Re: lakeside mansions: Dietre A. & Hugh C.
In the early days music hadn’t really been a dream to him. His parents were practically strangers, too caught up in their own lives. The time his mother spent with him to teach him how to play the piano was precious, and he continued to play even after she let herself be distracted and pulled back away into her busy life. To play the piano was to relive moments when he mattered to someone. But then, in time, it did become about the music, and expression, and escape. He became obsessed. For a long while it was his one joy.
A hug might have undone Dietre. There was a dam of emotions inside him barely able to contain all that filled it. Too kind of an act could set it bursting. But a hand holding his could be withstood without him falling apart. He squeezed back, comforted, giving Hugh a weak and wavering smile back in thanks.
“Alright… It's a deal,” he promised. That seemed fair. Questions could be asked and there would always be the option not to answer. For either of them. Dietre didn’t think he’d really refuse to answer anything asked directly, but he wouldn’t really know how he’d react until he was asked certain questions, did he?
“Um… I can’t think of anything to ask at the moment,” he said in a bid to lighten the mood a little. “But I’m sure I’ll come up with something later.”