[TC/009] Stringless Violin [Krystal/Victoria, PG-13]
Title: Stringless Violin
Pairing: Krystal/Victoria
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU, General/Romance
Length: one-shot
Disclaimer: I don't own any of them, SME does. Plot is mine.
Summary: A violin can still be played without a couple of strings-- her violin, though, requires none at all to be perfect.
Warning: Un-beta'd. Short. My first Yuri-- beware if I'm rusty and awkward?
Her fingers are like threads, skinny and fragile, beautiful under the lighting of the darkened ballroom. As she moves, her hair is lighter than the air, flowing gracefully along her pale, revealed shoulders.
The background music is soft, but her voice even softer.
“The concert is tonight, but I’ve errands to run after this gathering before I can make it to the hall.”
“Miss Victoria will be most disappointed if you miss the opening act, Miss Krystal.” Her butler tells her.
She sighs, her fingers running along the white railing as she steps down the long set of stairs. There are many people at the banquet anticipating her entrance; many people she does not anticipate seeing herself.
“It’s just another function,” her butler insists, “I’m sure they won’t mind if you leave a little earlier.”
Krystal tenses, every step becoming harder for her feet to take. She doesn’t want to go-- there are so many reasons as to why she’s too afraid to leave. “Tell her there’s always next time.”
“And what if there isn’t?” Her butler asks.
It’s a good question, Krystal regards. What if, after this opportunity, Victoria is tired of waiting and decides to take the first step away from her?
What if, after considering all of her options, Victoria finds Krystal no longer as attractive as the music made by the players in the many concerts they’ve visited together?
And, what if Krystal appears beside Victoria, proud and beautiful, but Victoria does not smile at her or reach for her hands as she always had before?
“But--”
Her butler laughs before giving her the push she needs forward. “I’ll have the car prepared so that we may leave on time, Miss Krystal.”
The banquet does not last very long and Krystal finds herself giving extra effort to buy herself more time. Although aware of her worries, her butler really cannot understand why Krystal is so hesitant to meet with her lifelong best friend.
He’s watched them grow up together, always smiling the brightest when they are by each other’s side. Never once had Krystal shed a tear when Victoria was beside her-- never once has he had to worry as long as Victoria was nearby.
Except, when he escorts Krystal to the concert hall and does not see Victoria waiting for Krystal at the entrance as she always had before, he really begins to feel unsure of the entire situation.
“Has something happened between the two of you?” He asks Krystal.
The young girl bites down on her lip nervously. “No, nothing.”
It’s unconvincing, but he leaves the matter as it is. “Well, enjoy the concert then. I’ll be here when the concert is over.”
Krystal nods and waves him away.
When she enters the stadium, the lights are dim and a single spotlight is shining over the orchestra that is playing. The light that escapes from the hall into the stadium catches the attention of the audience and they turn to narrow their eyes are her briefly before they turn back to the main stage.
In the distance, she spots Victoria’s figure amongst the crowd.
“I’m sorry I’m late.” She apologizes as she squeezes by and settles into the seat beside the older girl.
Victoria shakes her head, smiling lightly.
Her heart skips a beat when she feels warm hands wrap around her own, pulling them into Victoria’s lap. Krystal allows Victoria to intertwine their fingers, holding onto her gently as they enjoy the music together.
She melts into the touch.
Halfway through the concert, Krystal finally musters up the courage to lean over the space dividing them, lips against Victoria’s exposed ear. She freezes when Victoria turns to look her in the eyes, lips achingly close.
Those lips are familiar-- kissed numerously during quiet nights, behind blinds of pitch black rooms. These are lips that she yearns for, during lonely nights when Victoria takes leave from the country, absent for weeks at a time.
“I can’t--”
Victoria caresses Krystal’s cheek with a free hand, Krystal leaning into her palm. “Later,” Victoria whispers against the skin of her jaw.
The only thing Krystal can do is take a shuddering breath, gradually comprehending herself into a weak nod.
After the concert, Victoria hurriedly drags Krystal with her backstage. The hallway is long, and they pass by various rooms, until they reach one filled with staff and performers. “This is my new team,” Victoria introduces.
Everyone in the room bows at her, eyes wide when they see Victoria walking through the doors.
A small boy surfaces from the crowd. Krystal recognizes him as one of the violinists from the concert just moments ago-- she remembers because she used to play the violin, too.
They nod at all the people, Victoria giving a brief introduction of Krystal before walking her to a small office deeper inside the room.
Krystal locks the door behind them.
“Are you unhappy?”
Frustrated, Krystal glares at the woman standing before her. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I figured you expected this, being that you didn’t want to see me for so long after I’ve returned to the country.” Victoria shrugs. “Having an orchestra was always a dream of ours, even though we’ve both long since stopped playing our instruments.”
Krystal awkwardly lowers her gaze to the floor. “That’s not it.”
“Then what is?” Victoria asks.
“A violin can still be played with only three strings, but if a string can be replaced within the minute and a song can be played to its full capacity, why abandon the last string and surrender perfection?”
Victoria does not reply.
Krystal takes this as a cue to urge forward. “Without me, you are not whole. I am the same with you.”
“Without you, my song may not be perfect but I would have at least known that I fought through the end without having stopped myself from anything because of hesitance. That’s what’s keeping you from me, Krystal; hesitation is your weakest point.”
“And what does this prove?” Krystal questions.
Victoria shrugs. “That, if I wanted, I could have anything I desired, with or without you.”
“You promised we would do this together,” Krystal accuses. “Why didn’t you wait?”
The older girl laughs, lowering herself into the cushioned seat behind the desk. “I did. I waited, again and again, but you never appeared.”
“That was--”
“No excuses, Krystal. Don’t you remember? We once said we would not make up excuses to each other,” Victoria hushes.
Krystal leans her back against the door, watching Victoria with intense eyes. The short dress, the sleeveless cloth, her hair bundled up in a messy ponytail. It was everything that she’d missed the past few weeks.
And so she tells Victoria exactly that.
“I missed you, too,” Victoria smiles, her lips frozen at the corners.
Krystal sighs and walks over to her. “You’re still angry with me.”
“Am not.” Victoria denies.
But Krystal knows better. Every emotion can be read directly from Victoria’s expression. “Don’t lie.”
Victoria laughs. “Even with all four strings, a song can never be perfect.”
“So why worry about how many we have?” Krystal asks. “All we really need is two.”
“A violin with only one string can still be played.” Remarks Victoria.
Krystal pouts. “It could only be a sad piece.”
Reaching up, Victoria pinches Krystal lightly on the cheek. “You’ve always been good at talking back to me.”
The younger girl chuckles. “That’s only because I’m your soft spot.” She takes Victoria’s hand, holding it up to the light. “You’ve been working too hard.”
“Not enough,” Victoria shakes her head. “Never enough.”
Krystal sighs. “Don’t overwork yourself. You’ll worry auntie and uncle.”
“Don’t change the subject.” Victoria lectures. “I’m leaving again the day after tomorrow.”
“So soon?”
Victoria nods. “I’ll be gone for at least three months; my band is having a tour in southern China. It’s a big opportunity.”
“You’ll reply to letters?” Krystal inquires.
“I’ll try.”
Krystal bites her cheek. “And phone calls? You won’t ignore those again, will you?”
“As long as you don’t ignore yours.” Victoria teases. She pulls a drawer open and picks out a small box, handing it over to Krystal. “Here, a gift.”
The younger girl takes it, opening to gaze inside. It is a necklace: a small silver violin studded with round diamonds on the neck of the instrument. There are no strings on it.
“I thought it suited you when I walked the streets of Europe. That’s where stringed instruments were invented-- I’ve always thought you’d shine brighter there.”
Krystal smiles, from the heart, and holds it out to Victoria. “Help me put it on.”
“Alright.” Victoria breathes, standing as she takes the jewelry from the younger girl. She steps behind her and links the necklace around her thin neck. From behind, Krystal seems so small and fragile.
Expectantly, she feels Victoria hugging her from behind.
“I’ll miss you.”
She bites down on her lip. “I’ll miss you, too.”
With the pendant in her hand, she turns around to meet eyes with the older girl. “I’ll improve.” She whispers.
Victoria smiles, nodding her forehead against Krystal’s gently.
“Good. There’s always room for improvement.”
END
-
Read Nyx's version of Author's Choice [Violins] here.
-
[ [TC/008]: Eunhyuk/Donghae [Memories] ] ♦ [ [TC/010]: Donghae/Sungmin [Rain] ]
-
A/N: ...I don't even know. Yuri is still really weird for me, but I've been really liking the Krytoria pairing lately =/ Sorry? TAT AND THANK YOU TO NYX FOR DOING THIS WITH ME. If you haven't yet, go read Nyx's Krytoria here too!
Pairing: Krystal/Victoria
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU, General/Romance
Length: one-shot
Disclaimer: I don't own any of them, SME does. Plot is mine.
Summary: A violin can still be played without a couple of strings-- her violin, though, requires none at all to be perfect.
Warning: Un-beta'd. Short. My first Yuri-- beware if I'm rusty and awkward?
Her fingers are like threads, skinny and fragile, beautiful under the lighting of the darkened ballroom. As she moves, her hair is lighter than the air, flowing gracefully along her pale, revealed shoulders.
The background music is soft, but her voice even softer.
“The concert is tonight, but I’ve errands to run after this gathering before I can make it to the hall.”
“Miss Victoria will be most disappointed if you miss the opening act, Miss Krystal.” Her butler tells her.
She sighs, her fingers running along the white railing as she steps down the long set of stairs. There are many people at the banquet anticipating her entrance; many people she does not anticipate seeing herself.
“It’s just another function,” her butler insists, “I’m sure they won’t mind if you leave a little earlier.”
Krystal tenses, every step becoming harder for her feet to take. She doesn’t want to go-- there are so many reasons as to why she’s too afraid to leave. “Tell her there’s always next time.”
“And what if there isn’t?” Her butler asks.
It’s a good question, Krystal regards. What if, after this opportunity, Victoria is tired of waiting and decides to take the first step away from her?
What if, after considering all of her options, Victoria finds Krystal no longer as attractive as the music made by the players in the many concerts they’ve visited together?
And, what if Krystal appears beside Victoria, proud and beautiful, but Victoria does not smile at her or reach for her hands as she always had before?
“But--”
Her butler laughs before giving her the push she needs forward. “I’ll have the car prepared so that we may leave on time, Miss Krystal.”
The banquet does not last very long and Krystal finds herself giving extra effort to buy herself more time. Although aware of her worries, her butler really cannot understand why Krystal is so hesitant to meet with her lifelong best friend.
He’s watched them grow up together, always smiling the brightest when they are by each other’s side. Never once had Krystal shed a tear when Victoria was beside her-- never once has he had to worry as long as Victoria was nearby.
Except, when he escorts Krystal to the concert hall and does not see Victoria waiting for Krystal at the entrance as she always had before, he really begins to feel unsure of the entire situation.
“Has something happened between the two of you?” He asks Krystal.
The young girl bites down on her lip nervously. “No, nothing.”
It’s unconvincing, but he leaves the matter as it is. “Well, enjoy the concert then. I’ll be here when the concert is over.”
Krystal nods and waves him away.
When she enters the stadium, the lights are dim and a single spotlight is shining over the orchestra that is playing. The light that escapes from the hall into the stadium catches the attention of the audience and they turn to narrow their eyes are her briefly before they turn back to the main stage.
In the distance, she spots Victoria’s figure amongst the crowd.
“I’m sorry I’m late.” She apologizes as she squeezes by and settles into the seat beside the older girl.
Victoria shakes her head, smiling lightly.
Her heart skips a beat when she feels warm hands wrap around her own, pulling them into Victoria’s lap. Krystal allows Victoria to intertwine their fingers, holding onto her gently as they enjoy the music together.
She melts into the touch.
Halfway through the concert, Krystal finally musters up the courage to lean over the space dividing them, lips against Victoria’s exposed ear. She freezes when Victoria turns to look her in the eyes, lips achingly close.
Those lips are familiar-- kissed numerously during quiet nights, behind blinds of pitch black rooms. These are lips that she yearns for, during lonely nights when Victoria takes leave from the country, absent for weeks at a time.
“I can’t--”
Victoria caresses Krystal’s cheek with a free hand, Krystal leaning into her palm. “Later,” Victoria whispers against the skin of her jaw.
The only thing Krystal can do is take a shuddering breath, gradually comprehending herself into a weak nod.
After the concert, Victoria hurriedly drags Krystal with her backstage. The hallway is long, and they pass by various rooms, until they reach one filled with staff and performers. “This is my new team,” Victoria introduces.
Everyone in the room bows at her, eyes wide when they see Victoria walking through the doors.
A small boy surfaces from the crowd. Krystal recognizes him as one of the violinists from the concert just moments ago-- she remembers because she used to play the violin, too.
They nod at all the people, Victoria giving a brief introduction of Krystal before walking her to a small office deeper inside the room.
Krystal locks the door behind them.
“Are you unhappy?”
Frustrated, Krystal glares at the woman standing before her. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I figured you expected this, being that you didn’t want to see me for so long after I’ve returned to the country.” Victoria shrugs. “Having an orchestra was always a dream of ours, even though we’ve both long since stopped playing our instruments.”
Krystal awkwardly lowers her gaze to the floor. “That’s not it.”
“Then what is?” Victoria asks.
“A violin can still be played with only three strings, but if a string can be replaced within the minute and a song can be played to its full capacity, why abandon the last string and surrender perfection?”
Victoria does not reply.
Krystal takes this as a cue to urge forward. “Without me, you are not whole. I am the same with you.”
“Without you, my song may not be perfect but I would have at least known that I fought through the end without having stopped myself from anything because of hesitance. That’s what’s keeping you from me, Krystal; hesitation is your weakest point.”
“And what does this prove?” Krystal questions.
Victoria shrugs. “That, if I wanted, I could have anything I desired, with or without you.”
“You promised we would do this together,” Krystal accuses. “Why didn’t you wait?”
The older girl laughs, lowering herself into the cushioned seat behind the desk. “I did. I waited, again and again, but you never appeared.”
“That was--”
“No excuses, Krystal. Don’t you remember? We once said we would not make up excuses to each other,” Victoria hushes.
Krystal leans her back against the door, watching Victoria with intense eyes. The short dress, the sleeveless cloth, her hair bundled up in a messy ponytail. It was everything that she’d missed the past few weeks.
And so she tells Victoria exactly that.
“I missed you, too,” Victoria smiles, her lips frozen at the corners.
Krystal sighs and walks over to her. “You’re still angry with me.”
“Am not.” Victoria denies.
But Krystal knows better. Every emotion can be read directly from Victoria’s expression. “Don’t lie.”
Victoria laughs. “Even with all four strings, a song can never be perfect.”
“So why worry about how many we have?” Krystal asks. “All we really need is two.”
“A violin with only one string can still be played.” Remarks Victoria.
Krystal pouts. “It could only be a sad piece.”
Reaching up, Victoria pinches Krystal lightly on the cheek. “You’ve always been good at talking back to me.”
The younger girl chuckles. “That’s only because I’m your soft spot.” She takes Victoria’s hand, holding it up to the light. “You’ve been working too hard.”
“Not enough,” Victoria shakes her head. “Never enough.”
Krystal sighs. “Don’t overwork yourself. You’ll worry auntie and uncle.”
“Don’t change the subject.” Victoria lectures. “I’m leaving again the day after tomorrow.”
“So soon?”
Victoria nods. “I’ll be gone for at least three months; my band is having a tour in southern China. It’s a big opportunity.”
“You’ll reply to letters?” Krystal inquires.
“I’ll try.”
Krystal bites her cheek. “And phone calls? You won’t ignore those again, will you?”
“As long as you don’t ignore yours.” Victoria teases. She pulls a drawer open and picks out a small box, handing it over to Krystal. “Here, a gift.”
The younger girl takes it, opening to gaze inside. It is a necklace: a small silver violin studded with round diamonds on the neck of the instrument. There are no strings on it.
“I thought it suited you when I walked the streets of Europe. That’s where stringed instruments were invented-- I’ve always thought you’d shine brighter there.”
Krystal smiles, from the heart, and holds it out to Victoria. “Help me put it on.”
“Alright.” Victoria breathes, standing as she takes the jewelry from the younger girl. She steps behind her and links the necklace around her thin neck. From behind, Krystal seems so small and fragile.
Expectantly, she feels Victoria hugging her from behind.
“I’ll miss you.”
She bites down on her lip. “I’ll miss you, too.”
With the pendant in her hand, she turns around to meet eyes with the older girl. “I’ll improve.” She whispers.
Victoria smiles, nodding her forehead against Krystal’s gently.
“Good. There’s always room for improvement.”
END
-
Read Nyx's version of Author's Choice [Violins] here.
-
[ [TC/008]: Eunhyuk/Donghae [Memories] ] ♦ [ [TC/010]: Donghae/Sungmin [Rain] ]
-
A/N: ...I don't even know. Yuri is still really weird for me, but I've been really liking the Krytoria pairing lately =/ Sorry? TAT AND THANK YOU TO NYX FOR DOING THIS WITH ME. If you haven't yet, go read Nyx's Krytoria here too!