(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]

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."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Sounds like you've got a friend for life", he says with a smile.

[wanderingsin]

"The conservatorio can be very exclusive and snobbish crowd. Aggie and I came in on the same scholarship, a year apart. Most of the students come from wealth families and get in as legacies. They... don't like charity cases."

[athelstanthescribe]

"If everybody got in as a legacy, sooner or later they'd run out of people who want to study music."

[wanderingsin]

"There is testing, of course. Exams and presentations but family and money gets a lot of them in faster than talent or passion. There are exceptions, of course. Truly talented students but it frustrates me that so many of my classmates are there because it's expected. That the family name requires a year or two of study somewhere prestigious. Not because they want to me, or because they love it. Most of them hate it, and don't care if they make life miserable for others in the process."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Misery begets misery", he agrees quietly. "I suppose the school wants to keep the numbers up, too."

[wanderingsin]

"And the endowments." He shrugs. "Still, I'm glad I got in. I do really enjoy what I'm learning. And there are little pockets of talented outsiders who make life on campus bearable."

"Still, I'm glad I live off the conservatorio grounds. I can't imagine what it would be like having to live with all that toxic gossip and nastiness."

[athelstanthescribe]

"It could get overwhelming. Even if the buildings are better kept there."

[wanderingsin]

"My building might be a death-trap but at least there I can be myself there. No having to shower at odd hours to avoid being seen or anything like that."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Ugh, communal showers. Yeah, I wouldn't miss them either."

[wanderingsin]

"You have such a lovely studio." he smiles, drinking it all in. "So light and airy. And so private. No-one to bother you if inspirations strikes and you want to paint all night."

[athelstanthescribe]

"And plenty of space for a bed in the corner", he agrees, "so I don't need another room."

[wanderingsin]

"It's a great space. And it suits you. What more could anyone ask for?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Not much." He grins. "Does yours suit you, with this Ragnar guy to keep it standing?"

[wanderingsin]

"It does." He smiles, cocking his head to one side. "It's cramped and strange but... homely, it's own way. I may not have much but what I have is lovely."

"I have the best bathtub. This old cast iron thing with chipped enamel and lion's feet, big enough to drown in. And the acoustics on foyer are better most concert halls I've played. Most of the tenants have been there since the place was new or can't afford to live anywhere else but they look out for each other. And no-one minds me practising as long as I stop between 7 and 8pm. Mr Giordano gets grumpy if he doesn't get to watch Jeopardy."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan laughs and says affectionately, "God forbid you should get between an old man and his game shows."

[wanderingsin]

"Oh no. That would be a step too far. There was one time rats got to the wiring and we lost power to the building. Ragnar rigged up a car battery to Mr Giordano's TV just in time. We were all out on the hall watching anxiously. It was like watching someone defuse a bomb."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Are there cats in your building? You should get cats."

To deal with the rats, obviously.