For lastvoyages: Third Casefile [Voice+Spam]

[cannibalmind]

[private]
Analysis of a specific subject was curtailed due to a massive influx of new and very personal material. I have been monitoring all of it, and memorized those posts which would be inevitably screened away once those affected came back to their senses. What an absolute wealth of material! Notes on several subjects will be forthcoming.

[public

Comments

[Art Room Spam]

[mightymorbid]

[Mozenrath tended to keep his harp in the art room simply to save space in his own chambers, and hadn't expected someone to come in at the same time he was settling down to do more practice. He had no idea why it bothered him so much that after his injury he seemed unable to play with the same ease, but it gave him something to focus on -- even if all it really seemed to do was make him angry that his right hand could no longer keep up with his left. He'd improved some but maintained the same frustration that he wasn't mastering it -- not just because of his hand but because the harp Snape had given him was much larger than what he was used to and of a completely different make.

He is just sitting at the stool when Lecter enters and begins setting up his easel. Immediately he shifts self-consciously, and he asks -- not to be polite but because he'd relish an excuse to not stay and embarrass himself, without revealing that was why he hesitated:]

...Sorry, should I leave?

[Art Room Spam]

[cannibalmind]

Ah, there is absolutely no need. [He offers a warm smile that only slightly touches his eyes.] The accompaniment would be welcome.

[He peered at the young man and nodded, looking at his pallor, the beaky nose and flowing hair and clothing. Rather inspiring.] Besides, you have an excellent profile.

[Art Room Spam]

[mightymorbid]

[He raises a skeptical eyebrow]

...I suppose I'll have to take your word for it.

[He pulls the harp to him and begins to tune it, but it appears he's doing more than that. He has the music open and apparently hovering before him, waiting to turn its own pages for him, and he's running through a few combinations to limber up his fingers. It sounds as though it's supposed to be something like this, but he's not familiar enough with the music or capable enough in both hands to pull it off. ...It's also probably way to complex for his level of expertise. He has practiced with the gauntlet off before which seems to help, but not today, not in front of other people. His right, gloved hand does seem to be slower and more clumsy than the other, and he is constantly restarting to try and correct the error.]

[Art Room Spam]

[cannibalmind]

[He happily started blocking in the dark hair and the sweeping shouldered robe, and then started mixing a very very pale set of fleshtones.]

[After a while of listening, he coughs politely.] May I make a suggestion?

[Art Room Spam]

[mightymorbid]

[As far as having other people in the room goes, he can't complain; this man doesn't make a lot of noise and doesn't distract him with sudden movements. He flattens his palms on the strings to silence them.]

Feel free.

[Art Room Spam]

[cannibalmind]

When learning a new musical piece or style, repeating the beginning over and over only works when memorizing. When mastering the piece, it is important to grasp the entire piece, no matter how technically imperfectly at first, and then gradually master it.

The brain has a low frustration threshold with repetition, you see, and it would not do in this case. You have a great deal of natural skill.

[Art Room Spam]

[mightymorbid]

[This is a valid suggestion, shown in that he does seem to mull over it longer than it would normally take him to retort.]

I'm not trying to learn it; I'm drilling myself over certain parts. Struggling a bit with the ...glissando and such. [NOT familiar terminology for him, but he's been studying.] Since there's a lot of them I've just been sticking with the one until I get it right.

[Art Room Spam]

[cannibalmind]

I see. Well. The glissandos may have to be adapted. Try working up from half speed. Go only as quickly as your gloved hand. It will not sound as well at first, but the idea is to pick up precision first and then speed.

[He holds up a hand with six fingers on it.] I have to adapt myself when I play piano.

[Art Room Spam]

[mightymorbid]

[At first Mozenrath isn't certain what he means because it takes a second for him to see. When he does, he blinks a little in surprise.]

I can't imagine. Does that make it easier or much harder?

[Art Room Spam]

[cannibalmind]

Considerably more difficult. The nerve plexus that controls one finger also controls the other, and they flex at the same time. Therefore I had to learn to manage.

[Art Room Spam]

[mightymorbid]

I see. [It's the only thing he can think to say at first.] I'm going to try what you suggested. [He hesitates a moment, and he tries slowing it down, tapping his foot slightly to keep it in times.]

[Art Room Spam]

[cannibalmind]

[He takes his brush back up and continues blocking in the planes of the young man's face as he plays, nodding briefly in approval.]