itscurtains | Week One

Entry tags:

act 3,
week 1

Week One

[Yesterday, everyone woke up in a strange place and realized that they'd been kidnapped, and also that everyone else around them may or may not be kinnies? Wow, what a weird escalation of kin drama! Given what some people have seen of Spongebob's freaky arm thing, though, maybe it's not that at all?

Your Assistant Director, Hester, showed off her stuff and immediately had her life threatened by Lumpy Space Princess, who got her life threatened right back. Maybe you should keep that in mind if you decide to pay Hester any more visits! She won't be making another public appearance this week, but as promised, she'll be available for visits and consultation in the Principal's Office during business hours.

If you don't want to chat with Hester, there's always the school to explore! Some of you might also be receiving mysterious coins next to your bedside this week - those must be useful for something, right? There's lots to do, and you all seem like a group who can make your own fun, so enjoy your first week of school!]

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday

(( OOC: This will be the last mod post for this week! Feel free to start submitting regains for any threads that aren't with Hester. Remember, song threads mean an extra coin! This is a peace week, so get all that CR while you can! ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm Orpheus! [ he says, brightly. ] I don't think I get to call myself a composer, but I write music sometimes too.

[ 'Composer' always felt like such a lofty term, reserved for people who could afford to go to school and learn about all the words for things and structures and the meanings behind them instead of just fumbling around by themselves with a lyre. He's made his peace with it. ]

What are you working on?

Orpheus. [there's a bit of surprise in Salieri's voice, before it turns into amusement] Well, with such a lofty name, perhaps the title of composer could be something to aspire to, if you already write music.

[as for what his working on]

As for this...it's a piece a teacher of mine was slated to compose, but has given it to me to take on, as he is disposed with other works.

[ Oh no here's that thing with people hinting at the idea that he was named for somebody again. Again, the temptation is to ask about it, but what if his mom had a good reason for not telling him that particular story? On the other hand, he's an adult now and she can't tell him what to do, but even so. His expression goes kind of distant as he debates with himself, but then the man keeps talking and it's as good an excuse as any to get off the subject. ]

Is it for someone, or something? I've only ever written music for myself, or my friends.

It is a commission, to be performed in Paris if all goes well.

Oh! That's really exciting! I'm sure it'll be great. [ Orpheus beams at him, having utter confidence in this near-stranger's musical ability. ]

Can I hear what you have so far, or are you more comfortable waiting until you're finished to share things? [ Personally Orpheus is of the latter category, never confident enough in his work to show it off to people until he's sure it's absolutely perfect. But it doesn't hurt to ask, he figures. ]

[Flattery normally will only get you a little far with Salieri, but considering the beating his ego's taken within the past day between the Yearbook and Discord, that bit of flattery goes quite a bit farther than normal, enough for Salieri to smirk just a little bit]

It's mostly ideas right now, but...

[he turns fully back to the piano, setting his fingers on the keys]

Do you know the story of the Danaïdes?

[ Orpheus nods, enthusiastically. ]

My mother told me about them, [ he says. ] The daughters of Danaus, who were forced to marry the sons of Aegyptus, and murdered their husbands on their wedding nights. All except one, who spared hers because he showed her respect.

[ It was kind of a grim story to hear when he was around six years old, but his mom had thought it was important, so there it was. Orpheus looks a little contemplative for a moment, since, well. The topic of murder has been a relevant one recently, but he shakes it off. ]

So you're writing a piece about them?

Indeed. I was working on Hypermnestre's aria, in fact. When she refuses her father and decides not to murder her husband. If you'd like to hear it? [the corner of his mouth quirks up a bit]

Oh, wow, you're writing a full opera, then?

[ That's incredible! Orpheus looks wildly impressed. He's only ever heard bits and pieces of that kind of thing - excerpts played by individual musicians who happened to be passing through the railway stop, or what he could find on records on those rare occasions where he could afford one - but he can imagine the scale and spectacle of it all. ]

I'd love to hear it, absolutely.

Of course. I enjoy composing opera in particular.

[he looks quite pleased at Orpheus's enthusiasm]

Now, keep in mind it'll be an octave up when the soprano sings it, but...

[and he's going to start to play (hover translation enabled)]

Par les larmes dont votre fille
Arrose en tremblant votre sein
Mon père de votre famille
Ne devenez pas l'assassin!
Mon père, Mon père...ne devenez pas l'assassin!

[A song about a daughter begging her father not to become the killer of his family. That sure is what he's composing right now. Salieri'll let the chord die away for a moment, before he breathes out]

...that is what I have so far.

[ Well, it's apt?? In its way. Orpheus listens with rapt attention and an almost childlike look of wonderment, eyes wide and shining. When the man finishes, he applauds enthusiastically. ]

That was wonderful! I'm sure the commissioner will love it. [ he says, beaming. ] I've always wanted to see a real opera. I have a few records, and I've met people who played in the orchestra who were willing to teach me their parts, but I don't live anywhere near an opera house.

[ Also, it costs money, and which he has basically none of at any given time. ]

[Salieri is a little startled at the applause, but can't quite help the immediate flattered smile at the praise that accompanies it.]

I'm glad you like it. [he considers for a moment, playing a couple notes on the piano] It's a shame you haven't had the opportunity to see an opera, considering your enthusiasm...

[he tilts his head a bit, giving Orpheus an almost conspiratorial smile]

I'll tell you what. I don't think I could get an entire opera done anytime soon, but I could flesh out and finish this scene. Perhaps there are some singers and performers among us, and we could stage it, at least? Then you will have seen at least part of it.

Really? You'd do that? [ Orpheus looks shocked, but pleasantly so. ]

Opera is really difficult to sing, but I bet we can find at least a few people who are willing to try! I can ask around. And I bet at least a few of us play instruments that would work for this.

Opera can be difficult, yes, if you're singing to a big stage. A room such as this or such as the Lobby or Cafeteria, however...that is much more feasible for untrained or smaller voices.

[he considers again, tapping a finger on one of the keys]

Depending on what skills we have available, this is certainly something that could be workable within a week or so. [he seems to be thinking rather hard about this, but eagerly. Having a project to work on really helps distract from the Everything of this place]

[ Orpheus nods enthusiastically. ]

Let me know what I can do to help, and I'll do it. I'm sure at the others will be interested too! [ It'll be good to focus on something that isn't how they're all trapped in a mysterious building being monitored by what might or might not be a wrathful god, being gently nudged into considering murdering each other. ]

Oh, um. What did you say your name was, again? [ Orpheus realizes suddenly that he doesn't... actually know, and isn't sure if that's because the man hasn't introduced himself yet or if he just forgot in all the excitement. ]

[at that, Salieri chuckles] Forgive me, I've forgotten my manners.

Maestro Antonio Salieri, at your service, Monsieur Orpheus.

[he considers the music on the piano still]

Perhaps...it might be helpful to post some sort of notice tomorrow about putting this scene together. [he glances back at Orpheus, then] You said you've written some music before...I'm assuming you play an instrument, then?

[ That name sounds vaguely familiar, but Orpheus can't quite put his finger on it, so he just puts that aside for now. ]

It's nice to meet you, [ he says, not sure if he said that already but pretty sure that it doesn't hurt to be polite twice. ] And I play a couple of different instruments, yes, but mostly the lyre and the piano.

[ Growing up he begged lessons off of any musician passing through town who would indulge him, so he can do a little bit of a lot of different things, but those are the main ones that he's actually confident in enough to play in front of an actual professional composer. ]

The lyre, really? [Salieri does look rather impressed]

That's both appropriate and impressive.

[ Orpheus nods enthusiastically. ]

My mother taught me how to play. It was her favorite instrument.

I see. [he can't help but look a bit amused, perhaps with a touch of admiration] She must have been a talented woman, to be so knowledgeable of Greek myth and the lyre. A blessing that she passed such traits on to you.

She is. [ he says, smiling, though there's a touch of melancholy to it. His relationship with his mom is a bit of a complicated subject. ]

She takes her duties and role very seriously. Knowing the history and how to tell it is her calling.

[Salieri notes that melancholic note, though...Orpheus speaks in the present, so he can at least parse that his mother isn't dead.]

Oh? That is quite a duty for one to take on.

She was born into it, I think?

[ Actually come to think of it, Orpheus doesn't really know how most gods get their domains. He'd never really thought to ask. Anyway. ]

She's a muse. She presides over epics and storytelling.

[....what what

Salieri stares a moment, then opens his mouth, and closes it]

....I beg your pardon, did you say your mother is a muse?

Yes. The muse Calliope? I guess you'd already know her, if you work in theater.

[ Even if plays and operas specifically fall more under the purview of her sisters' domains. Anyway, he doesn't sound like he's too enthusiastic about it, like he's namedropping or anything. It's just a fact about himself. ]

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