∴ 002 ∴ Action ∴ Open ∴

[as_you_command]

[ Shortly after the evening's arrival, Guilford thought it was finally time to sit down, clear his mind, and practice. The shutters were likely poor insulation, but his hut was hopefully a good distance away from the others so that the sounds of his violin would not disturb anyone already asleep.

Guilford tried, with several false starts, to play

Comments

[beagabhainn]

You're rushing the tempo.

[as_you_command]

[ Startled, he paused his playing with a distinct lack of grace, producing a sound he'd rather not repeat. ] ...who is there? [ Guilford made sure that his device was inactive, didn't he? Though his door was not yet barred, as he was still awake, so he turned in that direction. ]

[beagabhainn]

[And lo, outside your door is a girl! She's been wandering about the village for a little while now. There's no real place for her to go. Peeking in.]

Slow down and try it again.

[as_you_command]

[ Her face was unfamiliar, and he was rather surprised that she had heard his playing, much less chose to speak up about it. Ordinarily, he might shoo her away. Until he figured out if she was a resident, or otherwise, it was best not to be too harsh. ]

Do not speak from the doorway. [ He gestured with his hand, eying her warily. Out, or in. ]

[Action]

[knightmare_hime]

[The hut he resides in is close enough in proximity to her own that, as she lights a few candles in her poor excuse for a kitchen, Cornelia's hand, poised with a match above the wick, halts. Her head lifts and she looks toward the sound of the violin, knowing exactly who the musician is.

Her gaze softens for just a moment, and as it does, the tiny flame traveling up her match reaches her fingers and--]

Dammit!

[The match is dropped, forgotten as soon as the fire is waved out, and she blows on her fingers for a moment. The impatient look that crosses her features dissolves seconds later and then she glances at her counter top. There is a parcel there, items wrapped in a faded cloth and tied with thin cording. After a moment of hesitation, she moves toward the bundle and picks it up before blowing out each candle and heading for the door

[as_you_command]

[ All other visits aside, he was getting the hang of the song a little better. But just as he took a break, to get up and stretch his legs, he heard the knock.

Well, whomever it was, was at least that polite. Though the hour was growing later than he thought, and it caused him to give Cornelia quite the questioning look once he had opened the door. ] Cornelia... [ Immediately, he felt apologetic. He knew her hut was the closest, and he stupidly forgot about it when he began. ] I hope my playing did not disturb you.

[knightmare_hime]

[She is growing accustomed, or so she tells herself, to the tenor of his voice when he uses her first name. But there is something about it, something nostalgic, some tiny bit of information that is missing to her because he's been calling her that far longer than she's had the opportunity to experience. Because of that, she cannot help the uncertainty that lingers minutely when it is heard.]

Not at all. [And her eyes lower, noting his state of dress. Apparel is not as easy to come by here, but she is used to seeing him polished, clothes neatly pressed and of the highest quality. Certainly not with the top buttons of his shirt undone, exposing much of his neck for her to see.

Her eyes are there a beat longer than she means for them to be and then they return to his face.

The silence is awkward. The situation is rare, or at least it would be if not for this primitive world. She swallows, her eyes flickering to the interior of his house and then she takes a step back.]

I should not have interrupted you. [Her arm tightens on the

[as_you_command]

[ The relief as she assured him that he was no bother, was brief. Something was off in the way she regarded him, and if it was not because of any disturbance he caused, what could it be?

Shifting, almost willing to let her get back to her business, his eyes catch sight of the package she held close. Curiosity got the better of him, and he stepped back and opened the door wider. ] I was preparing to stop for the evening.

[ Then, to give her reason to stay beyond whatever she had in mind, and was second-guessing: ] I was also considering some evening tea. Would you like to stay for a cup? [ He didn't want to be too inviting, only because she would not be used to a request such as that, coming from him. More like, she would say she wished for tea, and he would set about the task of fetching it. ]

[ audio ]

[dat_guardian]

[While the feed is audio, the voice does not seem to come from the device's speakers. Rather, it will seem to come from within the heads of anyone who happens to listen in.]

So many of the residents are musically talented...

... It is to be expected, I suppose.

[as_you_command]

[ The voice came to him when he had taken a pause to find a good place to resume -- having thoroughly mangled the last few bars -- and it caught him by surprise.

Again, he thought he had turned the device up, and so he glanced down to it as it lay on the bedding beside him. If there was anything on the display, he could not see it, for it was face-down. ] Is it so common?

[ Though, the better question, was: ] Why do you say that?

[dat_guardian]

The Fae are attracted to talent. Talent, skill, and beautiful things.

[as_you_command]

[ A brief sound of amusement. ] I would hardly call what I have been practicing on this evening "talent".

[ Though he has many more skills. ] Could that be why we are all here? Merely for their... entertainment?

[as_you_command]

[ ...apparently he had left the device on after his conversation with the Guardian. With a slight sigh, he picked it up. ] No need for flattery, miss. My form is far from adequate. [ At least he's honest? ]

[as_you_command]

Pleased to make your acquaintance, Viola. [ However awkwardly. ] My name is Guilford.

[ Stopping himself from another sigh. ] As you say... [ He wasn't going to argue for a stranger's musical taste, since really, he did not do so well. Someone familiar with the piece might have had sharp words with him for the way he butchered the last third of it. ]