[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

[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.

[quantities]

[good thing Romain doesn't read minds because GOOD GOD GHYSLAIN]

Hope you never do.

[He may be nice and all, but he's competitive as hell. Don't beat him in a fight, he'll sulk for days.]

Oh - thanks. You too, Ghyslain. I just wandered in here to interrupt you and you didn't kick me out, so. You're the cooler guy.

[umbralla]

[The song switches again, something with a bit more weight behind it, his body leaning forward with each heavy chord.]

I did think about it. [Kicking him out, not fighting him. Hopefully that's clear.] But - you are right, there is something... apaisant about speaking French.

[And you're really really ridiculously good looking.]

[quantities]

[omg discrimination]

Hey, no wonder. It makes you think of home. Nice as this place is, who wouldn't like that?

[umbralla]

[He leans into the piano a bit more at that, plays a bit more heavily. His voice is still audible, though.]

I am not sure where home is now. But it is nice.

[quantities]

Oh - yeah, I meant - [wtg duuuuude.] Sorry, didn't mean it like that.

[umbralla]

Ouais, je sais. Vous - tu es tres gentil.

[More personal, dropping the polite "vous." Romain is nice, as much as he teases. He doesn't ever mean to be cruel. Ghyslain just says difficult things sometimes, things that make people feel his pain.

He turns away from the piano again.]

And this place is nice, but I would like to leave it. Only for a short time, as classes are over for the day. Would you come with me?

[quantities]

[It is pretty weird, how Ghyslain sounds like he's prickly, then turns around and says stuff like that. Like he's vulnerable and afraid to let that show until someone's friendly enough.

Romain's a sucker for people who just want a friend. Shiiit.

Then there comes the offer, and he can't help but smile a bit incredulously.]

Wait, you wanna go to town?

[Shouldn't a problem. Tertiaries don't really get curfews, as long as they're not giving the school a bad rep.]

[umbralla]

Si tu veux. There is a place that I like. Very cheap beer.

[And there's that grin that verges on cheeky again.]

I have never been punished for it. As long as you are not - light weight? [Romain's got him bang-on. Once he's been offered friendship, he can be almost lighthearted in return. It's just the belief that such a thing is hard to come by that makes him seem unapproachable.]

[quantities]

[Not that he needs encouragement for cheekiness, but hell. He opens up his smile way too easily at that.]

Please. Do I look like a light weight? [you look like a pre-teen Romain let's not ask that kind of stuff. Still, there's that competitive edge flaring up again.] You're on.

[he stands up, hands back in his pockets, because Ghyslain totally meant right now, right?]

[umbralla]

[He also looks lovely smiling that way, a new spark in his eyes. Ghyslain bites his lower lip for a second, awash with longing that he knows won't be satisfied by a few beers, then breathes deeply and stands up with a nod.]

Let us go, then. There is also decent food, if you are hungry.

((TIMESKIP GO??))