reminiscent of Mintz as he'd always wanted to be.

"When did you learn that?" Because Matthias had never heard Isaac whaling away on it in his memory.

"Second year of grad school, Dorothy Delay was insane and gave it to me, was just in the mood to-day...wait, is that guy smoking in the concert hall?"

Matthias squinted, "Looks like it."

"Hey, maybe he's already getting laid?" (Although Isaac doubted it, and he lowered his voice to a whisper for that particular sentiment.)

"If he is, you're out six thousand bucks." Matthias muttered back.

"That's not fair." And to demonstrate how unfair it was, Isaac ripped two impressive chords that echoed throughout the hall and put down his violin.

"Pearce, you're not endorsing smoking in a sacred hall, are you?" he called out.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cup of Coffee
Member Avatar
Would you like Cream with that?
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
They certainly looked like lovers to the untrained eye. Rei didn’t even bat away the arm that rested over his shoulders, his eye firmly looking at the cigarette. God it was tempting. He would have gone for it too if Isaac and Matthias weren’t right there. Last thing he needed was to give them an excuse to smoke during practice.

Rei however knew Nick and as soon as the violin echoed throughout the room, he felt the nerves tense immediately. Not to mention the jumping nerve at the base of his throat, one of the tell tale signs of inner aggravation.

Devil’s Trill had always been Nick’s piece. It was his good luck song and worked for him like a charm. The one time he wasn’t going to play it for a performance he got into an accident.

“What’s sacred about this place?” Nick asked immediately, blowing out smoke in the pairs direction. “A hall is only sacred when a conductor stands and begins. Until then, it’s just any old regular hall.”

Rei shook his head, a smile on his lips as he leaned into the embracing arm. “Funny. Derringer, Langley, this is Nick York, a critic of classical music and known for pointing out every mistake a musician makes and personally responsible for destroying the careers of half of the musicians trying to make it in the business...violinists especially.”

“Don’t give me that much credit,” Nick added after a long inhale, blowing the grey air up above him as he watched the cloud fade away for a moment. “I only point things out. It’s their own damn fault if they can’t cut it…”

The light haired male paused, his strange colored eyes taking in Isaac as they flashed in a sort of anger. “...Devil’s Trill...was it?”

Shit,’ he thought. This wasn’t heading off to a good start at all.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
lucier
Member Avatar
si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
"If the Director of the hall heard you say that, the Phil'd be out practicing in a freeway overpass." Isaac pointed out lightly, "Not that I mind any, the homeless people could always use some class--ow!" He only stopped talking when Matthias pinched him squarely on the arm.

'Shut up' said Matthias' eyes, and Isaac merely rolled his eyes back at him before turning back to the guy at hand. Nick York, huh? He'd heard of him, read his reviews, he was said to be the Spohr of the Classical Music critic world--for it was known that the composer Ludwig Spohr made it his business to complain about every little inconsistency. Or maybe he was Wagner, there was heated debate on that subject.

"And so...you're here." Isaac gave him another quick once over before turning his attention back to his instrument, "Don't be too harsh on us, yes? By the time you're done, Pearce here probably won't have an orchestra left."

Matthias twitched, but said nothing because it was most likely true.

Isaac looked mildly surprised, "Yes it is." What bothered him a little was the flash that he had seen. Isaac was known to mess, but of course...he made mess into an art itself, unless Pearce had badmouthed him to York first.

Which was a good possibility. "What? I sound like Mintz and you're a Zuckerman fanatic or something?"

Now Matthias pressed a hand to his throbbing forehead. Isaac was going to talk himself out of a job. He was actually really good at that except...he'd always been saved from the axe because he had the fingers to back it up.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cup of Coffee
Member Avatar
Would you like Cream with that?
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Nick chuckled, continuing to take a solid inhale of his cigarette. “I’m friends with the owner,” he spoke, eyeing Rei that let him know that he was not liking this little firecracker of a personality. A certain ‘violinist who had the biggest chip on his shoulder and has recently changed for the good’ came to mind. He was beginning to doubt that last part.

In his opinion, Rei had always been too soft.

“Rei will always have work. He got an offer from the London and Boston Phi-hey, that’s my cig,” Nick spoke, his sentence changing as he noticed the flaming object swiped from his hand and sharply inhaled.

“Shut up.” The words were accompanied by a sharp motion of the hand, removing the arm around him as breathed the final life out of the cigarette before handing it back to Nick. “Those were just hints during a couple of drinks.”

“Hints wouldn’t have the conducting world turning into a gossip arena. It’s almost as bad as the time you decided to ditch the vio-fuck, Rei that hurt!” It was a pinch that had interrupted the words this time.

Nick paused though as he remembered his piece, raising a brow at the challenging words. The brat was fucking asking for it. “I just have ties to that piece. That’s all.” His sleeve was tugged at, as if by habit to cover the large scar that ran across his arm.

“Where’s your concertmaster?”

“…”

Hell no. Why?”

“Bloody fingers Nick. Bloody fingers,” Rei hummed, both of the men glancing at their own severely calloused tips in longing memory.

“Don’t play that piece half heartedly,” Nick suddenly spoke, a serious look in his gaze. “It holds more value than a brat who merely tries to sound like Mintz would understand. I’m going to go get another cig. I left them in the car.”

He walked away without giving the option to respond, leaving Rei to shake his head sadly. Of all the bloody pieces to play...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
lucier
Member Avatar
si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
You probably fuck him, was almost about to leave Isaac's mouth hadn't Matthias stepped hard on his foot in warning. Matthias was actually sensing a very bad pattern here. But when the critic started saying that Pearce would always find work, hell, London and Berlin both wanted him--Isaac almost drifted off, but drifted back as York said something about ditching the violin. He nudged Matthias' foot off of his shoe.

He was about to say something else, but he was distracted by Pearce sucking from his friend's joint, and then York had the audacity to call him a brat. A brat, the nerve of the guy. A brat. Matthias had sat down and buried his face into his hands...he wanted no part of this. No part of this at all.

"He called me a...brat." Isaac usually let everything roll off his back, because he knew that his attitude towards music wasn't an attitude that everyone liked. He saw it as fun, music was supposed to be fun. You supposed to slave over it, nor were you supposed to have a stick up your ass all the time when it came to stuff like this. But Nick York obviously had the rare talent of rubbing all of his nerves the wrong way.

"Isaac..." Matthias peeked at him through his fingers, "Just...just don't."

"This fucking brat soloed with the Vienna Phil at twelve, and he calls me, a brat." Isaac glanced over at Pearce, who looked rather wistful at his friends departure.

"...Please don't tell me you're sleeping around with a guy like that, Pearce. I think I'll be scarred for life." (That, and he was out six thousand dollars.)
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cup of Coffee
Member Avatar
Would you like Cream with that?
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Rei had something very similar to a horrified look on his face. “Me? Sleep with him? That’d be like fucking my brother,” he spoke, his nose crinkling in distaste.

“Don’t mind Nick, he’s just a bitter over the Trill,” he explained though he realized that perhaps he should elaborate more than that. “He used to play. We were rivals actually, entering the same competitions and programs, always trying to beat one another. He got into an accident though. Destroyed his arm.”

He sighed, knowing that perhaps inviting him wasn’t the wisest idea. “Devil’s Trill was his piece you know. The piece he was known for. That and he’s still bitter that I quit. He’s a genius who can’t play no matter how much he wants to.”

Time for the final blow. “So to a man who dedicated his life to music and had it snatched away from him, hearing his song played lightly makes you a brat in his eyes. A talented brat but a brat nonetheless. Understand? Now no fighting with the critic.”

“And anyway...he’s not my type. Hair’s far too light.”
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
lucier
Member Avatar
si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
[It just occurred to me, one of my best friends is named Nick York lol]



"Just asking, sheesh." Although secretly, Isaac was pleased, he was not out six thousand dollars after all. "You guys act like you do," and they did. Although Isaac had a talent for perverting platonic affections. Actually, he could pervert anything if you gave him enough material to. He didn't like Nick York, that much was clear. "And it's not like I'm that far behind you guys." It couldn't have been more than five years, actually.

But he quieted down as Pearce started to explain -why- York was so bitter. He had gotten into an accident, but he used to play.

So did Pearce, and he was bitter at Pearce for quitting. Or maybe he was still elated that he had coaxed 'fuck' out of Pearce without trying, it was an unrefined word, he'd thought Pearce above it...but then again, he supposed Pearce wanted them to think that. "I might be Isaac, but I have my pride too, Pearce. And it's not like I destroy the piece or anything...none of you know how to have fun with it. Then, you have the gall to turn it on me and make it my fault..."

Matthias coughed discreetly, "I'm...yeah, going to get some water, be right back."

Isaac put his violin across his lap.

"I guess it's useless asking you why you quit? Your hands look fine." He ventured, knowing full-well that he wasn't going to get an answer. It was better that, than to ask Pearce what kind of guy he preferred. Light hair though? Seemed a bit too superficial for someone like him, always taking things personally. But people surprised you, once in a while. Even people like Pearce.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cup of Coffee
Member Avatar
Would you like Cream with that?
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
(...That is amazing. I just like the last name York and decided to throw it in..XD Life is so amusing)

“I act quite differently with lovers,” Rei shot out pointedly, the frown returning as he considered being in love with Nick. What a frightening aspect. His light hazel eyes glanced at the two violinists...well, one after a certain one decided to take leave.

To think, that even the idea of loving Nick was preferred when he compared it to Isaac and Matthias.

He leaned against a secured table, wondering just how to phrase his explanation. “It’s the fact that you can have fun with it.”

However, a very hidden topic was suddenly brought up into the conversation, private between the two of them. “My hands are fine,” he spoke, raising them up in self examination. No scars. No bruises. They were strong, calloused but gentle. It was a musicians hand, without a doubt, finally taken care of.

“Quite useless,” he responded. “Hands are only part of a violinist after all.”

It was the only clue he gave, eyeing the door that opened with perfect timing, the cranky critic holding a new cigarette in his mouth. “I got a call from Leroy. Apparently David has some news.”

Rei frowned. “I have no time to drink. I have to make more revisions.”

“Screw your revisions Rei,” he spoke, plainly saying the mans first name. “It’s about Julia.”

“...One drink Nick. That’s all you’ll get out of me tonight,” Rei spoke immediately, his usual straight posture slouching as he bit his lip, a bad habit when he thought too hard.

“Says the biggest drinker of the four. I’ll see you at the usual bar tonight. Bring flowers, you always knew her favorite,” he exhaled a thick breath of air before turning. “I have some more work to do. Nice to know that you still want to play,” he chuckled.

“See you later brat,” he added, stressing the title as he left, ignoring the angry glare he received from Rei.

“...They play for more than money,” he spoke, shaking his head sadly as he sighed. He was not looking forward to tonight and now he had a rehearsal to get through. 

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
lucier
Member Avatar
si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
"You act...quite differently with lovers." (Now, Isaac was certain that he hadn't brought up this point by himself. Pearce just jumped to conclusions. Lovers and people you had casual sex with weren't the same.) "Well, bravo, then." His mouth just twitched a little. But then he let it go. This was such a delicate situation that even Isaac was going to be careful.

"And having fun is...bad? Especially if it's something you like doing?" Isaac looked down at his instrument and then back up again. Soon though, he quieted as Pearce examined his own hands. Hands were only part of a musician, he said. And that was true...coupled by Pearce's innate inability to have fun with anything, Isaac could see a problem.

He was about to open his mouth to say so when York returned.

If anything, Isaac was amused, workaholic Pearce forgoing revisions for a drink? And for a woman? This got even more amusing. But Pearce didn't seem to have a significant other at the moment, Isaac told himself not to worry to much.

Isaac just nodded, he didn't trust himself to open his mouth, but after York left, Matthias returned with his water, and Isaac looked towards Pearce again, cranky before a rehearsal Pearce was never a good sign.

"If you want, Matthias and I can do the revisions for you. You can go out and eat, drink, and be merry." After all, how bad were they? They'd both sat under multitudes of conductors, enough to know how to conduct, probably.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cup of Coffee
Member Avatar
Would you like Cream with that?
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
The statement probably sounded confusing to Isaac but it made perfect sense to Rei. He rarely slept just for the fun of it merely because it took a certain amount of trust for him to commit such an act. Lovers were the only people he slept with, a strange ideology that was hard to find in the hectic city they lived in.

Nick’s departure had him sighing, wondering just what in the world David had found out about Julia. It didn’t make sense. Wouldn’t Leroy be the one to call them up them? What in the world had the teacher discovered?

He seemed to stop in his walk down memory lane, knowing that if he did he would have to cancel the rehearsal all together. He might even end up going to the bar early, just to drown his thoughts.

“They aren’t revisions for this group,” he spoke. It was the revision he did every night. That’s why Nick shot down his excuse. A revision for a conductor who swore to never perform was pointless after all. “But you can look over and add for the pieces we’re doing.”

He wasn’t really speaking and it was obvious. He was just replying automatically, his thoughts clearly elsewhere as he stared down at his hands.

“...Rehearsal should be starting soon,” he spoke, not surprised as the door opened and a few members began to shuffle in. He let the merry comment slide. Isaac couldn't understand because he didn't know and wasn't going to know.

It was much too complicated.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
lucier
Member Avatar
si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
It wasn't like Isaac was a champion for casual sex.

Well, yes, the comment made no sense to Isaac whatsoever, but it seemed like he and Pearce were from different ends of the spectrum. Isaac Langley did not wear his heart on his sleeve, but he knew how to let things go, slide off of his back when it was necessary, he had nothing to hide (sort of) and thought that Pearce would be a happier person if he could do the same. How can a person even exist like that? It was a sad mystery.

"It doesn't matter, a score's a score, it's all the same, right?" Besides, if he took everything this seriously, why hadn't he killed himself by now? Isaac certainly would have. "But if you want to be a miser about it, be my guest. Give me the scores for this before you leave for tonight."

Isaac shook his head, Pearce ran on auto, did he even have a manual mode? Or was that not safe because apparently he was hiding more than a few things. He stood up, and walked to where Pearce was standing, reached out a hand and brushed the back of the conductor's neck. (Matthias made something like a 'shit' comment.) but Isaac quickly let go. He'd found out what he'd wanted.

Pearce was an uptight bundle of nerves, but was that any surprise?

"As there is still ten minutes left before rehearsal, I'm going to be right back, I promise I won't be late. I just need some time by myself to figure out how you live." If at all.

Matthias stared after his friend. Strike or score for Isaac? That'd been bold, but it was also known that Pearce liked everyone to keep their distance, but if Isaac followed that, wouldn't it be just be counterproductive?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cup of Coffee
Member Avatar
Would you like Cream with that?
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
As Rei let his thoughts slowly take over, a certain brush at the back of his neck caused a few things to happen all at once. Though it was extremely difficult to tell, his neck had always been a rather sensitive place. Especially the back.

His skin prickled as all his nerves seemed to focus on that one touch, his back straightening immediately as his mind, ever so quickly, wished for the tension to release. He almost let out a moan, but it came out much more hushed, his eyes fluttering shut.

A second later and before anyone but the two of them, three if Matthias counted, could have noticed his weakness for the touch, his eyes shot open, narrowing as his hands immediately grabbed the wrist of his concertmaster and took a step back so there was some distance between them.

“Stop concerning yourself with things that don’t involve you,” he hissed, dropping the wrist as he took a step back to create distance. It was quite a blow for his bubble to have been broken and allow such a vulnerable reaction. “How I live and what I do doesn’t involve you.”

He walked away at this point, taking out his phone as he dialed and waited for David to pick up.

“Hey man, you’ll never guess what--”

“Start talking. What did you hear about Julia?”

A chilled silence followed, where Rei could hear the sharp gulp. This wasn’t a good side. “She left a note when she was in the hospital. It’s for you.” Rei almost wanted to cry.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
lucier
Member Avatar
si vis pacem, para bellum
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
"Actually yes it does very much involve me," Isaac said, surprised as the next person that Pearce had stopped him, he didn't know if it was because Pearce had absolutely no sense of self to think that his choices hadn't the power to influence the orchestra, "By the way, it's hard to be on the same page as your orchestra if you're not there." It didn't take a genius to figure out that Pearce had been distracted as Isaac was on a daily basis, "I'm concertmaster, I'm also responsible for the productivity of this orchestra, not my fault if you're being counterproductive."

Matthias buried his face into his hands again. This was just...very bad, very bad to do right here. Isaac removed himself from Pearce's grasp when he dropped his wrist and sauntered off the stage. He'd accomplished something today, crawled under Pearce's skin. Now all he needed to do was stay there.

But true to his word, he was back on time, six-thirty sharp, and took his place at the head of the section, mentioning for the oboe to prepare for tune up. Patricia was mouthing something at him. Something like how pissed off Pearce looked.

Isaac had done it once though. He could definitely do it again. He was sure. But when the tune-up was complete, he sat back down and didn't look at Pearce for any more than he had to. Matthias' expression was unreadable beside him. But Isaac guessed that his friend was thinking him an idiot.

They could think all they want, Isaac knew what he was doing. Briefly, he fished out a stick of gum and put it in his mouth. It was a rather controlled reaction, actually. Besides, gum wasn't half bad as smoke.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cup of Coffee
Member Avatar
Would you like Cream with that?
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Rei was feeling a multitude of emotions, something he rarely felt and displayed on the surface. At first he was pissed, upset that his own professionalism was failing compared to Isaac of all people.

But most of all he was anxious and teetering toward depressed. A letter? She left him a bloody letter? Why had this taken so long to find? Why him? Why not to Leroy, Nick or even David? The accident had thrown their lives for a loop.

Why him?

Even more so, what did it contain? David said he didn’t read it and couldn’t know. He’d give it to him tonight. So, in a very unorthodox manner of desperate behavior and knowing that there was no way he could focus on music at the moment, let alone conduct it, he made a phone call.

The said individual was in the area and got there just as Pearce was about to make his announcement. He smiled thankfully and swore half the orchestra before him who didn’t know the circumstances paled as if they had seen a ghost.

“We’re going to be trying a new method today,” he spoke, eyeing lightly the male who took out his violin and tuned it as silently as he could. “I’ve invited a friend I met during my own violin days, who’ll be playing with us for today,” he explained, smiling as a few surprised sounds left the few who turned around.

“Joshua Bell,” Rei sharply introduced, his own ears perking up at the name as he knew that even he would be able to focus somewhat. If just for an hour or two, he’d be able to focus.

Then he’d think about Julia. He wouldn't let anyone call him unprofessional and stay in his mind longer than needed. Not even a damn concertmaster who was up to more than Rei could name at the moment.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Fully Featured & Customizable Free Forums
Learn More · Sign-up Now
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Hardcore Yaoi · Next Topic »
Add Reply