181;

[flair]

Title: Music Lessons, Part A
Characters: Kiliko, Orcelito
Rating: G

For Kazu. ;u; Get back into a good mood.

The neck of the violin is slender and smooth in his hands; the bow is poised, ready to begin, and Kiliko smiles (all teeth), and Orcelito wants to snap the neck in half and pretend it's his attendant's. Over the string the bow goes; quick, angry notes fill the room as Kiliko calmly conducts him through a sweet and sour sonata. As he ends it, the notes become more of a force of will than any actual playing, squeaking against horsehair and being generally unpleasant to the ears.

'Like Kiliko,' Orcelito thinks, and snorts.

"Do you find this amusing, Your Highness?"

Orcelito jerks out of his thoughts and - ugh - Kiliko smiles (infuriatingly), encouraging him to respond.

"It was just a thought, Kiliko."

"I see. May I hear it?"

"It isn't for you to hear."

"Do you not trust me, Your Highness?"

"Are you foolish enough to think I do?"

"I see no reason why you should not."

You killed my older brother. Your family has been poisoning mine for who knows how many generations. You let Belca fall off that cliff. You're a bastard.

"I see no reason why I should."

Kiliko is displeased - he can tell by the way his smile stretches a little too thinly, closed now, and how he lays his baton down on the desk with a slight snap to it. Ocelito puts down the violin, brushes himself off, and sighs.

"Leave me, Lagen. I have work to finish, and I am sure you've duties elsewhere in the prefecture."

"Yes, Your Highness. Be sure to practice a little harder on acting next time. Your eyes betray you."

Orcelito turns to retort, but his attendant's gone, door shutting quietly behind him. He clenches his fists, and breaks one of the violin's strings.