For One More Day With You 2

This entire Entry is a flash back to when we first met

The first time I ever saw you, you looked as if you'd lost the will to live.

Then again, I was in no better state, being practically dead inside.

The young Golds clapped as the high pitched string sounding note marked the end of Félicité's master work. Well, it was his master work for that moment. He only needed it to pass his exam and earn him his certification. It did.

"It was quite the somber tune, Félicité, but beautiful none the less." One of his two teachers congratulated him. The other male Gold with him handed Félicité his identification card. It labeled him a professional musician, allowing to leave his town and country of origin should he so choose. It had a picture of his face on it, and his full name.

"Thank you, Maestro Valdi. It was inspired by the artwork on The Wall." Félicité told him quietly. The young Gold's other teacher, Maestro Louef, chuckled quietly.

"Ah yes, many talent musicians before you derived inspiration from that wall. But no one has ever written happy songs after it. I'm still waiting for that day." His friend chuckeled with him. Félicité did not see the humor.

"Why?" He asked, quiet as ever. Before his teacher could respond he elaborated. "Don't you know you will be waiting forever?" If the Gold music masters could have frowned, they would have.

"Not everyone shares your opinion of our town, Félicité." His teacher said sternly. Then he clapped him on the shoulder and beckoned him to walked with him. "Listen Félicité, you are certainly very talented. You've received the honor of being called your unit's Prodigy; that's the best out of five hundred young Golds, Félicité. You always seem so glum but I hope being able to go out there and see the world and all its opportunities will cheer you up. I was also hoping that you would honor me by performing for a friend's wedding. It's taking place in Four-Four, so I would hope the prospect of going to a new town for your first real performance would entice you." His teacher gave a few encouraging clicks and beeps. Félicité tilted his head. To be honest, the chance to perform in front of strangers did excite him.

"What sort of a wedding is it?" He asked.

"A company union. My sister, her long time girlfriend and a fellow named Illra, all the best of friends, are going to marry." Félicité was aware of such a thing. Weddings between two people were most common but that did not stop other variations from taking place; Men married men, women married women, and a marriage could join any number of people. The record number in Tenor, held by the Gold side, was a union of nine different people, most of them male.

"I'm happy you invited me, Maestro Valdi. I would be more than happy to play for a wedding. I hope energetic music would be appropriate?"

"Of course, but have some slow or serious things too. Perhaps even you could play today's master work. It would be a treat." Félicité was grateful to have such encouraging teachers.

"A sad song inspired by violence wouldn't be appropriate at a wedding, sir." He said.

"That reminds me, what was the name of your little piece again? I seem to have forgotten..." The Maestro said. Félicité looked at his feet.

"It is called "Pair Bond."" He whispered. The Maestro clapped his back again.

"Oh, well that tears it, you can't play a song called pair bond at a company wedding for three!" The Maestro hollered with laughter and again, Félicité was not swayed by the Maestro's humor.
---
Félicité had decided it would be a good idea, and admittedly a frugal one, to skip that evening's recharge, tighten his purse, and WALK to the neighboring town of Four-Four. When he finished with the checkout station guard and officially left the town, the first thing he laid eyes on was a lifelong hated/feared Silver.

He did not know at the time that the silver headed individual sitting balled up on the bench before him would be his life long friend, even lover.

Of course, how could he suspect such a thing of someone who looked like they wanted nothing more than a quick and quiet death?

After getting over the initial shock of seeing someone he'd been raised to believe was his enemy, he realized that this young Silver had no intention of attacking him. He began to walk passed the other robot when a quiet, even gentle voice reached him.

"I am a musician."

Félicité stopped and turned back to the miserable looking Silver. Had he spoken to him or was he just talking to himself?

"Pardon?" Félicité asked just to be safe.

"I said, I am a musician. I received my license today. This is the first time I've ever left my home town." The Silver shifted his position so that he was looking at Félicité but his head was still pressed to his knees. "Or spoken personally to a Gold." He finished. Félicité shifted uncomfortably under this new person's gaze.

"Well then...for all intents and purposes you and I are practically the same person but with different face plating and casing color. ...How was your graduation?" Why Félicité was still talking to this individual he wasn't sure but it felt good to speak to someone so frankly, someone on the same level as him. This was someone new, someone who would not judge.

"Uneventful and dismaying." Félicité immediately felt sympathy and was fascinated. He'd rarely held any feelings at all for anyone besides shame, annoyance, even contempt. "I was told that I am not talented at all and that I should have myself refitted for a different profession. I'm not special. The world doesn't need plain, uninteresting musicians completely devoid of talent." Ouch. Had this poor robot really been told such things? By the people who are meant to encourage and strengthen him? All his life, Félicité had only received complements and praise; he had always been described as outstanding and above average. He and this individual were one in the same, how could this other posses no talent?

"I am sorry, sir, but I cannot believe that until I hear a sample of your work. You and I cannot possibly be THAT different." The Silver lifted his head and looked at him more closely. "I mean, today, when I received my license, I was also awarded the honorable title of Prodigy of my unit." He said.

"...Congratulations." The Silver lowered his head again. Félicité continued to feel sympathy and sadness and the feelings only intensified. He felt the NEED to do something for this creature, as if it were a primal urge. He'd suffered from loneliness all his life, he could not stand to watch this robot suffer too.

"My name is Félicité. Félicité-081." The rest of his location was obvious and did not need to be pointed out. Many robots shortened their name to the name and district when speaking to someone within the same town. Since this sad being was Silver, it was obvious he was from the same town.

"It is a nice name. I am Joie-223." The Silver responded. Félicité was happy-actually happy!-to notice that Joie was beginning to sound less sad as their conversation went on.

"Being in this town for too long causes a funk of sadness and gloom to wash over new people. We musicians especially, who cannot thrive with violence, are not meant for this place. I have been invited to perform at a wedding. Perhaps you would feel better if you came with me? To the town of Four-Four." The Silver sat up straighter now.

"A wedding?"

"Yes, a company union...unfortunately it is a Gold wedding, I'm sure they would not appreciate my inviting a Silver so you won't get to hear me perform. But being in a new town will be good and I'm sure you will be able to find something to do!" Félicité was now hell bent on convincing this stranger to come with him. Anywhere was better than here. Joie did not take long to make up his mind. He stood slowly and reached for Félicité's hand. Félicité noticed that this Silver, like most Silvers, was noticeably taller than him. It didn't bother him; he found it endearing now.

"I will come with you. Promise me that some of your talent will rub off on me, okay?" He said. They began to walk.

"I've not yet heard you perform but I'm sure you've already got plenty of talent. The violent people here do not truly know art." And Félicité felt joy at the thought of being hand in hand with a fellow musician, his first real friend and compatriot, as he walked to his first gig.