singing open the great gates

[middlingalong]

The following day, very little happens, except for Vorreedi mentioning that Yenaro has been arrested (by the civil police, for theft, on charges from a ghem-lord Miles has never heard of, as opposed to by Cetagandan security for treason).

Also, Ivan gets bored - with all the bodyguards Vorreedi now requires for them after the incident at the bioestheties exhibition, the possible spontaneity of going out with his ghem girlfriends is much reduced.

But the next day they get to attend the Singing Open of the Great Gates.

And oh, is there ever singing.

Comments

[thisvorlunatic]

Write write snuggle snuggle.

[isthisart]

She finishes her book. She finds some music with lyrics in the target language and the earbuds burble it as she clips her pen back to its necklace collar. She glances thoughtfully at the long box with the keyboard in it.

[thisvorlunatic]

This glance draws Miles's attention.

[isthisart]

"I think I'm going to get out the keyboard, but if it'd bother you while you're writing your report I can have it send the sound to the earbuds."

[thisvorlunatic]

"It won't bother me," he assures her. "It might distract me, but I have two whole weeks to finish this in, I don't need to get it all done by tomorrow."

[isthisart]

"All right."

She unsnuggles (with a kiss to the top of his head) and unboxes her keyboard, which, when turned on, hovers. She takes out the earbuds, rejiggers the keyboard settings until it's playing the song she likes from the beginning, and then - improvises, on top of that.

And sings along, harmonizing with the lyrics.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles is thoroughly distracted.

[isthisart]

She smiles at him between verses.

She falls silent when the song ends of its own accord.

"I can carry on for a bit if you like."

[thisvorlunatic]

"That... would be nice."

[isthisart]

She plays, changing keys on whim, adding flourishes, generally sticking to waltz time but making liberal use of what would be represented as fermatas and gracenotes. While improvising with no template underneath she doesn't sing with words, just croons over what she's doing with the instrument, with flawless pitch.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles is a rapt audience.

[isthisart]

Well, if he's going to gaze at her like that she'll just carry on for a while. She draws to a silence after about an hour.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles vents a happy sigh and abandons his seat to go hug her.

[isthisart]

Hug!

"It's prettier when there's a whole group, but - that's what it sounds like when I do that."

[thisvorlunatic]

"I like how it sounds when you do that."

[isthisart]

"Good."

Snuggle.

[thisvorlunatic]

Snuggle!

[isthisart]

"I think it may be lunchtime," she observes after there has been some snuggle.

[thisvorlunatic]

"All right," he says agreeably.

To lunch!

[middlingalong]

Ivan is already eating lunch, or possibly a very late breakfast.

"How's it going?" he inquires.

[thisvorlunatic]

"Just fine," says Miles.

[isthisart]

(Linya giggles faintly and obtains food.)

[middlingalong]

Ivan peers at Miles's face and looks really curious, but he isn't quite curious enough to ask about what he wants to know in the presence of a lady.

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles obtains food. And sits next to Linya. And... scintillates.

[middlingalong]

"You look, uh, well."