A "man" of letters (OTA)

[iamhumanity]

That he now had bookshelves and a chair that sat next to a fireplace in which to read was a marvel. At first, the creature had crouched in his room long after the workmen had left, not daring to touch. It was only late that night when he'd lit the fire, sat in the chair, moving it to place it just right. He hadn't slept; it felt too decadent, too

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[cantoutstubborn]

With the sound of the door opening, Cat looked up and smiled at who her new customer was. "Hi."

[iamhumanity]

Her beauty caught the creature off-guard as it always did. "H-hello," he said, taking a few more steps forward. It would be untrue if he said he wasn't hoping to see her. "I-I w-would l-like to p-play music. I-in my r-r-room."

[cantoutstubborn]

"Of course." Catherine said as she moved to greet him. "What type of player do you have in your room? Or did you mean an instrument to play?" She had both.

[iamhumanity]

They hadn't started their lessons together yet; the creature wasn't ready for that.

"I w-would l-like to pl-play the mu-music you play-yed for me," he said, fingers twitching at his sides as he remembered, feeling so bare, so raw with her.

[cantoutstubborn]

"That makes it easy enough." Catherine assured him. "Would you like a CD like what I played or did you get a record player that plays vinyl?" She motioned to where the vinyls were. Not many people bought those, but some people like Molly, liked the retro. (or at least that's what she claimed.)

[iamhumanity]

"I h-have n-nothing," he told her. "My r-room has b-bookshelves now. And a c-chair. I - "

He swallowed hard, blurting out, "I could sh-show you." Perhaps that room would feel more real were Catherine in it.

[cantoutstubborn]

"I would love to see it." Cat agreed easily. "How about we get you something to play the music on, music and stop by the cafe to get something to go. Music and a meal?"

[iamhumanity]

Another deep, ragged breath as the creature blinked. "I w-w-would li-li-like that," he said, striving for dignity and he knew, failing.

[cantoutstubborn]

"Great. Now the question is, do you want to go older version with the vinyl or more modern with the CD like I played for you before in my office?" Cat smiled at him, "they both have good things going for them."

[iamhumanity]

"The - " With only a pause, the creature nodded. "The Cee-Dee, like y-you pl-played."

It almost seemed as if his heart was beating too hard, rattling in his chest.

[cantoutstubborn]

Catherine motioned in the area where the CD players were. "I'll get you the one that's just like what I play and the music? The same, too? Or do you want to try something a little different than classical?"

[iamhumanity]

"I w-want what w-we heard. And wh-what you think I sh-should hear," he said. Catherine's taste, to his ears, was impeccable.

[cantoutstubborn]

Cat paused, "well I'm not sure if you'll like this or not and don't be shy about saying if you don't okay?" She didn't wait for the promise but picked up a CD and popped it into one of the players. Soon boogie was filling the music shop.

"Sometimes I like to jog, or work out to this kind of music."

[iamhumanity]

The music almost seemed too raucous, too sharp. Instinctively, he covered his ears.

[cantoutstubborn]

She laughed softly, "okay point taken. Not your favorite genre." Cat turned off the music. "Softer music it is." She glanced around and picked out a few smooth jazz soft music for him.

"Here try these." She popped in an instrumental jazz CD.

[iamhumanity]

Oh.

This seemed better. It was nice. It allowed him to catch his breath. "Th-that is fine."