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Post by Erik Destler on Oct 21, 2008 22:19:37 GMT -5
After the cast had dispersed for the evening, Destler had remained behind for a time, noting that his misbegotten child was still sitting alone in the dark in the seats.
He left the stage and walked openly up the isle, speaking as he went, clearly and loud enough that his voice carried and echoed.
"Excuse the interruption. What was I saying? Ah yes, the violin first, after that hand heals. And had you said you could read music?"
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Simon Destler
- Ingenious Pilot -
A lost boy. Not a Lost Boy.
Posts: 222
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Post by Simon Destler on Oct 21, 2008 22:24:34 GMT -5
Simon jumped when he heard the man speak near him. Looking up, Simon turned his gaze toward the masked man approaching. Seeing as they were alone now, the boy sighed, and rested his chin on his arms, which were folded atop the chair in front of him.
"Well, I can a little. Why?" Far be it for the boy to be suspicious, but his reception so far at the opera had been less than warm, and the sudden interest of this man rebirthed his negative first impression.
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Post by Erik Destler on Oct 21, 2008 22:31:04 GMT -5
"Because it makes things a bit easier. If I have something open on the piano you can read and follow along. Stand up."
He grabbed the boy by his thin upper arm and hauled him up, judging his height and the length of his arms.
"How old did you say you were?"
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Simon Destler
- Ingenious Pilot -
A lost boy. Not a Lost Boy.
Posts: 222
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Post by Simon Destler on Oct 21, 2008 22:32:53 GMT -5
"Ah!" Simon tried to pull his arm away from the man, looking up at his masked face with an attempt to scowl.
"I'm thirteen!" he grunted, still trying to pull free. "I mean, why d'you want me to play music? You wanted nothing to do with me before..."
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Post by Erik Destler on Oct 21, 2008 22:41:00 GMT -5
"You're long enough to use a full-size instrument, that's good. I'll have one for you tomorrow, you'll carry it with you everywhere and get used to the look and feel of it before you learn to play--while your hand is healing, that is."
He didn't answer the other question, because it simply didn't matter.
"You're well fed?"
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Simon Destler
- Ingenious Pilot -
A lost boy. Not a Lost Boy.
Posts: 222
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Post by Simon Destler on Oct 21, 2008 22:47:46 GMT -5
"Um... yes, well, enough, I suppose..." muttered Simon in reply, still confused as to what the man actually wanted of him. And if one question wasn't going to be answered, Simon did not bother asking another if he was just going to ask it. The presence of a mask on the man's face certainly made him stare for longer than he intended anyway, and he looked away.
"You don't even know my name, Monsieur." Not that it really mattered, but if he was going to be around this man for longer than needed, he preferred to be called more than just "Boy."
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Post by Erik Destler on Oct 21, 2008 22:52:40 GMT -5
Erik paused for a moment, realizing that he didn't know the child's name. He straightened and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Well, what is it then?"
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Simon Destler
- Ingenious Pilot -
A lost boy. Not a Lost Boy.
Posts: 222
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Post by Simon Destler on Oct 21, 2008 23:03:10 GMT -5
"It's Simon," he said, still leaning away from the man. "Just Simon. Nothing more..." Now that he was free, he rubbed his arm and looked back up at the man, still desiring to know what the sudden interest was, but hoped he'd learn it eventually, and with little consequence to his person. If he's one of those people... he thought to himself, wrinkling up his nose. I'll just run...
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Post by Erik Destler on Oct 21, 2008 23:15:52 GMT -5
"Well. Your father's name was Destler. I suppose you can use that if you feel the need to. Simon is a good name. Yes, I would have agreed." he muttered a bit and measured the boy up again.
"You need a suit."
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Simon Destler
- Ingenious Pilot -
A lost boy. Not a Lost Boy.
Posts: 222
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Post by Simon Destler on Oct 21, 2008 23:21:23 GMT -5
"Destler?" he said, looking at the masked man with a bit of trepidation in his voice still. "Do you know where he is then? Is he... dead?" asked Simon, trying to not sound saddened by the idea, but it was there all the same. He completely missed the comment about a suit, now that his mind was preoccupied.
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Post by Erik Destler on Oct 21, 2008 23:43:14 GMT -5
"He is like to dead. Your hair is wild as well-fine for a street urchin, not a young musician." he blinked a bit. "A young musician with a wealthy patron, anyway."
He produced, from somewhere, a few Franc notes and held them out in his gloved hand.
"A haircut, a suit, and a bath."
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Simon Destler
- Ingenious Pilot -
A lost boy. Not a Lost Boy.
Posts: 222
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Post by Simon Destler on Oct 21, 2008 23:55:46 GMT -5
The young man looked at the money a bit wide-eyed. He had never seen so much money at once, at least never handed to him. He took the money and counted it out, only to make sure that he would know of what he was given so as to be properly responsible for it.
"Where am I to meet you after then?" he asked, having to push the money deep into his pants pocket. "Here?"
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Post by Erik Destler on Oct 22, 2008 0:12:46 GMT -5
The composer cupped a hand to the back of the boy's head--not too terribly hard.
"It's rude to count money in front of someone who's just given it to you, boy. And no. Meet me below, in the cellars. You can find your way down again, can't you?"
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Simon Destler
- Ingenious Pilot -
A lost boy. Not a Lost Boy.
Posts: 222
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Post by Simon Destler on Oct 22, 2008 0:18:40 GMT -5
"Sorry..." he grumbled, keeping his head down after feeling the hand meeting the back. "I think I can... the other man I met down there gave me a long list of directions, though..." And he still had to retrieve what little he did have, and carry it all downstairs...
"Will you be waiting to meet me?" he asked, still not raising his head.
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Post by Erik Destler on Oct 22, 2008 0:26:13 GMT -5
"The other man?" He wondered at that, and suddenly having a child was a dangerous idea. Still. He gave new direction to the boy, simple ones.
"I will. Or M. Castro will."
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