"Sure, he could keep me with that. Who'd want to be stuck with me though?" Nicolas looked at Spike, looked at the necklace. He could see it vanish into his shirt and there was something almost painfully romantic about the fact that he was wearing it while they talked like this. Pretending they didn't know what this was about. He laughed and shook his head, but then he simply got up and grabbed his violin. If he was nervous, it didn't show.

Nicolas didn't really do nerves though, not where music was concerned. He might not be satisfied with his music, he probably never would be, but he was his only enemy there. Everyone else seemed quite content to attest him a certain raw genius. Raw, right. Frustration over not sounding right. But he could give it a try, he always gave it a try. "Then let's see who knows music better."

He stepped up to Spike and caught his eyes. William. Definitely William. "If I can't keep up, you name your prize."