The Madness Between The Notes
Chapter Two : Farewell, My Dear Beloved Vienna
Francis looked at Roderich with a glint of anticipation and a look of success written across his features. He finally had found what he was looking for, all this time, going through all the networks and talking to the plain old folk to find this man. The musician, with his long and elegant fingers and a face that just gave off a sense of intelligence and higher stature. It would be intimidating for someone who wasn't Francis, or similar to him, with the air of aristocracy and pure privilege, above all else. Francis knew how people like Roderich ticked, what made them seize moments and offers like this on a whim. Or, perhaps he thought he did. He was familiar with other composers, but failed to realize there is always a break in rhythm or a break in the pattern of the typical. This became known to the Frenchman after the petty argument they had over ideals, and this made him nervous when it came to the musician, and very cautious all the same. Having second thoughts, he looked deeply into Roderich's eyes, curious about what thoughts were within him, but was soon snapped out of his trance when the composer spoke.
"When shall we depart? Soon, I would presume." Roderich looked irritated, glancing away from the uncomfortable stare.
Francis leaned back in his chair, attempting to act as nonchalant as possible in the given situation. "As soon as possible would be preferable. At the latest, I would say Thursday."
"Well, today is Monday, so I suppose that would give me enough time to get all the things in order. Would you like my address to access me further?"
"Sure, I'll pick you up in carriage there at the sunrise of Thursday. If I have to wait a long while and we become behind schedule, I will have to deduct it from your salary." Francis smirked, hoping that he was intimidating the Austrian man just as he did. However, this failed simply because of the fact that Roderich wasn't even aware of the fact that he was intimidating. He just had that stature, and never cared anymore than he would anything else.
"Oh, harsh. I see you've picked up on the fact the I was late today, who wouldn't?" Roderich chuckled, then continued. "Let me tell you, that isn't regularly, but I really focused on looking my best for my client."
"I'm just being straightforward, Mr. Edelstein. I hope you see to being on time, as you claim, don't make late a habit." Francis winked, standing up from the table. "I'll be seeing you Thursday, goodbye."
"To you as well, Mr. Bonaparte."
"Bonnefoy, friend, Bonnefoy."
"My apologies. I just remember someone with that name similar to you." Roderich smiled thoroughly through his lie. Truth was, he never memorized his client's names. Time doing business was short. Roderich thought that names was something trivial that got in the way after the first meeting.
Francis smiled, not appearing to mind at all. He left the money for the morning coffee on the table and walked out of the cafe with a stride of grace.
Roderich sighed. Deep within in his mind he knew that Paris was much more trouble than it was worth. Vienna was lovely, and had an abundance of clients. However, deep within his mind he also knew that he couldn't uphold his aristocratic stature much longer, it was slipping through the cracks, just as his wealth was. Too careless he was, spending all his money on the night life rather than the bills. Roderich Edelstein, the great and wondrous Viennese composer put on the mask of a greedy composer, high and mighty, plagued with greed. The man behind the mask told a much different story, the man who was plagued with need.
As he sat at the cafe table alone with his thoughts, Roderich soon remembered the waitress insulted by Francis over what he considered trivial "enlightened ideals". He saw her tending to another customer, and after she was finished with him he called her over.
"I do apologize about that man acting so barbaric either." Roderich apologized, looking as he could for an apathetic man.
"It's quite alright! It wasn't your fault, Mr. Edelstein." The waitress blushed and held her hand up to her cheek.
"I know, but that's just embarrassing coming from a client of mine."
"Oh is it?"
"Yes. I would to speak with you with your interest in lessons. I'd love to further discuss it at a later date, precisely when I return from Paris."
The waitress smiled with genuine joy. "Why, thank you so much, Mr. Edelstein! When will you be returning to Vienna and when will you be leaving for Paris?"
"When I return to Vienna is still unknown. I am composing a requiem for the man that insulted you. He says it's best I stay where he lives in Paris, double the salary. I'll be leaving on Thursday. I'd love to speak with you concerning lessons at that point, I should have the time for one on one training." Roderich smiled, looking up at the girl. He was willing to treat anyone for any amount of money, oh he so desperately needed it.
"Thank you! I look forward to your return."
"You'll still be here I presume."
"That I know of."
"Alright, miss. I don't think I caught your name."
"My name is Elizabeta Héderváry." She smiled through the strand of a light brown hair that came out of her beret.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Héderváry. I think you know me, but I'm Roderich Edelstein." He smiled taking her hand and chivalrously kissing it.
She blushed all the more. "I must get back to work, but I look forward to working with you! Goodbye!" The waitress waved, smiled as she tended to others in the cafe.
Roderich smiled as she walked away. After a little while of sitting in the cafe and watching the Vienna streets seem to waltz by in it's activity, he decided to get home and start thinking about what he'd have to do before leaving for Paris. The musician laid an extra bit of money on the table and walked out, looking for the waitress but not seeing her. Roderich shrugged it off and made his way into the streets walking towards his home.
The composer arrived at his apartment around the noon hour and laid his hands upon his piano. He began to play a simple piece he wrote long ago, and as his fingers worked themselves from muscle memory, Roderich's mind began to wonder off. He wondered why anyone from Paris would come all the way to Vienna just for him. He was talented and successful and,no doubt, arrogant at times. However, at times like these he wasn't. Roderich Edelstein was well known in Vienna, but he never thought beyond the city. Vienna was all there was, there wasn't a London or a Paris, a Rome or a Madrid. Francis claimed his mother had requested him, but it just didn't seem right to Roderich. Something was wrong, and soon after much thought on the subject he concluded it was one his many bouts of self-doubt, coming to haunt and pry at his mind yet again as it had so many other times.
The few days prior to the departure, Roderich got his things in order, packed his bags, being extra careful in regards to his finest clothing. He packed his favorite pen and ink bottle, the one that he always used to record his composing. The musician knew it was quite silly to have a connection to something as silly as a bottle of ink and a pen, but it meant right much to him, he couldn't leave without it, let alone get a new one. Regarding anything he needed to do with his finance hardly took anytime at all, as brutally honest as the reality was, Roderich had next to nothing. This is the only reason a man such as him, with a personality and essence of harsh winter air, chose to leave and throw himself into an entirely new environment.
On the Wednesday evening before his departure, Roderich found himself unable to fall asleep, knowing so by the restlessness of his heart. He could hear and feel it thumping at a low pace, only to have his mind panic and cause the thumping to grow and loudness and speed. He knew the feeling at too well, ever since he was a child this feeling would arise at times, sometimes with reasoning, at other times without. Roderich arose out of his bed with relief in his mind, knowing that this time it was with reason. Paris was a long ways away for a sheltered person such as him. Having never left Austria, he never cared much about what was going on elsewhere, unless it involved the mother country. He walked over to his windowsill sitting upon it and pulling his knees into his torso. Above, the stars twinkled, although Roderich wasn't quite sure what a star entailed and what a purpose of a star might be. All he knew was that the stars were always and had always been there. On that night they did not fail him at showing themselves and somewhere deep within the composer he knew a star, whatever it was, would never cease to be. As long as he was around on the the soils of nature, he knew they'd be shining down, and even when he ceased to gaze, they'd still be prevalent. This amazed the amazing Roderich Edelstein because he worried over silly things, or at least it seemed to him, like being stuck in Paris for whatever reason, unable to return home. Over even, as morbid as the thoughts may seem, not being to able to die in Vienna, and not being buried there, even if was just in a commoner's grave. He wanted his very soul and essence to woven into the city, and nowhere else. This is why stars were so fascinating to him, they always stayed in place, just like him, until now. He knew that whatever those things up in the sky were, that they didn't have to worry about moving and being plagued with need, they just shine for the eternities, unfaltering. Roderich, after much thought on the subject of cosmos, fell asleep upon the windowsill, gazing at the stars the danced to a score in the Viennese sky.
The sun rose and Roderich opened his eyes slowly, seeing the peek of light above the buildings of the city. He quickly got dressed and gathered his things, looking around his small apartment, knowing it'd be a long while before he dwelled there once again, and shut the door behind him. It was saddening, and he knew it shouldn't be. Time passed like a river's flow, people moved, things changed. The composer couldn't understand why he was so attached to his life and the Austrian city. Nonetheless, he ventured down the stairs and saw the carriage in front of the building, awaiting him. It was a lovely carriage, one with prestige and fanciful designs engraved in it.
"On time, Mr. Edelstein, you kept your word!" Francis smiled, standing in front of the doors to carriage.
"I did indeed!" Roderich smiled walking up to the commissioner.
Francis opened the door with a grin. "Composers first!"
"Thank you, good sir."
"Anytime."
The carriage made it's way around the corner and Roderich's home was out of sight. After seeing it's disappearance, he sighed, looking down at his fidgeting hands as they made their way to the outskirts of the city.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Took, the landlady to the apartments Roderich stayed in, went into his apartment for the daily dusting. Roderich always welcomed the older woman into his home with a smile and allowed her to deal with the trivial housework, as she insisted. As she was carefully dusting the grand piano, she noticed a sheet of compositions laid upon it, and curious she was, decided to see what great work he was doing now. She looked at the first sheet in her hands and sighed lightly as it was titled "Farewell, My Dear Beloved Vienna."
Author's Note : Yuripee here! I hope you enjoyed the 2nd chapter! This one was a bit longer than the first, but oh well. As I was re-reading over this chapter I realized that the way I wrote Roderich reminded a bit of Bilbo Baggins. If I meant to write him similar to Bilbo like that it was on an entirely subconscious level. xD A lot of people are like that, though. They are completely content with staying right where they are and with no adventures! I know many people, even in my own family, like this and it's fascinating to me. I suppose I'm more of an adventurous spirit, but I'd hate to be in one place, one area, one home, for my entire life. And there are some people, like the Roderich I wrote, who are forced into an "adventure" of sorts, or ones like Bilbo, who choose to. Nonetheless, adventure and new things changes the lives of those who partake in it, for better or for worse. You'll find out what kind of adventure this one is soon enough, friends! ;) (Sorry for the tangent on adventuring, haha.)
Thank you for reading!
