Tunes at Twilight

[Tracy]

It had been a busy and trying few days for the infirmary staff with the two belligerent otters as their wards. But the two troublemakers seemed to be mending well now and activity in the infirmary was returning to something resembling normalcy. Not knowing how long the relative peace would last, Jamie and Roseleaf agreed to clear their evenings and spend some time together.

They met for an early supper to skirt the crowds of mealtime before heading outside to watch the sunset. Before they slipped out, Jamie swung by the kitchens and snagged two cups of a perfect autumn evening drink: hot apple cider with a splash of dark rum. They settled down just outside of the main gates, so some random beasts were milling about, but most were piled inside for dinner. The sun was sinking into the sea, twilight settling over the shore. The evening air grew colder as it grew darker, a cool autumn night setting in. It was the perfect excuse to have Roseleaf cuddled up close while they enjoyed their hot drinks.

"I think this needs t'be a more regular thing." Jamie nudged his head affectionately against Roseleaf's, then kissed her temple. "But I'm stuck out here slavin' away with cadets all day while you're cooped up in your infirmary mendin' their imaginary injuries," he went on, implying his lot was busier and far more difficult than the haremaid's. Of course he was joking, but he at least managed to do it with a straight face.

"Oh, evening you two!" said a cheerful voice. A pleasant-looking harewife had wandered in their direction, arms crossed inside her thin coat against the chilly breeze. "Oh, I'm sorry!" she recanted quickly. "I didn't mean to interrupt!"

Jamie readjusted a bit, withdrawing himself from the haremaid. He didn't really mind, but he didn't want to embarrass Roseleaf. "Evenin' mum. What's got you wanderin' about here during dinner?"

"I was looking for you and Keely said she saw you step out."

"Is something wrong?"

The harewife waved her paws with a laugh. "Oh no no! I was just wondering if could ask you a big favor?" The request didn't bother Jamie as much as the tentative look on his mother's face.

"All right…" Jamie agreed hesitantly.

"I was wondering if you could handle two of my lessons in the morning. They're both beginners and it'll be really simple," she said quickly.

Jamie's ears perked a bit, looking as if he was on his guard. How was he going to get out of this? He wasn't. And his mother knew it, too. The young lieutenant shook his head briefly. "So you're teachin' swordfighting now?" he said dryly.

His mother put her paws on her hips, as a grin spread on her face. It appeared she'd figured out the situation. "My piano lessons, smart alec."

Jamie made a face, looking sideways at Roseleaf. "That's funny, 'cause I can't teach piano as far as anyone knows."

[Kenyon]

Roseleaf had never planned for something like this. Her life had been spent largely apart, a part of a greater organization, with the loyalty and duty that went with it, but yet apart. Even her relationship with other infirmary workers was mostly professional. She had strong ties only to her family, was truly open only with her brother and parents.

Until she had met Jamie, and the stubborn lieutenant hadn’t left her alone, hadn’t accepted the distance she maintained with the world, sharing space but standing apart. And so she had finally given in, finding it easier than she expected to lean close to Jamie on the cool fall night, watching the sun set into the sea.

"I think this needs t'be a more regular thing." Jamie nudged his head affectionately against Roseleaf's, then kissed her temple. "But I'm stuck out here slavin' away with cadets all day while you're cooped up in your infirmary mendin' their imaginary injuries," he went on, implying his lot was busier and far more difficult than the haremaid's. Of course he was joking, but he at least managed to do it with a straight face.

“I think you’re right.” Roseleaf agreed while giving Jamie a gentle nudge with her elbow to show she hadn’t missed his exaggeration of his lot. She took a sip of the hot cider, it was warm and sweet, while the rum gave just enough of a kick to warm her belly.

"Oh, evening you two!" said a cheerful voice. A pleasant-looking harewife had wandered in their direction, arms crossed inside her thin coat against the chilly breeze. "Oh, I'm sorry!" she recanted quickly. "I didn't mean to interrupt!"

What followed was interesting for a nosy haremaid, and Roseleaf was a very nosy haremaid.

Jamie made a face, looking sideways at Roseleaf. "That's funny, 'cause I can't teach piano as far as anyone knows."

“As far as anyone knew.” She informed him, then winked at the harewife. “Any other secrets he’s hiding, ma’am?”

[Tracy]

"As far as anyone knew."

Jamie smirked and shook his head a little. By the mischievous look on the harewife's features, she'd planned the outcome of this encounter. Dahlia Farrian couldn't be prouder of her son - who he'd grown to be and all the toiling he'd done to get there - but she wasn't about to let the young lieutenant forget where he'd come from. Firstborn and only son of the Salamandastron music teacher, she wouldn't allow him to go about the mountain acting like his mother hadn't taught him her own craft.

“Any other secrets he’s hiding, ma’am?”

"No no," Jamie jumped in, putting a cork in the bubbling conversation. "Wouldn't it be more fun for everybeast if we spread my embarrassment out over more'n one evening?"

"Oh!" the harewife exclaimed to Roseleaf, looking stricken. "Ma'am?" Jamie chuckled quietly, shaking his head. His mother had a bit of a flair for the dramatic. "It's Dahlia, my dear. Mrs. Farrian if you just must." Although obviously old enough to be Jamie's other, the harewife had a youthful disposition. She was cheerful and energetic and her pretty features suggested how beautiful she must've been in her youth.

Jamie's mother returned her attention to her son. "So, is that a yes, then?"

Jamie gave a noncommittal grunt in reply. In his mind he was already rearranging his morning schedule to accommodate the change in plans.

"If you come by the room after supper tomorrow, I'll have lemon tart for dessert," she bribed.

"Oh, twist my arm. It's a deal."

"Thank-you sweetheart," the harewife returned with a smile. Reaching into her pocket, she tossed Jamie a small object. He caught the key and twirled it idly in his fingers. "I'll see you tomorrow. You two enjoy the rest of your night." With a parting wink, Dahlia moved off, going back inside where it was warm.

"Goodnight," Jamie said to his retreating mother. When she was gone, the hare laughed. "I knew that'd happen soon enough. Although t'be fair I was sure it'd be Keely who blabbed."

[Kenyon]

"Oh!" the harewife exclaimed to Roseleaf, looking stricken. "Ma'am?" Jamie chuckled quietly, shaking his head. His mother had a bit of a flair for the dramatic. "It's Dahlia, my dear. Mrs. Farrian if you just must."

“Dahlia it is then.” Roseleaf smiled up at the harewife. She’d have to track her down later, she’d love to hear more stories about Jamie. She filed the thought away to return to at a later date.

"Goodnight," Jamie said to his retreating mother. When she was gone, the hare laughed. "I knew that'd happen soon enough. Although t'be fair I was sure it'd be Keely who blabbed."

Roseleaf nudged Jamie, a trace of a grin on her face. “Piano, huh? Must be pretty good, to teach it, yes?” Her grin was curling at the edges, certain to take on a more devious slant. “Whatever other secrets are you hiding, Lieutenant?”

She plucked the key from his fingers, "Will you play for me?"

[Tracy]

Watching Roseleaf, it was clear she was enjoying herself entirely too much. It was nice to see, but Jamie thought it might be a bit better if it wasn’t at his expense. Oh well. The young lieutenant was the son of the mountain’s music instructor, so that he had some musical knowledge couldn’t be much of a secret. Still, he certainly didn’t go about advertising it. That’s what mothers were for though, right?

“Piano, huh? Must be pretty good, to teach it, yes?”

Jamie shrugged. “Anybeast who can read music can teach a beginner’s piano lesson. I’d wager the majority of my mum’s students are better’n me.” At piano, anyway. The hare had his mother’s knack for teaching. Jamie couldn’t help but smile and shake his head at the mischievous look that was crossing the haremaid’s face. How was she going to make him regret this?

“Whatever other secrets are you hiding, Lieutenant?”

The soldier made a face at her when she called him lieutenant. Didn’t they have an understanding? He adopted a playfully innocent expression. “Secrets? I don’t have secrets, m’gel. I’m an open book.”

"Will you play for me?"

That’s how Jamie was going to regret this. He glanced down at the key in Roseleaf’s paw, and only then did he realize how odd it was that his mother had given it to him. Jamie already had his own key and the lessons weren’t until the following morning. He shook his head as he realized what his mother had done. He shifted a bit, hesitating on an answer. The hare wasn’t accustomed to sharing this part of his life. He wasn’t secretive or guarded by nature, but his whole life revolved around being a soldier, and he wanted others to know it.

It wasn’t the first time someone asked Jamie to play for them. But it was the first time he said this. “All right.” He drained the rest of his cider before he stood up. Holding his paw out to help her up, he smiled. “But you’re mine for the rest o’ the night. No work, no checking in on the infirmary… an’ the next time you call me lieutenant, I tell everyone that you’ve rather warmed up to the name Rosie.”

[Kenyon]

“Secrets? I don’t have secrets, m’gel. I’m an open book.”

“An open book with a few secret chapters, then.” Roseleaf retorted, twisting her fingers around the key. She watched Jamie for his reaction, knowing for some reason he ordinarily kept this quiet. He couldn’t be a horrible pianist, not if his mother wanted him to teach. And she had never known him to be shy about anything, so stagefright was probably out of the equation.

“All right.” He drained the rest of his cider before he stood up. Holding his paw out to help her up, he smiled. “But you’re mine for the rest o’ the night. No work, no checking in on the infirmary… an’ the next time you call me lieutenant, I tell everyone that you’ve rather warmed up to the name Rosie.”

“You wouldn’t!” But she was smiling as she jumped to her feet, bringing her cider with her. She passed the key to Jamie as she took his paw. “Now, I’m afraid I’m not exactly sure where this room is, not really indulging in music lessons… well, ever, so you’ll have to lead us.”

[Tracy]

Jamie took the key back, twining his fingers with Roseleaf’s as they headed back inside. Hares were moving all about, lighting lanterns leading inside as well as about the walkways, casting a warm glow into the darkening stronghold. He took her up a staircase right inside, wanting the avoid the hustle and bustle around Salamandastron’s mess hall. It took a bit of a trek toward the south end of the mountain and three more staircases before they came to a locked up room.

Sliding the key back out, Jamie unlocked the door and held it open for Roseleaf. Slipping quickly in behind her, he went about lighting small lanterns about the dark, cool room. They didn’t provide a lot of light, but enough to see by, and enough to see everything in the room. The room was quite large. To the right was a variety of many different musical instruments, a large piano being the clear centerpiece. To the left seemed empty, except the floor was covered with soft, thick mats. The back wall was lined with overflowing bookshelves, filled with bound books and loose-leaf pages of music.

“I spent a lot o’ my childhood in here,” Jamie explained as he took a lantern off the wall and carried it toward the piano. He slung it up on the hook of a pole that resembled a coatrack by the piano, clearly put there for this situation. The lantern threw a soft glow over the space, bathing over the smooth black lid of the instrument. “Most o’ my growing up, it was jus’ me an’ my mum, and she had lessons in here all day, like she still does.” He nodded across the room. “So I would sit in the corner an’ work on my lessons in the afternoon while she taught.”

He walked around the lantern stand to the piano, rifling through a stack of music that was piled on the lid. This was usually where he could find what his mother’s students were working on, but sometimes he would also come across something his mother was working on herself or music she was writing.

[Kenyon]

As Jamie lighted lanterns, Roseleaf wandered aimlessly around the room, tentatively touching some of the instruments. Many of them she couldn’t name. She had never really been interested in learning music for herself as a child. She loved music, but only as an audience member, never one of the minstrels.

She moved to the center of the empty half of the room, her paws sinking into the padding. She frowned, confused. Why have cushions over the floor. She tapped her paw, testing the bounce and give of the mats.

“Whats with the cushions?” She asked, poking it once more with her toes. She looked up from her absorption to find Jamie, standing near the piano. “Can I ask you a question?”

[Tracy]

Jamie allowed Roseleaf to wander about, watching her a bit from the corner of his eye. It seemed strange to him that she'd never been in the music room before. To him, it was like never being in the messhall. He was fairly certain, as a child, he'd spent more time in this classroom than in the mountain's dining hall. Still, it was nice to share this small thing with the haremaid.

He was studying a slip of paper he'd picked up from the top of the piano, tilting it into the light of the lantern. Glancing up when Roseleaf spoke, he smiled as he watched her nudge at the floormats. "My mum used t'teach dancing as well but she passed most o' those lessons on to a former student o' hers. She kept her beginner tumbling classes though, so she had the mats laid on half the room for the leverets." Keely had outgrown the tumbling lessons, but not quite the tumbling. She was always bouncing and cartwheeling about outdoors. And sometimes indoors.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Jamie looked at her curiously, wondering what sort of question required a preface. "Of course."

[Kenyon]

She shrugged, wandering over to lean over his shoulder. Much of what was on the papers didn’t make any sense to her. Lines and dots, circles and little curlicues wandered over the papers. It had to be music, though she couldn’t see how one went from lines on a paper to music on an instrument.

“You don’t seem like you want people to know you can play. Why?”

It had at first amused her, the discovery of this little quirk in the hare, and Roseleaf was not altruistic enough to let such a matter lie. Especially when it had been so neatly laid in front of her, like a wrapped gift. He knew so much about her, yet it was difficult to pry little details about Jamie from him. She pressed a white key, a single low note sounding.

Perhaps she hadn’t asked the right questions? Or asked them the right way?

[Tracy]

Jamie tilted his head a bit to look at Roseleaf as she glanced at the sheet of music in his paws. She didn't seem to comprehend what she was looking at, which was baffling to the hare. Although she said she didn't have any kind of musical background, that someone could grow up without even learning to read music was staggering. Jamie had to remind himself that not everyone was raised by a music teacher. When she walked way, around to the front of the piano, he set the paper down.

“You don’t seem like you want people to know you can play. Why?”

Lifting an eyebrow at her, his gaze lowered to her paws as she played a low note on the large instrument. Hesitating, he had a look on his face, not answering right away. He didn't seem to not want to answer, but just didn't know how. "I don't think it's that so much…" he finally said, though it was hesitantly, still, like he wasn't quite sure it was the right answer.

"Well, it used to be," Jamie finally admitted, as if he was only just coming to the realization himself. "An' this is where you hear the vain side of me. I d'no, I'm sure you've heard a bit o' how I was when I was younger. I had a certain… image I meant to convey," he went on with a laugh. "The lad who spends his days in his mother's music classroom didn’t exactly fit." He shrugged, moving around the piano to stand behind Roseleaf the piano keys. "I told myself I outgrew it, but I'm sure there are a few lingering… quirks."

Standing behind her, he set his chin on her shoulder, taking her paw, he set a finger on the middle key, playing it lightly. "Middle C," he said as he arranged the fingers of her right paw. "And that'll play the C Major scale." Still keeping her tucked between his arms, he put his left paw on a set of keys to the left, lightly playing a scale. "Well, both paws combined would be the full scale. This is the lower register."

He laughed a little as he pulled his arms back, allowing himself one small indulgence of a kiss on her shoulder before he drew away. "I won't bore you anymore with all that."

[Kenyon]

"I don't think it's that so much…" he finally said, though it was hesitantly, still, like he wasn't quite sure it was the right answer.

She kept her gaze focused on the black and white keys as he thought. She pressed another key, the tone slightly higher than the last as it chimed through the room.

"Well, it used to be," Jamie finally admitted, as if he was only just coming to the realization himself. "An' this is where you hear the vain side of me. I d'no, I'm sure you've heard a bit o' how I was when I was younger. I had a certain… image I meant to convey," he went on with a laugh. "The lad who spends his days in his mother's music classroom didn’t exactly fit." He shrugged, moving around the piano to stand behind Roseleaf the piano keys. "I told myself I outgrew it, but I'm sure there are a few lingering… quirks."

Roseleaf smiled, leaning back slightly as he came to stand behind her. She certainly had heard of his reputation. The mountain wasn’t exactly known for secrets, and a few of the more catty haremaids had taken pains to inform her that whatever Jamie was saying now, he would be leaving anytime. It wasn’t anything she paid much attention to, Roseleaf was confident enough to take life as it happened.

Standing behind her, he set his chin on her shoulder, taking her paw, he set a finger on the middle key, playing it lightly. "Middle C," he said as he arranged the fingers of her right paw. "And that'll play the C Major scale." Still keeping her tucked between his arms, he put his left paw on a set of keys to the left, lightly playing a scale. "Well, both paws combined would be the full scale. This is the lower register."

“Scale? Register?” She pressed the keys for the C Major scale again, a small smile growing as the notes sounded again.

He laughed a little as he pulled his arms back, allowing himself one small indulgence of a kiss on her shoulder before he drew away. "I won't bore you anymore with all that."

“Not boring.” She moved back from the instrument, allowing him room to play.

[Tracy]

"Not boring."

"Mm,” Jamie replied noncommittally, sea-green eyes following Roseleaf as she moved back from the piano. His gaze shifted then, landing on the instrument before them, quiet for a few moments. Finally he moved forward and pulled out the stool from beneath the piano, sliding into the seat. Touching the keys, he played a few notes on the lower register, giving off a warm, rich tone.

Glancing up, he looked briefly over the sheets displayed against the music rack. Looking back down at the keys, he played off several lines from the sheet. It was a light and lively song, with the high jingling notes of a yuletide piece. After playing most of the first page, he stopped, briefly dropping his paws from the keys. "Jus' something to warm up with," he explained as he reached up and shut the small music book.

Jamie looked at Roseleaf for a moment, then turned back to the keys. He played a few low notes, looking for the right key, to play from memory. Seeming to find it, he started playing a new song, a lower and softer tune. After playing through several bars of music, he started singing.

" That moon sure takes its time chasing the sun out the sky
And I can't wait to see how that twilight reveals you
While I count every star in your eyes
And if it takes all night let me turn every page of your life"

Jamie wasn't a singer, or a performer, and that was clear enough. But he was a fair singer, and a better piano player. While he took the challenge of playing a song from memory - a testament to his skill on a piano - he didn't take any real risks vocally, singing along simply.


"You're gonna love me learning you
Just keep sweet talking me
Not much this crazy boy won't do
To get all tangled up in your mystery
Yes, your history... for a lifetime or two
Oh, you're gonna love me learning you

Before I keep falling I need to know just one more thing
Like how many kisses before you get tipsy on me
I'm just dying to see whatever it takes
To get you to trust every move that I'm making now


You're gonna love me learning you
Just keep sweet talking me
Not too much this crazy boy won't do
To get all tangled up in your mystery
Yes, your history... for a lifetime or two
Oh, you're gonna love me learning you

Can't wait to find ourselves lost in each other
So many things I can't wait to discover

You're gonna love me learning you
Just keep sweet talking me
Not too much this crazy boy won't do
To get all tangled up in your mystery
Yes, your history... for a lifetime or two
Oh, you're gonna love me learning you

Oh, you're gonna love me learning you "

With his foot on the middle pedal, he let the last note on the piano stretch out, fading slowly into silence. Waiting until the last of the music faded away, Jamie turned, almost nervously, back to Roseleaf.


((Lyrics by Josh Kelley))

[Kenyon]

For all her glib tongue and how well she ruled her infirmary, Roseleaf found herself at a loss for words. She’d engaged in few flirtations, and none which outlasted a first encounter. She had never found herself truly interested, no matter the words or looks exchanged. It was Jamie and his persistence that left her feeling as if she had stepped from a shallow shelf into a deep trench in the sea.

" That moon sure takes its time chasing the sun out the sky
And I can't wait to see how that twilight reveals you
While I count every star in your eyes
And if it takes all night let me turn every page of your life"

She was clearly out of her depth, and that knowledge scared her as nothing else. She had no basis on which to form her reactions or thoughts, no former experience to give her guide. She said what came to her mind and acted on impulse. She’d been prepared to tease Jamie until he played something, but she hadn’t been prepared for what he would play.

As Jamie sang along with the piano, she stood in something like awe. It wasn’t characteristic for her to lose her voice, but no one had sung to her before, either.

Oh, you're gonna love me learning you "

Since she couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t sound contrived or overly dramatic, something Roseleaf wouldn’t tolerate in herself, the haremaid instead moved forward, dropping down on the piano bench beside her boyfriend.

“I don’t know what to say.” She admitted, a tad reluctantly.

[Tracy]

Jamie was not a performer. Of anything. Although confident and outgoing, he didn’t necessarily seek out attention. Or if he ever did, it certainly wasn’t for whatever limited musical ability he might possess. Plenty of beasts at the mountain knew that he had some skill, and others were at least able to make the assumption because they knew who his mother was. He'd been asked to perform a little number on several different occasions, but either by carefully sidestepping the request or flat-out refusal, he never did.

But Roseleaf had asked. And he'd played for her. But he hadn't just played for her, but played for her. Her silence was unnerving him more than it should have. Jamie was pretty good at figuring out another's thoughts, but he found Roseleaf unusually hard to read a lot of the time. It was part of the reason he liked her, he knew. The challenge. But before he could get carried away and start worrying about the situation, the haremaid took a seat beside him. So he hadn't scared her off; that was good.

"I don't know what to say."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" he laughed. He played a few notes on the piano again, just a familiar-sounding melody to fill the silence. Dropping his paws from the keys, he hesitated, and finally returned his gaze to Roseleaf.

"I've never played for someone before." It didn't sound so much like he was trying to convince Roseleaf of the fact, as much as it sounded like he was realizing it himself.

Smiling, he gave her knee a playful squeeze. Leaning toward her, he gave her a slow kiss. What about her made him so impulsive? He was always bold, confident, but not impulsive. It had been working for him so far, so why not? But if his singing for her didn't scare her away, this could. "I love you."

[Kenyon]

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

“Its good.” She reassured with a laugh, on firmer footing now. She leaned against him, content just to sit close. Sometimes she just needed company that wasn’t demanding of her time or effort. Jamie was good that way, he always made her feel special, needed, but not like the world would fall apart if she wasn’t there to save it. She could just be Roseleaf for a while. It was a wonderful feeling.

"I've never played for someone before."

Roseleaf found herself smiling as he kissed her before she started to respond. When they moved apart, she stayed close, tucking herself under his arm. She didn’t quite fit, she was nearly as tall as he was, but she made do. She wasn’t sure why she always made an attempt to be touching or leaning against Jamie in some way, but she wasn’t letting that bother her.

"I love you."

Roseleaf’s lips curved into a small smile. She didn’t need to look in his sea-green eyes for the truth. Perhaps she’d known it for a while, without knowing she knew. My, wasn’t she introspective tonight. Her smile widened with amusements at her own thoughts as she answered his unspoken question. “I love you too. Irresponsible, sometimes irritating, impatient, cheerful, helpful, you..” She poked him in the side.

[Tracy]

" “I love you too. Irresponsible, sometimes irritating, impatient, cheerful, helpful, you..”

"Irresponsible?" Jamie exclaimed with a laugh, as if it was the only part of the statement that caught his attention. When she poked him in the side, he jolted, and quickly caught her paw, laughing. Taking her other paw with his free one, he twined their fingers together and wrapped his arms around her. Holding her tight against him, he burrowed his head down against her shoulder. Softly, he kissed her neck before lifting his head a bit to rest his cheek against her temple.

For a few minutes he just enjoyed the silence with her. There wasn't a whole lot that could top 'I love you' so why ruin the moment? Everything was so quiet, without even the sounds of hares stomping around outside because the music room was fairly out of the way of everything. Instead, he just sat there, listening to her breathing and feeling the faint, steady beat of her pulse. He adjusted himself only slightly so he could see her at an angle. She was already the most beautiful haremaid, but he loved how the lantern light flickered across her face in the dim room.

"Just so you know," he started quietly, hiding his smile in the crook of her neck as he kissed her again. "We both have early mornings, but you have to break it up 'cause I'll keep you here forever."