crystals | open

[dissolving]

FORM: Crystals
SENDER: Cedric
RECIPIENT: Y'all
NOTES: Crowdsourcing a job

How d'you make someone sing better?

Comments

[elegiaque]

Do they know they're bad?

[dissolving]

I don't even know if they are - you heard of an Austyn Kamryn? Operatic - uh - baritone.

[panulus]

Stab lower.

[dissolving]

Not sure he needs a higher voice -

[untiltheyarent]

Introduce them to someone who already does?

[dissolving]

Like a coach? Reckon that could work.

D'you know anyone like that - [ miss. a brief, petrifying flashback of petrana. corrects: ] - ma'am?

[untiltheyarent]

[An honorific, how charming.]

In Val Royeaux, perhaps. Where is your singer?

[elegiaque]

( dubiously, ) No, I don't think so? Is he new or is he struggling?

[dissolving]

He's the viscount's cousin, so can't be that bad,

[ that's what she meant by struggling right - ]

Think it's first big role. Got nerves.

[dissolving]

Hightown. Could maybe give him some - uh - advice from afar, though. Keep your chin up, remember the lyrics, all that. Did you sing? In Val Royeaux.

[elegiaque]

Struggling to be taken seriously as an artist, ( she elaborates, in which case— well, viscount's cousin could go either way, but if they were dealing with a totally dogshit nepotism soloist then kamryn would probably be less nervous.

that may be an uncharitable take, but what are you, the compassion police. )

Well, the nerves are the problem.

[untiltheyarent]

Only in the chorus. […of a cabaret, but that’s irrelevant. or is it]

Keep your chin down and your neck relaxed. Breathe from your stomach, not your chest. Posture is everything.

[dissolving]

[ well that's -

relatable. gross. ]

S'pose you're right. He asked us for help, so he's got to be desperate. Even came around asking if we'd got some kind of root he saw in his dreams -

[dissolving]

That's perfect, [ enthusiastically, pen scratching: ] Didn't know we had a professional. Would you be open to talking with him? If we can't figure something out.

[elegiaque]

Have you ever heard of a placebo.

[untiltheyarent]

I would be glad to, Monsieur. So long as he doesn’t mind hearing it from an elf.

[dissolving]

That could work. Don't want us stuck lying to the guy for life, though. We've got to pick something he can do on his own.

[ or someone's going to have a permanent position painting spots on leaves ]

[elegiaque]

Make sure he's actually got the technical skill and you can tell him what it was after the performance goes well. Blah blah heart-warming it was in you all along.

Obviously, this only works if he's nervous but talented.

[dissolving]

[ hmm ]

What's talent sound like?

[elegiaque]

Technical skill plus. Someone who has the range they're saying they do and can hit and hold the notes and when they sing, it's beautiful, it's absorbing. Emotive and moving. They convey more than just that was unobjectionable and didn't make my ears bleed, they convey what the piece of music was intended to, whatever emotional response it was meant to conjure up.

[dissolving]

[ there are a couple things he thinks, and doesn't say: that an advisor can be pitched a little like a servant. that out here, an orlesian accent covers a myriad of social sins.

(that if kamyrn is coming to riftwatch for help, he doesn't want the upper crust knowing anyway)

instead: ]

I'll feel it out. If he's got a problem, he can go on howling without us. Thank you, [ a beat: ] Name's Cedric.

[untiltheyarent]

[His caution speaks multitudes. Somewhere in the back of her mind, her hackles lower slightly.]

Fifi.

A pleasure to meet you, Cedric. You’re new to Riftwatch?

[dissolving]

Plot's about a mermaid. Falls in love with a human prince - think he's the prince - but she hasn't got legs. She drowns him.

[ but that's the plot, not - all of that - ]

Bet we could get into rehearsal, if you wanted to judge.

[elegiaque]

...I don't know if I'd be the most useful for how to improve, if he needs to improve, but I have a good ear. I wrote art critique in Orlais.

( making and breaking musical careers, among other things. )

[panulus]

It might encourage further practice.