itscurtains | Week Three

Entry tags:

act 3,
week 3

Week Three

[Last week, some shit went down! Salieri's scene went off without a hitch, but the good mood didn't last. The first motive was a bit of a doozy, and yet it didn't even have anything to do with the eventual accidental death of Mumble Happyfeet! At least Sissi was already pretty much dating Death anyway, right? She's probably fine, wherever she is.

This week, new menus have been posted in the cafeteria. But, more importantly, it seems that other new information has emerged. Everyone wakes on Sunday with some new memories - or are they old ones? - floating around in their heads. Maybe there was something to your discussions of time travel after all. Maybe there was someting to the Wizard's knowledge of the future.

Regardless, you're still stuck in here. At least there's some new places to explore this week. Maybe you'll find something helpful.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Be sure to submit your memory regains and your AC for this week! Hester's office hours and the merch booth also remain available! ))

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[Varian finds himself making his way back towards the previous wing of the school as the day wears on closer to evening. It's been busy for him, both emotionally and...physically, one of his hands bandaged up to show for it. He'd considered just retreating to the dorm for some rest, but knowing he'd be going back to that empty bunk again...he decides to check up on that slow music he hears coming from the choir room. He recognizes it immediately, after all.

He hovers in the doorway for a moment, listening to Salieri as he plays. Varian is an amateur at best when it comes to playing the piano, and even he can tell something is subtly off about what he's hearing. And poor Salieri...he'd been acting as a pillar for everyone in a way he probably was never usually expected to.

Varian doesn't know what's on his mind, but he wants to be there for him too.]

You know, I'm used to seeing this kind of sight.

[Varian speaks up as he makes it to the side of the piano, nodding towards the papers that had been tossed aside from Salieri's previous attempts.]

Idea after idea, scrapped. Nothing seems to be coming out right...until eventually, you come across that one idea.

[He pulls up one of the knocked over chairs, moving to sit in it backwards.]

It's kinda frustrating, trying to find it. But you eventually do.

[Salieri startles a bit as Varian speaks--looking over at him, blinking a couple times. He glances around at the strewn papers, almost as if coming back to himself, before looking back up at Varian]

Ah...yes. Unfortunately, the ideas seem to be coming to me slowly, today. Surely, if I keep working on it... [he trails off]

Edited 2021-06-14 12:15 (UTC)

[Surely...]

How...long have you been working, actually?

[now isn't that a question. That'll earn Varian another few blinks]

...I am...uncertain. What time is it?

Well after dinner. Probably getting close to lights out by now.

[And, Varian doesn't know about Salieri, but he doesn't...feel comfortable being out very late right now.]

Oh. [whoops??]

I'm afraid I lost track of time. [bit of an understatement, considering he's been at this since a little before lunch. His expression slips into a frown] I've been working for that long...and yet I've hardly made any progress. [there's an edge of frustration that seeps into his voice]

[Hmm...

Varian will approach the piano proper now, looking at the paper that Salieri had been last working with.]

I think that depends on your definition of progress. Do you have to have a piece completely finished by the end of today? Or...couldn't you also say that getting out the ideas that didn't end up working out got you closer to the real thing?

[The paper is...kind of a mess. There are staves, one bar after the other, each crossed out and rewritten, scribbled out even, over and over again

At that suggestion however, he sets down his pen with a small sigh, reaching up to rub at his eyes a bit.]

I...perhaps. Perhaps one could say that. [He knows what Varian's trying to do here; it's not too difficult to parse out. And he's right. Salieri knows Varian's right. It's not as though this is the first day where he's failed to be able to compose anything. Yet...there's something different about it. It was off in a way that it hadn't been before but...

...then again, maybe tomorrow, it will be better]

[Varian has been in this kind of situation before. A rut, one where you feel like it's impossible to pull yourself out. Of course, he imagines it's something a bit less simple in Salieri's case...he can't help but wonder.

Varian rests his head on his folded arms, watching Salieri silently for a moment.]

...do you want to talk about it?

[It's fine if he says no.]

[Does he want to talk about it?

What a question.

It is...tempting to talk about it. To let out all of those ravages in his head, the rapture of listening to Mozart's music even as it felt as though he were being struck by a lash, the man's mocking sneer that he can't quite get out of his head--

--but no. No. Old habits die the hardest and that's too vulnerable, too raw. Too far into what he himself doesn't even fully understand. It is certainly hypocritical, considering what he said to Varian not a few days ago but...this is different. Right?

But...perhaps he can share a little bit. Just the tip of the iceberg would be alright, as long as he can hold on to control]

Perhaps...[he huffs a bit]...it's strange. I've had difficult days, of course. Everyone does. However...today it simply sounds a bit strange. As though none of the chords quite fit together.

Mm...

[Varian wonders if Salieri is the victim of strange, memory-vivid dreams, too. He's not usually like this, so...it would explain a lot.

Whether or not he tells Varian more than this is up to him, of course. Varian has every intention to stay and try to help either way.]

I gotcha...I'm not a musician or anything, but I know that has to be frustrating. It's different when you can't get a sound right.

[And he knows how much Salieri's music means to him.]

Maybe...do you think it would help to have someone else listen to what you have so far? As a second opinion, maybe?

[There's a knot of anxiety that forms in his stomach at that suggestion. It's a good suggestion, really, and under any other circumstance, he might agree.

However, in this circumstance specifically...]

I...appreciate the offer. [he hesitates a moment] However, I'm afraid that's not possible at this time.

That's alright. You do whatever you gotta do.

[He wishes he could help more, but he doesn't want to press him too hard. It must be something Salieri has to work through on his own.]

Is there anything else I can do?

[his expression softens a bit at that]

You've done a lot already, Varian. However...[he pauses for half a moment]...if you wouldn't mind, I could certainly use a hug.

[Oh. Well, now...that, at least, he can do.

Varian scoots closer, reaching up to give Salieri the biggest hug he can manage.]

Any time, Dad.

[Varian's arms go around him and Salieri starts to do the same--when Varian calls him that. He goes a little stiff in surprise]

Varian, you--?

[There's something that swells in his chest immediately afterward, something tender and warm and touched, and Salieri wraps his arms around Varian immediately, hugging him close]

...thank you. [his voice is rough, swallowing past a throat tight with emotion.]

[Varian had hoped that would be the reaction he'd garner. He was worried it might be too much- especially since, well, he has a father who he loves very much- but...who says you can't have two?]

Anytime.

[Salieri will hug Varian for another moment or so before he pulls back, reaching out to smooth any of the boy's hair back into place that may've been ruffled from said hug]

There, now...I suppose I've done enough composing for the day. Perhaps it's time to leave well enough alone.

Yeah...probably so.

[Those words are exhaled out of him on something of a laugh.]

Don't worry. There's always tomorrow.

Of course. [he turns to the slight mess of paper]

Well...I suppose I can just gather this up and leave it for tomorrow. I'm sure it will look better in the morning.

See, there you go! All you gotta do is just sleep on it. You won't even be able to remember what you were frustrated with in the first place.

I'm certain you're correct. [he moves to gather up most of it into a messy pile, which he then shuffles into a neater one, leaving it on the corner of the piano.]

I'll just leave this here, then. No reason to bring it along.

[he steps away from the piano, turning them towards the door, and opens an arm in offering for Varian to step under, if he wishes]

Shall we?

[Varian nods, and of course he's going to do just that, getting close to Salieri's side.]

Yeah.

[in that case, Salieri will wrap an arm around his shoulders and walk with him out of the room, leaving whatever's possessed him behind. The door swings shut after them with a quiet, final 'click']

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Week Three

Choir Room

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