itscurtains | And I'll Be With You When You Dream

[It's Sunday night! Boy, today sure has been a day, hasn't it?? Memories returned, Father's Day Gifts given, and Benjamin sure had a Time, didn't he?

Looks like it's time to find ways to cope.

Thus, the bed frames from Broadhurst dorm are being worked on being taken apart by Varian while the mattresses are becoming The New Floor.

Additionally, there's plenty to eat and drink, what with the hot pot provided by Rina, cookies that might just taste a bit burnt from Farrah, apples from Orpheus, more delicious potatoes from Maya, as well as sandwiches by Cassandra. There is also quite the variety of pie, from caramel, to bittersweet chocolate and strawberries, and several other varieties from the vending machine. Finally, there's popcorn brought in by Spongebob. If someone wants a drink, there is some delicious hot cocoa, provided by Elsa, as well as the tea brought in by Discord. There's also a variety of drinks from the vending machines.

Everyone's invited of course. There are a variety of games happening, and there's even a TV that's been wheeled down from the Library. So bring your pajamas, whatever they happen to be, and settle in for a sleepover!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Alright, some other time.

[He smiles, and goes to finish off Stand By Me, a normal song with a normal amount of emotional baggage for everybody present!]

I never got to play harmonica much before, but I like it. Completely different from all my other stuff.

It seems like a very interesting instrument. [he leans a little closer]

How does it work, exactly? [....listen, he knows he SAYS he didn't want to learn to play it, exactly, but he just can't help but be curious about the mechanism]

Oh, it's got reeds in there...

[He goes to offer Salieri the harmonica to look at - realizes that it's covered in his spit - and fishes out a second one from his pocket to offer instead.]

I don't remember ever learning, but it's all in the lips.

[Salieri will take the second harmonica, then, gingerly, bringing it up to his eye level so he can maybe look inside, before glancing at the Balladeer]

Is it really? How curious...

[....]

I know I said that I was only interested in listening, however... [he trails off]

Oh, yeah?

[Smiling, he scoots a little closer.]

It's a pretty simple instrument. Especially cheaper ones like this - you can get them with more of a range, I think, but I never have.

[the corner of Salieri's eyes crinkle a little as he smiles when the Balladeer moves closer.]

Oh? Then how is it, as you say, all in the lips?

[The Balladeer blinks, his face abruptly coloring. He hadn't noticed when it he said it himself, but now it seems very, very obvious.]

Uh - yeah... [No no no no no, don't get flustered! He is a performer and he does not get flustered. He can rally!] That and some tongue action.

[oh GOD what is he DOING]

[Salieri just

smirks,

arching an eyebrow at him]

Oh? Lips and tongue action. I see.

[After a moment, the Balladeer narrows his eyes slightly, despite the fact that he is almost certainly like, beet-red. He never let the assassins shout him down. He will not be defeated.]

Mmm-hmmm. Takes a lot of dexterity and...practice.

[Even though he has no idea what he's doing....!]

[Oh. He's so red. That's adorable.]

I see. Then am I to assume you have such dexterity through extensive practice, then?

Oh, yeah. Loads of practice.

[this is a nightmare!!!]

[when you play gay chicken YOU GOTTA PLAY TO WIN]

How interesting. [drawled, low] Normally I'm the teacher with plenty of experience, but I suppose it is nice to have that turned around for once. [he smirks, resting his chin in his hand] I can even say I'm quite looking forward to such a lesson in dexterity from a master.

[The Balladeer hurriedly runs through his mental checklist of people he has seen flirt. Charlie? No. Hinckley? Absolutely not. That's the whole list. Lord, he was not written to play gay chicken.]

Oh - uh, yeah, me too. Looking forward to it, I mean.

[shit!!!]

[guess you'd better learn to improvise pretty quick, huh, B?]

Oh, good. I do hope I perform well enough...I'd hate to be a boring student, after all.

[he's literally a man from a script he doesn't know how to do improv!]

Oh, I'm sure you could never be boring.

[but then, it's easier if he just thinks of it as...aggressive complimenting!]

[honestly aggressive complimenting is a pretty dang apt description???]

I do appreciate the vote of confidence. I'll strive quite hard to live up to your expectation, then.

[Salieri lets his teeth catch on his own bottom lip for a moment, before his mouth curls into a smirk]

So...aren't you going to give me a demonstration?

[The Balladeer, if anything, somehow manages to flush harder at that.

Nonetheless, he shifts forward, crosses the few feet left between them, leans in close.....

....and toots the harmonica in Salieri's face.]

[It is a sincere effort not to smirk, widely, as the Balladeer goes even redder--but he affects merely a mild interest in his expression as B leans in, and maybe Salieri's stomach goes a little funny for half a moment--]

Edited 2021-07-18 00:04 (UTC)

[--but then he gets a harmonica honked in his face, and it's unexpected enough to startle him, breaking that mild, controlled expression to sputter out a surprised laugh--and he's lifting a hand to press against the Balladeer's forehead, pushing him back a bit, eyes crinkling at the corners with mirth]

My, that was--highly educational?

[The Balladeer finally allows himself to laugh as well as he sits back on his heels; he's been suppressing some nervous laughter for a little while now.]

There you go. You've learned from the best!

[Salieri's smirking widely at that, leaning back on his hands a bit then]

How lucky am I! Truly I shall be a master of the instrument in no time.

And I'll Be With You When You Dream

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1/2 whoops

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