Music Laced Moment

“We need music!” The deer-like female offers.

The moment seems to wash over rather quickly. The once quiet and rather still room is met with activity and a plan unfolding. As I watch my friend, Tani’s, actions I realize that I don’t quite think she understands what Nydaria meant when she thought the deer was a dancer. As the moments leading up to such begin the word Tani shouts seems to ring in my ears. Music. I rarely get to play for others and as if spiked with a surge of boldness I speak up.

“If you have a piano in your bag I can play for you.” I smile softly, knowing all too well that she does have a piano hidden in what she calls her wacky sack.

Tani’s magic is peculiar even to myself. It stems from imagination and what she calls silliness, though others would call it insanity. She calls it Hatter magic and the concept still baffles me if only because I have not studied such or know anything about. It’s a more forbidden type of magic a bit too out there for me if I’m being honest. The magic drives on the lines of insanity and when the imagination gets out of hand it brings forth her utmost, craziest, desires. Knowing that this magic also has a lot in common with typical comedy muses I knew she would have a piano in this bag she calls her wacky sack. This bag is directly linked to her imagination and who really knows what is in there. The things she pulls out keeps me baffled, but some of it is rather predictable or understandable. In any case do to what branch her magic stems from, having a piano in her wacky sack is rather obvious. I simply phrase it as a what if to make it seem as if I would not know.

“Oh come on Hazel, that’s a classic! Of course, I do.” She says in a sarcastic tone, saying it as if I should have known that would be in there.

I giggle softly and nod as she pulls an upright piano from her bag. The piano is a classic black color with pearl white keys and the shimmering black keys. I can’t help but smile even wider at the piano and quietly stand up, sitting down in front of it. I’ve come to learn not to question Tani’s ability of strength nor abilities, it’s better not to question it, besides I’m not complaining right now.

As I run my fingers across the keys they offer a small chill with how cold they are and I quietly go over the list of songs I know in my head. The sheets of music I harbor and have memorized seem to come flooding back to me as I sort through them and try to pick a song. Out of the corner of my eye, I find Vayne has his guitar and I’m slightly taken back. Not only do I get to play the piano for an audience but…I also get to play with someone, this is far too good to be true. Not only is the one holding the guitar a friend, but he is also a being I find myself visiting at temples and praying to.

He nods to me, cueing me to start and I hide my widening smile as I aline my fingers and begin to play. The song’s notes and melody seem to swirl around my head, leaning my fingers to dance across the keys needed. My eyes close and I allow myself to completely consumed by the song Waltz of the Flowers. In the back of my head, I hear the guitar joining in and offering its own emphasis on the sing. The melody I create seems to lace with the melody Vayne causes. As the world seems to vanish I am left in a vibrant world of notes that seem to spin around me. The world consists of Vayne, Tani, Nydaria and myself. As the world melt away leaving us on a plain of existence unimaginable I let the song rise and fall. With each note offered, it seems to drive the deer to lead the Goddess on a wild journey. From the beginning, this is not what Nydaria desired nor expected. She merely wanted Tani to dance for her, yet Tani grabbed Nydaria leading her in a dance overflowing with music.

Vayne and I both seem to get lost in our instruments, both of our notes complimenting each other. As the song reaches its peak, Vayne gently ends his strumming, allowing me to take over. As much as I want him to continue his introduction of sound I take the light and let the song overtake my whole being. In the back of my mind, I hum along, keeping in rhythm and gently stroking each key. My body seems to sway along with it as I play. I can hear the footsteps of Tani and Nydaria and as my song slowly begins to end I open my eyes and look down at the keys, letting my fingers offer one last exaggeration of the tune before ending it.

My smile never fading I glance over my shoulder and see Nydaria still in a shocked state and boggled as to why this happened. She stumbles slightly and just stares at Tani for a few moments. Tani curtsies, oblivious to what Nydaria was really seeking and smiles to her. Nydaria offers a smile back to her and curtsies as well before turning into thin blue ribbons. The ribbons swim along the gentle breeze before simply vanishing. Both Vayne and I seem to just stare at Tani, at this point, I’m pretty sure we are thinking the same thing.

“Soo what just happened?” She says with a smile upon her face.

Vayne and I both just stare at her and before I can say anything Vayne speaks up “I’m surprised she didn’t smite you.”

The words seem to hit me and I try to stifle my laughter, looking back at the keys.

“I could have been smited!?” She seems to shout as if suddenly hit with the realization of what could have happened and what did happen.

“You touched her without her permission.” Vayne simply states.

“Oh,” Tani says, with no other mind of anything else.

“Pretty sure she wanted you to dance for her,” I state, trying to clarify.

“Oh…I thought that’s what she wanted. So that’s what I did.” Tani looks at me and tilts her head to the side, confused.

“Not with her. For her. There is a difference.” I try to clarify yet again.

“I’m so confused.” Tani states.

“…She wanted you to perform for her.” Vayne jumps in to try to put it in different terms.

“Ya…” I nod, almost thanking Vayne more so for getting her to understand.

“Ohhhhhh!” Tani exclaims, getting what we both mean.

“Well, it all worked out,” Tani says in a happy go lucky tune, a smile upon her face.

“Of course it did. As I said, I’m surprised she didn’t smite you.” Vayne nods to her, gently strumming the strings to his guitar.

“Now I want to perform!” Tani says aloud and both Vayne and I look at her.

Vayne takes point this time and begins to play a more upbeat tune. As the tune carries I listen to it and tap my foot along with it, picturing the tune as he plays in my head. As the tune continues to rise, I find myself jumping in and playing each key on the piano. The upbeat tune causes a bit of a challenge, but as my foot taps along, keeping me in rhythm I find myself keeping up rather well and once again our instruments meld together. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Tani dancing about, performing rather well to the song and keeping her beats in measure. Smiling softly the music seems to rise and I let myself slowly fade out, allowing Vayne to take the spotlight. Turning around I stay quiet and watch Tani dance along with study Vayne as he plays. Once I let him shine his aura seems to be set ablaze and he plays far more rapidly. Closing my eyes I find the atmosphere right now rather enchanting. Vayne’s melody comes to a rather high climax before ending with a flare. Tani’s movements stop and I slowly open my eyes, catching glimpse of the flames dancing across the strings of his guitar. As the song ends, I clap and bow my head to him in appreciation of the chance to play with him, offering him a gentle smile. As Vayne blows out the flames stop his hand and guitar he smiles warmly at me.

Our conjoined melodies end Tani takes her leave. The night is slowly coming to an end and though I would rather be stuck in the moment for a while longer departure for us is inevitable.

“It was fun playing together tonight. We should do it again soon.” He glances over to me and smiles.

“It would be an honor.” I bow my head, offering a soft giggle.

“An honor of…Tallt.” He offers with a chuckle before walking off into the night.

Nodding to myself at his parting comment I smile softly and quietly melt into the ground. Tonight was a night that I couldn’t forget even if I tried. As I wander off my heart is set ablaze and I can’t seem to stop smiling.