console; video

[peacefullywreathed]

[The audio comes on first, accompanied by a quiet curse. Then the video appears on Solomon leaning over his console. He's in his apartment, but he's wrapped in his coat and his breath is misting, and he's very pale, as if he's been in the cold for hours on end without having been properly attired. His eyes don't fix on anything, and the observant will notice old scars around them.]

I know there's a number of mechanically-inclined in the city. Our heating's just broken down.

[He hesitates.]

Earlier this morning, actually.

[It's mid-afternoon.]

I don't care if you're Foreigner or kedan, but I'll give you extra if you come now to fix it, and do so before Raine gets home.

[And don't mention the part where his fingers are dangerously blue. Or so he assumes they are, given that they're numb, hence the trouble finding the 'on' switch. She absolutely won't see this before work ends, right? Right?]

Comments

[peacefullywreathed]

Surprisingly, kedanese violins aren't much different.

[Solomon hums slightly, noting that abrupt change with a smile.]

Good. Your father would probably have made you learn something ridiculously boring like Brahms and Mozart. What do you play?

[Look, he's four centuries old. Just let the damned 'classics' go already, gosh. OLD NEWS, GUYS, OLD NEWS.]

[purrns]

Well, that's helpful, at least.

[That's exactly what his father expects him to play, and he's learned such musical pieces by heart to appease him. But that's really, really not Adrien's style. He brightens again, at the chance to talk about something he actually enjoys. ]

I like classic rock. Stairway, Sweet Child, Bat out of Hell. Stuff like that.

[peacefullywreathed]

[Solomon's smile widens.]

Good taste. I take an enduring pleasure in instrumental covers of classical and pop rock, personally. Modern styles of music are much more interesting than 'classical', I've found, especially if you're adapting them to instruments people attribute to 'classical'. The 'classics'--

[The quote marks are totally audible, with a little note of derision.]

--may be enduring, but non-adaptive. One note out of place and it's faulty, rather than innovative.

[He has some Feelings.]

[purrns]

[Those are some real feeling there, Solomon, but he gets it; he does. ]

Absolutely! Changing them up a little keeps them fresh. It means they don't get musty and boring and just...fade out. They can still be appreciated, it's just- different.

[peacefullywreathed]

[Solomon smiles.]

I knew you were a young man of good breeding and excellent character. I heard Shudder bought himself a piano sometime recently; at least you'll be able to keep your skills sharp.

[He sighed.]

And won't risk destroying an instrument through stupidity. Oh well.

[purrns]

[Good breeding. Yep. He's told that one a lot. He thinks there are far more important things in this world, but he doesn't voice that. ]

I hope so too. I'm really glad he brought one into the hotel.

[That gets a little laugh out of him.]

I'll do my best to keep my instrument destruction to a minimum.

[peacefullywreathed]

[It's a tease, Adrien. See the tease?]

I'll be sure to send some of my busking fellows over. Good money to be had, with a restaurant full of captive audiences.

[He takes a step toward the door, unable to see whether Adrien is in his way but trusting that the teen will move if that's the case.]

In the meantime, if we're lucky, the tea hasn't gotten cold.

[purrns]

[Don't be silly of course he doesn't.]

He might be a liiiiitle less enthused with that.

[He's pretty sure Anton lost his sense of humour like...since birth. He does indeed step aside for Solomon, being sure to give him plenty of space to move about. ]

Oh right. The tea.