Raphael

“I think because it kind of blends into the background, most like it do. But that’s the charm of.” He replied as he kept walking towards the location. Austin knew just where it was.  

That’s when he noticed the man’s case. He wasn’t too familiar with instruments mostly because Austin had the musical aptitude of a potato. “Violin?” He asked knowing the case was too small to be a cello. “No worries, it’s my pleasure.” He replied with a smile.

Raphael followed, nodding in agreement. Many of his favourite music shops were tiny, struggling establishments that were losing out to Amazon and the like. Unfortunately, him being unable to find said shops certainly didn’t help the cause. 

“Viola, actually,” Raphael corrected Austin gently. Raphael, like many violists, began on the violin; even now, he was perfectly capable on both instruments. However, he found his demeanor and (to be completely honest) lack of ambition better suited for the viola; violinists tend to be far more intense about achieving the concertmaster position, whereas violists were happy to support quietly behind the scene. 

The cold didn’t bother Austin, but snow did. He hated snow, it use made everything more inconvenience. The man walked through the busy street making his way to one his properties he was struggling to sell. He wanted to see what he could to make it better, it was a prime restate however the condo itself needed some love. Most of his client wanted move in ready. Austin walked through the city when someone spoke to him. Of course he stopped unlike many people, Austin was a nice person. “Actually I do,” He replied. When selling properties, Austin loved pointing out key thing near them to sweeten the deal. Romanov House of Music was one of them near the shitty condo. “I’m actually head in that direction, want to follow me?” He asked. 

Raphael really should know where Romanov’s House of Music at this point, considering he’s chosen his new apartment partially because of its close proximity. But he nevertheless continue to get lost while trying to find the small, boutique shop. “Thank you,” Raphael told the other man, “I’m not sure how I keep missing it. It’s like the shop is disappearing on me.” 

Task #3: Mood & Aesthetic

Photos from this website: https://blog.modsy.com/2019/06/l-shaped-studio-apartment-layout-ideas/

The first thing people see when they enter is the open space that Raphael has dedicated to his practice. As they walk inside, they can see how there was a desk tucked behind the only closet in the entire studio apartment, a single laptop rested on top and a chair was tucked beneath. But what dominated the line of sight was the single, lonely, music stand that blended into the tall buildings of the Chicago skyline; the music stand’s shadow cutting a sharp line through the light that pooled on the floor. There was a reason Raphael kept his violin practice there, between his work space and his bed: the viola was his work, yes, but it was also the thing he held most intimately in his life. 

There wasn’t an equivalent to a living room in his apartment--Raphael didn’t do much hosting--and so his dining table was tucked at the end of his kitchen, out of the way. There was a second seat, yes, but they both faced the same way because, more often than not, it was occupied by one of Raphael’s animal friends. 

The space is clean, yes, but mostly because Raphael didn’t have much to clutter it with. He didn’t have anyone to share the space with either. When he was 19, and coming into his own lack of sexuality, he prioritized his viola and career over everything else. When his parents passed, and he inherited things he never expected, he moved the majority of their stuff (his memories) into a storage unit he still pays for every month. Now, at 47, he was wondering if he was too hasty, and perhaps he is, maybe, just a little lonely. 

   Elliot sighed, hands in his pocket as he headed home. It had been a long day he just wanted to nap for a million years. The snow and the weather have been causing people to get sick and injured which meant a busy hospital. He kept walking when he stopped and the other a small smile.

“Helloo….” he replied as he looked at the other. “Let me see….I do,” he answered a few moments later after the thinking and noticing that it was towards the direction he was heading. “It’s..not too far from here but…I can walk you there if that’s…..okay?”

Raphael let out the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. It was going to be okay, he reminded himself, because, despite the anxiety pooled in his gut, the worst case scenarios had not happened (and probably will not happen). He was going to get to Romanov’s before they closed, and he could restring his viola before the performance tonight. 

“Yes, please,” he said sincerely to the man, “that would actually be ideal. As long as it’s not out of your way.” 

When he was first starting his professional career, he had a violinist tell him his quiet baritone voice was the perfect reflection of the instrument he played; apparently his voice was subdued enough that the wind was enough to drown him out (and, according to said violinist, that was the proper volume violas should play at). Now, keenly aware that his voice is being muffled, he pulled down his scarf. 

Despite Chicago being at about the same latitude as Toronto, Chicago wasn’t nearly as cold. Instead, with the sun breaking through the few scattered clouds, the temperature was hovering around zero, turning everything into grey slush. It was a disgusting wet cold, and Raphael almost wished it were colder so he could be justified in covering up everything--including his face. Instead, he had to make do with pulling his scarf from where it was tucked into his pea coat up to his nose.

He was lost, he decided, wandering down the same street for the third time. His viola, resting against his left shoulder blade and spine, was getting cold--which would not be good for tuning later. He should've gone to his usual music store, but he had recently moved, and he needed a new A string immediately.

Vitals

Full Name: Raphael Ming Ai

Nickname(s): Ralph

Pronouns: he/him

Age: 49

Birthday: February 29, 1970

Birthplace: Chicago, IL

Occupation: Violist (Principal Viola for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

Financial Class: Middle Class

Living Arrangement: Studio Condo

Relationships

Nationality: Dual Citizenship (Canadian / American) 

Ethnicity: Half Asian (Chinese, Hawaiian, Singaporean, and Peranakan), Half White (English / French Settler) Canadian.

Mother: Gabrielle Marie Tremblay

Father: James Hai Ai

Sibling(s): n/a

Extended Family: n/a

Marital Status: single

Spouse: n/a

Children:  n/a

Pet(s): Many Fostered 

Friends:

Enemies:

Appearance

Skin: light-medium

Hair: black

Eyes: dark brown

Build: average

Height: 185 cm (6′1″)

Wardrobe: formal suit and tie for work

Piercings: n/a

Tattoos: n/a

Accent: Canadian Eh? 

Mannerisms: polite but distant

Physical Health: healthy enough

Personality

MBTI Type: INTJ

Positive Traits: kind, generous, creative

Negative Traits: distant, gullible, anxious

Likes: animals and music

Dislikes: how he’s so apathetic to most things

Turn-ons: n/a (see below)

Turn-offs: n/a (see below)

Vices: drinking, isolation

Mental Health: generalized anxiety, depression

Sexuality

Gender: cis-male

Orientation: asexual (grayromantic)

Kinks: meh.

Anti-Kinks: eh.

Soft Limits: eh.

Hard Limits: eh.

Dating Status: he enjoys it until he pulls away because of the ace thing

Dominance Type:  ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

Versatility Preference: sure.

Education

School Level Completed: Master of Music (Instrumental) 

School(s) Attended: University of Toronto

Degree(s): Bachelor of Music, Master of Music (Instrumental)

Certification(s): principal viola at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Award(s): many, mostly in composition.

Best Subjects: music, composition, 

Worst Subjects: vocal training.

Skills: basically just viola; he’s pretty useless otherwise.