[color=darkgray]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3EdPgr4.png[/img][/center]
[Color=salmon][b]Time:[/b][/color] 11 a.m.
[Color=salmon][b]Location:[/b][/color] Edin Theater
[Color=salmon][b]Interaction:[/b][/color] 
[Color=salmon][b]Mention:[/b][/color] 

Lorenzo could tell immediately that's Anastasia wasn't a fan of his opening speech but he could not dare put spotlight on his rivals. If he had not been chosen to be on this stage, he would have lauded them all from the audience. As she reluctantly took her place beside him, Lorenzo peered over at her. For a moment, his strong demeanor faltered against her words and her expression. He really did like Princess Anastasia, and now wondered if what he did had been worth it. Questioning his actions before feeling Kier randomly nibble at his collar. 

Kier was right! Lorenzo has to take this emotion and let him fuel him even more. 

[Color=salmon]“Princess Anastasia… thank you. You've given me the boost I need, lovely muse,”[/color] he whispered. [Color=salmon]“Use that cello to break their hearts as you did mine just now. I didn't mean those harsh but, now I know I was meant to say them. Help me deliver a tragedy, princess. One they won't forget.”[/color] Lorenzo shot her a tear-eyed wink. He stood strong, looking at the crowd before spilling his emotions as the [url=https://youtu.be/1Y3t2vEKA6E?si=WTgZ1Xv-Q6ZDcy_-]cello played[/url].


[Color=salmon]“Love! What is it I ask you all? Whatever your answer, shelter it in your hearts as I recite my piece!”[/color] Lorenzo cleared his throat once before he began.

[Color=salmon]“A man of mild wealth lived happy and free,
No worries, fears, responsibilities,
In time [b]love[/b] found him and entered his life,
Tenderness, passion, makings of a wife,
The thought refused, wishing for loneliness,
[B]Love[/b] is powerful, one cannot contes’,
Befalling kings, queens, peasants, and free men,
Remains beautiful again and again,

This is love.”[/color] Lorenzo paused a solemn expression now on his face. He pet Kier softly before continuing

[Color=salmon]“How could this man be free against it all?
Impossible! He just braced for the fall,
The warmth, into the tenderness he went,
This is [b]love[/b], no fighting, this is what was meant,
Did he appreciate her love? Did he?
Yes, but it soon became something deadly,
The pain, into the abuse he endured,
Clipped wings and caged, no different than a bird,

This was love.

A pet to show off, trophy of marriage,
Faking glee, hiding every miscarriage,
Tender bruises, warm blood, it was the price,
Then came the worst, a sharp knife meant to slice,
Screams and broken things, alcohol mustered,
Matter of time til the worst was ushered,
Darkness, emptiness, the man had vanished,
So did the woman, her life was banished,

Was this… love?”[/color] Lorenzo blinked a few times but continued. He was far from done. This was far from over. He reached down and picked up one of the red petals and held it as if he’d recite the poem to it.

[Color=salmon]“It was not long til he found someone new,
Fine, bottle-shaped, her color, a red hue,
She never fussed, never screamed, never fought,
Helped him to bed, gifted him what he sought,
Was it freedom, of course, freedom from pain,
Freedom from sadness, yet the loss remain,
This [b]love[/b], one-sided but she made him feel!
Made him feel nothing, so he could not heal,

This is love.

Isolated, his desire for her grows,
Can't let her go, and no one even knows,
Never abandoned, always takes her in,
Deeper, he wipes her juices from his chin,
His eyes roll back, any more will kill him,
Deeper, now he's at the edge, on the rim,
She can take him where he seeks to escape,
Deeper, his eyes shut, his mouth left agape,

This was love.”[/color] Lorenzo smiled weakly at the audience, his expression without a hint of the strength he had at the start.

[Color=salmon]“Then he wakes, the man is so far from death,
Heavy, labored, and weakly was his breath,
With his mistress, he wished to die alone,
Fall to tenderness and passion like stone,
Hard and heavy, to become still, lifeless,
Rid his heart of this feeling of tightness,
Send him on to the woman from before,
Heaven? Hell? It mattered not on which door…

Was this… love?”[/color] Lorenzo dropped the poppy petal. It grabbed Kier’s attention, causing the ferret to scurry to its landing. [Color=salmon]“Thank you.”[/color] He performed a bow.



[/Color]