"What, with my temperament?" Laurent strolled easily at the Beast's side, keeping hold of his arm as though this was merely a pleasant walk with some suitor that he hadn't yet bothered to discourage. "My father finally gave it up, after I made adequately clear that I had neither interest nor inclination for music. I was apt enough for my other studies, so he let that one go."

His eyes flicked toward his companion. How odd the Beast looked, walking like this. Unnatural. "So you've made the effort of learning the harp. I can see how the claws might be suited to that. You should trim them, though, or they'll cut the strings."