The atrium gradually emptied out, and as the evening progressed, no one was there except in passing. Then...Quinn hustled out of the pool area as quickly as he could and took a deep breath. He loved everyone on the crew, really he did, but he always started to feel a bit stifled around too many people for too long. He turned to Leo."Sorry, needed a breather. Everyone's so wound up about this potential benefactor."
Trileon shrugged."If there's cake, I'm in."
She circled the room once or twice, thinking for a moment."A quasar is a super heated stream of energy which power s Black Hole.."
Leo mutters, rubbing the back of her head. "So, where do you want to go first?"
"Nowhere really. You can decide. I just needed to clear my head."
He listened to her idly listing facts and cocked his head."That's interesting. You know, my tutor told me once that not even radio waves can escape a black hole. Is that true?"
She stops to look at him, a little surprised he actually caught her rambling. Most people ignore it."..Yeah. Nothing escapes a black hole once it's passed the Event Horizon. It's kinda like the point of no return."
"Sorry. I uh.. It's a stress reliever thing. I've done it since I was a kid. Normally I just get funny looks. Nobody ever
actually asks or picks up on it."
Quinn gave her a funny little lopsided smile, pleased that he had at least soothed over his faux pas from earlier."I'm not going to ignore something if I think it's truly interesting. Besides...I know all too well what it's like to be ignored. I know it's a distinctly unpleasant feeling, especially when you're trying to talk about something you enjoy."
Trileon gave a have smile in return. Space was one of the few things she actually knew anything about."When I dropped out of school, my dad started hiring these teachers in hopes I could still 'progress' with the other kids. I sent a lot of them home running."
There was a pause to let out a short laugh before continuing."My Astronomy tutor was the only guy I liked. He taught me all sorts of stuff..It's one of the few good memories I have."
That last bit was a little sad. In truth, Leo didn't have much to remember. Her father was always at work, and most of the time she was alone with the maids. She never knew her mother. Leo's father always said she died in child birth."Ah, sorry. I don't mean to drop any of my shit on ya Q. I guess it's just easy talking to you."
"It's fine, really."
He gently waved off her concerns."Honestly, I sympathize. My family is, aside from my mother, less than accepting of where I've chosen to go in my life. You think I don't know to have fun? You should meet my brother. He's positively a troll. If you knew him, you'd see why oftentimes I fail as a brotherly figure."
He hastened to add - "Not that I think you need one. A brother-figure, that is. Bother."
Leo caught onto that last bit, but chose to ignore it.
..For now, that is."You want to talk about acceptance? My father was furious with me when I told him I was questioning my sexuality. The first time I ever introduced one of my girlfriends to him, he flipped shit and kicked her out of the house!"
"I only wish I could say I was shocked. Unfortunately, I've seen how deep familial neuroses can run."
He sighed out heavily through his nose and looked around at the atrium, tucking his hands into his pockets."It's strange, being in a place like this again."
"Again? You've been to a house like this before?"
Deciding to go with this story, Leo takes a seat against the wall, her pack of cigarettes in hand. Talking about her father made her crave nicotine.
She motioned for him to sit next to her with a wave of her hand."Your parents must have been loaded."
He sighed again as if seeking a way to release the pressure in his chest."Still are, actually. My father is old money and my mother is a lawyer. Of course, none of that matters since I went my own way. My family is lucky if they can get me home for the holidays let alone any other time. I grew up in places like this."
For once, he chose not to harass Trileon about her cigarette. "I always thought they were incredibly lonely."
She lights the cigarette with a box of matches, being sure to blow any smoke away from Quinn."What made you change your mind?"
He allowed himself a little smile."Music. I was originally trained in Mathematics to go into something like financial analysis, but mother encouraged me to play an instrument to round me out. I began to notice that I could express things I wasn't allowed to in words when I played. I also find music comforting because it never fails...it's based on maths and logical systems."
Quinn gestured to Trileon."Surely you feel the same about your science. At least a little bit? It's an escape."
Halfway through her cigarette, Trileon puts it out on the bottom of her shoe."..Yes and no. I mean, I can't say how I feel by going on a rant about what would happen if the sun disappeared. It's just.. A way to keep me occupied, I want to say. Art is more my thing."
There was a slight tinge of both sadness and anger in her eyes, but only for half a second; Almost unnoticeable. Almost."It started out as just a hobby. Something to waste time. Painting, sculpting.. Then I realized I was getting really into it. I'd spend hours on a piece without realizing it. I'd try bringing my work into school for things like contests and fairs, but I was rejected every time. They had no appreciation for my art, if they even knew the meaning of the word at all."
She used her hands for emphasis, clearly very passionate about what she does. One had to admire that, at least, if nothing else.Quinn listened attentively to Leo. He'd seen that flicker of sadness and, though he wouldn't say a word about it for the sake of his younger friend's pride, he recognized it. He'd worn it himself many times."I understand your frustration. Look at me! I've graduated and I've been playing music since I was a child, but the best job I can get is entertaining drunk business men in a hotel bar."
He suddenly brightened."Maybe one day you'd like to show Eli or myself some of your work...or even some of the others from Lychgate. We might be able to appreciate it more fully than those philistine swines."
"Well, you can see why I dropped out then."
She smiles at the mention of showing off some of her pieces."Ha, yeah, sure. I'd like that. Maybe I could put in a good word with my dad; See if any of his business associates need a musician."
".."
"Do you wanna go look for that garden?"
"Yes, yes I certainly can."
The musician gave her a fond, indulgent smile when she offered to put in a good word with her father. He genuinely appreciated the gesture, but he felt the need to let her know she wasn't obligated."That's a kind offer and I appreciate it, but if you ever want to show me your work, you won't owe me anything. I do it because I know how it feels to be unappreciated...and what can I say? I do owe you for that three am thing."
He considered her question about finding the garden."We could, but I should probably go back into the others to make sure I've not erred too terribly. Would you like to accompany or...?"
Leo laughs and shakes her head, adjusting the spa robe slightly as she stands. "Q, I'm gonna do it anyways. Don't try to talk me out of it.
And if it's all the same to you, I think I'm gonna hit up the library first. I think I saw Eli go in there sometime ago."
At the princess comment, Trileon's cheeks take on a pink tint and her eyes widen."Dude.. It was cute the first time. Now.. It's not weird, but let's not go making that a regular thing.."
She moved to him like she was going in for a hug, but hesitated, settling only for a firm pat on the shoulder. She wasn't the type for hugs, usually. Not unless she cared enough for someone.
Leo turned and began to walk back the way the had came, merely raising her hand and waved goodbye without looking back."I'll see you at dinner.. Prince Quinn."
Once again, the atrium was empty, and as the evening progressed, no one was there except in passing.