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!]

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[Varian nods. That's probably as private as they're going to get right now, right? So he'll wait for Salieri to be ready before he leads the way out, around the corner and into the hallway proper.

He'll gently hand Salieri the cloth-wrapped thing before even beginning to explain. It's quite light and small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. Mostly it takes Varian a minute to like...start explaining because he can't find his voice, nervously wringing his hands in front of him as he looks down at the floor.]

So, I...I made you something.

[It comes out like a bat to the face. He clears his throat, looking over at Farrah.]

Well- it was Farrah's idea for me to. I didn't realize today was anything special until I heard everyone else talking about it, so she suggested...I could do something. You know, before it's over?

[He nods a little to the cloth in his hands.

Once Salieri actually moves to open it up, he'll find a little wooden box. It's not quite perfectly square- the pieces were hand cut- and there's a metal hand-crank on one side, so small that you could only use a couple fingers to turn it if you tried.

It's a music box.]

[Salieri blinks as he accepts the bundle, but turns his attention to Varian as he starts to explain.

Oh.

Salieri swallows, as realization starts to dawn. It's a gift. It's a Father's Day gift. For what has to be at least the third time today, he feels his throat go so tight as he looks down at the bundle and starts to unwrap the cloth, revealing the wooden box. It's slightly off-shape, which makes it that much more endearing--and then he notices the crank on the side]

I...Varian, it's, um--[help his voice is so rough and he's having to blink very rapidly] It's perfect. [Salieri looks back up at him, eyes definitely far more shiny than moments before]

Did you make this?

Edited 2021-06-21 21:58 (UTC)

[Farrah inserts herself onto Varian’s other side, unable to contain her excitement anymore.]

He did! Try it out! Try it—— [She’s too excited.]

[slkdhfs Farrah--he can't help but smile a little at her enthusiasm and, in lieu of saying anything, turns the little crank very gently winding up the mechanism before letting it go]

[Varian looks NERVOUS AS HELL when Farrah asks him to try the box, mostly because...well.]

...yeah. Hopefully it doesn't sound too weird. The metal between the auto and scene shops doesn't give me a lot to work with, and without welding tools-

[Well. He shakes his head, forcing himself to stop rambling so Salieri can actually crank the box.

Farrah, as it turns out, played a key part in this plan of Varian's since he was busy collecting the parts he'd needed. He'd asked her to take a trip to the music room.

When Salieri turns the crank, what he will hear is a music-box rendition of a (albeit pretty short) snippet of one of his own music pieces. One of the few he composed that wasn't thrown away or crumpled up in frustration on the floor. Maybe it's not even considered terribly good by his standards, since Varian had asked her to grab some sheet music without much explanation beyond that.

Varian's thankful he can read sheet music. Thankful he has the knowledge required to punch the notes out, to get everything sounding...not nice, exactly, but.

Like it was made by hand.]

[it takes him a moment to recognize the music--a discarded idea for Hypermnestre's love duet with Lyncée. One he had reworked several times and then discarded in frustration. But he knows the melody--promising everlasting love and understanding, even through hardship--and though it sounds a little off, what once made him frustrated and angry now fills his chest with a tender, fond, touched emotion.]

It's...it's the duet, but how did you--?

[his voice dies as hits him suddenly, what he holds in his hands: It's Salieri music (imperfect, warped to his ear,) remade through Varian's hands (imperfections turned to charm, now sweet in their strangeness,) as a show of appreciation for him.]

[his throat is suddenly very tight as Salieri finds himself speechless with emotion, swallowing hard, not able to blink nearly rapidly enough to prevent the dark streaks of makeup down his cheeks. He sniffs, once, trying to pull himself together enough to thank Varian, to say something, anything--but what words would be enough? So instead he just

reaches out to pull him into a hug]

[Seeing someone cry- especially Salieri- is initially a little shocking to Varian. Maybe it shouldn't be? But...in a place like this, it still catches him off guard every time. Not that it matters much, since a second later he's suddenly being swept up into Salieri's arms and he honestly wouldn't have had it any other way.

He can't possibly think about the memories he got this morning right now. Not the ones he told Rina, or the ones he kept to himself. He wraps his arms around Salieri and hugs him as tightly as he can without actually causing any sort of damage. Farrah is of course also welcome to join in on the hug, since she was half the reason this got done in the first place.

He doesn't even need to thank him. He knows.]

[After half a moment, after perhaps sniffling once, Salieri is absolutely going to lift his head a bit so he can reach out an arm to Farrah so he can pull her in as well, and hold them both.

It takes him a moment to collect himself enough to get what he wants to say properly in order. What ends up coming out, though, is little more than:]

Thank you. Both of you. [it's still rough with emotion, but at least a bit steadier]

[Farrah’s more than happy to rush in after she’s given Varian his one on one time, throwing an arm around Salieri, and one around Varian.]

I’m so glad you like it. I tried to pick a good one—- I’m sorry I robbed you. Totally worth it, right?

[HELL YEAH GROUP HUG and it's not a depressing one, this time. Maybe a little melancholy, but...in a good way, for once.

Of course, Varian's still not the best with words, but he wants to at least...try to say something here.]

I know you're not...really my dad- [Wow what a way to start, just give him a second] -but...you've gone out of your way to look after me when you didn't have to. Even after I...basically almost accidentally killed you on the first day...

[OOPS. He guesses that's a pretty "son" thing to do.]

I guess what I'm trying to say is, that...I appreciate you. And...I want to be the kind of person you can be proud of.

[first, to Farrah] I suppose I can forgive the robbery this time, considering the intention behind it. [teasing]

[then Varian's speaking again, and Salieri attention goes back to him, and his expression softens again]

I appreciate you as well. And, more importantly....I am proud of you.

[looking at the two of them] Both of you.

Don't forget that.

[Well...if Varian wasn't already forcing himself on a more even keel right now- for better or worse- hearing those words from Salieri may have actually caused him to burst into tears. Instead, he's too stunned by them to really...react that way. It will hit him later, though.

For now, he just...smiles, his expression shaky and his eyes glassed over.]

...I'll never forget. I promise.

And I'll Be With You When You Dream

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