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[color=FF4D4D][b]Time: [/b][/color] Late Morning
[color=FF4D4D][b]Location: [/b][/color]l'amour est dans l'air
[color=FF4D4D][b]Interaction: [/b][/color][/center]
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Nothing disturbed Helene on the journey to her destination, allowing her the single company of her thoughts. She had already decided on the piece she was going to play. [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5KeKphjoX8]Niccolo Paganini Caprice No. 24 in A Minor Op. 1[/url]. Widely regarded as an incredibly difficult solo to play, Helene had spent most of her free time mastering pieces just like it. It had been her obsession since the first time she held an instrument in her hands. Music flowed through her veins instead of blood. Her violin was a special construction designed for the incredible wear Helene put on her instruments due to her vampiric qualities. Now at last, she had arrived at the first destination on the path to her dream.

The strength in her knees began to waver as she stared up at the sign to the restaurant. It could have been any place but knowing that she would be performing in front of real people? Well it chilled this vampire to the core. Helene took a deep breath and collapsed her umbrella before heading inside. Stage-fright. That was what it was called, and she was terrified as she followed the directions to the stage [color=7bcdc8]"This way, mademoiselle."[/color] What if she wasn't good enough? What if her dream was the foolish notion of a child? What if it would have been better to stay in her gilded cage? These and many other questions assaulted her mind as she took her steps towards the stage. It was so overwhelming that she felt like crying. Running away.

Helene placed her violin's case on a table provided and took out the black instrument outlined in silver, leaving her umbrella off to the side. Two men and one woman sat in chairs next to a round table in front of the stage and she could feel their eyes on her. Holding the violin in one hand and the bow in the other, she closed her eyes and opened them a moment later. This was not the time to have second thoughts. She could do this! No matter how scared or nervous she was, she couldn't back down. And so, she turned to face the three who would judge her fate with a determined look in her eyes. Just from observation, the women appeared to be in her mid-thirties while the one man appeared in his late-thirties and the other about early-forties. Helene, of course, was much older than them but she would appear no older than her mid-twenties and she could see that judgement in their eyes already.

The older gentleman was the first one to speak [color=8dc73f]"Would you please give us your name and what you plan to play?"[/color] His tone hinted at Germanic descent but one that has been in America for a long time.

Helene gave a nod and spoke clearly [color=FF4D4D]"My name is Helene Si-St.Claire. Yes, Helene St. Claire. I shall be playing Niccolo Paganini Caprice No. 24 in A Minor Op. 1."[/color] She had nearly given her clan name. 

A shared look of surprised gripped the judges, with the female judge seemingly a little offset [color=fff79a]"Are you sure that is what you'd like to play?"[/color]

Helene gave a beaming smile and a simple reply[color=FF4D4D]"Yes."[/color]

The female judge looked at her fellow judges and shrugged, the look on her face made it seem like she didn't believe Helene could pull it off [color=8dc73f]"Very well, Miss St. Claire. Please begin."[/color] The oldest gentleman said, taking hold of a clipboard and pen as did the others.

Helene inhaled deeply just for her own focus, putting in her the proper mindset to let the spirit of the music flow into her. Years of practice was fervently engaged as she began to slide the bow across the strings of the violin, her fingers deftly manipulating the strings to play the exact note she wanted. Her eyes closed soon after as she began, allowing her to completely put the judges out of her mind. It was just her and the music, pitting her skill against the complexity of the piece in a heated battle. Her hopes, dreams, and passion flowed into her performance and soon her body began to move with it. What was only minutes felt like centuries but soon enough her performance was reaching its end. As the final note was struck, Helene slowed opened her eyes, nervous about what she might see.

The three judges who had shown some disbelief in her piece selection were utterly blown away, their expressions appearing as though they could not believe that such performance had come from such a young and unheard of woman. Their senses finally seemed to return to them, but they looked at each other as if not sure what to say. However, the older gentleman smiled at Helene and rose from his seat and turned to face the man who had shown her to the stage [color=8dc73f]"Monsieur. We have concluded the auditions, please turn anyone else who shows up away."[/color]. Helene wasn't entirely sure what was going as he came up on the stage [color=8dc73f]"Miss St. Claire. In the twenty years I have been performing, never once have I heard a performance quite like yours. It would be our honor to invite you to the Sierra Quartet."[/color] He said with extending his hand out.

The words didn't even register at first Helene was so shocked. They were willing to close down their auditions just to have her? Her gaze turned to the other two judges who smiled back at her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she took the gentleman's hand in an enthusiastic handshake, one in which she might have gripped too hard.[color=FF4D4D]"I-I..graciously accept.[/color]It was hard to even speak with just how happy she was right now. Living in her mother's shadow for so long and finally she felt validation for something she accomplished. The three people had no idea what this meant to her, nor did they know of her identity as a vampire. She suddenly felt light-headed and her eyes locked onto the large vein that pulsed in gentleman's neck and all the blood that must flow through it....

[color=8dc73f]"Miss, are you alright?"[/color] She snapped back and released her grip, realizing she had not let go of his hand yet.

Helene laughed it off and nodded [color=FF4D4D]"That performance must have taken more out of me than I thought."[/color]