Post by Kalum Wulfgang on Oct 3, 2015 7:09:35 GMT
Open to Uriah Han
Of the few trees that lined some streets within the city not one had leaves that still held their vibrant green hue. Many had turned various shades of reds, oranges, yellows, and browns and many of those trees had simply begun to shed their dying foliage in favor of being bare. A frigid breeze blew this way one moment then that way the next causing the occasional man to lose his hat if he was not careful and for women's bonnets to flop about their head. Despite the chill that settled over the city the sun still shone though shyly due to the light grey clouds hovering about it threatening to eventually shut it out.
Kalum enjoyed this time of year due to what it memories the season stirred in him, yet, at the same time the nostalgia only served to worsen his growing pain of feeling home sick. As such, the huntsman found himself slipping into the merchant's district with his bow slung on his back and his quiver attached to his thigh. Caracalla appeared to be absent again--she had been now for days and he could not understand where she went off to causing the man to only further stress as he fret over her well being. No, no, he needed a distraction--wanted a distraction.
The soldier peered into the windows of each shop he passed until one in particular caught his attention. A music store that sold instruments remained open and from what he could see several people lingered inside looking at the variety the shop had to offer. When Kalum stepped in several people stopped to look up. One couple shrank back and scoffed before turning away. A woman looked up but then quickly looked away. A man nodded to him and three others did not even care to notice. Confused, he stepped into the shop and browsed the wares to offer until he passed by a beautiful baby grand piano with a surface so polished and refined he could make out his reflection. His uniform. It hit him then. Was that why those reactions had happened? After the mess in the Hovels, he could not be surprised.
"Do you play, sir," asked a man who approached him, likely the owner.
"Pardon," Kalum returned as he was now drawn from his thoughts.
"Do you play? Would you like to try it?"
"I... know how to play, yes, but I have not for a long time." That had been true. He had not played since he had begun training for military service seven years ago and even when he did play it was only ever when he was at Gwenievere's home since her family owned a piano and she had taught him.
"Why not try it," he offered. Kalum's brows furrowed as he studied the ivory and ebony keys before finally giving in. Before sitting he removed his bow and the quiver to set off to the side. As he sat on the bench he studied the keys and lifted his hands to where he remembered middle C to be and touched it with his thumb before pushing it down. The sound that followed was smooth as silk for any musical ear the key was certainly tuned properly. As he lifted his thumb his middle finger was already moving to hover over an ebony key two down from the one beside the C, and his pinky hovered over the A just as as he moved his thumb over D no. All three fingers fell gently on the keys for the chord of D minor making a sound that brought a smile to his lips. His left hand joined his right then in testing the piano and after a few notes he made a mistake then another, then another before he finally smoothed out and found stability in his play.
Now lost to the feeling of playing music once more, he fell into a rather melancholy song he remembered Gwen teaching him and once he was through and stood to gather his things.
For Musical reference. I could not find a pure piano version:
Of the few trees that lined some streets within the city not one had leaves that still held their vibrant green hue. Many had turned various shades of reds, oranges, yellows, and browns and many of those trees had simply begun to shed their dying foliage in favor of being bare. A frigid breeze blew this way one moment then that way the next causing the occasional man to lose his hat if he was not careful and for women's bonnets to flop about their head. Despite the chill that settled over the city the sun still shone though shyly due to the light grey clouds hovering about it threatening to eventually shut it out.
Kalum enjoyed this time of year due to what it memories the season stirred in him, yet, at the same time the nostalgia only served to worsen his growing pain of feeling home sick. As such, the huntsman found himself slipping into the merchant's district with his bow slung on his back and his quiver attached to his thigh. Caracalla appeared to be absent again--she had been now for days and he could not understand where she went off to causing the man to only further stress as he fret over her well being. No, no, he needed a distraction--wanted a distraction.
The soldier peered into the windows of each shop he passed until one in particular caught his attention. A music store that sold instruments remained open and from what he could see several people lingered inside looking at the variety the shop had to offer. When Kalum stepped in several people stopped to look up. One couple shrank back and scoffed before turning away. A woman looked up but then quickly looked away. A man nodded to him and three others did not even care to notice. Confused, he stepped into the shop and browsed the wares to offer until he passed by a beautiful baby grand piano with a surface so polished and refined he could make out his reflection. His uniform. It hit him then. Was that why those reactions had happened? After the mess in the Hovels, he could not be surprised.
"Do you play, sir," asked a man who approached him, likely the owner.
"Pardon," Kalum returned as he was now drawn from his thoughts.
"Do you play? Would you like to try it?"
"I... know how to play, yes, but I have not for a long time." That had been true. He had not played since he had begun training for military service seven years ago and even when he did play it was only ever when he was at Gwenievere's home since her family owned a piano and she had taught him.
"Why not try it," he offered. Kalum's brows furrowed as he studied the ivory and ebony keys before finally giving in. Before sitting he removed his bow and the quiver to set off to the side. As he sat on the bench he studied the keys and lifted his hands to where he remembered middle C to be and touched it with his thumb before pushing it down. The sound that followed was smooth as silk for any musical ear the key was certainly tuned properly. As he lifted his thumb his middle finger was already moving to hover over an ebony key two down from the one beside the C, and his pinky hovered over the A just as as he moved his thumb over D no. All three fingers fell gently on the keys for the chord of D minor making a sound that brought a smile to his lips. His left hand joined his right then in testing the piano and after a few notes he made a mistake then another, then another before he finally smoothed out and found stability in his play.
Now lost to the feeling of playing music once more, he fell into a rather melancholy song he remembered Gwen teaching him and once he was through and stood to gather his things.
For Musical reference. I could not find a pure piano version: