|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:56 pm
It had been a few days since the tall Irishman had met with his lass, and he dearly missed her, though he was loathe to admit to it. In an effort to "accidentally" meet with her, he trudged up the stairs to the over bearing library, a place he didn't visit very often, but one where he knew he could usually run into the Italian lass that had begun to win his heart over.
With a light hum and a smile on his face, he entered the library - a small groan escaping from between his lips as he realized that she was, in fact, not around. Allowing himself a small sigh, he went to the book shelf in search of a book that might keep him just long enough for her to arrive. After a few choices that bored him just reading the introductory blurb on the back, he finally found one that he thought he might enjoy for a trite and pulled it neatly from its high shelf before sauntering towards the large chair he'd seen Moira sit in the last time they ran into one another in the library. Although he knew that it was just a trick of his mind, he thought he could smell just a hint of her left in the fabric's fibers and in the air around.
A large smile lit his face and the Irishman leaned back in the chair, allowing it to suck him into a comfortable, lazy position, as he carefully opened the book and began to read silently to himself - occasionally humming a light Irish tune when the book got away with him. Immersed in what he was reading, he barely heard anything that went on around him - a prime position for him to be in for anyone to surprise or startle him, even if just a little.
Truth be told, the Irishman half wished the lass he waited for would surprise him. But would his luck hold out and she appear?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:07 pm
Finally Lai had been settled into the LOTUS headquarters and by extension his own room. Now he took to scouring the halls in attempts to familiarize himself with the massive building and its many rooms as well as people who resided here, though he had only met one previously.
The halls this day were surprisingly void of life, save for the whistling of the wind outside the walls. The Russian walked down some stairs into another hallway, one he had never been to before. At the foot of the stairs he leaned back to get the pressure at the base of his spine to lessen. Carrying around his cello was no picnic and it was worse due to the stairs of the building. He was happy to have it set up in his room now, but he was still sore.
Sighing, Lai made his way down the passage, wondering where it would lead him. Hopefully somewhere interesting, he had heard there was a library here. Maybe there were music sheets hidden upon the shelving that he could borrow. The Russian was well aware of the resounding noise his shoes made on the flooring. It was so loud in the empty hall, he wondered if anyone could hear it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:29 pm
The dark haired man seated so deeply and comfortably in one of the large cushioned chairs in the library lifted his head ever so slightly and tilted it in a curious manner at the sound of heavy footsteps growing ever closer. They certainly didn't sound as if they were Moira's, hers always sounded light and pleasant to Shane. In fact, Shane gathered they probably weren't even a woman's footsteps at all. The heaviness of each step made it sound clumsier, more like...well. Like a man's footfall.
With only a slight grumble to himself, and a small prayer sent up that the man would bypass the library, Shane settled himself once more into the book he'd nabbed from a shelf. Though time grew ever slower for the poor man, he still vaguely hoped that Moira might make a chance visit to the library and he might be able to see her once again. Still unwilling to really bend and pursue her completely outright, he was working on leaving many of the open forthright moves to the Italian whirlwind. Besides, what man wouldn't want such a beautiful firecracker gunning for him? So long, that is, as she wasn't aiming to harm, only to love.
A smile on his face once more, Shane allowed himself to slowly phase out the sound of the footsteps as they grew steadily closer. Still permitting himself to dream his lass would come through the door, and not a man.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:42 pm
Lai muttered under his breath about the noise his own feet kicked up in the hallway and how he would have to teach himself to walk quieter. He might be disturbing someone, somewhere. The way the building was he almost believed the noise could carry to the opposite end of LOTUS and still sound like he was in that area. Step, step, step. Clap, clap, clap. That's the noise, that is it exactly. Like a fish being slapped onto a hardwood table.
Staring at his own feet Lai almost bypassed a door on his right. He paused and turned around to look at it. The door was large, bigger than a residential door, so he automatically assumed it was a room he could enter with no repercussions. The Russian man chewed his bottom lip momentarily, deciding whether to go in now or to continue down while making a mental note of where the large door was. Curiosity got the better of the young man and he reached for the handle. Never really hurt to just peek in right? He braced himself just in case anyone behind the door would shout at him, turned the knob, and stepped inside.
The moment he stepped in he automatically saw the shelving and the books there upon them. A light, happy feeling came over. Lai had successfully found the library. Spellbound by the tomes he wandered to the one closest to the door and pulled a book out, unaware of Shane sitting nearby. Lai blew on the cover to get some faint dust off and flipped the dull red book open to its first chapter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:04 pm
The constant heavy stepping started to annoy Shane as it continued to grow louder and louder. As the steps slowed and came to a stop near to the door, he found himself fervently wishing they'd just keep on their merry way. He wanted only one person in that library with him, for various reasons, and that was the lass Moira. When he heard the door began to creak open, the Irishman barely managed to contain and aggravated sigh and as he noticed that it was, in fact, a man that entered the room, his brows furrowed as he forced himself to focus on the book in his hands.
The lad is wearin' quite a bright color - I wonder where he's from?
The curiosity at the clothing the man wore slowly began to overtake Shane's annoyed side, and as the lad took a seat and almost reverently dusted off and opened a book, Shane found himself clearing his throat, attempting to get the lad near to him to strike up the conversation first. While the tall Irishman wasn't weary of starting conversations, the brightness of the lad's clothes threw him off just a little, so he decided to see if the other would introduce himself first, or if he'd have to be the first to make a move.
Aye, I wish Moira were here. It'd be a right round of fun if she were.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:18 pm
The sound of light coughing dragged Lai from his unaware state of mind and he looked up, surprised another was in the quiet room. As his eyes landed on the Irishman, Lai stood up automatically and turned a faint red color.
"My apologies comrade. I did not see you there." The words came tumbling out of his mouth in his deep accent. "If I have disturbed you I can leave." Lai promptly shut the book and moved back over to the case from whence it came, still keeping his attention on Shane, waiting to see if the dark haired man would respond.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:42 pm
Catching sight of the light blush on the man's cheeks, Shane couldn't help but wonder if he were easily embarrassed. But then, the Irishman reflected that in a new situation, most people generally are. Especially when they don't know who is there - and they interrupt what you're doing. Almost feeling sorry for bothering the poor lad, Shane shook his head lightly at the apology, "Nay, lad, ye didn't bother me at all."
I was just disappointed ye weren't a lass. That's all.
"The name is Shane, what might your's be?" Carefully setting aside his book, Shane extended a hand, concluding to make the best of the almost awkward situation and introduce himself. Why not make a new friend at Lotus while he could? Eventually they'd all have to go to work, and things would get tough. It would be best to trust and know your companions, when it did get down to the nitty gritty, than not know anyone and not trust them when you needed to the most.
With a smile, Shane waited for the man with the thick Russian accent to make his own introduction, hoping he hadn't startled the poor lad too much with his interruption.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:22 am
Lai placed the red book back in it's spot then reached over and shook the Irishman's hand. He nodded politely before releasing and answering. "My name is Lai. I'm one of the new recruits here."
Lai determined Shane was a nice enough fellow, and he hoped it would help later on if need be. If he were lost in LOTUS again it would be best to be found by a familiar face.
"I am glad to know I did not disturb you and I apologize for not seeing you when I came in. I seem to have a single track mind once I lay my eyes on books." He chuckled nervously, hoping the man would understand. "Or music sheets for that matter." He added.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 2:16 pm
Shane smiled as Lai accepted his hand and introduced himself, "A pleasure to meet ya, lad. Have you had trouble findin' your way around, by chance? I know I sure did when I first came here!" With a chuckle, he thought over all the trouble he'd gotten in, especially with the lasses in the kitchen, at first. And still did, sometimes, for that matter.
With a small shrug for Lai's last statement, a small smile turned Shane's lips upward, he knew another who was just like that. And for a moment, he fervently hoped Lai and Moira didn't meet. They were much more alike than he and Moira were, and that worried him just a bit. Allowing that thought to roll right back out where it came in from, he laughed at Lai's mention of music, "Oh, so you're a music, are you? What instrument do you play?" Now that was a topic Shane knew something about, perhaps this day wouldn't turn out so dull after all!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 2:42 pm
"There are so many dead ends to the hallways!" The sentence came out sounding like an exasperated whine. "I have been getting lost all day. I hope I can find my room again all right." This was fact, the Russian had wound himself probably deep into the heart of the white stone building and his little room felt like miles away now.
The Russian noticed something was on Shane's mind, but he didn't probe the man. It wasn't polite to do that to someone you had just stumbled upon. At the first question he nodded. "Indeed I am a...Music." He smiled at the second. "I play cello. Do you by chance play anything?" Lai had hoped the Irishman did. He had a feeling he might be the only instrumentalist in LOTUS and that made him feel very outnumbered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:12 pm
Shane laughed at the way Lai complained about the hallways, but he was right - there were many twists and turns, dead ends and just really random rooms scattered about the compound. With a small shrug, he indicated that he understood, but didn't understand it any better than Lai did. In fact, Shane wasn't sure if Wraith even understood the layout of the compoud - it was so...haphazard and random. Cocking his head to one side, Shane raised an eyebrow, "Well, if you tell me the general area of your room, perhaps I can help you relocate it?" A smile was added at the end of that, one that showed amusement, but also a genuine willingness to help. Or, at least, Shane hoped it did.
When Lai called himself a "Music", Shane couldn't help the chuckle that flew out of his mouth, "I think, lad, ye mean you're a musician?" Ah, well, the man didn't sound like English was his first language, so Shane didn't press the matter too much. He could understand having some difficulty with the language - it was about as confusing as the layout of Lotus Headquarters was! "Oh, aye, lad. I play -- and write." Shane took a short pause before he added, "I play piano and the penny whistle, or flute." Another smile and Shane inquired, "So how long have ye been playin'?" At least music was something they could talk about - and he did miss having musical friends to talk with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:33 pm
Lai was grateful that Shane had offered to help. The Russian paused to think, remembering landmarks around his room. Like a pinch to get attention, his lower back pain sprung up. There were the stairs and the clothing washroom just yards down and across the hall. But other than those two things he couldn't really point out anything special about the area of the building his room was in.
"Well," He started. "My room was about twenty or so yards away and across the hall from a clothing washroom. And there were several flights of narrow stairs that I had to take to get up to my room's level." He hoped this helped the man form a picture, Lai didn't fancy sleeping in some random hallway tonight.
"Um, yes musician." His cheeks flushed again. "Ah! I am glad to know there is another in LOTUS. I was feeling in the minority. Some people are amazed that people are able to play." The Russian shrugged. These people came from the future, where he assumed instrumentalists had all but been lost to the history books. It was sad really.
As Shane listed off his instrumental mastery's, Lai was impressed. "Flute and piano are very hard to master." At his question Lai had to think it over and remember. "I started when I was six. My parents were adamant to make sure I lived up to the family name and that entailed being above proficient in an instrument. Luckily, I got to pick which one." He smiled lightly, as a child most of his lessons and such where chosen for him with no prior knowledge. He was stuck with what his parents chose before they dashed off to another gala or conference or some high class wish-wash event.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:52 pm
As Lai described the rough area of his room - in as rough a manner as the Irishman had ever heard, he closed his eyes as he tried to picture what of Lotus he knew by heart. Stairs were fairly common in the headquarters - there were quite a few levels and many ways of getting to them, so that part of it all wasn't helpful. But Shane was fairly certain there were going to be a fair few washrooms, so he figured their search would be small. He'd used a laundry room himself, just recently, so he concluded they'd have to start there. Maybe they'd get lucky. He was an Irishman, after all. "Well, lad, I've recently washed my laundry, so we'll try to laundry room that I used and go from there. Its a start, at least." At least he wasn't outright admitting he hadn't the foggiest where to go.
Shane's head nodded slightly as he smiled at the blushing Russian - the man was very effeminate, that much Shane had observed already. And he seemed to truly love the music, which made him more than okay in Shane's book. "Aye, there's at least two of us here at Lotus that play music. Mayhap we can find some more, if we look in the right places, eh?" It would be fun to find others that played instruments - perhaps they could play some songs together some night. What a fun adventure that might prove to be.
Giving a small shrug of his shoulders, Shane rolled off the compliment Lai gave him, "I'm from Ireland, lad, music is a way of life, not just somethin' to learn." Indeed it was. Music had been used to pass their history on for generations, and while that way had mostly been lost to the written word, they still mostly fancied themselves musicians. Pubs were always full of music, at the least.
With a tilt of his head, Shane asked his next question, "Why was an instrument necessary to live up to the family name?" Did Lai perhaps come from a family of musicians, or a rich family where having a prodigy was essential for appearances? Maybe Lai wasn't as boring as he'd initially thought...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:36 pm
"Sounds like a plan. I am sorry I have no better descriptions or landmarks. Nothing really sticks out around my room." The Russian felt as though Shane did not know where his room was and was only grabbing at straws to be courteous.
"Hopefully." He answered the Irishman's question with a light smile. "I would think it would make for an interesting group, depending on the instruments any others play. All the more fun though." A little group gathering in the garden one night to chat and hear some LOTUS members play music sounded nice. Maybe it could come to fruition if there were more people who play.
"Music is life anywhere I would think. It brings people together over common things, spins stories, records history, all of that and more." Lai wondered what Ireland was like, he had only read about it. "Ireland sounds like a very interesting place to go to. I have only read about it, but I am sure text only goes so far in describing it." Maybe Shane would regale him with tales of his homeland.
"Well...It was one thing among many." He ran a hand through his hair. "Appearances, you know. Perfect family, perfect job, money coming out the windows, things like that. Keeps the votes rolling in. My father was a politician in Moscow, very lucrative and high powered, so his family had to look and be the part of a high powered politician. Though," He paused, shutting his eyes and watching his childhood through his eyelids. "I assume I was just there to fit the image of a perfect political family. My father had no interest in me, or children in general, and I think my mother actually wanted a daughter, so I was not interesting to her unless she wanted to dress me like a porcelain doll." He sighed and opened his eyes.
"They were and are shrewd people who care only for their money and not being one of the common folk. Very stingy. I have my reasons to believe they changed my name so it would not waste ink or paper space when they sent invitations to the parties they held."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:19 pm
Indeed Shane was only being as courteous as he could. He knew what it felt like to be new, alone, and lost and since the Russian was a fellow musician he had a special place in his heart for him - though not so near as the one he had for an Italian lass - and so he wanted to do what he could for the lad. Even if they did both end up lost in some random area of the facility and wind up having to ask directions. If they ever found anyone to ask directions of, that was.
At Lai's smile, one of his own graced Shane's lips, at least they weren't getting off on the wrong foot. With a light nod, Shane agreed, "It would be an interestin' group, lad. Sure'n if we could ever find anyone else that played, that is." When Ireland was mentioned, Shane barely resisted a wince. That was a sore topic, as much as he loved the land of his birth, it was one he didn't really like to address. As a small frown graced his lips, he gave a noncommittal shrug, "Aye, it is beautiful. Mayhap you'll see it one day, what with bein' part of LOTUS and all."
When the man before him continued his tale, Shane nodded thoughtfully as he spoke. A small, "Ah." escaped his mouth as the fact Lai's father was a politician was admitted. That would indeed explain the need for perfection and a seamless lifestyle. As the Russian mentioned his parents had had next to no taste for him, another frown touched his face, but as the man finished it quickly turned to a grin as he remembered how busy and full his own family was, back home.
"Well, lad, if nothin' else, you're certainly welcome to some of me own family! I've more than enough to go around, after all!" Now, Shane just hoped the other man wouldn't delve too far into his family history, though he knew he'd opened the door with that joke he was really just trying to lighten the mood. If there was one thing Shane disliked, it was a dour mood in the evening that made him want a drink. And tales of a poor family life always made him want a decent one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
