fiddlestick | IC Inbox (2024)

[Blade attaches a picture of a violin on his workshop table. The varnish is a deep almost mulberry hue.]

Any chance I could get your input on the sound and tone when you're free? I can tell that it sounds better than the other ones I've made, but I'm not a violinist.

This is a gift for the closest thing I have to a mother, so the violin has to be perfect. If it's defective in any way, I need to fix it before I give it to her.

[!!!!!]

She's beautiful. You can make violins??

And- sure! I'd love to help out! Is there a deadline for when you plan to give it to her?

Depends on if this one is good enough. This was my seventh attempt in the past... six months. I've tested multiple kinds of wood to see how they resonate, sampled twenty cans of varnish, studied the most famous historical violins for an idea of what works, and ordered the materials I needed if I couldn't find something similar on my own. This is... a culmination of what I've learned.

No deadline. Perfection is more important.

... You don't mind helping?

Wow, you're really going all out for this. No wonder you're such a talented smith.

[RESPECT]

Great! Then I'll look into my schedule and find out a time that works well. It's Pride month and wedding season, so I'm pretty busy at the Vogue and playing at weddings.

Of course I don't mind helping! Why would I?

[... oh, that's a rare compliment.] I still have a lot to learn.

I have some special orders to fulfill this month, anyway. Take your time.

[...]

I know I'm not easy to get along with.

Aha, don't we all.

[Elliot felt the same way about music, certainly.

But, ah.]

Blade, my day job's working with teenagers. If I refused to help someone because they blew up at me once, I wouldn't be able to do my job.

Emotions were running high in that meeting, and both of us were trying to approach the problem in the ways we know how. Maybe it got more heated than usual, but clashes like that are honestly pretty normal in Class VII meetings. And ultimately things worked out differently than what either of us proposed, which makes both of our arguments pretty moot.

Point is, maybe we won't always agree, but I'm still fine working with you if you're fine with it.

Edited 2024-06-21 14:24 (UTC)

Oh.

I guess so.

[Blade realizes at this point that he's not very good at figuring out what people think of him, because he was pretty sure everyone in TBO hated him except maybe Lapis and Jusis and maybe Husk?????

... Maybe he needs to poke his head out of the forge more.]

I don't mind. Even if you did hate me, I don't let things like that affect my work.

In my past life, I wasn't the most popular person on the Xianzhou. It never kept me from striving toward perfection with my creations. I outfitted the soldiers personally, regardless of their feelings towards me or my birth.

And, anyway... Jusis needs someone like you on his side. Not that you need my approval, but you have it, even if we might not agree on every single little thing.

Somehow... that doesn't surprise me. You seem like the kind of guy that goes by the beat of his own drum.

Which honestly, I can respect that. It's actually pretty inspiring to hear someone so devoted to their craft! It motivates me to get that serious about my music!

[Elliot you're already insanely serious about your music]

Haha, thanks. You're right that I don't need the approval, but I appreciate hearing it!

So, are we good?

I always have.

You're a genius at music, right? Venti's told me about your work. It wouldn't surprise me if you're the same way, but just nicer about it. Admittedly, people aren't my strong point.

[nah, really???]

We're good. I hope that if this violin isn't a bust, you'll consider accepting an instrument I made as a gift. I think that would be the least I can do considering all the trouble I've made for you and your husband.

Is that what Venti said? He's very kind. I'm not sure I'd quite earn the title of "music genius", but I am rather passionate about it.

Really? You mean it? That's such a sweet offer, Blade! It'd be a real honor to have a Blade original among my collection.

IC Inbox (2024)

text; un: blade; a few days after SOS

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