Martyrs and Madmen (Pt.1)
a/n: Hi my name is bean and I love soft pieces about family loveÂ
âAre you envious of him?â
Nannerl looked up from her sheet music from her last music lesson she was wrapping up. Cavalieri seemed unimpressed with the small space Nannerl worked in. A makeshift music room with donated and second hand instruments, she was unimpressed by Nannerlâs casual look, the small hands gathering loose papers and mediocre sheet music designed for beginners.
She was unimpressed that Nannerl Mozart was here, contained to four walls and four walls alone. Like a caged butterfly, clinging to the side of the net, wings closed, it seemed almostâŠdead. âA pleasure to see you again, Caterina.â Nannerl smiled and went back to collecting her things.
âNanny~â Cavalieri through her arms around Nannerlâs much smaller, dainty frame. âYou should rid yourself of this classroom and come out to the opera! Play a piece like Wolf, I canât stand to see you soâŠsubdued.â
âAnd what if I like subduedâ she stuck out her tongue then paused. âyou asked if I was envious of him, what did you mean by that, Caterina?â
Cavalieri didnât answer right away. She turned and gently dusted off the tiny piano bench and took a very long, dignified seat, crossing her legs one over the other. ââŠWe all know this was your dream too, Nannerl, to perform. Its why he dedicates nearly every encore to youââ
âHe does not!â She waved her hand dismissively with a slight chuckle.
âOh he does, you know he does, most likely out of guilt for stealing away your dreams of becoming a musician but you know the world is large enough for two Mozarts andââ
âMy father would never approve.â Nannerl began, âthat was long decided before Mozartâs true talents were truly formed, I was never to beâŠhim.â She mused. Slow, Nannerl walked to the window of her classroom and leaned up against the dusted glass pans and looked out to the world. âI never was jealous of my brotherâŠI wasâŠmournful.â
âBecause your hopes and dreams died alongside that hair? Nannerl, height is all the fashion, Iâll recommend you to a friend of Salieri and I, he does wonders with hair.â Â
Caterinaâs playful humor forced Nannerl to giggle even more, though she knew that it was a buffer for what Caterina feared was Nannerlâs delicate feelings. âI mourned the life that might have been if father chose meâŠbut I realize that by being the one who follows all of Fatherâs rules, who fulfills every demand, who plays the part of the harmonyâŠâ
âMozart would never be able to play the part of dotting son, as much as he demands Papaâs approval he is his own, impulsive, brilliant, uncontained man. He is a melody, strung high and mighty against the chords of man. If I play my part of a harmony, if I can do what I do and support my brother, then why should I be enviousâŠwhen he succeeds, we in turn succeed together.â
Caterina watched Nannerlâs smile grow wide, without a hint of any self-loathing or sadness, there wasnât even a drop of doubt or malice. She truly meant that, with all her heart, she did not settle, she chose to be who she was, what she was for family rather glory. âUgh, you Mozarts, Martyrs and Madmen all the same.â She walked over and gently gave Nannerlâs shoulder a squeeze. âIts sickening how much you love your brother.â
âMore than anything in my life.â