(no subject)

[wanderingsin]

Sin rushes home to shower and change his clothes, texting Athelstan as he goes.

Sorry, long night at school. I'm on my way to you now. <3 Sin

He looks at himself in the mirror, noting the bags under his eyes. He hesitates a moment before grabbing a bag out from under his sink. He hasn't worn make-up in a while but he still has some stashed somewhere. He manages to find some concealer, using just enough to tidy himself up.

Dressing a clean outfit, rather more casual than normal seeing Athelstan won't care what he wears, he dashes downstairs, a slice of toast between his teeth as he pulls his jacket on.

A quick bus across town and he's standing outside Athelstan's building, tapping the buzzer lightly.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"I don't think the enrolment office would just give out people's addresses", Athelstan tries to reassure him. "And maybe he doesn't think you're no-one special. I don't."

[wanderingsin]

"I hope not." He nods, still thoughtful.

Sin shrugs, still hugging himself. "I try very hard not to be someone special, someone who stands out." He says, half to himself. "I worries me, to have someone watch me so closely."

[athelstanthescribe]

"There's special and special", he says gently. "I know there are - things you'd rather not have attention for. But then there's your voice."

[wanderingsin]

He nods. "There's a reason I focus on the violin and the flute. I'd rather people not know about my singing. It raises too many questions." He pushes his hair back fingers carding distractedly. "Perhaps I should have been born a thousand years ago, when people like me were more common."

[athelstanthescribe]

"You know, just because it's not so common, people might not know what it means that your voice is how it is."

[wanderingsin]

"Perhaps. And perhaps that is why Dr. Fell worries me so. Because he strikes me as the sort of man who would notice such things."

He rests his head against the cool glass of the window. "And part of me wants him to." He sighs. "I'm glad I have you, to trust and confide in. And I'm very grateful you've never pushed me to talk about my past."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Nor will I ever", he says simply. "You're not whatever happened to you."

[wanderingsin]

Sin rests a soft hand on Athelstan's sleeve. "And that means more to you than I can ever say."

"We all have stories we don't want anyone to know, but at the same time - desperately want to tell. I pour it into my music, just as I know you put it into your art. I feel like... Dr. Fell could open that closed door. And that both scare and thrills me."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Do you think he'd back off if you wanted him to?" Athelstan asks, worried for his friend.

[wanderingsin]

"I honestly don't know." He chuckles bitterly. "I don't know if I trust myself to tell him too."

He looks to Athelstan with a slightly ashamed smile. "I invited him to see me perform. I'm playing for a friend's recital project Sunday night."

[athelstanthescribe]

He nods, unjudgemental.

"That could be a safe first step. With other people around, and all."

[wanderingsin]

"That's what I thought." He runs his hands through his hair again, pushing his mane back. "In so much as I was thinking. I want to just get my composition done and kick back at the Biennale. I have the most beautiful costume picked out."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Oh?" He smiles. "What's it like?"

[wanderingsin]

"It's a surprise." His eyes glitter with mischief. "I hope you don't mind, I invited my neighbour Ragnar along. I think you'll like him."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Public event", he says easily, "you can bring whoever you want. But why would I like him, in particular?"

[wanderingsin]

"He's... refreshingly uncomplex. Not stupid or anything, just... straight forward. It's refreshing after being around the bitchiness of other music student."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Is he a student?" he asks with interest.

[wanderingsin]

"No, he works in construction. Honestly, I think he's the only reason our building hasn't collapsed or burned to the ground."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Mm." He makes a face. "I know about your landlord."

[wanderingsin]

"Yeah, he hasn't been seen for many years. And the aunt he left to look after the place isn't keen to do any thing that involves money."

"But enough about me. How are have you been?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Pretty good", he says with a shrug. "Just getting on with things."

[wanderingsin]

"How's art school?" Sin asks, perching on the windowsill. "Are your classmates as horrible as mine?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Some of them can be pretty snobby. But not all of them."

[wanderingsin]

"Maybe I should have studied art instead." He smiles, jokingly. "I could quite happily throttle most of my class right now."

[athelstanthescribe]

"You're still getting on OK with the ones you have to perform with, though?"