Pulchritudinous • Ryden

¥ Chapter Six ¥

{{ Chapter Six - Hygge }}

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They had a music room. Guitars, drums, piano, a karaoke machine even. The room was just occupied by the spirits of loneliness. Nobody in the house would step a foot into the room. It wasn't that it was neglected, or a bad head space, it was just often unoccupied. Brendon preferred the room over any other room in the house, including his bedroom. He just generally had the school music room to keep him busy. The quiet space in which was a blessed safe haven for only himself, and Mrs. Parker's to share. It was his safe home.

However, when you find comfort in something, or become attached to something, you tend to lean towards it, rather than going a stray. Knowing this, Brendon decided to go to the family music room. Sure, the lights didn't work. Sure, the instruments were dusty. Maybe it even smelled like that disgusting salad dressing Grandma used to make every Easter, but it was still music. It was still his coping skill. Music continues to triumph over anything Brendon has ever wanted in life.

Brendon pushed open the white door in which was chipping of paint from 1964, the door creaking faintly, echoing through the house. The room came into light, the large custom purple piano sitting in the light of the window, the various different brands and types of guitars hanging on the wall above the head of the piano, the drums in the corner, untouched and silent. Brendon took a deep breath, closing his eyes, the nostalgia filling his head of images he could only see in the muffled distance.

Brendon walked up to the piano, skidding his finger on the top, dust building into his finger pads, coloring his pale milky skin to gray. He suddenly feels distant and sad for a reason he can't place. He remembers his dad teaching him how to play the piano on the exact model, that was when his father was happy, alive, almost. He wonders why the memory causes his heart to ache.

<3

He cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable, "Hello Brendon."

"Dr. Ross." Brendon replied with a nod, flopping onto the couch.

"How was your day?" The man asked, sitting in his desk chair, his hands clasped together, eyes staring Brendon dead in the face.

"Good, I guess. Nothing happened. Uneventful, as always. And you?" Brendon questioned, shrugging his shoulders.

"My day was alright. I had a good lunch," Ryan let out a breath, looking down at his papers, "So, I heard the news."

Brendon laughed, "What news?"

"Alright. I understand if you don't want to talk about it. Let me know when you're ready." Ryan replied, his eyes sympathetic.

Brendon nodded slowly, as if he were confused.

"So," Ryan cleared his throat again, "Thank you for last week, it helped me relax. You're... very talented in the matter."

"Thank you," The younger paused before speaking again, "So, today I wanted to talk about my interests."

Ryan nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"Well, I've been thinking. I'm lonely almost all the time, so why not sign up for Grindr, you know? I bet some of the men there will share my same pleasures."

Ryan quirked his left eyebrow, "And those pleasures are?"

"Hm, I don't know. I like pain, not too much of it, but not too little. I like teasing, and being teased. I think I like being both degraded, and praised? I know for a fact that demands get me going. But I know for sure that I'm defiantly into bondage, just the idea-"