Food for the Soul - Jarvinia Posted December 2002 Forever Knight and its characters are not mine (and neither is the bit of Latin I use), I'm just having a bit of fun with this. ;) I'd like to thank David and amethystshells for looking at this and all their suggestions. May not be archived without permission, although if you'd like to, please ask. Feedback gratefully accepted at jarvinia@gmx.com ~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~#~ Food for the Soul - (01/03) For the past half hour, he'd been searching his apartment. It wasn't often that he lost something, but he hadn't planned to need it, either. Opening yet another door, LaCroix spied the object of his search on a shelf. His lips curled slightly upward at the sight, pleased to discover it hadn't been put away in storage. He pulled the case down, noticing the light covering of dust. He scolded himself for the dirt, and then took it into the kitchen. Wiping it clean, he set the case on the table and undid the latches. Pausing for a moment, he deftly opened the case. For a moment, he simply stared down at the instrument revealed to him. It was his viola. For some reason, he had brought it to Toronto instead of his violin. Although he would much rather be getting the rebec out, the older instrument was in need of some maintenance, specifically the replacement of a string. It had to be special ordered, and wouldn't arrive until at least that afternoon, if not the next day. Taking the instrument from its resting place, he carefully checked the string tension. As suspected, it was quite loose, and he tightened the strings before taking the bow out of its place to hopefully avoid it being terribly out of tune. He quickly checked the instrument over, making sure everything was set up proper, and then, with a slight hesitation before the strings, he allowed a long open D to fill his senses...and then cringed at the sound. It was sharp, very sharp--especially to his ears. He had adjusted the tension a tad too far, which proved more than a little trying on his nerves. He much preferred the lower pitch centre common of a couple of centuries earlier. At the time, he had owned only the rebec, but soon after he purchased first a violin, and then, just over a century ago, he purchased the viola for times when the rebec needed repairs. It was often tuned to the standardized pitch centre-- something that annoyed him to no end. And now, it was high even for that pitch. He slowly exhaled, and then began the process of tuning the instrument. He took care to use the correct starting pitch, even though it unnerved him and Nicholas wasn't there. The younger vampire, he knew, would much rather hear this instrument than the violin. Perhaps that was why he had brought it to Toronto. Still, he wished his rebec was in better condition, or that he had considered having an extra string around. Checking his tuning, LaCroix lowered the instrument. He knew exactly why he had used the modern pitch--Nicholas. As the times changed, Nicholas changed with them. And, as a result, his son of course preferred using the modern pitch. Setting the instrument down, he headed back to the storage closet and pulled down a thin, old box, just as dusty as his earlier retrieval. Slowly removing the top, he came face to face with a stack of music written in a familiar hand--Nicholas'. The sheets consisted of a combination of modern and old notation, all arranged by date with the oldest on top. It was a collection that any music historian would do anything to get their hands on, however, he didn't plan on it ever straying from his possession. Scanning the top piece, he followed the notes, the melody playing in his mind. He could remember every nuance of each neume's meaning, each pitch and each rhythm exactly. He quickly found himself lost in his first exposure to the melody that had so captured his senses.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [France: 1137] The town wasn't as large as Paris or Marseille, certainly not as cultured, but neither was it a mere village. Janette was with him, but she had wasted no time in requesting to explore the area. He had, after careful consideration, agreed. She was still young for a vampire, only a handful of decades having passed since she'd been brought over, but she was, as he'd quickly discovered, obedient. It meant he needn't worry about his daughter, and he could focus on other matters. Entering a tavern, he was hit with the scent of mortals: their drink, their conversation, and their every noise. After 'persuading' two of the patrons to leave their table, LaCroix took their place, ordering the finest wine that was offered, and amusedly watching the mortals. The room was loud, his senses slowly filtering out the unimportant and uninteresting sounds around him. His attention focused on a threesome; a group of trouvérer who were leading the mortals in song. "Quid agatur in taberna (What happens in the tavern, ubi nummus est pincerna, where money is lost, hoc est opus ut queratur, you may well ask, si quid loquar, audiatur." and hear what I say.) ** LaCroix listened to the rhymed words, a song he had heard a few times before. Indeed, along with the rest of the tavern, he would follow the instruction 'quid loquar, audiatur.' He would hear what they had to say, even if this was merely a mortal diversion. Long after he'd been served, the woman who brought it and offered him seconds far more tempting than the wine itself, he decided to stay for a few more minutes before picking his dinner for the night. Sipping from his glass, his attention was focused on one of the trouvérer, specifically the only woman of the group. She was quite beautiful; long brown almost black hair fell in waves to her waist, porcelain skin standing out amongst the dark strands. Vaguely, he was reminded of his Janette. To her, she would have seemed merely a meal--but to him, this one was more. The music she played was, although mostly covered by the sound of her companions and the tavern, very precise and melodic. Although certainly no noble, it was clear to him that she was dedicated to her instrument, a rebec, and well trained on it as well. As the last strains of their present tune drifted off, she began another, unrecognizable tune, its melody literally flying from the strings and at him. It was both simple...and yet not. Any practiced player could deliver it, but he suspected none could do so as well as she. Unexpectedly, he remained in the tavern until the group left, at which he followed. Several minutes later, he had unsuspectingly cornered the woman behind the building, startling her. "You have quite a talent. I must say, I've never heard anything quite like your playing." "Thank you, sir...although it is my brother who has created the music." "Perhaps, but it is you that gave the music life. Others could have played it, but not in the manner you did." He smiled down on her, watching as she blushed faintly. She was but a child, several years younger than her brother and friends. Perhaps that added to her exuberance...her youth and enthusiasm was apparent in everything she did. As she again thanked him and walked past him, he struck--first spinning and pulling her to him, and then sank his fangs into her skin, taking her youth and love of life. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Smiling at the memory, LaCroix remembered that taste.... It was extraordinary, her blood flowing with life and music. That night, he had more than simply his dinner, but a lesson as well. Although music was in the mortals' realm and he'd not been a stranger to it as a mortal, he, as a vampire, had been truly reintroduced to it on that night. In fact, it had been her playing and her blood that had led to him playing the rebec. The melody she played was memorized, but was now rarely heard by anyone other than himself and, occasionally, Nicholas. When his son had shown an interest in music, specifically in the piano, he had been inwardly thrilled. Upon discovering that his son had the same talent the woman had shown, he hadn't been sure what to think. Despite, or perhaps because of Nicholas' inability to embrace what he was, Nicholas had more life than any mortal he'd ever met. Just like the woman, he was able to share that life through his music. Then, after waiting for the right time, he had asked if they could play together, an activity that he missed dearly. Nicholas had, on various occasions, taken it upon himself to compose his own pieces. First, there had been a few specifically for his rebec, and later, others for both of them to play, as well as ones for his violin and viola. LaCroix sifted through the music until he had gone through the entire stack, the last piece staring back at him. True, it was the newest of the collection, a mere half-century old, but it had also never been played--not with Nicholas. It was his son's most recent composition for them, and although he had long ago memorized his part, the other hadn't seen the music since days after it was finished. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [England - 1941] LaCroix found Nicholas sitting at the piano, the thick drapes open just a few inches, letting a stream of light run across the wood floor. It had been a week since he had brought the boy, Daniel, into their little family, and still, Nicholas was brooding over it. He stalked across the room, pulled the fabric shut, and glared at his son...who was sitting calmly at the piano. "What is wrong now, Nicholas?" Turning his gaze sharply up at the elder man, he simply stated, "You didn't have to bring him across." Sighing at the comment, he moved closer to his son. Nicholas spent far too much time worrying over the mortals. "It was an experiment. Haven't you ever wondered what would happen to a child when brought over, particularly one that could be raised within our family, taught not as a mortal, but one of us?" "Then why not wait-" "I didn't feel like it," he answered, cutting off the question. "He was a child. It would have taken a decade before he was taught, and even then, it might not have been the right time. Don't worry, he is gone. No more troublesome thoughts for you, 'Nicky.'" LaCroix let out a faint laugh, watching as Nicholas tensed. Staring at the music in front of him, a piece he had just recently finished, the notes blurred before his eyes. "What do you mean, LaCroix?" He approached, stopping just behind the younger. "He is gone, Nicholas." "Gone? What..." he trailed off, already having a pretty good idea what LaCroix had done. Stiffening further, he stated, "You killed him, didn't you." He held his son's accusing glare. Why did Nicholas always have to make him into the enemy? "Yes, I did. It was a simple matter. It was something that would have been done sooner or later, you know that." "You didn't have to bring him across in the first place, LaCroix. You could have just let him be." "For what, Nicholas? He was a scavenger, a thief. Just what do you think he would have done with your good will and charity? He would have continued his games until they eventually backfired on him. His death is merely something that would have happened had he stayed mortal. We, at least, gave him a family for a short time." "You're sick, LaCroix." "That's a matter of opinion," he commented, smirking slightly. "Think what you will, but discontinue this pathetic guilt." Moving closer, he put his hands on Nicholas' shoulders and spoke into his ear, "He is gone. It is over. Forget about him and move on." His son roughly shrugged out of his touch, at which he casually moved to the side of the piano, and focused the music sitting in front of Nicholas. "There are other, more interesting tasks to occupy oneself with than this brooding of yours." Nicholas shot another glare in his direction, this one icier than the last. Ignoring the younger vampire's eyes, he cast his own on the sheets of paper on the piano. The music was unfamiliar to him, although he recognized the notation as Nicholas'. He reached forward for the music, softly asking, "What is this?" Before LaCroix could take the sheets, Nick snatched them out of his reach. "Nothing, LaCroix." Standing, he held the loose papers tightly in his hand, the smooth paper bending with its holder's emotions. "Just get out. I want to be left alone." He stood there, feeling his anger rise. How dare Nicholas tell him to leave! And yet, he knew the younger would make him if he didn't. He remained, meeting his son's glare with one of his own. Abruptly, Nicholas moved toward the curtains, opening them just enough to make him flinch away at the bright light. "Very well," he hissed. Spinning on his heal, he left the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LaCroix fought his rising anger at the memory. Later, they had talked again, and he had brought up the subject of the new piece. Nicholas had kept the music, packing it away. That day, while his son slept, he had taken the music from where Nicholas had placed it and put it in his box. He remembered Nicholas' fury upon discovering the sheets missing. He had not mentioned he had taken them, but it had quickly turned into an argument. From that, they had decided to wait until a better time before trying to play together again. He had waited long enough. Food for the Soul - (02/03) Pushing the lift door open, Natalie walked slowly over to Nick. As suspected, he was brooding on the couch, a bottle on the table and a glass in his hand. For the last week, Nick had been on edge and he wasn't talking to her. And then, the couple of times she'd asked him how he was, Tracy had taken that moment to arrive, and Nick took the opportunity to leave. Here, he couldn't walk away from her, certainly not since it was day and the sun was shining brightly outside of his sanctuary. Carefully sitting next to him, she kept silent as Nick put his glass on the table. "So...what's up?" "Nothing out of the ordinary; at least not for the past century or so." Like that really answered her question. If she could, she would choke it out of him, but she had no chance of getting that to work. "And what's the difference?" He didn't answer, but she could hazard a guess. "Does it have something to do with LaCroix?" Shooting a glare toward her, Nick didn't reply as he filled his glass up, sipping from it under her close scrutiny. She knew the blood was human, but she also knew that it would do no good to comment on it. It would only make Nick harder to deal with. Meeting his stare, she watched as he looked away. She sighed. "Come on, Nick. I want to know." "Yes, it's LaCroix." He drained the blood, setting the glass down, and considered pouring another. In the end, he sighed, leaning back into the cushions. "It's just that there's so much tension between us. Sometimes, I wish it could be like it used to be." She tensed. "Before you started searching for a cure?" "Ye...." He stopped. No, that wasn't true. "Sort of...there's always been one thing we've never really disagreed on." That caught her attention. Natalie watched as he stood and headed toward the piano. "And what would that be?" Nick paused at the instrument, running his fingers lightly across the smooth surface of the keys. "Music.... You know, LaCroix' the one who got me interested in it." Her jaw dropped open. LaCroix was responsible for Nick's introduction to music? She had entertained several ideas of how he'd started out on the piano, but not one of them was LaCroix a part of. "So...did he suggest...?" Nick started to speak, but stopped. "You really want to know?" "Yes," she said eagerly. Sitting on one side of the piano bench, she continued, "This sounds interesting." "And it is, I assure you. Somewhere in the century or so before when I was brought across, LaCroix picked up playing the rebec. It's one of the ancestors to the violin, but is also quite different. He occasionally dropped hints, trying to get me more interested in music. Specifically, he wanted me to play something. But...he never pressured the topic too much. He just poked and prodded at it, trying to get me interested." "And...did it work?" He smiled weakly. "To a point. I enjoyed listening to music, yes, but to actually play it?" Nick shook his head. "I fiddled around a little on LaCroix' rebec, but wasn't really interested in it. So, at first, I merely tried my hand at writing music for him, not sure I ever wanted to pick up an instrument." "So then, how did LaCroix manage that? I mean, how did you end up playing the piano?" "That's actually pretty simple. A little more than two hundred years ago, I found I enjoyed the sound of the instrument. LaCroix, of course, encouraged me, and soon I was learning to play." "And it was because of LaCroix' encouragement, then? That you played, that is?" "That and he...pulled some strings. He made sure I learned properly, and for that one time, he didn't seem to have any problems with me being around mortals constantly." He paused, explaining, "Very few of our kind are involved in the arts. First of all, performers and artists are in the public eye--something that is not good for a vampire." When he stopped, Natalie could see that there was something more. "And...?" He shifted somewhat uncomfortably. "And most of our kind never excel at things like music. It's like we don't have the life needed to give to the melody...to make it say something. LaCroix has commented on it more than once." Looking away, he decided it would be better to change the subject--get it back to what they had been talking about. "Later, he eventually asked if we could play together. When I started playing the piano, I stopped writing music for LaCroix, but I eventually started fooling around with it again." "And that's it?" "More or less...." She raised her eyebrows. There had to be more. "Hmm...could you spare a few details? It's just that it's so fascinating." Meeting her gaze, he knew it would be easier to just go along with it. Sighing, he asked, "What kind of details?" "Well...what is a rebec? Who did you learn from? That kind of stuff." "Are you free for the day?" "So you're really going to answer my questions?" Getting a shrug, she settled into the couch a bit more. "I'm not going to miss this for anything." Food for the Soul - (03/03) By the time Natalie had left, it was sunset. He hadn't gotten any sleep, but it wouldn't matter. He was too preoccupied to sleep. Tonight was his night off...although he had no idea what he was going to do. Getting rid of the bottle and placing his glass in the sink, his fingers tightened on the counter's edge. The night had barely begun and it was already going downhill. "What do you want, LaCroix?" he asked as he spun toward his visitor. LaCroix' back was to him, his sire silent in whatever task he was performing. "LaCroix?" "Just a social call..." LaCroix answered, but still didn't turn around. He kept a smile to himself, wondering what Nicholas' reaction to his little visit would be. "After all, I don't need an invitation, do I?" Nick approached a little closer, preparing to tell him to leave, but stopped short when LaCroix abruptly faced him. In his hands was held an instrument--LaCroix' rebec. "I assume that it's okay if I remain, or should I...?" He turned, making as if to put the instrument away. "Stay." A smile made its way across LaCroix' face. As soon as he turned, however, it nearly disappeared...at least on the outside. "Why now, LaCroix? The last time we tried this was fifty years ago. We had argued, and agreed that we would wait...." "....until we were on better terms, which we are. Besides...you can't hide your thoughts. Not from me." Watching Nicholas' calm outward appearance and feeling a tiny hint of anger, LaCroix again kept a smile to himself. LaCroix stared at him, practically bathing in his annoyance. The elder vampire was, however, right. He had been thinking about that and had even considered inviting LaCroix over. When his sire had shown up unannounced, it tweaked his anger. But, in reality, he was pleased the other had come. Reaching behind him, LaCroix grabbed the music Nicholas had written a half of a century before, separating the two parts, and replacing his on the table. He'd already long since memorized this piece, and had only needed Nicholas to play with him. He handed the piano part to his son, which was hesitantly taken. Nick looked through the pages. Although having written it, the notes were only vaguely familiar. The music had disappeared shortly after his argument with LaCroix the last time they had played together. He had assumed the other had taken it, but until now, didn't know with certainty. Stopping, he looked up from the loose pages. "Why, LaCroix? Why did you take it?" "Because I wanted to play it...and had hoped that we would eventually be able to." Lightly clenching his jaw, Nick walked over to the piano, spreading the first four pages out. Glancing through them, he played a tuning note for LaCroix and listened as the rebec's sound filled the loft. Since being in Toronto, he had only heard the instrument a few times, and not once here, in his home. As the elder vampire finished his task and the room faded into silence, he prepared to ask LaCroix if he was ready, but was cut off. "Play, Nicholas. I am more than ready to continue." Nodding, he did so, the music smoothly flowing through the first half of the piece. Then, he slowed, eventually ceasing playing altogether. "Nicholas?" "Why, LaCroix? Why do you have to destroy everything that means something to me?" The other didn't answer, and he slowly put his part in a stack, setting it on the edge of the piano. "You first brought across and then killed Daniel for no real reason. You kill those around me, those I care about, as if they are nothing. Despite wanting me by your side, all you do is push me away. You come here...for what? To fulfill your need for companionship? I'm not going along with it this time, LaCroix. I can't." Stiffening, LaCroix watched as his son stood and headed toward the refrigerator. He placed his instrument down, sitting it to the side. Approaching the younger, he held back his anger as well as he could. "I have given you many allowances, Nicholas. I have for the most part let you play your games with the mortals. I was hoping we could get through tonight without an argument, but see that we will not." "Don't argue, LaCroix. It only makes things worse." Roughly spinning Nicholas so that they were facing one another, his eyes glowed faintly golden. "You brought this up, Nicholas! I did not start this." He attempted to shrug out of the touch, but it didn't work, instead causing the elder vampire to hold him tighter in place. But, he wasn't ready to give up on this yet. "It was your choice to come, and you knew this would eventually be brought up." As his son again tried to break free, he pushed the younger toward the wall, pinning Nicholas. "I would have said nothing about what has happened in the past if you had merely continued. From what I've been feeling, I thought you wanted this!" Pushing the door to the lift wide open, Natalie halted in her tracks, the door sliding noisily closed. LaCroix turned his golden gaze on her, and she slowly moved nearer. There LaCroix was, holding Nick firmly against the wall. "Leave. This is none of your business." "Yes, it is. Nick is my friend." She waited for some verbal counter, but he simply glanced from her to the exit. "I am not leaving." "So be it." Noticing LaCroix' grip tighten, she moved closer until she was practically standing next to them. "Neither am I going to let you two tear one another to shreds." Nick, wondering to himself why she had come, shifted so he'd be able to talk a little easier. "Nat, just go. You shouldn't even be here." Seeing his confusion, she told him, "I was on my way home, nearly there, in fact, when I realized I didn't have my purse. I almost just waited until tomorrow night, but I'm glad I didn't." Loosening his grip on his son, LaCroix moved away, putting some space between them. If the mortal was going to intrude, he wasn't going to give her any reason to stay if he could avoid it. She followed LaCroix' actions and, just behind him, she was just able to get a glimpse of an instrument she had never seen before. Turning momentarily to the piano, she could make out what appeared to be a hastily stacked pile of music. It wasn't many pages from what she could tell, a half dozen, perhaps a couple of more. Eventually, she flat out asked, "Why are you two arguing?" She waited, but they just stood there. "Music is something to bring people together--whether mortal or vampire--not push them apart. I've believed that on some level for most of my life, and I'm not about to stop now." Again, neither spoke. She waited, hoping that one of them would comment, but their murderous gazes remained solid and firm. "Will one of you say *something*? I'm starting to feel like a piece of meat on a plate." Turning to her, LaCroix took a few steps closer, emphasizing, "I came here in the hopes that what you mention would be so. Besides, Nicholas started the argument." "And you're continuing it," she said, watching his anger rise. "Just drop this." Turning to Nick, she added, "And that goes for both of you." Once more, she was greeted with silence. Carefully approaching and bypassing LaCroix, she stopped and looked down on his instrument. From asking Nick earlier, she knew what it was, but that was about it. What she really wanted to know was what it sounded like. Reaching forward to touch the wood, she pulled back, but not before LaCroix gripped her arm, spinning her toward him. Despite his anger at the mortal, he could understand some of her curiosity. Releasing her, he picked the instrument up and took it back to its case, planning on putting it away and leaving. His son approached, whom he ignored until a hand rested on his arm. "Stay, please." Nick found his hand shrugged off, and then he watched as LaCroix proceeded to loosen the tension on the bow. It was clear the other was going to leave. Taking the bow from LaCroix, he said, "Stay, LaCroix. I want you to. I don't want it to be another fifty years before we finish the piece." As Nicholas handed the bow back, he accepted it. Retightening it, a slight smile showed on his lips as he retrieved the rebec. He prepared to play a few notes, but stopped upon meeting the mortal's eyes. "Are you planning on staying, or are you just going to stand there?" Natalie stiffened slightly. She was fully aware he really didn't want her there, but.... "May I stay? I...know this isn't something you've allowed many others, but I really would like to stay." Turning to his son, he could see that the younger wanted this. Not wanting to argue anymore, he eventually sighed and nodded, watching a smile come to both of their faces. Silently, Natalie made herself comfortable on the couch, following the two vampires' actions. Nick sat at the piano, spreading his music out, and LaCroix approached the younger vampire, again sans music. Watching, Natalie had just enough time to wonder if LaCroix had the music memorized or was going to look off the piano part before Nick played a few notes. As LaCroix tuned, she found her interest in the rebec and its sound. It was similar to that of a violin, but both a little brighter and a little darker--at least to her ears. Whether that was a quality of the instrument, LaCroix' playing, or a combination of the two, she didn't know. There was a few seconds of silence, a nod from LaCroix, and then Nick started the piece. She listened, watching as the two played, the music flowing seamlessly together. LaCroix' eyes were closed, and it was now clear to her that he had it memorized. Nick, however, didn't...but neither did he make any noticeable mistakes. It was as if they'd played it together a dozen times, and recently, at that. As the last few notes were played, fading out into silence, they each smiled. Natalie was pleased that the two had resolved their argument. She was also glad that she had stayed. Considering asking if they would play another but not wanting to break the mood, she waited. Then, a moment later, LaCroix said something that she couldn't quite catch. Nick smiled slightly, beginning another, livelier piece. She shifted, curling up into the couch as music filled the loft. Letting her head rest against the leather, she simply listened as the strains of harmony and melody enveloped her. ~finis~ Well, that's it. I hoped you enjoyed it! Let's see...the bit of Latin in the first part is from a drinking song, 'In taberna quando sumus' (When we are in the tavern), and I made the assumption it was written before 1137, which it very likely was. Jarvinia jarvinia@gmx.com @>--,---`---