riverviewlogs

Entry tags:

open

who: Undertaker and whoever happens to drop by
what: Musical inclinations
when: Nov 11 in the afternoon
where: The music shop
warnings: Feelz and potential band starting

It had been a whim, in the end, to go for a stroll around the town square and visit the market of it all, but he had had his eye on this place for some time. Having had so recently purchased a house in the city, he of course had no money for anything here, but that didn't stop him from doing a little window shopping on his day off.

His interests swayed with the wind here and there, ultimately landing on the music store and in he went to explore. Once or twice his desires had taken him to this shop and he did so love the sounds that came from it. Many of the instruments he recognized immediately, their shape and sound and purpose having not changed so much from his own time. Indeed, music was ageless and even though it had change much since his day according to the tastes of those who created it, the tools used to make the magic happen hadn't been adjusted so much that he didn't know them anymore.

The voice of the violins, still glossy and polished. The woodwinds and their trills, ups and downs in tone that they could be. So talented! But in the back of the store, his heart drew him to a set of three pianos that stood admired by few. He wandered around one, then another, then the third, letting fingers caress their keys and their shining wood. It had been decades since he'd last played, but as he sat and settled his hands over the keys, it felt as though it'd been only yesterday.

Eyes closed, he bowed his head and let the whim do what it would with him. One day, he thought, he would have to move this beauty from the shop into their new house with him. As long as she sang like this for him when he touched her, how could he resist her charm?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Honestly, Ciel had not planned on entering the music store. He didn't want to replace the violin he'd left at home and entering felt like too much of a temptation to do just that.

Except, he saw familiar dark clothes and silver hair enter the store and his curiosity got the better of him. He'd never really thought of Undertaker as the musical sort but he'd also never taken the time to know the man until they'd started living here. And then living together. It was probably one of the bigger things he'd come to regret but at least they had time and opportunity now.

He watched other people look at music, instruments, but hardly anyone tried testing them. So the sound of a piano eventually lead him right to Undertaker and his playing. And Ciel watched, mouth opened in surprise and looking very undignified. Eventually he closed his mouth but the awe didn't vanish, and he settled on the bench of another piano to listen.

His severe nearsightedness left him at a disadvantage to those around him in some ways, but he barely noticed it anymore until he had to read something from his tiny phone of a thing or a book, and even then it was such a minor detail to his life. Still, he'd closed his eyes, hidden behind bangs longer than they should be, for a reason. He no longer needed sight to tell him where his fingers needed to be to hit the next notes just right, and really all his surroundings did for him was to create a distraction.

So he'd shut his sight out completely to dive straight into the sounds from the piano, losing himself to one of the many melodies he knew by heart even after all this time. He heard around him feet shuffling, but it was distant, easily forgotten. He would play it forever if he was left to the task, but by the time he'd played through the song a third time, he let it taper off finally, coming back to reality around him with a content sigh. That had been all too nice.

There were a couple moments when he considered leaving, letting Undertaker to his playing, but he couldn't seem to make his legs move. It seemed that even his body wanted to remain seated and enjoy the music, so sit he did. Through the entirety of the music. And he was sure he heard a few other people milling about just for a listen as well.

When it finally tapered off, even if he wouldn't be able to see it from where he was sitting, Ciel just smiled towards Undertaker. That had been... peaceful. He was still getting used to that feeling.

"I never knew you played."

Of course he'd run into the young Earl here. Even when they were away from home and at their respective workplaces, he was never truly far, and he hadn't been since the boy had lost his memories and even more so since his asthma attack, though they had medication now that would make at least one of those go away.

He tilted his head in the direction of the voice and ran his fingers over the keys one last time as he sat, lingering. "I haven't had the means or a reason to play in years. You wouldn't have heard me at it, but I've made these ladies sing a time or two."

Ciel actually felt a little bad following him in, partly for that reason. His curiosity often got the better of him though and luckily it hadn't gotten him into any real trouble yet. And it hopefully wouldn't!

"I wish I had. You're magnificent." It wasn't often, or to just anyone, that Ciel would offer such compliments to. And again, he was inwardly berating himself for not ever trying to learn more about Undertaker sooner. He'd been his fathers confidant, and a close family friend, all his life. It would have been the least the boy could have done.

"I wouldn't mind hearing you play more often."

"Why, thank you, milord. I wouldn't mind playing a little more often but you know how things are." Between his job and home and this and that, he wouldn't have much time to keep wandering here at his leisure to play songs that meant things to him years ago.

He let himself linger a moment or two more, then pulled himself away from the seat and the keys and stood again, brushing hands down along his shirt and pants as he did. "By the by, what, might I ask, brings you into a place such as this? You were probably made to learn a piece or two but I'm sure I don't know what you used to play it."

He did know, they had just moved and now his father was there and living with them. Money was something they had to be careful with for awhile. Still, Ciel would like to hear him play more. Maybe they could invest in a piano some time in the near future.

"I saw you come in, I was curious. I can play the piano, and the violin. Sometimes I think about getting a new violin." He did glance towards the strings, wondering how many he'd have to look at, test, before he found one that felt right.

"We should get one, someday. Then we can listen to you and you can play any time you like."

Most of noble status were required to know at least one instrument and know it well, as Undertaker was aware. It spoke to the vastness of their education and generally made them more pompous while they were at it. One more thing to brag about in front of their acquaintances or those in poverty who could never hope to afford such instruments, let alone the lessons themselves. He had taken up the piano out of boredom himself, but abandoning his place as a reaper cost him access to one.

In truth, the more he thought about it, the more he wondered if he really needed an instrument at all. "It would be easier to transport than one of these." Fingers ran over the keys of one end as he trailed away toward the strings and he turned his back on the pianos entirely. "Are you thinking about purchasing a violin soon? You know they will let you play one before you buy it."

Luckily for Undertaker, Ciel was learning to be more modest about some things. It helped that they'd spent so much time here already, that his position in England had granted him no favors here except the option to open a business instead of attending school. And that was because of his own studies, not something his title afforded him.

"I like hearing you play though." It would be worth the trouble. And he was sure that selling something like this, they probably provided a delivery service. It was something he'd have to ask about. Not just then, though.

"Mm, but I thought it might annoy others while I try to find one that feels right."

"That's kind of you, but." The slow tilt of his head says he doesn't quite believe what he's hearing, even though he couldn't possibly be mistaking what it is that's coming out of Ciel's mouth.

"Milord, don't be bashful." Here. They're going to do this, just like when they ran into each other at the dance the previous month. He steps over to one of the violins on its stand and takes it and the bow down. This creation, he knows nothing about other than its sound, and he offers it out to the boy. "Come. Forget the others. They're here to do the same as we are."

On instinct, he started to object. He didn't need a violin, after all. Undertaker would probably say the same but he wanted to see the man at ease like that more often. It was obvious he enjoyed it, the way he'd let himself get lost.

And then he had one of the violin in hand, and he shifted a little, looking unsure. After a moment though, he slipping the violin under his chin and lightly ran the bow over the strings, testing the sound and then adjusting it before playing a bit from one of the first songs he'd ever learned.

The sound was alright but the violin itself didn't feel quite right.

He saw the protest before it was made and waggled the pieces in his hand enticingly until Ciel had them in hand. Once the Earl did, he stood back, hands curled up at his chest with fingers lightly touching as he might have had if he had been wearing the longer sleeves he was so fond of in their world. This world didn't seem to have enough of them.

But the music coming from that violin sounded just as lovely as any he'd heard come from Vincent's own private concerts. He hummed quietly and stepped back to sit on one of the empty stools there to listen.

He played a bit more, trying to find just what made it feel wrong. It became apparent after a bit more- it was heavier than his own back home. Just slightly but enough to notice when playing for a little while. It was something he could probably get used to if he gave it some thought and some time.

"It's a little heavier than mine." He's not complaining, it's more a thoughtful observation. It was nice though, and it had good sound.

He pressed palms to the edges of the stool and leaned into them, listening in contentment. They needed this in their home. Maybe he would put some funds toward purchasing a music player of some kind so they could hear something other than the sounds of the wind outside or the background noise of the TV. Not that those weren't good for white noise, but it would get cold soon. A roaring fire sounded nice, but there were times when he wanted a little more than that.

"Probably a concert piece, made out of finer wood. But you can choose something cheaper to practice on, if it's to your liking."

Ciel would agree. The house needed music, they needed it. It was nice to just let go and play sometimes, or listening to someone who was letting go. It was part of the reason he'd stayed and listened to Undertaker. Not only had it surprised him but it had been beautiful, there was emotion in it. Something he was only just really letting back into his playing now.

"It's not unbearable, just different." He glanced back to where it had been settled. "I'll have to remember this one for the future."

He shrugged with a soft sound. "Never said it was unbearable. You're taking to it quite well, I'd say." Violin wasn't his thing. Really anything with strings wasn't his thing if he wanted to keep his nails the way they were, and he did. But Ciel hadn't kept his extraordinarily long and had been well trained in at least the basics.

Ciel did, indeed, keep his nails short and neat. He still wondered, frequently in fact, how Undertaker managed to function with nails so long but let it go each time as one of those mysteries he'd never solve or see solved.

"Playing it would make my arms a little stronger." And then he paused, thought for a moment and added: "I wouldn't mind playing with you someday. You're better than most people I hear on a piano."

"Would you, now?" That would be something he'd like to hear. He hadn't played anything for pleasure with another person... well, ever. Mostly, he just played to himself, when he had the chance, but the temptation to play with someone else? Especially someone who knew what they were doing as well as Ciel did? That was just too good to pass.

"We've a selection of violins and pianos here. Would you like to try it now?"

That was an idea but Ciel shied away a bit if only because he wasn't used to really drawing attention to himself. He'd draw attention to his business, people around him, charities, and so on, but never actually on himself.

"We're not just testing them if we do though, are we? Would it be alright? Although, he supposed it could still be considered testing the instruments, seeing how well they suited one another.

So much modesty, as could be expected of an Earl. He had appearances to keep up, of course, in his own world, but Undertaker couldn't help but shake his head at the boy.

"Who cares? This is the perfect place to test these instruments out and decide if or not the one you're using is the one you need." He stood from his seat and gestured on with a sweep of his hand. "We won't be here forever with them, taking their use from other customers. This is just a test get together, to see how well we might follow each other at home with them. Come."

It never stopped surprising him, how Undertaker viewed the world and how he didn't let other people dictate how he lived. It was refreshing and something he really needed to learn to do himself.

"I suppose you've got a point." And it didn't look like they were upsetting anyone. He was sure they'd drawn a couple looks between Undertaker's playing and his own. They'd probably draw a few eyes this time as well.

"You start then."

He seated himself back at the same piano and adjusted his coat and sleeves before he set fingers back over the keys. Before he would play the first note, he closed his eyes, not needing them for the music or the keys themselves.

"I should start? Then something easy, I think."

And easy it was, something light and pleasant and almost playful. He wasn't sure if this tune had ever been given a name, and that might work out best for them as he waited for Ciel to join in. While he played and the boy with him, he intended to change the notes to follow the Earl's, then lead the tune again, playing a sort of musical follow the leader.

He took a moment to listen to what Undertaker was playing before tucking the violin back in place under his chin and picking up the tune. It is pleasant, and he liked how playful it was. This was nothing like his lessons with the governess or Sebastian. It was enjoyable.

Switching roles while playing was different though and unexpected, but he managed well enough. Ciel even smiled while he played, something he hadn't really done at home, trying to keep up with the notes on his pages.

He hovered in the shadows, drawn to the music without knowing why. He wasn't particularly shocked to see Undertaker, but he was confused at the emotions the scene evoked. He discovered he was quite unable to approach, smiling cheerfully, as he usually would have done.

Strange.

His gaze took in the instruments, pausing on the strings. Every noble had some musical experience and he was no different. He could actually play several of the instruments he saw, but he did not have the heart to even pick them up for some reason.

Edited 2017-11-15 05:00 (UTC)

There are a few loops and turns in the music that he feels, chasing his whims as he goes. He's in a particularly good mood that day, not too wild for once, and it shows in what he plays. Maybe the turn of the weather has him calming down now that his favorite holiday has passed or maybe the breeze was just too nice.

Either way, he plays the notes, letting them ring out without a care in the world, unaware of those around him for the moment.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

open

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject