♬

[byrned]

Comments

[cravating]

Was just telling Luce how you'll be sick of my work soon enough once we're flatmates. I plan on getting a lot of new stuff done over the summer.

[byrned]

You're joking aren't ya? Fuck having wallpaper, we can cover the walls in your shit. Best flat out there. I can't wait.

[cravating]

[And there's that little smile he gets. Fuck, maybe Lucy is right. This could be bad.]

We'll see.

[byrned]

[ And Lucy sees it, oh she sees it, and she's also reaching over and giving Nate's hand a discreet squeeze. She's there if he needs her. But she won't tell. ]

Yes we will. Right then, let's go walk around and pretend we know what we're talking about.

[cravating]

[Nathan takes them around to see more of the art pieces. As the crowd starts to thin out, Nate's professor comes over and tells him that he's free to go when he would like, congratulating him on a successful showing.

He turns to his two friends as the professor leaves.]

Tell me you two want to get a stiff drink.

[byrned]

[ Matt throws his arm around Nate and grins, gripping him and batting his back. ]
And this is one of the many reasons I love this man, Luce. And yes, drinks. Let's fucking celebrate.

[ Lucy looks over them and settles her gaze on Nathan ] Yeah well fuck knows why he loves you.

[cravating]

[Nate can't help but flush a little but he tries to keep it together, leading the three of them out to a bar nearby where they can have a few celebratory drinks.


Later the next week, Nate goes looking for Matt but can't find him in the halls or the bar so he heads to the practice rooms. It's nothing insanely important. He's just wanting to talk about a few things to plan for their move at the end of the term.

Or maybe he just wants an excuse to see Matt. Especially if it means he can hear him play. Which is probably why he stays quiet when he finds the right room, just lingering in the doorway, watching.]

[byrned]

[ ♫ Mozart Piano Sonata No 16

When Nate hears Matt practise, it's usually on the crappy keyboard he's got at home, never on one of the proper pianos he wants to work on. Today though, he's managed to plan enough in advance to be able to rent one of the grand pianos, and so he's there now, sheets of music strewn atop it as he plays a particular piece. It's heavy and involved and he stops again and again only to start up once more.

This needs to be perfect. He has to have it perfect. But he's getting there, working hard and getting it as good as he can.

It's only by chance that he spots Nate in the doorway, and he stops playing as a flush rises to his cheeks. ]

What have I told you about creeping up on me. [ he says with a bashful little laugh. ]

[cravating]

You're getting better. [Not that he wasn't good before. He was, but this? Oh, he could listen to this all day.]

[byrned]

You think so? [ Generally speaking, when Matt gets compliments they tend to wash over him. He responds with a shrug or a grin, but not with Nate. When Nate talks, he listens, taking every word on board. So if he likes it? Well that means something. ]

It's a bitch of a piece. Keep screwing up in the middle. Not sure if it's a bit kinda ambitious.

[cravating]

Ambitious is good. You need to be challenged. Only way you're going to get better.

[byrned]

That's the idea, mate. Get better, blow people's socks off. [ One day maybe he can even get his da to be proud of him. Now that'd be a turn up for the books. ]

Come in, don't hang around in the doorway. Were you after me for something?

[cravating]

Went by that place we wanted to look at? They've got some special deal running this week. Wanted to know if you have time to check it out with me tomorrow so we can maybe snatch one up soon?

[byrned]

Oh yeah? You sure? I mean you don't have to, you know. If you change your mind I get it.

[ But no, okay, Matt is really eager to get this flat with Nate. It sounds great, their place. How cool is that? ]

Did it look good? Like, for the money. Wasn't some doss house or something?

[cravating]

I mean it's meant for students so it's nothing special. But it's good. From what I saw. They'll let us look at it tomorrow.

[byrned]

Mate as long as its clean and we've both got a room that's good for me. Oh and Tom said we could have that furniture if we wanted. You know, the cellist? Apparently there's a job lot they're just getting rid of. Sofa, coffee table, that sort of thing.

[cravating]

Sounds good. Well, that's... [He shrugs. That's all he had. This was a pretty lame excuse to just come hang out. Oops he feels awkward now.]

[byrned]

[ It makes him smile. It's a lot to have come all this way for, the music rooms are hardly close to anything Nate needs to be near. ]

You want to come in and listen for a bit? You can tell me when I'm fucking up.

[cravating]

Yeah? You don't mind?

[byrned]

Nah I always play better when you're around. You're like my muse. [ He's teasing but... he means it. ]

[cravating]

Should get myself a toga. [He laughs and finds a chair to take a seat.]

We should see if we can find a little piano for our place. Something better than that keyboard of yours

[byrned]

Dated a greek girl once. She didn't wear a toga though. Least not by the end of the night.
[
He shakes his head, turning and leaning a bit against the piano. ]

Oh I wish. There's no way I can afford one. Not with the rent and everything else.

[cravating]

Yeah, probably wouldn't be smart to spend money on that.

[Except he will. For Matt's birthday. He can make it work, he's sure. It'll be old and need a lot of love and care but it'll be good for them to have something like that around the place.]

[byrned]

One day though. One day. Might be a few years ago, but I'll get there. Put on a little concert for you and everything. Your own private show.

[ And that comes along with an incorrigible wiggle of his eyebrows. He really shouldn't tease him like that, but he does. ]

[cravating]

[He can feel heat in his cheeks. Fuck you, Matt.]

Oh sure. All the private concerts. Everyone would be so jealous of me.