This is the prequel to Savior. Reading that story isn't necessary to comprehending this one, though it may give you a better picture. We never get to see what Olga's like when she's away from her family on the show, and I've noticed that there's no real stories of that here either. So I want to explore this niche. Tell me what you all think.
It started out as a game.
That's how it usually was to him.
Louis Burbon fiddled with his tie and combed his hair one last time. He examined himself in the mirror. He looked satisfactory. And satisfactory to Louis Burbon was nothing short of excellence. He looked better than good, and that was what he had become accustomed to demanding. He wore a custom-made black suit with cuff, a lavender tie, and Armani shoes. Louis added one final thing to finish the ensemble - a silver belt buckle cut in the shape of the sun with a human face. He'd had it made to pay homage to an ancestor, hoping to tap into his power and essence. It was certainly a great way to top off his outfit at the very least. Louis had long made it a personal rule to be the best-dressed man in the room, especially on occasions such as this evening's soiree.
After putting his fingers through his black hair one last time, he smirked to himself, his green eyes lighting up in mirth. He had made sure to take care of his skin for the occasion as well. It shone like porcelain.
His phone rang. Louis strode over slowly to pick it up.
"Hey Alex. Yeah, I'm all ready to go. Twenty minutes? Cool. See you then."
He hung up.
Louis' friend Alex Narshkev was a graduate student studying physics. He was also a TA at Bennington College. The twenty-four-year-old Louis had chosen a different course. After graduating from college himself with degrees in business and communications, Louis had opened a public relations consulting firm. He did business primarily across his native Maine and larger New England.
Louis passed the time by looking over some business affairs. He'd just closed a deal the day prior. He still had some more work to do regarding another one - helping an old contact from college get ideal press coverage for the campaign he was about to work on.
The phone rang again. Louis knew who it was and he did not answer. Instead, he walked downstairs from his third-story apartment and out into the street. He greeted his friend with a raised hand and got into the passenger side of his car.
"What's happening?" Alex greeted.
"Closed a deal." Louis smirked as they drove in the early evening, just as the sun was setting. "But you can keep fiddling around with your equations." He challenged with a glance.
"Kind of like you fiddling around with the world wide web?" Alex smirked back.
"Touche." Louis nodded his head. "I like the wit Alex. Keep it up and you might be able to bag my groceries."
The two men chuckled.
"Alright so what's the plan? We go to this orchestra and then the reception afterwards but we need to make a deal. If one of us pulls some pussy, we don't wait for the other when we want to leave."
Alex laughed. "As usual with you, my man. Treating everything with military precision."
"As it should be, considering Brother Henry and his lessons. He always did tell me to plan to the end." Louis grinned. "Get paid, get laid. That's the motto for me."
"And it isn't a bad one." Alex bantered. "But do try to enjoy the music." He challenged with a grin.
"If I wasn't going to enjoy the music, I'd never have come." He replied. "But I will hold you accountable if it isn't good."
"Oh, it'll be good. Trust me."
Olga Pataki leaned over the vanity and put the finishing touches on herself by putting on her light pink lipstick. She needed to find just the right shade to glow in this atmosphere, with the lights shining down on her.
"Five minutes until they need us on stage, Olga!"
"OK Alyssa!" Olga called.
She sighed, this was always hectic, but she loved it all the same. Music brought joy to people's lives, and if she could help in that, that was all that mattered. There was also something about music that called to her. She felt free when she really immersed herself in a song, banging out note after note on the keys, free as a bird.
Olga examined herself. Her cosmetics had been done right, and her hair had been pinned up elegantly. She wore a satin black evening gown with straps that hung over her neck. She wondered though, whether the dress was cut too low in the front and back. Olga turned around to look at herself in the mirror.
"Olga!"
"I'll be right there!" She said and came out of the room.
"Wow Olga!"
Olga turned over to see a friend of hers, Alyssa Azurani, looking at her approvingly. Alyssa was a sophomore and a violinist in the orchestra. She wore a purple gown that was somewhat more modest.
"You look so beautiful! I'm not used to seeing you in something that...sexy." She whispered with a grin.
A slight blush rolled across Olga's face. Alyssa laughed.
"No need to be modest, Olga. It fits you perfectly. You couldn't wear anything like that when you were in Alaska, so it's time you made up for that! Anyway, we better get going."
"Yeah." Olga nodded.
"We're just so glad to have you back, Olga!" She said as they began to walk. "The orchestra just hasn't been the same without you! Who are we without our star pianist? The last few performances with you back have been much better!"
Olga smiled lightly at the appreciation.
Alex showed the tickets, and he and Louis proceeded to their seats. They were on the front row of the second balcony, and had a good view of the stage.
"The sound carries better up here." Alex remarked.
Louis nodded and sat in his seat. The velvet was comfortable.
"Any word on what the score is gonna be? I do like a bit of surprise in everything, but I'm curious as to the general time period."
"I think they might be doing Lully and Charpentier tonight. High Baroque. That should suit you perfectly, in more ways than one." Alex answered.
Louis smirked and watched as the performers began to get on the stage. The crowd continued to file in and the two friends talked for a bit longer. They were interrupted when the prompt for silence began, and the music played. He recognized the opening piece. It was Lully's Symphonie Te Deum. A smile grew on Louis face, and he found his eyes drawn toward the left end of the stage.
"It's nice, right?" Alex asked during a five minute intermission. The concert had been going on for about forty-five minutes now, and the orchestra had just completed Charpentier's Marche de Triomphe.
"Everything is as you promised me." Louis answered. "They're pretty good, I must admit, and the sound does carry well in this theater."
Alex smirked and nodded.
"However..." Louis trailed in a more serious tone.
Alex looked at him curiously.
"The real treasure is to be found seated over there on the piano." He slowly and subtly pointed.
Alex turned his head. A grin immediately broke out on his face. "Ah." He noised almost knowingly, predicting that something like this would occur.
"Who is she?" Louis asked rather blankly. The two watched the young woman with blonde hair in a sexy, yet exceedingly elegant gown turn the page on her music sheet and twiddle her dainty fingers, obviously trying to get circulation in them.
"That's Olga Pataki." Alex grinned. "She's in the junior class." He informed. "I was a TA in an atmospheric science class she was taking previously. She went to Alaska for a semester...to teach Inuit children. She just came back."
Louis chuckled and turned to his friend. "Sounds like what a naive upper middle class girl does when she's got too much time on her hands."
Alex chuckled back. A small, sly, masculine grin broke out from Louis' lips as he turned back to look at her. His eyes twinkled as his friend continued to speak. He was admiring this woman and all the curves on her body, soaking in her beauty, pleasing his senses.
"All the guys want to go out with her." Alex continued to grin.
Louis slowly turned his head to his friend and almost appeared to be taunting him. "So why haven't you stepped up to the plate?" He challenged.
"I did. She turned me down." Alex replied with a small sigh but a big smirk.
Louis chuckled. "I told you you needed to drop this TA nonsense and get in the gym."
"No, no. I doubt she'd be into me in any case. Olga's sort of a free spirit and I'm a hard-nosed scientist." He laughed lightly along with Louis. "You on the other hand should have a much better chance." He complimented. "If you plan on taking it, of course."
"At the reception? Oh I'll be taking it, you can bet on that." Louis answered.
"Fine, but be warned, the competition's gonna be something fierce." Alex teased.
Louis chuckled haughtily. "If you only mean in number. Trust me, I'm not worried about the quality of my so-called competition. Beauty like that is worth some effort in any case. And if she's as free a spirit as you say, perhaps my bed will be warm tonight indeed."
Alex now broke into a huge laugh. It was contagious, and Louis found himself laughing along with his friend until the music came back on.