Adagio e Staccato

“I suppose I am lucky, in a sense.” A story for another time, and for fewer ears to hear.

Félix was anxious to get himself registered. The longer Lysander spoke to him, the closer the man would discover that Félix had secrets. He hoped a change of scenery and subject would force Lysander to stare at a different part of the picture.

Lysander was rather new himself, Félix discovered. He wondered how an older student felt of this place. Was it as peaceful as Lysander implied? Maybe if Félix was as lucky as his namesake implied, he'd come to feel like it was his home as well.

Félix had plenty of thinking and worrying done already this journey, but Lysander at least testified to a promise of a good life. It was not enough to make Félix relax, but at least he could smile a little easier. “Excuse me. I should go register.” He bowed very slightly and headed towards the office.

Perhaps just in time too, before Lysander gathered a more sensitive question.

First one in, and last one out. Getting sorted in at all was a markedly longer process than switching up a few classes. For the most part, Félix's appointment was more a crash course on where to go and who to see in order to arrange the rest of his things. He received a key to his dorm and some directions, as well as a little map of the classrooms and where his own classes might be.

As dull as it sounded, it was nice not to be asked personal questions for a bit. A dull conversation also meant no leaning one way or another for emotions to fall off the scale. As much as he didn't mind Lysander as a person, despite his 'personality problems', Félix was not ready to open up.

He was just about to exit the office when Lysander's face surprised him at the door. Félix froze a moment in shock, caught in the man's headlights. Had Félix time to prepare or the state of mind to think quickly and rationally, he'd have probably declined. He could make it to his own dorm, and then from there he could take the rest of the day off.

“Thank you.” Instead, he accepted it out of courtesy. One habit his family drilled into him well. “Just a short tour would be nice. I've seen my fill of the offices.” Félix brushed his hair back behind his shoulders and straightened himself out. Félix was still as stoic and rigid as a two-by-four, but at least his politeness was just as consistent.

Every time Lysander looked at him, Félix looked back. It was the proper etiquette, but Félix found it painful in many ways. If eyes really were windows to the soul, then he laid out his secret every moment Lysander addressed him. It was difficult to stay composed, and unfortunately for Félix the man had a certain habit to look one in the face.

Félix looked around at the offices again, noting the many shades of grey. He wasn't sure if it was as bad as Lysander made it out to be – grey could come in many shades and it didn't bother Félix immediately – but compared to the rest of the academy and the island itself the offices were appropriately dismal.

That said, Félix honestly did not know where he'd like to go. He had the luck not to be carrying his luggage around, though he did have to meet his valet sooner or later at the front of the school. Félix wouldn't dare let Lysander catch him receiving the luggage though, so he made no mention of this prior arrangement.

There were the dorms, but Félix would see plenty of those soon enough. He could ask about the cafeteria, but he wasn't particularly hungry. It wasn't like the classrooms were very interesting either...

“Why not show me some of your own favourite spots?” Félix finally answered with a friendly enthusiasm. Honestly, he liked the brilliance of the idea. Places Lysander would happily distract himself in describing and showcasing for Félix. Or if that proved to be a short list, Félix would also suggest where he might find a piano.

There were only a spare number of activities Félix could endure for long periods of time. Sleeping, and playing the piano.

Félix had to admit, he was hoping for more success. At least one or two spots would have been enough for him to get a fill of the campus and to keep Lysander from prodding too hard. It wasn't Lysander's fault, not in the slightest. Whatever powers he had seemed to be at the very least not dangerous, and Félix did not mind his company outside of the fact strangers looking for friends always had many questions.

So music it was. Félix resigned to the option with a courteous smile, “Very well. I warn you though, I could spend my whole day in there.”

The music room was attached near the academy's ballroom. Pianos especially were a pain to carry around, so leaving them on the bottom floor was generally the sanest place to put them. Next to the ballroom, students and teachers could easily carry the piano and other often heavy equipment quickly between it and the ballroom.

It was a thankfully short walk, so before any other difficult conversation reared its head to Félix he was already standing just in front of a grand piano. Two of them, in fact. A set of drums and other percussion, a whole of music stands, folding seats, and plenty of sound equipment completed the room.

“Do you play any music, Lysander?” Félix smiled, his fingers already pressing on the ivory keys. He had good enough ears to tell that it must have been recently tuned. Hopefully music classes were done for the day, then.

Félix sat down on the bench and started to dabble on the keys. He didn't play anything in particular just yet, but Lysander might have picked up one or two familiar sounds as Félix marched through dozens of short classic melodies.

Lysander's face seemed like a contradiction, along with his words. Why would he need to take it up soon, and why did it seem to bother him so much?

Félix wondered aloud, “Trying to impress someone?” He struck the piano gentler, so he wouldn't have to yell over his own music. It showed just how coordinated Félix was, that he could turn his head and attention to Lysander while still leave his hands to dance all about the piano keys.

And since he was paying attention to Lysander, he noticed him sink into a chair and curling up. Félix had the confidence and sensibility not to think it was because of his performance. Was it his 'personality problems' again? Félix's hands slowed, to the point where he was barely playing anything at all but gentle taps up and down various scales.

“Everything okay?” Félix inquired, worried.