Work Text:
CHARACTERS:
DILUC: Violinist in their mid twenties. Has bright red hair and eyes but recently dulled due to the effects of an injury. A former prodigy, he is currently trying to practice the violin again while still recovering. He has been living in his family’s beach house ever since that incident.
ZHONGLI: A gifted pianist in their early thirties with long brown hair and gold/amber eyes. Talented with a somewhat formal way of speaking. Following Diluc’s departure, he had been left alone to live in their apartment in the main city. When contacted and informed Diluc might strain his injury, he moved to the beach house to keep him company.
SETTING:
Diluc’s family beach house. Past midnight.
SCENE: AFTER THE ARGUMENT
Patio. Inside an open hut. Diluc is carefully and stiffly shaking off the sand that got in his shoes. The entire time, the sound of a piano is heard. He puts his shoes back on and glances towards the living room. Its large glass windows face the beach where he came from. There’s no light coming from it, only sound.
He avoids the small stone steps near the hut that leads right to the back door. Instead, he takes the longer route circling the house to enter through the front.
(a bell rings)
He glances towards the living room.
Diluc waits an hour later for the sound of the piano to finish before heading inside.
(a bell rings)
He glances towards the living room. Diluc walks up the stone steps and opens the door.
He doesn’t look towards the piano and exits to the hallway leading upstairs.
(a bell rings)
Diluc walks up the stone steps and opens the door. He looks right at Zhongli playing the piano. The tune sounds strange, soft on some parts but sounding exaggerated in others. Zhongli notices and looks back, which makes Diluc turn his gaze elsewhere. Zhongli keeps playing.
ZHONGLI: You’re back.
DILUC: Yeah.
ZHONGLI: You were gone for a while.
DILUC: I know.
ZHONGLI: I put back your violin in its case.
DILUC: Mm.
(pause) The sound on the piano continues.
DILUC: I’m going to bed.
ZHONGLI: Alright. Take care.
(a bell rings)
ZHONGLI: I put your violin back in its case.
DILUC: You didn’t have to.
ZHONGLI: But I wanted to.
DILUC: (scoffing) I know. You always say that.
ZHONGLI: Is it a bad thing?
DILUC: Yes.
(bell)
It should be.
ZHONGLI: But it’s not.
DILUC: For me it is.
ZHONGLI: (laughing softly, a hint of sullenness) I’m well aware. You said as much hours ago.
Diluc shifts his weight from one side to the other. Zhongli plays a softer tune. To Diluc’s right is the hallway that will lead him upstairs. Slightly, he turns.
ZHONGLI: Diluc. (he pauses playing and glances up) Can you stay here for a bit?
DILUC: (looks over) Here?
ZHONGLI: (motioning to the piano chair he’s sitting on) Yes, here.
DILUC: (short pause, guard up) Do I have to?
ZHONGLI: No, but I hope you would.
DILUC: I don’t.
(bell)
DILUC: Do I have to?
ZHONGLI: No, but I hope you would.
DILUC: Hope?
ZHONGLI: (smiling) I’d like to stay with you.
DILUC: And I’d rather go to bed.
(bell)
ZHONGLI: Diluc. (he pauses playing and glances up at Diluc) Can—
DILUC: (interrupting) What were you playing?
ZHONGLI: Hm?
DILUC: That piece. It sounded off.
ZHONGLI: Oh. (he glances at the piano keys) It’s a cover of another piece.
DILUC: A song?
ZHONGLI: A duet. It’s (slight pause) still in progress. I tried to combine the two instruments into a solo.
DILUC: It sounds off.
ZHONGLI: (laughing) It did, didn’t it? Would you like to listen?
DILUC: I already did.
ZHONGLI: Again, I mean. A second ear can give better judgment.
DILUC: All I said is it’s strange. I can’t judge more than that.
(bell)
What were you playing?
ZHONGLI: Hm?
DILUC: Earlier. I’ve never heard you play that.
ZHONGLI: Ah, it’s a cover I’m working on.
DILUC: A cover?
ZHONGLI: From (slight pause) a duet. Although I was improvising on some parts earlier. (he looks at the piano keys) Would you like to hear it?
DILUC: The song?
ZHONGLI: Earlier wasn’t (he is about to say perfect but changes) accurate to the original due to improv but I do think the actual cover is coming along nicely. Care for a listen?
DILUC: . . . I guess.
Zhongli gestures for Diluc to sit next to him. Diluc sits down carefully with minimal distance between them.
ZHONGLI: (playing the opening) It starts this way.
He plays the first fifteen seconds. Diluc watches his hands on the piano keys the entire time. He sees them move without any trouble and he glances at his own hands on his lap as Zhongli finishes.
ZHONGLI: I was playing the parts sporadically when you came in but (he looks at Diluc with an open smile) I was hoping you’d listen to it in full sometime later.
DILUC: You didn’t tell me you were practicing this.
ZHONGLI: Ah, well. (hesitating) I had thought other matters were more important.
DILUC: What other matters? (he raises his left hand) You mean my fucked up wrist?
(bell)
ZHONGLI: I was hoping you’d listen to it in full sometime later.
DILUC: Were you practicing this in secret?
ZHONGLI: Oh. Not at all. (pause) I just never thought to mention it.
DILUC: (quiet chuckle, empty) Right. You would think that huh?
(bell)
ZHONGLI: Oh. Not at all. (quietly) I just never thought to mention it.
DILUC: (quiet chuckle, empty) Because what? You think I’d look pitiful?
ZHONGLI: No, not that. Just (short pause) embittered.
DILUC: Do I look like that?
ZHONGLI: With your current state, yes.
(bell)
Zhongli plays the first fifteen seconds. Diluc watches his hands on the piano keys the entire time.
DILUC: It’s different.
ZHONGLI: (chuckling) Less rough, I hope. I wasn’t playing it orderly earlier.
DILUC: Now it sounds familiar.
ZHONGLI: It’s been used in films, I believe.
DILUC: With a violin.
(short pause)
ZHONGLI: (quietly) Yes. And a piano.
DILUC: And you’re turning it into a solo.
ZHONGLI: . . . not completely. I do still hope to play the duet.
DILUC: You should stop hoping. (bell) I don’t think that’ll happen. (bell) Why bother? (bell) And who are you hoping to play it with?
ZHONGLI: I think it’s a given that I’d like to do it with you.
DILUC: That’s stupid.
(bell)
ZHONGLI: It’s been used in films, I believe.
DILUC: Have you covered the entire thing?
ZHONGLI: Sort of. (he starts playing again) I’ve been thinking of an easier cover for beginners. Alice mentioned Klee was trying to learn the piano.
DILUC: Alice told you?
ZHONGLI: (he doesn’t look at Diluc, only at the keys) Yes, before I came here. I visited the orchestra.
DILUC: To what? To tell them you’re going to babysit me?
ZHONGLI: (immediately) I told them I wanted to see you. Because I missed you.
Diluc doesn’t say anything. Zhongli continues playing. They’re both remain silent for a few moments.
ZHONGLI: I know you said it wasn’t enough earlier. (pause) But for me it is. I really did miss you.
Diluc remains quiet. He listens to Zhongli slowly changing the piece to something else. Another soft piece. The piano covers their silence for a while, and Diluc watches the way Zhongli’s hands grace the keys.
ZHONGLI: Do you remember the first time I told you I loved you?
DILUC: No. (bell) I’d rather not. (bell) Why?
ZHONGLI: (chuckling) It’s a fond memory. Almost two years ago. It was in that famous concert hall. (long pause, careful) You were performing with your ensemble and I was part of the audience. And once you finished I tried seeing you backstage. And then I told you. It’s something I won’t forget.
Zhongli slowly starts playing a different piece again. Diluc recognizes this better and recalls its name—dawn. They both are silent. It’s only after forty seconds of him playing passes that Zhongli continues.
ZHONGLI: (slowly, reminiscing, fond) I didn’t tell you then because you were amazing on stage, although that is also true. (short pause) I told you then because I saw you after. There, backstage, with everyone celebrating. You were off to the side and yet. You were smiling so proudly. Happy. You looked beautiful. How could I not tell you then?
DILUC: Why are you telling me this?
Zhongli laughs. He plays the rest of the piece first to let the crescendo overtake the quiet. When it slows down again, he looks at Diluc’s unimpressed face. He’s smiling, his hands are still playing.
ZHONGLI: Because you asked.
DILUC: I didn’t.
ZHONGLI: You did. Hours earlier. You asked me why I wanted to stay. Here’s my answer.
DILUC: It’s not even a good answer.
ZHONGLI: It’s not?
DILUC: It’s stupid. (bell) It doesn’t make sense. (bell) You’re just saying whatever. (bell) It’s still not enough.
(many bells ring)
Because I didn’t ask you that.
ZHONGLI: You told me you were dragging me down with you. And you said it wasn’t worth it. This is my response.
DILUC: A cryptic one.
ZHONGLI: (laughing) I love you. And I want you to be happy, just like that time when I first said it.
DILUC: It’ll take a while.
ZHONGLI: I know. But I want to be with you while it slowly comes back.
DILUC: It won’t be the same.
ZHONGLI: Maybe not. But I know I’d want to be here. Even if you feel incapable of reaching that point again.
DILUC: (looking down at his hands, no malice) It might not even come back.
ZHONGLI: I believe it will. (he gives a very endeared smile even if Diluc isn’t looking at him anymore) The delight you felt then will come back to you. Even if it’s something completely different.
DILUC: You’re weird.
ZHONGLI: (his hands pause on top of the keys the same time he widens his eyes. pause, then laughter. he looks back to the piano) You said that years ago too. Because I called you sublime.
DILUC: Because you are. (very carefully and slowly leans his head on Zhongli’s shoulder) You’re weird for staying.
ZHONGLI: (smiling wider, he goes back to playing) I think you’re worth it.
He plays for another half hour as Diluc slowly falls asleep. Once finished, he carries Diluc back upstairs for them to rest.