FHJSKHDJSKLHFJKLSHJDKLHSJKLDHSLHDJKSHDJKSHJKDS. I might have to arrest you anon. Because the “feels” this gave me are just too strong for legal standards. You’ve turned me into a such a spoilt child! I don’t deserve being blessed with beautifully crafted works such as this~ (*Pssst, give me more*- Oh, did you hear something? I didn’t hear anything. Must have been the wind.)
AND OMG, anon, stop being anonymous! I demand you reveal yourself so we can give you a proper standing ovation. You deserve credit! You do! Who areeeeee youuuuuuuuuu. T-T
Do you know what part really got me? The part you described where the two of them played together. It’s a magical idea: the notion that a music-talent ran in the Niccals family. And I laughed so hard when MM described Sebastian’s voice as “a very drunk Tom Waits.” You must have read my mind, because I thought the exact same thing awhile back. It might be because Murdoc described his own voice as “too avant garde” for the general public. And while I adore Tom Waits, his current voice is something I’d have to listen to in short bursts.
But anyway, that scene hit close to my heart cause I like imagining a scenario where Sebastian jokingly serenades MM on an old battered, out-of-tune piano, and he half-assedly changes the lyrics to “As Time Goes By” to suit her feminist views. (Also, don’t ask me how this came about, but your fic just gave me the idea that maybe Sebastian used to fake being an amateur piano player, just so he could have an excuse to get closer to MM and have her “teach” him. But perhaps that idea is too raw right now.)
So anyway, you got me to listen to “I Can’t Make You Love Me” for the first time and I think is an interesting song choice, especially since it mimicked MM’s words those many years ago. (I half expected him to throw the radio out the window at the end - not that I think he’d actually do that, but just for amusement’s sake. What would the neighbour’s think!) And I’m liking your interpretation that he wasn’t open to love. I’m wondering what, in your perspective, prevented him from opening up? Was it the child abuse, the fear of rejection or the fear of losing the one he loved? So many questions. 👀
I also wonder what finally compelled MM to walk out on him. It’s clear that Sebastian truly loved her, so it must have been frustrating for him that he had trouble showing it!