scales and arpeggios

Toulouse sighed a little bit, taking a step back from the paintings the gallery had just put on display. Something about them was bothering him, though he couldn’t put a finger on it, so he thought a bit of…perspective might help him out. Was it the colors? The compositions? He bit the inside of his cheek, and turned to the nearest person to him.

“What do you think? Is that a nice looking wall, or should something else be there?”

Berlioz hadn’t really planned on checking out the art exhibit.  He really just wanted to catch up with his older brother.  He figured running into him at work was better than trying to stop by his apartment in the evening.  Sure texting was an option but who knew how quickly he’d respond or how easy it would be to find a time good for both their schedules.  “Um it looks good?  I don’t know.  Art has never been my thing.  I think they go together.  It kind of gets your attention,” he answered shrugging.  He really had no idea if it was any good or not.  If Toulouse kept asking questions he was just gonna start bullshitting and using words he’d heard his brother use before when talking about paintings.

“Maybe they want to make it a challenge, a game, like how long they cannot get caught, you know?” she asked. “How about we can think of something less gross, like small animals.”

“Oh that is absolutely disgusting.  People are so gross,” Berlioz said shaking his head.  He was trying to hold back his desire to gag.  “Oh yes small animals would be better.  What’s your favorite animal?”

Moana peeks through her fingers when the guy spoke to her. “Well, it was outside a house or hotel where people can see them, but still…ick. I need to wash my eyes.” she shakes her head and rubs her eyes more until she can unsee the image she saw.

“Yeah still gross and inappropriate either way,” Berlioz said shuddering and shaking his head.  “Wash my eyes and my brain or at least find a way to forget seeing that.  Why are people gross like that?”

“That shouldn’t be allowed in the open public ever!” Moana cried out, shielding her eyes trying to unsee what she witnessed on the street during her walk. She didn’t mean to peek, though her curiosity got the best of her and wondered what was shaking the parked car she passed by moments ago. It was at that moment Moana knew she came in at the worse time when she spotted what the two passengers in the vehicle were doing.

Berlioz had never felt more uncomfortable in his life after looking and seeing what the young woman had pointed out.  “...I agree but I’m not sure if it would count as happening in public.  I mean it’s a car so I’m not sure if that’s private property or not.  It was gross either way though.  People should go home or to hotels and do that not parked cars in the middle of the day,” he said shaking his head.

Marie shook her head. She was hungry, sure, but she was a lady. And ladies were not rude creators, so she didn’t order ahead of time. “It’s weird that you’re the one keeping me waiting for once,” she said with a chuckle. “I’ve been busy too, though. I have a student who isn’t a child for once and that honestly takes a lot of my time up.” She sighed. “I’m doing alright. Still miserably single, wishing I had the love life you did, but it’s fine...” She sighed again for the drama. “How about you baby brother? How is the world treating you?”

“Sorry about that.  I don’t like being late and I know it’s no fun waiting for someone to arrive,” Berlioz said smiling at her.  “Huh that’s interesting.  So is it someone who moved to New York or something?  Well I hope you’re at least enjoying it, especially if they’re taking up a lot of time.”  He continued to look at the menu trying to quickly pick something so she didn’t have to keep waiting to order.  “Well if you want I can try and see if I can set you up with any of the guys from school.  I’m sure there’s got be at least a couple of nice guys available.  I can ask Tim if he has any single friends too,” he suggested.  “I’m good.  I’ve been writing a new piece for one of my classes.  I’m thinking about maybe starting to offer piano lessons to kids.  Do you enjoy it?  Working with kids?  Good so far the year has been much better than the end of the last one.”

“Well duh, this is for the children as you put it many times, and that you pulled the “I got poisoned and almost died” card, so I can’t really say no to you and this.” He shakes his head and rolled his eyes. “Oh I’m saving that something sexy for Valentine’s Day, babe,” Tim chuckled with a smirk that was covered by his beard. He sighed deeply as he’s being dragged behind by Berlioz when they head out of their apartment and to the elevator. “You better, we’re barely out of the building and I can’t move with our throw pillow under this jacket.”

“I had to make sure you did it right.  I don’t want you scarring little kids.  I work with what was given to me.  Something good should come out of getting poisoned.  We’re going to make these kids happy, cheer them up right before Christmas.  Remember what it was like when I was in there?  Now think about experiencing that over Christmas,” Berlioz replied still sort of trying to talk Tim into.  “Not sexy Santa though right?  That just seems out of season and I’m not sure if even you could really make that sexy.”  He pressed the button for the lobby and squeezed Tim’s hand.  “I will.  You’ll get to open gifts, all of them, not just the ones under the tree,” he said winking.

After the incident at the Halloween party Berlioz had started volunteering at one of the local hospitals.  While bored and unable to come home during his recovery period he had started to visit the pediatric ward and grew close to some of the kids there.  He figured a visit from Santa could help cheer them up and he knew just who he could put in the suit.  “Oh good you’re ready and dressed properly.  I’m glad you listened and didn’t try and buy anything sexy,” Berlioz said opening the door to the apartment.  He grabbed his winter coat off a hook near the door and put it on before heading into the hallway.  “Come on, we have to go now.  We want to be there plenty of time before visiting hours end,” he said grabbing Tim’s hand and leading him towards the elevator.  “Don’t start whining.  I’ll make it up to you later.”

“Well, of course you do, nobody wants to be stuck in a hospital. But last I heard your stomach is still trying to turn itself inside out, so you’re stuck.” Toulouse reached out and messed his little brother’s hair up. “If it was something stupid like you being in a cast, I’d help you out, but I don’t know how to handle what you’ve got.” The creepy hospital comment almost made him want to show his brother some clips of Silent Hill nurses, but he wasn’t feeling quite that mean today, so he kept them to himself. “No, you’re not going to make Maman look after you, you’ll worry her even more. You’ll stay here and get your cats when you get them, you baby.”

“No, no I’m good.  I’m all better.  I haven’t thrown up all day and my stomach barely hurts.  Don’t listen to the nurses.  They’re trying to torture me,” Berlioz argued shaking his head.  “Something stupid like being in a cast is more Tim’s thing than mine.  He’s the one who gets in fights and has other accidents that usually makes him end up here.  No I’m just the one who gets poisoned at a fucking Halloween party,” he whined shaking his head again.  “You know fall is supposed to be the best time of the year.  It has all the holidays and my anniversary with Tim and now it’s ruined by this.”  He groaned flopping back down into the pillows.  “Okay how about I stay with you instead?  I won’t force myself on Maman or Aunt Adelaide.  It’s not just the cats I miss everything about home.  I want a comfier bed with no machines and loud beeping noises or creepy sounding noises at night from the hallway or other rooms.”

@ofarpeggios​

Tink knocked on the door of the hospital room before peeking her head in. “Hey Berli,” she felt her stomach drop as she saw him lying in the bed, hooked up to all of the machines. She opened the door the rest of the way, hurrying over to the side of his bed. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t get here sooner? How are you? Are you okay?”

Berlioz had been dozing off while watching some show on the Food Network when he heard the knock on the door.  “Hey, Tina,” he said slowly moving into a more seated position so it would be easier to talk to her.  “It’s okay, I’ve had other visitors.  I wouldn’t really have been much fun to visit if you came much earlier.  I’ve been sleeping a lot lately.  I feel a bit better.  I really want to go home though.  I miss Tim and the cats, my own bed, real food, etc.”

“Well yeah, me and these fellas,” Tim chuckled even though he noticed how cranky Berlioz was becoming the more he stayed int he hospital. “It’s no problem, I figured you wanted to see them and make your stay here tolerable. Plus, they miss you,” he said shrugging while petting Fluffy’s head.

“You’re the best.  You’re officially the best fiance for managing to bring our babies here.  I love you so much,” Berlioz said the first genuine smile in days on his face.  “You make my stay tolerable.  The cats make it perfect, if it weren’t for all the medical stuff it’d almost feel like home.  Will you try to stay tonight?  Maman, Tully, or Marie are sure to come by again so they could take the cats home and watch them.  I’d find it easier to sleep if you’re at least in the room, if you could sneak onto the bed so we cuddle too that’d be heaven.”

“It’s okay. I understand. Being in the hospital is never a fun thing. I’d be the same way if it were me in that bed.” He offered a small smile. “Probably shouldn’t eat real food but I doubt you will die if you do.” Lucifer pulled his phone out. “What do you want to eat?”

“Eh I don’t know about that.  I have a feeling you’d be either complaining more than me or in a way worse mood, maybe both,” Berlioz responded shrugging and returning the smile his friend gave him.  “No I probably wouldn’t die I just might start puking my guts out again,” he said shaking his head.  “I don’t know something small, maybe just french fries from somewhere.  Starting small probably is best.”

When Lucifer heard his friend was in the hospital he was quick to go and see him. He felt lucky that he himself hadn’t gotten terribly sick at the party. Two people he cared about though weren’t so lucky. Once it was visiting hours Lucifer was up at the hospital to check on his friend. He waltzed into the room but instantly frowned at Berlioz’s words. “Can’t say I have good news or kittens. Just me to come check on your. Want me to Uber Eats you some real food instead of this nasty hospital shit?”

“Sorry,” Berlioz apologized, looking down at his hospital sheets when he saw it was his friend who came to visit and not one of the annoying nurses coming to check on him again.  “Well thanks for visiting.  Yeah some real food would be nice, they’re barely letting me eat anything.  I want real food already not just crackers and the other stuff they’re barely letting me have.”

It’s been less than a week since the Halloween party and the incident that followed leading to Berlioz getting poisoned along with other guests. Luckily, no one died and were treated at the hospital. When Tim found out Berlioz was one of the people that suffered he wanted to beat up whoever tried to kill his fiancee. Throughout the latter’s recovery, Tim visited the hospital every day to make Berlioz’s stay there bearable. Today is visiting hours at the hospital and Tim arrives at the hospital room with a smile with his arms wrapped around himself as if he was carrying something on him. “Hey Berlioz.” he greeted the ill boy with a peck on the cheek before sitting on his bedside. “Guess who wanted to come to visit?” he added before lifting the hem of his hoodie and took out their cats Callie, Fluffy, and Junior.

Berlioz smiled weakly when he saw it was Tim who was visiting him.  He did his fiance but he’d rather be at home with him than here in the hospital.  “Hi,” he said waving at the older guy.  “You?” he asked resisting the urge to roll his eyes, the hospital stay was starting to make him quite cranky.  He let out a loud gasp and sat up straighter in bed when he saw Tim had brought the cats.  “Tim, you didn’t!  Oh thank you, dear,” he said reaching out for his furry babies.

Marie had burst into tears the moment she found out about Berlioz being in the hospital. She didn’t like hospitals, she didn’t like the fact that he was poisoned not long after they argued about her Halloween costume, and she was racked with guilt and discomfort. When she was finally calm enough to see him she started crying again. He was okay, but he almost wasn’t. And that was enough to make her hysterical. “My sweet brother…..I-I’m s-s-so happy you;re okay…”

Berlioz immediately felt guilty and regretted his words when he saw his older sister start crying.  “Marie,” he said shaking his head and beckoning for her to come over to the bed.  “Come here.  I’m okay, Marie.  I’m gonna be fine, I’ll be going home hopefully any day now.  I’m gonna just be fine, you can relax.”