(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

[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?"

[wanderingsin]

"Aggie's a year ahead of me. She's lovely person. She and her twin sister are here from Greece. Mags is a designer with the fashion school. The trade off for playing her rather complicated composition is Mags is making my costume for the Ball."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan chuckles. "Sounds fair to me. Music's a hobby for her?"

[wanderingsin]

"For Aggie? Oh no, she's a passionate composer. I have no doubt she'll get picked up by some symphony or other within a couple of years of graduating. Her style is a bit modern and eclectic but it will be popular, I suspect."

[athelstanthescribe]

"No, I meant her sister. The designer."

[wanderingsin]

"Mags is showcasing in the Biennale fashion show. As well as doing her sister a favour, she gets free publicity, her designs walking around at the ball."

[athelstanthescribe]

"...I think I've got confused. She doesn't play music with you?"

[wanderingsin]

"Sorry, my fault. Aggie's a music student a year ahead of me, Mags studies fashion on the other side of the city. They tend to complement each other's work. Mags designs costumes for Aggie's operettas and Aggie composes music for Mags runway shows."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Ah." He nods. "So it's just you and Aggie in the ensemble?"

[wanderingsin]

He nods. "Students are required to perform for each other's compositions at least once a semester. It can get cliquey, who plays with whom. Aggie and I are outsiders, not native born Florentines who's families go back generations."

"As I said, Aggie's style is unconventional and there are a lot of people who look down on that. When it comes to performing my composition, I know Aggie will return the favour."