♔ DREAMBERRY | contact.

[maskmastery]

You have reached the voicemail of Schneizel el Britannia.

It seems I'm unavailable right now, but please leave me a message and I shall respond at my earliest convenience.

Comments

[audio]

[zerointegrity]

Schneizel.

[How does he word this properly...]

I must preface what I'm about to say to you with an apology. This was never my intention.

[A sigh]

As you may already know, our brother declared next week to be Art Appreciation Week. As a result of a discussion I had with him, I may or may not have put the idea into his head that you and I would play a duet for the piano during said week. I am not asking you to go along with this idea, in fact it would probably be best that we decline. [A beat] Should we agree to this, he is expecting us to play in the concert hall.

[A pause]

Do get back with me as soon as possible.

[audio]

[maskmastery]

[If nothing else, it's Lelouch offering an apology that puts him on edge, first and foremost. He listens to the rest with genuine curiosity, his expression turning drier as the recording goes on. How terribly drole. He'd think this was Lelouch's doing out of spite, really, but the fact that his younger brother has been dragged into it as well disproves that.

Once again, the dream turns utterly ironic. Ironic as well, how for all Lelouch's superior mind, Clovis has outsmarted him. Unwittingly.

After a heavy sigh, he calls his younger brother back.]

Lelouch.

[audio]

[zerointegrity]

Schneizel.

[He had honestly been dreading the return call, but what was he to do? Avoid it completely? No, he had to face this. It was better he speak to his brother about it before Clovis did.]

There was no way I could have talked myself out of this situation. He had his mind set on a duet the moment I said one word about the piano, even going so far as to suggest I ask for your assistance in learning a new piece.

[As if I would even do something like that in the first place...]

[audio]

[maskmastery]

Our hands may well be tied by this, you understand.

[Doubtless they could wiggle out of it, but Clovis wouldn't back down easily. And he could be clever when necessary. If he had to, he'd get Euphemia and Nunnally involved. A more formidable army than some Schneizel had faced.]

It's been quite some time since I've had the luxury of practise.

[audio]

[zerointegrity]

I do understand the gravity of this situation. I feel it is in our best interest to agree to perform lest we find ourselves in an even more undesirable situation.

[He pauses]

I'm a bit surprised you've not gotten a piano to put in your current residence. You've nothing but time in Somarium.

[audio]

[maskmastery]

Sayaka and I had discussed it, but nothing had come of the notion thus far. Had I known Clovis would actually manage to put me in such a position of check, I’d have been more set on it.

[Well, there’s nothing else for it. He smiles innocuously.]

Have you a piece in mind?

[audio]

[zerointegrity]

I originally suggested Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K.448, but Clovis voiced his opinion against that particular piece immediately... something about Mozart being a very annoying man.

[A brief pause, some rustling papers]

Given his attitude toward Mozart, I also considered a piece by Khachaturian, but I was not sure how either you or Clovis felt about his music.

[audio]

[maskmastery]

[His lips quirk.]

The Sabre Dance, am I right?

[audio]

[zerointegrity]

Precisely. I take it you're familiar with the piece?

[A hint of surprise noticeable in his voice]

[audio]

[maskmastery]

Nostalgically, if nothing else.

[audio]

[zerointegrity]

Wonderful, then neither you nor I should have an issue learning it for this performance.