𓆱

𝔦𝔦𝔦.             Long Live Mozart
⎝  Even then I was blind to see.

1910.

The year 1910 marked another shift in Simone's life, though not quite as seismic as the one that claimed her in 1905. She'd gotten married during that year, fulfilled her mother's dying wish, and became a part of the De Pointe Du Lac family. So far she hadn't had a complaint, but as the years passed she couldn't help but wish for a change.

The city of New Orleans was riddled with a continuous spill of sound and sensation—drunken revelry spilling from sleepless taverns, the soft yet so haunted murmur of illicit deals, the scent of imported tobacco and cheap perfume clinging to the humid air like sticky skin on summer's evening. Simone would often describe the city as a fever dream, a place where the thin line between life and death blurred more with each setting sun that passed.

"There was not one night where things weren't happening," Simone murmured to Daniel, her tone languid, as though the memories dripped through the cracks of her aged facade like butter. She appeared relaxed, calm occasionally glancing at her hands specifically the rings that covered them. "Drinking, gambling, fighting, whoring, and being reckless. It was all a part of the scene at that time. The new wave that captured the city. You'd think New York was the city that never sleeps but back then that's all New Orleans wanted to be." Her lips curved into a half-smile, the faintest touch of nostalgia held within in her gaze. "Being a young woman during those times I was exposed to both the bad and good. But don't think that it never got to me at some point."

Simone smoothed her hands over the silk of her dress, a small sigh escapes the feeble pout of her lips. Pushing her hands above the black and white keys of the specifically chosen cherry wood piano, a page of the music sheet flipped with the flicker of her wrist, eyes reading the notes just to be sure. Then her hands lowered and she began to play and played the piece effortlessly.

Every note was deliberate, every key, pitch, and tone was something kept within in. Something she'd mastered with tedious training and time. She could almost feel the stinging burn of her father hitting her hands for playing the wrong note. It made her blink away and into reality. "My love for music was very strong." Simone continued, her voice low, almost straining as she said it. "I sang, I danced, I played, I...entertained. My father was highly into music and as I grew up he instilled that same desire into me."

A wicked smile flashed across her face. "It kept me fed. Made me feel alive. You could even say that's what caught Louis' attention."

In 1910, Simone found herself standing near a piano underneath the dimly lit music store, her body pressed close as her fingers brushed against the keys. In her hands was a copied sheet of Mozart's Symphony No. 40. It had to be her favorite piece from the composure. She was so drawn to it that where she even learned it on the piano. G minor of course. She savored it, letting the last key linger within the distant hum of jazz and laughter echoing from outside of the street.

"Like Louis, I handled my family's affairs since I was the eldest and only child. Keeping the music store that my father had owned was something that I'd been handling since I was nineteen. My father was getting older and much weaker. So I decided to take over. My independence was something that raised a few brows. Specifically within Louis's mom over time as she thought I should've just been a wife and a wife only. Nothing out of my affairs." She laughed softly, almost fondly. "But, he gave me the pleasure of doing as I saw fit, spending nights at shows, meeting others who loved music until the sunrise came. As long as I came home, he did not quarrel with it."

"I can admit it now, god rest her soul but his mother was a judgmental and bitter woman. Don't think I didn't hear the petty slurs swirling from inside her head. Too bad she's dead." Simone scoffed, her lips curling into a small grin.

Near the register, standing in waiting, is Simone in her silk black dress with tiny rhinestones woven in every stitch. Hair pinned up, only allowing a few curls to fall freely, with a sigh she looks ahead.

When she parts her lips, there's a hiss in her tone, "He was set to arrive several minutes ago." She mutters to the man who stands just a few feet away from her. He too had a look of waiting but not as impatient as her. Charles St. Louis was a man who Simone often entrusted with store whenever she had to go out of town. He was the only one who understood her terms and conditions and never disagreed with them.

Charles' timbre is indifferent, "There may have been a delay with him handling the affairs. Being a businessman can be rather fickle, Simone."

Simone harrumphs and sighed. Charles has already drowned her out. He straightens his posture when a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost rounds the bend of three curbs. He returns his attention to his fiery boss. He slips his fingers into the pocket of his slacks.

They lock eyes for a short moment before Charles whispers, "Could it be we have a customer, yeah?"

Simone nods looking over to see the car parked specifically at the store. Eyeing the car she couldn't help but scoff incredulously. What's a car like that doing all the way here? That model was just released to the public and yet the driver owned it. Could they have been lost? Through sparkling eyes, she eyes the silver vehicle as it rolls to a stop.

Within seconds, a woman emerges. She is tall and slim and looks like those you'd see in the newspaper. Her eyes are bordering light gray with specs of blue and cat-like. Her features are youthful with very few wrinkles, or imperfections, and her nose is slender but a bit pointy at the tip. Her cheeks are angular and high, her hair a bright blonde and well-kept. Beautifully arranged, so much so that Simone begins to adjust her dress. How could someone appear so perfect?

"This is where I first met her," Simone said, eyes glossing over with an emotion that remained undetectable. Until now. "I should've known it by now. Should've realized that not only I was being watched. That our interaction was planned from the start."

She wears a navy blue-colored skirt with a matching tunic, it's the little details that catch Simone's eyes that strike the woman as odd. The color, and fabric itself appeared to have taken a step back into the past, especially with its similarities almost close to the French. The woman enters the store, briefly looking around before her eyes stop on Simone. Gaze potent and unfaltering she steps toward the duo with a polite smile and an outstretched hand that Simone found herself quick to latch onto.

Besides, this is a woman you could end up becoming a long-time customer, and with the wealth she'd appear to have it's in Simone's best interest to be courteous.

"Welcome to the Dubois's Music & Arts Store." Greets Simone who pulled her hand away and placed it at her side. She could feel and visibly see the woman's gaze on her which was all too suffocating. It made her stomach churn, forcing her to look away.

"So this is the famous music store. I heard it's quite popular within this area." The woman points out, her voice of the lower sorts. Her accent is more quaint than the pair had expected, but thick nonetheless.

Charles' smile shines brighter than the searing sun, "So what brings you in today?"

"Well, it's obvious that I'm not from this wondrous city..." She trails off looking around. "I was wondering if you could show me around the store and hopefully I'll be able to find something for my...brother."

Simone eyed the woman and swiftly turned the left, taking a corner step before exiting the cashier station. With a finger curled upwards, she gestures for her to follow.

With her walking beside her, Simone once again put on her best customer-appropriate voice. "So, what do you have in mind?" She asked looking at the array of shellac discs before meeting her gaze. "We have classical, contemporary, modern, opera..." She looks at her one moment before pausing, "We also have a selection specifically for famed composers. Those are quite expensive."

"Bach." The woman said suddenly, "Do you have any Bach in stock specifically the Goldberg Variations? That's an all-time favorite." She points out.

"So this brother of yours is into Bach. Interesting choice." Taking a sharp turn, Simone led the woman to a section located farther back.

"Why? Is there something wrong with Bach?" The woman questioned with the faintest purr. Her light eyes racked over Simone's figure before settling on her shoulders. "I take it you're into Mozart."

Walking down the hallway Simone then stops. Turning around she steps back due to how nearby she found herself in. "How did you—but yes I'm into Mozart. I love his works."

"Symphony no. 40? And I'm guessing you've learned how to play it on the piano. In G Minor?" Without a moment's hesitation, the woman steps closer, almost teasing, unrelenting, prowling like a lion stalking its meat...food. Until she stood before her, her eyes locked onto hers, the intensity of her gaze making the air feel heavier. Her tall stature and strong gaze make Simone feel less visible. You could hear the pounding of her heart clamming itself against her chest and the woman looked down almost noticing. It grew silent until the woman spoke yet again. "I'm impressed. I love it when a woman shows great interest in the arts...shows that me and you could be the same."

Blinking back, Simone crosses her arms. She felt exposed. "I see. Well, here is where you'll find everything you need to know about Bach." Her fingers glide against the paper edges belonging to the shellac discs. "When you find what you've been looking for, you know where to find me." With that, she sauntered away back to the front.

Breathing out, Simone placed her hands on the counter in an attempt to calm herself down. Something was off. Incredibly off. She remained rooted to stone, her eyes in quite a daze.

"Are you okay Simone? Did the lady find everything?" Charles questioned noticing how pale Simone appeared.

"Perfect. Just a bit tired that's all." Forcing a smile, Simone glances up at the clock and grits her teeth. Where the fuck is Louis? She needed to close the store. Leave. Go home. Maybe. She just felt weird all of a sudden. "And I'm sure she'll find everything she needs."

"You find it?" She asks forcing a smile as the woman makes her venture over to the checkout area.

"Yes." The woman nodded handing her the disc, in a mild second their hands grazed one another and Simone's hand naturally jerked back.

Covering it with an awkward laugh, Simone proceeded to bag through the disc that she'd chosen. Giving her an undisclosed price, Simone could only stand and watch as she pulled out a checkbook.

"How does two hundred sound?" Scribbling down numbers, she writes her signature and in one swift moment pushes it towards Simone.

"You don't have to give me that much—" Call it having a big pride, she just didn't want it to appear as if she needed it. The store was doing great on its own.

"No. Consider it as a way of saying thank you." She persists, fancying the woman's sole attention. Simone's bronze gaze returns to the woman, as politely expected. "My brother will love this."

"Come back anytime," Charles smiles, oblivious to the interaction between Simone and her.

The silence stretches between them as the woman prepares to leave. Simone could only look away from her gaze as

"See you around." Was the last thing she said before leaving the store, her voice, soft and smooth like silk, floated across the warm air, halting Simone's movements. It stayed like that for a moment until the jingle of the bell brought her back to her senses. Looking down at the check she read the name...Thalia.

"I should've known then," Simone said in the present day, her voice carrying a knowing weight. "Should've been more aware. But then again you never truly know." She paused, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Neither did Louis. In the end, while Lestat built his trust, she stoked my desire. It was a game, really. A game where nobody won."

— thoughts? legit brain spilled all on this chapter. so thoughts on Thalia? Charles? Simone?