Violin Practice (Paradox-sama/Open)

[Mami Tien]

Mami sat in a chair by the fire, checking the tautness of each string of her violin. She had promised Paradox-sama that she would play for him, so she wanted to be at her best. Once each string was checked pulled out her bow and set the instrument up. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes and clearing her mind of everything she could, that boy's face still ever present. She still didn't know what it was about him, but she was drawn to him. Some would probably say like a moth to a flame, but she didn't think of things like that.

Slowly she tested out each cord, slowly pulling the bow across the strings to get the desired sounds. When she was sure that it was tuned correctly she smiled and tried to decide which song to practice. There were so many that she enjoyed, but what to play?

Finally she decided on a song, Handel's Violin Sonata in F Major. She closed her eyes and let the music flow from her mind, into her hands and out the violin. This was like breathing to her, she was even more open like this than any other time, she felt the music, knew it with her soul.[/color]

youtube.com/watch?v=h0nxm4DV4oM&feature=related

[Kerridon Paradox]

Kerridon entered the common room as quietly as he always did, with a stack of books in his arms and holding in a yawn. It was late – he’d lost track on time again and he still hadn’t quite recovered from first the injuries sustained in the Shadow Realm, and then that bout of dragon flu. All the bruises had gone by now, but covering his body, especially his arms, were thin white lines; constant reminders of what Gat had done to him. The worst scars were covered though – on his upper forearm and shoulders, where the spikes had been driven through. He had no intention of letting anyone see just how badly he had been hurt. The only large scar he couldn’t hide well was the one in the palm of his left hand, although the sleeves of his robes were long enough to at least partly cover that.

The common room was almost empty of people, unsurprising really considering the hour. In fact, he might have even headed up to his own dormitory and gotten some sleep had he not heard the clear tone of a well-played violin. Turning his head in the direction of the sound, he came across the Japanese girl, Mami Tien, whom he’d met just after returning from his fairly nasty stay in the Shadow Realm. She’d said before that she’d play her violin for him some time. Something about him doing something for fun... Moving quietly, he walked slowly in the direction the music was coming from until he reached the younger Ravenclaw and watched as she continued to play. She seemed different to before – more at peace, in a way he didn’t really understand.

The notes reminded him of a less stressful time of his life when his mother had played such songs. Until Mami had mentioned playing the violin that time before when he’d met her, Kerridon had almost forgotten that his mother had even been interested in music. During his time in the hospital wing, he’d had a lot of time when he had nothing to do but think. It had been the same in the Room of Requirement to some extent, but he’d done a fair amount of sleeping in there rather than lying awake, staring at the ceiling with all schoolwork related items confiscated by the school nurse. The woman was infuriatingly thorough in making sure he had nothing to pass the time except sleep. And there is only a certain amount of sleep you can have before getting bored of that, especially considering the amount of sleep he usually got. So, just staring at the ceiling, his mind had quickly wandered back to Mami’s words about music, and the memory that had stirred inside of him. Digging deeper, he’d found several more memories like it, where he had just listened to his mum playing her violin. Then she’d disappeared, and such pleasurable memories had faded from his mind. But listening to the violin now reminded him of those times, and really... it was quite nice. He didn’t interrupt Mami, just stood by the corner and watched as she played, soaking in the sound.

[Mami Tien]

She ended the song with a sigh and slowly opened her eyes, smiling brightly when she saw Kerridon listening. "Konbonwa, Paradox-sama." She spoke softly, some how not breaking the peaceful feeling the music had set in the room. She rested her violin in her lap, wondering if she should pack up and go to bed, so as not to keep him, as he looked quite tired, or if she should ask him if there was a song he might want to hear.

In the end, she sat silently, waiting for his response, ready to do either depending on his reaction. He looked far more relaxed and at ease now and she was glad, for no one should carry the weight of the world on their shoulders as he seemed to do at times.

She hadn't visited him in the hospital wing, though not from lack of trying. When she'd been told he had the dragon flu, she'd decided to visit him. The nurse had turned her away, saying she didn't want any other students catching it and that she was not to return because the answer would be the same later. She was glad that he was out now and feeling even some what better from that as well.[/color]

(Konbonwa= Good Evening)

[Kerridon Paradox]

Kerridon's eyes were half closed by the time the song ended, but they darted wide open again as soon as it did so, attempting to restore his guarded nature to its previous state. What was it about her that could disarm him so easily?

"Konbonwa, Paradox-sama," she greeted him, one of her bright smiles lighting up her face.

"Konbonwa, Miss Tien," he returned the greeting, careful to make sure he used the formal means of address rather than slipping into using her first name - something he had done accidentaly on their first meeting. She seemed to be waiting for him to say something else, and was making no moves to continue her violin practice. "Please, do not let me distract you. Feel free to keep playing."

While he had been in the hospital wing, on one of those many occasions when he was lying with his eyes closed and nothing else to do, he could have sworn he heard Mami's voice just outside, and then the school nurse. The nurse had refused to confirm whether the younger Ravenclaw had been trying to visit, but he didn't really want to ask her in case he turned out to be wrong. But it had made him even more determined to recover as quickly as possible. Maybe if he heard her play these memories that were alluring at the edge of his mind would become clearer, or at least stop plauging him. He didn't often think about his mother - that brought other thoughts with it, like the fact that he was working for the very person she had fought against - but on this occasion it seemed to be bringing some degree of peace rather than the usual inner turmoil accompanied by her name.

[Mami Tien]

"Konbonwa, Miss Tien. Please, do not let me distract you. Feel free to keep playing."

She smiled again and lifted her violin into place. She still wasn't sure what to say to him, so she just started playing. She didn't pause to wonder what to play, but let her fingers and her heart play what she couldn't seem to find the words for.

Out of her violin, came Beethoven Virus, a fast, happy, serious song. Mami's eyes closed, her smile remaining bright as she played. It wasn't a long song, but she hadn't thought one note, it had played itself rather than her playing it. It was moments like these that she treasured, when was emotionally wrapped in the music.

She blushed a little when she was done with the song. "Do you have anything you'd like to hear Paradox-sama?" She asked in that same soft voice that took nothing away from the music she had just played.

youtube.com/watch?v=0zzMk0NEjX0[/color]

[Kerridon Paradox]

((Hehe I did wonder if you’d use any of the songs from that link I gave you ))

Mami seemed a little lost for words at his reply, but did indeed lift her violin and begin to play a new song. He did recognise this song... he was sure, but he couldn’t place it in his memories. It was played extraordinarily well though, even he could appreciate that with his little knowledge of music. He wouldn’t have been able to even begin to explain why, but the smooth slurring, clear notes, vibrato, staccato and sheer range of the instrument being played struck a chord (no pun intended) inside him. As the song progressed, one memory nagged at him and he closed his eyes again, ignoring all the usual caution accompanied by such an action.

At home again – his mother’s and grandfather’s home, Taylor Manor, where he had lived for six years with Taisy. He was outside in the garden, huddled next to a wall with one of his books on languages. He couldn’t remember which one, it was just a book. He was hungry. He hadn’t done as well as expected by his grandfather in lessons today – messed up the verb forms of the language – so granddad had said he’d couldn’t have dinner until he got it right. But his brain wasn’t cooperating, he just couldn’t get it right today! Staring up at the sky he noticed the heavy rainclouds fast approaching and shivered involuntarily, rubbing his hands across his growling stomach miserably. If he stayed outside, he’d be soaked. But if he went back in, he’d have to face his grandfather. Mostly their mum left him to educate them; between them, the pair reminded her of the huge err in judgement she’d made upon marrying Raziel. And that man ruled with an iron fist, convinced that the strict ways of teaching always used in the Taylors’ past could still be applied today to his two grandchildren. It had made the rest of the family aurors, so why not these two? They couldn’t be allowed to follow in their father’s footsteps.

His concentration lost and staring across the vast grounds, Kerridon could hear inside his mother beginning to play her violin; a song she’d played many times before. He jumped in surprise when a small arm snaked around his waist and a smiling face popped into view. “ ‘Ello,” Taisy greeted him with a tiny grin, bringing her other hand up to reveal what she held – a pack of ham sandwiches. Judging by the jagged edges and cut-off crusts, she had made them herself.

Hugging her back tightly, a smile came to his face. He had soon divided the sandwiches between himself and his 7-year-old sister and they ate them together as the rain began to trickle down from the dark grey sky, with the crescendo of their mother playing her violin filtering through the open window.[/color]

As the memory faded from the forefront of Kerridon’s mind, a pained expression appeared on his face as the other memory surfaced; the one he had nightmares about constantly. Taisy was dead. And these memories that kept surfacing through Mami’s violin playing weren’t going to fix that. It just made it more painful, reminding him of what he’d lost.

“Do you have anything you'd like to hear Paradox-sama?" Her voice cut straight through his thoughts like a knife and his eyes flashed open, staring uncomprehendingly at her for a second before he drew his guard back up once again. He didn’t notice her blush, instead focussing on his emotions being in check.

“No – I... You’re an excellent player. I don’t know a lot of music so it is most likely best if you choose,” he finally came up with, realising that his protective shield must not have been restored properly if he was speaking like that. It was these memories that kept coming back to him when he was around Mami. He needed to get rid of them – they were driving him crazy. Maybe if he tried a memory spell on himself, that might get rid of them. But there was also the question of this growing attachment he was feeling towards Mami, and he’d only just met her. I need to be careful, he reminded himself, directing a half smile at the girl that somehow came across as less reassuring than the pained expression he’d worn earlier.

[Mami Tien]

She gave him a reassuring smile, knowing that he must feel a little off kilter to give her such an unguarded, pained smile. "Thank you for your compliments and confidence in me, Paradox-sama." She watched him for a moment, almost able to see his shields going up, one by one. She decided she'd rather not see such a sad sight and turned away, beginning to play again. This time she chose Bach's Minuet 3 and lost herself for a short moment.

Immediately after she had finished that song, she moved on to another, not giving Kerridon time to recover from the first one.
Again she played, Mendelssohn's violin concerto op.64, letting it flow through the room and both of them.

When she was done, she let herself pause. Setting her violin and bow in her lap she flexed her fingers, normally when she practiced it was one of two songs. She felt like she were giving him a private concert and it was exhilarating, she could only hope that after tonight, he would permit her to play for him again. After all, there was something about him and she didn't want to frighten him off.

( youtube.com/watch?v=5mviJnKPbfA ; youtube.com/watch?v=0QuQw0Jqwss)[/color]

[Kerridon Paradox]

Kerridon made sure to keep his mask in place once it was restored, but even despite this he still felt an edge of guilt sneak upon him as she turned away and he caught a hint of sadness in her expression. However much he wanted to, he couldn’t afford to let down those barriers again. Besides, why was he even considering it? He never took those bars down voluntarily, unless there was absolutely no other option. So why was he considering, even willing to do so for Mami?

"Thank you for your compliments and confidence in me, Paradox-sama."

He nodded, allowing his mask to drop sufficiently so as he could show her an honest smile, even though it wasn’t a very big one. But then it was straight back up again as she began playing, him not wanting to risk having a repeat of one of those flashbacks to his childhood. Again she was playing very well, but he tried to block out the sound to prevent any reoccurrences. Instead he concentrated on the other sounds in the room, ignoring the notes that blended so well with the surroundings, slipping through the gentle roar of the fire.

The final students, as far as he could make out, were heading up the stairs to their dormitory. A 3rd year girl was muttering to her friend about how you couldn’t talk in peace while “some loved-up foreign girl plays squeaky tunes to her boyfriend”. It was a fairly loud mutter, obviously meant to be heard. He shot a hard glare at the girl, obviously annoyed by the comment, but unfortunately she had already turned away and he ended up with his malicious expression aimed at her back. Stupid girl... he thought to himself.

This entire house seemed to be made up of idiots, especially the younger students. It was like they were tempting fate – or rather, him – to do something to disillusion them. That boy... Maravon. He had gotten on the wrong side of Kerridon by being rude to D’rorah when she was simply doing her prefect duties – that particular duty of roaming the hallways was one that she had particularly disliked, he remembered – and had paid for it dearly. Since that incident in the forest, which had unfortunately been interrupted by Professor Archer, the younger boy hadn’t been the same. The arrogance and confidence that had possessed him before had now been overtaken by withdrawing into a shell. Now he hardly ever spoke, and seemed to unconsciously avoid Kerridon without realising it.

Were they all that desperate to seem grown-up that they would welcome the chance to fight against the “baddie”? Did they not understand that they wouldn’t get a second chance at being a kid. He’d never really had a chance to start with, which just proved he knew what he was talking about. But if they truly wanted to see the world as it actually was, rather than through rose-tinted glasses, then he would be happy to comply.

Mami finished playing and he released a smile again, the action wiping away any final signs of his annoyance that might have lingered longer than he hoped. “You are an outstanding instrumentalist,” he commended her again, having managed to avoid any memories of his childhood while listening this time round. “Thank you for performing for me; it was much appreciated.” He wanted to say more but couldn’t really get his head around whatever else it was he wanted to say, so left it at that.

[Mami Tien]

“You are an outstanding instrumentalist. Thank you for performing for me; it was much appreciated.”

Mami blushed slightly and nodded, bowing a little from her sitting position. "You're welcome, Paradox-sama." She was glad to have lightened his mood, if only just a little, and only for a small time. She could tell he was carrying a heavy weight on his shoulders and couldn't help worrying about him. It wasn't her place and she knew that, she'd been raised properly to be an ambassador's daughter, whether they wanted her or not, and she'd been taught better than to pry. After all Kerridon was someone she did not know very well, though she wanted to know him far better. "I do hope that if you ever want to listen again," she spoke, knowing her music had troubled him even as it had cheered him, "I choose songs that are more pleasant for you to enjoy."

She carefully returned her violin and bow to their case and then smiled up at him again, glad at least that he was smiling. She could tell it was an honest smile, if a little restrained. She couldn't begin to imagine what he could be holding back, or why, nor did she want to. She would be his friend, if he would let her, and she would know only what he wanted her to know, should she hear a rumor, she would disregard it until it was properly confirmed. That was after all, the best way to deal with anyone one would want to be well aquainted with.[/color]

(Sorry this took so long, lot going on right now >_<)

[Kerridon Paradox]

Her blush did not escape his notice and he nodded in response to her small bow and acknowledgment of his thanks. Had he known how much she had worked out for herself about him carrying a “heavy weight on his shoulders” he might have been a little alarmed at her perceptiveness, but since she said nothing on the matter, he had no way of knowing this.

"I do hope that if you ever want to listen again, I choose songs that are more pleasant for you to enjoy."

“I...” Once again, Kerridon found himself unsure of what to say. So she had noticed his reaction to her playing, but had just not said anything about it at the time. “It was pleasant,” he countered, bringing his mask back up so he didn’t have to think too much about the emotions and memories that had accompanied her performances. And it had been pleasant... partly. Mostly.

He stayed quiet as she packed away the wooden instrument, but when she said nothing began to feel he was expected to speak again. Normally he was happy in the silence, but around her he felt the need to keep conversation going. He spoke the first topic that came into his head, not thinking it through before speaking as he normally would. “Are you planning to attend the Valentines Ball?”

What am I doing?! Kerridon demanded of himself. Of all the topics he could have produced, it had to be that. I can’t get attached... Remember Taisy. Getting attached means getting hurt when they’re hurt. It means they’re hurt when you’re hurt. And this is a war, even if she's not involved - which I don't know! She could be a lightfighter, for all I know. And everyone gets hurt in wars; innocent bystanders as well as the true fighters. I cannot afford to make attachments, I can't get hurt again... [/color][/i]

“How are you finding Hogwarts?” he asked immediately after his previous question, just managing to hide the panicked feeling inside his gut right now and not allowing her time to answer in between. Maybe she might just answer the latter queries... Unlikely. “Have you managed to explore the castle yet?”

[Mami Tien]

"I... It was pleasant. Are you planning to attend the Valentines Ball? How are you finding Hogwarts? Have you managed to explore the castle yet?"

Mami was glad that he'd found her music pleasant, but she'd seen the sadness and noticed the mask when it had returned. Still, she gave him another blushing smile in thanks. She could only hope that he would want to hear her play again, for while he had affirmed that it was pleasant, he hadn't affirmed that he'd want to do it again. She knew there were a lot of people in the school who couldn't appreicate the classics that Wizards and Muggles alike shared. She knew Kerridon wasn't one of the those students, but she also knew nothing about him and it could be that the music brought on things he didn't want. She just didn't know, nor would she ask, but she hoped that either way, she had made a friend.

Then a surprising a question was asked of her and before she could answer, he was asking two more questions. She read the sudden volley of the other two questions as embarassment for the first question and smiled. "I am finding Hogwarts a very interesting place. Many of my classmates seem to dislike me at a glance, which I suppose is because I am different. I was once told that differences are not to be feared, but embraced. It seems my classmates have not been told the same. The teachers appreciate my enthusiasm in any case, I suppose they are glad for the students who are here to learn and not just goof around. As for exploring the castle, I have figured out where my classes are, but I tend not to stray to far... I'm rather worried with all the rumors, though I don't believe them. But they say so many students have gone missing, and since I really don't have that many friends, I'd rather not go missing myself. I don't think anyone would notice if I did disappear and that would be the worst of it."

She was silent for a moment before she spoke again, as though she were gathering her thoughts to her. "I was thinking about going to the Valentines Ball... though the Yule Ball wasn't very fun by myself. It's probably more fun when you're with friends..." She gave him a smile that could have almost been classified as brave before she spoke again, "What about you? Were you planning on going?" She wanted to say more, but she always felt that she was prying when she inquired about things she didn't know about a person. "Have you been well since that time?" She meant when they'd met, but it worded so that it could be taken many ways, though this was not her intention. She was grasping English a lot better since they'd first met, but that didn't change the fact that at times it did seem to elude her.[/color]

[Kerridon Paradox]

Kerridon smiled a little in return to her blushing, attempting to reassure her via facial expression. Oddly, considering how usually aware he was of what he’d said, he didn’t realise that he hadn’t explicitly confirmed he would like to listen again; he just assumed that she would take it for granted; after all, it had been very well played. There was no question that he had appreciated it – he knew of no one else at the school who would have ever put themselves out so much for him.

He couldn’t help an annoyed frown coming onto his face at the mention of Mami’s classmates ostracising her, simply because she was different. “Who is it?” he asked shortly, smoothing his face over once again so it would be more difficult to see his reaction. Gaining enemies was never a problem for him – he had plenty already, what was wrong with a few more? – so he would have no trouble making some to prevent Mami being disliked quite so much. He had enemies in his house anyway – Maravon was one, after that incident in the Forbidden Forest. He’d been rude to D’rorah, and paid for it. He doubted that either D’rorah or Mami would be overly happy to hear how exactly he had or was planning to stop certain people bothering them as much.

He was also a little concerned to hear about her disbelief of the rumours he knew were all too true. But, at least she was still being cautious, as he’d inexplicably warned her to be the first time they’d met. It also disturbed him a little to understand that she didn’t believe anyone would notice if she disappeared. Hardly anyone had noticed when he had gone for that time into the Shadow Realm, but he was supposed to be staying well hidden, not drawing attention to himself. “I will make sure to keep an eye on you. Then at least I will notice if you go missing, and can alert the necessary people. So you just concentrate on not going missing.” The words had a light-hearted, reassuring ring to them, but at the same time were deadly serious. If she went missing due to shadows or dementors, he would make certain that they released her, whether she’d been captured on Dark Phoenix’s orders or not. He wouldn’t let Mami caught up in the middle of this war if she wasn’t already.

"I was thinking about going to the Valentines Ball... though the Yule Ball wasn't very fun by myself. It's probably more fun when you're with friends... What about you? Were you planning on going?"

“I was considering it,” he confirmed, managing to keep the awkwardness he felt at this conversation hidden. “I could meet you there. Then you would not be by yourself.” He waited a little nervously to see what her response to that suggestion would be. For once, he had no idea what to expect.

"Have you been well since that time?"

He assumed he meant when she had first met him, on which occasion he had just got out of the “protection” by Zee... and Keaira. Probably best not to think of the latter Slytherin while around Mami... the thoughts generally put him in a bad mood. Having not been fully recovered from the injuries inflicted in the Shadow Realm then, he guessed that she had seen some of the scars. Some had faded now, but certain ones were still visible. “I have been better, with the exception of the dragon pox,” he replied, slightly uncertain that that was what she was referring to. He couldn’t really give a reason for his injuries at the time, but he would be surprised if she asked. That was another refreshing thing about her... she didn’t ask intruding questions. And considering his past and current occupation as spy, that was definitely a plus.