[for romain]

[umbralla]

[It's not hard to find Ghyslain when he's not in class or the dorms - he doesn't go out a lot, and when there aren't classes in the music room, he'll most likely be there. How often do you find a giant grand piano to play, after all? Even his family had a much smaller one, slightly out of tune, which grated on someone with such a natural ear when he came back from lessons and had to practice on it.

Today he's playing something he remembers his older sister listening to; not his kind of music, but the musician was damn good on piano, so the melodies stick out and he picks them out when he hasn't got a song in mind. It's slow at first, then picks up to the actual speed of the song, light and flourishing.

He's clearly in his own world, pale eyes dreamy and head swaying back and forth. In a soft, deep voice, he tries to translate the lyrics he can remember, but they come without scansion and rhyme because it's so off the top of his head.]

Comments

[umbralla]

[He's still accepting, then. With a bit of reassurance, he's still accepting. That's good to know, with the fierce crush forming already.]

If you wish to show me.

[It's a bit of feigned indifference because he almost inadvertently exposed so much of himself already, but yes. He wants to see. Show him everything.]

[quantities]

[Ha, well. Romain does love to show off, so he perks up a little when the offer is accepted. He reaches into his pocket, digging out a coin.]

Got anything in your pockets?

[umbralla]

[He presses his hand against the pocket that holds his phone - but he doesn't know where this is going, and Romain wasn't wrong about some of the people here. Crush or no crush, Ghyslain isn't that effortlessly trusting.

So he digs into the other pocket, pulls out a pack of gum and holds it up. What now?]

[quantities]

Ah - perfect.

[With his hands, he nudges Ghyslain to hold his hand up and flat out. Keep the gum sitting on it to show it won't just be a trick. Doing the same with his own hand and the coin, he lets the other boy watch as the round shape begins to change color and consistency. He should feel the weight on his own hand change too, until it's obvious that whatever's wrapped inside the tinfoil is no longer candy.]

Might not want to put that in your mouth anymore.

[umbralla]

[He's patient, waiting out the change and watching the coin as it starts to look - well, a lot like gum. Had he just swapped them directly, Ghyslain would have suspected telekinesis of some sort, but this is different. This is...

... he unwraps the gum package and finds a solid chunk of metal, eyes going wider at the sight of it. Sure enough, the coin - or what was the coin - looks exactly like gum.]

What is it? I do not know the words. ["Matter" is a pretty specific scientific word, and he's not in sciences; the concept, though, he thinks he understands.]

[quantities]

I swap matter. It doesn't get a cool name like yours, but. Does the job pretty well.

You wanna keep it?

[who doesn't like to leave people with tokens of their power.]

[umbralla]

Matter. [That's what it is. The building blocks of the entire world. And Romain can just toy with it however he wants. Some people here are so incredibly powerful.]

C'est incroyable. [He turns the chunk of metal over and over in his hands - then, since they're full, he sends out a tendril from the edges of his chair's shadow to pick up the piece of coin-shaped gum. Bend it, fold it. Hold it up to his nose and smell it. It's not that he doesn't believe what's happened, but he's still trying to comprehend it entirely.]

I - ouais, I will keep it. But I will owe you money. [Oh, there's the finest edge of a smile, just quirking one corner of his full lips.]

[quantities]

Oh -

[Okay, he wouldn't admit it, but it's still pretty creepy to watch one of those things just snake its way up his hand and take the gum-coin. He was going to chew it... Oh well.]

What? [To the final remark he laughs.] Don't be silly. It's, like, ten cents. I'll live.

[But he's smiling. That's really nice.

Stop looking at Ghyslain's lips, dude, that's weird.]

[umbralla]

[He definitely notices Romain watching his smile, and that makes it broaden a bit, showing a small flash of teeth. His romantic (and sexual) luck at the school has been almost nil, aside from a few flings that didn't carry a lot of weight for him.

There was just the one, with the actual music teacher, which carried quite a bit of weight, until he learned how common they were and how abruptly and completely they ended. That almost drove him out of the music program altogether, but in the end he chose to deliver the middle finger of majoring in music when he rose to Tertiary instead, and they've reached a quiet stalemate since then.

That doesn't mean he has any more confidence, though. So little things like someone watching his mouth, admiring his smile, make him flush in a way he wishes didn't reach his cheeks. It's not very dignified, blushing.]

My name is Ghyslain. [Since they haven't shared those yet. He pockets his... metal thing and holds out a hand, confident that Romain will be able to handle the strange sounds in his name like no one else here can (Gee-slain. It makes him want to scream.)]

[quantities]

Ghyslain. [He does the deliver the name perfectly, returning the hand for a friendly shake.] Romain.

[Let's not talk about the row-mines he's heard throughout his life.]

How come I haven't seen you before?

[umbralla]

[Ah, that's nice. A piece of home that doesn't involve home. Just the thing he never knew he needed.]

I am not very - visible.

[It sounds like he's building a metaphor, but he just doesn't really know how to express that he doesn't get out very much. Socialize, make friends. He's been a loner since he got here, sent away with "we love you but you can't be in our company anymore," not the easiest blow for a 12 year old to take without very much support. Like Romain recognised, his story is uncommon, so the school just isn't equipped with psychologists to deal with that kind of desertion - disconnection from family, yes, and homesickness, but not desertion.]

[quantities]

[See, he does take that as a pun, which is why he just pulls a face.]

Uh-huh.

[He leans back on his chair then, arms crossed and posture relaxed.]

You never got into the orchestra?

[Not very surprising if he didn't, really. Plenty of kids will play piano and you really only need one.]

[umbralla]

[He's miscommunicated somehow. It sounded like a joke. But he doesn't know how to correct it, so he just moves on.

It's Ghyslain's turn to look Romain over for a moment, the way he's spread himself out. Not a hungry stare, he's learned to control those, but a clear once-over that could mean anything. At least Romain's eyes appear to be off his mouth, because a tiny parting of his lips is his only giveaway.]

There are many pianists. [Just as Romain suspected.] You say that I play well, but I am not the best. Classical - it does not appeal so much when I am free to play what I like.

[quantities]

[He should recognize the look, maybe even feel a little uncomfortable, but - not like he knows Ghyslain like that, and he's really not that confident in that department. Romain's used to winning girls over with his charm, not his looks. (SILLY MAN.)]

Ah. Guess that's not up your alley then. But you can still become a kick-ass player. Is that what you wanna do? Tour the world with your own band and stuff?

[umbralla]

Kick-ass. [He smiles again, then laughs softly, and that expression is so light and carefree on his normally dour features that it's like a crisp breeze blowing between them. His eyes light up, cheeks curving with dimples. Even if it's brief, only lasting as long as the laugh, it's a stark difference.]

That is not - likely to be the plan, no? There will be a more important use for me, I am sure.

[quantities]

[No. What. Stop that. Stop looking cute, that's for girls only.]

Oh yeah? Who's gonna stop you?

[they're gifted, man.]

I mean, unless this is just a hobby. You do what you gotta do.

[umbralla]

A hobby... no. But it is not a living. We can do many great things when we know how best to use our gifts. My plan is to be a success.

[He'll take the best offer, the highest bidder, and prove that there's nothing wrong with him. Music can always be - a side passion, not a hobby, but not his life. That's far too much of a struggle with no gift actually enhancing that particular ability.]

[quantities]

Yeah, I guess. I'm just used to meeting a bunch of kids who'd rather be doing something else, so. I'm all for whatever you wanna do. Believe in your dreams!

[Yaaaaaay.

Romain firmly believes that because heeeeee has absolutely no idea what it is he wants to do. Think of how amazing he'd be around the world, though. Making water pure. Soil fertile. Replacing ammunition with things that would just make it backfire. The possibilities are endless and that's why they're a problem.]

[umbralla]

Many are unhappy with their gifts. [He nods solemnly.] Or they do not think of choice at all because of them.

[With that, he stands up, but not to leave - he's going back to the piano, playing the meandering opening bars to "Wonderful and Sad" by Hawksley Workman. Again, he doesn't sing in order to keep up the conversation.]

Which are you, Romain? What is it that you would like to do? [Oops.]

[quantities]

[He feels like he's being serenaded now, but he has to remember he walked in uninvited. The guy's not going to stop just because of him.]

Good question. I... have no clue. [a shrug.] I'd say I still got a lot of time to figure it out, but clock's ticking, right?

[umbralla]

You could do anything.

[And that's probably the problem. Humming for a bit, and then -]

My gift, it is very visible. I am not sure how it will be practical.

[quantities]

Yeah, I know.

[... problem. that's it.]

I think it's pretty obvious. There are shadows everywhere. You could get in anything you wanted.

[umbralla]

I can, ouais.

[Can. Like maybe he has before. There's the mini-smile again.]

What is the word? Espion? Very glamorous.

[quantities]

[u sneaky u.]

Spy.

[He could probably go down that path, yeah.]

You could even kick my ass. Nothing I can do against shadows.

[Not that he likes to point out his own weakness, but.]

[umbralla]

If I wanted to fight you, yes.

[He could also hold Romain down, curl shadow around his wrists and ankles, and -

- if Romain wanted that, of course. Not to force him. But the thought still makes Ghyslain swallow hard and avert his eyes, reddening slightly again. Damn Fallon for completely eroding away his confidence with these kinds of encounters, leaving him far too nervous to ask direct questions or make direct moves. If they become friends now, he may wallow around in this until Romain finishes his schooling.

He's still grinning, though. You could even kick my ass. What a thing to say.]

You are... very easy to talk with, Romain. Very funny.