Author's Note: Hello! This is Yuripee (aka LovelyComos) with a new fan fiction! This is my first fanfiction in over a year, and it does feel refreshing to write it again. I do hope that you enjoy and I do look at adding chapters to it in the future. I have already rated this "M" for content later in the story, possibly for language and violence but this story will not contain any explicit scenes of sex, or any graphic descriptions of it.

As for the first chapter, there is nothing "M" rated about it. When chapters contain this in the future, I will put a warning in this top Author's Note bar. There are notes at the bottom of the page, after the story for all words bolded and italicized (foreign language words) and all words italicized with a star* (historical references). Enjoy! :)

The Madness Between The Notes

Chapter One: Enlightened Yet Lost, Respectively.

It was once said by someone very wise and fairly observant that all artists are mad in some way or another, or for that matter anyone who is remotely interesting is mad. Who said it first doesn't matter now, it's been said by so many over the course of time. There are many who fit under the statements above perfectly, in fact, a bit too much so for the normal human to stand. However, this story will examine the mind and final masterpiece of one fairly insane man, the one called The Plagued Pianist.

His name was Roderich Edelstein. Famed and prosperous, the year was 1767 and Roderich was at the height of his career as a composer. At this point mentally stable and enjoying all the fine upper class activities and festivities of the Viennese upper class. Vienna was a wondrous place to be Roderich Edelstein. He was called often to compose for the emperor, he wrote plays and symphonies, sometimes dabbling with this or that. He was considered the finest virtuoso among the public.

"A fine morning to you, Mr. Edelstein. Gruss Gott!" An upperclassman man greeted Roderich on a sunny morning during December.

"And to you as well, fine sir!" Roderich smiled and waved, walking in the direction opposite of the man. To be quite honest he had no clue or who the man was, but it didn't matter to him. The pianist simply didn't care and there is something to be said for that. Irritated he was, apathetic he was becoming, and late to a meeting currently. Friendly greetings was something the virtuoso just didn't have time for.

Walking along the streets, Roderich let his tailcoat flow behind him and walked at a fast pace that made some of the strolling citizens stop and look. This irritated the musician ever more simply because he was aware of the fact that they knew who he was and most certainly the folk are not those who keep their suspicions to themselves. Huffing and pushing his glasses further up his nose, Roderich turned the corner and soon found himself opening the doors to a small cafe where he was meeting a client. A client looking to pay money for a masterpiece from the great Edelstein. Roderich smiled to himself and walked into the cafe making eye contact with the first man he saw. Yes, that was his client, he knew right from the start. Long blond hair, flamboyant clothing, the air and arrogance of an upperclassman, but not Austrian. No, no, most certainly not Austrian.

"Bonjour. The great and prestigious Roderich Edelstein, what a wonder for my eyes to see, and what a privilege for you to take a commission from me. Please sit and let's discuss over a cup of tea." The non-Austrian client spoke, his eyes sparkling with anticipation that was not shown on the rest of his face.

"Coffee, thank you. And, while you may be interested in me does not mean that I am interested in you, let's keep that in mind, oh Bonaparte, was it?"

"Non, Bonnefoy. Francis Bonnefoy, if you care for full names. Simply judging by the fact you are here, I am not mistaken when I say that you received my letter and interest in your comission." The man spoke. Francis Bonaparte, a wealthy, enlightened man who was very pleased with himself. He was extremely proud and thought the world was in his hands, and slept at night with the thought in his mind that he understand the workings of the universe far better than those below him in the social structure.

"Why bother traveling here to to see me if Paris is such an enlightened place?" Roderich questioned as his coffee was set in front of him by a waitress, who recognized him and took the opportunity to speak.

"Oh, it that you? Mr Edelstein?! I admire the your works, your symphonies, and your plays! The piano pieces! Fantastic they are! I know I'm just a lowly waitress, but if I may ask, do you give lessons? I'd love to learn piano, it has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I wish to someday compose my own works as well." The girl smiled, hoping she wasn't asking for too much.

Roderich smiled and went to respond "Well, I-"

"Lowly woman! A composer? You think yourself in the educational realm of dominance? How appalling!" Francis scoffed, taking a sip of his tea.

The waitress was too upset and shocked at the French Parisian man to speak so Roderich spoke instead. "What? What is this that you speak of? An educational realm of dominance? Care to expand, Monsieur Bonnefoy?" He spoke the French man's name with a tone of condescension and irritation at his outburst. Roderich had heard about the new ideals and the Age of Reason* that many raved about but never cared. Music and composing beckoned him, he didn't care to waste time with useless information like the concept of laissez-faire economics* and the art of being cosmopolitan*.

"My, my, Mr. Edelstein this surprises me! You are among the privileged upper class, correct? Haven't you heard of the wondrous works of Rousseau*?" Francis looked at Roderich with surprise. "Aren't you enlightened, mon ami?"

"No, I do not care for concepts and ideals formed by others. You follow their works like sheep, yet seldom think of alternatives? What a waste of good energy and lack of thought! Enlightenment? Don't make me laugh! But this.. this Rosseau, remind me again of his "enlightened ideals" and how much they've changed you." This time Roderich scoffed and took a sip of his coffee, noticing that the waitress had disappeared.

"Well, I can spare a moment to explain a thing or two for the unenlightened. Rousseau wrote a very informative treatise on education*. You see, men are dominant in education and are free to embrace the sciences and the liberal arts. However, women are inferior and should be taught to submit to man and run the trivial things of the household."

"Ridiculous!" Roderich shouted, turning a few heads in the cafe.

"And you think differently?"

"Well, yes."

"May I ask why, Herr Edelstein?" Francis responded with the same condescension Roderich had used earlier, which made the composer more irritated and angry than he had ever been with a client.

"Your thoughts are petty. Why would I turn down a student just because it's a young lady when they are paying me for my services! What fool would let money run through their fingertips just because someone has breasts and the ability to bear children?"

"Your ideals are appalling." Francis picked lint off his flamboyant clothing with disgust.

"And you are enlightened yet lost, respectively."

"Will this in anyway affect the commission?"

"Possibly, just make your offer good enough to make me change my mind." Roderich leaned in and folded his hands on the table. He was eager to quit speaking of petty opinions and ideals and get to why he met the Frenchman in the first place. Commission and money.

"Well, yes. I want you to write a requiem* for my mother. She is dying."

"My sincerest condolences. When will you need this by?" The composer was now straight to the point with Francis, already tired of him.

"Well, here's the thing, she wants to hear what will be played at her funeral."

"Most certainly corpses don't have the pleasure or privilege of hearing."

"She's not dead yet, fool!" Francis snapped, and quickly recomposed himself and continued. "She would like to hear it from you while you're composing it, which would mean you would need to be in Paris."

"Paris? And leave my dearest Vienna behind? I think not." Roderich folded his handkerchief and gently dabbed it along his face, as if he was concluding his meal and preparing to leave.

"I'll give you your own apartment and whatever supplies needed. Double the salary I offered in my letter. My mother wishes for it to be no one other than you. If you will, please accept. You may return to Vienna after the requiem is complete."

This offer impressed Roderich. He had received none other like it. Even if the man was a little off with his ideals, he could be bearable long enough to complete the task at hand. And a requiem seemed simple enough, after all that the prestigious composer had accomplished. Double the salary was enticing as well. It was too fine of a deal for the great Roderich Edelstein not to accept, even if it meant moving to Paris for a short while. Vienna was dear to his heart, but it would always be there waiting for him.

"I accept. And only on one condition." Roderich stated, pushing his glasses on his nose and straightening the purple fabric of his jacket.

"And what is that?" Francis smiled, having getting what he wanted after traveling all the way to Vienna.

"You shut up about your ideals."

Francis laughed pushed his bright, blond hair from his face. "You may get me to shut up about my ideals but not the others! Haven't you heard that Paris is the center of the Enlightenment?"

"Well, thank God I shall be getting paid double to stand people like you."

"Certainly."

Hello again! This is the end of chapter one and I do hope you liked it. Any comments regarding the story and any constructive(yet kind) criticism is welcomed by me. (As long as they are nice xD)

Notes on References used in the story:

Language References:

1.) "Gruss Gott!" :(German; translates as "God's Greetings or Blessings") Common greeting phrase used in Austria.

2.) "Bonjour." : French greeting for "Hello".

3.) "Non": French for "No".

4.) "Monsieur" : French for "Mister".

5.) "Mon ami" : French for "My friend".

6.) "Herr" : German for "Mister"

Historical References:

1.) Age of Reason* : Also termed The Enlightenment was a period in European history where people began to question the world around them, with advances in science and increases in philosophy and creative thinking. Spanned from about 1600-1800. Many ideals of today come from this time period such as "All men are created equal".

2.) Laissez-Faire economics* : French for "Let it be"and a type of economics system where the economy "naturally" runs itself without any government interference. (Such as restrictions or tariffs). This concept was gaining popularity during this time period. Notable people connected to this are Quesnay and the Physiocrats in France.

3.) Cosmopolitan* : Definition : A person who is familiar and accepting of many other cultures and countries, "worldly". Another concept gaining popularity during this time period.

4.) Rousseau* : Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher best known for his contributions to the Enlightenment with his political philosophy. His works influenced the French Revolution and developments regarding education.

5.) Treatise on Education* : Reference to Rousseau's work entitled Emile that examines a philosophy of education that divides men and women into two different fields of education. Male education is superior to female education and they are taught separately. Males are taught sciences, math, liberal arts, and are free to be leaders. Women are considered inferior and the education proves to be so by teaching them that they must treat men as superior and learn the domestic arts.

6.) Requiem* : (Mass of the Dead) A musical piece for the mass of a deceased person. Most often used during funerals, however, not always.

Thanks for Reading! :)