Pianist by Night

[alcuin_delaunay]

It's late, past midnight, and Alcuin's nightmares have driven him out of bed, wandering the corridors with the lazy curiosity of the insomniac, half asleep and looking for something to distract him from his troubles. He stops in the library, having gravitated there without realizing it. The library reminds him of Delaunay--books, languages,

Comments

[colored_gowns]

Arabella is used to nighttime wanderings, but she is surprised when she comes across Alcuin, and is even more startled by the music.

"Do you often play in the middle of the night, sir?" she asks softly (for who cares for propriety in the middle of the night?).

[alcuin_delaunay]

"Oh!" Alcuin pulled his hands back from the keyboard, guilty, and settled them in his lap, blushing. "I don't play. I was just ... curious."

[colored_gowns]

"And such an hour for curiosity!"

[alcuin_delaunay]

"I'm sorry," he smiles softly, still guilty. "Did I wake you?"

[border_princess]

Helen was spending the night praying. It was mainly due to the fact that it was Good Friday, but there were other reasons. The faint sound of the piano caught her ear, it sounded a little like an instrument from home, and she went to find the source. She will probably walk in on Alcuin and listen in silence.

[alcuin_delaunay]

Alcuin's trained to notice these things, and he stops immediately, guilty. "I'm sorry. Did I wake you?"

[border_princess]

"No. It's all right, I'm not sleeping tonight."

[alcuin_delaunay]

Alcuin smiles shyly. "I can't play, anyway."

[prettydenis]

Hearing the delicate sounds of the piano, Denis is drawn to it and sees Alcuin. He smiles and goes nearer. "That is very pretty, monsieur."

[alcuin_delaunay]

Alcuin stops at once, blushing. "It's D'Angeline. I don't actually--I can't play."

[prettydenis]

"You are better than I am," he replies sweetly, his eyes lingering on Alcuin.

[alcuin_delaunay]

"I... I've never touched a piano before in my life. You're joking." Alcuin blushes, aware of Denis' gaze and not returning it.