Prelude || Mikhail & ???
It was only when he heard the remnants of the resonating note fade away did the violinist lower his instrument. The sound of clapping began to resonate through his ears as he finally focused on the small crowd sitting around the small stage with drinks in hand. Mikhail smiled, though it felt dissonant to what he thought of his performance. He had hit one note just a few clicks flat and had flubbed one of the notes on his sixteenth note run, and all he could think about is how he needed to practice that as soon as he got back to the hotel.
Still, he smiled shyly at the crowd and meekly bowed alongside the meek piano player who had finally decided to stand. She was one of the pianists who worked at this piano bar full-time, and by the tremble of her voice as she again announced his name on a microphone he knew that she was not used to playing with others. The violinist smiled gently at the young woman and walked right off the stage.
After the brief courtesies with the owner and a few nods towards some drunken patrons whose slurred compliments sounded akin to a cacophony, Mikhail wasted no time to exit the bar and into the midnight scene of the city. He breathed a sigh of relief as he looked up to the night sky, a little relief washing over him. Though playing through the more high-society bars were a good source of income, it was always the same as a regular bar as soon as he walked off the stage. With his violin strapped safely to his back, he began to walk away, hoping that one of the patrons hadn't been drunk enough to follow him out.