The Beauty Underneath (Mister Y)

[Gustave de Chagny]

It was around eleven o’clock in the morning as little Gustave toted his violin case with him on his way to the opera house. Mister Y, his mother’s friend whom he had met on Coney Island, and who he had since met again just before Christmas here at the manor, had promised to give the boy violin lessons. Gustave had received the violin as a Christmas present from Mister Castagne, but had never had any lessons before on how to play the instrument. He had wanted to learn because he’d heard stories of how his grandfather used to play it for his mother and for his father when they were his age…

Now though he was finally going to learn how. He skipped through the halls on his way to the opera house where the lessons were to be. He really did like the opera hose very much. It was a beautiful place with wonderful acoustics – perfect for making music in! He was excited to go there now to learn to make even more music. On occasion, he liked to go there to play with the piano in the pit, but that was for another time…

He pushed open the doors to the theatre house, glancing about as he teetered up upon his little toes. It was a little dark in there, but he didn’t mind the darkness, especially not since the stage was well lit. “Mister Y?” The boy said, his voice echoing through the empty hall. “Mister Y, are you in here?”

[Mister Y]

Erik turned at the sound of Gustave's voice, violin and bow in hand. He'd just finished setting up, and the boy was right on time. There were two chairs, a stand with sheet music that Erik had just finished drafting that morning, and a piano. "Gustave! Perfect timing, my boy!"

He was a fine boy. Certainly more than Erik could ever hope for in a child. It made sense that Christine and that insidious Raoul would produce such a lovely child. He seemed to have a natural curiosity, the want to learn new things. He could possibly be a genius, but only time would tell for that. His musical side he got from his mother, that was for sure. Erik had never thought Raoul to be the musical type, considering that all he ever did with Christine in her dressing room was a talk about childhoods and dinner and hats.

"Come up on stage, and we'll begin." Erik made a little flourished gesture toward the chairs. The flourishes in his hand motions were second nature to him, since he'd started running the freak show on Coney. He waited for the boy to come up before going any further.

[Gustave de Chagny]

The little boy looked up at Mister Y as he spoke, gesturing for him to come sit up on the stage. Carefully, he made his way to the front, cradling his instrument as if it were a delicate newborn. For the boy, it was just as precious a thing.

He stepped down the aisle with his little feet and made his way up the step on the side of the stage so that he could go to where Mister Y was waiting for him. He stepped over to one of the chairs and plopped down, taking a seat.

He was very excited to begin his first violin lesson, and it showed in his expression. His eyes were all aglow and his smile was bright and stretched ear to ear. “Can you teach me to play the violin life grandfather, Mister Y? Can you? Can you please?” The boy asked, sitting so far on the edge of his chait that it seemed as if he could leap up in an instant.

[Mister Y]

Erik smiled. The boy was so full of life, so full of energy, and - it seemed - so full of questions. "I do not know how well your grandfather played, but I shall teach you all I know. I know you wish to play violin, but do you happen to play any other instruments or sing perhaps? Sometimes, that makes it easier for you to learn."

Erik sat down in his own chair and leaned back, crossing his ankle over his knee. He rested his violin on his leg and set his bow on the music stand in front of him, his eyes scanning over the notes. He hoped that the boy had been instructed in some other instrument, as that would make Gustave's phrasing naturally more lyrical. If not, then Erik would have to encourage the boy to sing his phrasing to understand when and where to lift his bow.

He looked over at the boy. His brown hair was a little tousled and his eyes were glowing with his excitement. He was one who liked to learn, obviously. Christine had borne a perfect specimen, it seemed.

[Gustave de Chagny]

The boy nodded when Mister Y asked him whether or not he played any other instruments. “Yes, sir. I play the piano, and mother taught me how to sing,” he said proudly. He was very happy to be able to be good at music like his mother was. She was, after all, the boys role model and constant companion. Some may have thought it unfit for a boy of his age to still cling so tightly to the comfort of his mother’s apron strings, but little Gustave did not really care so much about it. After the few months’ time at the Manor where he had been without knowing where she was, it wasn’t something he was about to take for granted any time soon.

He swung his feet excitedly as he watched Mister Y set his bow down on the stand and study the music. He wasn’t sure what to expect exactly—as this was his very first violin lesson—but he was anxious for it nonetheless. “Sh-should I take my violin out now?” he asked shyly.

[Mister Y]

(I'm going rather traditional with the violin methods and placing, so bear with me. I've been using Max Huls as a template and research for when it comes to the technical aspect of playing the violin. XD)

Erik's head turned to the boy. "Yes, that would be good." He gave Gustave a small smile, to encourage him that he was doing the right thing, and sat up straight again. As the boy took his violin out, Erik stood, ready to show the boy where to place everything.

"Now, Gustave, here..." Erik took a piece of cloth that resembled a handkerchief from his pocket. "This is for you. It is so the violin stays still on your shoulder when you grip it." He draped the cloth over the boy's shoulder. "You grip the violin between your shoulder and your chin. That's how it stays still when you play."

[Gustave de Chagny]

((Yay Max! I love that man! His hair is so fluffy >.>))

The young boy grinned when his new violin teacher told him that he was doing well and smiled at him. Gustave did like to know that he was going a good job—after all, what child didn't like to be told that they'd done well?

Mister Y gave him what appeared to be a handkerchief and draped it over his shoulder. The boy looked at the cloth, confused for a moment, but then the man explained. Gustave tried resting the violin atop the cloth on his shoulder, and then setting his chin on top, like Mister Y had told him, and like he'd seen done before when he'd watched people play. “Like this?” he asked.