(Untitled)

[follyofyouth]

Evening on the island and Laura hasn't yet figured a way outta this joint. It had taken a couple days before the idea of it had braced her but good. She's better off here, at least for the moment, she knows that; there aren't many better ways to lie dormy than to disappear completely, but this wasn't what she had in mind for a clean sneak when she

Comments

[aminorkey]

Peter's still wandering and the music almost calls out to him. Perhaps he's not fully settled, but he's not about to yell at some poor kitten for existing anymore (and he'd come close to doing such a thing). Now, as it happens, he just watches the young girl at the piano.

[follyofyouth]

Some gee's got his eyes on her as she plays, but that's just the kind of thing Laura's accustomed to. She likes it better that way, playing for an audience, singing for a crowd, her own peepers lowered and flickering up from time to time in a display of demure longing. She plays the part to the hilt, the same subtle perfection she wrings from the piano, or so she likes to think. It's not hard. It's a good enough show almost to get her wishing Brendan was there; sometimes it's more fun when the game's a little tougher.

"Follow my lead," she sings softly. "Oh, how I need someone to watch over me." And then the tune's coming to a halt and she looks up with a smile, eyes widening like she's only just caught sight of the fella there. Blinks once, twice, and lowers her head again. "I didn't know anyone else was around."

[aminorkey]

Peter crosses his arms and leans back against the doorway, watching her curiously. Her technique is good, but simple. She could benefit from more lessons. "What were you playing?" Music with lyrics is still something he's not quite a fan of. Not yet.

[follyofyouth]

"'Someone to Watch Over Me.'" Laura smiles, leaning back a little to look up at him, curious. She's never much liked the kids her own age, never really learned how to play well with others, see, but grown-ups she can make nice with. Mostly. At least, until they prove boring. Most people are a dime a hundred. "Call me old-fashioned, but there's nothing quite like Gershwin in the evening."

[aminorkey]

"I prefer opera," Peter concedes, watching her curiously, eyes resting upon her fingers, always looking for technique. "Well, and jazz. I'm afraid a friend got me hooked."

[follyofyouth]

That has her attention, as much as anything ever does, and for a moment there's a spark in Laura, like she's alive and you just didn't notice it wasn't there until it was. "It drives my guests crazy," she admits with a laugh, bright, jewel-toned. "High school kids don't have a high appreciation for The Mikado."

[aminorkey]

"I can't imagine whyever they would," Peter says, incredulous. "I'm a bit surprised you know what the Mikado is," he admits, utterly brusque and honest about it.

[follyofyouth]

"I guess I'm just odd like that." There's no hint of self-deprecation in the announcement, though. If anything, the dame's purring like the cat with the canary.

[aminorkey]

Peter's not quite affected. Of course he observes her beauty, but he's not taken by it. It's like a piece of art, is all. "Odd or appreciative of fine things," he clarifies.

[follyofyouth]

"You find they're one and the same at my age," Laura says, shrugging. For the first time since she's turned up in this dive, her mind turns to Brad; he never did have an appreciation for the finer things in life.

[aminorkey]

"I'm Peter," he introduces himself, leaning over the piano to extend a hand. "By the by. Peter Smith-Kingsley."

[follyofyouth]

Leaning forward, she takes the proffered paw, gives it a good solid shake and smiles. "Laura Dannon. It's a pleasure to meet you, Peter."

[aminorkey]

"Laura Dannon who prefers Mikado," he clarifies and he thinks to himself that perhaps a bit of playing might help him get over his erstwhile anger issues, so he slides onto the bench, keeping his distance. "Do you play duets?"

[follyofyouth]

Older and erudite - the Pin didn't have a foot in Peter's class. If Laura was gonna get buddy buddy, at least she could do it with people worth knowing. "Sometimes," she says, the smile briefly genuine. "When there's anyone worth playing with. Not exactly the hobby of choice among the old crowd, so playing partners were limited."

[aminorkey]

Peter still hasn't laid a finger upon the piano, giving her a curious look. "What year," he finally asks, "are you from?" Perhaps he's curious. He wants to know if anything he's written has survived.

[follyofyouth]

Laura laughs, bright and soft, 'cause the question's pure bunk but she's caught on it's customary 'round these parts. "2005," she says, lifting one shoulder in an easy half-shrug. "Not a bad year, but there've been better ones. It was time to take a powder anyhow; I suppose I needed a vacation."