...senses something amiss.

it's a nice piano... he opens the top to look at it.

excuses himself from the idle conversation he was having with a business partner and heads to where the piano is proudly displayed.

presses a key, wondering if it sounds as nice as it looks.

freezes up as he sees a random guest *touching his piano.* "Excuse me," he says, trying to contain his anger. "Please don't touch that."

raises an eyebrow at him, but doesn't take his fingers away from the piano. "Oh?"

resists the urge to twitch. "Yes. That is a rather expensive, distinguished instrument, so *if you don't mind.* "

presses another key, just to tick him off. "Oh? Do you play?"

comes within grabbing range, just in case. "Yes. Yes I do. I might later, for the guests. But as of now, I must ask you, *sir,* to stop."

smiles, but only to hold back the giant smirk. Roderich's weakness was piano's? Priceless! He presses a few more keys. "Oh? That's awesome~"

puts a firm hand on his shoulder. "Sir, if you persist, I may have to call the guards." Roderich has always loved music, particularly

the piano, but he didn't become quite so defensive of the instrument until he had the power to make

people follow his orders. Now it borders on unhealthy - not that he considers it anything but reasonable.

raises his hands and gives him an innocent look. "Is something wrong?"

doesn't buy the innocence. "I believe I just told you, did I not?"

shrugs innocently. "We were just talking about your piano..."

forces himself to calm down slightly since he's not touching it anymore. "You were playing it. Talking, I don't mind. With some distance."

a laugh and a shrug. "I don't know how to play the piano!"

smiles in a pained manner. "Obviously. You were pressing the keys, however, and I'd rather you didn't."

doesn't see a problem with pressing the keys!

does. :/ "I believe I've made myself clear. I just ask that you stop."

blinks just as innocently, resting his hand on the piano once more. "Stop what?"

can't stop his twitch this time. " *Touching* that. This *instant.* "

can't help but smile at his twitch. "Oh? Was I? My apologies~"

...points out that his hand is still on the piano. ]<

takes his hand off, smiling innocently. c:

him a suspicious look. "Perhaps you could use some refreshments, Mr. Beilschmidt."

grins his usual grin. "Of course. Could I get you some punch, *Mr. Edelstein*~?"

isn't liking this person. At all. But figures that if it gets him away from the piano, it might be worth it. "Alright," he says stiffly.

him a grin, before walking off to get drinks.

heads more towards the refreshments himself, so that he isn't hovering near the piano when his pest comes back.

wanders around, trying to find him again, carrying an especially spiked drink for him~

isn't exactly avoiding him, but isn't trying to find him either.

*is* trying to find him, and gets to him quite easily, holding out a cup for him with a grin.

takes the cup without expression or comment. :/

raises an eyebrow. "It's a party! Have fun~"

shrugs. "Forgive me for still being rather put off by your...whatever you were doing with my piano."

rolls his eyes. "I was just looking at it!"

doesn't believe him. :/

didn't do anything! ...This time!

that that attitude is precisely while he's acting less than friendly. But in the effort to be a good host, he at least drinks from the cup.

he just needs to *chill out~*

just...doesn't appreciate people touching his piano, and doesn't think that's much to ask.

he should have said so earlier!

did. :/

pats his shoulder. "Well, at least it's over and done with now, ja?"

makes a noncommittal noise and takes another sip.

him a grin, taking a sip as well.

tries to make polite conversation for the sake of it. "Have you have any run-ins with the pirates

lately?" It's an ironic subject. He finds this humorous.

being a pirate, he also finds it ironic, though he just nods. "I have, actually."

feigns some small interest, sipping politely on his drink. "Really? Care to tell the tale?"

nods, and starts to tell the tale, using his arms as he talks. "I was just sitting there, fixing my ship when he comes in

and starts talking crap. So I pull my gun on him and shoot him and throw gas grenades at him, but before he gets away, he shoots me." He

said, motioning to his leg. Which would explain why he's been favoring his other all evening.

...that that's actually sort of interesting. "The pirates can just walk in like that?" He'd have to remember that.

shakes his head. "Of course they can't! Which is why I was caught off guard! I would have shot him as soon as I saw him!"

finishing off his glass. "Really. And what do you suppose went wrong in the defenses?"

helplessly shrugs. "I have no idea! None of the alarms when off, so he either found a way around it....or he turned off the alarms."

more intrigued now, for his own sake. "Speaking purely theoretically, how do you suppose he managed that?"

humms, thinking about it. "Well, he could know someone on the inside--not all military men are as honorable as they seem. Someone could have

easily explained the alarm system to him."

takes a mental note of that. He should have thought of that beforehand. "And you fought this man off single-handedly?" His glass is empty.

offers to refill his drink. He nods. "Yeah--but I had all my equipment there with me--we were on *my* grounds. He only had a gun."

accepts, now that they're having a bearable conversation. "He would have been wiser to bring backup."

takes his glass and goes to get him another vodka/punch mix, handing it to him. He's actually grateful for this conversation--it

helps him realize what he should do next time. "He would have been smarter if he had brought more than one gun!"

become more willing to discuss somewhat risky topics. It feels like flaunting his power in the military's face, and he's feeling strangely

relaxed. "Perhaps. But it's more effective to have more than one shooter than more than one gun."

nods. "I would agree with you, but how do you know the other shooter won't abandon you? Or shoot you in the back?"

shrugs. "That's when you have people you can trust - at least a few."

hmmms, taking a sip of his drink. "People are liars, though. And if they're pirates, you can't count on them being reliable."

twitches with the memory of his smashed piano. "True. But usually you can find *someone* who is...a companion first, pirate second."

doesn't actually realize he's pretty much just said he's a pirate, which would end pretty badly if this man were an officer.

not an officer, thankfully, and doesn't see anything wrong with what he just said. Lucky break. "You'd think you could--but it's harder

than you think. Most people are pirates first and only care about themselves." He doesn't realize he just...basically gave himself away a

s well.

as*

losing some lucidity as he drinks more of the spiked punch, so doesn't find it too strange. "I beg to differ -

there are a select few who are much better than that. Very few, but they exist."

raises an eyebrow, grinning to himself. "Oh? And where can I find said people?"

shakes his head. "You'll have to get your own, of course. I have mine."

nods in understanding, a bit amused. "Oh? And who would that be?"

, even when on his way to tipsy, knows very well not to put others in danger, thank you very much. "Ah, but that would be *telling.* "

snickers. "I'm not going to *steal* them~"

frowns at him. "I know that. But it's never wise to go talking on about the people you trust to total strangers."

grins at him. "But I'm a *military man*. Can't you trust me?"